{"head":{"counts":{"debateCount":158,"resultCount":158}},"results":[{"debateRecord":{"house":{"showAs":"34th D\u00e1il","committeeCode":"","houseCode":"dail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/house\/dail\/34","chamberType":"house","houseNo":"34"},"chamber":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/def\/house\/dail","showAs":"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann"},"lastUpdated":"2026-07-06T12:07:26+00:00","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/main","formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/mul@\/main.xml"},"pdf":null},"date":"2026-07-02","counts":{"contributorCount":134,"divisionCount":0,"debateSectionCount":40,"questionCount":32,"billCount":3},"debateType":"debate","debateSections":[{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_2","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_3","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Humanitarian Aid","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_2","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_3.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  At the outset, and on a separate manner, I take the opportunity to condemn strikes on Kyiv last night resulting in the loss of over a dozen citizens, and perhaps more. It is another example of the war of aggression that is taking an enormous human toll.  The first question I have is in relation to the blockade of Cuba. The humanitarian situation there escalates by the day. The impact that it is having on the ordinary people of Cuba, particularly children and those who are sick, is profound. Clearly, a resolution is needed. The Government needs to make statements. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Helen McEntee)  I, too, condemn the attacks last night. It makes it all the more important - in terms of our focus and priority during the Presidency - to ensure that we do everything possible, not just to support Ukraine but also to maintain pressure on Russia. That is something we very much communicated and engaged directly on with President Zelenskyy yesterday.  I thank the Deputy for raising this question. As a country, we are monitoring the humanitarian situation in Cuba.  I very much echo the UN Secretary General's concern at the growing humanitarian crisis in the country. Our position on the embargo imposed by the United States on Cuba is long-standing and clear. We have consistently voted for UN resolutions calling for the ending of the embargo, most recently last October at the UN General Assembly. Restricting the flow of basic goods, and particularly fuel, to Cuba heightens the suffering of ordinary Cubans. The Deputy's colleague discussed this last night. Due to the lack of fuel, we can see the impact it is having on the ability of farmers to be able to tillage, plough and deliver food. The impact that is then having on cities and people more generally is becoming more profound and something that we are extremely concerned about.  Ireland provides ongoing humanitarian assistance directly to Cuba through funding to global positioned humanitarian funds, which work with local partners to deliver assistance. These include the United Nation's central emergency response fund, the International Federation of Red Cross, IFRC, and the Red Crescent Societies' disaster relief emergency fund and the START Network. In the past year, the central emergency response fund has allocated \u20ac6.4 million to UN agencies in Cuba. The IFRC has allocated \u20ac1 million and the START Network has allocated \u20ac270,000 to Care International for its work in Cuba. Ireland has also committed \u20ac100,000 through the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to support Cuba to build capacity and develop a strategy to respond efficiently to extreme events, such as hurricanes. Ireland will continue to engage with its humanitarian partners to assess needs. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  Like other issues, the humanitarian aid is necessary but more than that, a political solution is needed. It is clear that US sanctions are pushing the people of Cuba to the brink. Children are dying because doctors cannot access essential medicine and supplies. This is not just what I have said but UN human rights chief, Mr. Volker T\u00fcrk, and the UN have called the immediate lifting of the United State's sanctions against Cuba. Mr. T\u00fcrk said, \"The fuel restrictions imposed since early 2026 and the recent tightening of sanctions, taken together, are directly harming Cubans, especially the most vulnerable.\" The daily blackouts are now exceeding 20 hours. Conditions are rapidly deteriorating. The UN Human Rights Office has cited frightening figures. Infant mortality has doubled to 9.9% per 1,000 births. Childhood cancer survival rates have fallen from 85% to 65% and essential medicines are available at only 30% of normal supply levels. The key point is that although the Government is voting for these resolutions, how is it raising this in international forums to ensure movement? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  As time previously did not allow, I wish to stress that the European Commission is providing financial support. For all the reasons the Deputy outlined, it is important that humanitarian aid and support is provided. There is \u20ac2 million in aid in response to the crisis currently. That follows \u20ac4 million of EU funding approved as a regional allocation to the Caribbean, which was primarily allocated to the response in Cuba. In 2025, almost \u20ac6 million was provided for disaster preparedness and emergency response. A twin approach is needed. As the Deputy said, it is about providing that direct humanitarian assistance but also making sure this does not fall off the political or international agendas. I understand Cuba has requested an additional debate at the UN General Assembly on 7 July next week due to the escalation of measures that have been taken by the US in recent months, as well as threats of military action. While this is strictly procedural and it is to vote on whether there will be a further debate on this, we will be voting in favour on 7 July that we would have a wider discussion on this, so we can discuss and assess the current humanitarian situation and that we can use our position within the UN and our voice to call for this type of embargo and these types of sanctions to be lifted. As the Deputy said and we all agree, the main people who are suffering here are civilians and citizens who cannot access medicines, cannot get food to those who need it and cannot go about their daily business in the way the Deputy or I can. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  While there are commitments in terms of humanitarian aid, the difficulty is that the current blockade means that even with access to cash, the international payment systems have, to a substantial degree, been blocked off and, indeed, supply of energy is not being facilitated. Countries that would have previously supplied energy, including Mexico and so on, have now substituted to other forms of aids but, ultimately, the fuel is not getting through and, therefore, the system is grinding to a halt. Deputy Farrell said last night that there is food rotting in the fields because there is not the energy to harvest it. Ultimately, as well as cash, there is a need to ensure there is the ability for Cuba to receive energy, fuel, petrol and gas. At the end of the day, the international community has broadly taken a clear enough position with some exceptions. Ultimately, it is the United States that is responsible for this blockade. Has the Minister directly raised her concern in relation to this issue with representatives from the United States Government ? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  There are two things here. We need to make sure the European and international community are very clear in our view and position on this. Ireland has been very clear and taken a very clear position. Over a number of years, although we are discussing the fact things have escalated further, we have had ongoing dialogue and contact with the US on a range of international issues. That includes Cuba. We have relayed and conveyed our concerns directly with them. We have communicated our position on the US embargo, the impact of the embargo and the international response to the humanitarian crisis but also the importance of maintaining diplomatic engagement. Earlier on this year, there was progress made between the Cuban Government and the US. However, that then shifted and changed. This continuing approach has not changed. What we want to do is ensure that the dialogue and the structure are there. We have an EU-Cuba political dialogue and co-operation agreement. There are some calls for that to be reviewed or changed. We need to look at the structure that is there now. We need to engage directly with that government.  There have been concerns around human rights, democracy, government concerns and how we work directly with the government to address those concerns while at the same time engaging directly with the US. This is about dialogue. The only way this is going to be resolved is through dialogue and through the US engaging directly with Cuba but also the Cuban Government addressing and responding to some of the significant challenges that been identified by the international community. Our position through that co-operation agreement should be to ramp up and enhance that dialogue and engagement, particularly at a time where we are seeing devastating consequences for many people because of the sanctions or the blockade that has been imposed. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 2 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Humanitarian Aid"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_4","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Foreign Conflicts","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_2","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_4","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_4.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  We have often discussed the appalling conflict in Sudan - the greatest humanitarian crisis on the planet at this moment in time. Millions of people are displaced and hundreds of thousands have been killed. It is a situation that continues to escalate, particularly now in the Kordofan and Blue Nile states. There is a need to address the humanitarian crisis and to ensure the protection of civilians and humanitarian workers. Ultimately, what is required also is pressure to ensure that the ongoing flow of weapons, which continues to this day, and finance in relation to fuelling this conflict are addressed. It is important that this be a priority in terms of this theme of the Presidency. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Neale Richmond)  I thank the Deputy for consistently raising this issue in questions and debates and shining a light on what is the greatest humanitarian disaster currently happening on this planet.  The conflict in Sudan continues to have a devastating impact on the Sudanese people, particularly women and children. I am particularly alarmed by the Rapid Support Forces' offensive of the city of El Obeid. Following their appalling attacks in El Fasher last year, there is a grave risk of the RSF committing further mass atrocities. The warring parties must adhere to their obligations under international human rights and humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians and humanitarian workers. Civilians must be able to leave the city safely and all parties must ensure rapid, unimpeded and sustained humanitarian access.  On 23 June, the Minister, Deputy McEntee, signed a joint ministerial statement from Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway and the UK on the situation in El Obeid. The Ministers stressed that external support continues to sustain the conflict and called on those fuelling the conflict to cease. Those with influence must exercise it now to avoid further bloodshed. Ireland also continues to advocate for the expansion of the UN embargo to the whole country. The critical issue of humanitarian access and the need to remove bureaucratic obstacles to aid are at the heart of Ireland's diplomatic engagement on Sudan. I attended the International Sudan Conference in Berlin on 15 April. The EU and its member states, including Ireland, pledged over \u20ac812 million in humanitarian assistance to support the people in Sudan and to respond to the regional refuge crisis. Ireland will significantly increase our humanitarian assistance this year from over \u20ac14.3 million provided in 2025 to \u20ac21 million this year. Our funding will be channelled through trusted partners to reach the most vulnerable.  On 12 June, we launched a call for proposals from Irish agency partners working on the ground in hard-to-reach areas in Sudan. My Government colleagues and I are determined to ensure that this devastating crisis is not sidelined or forgotten. We will continue to ensure a sustained focus on Sudan during our Presidency. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  I am glad the Minister of State referenced El-Obeid. The moment in which the world paid most attention to Sudan was at the end of the siege of El Fasher when RSF arrived into that city and literally struck people down in the street with machetes. It was the kind of slaughter that was redolent of what happened in Rwanda. Tens of thousands of people were killed. It is difficult to get a clear sense of the loss of life, but it was absolutely enormous. Unfortunately, the world has begun to look away again at a time when, potentially, we face the same type of circumstances at El-Obeid. The latter is a significant city. Hundreds of thousands of people live there, many of whom are already internally displaced. Many of them may have left places such as El Fasher. It is vitally important to do whatever we can do to put pressure on to prevent a recurrence. I have referenced the role of the United Arab Emirates, UAE. The UAE is not the only country involved, but it is clearly a crucial one in terms of the supply of weapons to those involved in this conflict. That needs to be called out at both an Irish and a European level. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  In reference to El-Obeid, on 19 June, Fr. Youhanna Al-Amin, a Roman Catholic priest, was killed in an attack on Holy Cross parish church. On the same date, in another attack on an office and warehouse of a partner organisation of Tr\u00f3caire in South Kordofan, a guard working for the organisation was killed and a colleague wounded. The warehouse, which contained UNICEF medical and nutrition supplies, was looted. Tr\u00f3caire is an organisation familiar to all of us. We know that the work of Tr\u00f3caire takes place on a worldwide basis; it is not just located in Maynooth.  The depravity that happened in El Fasher and to which the Deputy referred is unfortunately spreading. We see that in terms of what is happening at El-Obeid. We also see the continuing need for a strong humanitarian response, which Ireland certainly has not been found wanting on, the need to expand the UN embargo, which we have talked about before, and the need to consistently raise this matter with partners.  I note the Deputy's reference to the UAE. As he knows, I have raised that matter with the Minister a number of times. I raised it with the Ambassador again just yesterday. I will continue to raise it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  The Minister of State might have seen a very troubling report in The Guardian in recent weeks regarding Nathaniel Raymond, an American human rights investigator from Yale University, who alleged that representatives of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in Britain told him there was significant private pressure from the UAE which meant that the UK would not publicly divulge information linking Ethiopia and the Emirates to support for the RSF, which was responsible for the atrocities in El Fasher, and that there had been an attempt to downplay the scale of death and human rights abuses. Obviously, I have no way of establishing the this, but the concern is that similar pressure and reticence exists across countries within the EU. I asked the Minister of State, and he has broadly agreed, that during its Presidency, Ireland needs to continue to raise this issue. Does he sense any movement or any greater willingness on the part of European countries to ensure that greater pressure will be exerted, particularly in the context of the supply of arms? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  Absolutely. Let us not mince our words. What is occurring in Sudan is the worst humanitarian disaster on the planet. There are acts of pure depravity being perpetrated. Rape is being used as a weapon of war on a scale that has not been seen for a long time. The Irish Government is absolutely committed to continuing to keeping Sudan at the top of the agenda. We have done this consistently at European Council meetings. We have done this through the UN, particularly at the UN General Assembly high-level week. The Minister, Deputy McEntee, has included it as an item for the upcoming Foreign Affairs Council meeting. I raised it at the most recent meeting of the development ministers. It will be discussed at the informal meeting of development ministers to be held in Dublin in October.  Unfortunately, Sudan is often a forgotten crisis for too many people. We know how what is happening is spreading across to the entire region and of the sheer scale of the numbers of those affected. Hundreds of thousands of people who have died, millions are being displaced and millions are facing hunger. This crisis is simply too grave and too big for Ireland not to use every diplomatic tool at its disposal to continue to highlight what is happening and to continue to exert pressure. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Foreign Conflicts"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_5","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Humanitarian Aid","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_2","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_5","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_5.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  The Democratic Republic of Congo has suffered incredible humanitarian situations, conflict and atrocities over the course of several decades. Millions of people have been killed in war. Unfortunately, on the back of multiple wars, civil wars and invasions, we are now seeing a deadly Ebola outbreak that is spreading quickly and that is also affecting Rwanda This is all happening against the backdrop of the conflict to which I refer. Does the Minister of State agree that there is a need for a ceasefire in order to ensure that there can be humanitarian approach to mitigating the impact of the Ebola outbreak on the region? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  I am very grateful to Deputy \u00d3 Laoghaire for raising this issue. The Government remains deeply concerned by the security situation in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Some progress has been made in the peace process facilitated by the United States, Qatar and the African Union, but the situation remains a matter for very serious concern. We join calls on all parties to respect ceasefire agreements and engage in a process to attain a sustainable peace. All sides must respect their obligations under international humanitarian law and ensure unhindered humanitarian access. These are critical factors in enabling an effective response to the Ebola outbreak in the eastern part of Democratic Republic of Congo.  In the context of the Ebola outbreak, to date far in 2026, Ireland has provided \u20ac3 million for the WHO general programme of work. A sum of \u20ac2 million has been approved for the WHO contingency fund for emergencies, which released \u20ac3.3 million to support government responses in Democratic Republic of Congo and, crucially, Uganda. Ireland\u2019s NGO partners have also drawn down contingency funding and accessed items from our humanitarian stockpiles. Democratic Republic of Congo is one of the top recipients of Irish humanitarian funding. Between 2020 and 2025, Ireland contributed over \u20ac30 million in humanitarian assistance for Democratic Republic of Congo.  The Minister, Deputy McEntee, discussed the conflict and the Ebola outbreak with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Democratic Republic of Congo, Ms Th\u00e9r\u00e8se Kayikwamba Wagner, during her visit to Ireland in May  Ireland recognises the importance of the EU\u2019s voice being heard in respect of this grave security and humanitarian situation. We support efforts to agree further EU action to respond to the crisis. EU Humanitarian Commissioner, Hadja Lahbib, visited the region in February for meetings regarding the conflict and in June to discuss the Ebola outbreak. Again, we will closely follow these issues during our Presidency of the Council of the European Union. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  The scale of death and suffering in recent decades in the Congo has been very under-reported. Some estimates suggest that about 6 million people have died since 1998 due to conflict. Conflict in the region has rarely been in abeyance, but it spikes during certain periods. The conflict currently is between the Congolese Government and the Rwandan-backed M23 rebel group. It is primarily taking place in Kivu state in the east of the country and in surrounding regions.  Ebola is a horrific and highly transmissible disease. It has already claimed hundreds of lives. It will claim thousands of lives if it continues to spread. The concern is that it will escalate further and that, as a result of the conflict, the authorities will struggle to get to grips with it. Will the Minister of State outline the Department's assessment of the current situation in terms of the outbreak and the extent to which the conflict is adding to it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  We can all agree that the history of this part of Africa, from the pillaging days of King Leopold, to the decades after, to the time when Irish peacekeepers lost their lives there and to the days of Zaire and beyond, has been absolutely horrendous and has been marred by conflict, disease and cruelty. To be quite frank, there was cruelty on the part of western partners as well as domestic actors. Unfortunately, this is the latest chapter of a very vicious conflict that is compounding the escalation of an outbreak of a disease that many people cannot fathom the severity of.  The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control assesses the infection risk for people living in Ireland and elsewhere in the EU to be very low. However, as of 28 June, Democratic Republic of Congo had reported 1,274 confirmed cases, including 360 deaths. In Uganda, 20 confirmed cases have been reported, including deaths. One confirmed case was reported in France on 24 June. This outbreak continues to spread.  The deteriorating condition of health systems due to the removal of development assistance is certainly having a serious impact and gives rise very real concern, not just on the part of the Irish Government but also among many of our partners. The CEOs of Oxfam Ireland and Tr\u00f3caire have written about this very recently. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  That brings me to my next question. In his reply to the previous question on Sudan, the Minister referred Tr\u00f3caire's connection to Sudan. Is he aware of any Irish aid agencies which, either directly or through sister organisations, have a presence in Congo and whether they are affected by or involved in this in any respect? The violence that is currently happening has displaced hundreds of thousands of people and forced them to leave their homes. Obviously, that is disrupting access health care. Humanitarian workers and officials need access to provide that support now more than ever. A ceasefire is a medical necessity and is urgently needed in order to support the provision of life-saving care, protect health workers and strengthen security, especially in hard-to-reach areas like the Ituri province and other remote areas.  We are asking the Irish Government to do all it can at diplomatic level and through the EU to make all efforts to ensure that an immediate ceasefire is brought about. Is there an Irish connection with or presence of any kind in the region. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  I am very grateful to the Deputy for referring to the very real Irish connection, not just with Democratic Republic of Congo but also with the wider region, including Uganda and neighbouring countries that are often responsible for many of the impacts of these crises, be they conflicts or humanitarian crises. There are over 2,000 Irish citizens in the broader region. Most of them work in the aid sector. Tr\u00f3caire has a significant presence there. The CEO of Tr\u00f3caire was due to travel there until very recently. He was in Rwanda during the Easter period. Oxfam has a very real presence in Democratic Republic of Congo as well. It is one of Ireland's largest humanitarian partners outside of our programme countries. Within Irish Aid, we have a very strong history of working in this region.  I referenced the role of Irish peacekeepers - missionaries also played a part - over the period. This is a conflict and a humanitarian disaster that we absolutely will continue to keep to the fore at European level, at bilateral level and, more broadly, through our work with the United Nations. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 5 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Humanitarian Aid"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_6","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_6","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 6 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_7","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Middle East","counts":{"speechCount":9,"speakerCount":4},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_6","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_6","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_7.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Conor Sheehan)  The questions in this grouping are in the names of Deputies O'Gorman, Heneghan, Gould, Neville, \u00d3 Murchu, Gibney, and O'Hara. We will start with Deputy O'Gorman and then see who turns up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  As this House prepares to consider Report Stage amendments to the Government's version of the occupied territories Bill, with the Green Party and other Opposition parties seeking to include services within the Bill's ambit, is it not time for the Government to be frank and admit that the barrier to the inclusion of services is not a legal one but, rather, is based on a political decision taken by the Government? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I propose to take Questions Nos. 7, 8, 20, 38, 60 and 65 together.  I thank the Deputies for tabling these questions. The Government approved the text of the Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2026 on 26 May. The Bill was published on 29 May and was introduced in D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann on 10 June. It is very much my intention that the legislation will complete the parliamentary approval process by the summer recess. I thank Deputies for working with me to ensure that we achieve that outcome. I am very conscious of the strength of not just interest but the feeling and the desire among members of this House when it comes to this Bill and what it is that we all want to achieve. I think we are all united by a desire to take action in response to the actions by the current Israeli Government that breach human rights and the unilateral actions that completely undermine the viability of the two-state solution. This has been evident during the debate in this House and when Committee Stage was debated at two meetings of the select committee last week. We will debate the Bill further next week and the following week.  The Bill fulfils our commitment as set out in the programme for Government. Most importantly, it will contribute positively to our compliance with our international legal obligations. This was identified in the ICJ's advisory opinion of 2024 in which it very clearly stated that obligation on states to take steps to prevent trade or investment relations that assist in maintaining the illegal situation created by Israel in the occupied Palestinian territories. There are now almost 1 million illegal settlers in the occupied territories. These are not small villages or settlements, as we often think. There are almost 1 million people that have been placed illegally in settlements. This is absolutely impacting any possibility of a future two-state solution.  On the issue of services, I have set out, most recently on Committee Stage last week, that the Government has a responsibility to ensure that any legislation introduced is legally sustainable, enforceable in practice and capable of withstanding challenge. I was asked last week who would possibly challenge legislation like this. The answer is that simply anybody can. There is an obligation to ensure that any legislation that I or this Government introduce is not open to challenge immediately. This is particularly relevant in relation to services.  The Government sought and received advice from the Attorney General regarding the legal permissibility of an EU member state introducing restrictions relating to trade and services with a third country or a territory. There are two principal issues in relation to services, namely the legal basis under EU law and the practical challenges relating to the implementation and overall enforcement of this legislation. In the case of goods, a public policy exemption exists within the relevant EU framework governing imports. This was highlighted in the ICJ's ruling in 2024. It allows member states to adopt restrictions for public policy reasons. However, there is no equivalent broad public policy basis in EU law in relation to external trade in services.  Trade in services also differs fundamentally from trade in goods. Services are digital, they cross borders, they are intangible in nature and operate across multiple legal and regulatory frameworks, creating significant implementation and enforcement challenges. Introducing legislation that lacks clarity as to how it may be implemented or enforced is not something that Government does. We need to be conscious of that.  The Government must also ensure also that measures adopted are not only politically meaningful but also legally defensible and practically enforceable, as I have said. For those reasons, the Government's approach is to proceed with measures that can effectively be implemented and sustained in practice. I have made no secret of saying that we have also taken into account the possible implications for our own economy here, but that is not the main factor. I want to be very clear on that. We have had clear directions or indications from the US and other states. However, that would apply to any legislation being brought forward. I am very clearly bringing forward legislation. I want to ensure that this is enacted before the summer recess. Most importantly, I want to ensure that we can fulfil our ICJ commitments more broadly by ensuring that the EU moves as one.  I believe that the EU has not done enough and I do not believe that we have been strong enough in our response. That needs to change so I have been advocating for a number of months now that the Commission would bring forward stronger proposals than those on the table, but also proposals that we know might actually pass a vote. The suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement was proposed by the Commission last year. Unfortunately, there was very clearly not a consensus, which is what is needed to vote specifically to suspend the agreement. What I and my counterparts from a number of member states have advocated for is that there should be a ban on trade within the illegal occupied territories. This is something that can be voted on through the Trade Council , by means of qualified majority voting, QMV. For those who are not aware, QMV requires 55% of the overall population of the voting member states. Depending on what way states vote, it can differ depending on the matter being voted on.  I advocated for the Commission to bring forward these proposals and am pleased to say that at the most recent Foreign Affairs Council meeting, a commitment was finally given by the Commission to bring forward proposals before the next meeting. For our first Foreign Affairs Council as President of the EU Council the Commission has agreed to bring forward proposals, which we will discuss, and my objective is that we would debate them.  The reason services are not included in the legislation is because the legal basis is not the same as that relating to goods, and how it would be implemented is not clear. All of us believe that for the EU as a whole to respond collectively, we would legally have that basis. It would also have a greater effect in actually changing the Israeli Government's actions. Ultimately, that is what we are trying to achieve here. Whether it is recognising Palestine, whether it is the case that we are taking with South Africa in respect of the genocide, whether it is the work we have been doing to provide support in respect of the humanitarian catastrophe or whether it is the situation in Lebanon and the West Bank that we have raised time and again, everything that we are doing is to change the actions of the Israeli Government. The Israeli Government is heading in one direction and one direction only. By taking action at EU level, we will have a greater impact. That is the objective.  I fully appreciate the position of all Deputies present. I feel as strongly as they and other Deputies do about this matter, having visited the region and spoken to so many people and families on the Israel-Gaza border - I was not able to get into Gaza when I visited - who were on the outside and who wanted to get back in to see family and friends. I also spoke to those delivering aid and food.  The situation on the ground is not acceptable. It is not acceptable that the EU has not responded in a strong enough way. That is why we need the EU to respond collectively, which is what I have been advocating for while at the same time tabling the legislation that is going through the Houses. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  The Minster spoke about the House being united by a desire to act, and that is true, but it is united by a desire to act effectively. The deep concern is that what is being proposed and what we will be voting on next week is not effective. When the Attorney General's original advice came in July 2024 on foot of the ICJ opinion on Frances Black's Bill, no distinction was made between goods and services in that detailed piece of legal advice. That distinction only arose in the programme for Government that was signed in January 2025.  The argument that there is a public policy justification to limit goods but not services does not stand up. There is a clear provision within EU law where member states can make decisions in relation to third states on foot of public policy. That distinction does not stand up and is not based within case law. It is a weak argument and deeply unconvincing, and we will investigate it further next week. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I have to agree with Deputy O'Gorman. Everyone in this House accepts the fact that Israel has been involved in genocidal and criminal actions that are unforgivable, whether we are talking about Gaza or the continuation of huge settlements that will break any possibility of a future Palestinian state. I have stated it many times that this is obviously what Benjamin Netanyahu wants to do, Sometimes, there can be an over-focus on Smotrich and Ben-Gvir. They are who they are and what they are, but he is the guy who put them in government.  The fact is that it is hard to see not including services in the occupied territories Bill, OTB, as being anything other than a sop to some of the pressure from America. We have to follow it further. In relation to the EU-Israel Association Agreement, will there be a vote at the Foreign Affairs Council? Will we be able to deal with the trade element of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which is beneficial to Israel and utterly disgraceful at this point in time? I accept that the Government has been forcing this issue, but we need to see action. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I disagree with Deputy O'Gorman when he says that it is not effective because over the last number of months, I have seen a number of member states advocating for a stronger response. Last year, when there had not been any kind of a ceasefire, more member states had started to change their positions, and that is why we had the suspension of the association agreement put on the table by the Commission as a possible option for member states to vote on. At that stage, a ceasefire was agreed, but we all agree that the ceasefire is somewhat in name only. While it has provided some relief, there are still people being killed every day and the humanitarian catastrophe has continued to worsen.  The effect it is having is that a number of other member states are now bringing forward legislation. I regularly engage with my colleague from the Netherlands. My colleague from Belgium is bringing forward legislation and we know that Spain has. Slovenia was on that path, but with a new Government, it is unfortunately now moving in the opposite direction. Norway is also bringing forward legislation. All of this, and the response from the Commission, is having an effect.  While not bringing forward legislation, other members states are asking me about what we are doing and engaging with us on what we are doing and bringing forward. It is building momentum, and that is the objective here. When we were recognising the State of Palestine, we said that we wanted to do it with other member states because it would have a greater impact. The same approach is being applied here and that is why we have taken this decision now.  In terms of the legal basis, the 2024 ruling had not taken place at the time. Since then, it has given ground to the public policy argument when it comes to goods. Deputies can say that they do not believe that, but if it were the case that the US was the only reason that we were not doing this, then we would not be bringing forward legislation, full stop, because the US has been very clear that it does not support any legislation. That is not what I am doing here and not what the Government has agreed to do. We are taking a twin-track approach to this. We are bringing forward our legislation, which sets out a clear message that we do not agree with and are completely opposed to the Israeli Government and its actions, that we are working to comply with the ICJ ruling, and that we fully comply with it by making sure that Europe responds in whole. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  In her first set of remarks, the Minister said that there was a clear indication from the US in terms of its opposition to what we are doing, even the more minor approach that the Government is taking in the Bill. It is important to remember that, as well as changing in Europe, opinion is changing in the United States. This matter is not a fixed matter any more. You cannot win a primary in the Democratic Party now if you get funding from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, AIPAC, and if you take a pro-Israel line. We saw a long-standing congresswoman lose in Colorado earlier this week because she was seen as too closely aligned. Even in the Republican Party, things are changing as well.  My concern is that this Government is allowing fear of Trump's position on Israel to dictate our approach to the OTB. In many ways, the Government is fighting yesterday's war, and it is going to allow a weaker piece of legislation through this House on foot of that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  What we are looking for is quite simple, namely, that the occupied territories Bill be as strong as it can, which obviously includes services. Given what Israel has done and continues to do, be it in Palestine or Lebanon - those who want a greater Israel seem to be at the forefront of politics there at this point in time - we can all see that it is a matter of us ensuring that we play our part.  It is good to see that others who should have moved faster are now moving or considering moving. That is what we have always spoken about. We talk about apartheid and Mary Manning, and we all accept that what was technically a small move by not handling South African goods and forcing it on Dunnes Stores and then others changed things because it was part of a wider movement. However, we need to see an occupied territories Bill that is as strong as possible and that we take as many people as possible from across Europe and beyond with us.  I want an update on where the Minster sees the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which is a blemish on the European Union as we take up the Council Presidency. It is vital that there be movement there and that we play our part in maximising the chances of dealing with it, even if it is only with the trade element. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I want to outline where we are at the moment. The Commission already has a proposal on the table that would suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement. That was put on the table last year, but it has never been voted on. This is a vote that would require unanimity within the Foreign Affairs Council and, being honest, I do not believe there is that unanimity. There are a number of member states that have clearly said that they will not vote for this. That does not stop me or Ireland continuing to advocate for a vote on this or for member states to vote to suspend the association agreement.  We have also advocated for the trade element of the association agreement to be suspended at the very least. This would be far more significant than anything we, on an individual basis, would be able to do to impact and change the Israeli Government's actions. It would impact billions of euro worth of trade, and this is something that I advocated for.  What is also not on the table is a banning of goods within the occupied territories. I have been advocating, as other colleagues have, for this particular proposal to be put on the table for member states to vote on. This is a vote that could be put forward at the Trade Council because it is a trade matter. At our last Foreign Affairs Council meeting, the EU legal services gave us a clear legal direction that this was possible. There had been suggestions that we could not vote on this in terms of trade because of different reasons.  The EU legal services have been very clear that this is possible and that we could vote to suspend trade in the occupied territories. Following that discussion, I, along with at least 17 member states, if not more, asked the Commission to bring further proposals beyond the one that was currently on the table, which we know does not have a consensus. That includes the banning of trade in the occupied territories. The Commission gave a clear commitment that it would put forward proposals before the next Council meeting, which is on 13 July and is the first meeting that we will chair as President. I expect that we will get those proposals before then. There is no point in us getting them at the meeting when we have not had a chance to look at them, examine them and debate them ourselves, even within my Department and within the Government.  It is my ambition that we will be prioritising this during our Presidency, and I have spoken extensively to Kaja Kallas, the High Representative, about it. At every single Foreign Affairs Council, this will be on the agenda. We want to make sure that progress is made during our term and that we take stronger action. I cannot say this enough. I do not believe the EU has been strong enough on this. I do not believe that we have taken strong enough action. I believe that while we all agree that the only peaceful resolution for Israelis and Palestinians, and for the wider region, is the prospect of a two-state solution, that is becoming less and less likely the more we allow the Israeli Government to introduce illegal settlements into the occupied territories. I am advocating for this. I hope that by the next meeting, we will be able to take a stance or position on this. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Middle East"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_8","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Sports Events","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_6","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_6","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_8.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  I believe these games should not go ahead. There has been a call to stop the games. The Palestinians have said that there should be a ban on all sporting engagements with Israel. There should be an outright boycott until such time as the people of Palestine are given the freedom, respect and rights they deserve. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I thank the Deputy for raising this issue, which follows on from the discussion I have just had with Deputies O\u2019Gorman and \u00d3 Murch\u00fa. National governing bodies, NGBs, of sport and international sporting federations, including the FAI, are independent, autonomous bodies responsible for the governance of their own sports, including the organisation of sporting fixtures. The Government and Sport Ireland have no role in determining or supporting the organisation of such fixtures, and I have not had meetings to discuss Israel-Ireland soccer matches. We respect the decision made by the FAI and will continue to work closely with it, through the Minister for sport, and engage with it on any matters of concern.  Of course, we continue to have significant concerns about the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza, with intolerable conditions that are only getting worse. Israel must immediately remove restrictions on aid access and facilitate essential supplies and services to reach people across the Gaza Strip. More broadly, it must completely cease the actions it is taking in the West Bank and Lebanon. We are deeply concerned by the sharply deteriorating situation in the West Bank, in particular the massive expansion of settlements and the rampant and escalating settler violence, which continues in an atmosphere of impunity.  Our voice has been consistent in our calls for appropriate actions in response to Israeli breaches of human rights and democratic principles, and we are trying to use all the tools at our disposal - political, legal and diplomatic - to advocate for peace, accountability and an end to the Israeli Government\u2019s devastating policies in Gaza and the West Bank. In addition to supporting an EU-wide prohibition on trade, our long-standing position is that the EU-Israel Association Agreement should be suspended or, at a minimum, that the trade elements should be suspended. A number of member states have called for stronger collective EU action. I welcome the commitment by the Commission to bring forward a list of options for consideration at the July Foreign Affairs Council, which will take place on 13 July. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  The Minister said that Sport Ireland and the Government had no part to play. That is not accurate. In 1999, the then Government put off a match against Yugoslavia. The precedent has been set, and the Government should step in. It is very unfair of the Government to put all the blame on the FAI and let it carry the can. The FAI has previously made clear its position on playing matches with Israel, but now it has been pushed into a corner. The manager of the team has said: \u201c[I]t's unfair for the players to be in this position and us to be in this position.\u201d Seamus Coleman, one of the longest serving and most decorated Irish footballers, a man who leads by example, said:  My views are very clear on the fact that Nathan and the younger players, and Ireland, the fans, the manager, it should not have landed on our toes to answer questions about this. It should have been dealt with above us "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  The Deputy is right in that sense, but \u201cabove us\u201d is talking about UEFA. I fully accept that the FAI has pressed for the exclusion of Israel from UEFA, and it is its right to do so. However, there is a lack of consensus among UEFA members beyond that and, indeed, among international sporting bodies more generally in relation to the exclusion of Israel from international sporting competitions. Similar to the Council, where there is a very clear view from a number of member states, including Ireland, that we need to take stronger action and go as far as suspending the EU-Israel Association Agreement, there are other member states that do not agree with that. For that reason, we have not been able to reach a consensus.  I know that other countries, such as Russia and Belarus, have been excluded from international sporting events, but this is because there was a consensus among the international sporting bodies. I believe it is for the organisations, working with their parent bodies and the international organisations, to raise concerns and to be able to discuss this and vote on it. What is very clear, though, is that there is no consensus.  I believe views and positions are changing, given what we see from the Israeli Government with the introduction of the death penalty, which is very clearly targeting Palestinians; the worsening humanitarian situation; and the continuing escalation of settler violence. Even with the discussions on the ceasefire in Lebanon, there is clearly still activity happening on the ground, where citizens are not able to return home. I believe that things are changing and that the view of many countries, including the US, as we have heard, is shifting. However, we cannot as a Government tell UEFA or the other sporting organisations what they should be doing. I fully respect and take into account the position of our own sporting organisations and the view that they have expressed. I fully support their actions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  I will finish the quote from Seamus Coleman when speaking to Tony O\u2019Donoghue of RT\u00c9. He said: \u201cI am a dad, I am a husband, I've got a heart, I know the difference between right and wrong.\u201d The Minister said that the decision was with the FAI, not the Government. It is not. Deputy McEntee is the Minister. She is in the Government. It is up to the Government to make the decision and to take it away from the players and the FAI. A precedent has been set, but it should happen even if there was no precedent.  The Minister mentioned Russia and Belarus. That shows the double standards. She said that we had to have agreement between all of the other countries. No, we do not. The Irish Government needs to say \u201cNo\u201d. We are against genocide. We are against people in the West Bank being driven from their homes and murdered. As the Minister said in response to a previous question, there are over 1 million illegal settlers in the West Bank. There is a genocide in Gaza that continues to this day, with over 70,000 people killed, yet we are waiting for consensus. Consensus from who? The Israeli Government has so much power in its lobby that there will never be consensus. Ireland needs to lead the way. Ireland needs to say that these games must stop, and all games with Israel must stop. We should not be involved in any sport or any economics. We should say to them that unless the genocide stops and the Palestinians are given their rights, Ireland will not take part with Israel. We should do everything to ensure that no other European country, or any country in the world, does that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  Ireland has led. The Deputy might not agree with me, he might not believe that, but Ireland has led and we are leading. I would say that the FAI is leading in that regard as well. It has made its position very clear, and I support the position that it has taken. I support the views that it has, but that is the position it has taken. It is not the position that UEFA as a whole has taken. It is not for the Irish Government to decide what matches happen, where they happen or whether they are cancelled or otherwise.  That is a decision taken by the governing bodies. My colleague, the Minister for sport, will continue to engage with those bodies and organisations. Our objective as a Government is to make sure that the action we take at Government, Council and European levels has the effect we all want. Of course we oppose genocide. Any suggestion to the contrary is so off the mark----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  I did not say that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  Of course we oppose genocide and what is happening on the ground. I do not think we can be any clearer about what is happening. We have joined the South African case. There is a court process and international legal process when it comes to recognising genocide. We have joined that because we believe that is clearly the right thing to do. One only has to look at the UN report on children, which was very clear that children were being targeted. We want to ensure that the actions of the Israeli Government are changed and we do everything we can in that regard.  I have made my view on the position taken by the FAI very clear. There is no consensus at European level that would ban or stop Israel from competing in these games. It is then a decision as to whether our teams would pull out. It is not for me as Minister to tell a team that it should not play or what it should do. That has to be a decision taken by the sporting body and players in the organisation. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Sports Events"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_9","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Irish Prisoners Abroad","counts":{"speechCount":10,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_6","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_6","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_9.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  Daniel Tatlow-Devally faces trial in Germany due to allegedly being on the site of a German subsidiary of an Israeli arms manufacture, Elbit Systems, and allegedly damaging property. I raised this issue with the Minister's predecessor. The conditions of the trial and detention are of huge concern, not only to Mr. Tatlow-Devally, but also his co-defendants. He is subject to 23-hour lock-ins, has been denied phone calls with his family and has limited access to lawyers. There is huge concern about the safety and fairness of the trial and the conditions of detention. It is important that the Government be vocal on it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 11 together.  This matter has been raised on a number of occasions by the Deputy and other colleagues. At the outset, I assure the Deputies that my colleagues across our consular teams and I are closely following the case and engaging with Mr. Tatlow-Devally and his family on a regular basis. My Department, in particular our Consulate General in Munich, supported by our embassy in Berlin and the consular directorate in Dublin, has been providing consular assistance since September 2025 when we were first notified of the case. Furthermore, I have raised this issue directly with the State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, Dr. Thomas Steffen, when I met him in May.  A dedicated consular officer in the Consulate General in Munich has been assigned to provide consular assistance and support Mr. Tatlow-Devally and his family. Staff in the consulate, including the consul general and deputy consul general, have undertaken six consular visits to him in prison. The most recent visit was earlier this week on Tuesday, 30 June. These visits are an important opportunity to assess the conditions of the detention. I fully appreciate that the prison has a 23-hour lock-up. It is the same for all prisoners in the prison. At the same time, that is a substantial amount of time. The visits provide an opportunity for Mr. Tatlow-Devally when meeting with our team to raise any concerns about his treatment with us.  In turn, we have kept his family informed about these visits and remain in direct contact with them. I am not aware that he has been denied phone calls with his family. My last understanding was that there had been regular engagement and opportunity for engagement. Officials in the consular directorate of my Department and Munich are working to facilitate a visit to Mr. Tatlow-Devally by a number of Deputies. We have been advocating for and supporting him in whatever way we can in respect of engagement not just with the family, but also with others who wish to visit. We are liaising with the relevant German authorities with a view to obtaining the necessary visit permissions and will engage directly with Deputies in that regard. The decision as to whether to permit visits is one for the German authorities. It has been made clear to us that this is something that should be possible. We hope this would be followed through on.  My Department will continue to provide all appropriate consular assistance to Mr. Tatlow-Devally and his family. As I previously outlined, the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations defines the parameters of consular assistance in international law, which is, in turn, reflected in my Department and our consular assistance charter. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and its embassies and consulates are precluded from intervening in the judicial and legal process of another country. However, when a citizen is on trial abroad, their rights and interests have to be represented, including by their defence lawyers, as I know is the case in this instance.  A number of trial dates have been set for the coming weeks. The last time we spoke about this in the House, dates had not been set and there was concern about that. Two hearings have taken place this week and further hearings are scheduled for tomorrow, 3 July. There will be subsequent hearings on 22, 24, 27 and 29 July. There are further dates out to January 2027.  My officials will of course continue to follow developments very closely. I have asked that they continue to keep me updated while ensuring that regular engagement continues with Mr. Tatlow-Devally and his family, whom I appreciate are under huge stress. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  At the heart of this is an increasing trend, not just in Germany, but in other countries as well, of using legislation initially intended for organised crime to prosecute climate activists and Palestine activists and, in several respects, dampen down political criticism and protests. There is a similar situation in Britain with regard to Palestine Action. When the relevant legislation was introduced 15 years ago, people raised concerns and asked whether it could be used to prosecute Greenpeace and so on. Those concerns were dismissed out of hand by the Ministers at the time. Lo and behold, political organisations are now being targeted by that legislation. We see the same here.  The conditions in which Mr. Tatlow-Devally is being held are not acceptable. I am sure the Minister will agree with that. There is a knee-jerk assumption that European countries will have fair trials, and that is fine - that is the baseline assumption in these institutions. At the end of the day, there is a concern about a fair trial. The Minister said she had raised this matter with the state secretary. What response was she given? What is Germany going to do to ensure there is a fair trial and decent conditions in advance of that? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  All of the evidence suggests that an Irish citizen, Daniel Tatlow-Devally, along with four others, is being denied a fair trial by another European state. I believe the Minister has a letter from a senior counsel. The letter refers to the fact that no audio recording of what is happening is permitted or provided by the court, there is no official stenographer, and the defendants cannot bring their own stenographer and have been refused permission to engage a professional note-taker. The letter went on to say that interpretations were electronically transmitted to the accused in a way that prevented their representatives and the court from hearing what was being said and that these communications were not merely secretive and kept from lawyers during the hearing, but were not recorded, so they could never be subsequently checked by anyone. The letter also stated that there was no way for prosecution or defence lawyers, the court, human rights monitors or the Government to check for translation accuracy and no way for the defence to correct mistakes at any time. There are limitations in terms of the communication of the defendants with their lawyers. At the very least, will the Government send legal observers to the trial tomorrow and on 22 July? The State needs to be represented there to observe what is happening to an Irish citizen. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  Deputy \u00d3 Laoghaire will appreciate that it is not appropriate for me to comment on the type of legislation or charges that are being taken in another member state. We expect that any other European country would follow fair procedures and rules. That has to be a given and is exactly what I have raised directly with my colleague.  Concerns have been raised with us. In terms of the response, my colleague, the Minister, has said he would engage and relay our concerns or raise the fact that we had raised this particular issue. I appreciate that the conditions in the prison are strict. The rules apply to all prisoners, not just the individual whom Deputies have mentioned or those who were arrested with him. They are all confined to their cells for 23 hours a day. I am told he has access to a gym, prison library and reading materials, as well as there being televisions in prisoners' rooms. I appreciate that this is not an ideal scenario for anybody, but he is in a prison and the conditions are strict and apply to everybody.  I am very clear that we are keeping a very clear focus on the trial and engage regularly with the family. Our consular teams have also regularly engaged with Mr. Tatlow-Devally to make sure that the conditions he has been kept in our, insofar as is possible, are appropriate.  Obviously, when someone is in prison, there will be strict conditions applying, but we want to ensure he is being treated in the most humane and fairest way possible. That engagement will continue.  In terms of legal representation, any issues that may be raised directly relating to the trial are a matter for the legal team to raise. That is what is happening and there is a legal team working to support Daniel. I am keeping a close eye on the situation and have asked my officials to engage regularly with me on it as the trial, which is only starting, proceeds. We will continue to keep in regular contact with the legal team. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  The Minister said all prisoners experience the same conditions. In regard to telephone calls, I outlined my understanding of the situation. If it is not the case, I accept that. My understanding is that calls are constrained in terms of times when they can happen and there have been occasions when they have been denied. I will double-check that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I am happy to get back to the Deputy on that if it is the case. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  We can engage in correspondence. I might be mistaken but that is my understanding of the situation.  In relation to prison conditions and the situation for other prisoners, the question is for what reason those other prisoners are detained. Is it appropriate that Daniel Tatlow-Devally and his co-defendants are in a prison of this kind for damaging property? That is fundamentally the charge at hand but it has escalated because the authorities are using legislation that was intended for use against organised crime. That is the context, and the question is whether his detention under those conditions is appropriate.  The Minister said it needs to be a given that there be a fair trial. So many things hinge on that assumption. The question of whether countries have a fair trial system is part of the assessment process for new EU member states. Many regulations hinge upon it. However, what if it is not a given? That is the fundamental point. That is why having a State representative in place to monitor the trial is important. Will the Minister agree to that? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  Fundamentally, I do not accept that the denial of the right of an Irish citizen to a fair trial is a matter just for his or her legal team. I just do not accept that. It is a concern of the State if an Irish citizen is, in effect, being railroaded through a show trial. The State needs to be represented by an observer at that trial to see what is happening. Deputy Boyd Barrett has been organising a delegation of representatives to go there on 22 July. Deputies Farrell and Duncan Smith are going, as are Lynn Boylan MEP and Senator Stephenson. I hope others will join them.  However, the State itself, and the Minister, need to be represented there in an observer capacity. The senior counsel I mentioned states in the letter I referenced:  It does not strike me from what I have seen that the trial is in conformity with either EU law or the European Convention on Human Rights. Obviously, the Government can take a different view but I do not see how that view can be properly formed other than on the basis of a first-hand observation since there is no independent record being created of what is happening. We need observers for the Irish State on the next occasions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I stress again that it is not appropriate for me as Minister to suggest or dictate where somebody should be detained. I appreciate that people have a view on the prison this individual is in and the conditions under which he is being kept. It is the same situation for all prisoners in that particular prison. It is not for me or anybody here to dictate or decide whether somebody is appropriately placed or otherwise, and nor is it appropriate to comment on the type of legislation under which the person is being charged.  If there is a sense or a view that the trial is not being conducted appropriately, we will respond accordingly. My officials, whom I have asked to engage directly with me on this, are keeping a very close eye on the situation. We are engaging directly with Daniel and his family. As we know, he has direct engagement with his legal team on this matter and a trial is due to start soon. I will monitor the situation and engage directly with my officials on it as things progress. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Irish Prisoners Abroad"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_10","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"EU Membership","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_6","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_6","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_10","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_10.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl  In congratulating the Minister as she embarks on our six-month Presidency of the European Council of Ministers, my question seeks to establish what she feels can be done to expedite Ukrainian and Moldovan membership of the EU. I ask this while welcoming the fact President Zelenskyy was front and centre at the celebrations of Ireland's accession to the Presidency yesterday. However, we must remember that Moldova cannot be left behind. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I acknowledge the colleagues who attended the opening ceremony yesterday. I hope President Zelenskyy's presence has shown not just our own citizens but the rest of Europe and the world that we fully support Ukraine and intend, through our Presidency, to do everything we can to continue that support and to put pressure on Russia. That includes supporting Ukraine on its accession path. I believe, as I think we all believe, that it is the only trajectory for Ukraine. The country is already defending every single one of us in its defence of itself. In so many ways, Ukraine is already part of our European community. It is about making sure we do everything we can to support the process for enlargement. We had that discussion at our bilateral meeting with President Zelenskyy. We discussed a number of things but particularly Ukraine's accession and how we can work towards that over the next six months.  Enlargement is a priority for us during our Presidency. We all know the benefits Ireland has experienced from membership. It is important that we support through the accession process other countries that want to join the European community and the EU. Moldova and Ukraine are two of the current candidate countries. They both applied for membership in 2022 and opened accession negotiations in 2024. Last year's European Commission annual enlargement report indicated that Moldova made the most one-year progress of all candidates during the reporting period. The same report described Ukraine's progress as remarkable. The Commission has confirmed that both countries are technically ready to open all the negotiating clusters.  It was very welcome that the first clusters opened for both Ukraine and Moldova two weeks ago. I acknowledge our colleagues in Cyprus and the work they have done to ensure that progress was made. From my visit to Ukraine earlier this year and from meeting representatives of Moldova, I am conscious of the very serious efforts both countries have been making to meet the challenge of aligning their laws with the EU acquis under unprecedented circumstances. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl  It is no wonder that Cyprus would be very sensitive to territorial integrity. As the Minister said, Ireland is committed to facilitating the opening of all remaining negotiating clusters with Ukraine and Moldova in the next six months. Enlargement is a merit-based process and, as recognised by the Commission, both Moldova and Ukraine have met the technical conditions for the opening of negotiations.  However, there were reports last week that, faced with renewed resistance from Hungary, the EU has been forced to change its plans and now aims to unblock two, rather than five, accession clusters with Ukraine and Moldova before the summer break. The suggestion is that the Union has scaled back its ambitions for Ukraine's accession talks and is now targeting the opening of just two negotiating clusters, not five, in July. That would be regrettable. The Minister fully appreciates how vital progress is to Ukraine in the context of the current conflict. She will also appreciate how equally vital it is to Moldova, which really reminds me of Ireland in the 1950s, that it not be isolated, that it move forward in tandem with Ukraine and that its membership be actively expedited. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  As I was saying, great efforts have been made by both countries, particularly by Ukraine in what are unimaginable conditions, to make the changes they are making. That is why we want to support them in the best way we can. It is why, when I was in Ukraine earlier this year, I met with civil society groups that are playing a key role in advocating for and bringing forward those changes as quickly as possible.  The Deputy rightly pointed out some of the challenges we will face. For some time, under the Government of Viktor Orb\u00e1n, we had significant challenges in reaching consensus to move forward on a number of supports for Ukraine, not least the \u20ac90 billion loan that was previously agreed by the Council leaders. That blockage has been removed and, thanks to the new Government under P\u00e9ter Magyar, we have had the opening of the first round of clusters. Unfortunately, a potential blockage or issue has now emerged in regard to the opening of the remaining clusters. We are ambitious to open all five during our Presidency. That might not be straightforward but it just needs engagement and political dialogue. We need to work closely with all 26 member states to make sure issues of concern can be addressed and that we work towards opening all the remaining clusters.  I would, of course, like to see both countries moving together. They started this process together and they have worked together on getting to where they are now. We want to work closely with both of them in order to open the remaining clusters.  As we all know, once the clusters are opened that is the start of another process and obviously that takes time as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl  I think we are disappointed that the new government in Hungary is still causing some difficulties. I appreciate the need for sensitive negotiations with that new government so that it bring Hungary fully in line with European values, which would be very much supportive of this integration. The other matter is that there is a new government in Moldova, which has worked assiduously and has achieved great progress in preparing for EU membership. The issue of Transnistria, the occupied territory there, is a problem. Will the Minister assure us that she is and her fellow foreign ministers are conscious of this? Will she assure us that by continuing the occupation of Transnistria, the Russians are not going to be enabled to in some way frustrate the progress of Moldova moving towards full EU membership? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I am very conscious of the issue the Deputy has raised. Unfortunately, when we look at any of the countries on their path towards accession, nothing is straightforward for any country. Unfortunately, there are issues with individual member states and issues among those accession countries as well that still need to be resolved. That is why it takes as long as it does for a lot of countries. When I was in this role in European affairs ten years ago we were talking about Montenegro, Albania and other countries nearly being there. Now, ten years on, we hope to get Montenegro over the line later this year. We are working on the accession treaty. We hold the pen now for the next six months. We hope to close as many chapters as we can with Albania. Obviously, with Moldova and Ukraine we want to make as much progress as possible. We do have to work in consensus, and with all other countries to address concerns they may have, while at the same time supporting progress on the ground. Just because clusters have not opened, it does not mean the governments of Ukraine and Moldova cannot continue to make the reforms, whether in rule of law, civil areas and other areas, that need to happen, so that they are as ready as they can be. We will work to open as many of the clusters as we can, if not all of them, during our Presidency, and we will do that through consensus, working with all 26 member states and working closely with Moldova and Ukraine.  In terms of what this means for them, it is absolutely essential. In terms of our overall security and sending a very clear message to Russia that we fully support Ukraine and that it is part of our community, this is an important step in the process as well. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"EU Membership"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_11","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Northern Ireland","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_6","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_6","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_11","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_11.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  I thank Deputy Gould sincerely for bringing forward this very timely issue. Supporting the all-island economy is a priority for the Government. This continues to grow, with figures for cross-Border trade now at over \u20ac17.2 billion. The institutions of the Good Friday Agreement help us co-operate with and understand one another, North and South, east and west, for the benefit of all the citizens of these islands. Since the restoration of the institutions in 2024, the North-South Ministerial Council has met 49 times across different formats to facilitate practical North-South co-operation in a breadth of areas. The Department of foreign affairs also continues to engage with business and stakeholders on North-South issues.  The all-island economy is also supported by the Windsor Framework, which protects the gains of the Good Friday Agreement and provides certainty for people and businesses across the island of Ireland. It ensures that Northern Ireland retains access to the EU\u2019s Single Market for goods, and, crucially, avoids a hard border on the island of Ireland. The Government also invests in the all-island economy through the shared island initiative which is enhancing co-operation, connection, and mutual understanding. Since 2020, over \u20ac 1 billion has been allocated to a range of major cross-Border projects and programmes. Last week, the Government announced \u20ac377 million in shared-island funding, including for major infrastructure investments in transport, energy and health. The shared island initiative engages with all communities and traditions to build consensus around a shared future, regardless of whatever shape future constitutional change may take on the island, or between these islands.  The Government has always stated that in the event of a future referendum, within the consent provisions of the Good Friday Agreement, it will make all necessary preparations in accordance with the terms of the Constitution and the principles and procedures of the agreement. I look forward to working through some of these issues with the Deputy over the next few minutes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  The Minister of State spoke about all the necessary preparations if there is to be a referendum. It is nearly 30 years since the Good Friday Agreement. Now is the time to honour and commemorate the 30th anniversary by having these conversations. While I welcome Fine Gael's announcement about a blueprint for a unified Ireland, it is not a united Ireland. I recognise, however, it is a step in the conversation. Bringing forward a united Ireland is not just Sinn F\u00e9in's job; it is the job of all political parties and none. It is the job of all aspects of society to come forward with solutions. We want to engage with everyone - with unionists, loyalists, people of all different faiths and different politicians on the whole island. To move forward with a referendum on a united Ireland, we need to have the citizens' assembly. We are asking the Government to bring this forward. We will have Private Members' business in the D\u00e1il next week and that will be a vital part of it. We are asking to engage with all members of the Government to bring that forward. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  I will try to answer this as much politically as well as from a departmental and ministerial point of view. I acknowledge the Deputy's comments in relation to the T\u00e1naiste's announcement in recent days. The name of my party is Fine Gael, or The United Ireland Party. I have been speaking about this for my entire political career. I go back to Dr. Garret FitzGerald's book Towards a New Ireland from 1972 and his work on bringing about an Anglo-Irish Agreement over 40 years ago that gave Dublin a say. I participated at many meetings of Ireland's Future. Just last week our former party leader and iar-Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, spoke at an SDLP conference, which was very well attended.  I do not disagree with the principle of a citizens' assembly. I believe that we will not oppose the Sinn F\u00e9in Private Members' business next week. There were two motions in the last calendar year in the Seanad and the D\u00e1il that the Government did not oppose.  I believe a citizens' assembly should be held after the British Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has deemed that a poll is necessary. In that window, where the Secretary of State says a poll is needed and before that happens, we should have the citizens' assembly. We would use the workings of that citizens' assembly to make sure that when people go to vote in the referendum, there are two clear objectives. I am not looking to be confrontational or political about it but I fear that if we had a citizens' assembly now, there would 50% attendance and we would not have the richness of conversation as opposed having a citizens' assembly where people knew there would be a legally binding referendum and a vote. People would play their part and would know what they were voting on. That is my opinion on it but I would welcome a conversation on it, if that makes sense. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  Our Private Members' business next week will move forward the conversation on unity. It will provide that the Taoiseach publish a Green Paper on the means of consultation with the people on the entire island. This would mean the Government setting out ideas on our vision for health, education, public service and the economy. What it would really mean would be the Government outlining the steps we would see for a united Ireland and what it would mean to people, North and South. We are not trying to impose this on people. We are trying to start a conversation and we want people to engage.  I hear what the Minister of State is saying in relation to waiting for the Secretary of State but if we were to wait on the British, we would not be where we are now. We need to move forward, not in an adversarial way but to lead. This needs to be led by the Government. I hope the Secretary of State will come forward but if we are waiting for the British to announce a poll and then react, that is too late. We need to be working in advance. If we work in advance and have these conversations, we hopefully will bring people together. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Conor Sheehan)  Thank you, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  I will finish on this. I know we will never get everyone to agree but if everyone feels they have been listened to and they are part of the conversation, they may think there is an opportunity to move forward. I believe the vast majority of people want a united Ireland. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  Just to clarify, it is not a matter of waiting for someone. It is the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. Ultimately, the responsibility to deem whether a border poll is necessary lies with the British Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. That is just a legal fact. Deputy Gould and I might not like it but we cannot fight it. It is not a matter of waiting. In my opinion, it is a period to use those two years to learn from the lessons of Brexit and the Scottish independence referendum and identify the issues.  I look forward to speaking on Sinn F\u00e9in's Private Members' Bill next week from both a personal point of view and a ministerial point of view. The conversation has long since started - we all know that - but since the post-Brexit years it has stepped into a very different space for a lot of individuals on this island, who perhaps were not at that stage and have been facilitated in more non-confrontational aspects to do that. From my party's point of view, that is certainly what we want to bring forward. Our vision of unity will probably be different from Deputy Gould's vision of unity but that is okay, and that is something people need to realise in due course.  To go back to the key point of the all-island economy and the here and now, that is where the Government has the immediate responsibility to develop those very tangible links such as when Senator Conor Murphy, as the then Minister for the Economy of Northern Ireland, and I set up the first all-island trade mission. These are the sort of things we need to work on in the here and now. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 14 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Northern Ireland"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_12","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Overseas Development Aid","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_6","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_6","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_12","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_12.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl  I have just returned from a visit to Nepal. It was my second visit to that absolutely wonderful country. However, it is a country afflicted by dire poverty, where 20% of the population live below the poverty line. We have seen in March of this year the election of a new Government that promises to bring radical change to a country where there has been an unsettled political situation for quite some time. It strikes me that Nepal is one country where leprosy still exists as an indication of real and dire poverty. What can we do to help? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  I am very grateful to Deputy \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl for raising an issue and a country that, perhaps, never receives the sort of attention it deserves.  The Government's international development programme, Irish Aid, works globally to support the furthest behind first, focusing the major part of our official development assistance on the world's least developed countries. Nepal is classified as a least developed country. We have a number of multi-annual commitments in place for assistance in Nepal, and funding levels are expected to stay largely stable for the duration of these commitments.  Through the main funding mechanism for Irish-based international development organisations, Ireland's civil society partnership for a better world, we are providing \u20ac270,000 annually for Action Aid Ireland\u2019s work in Nepal. This work addresses the structural causes of gender-based violence, promotes women\u2019s empowerment and leadership and helps address the impact of climate change.  Through the civil society fund, we are providing \u20ac300,000 to support the work of smaller Irish organisations active in Nepal. These include the Irish Red Cross, the Nepal Leprosy Trust and the Social and Health Education Project. I have met two of those in very recent months when we brought the organisations specifically working on leprosy together at the Irish Aid offices in Limerick. Their projects focus on promoting social inclusion as well as improving health and well-being for the most vulnerable, including people affected by leprosy. Capacity-strengthening supports are also provided.  Through our partnership with Misean Cara, which supports missionaries working to empower those left furthest behind, Ireland also provides support to education. In 2025, just under \u20ac94,000 in Irish Aid funding was allocated by Misean Cara for projects seeking to address school dropout rates among marginalised communities and children with disabilities in one of the most isolated districts of Nepal, as well as providing education on non-communicable diseases.  Through the embassy in New Delhi, which is accredited to Nepal, support was also provided to five smaller projects. These were focused on empowering people with disabilities, mental health, women and girls, and promotion of local economic growth through environmentally sustainable work. In 2025, total development assistance to Nepal through these channels amounted to \u20ac700,000. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl  I thank the Minister of State for his response and sincere interest in this matter. It struck me when looking at this that 2,300 people migrate from Nepal every single day and 30% of the GDP of the country comes from remittances. There has been political chaos for a long time in a country populated by people of incredible dignity, who have an interest in education, who are committed to progress and peace, and there is a serenity about the people of Nepal that is quite something to behold.  Balendra Shah is the new Prime Minister. He is a young man of 36 years of age and a former mayor of Kathmandu. He promises to bring change but he will need support from countries like Ireland. Turning to our Presidency, I would appeal to see Ireland play a leading role during the course of our Presidency in encouraging Europe to do more. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  It is really important to mention that over the last number of years Nepal has, unfortunately, been the victim of a number of very serious natural disasters. In 2023, a 5.7 magnitude earthquake struck, killing 153 people and injuring 400, at which time Ireland, through the Red Cross and Red Crescent, contributed to an EU aid package of \u20ac2 million. In April 2015, a more devastating earthquake of 7.2 magnitude struck just north west of Kathmandu. It was the worst in 80 years and over 8,700 people died. In response, Ireland directly provided \u20ac1.6 million in humanitarian response.  I note the Deputy's comment that, following very real youth protests and what was a sort of Gen z movement, we saw in March the election of 275 members and a new Prime Minister, a man younger than me, from the national independent party. I actually met his predecessor this week last year in Seville. The undertaking, regardless of who the leadership comprises in Nepal, is that Ireland will continue to be a partner at a bilateral level and also, crucially, at a European level and there is a great opportunity for that in due course. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl  I am delighted to see the Minister of State has such a sense of youth about himself. The thing that struck me as well about that recent election, when I was there to participate in a training programme organised by INTER PARES for new parliamentarians, was the huge number of young people, even younger than the Minister of State, who have been elected to that new parliament. The deputy speaker of the parliament is a 25-year-old lady who has never held any political office before.  To go back to my original question, can we please use our good offices to create some sort of system within Europe whereby Europe offers more genuine support to this wonderful country to help it make the progress that it is capable of making but which it needs support in achieving? Let us remember that this country still has the plague of leprosy in its diverse communities. They are living in the Himalayas, in valleys and mountains and in very dispersed locations. Can we please, through Europe, do more to help? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  This will bring me to a broader section but I want to very much keep Nepal in the mind's eye because it is a key partner of the EU and one of the main areas where the EU provides supports is in the area of good governance, which would be of great support to the new, young parliament. Deputy \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl described issues in relation to migration, remittances and poverty. There are over 3,000 Nepalese citizens here in the Republic and only 40 Irish citizens in Nepal, who are mainly doing voluntary and missionary work in the aid sector.  It comes back to the whole area of development co-operation, which is an area completely under attack. We are living at a time when the EU and its member states represent over 50% of global development co-operation and if we throw in Britain and Norway, that rises to two thirds. That is due not just to the decision of the United States but to many other actors and that is having a direct consequence. Over the next number of months, there is a real weight on the shoulders of Ireland to develop huge progress on agreeing an EU budget, the multi-annual financial framework. Key to that is making sure that the ring-fenced commitment to development co-operation and humanitarian aid is supported and that that, in turn, will support countries like Nepal. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Overseas Development Aid"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_13","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Middle East","counts":{"speechCount":3,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_6","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_6","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_13","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_13.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  Despite Palestine fading somewhat from the headlines, the UN independent international commission of inquiry has found that Israel continues to commit genocide in Gaza by targeting children. All states have a positive duty to act to prevent and stop genocide, so what is the Department doing in reaction to this report and its findings? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 40 together.  Like the Deputy and everybody else who has seen this report or heard about what it contains, I am beyond concerned. The elements and the findings of the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory are absolutely appalling. I stress that because I know there have been attempts to suggest that this is some kind of targeted job, that there is an attempt here to undermine the Israeli Government or the Israel Defense Forces, IDF, or that facts have been made up. This is a completely independent inquiry on the Palestinian territory. It is the first such commission of inquiry report to focus specifically on children and it adds new evidence and analysis to previous reports. It is a significant piece of work and something we take extremely seriously. I want to stress that. I think all member states do and all countries should take it extremely seriously.  As I said, the findings are disturbing, in particular the finding that the Israel Defense Forces have deliberately targeted children. We have all probably seen footage or clips or heard accounts from doctors in particular, where there are children coming in with very specific injuries and where the view is very clear that they have been targeted directly. Importantly, and more horrifically, it suggests that post ceasefire, this action is still happening. It is absolutely devastating and has to be investigated further. We would fully support any further investigation by the UN or any other independent commission of inquiry in this regard.  Israel must respect international and humanitarian law, and this report very clearly shows that it is not doing so. Clear obligations exist, as set out under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. They must be adhered to. All state parties have to uphold the rights of children in armed conflict and this report very clearly says that is not the case. The report was the focus of a side event on 26 June hosted by the Palestinian mission in Geneva with Save the Children during the ongoing session of the Human Rights Council. We co-sponsored this event alongside Spain and South Africa.  The commission of genocide is ultimately a matter of law that must be determined by a court or a judicial body. South Africa has taken the case. I mentioned earlier that under the Genocide Convention, we have filed a declaration of intervention in that case specifically with the ICJ. We continue to follow the case very closely. We have also filed a detailed written submission with the ICJ as part of the advisory proceedings concerning the obligations of Israel in relation to the UN and other international organisations, as well as states, in the occupied Palestinian territories. We have vocally and consistently called for appropriate actions in response to Israeli breaches of human rights and democratic principles. We use all the tools at our disposal - political, legal and diplomatic - to advocate for peace, accountability and an end to the Israeli Government's devastating policies in Gaza and the West Bank. We fully support accountability for Israel's egregious breaches of international law.  To that effect, I have made it very clear in my engagement on this matter - and not just with the EU High Representative, Ms Kaja Kallas - that during our Presidency, this matter will remain firmly on the agenda. This is a matter in respect of which I believe the EU needs to do more. Our credibility is completely at stake, if not already somewhat on the floor, regarding this matter. We need to be stronger in responding to what are very clear international human rights violations. There is a report here that says children are being specifically targeted in a conflict and in a post-conflict environment. If this does not make other countries stand up and listen, then I am not sure what else will.  I have no doubt that at the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council which Ireland will host as part of its Presidency on 13 July other member states will reference this. It is something I will be strongly highlighting in our discussion with the Commission, when it brings forward - and I am assured it will have them before that meeting - proposals on how the EU could potentially respond collectively to what is happening. I know it is specific to the West Bank but, as far as I am concerned, any of the actions we take are in response to the West Bank, the situation in Lebanon, the disastrous humanitarian situation in Gaza and all of these reports that suggest what we thought and somewhat knew was happening prior to the ceasefire is unfortunately still happening on the ground. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Conor Sheehan)  Unfortunately, we are out of time. That concludes oral questions to the Minister for foreign affairs. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Middle East"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_14","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Teachtaireacht \u00f3 Roghchoiste - Message from Select Committee","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_14","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Conor Sheehan)  The Select Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment has completed its consideration of the Industrial Development (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2026 and has made no amendments thereto. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Teachtaireacht \u00f3 Roghchoiste - Message from Select Committee"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_15","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_16","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Technological Universities","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_15","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_16","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donna McGettigan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_16.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donna McGettigan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donna McGettigan  Will the Minister carry out a full review of technological universities to ensure that they are reaching the targets set out for them when they were established? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Deputy James Lawless)  Advancing the technological university, TU, and institute of technology, IoT, sector is a major priority for Government, and for me. This is evidenced by significant targeted investment over many years and demonstrates our commitment to balanced regional development, building research and innovation capacity and with it, Ireland\u2019s global competitiveness, all while increasing access to university education for more students and delivering it on a regional basis as the TUs are doing.  My Department has provided extensive funding and support to aid the TUs that are undergoing extensive and complex transformation programmes. Most recently, I announced allocations of up to \u20ac65.8 million under the targeted enhancement fund, TEF, to support the continued transformation and strategic development of higher education institutions in the technological sector and publicly funded specialist colleges. That TEF funding is to enhance that offering in terms of capabilities and everything from information technology, IT, systems to project management and human resources management, and make sure they are fully strengthened and given the capacity-building supports they require.  At this point, legacy management structures in the IoTs, have transitioned to new cross-campus executive university management structures in four of the five TUs. The predecessors in the IoTs have been amalgamated into cross-campus executive teams. The final one, South East Technological University, SETU, is in transition and is currently being assessed. These roles are critical in supporting the TUs to deliver the strategic missions.  Additionally, I expect to see further progression now that I have sanctioned a new professor grade for TUs, which I secured Cabinet approval for just last December. That will support the TUs in their engagement, education, research and innovation capacities. I have also distributed over \u20ac223 million in capital funding to the sector across a variety of programmes over the past term, and I continue to work on the metrics under the TU Act, working towards the ambitions to make sure they are an absolute success. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donna McGettigan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donna McGettigan  I am not sure if the Minister is familiar with the recent report published by two Munster Technological University researchers. When asked if Irish TUs are failing, they concluded that the Irish TU project has been characterised by financial pressure, the death of regional provision in higher education, mission drift and confused policymaking, and that it has failed to meet any key targets. I acknowledge a lot of this was carried out before the Department of further and higher education was even established but it is still important to reflect on the success or failure of the concept.  Reading the report, the Higher Education Authority, HEA, was set on forcing IoT mergers through impoverishment of smaller institutions, and that there was a drop of 38% in State funding. Academic staff issues were largely ignored. There was very little meaningful engagement. In their applications for TU designation, all consortia stated that they expected increased student numbers and all except Technological University Dublin, TUD, stated that they expected an extra increase over the short term due to TU designation but this bounce never came to pass. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  I am aware of the report. I have read it. I should say that has not yet been peer reviewed. It is a draft report by two academics in, I think, Tralee that is in circulation . I am open to all feedback and suggestions, but I add the caveat that it has not yet been peer reviewed. Other academics I have spoken to do not think it will pass the peer review process, but that is open-ended.  It is a curious report in many ways. One of the claims it contains is to the effect that the planned amalgamation between Dundalk Institute of Technology, DKIT, and Queen's University Belfast is a system failure. I find that quite extraordinary, because I think that is a great, ambitious and exciting all-island university project. It depends where you are coming from and I think those academics may have a particular axe to grind. They are entitled to have that - it is their prerogative - but I certainly would not share all of the report's findings. There may be hitting some points but I think it is a curious perspective they have taken.  More generally, I would say that TUs are not failing. The number of students, including research students, at the TUs continues to grow. There might be ups and downs, as in any sector, but, widely, they are growing, and they certainly they continue to invest.  We have a number of exciting, new courses. For example, the new professional veterinary course will be offered in both Atlantic Technological University, ATU, and South East Technological University, SETU, from this September. I might come back on this point in the next round. There are many new courses coming on stream. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donna McGettigan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donna McGettigan  As I said, this all started before this Department was created but there are a few outstanding questions. There is a difference in the salaries of TU graduates compared with those from the university sector. A total of \u20ac363 million was spent. Does the Minister think that represents value for money?  The Minister talked about research students, but there is a difference in this regard. Smaller institutions seem to be losing out while the larger ones seem to be gaining in some cases. That causes implications for the balance of power within the university sector and poses significant challenges to regional provision.  There are questions around fees for consultants. It is a massive issue, particularly when some consultants were appointed outside the procurement process. Some of them were former senior Government authorities, appointed to the very institutions they were responsible for regulating. A report on the whole needs to be looked at. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  I am always open to feedback. The academics and authors of that report are entitled to their views, as are others. I just do not share all of their conclusions. As the Deputy said, the consultant spending was before my time. A lot of it was before the Department even existed. The TU sector on the whole has been an enormous success, however. We now have TUs up and down the country. We have regional universities in Letterkenny, Tralee and Waterford, places which never had university status before. There are many other locations as well. It is exciting for those regional areas and towns and their hinterlands.  I mentioned the veterinary course in ATU. That means that we now have veterinary students coming through from Donegal, Sligo and the north west who do not have to travel to Dublin or, even worse, Poland for their professional education. I was in Waterford recently launching the new SEAM lab, which is a material science facility as part of SETU. It will engage in exciting, leading-edge and enterprise-focused research. The TUs have been a tremendous success already, providing world-class university education in the regions, along with investment in research.  In respect of reviews, spending controls etc. the HEA has commissioned a review of both the technological university transformation fund, TUTF, and the technological sector advancement fund, TSAF. There are reports under way. We always have to ensure we are getting value for money, spending competitively and getting resources to meet our approach. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Technological Universities"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_17","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Third Level Fees","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":4},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_15","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_17.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  The summer break is ahead. I am sure many leaving certificate students are relaxing on a beach somewhere. Others have got jobs and are planning the year ahead. They are trying to figure out what they are going to do next year, how they are going to do it, where they are going to live, etc. However, what they want to know the most is the level of fees next year and whether it will be reduced. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  I thank the Deputy. I wish all students sitting examinations the very best of luck, as well as all those students who are coming to an end of their secondary education, whether they are going to college, further education or elsewhere. Like the Deputy, I will not get much of a break. While this House breaks up in two or three weeks\u2019 time, I will host the European research Ministers the week after that. There are a number of engagements over the summer as part of the Presidency. We will all be busy in our constituencies as well. I hope those in this House get some break, however. It is important to get a chance to recharge.  While there are several hundred commitments in the programme for Government, every year, this budgetary measure seems to be the one that gets asked four or five months ahead of the budget process. No more than any Minister in any Department, I simply cannot write the October budget in June or July. However, I will engage with the Ministers in the Department of Finance and the Department of public expenditure on this. A budget Estimate package is being put together in my Department. I am working with my officials to devise it. It will focus on the cost of college and supporting students in every way I can. That can be multifaceted. While it can include fees, it may also include areas such as SUSI, student accommodation, cost of travel, cost of materials and a variety of other things, such as placements. We will be engaging on all of those areas. Certainly, it would be premature for me to make any prediction, good, bad or indifferent, as to the content of my budget package four months out.  I will recap on some of the measures I have introduced already because it is important to put them on the record again. In the previous budget, I was pleased to introduce the first ever permeant fee cut for students since free fees were introduced almost 30 years ago with a \u20ac500 permanent reduction. It replaced the transient, previous cost-of-living measures, which were only ever temporary and could not be relied upon year to year. The \u20ac500 reduction is here to stay. It has benefitted an estimated 108,000 undergraduate students and 14,000 apprentices. That reduction cost \u20ac55.4 million this year. It is baked in at the baseline. While I may well do more every year, that reduction is there to stay. It is not temporary like previous measures. As I said, going into the budget ahead, I will again be engaging on fees and many other items. While fees are extremely important for anyone who is liable to pay them, many families and students do not pay them at all because they are subsidised, either in full or in part, by the SUSI grant system. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  I know people were happy with the reduction. It is swings and roundabouts as to whether the total level went up or down, but it is what it is. No one in this House can deny the challenges students face. Of course, there are students who do not pay because of SUSI. I appreciate that the threshold for SUSI increased, but there are students stuck in the middle. This is the challenge. We have heard of students sleeping in cars or dropping out because they cannot afford it. Some students are working almost full-time jobs to get through their college course. This is not what we want. As I have said before in this House, the love of learning is why we want students to go to third level, whatever course they decide to do.  Students who have just finished the leaving certificate or the leaving certificate applied have been under huge pressure. They need time to figure out who they are and what they want to do and discover what the future might hold for them. However, if they are under massive pressure during this time, they will not be able to do that. That will cause students to leave third level education, which will affect their self-esteem and all the different parts of their life. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  I am committed to continue to reduce the cost of college and support measures, including fee reductions, wherever I can. Let us talk to the two cohorts the Deputy mentioned. Students sleeping in cars is an appalling vista. Of course, no student should be in that situation. If those students are paying fees, something has gone badly wrong. The only students who should be paying full fees \u2013 they are \u20ac2,500 because they have been reduced by \u20ac500 on a flat rate \u2013 are those students in households with an income above \u20ac120,000. If a student has a household income of \u20ac120,000 and is sleeping in a car, something is not adding up. I invite any student in that situation to engage with me. Alternatively, they can engage with the Deputy and she can bring it to my attention. We can then see whether something is slipping through the cracks because that should not be happening.  When it comes to students working full time, I have increased the student disregard for SUSI eligibility to ensure that students\u2019 part-time work is not counted against them when they are applying for their grants.  I have also taken a number of other measures as well as increasing the threshold to \u20ac120,000, which brought more and more students into the system. When it comes to the non-adjacent rates, I increased the grants for any student who has to travel 30 km or more to college. There is also more funding for students with disabilities or mental health challenges. A variety of packages have been introduced in the last budget. I hope to do a lot more in the coming budget but four months out is too early to outline exactly what it will contain. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  The Minister is right about students sleeping in their car whose parents earn over \u20ac100,000. While \u20ac100,000 is a huge amount of money, the difficulty and challenge are when there are several children in the family also in college or doing things. That puts pressure on family budgets. We have also spoken in this Chamber about students who are alienated from their parents but cannot access SUSI grants because their income is based on what their parents earn. We need to iron that out. While we are talking about a small number of students in this situation, we need to iron it out completely to have an education system inclusive of everyone.  Of course, it is not just young people struggling with fees. Older people who decide to go back to college are also affected. It is a huge strain on them. I am aware of a mother who is under huge pressure. She is a lone parent and has to pay fees on top of paying rent and trying to get her kids through things. It is a challenge. We need to be as supportive as we can. It is not just about those aged 17 and 18 going to college; it is also about the older person who decides to go back to college or go to college for the first time. They need to be supported as much as we can. Broadly, it may work for most, but it does not work for everyone, and we must focus on including everyone. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  I agree with what the Deputy said. For the record, it is \u20ac120,000 rather than \u20ac100,000. I increased the threshold last year. Indeed, the T\u00e1naiste, when he held this portfolio, increased it before me. We have continued to increase that threshold to the level that up to 70% of Irish households now qualify for at least some form of fee subvention. In fact, all benefit from the universal measures but 70% of households are now eligible for other supports.  The Deputy mentioned the scenario of multiple children from a household attending college. These are the cases I would like to look at in a bit more detail in order to see how they might be dealt with by means of targeted measures as opposed to taking a one-size-fits-all approach, which we may well do also. We must consider whether there are particular courses that are missing out at the moment and on which we could focus? The Deputy mentioned the alienation scenario, which is always raised with me and which I am taking a good look at in order to identify what we can do.  There are a number of other measures. The student accommodation strategy is up and running. Some results have begun to emerge already and some proposals emanating from the strategy in terms of greater accommodation provision. I hope to see that being accelerated as fast as possible. We have invited all colleges to make submissions in respect of the strategy. There are a number of different facets to the cost of attending college and making life easier for students. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I call Deputy Kenny. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  There is a question in my name, but Deputy McGettigan's question is the next to be taken. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Third Level Fees"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_18","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Transport Infrastructure Ireland","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_15","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donna McGettigan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_18.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donna McGettigan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donna McGettigan  Will the Minister initiate a discussion around commuter student terminology? Will he recognise the poor experience of the many commuter students in the higher education system? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  For some students, commuting to college may be a practical choice if they live close to campus. For many others, however, it is not a choice; it is a necessity. This is not about preferences; it arises as a result of accommodation shortages. Two of my daughters recently commuted to college, so I understand it gives rise to an additional burden and can be an impediment in terms of full participation in campus life. One of the things I have said is that it is an absolute goal of mine to allow students to have the full college experience, which means experiencing broader education, taking courses outside of their core disciplines, taking part in the whole networking experience, participating in student societies and doing all of the things that are part of college life. The provision of high-quality student accommodation at scale on campus is a lever to unlock that. It is critical that we deliver this.  In the context of those students who are commuting for their own reasons, including with regard to the distance they live from campus or for family reasons, it is important to recognise that we want to support them in terms of their need to commute and what we can do in each case. We provide student accommodation for those who want to live on campus or adjacent to it, but we also want to support the commuter student experience in other ways.  The national student accommodation strategy published in March found that in 2024, the most recent year for which data are available, 18% of students living at home experienced commutes that are considered to be excessive. That highlights the ongoing need for suitable accommodation, and that is central to the planning in the student accommodation strategy. One of the reasons I increased the level of grants in the most recent budget was to recognise the additional costs for students who are commuting and travelling long distances. People also have access to the student assistance fund, student accommodation systems and 1916 bursary. An additional \u20ac10.5 million has been made available this year to support those students, and 30,000 or more undergraduate and postgraduate students have benefited as a result. Collectively, those measures recognise the additional burden faced by students who are commuting to college and should go some way towards assisting them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donna McGettigan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donna McGettigan  I take this opportunity to mention a study by Professor Liz Thomas that was informed by a commitment to institutional change rather than just expecting commuter students to fit in with unreformed higher education institutions, HEIs, which states:  This would be facilitated by an institutional enabling environment which involves aligning institutional policies, processes and organisations, and engaging with stakeholders from senior leadership to staff and students around a shared goal of an inclusive experience and equitable outcomes ...  I have spoken to students about this. I spoke to students at Jigsaw yesterday who informed me that they feel that nobody seems to be talking or speaking to them about this and that they want to be recognised as a group. They said it is a burning issue for them. One of the issues they spoke about was having to get public transport at times that do not match up with their lectures. They get to college very early and do not get home until late at night. They have to leave early. The Minister says he wants them to enjoy the whole college experience, but they are not able to do this. Because of the issue with buses, some of them are missing lectures. There is a poor outcome in some data which shows that those making long commutes are suffering. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  I talk to students all the time. I have almost daily interactions with them. I also meet formally with AML\u00c9 on a regular basis. I sad down with its representatives very recently and had a good chat. That is an ongoing conversation I am involved in.  In terms of what initiatives can be taken, I welcome the Deputy\u2019s reference to Professor Thomas's report. If she wants to share it with me, I will be to look at it and see if we can action some of the recommendations it contains. One thing we are actioning is a new pilot initiative to bring together the higher education institutions, the National Transport Authority, NTA, councils and transport operators to look at a pilot scheme to improve sustainable commuting for students and to consider the different routes and timetables and the journeys that students make in order to see if can we make sure they are all aligned and synchronised to support the student experience. The Government has supported young people with the young adult Leap card, which complements the student Leap card and which offers a 50% discount on travel fares across the Transport for Ireland network. That is practical assistance. My children use the student Leap card, which is a very helpful and practical support. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donna McGettigan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donna McGettigan  I very much welcome the NTA, local councils and students being brought together. That is going to be very positive in terms of helping those who are commuting. The TU students' union also brought out a report. It states that approximately 25% of students say they have to commute for two hours or more. When I spoke to students about having to commute on buses for that length of time, we discussed whether they could use it as study time. However, it emerged that travel sickness would prevent some people using it for that purpose. That is on top of everything else. It will be great if that group works out and if helps students, because then will then be able to enjoy some of the overall college experience. At the end of the day, however, as the Minister mentioned earlier, the lack of student and affordable accommodation is an issue, particularly when it comes to trying to resolve the situation in its entirety. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  I used to commute by train and would try to get a bit of work done, but it depends on the nature of a person's journey and whether they suffer from travel sickness or whatever. This goes back to the core point I made at the start that while some students might find it convenient and preferable, it would be really unfair to suggest - and I would never do so - that students are doing it by choice in all cases. Some people just have no choice and would prefer to have accommodation close to campus. That is why we have a pilot scheme.  I have engaged with the Minister, Deputy O\u2019Brien, in the context of our Departments working together on this matter. I am looking to drill down into the detail of smarter travel plans and of aligning matters. When we are meet representatives of colleges, they will inform us that there is a pattern of issues, including no bus stops outside lecture halls, students having to walk a mile down the road or whatever to get a bus or timetables not being aligned with lecture times. There are quick wins that we can identify by means of the pilot scheme. We can also look at ways to pull everything together in a way that works better for students and colleges. There may well be some relatively easy changes that we can make. If there are, we will certainly make them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I apologise to Deputy McGettigan for getting the call wrong earlier. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Transport Infrastructure Ireland"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_19","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Apprenticeship Programmes","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_15","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_19","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_19.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  There is a positive aspect to this question. In the context of the way in which apprenticeship provision is funded through his Department, does the Minister expect the funding in question to be used to increase administrative and support staffing in line with the growth in apprenticeship numbers, for the recruitment of additional lecturing staff, technicians, and heads of trades, given that some institutions have recorded an increase in apprenticeship registration of up to 72%, without any corresponding increase in administrative staff. We have seen an increase in the number of apprenticeships people are taking up. In lie with that, the number of administrative staff and those teaching apprentices must also be increased. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  As the Deputy said, very fairly and positively, investing in Ireland\u2019s apprenticeship system is a central priority for me, as Minister, and my Department. Investment in the apprenticeship system has more than doubled, from a base of \u20ac184 million in 2020 to more than \u20ac415 million this year. That is very significant increase in investment in the apprenticeship sector. It reflects the Government's focus on the apprenticeship system and includes support staff, administrative staff and staff in other roles.  I am not aware of the specific case the Deputy referenced. He mentioned that there are some cases where support and administrative staff to go with the apprentices have not been provided. I am very open to the Deputy coming to me with the details in that regard. I will then be happy to interrogate the matter a little further if there is an issue in a particular location.  Higher education institutions are autonomous bodies with responsibility for managing their own staff and resources. My Department provides them with significant funding, but, to an extent, how they manage that in terms of staff hires or otherwise, is within their own control and remit.  This year, my Department is providing \u20ac113 million in apprenticeship funding to the HEA. That money will be suballocated to the higher education institutions. It covers the full costs of delivery, including operational costs like those relating to staffing. For craft apprenticeships, funding is provided by means of block grants, with a set amount allocated to each apprenticeship training block delivered by individual providers.  That allocation covers all apprenticeship costs, including teaching, technical and administrative staff costs. For consortia-led apprenticeships, the Higher Education Authority agrees a unit cost with providers that covers the full cost of delivery, including staff costs. Decisions on recruitment, deployment and internal resourcing are matters for the institution themselves, but notwithstanding that, I am happy to have a look at the individual case. I might refer it on to the relevant HEI or education and training board, ETB, as appropriate. If the Deputy likes, he can bring it to my attention and I can do that.  More broadly, SOLAS has been tasked with working through the apprenticeship system and making sure that we address any backlogs that have arisen and fast-track the creation of more places. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  That is appreciated. Institutions have come to me directly to say that, although they understand that they are the ones that deploy staff to the busiest departments of their institutions, they feel that there is not enough funding coming to them to do so, given the increase in apprenticeships in all of their institutions.  While I thank the Minister for giving me the opportunity to focus on one particular institution, there is a broader aspect to this question. We have seen a significant number of people taking up apprenticeship roles in this country, which is positive and I thank the Minister and his officials in the Department for that. Is the Department looking at giving additional funding for the institutions to provide them with the opportunity to employ more staff, including technicians and administrative staff, so that they can keep pace with the number of students coming to them looking for help with their apprenticeships? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  A few recent recruitment drives have been undertaken. SOLAS launched a recruitment campaign in late 2024 for new further education and training, FET, instructor staff nationwide. A campaign was run in the national media looking to recruit those personnel. One of the outputs of that saw the Dublin and D\u00fan Laoghaire ETB in Loughlinstown fill a number of electrical instructor posts through a radio advertising campaign. Another five training centres in the City of Dublin ETB were also supported through that. There were various different recruitment campaigns looking to fill other posts. Some 135 posts were filled as a result. It started with the electrical instructors but it spread right across to carpentry and joinery, plumbing, motor mechanics, pipe fitting, heavy goods vehicles, HGVs, metal fabrication, advanced manufacturing, hairdressing and much more. I will not go through every single area. There were a couple of dozen different disciplines that had increased recruitment as a result of the campaigns. We are certainly trying. In some cases, the difficulties may not be due to a lack of budget, but a lack of available staff. That is why we are trying to do recruitment campaigns to bring in instructors, support staff and people for other such roles. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  I am sure that the Minister is aware of this but I want to put it on the record. The figure of 72% came to me through Munster Technological University, MTU, in Tralee, which the Minister is very familiar with and has visited. It is important to put that on the record, but it is also important to outline the broader aspect of it. We hear a great deal about the need to build more homes, deliver major infrastructural projects and strengthen Ireland's competitiveness. None of these ambitions can be achieved unless we invest in the people who train our apprentices. Investment in apprenticeships is not simply an education issue, but an economic necessity. I know the institutions where staff have worked tirelessly to accommodate record numbers of apprenticeships, like MTU in Tralee. It is important that we continue to put this on the record.  Over the last 18 months in the Chamber, we have had robust debates about apprenticeships. There are a lot of challenges facing apprenticeships. I will specifically mention pay and conditions for apprentices. I know that is being worked through with the Department, albeit perhaps through a piecemeal approach. I again want to put on the record that the number of people taking up apprenticeships in every sector is positive, and has been so for the last 18 months. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  I entirely agree. I thank Deputy Kenny for his support and the support of his party on the broader policy initiative. What he says is true. I have visited MTU in Tralee. I have visited all of the different technological universities, TUs, and their components at least once, if not a few times. I recently held a construction skills roundtable event in UCD where we brought together the employers in the construction space, the trade unions and the training agencies - SOLAS, the ETBs and the HEA for a conversation on exactly that.  The Deputy touched on our ambition as a Government to build housing and infrastructure at scale, be it the metro, the DART+ projects, the roads network, renewable energy or the energy grid. We are investing significantly in all of these under the national development plan, with a budget of over \u20ac200 billion over the lifetime of the Government. To meet infrastructure, housing and other needs, we must have the capacity to build this out. That requires multiple craft apprenticeships coming on stream and being supported, and having that pipeline of talent coming through. I am committed to driving that on. It is a key part of our national initiative. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Apprenticeship Programmes"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_20","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Third Level Education","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_15","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_20","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_20.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  I am sure the Minister is aware of it but I want to draw his attention to the open letter signed by more than 2,300 academics and researchers, which rings the alarm bell about Research Ireland's 2026 to 2030 strategy. The letter states, \"The new strategy is structurally, rhetorically and materially focused on commercially translatable research and economic impact rather than supporting bedrock, fundamental, discovery research and research for the public good.\" Will the Minister take this on board and meet the petitioners? Will he intervene? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  As the Deputy is aware, Taighde \u00c9ireann - Research Ireland - was established in 2024 with the legislative remit to promote excellence and research across all activity fields and disciplines. Its first strategy was published this March following extensive consultation. I am satisfied that the strategy meets the legislative remit of the agency. The strategy and the publicly available programme plan accord with my own central philosophy, which applies just two very simple criteria to all disciplines: research should be excellent and impactful. What \"impactful\" means is not defined narrowly, but very broadly. It can mean many things. It can be societal resilience, economic impact or a long-term, slow-burn project that manifests in an entirely different way than how it was first conceived, as with all basic and frontier research. Impact is not a narrow metric at all; it is quite a wide one.  I have also codified into my Department's strategy as one of its four central pillars that curiosity and the pursuit of knowledge are a public good, which speaks to the benefit of discovery research a priori without any particular exit conditions or targets at the start. The strategy has a balanced portfolio across all disciplines and career stages, with funding across different areas of study, from the arts, humanities and social sciences, AHSS, through to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, STEM - and across the spectrum of funding.  I am very familiar with the letter. Obviously, I have read it but I also met the petitioners and the lead authors of it very recently. I am engaging with them. The Deputy quoted one line from the letter. I think they have actually resiled from that line because when we met, they refocused their attention on one or two particular items. I dare say there is a level of rhetoric or subjectivity in the letter - that is their prerogative. Some of the arguments do not stand up to scrutiny but others have more merit and I am engaging with them on those. I was open to engaging with them on all of the arguments but a number of those are perhaps a little bit political or subjective. Having said that, there certainly are some very good people involved and I have been engaging with them. I have asked Research Ireland to have a structured engagement with the group going forward to ensure the petitioners' concerns are heard and reflected in the new plan. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  It seems to me that what has happened is effectively a corporate or partially corporate capture of our research programme. If it continues, this is going to be to the detriment of all of us and the detriment of our education system and society, which will lose out on research that does not have an immediate commercial application and, therefore, is not being prioritised under the new strategy.  The petitioners emphasise that there was a lack of participatory process in the development of this strategy. It was not based on evidence. They emphasise that what we see here is industry-centred, commercially-focused, profit-seeking priorities at the expense of arts, humanities and social sciences. In particular, they warn about the dismantling of the current PhD scholarship and postdoctoral fellowship programmes. That is what is being proposed, with a prioritisation of research that is profit related and commercially driven by corporations. This would be to the detriment of us all. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  There were seven bullet points in the letter. I think six of them have been accepted as perhaps not being of the same level of concern as they were. The engagement was helpful in that regard because of the engagement with the authors on a number of those points.  I strongly reject the assertion of a corporate culture. Again, maybe it is a little bit political and subjective.  I appreciate that the Deputy is entitled to say it but I do not think it is a fair characterisation. There is no requirement whatsoever that there be an immediate, or any, economic impact. In fact, the strategy is very wide-ranging and allows for significant funding of discovery research, which I have always argued for. There are no metrics tied to corporate outputs, as the Deputy might have suggested. That was probably more than a little unfair.  I take the point on the Government of Ireland scholarship. That is the one that we agree needs to be revisited and examined. There are certainly merits in the proposed new approach but I also accept that there are legitimate concerns raised as well. There is engagement under way, facilitated by myself but ultimately between Research Ireland and the research community. I have had a number of meetings on that in recent weeks and will continue to do so. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  Just to confirm, the Minister is saying that he is open to changes continuing to take place to this strategy. That would obviously be welcome. I ask the Minister to commit to prioritising research that is for the public good. \"Research on economic inequities, democratic participation, mental health, housing injustices, climate justice, education, and the full range of human experiences and societal processes must be valued on its own terms\". That is a quote from the petition, which I think is very important. The current proposal suggests that non-applied research has to demonstrate its future economic utility in order to qualify for funding. That is precisely the problem with a short-term economic utility focus, which then leads to a downgrading of humanities, social sciences and so on in favour of those that have a more immediate commercial application, which would be a real problem. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  I do not think it actually does say that. I say that in a genuine spirit of partnership. I am not trying to catch the Deputy out or correct him. If he can find where it says that and bring it to my attention, I would welcome him doing so and we will have a look at it. I know the letter makes those claims but I do not think they are borne out in a detailed study of the strategy. If they are, it is not something I would support. I have been on the record of this House for many years saying that we need to support research across the full technology readiness level, TRL, spectrum from discovery and frontier research right through to applied. Of course, applied research has a really strong place in economic engagement and driving our enterprise and our knowledge economy is at the core. That creates jobs, talent and knowledge that can support both our economy and our society. Equally, discovery research is ultimately at the heart of all knowledge. Most of the leading, significant progressions of society and civilisation have come about through discovery research.  In terms of funding for the arts, humanities and so on, that is ring-fenced within the strategy. It is proportionate to international comparisons and benchmarks, and certainly on a par with the historic funding of arts, humanities and so on through different research agencies such as the Irish Research Council, Science Foundation Ireland or the previous organisations. There is no reduction in that at all in the strategy or elsewhere. In fact, it is actually a ring-fenced fund. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 86 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Third Level Education"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_21","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_22","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Apprenticeship Programmes","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_21","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_22.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  The number one reform that would make the most difference is ensuring that apprentices at least get the national minimum wage from the start. That is not a radical demand. I was previously on the committee and this came up with everybody we spoke to - apprentices having to pay loads of money for tools and so on and not even getting the minimum wage. At the very least, let us give apprentices the minimum wage. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  As I said to Deputy Eoghan Kenny a few moments ago, craft and construction apprenticeships are central to delivering vital infrastructure, including housing, and sustaining economic growth. As Minister, I have prioritised annual investment in apprenticeship delivery, which has more than doubled since my Department was established, going from \u20ac184 million in 2020 to over \u20ac415 million in 2026. Our apprenticeship system has, accordingly, continued to grow. Overall registrations increased by 78%, from just under 5,500 five years ago to just under 10,000 today, with craft registrations in particular rising significantly in that period.  We have a programme for Government target of 12,500 new registrations by 2030, with two thirds in craft and construction-related areas. I have recently secured Cabinet approval for a new action plan for apprenticeships to support further growth in the apprenticeship sector, attract more young people into careers through apprenticeships, and pivot more people towards the apprenticeship route as an equal alternative to the CAO path and the traditional higher educational route, one that can lead to a very satisfying, rewarding career in many ways.  On the Deputy's particular point about the wage of an apprentice, I take the point on board that is often raised. It is significantly more than any student will receive, which is zero. A student does not get paid at all and an apprentice does get paid as they progress through. It is not unique among occupations to receive no or little funding by way of payment during training. When I trained as a barrister - as a devil - we were not paid either. It is not unique to apprentices. There are many professions where this happens to people who go in at the early stages.  Typically, it begins to surpass the minimum wage after second year. By the time someone is out working in the economy post qualification, the median wage is about \u20ac915 within two years of qualification, which compares very favourably with alternative pathways that other students and young people might follow. I would again stress to anyone thinking about it that it is a very attractive and rewarding career option for many to go into. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  That is a bit of a hard case to make to young people who are looking at their options and see that they will be getting paid \u20ac7.67 an hour in the first year, or just over half the national minimum wage. I am in favour of an increased student grant and so on, but the difference is that these people are working. They are creating value for their employers. It is a real obstacle. According to Mr. Ben Friel, who was at the Joint Committee on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when I was a member, many apprentices dropped out in the first year because they could not afford the tools and were expected to pay big upfront costs. The low pay, along with the fees and the price of tools, was creating many barriers to entry.  We introduced a Bill to scrap the exemption for apprentices to ensure that everyone would get the minimum wage. I was contacted by multiple apprentices saying their situations were not doable and they could not exist. These are often people with kids - we heard statistics on that. Many of them are in their 20s or older. They are not young people. This is not a bit of pocket money. They deserve to get the minimum wage at the very least. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  I think that is fair. We are trying through Government policy to encourage people at different life stages to enter the apprenticeship journey. I agree that it is not just young people coming out of school and going into apprenticeships any more. There are people crossing over. I met a number of apprentices, including people mid-career and at mid-life stages, some of whom had families and other commitments, so I get that. It is true, though, that if you take the usual alternative scenario of a full-time higher education course, you could have a flat with four people sharing together - two apprentices and two students - and the apprentices will be getting \u20ac7 or \u20ac8 an hour while the students will not be getting anything per hour. If we look at the alternative pathways, apprentices are being paid something as they go through and that increases in line with their training. There is a balance as well, because the employer has to be incentivised to take on the apprentice. For any trainee, they are probably costing more at the start than they are giving back in terms of useful output, given that it takes a while for them to become productive in their workforce.  We engage with the trade unions all the time and have a framework in place where the trade unions sit down and set rates in partnership with the employers and the educational framework. That is the model we have followed to date. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  An apprentice - a first-year motor mechanic - contacted me after we introduced the Bill. He said:  I am currently working a 40-hour week at \u20ac6.20 an hour. I am expected to pay for my own tools. To be fair, the employer I am with gives a tool allowance of \u20ac250 but that would barely get you much. To even get into an apprenticeship in Ireland it is a minimum requirement across most trades you must be able to drive and hold a licence. As a first year, I am expected to pay the extortionate prices of insurance on top of loan repayments for the car.  Even if we forget that point for a minute - I rarely forget the issue of workers' rights and people getting less than the minimum wage - if we are serious about addressing the housing crisis and getting people into apprenticeships, then this is an immediate measure that could be taken and would have a significant impact in terms of people coming into the trades. The committee on higher education produced a report in February that recommended that a minimum wage floor be introduced, which was obviously informed by all of those apprentices who were saying this was a big issue for them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  There is a framework in place where the trade unions and employers engage together on setting rates. The relevant legislation falls under the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment as opposed to my own Department. The minimum wage laws are part of the Industrial Training Act 1967 and the Labour Services Act 1987. All apprentices are, of course, employees. During the on-the-job phase of an apprenticeship, they are paid a wage by their employer. Neither SOLAS nor my Department is responsible for setting the rate of pay.  In the case of craft apprenticeships, minimum rates of pay are typically determined through that collective bargaining arrangement, subject to the normal dispute resolution mechanisms and are often underpinned by sectoral employment orders. We have well-established mechanisms engaging in partnership with the representative bodies to set these rates. That is the practice that has been there for some time. Perhaps there is a conversation that has to happen across the partners in that system. Certainly, it is beyond the remit of my Department exclusively or even at all in some cases. I hear the point the Deputy raises, and it is fair one. It is a balancing act. All the parties are at the table already setting those rates and agreeing sectoral employment orders. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Apprenticeship Programmes"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_23","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Apprenticeship Programmes","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_21","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_23","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_23.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  As I have mentioned already during these questions, given the growth in apprenticeships in Ireland, is the Department considering plans to introduce a CAO style type of application process to secure an apprenticeship? We all know there is a significant number of people who are waiting and trying to get an apprenticeship and trying to get a company to take them on for their apprenticeship. There is the CAO system and an application process for students who are going into further and higher education from sixth year. Is that going to be brought in for apprenticeships? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  I thank the Deputy. The CAO processes applications for undergraduate courses in higher education. Unlike higher education, apprenticeships are different. They are employment-led programmes that start in the workplace. The apprentices are employed, registered with SOLAS and training is a combination of on-the-job work experience and structured off-the-job training. Part of the process of starting an apprenticeship is finding an employer and arranging with that employer to take the apprentice on. It is a little bit more direct and deliberative than the CAO process where a student applies to a course and sees what availability there is. In the case of an apprenticeship, they start by going through an employer, come to an arrangement locally and then they commence their training. It is the other way around. For that reason, apprenticeships are not historically advertised on the CAO rather employers advertise apprenticeship vacancies directly. They can do that in many ways. They can use - and I encourage them to do so - the Generation Apprenticeship website and apprenticeship.ie. If the Deputy goes onto its website, as he probably has done, and I have done as well, he can look through it. I looked through my own county out of interest to see what was available. I was surprised to find that many were not available. When I looked into it further, I found they were being provided but the employers had not signed up to the apprenticeship.ie website. The response I got was that they did not need to because they are getting apprentices coming to them anyway. There is a gap there. I encourage more employers to utilise the available machinery and frameworks we have put in place to allow that kind of matching take place between the apprentice and apprentice employer.  Of course, my priority is to ensure learners can access clear information on all pathways and tertiary pathways. A new apprenticeship action plan will be published later this year. A big focus of that is improving the communication and access to opportunities. People cannot apply for something if they do not know it exists or know where to start. One of things we have done is that we have included apprenticeship information on the CAO website. It is not quite a CAO process but it is on the CAO website. Ultimately, I would like to get to a point where we have a one-stop-shop students, apprentices, learners and all young people can come into and begin their journey. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  In relation to apprenticeship.ie , I ask the Department to promote this more strongly and more to career guidance teachers in our secondary schools who are probably aware of it but I am not necessarily sure how many parents or young people are aware of apprenticeship.ie. It is a simple fix. It probably would not need a lot of funding to promote that. The main focus of the question is on the fact they are no longer confined to the traditional trades anymore where they approach a local plumber or carpenter to take an apprentice on. It is covering areas like ICT, finance, biopharma, logistics and engineering. They are providing young people and career changers with excellent opportunities to earn while they learn. It is an opportunity so employers have more of an understanding of how to get the apprenticeships but also apprentices would be able to access local employers or national employers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  The Deputy is right. We need to continue to promote this pathway. My Department is very industrious and engaged on that front. Among a number of things, we launched the careers in construction action plan and relaunched it recently with a number of actions. There are over 20 actions related to the promotion of training opportunities and activities to make students and would be apprentices aware and to encourage greater gender balance across the apprenticeship sector, particularly craft apprenticeships. On International Women's Day, I attended an event with my colleague, Deputy Dempsey, in Trim, attended by students from all-female secondary schools and at which we highlighted the ability of that as a path. At a time when we have great construction challenges and ambitions, we cannot afford to leave one half of the workforce outside of that conservation. That was strongly welcomed. We have the building heroes campaign which is running at the moment. It has 12 young people sharing their stories about working in construction. Among them, there are four outstanding female young apprentices who are sharing their stories. That is a strong tool to attract people into the pathways as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  I am willing to work with the Minister on this. Our objective should be to remove barriers and not create them. If Ireland is to meet its future skills need, we must make apprenticeships as visible, accessible and attractive as every other education pathway. I welcome the Minister's views. This CAO style application system for apprenticeships is not going to happen overnight but that is the ambition the Department should have. It is the ambition we should have in this House as policymakers and public representatives. There is an opportunity to give every young person across the country, no matter what pathway they want to go down, the best possible opportunity to access that pathway. That includes a centralised application system like the one we have for those who are heading into undergraduate programmes to provide them, as the Minister said, with a one-stop-shop. That is the level of engagement we must have with those young people who are seeking apprenticeships but also with career guidance teachers, employers who are willing to take on apprenticeships and the higher institutions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  I wish to take the opportunity to thank the higher and further education committee for its work on the report on apprenticeships, which I received in February, led by Deputy McGreehan and supported by Deputy Kenny and others in the House. There are 48 actions in that which will be considered. I will action as many of them as I can in the next round of the action plan. We are engaging in second level schools. There is a documentary on careers that has been circulated. The National Apprenticeship Office has done some very good work around the promotion of apprenticeships and options and trying to remove any barriers that may exist and raise awareness. The Deputy is also correct that second level is the key point. That is where people make choices about their future career paths. Engagement with career guidance counsellors and secondary schools more broadly is something we certainly look at more. I will work with the Minister, Deputy Naughton, in the second level system around pathways there and look to promote that. We will continue to try to centralise information to have a one-stop-shop, whether a person is going down a university path, apprenticeship path or tertiary path, to ensure we have a place we can point people to and where all the information is freely available. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Apprenticeship Programmes"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_24","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Education and Training Provision","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_21","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_24.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  We are all very aware of what is happening in the AI space and the rapid pace it is taking over our lives, both at home and in businesses. What progress is being made in expanding lifelong learning opportunities to support people in upskilling and reskilling throughout their working lives? I am specifically referencing AI and the business requirements and businesses needs companies have at the moment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  I thank the Deputy very much for raising this important issue. Just this morning before I came into the House, I attended an event in the Accenture offices in Dublin, sponsored by IBEC, where it had a conversation on AI and future skills needs. It was a wide-ranging conversation. It has published a report. It is publicly available. I was attending the launch of that report but there was also a panel discussion on the impact of AI on the workforce and on employers and employees. There was a general finding that while many SMEs are aware of the challenges and opportunities it provides, they may not necessarily have confidence that they have the capacity to take it on at the moment. That is something I am determined to address.  The expansion of lifelong learning opportunities is a central priority for me and the Department. Most people accept and agree it is not just about the one point in life education, when a person comes out of school or college, but it is about ongoing lifelong learning, as the Deputy rightly raised in his question. We are making significant and sustained investment across a number of initiatives to make sure workers, jobseekers and employers have access to flexible high-quality learning opportunities. Skillnet Ireland plays a big part in that in terms of enterprise-led upskilling. Springboard+ and MicroCreds are two programmes I have for learning in the workforce and learning while one earns. The skills to advance programme provides further as well. I recently committed another \u20ac4 million to short MicroCreds courses employees can take while in work.  They control those now so there are subsidised voucher schemes for short-cycle courses that are provided through the Springboard+ programme.  We then have the new aiready.ie website, which I launched about six weeks ago. As of this morning, 7,500 users had signed up to that and were using it on a regular basis. The intention of that platform is to continue to drive that on, to add content and to add to it. It started off as an entry-level demystifying exercise to take away the fear of AI and promote it, but the intention is that the website will continue to grow to become a more advanced user portal, including gateways to other courses, such as the likes the ETBs are offering, in that space as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  I commend the Minister and his Department on the priority they have placed on lifelong learning. It is something we should be very proud of. We now have the highest level of third level education attainment in the European Union, with over 65% of young adults holding a third level qualification. We are also performing strongly in the lifelong learning ranking, at sixth in the European Union for adult participation. However, while sixth is a strong position, we should always aim to be number one. As technology evolves and careers become more dynamic, lifelong learning is no longer simply an education issue; it is becoming an economic necessity. When I say that, I am talking about the business requirements and the jobs that will be lost. We have to be very cognisant of the opportunities that are there with AI but also be willing to make sure we achieve and keep the jobs we have already in the economy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  We will see a period of change and of flux. There are challenges but there are also opportunities. Some jobs may well be lost but other jobs will be created, including different types of jobs. An example was given during the conversation this morning that when the Excel spreadsheet came into widespread use about 25 years ago, there were predictions there would be no more accountants and that they would become obsolete as a profession. In fact, there are probably more of them and more accounting firms than ever. What accountants have done is move up the value chain in terms of offering strategic financial advice as opposed to being calculators. My own view is that as technology continues to evolve, we as a training system and State must remain ahead of and on top to it and embrace it in some cases.  One initiative I recently launched which may be of interest to the Deputy is the national skills round tables. I am bringing together employers, employees and the training agencies in different sectors to ask what they need from the training agency, how technological change impacts them and how other developments and demographics impact them. We had a construction skills round table in UCD recently. I had a technological round table event last week at the Vodafone office. Later this month, I will bring together professional services including accounting, legal and consultancy-type firms to ask what changes they are seeing in their workforce and how the training system education systems can respond to that proactively. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  One of Ireland's greatest competitive advantages has always been the quality of the people. Increasingly, however, international investors are looking at not only educational attainment but how quickly a country's workforce can adapt to technological changes and acquire new skills. With AI, as we talked about earlier, transforming almost every sector of our economy, lifelong learning is becoming an increasingly important factor in attracting and retaining foreign direct investment. Countries that can rapidly upskill and reskill their workforce will have a significant competitive advantage and I strongly support the work the Minister is doing in this area. Will he outline how his Department is working with employers, higher education institutions and enterprise agencies to strengthen Ireland's culture of lifelong learning and ensure we will remain one of the most attractive locations in Europe for investment now and in the years ahead? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  A bit of shorthand I often use, and I know a number of State agencies also use, to talk about the pace of change is the four Ds - digitalisation, decarbonisation, demographics and deglobalisation. All four of these things are happening quickly and we are living in a fast-changing world. The Deputy is right that we need to be adaptable and flexible. Some of the ways in which we are responding to that include, as I mentioned, the skills round tables in which I am engaging, where each month I do a different sectoral dive with employers and training agencies around the table to understand their needs.  We also have the national skills council, which was created last year and is headed up by Dr. Kevin Marshall. A number of my officials are involved in it. It looks at the skills needs that are emerging. We have a skills observatory, which is effectively a database that provides real-time information about skills gaps, skills needs and what types of vacancies there are. There are some new occupations coming into being and some occupations that perhaps are no longer as much in demand. To get ahead of that, we need to ask if we have the people, and in many cases it is the same people, who can be skilled up for those.  I mentioned the AI ready programme. We are also exploring a number of national skills academies, which are sector-specific partnerships between colleges, employers and industries to make sure we can provide the type of training in real time that they and their industries need. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Education and Training Provision"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_25","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Education and Training Provision","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_21","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_25","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_25.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Grace Boland  We know we have environmental targets. We know we want families to live in warm, fully insulated homes. That has never been more important, when we look at the geopolitical climate we are living in. However, there are real concerns as to whether we have the workforce to deliver warm, insulated homes - both new builds and retrofittings. How many do we currently have in training in the industry? What steps is the Minister taking to increase that to make sure that we not only meet our climate targets but help families to live in warm, insulated homes? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  I propose to take Questions Nos. 90 and 117 together.  The Deputy is absolutely right that this is a really important area of focus. I mentioned earlier the broader need for construction skills across every sector to meet the ambitions the Government has set out in terms of infrastructure delivery, be that transport, the metro project or DART+ - I know the Deputy\u2019s constituency is in line for some benefits from the public transport programmes - the housing needs we have, which are central to the Government's ambition, and the retrofit and green energy revolution that is at our fingertips. In the energy space, that includes a commitment of \u20ac10 billion to enhance the grid capacity, because we need to be able to transit the energy as well as generate it, the workforce and the talent to do that - everything from retrofitting to green energy technicians and renewable energy engineers.  I was in Munster Technological University, MTU, in Tralee recently and visited the centre where offshore wind turbine mechanics are being trained up on a new course there. We also have a centre for maritime skills in National Maritime College of Ireland, NMCI, in Cork. Right around the country we see similar types of courses being created. We also have the nearly zero energy building, NZEB, and retrofitting specialty. We have a couple of NZEB centres of excellence operated by Tipperary ETB, Kildare and Wicklow ETB and Cavan and Monaghan ETB. These are creating centres of excellence for these NZEBs and the idea is that they can then have specialist training provided in areas like plumbing, electrical, heat pump installation, site supervision, renewable energy installations and so on. In some cases we have courses available for people who are already in construction or already have a qualification or familiarity in order to allow them to reskill very quickly, sometimes as quickly as three or four days. In other courses we have full apprenticeships and full programmes over a number of years to deliver those.  More broadly, and this is something I think there is great potential to do more on, we are also promoting modern methods of construction, MMC, so we can embrace 2D or 3D models where they are either partially assembled off site and then brought to the location or almost fully assembled and the finished kit is brought into place. If we can fully embrace MMC, we will have a potential 40% dividend in productivity, which means we can do more with less. That will enable us to more quickly and efficiently meet many of our needs in that area. There is a great opportunity there. Mount Lucas in County Offaly is a demonstration site I have visited a number of times with Deputy McCormack and others. That is a really good example but we have others. Wexford County Council had a project under way as well and 12 homes are being built out using MMC.  There are a number of ways we can do this. We are also implementing an action plan, which I launched last year, that contains 58 actions coming from the expert group on future skills needs. They are looking at the wide-scale adoption of MMC and how we can enhance this more and provide more training and more skills to ultimately deliver on the ambitions we all share. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Grace Boland  It is good to hear that work is under way. What I did not hear is whether we know the numbers we need to get to. As the Minister said, a broad range of skill sets are required to deliver these homes. Is there co-ordination between the Minister's Department and the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment? We know the targets we want to get to for 2030. Do we know the numbers of skilled workers we will need across the broad range to get there? Is the Department supporting that to ensure that there are sufficient programmes to deliver the numbers of skilled workers?  I just did not hear that in the answer. It is really important that we have co-ordination. The Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment has substantial money, which should be used to support having a skilled workforce in place. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  If there is substantial money there, the Deputy can point me to it because it is all accounted for in my budget. It would be great if I did have more money but that will be something for the Estimates process when we go through that.  In terms of the numbers that are required, a recent independent report I commissioned from Indecon, which I brought to Cabinet, looked at our future construction workforce needs. It found that we have a shortage of skilled workers projected over the next ten years if we play out all of our national missions such as the infrastructure and public transport projects, the grid renewal and meeting the housing demand. My Department and the agencies will absolutely ramp up output to the maximum possible while preserving quality in the systems, and will examine a number of ways that we might be able to do that, one of which is by using modern methods of construction but there may be other methods we can utilise as well. Ultimately, as a society we have to examine whether there will be an enduring gap. Skills migration is going to be part of that solution. Value-added migration is something we will have to be alive to, particularly when workforce needs cannot be met domestically alone. There are other areas we have to look at to help fill those gaps but first and foremost the priority would be producing the skills, the talent and the educated workers through our training agencies, universities and apprenticeship systems. As has been mentioned, we will have to reskill many workers. There are many people with particular skills who are already in working in construction and who, with a light enhancement to their qualifications such as the three- or four-day courses that are already available in places like Mount Lucas and elsewhere, can actually skill up and get to the stage where they are proficient in emerging technologies and moving with it.  As I said in response to an earlier question, change continues to come at us. We need to embrace and anticipate change and move ahead of it. That is exactly what we are doing in this area with the likes of those green energy courses, renewables and the wind turbine maintenance course that is provided now in Tralee, and many others, which are fundamental to fulfilling that training need. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Grace Boland  I thank the Minister. This is a point I made to the Secretary General of the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment at the public accounts committee. There is money there and we absolutely need to invest in ensuring that we have retrofitting, and do everything we can to meet our climate targets, not just because of the financial consequences that might arise but because it is the right thing to do. We want people and families to be living in warm and fully insulated buildings. I would like to see the Minister's Department co-ordinate with the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, and with his colleague the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, to make sure we are doing everything we can to make sure we have the skilled workforce to meet our climate targets and deliver for families.  The Minister, Deputy Lawless, has alluded to the awareness at second level of the importance of these various apprenticeship programmes and trades. We really need to be doing everything we can to encourage people into the sector. I would like to see the Minister continue to do his work in that space. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  I can absolutely assure the Deputy that I am doing all I can in that space. We have a number of courses in plumbing, electrical, heat pump installation, site supervision, offshore wind turbine maintenance and many others. There is also the adoption more widely of MMC.  Specialist and technical skills are very important but other skills are equally important. The plans we have adopted to date aim to promote skills transferability and include transversal skills. This is something that has emerged from the skills round tables I have been holding with sectors, including the construction sector, very recently. It is coming through from all sectors that while it is desirable to have a technical ability in particular areas, it is even more desirable to have the ability to have portable or flexible skills, leadership or communication skills, teamwork abilities and many skills that transcend one discipline and are multidisciplinary. We have a wider project to ensure that all those kinds of competencies are instilled in all courses, regardless of the discipline undertaken. At the heart of this, and at the heart of the Deputy's question on the courses under the green skills agenda, is making sure that the workforce is equipped to deliver the retrofit programmes and the next generation of energy efficient homes, and of course to take the full opportunity that renewable energy presents to us here in Ireland. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 91 to 94, inclusive, taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"  "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 96 and 97 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Education and Training Provision"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_26","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Research Funding","counts":{"speechCount":9,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_21","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_26","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_26.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  Will the Minister give an update on his discussions with the European Research Council, ERC, in relation to the multi-annual funding framework for science? Ireland has built an international reputation for excellence in scientific research. Our universities and research institutions consistently compete successfully for European funding and Irish researchers have made significant contributions in areas ranging from health and pharmaceuticals to climate science, artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  I thank the Deputy for his interest in this area. It is a critical area. The Deputy asked about the ERC and I think he may also want me to talk about the Horizon Europe programme. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  Yes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  They are two separate but complementary activities so I will speak to both in my answer. The European Research Council is one of the key instruments in the EU research and innovation framework programme, Horizon Europe. It was established in 2007 and is the premier European funding organisation for excellent frontier research, funding researchers of any nationality and age. Ahead of the Irish Presidency, just last week, on my invitation the ERC's scientific council came to Dublin. They are an independent group of top researchers who guide the ERC programme. They visited Dublin to hold their plenary meeting and stakeholder engagements. I addressed the council and spoke on the re-election of the president of the European Research Council. I emphasised the importance of supporting bottom-up and curiosity-driven fundamental research, and excellence in research. The Taoiseach also attended and spoke at the same event, which I hope speaks to the high-level Government commitment to supporting this area of excellence and research across all disciplines.  The Horizon Europe programme funds the European Research Council and is the EU's key funding programme for research and innovation. The current programme runs until 2027. In July of last year, the Commission published its proposal for the next Horizon Europe programme as part of the EU budget package for the period 2028 to 2034. Following intensive negotiations the Council, made up of the 27 member states including us, agreed its position on the next Horizon Europe programme just last week in the last week of the Cypriot Presidency. That is a very significant milestone and I congratulate our colleagues in Cyprus on leading out in that agreement. It now falls to me to chair the European Research Council over the next six months during our Presidency. We will now enter what are called trilogue negotiations. Having got the agreement in the Cypriot Presidency, the Irish Presidency will now engage with the Parliament to bring that forward. Chairing it is an honest broker role, so it would not be appropriate for me to get into Ireland's specific interests, although obviously we have made those known in the past. We will now move to chair the debate in an honest broker fashion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  I thank the Minister. The EU Presidency obviously gives us a greater opportunity to work with our European counterparts and, as the Minister is the honest broker chairing that, it is essential that we gain significant experience from the amount that we can invest in scientific research.  It would probably be remiss of me not to mention University College Cork in my county, which does a significant amount of scientific research. I am very proud as a Cork man that we do such fantastic scientific research.  One of the biggest issues raised repeatedly by researchers is the need for greater certainty around long-term funding. Scientific research cannot be planned on a year-to-year basis. Major projects often take many years to develop, requiring sustained investment, international collaboration, and the ability to recruit and retain highly skilled researchers. This is not simply about supporting academia. Research and innovation underpin Ireland's future economic success. It is good that the Minister referenced the Horizon Europe programme. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  I could not agree more. It is something that I have put front and centre in my Ministry since I took up this office. Fundamental research is absolutely key to driving Ireland as a knowledge economy, as a society and civilisationally more broadly. It is the key to future knowledge creation, economic growth and societal resilience. It is why I created, for example, the INSPIRE research infrastructure programme, with a \u20ac750 million commitment over the term of the Government to roll out research, equipment and facilities right across every higher education authority in Ireland.  In terms of Horizon Europe and Ireland's Presidency, the Deputy rightly said that it is not just about academics. Of course, they are fundamental to it but it is also about wider society and the wider economy. I have adopted an Horizon Europe action plan for the remaining two years of the current programme. From an Irish perspective, one thing we are seeking to do is ensure that SMEs take full opportunity of the participations available to them to draw down. We have drawn down \u20ac1 billion in funding from that programme to date just in the current term but there are opportunities to draw down a couple of hundred million more within the current programme even before we get to the new one.  An action plan in respect of Horizon has been published. We partnered with Enterprise Ireland on that. I encourage SMEs that are not already involved to get involved now and make sure they draw down whatever is available for their research activities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  On the broader aspect to this, we invest significantly in educating talented scientists. We must ensure that, having provided funding to educate these talented scientists, we do not put them in the position where they feel they must leave Ireland because they cannot see a stable research career here. I do not have statistics on that but if we are going to engage with and fund young people to become fantastic scientists, we must ensure we provide the funding to make sure they can have a stable research career here, if they wish to have one and if it is possible. Has the Department examined ways to complement the European funding model that we have alongside more predictable national investment? I do not expect him to go into that in detail. There is a budgetary process involved there. There has been significant investment in scientific research but we have to ensure that we match European funding with national investment across the country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  As well as matching European funding, we have surpassed it because while we drew down \u20ac1 billion in Horizon Europe funding in the current term, I have committed over \u20ac2.45 billion for research funding from State funds, so we are doing far more.  I mentioned the INSPIRE research infrastructure programme, which is a \u20ac750 million commitment to research infrastructure. I launched seven new Rinn centres, which are the Research Ireland centres, just last week. That was a \u20ac460 million investment, and those centres include things like advanced computing technology, artificial intelligence, quantum computing and big data AI. They also include things like semiconductors, biotechnology, material sciences and health informatics. There are programmes there across societal resilience and economic growth as well as the creation and pursuit of knowledge, which are fundamental goals. Those are the seven latest centres and they complement the existing centres. Overall, over 50% of the Department's national development plan, NDP, allocation has been allocated to supporting research and innovation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Grace Boland)  Before we move to the next question, I welcome the service users from St. Aidan's Services in Gorey and in particular Nicole, Ian, Donnchadh and Caroline, who are here with Deputy Brian Brennan. They are all very welcome. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 99 to 105, inclusive, taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Research Funding"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_27","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Technological Universities","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_21","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_27","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_27.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John McGuinness  During the early negotiations to establish a university in the south east, Kilkenny played a key role. I was associated with those negotiations, many years after which South East Technological University, SETU, was established. What steps are being taken to expand the courses offered in Kilkenny city relative to the university? Does the Minister consider a Norman museum as something appropriate that could be championed and provided? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  Before I respond, I wish St. Aidan's Services in Gorey well. I know the organisation very well because Gorey was my hometown before I ever lived in Kildare. My sister-in-law, Laura Walsh, is a service user in St. Aidan's. I do not think she is in the group today but if she is, I say \"hello\" to her and all of the other service users. The staff do a great job, and I thank them for everything they do. I am very familiar with the organisation's work.  I thank Deputy McGuinness for the question on the campus in Kilkenny city. He raised this directly with me before and I appreciate that. It is something he has championed, and I see the merit in the Norman concept, particularly as we are coming to The Year of the Normans later in this term. That is something that would be appropriate for the commemoration of that period. Kilkenny as a city with its great tradition would be a very suitable home for it.  In terms of how we organise capital projects and support them from within the Department, my Department works with the higher education institutions and education training boards, ETBs, to develop capital projects, along with their master plans. Capital investment is then allocated through a competitive process. Successful projects progress through different stages of planning, tender and construction but ultimately it is a bottom-up process. The institutions come to me with projects as opposed to me going to them to tell them what to do.  The NDP published last July includes the capital ceilings for the next four years, and that is complemented by the tertiary sector's capital investment plan. The capital funding envelop available to me is the mechanism through which I fund these projects, which is significant with \u20ac4.55 billion allocated across my Department for capital projects.  SETU is the relevant institute in the south east, and it has multiple campuses, including a presence in the Xcelerate Centre at St. Kieran's College on College Road in Kilkenny. It has an action to enhance key strategic partnerships, as well as the establishment of a working group with Kilkenny County Council and Kilkenny Chamber of Commerce to explore opportunities for further development in Kilkenny. I am sure the Deputy is probably involved in that already but that seems to be an appropriate grouping to maybe advance this project through because if it was to put together a proposal or master plan, it could come up the chain to me thereafter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John McGuinness  The reason that I raise it directly with the Minister this morning is that in those early negotiations, it was clearly stated that Kilkenny would have a significant role in the context of the south-east university, now SETU. I want to see that delivered on because Kilkenny was part of the agreement to establish the headquarters and so in Waterford and the other various activities under SETU. I want to see the commitment that was made to Kilkenny as part of that south-east university honoured. I suggest to the Minister that in honouring the commitment, SETU should be encouraged to discuss the possibility of a Norman study centre.  Kilkenny is associated with animation, thanks to Cartoon Saloon and so on. There is also Kilkenny Design. I am sure there are many other activities and courses that could be arranged in Kilkenny. I am trying to develop the idea and while I understand that the funding request must go from SETU to the Minister, I hope that by reminding the Minister of the commitment that was given, he might encourage discussions to advance what I suggested. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  I certainly will, and I am open to proposals coming in from SETU on that. In fact, more than that, the next time I meet with SETU, I will inquire about the status of this proposal and what its intentions are regarding it.  Regarding SETU investment in the region more broadly, one of the most significant enhancements planned for Kilkenny is the development of Kildalton Agricultural College. It will accommodate the new veterinary programme roll-out, which will have 40 student vets attending in the south east for the first time. This will complement the 40 students that will attend the Atlantic Technological University, ATU, in the north west. That is a really exciting programme that specifically includes anatomy and pathology training facilities at Kildalton for the practical side of the training. That will go live this September with 40 new students signed up for that.  As the Deputy suggested, I see the merit in the Norman study centre, and I will raise it when I next meet with SETU. However, in the first instance, it falls on it to come forward with the proposal.  The Deputy was with me when I visited Kilkenny recently to launch the college of the future project. That is moving ahead, and I encourage it to get ready to appoint the design teams. I expect that project to progress rapidly in the near future. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John McGuinness  I welcome the development in relation to the ETB and acknowledge the significant contribution it is making in terms of apprenticeships and so on. Regarding the veterinary college at Kildalton, those 40 vets will certainly make a difference. I also believe that Kildalton college can be developed at a rapid pace to bring the numbers up in terms of veterinary students, and it is an excellent site beyond the veterinary designation that it now has.  I come back to the point that it was the goodwill of all concerned many years ago that brought about the establishment of SETU, and the different political players there were given certain commitments and that is why I am pressing the Minister. I know there is investment taking place and that there are different activities, courses and so on but I am simply anxious, as the Minister will appreciate, to ensure that it continues to grow and expand. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  I share that ambition. It is important that it has a footprint across the south-east region.  To be fair, we met with Kildalton. We are seeing this at other locations across the south east. I take the point about that particular project, which the Deputy would like to see being advanced more rapidly. That is a fair ask. Kilkenny is a growing city with really strong employment. I worked there with VHI for a number of years, so I am familiar with the potential that the city has in the wider region and how it is already a hub for really strong employers, both domestic and international. There is FDI going into Kilkenny at Purcellsinch business park and other places. That can only continue. The veterinary college that the ETBs are putting in place and that I am supporting will be helpful to that ambition also. I understand that further investment of the type the Deputy proposes will be welcome also. I am certainly happy to take it up with SETU, and I am sure the Deputy will also do so through his own offices. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Technological Universities"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_28","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Further and Higher Education","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_21","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_28","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brendan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","memberCode":"Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_28.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brendan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","memberCode":"Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brendan Smith  The Minister will have heard me many times in this House, at committees and at meetings of the Fianna F\u00e1il parliamentary party advocating for closer collaboration on the delivery of education on an all-Ireland basis. There is fantastic potential, especially in the further and higher education sector. I warmly welcome the Minister\u2019s initiative, along with Dundalk Institute of Technology, DkIT, and Queen\u2019s University, to develop a new partnership that will enable DKIT to become a university college of Queen\u2019s. That is a great all-Ireland development. It is a landmark decision and is of particular value for the entire north-east region and much farther afield. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  I thank Deputy Smith for his constant engagement in respect of this matter. I know it is one that is very dear to him. Through his chairmanship of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly, he is advancing ties between our jurisdictions all the time and looking to extend cross-border and all-Ireland relationships. I very much share his ambition in that regard.  My Department is engaged in extensive collaboration with the Northern Ireland Executive and the relevant agencies to enhance further and higher education across the island of Ireland. In April, I secured approval from the Cabinet to enable DkIT to join with Queen\u2019s University to enter into a new strategic partnership, the first ever all-Ireland university. It is a really exciting project. We are advancing the legislation, and the drafting is currently under way. I thank the committee for its work on the pre-legislative scrutiny and for engaging with it so proactively. It is a landmark initiative that is fundamental to our shared, all-island missions. It will also enhance research and innovation in the north-east and along the Dublin-Belfast corridor, and provide new opportunities for students and employers.  More broadly, my Department continues to work with the Department of Health to expand cross-border healthcare training, including an agreement with Queen\u2019s Belfast to support 50 Irish-funded undergraduate medical places across the intakes of the last two years. Of course, we have the Creating Futures document, which is the new further education and training strategy that was published a month ago. It looks to strengthen all-island collaboration and foster joint initiatives between ETBs and FET schools here and their equivalents across Northern Ireland.  I worked recently with Caoimhe Archibald, the Northern Ireland Minister for the Economy, to launch the first-ever all-island apprenticeship in the area of accounting technician. We met as part of the Government summit at Farmleigh. We launched that initiative having worked together on it for several months beforehand. We have a number of other initiatives that we are looking at that are along the same lines. Both Departments have secured \u20ac50 million through PEACEPLUS for skills development, which we will continue to roll out. We also have five new online projects being delivered, and there is much more that we can do on this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brendan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","memberCode":"Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brendan Smith  I thank the Minister for his reply. I must say that members of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly, across all jurisdictions, were very strong in their praise of the Minister\u2019s contribution at our plenary meeting in Surrey, where he spoke about the opportunities for all-Ireland developments and also east-west developments.  At a recent meeting of the further and higher education committee, we had the leadership of Queen\u2019s University and the leadership of DkIT. They are very anxious to drive this partnership forward in a positive manner. They very much appreciate the leadership the Minister has shown. One of the great messages that came out of that meeting was the willingness of both Queen\u2019s and Dundalk to work with the other education colleges. They already have a partnership with colleges whereby people can commence a course in a college of further education and then complete their degree course in either Dundalk or Queen\u2019s. They are anxious to intensify that collaboration between the higher education institutes and the further education colleges across Cavan and Monaghan, and in our neighbouring counties north of the Border. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  One project that I did not mention in my initial response is the digital creative industries programme, which is a \u20ac10 million, all-island project supported by shared island capital. It will enhance collaboration with the creative and digital industries in areas like graphic design, movies, the arts and digital arts across both jurisdictions. It is a project that is now live. It was one of the shared island projects in my Department.  Regarding the ETBs and the options for further education and training to work on a cross-border basis, my Department is working with SOLAS to develop a detailed implementation plan for the new Creating Futures FET strategy. One of those actions is to advance all-island collaboration through specific all-island linkages and partnerships to engage with education, training, enterprise and industry stakeholders in Northern Ireland. Of course, we have the Queen\u2019s-DkIT partnership, and there are a number of ancillary projects now coming into being under that, which I look forward to supporting strongly as they come through. In fact, I am inviting proposals for that. I know the Deputy has worked closely with the ETBs in Cavan, Monaghan and elsewhere. If there are projects that he wants to bring to my attention, I would welcome that input. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brendan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","memberCode":"Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brendan Smith  As the Minister is aware, we are very anxious to progress the Cavan college of the future. I sincerely hope there will be further developments on that over the summer months. We are anxious to have that major new extension to the existing college constructed on Cathedral Road, right in the centre of Cavan town, where there is a demand for new accommodation. The Minister saw first-hand the work that goes on at the institute. It draws students from a wide area. It has a huge success rate for students fulfilling career choices, following the careers chosen before they went into college and going on to attain further higher education qualifications. It is very important that we move that project along as quickly as possible. The accommodation is needed, and the Minister can be assured that the people, the director of the college and his staff will ensure that the students who attend will get the very best options across all courses, and the best in learning and teaching as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  I thank the Deputy for his invitation to visit that day, along with the Minister of State, Deputy Niamh Smyth. We had a very good engagement in Cavan and then visited the institute. I share the Deputy\u2019s desire to see the college of the future advance at pace. I hope to have a positive announcement on that in the near future. I will certainly be keeping Members apprised of that. It is my intention that the institute would be able to appoint a design team in the coming months, and that we are able to progress with that project, which is much needed. I could see that myself when visiting the site and speaking to learners and educators while traversing the school that is already there. They are doing great work, which will be enhanced by the provision of a capital project for the further training centre, which I hope to be able to support strongly in the coming months. That is a very important project on which I will continue to work.  More broadly, as part of the shared island initiative, there are other projects that fall under the ambit of the Queen\u2019s-DkIT partnership that I intend to support. I also intend to further advance the collaboration on a North-South basis. As I mentioned already, we recently launched the first all-island apprenticeship for accounting technician, and there are a couple of others that are being considered. Where possible, I intend to roll that out and increase the capacity. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Further and Higher Education"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_29","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Third Level Education","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_21","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_29","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_29.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  Has the Minister met with the Irish Universities Association regarding gaps in higher education funding? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  The short answer is that I have. I engaged with the Irish Universities Association, IUA, as recently as this morning, when I met Paul Johnston, the director general, at an event. I am very aware of the association's asks. It is something that we are working through with it with regard to future funding. There was a commitment through the national training fund to continue to support the core funding allocation for Irish universities. I sat down with the IUA and we reviewed its pre-budget submission, which has a number of worthwhile asks within it. I am continuing to engage with the IUA on a very regular basis, and also with the Technological Universities Association and other stakeholders within the space. I am very much aware of their asks. We have met their funding requirements for the last couple of years through a new framework emerging from, first, the Cassells report and then the Funding the Future study. That funding is now being committed on a multi-annual basis. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  The request from the Irish Universities Association is for \u20ac250 million over the next five years in capital spending to upgrade digital infrastructure in the seven universities, and \u20ac475 million over four years in capital spending to decarbonise universities and create fully sustainable campuses.  We regularly hear about Ireland's ambition to be a global leader in innovation, research and skills. We want to attract investment, develop indigenous enterprise and prepare our workforce for the industries of the future. None of these ambitions can be achieved if our universities are expected to do more each year with increasingly stretched resources. I ask the Minister to continue engaging with them through the budgetary process. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  As I mentioned in response to earlier questions, we have a commitment of \u20ac4.55 billion to the sector more broadly in the capital envelope available through the national development plan, which is record investment and strong support for research and innovation in the higher and further education ecosystems.  I have taken receipt of the IUA's pre-budget submission. I have to go through it. I understand the challenges the sector faces in terms of decarbonisation, digitalisation, globalisation and demographics, something we often speak about in the House. I am very much engaged in that. It is one among many pre-budget submissions that I have received. I will assess it with my officials. There are a number of competing demands on the system, as the Deputy will be aware. We will be able to appraise ourselves and other Members of the House on exactly where they fall in October's budget. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  I want to focus on students. They rightly expect access to modern facilities, smaller class sizes, adequate academic supports and quality learning environments. These expectations become increasingly difficult to meet when institutions are under a sustained financial strain. Ireland has an international reputation for the quality of its higher education system. Protecting that reputation requires investment. It is far more cost-effective to invest now than to allow standards to decline and attempt to rebuild capacity later. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  Exactly. That is why we have a record \u20ac4.5 billion commitment across the sector. Regarding student facilities, there is the likes of the bundle 2 PPP programme which enhances student facilities on university campuses across the country. I mentioned the targeted enhancement fund, which supports technological universities in their continued growth. The results are coming through. In the last 100 top university rankings, Irish universities were back in the top 100 having fallen out of the list over the past decade or so. We have seen significant progress in terms of international comparators. More fundamentally, student numbers and outputs are growing and many qualifications are being pursued. There are now many diverse pathways through the tertiary education system, including, of course, apprenticeships, which we discussed earlier. It is a success story and we want to make sure it continues to be so. We will continue to invest in and support the sector. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Is f\u00e9idir teacht ar Cheisteanna Scr\u00edofa ar www.oireachtas.ie. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Written Answers are published on the Oireachtas website. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Third Level Education"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_30","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions","counts":{"speechCount":39,"speakerCount":8},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_30","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":" A Deputy","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  T\u00e1 n\u00edos m\u00f3 n\u00e1 \u20ac50 milli\u00fan curtha am\u00fa cheana f\u00e9in ar ch\u00f3ras bainist\u00edochta tr\u00e1chta Iarnr\u00f3d \u00c9ireann, c\u00f3ras a theip ar na t\u00e1st\u00e1lacha s\u00e1bh\u00e1la agus t\u00e1 n\u00edos m\u00f3 n\u00e1 dh\u00e1 bhliain taobh thiar de sceideal. Gan dabht, is teip ioml\u00e1n \u00e9. Anois, t\u00e1 s\u00e9 foghlamtha againn go bhfuil na c\u00e1in\u00edoc\u00f3ir\u00ed ag \u00edoc suas le \u20ac100,000 i gcaitheamh le seachtain mar nach bhfuil cinneadh glactha ag an Rialtas n\u00e1 an NTA ar cheart deireadh a chur leis an choradh seo ar fad. Anois air sin, t\u00e1 an Rialtas ag caitheamh \u20ac200,000 eile le fiosr\u00fa c\u00e9n d\u00f3igh a tharla an tubaiste seo ar an ch\u00e9ad dul s\u00edos. Beidh, agus t\u00e1, an pobal ag fiosr\u00fa c\u00e9n uair a gcuirfear deireadh leis an chur am\u00fa ama agus cur am\u00fa airgead poibl\u00ed seo.  Once again, the public is asking who is taking responsibility for the extraordinary waste of taxpayers' money that has become the hallmark of the Government. The latest revelations surrounding the failed Irish Rail traffic management system are absolutely staggering. More than \u20ac50 million has already been blown and written off on a project that has failed safety testing, is more than two years behind schedule and, by any reasonable measure, has been a complete and utter failure. Incredibly, the waste does not end there. We now learn that taxpayers are footing a bill of \u20ac100,000 every single week while a decision is made on whether the contract relating to the project should be terminated. In addition, the Government is spending a further \u20ac200,000 simply to find out how this debacle happened in the first place. Members of the public are rightly asking when the waste of public money under the Government will stop. While tens of millions of euros have been squandered on this failed project, commuters are being told that there is no funding to deliver new bus, rail or rural transport services this year. That is the cost of the Government's waste. Every euro squandered on failed projects is a euro that cannot be invested in better buses, better rail services and better public transport for people who rely on it every single day.  We know from Iarnr\u00f3d \u00c9ireann's briefing papers that it asked for the contract relating to this project to be terminated a year ago. The company warned that it had lost confidence in the contractor's ability to deliver the project and recommended that the contract be terminated. The Department was told last October that there were risks relating to this project and that red flags had been raised. Surely the Minister should have been doing his job and should have intervened to try to find out what was going on. The Government has allowed this to continue. A year after Iarnr\u00f3d Eireann's request that the contract be terminated, over \u20ac50 million has been written off and taxpayers are still losing \u20ac100,000 every single week, and there is no end in sight.  This is not simply about one failed contract. It is also about a culture of waste that is tolerated and an absence of accountability. Nobody in government ever appears to carry responsibility for the millions in public money that are squandered. I have lost count of the number of times I have stood here and asked what the Government is going to do to end the constant waste of public money. I will again ask the question again on behalf of the people who are frustrated about the continuation of waste. Fifty million euro is not a small amount of money. It has been completely written off. We are now told that \u20ac100,000 is being paid every week, with no indication as to when this will end. That is the definition of public waste. Who is going to be held responsible for this latest fiasco? Why are taxpayers still being forced to pay \u20ac100,000 every week while this drags on? What immediate steps is the Government going to take to stop further public money being poured into a project that has already become one of the most expensive failures in the history of our public transport system? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  How the Deputy characterised Government spending does not tally with the reality of the situation. More than \u20ac10 billion has been allocated for public transport projects across the country. The overwhelming majority of those projects are on budget, on time and making a real and meaningful difference. The list of projects delivered on time and on budget by this Government includes the national broadband plan, which the Deputy's party actively opposed. Sinn F\u00e9in did not want broadband rolled out to rural communities in Donegal and right across the country. We rolled it out. Sinn F\u00e9in opposed it vigorously. That is true. My party, Fine Gael, was the only party which supported it. We delivered it on time and on budget. Other projects include Rosslare Europort, Luas cross city, Woodbrook train station, the new platform at Kent Station in Cork and the Bray transport interchange. There are countless examples of public money being well used and resulting in projects being delivered on time and on budget. We are investing more in public transport, as we should and as we can, as a result of the strength of our economy.  The Deputy is right to highlight a specific issue regarding the traffic management system, however. The national train control centre building was delivered on time and within budget. Let us acknowledge that. It is currently in use by Iarnr\u00f3d \u00c9ireann and by approximately 100 members of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. The new traffic management system to oversee signalling and other railway systems has been delayed beyond its completion date. That is factually correct.  The Minister for Transport met the National Transport Authority, NTA, and the contractor, Indra. The Deputy asked what the Minister is doing. He is engaging intensively. He met the representatives of both entities last year and had further meetings in January of this year regarding the delivery of the traffic management system as soon as possible. A baseline programme has been agreed between Irish Rail, the NTA and the contractor, Indra. Quite rightly, an Oireachtas committee scrutinised this issue yesterday.  I do not accept the Deputy's characterisation that the Government is accepting that the \u20ac50 million gone and that the taxpayer must foot the bill, and neither does the Government. The reality is that the Irish Rail accounts have been submitted for consideration to the Department of Transport. They will also be scrutinised and considered by NewERA, which looks at all these issues. As the Deputy knows and as he would expect us to do, there will be a contract in place. We need to work through the issues. We should not jump to any conclusions about when and where the bill will fall due. I expect the Minister, Irish Rail and NewERA to perform their roles in terms of ensuring that the terms of the contract are delivered upon.  I want to assure people that there are contingency plans in place from a safety point of view. From a railway safety perspective, there is not an issue here. The project is taking longer than it should. No decision has yet been made regarding the approval of the annual accounts. They will be reviewed by the Department and NewERA and then published. There is a way to go in terms of working through this issue.  The Government's record of delivering projects on time and on budget in communities right across this country is there for all to see. When things go wrong and projects are delayed, it is quite right that Oireachtas committees, on a cross-party basis, scrutinise the issues involved, as happened yesterday. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  This project is not just delayed. Does the T\u00e1naiste not know what is going on here? A sum of \u20ac50 million has been written down in the accounts. Irish Rail has formally recommended ending the contract. It has been saying that since last year. It has no confidence that the project can be delivered. This is not just a project that will be delivered in a couple of months' time. The problem is that along with the \u20ac50 million that has been written down in terms of the accounts, \u20ac100,000 is being paid out on a weekly basis because a decision still has not been taken to end this contract. The NTA is telling us it will take months of engagement between it and the Department to make a recommendation.  I say to the T\u00e1naiste very clearly that this is taxpayers' money. The NTA was very clear that there will be no new bus services, no new rail services and no new rural services this year and, yes, the \u20ac50 million could have funded some of that. The NTA representatives were very clear about that yesterday at the committee. I will again ask the T\u00e1naiste some specific questions. Why is the taxpayer on the hook for \u20ac100,000 every week for a project that is not going anywhere? Does he accept that Irish Rail has asked the Government to end the contract? When will the Government ensure that this type of wasting of public money will no longer happen? Crucially, as everybody asks me, who will be held accountable for this? It is not good enough for the T\u00e1naiste to come in, shrug his shoulders and just brush off \u20ac50 million of taxpayers' money being wasted, along with another \u20ac100,000 every single week. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Of course, it is not and, of course, that is not what I am doing but it will make a great clip on the Deputy's Instagram. It is not the truth. I hope he plays the full----- "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  This is a serious issue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  It is a very serious issue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputies, please allow the T\u00e1naiste to answer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  When I am asked about a serious issue, it is nice to be allowed to respond without a cacophony trying to shout me down, as happens every time in this House. I have made a very serious point that Deputy Doherty should not come into this House and make the point that \u20ac50 million is lost to the taxpayer when the State is doing its job in making sure that terms and conditions of contracts are scrutinised, that NewERA, a body we set up to make sure we derive value in the delivery of projects, is doing its jobs and that Oireachtas committees are doing their job as well. We should allow that process to work its way through. That is all I am saying.  I am also making the point that the Deputy's categorisation of Government spending on public projects is not borne out by the facts. He asked about \u20ac50 million. Would he get as exercised if it were \u00a3140 million? In the Department his party runs in Northern Ireland, \u00a3140 million was spent on road projects that have not even started. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy M\u00e1ire Devine  How boring this is. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  That Department is led by a Sinn F\u00e9in Minister and it has wasted \u00a3140 million. Thank God the SDLP highlighted that terrible waste of money. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Are you getting upset? There was the \u00a3300,000 as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  You are pathetic. Do you practise that in front of the mirror every night? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I do not need to, Pearse. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Do you stand there saying, \"I wonder how this looks\"? Honest to God, do you consider even for a minute what the public thinks of it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy Doherty, please resume your seat. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Sinn F\u00e9in wasters. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  T\u00e1naiste, please stop provoking him. I have called Deputy Cian O'Callaghan. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  You have wasted public money and do not care what taxpayers feel about it. You can go on with your gimmicks all you want. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy Doherty, you are out of order. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Do not point your finger at me, T\u00e1naiste. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  You are out of order, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" A Deputy","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" A Deputy  TikTok props. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  You are a serial waster, T\u00e1naiste. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I have called Deputy O'Callaghan. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  I was waiting for both of them to stop.  President Zelenskyy's visit to Ireland yesterday was cut short due to another deadly attack on Ukraine. At least 17 people were killed and more than 50 injured overnight after missiles rained down on Kyiv. As we speak, emergency workers are at a collapsed nine-storey apartment searching for survivors in rubble. This is the biggest attack on Kyiv since the war began. The mayor has declared a day of mourning tomorrow to remember those killed.  This has been the reality of life in Ukraine for more than four years now - death, destruction and devastation from attacks by Russia. According to an independent investigation, some of the weapons used in those attacks are made with raw materials manufactured in Ireland. Yesterday, President Zelenskyy said as much. He criticised the EU's failure to sanction companies still under the effective control of Russian oligarchs. He said: \"Every tonne of raw material that ends up in Russia is used against us in this war.\"  In March, The Irish Times published details of an extensive investigation it carried out with the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project. It revealed that alumina produced in Ireland is being used by Russia to manufacture weapons that are killing Ukrainians. The Government is fully aware of this but has refused to act on the evidence. Instead, it has commissioned its own inquiry into the matter. How much evidence does the Government need? What exactly is it looking for?  The foot dragging by the Government is in sharp contrast to the actions of the Australians. They did not need to conduct any investigation before they acted back in 2022. As soon as Putin invaded Ukraine, they banned all exports of alumina to Russia. They did not want to be complicit in the murder of men, women and children in Ukraine. More than four years later, exports of alumina from Ireland have at least doubled and the Government is still burying its head in the sand and refusing to do what everybody knows is needed. It needs to ban the export of alumina to Russia.  These delaying tactics are not just immoral and damaging to Ireland's international reputation. They have made the risk to the almost 500 jobs at Aughinish Alumina much worse. When Putin invaded Ukraine more than four years ago, 23% of exports from the plant went to Russia. That figure has at least doubled since then, if not tripled. If the Government is scrambling around trying to find alternative markets for the company, that work is now much more difficult.  The Government cannot keep beating its chest about support for Ukraine in public while, in private, it knowingly facilitates the export of alumina to Russia, which is ending up in weapons that are killing Ukrainians. I ask the T\u00e1naiste to be specific in answering my questions. When will the Government's investigation be completed, what kind of evidence is it looking for that it does not already have and when will it stop this pretence and ban the export of alumina to Russia? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank the Deputy. The first thing we must do here is be very careful in our language. There is no pretence from the Government of Ireland to the people of Ireland or any party in this House in relation to the horrific, illegal and brutal war Russia is carrying out on Ukraine. President Zelenskyy certainly did not feel any pretence when he was here yesterday; quite the opposite, in fact. We decided as a country, as we decided as a Government, that we wanted to be joined here in Ireland by President Zelenskyy on the first day of our Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which we were, to show solidarity with the people of Ukraine and support for his courage and the inspiration he is providing to his own people and, indeed, to all Europeans.  This country and this Government have acted in support of Ukraine and the people of Ukraine at every opportunity. We need only look at the number of people we have supported in terms of refuge, with the opening of homes and hearths, the amount of financial assistance we are giving and the support we provide to Ukraine in terms of its journey towards European Union membership. While there is a legitimate issue of importance here, it can in no way muddy the waters in terms of the very clear, consistent and unequivocal stance taken by the people of Ireland and the Government of Ireland, which, I think, reflects the political consensus in the Oireachtas, in terms of support for Ukraine. I join the Deputy in condemning the horrific attack on Kyiv last night. It is just another reminder that Putin has no interest in peace and, therefore, we must continue the process in terms of sanctions and hurting the Russian economy where it matters by applying maximum pressure to Putin and his regime to end this brutal and illegal war.  In relation to Aughinish Alumina, the first thing to say is that it is the European Commission, not EU member states, that proposes sanctions. The Commission proposes sanctions and member states ultimately vote on those packages of sanctions. The Government has supported every single package of sanctions. We believe in sanctions. We have had 21 packages of sanctions in regard to Russia and I hope we can see the development during our Presidency of a 22nd package of sanctions.  We need to establish the facts in respect of Aughinish Alumina. I think President Zelenskyy understands that. Indeed, I think he appreciates the work that is being carried out in that regard. This issue would have been discussed when he met yesterday with the Taoiseach and the Minister, Deputy McEntee. The European Commission is being kept fully plugged in to the information coming out of the investigation. My understanding is that the investigation is nearing finalisation. I do not want to cut across that process. I again make the point, which I made this morning, that I do not think it is a binary choice, which the Deputy is not suggesting it is, between supply chains and sanctions. We have seen time and again that Europe has had to diversify and find workarounds and other ways. We are very clear in our minds and in our position that we cannot cherry-pick when it comes to sanctions.  What we are doing is establishing the facts. We have received information from a variety of sources, including the Ukrainian Government. We are plugged in with the European Commission. That information is now being stress-tested and I expect the process to come to a conclusion very shortly.  We will keep the European Commission fully briefed. Ultimately, it will be the European Commission and not the Irish Government that will decide whether to propose sanctions or not on a company or individual. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  Australia acted more than four years ago, as soon as Putin invaded Ukraine, because it did want to have anything to do with the supply of raw material to Putin's war machine. It was abundantly clear to Australia that it needed to act and it did so. More than four years later, the Government has not acted. That is despite the growing evidence staring the Government in the face. Exports of alumina from Ireland since the invasion began have at least doubled, if not tripled. According to Swedish tax authorities, the plant in Aughinish is controlled by a Russian oligarch who is a supporter and close ally of Putin. We had the independent investigation published in March showing that alumina going from Ireland was being sent to Russia to smelters where it was making aluminium that was then being used by the Russian military. What more evidence does the Government need before it acts? When will it act on this? When will it stop these exports? When will it take the kind of action that is needed to show that we actually do as a country stand in solidarity with Ukraine in everything we do? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Australia is obviously not in the European Union, so it has taken its own decisions on measures and sanctions imposed on Russia. We have imposed sanctions as part of the European Union, not on one, two or three occasions, but on 21 occasions. We have been very clear that, during the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, we want to work with other member states on developing further sanctions. Be it from a defence, security or economic point of view, the best way of having impact on Putin is through financial sanctions. We remain absolutely committed and resolute on that. The Minister, Deputy McEntee, will be working with her colleagues through the Foreign Affairs Council, FAC. The Taoiseach, everyone else and I will be working to continue to maximise the pressure on Russia.  Alumina has not been classified as a dual-use product. There has been on many occasions, as the Deputy will remember, information around the plant in Limerick. On many occasions, it has been assessed by Europe and the US and the assurances given have been satisfactory at the time. The Deputy is right that new information has come into the public domain. That is not an investigation in itself. It has to be investigated and facts have to be established. We, as a member state, are providing the maximum amount of information and facts to the European Commission. It will be the European Commission that will decide whether sanctions should be imposed on any company. Let not the word go out in any way contradictory to this from this national Parliament: the people of Ireland deplore the actions of Putin, as does this Government, and we will take every step we can to support the people of Ukraine for as long as it takes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert O'Donoghue  The EU Presidency gives Ireland the opportunity to set the agenda, lead discussions and influence decisions that will be felt across Europe, including Ireland, in the coming years. We should use that opportunity ambitiously. Over the next six months, there will be hundreds of meetings and countless headlines, but for the families struggling with the cost-of-living crisis here and with issues like accessing childcare, none of this will matter unless we can deliver results that work for them.  The Government has identified priorities, including strengthening competitiveness, enlargement, security and delivering an EU budget. The decisions taken over the coming months will shape Ireland and Europe more widely for years to come. A major objective is advancing EU enlargement, and President Zelenskyy coming yesterday underscored that. Ireland, rightly, strongly supports Ukrainian membership. However, enlargement must be accompanied by reform. We must streamline how the EU institutions make their decisions. We have repeatedly seen how a single veto can paralyse the European Union. If Europe is to become larger, it must also become more effective and make decisions faster.  The most important challenge that the Government may face is the multi-annual financial framework, MFF. There are growing demands to increase funding for security, research and competitiveness, all of which is understandable, but with that comes pressure to divert funding from agriculture and cohesion, which Ireland has often pulled from. As a significant net contributor, Ireland has influence. We must use that influence wisely. The Government must insist that new priorities be funded through new EU revenues, not through cuts to the Common Agricultural Policy, CAP. Ireland must place food security firmly on the agenda. This means protecting agricultural land, supporting family farms and ensuring that Europe remains capable of feeding itself. Food security is no longer a future issue. This summer, Europe is once again experiencing prolonged droughts and extreme weather events, damaging harvests and reducing output. Europe cannot allow itself to become increasingly dependent on imports of food while simultaneously reducing its own capacity for production. Ireland must firmly stand against attempts to weaken the CAP and undermine investment to protect Ireland and Europe's long-term food security.  I have four questions. Will Ireland support institutional reform of the EU to ensure that decisions on issues like Palestine and enlargement of the EU bloc can happen quickly? Does the Government support the EU having new revenue sources to fund new priorities? Will it ensure that the next EU budget continues to fund food security? Will the CAP be protected? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank the Deputy for the question. Let me assure him and the people of the country that while the Government is very pleased that Ireland has the Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the next six months, we take seriously the Deputy's point about the domestic agenda. I would make two points on this. Governments have to do more than one thing at a time. There are 97 days until the budget, if anyone is counting. We are continuing to work on a budget that will address many of the cost-of-living issues that were highlighted, namely, a personal income tax package, childcare and how we can make structural progress on issues that are of concern to the Deputy's constituents and mine.  The second point I would make - in fairness, the Deputy has acknowledged this - is that the work at European level is not decoupled from the important impact on our own citizens. We are of Europe and in Europe. We are at the heart of Europe, so having a successful Presidency on issues such as competitiveness and budgetary matters will have an important and positive impact on people in this country.  Regarding the multi-annual financial framework, it is a commitment of the European Council that Europe would seek to agree its multi-annual budget for 2028 onwards before the end of this year. That is an important thing to do. At a time when there is a lot of uncertainty in the world, we have to look at what certainty we can bring to it. In the European Union, it is entirely within our gift to agree a budget, so why not do that and provide that certainty to our citizens and businesses and to those who wish to invest when there is so much uncertainty in the world? Ireland's job will be to intensively engage with member states as an honest broker, hear their views and, ultimately, publish a negotiating box - a new compromise proposal, so to speak - towards the end of September, but more likely the start of October. At that point, it will get sent to the European Council and fall to the President, Ant\u00f3nio Costa, to work with European leaders to seek an agreement.  There are different views on the budget. Some members think that the proposed size is too large and some that it is too small. It is not too dissimilar to a domestic budget - everyone has ideas on new things to spend money on. It is often harder to find agreement on how to fund those things. There is a need to continue to fund important programmes like the CAP and the social cohesion funds. We are also living in a new world in terms of defence and security, the green transition and the digital transition. Ireland's job, which is not easy, is to try to find a balance among all of those things.  On the issue of institutional reform, Ireland is always open to exploring ways for the European Union not to have to work at the pace of the slowest member state. However, at the same time, our diversity is our strength and we have to operate within the treaties. We are always willing to have those conversations.  The point about new money for new initiatives was a fair one. During our Presidency, we have been tasked by the President of the European Council to look at the issue of own resources. Any decision on own resources has to be something that can pass the European Council and be deliverable in terms of having a real impact by 2028. I do not underestimate the significance of that. We have to act as an honest broker by not prejudicing the budgetary process. However, issues such as food security, agrifood and protecting the agricultural sector, not just in Ireland, but across the European Union, are core, vital issues for any MFF. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert O'Donoghue  We both know that Europe works by consensus and that there is only so much we can do to facilitate as an honest broker. While competitiveness is incredibly important, with the capital markets union and the 28th regime coming forward, workers' rights were not mentioned once yesterday at the event in Dublin Castle. This gives us an opportunity to bring the Irish people with us rather than this Presidency just being felt within the bubble of Leinster House. I am not sure if people outside these walls understand its importance or understand it will directly affect them. This question is at national level rather than supranational level, but what concrete milestones does the Government have in mind for us to achieve during the six months we have the Presidency that will benefit Irish people outside the walls of Leinster House? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  That is a very fair question. Europe can often seem something remote, so it is our collective job to do as the Deputy said and bring it home in terms of the real impact it makes. I think workers' rights were mentioned, but if they were not, they should have been because they are very much a core part of competitiveness. We cannot make our economies more competitive and grow our wealth without the workers who run the industries and deliver that productivity.  There is a whole load of areas where Irish people can expect to see benefits. To give the Deputy one, the whole issue of online safety for children is a core concern for parents right across this country and, I would argue, right across this Union. There is a very clear commitment in our Presidency's priorities to make progress on that. We have always been of the view that it is most impactful if it can happen at an EU level. If it cannot, we reserve the right to take our own action here. Listening to the comments of President von der Leyen, there is a real chance that we could make progress on that during the Irish Presidency.  In terms of providing access to funding and investment for Irish businesses, including SMEs, getting an agreement on a savings and investment union and on deepening our capital markets union will benefit Irish businesses. Of course, reaching an agreement on the MFF will provide certainties for farmers and fishers. There are many more examples, too.  As the House continues to reflect during this six-month period, we should look at making the work being done at Presidency level relevant to people, because it certainly is. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  Today, I am raising the issue of wind farms and their health implications. A number of weeks ago, I was copied into a serious letter from the Communities and Environmental Protection Alliance, CEPA, to the Minister of Health. I am informed that there has been no response, not even an acknowledgement. Representatives from five counties are in the Public Gallery today. They are from Limerick, Mayo, Kilkenny, Wicklow and Offaly, including members of the Stonestown community in County Offaly who live beside the Cloghan wind farm. For more than three years, that community has raised noise complaints with the local authority, the HSE and the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA. The crucial point is that the HSE environmental health service examined the matter, visited the community and requested a public health investigation into the complaints. The public health section denied it. One part of the health service was looking for an investigation but the Department's public health section denied it. I want to understand why. The HSE is our expert public health agency. If its own environmental health service believes a matter warrants further investigation, what justification does the Department of Health have to refuse its request?  This is not an isolated issue. In Limerick, there are long-running complaints relating to turbine noise and shadow flicker in Kilmeedy and Morristown. In County Clare, the HSE investigated a wind farm following complaints and at the request of the local authority. I have a copy of that investigation.  The T\u00e1naiste and I met CEPA a number of years ago and we discussed these complaints. The Taoiseach is on the record 13 years ago saying that there are health implications to wind farms. There is something that I want the T\u00e1naiste and all other Members sitting around the House today to do. There are two children sitting in the Public Gallery with their parents, a 12-year-old and a ten-year-old. I want the T\u00e1naiste to tell them that he is going to sit there and not investigate the issues and hide things until 2030. Their parents get complaints that they have to come to school because their children are falling asleep in class. If it was the T\u00e1naiste's child, how would he feel as a parent? Would he deny this for 13 years? Would he deny it for ten minutes if it was his child?  It has been proven without doubt that there are health implications to wind turbines in certain areas. I am not against wind turbines in areas where they do not have health implications, but this one does. So, when the T\u00e1naiste is giving his reply, I want him to think of the children and families this is affecting. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy O'Donoghue. It is not the first time he has raised this issue. I acknowledge his genuine interest and active involvement in this issue.  I am consistently on the record on the importance of publishing new guidelines in relation to wind energy and wind farms. I am a believer, as I believe the Deputy said he was, in the switch to renewable energy. It is really important. We have seen what happens when we live in a country that is too reliant on fossil fuel. We all know that. We can have debates about how to make that transition but our country is still addicted to fossil fuel. The impact of that on consumers and citizens in the Deputy's constituency and mine every time somebody makes a decision thousands of kilometres from here is not an abstract thing any more. It has happened not once, but twice in the last five years and plunged us into challenges like the cost-of-living crisis and real difficulties for people. We all accept that point and are not rowing on that point or debating it.  What the Deputy is saying is that it is important that there be guidelines that are clear, evidence based and published. The Deputy will remember the Planning and Development Act, which passed through this House at the end of 2024. That replaced ministerial guidelines with a new structure of national planning statements. It is a more robust and better process. Work is nearing conclusion on a national planning statement in relation to this issue. That needs to provide certainty and clarity on who can and cannot build a wind farm, where they can be built, the distance, the flicker and a number of the other issues the Deputy has raised.  I hear different things. I am not getting into a row or dispute with anybody, but I am told that in Offaly, for example, the council has been extensively engaging. Perhaps people have different views but that is what I have heard from my engagement with Deputy Clendennen on this. It is important that people engage. It is important that the planning authority engage and take on board the views of local communities. It is most important that we have clarity, as we need renewable energy. We need to make that switch with a sense of urgency. In fairness to everybody, including the children, communities and constituents the Deputy referenced, settling the question once and for all and having clarity as to what an appropriate distance is will be useful. We had Private Members' legislation on this matter from, I believe, Deputy Stanley. The Government took the decision not to oppose that but to have a timed amendment to provide that space for the new national planning statement to conclude. On foot of Deputy O'Donoghue raising this matter, I have asked the Minister, Deputy Browne, and the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, to revert to him. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  I thank the T\u00e1naiste. The issue here is the inconsistency. In the D\u00fan Laoghaire\u2013Rathdown area, all noise complaints received by the local authority are investigated by the HSE. Residents in Offaly and Limerick are wondering why this other approach is being taken in their case and why it depends on what county one lives in whether one gets investigations. It is inconsistency that is going on here. Why should access to a health investigation depend on the county where somebody lives? We can see that it is different in D\u00fan Laoghaire.  It has been more than two years since the T\u00e1naiste met CEPA and the people with the wind farms. I want the T\u00e1naiste to meet them and the people in Offaly. I will attend as well. I would also like to have the Minister for Health there to meet these people and to see if we can relieve concerns and meet young people and their families' entitlement to a night's sleep. This cannot go on for more years. We have been talking about this for years. We must think of the health implications and how we can help. Will the T\u00e1naiste agree to meet CEPA and family groups with the Minster for Health and me? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I am at this long enough to know not to start making diary commitments on the floor of the D\u00e1il. However, the Government will continue to engage with communities on this issue. Indeed, the Deputy has referenced some of my own constituents. Obviously, I engage with my own constituents. I am happy to do that also.  I am not across the level of detail the Deputy has just given me - let me reflect on that - but the point he makes around inconsistency in general is an issue we want to stamp out. A planning system does well when it is consistent. That is one of the reasons we changed the rural planning guidelines this week. It is one of the reasons we are changing the exempted development guidelines. Particularly in a small country, we should not have a different approach to planning from one place versus another above and beyond normal norms that local authorities may wish to have.  The purpose of moving to national planning statements is to move away from those inconsistencies. I accept, and it would be wrong and disingenuous to suggest anything to the contrary, that it has taken a very significant period of time to get to the new wind guidelines. It is true. I know it is a cause of significant frustration for communities, as it was when Deputy O'Donoghue and I had that meeting. However, I would point out that a lot has changed since, including the Planning and Development Act. It is really important that these new standards be up to date with the best possible information, and----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  Will the T\u00e1naiste meet us? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  -----I expect that to happen this year. I will certainly arrange for a meeting to take place with the Government in terms who the appropriate people are. I will revert to the Deputy. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_31","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 na Comhalta\u00ed Eile - Other Members\u2019 Questions","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_31","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl  In April and May, members of the Irish Defence Forces' 1st Armoured Cavalry Squadron travelled to the Fort Benning in the US, where they achieved historic success at the 2026 Sullivan Cup, becoming the first non-American team to win the competition since it began in 2012, and this while using fighting vehicles with which they had no previous familiarity. We frequently speak here of the pride we have in the Defence Forces, but this is yet another example of how the men and women of the Irish Defence Forces continue to distinguish themselves internationally.  I come, as the T\u00e1naiste knows, from a constituency where the Defence Forces are at the heart of every aspect of our community. I have watched as the strength of our Defence Forces has declined over the past decade or more, and while recognising something of a stabilisation and upturn in recruitment in recent years, I have to say that I am profoundly concerned at the current strength of our forces, standing, as it does, at just 7,741 personnel across the three services - Army, Naval Service and Air Corps.  It is a disappointment that, as we take the EU Presidency and rightly commit to spending more on defence, we have not succeeded in boosting our force numbers to what could be considered an acceptable level. The establishment figure stood at 9,739 personnel in 2025, with a target to move towards the Commission on the Defence Forces' recommendation of 11,500 personnel by 2028. However, by having a policy of 400 recruits per year, it means it will take us ten years to get to the establishment figure.  I accept that the Government has acted to significantly improve pay and conditions but much more needs to be done. I acknowledge that the Government accepts that there is a structural deficiency in the cadet pay system, which is a real disincentive to young men and women joining the officer corps. A return to the traditional pension scheme and a total abandonment of the single pension scheme would also help.  At a time when we can be happy to boast of full employment arising from the diligence of the Irish population and the sound economic policies pursued by successive Governments, we have to ask ourselves where the new recruits are to come from. The Government needs to be creative in how it approaches this challenge, but it needs to be approached in a far more resolute manner than it has to date. If the required level cannot be achieved because the population is already at work in other areas, a question arises as to whether there are people in the State not at work or in education who could be encouraged, via some form of voluntary national service to sign up with our Permanent Defence Force.  Let us look, if we can for a minute, at the health service. I recently reviewed stats that revealed that 40% of all practising doctors in Ireland were foreign trained. The same set of stats indicates that 54% of practising nurses in Ireland trained abroad and a staggeringly massive 78% of new nursing registrants in 2024 came from abroad. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl and I join with him in congratulating and commending those involved in the Sullivan Cup and the success they brought to themselves and our country. I acknowledge not just Deputy \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl's interest in our Defence Forces, but his long-standing advocacy on behalf of them, which is coloured in part, I am sure, by the community and constituency in which he lives and, therefore, the knowledge he has in regard to that lived experience in County Kildare.  I am proud of our Defence Forces. Every day, I am proud of the men and women of \u00d3glaigh na h\u00c9ireann and how they serve our country with distinction. I was particularly proud of them yesterday and they do an excellent job on ceremonial and security occasions for this country. I was very proud of them when I visited them in Lebanon in the not-too-distant past. I saw the incredible contribution they made to peacekeeping in some of the most dangerous and troubled parts of our world and the hope they gave to the people of Lebanon of one day seeing a brighter, peaceful future. The links they have built with communities there and the trust they have of the local people are quite inspiring.  The Deputy is right to say we should be proud of them. He is also right to say that we all need to do a hell of a lot more. We are absolutely committed to that - the Minister, Deputy McEntee, the wider Government and Deputy \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl. We need to increase the numbers and strengthen retention. It is positive to see, after years of this going in the other direction, that we are moving back into a period of growth in regard to the numbers in our Permanent Defence Force. I believe there was growth of nearly 200 last year, with 790 inductions. There is a target of 850 inductions for this year. Overall application numbers for careers in the Defence Forces continue to grow. There were - this is quite a staggering figure - 16,510 applications received in 2025 and more than 10,000 received to the end of May 2026. That tells us something. It tells us that at an initial moment of time, there are a hell of a lot of people interested in serving in \u00d3glaigh na h\u00c9ireann. What we need to do, and what the Defences Forces need to do and are doing, is work out how they can convert that high level of applications into a much higher level of inductions. I acknowledge the work that the Defence Forces are doing in preparing a new strategic workforce plan. I believe it has been submitted to the Department, which has a number of recommendations and modelling tools as well. The aim of this process is to provide that pathway to achieving a strength of 11,500, inclusive of civilian personnel.  There has been progress in regard to cadets and pay. Upon commissioning, an officer's starting salary ranges from \u20ac46,823 to \u20ac52,265, depending on whether they join as a school-leaver or a graduate. The Minister has had discussions with the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers, RACO, agreeing to give further consideration to the issue of cadet pay prior to commissioning. That process is ongoing, which is important. We have the current public service pay agreement as well, which members of the Permanent Defence Force are part of, too.  I take the Deputy's point. We need to significantly increase the numbers further and, at the same time, we need to increase the capabilities. Indeed, increasing capabilities without the personnel to utilise those capabilities will not be adequate. Therefore, we are looking at ways of turning that very significant level of interest in applications into a faster level of induction. That work is ongoing and the new workforce plan will assist. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl  People with far greater knowledge than I have are deeply sceptical about the number of applications that are being shown, but anyway. I want to go back to that comparison with the health service because, for me, it raises the legitimate question of whether we should be looking overseas to secure recruits. If we were to do so, we should be looking at countries where Irish Aid is active and where we could recruit members to the Permanent Defence Force on fixed-term contracts to allow us achieve the strength level required in our Defence Forces to fulfil their mandate.  Many national armed forces make formal or informal provisions to recruit non-nationals. Reasons vary, including historical regimental practice, manpower shortfalls, diaspora links or pathways to citizenship, but the result is the same: foreigners in regular state militaries. The French Foreign Legion, for example, offers a five-year contract, I understand. It would be of dual benefit for such a foreign recruitment process, delivering, as it would if linked to Irish Aid, necessary numbers for our own forces and providing a degree of financial support for families coping with war and the ravages of climate change in disadvantaged countries. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I take that point because I hear it often. You see it in Garda numbers as well - the number of people who initially apply and how \"serious\" the applications are if only a very small percentage turns into inductions. There must be something in it, in the sense that the gap between the level of applications and inductions is very high. The Defence Forces is working through its strategic workforce plan to seek to make improvements on that.  My own sense, for what it is worth, is that there can be people who apply at a moment in time. There are a lot of opportunities out there for people now and if you do not strike while the iron is hot and get them in while the interest is there, you can lose them. Faster processing and processes are important. Regardless of applications, inductions are thankfully rising. The size of the Permanent Defence Force is growing again.  The issue the Deputy raised about recruiting from abroad is one I do not want to give a knee-jerk response to on the floor of the D\u00e1il because it deserves policy consideration and the views of the Minister for Defence, but I will certainly ask that she revert to the Deputy on it.  Technology is also going to change security and defence, the skill sets that we will need in our Defence Forces and the roles of people in \u00d3glaigh na h\u00c9ireann. The opportunities that may exist there and the careers that may present are also worth considering, but we will keep in touch on this. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 na Comhalta\u00ed Eile - Other Members\u2019 Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_32","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Pholasa\u00ed n\u00f3 ar Reachta\u00edocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation","counts":{"speechCount":42,"speakerCount":20},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_32","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Mythen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Mythen.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Mythen.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Roche","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  For months, the Government has tried to present abolishing the triple lock as a reasonable and necessary change. Yesterday, however, the Taoiseach made the implications of that decision crystal clear. He argued that Ireland must be free to participate in EU military missions without a United Nations mandate.  That marks a profound shift in Irish defence and foreign policy. It weakens one of the key safeguards underpinning Ireland\u2019s military neutrality. As the Government today rolls out the red carpet for Ursula von der Leyen amid the EU\u2019s increasing militarisation, those safeguards matter now more than ever. Why is the Government so determined to remove one of the fundamental protections of Irish neutrality? Why should the Irish people accept that abandoning the UN safeguard is in Ireland\u2019s national interest? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  When the Deputy uses phrases like \u201crolls out the red carpet\u201d for the President of the European Commission, the mask kind of slips. It is a sharp reminder that Sinn F\u00e9in has opposed every single European referendum, including the one to join the European Union. It is a Eurosceptic party; it has been since its foundation. If it were up to Sinn F\u00e9in, Ireland would not be in the European Union because it opposed joining it. It is nothing to do with the colour of the carpet, but more to do with Sinn F\u00e9in\u2019s politically inward-looking ideology.  In relation to the triple lock, this is an act of sovereignty. We do not believe that the British Prime Minister, the US President, the Chinese President or the Russian President should decide where we send the men and women of \u00d3glaigh na h\u00c9ireann. As someone who has stood with our troops in Lebanon - I do not think Deputy Doherty has - I believe they should be able to continue doing their excellent peacekeeping work there but they cannot because people who are not the Deputy or me have made that decision. If other European countries came together to continue peacekeeping in Lebanon, I would like Ireland to have been involved in that conversation because I am proud of the decades of tradition of the men and women in \u00d3glaigh na h\u00c9ireann. However, other people - not me, the Deputy or the Oireachtas - have decided that is not possible.  Removing the triple lock is in the programme for Government. It should not come as a surprise to anyone on any side of the House that we intend to change this legislation because it was voted through as part of the programme for Government. The Minister will take the legislation through this House in the course of this year. It is an important reform. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  Last Wednesday, the Traveller committee published a damning report on Traveller health inequality. The statistics show extreme levels of inequality due to systemic discrimination, racism and neglect by the State. The statistics speak for themselves. Suicide rates for Travellers are six times higher and infant mortality three and a half times higher, while life expectancy is over a decade shorter for Traveller women and 15 years shorter for Traveller men. These statistics are alarming, but all we have gotten is silence from the Minister for Health, the HSE and the Department. Has the Government considered this report? Was it discussed at Cabinet this week? What is the Government going to do about it?  The report calls for a radical and urgent change of direction from Departments, State agencies and public services. It calls for the introduction of an ethnic identifier across every public service, as called for as far back as 2010 but not implemented. It also calls for an annual parliamentary account mechanism whereby the Minster for Health comes to the D\u00e1il every single year and reports to us on what he or she has done on these recommendations. This cannot be allowed to sit on the shelf and gather dust like all the other reports. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I reject the idea that any report has sat on the shelf and gathered dust. I have had many engagements with the Traveller community in a whole variety of roles, most particularly in the education space. Indeed, it was my party in government that recognised Traveller as an ethnicity, which was an important moment for members of the Traveller community.  The report is a valuable piece of work. It highlights stark inequalities and discrimination that still exists in this Republic. Certainly, I and the Government as a whole will give it consideration. I will also ask the Minister for Health to come back to the Deputy directly on what is quite a damning report in terms of the level of progress that still needs to be made in our country to improve outcomes for Travellers across a whole variety of areas. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  The Minister for justice, as part of his long-running campaign for the Fianna F\u00e1il leadership, is in the process of critically undermining our system of criminal justice. He has introduced a new fee structure for District Court criminal legal aid without proper engagement or consultation with the practitioners involved. The Minister is asking criminal law solicitors to run entire cases for the same amount that he would have charged for one hour of his own time as a commercial law senior counsel. The Minister now refuses to publish the underlying data being used to justify the move to a flat fee. If the evidence is as the Minister says, why will he not publish it? I would have thought he would be familiar with the concept of discovery, whereby the other side in a case can test the evidence being relied on.  Solicitors are resigning en masse across the country from legal aid panels. It is awful to see. Will the T\u00e1naiste intervene? Is Fine Gael happy to see criminal prosecutions being put at risk? Will he ensure there is a pause to allow for engagement and consultation? Will he ensure the underlying data informing the Department\u2019s report is published? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Ahern for that colourful intervention, but on an important matter. The Minister for justice has introduced an 8% increase in criminal legal aid fees payable to solicitors and barristers in both the Circuit Court and High Court from 1 July. This is now a total restoration of criminal legal aid fees cut under the financial emergency measures in the public interest, FEMPI. He has also proposed, and is trying to bring about reform with, a move to a flat-fee model. I would also point out that he has moved on the level of that fee. The figure represents the current fee paid for five appearances in the District Court, plus an 8% increase. The weighted average of appearances by a solicitor in criminal cases legally aided is five, but many cases obviously require fewer appearances to be concluded.  Everyone wants to see progress on this. The Minister is pursuing a reform agenda. No one wants to see justice in any way delayed or disrupted. I am informed that no solicitor has formally resigned or withdrawn their name from the criminal legal aid panel, but I have certainly heard media commentary to the contrary. I think three solicitors wrote to the Department indicating they would be seeking to withdraw from the panel, but I hope a resolution can be found. I understand and support the reforms the Minister is trying to bring about. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charles Ward  Last week, I asked the Taoiseach when homeowners could expect the review of the remediation of dwellings Act, following the publication of IS 465, to be completed. His response was that it could take approximately three months to report to the committee and that the homeowners already know this. Will the T\u00e1naiste provide a clear timeline as to when the necessary amending legislation will be published, enacted, communicated and commenced? Given that the science is now clear, the Government must ensure long-outstanding appeals for downgraded homeowners are determined without any further delay. They have been waiting over 18 months.  Replies to parliamentary questions suggest that homeowners who were recommended remediation measures under the original scheme, such as outer leaf replacement, may be entitled to a review under the new IS 465. However, I have yet to receive clarification on this. Can the T\u00e1naiste confirm that those homeowners will be entitled to a technical review? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I may have to ask the Minister to come back on some of the specifics, but I know that the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 sets out a clear process for what should happen when a new standard is made available. It requires that a review of the operation of the Act commences within three months of that standard being published. The Minister for housing now intends to commence a review of the operation of the Act in the coming weeks. I will ask him to keep in close contact with the Deputy on that.  In the meantime, the scheme can continue to operate and fix homes for many homeowners who have already received a determination and a grant amount under the former scheme. I will ask the Minister to come back to the Deputy specifically on those questions. We hope the review will be under way within weeks. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  Scoil Padre Pio in Churchfield, Cork, is a DEIS plus school catering for five special needs classes. They are operating in prefabs installed in 2005. The prefabs are now costing the State roughly \u20ac110,000 per year to maintain. Additionally, despite the energy grants, it is costing the school about \u20ac34,000 per year to heat those prefabs with storage heaters. The school has been stuck at stage 2 for the last three years. It has not been accepted onto the list for 2026-27. I invite the T\u00e1naiste, along with the Minister, to visit the school. It is an absolutely fantastic school. It is a treasure. People from all over the city try to get access to the school because of the tremendous work it does with children with special needs. I ask the T\u00e1naiste to come down on his next visit to Cork, perhaps with the Minister, to visit the school. Let us get the school moving along the line. Let us get the planning permission granted and over the line to the next stage so we can build this. When this was first announced, it was a \u20ac2 million project. We are now looking at a \u20ac7 million project and I am fearful that, if we let it go on, it will hit \u20ac10 million. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I would be happy to visit Scoil Padre Pio. If the Deputy wants to liaise with me, I will make arrangements to do that in due course in the new school year. I thank the school, based on what the Deputy has told me, for the leadership role it is playing in the provision of special education. I will certainly speak with the Minister, Deputy Naughton, about the school building project.  What I would say all Members of this House, including Deputy O'Flynn, is that while we have announced a significant increase in capital funding for schools, it is not the final word on the matter. There will be a requirement for additional capital funding for school projects. There are quite a number at stage 2b. The Government has additional capital to allocate as part of our medium-term fiscal plan and we will work our way through that in the time ahead. I am happy to engage and I will ask the Minister to look specifically into the building project. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Erin McGreehan  The T\u00e1naiste might have heard that there is a bit of excitement in Louth at the moment. I do not know if anyone has missed it, but Louth is into its first All-Ireland football semi-final since 1957. This is not just one brilliant season for Louth GAA, however. Louth GAA is on the rise and, thankfully, so too is our stadium. We have a valid application under the large-scale infrastructure fund for phase 2 of our project. Phase 1 is being built and is nearly finished. We are ready and we need to keep this funding going. Where projects elsewhere are not in a position to draw down their allocation, will the Department consider reprioritising funding towards projects that are ready to proceed?  There is little point in having money sitting idle when communities are ready to deliver. Our stadium is becoming a field of dreams for all of us Gaelic lovers and sports lovers in County Louth. The county board, players and supporters are all doing their part and we ask the Government to finish the job. Louth has shown we are ready to compete with the best on the pitch and I want the Government to help us build a stadium that matches that ambition and success. Who knows, if we keep winning we might come back here and ask for more money for a bigger stadium, but we will be happy with the money for our current plans. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  That contribution made me smile to see the positivity, infectiousness and county pride the GAA can bring. I look forward to attending that game because, of course, what the Deputy did not say in her contribution, is that County Wicklow is in the Tailteann Cup final on the same day, just before that match. Wicklow will beat Down and then Louth and Mayo I am not getting involved in, but I wish everybody well.  I take the point about the large-scale projects. Indeed, I had an opportunity quite a while ago to meet with some of the Louth county board members while I was in Louth, and I know how serious this project is. It is the county that has the outstanding need for those county grounds. I have spoken to the Minister, Deputy O\u2019Donovan, about it before. On foot of the Deputy raising it today, I will talk to him again and ask him to come back to the Deputy directly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Grace Boland  Dublin is buzzing with headline gigs, from Katy Perry and Calvin Harris to CMAT and many more, as well as many sporting events. However, what we do not have is a national major event transport planning framework. We really need this. It is impacting on people's decisions on where to go. People from Skerries and Balbriggan simply will not go to Marlay Park any more because getting home is too difficult. Will the T\u00e1nasite please talk to the Minister for Transport and instruct him to require the NTA to pull together a planning framework? If necessary, it needs to be a condition of licensing that a transport plan, bringing together event organisers, venues, local authorities, An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and the transport operator, is co-ordinated by the NTA so that people know how they can get home. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  This a great round of Questions on Policy or Legislation. We have gone from GAA pitches to concert events. The Deputy raises a very important point. It is great to see the level of activity and the concerts going on right across the country and particularly the city and county of Dublin. Deputy Boland is right; the joy can be somewhat taken out of that if there are real challenges in terms of traffic, congestion and a lack of co-ordination. I know that is an issue that can affect her own constituency of Dublin Fingal West, particularly during the summer months. As she said, the NTA is the organisation with statutory responsibility for pulling all of this together. There is significant collaboration between the NTA and all public transport operators, but I think she is right. There is an issue that needs to be resolved. On foot of the Deputy raising it, I will engage directly with the Minister for Transport and others, and we will come back to her to see what more can be done. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Mythen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Mythen.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Mythen.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Johnny Mythen  The primary care service operators in County Wexford are creaking at the knees. Occupational therapists, OTs, in the community health organisation, CHO, 5 south-east area are burned out and under enormous pressure due to the current workload from a long list of clients waiting for appointments and treatment. The integrated health area, IHA, in County Wexford has a total of 1,643 children on waiting lists, almost double that of any other area. There are 132 children aged five or under waiting over 12 months, while 434 five- to 17-year-olds have been on the list for over two years. Nineteen five-year-olds, along with 305 17-year-olds, have been waiting for over three years. The list goes on. There are 252 children, to be exact, waiting on primary care occupational therapy services for between four and five years in total. Will the T\u00e1naiste investigate these unacceptable delays and seek an explanation as to why this is happening? These are children who require an immediate intervention. The longer the delay, the more they will regress. The sooner the treatment starts, the sooner they will progress. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Mythen for raising this issue in relation to primary care services in County Wexford and the impact it is having on children waiting longer periods on waiting lists. I will certainly raise this issue with the Minister for Health and ask that she discuss it specifically with that CHO and the HSE to see what more can be done to make progress. I will ask the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, to come back to the Deputy directly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Carol Nolan  There are serious and ongoing concerns regarding the lack of access to occupational therapy for elderly people. I am dealing with a situation where an elderly man of 90 years who worked all his life and paid his taxes cannot get access to an occupational therapy appointment despite at least eight separate medical referrals. I have followed up myself and sent an email to the HSE and the local primary care centre and also the Minister because it is simply wrong, and this man is not the only elderly person I am dealing with who cannot get access to occupational therapy, which is a very basic service. He urgently needs an assessment and it is causing him great distress and frustration that he cannot get this basic assessment despite, as I said, having worked all his life. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Nolan for raising this issue in relation to access to occupational therapy for older people. I will speak to the Minister about that broader issue but also specifically the issue she has raised regarding that elderly gentleman who is seeking an assessment and has a number of medical referrals. If she wants to send me the information, I will ask the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, to engage with the HSE and come back to her. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  I welcome the continued success of IDA Ireland in attracting foreign direct investment at a time when global competition for investment has never been more intense. Today, companies are looking for countries that can provide certainty, speed, skilled people and investment-ready sites. Offaly is well positioned to compete in this. IDA Ireland has already demonstrated its confidence in the county by acquiring a strategic site for future industrial development. However, the land alone does not attract investment. Companies need sites that are fully serviced and ready for development. Will the T\u00e1naiste support prioritising the enabling of infrastructure needed to bring this site to market as quickly as possible? The race for investment does not begin when a company contacts IDA Ireland. It begins years earlier when the Government ensures that strategic sites are ready to compete. If we are serious about balanced regional development, counties like Offaly must be equipped to win the next generation of investment and the high-quality jobs that come with it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I think Deputy McCormack for raising this issue. I will discuss it with the Minister, Deputy Burke, and ask that he revert to the Deputy. More broadly, the IDA is continuing to deliver very successful results in a very challenging environment and is securing more sites that, as the Deputy said, are able to be accessed because they have the enabling infrastructure to try to keep ahead of the curve. The world is getting more and more competitive. It is more vital than ever to have that joined-up approach to securing sites but also to ensure they are functional and ready to rock. That is an absolute imperative. I will speak to the Minister and he will revert to the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Daly  I wish to ask if the Government has or is developing a policy for the development of industrial hemp production in Ireland. Industrial hemp is a remarkable plant. It is a recognised crop grown largely in France, Belgium and Germany and is governed by an EU regulatory framework to keep the active tetrahydrocannabinol, THC, content lower than 0.3%, which is important because it is part of the cannabis family. I think it is prejudiced because of that.  We had farmers, processors, building industry representatives and construction academics at the agriculture committee last night. This remarkable crop has over 70 recognised uses, including hemp concrete, insulation, textiles and building blocks. It is grown quickly, with immediate carbon sequestration, and is sustainable and profitable for farmers, with an estimated profit of \u20ac250 per acre. It is a most suitable building material for Ireland with our damp climate. However, it requires a co-ordinated approach by Government to support it as an industry. Does the Government have a policy on industrial hemp production and will it encourage the Departments of Health, agriculture and enterprise to progress this, because at the moment it is licensed by the Department of Health and not by the Department of agriculture? In my constituency, a \u20ac20 million investment in a hemp production factory was turned down because we could not get the funding from the just transition programme. Part of the reason for that was the prejudice against this plant because of its association with cannabis. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I do not honestly know the answer to the question of whether we have one. I have not seen it if we do, so I presume we have not. On foot of the Deputy raising this, I will ask the relevant Ministers to take a look at it because I am conscious he is a doctor as well as a Deputy and there is a very clear differentiation between what he is trying to achieve from an economic point of view and the broader discussion in relation to cannabis and the likes. That idea of the industrial use of hemp and the good that could come of it is certainly something that should be explored. I will perhaps ask the Minister, Deputy Burke, in the first instance to come back to the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Crowe  There is a commitment in the programme for Government to enhance driver training but this has not been of much comfort to learner drivers who cannot get an appointment for a test. Numbers on the waiting lists for driving tests continue to climb and waiting times grow longer. Several weeks ago, the Road Safety Authority, RSA, pulled the plug on a proposed new driving centre in Sandyford, despite the Minister saying it was mere weeks away from opening. This would have relieved the enormous backlog affecting in Tallaght and D\u00fan Laoghaire tests centres, which are permanently at the top when it comes to the waiting lists.  There are 17,000 on the waiting list for the centre in Tallaght. That represents 10% of the State's total number in a network of 60 test centres. I have raised this on a number of occasions, including with different Governments. Could the T\u00e1naiste give the people who rely on the Tallaght and D\u00fan Laoghaire test centres assurances that a new test centre will be opened in south Dublin in 2026? This is something that needs to be tackled. At this stage I have raised it with a number of Governments. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Crowe. I can hear his frustration. From memory, I think the waiting time for driving tests is falling, albeit from a very high place. I take the point that there can be geographic differences in relation to that too. I am not sure of the situation in relation to the Sandyford test centre but on foot of the Deputy raising it, I will speak to the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, who has responsibility for the RSA and road safety to see what can be done. More broadly, we are having a conversation about the role of the RSA. I will come back to the Deputy directly and see what can be done for the people in Tallaght and D\u00fan Laoghaire on those wait times. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  I am trying my absolute best to find out what has happened to the 119 bus service from Glendalough, through Roundwood to Bray. It was meant to start last September, as the T\u00e1naiste is aware. One month ago his office told constituents that the service was financed, sanctioned and overdue and that it would come into operation very soon and that there should be a firm date in the next week. That was a month ago. As recently as yesterday I had confirmation from the National Transport Authority, NTA, that there is no money for that service and that is why it has not begun. The Minister for Transport told me a couple of weeks ago that he hoped it would start early in 2027. It was meant to start last September. Similar bus routes in Ennis and Mullingar did start when they were meant to start. I am not sure why the 119 has not started. Is there funding for this service? If there is not, could the T\u00e1naiste ensure that funding is provided? I think it would cost approximately \u20ac80,000 to get that really vital service up and running from this coming September until when the longer term funding comes into place. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I genuinely thank Deputy Whitmore for her work on this. I know her work to get this bus service up and running is sincere. I very much support it. This is where State agencies have to stop with the codology. Deputy Whitmore and I did not make up that this bus was coming to Wicklow. This information flowed from the NTA. She is right that certain bus routes have started and certain other ones have not. I watched back some of the NTA's contribution in response to the Deputy. Deputy Whitmore and I, as a Wicklow TD, were given assurances that this bus service was to be delivered within the timeline. I expect State agencies to keep to the commitments they give and not to go into Oireachtas committees with measly words and try to suggest that somehow the idea just dropped from the sky. It came from the NTA. I am very happy to meet the NTA with Deputy Whitmore in relation to this and to try to get this bus service up and running as quickly as possible. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert O'Donoghue  If we wait around long enough in here, two opportunities can come in a day - much like the 33 bus, which I am going to again raise in regard to its reliability. I acknowledge that the Minister's priority is to make the route more reliable rather than increasing the service this year. I also recognise that recruitment challenges and traffic congestion have contributed to cancellations across the 33 fleet. However, these are not new problems, and this is not the first time I have raised these concerns. I continue to receive emails from frustrated constituents about buses that are simply not turning up on a daily basis.  We need to improve the integration of our public transport network across the north county. The 33 bus timetable should be aligned with train services, and the location of Rush and Lusk train station, which is not in Rush or Lusk remains a significant barrier to people accessing public transport on the northern commuter line.  A dedicated Local Link service connecting surrounding communities in Rush and Lusk to the station would greatly improve access and encourage greater use of public transport. I am hoping these issues can be resolved so that my constituents in Dublin Fingal West can have a public transport system they can rely on. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Deputy O'Donoghue is having a busy day. I thank him for raising the issue of the 33 bus again. I take the point that there is always a balance between the reliability of the service and increasing the frequency of it. I know the Minister's aim in the first instance is to improve reliability.  The Deputy has put forward some suggestions as to measures that could be taken that would pass the common-sense test in terms of helping get people to and from train stations and the likes. I am very much aware that he represents a constituency with a growing and young population where investment in public transport is crucial. I will ask the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, to come back to the Deputy in the first instance. I hope we can focus on public transport and bus provision in the forthcoming budget because it has been a challenging year for Local Link and the likes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  The T\u00e1naiste will be well aware that last night SNAs overwhelmingly voted to reject the proposed SNA workforce development plan. I understand F\u00f3rsa's education divisional executive committee will meet next Wednesday, 8 July. I accept what the Minister, Deputy Naughton, said about there being significant stakeholder engagement on the creation of this workforce development plan but the reality is that SNAs do not accept it. One of the core issues is the 72-hour obligation on SNAs. I suspect that this issue forms part of the reason for the rejection of the plan. My question is fairly simple. What now? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Kenny. First, I respect the outcome of the ballot because it is important that processes are respected. I know F\u00f3rsa opened a consultation ballot. It is important to say that the union representing SNAs did recommend acceptance of the plan but the members rejected it. That is a statement of fact too and that is how democracy works. In terms of what happens next and what now, F\u00f3rsa has said it will consider the outcome carefully. I understand, as the Deputy outlined, that its education divisional executive committee will meet next Wednesday to consider the outcome and determine the next steps. We, as a Government, and the Department await the feedback from F\u00f3rsa's engagement with its members. We are respectful of that. The Minister, Deputy Naughton, and the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Moynihan, and their officials are ready and willing to constructively work and engage with F\u00f3rsa and all stakeholders to address any concerns or issues. We all want to get agreement on this. In fairness, I know the SNAs want to get agreement on it. They have waited a long time for it. This was seen as an important step forward. We need to hear what was behind the outcome of the ballot to see if we can tease through some of the issues. We look forward to hearing from F\u00f3rsa after the meeting next Wednesday. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mattie McGrath  What plans does the Government have to reform Uisce \u00c9ireann, which is totally out of control, given its continued failure to deliver on its core responsibility of providing a safe, secure and reliable water supply. Last week alone 28,000 homes and businesses across south Tipperary, from Carrick-on-Suir right up to Tipperary town, were affected by boil water notices. That is simply unacceptable in 2026. These notices, along with repeated unplanned outages, are not just an inconvenience, they force businesses to close, disrupt farming operations and place huge pressures on families and small businesses and undermine confidence in Irish Water-Uisce \u00c9ireann. People are asking how these failures can continue while Uisce \u00c9ireann executives continue to receive generous top-ups and bonuses. Where is the accountability? I think it was Einstein who said the definition of insanity was doing the same thing over and over again. Not a week goes by without Deputies from all over the country raising this issue here. We, as public representatives, have literally no access to Irish Water. It is a complete farce. Tipperary town is on a boil water notice since February and it is likely to continue until October. Absolutely no information is coming to public representatives or to the public. How long can this madness continue? Uisce \u00c9ireann has been a failure since it was set up by the then Minister, Phil Hogan, who was in the T\u00e1naiste's Government. It must be stood down or massively reformed because it is just not fair. A soft drinks company in Clonmel has a bill of \u20ac40,000 for buying clean water and it has got no satisfaction from Irish Water. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  The Deputy should conclude. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mattie McGrath  That is not acceptable. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy McGrath. As is often the case I agree with some of what he says and disagree with some of it also. The establishment of Uisce \u00c9ireann, to have one national body for co-ordinating and directing a very significant level of investment in water quality, water services and the water supply we need for housing, is a good thing. I genuinely believe that and I stand over that decision.  However, the Deputy raised two other issues. One is the boil water notices in his constituency and the very significant impact they have had on his constituents. I will raise that with Irish Water and ask that it comes back to him directly. The second issue is the accountability of Irish Water. I am only one Member of this House - it is for the House to consider this - but it is my very clear view that Uisce \u00c9ireann should be accountable to D\u00e1il Eireann through parliamentary questions. I do not understand why it is not. It was intended to be set up in a different way. Deputy McGrath will remember those battles. He referenced my former colleague, the then Minister, Phil Hogan, but it has not been established in that way. Therefore, I think it should be covered. I do not think it is acceptable. I do not blame the Ceann Comhairle or the Leas-Cheann Comhairle - far from it - but at the moment if a Deputy asks a question about Uisce \u00c9ireann, it is ruled out of order. If we ask a question about the HSE, the Minister answers it and refers it to the HSE. We need to do work in whatever the appropriate committee is - the Committee on Members' Interests or the Oireachtas Commission - on how we are going to bring accountability. This is an organisation with vast sums of public money. Deputy McGrath's frustration is shared by Deputies across the House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  It is not the Leas-Cheann Comhairle or the Ceann Comhairle; it is the legislation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Absolutely. We should work it out together. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I just want to make it clear. I agree with the T\u00e1naiste. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I defended the Leas-Cheann Comhairle's honour but we need to seriously look at this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Murphy  While I welcome the supports available to older people, there is a growing concern that the social welfare system does not address the additional costs associated with advancing age.  What I am asking the T\u00e1naiste to examine, in the context of budget 2027, is additional supports for older people, particularly those over the age of 80 and 90. I am particularly thinking about the fuel allowance. We have 189,000 people over the age of 80 and 29,000 over the age of 90 but not all have an automatic entitlement to the fuel allowance. It is those cohorts of people who are particularly vulnerable to fuel poverty. As I said, only 29,000 people are over the age of 90. Most of them are already in receipt of the fuel allowance but there is a small cohort who are not because they are above the financial threshold. It would be a great step by the Government to consider an automatic entitlement for those people over the age of 90, perhaps first, and then extending it to those over the age of 80. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  As is often the way, there is a lot of logic in what the Deputy is suggesting. We have to consider these matters as part of the budgetary process. I am proud that we are in a Government that has significantly expanded the fuel allowance and made sure that more homes and more people than ever before are receiving it. We have increased the amount of the fuel allowance and took the decision to extend the fuel allowance season this year when the energy prices went in a very bad direction globally and in Ireland. The Deputy is making the point that there is a certain cohort of people of an age who still do not qualify and he would like that examined. On foot of his raising this, I will ask the Minister, Deputy Calleary, to give it consideration and come back to the Deputy directly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Roche","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Roche  I want to put the spotlight on the primary medical certificate and the very rigid rules there are with regard to eligibility. It is fine if a person has a very physical disability; they will qualify. Those who lose eyesight, for example, would not be eligible. The appeals process is also quite complex. Is there any prospect of a review of the scheme? On the backlog of appeals, is there anything to speed up the numbers who are waiting on decisions? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Roche for raising this issue. I will reflect on what he says in respect of the actual process itself. Specifically on the issue of the length of time for appeals, I acknowledge the appeals board is independent but the board does run regional clinics on occasion where appropriate facilities can be sourced and where there is sufficient demand and attendance. For instance, over the past 12 months, it held these regional clinics in Cork and Galway and I think that helped somewhat with those delays. I am advised that the location of alternative regional clinics is kept under review by the board. This is very welcome. On foot of the Deputy raising the matter today, I will ask that his views are conveyed to the board as well. Those regional hearing centres could make a real difference in speeding up those times and I know it is something the board is open to as well. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Pholasa\u00ed n\u00f3 ar Reachta\u00edocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_33","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/78","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/78\/dail\/1","houseCode":"dail","stage":"1","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Prevention of Energy Wastage Bill 2026: First Stage (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Prevention of Energy Wastage Bill 2026: First Stage","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_33","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Frankie Feighan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  I move:  That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 to provide for the utilisation of curtailed and constrained renewable electricity in order to support the achievement of the national climate objective and carbon budgets, to advance a just transition, and to reduce energy poverty by facilitating access to lowercost renewable electricity for eligible electricity customers; and to provide for related matters.  This Bill has a very simple objective. It is to stop the wastage of renewable energy and help people reduce their electricity bills. One in seven households is in arrears on their electricity bills and, as of yesterday, electricity has gone up again, with Electric Ireland, the State\u2019s largest energy provider, putting its prices up by 8%. For the average household, this will add \u20ac138 to their electricity bill. Electric Ireland has about 1.1 million customers across the State, so a huge number of people are going to be impacted by this price hike. At this point, it is well known that Ireland has the highest electricity prices in Europe, with us paying 40% more than the EU average. This usually costs around \u20ac480 per year for an average household. People across the country are really struggling to make ends meet and, considering these figures, it is not hard to see why.  Yet, at the very same time, huge amounts of renewable energy are just being wasted. There are wind turbines all over this country that are being switched off because our electricity grid cannot manage the energy that they would be producing. In some cases, this is due to limitations on the grid while in others it is because the wider electricity system cannot absorb the energy safely. No matter the reason, renewable energy that could be used is being thrown away. This costs us approximately \u20ac500 million per year and, amazingly, some of that actually ends up being paid through individual electricity bills. While people in Ireland are in arrears on their bills, struggling to make ends meet, and faced with the highest electricity prices in Europe, they are also paying to switch wind farms off. There is something really wrong with a system where renewable energy is being wasted while people struggle to heat their homes, and I think that is something we could all probably agree on.  Now, there are ways of dealing with this. We could have every immersion in the country programmed to switch on at night and use that energy. We could do it the way Germany does it, by using electric vehicles as quasi batteries to store the energy. We could indeed just put large-scale batteries on every wind farm to store that energy rather than wasting it. The technology is there but the Government, for some reason, is stubbornly refusing to actually consider it.  The Prevention of Energy Wastage Bill 2026 seeks to address this issue and prevent that electricity wastage from happening. This Bill amends the climate Act to provide a statutory basis for the utilisation of renewable electricity that would otherwise be wasted due to electricity system curtailment or constraint. In short, this Bill would force the Minister to do something with that energy, such as to provide it to households at low cost or to people at risk of energy poverty for free. The Bill itself prioritises vulnerable households, those at risk of energy poverty, and community benefit projects. This is not a new idea, nor is it the first Bill to come to the D\u00e1il on the issue of renewable energy wastage. Two Fianna F\u00e1il TDs brought one forward about two years ago, the Energy Poverty Reduction (Use of Surplus Renewable Energy) Bill 2025. This issue is clearly recognised across parties and there are even provisions for it in the programme for Government. I really hope this Bill will receive cross party support but not just support. I want to see this Bill actioned. I want to see people's electricity prices come down and I want to see us using the renewable electricity we can produce for the benefit of people in this country.  EnergyCloud has examined this issue in detail, of the scale of surplus electricity on the grid. It has proposed mechanisms through which the wasted energy could be redirected, and its work has formed the basis of much of this Bill. I would like to thank EnergyCloud for its advocacy on this really important issue and for its support in the development of this Bill.  This Bill is really an opportunity for us all as legislators and as representatives of our communities to support households, to tackle energy poverty, to reduce waste and to make better use of the renewable resources that are available to us. I really hope that will be recognised across the Oireachtas and that this Bill will be supported. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Is the Bill opposed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Frankie Feighan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (Deputy Frankie Feighan)  No. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Since this is a Private Members' Bill, Second Stage must, under Standing Orders, be taken in Private Members' time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  I move: \"That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time.\" "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar fionra\u00ed ar 1.28 p.m. agus cuireadh t\u00fas leis ar\u00eds ar 2.08 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Sitting suspended at 1.28 p.m. and resumed at 2.08 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Prevention of Energy Wastage Bill 2026: First Stage"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_34","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/75","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/75\/dail\/2","houseCode":"dail","stage":"2","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2026: Second Stage (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2026: Second Stage","counts":{"speechCount":18,"speakerCount":17},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_34","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Clendennen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cormac Devlin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"William Aird","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy John Cummins)  I move: \"That the Bill be now read a Second Time.\"  I am pleased to bring the Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2026 before the House. The main purpose of this Bill is to support the smooth commencement of the remaining provisions of the Planning and Development Act 2024 later this year and to provide clarity and further policy direction on a number of matters that have already commenced in Part 3 of the 2024 Act, including: the timely introduction of ten year county and city development plans; speeding up the implementation of the new procedural rules for planning judicial reviews that were introduced in the 2024 Act by applying them to any remaining Acts or decisions to be made under the 2000 Act; and completing a number of actions that were assigned to my Department following the Government's approval of the 2025 accelerating infrastructure plan to enhance the timely delivery of critical infrastructure projects.  Members will recall the scale of the Planning and Development Act 2024, which was enacted in October of that year. This body of legislation is the third largest to be enacted in the history of the State and was underpinned by a 15-month review led by the Attorney General, informed by dozens of key stakeholder voices in the planning arena, while also subject to considerable scrutiny when it passed through the Houses of the Oireachtas.  Given the scale of the 2024 Act, it has been necessary to commence and implement it on a phased basis in order to facilitate the transition from the arrangements under the current legislative framework to those under the Act. The ongoing implementation of the Act is a key priority for me, as Minister of State, and for the Government. A considerable volume of the legislation has already commenced, with the remainder on track to be commenced by the end of this year following the enactment of the Bill before the House. I assure Deputies that my Department is finalising revised regulations to accompany the 2024 Act and is working closely with local authorities and a range of other key stakeholders to ensure that the system will be ready for full implementation.  As already stated, the main purpose of the Bill is to support the smooth commencement of the remaining provisions of the Planning and Development Act 2024, which is due to take place later this year.  The amendments in the Bill can be broken down into five key areas. First, the Bill amends Part 3 of the Planning and Development Act 2024 to speed up the move to plan-making under the 2024 Act and to ensure that the transitional measures already provided for will operate as originally intended in line with the hierarchy of plan-making. Part 3 of the 2024 Act was commenced at the end of last year and is already being operated by planning authorities. We recognise that the ongoing practical implementation of the transition to the 2024 Act presents a challenge for the current system from a capacity and prioritisation perspective.  The amendments in this Bill take into account the ongoing engagement with the sector on how the legislation is operating in practice and will provide clarity and further policy direction on a number of important matters, including the Government's expectations around the timely introduction of ten-year county and city development plans under the 2024 Act. The approach has been discussed in detail and worked through with all key stakeholders including the Office of the Planning Regulator and our planning authorities. This engagement has happened at all levels across all organisations, including the oversight group chaired by my Department that was established to oversee and help manage the sector through the ongoing commencement of the 2024 Act. This Bill will ensure that the review of the three regional spatial and economic strategies will be completed in a timely manner through the introduction of a deadline of 31 December 2027. It will also allow for planning authorities to amend the expiration dates of their current development plans for a defined maximum period between February and December 2030. This new expiration date will act as a trigger for the adoption of new ten-year development plans under the 2024 Act and will mean that planning authorities must begin the process of making their new development plans under the 2024 Act in the period beginning in July next year and running until July of 2028 at the latest. It will also make it clear that since the commencement of Part 3 of the Act at end of 2025, all development plan reviews must be carried out under the 2024 Act only.  Second, the Bill extends the judicial review provisions in Chapter 1 of Part 9 of the 2024 Act to acts done or decisions made under the Planning and Development Act 2000. We are all aware that a number of planning proposals are delayed due to judicial review proceedings, which is why changes to judicial review processes were introduced under the 2024 Act and brought into operation in August 2025. Given the lead-in time before there could be a formal decision made or action taken under the 2024 Act that could be subject to a challenge, it would likely be several months after the commencement of Part 4 of the 2024 Act before the new planning judicial review rules could have an impact on proceedings. To further expedite judicial review processes going forward, it is now proposed to extend the judicial review provisions in the 2024 Act to decisions made or acts done under the 2000 Act. This change will speed up the transition to the new rules and will mean that they will have an earlier impact in the second half of this year. The processes being updated include the removal of the requirement to apply for leave to apply for judicial review proceedings which reduces the time required for such proceedings, removes unnecessary additional legal costs to all parties and amends various procedural rules relating to proceedings. These changes will mean that the expected benefits of the new judicial review processes will have an earlier positive impact on the planning system later this year.  A range of measures are proposed in the Bill to enhance the delivery of critical infrastructure projects and complete several actions that were assigned to my Department in the Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan, which was published last year. A number of actions were already in train, but the relevant timelines have been brought forward and included in this Bill to ensure completion within the ambitious timelines set out in the report, which was approved by Government and published in December of last year. This includes the introduction of a definition of \u201cmaterial contravention\u201d of the development plan which should assist in the timely development of critical infrastructure and housing projects by providing clarity and certainty for the decision-making process and thereby avoiding the potential for additional legal challenges. It also includes a number of other amendments to streamline certain application processes for critical infrastructure projects, including those by or on behalf of statutory undertakers. This includes the change set out in section 35 of the Bill which make it clear that landowner consent is not required when making a planning application for development undertaken by statutory undertakers in the performance of their statutory functions, such as ESB Networks when they are seeking to develop critical electricity infrastructure, including across multiple properties. This amendment makes it clear that the application may be made by or on behalf of the statutory undertaker in the first instance, but does not alter the requirements or predetermine the outcome of the planning process itself. All relevant parties, including landowners, will still retain their existing rights to participate in the planning process.  Another example is section 53, which makes an amendment to help speed up the delivery of critical electricity infrastructure. It provides additional flexibility so that an application for the distribution of electricity infrastructure may be made under Chapter 3 of the 2024 Act, thereby having the development treated as standard development and considered first by the planning authority, rather than under Chapter 4 of the 2024 Act, where it is considered only by An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la, as may otherwise be applicable.  The Bill will also make amendments to allow for the modification of an existing permission in accordance with appropriate apartment design standards. The agile application of these criteria to permissions already granted including, where relevant, the development of a greater numbers of dwellings in apartment complexes, will help support the viability of the development of such apartments in the immediate term. The amendment being introduced sets out specific circumstances where such a modification of an existing permission is non-material for the purpose of the 2024 Act, noting that any such modification is still subject to the requirements of the environmental impact assessment directive and the habitats directive, where applicable. The Bill sets out the specific criteria for the applicability of such a process. Those criteria will only apply where work has not yet commenced and if the modification is made within two years of the enactment of this Bill.  Following a comprehensive internal review of the legislation that took place in early 2026, and engagement with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to the Government, OPC, on the drafting of corresponding provisions, a number of amendments are proposed to clarify the competent authorities and related screening obligations for both appropriate assessment and environmental impact assessment. The amendments have been drafted on a no-policy-change basis and will support the smooth commencement of the remaining provisions of the 2024 Act later by ensuring that the provisions operate as was originally intended when they were enacted.  The Bill includes a large number of amendments that make up over 50% of its sections. These amendments are technical in nature and are proposed to correct cross-references and typographical errors and to clarify the existing text without changing the intent behind it. The Bill also includes amendments that provide for the formal repeal of the vacant sites levy provisions in the Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015, which have been superseded by the residential zoned land tax.  Amendments to the Housing Finance Agency Act 1981 are also proposed in order to increase the statutory borrowing limit of the Housing Finance Agency from \u20ac13.5 billion to \u20ac15 billion. The Housing Finance Agency provides low-cost finance to approved housing bodies, local authorities and higher education institutions for social, affordable and student housing. This amendment will enable the Housing Finance Agency to continue to fund social and affordable homes up to June 2027 and ensure there is no interruption in their housing pipeline.  I will now outline the main provisions of the Bill, which consists of 149 sections set out in 4 Parts. Part 1 comprises sections 1 to 3, inclusive, and contains provisions of a general nature, including definitions, citation, commencement and repeals. Part 2 comprises sections 4 to 139, inclusive, and amends the Planning and Development Act 2024, referred to as the Principal Act. Part 2 is split into 18 Chapters, with each Chapter providing amendments to specific Parts of the 2024 Act.  Chapters 1 and 2, which comprise sections 4 to 8, inclusive, amend Parts 1 and 2 of the Act of 2024 primarily to correct typographical errors and cross references. Section 4 includes a transitional clarification in the definition of \u201cexempted development\u201d to ensure that planning exemptions under the Act of 2000 can continue in force under the Act of 2024, as provided for in section 627 of the 2024 Act, until such time as they are repealed and replaced by regulations made under the 2024 Act.  Chapter 3, which comprises sections 9 to 31, inclusive, amends Part 3 of the Act of 2024. Alongside typographical corrections and minor amendments, Chapter 3 provides for: the designation, in sections 9, 13 and 20, of towns with populations of 10,000 or more as key towns; a 90-week deadline for the completion of a regional spatial and economic strategies review in section 14, which means it should be completed by 31 December; the amendment of the expiry date of the current county and city development plans in section 27; and a trigger for the review of development plans in section 19. The revised expiry dates are grouped in batches, separated by two-month intervals, and depend on the expiry of the current development plans. These amendments will operate in such a way that the planning authorities will be obliged to begin the process of making their new development plans under the 2024 Act in the period from July 2027 to July 2028 at the latest, and conclude the processes in the period between February and December 2030 at the latest. In line with the hierarchy of plan-making, these amendments should provide for the timely introduction of ten-year development plans.  Chapters 4 and 5 comprise sections 32 to 78, inclusive, and amend Parts 4 and 5 of the Act of 2024. Alongside typographical corrections and minor amendments, they provide for: a definition of \u201cmaterial contravention\u201d in relation to development plans in section 32; eligibility requirements for the making of planning applications on behalf of statutory undertakers in section 35; flexibility for applications for the distribution of electricity to be made under Chapter 3 of Part 4 and to be treated as standard development in section 53; the removal of the requirement to have a maritime area consent prior to entering into the pre-application consultation process in section 54; and the alteration of an existing permission for apartment developments that is in accordance with appropriate apartment design standards in section 62.  Chapters 6 and 7 comprise sections 79 to 114, inclusive, and amend Parts 6 and 7 of the Act of 2024. Alongside typographical corrections and minor amendments, these sections clarify the competent authorities and screening obligations for both appropriate assessment and environmental impact assessment in respect of: retention permission; retrospective consent; local authority development; State authority development; planning schemes; and development schemes.  Chapter 8 comprises section 115 and amends Part 9 of the Act of 2024. It inserts a new section 303A in Chapter 3 of Part 9 to apply the new procedural rules for judicial review set out in Chapter 1 of Part 9 to decisions made or acts done under the Act of 2000. This applies to a range of specified procedures, where those procedures are initiated after section 303A comes into operation.  Chapters 9 to 18 comprise sections 116 to 139, inclusive, and amend various Parts of the Act of 2024. These mainly consist of typographical corrections and minor amendments. Section 129 amends section 588 of the Act of 2024, which requires a declaration to be signed with planning submissions and appeals. The amendments in this Bill will provide for exclusions from the application of section 588 for specified bodies that are entitled to be given notice of certain planning applications and are invited to make observations due to their specific functions.  Part 3 comprises sections 104 to 148, inclusive, and amends the Planning and Development Act 2000 and other enactments. The amendments to the Act of 2000 are consequential to the Part 9 judicial review amendments. The amendments to the other enactments correct typographical errors in references to the Act of 2024 in those other enactments.  Part 4 of the Bill comprises section 149 and amends the Housing Finance Agency Act 1981, providing for an increase to the statutory borrowing limit of the Housing Finance Agency, from \u20ac13.5 billion to \u20ac15 billion.  I emphasise that the measures included in the Bill as proposed deal with a number of important and time-sensitive matters that are relevant to the planning system. They will provide clarity and further policy direction on a number of matters that have already commenced in Part 3 of the 2024 Act, including the timely introduction of ten-year development plans under the Act, before the end of 2030. The Bill will also speed up the implementation of the new procedural rules for planning judicial reviews that were introduced in the 2024 Act by also applying them to any remaining acts or decisions made under the 2000 Act. The Bill contains a number of measures that will enhance the timely delivery of critical infrastructure projects, which I am sure all Members support. The substantial majority of the provisions in the Bill are technical and their timely enactment will enable the remaining provisions of the Planning and Development Act 2024 to be brought into operation later this year.  As the House is aware, the ongoing implementation of the 2024 Act is a key priority for Government and we want the remainder of the 2024 Act to be commenced as soon as possible. With the support of both Houses and with your co-operation, I hope to have this Bill enacted before the summer recess. These changes will provide legislative clarification for the planning sector, including planning authorities and An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la, in order that they can finalise their preparation for implementation. The timely enactment of this Bill will make sure that the smooth commencement of the 2024 Act can take place in the autumn.  I will seek to respond to various matters that Deputies may raise. I look forward to further engagement next week during the Committee Stage debate on this important Bill. In the meantime, I commend the Bill to the House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  I would like to start by thanking the officials from the planning section of the Department who facilitated a detailed briefing for members of the Oireachtas committee on Monday. I am deeply disappointed with what I consider to be the disrespectful way in which the Government has introduced and intends to proceed with this Bill.  The Minister of State said \"With the support of both Houses and with your co-operation, I hope to have this Bill enacted before the summer recess.\" We will have no say in that enactment. The Government has already decided that the Bill is going to be railroaded through the Houses in a matter of days. Given the complexity of the legislation in front of us, its impact on our planning system and, on foot of that, the impact that will be felt by hundreds of thousands of people, I have to say that what is proposed is wholly inadequate. The Government has allocated four and a half hours for the Second Stage debate. That is fine, but two hours for Committee and Remaining Stages next week to scrutinise a Bill that runs to 83 pages is wholly inadequate.  The Bill was published on Friday last. As the Minister of State outlined, it is very technical in nature. The amendment deadline for Committee Stage it was 11 o'clock this morning, before we even had the benefit of the Second Stage debate. Earlier, the Business Committee agreed to the tiny amount of time allocated for the debate next week. This means that those sections of the Bill that were subject to pre-legislative scrutiny will not be subject to any meaningful committee scrutiny next week. That, in itself, is problematic, but there are considerable sections of this Bill that are new, that were not included in the general scheme and that were not subject to pre-legislative scrutiny. They will be the subject of no scrutiny whatsoever.  We want to get the opportunity to bring in impacted parties, professionals and other experts to give us their views. The problem with what is happening is that we have a long history in this House of Government rushing through technical and complex planning legislation at the tail end of D\u00e1il terms. Because we do not take the time to scrutinise such legislation, mistakes and errors are made.  Substitute consent is the best example of that. The legislation had to be revisited and reintroduced a year afterwards because of the mess that was made.  When I say \"mess\", I want to very clear. I am not in any way criticising officials in the planning section of the Department because they work hard and do their job very professionally, but when they are put under unrealistic timelines by the Government, when they and the Members of this House are not afforded the opportunity to scrutinise and hear other opinion, bad legislation is made, bad outcomes arise and legislation has to be revisited. I say this about a Bill many aspects of which I am not opposed to. Not only is it disrespectful to this House, but it is deeply disrespectful to the members of the Oireachtas housing committee, of which the Minister of State was previously a member, because we are not being afforded the opportunity to undertake the job to scrutinise legislation from the Government, a job that we take seriously.  There is also the irony that when the then Minister, Deputy O'Brien, announced in 2022 that he was going to do a once-in-a-generation reform of planning legislation, one of the primary reasons was because, in the 20 years following the passage of the planning Act in 2000, there had been so many amending pieces of legislation that the Act was unwieldy. It was too complex, cumbersome and difficult to navigate.  He then undertook process whereby he took a Bill of 700 pages that ended up at 1,000 pages long, with all of the amendments during 2024. If I am not wrong, this is now the second piece of amending legislation of that \"once-in-a-generation\" rewrite of our planning law, the purpose of which was to do away with the need for constant revisions and amendments. Are we going to get one of these amending Bills every year? We had one last year. It passed through the House and was much shorter than this one, which is more substantive. Sure, some of the sections of this Bill are corrections, but not all. There are lots of substantive elements in this Bill, which I am going to deal with now, and it is not lost on people, particularly the professional planners out there who have to make and adjudicate on applications, that the system is probably more complicated and cumbersome today as a result of the then Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, and his successor, Deputy James Browne's poor efforts.  I will run through some of the key general concerns I have with the Bill. The proposed amendments to Part 3 relate to plan-making, which was one of the areas of the 2024 Act that we were generally in agreement with. We wanted to move to more plan-making, including ten-year plans, to create a consistency between regional, county and local plans. The real issue here, however, is that unless there is a proper multi-annual workforce plan to give our planning authorities the staff that they told the Government back in 2023 they needed, all of these new provisions will fall foul of the inability of our local authorities, through no fault of their own, to have the dedicated staff to do the plan-making.  In my local authority area, we are dealing with the city edge project, which the Minister of State's officials know very well because they were before our local authority previously. We have just made some very ambitious decisions in terms of substantial extensions to Adamstown through material variations. There are new master plans on the cards for the coming years for Adamstown south and west, and Grange Castle.  How are we going to get our planning authorities to move into the space where they have sufficient time and capacity to develop these kinds of plan when the number of additional staff sanctioned so far has been substantially less than what the County and City Management Association, CCMA, told us in 2023 they needed? There is no multi-annual plan not just to employ, but to recruit the planners whom planning authorities need.  While I have no objection to the sections of the Bill that propose to amend Part 3 of the Act, in the absence of a parallel and clear multi-annual workforce plan to train, recruit, attract and employ the planners that we need, it is going to be very difficult to achieve these objectives.  With respect to the amendments to Part 9 on judicial reviews, and as I said when the Act was making its way through the House in 2023 and 2024 and during the pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme of this Bill, I am concerned that there is a real risk that this could lead to increased litigation and project delay. I hope I am wrong, but the only way we are going to know is if there is regular reporting by the Department to the Oireachtas housing committee to demonstrate the outworking of this legislation. I invite the Minister of State to discuss with the Minister, James Browne, and the officials introducing some reporting mechanism, perhaps every six months, to the Oireachtas housing committee so that we can track the progress. This means that if the Bill does what the Government intends it to do, we could congratulate the Government and say \"Job well done\". I would have no difficulty doing that, rare and all as such a thing occurs. However, if it leads to increased litigation and delays, as some of us fear but none of us wants, we would be able to highlight that.  The amendments also ignore the fact that the biggest obstacle to the timely expediting of judicial reviews is that we only have three judges in the Planning and Environment Court. We need at least six. Given the resources available to the Government, it is not within the realms of impossibility that the number of judges could be doubled, they could be provided with some additional back room staff and support, and, crucially, the good practice guidelines of the court would be put on a statutory footing so that we would have statutory timelines for judicial reviews depending on size and complexity. We have statutory timelines for some elements of our planning process, although not as many as there should be. There should be for judicial reviews, too.  With respect to the amendments to Part 4 on the infrastructural task force, this is one of those areas where our committee could have played a useful role in inviting in external experts, such as the utilities, our planning authorities, the Irish Planning Institute and others, to give their views on these proposed changes to the Act. All of us want to see increased and accelerated delivery of critical underlying infrastructure, which these amendments broadly deal with, but also of public amenities and public services like transport, schools and health facilities, all of which are sorely lacking in those parts of the State where there is increased residential development.  One of the big disappointments of this Part is that it does not deal with the thorny issue of parallel consent. We raised this with the Department's officials during the course of our briefing. The utilities have been crying out for parallel consents to speed up the process for years. Whether they require foreshore licences or Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, licences as well as planning consents, there should be a single standardised format where those consents and grants can be applied for in parallel rather than consecutively, which is the case currently and adds considerable periods of time to the process.  In principle, I am not against the definitions of material contraventions here and elsewhere in the Bill, but our committee did not scrutinise them and there was no public airing to examine whether those definitions were correct or would cause difficulties. That is a missed opportunity. I am not against the idea in principle, but the Government is doing itself and the State a disservice as a consequence.  I am fundamentally opposed to the amendments to Part 4 dealing with alterations to existing apartment planning permissions. As the Minister of State knows, I was a strong critic of the revised design standards when they were issued as section 28 guidelines last year and as draft planning policy statements this year, in part because they had all the same pitfalls and challenges of the former Minister, Eoghan Murphy's previous section 28 guidelines. They are not good standards for the development of good urban environments or good and well-planned communities. That is not just my view. That is the view of the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland and the Irish Planning Institute, as well as many professional architects and planners.  As we heard in the housing committee only a couple of weeks ago, the irony is that the alleged savings that were to be introduced as a consequence of those inferior design standards have already been taken over by inflation. Despite the fact that renters are going to get smaller and darker apartments with less storage and communal space, the savings that were meant to be provided are gone and because the Government has decided to remove any protections on rent controls between tenancies, those tenants will be paying ever greater rents. This is a retrograde step that will come back to bite the Government badly in the time ahead, but as is always the cases with these matters, it will be renters who bear the burden of that.  Notwithstanding all of those criticisms, and the Minister of State was not surprised by any of them, there is an obligation on the Government to periodically report back to our committee on the operation of these particular sections in terms of the number of alterations that are sought, the nature and detail of those alterations, whether they actually result in commencements of new homes, and the types, quality and price of those.  I suspect the Government will not do that because it is going to be nervous about proper public scrutiny of the negative outcome of that particular policy proposition that it introduced last year and is advancing further here. The argument is going to be that this measure will help to activate apartment developments that otherwise would not be built. Let us wait and see. I genuinely do not believe it will have that impact, and even where it does have that impact, marginal and all as it is, it will have very negative impacts on renters in terms of size, quality and, crucially, cost.  I would like the Minister of State, whether today or on Committee Stage next week, to talk in more detail about the provisions of the Bill that deal with the derelict sites levy and its interaction with the residential zoned land tax. That would benefit from some public airing.  With respect to the Housing Finance Agency, HFA, that was on the cards and is very welcome. Here is the problem. The additional funding from the Housing Finance Agency is only of benefit if approved housing bodies, AHBs, through the capital assistance scheme, CAS, the capital advance leasing facility, CALF, and the cost rental equity loan, CREL, can scale up the delivery of social and, crucially, affordable homes in the time ahead. I am strongly of the view that there is an increasing crisis of viability in the operation of the cost rental equity loan. It was badly designed at the outset and, increasingly, delivering projects is proving difficult under it. What we also know is that the projects it is delivering are far too expensive for the overwhelming majority of people for whom cost rental was originally designed, those just above the thresholds for social housing and unable to access market housing. On average, for example, 29% of the applicants for Land Development Agency, LDA, schemes are refused solely on the affordability grounds, and for the three-bed units, in many cases, it is as high as 50%. The figure is similar for the AHB sector. I urge the Minister of State, in the context of the increase in the lending ceiling for the Housing Finance Agency, to fix the problems with CREL.  CAS and CALF have a separate problem, which is the inadequacy of the payment and availability agreement, or the management agreement in the case of CAS. That is going to become an increasing constraint on the ability of the AHBs to develop additional schemes and draw down the HFA funding that the Government is making available today.  Of course, the crazy thing is that for cost rental, local authorities can borrow from the Housing Finance Agency at a lower rate of interest than AHBs, so much so that when the former chief executive of the HFA came in front of our committee, he indicated that the difference in borrowing could result in a lower rent of at least \u20ac100 a month. Yet, despite the fact that local authorities could deliver larger volumes of lower priced cost rental, the borrowing cap that has been placed by the Department of housing and, ultimately, the Government on the local government sector is hampering it beyond belief. For example, Dublin City Council is working on the cost rental project at St. Michael\u2019s, but that is going to blow its ability to borrow for any other schemes at any other stage. There has to be a sensible conversation. I am not talking about reckless borrowing or no limits, but there has to be a conversation in government and with the Oireachtas committee about changing that ceiling and giving greater flexibility to local authorities to borrow.  With the indulgence of the Chair, I will make two further comments. Yesterday, the Government published the draft planning policy statement for rural and Gaeltacht houses. Many of us had been waiting for that statement to be published for a long time. It is noted that, unlike the publication of the draft policy statement for design standards, the Government has not announced any formal public consultation or invitation for sectoral organisations to make submissions while it is doing the strategic and environmental assessments - the appropriate assessment - and before they are incorporated into the city and county development plans. Nor is there any indication of whether the Government is going to request the Oireachtas housing committee to give its scrutiny to these matters.  I urge the Minister of State to talk to the line Minister. Between the assessments and the reworking into the development plans, these rules are not going to come into effect until the end of this year, at the earliest. A shortened, time-bound, formal consultation with the sectors and our committee could help to strengthen them. There are some very real concerns about aspects of these. The Minister of State will know of these through his own backbenchers and because sectoral organisations are raising them. We want to get these planning guidelines right, and consultation is required.  Today, the Department issued the circular to local authorities on the new transfer protocol for victims and survivors of domestic and gender-based violence to be able to move from one local authority to another and take their years on the waiting lists with them. This is something we have been calling for over many years, and I warmly welcome it. However, there is a problem. It only applies to households on local authority housing waiting lists and does not apply to households in receipt of housing assistance payment, HAP, and the rental accommodation scheme, RAS. Almost half the potential households that will desperately need this vital protection are excluded from the protocol. I understand that there are some challenges because those people are on the transfer lists of their local authorities, but there are no grounds on which a woman and children who are today experiencing domestic or gender-based violence, and who are in HAP accommodation, should be precluded from availing of the protocol.  I see the Minister of State has a quizzical look on his face. I have checked this. It has been confirmed to me today that it does not apply to women trying to escape domestic and gender-based violence who are on HAP or RAS. The only reason I am raising it is to urge the Minister of State to act. This is a valuable move. It is one of those rare occasions where I want to be able to commend the Government, but if half of the potential households that need this are being excluded, the Government needs to go back and fix it very quickly.  There are times when we come in here and it does not matter how much scrutiny or how much debating time there is because we are not going to agree with the Government. There are also times when legislation is brought forward on which there is very little politics to be played and very few votes to be got. Planning legislation is typically that kind of legislation. I cannot emphasise enough, and I think I speak for all colleagues in the Opposition who take our scrutiny role in committee very seriously, that to allow two hours for Committee and Report Stages for a Bill of 83 pages is wholly unacceptable. In that time, we have to try to discuss the Bill and invite the Minister of State to explain, clarify and, in some cases, justify elements as well as consider reasonable amendments. It is frustrating that every year, at the end of a term, this is what we are left with. I urge the Government to reconsider, although I do not think it will. Then we will decide as we go through the Bill next week how we proceed on Final Stage. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  I echo what Deputy \u00d3 Broin has outlined, which is the Opposition\u2019s extreme disappointment at the pace at which this Bill is being rushed through. It does not take seriously the role of Parliament. It is also extremely frustrating that the Government gives out and complains that the Opposition does not come forward with solutions when the key point - the only point, really - at which we have a real opportunity to engage with Government policy in a meaningful way is on legislation, amendments and discussion at committees. With this Bill, we have two hours for 86 pages. This shows me that the Government is afraid of something here. It is unwilling to engage in serious debate and discussion on what is in this Bill. If it were not concerned, it would give the Bill the time.  Is the Government rushing just to try to be seen to be doing something, given that it is not taking substantial time to look at this Bill? There are very significant changes in the Bill. In particular, the one that I am most concerned about is the change to apartment sizes. This has the most impact on my constituency. New apartments are being built in places like Santry and Whitehall, and will be built in places like Ballymun. It is all apartments that are being built in my constituency.  These are going to have profound changes for the livability of those apartments. It feels like the Government is simply ignoring the Opposition and is not taking our concerns seriously or giving us the time to scrutinise the Bill and discuss it with professional bodies.  I want to highlight what the Irish Planning Institute said about the changes being made to apartment guidelines. It stated very clearly that professional planners not only recognise the gravity of the housing crisis, they welcome meaningful evidence-based reforms but the institute is not convinced that the announced changes to apartment sizes and standards would achieve what is intended. It said the erosion of unit mix requirements presents a market-led approach to housing that is fundamentally at odds with the significant work undertaken by the Department of housing to create a plan-led system with high-quality long-term sustainable outcomes. That is the major concern.  What we are building will not provide sustainable communities and homes. A significant concern is that this is about cramming as many units as possible into a site for two reasons. The first is for viability, which is profitability, and the second is so the Government can say it is delivering whatever number of units but are they actually homes?  I also want to read into the record an article by Dr. Lorcan Sirr on the implications of the changes to apartment sizes for climate change. He referred to the real issue, namely that apartments with windows on more than one side, known as dual aspect, have a considerable advantage over those that do not as windows can be opened to cross-ventilate the dwelling. Single aspect apartments can get stiflingly hot and have limited capacity for ventilation. The point he made was that new apartment standards introduced by the Minister will now make apartments smaller and reduce the amount of dual aspect apartments required in any one development, the requirement for balconies and floor-to-ceiling heights, all in the interest of increasing financial viability for developers. The viability of being able to live in these apartments, in particular with more frequent hotter summers, has not been given as much ministerial attention.  I ask the Minister and his officials to give the committee some clear detail next week on how these apartments will be livable, in particular in the context of climate change, and what impact climate change is likely to have on these changes and the livability of the apartments. I am concerned that the apartment standard size changes the Minister is about to make are about reducing standards and the livability of apartments to achieve what the Government calls viability but which we should call profitability. The term \"viability\" is a politically safe word.  The Government will not state the truth, namely that this is about reducing housing standards so they are sufficiently profitable for developers and institutional investors who are already making hundreds of millions in profit. They are doing so because the State is dependent on the private sector to build. It is funnelling, and will funnel in the coming years, millions of euro in public money into private developers and investor funds and reduce the livability of homes at the same time in order to increase their profitability so that they will build more units which are not actually homes. This is about increasing units, not providing homes.  IRES REIT and the developers and investors have been very clear that they are delighted with the changes and being given open access to a public sector ATM slush fund, which is effectively what we are doing rather than expanding our public sector and councils and developing a State construction company that would build affordable homes. The reality is that more expensive built rent units will not solve our housing disaster or provide any more new homes for people to buy that are affordable. Just a tiny fraction of what is being built in Dublin, including in my constituency, will be available for sale. No apartments are available for sale. Nothing is being sold at a reasonable price. Of course, this adds to house price inflation because everyone is trying to buy existing built homes and there is no supply of homes to buy that could reduce house prices. The lack of affordable homes to buy being delivered in our cities, in particular Dublin, is the fundamental problem.  The Minister spoke about the justifications for these changes, which are outlined in the Bill. He said it is about addressing homelessness and providing residential supply. He spoke about what is changing. The reality is that the housing disaster is happening right now. What is the Government is doing about it? It will not put in place a ban on evictions, which it could do and would solve people being pushed into homelessness. Instead, it is making changes that institutional investors and developers want. It is deeply unfortunate that the Government is taking this approach.  I want to highlight a case that came to me. There is a human reality to all of this which I have raised in the House again and again and which the Government is completely ignoring. There is a human cost to the housing crisis. A constituent who was in touch with me highlighted that they have been in homelessness for year. Prior to that, they were in homelessness for three years and got a HAP property for a year but were made homeless when they were evicted. This family, with three children aged 16, 12 and four, have been homeless for four out of the past five years. The mother described how stressful it is for her older kids. She said they have been in this situation and have seen no normal life. She said no child should have to deal with this and they are stuck in extreme conditions, living in rooms together. She said they have no family to visit because her mum and dad passed away. They cannot get a break. She said it is distressing and embarrassing for the children.  This is something that frustrates me. The impact of homelessness on children is not being taken into account. It is extremely damaging for children, even if a child is homeless for a short period of time, such as a week or two weeks - we know it is often much longer. One could argue that this is not related to the Bill but it is directly related to it because it claims to address homelessness. The Bill will not address or solve homelessness. It will not provide homes that people can live in because the changes to apartment sizes and standards are about increasing profitability so developers and investor funds build more units that nobody can afford to buy or rent. As we have seen in reports from the Central Bank and others, institutional funds increase rents overall.  The Government's claim that this is about increasing supply and will eventually reduce rents is untrue. The Department repeats the same mantra, namely that increasing supply will reduce rents. There is no point in the near future when that will happen. Rents will simply increase, which is pushing more and more people into homelessness.  I support some aspects of the Bill, such as giving the Housing Agency increased borrowing capacity. It is important to increase that. Unfortunately, other aspects of the Bill make it very difficult to support it as a whole. I will continue to engage with it and I hope the Minister can address some of these issues in committee. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  The Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2026 provides another opportunity to address long-standing failures in how we plan and deliver our communities. While legislation can amend processes and procedures, it must also confront the reality experienced by families across the country, in particular in rapidly growing counties like Meath.  For too long, our planning system has treated community infrastructure as an afterthought. I am not convinced this legislation will improve things. Houses have been built in huge numbers but the parks, playgrounds, pitches and other community facilities that make places liveable have too often been delayed, downsized or simply never delivered. The people of Meath kept their side of the bargain. They bought homes, raised families and built communities, yet local and central government failed to ensure that the essential public amenities those communities depended upon were provided. That failure has left children without places to play, sports clubs struggling for facilities and growing communities without the green spaces they deserve.  The fundamental problem is that our planning system remains fragmented and reactive. The Bill before us does little to address that. Too much depends on informal arrangements between developers and local authorities, with little accountability when commitments are not honoured. Developers receive permission to build, houses are occupied and all too often the promised community infrastructure never materialises. That is not good planning. It is a system that places private interests ahead of the public good.  If the Bill is to make a meaningful difference, it must strengthen the planning framework to ensure community facilities are delivered alongside housing, not years later or, worse still, not at all. Mandatory sequencing should become the norm, with legally enforceable requirements linking residential development to the delivery of parks, playgrounds and sporting facilities. Earlier today, I welcomed a wonderful group of women from Teach Mn\u00e1 in Ashbourne to Leinster House. They highlighted other infrastructure deficits, including in transport. They are absolutely right.  Development levies must be protected and ring-fenced for the infrastructure they were intended to fund. Local authorities need both the certainty of funding and the statutory powers to deliver projects without unnecessary delay. Sinn F\u00e9in has consistently argued that community infrastructure, including green spaces, should be recognised as a core element of every development plan, not an optional extra. Through our Delivering Liveable Urban Spaces policy and our proposed ciste beithe, we have outlined practical measures to accelerate investment in pitches, playgrounds, public parks and open spaces while ensuring communities have a genuine voice throughout the planning process.  The same applies to transport, education and other community, public and critical infrastructure. I welcome the recent GAA report No One Shouted Stop - Until Now, which highlights the enormous pressure demographic growth is placing on sporting facilities. Its call for a strengthened planning framework and an all-island strategy for sports infrastructure deserves serious consideration. We should also maximise the use of existing facilities by supporting greater community access to school sports grounds.  Planning legislation should not simply facilitate development. It should create sustainable, liveable communities where families have access to the facilities they need from day one. That is the standard the Bill should meet. It is the standard that communities in Meath and across Ireland have every right to expect. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Aire St\u00e1it as a bheith anseo inniu. I thank him and his officials for the detailed briefing we received on the Bill. It is a long and technical Bill. One aspect of it is that it seeks to raise the borrowing limit of the Housing Finance Agency, which is fine. However, the other aspects are quite technical and detailed. Deputy \u00d3 Broin alluded to a recurring theme across Departments, not just the Department of housing, whereby the deadline for Committee Stage amendments to Bills is given before the Second Stage debate. I do not appreciate that and it does not set a good precedent. In many cases, Second Stage allows us to tease out queries, issues or concerns and have the Government respond to them. It allows us time to consider what amendments we might table.  This Bill, which has 149 sections, is being rushed through the D\u00e1il two weeks before the recess. I have been a TD for only a year and a half and this is the second time I have debated one of these amending planning and development Bills. I was not a Member of the previous D\u00e1il but I was told that the huge 2024 planning Bill, which had 900-odd pages, was a panacea and that we would not need to revisit these issues. The Planning and Development Act 2000 was fundamentally good legislation. The issue was all the amendments that followed, which turned it into a unwieldy dog's dinner of an Act.  I have a number of concerns about the Bill before us today, mainly relating to section 115, which inserts a new section 303A into the principal Act. These provisions deal with the judicial review changes. The Government would have us believe the planning system and judicial reviews are the biggest obstacles to housing delivery. That is not true. In fact, the biggest obstacles remain a lack of serviced land, inadequate infrastructure, soaring construction costs, labour shortages and the chopping and changing of Government policy. I support efficient planning. Nobody benefits from unnecessary delay. However, achieving greater speed cannot become an excuse for weakening transparency, accountability or access to justice.  The proposed judicial review changes are troublesome. Judicial review exists for a reason. It is not there to frustrate development. It is there primarily to ensure public bodies follow the law. If the Government really wants to reduce delays, it must properly resource the courts and ensure planning authorities have adequate staffing - I will say more about that presently - to improve the quality of decision-making in the first place. Codifying the restrictions placed on public participation and potentially breaching our international legal obligations under the Aarhus Convention is not a road I want us to go down. The convention provides that environmental judicial reviews must not be prohibitively expensive or overtly restrictive. I have concerns that the stricter limits being placed on judicial review could breach that requirement. There is also a risk that removing the automatic right of appeal to the Court of Appeal, leaving only redress to the Supreme Court, could be unconstitutional. My concern is that instead of speeding up infrastructure delivery, which is the intention, we could end up with a wave of satellite litigation and spend years in court arguing over procedural technicalities.  There are other aspects of this that are concerning. The whole idea of forcing courts, in effect, to police the corporate governance rules for volunteer-led community groups is a bit strange. The notion of shifting the responsibility of micromanaging community group governance to the courts system, thereby consuming valuable judicial time, does not make sense. The Government would have us believe planning is the principal obstacle to housing delivery, but it is not. Blaming judicial review for housing backlogs is a distraction. Data from the Law Society shows that the number of judicial reviews brought by individual citizens was already falling while the number of cases taken by commercial developers was increasing.  I have concerns about the new section 138A, to be inserted in the principal Act by section 62, which deals with the relaxation of apartment standards. I fundamentally believe it is a race to the bottom to allow developers to shrink floor sizes, lower ceilings and reduce natural light. In effect, this is calling for smaller and darker apartments. I am concerned as well that these new lower standard apartments will disproportionately affect social housing tenants and renters, who are transient dwellers, by locking them into long-term inferior living conditions while developers maximise their profits.  I also have a concern about the erosion of democratic oversight.  By classifying these structural reductions as non-material modifications that only require a local authority certificate, the law effectively locks out the public. Neighbours and community groups have no right to review, object to or appeal these down-sized designs. These were, of course, rammed through. By eliminating minimum or maximum requirements for specific bedroom mixes, this policy actively incentivises a monoculture of small studio and one-bed units, again pushing families out of urban cores. The State committed a severe error by failing to conduct a strategic environmental assessment before introducing these lowered guidelines. The Government's constant changing of legal mechanisms to bypass court challenges has created massive regulatory uncertainty and delays in apartment delivery.  I also want to talk about sections 21 and 42, which refer to adjusting the time for local authority development plan reviews and outline what will occur when elected officials fail to make a plan. The shift from six-year to ten-year development plans is a good idea but it is complex. This Bill allows current local development plans, made under the 2000 Act, to remain legally active on a transitional basis. I have concerns here regarding local government and the role of councillors. Handing ultimate power to central government, if councillors fail to make a plan, is again reducing the power and democratic influence of locally-elected representatives over zoning decisions.  I want to move on and talk about planning in terms of planning posts and resourcing our local authorities. I would argue there are potential resourcing issues here because moving the goalposts for plan review simultaneously across multiple local authorities is logistically very complex. Through the CCMA, local authorities have voiced concern over the severe shortage of qualified planners to meet these compressed transitional deadlines. Replies to parliamentary questions I have received in recent months tell me that a fairly significant number of planners who have been reassigned to, or have been recruited from local authorities by, An Coimisi\u00fain Plean\u00e1la. We need clarity from the Department as to how these critical vacancies will be back-filled at local authority level. I raise this because I have asked a number of parliamentary questions about planning posts. I cannot find out from the Department how these posts will be back-filled. The Department cannot tell me the workforce data for the local government planning sector because of section 159. It cannot tell me the percentage of current or senior executive planners who are eligible for retirement. When we look at the action plan on planning resources, the LGMA said a number of years ago that it needed 541 planning posts. Two hundred and forty four were sanctioned, which is not even half. When we look at phase 1 in 2023, that is fine but phase 2 did not actually come until 2025. The fact remains that a significant majority of council planning positions approved over the past two years remain unfilled due to a lack of available graduates and retention issues due to the fact that, in many cases, the local government sector cannot compete with the private sector on salaries.  I have concerns about potential bottlenecks around the fact that a local development plan cannot be finalised until the regional spatial and economic strategy, RSES is complete. There is a 90-week deadline on regional reviews. I hope there is not any delay at regional assembly level because that will set off a domino effect for local authorities.  I want to talk about section 149, which has to do with the increase in the Housing Finance Agency, HFA, borrowing limit. I have no issue with this; I support it. It is also the second time we have done it in the past year. I would argue that it does not go far enough and that the State needs to invest more in the direct delivery of social and affordable housing. Given that we only extended the borrowing cap in quarter 4 of last year, I would like the Government to take a longer-term review of the remit of the HFA and its borrowing ceiling and to look at the borrowing cap of all 31 local authorities, which is far too low.  As I said, I support efficient planning. I do not think anybody benefits from unnecessary delay but we must have proper planning and that is a fact. I cannot support apartment changes that make developments cheaper by making homes smaller and reducing amenities and design standards. We have already paid the price for poor planning decisions in relation to apartments, when we consider that virtually everything built during the Celtic-tiger period is in some way defective. Every apartment built today should be a home that somebody can comfortably live in permanently.  We, in Labour, have consistently argued that once again, the State must become a major builder of housing. We cannot continue to rely on a volatile private market to solve a crisis that the market itself has failed repeatedly to solve. We need to empower local authorities more. We need to better support the AHB sector, and I will go into that. We also need to look at establishing a State construction company. We need to invest more in modern methods of construction. We need a stable, predictable and properly resourced planning system.  In some of the time available to me, I want to talk about the issues with the cost rental equity loan, CREL, scheme. I have had a decent bit of engagement with the AHB sector, as I am sure the Department has, around the 40-year repayment period. Due to soaring construction costs, many in the AHB sector are saying that this is making cost rental unviable for them. We have AHBs that are pulling the plug on cost-rental developments because the are saying they are not viable. However, at the same time, the way the cost-rental system was designed here means that it is not proper cost rental; it is market discount. We now have a situation where rents in the cost-rental sector are far too high. Yes, they are 29% lower, on average, than on the open market but they are still too high and they need to come down. In the first instance, the Government needs to look at the equity element of the CREL to make sure more cost-rental developments do not end up being pulled.  As I said, I will engage constructively with this Bill. Where there are measures in it that I believe will accelerate housing delivery, while protecting the integrity of proper planning, I will support them. However, where the Government seeks to weaken safeguards, reduce standards and continues to not address the real barriers to housing delivery, then I will continue to challenge that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Clendennen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Clendennen  I welcome this Bill. It will ensure the planning code works effectively when the remaining provisions commence later this year. If we look at the tone and sentiment of this D\u00e1il term, it has been all about delivery across all types of infrastructure while maintaining public confidence in the planning system. If we consider some of the representative bodies, there is a changing view regarding how the pace of progress is increasing.  Over 35,000 homes were delivered last year, an almost doubling since the start of the decade. Some of these measures will ensure that we will have a viability rather than a profitability argument around home development. Sometimes people lose sight of the difference between those two. In reality, we need to ensure we have viability for these projects so that income can cover costs. You can be profitable but have a very unsustainable business model. It is important that with this Bill and its planning guidelines we will see a level of certainty and ensure that the sector can invest. Far too many contractors and developers have moved overseas in recent times because of delays in the system. In fairness to the Minister of State and the Department, they have worked to iron out those challenges and ensure certainty can be given.  Judicial review reform has been critical. We have had several debates at the Oireachtas Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery. In this country, judicial review is seen as the norm rather than the exception. It is part of the planning process. We have five times more judicial reviews than the UK. That is simply not acceptable. If we want to see large-scale projects delivered and certainty for further investment, we have to ensure that the planning system works rather than the judicial system having to work in relation to planning development.  The Minister of State has talked about An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la and some of the measures there to introduce statutory timelines for applications. They are very necessary. However, I am concerned that where a timeline is given, the applicant hears back at the eleventh hour from An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la. There should be some means by which it identifies a problem early and remains engaged with the applicant in the best interests of time and, where possible, it could discuss concurrent issues over time to ensure the challenges are mitigated.  In respect of the development plan, the ten-year period is a welcome step. Again, it gives certainty and we have to be cognisant that any piece of land in this country that is serviced should be in a development plan, regardless of the size, the population or the current demand. We need to be very ambitious about that. With land that is zoned because it has been serviced, an onus has to be put on the landowner to ensure that land is made available for development. Utility providers, such as Irish Water, need to show a greater element of transparency as to what capacity they have in every town and village right across the country and keep that updated with potential developments.  The interpretation of standards around the country can vary. I have seen this in my constituency with the over-the-shop grant that has been introduced. There seems to be a level of complication there and the whole purpose of what the Minister of State and the Department are doing is to iron out those challenges and ensure we make these more seamless.  Housing delivery is key and I fundamentally believe that ensuring planning permissions that are already in the system can continue without unnecessary delay will be an important part of this Bill. The Government is making a commitment for increased funding. I have seen in my county what the land activation scheme has done to unlock 2,000 new homes and rely not just on public sector development of housing but on the private sector as well. There is a commitment here that will go down well with the construction industry to ensure we can see a greater level of development.  We are committing almost one in five euro to the likes of energy in the current infrastructure plan for the country. That is a monumental change to our commitment to infrastructure. It will give the confidence to ensure we see the housing, transport development and water development.  In relation to modern methods of construction, a company in County Offaly, Banagher Precast Concrete, specialises in precast concrete and exports it all over the world. Recently, from a transport perspective, the Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets, DMURS, was introduced to ensure more footpaths and narrower roads. However, there is then an issue with these oversized vehicles being transferred along the roads of Ireland. We have to get that right. We cannot have the construction industry moving to more prefabrication and more consistency in quality by moving to in-workshop manufacturing and transporting it on the road while roads are being narrowed.  I want to touch on the area of resources. Planners and the Office of the Planning Regulator are going to play a key role in this. I get a sense of concern from planners on the front line about this and about how it is going to be interpreted and implemented. The one thing I call for today is that if the Office of the Planning Regulator is currently committed to engaging with senior planners in relation to that training and roll-out, they might ensure it goes further down through the organisation so planners at all levels are aware and can share on-the-ground issues that senior planners, no disrespect to them, may not be aware of.  Overall, this Bill is very positive and constructive. It sends out a very important message that we want to deliver, deliver, deliver. I thank the Minister of State for bringing it forward. I will share the remainder of my time with Deputy Devlin. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cormac Devlin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cormac Devlin  I thank Deputy Clendennen. I welcome and support the Bill, which implements the reforms agreed by the D\u00e1il in 2024 and will accelerate the supply of housing. The housing crisis is the defining challenge facing this country and we all see the impact in our weekly clinics. The Planning and Development Act 2024 was the largest reform of our planning legislation in a generation. I want to focus on three elements of the Bill. The first is the judicial review. The Bill applies the new procedural rules for planning judicial review, introduced in the 2024 Act, to remaining decisions made under the 2000 Act. That means the removal of the separate leave stage. It also means a case can be remitted to the point where a procedural breach occurred, rather than an entire permission being quashed. It means an end to further appeals to the Court of Appeal in those cases.  Each of these measures cuts time and unnecessary legal costs for all parties concerned. It is worth being clear about the impact. This is not about shutting anyone out of the courts. Judicial review remains available to any person with a genuine case. What these changes remove is duplication, cost and delay. Of course, delay serves nobody.  On the second point, strategic planning, the Bill sets a 90-week deadline for the review of the three regional, spatial and economic strategies so that they will be completed by the end of 2027. It allows current development plans to remain in force on a transitional basis until a fixed date no later than the end of 2030. That gives local authorities the space to complete their reviews properly and to introduce a ten-year development plan on time. Ten-year plans give certainty for communities, for councils and for those delivering homes and the infrastructure that serves them.  Third, on infrastructure, the Bill delivers on actions assigned to the Department under the Accelerating Infrastructure Taskforce Report and Action Plan 2025. Homes need water, they need power and transport, and the Bill streamlines the consenting process for the critical projects that make housing possible. It also allows existing apartment permissions to be modified in line with updated apartment design standards. These measures can unlock sites that are permitted but stalled. Permitted but stalled is the worst of all worlds, and we have too much of that.  I want to address public participation directly, because it matters. Streamlining and participation are not opposites. Under the Bill, public consultation on development plans remains. Submissions on planning applications remain, as do appeals. What changes is the speed and the certainty of the process, not the right of people to have their say.  In my constituency of D\u00fan Laoghaire, residents engage seriously and constructively with the planning system. I will always defend their right to do so. A faster system must also be a fair system. Every month that we take out of the planning process is a key turned in a front door a month sooner. That is what this Bill is essentially about.  I ask the Minister to publish a clear commencement timetable for the remaining provisions and to ensure that local authorities, such as D\u00fan Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, are properly resourced for the transition to planning under the new Act. Housing is the priority and this Bill helps us deliver it. I support the Bill and look forward to its implementation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Carol Nolan  I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Bill. There are certainly constructive and long-overdue elements within this legislation, particularly the reforms proposed around judicial reviews. For far too long, communities, local authorities and applicants have been trapped in cycles of chronic delay - delays that frequently extend into years. We all know of cases where judicial review has been used not as genuine oversight but as a tool for procedural abuse of the courts.  Anything that brings greater clarity, tighter timelines and more predictable outcomes is certainly welcome.  I also want to address the multiple sections of the Bill that amend the Planning and Development Act 2000 to introduce a new planning designation of key towns. As I read them, these sections appear to outline how certain towns will receive prioritised treatment in development plans, investment strategies and planning decision-making. While the concept may have merit in regard to balanced regional development, I must raise a very direct concern on behalf of many small towns and villages across my county of Offaly and the wider midlands area. We cannot allow a situation where preferential treatment for designated key towns ends up diverting resources, planning capacity or infrastructural investment away from the smaller communities, communities with populations under 10,000 that already struggle to secure basic services and development certainty. Will the Minister of State provide clarity? Will these sections create a two-tier planning system? We certainly do not want to make our planning system any more frustrating, bureaucratic or unfair than it already it is.  Will smaller towns and villages be disadvantaged in favour of the key designated towns and what safeguards will be put in place to ensure rural communities are not left behind? Counties like Offaly depend on balanced development, not concentrated development. These sections must not become a mechanism that unintentionally sidelines rural Ireland or disadvantages rural Ireland in any way.  While the Bill seeks to reduce delays in planning processes, I must contrast that ambition with the massive and escalating backlog within Tailte \u00c9ireann, an issue I have repeatedly exposed through parliamentary questions. We are all given an Oireachtas email to correspond with Tailte \u00c9ireann, but, as far as I can see, it is an absolute waste of time. In the past few weeks, I have sent at least four issues to Tailte \u00c9ireann. These were genuine issues relating to businesses, in the context of their registration, and to elderly people who want to sell their properties and move into a town. Both process are affected by delays. The stock response seems to be to get the lodging party to expedite their case. If a TD is already informing those involved of the circumstances and outlining genuine reasons relating to an elderly person's well-being and health and stating that they want to get their registration finalised, what is the point of telling us to go to the solicitor again? Is that not creating more of a maze and a bureaucratic mess?  I am fed up contacting Tailte \u00c9ireann. I ask the Minister of State to intervene urgently with it. I am not happy at all with the responses I am getting. I feel I am being fobbed off. What is happening is a cop-out. Registrations should not take three years to complete. There is something seriously wrong if they are taking that long. What is happening is totally unacceptable. I have several cases, as I said. I was approached by a business that needs to expand as a matter of urgency. It is tied up in this. I have several elderly constituents who are also tied up in this. I am asking for urgent intervention with Tailte \u00c9ireann because, in my view, it does not seem to be fit for purpose.  This Bill seeks to reduce delays I welcome that, but if we are serious about doing so, we need to improve efficiency as well. That is why I feel that the reins need to be taken and that action taken in respect of Tailte \u00c9ireann. The data provided to me also confirm a rapid and exponential build-up in property registration delays, as I have already outlined. I have confirmed already that for 2025 alone, over 50,000 applications remain pending. That is disgraceful. What message is that sending out to businesses or even companies looking to come in here to invest. What sort of a message is that sending out? That is a logjam that should not be there.  Across the years, arrears now exceed 90,000 applications. This backlog has seriously delayed property transactions, agricultural transfers, conveyancing and housing delivery and has had a direct impact on market efficiency across Ireland. It is also damaging our reputation in respect of companies or businesses trying to expand or invest, when they see this. This has to be sorted out. I accept that some steps have been taken in regard to fully staffing Tailte \u00c9ireann registration team and accelerated recruitment, but I, as a TD, I am not seeing the benefits. There is no point in giving us an email address for Tailte \u00c9ireann if it is not going to give us proper responses. There certainly needs to be change in that regard. The figures speak for themselves. They are the facts. The backlog that has escalated dramatically and that continues to impose uncertainty and delay on families, farmers, solicitors and businesses is totally unacceptable. There should not be a backlog. If we are serious about tackling delays in our planning system, then we must also be serious about tackling delays in the property registration system. One cannot function without the other.  While we are discussing planning reform, I have to take the opportunity to highlight the deeply distressing situation facing families in Stonestown, Cloghan, County Offaly, in terms of a wind farm development. Those families have been living through what can only be described as mental and physical torture arising from excessive wind turbine noise, vibration and operational practices. I raised this issue here in the D\u00e1il a number of times. Those families need to be listened to. Their health is suffering. I met the families involved. They are young couples, and they and their families are suffering terribly as a result of what is happening in the context of a wind farm that was imposed on them and that they did not want.  I have reviewed the noise diaries kept by the affected families. To say that they are harrowing is an understatement. They provide a harrowing record of the families' suffering, The constant humming, a heavy vibration throughout their houses and nights of relative quiet while testing equipment is present, followed by a sudden return to a roaring noise once the equipment is removed. That seems to be what is happening. These families are enduring sleep deprivation, physical pain, emotional distress and severe disruption to their lives. They have been left waiting almost six months for a basic communication from Statkraft's contractors. It is not good enough. There should be respect given where, if there are health issues and concerns, then immediately a wind farm should be told to stop its operation. There are serious health concerns. I call on the Ministers to intervene in that case. It really is a public health failure that has been enabled by weak enforcement and inconsistent monitoring. I will continue to raise this matter on behalf of the families of Stonestown in Cloghan with the Minister, the EPA and Offaly County Council. No family in Ireland should be subjected to what these families are being subjected to in Stonestown.  While I welcome aspects of the planning Bill, particularly the judicial review reforms, I must emphasise that planning reform cannot be selective. It has to be cohesive and ensure that proper practices, procedures and agencies are operating efficiently. I refer, in particular, to Tailte \u00c9ireann, which is not fit for purpose. There needs to be something done there.  The Bill cannot focus on one part of the system while ignoring others. It cannot prioritise key towns while leaving small towns and villages in rural Ireland behind and it cannot claim to reduce delays while thousands remain stuck - in what should be a simple registration process - in a backlog that has totally spiralled out of control. We need a planning system that is fair, efficient, transparent and responsive, and that also collaborates properly with TDs. We are sick of stock answers. I will not be accepting any more stock answers. We need a registration system that is a properly resourced and functional system and we need an enforcement system that protects people.  I look forward to the Minister of State's clarification regarding section 11 and its implications for rural Ireland in the context of the priority towns. My county of Offaly has been disadvantaged. We have not seen enough investment or balanced regional development, and, no more than any other county in the State, we need to be treated fairly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  Deputy \u00d3 Broin spoke about how the Planning and Development Act 2024 was meant to be the be all and end all and that there would be no need for all these updates.  That is not the position we find ourselves, however. I echo the complaints made by Deputy \u00d3 Broin and others about this legislation being rushed. While we can accept that there are technicalities that need to be dealt with, this is just not the way to do it, particularly in circumstances where Committee Stage amendments needed to be submitted prior to Second Stage commencing.  I recall talking to some planners about the Planning and Development Act. They spoke about the issues they had with and fears about the initial iterations of that legislation. Those issues and fears came from a perspective to the effect that what we were doing was simply creating, on some level, a large piece of legislation that would be taken apart in court cases. Unfortunately, we still do not have a fit-for-purpose system to deliver sensible and sustainable planning, while also allowing for all the necessary inputs.  At some level, we welcome the fact that we have seen something in respect of rural and Gaeltacht housing. We have all been waiting for guidelines on one-off houses in rural areas for a long time. We need to deal with the issue of the Gaeltacht. We must facilitate people from the Gaeltacht to live there. We must also take into account the rights of Irish speakers. I am not entirely sure that is going to happen, however. We have worries that we could be looking at a circumstance where this could mean fewer homes being built for Irish speakers within Gaeltacht areas. That needs to be addressed.  We have seen a bit more flexibility when it comes to one-off rural houses. I do not think there are too many in this House who come from rural backgrounds or who have huge rural areas in their constituencies who have not had to deal and have conversations with planners about what constitutes backland and ribbon development. We always look for that level of flexibility, while accepting that health and safety issues, particularly sight lines, are sacrosanct. At times, we have seen planners in different areas and those operating in the same areas come down differently on particular issues. We must ensure we see that flexibility on backland development and rural rightsizing.  We must also consider the wider idea of economic need and include the likes of teaching as a service, rather than simply those who work directly in agriculture. We all need to see that because we have seen the difficulty those who want to live in the area where they were born have in this regard.  In the context of infrastructure, there are huge issues with Uisce \u00c9ireann. I am looking a follow-up meeting with Uisce \u00c9ireann in respect of my constituency. I would welcome if the Minister of State would add his voice to that. I am seeking to ensure that we have sustainable planning. There is currently a big planning application in Louth around C\u00fa Chulainn\u2019s Castle. I would like to think all necessary stakeholders have put in their observations. We must ensure we look at this from a point of view of housing, heritage, history, etc. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  I welcome the opportunity to speak on this important Bill. I echo what the previous speaker, Deputy Nolan, said regarding Tailte \u00c9ireann and the email address we were given. Like me, the Minister of State is from a country area and will, therefore, have heard the saying, \u201cPlaying handball against a haystack\u201d. That is what trying to deal with Tailte \u00c9ireann is like. The registration system is simply not working. I have cases, as other Deputies will have, where there are delays with registration. I would like the Minister of State and his officials to take note of this, because there is a real problem. I have a case of a young farmer who has to change the plot of land the farmhouse has been on for the past 200 years. The title is in the name of a previous landlord. That landlord is long gone, and the title has to be changed into the farmer's family name. He farms the land around it. He owns that 90-acre farm, but he has to live in a town eight miles away. He is living in private rental accommodation with his young family. He is a young, active and progressive farmer, but there are constant delays with this. Solicitors are even on to us inquiring whether we can do anything about it. Something has to be done.  I will provide an example. Ten years ago, whenever I had a case in Laois where there was a difficulty with registration and I needed to contact the Land Registry, I phoned the office on Cork Road in Waterford and asked to be put through to the Laois section. The phone was always answered, which was fantastic. I gave the folio number and if the staff were not able to solve the issue there and then, they came back to me within 24 hours. They never failed in that regard. They did their best. I understand that there are procedures to go through, such as the notification of interested parties or parties who may have an interest in property, but this email system is like trying to play handball against a haystack. I ask the Minister of State and his officials - it comes under the Department of local government and housing, as far as I know - to sort this out. Someone needs to do something.  There are some good things in the Bill. Of course, there have been concerns about judicial reviews. We cannot have a situation where project after project is delayed unnecessarily, particularly by people who are not affected and who may be objecting for other reasons. However, I defend the right of affected parties to have the option of taking a judicial review as a last resort. That may include people who own adjoining properties but who do not live in the relevant area. More particularly, it is about those who live in the area. I support tightening this up and ensuring that it does not unduly delay projects that are badly needed.  The concept of having key towns is good and makes common sense. Obviously, we do not want to see smaller towns and villages suffering as a consequence of what is being done in this regard. I will come back to that point before I finish. If we are going to designate key towns, they must have essential services, including jobs, health and educational services, school places and sports and leisure facilities. They cannot be just a series of housing estates dropped in fields around the edges of towns. That is important.  Some Deputies indicated that they welcome the certainty with the county development plan process. While I definitely do not want to be delaying these things for too long, I have concerns about the ten-year duration. I was on the council for the makings of a couple of county development plans. One problem I see with this - it could be an unintended consequence - is that we could end up with variations to county development plans. We will have material contraventions, which can be carried out within the period of county development plan while awaiting a new one. I have been there for those. Two weeks ago, Laois County Council implemented a variation. I have the new plan in my office. The variation is as big as the plan. Effectively, it is a new plan. This is something that the Minister of State needs to take on board.  The other thing is the role of the councillors. The briefing note from the Department outlines the engagements it had in this regard. It states, \u201cThe Department and the Minister engaged with the County and City Management Association [fair enough], the Planning, Environmental and Local Government Bar Association [that is all right too], the Irish Planning Institute and the Construction Industry Federation\u201d. Engagement with councillors is not mentioned. There was no engagement with the representative body of local government. Why was the Association of Irish Local Government not contacted? The Local Authorities Members Association was not contacted either. Year after year, with every issue and piece of legislation that has anything to do with local government, councillors are never contacted. I remember raising this kind of nonsense with Phil Hogan when he was Minister 15 years ago. Councillors were forgotten about. No one, not senior officials or anyone at a senior political level in government, thought it fit to speak to councillors.  That is what it says in the briefing note and that is an omission. That is the other concern I have with ten years. I see the need for certainty. It is a six-year process at the moment. Fair enough, we could go to seven or eight years but ten years is a lot. It is a long time. We will finish up with an unintended consequence of material contravention to the plan having to be brought before the councils on a regular basis, as well as variations. The variation made in County Laois is a positive one. It was needed. The Department and the Government requested it and the councillors and management obliged. The councillors got it fairly right. They put a lot of work into it along with the planners. I want to highlight that.  Regarding apartment sizes, what are we going to do? Are we going to keep going until we have people living in shoe boxes? Before I came in here I measured 32 sq. m in my office, so I know what it means. Part of my office in Leinster House is 32 sq. m. That is lunacy and it is really unfair. I know the developers wanted it and the Construction Federation of Ireland has been hammering on the Minister's door for a few years to try to extract more profit. The Minister of State will say a lot more apartments are being built now but there are a lot of other reasons for that and we all know what they are. This means more profit, less space and the position of renters and people trying to buy their first home being diminished. Some 32 sq. m is awful. Some 76 sq. m for three-bedroom accommodation is awful. Has anyone here ever lived in a house of 76 sq. m? I lived in a house that was 57 sq. m and it was very small. It is 32 sq. m for a two-bedroom house. A three-bedroom house of 76 sq. m is awful. It is not fair to people. We have to start thinking about quality of life. Profit has won out in this country over everything else.  On the rural planning guidelines, in general I welcome what has been announced this week by the Minister. We do not have all the details yet. We need to be careful that we do not end up with scatters of housing all over the place. People who genuinely need to live in a rural area for work reasons or who have a family connection should be allowed to do so, subject to considerations such as environmental and planning regulations, etc. Laois County Council has operated close to that model over the years.  However, it is a missed opportunity, and the Minister of State may tell me he will come back to this. If we want rural development done properly, we need to build up, along with the changes in the guidelines. As I said, we need to be careful. We do not want a turbo-charged bungalow blitz, although we want to facilitate those who genuinely need to live in a rural area. If we want to do rural development properly, we must build up and consolidate the cores of our villages. If we want to create and strengthen rural communities, we must have living villages.  The Minister of State knows that in his constituency as in mine, there are many villages which are not living villages. The shop is closed and the post office, service station and Garda station are gone. If we want rural areas to play a significant role as well as address the housing crisis, we must have strong village structures. That has to be part of and central to any housing policy.  I support genuine efforts to speed up the delivery of and to facilitate housing. Too many of our villages have been hollowed out due to a lack of new housing and opportunities to live in them. There are huge benefits to living in a rural village. Young people can walk to school and people can walk to the local pub, church or sports field. In nearly all villages, there is now a bus link and that is important. If we can consolidate the cores of villages and get people living in them, children can walk to school and people can walk to the local shop, pub, church or sports field. As I said, most villages have at least a limited bus service and that reduces the need to always use a car. In villages people have neighbours and family support, often nearby. If a person needs home help services when they get elderly, it is easier to provide it in villages than it is way out in the countryside. Importantly, in villages people also have access to utilities, which also reduce a person\u2019s carbon footprint about which we are all concerned. One-off housing does not have that. I am not against one-off housing. In general, I support what is being done in relation to the policy on those who genuinely need to live in a rural area. However, we need to be careful not to cover the whole place with unnecessary rural housing. I am arguing instead to consolidate the cores of villages.  This needs the councils to zone land close to the centre of villages. There cannot be leapfrogging. There are too many examples of leapfrogging over the years where ten fields have been missed and then half a mile up the road there is a new housing estate with no footpath, no public lighting and a long distance to connect sewers. It is expensive to do that and the car is still used to get to the local shop. That is not the way we should be doing it. These houses should be close to the centre of the village. This means zoning land for private and public housing close to villages and local authorities building, where needed, small clusters of social housing. There are some good examples of that but we need more of them.  I suggest that councils develop serviced sites, and there are a few good examples in County Laois. Castletown is one example and Ballyroan is another. Sites, roughly a quarter of an acre on the edges of the village, are sold at cost-price to people in the area who want to build their own modest house and have a reasonably-sized garden. The Minister of State knows that many people in rural areas are self-employed, and they might have a van, a trailer, JCB or something like that. A person cannot bring that into a housing estate but if they are living on the edge of a village and have a quarter of an acre of a site, that is the problem solved. This fits in with the lifestyle. I ask the Minister of State to take the example of Ballyroan in County Laois, which has ten serviced sites developed by the council. Since we zoned land there in 2006, the Cross of Newtown, the Glenbrook estate and Gleann na Glaise, which is a council estate, have been developed there, along with the ten council serviced sites. Everything is in three or four minutes walking distance to the school, church, the pubs, all of which are open, and to the GAA and the soccer clubs. The other day a fantastic new playground opened. That is the type of development we need to see. I can show the Minister of State villages where that has not happened and where the whole village has been hollowed out. Many of the villages need a small wastewater treatment system or what the one they have to be upgraded. Some of that will come by way of development levies but some of it will not and will need funding. My point is that is one way of doing it.  I argue that if we are serious about rural development, along with making it possible for people who have to live in a rural area to build a one-off property, we have to build up our villages and connect them with public transport. A start has been made and it is working well but there is more work to do. Every county has a network of villages, which could help us to solve the housing crisis.  I accept that the vacant property grant is working reasonably well. We are not getting any complaints. That is how I know it is going all right. If it was not working well, people would be complaining about it. It is bringing houses, including some in rural areas and villages, back into use.  I mentioned Tailte \u00c9ireann. I would say it is like playing handball in a haystack. It is absolutely frustrating. The Minister of State is a Waterford TD. Ten years ago, if there was a problem with a registration or property and a constituent or their solicitor were getting nowhere with it, they would contact me to see if I could do anything about it.  I would ring the Land Registry in the Minister of State's constituency, on Cork Road in Waterford, and ask to be put through to the lease section. Someone would answer the phone, if not the first time then I would get them an hour later and they would address the problem immediately. They were very helpful. Now we have an email address and we might as well be doing something I will not say in the Chamber. That is the point I am making. There are some good things in the Bill, such as the judicial review measure, but we need to be careful with people who are living in the locality.  The change to apartment size is the one I have a real problem with. I measured 32 sq. m in my office to see what is involved before I came to the Chamber. It is tiny. It is not fair to ask people to live in accommodation of that size. Three-bedroom accommodation of 76 sq. m is awful. We need to start thinking about people's quality of life. At the same time we are doing away with the common spaces. We cannot have it every way. There is not going to be any storage or common area, yet a family is going to be confined in a three-bedroom apartment of 76 sq. m. That is not good enough. That is the piece I have a problem with. Everybody has got their way - the Construction Industry Federation, CIF, the investors, the developers and everyone else but tenants and purchasers who are paying big mortgages and high rents are the ones that are suffering. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  Cuirim f\u00e1ilte aireach roimh an mBille seo. N\u00edl m\u00e9 cinnte go bhfuil gach rud at\u00e1 sa Bhille i gceart. T\u00e1 roinnt fadhbanna agam leis freisin. I give a cautious welcome to the Bill. I recognise what it is attempting to do but I want to raise a couple of issues with the Minister of State. The first one is something I raise in general about legislation, which is a drafting issue. It is not specific to planning legislation. When the Bill becomes an Act, if a citizen tries to read it, almost every single section describes an amendment to either the Planning and Development Act 2000 or the 2024 Act, which means that this Act will not be legible without also having copies of those two Acts. That makes it very difficult for any citizen to penetrate. It is not unique to this legislation. It is something that we do as a matter of course in this House but I think it is bad practice. We should be able to pick up the law and read it and have an idea of what it says. Even in the description of the sections it does not tell us what the amendment is supposed to do. It just says it is an amendment to section 38 of the 2000 Act, or whatever it might be. It would be much more constructive, in the first instance, to say what that amending section is supposed to do but, second, to take the section that is being amended, repeal it and restate it in the legislation so it is there for everyone to read. It is a simple thing that we could do as a general practice in this House but we do not. That is obviously a drafting point that will get exactly no traction with anyone outside this House but it is pertinent to this legislation because one of the aims here is apparently to improve clarity, if the explanatory memorandum and the bumpf around this is to be believed. It is a simple thing.  Generally speaking, the aims of the Bill are clear and well placed. It makes perfect sense to me to increase the Housing Finance Agency's statutory borrowing limit to \u20ac15 billion. I do not have a difficulty with that. I wonder if maybe we should index link these limits rather than coming back every few years to change them in an amending piece of legislation. We could save ourselves the hassle if we just linked the limit to an index that allowed it to increase accordingly every year.  I also agree with the comments that have been made about apartment sizes. We cannot win on this in some respects because on the one hand we have people telling us that in order to make projects viable, they have to reduce the unit size in order to make them easier to build. I get that but I honestly find it difficult to understand how developers cannot make a profit in the current environment with house prices and rental prices where they are. It is difficult to understand how when it was profitable to build the same thing a number of years ago, even taking into account the increasing cost of materials, etc., it cannot be built in a profitable way even at the standards we had before. I am not sure that the reduction in building standards and the size of apartments is the answer.  I live in an apartment of less than 80 m sq. It is not a bad place to live or anything like that but the more we reduce the size the less livable the space becomes. That is increasingly true if we have families in that space, especially larger families with more children. Irish people have not got their heads around the notion that we can live in apartments perfectly comfortably. One of the mistakes we have made in this jurisdiction in terms of apartment living is that in a three-bedroom apartment, for example, there is only one reception room or one living space. If you have in that space two or three kids - anybody who has two or three kids will be familiar with this notion - one space can be very difficult and it is not built for harmonious family living. Maybe changing the attitude to what a family dwelling looks likes in terms of the layout of it will be an important thing.  I also welcome the move to ten-year county development plans. The existing structure means that almost as soon as the last one is finished, we are looking at preparations for the next one so I think a ten-year period is more reasonable. I would favour much greater powers for elected councillors. Again, this is something I have complained about to the Minister of State. I complained about it to him when we were both councillors, never mind when he became Minister of State in the Department of housing. We do not give nearly enough power or credit to councillors. They are the hardest working elected people in this country, yet they have no resources but worse than that, they have no powers. The reality is that most councillors around the country, be they city or county councillors, are effectively local ambassadors to the chief executive of a given local authority or the director of services. In real terms, decisions are made at local government level by unelected officials who are not accountable to the local population, who will never knock on the door of a local resident and ask them what they think about the development plan or whatever issue it is, and who do not actually have their feet on the ground the way councillors do. Councillors are doing this all the time. They are knocking on doors. They are at residents' meetings and public meetings. They are available to people and they hear people's views all the time. In my view they are much better equipped to make decisions for the people they represent than officials who are answerable really only to the Custom House or to the Department of local government.  We have the least powerful and most centralised local government system in the whole of the European Union. We should change that. Changing it is a vote of confidence in the fact that at local level, we have genuinely competent, capable, responsible, hardworking elected representatives and we should be devolving power to them, particularly when it comes to planning. We all know that in the 1990s, there was a certain small cohort of councillors who misbehaved and acted in a criminal fashion in some instances. I understand why when we got to the year 2000 that the law had to be changed to take planning decisions out of the hands of councillors because they had been misused and we had to re-establish confidence in planning decisions but the world has changed a lot since 2000. The level of accountability, scrutiny and regulation of councillors has massively changed. It was our party that set up many of those changes in how we require people to be accountable, in terms of their behaviour, their conflicts of interest, moneys they receive, donations, fundraising, all of that stuff. That has been completely changed. We now have the Standards in Public Office Commission whose sole job is to regulate politicians in terms of that behaviour. It is important to have this debate in the context of this legislation. We should now be looking at returning to a situation where we are giving decision-making powers about local planning back to councillors rather than constantly leaving it in the hands of officials who are not accountable.  At the moment we have a massive democratic deficit in terms of planning decisions that is unique in the context of the European Union because councillors are not making planning decisions. In fact, when I was a councillor, I avoided ringing planners about issues because I did not want to be seen to be interfering in that process when, actually, I should have been the one making the decision. I am not a professional planner but we used to have planning committees that were advised by professional planners and we had the benefit of all that expertise. If the decision to be made is to be a democratic one, it should be made by democratically elected people and should reflect the democratic will of the people in a given area. That is a broader point than the legislation before us but it is important given this is planning and development legislation.  I will turn to what I think is probably the main impetus of this legislation, which is about the reform of the judicial review in the planning process. Again, in broad terms, I welcome this. I recognise that Gabriel Makhlouf, the Governor of the Central Bank, said last year that the number one problem in housing development delivery was planning - not financing or other things but planning for the provision of local amenities and utilities. That is a fair criticism. It is far too slow. I recognise also that in Dublin, for example, at the moment there are 9,562 houses being delayed by judicial review. That is an astonishing figure given where we are in the current crisis and what we have to do. That is also about 16.5% of all the development in Dublin, so it is a shocking figure. It does merit being dealt with and a situation where we actually address that problem.  However, there are ways we can address it other than trying to put a stricture on judicial review. Judicial review is a constitutional right that is afforded to Irish citizens. It is built into our Constitution and is a really positive thing. It is something that we have beyond most European countries, in fact. We have this right as a citizen to challenge an administrative decision made by a State agency, Minister or whatever it might be, go to an independent High Court judge and say we think this decision has not been made correctly, there is a flaw in the process and we want the judge to examine it. That is a right that we have given the people of this country since the 1930s. I understand that it is frustrating. Sometimes, the exercise of rights is inconvenient. I also understand that the Minister of State has to do something about it because he cannot allow the situation to continue where there is delay in the construction and delivery of housing for the people who need it. I accept all of that. Faster decisions and faster delivery are aims we must all strive for. However, we can look at the way we do it.  For starters, one of the reasons judicial review is slow is because of the resources allocated to the courts. We do not have enough judges, courtrooms or staff in the Courts Service to process these decisions. We had this problem many years ago in relation to corporate cases. We stepped in and changed the way they were dealt with. There was a specific, highly managed list created within the High Court for cases involving companies and cases that were worth more that \u20ac1 million. One judge was responsible for saying what the timeline was once a case came to court, including the deadlines - side A would present their submissions in two weeks' time and side B would respond in four weeks' time, there be an opportunity in six weeks' time to come back, and there would be a hearing to deal with the case in eight weeks' time. There were severe penalties built in for people who did not comply with that timetable. There was an order of the court to move it along. That could be done with judicial review but there is a resource issue with doing that.  Equally, the penalisation of fees is essentially an attack on those bringing judicial reviews. I do not think that is the answer either. I wonder about access to justice and whether this is the right road to go down. There is obviously the locus standi issue as well, which I know is being addressed. The notion that I could live in Letterkenny and object to something in Wexford town is an absolute nonsense. In very few other areas of law is somebody with no standing allowed to make an objection the way they are in planning cases. That is something I favour removing. You should be able to demonstrate some interest in a decision or some reason as to why you are affected by it before you are entitled to start to interfere, delay or review it. That is common sense. It is what normally applies in all other areas of law.  In terms of what this Bill is actually trying to achieve, if we could come at it in a slightly different way, it would be better, fairer and more transparent. We should not be afraid of judicial reviews or of the High Court stepping in to look at a decision openly and transparently. In a court, everything is done in public and a decision is usually written and delivered afterwards where it is set out in clear terms why the decision has been made one way or the other. We should not be afraid of that. We should be resourcing reviews so that decisions can be rendered quickly rather than delayed, as is currently the case. While I appreciate the end point we are trying to get to and the fact that nearly 10,000 houses in Dublin cannot continue to be delayed where a judicial review is partly responsible, let us look at this in the round and see if there is a better way.  I give a cautious welcome to the Bill. I hope I am wrong about this and that it is going to deliver things and there will not be any ancillary problems. I look forward to its passage. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy M\u00e1ire Devine  Before I start, the Housing Agency was tasked with researching and monitoring housing-based interventions that sought to strengthen social cohesion. I am wondering if that report informed this Bill, or if there is yet to be a report.  If you ask the people of Dublin South-Central, they will clearly tell you that affordable and social housing is key in addressing the fragmentation and displacement of their communities, as vulture funds, student accommodation and transient accommodation smother their area. Swathes of high-rise, transient accommodation have been imposed on their communities. The historical community of the Liberties is choked with eight-to-12-storey blocks of student accommodation that have forever changed the small streetscape and skyscape of Dublin's oldest settlement. Likewise, the aparthotels that cater for this, the premier tourist trail in the country, have resulted in what we call a tourist paradox, a phenomenon that is growing worldwide where tourism and transient visitors destroy the cultural environment that is necessary for tourism activity in the first place. The recent protests at Thomas Street's aparthotel development proved to the be tipping point for locals, who are furious at yet another planning permission for a bland, featureless and cheapening development while their community is scattered to the wind, along with the exodus of home-grown businesses and community facilities. Unaffordable housing is divisive. Tensions are rising and discontent is wholly understandable.  The affordability crisis represents a social challenge that must be addressed. It must be front and centre and the cornerstone of Government policy. Access to affordable housing enables broader social cohesion and strengthens communities, something we desperately need to encourage, support and nurture in these days of sometimes turmoil across our cities and Europe. This legislation should include and encourage site visits so as to give a helicopter view of the context of what is being proposed when assessing large developments, or at least a real-time video of the area and a virtual walk-through to gain a perspective on and understanding of the visual impact, scale and impositions of developments of this nature in the inner cities. They have swallowed up and bulldozed a lot of traditional streetscapes, and with them a lot of our communities in the inner city. Those streetscapes are our urban gems and they are being diluted and dismissed regularly. This has been concentrated in inner cities over the last decade.  Affordable housing is a linchpin that sets the groundwork for a stable living environment for families. It is crucial for personal and communal growth. Stability nurtures people and protects their well-being. Government policy must prioritise this and not be an indifferent bystander to the experience of inner city communities that have long encountered deliberate neglect, disinterest and abandonment. The Minister, Deputy James Browne, got some insight into this when, albeit pushed, he visited the Liberties. That visit was welcome and propelled the decision to answer to the locals and replan the generation that was parked. The State must invest in our people, our families and our working-class communities. That is the priority. We deserve better. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Before calling Deputy Michael Collins, I would like to welcome to the Gallery Joe, Lorraine and Miche\u00e1l Croke, who are visiting from Lowertown in Schull at the request of Deputy Collins. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  I concur with the welcome you made to the Croke family, a Cheann Comhairle. They have been so helpful to the people of Lowertown and Cross Barry for many years on a voluntary basis, helping people with local gardening and all the works that need to be done there. They are a great addition to be here in the D\u00e1il today.  Independent Ireland supports the objective behind this Bill. We all know that our planning system has become too slow, complex and bureaucratic. Delays in planning are delaying homes and infrastructure and frustrating communities right across rural and urban Ireland. There are a number of positive measures in this legislation. The extension of existing development plans provides certainty, while local authorities prepare the new ten-year plan. The measures aimed at accelerating electricity, gas and other strategic infrastructure are welcome. Without adequate infrastructure, we simply cannot deliver the housing that people desperately need. We also recognise the potential benefits of allowing approved apartment developments to be modified more easily. If sensible changes can help deliver more homes and improve viability without unnecessary delays, that is something we should support.  However, faster planning must never mean less accountability. One concern for Independent Ireland is the growing centralisation of decision-making. The Bill allows regional directors and chief executives to take greater control where deadlines are missed. We must ensure that elected councillors and local representatives are not sidelined in the process. Local democracy matters and local communities deserve to have their voices heard. We also need assurances that rural Ireland will benefit equally from these reforms. Faster infrastructure delivery cannot be confined to major urban centres.  Rural roads, water services, electricity networks and community infrastructure must receive the same priority if balanced regional development is to become a reality.  The Government says that these changes will reduce delays, increase housing supply and improve legal certainty. Those are worthwhile goals. However, the real test will be whether more homes are built, infrastructure projects are delivered faster, and whether the public continues to have confidence in the planning process. Independent Ireland will engage constructively with this Bill. We support cutting red tape and removing needless obstacles, but we will also need to insist on protections for local democracy, ensuring that rural communities are not left behind, and the maintenance of safeguards.  Communities have concerns. There is one thing we have to be careful of. I met a group from Wexford last week. Its members want clarity. The Minister of State might be able to give it to me today or at a future date. Precisely what grant of planning permission exists for new railways overbridge at Park-Carcur just outside Wexford? I have been told that the CEO of Iarnr\u00f3d \u00c9ireann and the Minister for Transport claim that this bridge is covered by a planning application from a third-party developer, but it seems that that is not the case. The bridge appears to have been constructed with taxpayers\u2019 money without planning permission. I would appreciate if the Minister of State could clarify that issue in the days ahead.  In this Bill, we have to look at the current situation. We are talking about county development plans lasting longer, but my concern is that mistakes are being made. The mistake in the county development plan is that the local representatives are being squeezed. I know it from my time from 2014 to 2016 on the local authority. We had a hell of a lot to say in relation to county development plans. Now, I find that my councillors have very little say. It is from the top down. We need to change that.  There was a village nucleus. We want to look after the survivors of rural Ireland. Urban areas are hugely to Independent Ireland, too. They put a village nucleus into areas where there was public transport, a local church and a local shop. You build around that area. They withdraw that in the next county development. That was a negative move to make because it was killing rural Ireland. There are communities out there losing their post offices, little creameries and churches because communities are dying. They are losing GAA clubs, which is a very serious concern, and their soccer clubs. We need to put the focus back on how we build small rural communities. That is how we do it. If there is a local school bus service or local rural transport service passing these doors, that is how you build around a community and that community grows. That is an area that the Department needs to look at and have a very serious focus on. County development plans are from the top down. That is not the way it should be. The local authorities need to have a stronger say.  We have to look at issues like housing, roads and transport. Money is being spent on infrastructure. It is hugely important. Uisce \u00c9ireann has become unaccountable. One cannot talk to it. When I send correspondence to it, it is like I am talking to old Jack the dog at home, but the dog would waggle the tail at least. Uisce \u00c9ireann is unaccountable. Imagine, it is getting billions of euro from the State and does not have to account for it to anybody. I know people who are willing to invest in infrastructure to build local communities. I spent months looking for a meeting with Uisce \u00c9ireann - the local person is willing to put the money into building infrastructure that Uisce \u00c9ireann should be doing but cannot do - but cannot get one. It is not just me. Everybody else comes in here saying the same thing. There is no accountability. The Government seems to be forking out money without accountability. That needs to change. I ask the Minister of State to stand up to Uisce \u00c9ireann. A lot of TDs came in here and showed a lot of concern about Uisce \u00c9ireann, and it came across the road and met us, but it has not met us since. It has not followed up on the queries that we had. That was just fake, a bit of box-ticking to get rid of us again for another couple of years. All Uisce \u00c9ireann needs to do is ask for another billion or million euro. It does not matter. It just ticks a box and it will get it. We need to make changes in here so that there is accountability and we can go back and say that there is somebody willing to pay this out. It happened in my own community down in Durrus. The construction company of a man who is dead now built the wastewater treatment plant there. That town has been thriving fairly well since and able to build houses since. It does not seem to be happening in the rest of the country. Look at the Shannonvales, the Dunmanways, the Rosscarberys, the Ballydehobs and the Goleens. What is happening? For Shannonvale, there is now a promise that something is going to happen. In Dunmanway, a TD told the D\u00e1il six or 12 months ago that 50 houses were going to be built. Now, I have heard that there are only going to be 15 houses. Imagine, 15 houses for the next 20 or 30 years. That is a disaster for a growing town like Dunmanway.  We are not moving with the times. We are way behind. The more rural you are located in this country, the worse things get. The N71 from Rosscarbery to Owenahinch is so dangerous that it is impassable. Regarding the road in Ballydehob, I am continuously raising concerns that might save lives. If there were passing bays, it would bring people into our community in west Cork. We have every right to fight for our constituents. That is why we were put into D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann.  I spoke to young Miche\u00e1l Croke, who is above in the Gallery. He talked to me about the concerns at Cross Barry regarding a footpath there. I stay out in Bray when I am here in Dublin. I saw that a lovely, safe, concrete footpath was built in one its areas, but a beautiful wooden one was also put in just to add to the area. It is lovely. Down in Cross Barry, there is an incredible amount of danger in walking the bridge there, given the number of lorries and other traffic. They need an inside timber bridge, metal bridge or something to save lives, yet nothing happens year after year and promise after promise. Lorries keep striking the wall there and people are within inches of losing their lives, but nobody is accountable and nobody cares. Obviously, something has to happen, then everybody will start running and shouting.  We are talking about speeding up plans in relation to Gaeltacht areas. We have to look at the islands. I represent eight islands. I talk about Cape Clear, Sherkin Island, Long Island, Dursey Island, Bere Island, Whiddy Island and Heir Island. When was the last time a house was built on any of those islands? The Minister of State will not be able to answer because I will tell him: there has been none. They cannot even get planning there, never mind being able to afford to build. When was there a social house built? People have every right to live on their islands. It is the same as those who cannot afford a house being entitled to get social housing. Why cannot the people of those islands at least included in a social housing programme the same as every other community? The living life has been squeezed out of islands. As public representatives, we meet the islanders. They want their young people. They want their schools to survive. Their schools are closing down because people cannot get a home. They have to go back down to the mainland. There is a rush or race to send people away from rural areas.  Planning permission can be very frustrating. Deputy Ward talked about, for example, a person from Donegal objecting to something in west Cork. That is outrageous and has to stop. There is only one way to do so, and that is to put legislation in to make sure that things like that do not happen. People will say to me that they have a right to object, but there is a proper way to do it and an improper way to do it.  It is often pointed out to me how a local person could not get planning but somebody with a lot of money ended up with a house down the road. That is hard for me to explain because I am not on the inside when it comes to planning, but we have to ask questions about how that happened. I am not saying that it happens very often, but it does happen. It is frustrating for the people who have lived all their lives there and are refused when someone they do not know does get planning permission. That happens quite a lot. It is an area of frustration that the Government needs to look into further.  There is a vacant home grant, and it is very welcome. A lot of people have availed of it and I could not fault it, but there is a bit of a concern that money sometimes does not get out to the people fast enough. That is beside the point, though. It is building up in rural areas. One planning matter that the Minister of State needs to look into is where people find a ruin. They think that this great - a ruin in a rural community falling asunder - and this is going to be built. The first thing they will be asked for is to have a conservation repairs document prepared. Then there will be a bat report, an invasive alien plant species report and a nature impact statement report. It is \u20ac20,000 before they put a block in the ground. I recall how, when I was growing up, I built a house at home. It cost me \u00a322,000. It was a six-bed dormer bungalow. Now, people cannot even get a project off the ground for that money. The paperwork has to be finished. There are all these reports. Somebody is making a hell of a lot of money out of this. At the same, when people come into my constituency office - I presume it is the same for the Minister of State - and I look at it, it is a ruin. It is falling down. Would the Government not be delighted to encourage these guys to build and start a new life for themselves? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  I know of a family in Mayo. The mother attended the local primary school in the parish. Her father attended the same local primary school. Her children are now attending the same local school. She sought planning permission to build in the catchment area of that primary school. She was denied on the basis of local planning need. Three generations living in the same area and she was refused planning permission.  That is how discriminatory and unfair the planning system is in Ireland. I very much welcome the fact there have been changes and progress is finally being made on this. It is welcome and I support it. I will absolutely fight to make sure the changes will accommodate as many people to live in rural areas as possible, because it was wrong. For too long, we had a planning system that prevented people living. We have a situation in the planning system where families have to go through report after report for bats and environmental report after environmental report. There is no report done, however, on the council's or Government's side to see whether this family need a house and what the impact is on this family and all of the families across Ireland who want nothing from the State except to be left alone and be allowed to build in their local areas. I welcome the progress and I urge the Minister of State to get on with the implementation of that.  In respect of the auxiliary units, the modular units, this was first spoken about over a year ago in the D\u00e1il and I welcomed that at the time. I am still waiting for the legislation and the guidelines to be published. We talk about delays, and I welcome some aspects of this Bill because the Minister of State is trying to address the delays, but we have been waiting for this to be published for over a year now. We know, broadly speaking, that the units may be 40 sq. m but there is no insight. People are ringing me, families are phoning me and builders are phoning me asking me what is happening and we do not know. There has been delay after delay. This is a crisis and I believe it is time that Deputy Cummins, as the Minister of State who is working in the Department of housing, actually realised it is a crisis.  I want to talk about the Bill in relation to the county development plans and the ten-year timeframe. I understand there is some value to this in terms of processing time and speeding up the timeframes. However, I have concerns and I want to register them here on the floor of the D\u00e1il. I will give an example. A council term lasts for five years and if we are now moving to a situation where county development plans will last for ten years, then obviously that plan should be in line with the new council and the new mandate. If the people of a local area vote out the councillors because they are not happy with the work they are doing or with the development plan, then the new council should have the mandate to change that plan. That is a big concern I have. What is the point in having an election if there will be no impact? The truth is that local government has been downgraded to such an extent that councillors have virtually no power. Now we will see the power they have in terms of development plans being pushed further out and that is a big concern. I ask that changes, flexibility and amendments be allowable. In Mayo, we have a county development plan that was produced in 2022, before I was elected to the council or the D\u00e1il. My understanding is that this plan was supported by all of the councillors in Mayo at the time. It was ratified on 29 June 2022. Now we are stuck with this development plan until 2028. The big problem with this plan is that it classifies huge parts of the east, south and north of the county as being preferred for wind turbine developments. Now the councillors have realised that they no longer support the plan and want to see changes to it. My fear is that if we elongate the duration of county development plans, it will prevent councillors making changes. I urge the Minister of State to ensure councillors have the flexibility and ability to make amendments and so on because that is important. A new council should have the ability and flexibility to change the plan significantly.  In relation to key towns with a population of under 10,000 for the purposes of development, funding and so on, the problem is if there is a ten-year plan and the population grows beyond that. There should be a level of indexing within that plan whereby if the population goes above 10,000, it should still be considered a key town.  I was going to talk about wind turbines as well but my time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  The Bill is another piece of omnibus legislation. It tidies up the 2024 Act and is designed to fast-track the judicial review changes, clarify and firm up the ten-year development plan timelines, look at the critical infrastructure and increase the Housing Finance Agency's borrowing capacity. There is a lot contained in the Bill, on one side, but nothing on the other, to be quite honest, because it is primarily enabling legislation, at least in the areas I would like to focus on, namely the critical infrastructure measures and the development plan process.  On paper it is important to facilitate the planning system where development plans, regional strategies and infrastructure delivery can be aligned. I say \"can be\" because while the Bill mentions and strengthens the transition to a ten-year development plan cycle, which I am agnostic about, it sets the deadlines for regional spatial and economic strategies and allows the Minister of State and his colleagues to designate key towns, which I hope will include suburban areas like Lucan, Clondalkin and a joined-up Rathcoole, Saggart and Citywest so that the corridors between them can be planned in a coherent way, unlike the fragmented housing conurbations we see around these historic villages.  However, there is no guarantee that all of these tie-ins will be provided. There is reference to accelerating infrastructure delivery and the Bill streamlines the process and implements recommendations of the accelerating infrastructure task force. We have had references to the size of apartments and how the Bill allows existing apartment permissions to be updated without restarting the entire planning process. If we are putting people into boxes, and I call some of these apartments \"boxes\", we have to have something on the outside. What has happened is we have taken away parking spaces. We have provided insufficient playing pitches, gathering spaces, community halls and leisure facilities. There is no tie-in with public transport.  I have said before that we are potentially creating what will be ghettoes in ten years' time. I say that having spoken to developers who are creating very high-quality housing in terms of the BER rating and the framework they were given. However, the framework is not sufficient, whether it relates to people being able to charge their EVs on their domestic tariff or having parking spaces because sometimes people need to be able to get from A to B in a car even if we are trying to encourage a modal shift by making it more difficult for those short journeys when people should be walking or cycling. In areas like Seven Mills, parts of Adamstown, Citywest and Kilcarbery, we do not have that infrastructure. When this legislation is passed, there will be no guarantees. We need to see a firm commitment to providing that; otherwise, we will be creating bad planning. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"William Aird","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy William Aird  I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Bill and support its passage on Second Stage. Ireland faces a housing infrastructure challenge that is well known to every Member of this House. Families are struggling to access affordable housing, communities need vital infrastructure to be delivered and businesses require certainty within our planning system. Good planning must always protect public participation, environmental standards and proper oversight but it also must be capable of making timely and effective decisions. The Bill builds on the reforms already introduced. Its main objective is to ensure those reforms can be implemented smoothly and effectively by removing barriers that have caused delay, uncertainty and unnecessary costs throughout the planning process.  I welcome the measures relating to judicial review procedures. Planning decisions must always be open to challenges where genuine legal issues arise, but we must recognise that lengthy and complex court procedures can delay housing, public infrastructure and investment projects for years and years, as the Minister of State can see himself. I welcome the reforms in the Bill intended to streamline procedures, reduce unnecessary delays and provide greater certainty for all stakeholders.  One of the most important aspects of this legislation is the clarity it provides around transition to ten-year county development plans. Moving to a longer term planning scope is a significant and necessary reform if we are serious about meeting Ireland's future needs. The Bill provides certainty that local authorities will move to this new ten-year cycle. That clarity is essential for local authorities, communities, developers and our infrastructure providers. A ten-year planning framework will help ensure that we maintain an adequate supply of zoned land for housing over a much longer period. Too often we have found ourselves planning for immediate demand instead of anticipating future need. By extending the lifespan of the development plans, the local authorities will be in a better position to zone sufficient land, co-ordinate infrastructure and investment, and create the pipeline of housing delivery that our growing population requires. Long-term housing supply demands long-term planning, and this reform represents a very important step in that direction.  Another welcome measure in this application of the revised Department standards is to the existing planning permissions. This is a practical and sensible reform that has the potential to unlock housing delivery in the short term. By allowing those updated standards to apply to existing permissions, the Bill will improve the viability of a large number of schemes and help turn permissions into homes. I also welcome the increase to the borrowing limit of the Housing Finance Agency. At a time when the delivery of housing remains a national priority, we must ensure that the agency has the capacity to support housing investment. Access to finance is a critical aspect of housing delivery. This measure strengthens the State's ability to support local authorities, approved housing bodies and wider housing initiatives.  Of course, legislation alone will not solve our housing challenges. We must continue to address issues relating to infrastructure provision, the servicing of lands, construction capacity and the availability of skilled workers. However, an efficient and modern planning system is an essential foundation for all other housing measures. It is also important that as the Bill proceeds, we continue to engage constructively with local authorities, planners, communities, environmental groups and the legal profession. Effective planning reform requires public confidence. The public must be sure that transparency, accountability and environmental protections are at the heart of the decision-making. Ultimately, what people want is homes built more quickly, infrastructure delivered more efficiently and decisions made without unnecessary delay. They want certainty, fairness and common sense.  The clarity provided on the transition to ten-year development plans and the measures to improve the viability of apartment developments are practical reforms that will directly support housing delivery. I acknowledge the work the Minister of State and his Department have done on this to try to ease the burden that is on people out there. We are talking about rural development as well as urban development. When we talk about urban development, we must include, or else have it separated, all the villages we have throughout all our counties. I am a firm believer that if we can get the infrastructure into our villages, then people who come from there and want to build in a rural area and who are looking to buy a site there will consider moving to the village. I will give an example from my own area. If somebody wants to build in Camross, perhaps they would prefer to build in the village rather than go 2 miles or 3 miles outside the village, where there might be problems that the Minister of State and I know about as public representatives, and where they might not get the planning. At least they could live in the rural village. If we do not adopt that attitude, and I am thankful this Bill will do that, I will have to come back and stand up here and criticise the Minister of State, which I certainly do not want to do. I believe this is our opportunity to ensure we give viability and oxygen back to all our small villages throughout our counties, for the people who left those villages because they could not get planning.  I do not ever talk myself up as a representative, but I will tell the House one thing here. I have probably been involved in more planning applications in my county of Laois than any other public representative ever. I gave over 40 years in Laois County Council and a lot of my work went into planning issues. It was awful to see that people could not live in an area in which they had gone to school in, been reared, played football and where they were members of the community. They could not live in that area because they could not get planning. I assure all those people here today that this Bill, once enacted, will give them an opportunity.  I will take this opportunity to thank all the people involved in planning, not alone in County Laois but throughout the country. They had a very hard job. They never wanted to refuse planning but they were forced to do so under what we would call the very famous county development plans. I will argue all my life about county development plans. County development plans were supposed to be plans of the public representatives of the county council at the time they were being drawn up. While plans were always presented to us in the county council chambers, however, and while we could put observations in and vote on the plan, which we did several times, a message would come back to the local authority. In respect of what we the public representatives were asking of the chief executive about the plan that he had produced, and which we were not agreeing with, we would be overruled by a Minister. Whose plan was it at the end of the day? I am delighted that I am getting an opportunity to stand in the Houses of the Oireachtas and to repeat what I have said for many years. When we did our county development plan every five years, I would inquire as to which Minister had said we were not to zone the land or that people from a rural area could not live in that rural area, but I could never get a copy of the letter from the Minister who had sent it to the local authorities.  With regard to the county development plans going forward, I ask one thing of the Minister of State. Will he allow the public representatives who are elected throughout this country and who engage in county development plans in their own local authorities to be provided with the same advice that the executive staff can get when they are preparing the plan to present it to the councillors? This is not a big ask. The Minister of State and every public representative who sits in this House will at some stage make representations to their local authority and to their planners. What will the planners say to them in return when they are making that observation on behalf of a constituent who wants to live in a particular area or wants to get planning permission? In my time the planners would hold up the piece of paper and say, \"That's the bible; you drew up the plan.\" This is why I ask the Minister of State to ensure that every possible advice is given to local authorities as well so that they will have a throughput into the make-up of a county development plan.  I will move on to the type and quality of housing that the Minister of State will preside over in the Department of housing. I ask him to please look at the size of the houses being built. I do not have a problem with apartments but I do have a problem with the size as a family grow. At the moment in our local authority, I will make representations, as I have done and always will do, for people who need a one-bedroom house. Again, the officials in the housing section of Laois County Council go on what is presented to them and the plan they have to work off. I will be told that where two people cohabitate or whatever, they would maybe get a two-bedroom house. A person with one child would get a two-bedroom house. As time progresses, however, all these people should be given the opportunity to move up to a three-bedroom or four-bedroom house, or whatever the case may be.  With regard to the housing we are building, I am very concerned about the amount of recreational space that is left available. I ask the Minister of State in his own good time, and maybe he knows it, to go back sometime and look at what happened in the Marian year in this country. The Government of the day took the initiative and thousands of houses were built. I would say that there is not a person in this House who does not have a \"Marian something\" in their area. The Minister of State should look at the quality of the houses. A green area was built around them, and if there was misbehaviour or anything, the lady of the house would knock on the window and say something.  I want to take this opportunity to thank the Minister of State and all his officials who have worked on the new plan. This is oxygen that has been given to people. I thank the Minister of State for the very good job he has done. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy John Cummins)  I thank all of the Deputies for their engagement in the discussion on this Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill. As I stated at the outset, the commencement and implementation of the Planning and Development Act 2024 is a key priority for this Government.  While I appreciate some of the concerns that have been raised about the length of the debate, we are going to conclude this debate ahead of the time that was allocated to it, and I am speaking to a practically empty Chamber. I suspect that this is not lost on most people who might be looking in.  It is my priority as a Minister of State to ensure that we have the timely commencement of the 2024 Act. That is why we need to ensure that the transitionary provisions that are provided for in this Bill are enacted before the summer recess. As I stated at the outset, I certainly hope that all Members will support those endeavours as we take this Bill through the Houses over the next couple of weeks.  I want to address some of the points that have been raised throughout the debate by Members. One area of concern that was raised by a number of Members relates to workforce plans and ensuring that we have sufficient planning staff within our local authority system. It is important to note that under the ministerial action plan on planning resources, 244 planning staff have been approved over the past number of years, including an additional 45 intern positions and another six members of staff for our regional assemblies, and I will continue to support the increased provision of staff within our local authority system and within our planning system overall. However, what I am trying to do as Minister of State is remove red tape from the planning system by introducing the likes of exemptions, and I know that provisions for modular housing were mentioned by one of the Deputies earlier. It is my understanding that these provisions were laid before the House today and will go to the Oireachtas committee on 14 July 2026, and I will sign those provisions shortly thereafter. I know they have been eagerly awaited by many people.  Removing red tape from the planning system will free up resources within our local authority staff, as well as the provision of the eplanning system, through which 80% of all applications are now being made, which is very welcome.  Section 138(a), on apartment standards, was mentioned and many Members spoke about the viability of apartment development. It is important to understand the difference between the construction of regular housing units and apartments. When a developer goes into the ground to develop an apartment complex, they have no out. They cannot release apartments in phases. They all have to be completed before they are ultimately approved, certified and released to the market. The changes and provisions that are provided for within this Bill ensure that we have a viable apartment sector. It is not about profitability. It is about ensuring that we delivery in terms of the apartment space.  In addition to that, we have made available the likes of the cro\u00ed c\u00f3naithe cities scheme. I note that one of the Deputies who raised viability measures also opposes the provision of the cro\u00ed c\u00f3naithe cities scheme, which is specifically intended to provide apartments for sale to individuals and families across our cities.  Parallel consent were raised by a couple of Deputies. It is, of course, the priority of this Government to ensure that we have parallel consenting permissions across Departments. It requires that technical work across all Departments. It is contained within the accelerating infrastructure task force recommendations and we are working on ensuring that they are in place before the end of the year.  A number of Members raised the judicial review process. I do not propose to reopen the discussion on this matter, which was dealt with in the 2024 Act. Many long debates were had at the Oireachtas joint committee, which I was a member of at the time, and in both the D\u00e1il and the Seanad. Importantly, the provisions in this Bill are about providing for decisions made under the 2000 Act post the commencement of this part of the Bill. It is taking what has already been legislated for under the 2024 Act and applying it to decisions that are going to made post the commencement of the provisions within this Bill.  On the move to ten-year development plans and the transitionary provisions provided for within this Bill, I spent 11 years on Waterford City and County Council and I respect and understand the importance of the role of local government. A local democracy task force implementation plan will be coming to Government shortly following the work done by the task force over a period of a year, and I thank its members for the work they put into that. The provisions of the ten-year development plans are important in ensuring that we have sufficient land zoned across this country and to ensure the transitionary provisions provided for are contained within this Bill. It puts a deadline of the end of next year in terms of the regional spatial and economic strategies. That is a hard deadline to ensure that there is alignment for the first batch of local authorities that will be progressing the reviews of their development plans by July of next year.  In terms of the key town provision, and I am sure this is something Deputies will take up on Committee and Report Stages, it is not about creating a two-tier planning system. It is merely about reflecting the number of towns that have populations above 10,000 and are not currently reflected in the regional spatial and economic strategies. They are key growth towns that have the capacity to provide further housing and opportunities, but certainly not at the expense of rural villages and towns. Members mentioned the rural national planning statement, which I published on Tuesday following Cabinet approval, and I thank people for their support in that respect.  Affordable housing was referenced. We have gone from a standing start a couple of years ago to having over 6,000 cost-rental units in the country.  The provisions relating to the Housing Finance Agency and what is provided for in this Bill will ensure the continuation of the funding provision arrangements that are in place. The purpose of the vacant site and RZLT provisions is to ensure that we do not have a double taxation element, and that in repealing one, we have the RZLT in place.  I agree with Members when they say that timely decisions are important. There are statutory timelines for decision-making within the 2024 Act. This Bill will allow the transitionary provisions to be brought forward in order to bring those statutory timelines into force. I acknowledge the significant work that has been done by An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la in reducing the number of cases on hand from over 3,600 to fewer than 1,300 cases last month. That is significant progress. Of course, we need to continue that, and the statutory timeline provisions are important.  I commend the Bill to the House and look forward to the Committee and Report Stage debates next week. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2026: Second Stage"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_35","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_35","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa)  I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case:  Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa - To discuss the ongoing industrial action at Oberstown.  Deputy Tom Brabazon - To discuss consolidation of leases from the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine to Howth Yacht Club.  Deputy Ruth Coppinger - To discuss the sudden closure of an English language school in Limerick.  Deputy Malcolm Byrne - To discuss the development of Bunclody Community College, County Wexford.  Deputy Louise O'Reilly - To discuss the need for the provision of bus transport to the Flavours of Fingal show.  The matters raised by Deputies Louise O'Reilly, Tom Brabazon, Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa and Ruth Coppinger have been selected for discussion. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_36","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_36","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_37","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Bus Services","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_36","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_36","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_37","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Frankie Feighan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  Ireland's largest summer festival will take place this weekend at Newbridge House and Farm in Donabate. The Flavours of Fingal is in its 14th year. It has been a hugely successful festival. It is one that I really enjoy going to every year. Many of my neighbours and people from my community also really look forward to it. It is a fantastic opportunity for local vendors such as cheese makers and craftspeople to showcase their wares. It is a big event in their calendar and of huge importance to our local economy, as well as just being a good day out for families and people in general.  Between 65,000 and 75,000 people attend, which makes it one of the biggest summer festivals. Part of the success of Flavours of Fingal has been the shuttle bus service that operates all around the Fingal area. It brings people from Rush, Lusk, Skerries, Balbriggan, Swords and the surrounding areas, and means they can get to and from the festival with ease. I do not expect the Minister of State to be familiar with every aspect of north County Dublin. Donbate is situated on a peninsula, which means one road in and one road out. It is very tight. What we do not want to see is people having a bad experience on their way to the festival. Also, from a sustainability and environmental perspective, I am scratching my head trying to understand why this money was pulled. I would love to know where the money was reallocated to, but more importantly, I really want people to be able to get to Flavours of Fingal easily and to get home easily. I know the vendors and the people who are there to showcase their products want that as well. This is a huge event and a huge day in their calendar. It is a day when people get the chance not just to make money, but also to showcase local talent and local produce.  Thousands of extra cars on the road means extra pollution, as the Minister of State knows, but it also means that people are less likely to get in. It is a real bottleneck. We have had trouble with traffic there, which is part of the reason the shuttle bus service was such a success. It is fine for people who live along the train line. The Minister of State will know there is a train line that runs right through my constituency. They will be grand because they are getting the train anyway. However, the vast majority of people who attend Flavours of Fingal do not live on the train line. As a result, they will find themselves in a situation where they have to travel by other means.  Added to this is the eye-watering cost of parking a car, which is \u20ac40. That is a lot. If someone is bringing a couple of kids, they will want to have a few bob to buy them an ice cream and to fully experience all the delights of the show, but they cannot add \u20ac40 on top of that. It is a real ask for families. We really want the Flavours of Fingal to continue to be the success story that it is, but without the shuttle buses, there is going to be traffic chaos. I do not want our big summer festival getting a name as a place that people do not want to go to because of traffic congestion.  I am not sure what can be done at this late stage. This matter raised previously in the D\u00e1il by my colleague Deputy Ann Graves. The Taoiseach told her, \"I will talk to people to see what can be done there.\u201d He also said, \u201cI will talk to the Minister and see what can be done.\u201d Perhaps the Minister of State has a message from the Taoiseach for us. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Frankie Feighan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (Deputy Frankie Feighan)  I thank the Deputy for raising this important topic, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Transport, Deputy O\u2019Brien. I would like to clarify that the Minister has responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport, but neither the Minister nor his officials are involved in the day-to-day operation of public transport services.  I am familiar with Loughshinny, Donabate, Rush and Portrane. My grandfather was the sergeant at Rush back in the 1940s, and my mother grew up there and went to school in Dublin. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  In that case, the Minister of State will know what I am talking about. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Frankie Feighan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Frankie Feighan  The National Transport Authority, NTA, has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public transport services nationally, working with the public transport operators that deliver the services and have responsibility for day-to-day operational matters. In this regard, while it is the NTA's priority to provide scheduled public transport services on the Transport for Ireland, TFI, network, it works with event organisers, operators, local authorities and An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na to provide additional transport supports where possible to do so. Its focus regarding events is providing additional transport to support large-scale events where required and where operators are in a position to provide additional services.  In the context of this specific event, Flavours of Fingal, which is arranged by Fingal County Council in Newbridge House in Donabate for this Saturday and Sunday, 4 and 5 July, the council has provided a private bus shuttle operation each year of this event, which was run by Marathon Coaches to Blanchardstown, Rush, Balbriggan, Swords and the Naul. However, this year, the NTA was informed that Fingal County Council withdrew from providing this bus shuttle service, which is outside the control of the NTA. This was a decision taken by the council, and it was fully removed from the NTA.  The NTA\u2019s priority this weekend will be to cover major events at Croke Park and the Aviva Stadium. If capacity on the rail network allows, Irish Rail will support Flavours of Fingal. The bus operators do not have any capacity to put on additional services to Donabate because they will be servicing other, larger events in the city centre. As the Deputy rightly said, there will be between 65,000 and 75,000 people there, so a shuttle bus would be needed. It has to be noted that all TFl operators, including Irish Rail, Dublin Bus and Go-Ahead Ireland, have just serviced nine concerts in Malahide Castle, which concluded on Tuesday, 30 June, last, in circumstances where they all provided significant additional resources for each of the concerts in the series. The NTA is not in a position to provide any further services at this time due to resource availability.  The NTA has a dedicated team that attends pre-event meetings in order to plan what additional transport can be provided. Co-ordinating transport across events in different local authority areas can be very challenging, especially at this time of year. For example, last week there were large events at the Aviva Stadium, Croke Park, Malahide and Marlay Park, all on the same day, which put constraints on services. Therefore, the challenge facing the NTA and the transport operators is the number of large-scale events being scheduled concurrently. The resources simply are not available to support them all because support for such events requires vehicles, drivers, support staff, site personnel and security teams, all of which have limited availability due to the normal workload associated with the scheduled services.  The Department of Transport requested that the NTA be included as a prescribed body in the draft regulations under the Planning and Development Act. This should assist the NTA in working with local authorities, event organisers and transport operators to ensure a more co-ordinated approach to event licensing and management of transport to and from events.  In addition to the specific transport provided for events, as part of the BusConnect's network redesign, the NTA has introduced 15 24-hour bus services across the city, significantly enhancing late night and early morning travel options. This has allowed more people to avail of public transport services. In addition, there are 12 Nitelink services running from the city centre to suburbs on Friday and Saturday nights, providing extra capacity during late-night demand periods. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  I thank the Minister of State for the reply. He will forgive me for saying it is an incredibly disappointing reply. Donabate is in the constituency of the Minister, Deputy O'Brien. I am sure his constituents will be very interested to hear that the NTA has other priorities, including Croke Park, Lansdowne Road stadium and Marlay Park, none of which is in Fingal. I appreciate that the Minister of State is taking this on behalf of the Minister. The Minister told us about Nitelink but he should know that Flavours of Fingal is over long before the Nitelink buses start running. In any event, it would have been of absolutely no use to people going to Donabate for what is one of the biggest events of the summer, attended by between 65,000 and 75,000 people.  My concern is that there will be traffic congestion, in the first instance, and a reduction in numbers. I have had contact from quite a number of people who told me they look forward to going to Flavours of Fingal and they and their kids travel on the shuttle bus because it is convenient and means they do not have to worry about parking. It is disappointing that the attitude of the Minister is that people can pay \u20ac40 for parking and other major events are on, which are more important. I am sure his constituents would like to feel like they were something of a priority for him. They will get that message loud and clear. Will the Minister of State take back to the Minister a request that engagement starts now to ensure there is additional capacity through the NTA, or whoever it is that has to provide it, to ensure that people can get to and from Flavours of Fingal using public transport? Effectively, and contrary to what the Government has told us about its climate action targets, people will be forced into their cars, which is regrettable. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Frankie Feighan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Frankie Feighan  I assure the Deputy that the NTA meets all public transport operators on a regular basis and advises event promoters about what, if any, additional public transport services are available for particular events. Some events are organised without any input or involvement from the NTA. As a result, the authority may not be aware of them until a very late stage. The NTA suggested that there may be a need for more scrutiny of transport availability when licensing such events, in particular when different local authorities licence events to take place concurrently or in close proximity to each other.  The Department has ensured significant collaboration is taking place with the NTA and operators so that sufficient public transport capacity is provided for major events. Again, I am not sure whether the Minister has a huge role in this. His job is to bring the NTA and various stakeholders together. For example, in the last week in respect of public transport we discussed Malahide, the Aviva stadium, Marlay Park and Croke Park. There have been many events in the city and the NTA has said it is difficult to service all of them.  The NTA is cognisant of the increased demand such events bring and is working to establish a co-ordinated framework that balances meeting demand and efficient co-ordination within existing resources. However, decisions by event organisers, such as in the case of Flavours of Fingal, is completely outside the control of the NTA and Department.  There has been huge growth in public transport use in recent years. The Government remains committed to ensuring that public transport continues to be affordable, reliable and an attractive option for all passengers, including those attending concerts and events. I will take the views of the Deputy back to the Minister.  Despite the council briefing elected officials, I have been told they were informed by management that hosting the full-scale Flavours of Fingal represented a significant cost to the council and cancelling the sprawling regional shuttle network was a direct measure to contain mounting festival expenses. It was stated that the events, transport and overall scale were being adjusted to free up funding for events elsewhere in Fingal following a request from other local councillors who wanted the festival budget to be distributed more evenly across the entire county rather than heavily concentrated on a single flagship event. The fight is never what the fight is about. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Bus Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_38","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Harbours and Piers","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_36","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_36","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_38","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tom Brabazon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Frankie Feighan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tom Brabazon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tom Brabazon  Howth Yacht Club caters for all types of people. One might think a yacht club is the preserve of the wealthy middle class but the club goes well beyond that and has ambitious plans to become an inclusive club catering for those less able and less fortunate than regular club members. Recently, the EPA granted a licence to dredge the harbour, which is a welcome development and the first time it will have been done since the 1970s. It is a great development for the harbour as a whole. It will necessitate the yacht club replacing its marine infrastructure, which is a very expensive operation. It will cost a large sum and the club will look to the State for grant funding from the large scale infrastructure fund.  Like all funding streams, one of the necessary proofs is having good title to the land that it occupies. The club has five leases from the Department of, Agriculture, Food and the Marine. To tidy up the title, the club hired a specialist solicitor to try to consolidate the leases to simplify the title in order to ease grant applications. The draft lease was sent to the Department in July 2024 and was forwarded to the Office of the Chief State Solicitor in August 2024. This work has still not been completed. We are two years on and the work needs to be finalised without further delay. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Frankie Feighan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Frankie Feighan  I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. The Department owns, operates and maintains six designated State-owned fishery harbour centres, located at Castletownbere, Dingle, Dunmore East, Howth, Killybegs and Ros An Mh\u00edl, under statute. It also has responsibility for Cape Clear, Cleggan and some piers, lights and beacons. Fishery harbour centres are established under the Fishery Harbour Centres Act 1968 as centres in which to promote, develop and carry out sea fishing, including the production and sale of fish and fish products and related activities.  Responsibility for the fishery harbour centres transferred to my Department in October 2007 from the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. Each fishery harbour centre owns land and properties within its respective boundary. Such properties, which are vested in this Department under the 1968 Act, are to be used for such purposes connected with the improvement and development of the fish industry and the provision, improvement and development of services ancillary to, or connected with, the fish industry. Therefore, the harbours contain a diverse property portfolio reflecting their role as working fishery harbours and the locations for a broad range of other marine activities.  There are currently 265 properties in total, excluding pier infrastructure, across six fishery harbour centres, 83 of which are located in Howth Fishery harbour centre. Almost 30% of all properties are used by the Department in the operation of the harbours, providing facilities for net mending, pier service areas, storage for fishing gear and weighbridges, for instance. The remaining properties are occupied by a variety of public and private sector tenants under formal lease agreement and are vital economically and socially to the remote and coastal communities that the fishery harbour centres serves. Some of the properties operate as commercial premises, such as fish processing facilities, restaurants or clubs and, for example yachting, rowing, and scout halls. Other properties reflect more functional aspects of the harbour such as car parking, marina and boat houses.  The Department works closely with the Office of the Chief State Solicitor to progress the often complex and protracted legal aspects relating to property leases. A solicitor is employed by the office at the Department\u2019s request to deal solely with the harbours\u2019 property portfolio, the cost of which is met from the Department\u2019s fishery harbour centre fund. While it is Department policy to not discuss individual leases publicly or with parties other than those immediately involved, I assure the Deputy that the Department and its legal advisers are actively working through the details and the drafting of the lease terms for the tenant concerned.  Due to the complexity of the multiple leases and the level of detail involved, the Department is carefully considering each aspect to ensure the terms are properly reviewed, accurately reflected and reflective of the current advice of the Chief State Solicitor's office. The Department is committed to giving the time necessary to ensure all terms are thoroughly reviewed and correctly addressed. I am informed that the consolidation is progressing steadily, with strong engagement with all stakeholders involved in the process. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tom Brabazon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tom Brabazon  I certainly would not be raising this issue in this public way in the Chamber if the matter were progressing in the manner the Minister of State has described. We have been waiting two years for the resolution of a consolidated lease in circumstances where the club's specialist hired solicitor has, in effect, done the work for the State. He has drafted the lease for the Department. It should take only a matter of hours for a competent solicitor to read through it and either approve it or suggest amendments. I would not be raising this issue on behalf of the club, two years on, if what the Department is claiming was factual. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Frankie Feighan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Frankie Feighan  I thank the Deputy for his measured approach. The process taking two years is reason enough for him to raise this important issue here. It is welcome that the Department maintains an open and proper relationship with the tenant and is always available to provide an update on progress or to address any queries. As recently as 25 June, the Department provided an email update to the tenant on the current progress. This was in addition to in-person meetings at Howth Fishery Harbour Centre on 26 May this year and 27 November 2025.  These matters often move more slowly than the parties would like. It is important to recognise that all due diligence must be completed thoroughly for the safeguarding of all involved. This is a commercially sensitive issue and aspects of it cannot be discussed publicly. The consolidation involves four leases that were taken out at different times, on different terms and with different clauses. As discussed, this is a process that requires significant due diligence. The Department is progressing the matter appropriately. I assure the Deputy that the matter is in hand and there is no risk to the tenant as all leases are well within their term, with the earliest expiration being a few years away. The Deputy has made some very interesting points. I will convey them to the Minister. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Harbours and Piers"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_39","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Industrial Disputes","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_36","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_36","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_39","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Frankie Feighan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I raise the issue of the industrial action being taken by staff at Oberstown Children Detention Campus. The facility looks after some of our most vulnerable children who have found themselves in a particular set of circumstances. Care is provided by social care workers and supervising officers both day and night. At maximum capacity, the centre can hold 42 boys and four girls. Since Thursday, 25 June, F\u00f3rsa members have been operating a work-to-rule measure after a ballot for industrial action received 91% support.  The easiest way I can explain the circumstances and situations that have led to the industrial action is to refer to statements from F\u00f3rsa. A union official has stated that the proposals put forward by management were \"not grounded in operational reality\" and did not adequately address the ongoing impact of staffing pressures on employees. It is all about safe delivery of services, including ensuring there is capacity and ensuring the safety of the people who work there and the young people detained there. F\u00f3rsa has stated:  Members have repeatedly raised concerns that staffing shortfalls are placing unsustainable pressure on services and increasing risks in a challenging custodial environment for children and staff alike. If it isn't safe for staff, it cannot be safe for the young people in their care.  That really is the crux of the matter. A union official has said: \"Members have previously reported serious incidents at the facility, including assaults on staff and injuries requiring hospital treatment, in circumstances where staffing levels were stretched and operational demands intensified.\" That is the situation with which we are dealing.  I am sure the Minister of State will talk about the State's industrial relations infrastructure and framework. However, the underlying issue at Oberstown arises from the problems with staffing capacity and the safety of those who work there. We have all heard about assaults that have happened previously. Like many others, I have heard from people working in the facility that there are huge issues that were not being addressed. It was no shock whatsoever to me that we got into a set of circumstances whereby we now have industrial action. What frightens me is that the industrial action continues and the issues have not been addressed. We can all talk about going through the correct protocols and procedures but we know there is the possibility of having conversations. If the underlying issues that caused the industrial action were dealt with, we would not be in this set of circumstances.  I have to hand figures for legal fees and associated State Claims Agency payments in recent years. The figure was \u20ac132,806 in 2020, \u20ac901,590 in 2021, \u20ac482,454 in 2022, \u20ac845,645 in 2023, \u20ac826,541 in 2024 and \u20ac861,807 in 2024. That points to the serious issues that need to be addressed. This is not good enough. I hope the Minister of State can provide a helpful answer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Frankie Feighan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Frankie Feighan  On behalf of the Minister for children, I thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue and affording her the opportunity to respond. The Minister would like to make clear at the outset that the safety and well-being of the children in the care of Oberstown, and of the staff who support them, is and will remain the highest priority. The Minister notes that Oberstown, as the employer, is engaging directly with staff representatives through the appropriate industrial relations mechanisms, including conciliation under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC.  The industrial action is ongoing and has not been stood down but there are efforts to maintain open lines of communication to resolve the matter. Engagement via conciliation at the WRC remains open to the parties. I understand that local engagement is scheduled for this coming Monday in an effort to find a way forward. The Minister respects the rights of workers to take industrial action. At the same time, continued engagement by all parties, including through established dispute resolution mechanisms, is encouraged in order to reach a resolution that is practical, sustainable and centred on safety.  Oberstown is the State's only national facility for the detention of children and, as such, it operates within wider pressures in the youth justice system. Demand for places has increased. In February 2026, the Minister informed the Oireachtas of her intention to increase the capacity for boys in Oberstown by four to 44 during the course of the year. At the end of March, she increased the capacity for boys at Oberstown to 42 from 40, at the same time reducing the capacity for girls from six to four. No decision regarding capacity is taken without a clear understanding of its implications for staffing levels, safety conditions and the overall care environment for the children. The staff and management of Oberstown have handled the change in the certified capacity with the professionalism and care that have become the hallmarks of the facility.  The Department has increased funding to Oberstown in recent years to support service delivery, strengthen operations and enhance the overall care environment for the children. That sustained investment reflects the Government's commitment to ensuring the campus is properly resourced. The Department is working closely with Oberstown management to ensure staffing levels are aligned with operational demands, workforce planning is strengthened and staff are appropriately supported in what is a highly challenging role. The Government provided \u20ac2.176 million in additional funding for Oberstown in 2026 to increase staffing levels, including funding for 11 additional whole-time equivalent staff posts. That includes additional day supervising officers, who are support staff, and assistant unit managers.  In the first six months of 2026, Oberstown has been successful in recruiting the majority of those extra staff despite tight labour-market conditions.  The safety and well-being of staff and young people in Oberstown Children Detention Campus is of the utmost importance to the Minister. The following details demonstrate how Oberstown cares for its staff. Staff in Oberstown are supported with access to an on-site psychologist, peer support workers, employee assistance services and structured after-incident reviews, forming part of a systemic approach to supporting well-being in a challenging workplace. All staff working with young people in Oberstown receive training in suicide prevention, self-harm mitigation and incident management. Oberstown has adopted the ISO 45003 certification on psychological health and safety at work. Furthermore, Oberstown maintains an ISO 45001 health and safety management system on campus. The health and safety officer in Oberstown works closely with all the staff and all incidents on campus are followed up as soon as possible. These measures demonstrate a commitment to ensuring the highest possible standards of staff safety, well-being and professional support. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I ask that the Minister of State go to the Minister, Deputy Foley, and reiterate the point that this issue, first of all, should not have got here. This is abject failure. We all accept that it would be a difficult place to work and there would be very difficult situations. We are talking about children whom a determination has been made to detain. It frightens me when we hear about assaults on staff and insufficient safety for those who work there and the children detained there. This is not working.  The only the only piece of positive news - and that is a bit of a stretch - is the fact that local engagement is scheduled for this coming Monday, in an effort to find a way forward. I ask that maximum effort be put into finding a solution to this and ensuring that we have a safe level of staffing and that we have the correct protocols for dealing with issues where there may be the possibility of violence and that we have the correct protections. We all know that on some level it is a societal failure when we are looking at children being detained in the first place. We all know that we have to put an awful lot more work into those early interventions and help for children and their families that could avoid if not all, then at least some of this. However, we need to ensure that we protect those who are working in what are very difficult circumstances. If they are not safe, it will be impossible for the children in their care to be safe. I have brought up this issue with the children's committee. I requested that there would be a site visit, but beyond that, there are many questions to be answered. We need to ensure we have the correct protocols for dealing with issues of assaults and ensure there are sufficient staff and protection for those working there and that we ensure safety in Oberstown. I ask the Minister of State to bring this back to the Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Frankie Feighan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Frankie Feighan  The Minister and I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue, which is a priority for the Department and I will bring his concerns back to the Minister. In the medium term, there has been a significant increase of \u20ac5.75 million in capital funding for Oberstown under the National Development Plan 2026-2030. This sustained investment reflects the Government's commitment to ensuring the campus is properly resourced and projects are under way that will alleviate occupancy pressures. However, in terms of the current dispute, the Department remains committed to supporting efforts to resolve the matter as quickly as possible and urges continued engagement through established industrial relations channels.  The safety and well-being of young people and staff at Oberstown remain the overall priority of the Minister and Oberstown management. In the context of the work-to-rule action, the Minister wishes to reassure the Deputy that the management has put in place contingency arrangements which will be monitored closely to ensure that essential services continue and that standards of safety are upheld. Since the certified capacity of Oberstown was amended in March, Department officials and Oberstown's management have been engaging intensively, including holding weekly meetings to monitor progress. The welfare of children in detention is a priority for the Oberstown management, who will ensure that children continue to receive appropriate care, supervision and support. They will also ensure that staff are protected and supported in their roles and that the campus always operates within safe parameters. I will end by wishing the parties well ahead of their engagement on Monday. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Industrial Disputes"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_40","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Language Schools","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_36","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_36","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_40","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  Student Campus college in Limerick suddenly closed last week, leaving hundreds of international students and staff in limbo. I was contacted by people in Limerick to raise this issue. Approximately 250 students were already studying in the school, with reports that over 300 additional students had paid fees before travelling to Ireland. Students were left with uncertainty regarding their education, tuition fees and immigration status. Student Campus college on the interim list of eligible programmes, ILEP, approved providers list. This list is provided by the Minister for justice for approved programmes. The school stated it had learner protection through an academy-plus arrangement with the trade organisation Progressive College Network. This is a type of insurance that if the school fails to offer courses, alternative arrangements will be made. There have been reports indicating that a plan is under way for the school to reopen under new ownership or management, with the aim of allowing students to finish the courses they have paid for. I do not know if the Minister of State has clarity on this. The school lost its PON status in June and no learner protection has been issued since May. It is unclear, going forward, how that will operate under new ownership. It is simply being stated that there is an emergency fund that existed from previous owners and a reliance on insurers doing the right thing.  Teaching staff have reportedly been offered their positions back if they teach under the temporary arrangements. Already, there are unpaid wages owed to teachers since the closure and there is a distrust from teachers about this school, with teachers saying they do not trust the organisation. There is still no clarity on the reopening date either, and whether all students will be accommodated or what options will exist for students seeking refunds and transfers.  There are broader issues here. Oversight of English language schools has been an issue for a long time, particularly regarding the adequacy of the learner protection arrangements and the safeguards for international students. These types of schools are invariably privately owned, with a lack of regulation in the sector. In May, 250 students in Monaghan were still asking for refunds from one of those schools after their reapplications for visas were rejected. What immediate steps is the Government taking to protect the students affected by the closure in Limerick? How exactly will the Government improve the English language school sector to ensure that international students are protected? The issue is not about this being a back door, which the Minister made a statement about recently. The implication was that some use the language schools to get visas. It is about ensuring that international students can be protected. God knows, many of their families will have scrimped and saved for them to come here to learn English and improve their lives.  What about the staff working in these schools? I know Unite The Union was making attempts to unionise staff following on from a previous closure. I would certainly encourage all workers to get involved in a union so that they have protection. What is the Government doing to stop this uncertainty for students and staff happening in the future? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Catherine Ardagh)  I thank the Deputy for her question. The students, prospective students and teachers are in a very difficult situation. What is really important now is that we have a clear information stream going to the students so they know what is going on. The Department is aware of the current issues regarding Student Campus college in Limerick. Officials in my Department and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science are monitoring the ongoing and evolving situation. They will provide information in relation to the status of any affected students' immigration permissions in due course.  I can advise the Deputy that in order for a non-EEA national student to register for a stamp 2 immigration permission, they must enrol in and commence a course of study from the interim list of eligible programmes. Education providers such as Student Campus college are required to have met certain standards and requirements to have their programmes included on the ILEP and be accredited by recognised Irish awarding bodies. All providers must remain in compliance with the relevant criteria to retain a listing on the ILEP. Instances of non-compliance may, and have, resulted in the removal of schools from the ILEP.  When a provider is listed on the ILEP, they are required to notify my Department of matters such as, but not limited to, any changes to the ownership of the school, any change in locations or additional centres, changes to their academic management or teachers, and student capacity numbers. It should be noted that the relationship between a student or agent and any education provider is private and contractual. My Department has no function in relation to disputes between students, agents and their education providers in seeking refunds, course transfers or other rebates. Having said that, I understand that the Department of further education is very much aware of the situation and I note from the Deputy's contribution that the standard of English-language courses and our reputation as a provider of such courses is of concern.  Additionally, I can inform the Deputy that the ILEP is being superseded by TrustEd Ireland, the international education mark launched in September 2024 by Quality and Qualifications Ireland and our colleagues in the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. TrustEd Ireland is a new statutory quality mark and part of a suite of legislative measures designed to further protect international learners. Once the ILEP is discontinued, only education providers granted authorisation to use the TrustEd Ireland mark will be eligible to recruit students from outside the EEA to English-language programmes, foundation programmes and higher education programmes leading to awards within the national framework of qualifications. The new mark will be awarded to higher education and English-language education providers that have demonstrated that they meet national standards. This will ensure a quality experience for international learners from pre-enrolment through to the completion of their programme of education and training. Applications are currently being reviewed for the first application cycle and we expect decisions to issue in the coming months. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  Maybe it is time that the State get involved in this rather than leaving it to any private individual or private company to set up a language school, take money off desperate people who want to come here and learn English, and then just go away with that money. The Minister of State has said there is no function for the Department here. I only got this answer handed to me as the Minister of State started reading it. It really would be helpful if we could get these replies in advance.  People were happy to take fees from international students and the moneys international students bring here, which is a significant amount. They pay rent and so on. However, there does not seem to be any checks of whether these schools have reserves of funds - for example, to pay staff wages - or whether there is something like a sinking fund. Are there no checks and balances that can be done?  This is not the first time. Student Campus college is not a new offender. There was a report that an Algerian man is owed \u20ac2,137, has been waiting 14 months and still has not gotten it back. What does the Minister of State's Department do when complaints like that are made? The school is allowed to continue to operate and advertise itself as a provider. As the Minister just said, Ireland has this great reputation for English-language tuition.  There seems to be light-touch regulation again and again by this Government. The way the system is structured is leading to this as well because we know people have to register at a school and then apply for the visa. There is an incentive there. I am not saying this is the case with Student Campus college, by the way, to quickly clarify that. However, people who are not honest brokers could set up a business, get money from people and then exploit them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Ardagh  I note the Deputy's points. We cannot allow profiteering on foot of students whose families have made huge sacrifices to send them to Ireland to learn English. The new TrustEd Ireland quality mark will hopefully provide a better regulated environment for providers so that when people are coming to Ireland they will be able to come here with the assurance that their college will be well accredited and from that will flow the stamp 2 visas in the correct format.  Obviously, my Department has responsibility for immigration matters solely. Any sort of contractual disputes in relation to providers would have to be dealt with in a different forum. I fully appreciate that any students affected are seeking certainty at what is undoubtedly, especially for students already in Ireland, a very difficult time. I assure the Deputy that my Department is continuing to monitor the situation closely.  As I have outlined, all education providers with programmes listed on the ILEP are required to have learner protection insurance arrangements in place as part of their criteria for inclusion on the list. These arrangements are intended to provide protections for learners where a provider is unable to deliver a programme as planned.  More broadly, the transition from ILEP to TrustEd Ireland represents a significant strengthening of the quality framework for international education in Ireland. As this new framework is implemented over the coming months, it will further strengthen confidence in Ireland's international education sector while ensuring that students can continue to choose Ireland knowing that appropriate quality assurance and learner protection measures are in place. I thank the Deputy again for raising this matter today. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Language Schools"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-02\/debate\/dbsect_41","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2020\/26","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2020\/26\/dail\/2","houseCode":"dail","stage":"2","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Animal Health and Welfare (Ban on Hare Coursing) Bill 2020: Second Stage [Private Members] (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Animal Health and Welfare (Ban on Hare Coursing) Bill 2020: Second Stage [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":39,"speakerCount":10},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_41","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niall Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"William Aird","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  I move: \"That the Bill be now read a Second Time.\"  It is an honour to finally be moving this at Second Stage after the Animal Health and Welfare (Ban on Hare Coursing) Bill was first introduced in 2020. It has been a long road getting to this point. This section of the road will finish next Wednesday with a vote. I will start and finish with an appeal to the public to get on to their TDs and demand they reflect the big majority opinion in this country that we should take this opportunity to ban hare coursing.  This road has been going on for a very long time. This is the third Private Members' Bill to attempt to ban the barbaric practice of hare coursing. Tony Gregory tried over 30 years ago. Maureen O'Sullivan introduced her Bill in 2015 at First Stage and it was voted on at Second Stage in 2016. Now, here we are again, ten years later in 2026 as one of only three European countries that still allow this annual torture of the hare to continue.  In the last 15 years, more than 65,000 Irish hares have been captured from the wild and forced to participate in barbarism all because a relatively small number of people enjoy watching animals being absolutely terrorised and some want to make money through gambling on this torture. The Irish hare is a unique subspecies of mountain hare found only on the island of Ireland. We do not have many unique animals but the hare is one of them. Its cultural status was cemented for many decades on the old Irish three pence coin. It is iconic across Irish folklore where hares were often seen as spirits of the dead, leading to a taboo against eating them. We could do with renewing and broadening that ancient taboo by banning hare coursing too.  We would not be here at this step of the road, debating this today, without the tireless and Trojan work of the Irish Council Against Blood Sports, the National Animal Rights Association and the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Some of their tireless activists are in the Visitors Gallery today. Countless dedicated individual activists have stuck with this day in, day out over many years. They are the best of humanity. They know what empathy is. Those who support this cruelty do not.  In the last while we have seen Elon Musk, JD Vance, and other leading figures on the US far right denouncing empathy and declaring war on empathy. Musk has claimed that \"the fundamental weakness of Western civilization is empathy\" and suggested that there is an \"empathy exploit\". Others are going so far as to talk about the sin of empathy. The vast majority of ordinary people will rightly think that this is bananas, and that we have plenty of empathy because empathy is a fundamental part of what makes us human.  It allows us to feel solidarity with other human beings, including people we do not know, who we have never met or do not look like us, and to empathise with animals, like the Irish hare. Empathy is our natural reaction when we see videos of greyhounds ten times the size and weight of hares smashing into terrified hares, throwing them up into the air, pinning them to the ground and hurting them. Instinctively, we feel for the hare. All of the waffle we have heard in the debates in the media and that we will presumably here today from the Government benches about rural pursuits is to try to cover up and suppress that instinctive human response. The Government and Sinn F\u00e9in TDs know that in their heart of hearts too. I know many of them would vote to ban this barbaric practice if they were not being whipped into voting for it to continue.  We saw with Sinn F\u00e9in a few months ago on the issue of fox hunting that TDs were whipped to vote against a ban and then shortly afterwards, thankfully, the Sinn F\u00e9in Ard-Fheis voted in favour of a ban. I suspect the same breakdown of a vote at a Sinn F\u00e9in Ard-Fheis would happen now in a ban on hare coursing. Sinn F\u00e9in members would vote in support of a ban on hare coursing. There are very few people who would support fox hunting and oppose hare coursing or vice versa . If that is the position, and we will see what the position is, that is not a position that would please anybody. Sinn F\u00e9in needs to stand up and make the right decision, which is to ban hare coursing here, just as it is already banned in the North. There should be no more partitionism on this. Hare coursing in this country is a legacy of British colonialism introduced here by the British Army.  To all those TDs who privately support a ban on hare coursing but will troop through the voting lobbies or, more likely, press the buttons at the seats to vote against a ban, all they really have is the coward's defence. They are just following orders. I hope that, at the very least, they will try to persuade their party leaderships that these orders go against public opinion and that a free vote should be granted. The public out there is overwhelmingly opposed to hare coursing in both rural and urban areas. There is not an urban-rural divide on this issue despite the attempts to turn it into some sort of culture war issue. In fact, the Red C opinion poll on hare coursing, which found that 77% of people were opposed to hare coursing, actually showed a slightly higher percentage of people in rural areas opposed to it than those urban areas. It was some 78% in rural compared with 76% in urban. Support for a ban in Munster, the supposed stronghold of hare coursing, was 77%, compared with 76% in Dublin.  The Minister of State should not come out and tell me that rural people are the only ones who know about coursing and that they want it to continue, when the evidence suggests that, yes, they do know about it but precisely because of that, they want it to be stopped, because they have been more personally exposed and know the realities of the horrors of this so-called sport. The truth is, the vast majority of Irish people want hare coursing banned. Only 9% in the Red C opinion poll opposed a ban, or fewer than one in ten people. It has been banned in the North for over 20 years, since 2003, on conservation grounds as well as the appalling cruelty. The Assembly then voted to make the ban permanent in 2010. The National Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, NSPCA, supports a ban. The Irish Wildlife Trust supports a ban. The NSPCA is the foremost authority on animal welfare in this country and it should be listened to by the Government.  The supporters of hare coursing may prove to be a majority in this House but they are a tiny minority of the population. It speaks to how out of touch this place is with public opinion. What is happening here is the same thing that has happened with fox hunting. A well-connected minority that wants bloodsports to continue, that enjoys making animals suffer and making money out of it, is the tail that is wagging the dog and the result is all sorts of spurious arguments that we will hear. One of those is that because coursing has gone on for a long time, it is somehow all right. The same was true of badger baiting, wild animals in circuses and fur farming, all of which have been rightly banned in this country. We do not have to accept a lazy appeal to tradition for one minute.  It is worth noting, again from that Red C poll from 2019, that over 85% of over-65s supported a ban, higher than the average support for a ban of 75%. Any notion of a generational divide rooted in tradition is complete nonsense. Just because this cruelty has gone on for a long time does not make it right. In fact, it makes it all the more outrageous because it means the scale of the suffering caused to these beautiful animals over decades is truly enormous.  Another baseless claim put out by the Irish Coursing Club and its supporters is that coursing areas have significantly higher hare populations than other areas and that this means, somehow, that coursing protects hares. The mechanism through which this causative link happens is not really explained but, somehow, capturing a load of hares from the wild, putting them into captivity and terrorising them is apparently good for hare conservation. The origin of this claim is a tiny sample of 135 hares taken in a small area of east Donegal way back in 2003, which was then compared with a sample of hares in another part of the country four years later in 2007, and then extrapolated to the whole country to say that hares are 18 times more common in coursing areas than non-coursing areas. To be blunt, this is junk science.  Coursing advocates also claim that coursing does not really hurt because the greyhounds now wear muzzles. This is also fake news. First, there is the stress of being hunted with nets, captured and put into crates and held in captivity for months. Unlike rabbits, hares are solitary animals, so being kept in confinement with multiple other hares is extremely stressful and unnatural for them. During those months, they are trained, which causes them more stress and terror. Then, you have the coursing meeting itself. Two dogs race to see which is the fastest to turn, pin or catch the hare, within which more than 4% of hares are killed. Many more are seriously injured. If they survive all of that, they are much more likely to die after being released back into the wild than hares that have not been coursed.  A study funded by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, although used by the supporters of hare coursing, followed up coursed and uncoursed hares. The bottom-line finding was that after six months, it could find only one out of 20 coursed hares alive, compared with eight out of 20 uncoursed hares. Even if you are one of those rare psychopaths like Elon Musk, who is devoid of human empathy and does not care about the suffering of other living creatures, it is possible, although perhaps unlikely, that you might still care about biodiversity and the survival of the ecosystems upon which we all depend to survive. That is unless you are Elon Musk and you are planning to head off to Mars.  For anyone concerned about biodiversity, the impact of coursing on the Irish hare population----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Louise O'Reilly)  Deputy, can you refrain from describing people as psychopaths, le do thoil? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  Even Elon Musk? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Louise O'Reilly)  Even Elon Musk. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  I cannot call Elon Musk a psychopath. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Louise O'Reilly)  You can keep saying it over and over again but I have asked you not to. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  If you cannot say that, what can you say? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Louise O'Reilly)  I have asked you to keep in line with the Standing Orders. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  Thank you. I will keep going. For anyone concerned about biodiversity, the impact of coursing on the Irish hare population should be a major concern. A National Parks and Wildlife Service study indicates an eight times lower survival rate for hares after they are released from coursing. That is a significant additional stressor on wild hare populations, which are already in decline, along with most of our other native species. Those involved in the practice of coursing and capturing the hares each year know that. Every year, they are capturing fewer and fewer hares to be terrorised. When I first introduced this Bill, I was talking about over 5,000 captured per year. Now it is over 3,000 captured per year.  One report of a coursing meeting in Roseberry, County Kildare, in December 2024 said that only two hares ran, with hare stocks low that year. Data from the Irish Coursing Club show this steep decline in the number of captured hares. Ten years ago, 5,348 hares were caught, compared with 3,124 in 2025 and 2026, a fall of 41%. Coursing was first halted in the North in 2002 because of evidence that hare populations there had declined by 25%, yet here in the South, it is allowed to continue seemingly no matter what.  Of course, there are lots of reasons hare numbers are falling. The intensification and industrialisation of agriculture has increased the use of heavy machinery that can kill and injure hares. There are also much greater numbers of dairy cattle in particular and a reduction in the natural variety of grasses for hares to eat, due to the limited varieties of grasses being sown to increase milk yields. On top of that, rabbit haemorrhagic disease, RHD, has ravaged rabbit and hare populations across Europe, with a new, more deadly strain, rabbit haemorrhagic disease variant two, RHD2, first detected in England and Wales in 2014.  One would think that all of that might have prompted at least a temporary ban to protect this supposedly protected species. That is one of the ironic things about this - the law says that hares are a protected species but, in turn, it goes on to say that people can get a licence to capture and chase after them with big dogs. Of course, the gambling, coursing and greyhound industries took precedence. They will be the final nail in the coffin for many hares.  I have heard today for the first time the claim that the industry is worth \u20ac70 million annually to the Irish economy. I am intrigued about that. This may come up in the debate, but I will ask it in advance. Where does that figure come from? I looked online but could not find any source for it. The greyhound industry is usually said to be worth \u20ac120 million, and there is creative accounting happening with that figure, too. I do not understand where this figure of \u20ac70 million comes from or what study is being referred to. I suspect there is more creative accountancy that takes no account of the damage caused to families and communities by the scourge of gambling and gambling addiction.  I point out that the Bill is explicit in allowing lure coursing, which is where there is a mechanical hare, as happens in Australia.  I will finish with two points. The first is an appeal to Members of this House to put pressure on their parties to fight for a free vote and, in any case, to vote with their conscience. They should not vote to allow this cruel practice to continue. Second, I appeal to those outside of this House, namely, the ordinary, decent people, both rural and urban, who oppose this practice. The vote will be next Wednesday. We have time to build more pressure on TDs and parties to take this opportunity to stop hare coursing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niall Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Niall Collins)  I convey the apologies of the Minister, Deputy Heydon, who is unable to attend. I am taking the debate on behalf of the Government.  I wish to clearly state at the outset that the area of animal welfare is of the utmost importance to me, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Government as a whole. Our Department devotes considerable resources to protecting the well-being of animals and dealing with breaches of animal welfare legislation. The Government remains fully committed to promoting good practices that respect the welfare of all animals.  The Government fully recognises the strong views on both sides of this debate and policy area, which have been the subject of extensive debate over the years. On behalf of the Government, I am opposing the Animal Health and Welfare (Ban on Hare Coursing) Bill 2020. I will now outline the reasons. During the passage of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, a detailed debate was held in this House on the issue of hare coursing. The D\u00e1il voted overwhelmingly to allow the continuation of hare coursing in accordance with certain rules. The 2013 Act in particular states that the hare can only be coursed in a space from which it has a reasonable chance of escape. If a hare is chased in a space where it has no reasonable chance of escape, it violates section 12 of the Act and constitutes a criminal animal cruelty offence. Where a specific case of animal neglect or cruelty is identified, offences may be prosecuted under the 2013 Act. When the Act was enacted, it significantly increased the penalties. On summary conviction, this may include a class A fine of up to \u20ac5,000 and, in some instances, a class A fine and-or up to six months' imprisonment. On indictment, it may include a fine of up \u20ac250,000 and or imprisonment up to five years.  I will now turn to the existing legislative and regulatory framework. Regulated muzzled coursing, operated chiefly by the Irish Coursing Club, exists under a significant and overlapping statutory framework that includes: the Wildlife Acts 1976 to 2018, the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, the Wildlife (Wild Mammals) (Open Seasons) Order 2005, the Greyhound Industry Act 1958, and Irish Coursing Club rules, directives and guidance notes. Coursing licences carry 44 separate conditions overseen by the National Parks and Wildlife Service. Coursing meetings are supervised by the National Parks and Wildlife Service to ensure compliance with the 44 conditions associated with section 32 and 34 licenses issued by the Minister of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Browne. A panel of pre-coursing inspectors, selected for hare expertise, inspects every club in advance of a meeting and issues a certificate to course only where standards are met, with hares examined by a veterinary surgeon before, during and after every meeting. A monitoring committee on coursing is in place, comprising officials from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the Irish Coursing Club and the National Parks and Wildlife Service, to monitor developments in coursing. In that regard, the situation is kept under constant review to ensure that coursing is run in a controlled manner.  Hares are legally protected under the Wildlife Act. Catching and tagging of a hare requires strict adherence to conditions. It is illegal to catch and tag hares outside of the licensed coursing and tagging season. Additionally, hares cannot be caught using unapproved nets or within restricted areas. No hare must be coursed more than once on the day. Hares that appear sick, injured or pregnant while in captivity may not be coursed.  With regard to the scientific evidence, a 2023 study commissioned by the National Parks and Wildlife Service on survival, movements, home ranges and dispersal of hares after coursing found no significant difference in observed mortality, movement patterns, home range sizes or dispersal distances between coursed and uncoursed hares released back into the wild. A separate population study found 18 times more hares in areas managed by coursing clubs than in the wider countryside, which is direct evidence that coursing clubs' habitat management has a measurably positive effect on hare populations. The current hare casualty rate at coursing meetings is below 0.5%, down from 15.8% prior to the introduction of muzzling in 1993. In the 2025-26 season, 99.38% of the 3,020 hares netted were released back into the countryside. The Irish hare is currently assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, IUCN, as being \u201cof least concern\u201d. The most recent EU habitats directive report in 2019 found the conservation status of the species to be favourable and stable, comparing favourably with the majority of the other 68 protected species assessed.  I will comment on the economic and social contribution to rural Ireland. In 2022, an independent economic analysis estimated that coursing contributed approximately \u20ac70.7 million annually to the Irish economy, the vast majority of which directly benefited rural communities, with \u20ac37.9 million attributable to the life cycle of the coursing greyhound itself. The sector receives no State funding and is entirely self-resourced through club fundraising, membership and voluntary effort.  Coursing provides a strong social function for rural communities, particularly for older members during winter months. A ban would remove this voluntary activity and community infrastructure without replacing it. Regulated coursing under the Irish Coursing Club has continued for over 100 years, with individual rural coursing clubs operating across generations and membership often passed down through families and communities for well over a century. Coursing provides a structured introduction to animal care and responsibility for young people. Training a coursing greyhound and looking after hares exposes young people to the practical realities of animal husbandry on a consistent and daily basis.  We are opposing the Bill. We do not do government by referendum or opinion poll findings, as quoted by Deputy Murphy. We take a structured and regulated approach to this and other issues. While it is a minority pursuit, it does not mean it cannot continue. Under this Government, it will continue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Louise O'Reilly)  I thank the Minister of State. I call Deputy Aird. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"William Aird","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy William Aird  I have listened with interest to the debate. I hear exactly what is being said but I stand here as a person who has a great interest in the hare. The hare has been a part of our heritage since long back, as both speakers said. The hare was on the old threepence coin. It can be seen in many pictures in many places throughout the island of Ireland. As a person who farms and likes land, and loves all kinds of animals in the wild, what I have observed with the hare is illegal hunting by people who have no concern for its preservation and are using new devices. A debate like today\u2019s is one-sided against people - the only ones out there besides conscientious people - and I take umbrage when farmers are mentioned as sowing grass seed which is affecting the hare population. That is totally untrue. The eating of grass does not affect the hare and I can be a witness to that; I have seen it. With my leisurely pursuits whenever I get the time I love to be in the countryside. We fail to mention the natural habitats which are there for the hare, such as bogs where hares really thrive.  Many is the time I stood to watch the hare. It is a beautiful animal to see running. There is nothing I see with the hare more than the pleasure of a hare when it sees a dog when people are out walking. If the dog pursues it, any owner who is ever in the countryside will see it has a natural route out of its habitat and what it will do is take the animal pursuing it - it does not have to be a dog, it could be a fox \u2013 around the place and exhaust it. The hare goes out to its natural footpath and then it will stand up on its hind legs and look back, as if to say \u201cI have you finished\", and off it will go. The animal pursuing it could be lying flat on the ground exhausted. I have seen that numerous times. The Deputy is laughing but I would like to know how many times he has been in the rural parts of Ireland - his rural pursuits - watching this.  If it was not for the people looking after the hares there would be far fewer of them because of the illegal netting going on. They illegally pursue with specially-bred dogs which have speed and follow hares, sometimes under the cover of darkness. I have seen it. I have witnessed it. These are not people who look after the hare, who go out and make sure when nobody else is interested that illegal hunting is not taking place and report it to the garda\u00ed when they do see it. Only recently there was a big article in the paper stating that fines are only \u20ac250. What deterrent is that for anybody who is going out intentionally to kill a beautiful animal like a hare?  I would like the people putting this Bill forward to look at this issue. There is a preserved bird called the buzzard. I personally have nothing against the buzzard. It is lovely. For people who might not know it, it spreads its wings and you can hear it calling. However, I have witnessed on at least ten occasions the buzzard dropping down and picking up a little leveret, which is a young, small hare. It is able to catch it with its eyesight. No-one else could. A person could be walking beside a leveret and it will not move but the buzzard is able to catch it. It will swoop to the ground. I have seen it, it is awful. It picks the little leveret up, goes up like a rocket, and drops it. When the leveret goes down it is either stunned or dead. This happens in a couple of seconds. The buzzard picks it up and it is gone. I do not want to see that but I have seen it a few times. I would like those involved - and they do great work, those who list birds and animals which cannot be hunted so they do not become extinct \u2013 to look at the buzzard. While we want to preserve it and I want to preserve it - I do not know enough about the buzzard - it is wreaking havoc in the countryside on the small, young hare. That is all I can say.  I have no problem saying I acknowledge the work those clubs do in preserving and watching the hare. They are watching because they know they are looking at an animal that is in this country for as long as we have existed. There are fewer of them, but why? I would like an answer. We can see that less than 1% is due to what is happening in the debate being presented here today. I ask somebody to please look into the overall picture and find out the real reason our hare population is going down. I acknowledge that is happening and I support all the studies which go into it. We find ourselves seeing fewer and fewer of the curlew, corncrake, and all of the other birds which at one time we saw frequently. We come along and ask if it is because we are building houses in rural areas. I saw a debate one night about that. It has nothing to do with that. We need to go back and see what the root problem is when animals like that go extinct. If we are going to have a debate we should not have one where the issue is being blamed on one particular set of people who, in my opinion, are looking after the hare. We should look at the wider picture and then come back to a debate when there is proof. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  I thank Deputy Murphy for bringing this Bill forward. It is important that we have a debate on these issues. It is an issue that needs further scrutiny and we need to look into it, but from a Sinn F\u00e9in perspective, we will not be supporting the proposal. While we recognise that there are of course always issues when it comes to sports of this nature where there can be abuse and animals can be the victims of cruelty and we need to ensure that does not happen, hare coursing is highly regulated. We recognise that as well. Those regulations are well-adhered to and people look after the animals very well.  On keeping greyhounds, people mentioned it is not an urban-rural issue, and it certainly is not. There are many people in urban Ireland who keep greyhounds and have a huge interest in this area as well, but this is specifically about the coursing of the hare. I hear stories of hare coursing in my community going back many years where people have had an interest in this particular pursuit or whatever people want to call it. I do not particularly have an interest in it but there are many who do and are very aware that one has to be very careful to ensure the animal is not hurt on either side, whether it be the greyhounds or other dogs involved, or the hare.  We also recognise - this is a big part of it for me - that when we ban something like this or have a situation where we try and stamp it out completely, it goes underground and would continue in a way that was not regulated with no vets involved and no assurance that there would be any sense of making provisions so that cruelty could not happen. Hares, when caught, might not be treated and released properly. These things would not come under regulation. That is one of the fears I have. In other jurisdictions where there are bans in place, there are huge problems with underground and illegal hunting and coursing. That is a big issue we also need to bear in mind.  That said, the Minister of State mentioned it was 2013 when there was previously a substantive debate on this issue. It is time for the Minister and the Department to look at having a commission to look at this issue and examine how effective these regulations are, how well they are working, and whether there are issues which need to be dealt with, if improvements can be made, and if so, whether recommendations can be made.  In the context of the debate we are having here, while I absolutely understand where this particular Bill is coming from, it is not appropriate at this point to do that without having a proper examination of the situation. The big danger is that if we ban something, we will drive it underground and make the situation far worse, both for the animals concerned, namely, the hares, but also for the greyhound industry as well. That would be a detrimental thing to happen. From that perspective we will not be supporting the Bill but we will encourage the Minister to consider putting a commission in place to examine it and have the relevant expertise in place to ensure that we can perhaps make changes to the regulations if necessary. I do not know whether they are necessary or not.  I take on board that the issues that have been brought forward by Deputy Murphy and others need to be listened to. If there are people out there who have strong voices and opinions in this regard, we need to listen to them. I am sure also that on the other side of it we will have people who are engaged in these particular activities who will have equally strong views as to how well the regulations are working. It is probably time that we looked at having some kind of proper independent examination of how this is working, or not working, as the case may be. If changes or some level of improved regulations need to be put in place they should be considered. A ban is not the way forward to deal with this situation.  In many of these situations, these things fade away in many areas. In some rural areas they were a big pursuit 30 years or 40 years ago and they are not any more. They still are in some areas of the country and in those areas we need to examine it and ensure that we have adequate regulations in place and that they are adhered to and properly enforced. We all have a responsibility to ensure that animal cruelty does not happen. At the same time, we also have a responsibility to ensure that we do not create situations that make animal cruelty worse. Bringing in a blanket ban of that nature could give rise to such a danger. That is why I would encourage the Minister of State to consider speaking to the senior Minister in respect of it, and that we would look at having a commission in place to examine this and to report back and to see if recommendations are required. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  Some 77% of Irish people favour a ban on hare coursing. The reason they want to see a ban on hare coursing is, simply put, that it is cruel. It is completely unnatural to pull a wild animal from their environment, to cage it for weeks and put it out in front of a greyhound and essentially let it run for its life. To do that and to call it a sport is probably one of the things that I have most difficulty with. We need to have a conversation about it. I have been listening to the debate. We need to have a conversation about natural, ecological processes in this House versus human intervention and using wild animals and being cruel to them for entertainment. The reason we have buzzards hunting hares is because they are meant to. They are part of the system. They are part of the food web. The buzzard plays an equally important role in that food web as the hare plays. We do not want, if at all possible, to interrupt that process. What is not part of the natural ecological process is for humans to go out and pluck these hares, which are solitary beings, and to cage them with a number of other hares in a completely unnatural environment and then to stress them by getting them chased by dogs and have them fear for their lives.  Earlier on it sounded like Government TDs were saying that the hare actually enjoys this; this is what they were built for; they love it; they really enjoy going out onto the course and trying to avoid the dog. That is just a ridiculous concept. Of course they do not enjoy being chased and fearing that they are going to be eaten. In this House we need to really start thinking about what should happen naturally and what should not happen; what we accept as a country and what we are going to stand up and say we do not accept. We do not accept a situation where, for the entertainment of a very small minority of the population, we are going to allow this cruel activity to happen. It is unnatural and it is unnecessary. The sport can continue if we put in an alternative, such as the lure. If people want the greyhound industry to keep operating and people to be able to go down and enjoy seeing greyhounds chase something, let it chase the lure. Why does it need to be a live animal? How can anyone possibly get pleasure or entertainment from that?  I had a quick look at the Facebook page of the Minister of State, Deputy Collins. I really appreciate that he was sharing posts about protecting our dogs in this heat and making sure they have enough water. Would he be happy if his family puppy or cat were being chased around by greyhounds so that other people could bet on them? These are living creatures. The Minister of State is laughing at me now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niall Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Niall Collins  I am not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  That is ultimately what it is about. As Deputy Paul Murphy said earlier----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niall Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Niall Collins  That is a nonsense comparison. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  Why is it a nonsense comparison? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  Just stay quiet and listen. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  Why is it a nonsense comparison? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Louise O'Reilly)  The Minister of State should allow the speaker to continue. There is no space for back and forth here. He should please allow the speaker to continue without interruption. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niall Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Niall Collins  Through the Chair, it is a nonsense comparison. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  This is what it comes down to - it comes down to empathy, as Deputy Murphy said earlier. It comes down to whether we can look at a wild creature and feel that we should not torture it or inflict any level of pain or stress where we can avoid it. I am not talking about hunting for food purposes or any of that. I am talking about hunting for sport. For creatures like the hare, I just do not understand how anyone can be happy that their entertainment is worth more than putting a creature like that through a level of pain. I do not think it is a ridiculous argument to compare it to a domestic animal. I really do not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niall Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Niall Collins  Well I do. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  I know the Minister of State does. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Louise O'Reilly)  The Deputy should be allowed to speak without interruption. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  What it all comes down to is a level of empathy and what we consider to be acceptable in society and what we do not.  I also want to respond to the argument about driving it underground if we do not allow it to continue. It is incredible, but in no other circumstances do we hear the argument that something is wrong but we are going to allow it to continue because if we do not, criminals will continue it any way. That is essentially what Deputy Kenny is saying. That makes absolutely no sense. If it is wrong, we deal with it; we ban it. We do not say we are not going to ban it because then we are just going to force it all underground.  I completely agree with Deputy Aird. Illegal hunting is awful. Yes, we absolutely should deal with it, but let us deal with it. We do not say we are going to allow this to happen but this is awful activity on this side because it is illegal, while the legal activity is okay, because it is not. It is all cruel. He seems to enjoy his environment and appreciates looking at it but what is missing is the piece where he can connect with what an animal is feeling and whether we are inflicting pain or terror on the animal. As a nation I wish that we would start to put our principles at the forefront of what we do and ensure that we just do not tolerate any cruelty. That is what the public want. That is what voters want. I can never understand how issues like this, the fox-hunting Bill or the legislation on puppy farms get the support of the Government. It is not a rural-urban thing. There is a very small minority of people in this country who want those kinds of activities to be going on  For some reason, the Government has their back and continues to fight for that small minority, when governments all over the world are recognising that this is not something that modern society should be involved in. The Government and, unfortunately, Sinn F\u00e9in in opposition are also supporting it. I honestly do not know who is in the Government's ear or how their lobbying is so strong that it continues to defend the indefensible when it comes to animal cruelty. I really hope that over the next week every person out there, the 77% of the population of the Republic who oppose this, writes to their TDs and expresses their voice on this. What we need is for that voice to be heard in this Chamber, and not the voices of the very small minority of people who are making money from this or gaining whatever benefit they gain - I do not understand it - and that it is not those people dictating what happens in this Chamber and dictating our legislation. The majority of people want to see reforms in this area and want a Government that has empathy and will not tolerate animal cruelty. I hope that those people make their voices heard and that the Government listens.  I know there are some TDs in Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael who do not agree with hare coursing and I ask that they be given an opportunity to express their opinion, to represent their constituents and their values. It would be very unfair to expect someone to vote against this Bill when it goes against every grain of integrity or every principle they have when it comes to animal cruelty. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  Is as an gcathair dom. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 sin soil\u00e9ir. Tr\u00e1th d\u00e1 raibh, \u00e1fach, bh\u00ed giorriacha in Dollymount Beach. When we look back at the hare and how it has evolved on our island since the Ice Age, with the retreat of the ice caps, giorria, fia, the small deer, it is intrinsically linked to our culture. The hare featured on our old currency. It is a beautiful animal but, sadly, there has not been any on Dollymount Beach in my constituency since 2017 or 2018, due to illegal lamping and the illegal use of vicious dogs. The two golf clubs on the island loved the hares, as opposed to the rabbits, because they did not burrow on the golf courses.  I thank Deputy Paul Murphy. I fundamentally disagree with him a lot of the time but I do agree with him on this issue. I welcome the fact that he mentioned an Independent TD. It is good to see that he thinks some of them are good. Tony Gregory was a proud Dubliner, a man who raised this issue back before there was lobbying and an online world, and before the survey was done showing 77% oppose coursing. He also understood the power of being inside the tent, so I recommend that. He was also sadly defeated when he brought this issue up. Some 33 years on, we are still here. I thank Deputy Murphy for raising it, too. We hear Deputies from across the House say we should allow Teachta\u00ed D\u00e1la to express their opinion on this matter, this barbaric killing of one of our beautiful native species. Thousands of wild hares are netted, I believe. Am I correct in saying it is 65,000? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  Yes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  They are crowded together, bringing and spreading disease at a higher rate than they would naturally in the wild. They suffer broken legs and dislocated hips - some of the footage I have seen is quite gut-turning, to be honest. I am a man who has always loved my animals, from growing up. I cannot imagine that being done to one of my pets. This practice is cruelty with a licence.  The species, the Irish hare, is one of the few mammals that is uniquely our own, as well as the red squirrel and other native species. It is woven into our culture. I would love to see the Irish hare back in the places in my constituency that it never should have disappeared from. It actually was reintroduced. I only found this out recently. It was reintroduced to Bull Island but, sadly, it was brought out again by illegal lamping. There is a real opportunity for that reintroduction to happen. For us in the constituency of Dublin Bay North to get out to Dollymount Beach, is tearmann agus \u00e9al\u00fa \u00ed \u00f3n saol gn\u00f3thach. B\u00edonn muid i gc\u00f3na\u00ed ag breathn\u00fa ar \u00e1r gcuid sc\u00e1ile\u00e1n ar l\u00edne. Nuair a th\u00e9ann daoine amach chuig \u00e1it mar sin, \u00e1fach, feicfidh siad giorriacha, sionnaigh agus na hainmhithe n\u00e1d\u00fartha ar fad. It is something that can get people out of their heads. I will continue to work with the Government to have the Irish hare reintroduced in my constituency. I spoke to my granny before she passed about being a young girl from the area, going down collecting bottles. That was back before we got rid of the bottle deposit scheme, although I know it is back now. She was collecting bottles with her family, and there were thousands of hares. There is not one now. It is very sad, and this is a UNESCO heritage site.  I thank Deputy Paul Murphy for introducing this Bill, which I support. I am committed to the programme for Government and to financial matters but this is something that I fundamentally believe is wrong. None of this happens on its own. I thank all the campaigners, the National Animal Rights Association, the Irish Council Against Blood Sports and the ISPCA for everything they do. I thank the National Parks and Wildlife Service, everyone who has met and spoken to me, year after year and decade after decade, about a cause that should not have to be argued at all.  In other European countries and in Australia we can see how people are changing their outdated laws. We need to protect our wildlife. I urge everyone, at home and in this House, to look at what once was and what we can still protect. We still have a lot of the great species on Dollymount but I look forward to bringing the Irish hare back. This barbaric practice is out of step with all of the EU countries and it is well past time it was ended. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  I thank Deputy Murphy for bringing this Bill forward. It is so important. Hare coursing is called a blood sport. That is where we should start. In what world is that acceptable, a blood sport? Think of what that actually means. What previous contributors have said has really landed with me today. We need to look at anything that is called a blood sport and realise that maybe in 2026, we are a little bit outdated.  We are constantly talking about improving the lives of animals in this country. I am a city TD, as everybody knows. However, I have very firm roots in the countryside. I have explained before my love of tractors and the countryside. I miss the time I spent as a child in the countryside. I caution that this should never be a divide. A conversation about this cannot be divided between city and country. We are all people. It is not a judgment on country by city or vice versa . We need to work together. In other countries where this used to happen, it has been banned. That is why we need to look at it now. Things evolve and it is an evolution of that. We cannot stay static just because it is tradition. I do not like that divide between city and country because it creates division, which is not helpful.  As previous speakers have said, hares are recognised in Irish law as a protected wild species. It is beyond me as to why we would have a protected species and then round them up, keep them in captivity and put them out to be chased by dogs. It does not make any sense. We would not accept that for a horse, our pet or anything else, to round up something that is protected and then use this as a way of entertaining people.  I was struck by the Minister of State's comment that things had changed and evolved in the Act of 2013. I think 13 years on we might change, evolve and move to banning it altogether. We have a biodiversity crisis. Native species like hares are vital to the continuation of biodiversity.  We have to look at the climate crisis that we are in at the moment and see what we are doing to preserve our future. People might say that it is only a hare. This is a balance. It is a very fine line. Deputy Aird spoke so well about how there is that line of animals, where they fit in and how it is the natural part. As Deputy Whitmore said, when we come as humans and interrupt that balance, that is where the problem is.  As others have said, a free vote is important on this issue. The reason for that is people need to vote with their conscience on this. I am sure others are getting emails about hare coursing and asking us to support Deputy Murphy's Bill. I ask that each party has a free vote and that we are able to vote with our conscience. I ask Deputies to think about it deeply. What does this mean? If we are not protecting an animal, which is a protected species, what does that say to us? If we were explaining this to a young child, how would we explain that? If we cannot explain laws in simple English like that to a child and it does not make sense, then it is not making sense and it needs to move on. If we were explaining to a young child that hares are protected but we are going to let them be captured, and we then run them around and get a dog to chase after them, but then hopefully they will know how to get out and off they go, and thank God the dogs have the muzzle because then the hares will not be mauled to death because we have evolved from 2013 and evolved to moving that on, that child would look at us and say, \"What? That makes no sense.\" Again, when we are looking at how we treat things that are more vulnerable than us, we need to be able to stand over that. There is no standing over that.  I do not wish to use all my time because I am probably saying stuff that other Deputies have said. I am conscious that it is a Thursday evening and people are busy. Ireland needs to show a little bit of leadership in animal welfare. I am sure that other Bills are going to come forward in the next little while about many different animals. This is something that other countries have banned. It used to happen in Australia. New Zealand, India, England, Scotland, Wales and the US used to all have hare coursing and they do not now. We should not have it either. We should follow the example of people who have evolved. We should move towards that. I would be concerned about it going underground and the illegal coursing that might happen but then let us make sure we have enforcement, and the garda\u00ed making sure they are doing it and all the agencies are put there to make sure that it does not happen. If it is illegal it is illegal, but that does not mean we should not go after those people who are doing those illegal things. That is not a reason not to move on from 2013 to now in 2026 to banning hare coursing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  Enclosed hare coursing, like we have in Ireland, was banned in Britain in 1914. It was deemed unsporting. It is so contrived and unnatural. Those were the words that were used by the coursing clubs that agreed with it being banned. Ireland is becoming a complete and utter outlier on animal rights. I am embarrassed at some of the things that I am about to talk about here. If anybody is listening from any other country, it is the idea that some of these practices are continuing in 2026. We have seen other countries banning greyhound racing, such as Wales, Scotland and New Zealand. This is way worse. We had a debate on fox-hunting here a few months ago. In many ways, this is worse because it is taking a wild animal, capturing it, putting it in cages for weeks on end, making it do something completely unnatural and then it is allowing greyhounds in to chase after it in a very enclosed space, although I know there are escapes. I noticed that the Minister of State kept using the word \"muzzled\" in his answer. The hare does not know that the greyhound is muzzled. It does not make any difference. They are running for their lives in terror. They can still have damage done to them, including injuries and so on. The fact that the hare is protected but licences are given to capture it and treat it in this way is beyond belief.  In 2019, a poll was done showing that 77% wanted a ban on hare coursing. The Minister of State said that we do not run the country by poll, apparently. I am in favour of minority rights, but the point of these polls is to show how unpopular these practices are and how out of touch this Government is in maintaining them. They are backward, medieval and barbaric. That is why people do not agree with them. Unlike foxes hares are protected, yet we are allowing them to be licensed to be captured. The Minister grants these licences to specific clubs; I understand there are 89. The NSPCA is the national body - a very respected authoritative body - in relation to animal welfare. This is what it had to say about hare coursing: it is a \"cruel, outdated, and barbaric practice, which is currently permitted to satisfy just a small minority of Irish people.\" That is an official animal welfare organisation.  Hares can be held for 12 weeks before being released to be chased by dogs. They are not on their own but are in with many other animals, which is against their nature. The NSPCA is supporting this Bill and asking TDs to be allowed to vote for this Bill. It is asking for a free vote. The Minister of State mentioned a couple of things. He said that it was so well-regulated and inspected that there was no difference in the outcome for coursed and uncoursed hares. I have a summary of the study that he referred to. There were 40 hares that were GPS tracked and, across all cohorts, nine out 40 animals were confirmed alive at six months and three confirmed dead. The remaining 28, or 70%, were lost to the study. Their fate was never determined. In other words, we cannot have a credible study with this lost 70%. The assumption by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS, is that they survived and went on their merry way. It is like saying that cancer patients could not be found and, therefore, they are all still alive. It just does not make any sense. On the outcome for coursed and uncoursed hares, one of the 20 coursed hares could be relocated alive six months after release compared with eight of 20 of uncoursed controlled hares. There was a massive difference in the outcome.  I emphasise that this is cruel to dogs as well. It is linked with the greyhound industry. Often, dogs only last one or two seasons. The Minister of State is particularly affiliated and has a liking for this industry, but that is the reality. Greyhounds live a very short amount of time if they are raced in this way.  I will mention the financial aspect. We are hearing incredible claims about millions being made from this. The Minister of State said there was a study in 2022, but he did not give any source. Maybe the Minister of State can give us the source for that. Unless he is talking about illegal gambling or something, there is no verification of \u20ac70 million anywhere. It is true that all these blood sports are linked with gambling, which is something that we should striving to eliminate completely in society and certainly not be encouraging. The damage that it does is untold. That is the only way in which it is being maintained. The Minister of State also said that it does not get any State funding. However, according to figures that I have seen, Greyhound Racing Ireland gives money to these coursing clubs. A total of \u20ac500,000 was given to the clubs between 2017 to 2022, which came largely from the Government funding that is voted in this D\u00e1il every year.  I will move on to the political aspect of this. We are calling for a free vote. Free votes have been given in the D\u00e1il when it comes to women's bodies and women's health.  If you like, they are given to things that are demonised. This should be demonised and I think there should be a free vote., Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael have for far too long stood over these really bad animal rights practices. I cannot believe Sinn F\u00e9in is coming back again with exactly the same arguments recycled from a few months ago in relation to fox hunting. They are probably word for word: regulated, set up a commission, etc. This is completely out of touch with the population and its base. Sinn F\u00e9in had a debate on fox hunting and this is exactly the same. It is a blood sport and I do not understand how anyone would stand over it. It does not augur well for what Sinn F\u00e9in would do in government if it is not willing to move on these issues in opposition.  In relation to some of the arguments made by Deputy Aird, I live in a place called Buzzardstown. A buzzard is a bird of prey. The Deputy stood over there telling us what a bird of prey does and I do not know what the linkage was with this issue. As has been said by other Deputies, it is constantly recited in here and happened with fox hunting, that when a fox does something that is completely natural to a fox, therefore foxes are bad. There is no justification for what was cited by the Deputy.  I reiterate that this argument that it is regulated and there are more hares in areas where there is coursing and therefore we should keep hare coursing as to ban it would drive it underground is not an argument against changing a law to outlaw something. According to the Minister of State, there are loads of inspectors right now going around the coursing clubs, so those inspectors could look after the illegal, underground coursing. The reality is that a study done by The Journal found there were 200 coursing events and four inspectors between 2019 and 2024, so there is very little inspection taking place.  I will finish by asking whether the Minister of State is in favour of cockfighting because, to me, it is exactly the same. It is unleashing two animals for one to damage the other for the entertainment of human beings. It is absolutely embarrassing that anybody would stand up in a parliament in this day and age and justify it but that seems to be what the Minister of State is doing. He spoke about nonsense arguments. I do not see any difference between a domestic pet and a wild animal. They all deserve to be protected. I do not see any difference at all; I do not think they should be treated differently. Maybe that is where we differ in that some animals are more important than others. There is this argument we should treat wild animals in a certain way and capture them for our entertainment. We have to lose these notions and actually decide that animals have their own integral rights to be on the planet without being used for our entertainment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  I am happy and pleased to support Deputy Murphy's Bill today on behalf of the Green Party. This is probably the fourth substantive debate we have had on animal welfare related issues during the term of this D\u00e1il. We are discussing hare coursing today. We discussed fox hunting, puppy farms and greyhound racing. I recognise the work of those Deputies who have brought these issues forward as Private Members' Bills or motions. I welcome the focus during the term of the D\u00e1il on these issues. It is indicative of the fact that people have moved past where the bigger parties are on issues of animal welfare.  Unfortunately, for progress to be made and for laws to be changed, we need a majority across this House. In 2020, I was part of programme for Government negotiations on a wide range of issues. I remember being in the room when we debated issues of animal welfare and our party was not able to change the minds of the two other coalition parties at that time. We know from the speeches given today already, that when a vote is taken on Deputy Murphy's Bill, there is not a majority right now for this change and there is not a majority for some of the other changes that have been debated. It will be interesting when the Government's Bill on puppy farms comes forward. I welcome the fact the Government is advancing legislation on that but it is not strong enough and I hope we will be able to see the Government listen and be willing to make amendments to improve that legislation.  The challenge here is that the larger parties in this House are not where the people are at. I welcome the recent decision of the membership of Sinn F\u00e9in to change party policy in respect of fox hunting. Muzzling of coursing greyhounds was introduced in 1993. It was brought in for the coursing meets themselves. It is not done for training, of course - there is no law around that - but I do not believe the introduction of muzzling justifies this blood sport. I do not believe you can muzzle cruelty. While the coursing itself may no longer result in a live hare being torn apart, we still have to consider the trauma a hare experiences in terms of its capture, a wild animal being held in captivity for a period of time, the trauma of release from captivity if it survives the coursing meet, but most significantly the trauma that comes from violent exposure to two far larger animals, even if they are muzzled, and all of the risks that creates. We know the Irish hare faces a variety of threats. It faces threats from hunting, probably most significantly from the destruction of a large amount of its habitat, from infectious diseases such as rabbit haemorrhagic disease and European brown hare syndrome, and it faces competition from other species as well.  The Minister of State made a point about the risk, if Deputy Murphy's Bill is passed, that hare coursing will be driven underground. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niall Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Niall Collins  I did not say that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  Apologies. I know the point has been made about the risk of hare coursing being driven underground. First, it is important to recognise that illegal hare coursing already takes place underground. It is probably the biggest cause of mortality among hares right now. I do not believe the existence, and continued existence, of an illegal practice justifies the continued State support for a practice that is currently legal. While it is important the State takes those steps to deal with illegal coursing as it happens at the moment, I do not believe that should be linked to the continuance of hare coursing in legal meets.  I see hare coursing as an issue that is interconnected with the wider issue of the greyhound industry in this country. I have a real concern, from responses to multiple sets of parliamentary questions I have submitted to the Department and the greyhound racing board, about what the traceability system that has been put in place is actually showing us. It is worthwhile to talk about one year, 2021, when 11,600 greyhounds were born. Of those, only 450 are still actively racing, five years later. Of the rest, 1,500 have been rehomed, something I welcome, but 3,300 of those dogs born in 2021 are dead. These are dogs that did not get past their fifth birthdays. A further 5,300 have been exported to countries where we have no control over the animal welfare standards they face. Those dogs may have been re-exported subsequently as well. The State provides significant funding to this industry - \u20ac20 million of taxpayer's money every year. It is my view that funding should not be provided any more. I know in the previous D\u00e1il, my colleague, former Deputy Neasa Hourigan, brought forward Private Members' legislation to decouple the funding of greyhound racing from the funding of the wider equine industry.  Ultimately, the point we will be voting on is the specific issue of hare coursing. I and my party do not believe the trauma caused by this practice, even in the muzzled context, is justified. I think Ireland should adopt the change, the evolution in thinking on this matter, that has been seen in many other countries.  The introduction of the muzzle in 1993 was a reflection of the fact that the Irish people no longer believed it was morally justifiable for a live hare to be torn apart at the end of a coursing. In terms of their opposition, the Irish people's views on hare coursing have changed, evolved and have become more trenchant. The vote on this matter will demonstrate a House that is out of step with where the Irish people stand. Unfortunately, Deputy Murphy's Bill will not pass Second Stage, but I do think this matter will come before the House again. We have not seen the end of it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niall Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Niall Collins)  I absolutely respect everybody's opinion in relation to this or any other issue. People are perfectly entitled to take a position on this or any other issue, to articulate that position and to exercise their mandate to debate in these Houses, as am I doing as both a constituency TD and a Minister of State at the Department of agriculture. It is wrong, however, to try to misrepresent what I have said and the factual position in relation to how highly regulated the activity of coursing is. There was not one iota of acknowledgement on the part of any Opposition speaker in relation to the fact that there are 44 conditions attached to the licences that are issued to coursing clubs. There is a robust and thorough inspection regime before, during and after coursing events take place. Again, that was rubbished. There was also an attempt to demonise people who are involved in coursing and those who have a view in support of coursing. That is very regrettable. Yes, it is a minority pursuit. The fact that an opinion poll shows a particular point of view among people does not mean that the Government has to follow a course of action based on that view. As stated earlier, if were to follow the utterances of some people on the Irish political stage, everything would be the subject of a referendum. We would be having referendums on the triple lock and the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement. We would be having referendums every day of the week. People would probably want a referendum on this issue also.  I have set out quite clearly why we are happy to support hare coursing. I know a lot of people who oppose it, and I respect their point of view. I do not have an issue with their point of view. Equally, I know a lot of people who are very involved in, supportive of and invested in coursing. I do not mean they are invested in a financial way. Again, there is an attempt to try to demonise people who are involved. I regret that, because they are very decent people. I know people right across my constituency and the entire country who are involved in coursing clubs. Coursing is an activity they engage in. It is very important to put on the record again that for people who are involved in coursing, animal welfare is their top priority. The supporters of this Bill to bring about a ban on hare coursing seek to try to dismiss that and to rubbish it. All I can say is that they are wrong. The people involved in coursing have to ensure that the highest standards of animal welfare apply to the greyhounds involved and that the hares associated with coursing are the subject of the highest standards of animal welfare. The latter is the case, particularly in the context of the input from the National Parks and Wildlife Service, its wildlife officers and the veterinary people who are associated with the regulation and inspection of coursing.  I reiterate what I said at the outset. We are opposing the Bill. We do not do government by referendum, by opinion poll findings or by any such approach. We are taking a structured approach and a regulated approach to this matter. It is fair to say that coursing has evolved over the years. It has done so in a highly regulated and structured environment. It has moved with the times. While coursing is a minority pursuit, that does not mean that the Government cannot continue to support it. We are absolutely continuing to support it. Under this Government, there will not be any change in relation to that approach. There will not be a free vote either. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  I thank all the Deputies who participated in the debate. I will start on the point about hare coursing being highly regulated, and that we do not give that more credit to that and to the idea that animal welfare is a top priority. Let us consider what hare coursing is in essence. You can regulate it all you like - and we are in favour of more regulation - but the essence of it involves going into the wild and capturing hares who are out there living their lives. They might sometimes be brutally short lives because of nature, which is fine, but they are out there living them. You go out, you make a lot of noise, you capture them in nets and you terrify them. You put them in little crates and then you put them in enclosures with a bunch of other hares. Then you allow dogs to chase after them. Some are injured and some are killed as a consequence. That is what hare coursing is. Unless you regulate the hares out of hare coursing, which is what our Bill proposes to do, then I do not see how the Minister of State can claim that animal welfare is a top priority. The Minister of State can make the case that he is concerned about animal welfare. If animal welfare really was a top priority, however, people would not be capturing hares from the wild and allowing dogs to run after them. Let us get real about what sort of regulation we are talking about and what hare coursing involves.  I want to emphasise a point. I do not know if Deputy Aird really intended to suggest that the hares enjoy it, but that is what it sounded like. Obviously, they do not enjoy it. They are not running for the craic. They are running because they think these dogs are going to kill them. They do not volunteer to be captured. They try to get away. That is why nets have to be used to catch them. They are not happy to stay there. That is why they have to be in enclosures. It is very clear that if we could ask a hare about this, it would say \"No. I really would prefer if you do not engage in setting dogs on me\".  This brings me to the point about nature being brutal and so on, which it often is, but the difference is that humanity has evolved. We are highly evolved. We have evolved to the point of having empathy with each other, and, hopefully, with other living creatures. That is why, on a philosophical level - and I recognise that there are people with different, genuinely held opinions - it is fundamentally cruel and wrong for us to put animals through difficult, damaging and sometimes deadly situations purely for our own entertainment. I believe this to be the view that is held by the majority of people in this country. That is why, philosophically, there is something fundamentally different with regard to engaging in and supporting the continuation of hare coursing and a hare being killed in the wild.  It was also pointed out that you have to be very careful to make sure that the dogs and hares are not hurt. It was good that people referred to dogs being hurt, but hares are also hurt. One can go through the reports from the National Parks and Wildlife Service, and we can see how many letters I received just in respect of last season. I will go from A to Z. In Abbeydorney, four hares were hit by dogs and one was pinned to the ground. In Abbeyfeale, seven hares were hit and three were pinned. One of the pinned hares was not examined for injuries until the following day. In Ardpatrick and Kilfinnane, three hares were hit. A few days before the event there, individuals entered the hare park in an attempt to steal hares. In Balbriggan, at least one hare was hit and pinned to the ground. In Ballyduff, one hare was pinned to the ground and was examined for injuries. In Ballyheigue, four hares were caught and pinned to the ground by dogs. In Borrisoleigh, three hares suffered hits and three were pinned. One hare was found dead. In Cappoquin, six hares were hit by dogs and two were pinned. One hare died from its injuries.  In Cashel, a hare suffered bruising after being pinned to the ground by a dog. In Castleisland and Millstreet, two hares were hit by dogs, and another hare was pinned with such force that an ear tag came off. In Cavan, Dungannon and Westport, five hares were hit and one was mauled into the ground. The hare that was mauled was found to have a graze on its back. In Charleville and Mallow, three hares were caught by dogs and pinned to the ground. The reality inherent in hare coursing is injuries to hares and some hares getting killed.  I want to address the rural-urban divide. The Government does not have to rule by opinion poll and it does not have to go with what every opinion poll says, but we have an opinion poll says quite definitively that there is not an urban-rural divide on this issue. It says that people in rural areas are more opposed to hare coursing than people in urban areas. What is this all about suggesting that this is coming from a bunch of city slickers who do not what it is like to be in the countryside where a tiny minority of people engage in hare coursing? It is an attempt to defend the indefensible by creating a culture war barrier by saying that what is really going on is an attack on rural life.  The vast majority of people in Dublin are not as separated from rural life as the Minister of State might think. Neither of my parents was born in Dublin. They came to Dublin and then they had children. I am a first-generation Dub. I spent plenty of time on farms in my childhood. I have plenty of connections to my cousins who continue to live in rural Ireland. Ireland is a small place. We are not so distant from each other.  A related point is that unless someone has been to hare coursing, he or she does not really have a right to have an opinion about it. If we think about that logically, we do not apply that to other things in the world. We can know a lot about hare coursing by reading about it and watching videos of what happens on YouTube. People do not have to go and see it. I made this point on the radio earlier. I am opposed on principle to the death penalty. I have never watched an execution take place, but I know that humans killing other people with the death penalty is wrong. It is correct for people to not go to hare coursing because they do not agree with what goes on there and still have a right to have an opinion on it, including putting forward legislation to ban it.  In relation to the arguments raised by Sinn F\u00e9in, the main argument seemed to be that it would drive it underground. That is interesting because it seems to accept that this is a bad thing and something that should not be happening, but that there could be more of it if it was driven underground. There is illegal hare coursing in Britain, but there is much less illegal hare coursing than there was legal coursing before, so we have some evidence of what happened. It seems unlikely that by criminalising something, we are going to create more of it. The point was also made that it would be a question of enforcement. As Deputy Coppinger pointed out, there was the call for a study and so on. The irony is that everybody knows that if there is a Sinn F\u00e9in Ard-Fheis in a few months and there is a vote on hare coursing, as there hopefully will be, and it changes its position and it supports a ban on hare coursing, all of the calls for this new independent study and so on will quickly be forgotten and its members will vote the correct way, if that happens, because the membership will push them to do it. It is really about finding justifications for not going in line with the party's membership, assuming that the vote on fox hunting and hare coursing would be very similar and not in line with the majority of Sinn F\u00e9in's voters and people who are looking to the left and who want a society based on human empathy and decency, which includes animal rights.  I want to quickly address a few of the arguments that the Minister of State made. In terms of the 2023 study from the NPWS, Deputy Coppinger demolished the argument that it any way suggests that hare coursing is positive for hare populations. The reality is that only one of the coursed hares was found alive. A reference was also made to the study in Donegal from 2003, which was based on a tiny population group.  I want to finish with a question for the Minister of State. The 2022 independent economic analysis that found that coursing benefits the economy by \u20ac70.7 million. I cannot find reference to it anywhere. There have been plenty of debates in the D\u00e1il about hare coursing between 2022 and now and lots of parliamentary questions have been asked about what the economic benefit of hare coursing is. No one has ever referenced this study before. I heard it today from Deputy Peter \"Chap\" Cleere. It is obviously part of a speaking note and a briefing. I would like to see this study. I have Googled it, and I cannot find it whatsoever. I would genuinely be interested in this study being published and for it to be referenced.  Finally, I want to encourage people to keep up the pressure, and I thank the campaigners in the Gallery. We have the benefit of almost having a full week between the debate and the vote to maximise pressure on TDs. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Louise O'Reilly)  That concludes our debate for this evening. I thank everyone for their contributions. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Louise O'Reilly)  In accordance with Standing Order 85(2), the division is postponed until the weekly division time on Wednesday, 8 July 2026. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar athl\u00f3 ar 7.16 p.m. go dt\u00ed 2 p.m., D\u00e9 M\u00e1irt, an 7 I\u00fail 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The D\u00e1il adjourned at 7.16 p.m. until 2 p.m. on Tuesday, 7 July 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Animal Health and Welfare (Ban on Hare Coursing) Bill 2020: Second Stage [Private Members]"}]}}]},"contextDate":"2026-07-02"},{"debateRecord":{"house":{"showAs":"34th D\u00e1il","committeeCode":"","houseCode":"dail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/house\/dail\/34","chamberType":"house","houseNo":"34"},"chamber":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/def\/house\/dail","showAs":"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann"},"lastUpdated":"2026-07-06T13:22:09+00:00","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/main","formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/mul@\/main.xml"},"pdf":null},"date":"2026-07-01","counts":{"contributorCount":123,"divisionCount":0,"debateSectionCount":31,"questionCount":14,"billCount":0},"debateType":"debate","debateSections":[{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/dbsect_2","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case:  Deputy Martin Daly - To discuss plastic and reconstructive surgery services in Roscommon University Hospital.  Deputy Erin McGreehan - To discuss longer opening hours of the X-ray department at weekends in the minor injury clinic in Louth County Hospital.  Deputy Colm Burke - To discuss actions to reduce the risk to children who require MRI scans under anaesthetic.  Deputy Se\u00e1n Kyne - To discuss the protection of historical and generational rights to seaweed on the west coast.  Deputies Gary Gannon, Daniel Ennis - To discuss the procedures governing planning application decisions in Dublin 7.  Deputy Sorca Clarke - To discuss staffing allocation at a Gaelscoil in Mullingar.  Deputy Michael Murphy - To discuss the decline in Garda roads policing unit numbers.  Deputy Thomas Gould - To discuss the number of schools in Cork currently at stage 2A for a prolonged period of time who desperately need new accommodation  Deputy Danny Healy-Rae - To discuss plans to review the current age limits for school bus drivers.  Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire - To discuss the failure to provide necessary supports for children with additional needs in the summer programme.  Deputy Malcolm Byrne - To discuss the development of Bunclody Community College, County Wexford.  Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan - To discuss the reimbursement of a drug and implementation of the drug reimbursement system.  Deputy Albert Dolan - To discuss the introduction of a farm succession scheme.  Deputy S\u00e9amus McGrath - To discuss the building project proposed for the amalgamation of Shanbally and Ringaskiddy National Schools, County Cork.  Deputy Louis O'Hara - To discuss supports for households affected by the ending of the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme.  Deputy Maurice Quinlivan - To discuss funding for the roll-out of Bus Connects in Limerick city.  The matters raised by Deputies Erin McGreehan, Martin Daly, Gary Gannon and Daniel Ennis, Se\u00e1n Kyne, Colm Burke, Maurice Quinlivan, P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan, Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire, S\u00e9amus McGrath and Thomas Gould have been selected for discussion. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/dbsect_3","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/dbsect_4","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Hospital Services","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_4","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Erin McGreehan  It is great to have the Minister in the House this morning. I very much welcome the opportunity to have a discussion of a practical nature that will solve this issue and have really positive impacts on patients, staff and the wider health service across the north east.  The minor injury unit in Louth County Hospital, Dundalk, is one of the best services in the country. It serves the people of Louth well and we are immensely proud of it and grateful for it. I have spent many a Saturday there when my sons have been injured. We are very grateful that we do not have to go to Drogheda. Day after day, patients receive excellent care from dedicated doctors, nurses, radiographers, administrative staff and support staff. They are professional, effective and really efficient. I want to recognise all of them in this House. The unit's reputation is such that people regularly travel there from well beyond Louth. There were lots of Dublin accents to be heard in the accident and emergency department when I was there last Saturday. They did not even know that Louth was playing on Sunday. It was all about Dublin. People are travelling from north Dublin to County Louth because our minor injuries clinic is so good. As the Minister will know, the unit opens from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week. It provides a really vital alternative to a really busy emergency department for patients with fractures, sprains, burns, wounds and other minor injuries. It is exactly the type of service we should continue to invest in. It has the same goal as many of us, which is to deliver the right care in the right place at the right time.  There is one significant limitation, however. That is why I am speaking here this morning. It is slowing down or delaying some of the excellent work that is being carried out. At weekends, the X-ray department only operates from 12 noon until 8 p.m. As a result, people who attend in the morning can face unnecessary delays while waiting for imaging. Those delays inevitably increase waiting times, creating frustration, and place additional pressure on staff who are doing everything possible with the resources available to them. This lack of service before 12 noon has a negative knock-on effect. This is not a resourcing issue. I hope it can be looked at and addressed.  We all know that weekends are a really busy time for injuries units as a result of sporting events and family activities. Every patient who can successfully be treated in Dundalk is one less patient for another hospital to treat. Extending X-ray availability across the entire opening hours of the minor injuries unit seven days a week would improve patient flow, reduce waiting times, enhance the patient experience and further reduce the pressure on the emergency department in Drogheda. For that reason, I ask the Minister to examine the recruitment of an additional radiographer to allow full radiography cover throughout the unit's opening hours every day of the week. This is not about creating a new service. It is about strengthening and extending a service we already have. Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Minister. I hope her response will be positive. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Health (Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill)  I thank Deputy McGreehan for the opportunity to discuss this very practical issue, which is of huge importance to the people of Louth and wider north-east region.  As she stated, minor injury units are a really practical response to an identified need to deal with small injuries away from hospital settings. This is a key part of Sl\u00e1intecare. As the Deputy also stated, these units are particularly busy at weekends when kids are playing sport and so much activity is taking place. That is even more the case during the summer when people are out and about and getting injured as a result of being involved in sporting or other activities.  The development of injury units is a key part of our hospital avoidance strategy. They provide a safe, convenient way for non-life threatening injuries such as broken bones, sprains, burns and all of those things that just happen as part of life to be treated. Crucially, they deliver the same level of care in respect of those conditions as emergency departments, but much closer to home and with much shorter waiting times. We cannot encourage people enough to attend injury units. Nationally, we have seen a great increase in attendances at injury units, reflecting, I hope, the high public confidence and the convenience of local access. Last year, for example, there were 222,000 attendances at injury units. That was a 5% increase over 2024.  As the Deputy knows, the minor injury unit at Louth County Hospital in Dundalk provides treatment for patients aged five years and older in respect of suspected fractures, sprains, minor burns, wounds and other injuries that do not require treatment at an emergency department. It is open from 9 a.m. seven days a week, including on bank holidays, with the last patient seen at 8 p.m. It is one of the busiest units in the country. It is the fifth busiest of the 14 units nationally.  The most important thing for the Deputy is increasing capacity at the unit at weekends. She is completely right, because that is exactly when it is needed. I have discussed this matter with the HSE and been informed that the minor injury unit has access to two digital X-ray machines, which is fine, and that radiology services are available 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Friday. At weekends, however, those services are only available from midday to 8 p.m. The plan is to extend weekend availability. There is a plan to recruit additional resources to do precisely that. I expect that the resources to extend the radiology services to a fully operational model will be put in place during quarter 3 of this year, which is not that far away.  I am glad to have this opportunity to discuss the matter with Deputy McGreehan and to outline the very real plan for the extension of this excellent injury unit. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Erin McGreehan  It is very rare one gets a really positive response like that in the House. This is great news for everyone in the entire north east. As I said, the minor injury clinic in Dundalk is an incredible resource for all families and people who live in the area. This is really positive news which shows that the work of the staff in Louth County Hospital in Dundalk has been seen to be successful. The HSE and the Minister are going to invest in that success in order to make sure that the clinic can maintain and expand its excellent services at weekends. I very much appreciate the Minister's work in this area and thank her for it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  I am delighted. I again thank Deputy McGreehan for raising this matter. Deputy Paula Butterly also raised it with me but in a different way. I just want to compliment the region in general and the hospital management in Louth, particularly Priya Madhu, who is the hospital manager there and who has done so much. Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, which the minor injury unit supports, has done phenomenal work. There are zero people on trolleys there today. For the past ten days, the hospital as been completely within the green threshold in that regard. As a representative for County Louth for so long, the Deputy knows how that was very much not the case a year and a half ago or two years ago and that the emergency department in the hospital was really challenged. There were no people on trolleys in the hospital yesterday. I checked that at 8 a.m. this morning, and it is only just after 9 a.m now. There were also no people on trolleys on Saturday. As indicated, all week long, the hospital has been within the green threshold, which is the accepted safe level.  We have given Drogheda hospital additional resources for a virtual ward that has 12 beds. I am pleased to say that Drogheda hospital is using that ward. There were eight people on the virtual ward yesterday. The figure for the ward has been in and around that each day. They could put a few more on because there are 12 beds on the ward. The point is that the hospital is using the resources it has been given intelligently, well and in a way that serves the people Deputy McGreehan represents in County Louth. I am so pleased to champion, highlight and promote what Priya Madhu and her team have done. It is absolutely fantastic. The Deputy is aware what has happened is a turnaround for both the hospital for the people she represents. We are so pleased to be able to do more to support that really excellent level of care. I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Hospital Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/dbsect_5","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Hospital Services","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_5","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  Let us keep the momentum going. An Teachta Martin Daly is next. His matter relates to plastic and reconstructive surgery services at Roscommon University Hospital. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Daly  I thank the Minister for being here. This is a success story that the Minister will be glad to hear about. The question is how we are going to support and expand the service that exists at Roscommon University Hospital. The reconfiguration of the hospital, which caused huge controversy at the time, has turned out to be a great success, with many innovative departments and many new services for people, especially the elderly, being developed.  In the past 15 years, a plastic surgery unit that uses a see-and-treat model has been developed under Dr. Deirdre Jones, who is a plastic surgeon. In 2025, the unit received 8,000 GP referrals from Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, east Mayo, east Galway, Westmeath and Offaly. The unit developed a photographic referral system in order the GPs could take photographs of skin lesions include them with referral letters. That happened during Covid. Of the 8,000 referrals, 2,000 were able to be triaged and referred back to the relevant general practitioners for appropriate treatment without the need for the patients involved to be seen by the unit. Of the remaining 6,000 patients, 2,000 have had surgery. The unit is also involved in screening for, diagnosing and treating skin cancers. The 2,000 surgeries to which I refer were carried out by one plastic surgeon, one part-time plastic surgeon and eight advanced nurse practitioners working over different periods. This unit is hugely productive. It is located in an area where there is a high prevalence of skin cancer. The west of Ireland has one of the highest prevalences of skin cancer, not just in Ireland but internationally. There is no plastic surgeon from the tip of Malin Head in Donegal right down to Roscommon. We have patients travelling from Sligo, Donegal and the other areas to which I referred to this unit in Roscommon, which is providing an exemplary service. In addition, 10% of all cases of melanoma, which is a deadly skin cancer, are treated at the unit.  The problem for the unit is that it is treating approximately 50 patients per week. From a staff point of view, it has the capacity to treat 150 per week. This is really important, because those in the unit are constrained by the environment in which they are working. They are working out of two small treatment rooms and they have an area in which they assess patients. Will the Minister urge the HSE and the Department to consider the expansion of the physical infrastructure in which this unit operates in order that it can operate with maximum efficiency and to its maximum potential?  As already stated, this is a success story. It is a story of productivity. It is a story of Sl\u00e1intecare. It is a story of a hospital which has reimagined itself but which needs ongoing support. The hospital also has a tremendous endoscopy unit, which serves the region, and has developed services for elderly patients. We know that the population is getting older and that, as a result, there will be a need for frailty clinics, falls clinics, memory clinics and a range of outpatient services. This really is something worth supporting. I urge the Minister and her Department to intervene with the HSE to support this unit in any way it can. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  I am so glad to have the opportunity to discuss this matter with the Deputy. I want to compliment the work of Dr. Deirdre Jones and that of the hospital manager, Marie Doorly, who has transformed Roscommon University Hospital into an enormously important part of the infrastructure of the north west. The hospital is doing great work, and we want to see it doing more great work.  Roscommon is a level 2 hospital. The Government is pleased to have been able to increase its budget by 63%, from \u20ac28 million in 2020 to \u20ac46 million in 2025. Staffing has grown by 31%. In-patient bed capacity has grown by 5%. As Deputy Daly is aware, what we are trying to do at the hospital is so much about day-case procedures. He referenced the endoscopy suite, which I am going to go to see. I think that unit could run harder in the evenings and that we could do more there. Where we see really efficient practice is what we want to support.  As the Deputy stated, the clinic in question is run by Dr. Deirdre Jones. There is a lot of advanced nursing practitioner support within the clinic, which is a real example of what is good about and what is possible with Sl\u00e1intecare. There is no reason for people from Roscommon to have to travel to Galway for this service when it can be and is being delivered so capably in Roscommon. The service is led by a consultant and provides day-case and outpatient care.  Of course, it has the ancillary benefit of reducing pressure on the acute hospital in Galway, which does not need to see these day case procedures that can be supported so well elsewhere.  What I really admire about this treatment process and the way the hospital is running it is that it is a direct access model. It is a \"see and treat\" service, which is fantastic for patients because they do not have to come back again and again. It also runs a skin cancer surveillance service under the national cancer control programme, which has been in operation for 15 years. It ensures that all patients who have had any sort of cancer diagnosis are kept actively under surveillance and monitored. In the past three years, it has introduced a photo triage element of the service, which is fantastic. It means that GPs can send in a GP referral as requested but also include a photo, so they are getting ahead of the question all the time. The clinical nurse manager reviews that in conjunction with the consultant. It is a really streamlined pathway to the correct model of care. In many cases, the patient may not need an appointment and the GP is advised as such. Therefore, it is a very efficient, productive and caring model, where patients are prioritised on the basis of clinical need.  Roscommon hospital has excised twice as many skin cancers - 1,200 in 2024 - as benign lesions, and has also treated 10% of Ireland's melanoma patients. That is quite an output for the work in a model 2 hospital. We will continue to invest in the plastic services, and the opportunities for expansion of the services can be reviewed. I happen to be in Roscommon in July, and I might drop in and have a look. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Daly  I thank the Minister for her comprehensive answer, which I appreciate. The important thing is the innovation that has happened at this particular unit in terms of the \"see and treat\" model, where patients are referred for photo triage before they attend. The service is led by a consultant but delivered by specialist advanced nurse practitioners, ANPs, in dermatology, who are trained in the screening and diagnosis of skin cancers and other skin lesions. These may not turn out to be skin cancers but it is important that this work is done. We need to support the advanced nurse practitioner model in this unit and develop it further. It needs more physical capacity. I have spoken to the HSE. I spoke to Mr. McCallion last week after the health committee meeting, and he said the HSE is going to look into that. It is worth supporting.  The whole issue about Roscommon is that the public in the west, in particular in Roscommon and east Galway, were promised that with the reconfiguration of Roscommon University Hospital, it would be supported in all its endeavours to provide appropriate services, such as day services. It is important that we keep an eye on the replacement acute psychiatric unit, the car parking services and the outpatients unit, which does not have disabled toilet facilities or a ramp for disabled patients to use. We need to develop the endoscopy service. If the Minister can expand that, we would be delighted and would support her in that.  There are so many good things happening in Roscommon University Hospital but it takes commitment. For example, Roscommon University Hospital was promised a neurological rehab unit in 2015, with an attached budget of \u20ac8 million. That was taken off the capital plan twice, and only after an intervention by me and my office has it been placed back on the plan. There is a dearth of neurological rehabilitation places in the west of Ireland. I urge the Minister to support Roscommon University Hospital in every way she can. This is an exemplar for the reconfiguration of that hospital. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  I had the opportunity to see that for myself when Marie Doorly came to our regional meeting for the north west and presented on behalf of Roscommon hospital. It was clear to me. I have huge respect for Roscommon hospital and the role it is playing in the health architecture in the north west. As the Deputy knows, the local injury unit is highly regarded, with people coming from all over the north west - from Mayo and elsewhere - to that unit as an alternative to going to Castlebar. I am pleased to say there will be another injury unit in Ballina, which hopefully will take the pressure off Roscommon somewhat, because it has been filling that role. I know what it is doing in terms of endoscopy and helping with stepdown beds for the other hospitals to ensure the appropriate flow.  What the Deputy is talking about is the excellent \"see and treat\" model of care, delivered away from acute hospitals in an excellent model 2 hospital for the people of Roscommon and beyond. It is an exemplar of Sl\u00e1intecare. I compliment Marie Doorly, Dr. Deirdre Jones and all of the people working there who have delivered this. I will do anything I can to support that kind of committed Sl\u00e1intecare focus they have had. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Hospital Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/dbsect_6","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Planning Issues","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_6","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Daniel Ennis","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Daniel-Ennis.D.2026-05-25","memberCode":"Daniel-Ennis.D.2026-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  I thank the Minister of State for joining us. Let me be clear. I am not looking for the State to intervene when it comes to planning decisions. That is not our purpose in coming in here today. However, we are conscious that the senior members of Government have made observations publicly on issues in Dublin city centre, most pointedly the dereliction and vacancy. Deputy Ennis and I want to bring forward some very significant anomalies and contradictions in planning, particularly in the Dublin 7 area, that have an impact on local businesses.  I want to focus on two businesses in particular, the Cowtown Market and the Stay With Us caf\u00e9 in Dublin 7. Before they opened, their locations were the site of dumping and antisocial behaviour. They were places where the aesthetic quality left a lot to be desired. These businesses then invested in their community. One built a little caf\u00e9 with wooden seats, where every morning in Phibsborough, you will see people going in, bringing their dogs and sitting there. It is a lovely little space, and it absolutely adds to the community. The Cowtown Caf\u00e9, just off Stoneybatter, also took a place that was previously the site of dumping and antisocial behaviour, and invested in it. It now has little caf\u00e9 stalls and saunas there.  Inexplicably, Dublin City Council has told them that they have to remove the infrastructure they have built, which has added to the community. I am dealing with issues in Dublin 7 where there is an absence of enforcement at very significant conservation buildings, yet these two businesses have been told they are outside the planning. As they have not met planning standards, the whole business has to go, rather than Dublin City Council simply working with them to help them get to the right side of planning. I am raising this to the Chamber with Deputy Ennis not because we want the Minister of State to intervene but to raise the issue and see what we can do to work better. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Daniel Ennis","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Daniel-Ennis.D.2026-05-25","memberCode":"Daniel-Ennis.D.2026-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Daniel Ennis  To follow on from Deputy Gary Gannon, the Cowtown Market is a space that is so much more than an outdoor food market. It is a space that was once a derelict site. We have seen serious levels of antisocial behaviour at that end of Prussia Street and the Stoneybatter area. It opened since Covid and has been thriving ever since. It creates local employment and has strengthened relationships with the local pub, the City Arms, and other local businesses like Tesco and the shops across the way. It has really brought life and vitality to that area.  Dublin City Council wants to return that to a derelict site. It is a complete contradiction. It contradicts some of the work that Dublin City Council is trying to do around the city centre with regard to meanwhile use and everything else. Not only has this business strengthened local businesses but it has strengthened local community networks. It is complementing an already amazing community spirit in Stoneybatter.  The Stay With Us caf\u00e9 is a small local independent caf\u00e9 that is not only very important and a community hub for the local community in Phibsborough but because there is also an emergency homeless hostel next door to it, it is a hub for the people living there.  Both spaces are at risk of being lost. We are crying out for derelict spaces to be turned into community hubs. We are not asking the Minister of State to intervene. We are asking him to open up a dialogue with Dublin City Council, as we have also done. Again, these spaces are not only very important to local independent businesses but they are vital community hubs. We cannot lose them because they will fall back into dereliction, and we know what that dereliction brings. We are doing everything in our power to save these spaces. We are asking the same of the Minister of State. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan)  I thank the Deputies for raising this issue. I congratulate Deputy Ennis on his recent election. What a day for his family, friends and supporters. It is an incredible achievement. It is great to see the two constituency TDs from the same party working so closely together. It is not that common, by the way. I am grateful that they have raised this issue.  I appreciate that there is a sense of vibrancy in Stoneybatter.  I am familiar with it. There are some great food locations and cafes, so I understand where the Deputies are coming from with this.  The response that I am going to read out was drafted not knowing what angle the Deputies were coming from, but I might come back to it in the supplementary response.  This gives me an opportunity to update Members on the current procedures governing planning application decisions in general, noting the restrictions on my ability to comment on individual planning decisions. I am taking this Topical Issue on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Browne. I wish to explain at the outset that the role of Minister in relation to the planning system is primarily to provide a policy and legislative framework for the planning authorities, An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la and the Office of the Planning Regulator, OPR, in performing their statutory planning functions.  Under section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage shall not exercise any power or control in relation to any particular case with which a planning authority or An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la is or may be concerned. This means that the Minister is explicitly prevented from intervening in such cases, which is of utmost importance to maintain the independence of the planning authority or commission. In fairness, Deputy Gannon already alluded to how he was aware of that.  All development proposals require planning permission, unless they are specifically exempted under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, or the supplementary Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended. Where any person is unsure if planning permission is required, they may seek a declaration from the relevant planning authority under section 5 of the 2000 Act as to whether their case \"is or is not development or is or is not exempted development\" within the meaning of the Act.  When a person submits a planning application under section 34 of the 2000 Act, irrespective of whether the proposed development is located in an urban or rural location in any county, the relevant planning authority, in making its decision, shall have regard to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area. It is a matter for the relevant planning authority to consider each application on a case-by-case basis and to decide, in accordance with the provisions contained in the legislation, whether to grant the permission, subject to or without conditions, or to refuse permission.  Where an individual has participated in the planning process or is directly affected by a planning decision of a planning authority, they may lodge an appeal to the commission in accordance with section 37 of the 2000 Act. Furthermore, any person who has participated in the appeals process, or shows that they have sufficient interest, may seek a judicial review of the relevant decision of the commission. In addition to the appeals process, if any person has a planning issue that is systemic in nature, they can refer the matter to the OPR or a referral may be made to the Office of the Ombudsman if the issue relates to an individual matter, such as the way a local authority has carried out its administrative functions.  The response goes on in the same vein. I take the Deputies\u2019 point, and they will understand how limited the Department and, by extension, the Minister and I as a Minister of State in that Department are in relation to commenting on individual cases. The Deputies made a point about the standard application of enforcement across the city. That should be same when it comes to dereliction. I know that there are beautiful Georgian buildings on that side of the city and that Deputy Gannon has been raising the issue of dereliction for a long time. He may perceive that there has been a lack of attention to that issue and all of sudden there is attention on this particular issue that the Deputies are referring to. I take the Deputies\u2019 point and I might come back to it in my supplementary response. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  I thank the Minister of State for his response and his understanding of the situation. There is a frustration. We spend so much time talking vacancy and dereliction in Dublin Central that the potential for losing two businesses that have added to the vibrancy and improved the aesthetic quality is grating to the point that it is nonsensical.  For a small independent cafe like Stay With Us, if it is to make an appeal to An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la, that is going to cost over \u20ac4,000. It is a small independent cafe that is being held to the same appeals standard as a large company. It just does not make sense. As a community that is trying desperately to add to its area, support our local independent businesses, and engage with the parts of the community that are really investing in improving Stoneybatter and Phibsborough, it is so frustrating that Dublin City Council can just tell people to take something down and then it is gone. We know what comes afterwards. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Daniel Ennis","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Daniel-Ennis.D.2026-05-25","memberCode":"Daniel-Ennis.D.2026-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Daniel Ennis  I thank the Minister of State. Consistency is key, and that is what is letting us down with our local authority in this instance. Communities do not expect every planning application to succeed, but they do expect consistency in how planning is enforced. We are not asking for weaker planning rules, but for a planning system that is proportionate, consistent and capable of recognising the wider public good when local people invest in their communities and turn once-derelict sites that were not only eyesores, but causing antisocial behaviour and other nefarious activities, into thriving local community hubs. It is hard to take. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan  Just to respond in general without commenting on specifics, we have to take a balanced view of this. There may be a business within an area, whether it is a cafe, a commercial enterprise or shop of some sort, that will have gone through the step-by-step planning process and been successful in getting its planning application approved. There may be a sense of unfairness if others do not go through that same process, if the Deputies know where I am coming from.  That said, in my limited experience of Stoneybatter, it is obvious to someone like me that it is starting to rejuvenate itself in many ways. The Deputies live there and are aware of this day to day. There is a real sense of entrepreneurship and a growing association with it becoming a really good place to eat, with a lot of restaurants and cafes popping up. It is fair to say that there is an onus on the planning authority to take into consideration the direction of travel when an area within a city like Dublin is starting to reimagine or rejuvenate itself. Other than that, I cannot say much more, but I take the Deputies' point.  We have a lot of work to do, certainly within my Department and section in terms of heritage funding, to ensure that we invest in the incredible built heritage in that part of the city. They are throughout the city, but particularly in that part of city there are some absolute gems that we have not invested in for far too long or perhaps paid enough attention to from an enforcement point of view to ensure that the owners of those properties are bringing them back to life and protecting them.  That onus is on us, but there is also an onus on us to ensure that where rejuvenation is happening naturally, we support it rather than being a hindrance to it. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Planning Issues"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/dbsect_7","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Seaweed Harvesting","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Kyne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Kyne.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Kyne.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Kyne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Kyne.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Kyne.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Kyne  I thank the Ceann Comhairle's office for selecting this Topical Issue for debate this morning, and I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Dooley, to the Chamber. As he knows, I raised this matter in the Upper House on 18 March, and due to its importance for coastal communities, I wanted it to be the first issue that I raised as part of a debate in this House.  This is, as the Minister of State knows, a classic big guy versus small guy issue. As it stands, small harvesters are providing seaweed product to big and smaller processors. Smaller processors are on record as saying that they are quite happy with the status quo , but bigger players want to control the licensing.  In March, the Minister of State indicated that the marine planning policy statement, MPPS, was being finalised and was expected to be brought before the Government in April gone by. What is the status of the MPPS? What is it proposing regarding seaweed rights?  In September 2023, the then Minister of State with responsibility for local government and planning, Deputy Kieran O'Donnell, stated in the House:  ... there also exists the right of individuals to harvest wild seaweed, namely those who hold appurtenant rights and profit-a-prendre rights. Their rights to harvest wild seaweed may be related to a property known as a folio or appurtenant right or built up through harvesting from the same area over a period of time known as a profit-a-prendre rights. The process of registering seaweed harvesting rights on a property folio is matter for the Property Registration Authority of Ireland [Tailte \u00c9ireann].  Advice provided by the Attorney General\u2019s Office in 2018 to my Department was that these rights were to be respected.  There is a cost and a burden on harvesters to register those rights. What thoughts does the Minister of State have in relation to a simpler, less costly procedure to allow harvesters to once and for all register their traditional or generational rights that are handed down but are not on existing folios? Something simpler than engaging with solicitors and going through Tailte \u00c9ireann is in order.  T\u00e1 s\u00e9 r\u00e1ite ag an Aire St\u00e1it go gcaithfimid cearta na mbainteoir\u00ed a chaomhn\u00fa agus a chosaint. D\u00fairt na hiarAir\u00ed St\u00e1it ag an am, an Teachta O\u2019Donnell agus iarTheachta English, go gcaithf\u00ed na cearta sna f\u00f3ili\u00f3nna agus na cearta traidisi\u00fanta eile a chaomhn\u00fa agus go bhfuil r\u00f3l ag Tailte \u00c9ireann maidir le cearta feamainne at\u00e1 leagtha s\u00edos \u00f3 ghl\u00fain go gl\u00fain ach nach bhfuil scr\u00edofa ar f\u00f3ili\u00f3nna a chl\u00e1r\u00fa. Ach t\u00e1 costais ag baint leis seo. An bhfuil aon bhealach go bhf\u00e9adfa\u00ed \u00e9 sin a dh\u00e9anamh tr\u00ed phr\u00f3iseas n\u00edos simpl\u00ed agus ar chostas \u00edseal? C\u00e9ard iad smaointe an Aire St\u00e1it air seo?  T\u00e1 r\u00f3l ag Maritime Area Regulatory Authority, MARA, agus t\u00e1 a chuid oifigigh den tuairim nach bhfuil cead\u00fanas ag teast\u00e1il le haghaidh baili\u00fa n\u00f3 baint m\u00e9id beag feamainne ar bhonn neamhthr\u00e1cht\u00e1la le haghaidh \u00fas\u00e1id phearsanta. De r\u00e9ir MARA, m\u00e1 t\u00e1 daoine ag baint agus ag baili\u00fa feamainne le haghaidh \u00fas\u00e1id tr\u00e1cht\u00e1la, n\u00f3 m\u00e9id m\u00f3r le haghaidh \u00fas\u00e1id pearsanta, n\u00ed m\u00f3r d\u00f3ibh iarratas a dh\u00e9anamh ar chead\u00fanas \u00fas\u00e1ide \u00f3 MARA. T\u00e1 na ruda\u00ed seo f\u00edorth\u00e1bhachtach. N\u00edl s\u00e9 soil\u00e9ir c\u00e9ard at\u00e1 ag teast\u00e1il \u00f3 bhainteoir\u00ed feamainne. This is an issue that has been going on for many years. While there was some certainty provided in the Attorney General's advice back in 2018, there are still licence applications being lodged that I presume are not being dealt with by MARA. MARA is a new agency and it has a role in deciding on those licences, but it is important that there be clear direction from the Department in relation to this. Is there a simpler process whereby, once and for all, we can deal with the generational rights of seaweed harvesters to control their product and rights? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Timmy Dooley)  I thank the Deputy for his question. I know of his particular interest in this area. I have met with him and some seaweed harvesters. Indeed, he and I have discussed this in the Seanad previously. I thank him for his advocacy on behalf of those people who are particularly impacted by this and I congratulate him again on his successful election back to this House, where I have no doubt he will make a significant impact as he has in the past, not least on this issue.  Ireland's first non-statutory MPPS for all marine planning aspects was published in November 2019, pending the introduction of the national marine planning framework and the enactment of the Maritime Area Planning, MAP, Act 2021. In 2019, the MPPS outlined existing components of the marine planning system and its future vision. It set out the high-level priorities of the enactment of the marine planning system in Ireland. Ireland's national marine planning framework, NMPF, was subsequently adopted in May 2021. The NMPF brings together all marine-based human activities for the first time, outlining the Government's vision, objectives and marine planning policy for each marine activity. All public bodies and consenting authorities are required to have regard to it in exercising their statutory functions. This is intended to ensure that consistency, precautionary and evidence-based decision-making across all Departments and agencies. The objectives of the NMPF in relation to seaweed harvesting are: to support the sustainable harvesting of seaweed, having regard to the important economic and social contribution it makes to coastal communities; develop and maintain a fit-for-purpose regulatory framework that supports sustainable harvesting, ensures that key seaweed species that support multiple vital ecosystems are safeguarded and respects existing formal and informal rights to harvest - I think this last is the nub of where the Deputy is coming from - and support ongoing research to build on available data to support sustainable seaweed harvesting.  The Deputy has asked for my view on that, which I have made known to the officials. It is that where people have rights that are established, either by way of documented evidence on folios and other means or through a significant tradition that can be verified insofar as possible, their rights should be respected. We see this from an historical perspective. Coming from a small farm in the west, I am very conscious of parcels of land not always being documented in a manner that would be sufficient to address the ownership or the title deeds, etc. We have to find a methodology of addressing that. Our officials are working on that.  The enactment of the MAP Act in 2021 subsequently provided a statutory framework for marine planning policy statements, and following a consultation on a draft statutory MPPS in 2025, that policy statement is currently being finalised and is expected to be brought before the Government in the coming weeks. We had intended and hoped it would be ready for April but it has lagged a little bit.  I am aware of the complexities involved in relation to traditional seaweed harvesting, having met and engaged with representatives of the industry, as I did with the Deputy. The Maritime Area Regulatory Authority has also engaged with representatives of the industry and is engaging with the Department in relation to the existing regulatory framework, because that has to be clarified to some extent. In that context, it is important to note that, since the establishment of MARA, applicants may apply to the regulator for a licence to harvest seaweed in accordance with Schedule 7 of the 2021 Act, which provides for maritime usage that may be undertaken pursuant to the granting of a licence. MARA shall, before granting a licence, have regard to any environmental impacts arising, and any Government policies that may affect or relate to the functions of MARA. That is a critical component of this discussion. I would also note that departmental officials are examining the regulatory framework to ensure that it is appropriate to adequately safeguard holders of traditional seaweed harvesting rights. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Kyne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Kyne.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Kyne.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Kyne  I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive response. I welcome the fact that he expects the MPPS to be brought to the Government in the coming weeks. May I assume, therefore, that MARA is not granting licences pending the MPPS? Is that in abeyance? Is there a formal process? Is it involving itself in consultation on the best way forward in relation to the harvesting of seaweed and the licensing thereof? It is a relatively new agency. It is an issue that no licences have been granted for a number of years.  The Minister of State has said that departmental officials were working on a simplification or a process to allow this. Have we any timelines in mind for that? The most important thing is that there would be a simpler process before any licences would be granted by MARA. It is key that MARA would not grant licences until we have a clearer system, the MPPS and a policy from the Department and that MARA was aware of this. I hope that MARA is sitting on these licence applications and is either rejecting them because of lack of a policy, or else just not dealing with them, and that the Minister of State would be given time to ensure that the traditional rights of seaweed harvesters were protected via whatever process or simplification could be done. It is important - the Minister of State has an opportunity in this - to ensure that this issue is put to bed once and for all, that these traditional rights would be registered in some fashion at no great cost to the harvesters themselves, and that these rights could be handed down to the next generation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Timmy Dooley  I want to make the Deputy aware that MARA has a statutory function. It is an independent regulatory authority. I would not be in a position, nor would the law permit me, to influence the work it does. In the adjudication of any licence application, it will have to follow the legislation as it stands and would not be minded to consider what we might be discussing in this House or what any future proposal might be. However, as I indicated to the Deputy, we want to bring forward proposals that would, insofar as possible, provide support to those traditional harvesters in recognition of the rights that have been established over a prolonged period of time. I want officials to pursue it insofar as is legally possible so that we can provide assurances, give recognition of those rights even in circumstances where documented rights are not established on folios, etc., and find a registration process that would comply with the law. In line with the law since MARA's statutory establishment, applicants may apply to the regulator for a licence to harvest seaweed in accordance with Schedule 7 of the 2021 Act, which provides for maritime usage that may be undertaken pursuant to the granting of a licence.  Before granting any licence, MARA shall, of course, have regard to any environmental impacts arising. As I said, MARA is within its rights. MARA has a large volume of applications relating to matters right across its remit, whether it be in respect of offshore renewables, Irish Water applications or seaweed harvesting. There is a large volume of work has yet to be concluded. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Seaweed Harvesting"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/dbsect_8","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Hospital Services","counts":{"speechCount":9,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Burke  Concerns have been raised in Cork regarding access for children to MRI scans in circumstances where a general anaesthetic is required. My understanding is that there were outside people coming in to do this work. That all stopped last year. The waiting list has grown substantially and, as a result, there is a concern. Eight consultants signed a letter advising of their concerns. The question now is how we are going to resolve this issue.  Planning was granted for a new paediatric unit at Cork University Hospital, CUH, in 2022. Work on that project has not commenced. Access to certain procedures for children is being restricted as a result. My understanding is that people from outside were being employed to do some of the work involved but that this has stopped.  The other issue that is of concern relates to the outpatient unit that is due to open at Curraheen and whether there will be sufficient staff to operate it. What happened in this instance was that external firms were brought in to do the work. That has stopped, but no additional staff have been taken on to do the work that was being done previously. I have no problem with work being stopped in circumstances where outside contractors were doing it. However, I do have a concern about waiting lists growing substantially.  There is also a question in relation to paediatric services in Cork. There is now major concern about how long a child will have to wait if they need an MRI scan in circumstances where he or she needs a general anaesthetic in order for the scan to take place. The letter to which I refer states that the waiting time could be as long as four years. That is really not acceptable at this stage. What can be done to make sure that there is not an unreasonable waiting time when it comes to getting access to these scans and to resolve the other issues the consultants involved have raised? I hope those issues can be resolved by the HSE, the management at the hospital and the people working at the coalface, namely the consultants, general doctors and nurses. That needs to be looked at. When will action be taken on this matter? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  I appreciate the Deputy raising this matter. I feel as though I may be operating in something of a vacuum here. I might follow up with the Deputy in order to discover who exactly are the people who signed that letter. It is not a letter I have seen. It may have been sent to my Department, but I have not seen it yet. I certainly want to discover who they are and see the issue they are raising. Due to the fact that I am operating in a bit of a vacuum, I have to rely on information on what is happening at the same time.  As the Deputy knows, we ceased third-party insourcing as of yesterday, 30 June. He stated three times an external group of people were coming in to CUH to do some diagnostic work, which is exactly what we were seeing with third-party insourcing. I can fairly infer that what the Deputy is describing may be a consequence of the ending of third-party insourcing of the kind that those on the health committee found so problematic. I do not know if it is the case that this was a third-party insourcing arrangement that has ceased. The Deputy is not sure. We can follow up and check the names. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Burke  I will reply to the Minister in my next contribution. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  Sure. What I would point out is that the south west has a more than ample number of ample staff at the moment. It has recruited 617 people this year alone, which is a nearly quarter of all the people who have been hired by the HSE this year. The HSE has recruited 2,700 people overall. As stated, 617 of them have been appointed in the south west, which is one of six regions. Those in the south west have dramatically increased their recruitment. They are still very high when it comes to agency staff and overtime, which means that there has been no lack of people available to work in the south west.  As already stated, third-party insourcing ceased yesterday. I am not suggesting that this is directly related, because I do not have that information. However, some of that third-party insourcing in CUH related directly to diagnostics. The letter to which the Deputy referred relates to a diagnostic concern. That must be sorted out because the people who must not be prejudiced by what is happening in this regard are children who are awaiting diagnostic scans.  The issue around the letter and the timing of everything certainly raises more questions for me to interrogate and investigate. As I said, the south west has recruited many more people than other regions. Dublin Mid-Leinster has recruited about 300 people, so the south west is well advanced in terms of its recruitment and the availability of people to do this work. We must figure out exactly what has happened and how that may be managed, but this does raise quite a number of new questions for me to investigate.  The Deputy asked about developments relating to paediatric care at the hospital. The Government has invested significantly in paediatric care in CUH. Phase 1 of the paediatric department has been operational since 2017. Phase 2 will focus on the paediatric inpatient unit and will deliver 82 much-needed new and replacement inpatient paediatric beds. We continue to invest in and support that. It is very important that we get to the bottom of the situation relating to MRI scans. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Burke  My understanding is that the eight consultants signed the letter. It was sent to the head of the HSE. They expressed serious concerns to the effect about delays and about the consequences of those delays. The headline of the article I read, and in respect of which I did some further checking, was \"Doctors at Cork hospital call for 'immediate action' to mitigate risk of 'preventable paediatric deaths'\". A headline like that will cause serious alarm for parents of children who are waiting. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  I could not agree more. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Burke  I raised this matter in order that assurances can be provided and that people can get access to care in a timely manner.  A question still arises as to why, previously, there was outsourcing or there were people coming in to do this work privately. That practice has now stopped. The argument being put forward by the consultants is that no additional staff have been taken on to deal with the vacuum that has been created and that, as a result, the list is going to grow and people are going to be waiting longer.  In relation to MRIs, where a concern is expressed by a GP or a medical consultant in relation to a child's health, if there is any delay, there may not be any going back because the treatment was not provided in a timely manner. Eight people at senior level would not sign such a letter unless there are genuine concerns about the waiting time. Whatever the issue is when it comes to providing care for children, it needs to be resolved. I fully understand that we are putting a huge amount of money into the new national children's hospital, and rightly so, but it is important that areas outside of Dublin are not left in limbo as regards people getting access to the care that is required. As a result, I ask that this issue be looked at. The Minister may not have all the answers this morning, but she might come back to me on the matter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  I certainly will, and I could not agree with the Deputy more regarding the importance of resolving and identifying the issue and of making sure that children are getting the diagnostic scans they need. I could also not agree more with him regarding the importance of investing in paediatric care outside of Dublin. That is very important, and it is important to articulate it here this morning. I am in agreement with the Deputy in every possible way in relation to this matter.  I just want to figure out exactly what is going on and how this has come to be.  I should have said earlier that there are 269 children currently waiting for an MRI under general anaesthesia at CUH. Having an MRI under general anaesthesia requires a nurse and an anaesthetist as well as a radiologist. It is a more complicated team. I am aware that the south west has recruited ahead of everyone else. If there is a challenge in terms of where the resources are, it is one we have to figure out. Certainly, that area has recruited more than anybody else, so there should not be this issue. It may be that deployment is more the issue than availability. It is for me to figure that out and to get back to the Deputy. He is correct to raise the issue here today because we do not want children discriminated against in this way.  CUH has invested in a Smileyscope distraction system, which works to develop children's tolerance - where possible; it is not always possible - of MRI without anaesthetic. Instead of sedating children, two play therapists distract and keep them occupied during the MRI. We do not want to have to sedate children where it is possible to avoid it. Eight children have successfully completed the MRI through that approach without the need for general anaesthetic.  I thank the Deputy for raising this really important issue for children's care, including as it relates to resource deployment. I assure him that I will figure out what is going on and get back to him on it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Burke  I thank the Minister. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Hospital Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/dbsect_9","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Cost of Living: Motion [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":32,"speakerCount":24},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Guirke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Deputy Cian O\u2019Callaghan","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan. The Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment has tabled an amendment to Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn's motion, as have Sinn F\u00e9in Members. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  I move:  That D\u00e1il Eireann:  notes that:  \u2014 Ireland is an outlier regarding the spiralling cost of living, and a Eurostat report this week showed we are the most expensive country for housing, health, energy and alcohol, overall prices are 36 per cent above the European Union average, with health costs in Ireland being 85 per cent higher than the European average;  \u2014 a study by Barnardos found that more than one-third of households went into arrears on energy bills in the last 12 months, with the Commission for Regulation of Utilities showing half a million people are behind on gas and electricity payments, and electricity prices are to rise from next week by 8 per cent, while gas goes up by 7.7 per cent;  \u2014 rents are also at record levels, as are evictions, in the wake of the Government's rent reforms, and a two-bed accommodation in Dublin is now almost \u20ac2,700 a month, while nationwide it is \u20ac2,176, which means it costs approximately \u20ac30,000 a year to rent here;  \u2014 the cost-of-living crisis is now mainstream, and families with two incomes are finding it hard to cope, with very little left over for emergencies;  \u2014 in the past five years grocery bills increased by 40 per cent, and that adds up to approximately \u20ac3,000 extra a year, for the same goods;  \u2014 since 2021, energy costs are up 57 per cent, diesel is up 60 per cent, a pint of stout is up 28 per cent, beef cuts for home-cooked stew are up 50 per cent, butter has risen 42 per cent, chicken breasts that were \u20ac5 in 2022 are now \u20ac12.98, steak has doubled in that time and eggs have gone up 35 per cent;  \u2014 this year, the Nevin Economic Research Institute found that Irish households pay around \u20ac360 more per year than the western European average for electricity, and it identified Ireland as a significant \"cost growth outlier\", as overall consumer prices have risen by 24 per cent over the past four years; and  \u2014 families across the country are working hard, yet barely keeping their heads above water;  recognises that:  \u2014 the Government has implemented measures that add to inflation and household bills;  \u2014 the Government refuses to halt the punitive increases in carbon tax and the M50 tolls;  \u2014 the Government collected \u20ac1.17 billion in carbon tax last year, the highest ever;  \u2014 carbon tax was supposed to be ringfenced for climate projects, but Aont\u00fa parliamentary questions found that a quarter of a billion euro of carbon tax revenue, nearly one fifth of it, went back into the State coffers in three years;  \u2014 39 per cent of the carbon tax either was directed to other non-climate projects, or went back to the Exchequer, proving it is not needed for its stated purpose;  \u2014 the National Oil Reserves Agency levy for the climate action fund found that \u20ac278 million, 70 per cent of it, was left sitting in the Government's bank account from 2020 to 2024;  \u2014 the Government took in \u20ac4.3 billion in fuel taxes last year alone;  \u2014 the Government seeks to increase diesel prices by 32 cents, and petrol by 27 cents, a litre on the 1st August;  \u2014 Irene Tinagli, Italian MEP, Economist and Chair of the European Parliament's Special Committee on the Housing Crisis, categorised Ireland's housing crisis as the \"most severe and complicated in Europe\";  \u2014 this year, the Government removed the rent cap for new builds and new tenancies for the objective of making the housing market more lucrative to investors, and the move failed to increase supply, but it resulted in increased rents and record evictions;  \u2014 the M50 has paid for itself 30 times over, yet toll fees were still increased this year, as it has taken in over \u20ac2.2 billion in revenue since 2008, and is now a tax on work;  \u2014 there is no reprieve for burdened customers with the ESB, as despite the semi-State company making supernormal profits of \u20ac650 million last year, half a million people are in energy arrears;  \u2014 the Deposit Re-turn Scheme was introduced in 2024, adding 25 cent and 15 cent per can and bottle onto consumers' shopping bills upfront at the till, and it is an amount in excess of most other European countries who have the same scheme;  \u2014 the scheme has put extra costs on the taxpayer since its inception, such as the half a million-euro cost of cleaning up Dublin from the scavenging it has caused, while the introduction of bottle holders around the bins to try and stop it cost \u20ac155,000 before being scrapped;  \u2014 the Government's waste is at levels never seen before, including the Iarnr\u00f3d \u00c9ireann \u20ac50 million Information Technology system failure that was written off, the recent \u20ac127,000 Health Service Executive (HSE) Kerry bike shed, following on from the infamous \u20ac336,000 Oireachtas bike shed, and another cost overrun is the National Children's Hospital that has seen its original estimate of \u20ac650 million increase to \u20ac2.24 billion and counting for the hospital, with no opening date;  \u2014 there is the \u20ac10 million being spent on Dublin City Council's Wood Quay offices, which are planned to be bulldozed in three years' time;  \u2014 the Metrolink, that started in the mid-2000s, should have cost \u20ac2 billion but is projected to cost \u20ac15.8 billion, and Ireland is the world leader when it comes to squandering public money, bad budgeting and bad planning;  \u2014 Government spending overruns have averaged \u20ac5 billion each year since 2023, and the International Federation of Accountants has strongly criticised the State for year-to-year budgeting, using unrealistic forecasts, and ignoring these overruns; and  \u2014 health accounts for more than 40 per cent of total current spending overruns, and capital infrastructure overruns hit \u20ac1.6 billion in one year; and  calls on the Government to:  \u2014 cancel the planned increase in fuel taxes on diesel of 32 cents, petrol of 27 cents, and green diesel of 2.4 cents per litre;  \u2014 remove the Value-Added Tax (VAT) from construction for a three-year period, as removing VAT from construction would reduce the average price of a house by an estimated \u20ac50,000 per house, and this is also a market activation initiative, as it would improve viability;  \u2014 reduce profits at semi-State ESB to zero, allow it to wash its face, cover its costs and invest, as this would save every household \u20ac300;  \u2014 reform the Deposit Re-turn Scheme, as the not-for-profit company running it has \u20ac103 million in unredeemed deposits in its accounts;  \u2014 bring in a solar panel grant scheme that is accessible for all, increase the grants for solar panels to 50 per cent for low-income families, and reduce it on a sliding scale to the current grant level for high income families;  \u2014 reintroduce the rent caps for new build and new tenancies, as rent caps should be set at the rate of inflation or 2 per cent;  \u2014 scrap the M50 toll;  \u2014 end increases in carbon tax;  \u2014 publish the profits in the grocery sector, as mandating the biggest supermarkets to publish their profits would not interfere with the market, but would bring transparency to the industry and benefit customer choice;  \u2014 introduce a \"heads will roll\" clause for senior civil servants, if they spend money in an irresponsible fashion, as there has to be a cost to their careers, up to and including losing their job;  \u2014 appoint a Minister of State in the Department of the Taoiseach, whose responsibility is to make sure, in real time, that capital projects are not overrunning in cost;  \u2014 audit non-governmental organisations that are being funded by the State, to ascertain if they are providing a benefit for citizens, and cut Government funding to those who are not providing a benefit for citizens;  \u2014 end the \u20ac5 billion of Government budget spending overruns;  \u2014 reduce the processing time for International Protection Accommodation Services applications, to reduce accommodation costs;  \u2014 introduce a 2-year recruitment moratorium in administration within the HSE, to rebalance staff numbers towards the front line;  \u2014 introduce output payments within the HSE, to ensure that the health service gets paid for the consultations, treatments, engagements and operations that are delivered to patients, as this would save money, incentivise hospitals to reduce the length of hospital waiting lists and reorientate staff numbers towards the front line; and  \u2014 increase the price of electricity to new data centres, as this would reduce household electricity prices.  Today, we in Aont\u00fa are using our Private Members' time to try to ease the burden on families throughout the country and make life affordable for them again. The primary aim of our motion is to stop the Government from increasing the price of petrol by 27 cent and the price of diesel by 32 cent between now and 1 December. Incredibly, it is the Government's plan to increase the price of petrol and diesel five times before the end of the year. It is a startling plan for any government to implement in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, when so many families are to the pin of their collar. One of those increases will be a carbon tax increase, which will likely be imposed after the budget. Aont\u00fa's motion seeks to stop the Government from increasing carbon tax. It is absolutely incredible that any government would raise fuel prices by so much during a cost-of-living crisis.  Much of the increased prices we pay in this country are as a result of Government actions. The Government is an architect of the cost-of-living crisis. It is implementing measures that are adding to inflation and household bills. I will give examples. The Fianna F\u00e1il-Fine Gael-Independents Government collected \u20ac1.17 billion in carbon tax last year, which is the highest ever, in the jaws of a cost-of-living crisis. This tax, which is now the biggest fuel tax in the country, hardly existed five years ago. The Government took \u20ac4.3 billion in fuel taxes alone last year. It is eye-watering stuff. The citizens of this country are being shaken down by way of these taxes.  Carbon tax was supposed to be ring-fenced for climate change projects. However, replies to parliamentary questions from Aont\u00fa show that in a three-year period, \u20ac250 million of carbon tax revenue, or nearly a fifth of the total, went back into the State's coffers. Over those three years, that amount of carbon tax money was directed to non-climate projects or went back to the Exchequer because it was not needed for the stated purpose.  The National Oil Reserves Agency, NORA, levy is another example of the Government assaulting consumers. Aont\u00fa has found out that \u20ac278 million, or 70% of the total revenue from the levy, was simply left sitting in a Government bank account between 2020 and 2024. The Government was collecting hundreds of millions of euro from hard-pressed consumers in this country for four years and simply could not find anything to do with the money. It is an incredible admission.  The M50 toll is another tax on workers. The bridges cost \u20ac53 million to build and the Government has collected billions of euro in tolls from drivers. The M50 has paid for itself 30 times over, yet the Government seeks to increase toll fees year on year.  Before the current excise cuts, the Government was collecting 60% of the price of petrol and diesel by way of taxes. It was collecting more in taxes than the total cost of drilling for that oil, extracting it and pumping it to the surface, taking it from the North Sea to a refinery, refining it and then taking it on a ship to Ireland, transporting it to a petrol station and selling it to consumers. All of that cost less than the Government was extracting by way of taxes on that fuel. We have a rip-off model in terms of the Government's approach to this issue, and it is wrong. The plan announced yesterday is simply to return to that rip-off model in the form of high levels of fuel taxes. The Government is tax-gouging families throughout the country, especially those in poverty and in energy arrears.  In relation to electric vehicles, EVs, the ESB, a semi-State company, is hiking up the price of charging at public charging spots. The figures are eye-watering. It will cost 73 cent per kWh to charge an EV in a public space, while drivers can charge their vehicle overnight for 7 cent per kWh. It will cost one tenth of the price to charge an EV at home. The Government says these taxes are designed to move people away from carbon usage and into sustainable types of transport systems. In this case, however, the ESB is incentivising petrol and diesel as fuel sources for travel. It is incredible.  Ireland is an outlier in terms of the spiralling cost of living. This week's Eurostat report showed we are the most expensive country for housing, health and energy in the EU. That damning finding is worth repeating: Ireland the most expensive country in the EU for housing, health and energy. Overall prices here are now 36% higher than the EU average. Health costs are 85% more than the European average. Indeed, Ireland now has the second most expensive electricity market on the planet for domestic users. The Government is achieving world records for all the wrong reasons in terms of the price of electricity. Barnardos has found that one third of Irish households went into arrears on energy bills in the past 12 months. That is astounding. According to the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, 500,000 Irish households are in arrears on gas and electricity bills.  What is the answer from the Government? It is to put electricity prices up today. A total of 1 million householders will pay \u20ac300 more on their annual electricity bills because of today's rise. The Government might say that ESB, including its Electric Ireland division, is a semi-State body. However, semi-State organisations operate on the basis of Government policy. In the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, this semi-State body is putting up the price of electricity today. The Nevin Economic Research Institute has stated that the average household in Ireland is paying \u20ac360 more for electricity than householders in other western European countries. That is because of the Government. The ESB is a semi-State body that operates on the basis of Government policy. Last year, it made \u20ac650 million in profits.  Can the Minister of State see the disconnect here? A semi-State body operating under Government policy made a profit of \u20ac650 million during a cost-of-living crisis that has seen 500,000 families go into arrears on their electricity bills. Does he not understand how morally wrong it is for a Government to operate on that basis? The situation is getting worse. Despite the extent of arrears, the electricity companies are raising their prices today. Tone-deaf semi-State bodies, blind to the hardship of customers, are operating on the basis of Government policy. The ESB is making a \u20ac300 profit per household, which is roughly the same as the difference between average electricity prices in Ireland and those in the rest of Europe.  The whole electricity market is a mess. The grid is creaking and unable to deal with the levels of renewables coming online at the moment. The data centres the Government is incentivising are sucking up all available electricity. We have bottlenecks, constraints and dispatch down notices, which mean we are now actually paying for wind farms in Ireland to switch off electricity output.  It is mind-bending stuff. We are paying for electricity companies not to produce electricity at certain times of day every single day.  Grocery bills are up 40%. It adds approximately \u20ac3,000 extra per family per year for exactly the same goods they were purchasing ten years ago. Families are paying, for example, 50% more for beef cuts, butter has risen by 42%, chicken breasts, which were \u20ac5 in 2022, are now \u20ac12.98, the price of steak has doubled and eggs have gone up 35%. This might seem small beer to Ministers on big wages but for many families struggling to provide nutrition for the children, this is a major mountain they have to climb daily.  The Government is simply adding to that. All of this cost-of-living crisis is happening at a time when the Government is incinerating money. This is the key point, in that we in Aont\u00fa have been very careful to show where the Government is wasting money and where money can be saved to pay for a reduction in certain taxes to make life easier for people. We have seen an incredible waste of money recently with the Re-turn scheme, which added 25 cent and 15 cent to cans and bottles. That is now leading to a \u20ac500,000 cost annually for clean-up in Dublin as a result of the scavenging from bins it is causing. Iarnr\u00f3d \u00c9ireann incinerated \u20ac50 million of taxpayers' money on an IT system that failed to work.  In the second part of my contribution, I will list all of the places where this Government is wasting money, where that money can be saved and where there is a facility to then reduce the price of energy for hard-pressed customers. There is absolutely no way this Government should proceed with five petrol and diesel price increases before the end of the year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  I am the Chairperson of the budgetary oversight committee. We have had many witnesses in over the past number of months. Yesterday, we had witnesses in who agreed with exactly what I and Independent Ireland have been saying. The Department of Finance does not talk to the Department of enterprise. The Department of Finance is responsible for divvying out the moneys but they all work separately. When it hands out bits and pieces, which it says is targeted, it does not cover everyone. The conclusion in our meeting yesterday, which was very good and informative, was if you keep doing the same thing over and over and there is no change, it is a sign of madness. The Government has got to learn from the sign of madness. It is doing the same thing over and over and getting the same result - vulnerable people suffer and the Government does not make change.  We have been talking about the carbon tax and protests. Five years ago in November 2021, I brought a truck up here when truckers were protesting about fuel costs. That was five years ago yet a few months ago not only truckers but farmers, businesses and homeowners all protested and the Government still has not listened. That is after five years. The Government has got it wrong. What does it pay its Departments for, if they do not know how to react to problems? The Government is reactive, not proactive. That is its biggest problem.  I have stood at Limerick Junction and at the Tipperary and Charleville shows - I stand at shows every year meeting people. Of all the shows I have gone to, I have never seen as many people coming to me with their concerns. They were all Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael all their lives. It is not only young people coming to me but it is all age groups, even people who have retired. I was at a mass at the graves of deceased family members. The last man who came up to me as I was leaving was in his eighties. He said, \"Richard, what are they doing up there?\" If the Government has lost all those people who stood beside it all the years and they can see the Government is getting it wrong, why can it not? They see their children and grandchildren suffering because of the people they put in here and now they are embarrassed because the Government is not learning. Why is it not learning? Why is it targeting the most vulnerable people in this country?  The Government made \u20ac1.7 billion extra this year in fossil fuel taxes. The vehicles in this country are mostly from between 2010 and 2018. People are lucky to keep the vehicles they have on the road but the Government has no problem bringing in inferior food from other countries and wants the quality to stay the same here. This is what the Government has done in this country - it has forgotten the very people who put them here and put their trust in them and it is taxing them out of existence.  The most badly off people are the squeezed middle, the working people, people who get up every morning and go to bed late at night. The Government does not look after them. It penalises them for working rather than giving them some bit of a reward. The harder they work, the more they are penalised by the Government. If two people in a household work, they are penalised twice as much as are their children. That is what this Government has stood for. The people are changing in Ireland and it is now showing on the ground. I thank them for that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  When we discuss the cost-of-living crisis, we need to move beyond the headlines and focus on the reality facing households. The Government points to falling inflation rates as evidence the crisis is easing but inflation measures the speed at which prices are rising. It does not mean prices are returning to previous levels. According to analysis of CSO data, the reality is that overall consumer prices are approximately 24% higher than they were five years ago. Families carry the cumulative impact of five years of rising costs. The increases have been most severe in the areas people cannot avoid. Electricity prices are up 62% since 2021, natural gas prices have more than doubled and home heating fuels have increased by over 60%. They are not luxury expenses; they are basic necessities of life. Food prices continue to increase year after year. Food inflation reached 5.1% in 2025 while the price of many everyday grocery items increased substantially. Families see these increases every week as they pay for their shopping. At the same time, the Government continues to speak about economic growth, strong tax revenues and budget surpluses. If the public finances are so healthy, why are so many working households struggling to get ahead? That is the question the Government cannot answer.  One area where relief can be provided immediately is through the abolition of the universal social charge. Independent Ireland has consistently argued that the USC has outlived whatever purpose it may once have served. Just last week, Councillor Danny Collins tabled a motion before Cork County Council calling for its abolition. His point was straightforward - the USC was introduced in 2011 as a temporary measure. Fifteen years later, workers continue to pay it despite repeated promises it would be reduced or abolished. The State collects between \u20ac4 billion and \u20ac5 billion every year through the USC. Meanwhile, families deal with rising housing costs, childcare and fuel costs and energy bills. Independent Ireland believes workers should keep more of the money they earn. That starts with the abolition of the USC. Independent Ireland believes in rewarding people who work but this Government and some in opposition believe in punishing those who work or create employment.  The same principle applies to carbon tax. For years, many of us warned carbon tax would increase the cost of everyday living. We were told we were wrong yet today we see the impact. Motorists pay approximately \u20ac1.85 per litre for petrol and \u20ac1.88 per litre for diesel. More than half what motorists pay at the pumps consists of tax, levies and charges. Taxes account for approximately 58% of the price of petrol and 52% of the price of diesel. That is why communities across Ireland witnessed fuel protests. Ordinary hardworking people took the streets because they believed Government policy was making life more expensive and they could not afford to continue. They were not asking for special treatment; they were asking for common sense.  Housing remains another major contributor to the cost-of-living crisis. The Government will point to more than 36,000 homes being completed in 2025. While that increase is welcome, affordability remains the real issue. Residential property prices have increased by 7.3% in the year to October 2025, with a median dwelling price reaching \u20ac381,000. For many young couples and single workers trying to purchase their first homes, those figures place home ownership further out of reach. The Government talks constantly about supply, but people judge housing policy by whether they can afford to buy a home or pay their rent.  Childcare is another example of the gap between promises and delivery. Families are repeatedly promised affordable childcare. Parents were told that costs would reduce significantly, yet many families continue to pay hundreds of euro every month simply to go to work. The aspiration was commendable; the delivery has been lacking.  I wish to address what has become one of the worst examples of public sector mismanagement in the history of the State, the national children's hospital. The Minister for Health recently stated on Gavan Reilly's programme that there should be between 500 and 600 workers on site at the project, but when she asked to see all these workers, she said, \"They declined.\" You could not make it up. Let us consider that for a moment. This project began with an expected cost of less than \u20ac1 billion. It is now projected to cost well over \u20ac2 billion. It has become the most expensive hospital project in the history of the State and probably the world.  Electricity from Electric Ireland is going up by 8% today. We have not been able to bring the electricity companies to task in this country. They can just put up the electricity to any price. For those who have solar panels, and some are lucky enough to have them even though the grant is shockingly bad, tell me that what they are getting from Electric Ireland is not going to rise. Electric Ireland will put up the charge if we are using the electricity, therefore, but it will screw over the ordinary hard-working person who has put money into their home and put up solar panels. We are not fighting for renewables and to give people that opportunity or bonus by having renewables in their homes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan)  I move amendment No. 1:  To delete all words after \"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann\" and substitute the following:  \"notes that the Government:  \u2014 remains deeply concerned about the conflict in the Middle East and Gulf region;  \u2014 is acutely aware of the impact on households and businesses of the recent increases in the cost of living, and is actively monitoring the current geopolitical situation and its impact on costs;  \u2014 affirms that affordability is a priority for this Government; and  \u2014 has taken action to help households and businesses with the cost of fuel and energy, by introducing one of the most comprehensive support packages in the European Union (EU);  affirms that:  \u2014 the Government is deeply aware of the pressures placed on households and businesses by cost-of-living pressures;  \u2014 the National Energy Affordability Taskforce (NEAT) was established in June 2025, to identify, assess and implement measures that will enhance energy affordability for households and businesses, while delivering key renewables commitments and protecting security of supply and economic stability;  \u2014 in recent months, the Government introduced a \u20ac750 million package of fuel supports, which is among the largest per capita of any EU state;  \u2014 these measures have been further extended until 1st September, 2026, at an estimated cost of \u20ac270 million;  \u2014 the Value-Added Tax (VAT) rate on electricity bills has been reduced to 9 per cent, until 2030;  \u2014 enhanced social protection payments have been introduced, including an increase to the fuel allowance rate, and an expansion of the eligibility rules;  \u2014 successive budgets have provided targeted support to help households with cost-of-living pressures;  \u2014 the NEAT continues to work intensively on an energy affordability action plan to be submitted to the Government in quarter 3 of this year;  \u2014 this action plan will be focused on short-, medium- and long-term measures, to support households and businesses to meet energy costs;  \u2014 the action plan will be built on four key pillars:  \u2014 addressing the price;  \u2014 sustainable demand and enhancing flexibility;  \u2014 addressing energy poverty and customer protections; and  \u2014 energy affordability for businesses;  \u2014 this will be a crucial element of the Government's work to improve competitiveness, complementing the current Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity;  \u2014 a range of protections are in place for customers experiencing difficulties in paying their bills, including through the Department of Social Protection, who can provide support through the Additional Needs Payment, to help households meet expenses, including those who face difficulties with fuel bills;  \u2014 a record capital budget of \u20ac640 million, including \u20ac558 million from carbon tax receipts, has been allocated to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, supporting 73,000 home energy upgrades to make homes warmer, healthier and more comfortable, with lower emissions and lower bills;  \u2014 the allocation also includes a record \u20ac340 million for the Warmer Homes Scheme, which provides fully funded upgrades for those in energy poverty and is targeting 11,500 upgrades this year;  \u2014 Ireland has legally binding targets for the collection and recycling of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles, and the Deposit Re-turn Scheme is ensuring we meet those targets;  \u2014 the fully refundable deposit amount balances affordability with incentivising consumers to return the empty container, and the return rate of nearly 77 per cent shows that this is working;  \u2014 under the EU accounting framework, reporting and disclosure obligations are determined primarily by the size of a company, with different requirements applying to micro-, small-, medium-sized and large undertakings, reflecting the principle that reporting obligations should be proportionate to the scale of the business, and is applied consistently across the EU;  \u2014 accordingly, grocery retailers are subject to the same accounting and disclosure requirements as other companies of a comparable size, and companies operating in Ireland, including those connected with other EU member states, are subject to harmonised reporting frameworks under EU law;  \u2014 any proposal to introduce additional reporting obligations, for a particular sector, would therefore need to be considered in the context of Ireland's obligations under the EU accounting framework, and the existing size-based system of corporate reporting;  \u2014 Budget 2026 reduced the VAT rate for the construction and supply of qualifying apartments and apartment blocks, from 13.5 per cent to 9 per cent, until the end of 2030, as part of a social policy to deliver higher density housing;  \u2014 a 0 per cent VAT rate may be applied to a maximum of seven of any of the categories included under Annex III of the EU VAT Directive, however, as Ireland already applies the 0 per cent rate to the maximum number of categories, there is no scope to expand this to the construction of new housing;  \u2014 the national housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030, contains a suite of measures to support domestic and international investment in the delivery of new rental properties, in particular, the supply of new apartments;  \u2014 the recently enacted Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2026, provides improved security of tenure for tenants, while also encouraging more private investment in the rental market; and  \u2014 the Act, effective from 1st March, 2026, introduced a national system of rent control, with rent increases to be capped by inflation, measured by the Consumer Price Index, and in times of high inflation, rent increases are capped at a maximum of 2 per cent; and  further notes that:  \u2014 the latest Eurostat report, comparing electricity prices across the EU, outlines that Ireland had the 5th highest for household electricity prices in the second half of 2025, when adjusted to take account of the 'Purchasing Power Standard', i.e., practical affordability, taking account of household income and so on;  \u2014 the most recent report from the Commission for Regulation of Utilities shows that 319,000 (14 per cent) of domestic electricity customers were in arrears in March, unchanged since December, and that a much lower 8 per cent (184,000) of domestic electricity customers were in arrears for over 90 days, approximately the same level as May 2025;  \u2014 the four biggest energy retailers have confirmed that hardship funds and focused measures are in place, for any customers in difficulty;  \u2014 switching energy supplier or plan could save the average electricity customer up to \u20ac500 annually;  \u2014 the Government has also established the NEAT, to identify, assess and implement measures that will enhance energy affordability for households and businesses, while delivering key renewable commitments, and protecting security of supply and economic stability;  \u2014 the Government remains committed to ensuring that low-income households benefit from Ireland's renewable energy transition, and will continue to explore how best to integrate solar and other technologies into our energy poverty retrofit programmes;  \u2014 carbon tax funds are allocated for expenditure on measures including the continuation of a national retrofitting programme, investment in community energy efficiency measures, and funding for greener farming practices, as part of Ireland's climate policy and our aim to reach net-zero by 2050;  \u2014 the temporary deferral of the 1st May carbon tax increase will result in lower carbon tax revenues of \u20ac22 million in 2026;  \u2014 neither the Government, nor the Minister for Transport, have a direct role in the setting of M50 toll rates, as these are instead governed by statutory byelaws, and are managed by Transport Infrastructure Ireland;  \u2014 additionally, toll revenues from the M50 are fully reinvested in the operation, maintenance, protection and renewal of the national road network, and abolishing the M50 toll would cost the \u20ac250 million in revenues that would instead have to be raised from general taxation;  \u2014 recruitment within the Health Service Executive is complex and has been devolved to regional structures, who are best placed to assess service needs and prioritise posts, and a recruitment pause would directly undermine this approach and could result in increased reliance on agency staff, ultimately driving up costs rather than reducing them, and thereby restricting the funding for hiring more front-line staff;  \u2014 the Government is already progressing a significant reform programme, to link healthcare funding more directly to the level of activity delivered to patients through implementation of Activity Based Funding (ABF), which represents a fundamental shift in how hospital budgets are set;  \u2014 a structured implementation plan is in place, with shadow ABF processes being rolled out across 2026\u20132027, allowing funding models to be tested and refined before full implementation from 2028;  \u2014 achieving value for money must be sought at all stages of policy formation, and it is the responsibility of every Minister, public and civil servants within all Departments;  \u2014 earlier this year, the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation published Circular 21\/2026 Expenditure Control and Escalation Processes, this sets out the various phases of an expenditure control escalation process for use across Government, and the corrective steps that may be implemented where expenditure risks and overruns are identified, and this new escalation process will strengthen effective budget oversight through enhanced governance and a focus on value for money, ensuring that expenditure ceilings are credible and deliver effectively on Programme for Government commitments; and  \u2014 this builds on Value for Money Circular 18\/2025, which highlighted the roles and responsibilities in the delivery of value for money, as well as the robust guidance, codes of practice, and circulars underpinned by legislation, and informed by best practice in the pursuit of value for money, and it is the responsibility of the Accounting Officer for each Department to ensure that they manage expenditure sustainably, and in accordance with this allocation.\".  I speak on behalf of the Government on this wide-ranging motion regarding the cost of living. I reiterate that the Government opposes this motion and puts forward its own countermotion. The proposed countermotion outlines and affirms that energy affordability is a priority of this Government and highlights the significant supports that have been provided by the Government to help households and businesses with the cost of fuel and energy, including the introduction of one of the most comprehensive support packages in the EU. The conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine have caused significant disruption to global energy markets. The Government is also very aware and concerned about the pressures placed on households and businesses while high energy costs are rising due to the conflict. Providing supports to alleviate this pressure has and will continue to be a priority. We have taken action to help households and businesses with the cost of fuel and energy, such as the expanded fuel allowance, tax reductions on energy and significantly expanded retrofitting programmes.  On 12 April, the Government agreed a \u20ac500 million package of fuel supports. This is in addition to the initial \u20ac250 million in targeted supports announced in March. These packages are among the largest per capita interventions in any EU member state. Key measures introduced include a reduction in excise on petrol, diesel and marked gas oil, MGO. When taken with the reduction in the NORA levy, that means 32 cent off a litre of diesel, 27 cent off a litre of petrol and 7.4 cent off MGO. There is a deferral of the planned increase in carbon tax scheduled for 1 May until the budget and an increase in the maximum repayment amount available under the diesel rebate scheme for qualifying road haulage and bus transport operators from 5.7 cent to 12 cent per litre for quarter 1 and quarter 2 of 2026. We have also developed a new \u20ac120 million road transporter support scheme, as well as supports for coach operators providing Local Link services. A \u20ac100 million fuel subsidy support scheme for farmers, agricultural contractors and fishers has also been opened. These measures were introduced on a temporary basis to provide some relief from fuel price inflation.  As stated at the time of the interventions in March and April, the Government reserves the right to review and alter the policy approach, as necessary. Accordingly, the Government has continued to actively monitor all relevant strands of information, including global energy market dynamics and domestic retail pricing trends. Following this review, the Government announced an updated approach on 30 June. This approach is informed by very significant reductions in crude oil prices, as well as retail fuel prices, over recent weeks. It is therefore appropriate to begin the process of reversing the temporary reductions in mineral oil tax. It is important to emphasise that there will be no cliff-edge effects for consumers; rather, the restoration of pre-March 2025 mineral oil tax rates will be done in a gradual and phased way.  The motion also calls for an end to increases in carbon tax. However, as Deputies will be aware, carbon tax is a core part of Ireland\u2019s climate policy and our aim to reach net zero by 2050. The need for society and the economy to decouple from fossil fuel dependence is even more apparent now given the volatility of international fuel markets. The best way of insulating our economy and society from fuel prices shocks is to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. Carbon tax funds are allocated for expenditure on measures that will achieve this, including the continuation of a national retrofitting programme, investment in community energy efficiency measures and funding the greener farming practices. The benefit of carbon tax is obvious, with 2026 seeing a record capital budget of \u20ac640 million, including \u20ac558 million from carbon tax receipts, allocated to the SEAI residential and community energy grant schemes. This allocation will support 73,000 home energy upgrades to make homes warmer, healthier and more comfortable, with lower emissions and lower bills. The allocation also includes a record \u20ac340 million for the warmer homes scheme, which provides fully funded upgrades for those in energy poverty and is targeting 11,500 upgrades this year. A total of 53% of the allocation for SEAI residential and community schemes in 2026 is for the warmer homes scheme.  It is important to note that the fuel supports announced this year build on the suite of measures to assist households with cost-of-living pressures announced as part of budget 2026. A total of \u20ac28.9 billion will be spent on social protection in 2026, including over \u20ac1.15 billion of new measures targeted to assist households. The measures contained in the budget are designed to support the most vulnerable in our society with the cost of living and there is a particular focus on tackling child poverty. The package includes the largest child support payment increase in the history of the State, with a weekly increase of \u20ac16 to \u20ac78 for children aged 12 and over, which is a 26% increase, and a weekly increase of \u20ac8 to \u20ac58 for children under 12 years, which is a 16% increase. This brings the total annual value of the child support payment to \u20ac3,016 for each child under the age of 12 and \u20ac4,056 for each child over 12.  Record increases were announced in respect of the carer\u2019s allowance income disregard, with an increase of \u20ac375 to \u20ac1,000 for a single person and an increase of \u20ac750 to \u20ac2,000 for a couple. The income limit for carer\u2019s benefit will also increase by \u20ac375 to \u20ac1,000 per week. This change will take effect from this month. Also included in the budget package were across-the-board increases of \u20ac10 per week to maximum personal payment rates, benefiting people such as pensioners, people with disabilities, carers and lone parents, with proportionate increases for people receiving a reduced payment rate and qualified adults. These changes took effect from January.  The budget package also provided significant supports to help householders with the cost of heating and other energy bills. The fuel allowance increased by \u20ac5 to \u20ac38 per week and, for the first time, families receiving the working family payment now qualify for the fuel allowance. In addition, people moving from disability allowance or the blind pension to take up work will retain their fuel allowance for five years. The budget also included an extension of the 9% VAT rate that applies to gas and electricity. The wide array of measures clearly demonstrates the huge focus the Government has placed on assisting ordinary people and families with the cost of living.  In addition to the wide-ranging support already provided by the Government, we recognise that more needs to be done to help households and businesses that are under pressure as a result of increasing energy prices. The cross-government national energy affordability task force, NEAT, will play a key role in that regard. The task force is preparing an energy affordability action plan as well as co-ordinating the national response to the energy shock arising from the conflict in the Middle East. This structure will ensure a co-ordinated and coherent response to the energy crisis that is aligned with the programme for Government commitments and longer term action on energy affordability.  The report of the task force, which included measures for consideration in budget 2026 including those I mentioned earlier, was published last November. The task force is now working intensively on the preparation of an energy affordability action plan, which will be completed in quarter 3 of 2026. The action plan will examine cost drivers in the energy sector and identify short-, medium- and long-term measures to enhance the affordability of energy for households and businesses. The action plan will be built on four key pillars: addressing the price of energy, sustainable demand and enhancing flexibility, addressing energy poverty and customer protections, and energy affordability for businesses. Intensive work on the action plan by NEAT subgroups, for example those on energy demand and grid financing, assisted by external advisory support, will continue over the coming weeks.  This work will be supported by a process of engagement with relevant stakeholders. This will ensure that EAAP priorities are shaped by public and stakeholder input and remain responsive, inclusive and grounded in lived experience. A targeted stakeholder consultation has taken place on tackling energy poverty. This follows on from a recent meeting with representatives from the community and voluntary pillar such as Age Action Ireland, the National Women's Council of Ireland and the environmental pillar in respect of their proposals on energy poverty.  Consultation sessions with business groups and the Electricity Association of Ireland, EAI, and retail electricity suppliers have also been held. In addition, the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, has engaged with the four biggest energy retailers in recent months to ensure that hardship funds and focused measures are in place for any customers in difficulty. It is important to note that the Department of Social Protection can also provide support through the additional needs payment to help households to meet expenses, including those who face difficulty with fuel bills.  The Government has introduced substantial support during this volatile period. Supports are timely and necessary and we will continue to monitor the situation closely. In the remaining minute I will add, because very little was alluded to on this in the initial contributions from the Opposition, that the key most fundamental way we can reduce energy prices for the people of Ireland is by ramping up renewable energy. It is as simple as this: the higher the proportion of our energy needs or fuel needs that are met by fossil fuels, then the higher our prices will be. It is simple maths. Our fuel and the cost of electricity, the cost of energy, is directly linked and tied to the cost of a barrel of crude oil. We have to step away from that. We have to ramp up solar and wind generation. However, we can only do that if people get behind it. The Deputies who are contributing and criticising the Government for energy prices are the same Deputies who will object to renewables and to solar and object to alternative forms of energy. It is a fact. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  The data centres are doing that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan  The Opposition would prefer to lead us down a path that we cannot come back from and tie us into fossil fuels forever which is only going to continue to lead to increased energy prices. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  I thank my colleagues in Aont\u00fa for their work on this motion and thank the Deputies for their contributions today. The fact is that the point raised by the Minister of State a few moments ago is actually untrue. This Government has a policy of increasing the number of data centres. For every new wind or solar development the vast majority of that additional capacity is going to data centres. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan  Says yer man with the laptop. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  Let us not mislead the House here. It is important that we say that from the outset. The truth is that Ireland is an outlier in terms of the cost of living in the country at the moment. We are the most expensive country in Europe for housing, health, energy and alcohol. Is the Minister of State going to blame the Opposition for the disasters of health and the cost of housing? The Government has presided over this. It is time the Minister of State owned this. Overall prices are 36% higher in Ireland than in the rest of the European Union. Health costs are about 85% higher in Ireland than they are elsewhere in the European Union. One third of households went into arrears in the past 12 months. That equates to more than 300,000 people. Since 2021, energy is up 57%. During that time there has been an increase in renewables. Can the Minister of State explain that? Diesel is up 60%. Much of that increase is due to geopolitics but there is also the fact that the Government is gouging in terms of taxation, which accounts for the majority of what we pay at the pump. That is the truth. We are being overcharged. A significant amount of what we are being overcharged is as a result of Government policy on the high cost of energy. Built into the carbon tax is that very policy. The Government wants to increase the cost of fuel, increase the cost of diesel and petrol, irrespective of the cost at the pump. That is what the Government voted for. We in Aont\u00fa did not. In 2021 we did not support the climate action Bill because we knew what it would lead to.  In relation to carbon tax, last year the Government collected \u20ac1.1 billion in carbon tax, the highest tax on record. This year the Government is on track to take in \u20ac200 million more in carbon tax, despite the fact that there has been a reduction in tax due based on the price increases that were due to take place. The Taoiseach constantly outlines that we need this tax for retrofitting and for climate measures. However, the numbers state that between 2020 and 2023 half a billion euro in carbon tax was unspent. It was returned to the Exchequer. Meanwhile, the Government is continually increasing the carbon tax, despite the fact it cannot be spent.  I have spoken to so many families who applied for and were approved for SEAI grants but because there is such a constraint in terms of labour, they are waiting for two or three years for that work to take place. A significant conversation needs to be had in relation to the constraints in terms of the labour force and the effect it is also having in terms of the development of homes.  The National Oil Reserves Agency, NORA, levy is another tax on fuel and it goes into the climate action fund. Since 2020, the climate action fund has been in surplus by almost \u20ac300 million. Since the start of this crisis the Government has been misleading us all. It is time it was called out on this. When it was first announced, the Government rolled out a package. At first, it was a \u20ac500 million package, then it was a \u20ac700 million package. The cost of this was not cost in terms of income forgone. It was a hypothetical figure. All the additional costs being brought forward, the increases in carbon tax, were added to it. Then the Government went to the people and said we are great and wanted a clap on the back. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  I acknowledge Aont\u00fa for tabling this motion in good faith. It names a crisis that is biting every man, woman and child in this country. Families with two incomes are working harder than their parents ever did and having less to show for it. Grocery bills are up 40%, energy bills are up nearly 60% and rent is at a level unthinkable ten years ago. The diagnosis, like much of this motion, is correct. However, the correct diagnosis followed by the wrong prescription does not cure the patient.  The hard truth this House must face is that the policies that brought us into this mess are the wrong ones to sort it out. For 15 years, we have been governed by an economic instinct that treats the citizen's wallet as the State's first resort and last reserve. Tax it, levy it, surcharge it, toll it and then families buckle under it. Government members will scratch their heads and wonder why. It offers a one-off cheque for Christmas and call it some sort of compensation. That is not compensation. It is a Government picking your pockets and handing you back the bus fare. That is what the Government has done on a regular basis.  Let me offer two solutions to get to the root of this symptom. The first is the universal social charge, USC, which was introduced in 2011 as an emergency measure, brought in from the wrecking and crashing of the economy by the Fianna F\u00e1il Administration and sold to this country as temporary. Now, 15 years later, the emergency is well and truly over but the tax remains. It is the most cynical levy in our system because the tax credit cannot touch it. It is charged at almost the top gross income on the first euro. A worker earning \u20ac50,000 hands over more than \u20ac1,000 in USC alone. The self-employed, who are the drivers of our economy, who take the risks, who create jobs and who, when something happens to them or they are sick, are not entitled to any social welfare, are taxed at a rate of 11% on top. Independent Ireland's answer is plain: abolish the USC. Do not tinker with a tax band or two, do not shave half a percent off a rate here and there and issue a press release. Abolish the universal social charge and let every worker in this country keep what they earn. That is a real payment structure relief - money in the pocket of every nurse, every electrician and every shop assistant every week of this year.  For those in this House who will ask how we will pay for that, I would say look at your own motions, the things that have been brought to this House: MetroLink, costing \u20ac15.8 billion; and a children's hospital that has quadrupled in cost to \u20ac5 billion in overruns since 2023. You do not fund a tax cut on the back of workers but by ending wasteful spending. Wasteful spending is something the Government is very good at doing.  The second solution is energy, and the Minister of State mentioned that himself. The contradiction he failed to mention is the Irish policy laid before us. We have some of the highest electricity prices in Europe. In 2021 the Government legislated for a ban on all new oil and gas exploration in our waters. It chose deliberately to keep the resources in the ground. We are aware that the Corrib gas field is running dry. By 2030, the Government's own figures have told us that the country will import over 90% of gas, almost all through pipelines from the United Kingdom. We are one of only a handful of EU states that has no gas storage of its own.  The Minister of State is talked about renewable energies and how important they are. Nobody on this side of the House, and certainly in Independent Ireland, objects to renewable energy but we realise the importance and the reality that we are going to be dependent on fossil fuels for another 20 to 40 years. We can face the facts and deal in reality, unlike the Government. The Government chose not to open or explore Barryroe, knowing there are hundreds of millions of barrels of oil there. It will not even allow the exploration of it and has chosen not to look at it. The Government intends to import energy from France and Spain. That is not renewable energy, which the Minister of State knows as well as I do. He is denying that. His environmental policy is dressed up as virtue. That is the reality of it. He can talk and virtue-signal about renewable energies all he wants, and nobody is objecting to that, but he has to realise there are other energies as well that we are heavily dependent on in this country. The Government has to lift the ban and look at our energy security. Energy security is national security. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I move amendment No. 1 to amendment No. 1:  To insert the following after \"expenditure sustainably, and in accordance with this allocation\":  \"; and  calls on the Government to:  \u2014 recognise that increasing diesel by 34 cents and petrol by 29 cents a litre before the end of the year will put unjustifiable pressure on workers and families already struggling with the cost-of-living crisis;  \u2014 rule out any increase in excise duty prior to budget day and conditional on a review of the market conditions at that time; and  \u2014 introduce energy credits of \u20ac400 per household in direct response to the record number of households unable to pay their energy bills.\".  Cuirim f\u00e1ilte roimh an r\u00fan seo ar an chostas maireacht\u00e1la. T\u00e1 leas\u00fa curtha s\u00edos ag Sinn F\u00e9in ar an m\u00e9id at\u00e1 curtha chun tosaigh ag an Rialtas. T\u00e1 an Rialtas ag iarraidh orainn taca\u00edocht a thabhairt don mh\u00e9id at\u00e1 curtha chun tosaigh aige, is \u00e9 sin, go n-ard\u00f3far praghas an d\u00edosail 34 cent agus praghas an pheitril 29 cent idir seo agus an Nollaig. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 dodh\u00e9anta. Nil glacadh ag gn\u00e1thdhaoine na t\u00edre leis seo mar t\u00e1 a fhios acu go bhfuil br\u00fa millteanach orthu. Ba ch\u00f3ir don Rialtas faoiseamh a thabhairt do dhaoine at\u00e1 ag streachailt amuigh ansin, in \u00e1it a bheith ag cur n\u00edos br\u00fa agus ualaigh ar a gcuid guaill\u00ed. Is \u00e9 sin an rud at\u00e1 ag tarl\u00fa inniu. Seasann Sinn F\u00e9in go huile is go hioml\u00e1n ina \u00e9adan sin. N\u00edor ch\u00f3ir go mbeadh praghas an pheitril agus d\u00edosail ag ard\u00fa le linn an tsamhraidh agus n\u00edor ch\u00f3ir go mbeadh s\u00e9 ag dul suas an m\u00e9id is at\u00e1 an Rialtas ag iarraidh.  Today households across the State are hit with blow after blow. This has been a continuous situation for the past number of years with costs rising, whether in our supermarkets, for rents, for insurance or the costs of the basics, just to get by. Today is a dark day for people because over a million households will see their electricity rise. I heard the Minister of State say that his Minister sat down with the electricity companies and energy generators. What was the response? It was double-digit increases in gas and electricity, kicking in today. That is going to really hurt people.  Today is the day the European Commission decided that the Irish people should pay more tax. Every single person who now buys a product from outside the European Union will be hit by a \u20ac3 charge as of today, another ridiculous situation and disastrous policy introduced by the Commission, which our Government has refused to stand up against despite them now taking on the prestigious position of the EU Presidency.  Today is the day the Government has come forward with its amendment and asked us that we pat it on the back for the job it thinks it is doing. More importantly, the amendment asks us to support the idea that it would increase the price of diesel by 34 cent between now and Christmas and the price of petrol by 29 cent between now and Christmas. Are the Minister of State and the Cabinet Ministers who sat around the table yesterday morning and decided this was a good idea not listening to people? I ask that genuinely. Are they not talking to people in their own constituencies? Do they not hear the concerns of people who cannot pay their electricity bills and the concerns of those who work every hour that God sends them yet still find it tough to make ends meet at the end of the week? Do they not hear people talking about how the shopping trolley has got more expensive? How under God can they sit at a Cabinet table and decide to bring forward a proposal that will increase the price of diesel by 34 cent between now and Christmas? It is simply outrageous. It should not happen. It is absolutely tone deaf to the concerns, frustration and worries of the Irish people right across the State. That is why Sinn F\u00e9in has tabled an amendment to the amendment to demand that the Government does not proceed with these increases at the scale and timeframe it has proposed.  We do not have to be like this. Ireland does not have to be the country that has got the highest taxes on petrol and diesel across the European Union. Ireland does not have to be the country that charges the highest electricity costs across the European Union. Ireland does not need to be the country where we charge some of the highest rents in the European Union. A different type of Ireland is possible. It requires a Government that listens, understand and takes action to meet the needs of ordinary people. A Government's responsibility at a time of pressure on its citizens is to lift the burden off them, not do what was decided yesterday at Cabinet, namely to place more burden on the shoulders of ordinary Irish people over the next four months when it will get away with it. It is simply wrong.  The Government is kicking the can down the road but the end result is the same. The end result we are being asked to support here is a 34 cent increase in diesel, pushing the price of diesel well beyond \u20ac2 and the price of petrol up another 29 cent. The Government is not even finished at that because it plans to increase it again next year and in the years after that. It is absolutely reckless and bound by this notion that if we increase the price of diesel and petrol, if we make it so hard and so expensive for people just to get into their cars and drive up that road, they might all go and buy an electric car. People in my constituency do not have the \u20ac40,000 or \u20ac50,000 to buy new electric cars. The Government needs to get real here. This cannot go ahead. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell  The cost-of-living crisis is hitting my constituency of Galway West incredibly hard. In this Chamber I have raised countless examples of families in Galway under unbearable pressure from the cost of living. Working people cannot make their wages stretch to cover soaring rents, crippling energy bills and the ever-increasing cost of their weekly shop. Crucially, rents are now up in Galway by 18%. That means that rents are rising more than four times faster than wages. This Government knows that this is completely and utterly unsustainable. Even the Taoiseach admitted that very few people can afford rents in Galway but still he refused to act. The Government votes against every single proposal we put forward to ease pressures on renters. If the Government were serious about tackling the cost-of-living crisis, it would ban rent increases effective immediately. It would end no-fault evictions and ramp up housing supply by actually building social and affordable homes.  No matter how many stories are raised in this Chamber of working people, struggling families and fractured communities in desperate need of help with the cost-of-living crisis, the Government fails to act. The Government should be listening to these families and communities who are the backbone of our economy. Instead, it takes its advice from a select few economists who pat it on the back and tell it that it has built a strong, booming economy that is performing very well for the wealthiest in our society.  Two weeks ago, some of our most senior economists sounded the alarm bells. The Central Bank published a quarterly bulletin. Its revised forecast shows that the cost-of-living crisis will go up even further than it expected this year. These forecasts show that prices are not just going up, they are going up faster than wages. The Central Bank is crystal clear. Under this Government, people are getting poorer. The Central Bank is telling us that real wages are dropping. That means people are going to struggle even more than they have been up to this point.  There is no point in everybody coming into this Chamber during the winter months to talk about this at a time when parents cannot put food on the table or heat their homes. When that happens, everybody cries out and says, \"Oh my god. Isn't that terrible\". We told the Minister of State that this would happen. It is not only that we are telling him it is happening; statistics constantly show that people are falling into poverty because of the political choices being made.  This is on the Government. Rents and the housing crisis are getting worse. That is a direct result of the Government's policies as opposed to anybody else's. It is high time that the Government started listening to the other people in this Chamber, because what it is doing is terrible. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  It is not lost on the Irish people that the electricity credits were removed as soon as the general election was over. People received those credits as they prepared to vote. The cynicism behind what was done was off the scale. The Government only decided to reduce excise duty when there were strong protests across the State. The people I saw protesting in Donegal are the salt of the earth. They are responsible for delivering goods and producing food . To quote Leo Varadkar back in the day, they are the people who get up early in the morning and keep the country running. It was those people who were out protesting in desperation. Only after that did the Government introduce cuts to excise duty. It now proposes to increase excise duty again - to sneak it back in - while the D\u00e1il is in recess. People who are trying to get by in this country face being charged \u20ac2 per litre for diesel and petrol. You can imagine what we will face in the winter if that is where the Government goes with this. I ask it to reflect very hard on what is proposed.  People who say that carbon tax should not be increased are attacked by the Government. The reality for those living in a place like Donegal is that, in the main, they do not have the option to drive electric vehicles. People are not choosing to purchase petrol and diesel. Those in a place like Donegal have to have it in order to get by, to get to college and to get to work in order to earn a living. People are being penalised for choices they are not in a position to make. People do not have the resources to retrofit their homes because the costs involved are huge. Older people in particular cannot afford it. That is why there is heavy reliance on home heating oil in places like Donegal. The Government should stop talking about this in a way that makes it seem that people are backward when they say that those who live in rural communities should be penalised for living there. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  I thank Deputies for bringing forward the motion. My constituents pay some of the highest energy costs in Europe. They would love to be able to re-register their households as data centres in order to avail of some of the Government's cheap electricity, but they cannot do so. As a result, they get screwed every single day of the week for the crime of wanting some hot water and a hot or warm home. People with disabilities feel that even more acutely.  Some 320,000 household accounts are in arrears with their electricity bills and 180,000 are in arrears with their gas bills. This is the inevitable consequence of the Government withdrawing energy credits, which were a little treat in the run-up to the election and which then disappeared very quickly. Those in arrears are having prepaid meters installed in their homes. The Minister of State should know, but I fear he does not, that prepaid meters have some of the highest rates for electricity. A data centre that is sucking the life out of the grid pays cheap electricity rates. However, a lone parent who lives in Balbriggan, Rush, Lusk, Skerries or anywhere else in my constituency and who gets behind with their bills is punished by being put on a higher rate of electricity. When they cannot pay, a buzzer starts to go off and people know their energy is going to run out. They then have to go to the local Intreo office where they are told to fill out a form and wait. People are being cut off, but this is not recorded as their being disconnected. They do not have the energy to heat their homes. The Minister of State should reflect on the impact of the Government's policies on the people who are at the business end of them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  The cost of living is one of the biggest issues that people raise in my constituency office. People are struggling to make ends meet. Workers are handing over more than half of their wages in rent. They can barely cover their bills, put diesel in their cars, food on the table or pay for childcare and ever-increasing insurance costs. The cost of fuel is crippling people as they go about their daily business. Sinn F\u00e9in has pushed every step of the way for the Government to do the right thing. While other parties, including the sponsors of the motion, were sleeping away last week, Sinn F\u00e9in, through Deputy Doherty, put forward amendments to the Finance Bill to reduce the cost of petrol and diesel at the pumps. We have also submitted an amendment to today's motion to improve it.  Last week, we had to listen to what I can only describe as a rant from Independent Ireland regarding Sinn F\u00e9in's policy on carbon tax. Independent Ireland was caught out in its misrepresentation. The D\u00e1il record does not lie. Here are the facts. For those down the back who may struggling with what I am going to say or who hear what they want to hear, carbon tax was brought in by Fianna F\u00e1il in 2010. Sinn F\u00e9in opposed it. Some Independent Ireland Deputies were members of Fianna F\u00e1il when it introduced the carbon tax in 2010. Sinn F\u00e9in opposed the carbon tax in 2012, 2013, 2019 and at every opportunity since. The climate action Bill had absolutely nothing to do with carbon tax. Carbon tax is not mentioned in the Bill. Independent Ireland and others having a different opinion about Sinn F\u00e9in on policy matters is great and is called having political differences and engaging in political discourse. I am happy to argue with them any day of the week, but they should not make things up because people will see through them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  People are struggling. Sometimes I ask myself whether the Government has any idea what is happening. The Minister of State is from west Cork. How do people who do not drive a car or van in west Cork get to work, school, college or hospital? People cannot depend on public transport.  The Government is behaving in a sneaky way. It will put up the price of diesel and petrol while the Government is on holidays. The Minister of State should stand up and be a man. If the Government is going to increase the price, it should increase it. The Government should come in here and do it rather than when its members are out sunning themselves. Why will the Government not accept that and stand over its decisions? Is it afraid of doing so?  The price of petrol and diesel will increase on 1 September. The Government will not even be here to stand over its decisions. Parents with children who are home from school cannot afford summer camps or the cost of extra food. People are struggling when they go to the shops. They wonder what they will feed their kids. This is the reality for families and ordinary working people. The Irish League of Credit Unions has said that one in five families will not be able to afford a holiday. How is it right that people can work all year and do everything right but cannot afford to take a trip? We are not talking about going to Dubai or America. One in five people cannot afford a short family holiday. People cannot afford to pay their energy bills. They cannot afford diesel or petrol and are struggling to put food on their table. What is the Government doing? I do not know what it is doing, because it is letting people down. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Guirke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Johnny Guirke  Extending the temporary reduction in excise duty on petrol and diesel is welcome, but it needs to be extended until budget day and then reviewed. In my county of Meath, public transport options are limited and cars are necessity. For families, fuel is an unavoidable expense, whether for a car or to heat a home. Ordinary families are stretched to the limit with high mortgages and insurance costs. One in four households cannot pay gas bills. Some 308,000 people are arrears on their electricity bills. Grocery prices are at an all-time high.  A report from Barnardos last week found more than half of parents are worried that they do not have enough money to put fuel in their cars. Real people and families under real pressure. People with disabilities are choosing between heating and eating. Rents are at an all-time high. People are struggling right now. They cannot wait any longer. That is why Sinn F\u00e9in has called for an emergency budget to put \u20ac500 back in the pockets of workers, electricity credits worth \u20ac400, a \u20ac500 payment for people with disabilities and other measures.  Going back to the D\u00e1il record for March, Aont\u00fa, including Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn, and the Independents group did not cover themselves in glory when voting for the Government's shamefully inadequate measures that triggered the fuel protests. Sinn F\u00e9in stood almost alone. Only one left Independent, Deputy Charles Ward, stood with us in opposing those shamefully weak measures that directly led to fuel protests. In April, after weeks of Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael refusing to listen, ordinary people rose up in protest and took to the streets. They forced the Government to reduce the cost of petrol and diesel. They had to fight hard for the little relief they got. Workers have never worked so hard but they have so little. People need a break and they need it right now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  One in seven households is in arrears on its electricity bills. Many have been in that position for months and cannot see any way out of it. Today, 1 July, bills are going up again. Electric Ireland, the State's largest energy provider, is putting up its prices, which means average households will pay an extra \u20ac138 on their bills. Some 1.1 million customers will be impacted. Everyone knows we have the highest electricity prices in Europe. We pay 40% more than the EU average and that amounts to around \u20ac480 per year for an average household. It is an incredibly large amount of money and we can see why people find it so difficult to make do. All the while, there are wind turbines all over the country being switched off at night or when there are constraints on the grid because the grid cannot take the electricity they would produce. This costs approximately \u20ac500 million per year and much of that is being paid by the very people who struggle to pay their bills. It is going onto individual homeowners' bills. It is a crazy situation.  I will tomorrow bring a Bill before the D\u00e1il that will prevent that electricity wastage from happening. It would force the Minister to do something with that energy. It needs to be provided to households at low cost or to people at risk of energy poverty for free. It is being wasted otherwise and we are still paying for it. The UK is doing something in this regard and I ask that the Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan, look into it. It is really important that we address this issue and stop the wastage of renewable electricity.  We have heard a lot of discussion this morning about the high cost of petrol and diesel. Those prices are skyrocketing because of what is happening in Iran and what happened prior to that in Ukraine. We need to move people away from fossil fuel cars and towards electric vehicles. Many people are making that change. In 2025, there were record sales of electric cars in Ireland and the figures to date in 2026 seem to exceed that. That is a good news story. We are moving people towards a more sustainable and affordable means of transport. However, at the same time that the Government is encouraging people to move to electric vehicles, EVs, and has a target of 1 million EVs by 2030, the prices people pay for a fast-charging or public-charging system are skyrocketing to the point where it is more expensive than running a car on petrol or diesel. It makes no sense. Those public chargers are essentially unregulated. Ionity charges 85 cent per kilowatt hour for fast charging and the ESB has put up its prices to 72 cent. Many people are being locked out of electric car ownership because they live in apartments, do not have on-street parking or are renting. We have a two-tier system whereby many people are unable to avail of the benefits of electric vehicles. It makes no sense. I ask that the Government begin regulating these fast chargers. We cannot have a situation where they charge whatever they want and there is no indexing to domestic or business rates. It is an incredible system and disadvantages the people we need to get into electric vehicles. Will the Minister of State do that and ensure that there is no price-gouging at EV charging points? It seems to me that there is considerable price-gouging going on now because they know they can get away with it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Deputy Cian O\u2019Callaghan","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O\u2019Callaghan  I thank the proposers of this motion for giving us the opportunity to raise important issues around the cost of living. The Social Democrats have said time and again that the Government needs to introduce, as an emergency measure, targeted energy credits. The Government seems to have no interest in doing that. It has no interest in the fact that people on low incomes across the country are struggling to pay their electricity bills and keep food on the table. Even before Iran was attacked, people on low incomes were feeling the pressure. To ignore that time and again and to pass a budget that took supports away and did not replace them with targeted measures for people who needed them most was nothing short of cruel.  When I think back over the past year, one of the memories that stands out is when I visited the Irish Wheelchair Association in Clontarf in my constituency and met with disabled people after the budget. They were horrified that the Government had decided to reduce their incomes by about \u20ac1,400. They were aghast and asked why they were being targeted with those cuts by the Government. Why was the Government being so cruel to people who were already struggling to heat their homes and get by day to day?  On top of the emergency measures, namely, the cost-of-disability payment and targeted energy credits, we need investment in permanent measures to bring down the cost of living. My colleague, Deputy Whitmore, spoke about that. It makes no sense that we live on a windy island on the edge of Europe yet are so far behind on wind energy and solar energy. We have put forward proposals to increase the grants for solar panels to help households permanently reduce their electricity bills. Those are the kinds of measure the Government could and should take, would have a long-term effect and would get us out of needing emergency supports. We need emergency supports now because the Government has not done that but we also need to invest in permanently reducing households' energy bills. That has to be a key part of the conversation.  It is unbelievable that, after years of talking about the need to electrify and decarbonise, the Government cannot even get EV charging right. It is a basic bit of infrastructure and it is not regulated. There was news today of charges on the public network being more expensive than using petrol or diesel. We are in 2026. How is the Government not able to get something basic like that right? It has not been able to address EV charging for people who do not have driveways and only have on-street parking. Years later, it just has not got around to that.  That is before we talk about the inability to develop wind energy. There is no one from Fine Gael in the Chamber but it is 15 years since Fine Gael took office and we have no offshore wind energy in the country. We actually did have one wind farm when it took office. There is an incredible inability by the Government to deliver and to listen to people on lower incomes who are crying out and need support. Our continued reliance on fossil fuels means we are one of the most exposed in Europe, which means our electricity costs are highest and we are most exposed to shocks. There is no excuse for the inability to move towards renewable energy. That has to be the approach.  The Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI, has examined the grants that the Government has given out and has shown it has pursued a two-tier strategy. It has given grants to households with means and locked out households that are just above the thresholds for full costs. The latter cannot avail of the grants because they do not have matching funds. These are low--to-middle-income households struggling with bills but unable to avail of retrofit grants or grants for moving to EVs because the Government has designed those grants in a way that is accessible to people on better incomes while those on squeezed incomes without extra money to match the grants are forgotten about.  They are faced with higher and higher prices. The Government has created a two-tier system. Of course, this is being driven by the Government's overall economic strategy. We have a two-tier economy. Some companies are able to afford high rents and high fees and to pay high wages but others are being squeezed out. Everybody else in the country is being squeezed out. They are not able to afford ever-increasing housing costs, an ever-increasing cost of living and ever-increasing electricity costs. The Government just forgets about them. The Government could and should be investing in renewables in a way that makes them accessible to low- to middle-income households. That would result in a permanent reduction in the cost of living and in the costs facing smaller businesses while also helping us to meet our climate targets so that we would not have to pay out billions of euro in fines in the coming years. That is the trajectory we are on at the moment and it needs to be reversed immediately. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  The Minister of State sits across from us practically every week to deal with motions from various Opposition groups so he will know only too well the challenges that families and small businesses across this country are encountering as a result of Ireland being simply unaffordable for far too many people in 2026. This is the umpteenth motion to be tabled in this House since the general election. We like to call this challenge a cost-of-living crisis but it is not a crisis because the word \"crisis\" suggests something temporary that will pass. This is a permacrisis, for want of a better description. It is a structural problem in our economy that is affecting our society.  The reality is that, outside of thinking that throwing money at problems is a solution, the Government has no solution to the structural problems facing our economy and our society. For example, if the Government thinks that the structural problems in the hospitality sector can be addressed by throwing an inefficient and stupid tax cut at hospitality businesses, it has another thing coming. That simply will not work in the way we would all like to see. It makes no sense. In reality, it reflects a paucity of thinking at Government level, a lack of imagination and a tired managerialism at the heart of this Government. The Government has run out of ideas and has no mission or ambition to change this country for the better for the majority. It is simply picking winners.  Edgar Morgenroth said in the media yesterday that fiscal policy in this country is now run by lobbyists. We may regard ourselves as advocates of the people and - dare I say it - lobbyists for the people of this country but there are very few people in this House who are standing up for the taxpayer. The days when Fine Gael would have said it stood up for the taxpayer are gone because of stupid tax cuts like the one introduced yesterday, which makes no sense whatsoever and actually comes at the expense of working people.  Working people are paying for this because the resources available for some basic tax relief for working people last year was swallowed up by one of the stupidest in a long line of stupid tax cuts this Government has introduced since 2020. In fact, I will go as far back as 2016. The Government has wasted a boom, is reckless with the economy and is imprudent with the public finances. It is working people and people who depend on the State for their incomes who are being affected by this. Those chickens will come home to roost. The people who will pay are those who depend on the State for their income and working people, including public servants, who the Government has decided not to talk to about a successor to the current public sector pay deal, which ran out yesterday. That goes to show where this Government's priorities are.  I will make some basic points on the motion. There is much to be welcomed, although I would quibble with many aspects. There is no reference to the need to restructure our childcare and early years system to make sure that childcare is affordable for families. The motion leans extremely heavily on charges associated with fossil fuels. We are not going to make energy cheaper in this country if we continue to rely on fossil fuels and just keep chasing the price by reducing excise duty and carbon taxes. What we need is a radical approach, a revolution of renewables. That means doing the necessary on offshore wind, realising that moonshot moment the former Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, spoke eloquently about a number of years ago before doing very little about it in reality. It means making sure that undertaking deep retrofits of our homes is not merely a pursuit for the middle class and the wealthy. We need to make sure that SEAI grants to retrofit our homes and introduce renewables are affordable and income-based. We need a fossil fuel-run car scrappage scheme to ensure the electric vehicle revolution we need. As others have said, we also need the reintroduction of targeted energy credits in the next budget to ensure that heating our homes and businesses is more affordable in the interim, as we make that move to renewables. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  I thank Deputies T\u00f3ib\u00edn and Lawless and Aont\u00fa for bringing forward this very important motion. As every TD will tell the Minister of State, we are meeting people across our constituencies who are doing everything society asks of them. They get up early in the morning, go to work, pay their taxes, raise their children and contribute to their communities. However, despite doing everything correctly, they are still struggling to make ends meet. These are families sitting around the kitchen table trying to work out which bill can wait until next week. They are the parents wondering how they will afford school uniforms in a few short weeks' time. They are the workers whose wages disappear within days of payday because the rent or the mortgage, the groceries and the electricity bill leave them with little or nothing to spare. These people are not looking for handouts. They are looking for fairness.  At the beginning of May, the Labour Party put practical and fully-costed proposals before this House and before the Government in the form of a mini budget. We proposed measures to help PAYE workers keep more of what they earn, targeted energy supports, a summer double social welfare payment, the restoration of the \u20ac100 cut to the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance, additional support for families through child benefit, and a range of practical measures to ease the pressure on households. The Government voted down these proposals.  In recent months, we saw fuel protests across the country. These protests highlighted the very real financial pressure many people are under. I supported the measures brought forward by Government because those people needed relief. I voted for that package. Fuel is only one part of the cost-of-living crisis, however. There are thousands of people who will never organise a protest. There are families quietly struggling behind the front door of their home. If I am a mother or a father trying to find the money for school uniforms, I cannot park my worries on O'Connell Street and hope someone notices. If I am trying to keep up with the mortgage, the rent, childcare costs or the weekly grocery bill, I am fighting that battle around my own kitchen table. Those families deserve the same urgency.  If Government accepted that one group under financial pressure deserved immediate action, why did it reject the Labour Party's proposals to support the thousands of other workers, families, pensioners, carers and those living with disabilities who are under just as much pressure every single day? The Government cannot pick and choose whose cost-of-living crisis it responds to. Relief cannot depend on who is most visible. It must reach those who are doing everything right, working hard and paying their taxes, and yet are still wondering how they will get to the end of the month. The people of my constituency are not asking for special treatment. They are asking for fairness and practical action. The Labour Party has put practical solutions before this House. Families cannot wait until the next budget. They need action now.  I will touch on some of the stuff my colleague, Deputy Nash, has said. He has given these costed proposals to Government to implement for families across this country. He has spoken about the fact that we use the word \"crisis\", which makes it seem like this is a short-term issue. This has been a crisis in this country for many years now. Many families and individuals right across Ireland are genuinely struggling behind their own front door. During the week, we saw huge fanfare for the VAT rate being cut to 9%. My aunt has had a hair salon for the past 25 years.  On the face of it, the VAT cut is acceptable and seems workable but will the person get the cheaper cup of coffee or a cheaper haircut? They do not have any relief when they have to pay \u20ac1,000 for school uniforms and no relief when they have to pay \u20ac700 for an iPad that has really disregarded the free book scheme in this country. While the 9% VAT cut favours large business and corporations, it does not favour hard-working families who are struggling behind their own front doors.  We speak about the retrofitting of homes. These retrofit grants are only applicable to the majority of people who have huge incomes in this country. Ordinary, hard-working people cannot afford to make up the extra funding needed for these retrofitting grants. There was huge fanfare for the EV scrappage scheme and the \u20ac8,000 people would get, but how are people supposed to pay \u20ac30,000 extra for the EV? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  The cost of living is rising at an alarming rate right across the board. Middle- and low-income households cannot keep up, particularly households on below \u20ac75,000. Those on \u20ac50,000, \u20ac60,000 and \u20ac70,000 used to be counted as being well-off. They are not now. Rents, mortgages, electricity, gas, motor fuel, food, health insurance and much more have all increased, not by single figures, but by double-digit figures on every hike. Meanwhile, wages and incomes have increased by 1% or 2% or not at all.  In the case of housing, rents are skyrocketing due to Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael's decision to remove the rent pressure zones, however meek they were. A lot of us on this side of the House wanted them nailed down tighter. The fact is their removal means double-digit increases are happening. Rent for a two-bedroom unit in County Laois has gone up by 34% in one year. Mortgage repayments are now higher because the overall capital sum being borrowed to keep up with galloping house prices is increasing. In Laois, there has been an increase of 12%, 13% or 14% in one year.  Electricity and gas prices are increasing today by 8% on top of all the recent increases. Home heating oil is up 50% or 60%. Motor fuels have increased. We had better not forget about health insurance. Health insurance, which families, households and individuals are forced to get because we have not got Sl\u00e1intecare yet, is going up two and three times a year. These are huge increases of 6%, 7%, 8% or 9% each time.  At the same time, public money is being wasted. State projects have cost overruns. That needs to be curtailed. I will always argue for projects but we have to get value for taxpayers' money. We have IT systems that do not work. Construction projects that finish at double their budgets. There are layers upon layers of management and bureaucracy in public bodies that should be rationalised and streamlined. All of this and much more needs to be history.  The Department of education has framework agreements for school projects, including school extensions. To provide an example, a two-classroom autism spectrum disorder, ASD, unit with an all-timber outside finish cost \u20ac2.7 million. Another unit 30 or 40 miles away, which I can show the Minister of State and have brought to the attention of the Department today, cost \u20ac2.05 million. It is completed in brick, is a bigger unit and has the ancillary rooms and everything else in it. These framework agreements need to be re-examined. I hope that the Minister of State and the senior officials are listening to what I am saying because this is an important issue and I hope it is brought to the attention of the Department of education. These framework agreements need to be looked at.  There are a whole lot of measures that we need to take, but an immediate step would be to extend medical card cover until we get Sl\u00e1intecare. Sl\u00e1intecare, and the public health system it envisions, has to be prioritised. In the short term, we need to extend medical card cover to ordinary workers and families who cannot go to doctors to get medical treatment because they cannot afford to. That will help all of those who do not have medical cards but cannot afford health insurance.  We need to bring in a windfall tax to be imposed on the large energy companies, including the wind farm owners where there are high profits, once profits go over a certain amount. That money should be used and ploughed into retrofitting for middle-income families who do not qualify for the free scheme and cannot afford to match the funding for the other schemes. There is an opportunity here. The people in the middle are caught. If someone is on social welfare, they rightly get the free scheme for fuel allowance. People under \u20ac75,000 are caught because they cannot afford the retrofitting or the electric car.  The minimum wage needs to be increased to a living wage. We need to reintroduce the rent caps for each county. We need to speed up the retrofitting of households, including with solar panels. We need to scrap the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, CCPC, as it stands or else reform it. In my time here, I have heard and seen reports from it and it is a toothless tiger. It has turned out to be useless.  Last year, \u20ac9.5 billion in excess was given out but nothing happened for workers. Nothing happened to the taxation of middle-income workers, those people on between \u20ac20,000 and \u20ac70,000. They got zero. The Government should not forget about them this year. It should adjust the tax bands to favour those low- and middle-income workers and not miss the opportunity again. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  The reason we have a cost-of-living crisis in this country and across the world for working people is because of the greed of billionaires, multimillionaires, warmongers and the governments that back them. The personal fortunes of Donald Trump and his mate, Elon Musk, sum it all up. This year, while ordinary people across the world are crushed with a cost-of-living crisis and some people are being bombed to bits by Musk and Trump's allies in Palestine, Iran or Lebanon, Musk's fortune has gone past $1 trillion. It is massively increasing. He is the world's first trillionaire. As for Donald Trump's fortunes, shame on anybody who ever echoed a word of support or praise for this guy. Since he got into power, his personal fortune has nearly tripled from $2.3 billion to $6.5 billion by ripping off working class people in the United States with his mate Musk. The billionaires and the trillionaires. Then they start wars. They support a genocide, they bomb Iran, they bomb Lebanon, and the cost of living goes up for working people in this country because of these billionaires and trillionaires.  We have our own version of that in this country also benefiting from all of that. There are 11 billionaires in this country and the number is increasing. The Collison brothers, Denis O'Brien, John Dorrance and all these people have \u20ac46 billion in personal wealth. The richest 1% of Irish society have between them 35% of all the wealth, which adds up to about \u20ac400 billion. These people are creaming it. The more they charge in rents and the more they speculate on property affecting ordinary people affected by the housing crisis, the richer they get while ordinary people are crushed with the cost of living.  I cannot help pointing to the fact that while all of this is happening and ordinary people are being crushed by the cost of living, they want to double arms expenditure across Europe because Donald Trump has told them to do it, to the benefit of the international arms industry. Money that should go into addressing the cost-of-living crisis and into housing, health and childcare is going to go into the pockets of the arms producers to make the billionaires and trillionaires even wealthier while ordinary people are bombed to bits, sent out to fight and crushed with the cost of living increases.  Contrast that with, for example, the postal worker who came in to see me the other day. The starting salary for a postal worker is \u20ac27,000 and the top of the scale is \u20ac41,000. He is in a housing assistant payment, HAP, tenancy with one bedroom but he has four children who have to come and stay with him, so they sleep on camping beds. Since An Post pays so poorly, they have not got enough postal workers, so he has to do a lot of overtime. However, if he gets too much overtime, he is going to go over the threshold for social housing and then he will not even be able to afford a home because there is absolutely no way he could afford private rents on his own salary.  It is the multimillionaires who are charging these rents that he cannot afford. What is the Government doing to assist or address that situation? Is it introducing wealth taxes? Is it stopping the speculation on land and property? No, it is rezoning land and making more property millionaires overnight. All this wealth is not a victimless crime. It is coming out of the pockets of people in unaffordable rents and unaffordable house prices. That is where they are making their fortunes, and we have a Government that is facilitating them in doing it while ordinary working people are being absolutely crushed.  Profits in this country have gone up by 400% since I came into the D\u00e1il. Have workers\u2019 wages gone up by 400%? You must be joking. In real terms, workers are probably worse off because their pay increases have not kept up with inflation. Unless working people get organised, fight and take to the streets against the hikes in the cost of living and the unaffordable cost of housing and accommodation, and demand wealth taxes to redistribute wealth, we are not going to address the cost-of-living crisis in this country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Healy-Rae  This motion is timely because, with the massive increases for people running their homes and businesses, people who are working have never been at more of a disadvantage because of the high cost of going to work, childcare and fuel. What we need is a more targeted approach by the Government. It will never be more important or timely than in the upcoming budget to make sure that the supports that will be made available for energy and the general cost of living are targeted to help people who are really struggling.  From dealing with people every day, it seems to me that it mostly affects those who are working. Everybody can be struggling, but for the people who are going to work every day, who have the high cost of loans on cars and mortgage or rent payments, everything is piling up on top of them. It is the same for businesses. In County Kerry alone, the number of businesses that are closing weekly is frightening. These businesses are owned by people who have been in business for many years, who are very much valued in our communities and who create local employment, but they are closing their doors. It can be small shops, public houses or gift stores. These are people who were able to manage before, who are involved in different types of personal services, like hairdressers. We have to do something to arrest it.  I want to focus on one issue in particular, the high cost of energy. Why is it costing us so much to provide electricity to people's homes? When we look at the profits being made by the likes of the ESB, we have to look at what we are doing. That is why I welcome, for example, what is being done regarding Shannon LNG. We should be doing more about providing our own energy, and doing more in a forward-thinking way to try to ensure that these types of measures will help us to reduce the cost of energy. When energy costs are higher, and we are all well aware of the statistics on exactly how much fuel and energy have gone up in price, we have to be forward thinking about how we are going to deal with that in the coming years.  The measures we take, such as those that were voted on in the House last night to support an LNG facility in this country, are very important. I believe we need to have more debates about this matter in the coming weeks in a pre-budget type of way. We have all met with the different groups and sectors that have come here over the last weeks and months to make pre-budget submissions. However, at the end of the day, the people that we always have to consider are people on low incomes, people who are working and people who are struggling. We have to try to help them in every way we can through targeted approaches.  We have to look at the bigger picture, like the high cost of fuel and the tax take on fuel. The figures are mind-boggling. Again, why is fuel more expensive here than in any other part of Europe or the world? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  I thank Aont\u00fa for bringing forward this motion and giving me the chance to speak on it. I have spoken about the cost of living multiple times, including when speaking to my constituents. I have spoken 41 times in the D\u00e1il and committees about plug-in solar, and I want to bring it up again. As we know, Ireland is one of the most data centre-dense countries. I brought in a Bill three weeks ago regarding the Electricity Regulation Act, and I look forward to working constructively with members of the Opposition and the Government on this. I believe we need to change how we are dealing with energy. It was one of the things I was elected to do, and I will continuously bang the drum of common-sense solutions.  Speaking of my constituents, I have continuously pushed for home heating oil to be addressed in the next budget because of the homes in my constituency that rely on it. They cannot switch, so they are completely exposed to the global oil price volatility  Regarding plug-in solar, this is something that we need to do. It is the quickest solution that I have seen. The UK has just done it. I want to explain that it is for everyone. It is for anyone in an apartment who does not have access to the roof. It is for anyone in a heritage building who cannot put solar panels on their property. It is for anyone who wants to buy a kit in their local supermarket for a fraction of the price of the initial investment because, with the current energy price, this will have a payback period of two years. If we allowed Fingal County Council and Dublin City Council to roll these out with a modest investment of \u20ac500 million, the payback period would be two years from that investment. If we allowed it in conjunction with batteries, it would be more. Those were calculations that I did on the back of an envelope, so the Minister of State will excuse me if my current calculation is wrong. The average savings in Germany and the UK are estimated at \u20ac260 to \u20ac300 a year, and the kits cost \u20ac500.  If the sun keeps shining the way it is, this will help those single mothers in my constituency who want to put money back in their pockets. It will help those children who have just moved out of their parents\u2019 home and bought an apartment, only to be told they cannot get solar panels because they do not have access to the roof. Some of the people who commented on my video said that a solar panel on a balcony could fall on your head. So could a flower pot, but a flower pot is not going to save you \u20ac260 a year off your electricity bill, is it? Germany has 700,000 of these systems with zero reported incidents. The UK legalised it earlier in the year.  I want to acknowledge where there has been movement because progress has been made, and I give credit where credit is due. The ESB has responded and confirms that it wants to look at the 800 W system. It has committed to building a simplified online registration system and adopting the German safe standard. I thank the Department officials who have worked on this. Regarding the 2024 consultation with Electric Ireland, Bord G\u00e1is, Energia, the Electricity Association of Ireland and ESB Networks, some of their consultation documents to the Department were very good, and I read every single one of them. The German standard needs to be adopted. The remaining question is: when? We need to change the ISO standard and bring this in immediately. If the worry is the danger, let us bring it in as a pilot scheme for new-build social and affordable housing and apartments delivered by local authorities and approved housing bodies, and allow people to save money immediately.  Again, the issue of home heating oil must be addressed in the budget. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  I thank the proposers of the motion. I am delighted to get the chance to talk about the cost of living. The increased cost of living is in everyone's mouth, and everyone is saying that their wages are being eroded by the cost of living. I believe the main driver is the cost of fuel and energy. For every litre that is purchased, more than half of the cost, approximately 95 cent, is going to the State coffers. There is room for manoeuvre. It is time to get rid of carbon tax, full stop. Fuel is dear enough.  I want to talk about rents. People are out of their minds about the cost of rent. In most cases, the Government is taking 52% in tax out of each person who is renting a property just to provide a roof over their head.  Businesses have to deal with the cost of electricity. I have stated in the House several times that there is no sign of a regulator.  Every day since Bord na M\u00f3na closed, the cost of electricity has gone up. People in Kerry are outraged at the amount of money they are paying for electricity. Especially businesses cannot keep going and with commercial rates on top of that, people are being driven out of their long-standing businesses that have been operating even in Killarney and in places like Castleisland, Currow and Cordal. In all of those places, shops that were there forever, going back ages, are closing. They are gone now and more of them are set to go because the rates have gone mad. The demands that people are getting for commercial rates are totally outrageous altogether.  I will say it again to the Government; it is taking in more and its expectations regarding the tax take have doubled over the last number of months. At the same time, it was so slow to react to the protestors and the people who were outraged that the prices at the pumps were going up each day. I told the Government that in this House on 24 March, when it offered 3 cent on green diesel and home heating to the people. It offered 3 cent and 2 cent per litre, when it was costing people 70 cent or 80 cent more per litre. At the same time, it was able to give \u20ac40 million to Ukraine and \u20ac125 million to Zelenskyy when he came here. The Government put the country down for the almost \u20ac2 billion that it borrowed for that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  That is where taxpayers' money is going, not back to taxpayers, who are giving the Government the money. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Deputy Robert Troy)  I thank all of the Deputies for raising these important matters and for giving all of us an opportunity on all sides of the House to discuss the pressures households are facing regarding the cost of living and the actions the Government is taking. It is fair to say that some people on the far side of the House have been positive in their commentary in highlighting some of the issues that are faced and providing some potential solutions. Most recently, Deputy Heneghan proposed a solution regarding plug-in solar panels. The Government needs to learn that when decisions are to be taken, if we take them more swiftly, the solution will then obviously be implemented more quickly. A lot of people did not acknowledge the real reason we have such a huge energy cost currently, which is the conflict in the Middle East. To be fair to Deputy Boyd Barrett, he acknowledged it and the impact that it is having on the cost of living, not just in Ireland but right throughout the globe, and how governments are responding to that issue.  One thing I will take issue with Deputy Body Barrett on is when he demonised people like the Collison brothers, who started off by winning the BT Young Scientist award and went on to be global players in the fintech place, creating thousands of jobs not just in Ireland but across the globe, and whose innovation in technology is supporting so many Irish SMEs in their ability to trade not just domestically but internationally. If we demonise people like that, who are creating opportunities and employment and paying corporation tax, which enables us to make decisions in relation to investing in services and social welfare, I really do wonder sometimes. We should be celebrating the success of people like that rather than demonising them on the floor of the D\u00e1il.  Given all that is happening in the Middle East, the Government is continuing to monitor the situation and continues to provide the necessary supports to alleviate the pressure. In recent days, we witnessed more evidence of that when the Government extended the supports to ensure that the actions are there to help households and businesses with the cost of energy and fuel. Despite what people in the Opposition try to portray, this was always going to be the case. It is right and proper that the Government keeps a watchful eye over what is happening on the international market in terms of the cost of fuel and responds accordingly. People on the Opposition benches tried to build up fear by leaning into people's anxiety in relation to the excise reductions ending at the end of July. Deputy Nash mentioned how I have been in this House many times taking similar debates. During every debate, we reassure people that the supports will be monitored, evaluated and, if needed, extended, and that is just what is going to happen. We are acutely aware of the issues facing people. We also have to remember that the price of a barrel of oil is $73 today and when the supports were introduced it was $120, so it would be wrong if we did not keep this situation monitored.  The most recent supports are also coupled with supports the Government introduced in budget 2026 to help households with energy costs. These included an extension of the 9% VAT rate currently applied to gas and electricity, saving households up to \u20ac100 per year; enhanced social protection payments, including an increase in the fuel allowance rate to \u20ac38 per week and an expansion in the eligibility rules, with 40,000 additional households qualifying for it after the most recent budget; and a record allocation of \u20ac640 million for SEAI retrofit schemes, allowing us to target up to 73,000 home energy upgrades this year, including \u20ac340 million for the warmer homes scheme, which provides fully funded upgrades for those in energy poverty.  I agree, however, with many of the speakers, who identified that budget 2027 needs to include taxation measures and supports for people working. We need to send a strong message out from Government that work is rewarded and recognise that people are making a contribution. That is something that we will see in budget 2007 when it is announced later this year.  On energy supplies and the increases in energy costs, I would strongly encourage people who are difficulty with the cost of energy to engage with their supplier. There is a commitment by all suppliers not to disconnect any customers and to engage with them. In addition, for people who are finding it hard, there is a means-tested payment, the additional needs payment, through the Department of Social Protection for people who cannot afford to pay their energy bills. It is important that all of us identify that this service is there for people who need it.  Many Deputies referred to the high price of energy for households. It is important to note that structural factors also impact on our energy prices. As a country, we are import-dependent for energy, making us particularly vulnerable to price volatility in the wholesale market. Our isolated island location, low levels of interconnection, widely dispersed low-density population and reliance on fossil fuels are also important price determinants.  Retail prices are also influenced by factors other than wholesale prices, including supplier hedging. This is the practice of purchasing energy in bulk ahead of time, protecting consumers from the day-to-day volatility of the energy markets but also having long-run effects on retail prices. This, as well as the current conflict, highlights why Ireland must reduce its reliance on imported fossil fuels, accelerate the deployment of renewables and expand interconnection with trusted European partners. We are also working to ensure that households benefit directly from the renewable energy transition.  Retrofitting is one of the best measures a household can take to reduce its energy bills. For instance, a deep retrofit can reduce energy bills by up to \u20ac1,100 per year. That is a permanent saving. Applications for SEAI grants so far this year have doubled on last year.  When people say people are not availing of it, they have doubled in the past year. That is 55,000 applications processed to date in 2025. Since 2019, over 268,000 home energy upgrades have been completed, thanks to Government funding of \u20ac1.8 billion, including 36,300 fully funded under the warmer homes scheme. The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, has significantly expanded the retrofit measures, something a lot of Deputies called for earlier today, to ensure they are more accessible and affordable for households. Key measures include stand-alone window and door grants, increased heat-pump grants and increased cavity wall and attic insulation for first-time buyers and households eligible for the warmer homes scheme. In addition, a rooftop revolution is under way across Ireland. Over 112,000 homes have received solar PV grants since the scheme began. SEAI has received over 15,000 applicants for solar PV up to the end of April 2026, and that is a 72% increase on total applications since 2025. Again, people are responding to the supports being provided by the Government. The numbers simply do not lie.  I conclude by reiterating that the Government is aware that people are grappling with rising costs as the geopolitical situation continues to evolve. We will remain focused on ensuring Ireland's energy security remains robust while endeavouring to assist those experiencing real and immediate financial pressures. No Government throughout the world can fully insulate its citizens from the impact of the Middle East but we are doing better than most. We will continue to monitor the situation and to make the necessary interventions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  The Aont\u00fa Private Members' motion is designed to reduce the cost of living for families. It is designed to reduce the pressure on families across the country. The Minister of State is right to some extent. There is no doubt that the wars in Ukraine and in Iran, for example, have increased the cost of living for families. However, this Government is the main architect of the rip-off Ireland that is hurting this country at the moment. The Government can list a range of different supports it is giving to families, such as child benefit and fuel supports, but most people would rather it stopped taking the money out of their pockets just to give it back to them in another support. That is the key issue here. The Minister of State mentioned supports for energy costs. The truth is that most of middle-Ireland is considered too rich by the Government for those supports but they are actually too poor still to pay for electricity and fuel. As a result, half a million of those families are currently in energy arrears.  We, too, want Ireland to decouple from fossil fuels. We want Ireland to become self-sufficient in terms of energy. Energy independence is as importance as fuel independence. Being dependent on the Middle East and on Russia is a major exposure for this country. However, the way to do it is with a carrot rather than a stick. I am the chair of the Meath on Track campaign. We have been campaigning since 1994 for a rail line. The earliest possible time that will arrive is 2036, that is, if nothing stops it, and there is likely to be another slip in relation to that. We want to see solar panels put on the roofs and increased supports for retrofitting in this country. Most families would give their right hand to get out of fossil fuel dependence and to have the public transport solutions they need but the Government will not provide it for them.  This Government has also spoken about renewables. The biggest brake on renewables is this Government. We have been told for years that Ireland is going to become the Saudi Arabia of renewable energy - of wind energy. Yet, in recent times, we have become a net importer of electricity. We are going in the opposite direction to the rhetoric that the Government is using in these terms. We have been told about offshore wind. Forgive me if I am cynical in relation to this. This Government has had six offshore wind conferences since 2021. We have no offshore wind energy generation. Not one turbine is operating in this country. The Government is brilliant at developing conferences, brochures, plans and policies. Sticking a turbine in the sea does not work for the Government though. That is the major problem with all of this. Dysfunction in the system is holding back renewable energy.  We have, at the moment, marginal pricing in energy pricing in this country. That means the price of a unit of electricity is priced at the last unit that is added on to the system. If we keep adding data centres in this country, we are never going to get out of the grip of gas. We are never going to run fast enough to get free of gas being the marginal unit of electricity produced. The Government is going in the opposite direction in terms of freeing this country from renewable energy. The grid is creaking. It is grinding to a halt. Dispatch down, constraints and bottlenecks are all brakes to the addition of renewable energy. Every single turbine that is added has a diminishing return. We are paying \u20ac500 million a year to renewable energy providers to stop producing electricity. The dysfunctional system means the network costs and the stabilising costs of the network are actually now more than the wholesale cost of producing electricity in Ireland, and that is adding to everybody's bill.  I want to talk about Sinn F\u00e9in's contribution. Sinn F\u00e9in Members spent their time attacking Opposition TDs on this while letting the Government off the hook. Let us be clear about this. Aont\u00fa voted for the excise cuts that helped people over the past few months. Incredibly, Sinn F\u00e9in was the only Opposition party that voted against the excise cuts that helped people over the past few months. Incredibly, Sinn F\u00e9in is now arguing against those excise increases, having voted against them being cut in the first place. Deputy Guirke spoke about the fact that Aont\u00fa did not speak on the Finance Bill. That is rubbish. Incredibly, Deputy Guirke, the stone-thrower, did not speak on that Bill; we in Aont\u00fa did. In 2024, Deputy Guirke had the lowest speaking contribution in the D\u00e1il. He spoke for one hour in a whole year in total. Deputy Guirke is the Fr. Stone of Irish politics and he thinks being a TD is a remote job. It is not. Those who turn up here make the decisions, and not turning up and staying silent does not help the people of Meath.  It must also be said that the Government was pulled kicking and screaming to reduce these costs, and the reason for this was people power. It was because of ordinary people taking to the streets of this country and demanding help. Ordinary people, whose businesses, families and jobs were falling around them, took to the streets in desperation and this forced the Government's hands. If we are honest, the major reason this Government is not increasing excise until September is that it is fearful the protestors are going to come back onto the streets on this issue and it does not want these protesters to put bad luck on this EU Presidency. That is the biggest issue here.  The frustrations people have about the level of tax on fuel at the moment is because the tax they are paying is ending up in waste. That is a major issue. Most people do not mind paying taxes as long as they get value for money in the services those taxes are producing. We can look at the level of Government waste that is happening. Some \u20ac50 million spent on an Iarnr\u00f3d \u00c9ireann IT system that never worked. When we asked the Taoiseach about it, he did not know the answers. Some \u20ac300 million has been spent on metro north and not a shovel has been put in the ground. When it was announced 20 years ago, the price of it was \u20ac2 billion but now the price is edging towards \u20ac16 billion. There is the 100 electric buses that were bought that never moved an inch because somebody forgot to provide an electricity charger for those buses. There is the recent \u20ac127,000 for the HSE Kerry bike shed, following on from the \u20ac336,000 D\u00e1il bike shed, and the \u20ac10 million that is going to be spent on the Dublin City Council offices in Wood Quay that it plans to knock in three years' time. Then we have the \u20ac2.4 billion on the national children's hospital, which is basically a monument to Government waste at the moment. There are so many examples of taxpayers' money, which is extracted from their pockets, being incinerated by Government over and over again.  One of the most insidious levels of Government waste that never gets looked at in this country are the overspends on an annual basis.  From 2021, the Government has been overspending by \u20ac5 billion a year and it has come under pressure from IFAC in relation to it. Health accounts for 40% of that overspend and capital infrastructure overruns saw \u20ac1.6 billion in one year.  At the heart of the cost-of-living crisis in this country is the Fianna F\u00e1il-Fine Gael-Independents Government tax gauging the people of Ireland and allowing for dysfunction to reign in terms of the infrastructure and the spend in this country.  Ireland has the highest electricity prices in the whole of Europe and the second highest in the world. Incredibly, ESB made a profit of \u20ac3 billion just in the past four years. ESB is a public company operating on the basis of Government policy and that company is now looking to increase electricity prices today. Does the Minister of State not see the problem here? How can he stand over a Government company making \u20ac3 billion profit in four years and then in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis jack up the cost of electricity? The fact the Government is allowing that to happen is a major problem.  Last year there was \u20ac4.3 billion in fuel taxes and \u20ac1.2 billion in carbon tax, a tax that hardly existed five years ago. These are excruciating costs for families. They are hurting and damaging families. They are damaging businesses. These high energy costs are bad for the economy. That is never discussed here, that jobs are going abroad and businesses are closing because the Government is a high energy cost Government. The Government must gets to grips with that and realise what levers are in place. One of the levers is excise costs. Over the next six months, the Government wants to increase excise five times in a cost-of-living crisis. I am asking the Minister of State not to do that and to back the Aont\u00fa Private Members' motion. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment No. 1 to amendment No. 1 put."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The division will be postponed until the weekly division time next week. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar fionra\u00ed ar 12.03 p.m. agus cuireadh t\u00fas leis ar\u00eds ar 5.30 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Sitting suspended at 12.03 p.m. and resumed at 5.30 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Cost of Living: Motion [Private Members]"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/dbsect_10","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala (At\u00f3g\u00e1il) - Topical Issue Debate (Resumed)","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_10","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala (At\u00f3g\u00e1il) - Topical Issue Debate (Resumed)"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/dbsect_11","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Bus Services","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/dbsect_10","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_10","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala (At\u00f3g\u00e1il) - Topical Issue Debate (Resumed)"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_11","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Maurice Quinlivan  In recent years, there have been some improvements on the bus transport in Limerick city, with routes such as the 310 from Annacotty to the city centre being rolled out. These new routes and improvements have to be welcomed, but significant gaps remain in the provision of bus services across Limerick city. Condell Road in Limerick is an example in this regard. Hundreds of new homes, which were built in recent years and in which families and workers live, are located on this road and in the surrounding area. The road itself is well laid out and has a significant amount of bus infrastructure, including a bus lane, yet there is no local bus services in the area. I do not understand how such a densely populated area with the necessary infrastructure in place does not have an active bus service.  The Kilteragh estate in Dooradoyle, where hundreds of homes are also located, has no bus service. The nearest bus stop is located outside the Crescent Shopping Centre, which is 2 km away. Another area that is lacking a bus service is that which lies between St. Mary's Park, the most deprived area in the whole city, and the Garryowen area. While the area has a bus route, the service ends at 6 p.m. The latter is due to a legacy issue dating back a number of years and that needs to be resolved in order that we can see the return of a proper bus service. The area in question has the lowest level of car ownership in the city, with an estimated 57% of householders not having access to cars. In addition, the population in the area is ageing. Having their bus service end before nightfall is absurd in this day and age.  We have faced major challenges in making the Limerick city centre a liveable and enjoyable place. Efforts have been made to improve the city and make it a more attractive place to visit and enjoy. We have had some great success with the promotion of King John's Castle as a music venue, Thomond Park and the annual Great Limerick Run. In light of the need to revitalise the city, it seems extraordinary that the residents of St. Mary's Park and Garryowen cannot avail of public transport to visit the city centre.  We are also trying to promote a more sustainable future. The use of public transport is crucial in this regard. Not everyone has the luxury of their own vehicle, yet there are populated areas of Limerick that do not have access to a properly functioning transport system. To date, BusConnects has achieved some progress, particularly in the context of services on new roads, and there has been an increase in passenger numbers. In Limerick, however, the BusConnects project has been marked by shortcomings in planning, funding and delivery. It is nearly a decade since the announcement of BusConnects and the projected completion date of 2027, but the timelines across the area to which I refer have been pushed out to 2030. The project has been plagued by delays and postponements. In Limerick, frankly, it has not been delivered. The costs relating to the project have spiralled, with an estimated increase in cost from the initial \u20ac1 billion to between \u20ac2.6 billion and \u20ac3.4 billion. We have already seen a four-year delay in the delivery of BusConnects, which has impacted the economic development and liveability of Limerick.  When raising the issue of University Hospital Limerick on many occasions, I have spoken about the growing population of Limerick and the wider mid-west region. The growth in population also makes the delivery of a functional, affordable and viable public transport system critical. Limerick BusConnects has the potential to transform connectivity within the city and between its suburbs, thereby improving access to employment and education, reducing congestion and delivering on commitments relating to sustainability. I see no desire to provide this urgently needed funding for BusConnects in Limerick in order that it can progress. This must change. The Minister of State needs to ensure that the necessary funding is provided promptly.  BusConnects across the State is yet another example of the Government's consistent failure to meet target delivery dates. Of course, it has failed, with costs in excess of initial estimates. I urge the Minister of State to get onto the National Transport Authority, NTA, to tell it to end the delays relating to BusConnects in Limerick, to get the project back on track and to get bus services delivered for the people who need them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (Deputy Jerry Buttimer)  I thank Deputy Quinlivan for raising this matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Transport. I commend the Deputy on raising the matter because it gives us the opportunity to provide an update on BusConnects in Limerick. I will take this opportunity to highlight some sustainable mobility developments in Limerick more generally. I will bring the comments the Deputy made regarding the gaps and deficits, as he sees them, in the service back to the Minister and the Department.  The Limerick-Shannon metropolitan area transport strategy has been developed by the NTA in the context of delivering an accessible, integrated transport network that will enable the sustainable growth of Limerick up to 2040. I take on board some of the comments the Deputy made about Limerick being made liveable in the context of the redesign of the city centre. The latter includes the development of the bus system and the Limerick BusConnects programme. It is fair to say that good progress has been made in delivering the strategy, including BusConnects Limerick.  In 2023, the NTA carried out an extensive review of the Limerick bus network. This review was conducted in collaboration with Limerick City and County Council, Clare County Council and Bus \u00c9ireann, and was supported by the specialised expertise of the transport system designers Jarrett Walker and Associates. Following public consultation, the NTA published its final new bus network for Limerick in December 2023. The redesign of the bus network is one of the nine key elements of BusConnects Limerick that aims to transform the city\u2019s bus system, making public transport more useful and accessible to more people.  I take the Deputy's point that not everybody has a car. People should not have to own cars, particularly in cities like Limerick or Cork. The new bus network will enable more people to avail of public transport resulting in increased access to a greater number of schools and workplaces across Limerick city. Limerick is a college city. That is part of the whole network system. Overall, 41% of residents will live within 400 metres of a high frequency bus route, running every 15 minutes or better. Limerick is the first city in Ireland with a fully electrified bus service, with two phases of charger installation works coming on stream at Roxboro bus depot during 2024 and 61 zero-emission buses in active service today.  Regarding future phases of BusConnects Limerick, and the BusConnects programmes across the cities more generally, the NTA will publish its detailed national development plan implementation plan later this year, which will set out the elements of the programme to be progressed in the coming years within available funding to 2030. This follows on from the publication of the national development plan, NDP, sectoral investment plan by the Department of Transport last November, and the publication of the NDP review last July. In addition, the NTA is also preparing a BusConnects programme progress report. This report will set out the latest position across the programme, including developments in relation to network redesign, infrastructure delivery and overall programme progress.  In addition to bus-based improvements, the Limerick-Shannon metropolitan area transport strategy also recommends a number of improvements to rail infrastructure, including a new rail station at Moyross. Planning permission for this station was received from Limerick City and County Council in October 2025. The project has progressed into the detailed design phase, with procurement preparations under way. It is currently planned to commence construction later this year. Other rail interventions include increasing the frequency of services on the Ballybrophy line to up to two trains per hour, double-tracking the line from Limerick Junction to Colbert Station and upgrading Colbert Station, a project that was successfully completed in November 2024. People are now benefiting from the improved facilities at the station, including the new car park, ticketing facilities, bus concourse and set-down area.  The NDP sectoral plan also contains an allocation funding for the delivery of a number of priority rail projects by 2030. I will pass that back to the Deputy, particularly as has received a copy of the Department's response.  I will take the Deputy's points regarding the areas he mentioned back to the Minister. I again thank him for raising this very important matter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Maurice Quinlivan  As stated, good progress has been made regarding transport in the mid-west, but we still lag way behind other areas across the State. Last year, I published a report on bus infrastructure in areas on the north side of Limerick City. It clearly showed that working class areas lack basic services and that they had no bus stops, signage or bus shelters. Some work was done on the back of that report. Some of the signage has been put up in the Ballynanty area where I live and where was no bus stop or signage previously.  I want to mention the 303 bus route that runs from Ros M\u00f3r to Kileely to Moyross. There is a very good and reliable bus service on that route, with buses leaving every 15 minutes. We are doing an active travel scheme in the area at the moment. What they have done with the route, with buses coming onto O\u2019Callaghan Avenue from Kileely and then onto the High Road and Thomond at Johnseys shop, is very dangerous. The road has been narrowed so much that buses have to mount the footpaths on both sides. Somebody is going to get seriously injured unless something is done. The engineers involved in the active travel scheme have told me that they will look at what has happened when the project is finished. We cannot wait for that. The other day, someone walking on the footpath was nearly killed. That because buses cannot turn the corner without mounting the footpath on one side or the other. Buses often bypass this area, which they are supposed to serve, on their way to Moyross.  In the absence of BusConnects being done, I call on the Minister of State to ensure that the bus service in the St. Mary\u2019s Park and Garryowen areas is extended and that a proper service is provided. There is a bus service in place, but it comes to an end at 6 p.m. each day.  We also need a bus service for the Condell Road. We cannot wait for that. There is potential for the bus that serves Pineview Gardens to also serve Condell Road. When the Knockalisheen Road is opened, this problem could be solved. If we really want people to use bus services - I do and I use buses when I can - they have to be safe, reliable and affordable. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  The Deputy is correct. Bus services need to be safe, reliable and accessible. I will take the points he made about the areas he mentioned back to the Minister.  The Deputy referred to active travel. There needs to be collaboration between the NTA and the city and county council with regard to the issue to which he referred, particularly in the context of safety. If we are doing active travel, it makes no sense for it not to be safe for road users, pedestrians and, in particular, bus users. I take the Deputy\u2019s point in that regard and commend him on the work he has done.  The ambition is that there will be a 70% increase in bus services in Limerick. It is about accessibility. I genuinely believe that those who offer bus services across the country do not discriminate on the basis of eircodes or people's location. It is about ensuring that the have shorter waits and more direct routes and about making the network simpler, with a schedule that meets demand. It is also about the out-of-hours time, as the Deputy said, and about having additional services available, whether that is at weekends or in the evening. As Minister of State with responsibility for rural transport, I have seen the success of rural transport. People will use it if it is provided.  Limerick has been leading the way in some areas, including in the context of electric buses. It has 61 zero-emission buses. The NDP to be issued later this year will outline in more detail the aspects of BusConnects Limerick that will be advanced in the period to 2030.  I will take the points the Deputy has made back to the Minister, Deputy O\u2019Brien, and the NTA. It was the issue of the 303 route that he highlighted most, and I will bring that back.  Limerick has been leading the way in some of the areas including electrified buses. It has 61 zero-emission buses. The detailed NDP later this year will outline in more detail the aspects of BusConnects Limerick that will be advanced in the funding to 2030. I will take the points the Deputy has made today back to the Minister, Deputy O\u2019Brien, and to the NTA. It was the issue of the 303 that he highlighted most and I will bring that back.  The Leas-Cheann Comhairle referred to bus services in Kilkenny at Question Time last week. People want to use public transport. We have provided it. The Ministers in the Department work with the NTA. It is about an implementation plan or a roadmap to ensure the new network, in Limerick, in Deputy Quinlivan\u2019s case, is not only being worked on but that new services that can be rolled out incrementally on new routes will be delivered. It is also about staffing and resources being available, particularly drivers. Deputy \u00d3 Laoghaire, who is seated behind Deputy Quinlivan, will know that in Cork we have an issue with staffing in the context of mechanics and drivers.  I will certainly bring Deputy Quinlivan\u2019s remarks back to the Minister. I again thank him for raising the matter. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Bus Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/dbsect_12","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Medicinal Products","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/dbsect_10","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_10","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala (At\u00f3g\u00e1il) - Topical Issue Debate (Resumed)"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_12","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan  I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Murnane O'Connor, for coming in to take this matter, which relates to the drug Pluvicto. This drug is for men suffering with prostate cancer. It was granted European Medical Agency, EMA, approval back in 2022. The HSE received an application for reimbursement on 9 January 2023. A rapid review was commenced shortly thereafter, on 10 February 2023. It was decided in March 2023 that a full higher technical assessment, HTA, was required in order to assess the efficacy of the drug. That assessment took the best part of 15 months to complete. A final HTA was completed in August 2024, when it was recommended that Pluvicto not to be reimbursed. That recommendation went forward to the drugs group, which followed through with its decision on the basis that it believed the therapy does not represent optimal use of limited HSE resources. That negative recommendation went forward to the HSE senior management team, which, as one would expect following a negative recommendation from the two subcommittees under it, followed through with its own refusal.  In the period that followed, 40 specialist consultants in oncology and radiology wrote a letter to the then chief executive of the HSE, Bernard Gloster, pleading with him to make the drug available to men suffering with prostate cancer. It has the potential to prolong their lives and has been described as a significant breakthrough. The consultants in question also highlighted that similar drugs are available to other men with similar prostate cancer conditions, which just deepened the inequitable situation whereby some people were able to avail of drugs while others were prevented from doing so.  The Minister of State is probably fed up with me coming in here looking for various drugs to be reimbursed. In that context, this drug is available in ten other European countries. I just checked my phone and discovered that it is available in France, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Czechia, Slovenia, Greece, Spain, Germany and Great Britain. It is not just big countries, because Switzerland, Austria, Belgium and Slovenia have made it available.  I am here again beating the same drug. I commend the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, regarding the review she instigated. To be fair, she put her money where her mouth is. I look forward to that review being completed. I believe it has gone out to tender and will happen by the end of this year. Nevertheless, here we are again. I do not want to hear that what is happening in this instance is the fault of the drug company involved, the HSE or the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics, NCPE. That drug was approved by the EMA in 2022 and an application in respect of it was made in January 2023. Fast forward three and a half years, and people still do not have access to a cancer drug that could save their lives and that is widely available in other European countries. Here we are again, talking about Ireland being behind the curve.  There will be a litany of reasons given as to why it has taken this long to get to this point. Ultimately, the drugs group and the HSE senior management team have decided not to reimburse the drug. Over the past few years, this Government and that which preceded it have approved more of these rare disease drugs than was the case over the previous decade. In the past three years, more of them have been approved than ever before. That is down to money. I am not asking for extra money. I am not trying to bankrupt the HSE, blow its budget or to do any of the other things I am being accused of. What I am asking for is a fairer apportionment of the existing drugs budget in this country. The Leas-Cheann Comhairle and the Minister of State will know that we are working with Friedreich\u2019s ataxia patients who are undergoing a similar process regarding reimbursement of the drug Skyclarys, which, I understand, will be deal with by the drugs group shortly. Still, here we are again. How many more patients' groups or cohorts of people will have to plead for much-needed access to quality drugs? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor)  Since I have known him, the Deputy has consistently come to the D\u00e1il and raised issues relating to rare diseases. He has worked so hard not just in respect of this particular drug but also in respect of several others. I thank him for his commitment and his hard work on this. I know he is constantly meeting the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill.  The State acknowledges the importance of access to medicines. This Government is committed to providing timely access to new and innovative medicines and has made considerable investments in recent years, with annual expenditure on medicines now almost \u20ac4 billion. This means that nearly \u20ac1 in every \u20ac8 of public funding is being spent on health. This level of investment is unprecedented in supporting patients through the availability of new and innovative medicines.  The budgets for the period between 2021 to 2025 included dedicated funding of \u20ac158 million for new medicines.  Budget 2026 allocated an additional \u20ac30 million of funding for new drugs out of \u20ac217 million in additional funding for drugs. This has enabled the HSE to approve reimbursement for 276 new medicines or new uses for existing medicines, including 110 for treating cancer and 75 for treating rare diseases. The HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines and medical items, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. In line with the Act a company must submit an application to the HSE to have a new medicine added to the formal reimbursement list. I know the Deputy is aware of this. Pluvicto is a medicine used to treat prostate cancer. It is indicated for certain adult patients with prostate cancer who have previously been treated with AR pathway inhibition and taxane-based chemotherapy.  The medicine was granted marketing authorisation by the European Medicines Agency in September 2022, following a positive opinion from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use. The centralised procedure results in a single EU-wide marketing authorisation valid across all EU member states. On 9 January 2023, the HSE received an application from Advanced Accelerator Applications, a Novartis company, for pricing and reimbursement of the drug. The drugs group is the national committee the HSE has in place to make recommendations on the pricing and reimbursement of medicines. The membership of the HSE drugs group includes clinical experts and public interest members. The HSE drugs group considers all of the evidence and makes a recommendation to the HSE senior leadership team. The clinical and economic evidence for this treatment was comprehensively and extensively reviewed by the drugs group at the April 2025 meeting. Evidence considered included a HTA report from the NCPE, a patient interest group submission, two additional clinical representations, and advice from the national cancer control programme technology review committee, an expert group whose membership includes clinicians specialising in oncology. The decision-making authority in the HSE is the HSE senior management team, which decides whether it can fund a new medicine. The senior management team supported the drugs group recommendation not to reimburse this treatment. The HSE corporate pharmaceutical unit issued a formal written notice of proposal to the applicant on Tuesday, 5 May 2026. The applicant has since met with the CPU, and it has submitted a commercial offer that remains under consideration. The HSE cannot comment on potential outcomes of this application. That information is important. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan  I have asked many parliamentary questions on this over the past few years. Very little has changed. The only thing that gives me hope is that the company has since met the CPU and submitted a commercial offer that remains under consideration. I am not asking for special treatment for any drug. These are all subject to commercial sensitivity. I am asking for fairness. This process started in January 2023, so we are here three and a half years later. They should be given a final response one way or another. That is all I ask for, good, bad or indifferent at this stage. People need to be put out of their misery. We can go on about the savings achieved in that timeline because this drug was not made available. That is probably because people have died because of the lack of access to it, truth be told. Those are the facts.  I am not asking for special treatment. I have spoken consistently in the House about systems change. I hope to God the review the Minister commissioned brings the systems change I would like to see. Dozens of other countries do this in a better way than we do. We can continue to put up the front that we are one of the best at negotiating and we get the best price and the best value for drugs, but ultimately as a society we have to ask ourselves at what cost. Unfortunately, in this case it is at the cost of lives. I made a comment about the Skyclarys campaign. I know the Minister of State has to be careful what she says because it is due before the drugs group. I again make the case that these people just want a hearing as expeditiously as possible. Like I said, nine other European countries have approved that drug apart from the United States and a few other countries internationally. When are we going to step up to the plate with drugs like Skyclarys for Friedreich's ataxia patients? I know the Minister of State has constituents of her own and it is close to her heart. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor  Two new frameworks are agreed with Medicines for Ireland. This is the Irish pharmaceutical healthcare association on the supply and pricing of medicines. These have been successfully reached following extensive negotiation with the pharmaceutical sector. These two new framework agreements will change things. A tender for conducting this review was published on Monday, 15 June. Once commenced, the project timeline is between six and nine months. Together these measures will enable faster access to medicines for patients in Ireland. I thank the Deputy for this.  I will talk about my own constituency. I have met with a lot of families in Carlow affected by Friedreich's ataxia, particularly Emily and Ois\u00edn. As the Deputy said, it is important. The next HSE drugs group is meeting on Tuesday, 14 July and that will be discussed. Skyclarys is on the agenda for that meeting. It is important because I have met with so many families in Carlow-Kilkenny and with constituents who need this drug. These families are waiting to get it urgently. Like everything, there is due diligence and funding is always spoken about. It is important that we know we have the date for it. The meeting is on Tuesday, 14 July with the drugs group and Skyclarys is on the agenda for that group meeting.  I will bring all of the Deputy's important issues and concerns on timing to the Minister, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. Unfortunately, she could not take this Topical Issue. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Medicinal Products"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/dbsect_13","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Special Educational Needs","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/dbsect_10","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_10","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala (At\u00f3g\u00e1il) - Topical Issue Debate (Resumed)"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_13","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  Last night we had a debate on childcare. During the course of that I made the point that July and August can be stressful times for parents as they try to figure out a patchwork quilt of different types of care as school finishes and there are camps and things like that. The stress of that is multiplied by two, three and ten for parents of children with special educational needs. The Topical Issue I submitted is about the summer provision programme.  While the summer provision scheme obviously cannot be precisely the same as school, it is meant to offer a certain amount of continuity for children, staff and families in terms of the support, care and education those children get during the course of the summer. Unfortunately, despite the fact that this is an annual debate, there still seem to be huge anomalies, discrepancies, things that are difficult to understand and shortfalls in time, hours and provision.  I was prompted to raise this in the context of an issue in a particular school. I was contacted by a parent and a teacher about a school where two children who had visual impairment were not going to be allowed access the programme because of a lack of SNA support. Trying to get that addressed was something the school had been chasing over the course of two or three weeks, and it received no response from the Department. In the interim, I have learned since submitting this matter that some additional resources have been allocated, but the fundamental point in terms of structure is that this school found it difficult to get answers. Time will tell whether the provision is adequate for those particular children. It still speaks to a fundamental point with regard to the programme as a whole.  I will give a number of examples. There seems to be a big issue with special schools in particular. Some parents have told me there was a delayed release of funding, which has led to some schools struggling to ensure staff are provided. There is a particular frustration with the reduced length of the day for special schools for 2026, continuing for the past number of years. The Department's position is that this is from stakeholder feedback. A lot of parents say that this really has not changed since Covid. The kind of feedback that might be talked about could go back that far. There is obviously a discrepancy with the special schools.  For them, it is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., whereas mainstream schools with special classes or units attached to schools do full-time hours in many instances. Not every school does, but they are in a position to offer the full four weeks with full hours. The guidance for special schools seems to be that there is no scope for the provision of that.  There is also an issue with the window, which was shorter this year than last year - only ten days, when previously it was two weeks. It was opened quite late this year, towards the end of June, whereas last year it was open in May. A lot of parents who are looking to avail of summer provision do not have the opportunity. They are being offered a home-based programme, but that is only for ten hours per week for four weeks compared to either 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the special schools or for the full hours in some of the mainstream schools with special classes attached. There are different anomalies affecting different categories of parents, leading to an awful lot of parents not getting the support they ought to get. It was very late when they found out what would be available. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Education and Youth (Deputy Michael Moynihan)  I thank the Deputy very much for raising the summer programme. I will set out the details of the scheme in the first instance and then I will respond to the specific points raised.  The summer programme is hugely valued across the Government and by families and school communities. It is a vital and targeted intervention for the education of children with special educational needs and those affected by educational disadvantage. It is delivered during the summer months to ensure that children with additional needs or who are disadvantaged have continuity. There is an emphasis on different things in each of the schools.  Since 2021, the Department of Education and Youth's inspectorate has evaluated the summer programme and the findings consistently highlight the positive impact on many children and young people who have taken part. Parents, staff and children themselves report improvement in confidence, attitude and readiness to return to school in September. The continued emphasis on the summer programme is to mitigate against the impact of learning loss on those children while schools are closed. An increase in the educational needs prevalence rate, particularly in autism, and the presentation of children with more complex needs has meant that the summer programme is now more important than ever.  The details of the summer programme were communicated to stakeholders, including the schools, in May of this year. While acknowledging that the details of the programme are technically announced earlier, the Department has continually kept in touch with the educational stakeholders querying when the programme might be announced. This ensured that the schools understood that it would be forthcoming and that they could start their preparation. As a result, and as the Deputy said, the online portal was open for ten days. Following feedback from schools in particular in relation to that, the portal was opened again to allow more schools to apply and get on board with the summer programme.  We have more school-based schemes this year than in 2025. That is hugely welcome and means that more primary, post-primary and special schools are engaging in the summer programme. The applications for home-based programmes also significantly increased on last year. A number of schools, including one cited by the Deputy, went back to the Department looking for extra staffing and resources. I understand that a lot of those requests have been met at this stage in terms of giving the resources.  In response to the points the Deputy makes, I understand the value of the summer programme. It is a hugely valued piece. It is vital that this valued resource be targeted at children with additional needs and those who are in disadvantage. While we have expanded the numbers quite considerably in recent years, we must ensure that we are targeting those who are most in need. I agree that we need to have the programme opened earlier and for a longer period. We had engagement between the Department and the stakeholders right through the year to say that the programme would be forthcoming but we need to make sure that there is a timeline for the schools because school communities are working extremely hard, in particular when it comes to the year end. Many school communities refer to it as \"mad May\". I take that point, which was made very clearly.  If it is okay with the Deputy, I might come back to a number of the points he raised about special schools and so forth in the closing remarks. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  Will the Minister of State take away a couple of points? While the issue I raised was resolved ultimately, that does appear to have been after the last minute, as it was after the provision had already begun on Monday. It was only today that I learned that additional resources were provided yesterday. It should not have come to that. It should not have been the case that two sets of parents were faced with a situation where children with visual impairments were potentially not going to be able to avail of the summer provision because of a lack of SNA supports.  Parents of children with special educational needs constantly feel a number of things: first, that they have to fight for absolutely everything; and, second, that there is a constant cycle whereby every spring there is a debate on special classes and every summer there is a debate on summer provision. That is despite the fact that the planning for these should be improving all the time, yet for parents it seems as if the same debate repeats itself and there is not any advance.  I want the Minister of State to take away in particular the point about special schools being able to offer full-time hours. Not every special class attached to a mainstream school offers full-time hours but the school has the option. However, it is not part of the guidance available to special schools, which operate between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Those children and their parents need the support the most, as the children struggle the most with the change in the pattern of their day.  I want to briefly raise the matter of children with special educational needs. Gaelscoil U\u00ed Riada serves the Bishopstown and Wilton areas in the south-west of Cork city. Its application for two additional classrooms for special classes under the additional school accommodation, ASA, scheme was rejected. Will the Minister of State push for that within the Department? The Department keeps talking about modular units rather than an extension but there is not the space for them. It is a tight, city-based site. It is crucial to ensure that the school can offer additional special education classes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  I will take the points back in relation to the Gaelscoil.  Some 1,800 schools and 71,000 children are participating in the scheme this year. Going back five years, there were 545 schools with 23,000 children. We have seen a 210% increase in participation. That gives a sense of the Government's commitment to the scheme. There are issues in regard to the special classes, schools in disadvantaged areas and special schools. The teams that work in special schools are superhuman beings because they work with the most vulnerable children, who sometimes have a very high dependency. They work extremely hard.  I have had lengthy engagements with the special school community in recent weeks. We met the principals of all the schools who spoke about the challenges they had within their schools and communities. We will reflect on those points. As well as that, we want to make sure that the summer programme is a hugely important and embedded piece in special education and disadvantaged education now and into the future. We must be open to an evaluation of it and to how we are going to roll it out over the coming years to make sure that we are targeting the resources to the people who need them most. There are a number of points ongoing in that regard.  While we engaged with the school communities and the stakeholders on the scheme, which we said would be open \u2013 there was no question but that it would be running this year \u2013 we need to make sure that we start earlier. Schools and school communities are working extremely hard right up to the year end. We need to reflect very carefully on that.  I will give due reflection to the piece about the hours. A number of parents contacted me about that as well. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Special Educational Needs"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/dbsect_14","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Schools Building Projects","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/dbsect_10","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_10","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala (At\u00f3g\u00e1il) - Topical Issue Debate (Resumed)"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_14","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"S\u00e9amus McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"S\u00e9amus McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy S\u00e9amus McGrath  I thank the Minister of State for being here to take this Topical Issue debate. I want to raise the matter of the proposed amalgamation of two schools in the lower harbour area of Cork. These are Ringaskiddy national school and Shanbally National School. This is a project that has been in the pipeline for many years but, unfortunately, remains effectively stalled and has been so for the past number of years. There is very little progress to show.  I thank the Minister of State for visiting the school in Shanbally in recent months and seeing at first hand the condition of the school building. It is a school with nine classrooms, six of them prefabs. Many of these prefabs are old and in very poor condition with sagging ceilings, collapsing floors, dampness, electrical issues, and health and safety issues. Similar significant issues arise in Ringaskiddy. Neither school got much investment in recent years because this amalgamation was proposed and supposedly happening. The teachers, principals, students, parents and communities have to put up with two schools that are simply not fit for purpose in terms of the educational needs of today. In terms of size, Shanbally National School has just under 200 students and Ringaskiddy national school is smaller, with about 60 students.  Despite all I have outlined about the conditions of the buildings, they are fantastic schools that provide an outstanding educational service. They provide a very strong emphasis on special education, also. They are wonderful schools for any child to go to despite the issues with the physical buildings. The teaching staff are outstanding and the school communities, atmospheres and learning environments are second to none.  As I have outlined, the project seems to be stalled. It is to be delivered under phase 2 of the Department's accelerated delivery of architectural planning and tendering, ADAPT, 4 programme. A project manager was appointed in the third quarter of 2023, which is more than three years ago. This person had the task of preparing documentation for the tender process and the appointment of an integrated project team. I am anxious to get an update on the tender process. As the Minister of State can appreciate, there is deep frustration that it has taken so long after the appointment of the project manager to progress with the tender phase of the project.  When I raised this matter as a Topical Issue just over six months ago in December 2025, the reply at the time was very much focused on the fact that there was an issue with the site. I reiterate that there is absolutely no issue with the site. To give the history briefly, a site was acquired a number of years ago but it was then acquired for the M28 project and the construction of the motorway. A different site has now been identified and IDA Ireland is in the process of transferring it to the council, which will then transfer it to the diocesan office. This is at an advanced stage and the council is finalising the acquisition of the site.  I have it in writing from the council that it will fully co-operate with any planning application and any design work. The site itself will not be an issue and there will not be a delay. I really do not want the Department to use the site as a delaying tactic because there is no reason whatsoever that the project cannot proceed through the design and planning phase. The school site will be fully acquired and in the possession of the diocesan office so that it can progress with this project.  I would like an update on the overall project. The Minister of State visited the school in Shanbally and saw at first hand its condition. He will accept that the schools are not acceptable, given the standard of education we expect for our children and the standard of the environment and school buildings they attend. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  I thank Deputy McGrath for his question. I visited the school in Shanbally and saw the condition of it. I saw the excellent work being done by the school community - the teachers, the SNAs and everybody involved - and the commitment those people have to education. Both schools are co-education primary schools catering for boys and girls from junior to sixth class. Both schools have agreed to amalgamate, with a new school building to be constructed. The new school is expected to be located on a six-acre site that is privately owned. If I understand it correctly, this will be transferred to the council and then to the diocesan trust. This is a very important element and I will certainly relay the comments of Deputy McGrath back to the planning and building unit. A lot of the time, technical transfers are slow and cumbersome. When the transfer is made to the diocesan trust, we can make the decisions; we will have the site and we can move on to the next level.  Both schools are in separate buildings and Deputy McGrath understands all of this quite well. What we need to do today is make sure that we have the pieces together to move it on. I saw the condition of the school in Shanbally. Something needs to be done in the Department. We have project managers and others in place for this project. From what I have heard from Deputy McGrath today, the transfer of the site is progressing through various stages. If there is further documentation or information that Deputy McGrath can bring to the table, I would appreciate it in terms of the timeline, as we could then put it on the table and say that the site was moving forward. We could then move to the next stage.  With the best will in the world, there are a number of stages to go through, including planning and design. I know that Deputy McGrath will work with the local authority to ensure it passes through this stage. The local authority is very open to it and it understands it. The site has been earmarked. Without going through all of the detail, the brief is for 16 classrooms, as Deputy McGrath is well aware. This is about the amalgamation of both schools. Deputy McGrath indicated that there were about 200 pupils in one school and 60 in the other. This is very important for education, not alone now, but in future. If I could get sight of the transfer documents, I could then take them to the planning and building unit and we could ensure that a speedy response is given as fast as possible. We often talk about delays and legal issues but we have to try to cut through this. I have seen for myself the situation and I will certainly do what we can in the Department to move the project on. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"S\u00e9amus McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy S\u00e9amus McGrath  I thank the Minister of State. I want to put on the record my appreciation for the Minister of State taking the time to visit the school. He visited Shanbally National School and heard about Ringaskiddy national school and the conditions there, and about how critical this project was.  I want to be absolutely clear about the land and I can furnish documentation to the Minister of State. A response from a senior person in Cork County Council states that, while finalisation of the acquisition is taking place and in advance of the formal transfer of land subject to section 183, Cork County Council will support any planning application submitted in respect of the new school and will also provide a letter of consent to accompany the planning submission at the appropriate time. There is no reason whatsoever that the land issue should cause any delay.  I notice from the reply this evening, which is deeply disappointing, that we do not appear to have progressed in the tender process since December last year. It is the exact same update, stating that the project manager was appointed in the third quarter of 2023 and was in the process of preparing documentation for the tender process for the appointment of an integrated project team. That is the exact same language as in the reply I received in December 2025. This is deeply frustrating and it is very difficult for me as a public representative to go back to the communities, principals, parents and teaching staff and say that this project has not moved forward. I do not want to be disingenuous, and I hope work is progressing on the tender process, but the reply seems to be the exact same, which is very frustrating.  To reiterate, the project is vital for these two school communities. The conditions they operate in at present are not acceptable. It has been promised for many years. This project has been in the pipeline for in excess of 15 years. There was an issue with the original site not being available because of the motorway project, which was facilitated. I plead with the Minister of State to go back to the Department and ensure that we progress the project once and for all and that the school communities - students, parents, families, teaching staff, principals and everyone else - have buildings that are suitable for the educational requirements of these children. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  I accept that.  The Department is very committed to this. It has carried out a survey and the reports are very clear that this project must go ahead. There were delays over 15 years. The frustration in relation to a project like this is sometimes about it taking so much time. The point is, though, that we need to have sight of the exact legal situation because to progress the project to the tender documents and planning stages, we would have to be 100% certain. I would appreciate if I could get the document the Deputy read from, because I would like to try to get that in and to try to start moving.  This is a fundamental aspect. I am referring to the site, the land and the history with other sites and so forth. We have to have that information as the underpinning that will allow us to move forward. If we go to planning, tender and other stages, we must make sure that we have ownership of the site. This is the fundamental aspect to moving the project to the next stage. There is a lot of work ready to go. The specification in terms of what is being designed there - the 16 classrooms and all of that - exists, but we need to have certainty about the site.  I will take that document from the Deputy and any other supporting documentation he has. I will raise this issue and push it as hard as I can with the planning and building unit in the Department. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Schools Building Projects"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/dbsect_15","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"School Accommodation","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/dbsect_10","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_10","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala (At\u00f3g\u00e1il) - Topical Issue Debate (Resumed)"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  The Minister of State will have received the letter this week requesting a meeting between him and the TDs from Cork North-Central in relation to Scoil Padre Pio. We had a very important meeting on Monday with the principal, Ms Sin\u00e9ad Elliffe, where she outlined that the school had been waiting and was now caught in limbo. The school\u2019s extension was approved in 2019. The school has now gone through the whole design process and has gone back and forth with the Department, and as far as the school is concerned, it is done. It has, though, not been able to get anyone to sign off on that design.  Scoil Padre Pio, then, is one of the schools stuck in the dreaded stage 2A. It is like a wasteland for schools. They go away and do the work, and then they are caught there. This is not the situation of Scoil Padre Pio alone. We also have Gaelscoil Pheig Sayers, which got approval for a new school in 2022, but it has been unable to get a response from the Department for the last 12 months. We have Scoil Chro\u00ed \u00cdosa stuck at the same stage. Then there is St. Killian's Special School, Gaelscoil an Chaisle\u00e1in and Le Ch\u00e9ile Secondary School. A 15-acre site was purchased in Ballincollig in 2024, and there has still been no progress. Ballincollig is an area that is expanding hugely. There is a desperate need for school places, but once again this is stuck in limbo. There are ten schools in my constituency on the list for large-scale building projects and another 21 on the list for additional accommodation. Not one large-scale building project has been delivered in Cork North-Central since 2020. There have been 11 smaller scale accommodation projects.  We have seen other schools that cannot even get onto the list. These include Scoil Barra, Clogheen Kerry Pike National School, Scoil Eoin and the Convent Primary School in Mallow. Despite the huge efforts made by their principals, these are schools that cannot even get on the radar of the Department, whatever that is about. I have visited some of these schools and seen the holes in the floors and the roofs and the dangerous steps that cannot be used by children. I am speaking about brilliant principals, teachers, SNAs and kids. These are kids who are being failed by Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael in government because they are being educated in rooms and prefabs that are not fit for education. On one hand, the Government is recognising the needs of these children. On the other hand, it is letting them remain in accommodation that is unsuitable for children.  I will give the Minister of State an example. Scoil Padre Pio was one of the first schools in Cork to take on additional autism spectrum disorder, ASD, classes. It led the way. It was seen to do unbelievable work. Prefabs went in there 21 years ago. I met a man who told me he was educated in those prefabs and now his son is being educated in the same prefabs. Does the Minister of State know that the Government is after spending \u20ac1.5 million on those prefabs? Almost \u20ac100,000 is being spent each year. What a waste of money that is. This project could have been delivered for \u20ac2.5 million in 2019. Does the Minister of State know what the cost is now? It is \u20ac7 million. The longer the Government delays, the more the cost goes up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I thank Deputy Gould. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  We have a brilliant school that is dealing with some of the most vulnerable kids, both mainstream and special classes. They are being failed by this Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  I thank the Deputy very much for the question. He mentioned a number of schools, and I definitely will go back over them. The Deputy's question, though, was on the numbers of schools in County Cork at stage 2A. The Department has a strong track record of delivering the school building programme, with over \u20ac6.9 billion invested in the last six years. This has delivered approximately 1,400 completed school building projects and over 4,000 smaller improvement projects. Over \u20ac796 million in capital funding has been invested in County Cork schools since 2020. In this period, a total of 168 schools in County Cork have been upgraded either through the provision of a new school building, a large-scale extension or the provision of modular accommodation. There are also currently 18 school projects in County Cork under construction. In late 2025, 35 schools were approved to undergo works as part of the climate action summer works scheme. In addition, since 2020, a total of 375 special classes have been sanctioned in Cork, of which 69 were sanctioned for September 2026.  Under the national development plan, NDP, sectoral investment plan for education and youth, \u20ac5 billion is allocated to project roll-out to modernise and expand school infrastructure. A first tranche of 105 school building projects has been published to proceed to construction or tender in the 2026-27 period. These projects were already at tender or advanced detailed design stage 2B, thereby prioritising urgent capacity pressures and special education needs. This list includes 12 projects in County Cork, which represents just over 10% of the projects within the first tranche.  Prioritised projects continue to be progressed through earlier stages of the design pipeline, with a focus on special schools; schools fully in interim accommodation with an urgent requirement for permanent accommodation; projects delivering significant special education capacity; additional accommodation required to cater for demographic growth in an area; and projects dealing with the most significant condition issues.  As part of the Department-led prioritisation process that is under way for 2026 and 2027, consultation with school patrons began this month. A further tranche of priority projects is targeted for publication in 2027, informed by departmental analysis, engagement with the patrons and schools, funding parameters and, where relevant, the Department\u2019s energy and condition inventory of the school estate, and this is due for completion by year end. Projects will need to be at an appropriate stage of readiness to be considered. In particular, projects already at stage 2A are well positioned for inclusion in the next tranche.  There are currently 47 projects progressing through stage 2A of the architectural planning process in County Cork, reflecting solid momentum within the county\u2019s school building pipeline. All projects continue to undergo detailed technical and cost assessment in line with Government infrastructure guidelines, with progression managed carefully across the wider capital programme. Departmental officials have recently intensified engagement with schools whose stage 2A reports have been under examination for some time, ensuring that each project is fully considered within overall prioritisation and programme management.  I must say that there is huge engagement within the Department. I take the points the Deputy made in relation to the schools he mentioned and the prefabs. I take that issue in relation to prefabs very seriously because I see this right across the country. The Deputy mentioned a number of schools and I will follow up in regard to them. There is, though, solid investment in the city and county of Cork. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  I have the printout of the schools here.  They include St. Killian\u2019s Special School, stage 2A, Gaelscoil Pheig Sayers, stage 2A, Scoil Chro\u00ed \u00cdosa, stage 2A, Gaelscoil an Chaisle\u00e1in, stage 1, Col\u00e1iste an Phiarsaigh, stage 2B, and Scoil Mhuire, stage 2B. Then there are Cork Educate Secondary School and Le Ch\u00e9ile Secondary School, Ballincollig, stage 1, and Col\u00e1iste Choilm, stage 2B. When are these to move on to the next stage?  The Minister of State came in here and gave me a list. I have a list, too. All these schools are crying out for support and funding to move on to the next stage. I also have another list. I care about the two lists because they contain the schools in my area, Cork North-Central, which I was elected to come in here and speak for. There are four capital projects in Cork North-Central, none of which is large scale. Where are the large-scale projects that the Minister of State outlined for my community and for the children in my area? There are two new schools in Cork South-Central. What we are looking for on the northside are four small-scale projects, four extensions, but where is the commitment from the Department to move them on from stage 2A or stage 2B?  Scoil Padre Pio has waited for seven years. Is that acceptable? Deputy Moynihan is the Minister of State. I am asking him a straight question because I do not believe the wait is acceptable. Gaelscoil Pheig Sayers has been waiting for years. Is that acceptable? These are schools in my area and they are crying out. St. Killian\u2019s Special School, one of the best schools in the country, is crying out. Will the Minister of State give a commitment here today to ensure all these projects progress? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  The only way we can give a commitment is by allocating sufficient funding within the Department. There has been a huge amount of continued investment in the school estate. There are literally billions of euro being spent across the country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  Not in Churchfield. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  To be fair now, the question I was asked to respond to was in relation to investment in County Cork. There has been considerable investment right across the education system, and the Department of education has full sight of it. I acknowledge the frustration of schools that urgently need to progress to the next stage, but there has been serious engagement over recent weeks and months on how we are going to prioritise and make sure our investment in 2027 addresses the most critical points, such as the condition of buildings. We have also prioritised ensuring special education is put at the centre of capital expenditure across the education system. We are building capacity for special education at both primary and post-primary levels, and indeed in special schools.  It is not true to say the Department is not spending money. There is a huge investment commitment in the national development plan. That is cold comfort for the communities the Deputy mentioned, one of which has been waiting for four years and another for seven. We should be targeting our resources to ensure that the condition of buildings does not deteriorate to such an extent that we have to do massive jobs on them. We should be investing earlier. Under the national development plan, we have committed serious money for the coming years, and we will be working with the schools. The Deputy mentioned a number of schools. I certainly will reflect on those and on the special schools. We have 20 of them open. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"School Accommodation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/dbsect_16","debateType":"statement","bill":null,"showAs":"Ireland's EU Presidency: Statements","counts":{"speechCount":22,"speakerCount":22},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_16","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Clendennen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Helen McEntee)  I mo ch\u00e1il mar Aire Gn\u00f3tha\u00ed Eachtracha agus Tr\u00e1d\u00e1la, is geal liom go bhfuil deis agam inniu aitheasc a thabhairt os comhair na D\u00e1la, ar an gc\u00e9ad l\u00e1 d\u2019ocht\u00fa hUachtar\u00e1nacht na h\u00c9ireann ar Chomhairle an Aontais Eorpaigh. As Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, I welcome the opportunity to address the D\u00e1il today, the first day of Ireland\u2019s eighth Presidency of the Council of the EU. I thank colleagues for attending the opening ceremony but particularly wish to use this opportunity to thank the wonderful choir, Defence Forces band, artists and singers, in particular those who contributed today. They really added to the sense of occasion and gave people a sense of what was to come in the months ahead.  We take on the Presidency role at a crucial time for Europe. Why do I say that? The EU is navigating its most turbulent geopolitical era in decades, defined by Russian aggression in Ukraine, escalating conflicts in the Middle East and a volatile global trade environment. We are facing an environment where economic interdependence is frequently weaponised, challenging our traditional reliance on a strictly rules-based international order.  Across the Union, we are responding by strengthening our economic resilience, advancing the green and digital transitions and reaffirming our commitment to democratic values and the rule of law. Our Presidency provides Ireland with a platform and an opportunity to lead member states in this response, seeking to build consensus on how we respond to the challenges facing Europe, how we deliver practical progress on behalf of all European citizens and how, importantly, we seize the opportunities available to us.  Ireland brings to this role a strong track record as a committed and constructive member state of the EU. Our experience, values and diplomatic tradition equip us well to navigate the complexities of the Presidency. For me, this is not just an institutional obligation; it is a profound personal responsibility. The Irish Presidency will be guided by the old Irish proverb \"N\u00ed neart go cur le ch\u00e9ile\", and our guiding star will be just that: strength in unity. As holders of the Presidency, we will lead a collective effort, and we know we can depend on the support and co-operation of our fellow member states as we work together in the interests of people, communities and businesses right across Europe.  We will build on the excellent work of the Cypriot Presidency, which has guided the agenda of the Council so effectively throughout the first half of 2026. It has achieved significant progress in many areas. I again thank it and my colleagues for the huge amount of work done over the six months. In turn, we will seek to lay strong foundations for further progress in important areas of policy during the Presidency terms of our Trio partners, in other words working closely with Lithuania and Greece. The Irish EU Presidency will focus its efforts on enhancing the competitiveness of our economy, safeguarding the values of our Union at home and abroad, and providing for the security of our citizens.  These core themes \u2013 competitiveness, values and security \u2013 are closely interlinked. They are mutually reinforcing. They will guide our work across all dimensions of our Presidency role. We will also strive for progress in a number of important areas which link all three of these thematic pillars. These include the Union\u2019s ongoing support for Ukraine and our global engagement and relationships with key partners. This was reiterated in our engagement today with President Zelenskyy, who was very welcome here as part of our opening ceremony.  As Members will be aware, the specific objectives we will pursue in our Presidency are set out in detail in the policy programme we published last month. In order to deliver a secure economic future, one that meets the needs and expectations of its people, Europe must act urgently to enhance its competitiveness and productivity. The Irish Presidency aims to make decisive progress in strengthening Europe\u2019s competitiveness, focusing on the blueprint for action that was agreed by the Council, the European Parliament and the Commission in the One Europe, One Market roadmap. This will be a core priority for our Presidency. Given the urgency of the task and the fact we have discussed and debated many of these issues for some time now, the targets, while ambitious and challenging, are ones we are certainly ambitious in wanting to achieve. Success will require all member states and each institution to work purposefully together in a spirit of co-operation and compromise in the interests of every citizen and business right across the Union.  Our work will be guided by five strategic building blocks. First, we will work to simplify rules to ensure a smarter, more coherent regulatory framework for citizens and businesses and reduce unnecessary administrative burdens. This is not about reducing or getting rid of regulation; it is about better regulation overall.  The Single Market is the foundation of Europe\u2019s economy and prosperity. Under our second strategic building block, the Irish Presidency will work to eliminate barriers, tackle regulatory burdens, boost Internal Market trade, drive digital transformation and ensure a level playing field for businesses operating across the EU.  Third, we must match our global diplomatic strategy with a bold, enterprising economic vision. Faced with rising trade uncertainty and fragmentation, we need to be more driven and adaptive than ever before.  Our Presidency will pursue an ambitious, open, rules- and values-based trade policy agenda that supports European competitiveness, resilience and economic security, and strengthens our trade relationships with reliable global partners. I will take responsibility for driving this in my role as chair of the meetings of EU trade ministers, including the informal meeting in Dublin in October.  We will work to strengthen our trade relationships and diversify our markets, advancing trade negotiations with important partners and looking to new markets in Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates, in line with commitments in the One Europe, One Market roadmap. I will start that engagement next week when I travel to the Gulf to meet with our partners in the region.  We will seek to build an ambitious EU-US trade and investment relationship, building on the work that has been done to date, including the ongoing implementation of the EU-US joint statement, which benefits all of us. We will ensure that the work around the digital dialogue that needs to happen will continue. That is a matter I have been pushing with my colleagues.  Fourth, and crucially, we must step up all efforts to respond to the exceptional energy crisis facing Europe. Geopolitical instability has laid bare our collective vulnerability, making it an absolute diplomatic and economic necessity that we act. We will prioritise work to enhance Europe's security of supply and the development of sustainable, affordable and secure energy systems. During our Presidency, we will support and advance all EU efforts to strengthen economic resilience. Guided by the promote-protect-partner principles that support our economic security, we will work to bolster our supply chain resilience. Through all of these actions, we will lead the way in phasing out dependence on fossil fuel imports and securing long-term economic sovereignty for our partners and our people. We have in the past few months alone seen the impact that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has had. We saw the impact on fuel prices, commodities and prices more generally. We need to phase out our dependence on external fossil fuel imports.  Fifth, we must look to the horizon and work towards systematically building Europe's digital and technological sovereignty. We are living through an era of unprecedented transformative change. To secure our future, our Presidency will seek to strengthen the EU's capabilities and capacities in cloud computing and artificial intelligence, AI, while firmly advancing the Union's position as a global leader in responsible digital governance. The Irish Presidency will convene governments and global stakeholders for an international AI summit, which will be the flagship business event of our Presidency. This landmark forum will focus on a clear double objective: harnessing immense digital opportunities while empowering our people to thrive in a digital society. Economic leadership in the 21st century requires absolute resilience in our physical and regulatory infrastructure.  Our Presidency will advance work on digital networks, focusing critical investments on subsea telecom connectivity and the security of subsea cables. We will work to create an innovation-friendly regulatory environment that drives strategic sectors, including semiconductors, biotechnology and new technologies, while simultaneously prioritising support for our traditional competitive farming and fishing industries.  The Irish Presidency will continue to advance educational mobility through the Erasmus+ programme, ensuring our workforce is highly skilled and adaptable. Healthy societies are fundamentally productive and competitive. Health innovation is not a secondary concern but a central contributor to Europe's technological leadership. Accordingly, we will prioritise and advance vital legislation on biotechnology and medical devices, driving the long-term innovation, resilience and competitiveness of this indispensable sector. We will also continue to advocate, as I have in recent months, for the development of a task force to set out a more strategic framework for the life science sector - looking at not just the pharmaceutical sector but also the medical technology sector - to ensure we are planning for the future of those importance industries not just for Ireland but for the EU, and doing so in a strategic way. To put it bluntly, we want to ensure that through our competitiveness agenda, in all of the priorities I have outlined and all the actions, policies and legislative files that we progress, we are making it easier for people to do business. It is about removing some of the bureaucracy that we know has come to the fore in recent years. It is about getting rid of duplication. It is about making it easier to access money. It is about supporting business to grow and innovate to allow people to prosper. That is the overall objective and there are many ways in which we intend to do that.  The values that we share are the foundation of our Union. They are part of what makes Europe a good place to live and work, and they underpin our competitiveness and security. Fundamentally, they are the very bedrock of who we are. Our Union is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities, as enshrined in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union. These values, mirrored in the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, are the foundation that makes Europe a safe, prosperous place to live and work. They do not weaken us; they underpin our competitiveness and our security. Now more than ever, the EU must defend and vindicate these values.  Our Presidency will make the safety of children online a central priority. We will advocate for an EU-level decision on the digital age of majority, champion robust, privacy-preserving age verification measures, and listen directly to children's views on their own safety.  As Ireland takes on the responsibility of the Council Presidency, our values will be central to our policy. Ukraine continues to endure brutal, illegal Russian aggression against its people and its territory. The war has caused profound human suffering and systematic destruction of Ukraine's infrastructure, economy and environment. During the Irish Presidency, we will work tirelessly to enhance the Union's steadfast support for Ukraine and maintain pressure on Russia to end its brutal war. Continued political, humanitarian, military and financial support for Ukraine, alongside robust sanctions to pressure Russia, remains an absolute priority. We will continue to demand a just and lasting peace, upholding the fundamental principle that borders cannot be changed by force. It is time for Russia to agree to a ceasefire and to engage in meaningful negotiations towards peace.  The Irish Presidency will work to maintain the EU's deep engagement with the United Nations, consistently promoting human rights, women's rights, gender equality and the rights of LGBTIQ+ persons worldwide. We will promote active diplomatic engagement to support lasting peace and security in the Middle East, reaffirming the EU's commitment to a two-state solution. We will continue to work with key partners to address the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza. We will also not lose sight of the sharply deteriorating situation in the West Bank, where massive settlement expansion and rampant and escalating settler violence continues in an atmosphere of impunity. Alongside the situation in Lebanon, these developments demand a serious response.  Reflecting our commitment to upholding international law and in response to egregious Israeli breaches of human rights and democratic principles, the Government has taken the decision to advance the Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill. The Government\u2019s preference remains that collective action would be taken at EU level. This would have greater impact and is the strongest and most effective route. We continue to actively pursue this. The Commission will bring forward proposals as regards trade with settlements before our first, and my first, Foreign Affairs Council on 13 July. We take on the Presidency today. I will again press for action on an EU-level ban on trade with the settlements. We will also support EU efforts toward stability in Lebanon, Syria and the wider Middle East. We welcome ongoing negotiations between Iran and the United States to end the conflict in the Gulf. We must ensure that this brings real and sustainable peace to the region. We must reopen the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping, which will bring much-needed relief to the global economy and to our societies.  The situation in Lebanon remains extremely concerning. It is important that the EU continues to support the Lebanese Government in its efforts to bring peace and stability to the country. We do not approach the challenge of peacebuilding from a purely theoretical standpoint. The experience of peace on the island of Ireland illustrates the profound importance of dialogue, partnership and sustained international support. The success of the peace process in Northern Ireland, achieved through the commitment of communities and institutions, and heavily backed by the European Union, reflects the unique history of our island. Ongoing EU support, notably through the PEACEPLUS programme, continues to underpin our efforts to strengthen reconciliation, deepen understanding and foster a shared, peaceful future together.  The international security environment has changed radically in the past decade. The need for measures to enhance European security and to build our resilience has never been more evident. We know that no country acting alone can address the entirety of existing and emerging security challenges. The Irish Presidency will contribute actively to the ongoing development of our security and defence. As I mentioned, Russia's ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine, the devastating conflicts across the Middle East and the Gulf, and the rapid evolution of hybrid threats and new forms of warfare, including cyber and hybrid threats, present profound challenges to our Continent and have revealed vulnerabilities that all EU member states, including Ireland, must confront. These crises have made one thing unquestionably clear: Europe must invest heavily in all dimensions of its own security and rapidly develop its defence capabilities. As we take up the Presidency, Ireland will work tirelessly to advance concrete measures that strengthen our security, resilience and defence. As I have said before in this House, it is imperative that the EU and its member states continue to provide Ukraine with the support that it needs but that we actively work towards our own security strategy to ensure that the Union can respond dynamically to today's challenges.  The Presidency will advance the measures set out in the White Paper on the future of European defence, the associated defence readiness roadmap 2030, and vital new initiatives on joint defence procurement. True security requires us to address critical capability gaps. We will support deep collaboration to build European resilience, particularly in the face of sophisticated hybrid threats which affect all member states, including Ireland. We will continue to highlight the central role of the EU\u2019s Common Security and Defence Policy, CSDP. The CSDP framework provides an invaluable contribution to our collective safety and the Irish Presidency will actively promote its development and evolution.  To secure our borders and networks, we will advance work on the proposed regulation on military mobility, tackle pressing maritime security challenges, safeguard the security of critical infrastructure and strengthen the Union's collective cybersecurity defences. During our Presidency, Ireland will support the mid-term review of the EU maritime security strategy while focusing on the work we are doing at home, identifying and increasing maritime domain awareness, combating the shadow fleet, and increasing member states\u2019 co-operation on maritime domain awareness, particularly through mechanisms like the common information sharing environment, CISE.  Russia's shadow fleet continues to pose a threat to European maritime security so Ireland will encourage and promote co-ordinated EU monitoring and surveillance measures targeting shadow fleet activities in European waters. Greater information-sharing between member states, the implementation of EU sanctions and the reinforcing of the legal framework underpinning our maritime domain are ways to address this threat.  I say all this being clear that our constitutional situation and our prerogative and position as a neutral country are not in conflict with everything I outlined. We need to and can work more closely with member states, invest in our economic security and security more broadly, protect critical infrastructure and respond to emerging threats. This is something we must do as a country to make sure we protect, not just our citizens, but also our critical infrastructure while working closely with member states across the EU.  I look forward to hosting a dedicated maritime security conference in Dublin in October 2026 where we will bring together owners and operators of critical maritime infrastructure, maritime security policy and legal experts and EU defence policy representatives. Ireland has delivered effectively on our responsibilities in our Presidency of the Council on seven previous occasions, from our first Presidency in 1975 to our most recent term in 2013. I am confident that we will do so again on this occasion. I look forward to working closely with colleagues across this House, with our European partners and with all stakeholders to ensure that Ireland\u2019s Presidency is a success, and most important, one that delivers for people in Ireland, people in Europe and for our shared future. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (Deputy Alan Dillon)  As Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment and at the Department of Climate, Energy and Environment, I am pleased to join the Minister, Deputy McEntee, in welcoming the opportunity to address the D\u00e1il on the first day of Ireland's eighth Presidency of the Council of the European Union. This is a significant responsibility for Ireland and a moment of real opportunity for us to shape the European agenda at a time of profound change and challenge. Our Presidency priorities have been developed through broad consultation with people and organisations across the country and with our European partners. I strongly believe that these priorities reflect what Europe needs to do to deliver effectively for people across the 27 EU member states.  From today until 31 December, Ministers and officials from across the Government are fully committed to serving in our roles as honest brokers to ensure positive outcomes for all of the Union\u2019s 450 million people. We will chair the Council across its formations, anchoring every negotiation in our core priorities of competitiveness, values and security. By setting clear agendas, building consensus and brokering compromises, we will achieve a critical legislative programme in the interest of all 27 member states. The scale of the task we face is huge, but we are ready.  In Brussels and Luxembourg, our Ministers will chair dozens of formal Council meetings. On the ground, our exceptional diplomats and officials will steer the vital day-to-day work of more than 170 Council preparatory bodies. Irish Ministers and Ministers of State, including me, will also lead on our engagement with the European Parliament across numerous complex policy areas, while leading and co-ordinating the work of the EU in major international negotiations, including significant United Nations conferences. By working with our partners across Europe to deliver an effective Presidency, we will ensure that Ireland\u2019s position, influence and reputation in the EU is maintained and enhanced.  We want to ensure the EU can respond effectively to the needs of citizens, communities and businesses across the 27 member states. One area that will be of particular importance during our Presidency will be circularity and the circular economy, which ties directly into the themes of competitiveness and resilience. At our upcoming informal meeting of environment Ministers, we will discuss the role of circularity as a critical component of resilience against external shocks and global supply chain impacts. Recent developments, including the conflicts in the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, have highlighted the far-reaching consequences of supply chain disruptions, extending well beyond energy security.  Turning to small businesses, which is an area I feel particularly strongly about, Ireland comes into this Presidency with a clear commitment to co-operation, ambition and delivery. We want to work constructively with our European partners to strengthen our economies, support workers and ensure Europe remains competitive in the long term. The Department will host the SME and Clusters Assembly in Dublin in November. This flagship Presidency event will build on our core theme of competitiveness, bringing together more than 600 entrepreneurs, business representatives, experts and policymakers from across Europe. The assembly will focus on practical measures to strengthen the SME sector, including improving access to finance, promoting entrepreneurship, accelerating digitalisation and supporting businesses to expand into new export markets. Through our work in leading negotiations and building consensus across the competitiveness agenda, we will help to deliver practical outcomes that enhance the competitiveness, resilience and long-term growth of Ireland\u2019s and Europe\u2019s small businesses.  I will turn to space policy, which might seem a bit removed from day-to-day concerns, but is not. It is becoming increasingly important for Europe\u2019s economic security and technological leadership. During our Presidency, we will advance work to enhance Europe\u2019s economic resilience, ensuring the European Union is well positioned to compete and prosper in an increasingly complex and rapidly changing global environment. This ambition also extends to the space sector, which is becoming ever more important to Europe\u2019s economic security, technological leadership and strategic resilience.  The Irish Presidency will prioritise measures to strengthen the competitiveness of Europe\u2019s space sector by unlocking the potential of the Single Market for space, fostering innovation, supporting the growth of SMEs and enabling European space enterprises to scale and succeed. We will also work to ensure that the EU\u2019s ambitious space agenda is underpinned by a sustainable long-term framework through progress on the EU space services agency regulation. At the same time, we will seek to advance the EU Space Act to help to maintain safe, secure and sustainable space operations as activity in space continues to grow. Through these efforts, Ireland will help to reinforce Europe\u2019s open strategic autonomy, strengthen our collective security and resilience, and support the European Union\u2019s position as a global leader in this strategically important sector.  When we talk about competitiveness, it is important to say it is not just about business; it is about people too. A competitive Europe must also be a fair Europe and we will strike the right balance between supporting businesses to grow and innovate and protecting workers and maintaining strong social standards. As highlighted by the Draghi and Letta reports, Europe faces significant competitiveness challenges, including an innovation gap, slower productivity growth and the need to deepen the Single Market. Our Presidency will support the European Commission\u2019s competitiveness compass by promoting an environment where SMEs can grow and scale, emerging technologies can flourish and investment can drive sustainable economic growth.  A key priority during our Presidency will be advancing the European employment agenda, including work on the forthcoming quality jobs Act and the fair labour mobility package. These initiatives will help to shape the future of work across Europe by supporting quality employment, fair working conditions, skills development, social dialogue and labour mobility. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  I will start with the logistical side of things. I acknowledge that this is a project which many hundreds if not thousands of people in the Department of foreign affairs and other Departments will work very hard on. I am always very aware of the professionalism of the Department of foreign affairs. I commend it on its work today and on the work it does on an ongoing basis. I have every faith that it will deliver, from an organisational point of view, a very successful Presidency.  The other part of the logistical side of things to register again the concerns we have raised in the past about security. The anti-drone technology that was supposed to be procured and put in place last autumn is only just about coming into play now, just in time the Presidency. Our reliance on other member states, which has been reported, reflects the fact that for many years successive Governments failed to invest in defence. The priority for the Irish Government should be to be strong on neutrality and on defence. The two things need to go together. Ultimately, a failure to invest leads to a reliance on others that has been demonstrated in the context of this Presidency.  On the political side, this should be a Presidency that leaves a mark. If we get to a stage at the end of the Presidency where the Commission is happy that all its priorities were shepherded through by the Irish Government to the Commission's satisfaction, I am sure that will lead to praise for the Government and its Ministers. Ultimately, however, that is not what the Irish people need. They need a Presidency that is assertive, that shows leadership, that is proudly Irish and that is willing to highlight and advocate on behalf of our interests. Of course, there is a balance to be struck. We must acknowledge that we hold the Presidency now but that this is a role that only comes around every so often. In that context, we need to take this opportunity and show assertive leadership.  In our submission on the Presidency, we highlighted six key priorities, namely Irish unity, the promotion of peace, the cost-of-living crisis, workers' rights, overseas development aid and fair play for farmers and fishers. On the first of these, it is extraordinary that we are going to go into a Presidency at a time when the Irish Government seems to have no ambition whatsoever to talk about Irish unity. It is incumbent on those who support Irish unity to take opportunities such as this to advocate for it. I am not saying that this is going to be the number one priority for Slovakia, France or Greece, but the EU, as an institution, will have a role to play when and if reunification is achieved. That is very clear, and previous Irish Governments have made engagements to ensue that the North can, in the event of Irish unity, access the EU. However, in their contributions, the Minister and the Minister of State said more about space than about Irish unity. Investment in space is important, and I appreciate that it has knock-on impacts for research, science and so on, but this is the Irish Government and it should be using opportunities like this to advocate for Irish unity.  The next priority is the promotion of peace. The shameful record of the EU on the Middle East in recent years has been frequently outlined in this Chamber. We cannot allow a situation where all the focus is on the humanitarian side, which is important, and not push for a sustainable political solution for the Middle East, including in Lebanon. I wish to flag the issue of Sudan. Too often, Sudan has been allowed to slip off the agenda. However, the conflict there is one of the biggest, if not the biggest, conflicts in the world.  The cost-of-living crisis is next. The cost of energy and reform of the energy markets are crucial.  Workers\u2019 rights are another priority we highlighted. I and many trade unionists across Europe are concerned that this Ireland Inc. proposal will lead to forum-shopping and to companies registering in countries with the weakest labour laws. We can all work towards simplification if workers\u2019 rights and the environment are not made victims, but I am concerned that they will be sacrificed for this.  On overseas development aid, unfortunately, many countries are walking away from their track record. There will be people, especially in Africa, who will suffer because of cuts to medical and public health programmes. We need to keep that matter on the agenda.  Last of all, fair play for farmers and fishers in the context of the Common Agricultural Policy.  The Presidency should, to the greatest extent possible, ensure there is Six Counties representation and engagement with them. That does not seem to be prominent enough in the programme as things stand. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Crowe  Mar a d\u00fairt an tAire, Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the European Union comes at a defining moment for Ireland and Europe. Communities across the Continent are facing soaring living costs, deepening inequality, housing crises, climate change and growing international instability.  The Presidency presents Ireland with an opportunity not just to just chair meetings or hold photo opportunities but also to provide leadership rooted in equality, solidarity and justice. Our Presidency must place ordinary workers, families and communities rather than corporate interests at the centre of Europe\u2019s agenda. Ireland must champion a pro-social Europe that delivers for working people. Across the European Union, families are struggling to afford basics like housing, childcare, healthcare and energy. Economic growth means little if it fails to improve people\u2019s lives. Climate action remains one of the defining challenges of our generation, but the transition to a greener economy must be a just one. Workers, families and rural communities cannot be expected to shoulder the cost while large polluters continue to profit. The European Union must invest in renewable energy, public transport and sustainable agriculture while ensuring jobs with fair pay and conditions are created across every region.  Ireland must also use its Presidency to defend peace, international law and human rights. Ireland has a proud tradition of military neutrality and supporting peaceful conflict resolution. At a time when international law is being violated with impunity, Europe must apply the same standards consistently. Ireland must be at the heart of drafting Europe\u2019s new strategy for security and defence. We need to ensure that the core principles of European foreign policy include accountability for breaches of international law and meaningful international efforts to secure just and lasting peace in many conflicts just beyond our borders.  Our Presidency should also challenge the growing concentration of wealth and corporate power. Multinational corporations must pay their fair share of tax. Workers\u2019 rights must never be sacrificed in the pursuit of competitiveness. Public services should never be weakened by privatisation or austerity. The European economy must work for citizens not financial markets. Ireland should also advocate democratic reform within the European Union. Decisions affecting people\u2019s lives must be transparent, accountably made and subject to meaningful democratic scrutiny. Smaller member states must have their voices respected and citizens must have confidence that Europe acts in their best interests.  Ireland\u2019s Presidency should reaffirm the values of solidarity that lie at the heart of the European project. That means standing with workers, supporting struggling communities and defending human rights. Ireland has an opportunity to demonstrate that leadership is measured not by military strength or economic power but by our willingness to stand up for fairness, equality and justice. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  Ireland's EU Presidency is a significant opportunity for the country that must not be missed, but it has to be for the whole island. I was really glad to see our First Minister, Michelle O\u2019Neill, at today's event, because we cannot talk about any of the issues we are going to talk about during the Presidency without taking an all-island approach. We have a chance to demonstrate leadership, advance Ireland\u2019s interests, address the democratic deficit within the EU and to help shape Europe\u2019s future at a very pivotal moment. While we must make the most of this opportunity, we must recognise that it comes with huge responsibility. The Presidency carries a substantial cost to the taxpayer, and the Government must ensure that every euro spent delivers lasting value for Ireland and for Europe.  One of the Presidency\u2019s central priorities must be to restore Europe\u2019s competitiveness. European businesses and innovators continue to face unnecessary red tape, duplication and bureaucracy. In that context, simplification must not mean deregulation. The Minister said that earlier, but it must be meant. We do not want deregulation. We are paying a price for deregulation in the form of the almost \u20ac9 billion that it will cost to resolve the problems caused by defective concrete blocks. Those problems arose as a result of light-touch regulation.  We need a Europe that supports enterprise, encourages innovation and allows businesses to compete globally, but we must protect workers' rights, consumer rights, environmental rights and human rights. This Presidency has also shone a spotlight on Ireland's own preparedness in an increasingly uncertain world. While Ireland remains militarily neutral, neutrality cannot mean vulnerability and, for decades, the Minister will know that the Defence Forces have been neglected. Despite years of warnings and ample time to prepare, we still lack basic capability to protect our own skies and seas against modern threats and we are, unfortunately, relying on others to fill the gaps. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in  Many Irish people have mixed emotions on the European project. It is a love-hate relationship of sorts. I spoke in the European Parliament recently as part of the Erasmus programme. I certainly love the element of mutual co-operation and cultural exchange with countries with which we have had links since the time of the monks shining a light into the dark Continent. However, many people dislike the increasing militarisation of a federal superstate that appears to prioritise the interests of corporations over communities. Ireland should be a voice for peace.  Only today, we saw how hard-pressed consumers were hit with a charge of \u20ac3 per non-EU product, which should have been passed on to billionaire corporations that produce the products and flood the market with them. There are also double standards whereby we strongly sanction Russian aggression in Ukraine but adopt a kid glove approach to the maniacal State of Israel, while we watch the world's first live-streamed genocide yet do very little about it. That represents rank EU hypocrisy. The sovereignty of national parliaments can be superseded by a federal superstate, such as with the EU migration pact, if a government rolls over and kowtows to Ursula von der Leyen and hands control over to unelected bureaucrats in Brussels. There has undoubtedly been much progressive legislation coming from Europe, such as the area of workers' rights and other dimensions. However, there is no reason that any national parliament should not be capable of enacting the same legislation.  I attended and enjoyed today's ceremony in Dublin Castle. It was very well run. I compliment those involved. There was a big emphasis on EU enlargement, which will allow 36 million and, eventually, 136 million from non-EU countries to have free movement into Ireland and elsewhere. Have we considered the practical implications of all this in terms of Ireland's infrastructure and people's access to housing, healthcare and education? We need to. Unfortunately, I do not hear much emphasis on EU enlargement into counties Fermanagh, Armagh, Tyrone, Derry, Antrim and Down and the use of our Presidency as a unique opportunity to garner support for Irish reunification, just as we did with German reunification. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell  The European Presidency gives Ireland the opportunity to put the interests of the Irish people firmly on the EU's agenda. First, Irish unity should be front and centre of that agenda. The Presidency is an opportune time to advance structured discussions on preparing for a united Ireland within the EU. Second, the cost-of-living crisis demands an EU-wide response centred on energy and food affordability and security.  Finally, this Presidency should be in support of peace and international law. It is within that context that I would like to raise the ongoing political situation in Cuba, which demands a strong humanitarian response both from Ireland and the EU. As the Chamber will be aware, Cuba has been suffering the result of 65 years of a US blockade and, of late, a complete sanction on the delivery of oil to Cuba. Schools and universities are closed as they cannot function without electricity. Food produced in the countryside is rotting in the ground because farmers do not have fuel to deliver it to the towns and cities. The urban people are suffering food deprivation. Hospitals cannot function due to lack of electricity either. The entire island is asphyxiated. There is no public transport. Sanitation is compromised, disease is everywhere and fresh water is hardly available. Their economy is completely compromised as most hotels are closed, causing even more unemployment and poverty. My heart breaks for the Cuban people when I see the reality of what is happening to them. I realise it is probably unique to raise it in the context of this, but I do think we have a unique voice here. The role that Ireland plays on an international level is an incredibly strong one and now we have this Presidency. We should use it to amplify our views and, indeed, amplify a moral voice within an increasingly difficult international context. We need to do everything that we can so there can be a free flow of fuel, medicines and essential supplies to the Cuban people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  I welcome the opportunity to speak today. Well done to the team involved on a very successful launch in Dublin Castle today. I genuinely wish the Government all the best in the EU Presidency. I know it is a big undertaking. However, I also urge it to listen to what is being said today from the Opposition benches. I believe there are a lot of insights that could be well used by Government during these coming six months.  Being a proud European means being an active voice, and we in the Social Democrats are proud Europeans. However, that pride is not based on blind loyalty. It is based on a commitment to the values that are supposed to form the bedrock of the European Union - peace, social justice, solidarity and human rights. We are an influential voice within a group of 27 nations and we need to stand by those values when others seek to turn their backs on them. As Ant\u00f3nio Costa said earlier today, Ireland is not just at the heart of Europe, but a decisive actor. When we refuse to call out the abandoning of those values and when we view constructive and valid criticism of EU actions as taboo, we feed anti-EU sentiment and the erosion of our democracies, here and abroad.  N\u00ed mhotha\u00edonn formh\u00f3r na ndaoine nasctha leis an m\u00e9id a tharla\u00edonn sa Bhruis\u00e9il.  People in this country do not see Ireland meaningfully defending environmental regulation at EU level. They do not see Ireland fighting for better digital protections at EU level. They do not see their Government defending their rights. Instead, the State approach to this EU Presidency seems to be about prioritising deregulation and collapsing social cohesion spending, while building war machines across our Continent with taxpayer money. We cannot and should not sacrifice Europe\u2019s social values in the name of competitiveness and simplification. These buzzwords will not deliver the positive change our citizens need. The multi-annual financial framework has expanded both cohesion and competitiveness funding to include military spending and defence industry support, respectively. This will have the effect of benefiting our most developed member states, which are home to the arms factories where this funding will be funnelled. This is all while small businesses operating outside the military space will find it harder and harder to access supports.  We in the Social Democrats argue that our best defence against interference and propaganda from foreign powers is a strong and socially cohesive Union of democracies. Courage means leading the way. It means not allowing inaction in the face of genocide and aggression. So many people in Ireland feel let down by the refusal of the EU to act on Israel's genocide in Gaza. They are angry that in the face of blatant violations of the human rights clauses of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, we have seen no action. I welcome that we took decisive action against Russia for its illegal war of aggression in Ukraine. We need those values to be upheld consistently, no matter the perpetrator. We need companies and people who support and fund wars of aggression and genocide sanctioned and held accountable. The words of our treaties, the promises made to our citizens and international law mean nothing if we do not see those things enforced.  In the words of Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speaking earlier today in Dublin Castle, \"it's so important to keep promises\". These are not optional extras. They are not a gift or an act of charity. These are our legal and moral obligation to act, and Europe has utterly failed in that legal and moral obligation towards the people of Palestine, instead continuing to be complicit in occupation and genocide. The refusal from this Government to ban services in the occupied territories Bill was blamed on Europe. Now is the chance to lead. If the Minister means what she said about pushing for action at EU level, we need to see that urgently and completely. We need a Europe that is based on decency and shared humanity and Ireland now has a responsibility to champion that. Instead of dealing with refugees as human beings, the European Union plans to pour billions of euro into our own version of ICE. The Commission has proposed to spend nearly \u20ac12 billion on Frontex in the next multi-annual financial framework. We know Fortress Europe policies push people into the arms of traffickers, push people into boats in the Mediterranean and push people to their deaths by drowning, while Europe then tries to imprison people doing search and rescue in EU waters, like our own Se\u00e1n Binder. This is coming at a time when MEPs are being refused access to see conditions in migrant centres run by EU member states in third countries, like in Albania, where six people have attempted suicide since mid-May. These practices, where lives are being destroyed and people are being treated as disposable, and attitudes we are allowing to take hold and grow exponentially across Europe have a real impact.  The migration pact, championed by Fine Gael's party colleagues in the European People's Party, EPP, was also welcomed by the far right of the same chamber with chants of \"Send them back\", a chilling moment for our European Parliament. When we refuse to stand up unashamedly for decency and for the humanity of every single person on our shores, this is the Europe we create. We in the Social Democrats believe we can create a better Europe, but only if those in power stand up for a better Europe, a decent Europe. Ireland must lead that fight during this EU Presidency. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  I congratulate the Minister, her Department and, indeed, all of the artists and designers involved in the new passport design. It is a beautiful document. It clearly shows the importance of nature to the Irish people. Fifteen thousand people were engaged in the process of designing this document. The reality is we as a state have not been kind to many of the species that were illustrated in that new design. Our Atlantic salmon populations have decreased by 90% in the past five decades. One third of our bee populations are facing extinction. Whales, dolphins and our sea birds are still waiting for this Government to bring forward marine protected area legislation. We kill thousands of badgers every year, we hunt our foxes with dogs and we course our hares for sport. It is clear that the illustrations are beautiful but we need to do a lot more for those particular species. I hope that when the Minister, all the other Ministers and all the officials are flying back and forth to Europe over the next six months and are flicking through their passports, they will be reminded of their responsibility to protect nature and the importance of nature to the Irish people, they use this next six months to fight for nature, environmental protection and funding for the nature restoration laws, and they do not allow the continued watering down of environmental protections that we have seen over the past number of months. We need to keep the environment on the agenda. Unfortunately, it has clearly fallen right off it. Even the speeches tonight were a demonstration of that. What we do not want is that the next generation of children will only experience the species that are in that document through the pages of that document. They need to be able to experience them in the wild and that will happen only through an Act of protection that the Minister can afford them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  I will raise two issues. The first is the issue of policing. It is deeply disappointing that there has been a reduction in Garda resources across the country as a result of the EU Presidency. In my own constituency, Ballymun and Finglas Garda stations will see a reduction in the coming months as a result of garda\u00ed being allocated elsewhere in relation to the Presidency. There is a feud ongoing in Ballymun and shots fired yesterday. We cannot have a situation whereby the EU Presidency results in a reduction in safety in communities, particularly our most disadvantaged communities. I would like the Government to give a commitment to ensuring that that will not be the case.  Second, on the issue of housing, it really is incredible. Housing, as the President of the European Council, Mr. Ant\u00f3nio Costa, said at the ceremony today, is one of the biggest issues facing Europe today, but yet when you look at the Government's plans for the Presidency, there was not a mention of housing in the 13 pages of the two speeches. It is incredible.  Across Europe today, there is a generation who cannot afford to pay the rent. They cannot afford to buy a home. They do not see a future where they can start families. They are facing record rents and record house prices because governments have failed to build social housing and have turned housing into an investment asset for landlords. We see the latter in AirBnB. The fundamental failure is that, across Europe, housing as not been treated as a human right.  You would think that we in this country, which has the worst housing crisis in Europe, would use the opportunity of the Presidency to put solving the housing crisis in Europe at the heart of what we are doing, yet there was not a mention of it. What a wasted opportunity. We talk about threats to Europe and to the European project, yet young people feel completely excluded and alienated from Europe when they cannot get the basic need of having a home met. That is not a social Europe. It is not the Europe that was envisioned by the founders of the European Union. It is not the European Union that we want to see where people can have a decent life - a life with dignity. That starts with having a home. I would ask the Government to reconsider, put housing central to what it is to do in the next six months, and use this as an opportunity to bring European governments together and bring a resolution to the housing crisis. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Clendennen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Clendennen  I will start by acknowledging the Minister and her officials for the event that took place in Dublin Castle today. It showcased the best of every facet of Irishness, our identity and how we had evolved since we joined the EU all those years ago. It was a day when I was proud to be Irish and proud to be European. It shows our strong affinity with Europe and how we have evolved over the past 50 years.  I am very much proud to be a member of Fine Gael and of the EPP, one of the leading parties in Europe, but one of the things that we should try to look at as part of this Presidency is ensuring that future generations recognise what it means to be part of Europe. One of the key parts of that is engaging at community level with our schools and communities. I met the Belgian ambassador, H.E. Mr. Nicolas Nihon, today. My county is paired or twinned with Belgium and we have ambitious plans to bring the European message to every corner of the county. There is a lot of work being done in relation to the likes of the Blue Star programme in primary schools but I think that this is an opportunity for local authorities to engage and maybe look at a European community day, where, led by local authorities, we could encourage every community to embrace this and get involved. Otherwise, I am concerned that a lot of this will be in Dublin. It will be in Dublin Castle and around the M50. Will it get out into rural communities? Will it be regionally balanced right across the country? We should be looking at initiatives to try to determine how that can be done better.  I do not believe that there is any facet of Irish society or the economy that has not benefited from Europe, from students, workers and farmers to families and entrepreneurs. When we look at all of the different initiatives since the turn of the century, we have got a common currency in the euro, a common travel area, interrailing for students, European health insurance cards and Erasmus. Those sorts of change have given Irish students and every element of the Irish people a real sense of opportunity beyond our shores. We are a country of 5 million but when we see what it opens us up to in terms of hundreds of millions of people, it has given us a new outlook, not only on Europe, but on the world. When we see our investment overseas and the employment that we create right across the globe today, it shows how confident we have grown as a country and how we have invested and delivered, not only here at home, but overseas.  It is a proud day for me as well when I see the logo of the EU Presidency and its connection to Offaly in that the whirlpool nebula, which was identified in the 1840s through the great telescope at Birr Castle. There is another reason to try to bring this EU Presidency on the road and explore such venues as Birr Castle.  I look at some of the funding that comes through the EU and wonder where would we be as a country without it, including most recently the European Structural and Investment Funds, Erasmus and the just transition. We have been critical in one sense of just transition in my own county but at the same time it has provided a foundation or platform to go forward and ensure that we can see the transition from an overdependence on fossil fuels to looking at renewables through a whole different spectrum. That is something that needs to be reflected, not only in my county, but nationally.  The LEADER programme is a scheme that came about as a result of Europe and I would hope that there will be a commitment, through this Presidency, to ensuring that it is protected and maintained. It makes a significant difference to rural communities. I look at some of the challenges that we face in terms of small businesses and their investment. LEADER has been a significant player in giving businesses in small rural areas an opportunity to diversify, expand and bring new economic activity to areas.  When I look at the slogan of the EU Presidency, \"N\u00ed neart go cur le ch\u00e9ile\", I think back to a former leader of our own party, Garret FitzGerald, who regularly referred to how membership would protect our national sovereignty through the sharing of sovereignty with other EU states. Now that we are a leading net contributor to Europe, it is something we need to be conscious of to ensure we do not take it for granted that opportunities for funding are no longer there. That is where EU funding officers, potentially through local authorities or regional assemblies, should be explored by Government and looked on as a potential way of ensuring we keep communities alive in order that we see that continual economic and social progression.  In respect of the three pillars we are looking at in our own objectives - competitiveness, values and security - these are fundamental and something we live by daily. We have seen the cost of doing business in Ireland and the challenges around it, but we have to stay innovative and connected to that Single Market, and we have to advocate for entrepreneurship. If we can do that, we will be competitive and we will continue to see businesses flourish. From a values perspective, we can all be confident in the democratic system upheld in Europe today. We see how transparent the recent elections in Hungary have been, but also here at home. Going into a count centre and observing how our elections unfold through the counting of ballots, this is not something we should ever take for granted. It is a significant part of where we are at as a society and country.  Sometimes in this Chamber, defence is something we take for granted on several different levels. Like it or not, there is a threat to the European border of our Union and we need to stand by our fellow member states and the likes of Ukraine to ensure we are united together. A strong message was sent from a European perspective today, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in attendance as well as Ant\u00f3nio Costa. However, we cannot take it for granted and we need to invest in it and support the Union as a whole. I heard some of the debate earlier about a decision between drones and homes. We have to protect our country and ensure we have the necessary and adequate defence while also investing in our future infrastructure. We need to ensure that as we continue to work with member states as a Union, we also have our own independence. From a defence perspective, we need to ensure we continue to see that investment and not necessarily have to rely on our neighbours.  The same applies to energy. We have had some difficult debates over the past couple of weeks in this House with regard to gas reserves and the strategic need for security, with others proposing we just rely on our neighbours. What happens if there is a challenge with our neighbours? We need to have that independence and security, and we need to ensure we pass on over time to the people and to businesses that affordability in the cost of energy, while also reducing our emissions in fossil fuels.  Overall, this is a very proud day, and it was a real honour to have been present. I wish the Minister and Government well, and I look forward to seeing how the next six months unfold. I am sure it will be through a very positive lens. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  Ireland's EU Presidency is not an exercise in mere administration; it is a significant political opportunity, and this Government must not squander it. A Presidency that prioritises optics over action would be an abdication of our responsibility to the Irish people and to the future of our Continent.  As we mark a decade since the North voted to remain in the EU, our Presidency must be anti-partitionist in word. The Brexit process was imposed on the people of the North against their democratic will. The Good Friday Agreement provides for Irish unity, and the EU Council confirmed that a united Ireland would automatically rejoin. The Irish Government must weave the preparation for reunification into the heart of its Presidency, and we must begin the groundwork for a smooth and democratic transition. The North should be represented, and Government must ensure the active participation of the Assembly and Executive in events and advocate for observer status for Northern representatives.  This Presidency must be a force for peace. The EU has lost immense credibility in its response to the ongoing genocide in Gaza. Ireland must use its leadership role to build alliances and move the EU. We must push for immediate recognition of the State of Palestine, an EU-wide arms embargo on Israel and the full suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. The EU must be a beacon for peace, not a bystander or active participant in atrocity. Crucially, this must be a social Presidency. While Brussels talks of deregulation and competition, Irish families are crippled by the highest energy prices in Europe. The Government must demand action to restructure the energy market and draw a line in the sand against any proposals that roll back workers' rights or environmental standards.  Ireland is a neutral country. The EU was not imagined as a military alliance. Our Presidency must draw a clear distinction between EU and NATO business, and there must be no meetings of any military alliance on Irish soil. This must be an active, ambitious and proudly Irish Presidency, one that champions unity, defence and neutrality and fights for a social Europe. To do anything else would betray the trust of the Irish people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert O'Donoghue  As we assume the EU Presidency, it is important we set out the context we now face globally. To one side of Europe, we have an aggressive Russia which, to this day, continues to take the lives of Ukrainians in its illegal war, while to the other side, we have the United States which, for the first time since the Second World War, has an outwardly aggressive tone towards its dealings with Europe. We have a bloc of countries that, despite the huge market we command, are falling behind competitively when it comes to the US and China. Ultimately, as we assume this Presidency, Europe is scrambling - scrambling to increase defence spending, scrambling to tackle a housing crisis that is felt more acutely in Ireland, and scrambling to reduce our reliance on the United States as it moves toward an isolationist economic and foreign policy. Post Brexit and post tariffs, there is no doubt Europe is bruised.  We have an opportunity over the next six months to turn the tide. This Government, which has been known to keep the handbrake on when coming to any decision, can choose to take it off. The Irish Presidency will have three key priorities: competitiveness, values and security. The worry is that when it comes to those priorities at home, this Government has kept the handbrake on and, because of this, it has failed. Why should people believe our Presidency of the EU will be any different, and if it will be different, why has that same effort not been shown at home?  With security, we know defence and security are the focus of Brussels, and in many respects, they should be, but how can we be leading that conversation? This Government is more interested in debating the triple lock than providing real investment in the State\u2019s own defence. We sit bottom of the EU table in terms of defence spending, and no matter how impressive the men and women in our armed forces are, we are not equipping them with the tools to do their job as effectively as possible. It is why we continue to rely on the RAF and, now, the French military.  President Zelenskyy, who I am glad was able to return to Ireland today, was put at risk in December by this State\u2019s underinvestment in our own defence capabilities. We have also still not got real answers to the drone incursion. Neither the Members of this House nor the defence committee know the exact details of what happened that day, and that is hugely concerning. As we discuss air defences in committee over the next week, I request again that the Minister would brief the committee properly on those drone incursions. If we are going to be steering conversations on defence, Ireland needs to get more serious on its own. This is not a call to waste money or to start buying up tanks. It is, however, a call to pay members of the Defence Forces better so that we can improve recruitment and retention. It is a call to invest in drone technologies, as suggested by President Zelenskyy earlier, to move away from our reliance on the RAF, to invest in our navy to move away from our reliance on the French navy, and to invest in Army barracks across the country and more.  I welcome the Government's willingness to double down on European support for Ukraine, including its accession to the EU and the ongoing accession of Moldova and other countries. The more nations that want to join the EU, the more it shows that while Europe might be bruised, it is not beaten.  We sit at a window of opportunity now that this State has to deliver not just in security, which is a key component, but also, as the Government has outlined, on our values. What are those values, and will we apply them universally? The EU is rightfully vocal when it comes to Russia and its illegal invasion of Ukraine, but that conviction disappears, certainly in many member states, when it comes to criticising Israel and the genocide it has committed in Gaza. Will Europe pressure the US to stop the blockade and the subsequent starving of the Cuban people? I am a proud European, but we need to acknowledge the hypocrisy the EU can display, and the need for a new direction. A Cuban life should not be worth any less than a Ukrainian or Palestinian life. All life is the same.  Our values are on display on the international stage while we hold this Presidency, but our values at home and how we bring them to the Presidency are equally important. The website that has been set up for the Presidency states, \"We will work to support a socio-economic model that emphasises societal resilience, inclusion and cohesion, and will take forward initiatives on employment, supporting quality jobs within modern labour markets.\" Societal resilience comes from equity in opportunity, so I ask that as part of the values portion of our Presidency, Ireland focuses on housing. There is no equity in opportunity between the older and the younger people living in Ireland. Thirty-year-olds are stuck living in a box room at home, or paying \u20ac2,500 for a studio apartment in Dublin. We have a generation who according to the ESRI will be worse off than their parents and because of that, as sure as night turns to day, we will continue to see a breakdown in societal resilience, not just in this country but across Europe.  We need a radical reset, and that means State intervention in the housing market and State building, but more than that, and this Presidency gives us the opportunity to say this, we should be looking at the EU taking a much bigger role in housing across Europe. Supply is the only way that we will drive prices down. We need big institutions to be playing bigger roles. Ireland has the opportunity now to get the ball rolling in that direction.  This needs to be a Presidency that is prepared to be bold and dynamic and to rip up the rules that the EU has in place where the US and China have pulled away from us economically. The Government is saying a lot of the right things on the competitiveness front - simplifying rules, a more integrated Single Market, accelerating the energy transition - and if all these happen, I will be the first to put my hands up and say well done, but nothing this Government has shown in running this country gives me confidence that it can drive these objectives at a European level. The Government does not have a history of simplifying rules. Just look at the new rural housing policy or the new rental rules - the list goes on. We are the furthest away from achieving an energy transition. We are missing targets, embracing LNG and ignoring opposition on it to boot, and we have an energy grid that is falling apart from years of underinvestment. On both those fronts, the jury is more than out on whether this Government can deliver. The next six months will be vital with regard to the direction Europe takes. I urge the Government to push Europe beyond what it is, and towards what it can be.  With my remaining time, I would like to address another challenge the Presidency faces, which is the multi-annual financial framework, MFF, and the realities of the tightness of the European budget. Let us be realistic about the resources at our disposal. The MFF is arguably the most demanding task that the Government will face over the next six months. The Minister of State knows that. We are facing a paradox: the demand for shared European investment in security, economic competitiveness, the CAP, cohesion funding and myriad other competing areas. This demand has never been higher, yet the overall budget remains intensely constrained. As impartial chair of these negotiations, Ireland must balance our desire for traditional cohesion funding and agricultural support with new, critical industrial investments. The reality is that we are looking at increased and competing demands while not increasing our spending. Frankly, no group is going to be happy with the outcome. There are a number of potential areas, long mooted, that we can examine at an EU level, including levies on online gambling, on digital services and big tech, and financial transactions or capital gains from crypto assets. An expanded Union cannot survive on solidarity, pretty speeches and well wishes.  During our Presidency, we must push the conversation forward by integrating the practical, financial realities of expanding the Union into our MFF discussions, and we must seriously look at how we simplify decision-making across the bloc. Ireland knows first-hand how the EU can transform a nation from a peripheral, economically depressed state into a thriving, globalised hub. We understand the immense mutual benefits of this project, but with that privilege comes a profound responsibility to lead. I hope that we will. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John McGuinness  On a 13th century site in Graiguenamanagh, County Kilkenny, stands one of the last remaining textile mills, run by a family since 1778, the Cushendale Woollen Mills. It was successful in the procurement process to provide a corporate gift of a scarf for those who will participate in the EU Presidency. I mention this because it is of significance to how a family-owned Irish company can benefit from a procurement process that will now bring its product to the attention of countries within the European Union. It is proud of the fact that it goes from fleece to fabric. It is a wonderful family and I am delighted to have the opportunity to mention it in this House. I wish it well in the markets it will engage with through trade within the European Union and beyond.  Like other speakers, I acknowledge the very positive role that was played within the European Union, the positive benefits to Ireland from that participation, and how we have successfully managed to develop as a country within that European Union, but when that Union started out, it was about more than trade. It was about the importance of the European citizen within that Union. An effort was to be made to ensure that the citizens of Europe would be better off as part of that membership. That, in my mind, has faded away to an extent. For example, why is it that within the European Union, you can get a very cheap mortgage, but you cannot get it here? It is a simple question but it is fundamental to the rights of Irish citizens to be able to get what citizens in other parts of Europe can get, which is a cheap mortgage. Why is it that the insurance industry within Europe is not open to the citizens of Ireland for them to benefit from cheaper premiums? Why is it that Sparkassen banks in Germany cannot be part of the banking system here? These are questions that need to be asked by the Government during the time of this Presidency.  I listened to the Minister, who referred to simplifying rules, which is a good statement, but it is not what is happening in the European Union. The bureaucracy of the European Union has run away with itself and it has become more important than European states, and it has put the citizen in a second-class place. That has to be corrected and that is what I hope will happen during the Irish EU Presidency. The Minister referred to eliminating barriers. There are barriers to Irish farmers farming.  That barrier is bureaucracy and red tape. It is putting farms as we would know them, small farms that make up the bulk of the country's farming families, to the pin of their collar to make money and to make a profit. It is only that profit that is going to keep them there. They are saying that they will be given a grant, and then tying so much red tape around that grant that it is not worthwhile for them to get it, but still they want to farm. It is making it difficult for them to protect the environment, in which they acknowledge the role that they play in that protection, and making the grant system impossible for them again. That has to be simplified.  We talk about enterprise then. I am trying to highlight the imbalances that are there in Europe, some of the positions taken, the hypocrisy of them and, simply, the fact that maybe it is Ireland's fault that we do not stand up within our European Union and do what other countries do. For example, Taiwan has a population of 21 million people. It is a massive market. We have no place in that market, yet 16 individual European states have trade offices in Taiwan. Ireland does not have one. It did have one. It closed it down. It cost the State \u20ac50,000 a year, but we closed it down back in the downturn in the economy. It should be reopened. It is not interfering with our One China policy. It is doing what 17 entities from Europe and 16 member states are doing in Taiwan. They are trading and using that as an access point to China and Asia, yet we hide behind what is historically an outdated policy statement from China. We are not going to offend them. The other 16 countries that are out there do not offend them. Members of this House have travelled out there. Members of the Government have travelled out there when they were in opposition, but there are different standards now because they are in government. Yet, the European Union is leading the way in terms of the numbers that are out there. I want to see that changed.  I want to see a student exchange, which the UK benefited from when it was in the European Union, between Taiwan and Ireland. I want Irish students who want to go out and see how the semiconductors are made to do so. I want to allow them the opportunity to be able to educate themselves on that issue, on AI and on technology. Taiwan is the leading producer of semiconductors. In fact, it opened and invested in Germany. It built a factory out there. Why is it that Ireland could not be at the table fighting for that investment, the same as every other country? These are the issues that I see in terms of enterprise.  Social justice and the rights of people are a big thing. There was a group of whistleblowers in the Gallery a few weeks ago on World Whistleblower Day, some of whom went to try to have their rights vindicated within the European Union. The European Union fines us for not doing stuff, yet when it does not do stuff like protecting the rights of those whistleblowers, everything goes silent. Julie Grace, Noel McGree and Lorraine Morris and so on were out there. I want to see the European Union take on the role of defending those who had to go out there to vindicate their rights and perhaps to tell Ireland it should start doing its business at home rather than what it has turned a blind eye to, ending up in Europe to be sorted out. There is a mishmash here of all sorts of things happening in Europe that happen in Ireland where we do not fulfil the rights of individuals. Dan Brennan is another one I can think of. I want to see the citizens of this State being placed in the centre of any policy that is being developed or any action that is being developed whereby the citizen can benefit - not big corporations, vulture funds, banks or anyone like that.  By the way, in relation to the banks, we were short-changed in a big way by the European Central Bank during the crash. That was never really addressed. We had big issues in terms of Covid and we want to investigate that. That was not addressed. Surely one rule for one country within the European Union should be the same in every other member state.  The EU provides grant aid for all sorts of projects in Ireland. Essentially, what is happening with that funding is every city, town and village is starting to look the same. They have the same big cycle tracks, the same narrow roads, the same lights and the same everything. We should tell the European Union that everyone is not the same; we are different, and that should be celebrated. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  First, I stand in solidarity with the staff and students of UCC who have been locked out of their college and workplace because of the visit of Ursula von der Leyen. Why there was a need for this extreme when people just want to go to work and college, I do not know but it goes to the over-the-top way that Europe and this Government are treating the citizens. Once again, the elites are being prioritised over ordinary people. There will be a gridlock in Cork. There will not be a gridlock for the elites. For the ordinary man or woman trying to get to work, college, school or to collect their kids, there will be. I have serious concerns after hearing comments in the past few days about the State's ability to guarantee security while we have the Presidency. The Taoiseach, Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael have rolled out the red carpet to the Europeans. I am a proud Irishman and a proud European. I think you can be both. At the same time, however, we cannot have a situation where millions upon millions are being spent while children grow up in hostels and hotels. Millions and millions are being spent while children with disabilities cannot get access to school places, school transport or July provision. People with disabilities cannot get them. Our priorities have to be here.  We have a Passport Office in Cork. Everyone will be travelling now into Ireland but Irish citizens cannot get passports because of delays in the Passport Office. In Cork, there was supposed to be a new Passport Office in August. Now that is being delayed until next year. The joke of this is there will be no passport printer in a brand-new office that is being set up in Cork. How crazy is that? People are having to get emergency passports. People are facing delays. I dealt with a lady who could not fly out on Monday because her passport was delayed. She had to fly out on Tuesday and book new flights, with the cost of that. If we are going to spend millions, we need to spend it where it needs to be spent. The EU Presidency should be a source of pride. The Taoiseach has an unbelievable opportunity now to make a real difference. Number one, we have to call out how Europe threw us under the bus during the financial crash and how the Irish people paid more than anyone else because of bankers and speculators and how they destroyed our economy. Fianna F\u00e1il must take the blame for that. That lands clearly at its doors.  We need the occupied territories Bill to include services. There is an opportunity now for Europe to lead and say that there is a genocide in Gaza. We should stop supplying the Israeli army with weapons. We should stop letting bonds being sold for money. Settlers are driving people from their land in the West Bank and people are being killed. There is a genocide in Gaza. We have an opportunity now that the Taoiseach must grab. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  The jamboree of propaganda for the EU has started with the beginning of the Irish EU Presidency. The bit that concerns me is confirmed in the Minister\u2019s speech:  The [Irish] Presidency will advance the measures set out in the White Paper on the future of European defence, the associated defence readiness roadmap 2030, and vital new initiatives on joint defence procurement.  The paper she is referring to is the paper ReArm Europe. That is what this is about. That is what Zelenskyy\u2019s visit is about and what von der Leyen is about. It is about doubling arms expenditure in Europe from the current level of \u20ac400 billion to more than \u20ac800 billion \u2013 just a little under \u20ac1 trillion. To put that into perspective, how much has Russia, which is an aggressive imperialist power that has illegally and brutally attacked Ukraine, spent on military and weapons? \u20ac190 billion. Europe is already spending twice that but it wants to double that again. NATO in total spends 53% of all global arms expenditure, which is now above \u20ac3 trillion; in other words, \u20ac1.5 trillion \u2013 ten times what Russia spends. Spending lots on weapons does not stop war, does it? It does not stop the killing. What does it do? The European Union exports \u20ac800 million worth of armaments and weapons to the State of Israel while it is massacring and engaged in a genocide against the Palestinian people. It is profiting from genocide. It gives the state that is committing genocide favoured trade status. Yes, we are looking for a suspension, which we know we will never get. Ireland is a major trading partner. The European Union as a whole has \u20ac43 billion worth of trade with a state that is in the dock for genocide. Ireland is one of the biggest of those trading partners at \u20ac5 billion worth of trade and the Government guts the Bill to impose minimal sanctions with the Occupied Territories Bill. In the midst of the genocide, we discovered \u20ac20 million in one year goes in dual-use exports to the Israeli military. That is to the Israeli military while it is committing a massacre. At the same time, the Government is going to get rid of the triple lock, which removes some barriers to the Government deploying troops in a European military project which Ursula von der Leyen has spelled out when she was speaking about the Strait of Hormuz, which the Minister mentioned. She said we must open the Strait of Hormuz. Who closed them? Israel, who we are arming and the United States. Donald Trump closed them by attacking Lebanon and Iran yet this is what von der Leyen said in April:  A threat to a merchant vessel in the Strait of Hormuz is a threat to a factory, for example, in Belgium. So today I propose that we move beyond reactive crisis management.  She went on to say the EU must consider expanding the scope of missions. She said together we should \u201cbuild a region where peace is not merely the absence of war\u201d. To me, peace is the absence of war but that sounds like she thinks peace is war. Peace is European military action in the Strait of Hormuz \u2013 not defensive action but sending troops to the Strait of Hormuz to deal with the problems created by a war started by the United States and Israel, to which we are providing the weapons to conduct that war while they are slaughtering Palestinians.  I appeal to people; we have to protest against this madness. Money that von der Leyen wants to put into weapons should be going into housing, health, education and dealing with the cost-of-living crisis faced by working people. That should be our priority. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  Competitiveness, security and values are the key themes of Ireland\u2019s Presidency. Each of these themes should be intertwined with our goals for a decarbonised, energy abundant, peaceful EU and peaceful world but, as we have seen from some Government pronouncements, these values are open to interpretation. I think we should be competing to have the most energy-efficient buildings, to have the fastest public transport; that real security means energy security through actioning renewables and that our values should be to protect those suffering from the depredations of war in Gaza. I hope the Government will agree with those points but some of the announcements that has come from the Government in recent days lead me to question that.  These values demand a commitment from our politicians at both a national and a European level not to allow populism to strip away our empathy or to keep us from making our societies more climate resilient. I worry that as part of a broader headlong rush into that deregulation agenda, the Government will favour profit ahead of people and ahead of planet in our Presidency\u2019s plans. While the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade was talking up competitiveness earlier this week, she failed to mention that the European Commission has opened infringement proceedings against Ireland for not meeting our climate deadlines. The Irish Government has missed its 31 December 2025 deadline to submit its draft building renovation plan to the European Commission, which is a core requirement under the energy performance of buildings directive. With the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council warning that a failure to take climate action could cost the State \u20ac13 billion, it is crucial that the Government prioritises climate in its EU Presidency plans. The Irish Government needs to get its house in order and it needs to get our housing stock in order at the same time. We need to ramp up renovations, particularly for those living in food poverty. Energy costs for householders have spiked and the crisis in the Middle East, coming on the tail of the Ukraine war, shows that sadly this will not be the last time an energy crisis of this nature takes place. Well-insulated homes save householders money, are more comfortable and help us meet our climate goals as well. Without a plan, too many households will face a choice of food or heat this winter. As new weather records are set across Europe, the Government has an opportunity to act on both climate and household costs but they must not be found wanting.  We need to use the time this evening and the time of our Presidency to speak out against the Israeli establishment\u2019s destruction of Gaza and continued oppression of the Palestinian people. The Government has outlined that it wants to take further measures in regard to sanctioning Israel to be taken at EU rather than national level for greater impact. The Taoiseach is on record as saying he intends to push for concrete EU action and urgent discussion on this but the time has come for the Government to step up and put meaning behind these words. We now have six months before us when Ireland will have the potential to have huge impact on this issue. We should be aligning with allies in Spain and Slovakia to put Palestine firmly on the European Union\u2019s agenda. This involves not only highlighting the issue of the EU-Israel Trade Association Agreement and humanitarian aid for Palestine but also calling on the European Union itself to finally recognise the State of Palestine and all the rights that come from that. The Green Party was proud to be part of the Government when Ireland first recognised the State of Palestine in 2024. Since then, and because of the leadership shown by Ireland, many other member states have followed suit: France, Luxembourg and Malta. We not only have an opportunity but also a responsibility to use the Presidency to promote the dignity and the rights of this oppressed nation over the next six months. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  I might start by recognising a very strong European who was a former Member of this House and who passed away on Monday. David Andrews was a TD for D\u00fan Laoghaire and was somebody who showed on a number of occasions as Minister for Foreign Affairs his commitment to the European project and his commitment to the ideals of Europe. He is a great loss. I wanted to pay tribute to him. I have not had an opportunity in the House to pay my respects to his family, to his wife Annette, his sons David and Barry, and his daughters, Mary, Sinead and Claire. D\u00e9anaim comhbhr\u00f3n leo as ucht an chaillteanais at\u00e1 acu an tseachtain seo. I wanted to mark that because I thought it was important in the context of this debate.  I thought this debate was about the EU Presidency which we took over today rather than an opportunity to criticise every aspect of the European Union. Listening to the debate, I think some people have seen it in those terms. I do not for a moment suggest Europe is perfect or that it does not have its flaws or areas where we have an opportunity to correct the problems with Europe but what we saw today with the opening at Dublin Castle was an extraordinary event that did reflect our uniqueness but also our uniqueness within the context of Europe.  I congratulate those involved in organising the ceremony. I want to mark the extraordinary contribution that Carrie Crowley made as MC of the event and the extraordinary musical talent of Cormac Begley and Iarla \u00d3 Lion\u00e1ird who really showed the depth of musical talent and culture in this country. There was also the recitation of Seamus Heaney's poetry by Ruth Negga. It was a lovely event. I was on radio this morning and one of questions asked was whether we will have the opportunity to make our own mark on this Presidency. We have started down that road. The opening ceremony today was a triumph for everyone involved. It is also a reflection of the level of organisation and preparation that have gone into the Presidency. As Chair of the Joint Committee on European Affairs, I know we have had a lot of dealings with officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade who are involved in preparing for the Presidency and the level of preparation is extraordinary. It has not happened in the past week or two. It has been in the making for over a year, and credit is due to those officials for what they have done and the Ministers who will coming into play chairing meetings. I know from speaking to colleagues that they are so prepared. They have a map of where they want to go during the Presidency and who the personalities are on their Council and how they will achieve what they have to achieve.  Although it is not an officially announced theme, one of the things we have to look at is expectation management in the context of the Presidency. There is an enormous weight of expectation on Ireland. It is not just because this is our eighth Presidency. We sometimes forget that we were part of the first enlargement of the European Union in 1973. We are one of the older members of the European Union so there is a breadth of experience and understanding of the European Union within the Civil Service and the body politic in this country that does not exist in most countries. Cyprus, before us, is a younger member and a much smaller country that faced enormous challenges with what happened with Iran and attacks on their own soil during their Presidency. That made it incredibly difficult for them to move the agenda they had set out for their Presidency. We can only hope that will not befall us during our Presidency. Lithuania also joined the European Union, like Cyprus, in 2004 so is a relatively new member. They will take over from us next year.  As I look at our Presidency, we exist in a gap in the foreseeable potential political turmoil. There is an opportunity for us to achieve great things through this Presidency but also an expectation that Ireland will deliver an excellent Presidency. I fully expect we will but so much of what we could achieve during that time is outside our control. It depends on the co-operation and ambition of the other 26 member states who will share those meetings with us during the Presidency. We do not know if something will happen to us like what happened to Cyprus. We do not know what complication or what attack there will be. When the French had their Presidency, they did not expect war to break out in Ukraine. When the Croatians had their Presidency, they did not expect Covid to hit. There will be unforeseen events that will interrupt our ability to get things done. We have the best chance here because in 2027 there will be all kinds of elections in Europe that may change the political landscape and make it much more difficult to get things done. When we look at what has to be done, there are some really important things within that Presidency. We have set our priorities as competitiveness, security and values but the MFF looms large as well. That seven-year budget is a constant battle between the frugals who want to cut and cut,and those who want to expand spending. Ireland, as an honest broker, running this Presidency has to be the middle ground that can bring those two sides together and that will not be an easy task. It will not be easy to broker a deal on the MFF. If we can do it, or substantially do it before the end of this year, it will put Europe in a much stronger position. I am grateful we have the opportunity to do that and we have a strong team in place at official and political level. However, in the context of the MFF and the changing political and diplomatic landscape of the globe, it is really that we do not cut back on the external action service in the European Union. We have to maintain the European footprint. We have to do so in a way that does not cut our aid budget. Only Ireland and Spain, as members state, have increased their overseas development aid budgets and that is a challenge. When I have said that to colleagues around Europe, they feel that because their countries have cut their ODA budgets, Europe cannot do it. I hope that will be borne out in the MFF negotiations.  More important than just diplomacy, we have also have consider our relationship with other countries, particularly in the global south and Africa. We have to move away from a situation where we just see them as recipients of aid but instead as partners for natural resources, trade and development. It is not just because the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, is here that I want to pay tribute to Irish Aid. The manner in which Ireland provides aid to the global south is beyond compare because it does not come with strings attached. We invest in particular countries and identify particular projects. The money and resources are diverted into them but not with strings attached. Even though USAID has been slashed and burned under the Trump presidency, in the past the Africa Acts meant that aid would be delivered but it had to be spent on American products. It came with strings attached. Irish aid and foreign policy do not do that. It is worth recognising that as well.  It is also important in what we have identified as our priorities is values. I listened to my colleague criticising Europe's reaction to what is happening in Gaza. I agree with a lot of what he said. I have been consistently disappointed by the European approach to this. Contrary to what he said, I have not been disappointed by the Government's reaction. In fact, Ireland has led the charge in recognising what is happening in Gaza. Never is credit given on the opposition benches to people like Leo Varadkar who was the first western leader to call out Israel for what they did, or the T\u00e1niste who was in the Department of Foreign Affairs when we recognised Palestine as a state, or the Government for building an alliance of states at European level that is beginning to approach this in a different way. Spain, Malta, Belgium, Slovenia and the Netherlands are changing their attitude to what is happening there. If we can build that coalition at European level, we might be able to make a change in the way Israel is treated by the international community. Ireland cannot do it alone and this is why being part of the European Union and having the Presidency is so important at this pivotal time. We can build those alliances at that level that might actually make a difference in a way that we, as a solo country, cannot do.  Enlargement is part of the values priority. We have such a close relationship with enlargement, not just from when the ten accessions states joined in 2004 but going back further. We were part of the first accession. It was largely during our Presidency in the first half of 1990 that German reunification was debated. Ireland's experience of being part of the European Union has been almost universally positive. For all of its flaws, we have benefited significantly and not just from Structural Funds, motorways, infrastructure and things like that. We were a postcolonial society and country that grew up for its first 50 years in the shadow of Britain economically. Even in terms of the courts, before we became a republic, decisions made in courts in London were binding on Irish courts. There was a monetary union, and we were dependent on the British exchange rate and its currency. In 1973, for the first time we sat around tables in Europe as equals with other European states. We should aim, to the greatest extent possible, to encourage any country that wants to share that experience of true independence and taking their place among the international community. Over the past number of months as Chair of the European affairs committee, I have met with representatives from Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Moldova and Ukraine. These are all countries that have bent over backwards to become part of the European Union. Some of them still have work do. We have to use our Presidency to give them every opportunity to deliver, to recognise the work they have done and to allow them to become part of what is the most progressive union on planet and the biggest trading bloc, that genuinely stands up for human rights, the rule of law and the perseverance of the right of everybody to enjoy life equally. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  We are here because of the Presidency of the European Union. It is a great honour for Ireland to have the Presidency and to be in that position for the next six months. It also brings a lot of responsibility. From my perspective and the agriculture portfolio I hold, it is a critical time because we have the negotiations on the CAP budget. We see there are proposals to cut that budget considerably. That is something Ireland will have a key role in over the coming months. I hope we are able to bring about a situation where we recognise agriculture and European farmers are central to European security because food security is as important as any other aspect of security across the European Union. That is why the CAP budget needs to be restored and expanded and grown, if at all possible. That is exactly what we need to be doing. The Minister of State nodding in agreement, and we all need to work together to make that happen.  We need to recognise that farmers in every part of the European Union contribute hugely not just to the wealth of the Union in regard to the food that they produce but also to the public good that they do and from an environmental perspective as well. That also needs to be borne in mind. We have a climate crisis across the world. We have certainly found some element of it in Ireland in the last couple of weeks. We have had record temperatures and I understand there are more record temperatures to come. We have had record storms and all of these things are having consequences. What we do with our land, how we farm and how we how we develop our agricultural systems will have an impact on that, but farmers cannot change and adapt unless adequate provision is put in place. In other words, they need to be paid for the public good they provide. That needs to be central to the CAP negotiations.  I want to turn to one other aspect of it. Strength with unity is the motto of the Presidency. The previous speakers spoke about a previous Irish Presidency when German reunification was an issue. Irish reunification is something we all need to look to at the moment because a couple of miles from me in County Fermanagh people who voted to stay in it are now outside of the European Union because of Brexit. The region wanted to stay part of the European Union. We have an obligation to ensure that over this Presidency we work towards developing a critical mass of European nations to recognise that the reunification of Ireland is also something that would hugely benefit the European Union. We have a region which was part of the European Union before, which could immediately go back into the European Union if it became part of a unified \u00c9ire. That is something we need to work together to try to develop. We must work with people across this island, but also across all of Europe so that we can see what kind of funds and resources we can put in place to integrate two parts of this island which have been divided by an artificial border for far too long, so that they can come together and be part of a new united Ireland within the European Union. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  Mar a d\u00e9arf\u00e1, t\u00fas maith leath na hoibre. Even if it is only the start rather than half the work done, today's launch of the Presidency of the EU Council in Dublin Castle was, if Members can pardon the pun, a real \"Ode to Joy\" - from the band of the Defence Forces and the National Youth Choir who heralded the hanging of the Irish, EU and then the Ukrainian flags, to all the other performers, it was indeed a hugely positive occasion from an artistic and cultural perspective. \"Samhradh Samhradh\" was performed by a collection of musicians, including Laoise Kelly on the harp, Cormac Begley and Christina Polycarpou on the lyra, which segued nicely from the Cypriot Presidency. As someone who likes to sing and has written songs, I was blown away by the depth and variety of all the talent on display - from The Gloaming to the sean-n\u00f3s, Iarla \u00d3 Lion\u00e1ird and the ensemble, Francesco Turrisi and S\u00e9amus Ong. Cormac Begley performing \"O'Neill's March\" with Stephanie Keane doing the sean-n\u00f3s style dancing was absolutely amazing. Ruth Negga did a great reading of Seamus Heaney's \"Beacons at Bealtaine\". Tol\u00fc Makay did a fantastic rendition of The Cranberries' \"Dreams\". I noticed that a lot of the diplomatic corps from other EU member states were swaying to it. They knew the song and it really got them going. All in all, it was a great start and as Deputy Barry Ward just said, Carrie Crowley did a fantastic and very dignified job as master of ceremonies.  Then we had the politicians. In fairness, the Taoiseach and the T\u00e1naiste were very strong in outlining our vision both in terms of Ireland's role within the EU and also the direction of the EU, as were all the Ministers. Everyone batted very well for the team. It was good to see the European Council President, Ant\u00f3nio Costa, make reference to Palestine, Lebanon, the Strait of Hormuz and the war in Ukraine. It was great - I also thought it was touching - that the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, was able to visit these shores so soon after his official State visit when he addressed D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann. This again afforded him the opportunity to call on the EU to keep its promises. That is what I took out of his contribution. He pointed to Ukraine's future as part of the European Union and sounded further warnings about continued Russian aggression and how Putin is not going to stop unless strength and unity are shown. That is the theme of the Irish Presidency - n\u00ed neart go cur le ch\u00e9ile.  I will reference the themes which have been referenced already: competitiveness in terms of strengthening Europe's economy, boosting innovation and productivity in the Single Market and supporting prosperity and jobs across the EU; values in terms of upholding democracy, human rights and the rule of law and defending these values not just in the European context but also globally; maintaining the foundational principles of the EU going back before we joined the European Economic Community in 1973; and security in terms of protecting EU citizens, strengthening stability and addressing the geopolitical challenges such as the aforementioned war in Ukraine and other global conflicts, and in terms of building resilience and defence capacity, which President Costa mentioned as well.  On a related note, I mentioned at the EU affairs committee of which I am a member the need to really get involved with our young people and young people across Europe and to engage with them. It is great to see that this will form a good part of the local engagement and interaction process over the coming six months.  That is all well and good - t\u00fas maith, mar a d\u00fairt m\u00e9 - but Ireland is only going to be judged on tangible achievements. It can be a steady-as-she-goes Presidency where we just keep it ticking over until the next country takes over, or we can try to get some tangible achievements. Obviously any country has to be realistic, especially a small country like us on the periphery, in terms of what we can do in six months given the real need for continuity, but it would be nice to see little bit of progress.  On competitiveness, we have to focus on practical outcomes. That means focusing on cutting the barriers for SMEs, reducing energy costs and supporting innovation. It is about getting the balance right between regulation and enterprise. In terms of AI and social media companies, while the EU is quite strong in some ways, I notice a little bit of a dilution.  I also notice a dilution on the measures to tackle climate change. Maybe there will be a redoubling during this Presidency. I hope there will be because we still have the naysayers saying that this is just a repeat of the summer of 1976. Our continental cousins are being absolutely devastated by the record global temperatures. We need to have energy self-sufficiency, which will have to be renewable, but also interchangeable across the grid between the French nuclear, the Irish wind and wave, and the solar, especially coming from the Mediterranean states. We have to show real leadership on this, and not just kind of keep things ticking over.  On the values side, Ireland has to prioritise concrete action. We can talk about supporting the rule-of-law mechanisms, humanitarian leadership and maintaining a clear and principled stance in Ukraine, Gaza and other global conflicts like Sudan but what President Costa said today is only lip service when other EU member states refuse to stand up to the Israeli genocide because of their historic guilt or their geographic proximity. We are only talking the talk unless we use our leadership over the next while to put more pressure on Germany, Denmark and the likes of Cyprus to get tougher with Israel. We can still be friends, but we have to draw the line at some stage, just like we have in many ways drawn the line and risked the ire of the Trump Administration with our fairly modest occupied territories Bill. It would be great to see the occupied territories Bill passed during this term, and also for the Government to try to stretch it out to services. Let the legal eagles come in and show why it cannot be done, but let us push the boat rather than saying we are not even going to try it. We have to show true leadership in this context and maybe put a few noses out of joint among our partners because that is what you do when you are showing leadership - you tell it as it is. We are no longer trying to play the national card for the next six months; we are trying to play the European and the global card.  On security, we again have a constructive role to play in strengthening EU co-operation on all sorts of security - energy security, which relates to the conflict in Ukraine; and cybersecurity, because again there are many malicious elements out there trying to attack European member states, be it from Russia, troll farms or other as yet unmentioned terrorist organisations or countries. We can lead without compromising on our long-standing policy of military neutrality. I take it from the Government's statement that we will not, but I just want to say anyway that we must not hinder the closer defensive co-operation of those other states which want to get involved. We know all too well, especially those in eastern Europe, Poland and the Baltic states, the dangers of being unprepared.  On the wider delivery front, the Government has to focus on getting agreement across the line. Rather than just talking, let us see what agreements will be passed during these six months and what EU legislation will be further advanced and ready to sign off. It should not be a holding Presidency or just a thematic Presidency; it should be a tangible and transformative Presidency. I know this is a big ask in six months but we only get it every now and again and we have to use this time. I urge the Minister of State to be as firm, blunt and forceful as possible and, as I have said, put a few noses out of joint if needs be and we can repair the collateral damage afterwards. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I am delighted to get this opportunity to contribute to the debate. We know there are huge opportunities in relation to the European Presidency. We know we are in a very volatile world with an awful lot of circumstances changing by the minute and hour. It is fair to say that for all of the positives of the European Union, there are failings. There has been much talk about the failures of Europe, and we can go back to the financial crash and the fact we were not necessarily shown the solidarity we should have been shown. This is accepting the improvements during Covid and the huge solidarity shown to us during the Brexit disaster, the Brexit negotiations and all that was required in that regard.  We all accept there has been a huge hit to the body politic and people's trust in politics, and to people's very financial being across Europe and the western world. When Europe talks about issues of security, and I am not even getting into the arguments about rearming the EU, we all know the Irish people are absolutely committed to an independent foreign policy, non-alignment and military neutrality. That goes without saying. If we are going to talk about security, we also have to talk about the security of our people and the fact there has to be a rebuilding of trust and relationships. This is about addressing the financial crisis that people are in. I accept we have our own issues here, where health meets housing meets the cost of living and the cost of fuel. The EU can facilitate us and we can work alongside each other on delivering on the big idea of dealing with the issue of the changes we need to make on where we get our supplies of fuel and power. We keep talking about wind power but we know there are huge possibilities. We could be talking about strategic autonomy for Ireland and strategic autonomy for Europe across the board but this is where we need to go.  I agree with everything that has been said as regards overseas development aid and the fact USAID has cut to bits many necessary projects. People might care from a point of view of the issues they are worried about, whether this is the impact across the world of how people are being treated, the lack of fairness and equality, even in relation to trade, and also the impact it has on immigration to this country.  The Minister of State will expect that I will finish by saying that we need to see proper movement on the EU-Israel Association Agreement. We need to do work on what we can do. As difficult as it is to push the Europeans, we need to see movement. I welcome the T\u00e1naiste's foray into the issue of Irish unity, following the route map of the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond. I also welcome what I have heard from the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan. We have to have a conversation with our European neighbours on the importance and necessity of doing our own preparations but then their facilitating us in delivering Irish unity, which could really change things positively, North and South and across Europe. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Neale Richmond)  I thank all of the Deputies who have contributed to this very timely and pertinent debate as we embark on the eighth Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union since our accession in 1973, following the first Presidency in 1975. My dear friend Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa has laid out his concerns about the supposed failure of the European Union, to be expected from a party that has opposed every European referendum and Europe in its entirety until Brexit showed up. I appreciate the comments he has made. It is really important in this context to look at how Ireland has changed since we first joined the EEC in 1973. The average income of an Irish worker was two thirds that of the EU average then and it is now more than double the European average. At that time my mother was the victim of the marriage bar. She married in 1971 and was sacked from Ulster Bank, and I can give out about it now that it is no longer in the jurisdiction. In 1973, she had my considerably older brother and was sacked from a supposedly more progressive bank. It did not change until 1976.  In 1972, the year we voted to join the EEC and Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa's political movement, of course, opposed that referendum, 55% of exports from Ireland went to Britain. Today it is in and around 10%. We were wholly reliant on our former colonial administrator to be the customer for our products and, in many cases, the receptive home for so many of our people. Our biggest export on paper may have been butter, beef or whiskey but really it was people. The era of mass emigration was in full flow and continued for many years, perhaps only starting to stem off when the EEC became the European Union.  We were an economically lacking, socially regressive country whose water and air quality standards do not bear thinking about. Deputy Kenny very eloquently provided the muster as to why we need a strong Common Agricultural Policy as part of the MFF. The reason we have the CAP is for the very basis of food security, an issue that has returned to European shores in light of Russia's brutal invasion of Ukraine, the breadbasket of Europe. Food security must, of course, come back to being a central argument in budgetary negotiations.  Deputies Gogarty and O'Donoghue very eloquently talked about the need to make sure that we do not just pay lip service to security and that security is one of our values. The fact it is one of the three value points in our Presidency is not just a matter of words. I take very seriously Deputy O'Donoghue's criticism and I take it on the chin but, of course, what he failed to include is that the retention crisis in the Defence Forces is starting to reverse. In the past two years, we have seen more people joining and that is a good thing. The average numbers are turning around. The investment in naval vessels and radar technology is real and it goes to the heart of what the European project really is in its iteration and creation. It is a peace project and it is the most successful peace project. We have had the largest continuous period of peace between what are now EU member states in the history of mankind, and certainly in the history of the nation state.  The Minister, Deputy McEntee, in her lengthy intervention, supplemented by the Minister of State, Deputy Dillon, in addition to the various speeches today, set out that our policy agenda for the latter half of this year is ambitious. To support this policy agenda we will host an extensive programme of Presidency meetings, with more than 270 events including a European Political Community summit, where the Heads of Government of at least 47 countries will come to Ireland. We also look forward to the informal meeting of the European Council here in Dublin in November. Alongside this, we will host 22 informal ministerial meetings. This is why the Government has been determined from day one that the Presidency belongs to the entire country and not only the capital, a concern laid out by Deputy Clendennen. By hosting six of our 22 informal meetings and approximately one quarter of all of Presidency events outside of Dublin, stretching into every part of the State, we are ensuring the Presidency leaves a truly national footprint. I had the honour of working on our previous Presidency with the European Movement in 2013 and it very much had a Dublin focus. There were only 11 informal meetings compared to the 22 we will host this time, and none of those took place outside of Dublin. Of course, there were no other summits.  I will go back to the point concluded on by my friend Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa, and alluded to by Deputies O'Rourke and Kenny, on making sure the North is part of this. I was cheered to see the likes of the First Minister, Michelle O'Neill, and the leader of the SDLP, Clare Hanna, at the event today. Crucially, one thing left out by Deputies O'Rourke and Kenny was that the reason the European Council agreed unanimously that a united Ireland would be automatically part of the European Union was due to the advocacy of the former Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, at one of the first European Council meetings after Brexit.  Deputy Gould raised the issue of costs. This is an important issue of misinformation that needs to be tackled. An article is going around the national press, amplified by a number of elected representatives at local and Oireachtas levels, claiming that this Presidency is going to cost us \u20ac400 million and that it is, somehow, multiples of the cost of other Presidencies. I do not know how this figure has been arrived at. The exact cost, excluding security, will be \u20ac168 million. The cost of the Presidency in France was \u20ac145 million, in Sweden it was \u20ac121 million and in Spain it was \u20ac170 million.  Deputy Gould is also outraged that there will be limited access to UCC tomorrow as we host the entire College of Commissioners. The Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach and I know that we are not in term time now. While there are staff members in UCC, one day and a couple of hours of limited access is not somehow an attack on people by the elites. We need to have a bit of relativity and reasonableness in these debates.  A successful Presidency is about two things. First, it is about making real progress on important legislative and policy proposals that will help to shape Europe\u2019s future. I do not intend to repeat the areas led out by the Minister, Deputy McEntee, or the Minister of State, Deputy Dillon, but I will touch on two points raised respectively by Deputy Ward and Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa. Crucially, there is also the importance of the multi-annual financial framework, MFF, which was also touched on by Deputy O\u2019Donoghue.  I appreciate Deputy Ward\u2019s desire to highlight expectation management, but in the very same period, in the grips of the financial crash, this same responsibility landed on the last Irish Presidency in 2013. I have no doubt that we will be able to move budgetary proposals into a position where we will be able to hand them over in a very good condition to be agreed under the Lithuanian Presidency.  I really want to underline, as the Minister of State with special responsibility for international development, as Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa laid out, that the abolition of USAID puts the focus on Europe. The European Union and its member states now account for over 50% of global development co-operation. Throw in Norway and Britain and we account for over two thirds of the world\u2019s development co-operation. When it comes to budgetary discussions, Europe cannot fail the Global South. Irish Aid has stood tall. We are one of two member states, the other being Spain, to have increased our development budget. I look forward to seeing all-party agreement on that again in this budget. It is why we want to make sure that it is at the heart and the soul of the process when we have the first development informal meeting in 18 months in Dublin on 8 and 9 October. I thought of bringing it to Leopardstown Racecourse and maybe having a night at Johnny Fox's, but common sense prevailed.  The second aspect in this context is really important. It is about communicating effectively with people so they understand what these decisions mean in practice and how they affect their communities, jobs, opportunities and daily lives. This is why it is important that everybody across Ireland has the opportunity to engage with the Presidency. Our Presidency provides a valuable opportunity for reflection on what it means for Ireland to be a member of the European Union in 2026 and what our enduring place within the Union means. This is why we have had serious levels of extensive consultation and outreach across the State. I was delighted to hold a development consultation on 8 December. The views we heard all contributed towards an ambitious policy programme that we can and will absolutely deliver on. It is also reflective of the shared priorities and aspirations.  Deputy Clendennen also highlighted the need to make sure this is used as a template for re-engagement. This is why we see a children\u2019s version of our Presidency policy programme. The Blue Star programme that he referred to was born out of the 2013 Presidency. I had the honour of working on the pilot project in that year. We also see the county pairings with member states. Dublin is tied with Greece, and I am delighted that the Greek ambassador could join me for Europe Day in St. Brigid\u2019s Boys National School.  Deputy Gogarty, also known by his stage name, His Sweet Surprise, in reference to his singing abilities, rightly championed the breathtaking cultural performances we heard in Dublin Castle today. Throughout this Presidency, we will see a real focus on our cultural offering as a nation and a people. This is also the first time where Gaeilge will be an official working language of the European Union under an Irish Presidency. This gives us a great opportunity.  In conclusion, we have an immense challenge in front of us, which is coming at a stage when the world is in flux. We have a great opportunity and a great responsibility, and we are absolutely blessed to have a diplomatic and official team of over 500 individuals in Brussels and hundreds of people around our network who will drive an ambitious policy agenda and, crucially, a smooth Presidency that will be inclusive and welcoming and will get the job done. I look forward to all Members of the Oireachtas contributing to that and not just using these annual debates or the Europe Day debates to air whatever local grievances they have. Go raibh maith agat. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ireland's EU Presidency: Statements"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/dbsect_17","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/dbsect_18","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Legal Aid","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/dbsect_17","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_18.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  As predicted by many, we now have a chaotic situation in the courts, and in the District Court, in particular, due to the Minister\u2019s new criminal legal aid scheme. It would be helpful if the Minister would outline to the House the assessments he carried out beforehand in respect of the risk of the changes to the criminal legal aid scheme, any potential for reduced participation by solicitors in this work and the implications of any such reductions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Jim O'Callaghan)  I thank the Deputy for his question. I also thank him for organising the meeting of his committee yesterday and for inviting me to it. I thought it was a very useful and effective meeting. It gave me an opportunity to put out the reasons I am introducing this new scheme in respect of the District Court. Obviously, it also gave other persons whom the committee invited, members of the legal profession, an opportunity to appear before it as well.  In terms of what has happened since yesterday, the first thing I should emphasise is that the 8% increase in criminal legal aid fees, which has long been due and should have been restored a long time ago, has commenced as of today. As the Deputy knows, I said that would happen and it has happened as of today. It applies across the board, including in the Circuit Criminal Court and in the Central Criminal Court. In respect of the \u20ac520 flat fee I have put in place for the District Court, as I explained yesterday, that has also had the 8% added to it, on top of the five appearances. I think the Deputy also wrote a letter inquiring about the report. I want him to know that the report has been published on the gov.ie website today in the section with criminal legal aid.  The Deputy\u2019s concern is, I think, whether this is going to lead to an exodus of criminal law practitioners from the legal aid panel. I do not believe it will. Approximately 825 solicitors are on the criminal legal aid panel. This number has gone up significantly since 2023, when there were only 672 solicitors. This means there is a significant number of solicitors there.  Obviously, it is very early days and I do not want to say anything that is going to aggravate the situation. As of today, however, no solicitor has resigned from the panel. Three emails came into the Department from solicitors stating that they would be resigning. As the Deputy knows, however, in order to resign from the panel, solicitors have to contact the section of the Courts Service that deals with this area. I will be keeping a very close eye on this issue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  My question was not about whether the Minister thinks this will have an impact but, rather, whether he carried out an assessment prior to introducing this scheme. I have to take it from the Minister's answer that he has not carried out any such assessment. I welcome the Minister's statement that he does not want to aggravate the situation. It would have been helpful if he had given himself that advice a number of days ago. Many solicitors I have spoken to feel the Minister made an allegation of widespread abuse of the current system against an entire profession. There is deep, deep anger and hurt that has been palpable. The Minister said I know about the system. I do not pretend to know the intricacies of this system. However, I can tell the Minister that people I know and trust, whom I have contacted in respect of dealing with vulnerable cases in the past, have told me they now feel their work is being undervalued, underappreciated and underrecognised by the Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  As I mentioned yesterday, I am not here to prioritise the interests of the legal profession and neither is the Deputy. My task is to focus on the administration of justice, people who are brought before the courts, people who are accused of criminal offences and the effective operation of the administration of justice in the criminal section of the District Court. That is my focus. If we look at the fees available, if we want to just leave this as a discussion exclusively about fees, last year, in 2025, the cost of the criminal legal aid scheme was \u20ac120 million. Of that, \u20ac40 million was attributed to the District Court. Obviously, the significant majority of that money, two-thirds, was attributable to the Central Criminal Court and to the Circuit Criminal Court.  I do not believe there is going to be an evacuation of people from the criminal legal aid scheme. It is still a very profitable scheme for solicitors. It is very well paid. Many people have put down parliamentary questions asking about the amount of money that is paid out. Of the 825 people, those at the top receive in the region of \u20ac950,000 per annum. At the bottom, the figure is small, namely a couple of hundred euro. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I have engaged with a large number of those from the legal profession regarding these changes to the legal aid scheme, and I really do believe it would be helpful if the Minister took the opportunity to apologise for the manner in which the remarks have been interpreted. It is being generous to him to say he castigated an entire profession and suggested there is widespread abuse of the current system. The representatives of the legal profession have challenged him to provide evidence of that. I certainly have not seen that evidence yet.  Does the Minister accept, for example, that custody cases, children\u2019s cases, psychiatric cases and probation-linked sentencing cases cannot reasonably be run within five hearings? This relates to the evidence and testimony our committee received and that I have heard directly. If the Minister accepts my point \u2013 I am told that anybody who understands the District Court and how it operates would \u2013 does he also accept that there is genuine potential that solicitors will withdraw from the scheme in the same way as they withdrew from the civil legal aid scheme because it simply was not viable for their businesses to continue? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  The basis upon which I referred to unethical practices is in the report that is now up on the website, gov.ie . In fairness to the Deputy, I do not believe he has seen it. It is in the criminal legal aid section of the website. I refer to the review of the criminal legal aid system in the District Court.  The Deputy mentioned a whole series of cases, including custody cases. I have changed what was originally proposed as a result of my interaction with the Law Society. Any case that now moves forward to a higher court, whether it is the Circuit Criminal Court or the Central Criminal Court, will attract the full fee in the District Court as well. Once a serious case, whether it is a murder case or an assault case, goes to the Circuit Criminal Court, it is going to be subject to the fees that apply in the Circuit Criminal Court and Central Criminal Court, which are very generous and to which, today, I have added 8%.  It is a fair scheme. As I said to the Deputy yesterday, my primary focus in doing this is to try to reduce the number of adjournments in the District Court so that we can have more efficient administration of justice in that court. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Legal Aid"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/dbsect_19","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Substance Misuse","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/dbsect_17","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_19","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_19.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  I want to ask the Minister about the recommendations of the Joint Committee on Drugs Use, particularly as they refer to the decriminalisation of drug use. I had not intended to ask this question so quickly following the release of the report, but it is important to seek clarification on some statements the Minister made in the media. I am looking forward to addressing them because I see that they are also in the response that has been sent to me right now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I thank the Deputy for his question and, indeed, for his work chairing the drugs committee and the work on its report. I have had an opportunity to read the report. A very significant amount of work went into it. There are 161 recommendations in it. I agree with very many of them. There are parts in the report that are excellent, especially the section that refers to sports, well-being, combating addiction and trying to divert children through the use of sport. As we all know, sport is the most effective diversion project there is in trying to protect children.  I want the Deputy to know I agree with a huge amount of what is in the report. However, in fairness to him and to the media, the one issue everyone wants to address and ask me questions about concerns what he has described as the central recommendation, which is to decriminalise all drugs, full stop. I will give the Deputy my straight answer or my personal view, if he wants. Alternatively, I could say the Department will consider the matter. I have concerns about decriminalisation. The reason relates to what is set out in the report and it is also based on my own views. One of the findings in the committee\u2019s report is that if there is decriminalisation of all drugs, it is likely there is going to be increased public use of drugs in public areas.  I want to consider situations that might arise in my area or the Deputy\u2019s. If, for example, somebody was taking heroin outside a school or smoking joints in a park or another public area, there would be nothing the Garda could do. At present, if that is happening, a person can be moved on. Garda\u00ed can, because there is criminal activity, apprehend a person and seize the drugs because the activity is contrary to what is set out in the criminal law. If there were decriminalisation, I fear that what happened in Oregon and British Columbia would happen here. We would see an increase in public disorder and the public use of drugs. I just want to be conscious of the impact it would have on society more broadly, particularly children. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Aire for his response. I was coming in here for a fight, but he has disarmed me somewhat with his response. What he has in his written reply is different from what he has said in that he said we went beyond the recommendations of the citizens\u2019 assembly. I wanted to read the recommendation of the citizens\u2019 assembly as presented on 24 October:  The Citizens' Assembly has recommended that the State pivots from the status quo to a comprehensive health-led response to drugs, including decriminalisation for people found in possession of drugs for personal use. The details of how decriminalisation can be legislated for is a question that the Oireachtas should determine following detailed legal scrutiny.  That is what the citizens' assembly states on its website.  We also considered the matter and were quite fearful. I represent the inner city. We examined the Oregon model in detail. What we found there was that Oregon failed on a number of fronts, but for one, it did not have the assets that we have. We use the word \u201ctherefore\u201d in our recommendation when we acknowledge the potential for substance misuse or increases on the street. We state we should empower local authorities to have by-laws similar to those on the use of alcohol on the streets. We recognised that after our scrutiny and we would empower the Garda to go further than what Oregon or any other jurisdiction, including Lisbon, was able to include. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  This is an interesting discussion. I am very happy to have a policy discussion with the Deputy. We obviously have different views. My concern is what happened in British Columbia. The Minister of Health there is a social democrat, a member of the New Democratic Party. British Columbia introduced decriminalisation about three years ago and is reversing out of it now because, it says, it has led to much public disorder and much public taking of drugs.  I have great empathy for people who have addiction problems. Addiction is a huge challenge for anyone in life, but the Deputy and I also have to consider what the impact is going to be on other people, people who are not taking drugs, if you can openly take all drugs. It is not just cannabis the Deputy is talking about. We are talking about heroin and crack cocaine. If people can take those drugs openly without the Garda being able to say they cannot do that, it will have a very negative influence on people, especially children. If they see this happening, it is going to be normalised. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  Does the Minister honestly believe I would stand over a policy decision that would enable an increase in open drug dealing? Does he actually believe that a committee that had representation from members of all parties, including his own and including incredible members such as Deputy Brabazon, whose views differ from mine on this, and Senator Mary Fitzpatrick, would do that? We examined the matter and what we established quite clearly was that the Oregon model failed because wraparound services were not present there. It was the same with the British Columbia model. What we also established was that we have one of the highest numbers of drug-related deaths in the EU. We have several provisions in the Statute Book \u2013 sections 15, 22 and 23 \u2013 that enable the Garda to go after those who are dealing the drugs. The section of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 that criminalises possession for personal use actually prevents people from coming forward to seek treatment.  To ensure there would be no public consumption of drugs, we recommend clearly that council by-laws be passed to enable garda\u00ed to move people on in that scenario. Also, we recommend that if they do not move on, public order measures would enable the Garda to arrest them. I assure the Minister that neither I nor anybody else on the committee would enable or support a situation where public consumption of drugs would even potentially increase. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I am not in the slightest challenging the Deputy's bona fides or genuine beliefs. I just have a concern that a policy advanced by people who are legitimately motivated by the best intentions may have a negative consequence.  There is one thing we agree on, namely, that there is and should be a health-led approach. Under the Government at present, there is a health-led approach to drugs. The health referral scheme, which will be in operation shortly, will provide an opportunity for someone who has, by statute, committed an offence to engage with health services and, as a consequence, avoid a criminal sanction. In this way, we are taking clear health-led steps to tackle the misuse of drugs.  I am concerned about the matter. I want to be frank with the Deputy and I do not want him to think I am sitting on the fence. I disagree with him. I fully respect the opinion he has come to. Just because I disagree with him does not mean that I am right and he is wrong.  I may be wrong but my view, and it is a strong view, is that the decriminalisation of drugs is going to increase the public use of drugs and, as a consequence, also increase the use of drugs generally. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Substance Misuse"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/dbsect_20","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"International Agreements","counts":{"speechCount":12,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/dbsect_17","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_20","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_20.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I will return to the issue of a bilateral returns policy with Britain. The Minister and other Ministers have put on the record of the House on numerous occasions their belief that between 80% and 90% of international protection applicants are travelling here via the common travel area. It would be useful if the House could get a report on any progress that has been made on securing a bilateral arrangement with Britain. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I thank the Deputy. Since the previous occasion that the Deputy and I engaged across the House on these questions, the International Protection Act has commenced. It commenced on 12 June. These are very early stages. We are not even three weeks into it but the statistics I am seeing show that the number of asylum applicants coming to Ireland is down considerably. I do not want it to be understood that will inevitably continue, but that is the case in the very early days of the scheme. I believe the reason it is happening is because of the increased powers in the International Protection Act, including the ability to search the baggage and luggage of individuals who come here to find documentation. We have found a lot of documentation, such as UK driving licences and passports. It is a much more vigorous system. Notwithstanding the fact that the Deputy opposed it, it is improving the situation for us at present.  On the situation with the UK, it was the case that 90% of applicants or more were coming in directly at the port and coming over the Border. That has reduced according to the figures over the past two and a half weeks but, again, it is very early stages. It is in the region of 78% of much smaller numbers. It is going in the right direction. I spoke to the Home Secretary on 15 June after that appalling attack in Belfast and the appalling racist riots afterwards. I emphasised three things. There needs to be greater data sharing between the UK and Ireland. The UK wants that. It wants to get data that we have access to in the EU. We said that we need to have more policing operations on the Border. That will happen. As the Deputy knows, and I keep asking Sinn F\u00e9in to emphasise this, the common travel area is only for the benefit of the citizens of Ireland and the UK. We also discussed the issue of returns. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  The question was what progress has been made on a returns policy and only in his last four words did the Minister mention \"the issue of returns\". "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I will come back to it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I would appreciate if the Minister would outline what progress has been made. He outlined that individuals have had British passports and driving licences in their possession when they have applied for international protection. The Minister has no power to do anything about that because there is no bilateral returns policy in place. I love the Minister's confidence that international protection applicants have been following the passage of his legislation through the Oireachtas and awaiting the President's signature. The truth is that he knows there will be periods of time when the system comes under pressure. That is how the international protection system has operated to date and will likely operate again. The Minister has said in the House on numerous occasions that the vast majority have come across the Irish Sea using the common travel area. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  That is true. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  How is the Minister going to deal with that if he does not have an agreement in place on a returns policy? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  There were examples where UK driving licences were found. The passports were not UK passports. The great benefit of the legislation, which, of course, transposed the pact, is that it does make returns much easier - not to the UK because we do not have an agreement with the UK but to other countries in the EU. That is the big advantage of it. Under the Dublin III regulation, as the Deputy is aware, we would have to get the permission of, say, Germany to send somebody back if they had applied in Germany. Now we do not need its permission. It is already agreed that we will send people back to Germany and the airport in all the countries is designated.  On the UK agreement, I have designated the UK a safe third country. I want to see operationalisation of an agreement between the UK and Ireland for returns. However, I cannot force the UK to recommence an agreement or to start accepting people back if it does not agree to do so. I have limited powers in what I can do. I can say I want to do it but I cannot force the Home Secretary or the British Government to enter into an agreement with us. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  The Minister knows that I and Sinn F\u00e9in support the returns regulation. The big contradiction in everything that the Minister has said is that the returns regulation is important in the context of the EU, but we will manage if we do not have it for the source of 80% or 90% of arrivals. I do not know if the Minister is willing to give a percentage now because a lot of it is pure conjecture and speculation on his part.  The Minister says he cannot reach an agreement if the British Government is not willing to agree. Is that the state of play? I have asked for an update. Is the update that the British Government is refusing to enter into negotiations----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  No. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  -----or is holding back? If the Minister wants it and says that the British Government is not refusing, where is the delay in securing a bilateral arrangement? Does he accept that designating Britain a safe third country is pointless if we do not have a returns agreement in place? What proviso or mechanism in law will the Minister use to implement returns if there is no bilateral agreement? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I do not believe it is pointless designating the UK a safe third country. That is what it is. The Deputy is aware of the politics of the United Kingdom probably just as well as anyone else in this House. There are considerable issues of sensitivity in the UK around accepting returns from other countries. The Deputy knows that. It is an issue of political sensitivity. I have spoken to the Home Secretary. I invited her to the informal meeting of the ports alliance on 16 July. We spoke shortly after the riots in Belfast. The reason that was of particular interest to her was because the suspect in that case was somebody who had landed at Dublin Airport, coming from Luxembourg, claimed asylum in Dublin and then left Dublin the very same day for Belfast. The next day in Belfast, he claimed asylum there. I said to the Home Secretary that this is an example of why we need a returns agreement in place. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"International Agreements"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/dbsect_21","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Road Safety","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/dbsect_17","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_21.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy George Lawlor  The question relates to the issue of static speed cameras on the national road network and whether divergences between the number of fixed charge notices for speed detections at individual locations are compared and reviewed by officials and An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. The Minister will perhaps be aware of the massive disparity in the number of fines issued at various different cameras. One has issued 30,599 notices while another has issued 397 in an 11-month period. The Minister might make a statement on the matter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I thank the Deputy for his question. There are fixed cameras, average speed cameras and GoSafe vans. That type of technology is vital in ensuring that we keep our roads safe. Road safety cameras are intended to be a tool to support safety, prevention and behaviour change across the road network. They are not about catching people out. They are about trying to ensure that we keep our roads safe.  Nine static speed safety cameras have been in operation across the country since 2024. The locations of these cameras were selected based on fatal and serious injury collision data from the preceding seven years and speed data, as well as feedback from stakeholders. We have seen an increase in the total number of fixed charge notices issued for speeding in recent years. In 2024, 137,806 fixed charge notices were issued and in 2025, that went up to 168,882. In terms of analysing any divergences in fixed charge notices generated by particular cameras, I understand that the Garda analysis service supports all functions of the Garda national roads policing bureau. This includes providing the evidence base for roads policing operations, reviewing and analysing operations and providing ongoing support to external stakeholders in the area of road safety.  Further action is being taken in respect of making better or more effective use of static speed cameras.  The Minister of State, Deputy Canney, who is centrally involved in this, published Ireland's first national safety camera strategy in April this year. Officials in my Department were represented on the working group that developed the strategy. The strategy sets out a partnership approach to camera deployment and enforcement between An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, Transport Infrastructure Ireland and the National Transport Authority. This strategy seeks to define the optimal structures and partnerships across State agencies for delivering camera-based enforcement systems on Irish roads going forward, thereby reducing unsafe driver behaviour. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy George Lawlor  I thank the Minister. I wholeheartedly agree that these cameras are essential, vital and necessary and play an important role in road safety but we need fairness. We need these cameras to be operated fairly. The Minister cannot tell me there is not a problem when one camera in Glenmore, County Kilkenny is reading speeds for 30,599 fines, another camera read 3,000, some cameras read approximately 1,000 and one in Galway read 397. A person does not need to be a detective to understand that 30,599 fines from one camera indicates there is a problem. Can we have an independent review of this to investigate and interrogate why this is the case? People have said all along that they do not have a problem with the cameras but the signage is the problem. They are being captured and entrapped by these cameras. There is a major problem and it needs to be investigated. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  It is hard for me to contest that the figures indicate there are aberrations in different parts of the country. When the figures were presented to me, I asked the Department why a greater number of fixed charge notices are being issued by two particular cameras and one list of cameras than by others. I do not have an answer for the Deputy at present but I have asked officials to inquire into it. Maybe there is a road people speed on consistently. I do not know the answer but I will look at it and I will ask officials to inquire into it because there is a significant deviation between the notices being issued by cameras in one area and those in other areas. I do not have an explanation for the Deputy but I heard what the Deputy said and I have already asked officials to look at it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy George Lawlor  I welcome the Minister's comments. I am not campaigning for people who are speeding to have their fines rescinded. There is a problem with the signage, particularly in Glenmore. People who are driving in a 100 km\/h zone arrive at an 80 km\/h sign and are almost immediately captured by the camera and not given a chance to obey the law. People who were driving below 100 km\/h and were captured by this camera, many of whom were decelerating, should be fairly treated. This one camera generated \u20ac4.9 million in revenue in 11 months. It is off the charts. It needs to be seriously investigated. Court cases are being taken because people have lost their licences as a result of this camera in Glenmore in particular. It is beyond the pale to think we are penalising people unfairly. They must be treated justly and if it comes to it, their fines and points must be rescinded. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I assume people who receive fixed charge notices for speeding are speeding, - hear me out on this - but it may be the case that they are given insufficient time for the change of speed limit from one area coming into another area. I will look at that. I cannot give the Deputy a categoric answer about the reason for this at present but being frank, looking at the data, it seems unusual that two cameras seem to have so many more fixed charge notices emanating from them than others. I do not think it is because people are safer drivers in one area than in another. I suspect the reason is the positioning of the camera, perhaps coming out of an area that permits a faster speed limit into an area that is perhaps very close, with a slower speed limit. That could be the reason for it. I have asked because the figures jumped out at me when I saw them. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Road Safety"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/dbsect_22","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"EU Presidency","counts":{"speechCount":10,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/dbsect_17","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_22.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  It is apt for me to ask this question on the day that is in it. It is particularly about DMR west, which includes Clondalkin and Lucan Garda stations. I have a particular interest in the availability of Garda cars and the Garda community bus. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  Today is an important day for Ireland. It is the first day of the EU Presidency. It is an important function for Ireland. We want to do it well. As I am sure the Deputy will appreciate, it is a big security challenge for An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. Today, the President of Ukraine was here. A huge amount of security was required for his arrival. The Deputy will permit me to take the time to commend the Commissioner and An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na on their work today. It is challenging when a figure with as high a profile as President Zelenskyy arrives.  At present, the Garda fleet is the largest it has ever been. There are 3,680 vehicles distributed throughout Garda divisions and specialist units. However, in the months leading up to the Presidency, An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na scaled up its overall fleet capacity. We have moved up fleet capacity for the purpose of the Presidency. It is not as though the fleet is being dispersed because of the Presidency. The scaling up has been the addition of 78 cars, 75 motorcycles and 12 mini-buses.  With respect to vehicles assigned to the Deputy's region, 125 vehicles are currently assigned and available to DMR west. This allocation has increased in recent years, as only 101 vehicles were assigned to the division in 2021.  At the end of May, there were 772 garda\u00ed assigned to DMR west. Some 75 probationers have been assigned from the two attestations held this year. That is the most for any division in the country. If other Deputies were in that position, they would be very happy, because, as the Deputy will be aware, most of the time when people ask me about Garda probationers, they are looking for them. Some 75 have gone this year to DMR west and a further attestation is coming later in July. These garda\u00ed are supported by other national specialist units and by the 63 Garda staff assigned to the division. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I thank the Minister. DMR west is a huge area. It covers Blanchardstown, Clondalkin, Lucan, Saggart, Rathcoole, Brittas, Palmerstown and the junior Minister's area, Ballyfermot. It is a wide area so we need more than 125 cars. I would like to see that scaled up.  I raised a situation here last year that despite having these 125 cars, on one occasion last year, only one Garda car was available to cover the Clondalkin, Rathcoole, Newcastle, Saggart and Ballyfermot area. On that particular night, there was a serious incident, because of which the car was tied up, and that meant that calls in that area went unanswered. The Garda car did not call out. I have concerns about that.  I asked in the question - I know it was not in the written part - about the availability of the Garda community bus to residents in DMR west during the EU Presidency. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  The Garda community bus will not be used for any Presidency activity so there will not be any impact on it.  On what the Deputy said about the evening where there was only one car, that may have happened but the resources there now are significant. As I said, 125 vehicles are assigned to that division. The Deputy mentioned it is a large division. There are Deputies here representing Kerry and Donegal. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  It is about population size as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  They look at the different sections of Dublin and wonder why they are not getting more of the fleet as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  It is about population. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  The most important thing is that we have resources. I got a lot of good resources for An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na under the national development plan. A huge amount of money is available. I want to see it spent. I want to see the fleet increase and we are seeing it increase. That will be of benefit to the people in the Deputy's area and throughout the country ensuring they can see garda\u00ed in their communities. The most important thing the Deputy and I want to see is garda\u00ed out in communities because it gives a great sense of confidence to people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I respect that I only mentioned the Garda community bus at the end of my question. I got a response this week from the Garda station saying the DMR west Garda community bus will be unavailable from the end of the month for the rest of the year due to the requirements of the EU Presidency. I met two groups in the area recently, the Quarryvale Butterflies and the Rowlagh women's hub, which are campaigning for an additional bus. The bus that was available was in Blanchardstown, across the River Liffey, and we have managed to get a new bus for that area, which we will use and share. The women were delighted and are still going to campaign for the additional bus.  They are really disappointed with the response I had to send to them this week indicating that the new bus we were getting for the whole of the DMR West was going to be taken for the EU Presidency. We are back to square one with no bus available. This bus is vital for community groups but also for building good, positive relationships with the Garda. I ask that the Minister do everything in his power to restore this bus and also look at funding for an additional bus for the area. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I am sorry that I was not aware of that. I will certainly follow it up. I do not know why a community bus is needed for the Presidency. I do not see the Commissioners going around in a community bus. It is something I will look into.  On the funding, the Deputy might agree it would be preferable if the community had its own bus as opposed to having to use the Garda bus. As he will know, applications can be made to the community safety fund. The Department or rural and community development also has funds available. We will look into the matter and I will raise the issue of the bus. If it is not available for the six months of the Presidency, I am disappointed to hear that. I hope an alternative mode of transport can be provided for that period. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"EU Presidency"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/dbsect_23","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/dbsect_17","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_23","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tom Brabazon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_23.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tom Brabazon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tom Brabazon  I raise again the issue of scramblers. We all know responsibility for this is across the Minister's Department and that of the Minister, Deputy O'Brien. We need to get to grips with this problem. We need to take back our streets from scramblers, which are being deployed by criminal gangs as a method of muling drugs and intimidating communities. I warmly welcome the enactment of Grace's Law but, on its own, it is not enough. We need to follow up with enforcement of this law. In that context, will the Minister consider implementing a professional licence or a statutory indemnity for garda\u00ed who act reasonably in the pursuit of scramblers? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I agree with everything the Deputy said about scramblers. We need greater enforcement, and I believe that is happening. The tragic death of Grace and the enactment of Grace's Law was a seminal moment that really changed the attitude of this House and the body politic to how we deal with scramblers.  Already in 2026, over 1,000 scramblers and e-bikes have been seized by the Garda. That is considerably up on the figure for last year. I want to see that continue. I have spoken to the Commissioner. He has said to me, and emphasised publicly, that he wants to see a much more robust response from An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, and we are seeing that. Obviously garda\u00ed need to use their discretion when it comes to whether to pursue a scrambler. The most preferable way of dealing with this is through technology. Drones would be a great mechanism to identify where somebody on a scrambler is going. There may be occasions when it is appropriate for garda\u00ed to start off in pursuit but if something goes wrong and an innocent bystander is injured, very serious questions will be raised about why that happened.  I agree with the Deputy on the proposed changes to legislation. As a brief entry into it, I remind him, though I am sure he knows, that in the UK, under the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022, there is a separate protection for police officers when it comes to dangerous and careless driving. The provision included there is that a police officer will only be liable for the offence of dangerous driving if \"the way the person drives falls far below what would be expected of a competent and careful constable who has undertaken the same prescribed training\". It is something the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and I are looking at. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tom Brabazon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tom Brabazon  I welcome the Minister's response in that regard but the suggestion made is only one of a suite of measures to combat this reckless carry-on. We need more accountability from importers of scramblers, more Garda pursuit training, more intelligence gathering and more community involvement in handing over intelligence to Garda authorities. Police services in other jurisdictions are provided with training on scramblers to pursue and apprehend people riding scramblers. This Government must urgently support the Garda, not just with legislation but with the wherewithal to pursue, apprehend and prosecute those involved. The courts must also take a very serious view of this behaviour and back our garda\u00ed in their work. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I agree with the Deputy. This requires a multifaceted response. It requires a policing, criminal justice and youth diversion response to ensure we get kids and teenagers away from scramblers and involvement in criminal activity and divert them towards sport or something that is positive for them. Last Friday, I was in East Wall in Deputy Gannon's constituency to see a place where there is a proper scrambler course. That is where they should be used, rather than on the roads or other public places. The message is getting through but the most important thing is strong Garda enforcement, so people who are in public places on scramblers have their bikes seized and retained. I hear what the Deputy said about importers as well. That is something that needs to be looked at. There are trade policy issues in respect of that but it needs a whole-of-government response. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tom Brabazon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tom Brabazon  I thank the Minister again. We must act with a comprehensive suite of measures, as he said, and we must make rapid progress on this. I know what he said about thousands of scramblers being seized by garda\u00ed but there are still many on our streets endangering the public, so we must act with speed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I agree with the Deputy. There needs to be enforcement and there is more enforcement. That is why we are seeing more scramblers and e-bikes seized. There needs to be more of that. People need to be aware that if they are using a scrambler on a public road or in a public park, it will be seized. That is the great advantage of Grace's Law. If garda\u00ed see someone in a public place on a scrambler, they know they can seize the bike because it is unlawful activity. I am constantly talking to the Commissioner in respect of this. He is very strong on ensuring we do not permit communities to be terrorised by young people on scramblers. Those bikes need to be seized. We also need to strengthen our legislation. The word is getting out there, though I have no doubt it is still happening, that enforcement is up. We also need a societal response to it that says it is socially unacceptable, as well as unlawful, for people to be on scramblers in public areas because they are endangering their own community. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/dbsect_24","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 7 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/dbsect_25","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Prison Service","counts":{"speechCount":12,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/dbsect_24","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_25","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_25.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  I commend the Minister on his visit to the Alfie Byrne Road on Friday. It was a source of great annoyance to me that he left such a great impression on the lads down there, so well done to him on that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  Very good. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  Back to the fighting. I want to speak to him about our prison services and the fact that we do not have any specialist dedicated addiction nurses within the Prison Service, despite over 70% of the prison population having addiction needs. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I thank the Deputy. I had a very good time in his constituency and I also got a present of a Troy Parrott jersey----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  I hope he declared it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  -----which is going to be hung in the Department of justice, I am pleased to tell the House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  Brilliant. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  We have not hired people known as addiction nurses since the mid-2010s. I do not want the Deputy to think - I know he does not think this - that because of that, there are no services. There was a change in how we deal with addressing the addiction needs of people in custody. To use a word that is sometimes overused, the Prison Service adopts a multidisciplinary approach to it. This includes nurses, general practitioners and psychologists, supported by in-reach mental health services and addiction counselling services delivered by Merchants Quay Ireland. Merchants Quay Ireland plays a huge role in the context of the role the addiction nurses used to play. It currently provides 19 addiction counsellors, with one vacancy in Cork Prison. In addition, Merchants Quay Ireland has recently introduced six project workers and two prison recovery educators.  To support rehabilitation, reduce reoffending and facilitate successful reintegration into society, people in custody have access to a broad range of clinical and rehabilitative interventions. These include opioid substitution treatment, counselling, harm reduction initiatives, peer-support programmes and psycho-educational services delivered through prison education units and the prison television channel. Merchants Quay Ireland also delivers the national treatment and rehabilitation programme, which is based in the medication unit at Mountjoy Prison. The Irish Prison Service also works closely with Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, which provide ongoing support across the prison estate.  As I said, the Prison Service has not employed addiction nurses per se since the mid-2010s. The historic approach of having a narrow and focused resource has been superseded by the prison primary care team and supporting agencies. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  I am correct in saying that the programme for Government includes a commitment to recruit addiction nurses. The last addiction nurses left in 2016. We have a problem in our prisons. People are going in there with addictions. Over 70% of the prison population, or 4,000 people, entered prison with some form of addiction. The Minister knows our recidivism rates. Almost exactly seven out of ten people who go into prison will reoffend within three years. A large part of that is precisely because the addictions with which they went into prison are being compounded, in many instances, and there are certainly no recovery options. I do not doubt for a second that Merchants Quay Ireland is doing good work within our prisons, but its representatives have also said continuously that, actually, the supports available are not commensurate with the needs they are meeting while they are in there. There are also any number of reports that call for specialist addiction nurses going in, which are different from general practice nurses because the skill level is different. Comprehensive addiction assessments, and management of withdrawal and medication, can be offered by an addiction nurse. All of these are specialist skills. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I have been to 12 of our 13 prisons. I am aware, having spoken to prisoners, prison officers and prison management, of the issues of addiction in prison. However, I also want the Deputy to be aware that there are some success stories as well. There is a lot of good work being done in the prisons in training and getting people off addictive substances. There is success there. The real difficulty is with people who are in for short terms. Even if they get a certain amount of recovery in prison, when they get out they get back on to the appalling vista of addiction. There were six addiction nurses employed by the Prison Service in 2006. However, they had all either left the service or moved into general prison nursing posts by 2016. As I said, the role of addiction nurses has now been superseded by the prison primary care team and supporting agencies. The Irish Prison Service actively reviews the need for addiction nurses. However, there are no plans in the short term to recruit dedicated addiction nurses. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  The Minister might want to check the programme for Government in terms of the plans in relation to that, but okay. We have a profound problem when it comes to our prisons. I do not doubt for a second that there are some success stories, but that is by no means the norm. That is actually a failure of opportunity because we talk about the people going into prison for absolute reasons, but while they are there, there is an opportunity to ensure that when they come out, they do not continue the hurt that led them there in the first place. That does require intensive treatments for addiction. At the moment in our prisons, clearly, that is not being met. I do not doubt the work the Minister mentioned by Merchants Quay Ireland. However, that is the moment of intervention when we can actually prevent the follow-on hurt that is coming from a recidivism rate that is extraordinarily high because the addictions are not being dealt with in there. I can reference any number of reports that talk about the need for addiction specialist nurses, the most recent being the Crowe report on prison healthcare in 2022. We need to reflect on the absence of those specific specialists in our prisons. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  There are a lot of services there providing assessments and care planning, evidence-based interventions, including support for opioid substitution treatment, detoxification and overdose prevention and helping people to access community services on release to reduce relapse and reoffending. There is a good amount of work being done within the Prison Service. There is obviously more that needs to be done. I fully appreciate that. Merchants Quay Ireland is doing a very good job. There is a real challenge in the prisons in terms of trying to deal with people's addiction. I would love to see more resources available to ensure that people can be weaned off addictive substances while they are in prison. The truth of the matter is that there is an opportunity. We do have to use it. I do not mean this facetiously, but there is a captive audience when somebody is in prison. We can try to work on them in the hope that they will not gain access to drugs while in prison. There is a lot of good work being done in keeping drugs out of prisons. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Prison Service"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/dbsect_26","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Housing Provision","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/dbsect_24","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_26","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_26.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Murphy  Following on from the decision to withdraw from State-contracted commercial accommodation for beneficiaries of temporary accommodation, to what extent has a review been undertaken of the long-term role and cost-effectiveness of modular accommodation centres, of which there are 11, including whether alternative future uses for such facilities are being considered in light of that change in accommodation policy? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I thank the Deputy for his question. He is referring to developments in Clonmel. The Deputy has spoken to me before about that. I know it is an issue of concern to him.  The rapid build modular units, including those in Clonmel, were built to accommodate beneficiaries of temporary protection fleeing the war in Ukraine. In total, we have 654 units across 11 locations across the country, accommodating 2,640 people in family units of four with children. The long-term use of these units has always been an important aim of the rapid build project. These homes are durable units with an expected 60-year lifespan and are highly energy efficient. They were all developed in an environmentally friendly way.  The Office of Public Works, OPW, is undertaking a post-project completion report to which my Department has contributed. It is still being drafted and is not yet available. To determine the long-term strategy for the sites post temporary protection, we are starting a process of consulting stakeholders. That started back in March 2025 and is chaired by officials from my Department, including people from the OPW and the Department of housing. In tandem with the consideration of the feasibility of potential future uses, this work involves exploring planning regularisation at each site. There has been no final decision made yet on long-term future use as discussions are ongoing. We will explore all potential options within the local areas. These options include social housing and lower-cost affordable housing, such as cost rental. Obviously, the residents there will not be required to vacate this accommodation until March 2027. To meet the conditions of the scheme, they can apply to the new temporary protection transitional scheme. I do not know if they will come within that, but that is an option for them. To date, full occupancy has been maintained with over 90 units relocated since the sites were first occupied. We have not reached a final decision on what will happen after March. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Murphy  I thank the Minister. I want to focus on Clonmel. As he said, there are 654 units at the national level, of which 82 are in Clonmel. From the very outset, not all, but the vast majority of people understood that these modular homes were built as an emergency response to the war in Ukraine. They accepted that such extraordinary circumstances required extraordinary measures. I am somewhat concerned, though, that there is no final decision on the future of these sites despite that multi-agency process the Minister referred to, which has been under way since 2025. What I am really looking for is an assurance that consultation will take place with the local authority, the locally elected representatives and, in particular, local communities living close to the development. I would really welcome the assurance that engagement and consultation will take place. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I think that has to happen. These have got the support of the Deputy, other local representatives and the community. There needs to be engagement, and that engagement needs to continue. There are also units that can be used. As I said, they could be used for social housing or other purposes. Obviously, we will also take into consideration any suggestions the Deputy or other local representatives have in respect of them. There is uncertainty at present because of the ongoing temporary protection directive. It looks like it will be extended; it may be extended on terms, but it looks like it is going to be extended beyond March 2027. I do think, and I agree with the Deputy, that there needs to be a plan as to what we are going to use these very valuable and useful units for. Certainly, I believe there should be, and I want to see, consultation with the community before any decisions are made by officials within Government Departments. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Murphy  I welcome confirmation that these are durable homes with a 60-year lifespan. Indeed, I further welcome the Minister's suggestion around social housing or perhaps cost rental. It would be helpful as well if that Office of Public Works post-project completion report is published, particularly in the interests of transparency.  The units in Clonmel were built at an average cost of \u20ac436,000 each. Taxpayers have invested many millions of euro. I welcome confirmation from the Minister that the people of Clonmel, together with Tipperary County Council local elected representatives, will have a genuine opportunity to shape the future of the Heywood Road modular unit site. That is key. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  They did cost the State a lot of money. They are a valuable resource that we own and we want to see them used effectively.  The Deputy talks about Clonmel. There are 82 units in Clonmel accommodating potentially up to 328 people, but there are ten other sites around the country as well, some of which are even bigger than that in Clonmel. We need to have a plan for what we will use this valuable resource for. They have a good lifespan. They are something that will be of great benefit, I would have thought, to local authorities or, indeed, the Department of housing for the purpose of providing accommodation for those who are in need of accommodation because they clearly are very suitable as medium-to-long-term accommodation units. I will certainly keep in close touch with the Deputy in respect of the matter. The Deputy can always come to me and raise the issue. I will certainly insist that there is engagement on it before any decision is made. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 10 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Housing Provision"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/dbsect_27","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Family Reunification","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/dbsect_24","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_27","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_27.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aindrias Moynihan  Family reunification for people recruited here for critical skills is an issue I have raised here previously and it still has not been addressed adequately. I am constantly getting people into my office raising their situation with me where they are waiting for their spouse and children 18 months and more. It is very difficult on families. What immediate action can be taken to reduce those delays? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  As the Deputy will be aware, Deputy Brophy has ministerial responsibility for this, but he and I have a close and shared view in respect of this issue. Obviously, we both fully recognise that so-called join family visa applications are very important for the people involved. I understand that people are eager to have their families join them in Ireland and I can appreciate why Deputy Moynihan, as a hard-working Deputy, or, indeed, any other Deputy in the House, is asked frequently by persons who have such occupations as to when they will be provided.  My Department operates seven overseas visa offices, as well as the visa office in Dublin. Processing times for these join family applications can take time. They can vary between visa offices. Most visa applications receive a decision within our published target times. Some applications can take longer, depending on the circumstances. Processing times are influenced by a number of factors, including the complexity of the application, the volume of applications received, and the quality and completeness of the information provided. It is important to recall these applications are screening processes. They require careful probing in order to establish that the person has a legitimate reason to come to Ireland prior to travel.  A critical skills employment permit holder, as I say, can apply for a join family visa at the same time as their employment visa. These applications can then be processed together and typically receive a first instance decision within the ten-to-12 week business target. People who make join family visa applications separately, will generally receive a first instance decision within the 12 month business target. In December 2025, the immigration service of my Department introduced online payment functionality to my Department's online visa system. This allows applicants to pay visa fees as part of the online application process. The initiative is being rolled out on a phased basis and is currently live in 40 countries. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aindrias Moynihan  First, I acknowledge the headway that is being made on it. On the idea that most are within target, for many that is not their lived reality. To put it in context, these are the people who are caring for our elderly in our nursing homes, caring for us in our hospitals, maybe doing the NCT on our cars and maybe even cultivating our food on our farms, and they are not able to have their family around them. Many of them, Indians and Filipinos, who have been in contact with me on it are telling me of experiences of 18 month and more. That is a big stress and pressure on families. Is it a capacity issue to clear the backlog that is there? Can people who are waiting longest be prioritised? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  Last year, I and the Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, introduced a new non-EEA family reunification policy. It sets out the rules that apply in respect of it. Every country in the world has a regulated system in respect of family reunification. It has to involve a system where there are rules in place. If you fit within the rules and you have the resources to bring family members over, it is permissible.  Part of the reason, I suppose, is that there are so many visa applications being received in the Department of justice. For instance, last year we received over 206,000 visa applications. That was an increase on the previous year as well. There are a lot of join family visas issued as well. In 2025, there were 14,599 join family visas. That was down on 2024. It was 17,000 that year. They have to be probed carefully. I cannot just say, \"Give out the family visa\". "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aindrias Moynihan  It is right and proper that there would be proper checks and verification and a thorough examination of all of the different applications. The experience that I am hearing from my constituents is that it takes approximately 18 months or more. I understand that there is a target of 12 months. Even that target seems lengthy, and it is difficult for families. Is it the case that it is slow because there are not enough people to deal with the backlog? Is there a need for additional staffing to clear a short-term backlog and to prioritise people who have been waiting the longest? It is a pressure on those people who have been hired to do critical work in our communities. That pressure will often put them thinking on whether they should be going back home and leaving a skills gap that we need to fill here as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  A critical skills employment permit holder who applies for a join family visa at the same time as their employment visa typically receives a first instance decision within the ten- to 12-week business target. For stand-alone join family applications and those linked to general employment permits, the current business target for a first instance decision is 12 months. I know they can be frustrating. I assure anyone who has made an application for a join family visa that my Department is doing everything possible to progress these as quickly as possible. It is not an issue of resourcing within the Department. There are a lot of staff in the Department of justice working on this but it requires a lot of information to be procured, to be examined and to be assessed before a decision is made in respect of it. Through advocacy by Deputies such as Deputy Moynihan, the message is coming loud and clear to me and I will pass that back to officials in the Department that I want us to try to see the process expedited. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 12 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Family Reunification"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/dbsect_28","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Visa Applications","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/dbsect_24","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_28","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_28.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Burke  Will the Minister to provide an update on the Department's progress in establishing a single application process for employment permits and visa applications, the progress that has been made to date by the interdepartmental group established to review this process, and will he make a statement on the matter? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  As the Deputy will be aware, the Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, is centrally involved in this. Government approved plans in May 2024 to introduce a single permit for people coming to Ireland to live and work. Currently, employment permits, visas and residency permits are processed separately. This is a significant technical project involving the integration of two IT systems. In the short term, we are streamlining the existing process by removing duplication, aligning online information and introducing a single payment model. These improvements will make the system simpler and more efficient.  In recent weeks, the Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, had a very productive meeting with the Minister of State with responsibility for employment, small business and retail, Deputy Alan Dillon, and his officials on this project.  The project is progressing through a phased development and scoping process, with ongoing cross-departmental engagement to support the design and testing of the proposed model prior to wider implementation. A pilot is also currently being scoped out to test the proposed new approach to delivering the single permit directive.  Changes introduced in 2024 also mean that spouses and partners of employment permit holders can now take up employment without requiring separate employment authorisation. These initiatives support the long-term sustainability of our economy while recognising the important contribution that legal migrants make to our society.  My Department is also leading the development of Ireland\u2019s first whole-of-government migration strategy, which I and Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, are working on intensively, and we hope to publish this strategy later this year. There is progress being made in respect of this. The Ministers of State, Deputies Brophy and Dillon, are centrally involved in it and I hope to be able to provide the Deputy with further progress reports on final timelines in due course. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Burke  I raise this because one of the areas where I have had many people on to me is for those who are working in nursing homes. There seems to be a huge problem between work permits and residency permits. For instance, I had one case which I sent a parliamentary question on to the Minister, where the person made an application for an IRP card on 6 March and by 30 June - 16 weeks later - it still had not issued. I am concerned there is a lack of information for both employers and employees about the process. I have had cases where applications should have been made well before the card expired, but many people are not doing that and there needs to be more information sent out by the Department.  However, I am concerned about the 16 weeks for an IRP card application that still has not been issued as of today. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  That is a concerning period, but people sometimes leave applications until the very last moment and that is not good practice. It will create difficulties for them, so we need to encourage people who are applying for renewals to apply early.  As I said, an implementation team has been established jointly between my Department and the Department of enterprise to commence implementation of the single permit model. This is really the solution to the issue, Deputy. The programme is being delivered on a phased basis in the short-term and officials are examining how best to re-engineer processes to remove duplication and scope possible technical solutions. A single approach to how work permits and visas can be processed is also being developed, with changes to include a single payment model.  I understand the Deputy's concern in respect of the delays, and obviously, this can apply to anyone in the House, but if there are issues with respect to applications they think merit bringing to my attention or that of the Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, they may feel free to do so. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Burke  Where it really affects my constituency is, taking Apple computers for instance, which is the biggest employer in the constituency, there are people from 90 different nationalities working in that facility and it is important that this information gets out to employers. The problem arising is the delays in the processing now. I outlined the case of 16 weeks, which should not be happening, but people are being advised they must apply and that it will take 12 weeks. There is then the whole issue of the period in which people can continue to work even where the card has not been renewed on time. That also needs to be looked at.  Until such time that we streamline the system and make it far easier for people to have both the work permit and residency permit and all the processes sorted, we will have people - and I have had several of them - who will be laid off work until the issue has been resolved, which is now causing problems. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  It is a challenging task from the point of view of the Department. I have been to the section of the Department dealing with visa applications, and there are huge numbers of people there; you realise the extent to which each application has to be considered and appraised individually. There is a significant number of applications coming in and they need to be considered individually.  I hear what the Deputy has said about Apple. Obviously, we want to ensure people who are here believe and feel they get an effective response from the public service in Ireland. In general, I believe they do. However, one of the consequences and downsides of being a TD is people only ever come to us problems. People who are happy with the systems in operation do not contact us to commend us on the service we provide. We only really see things when issues have arisen and there are failings in the system, but there are many successes also. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Visa Applications"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/dbsect_29","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/dbsect_24","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_29","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_29.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Catherine Ardagh)  The Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and allocation of Garda resources. We are assured by the Commissioner that, when allocating Garda resources, consideration is given to commitments and undertakings outlined in the annual policing plan. The requirements of all Garda divisions nationwide are also taken into account, which include local and national crime trends and workloads, policing arrangements and operational strategies, local population and trends, and geographical area and size. Transfer applications, including welfare, personnel issues and concerns, are also taken into account.  Under budget 2026, the Minister, Deputy O\u2019Callaghan, secured funding of \u20ac2.74 billion for An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na to support recruitment and staffing. This will support recruitment of up to 1,000 garda\u00ed, 200 more Garda staff and additional members of the Garda Reserve. Significant initiatives have been taken to boost recruitment, which have been reflected in the numbers entering the Garda College, which was just under 800 in 2025.  As the Deputy will know, recruitment into An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na has gathered real momentum and we are determined to ensure we have a steady pipeline of new recruits into the Garda College so that we can see more garda\u00ed assigned all around the country. Interestingly, the most recent recruitment competition, which closed on 3 June 2026, attracted 4,115 applications. This brings the total number of applications received to join An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na to over 15,000 since February 2025.  We are informed that as of 31 May 2026, there are 561 garda\u00ed assigned to the Meath-Westmeath division. This includes 323 garda\u00ed assigned to the Meath south and Meath north community engagement areas, which include Ashbourne, Kells, Navan and Trim. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  As regards those figures, it is 323 garda\u00ed in Meath compared with 335 in 2020. The current figures are up a little bit on last year but, compared with 2009 and 2010, we have seen practically no increase. At the same time, we have had a very significant increase in population. The Minister of State outlined the type of consideration the Garda Commissioner makes in terms of allocation of resources, and one of them is local population and trends, and geographical area and size. There must be no weight on that consideration, if County Meath is anything to go by.  What efforts will the Minister of State make to bring County Meath up the ranking tables in terms of the number of garda\u00ed per population, so that it is at least commensurate with other counties of a similar size? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Ardagh  Obviously, population trends are monitored on a continuous basis, but looking at what we are doing to ensure overall community safety in County Meath, the Department is pleased to secure \u20ac8 million in budget 2026 for the national office for community safety to ensure the office carries out its functions, including its support for local community partnerships and the work on the national development of a national strategy for community safety.  Much of the Deputy's constituency is obviously rural. One of our success stories is Operation Thor. Several Garda operations are already supporting the plan, such as Operations Thor and T\u00e1irge, which tackle burglaries and theft from homes and retail crime, respectively.  In recent years, An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na has had unprecedented success in reducing and preventing burglaries through Operation Thor. In the ten years since Operation Thor began, burglary and related offences have declined overall, and the number of residential burglaries during the winter months of October to March have fallen by a remarkable 75%. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  There are 220,000 people in County Meath and there are 323 garda\u00ed. Whatever way we cut it up, rural or urban, and the division between them, that is nowhere near enough. I have two specific points. Some of it is the responsibility of the Garda Commissioner. The resource allocation model has to be reflective of the growing population and of the demands in the community. One of the issues is the number of training stations. The number of stations that new recruits can actually be deployed to is limited. That has to be reviewed. The Minister of State has a target set out, and she referenced the annual service plan, of 14,820 sworn garda\u00ed by the end of the year. Will she hit that target? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Ardagh  I take the opportunity to commend the garda\u00ed on the street. We are seeing huge effort being put in garda\u00ed, not just in Dublin city but on a nationwide basis. We can see the number of people going through Templemore and the standard of the garda\u00ed coming out of Templemore is really noticeable. Population trends and community trends are always under review. We are using census data to ensure that populations are represented according to increases in the local population. This will be reviewed on a continuous basis. The Deputy's point is well made and I thank him for asking this question. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/dbsect_30","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Domestic Violence","counts":{"speechCount":10,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/dbsect_24","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_30","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_30.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I am taking this question on behalf Deputy Bennett. It is to ask the Minister for a timeframe in which we will see domestic refuges open in Cavan and Monaghan. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I recall when I started as Minister, Deputies Carthy and Bennett, the Minister of State, Deputy Smyth, from Fianna F\u00e1il, and their fifth colleague----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  David Maxwell "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  David Maxwell as well. The issue is that there were no plans for Cavan and Monaghan. As Deputy Carthy now knows, the Cavan-Monaghan region is listed as a priority area for refuge development under zero tolerance. The capital assistance scheme, CAS, stage 1 application for a refuge site in Monaghan was approved by the Department of housing last October. Work is ongoing towards submitting a stage 2 application, which will include further detail and costings on the full extent of works that will be required. The CAS process, I regret, takes on average 75 weeks, with construction typically taking 15 to 18 months. Safe Ireland is the lead approved housing body on this development. This new refuge facility will include 12 independent units of refuge accommodation, along with essential ancillary services, thereby strengthening domestic violence support in the region.  Developments have been progressed with the support of Cuan. An interim refuge with five family units will open in Monaghan this year. Cavan and Monaghan county councils will allocate three units, to deliver three safe homes in each county this year, which will be run by Safe Ireland. All key stakeholders are working together to ensure there is a substantial increase in service across the Cavan-Monaghan region. Safe Ireland is working with the stakeholder group to create a solid infrastructure and a coherent connected response across both counties. An interim refuge with five family units will open in Monaghan this year. It will be run by Safe Ireland. It is being put in place in order to strengthen domestic violence supports in the region. I am conscious that we did not have plans a year and a half ago. There are now plans in place for Cavan and Monaghan. Progress has been made in respect of them. I cannot give the Deputy a date but he knows that an interim refuge will open in Monaghan this year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I welcome that there has been progress. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I thank the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  When I was first elected as a TD and raised this issue, the Minister at the time disputed that there was a need at all. There has been quite significant movement. In fact, after the horrendous killing of Ashling Murphy, there was unanimous agreement in this House that every county should, at a minimum, have one refuge. I am holding Government to that. The process for delivering refuges needs to be speeded up drastically. The suggestion that from the beginning of planning to final completion stage could be three or even four years is far too long to deliver what should be a simple infrastructure project.  The second point I want to emphasise relates to the geography of Cavan and Monaghan. The distance from Blacklion at the far end of Cavan to east County Monaghan is a third of the width of the island of Ireland. It is unfeasible to suggest that one centre would cater for the entire two counties. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I thank the Deputy for acknowledging the progress that has been made. I want to ensure that we speed up the process. It is important that we have a good geographic spread of refuges and safe homes throughout the country. It probably will be the case that every county will have one but I am cautious about trying to adopt it as though it is just a county thing. It needs to be spread out in areas where, demographically, refuges are needed. I also repeatedly emphasised, and I am sure that the Deputy will agree, that refuges are short-term solutions to deal with women who have been subjected to domestic violence and need immediate short-term accommodation. The ultimate solution is that the person who is the abuser is the person who should get out of the house as opposed to the woman having to get out of the house and end up in a refuge for lengthy periods. That is legislative measure I am working on too. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  The difficulty when dealing with gender, sexual and domestic violence is that there is not a neat provision. That is why refuges are required. There is not a neat one-size-fits-all approach. I am aware, as I am sure colleagues are, of situations where it is not feasible and certainly not in the victim's interest to return to her home, and it is predominantly her home, particularly in rural areas. Peculiarities about the homestead or home parish need to be taken into account. We know there is demand from Women's Aid and all the organisations. In fact, Men's Aid tells us there is a need for men's refuge spaces too, although much fewer. We know there is a critical need. Women's Aid, Rape Crisis Ireland and all the front-line organisations have told us that there needs to be much greater capacity in terms of refuge spaces. As well as looking at demographics, we have to look at geography, particularly when dealing with counties like Cavan and Monaghan, where the public transport network is so deficient. We need a refuge in each centre. The timeframes we are talking about mean that we need to advance the second refuge now as opposed to putting it on the long finger. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  Safe homes are very important too and local authorities are providing safe homes, which are places that can be used as safe accommodation for women fleeing violence. Monaghan County Council have promised three safe homes. It is the same with Cavan. There is a need for refuges. If we have more time to have a debate on this, we really need to look at the root causes of these issues as.well. One thing that we will try to do in the Department for the next strategy is to do more research on why certain men get involved in domestic violence. I know people might say that we do not want to spend money on dealing with the perpetrators but we do need to research the perpetrators and find out why certain men are getting involved in violence in a domestic arrangement. People repeatedly tell me that online extreme violent pornography is having a distorting impact on young people. I am fearful about how that will develop in the future. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 16 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Domestic Violence"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/dbsect_31","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Crime Prevention","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/dbsect_24","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_31","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_31.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I ask the Minister for an update on the work of his Department to counter money laundering in the State. I am sure that, no more than me, he has been contacted by many people, particularly parents, where kids have been stupid, got messages on the Internet and fallen stupidly into being a money mule, or even other scenarios where they have fallen in with their friends and been used and abused to a degree. In some cases, it is small numbers but still significant, but in others, huge sums have been put through people's accounts. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I thank the Deputy. He asks an opportune question because last week, along with the T\u00e1naiste, I launched Ireland's third national risk assessment on money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing. Risk assessments are key in identifying the risks from money laundering and terrorist financing. There was a report that contains a lot of useful information. One of the things I was trying to do last week, and it is important that we emphasise it again, is that there are many commercial enterprises which are not fulfilling their money laundering obligations. If somebody comes into a shop with \u20ac10,000 in cash and they want to buy a handbag, piece of clothing or something like that, it should trigger immediate concern. There are statutory obligations on the part of the shop owner. That is an area that An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na is concerned about, that a lot of money laundering is being done by purchasing expensive products. There was the introduction of a ban on cash payments over \u20ac10,000 and the extension of anti-money laundering laws to new sectors, including football clubs.  My Department's anti-money laundering compliance unit is engaging with the Central Bank on the establishment of the EU anti-money laundering authority, which will be vital to maintaining the stability and transparency of the EU financial system. On Monday, I signed the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) (Administrative Sanctions) Regulations 2026 into law, providing the anti-money laundering compliance unit with the power to impose administrative financial sanctions on trust or company service providers for breaches of the Act.  The Deputy mentioned the issue of money mules. People need to be aware that if something looks too good to be true, it generally is not true. They need to be really careful and cautious, because they will find themselves before the courts getting a conviction for doing something that is very serious. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  The Minister is right. It is about getting the message out there that as much as somebody might stupidly fall into this, the ramifications for their future life can be serious, as they should be. It is not only kids who are involved in this. We are talking about some highly sophisticated operations. There is huge money in the drugs business. We know the huge impact it has on individuals and communities. The impact on communities is the reason the Committee on Drugs Use came up with the recommendations that it has. We know what is happening at the minute is insufficient and is not dealing with the issue. That is the reality, no matter what the Minister's view is on decriminalisation. We have to get serious. We need to make sure we have the capacity to deal with everything from businesses to small operations that can build into big operations, where people were taking control of people's bank accounts, putting huge money through them and leaving them open to prosecution and whatever else. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na has a good record when it comes to organised crime. I was at an event last Friday to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the murder of Veronica Guerin. If we think about that, in terms of the organised drug gangs in Ireland, many of them have been taken out of action by An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. They went to Spain. They were then chased out of there. They went to the United Arab Emirates and they are being chased out of there. You cannot get away from the consequences of your actions. It is inevitably the case that somebody is going to take over. For as long as there is a demand for drugs, there is going to be a business in drugs. We also need a strong message to go out that people who get involved in serious crime, in terms of organised crime, are going to face serious sentences. There are lots of people in prison for organised crime and drug dealing. They have been given lengthy sentences. I urge anyone who thinks they can make money easily by allowing their accounts to be used by others to reconsider. They will find themselves before the courts and, potentially, in prison. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  We all welcome the action that was taken after the death of Veronica Guerin. It is a pity it took that. I do not think there is anyone who has not welcomed the action taken against the Kinahans. We need to see more of it - quicker, better and faster. It is as simple as that. I have seen many instances of the Criminal Assets Bureau, CAB, taking houses or vehicles off people. Unfortunately, that is just the cost of doing business and they are back in operation the next day. As much as we are not going to police our way out of this situation, we need to deal with those serious criminals who are involved in violence and using vulnerable and younger people to clean their money. It is vital we get the message out there. There will have to be action against those who are doing this. The fact is that we need a huge level of support, including early family supports to deal with the underlying issues in some of these cases. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  The Criminal Assets Bureau has a good record. To go back to Veronica Guerin, her murder inspired the enactment of the proceeds of crime legislation and the establishment of CAB. The bureau has a strong record. Other European countries are interested in the fact that one can have a non-conviction based seizure process. People have assets taken from them which are the proceeds of crime, but it is on the balance of probabilities. We do not need to establish in front of a jury. Strong evidence is put forward by a chief superintendent. I commend CAB on the outstanding work it does. It is seizing a lot of assets. At the end of each year, there is a CAB auction online and one can see the types of products that have been seized, including watches, expensive handbags and clothing. The money that CAB generates as a result of the auctions is significant, although obviously it is just a fraction of the money that was spent on these goods. It shows the level of money that is involved in drugs. That is why we need a consistent message in respect of drug gangs, that the State will stand up to them and take them out. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 18 and 19 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Crime Prevention"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/dbsect_32","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Child Protection","counts":{"speechCount":9,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/dbsect_24","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_32","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-07-01\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_32.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  It is appropriate that we move on from discussing the successes of CAB and the evolution of how we target the drugs gangs. That has consequences in terms of how the gangs have tried to innovate. One callous activity they have engaged in is the coercion of children into crime. I do not believe eight- and nine-year-olds were being used as drug smugglers 30 years ago. Today, the prevalence of that is substantial. I want to talk about the coercion of children into crime. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Ardagh  The Deputy, the Minister and I all represent inner-city Dublin constituencies and we know very well the devastation the grooming of children into criminality has on all our communities. I have delegated responsibility for youth justice, and it has been a priority of mine since before my appointment to the Department of justice. I am very glad to take this question today.  The Government\u2019s Youth Justice Strategy 2021-2027 creates a whole-of-government framework to address the challenges around children and young adults' involvement in the criminal justice system. It assesses how we can stop young people from becoming recurring adult offenders, as the Deputy described. Among the key actions within the strategy is targeting harder to reach groups, including those subject to grooming and coercive control by criminals.  An interesting programme the Deputy may be aware of is the Greentown programme, which aims to disrupt the grooming of children into network-related criminal activity by adults and provides children with meaningful and practical routes out of these networks. It is made up of four strands, namely, an intensive family programme to help with parenting and general family functioning; providing young people with pro-social opportunities; supporting communities to withstand gang and network influences; and targeting groomers and disrupting their networks. The first Greentown programme progress report from 2023 found that there have been notable improvements in reducing the influence of criminal networks in the trial site communities, including that children and families are better enabled to withstand the powerful attraction of network membership and to make pro-social choices. I am hoping the Greentown project will be rolled out across our communities in the future. Support is provided from An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and expert youth justice services specialising in family support and engaging with hard-to-reach young people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  I can hear the Minister of State's passion for this area. The problem is that in 2017 or 2018 the Greentown project, in its first national survey, found that at any one time over 1,000 children in the State were being coerced into crime. Between 2018 and 2026, every metric has got worse. I have to assume the coercion of children into crime has got worse. The Greentown project has good outcomes but it is very small and geographically based. I would like to see a national programme that is funded, seeks to prioritise prevention and recognises that the factors that make a child vulnerable to be coerced into crime are often the conditions in which they are born, with poverty foremost among them.  Even today we are talking about young people on scramblers, which is very dangerous and we need to cut it out, but a lot of those young people have been coerced into using those scramblers to sell drugs. Only 17 charges have been made so far under Fagin's law. What are we going to do to improve how we go after people who are targeting children? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Ardagh  As the Deputy knows, we are coming up to the end of our youth justice strategy and we will have a new strategy as of the end of 2027. The Greentown project has been extended. The extension of the programme has reduced the influence of criminal networks on children at risk of involvement in crime and improved the likelihood of pro-social outcomes for children who are already involved in criminal networks. We know that investment in these programmes does work, albeit in pilot and smaller models. I agree with the Deputy that this will have to be rolled out across the country, especially across large urban areas. We know, because we represent those areas, that that is where we have the problem.  The Criminal Justice (Engagement of Children in Criminal Activity) Act 2024 makes it an offence for an adult to compel, coerce, direct or deceive a child for the purpose of engaging in criminal activity or induce, invite, aid, abet, counsel or procure a child to engage in criminal activity.  On CAB and----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Minister of State. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Ardagh  Sorry. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Minister of State will be back in. Deputy Gannon, finally. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  The Criminal Justice (Engagement of Children in Criminal Activity) Act 2024 was welcome but there are flaws in the legislation in that it has the expectation built in that a child would be the witness to their own coercion. Too often we do not see children and young people who are being coerced into this as victims even by the very fact that we talked about the recurring offences. We separate ourselves from the fact that these children are literally being coerced into crime. Sometimes we assume it is through money or financial gain but it is often through the threat of violence to them or their parents.  This is a national problem. It extends beyond urban areas into more rural parts. Much of the anecdotal evidence we have on the level of drug-related intimidation in the State involves children being used to carry out the violence. It is at a level where it has to be an extensive national priority to prevent this, to convict those who do it and to stop a network of young people being dragged into this through violence and coercion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Ardagh  I agree with the Deputy. Words like \"multidisciplinary\" and \"multidepartmental\" are often used very flippantly but education has a piece, as do criminal justice and the HSE. We, as legislators, have a piece. Supporting our local community is a part of the puzzle. We all must play our part in it.  On what we can do from a community point of view, I have been to many of the projects in Ballyfermot like skate parks. The Deputy will be aware of the community safety fund, an annual grant fund that supports short- to medium-term projects which allow for the proceeds of crime to be directed back into communities. We have seen some really successful projects around the country where we use ill-gotten gains to fund innovative local projects aimed at building stronger, safer communities. I know Deputies from across the House welcome this. Since the fund launched in 2022, it has supported 127 community safety projects nationally. Over successive years the community safety fund has expanded in both reach and impact, supporting projects addressing youth engagement, domestic and gender-based violence, restorative justice, substance misuse and antisocial behaviour. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Is f\u00e9idir teacht ar Cheisteanna Scr\u00edofa ar www.oireachtas.ie. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Written Answers are published on the Oireachtas website. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar athl\u00f3 ar 10.24 p.m. go dt\u00ed 8.47 a.m., D\u00e9ardaoin, an 2 I\u00fail 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The D\u00e1il adjourned at 10.24 p.m. until 8.47 a.m. on Thursday, 2 July 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Child Protection"}]}}]},"contextDate":"2026-07-01"},{"debateRecord":{"house":{"showAs":"34th D\u00e1il","committeeCode":"","houseCode":"dail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/house\/dail\/34","chamberType":"house","houseNo":"34"},"chamber":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/def\/house\/dail","showAs":"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann"},"lastUpdated":"2026-07-06T12:48:57+00:00","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-30\/debate\/main","formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-30\/debate\/mul@\/main.xml"},"pdf":null},"date":"2026-06-30","counts":{"contributorCount":173,"divisionCount":9,"debateSectionCount":13,"questionCount":32,"billCount":11},"debateType":"debate","debateSections":[{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-30\/debate\/dbsect_2","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions","counts":{"speechCount":72,"speakerCount":9},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Before I call Deputy McDonald, I take this opportunity to welcome Councillor Alison Field, who is in the Public Gallery and who became deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin City Council last night. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Tomorrow is an important day that will provide a serious test for the Government. More than 1 million households will be hit with hikes in gas and electricity prices. Customers of Electric Ireland, the country's largest electricity supplier, and Yuno Energy face increased bills. These sharp increases range from 8% to 11% and will heap more pressure on people. The hikes will kick in as households deal with rising rents, increasing food prices and expensive back-to-school costs. That is before we mention the sky-high cost of car insurance and childcare. The bills keep coming. They keep going up and up, and people are fed up with being ripped off.  I want to remind the Taoiseach of something, which is that Irish households already pay the highest electricity prices in the European Union. On average, we pay more than \u20ac500 more per year than our European neighbours. As the Taoiseach knows, we already have record numbers of people who are unable to pay their energy bills, with more than 500,000 household accounts in arrears. That is the context and the backdrop. That is what families are facing as these new hikes come at them tomorrow. The hikes will hit hard-working families. These are people who work every hour they can and who do everything they can to build a good life for themselves and their families. No matter what they do, however, there seems to be a constant uphill battle and a constant rip-off. These are the families that are squeezed and squeezed.  Here is the worst of it. The Government has known these hikes were coming for weeks, because the increases were announced at the end of May. It has had more than a month to act and to step in to protect people, but, true to form, it has done nothing at all. Energy has to be affordable for people. We need to get costs under control and end the rip-off. We have to support people while costs are so high. The Taoiseach should rein in the energy companies, which are making massive profits. He should see to it that energy credits are reinstated, because his job is to take action to ease the pressure on people and families. Why is the Government allowing this scandalous profiteering to go unchecked. Why is it content to sit back and allow more than 1 million households to take the hit? The uncertainty, stress and pressure people are being asked to live with is not right and is not fair. People deserve better.  \u00d3n l\u00e1 am\u00e1rach, beidh bill\u00ed leictreachais agus g\u00e1is ag m\u00e9ad\u00fa go g\u00e9ar do n\u00edos m\u00f3 n\u00e1 1 milli\u00fan teaghlach. Cuirfidh s\u00e9 n\u00edos m\u00f3 br\u00fa ar theaghlaigh at\u00e1 ag streachailt go dona cheana f\u00e9in. Cad at\u00e1 an Rialtas chun a dh\u00e9anamh faoi seo?  This comes down to choices. The Government should choose to step up, have the backs of households faced with these energy price hikes and take action to rein in the energy companies. It should provide people with the support they need here and now. That means intervening directly and providing the energy credits that households need. Will the Government make these choices? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I dt\u00fas b\u00e1ire, admha\u00edm go bhfuil deacrachta\u00ed ann agus go bhfuil teaghlaigh faoi bhr\u00fa maidir leis an gcostas maireacht\u00e1la, go h\u00e1irithe de dheasca an chogaidh san Iar\u00e1in. Is l\u00e9ir go raibh drochthionchar ag an gcogadh sin ar phraghsanna. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 sin soil\u00e9ir. T\u00e1 an-chuid d\u00e9anta ag an Rialtas, \u00e1fach, chun an br\u00fa sin a \u00edsli\u00fa agus chun cabhair agus taca\u00edocht a thabhairt do dhaoine. Faoi dheireadh na bliana, beidh suas le \u20ac1 billi\u00fan n\u00edos m\u00f3 curtha ar f\u00e1il againn do mhuintir na t\u00edre i gcompar\u00e1id leis an m\u00e9id a chuireamar ar f\u00e1il i gcomhth\u00e9acs na c\u00e1inaisn\u00e9ise is d\u00e9ana\u00ed i m\u00ed Dheireadh F\u00f3mhair seo caite.  Families have been under pressure in respect of the cost-of-living issue. The latter has been exacerbated by significant events in recent years, not least the exit from Covid, the supply chain inflationary crisis and the spiral that followed that, the invasion of Ukraine by Russia and the energy that followed that, the tariff situation relating to the United States and the war in the Middle East between the United States and Iran, which led to the largest ever supply shock in terms of fuel and to consequential increases in fuel prices.  In the first instance, budget 2026 provided a lot of significant supports. First, we had the increase in the core rates. We also had the significant increases in child support payments, which helped families that have children and that are on the lowest incomes. Record allocations were made in respect of those payments, including, for example to the fuel allowance. What was done meant that a lone-parent family with one child saw an increase of nearly 9% or \u20ac1,800 in payments from the Department as a result of our budgetary decisions. A two-adult household received increases in payments of up to \u20ac2,300 as a result of those decisions. Other measures we took include free hot school meals and free schoolbooks in primary schools. We took a lot of charges out of the health service to facilitate families in particular. These measures were all with a view to helping families deal with the crisis. We reduced VAT and have kept the VAT on electricity charges down to 9%. That will continue out to 2030.  Deputy McDonald said we did nothing. We introduced a special package of between \u20ac755 million and \u20ac771 million at that stage in order to alleviate the pressures on people and on the transport and food production sectors. We took 32 cent off the price of diesel, 27 cent off petrol and 7.4% off marked gas oil. We also deferred the carbon tax increases until 14 October.  These are substantial measures. We have now taken a decision to extend those and to reduce them on a graduated basis. The cost of that will be about \u20ac255 million, so we are looking now at an intervention, above and beyond what was in the budget, of close to \u20ac1 billion. That is not doing nothing. That is a significant intervention by any yardstick \u2013 probably one of the highest across the European Union. We want to introduce further measures in the forthcoming budget that will alleviate the pressures on families and on workers, particularly in terms of the tax burden on them. We also want to support pensioners, carers and those with disabilities. We want to use our resources in a focused and targeted way in the budget, which we will do. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  It is not enough simply to agree that households are under incredible pressure. Far from intervening to assist people with their energy bills, the Government took away the very thing that was a support to households when it removed energy credits.  Rather than intervening to assist, it intervened and made things worse. It has failed to rein in the energy companies that are turning huge profits. People work very hard and will pay their way, and everybody realises that this has to happen, but they are simply fed up with being constantly ripped off. They ask themselves why everything here is so much more expensive and why this is the case. Why is it that Irish households and families consistently have to pay more for their energy? I am putting the question to the Taoiseach today that more than 1 million households will be asking themselves tomorrow when they face yet another hike in their electricity and gas prices and bills. They will ask what the Government is doing to put a stop to the gallop of the energy companies. What is the Government doing to step in and assist these households as they struggle, as the Taoiseach has acknowledged? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The energy companies were quite quick to put up the prices at the time of the issues in the commodity markets arising from the war between the US and Iran. We will have to see comparable decreases as commodity prices reduce and as this feeds into the Irish market. We have had significant reduction in terms of energy prices but they need to go much further than they have. We have nominally the highest EU electricity prices and about the fifth highest when adjusted for affordability. We have a heavy gas dependency. This is a significant factor in the pricing of our energy. We have grid isolation and small market scales. The fundamental problem we have is an over-reliance on fossil fuels, and on gas as our source, and we need to move more decisively to renewables. Through the warmer home schemes and retrofitting schemes, we are empowering people to deal more effectively on a long-term basis with the costs. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  Carmel Cantwell's brother William died in Bessborough mother and baby home. Speaking at a vigil on Sunday she said, \"The land itself holds the truth. These buildings, these fields hold stories and secrets and the remains of our family members\". That truth now lies buried. If planning permission is granted next week, this Government has a big decision to make: do its State apologies mean anything or are they just performance?  Until this point, every time I have raised it with the Taoiseach, the current Minister and the former Minister, they have all said the same thing, which is that an investigation of the site would be too big and too expensive. For one, is anything too big when we are talking about the gravity of 829 disappeared babies? Leaving that aside for the moment, no one is asking the Government to go in tomorrow and excavate the entire site at Bessborough. Before that there would need to be geophysical surveys, test excavations and soil samples. The commission of investigation did not do any of that. It did not properly investigate the site. Even leaving that aside, the first thing the Government has to do is CPO land. This was unanimously agreed by Cork City Council and it is the number one ask of survivors for the State to protect the site and to give survivors breathing space and time to discuss what should happen next, without the looming pressure of diggers rolling into the site.  Another argument the Taoiseach puts forward whenever I raise Bessborough is that he cannot intervene in the planning process. Everyone understands and agrees that in normal circumstances the Government should not intervene but does the Taoiseach think these circumstances are normal? A total of 923 children died at Bessborough between 1922 and 1998 when it finally closed, and 1998 is not that long ago. This is the Taoiseach's constituency and he was on the local authority at that time. Burial records exist for only 64 of these children, meaning 829 children are disappeared, presumed dead, but nobody knows. These are not normal circumstances.  Under the European Convention on Human Rights, ECHR, the State has a legal obligation to protect this site for proper forensic investigation and to deliver truth and justice for survivors. The only way to do that is through compulsorily purchasing the land. What survivors want to know is what this Government is going to do if the planning decision is upheld. Is it going to do nothing? Will it sit back while survivors chain themselves to the gates, or is the Government going to do what it should have done a long time ago, which is the bare minimum of compulsorily purchasing the land? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  First of all, the pain felt by survivors and families connected to Bessborough is profound. It is enduring. Neither I nor the rest of the Government has ever minimised that reality. I would argue that the last Government did more on these issues than any previous Government for a long time. It was not just about performance. I think it is unfair of the Deputy to put that insinuation across in the manner that she has, given the profundity and deep sadness of this issue. The most fundamental pursuit for quite a number of years was unhindered access to all birth records. That was the most significant issue over two decades, and various arguments were used around the constitutional this and that. The last Government and the Attorney General advised that there should be no hindrance to access to information. That has happened and it has been very comprehensive. This is not, therefore, some empty gesture or performance, as the Deputy suggested it was. No one has a monopoly on compassion or concern about this issue.  Equally, I would say that the redress scheme - people could argue its merits or demerits - has been a significant one. About 7,000 people have applied to date. My understanding is that up to 6,000-plus have had positive outcomes so far and the rest are being produced. This is along with many other initiatives undertaken by the last Government, and the former Minister, Roderic O\u2019Gorman, in particular as the Minister responsible at the time for that issue.  The legal position and the law as we currently have them, as the Deputy probably knows, prevent further intervention on the site due to the absence of evidence on burial locations. Robust safeguards are in place and the Government remains fully committed to survivor engagement, memorialisation and accountability. We still do not know where the children who died are buried, including at Bessborough. As the Deputy said, the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes examined the Bessborough site extensively, including using cartographic and archival research, site surveys and public appeals for information. The commission concluded that, while it was likely some children were buried on the grounds, it found no physical or documentary evidence locating burial sites.  There have been different calls at different times, and there is not unanimity on this among survivors in terms of how the site should be treated or protected. It is a large site of approximately 60 acres at the moment. It was previously over 200 acres, so it has already been partially developed over the decades. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank the Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Excavation without evidence of location at the moment is not lawful nor feasible. I will come back in again. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  Can the Taoiseach imagine what it must feel like to not know if your baby, your sibling or your niece or nephew is buried at the site in Bessborough or, potentially, was sold abroad? Like Carmel Cantwell said at the weekend, the truth lies in the grounds. We are talking about some of the worst human rights violations and some of the worst crimes imaginable. We are talking about forced family separation. We are talking about disappeared infants. We are talking about human trafficking. We are then talking about the potential. Can the Taoiseach imagine apartments being built on top of that uninvestigated, potential mass grave of disappeared babies? It is unbelievable.  I asked the Taoiseach if the Government would compulsorily purchase the land, and he stood up and simply did not answer the question. He spoke around the issue for the entire reply, talked about how great the Government's scheme was, which excluded people who spent less than six months in an institution, and talked about the size of the site again. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  Is there a site that is too big to warrant----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  -----the investigation of the disappearance of over 800 babies? "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Deputies: Hear, hear."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  In my view, the local authority should have purchased the site compulsorily a number of years ago. It chose not to. Governments, by definition, do not just go in and purchase sites compulsorily. There are issues regarding how to how to protect and treat sites, without necessarily having to purchase it compulsorily.  The history is a bit more complex than was articulated by the Deputy. It is much more so. It is not so simple. I will not say any more than that. I will put it this way to the Deputy: even within the context of the laws that have been passed and in terms of the planning application, she has not specified to me how the Government should intervene with An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la. She must know the law, just like everybody else. It is a great thing to say----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  I said the Government should purchase land compulsorily. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Is it not a wonderful thing to say that we should interfere with An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la? Just intervene. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  No, I do not find it a wonderful thing to say. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Please, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Sorry, but it is a very simple thing to say we should intervene in the planning process----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The time is up. I thank the Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----without any consequence, without even a question of----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  We now move to Deputy Ivana Bacik. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Government will await the outcome of the planning appeal next week, and then we will see how to respond to that decision by An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  For most children across the country, this is the first week of the summer holidays, an exciting and positive time. For hundreds of families, however, this is the first week of a final countdown they have long been dreading because, as of this week, far too many children with special educational needs are still officially without school places for this coming September. What a disgrace in a republic that claims to value education.  In desperation, many parents have been forced to go public about their children's situations. One such parent is Labour Councillor Alison Field, who is in the Gallery today. On her Instagram account, one will find posts about her work providing support for people in her Dublin community every day. As of last night, one will also see posts about her work in her new role as Deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin city. I congratulate her, and I hope the Taoiseach will join me in congratulating her and, indeed, his own party colleague, the new Lord Mayor of Dublin, Daryl Barron.  There is another running theme to Ali's social media posts. She has had to use her profile to highlight the ongoing failure of the State to provide her son James with a school place. Recently, James received rejections from two more schools. That brings the family's grand total up to 18. James, a vulnerable child, has been rejected 18 times, refused care and refused an education. In Ali's words, he has been on the Department's books since he was five. He is 12 now. The Department of education has had seven years to provide him with a secondary school place and to plan for this. Now, with mere weeks to go, his mother has again had to resort to social media to plead for answers. The family is banking on one last school, hoping for what Ali describes as a miracle.  Families like Ali's should not need a miracle. What they are asking for is something that most children can take for granted. In a wealthy country in the 21st century, an education should be a given, but so many children have been abandoned by the State. I refer to children like six-year-old Kristian Walsh, who is autistic and non-verbal, and for whom this September will mark his third year without a primary school place. His mother says that most of her days are now spent fighting for a basic right that every child should enjoy.  The Minister, Hildegarde Naughton, and the Taoiseach have repeatedly assured parents that every child will have a place. Is that true, though? Parents have heard these promises before. Many have had to become experts in advocacy and public policy because all they are getting are delays, confusion and copy-and-paste refusal letters. Many now say that they have no hope left. What can the Taoiseach say to someone who has lost the hope of providing their child with an education? When he knows there has been a shortage of places and that demand is rising, why are parents and children now entering the summer holidays without any certainty?  Now that schools are closing for the summer, how many children are still without a school place for next year and when is the Government going to treat this as a national emergency? For many parents like Ali and many children like James, this is a personal emergency. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The scale of demand for special education places and our response to it over the past six years have been exceptional. I think that balance and perspective are required here. Thousands of children are being provided for every year and additional places are being found.  The Deputy knows herself that when the portal was opened earlier last year, which was a good thing, the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, received applications from about 7,860 children for special placements.  That was more than twice the number who did so ahead of the current school year. Let us acknowledge that. Of those 7,860, 6,000, or 75%, were already enrolled in a school but were seeking special provision in addition to the placement in a given school.  Every child who requires a special school placement and who has notified the NCSE will have a place in September. That is the target. We have already announced 580 new special classes - 378 at primary level and 202 at post-primary - that will open this September. In addition, there are 60 new inclusive special classes, with the latest tranche of five additional classes announced yesterday by the Minister of State, Michael Moynihan. The number of primary special classes has grown by 99%, from approximately 1,319 to 2,629 today. Post-primary special classes have grown by 115%. That is from 517 to 1,122 over the past five years. The number of special needs assistants, SNAs, has increased by 45%. We will have more than 26,000 SNAs working in schools by the end of the year. There will be almost 22,500 special education teachers in place by year end. Sixteen new special schools have opened in the last number of years. Four more were recently announced in Balbriggan, Citywest, Bray and Monasterevin. Special school enrolments are up by 20%. Over 40% of special schools have benefited from new or upgraded buildings. Clearly, the Minister, Hildegarde Naughton, and the Minister of State, Michael Moynihan, and the Ministers and Ministers of State before them have been very active on the issue. We have more to do.  I fully accept the anxiety, stress and trauma that a family, and parents in particular, can experience when they are finding it extremely difficult to get a school place. We have put in place provisions for the NCSE to be more proactive and act as advocates for children in securing an appropriate and suitable place for the child.  Changes occurred prior to this school year. Some 6,000 additional students who were already in school have sought special accommodation. It is fair to say that the Department has been stretched but has moved at pace to provide the additional places, teachers and SNAs to meet the need that was out there. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  We certainly acknowledge that places have been found for many children. Of course that is welcome, but it should not be remarkable or something to boast about. There are still children, parents and families left waiting and left without certainty. I welcome the Taoiseach's commitment - I think he did give a commitment - that every child who needs a school place will have one this year, but parents are losing hope that the Government will fulfil these promises because they have heard this before and there is still no certainty.  After February's debacle, when the NCSE told 200 schools that they would lose SNAs, we thought there might be progress and certainty for special education. We have been here every year. Every year, we have heard from parents that their children, such as Kristian and James, are being left without a place. They and their families are paying a terrible price for this failure. We know that, for every period of time that a child is left without a place, it impacts negatively on their development.  The Government already found hundreds of millions of euro for special education this year. Indeed, it had to bail out the Department of education earlier this year. Parents were told the resources would be there but we still do not know how many children, such as James and Kristian, are left without places. Can the Taoiseach guarantee those places will be available this September? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  There are about 30,000 students now who are supported across special schools and special classes. The Deputy is correct that we allocated an additional \u20ac646 million to education. That is helping in terms of special education provision. Opening the portal early last year led to far more applications than perhaps was anticipated by the Department. The number of applications almost doubled, even though last year we delivered approximately 2,700 new special education places and well over 450 - close to 500 - special classes. This is growing exponentially. The bigger question for all of us in the D\u00e1il and so on is how this evolves over time.  More critical analysis and evaluation is required. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  There are 26,000 SNAs. The number has increased dramatically over the last five to six years. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Taoiseach. Time is up. Deputy Boyd Barrett. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Provision is being provided and resources are being allocated. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  As the Taoiseach knows, Ireland will take over the EU Presidency for six months as of tomorrow and the Taoiseach will host a launch event in Dublin Castle to commence the six months of the Irish EU Presidency. I will be joining a demonstration outside Dublin Castle with anti-war and peace groups, pro-neutrality groups and Palestine solidarity groups, because they and I are concerned that, rather than using the position of the EU Presidency to defend our tradition of neutrality and reflect the views of the majority of Irish people, who want to protect that tradition of neutrality, the Government will cave in to the agenda of Ursula von der Leyen and the European Union to ramp up in an enormous way the militarisation of Europe and the arms industry in Europe, and that it will do this at a time when the European Union is deeply complicit in the horrific genocide Israel is committing against the Palestinian people.  The background to that is a policy document of the EU titled, tellingly, ReArm Europe Plan, which was published in the middle of last year - ReArm Europe. I am sure the Taoiseach is familiar with it, and if he were not that, would be a serious abdication of his responsibilities. It is a document which proposes to dramatically increase arms expenditure in Europe - about double it - from approximately \u20ac400 billion per year to \u20ac800 billion per year. This is money that could be spent on addressing the cost-of-living crisis, the housing crisis, health and education, but Europe is proposing to double arms expenditure. This is at the same time that Europe is exporting about \u20ac800 billion worth of arms and military components to Israel while it commits a genocide against the Palestinian people. My fear is that the Government will use this as a propaganda jamboree to justify what we know it has committed to, which is getting rid of the Irish triple lock, removing obstacles to the deployment of Irish troops where there is no UN mandate, while Europe is pushing for greater militarisation----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  -----greater spending on weapons and arming a genocide in Gaza. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Will the Government stand up for neutrality? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach will respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Will it oppose the EU militarisation agenda and complicity with genocide or will it cave in to that agenda? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Ireland will assume the Presidency of the European Union. The three fundamental pillars of our Presidency will be competitiveness, values and security.  On competitiveness, we are looking for a capital markets union. We will try to advance that agenda to enable Irish small- and medium-sized companies to get access to a far greater degree of venture capital in Europe. We hope we can establish - Commissioner Michael McGrath is pursuing this - the 28th regime or European Inc., which would basically mean that SMEs would be established on a pan-European basis from day one. We want to deepen the Single Market because Irish workers and people have benefited from it. We also want to simplify regulation to enable economic growth across the European Union.  The European Union has been transformative for Ireland since we voted to join in 1972 and joined in 1973. It has been a transformative experience economically for Ireland and, among most populations across Europe, Ireland has enjoyed probably the highest pro-European Union sentiment on a consistent basis over the years.  Many on the left have opposed the European Union and every treaty to do with it. That is their right and entitlement, but Europe is a far broader story than the one the Deputy painted.  Fundamentally, we will be endeavouring to see if we can help the agenda of making Europe more competitive on the industrial front and technology front to create jobs for people and to protect the jobs Irish people already have. Many of our companies export to the European market. We export a lot of food to the European market. We export a lot of medical devices to the European market. We export a lot of pharmaceuticals to the European market. They are real jobs. Real Irish people depend on those jobs and depend on that market. The Deputy ignores all that and he has consistently ignored it in the context of the European agenda.  Let us come to what he claims is rearming and militarisation. What is happening? What happened in the past five years? Can the Deputy recall? Ukraine was invaded, violently, by Russia and without any provocation. It was a total violation of the UN Charter. What has that created across the eastern flank? How does the Deputy think Finland, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland and Estonia feel? They do not have the geographic isolation we have here; we are far removed. They have a far greater existential fear of Russia than the Deputy or I have, even though we should be concerned in terms of technology and cybersecurity as well as subsea cable and gas connector sabotage. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The world has become much more complex but the Deputy ignores that all the time. There are parts of Europe that feel under existential threat. They do not believe the US will be there for them----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----when the time comes and therefore they are----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you. Deputy Boyd Barrett to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----enhancing their military expenditure and defence expenditure. It is because of what happened in terms of Russia's behaviour. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  I spent much of last night conversing with a young man from Ukraine who fled here because he did not want to be conscripted into the disastrous Ukrainian-Russian war and is fearful he is going to be sent back there because Zelenskyy is asking that people of his age now be sent back to fight on a front line where tens of thousands are being slaughtered. That disastrous war was, of course, started by Putin but young men like him do not want to fight in it.  The Taoiseach did not refer to the document I mentioned. It states \"The moment has come for Europe to re-arm. ... [we need] a massive increase in European defence spending ...\" That is what is being urged by Ursula von der Leyen and the EU at the moment, namely, to double arms expenditure from about \u20ac400 billion to \u20ac800 billion at the same time as Europe is exporting about \u20ac800 billion in arms to Israel to commit genocide. We are a neutral country. That is about opposing militarism, war and so on. Is the Taoiseach going to speak up against that? Is he going----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  -----to oppose the militarisation agenda----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  -----oppose the shameful complicity with the genocide----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy. The Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  -----and do an about-turn on the question of the triple lock----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach to respond now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  -----which is about dismantling our neutrality? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Taoiseach, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  First of all, we will uphold Irish military neutrality. There is no issue with Irish military neutrality. There has been no attempt to undermine Irish military neutrality by Europe or by anybody else, for that matter, and the Deputy should stop scaremongering in respect of it. We are not joining NATO anytime soon. We are not militarily aligned and we have no intention of joining any military group or bloc. That is Irish military neutrality. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  That is all it is. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Sorry? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  No. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  That is all it is for you. As long as we are not in NATO we are neutral. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I am sorry but you do not get to define it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  And you do not get to interrupt. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  You do not get to define it. If you had your way you would not have an army at all. You said that to me one day here during question time when I asked you straight out if you believed we should have a military at all. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  I did not. Check the record. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  A bit of respect, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Okay. I am glad you maybe accept we might need some sort of military or defence capability. In any event, there is not unanimity across Europe - there is disagreement on Palestine - but Europe remains the biggest donor to Palestine globally. It is the biggest donor to Palestinians in terms of----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----supporting Palestinians across the board from the PA to the ordinary Palestinians in terms of the vital essential services they require. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Before I move to the Order of Business, I welcome Tina and Killane Shine from Cork who are in the Gallery with Deputy Collins. Everybody I met today was from Cork and you are all very welcome. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  We are the best county, a Cheann Comhairle. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-30\/debate\/dbsect_3","debateType":"orderofBusiness","bill":null,"showAs":"An tOrd Gn\u00f3 - Order of Business","counts":{"speechCount":67,"speakerCount":24},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brendan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","memberCode":"Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Daniel Ennis","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Daniel-Ennis.D.2026-05-25","memberCode":"Daniel-Ennis.D.2026-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Cahill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ann Graves","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Mary Butler)  I move:  Tuesday's business shall be:  - Supplementary Estimates for Public Services [Votes 30 and 31] (back from Committee) (without debate, to moved together and decided by one question and any division claimed to be taken immediately)  - Motion re Thirteenth Report of the Standing Committee of Selection (without debate and any division claimed to be taken immediately)  - Motion re Restoration of Seller\u2019s Legal Pack for Property Buyers Bill 2021 (without debate)  - Development (Strategic Gas Reserve) Bill 2026 (Committee and remaining Stages) (to conclude within 2 hours)  - Dublin Airport (Passenger Capacity) Bill 2026 (Committee and remaining Stages) (to conclude within 2 hours)  - Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Bill 2026 (Committee and remaining Stages) (to conclude within 2 hours)  Tuesday's private members' business shall be the Motion re Childcare, selected by Sinn F\u00e9in.  Wednesday's business shall be:  - Statements on Ireland's EU Presidency (not to exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes)  Wednesday's private members' business shall be the Motion re Cost of Living, selected by the Independent Technical Group.  Thursday's business shall be:  - Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2026 (Second Stage) (to conclude after the first round, not to exceed 3 hours and 34 minutes and any division claimed to be taken immediately prior to Committee Stage)  Thursday evening business shall be the Second Stage of the Animal Health and Welfare (Ban on Hare Coursing) Bill 2020, sponsored by Deputy Paul Murphy.  Proposed Arrangements for this week\u2019s business:  In relation to Tuesday\u2019s business, it is proposed that:  1. notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders:  (a) the time allotted for Government Business shall be extended in accordance with the arrangements for that business, and the D\u00e1il may sit later than 10.48 p.m.;  (b) the Order of the D\u00e1il of 23rd June 2026 referring the Dublin Airport (Passenger Capacity) Bill 2026 to the Select Committee on Transport is hereby discharged and Third Stage of the Bill shall be taken in Committee of the whole D\u00e1il;  (c) private members\u2019 business shall be taken on the conclusion of proceedings of the Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Bill 2026;  (d) Questions to the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration pursuant to Standing Order 47(1) shall not be taken, and shall instead be taken on Wednesday, 1st July, 2026, without any change to the allocation of priority Questions to the Minister and not otherwise affecting the current sequence of Ministers or the rota for priority Questions as ordered by the House; and  (e) topical issues pursuant to Standing Order 39 shall not be taken, and shall instead be taken on Wednesday, 1st July, 2026, and the D\u00e1il shall adjourn on the conclusion of private members\u2019 business;  2. the following arrangements shall apply to the Motions for Supplementary Estimates for Public Services [Votes 30 and 31]:  (a) the motions shall be moved and decided together by one question;  (b) the proceedings thereon shall be taken without debate; and  (c) any division claimed thereon shall be taken immediately;  3. the proceedings on the Motion re Thirteenth Report of the Standing Committee of Selection shall be taken without debate and any division claimed thereon shall be taken immediately;  4. the proceedings on the Motion re Restoration of Seller\u2019s Legal Pack for Property Buyers Bill 2021 shall be taken without debate;  5. the proceedings on Committee and remaining Stages of the Development (Strategic Gas Reserve) Bill 2026 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 2 hours by one question, which shall be put from the Chair, and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment;  6. the proceedings on Committee and remaining Stages of the Dublin Airport (Passenger Capacity) Bill 2026 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 2 hours by one question, which shall be put from the Chair, and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Transport; and  7. the proceedings on Committee and remaining Stages of the Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Bill 2026 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 2 hours by one question, which shall be put from the Chair, and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment.   In relation to Wednesday's business, it is proposed that:  1. notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders:  (a) the D\u00e1il may sit later than 9.30 p.m. and shall adjourn on conclusion of Parliamentary Questions to the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration;  (b) Leaders Questions and Other Members\u2019 Questions pursuant to Standing Orders 38 and 38A shall not be taken;  (c) there shall be no Questions on Policy or Legislation pursuant to Standing Order 36;  (d) on conclusion of private members business, the sitting shall stand suspended until 5.30 p.m. whereupon business shall resume with Topical Issues pursuant to Standing Order 39;  (e) Parliamentary Questions to the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration shall be taken for 96.5 minutes on the conclusion of Statements on Ireland\u2019s EU Presidency; and  (f) there shall be no weekly division time pursuant to Standing Order 34; and  2. the Statements on Ireland's EU Presidency shall not exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply:  (a) the statements, not including the Ministerial response, shall be in accordance with the sequence contained in the table immediately below (to be read across);  (b) following the statements, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes; and  (c) members may share time.          Gov      SF      SD      Gov      SF       Mins    25    15    10    10    3           Lab      Gov      SF      IPTG      Gov       Mins    10    10    3    9    10           SF      ITG      Gov      SF      OM       Mins    3    9    10    3    5                           Total: 2 hours 15 mins       In relation to Thursday's business, it is proposed that:  1. notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, topical issues may be taken earlier than 7.24 p.m. with consequential effect on the commencement time for Second Stage of the Animal Health and Welfare (Ban on Hare Coursing) Bill 2020, and on the time for the adjournment of the D\u00e1il; and  2. the proceedings on the Second Stage of the Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2026 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at the end of the first speaking round and the following arrangements shall apply:  (a) the first-round speeches, not including the Ministerial response, shall be in accordance with the table below (to be read across);  (b) on conclusion of the first speaking round, or where speeches conclude before the 3 hours and 24 minutes have elapsed and no other member is offering, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a speech in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes, whereupon proceedings shall be brought to a conclusion; Provided that any division claimed on the Second Stage proceedings shall be taken immediately prior to Committee Stage; and  (c) members may share time.          Gov      SF      SD      Gov      SF       Mins    20    20    20    12    4           Lab      Gov      SF      IPTG      Gov       Mins    20    12    4    20    12           SF      ITG      Gov      SF      OM       Mins    4    20    12    4    20                           Total: 3 hours 24 mins      "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Are the proposed arrangements for the week's business agreed to? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  They are not agreed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call Deputy Doherty. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  The Government, in response to the outrage in relation to the cost of excise on petrol and diesel has decided to kick the can down the road.  In doing that, it has made the decision that before the end of the year, it will increase the price of diesel by 34 cent. Everybody knows what they have been paying at the pumps. This will push the price of diesel well above \u20ac2. It is simply unacceptable at a time when so many people are feeling the pinch. This cannot go ahead. I ask that there is a full debate in relation to this and that Government sees sense and recognises the pressures people are under at the pumps at this point. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  In today's Irish Independent we read of the devastating number of women, 1,872, who fled abuse and tried to get a refuse space but could not. The Istanbul Convention states that we should have 500 refuge spaces but we only have 172. Safe Ireland's report outlines that we do not have enough to support women who are fleeing. When a woman has made up her mind to flee abuse, it is the most dangerous time. We need to do more. We need an urgent debate in this House about this topic. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  We have an epidemic of male violence against women in this country. Nearly 1,900 women were turned away from domestic violence refuges in the final six months of last year. The Government is failing these women. We need the Minister to come in and take questions on this issue this week. Women fleeing domestic violence need support and they need safe refuge. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  Two Bills are being guillotined this evening, the airport cap Bill and the liquefied natural gas, LNG, Bill, each of which will have major impacts on our climate targets. Not only are they being guillotined, but Committee Stage and Report Stage of each are being run together so the two Bills can be rushed through this House. There are 58 detailed amendments across the two Bills that will not get proper consideration because of this process. I ask the Chief Whip to please withdraw the use of the guillotine and allow these two Bills to get the consideration they deserve. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  We need time for a debate on the mandatory retirement age for retained firefighters, who are currently required to retire at 62 despite meeting the same training and medical fitness standards as full-time firefighters. Given that full-time firefighters and other emergency services personnel can now serve until 65, there is a strong case for reviewing this anomaly and bringing the retirement age for retained firefighters into line with their full-time colleagues. I call on the Minister to come before the D\u00e1il to discuss this issue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Chief Whip to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  I have noted all the comments made. We have a really busy schedule to get through this week. We have a lot of legislation, so the Order of Business stands. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Are the proposed arrangements agreed to? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Not agreed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Almost 1,900 women were turned away from domestic violence services in the last six months of last year because there was simply nowhere safe for them to go. Almost 1,900 women found the courage to escape abuse only to be told that there was no safe refuge, no home, and no place of safety for them or for their children. SAFE Ireland now says that the housing crisis is the single biggest barrier preventing women and children from escaping abuse. That is an extraordinary indictment of the Taoiseach's Government. What positive action will the Taoiseach now take to guarantee women fleeing domestic violence immediate access to refuge and safe accommodation? How will the Taoiseach ensure that no woman seeking safely is ever again turned away because the State has failed to provide for her and her children? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Government is very conscious of this issue. We are accelerating the delivery of safe accommodation and significantly strengthening capacity nationwide. There are currently about 241 safe accommodation places, with 181 domestic violence refuge units and 60 safe home units. At the end of the year, it is envisaged that there will be 193 domestic violence refuge units completed and 94 safe homes, bringing total safe accommodation to 287. There is a further 50 refuge units under construction. We have allocated resources. It is now an issue of the timelines to getting these buildings constructed and completed. We will continue with this over the next number of months and years. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  Tomorrow, in the Taoiseach's home city of Cork, every single solicitor is removing themselves from the legal aid scheme. Imagine that. It is not just Cork. It is Dublin and all over the country. Thousands of cases have had to be adjourned, undoubtedly leaving so many victims of crime awaiting justice. This flat fee proposal that has been brought in is causing chaos. Solicitors have rightfully said that there has been a level of consultation. The analysis which the Department released is deeply flawed and that will be discussed in the justice committee shortly. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"We now need a more mature approach to this fundamental principle of legal representation and the cost of it. We cannot continue with this chaos that we have seen over the past week."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Again, I think that should not happen tomorrow. I do not believe people should withdraw their services and I do not think it is the correct or appropriate action. Department officials have been engaging sensitively with the relevant stakeholders and the Law Society. That includes legal professionals and their representative bodies on the proposed changes. That discussion has been ongoing for quite some time. There is no reduction in resources. If anything, the resources have increased significantly. Discussions are ongoing within the Department and so forth. Again, there is a need for reform. I am sure the Deputy would accept that. That should not affect the ability of legal professionals to engage in criminal legal aid work. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  In 2019, I started working with the INTO to address the issue of the impact of early pregnancy loss and fertility challenges on their women members who told me about their experience of having to come into work after losing a pregnancy before 22 weeks or after going through rounds of IVF and not being able to take time off work. After hearing their stories, I drafted a Bill to provide for 20 days paid leave for early pregnancy loss, up to ten days of leave for reproductive healthcare - leave when it matters most. Our Bill passed all Stages in the Seanad. It was delayed by the Government in the D\u00e1il, pending a report from UCC. Only now is our Bill going to an Oireachtas committee. At the weekend, the Government announced it will move on proposal for reproductive health leave but it will only be providing five days for women suffering the loss of a pregnancy early in term. The Taoiseach delayed further debate on the Labour Party Bill on the basis that the report from UCC would provide important information in drafting amendments. We want to see this Bill become law. The many women and couples who contacted me about this want to see reproductive health leave brought into effect. Will the Taoiseach say when that will be? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  First, the Government in good faith, in terms of the Deputy's legislation, proposed a timed amendment to do further work. The Minister, Deputy Burke, and his officials have been developing a policy to provide pregnancy loss leave to women in the workplace, particularly women who have suffered a pregnancy loss before 23 weeks. The Minister met with the Oireachtas cross-party group on pregnancy loss in January. He will have heads of a Bill before the summer recess. Obviously, that will have to go to pre-legislative scrutiny in the Oireachtas. The draft heads of Bill are more or less ready. They were submitted to the Attorney General's office. He continues to work with the officials and across government on these proposals. He hopes to bring them to the Government before the summer recess. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  The waiting times for driving tests in Laois for a lot of applicants are not improving. A local woman sought a driving test back on 21 May. She had to seek an invitation. She was told that it would take ten weeks to get onto the waiting list, which would be the end of July. That has now been extended to the end of August, which is 14 weeks. She applied for the waiting time. According to the RSA website this morning, there is another 11.5 weeks on average to wait. That brings it to a total of 25 weeks, if the two periods are counted. The two stages from requesting a test to getting a test is misleading. I am asking the Taoiseach to do two things. This long wait is creating a difficulty, particularly for workers in rural areas like Rathdowney, Clonaslee, Vicarstown, The Swan, Ballinakill, Borris-in-Ossory and all those areas. It also means higher insurance costs. I am asking the Taoiseach, along with the Minister for Transport, to do something about these waiting times, to shorten them and to scrap the two-stage process. It is a misleading process. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I will talk to the Minister for Transport and the Road Safety Authority in respect of this. I cannot operationally run the Road Safety Authority. There had been some progress in terms of reducing----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  It is a misleading process. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  ----- the timelines. I will talk to the Minister and ask him to engage with the Road Safety Authority to continue to work on getting waiting times for driving tests down. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  At present, there are 14,621 garda\u00ed.  There are 621 in training at the moment. The problem is that 180 are resigning outside of retirements. Why does the Taoiseach think this is a problem? It is recurring. We have that amount in training but 180 are resigning every year. That trend has been there over the last two years. Why does the Taoiseach think that is? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Sorry, about 14,500? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  Yes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  There will always be people who will leave a job or occupation. I think there would have to be a survey done of the 189 specifically to ascertain why they decided to leave An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. The good news is we are oversubscribed in terms of applications and there are very healthy numbers going into Templemore on a regular basis now to qualify to become a member of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. Those coming out of Templemore are then being allocated in fairly sizable numbers. It began with Dublin two years ago. Cork secured a good few, and also Limerick and across the country. Over time, I think there will be a significant increase because of the resources we put behind recruitment to An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. Equally, on retention, we increased the retirement age significantly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  Young garda\u00ed----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That is a matter that the Garda should evaluate and do a survey to see whether there are underlying reasons. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brendan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","memberCode":"Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brendan Smith  I raise again the urgent need for improved services for children with additional needs in Cavan and Monaghan. Specifically, I wish to refer today to the need to provide after-school services, including summer camps and Saturday clubs, in County Cavan for children with additional needs.  Enable Ireland is the children\u2019s disability network team, CDNT, in County Cavan. Due to staff shortages, it has been under extreme pressure to deliver the services it wants to provide for children with disabilities. I understand from parents that there is a proposal from Cavan CDNT with the HSE or the Department to establish after-school services in County Cavan. Parents also believe that there is the relevant expertise and capacity locally to provide these essential services. This proposal must be progressed and approved without further delay. Parents with children attending such a service in County Monaghan speak in glowing terms of the importance and value of the supports provided in that centre for the progressive development of their children. These supports are vital over the summer months and at other times for the overall development of children with autism and complex needs. That includes their education, communication and daily living skills. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank Deputy Smith for raising this matter. I want to acknowledge his strong commitment to ensuring that children and their families in Cavan who need early intervention and therapy services can access that support in a timely way. My understanding is that there is no after-school school support provided by Cavan CDNT, but Enable Ireland apparently advises that it is planning on putting in an application to provide after-school and respite. I need to get underneath the bonnet of that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brendan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","memberCode":"Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brendan Smith  Enable Ireland is the CDNT. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  No, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  In any event, it says here that it is planning to put in an application. I will follow up with the Minister and see if we can get to the bottom of that in terms of getting it progressed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Miche\u00e1l Carrigy  I want to raise a query on behalf of a constituent about sarcoidosis, a disease that affects the lungs, heart and nervous system. We have one of the highest rates of it in the world in Ireland, even higher than cystic fibrosis, but it is not very well known. It is not on the long-term illness list. Not everybody suffers from it long term, but some do. There are extremely high costs associated with it for those who will have it for the rest of their lives. I would ask that the system and the long-term illness specification be looked at and that it be considered that those who suffer in the long term benefit from the long-term illness scheme. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The long-term illness scheme is under review at the moment. It has not been added to for a long time because other provision has overtaken the practice of having the long-term illness scheme. The condition that the Deputy raised has very severe and profound impacts on patients. We have taken a variety of other measures to alleviate the cost of medication, for example, long-term medication, for people and so forth. I will alert the Minister for Health that the Deputy has raised the issue and ask her to engage with him on that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  I have been trying to find out for some time the number of members of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na who have criminal convictions. I cannot get anywhere with the Minister or the Garda Commissioner. The latest response I got was that this information was not held centrally and would require a disproportionate amount of time and resources to address. Does the Taoiseach think that is acceptable? I think it is absolutely shocking. The public expects garda\u00ed to undergo rigorous vetting. Will the Taoiseach tell me if the law currently provides sufficient powers to dismiss Garda members convicted of criminal offences? If not, will the Government introduce legislation to address this gap? People will be quite shocked to hear that and to hear that the information is not available to us. That is critical information. Women who are going in to be helped by a member of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na need to be sure that that Garda member is not already convicted of a crime of domestic violence themselves. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I did not get the specific question asked, but I agree that there should be a centralised system whereby if a garda is convicted of a criminal offence, that should be collated, recorded and collected by An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na just as the Defence Forces are now devising a system to do that in respect of Defence Forces members who may have committed a criminal offence. That level of data and knowledge is required centrally and should be known centrally from a proper management perspective. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Daniel Ennis","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Daniel-Ennis.D.2026-05-25","memberCode":"Daniel-Ennis.D.2026-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Daniel Ennis  I want to share the story of the scrambler scourge that is plaguing parts of Dublin city. In particular, I share the story of Jayden, a child with additional needs who was on the way to the shop at the Five Lamps to buy bread and was knocked down by a scrambler. Not only was the incident horrible and there was a serious injury, but it was also a hit and run. However, the scrambler came back as part of a group of scramblers, and they circled the family as they were tending to Jayden on the ground. It is horrible stuff, and it shows the sheer sense of lawlessness and the failure to address the scrambler scourge on the ground. When Grace's Law was passed, it was a step forward, but without that legislation being enforced and policed on the ground, it does not matter to these lads. These lads are running amok terrorising parts of Dublin. Deputy McAuliffe spoke of Finglas, the north inner city and Cabra. You are not seeing it in Foxrock. This needs to be policed. Will the Taoiseach support our call for a dedicated policing unit to address the scrambler scourge before we see more people----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  First of all, I appreciate the Deputy raising this issue. That incident was shocking, but there are too many shocking incidents in relation to scramblers. I know that Deputy McAuliffe has been working with the Deputy and others to deal with this issue. It does need enforcement. About 1,000 scramblers have been seized over the past number of years, but we need a full-on focus on this. The law is now there. It needs enforcement on a continuous basis, whether through a unit or a proper system operated by the Garda.  This is absolutely unacceptable. These are a major threat to life in Dublin in particular. It is rampant in certain areas and needs to be targeted and dealt with. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  I hope the Taoiseach will join me in condemning the awful arson attack on the Muslim prayer hall on Talbot Street on Monday night. I will not comment on the individual circumstances because I know a man has been detained, but representatives of the Muslim community have said that this followed weeks of scaremongering and anti-Muslim targeting of the people in that prayer hall. We know that there are elements that are really whipping up fear over people from Muslim backgrounds, immigrants and so on. As Irish people have suffered racism for generations, it is important that we stand up and oppose any kind of targeting of people because of their religion, ethnic background or race. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  First of all, I understand that a person has been arrested but I cannot comment, as I do not want to prejudice the outcome of this. We just need to be careful that we do not draw conclusions that might be the wrong conclusions in respect of this specific case. There is a zero-tolerance approach to racism generally, but we have to wait and see what emerges here first before drawing the kinds of implied conclusions that the Deputy is suggesting in respect of this specific incident. We have to await the outcome of the investigation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Neville  Today, I raise the issue of personal security on greenways. We have been strong in Ireland about investing in our greenways. We have seen huge benefits and increasing use around Leixlip and Maynooth. There is also a greenway in Sallins and Kildare. I know that in Dungarvan and the rest of the country, greenways have been successful. At the same time, though, we need to make sure that they are safe for vulnerable users like women and children. They are people we should not have to be thinking about in these situations, but all too often, they feel at risk. We can put in place things like CCTV and regular entry and exit points. This is a national security framework for greenways that has not been thought of in this way. It is something we really have to consider in their design. There should be public lighting where possible. We should not necessarily have to be focusing on these issues, but at the same time there are real concerns for people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I think there has been huge expansion of greenways and huge investment by Government. It is an area I am particularly interested in myself. I think it has been transformative over the last five years. The level of investment that has taken place across the length and breadth of the country has created greater socialisation, which enhances security as well. In terms of the initial design, safety and security dimensions should be built in when greenways are being designed by the National Transport Authority, NTA, or Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII. That should be an automatic part of the designing of greenways, walkways and so forth. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Cahill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Cahill  I welcome the publication today of the draft national planning statement on rural and Gaeltacht housing, which represents the most significant reform of rural housing policy in over 20 years. As a rural TD for Kerry, I know at first hand the frustration, inconsistency and uncertainty that many families have faced when trying to build a home where they were born and raised. I was glad to engage consistently with the Taoiseach and our Fianna F\u00e1il colleagues, the Ministers, Deputies Browne and Calleary, throughout this landmark policy, ensuring that the voices of rural communities like those in Kerry were heard at every stage. I have repeatedly raised the issue of rural depopulation in this House and called for the establishment of a dedicated rural depopulation task force. Too many of our young people have felt they had no option but to leave because they could not secure planning permission in their own communities. Today, I am delighted to be in a position where I can say I have helped positively influence these landmark reforms.  Will the Taoiseach confirm the timeline for the completion of the environmental assessment and public consultation, and reassure rural families that the final national planning statement will be in place before the end of this year? How quickly does he envisage the new draft planning statement being incorporated into county development plans? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank Deputy Cahill for raising this issue. It is fair to say that he has been a persistent advocate and strong voice for rural Ireland in respect of this issue, particularly advocating for young couples and young people generally to be in a position to build houses in their localities, very often on their land. This will be of significance in helping to sustain rural communities across the western and south-western seaboards, particularly in Kerry, the area the Deputy represents. There are, of course, the Chorca Dhuibhne Gaeltacht and others, which are of significance to him. I think that the Gaeltacht provisions will facilitate one-off housing in those areas, particularly in villages and towns across south Kerry and the Kerry area more generally. This will be significant.  On the timeline, I hope that it will not take too long after the screening. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  This Friday is the closing date for objections to the disgraceful plan to demolish the historic old Cork prison site and to build two new prisons in the middle of a residential area in The Glen and surrounding areas. Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael are determined to strip away our history and destroy working class communities. They are using questionable legislation - a loophole - that means objections must be sent to Longford by post. I posted my objection last Friday and it still has not arrived. It took nearly a week for my objection on environmental grounds to arrive and by the time it had arrived, the closing date had passed.  Will the Taoiseach give a commitment to instruct the Irish Prison Service, IPS, so that any objection that arrives after the closing date of 3 July will be accepted? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  The people of The Glen have enough with one prison. They do not deserve to have three prisons on the northside of Cork city. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy's time is up. I call the Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank Deputy Gould for raising the issue. I am not clear as to why, if he posted it last Friday, it did not get there quicker, but in any event, there is a huge challenge with overcrowding at the moment. Colleagues in the Deputy's party have been raising the overcrowding issue with the Minister. The Minister is under huge pressure in terms of capacity constraints in our prisons and the resulting challenge faced by those who work in our prisons and so forth. He is endeavouring to do the very best he can in terms of providing additional spaces as quickly as he can. It is arising out of that pressure that the use is being made of that site. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  Why not a greenfield site? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  No, it does not work like that, Deputy. I thank the Taoiseach. His time is up. I call Deputy Graves. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  The Taoiseach knows The Glen well. It is in the middle of the community. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy knows that the rules are the rules. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ann Graves","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ann Graves  Ireland's largest summer festival is on this weekend in Newbridge House and Farm in Donabate. Flavours of Fingal is in its 14th year and has been very successful. Between 65,000 and 75,000 people attend over the two days. Part of its success has been down to shuttle buses that bring people to and fro. This year, however, due to cost cutting by Fingal County Council, there is to be no service, which is a real blow to businesses, vendors, etc. Thousands of extra cars on the road mean extra pollution and add to the existing traffic chaos. It clearly questions Fingal's commitment to sustainability and tackling climate change. It makes no sense whatever to have people travelling by car and paying \u20ac40 for parking----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank the Deputy. The Taoiseach will respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  First of all, I wish that everyone attending the festival enjoys it. Sixty-five thousand is a huge number. It is obviously a very successful festival. I am not familiar with the council's arrangements but the implication was that the council was providing the transport. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ann Graves","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ann Graves  It was subsidised. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Yes. That is kind of unusual, but in any event that is what happened. Maybe the council was hoping to get it off the ground and that it would then sustain itself. I am not familiar with the background as to why the council pulled back on that aspect of it but I will talk to people to see what can be done there. Normally, Governments do not support transport to festivals. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ann Graves","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ann Graves  I was hoping the Minister could help. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I will talk to the Minister and see what can be done. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  I am sure that the Taoiseach will join me in welcoming the Mayfield chit chat group, which is celebrating its second birthday in Leinster House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Its members have been very quiet. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  My ladies from Mayfield. As the Taoiseach is aware, 54% of submissions made to the European Commission from all member states regarding the EU whistleblower directive came from Ireland. That is a huge and unusual amount. We had 15 whistleblowers in Leinster House last week. A number of them outlined that they were still not happy with whistleblower law in this country. They made submissions on that to the Taoiseach.  What training is now given to the Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na? Have garda\u00ed received training? The previous Minister was not able to explain that to me in terms of the Protected Disclosures Act and the criminal offence of penalising and retaliating. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  In the aftermath of the Charleton inquiry, for example, there were significant awareness levels in relation to whistleblowing more generally. I will raise the issue with the Minister. Operationally, the Garda Commissioner and, indeed, all workplaces have responsibility for ensuring that any whistleblower who provides a disclosure in accordance with the Act is not penalised. There are very clear strictures in that regard both in the public service and in the private sector. We have fairly robust legislation in place on protected disclosures. It is efficient. That is shown by the fact that so many have engaged with the European issue. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"An tOrd Gn\u00f3 - Order of Business"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-30\/debate\/dbsect_8","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Estimates for Public Services 2026","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I move the following Supplementary Estimates:   Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Supplementary Estimate)   That a supplementary sum not exceeding \u20ac100,000,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2026, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, including certain services administered by that Office and for payment of certain grants and subsidies and for the payment of certain grants under cash-limited schemes.   Vote 31 \u2014 Transport (Supplementary Estimate)   That a supplementary sum not exceeding \u20ac120,000,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2026, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Transport, including certain services administered by that Office, for payment of certain grants and certain other services. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Votes put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Estimates for Public Services 2026"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-30\/debate\/dbsect_9","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Thirteenth Report of the Standing Committee of Selection: Motion","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  I move:  That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann, pursuant to Standing Order 33, and with effect from 1st July, 2026, approves the Thirteenth Report of the Standing Committee of Selection, copies of which were laid before D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann on 26th June, 2026. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Thirteenth Report of the Standing Committee of Selection: Motion"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-30\/debate\/dbsect_10","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2021\/150","event":{"uri":null,"houseCode":null,"stage":null,"isBillStage":false,"showAs":"Seller's Legal Pack for Property Buyers Bill 2021: Restoration to Order Paper (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Seller's Legal Pack for Property Buyers Bill 2021: Restoration to Order Paper","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_10","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  I move:  That, pursuant to Standing Order 205, the Seller's Legal Pack for Property Buyers Bill 2021, which lapsed on the dissolution of the 33rd D\u00e1il, shall be restored at Order for Committee Stage and notice shall be published pursuant to Standing Order 37, and Deputy Barry Heneghan be designated the member in charge of the Bill. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Seller's Legal Pack for Property Buyers Bill 2021: Restoration to Order Paper"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-30\/debate\/dbsect_11","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna - Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_11","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna - Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-30\/debate\/dbsect_12","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Cabinet Committees","counts":{"speechCount":21,"speakerCount":12},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-30\/debate\/dbsect_11","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_11","showAs":"Ceisteanna - Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_12","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Cahill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-30\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_12.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 20, inclusive, together.  The Cabinet committee on health last met on 30 April 2026 and is due to meet again shortly. The Cabinet committee oversees implementation of programme for Government commitments in relation to health, receives detailed reports on identified policy areas and considers health reforms, including Sl\u00e1intecare, the reform of public health and health system preparedness for future health threats. It also receives reports in relation to programme for Government commitments in the areas of mental health and drugs policy. In addition to me, it is attended by the T\u00e1naiste and Minister for Finance, the Minister for public expenditure, and the Minister for Health.  Sl\u00e1intecare 2025+, our latest Sl\u00e1intecare strategy, published in May 2025, aims to forge the way towards accessible, affordable, high-quality healthcare for the people of Ireland when they need it and where they need it. For the fourth year in a row, Ireland has the highest self-perceived health status in the EU, with 80.4% of males and 79.9% of females rating their health as good or very good. Our life expectancy is continuing to increase and is above international averages. Life expectancy in Ireland has increased by two years for males and one year for females since 2015. We are treating more people, with better outcomes than ever before. We continue to reduce mortality rates from cancer, circulatory system diseases and respiratory system diseases, and report positive trends in preventative health. Our overall mortality rate has fallen by 16.1% since 2015. The Government will continue to invest and reform, changing the way health services are delivered this year and into the future.  The Waiting Time Action Plan 2026, published on 30 January, represents the Government's continued commitment to improving access to hospital care. Since the commencement of the multi-annual action plan approach, significant progress has been made in reducing the length of time hospital patients are waiting.  The new regional structures within the HSE have been established, with six new health regions and 20 integrated healthcare areas, IHAs. Health and social care services are planned and delivered around the specific needs of local populations, leading to better co-ordination of care and access to services.  The public-only consultant contract, POCC, is central to the transition towards a more consultant-led public health service and represents a significant structural reform in the delivery of public hospital services. The POCC was introduced to strengthen clinical decision-making capacity within the public system and to improve patient access to timely care. It also aims to ensure access to treatment is based on medical need, not ability to pay, in line with the Sl\u00e1intecare vision.  I will read the rest of the reply into the record. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  One of the biggest health issues that arose in this country related to Children's Health Ireland, CHI, scoliosis and child surgery. Now we find that four out of the eight groups have withdrawn from the scoping exercise that was to draw up the terms of reference for the inquiry.  It includes the spina bifida and hydrocephalus paediatric advocacy group and many others. Another group has also reportedly left but not yet publicly. The reason for this is 12 unpublished reports to do with CHI since 2017, including the Dixon report. The groups are afraid that the issues in these reports will not be investigated by the inquiry. Parents are being asked to participate in these groups but they are not being given all of the information in order to allow them to participate. How will the inquiry function when half of the groups involved are having nothing to do with it? When will they get the information they are asking for? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Daly  Once again I want to ask about Roscommon University Hospital and the promised neurorehabilitation unit. It was promised in 2015 with an attached budget of \u20ac8 million. It was twice removed from the HSE's capital plan without any discussion and twice put back on after lobbying by me and my office. Now there is a real lack of urgency about providing those places. Neurorehabilitation looks after acquired brain injuries, stroke, traumatic Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, motor neurone disease, spinal injuries and a host of other things. There is a dearth of beds in the HSE west and north-west region and this is recognised. It is something that is needed and desired and has been promised with a budget but there seems to be lack of urgency by HSE to progress this unit. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Cahill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Cahill  I want to raise again the chronic shortage of respite for children with profound disabilities in County Kerry. Families are waiting seven or eight months for one or two nights' break and they are at breaking point. The same applies with regard to adults with profound disabilities in Kerry. The issue of respite for these individuals and their families must be of the very highest priority. There is a wonderful centre at St. Mary's of the Angels in Beaufort that should be developed into a centre of excellence for respite. There is also the excellent St. Francis Special School along with many services located there. I wish to avail of this opportunity to invite the Taoiseach to visit the centre, which is just outside Killarney. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan  I want to raise with the Taoiseach once again the issue of rare diseases. It is something on which we have made considerable progress in recent months. We had the very effective campaign run by Senator Costello and others on the reimbursement of givinostat. On foot of this, the Minister has also ordered an end-to-end review on drug reimbursement as a whole. These are very much welcome. In relation to comments made by a member of the NCPE over a week ago on RT\u00c9 radio, does the Taoiseach think is appropriate that a member of the NCPE was on the airwaves disagreeing with the Minister's direction, insofar as he admitted he was against an early access scheme? Is there an update on the next drugs group meeting? Ordinarily it is on the second Tuesday of every month. Is there any possibility of bringing the meeting forward? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  There is still no PET scanner operating in the public system in Galway or across the wider western region. We are being told it will be at least 2033 before a PET scanner will be provided for University Hospital Galway. This is completely unacceptable because this imaging technology is vital for monitoring cancer patients for cancer diagnosis. Patients are being forced to travel long distances to access these scans. They are often referred to private operators at significant cost to the State. They cost millions of euro each year. Patients in the west should not have to travel for essential diagnostic services that are available on-site in other major hospitals. We should have equal access to care across the country. We need a PET scanner, and we need the promised new cancer centre at UHG as well as other infrastructural improvements. Will the Taoiseach intervene to expedite the delivery of this critical infrastructure and equipment for the west to ensure there is equality of care for cancer patients across the State? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  Today nurses and midwives are protesting at University Maternity Hospital Limerick. The HSE pay and numbers strategy cut approximately 30 to 35 front-line nursing and midwifery posts, imposing new staff ceilings, recruitment limits and pay spend caps. Many areas of the hospital are running rosters at 50% below safe levels. The neonatal unit is beyond safe capacity while awaiting HSE approval for service expansion. The labour ward has a daily deficit of midwives. This has been raised repeatedly with management. A HIQA review found the situation to be unsustainable. The HSE must uphold the agreement on staffing from 2015. The neonatal unit expansion must be funded. Safe staffing is needed and the hospital needs to be protected from the HSE pay and numbers strategy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  Endometriosis impacts more than 300,000 women in Ireland, with 30,000 of them being very complex cases. This is a condition that is absolutely crippling for any woman who has it. There have been efforts by the Government to bring in a new framework to deal with endometriosis but access is still very difficult. A treatment abroad scheme was set up but a number of countries are not included in it, namely, Greece, Romania, the UK and France. There were plans to look into expanding it to these countries. I also want to raise the fact that in many instances women have to fund this treatment upfront. This would exclude an awful lot of women from accessing the treatment abroad scheme for endometriosis because it is a considerable amount of money. Will the Taoiseach and the Minister look into this? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere  For people living with Friedreich's ataxia time is something they simply do not have. Every delay means more mobility lost, more speech lost and more independence taken away. Families such as Emily Felix and her family in Kilkenny, Ois\u00edn Pollard and his family in Carlow and many others have campaigned with huge dignity and courage for access to Skyclarys, the first treatment approved for this condition but unfortunately they continue to face delay and uncertainty while the disease continues to progress. Will the Taoiseach update the House on what the Government's position is on reimbursing Skyclarys? What message does he have for the young people and families who feel they are being asked to wait while an irreversible disease takes more and more from them every day? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  In the past there was a system of phased dispensing that was paid for by the State. It evolved into patients getting blister packs. In disadvantaged areas and areas of low income many people who had blister packs had the cost covered by the Government. The Government recently brought in changes to the way this is to be paid for. It did this without discussing it with pharmacists on the ground and there was no consultation with doctors or patients. Now there are no payments for phased dispensing or blister packs for those receiving one on a weekly basis. A lot of home help providers do not deal with medication unless it is in a blister pack. All of this adds to the massive increase in the cost of living that families are enduring at the moment. It means people coming into the system will pay between \u20ac20 and \u20ac30 extra on a monthly basis for this. Will the Taoiseach delay the process that is costing so much money? Will he ensure the process is reviewed? Will he listen to doctors, pharmacists and patients on the ground? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  The Taoiseach was in Mayo recently and I hope he enjoyed his trip. There are major issues with the hospital, however. Recently a young man was waiting three days for emergency surgery following breaking his leg. This was a result of a lack of staff. The theatre was ready, as was the consultant. Everything was ready but the nursing staff to facilitate the surgery. This is causing major difficulty. It is happening as a result of an over-reliance on agency staff. It is very important that we prioritise recruitment in the HSE for staff and pay them the wages they deserve. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank all Deputies for raising the various issues they have raised. Deputy Coppinger raised the issue of the Children's Health Ireland inquiry. This is a scoping inquiry in the first instance, essentially to scope out the terms of reference and what will be covered by an inquiry, and to look at the statutory format the inquiry will take. I would encourage all groups to participate and engage with Remy Farrell.  In terms of the issues raised concerning unpublished reports, it would be my assessment that any statutory inquiry would get any report it would need. Given the powers that would be given to a statutory inquiry, it would obviously have the power to procure documents in the possession of CHI. In the context of this scoping inquiry, the independent facilitator, Remy Farrell, has written to all involved. He wrote to the Minister for Health last week requesting an extension to conduct his scoping exercise and, in particular, to attempt to further re-engage with stakeholders. The Minister has granted this request until 18 August.  I understand that the facilitator will be engaging with the advocacy groups over the coming days regarding this extension of time and seeking to re-engage with them. He has also been engaging with CHI in respect of those unpublished reports or any particular material that might be in those reports. It is very important that engagement would continue to enable us to get to a position where the Government can have a decision presented to it to establish a statutory inquiry. Otherwise, it could get delayed unnecessarily, in my view. Having had a lot of experience of establishing various inquiries, I urge everyone to engage with the facilitator.  Deputy Martin Daly raised, not for the first time, the issue of the promised rehab unit in Roscommon University Hospital and the lack of urgency attending to it. I will talk to the Minister again and to HSE estates to see if we can progress this, and I will come back to the Deputy. One of the values of Roscommon University Hospital has been the degree to which it can provide a range of services outside of the acute tertiary centres. That makes life far easier for people in the region to access these services. Rehab is so important, particularly for neurological issues or accidents and so on. It can do an awful lot in enabling a person to get back into participating in society and work, depending on the circumstances governing an individual who requires access to a rehab unit of that kind.  Deputy Cahill spoke about the chronic shortage of respite, which is more of a national issue but is an issue in Kerry. We have placed this very high on the agenda of the Cabinet subcommittee on disability. There has been good development of late between the Minister for housing and the Minister for disability, who have come together. The Minister for housing has undertaken to build housing for people with disabilities. This is so we will not be dependent on waiting for the HSE but can get on and instruct every local authority to build a quota of units and to reserve a quota of any new builds in local authority housing to be made available for people generally with disabilities and particularly for those adults with disabilities. Respite is perhaps a separate issue to some degree although we believe housing can have a role there, too, with provisions. I will take the Deputy up on the offer to visit St. Mary of the Angels. I would be interested in doing that. I do think there is an issue with how we are progressing what is called decongregation. We are trying to get new places and allocate resources for new respite and residential places, yet a lot of resources have gone to decongregation, which takes resources from new places. I think there needs to be a more balanced approach about that, particularly where people are satisfied with the level and quality of care. I made this point to the HSE already at the Cabinet subcommittee, and we are working on that issue.  Deputy P\u00e1draig O\u2019Sullivan spoke about rare diseases. Generally speaking, I am not comfortable with people disagreeing with the Minister in respect of decisions that ultimately get taken in respect of an end-to-end review. Personally, I think it was long required and not before its time. We do need a more fundamental look at rare diseases generally, because more and more companies are producing orphan drugs, as they were once called, to meet the needs of rare diseases. That will create challenges for funding for for health services - there is no question about that - but we need to look at this issue in its entirety in terms of how we provide for rare diseases in future.  Much of this is positive. There was a time when companies were not producing drugs for rare diseases. They were going for the blockbuster drugs. Now that they are producing drugs for rare diseases, it is positive for the patients and cohorts involved. It is giving them hope that there is some prospect of moderating the disease or even ultimately getting to a cure. It is only when you are on a journey of medical discovery that you can get medicines that ultimately can achieve significant and transformative results. On the next drugs meeting, it is due in July, but I know the Minister was trying to bring it forward a bit, in particular in consideration of key drugs such as Skyclarys and so forth.  I will raise with the Minister the issue Deputy O\u2019Hara brought up in respect of a PET scanner for University Hospital Galway. I do not have the specifics behind that. A PET scanner is about more than just a machine, of course. It is about the entire team needed to support that machine. That is a critical issue there. These are substantial investments in people, technology and so on. I will get the background to this issue and see where we are in respect of access to it in terms of University Hospital Galway.  Deputy Sheehan raised nurses and midwives and the particular issue in University Maternity Hospital Limerick and the neonatal unit there as well. Again, we have been through a period of significant workforce growth in the health service, with the addition of about 30,257 staff from January 2020 to the end of May 2026. That is about a 30% increase in the number of staff. It includes over 11,000 extra nurses and midwives, which is an increase of over 32%. There are over 5,100 more health and social care professionals, which is an increase of over 40%. Over 4,400 doctors and dentists have been added, which is an increase of over 40% in the last six years. It is quite substantial. We do have to ask questions in terms of how people are being deployed. There is an issue with the use of agencies. The Deputy raised that. There is no question about it. The Minister is very focused on that issue as well, regarding the use of full-time employees instead of agency staff.  Turning to Deputy Whitmore on endometriosis and the new framework, to be fair to the Ministers, previously Stephen Donnelly and now Deputy Carroll MacNeill, there has been progress on this issue but we are not there yet, of course. Is the Deputy talking about the cross-border directive or the treatment abroad service? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  It is the treatment abroad service. There are a number of countries that are----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  We do not really do this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  On treatment abroad, that applies to the entirety of the European Union. It is meant to. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  No. No. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Again, I will talk to the Minister in respect of that. Generally speaking, across the board, treatment abroad has not had an issue in terms of its funding. That has never proved to be a problem in the past. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  There are three more Deputies to go. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  This is a specific treatment scheme for endometriosis. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I will come back to the Deputy on it.  Deputy Cleere's question was on Friedreich\u2019s ataxia. I think I referenced this earlier. I fully appreciate what the Deputy said. I think he mentioned Emily Felix and Ois\u00edn Pollard. I have met quite a number of people as well. It is very distressing, difficult and challenging for the families and for Emily, Ois\u00edn and their contemporaries who want access to Skyclarys as quickly as possible. Early on, there were issues in getting the material from the company and so on, but all that has been overcome. I would hope that we will get a decision on that. Obviously, the Minister is trying to progress it as quickly as possible. I will come back to the Deputy after I talk to the Minister on this issue.  I do not think the way Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn presented the issue regarding blister packs was probably as accurate as the real story behind it. I think the Minister has been quite robust and has revealed a lot in terms of her own work on this issue. I will put it this way. There was a different practice in many different areas. There were different patterns of behaviour and different things being done by different pharmacists in that respect. It is not all as the Deputy articulated. We want to help those who need help, and the Minister will continue to target resources. The Minister already had an agreement with the Irish Pharmacy Union, IPU, in respect of this issue.  Regarding Deputy Lawless's question, I had a very good day in Mayo. It is a great hotel. Two pharmaceutical companies are doing very well in Mayo, namely, Vantive and AbbVie in Westport. Huge investment is under way over the next while in Castlebar further education and training college. In terms of the hospital, I do not have the specifics on that individual surgical experience of the person who broke their leg. That three-day period is not good, but I do not know what the background to it is. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank the Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Cabinet Committees"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-30\/debate\/dbsect_13","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements","counts":{"speechCount":24,"speakerCount":9},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-30\/debate\/dbsect_11","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_11","showAs":"Ceisteanna - Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_13","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-30\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_13.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I propose to take Questions Nos. 21 to 32, inclusive, together.  I undertook a four-day programme of engagements in the United States, visiting Philadelphia and Washington DC to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. My programme began in Philadelphia, where I met Irish community and business representatives, as well as Congressman Boyle, with whom I participated in the St. Patrick's Day parade. While there, I laid a wreath at a statue of Commodore John Barry, who founded the US Navy, and visited Independence Hall, where the US Declaration of Independence was signed 250 years ago. I also attended a gala dinner of the Friendly Sons and Daughters of St. Patrick, and I cut the ribbon on the Irish Diaspora Center's new premises, which carries out excellent work on behalf of the Irish community in Philadelphia and is supported by the Irish Government's immigrant support programme.  In Washington DC, I attended the embassy's St. Patrick's Day reception, which was attended by a large number of people from political, business, diplomatic and community backgrounds. I also attended the Ireland Funds' annual gala dinner. The Secretary of Transportation, Sean P. Duffy, was an honouree at this year's event.  On St. Patrick's Day itself, I met Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Usha, who hosted me and my wife, Mary, for breakfast in his residence. I met President Trump for a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office, where we discussed the contribution of Irish and Irish-American people to the development of the US, current bilateral relations, including our strong economic ties, and global issues. The meeting was also attended by Vice President Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Energy Chris Wright.  I also presented President Trump with the traditional bowl of shamrock to mark St. Patrick's Day at a ceremony and reception in the White House. The attendance included a number of senior representatives of the Administration, including members of the Cabinet, with whom I had the opportunity to engage.  I attended a Friends of Ireland lunch on Capitol Hill, hosted by Speaker Mike Johnson, with whom I also had a bilateral meeting at which we discussed bilateral relations, political developments in the US and international issues. While on Capitol Hill, I also met the Friends of Ireland Caucus, co-chaired by Representatives Richie Neal and Mike Kelly. The meeting was attended by a number of other representatives, including Mary Gay Scanlon of Philadelphia.  While in Washington, I also had a programme of economic engagements, including a breakfast hosted by Enterprise Ireland and a business leaders' lunch hosted by Ireland's enterprise agencies, at which I presented the Research Ireland academic and enterprise medals. I met the Strategic Economic Advisory Panel and discussed recent trade and economic developments. I also attended an event hosted by Stripe. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  We already debated the issue of the Taoiseach's St. Patrick's Day meeting with Donald Trump, a misogynist, homophobe, transphobe, genocider, funder of genocide in Palestine and convicted rapist but----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, please. That is in the Deputy's opinion. I ask that----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  That is an actual fact. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  He is still a world leader. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  I am going to go on because I am not having my time cut short.  The Taoiseach now seems to find and be able to separate out reasons why he should do these things. The latest is that he says sport and politics should not mix, and he has said that in relation to the Irish team playing Israel. Yet four of his MEPs obviously do think sport and politics mix because they have signed a complaint about Gianni Infantino, the FIFA president, and the farce of a World Cup that is being held right now, where a Somali referee was turned away, the Iranian team had to go to Mexico and three other teams were refused entry into the country and had to locate elsewhere because of the travel bans.  The US is descending towards fascism. That is the reality of it. I do not know if the Taoiseach has any regrets about his visit. Nobody has any issue with him meeting the diaspora - we are all in favour of that - but there is an issue with normalising somebody like Donald Trump in the current climate. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail  A few weeks ago, we saw the AI company, Claude, switching off its Fable and Mythos models after engagement with the US Government. We are particularly vulnerable in Ireland because many of the public services are aligned with, and using, Microsoft and Copilot, which is AI software. There is a fear that something like what I have mentioned could happen with the likes of Microsoft in the future. I am not saying it will but it could. What we need to be considering from a European perspective, and I ask that the Taoiseach consider this during the EU Presidency, is the development of sovereign AI between the EU, Canada and the UK, with which we have shared values. That is a way we can move forward on artificial intelligence, particularly in a European context. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  As part of his visit, the Taoiseach visited Villanova University, a critical university in terms of Irish athletics. For the past number of years, I have had an intern from Villanova working with me. Part of the success has been around the exchanges that have happened over many years.  There had been a threat to the Fulbright programme. I am glad to say it is back on schedule. Recently, as the Taoiseach knows, the de Chastelain programme allowed for exchanges with Canada. I hope we can continue to build long-term relationships with the likes of the Fulbright and de Chastelain programmes. Would the Taoiseach consider extending some of the programmes to second level schools in the same way as schools in Ireland can exchange with European schools under the Erasmus programme? I refer to extending the possibilities to North America as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Daly  I welcomed the Taoiseach's visit to the US. He represented Ireland's interests extremely well. He reminded America that it is a two-way street in terms of economic collaboration, with Ireland being the fifth largest source of foreign direct investment, FDI, in the US, investing close to $390 billion in the American economy, with 200,000 people directly employed there, and $476 billion in FDI coming from the US.  The Taoiseach defended the EU and European values, and he countered the false narrative that Europe was being overrun by migrants. He won respect for his defence of Keir Starmer, who has done so much to restore UK\u2013Ireland relations after a very difficult UK\u2013EU Brexit negotiation process. In saying all that, he also identified the fact that the EU needs to develop indigenous new technologies such as in AI, social media and pharma, and increase competitiveness to enable research and growth to develop self-reliance and resilience. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Liam Quaide  The Taoiseach originally told us the occupied territories Bill could not be enacted because of legal constraints. More recently, he admitted that the real obstacle, in his eyes, is the fear that American companies might abandon Ireland. This is despite the fact that his own party not only voted for this Bill in 2019 but actually introduced it to the D\u00e1il on behalf of Senator Frances Black. He promised voters during the general election campaign of 2024 that he would enact it.  Is there any level of mass murder, State terror, forced displacement or land theft visited upon Palestinians by the Israeli state that would move him from words of condemnation and appeals for a unified European approach that may never materialise to meaningful trade sanctions and the proper enactment of that 2019 D\u00e1il vote? What exactly is he asking us to believe? Is it that companies operating in Ireland for commercial advantage, access to talent and access to the EU market and tax purposes will forfeit all of that just because Donald Trump might throw a tantrum about Ireland refusing to facilitate illegal settlement trade with a genocidal apartheid state? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  The vast majority of data centres in Ireland are owned by American technology multinationals. As the Taoiseach knows, data centres are swallowing up increasing amounts of our electricity. They are putting the grid under enormous pressure. The costs in relation to constraints and bottlenecks are so high now that energy companies have to switch off their turbines and energy users have to pay those energy companies to switch off their turbines. Network stabilisation is now one of the biggest elements of electricity bills.  Data centres' insatiable thirst for gas means that we are always pushed into the marginal pricing that gas increases. The Government's policy is part of that problem. Tomorrow we will see massive hikes in the cost of electricity. Will the Taoiseach ensure that the price of electricity for data centres is increased so domestic users will get a reduction in price? Have data centres played any part in his discussions with Donald Trump or the American regime in terms of foreign direct investment? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  Over the past week or two, we have seen a fast-tracking of the liquefied natural gas, LNG, Bill through the D\u00e1il.  This is a big mistake. There are still a lot of questions about the rationale for this particular project. I understand that when the Taoiseach met with Donald Trump in the Oval Office, he said, \"... I'm hopeful that we'll soon reach a deal to sell American liquefied natural gas - and that\u2019ll bring down your deficit a lot - so I think you have to make this deal with us, you better do something.\" Did those comments by Donald Trump have any impact on the speed at which the Government is putting through the liquefied natural gas, LNG, facility? Have any of the Taoiseach's Ministers or officials had any conversations with US representatives in relation to an LNG deal with the US? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Deputy Coppinger put words into my mouth. I did not use those specific words about sport and politics but I did say that I do not think the Irish football team should be disadvantaged by the issue of the Israeli-Ireland game. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  It could have been one of the Taoiseach's Ministers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I did not use that phrase so let us be clear about that. I do not want Irish football to be the victim. There are issues with FIFA, as we know. It would not cost FIFA a thought the Irish football team were to be relegated or whatever, and if there were consequences for seedings and if Irish football was set back by potentially a decade. That is an issue.  On the visit, the relationship with Ireland is significant for a number of reasons. In terms of the economic relationship, it is extremely important. It puts a lot of bread on the table. It is very important for Irish jobs. President Trump is the democratically elected President of the United States. Whether the Deputy likes that or not is beside the point. He is democratically elected. Successive taoisigh have visited successive presidents of the United States as a way of symbolising the historic and deep relationship between our two countries. The 250th anniversary coming. America will celebrate the Declaration of Independence. Three of the signatories of that declaration were born in Ireland. Approximately 12 had Irish connections. Our relationship is deep and familial, diasporic, economic, cultural and artistic. Visiting the White House and the President is a symbol of all of that, and is an important moment. All the agencies of the State are engaged that week in particular, right across the United States and right across the world. That has strong outcomes for Ireland in job creation, tourism and investment globally as well as in the United States.  Deputy \u00d3 Cear\u00fail raised a significant issue about the decision about Fable and Mythos and the restriction put on it. There is an issue around sovereign AI. I met representatives of companies in Canada who made that point to me. There are issues about how we deal it because it is not simple. There is a real issue coming down the tracks if that practice were to continue. I discussed it with Prime Minister Carney. It could lead to a two-tiered scenario, which could have negative implications globally. It is a very significant and serious issue.  Deputy Malcolm Byrne is correct about the importance of scholarship programmes between the United States and Ireland. I visited Villanova University. The head of coaching at Villanova is a former schoolmate of mine, Marcus O'Sullivan. He is a world champion from Turner's Cross. He was the year behind me. I saw him as a young guy running in Corca Dhuibhne when we were down there for a month with Col\u00e1iste Chr\u00edost R\u00ed. I did not realise he subsequently became a world champion but he did. He now heads the coaching operation in Villanova University. I met a chap called Charlie O'Donovan, an ex-Col\u00e1iste Chr\u00edost R\u00ed youngster, who has run a sub four-minute mile. The Villanova connection with Ireland is long-standing, with Eamonn Coughlan, Ronnie Delaney and all the milers, in particular. It has been phenomenal in its impact on Irish athletics, so it was very good to visit. It is famed in song and story and in athletics, in particular.  On extending it to second level schools, that is a very good idea. I will talk to the ambassador and others to see how we could progress that. I have always looked for legal channels of engagement with the United States. I would never recommend that any young person should go to the United States illegally. It is not a journey that a young person should even contemplate because its lifelong implications can be difficult and challenging. We should open as many legal channels of engagement as possible. I was involved with the former deputy Secretary of State, John Negroponte, in doing the graduate working holiday agreement back in 2008 or 2009. I would certainly look at that second level exchange.  I thank Deputy Martin Daly for his affirmative comments in respect of my visit to the United States. The economic relationship, as the Deputy outlined well, is enormous. Sometimes it almost amuses me the degree to which it is simply dismissed by certain Deputies in the House as something of no value and that should not feature at all in our consideration of what we do on occasions such as 17 March every year. Thumbing your nose at people and ignoring various people elected to office on the basis of their politics, and not taking on board the damage and consequences for Irish people, is another form of irresponsibility. I appreciate the comments that the Deputy has made. We used the occasion, as the Deputy said, to affirm Europe, European values and the European lived experience, which some in the United States continue to decry. Europe is a good place in which to live. It is a very positive place in its diversity, multiculturalism and freedom of speech. We should never be afraid to champion the positives of what Europe has to offer.  On our side, our companies and SMEs are doing well in the United States. Those who engage or scale up in the United States are doing particularly well and many of our companies are exporting and creating jobs in the United States.  Deputy Quaide ignored completely the significant work the Government has been doing over recent years, at a European level and globally, on the question of Palestine and the appalling Israeli war on the people of Palestine. The Government recognised the State of Palestine, along with Spain and then Slovenia. We were the only EU member state, although Spain eventually joined, to participate in the South African case. We joined that case, which went for judgment in the International Court of Justice, ICJ. We have moved resolutions at the United Nations. The Deputy ignored all of that. He asked how much more murder it will take. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Liam Quaide  How about enacting a Bill that you voted for? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I mean no disrespect but what a horrible way to put it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Liam Quaide  What about enacting a Bill that you voted for? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy has had his time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It is as if the Deputy has a monopoly on moral rectitude in respect of this. The Irish Government is known internationally for its strong stance in defending Palestinians and self-determination. The occupied territories Bill is the latest issue that has arisen. It will not be of any consequence in actuality and will impact less than \u20ac200,000 worth of goods. However, it is symbolic. That is largely its import and impact. That is the reality. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Liam Quaide  The Taoiseach voted for the Bill and then gutted it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Minister is bringing the legislation forward. It is going through the House at the moment and I presume it will be passed. It is another advance on ten to 15 decisions we have taken. Ireland was foremost in defending the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, UNRWA, for example, when it was under real threat from some within the previous European Commission at the time. We intervened to stop the haemorrhaging of funds from UNRWA. We doubled down by doubling our contribution to UNRWA. We have done a fair bit. Most Palestinians accept that, and not only just accept it, they thank us every time we meet them. What is happening is still horrendous. The killing of innocent children and women is shocking. We cannot get agreement at European level. Different member states have different positions, and still do, in respect of the atrocities that are occurring, and continue to occur, in particular with the prevention of humanitarian aid getting into Gaza and the lack of proper implementation even of phase one of the recent peace deal and cessation of violence.  Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn raised data centres. Over the past five years, we have slowed down the development of data centres a lot. Data centres are vital for the digital world in which we live. That is just the reality. We have to develop significant capacity on the energy front to be able to deal with the AI revolution and further growth of any data centres.  The CRU has produced a large energy user policy. It creates a framework to allow for further data centres to be built in circumstances where they use 80% renewable energy. We are some distance away from where we were in the growth of data centres, but they are not the great evil that people, including the Deputy, portray them to be.  I did not have any discussions with President Trump about data centres. America is just ploughing ahead and getting them done in six to nine months. It is a very different scene in, for example, Texas. We have to measure this. Data centres use up a lot of electricity - the Deputy is correct about that - and there are issues, but they are also an important part of the broader technology area and in the growth of investment in the country. They cannot be dismissed. Moratoriums on their own would not be positive, but we have to proceed in a measured way from here on.  For Deputy Whitmore to conflate the LNG Bill with the visit to America----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  Where he told the Taoiseach to buy LNG. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy is scraping the barrel with that one. Excuse the pun.  The LNG facility is an energy security issue. It was raised under the last Government and documentation exists from the Department warning the last Government that if anything were to happen to gas interconnections with Britain, our economy would be in trouble within ten days. It would be totally irresponsible of any Government not to act on that advice. This is not a climate issue; it is an energy security issue. There is a need for honesty in the House about this matter. People in the Opposition keep saying it is an anti-climate measure, and deliberately so. That is not the case. We are not deliberately doing this to be anti-climate. We are doing it because we will need an alternative storage facility in the event of any disruption to the gas supplies to the country. Deputy Whitmore would be the first Deputy to attack the Government, if anything were to happen, for not attempting to provide for this.  It will take time, even at the pace we are going, to get this facility in place to give us the security we require. We need it. There is no other way out. It has been recommended by officials with responsibility for energy security. That is the context for it. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Is f\u00e9idir teacht ar Cheisteanna Scr\u00edofa ar www.oireachtas.ie. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Written Answers are published on the Oireachtas website. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-30\/debate\/dbsect_14","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/72","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/72\/dail\/3_sub","houseCode":"dail","stage":"3_sub","isBillStage":false,"showAs":"Development (Strategic Gas Reserve) Bill 2026: Committee and Remaining Stages (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Development (Strategic Gas Reserve) Bill 2026: Committee and Remaining Stages","counts":{"speechCount":52,"speakerCount":14},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_14","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donna McGettigan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 1 agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"SECTION 2"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment No. 1 not moved."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  I move amendment No. 2:  In page 7, between lines 22 and 23, to insert the following:  \u201c \u201cemergency use only\u201d has the meaning as defined by the N-1 infrastructure standard defined by EU Regulation 2017\/1938 only. A Strategic Emergency Gas Reserve under this Act and all future Acts relating to its construction, operation, maintenance and decommissioning cannot be used for management of day-to-day energy demand;\u201d.  What we want to do is provide a definition of \"emergency use only\" and insist on it. This is a simple----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment (Deputy Darragh O'Brien)  That is a different amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I should have sai thatd we are dealing with amendments Nos. 2, 3, 5, 9 and 18. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  Is it section 2 or amendment No. 2? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  It is section 2, amendments Nos. 1 and 12. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  No. We are dealing with amendment No. 2 to section 2. That is because the relevant Deputy was not here to move amendment No. 1. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  Amendment No. 12 was grouped with amendment No. 1. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Yes, it was. We can come back to amendment No. 12 when we get to it. At the moment, we are on the grouping that includes amendment No. 2. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  T\u00e1 br\u00f3n orm, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  That is okay. The Minister is forgiven. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  Should I move amendment No. 12 then? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  No. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  Will I continue on amendment No. 2? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Yes. Amendments Nos. 2, 3, 5, 9 and 18 are related and may be discussed together. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  As I said, this is a simple, but critical amendment. It is because \"emergency use only\" must and should be clearly defined in law and a strategic gas reserve such as the one proposed should be a measure of last resort and a limited, emergency tool rather than a permanent fossil fuel lock-in. Therefore, we hope that this amendment will put clear legal boundaries on what the reserve is, as defined by the EU's N-1 standard. That matters because, without these definitions, the emergency reserve risks becoming business-as-usual gas infrastructure. Ireland is already reliant on fossil fuels for 81% of its energy. This Bill cannot deepen that dependency.  The amendment proposes that the reserve be a backstop and not a crutch. It cannot be used to address localised network constraints or routine increases in gas demand. It should not be for day-to-day use. It is for emergency use, as outlined when it was proposed initially, and the Bill must not be used to construct infrastructure for business-as-usual operations. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  What we and the Minister need to try to do is bring a level of transparency to this debate and try to engender a level of trust. Trust has been broken between the public and the Government in this regard. When the Minister has talked about all the different elements of this facility, the key thing he mentioned is that it is to be a strategic, State-led, State-owned, State-run non-commercial facility to be used in limited circumstances. These amendments speak to those limited circumstances. It is important that the Bill be explicit regarding in what circumstances this facility can be utilised. That is why I and others tabled amendments.  I will talk about it being a State-owned and State-led facility because that is another very important safeguard. I was surprised to see that is not discussed or mentioned in the Bill the Minister brought forward, despite the fact that in every discussion we have had in this Chamber and committees and any debate, including when the Minister has spoken about it on the radio, the key thing he says is that it will be a State-owned, State-led non-commercial facility. That is the key message he is trying to get across, yet the Bill does not even mention that. There is a major gap here and it brings about a question of trust and transparency and whether the public can really believe the intentions behind this facility.  I tabled a number of amendments to the Bill, including one to deal with the fact the operation of the birds and habitats directive was essentially removed from the Bill. I put in an amendment that called for a review of alternatives to how we can meet the energy security needs through batteries, interconnectors or by forcing companies to have alternative fuels on site.  I also tabled an amendment on analysing the impact that this was going to have on domestic bills. For some reason, all of these amendments were ruled out of order on the basis that they were in conflict with the principle of the Bill, which is incredible. I question why they were ruled out. A Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I have never seen an instance where amendments were ruled out of order - there is no money message here - because they were in conflict with the principle of the Bill as read a Second Time. I imagine an awful lot of the amendments that go through this House are trying to improve Bills and through that may be in conflict with the Bills' fundamental principles, but I have never seen any amendments being ruled out of order on that basis. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  You can take that up with the Ceann Comhairle's office. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  I am taking it up here as well because it is clearly wrong----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  They were ruled out of order. The ruling is made. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  It is clearly wrong to rule out of order amendments that have no money message on this basis. It completely undermines the Opposition's ability to improve, or put safeguards into, this legislation. It is really important that we have safeguards in it and that when Deputies are making decisions in here or when the public is making up its mind about this LNG facility, they are doing it on the basis of full and transparent information. I am aware that the Minister has said that there are energy security risks associated with any potential impact on the interconnectors with Scotland and the gas intake from them, but the security reviews conducted did not look holistically at alternatives. They did not look to see whether they could pull together a plan that would deal with battery storage, alternative fuels and forcing companies to ensure that they had sufficient storage of fuel on site. That is a real flaw and undermines the whole premise of this debate. The information and evidence are not there to support what the Government is trying to do with this Bill.  I will get back to the amendment. It is important as part of that that there be a definition of \"emergency\" on a statutory basis that outlines exactly when this facility can be used. There is a fear that this facility will become a de facto gas intake facility that will end up being run on a commercial basis or, even if it is done on a non-commercial basis, that it will increase our gas usage. I therefore ask that this amendment be considered. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  I echo a lot of the points made already about the temporary nature of this and what we have been promised. I am looking at a briefing from the Department of energy on 4 February. We were given numerous briefings by the Department about this. The Minister tried to avoid pre-legislative scrutiny and our committee had to fight for it. We have a report with 43 recommendations, all of which seem to have been ignored in this Bill. This briefing, which was given to us by the Department as part of our pre-legislative scrutiny, talks about this being \"a state-owned gas storage facility\" that will be \"an emergency reserve\" and that it \"is not intended for commercial use and will not act as a new entry point for gas into the system\". It talks about the reserve only being used \"in the event of a major disruption to sub-sea gas pipelines\". I do not understand, given everything we were told beforehand, why none of this is in the Bill. What is the Minister afraid of? As Deputy Whitmore has said, it gives rise to a lack of trust for those of us who are trying in good faith to scrutinise this legislation and spending huge amounts of time at the committee and in here putting forward proposals if all of that is simply going to be ignored. If the Minister's belief is that this is to be used in emergency circumstances only, then why not say that explicitly in the Bill? Why not have a definition of what an \"emergency\" is, as the committee recommended?  Our fear is that this is just going to add to national gas demand. It is going to facilitate the importation or additional gas, not just gas to be used in emergency circumstances. That is why I am very supportive of this amendment and the other amendments on the emergency nature of this facility and the temporary nature of the reserve.  There is a lot of money being invested in this infrastructure. It was \u20ac1 billion last time and it will most likely be more at the next estimate. This is long-term fossil fuel infrastructure that is being built.  We want to believe that the Minister that this is only going to be used in emergency circumstances and is not going to be commercially driven but there is nothing in this Bill to give us any confidence in that. That is the problem. That is why we are proposing these amendments and I am supporting them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  Amendment No. 18 in this grouping is in my name. Before I get into the substantive issue, it is important to again raise the process that is being followed here. This is important legislation and there are fundamental disagreements over the extent to which it will contribute to our country's energy security, but it is being rushed through both Committee and Report Stages in two hours. There is no need for this Bill to be rushed in this way and I think it is unprecedented, certainly in this D\u00e1il, to see this Bill and another one coming in in two hours' time being rushed in this way. This particular Bill is going to lock us into the use of LNG in our energy mix. It will have long-term consequences. The consequences of this Bill will be felt up to 2050. For a Bill that has a 25-year timeline, we are getting two hours of debate. It is important to put that on record.  There is a large set of amendments. This is not filibustering, as these are detailed, researched amendments being put forward by the Opposition. Some them were drawn up with the advice of environmental groups. Those groups wanted to meet the Minister and engage with him on this Bill but he was not available. This is the ability for legislation to be strengthened and we are not getting that. When Committee and Report Stages are banged in together, it shows a Government not taking the issue seriously. It is important to put that on record. In particular, the idea that a brand new piece of fossil fuel infrastructure would be exempted from the application of the climate Act makes a mockery of our country's statements that we take climate action seriously.  On the grouping, my amendment proposes that section 7(1) state:  The designated strategic gas reserve, including any terminal, infrastructure, or facility developed under this Act, shall remain exclusively in public ownership and under State control and shall not be transferred or outsourced, in whole or in part, to any private commercial entity.  It proposes that section 7(2) state:  The facility shall be operated solely by a designated public body for emergency energy security purposes and shall not be utilized [sic] for commercial trading of gas supplies by any private enterprise.  My amendment is trying to copper-fasten into the Bill the things the Minister has been saying throughout the debate on this legislation, namely, that it will be a publicly owned entity and will only be used for emergency purposes and have no commercial element to it. That has been said throughout this process but it is not in the Bill anywhere and we are trying to put it in. We are trying to bring in a reasoned amendment on this particular point. It is essential that the facility, if it goes ahead, does not contribute to additional net use of gas in the system. In order to secure that, the facility needs to be highly controlled. How do we do that? We ensure that, in the legislation, the gas that would be stored in this reserve would not be traded or sent out to any other body.  This supply of gas should be solely for emergency purposes and it should only be an extreme emergency. It should be for that doomsday scenario that is spoken about time and again, that is, an attack on the undersea gas pipeline between Scotland and Northern Ireland. We must also ensure that in a case like that, in such a large energy emergency, it is not the large energy users, which seem to get so much precedence in the Department these days, which are going to benefit. They should be asked to cut their consumption in the case of an emergency like that. In order to achieve these objectives, the legislation needs to be changed to clearly articulate that it is State-owned and State-run and that there are clear controls put in for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities. By accepting this amendment, my amendment or some of the similar amendments proposed by other Deputies, the Minister could go at least some of the way to addressing the concerns raised by Opposition Deputies and NGOs that have raised these issues about the operation of the facility. He will actually be guaranteeing the political points he has made throughout this argument, which is that it is going to be publicly controlled. If it is, he should say it. It should be stated in the legislation. If it is not going to add to the overall supply of gas, he should state it, and put it into the legislation. We will listen to the Minister's response to this group of amendments but I cannot see why these basic levels of protection would not be codified within the Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donna McGettigan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donna McGettigan  I am speaking in support of the Sinn F\u00e9in amendments. The Minister has failed in his job to guarantee the energy security of our people. He cannot guarantee that the lights will stay on. Now we are in a position where the Government intends to spend \u20ac1 billion to facilitate the development of a liquefied natural gas, LNG, terminal, as a so-called strategic gas reserve in County Clare, where I am based. That is wrong for our communities and wrong for energy security and climate obligations. Even the Minister's own energy package is clear that the best way to support energy security and meet climate commitments is to build a renewable-led energy system, not a fossil-led system, and prioritise reductions in gas demand. More gas is not the same as more security.  Dependence on imported fossil fuels is precisely what has left us exposed. Ireland is among the most fossil fuel dependent countries in Europe and we have fallen behind because too many Government plans exist only on paper. We might look at offshore wind. We have an incredible untapped potential. We have 640 GWs, yet how much is being delivered? Absolutely nothing - zero. Instead of harnessing that massive natural resource, the Government is rolling out the red carpet for commercial LNG, disapplying the planning Acts, carving out exemptions from normal conditions and, as we have seen in County Clare, failing to properly engage with local communities. That is not democratic participation. It is bypassing the very people who have to live with the consequences. While hundreds of thousands of people struggle to pay their energy bills, which are the highest in Europe, those with disabilities cannot reliably charge vital machines. This LNG plan will drive bills up even higher. The estimated \u20ac60 million annual running costs will be socialised through an additional levy on household bills. Ordinary people should not be forced to foot the bill for Fianna F\u00e1il's and Fine Gael's energy security failures. The Government should be bringing prices down, not adding new hikes. Any State-led facility must be subject to full democratic oversight and scrutiny, not exemptions or shortcuts. Real energy is energy for homes and businesses delivered by accelerating renewables, modernising the grids, prioritising storage and energy efficiency and insisting on proper community benefit and ownership. It is planning with communities, not against them. It is ending the stop-start short-term fixes and finally delivering the long-term infrastructure this island needs. That is why Sinn F\u00e9in supports greater public investment and public ownership in renewables to achieve genuine Irish energy dependence. It is critical for our security and it is the surest way to bring down costs for households and small businesses. We want expanded public local community and domestic ownership so that our vast natural resources become a national wealth for all. Community engagement must be real and respectful, not to stymie progress but to ensure fairness and accountability and that is not what we have seen in County Clare.  The choice is stark. The Government can double down on imported fossil fuels and higher bills or it can choose a renewables-led system, rapid offshore wind delivery and grid upgrades. It can demand side measures that cut bills, partnerships with communities that give people a stake and a say, transparent Government and value for money. Sinn F\u00e9in chooses energy sovereignty and common sense. We choose to invest in Ireland's future, not in yesterday's fuels and lower bills over levies.  I am saying clearly that we need to oppose the LNG terminal as a so-called strategic gas reserve, end the exemptions, respect communities in County Clare and across the island, redirect the \u20ac1 billion to help accelerate offshore wind and grid resilience and deliver an energy system that is clean secure, affordable and Irish. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy R\u00e9ada Cronin  Amendments Nos. 2, 5 and 9 are in my name and Deputy Pa Daly's. This Bill is a bit of a Trojan horse - I think most of us in the Opposition see it as that - around getting commercial LNG and more fossil fuel into the system. Amendment No. 2 inserts a provision to make sure this is for emergency use only. Amendment No. 5 attempts to provide a definition for \"temporary\" in the Bill. The Minister dropped \"emergency\" from the Title of the Bill and that really shows that the cloak is falling from the eyes here. People used to say, \"Build it and they will come\". That is certainly what we think this is. Amendment No. 9 seeks to insert a provision for \"Temporary emergency use\".  This Bill is supposed to be a temporary measure to keep the lights on in an emergency. The only reason we need this Bill is due to the short-sightedness of Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael which made sure we were left in this situation where we now need this in an emergency. The Minister can throw his eyes up to heaven but if I had been in government for the past 100 years, I would be embarrassed too, so there you go. We cannot use these kinds of things as an excuse for a day-to-day operation. That is what we are worried about. The signs the Minister has given us so far are certainly making us realise that we cannot be relying on fossil fuels. We were here last week talking about this. I never saw as many Members waiting to speak come in early. They were enjoying the air conditioning in the Chamber. Climate change is real and we have to be ready for it.  We had amendments ruled out of order. I will take it up with the Ceann Comhairle but we did offer alternatives around battery storage. We knew we were facing these energy emergencies and the Government did nothing other than bring forward this Bill, which only ties us into more fossil fuel use.  Our amendment provides clear legal definitions of \"temporary\". We have to outline what \"temporary\" is. \"Temporary\" could mean ten years to one person. We are proposing a ten-year limit on operations with a review every three years and with a clear expiry clause renewed by the Oireachtas. Our amendment No. 9 also seeks plans for maintenance and plans for decommissioning the unit if it is going to be temporary and for emergency use only. We want the Minister to bring a report to the Houses of the Oireachtas every year, so that we can make sure this is temporary. We have to focus on temporary and emergency use of the emergency reserves. They cannot become a permanent feature of our energy supply. We have to prevent the normalisation of the use of fossil fuels to keep the lights on. Our amendments will guarantee that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  I thank the Deputies who put forward their amendments. First, to restate what the Ceann Comhairle said, I have nothing to do with whether amendments are ruled in or our of order. Deputy Whitmore, in particular, made that case, and Deputy Cronin less so. That is a matter for the Ceann Comhairle's office and completely independent of me.  Can we just put in context why we are here? In March 2025, the Government approved the development of a State-led strategic gas reserve. That is critical to securing our energy security as we continue that transition to indigenous clean renewable energy, which we are doing, and this is not instead of that. In the first four or five months of this year we have seen about 50% of our electricity generated through renewable resources, which is good. We want to see that accelerate further.  This legislation is in line with a programme for Government priority. It builds on what was the Energy Security in Ireland to 2030: Energy Security Package report. That genuinely cannot be ignored. That was again approved by the previous Government, of which Deputy O'Gorman was a member, back in November 2023. It is consistent with our climate plan because that speaks to energy security and is a transitional measure, reducing the risk of stranded fossil fuel assets. It is for emergency use only and does not support increased gas demand. The approval of this approach represents a culmination of extensive independent research analysis and engagement, all of which have been published.  There was four weeks of pre-legislative scrutiny done at committee, and a good job was done there.  This reserve will be in the form of a floating storage and regasification unit, which will be owned on behalf of the State by the system operator, Gas Networks Ireland. GNI is written into the legislation. The location of the reserve is written into the legislation, so it certainly is not about commercialisation of LNG in the Irish mix.  This Bill is one of two. This Bill, in particular, provides the process for the direct application to me, as Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, for the development consent, with specified accelerated timelines for each stage of this bespoke consenting process. That is the case because this is urgent. There is a critical risk, which has been identified independently of Government, that if there was disruption to the gas supply that we receive - only 20% of our gas is produced domestically and the remainder is imported - or if, God forbid, something was to happen to the imported gas that we receive while we are still using gas within our energy mix, we would have serious difficulties here, not only from an economic perspective but from a societal perspective as well.  We are, right now, dependent on interconnection. We are building further interconnectors on the electricity side. We are building the Celtic interconnector. We are investing heavily in our grid. Renewables are accelerating. Today, I intended the Energy Storage Ireland national conference. We are number three on energy storage. Many people have referred to long-duration battery storage. I agree we need to do more of that. We are actually ranked third in the European Union, behind only Germany and Italy. We have 1.3 GW of installed long-duration battery storage, with a major pipeline of projects to come through.  On the amendments in the grouping, this legislation deals with the consenting process. It does not deal with the operation of it. The operation of it will be by way of separate legislation that will specifically state that this will be State owned, State led and State managed, used in extremis , not to increase gas usage in this country whatsoever. It is a risk that has been identified, that cannot be ignored and that needs to be address. We need to ameliorate that risk to our country as we continue to accelerate renewables. We have reached over 8 GW of renewable capacity integrated into our grid, with a significant pipeline of projects.  Offshore renewables were mentioned. Our focus is on getting them into development by the end of this decade. I do not control the planning process. We are expecting two decisions, hopefully this year, in that regard. I do not know whether they will be objected to. I have, by the way, engaged with environmental groups in the environmental pillar on their views in relation to this legislation.  It is necessary. It is urgent. That is why we need a bespoke planning approach to this. It is why the Deputies will see within the legislation that GNI is mentioned. The location of the site itself is mentioned specifically in the legislation. This is not about building gas terminals all over the country - anything but. This is a strategic reserve, State owned and State led, that is required and this legislation deals with the consenting process itself.  With that said, I cannot accept the amendments tabled by the Deputies. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  Arising out of what the Minister said, if he does not have a problem with it being temporary or emergency, he should accept the amendments.  The Minister mentioned renewable energy and the progress that, he says, has been made with offshore wind. However, in our view and in the view of some Government people also, the Government and previous Governments have been sitting on their hands in relation to offshore wind. We have untapped potential of 540 GW and by 2030, we will find it difficult to match 5 GW.  The Minister also mentioned that he has no control over the planning process but, in fact, while he might not be making the decisions, he would have had the power to appoint more High Court judges and appoint more staff to an coimisi\u00fan, and previously to An Bord Plean\u00e1la, but that was not done. Most of the delays can be attributed to the lack of staffing in those organisations. This is all important. In the amendments about temporary use, which Deputy Cronin had moved, it is important that it actually be temporary use. The Government itself has said that it will probably take five years to create it and then it will be in existence for approximately ten years after that. Is that temporary then? Certainly, it is more medium to long term than a short-term solution to a potential problem that has been outlined. We have asked for a definition of temporary, whereby it should not become permanent by default, with a ten-year limit on the operation, regular reviews every three years and a clear expiry clause unless it is renewed by the Oireachtas. Critically, we want a requirement for a decommissioning plan, also within 12 months, because you cannot build infrastructure such as this without planning an off-ramp or out-clause at the end of it. If it is truly an emergency measure, it should not become an permanent feature.  On a broader level, energy security is a fundamental responsibility of Government - keeping the lights on - and this Government has failed in that regard. Instead of delivering a secure, independent, all-island affordable and sustainable energy system, what we have is the first part of a Bill, which is rushed and flawed, repeating the exact same mistakes that have got us here in the first place, with ordinary people asked to pay the price and fork out.  As the Minister himself said, we are exposed to geopolitical conflict. We import 80% of our energy. That was never a pathway to energy security but we are still vulnerable because of the failure to invest over the years in offshore wind, in renewables and in our energy future. As we move towards a united Ireland, we need to have an energy system that is destined to be used by the whole of the island. Rather than fixing these structural failures, this Bill is doubling down, locking us further into fossil fuel dependence. It would never have been suggested a number of years ago that we would have to bring in fracked gas, on which there was a ban, but in the immediate aftermath of the last election, it was trumpeted that the ban on fracked gas had been removed by this Government. That is why we have brought forward our comprehensive set of amendments, not to obstruct but to help and to protect households, the public interest and our energy future. We will get to some of them later when we are talking about the potential increase to household bills. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  I have a couple of points on what the Minister said. As part of our pre-legislative scrutiny, we looked at the energy security review that this is all based on. The review was conducted a number of years ago. The international situation has changed markedly since that review was conducted. Even the price of LNG on the markets has increased massively since Trump's war on Iran. We had asked for that review to be updated in light of the most recent massive market instability in the fossil fuel market.  We also believe that review was flawed in terms of the solutions it offered or the potential solutions that it looked at. It seems to have looked at solutions in isolation. We have gone through all of this previously. It looked at this sort of reserve versus an interconnector or the reserve versus a battery, whereas it does not seem to have looked at this strategic LNG reserve versus batteries, interconnectors and wind, or whatever, in a mix like that. We had asked at pre-legislative scrutiny for that to be reviewed prior to this Bill being put forward here, and that just has not been done. Therefore, I do not necessarily accept the Minister's arguments that this is the only way. We all understand that energy security is necessary, just not that this is the only way to achieve that, and that seems to be what the Minister comes back to repeatedly.  Something else the Minister mentioned is that the Bill before us today is about the consenting process and that we will see another Bill in due course in relation to the operations of the reserve, but it seems that is an arbitrary distinction and that there is a lot of overlap, and you would imagine there would be a lot of reference points in this Bill that would relate to the operational aspect of a reserve.  The Minister has used a lot of strong language, which I welcome, in his commitments regarding how this reserve is going to operate. He said it is not going to increase our State's gas use whatsoever and that it is not going to be commercially run but State owned and temporary. Again, however, we have not seen the heads of the Bill yet. At this point, we have to take all this on trust, with nothing else to refer to, including the decommissioning at the end of this process, when the time comes for the State to decide we do not need this any more.  We are taking a lot of things on faith here. As I said, we gave many recommendations to the Minister by the climate committee in its pre-legislative scrutiny that we do not see here or anywhere else. That is why we are taking some of these positions today. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  This is a bespoke piece of legislation and a bespoke consenting process for this particular facility. It is a complete exception to our planning process, so it is not good enough for the Minister to say the Government will deal with the issue of public ownership in the second, subsequent piece of legislation. There is absolutely no reason the public element that has been articulated by the Minister throughout could not be reiterated in this legislation. We are doing something entirely new and novel here, and clarity on the public ownership and operation could absolutely be built into this legislation. This would at least alleviate that concern in advance of the second piece of legislation. I do not think the Minister's point on why he is rejecting amendment No. 18 and other amendments holds water.  On the wider question of the strategic decision that I and others believe the Minister is taking, this will result in us being locked into LNG well into the next decade. It means focus, resources and money. Let us not forget this is costing us \u20ac900 million now and no doubt will be more when the time comes. This strategic decision to spend money here means money will be taken away from the energy transition. The Minister regularly speaks about his accelerating renewable electricity task force and all the great things it has been able to do, but I wonder what that task force says the barriers are when he meets with it. Both he and the Minister, Deputy Chambers, come in here and say the barriers are the planning process, the climate Act and this and that, but when we meet the renewable energy organisations, the first thing they all say is there are not enough staff in An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la and that its decision-making time has increased over the past six months. That is what they tell us; maybe they are wrong, but I do not think they are, to be honest.  An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la's size has grown, but it is still not enough. It is still not enough for the level of work it has to do, which is everything from offshore wind to a planning appeal about an extension beside my house. It all ends up in An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la and there is not the capacity or bandwidth to get those decisions done. I do not understand this absolute fixation the Ministers, Deputies O'Brien and Chambers, have about not putting the resources into the one intersecting point of so much of our transport, electricity and infrastructure decisions. Trotting out this line about the Government having doubled it over a certain period is not good enough. The bodies in industry representing wind, solar and battery storage all say it to us, and I have no doubt they are saying it to the Minister in his electricity task force.  I have no doubt that when the Minister was meeting with the energy storage groups today, they also brought forward the blockages they see, namely, no clear total amount of electricity storage requirement for the country, one of the key things set out in the task force report published in July 2024; and no clear renewable energy support system for battery storage, putting it at a disadvantage when compared with other forms of renewable energy. This also puts Ireland at a disadvantage compared with other member states, where they are putting in place those supports. The people who have planning permission for battery storage here in Ireland but have not built out yet will move. The money will move if other member states are putting in that financial support.  I think it was in April that 18% of the renewable energy in this country was wasted because we did not have the battery storage there. We may be third in Europe but we are still wasting large amounts of renewable energy that can help us make this energy transition and help cut bills for households across this country. That is where the Minister's Department and political focus should be, rather than locking us further into LNG. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  This Bill is an admission of failure. It is an admission of failure on energy policy and energy security. It is an admission of failure of several Governments' inability to plan properly for energy in Ireland.  I had to stop myself for a second and think that, yes, it is 2026 - that is what is written on the Bill - but we have climate goals to 2030 and we have to get to net zero by 2050. Does the Minister know how long it takes to build an LNG terminal and to develop these gasification units? It takes years. I expect the Minister might be at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the LNG terminal when it is commissioned, which might be in 2030, when we are trying to hit climate targets. That is a huge problem. This is a huge step backwards.  When I was born in October 1987, the number of parts per million of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere was 346; it is now 431. We are going in the absolute opposite direction. With one of the first energy bills it has brought forward after the Critical Infrastructure Bill has been passed, this Government has decided on one on gas - not on wind, accelerating solar or ensuring we have alternative or sustainable fuels but instead for us to import fracked gas from other parts of the world. That is a huge admission of failure and a huge problem.  They say one definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again. We have seen what gas prices have done to our economy and what the reliance on fossil fuels has done to our economy, first with the invasion of Ukraine and second with the war in Iran, yet we are going to say we want more gas. Is that the answer here? Is that what the Government's policy is here? I absolutely appreciate there is an energy security issue - 100% - but why would the first Bill we bring forward under climate or critical infrastructure not be on renewables rather than fossil fuels? It does not make any sense, and it certainly does not make sense under these timelines, when Government is trying to hit climate goals by 2030 and get to net zero by 2050. This terminal will be operational by 2050, if the Government goes ahead with it. Of course it will. Why would it not be? The Government is giving no rationale as to how it will hit these climate goals by 2030. In fact, it has already admitted failure, and we are four years out from it.  In some ways, it feels like we have lost our minds here. We have lost a sense of what we are trying to do with climate change and the energy mix. The idea of building gas infrastructure, even emergency gas infrastructure, seems like the direction entirely opposite to where we should be going. I have to agree with my colleague Deputy O'Gorman. The idea that this, probably one of the most significant energy infrastructure interventions in the State that are going to be considered in this D\u00e1il, is being guillotined after two hours and that we are spending two hours debating it at the last three Stages of the D\u00e1il process, is outrageous. It is unconscionable. The Government is also not accepting any of the very well-crafted amendments from colleagues, including my colleague Deputy Whitmore, to ensure it is in public ownership and to determine whether it is actually temporary or emergency.  For many people outside this Chamber, it feels as though we are going in the opposite direction and that climate change is not a priority for this Government. It is going to continue to do the same thing it has always done, which is to rely on fossil fuels, which will not bring us energy security and will not allow us to fulfil our climate goals or live up to the promise of climate action and its great opportunities. If we continue with this, it is going to be absolutely devastating. I implore the Government for its next Bill to please bring forward something that is going to incentivise renewables to be built. We have no operational offshore wind farms in this country. We had more 20 years ago. It is outrageous.  I am very disappointed with this Bill, but I am far more disappointed by the Government's reaction to the very worthwhile amendments from colleagues here and the guillotining of this debate. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  Today is 30 June. It should go down as the day of the bonfire of our climate targets. In this one swift afternoon, we will make real the Minister's softly saying just after Christmas this year that we would not reach our energy targets. What does that look like in reality? It looks like ramming through measures, with no parliamentary oversight, no proper debate and, in the case of the next Bill we will discuss, no economic impact assessment, which will mean we are not coming close to meeting our climate targets because they are being ignored. We now have this climate change legislation. Every time we raised previously, whether we would reach our climate targets, the answer was not to worry because we have legally binding targets and, therefore, we will meet them because it is the law, and we have to meet the law. Now we are just disapplying the law to anything to do with climate. We are disapplying the law from LNG, data centres and Dublin Airport. If anything is actually polluting, we are told the climate targets do not apply to that and not to worry about that. It is a joke.  We are all expecting the world to go along with the idea that we are all following the science and doing what we need to do when the Government is absolutely in hock to fossil fuel companies, the big airlines, Donald Trump and the people who are responsible for destroying our planet and hoping that people just stay asleep. That is what this two-hour debate is about, what the next two-hour debate is about and what I would say the two-hour debate after that, with respect to AI, is about too. It is about avoiding a real airing of the issues here and hoping that people do not notice that this Government is utterly abandoning all climate commitments, in this case basically in order to satisfy Donald Trump.  Who will pay for that? Our children and grandchildren will pay for it. We see the impact of climate change, even in Europe, where people are dying as a result of extreme heat. In a more immediate sense, people will pay with euro from their pockets. This thing will cost \u20ac1 billion or more. Who will pay for that? The public will pay by a household levy on energy bills. The public will pay for this LNG development. The Government is locking in fossil fuels. That is the consequence of investing in fossil fuel infrastructure. We should not be investing in any fossil fuel infrastructure at all. It flies in the face of the science. The Government is locking in not just any fossil fuel infrastructure but the dirtiest possible fossil fuel infrastructure because, ultimately, this is about fracked gas coming from the USA.  The Climate Change Advisory Council told the Government that further expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure through an LNG terminal will commit Ireland to further fossil fuel lock-in. It told the Government and it is simply ignoring the council. This is not dealing with the issue of energy security. It is making us reliant on Donald Trump for energy security, or the next US Administration.  The consequence is devastating. I put on the record now the hazards that are present here. I quote Stop Shannon LNG, which stated:  The importing of LNG is associated with hazards such as gas explosions, threatening local communities.  A key risk in LNG facilities is an uncontrolled release of a cryogenic, toxic, or flammable fluid. This can include liquid releases that form a pool on the ground or water and ignite, creating a potentially long-lasting pool fire.  That is on the Minister of State and this Government. The disastrous effects of locking us into fossil fuels and tearing up all of our targets is also on the Government. I think energy security is the Trojan horse. The Government wraps up LNG and says it is energy security. We were not originally told and people will not understand this. The whole terminal has to be emptied six times a year, so a large portion of the gas currently used in this country will end up being fracked gas. It is a Trojan horse. The Government is not excluding commercial developments in this Bill. The original argument was not to worry because it would only be this one emergency reserve, and it would just sit there. That has moved to being something that will sit there and be emptied six times a year, and the Bill is open to it being moved even further. If the Government was serious about the issue of energy security, it would be investing in battery storage, interconnectors, and different forms of renewable energy that work in different weather conditions, including wind, solar, hydro and so on.  What is this about? It is about being friendly to Donald Trump. This is a key ask in terms of the tensions between US imperialism and the EU. He basically had two asks. One was to buy more energy and the second was to buy more of our weapons. This is about appeasing Donald Trump. It is also about a matter related to not the next Bill but the one after that, the AI Bill, which is saying to big tech companies not to worry about all the energy usage, that they have a green light to go and use as much energy as they want for their data centres and that we will burn more and more fossil fuels to facilitate data centres. The idea that we can continue on this track of expanded energy usage, in the best case scenario simply uses up the extra renewable capacity that we are adding, or in the worst case scenario, the vista that is being opened here for commercial LNG and what is happening in many data centres around the country that we will burn gas. In this case, we will burn fracked gas as a consequence.  I am interested in the Minister of State's response. The main thing is that we can agree or disagree on any of these arguments. That is fine. It is a disgrace not to allow us to debate the Bill, not to have a Committee Stage that can go through it properly, not to give proper time on Report Stage and not to allow us to get through the vast majority of the amendments that we have before us. It is a disgrace and it is a conscious and cynical move by the Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  I am glad to get the opportunity to welcome that Shannon Energy has got approval to bring in and store gas, and to give us another option. We have a duty to the taxpayers and the people in every county, including Kerry, to deliver energy to them at the cheapest rate possible. I have said here to the Minister of State on many occasions that since we closed Bord na M\u00f3na, the cost of electricity has gone up each day. The worst mistake that any Government made was to close it down in one go before we were assured that we had enough energy options, such as more wind turbines or whatever it is. We could be deriving more energy from our rivers. We are deprived of and stopped from doing that. The Sweeney's in Kilgarvan generated their own electricity back in the mid-1930s, and the O'Shea's in Kenmare generated it for the town of Kenmare around the same time. We are not allowed to go near a river to do anything like that now. We cannot do anything like that now.  What is happening here in case people do not know is that for the past number of years, we have been buying gas at its dearest price, because it is only coming from one route, from north east of us. That is why we are paying more for electricity. The other reason is that we have an energy regulator that is not accountable. Talking about climate targets, I know and many people know, although they are afraid to say it, that no matter what we do on this Earth, we will not change the weather.  The weather has been changing for centuries. In the 12th and 13th centuries, it changed from warm to cold. In the 15th and 16th centuries, massive amounts of rain fell. In the 1740s, we had a famine. A third of our people were wiped out because it never stopped raining for two years. There were no combustible engines at that time. There were far fewer cattle. In 1896, 12 acres of bog were washed down 12 miles into the lakes of Killarney from Gneevgullia and blocked every bridge on the way down. In the 1890s, there were 11 men in a field in the Clydagh Valley making up hay. Before they knew what they were, they were all washed down the river in a flash and into the lakes of Killarney. Those are true facts. There have been storms and nights of big winds at all those different times. I have the dates. They are facts. There was no human intervention at that time. Humans could not be blamed for the activity that changed the weather. A lot of people would want to realise that.  A report has come out from some scientist in Europe. I do not see the Government coming forward with it. It depicts that a lot of what the climatologists are saying is wrong and that the figures they are going on are totally and absolutely wrong. I will bring that report to the House as soon as it is put into my hands.  I do welcome, after many false dawns, that Shannon LNG will get the green light to move ahead. That will mean a lot for Kerry, especially the northern part of the county. It will also mean a lot for parts of Clare that the Minister of State represents. It will mean a lot of employment and help to encourage people to stay in Kerry and Clare and, more important than anything else, to stay in our country and to vote confidence in it by staying here.  We need other options for energy. Until we have enough wind power and ways of storing the energy that is created by wind turbines, we need an alternative in the meantime. People are under savage pressure. Members of this House cannot say, on the one hand, that the cost of living has gone up and, on the other, ask what the Government or anyone else is doing about it. The cost of energy is the cause of all the trouble. People on the roads are buying petrol and diesel. People at home are buying home heating oil and gas to keep themselves warm. People are entitled - this generation is as entitled as any to stay warm.  It is a fright to God to think that old people are afraid to put sods of turf on the fire. At the same time, bombs and drones are going off every day and lighting up the skies in the Middle East, Ukraine and Russia. We are telling people here that it is wrong to be burning or cutting turf. We have gone stone mad out of our minds altogether when we are telling the people those kinds of stories.  In case that the Deputies do not know it, people are talking about climate change and all the money that is going into it. We are narrowing roads for the sake of climate change. We are widening footpaths and building cycleways. No one is cycling because after they travel a few hundred yards or a mile on these cycleways, they must go onto an ordinary and narrow road to get to their homes. That does not make any sense. We narrowed a national secondary road a while back. As Councillor Johnny Healy-Rae said at a recent meeting of Kerry County Council, we have made a bohereen out of the national secondary road that starts off in Killarney and goes around the Ring of Kerry. Two vehicles of any kind cannot pass each other on that road now without their wing mirrors striking each other. That is what we have done in the name of climate change. These are the ridiculous things.  I especially want to recognise the fact that Shannon LNG has been given the green light after so many false dawns. Many individuals and companies have put so much money into that over a number of years. Those involved invested \u20ac60 million in it. That was money that people were prepared to put into it and that they had worked hard for. They saw that this was a way of helping our country. At least we will have it. If people can come forward with other ideas for creating energy, they should please do so. No one here is stopping them from doing that, but do not make people pay any more for energy than what they are paying for it at present. It is going up by 16% and 18%. Then, just to prove that there is no regulator, some other company dropped it by 12%. There is no law or order in the regulation of the cost of electricity at present. The poor people who go on the road in the mornings are paying a massive amount as a result of carbon tax being added to the cost of fuel. Those people go out on the roads to get to work or to deliver stuff in lorries, whether it is materials for housebuilding or foodstuffs for supermarkets, and it is costing them massive money.  We could be doing a lot better and a lot more in respect of the cost of energy. We have oil off of west Cork and gas off the Kerry coast. We are not being allowed to tap into either. If we bring it from the nearest point, the poor people at home will pay for it. It is time we copped on and listened to other people, because there are things other than climate change that need to be addressed. It is fine if everything else is sorted out, but people are being driven into the ground with the cost of living. No matter how much they earn, they have nothing left for to pay for houses and for the energy to heat them or for the costs related to getting to work. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy R\u00e9ada Cronin  An Teachta Healy-Rae should correct the record. It was not a bit of rain that caused the Famine. The failure of one crop did not cause the Famine that decimated----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  I said the 1740----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy R\u00e9ada Cronin  ----- our population. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  I am sorry; I must clarify this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy R\u00e9ada Cronin  Shame on you. You are a disgrace. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  I said 1740, not 1840. There were two famines. There was the second one that the Deputy is talking about with the potatoes. The 1740 famine was created by rain that never stopped falling for two years. Those are the facts and that is the truth. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy R\u00e9ada Cronin  Deputy Healy-Rae can support our next amendment, because it is relevant. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  The Deputy can support me when I am right. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment (Deputy Timmy Dooley)  I am thankful for the opportunity to respond to the strongly held views of many Opposition Members. There is a bit of divergence between some of them, and I must respect that. People's views are strongly held. We might argue over the detail.  What I want to reflect about this Bill that the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and I have brought forward is that it is purely about energy security. Maybe we do not all accept it, but a lot of people in this House and in society generally accept that we need to transition away, for a couple of reasons, from our dependence on imported fossil fuels. There are the climate emissions targets. The latter are recognised as an important aspect of this. I must also reflect on what Deputy Healy-Rae has just said. We might have a difference of opinion about how we get there, but I know what he is talking about in terms of the cost of energy. It is my strongly held view and that of the Government that if we bring more renewables onto the grid from our own resources - from wind and solar within our remit - we will reduce our dependence on imported fossil fuels. That will ultimately reduce the price and benefit everyone across the country.  For those who are looking at it from a different angle in terms of the reduction in carbon dioxide emissions and the impact that is having on climate change, I refer to the fact that this is not going to be gas traded into the marketplace. It is a storage facility that will be there in the event of a rupture or a disruption to the supply through the interconnectors from the North Sea via the UK and Scotland. Principally, it is storage. It will be a State-owned and State-controlled facility. It is not a market initiative. It is not an attempt to use LNG as a price lever to compete with the supplies that are already there. It is not aimed at creating a market tension that would reduce prices and, therefore, make us more dependent. It is really just about storage. I understand where Members are coming from, but it does not and will not add one extra element of carbon dioxide emissions. In the event of there being a disruption, it will replace gas that would already have been provided into the market.  This is about critical infrastructure and ensuring that our hospitals and other key facilities that are dependent on gas, principally for heat, will be able to remain in operation for whatever length of time it might take to repair the supply line.  I also take the points made by Deputies Murphy and Ahern on why this legislation is being rushed through in an emergency way. We are already making significant headway in relation to our plan-led approach to the capture of wind off our shoreline. We had the recent designation through the designated maritime area plan, DMAP, process off the south-east coast. We had a very successful auction. Where other countries that are attempting to capture wind off their shorelines or in their seas have been unable to get bidders, we had three or four bidders for the auction in December. Some 900 MW have been secured. The process is now going through the final permissions aspect. It is working really well. There are three other suitable locations within that overall designated area. They will go to auction soon. There is interest from other companies in this regard.  The Government is working really hard. The Minister, Deputy O\u2019Brien, myself and others are in regular contact with the marketplace to encourage investment and to show that Ireland has a long-term plan in place. We are working on a national DMAP or designation of more suitable sites around our coastline that have the capacity to generate up to 15 GW of electricity out to 2040. That is the kind of approach we are taking. I understand the politics of it, but it is unfair to say that we are ignoring the opportunity regarding renewables. In recognising that it is a slow process, we are derisking it for those investors who are going to come in. We are doing the mapping and collecting the data ,and we will be providing it to those entities as part of the auction process.  Unlike what happened with the phase 1 projects, which were effectively developer led, we have moved to take control. That work is already done and we are working through it but it would be foolhardy to just say that because we have a plan to capture effectively 20 GW of wind energy, and some additional solar on shore out to 2040, we can somehow ignore the necessity to store gas as we transition away from the use of fossil fuels. I understand what Deputies Ahern and Murphy said about battery storage. It is there but it will not be sufficient in the short term. They also spoke about other liquid fuels. The Department and the Government are working on a hydrogen strategy, so we are working towards identifying other solutions. The ESB recently published a report which effectively said we cannot get to net zero by 2050 by renewables alone. We have to use liquid fuels, and hydrogen would be the obvious one in that regard. That creates huge opportunities, because we will have a quantum of electricity generated from renewables. Generally, the wind blows better at night when demand is less. Rather than grounding or not utilising that electricity, it can effectively be converted to hydrogen or ammonia in a more stable way. There are opportunities for exports as well as storage in that regard. That is the longer term plan. Work is being done on that.  I accept that there is an investment in infrastructure, but I do not accept the point that we are locking ourselves in. If we had put this out to the marketplace and asked for outside investment in a market-driven initiative where you would be building hard infrastructure, that accusation would stand up. In this instance, however, I cannot accept it because we are talking about a piece of floating infrastructure. There will be some onshore infrastructure to be built, which will be relatively minor in both overall and cost terms. The big element is the ship and its location. When we get to a point where we do not need that back-up storage and we either have enough batteries in place or are generating enough electricity to be able to look to hydrogen storage, we can move that piece of fossil fuel kit on to another location, dispense with it or sunset it.  Another thing I would like to mention in more general terms, because I think will arise in respect of some of the other amendments, is that this Bill is about getting moving really quickly on the permissions that are necessary to get the infrastructure in place. As stated on Second Stage, the operation will be dealt with in another Bill. What the Deputies\u2019 are trying to stitch in here by means of their amendments might be better addressed in the context of that legislation. This Bill is just about permissions. Hopefully, that will give Deputies an understanding of what the Government is doing. We are not in a position to accept the amendments. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  I want to bring the Minister of State back to something specific which matters more than the amendment I tabled. During pre-legislative scrutiny, the joint committee made a recommendation which states:  The Minister shall authorise a transparent and publicly available cost-benefit analysis not less than 60 days prior to any decision which shall inform the approval process of the proposed development.  It recommended that this analysis should have regard to the adopted carbon budgets and sectoral ceilings under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Acts, the most recent climate action plan and the Government-approved electrification pathways. I had the backing of the committee on this. The Minister of State indicated that the Bill is just for planning. Why not put this into the Bill now in order that we, as legislators, can see a cost-benefit analysis done, particularly as the only publicly available one was done in 2023? In the context of a \u20ac900 million investment, it would be of much more benefit if we could see how many more GW or MW might possibly be added at multiple ports. We know Belfast is one of the only ports on the island that can handle large-scale offshore renewable energy, ORE. I urge the Minister of State to bring this to the Department. We have not seen that, so it is difficult for us to go in blindfolded. All the committee members received a letter saying that while the Bill before us will provide an expedited planning consent pathway, the next Bill will, as the Minister of State outlined, set out the operation, use and potential cost.  With a \u20ac900 million piece of energy infrastructure, we need to know what is in scope and how much could have been done by means of an alternative approach. I am familiar with the argument about energy security and lower cost energy- and the Minister of State can correct me if I am wrong \u2013 in the first 24 hours of the Iran-US war, global LNG prices rose by 43%. If we are looking to secure energy, surely having our own low-cost ORE batteries would help. I like the fact that other Deputies mentioned my batteries. I would have loved for all of them to have come to my meeting in the audiovisual room. Some did not attend. Representatives from Energy Storage Ireland were there. They spoke about the difficulties the company is having at the moment. I welcome the announcements by the Department in relation changing the cost of battery chargers. That is brilliant. Sodium batteries are the best batteries. These will be how we can decentralise our grid. They need to be looked at as part of any cost-benefit analysis. That is not a radical ask, it would hold us to a correct standard.  Will this matter be given the serious consideration it deserves? The members of the climate committee deserve to see this information. It was noted that while it will be taken into consideration, it is not relevant to this Bill. I am not opposed to the Bill in principle, but I would urge that we get a cost-benefit analysis because we are being asked to approve a framework that cedes significant planning and environmental disapplication powers worth hundreds of millions of euro. The estimated cost is \u20ac900 million, but other things were estimated at \u20ac900 million previously and ended up costing \u20ac2.5 billion. In that context, I ask that we take a good approach and that a cost-benefit analysis be carried out. It could strengthen the case. I might welcome this with more open arms if a cost-benefit analysis were done. I asked about this and was informed yesterday that Annex IV C is the most up-to-date analysis which considers the estimated cost of this Bill in comparison with the alternative mitigation options considered.  There was no more detailed cost-benefit analysis publicly available, beyond the one conducted and the preliminary business case. I ask that it is issued to us as legislators as we are making a huge decision on the infrastructure of our country. I would like if that could be taken back to the Department. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  I will try to be swift, so we can move on. We have heard the same speech from Deputy Danny Healy-Rae on a number of occasions, effectively denying human-caused climate change by saying we have had storms and extreme weather events in the past. Yes, we have had storms and extreme weather events in the past. That is not evidence against human-created climate change. The evidence is very clear. There is a clear scientific consensus. Deputy Healy-Rae says he has heard that some paper exists that proves the climatologists and climate scientists are all wrong and when he gets his hands on it he will bring it here. He obviously has not read the paper. He knows it exists somewhere out there in the ether, and he trusts it because it tells him what he wants to hear, which is that climate change is not happening. People know themselves. The past 11 years have been the 11 hottest years on record. We know that decade after decade, for six decades now, each has been hotter than the one before it. We know the oceans are heating up and that they are becoming increasingly acidic. We know, and people know from their own experience, that we have more and more extreme weather events. It is not just people's own experience. It is also tracked. You could go on and on but this is the settled scientific consensus.  To be honest, I am less concerned about the climate denialism of Deputy Healy-Rae. He is entitled to his opinion. I think he is wrong, and I think the scientific consensus really says that there is no basis for what he is saying. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  You are entitled to your opinion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  I am less concerned about that. It is fine.  The main thing I have a problem with is that we have a Government that did not really make an effort there to object to the climate denialism but will, on occasion, object to climate denialism and will say it recognises the science. We have a Government that says climate change is real and accepts that climate change is caused by fossil fuels. It accepts that climate change is a consequence of the greenhouse gas emissions. It says we are going to sign up to legally binding climate targets because we take this seriously and care about the future of our planet, and then it totally ignores it all. That is worse in a way. If Deputy Healy-Rae were in charge and said he did not believe in any of this climate change nonsense, that it had nothing to do with human activity, that we were going to go full steam ahead for fracked gas and were going to drill for fracked gas here and asked what the problem is with more fossil fuel usage, that, in a way, is logically coherent. If fossil fuels are not the problem, then what is the problem? However, the Government accepts that fossil fuels are the problem but nonetheless says full steam ahead for LNG. It nonetheless says full steam ahead with expansion of Dublin Airport and full steam ahead for data centres and AI. I really think that is worse. It knows what it is doing is going to destroy the planet and hurt people in the pocket here and now but nonetheless it is going full steam ahead and will not even allow a proper debate on these issues. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  I move amendment No. 3:  In page 7, between lines 22 and 23, to insert the following:  \u201c \u201cemergency\u201d means a situation where the State is experiencing a significant and protracted physical disruption of gas supply, or other catastrophic deterioration of the supply situation, and where\u2014  (c) all relevant market-based measures have been fully implemented, exhausted, and proven insufficient to meet gas demand, and  (d) non-market-based measures must be introduced to safeguard gas supplies to protected customers, in accordance with the criteria for an Emergency Level under Article 11(1)(c) of Regulation (EU) 2017\/1938.  For the avoidance of doubt, an emergency does not include localised network constraints, or routine seasonal increases in gas demand where physical supply remains available;\u201d. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Amendments Nos. 4, 16 and 19 are related and will be discussed together. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  I move amendment No. 4:  In page 8, after line 39, to insert the following:  \" \"hydraulically fractured gas\u201d means liquefied natural gas, or natural gas in any other form, that has been produced, in whole or in part, by means of hydraulic fracturing within the meaning of section 5A of the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development Act 1960;\"  This amendment is about fracked gas, which is not something we have spoken about yet in the debate. The amendment has been tabled with a view to trying to be constructive and to building more safeguards into the use of this facility. It relates to consenting, in that this is the type of product that will be going through a licensed or designated facility and the Government should be cognisant of what is going through, and the State needs to be cognisant of what is being used, in these facilities. If this facility is going to exist, we want the gas being used in it to be the least destructive gas possible.  We know that LNG, particularly when sourced from the US as we suspect the LNG for this facility is going to be, is usually derived from fracking but this practice is not defined in the Bill before us. This is why I have included a definition of \"hydraulically fractured gas\" as meaning \"liquefied natural gas, or natural gas in any other form, that has been produced, in whole or in part, by means of hydraulic fracturing within the meaning of section 5A of the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development Act 1960\". That Act defines hydraulic fracturing and, as we know, an amendment to that Act in 2017 banned the practice of fracking in Ireland, although not the importation of fracked gas. At the time, the Minister of State spoke of Fianna F\u00e1il's well-known opposition to fracking and acknowledged the detrimental environmental impacts.  Unfortunately, a subsequent Government policy statement introducing a de facto ban on the importation of fracked gas was overturned for the purposes of developing this LNG facility. The Government is willingly enabling an incredibly destructive environmental practice so long as others have to deal with the cost. One of the issues we had with the overturning of the ban on the importation of fracked gas was that it was not restricted solely to this facility, which we understand to be a State-led and operated facility. It has essentially created a free-for-all for other commercial operators to import fracked gas as well.  We know just how destructive fracked gas is. While burning it produces less carbon dioxide than coal, the extraction processes release enormous amounts of methane, a greenhouse gas that is up to 86 times more potent than carbon dioxide over 20 years.  Deputy Danny Healy-Rae said earlier to stop talking about climate targets when we are talking about these types of facilities. Okay, but then let us talk about something else. Let us talk about human health and human rights when it comes to fracked gas. We know that North American fracking operations for oil and gas are driving the current surge in global levels of methane. We know that methane has contributed approximately 40% of all global warming to date. We know that fracking is so damaging to the environment. It releases toxic air pollution, contaminates water and results in earthquakes, as well as significant other public health impacts. It is an environmental injustice, with injuries not borne equally by all.  There is a reason we banned it here. It is more than a little hypocritical that we would ban it in our own country and for our people but then allow its importation from other countries from where maybe the effects will not be felt so keenly as they are here. We also know that the liquefaction and transportation of natural gas as liquefied natural gas, LNG, raises its greenhouse gas emissions even further, by another 30%. This is because of the need for evaporative cooling and venting and because flaring is used to control pressure during regasification.  Just today, the UN Secretary General, Ant\u00f3nio Guterres, released a call to action on methane. This all relates back to the imported fracked gas. I am referring to the methane being released. The Secretary General said that methane has been responsible for nearly one third of global warming to date and that it remains significantly underprioritised in climate action and political decision-making. He also said that, \"Cutting methane emissions is one of the fastest, cheapest and most effective opportunities to slow global warming in the near term while delivering cleaner air, stronger crop yields, improved health and major economic benefits.\" The UN wants countries worldwide to make methane more measurable, reportable and verifiable. It is looking for transparency and empirical data in relation to reporting methane emissions and so on.  All this goes back to this being a regressive move by the State to be facilitating the import of this highly damaging fracked gas, which releases so much methane. At the same time, we are disapplying section 15 of the climate Act from all of this. This means there is even less transparency and less counting of the emissions that this facility will generate. We know that the CEOs of LNG companies would not live beside the facilities their companies build. We can talk about jobs and the economic benefits of all these facilities but they do, worldwide, have serious human health and human rights consequences that I do not think this Government is taking seriously enough. This is why I am proposing this amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  After the last general election, there was almost an unseemly rush to be out to congratulate the Government by some people for its change of mind in relation to fracked gas. It comes down to the basic issue of fairness and a just transition. We have heard about the issues in respect of destroying communities in the United States. Affordability of energy is also fundamental and is something that should be prioritised. Unfortunately, however, it has often been treated as an afterthought by this Government and previous Governments.  When the strategic gas reserve was first announced, it was said that ongoing operational costs would be paid for through the introduction of a new levy or by being integrated into an existing one. In other words, ordinary people will foot the bill, or it is the intention that they will foot the bill, for the Government\u2019s failure to guarantee our energy security over many years. Families across the State are already dealing with some of the highest energy prices in Europe. I do not need to go into this topic again today. Ordinary people paying their bills, ordinary householders, did not design this broken system. They should not, therefore, be forced to pay for a solution and a problem that the Government has created.  The amendments that we brought forward, and the subsequent amendments, are clear that the Government must guarantee there is no socialisation of costs into the bills of households or SMEs. There should be a requirement for the regulator to assess the full cost of the impact on households. We have had other legislation giving more power to the regulator to hold energy companies to account, for example. There should also be an obligation on the Minister to mitigate the costs because energy security cannot come at the expense of affordability, given how tardy the Government has been with offshore and renewable energy over many years. The Government is supposed to be a safety net for people and not the other way around.  This infrastructure, if it is strategic, must be State-led. Unfortunately, this State has less investment in offshore wind in our own waters than the French state and the Norwegian state. There should be more public involvement to move towards energy affordability, because private companies are obviously going to have to make increased profits year after year. If this infrastructure is State-led, publicly owned and operated in the public interest, that could go some way to reducing energy bills. Otherwise, it is hard to guarantee it. Without the guarantee of this being State-led, it could - and we have seen it in the previous amendments - risk opening the door to commercial LNG development and private profit. Energy security is not a commercial venture. Energy security, keeping the lights on, is a fundamental responsibility of the State. While this reserve has been justified as an emergency measure, it is important, as we have seen in the last amendment, that any strategic gas reserve should be for emergency use only. It should also not become permanent by default, and this is why we proposed the ten-year limit. The reserve must not be used to drive further fossil fuel lock-in. As we mentioned earlier, and as was discussed, we use 80% imported fuels.  We also have an amendment to require annual reporting to the Oireachtas. Without this, the infrastructure creates its own momentum. We see that it will take five years to build this facility and that it will be in operation for ten years, at least, so that is 15 years in total, so there is a very big danger of lock-in.  This Bill, as we said previously, is being rushed through without proper scrutiny, and this is unacceptable. Our amendments require independent assessment that this approach is necessary, proportionate and the best available option, and that there be an ongoing biannual review. Crucially, a future assessment of alternatives, including renewables, interconnections, storage and demand-side measures, should also be included in the Bill. The legislation is being rushed through, however, so the reality is that this is unlikely to happen. It is not good enough. Communities are being sidelined, and public consultation and democratic accountability, it seems, have not been used and are not going to happen. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  I wish to speak in favour of Deputy Ahern\u2019s amendment. It is important that we focus on the issue of the use of LNG through this facility and, as such, into Ireland\u2019s energy network. Liquefied natural gas is about two thirds more carbon-emitting than traditional natural gas. We are introducing it into our system now, as a number of speakers have already pointed out, in a context where liquefied natural gas was banned through the ban on fracked gas brought in by the previous Government in 2021. This ban applied to the use of fracked gas in all circumstances, whether by State infrastructure or by private infrastructure. That ban was important. One of the first things this Government did was to remove that ban, which my colleague, Eamon Ryan, introduced. That ban was removed on fracked gas being used by either State infrastructure or private infrastructure. We heard Deputy Danny Healy-Rae celebrating the consequences of the removal of that ban on fracked gas.  Not all LNG used in the world is fracked but the vast majority of the LNG that comes from the US, which the Government has indicated it would regard as its primary supplier for the facility in Clare, comes from the fracking process, which makes the carbon emissions from LNG even worse. We are tying a new source of energy, LNG, into our energy system. This is a system that was shown not to give security of supply, as demonstrated by the closure of the Ras Laffan gas terminal at the start of the Iran war, and shown not to result in affordability. A 46% increase in the cost of LNG in one day was prompted by that war. LNG is one of the most carbon-intensive versions of gas that exist in the world right now.  We are achieving this in the exact same legislation where we are disapplying the analysis of the climate Act to LNG infrastructure. Section 33, which I and others are opposing, will disapply the tests and analysis under section 15 of the climate Act. To think that the newest piece of fossil fuel infrastructure built in this country will not have basic climate analysis applied to it \u2013 climate analysis that almost all parties in this House agreed on only a couple of years ago \u2013 shows how far the Government has retreated on the issue of climate. A fundamental gap in this legislation is that a new piece of fossil fuel infrastructure will not have this analysis applied to it.  By creating this exemption, we are actually building a norm. That norm will be seen in the legislation we will be debating in a couple of minutes, which also has the exemption. That norm was seen in the Critical Infrastructure Bill that this House passed a number of weeks ago. Time and again, this Government is exempting some of the biggest fossil fuel-polluting proposals from an analysis under the climate Act. It is killing the climate Act with 100 or 1,000 small exemptions. It is a very deliberate process, a process we have seen repeated many times. For this reason, my party and I cannot support the legislation before us. It does not give us the energy security we deserve. It does not give us the energy affordability that families need, and it dramatically undermines the decarbonisation agenda that the Government should be following. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Timmy Dooley  I reiterate that there is very little between our understandings of the negative or harmful impact that gas, whether it be natural gas, LNG or any form of methane, has on our climate and on the environment. As I set out in response to the other amendments, the Government has made it abundantly clear that we have to pivot away from the use of fossil fuels. We are doing so and have a strategy for doing so. It would be foolhardy in the extreme if, while pivoting away, we failed to recognise that we need a backstop of energy security. Deputy O'Gorman, who performed very well in a previous Government, knows that in November 2023 there was recognition that we had to have an energy security component in place for the future. It was accepted at that stage and we are building on that. I refer to Energy Security in Ireland to 2030.  All sides of the House are fully in agreement that fossil fuels are damaging and bad and that we have got to wean ourselves off them quickly. We are working very hard to capture renewable energy, whether wind or solar, and we are doing it in a plan-led and strategic way so that we can, from climate change and emissions perspectives, rid ourselves of fossil fuels while also putting in place a means of controlling our own energy mix into the future. The State will control it and it will be within our own ambit, so that we will not be dependent on regimes outside the normal zones of Europe. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  The time permitted for this debate having expired, I am required to put the following question in accordance with an order of the D\u00e1il of this day: \"That in respect of each of the sections undisposed of, the section is hereby agreed to in Committee, the Title is hereby agreed to in Committee, the Bill is accordingly reported to the House without amendment, Fourth Stage is hereby completed and the Bill is hereby passed.\" "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Bill will now be sent to the Seanad. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Development (Strategic Gas Reserve) Bill 2026: Committee and Remaining Stages"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-30\/debate\/dbsect_27","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/70","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/70\/dail\/3_sub","houseCode":"dail","stage":"3_sub","isBillStage":false,"showAs":"Dublin Airport (Passenger Capacity) Bill 2026: Committee and Remaining Stages (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Dublin Airport (Passenger Capacity) Bill 2026: Committee and Remaining Stages","counts":{"speechCount":36,"speakerCount":13},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_27","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 1 agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"SECTION 2"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Amendments Nos. 1, 12 and 13 are related and may be discussed together. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  I move amendment No. 1:  In page 6, between lines 29 and 30, to insert the following:  \u201c \u201cinternational connectivity\u201d means the range and frequency of scheduled passenger and cargo air services operating to and from Dublin Airport, having regard to\u2014  (a) the number of direct routes available from Dublin Airport to destinations outside the State,  (b) the number of carriers operating such routes, and  (c) the frequency of services on those routes;\u201d.  There are a number of references to international connectivity in this Bill. I raised this on Second Stage last week and the Minister thought it was amusing that I did not understand the definition of \"international connectivity\". I understand a plain English reading of it but the phrase permeates the Bill and it is used by the Government as a justification for the lifting of this cap. The Government says the Bill is to increase our international connectivity. With 32 million or more flights already leaving the country to international destinations, the question is what is enough international connectivity.  With amendment No. 1, I propose to insert a definition in the Bill. We are told all the time that connectivity is key to our success as a nation and that, as an island nation, we cannot leave ourselves stranded and we need international connectivity. However, it strikes me we already have quite a lot of international connectivity with 30-odd million flights going through Dublin Airport already. If we are going to increase flights on this basis, it is important we have metrics by which we can measure international connectivity and it is important to define it because the level of emissions associated with higher or lower levels of international connectivity should be determined by the metrics used.  This falls under the transport brief but it has a massive climate consequence. It is worth noting that only 5% of the population of the entire world has ever taken a flight. We are in an incredibly privileged position here. This relates to climate justice and our obligations to others in a world where 95% of people on the globe have never been on a plane and the Minister is now proposing potentially to double the number of flights from Dublin Airport. Therefore, throwing around a phrase like \"international connectivity\" gives the Minister carte blanche to continually increase the number of people going through the airport and the number of flights being taken and that is not necessarily a good thing.  We need to talk about demand management in international aviation. There is no such thing as sustainable aviation fuel. It is never going to happen and the airline industry acknowledges that, so we have to try to have some metrics for and control over the number of flights in the country.  Furthermore, this is specifically for Dublin. There is no talk here about balanced regional development. This is all about Dublin Airport. The Minister talks about sustainable development but there is nothing sustainable about not having any cap. It is not as though the Minister is replacing the current cap with another level of cap. This will just be an absolute free for all.  My other amendment in the grouping, amendment No. 12, is to address a provision that essentially gives an open invitation to airlines to bully the Government and talk down Ireland if they perceive there to be some inhibitor of their commercial interests in Dublin. It gives licence to a Minister for Transport to change planning conditions where they are perceived to be potentially damaging to \" the international reputation of the State in respect of air transport\". It is extremely open-ended, entirely unfalsifiable and there is no objective standard for reputational damage. There is no evidence threshold or definition. The provision could be invoked on the basis of adverse commentary by Michael O'Leary, for example. We are essentially enshrining corporate bullying of the State in this law. That is why I want to delete that line. It gives carte blanche to airlines to talk down the country and say they are not happy that it is sufficiently internationally connected, so they will pull all their flights and that Ireland has a terrible reputation for international connectivity or whatever the buzzword is. It will essentially allow airlines to bully the State and Ministers to use that bullying as an excuse to raise the cap again and again, without heed to any of our climate obligations, either our domestic climate targets or international ones.  These emissions do count. Even though we do not count international aviation emissions, they do go somewhere and these actions have consequences whether the Government likes it or not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  The Minister is moving this with undue haste before the summer. It is absolutely wrong that a Bill of this importance is being guillotined after two hours and many of the amendments probably will not get a fair hearing.  I will comment on this grouping of amendments, which talk about connectivity. We made these points on Second Stage. Balanced regional development has gone out the window. We also have a duty to connect the west of Ireland and other airports, such as those in Cork, Shannon, Mayo and so on. The airlines are delighted with this because, potentially, everyone will fly into Dublin and then be ferried on another plane to an outlying area because most people visit locations in the west of Ireland.  The feeling of many residents in the area is that what is being attempted is to turn Dublin Airport into a European airline hub like Frankfurt, Schiphol, Charles de Gaulle and Heathrow airports. One of the principal reasons residents contest this is the lack of a night-time cap. All the main airline hubs have night-time restrictions. The combined total for the four airports I mentioned is less than that for Dublin Airport on its own and the night-time flight caps are not imposed at all in Dublin Airport. Planes do not make money when parked so the airlines are dying to get rid of the cap.  I spoke to residents earlier today. Turning to the second amendment in this grouping, there are international duties and laws under environmental laws. If airport capacity is being increased, one would imagine that a fund would be set up for things like sound insulation and relocation for those who want to move, as some do. I have been told - I would like the Minister to clarify this - that has not happened and that residents have been forced to go to court because he has not met them about this. That is the very least that needs to be done.  For example, the planning for real process was one of the initiatives that was set up. It was to get an expert planner to discuss it. The residents say they cannot get funding for it and that the Minister will not meet them.  There are people who will be impacted by this increase, should it go ahead tonight, who are willing to relocate. Thornton Hall is an area that has been mentioned. It was not developed in the way anticipated in years gone by, and it could be an area where homes are built to facilitate people who want to move. All of these are very practical things that need to be ironed out with residents if this goes ahead, which, of course, it should not. What about the best insulation and air conditioning? Mechanical ventilation is mentioned, but people are not able to open their windows any more. Think of the effect of the heat we had last week on residents who live near Dublin Airport who cannot open their windows. All those people should have proper air conditioning. Residents are considering a polluter pays fund. The airlines are going to be the polluters, and they should pay for these mitigation measures. This is standard under any international laws.  My area of Dublin West is obviously not the only part affected but Hollystown, Hollywoodrath and Portmarnock are going to have much increased flights. The Minister was on Fingal County Council at the same time as me when decisions were taken by local authorities to allow development at the outer limits of Dublin Airport. It is not that long ago. Now those people are going to find that the noise levels will be even more intolerable when the projected massive increase in passengers goes ahead. The night-time flights will be at least doubled. That is the estimate of many residents. Rather than 60, there will be 120. The aircraft noise competent authority is not fulfilling its brief.  What about all the arguments around us being in the middle of a heat dome? Europe is enduring the hottest temperatures it has ever had. We will probably be in the same situation with high temperatures again next week or the week after, and much more frequently. We should not be passing a Bill like this that increases the number of flights. We should be discouraging people from taking flights. We should be reducing the number of flights in light of the climate crisis. Instead, the Government is marketing Dublin Airport as a hub on a European scale. That is ludicrous because we do not have the transport infrastructure to facilitate such a thing. We do not have a light rail system. At the very least, the Minister has to commit to meeting residents in an open way and to cater for overall the impact that what is proposed will have on their lives if the Government rams the Bill through tonight. That is the very least that should be done. Residents are not even mentioned in the Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  My amendment No. 13 has been grouped with Deputy Ahern's amendment. I will not dwell on it, but the same point I made about the previous Bill also applies in respect of this one, namely the fact that only two hours have been provided for the Committee and Remaining Stages. Detailed issues have to be addressed, including climate, balanced regional development and the significant impact of noise pollution on people who reside in the vicinity of the airport. These are real issues in respect of which there is disagreement. Maybe if we had time to do this at the select committee, we could have found resolutions in respect of a small number of these issues. However, we have been denied the opportunity to do so on foot of the way this Bill is being rushed through the House. Again, this is the only example in this D\u00e1il of a Bill being rammed through on Committee and Remaining Stages. That is not acceptable, and it does not treat appropriately the issues so many TDs from all parties spoke about during pre-legislative scrutiny. Everyone was saying that it is terrible for the residents, that we are listening to them and that we want to help them. When a Bill is banged through the D\u00e1il in two hours, that is neither listening nor a genuine effort to help.  My amendment is intended to allow a future Minister to amend the passenger cap for pro-climate reasons. The Bill currently allows the Minister to intervene where the passenger cap is judged to cause serious economic or connectivity harm, but there is no equivalent situation should this Minister or a future Minister believe the number of passengers is causing significant environmental or climate harm. The purpose of my amendment is to recognise that there is a power, but it is a power that can be used in different ways. It recognises that there is a climate issue here. The Bill as drafted recognises one set of risks but not the other. It would be a reasonable compromise for the Minister to accept this amendment. In that case, the Bill would not be pro- or anti-cap; it would simply be future-proofed to allow a Minister to consider climate or environmental considerations in the same way as economic interests.  The question of how we deal with the 32 million passenger cap, which was put in as a planning condition initially, is of course central to what we are looking at here. Everybody recognises that flying is essential for an island nation, but how we deal with the situation caused by the 2007 planning application is what is at issue. Last year, just over 36 million passengers went through the airport in breach of the cap. The DAA has brought a planning application using the existing mechanisms in order to bring that up to 40 million. The Minister and his team floated the idea of 60 million passengers going through Dublin Airport in future, which would be equivalent to the numbers JFK Airport saw in 2024 and 2025. That is a huge scale. In this Bill, we are opening the door to any scale of development. It is not a planned or graduated increase; it is the removal of a cap to allow any number of flights to take place. Not even the DAA went that far in the planning application it submitted. That will have climate consequences, which will, no doubt, be addressed in later amendments, but it will also cause significant issues with increased noise in the area of the airport. Later, I will be talking about making reference to the noise abatement objective for Dublin Airport and including that in the Bill as one of the measures to try to provide some degree of reassurance to residents in the area.  The committee heard from the likes of Ryanair. In many situations, Michael O\u2019Leary has said that people knew what they were getting into when they bought houses in Swords, Malahide, Hollywoodrath and Dublin 15. That is an outrageous statement. People buy houses where they can afford to buy them. That is the nature of house purchasing in Ireland right now, and some people, if they could afford Kilmartin Grove or Hollywoodrath, chose to live there, whether that is in private purchase, affordable, social, cost-rental or build-to-rent homes. People do not have huge choice in where they have a home here right now because of the wider issues in our property market and sometimes people have to buy where the price matches their budget. That is an area which is already affected by a high number of flights and which is going to be further affected, especially if the exponential growth permitted under this legislation takes place. What is proposed is going to have a major impact, and it is not acceptable for the owners and beneficiaries of these large airlines to just dismiss people\u2019s very real concerns. This impacts my constituency. I have canvassed in the areas to which I refer and have heard the impact of noise on these households. That impact is only going to grow as a result of this Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  Others have referred to the speed at which this legislation and the previous Bill on LNG are being fast-tracked through the D\u00e1il. There has not been sufficient time for debate or interrogation. Sufficient time has not been allocated to allow all Members to have input and, potentially, to make the legislation stronger and better, which is really what our job is.  It is interesting to see how quickly the Government can get certain legislation through the system. I wish there was an equal emphasis by the Government on getting other things delivered. Why are we not seeing similar speed, energy and focus to get additional battery storage up and running or the interconnector to France, which has been delayed, put in place? It has been repeated many times, but we have less offshore wind energy now than we did 20 years ago. I was on Brittas beach at the weekend enjoying the weather and looking at the seven pillars out in the Irish Sea. There are no turbines on them because they have been decommissioned.  The Minister spoke about the Government's priorities and where it spends its energy. It seems that this Government is spending its energy on pushing through solutions to problems that are being created because it has not done the work. The reason we are in this position is because it has not looked at the framework. It has not been strategic. Deputy Ahern referred to metrics in the context of his amendment. I absolutely agree with him. There is a similar thread going through this Bill and the previous Bill, and that is the need for robust analysis and strategic management.  We have a similar situation with data centres. Five years ago, I stood in this Chamber and asked for strategic management of data centres because the Government's approach of just rolling out the red carpet was going leave us in trouble. That has proven to be the case. We are there now. It is costing the State and domestic energy users a huge amount of money and is locking us into a very intensive, energy-reliant system. The position with LNG is similar. I do not think we have had a full analysis, review and evidence provided as to why we need an LNG reserve. Are there alternatives? Is there an alternative way to shore up our energy security? I believe there is.  I do not think there has been the necessary holistic analysis of the impact that lifting the cap will have. I do not believe that roads capacity was the correct mechanism to use in order to limit numbers at the airport. I do not believe that was ever the right approach. The question for us now is what is the correct metric to use to assess the airport. I do not think that level of analysis has been carried out. I mention that in one of my amendments. Has there been an economic analysis? Are we looking at regional development? Are we taking account emissions, noise pollution, the impact on residents or on housing in the area? When making long-term decisions of this nature, a level of work should go on behind scenes in the context of carrying out the relevant analysis and gathering the necessary evidence. I just do not think that has happened in this instance, and I do not believe it was done in respect of the previous Bill we discussed either.  I want to speak briefly to my amendment No. 13, which is in this group and which relates to our obligations. The State has obligations. The Minister signed up to them. He has agreed with our national obligations when it comes to climate. In fact, it was the previous Government brought forward the legislation in that regard. The majority of Deputies in the previous D\u00e1il supported that legislation. We all worked hard to make sure it was as strong as possible. We have European Union directives to which we have to adhere. We must also adhere to and be cognisant of international law. In the rush to get these major development investments over the line, the Minister is really just pushing aside all those obligations. Unfortunately, it should not and cannot work that way. We need to take these issues into account, because the Minister is not just making this decision for the next five years and keeping Michael O'Leary happy for the next five or ten years. This is something that will be with us for a long time. When it is done, the Minister needs to make sure that it is done right. There is an onus and an obligation on him to uphold all those directives and laws he has signed up to. It cannot be the case that he just closes his eyes and pretends he never did so or has workarounds, because it really just does not work that way. Essentially, it is stated in our climate objectives state that an authority has to have regard to them. I do not understand why the Minister is trying to override these basic measures and requirements that we have. This is something we will regret in the long term. I also want to raise point with the Minister that we need to be strategic about this. He has to have the analysis carried out. In this instance, he has not done so. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aidan Farrelly  It has already been said by others, but I am also struck by the pace at which this legislation has progressed and is progressing through the House to a point where it will reach completion this evening. It is fair to say that for the first 18 months of the lifetime of this Government, we have seen very little by way of legislation come through the House. Suddenly, however, we are under dramatic pressure to get this legislation through without any sort of real scrutiny. Providing such scrutiny is why we are all here. That begs the question as to who is writing this type of legislation and who is writing transport policy for this country. There are certain words in the Bill, which just reads like an advert for Ryanair. How does the Minister determine what connectivity is? What the amendment seeks to put in is a definition of that. Instead, we are going to have a situation where a future Minister will have to determine what takes priority and whether it will be connectivity or the climate. I have to hope that future Ministers will understand that an obligation is not a choice. An obligation is something that we must do, and to exempt what is proposed from the provisions of section 15 of the climate Act is quite preposterous.  Last week, I raised with the Minister the fact that the crux of this legislation, in the first instance, is not necessarily to do with climate; rather, it is do with local infrastructure. That remains the case. Yet, here we are knowing more. When we know more, surely we have to do more. In that regard, we now propose to place a level of power that is centralised in a ministerial order. That concerns me, and it should concern everyone watching. We have bodies in place that are statutorily responsible for land use the planning of infrastructure in Ireland. The Minister does not need me to tell him about how abject a failure the strategic housing development policy was in that it bypassed local authorities and went straight to An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la. The Minister is saying he got rid of it----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  I did. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aidan Farrelly  -----and now we are looking to do the same thing by bypassing local authorities and An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la, which are the bodies responsible for making very important planning decisions. They will never be perfect and neither will this House. However, their being bypassed is a matter of concern that I want to emphasise on the record of the House.  We are speaking about this in a context where the WHO has recognised that there have been 1,300 excess deaths in Europe in the past month due to the recent heatwave. Every conversation about aviation expansion must surely focus primarily on our future and our climate future. We do not record carbon emissions caused by aviation in our budgets. That is wrong, and it is something we need to really consider. I have spoken to many experts - I am sure the Minister is speaking to the relevant sectoral interests - who told me that putting more exemptions into section 15 of the climate Act will not help the situation. Actually, what it will so is dramatically undermine the importance of the Act. That is why I ultimately believe that we are guillotining this legislation. It is to stymie debate and undermine the pre-legislative scrutiny report, which was so comprehensive. Where are the recommendations made in that regard contemplated in this legislation? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  We went over that on Second Stage. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aidan Farrelly  I will finish on this. What we are faced with in the context of this legislation is the potential for future Ministers to end up in court as a result of the State's duties under the climate Act not being fulfilled. I look forward to the Minister's comment on that.  It is unlawful that what we are trying to do is not only bypass the statutory bodies, but also not fulfil our obligations under domestic law when it comes to the climate Act. That merits further scrutiny, yet in approximately 60 minutes, it will all be done and dusted. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  The Minister was not here when I spoke earlier on the LNG Bill, so I will make the point to him now. What the Minister is doing tonight is disgraceful. This is, in six hours, a bonfire of our climate commitments. What we are seeing in action is the Minister's abandonment of targets that we were told many times were legally binding and, therefore, we did not need to worry and the Government would do everything. This is what this means. It is what the Minister has done in terms of LNG. It is what the Minister is doing now.  What the Minister is doing is a disgrace - the content of it - but the way that he is doing it is outrageous. It is utterly outrageous that we are expected to deal with a Bill such as this, the Bill we just dealt with and the next Bill we are dealing with in two hours' time, with Committee Stage and Report Stage all in one go. We will not get to a tiny fraction of the amendments. We will not have any sort of detailed engagement. It is not because we are under much pressure for time, but because the Minister does not want to debate this stuff. The Minister does not want the emperor to be seen, and said, to have no clothes and that, on this issue, the Minister has not even done an economic impact assessment even though he is proposing to disapply the climate obligations. It is such a joke to say that we have these climate obligations that are legally binding and we are never going to do anything that is bad for the environment even while disapplying the climate obligations that are legally binding. It makes them entirely worthless.  Aviation is now doing more climate harm in Ireland than cars. What the Minister is hiding behind is that aviation emissions are not counted in our climate targets, but as has been asked, so what? We are not in this only for where the emissions are counted. The climate keeps the score. The greenhouse gas emissions are counted where it matters in terms of the impact it will have on the world that our children and our children's children will struggle to live in.  Another outrageous feature of what is being proposed is the centralising of decision-making about removing the cap outright into one person, namely, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, the Minister. Unlimited expansion of Dublin Airport is effectively promised here. The Minister has previously referred to 60 million passengers a year, a number almost double the current cap. The Minister has done no evaluation of the climate or environmental implications this will lead to. He has done no evaluation of the economic, social and health costs of just letting Dublin Airport rip at the behest of Michael O'Leary. No climate or biodiversity experts were consulted by the Minister. The excellent group Children's Rights Over Flights tried to meet the Minister. There were numerous requests but no chance to meet him. There was no consideration of children's rights, including their right to a stable climate, even as very young children died from extreme heat in France, and local opposition to the airport for health, noise and environmental reasons was ignored, as was the recommendation of the committee after pre-legislative scrutiny stage \"that meaningful engagement is undertaken by the daa with local communities to mitigate the impact of noise from the north runway.\" No such thing has taken place.  Let the Minister be in no doubt that what is happening is that the profits of the likes of Michael O'Leary, Ryanair and the very big aviation corporations are being put before children's health. To avoid a proper light being shone on that, a proper debate being held on what is going on and a proper discussion of the various amendments we have, the Government just rams it all through, sandwiches it all together and does it in two hours. Presumably, Michael O'Leary would be very happy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  I thank Deputy Ahern for tabling this amendment. It makes sense that the Bill should include a definition of \"international connectivity\" to ensure that the Minister does not have free rein to cite international connectivity as a reason to get rid of the passenger cap and that there are some guardrails for citing this reason. Section 25 sets out the grounds on which the Minister can decide to revoke a passenger capacity condition, and this amendment would give a definition for one of the grounds on which the Minister can revoke it, since there is currently no definition of \"international connectivity\". We support the amendment.  Ireland is an island nation. We had a meeting in Cork Airport on Friday morning. While there is great work being carried out at Cork Airport, I am not sure that the long-term plan has been looked at properly by the Government to ensure that there is Luas connectivity, maybe down to Wilton, as well as easy fixes such as a bus lane up to the airport and a widening of the existing road. That needs to be looked at with some haste.  Our connectivity is not optional and our economy, our tourism sector, our diaspora and our ability to attract investment all depend on it. It is the linchpin for hundreds of thousands of jobs and there could be no question that we need a proper aviation strategy. Dublin Airport is fundamental to that, but the passenger cap has been outgrown and is really out of step with reality. Last year, there were 36 million passengers through Dublin Airport when, as everyone knows, the cap was at 32 million. A 4 million difference is not a rounding error. There is something going wrong. The passenger cap is not really realistic any more but we do not want to merely rubber-stamp the decision that is being taken by the Government.  With the cap, we must ensure that there is essential progress but this Bill exposes, if nothing else, the absence of any long-term coherent aviation strategy from the Government. As in Cork Airport, we must plan not only for ten years ahead, but 20 years, 30 years and 40 years and increase capacity in our regional airports, because they are a key to unlocking Ireland's potential. From Kerry to Cork, Shannon, Knock, Waterford, Donegal, Belfast, Derry and beyond, there is unlocked potential.  We must also engage with the fact that local communities have felt ignored, particularly in north County Dublin and Meath, and overlooked for years. Proper community consultation on, for example, night flights does not mean preventing progress. It can enhance proposals and plans. This Bill represents an opportunity to oblige the Minister, and the DAA most importantly, to do a better job. The amendments that we have put forward aim to tackle these issues.  There has been neglect of our national aviation policy. There is no doubt about it. A year later, we are still operating without a policy. Despite parliamentary questions, we still have not obtained clarity from the Government as to when this long-promised update will be delivered. How can we have any confidence in the Government's approach, particularly to the regional airports, with a policy framework that is more than ten years out of date? When we are lifting the passenger cap, the Government must place equal energy, ambition and investment into developing the regional airports because 80% of passengers are processed through Dublin. Cork gets a fraction, even though its numbers have increased by 63% over the past ten years. Shannon, Knock, Kerry and Donegal are all far below their potential and that is as a result of Government inaction. Regional airports are not only transport hubs. They support tourism, create jobs and provide a vital link to our emigrant communities, for example, in London, Manchester, Coventry and Leeds. Communities are also connected to Europe and beyond.  Funding, of course, remains piecemeal and is insufficient. Route development is limited, infrastructure investment is slow and there is no overarching plan tying it all together, which is a missed opportunity.  We propose a new national aviation policy be delivered within six months, one that reflects the realities of modern aviation and sets out a clear path for the future with clear targets for regional airport growth, annual reporting to ensure accountability and a regional aviation impact assessment, so that Dublin's expansion does not come at the expense of the rest of the country. Although the Government has the regional airports programme, it is essential regional airports are not treated as an afterthought but they should be viewed as a key priority. This task force should be specifically focused on growing passenger numbers in Shannon, Cork and Knock, supporting new international routes, such as a transatlantic route out of Cork, which would incentivise airlines to base aircraft outside Dublin and improve transport links to regional airports. If we are serious about balanced regional development, we cannot simply talk about it but we have to plan, invest and deliver it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  As Deputy Daly has outlined, we support the removal of the cap but there needs to be effective oversight and transparency in terms of the definitions and powers it gives the Minister when coming to the decision to give a ministerial order. This will ensure local communities are engaged with and listened to. This has to strike the right balance between ensuring our international connectivity while protecting local communities and local residents who will have to deal with the consequences of this. At the very least, there should be protections in place for them. We have several amendments submitted in that regard because, of course, there have been ongoing issues with flight paths, noise and much more.  The first amendment here speaks to our international connectivity. Air travel is, of course, essential for us as an island nation, whether that is work, study or opportunities to visit friends and family. It is absolutely critical for us to be part of the wider world. That is why this is an important Bill. However, in many ways, it is frustrating that Government is on the one hand lifting the cap at Dublin Airport while not putting the same efforts into promoting and supporting the use of our regional airports, such as Shannon, Knock and other airports across the country.  It is important to say airports like Shannon and Knock, which are the two most local to me, provide an absolutely fantastic service to people. They want to grow, expand and provide more flights. They are absolutely key to our regional economy in the west of Ireland, in terms of driving tourism into those parts of the country. However, the reality is that well over 80% of the State's air passenger traffic goes through Dublin Airport. That is an absolutely huge imbalance. It represents a policy failure to strike the right balance and to promote and support the use of those regional airports, which would also reduce the level of traffic going through Dublin Airport and support greater growth opportunities in the west of Ireland, particularly given that balanced regional development is something we talk about so much and to which Government often pay lip service. However, this is a prime example of where balanced regional development is not happening, where we are not supporting infrastructural development in the west of Ireland and where Dublin is outpacing the rest of the country significantly.  The investment has to be there from Government to deliver on all this. We need a specific task force put in place to focus on this issue to grow our regional airports and support their use. We have to start taking this issue seriously. It has been over ten years since the national aviation policy was published, and there is still no sign as to when that long-promised policy will be delivered. Without an overarching policy that reflects the developments in aviation and that is going to support balanced regional development in aviation, how can we have any confidence in Government's efforts to get this right?  I make the point regarding public transport and connectivity to our airports. The western rail corridor represents a huge opportunity for connectivity to Knock Airport. However, we have been lacking in even basic things like getting the bus service from Galway to Shannon Airport. These are very basic things we need to get right to improve and to support our regional airports.  There are several gaps and shortfalls in this legislation that need to be addressed, and the amendments are there, particularly in terms of the impact on infrastructure and the environment, which has not been evaluated. How will the Government mitigate the impact of flight paths? What will happen with night-time flights? There should be more extensive debate than just the two hours allocated. Going forward, I urge Government to finally start focusing on balanced regional development in aviation, and to do everything in its power to support regional airports right across the country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate. I specifically support amendment No. 12 which, along with several other amendments, aims to tighten up this legislation. It is a very frustrating experience for those who are part of this process and who are trying to contribute positively to it and to influence, shape and improve Government legislation. Many people engaged in good faith, not just in these Chambers but also communities and representative and stakeholder groups at pre-legislative scrutiny. I would say very many of them do not see their contributions reflected in the legislation produced. Many of them, myself included, wonder whether the legislation changed a jot based on the pre-legislative scrutiny contributions. Others have made the point regarding the two-hour debate in which we will get through only a fraction of the amendments. In his response the Minister might indicate whether he is going to accept any of the amendments or whether this is another exercise in futility.  I support amendment No. 12 in the name of Deputy Ahern, and I thank him for bringing it forward. It is indicative of the type of change that needs to happen in this legislation. As it stands, the line, \"the international reputation of the State in respect of air transport,\" is vague. It is unclear what counts as a risk to the international reputation of the State, so it could be used freely for any ministerial order. Removing the line ensures the Minister's power is not limitless. Recent controversies within the DAA were allowed to go on for months and years, causing significant reputational damage to the State's aviation sector, yet we did not see the Minister act to bring them to an end. It is an incredibly loose and vague line, is subject to significant challenge and is reflective of a real looseness within this legislation.  Regardless of one's position on the passenger cap, and I live in and represent a constituency that is not far from the airport, many people understand that it was of its time and maybe is not the most logical thing for road capacity. It is also ignored on an annual basis. People understand the logic of growing the airport in a sustainable way but they also live with what they would see as essentially an airport and airlines that are given free rein, with complete disregard of their neighbours, responsibilities and the types of obligations on individual households and other businesses and they wonder why there is a different set of rules for the DAA and several airlines.  I would have thought this legislation would be a good opportunity to address some of those concerns.  Instead, it looks like the Government wants to quickly lift the passenger cap, give significant powers to the Minister and march on regardless, paying no attention to flight paths that were never intended or provided for but have been questioned since the very second they came into being and that technically, in the words of the DAA not just at this transport committee, but the previous transport committee, are actively under reconsideration, although there is no timeline for that. It is similar with regard to night-time flights, compliance with planning, being a good neighbour, the operation of the Aircraft Noise Competent Authority, ANCA, and its independence, and noise monitoring and mitigation. For me, it is wholly unacceptable that none of that is being addressed in this Bill.  Practically all of the amendments, certainly from us in Sinn F\u00e9in, sought to address those weaknesses in the Bill but also concerns in the local community and more widely, including among people with an interest in the sustainable growth of Dublin Airport, in balanced regional development and in the development of the Irish economy. One of the amendments, which came up at a pre-legislative scrutiny hearing that I attended, was a very reasonable ask, one that is literally being done elsewhere. It was for a comprehensive assessment of what lifting the passenger cap at Dublin Airport - increasing the number of flights into and out of Dublin Airport - would mean for the island economy. A steady-state study was done of Schiphol Airport. It would be a logical step to take in advance of lifting the passenger cap. Our specific amendment was that such a comprehensive assessment would look at the wider implications. If the passenger cap is lifted but matters carry on regardless, there is potentially unsustainable development, impacts on the economy and the environment, and a compounding of regional imbalances. A number of others have mentioned that. That is something that I think the Minister needs to take away and consider again. Regardless of his position on the passenger cap and the need to lift it, there is a very strong case, as a matter of good practice, for carrying out a study such as that. The consultancy company that carried out the work relating to Schiphol Airport was CE Delft. The Minister needs to reconsider the idea.  We have proposed an independent assessment of the flight paths at Dublin Airport. The Minister will have heard, and I certainly have heard as a constituency TD in Meath East, that from the minute the north runway opened, there was an unmitigated disaster and a level of incompetence that I just find incredible, where houses were noise-insulated on the basis that planes would be flying over their homes, only to realise that the houses that were insulated were not on a flight path while the houses that were not insulated were on a flight path. That incredible, farcical, ridiculous situation continues.  There are really good people who are committed to the aviation sector who want to see Dublin Airport grow sustainably, who are employed in the aviation sector, and who have literally out how the situation can be improved. We have submitted amendments to call for an independent assessment of the flight paths. Regardless of whether the Minister accepts that amendment, that needs to happen. There is a wafer-thin commitment from the DAA that that will happen. It needs to happen. The DAA gave that commitment at the last transport committee and again during pre-legislative scrutiny. I call on the Minister to reflect on the amendments that have been submitted here and to understand exactly where they are coming from. They seek to strengthen this legislation. I strongly believe that there is significant room for improvement on this Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathal Crowe  I am glad to have the opportunity to speak on this Bill. The imposition of a passenger cap was ludicrous and never worked. It is quite unique in world aviation. The removal of it was always inevitable. On the eve of the last general election, I remember the main party leaders, both Government and Opposition, saying that this would have to happen, with various promises being made in the lead-up to voting day about how this would happen through legislation were they in government.  I want to go through some of the concerns that I expressed at the committee. I am concerned about the imbalance of Dublin Airport in Irish aviation. In the past year, its market share of inbound and outbound traffic has been 86%. It is growing year on year. If one were to start all over again and plot out where there would be airports in Ireland, there would probably not be five airports down the western seaboard and just one on the east. There is an imbalance of where the airports are located and certainly an imbalance these days with respect to where the flights take off and land. I made a point at the Oireachtas transport committee, of which I have been a member in this D\u00e1il and in the previous D\u00e1il, that nearly all Government legislation and policy I have seen over the years makes a preamble reference to the national planning framework and to Project Ireland 2040, and references things at the very outset such as balanced regional development. I do not see that anywhere in this legislation.  Although it is not in the spine of this legislation, I think there need to be addendums and a new national aviation strategy brought in in the autumn, because the current one is outdated and deals with a time, pre-pandemic, when aviation was going well. It has floundered since and recovered since. It has been up and down, boom and bust for aviation. The national aviation plan is not up to date. It does not reflect where aviation is at the moment. It does not reflect the current difficulties that airlines face with respect to fuel crises. It does not reflect the fact that, to this day, only 1% of cargo coming in and out of Ireland moves by air. There are many opportunities. I want to speak for a few moments about some of the opportunities for the other airports of Ireland that I think can be addressed. If they are not in this legislation, there are other ways in which this can be addressed.  I acknowledge the Minister's inputs with regard to Shannon Airport. The Minister has included in the regional airports programme something that we have been advocating for a long time in the mid-west region. Shannon Airport had a very good year last year. It was its best year of the past 16 years. Passenger numbers were 2.3 million. There was 9% growth on the previous flying year. Things are going well there but there is a concern that, with the removal of the cap at Dublin Airport, it becomes somewhat open season and there will be a proliferation of flights to certain hub airports.  If I can illustrate what imbalanced regional development looks like in the aviation realm, tomorrow, starting early in the morning and right up to about 9.30 p.m., 13 direct flights will depart from Dublin Airport heading to Amsterdam Schiphol, which is recognised as one of the principal and most important European airport hubs. I did not check but I presume an equal number return at various times during the day. Not a single flight from Shannon will go that way. We will have connectivity to Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Frankfurt, but it is minuscule. Some of those flights have been pulled. I booked a trip to Paris for my family for a few days later this year. We were to fly out of Shannon. We got an email to say the flight was being moved to Dublin Airport. This is happening time and time again for people in the mid-west region. It is largely down to airlines trying to rationalise and pare back some of their costs for refuelling and so on, given the crisis that airlines face with overhead costs. It is not good enough because we want a service that operates out of our region. I make a conscious choice every time I book to fly from Shannon. It is a mantra we have.  I am chairman of an all-party Oireachtas group that deals with Shannon Airport. While this House is often defined by division, argument and divergent views, I am glad to say that the 19 Members who sit on that, including TDs, Senators, and Ministers, from Clare, Limerick City, Limerick County, Galway East and Tipperary North work collegially.  We meet in the airport boardroom. We meet with airport management, we deal with stakeholders and we try to represent the Shannon agenda in the Houses of the Oireachtas. The fact is that with Dublin's 84% to 86% market share - it varies year on year - the other national State airports are not being sweated fully. Without cutting a single blade of grass, without digging a new foundation or without laying a new concrete block, Shannon Airport has current capacity, without any changing of configurations, to double its passenger intake. Yet, this cap will allow Dublin to grow. It could put further pressure on the airports along the western seaboard. That would be a concern of ours.  I made the point earlier about Project Ireland 2040 and the national planning framework. In nearly every Government decision, whether it is on the provision of healthcare, housing, water or sanitary services, there is usually a reference to balanced regional development and other hubs outside of the capital. There is not in this legislation. That is why I would like to see it brought forward in the autumn-winter period as part of a new aviation policy. It must speak more to the regions. When we undertook pre-legislative scrutiny at the Oireachtas committee, IDA Ireland come in. It very much supports the Minister's legislation but it too cautioned that there should be strong regional airport growth. It must run in parallel to all of this.  Very often when legislation is brought before this House, the words \"miscellaneous provisions\" are added on at the end. There have been some major events in Irish aviation over the past four or five months while this legislation was evolving. I believe there was scope for those to be added in by way of miscellaneous provisions. Perhaps the Minister might bright other legislation before the House in due course.  What I want to principally reference is not in this Bill passed tonight but should be of major concern to all who value air safety. A major wind farm application was submitted in County Clare by Ballycar Green Energy. The Irish Aviation Authority and AirNav Ireland were involved. It was unprecedented and I and other TDs raised this issue in the D\u00e1il. They said that the erection of wind turbines in close proximity to a radar would distort the safe working of the radar. That ruling has been made. We now need to get to a point where Shannon Airport's and other airports' primary radar and secondary radar are protected by insisting that all wind energy zonings within a five- to eight-kilometre radius must be removed. It is not safe. It has been deemed that by the aviation regulator and by AirNav Ireland. It is wrong that our wind energy policy still aligns with something from ten years ago when people, who know about aviation safety, are now saying it is unsafe. That should have been included by way of a miscellaneous provision in this Bill and I hope it can be addressed in the autumn.  The legislation is important and needs to pass. Our national airport cannot be stifled. We must allow passengers to choose where they want to fly from. We must allow free markets to function. There is an imbalance here, and there has been for many years, between Dublin Airport in our capital versus the other airports in the west of Ireland. The national aviation policy needs to address that. The regional airports programme could be bumped up further. We need to reflect on that example I gave that tomorrow, 13 flights will leave Dublin for Amsterdam Schiphol. Not a single one will be flying out from the west of Ireland. That is the type of balance that can be addressed. I suggested it at pre-legislative scrutiny. We could have inserted somewhere into this Bill a provision for slot management. Slot management typically only happens in airports where they are under huge pressure and the number of flights exceed what the airport is able to cater for. The Irish Aviation Authority and the Dublin Airport Authority would start managing slots. I would argue that at the moment, when any airline in the world applies to run a new service into Dublin, it is only viewed through the lens of approval or disapproval. That is the only thing. The Irish Aviation Authority, by statute, is only allowed to appraise it on a \"Yes\" or \"No\" basis. We could impose a regional development clause in that. If 13 flights are going to Schiphol, the Irish Aviation Authority should be saying it has exceeded what we probably need as a country and more should be given to the regions. That clause could have been in there and it should be in the new national aviation strategy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Transport (Deputy Darragh O'Brien)  I thank the ten Deputies who have contributed to the debate so far. I will deal with the specific amendments first and a few of the other points. Some Deputies, such as Deputy Coppinger - not to pick her out - could have a look at the Second Stage speech. I outlined a lot of what we were talking about this evening on Second Stage. I will make a comment before I speak directly to the amendment but it is related. I know everyone in this House has an earnest and a well-held view about this. I think all of us agree that Dublin Airport is an important strategic asset for this State. That is the first thing. I will deal with regional as well because our regional airports are critically important for this country. By the way, it is not just those within the Republic. Derry and Belfast airports are on this island and are critically important. I will turn to regional development and the national aviation policy, which I clearly referenced in the Second Stage contribution.  If we take the airport as it operates right now, last year, 36.4 million passengers flew through Dublin Airport. A small percentage, approximately 1.7 million or so, transited through it. They are passenger numbers, not flights. That was said earlier on and I know Deputy Ahern probably misspoke on that. They were passenger numbers as opposed to flights. That is important too.  The ratio of passengers to jobs is about 1 million to 1,000. For every 1 million passengers, there are about 1,000 direct jobs. We have approximately 30,000 plus workers directly on campus and about 130,000 total between direct and indirect. I am speaking to amendment No. 1 to section 2, which is Deputy Ahern's amendment. Others have come into the House in a less constructive way, such as Deputies Murphy and Coppinger and others. We would be having a debate here, and rightly so, as to why we lost 4,000 direct jobs in the airport and 10,000 to 15,000 indirect jobs if we continued to operate it as it is now and did not try to address what is a legacy issue. To be fair, many Deputies recognised that as a legacy issue. There is an economic imperative here but there is a balanced approach.  There is the good neighbour policy that needs to be operated by DAA, the airport operator. I said that really clearly on Second Stage. I have grown up beside the airport. I represent an airport constituency. I know the benefits of living beside the airport by way of proximity. I know the challenges for members within my community and my constituency and other constituencies like Deputy O'Gorman's. That has to be done in a proper and appropriate way. I said clearly on Second Stage that this has not always been the case by the airport operators. On page 8 of the Bill, someone bemoaned the powers that may be given to the Minister. That might be a well-held view but it states, \"The Minister may give a direction in writing to daa for any purpose relating to this Act, including, but not limited to-\". I have said it clearly on a couple of things. I have written to the airport and intend for it to do things such as improving and expanding the noise insulation scheme. I do not think Deputy Coppinger knew about ANCA's decision at the time. That decision in relation to aircraft noise has been published for 14 weeks, which would have a significant bearing on the scale and the breadth of the noise insulation scheme.  I have put it on the record of the House here and directly to the DAA that the voluntary purchase scheme needs to be improved upon. There are people who have sold their homes under that scheme. It needs to be improved further. There are people, particularly on the western side, right on the airport campus, whose homes I visited. For others to make any suggestion that I have not met residents' groups is simply untrue. Again, that charge was made by Deputies Murphy and Coppinger. It is not true. Formally, I have had three separate meetings with three groups over the course of the past 12 to 18 months, listening to them directly. I represent residents and constituents who work in the airport as well as those who have issues with noise. I meet them and engage with them all the time, so what they said is simply not true.  There is a responsibility to balance sustainable growth at the airport, supporting the jobs in the airport and supporting the potential to grow further jobs and further routes.  On flight paths, I said very clearly on Second Stage - not on foot of a proposal from anyone else but I welcome the main Opposition party looking at this - that an independent assessment of flight paths will happen. We need it to happen because, as Deputy O'Rourke said, there are people, including in north County Dublin, who saw applications made for certain flight paths that were granted and were not adhered to. I will not say too much because that was a matter for a retention application as well. When you plan forward, you have to try to be very clear with people. Yes, I want the airport to grow. I want the good jobs that are in the airport to be supported and I want the reality of ensuring that happens in a sustainable way.  I think it was Deputy Farrelly who mentioned SHDs and going over the head of local authorities. I agree absolutely - that is why as housing Minister I got rid of SHDs - but this legislation specifically references that we are protecting the existing infrastructure application in there. We are not overriding the application that has still not been heard. I take the Deputy\u2019s point and am not dismissing it at all but, in line with the legal advice we had, fundamentally the policy direction that I wanted was to protect that application that is there because it has gone through a number of iterations by way of public consultation right the way through.  It is a complicated decision-making structure between the aircraft noise competent authority, ANCA, and Fingal County Council. I was in this Chamber in the Opposition debating this when it was the subject of a Bill in 2018. I actually supported the Bill but managed to get some changes to it - parts of it were a halfway house \u2013 and on foot of that we have commenced the review of where planning should sit for an airport into the future, as a strategic asset, how the noise authority interacts with the local authority and all those different things. There were people in the Fingal area at the time, as I am sure Deputy O\u2019Gorman will know, who were not happy with ANCA sitting within Fingal County Council even though it is an independent organisation. There were people who had concerns about that. I commend ANCA on the work it does. It operates very well and has protected the independence it has had.  I mention that because these were points that were made during debates, genuine concerns that may have been raised, that have not come to pass. That is not to dismiss any of the points that have been made here either, because this is just the first iteration of this. When I say it will protect the existing application, that application, if granted, would supersede any order I would make. Again, that is clearly set down in the legislation. If it is refused, my order stays in place. How do I make the order? This question has been raised by many TDs here, and especially Deputies Ahern and O\u2019Gorman have raised it in relation to environmental considerations. It is clearly set out in the Bill. I will not be doing the assessments. The full environmental impact assessment will be done in line with an EIA directive, which will identify, describe and assess the direct and indirect significant effects of making an order on several factors including climate. That will be independently undertaken prior to the making of the order. An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la will do that and I have set out a timeframe.  Any charge that we are setting aside any environmental considerations is absolutely not true. I will not prejudice the outcome of that assessment, which I will consider fully before making an order. I have made it clear that even though international aviation emissions are outside the scope of the climate action plan, which is a fact, we are taking actions that are aligned with the global approach to decarbonisation in the aviation sector. That is the element in relation to this. We are not setting aside climate obligations, climate assessments or environmental impact assessments. That is not correct. We are protecting the original planning application. That is being done and I have said that very clearly. It does give the Minister of the day the power to seek an application from the DAA for further increases.  I am glad Deputy Murphy is back. I referred to him earlier - not in a derogatory way, I might add - in relation to his comment that the Bill has been rushed or not considered. There were ten weeks of pre-legislative scrutiny. It is a planning condition going back to 2007 and 2008. It is something that has been kicked around for a long time and has never been dealt with. Those pre-legislative scrutiny hearings were open to any Deputy to go and make his or her case or point of view. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  I was there. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  Yes, Deputy O\u2019Gorman was there. I was not saying he was not but I am saying there are others who have contributed here this evening who did not go to that committee to put forward their case. They are entitled to do it here this evening but I am just stating that. I did say, now that Deputy Murphy is here, that I have met residents. Deputy Coppinger made the charge the last time that I had not done so but I certainly have.  On balanced regional development, national aviation policy has been rightly mentioned. Again, on Second Stage, I tried to be very clear on this. We have commenced work on the new national aviation policy, which is a commitment in the programme for Government. We will issue an issues paper on the new national aviation policy later this year. That will form the basis for stakeholder engagement and look at the balanced regional development of our airports.  All our regional airports are growing and that is good. Cork Airport is growing. Deputy Pa Daly asked what was happening with Cork. There is a \u20ac200 million capital investment happening in Cork Airport. I visited it only a few weeks ago. It is a great airport with further potential to grow and I want to see that happen. I was at the 40th anniversary of Ireland West, where I met the team and saw the new infrastructure that is in place, fire services training, new stands and its development plan. Hopefully, Ireland West Airport Knock will hit 1 million passengers by the end of this year. Shannon is growing. It grew by 9% last year. It not only has really good plans in place but there is growth happening. I think there are 41 routes out of Shannon now, which is the highest number it has had in maybe 30 years. Donegal Airport is servicing the north west and we have managed to protect that airport with the PSO changes we made. The Dublin-Derry air route will open in October through PSO funding we secured through the shared island fund. Kerry Airport in Farranfore is continuing to grow. Commitment towards regional growth is why I have changed the regional airports policy to ensure that airports can grow up to 3 million and still receive support from the State to grow. I want to see them grow. There are really good jobs there. Connectivity is important for tourism and for our wider economy as well.  If we were to stick to 32 million and a decision were made tomorrow that the cap currently in place would apply immediately such that we reduced the passenger numbers from 36.4 million to 32 million, we would be losing thousands of jobs in Dublin Airport. Deputy Coppinger would probably be the first to come here on that. She might not be the first but many Deputies would rightly come in here and ask what we were doing to support airport workers. What I am doing to support airport workers is making sure there are good jobs in the airport and making sure people can have good careers in the airport, not just in aviation itself and the airlines but in maintenance, repair and overhaul, MRO, leasing and all the other elements of the aviation sector in which Irish people are at the forefront right the way across the world. The airport has to grow in a sustainable way and it will. We are protecting the application that is before Fingal County Council. We have ensured that is the case with this legislation by specific reference to it.  On future growth, the application right now would raise the cap to 40 million. The assessments that have been done will back up that 40 million. Any future growth would be based on an order that would be made. An application would be made to the Minister for a further increase if that was required in the future but you cannot just grow the airport and passenger numbers without having the infrastructure in place. That is why you need the new stands at the airport and all the various things that underpin the growth of the aviation sector and, indeed, Dublin Airport.  To respond to Deputy Ahern, I was not being facetious the last day and I will not be facetious now either. It is very clear what international connectivity is and that is why I am not accepting either of the amendments he tabled.  I have also clearly covered our obligations with regard to environmental impact assessments and how they will be assessed through An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la, so I do not intend to accept amendment No. 13 either. I think I have covered most of what was there, but I assure people that residents and those living in proximity are at the forefront of my mind in ensuring the airport can grow in a balanced way on the basis that it operates as a good neighbour, which it has not always done. I have reiterated my commitment to ensuring an independent assessment of flight paths. That will happen. We will continue to support and grow the jobs at Dublin Airport and everything else that relates to the other, indirect jobs that flow from smaller and larger Irish companies thousands of people derive their income from. That is an important consideration, I would say, and should be for everyone in this Chamber. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  I thank the Minister for his comments and for listening so attentively to what people were saying. On my amendment, the issue I have is how much connectivity is ever going to be enough. We still do not have an answer on that. He mentioned a figure of 40 million passengers being the first application. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  That is the one in with Fingal now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  The Minister's assumption is that will be the first application. There is no guarantee anywhere here, however, that it is going to be a 40 million cap. There is presumably nothing preventing the DAA from applying for a higher figure. However, that is the Minister's understanding and that is fair enough. Our issue is that there are no limits anywhere in this Bill. There are no parameters for the number of passengers who will be coming through the airport. No real economic assessment has been done here. The Minister stated that there are 1,000 jobs attached to every 1 million passengers, and I ask where he got that figure from and whether it is a figure given to him by the airline industry. At least when it came to the expansion of data centres in this country and the Government's policy on that, it commissioned a report we could scrutinise. The Government acknowledged the need to back up the claims about jobs related to data centres with some hard data. Now, the data is questionable but at least it was put out there by the Government. We have not seen any of that for the claims being made about jobs and the international connectivity of Dublin Airport. Do not get me wrong, we value Dublin Airport. We completely understand that it is a strategic national asset. Part of our concern here relates to balanced regional development. It relates back to what Deputy Crowe was speaking about where flights from Shannon are being run from Dublin rather than Shannon. Will this policy now give rise to Dublin swallowing up everything else? Is international connectivity just a byword for a policy from large international airlines that want to use Dublin Airport as a hub and create an even bigger hub out of Dublin that will not necessarily serve Irish people or passengers but is going to serve these international airlines and passengers who are connecting here to move abroad? I have serious questions about that as well.  As a lawyer, I like definitions. Again, as Deputy Whitmore alluded to, we need some metrics to hold the Minister to account. There are emissions connected to every new additional flight that is going to come from Dublin Airport, and we want to have some accountability here. Huge power is being put in the Minister's hands in this Bill, and we want to put some guardrails and parameters around that. Unfortunately, he is determined to dismantle some of the climate guardrails the previous Government put in place through the disapplication of section 15 of the climate Act.  The Minister also mentioned that he is not setting aside climate considerations. There are other amendments that relate to this and some of his powers under the Bill. Those powers are contained in section 25 of the Bill, and they are his powers to make an order. I bring this up because the Minister raised it and said he has to consider any conditions that An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la sends to him. That is all true. A process is set out here whereby An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la does an environmental impact assessment, and it can make recommendations and put conditions down that they send to him as a Minister. Under section 25(3), he can decide to include that condition in an order he makes. He can unilaterally decide to vary that condition or he can refuse to include that condition in an order that he makes. That is a massive power for him to simply take as advisory anything that An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la says. I do not accept that he is not setting aside climate considerations here. It is up to him or a future Minister for Transport to say sod whatever An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la said and sod the climate because they will have an explicit power to ignore all of that, and to decide that is what they are going to do. That is a massive flaw in this Bill. If it is the Minister's position that he wants to take climate considerations seriously into account when it comes to our aviation policy, this section 25(3)(c) is a massive problem. We do not have any answers from the Minister on where the savings will come from to counteract the additional emissions coming from Dublin Airport when this airport cap is lifted. We are lifting the Dublin Airport cap, and we still have no other cap. We still have no climate action plan, and we desperately want to see that from the Minister as soon as possible.  Emissions from air travel are massive. I do not know if we all consider just how polluting our flights are. To put this in context, the Minister and certainly the electoral nerds among us will have seen last week that the Electoral Commission produced a report about the Irish obsession with posters during election campaigns. It estimated that the carbon emissions for all the posters used in the general election in 2024 had the equivalent of just two return transatlantic flights. That report interestingly said that Irish people hate posters and want to do away with them. If we did do away with election posters, it would simply have the same environmental impact as two full transatlantic flights. We are seriously increasing our carbon emissions here. There is a world in which I can support something like this, but we would need to see where the limits and the guardrails are, and where in the transport sector or elsewhere those savings will come from so we can comply with our legally binding carbon budgets and our international obligations. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  I thank the Minister for his response. I want to come back briefly on two elements. The Minister has said that in advancing this legislation he is not setting aside our climate obligations. Just so it is on the record of the House, section 39 of the Bill is a modification of the application of section 15 of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015. It is worth looking at what that actually does. Section 39 states:  The Minister and [An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la], in performing their functions under this Act, shall not be subject to the requirements referred to in section 15(1) of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015, having regard to the likely consequences for the economy of the State and for international connectivity if an order is not made by the Minister under section 25(1) .  The Minister and the commission are not subject to the requirements under section 15(1) of the climate Act. What are those requirements? There are five requirements set out in law. They are that a relevant body shall, insofar as it is practicable, perform its functions in a manner consistent with the most recently approved climate action plan, the most recently approved long-term climate action strategy, the most recently approved national adaptation framework and approved sectoral adaptation plan, the furtherance of the national climate objective and the objective of mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the effects of climate change in the State.  The word \"literally\" is overused, but the Minister is literally disapplying climate obligations by means of this particular Bill. Section 39 literally states that, so can we just move away from this idea that the Minister is not doing so. He is, because it says he is in section 39. It is everything from the annual - or what used to be the annual - climate action plans all the way up to the important national climate objective that the State has and that is the centrepiece of the climate action Act, as amended. These are being disapplied when it comes to the crucial decision on lifting the airport cap. They has been disapplied in other areas as well, including in the legislation on the decision relating to LNG that we dealt with earlier. They will possibly be disapplied in relation to many decisions coming through in respect of the critical infrastructure Bill. In some places, what is happening is actually going to make pro-climate critical infrastructure harder to defend in court. I raised that point already. Let us be very clear: the Bill is literally disapplying our climate obligations. That is the purpose of section 39.  I wish to comment on the point about the engagement with the process. The Minister mentioned the pre-legislative scrutiny process, which was lengthy. We got to hear in detail the impact of noise on residents and the attempt by certain US CEOs to bully us into making this particular change. We are looking at the detailed legislation at this point. When the ANCA legislation was going through, the Minister made the point that, following engagement with one of his ministerial colleagues, he was able to secure some amendments and improvements. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  The Deputy can table amendments. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  We cannot do that tonight because we have not even had the opportunity to go through good amendments or to address some of the points in detail. After Committee Stage, most fair-minded Ministers would at least look at what the Opposition has said and make some changes or improvements. We do not have that opportunity here. I have a good amendment for the Minister. It is amendment No. 14. He recognised the work ANCA has done and the fact that it recently published a decision. Let us give that decision some teeth. Let us recognise the noise abatement objective for Dublin Airport in this legislation. Let us recognise that it is one of the considerations that An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la should use in the context of the recommendation it will make and in respect of which the Minister will ultimately make a decision. There are good amendments here. We just do not have the time to tease them out and, perhaps, bring forward other amendments. That is the process. We are helpless in terms of that now. There are good amendments here, and some of them should be accepted. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aidan Farrelly  I thank the Minister for his very comprehensive response to the many points made. As Deputy O'Gorman said, we have to be accurate in what we say. This legislation is exempt from section 15 of the climate action Act. It is of critical importance to acknowledge that in the first instance. Otherwise, we are beating around the bush and being quite disingenuous. Speaking of being disingenuous, we should not be dangling the prospect of 4,000 jobs being impacted during the debate on legislation of this nature. I do not think it is accurate to speak about this matter in that context. The Minister has insight from meeting with the DAA and everybody else involved, but, given the tight timeframe, to make a threat of that nature in respect of legislation does not help.  I listened with real interest to a DAA spokesperson commenting on balanced regional development and the importance of other regional airports. He said that airlines simply do not want to use the other airports and that is why the passenger cap needs to go. In that context, I reiterate the point I made in my initial contribution. This is legislation and the policy behind it are being driven by the market. The cost of that is yet to be determined.  The Minister reverted to me about the SHD legislation and how it differs from this Bill. On the face of it, however, it is undemocratic to bypass the local authority in the first instance. The Minister referred to the strategic importance of this piece of infrastructure. When he was a councillor - I was also a councillor in Kildare - he would not have been impressed by the idea that the local authority of which he was a member, in the context of the important function it plays in respect of the planning process, would be bypassed. I have a very fond memory of a colleague of the Minister's who served with me on Kildare County Council declaring a climate emergency. He put down a motion at a meeting of Kildare County Council, banged on the table and stated that we were in a climate emergency and living in that dystopian future that we were told to worry about when it came to severe weather events. That colleague of the Minister is now going to vote in favour of legislation, the consequences of which we simply cannot know because no calculation has been carried out. There is no sense from a numbers perspective what impact this legislation will have. The Minister cannot rebut that because it is factually correct. We have not done the assessment. We have not done the holistic calculation of just how damaging this will be.  There was a situation in Kildare about a month ago whereby the ESB threatened that it was going to flood one community because of excess water in the River Liffey. At the same time, another community 3 km or 4 km away had no water. That is testament to the ever-worsening and ever-more-extreme climate events our country faces and to our place in this world.  It pains me when colleagues declare that we are in a climate emergency at local authority meetings and then the Government bypasses local authorities with its decision-making structures. I wonder what will happen next. What other ministerial powers are going to come about? When we are talking about nuclear energy or other important projects, will it be okay to be undemocratic and not to put these through the formal planning process because of their strategic importance? I am worried. If we get that precedent wrong, it will be the start of a very worrying trend. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  I want to press my amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  Am I allowed to respond? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Not really. If the Deputy is pressing the amendment, that is his prerogative. It is his amendment. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2 agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Sections 3 to 5, inclusive, agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"SECTION 6"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  I move amendment No. 2:  In page 8, between lines 27 and 28, to insert the following:  \u201c(4) The Minister shall, not later than 12 months following commencement, lay before both Houses of the Oireachtas a report reviewing daa\u2019s compliance with the directions of the Minister.\u201d.  This amendment seeks that the Minister should within 12 months following commencement, lay before both Houses of the Oireachtas a report reviewing DAA's compliance with the directions of the Minister because, as we all know, there is a lack of trust in the north County Dublin area in what the DAA has done. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  This amendment proposes that I lay a report before the Houses in relation to the DAA's compliance with any direction I give it under the Bill. I think this provision is unnecessary. Under the Bill, the DAA is required to comply with a direction that I issue. Typically, this will relate to the provision of reports to allow the environmental assessments to be undertaken. If that information is not provided and the assessments cannot be undertaken, no order can be made. As such, it is in the interest of the DAA to comply with a direction I issue. I do not envisage a scenario where the DAA does not comply with a direction I give, so reporting on compliance will be unnecessary.  In addition, it is open to Deputies to seek information by way of parliamentary questions. I again refer the Deputy to the powers of a Minister to give directions to the DAA. That will not be confined. We have discussed at length here too the importance of the DAA being a good neighbour. I think this has improved in the short term but it needs to improve further. In relation to things like flight paths, I have made this very clear. We are going to have an independent assessment of it. Additionally, as was referenced earlier in relation to flights, and the decision, in particular, that ANCA has issued for a 14-week public consultation, I encourage people to engage with it. It is a good piece of work and will feed into the planning application for 40 million passengers currently with Fingal County Council. That is why I was at pains to say earlier that we protect that current application because communities, individuals and other stakeholders have engaged directly with it. It would not be appropriate to set that aside, nor am I actually suggesting that happen. Furthermore, I have actually specifically protected it, and it is referred to in this legislation. In that instance, I am not going to accept this amendment for the reasons I put forward. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  How could the Minister not accept such an amendment? It is as plain as anything that there should be some obligation on the DAA to review how it works. We only have a minute or so left. I have two very quick things. One concerns a resident who sent this communication last week. I was making the point about the DAA and insulation. This person said that as they typed the message in their back garden, planes were flying directly overhead, every window in the house was open and their four kids under seven were in bed. This person added that their house has not been noise-insulated by the DAA and wanted us to know that the existing insulation scheme has not installed a single air conditioning system for affected residents in order to remove the necessity to open windows during the hottest and loudest months. The message continued by saying the scheme is not fit for purpose and that it is grossly unfair that the costs of expansion and of the airlines doing business are being borne by local residents. Unfortunately, that is the reality. During the hottest months, the flights are the worst.  I also want to ask the Minister about having said earlier that he had met residents. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  I have. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  I just checked, and residents in the St. Margaret's The Ward Residents Group have asked to meet the Minister in relation to their Planning for Real proposal. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  I have met them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  They said the Minister has not met them since before last summer, so we have two conflicting statements then. I have to believe the residents. They have now gone to court because they have not been able to meet the Minister.  I also want to say something else because the Minister has used the issue of jobs to justify this. Nobody is saying that any jobs should be lost. This is actually about expanding the airport. We actually cannot have unlimited growth all the time. We have to take into account the impact on the environment and climate change and on local residents too. To talk about job losses is just really out of order in that sense.  We are very rushed again. We are not going to get to some of the other very important amendments that have been tabled.  The Minister needs to meet the residents. If he is saying he has met them, then he should agree to meet them. I definitely do believe we should call a vote on this Bill. It is an extremely important one. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The time permitted for this debate having expired, I am required to put the following question in accordance with an order of the D\u00e1il of this day: \"That in respect of each of the sections undisposed of, the section is hereby agreed to in Committee, the Title is hereby agreed to in Committee, the Bill is accordingly reported to the House without amendment, Fourth Stage is hereby completed and the Bill is hereby passed.\" "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Dublin Airport (Passenger Capacity) Bill 2026: Committee and Remaining Stages"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-30\/debate\/dbsect_40","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Teachtaireacht \u00f3n Seanad - Message from Seanad","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_40","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Miche\u00e1l Carrigy)  Seanad \u00c9ireann has passed the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2025, without amendment. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Teachtaireacht \u00f3n Seanad - Message from Seanad"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-30\/debate\/dbsect_41","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/69","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/69\/dail\/3_sub","houseCode":"dail","stage":"3_sub","isBillStage":false,"showAs":"Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Bill 2026: Committee and Remaining Stages (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Bill 2026: Committee and Remaining Stages","counts":{"speechCount":45,"speakerCount":13},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_41","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niamh Smyth","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Geoghegan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"SECTION 1"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question proposed: \"That section 1 stand part of the Bill.\""},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niamh Smyth","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (Deputy Niamh Smyth)  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an gCathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach for his forbearance. I thank the House for facilitating Committee Stage today and for the constructive engagement on the Bill on Second Stage.  The Bill puts in place the regulatory foundation needed to build public trust in artificial intelligence, Al, so that Al develops as a tool for people and supports the wider goal of improving human well-being. With these aims in mind, the Bill is a technical implementing measure. It does not add to, nor alter, the obligations placed on regulated entities by the EU Al Act. The Bill establishes essential, domestic regulatory architecture for the supervision and enforcement of the Al Act in the State.  We are moving with agility now, as there is also a firm legal deadline. Enforcement of prohibited Al practices posing unacceptable risks, as set out in Article 5 of the Al Act, takes effect on 2 August 2026. Ireland must have the necessary national supervisory and enforcement infrastructure in place by that date. There will be a phased approach to implementation of the Al Act, so we recognise the need to be open to further measures as part of this work.  I also take this opportunity to say that I look forward to receiving the enterprise committee\u2019s pre-legislative scrutiny report. The recommendations contained in it will be considered as part of the next phase. All proposed amendments must be considered against this backdrop.  I will briefly address some of the issues raised on Second Stage. I have written directly to some of the Deputies who raised specific questions last week. I hope most of them had an opportunity to consider the correspondence. The important issue of resourcing was raised a number of times, and I fully agree that the resourcing of all competent authorities is vital to ensure the successful implementation of the Al Act in Ireland. For that reason, the Government provided funding in 2026 to support the establishment of the Irish Al office. Relevant competent authorities and market surveillance authorities will continue to be resourced through their existing governance and budgetary arrangements.  The EU Al Act continues to come into effect on a phased basis and will do so from August of this year to December 2028. This period provides an opportunity for competent authorities to further assess operational requirements for them to carry out their roles in the regulation of Al.  Colleagues raised points around the independence of the Al office. I want to be clear: I recognise the importance of this matter. The Al office is to be established as a separate statutory body corporate with its own legal standing. The Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Bill expressly provides in section 9 that the Al office \u201cshall be independent in the performance of its functions\". This is reinforced by its status as a stand-alone body; governance by an independent board rather than the Minister; a public appointments process for board members and the CEO; conflict of interest rules; and restrictions on political officeholders serving in the office. While the Minister retains a limited power to issue policy directions, that power is constrained and does not extend to the regulatory co-ordination functions of the office. The office will remain subject to appropriate statutory, funding and accountability controls, while its operational independence in core regulatory functions is protected by the Bill.  Deputies also raised points regarding the powers and role of the Al office and I welcome the opportunity to clarify these. I confirm that the Al office is to be designated as a market surveillance authority and Ireland\u2019s single point of contact for the European Commission and other member states, as required by the Al Act. In this role, it will increase organisational efficiency in Ireland to support consistent enforcement of the Act; facilitate co-operation between competent authorities and fundamental rights bodies; and act as Ireland's main interface with the EU and member states for Al regulation. The Irish Al office will act within a distributed regulatory model, under which a range of existing sectoral regulators and market surveillance authorities are responsible for supervising and enforcing the Al Act within their respective areas of expertise.  I confirm that no Government amendments are being brought forward this evening. I thank Deputies for their co-operation. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"SECTION 2"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Miche\u00e1l Carrigy)  Amendments Nos. 1, 13 to 16, inclusive, and 20 are related and may be discussed together. Amendment No. 16 is a physical alternative to amendment No. 15. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  I move amendment No. 1:  In page 11, between lines 15 and 16, to insert the following:  \u201c \u201cService\u201d means the Public Appointments Service;\u201d.  This first set of amendments speaks to the establishment of the board but first I wish to address the parliamentary scrutiny, or lack thereof, of this legislation, which is so disappointing. It is 11 calendar days since the text of this Bill was published. We have had four D\u00e1il sitting days and seven working days to scrutinise this absolutely crucial Bill. Providing 11 calendar days between publishing the text and enacting the law is not parliamentary scrutiny. That does not give us as members of the Opposition any opportunity to engage properly with this legislation and provide for amendments. It is a disgrace. I have valuable insights and I want to work on the governance of AI. I established a State agency, which is arguably the most independent State agency. I was its inaugural director between 2014 and 2016 and later I led it for four years as chief commissioner. I have knowledge I can contribute to this. I worked in the tech sector for eight years. I have a lot to add. I sit on the AI committee and the culture, communication and sport committee where we regulate the tech sector. I attended the pre-legislative scrutiny at the enterprise committee and I could even see, between those three committees, the gulf in understanding. AI is technical, complex and we have learned a lot on the AI committee but we were not given the opportunity to engage effectively with this Bill. Instead it went through pre-legislative scrutiny at the enterprise committee and now it is being rushed through the D\u00e1il even though the Government has known it is coming down the track for years. I am genuinely disgusted at how this is being handled. It is a travesty of democracy that this is all the opportunity we get to discuss it.  My amendments in this grouping are amendments Nos. 1, 15 and 20. They speak to the Public Appointments Service process for the appointment of the board. A lot of these amendments, especially in the first half of the legislation, are to strengthen the governance of this office to make it more independent. Although the Minister of State said in her statement she appreciates the independence of the office, that this is reinforced by it being a stand-alone body, etc., there are multiple clauses in the Bill that go against that. We will speak later to the fact the Minister gets to appoint the first CEO without any involvement by the Public Appointments Service and the fact the CEO cannot comment on government policy. Besides that, the appointment of the board itself should strive towards the greatest level of independence. These amendments try to essentially put in place a gold standard through the involvement of the Public Appointments Service, as distinct from the Department, so the office can act on its own.  I am familiar with the State boards process. I have issues with the process as it stands. There is a bang of window-dressing off it at times. Obviously it was moved and developed because there was criticism of the fact that Ministers in the past were cherry-picking appointments at board level across many State agencies. Regardless, it is better at least than direct appointments by the Minister. It is important we use the mechanisms that are available to us in the Public Appointments Service to appoint board members and these amendments set out to do exactly that and to make sure we can do that. Also, rather than the Minister having that oversight, other parts of the amendments in this grouping allow for the Government to do it rather than the Minister, which again allows for that increased independence.  I have been critical from the outset that the entire approach of this Government and officials in Brussels, and indeed the Brussels mindset, is that we regulate AI through the lens of industry and business. That is not good enough because it leaves out the competence we need to deal with the rights and protections that are under threat from AI. If we do all this with an enterprise lens, which is what this legislation does, we do not do that. We do not bake in the competence at the outset that we need to protect our citizens from the harms AI is going to inflict on us, which we see around us already. The algorithms we are all using, which are making us addicted to products and which are prompting chatbots to push people towards suicide, are the harms AI is wreaking on society. To treat it as an enterprise issue and the governance as an enterprise-informed operation and mechanism ignores all that. What we get from Government instead is it saying we have to protect rights. It says that at the end of the sentence after talking about balance and consideration but the issue is it is not doing it. These amendments try to strengthen that independence that will ultimately help with that balance and bring in the competence about rights and protections. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  I too wish to state, as I said to the Minister, how concerned I am about the short space of time we have had to really scrutinise something as important as this. The time is just too short for amendments with all the other legislation at this time of year that is piled on together. I take from the Minister of State\u2019s opening contribution that she will be taking on board the enterprise committee\u2019s pre-legislative scrutiny report and that is a positive thing. I agree with Deputy that we have a dedicated AI committee and it must have a role in making this the best possible legislation we can. There is the difficulty there between splitting the areas of authority and responsibility between those committees. Under any circumstances we would have needed extra time to be able to deal with this Bill in the way we needed to.  The independence of the AI office is critical to all of this and to everything that comes after it. I note that while the Minister of State said it is independent, there are things in the legislation that prompt me to question that independence, especially in relation to the ministerial powers. She has a lot to do to convince us of the independence of the office. I submitted amendment No. 16 because I believe the expertise and knowledge of the new members that will comprise the board must reflect the sections of society for which they will be regulating. That is why I have explicitly included the areas of AI, human rights, equality and law, trade unions and workers' rights, consumer protection and civil society engagement. Across the proposed seven members of the new board these are areas that should be represented. If those voices are not represented on the board I cannot see how there can be independence and expertise there in terms of the oversight and regulation we need. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Geoghegan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Geoghegan  As I said on Second Stage of this Bill, I commend the Minister of State on bringing the Bill to these Houses. There are a few things I will mention before I get to the amendments. When the Minister of State said \"recommendations contained in [the pre-legislative scrutiny report] will be considered as part of the next phase\", what did she mean by the next phase? Is she talking about additional primary or secondary legislation? She might clarify that point. It was also a missed opportunity that the AI committee was not afforded time to scrutinise this Bill. Furthermore, two hours for Committee Stage of this Bill is an insufficient amount of time. I acknowledge the challenges Government has to get very important legislation over the line but if there was more time available and if this debate was ongoing, that should have been afforded.  As the previous speaker said, if it is the case that there are to be next phases and if that is primary or secondary legislation, whatever about the Standing Orders, which I do not dismiss, relating to a permanent committee and a non-permanent committee, we are ready and able in the Oireachtas artificial intelligence committee to afford the level of scrutiny I think the committee on enterprise would actually be quite happy with, if that were delegated to us in whatever form, whether it be a formal or informal way, to allow us more of an opportunity.  My amendments and similar amendments relate to the composition of the board. Put very simply, the AI office is different from Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n, the Data Protection Commission and the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, which Deputy Gibney was speaking about a moment ago, in the sense that the structure of a commission and commissioners is very different from that of a board. While I acknowledge the distributive model that is being formed under the AI Act and the one we are adopting here in Ireland and that there will be other entities and regulatory bodies that will have responsibility for the areas of regulating AI, ultimately, the technology sector will treat the AI office as part of a kind of three-way sandwich between Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n and the Data Protection Commissioner. Those three entities will have probably the greatest interplay when it comes to the development of AI products in this jurisdiction.  For those reasons, it is important that the Act would direct the composition of the board. If the Minister of State says that, for whatever reason, the type of composition of the board should not form part of the primary legislation, she might tell the House or give the House some comfort as to the types of experiences, backgrounds and professions that a person who is seeking to be a member of the board of the AI office would have to have. Ultimately, what we want to ensure in terms of a governance structure for the AI office is that it protects fundamental rights, but equally, that the board has an understanding of AI, the development of AI and an interest in the adoption of AI. What we know from this legislation is that the AI office will have a dual function. It will be a regulator but it will also act as a body that will advocate and promote the use of AI. It will regulate independently from the Minister and that is very clear in the legislation in terms of the enforcement of the EU regulations.  On the flip side of that, however, it will have a role for communicating to the general public, and hopefully to small businesses, how AI can support and develop. Therefore, I want to ensure, as I think everyone in this House does, that the board of the AI office would have relevant competencies and a relevant mixture of experiences that could deal with both of those issues. If the Minister of State says it should not form part of the legislation, she might be able to tell the House how that can be assured in the public appointment process that will be brought to bear for the appointments to the board. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy George Lawlor  Like my colleagues, I would have serious concerns about the timescale with regard to this legislation and, as has been said, the notion that we have a dedicated AI committee and yet the only scrutiny, as such, was done by the enterprise committee. I sit on the enterprise committee. The AI committee has done a tremendous amount of work since its establishment and its members are really invested in this legislation, probably to a greater degree than the members of the enterprise committee. The notion that we would have a dedicated AI committee and its members would not be consulted in a meaningful way on this legislation leaves a funny taste. This is really important legislation given the context in which we are living and the almost daily intrusion of AI in all our lives, be it online or otherwise.  The Minister of State talks about the next phase. As Deputy Geoghegan alluded to, in that next phase, whatever it may be, surely there should be some role or function for the AI committee given the expertise it has built up since its establishment. This was established with foresight. People saw the need for an AI committee within these House. It is quite ludicrous, therefore, that when we bring a Bill or piece of legislation on AI before the House, the committee relevant to that legislation is not consulted. That is something we need to examine greatly. While the enterprise committee did have pre-legislative scrutiny and will obviously issue a report, it is a halfway house compared with what it should be in terms of scrutiny by a committee that was set up and established specifically to discuss, investigate and interrogate the whole issue of AI.  The amendment I propose states:  Without prejudice ... the Minister shall, in so far as is practicable, endeavour to ensure that among the members of the Board there is at least one person with demonstrated expertise in one or more of the following:  (a) fundamental rights law;  (b) data protection law;  (c) consumer protection law.  The Bill provides for a board but does not specify any expertise requirements for its membership beyond general competence. The amendment requires the Minister to endeavour to ensure that at least one member has expertise in fundamental rights law, data protection law or consumer protection law. This reflects the subject matter of the AI Act, which operates at the intersection of all three. The AI Act itself requires that national competent authorities have the necessary technical and legal expertise. Given that the office's function includes supervising high-risk AI systems affecting individuals' rights, the absence of any rights expertise requirement is certainly a gap. I do not think it is too big an ask to have the correct competent people sitting on what will be one of the most important boards to come before this House and, indeed, the country. The notion that we are asking for this is also a bit ludicrous. Given what is at stake and what is contained in it, it is not a huge ask that these three competencies, in particular, would be sought to serve on this board, however they may be appointed. As I said, however, this is indicative of the rushed legislation we see before us. As Deputy Gibney has pointed out, 11 days is simply not good enough. It is not good enough in the context of the decisions we have to make in this regard. Therefore, I urge the Minister to consider the amendment seriously. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  I welcome the opportunity to speak on Committee Stage. The point has been made about the process. There are two issues, one of which is the rushed nature of it. It is not that long ago that we were speaking on Second Stage here and the Committee Stage amendments deadline had already passed at that stage. There are 74 amendments. There would have been more. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for the Government to rush through really important legislation. It is not even uncommon today. This is the third piece of legislation in the last number of hours that has been rushed through. That is the aspect about that process and the opportunity for scrutiny. In fairness, both the Government and Opposition are contributing to the legislation, which is not something we always see. There are amendments from Government TDs. It is reasonable to ask what, if any, pre-legislative scrutiny deliberations or recommendations are reflected in the Bill. At this stage, there are 74 amendments here. We will be lucky to get through five or six of them. Is the Minister of State going to accept any of them or is this exercise a fait accompli , as was the experience in the previous two Bills? What does that say? In fairness, all of us here are engaging in good faith. We recognise the importance of this legislation and we are trying to improve it. Members from the Opposition and the Minister of State's own Government colleagues are submitting amendments in the same vein, essentially making the same point that we need to strengthen the governance here and look at the expertise, or the range of interests and expertise, of board members.  The question has been asked, where to from here? Obviously, we have a rushed piece of legislation here now. It will go to the Seanad. The Minister of State might indicate in her response whether she has any intention of accepting any amendments or bringing forward amendments herself or whether there is more primary legislation to come. We are dealing with the legislation now. It has been on the horizon for quite some time. The Government should do a far better job in relation to it. The point that has been well made at this stage that the opportunity should have been provided, if the Minister of State and the Government were intent on providing the best piece of legislation, to hear from the AI committee and for scrutiny of the Bill through all of its Stages in these Houses. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas as an deis labhairt ar an mBille seo inni\u00fa. As Chair of the AI committee, I think there is some frustration around it. It is mostly procedural. In fairness, the enterprise committee is the statutory committee and it is for that reason that the scheme of the Bill went there for pre-legislative scrutiny. If there was a way that any future Bills or primary legislation would come to the AI committee, that would be extremely helpful because, as colleagues across the House have said, the AI committee has developed an expertise there.  What is frustrating is that the AI committee members were not informed when the scheme of the Bill was being presented at the enterprise committee for pre-legislative scrutiny. It was only by chance that I was in a committee next door, the environment and energy committee, and saw that it was happening and managed to go in.  The reality of the situation, and particularly this point about rushing through legislation, is that when Government is not passing legislation, it is accused of being a do-nothing Government. When it does pass legislation, it is accused of rushing legislation. There has been talk of the AI Bill for a long time now.  The other reality of the situation that people are failing to recognise is that the AI office needs to be stood up by August. There are timelines here that put pressure on Government and, indeed, on the Minister of State to get this passed.  I thank the Minister of State. On Second Stage here this day last week, I would like to think I was constructive rather than critical. The Minister of State wrote to me responding directly to all of the concerns that I had raised. That is how good legislation should be made, with genuine engagement. There has been genuine engagement with the Minister of State in that regard and it speaks well of her stewardship of the Bill.  I particularly welcome the Minister of State's response on the single point of contact. Colleagues have raised it here. I raised it here on Second Stage and it relates to whether our single point of contact will sit comfortably with Article 72, which provides that the contact point should be a market surveillance authority. I am genuinely pleased that in her reply, the Minister of State confirmed that oifig intleacht shaorga na h\u00c9ireann is to be designate as a market surveillance authority through an amendment to the designated regulations that are being finalised. The Minister of State might inform us in her response when those designated regulations will be finalised and whether they could be shared with members of the AI committee and, indeed, with the House. It is a significant and welcome clarification. It gives the office real standing and ensures our framework is firmly aligned with the Act.  I also raised a question of co-ordination between the 15 authorities that will share this work and the role of the co-operation agreements under section 63. I welcome the Minister of State's assurance that the office will be actively responsible for co-ordinating the relevant competent authorities, that it will support joint investigation and enforcement and that it is already building practical protocols through workshops and a co-operation forum. That is reassuring. As Cathaoirleach of the Oireachtas committee on AI, I will follow how that co-ordination works in practice with great interest and see how implementation proceeds. Indeed, we will do that as a committee to ensure that it is working.  On resourcing, I had stressed that Article 73 of the AI Act requires our competent authorities to have adequate technical, financial and human resources. I welcome the Minister of State's agreement that this resourcing is vital, the funding provided in 2026 to establish the office and her assurance that where additional resources are needed, they can be met through the normal Estimates process. The Act comes into force on a phased basis out to December 2028 and that gives us time to get it right. Monitoring resourcing across all the designated authorities as those phases are rolled out is crucial because a framework is only ever as strong as the bodies that deliver it.  I would also ask about the independence of the office, which other colleagues have raised this evening and previously, given that the Minister of State has the power to issue policy directions. I welcome the Minister of State's confirmation that this power is limited and constrained and that it does not extend to the key adjudicative functions, the findings of the adjudicator, the determination of administrative sanctions or the role of the courts. That is an important safeguard.  The Minister of State spoke here already about the area of trust. We need to ensure that trust in this office is built up and that we can trust what is coming out of the office, the chief executive of the office and the board, notwithstanding some of the points that colleagues have made about board composition and expertise.  I believe this Bill will play a significant role in our preparedness for the technological changes we are seeing develop at a rapid pace and want to see it succeed, as I think we all do. The Minister of State has engaged constructively, openly and in good faith and I want to acknowledge that. This is a strong Bill, made stronger by dialogue. As it moves through these final Stages and into the work of implementation, I look forward to continuing to work with the Minister of State and my colleagues on the committee to ensure it delivers for the people we all serve. I commend the Minister of State on bringing the Bill forward.  Finally, on a procedural piece, we received the Bill on Friday and amendments were to be in by Tuesday. That was extremely time-limiting. We should review it in future because a significant piece of legislation takes significant reading to identify where there are issues. If that could be looked at, I would appreciate it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  I commend the Minister of State on bringing the Bill to this Stage. Before I speak to the specific amendments, which are around the governance and the board structure, it is important that there has been general collaboration, both at the AI committee and, even more generally, around what we want to achieve with this transformational technology, because what we are debating and talking about here does not impact on merely one Department. It is impacting on virtually all areas of society.  On the collaborative cross-party approach, we will not agree on every issue but I think we agree in general on the principles and about what we want to achieve as a State. We want to support innovation, deepen our understanding of AI, upskill our citizens to be able to avail of and use it, and put in the necessary guardrails to ensure that we can continue to \"trust\" our institutions but also know that the institutions have the safeguards in place to protect us.  Given the nature and importance of the discussion, I would share colleagues' concern that there was insufficient time to consider amendments. Given some of the discussion that we are going through here in a two-hour period, I believe it will be relatively short, particularly because we will only get through discussion of the overall board of this body. That is a bit of a problem. I believe we will be constantly legislating for and examining this space, but the Minister of State in her response has to talk about how we as legislators will be able to have an input. I am very aware the technology is moving quickly. I appreciate we have to get the office up and running. I welcome the fact that the recruitment process for the CEO is ongoing and the Minister of State might update the House as to how that is happening.  Specifically on the amendments, when we talk about the board of any organisation, the most important thing is what the purpose of this organisation is and, therefore, who the best people to sit on that board are. I am always cautious about being overly prescriptive about the membership of the board. What is critical is that this AI office best serves our citizens. I strongly support the approach the Minister of State is taking with regard to a distributed regulatory approach. What we need to do, and colleagues have talked about this, is ensure that our regulators are sufficiently skilled to deal with this.  This cannot be another layer - a supra layer - of regulation on top of existing regulation. By that I mean that someone developing a financial product at present just has to go to the Central Bank for regulation, so if it is an AI-enabled product, the Central Bank should have sufficient regulatory power to be able to deal with this. Where there are gaps between those regulators, this office needs to be able to step in. This is where I think the role of the AI office lies. It is a co-ordinating role between our existing regulators. It also has a critical educational role and a role in building public confidence and trust in the use of AI by the State. It is in those very specific objectives that individuals will be appointed to this board, and it is critical they have that level of public trust and understanding.  While I get where colleagues are coming from, I am always cautious about being overly prescriptive. This is about the objectives of the office and whether the board will best be able to support the chief executive and staff in achieving that.  One thing I am concerned about, which is very important, is the issue of a youth advisory panel to ensure young people are heard in this and can influence the governance structure. The Minister of State and I were quite influential during the online safety legislation debate, as was Deputy Carrigy, on ensuring we had a youth advisory panel to work with the online safety commissioner in Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n. We see it in the Office of the Ombudsman for Children and in other areas. This is critical, particularly for children and young people, who are one of many vulnerable groups, to ensure their voice has input in this.  I would like to hear in the Minister of State's response a commitment to establish a youth advisory panel and an update on the CAO process, and get a clear understanding of what, if this is the board being appointed, the purpose of this organisation is and how those filling it will meet that purpose. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  Being honest, I did not intend to speak on these amendments - I was going to wait until later - but when a substantial debate, which should go on for a long period in a committee room, is squeezed into two hours, it invariably turns into Second Stage speeches because it is our last chance to have a say on it. For me, this is the third leg of a bonfire. I know bonfires do not have legs but I am referring to whatever the wooden structures are that go around a serious bonfire. This is the third one we have had in one evening as we burn up our climate targets, the other two being much more obvious, namely, the Bills on LNG and the passenger cap in Dublin Airport. However, this is also part of it.  As regards the section we are dealing with here, the fundamental problem that some of the amendments, and I am assuming the Minister of State will reject them all, attempt to address is the fact that the AI office is not independent and is subordinate to the Department of enterprise. Even the location of the office, subordinate to the Department of enterprise, tells us everything we need to know. This is then fleshed out in the mandate of the AI office and so on. This tells us what the mindset of the Government is in relation to AI is. It is that this is an enterprise issue that is overwhelmingly viewed through that lens. Its view is that this is a train that is moving or has already moved and we all need to get on board, and given that all the companies seem to be doing it, we need to educate all our young people in using AI. That is the whole mindset. I fundamentally disagree with that, as my colleagues on the committee will know.  In general, from where we are currently standing, AI is a force for bad and not good in the world. It is accelerating genocide, climate change and mental health crises, and it is beginning to accelerate significant job loss and displacement. It is eroding workers' autonomy for those who still have jobs, and it is driving misogyny and hate. I do not deny some discrete, positive applications we have heard about for weather forecasting, healthcare and so on, but, as a whole, any objective look at the current impact of this technology will conclude that it is a negative thing. However, what we are seeing in the structure of this Bill, and we will get to the mandate in section 9 shortly, is green for go and doing everything we can to support and promote AI. It very much sees things through an enterprise frame, which is very problematic. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niamh Smyth","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Niamh Smyth  I thank all colleagues for their thoughtful contributions and well-placed intentions. I have an array of notes here to help me respond to them as best I can.  Deputies Geoghegan and \u00d3 Cear\u00fail asked questions about the next phase, primary legislation to go with the non-personal data Bill to cover the pre-legislative scrutiny report's recommendations and any amendments needed for the digital omnibus and levy provision for any regulation. The next phase is primary legislation. This legislation is not only critically important but we will need to keep changing it and come back to it many times in future, unlike much of the other legislation that is established and enacted here, for example, planning law, which may be in place for the next 20 years. I cannot imagine that being the case with legislation on AI. I genuinely believe it will develop organically, but we have to start somewhere and this is the somewhere. This is what we are attempting to do tonight. Deputy \u00d3 Cear\u00fail was right that we have a deadline to meet; there is no getting away from that. As regards the Bills and the process, I accept that and will do my best. Unfortunately, I have no authority over the process, as the Bills Office decides that. However, I accept that Deputies feel this is being rushed. I assure them that the next phase is primary legislation, and I will take on board any requests or suggestions. I am happy to work with them on this.  Deputy Gibney said this issue is being viewed entirely through an enterprise lens, and Deputy Paul Murphy said the same thing. I have said numerous times that I am very cognisant of the human-centred aspect. The Deputy might be throwing her eyes up to heaven, but the truth with regard to the AI Act is that fundamental rights are enshrined in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, including rights relating to democracy, the rule of law and environmental protection, which the Deputy called out. Member states must notify the European Commission of the designated authorities to ensure transparency and effective co-operation across the EU. Ireland's fundamental rights authorities include Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n, the Data Protection Commission, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, IHREC, and the Office of the Ombudsman for Children, none of which comes under the Department of enterprise. To be fair, there is a broad scope and I certainly do not come at this issue from that narrow prism of enterprise only. While I am a Minister of State in the Department of enterprise and the office is being created by my Department, I assure Deputies that its autonomy and independence will be absolute in the legislation and there will be an arm's length approach taken to the AI office.  I emphasise that this is a process and not a done deal; it will not be done and dusted tonight. I accept that Deputies would like to have more time. Two committees, the AI and enterprise committees, have responsibility in this regard. The enterprise committee has statutory responsibility for pre-legislative scrutiny. I have no authority over that, but I am always happy to go before the artificial intelligence committee to answer questions and engage in debate and discussion with Deputies. I am waiting on the enterprise committee's pre-legislative scrutiny recommendations and I will be happy to see how we can knit those into the next phase of the legislation. I hope that answers some of the calls that have been made.  The pre-legislative scrutiny process was watched closely by officials. Certain matters have been incorporated, including the carve-outs in section 2 and the inclusion of the requirement for the market surveillance authorities to share the fundamental rights impact analysis reports with the AI office.  However, we stand ready for the report and are eager to take the recommendations in the next phase. I hope that puts to bed concerns that people may have that are raised here tonight.  Deputy Gibney raised the CEO recruitment. I do not pick the CEO. There is a very public, transparent process there, which the Deputy knows full well, I have no doubt. The position was advertised through a Public Appointments Service competition. The competition is at an advanced stage. I can tell the Deputy that, but I do not pick the CEO, so please do not indicate that I do, because I do not. I thank Deputy Gibney for her amendment. However, I do not consider it necessary to introduce a definition of service for the purpose of the Bill. The references to the Public Appointments Service in the Bill are limited in number and are clear and unambiguous in their context. The provisions concerning the appointment of members of the board expressly refer to the Public Appointments Service. There is no difficulty in understanding those references as drafted. As a general principle of legislative drafting, defined terms should only be used when they are necessary to assist the interpretation or operation of legislation. In this instance, introducing a definition of service would not materially improve the readability or operation of the Bill. For those reasons, I do not consider the amendment necessary, and therefore do not propose to accept it.  Regarding amendments Nos. 13, 14, 15, and 16, I thank Deputies Gibney, Lawlor, Conway-Walsh and Geoghegan for their amendments in respect of the board members of the AI office. Deputy Byrne may have raised this too. I recognise the objective behind the amendments, namely, to ensure a highly transparent, merit-based appointments process and a broad range of expertise on the board. I agree with these objectives. Indeed, the Bill already provides for a Public Appointments Service process and requires that both initial and future appointments be made, having regard to the experience and capacity of prospective members in matters connected with the functions of the office. In other words, we will be looking to ensure that the expertise required as technology develops is there.  Many of the procedural requirements proposed in amendment No. 15 are already provided for under the Government's guidelines on appointments to State bodies. Those guidelines require open advertising of vacancies, publication of the criteria for the appointment, and the independent assessment process conducted by the Public Appointments Service. I do not consider it necessary to prescribe these operational details in primary legislation. However, the existing provisions provide the appropriate degree of flexibility for a newly established organisation. The office is being created in the context of emerging technology and an entirely new regulatory framework across the EU, with access to independent AI experts becoming available through the EU scientific panel. It is important that the appointments process can evolve in response to the practical needs of the organisation as it develops. I do not consider it appropriate at this stage to prescribe in primary legislation detailed requirements in relation to the appointments procedures, selection panels, or particular categories of expertise.  That said, I am sympathetic to the intention. As the office matures and gains operational experience, it is important to keep under review the mix of expertise and experience required for its effective and efficient performance, and to seek to adapt accordingly. In that context, matters such as the board's composition and expertise requirements could be considered in a future phase of the office's development, should experience demonstrate a need for additional statutory measures. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  I have tabled a second amendment regarding the chief executive officer. It is clear on page 22 of the Bill, which states, \"The Office shall have a chief executive officer\". It talks about the Public Appointments Service recruiting the board, then states:  (3) Notwithstanding subsection (2) , the Minister may, before the establishment day, designate a person to be the first Chief Executive Officer.  (4) Where, immediately before the establishment day, a person stands designated by the Minister under subsection (3), the person shall, on that day, stand appointed as the first Chief Executive Officer for such period, not exceeding 5 years from the date of his or her appointment, as the Minister may determine.  The Minister then gets to appoint the first chief executive officer. My issue is that this is where the independence starts or does not start when an office like this is established. Once again, I have done this. The Government can outsource this to the Public Appointments Service. It can detach the hiring body from the recruitment process by strengthening the role of the Public Appointments Service in it, and it has chosen not to do that. In fact, it has done the reverse, and it has given the Minister more authority for the appointment of the first chief executive officer. In those first five terms, the Government is going to establish and basically set in stone how that organisation operates. The level of influence of that first CEO is heavy for the future of the organisation. The Minister of State has talked about this not being dusted tonight, but this is legislation. Of course it is organic and we will have to revisit it over the years, of which there is no question, but this is the shot. This is the time we get to do it. We are offering genuine, researched, evidence-based amendments and they are not being heard. The Minister of State is not interested and she is offering a tiny amount of time to discuss complex legislation and a set of complex amendments, which demonstrates to me that she has no interest.  It is great to hear that the Minister of State is sending letters out to everyone. I did not get a letter since Second Stage last week and I raised a number of concerns. I do not know if anybody else in the Opposition got any letters. It is great that Deputies \u00d3 Cear\u00fail, Byrne and Geoghegan all got letters, but I would have liked one too. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Geoghegan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Geoghegan  I did not get a letter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  Deputy \u00d3 Cear\u00fail got a letter. I did not get a letter. I have received no engagement in this process. My issue is that the Minister of State is not listening. She is not understanding what we are trying to say, and that independence is key. All of the other market surveillance authorities she is mentioning, and the fundamental rights bodies identified through the AI Act and the legislation as part of the structure are all well and good, but the AI office is the authority. By this legislation, it is essentially a part of the Department of enterprise. The Minister can interfere in it. The CEO cannot even come to a committee and comment on Government activities. That is not independent.  Deputy Geoghegan referred to the dual role of this office, which is on one hand supposed to be the regulator and, on the other, supposed to promote AI. That in itself is already a conflict, which I have a difficulty with. The AI office should be distinct. The Data Protection Commission has better independence than this body, which is being set up now. The Minister of State mentioned the Data Protection Commission, which is under the aegis of the Department of justice, and Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n, under the aegis of the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, and now we have this one under the aegis of the Department of enterprise. The other two already do not work, because Grok happened and nothing has been done to combat it. We are now creating a third leg to this bonfire. It just makes no sense and it certainly does not strengthen any independence. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Geoghegan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Geoghegan  To address what Deputy Gibney said, I do not think it is fair to say that the Minister of State is not listening. At the end of the day, the Minister of State is sitting in the Chamber and responding to the amendments that have been made. She may not agree with the amendments but she is listening. I would say that Deputy Gibney should at least acknowledge that when the Minister of State comes before our committee, she listens to us. She may have a different opinion but I do not think that is a fair charge to level against her. The Minister of State referred to another Bill which I did not catch fully. Is it the personal data Bill? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niamh Smyth","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Niamh Smyth  The non-personal data Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Geoghegan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Geoghegan  Am I right that at one stage, there was a proposal that that Bill would be included in the Bill now before these House, and a decision was taken to split those Bills? Is it the Minister of State's position now that, when that Bill is brought before these Houses, it may also include amendments to this Bill, based on what was said in the pre-legislative scrutiny? I see lots of nodding going on, which encourages me. In fairness to Deputy \u00d3 Cear\u00fail, he highlighted the deadline for establishing the AI office, which is why the Bill is before us today, to meet that deadline. The EU Presidency starts tomorrow. It gives me some encouragement about when the next Bill, albeit not the AI Bill, comes before these Houses. I ask, specifically with regard to that Bill, that we create some kind of structure, although I do not know how would be created, where the Minister of State could come before the AI committee to have direct discussion of whatever form, be it informal or otherwise, if it is not done within the strictures of how Standing Orders are established.  Then, after the fact, maybe through the Chair and others, we could long at a more long-term structure for the AI committee to have a more formal legislative role. I acknowledge that would require changes to Standing Orders and engagement with the relevant internal committees. Ultimately, there is probably a recognition, even if the Minister of State looks around the Chamber, that most of the Deputies in the Chamber today are members of the AI committee. Even when we heard from members of the enterprise committee, such as Deputy Conway-Walsh, she acknowledged that the AI committee has an essential role and that we are building a level of expertise in this respect. Perhaps the next model could be this next Bill, and thereafter we might come back with a way in which this could be done. I hear what the Minister of State is saying in terms of being prescriptive about who should sit on the board. I understand the board and the Public Appointments Service, when it appoints people to the board, will ultimately reflect the overall goals of the Act.  I disagree with Deputy Gibney. I fundamentally believe that the AI office should have a dual role. We need a statutory agency in this State that has a role in terms of the delivery of AI literacy across the board, at least to provide direction, just in the same way that regulatory divergence is provided in terms of all of the relevant agencies that are going to regulate the implementation of the EU AI Act. It should also be the case that we have a central agency that can at least give pointers to the Department of education, the Department of enterprise, the Minister of State's own Department and the Department of further and higher education. We need that kind of umbrella, overarching view because we know that AI, at a governmental level, will be implemented and is being implemented and adapted through every form of policy in areas like health, education and enterprise. I think it is a good and positive thing that we would have a statutory agency that would have both of those functions. I do not see how it dilutes investigatory and enforcement practices. There are plenty of other examples within this State where an agency has an investigatory role, a regulatory role and an advocacy role. If the Deputy reads the legislation in full, it is quite clear that the two things are very separate, and that in the performance of its regulatory functions in terms of its enforcement activity, it would be entirely independent. On the flip side, when it comes to advocacy, it is right and proper that the Government would have a role in providing some level of direction that would reflect the AI policies that are being implemented at each departmental level and that the AI office could be supported within that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  It is unfair to say that the Minister of State has not been listening because I think she has. What I would say to Deputy Gibney is that the legislation provides for the formal appointment by the Minister following a process, which is pretty standard. In fairness, I recall this role being advertised on publicjobs.ie . LinkedIn actually recommended it to me at one stage. The closing date for this was at the end of March. It would be useful to assure the House, particularly if we are looking at this office being up and running within a month - the Minister of State said that the process is coming toward a conclusion - when we will actually know who the CEO-designate is going to be. The closing date for the process was three months ago. The Minister of State is expecting it to go through publicjobs.ie . I appreciate that the Minister of State's signature is the final signature that goes on that and she does not have a role in picking the individual, but Deputy Gibney and others have made the point that whoever takes that role, because they are going to be there for the first five years, will be shaping the direction of the office. In the context of this legislation, it would be useful for the Minister of State to give us a clear indication of when the name of that individual will be known and the CEO-designate will be appointed. Again, I agree with the overall context of not being overly prescriptive, as time goes on, when we are recruiting for board members. The Minister of State might outline when that recruitment process is going to start on the basis of this legislation. I accept the Minister of State's bona fides. I agree that we should not be overly prescriptive. In her response, the Minister of State might come back to the youth advisory panel issue as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  I have two points. One is the point that Deputy Gibney made. The Minister of State denied that she gets to appoint the CEO. For now, until the establishment of the board, she has total power in appointing the CEO. That is the truth. That is what is set out in the legislation. Afterwards, she still gets to pick the CEO. She picks the CEO from a shortlist, which is done by the Public Appointments Service, but she does pick them. The Minister of State may feel free to correct me if I am wrong in that. I am not sure her strong rebuttal of Deputy Gibney really holds up.  My second point is that probably the worst thing in this Bill is the inclusion of the mandate of promoting and fostering AI innovation and literacy in the AI office. This is financial regulator stuff, where the financial regulator was promoting finance and simultaneously regulating finance. You cannot be poacher and gamekeeper at the same time. They point in opposite directions. If the Government wants to have a body whose job it is to promote AI literacy and so on, it can knock itself out, but it should not be the same person and office that is supposed to be regulating and ensuring this does not cause harm to society. That is the whole problem here. It will have both the good mandate and the bad mandate set up together in this one office. It is sitting under the auspices of, and not really independent of, the Department of enterprise, which is very much on one side of that equation. That is the fundamental problem. The Minister of State can make the case to have people advocating for fostering AI innovation and literacy and so on, but the idea that the body carrying out that function will also be the regulator is very problematic. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  Artificial intelligence has made particular strides and jumps. It is in a place where we never anticipated being, if we are talking about two years ago. What we see across the board in the amendments is that they are about ensuring we have an AI office which has the capacity to be able to deliver whatever delivery looks like. A number of people, including Deputy Conway-Walsh, have said we need a huge level of skill sets. Obviously that includes technical skills, but skills are needed beyond that because artificial intelligence will cross every boundary we can possibly think of. The question around an element of independence is obviously vital, given the history we have with regulation in this State if we think back to the financial crisis, which Deputy Murphy and others have spoken about. I also highlight the other aspect of the issue. We have seen in the public domain that the Minister of State and the Minister, Deputy Lawless, had a roundtable meeting with Meta, OpenAI, Microsoft and a number of others. I think everyone welcomes the fact that conversations are ongoing with stakeholders, but we would also like to think that there will be an element of independence and that we will make determinations on what is best for Ireland, for the Irish people and more widely beyond that.  Nearly every time we speak about artificial intelligence, we talk about the dangers of job displacement, which we have seen recently. Covalen is an example. We have also seen it in the case of PayPal. As much as the Minister of State will get official denials in this regard, I think it is fairly straightforward. That is not taking away from the huge room for innovation that exists. It is not taking away from the huge realities of how this can have a positive impact on healthcare in everything from diagnostics to organisation. It is vital that we have a system, a framework and an AI office that can drive this on and is able to deal with all of this. It is going to be difficult to deal with the whole issue of regulation and the fact that we want to see maximum utilisation in relation to artificial intelligence. Unfortunately, we have all seen Donald Trump's attempts to curtail technologies within the American sphere that he might not want to necessarily share out without a huge price to be paid, which we may not be willing to pay. We are in the early days. We are talking about a technology that is going to move on.  It is making sure we also have capacity in that. We are discussing with stakeholders and big tech, some of whom have the ear of the American President and not necessarily in a positive way. I heard the timeline they are looking for will be much faster than what had been planned by the State. I ask that the Government does do everything it can to ensure that it has the best framework for delivering, notwithstanding there will be multiple changes because we can come up with any plan we like but it will change because this is a vastly evolving technology, which will encompass almost every facet of life. That means it is really important that we ensure we play our part in relation to regulation and seeing those dangers. We have seen the dangers related to social media companies in the recent past. This is about stating the protections we want to see, combined with the capacity, are contained in the AI office.  I would also add my voice to what many others have said. As much as we want to see strategies and a framework put in place quickly, nobody appreciates the rushed nature of legislation and the way that a number of Bills have been dealt with recently in this House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niamh Smyth","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Niamh Smyth  I thank everybody for their comments. On the AI office CEO appointment, I reassure Deputies that it is an independent process that is coming to a conclusion. I will inform them when that appointment has been made. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Erin McGreehan)  Does Deputy Gibney wish to press the amendment? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  No, I will move to the next one. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment, by leave, withdrawn."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2 agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Sections 3 to 8, inclusive, agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"SECTION 9"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Erin McGreehan)  Amendments Nos. 2 to 10, inclusive, are related and will be discussed together. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  I move amendment No. 2:  In page 13, line 34, after \u201cfoster\u201d to insert \u201cethical and responsible\u201d.  These are examples of constructive amendments. Amendment No. 2 seeks to bring in a balance where by adding the phrase \u201cethical and responsible\u201d so that it changes the remit of the office from fostering AI innovation and literacy to fostering ethical and responsible AI innovation and literacy. That is an example of the kind of balance we are looking for and that we have lip service paid to all the time but that has never been demonstrated as a meaningful commitment by this Government.  Amendment No. 3 enhances the publication powers for the AI office. This is an issue with many State agencies that have a regulatory function. They are prohibited from publishing their findings. I cite the example of the Inspector of Prisons and IHREC, which has issues with codes of practice. There are so many ways in which the work of these agencies as regulatory bodies is hampered because the publication powers they have are not adequate. If we actually want a regulator with teeth who will be able to call out issues when it wishes to, we need to provide it with publication power to do so. Again, all it is doing is strengthening independence. If the Government actually wants an independent regulator that is able to deal with the responsibilities that it is trying to give it, then it needs to give it the powers to match. That is what the amendment tries to do. It simply enhances that publication power.  I hope these amendments can be taken in the spirit in which they are intended, which is constructive. These are simple amendments that can enhance this legislation. I am guessing by the tone of this debate so far that none of these amendments will be accepted by the Government. It is not just this debate but the whole evening - we are in the sixth hour of supposed debates - is just theatre for the Government. We get to discuss these amendments and, as Deputy Murphy said, it becomes like Second Stage because we are all just speaking in the knowledge that we will not get to the substantive amendments we want to deal with and engage with.  I put these forward in good faith and I hope the Minister of State will engage with them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  Amendments Nos. 4, 8 and 9 concern small and medium-sized businesses. They aim to expand the statutory functions of the AI office so that it not only regulates AI but also provides guidance, training and technical assistance support for small businesses, particularly SMEs, to comply with the AI Act and to adopt AI responsibly. The AI office should be more than just an enforcement body. It should offer an education and support function to help businesses to understand what is expected of them. These amendments attempt to rebalance the legislation by placing compliance support alongside enforcement. Most businesses that this legislation will impact will be SMEs. They will need clear guidance and accessible training if they are to comply confidently with the new regulatory framework. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy George Lawlor  Amendment No. 5 speaks to the promotion of responsible adoption of AI systems in workplaces and protects the legal rights of employees. A lot of people out there are very fearful of AI and what it will bring to the workplace. The amendment is geared towards the protection of existing employees and ensuring nothing we are doing through the establishment of this office will undermine that. It also calls for monitoring the use of AI systems for the purpose of workforce management, not to hand over AI to management to undermine existing workers and their rights and obligations under this Act and under artificial intelligence regulations.  We also need to encourage and support the provision of training, reskilling and upskilling opportunities. This is vital in the current climate. There is a lot of fear among the entire population as to where AI is going in relation to the rights of workers and how this might be undermined unless there is strong legislation in place to ensure their rights and opportunities are strengthened.  Amendment No. 7 speaks to our national climate objectives. We have already seen legislation pushed through this evening that abandoned a lot of our climate objectives. This amendment seeks to insert the following subsection:  the need to ensure that the development and adoption of AI systems in the State is consistent with the national climate objective within the meaning of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015, having particular regard to the energy consumption and environmental impact associated with the training, operation and deployment of AI systems.  We all know the impact AI will have on energy and water consumption in particular. We have to be cognisant of that in this legislation. I ask the Minister of State to do that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Geoghegan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Geoghegan  To clarify, where amendments are grouped, is the order in which the amendments are proposed that Members are called or do we have to indicate every time? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Erin McGreehan)  The Deputy must indicate. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Geoghegan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Geoghegan  My amendments relate to section 9(1)(c), which sets out the function of the office to \u201cpromote and foster AI innovation and literacy\u201d and tries to provide more clarity as to what that will look like and mean.  Perhaps in her reply to the Minister of State might address the two subsequent provisions of the Act, namely, sections 10 and 11. One is about the Minister\u2019s ability to give an order to the AI office and the other is about the ability of the Minister to give a direction to the AI office. As I understand the provision, the Minister would have to lay before the Houses any direction that he or she might give and in respect of those directions, none of those can relate to the actual regulatory enforcement function. It is going back to the promoting and fostering AI innovation and literacy point.  My first question is what the difference is between a direction and an order and how those two elements will interplay. I also ask that as there is a statutory obligation in respect of directions, those directions would be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. I ask now, in contemplation of this secondary Bill the Minister of State is promoting, that she might consider an amendment to the personal data Bill she referred to in terms of the amendment of this Act, whereby the relevant committee, that is, the Oireachtas AI committee, would be the committee that would get to view and examine these directions or at least have some form of pre-legislative scrutiny function in respect of those directions. That is down to the knitting and the weeds of what we are doing in the AI committee. We are examining policies across every Department as they relate to AI. Quite clearly, any direction the Minister gives to this AI office will concern the implementation and adaptation of AI policy across a world of areas from education to health and enterprise.  I acknowledge the logic of Deputy Murphy's point about the Central Bank at one point having a dual function of regulating and of promoting Ireland as a centre for financial services. After the financial crash that dual function was got rid of and the Central Bank solely had a role in respect of the regulating of financial services. However, while there is a logic to the argument, I view these issues as entirely separate. It boils down to two different philosophies present in this House and often in our committee in respect of AI. Ultimately, for Ireland to remain competitive we must examine how AI is being adapted and we must be ahead of others in how that AI adaptation is improving competitiveness. Separately, in an agile way we have to be extremely conscious of how AI is impacting young people in education at primary and secondary level and in further and higher education. We have to be agile in the impact AI is having on future jobs for graduates coming out of college, people trying to enter college and people who are not entering college at all, to know the types of jobs we are going to have in the future. We must be agile in order that we can mandate and direct policy to ensure that we can be responsive to the disruption that AI is causing and will cause and yet harness the benefits it is going to bring. I do not think there is a fair analogy between the two things, which are financial services and AI. AI has enormous risks and potential. It almost sounds cliched to keep repeating these phrases but as Members of the Oireachtas, we are being brought on a journey in our assessment of how AI is impacting society and the thematic approach we have adopted on the committee. The general public is using AI at some of the highest levels in Europe right now and yet they have equal levels of concern and mistrust. SMEs in Ireland at OECD level apparently are doing reasonably okay. We are a bit higher and yet there is still a low level of adaptation of AI.  There are whole areas of our society and country where we need to bring people on a journey. There needs to be trust and it needs to be done in a coherent way. The AI office in my view is the appropriate body to do it. Where there is this statutory function where the Minister can direct through a direction or order and where there is a role for the Oireachtas in respect of these directions or order, it would be helpful to know, even at this early stage, what kinds of directions the Minister or Minister of State might be contemplating giving the AI office. It obviously has to comport with the goals of AI literacy. Are draft directions already being considered or made? There is also the separate point I am making that if the Minister is accountable to the Houses of the Oireachtas in respect of the directions, a formal statutory role be given to the AI committee and that this be contemplated in the context of any provisions that might be put forward in the personal data Bill the Minister of State referred to earlier. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  I am proposing amendment No. 6 but it speaks to the broader set of amendments. It is about what the purpose of the artificial intelligence office is. I might thread the contentions of Deputy Murphy and Deputy Geoghegan. I agree somewhat with Deputy Murphy that if the role of this office and the ecosystem we are creating is a distributive regulatory model, our critical point is about ensuring that the existing regulators are strong enough to manage their own sectors and that this body is a co-ordinating and enabling body. I would be worried if this starts to become a \u201cthou shalt not\u201d regulator because if it does, it will not support that agility in respect of Deputy Geoghegan's point about how we can help support business and enterprise. What it has to do is ensure that if you are an enterprise developing an AI product or service, you know you have an existing regulator that you deal with and are responsible to it. The role of this office, which is why I proposed this amendment, is that where the gaps may fall with those existing authorities, it will be in a position to identify the gaps and make the decisions. Part of how I see its role is that if an SME wants to look at deploying AI to deliver its goods or services more effectively or efficiently, this office will support and enable it in being able to do it. It will be able to have guided it through the process. It will make sure that the regulators are doing their jobs. It speaks to our vision as to where the office is. I see it as having more of a promotional and enabling role.  I know where Deputy Murphy is coming from on conflicts of interest and I think that could happen. However, I believe it will inhibit innovation if there are essentially two layers of regulation. That is something we certainly want to avoid. A lot of Deputy Gibney's amendments are well intentioned. I support the idea of including ethical and responsible in what we need to do. It is a culture we need to embed. I am one of those who sees the enormous potential of AI but it all depends on how we use it. Having an ethical and responsible framework is critical and we need to embed that in enterprise as much as in healthcare, education and other spaces. I think this speaks to all of the amendments. This office should be an enabling office. It should be able to help all of us as citizens and all enterprises around the country to know how best to responsibly, ethically and safely use AI to deliver better services for our citizens or our customers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  It is appropriate that I speak at this stage because I think that gets to the point. I think the Government agrees with the Deputy that it wants to set up an enabling office. That is the wrong way to go. Fundamentally we need a \u201cthou shalt not\u201d regulating office to try to protect the citizens from the potentially negative impact of AI. I will speak to two of the amendments. I support Deputy Gibney's amendment on adding in the promotion of the responsible use of AI as opposed to the current proposal we have. It is amendment No. 2 and speaks of \u201cethical and responsible\u201d.  I presume we are going to hear that we are not going to get that, but it is really not too much to ask.  Second, Deputy Lawlor's amendment No. 7 on the climate impact of AI is extremely important. Last week we had Jennie Stephens and Hannah Daly in. It is funny and I have quoted this to a few people who have been in. KPMG has a report whereby it surveys chief executives of companies and asks what they think about AI and 95% of them say that AI is really going to help us deal with climate change. I do not know why we are asking the chief executives. Let us ask climate scientists if AI is going to help us deal with climate change. I have not found one yet that says yes. Everyone says this is really a problem in terms of climate change. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Geoghegan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Geoghegan  A climate scientist was at the AI committee advocating for AI. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Erin McGreehan)  Through the Chair. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Geoghegan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Geoghegan  Sorry. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  Does Deputy Geoghegan mean the weather forecasting guy? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Geoghegan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Geoghegan  Yes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  His main thing was to say this is not like the large language models, LLMs. I did not disagree with anything he said but I do not think he was making the general case that is being made that somehow AI is going to help us to deal with climate change. If we roll out the argument that a combination of AI and a stable demand for energy is going to promote investment in renewables, and load management and so on will happen at a better scale, I really think it is magical thinking. I do not think we are going to find climate scientists to make that case. Instead, what we heard from Jennie Stephens was that AI is preventing the phase-out of fossil fuels. The rapid deployment of AI has led to a dramatic increase in fossil fuel exploration, extraction and burning. The thing that struck me is that AI is being used to make fossil fuel exploration and extraction more efficient in a sense. Professor Stephens also said, \"Tech companies are also collaborating with the fossil fuel industry to develop AI tools used to accelerate fossil fuel exploration and allow fossil fuels to be extracted more quickly and cheaply\". She argued \"AI promotes climate obstruction\" and denial, delay and distraction. I thought this point was very strong: \"Tech companies are now deploying many of the same strategies that the fossil fuel industry has used to squash public concern and block climate policy\", strategically squashing research, discussion and awareness about the environmental impacts of AI.  We also heard from Professor Hannah Daly about the reality many of us have been pointing out for a long time, which is that all the extra renewables we are adding to the grid are just being sucked up by the data centres over an extended period. For me, it did crystallise something and I felt our guests today were trapped in this a bit. Often, there is just the illusion that somehow adding more renewable capacity, in and of itself, is in some way dealing with climate change but it is not. We can add all the renewables that we want but as long as we keep expanding usage we are not getting any closer to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The climate does not really care if we have a whole load of renewables happening over here but we are still increasing or sustaining the same level of greenhouse gas burning. The amendment is good because it says that this should be central and that the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act has to apply here. We have had it disapplied on a number of occasions this evening. That is what we are generally doing this evening, but AI has to be consistent with our supposedly legally binding climate targets. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  We are all aware of the huge dangers, which I will reiterate. The big one at the minute is the number of people who are worried \u2013 not from a technical point of view \u2013 about losing their job. If we are talking about an AI office, we must ensure there is significant capacity and that it engages with the State and all of its agencies from the point of view of fostering the skill sets that are required to ensure we can deliver AI solutions to improve workplaces and innovation within companies and everywhere else. A number of the amendments relate to this.  We must make sure that we have an overall eye on the development of artificial intelligence and its dangers. We have seen issues with Grok, etc. We do not know where the new-found dangers will be. The fact is that we are talking about a huge amount of information and how it is taken from those who provide it, whether willingly and knowingly, and then how it is utilised. That is why it is absolutely vital that we have a framework that is ethical and responsible. I have not heard anyone speak against that. We hardly want it not to be ethical and to be irresponsible.  We all recognise and have spoken about where there are obvious wins from the point of view of artificial intelligence for companies. As much as there are dangers within education, huge wins are obviously possible. It is about ensuring that the AI office has capacity for a framework to provide training, due diligence and instruction where necessary. It might not necessarily be through the AI office. The Acting Chair, Deputy McGreehan, and I spoke before about the use of the likes of Skillnet. We know that this has to be something that is delivered across all the local enterprise offices, LEOs, Enterprise Ireland and the IDA. It is about ensuring that the capacity, ambition and remit is there within the AI office and that we make sure that those within the AI office, as the previous set of amendments proposed, have the skill sets and capacity.  In some respects we have had very little conversation. There has been talk about the need for the AI office to be up and running and the fact that primary legislation is needed, including to deal with issues that might not necessarily be addressed here and now, but I have heard little in relation to the AI strategy, how we develop that, and what sort of timeline we are talking about. I am going to return to the meeting with OpenAI, Microsoft, Meta and Dell. I assume there were many others there. We definitely do not want a scenario and situation where we are being directed by them. I do not think people will give out about the fact that there is a conversation but I assume it is also about making sure there is transparency in relation to that and what we are proposing around the timeline for the AI strategy. I accept that no strategy that we put in play is going to remain static right through. I am interested in seeing that.  I get that, to a degree, we are all talking in generalities because even when we talk specifically to amendments I am fairly sure that we are not going to see any amendments accepted. Could we have some indication of the trajectory of what is being sought by the amendments as regards an ethical and responsible framework, ensuring that the capacity is there within the AI office, that there is a sufficient amount of independence and that we can deliver a strategy that works? We all know the necessity of a feedback loop and the constant change that will occur. While there may be engagement with the likes of the companies the Minister of State met, we must not be directed by them. That piece is vital. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niamh Smyth","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Niamh Smyth  I thank colleagues very much for their amendments. I will try to go through each and every one. The purpose of section 9(1)(c) is to provide a broad statement of the office's function to promote and foster AI innovation and literacy. The Bill is intended to give effect to the EU AI Act and in doing so it is important that the language used in the Bill remains consistent with the terminology and objectives of the underlying regulation.  Article 1 of the EU AI Act states that its purpose \"is to improve the functioning of the internal market and promote the uptake of human-centric and trustworthy artificial intelligence (AI), while ensuring a high level of protection of health, safety, fundamental rights ... and supporting innovation.\"  The regulation, therefore, already embodies the principle that Deputy Gibney's amendment seeks to advance.  In addition, neither \"ethical\" nor \"responsible\" is defined in the AI Act or in the Bill. Introducing these terms in a single provision without definition and without corresponding usage elsewhere in the legislative framework could create uncertainty as to whether a different or additional standard is intended to apply to the office's functions. I consider that the existing reference to promoting and fostering AI innovation and literacy is sufficiently broad and that the wider framework of the AI Act already ensures that innovation is pursued in a manner that is human-centric, trustworthy and protective of fundamental rights. Accordingly, I do not consider the amendment necessary and I do not propose to accept it.  While I appreciate the intention behind the amendment, these concepts are already inherent in the AI Act framework, and the current drafting is clear and consistent with the language of the underlying regulation. Recital 8 of the AI Act states the regulation supports the objective of promoting the European-centric approach to AI and making the Union a global leader in the development of secure, trustworthy and ethical AI, reflecting the conclusions adopted by the European Council in October 2020. The same recital further notes that the regulation ensures the protection of ethical principles, reflecting recommendations made by the European Parliament in its October 2020 resolution on the ethical aspects of artificial intelligence, robotics and related technologies.  Moving to amendment No. 3, the Bill already considers a number of the provisions designed to ensure transparency and accountability in the performance of the office's function, including requirements to prepare a strategy statement and an annual report, both of which must be published. In addition, section 9(4) provides that the office shall have all such powers as are necessary or expedient for the performance of its functions.  Where research, analysis or the publication of reports is required to support the exercise of these functions, the office would already be able to undertake such activities. The proposed amendment would introduce a broad stand-alone function to prepare and publish reports on research undertaken, sponsored, commissioned or assisted by the office. It is not clear what additional legal effect this would have, particularly as the office would already be capable of publishing research or reports in support of the performance of its statutory functions, including but not limited to functions under section 9(1)(c) and 9(1)(d) to promote AI innovation and literacy and to enhance public awareness. I am confident the Bill already provides an appropriate framework and that the amendment is not necessary.  The Government is conscious that the office is being established as a new body and its functions may evolve as the AI regulatory framework becomes more established and operational experience is gained. For this reason, the Bill seeks to provide an appropriate foundation while avoiding unnecessary prescription in the activities the office may already undertake in support of existing functions. I am nonetheless sympathetic to the objective underlining the amendment. The role of research, evidence-gathering and public reporting in supporting effective AI governance will be kept under constant review by the office as it develops and as its work programme matures. Should there be a demonstrated need to place such activities on a more explicit statutory footing in future, this can be considered in light of operational experience. Accordingly, while I appreciate the intention behind the amendment and the value of research in informing AI policy and regulation, I am satisfied the Bill already provides the office with sufficient flexibility in this regard and I do not propose to accept the amendment at this time.  On amendment No. 4, section 9(1)(c) provides that the office shall promote and foster AI innovation and literacy and section 9(1)(d) provides that it shall enhance public awareness of the use of AI systems and the rights and obligations under the artificial intelligence regulation. These functions complement the range of supports that are provided for in the AI Act at EU level, including guidelines, codes of practice and a service desk, which are intended to support and reinforce consistent implementation of harmonised rules across the EU. I am satisfied that these provisions already capture the proposed paragraphs (h), (i) and (j), and reinstating them in granular subparagraphs would result in legislative duplication without adding substantive legal effect.  The Bill, through section 46, provides for the establishment of one or more AI regulatory sandboxes in accordance with Article 57 of the EU AI Act, with priority access to SMEs and start-ups free of charge, as mandated by Article 62 of the regulation. The sandbox function is the primary structural vehicle through which the office will support SME compliance, provide guidance and technical assistance and reduce regulatory barriers to AI adoption. The proposed paragraph (k) duplicates this as it is already embedded in the sandbox and real-world testing framework provided for in Chapter 3 of Part 3. Section 9(1)(f) already requires that the office is to provide advice to the Minister on any matter relating to its functions. The proposed paragraph (j) requiring the office to provide advice and technical assistance to the Minister, competent authorities, businesses and organisations is repetition of the existing function. Section 10 confers on the Minister power to assign additional functions to the office by ministerial order following consultation with the office and relevant Ministers. This ensures that the office's functions can evolve responsibly to align with wider national policy priorities.  While I understand the sentiment behind amendment No. 5, I am satisfied the protections are already guaranteed under the AI Act, which has direct effect in Ireland. Asserting them as part of the AI office would not strengthen them but merely duplicate what is already binding in law. The Act completely prohibits AI systems that infer employees' emotions in the workplace or educational institutions. It also bans biometric categorisations that infer sensitive traits. The AI Act imposes a binding obligation on employers as deployers of high-risk AI systems to inform workers' representatives and affected workers before putting such systems into use in the workplace. Similarly, AI-driven decisions on employment status must have meaningful human oversight. Workers have the right to demand human intervention, obtain an explanation for a decision and contest adverse outcomes.  The AI Act is very clear on its interplay with other EU and national legislation. It explicitly calls out that the harmonised rules laid down in the AI Act should apply across sectors and in line with the new legislative framework, they should be without prejudice to existing Union law, in particular on data protection, consumer protection, fundamental rights, employment, protection of workers and product safety, to which the AI Act is complementary. Recital 9 of the AI states that, in the context of employment and the protection of workers, this regulation should not affect Union law on social policy and national labour law. Further, it states the regulation should not affect the exercise of fundamental rights as recognised by the member states and at Union level. Worker reskilling and upskilling in the context of AI adoption is already a matter of active Government policy, addressed through the national AI strategy, SOLAS, Skillnet Ireland, the National Training Fund and the further and higher education system in its broad mandate. The office will complement this work and work in co-operation with the relevant State actors active in this area.  The point made by Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa is correct and it emphasises the cross-party and horizontal impact the Government is having on AI. The meeting he referred to is the round-table conversation the Minister, Deputy Lawless, had on enterprise, with many stakeholders around the table. It was specifically on the gaps we need to fill and whether they are widening or narrowing. Admittedly, there is a widening between SMEs and the bigger companies which have all of these systems in place. We were rightly taking a look at how we can address this with Skillnet Ireland, our ETBs, SOLAS and many other training agencies.  To respond to the point made by Deputy Lawlor, the Bill seeks to provide an appropriate foundation while avoiding unnecessary measures. I am satisfied the AI Act already provides appropriate safeguards in the workplace and I do not propose to accept the amendment at this time.  Turning to amendment No. 6, I agree that it is important that the emerging issues in AI regulation are identified early and that the regulators work together and effectively in responding to new challenges. The office is being established primarily to support the implementation and co-ordination of the AI Act in the State. Its functions include co-ordinating competent authorities, facilitating co-operation and information sharing, supporting enforcement activities and advising the Minister on matters relating to its functions. These functions already place the office in a strong position to identify emerging issues and share information across the regulatory system. The amendment would go further by assigning the office a potentially broad and undefined role in \"addressing [areas] where regulation may not be covered by existing authorities\". It is unclear what legal or operational action that would entail and how it would interact with the responsibilities of the Oireachtas, the Government, Ministers and sectoral regulators.  The creation of new regulatory frameworks, the allocation of regulatory responsibilities and the identification of legislative gaps are primarily matters for the Government and the Oireachtas. The role of the office is to support effective implementation of the existing framework established by the AI Act and this Bill. That said, I acknowledge the concern underlined in the amendment. As the AI ecosystem evolves, the office's practical experience and engagement with competent authorities will place it in a valuable position to identify emerging regulatory issues and advise the Government accordingly. Indeed, section 9(1)(f) empowers the office to provide advice to the Minister on matters relating to its functions.  Amendment No. 7 is provided for under the EU AI Act, which introduces the provisions concerning energy consumption and transparency. Providers of the general purpose AI models are required to document the known or estimated energy consumption of their models as part of their technical documentation obligations under annex XI of the AI Act. To support this, the European Commission is currently undertaking work to develop a robust and practical framework for the measuring of AI energy consumption and efficiency. Moreover, the Bill requires the office to have regard to the \"policies and objectives of the Government and any Minister of the Government insofar as the policies and objectives may affect or relate to the functions of the Office\". This provision is broad and captures wide Government policies, including climate.  The AI Act is clear and strong in its emphasis on its application in accordance with the values of the Union enshrined in the charter, facilitating the protection of natural persons, undertakings, democracy, the rule of law and environmental protection in the uptake of trustworthy AI. The Government is conscious that the functions of the office may evolve over time but it is important to avoid unnecessary duplication in relation to its function. The amendment is therefore unnecessary, and I will not be in a position to accept it.  While I understand the sentiment behind amendments Nos. 8 and 9, I am satisfied that the section, within its broad mandate, places obligations on the office to promote AI innovation, adoption and competitiveness. The Bill also requires that the AI office is established to supervise AI regulatory sandboxes in accordance with Article 57 of the EU AI Act. The sandbox framework is specifically designed to provide a structured environment for innovation and testing and development, practically benefiting SMEs and start-ups that may lack the resources of larger enterprises to navigate compliance independently. The EU AI Act's sandbox provision was deliberately designed with SMEs in mind and the Bill faithfully implements that framework.  In relation to the amendment regarding annual reports, the Bill provides a comprehensive accountability framework that achieves this purpose. Section 38 requires the office to prepare a strategy statement every three years setting out key objectives, outputs and strategies, including a review of previous performance. Section 40 requires that the office submit an annual report on the performance of its functions in such form and including such information as the office considers appropriate or as the Minister directs. I am satisfied that the proposed objectives of the amendment are captured within the core functions of the office. Reasserting them would merely restate what is there, maybe in more elaborate terms. Accordingly, I do not accept the amendments.  Amendment No. 10 would require the office to take such measures as it considers necessary to advance the objectives specified in section 9(1) and to report on those measures in each annual report under section 40. Section 9(1) already confers on the office a comprehensive range of functions directed at precisely these objectives while section 9(4) provides that, \"The Office shall have all such powers as are necessary or expedient for the performance of its functions\", which already encompass the taking of measures that the proposed section 9(6) would require. Imposing a separate, open-ended obligation to take such measures as is considered necessary to advance those same objectives offers nothing of substance while potentially creating interpretive ambiguity as to the scope of the office's existing powers and duties. As regards the reporting obligation proposed in section 9(7), section 40 already requires the office to prepare an annual report on the performance of its functions, which inherently encompasses reporting on the measures taken in respect of the section 9(1) objectives. A specific and additional reporting requirement is therefore redundant.  I am conscious that the office must be afforded appropriate flexibility and independence in determining how best to advance its statutory objectives, a point expressly recognised in section 9(5). The prescribing of further layers of mandatory consultation and reporting obligations of the kind proposed risks imposing an administrative burden disproportionate to any tangible benefit. Accordingly, I oppose the amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Geoghegan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Geoghegan  I thank the Minister of State. I ask her to clarify, hopefully before the clock runs out, what is contemplated by an order as distinct from a direction under sections 10 and 11. Does the concept of an order or the concept of a direction, and that level of flexibility afforded to the Minister in this Bill, derive from specific sections of the EU regulation that we are implementing or is this a domestic measure that we are adding? Is it the Minister of State\u2019s intention that an order or a direction would never be taken unless it was an action adopted at an EU-wide level? Does she contemplate orders or directions being issued that relate to domestic policy measures or would this happen only when it is done in concert at an EU level? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  I agree with Deputy Geoghegan on that question. I appreciate the point the Minister of State made in response to my amendment but it is important to clarify what the role will be of the AI office when something falls between the designated competent authorities.  I am conscious that the clock is running down, and my next point speaks to the fact that we did not get to talk to a lot of the other amendments, but I did get to raise, once again, that the Civil Service seems to have chosen to discriminate against county councillors being employed by this body. That is very unfair. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  I just had a quick search through the legislation. It has the word \"ethics\" in it five times and the word \"responsible\" twice. That is in different contexts but the point is whether \"ethical and responsible\" is such a novel phrase. I do not think so. The response from the Minister of State, which was essentially \"Computer says 'No'\", does not stand up regarding the idea of including \"ethical and responsible\" when, as she can hear, there is plenty of support for such a phrase. It would introduce the balance we are seeking. That is a shame.  I support Deputy Lawlor's amendment because the climate concerns relating to AI are very, very deep, and the text of this existing legislation does not account for it appropriately.  I am very clear that I want to see AI developed in society and I want to see the benefits it can bring to society. The only way that will happen is if we have public trust in the technology and the only way we will get public trust in this technology is with the appropriate regulatory framework. This Bill does not deliver it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niamh Smyth","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Niamh Smyth  In response to Deputy Geoghegan, an order is specifically related to adding to the functions while directions are related to policy. We know that national and EU policies are generally aligned. I hope that answers his question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The time permitted for this debate having expired, I am required to put the following question in accordance with an order of the D\u00e1il of this day: \"That in respect of each of the sections undisposed of, the section is hereby agreed to in Committee, Schedules 1 to 4 and the Title are hereby agreed to in Committee, the Bill is accordingly reported to the House without amendment, Fourth Stage is hereby completed and the Bill is hereby passed.\" "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Bill 2026: Committee and Remaining Stages"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-30\/debate\/dbsect_50","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Childcare Services: Motion [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":43,"speakerCount":34},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_50","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ann Graves","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Denise Mitchell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Mythen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Mythen.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Mythen.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Daniel Ennis","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Daniel-Ennis.D.2026-05-25","memberCode":"Daniel-Ennis.D.2026-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aisling Dempsey","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aisling-Dempsey.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aisling-Dempsey.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Claire Kerrane  I move:  That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann:  acknowledges:  \u2014 the importance of affordable and accessible childcare for children and parents, neither of which are being achieved for many families across the State; and  \u2014 that there is no early years or childcare sector without the Early Years Educators and School-Age Childcare practitioners who work in it;  notes that:  \u2014 childcare costs remain far too high and are in excess of \u20ac800 per month in many parts of the State;  \u2014 access to childcare is now a major labour market issue affecting our economy;  \u2014 the need to ensure regulations for childminders are fair, and are aimed at growing the number of childminders, not reducing them, while acknowledging that less than 200 of an estimated 16,000 childminders have registered with Tusla;  \u2014 there are between 40,000 and 50,000 children on waiting lists for childcare places, many which do not exist due to severe shortages of childcare places, especially for babies under one year;  \u2014 there is no published plan, despite being promised, on how to deliver a \u20ac200 per month childcare service to parents;  \u2014 continued issues are being experienced by childcare providers with the Core Funding support; and  \u2014 the current mechanism for pay increases, via an Employment Regulation Order, is not working for professionals in the sector;  further notes the welcome introduction of State-led childcare facilities; and  calls on the Government to:  \u2014 immediately publish a roadmap to deliver \u20ac200 a month childcare, with a clear timeframe for the implementation;  \u2014 extend the Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme, to allow for the purchase of existing buildings, not just new, to increase childcare capacity quickly;  \u2014 increase pay for Early Years Educators and School-Age Childcare Practitioners from September 2026, and begin work on examining the State taking over wages and associated costs in the sector, as a first step to a public model;  \u2014 extend Parent's Leave and Benefit, to ensure a baby can spend their first year with at least one parent;  \u2014 ensure the widest possible consultation with childminders on the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) (Childminding Services) Regulations 2024; and  \u2014 initiate an immediate and full review of the Core Funding supports, as committed to in the Programme for Government.  I am glad to have the opportunity to bring forward this motion on childcare and the early years sector. There are a number of significant issues in the sector that have been ongoing for some time, not least of which is affordability, but equal and almost more important is accessibility. Cost is totally irrelevant to parents who cannot find a place that will take their child. There are also ongoing issues with the workforce, in particular the educators, who year-on-year - this year, last year and the year before - are at the whim of a joint labour committee, JLC, which might give them 65 cent, \u20ac1 or \u20ac1.35. Once again this year, no increase will be in place in time for September. That is no way at all to treat these professionals. I met some who said to me that they find it difficult to do a four-year degree and come out to earn an amount of money per hour that they could earn in the local supermarket. That is no level of respect for these professionals, without whom we would have no childcare sector and would not have to worry about places or cost.  There is an ongoing issue with childminders. I note the Minister's amendment references having extensively consulted childminders on the regulations. I have no doubt those efforts were made, but the situation is serious for childminders and my question is, if they were extensively engaged with, why do we have a situation where well under 200 of them have signed up to the regulations and registered with Tusla to date, with the deadline of September 2027 looming? Approximately 160 of the 13,000 to 15,000 childminders in the State have signed up. There is clearly an issue. No matter how hard the consultation was in terms of its significance, it clearly has not worked. There is a major issue and there is a huge job of work to be done.  I bring forward the six requests in this motion in good faith and because I want to see a better childcare service. There are measures that have come along under the State-led model, which I welcomed, but I would like it to be expanded in the building blocks expansion grant scheme. I have raised this issue with the Minister many times. If we can develop State-led, not-for-profit childcare now under the new State-led model, why can we not expand the building blocks scheme to buy existing buildings instead of focusing solely on new builds and new purchases? That would be a way to build capacity and do so quickly.  I met a community childcare provider recently that has expanded its places and will be able to provide an additional 40 places in its childcare setting. There are 140 children on its waiting list. The provider knows that, as parents see the extension being built, they will hope and expect to get a place for their child, while capacity will not come close to demand.  Affordability continues to be an issue. The cost reduction in the maximum fees payable announced recently puts the cost today closer to \u20ac200 per week than \u20ac200 per month. It is incredible that we still have no roadmap for how we will get to \u20ac200 per month. That should be in place. The plan should be published. It was all the talk of the last general election.  The Minister's amendment also speaks about parent's leave and benefit, maternity leave and the leave available specifically to two-parent families. There is an ongoing anomaly, which I have raised many times, for one-parent families. It would cost a small amount of money. It is wrong that babies who grow up in a one-parent family have less time with their parent than children who grow up in a two-parent family. That should be corrected and it needs to be done. We want to see the extension of parent's leave and benefit to bring parents - in both one-parent and two-parent families - to being able to spend the first year with their children. That is important and we need to make far greater headway on it.  Lastly on the motion's requests, the Government needs to do its homework on the State taking on the wages. We have a crisis in recruitment and retention. In some counties, the turnover is up to 50% and it is actually 50% in some. We have to give respect and recognition to early years educators. Giving them 65 cent or \u20ac1.35 here and there and waiting to see what the Labour Court decides is no way to treat professionals in the sector. If we do not make a move as bold as I believe we should by taking on the wages, we will not have the sector, including the workforce. We will not retain them to ensure children see the same face every day, which is a positive benefit for children's development, but would also ensure we have a strong and resilient childcare sector into the future. That is not there right now as I bring this motion forward. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell  Our motion recognises a simple truth. Affordable childcare is not a luxury. It is an essential public service, a service families must be able to access. Crucially, childcare providers and early years educators must also be properly supported. In Galway, the reality is very different from the picture painted by the Government. Parents contact me all the time because they cannot secure a childcare place. Many are forced onto lengthy waiting lists even before their children are born. Others are travelling significant distances because there simply is not the capacity in their local communities. That places a huge amount of pressure on parents who are trying to work and keep their families going while they are already struggling with the cost-of-living crisis.  Childcare fees are going up despite the Government giving us assurances that it had a plan, not only to stop this happening, but to reduce prices to \u20ac200 per month. That election promise was completely and utterly ignored. As childcare costs spiral out of control, families rightly ask what happened to these promises.  The truth is that providers are also under huge financial pressure. They are battling rising costs, recruitment difficulties and uncertainty about future funding. In recent years, we have had a situation where some providers have reached a point where they simply cannot continue. Every provider that closes means there are fewer places, longer waiting lists and greater pressure on those that remain. There is a knock-on effect on everyone, but I hear particularly from mothers. Many mothers have reached out to me to tell me they simply cannot get back to work. Women are finding it impossible to get access to childcare places within the first year of their child's life, while clearly the maternity entitlement in the State does not match that reality. Many babies just do not have a childcare space.  Many women say the child is on a waiting list without any other option afforded to them while they are looking to get back into work. These women tell me they need immediate action to get the support they need. This can only be achieved by making childcare affordable so it is within the reach of families, but also by creating the spaces necessary to accommodate all the children in a locality. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  I support the motion and commend an Teachta Kerrane for bringing forward all the solutions, which I hope the Minister takes on board. I want to get to a point where we have the \u20ac200 per month childcare promised not just by a lot of parties before the last election but also by Government representatives. That simply has not been delivered. Even if we get to that point though it is not going to be of value to many parents because they cannot get access to childcare in the first place.  I attended a public meeting in Tramore, County Waterford a number of weeks ago. All the Oireachtas Members and local councillors were invited and it is a really good example, and one I ask the Minister to look at, of a town with a growing population that has not seen the investment in childcare facilities it needs. Parent after parent was talking about the impossibility of finding appropriate early education or childcare. It was a real barrier for some parents, especially women, getting back to work or finding full-time employment. There are new housing developments where the buildings allocated for childcare are empty and childcare providers say there is a real battle to provide services there because the subsidies do not exist or are not good enough. There is bureaucracy and lots of reasons and it is just not cost-effective - that is one of the issues. If we have new housing developments where there is a promise of childcare facilities as part of them but they are not being provided it is a failure of Government and Government policy. What the parents asked me to convey to the Minister is they want her to do a pilot project in Tramore of a State-led childcare facility and look at capital investment. The crucial issue providers and parents also raised with me is staffing. There is huge staff turnover. We cannot get the staff. There are obviously issues with pay. We have been asking the Government to deal with those for a long number of years. It is a major impediment to providing childcare places. Tramore is only one example of many towns, cities and rural areas where childcare is unfortunately non-existent or simply does not have the capacity it should. I am hoping the Minister will listen to what we are saying and take on board the solutions that are in our motion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  T\u00e1 c\u00faram leana\u00ed r\u00f3-chostasach agus n\u00edl d\u00f3thain \u00e1iteanna ann. For far too many families childcare is no longer just a challenge but a barrier to having children, returning to work or simply making ends meet. I am aware of couples who have delayed starting a family because of the pressures bought about by the combined costs of childcare and housing. That is not their failure but a failure of Government. This is one of the wealthiest states in Europe. There is no excuse for parents still paying over \u20ac800 a month per child for childcare while also facing soaring housing, energy and commuting costs. In my constituency, over half of childcare services in Cavan have waiting lists while in Monaghan almost two thirds have. That tells its own story. Families are paying too much yet still cannot get a place.  Before the last general election Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael promised parents they would deliver childcare bills of \u20ac200 per month maximum. That promise has disappeared without any plan to deliver it. On the other hand, Sinn F\u00e9in has a credible roadmap to reduce childcare costs, expand capacity, improve pay and conditions so providers can recruit and retain staff, reform the funding model and properly support childcare. Deputy Kerrane has set out how these policies can be implemented and we need to take that advice. We need to give parents a real choice. Some want to return to work quickly and others want more time at home with their babies. Extending paid parental leave would recognise caring for our youngest children is valuable work that deserves the support of the State. Families in Cavan, Monaghan and right across Ireland deserve action on childcare, not more broken promises. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  I thank an Teachta Kerrane not just for this motion but for all the work she has done because while the Government completely lacks a roadmap, an Teachta Kerrane has showed it how it can be done in terms of delivering for parents and children.  Access to affordable childcare allowed me to finish college, to work part-time and then to move on to full-time employment. Affordable childcare was a game-changer for my family. The best way to deliver affordable childcare, and the Minister knows this, is by delivering it on a not-for-profit basis yet in my constituency of Dublin Fingal West we see the Government attitude to community childcare laid bare. I represent the youngest constituency in this State. There is a huge need for affordable childcare. Parents are being made to pay huge fees. That is when they can even get a place, because a lot of the children in my constituency are on waiting lists. Parents heard the Government\u2019s promise of \u20ac200 per month yet they pay \u20ac800 and sometimes more. According to Fingal County Council the review of childcare that was due to take place in 2022 was abandoned. Now it is starting again, at the request of the Minister, to do another review. The Government does not need a review to tell it what is wrong. The statistics are there. All the while those statistics tell us a tale about the Government\u2019s attitude to parents, children and early years educators in my area. There are 63,000 kids living in Fingal and 15,000 of them live in disadvantage. There are 800 community or not-for-profit places. For every 100 children in Fingal there are 24 childcare places. Our community centres are full of for-profit childcare providers. There is no space and no interest from this Government in community childcare and the parents, the kids and the early-year educators in my constituency of Dublin Fingal West deserve so much better. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  Families who rely on childcare and those who work in the sector are being profoundly let down. I will speak about the families who rely on it first. For many that is \u20ac800 or \u20ac900 a month if they are relying on it full time. There are also many parents who rely on it for two or three children and for them the costs are crippling. This is true at all stages and we need to get to a place where we have wraparound childcare. This is quite a stressful time for parents because schools have finished. Parents up and down the country are trying to work a patchwork quilt of a few hours with a parent here, a summer camp there and a few hours with a childminder.  It all speaks to our never having got to grips with a public childcare model in this State and that has to be the direction. We need to treat this as a public good and it needs to be publicly provided. That is the direction we need to go in. While I recognise that in the moment we are in subsidies to the sector are necessary it seems the Government\u2019s strategy, just as with housing, is to rely on that. It is to constantly build it more into the system and add subsidy after subsidy while ultimately not building the public service we need. People who have to pay childcare fees while renting find there is nearly nothing left. That could be \u20ac2,500 just for those two costs alone. The other thing this place needs to get to grips with is it is not just the parents' problem but a problem for all of us. It is a problem for the whole of our society. It is a strategic problem. There are people who are prevented from being able to go out and get a job, keep a full-time job or stay in the workforce because they cannot get childcare. It is a problem for us all because there are people out there who are making the decision to put off having a second, third or perhaps even a first child because they cannot afford it. It is dictating where people live and many other things like that. We have to get to grips with the fact it is a problem for all of us we have to solve for the good of us all. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  I commend Deputy Kerrane on bringing forward this motion. I remember five or six years ago Kathleen Funchion, the former TD for Carlow-Kilkenny, began a process of speaking to childcare providers and families around the country about this issue. It was an issue for everyone in every constituency in the country. We were meeting families who could not get childcare and when they could it was extremely expensive. Those working as early-years educators were in the very same position. They could not afford to continue to work in the sector after going to college and qualifying. They loved working with children yet they could not afford to continue to do that. We recognised something needed to be done and Deputy Kerrane continued to develop that policy until we clearly set out a goal that we wanted to see a wraparound childcare service that would be available for everybody, be affordable and that the State would stand over.  Then, before the most recent election, the Government party came along and said, \"This is a good idea\", so what did it do? Instead of actually adopting the policy we had, it adopted the announcement and said it was going to provide this. However, there was no plan to do it whatsoever and now we are in the situation where we continue to hear the Government talk about it but actually not deliver it. That is really the problem we have here. We have a situation where many people around the country have been waiting since the Government came into power for this \u20ac200 per month for childcare. There is absolutely no sign of it whatsoever. I speak to people in my constituency who are still paying through the nose for a service they can ill afford at the same time as every other cost has gone through the roof, and we still have the situation where the people who work as early years educators cannot get an adequate salary to ensure that they can continue to work in the profession. The Minister needs to recognise that what we are bringing forward tonight is a solution to a problem not just for the people who work in the sector but for thousands of people around the country who are being pushed out of a situation where they cannot go to work because they cannot afford childcare. It really needs to be examined and sorted out. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  What we need is a fit-for-purpose public system. I commend Deputy Kerrane on her work. Unfortunately, we had promises around affordability from the Government and at this point, we have neither affordability nor accessibility. It does not work for childminders. It does not work for childcare providers. It certainly does not work for those who work within it or the parents who are contacting all of us. A constituent wrote to me. She stated:  I am writing to ask for your assistance regarding an urgent childcare issue that is placing my employment at risk.  I am a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Mental Health ... in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda. I am passionate about my work and have worked hard to achieve my current position. My partner is an electrician ... and we have both invested years of training and dedication into our careers.  For the past year, I have been continuously contacting cr\u00e8ches throughout County Louth in an effort to secure childcare for our child. Despite my efforts, I have repeatedly been told that waiting lists are extremely long and that no places are available.  The only childcare place that I have been able to secure is in County Armagh. As a result, I am paying over \u20ac270 per week for just three days of childcare. ... The arrangement also requires a significant additional daily commute as I live in [north Louth] and work in Drogheda, meaning I am travelling in the opposite direction before then commuting back to work.  Unfortunately, the situation is becoming financially and practically unsustainable. I am now faced with the possibility of having to resign my job that I love simply because I cannot access affordable childcare closer to home.  Given the ongoing challenges facing mental health services and emergency care, I am deeply concerned that a lack of childcare provision could force experienced healthcare professionals out of the workforce. I am eager to continue serving patients in County Louth and contributing to mental health services, but I need support in finding a viable childcare solution.  I have spoken to the Louth childcare committee and I think it is straightforward. I am sure the Minister may be aware there are currently no childcare places allowed for children full-time or part-time, especially within the age range from zero to three years. That says it all. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Children, Disability and Equality (Deputy Norma Foley)  I move amendment No 1:  To delete all words after \"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann\" and substitute the following:  \"welcomes the significant prioritisation by the Government of measures designed to:  \u2014 reduce out-of-pocket costs of early learning and childcare for families;  \u2014 better align the supply of State-subsidised early learning and childcare with demand; and  \u2014 increase the pay and improve the working conditions of Early Years Educators and School-Age Childcare practitioners, as well as develop career pathways and promote careers in the sector, in line with Nurturing Skills, the Workforce Plan for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare 2022-2028;  acknowledges the unprecedented growth in State funding in the sector, which has increased from \u20ac707 million in 2022, to \u20ac1.52 billion this year, an increase of circa 116 per cent;  further welcomes:  \u2014 the publication of Shaping the Future: Early Years Action Plan Phase 1 Report, in December 2025;  \u2014 the extensive consultation process that has been designed to inform Phase 2 of Shaping the Future, including an online survey which has received more than 11,000 responses, 56 local consultation events, an art based engagement exercise with children and a national consultation event will also take place later in the year; and  \u2014 the commitment to publish Phase 2 of Shaping the Future by the end of 2026, which will deliver a pathway to achieving the Programme for Government commitment to 'Progressively reduce the cost of childcare to \u20ac200 per month per child';  acknowledges and welcomes the major achievements of, and new enhancements to, the Together for Better funding model this year, in line with Phase 1 of Shaping the Future, in particular:  \u2014 the continued implementation of the National Childcare Scheme (NCS), with approximately 277,000 children set to benefit from subsidies in 2026, including 47,000 children in lower income families who will benefit from increases in the income thresholds of the income-assessed subsidies, and from increases to the multiple child deduction component of the income-assessed subsidy for families with two or more children under the age of 15;  \u2014 the continuation of the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, that is benefitting more than 105,000 children in 2026, as the ECCE enjoys uptake rates in excess of 96 per cent and has removed barriers to accessing pre-school education, with data from a recent review showing that more than 40 per cent of families would not have been able to send their child to pre-school without this programme;  \u2014 the award-winning Access and Inclusion Model (AIM), which is supporting up to 9,000 children with a disability to access the ECCE programme in 2026, and which has now expanded beyond the ECCE programme, where ECCE children are benefitting from AIM support outside the ECCE programme hours, both in term and out of term, and AIM capitation increasing by 10 per cent to bring rates into line with new rates of pay for Early Years Educators under the updated Employment Regulation Orders (EROs), last October;  \u2014 the Equal Start funding model, and set of universal and targeted measures to support access to, and participation in, early learning and childcare for children and their families who experience disadvantage, with the number of settings being designated as priority settings, in receipt of targeted supports, reaching 824 in May 2026; and  \u2014 the Core Funding scheme, with the allocation of \u20ac393 million in year four of the scheme, September 2025-August 2026, set to rise by at least 23 per cent, or \u20ac90 million, in year five September 2026-August 2027, to \u20ac483 million, to support a range of important priorities, including:  \u2014 accessibility for families, through funding for growth in the sector at 4.2 per cent;  \u2014 affordability to support services to sustainably maintain fee management conditions, including new maximum fee caps benefiting parents facing the highest fees across the country, under the new maximum fee caps, the highest possible upfront cost for a typical full day place of 45 hours per week will drop from around \u20ac198 per week to \u20ac183.70 per week, with universal subsidies under the NCS, higher subsidies are available for many parents, depending on their level of income and the age and number of children in their family; and  \u2014 quality through support, with the costs of the new EROs that commenced on 13th October, 2025, through which approximately 67 per cent of staff working in the sector saw an increase in pay, and through additional ringfenced funding of up to \u20ac45 million, in year five of the scheme, which is contingent on updated EROs by the independent Joint Labour Committee, with these negotiations underway;  further acknowledges that:  \u2014 since Core Funding was introduced, its effectiveness has been subject to ongoing review, and the scheme itself has evolved year-on-year, with changes, including targeted measures and a fee increase assessment process informed by data from previous years, feedback from stakeholders, as well as an independent financial review of sessional services by Frontier Economics; and  \u2014 a review of the first year of Core Funding and the development of an evaluation framework for Core Funding is currently underway, and this review, which is being undertaken by the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service policy analysts, will be completed in the coming months;  further again, acknowledges and welcomes that:  \u2014 childminders were extensively consulted with and involved in all aspects of the development of the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) (Childminding Services) Regulations 2024, which were designed to be proportionate and appropriate to the home and family setting in which an estimated 13,000 childminders work;  \u2014 an independent external review of the draft Childminding Regulations by Dr Bill Maxwell, the former Chief Executive Officer of Education Scotland, former Chief Inspector in both Scotland and Wales, and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development consultant, confirmed that the approach was proportionate for childminding in Ireland; and  \u2014 the independent review of the initial implementation of the Childminding Regulations launched on 19th June, with an open call for submissions, the review will include consultation with childminders and other stakeholders and will provide an important opportunity to learn lessons from initial experiences with the regulations, a consultation survey will follow the call for submissions, in addition to focus groups, stakeholder interviews, and case studies, the scope of the review is broader than initially outlined in the National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028, and will now also examine the effectiveness of supports made available to assist with the registration of childminders, as well as examining the barriers to registration and regulatory compliance, including financial and information barriers;  also welcomes the transformed Forward Planning and Delivery Unit, with ground-breaking work underway in that unit to develop a forward planning model, and introduce State-led services to provide high-quality, accessible early learning and childcare, to operate alongside private and community providers where there are shortfalls in capacity, supported by \u20ac135 million in capital funding over the period 2026-2030;  in addition, acknowledges and welcomes the latest data from a range of sources that shows capacity in the early learning and childcare sector is increasing in terms of the number of places and hours of provision that services are offering, the number of places opening, and the number of staff in the early learning and childcare workforce, with:  \u2014 a net increase in registered, centre-based services in 2025 of 255, compared with net increases of 30 in 2022, 129 in 2023, 226 in 2024;  \u2014 a year-on-year decline in the number of closures, with 138 closures in 2025, compared with 183 in 2022, 167 in 2023, 131 in 2024;  \u2014 a net increase of 40 in registered, centre-based services this year to date, January-April 2026;  \u2014 a 25 per cent increase in child enrolments between 2022 and 2025, from 197,186 to 247,011 children, against a backdrop of a 12 per cent decline in the under-five population; and  \u2014 a 23 per cent increase in staff working in the sector between 2022 and 2025, from 34,359 to 42,130 staff;  furthermore, welcomes:  \u2014 the major progress made on family leaves in recent years under the First 5: A Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families 2019-2028;  \u2014 the combined durations of Maternity, Paternity and Parent's Leave and Benefit now equate to 46 weeks' paid leave for a two-parent family, supplemented by an entitlement to 16 weeks of unpaid Maternity Leave, and 26 weeks of unpaid parental leave per parent; and  \u2014 the Programme for Government commits to examining the extension of Parent's Leave and Benefit and additional flexibilities; and  also acknowledges that:  \u2014 there continues to be evidence of some families having difficulty finding appropriate places at a cost that is affordable, and that despite progress in recent years, owing to intervention by the State, the workforce in the sector remains a low-paid one; and  \u2014 while noting that further developments and investment are required, recognises that there are many positive and progressive elements to the current early learning and childcare sector, and acknowledges the pathway for improving access, affordability and quality is set out in the new Programme for Government.\".  I welcome the opportunity to speak on the motion and to contribute to what is an essential and timely debate on early learning and childcare. I would like to acknowledge the importance of this issue not just as a policy matter, but as one that directly affects children and families, educators and practitioners, providers and our wider society and economy.  For the information of the House, I have tabled an amendment to this motion. I do so not to dismiss the concerns sincerely raised but to ensure that this House has a full, balanced and evidence-based understanding of where early learning and childcare stands today and the direction in which we are moving.  While we have seen real and measurable progress in recent years with significant increases in State investment, reductions in out-of-pocket costs for parents, growth in capacity across the sector and improvements in workforce pay, the Government fully acknowledges the challenges that remain in early learning and childcare, particularly in terms of costs and availability of places for many families. However, I emphasise at the outset that this debate should not be framed solely in terms of affordability and accessibility. Quality must also stand as a central and interconnected pillar of early learning and childcare policy. That is why this Government's approach is not just to reduce costs or expand but to build a system that delivers high-quality experiences for every child, supported by a skilled and valued workforce. There are real issues and they are not being dismissed by the Government. They are recognised and they are being addressed: in a structured, multi-annual and evidence-based reform programme through Shaping the Future, the early years action plan.  As Members are aware, phase 1 of this plan was published in December 2025. It sets out concrete actions already being delivered in 2026 across affordability, access and quality. Phase 2, to be published by the end of 2026, will build on this with further medium-term reforms. It will set out a clear pathway to achieving the programme for Government commitment of reducing parental fees to \u20ac200 per month over the lifetime of this Government as is committed and reflected in the programme for Government. It will be grounded in evidence, stakeholder engagement and consultation. More than 11,000 submissions have been received through the consultation process, supported by 56 local consultation events right across the country. That is not the absence of a plan. This is a Government that is developing policy in partnership with children and families, educators and practitioners and providers to ensure it delivers real and sustained change. We must move forward, but we must do so in a way that is durable and supports the entire system.  On the issue of affordability, the motion asserts that costs remain too high and for many families, that is true. However, the motion fails to acknowledge the scale of progress already made. OECD data shows that between 2022 and 2025 o childcare costs for couples on the average wage fell from 23% to 12% of household income, while childcare costs for lone parents on the average wage fell from 23% to 13% of household income. Central Statistics Office, CSO, data show that since September 2022, the consumer price index for childcare has fallen by 37%. That is a remarkable and unprecedented reduction in a context of high inflation, which was achieved through the combined impact of consistent and sustained subsidy increases in the national childcare scheme and fee management measures under core funding. That is putting real money back into the pockets of families. We are not waiting for some future point to deliver affordability. we have already started the process of delivering it.  Budget 2026 builds on this progress by: increasing investment to over \u20ac1.5 billion, which he highest ever level of state support; expanding subsidies under the national childcare scheme to benefit hundreds of thousands of children; and introducing further fee caps to reduce the highest costs faced by parents. Under these new fee caps, the maximum cost of a full-time place is falling further, with additional support for families on low income available through increases in income-related subsidies under the national childcare scheme. However, I do know we have much more to do to make our programme for Government commitment of reducing parental fees to \u20ac200 per month over the lifetime of Government a reality.  Let me also address important issues on workforce. The motion raises concerns about pay and rightly highlights the importance of the workforce. The Government agrees; there is no early learning and childcare sector without educators and practitioners. That is why we are continuing to support the joint labour committee process, the formal and independent mechanism for setting pay levels. Although the State is not the employer, through budget 2026, up to \u20ac45 million in additional ring-fenced core funding has been provided to support further improvements, contingent on new employment regulation orders. This has been an effective approach. Negotiations by the independent joint labour committee are now under way to determine the pays of rate for what will be the fourth set employment regulation orders since 2022. Over the last three sets of employment regulation orders, wages in the sector have increased by 25%. The Government has supported employers in meeting the cost of these wage costs, notwithstanding the fact that employers are private operators and the State is not an employer in this sector.  At the same time, as articulated in phase 1 of Shaping the Future, we are examining through phase 2 of shaping the future where alternative mechanisms may better support long-term improvements in pay and conditions. This reflects a Government that is both acting now and planning ahead. The motion calls for a review of core funding. A review of the scheme is already under way. Since its introduction, we have ensured core funding has involved continuous monitoring, adjustment and refinement. A formal evaluation of its first year is currently being conducted alongside the development of a robust long-term evaluation framework. This ensures that the scheme remains effective, it evolves based on evidence and feedback and it delivers value for money.  The motion, relying on waiting list data, suggests that capacity is simply not there, despite the clear challenges with these data that I have articulated in this House time and time again. There is no centralised waiting list. Each waiting list is managed at service level and an individual child may well be on multiple waiting lists in different services. In fact, they may remain on one or multiple service lists after taking up a place.  Other data tell a different story. We are seeing strong and sustained growth in capacity across the sector, with a significant increase in registered services year on year, including a net increase of 61 more registered centre-based services between January and May 2026, a continued decline in closures, a 25% increase in child enrolments between 2022 and 2025 and a 23% increase in staff over the same period. This is clear evidence that capacity is growing.  Alongside this, the Government is investing significant capital funding to increase supply. The building blocks extension grant scheme is currently being operated by the Department and will deliver up to 1,500 places this year. A further building blocks extension scheme will operate in 2027.  The motion calls for Government to purchase existing buildings from existing providers. The Government has taken a clear position here. Our priority is increasing capacity. The Department is not offering funding to providers to purchase existing premises that would not increase existing capacity. Instead, the Department recently announced \u20ac135 million of capital investment over the coming five years for State-led services to provide additional high quality, accessible early learning and childcare. The process has commenced with investment in buildings in what will be a groundbreaking initiative.  Concerns have been raised about the childminding review. Let me assure the House that childminders have been consulted at every stage of the development and implementation of the national action plan for childminding and in the drafting of the childminding regulations. An independent expert reviewer confirmed that the approach is proportionate and appropriate to the home-based setting. Furthermore, a new review of the initial implementation of the childminding regulations has been launched, and involves: call for submissions, surveys, stakeholder engagement and detailed analysis of barriers to registration. This demonstrates our willingness to listen, to learn and to adapt policy where necessary.  The motion also calls for expanded family leave in the first year of a child's life. Through the Government's First 5 strategy, significant progress has been made. Parents now have access to up to 46 weeks of paid leave in a two-parent household, alongside unpaid leave entitlements. This reflects a strong commitment to supporting families in the earliest stages of a child's life. Further extensions will be considered, in line with programme for Government commitments.  What is being delivered by this Government is not a series of isolated measures, but a coherent reform programme, one that balances urgency with sustainability and ambition with delivery. The Government amendment put forward reflects that reality. It acknowledges the challenges but it also recognises the progress, the direction and the pathway that has been set out. That is the basis on which we should proceed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ann Graves","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ann Graves  I acknowledge the work that an Teachta Kerrane has put in on this important motion.  Affordable childcare is a real challenge for families in my constituency, Dublin Fingal East, one of the largest and fastest growing areas. We are seeing large developments being built delivering thousands of much-needed homes but there is little effort being put into planning good quality affordable childcare facilities to meet the needs of families. Those childcare facilities that are being built are not fit for purpose. They are not viable and the costs are way too high.  Purpose-built childcare facilities are lying empty in Portmarnock and Swords. They are too small and cannot accommodate enough children to make them financially viable. In Donabate, a developer looked for a change of use to allow a cr\u00e8che to be turned into two residential units because there was no uptake. Meanwhile Fingal has the lowest proportion of community-based childcare in the State. The Dublin region average is 33%. The State average is approximately 23%. In Fingal, only 5% or 16 providers operate on a not-for-profit basis. The vast majority of these are in Dublin West.  This is creating a real crisis in Dublin Fingal East, where families, children and childcare providers need to see a radical shift in Government policy. I am contacted every day by parents who are anxious. If they are lucky enough to get a place in a childcare facility, they simply cannot afford it. In some cases, it is akin to a second mortgage.  The introduction of the new maximum caps does not go far enough and many people cannot avail of them. Childcare fees create barriers to using formal childcare facilities, female labour market participation and tackling childcare poverty rates.  Sinn F\u00e9in is determined to deliver childcare for \u20ac10 a day. We are committed to an early years model of childcare that is affordable, high quality, accessible and inclusive. There are immediate actions that the Government can take by providing a roadmap to deliver \u20ac200 a month childcare with a clear implementation timeline and by extending the building blocks extension grant scheme to include existing buildings. Something has to give because families cannot afford childcare. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Crowe  Childcare is no longer simply a family issue. It is one of the biggest social and economic challenges facing this State.  We heard earlier that parents are paying more than \u20ac800 a month in many parts of the country but in Dublin they would be lucky to get change from \u20ac1,000 a month. Even then, there are thousands who still cannot secure a childcare place. That is the impossible situation for many families who are trying to work, study and provide the best start in life for their children.  I constantly hear from people I am talking to that they cannot afford to have a child, particularly those who have a mortgage. They are putting off having a child until later in life. The figures even suggest that is the pattern. People just cannot afford it and it is an impossible situation for many families.  Families have heard promise after promise from the Government. They were promised childcare provision at \u20ac200 a month but there is still no roadmap. There is certainly no timeframe to get even close to that place. The core funding, we heard earlier on, must be reviewed so that providers are supported rather than buried in paperwork and bureaucracy. Every week, I get emails from parents where a childcare provider has pulled out of core funding and the costs of that family have skyrocketed.  The Government has made a mess of core funding to the point where it is not viable. Simply saying that childcare must be made cheaper is not enough. There must be investment in capacity, fair play and, above all, long-term planning. The Government hates to consider any project that will last longer than an election cycle because, God forbid, it will not get the credit.  Sinn F\u00e9in's motion sets out practical, achievable measures that will make a real difference for children, parents and childcare professionals. It is time to move beyond announcements and deliver meaningful action. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Denise Mitchell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Denise Mitchell  One of the best ways we can address the cost-of-living crisis for families with young children is to bring down the cost of childcare and make it more accessible. In my own constituency of Dublin Bay North, we have a lot of new housing estates with young families and the waiting list for childcare places is simply huge. The fact is it is stopping many people from returning to work. The cost for those who manage to secure a place are still way too high. While I welcome the progress that has been made in this area, the reality is that parents are still paying the equivalent of a second mortgage every month.  When it comes to capacity, if it does not have the staff, the Government cannot deliver the places in the system. Therefore, we need to ask why is staff turnover so high and why is recruitment so difficult. It is very clear. SIPTU's report found that 86% of early years educators identified low pay as their biggest issue and two thirds also raised the problem of extra pressure due to staff shortages and stress.  Everybody in this House will agree that the people we entrust to educate and care for our children should feel valued and that starts with fair pay. If we really want to deliver a public childcare system, we need to grasp the nettle here and begin examining where the State could take responsibility for wages and associated costs in the sector. Investing in our young people and their education from an early age benefits society as a whole. We can get this right but affordability, accessibility and workforce issues need to be addressed to make sure we do. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Mythen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Mythen.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Mythen.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Johnny Mythen  Childcare is a cornerstone of society. It promotes and nourishes child well-being, gender equality and a sustainable work-family balance. Not many institutions or organisations can claim that. They are the backbone of our economy. If they do not operate tomorrow morning, the economy would collapse and half the workforce would not be able to go to work, yet childcare services are coming under enormous financial and structural pressure.  In most parts of the country, childcare costs are in excess of \u20ac800 per month, and in major cities, costs are reaching well over \u20ac1,200. Parents and guardians are at their tether, effectively paying a second mortgage for childcare services. Early childcare educators are poorly paid, with staff with bachelor's degrees at levels 7 and 8 not receiving proper pay in recognition of their qualifications. Providers themselves are under severe pressure, with many folding and others barely hanging on. That is why core funding supports must be reviewed to reflect what is happening on the ground.  There are up to 50,000 children on childcare waiting lists, and staff shortages are having an enormous effect on room closures and administration systems, such as rotas and holidays being disrupted, mainly due to low pay. Rural childcare services also play a vital part in rural communities. Those involved personally know the children and their families, and some have been operating for over 20 years, but many are pulling out of the core funding. In fact, childcare providers in the D\u00e1il last week stated that in September, 996 services would be closing and that, by the end of the year, that will reach 1,500. That is a lot of families with nowhere to go.  Childcare at \u20ac200 per month must be introduced and core funding needs a full overhaul. If proper funding for childcare services is not put in place now, society and the economy will suffer. Childcare must come first, public good must come first and I ask all TDs to support this motion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joanna Byrne  Families in Louth have heard multiple announcements from local government representatives, but no meaningful action to deliver the Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael election promises of \u20ac200 per month childcare in the first 100 days of Government has come. Childcare is not a luxury and it needs to be given priority in investment.  We have more than 29,000 families with children in Louth, and almost 7,000 of those families have a child under the age of four. In sharp contrast, we only have 113 childcare providers, with 46% of these estimated to have a waiting list. We have parents waiting for places that just do not exist. The Government claims that improving access to quality and affordable early learning and school-age childcare is a key priority for Government, but the reality for parents I meet is very different. Natalie told me she does not want to have to choose between her being a mother and working, and she is already significantly disadvantaged in the workplace with regard to income and advancement opportunities. Lisa told me she has no option other than to stay working full-time just to make ends meet, but childcare places locally are a huge barrier to that continuing. Another couple at their wit's end told me they are both teachers who depend entirely on stable, affordable and reliable childcare, and that it is shocking to see dedicated professionals like them being pushed to the breaking point by Government policy failure.  In January, the Minister announced a proposal to purchase buildings that will provide childcare facilities. When I asked what was proposed in these plans for County Louth and what additional supply was proposed for areas of disadvantage in the Drogheda and south Louth areas, the response I received stated that no final decisions had been made on specific projects, but that the Minister looked forward to sharing details of projects as they were agreed. It has been six months and there have been no details or additional places.  Stock responses and soundbites do not help parents sitting and waiting on this. They are an absolute insult to the dedicated professionals who are working and struggling to keep the lights on and doors open. I call on the Minister to get real when it comes to the burden this is having on families. We need to support parents and invest in childcare, both in its provision and in the educators who deliver this service to our communities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Daniel Ennis","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Daniel-Ennis.D.2026-05-25","memberCode":"Daniel-Ennis.D.2026-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Daniel Ennis  Affordable and accessible childcare is a vital provision that has fundamental impacts on both our society and economy. A well-functioning early childhood education and care system is key to the future of our children as well as our own success. A public model of early childhood education and care is the only way we can achieve a system that is affordable, accessible and which addresses the childcare needs of families across this country.  While we work towards that model, we must cap childcare fees at \u20ac200 per child per month. This fee cap is something we have heard a lot about this evening, and indeed in the 2024 election, but it is very important we keep reiterating this. It was promised to every parent in the country in the lead-up to this past election, and it was promised to them in the programme for Government. Yet, here we are, still without a clear roadmap or timeframe for when this will happen.  I often talk about how lucky I was and we were to be able to secure a childcare place for my daughter, Ren. It is lucky that I and my partner, Chloe, are able to work and continue our careers. We are lucky to have childcare costs that amount to a second mortgage. This is not the language we should be using or should have to use when it comes to childcare. Being lucky or blessed should not come into it, and it should have no bearing on your access to childcare; it should be a right. The average cost of childcare in this country is \u20ac850 per month. However, for many families, it is so much more than that, including my own. In my constituency, one parent got in touch with me to tell me they pay \u20ac1,800 per month for one child for childcare. That is absolutely shocking. How is that sustainable?  While the cost of childcare is impacting families across the country, lower income families are always the worst affected. Earlier this month, the Government announced a reduction in the weekly fee cap for childcare services under the core funding model. This reduction was less than \u20ac15 per week, a drop from \u20ac198 to \u20ac183.70. This is far from the \u20ac200 per child per month price cap that was promised. It is a bit scary. Price hike after price hike continue to affect families across the country. No parent wants to say they will not pay whatever they can for their child. As a parent, you want to give everything you possibly can for your children. No parent wants their child to go without, but we should not be putting them in that situation. We should not be making parents choose between their careers and their children.  This is not a reflection of the early years educators and school-age childcare practitioners who work tirelessly to provide a fantastic service for our children right across the country; it is a reflection of a broken system. We know this crisis disproportionately affects women, with mothers forced to put their careers on pause or give them up altogether. The national strategy for women and girls published last year put a strong emphasis on how unpaid care creates structural barriers that prevent women's participation in the workforce. A core part of these barriers is the lack of affordable, high-quality, early years and school-age care, as well as uneven pay for parental leave. These are factors that shape women's decisions on returning to work, access to full-time roles and long-term financial security. If our Government is serious about addressing the gender pay gap and improving gender equality as a whole within our society, it needs to start here. We need our Government to recognise that affordable, accessible childcare is fundamentally an equality issue.  Our European counterparts recognise that access to childcare is an equality issue. For instance, in Germany, children over the age of one have a legal entitlement to a childcare place. Portugal's national system of early childhood intervention works on a multi-departmental level to ensure an adequate system of social, education and health supports for young children. Ireland's childcare costs are nearly double that of the OECD average. We are now an outlier in Europe in terms of how poor our access to early childhood education is and how unaffordable it is.  I welcome the Government's building block scheme and the announcement that it will purchase eight properties for the provision of public childcare. However, this does not go far enough. As a councillor, I asked for an audit to be done of Dublin City Council-owned properties to establish if any such properties may be suitable for future use as childcare facilities. This is something I believe we should be asking of all our councils and their council-owned property across the country. Property should be examined for its availability for community hubs, including childcare facilities, as having access to these facilities in the core of our community is of vital importance.  Core funding also continues to cause issues, and we have all spoken about that tonight. A Montessori in my own constituency in Phibsborough that has served the local community for decades is unsure if it will be able to open its doors next year. The sector is also facing serious challenges in recruitment and retention of staff. It is vital our plan for a public model of childcare includes proper pay and working conditions for staff in early childhood education facilities. Urgent action needs to be taken to address this. The challenges of recruitment and retention of staff in the industry is a major problem.  We need to see a public model of childcare. Childcare should be seen as essential infrastructure rather than a private burden that is placed on parents to deal with. Childcare has consistently been treated as an afterthought by this Government, with a complete lack of thought to the design and implementation of a well-functioning system. We want to see what was promised to us by this Government. We want to see a roadmap for a provision of \u20ac200 per month childcare. Families across this country are struggling and we need to support them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  I thank Sinn F\u00e9in for bringing forward this motion. I am always happy to speak to childcare because, particularly as someone who raised my daughter alone, I know how important childcare is for gender equality and for families across this country who are just gasping for it at this stage.  The other issue that stands out from my own experience is that having paid for childcare in the early 2000s for my daughter, who was a millennial baby and is an adult woman now, I see that the crisis has not improved and has, in fact, only deepened. It is yet another crisis that has been stood over by successive Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael Governments. Back then, I was paying the equivalent of a second mortgage for my daughter's childcare, although I could not afford a mortgage at the time.  Today, my area of Dublin Rathdown has the most expensive childcare in the country. Since becoming a TD, countless parents have contacted me at their wits' end trying to find and pay for childcare or worrying about losing their child's place. Childcare providers in Carrickmines, Dundrum and all across my constituency of Dublin Rathdown have pulled out of the Government funding scheme because they just could not make it work with the cost of rent and other overheads. That means parents across Dublin Rathdown are not even able to benefit from the rates under the childcare scheme, which are a far cry from the \u20ac200 cap promised in the general election and the programme for Government. Instead, many are paying more than \u20ac2,000 a month to keep their children in cr\u00e8che, which is, in effect, a second mortgage.  This crisis is pushing parents out of the workforce, adding stress to their lives and pushing down their incomes in what is already a cost-of-living crisis. Even when they can gather the money they need to pay the exorbitant costs, closures and a lack of spaces have meant many parents cannot secure a place for their child. They are caught between a rock and a hard place. Without a public system, this is what we get, namely, a service with not enough capacity and that is hugely expensive.  We in the Social Democrats have been clear about what needs to be done. A public model of childcare must be delivered as a matter of urgency. We must see fees come down and certainty for parents that if they secure a cr\u00e8che place, they can rely on it being there next year and that they will not be hit with skyrocketing costs. A public model ensures costs are brought down and can be set at a genuinely affordable rate. This is not a radical idea. It is something most European countries have. However, the work does not stop just with costs. We do not just need a more affordable system; we also must invest in capacity. If we rely solely on private operators, we will be unable to ensure we have the capacity planning to provide enough spaces in the system to meet the need in our communities. Childcare is a public good. It is necessary to our society and it provides vital early years education to our children. We need to treat it as such. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  I thank Deputy Kerrane and Sinn F\u00e9in for bringing forward this really important motion. It is very close to my heart as someone with children going through the early years sector. I thank the early years educators who provide an excellent and caring service and who are absolutely not treated properly. I completely support SIPTU's campaign for proper pay and conditions. I thank the Minister for coming to my constituency of Dublin North-West to visit childcare and early years services and see at first hand the need for investment. I ask her to support the investment in early years provision in Ballymun that is urgently needed.  People have raised the particular issue with me of young people in this country who can and want to have children but are deciding it is not possible because they cannot afford it. Alongside a cost-of-living crisis, we now have a cost-of-having-babies crisis in this country. Young people want to have children but they just cannot afford it. The cost-of-living and cost-of-housing crises have become so bad, our younger generations cannot afford children, or if they have one child, they cannot afford a second. We are one of the richest countries in the world on paper. The Government has record surpluses but it has failed to provide the most basic aspect of a functioning society, namely, the capacity for people to afford to raise children without living in fear and worry about being able to pay for the very basic costs. Barnardos has highlighted that almost half of parents are skipping meals to ensure their children have enough to eat. That is an absolute scandal. The cost of raising children in this country has increased by 60% in the past decade.  Childcare provision is a key area in which the Government has the power to reduce the cost of living. However, it has failed to deliver its promise of a cap on childcare fees of \u20ac200 per month. We in the Social Democrats have a plan for making childcare affordable through public affordable childcare provision and early years services. This would reduce the cost for parents, improve workers' pay and deliver childcare for all those awaiting it. T\u00e1 costas iomarcach ag baint le leana\u00ed a bheith againn. T\u00e1 c\u00faram leana\u00ed inacmhainne ag teast\u00e1il \u00f3n\u00e1r ngl\u00fain \u00f3g. T\u00e1 plean ag na Daonlathaithe S\u00f3isialta chun c\u00faram leana\u00ed a dh\u00e9anamh inacmhainne. C\u00e9n f\u00e1th nach nd\u00e9anann an Rialtas \u00e9? It is time to deliver public affordable childcare that provides decent employment for workers in the sector. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Wall  I welcome the Minister to the Chamber for this very important debate. I thank Deputy Kerrane and Sinn F\u00e9in for bringing forward the motion on childcare. We are all agreed on the importance of this issue, albeit it is somewhat ironic that we are discussing it after midnight. While it is positive to have this debate, it is the view of my party that the Government must go further to ensure there truly is delivery of public childcare provision. The current system of early childcare education and care is simply not working for providers, educators and, most importantly, working families.  Ireland needs a new and radical plan to fix the childcare system. I have spoken previously in the House about the small and medium independent providers that are the backbone of the sector. They feel they have been left high and dry by the Government. They are barely breaking even, with some on the brink of closure. According to the figures provided by the Department of children itself, there have been nearly 1,000 closures of childcare settings since 2019. Families simply cannot afford any more closures. The Government continues to pour money into a broken system that only benefits large corporations whose sole interest is profit, not providing quality childcare. No one in the Government will acknowledge that we are sleepwalking into a corporate takeover of childcare. If this continues in the next few years, there will be no small and medium providers left. Then the system will implode, just as it has done in Australia. What will the answer be then from the Minister and the Government?  As many contributors have stated, core funding is not the answer to fixing the sector. It simply does not work. Most independent providers cannot afford to stay in core funding and are left with no other choice but to withdraw. The knock-on impact of that is felt by working families as they face a massive increase in childcare fees. The Government cannot continue to pour money into a broken system. Childcare fees are one of the biggest costs facing working families, many of whom are paying close to a second mortgage, as the Minister has heard more than once tonight. All across Ireland, families are having to make difficult choices as to whether they can afford to pay for childcare, assuming they can even find a place.  In my constituency of Kildare South, places like Kilcullen, which I have mentioned in the Chamber previously, have become childcare deserts because of the chronic lack of places. In most cases, it is women who are having to reduce their work hours and, in many cases, having to give up their careers entirely. Childcare has become the modern-day family bar, with women having to choose between having a family and having a career. Critical jobs are being lost because of Government inaction. It is heartbreaking to hear the stories of these mothers, many of whom are having to give up critical employment. This is something the Government must address urgently.  The Government also must acknowledge that reducing childcare fees alone will not provide one additional childcare place. The Government must stabilise the sector by addressing the workforce challenges. The Minister must put forward a real and radical plan to set Ireland on a path towards a public system of early childhood education and care, not a State-led one. Educators are leaving the sector in their droves because the Government has failed to recognise and value them. Staff no longer feel they can make a career out of working in the sector. I agree that the State should be paying the wages of the educators in the sector. SIPTU has reported that many providers are struggling to retain staff, with an average turnover of 25%. Despite State investment of \u20ac45 million in pay from September 2026, no pay deal has been agreed. This year's joint labour committee pay talks only started in June and continue to prove difficult.  Pay proposals were published in July of last year but still ended up being six weeks late by the time they were signed into effect on 13 October, while funding was available from September. SIPTU has been calling on employer representative groups to start pay talks as far back as the start of the year to avoid any delays, but they only finally agreed to start these talks in June. As things stand, it looks like the situation will be delayed even further this year. This means funding not spent on pay will be returned to the Exchequer again, which is totally unacceptable for educators, and will only worsen the recruitment and retention crisis in the sector.  The Government must look at reforming parental leave in Ireland too. We need to ensure that parents are able to stay at home for the first year of their child's life, but we also need to ensure that more dads are involved in the care of their child. The current system does not support this. New dads are only entitled to two weeks of paternity leave at a flat rate of \u20ac299. That represents a nearly 75% drop in wages for dads who avail of this leave. That is why the Government must look at the Scandinavian model of parental leave. It must extend parental leave at a minimum for a full year and ensure that there are mandatory quotas in place for both mams and dads.  Ireland needs a plan that works in genuine partnership with independent providers setting professional wages for educators and, most importantly, delivering good quality and affordable childcare for families. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert O'Donoghue  I thank Deputy Kerrane for bringing forward this motion. While I support it, I do not believe it goes far enough. Again, we are skirting around the fundamental issue that is wrong with the early years sector. The truth is that this sector will never be properly fixed as long as we continue to rely on a private provision model. The Minister might point to the \u20ac1.6 billion and to the public that seems like a great commitment, but the reality is that this investment has also opened doors to corporate chains and private corporations.  The Minister has allowed these entities to operate school-age childcare in public school buildings rather than using those public assets to expand State provision. A public system would allow the State to build capacity while protecting the small and medium providers that are the backbone of the sector and communities across the country. This sector is not a private luxury. It is infrastructure. It underpins the economy. It is a cost-of-living issue. It enables children and families to thrive. It is a women\u2019s equality issue.  Many Members will be my familiar with my parliamentary assistant, who has been campaigning on this since 2019. She helped to organise the sector into a union, fought for the first two pay deals and was instrumental in the Together for Public campaign. Based on her years of work, I believe the sector can be fixed. The solution is straightforward. We need to build a genuine public system alongside existing providers, expand State capacity, properly value the educators and stop relying on the market to deliver what is essentially a public service.  The early years sector is fixable if the political will is there to do it. Unlike other major infrastructure, this does not have to take decades, nor does it have to cost a fortune. If we get it right, this benefits everybody. Early childhood education and care is a public good and we need to start treating it as such. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  I thank Deputy Kerrane and Sinn F\u00e9in for bringing forward this motion. The Minister will be well aware that every TD in this House knows that parents are struggling with childcare. In my constituency of Cork North-Central, I meet these parents regularly. They are doing everything right. They are working hard. They are raising their families. They are trying to get on with life, but they are being let down by a childcare system that simply is not working.  This is about far more than the cost of childcare. It is about a shortage of places, a workforce crisis and a failure to treat early years education as the essential public service that it is. Yes, fees have fallen for some families and that is welcome, but what good is affordable childcare if there is no place available? Parents need affordability and availability. Providers need certainty and early years educators deserve decent pay, secure careers and recognition for the skilled professionals that they are. For too long Governments have relied on schemes and subsidies to prop up a system that remains fundamentally broken. We need to stop asking families to navigate a patchwork of supports and start building a childcare system that they can rely on.  The Labour Party believes that childcare is not a luxury, nor is it simply a support for parents. It is an investment in our children, families, economy and future. That means expanding capacity, creating thousands of new childcare places, reducing costs for families and properly valuing the people who educate and care for our youngest children because every child deserves the best possible start in life regardless of their postcode or their parents' income.  We have long accepted that access to primary and secondary education is a public good. It is time that we recognise that high-quality early years education is too. The question that I pose for the Government is no longer whether we can afford to build a universal public childcare system, but whether we can afford another generation of children and families being failed by the one we have. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  I thank Sinn F\u00e9in and Deputy Kerrane for bringing this important motion forward. For my generation and for young parents like me, or youngish parents anyway, childcare and housing are the crucial issues. Childcare and housing are both issues of accessibility and affordability. Both are also issues that have been left to the private sector for far too long and, in both cases, there is an urgent need for strong, direct State intervention.  In this House last week, I raised issues with the T\u00e1naiste regarding a local childcare provider in Knocklyon. Recently there has been a large number of last-minute room closures. Previous flexibility under a different ownership with summer hours or part-time after-school has disappeared, and parents have been left stranded with no childcare and no notice. Parents have had to take up to 20 annual leave days across May and June to cover room closures. They are scrambling to get family or friends to help to find and pay childminders, and it is all unbelievably stressful.  The next big fear, of course, is that the childcare provider will pull out of core funding and hike its prices, leaving these parents unprotected by the very welcome fee freeze announced earlier this month. Parents have no option to move elsewhere as childcare places in Dublin South-West are so scarce. Parents are excluded from Government childcare supports and have to somehow suck up the additional fees which can double overnight, as the Minister knows, or otherwise parents, and it is mainly mums, just stop working. This is all due to the for-profit, commercialised model that this Government has promoted.  We in the Labour Party have an ambitious, costed and revolutionary plan for State-provided, universal childcare in Ireland, where we treat it just like primary education, spaces are guaranteed for children, parents have certainty over costs and accessibility, and early years educators have decent terms of employment. Let us be clear: there is no issue with quality in the current system, but we have early years educators who go over and above every day only to be forced to sign on during the summer and we need to properly value these essential workers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa)  Is d\u00f3cha go bhfuil an Teachta Ahern \u00f3g go leor. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  The whole issue of access to affordable childcare is becoming critical for many parents. Affordability is an issue, and it is putting huge financial pressure, including a whole raft of other increasing costs, on parents. In the case of Laois, the average cost, according to the childcare committee, is \u20ac800 per month, but I have come across quotations as high as \u20ac1,400 a month.  The shortage of places is the other issue and there are several blackspots across the county. In common with other counties, parents just cannot get access to childcare. According to the local childcare committee again, towns such as Portlaoise, Portarlington, Mountmellick, Mountrath, Graiguecullen, Rathdowney, Abbeyleix, Durrow, Arles and Ballylinan are short of all-day provision. Some have no all-day provision at all, and Mountrath is losing its ECCE preschool this month, which is unfortunate.  The Government wants a population increase in Laois, and that is fair enough. It wants a population increase in the county of 25% over the next four to five years moving to 35% over the next seven years or so. Laois County Council recently rezoned lands for an additional 8,200 houses to be developed over the next four years, and further increases are planned after that. As matters stand, there are already long waiting lists and a huge shortage of providers, so action is required to meet the growing demand.  Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael promised to reduce monthly fees to \u20ac200, but we are a long way from that. There is a planned reduction in September of \u20ac14.30 per month, but at that rate it would take 14 or 15 years to actually get to that reduction planned by the Government.  The budget in October must see significant progress on fees, but also improvements in core funding. Progress is also required on staffing pay levels.  I welcome the Government's plan for \u20ac135 million over four years to provide directly purchased, State-led buildings and childcare facilities. However, given the existing pressures in Laois and the massive population increase that is planned, at least one of these facilities needs to be put into the county each year over the next four years.  As I said, wages for staff and recruitment need to be addressed. A career in childcare has to be seen as a viable one for young people. It has to be made attractive. We need to reduce the bureaucracy and the volume of administration for the small private providers, while we have them. Overall, the State has to become the provider of childcare. We have to follow what is done is other EU states. We need a State-led system. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  The provision of childcare services is an area in which I have had a particular interest and involvement for over 30 years. The Elm Park area childcare committee brought together community activists and parents from this area of Clonmel with the aim of providing a not-for-profit childcare service for the area. Clever Clogs, as we know it, is a community-based facility which provides a not-for-profit, quality childcare service in a purpose-built unit, supported by the local community. It has a local board of management, committee staff and parents. It receives exceptional support from the county childcare committee. As chairperson of the board of management, I express my thanks and appreciation to all those involved in Clever Clogs, particularly the manager and staff of the centre, the parents and my fellow board members.  There are huge challenges currently facing the early-years sector. They include serious deficiencies in capacity; thousands of children on waiting lists; some parents paying up to \u20ac800 per month for childcare costs; poor pay and conditions for staff; and serious problems in recruitment and retention of staff. The current situation is untenable in the long term. The only solution is the roll-out of a publicly funded and delivered service. This is increasingly the view of all those operating in the sector and of those observing it, including the citizens' assembly; the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, UNCRC; the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, CEDAW; and Together for Public, an alliance of over 40 organisations, including the National Women's Council of Ireland, trade unions, academics, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, early childcare educators and many other civil society organisations.  Childcare must be seen as a right for all and not as a commercial service. That means having a public childcare service similar to our primary schools. There should be a guaranteed legal right to affordable, accessible and universal early education for ever child. There should be better pay and conditions for early educators, who should be paid directly by the State.  Public childcare is also a key issue for equality. We know that where the public system operates, women are much more likely to participate fully in society, whether that be in work, education, the arts or even in politics. The biggest obstacles for lone parents entering the workforce are the high cost and lack of availability of childcare. A public childcare service would certainly help in this regard.  I thank Sinn F\u00e9in for bringing forward this motion, which I support. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charles Ward  I thank Sinn F\u00e9in and Deputy Kerrane for bringing forward this motion on childcare, which I will be supporting. Ireland is in the grip of a serious childcare crisis which has been allowed to continue for far too long. Parents are not only struggling to afford childcare but they are also struggling to access it at all. Finding a cr\u00e8che in places has become an enormous challenge for families across the country, but particularly in Donegal where thousands of children are left without a place. The latest figures from Pobal show there were over 2,000 children on a waiting list for childcare places in Donegal, with childcare costing, on average, \u20ac180 per week. It is unacceptable that families are competing for just a handful of places.  The Government must finally deliver on its promise of \u20ac200 per month childcare and take the decisive action needed to fix this crisis. The T\u00e1naiste must also deliver on his promise to address early-years facilities that are impacted by defective concrete. We know there are over 25 childcare facilities in Donegal impacted by defective concrete. When the Minister was here she talked about urgency. There is absolutely no urgency coming from her regarding defective concrete in buildings with children in those buildings. Not only this, but we are forcing children and early-years educators to go into these buildings every year. This would not be allowed to happen in County Dublin but it is allowed in Donegal.  I have raised this issue time and again but still the Government refuses to do anything about it. These buildings will not be around in ten years' time. Even our President, Catherine Connolly, has taken time out in the past six months of her Presidency to visit many of these community facilities which have been impacted by defective concrete. Yet, not a single Minister has made it their priority to address this. Even the Minister for children has tried to wash her hands of the responsibility. She has refused to answer a question I submitted regarding children impacted by defective concrete. Multiple community playgroups in Donegal face closure because they have been affected by defective concrete. Yet, under the current redress scheme, these childcare facilities do not qualify for demolition. The loss of these vital resources throughout Donegal will have serious consequences. In time, there will be nowhere for these children to go if we do not do anything about it.  The loss of these facilities will have an impact on the population of Donegal. This will be only the beginning of the childcare crisis in Donegal unless the Minister steps up. We have been saying for years that 25 facilities are facing closure because of defective concrete, yet she does nothing about it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  I thank Deputy Kerrane for bringing forward this motion. I will raise two discrete issues that have been raised by childcare providers with me in my constituency of Dublin West. The first is the concern about the time it is taking for Garda vetting of applications from childcare professionals. This vetting procedure has had a new element added to it in recent months, namely, the European criminal records information system, ECRIS. This requires a new set of checks to take place, which is increasing by up to 20% the time taken for a standard application. If the applicant has an EU address, it adds ten days to the application. If it is a UK address, it is an extra 20 days for an application. This is really problematic because, as the Minister of State knows, many childcare providers are operating close to ratio. If they go below ratio, they may well have to shut a room, which creates great disruption for parents. If they are not able to get new childcare staff into the setting quickly, this is a consequence.  Groups such as Early Childhood Ireland and the county and city childcare committees are supplying childcare providers with as much information as they can but this is a big change. I ask the Minister of State and the Minister to examine if additional support can be given by the State. I ask the Minister of State to sit down with the Minister for justice to see if there are any extra resources that could be given to the Garda vetting bureau to see if more can be done here. It is a big issue, and I am sure it is coming up in what the Minister of State is hearing as well. It is a significant extra burden, and while it is probably an important set of checks, if we can alleviate some of that burden for childcare providers, we ought to do so.  When I was Minister for children I was very proud to oversee the first two pay agreements for childcare professionals, guaranteeing them rates of pay backed by dedicated State funding. I very much support the vision of degree-led teaching in our childcare system and the premium paid to staff who have a level 7 or level 8 degree to encourage and support this. However, we have to recognise that many staff have not moved past a level 5 qualification but have years or decades of experience, which makes them the very best of people to care for and educate young children. A provider who is good to their staff may often have a lot of these long-term staff who have not gone beyond a level 5. They are amazing but the way in which the formula is worked out means that the provider in such cases gets less in the core funding allocation than a provider with many more staff who may be younger and will not have as much experience but have a level 6 or a level 7 qualification. This is a dilemma I was not able to solve in my time but I would have loved to have been able to. I believe in degree-led teaching but we also have to recognise the amazing staff who have huge experience and the providers who want to keep them. More could be done there. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  I thank Sinn F\u00e9in for tabling this motion. At this late hour, I thank most of the parties who have stayed in here to debate such an important issue. Last week when I raised these issues with the Taoiseach during Leaders' Questions, he outlined the level of Government investment in childcare, but investment is not the same as sustainability. The Taoiseach answered how much Government is spending; he did not answer whether providers can survive. All around the country and particularly in rural communities, childcare providers are telling us the current funding model places enormous pressure on them. Participation in core funding is not proof that providers are financially secure. Many remain because they have no realistic alternative. The real question is this: how many providers are operating sustainably under the current model?  Government points to growth in childcare services but families deserve to know how many additional early years places have actually been created, separate from school-age children. Growth in after-school services is welcome but it does not help parents who cannot find a place for a baby, toddler or preschool child.  There is also the ongoing unfairness of historic fee freezes. Providers operating under the same conditions can receive very different levels of income because of decisions made years ago. Government has county-average fee data, so why can providers not be brought up to the county average while wider reforms are examined?  Let us not forgot what families were told before the last election. Parents were promised childcare costs of no more than \u20ac200 per month. That might be one way of getting votes but for many families it has proven to be a promise that has not been delivered. People took the Government at its word. The sad reality is many children whose parents were promised that support will be well out of early years childcare before meaningful action is taken.  Families cannot keep waiting while Government points to spending figures and future plans. A sustainable childcare sector must be able to do more than keep the lights on. Providers need to be able to pay staff fairly, invest in their services, build for the future and expand where communities need places. This is one of the most serious issues today. A childcare system cannot be judged solely on how much Government spends or even by how much parents save. It must be judged on whether providers remain viable, educators are retained and families can access the early years places they need. That is the question providers and families are asking and it remains unanswered.  It is remiss that we have not thanked all involved in the early years childcare sector. They have been through the most enormous nightmare in recent years. I remember when they were outside the gate and the Minister would not even go out and support them on the day. Sometimes it is about standing with a genuine organisation like this. They were not standing out there for the good of their health; they were out there for to keep the doors open. The parents came out in their hundreds to support them. Unfortunately, we had an uncaring Government then and I think we have an uncaring Government now because the sector is still feeling the pinch.  I sat down with the sector's representatives over the last few weeks. I raised it very specifically at Leaders' Questions last week to the Taoiseach. He is not taking in the reality of the crisis they find themselves in. They are not shutting their doors because they want to but because they are given no choice in the matter. Successive Governments have ignored the crisis they are going through. The current Minister needs to step up to the mark and understand that.  We speak quite a lot about bills. This week Electric Ireland is raising the price of electricity. Providers have to pay these electricity bills from money they do not have. It is a serious crisis and we are not taking it seriously enough. The people have been promised \u20ac200 per month. They are not getting anywhere near it and we are not going to keep the promise the Government made at the rate it is going. I think it is in the programme for Government. The Government will not suddenly give a huge amount of money. It needs to look at and speak to the sector. The people who know are the people working on the ground. The Government does not seem to understand that if they are in crisis and closing their businesses, there is something wrong somewhere. They are not doing it just to pass the time. These are very committed people. The people I spoke to have given time, blood, sweat and tears to their jobs. They are giving it up and paying it out. Sometimes if the wife is trying to run the business and is struggling, she is dipping into her husband's income from another sector to keep the doors open. It is astonishing we have let things go that far and that there is so little between profit and loss and between an early years childcare provider surviving and not surviving. The Government must discuss this with them, thrash out the difficulties, get this sorted and nip it in the bud before the next election. It needs to be done. They are willing to sit down. Any time they are sitting down, nobody is listening on the other side. That has been going on for many years.  I ask the Minister of State, Deputy Higgins, to show interest in resolving this crisis if she really is interested in doing so. Everybody will then see there is a chance they will only have to pay \u20ac200 per month for childcare. It is all down to the hard struggling parents in this country and the early years childcare providers who have served the country with great distinction. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  I thank Sinn F\u00e9in for bringing this motion to the floor. It is one of the more important motions we have spoken on. It is 36 minutes past midnight in the House. That is a great testament to everybody who has stayed here to contribute to the debate and be part of the debate. Childcare is one of the biggest issues that hits us at the doorsteps, certainly at the last general election. As my colleague just said, I was listening to people who said with great hope that childcare would be \u20ac200. Those people feel extremely let-down and disappointed with this Government and duped by this Government, to say the least. That needs to be on the record of the House.  I respect the spirit behind the motion. I do not agree precisely with the measures within it but I plan to support it tonight.  I want to speak of a childcare model that I think Ireland would benefit substantially from replicating. Ireland has among the highest childcare costs in Europe, often well over \u20ac1,000 per month per child. I have a case in my constituency where somebody is paying \u20ac1,700 per month for a child. It is not unusual and if we went onto the streets of Dublin, Cork or Limerick, we would find similar prices. The Government's response to this has always been to funnel money and subsidies through a formal childcare sector via the national childcare scheme, which assumes every parent wants and needs institutional childcare. Many parents do not. Some would prefer to leave their child with a grandparent, neighbour, friend, uncle or aunt, and some would prefer to have one parent at home, at least while the child is small. The subsidy system only recognises a registered provider, which means the State has already decided for you what counts as acceptable when it comes to the care of your own child.  Finland in 1985 - 40 years ago - looked at that entire model and said it was not working for them. The Finnish childcare model developed in 1985 involved giving parents direct payments of approximately \u20ac340 per month if a child is under three and not in municipal childcare. There are supplements for additional children and local municipal top-ups. That means the parent gets to decide how to use the money and whether they stay at home, pay the money to a grandparent, uncle or aunt, hire a private childminder or make other arrangements as they see fit. The money follows the child directly and the family decides on what is best for the child. Almost 60% of the eligible population in Finland have taken this up. Denmark runs a similar system. Norway offers a similar scheme. There is nothing exotic or untested about what I am suggesting. The Finnish model trusts parents; our model in this country does not. In Finland, if a mother is happy to stay at home with the child, the state will support that. If a neighbour, friend or grandparent is willing to take care of a child, the state will support that. If you are a stay-at-home father, the state will equally support that.  In Ireland, we only subsidise institutional care. I seriously believe we need to be looking at that and at different models. The childcare policy in this country tells parents they are not qualified to decide on what is best for their own child. It should be a parent, not a civil servant, who makes that judgement.  My colleague mentioned viability and the situation in this country. I do not believe that. I am seeing cr\u00e8ches closing. I am getting calls on a regular basis, as I am sure are other TDs, - that there are cr\u00e8ches closing in Glanmire, Mayfield, Ballyvolane and Carrignavar. They just cannot keep the doors open. Then, there are people on the other side of it going into early childcare who are not getting paid a decent salary and cannot make a living out of it. They would love to be because that is their vocation. They would not have signed up for this many years ago but it is their vocation. They cannot afford to work in it and live and sustain a living today. We are just not getting childcare right in this country. It is not as if it is an illusion or a very difficult mathematical equation for us. We have an outdated model that is not working. We need to look at the best standards and practice across northern Europe that have been proven to work over and over again. The model has been working for 40 years in Finland and has 60% uptake. No other country is as expensive as we are for childcare. There is something radically wrong when we have parents who cannot afford to have a child because of childcare costs. That should be the last thing on their minds. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aisling Dempsey","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aisling-Dempsey.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aisling-Dempsey.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aisling Dempsey  Throughout this debate, not one person has argued that we do not need high-quality, accessible and affordable childcare. Everyone, including the Minister of State, agrees that we need it and need it now. The question is not one of need; the question is whether it is possible to deliver nationwide, high-quality, affordable childcare for every family overnight. If we are all honest here, the answer would be \"No\", unfortunately. That is why in our programme for Government, Fianna F\u00e1il has committed to progressively reducing childcare costs to a maximum \u20ac200 per child per month over the lifetime of the Government from 2024 to 2029. That is the commitment and that is the published plan and pathway to \u20ac200 per month. However, families are not being asked to wait until 2029 to see any benefit; far from it. We are reducing the maximum fees that parents and guardians can be charged year by year. In 2025, the maximum weekly fee was \u20ac295 and from this September, it will fall to \u20ac183. That is real progress, real savings for families and real money back in their pockets. Of course, there is more to do. Our commitment is not fulfilled but we are delivering on that commitment step by step and as Fianna F\u00e1il spokesperson on children, I intend to see that work completed.  Government investment in childcare has doubled in recent years and unlike in many other areas of public spending, families and providers can see the positive impacts of that increased investment. We know that recruitment and retention remain major challenges and for too long, early educators and care providers have not been recognised as the professionals they are, yet they care for, educate and nurture our children every day, often spending more waking hours with them than we do ourselves. Tonight is a case in point. The Government and our Minister recognise that. Although childcare is delivered primarily by private providers, the Department has provided ring-fenced funding specifically to support improved pay for staff despite the State not being their employer. The motion suggests that the Government should step in and take over the obligations of the private employer but that is unworkable. It is too much interference. Employers need to agree via the JLC the appropriate pay for their own employees. In saying that, the level of financial support is a clear demonstration of the Government's commitment not just to affordable childcare, but to building a high-quality sustainable childcare system that works for children, parents and those who dedicate their careers to caring for our youngest citizens. We are on the journey to providing a publicly funded State-led childcare model and we should take over private childcare facilities wholesale. We have very fine, educated, excellent private childcare providers out there who should be encouraged to stay within the industry. Running private and public models together gives parents a choice and gives them freedom and that is what we need within the sector.  Core funding has been lambasted in the House tonight and generally as well as not providing enough funding and supports to our early childhood care providers but the facts do not bear that out. Now at the end of its fourth year, funding has almost doubled and is now a staggering \u20ac480 million. At the end of last year, the Department undertook an analysis of withdrawals from core funding over the three years of its existence. Some 592 services withdrew from core funding but 415 of them returned, which is a 70% return rate. So far, only eight services have left core funding this year, with three of them already returning. That is 93% of all eligible services taking part in core funding. That speaks for itself.  I commend the Minister on the amount of reform that has been undertaken in childcare, but she is still seeking to extend existing schemes like the access and inclusion model to children aged three years and under. This model currently in operation can be a game-changer for our most vulnerable children. The earlier we get to our children with additional needs, the better their outcome. I thank the Minister and Minister of State for their foresight in this regard at the Department. I will continue in my role as spokesperson on children to advocate for as much funding as possible in the upcoming budget to achieve this and all our important goals in childcare.  Some parts of the motion before the House tonight appear contradictory. In one part, it is claimed that we need more childcare places for children aged under one and in another, the Minister is being asked to provide parental supports to allow parents to stay at home with babies aged under one. I actually agree with both of these policies. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Claire Kerrane  That is up to the parent if he or she wants that "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aisling Dempsey","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aisling-Dempsey.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aisling-Dempsey.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aisling Dempsey  I beg the Deputy's pardon. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Claire Kerrane  That is up to the parent. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aisling Dempsey","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aisling-Dempsey.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aisling-Dempsey.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aisling Dempsey  The Deputy might let me finish. I actually agree with both policies. I hope to see them progress with relevant Ministers, like the Minister for Social Protection. More places for children aged under one is being addressed under schemes such as building blocks already. I hope we continue to make progress on this over the coming years. Parents should have the freedom to return to work as and when is right for their particular families. Unfortunately, I do not support the motion but despite that, I commend Deputy Kerrane on her work on this and her experience, knowledge and contributions to the children's committee on which we both serve. I thank the Minister of State and the Minister for their work in this area and commend their progress to date. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan  Initially when I saw this tabled by the Business Committee last week, I wanted to get in early to speak. I did not realise it would be 12:50 on Wednesday morning. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy R\u00e9ada Cronin  It is early. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan  It is early for some people. On a genuine level, I am actually happy. I listened to people from Independent Ireland just before they exited the Chamber listing villages where, allegedly, closures of childcare facilities have happened in the past while. I think one was actually accurate. The rest of the villages were just thrown into the debate because it sounded good. That is not to say there are not problems in this area; there 100% are. It is not to say there is not a shortfall of places because there are. Trust me: I have been that parent with three kids under five looking for childcare and it is incredibly difficult living in an area like Glanmire, which is suburban. There are lots of young families. Glanmire is the only village that was named out of four or five villages in my constituency where closures actually happened in the past 12 months. I would like to place that on the record because the rest is not factual.  That said, that issue actually had a potential resolution, which I negotiated with the childcare provider and a nearby school and they sought not to proceed with that. Again, as I said, it is inaccurate to suggest that there are wholesale closures in Cork North-Central. It is not true. That said, it is generally recognised that there is a shortfall of 40,000 places nationwide. There is no point in belying that fact. It is it is true and it is difficult, as I said, particularly for younger children under the age of one. I have experienced it in my constituency where it is difficult to get baby rooms for a whole litany of reasons.  The reason I came in here tonight was to speak specifically about the State-led early learning and childcare capital programme, which the Minister announced a number of months ago. When I initially heard that announcement to \u20ac135 million over the lifetime of this Government, I was enthused. I brought a number of projects to the Department. Many of them are still being scrutinised.  None of them has received a final response regarding if they are going delivered this year, next year or in three years\u2019 time. I was initially enthused by that announcement. I understand that is part of a programme where we are targeting 800 places by the end of 2027 through that programme.  I wish to speak specifically about one such submission that was made on behalf of the people of Glanmire. This was done without identifying the property by a private building owner who has full planning permission for up to 150 childcare places. He is willing to sell the unit. He is willing to rent. The unit just needs to be kitted out, which would take approximately two to three months. It is something that could be delivered fairly quickly. The building owner is quite open to doing this with the State. When I read through the criteria, I was enthused by it because I know this can be delivered quickly. We are still awaiting an outcome or decision on that.  I want to speak about the area of Glanmire where I live. It has predominantly young families. It is a suburban environment. There are many people moving in from different areas and working in multinationals in nearby Little Island and the city. When I canvassed the doors in the recent local elections, and indeed going back to my election campaign in 2024, I will be honest with the Minister of State, there were issues around migration, the cost of living and the usual issues that we debate frequently in this House, but one of most the prevalent issues was access to childcare for those young families.  I am here at 12.50 a.m. to make the case for Glanmire. It is a very large area in the east part of the city with 20,000 people. I speculate that if we do not see this opened, all we are going to see is more and more people going into the likes of Mayfield and further afield into the city and city centre to access childcare. I am here to make the case. I hope to have a meeting with the Minister in the coming weeks in relation to this application. I am just hopeful that it will be viewed positively because for a relatively little return of that \u20ac135 million budget that she has over the next while, we could see real delivery of up to 150 places in the village of Glanmire.  I reference Cork Chamber which we get frequent briefings from. It has asked persistently that childcare would be recognised as essential economic infrastructure. When I look around my own constituency, there are people I know of my own age who are struggling to access childcare place. The necessity and importance that should be placed on childcare is obvious. There are many people either taking reduced working hours or trying to juggle work by working from home and having the demands of childcare placed on that is quite difficult. Again, some credence or scrutiny should be given to that request that it would be recognised as an essential economic infrastructure and resource it if the Government is going to make that commitment.  My final point is in relation to special needs education in the whole area of childcare. There is only a handful of childcare facilities across the country that deals specifically with children whether they are diagnosed or yet to be diagnosed in terms of early intervention and so on. It is pivotal that, particularly the future public funding of capital projects as part of the scheme that I mentioned with the \u20ac135 million, a portion of that funding should be ring-fenced specifically to cater for the needs of children with special needs who are struggling to either access childcare, afterschool care or whatever the case may be. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Children, Disability and Equality (Deputy Emer Higgins)  I welcome the opportunity to conclude this important debate on the Minister's behalf and reflect on the range of perspectives that have been shared across the House. As the Minister set out in her opening remarks, there are three central elements that guide the programme for Government's commitment to early learning and childcare. First, while significant progress has been made, we recognise that challenges remain and are committed to addressing them. Second, meaningful and measurable improvements have already been delivered. Third, that progress has not happened by itself. It is the result of deliberate, structured and evidence-based programmes of reforms being implemented by the Government.  This Government is confident that the commitment that we have made in the programme for Government will be fully realised over the lifetime of this Government. That includes ensuring that parents will pay no more than \u20ac200 per month for early learning and childcare. Early learning educators and school-age childcare practitioners will be remunerated at a level that reflects the importance of their work. State-led services will operate alongside private and community services, as well as newly regulated cohorts of childminders. Ireland will close the gap between its level of investment in early learning and childcare and the EU average.  In its motion, the Opposition suggests that there is no progress or plan to deliver quality, affordable or accessible early learning and childcare. We as the Government do not accept this. This evidence is clear. Costs are falling. Investment is rising. Capacity is increasing. A structured multiyear plan is in place through Shaping the Future. Through the Together for Better funding model, including core funding the national childcare scheme and the ECCE programme, the Government is already delivering tangible financial benefits to hundreds of thousands of families. This year's budget builds on the progress that has been made with State investment in early learning and childcare increasing to \u20ac1.52 billion. That represents an increase of more than 116% since 2020. This level of investment is unprecedented, but more importantly, it is about delivering real outcomes. More than 105,000 children will benefit from the ECCE programme this year with participation rates continuing to exceed 96%. Approximately 277,000 children will benefit from the national childcare scheme with growing numbers of families also accessing supports through regulated childminding settings.  As the Minister said at the outset, this debate must go beyond cost and access. It must be about quality outcomes and ensuring that every child who enters an early learning and childcare setting is supported to learn, to develop and to thrive. High-quality early learning and childcare can be transformative for children, supporting their development, reducing inequality and giving them the best possible start to life. Our task to ensure that every child has the opportunity to benefit from it. To realise those benefits fully, we must ensure that every child has the opportunity to experience them. From my perspective as the Minister of State with responsibility for disability, that means ensuring that our early learning and childcare system is genuinely inclusive. For children with disabilities or those with additional needs, access alone is not enough. What matters is meaningful participation, ensuring that every child is fully supported, included and enabled to achieve their full potential alongside their peers.  The Access and Inclusion Model, AIM, programme is central to that approach. Through AIM, a range of targeted supports are available to ensure that children with disabilities or additional needs can access and participate in the ECCE scheme within mainstream early learning and childcare settings. This year, AIM will support approximately 8,400 children with disabilities. It will support them to access and participate in the ECCE programme while improvements to the AIM level 7 application process will reduce the administrative burden, and it will make it easier for services to be accessed. Alongside AIM, the Equal Start initiative helps to ensure that children and families experiencing disadvantage can also access and participate meaningfully in early learning and childcare. The programme now supports more than 800 priority settings nationwide, delivering practical supports to help children thrive and to address the effects of disadvantage from the earliest years. This includes staffing supports, nutrition programmes, such as Bia Blasta, language development initiatives like Early Talk Boost and targeted measures to support the inclusion of Traveller and Roma children.  Taken together, AIM and Equal Start reflect the Government's focus on ensuring that quality provision goes hand in hand with equity and inclusion meeting the needs of every child. However, quality provision depends not only on the supports available to children, but also on the people delivering them every day. No early learning and childcare system can deliver high-quality outcomes without a strong skilled supported workforce. That is why this Government has been clear that improving pay and conditions across the sector remains a key priority. We recognise that the level of pay for early years educators and school-aged childcare practitioners does not yet fully reflect the value and the importance of the work they do for children, families, communities and the wider economy. While the Government is the primary funder of the sector, it is not the employer and cannot directly set wages or conditions for any staff in the sector. Instead, as Members will be aware, the Joint Labour Committee provides the established mechanism through which employer and employee representatives can negotiate minimum rates of pay, which are then set out in the employment regulation orders, EROs. Through successive EROs, minimum pay rates have increased three times in four years, delivering an average increase of 15%, as was referenced by Deputy O'Gorman who previously served as the Minister in this Department.  Most recently, the October 2025 ERO provided an average pay increase of 10%, benefiting more than 67% of the workforce.  In recognition of the importance of supporting these improvements, the Government has increased core funding from \u20ac393 million to \u20ac483 million, alongside an additional \u20ac45 million in ring-fenced funding to help services to meet the increased wage costs that will arise from employment regulation orders.  At the same time, through Shaping the Future phase 2, we are examining how pay and conditions can be strengthened further over the medium to long term, reflecting a balanced, sustainable approach that delivers improvements today while building towards lasting reform for the future. In addition, \u20ac135 million will be made available between this year and 2030 for the State-led early learning and childcare capital programme, which will provide high-quality, accessible learning and childcare services. This programme will commence this year with investment in buildings, marking a significant milestone for the Department. Capital funding will support the acquisition or fit-out, or both, of buildings as required, with the Department working alongside not-for-profit providers to design, operate and open services.  To access potential sites, a forward planning model has been developed within the Department. This model seeks to identify the nature and volume of different types of early learning and childcare places across the country and how that aligns with the number or children in the corresponding age cohorts at local area level. An extensive data analysis and cleaning exercise has been undertaken to map available publicly subsidised supply. Alongside this, a suite of appraisal criteria tools have been developed to assess potential projects against key performance indicators, KPIs, such as quality, inclusion, accessibility and affordability. The Department is now assessing project options in order to identify which ones are best placed to deliver on the goals of the programme.  Alongside investing in new capacity, we must continue to support the services already at the heart of communities across the funding. That is what core funding is for. It is designed to help to deliver affordability for parents through ensuring no fee increases, maximum fee caps and offering the national childhood scheme and the early childhood care and education programmes to all eligible children. It is designed to deliver quality through investment in the workforce, including improved pay and conditions and support for graduate leadership within services. It is designed to deliver sustainability for providers through substantial and consistent investment in the sector distributed on an equitable basis.  From its introduction, core funding has been subject to continuous evaluation and refinement and to ensuring that the scheme continues to evolve, respond to feedback and deliver value for money. For the fifth programme year, the Minister, Deputy Norma Foley, has announced an additional \u20ac20.6 million in new full-year funding, which will support services to maintain key fee-management measures, including the fee freeze and the minimum fee caps, supporting affordability for parents. This will help to ensure that the benefits of Government investment continue to be passed on to parents and families, while providing stability and sustainability for the sector.  I am conscious there is a number of other points in my speech but there are 44 seconds to go and it is 1.05 a.m. so I am sure people want this to be wrapped. Very quickly, I will mention that phase 2 of the national action plan for childminding is also something the Department is working on really closely with childminders and representative organisations. That will be part of the plan. The first five strategy, which is about families who now have access to up to 46 weeks of paid leave alongside unpaid leave entitlements, represents a significant investment in supporting parents as well. Taken together, these measures also help.  Ultimately, I thank everybody who works in this sector and the entrepreneurs who have invested and stood up businesses that are there to support families throughout the country. For everybody who works in this sector, it is a tough but really important job. It supports families, keeps our economy thriving and, most importantly, supports and educates children. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  It is simply indefensible that more than a decade after the media started referring to the cost of childcare as comparable to a second mortgage, the pace of action from the Minister of State's Government could be so lethargic. In 2024, my colleague and the Sinn F\u00e9in spokesperson on children, Deputy Kerrane, published a detailed costed plan outlining how Sinn F\u00e9in would deliver childcare capped at \u20ac200 per month. Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael, in advance of the general election in 2024, went on to cog Sinn F\u00e9in's homework. The problem is that while the Minister of State's party lifted the intended result in its promise to the electorate, it never showed any workings and it has not since. Now, the Minister of State says it is not about cost.  Despite Fine Gael having pledged to have a plan within 100 days, there are upwards on 50,000 children on waiting lists for childcare places, 50% workforce turnover in some counties and an employment regulation order process for setting pay that is simply not working. There is a dire need for urgency from the Minister of State's Government to finally publish a roadmap for the delivery of the \u20ac200 per month that Fine Gael promised in the election in 2024. With so many families continuing to pay over \u20ac800 per month, the Government's current policy - putting costs closer to \u20ac200 per week than per month - is simply not good enough.  Our early educators deserve better. Families and their children deserve better. I ask the House to endorse Sinn F\u00e9in's motion tonight and let us begin the work of actually delivering for early years educators, the people who both need and deserve this. People have been waiting 574 days now for a plan the T\u00e1naiste said he would bring forward in 100. How long is it going to take for this to happen for our parents, children and early years educators? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  The Government announced a \u20ac135 million investment in State-led early learning and childcare. It is an initiative that promises to deliver thousands of publicly owned places by 2030. The principle is sound and significant but it has to deliver. I want, tonight, to insist that this promise must be delivered in County Meath.  The Department's own analysis confirms that demand for childcare remains higher than available supply in certain parts of the country. Nowhere is this more acute than in County Meath. Dunshaughlin is a case in point. The Willows estate in Dunshaughlin now has more than 1,000 homes. When they first started selling houses there almost a decade ago, they did so with the promise of a community with essential services and amenities. Central to this was the provision of a cr\u00e8che. The land is there, ready and waiting. Private providers have come and gone but still, there is no building or cr\u00e8che. This is precisely the kind of gap that the State-led scheme is supposed to fill.  Recent responses were repeated by the Minister again tonight. The Minister said that capital funding will be used to acquire or fit out the building, or both, depending on requirements. In the case of the Willows, there is no building to acquire or fit out. I call on the Minister to work with local not-for-profit groups to deliver State-led early years services at the Willows in Dunshaughlin. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Maurice Quinlivan  The cost-of-living crisis is impacting families of all backgrounds. The bite is being felt at the petrol pump, at the grocery till, in the utility bills and beyond. For working families, one of the most expensive monthly outlays is childcare fees. Families in Limerick with both parents working full time who are not fortunate enough to have additional family support are paying up to \u20ac300 per week on cr\u00e8che fees. For those availing of a childminder, the fee is closer to \u20ac250 per week, which is a significant expense, particularly during a cost-of-living crisis that has stripped families of available income.  These are, of course, families who have been fortunate enough to secure childcare places in the first place. Up to 50,000 children across the State remain on waiting lists for childcare places that do not exist. In one of the most disadvantaged areas of Limerick, Ballinacurra Weston, there are 214 children on a waiting list with no early childcare places from September at Our Lady of Lourdes Community Centre. The staff in the local facility are faced with prospect of having to tell parents that there is no place available for their child.  Childcare is not a luxury for families; it is a necessity that allows parents to go to work. While many parents struggle to find a place for their child, other parents worry that the childcare arrangements could suddenly end because of the difficulty faced in retaining early years educators and school-age childcare practitioners. It is abundantly clear from talking to those in the profession that the current employment regulation order is not working. The State must be prepared to work towards taking responsibility for employment costs and wages where necessary.  Cr\u00e8ches across the State are coming under huge pressure due to the lack of sufficient core funding.  One cr\u00e8che in a Limerick suburb faced the prospect of closing its kitchen due to the lack of funding, adding to the cost for families who must spend more to provide meals for their children attending the creche. The core funding scheme must be reviewed. It should be done with a view to indexing it to inflation. Cr\u00e8ches and childcare facilities throughout the State are functioning month to month due to increases in the costs they face. I urge parties to support the motion's objectives of increasing the number of early years places and school-age childcare hours in September, the immediate review of the core funding scheme and publication of the details on how the Government is going to deliver \u20ac200 per month childcare with a clear timescale on how it will be achieved. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy R\u00e9ada Cronin  The lack of childcare facilities is truly reaching breaking point. In my own constituency in north Kildare I hear from families who are constantly frustrated in trying to find childcare for their child. In every town in north Kildare the population is growing rapidly but the critical infrastructure for childcare facilities is not being provided. I am dealing with one in Kilcock at the moment. The impact of this failure is devastating, especially for women, who bear the brunt of it. Every day women are forced to make the impossible choice to step away from their careers, ambitions and financial independence. I hear story after story of women who feel that the study and hard work they did to get a good job goes down the drain if they cannot get childcare. It is unacceptable that women are thinking like this in 2026.  During the last general election campaign, Deputy Kerrane outlined a detailed plan of how Sinn F\u00e9in would deliver early childcare for \u20ac10 a day while increasing the pay and respect for the workers in the sector. The Government, after scoffing at it at first, subsequently promised to deliver it for \u20ac200 a month, which is a roundabout way of saying \u20ac10 a day, copying the Deputy's homework. However, the Government still did not get it right because it has failed in its promise to deliver \u20ac200 per month childcare within the first 100 days of Government. Furthermore, the cost of what it is promising now is more like \u20ac200 a week, which is completely unaffordable for many families throughout the State. While affordability is key, accessibility is just as important because that is not there either. It is high time the Government finally delivered on its \u20ac200 a month childcare promise and increased the pay and respect for the professionals in early years education and childcare practitioners from September. It is mainly women who work in this sector. The women on both sides of this know that their Government does not seem to care about women. The Government does not need to copy Deputy Kerrane's homework tonight. She is handing it the solution, if only it would take it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Claire Kerrane  It is as though we are reading two different motions. Contrary to what both Ministers have said, the motion is not just about affordability and accessibility. In fact, in that first \u20ac10 a day childcare plan in 2024, I ensured it was not just about affordability and accessibility, as I have done with this motion. It is about our educators. Mostly, the motion is about paying them what they deserve. It is also about childminders, core funding and parents' leave, issues I have raised repeatedly since I became my party spokesperson on children in 2024.  The Minister cited an omission of high quality. Our educators and school-aged care practitioners are high quality. The problem is that high quality is not being recognised in terms of pay. The Minister said JLC is an effective approach to pay. There has not been one year where the Minister has not had to go out of her way to get the JLC to the table to actually deliver on pay. Most times, they end up in the Labour Court. I cannot fathom how that can be in any way called an effective approach to pay. There are educators who would earn more in a supermarket in many cases. They wait on the whim to see whether they will get 20 cent, 50 cent or 60 cent. That is no way to treat professionals. They are professionals at this level. We have had constant issues with core funding. The Minister said a review is called for in the motion but there is already a review. There is a review into year one. We are looking at costs from four years ago, which are totally irrelevant today, instead of looking at the core funding in its totality. When just 1% of childminders in the State have signed up for the regulations, she cannot say there has been excellent consultation and things are going well. Things are not going well. We need to look at child minders, look at our educators and at our providers. If we do not get pay right in terms of our educators, we can forget about costs and about childcare places; we will have no childcare sector at all. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa)  T\u00e1 an v\u00f3t\u00e1il curtha siar go dt\u00ed an ch\u00e9ad am v\u00f3t\u00e1la seachtaini\u00fail eile. In accordance with Standing Order 85(2), the division is postponed until this week's division time. Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis na Teachta\u00ed go l\u00e9ir. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar athl\u00f3 ar 1.15 a.m. go dt\u00ed 9 a.m., D\u00e9 C\u00e9adaoin, an 1 I\u00fail 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The D\u00e1il adjourned at 1.15 a.m. until 9 a.m. on Wednesday, 1 July 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Childcare Services: Motion [Private Members]"}]}}]},"contextDate":"2026-06-30"},{"debateRecord":{"house":{"showAs":"34th D\u00e1il","committeeCode":"","houseCode":"dail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/house\/dail\/34","chamberType":"house","houseNo":"34"},"chamber":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/def\/house\/dail","showAs":"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann"},"lastUpdated":"2026-07-01T02:12:52+00:00","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/main","formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/mul@\/main.xml"},"pdf":null},"date":"2026-06-25","counts":{"contributorCount":135,"divisionCount":0,"debateSectionCount":41,"questionCount":29,"billCount":2},"debateType":"debate","debateSections":[{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_2","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_3","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"State Savings Schemes","counts":{"speechCount":12,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_2","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_3.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  The Minister\u2019s Department led a forum for stakeholders for representative bodies and policymakers in relation to the savings and investment accounts scheme under design. These voices, no doubt, have a role to play and a place in the discussion. A scheme of this scope, however, would traditionally have had a public consultation process, and that was not the case here. What engagement has there been with the public? What research has been done by the Minister or his Department on public views of how to design a savings and investment accounts scheme? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Finance (Deputy Simon Harris)  I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 4 together.  I thank Deputy Doherty for his question. An Teachta O'Flynn also has a question. Ireland still does not have a sufficiently diversified savings and investment culture. This is something we largely agree on. Too much of people\u2019s hard-earned savings remains in low-yield deposits, where inflation can erode value over time. Deposit accounts are right for many people and for many needs but they cannot be the only practical option that we have available for many. Investment in capital markets can offer households another path to long-term financial well-being, while also supporting growth and competitiveness in the wider economy.  In recognition of the importance of encouraging retail investment, the last budget provided for a reduction in the rate of taxation on returns from Irish and equivalent investment funds and Irish and certain foreign life assurance policies from 41% to 38%. That budget, however, also included a commitment to publish a roadmap for the taxation of retail investment, and set out an approach to simplify and adapt the tax framework to further support retail investment in Ireland. This arose from a key finding in the funds sector report 2030, which included an extensive public consultation. The starting point for this process, then, was that report. The funds review was then included as established Government policy and set out in the programme for Government.  There has been extensive public outreach on the proposed investment account policy. On 31 March, at the first annual savings and investment forum, I announced that my Department is currently working on the development of an investment account. This forum brought together key stakeholders from across the financial services sector, policymakers and, importantly, consumer representatives, including the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, CCPC, to support the continued evolution of Ireland\u2019s investment landscape. Together with the Minister of State, Deputy Troy, I recently convened a representative cross-section of the funds and asset management sector. I also convened a consumer round table, which I think was this week, to discuss plans for the introduction of a new investment account.  I and my officials have held over 30 meetings to date in relation to the proposed investment account. These have included meetings with financial services firms, consumer representatives, the European Commission and other member states and jurisdictions which offer such accounts. Officials in my Department are currently developing policy options regarding the investment account framework which will form part of the deliberations for budget 2027. The aim is to legislate for the framework in 2026 and to allow accounts to be offered from 2027.  I say sincerely to Deputy Doherty and all the Deputies in the House that if there are other people who wish to feed into this process and who feel they have not had that opportunity, I ask them to please come forward. We have had extensive engagement. This has already been an elongated process. There was the public consultation as part of the funds review but we are very happy to hear from as many diverse voices as possible. While there has not been a formal public consultation process at this stage, and I take the Deputy\u2019s point, I am very happy to hear any further views that are required for that we could benefit from to feed into the process. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  The T\u00e1naiste is right in saying there has not been a public consultation in relation to this issue. The funds review was separate. It looked at the taxation aspect but did not argue for this type of savings and investment scheme. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  Sure. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  That was not the consultation that was under review at that time. To tell the Minister the God\u2019s honest truth, we know very little because we are still in the dark in relation to what this scheme is going to look like. We are told it is going to be announced on budget day. There has been no consultation with the public. There has been consultation with stakeholders, other groups, with very wealthy asset managers and so on. The Minister has had extensive meetings with asset managers, wealth managers, financial planners, digital platforms, banks and insurance firms but there has been no real engagement with the public. This is concerning, given that this is going to be a major scheme that will impact the public. We know from media reports that, for example, the largest asset management firm in the world, BlackRock, has had extensive meetings with the Department and Ministers. That type of extensive lobbying behind the scenes by some of the largest financial companies in the world raises legitimate questions about whether the public interest is being served. Why has there been no time for a public consultation when discussions have been going on behind closed doors with powerful financial interests for three years now, as we have learned from media reports? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  I thank the T\u00e1naiste for his reply to both of us. I appreciate what the T\u00e1naiste is saying. He has had 30 meetings, as he said. There are questions to be answered, however. While I agree with and welcome the entire scheme as it is important to get people, especially younger people saving and into that routine, it does need to be thrashed out by the Oireachtas. I suspect we may need legislation on it.  The questions I want to put to the T\u00e1naiste, and I think these are the questions on everybody\u2019s lips, are: what exact tax rate and threshold will apply to this scheme and will the deemed disposal rule be scrapped? I think the deemed disposal rule is very unfair double taxation. I do not think we have had enough conversation around this aspect. If there has been a conversation around it, it certainly has not been published in respect of the 30 meetings behind closed doors. I am not being facetious in saying that.  We then have to look at the existing investors who have already put their moneys away, and whether tax penalties will apply to them and, if so, what they will be. There is also the question of whether the scheme will be open to investors who have existing accounts to move over to. I ask the T\u00e1naiste to seriously look at what is done in the United Kingdom and how that tax system works very well to get people to open such accounts. I say this because I suspect we may have a problem if we just go with the old system of deemed disposal. It is not going to work and people are going to run away from it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I reject the assertion that the meetings take place behind closed doors. They are just meetings, the door is closed, but there are lots of people in the room. We have had meetings with the Central Bank, the European Commission, and the CCPC. That was a very public event and people will be well aware of it because it was covered widely in the media.  I do, however, take the point about getting this scheme right. I will make a few points. Obviously, this will definitely require legislation. The intention is to legislate for this in the finance Bill. There will, therefore, be ample time to properly scrutinise this proposal and, indeed, for the Deputy to have an input. I think that is important.  I take the point as well, although I disagree with it, in terms of how much we know about the scheme now. I would argue that we actually know more about this proposal now than we know about most budgetary measures because the budget last year gave a commitment to consult and engage on rates of taxation. Finalising issues in respect of rates of tax and amounts that might be tax free are, as all Deputies will know, matters for a budget day.  By the way, I am happy, at an appropriate point in advance of the budget, to provide a briefing to the Opposition on our thinking on this scheme. We will have different views on this issue but I do hope we can fundamentally agree with the idea that we should be offering a variety of ways for people to save and invest.  As Deputy Doherty said, we have met with lots of banks and digital platforms because they are the people who we require to provide the accounts. I wanted them to be ready to open accounts in 2027.  On the point about broader investment, I agree with Deputy O'Flynn on this point. This is not an either-or situation. I passionately believe that we need personal investment accounts in Ireland like they have in lots of other European countries. This is not my idea. Many other countries have already done this, and my view is that we need to get on board. That will not, however, be enough in and of itself. There are anomalies in the taxation system, and I think deemed disposal is one. Again, all these issues are matters for budget day. Reducing the deemed disposal taxation rate from 41% to 38% misses the broader point, which is whether this measure is fulfilling the policy objective it was intended to fulfil. I am not so sure it is. If there is a need for anti-avoidance measures, is deemed disposal the correct way to go about it? I am not convinced it is, by the way. Do we have a better way, as an Oireachtas, to overhaul this provision?  On the specific example of the UK, I met the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what the UK is doing. I also met Swedish representatives on what that country has done, and representatives from a number of other countries. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  We have discussed deemed disposal and how that could be changed, making sure it does not just benefit the ultra-rich and allow for the avoidance of tax on significant assets. There is a real question in relation to the public scrutiny of what is going on. The Minister said we know a lot but, in fairness, we do not. We do not know what the thresholds are going to be. We do not know what the rate is going to be. We do not know if there is going to be tax inside the investment. We do not know if it is going to be for investments in Ireland or investments internationally. There is a lot we do not know and there has been no public consultation. There is no opportunity for the public to actually formally feed in their views in relation to this proposal.  From the very start, we have said this scheme needs to meet two criteria. It needs to work for ordinary people. It cannot be a way for the rich to avoid tax and, effectively, get a tax cut. It also needs to have a public investment aspect. There are also, however, serious risks. The Central Bank warned about the bubble in artificial intelligence, AI, and inflated values in relation to some of the products in that area. Investment is not for everybody. Investment contains risks, so there are serious questions in relation to how this scheme will be designed and implemented, and it needs to have proper public scrutiny. I urge the Minister, therefore, to formally open a public consultation process to allow for ordinary people to give their views in relation to what is under consideration. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  I thank the T\u00e1naiste for his reply. I appreciate he is going to open consultation with, and have a briefing for, the Opposition. I think there will be a lot of support across the House for that. I again ask the T\u00e1naiste to look at the UK\u2019s individual savings account, ISA, in respect of which a commitment has been given, in the wake of having met the Chancellor of the Exchequer.  There is a problem with taxation. At the moment, if a person invests \u20ac10,000, for example, and that person is being taxed on it every eight years, then the tax on that investment has already been paid. That is a serious anomaly. If I were a private citizen, I would probably be taking a challenge to the High Court regarding this issue because it does seem to be double or even triple taxation. What we are not taking into account is that the value of investments goes up and down. The other thing we are doing that also needs to be addressed is that if someone is a landlord and has a big mortgage, then they are being taxed on the rent they are receiving. Quite often, those landlords do not receive any of that rent because it is being paid directly to the mortgage lender. We need to close off those doors as well because it is unfair taxation.  Very often there are investment plans of 30 years that people have put together because they do not have a pension or a savings fund. I would like a broader conversation about this. I am happy to meet the Minister to give him a couple of ideas. This is not about challenging him; this is about getting the system right and getting people back saving again. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I am happy to be challenged, and I will also be happy to meet because I do want to get this right. I really do because it is important. What we have done is laid out the principles. The details on specific rates of tax and the like would always be a matter for the budget. There is no Minister for Finance who announces tax rates in advance of the budget, as we all know; however, we have already made a number of clear, principled commitments on the design of the account. First, the obligation to ensure the tax is paid would lie with the account provider, not the person who opens the account. That is a game-changer in reducing complexity. Second, there would be an income-free threshold. Third, a person would pay one low flat rate of tax on anything above that threshold. Fourth, on Deputy Doherty's point, because this is not a scheme for the uber-wealthy, there will have to be a maximum amount that can be put into the account, either annually or over the lifetime period. Those are the four principles we have outlined.  The Deputy referred to the Central Bank. We are informed on this by the research of the Central Bank. The Central Bank carried out research called Retail Investor Participation in Ireland: Consumer Research and Analysis. It was published only last December. It examined and engaged with Irish households on how they save, invest and engage with financial markets. It shows that Irish households continue to rely heavily on traditional, low-risk saving habits, with 38% of all financial assets held in cash and bank deposits, a level significantly above the EU average. Direct investment in capital markets is very limited. Irish households hold just 2.3% of their financial assets in listed equities and debt securities. The EU average is 7.5%.  Irish retail investors also have a very distinct profile. They are more likely to be male and to be between the ages of 35 and 54, and are disproportionately drawn from higher-income, higher-educated ABC1 households. Some 73% are in employment and 65% hold higher education qualifications. Investors tend to be concentrated around the greater Dublin area. Therefore, there is not fair access today to investments. Lower-income people, people outside the Dublin area and women are all less likely to invest than men of a certain age living in a certain part of the country. These are some of the challenges and I look forward to grappling with them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  What about public consultation? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  We have had very significant public consultation. I reiterate today that if there is any group or body of groups, or set of individuals, with whom the Deputy would like further engagement, he should please let me know. I will provide him with a list of all the people who have been engaged with. I am also very happy to engage with the Opposition. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"State Savings Schemes"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_4","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Central Bank of Ireland","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_2","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_4","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_4.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  Israel is still issuing war bonds across the EU and using the money to fund the genocide. While the role of approving these bonds has been moved to Luxembourg, Ireland remains the home member state for Israeli bonds. I am asking what steps the Minister is taking to ensure the Central Bank is acting in accordance with international law regarding its role as home member state for the Israeli bonds. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I thank Deputy O'Callaghan. As he will be aware, the Central Bank is the competent authority when it comes to the issuing of prospectus approval. It has informed me that it continues to keep under review its compliance with the applicable international legal and regulatory frameworks in relation to its mandates and engagements. Furthermore, the Central Bank, as the financial regulator, is independent in its functions from the Government, as is necessary in any well-functioning democracy.  The Governor of the Central Bank made the following clear in a reply to a letter from the Oireachtas finance committee on 24 November 2025:  The Central Bank is established by statute to fulfil legal responsibilities and obligations including in relation to the Prospectus Regulation. In carrying out these responsibilities we are at all times required to assess and understand the nature of our legal obligations and responsibilities. We do this on the basis of robust analysis relying on the legal expertise available to us. This takes the form of both internal legal and subject matter expertise and, where necessary and appropriate, of access to external legal advice.  We believe that further action \u2013 I believe the Deputy and I agree on this point \u2013 is necessary with respect to the EU's relationship with the State of Israel. This is why we are working with others to achieve co-ordinated action at EU level. Ireland will continue to call for and work for concrete EU action in response to the horrific Israeli breaches of human rights and democratic principles. This includes a call for a proposal to prohibit EU trade with Israeli settlements and to suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement or, at a minimum, to suspend the trade elements of the agreement, as previously proposed by the President of the European Commission. It is expected that the European Commission will bring forward options at the Foreign Affairs Council on 13 July, including on EU trade with Israeli settlements.  The last time Deputy O'Callaghan raised this issue with me here, I think at the last Question Time, I undertook to engage directly with the EU Commission on this matter. I do not believe we disagree on the fundamental issue, but we can agree or disagree on how to resolve it. My very clear view is that this requires EU action in terms of the regulation. I directed my officials to engage with the EU Commission. Department officials subsequently liaised with their counterparts. We drew attention to the work of the Oireachtas, in particular the Oireachtas joint committee's recommendations that the prospectus regulation be amended. This engagement reflected my view that the Commission needs to act on those findings. I also undertook that I would raise the matter directly with the EU Commissioner. I spoke to Commissioner Albuquerque on this issue at the last ECOFIN meeting. I have also written to her as recently as the last couple of days, and I will give the Deputy a copy of that letter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  I welcome any engagement the Minister has with the EU Commission on this but there are actions the Irish Government can take. It was very clear when the Central Bank officials were before the Oireachtas finance committee about a year ago that the bank was saying it would comply if there were any domestic law or instruction on this. Indeed, in the Minister's reply he spoke about the Central Bank following its legal obligations.  The key is that there are no national restrictive measures put in place by the Irish Government when it comes to this, and the Government could be doing that. Article 65.1(b) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union allows restrictions on grounds of public policy or public security. Clearly, there are public policy grounds here. The Irish Government has made its position clear in terms of recognising the State of Palestine, the submissions to the International Court of Justice and calling for EU action.  There is the ability for the Government to act and put legal restrictive measures in place on public policy grounds, and then the Central Bank would follow those. It is welcome that the Minister is engaging with the EU Commission, but who knows if anything concrete will ever actually come out of that? I am asking whether the Minister will take on board the measures called for by the Oireachtas joint committee for the Government to take action on restrictive grounds. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I thank the Deputy. I have been very clear in my view on this. Our clear advice is that even if domestic legislation were passed, it would not allow for the Central Bank to refuse a prospectus where the requirements of the EU prospectus regulation have been met, including the standards of completeness, consistency and comprehensibility. We have to respect EU law and the Central Bank has to abide by it. In my view, EU law needs to change in relation to this. That is why I agree with the Oireachtas joint committee finding. After I directed my officials to engage with the Commission, the Deputy asked me whether I would directly engage. I did. I spoke to the Commissioner in the past week or two. I have written to the Commissioner in the last few days, outlining the very clear view of this Oireachtas that the prospectus regulation needs to be amended.  I intend to continue to pursue this actively. I also hope this could be considered as part of the EU Commission's set of proposals, which it is due to bring to the next Foreign Affairs Council meeting. I will also send the Deputy a copy of the letter and keep him informed of any further engagement. My honest view on the matter is that domestic legislation cannot trump EU law in determining what the Central Bank can and cannot do. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  I support any engagement the Minister is having with the EU Commission on this. However, we have independent advice from the Office of Parliamentary Legal Advisers that Ireland could indeed take action to restrict Israeli bonds. It concludes that there is a case for unilateral Irish action on this if it is framed on public policy grounds. I have given the Minister the reasons it could be framed on such grounds, and I have also cited the relevant article of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.  The Minister has options on this beyond EU-level engagement. It would be great if something positive came out of that, but he knows well that it may not because achieving consensus at European level is very difficult. The Government has options to take domestic restrictive measures that would mean the Central Bank would then have a legal basis for taking restrictive measures regarding the Israeli war bonds. Will the Minister take these? It is imperative that the Government act owing to the ongoing killing of Palestinian people in Gaza, and also in the West Bank. Will the Minister do that? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I agree with the Deputy's analysis of the atrocities happening in Palestine and that the actions of the Israeli Government are in breach of international law and despicable. There is a genocide happening in Palestine. The only area we disagree on, or are teasing through, concerns what is legally possible. I will look again at the independent legal advice of the Office of Parliamentary Legal Advisers but I do not want to mislead the Oireachtas. It is the clear view in the advice I have that we cannot do anything domestically to trump the EU regulation. I am certainly not suggesting the Deputy is endeavouring to do this, but we cannot be saying we are standing by international law and then passing legislation here that we know would actually breach our own legal obligations. We cannot progress legislation if it will not work.  I am a bit more optimistic on action being taken at EU level. It has been far too slow. It has been appallingly slow. Ireland has been advocating for action for such a long time on a cross-party basis. There are options that the European Council of Ministers can take that require qualified majority voting instead of consensus, but I agree with the Deputy on consensus being unlikely. There is an onus on the Commission to make proposals for the next Foreign Affairs Council, where there are measures that could be taken by qualified majority and not just consensus. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Central Bank of Ireland"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_5","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Fuel Prices","counts":{"speechCount":25,"speakerCount":4},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_2","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_5","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_5.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I am trying to get to the bottom of what the Minister's intentions are for excise duty. Last week, he passed the Finance Bill in the House, and that Bill will see the price of diesel increased by 32 cent and the price of petrol increased by 27 cent. That is just a number of weeks away, on 1 August.  People are aghast at the idea that in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis prices would rise again. In some cases, prices will go up to \u20ac2 per litre, given where they are at the moment.  The Finance Bill is going through the D\u00e1il. It will go through the Seanad and then become law. Can the T\u00e1naiste rule out its taking effect on 1 August or is that still his thinking? People need a bit of clarity. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I welcome the opportunity to try to provide some clarity. For people at home who are watching in, let us be clear what the current Finance Bill is doing. It is giving primary legislative underpinning to the financial resolution; no more, no less. We in this House voted through a financial resolution to reduce the excise duty on diesel, petrol and green diesel. If there is a large gap between a financial resolution and the standard annual budget, you have to bring forward primary legislation to underpin that; no more, no less. The legislation we are bringing forward now is on a status quo basis providing an underpinning to something that this Oireachtas voted on many weeks ago. In that way, it is slightly peculiar that it has to happen, but it has to happen legally.  The total estimated cost of the support measures that the Government has introduced thus far is over \u20ac750 million. People know what that meant. It meant reducing petrol, diesel and marked gas oil, MGO, from an excise point of view. It also meant the deferral of the May carbon tax increase on home heating oil fuels and MGO, as well as a reduction in the National Oil Reserves Agency, NORA, levy. We have also had the diesel rebate scheme for licensed road haulage and passenger transport operators, the fuel income support scheme to assist farmers and farm contractors and the road transporter support scheme to help the road transport sector. The fuel allowance was extended by four weeks.  I acknowledge and welcome the current reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. We have seen positive responses on the commodity markets, in that there has been a reduction in oil prices. I accept they are still higher than they were. There does remain, let us be truthful, significant uncertainty over details of the agreement. We have been here previously. Let us hope for a positive situation. I am conscious that the situation is evolving.  Brent crude, the global benchmark for oil prices, as of 23 June stood at approximately $77 per barrel. This is down from a peak of approximately $115 in early May, but still above prices of around $70 per barrel recorded before the war. It is likely that there will continue to be disruption to supply chains and damage to energy infrastructure and it will, therefore, take some time for things to restore to pre-war levels.  We are continuing to monitor the situation closely and reserve the right to adjust our response. We have to get the balance right between solid budgetary management, which gives us an ability to respond in a timely manner, and making sure that people do not see some sort of immediate cliff-edge at the end of July. The Government will make a determination in the coming days. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I am well aware of the legislation, the 1920s Act which requires financial resolutions to be put into primary legislation within four months. The reality is that the Government last week voted against deferring the increase until budget day. As things currently stand in Irish tax law, diesel will go up by 32 cent and petrol will go up by 27 cent in August. The D\u00e1il is only sitting for another three weeks. There are people and businesses, including hauliers, that have to plan. They are wondering about the contracts and commitments into which they are entering. They are thinking that because the cost of diesel is going up, prices must go up. There are contractors, construction workers, who are taking on jobs and do not know what the price will be. Will the T\u00e1naiste rule out a 32-cent increase in the cost of diesel on 1 August? Is that his thinking at this point? Can he give some parameters? We know that things are fluid. We know that fuel prices are set by international energy prices, which themselves are reacting to geopolitical events. What I argued for initially was that there would be parameters there. For example, we could say that we would not want diesel to go above \u20ac1.80 or \u20ac1.85, or whatever. The law is saying that the cost will go up by 32 cent. That is worrying for people in the middle of this cost-of-living crisis. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  Let us not worry people unnecessarily. Let me be clear. There is legislation going through the Oireachtas now that is giving legislative underpinning to the reduction we put in place which is to end on 31 July. That has to happen. It is required legally. That is what it is doing; no more, no less.  There is another piece that it is important we say to people if we are concerned about them being worried, as the Deputy is. I am saying clearly that in the coming days, the Government will make a decision as to what happens post 31 July. It makes sense, and the Deputy can agree or disagree, to give it those coming days because the situation is fast evolving. It is, as the Deputy said, extraordinarily fluid. We need to monitor and make the best decisions. I will say, to be helpful, that I do not believe it is likely that there will be some sort of cliff-edge whereby everything will return to how it was before the packages. We have to think this through and see what is an appropriate and proportionate response beyond 31 July. The Government will make the decision in the coming days. As the Deputy said, this Oireachtas has approximately three weeks left and these decisions will be made in plenty of time to provide that clarity. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  First of all, that does not provide the clarity that is needed. This is not as simple as the T\u00e1naiste said, which was that this was putting the resolution into primary legislation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  It is. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  It is not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  It is. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  The Government voted against delaying this measure until budget day. It voted against not increasing costs on 1 August. That is what happened last week. The T\u00e1naiste was not here, was he? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  The Deputy voted against cutting the excise, full stop. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Perhaps the T\u00e1naiste was not here. Let us be clear: that was what the vote was last week. Amendments were put down to defer this measure until budget day for consideration so that these increases would not happen when the D\u00e1il was on holidays. If the Government decides to increase the costs of petrol and diesel, even if it decides that they will only go up by 20 cent, we do not know what is going to happen the week prior to that and the D\u00e1il will not be sitting. The sensible thing to do was to accept what Sinn F\u00e9in put forward and not to have prices going up in the middle of the summer when the D\u00e1il is not even sitting. Defer it. I put that amendment down and the Government voted against it. The Labour Party and Social Democrats supported the Government in voting against it and I think that was absolutely wrong. I am now asking the T\u00e1naiste to commit that we will not see price increases in the middle of the summer, not knowing where the geopolitical issue will be, whether the Strait of Hormuz will be open or whether retail prices will be \u20ac1.80. \u20ac1.60 or \u20ac1.50. We will have no idea. Will the T\u00e1naiste give some clarity in that regard? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  The Deputy did not call for a vote on that amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  There was a vote on the amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  On amendment No. 1, there was not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy David Maxwell)  Sorry, Deputies, allow the T\u00e1naiste. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I do not want to interrupt the united Opposition. To be clear, there is only one Deputy currently in the Chamber who voted against the financial resolution to cut the excise duty in the first place. His name is Deputy Pearse Doherty. Let the D\u00e1il record show that Deputies Cian O'Callaghan and Neville, the Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach and I all voted to reduce the excise duty but Deputy Doherty decided not to because he wanted to play party politics. He is now deciding that he wants to unilaterally run the Government from the Opposition benches. We are clear that we are going to take decisions. The Deputy has been doing a great job of riling everybody up, worrying them and trying to encourage protest again. He wants to get them all going again. Angry Pearse is not going to work any more. We are going to take a rounded, informed decision based on the evidence available to us as to what the most appropriate thing is. I do not know whether the Deputy is heading off for a long summer break but I am around if there is a need to respond to anything during the summer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Is the D\u00e1il going to sit? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  The Deputy should not worry. The Government has----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Sorry, is the D\u00e1il sitting on 1 August? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy David Maxwell)  Deputy, allow the T\u00e1naiste. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  The Government has an ability to respond. The Deputy knows that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Perhaps the T\u00e1naiste will clarify. Is the D\u00e1il now going to sit? Is this the Government announcing that the D\u00e1il will be sitting on 1 August to respond? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy David Maxwell)  Deputy Doherty, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Is that what the T\u00e1naiste is going to say? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  What I am announcing is that the days of the Deputy coming into this House and trying to shout people down and bully them are over. I am speaking and the Deputy stood up and interrupted me. The situation is very clear. Let the people at home who are worried about their bills know that there is plenty of time before this D\u00e1il goes into recess to make informed, evidence-based decisions. This Government acted to help people while the Deputy played party politics to rile people up. It has not worked. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 4 taken with Question No. 1. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Fuel Prices"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_6","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Tax Code","counts":{"speechCount":25,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_2","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_6","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_6.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  The T\u00e1naiste has made it public that he plans to bring forward tax cuts in this year's budget after leaving workers worse off in last year's budget. That is according not only to Sinn F\u00e9in but also to the Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI. In the election campaign, the Government parties promised to bring forward tax cuts every year and broke that promise to workers and families. The fact that workers were left worse off last year is why it is even more important that any tax package for workers is fair and works for all workers. Does the T\u00e1naiste accept we need a fair tax package? How does he see that being achieved? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I thank the Deputy for the question. The Programme for Government: Securing Ireland's Future contains specific undertakings with regard to personal income tax. It commits to implementing progressive changes in taxation if the economy remains strong, including indexing credits and bands to prevent an increase in the real burden of income tax while, in the event of an economic downturn or unexpected deterioration, there will be postponements to income tax credits or bands, as there were in budget 2021.  To ease the burden facing average and middle-income earners, over successive budgets the previous Government, of which I was a member, substantially increased the entry point to the higher rate of income tax for all earners by \u20ac8,700 or approximately 25%. The main credits have also increased by \u20ac350, or approximately 21%. In line with the Government policy of ensuring full-time workers on the minimum wage remain outside the charge to the top rates of universal social charge, USC, the ceiling of the 2% USC rate band was increased by \u20ac6,898, or 34%, from 2020 to 2025. Budgets 2024 and 2025 also cumulatively reduced the 4.5% rate of USC to 3%.  As the Deputy will be aware, Ireland has a progressive income tax system. It is estimated that in 2026 approximately one third of taxpayer units will be outside the income tax and USC net altogether and, therefore, due to the progressivity of our income tax system, account should be taken of this in any analysis or commentary.  A number of targeted measures were introduced in budget 2026, including mortgage interest tax relief, the rent tax credit and the 9% VAT rate on gas and electricity bills.  I published Ireland\u2019s medium-term plan last December with the Minister, Deputy Chambers. It sets out a binding path for net public spending for the lifetime of this Government.  In the coming weeks, the summer economic statement will be published, which will outline the parameters for budget 2027, including the size of the tax package. Following the summer economic statement, as part of the budget process, my Department will conduct distributional impact assessments to analyse the impact of budget measures on Irish households. We will use the ESRI's tax benefit microsimulation model, simulating welfare, income tax, childcare and health policies, SWITCH, to model proposed tax measures to ensure their fairness. However, it is our intention to have a personal income tax package in the budget. We will outline the size of the tax measures in the summer economic statement. I look forward to debating them on budget day. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  When Fine Gael has brought forward tax packages, they have always been two-tier tax packages, which means those on the higher end benefit more than those on the lower end. About half of the workforce benefits far more than the other half. A worker on \u20ac50,000 gets a tax cut multiple times larger than a worker on \u20ac40,000. I understand the challenges in adjusting tax bands and adjusting for inflation. It is not simple, but there are ways in which it is possible. For example, more focus on the USC and tax credits would make a far better impact for those on lower and middle incomes than simply dealing with the bands. Will the T\u00e1naiste ensure that the half of workers who earn \u20ac44,000 or less get a fair tax package compared with people who earn \u20ac50,000, \u20ac90,000 or \u20ac300,000? The packages the Government has brought forward have been unfair in the past, in that the half of the workforce that earns less than that level of \u20ac44,000----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy David Maxwell)  Thank you, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  -----got far less than they should have. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I appreciate some of the Deputy's comments about the challenges that exist. We live in a country where one third of people pay no income tax or USC. When we talk about progressivity we have to acknowledge that fact. We can argue about whether it is a good or bad thing, but approximately one third do not pay any income tax or USC. That has to be factored into any comments on progressivity.  Second, the entry point to the higher rate of tax is still too low. I think it was \u20ac33,000 in 2015. It is now \u20ac44,000. It is still below the average. I look to colleagues in the Labour Party, including Deputy Nash. I have heard the comments of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, ICTU, on this. It might suit Deputy Doherty to say \"Oh Fine Gael\", but it is ICTU that says the entry point to the higher rate of tax needs to be looked at. IBEC makes that point too. We need to make sure wage growth in the economy, and thank God we are seeing wages rise in the economy, does not get outstripped by the taxman taking all the benefit of it.  The detail of the package is entirely a matter for the Government to consider in the round. The Government has not decided it, but we should not dismiss - I am not sure the Deputy is doing so, in fairness - the threshold point. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I am not dismissing anything. What I am saying is that the Government has consistently brought forward tax packages that are two-tier. For example, the T\u00e1naiste talked about the entry point to the higher rate. If that is focused on instead of USC or tax credits, there will be winners and losers. The winners will be the half of the population who earn more than \u20ac44,000 and the losers will be those who earn less than \u20ac44,000. What is the better way?  When I talk to constituents who earn \u20ac60,000 and would benefit from an increase to the entry point to the higher band, they do not really care whether it is the entry point to the band, or USC or tax credits. All they care about and know is that they are paying too much tax for what they are getting back. They want more money in their pockets at the end of the week, better services and all that. The fairest way to do that is to make sure the Government does not spend a large portion of what is available for tax reductions just on the workers who earn more than \u20ac44,000. USC is the best way to make sure there is an impact for all people. We have said clearly in our policy----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy David Maxwell)  Thank you, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  -----that the first \u20ac45,000 of income should be exempt from USC. That can be started in an emergency budget. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy David Maxwell)  Thank you, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  It should be followed up in the October budget. These types of measures benefit all workers as opposed to a proposal that will benefit only some. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  Another Thursday, another emergency budget. We cannot keep having calls for emergency budgets and mini-budgets every week. Come on. We just cannot. Will the Deputy please read the analysis from the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council and the Central Bank? To look for another budget every week----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I am not looking for another budget. I am looking for one. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  The Deputy is doing it again. The budget will be in around 100 days' time. We need to get into an annual budget cycle. We should have a good, decent, robust debate about what the best composition of that is. I look forward to that very much, but we have to stop with this idea of an emergency budget. We have to run the country in a sustainable way.  We should not look at how we assist people purely through the tax system. When the Deputy talks about lower income people, he leaves out of the analysis the social welfare system we have in place, the significant safety net it provides and the many supports some lower income families receive, including the working family payment and the largest increase received. There are people today, who are not wealthy people, who got up at a ridiculous hour in the morning, sat in horrific commuter traffic and are looking for a bit of a break too. They are annoyed, as are their trade union representatives and employers, at the entry point to the higher rate of tax being too low.  We have not made any decisions in the round on this, but we should not be getting into divide and conquer. There is a legitimate policy debate about the threshold at which the higher rate of tax is paid. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Of course there is a legitimate policy debate. That is what we are having. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  The Deputy is dismissing it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Now you are interrupting me. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy David Maxwell)  T\u00e1naiste. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  Apologies. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  That is the debate we are having. The reality is that some people win out more than others. That is also the reality. Let us not pretend that does not exist.  What I am saying is the best way to deal with it is through the USC. The people who earn \u20ac60,000 or \u20ac70,000 would benefit along with the people who earn \u20ac30,000 or \u20ac40,000, rather than if the Government overly focuses on the bands. I am not saying it should dismiss doing anything with the bands, but every time it has brought forward a package, it has been in that regard. That is why we need a fair budget.  I could stand here and remind the T\u00e1naiste of his campaigning. I campaign for an emergency budget, but not a different budget every day. People need a cost-of-living intervention right now. They cannot wait until 1 January for tax adjustments to happen. That is legitimate. Do not tell me what I can and cannot do. I represent people who are pushed to the pin of their collar because of the Government's decisions and broken promises. Does the T\u00e1naiste want me to remind him of them? One was that the Government would deliver a tax package every year for workers. It broke that promise. Remember the time the T\u00e1naiste and Fine Gael paraded around with placards saying, \"We will abolish the USC\". Remember the pictures of that. That is another broken promise. I could list all that out, but what this question is about is delivering a fair tax package for workers----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy David Maxwell)  Thank you, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  -----to make sure the Government does not deliver the two-tier system it has previously------ "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy David Maxwell)  Thank you, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  -----and to impress on the T\u00e1naiste that the USC and tax credits are the best way to deliver a fair package. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  The good thing about this country is that we have elections. We had two recently and the Deputy went to Galway extensively - he was there a lot - and told people to send Fine Gael a message, back the Sinn F\u00e9in emergency budget and vote for the Sinn F\u00e9in candidate and Sinn F\u00e9in lost the election, badly. In Dublin Central, the Sinn F\u00e9in leader's constituency, it lost the election badly, because people do not believe in this sort of divisive politics, where only Sinn F\u00e9in represents hard-working people. Who the hell does Deputy Doherty think the rest of us represent? Who does he think Deputies Nash, Cian O'Callaghan, Ardagh, Neville and I represent? We were all elected to this place and we all represent people to the best of our abilities. The Deputy's angry man routine and dismissiveness of the bona fides of everyone else in this place is getting a bit tiresome at this stage. We are all doing our best.  We will deliver a budget this year that will have a personal income tax package. We took a series of other decisions last year. People will debate the merits and demerits of them. I am happy to debate them too. This year, there will be a personal income tax package. There will also be other ways of assisting people, through the social welfare system, the child poverty work around the working family payment and things like childcare. There are lots of steps we can take together. We have not made any decisions and I do not dismiss the idea of tax credits or USC or thresholds. I just do not accept the idea that the threshold idea is a bad one and I think the Deputy is open to considering that too. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Tax Code"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_7","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Budget 2027","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_2","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_7.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Neville  My question also relates to tax measures. I am conscious that one third of people luckily do not pay tax. We have been supportive of the most vulnerable in our society as well. Does the Department plan to review the current tax bands in the upcoming budget? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I thank Deputy Neville for the question. The programme for Government contains commitments on personal income tax. We have been clear that if we saw a significant economic deterioration, we would not be able to proceed with personal income tax measures, but I am pleased to inform the House and the Deputy that we will be in a position this year to deliver a personal income tax package. It is more important, quite frankly, than it has been in a long time. The cost-of-living challenge cannot be dealt with solely through the social welfare system, though it is important.  We have had good engagement with the people who we used to call the social partners and the people we meet through the Labour Employer Economic Forum, LEEF. There is widespread recognition that tax can play a helpful role in trying to assist people. We have made significant progress on income tax bands over the years. I think it was in 2015 that people paid the higher rate of tax at around \u20ac33,000. In most budgets over the course of the last Government, the threshold was increased and it is now \u20ac44,000. It is still below the OECD average.  That is a slightly crude figure because when you take into account our PRSI system it changes it a bit, but our entry point to the higher rate of tax is still too low. We will decide as a Government the tax package in the round. The next step will be the publication of the summer economic statement next month. That will outline roughly how much we intend to spend on public services and public expenditure and how much of a tax package we intend to do. There will be a real focus on a personal income tax package. The argument about entry points and thresholds is compelling. I am not saying it is the only thing to look at doing but it is compelling. There are a lot of people who feel if they get a promotion, work a few extra hours or get a pay rise - there is wage growth in the economy - the taxman is taking too much of that money back off them, which is not fair. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Neville  I thank the T\u00e1naiste very much for his reply. We all know that luckily the country is going really well economically and we are all benefiting. Wages are increasing with that and therefore more people are getting captured at earlier tax levels than they could and should be. That is why I brought up the bands specifically. I am obviously very conscious of the increases in costs for every household. We need to ensure the bands, given the increase in wages, do not function like a stealth tax that means more people get captured before they should, and indeed end up with less money than they began with. I am a chartered accountant who worked on payroll and discussed salaries with many people, so I know the challenges people face. In my capacity I had a meeting with the Central Bank this week and IFAC last week, which brought home to me the requirement for the tax changes we might need to put in place in the coming budget. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I thank Deputy Neville very much. To be helpful, we will see the tax strategy group papers published in the coming weeks and there will be the annual income tax paper from that group, which will set out information on the adjustment of income tax standard bands, including the estimated cost to the Exchequer. These publications are all based on the Revenue ready reckoner and are useful for all of us in this House to determine the different costs of different things. Based on Revenue's post-budget 2026 ready reckoner it was estimated that a \u20ac1,000 increase in the standard rate income tax band would cost about \u20ac230 million in the first year, so that gives an indication. Revenue will shortly publish its pre-budget 2027 ready reckoner. That, the tax strategy group papers and the summer economic statement will provide us all with an understanding of the space available for a tax package. We will then decide as a Government what the appropriate composition of that personal income tax package is and unveil it on 6 October. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Neville  I thank the T\u00e1naiste for his reply. He gave extra detail about a \u20ac1,000 increase in the band costing \u20ac230 million. It gives us information about, to use a phrase that was used here previously, the fiscal space we have. That space is due to how the country has been well-managed economically by the T\u00e1naiste, this Government and previous governments. I am also conscious of what someone who previously sat in the T\u00e1naiste's seat said about supporting the people who get up early in the morning. That is something we really need to do too and increasing the bands would be of great benefit to those people. There are a lot of people who get up early, have their families and are busy. Obviously, people may be building a future for themselves outside their families. They are the people we really want to have the ability to support in the upcoming budget, through the Government's good governance. I look forward to that and to being in a position where we can do that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I agree with Deputy Neville. Sometimes, we have debates in this House on taxation measures versus spending measures but it is not an either-or situation. We can help people through the income tax system and we should, for all the reasons the Deputy outlined, and will do that. There are also other issues the public want to see us make progress on with respect to the structural costs they face in their lives, whether it is the cost of the energy bill, childcare, access to disability services or the cost of education. This budget will need to be viewed in the round and the people and the Opposition will view it that way. We should be trying to look at both the tax side and the spending side and seeing together how we can put in place real measures that help. As the Deputy says, they get called different things by different parties in different electoral cycles. Whether it is the squeezed middle or the people who get up early in the morning we are all know who we are trying to help; hard-working people who are doing their best and want to get ahead, not just get by. They need us to use all the levers on the spending side and the tax side to try to make those structural changes to the cost base they face. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Budget 2027"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_8","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_9","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Financial Services","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_8","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_9.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  There is a significant issue with the amount of criminal money laundering going through Europe. There is \u20ac647 billion in crime proceeds washed through Europe every year. We have \u20ac5 trillion in domiciled investment funds hosted in Ireland. The Garda has warned of an explosion in the recruitment of money mules. What is the Government doing to address dark money? I am aware of the action plan but there are significant gaps in it I wish to highlight, including on enforcement. What is Government doing to address that? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I genuinely look forward to any discussion of how we do better and do more on this area, which is really important and of growing concern. It is important to note responsibility for various aspects of legislation and policy on combating money laundering, countering the financing of terrorism and the financing of weapons of mass destruction falls across a number of Departments, including mine as well the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, among others.  Notwithstanding this whole-of-government approach, my Department has a number of distinct but intersecting roles. It has a central co-ordination function through the national anti\u2013money laundering steering committee, which brings together relevant Departments, State agencies and the private sector self-regulatory bodies in the legal and accountancy professions. It also has responsibility for aspects of the relevant legislation, in particular the transposition of the sixth anti\u2013money laundering directive, in partnership with the Department of justice. My Department also co-ordinates Ireland\u2019s participation in the Financial Action Task Force which develops global standards for combating money laundering, the financing of terrorism and the financing of weapons of mass destruction. The Financial Action Task Force conducts periodic independent peer-based evaluations of countries to assess both their compliance with the task force\u2019s standards and the effectiveness of the measures a country has taken to combat money laundering, terrorism financing and proliferation financing. Ireland\u2019s next mutual evaluation will be in 2027 and 2028. In other words, we will be externally viewed starting next year to assess how we are getting on with this area.  Over the last two years, my Department has managed the preparation of Ireland\u2019s latest national risk assessment, which the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, and I jointly launched last week. The assessment is detailed. It includes 20 sectoral risk assessments, 12 of which are in the financial services sector, and in turn provides a basis to help inform our policy, regulatory and operational priorities. This is accompanied by a detailed action plan comprising 30 measures, which are being progressed across Government and other relevant stakeholders. Officials in my Department will lead delivery of 11 of these. These actions include progressing key measures such as strengthening frameworks on terrorism, enhancing sanctions, improving beneficial ownership transparency, etc. We have committed to reporting progress on these actions every six months to Cabinet and publicly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  As the T\u00e1naiste said, there are 30 actions in the action plan but none of them address the chronic under-resourcing of enforcement. This has been flagged for years and we have a situation where billions and billions are being funnelled through Ireland. The Garda has a backlog of tens of thousands of money laundering cases waiting to be examined. The financial intelligence unit and the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau are grossly under-resourced. It is fine to have the action plan and the aspirations but we have tens of thousands of unexamined cases. It is have been flagged that the area is chronically under-resourced but nowhere in the action plan does the Government commit to putting the resources into enforcement, so it does not add up to much. The resourcing of enforcement has to be looked at if the Government is going to take this area seriously. I have no reason to think it is not but if it does not put the resources into enforcement. then I can legitimately ask how serious it is about this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  It is a fair point. We have published an action plan with the 30 actions and the reporting structure every six months as well. We have to ensure that is adequately resourced. There are associated resource implications that arise from changes to Ireland's anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism, AML-CFT, regime due to the sixth anti\u2013money laundering directive and also increased requirements from the Anti-Money Laundering Authority, AMLA. In recent Government discussions we highlighted some of these issues as well. Of course, these will have to form part of the annual Estimates process through engagement with the Department of public expenditure. In this context, law enforcement agencies, the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland and the Companies Registration Office may also be in scope. We have literally just published the plan. There is a commitment to work across Government on it. Any additional resourcing can and will be considered in the context of the budget. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  The other key gap is the national risk assessment identified serious issues and significant risks with regard to crypto assets, yet the action plan only has two measures on such assets and misses a whole range of risks.  It misses, for example, any scrutiny of peel chains where criminals break large crypto amounts into small, tiny transfers to hide the trail. It misses any analysis of unhosted crypto wallets that are not tied to any regulated provider making transparency harder to trace, as well as any mention of the use of crypto to buy high-value goods, which is a common laundering method. It is fine to have the action plan and references to crypto but key crypto issues identified in the national risk assessment plan are missing from the action plan altogether. Why are they missing? Why are they not being addressed? Is the T\u00e1naiste not concerned about these things, which were seriously flagged in the national risk assessment? How come they are not reflected in the action plan? Why have them in the national risk assessment but not in the action plan? How did that happen and why? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  It is a fair point to which I will seek a decent answer for the Deputy. I will come back to him in writing on it. I am concerned about the issues relating to crypto and some of the issues the Deputy has highlighted. I will get specialist advice as to our level of satisfaction that the actions are robustly dealing with them, or not.  I am also concerned about other recent developments we have seen in this country, including the recent examination of developments that we saw around a recent by-election. I asked my officials to complete an analysis of the situation. There are discussions ongoing at an EU level to determine whether financial market regulation should apply to certain transactions. This is an area that we need to look at. There is no current evidence that any of this reported activity arose in this jurisdiction but the level of focus, with the greatest respect to the Dublin Central by-election, from forces outside our jurisdiction is a significant cause for concern.  This is a fast-evolving area in general. Our action plan is an honest effort to try to co-ordinate on it, but we also need to be humble in terms of any good or positive feedback that comes forward regarding areas we can look at further. I will engage with the Deputy in writing on crypto. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Financial Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_10","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Banking Sector","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_8","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_10","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_10.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  We have seen a number of media reports \u2013 I am sure the T\u00e1naiste has read them \u2013 about when the Government was approached with offers in relation to PTSB, and when that was communicated to the executive management of the bank. Will the T\u00e1naiste provide clarity to the D\u00e1il and clear this issue up? How many offers were made for PTSB prior to the launch of the formal sale process? Will the T\u00e1naiste outline the engagement with the executive management of PTSB regarding those offers, as well as the timeline? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I thank Deputy Doherty for the question. The Department received a wide range of proposals in relation to the State\u2019s banking investments over the years, as the Deputy will be aware. As part of their normal functions, officials explore and assess such proposals.  On 5 September 2025, the Department received a non-binding and indicative proposal in writing from Centerbridge Partners to acquire the Minister's stake in PTSB. The Department was of the view that the indicative proposal undervalued the Minister\u2019s stake in PTSB and informed PTSB of its decision to reject the proposal. Following internal governance, the Department advised Centerbridge Partners that the proposal did not provide a basis for engagement. That was the offer. Indeed, it is the only one that I am aware of that took place in advance of the formal sale process.  Subsequently, the board of PTSB launched a formal sale process on 30 October 2025 which was, of course, public and open to all bona fide strategic and financial investors. It was conducted by PTSB in accordance with the Irish takeover rules. Centerbridge Partners was one of the parties in that formal sale process. The Department believes that the process was fair, transparent and offered the greatest opportunity to canvas broad interest from potential bidders. The formal sale process resulted in the board of PTSB recommending a cash offer from BAWAG to shareholders.  BAWAG has set out a long-term ownership approach, including maintaining a strong and resilient Irish banking franchise, investing in the business, retaining the headquarters in Dublin, a branch footprint and safeguarding existing employment rights and pension arrangements in line with applicable law. BAWAG has also indicated its intention to leverage its broader European expertise to strengthen the bank\u2019s competitiveness, including in areas such as SME banking, energy efficiency financing and operational integration. These stated intentions formed part of the overall assessment of the bid.  The State's investment in PTSB was made during the financial crisis to safeguard the stability of the banking system and protect depositors. Since then, PTSB has returned to profitability, increased its balance sheet scale and strengthened its capital ratios. A sale of the State\u2019s investment is consistent with the objectives of recovering taxpayer funds that were used to rescue the banks. Through a combination of fees, dividend income, the bank levy and disposal proceeds, the State has recovered around \u20ac4 billion from its investment in PTSB. On an overall basis, this means the State is around \u20ac1.3 billion above breakeven on its \u20ac29.4 billion investment in AIB, Bank of Ireland and PTSB from direct shareholding linked income and has recovered a further \u20ac1.8 billion from the banking sector since the introduction of the bank levy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Maybe the T\u00e1naiste will clarify that Centerbridge Partners only made one offer. I think he suggested it was on 5 September last year. The public and other shareholders of PTSB are looking at this sale and wondering why we are selling off a public asset on the cheap. When something looks like a bad deal, there is extra scrutiny on the process, and that scrutiny has led to journalists and shareholders looking back.  The CEO of PTSB, on an investor call last September, denied three times that there had been any approach, interest or conversations with potential buyers. He insisted three times that there had been no interest. It appears, however, that the T\u00e1naiste has confirmed there has been interest in the case. How is it possible that the CEO could not have been aware that the private equity firm Centerbridge Partners made offers, and that those offers were communicated to the bank? At what level was this communication from the Government to the bank? Has the Government resolved the issue of how the CEO was not informed of that, or that he informed investors this did not happen? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I am informed by my Department that there was one non-binding, indicative proposal received on 5 September 2025 from Centerbridge Partners to acquire the stake in PTSB. When the indicative proposal was received by the Department, it was assessed. The view was rightly taken that it did not adequately reflect the value of the State\u2019s shareholding in PTSB. The proposal was not pursued and, instead, the formal sale process was subsequently undertaken by PTSB in an open, competitive and transparent manner, which allowed a range of potential investors to participate, including Centerbridge Partners. That was the correct approach. It resulted in a recommendation from the board of PTSB in relation to the offer from BAWAG. That has satisfied the Government\u2019s ultimate objectives in this regard.  I am, of course, aware of media reports. Indeed, I have read them. I respectfully say that these are questions for the CEO of PTSB. I have found him to be an excellent CEO who has done an excellent job. From my Department\u2019s point of view, I am happy to account to the D\u00e1il in terms of the factual situation of that offer received on 5 September 2025. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  With respect, it is more than just an issue for the CEO of PTSB. We are the majority shareholder of the bank and the T\u00e1naiste is the person who holds the share on behalf of the Irish people. There is a genuine question here. Regardless of whether we believe that this has been sold on the cheap, it is a deal worth \u20ac1.6 billion. It is not a small amount of money. We have a situation where the State, as the largest shareholder, knew there had been an offer. The bank knew there had been an offer. There was an investor call in which investors asked whether there was interest or an offer. We are being told that the executive management of the bank knew about the offer but the CEO did not. That needs to be investigated.  As the largest shareholder, we also need to know whether staff of the Department of Finance listened in to that investor call in September or reviewed the transcripts when they were published. I have those transcripts in front of me. We need to know what action they took when they heard the CEO deny that there had been any interest. When he was asked whether there was any interest, communication or offer, the CEO, on three occasions, told investor after investor there was none. It appears that is not true. We need to get to the point of who knew what when. How could the CEO of a bank that is selling \u20ac1.6 billion of assets mislead, it appears, investors in that call? It appears the Government has not really done anything to follow up on it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I truthfully do not know the answer as to whether officials in the Department of Finance were on that call or reviewed that transcript. I am happy to find that out for the Deputy. I truthfully do not know that. I also cannot account for why the CEO of the bank said that on an investor call. I genuinely believe that it made no material difference to the formal sale process and recovering taxpayers\u2019 money that was invested in PTSB. A full, transparent and open process was undertaken, which ultimately led to a board recommendation from PTSB. However, in the interest of transparency, if there is information that my Department can make available to the Deputy on the questions he asked, I am happy to do that and correspond with him in that regard. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Banking Sector"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_11","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Tax Reliefs","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_8","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_11","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_11.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Connolly  I observed the interaction earlier in the question session between the T\u00e1naiste and Deputy Doherty on this same issue. I very much welcome that the Government is going to bring clarity to this over coming days. It is as I expected because from the outset of the conflict in the Middle East, the Government said that we would observe the impact of the conflict on prices in Ireland and take the appropriate measures at the appropriate time. We have always said that we must be conscious that this conflict could prolong into the winter. As the uncertainty and volatility continues, this is prudent. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I thank Deputy Connolly for his question and his comments, and that is the approach the Government is trying to take. None of this is easy for households or for businesses. War has caused havoc in the world and it has caused a shock to the global economy. Ireland, as a small open economy, is not immune from that. There is no government in the wide earthly world that can insulate its people, even if it wishes to, from the impact of that but what we have said from day one consistently across Government is that we will be nimble and agile in trying to respond to the issue and that we will always keep things under review.  I often get asked, and I can understand why, whether I will agree to this or that for a period of time and what I have always tried to say is that sometimes we have stop, take stock and decide what the appropriate action to take is. In the next couple of days the Government will decide what is now the appropriate thing to do.  We put a very large package of support in place. It is in place until 31 July. It is true that petrol and diesel prices are now lower than when we brought that in. As for whether they are lower by the 32 cent, they are not. As for whether we need to try to avoid a cliff edge, we do. As for whether we also need to be responsible for public money, the taxpayers' money, to give ourselves options for the budget, etc., we do too. This is a balance that we have to get right.  All the current legislation going through the D\u00e1il is simply giving legislative underpinning to decisions we took many weeks ago. We will then update that decision in terms of what excise looks like post-31 July. We will do that in the coming days. We will do it in plenty of time, before this House goes into recess. We will seek to avoid any sudden cliff edge for families and businesses. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Connolly  I welcome that and I very much welcome the fact the T\u00e1naiste has forecast that we want to avoid a situation where there would be a cliff edge, where suddenly there would be a massive increase in price again, which would impact on households, in particular, and people who depend on their cars because, as we know, unfortunately, the transport system in many parts of the country is not at the capacity we would like to see and people are reliant on private transport. Obviously, the tax and excise changes on fuel have an impact.  I refer to the legislative work that would need to be done before the D\u00e1il rises on 16 July. We must ensure people are assured that throughout the period the D\u00e1il is in recess that we have made provision to ensure we avoid that cliff edge. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  It is a fair question. What I am saying is that it is not possible for somebody to absorb the full 32 cent. I get that point but I also have to balance that with the fact the Deputy, on behalf of his constituents, Deputy McCormack, on behalf of his, and all of us on behalf of ours, will be looking for things to be done in the budget too. I cannot ignore the fact that the price of oil is now falling and the fact the Strait of Hormuz is currently open. I cannot ignore the cost, in that on the way in today, I saw the cost of diesel is now below the cost of petrol. The situation is different factually to when we brought in the original package and we need to work our way through that in the coming days.  There is a number of different ways the Government can do that. It can decide to amend, at the appropriate point, the legislation going through the D\u00e1il. That might be the most efficient way should the Government decide it wishes to take action. The Government can decide to bring forward further financial resolutions and the likes, too. The cleanest way might be that before the legislation passes through both Houses of the Oireachtas, the Government makes a determination but that involves a whole-of-government conversation which I am currently engaged in with colleagues. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Connolly  The final clarity I would seek is in terms of the figure the Department of Finance has put out consistently about the full cost of these measures as being \u20ac750 million. Are we making provision, given the fact there may be consequences and there may be a necessity to extend these measures? The T\u00e1naiste is talking about the prices having come down somewhat and maybe ameliorating the change but have we made provision? Are we contemplating what the full cost to the Exchequer might be if the necessity arises to continue these measures for an extended period, given the volatility that seems to exist in the conflict in the Middle East and the uncertainty it may continue to cause for some time? The T\u00e1naiste is correct. All TDs will be coming to his Department with demands for the budget but I want to make sure the Department is fully aware of what this potential cost might be in terms of budget provision. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  It is a fair question. Thankfully, as a country, we have had an ability to bring in a very significant package, one of the largest packages in the European Union, without having to borrow for it. Our nearest neighbour, the UK, brought in a much smaller package per head of population and had to go to the markets and borrow for it. I think it got charged approximately 5% for the luxury of that. The fiscal reserves we built up as a country - the surplus we are running in a growing economy - have enabled us to act but there is no consequence-free decision on expenditure either, as the Deputy and I both appreciate.  The current package has cost approximately \u20ac772 million. That is made up of \u20ac150 million for the original excise duties to the end of May; the \u20ac139 million when we decided to extend them to the end of July; \u20ac121 million from the further excise reductions we put on top of that; \u20ac22 million from the carbon tax deferral; \u20ac10 million for the diesel rebate; \u20ac40 million for the National Oil Reserves Agency, NORA, levy change; \u20ac70 million for the fuel allowance expansion; \u20ac120 million for the transport scheme; and \u20ac100 million for the agriculture scheme. That gets you to \u20ac772 million.  What we need to decide to do next needs careful consideration and a balanced approach to try to avoid that sudden cliff edge for people but also to try to be nimble and agile in our response. We will work through it all in the next few days. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Tax Reliefs"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_12","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Tax Reliefs","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_8","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_12","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_12.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  The hospitality VAT rate cut will be introduced from 1 July, next Wednesday. Of course, we all know that for every tax cut there is a consequent cost for the taxpayer. Can the T\u00e1naiste put on the record of the House his assessment of the full-year of this particular VAT cut? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  As the Deputy will be aware, the 9% VAT rate will be reintroduced for hairdressing services and for restaurant and catering services in the food-related hospitality sector from 1 July 2026. We have different views on this. I am very pleased that this is happening. The decision reflects the Government's commitment to supporting employment in sectors that are highly labour-intensive and form a key part of the domestic economy.  I am aware the Deputy and I have different views on it. In my view, it reflects a need that has been recognised in the programme for Government to support SMEs, especially those in the retail, tourism and hospitality sectors. The programme for Government notes the increased cost pressures on these sectors and states that the Government will bring forward measures that will entail changes to VAT.  The vast majority of businesses within this sector are small businesses. They are spread across the whole State. All of these businesses employ people whose jobs I and the Government are trying to protect and sustain in the time ahead and the most important thing at the moment in the global environment we live in is to protect and retain those jobs. The available Central Statistics Office, CSO, data for the food and catering and accommodation sectors indicate that over 99% are SMEs with over half of those businesses being microenterprises with less than ten employees.  The estimated full year cost for 2027 of the 9% VAT rate being applied to food and catering services is \u20ac633 million. The estimated cost of the hairdressing element is a further \u20ac48 million. The total full-year cost, to answer Deputy Nash's question, is estimated to be \u20ac681 million.  In making any decision in relation to VAT rates or other taxation measures, the Government must balance the costs of the measures against their impact. As outlined in last year's budget, the objective of the measure is to try to support businesses in services sectors, such as hospitality, who are facing increased cost pressures - they are even more increased now than at the time of the last budget. This measure is expected to support them and over 150,000 jobs they support and sustain across the country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  The T\u00e1naiste knows well and acknowledged that we have a difference of opinion on the best way in which we can support those jobs. I firmly believe, and I stand over the position, that this is not the best way to do that and is not the best way to allocate finite public resources in terms of supporting the subsectors of that sector that we are all concerned, that is, the small microenterprises that keep our towns and villages across the country going. In the Labour Party's view, the best way to do that is to target supports from the perspective of energy supports, training, staff retention and, indeed, a wholesale analysis and review of the commercial rates sector. We believe that is the best way to support those companies that we are all concerned about.  Of course, there is a consequence for every decision that we take. There was a limited amount of resources available for a tax package last year, and there will be this year and going forward. The impact of making this decision last year meant that there was no indexation of personal tax rates, bands and credits and the T\u00e1naiste has put on the record that is something he wants to address this year. That comes, of course, at a cost too. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  While I vehemently disagree with the Deputy on this, and he vehemently disagrees with me on my position on it, I do not doubt his bona fides on it. Nobody, neither nor the Deputy, is suggesting that we have a monopoly on trying to support jobs. The Deputy wants to do it as do I. We all want to sustain employment. I accept that point but we have a difference of view on how to go about it.  I am very blunt and honest about this. I campaigned in an election and I stood in caf\u00e9s, restaurants and hairdressers and I told people that if they voted for me and put my party back in government, we would pursue this measure, as did my coalition colleagues. We are now pursuing the measure. That is important. There is a democratic link, I suppose, to the programme that we offered people in the general election and the composition of this Government as well.  There is a cost. There is a cost to everything the Government does. There is a cost to not doing things too. I cannot misrepresent the previous budget. In fairness, we did not know about the war in Iran at the time of the previous budget but the pressure on these businesses has got even higher since then. The certainty we can provide the caf\u00e9 owner, the restaurant owner and the hairdresser in our constituencies and communities that their VAT bill will, effectively, be permanently reduced from next week will, I genuinely believe, be a welcome relief to many of them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  Of course it will, and who would not want free money? However, that does not address the structural problems we have in the hospitality sector. We had a VAT rate cut of one form or another in place for the vast majority of the past 15 or 16 years. In fact, the Labour Party helped to introduce that back in 2011 to ensure we could generate some jobs in a sector that could quickly add them, and it absolutely did, as the evidence suggests. However, notwithstanding that there are subsets of the hospitality sector that are in difficulty, there is always churn in the sector more broadly. That is not me being callous about it; that is the reality of business. We cannot continue to permanently support the bottom line of every business. This is a place where we need to have hard conversations with businesses and workers about the finite resources we have. Is this the best way to use the resources we have?  We will have little change out of \u20ac2.5 billion between now and 2030 from this VAT cut. My only concern is whether this is the best use of public resources, given this is a sector that all the evidence suggests is, thankfully, adding jobs, not losing them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  The Deputy would not be doing his job if he was not scrutinising the decisions we make; that is his job. I believe it is a good use of taxpayers' money because the cost of this needs to be seen alongside the amount of income tax and other taxes these businesses and their employees are going to create. When I go back to my community and constituency and go into the local caf\u00e9, I know they will feel some sense of relief that some Bill is coming down the line. What annoyed me a lot about the 9% VAT rate in the recent period, though not nearly as much as it annoyed people in the hospitality sector, was this constant annual anxiety of whether the Government would roll it over for another year. At least, we are providing certainty now for a landscape. I believe this is the appropriate rate at which VAT should be levied in these sectors. There is much talk about the hospitality sector. Hairdressing probably does not get mentioned as much, but it is also an important cost base. There are lots of people working in these sectors, including part time, and there will be lots of young people getting summer jobs working in them as well. The hospitality sector, by which I do not mean hairdressers, is disproportionately represented in rural communities and the CSO data shows that those are overwhelmingly SMEs. The Deputy and I have a difference of view, although there may not be any differences between us about where we want to get to. That is my position. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Tax Reliefs"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_13","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Insurance Industry","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_8","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_13","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_13.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  The T\u00e1naiste and I will know that the cost of insurance for families and businesses is probably one the biggest costs every year, be it car insurance, home insurance or general business insurance. Can the T\u00e1naiste indicate when the Cabinet subgroup on insurance reform will next meet and will he make a statement on the matter? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I can indeed. I thank Deputy McCormack for his question. I see there are a lot of students in the Public Gallery. I am not sure what school they are from, but they are very welcome. They picked a lovely sunny day to come into the D\u00e1il. I thank them for being here and hope they enjoy their summer holidays, which are coming shortly.  As the Deputy will be aware, the programme for Government commits to maintaining the Cabinet committee subgroup on insurance reform to ensure insurance issues continue to receive strong attention, but also effective cross-government co-ordination. I chair that Cabinet subgroup, which meets on a regular basis to advance the action plan for insurance reform, but also to review progress made by each Minister in delivering his or her assigned actions. There is a responsibility on many Departments in this respect and the Cabinet committee provides us with an opportunity to bring people together.  The most recent meeting of the subgroup took place last month. Several priority actions have been set out in the action plan, which are focused on areas where the greatest impact on transparency, affordability and availability of insurance can be achieved. As part of this, a new motor insurance transparency code was launched on 2 March 2026. I thank my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Troy, for his work on that. The code is designed to enhance trust, clarity, transparency and understanding. The idea is that people should get, with their premium, a piece of paper explaining the breakdown, composition and rationale behind it.  Legislation to safeguard access to mortgage protection insurance for cancer survivors is also progressing through the Oireachtas. The Bill has passed through all Stages of D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann and is making its way through Seanad \u00c9ireann. It is my intention, with the co-operation of everyone, that this be passed through the Oireachtas and signed into law this summer. This will be very important.  As the Deputy will be aware, this legislation builds on the voluntary code of practice that is currently in place and which was issued by Insurance Ireland in December 2023. The idea is that a cancer diagnosis should be disregarded, where the person has got through their cancer journey, for the purpose of mortgage protection. It sets out a reduction in the required remission period for cancer survivors from seven to five years, as well as an increase in the sum assured threshold from \u20ac500,000 to \u20ac650,000.  Work is also ongoing with the office to promote competition in the insurance market to enhance competition in the insurance market. We are also doing a lot of work on flood insurance and the flood insurance protection gap. The committee will meet again in formal session in September. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  I welcome the T\u00e1naiste's response and the work that has been undertaken on insurance reform in recent years. However, many businesses, sporting organisations, community groups and voluntary bodies continue to raise concerns with me and other TDs about the cost and availability of insurance. Will the T\u00e1naiste specifically outline the key priorities the Cabinet subgroup will consider in its next meeting? Will it examine whether the savings arising from the reforms already introduced are being passed on through lower premiums? What further measures are under consideration to improve affordability? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  Deputy McCormack is right. We have introduced significant reform in this sector and we now need the industry to ensure the benefit of those reforms are passed onto the customer. We have seen some progress in some areas but, frankly, we have not seen enough. We are very carefully monitoring this in the Cabinet committee. We are often asked for a long list and told if we do A, B, C and D, the premiums will fall. However, as the Deputy rightly suggested, we need to show this is actually happening.  I am also conscious there needs to be greater transparency on this. The big priorities are seeing the motor insurance transparency code; passing the right to be forgotten Bill regarding cancer survivors; looking at the national claims information database regarding the cost of motor insurance and other trends; monitoring those trends in Ireland and internationally; making progress on the flood insurance gap; and, generally, driving delivery of our insurance reform agenda and the action plan for insurance reform out to 2029.  On foot of Deputy McCormack raising this issue, I will ask the Minister of State, Deputy Troy, to write to him with a comprehensive update on the delivery of that action plan. It might be of use to some of those organisations the Deputy mentioned. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  Small businesses are particularly vulnerable to increases in insurance costs. Unlike larger firms, they often have limited purchasing power and little capacity to absorb significant increases in premiums. For many, insurance is now one of their largest operating costs. Will the T\u00e1naiste outline whether the Cabinet subcommittee is considering any targeted measures to improve competition and affordability in the insurance market for small businesses, in particular the scope for additional reforms to ensure smaller enterprises benefit fully from the Government's insurance reform programme? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  This is a big area we are focusing on. I am conscious insurance costs are significant for all businesses, but they can have a disproportionate significance for smaller businesses, where a hike or an extra premium cost that was not expected could be the difference between viability or not. We have all met businesses in that place.  Attracting more competition into the market is very important and helpful, and we are actively seeing what can be done in that space. Obviously, those are commercial decisions but making sure we keep our environment correct so that it is good and transparent and, at the same time, competitive for people to come in is a key issue. We will continue to work very closely on the concerns of small businesses in this area. The Minister of State, Deputy Troy, will keep Deputy McCormack up to date. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Insurance Industry"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_14","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Tax Exemptions","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_8","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_14","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Cahill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_14.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Cahill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Cahill  I raise again the issue of inheritance tax and the anomalies that exist for parents and their children, on one hand, and childless adults, their brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews, on the other. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I thank Deputy Cahill for the question. This is an important issue on which I have had several meetings. Capital acquisitions tax, CAT, is a tax which applies to both gifts and inheritances, and is charged at a rate of 33%. For CAT purposes, the relationship between the person giving a gift or inheritance and the person who receives it determines the maximum amount, known as the group threshold, below which CAT does not arise. The group thresholds were most recently increased in budget 2025.  Deputy Cahill will remember the group A threshold increased to \u20ac400,000 from \u20ac335,000. This broadly applies to where the beneficiary is a child of the disponer. The group B threshold increased to \u20ac40,000 from \u20ac32,500. This threshold applies where the beneficiary is a brother, sister, niece, nephew or lineal ancestor or descendant of the disponer. The group C threshold increased to \u20ac20,000 from \u20ac16,250, with this threshold applying in all other cases.  Along with tax-free group thresholds, various reliefs and exemptions are available in relation to CAT, including agricultural relief, business relief, the small gift exemption, favourite niece or nephew relief and the dwelling house exemption. It is important from a tax policy perspective to maintain stability and certainty and to ensure that the CAT thresholds are appropriately set in the context of the range of reliefs available.  There is a significant associated cost with further changes to the group thresholds, whether it involves increasing thresholds or reforming the inheritance tax category system, for example, bringing those who are childless within the scope of the group A threshold. Department of Finance officials produced a tax strategy group paper last year which examined that as well. We will do this again as part of our tax strategy group papers this year, and publish information and costings.  I recognise the burden of this tax. I have had some good meetings with groups which are concerned about this. The Deputy should note that capital acquisitions tax group thresholds are kept under review annually through the finance Bill and annual budget. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Cahill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Cahill  I have raised this issue on a number of occasions. It is a huge issue and there are anomalies. We need to address this. Currently, children inheriting a family home from their parents are exempted from inheritance tax up to \u20ac400,000, which, considering the price of homes currently, is undoubtedly far too low. However, a major anomaly exists when it comes to childless couples and individuals, who often decide to leave their home and assets to their nieces and nephews, brothers and sisters. Unlike children inheriting from parents, nieces, nephews, brothers and sisters are only entitled to \u20ac40,000 tax-free, leaving them with a significant tax bill which often precludes these individuals from affording the property. At a time when this country is in the midst of a housing crisis, should we not be doing everything possible to ensure that families are able to afford to keep their homes, instead of penalising those who do not have children and those who are left assets by their uncles and aunts? I call on the T\u00e1naiste, in his capacity as Minister for Finance, to reduce inheritance tax, which is charged at a flat rate of 33% of the value of assets exceeding specific relationship-based tax-free thresholds, and to significantly increase those thresholds, of \u20ac400,000 in the case of a son or daughter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I appreciate this is a serious issue which causes stress, strain and worry to many people. I have had much engagement with colleagues and groups about this and continue to do that. We keep all these issues under review as part of the finance Bill each year. The tax strategy group will again look at these issues this year. We will publish data, information and costings that can help to inform the debate in these Houses. The only thing I have to say, to be honest with people, is that some of these moves are quite expensive. We will have to decide as a collective, whatever the size of the total tax package in this budget is, which we will publish in the summer economic statement, how we divide that, with all of the competing demands regarding tax. I am aware of the burden that this places on people. There were significant increases in thresholds under the previous Government. I hope that we can make some progress on this over the course of this Government. Whether it is in this budget or other budgets is a matter for the Government to consider in the time ahead. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Cahill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Cahill  I believe we should separate the limit on the house from any other inheritance. The \u20ac40,000 cap in the case of a niece, nephew, brother or sister is absolutely ridiculous and discriminatory. In the upcoming budget, I propose that the Minister increase the \u20ac40,000 cap and we separate the house from the inheritance. The bands are less today than they were 15 or 16 years ago, as they were reduced during the recession. If the value of the house and any other assets is over \u20ac600,000, a son or daughter is liable for a \u20ac66,000 capital acquisition tax on the very same inheritance. A niece, nephew, brother or sister is liable for \u20ac184,8000. Our parents, grandparents and their parents before them worked extremely hard and paid their taxes to provide for their families and build family homes. The same applies to our uncles and aunts and their people before them. They too worked extremely hard and paid their taxes. I believe this issue needs to be addressed urgently. It is also a huge issue for the farming community and farm succession. It is a form of double taxation. I have a huge issue with it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  Deputy Cahill certainly gives that very clear impression. I know this is a serious issue and I hear from colleagues on the Government and Opposition benches about it. I share some of that concern too. In the specific role that I hold, I have to be honest about balancing the competing demands. We will have a certain amount available for tax measures and we will have many things that different people want to do. Inheritance tax is one that is coming up. Personal income tax is also coming up. We will have to look at all of this in the round.  The Deputy and I have both been in government in the past, so we have made progress on this issue, including in the previous D\u00e1il. This Government has four more budgets to deliver, so the next budget will be one of four. How we divide up the tax package and what we can or cannot do to reform CAT this year will have to be decided and informed by discussions we have about the priorities. I am not ruling anything out today. I know people who have concerns about this will also understand that it is a matter for 6 October, when we unveil the budget, from a tax and spending point of view. I will continue to engage with Deputy Cahill. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Tax Exemptions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_15","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Universal Social Charge","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_8","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_15.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Callaghan  I ask the Minister his plans for the reduction or abolition of USC in budget 2027, in particular, if there is scope to reduce the USC that is payable on occupational pensions for people aged over 66. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  As I know Deputy Callaghan is aware, the programme for Government and our party manifesto commit to making progressive changes regarding income tax. The aim here is to make sure that people can keep some more of their own money. People in this country still feel that when they work hard, play by all the rules and then look at the slip at the end of the week or month and see the take-home pay figure, they are left struggling to get by, let alone get ahead. We want to make progress on that over the course of the next four budgets. There was not a personal income tax package in the previous budget. There will be one in this budget. I expect and hope there will be one in each of the next four budgets. Over the course of those four budgets, we can make real progress. In the previous D\u00e1il, to give an example, we managed to get from a situation where people were paying the higher rate of tax at \u20ac33,000 and brought that up to the higher rate of tax being paid at \u20ac44,000. We also made some progress on the USC in the previous D\u00e1il when we saw the middle rate of USC, of 4.5%, reduce by 1.5 percentage points to 3%.  About a third of people are not paying any income tax or USC, which we need to factor in too. When people talk about progressivity, we need to balance that. The USC is an individualised tax, which means that a person's liability for the tax is determined on the basis of his or her individual income or personal circumstances. It is therefore seen by some as a more sustainable charge than those it replaced, and it is applied at a lower rate on a wide base. The USC yield for last year was \u20ac5.6 billion. For this year, it is projected to be \u20ac5.9 billion, so there is a significant yield. What we decide to do on personal income tax, whether on income thresholds, tax credits or the USC, will be considered in the weeks ahead. The ultimate aim will be to see how we can most help people who are either working hard or the people who, as the Deputy recognised today, have worked hard with respect to their net income. We will consider all the options in the round. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Callaghan  I acknowledge all the work that has been done to date. I am sure the Minister hears from his constituents as regularly as I do that the fact that the USC was first introduced in 2011 as a temporary measure but is still with us 15 years later has made this particular tax a point of contention. I absolutely acknowledge the reality that there are many major investments into public services and infrastructure projects across the country that were only possible because of this tax, which, as the Minister mentioned, will bring in \u20ac5.9 billion this year.  The medium-term fiscal and structural plan, which the Minister published in December, is a strong statement of the Government's intent and ambition to achieve key social and economic targets. Of course, it is essential that under this plan, our public finances remain stable, resilient and ready, which goes to the Minister's point that there is a need to decide how exactly we make changes in the upcoming budget. While the USC will play a key role in delivering on this plan, I wonder, as we continue to experience a budget surplus, if there might be room to alleviate the pressure this tax places on certain sectors. For instance, would the Minister consider measures to increase the income disregard for USC or to reduce the amount payable on pension contributions at this time? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I have to give the annoying answer that we will consider all of these matters in the budget. I do not want to rule anything in or out today, other than to say a couple of things. The Deputy is right to acknowledge the burden that people feel from taxation. She is also right to acknowledge, very fairly, the benefit that we see from the taxes that people pay. The USC is expected to bring in \u20ac5.9 billion this year. It would be a very different challenge if we did not have that almost \u20ac6 billion. The next staging post as regards the total amount available for tax measures will be the summer economic statement in July. That will outline how much we intend to put aside for tax measures. We can then start to have an informed debate about the best way to spend that money and the best policy options. In general, regarding the surplus, I am pleased to live in a country where we have an economic surplus. It comes with challenges, but it much better to have a challenge than a deficit. I am conscious that some of that surplus is based on a temporary windfall tax and, therefore, a more appropriate use of it is to put it into our investment funds to deliver infrastructure and deal with future demographics. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Callaghan  It is really hard to argue with that point of view. Above all, I know that the Government is dedicated to delivering on the commitments made in the programme for Government, which will work towards a fairer, more equal Ireland. One of the key components of the programme is a commitment to progressive changes to personal income tax, which I am glad the Minister has recognised will happen, and to ensure that, as we push forward and grow our economy, nobody is left behind.  In budget 2026, the Government lived up to those commitments. It is important that we note that. It raised the 2% USC tax band up to \u20ac28,700. This measure meant and means that a full-time worker on minimum wage will not be pushed into the higher 3% tax rate. That allows for a meaningful increase in take-home pay. Across the country and in my own constituency of Carlow-Kilkenny, there is an appetite for similar measures to be considered in this year's upcoming budget. Is further indexation planned? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I thank Deputy Callaghan for acknowledging that there will be a personal income tax package. The aim is that it will deliver in line with the programme for Government commitments around progressive changes. We will look at the various options in the round. We will decide them on 6 October and will have plenty of opportunities to engage directly and to engage through this structure in advance of that. The point the Deputy made about the minimum wage increases not being gobbled up for low-income workers by USC is important. That is a principle that we have had for the last number of years and is certainly one that I would hope we could continue. There is another issue and I will say this honestly. Around a third of people are not paying any income tax or USC. I do not say that in a judgmental way but sometimes the some of the low-income workers we want to help have to be helped in ways other than the income tax system too. I said this earlier, but I really believe it. While I firmly believe a personal income tax package can play a role in assisting people with the cost of living and we will have one, it will also need to be supplemented by what we can do on the spending side to reduce structural costs that families face in areas like childcare, an issue I know the Deputy is passionate about with the carers' allowance. We will see the carers' allowance income threshold increase next month as an example. We need to look at all of this in the round. I look forward to continued engagement in the time ahead. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy David Maxwell)  We only have a few minutes left, but I will let Deputy Murphy ask his question and the T\u00e1naiste reply. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Universal Social Charge"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_16","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Tax Code","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_8","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_16","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_16.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  Eleven Irish billionaires now own more than wealth than two thirds of the population. Half of the population owns less than 10% of the total wealth. It is time for a wealth tax. A wealth tax on the richest 1% could raise \u20ac9 billion. At a time when so many people are suffering in one of the richest countries in the world, is it not time to introduce one? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I thank the Deputy. As he will be aware, wealth is already taxed in a number of ways in Ireland. These include capital gains tax, CGT, capital acquisitions tax, CAT and local property tax. Stamp duty also acts as a tax on wealth, including that charged on the acquisition of shares, stocks and marketable securities of Irish registered companies, and on the acquisition of property both residential and non-residential. The revenue raised from a wealth tax, regardless of the form it takes, may not be additional to that raised by the existing forms of wealth taxation, as the revenues from those taxes could be impacted by the introduction of a wealth tax.  In looking at the question of wealth taxes, the Commission on Taxation and Welfare's 2022 report identified challenges that would impede the implementation of a wealth tax. Its conclusion was that a new tax on net wealth should not be introduced without first attempting to substantially amend Ireland\u2019s existing taxes on capital and wealth. The commission argued that, as an alternative to introducing a new tax on wealth, CGT and CAT could be re-examined. These are existing taxes on wealth that have well-established but distinct bases and are well understood in their operation. A 2024 report by the Parliamentary Budget Office entitled \u201cAn Overview of Taxes on Wealth in Ireland\" noted, among other things, that a specific wealth tax risks an increased concentration of overall tax receipts on a relatively small proportion of taxpayers. It proposed base-broadening measures to increase the number of taxpayers and to diversify revenue sources.  It is important to note that Ireland has one of the most progressive taxation systems and social transfers of any EU or OECD country, which contributes to the redistribution of income and the reduction of income inequality. In 2016, my Department worked with the ESRI to conduct a research project into the distribution of wealth in Ireland and the potential implications of a wealth tax. Recognising the passage of time that has elapsed since this research project was undertaken, the ESRI is currently conducting analysis under its joint research programme. This will include scenario and distributional analysis under a range of wealth tax scenarios. A draft paper will be completed before the end of the year and I will consider the analysis in due course. I do not plan on introducing a wealth tax in budget 2027. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  We heard this week from Barnardos that, in Ireland, one of the richest countries in the world, 30% of parents say they do not have enough food to feed their children. A total of 44% of parents - almost one in two parents - said they have to cut back themselves so that their kids have enough to eat. That is at one side of the pole of Irish capitalism. On the other side is the 11 billionaires who are richer than 66% of the population. Eleven people are richer than two thirds of the population put together - 3.5 million people. That is up from nine billionaires in 2024. The richest two billionaires have more wealth than the bottom 50%. That is an Irish expression of a global trend, where billionaire wealth grew three times faster in 2025 than the average annual rate of the previous five years. We now have the world's first trillionaire, although, because of the share prices, he may not be a trillionaire at this moment, but it speaks to the massive inequality. A wealth tax, a tax on assets of the multimillionaires and billionaires in this country, is one way to begin to tackle this inequality and to put money back into people's pockets. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I thank Deputy Murphy for his contribution. I have already outlined the Commission on Taxation and Welfare's 2022 report and the issues that it suggested would impede the implementation of such a tax, as well as the Parliamentary Budget Office report from 2024. I have also outlined how we have one of the most progressive taxation systems and social transfer systems in the EU and the OECD and the research work being carried out by the ESRI. I have no doubt that this is an issue Deputy Murphy will return to again when we have a longer time to discuss it and engage. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Tax Code"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_17","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_18","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Housing Policy","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_17","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_18.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  Last Thursday, the Oireachtas housing committee published an important report on homelessness. At the centre of that report is the call for the introduction of an emergency package of measures to prevent families and single people from becoming homeless, but also to get people out of emergency accommodation more quickly. Now that the Minister has had at least a week to consider the report, will he set out his initial response to its 14 recommendations? Will he let the House know whether it is his intention to bring forward an emergency response to finally get to grips with the ever-deepening homelessness crisis? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy James Browne)  Supporting individuals and families experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness is an absolute priority for me, my Department and Government. I welcome the committee's focus on this important area. Indeed, many of the recommendations put forward are addressed in our new housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities, and are being progressed by my Department in collaboration with other Departments, local authorities and their service delivery partners.  The report calls for a greater focus on prevention. There are many prevention initiatives already under way in the Department and across government, including the provision of social and affordable housing, HAP and homeless HAP, and our strong tenancy protection legislation. I recognise that more needs to be done and a co-ordinated approach is required right across government. That is why a cross-departmental working group was established to drive the development of a prevention framework. The first draft of the framework is being considered by working group members and the framework will be in place this year.  The report also recognises the importance of a continued focus on measures to address youth homelessness and calls for the development of a child and family homelessness strategy. Again, work is well under way in these two important areas as committed to in the housing plan. I am establishing a standing sub-group of the national homeless action committee to ensure a continued focus on youth homelessness and my Department, in partnership with Department of the Taoiseach, will shortly publish a cross-departmental child and family homelessness action plan.  Many other actions are under way that speak to the recommendations in the report, including the development of the of the housing delivery action plans, a review of the housing assistance payment and the continued funding of the second-hand acquisition scheme, including tenant in situ acquisitions.  Ultimately, increased supply is key to addressing homelessness, meeting need and addressing the challenges in the housing market. The new housing plan aims to deliver 300,000 new homes in the period to 2030, including 72,000 social homes and 90,000 starter homes. This means 12,000 new social homes will be delivered on average each year to the end of 2030. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  It is simply not the case that the Minister\u2019s Department is already undertaking the key actions recommended in this report. If that were the case, we would not have wasted our time producing the report. Month on month, the number of adults, children, single people and pensioners falling into emergency accommodation is growing. That means the core recommendation of the report that we now need an emergency response seems to be ignored by the Government. There is an explicit call to fully reinstate the funding for social housing acquisitions, including for housing first and tenant in situ, and to remove the restrictions, something the Minister has set his face against, which is why the number of such acquisitions halved last year on the year before, resulting in many more people becoming homeless.  Crucially, the volume of social homes that is being delivered is not meeting the need. In fact, on the basis of the most recent summary of social housing needs assessments, it will take 55 years to clear current and emerging social housing need. People are waiting ten and sometimes 14 years plus. I would really encourage the Minister to put in place a plan because if he is to have any hope of ending long-term homelessness by 2030 there needs to be a plan with clear targets. That is not in place at the moment and that is why our committee has recommended the 14 points in last week\u2019s homelessness report. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  We take the report very seriously and are giving it very serious consideration. Many of the recommendations in it are already in place or are being put in place. We are treating this as an emergency. I have already outlined many of the measures we are taking to make sure we address the situation where we have a very high level of homelessness. One person in homelessness is one too many. We have a very high number in emergency accommodation - I acknowledge that. That is why we need to do even more. I am treating it as an emergency. We are putting in emergency measures to tackle homelessness. Ultimately, we have to drive supply; that is how we will address all the key issues for people who are finding themselves in emergency accommodation and State-supported living as a result of not being able to have somewhere to live. In terms of homelessness, we cannot deal with everybody as a single group. There are those who need more targeted measures. Those suffering from trauma, mental health or addiction issues need very particular supports and we are putting those in place as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  The report called for the Minister to extend the youth homelessness strategy out to 2030. My understanding is that despite the fact the strategy expired last year, there is no intention to extend it. Yes, the Minister is working on the child homelessness strategy but there is no sight of it. Will it be out this year? Is there a clear timeline? Can the Minister confirm that?  On the housing action delivery plans, it is still not clear whether that will specify not just the number of one, two and three beds but also, for example, very clear targets for every local authority for people with physical and intellectual disabilities as well as right-sizing requirements. More crucially, those plans will not be based on objective need because they will ignore about half of the gross social housing need in the functional areas of the local authorities. There is no talk from the Department about better co-ordinating and ensuring the Minister\u2019s counterparts in the Department of Health and the HSE provide the wraparound supports to sustain tenancies beyond where they currently are. Yes, the Minister or the Housing Agency is reviewing HAP limits but we have no idea where that is at. Of course, two key recommendations, namely, the need for at least consideration of the re-introduction of emergency ban on no-fault evictions and a referendum on the right to housing, are not on the Minister\u2019s agenda. Again I ask when will he introduce an emergency response, above and beyond what he is doing, to start seeing the homeless numbers fall? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  We are dealing with it as an emergency response. Last year, we saw a 20% increase in housing delivery overall and the highest number of social houses built in a single year in the history of the State. We are putting in record funding to address the housing crisis. Many of the measures highlighted in the report are already in the process of being implemented.  I would remind the Deputy that, in his own housing plan, he proposes winding down the tenant in situ scheme \u2013 something he conveniently forgets every time he raises that scheme. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Housing Policy"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_19","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Housing Policy","counts":{"speechCount":9,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_17","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_19","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_19.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  We are in a wave of evictions the likes of which the country has not seen since the Famine. There is such human misery going on. I am contacted daily by people facing eviction. These are elderly people, young people and families. It is absolutely scandalous. It is the highest rate of evictions. Since Deputy Browne became Minister, 27,000 households have been issued an eviction notice. Last week, the T\u00e1naiste came in here and said the majority of tenants are covered by a no-fault eviction ban. Will the Minister correct the record and say the truth? The majority of tenants are not covered by a no-fault eviction ban. We need an emergency no-fault eviction ban to prevent this wave of human misery. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  The Deputy is very fond of referring to the Famine. The Famine was a genocide in this country. A million people died and a million people had to leave the country yet the Deputy makes a political football out of it and uses it to come in here to engage in cheap political point scoring. It is very hard to take him seriously when that is the level to which he descends in order to make a political point instead of making a coherent, informed policy point or argument.  We are putting in record funding to address the housing crisis in this country. That includes the homeless crisis and high rents. We have brought in some of the strongest, if not the strongest, tenancy measures to protect tenants in the history of the State and the Deputy voted against them. That is a fact. Tenants entering new tenancies will have the strongest tenancy rights in the history of this State. The majority of tenants will have a no-fault eviction ban. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  They will. They do not currently. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  There will be much stronger tenant protections as well. For those who are in tenancies at the moment, both tenant and landlord entered into an agreement under what was the law at the time. They understood the law on both sides and they entered into a contract on that basis. That is the reason we are not making those changes.  The Deputy tries to have it both ways when he comes in here. He criticises the changes that were made and then he criticises that they not being applied to the past. As I said, we have brought in the strongest tenancy protection measures in the history of the State. They do apply to new tenancies. While notices to quit did peak, we saw a drop in March and I have no doubt that the drop will continue significantly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  The Minister talks about me making a political football. It is an absolute disgrace. The reason I am pointing out that we have seen the highest rates of eviction since the Famine is because the Minister and this Government are completely out of touch with the human catastrophe going on right now. I do not believe that he does not see it in his own constituency. We know there was a case of evictions. I want to raise one particular case. May Kelly and her husband Michael were in touch with me. Michael is a double amputee - he had both legs amputated recently \u2013 and is a wheelchair user. He is facing eviction. They are an elderly couple who have been in their home for 20 years. They are appealing the decision from Wicklow County Council which is saying there is nothing it can do for them. They had an income assessment in 2025 which said they were over the threshold for social housing. He is now retired. They are in absolute terror. Their notice to quit says they have to be out of their home by 10 December. Will the Minister look into this specific case and implement a ban immediately to ensure that no elderly couples are being evicted from their homes when they are in situations like this? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  I am not going to speak to an individual case but I am happy to look into the details of the case if the Deputy wants to provide me with them.  We had an eviction ban in this country before and supply just dropped off a cliff. An eviction ban sounds very favourable to those who are currently renting but it creates a cliff edge. What is the Deputy going to do in two or three years\u2019 time when he brings an end to his eviction ban? Supply will only go down in the meantime, as we have seen that in the past. Who will invest in delivering houses in this country when they know there are eviction bans in place? Nobody. The evidence is there that it is not going to happen.  As Minister for housing, I have to look at everything in terms of how I maximise supply. When I am looking at delivering housing it is to help those people who are renting but also to ensure that we have the supply for those people who are living at home who need somewhere to rent so that they can get out of their homes and have somewhere.  We have a shortage of homes in this country. That is what is driving the housing crisis, the homelessness crisis and the high rents in this country. When we get higher supply, those issues will be addressed but you cannot address them without it. That is certain. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  Is it an emergency or is it not an emergency? It is not actually true that it is just about supply. These people are in homes. If the Minister put in place a ban on evictions, they could be kept in their homes until supply reaches the point where, if they are evicted, they will not be evicted into homelessness. Where are they going to be able to afford to rent? These are elderly people and other people in my constituency. Mothers with two children are contacting me in terror of being evicted and of not knowing where they are going to go. Couple after couple and family after family are in touch with me and I know they are in touch with politicians across this country. I cannot get my head around not just the Minister but the Taoiseach and the T\u00e1naiste referring to people as \"churn\", and saying churn goes on. People are just evicted, and they will find somewhere else. These are real human lives. People are suffering and are being traumatised and, yes, it is about prioritising these people right now over corporate landlords who are saying they do not want an eviction ban. This is a human catastrophe, and the Minister is ignoring it at massive human cost. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  Nobody is ignoring it. We are putting record funding into solving the housing crisis. Almost one third of all the capital being spent by the State is going to be spent on solving the housing crisis. It is reflected in the decisions we are making. We are treating this as an emergency and putting those measures in place. Instead of constantly coming in here using emotive language and pretending he has a monopoly on compassion, the Deputy should focus on policy solutions. It would serve everybody better to solve the housing crisis. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  His policies are not serving these people. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Housing Policy"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_20","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Housing Provision","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_17","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_20","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_20.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  As the Minister knows, a growing number of working people, as a result of very modest increases in their wages, are being removed from local authority social housing waiting lists when their means assessment comes under review. I know the Minister is looking at this matter and his party colleagues and backbenchers from Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael are raising it with him regularly. Will he give us an update on the review of social housing income limits and some indication as to whether it is his intention to act on it this year? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  I thank the Deputy for this question about income eligibility thresholds for social housing support. Applications for social housing support are assessed by the relevant local authority in accordance with the eligibility and needs criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended. The 2011 regulations prescribe maximum net income limits for each local authority in different bands according to the area concerned, with income being defined and assessed according to a standard household means policy. The baseline income thresholds are \u20ac40,000, \u20ac35,000 and \u20ac30,000 for bands 1, 2 and 3, respectively. These thresholds are net income, which is gross household income less income tax, PRSI, universal social charge and additional superannuation contribution. Income is defined and assessed according to a standard household means policy, HMP. The policy provides for a range of income disregards and local authorities have discretion to disregard income that is once-off, temporary or short-term in nature, and which is outside the regular pattern of a person's annual income. The income bands are expressed in terms of a maximum net income threshold for a single-person household, with an allowance of 5% for each additional adult household member, subject to a maximum allowance under this category of 10%, and separately a 2.5% allowance for each child.  My Department has been examining the existing income limits in the context of current market and household income conditions, including the suitability or otherwise of the current framework, having regard to the significantly changed landscape since the standardised income limits were introduced. This includes examining the findings of research commissioned by my Department and this work is ongoing. I envisage that the analysis will be concluded shortly to facilitate a final determination on next steps. I am also keen to put in place a more structured and frequent process for the review of these limits going forward. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  There really is an urgency to progress and conclude the work of the Department. I strongly recommend in the first instance that there is an immediate increase in the income eligibility thresholds. I am strongly of the view, and I know the Minister is considering this, that beyond an immediate increase there needs to be a more rational system of linking those thresholds to an index, whether that is net household income or some other independent index, so the thresholds track that in real time. There is a need to look at the disregards, and whether carers' allowance, disability allowance and certain other payments should continue to be assessed is a matter of some concern. There is also the issue of secondary earners. We increasingly have a case where adults are being forced to live at home because of the housing crisis. That is having significant impacts on eligibility. I also urge the Minister to look again at the three month look-back income assessment. It is far too rigid. When there are significant changes in circumstance you are not seeing those being taken account. Significant one-off payments can be but not changes of income circumstance or of employment and that is creating real difficulties. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  I agree with the Deputy. The situation for a long time has been that as social welfare or other family support payments increase, average household incomes increase, and the Department of housing rightly faces calls to increase the limits. We go through this process and there is the opposite of a cliff edge where the numbers all go up. I want to not only increase the limits but bring an end to that kind of process, so people and local authorities have a better understanding of where we are going rather than the process there to date, which is not satisfactory for anybody. My intention is to have this in the near future. I am finalising the proposals for it in order that we can get the limits increased and put a procedure in place, so it is not this constant position where we are depending on the Minister and the ability of the Department and of the workload to see whether or not increases will happen. It is not an appropriate way to deal with it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  I again stress the urgency of this. The longer this takes the more families will lose their position on the list. I am dealing with a family in my constituency. Both are working and have had a modest increase in their income. They are currently homeless and in emergency accommodation through no fault of their own. They were recently given an offer of council accommodation but in the income reassessment, they were marginally above the threshold. We have had it reviewed, and the local authority has acted completely in compliance with the eligibility threshold. Those people are not only going to lose their more than ten years on the list but they now have no exit out of emergency accommodation because they simply cannot afford private rents from their own income. I am sure when the Minister talks to his own backbenchers he will hear that these real live cases are happening everywhere.  There are three other issues I would ask the Minister to consider. The first is to completely get rid of band 3. There is simply no reason to have a third band. It is an out of date concept. There is an argument in the larger urban areas and their commuter belts to have a higher rate than a second band but I do not believe a third band is needed. I also urge the Minister to publish the research as soon as he can and, if possible, to engage with our committee, to not delay anything and to get the experience of committee members on the ground before he makes his final decision. Crucially, that decision needs to be made as soon as possible. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  I think we are very much in agreement on the general direction of where we need to go in relation to social housing threshold limits. The way I look at this is that there is a spectrum. Everybody needs to be able to get a home in their local community based on their needs. Whether that is purely private or with supports, affordable purchase, cost rental or social housing, it is about ensuring on that spectrum that people have not only an entitlement but availability so they can benefit and get a home in their local community. That will be to the front of my mind in the coming weeks, and I look forward to hearing the views of the Oireachtas committee when we publish these changes. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Housing Provision"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_21","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Derelict Sites","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_17","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_21.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  I ask the Minister about the steps he and his Department will take to tackle dereliction in advance of the new derelict property tax and how he is going to mandate local authorities to collect the millions in outstanding derelict site levies in advance of that, and when the Government will introduce the new compulsory purchase order Bill. Will he examine the concept of compulsory sale orders to bring vacant and neglected homes back into use? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy John Cummins)  I thank the Deputy for the question. The Government's housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities, aims to ensure that the activities and resources used to address vacancy and dereliction are co-ordinated and effective, and that legislative powers are used proactively to tackle dereliction and vacancy. The derelict property tax announced in budget 2026 is intended to introduce legislation providing for the tax in the Finance Act 2026. When it comes into effect, the tax will replace the derelict sites levy and will be collected by the Revenue Commissioners. Derelict site levies that remain outstanding when the new tax is introduced will remain as charges on the property and will be the responsibility of each local authority to collect.  In the context of the measures we have introduced to tackle the scourge of vacancy and dereliction, the vacant property refurbishment grant provides up to \u20ac70,000 for the refurbishment of vacant and derelict properties for occupation as a principal private residence or for rental. The vacant property refurbishment grant has been expanded as of 1 April this year to include a new \u201cabove the shop\u201d grant introduced to support property owners to bring these vacant upper floors over commercial units into use as homes. This provides unprecedented support of up to \u20ac135,000.  The CPO activation programme requires a proactive and systematic approach by local authorities to identifying vacant and derelict properties and engaging with owners to bring these properties back into use. This includes using their compulsory purchase powers under the Derelict Sites Act 1990 and the Housing Act 1966 when engagement with the owners of these properties is not successful. All 31 local authorities have full-time vacant homes officers and there is a range of schemes in place. The concept of a compulsory sale order has been examined by my Department and the Housing Agency. I will elaborate further in my follow-up response. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  I thank the Minister of State for his response. There is \u20ac20.5 million in levies outstanding for derelict sites. I want to press the Government on what new measures there are and what it is going to do to make sure that local authorities collect that money, notwithstanding the new derelict property tax. I will also ask about the compulsory purchase order Bill. The Law Reform Commission gave very clear recommendations in 2023. When are we going to see that Bill?  Will the Minister of State confirm on the record that the derelict property tax will not be littered with exemptions? We have had cases before where measures like the derelict property tax were introduced, but they sound a lot better than they actually are because when they are finally introduced, they are littered with exemptions for this, that and the other. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Cummins  As the Deputy knows, all local authorities in the country are independently operated. It is their responsibility, and their responsibility alone, to ensure they collect outstanding levies, particularly the derelict sites levies. They are charges on properties, so it often takes time for a property to be disposed of and for the levy to come in. However, it is absolutely their responsibility. We are committed to ensuring that we have the derelict property tax, which will be collected by Revenue, in place as early as possible.  Regarding the compulsory sale order, which the Deputy referenced in his initial contribution, the Department, in conjunction with the Housing Agency, has examined this matter in other jurisdictions. On the basis of that evaluation, it is not intended to progress that measure. The focus will remain on the derelict property tax and the use of CPO powers as the stick for individuals and property owners who have not availed of the many measures put in place by the Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  The reason I raised the issue of compulsory sale orders is that this is something the Scottish Government had in a 2018 land reform report, although it has not been implemented yet. I am raising it not so much with the idea that the compulsory sale order would be punitive, but for it to be another framework by which engagement can be sought with the owners of problematic sites.  I have two follow-up questions. What is the rationale for the derelict property tax to be applied to towns with a population of over 4,000, given that we have significant issues with rural dereliction? When will we see the compulsory purchase order Bill? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Cummins  I am glad the Deputy mentioned Scotland because it is referenced in the report that has been done. As the Deputy knows, it has not been introduced in that jurisdiction. It is very difficult to get data on the effectiveness of this, although it has been examined.  Where local authorities are using the Derelict Sites Act to put derelict properties on the register, they have been successful in using their CPO powers. Other local authorities that have not been proactive in this space or have not put notices on properties seem to use the excuse, in my view, that there is an issue with CPO in this country. If that were the case, Limerick would not be able to CPO the number of properties that it has, nor my local authority or some of the other good, notable examples around the country. Where it is working, it is working well. Where it is not working, I do not think it is as a result of deficiencies, but as a result of a lack of focus and co-ordinated effort by some local authorities in this space. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Derelict Sites"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_22","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Water Services","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_17","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_22.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  There is a request, which I have no problem with, that local authorities in the wider Dublin catchment area zone land for a large increase in the population and the number of dwellings. That needs infrastructure. However, given the tight budgets that local authorities operate with, will funding be provided, particularly through Irish Water, for the infrastructure required for wastewater and water supply? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  I appreciate the Deputy\u2019s question on water supply, wastewater systems and Uisce \u00c9ireann. Both our water and wastewater systems require substantial and sustained investment over a number of investment cycles to bring them up to the standard and quality required of a modern service to provide people with the necessary supports, ensure growth and build resilience in the face of climate change.  My Department is delivering a sustainable funding path to further enhance the ongoing significant improvements in our public water and wastewater services. Since its inception, Uisce \u00c9ireann has ramped up capital delivery capability for water services and infrastructure from a mere \u20ac300 million in 2014 to \u20ac1.4 billion as part of budget 2026. Under the national development plan, the Government is supporting Uisce \u00c9ireann with a record allocation of \u20ac11.7 billion in funding out to 2030. This funding will support the delivery of the wide range of projects in our cities, towns and regions required for housing delivery, safeguarding public health and the environment and, crucially, providing the capacity required to address the housing crisis in this country. This investment will deliver significant improvements in our public water and wastewater services and support improved water supplies right across Ireland, as well as a range of programmes delivering improved water quality in our rivers, lakes and marine areas, thereby making a significant contribution to addressing Ireland's needs.  Uisce \u00c9ireann has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. Therefore, the scope prioritisation and progression of individual projects are matters for Uisce \u00c9ireann, and are approved through its own internal governance structures. As Minister, I have no function in such matters. Uisce \u00c9ireann has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  Where does the responsibility lie? It needs to be clearer. There was a policy decision by the Department to zone these extra lands. In the case of Laois, as the Minister knows, substantial extra lands have been zoned in the last two weeks for an increase of over 8,000 houses, which will bring an increase of approximately 25% in the population in four or five years.  They cannot all be in Portlaoise. I understand, and I support it to solve the housing crisis, that we need to strengthen villages and smaller towns to provide an option for people to live in a village structure where they are close to pubs, shops, community centres and schools. This means upgrading the water system. Uisce \u00c9ireann earmarked four villages in Laois for its small villages and towns scheme. One has been done in Ballyroan and I welcome this but those in Borris-in-Ossory, Ballinakill and Ballybrittas have not. They were all earmarked by Uisce \u00c9ireann. Somebody needs to intervene to tell Uisce \u00c9ireann that these need to be upgraded. In the case of Borris-in-Ossory, 160 extra houses are planned for extra land. There are 56 planned for Ballinakill and 437 for Graiguecullen. These cannot be provided without the infrastructure. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  Deputy Stanley makes an important point. We are asking local authorities to rezone a significant amount of land to deliver additional housing. I encourage local authorities to complete this process. I am not happy with the time that many local authorities are taking in what is a housing crisis. I do not believe many local authorities have been treating it as such with the delays in delivering additional zoned land, which is essential to deliver homes and solve the housing crisis in this country so the houses can get built.  In relation to villages, we have introduced developer-led infrastructure to allow developers to be able to provide wastewater facilities in our villages, which is absolutely crucial. Deputy Stanley rightly points out using over the shop units. Using existing services and regeneration in our towns are also crucial.  With regard to Borris-in-Ossory, as Deputy Stanley is aware, Uisce \u00c9ireann commenced works to upgrade the Borris-in-Ossory wastewater treatment plant to support future growth and development, with works beginning in March 2026. This is a \u20ac4.1 million investment that will benefit homes. The works are expected to be completed in autumn 2027. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  I appreciate what the Minister has said about the ones being provided by developers. The T\u00e1naiste in reply to me said a lot will be provided by developers. It is okay if this can be done but the Minister and I know that Uisce \u00c9ireann is reluctant to take in charge infrastructure provided by developers. I can show the Minister an example in Laois which has been held up because of this. There has been a lot of back-and-forth with Uisce \u00c9ireann, local authorities and the Department on this. As far as I am aware, according to the most recent information I have, that nut has not been cracked yet.  The cases of Graiguecullen, Borris-in-Ossory, where I welcome the progress, and Ballinakill are all in the red. They have been labelled as red by Uisce \u00c9ireann in terms of wastewater; in other words, no development can take place. The lands and the extra houses in each of these areas that I mentioned are in addition to what is already under construction or what is already zoned. We need to strengthen our villages and towns. We cannot put everybody in Portlaoise. The Minister and Minister of State who visited Laois know what is happening with private, public and local authority housebuilding. They saw the figures for zoning in the plan two weeks ago. Laois is not behind the curve but we need input from the Government and Uisce \u00c9ireann. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  In terms of developer-led infrastructure, in any new process it will always be about who is going to be the first mover. When the first couple are delivered, others will see the pathway and move an awful lot more quickly. What we have said to Uisce \u00c9ireann, and it is doing this, is to work with local authorities and developers to try to get those first movers across the line as quickly as possible. This will then give confidence to other developers to follow suit. To be clear, these are not pilots - they are first movers. Any developer can move forward to provide these in local villages at the moment. That is happening with Uisce \u00c9ireann engaging with local authorities and developers. I am confident a number of these will come through. They have the support of the EPA. Deputy Stanley is right there is a reluctance in Uisce \u00c9ireann to take over legacy wastewater projects around the country, often because of the cost involved or legacy issues. These developer-led infrastructure projects have been worked out very carefully with the EPA and Uisce \u00c9ireann, which is why I believe there will be success and hand-holding at present to get the first few across the line. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Water Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_23","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Childcare Services","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_17","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_23","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maeve O'Connell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maeve-O'Connell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Maeve-O'Connell.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_23.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maeve O'Connell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maeve-O'Connell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Maeve-O'Connell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Maeve O'Connell  I would like an update on the review of the 2001 planning guidelines for local authorities on early learning and childcare settings. It is 25 years since they were set out and a lot has changed in our society, in our childcare needs and in best practice for childcare. Will the Minister of State provide an update on the review of these guidelines? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Cummins  I thank Deputy O'Connell and I also thank Deputy Currie for her work on this. The programme for Government sets out a number of priorities for Government on access to early learning and childcare services, including a commitment to review the 2001 childcare facilities guidelines for planning authorities to ensure childcare spaces are provided and put to use.  Further to the commencement of Part 3 of the Planning and Development Act 2024 in October 2025, provisions for national planning statements have been introduced to replace the provisions for ministerial guidelines issued under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000. The timing of the issuing of national planning statements is based on Government priorities.  The current childcare facilities guidelines for planning authorities, which remain in place until revoked or replaced by a new national planning statement, set out the methodology for calculating an adequate provision of childcare places and ensure consistency in the approach to the consideration of land use planning and development management aspects of childcare provision. These guidelines set out a guideline standard of one childcare facility providing for a minimum 20 childcare places per approximately 75 dwellings, as appropriate to the particular circumstances of each development. Consideration of childcare facilities provision should be raised as early as possible in preplanning discussions for larger housing developments.  National policy objective 41 of the revised national planning framework 2025 also supports the strategic planning and alignment of planned population and employment growth with educational investment, and prioritises the timely delivery of childcare facilities and schools on well-located sites, within or close to existing built-up areas, to support the development of sustainable communities. I know this is an area of utmost importance and we are working with other Departments on a review of it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maeve O'Connell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maeve-O'Connell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Maeve-O'Connell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Maeve O'Connell  As the Minister of State may be aware, and no doubt he is, the cost and availability of childcare are two of the biggest issues in our society. It is certainly an issue in Deputy Currie's constituency and it is very much an issue in my constituency of Dublin Rathdown as well. We have lost 64 providers out of core funding and, in Dundrum, the wonderful provider Once Upon A Time has also withdrawn from core funding. This is causing increased pressure on the system and highlights the challenges in the system. These guidelines date back over 25 years. We need to update them and bring them in line with the needs and demands of our local communities. Children have grown, gone to college, graduated and are having children of their own but the same guidelines are still in place. They are no longer fit for purpose and we urgently need them revised. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Cummins  I accept the points made by Deputy O'Connell. It is not just a matter of affordability but also of availability. As a new father who has started sending a child to cr\u00e8che in recent weeks I certainly know this. I acknowledge that the guidelines that have been in place since 2001 were a legacy of that time, when provision was attached to development. It is a cost on development. We do need to move, as I outlined, under national policy objective 41 to where it is more planned. This would be in line with what we do for educational facilities whereby where we have an existing community in a built-up area or a new community that will be developing, we would plan at development plan stage for adequate provision in terms of site-specific locations for childcare facilities of scale and not smaller piecemeal facilities that are often unviable for providers to take on board. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maeve O'Connell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maeve-O'Connell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Maeve-O'Connell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Maeve O'Connell  I am glad to hear about the nature of the viability of facilities because, unfortunately, one of the issues that is occurring is that as developments are put in place they provide facilities for childcare but it is often an empty shell. It is not necessarily fit for purpose for that particular community. We also have the issue, particularly in already dense urban areas where apartment developments are going in, of increasing the level of the local population when we do not have the childcare spaces to meet the demand of the existing population.  In growing urban areas, in particular, having 20 childcare places per 75 homes is something we need to look at urgently. We certainly need to look at it in the short term and, in the long term, we need to build some type of flexibility into the system, an adaptation over time, if perhaps we do not need as many spaces in future. For now, we do need to be moving to a more realistic ratio of childcare places to homes as we increasingly urbanise. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Cummins  The Department of Children, Disability and Equality has established a working group in this area. It is chaired by that Department, in conjunction with our Department and the Department of education. We are reviewing the situation, and all the various points made by Deputy O\u2019Connell and Deputy Currie to me over a considerable period of time will be factored into this review. We are also reviewing development contribution schemes. This may have a role in how we address additional development in established areas. It may be more appropriate where a childcare facility is already operating, expansion is required and there is room for such expansion, that the more viable option may be to have such contributions supporting expansion of existing facilities rather than building smaller, unviable and piecemeal facilities. All these factors will be considered in the round. I thank the Deputy for her interest. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Childcare Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_24","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_25","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Housing Provision","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_24","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_25","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_25.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Neville  My question concerns the key issue of housing and all the different types of infrastructure that go with it. I ask the Minister for the information on all the housing projects currently under construction in Kildare North and those expected to commence before the end of 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  I propose to take Questions Nos. 83, 106 and 169 together.  I thank Deputy Neville for raising an important question on housing projects currently under construction in Kildare North and those expected to commence before the end of 2026. My Department publishes data on residential commencement notices in each local authority every month. Commencement data shows commencement notices were lodged in respect of 2,099 new homes in May, more than double the 1,035 notices received in May last year. Commencement notices for 13,120 new homes were lodged from January to May this year, up 161% on the 5,033 notices received in the same period last year.  This progress is being mirrored across the country. In Fingal, some 1,623 commencement notices were lodged from January to May this year, over 11 times more than the same period last year. In Dublin city, 1,047 commencement notices were lodged, on par with the corresponding period in 2025. In Kildare, 439 commencement notices were lodged from January to May this year, up 40% on the same period last year. While it is not possible to predict when developments with planning permission will commence on site, some 1,406 planning permissions for new homes have been granted in Kildare in the last 12 months, to the end of quarter 1 of 2026, conveying an increasingly stable pipeline.  Increasing the supply of new homes is critical to alleviating pressures in the housing market, helping to moderate price growth and ease affordability challenges across the country, ensuring everyone has a range of housing options available to them, whether they want to buy a house, rent one, or are in need of social housing. In this regard, supply has increased significantly over recent years. Over the last five years, to the end of quarter 1 of 2026, almost 153,000 new homes have been delivered. This compares with 85,262 in the previous five-year period and just 29,278 in the five years before that. Delivering Homes, Building Communities seeks to build on this, and significantly accelerate delivery of new homes by focusing on activating land and creating the optimal environment to encourage housing activity, including regulatory reform, tax incentives and the largest ever capital investment in the history of the State, with \u20ac275 billion invested in infrastructure over ten years through the national development plan.  The Government is already implementing a host of actions to boost delivery. The recently revised national planning framework is a major step forward in this regard and will help to increase capacity and accelerate homebuilding across the country, while the new housing activation office, HAO, will work to address infrastructure barriers to housing delivery as a matter of priority. The HAO is taking a proactive and targeted approach to increasing housing commencements by focusing on the early identification and resolution of infrastructure constraints that can delay development and by co-ordinating investment across key delivery partners.  As part of this work, the Government launched the \u20ac1 billion housing infrastructure investment fund, HIIF, in January 2026, which is managed by the HAO and designed to ensure that essential enabling infrastructure is in place to unlock housing land. Under call 1 of the fund, I approved 82 projects last week. These projects have the potential to unlock land to deliver 86,000 new homes, with capacity for a further 113,000 homes over time. These projects range from local activation measures in towns and cities to larger strategic investments capable of supporting housing delivery at scale. The announcement I made last week represents the first step in building a pipeline of housing enabling infrastructure to support communities and housing delivery for many years to come.  Looking ahead, the housing activation office is actively developing future calls under the HIIF, building on the success of call 1 and strengthening the focus on strategic land banks and new communities aligned with public transport, along with broadening the range of delivery partners. Additionally, the Planning and Development (Amendment Act) 2025 is essential legislation to deal with expiring planning permissions and to encourage activation of housing. An enhanced Land Development Authority, LDA, is working to deliver more private housing, as well as social, affordable and cost-rental houses.  Increasing the number of new apartments being constructed is an essential component of the Government's housing ambitions, given the compact growth priority in the national planning framework. The new plan has taken decisive action to reduce the overall cost of apartment construction while increasing delivery in our urban areas. Budget 2026 introduced a suite of taxation measures aimed at stimulating the supply of new apartments, such as reducing the VAT rate on the sale of new apartments to 9%, and introducing an enhanced corporation tax deduction for apartment construction costs. My Department is also progressing the preparation of a draft national planning statement for the Government\u2019s consideration to replace the current apartment guidelines. The overall purpose is to strike an effective regulatory balance, ensuring that apartment development meets the needs of society in terms of standards and quality, while promoting an increased level of overall output. Sectoral feedback and preliminary data on planning permissions and commencements suggests that the sector is responding positively to the renewed environment for apartment delivery. My Department continues to systematically monitor investment, planning and commencement activity in apartments to examine the pipeline for new apartments and inform ongoing policy consideration in this area.  The programme for Government commitments relating to housing are well reflected in the new plan and, combined with the unprecedented level of investment the Government has committed, will bring about a very significant scale-up in the delivery of housing over the coming years, address the needs of the most vulnerable in our communities, make buying and renting homes more affordable and support the development of villages, towns and cities across the country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Neville  I thank the Minister very much for his response. I will go through the specific statistics relating to County Kildare afterwards. I thank the Minister for the information.  I welcome the announcement last week from the housing activation office and the Minister\u2019s team. I also welcome the infrastructure we have in Kildare. The new bridge in Celbridge is an issue I raised when I was a county councillor in the context of the local area plan, and I have been pushing for the funding to be delivered since being elected to this House. It has now been delivered under the housing activation office. We also have the Maynooth outer orbital route, MOOR, the inner relief road in Naas and the roads in Confey. These projects are extremely welcome.  On the other hand, I am also conscious that we are struggling with Uisce \u00c9ireann, from the network perspective, to deliver water infrastructure. This is the case out around Prosperous, Robertstown, Leixlip, Celbridge and Maynooth, where we see regular burst water mains. While we are pushing for new houses, and I welcome that, at the same time, the infrastructure has to be able to meet that demand. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  I agree with the Deputy. I thank him and all his Government colleagues for ensuring that County Kildare got a substantial amount of funding under the housing infrastructure investment fund that will, critically from the perspective of my Department and that of the Government, unlock housing. It will also, no doubt, help to unlock key community services as well. As the Deputy will be aware six projects in Kildare were approved. These include part of the Newbridge southern outer orbital relief road, the Naas northwest quadrant and canal quarter in Naas, the Naas inner relief road, the Captain's Hill upgrade in Confey, Leixlip, the Celbridge-Hazelhatch mobility corridor, and phase 1 of the MOOR at Crewhill in Maynooth.  The Deputy is also right, however, in relation to water infrastructure. In approving these types of funding under the housing infrastructure investment fund, we are using the housing activation office where we have Uisce \u00c9ireann and the ESB.  We are ensuring coherence such that where roads funding has been made available, we also have the electricity supply, water supply and wastewater treatment capacity to ensure housing is delivered in these key areas. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Neville  I thank the Minister. We are broadly aligned on infrastructure. The other key element of infrastructure is the social element, be it from a sporting perspective or related to the sports capital grants that will assist local sports clubs, and indeed local community groups, in which I am heavily involved.  Housing is about the delivery of infrastructure but also about the delivery of the associated strands, with which the Minister's team is currently heavily involved. Being from north Kildare and having been a councillor there for so long, it is the area I am most conscious of. The issue in Kildare speaks to many of the issues we all have, specifically on the eastern corridor but also in the growth areas in many major towns across the country.  The country is doing really well economically. It is very well run from a Government perspective, and we can see that. At the same time, however, we need to consider population growth and push, as the Minister is doing, towards further growth in housing and the infrastructure required. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  Again, I thank Deputy Neville for raising important issues in County Kildare, particularly north Kildare, with which he is most familiar. The key infrastructure projects announced under the housing infrastructure fund are critical. It is also about working with ESB Networks and Uisce \u00c9ireann to ensure all the required additional capacity is put in place so the community facilities raised by the Deputy, be they cr\u00e8ches, sports facilities, schools or healthcare facilities, can also be put in place. We must have a co-ordinated approach. We are very much doing that through the Housing Activation Office. That is very important. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Housing Provision"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_26","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Rental Sector","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_24","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_26","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_26.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  What are the Minister\u2019s plans to introduce measures to reduce cost-rental rents? Will he make a statement on this because cost-rental rents are too high and are locking thousands of people out of the rental market? The average rent for a three-bedroom house in Oscar Traynor Road is now \u20ac1,800. More and more applicants are being refused on affordability grounds. There are flaws in the model, which I will go into in my supplementary questions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  I thank Deputy Sheehan for raising what is an important issue, namely, measures to reduce cost-rental rents. The cost-rental model was first introduced under the plan Housing for All and it has been continued and significantly expanded under the new plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities. It is designed to provide secure, long-term homes for households on moderate incomes at rents that are significantly below private market levels.  The cost-rental support schemes in the new housing plan are key measures in seeking to address affordability challenges in the rental sector. This is why, under the new housing plan, the Government has committed to growing the provision of affordable cost-rental properties across the country.  What has been achieved in this area in the past number of years is significant. Cost-rental housing did not exist in this country five years ago. From a standing start in 2021, and because of the actions of this Government and the unprecedented level of funding provided in successive budgets, almost 6,000 new cost-rental homes had been delivered up to the end of last year and a substantial pipeline is currently in place. This is supporting people on moderate incomes who would otherwise struggle to afford rent to move into good quality homes at rents they can afford. It provides long-term security of tenure, provides a home and gives people who avail of the schemes a chance to plan for their future.  We are only getting started. I am not for one moment suggesting that we have done enough. We must do more. Clearly, we are not yet at the stage of supplying enough cost-rental homes to meet the demand. We have more work to do to ensure that units are made available at rental levels that remain affordable and sustainable. This remains a key challenge and one that is a priority for me and my Department.  While this is a real success story, I am not resting on my laurels. The homes that have already been delivered at heavy discounts to equivalent private rental market rates are meeting real demand, are incredibly popular and are providing much-needed secure and affordable homes in the rental sector. I am providing substantial funding to local authorities, the Land Development Agency and approved housing bodies to support cost-rental delivery. Since the introduction of the tenure in 2021, approximately \u20ac2.25 billion in departmental funding has been approved for cost-rental projects. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  I thank the Minister for his response. There are a couple of questions I want to ask. Has the Minister any plans in relation to all the fragmented subsidies that exist, like those related to the secure tenancy affordable rental investment scheme, STAR, and cost-rental equity loan, CREL, and the local authority funds. Does he have any plans to merge these?  I also want to ask about barriers to delivering cost rental at scale and whether consideration is being given to extending the repayment period of the CREL loan. This is something that has been raised with me by approved housing bodies, AHBs, because we have had incidents recently where some AHBs were pulling cost-rental developments. They are saying they are struggling because of the requirement for the rent to sit 25% below the market rate, yet rents are already high enough and need to come down. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  I thank the Deputy again for his question on cost rental. As I have already pointed out, approximately \u20ac2.25 billion in departmental funding has been approved for cost-rental projects since 2021. In addition, significant loan financing is being made available through the State's Housing Finance Agency. Also, the reduction of VAT on new apartments to 9% under budget 2026 is playing an important role in reducing costs. All of these supports lower the net cost of delivery, enabling more cost-rental homes to be delivered and ensuring more affordable rents for tenants.  My Department's funding comprises non-repayable grants, equity investments and long-term loans at very low interest rates, which enable rents to be set below full cost recovery levels. As a result, cost-rental homes can be provided at rents that are significantly more affordable and considerably lower than comparable rents in the private market. Cost-rental homes provide a significant saving for the tenant, and I am aware that tenants who benefit are very appreciative of both the rents and the security of tenure the homes provide. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  To push back on that a bit, while cost-rental rents are somewhat lower, being on average about 30% lower than rents in the private rental market, they are still far too high. A market rent in Dublin of \u20ac2,300 still means \u20ac1,725 a month.  Will the Minister consider the length of time AHBs have to repay the CREL loan? That will answer some of the issues they have. Furthermore, will he consider decoupling our cost-rental model from the open market down the line and tying it entirely to underlying financial costs of delivery by amending the 2021 Act? When building costs and long-term maintenance rise, rents set at 25% below market rate cannot generate enough revenue to cover the actual cost of housing. This has forced bodies to scrap projects. We need to move away from the explicit linkage between initial cost rents and prevailing market rates. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  Again, I thank the Deputy for his question. If you have a pure cost model, you will have very significant variations in what the cost-rental rent will actually be. We have taken the approach of trying to ensure consistency below market rent values. A 30% discount below market rent value is a significant deduction, albeit in circumstances where rent is high, which I acknowledge. However, if we decouple and go purely with a cost model, based on the cost of providing the apartments, we could have apartments beside each other that could have very different rents based on very different costings. In some cases, there could be a reduction in the discount. That would provide a level of inconsistency and a lack of equity in the approach. That is where we have taken the view and approach we have taken, setting the rent based on the market rather than the cost inputs. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Rental Sector"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_27","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Rental Sector","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_24","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_27","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_27.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  What measures is the Minister taking to address rent increases in Kerry? We recently saw a three-bedroom house in the town of Tralee with an asking price of \u20ac2,400 per month.  In the public sector, increased rents are being asked for by local authorities. However, because services have been stripped from the local municipal district, in houses 11 to 16 in Mountain View in Balloonagh Estate in Tralee, sewage is backing up and coming into the houses and the local authority does not even have a jetting machine to allow it to address the issue. It is reliant on contractors who are coming in from other areas to address the issue. That is not fair when people are continuing to pay their rents. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  I thank the Deputy for his question about addressing rent increases in Kerry. As he will know, the key to solving the housing crisis, which includes homelessness and high rents, is through increased supply. That is why the Government is providing record funding towards the supply of homes. It is also why we are taking emergency measures to address the delivery of homes.  We are also taking other measures. As the Deputy will be aware, under the housing infrastructure investment fund, we announced significant funding for County Kerry only last week for additional housing. My understanding is that those projects are shovel ready and will be ready to move quickly. The Lohercannon distributor road, L6715 Ashgrove Road and link road directly unlock lands for 450 residential units and indirectly unlock a further 788 homes, with an indicative cost of under \u20ac10 million. The Killarney strategic links and new transport link between the N22 Killarney and bypass and the R876 Park Road directly unlock lands for 500 residential units and indirectly unlock a further 581 residential units, at an indicative cost band of \u20ac10 million to \u20ac20 million. This shows our commitment to Kerry and to delivering additional houses in the county, not just through funding housing delivery but also ensuring the infrastructure is put in place, working with the ESB and Uisce \u00c9ireann, to ensure that the other capacity measures go through with it.  Affordability is central to the Government's housing policy under Delivering Homes, Building Communities, which targets the delivery of 300,000 new homes by 2030, including 72,000 social homes and 90,000 affordable homes. The Government is committed to tackling high rents and ensuring an increase in the supply, as I say, of affordable, high-quality rental accommodation through continued significant capital investment, including cost-rental, affordable purchase and social homes, in a manner that respects the security of tenure for renters by ensuring equity and fairness for tenants and landlords. On the topic of the delivery of more social homes, last year we built the highest number in the history of the State. That also frees up properties in the rental market to help control prices. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  There might have been the highest number built in the history of the State, as the Minister said, but it happened at a time when the population was way higher than it was in the 1960s and 1950s. The Minister said the answer is to increase supply but, unfortunately, what we have seen is an awful lot of extra houses in Adamstown and on the quays in Dublin. The supply in County Kerry is way behind. The result is that renters in Kerry have seen increases in the region of \u20ac3,000 annually, which is a 26% jump. It is a body blow for people whose rents are increasing when, unfortunately, their wages are not increasing by the same amount to match those increases.  If current tenancy trends continue, the average tenancy will be three and a half years, with 25% of tenancies being new each year. The vast majority of renters in the private sector will be swept into this market reset. The problem is that people in County Kerry are on waiting lists. They are waiting for supply for ten, 12 and sometimes 14 years. The town councils still have not been restored and the guaranteed increase in supply is not there. People are waiting and rents are increasing because supply is so low. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  I thank the Deputy. We are making significant funding available to increase the numbers of social and affordable housing. I encourage the Kerry local authority to maximise the use of the available funding to deliver social homes and affordable purchase homes across County Kerry. The Department will not be found wanting in supporting an increase in the supply of homes. The key to challenging high rents is, as I say, supply. That is not just the supply of private homes. We must also ensure that more social homes are built. As I say, that moves people who are availing of the housing assistance payment, HAP, for example, into social homes and frees up properties in the private rental market. That will help to address availability and affordability. All of these measures are interconnecting.  I am conscious that rents are too high. I am conscious that people are struggling to find properties to rent and that is why the Government is providing record funding to address the housing crisis not just on the east coast but in every county across this country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  Unfortunately, I have not heard the Minister say anything about what needs to be done. Does the Government have any plans to cut rents? Has it plans to ban increases or protect the renters who are faced with big rent increases? The Minister has not mentioned anything about students. They are going to have to pay the market rent from September. That is another tax on their education. We all know that Munster Technological University, MTU, in Tralee and other colleges around the country do not have the power to borrow and are not building their own accommodation, which could be more affordable.  The Minister mentioned the affordable homes scheme but there are practically no affordable homes in Kerry. It is ridiculous to talk about the affordable homes scheme in Kerry because there are none. There was practically zero emergency accommodation in 2011 but there are now huge amounts, catering for approximately 14,000 or 15,000 people. Since the town councils were abolished, there has been a concentration of emergency accommodation in Tralee, which is creating an imbalance.  Everywhere that the Government has tried to address housing it has made a hames of it, for people starting off in life and those at the end of their days in nursing homes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  We want Kerry County Council to provide more affordable purchase homes. The Department and Government would support it. Those homes are essential. I want everybody, across the spectrum, to be able to get the homes they need in their own local community, whether through private purchase, affordable homes or social housing. It is essential that everybody can access a home. Affordable purchase is essential for people who are on lower incomes but incomes that are above the social housing thresholds to be able to get that permanent home. I want the local authority in County Kerry to provide more affordable purchase. The Government is, as I say, providing record funding. We have built record numbers of social homes. We have also built a record number of cost-rental homes. All of this is about driving supply to address the crisis. Every home built helps to alleviate that, no matter what its tenure. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Rental Sector"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_28","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Housing Schemes","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_24","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_28","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tom Brabazon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_28.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tom Brabazon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tom Brabazon  I raise with the Minister the financial contribution scheme whereby local authorities acquire houses from over-60s at market value. In return, one third of the net proceeds of sale are given to the local authority and the senior citizens get a local authority unit and pay a differential rate on same. There are significant benefits for the economy and the overall housing situation. Those getting older who have empty nests get to offload significant responsibility and the cost of maintaining a house that has outgrown their needs. They usually move into a local authority senior citizens' unit which has the benefit of a liaison officer. Are there any plans to expand the scheme and put it on a statutory basis? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy Kieran O'Donnell)  I propose to take Questions Nos. 86 and 99 together.  I thank the Deputy for bringing up this important issue. I do not know if Deputy Boland is here.  The Government's new housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities, aims to deliver 300,000 new homes by the end of 2030, including 72,000 social homes and 90,000 affordable housing supports by the end of 2030. To achieve this, the largest ever housing budget in the history of the State has been secured in 2026, with in excess of \u20ac9 billion in capital funding through the Exchequer, the Land Development Agency and the Housing Finance Agency.  Delivering Homes, Building Communities includes measures which will increase delivery of housing for older people through increased delivery of social housing, increased delivery of more suitable homes, choice in private housing and increased choice to support voluntary rightsizing. Government is committed to increasing housing available to older people to facilitate ageing in place with dignity and independence, and to supporting rightsizing on a voluntary basis.  Delivering Homes, Building Communities also includes a commitment to develop an action plan on delivering housing for older people and this plan is currently under preparation. A number of local authorities are operating financial contribution schemes. However, these are non-statutory and there is no national scheme in place. In line with a commitment in the Delivering Homes, Building Communities, my Department is undertaking a review of the operation of existing local authority financial contribution schemes. Policy responses will be developed on foot of the findings of this review, which is currently under way.  The work under way at the moment is with the Housing Agency to advance a review of the financial contribution schemes operated by some local authorities.  As part of the Delivering Homes, Building Communities plan, which follows on from a commitment in the programme for Government, we have a specific action, that is, to review the operation of existing local authority financial contribution schemes. To advance that work, we have commissioned a body of work from the Housing Agency, which will specifically look at it. It will engage with the local authorities and come back to the Department with a report on this issue of financial contribution schemes.  Delivering Homes, Building Communities will also increase choice for older people who voluntarily right-size by advancing the availability of bridging finance to support right-sizing. As I already mentioned, this includes a review of the operation of existing local authority financial contribution schemes and supporting social housing tenants who wish to voluntarily right-size to more suitable accommodation. The Department is already progressing these actions to support older people who choose to voluntarily right-size, ensuring choice for older people seeking to move to more suitable accommodation or to right-size in place.  As part of the work being progressed, I am pleased to welcome the recent positive announcement by the Central Bank that it is amending the mortgage measures to exempt certain types of bridging loans from the loan-to-income limit that applies to lending for principal home purchases. This will assist in supporting voluntary right-sizing where older people choose to purchase a new home prior to concluding the sale of their existing home. I specifically met the Central Bank on a number of occasions with Department officials to ask it to look at this issue. It came back with this and I hope it will assist. In simple terms, if older people wish to move to a smaller, more suitable home of their choice and it becomes available prior to their home being sold, they will be able to apply to the banks for bridging finance and the issue of the loan to income ratio will not be a factor. It will be based on the asset and they will get the loan for up to 18 months, to allow them to move, if they wish to do so, on a voluntary basis.  From 2020 to 2025, the Department has provided almost \u20ac180 million of capital assistance scheme, CAS, funding for older people's housing, delivering a total of 592 units for older people, providing purpose designed, age-friendly homes. I look forward to Deputy Brabazon's response. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tom Brabazon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tom Brabazon  The scheme, as the Minister of State said, is non-statutory and it operates erratically. It is subject to funding being available in local authorities. Sometimes it is available and sometimes it is not and it is difficult as a public representative to be able to advise constituents who are in the over-60 age bracket on this, when the availability of the funding is intermittent and in some cases non-existent.  We are in a housing emergency. We should be putting the scheme on a statutory basis and resourcing it so it is available throughout the year. This would have the effect of providing an increased supply of available housing to the market, which is the stated aim of the Government and the Minister of State's Department. Along with the local authority and AHB supply of senior citizens' accommodation with planning for retirement villages, this could free up significant numbers of houses for private and social housing. This would help young couples to acquire freed-up housing. Therefore, I urge that whatever measures are being taken be expedited. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kieran O'Donnell  I thank the Deputy for his considered response. It is a matter he has raised and is committed to. The measure is in the programme for Government. It is a specific action under delivering housing for older people. I committed to doing work on that even prior to the action plan being finalised. A review is currently under way by the Housing Agency on behalf of the Department of the financial contribution schemes operated by local authorities. It will interact with local authorities and, once the review has been completed, the policy response will be developed in response to the findings identified in the research. I want to do it on a structured basis. I note the points the Deputy raised. It is a priority in the older persons section of Delivering Homes, Building Communities to look at the issue the Deputy raised. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tom Brabazon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tom Brabazon  I thank the Minister of State. I welcome what he said but I ask him and his officials to light a fire under it and get it moving as quickly as possible so the new policy framework can be delivered as quickly as possible. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kieran O'Donnell  Once again, I thank the Deputy for his contribution. A body of work is under way, as I stated, following on from defined actions under housing for older people section of Delivering Homes, Building Communities. We have committed to a review of the operation of the existing local authority financial contribution schemes and to have it as a real, evidence-based, substantive body of work. We commissioned the Housing Agency to look at it in great depth. As the Deputy said, some local authorities have been operating such a scheme, some have not and we want to look at it in the round. When we receive that research from the Housing Agency, we will consider it in depth in the Department. There is a reason it is in the new housing plan. It is because we want to look at it. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 87 to 90, inclusive, taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Housing Schemes"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_29","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Housing Provision","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_24","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_29","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_29.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan)  I thank the Deputy for the question. It is good to see some focus on housing delivery in the rebel county. Increasing the supply of new homes is critical to alleviating pressures in the housing market, helping to moderate price growth and ease affordability challenges, ensuring everyone has a range of housing options available to them, whether they want to buy a house, rent one or are in need of social housing.  Data on new dwelling completions are published by the Central Statistics Office, CSO, on a quarterly basis. CSO data show overall housing delivery in Cork has significantly increased in recent years. Some 3,722 new homes were completed in Cork last year, an increase of 5% year-on-year and the highest annual delivery since the CSO data series began in 2011. This momentum continued into the first quarter of 2026, with 1,047 new homes completed, up 45% year-on-year, and again the highest first quarter completion figure since the CSO data series began.  While the Department does not forecast new housing completions in any given year, delivery in 2026 is likely to be strong. The Department is monitoring any headwinds to ensure we buttress supply into 2027 and 2028 appropriately as new measures under Delivering Homes, Building Communities bed-in over 2026 to enable delivery of at least 300,000 new homes by 2030. We will do this by focusing on activating land and creating the optimal environment to encourage housing activity, including regulatory reform, tax incentives and the largest ever capital investment in the history of the State, with \u20ac275 billion invested in infrastructure over ten years through the national development plan.  The unprecedented level of investment the Government has committed will bring about a significant scale-up in the delivery of housing over the coming years, while also supporting the development of villages, towns and cities. While it is important to acknowledge the significant challenges ahead, it is equally important to highlight that a continued level of intensity of effort will be ongoing to reach the scale required to meet our shared goal of 300,000 new homes by 2030. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Burke  I thank the Minister of State. As the Minister of State will be aware, being from Cork, the reason I am raising this is that the number of new jobs being created in Cork is increasing every month and, therefore, the need for additional accommodation needs to be highlighted. We need to try to fast-track that housing. Cork City Council and Cork County Council are working hard with people making applications for housing and on developing and completing housing units.  In the areas outside the city, in the villages where there are challenges with sewage treatment, can some of those projects be fast-tracked so development can proceed? I am talking about such places as Courtbrack, Grenagh, Carrignavar, Glenville and Whitechurch. They cannot progress unless the services are available. What does the Department intend to do to highlight that issue? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan  I thank the Deputy. He makes a valid point on employment in the county, and it is a key challenge. If you take not just the tech and pharmaceutical sectors but also CUH, which is such a big employer, many of the incredible team of nurses, doctors and other staff need access to housing. That is a challenge we have to address but we are doing so. There are key ways that the Minister in particular has directed travel in the last number of months. The city and county development plans are being reviewed at the moment and going through their public consultation phase. That needs to accelerated so appropriate land can be zoned, and with that investment will come. The private sector is responding well to apartment buildings through the incentives there. Housing activation funding for Cork has been very generous.  On the question about villages and towns, Uisce \u00c9ireann, as far as I can see, is really building capacity and increasing investment in those villages and towns to deliver wastewater treatment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Burke  On the issue of sewage treatment in villages, we still do not have a clear plan from Irish Water as regards access to services, including water services. For instance, in Whitechurch lorry loads of water have to be brought in every day because there is a well servicing the housing units there and it is not able to deal with demand during the summer months. It is likewise with Courtbrack. There has been a boil water notice in place there since September of last year and there is no indication from Irish Water as to when that issue will be resolved. Again, the situation is that a well is servicing all the housing estates there. Is there any plan to have a direct link between the main water schemes in the city or county to service those areas? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan  I thank the Deputy again. He raises a very important and relevant point, especially for our smaller towns and villages. This is where, as I was saying at the end of my last contribution, the significant investment announced by the Minister of almost \u20ac12 billion under the national planning framework and national development plan will allow Uisce \u00c9ireann to build capacity with respect to personnel and the funding of major infrastructure projects as well. Outside that there is capacity and we have heard of recent developments on the developer-led infrastructure that will allow developers to put in place their own wastewater infrastructure, where appropriate or up to a certain number of houses. That is obviously to be done in close collaboration with the EPA to ensure there are no legacy issues there. That is an exciting development for a few reasons. It allows a lot of those villages and towns where wastewater treatment is at capacity to expand and see people move in, which is key. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 92 to 98, inclusive, taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 99 taken with Question No. 86. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 100 to 105, inclusive, taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No.106 taken with Question No. 83. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 107 to 114, inclusive, taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Housing Provision"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_30","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Local Authorities","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_24","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_30","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_30.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John McGuinness  I raise Kilkenny city and the status it has had since the 1609 charter, granted by King James, which established it as a city with a mayor. It survived Cromwell but it did not survive the recent local government legislation that reduced it from a city to a borough. That particular move has not worked fully for the citizens of Kilkenny city. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  I thank Deputy McGuinness for raising the very important issue of strengthening local democracy and also seeking the reconstitution of boroughs or corporations similar to the structures that existed previously. The Local Government Reform Act 2014 dissolved 80 town councils, which represented about 14% of the population, including Kilkenny Borough Council. A lot of these were their own separate legal entities and this gave significant strength and control to local authorities and also allowed people to have a very strong say in what was happening in their towns and cities. The previous town council system, it is alleged, also led to duplication in administration and electoral terms, something I think is questionable. Instead, the Act saw the introduction of 95 municipal districts representing 100% of the population in 25 of the 31 local authorities at sub-county level, while area committees would operate in the three city authorities of Cork, Dublin and Galway, and the three Dublin county authorities. These local areas, of course, are not councils. Each municipal district can include several towns and villages and their hinterlands, with local matters dealt with at a municipal district level and wider strategic issues decided at the county level. The result is an integrated administrative structure in each county that maximises operational efficiency while ensuring devolved decision-making throughout the county.  Nonetheless, the Deputy will be aware of my view and that of the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, that councillors have seen a reduction in their powers. We want to see a rebalancing of powers towards them to ensure they can hold the officials in our local authorities to account and can ensure their towns and cities are being delivered for in a fair and equitable manner. That is why the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, and I established the local democracy task force, which was a key commitment in the programme for Government, in July 2025. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John McGuinness  If the Minister asks anyone in Kilkenny city or, I am sure, in his town of Wexford, he will be told the best structure of democracy they had - in Kilkenny's case since 1609 - was the corporation or the borough council. The stripping of that title is depriving people of a pride they had in that office, the office of mayor and the office of those who were elected to serve the citizens of, in this case, Kilkenny. I am asking the Minister to go back to the drawing board and to understand that a seven-person borough committee as part of Kilkenny County Council replacing the borough simply does not function and removes a huge positive connection between a city and its administration and the people they represent. It is not good enough that that would not be revisited and re-established. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  We have given this considerable consideration on the local democracy task force. The Deputy is right that my town lost its council and it diminished the representation at the time. The local government task force was established to build on the considerable body of work previously undertaken by the AILG - which represents councillors - the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities and Seanad \u00c9ireann. The local democracy task force presented its final report to me on 4 March 2026 and the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, and I will be bringing this to Government over the coming weeks. This will strengthen our local democracy and the powers of our local councillors. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John McGuinness  I wonder who the task force asked. I am aware it asked elected representatives, possibly, for their input and view but what about the people who are demanding it - the citizens we say we represent here? They are demanding something very different, not just accountability and transparency, which much be improved. They are asking for direct access to local democracy where decisions are made that affect their lives. They are asking for direct input through their public representatives about budgets that are passed, which also affect their lives. They are asking that history be examined and that the place for the likes of Kilkenny city would be acknowledged and that the role it plays in the lives of the citizens of that city would be acknowledged. I hope when the Minister reviews that document he will review the public demand in Kilkenny for the status of a city. I hope he will also have an input in the decisions and reflect on what I have said. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  I agree that direct access to local democracy is absolutely essential and that is what the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, and I will be ensuring through the local democracy task force and our input. That connection will be reconnected through empowering our local councillors to hold the local officials to account. It will also mean that where representations are being made by local people, they can effect those changes and also be able to communicate those changes to people when they are happening.  We are fully in alignment in terms of re-empowering our local democracy by giving direct access to local democracies, local people and local councillors. Myself and the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, will achieve this through the local democracy task force and the implementation plan that will follow. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Is f\u00e9idir teacht ar Cheisteanna Scr\u00edofa ar www.oireachtas.ie. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Written Answers are published on the Oireachtas website. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Local Authorities"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_31","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions","counts":{"speechCount":20,"speakerCount":7},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_31","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sorca Clarke  The T\u00e1naiste knows only too well the saga of Children\u2019s Health Ireland, CHI. Children with scoliosis and spina bifida were left waiting years for care. In many cases, they never received it. There were unapproved, non-medical springs implanted in children\u2019s backs, hundreds of unnecessary hip operations and mismanaged waiting lists. These are the so-called Crumlin orphans, children with complex needs who were ignored by the system and left with poor care. Promises were broken time and time again. There has been report after report showing mismanagement, a lack of transparency and our most vulnerable children being failed. Some reports have been published, some have been leaked but more are hidden or buried. Too often, families were the last to know, finding out through the media instead of from CHI. Broken promises have led to preventable deaths, lifelong harm, injury and disability. Trust between families, advocates and the system could not be lower. It is completely shattered.  The T\u00e1naiste\u2019s own broken promise that no child would be left waiting more than four months for scoliosis surgery is a very painful memory for these families. There are still 30 children waiting longer than six months for surgery, and the waiting lists are just as long as they were a year ago. It is because of those litanies of failures that families and advocates demanded an independent statutory inquiry, something the Government agreed to. We hoped it would be child centred, that families would be equal partners and there would be no hiding place for wrongdoing. This is what families and advocates say they were promised by the Minister and the T\u00e1naiste.  A group representing over 900 families affected by the scandals at CHI has raised serious concerns about the scoping exercise to determine the terms of reference. Despite promises from the Government that the truth and their children would be put first, advocates now say the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, has not remained true to her word and the process thus far has been anything but child centred or based on the needs of the families involved. They say documents are being hidden from them and unpublished reports are to be excluded. They say they are being stonewalled by a Minister who has not responded to their concerns. Families and advocates want one thing: to uncover the truth of what happened to their children and make sure it never happens again. That is something we should all want. There should be no hiding places, no fear of what may come out and no resistance to working with families and advocates.  This inquiry must be about truth, accountability and transparency. Any fit-for-purpose inquiry must also fully include families. It must have their faith and confidence. We can have that child-centred inquiry. It is not beyond us to get this right but it means the Government must listen to these advocates who have campaigned tirelessly for over a decade for their children and shown us the way forward. The only way to build trust is to work genuinely and in collaboration, with full openness and no attempt to limit, conceal or control access to information. The only motive should be to support these families and their children to establish the facts. My question today is simple: will the T\u00e1naiste listen to these families? Will he act on their concerns and make sure they can trust that this inquiry will not just become another broken promise? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Clarke for raising this important issue. At the outset, everyone on all sides of this House recognises the significant challenges, stress and worry that families face when they have a sick child, and the very significant challenges families face in relation to paediatric spinal services. There has been and continues to be ongoing additional investment in this area. A total of \u20ac30 million has been allocated to help tackle spinal waiting lists, including a ring-fenced theatre, additional orthopaedic surgeons, improved GP referral pathways and additional outpatient clinics. Indeed, I saw that a total of 556 patients attended Saturday clinics since the beginning of 2025. Opening up access at weekends is an important reform. When it comes to outpatients, we see now that the average wait time has fallen to 4.4 months, compared with 7.7 months in May one year previous. A total of 99.2% of patients are now waiting less than 12 months for their outpatient appointment. When we look at inpatients, 200 inpatient procedures have been completed so far this year and the average wait time has fallen from 5.3 months in May 2025 to 4.6 months in May of this year. The Deputy is entirely correct, however. The Minister and I, as well as everyone in the Government, knows there is a lot more that we want and need to do in this area.  There has been a number of concerning revelations over a sustained period of time in relation to CHI. That is why the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, has correctly taken the decision on the direction of travel in terms of replacing and subsuming CHI into the HSE. That is good from a governance point of view. It is an important step to take. The Minister has the full support of all in the Government in that regard. That is an important factor with regard to the issue of trust the Deputy raised. I accept that as well.  We have also seen recently the work the Minister and the former CEO of the HSE commissioned, whereby audits are to be carried out on waiting lists and concerns in this regard. We saw that published very recently. One of the things that is most striking when reading those audits is the poor communication time and time again. We agree fully with the Deputy that, often, issues in the health service can be added to or amplified by poor communications and families not feeling that they are at the centre of the information flow. That is why I welcome the Minister\u2019s decision to ask CHI to put in place a patient co-ordinator. So much can be improved when there are good, open and transparent lines of communication. I think the Deputy referenced that in her question.  The Minister and I have had sustained engagement with advocate groups. The Government agreed to establish a scoping inquiry. It is important for that work to be carried out. The eminent Mr. Remy Farrell SC has been appointed to do that work. He has been engaging with families, advocacy groups and consultants. I know he wishes to conclude that work shortly. The Government will also want to balance that with making sure that everyone has the opportunity to have their say and engage with him. I encourage everyone to engage. I say that respectfully. We have appointed an eminent and serious senior legal figure, without prejudice, in order for people to engage in that process and have their views heard. That will play an important role in shaping the terms of reference and the next step.  We all want the same thing, Deputy. We all want a situation where we have an inquiry that can examine the issues that have arisen and, as the Deputy said, ensure they do not arise again. We all seek to build a health service that can serve the needs of all of our children. We have that structure in place. The Government is committed to it. Mr. Remy Farrell SC is very committed to doing a good job. I encourage everyone to take the opportunity to have their say and input. The Government will respond in kind. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sorca Clarke  What I find striking is the letter from the spina bifida and hydrocephalus paediatric advocacy group that states clearly, \"We feel we have no other option but to withdraw from this scoping exercise\". I find that deeply concerning. Trust is not built on promises; it is built on keeping them. These families were promised a child-centred, codesigned inquiry. Today, they say very clearly that promise has been broken. If the Government has nothing to hide, then let it hide nothing, honour the commitments that were made to these families and publish every unpublished report.  Every document and every unanswered letter sends the same message to these families that protection of the system matters more than uncovering the truth. Give families access to all the Children's Health Ireland, CHI, reports so that they can at least engage effectively. Let them see what happened. Let them see the truth and how it is that this came about because otherwise the T\u00e1naiste cannot say that this will never happen again. They want this to never happen again. It is not too late to do the right thing. This is one issue where the T\u00e1naiste needs to hold to his promises. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  To be clear, the Government is fulfilling its commitment to this House and the decision that it took to appoint Mr. Remy Farrell SC to carry out a scoping inquiry. There are a number of advocacy groups. There may be eight advocacy groups in this space in relation to children's paediatric spinal care and many are engaging with Mr. Farrell SC. I would encourage genuinely everybody to engage without prejudice to provide information, ask questions and raise concerns that they would like Mr. Farrell SC, as an independent external senior legal figure, to consider and to report back to Government. That is a good way to proceed.  We also extended the terms of reference to include the hip dysplasia group. This is not a question of Government. This is a question of getting to the answers in terms of CHI, the legitimate and important issues that people have highlighted so that the Minister is then empowered to take the appropriate decisions that she wishes to take to deliver a world-class children's health service, with a new national children's hospital, with all the additional resources going into children's health and with the reforms that she is leading on and the benefits we are seeing now around those additional resources, such as the Saturday outpatient clinics and the likes. We want everybody to engage here in good faith with Mr. Farrell SC. We want to make progress on this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  Last week I raised with the T\u00e1naiste serious concerns about breaches of the public-only consultant contract in the Rotunda, Cork University Maternity Hospital and University Hospital Galway. I acknowledge the excellent work done by my colleague, Deputy Rice, exposing these systemic breaches - breaches that pose a risk for public patients.  A quarter of all work carried out a Galway University Hospital lab comes from the private hospital, Bon Secours. This extra work is overwhelming the system to the point that samples are being outsourced to private labs. This is done at enormous expense to the taxpayer. Due a service level agreement between Bon Secours and University Hospital Galway, private work is being washed through the public system. The taxpayer picks up the bill.  I raised the significant and dangerous delays this is causing for public patients in the D\u00e1il last week. A statement released by hospital management has since confirmed that there is a backlog of 3,449 samples waiting to be tested. These delays are not abstract. They involve people waiting for cancer diagnosis, people whose lives depend upon timely results, people who cannot afford to be pushed down a queue because 25% of the laboratory's workload is taken up by work from a private hospital.  These consistent delays resulted in the laboratory losing accreditation from the Irish National Accreditation Board. The lab does not meet nationally set guidelines for turnaround times despite the Trojan work of its dedicated staff. Galway University Hospital lab is one of the biggest in the country and in a major cancer centre and yet it has no official accreditation.  The Department of Health and HSE officials we in the Joint Committee on Health yesterday. The CEO of the HSE told my colleague, Deputy Rice, that they were completely unaware of the service level agreement between the hospitals. It is a remarkable statement from the very top of the health service. It raises serious questions about the scale of the issue and how many of these service level agreements are violating the public-only contract.  These contracts were signed in 2023 and were meant to be fully enforced by January of this year. Their entire purpose was to put an end to this kind of behaviour. Instead, we are discovering breach after breach and there is no evidence of any proactive monitoring from the Government to enforce this contract. My questions are: why has University Hospital Galway not immediately stopped this breach of the public-only contract? Is this happening in any other labs across the country? What has the Government done to check? What system has been put in place to ensure full implementation of the public-only contract? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy O'Callaghan for the question. I acknowledge this is an issue he has been rightly pursuing in this House for a period of time. The Deputy commended his colleague, Deputy Rice, the Cathaoirleach of the Oireachtas health committee. Deputy O'Callaghan will understand and appreciate I want to commend my colleague, the Minister for Health, because while I agree sometimes with Deputy O'Callaghan's analysis in terms of the destination we want to get to, it would be unfair to say that we have not seen an extraordinarily proactive approach from the Government since the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, took office. The Minister has shown very clearly to anybody down the back who did not hear that when you sign on the dotted line we expect you to do what you signed up to do.  The public-only contract holders are not permitted to engage in private practice within public hospitals. This position is unequivocal. There are to be no exemptions, no arrangements or no deviations. We would not accept it from anybody else working in the public service. If you sign a contract and you take the extra salary, you fulfil the terms of your contract. It is as simple as that. If you do not wish to sign the contract, that is also fine but you cannot have this each-way bet, as if to say, \"I will sign the contract, take the extra salary, and make me pure but not just yet.\" That is very simple. It is the Government policy. The Minister intends to implement it in full. It is, largely speaking, the policy of the Oireachtas across parties because, of course, it originated from the work of Sl\u00e1intecare.  I genuinely welcome, as does the Minister, the work being done at the Oireachtas health committee. It is helpful. It was very helpful in relation to the Rotunda. I believe, possibly next week, the committee may be due to see the Rotunda again and the HSE. That is a helpful opportunity for people who work for the public to outline the process that they are undertaking.  The Deputy used the word \"violating\". I can understand why but I would make the point that we are seeing the reform agenda being implemented here. What we are seeing now is getting to the phase of full implementation of the contract. I accept that the Government would have liked to gave seen us at this point earlier. The Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, has prioritised this since taking office.  Shortly the Cabinet Committee on Health is meeting with the clinical directors in each of the regions - the top doctors who are paid additional salaries to make sure this happens. The Taoiseach, the Minister and I will want to hear directly what is happening. There are also a number of regional meetings taking place across the country.  We are not for turning on this. The Minister made that clear. We are extraordinarily serious about this and health policy set in this building and in Miesian Plaza on Baggot Street, not set anywhere else. I hope everybody now working in the health service understands that fully.  In relation to the specific issue in University Hospital Galway, the Deputy is right that there is an issue here. The issue here is there is a histology laboratory in Galway. It processes on average 13,200 samples per month. The lab has been recently experiencing periods where demand exceeded available staffing resources and this resulted in a backlog of samples. The HSE has confirmed that urgent referrals will always be priorities. Samples are processed according to clinical priority but it has also advised now that the long-standing service level agreement that is in place with the local private hospital, the Bon Secours, to provide lab service is due to terminate this year. I think it may be due to terminate in September but it is certainly due to terminate this year. That is also an outworking of the reform agenda that the health service is currently undergoing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  The question I am asking here is: what exactly is the system to monitor and ensure full implementation of the public-only contract? Clearly, there is a number of breaches around the country. They are arising one by one. What system has the Government in place to ensure this contract is being enforced?  In relation to Galway, the T\u00e1naiste seems to be okay with the situation that this breach will continue for a number of months. The contract was signed. It was put in place in 2023 and meant to be fully enforced and fully implemented by January of this year. That has not happened. The breaches are continuing. Is the T\u00e1naiste okay with them continuing until later this year? Should the public-only contract not be enforced now? Is the situation where the management of the hospital is telling consultants on the public-only contract to continue to do private work where they have a backlog and where people's tests are being delayed? People are not getting the results in a timely fashion. The lab has no longer got national accreditation because it is not meeting the targets. That is not acceptable. Does the T\u00e1naiste agree that is not acceptable and the public-only contract needs to be adhered to now, not later in the year? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I fully agree with the Deputy. Let me be clear that the HSE has confirmed that any additional payments to consultants on that public-only consultant contract, POCC, contract relating to the service level agreement ceased at the start of the year. There are some consultants who do not work on a public-only consultant contract. It is important in winding down a long-standing arrangement and an agreement that that is done in a safe manner and that is the intention. However, it is ending because we are pursuing Sl\u00e1intecare. We are pursuing the public-only consultant contract. We are creating a public health service. The Minister for Health does not have responsibility for private health. She has a responsibility for delivering a world-class public health service. That is what we all want to do.  There is a number of activities under way. We have had the HSE audit from the last year. We have had the Minister putting in her own regional structure, engaging on a three-monthly basis in terms of each region over and over again, and the progress we are making as well. The Minister has also asked everyone in this House for their support.  She is working in partnership with the committee, which is a formidable combination and that needs to continue. I and the Taoiseach fully support these efforts, as does all of Government, and we look forward to meeting with the regional clinical directors too.  On a positive note, we have seen benefits with the public-only consultant contract already, whether that is the cardiology clinics on a Saturday and Sunday in Connolly Hospital, a Saturday hub in St. Vincent's hospital, weekend consultant cover in Wexford General Hospital, a minimum of 26 consultants now rostered at weekends in University Hospital Waterford, and the progress in Kerry, St. James's and Mullingar hospitals. We are seeing the benefits. This is a reform agenda. It is one the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, is going to drive and it will make a big difference. We want to work in support with everybody across this House to get to where we need to. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  \"Isolated often at home, [my] child sees me constantly stressed and budgeting\/worrying about bills and arrears and going without [the] basics.\" Those are the words of one parent from the Barnardos cost of living survey published this week. One in five families is cutting back on food due to the cost of living. Nearly half have skipped meals or reduced portions so their children would have enough to eat - in a rich country. Thirty per cent felt that at some point, they did not have enough food to feed their children. Some parents said, \"Food for myself, I'm having to go without\" and that the \"Amount of food we buy had been significantly cut\". I could go on.  Today, we have more bad news for families up and down the country. The ESRI has warned that food prices will rise even higher because of second-round effects from the Iran war. Families already struggling will be hit again with higher energy bills and higher grocery costs in the autumn and winter. As the T\u00e1naiste will know, electricity bills are rapidly rising, with an 8% hike from Electric Ireland in July, which is an extra \u20ac140 a year on average family bills. Flogas plans to increase its prices by 10% and we have already seen PrepayPower up its prices in May. The Government has nothing to offer on energy costs, not since it bought its way in the last election.  I could ask the T\u00e1naiste what the Government has done to ensure lower food, energy and grocery prices, but the truth is it is a big fat nothing. There has been lots of talk about competition and the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, CCPC, but nothing of substance has been done. Looking at last year's budget, we can recall what the Government did not do. There was no indexation of income taxes, no energy credits, no increase in children's allowance and there was a cut to one-off cost-of-living payments. PAYE workers and hard-working families were mogged - mogged by burger barons and the highly profitable hospitality sector.  The T\u00e1naiste's Government made the choice to give them a VAT cut, and we know where the T\u00e1naiste's focus has been for much of the past week. It has been on giving the red carpet treatment to influencers who came to the Department to talk to him about his wealth account plans. This contrasts with the carpeting received by PAYE workers in last year's budget. Let us not forget the endless reports and meandering to the media by various Ministers on inheritance tax cuts, when all the while parents are focused on feeding their children and making sure they do not go hungry.  Temperatures are rising, but so are prices. What will the T\u00e1naiste do practically to help lower food prices? Next week, the lower VAT rate kicks in and tourists will be arriving from all around the world to eat in our restaurants, which is a good thing. We will have EU diplomats from across member states descending on Dublin and having their takeaway coffees. Families who can afford to might be going out to get a burger this summer, if the good weather continues. Will they be paying lower prices? Will the T\u00e1naiste directly call on the hospitality sector to commit to passing on the VAT cuts he is about to introduce, through lower prices for customers across the country? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Deputy Nash really does not like burgers, but we will get to that in a second.  This Government has taken a number of actions in endeavouring to assist people. We should remind ourselves that in the country we live in, there are over 2.8 million people who got up and went to work this morning - the highest number ever. Figures from the CSO show the average weekly wage is now over \u20ac1,000. Yes, we are living in a time of huge global uncertainty but, thank God, we have resources as a country to intervene. The Deputy asked what the Government did to assist people with fuel and the likes. We delivered the largest or second largest package in the entire European Union for direct assistance. This did not just help specific sectors, although it helped them too. It helped hauliers, farmers, farm contractors and people working in road transport. It helped everyone going to work who needs to put petrol or diesel in their car but it also, and I have made this point before, reduced inflation by 0.6% per month on what it would have been. The cost of food would have been 0.6% higher, from an inflationary point of view, in Dunnes, Tesco, SuperValu and shops in Louth, were it not for the package the Government put in place. That cannot be overlooked. That is not my view; it is the view of the chief economist and the economic analysis of the package we put in place.  We increased the fuel allowance and, next week, something else is happening that is not just VAT being reduced. The carer's allowance is being expanded. There will be thousands of carers receiving the reduced rate of the carer's allowance who might now qualify for the larger rate, and there will be some who do not currently get carer's allowance who will qualify for the first time ever. That is happening next week.  As the Deputy knows, we also introduced the largest ever increases in child support payments, with over 330,000 children benefiting from these increases. The national minimum wage has increased since 2020 by 40%, from \u20ac10.10 per day to today's rate of \u20ac14.15. We have also reduced people's VAT to 9% on gas and electricity bills. We have reduced college fees and brought in free hot school meals, free schoolbooks, free GP care for under-eights, and we have extended the back-to-school footwear and clothing allowance to preschool for the first time ever. This Government has taken several actions to help people.  However, the decision to reduce VAT in the hospitality sector is a very important one, and do not forget the hairdressers----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  I did not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  -----with \u20ac48 million being the cost for hairdressers - the beard trimming. This will benefit. There are over 150,000 people working in the hospitality sector and, I will be very honest, this is not about reducing the cost of a cup of coffee. I am not going to lie to anybody here; it is not about that at all. This is about supporting employment. It is about saying to the coffee shop owner, restaurant owner and pub that might do a lunch in rural Ireland that we are helping them by reducing their tax bill because they are helping us in providing employment.  The Deputy mentioned the old beef barons or burger barons or whatever you call them. CSO data shows that 99% of those working in food catering and accommodation are SMEs, and half of those are microenterprises that have less than ten employees. This is an initiative that will disproportionately benefit rural and regional Ireland, small businesses and microenterprises. It is the right decision. I look forward to standing with coffee shop owners, caf\u00e9 owners, hairdressers and restaurateurs to say we took this decision to support jobs. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  I thank the T\u00e1naiste for going through some of his greatest hits in recent years, but the question is what will be done for working people this year? The T\u00e1naiste has acknowledged that as a result of the untargeted VAT cut for the hospitality sector, PAYE workers had to go without indexation last year, which means more of the money they earn this year - the small increase they get from their pay increase - will by and large go to the taxman. The T\u00e1naiste said earlier in the House that this was wrong and the Government has to make up for that. However, with all the promises made over the past few weeks by various Ministers going through the media rounds, the tax package for this year seems to be already swallowed up.  The T\u00e1naiste and I have a difference in opinion on how we can best support the small caf\u00e9s and restaurants around the country that we need to support. This expensive blunt instrument is not the way to do it. The way to do it is to introduce targeted energy supports and reform the outdated commercial rate system to address some of the structural cost issues in our SMEs across this country. A blunt instrument like this that is costly and will disproportionately benefit franchises and big chains is not the way to do it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I said to the Deputy earlier, and I am happy to say it again, that I do not doubt his bona fides or that of his party in wanting to support small businesses. I do not doubt that at all. We just have a different policy approach to this. I also made this point, and I will make it again, that we had an election. In that election, I stood in coffee shops, restaurants, pubs that served food and hotels, and I said to people that if they voted my party back into Government, and the Fianna F\u00e1il party did the equivalent, we would reduce their VAT rate. It was a promise we made to people right across this country and is a promise we are delivering on - promise made, promise kept, promise delivered. It is a permanent reduction in costs and taxes on employment that specifically impacts regional and rural Ireland, small businesses and microenterprises.  The Deputy knows well what we are thinking of doing in the next budget. We will have the summer economic statement next month, which will outline the amount we will have for additional spending and will allocate the amount we will have for a tax package. There will also be a personal income tax package. I believe we need to look at the budget in the round. Tax can do some things, which it should. There are too many people paying the higher rate of tax at too low an entry point, but there are other things we can do on the spending side to structurally reduce costs families face, including workers. The Deputy referenced childcare, which would be an obvious area too. We will be going through the budget and looking at that. The summer economic statement will be the next chance we will have to take stock next month. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I thank the T\u00e1naiste for that. I wish to welcome a group of students from Trinity going into their third year, who are accompanied by a very special member of Senator Sharon Keogan's family. I wish them well in their day here in Leinster House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  I am sure the T\u00e1naiste will join me by offering his sympathies and the sympathies of the Government on the passing of Sr. Colette Hickey, who passed away at the age of 108. She was the founder of Edel House Cork and the first winner of the 1993 Cork Person of the Year Award for the tremendous work she did for our city.  This week, we have reports in the press of 265 people aged 65 or older living in emergency accommodation. A total of 146 of them live in Dublin alone. These are men and women who should be well settled into their retirements, not sleeping in hostels and hubs. It is not long ago that I brought up in this House a case in Mallow in my constituency, where we have a lady approaching 80 years of age who has been placed in homeless accommodation far from her network, neighbours and everybody who she associated with through her lifetime. Unfortunately, that is not an isolated case. This is just one of the human faces of the figures that I have given this House.  It is not the first warning that this Government has received. In January, the Simon Communities of Ireland, working with the Simon Community Galway, published a report a report on homelessness in later life. It found that old age homelessness had doubled in the past five years. It found that the assumption of older people owning their own homes or being in secure tenancies was no longer a reflection of the reality of the State. More often, it struck me that many of these people are in private rented accommodation with rapidly rising rents, watching their own security that they spent a lifetime building disappear in front of their eyes. Uachtar\u00e1n Connolly attended the launch of that report in Galway. She said it shines a spotlight on the growing number of older people experiencing homelessness, and particular attention should be given to the recommendations. When the President of Ireland says that this needs to be looked at, surely the Government and this House should pay attention to that.  The report sets out six clear costings in its policy recommendations, namely, stronger national leadership, better legal protections, increasing resources for homeless services, and a targeted strategy for expanding age-friendly housing. In fairness to it, that is not a radical ask. They are basic and achievable steps by any Government, I would have assumed. The report's authors said that Ireland has a window of opportunity to act before it becomes entrenched. Five months have passed since its launch and the numbers have not improved, as I laid out. The lady in Mallow is not the only one in homeless services, living at a homeless hub at the moment.  This is not being treated as a priority by the Government. We seem to have a problem in this State where we look at elderly people and think it is someone else's problem. How many of the six recommendations in that report has the Government adopted? Will it publish a timeline? Is the Minister for housing delivering on them? Has the report been welcomed by the Government publicly but shelved privately? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I join Deputy O'Flynn in extending my sympathy to the friends, family and fellow sisters of Sr. Colette Hickey. What an incredible age and, indeed, an incredible life of service and impact on people, particularly in Cork. Ar dheis D\u00e9 go raibh a hanam d\u00edlis. I thank the Deputy for extending his sympathy to her in the House.  I thank Deputy O'Flynn for raising this issue. I do not dispute that it is serious. One reason we decided that for the very first time the Minister of State with responsibility for older people should be based in both the Department of Health and the Department of housing is the recognition that we cannot just have conversations about older people from a policy perspective in the Department of Health. We also need to have conversations about health and well-being in the context of housing. The Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, is committed to this agenda and working extraordinarily hard on this. Compared with the previous one, the last census showed the scale of the challenge here. The Deputy is right to highlight that the number of people over the age of 65 renting had increased by a very significant amount.  There is a real policy issue here, which I do not doubt. That is why this year we will be producing a specific housing plan for older people. I will give the Deputy a flavour of some of the issues that we believe need to be addressed. Rightsizing is an important issue and the Department of Finance, with the Central Bank, has put in place a change to the bridging finance rules regarding access to mortgages, which is important for older people who need to rightsize for their own quality of life and health, and want to live in their own community. Not being prohibited by rigid mortgage rules is a positive development. It is why some of the tenancy protections are important, being able to provide six-year tenancies for people rather the uncertainty we have had in our country before. That is why we also need to work specifically with older people on social housing targets for every local authority, and in the new plan, we will be. I do not say this to be critical of Cork. In fact, it is a positive. A city like Cork could really help to lead the way here by becoming a local authority that decides to set targets. There is nothing to stop any local authority from doing this today but we will be mandating it as part of our plan for every local authority to set targets for the number of older people's homes they will deliver each year. Any of us who have been involved in public life have seen what used to happen in the past, where small clusters or estates of homes used to be developed for older people and-or people with a disability. I am not being critical of anyone but that stopped for a while and we need to really revamp and rebuild that.  We need better data collection processes regarding older people. We need our local authorities to enhance delivery through improved site identification, working closer with the approved housing bodies too. We need to and will recognise in the plan the increasing number of older people renting in the private rented sector and examine those affordability challenges for older people approaching retirement in the sector and how we, as a Government, need to help to address those challenges. We will be back as soon as possible this year, with our housing plan for older people. We will encompass these issues in that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  I am looking forward to meeting Valerie O'Sullivan, our city chief executive, and informing her that the Government will make moneys available for housing plans for older people. There is another elephant in the room which I want to make the Government aware of, that is, people who lost their houses back in the 2008 to 2009 period. They are now in rented accommodation and back on their feet. Some of them have restarted businesses. Some of them are back working but they are renting. A number of these people are rapidly approaching 65 now. I predict that there will be a tremendous increase in people approaching local authorities throughout the country, saying they can no longer afford the \u20ac2,300 rent and need to be on a local authority housing list. I predict that will be a huge problem facing this country. I do not think we are accounting for it, thinking about it, or planning for it. Losing your home in your 70s is not just a housing problem. It is a health, mobility and routine problem, and people certainly lose their dignity when they lose their home at that age. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I largely agree with the Deputy's analysis. We are still seeing the scars of that financial crash, where people who lost their home at a certain age are now ageing. We have to be prepared. That is one of reasons we are doing a specific body of work led by the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, which will come to Government shortly. Alongside the reasons the Deputy pointed out, we are also seeing a significant increase in life expectancy, which is largely a good thing for society, but also a change in our demographics. We are expecting that the population aged over 85 will increase by over 140% in Ireland by 2040. There is very significant demographic churn. We are still one of the youngest populations in Europe but we are ageing fast. We are very committed to acting on this. We allocate a lot of money to local authorities. I would say respectfully that all of them need to start showing creativity with regard to the type of housing they are delivering, including homes for people with disabilities and homes for older people. Social housing is used as a kind of umbrella term. We need to start looking at the types of social housing that are required and that mixed tenure. I would be happy to meet Cork City Council about that at any time. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_32","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 na Comhalta\u00ed Eile - Other Members\u2019 Questions","counts":{"speechCount":10,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_32","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  As we are all in here in our suits, sitting on these leather chairs, the weather outside is gradually getting better, and people in my constituency will be going to the beach. Four young people from my constituency, 17-year-old Aoibheann Conlon, Laura Daly, and brothers Ois\u00edn and Gavin Weadick, Clontarf Sea Scouts, saved the life of a swimmer recently who was struggling to swim. I asked the Taoiseach to meet them and I am asking the T\u00e1naiste if he will meet them because these young people represent an issue, the uncomfortable truth that they were better prepared than we were to save someone's life. We know we are going into the best weather. We have the data to show that it is coming. The current swimming period is set monthly by the councils.  When we know the weather is going to be good, we need to have lifeguards on the beach. Tragically, last month, there was the loss of the life of a teenager on Burrow Beach in Howth. There was not a lifeguard on duty as they are not funded. We need to have more reactive lifeguards across Ireland and to be better prepared.  There were 80 drownings in 2025 and there have already been 33 this year. The UK, a country with 12 times our population, recorded 193. That is not comparable. It is not acceptable but it is fixable. A thousand swimmers and families across my constituency signed a petition last year calling for better services. We have seen a lot of investment but we need more.  With water safety comes water quality. Yesterday we had statements on it. The issue is that the EPA's report is showing that urban wastewater incidences are frequent and are causing bathing water closures. We are relying on water testing that is days old. However, real-time monitoring is standard across Europe in countries like Denmark. We need to be proactive rather than reactive. That cannot be a political soundbite. It needs to be put into action.  Thousands of people will go to Howth this weekend. The T\u00e1naiste saw the recent videos of people queuing outside the DART station. It was like they were queuing to see Santa. There was a giant line. I went in it myself. It took 40 minutes to get out of Howth.  While we are talking about beaches and preventative measures, I raise the issue of litter and dumping in Dublin Bay. An enforcement officer needs to be present on hot days. If someone can bring cans of Coke down to a beach, they need to be punished if they are littering on a UNESCO heritage site. An enforcement officer needs to be on site who can give a fine. It is not acceptable when someone brings down rubbish to a protected area with endangered species and leaves it there without any consequences.  I hope that the T\u00e1naiste will meet these heroes from my constituency but I also hope, ahead of the weather across Ireland, he will bring in proactive measures to fund councils and give preparation for these swimmers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy for the work he is doing and for highlighting this. I welcome the people with us today and their heroic actions. I thank the Deputy for highlighting that too. I take seriously the point the Deputy made about lifeguards. I live on the coast as well, in Wicklow. In all weather, but particularly in this weather, people tend to flock to the beaches and flock to our seas. There is a legitimate issue around lifeguard numbers and the likes. I will certainly talk with Government colleagues in relation to that and I am happy to engage with the Deputy on it.  Dublin Bay is a beautiful place. I was at Raheny United last week. I met some young people in a coffee shop who said they were all friends with Deputy Barry Heneghan. I said \"I know him.\" It was good to be out in the constituency with my colleague, Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed. Dublin Bay is one of our greatest natural amenities. I welcome the ongoing work by the Dublin Bay task force, chaired by Dublin City Council, aimed at improving the bathing water quality further. The Department of housing, along with Uisce \u00c9ireann and the local authorities, are now funding UCD's Acclimatize 2 project to carry out a study identifying and targeting pollution pressures as well. The Dublin Bay bathing water task force - that is quite a mouthful - will work closely with the research team in UCD as well.  I recognise the point the Deputy made that people are swimming outside the summer season. The bathing water quality amendment regulations were published to allow local authorities to define the bathing season in their own area, which was meant to be an important step forward as well.  I take the point on the issue of public transport. People will flock to an area like Howth. I know the Minister for Transport is working with the National Transport Authority, with Iarnr\u00f3d \u00c9ireann and with the Deputy to increase DART capacity and reliability. We want people to have confidence that they can choose public transport and not have to queue for a significant length of time.  I join the Deputy in remembering the young girl who tragically lost her life at Burrow Beach. Any such loss is absolutely heartbreaking. Everybody in this House extends their thoughts to that family and community.  There is more we can be doing in terms of amenities and the point the Deputy made around that. We talked about water quality but also the visitor experience and things like public toilets and changing facilities, so that people have a more enjoyable, healthier day but also that the local community, when so many visitors come in, feel the area can cope in terms of the right amenities being in place. A lot of the issues here involve different agencies and levels and involve a bit of joined-up thinking. This is the approach we are trying to take. Perhaps what the Deputy might like to do is to outline to us from this conversation the various issues in Dublin Bay. I will undertake to liaise with the relevant Ministers and agencies on the Deputy's behalf to try to co-ordinate some of this response and come back to the Deputy and engage further. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  I am delighted to outline my three key asks. I am delighted that the T\u00e1naiste has asked. It is good to see he was in Raheny with Deputy \u00d3 Muir\u00ed. Will the Government provide direct funding to DCC and Fingal County Council to extend lifeguarding cover? I was a swimming teacher for five years. I know I do not look like it now. This is something that we need to do. The summer is here and the warm weather is coming. Will he commit to real-time water quality testing? It is done in Denmark. As Deputy \u00d3 Muir\u00ed will know, I am very fond of Denmark's energy system, but I am also fond of how they cleaned up the port and made it safe for swimmers.  Will the T\u00e1naiste properly fund the Coast Guard and emergency services? These repair crews also worked hard this week when there was an issue on the northern DART line and they worked overnight. That is something that needs to be funded but ahead of this weekend, the Coast Guard team will be responding in Dublin Bay. These people are working with everything they have and they deserve proper resources. A total of 3,000 parts per million of E. coli in water is six times the safe amount. It is not acceptable for my constituents or anyone's constituents to be forced to swim in that water. N\u00edl s\u00e9 maith go leor. Le linn an ord\u00fa dianghl\u00e1s\u00e1la, bh\u00ed daoine ag athr\u00fa na ruda\u00ed a bh\u00ed \u00e1 nd\u00e9anamh acu, cos\u00fail le sn\u00e1mh agus na ruda\u00ed mar sin. Caithfimid an infhest\u00edocht a chur isteach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I do not want the Deputy getting the wrong idea that I went to Raheny and did not invite him. It was a Fine Gael members' coffee morning. I was not sure whether the Deputy was ready for that invitation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  I was at a business event. I did meet one of the T\u00e1naiste's colleagues though. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  To balance my comments - what was the name of the----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed  Conor. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I met Conor in a good coffee outfit outside Raheny United. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed  It is called The Lab. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  They were very pleased to see the 9% VAT rate coming in next week. They spoke fondly of the Deputy too.  The issues the Deputy raised are serious and I take them seriously. We are seeing bathing water quality continuing to be high overall nationally. Around 98% of our sites are meeting or exceeding the minimum standard. That is good. They are EPA figures. It does not take away from the Deputy's point in relation to Dublin Bay. The work of the Dublin Bay task force matters to all of us. I look forward to the outcome of that UCD research project, which is trying to identify the main causes of pollution here and what we can be doing more proactively regarding that. I have huge respect for the work of the Coast Guard, as well as for the resourcing of it, including its facilities. I will certainly speak to the relevant Ministers on those three issues and ask that they come back to the Deputy. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 na Comhalta\u00ed Eile - Other Members\u2019 Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_33","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Pholasa\u00ed n\u00f3 ar Reachta\u00edocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation","counts":{"speechCount":69,"speakerCount":21},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_33","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel McCarthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sorca Clarke  Today, the ESRI warned that food prices will go up again this autumn. Ordinary families are under real pressure. They are working hard but are still struggling to pay their bills. They are getting crucified by rent, childcare and insurance. Now they read that the basics in their presses are going to go up. It will not just be them. The ESRI also said that those on fixed incomes, such as pensioners, those on disability payments and low-paid workers will be hit the hardest. It is chipping away at people's quality of life. Does the T\u00e1naiste accept that the delays and half-measures from the Government on fuel prices have made the situation worse? What action will he take to protect working families from another cost-of-living shock and ensure that there is real accountability and transparency in supermarket pricing and profits? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Clarke for raising the issue of the cost of living. I am slightly surprised she did because I was wondering c\u00e1 bhfuil Mary Lou this week. I happened to see online that she is over in the United States at a Friends of Sinn F\u00e9in talk tonight. You can pay $250 at 6 p.m. to be a champion for change and she will throw in a free T-shirt----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sorca Clarke  Is the T\u00e1naiste following all the female TDs around or is it just Mary Lou? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Pardon me? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sorca Clarke  Is the T\u00e1naiste tracking the movements of all the female TDs or just Mary Lou? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  No, I was just wondering where the Leader of the Opposition was. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James O'Connor  Sinn F\u00e9in is the only party raising money in America. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Can we stick to the question, please? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James O'Connor  From their Provo supporters. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sorca Clarke  What a peculiar answer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I was wondering where the Leader of the Opposition was this week----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sorca Clarke  The ESRI. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  ----- to find out that when Sinn F\u00e9in is lecturing us in here in relation to the cost of living, it is charging $250 and throwing in a free T-shirt at a fundraiser. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sorca Clarke  Food prices, T\u00e1naiste. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  The leader of Sinn F\u00e9in should be in this House doing her job. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sorca Clarke  Supermarkets here. Fuel prices here. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  That is not the purpose of the question. We will move to the next question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  The leader of Sinn F\u00e9in should be in this House instead of charging $250. This Government has a proud track record when it comes to supporting people. The package we put in place, which Sinn F\u00e9in voted against, reduced the cost of diesel and petrol and----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sorca Clarke  Which will go up again on 1 August. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  -----reduced inflation by 0.6%. We expanded the fuel allowance----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sorca Clarke  To families who do not earn enough. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  -----with the largest or second largest package in the European Union, while Mary Lou is over charging people $250 and----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sorca Clarke  Who else's diary does the T\u00e1naiste follow? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  ----- giving out free T-shirts. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  The Dublin Simon Community's report this week showed a 20% increase in the number of women accessing its homeless services. We are in the midst of an unprecedented human catastrophe, with mass evictions taking place across this country. Families, children and the elderly are being evicted from their homes. A total of 30,000 households have been issued a notice to quit just in the last 18 months. One case I want to highlight is from the T\u00e1naiste's own constituency. We were contacted by May Kelly and her husband, Michael, who have been renting in Wicklow for 20 years. They paid their rent on time every month. They are an elderly couple. Michael, who is 67, has been hospitalised and undergone three amputations. They have to vacate their home by December.  They have applied to the council but it has said they are over the limit. He is retired and now the council needs discretion to address their issue.  What kind of society are we becoming when a 67-year-old double amputee is being evicted and facing homelessness? Will the T\u00e1naiste correct his statement from last week when he said the majority of tenants are covered by a no-fault evictions ban? That is not true. The majority of 250,000 rental households who are not covered by the new measures are still at risk of eviction into homelessness. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  As Deputy Hearne knows, because we discussed this at length when Sinn F\u00e9in raised this last week, my comments related to the new measures that were brought in and it is true that under the new measures new tenancies, the majority of people are covered on no-fault evictions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  Not the majority of existing tenants. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Obviously, measures you bring in are prospective. We brought in a whole package of measures in terms of longer tenancies, making sure the RPZ was nationalised and bringing in an effective no-fault eviction ban for the majority of new tenants as well.  I take very seriously the case the Deputy raised. I do not feel too comfortable about speaking about an individual case in the D\u00e1il but if the Deputy wants to sent me the details, or send them to my constituency office directly, I will work with Deputy Whitmore on this. We need to do better on that and I am happy to engage on it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy George Lawlor  The T\u00e1naiste will recall a couple of weeks ago I raised the issue of the Glenmore static camera where 35,099 fines have been issued in 11 months. There are about 80 cameras across the country which are exactly the same. I have the results for the other ones and it makes for interesting reading: Carlow - 15,880; Mayo - 11,476; Cork - 3,369; Donegal - 2,925; Limerick - 1,051; Gorey - 1,150; and Galway - 397. Bear in mind 30,599 fines were issued from Glenmore, which raised \u20ac4.9 million. This is grossly unfair. The staggering and unexplained disparity in fines issued from one camera to the next makes enforcement look inconsistent and deeply unfair.  People have lost their licences, their insurance is up and they are receiving multiple penalty points because of the appalling signage. These are welcome and much-needed cameras. Nobody is arguing against that but people must be fairly treated. With 30,599 from one camera in south Kilkenny, something is wrong. People must be treated fairly. These fines must be rescinded and the penalty points rescinded also. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  What people should do is slow down. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy George Lawlor  There is problem. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I try to be constructive in this House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy George Lawlor  There were 397 in Galway. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Allow the T\u00e1naiste to answer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  The problem is lots of people are dying on our roads. I am serious about this. If the assertion is the camera is wrong----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy George Lawlor  Yes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  If the assertion is the camera is broken, then I would ask someone to please look into the broken camera. If the assertion is that people are speeding and should not be getting a fine, that is not it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy George Lawlor  Signage. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Can someone please check this? I am not responsible for the operation of cameras but if the camera is not working, it should be fixed. I presume the Department of Transport can look into that, or the garda\u00ed. The broader issue here of these static cameras making sure our roads are safer is a really important one. If our cameras are catching people speeding, and penalty points or fines are being administered, that is Government road safety policy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  Last week a UK report showed that girls who receive the HPV vaccine in their early teens have an almost zero risk of dying from cervical cancer but at a time when the research shows there is a chance of actually eliminating cervical cancer, uptake rates of the vaccine in schools is actually falling all over the country. It is down to 63% of girls taking it up in the Dublin North West region. In January, the Minister for Health announced a HPV vaccine catch-up programme for fifth and sixth year students. This was a really positive step, which I warmly welcomed as chair of the cross-party group on cancer. However, there is still a gap. There is no new catch-up scheme for young adults who missed the vaccine in schools. It costs \u20ac200 a dose for them. The national immunisation advisory committee, NIAC, recommends the vaccine for those up to the age of 24 years. When will the Government bring forward a new HPV catch-up campaign for young adults, so they can benefit from this protection as well? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I acknowledge genuinely Deputy O\u2019Gorman\u2019s long-standing commitment in relation to this. It is quite incredible that we have a vaccine in this country that can effectively eradicate a cancer that disproportionately impacts and kills young women in this country. Unfortunately, there have been campaigns, misinformation and disinformation. At times, not every Member of this House has supported the vaccine. I hope we have moved beyond those times because this is a vaccine that is highly safe and highly effective and everybody should support it.  I welcome the Deputy's thanks to the Minister for Health and the work she is doing on the catch-up programme. I know the priority here is to target the vaccine in the first instance at the age group where it is most effective - I think that is close to the age of 13 year - but we certainly do not rule out taking further actions; far from it. The Minister will continue to monitor this closely and I will keep in close contact with the Deputy on it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  I want to raise a very serious concern coming directly from front-line healthcare staff, particularly our advanced nurse practitioners. There is growing alarm at a proposal within the Department of Health to break the long-established pay link between advanced nurse practitioners, ANPs, and assistant directors of nursing, ADON. This is a link grounded in a Labour Court recommendation and one that recognises the level of responsibility involved. ANPs are highly trained masters-level technicians. They diagnose, prescribe and manage complex patient care every single day. In many areas, especially across rural Ireland, they are absolutely critical to keeping people out of overcrowded emergency departments and helping to reduce waiting lists. Yet, at a time when we desperately need more of these professionals, the Government is considering a move that would devalue the role and discourage experienced nurse from progressing into advanced practice. What kind of signal does this send to the profession? Will the Government now step back from the proposal and commit to protecting an established ANP-ADON pay link, so we can retain and grow this vital workforce? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  The Deputy will be glad to know the Minister for Health thinks he is entirely right and, therefore, I do too. I know the Minister spoke to this at the INMO conference because the work being done by the ANPs is as the Deputy describes. It is a key part of the delivery of healthcare. It is keeping people out of our hospitals as well. It is a very valued role in the health service. We have a piece of work under way in the Government across a variety of Departments, liaising with our colleagues in the Department of public expenditure and reform. The Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, is fully committed to this as are we. We will keep the Deputy updated. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan  Another Thursday and another question on rare diseases. The Minister might want to answer this. Last Sunday, I was on my way to the Cork-Offaly match and I heard an interview between Paul Cunningham and a member of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics, NCPE. To say I was very disappointed with what I heard would be an understatement. I raised it at the health committee yesterday with Department of Health officials and the HSE. The programme for Government is explicit. It contains a provision for an early access scheme. The Minister has said it is something she is going to progress over the lifetime of the Government. The political class has endorsed it, as has the Department of Health, but for some reason somebody on the NCPE thinks they can have a contrarian opinion. The last time I checked that person was a civil servant. He is supposed to serve the State and implement the policies this Government decides are worthy of implementation. If the Minister heard the interview, what is her opinion on it? If she has not, I encourage her to listen to it. Does she think it is appropriate that somebody would express an opinion contrary to what the Government has decided to do? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Health (Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill)  I thank the Deputy. He is right. Not only is an early access programme a commitment in the programme for Government but my officials are already working on designing it and it will be implemented by the HSE. I also acknowledge the role of the NCPE and the independence that is important to preserve and protect. I appreciate radio interviews are one thing but we will strike a balance between protecting the independence and integrity of scientists and listening to them and ploughing on with Government policy that is well endorsed by this House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Callaghan  With between 4,500 and 5,000 Irish teachers now teaching abroad, it is really important that we facilitate any teachers who would like to return home to do so. I was recently contacted by a constituent who is teaching abroad and wants to return home but has raised serious concerns about how teaching experience is recognised on return which has a direct impact on their salary scales. There seems a clear inconsistency between primary teachers who often have their experience recognised while post-primary teachers do not. Likewise, experience is accepted by some schools but not in high-quality international schools that teach programmes like the international Baccalaureate. That means two teachers working side-by-side abroad can be treated very differently on their return with many forced to start again at the bottom of the salary scale despite their significant experience. This runs the risk of discouraging teachers who want to come home from coming home. Will the T\u00e1naiste commit to reviewing this system to ensure a fair and consistent approach to the recognition of teaching experience? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  As the Deputy said, there is an incremental credit scheme that does allow teachers to claim credit for other years of relevant service, whether within the EU or outside it. However, there are some issues the Deputy is right to raise in relation to schools which may not necessarily satisfy the current required criteria and then the service of the school cannot be considered towards that incremental credit.  The service of the school cannot then be considered toward that incremental credit. I think that is the nub of the issue we hear time and again. Through the Teachers Conciliation Council there is a subcommittee that looks at incremental credit. The teacher unions have now lodged a claim concerning the recognition of private post-primary teaching service outside the EU as well. The Department is examining this as part of the budgetary cycle. I will ask the Minister, Deputy Naughton, to engage with the Deputy directly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Crowe  I raise the commitment in the programme for Government to reach a 19:1 student-teacher ratio in our primary schools. In my area, Scoil Maelruain national school was stripped of a teacher because the school was one student short for the coming year. This resulted in four classes being turned into three, with numbers of 29 and 30 students. This flies in the face of the commitment and pushes the class size to the limit. The T\u00e1naiste knows that society and schools have changed. Children and pupils are more transient and not fixed to an area because of the housing crisis, through no fault of their own. This is placing stress on schools as regards class sizes because teachers are allocated for the year based on the rolls on a set day. Another school in my area lost out because Ukrainian families were moved to the west in the middle of September. This is practical stuff. Will the Government consider introducing flexibility in the allocation of teachers beyond the current cut-off of 30 September? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  The Government is committed to continuing to reduce class sizes. We have seen a significant reduction in pupil-teacher ratios over the past several years. However, the Deputy is right to say it is not an exact science, and I will not pretend it is. It has to be at a point in time. There are opportunities for schools to appeal, put forward information with regard to special circumstances or show they expect that numbers will grow again in the following year. I am not sure it is entirely as blunt an instrument as might be suggested. However, I will ask the Minister, Deputy Naughton, to give consideration to the point the Deputy has made.  On the point about Ukrainians, we have tried to minimise the movement of Ukrainian students during the school year. It has not always been possible, but we are conscious of the fact that when kids are settled in a school it is important to try to minimise that disruption. I will ask the Minister to come back to the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  Family resource centres around the State do fantastic work but are under significant pressure due to rising costs and increasing demands on their services. The level of core funding is simply not keeping pace with their escalating overheads. Portlaoise and Mountmellick family resource centres are providing vital services to families that are making a real difference with services, including parenting support, youth intervention, early-year preschool services, counselling and a whole lot more. The centre in Harper's Lane in Portlaoise is providing 114 preschool places alone. However, without an increase in the forthcoming budget, family resource centres will be limited to crisis-driven reactive responses instead of more effective early interventions. The core operational budget for these centres is \u20ac180,000 per annum. It is simply not enough to pay three full-time staff. While I know there will be a lot of asks in the forthcoming budget, without these centres there will be a lot more costs. I ask the T\u00e1naiste to ensure they receive a substantial increase in core funding. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I accept that the return on investment in family resource centres is extremely good. I met with the one in Greystones recently and the national organisation came to see me also. It is due to come to see me for a pre-budget meeting in the autumn as well. Being truthful, over the past number of years, we have been trying to balance core funding for existing centres with trying to fill in the map because there are quite a number of communities where there have not been family resource centres. My colleague, Deputy Carrigy, has been making the case for Longford for a significant period. There has been that balance between new centres and making sure we are adequately funding existing centres. We have to check we get that balance right. I look forward to meeting the national group and if the Deputy sends me details on Portlaoise and Mountmellick I will engage with him on it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  This weekend, tens of thousands of people will march through the streets of Dublin for Dublin Pride. Dublin Pride is a really good party, but it is also a protest and a call for progress. Sadly, under the T\u00e1naiste's leadership, we have not seen any progress. We are now consistently ranked 14th in Europe in terms of LGBT human rights and policy protections year after year. I will give one example, namely, the commitment to ban conversion therapy and conversion practices. It was included in the programme for Government in 2020 and recommitted to in 2025, but we have not seen progress. Research commissioned by the Government describes conversion therapy as traumatising, horrendous and anxiety provoking. One person said, \"It left me with trauma, from which I am still attempting to heal, it destroyed my self worth \u2026 and my health.\" The College of Psychiatry describes it as unethical, harmful and not supported by evidence. Eight other EU states have already legislated and six years after a commitment, we are still waiting. When are we going to get this legislation? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Rice. As he said, Pride is a celebration and a protest, but it is also a public statement of intent about the importance of quality and inclusion. When I was Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade I met all of our diplomats in Dublin Castle and made the point that we have to live up to our own values test, and our values test is simple. If you are whispering something that you used to say loudly and proudly, you are not passing the Irish values test. There is a chilling effect at the moment. There are people who want us to shut up and be quiet about equality issues. We should not do that. Yesterday, I and the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, the Taoiseach, several other Government Ministers, including the Minister for equality, Deputy Foley, met with LGBTQI+ organisations in the Sycamore Room. We had a good conversation about the progress that had been made, particularly with section 232 of the assisted human reproduction Act, commenced by the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill in recent weeks. I share the Deputy's view and his description of conversion therapy. I am sorry I do not now have a direct answer to the question as to when that action will be taken, but I will engage with relevant Government colleagues and come back to him directly. We should seek to do this quickly together. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Albert Dolan  The T\u00e1naiste will be well aware of the case of Carrabane National School in east Galway. I have no doubt that multiple representations have been made to him about it. While I do not expect him to have an answer today as to what the case is, I want to highlight the frustration that exists among the school community. Two months ago, I and all of the other public representatives in east Galway attended a public meeting at Carrabane National School. On the night, Councillor Moegie Maher had a letter from the Minister, Deputy Naughton, confirming that this project would break ground in 2026. We have now reached the summer and still have not heard the outcome of the tender process. All I ask is that the T\u00e1naiste engage with the Minister, if possible, and revert to the Galway East representatives as to the status of Carrabane National School. I would be grateful for that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Dolan. I will certainly do that and speak with the Minister, Deputy Naughton, about that issue today and come back to Deputy Dolan and the Galway East representatives. I know Councillor Moegie Maher well and I will be in trouble if I do not go back to him too. As the Deputy knows, we have made the decision to significantly increase the funding for the Department of education. We also made a significant capital allocation and may make more in the time ahead because a lot of schools are stuck in stage 2B and we want to move them on. I will certainly make sure we see progress on Carrabane National School, and I will talk to the Minister, Deputy Naughton, today. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  A childcare facility in Knocklyon in my constituency was recently taken over a by a new provider, which was recently bought by a UK group in a deal worth \u20ac75 million. Since the facility was taken over, there have been numerous room closures. Parents have effectively been stranded without childcare with no notice. The services have taken away flexibility in terms of reduced hours over the summer or attending part time in after-school care. The services are getting worse because they are now being run in the interests of the owners' pockets, and parents are afraid that this facility will withdraw from core funding. Obviously, the fee freeze announced in June will not apply to providers that have withdrawn. Parents have no option but to pay because childcare spaces are so scarce in the area. What is the Government going to do for those parents who are genuinely suffering because of a commercialised and for-profit childcare model? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  We will publish a roadmap on how we create the childcare system I think everybody in this House wants. We had a good meeting of the Cabinet committee on this in recent weeks. Fees are one element, and we have a commitment to get to \u20ac200 per child per month in the lifetime of the Government. However, fees without access will only frustrate parents. We have increased the childcare budget to the largest ever, at \u20ac1.5 billion, which is up by 12% on last year. That is the highest ever level of State investment. I take the Deputy's point about private for-profit, but we are now seeing for the first time public money being used to deliver public facilities. The Deputy can expect to see that roadmap from the Government around budget time, where we need to move a number of things in parallel. The one that often gets attention is when are we getting to the \u20ac200. We are committed to getting to that in the lifetime of the Government, but we have to move the other streams alongside that, which I think is at the core of the Deputy's question. If he sends me the details of the Knocklyon case, I will have the Minister, Deputy Foley, come back to him. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  St. Vincent's special school in Lisnagry, County Limerick, has been without a routine dental service for months. It has been the bones of a year. The specialist dental post is still vacant. These are students who cannot tolerate routine dental examinations. There is a student who cannot attend school at the moment because she has large cavities in her back teeth, and she has to get these teeth removed. The waiting list for Nenagh is over a year. A lot of these children are on restricted diets. I have been in contact with the Minister's office about this.  If this situation is not resolved, the child could miss up to 18 months at school. She is not the only child at St. Vincent's who currently has these issues. Children with additional needs are being failed in many ways, but to see a child unable to attend school for up to 18 months due to a lack of dentistry is beyond comprehension. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  I have not seen that individual representation. The Deputy might give me the name on my way out of the House, and I will take care of it this afternoon. The Deputy is right. We have a programme for a two-year intervention in HSE dental services to make sure that the broad child catch-up programme is happening in schools. Of equal importance is the specialist dental service, particularly for children with disabilities, and we will have a programme of additional surgeries to focus on that. I will be announcing that in the coming weeks. I have a little work to do yet with the Irish Dental Association, but I am very aware of that. If the Deputy gives me the details of the individual case, I will have it sorted. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James O'Connor  I raise the issue of the new community nursing unit in Youghal, a 60-bed unit comprising two 25-bed blocks and, in addition, a ten-bedroom dementia care unit. This is very much needed in Youghal as part of the renewal of our infrastructure, particularly the replacement of the Cois Abhainn building and also Youghal Community Hospital. I would like to ask about the business case. The T\u00e1naiste and the Minister for Health are here representing the Government. Can they find out whether this is being completed? We were told it would go to tender for the award of a construction contract in the first half of 2026. As we are at the turn of the month, I would appreciate an update on the position for the coming months. I thank the Minister for her exceptional work and support regarding the local projects that have been advanced in recent months. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  We are trying to focus on stepdown facilities and community nursing units, and we will be opening units in Letterkenny and Sligo later in the year. I would push back on the situation in the south west at the moment. I notice there were people on trolleys in Cork University Hospital in recent days while there were vacant beds in Mallow. We have made a very significant investment to increase that from 37 beds to 96 beds, yet there were still vacant beds in Mallow while there were people on trolleys in Cork University Hospital. The Deputy will forgive me if I am not racing to advance additional infrastructure in the south west until they make sure they manage the resources they have more effectively. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Miche\u00e1l Carrigy  The first meeting of the board of trustees of the new family resource centre in Longford takes place next Monday. I put on record my thanks to Veronica Brennan, the chair, and the rest of my fellow members of the steering committee who worked on this project for the last couple of years.  The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Drugs Use recently published its final report containing a wide-ranging series of recommendations on how Ireland should respond to drug use and addiction recovery, including proposals on decriminalisation, treatment services, prevention, family supports and community safety. Understandably, there will be different views on some of these recommendations. Will the T\u00e1naiste outline how the Government intends to respond to the committee report? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I am delighted to hear of the progress with the family resource centre.  We need to be very careful here. Everybody wants to see people who have a drug addiction get access to healthcare - 100%. We are all very clear on that, and it has been the clear direction of travel in the Department of Health for many years. Everybody wants to see anybody who is involved in criminality and gangland criminality banged up, taken off our streets and met with the full rigour of the law. However, there is a group in the middle that we are not talking nearly enough about, and it is really annoying me. There is a group of people who are not addicted to drugs and not involved in gangland crime, but they are facilitating it by snorting coke, popping pills and smoking drugs. They are often in middle Ireland, or whatever we want to call middle Ireland. I do not support any idea that we would suggest that behaviour is appropriate. In my constituency or somewhere else, people might buy illegal drugs and not realise or care that they are funding absolute misery, criminality, threats to children's lives and everything else in other communities.  We need to be very careful here. We need to listen to the Garda and the Irish Medical Organisation. There are a number of complex issues. We will absolutely help people in relation to drug addiction, 100%, and absolutely lock up the gangland criminals. However, the gangland criminals exist because people are going around, taking illegal drugs and thinking it is a consequence-free activity, when it is bringing misery to many parts of society. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  I raise the situation of Kilrossanty National School in County Waterford. It is a rural DEIS school that is set to lose a teacher in September based on an enrolment snapshot taken at the end of last September that no longer reflects reality. The school had 102 pupils on that day in September 2025, but several more pupils joined the school after that snapshot. It has 111 enrolled for the coming year, well above the threshold, yet it is still losing a teacher based on that snapshot. This will mean class sizes of up to 31 in multigrade groupings, including three classes in one room with one teacher, and that includes children with additional educational needs. The school has appealed.  This points to a wider problem. Across Waterford and the State, schools are under pressure, and rural schools are at risk. One has closed in County Waterford, others are overcrowded and many lack staff. Does the T\u00e1naiste accept that relying on that one snapshot is not a good way to do business or make an assessment, and that the fixed reference date is no longer fit for purpose? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I accept that there can be rigidity, but I also balance that with the fact that there has to be some system in place. Is there a better way of doing it? I am open to considering that. I believe there are appeals mechanisms, and an understanding is meant to exist in the system. If the Deputy sends me the details of the school in his constituency, I will ask the Minister, Deputy Naughton, to come back to him. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel McCarthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Noel McCarthy  I speak today on behalf of the pupils, teachers and parents of Carrigtwohill school campus in east Cork. The three new school buildings, Carrigtwohill Community College, Scoil Chl\u00edodhna and Scoil Mhuire Naofa, were opened in 2023. These schools have the most modern facilities but, unfortunately, do not have a green area for recreation. However, there is a green area immediately adjacent to the schools and owned by the Department of education. Planning permission has been granted by Cork County Council for an entrance and access way, but no works have yet taken place. While the scope of works and costs have been provided, the Department has recommended that a more cost-effective solution be considered. I am unsure why this could possibly be. As such, it cannot be guaranteed that the area will be made available by September, almost three years after the schools opened. I ask the T\u00e1naiste to engage directly with the Minister and her Department to ensure this green area is made available as soon as possible for the September back-to-school period. These are great facilities. The issue is there to be resolved. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I know it is one he has been working on for some time. The Carrigtwohill school campus project is the largest single school building project ever undertaken by the Department of education, and it will serve a school community of about 2,400 pupils. The Department tells me that it has had a positive and productive engagement with the three schools and the patrons through all stages of the project, and it will continue to support the schools on the new school campus. The project was completed towards the end of 2023, with a 1,000-pupil post-primary school, Carrigtwohill Community School, and two 24-classroom primary schools, Carrigtwohill Community National School and Scoil Mhuire Naofa. It includes 14 classes and three projects for children with special educational needs, three general purpose, GP, areas, a PE hall and 13 ball courts in total.  I am aware of this issue of the lack of a green space, given that Deputy McCarthy has told me about it. I understand the school has now sought to use a green area that forms part of the site. It is not suitable as a formal playing pitch because it is an attenuation basin under the flood management system, but the Department wants to work with the schools to see if they can get it as an informal recreation space. I undertake to work intensively with Deputy McCarthy and the Minister, Deputy Naughton, to try to get that in place for the new school year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere  Like previous speakers, I raise the issue of teacher losses. I am asking for the intervention of the T\u00e1naiste regarding Our Lady of Lourdes National School in Slieverue, County Kilkenny, where the incoming junior infants class for September 2026 is expected to consist of 34 children taught by a single teacher following the loss of a teaching post. The school has successfully operated smaller junior infants classes in recent years. As the T\u00e1naiste knows, research consistently shows that the greatest benefits of smaller classes come in the very early years of education. Despite these concerns, the school's appeal to retain the teaching post was, unfortunately, unsuccessful. I ask the T\u00e1naiste to urgently engage with the Department of education to review this decision and explore any available mechanism to retain or restore the teaching resource needed to support these children. Every reasonable effort should be made to ensure that 34 junior infants are not required to spend their first year of school in a single class. It is obviously a national issue because I am the third and fourth speaker to raise a similar issue today. The intervention and help of the T\u00e1naiste would be much appreciated. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  The Deputy is right. I always learn a lot, when I come in here on a Thursday, if a multitude of colleagues across the House are bringing up the same issue. I have to be blunt. We are increasing the number of teachers and SNAs working in our schools, we are increasing the number of schools that we have and we have a redeployment scheme in place. Obviously, we have to have criteria for the teaching allocations. That is all just true. We have seen the need to provide additional funding to the Department of education to meet a number of financial pressures that it has had. In relation to Our Lady of Lourdes National School, I will ask the Minister, Deputy Naughton, to provide guidance to the Deputy as to whether there are any other options or avenues open to that school. I will also ask her to come back to the Deputy directly. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar fionra\u00ed ar 1.19 p.m. agus cuireadh t\u00fas leis ar\u00eds ar 2 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Sitting suspended at 1.19 p.m. and resumed at 2 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Pholasa\u00ed n\u00f3 ar Reachta\u00edocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_34","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/72","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/72\/dail\/2","houseCode":"dail","stage":"2","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Development (Strategic Gas Reserve) Bill 2026: Second Stage (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Development (Strategic Gas Reserve) Bill 2026: Second Stage","counts":{"speechCount":15,"speakerCount":14},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_34","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Clendennen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cormac Devlin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (Deputy Timmy Dooley)  I move: \"That the Bill be now read a Second Time.\"  I am pleased to address the House on Second Stage of the Development (Strategic Gas Reserve) Bill. As Deputies are aware, the main purpose of the Bill is to provide for a project-specific, bespoke consenting pathway for the strategic gas emergency reserve facility to be located at Cahiracon in County Clare. This will enable a development consent application to be submitted later this year, which is critical to achieving accelerated delivery of this project.  Before outlining the provisions of the Bill, I would like to speak on a number of key points relating to the development of the legislation. In March 2025, Government approved a State-led strategic gas emergency reserve. This is critical to securing Ireland's energy systems as we continue to transition to indigenous, clean renewable energy. Crucially, the strategic gas emergency reserve will also ensure Ireland's compliance with EU standards and regulation. A strategic gas emergency reserve is a State-owned gas storage facility that will provide the resilience required to support our energy transition. This State-led strategic reserve will store LNG for use only in the event of a disruption to gas supplies to protect Ireland's citizens, economy and reputation from the possibility of energy curtailments. It is not intended for commercial use and will not act as a new entry point for gas into the system. The final design will be scoped to provide sufficient supply to protect household and business customers in the event of a major disruption to subsea gas pipelines. Gas Networks Ireland will ensure appropriate contractual arrangements are in place to refill the floating storage and regassification unit throughout an emergency situation to provide consistent gas supplies via the floating storage and regassification unit for the duration required.  The introduction of bespoke legislation was agreed following advice from the Office of the Attorney General's to reduce the uncertainty of the timelines regarding planning decisions and to facilitate the request from Government to expedite delivery of the project. The ongoing phased commencement of the Planning and Development Act 2024 at this time prevents the project benefiting from the required expedited decision timeframe to deliver this project. The conventional planning route under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, has been fully considered and it is proposed to disapply it given the need for an expedited decision timeframe necessary to deliver this project.  The legislation will allow for the next stage of development for the strategic gas emergency reserve. It is intended to submit the development consent application by the end of 2026 in order to achieve an accelerated project delivery timeline. It is intended to bring forward a memo for Government later this year requesting permission to draft the strategic gas emergency reserve (operational) Bill to provide for the operation of the strategic gas emergency reserve. This will be the substantive Bill addressing provisions related to the operation, use and cost of the reserve as well as a number of policy matters previously raised by Oireachtas Members.  The Bill contains 7 Parts and 38 sections, and I will give a brief overview of it now. Part 1 contains four sections containing standard legislative provisions that cover the Short Title of the Bill, commencement procedures, definitions of terms used in the Bill, a regulation-making power, as well as enabling the expenses of the Minister to be paid out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas.  Part 2 contains three sections relating to what comes within the scope of designated development. Section 5 provides for what constitutes \"designated development\" for the purposes of development and use of a strategic gas emergency reserve to be located at Cahiracon in County Clare. Sections 6 and 7 provide that the Planning and Development Act 2000, the Planning and Development Act 2024, and Regulation 2 of the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 are disapplied in relation to designated development, to facilitate the alternative consenting process set out in the Bill.  Part 3 contains four sections relating to the seeking of approval to carry out designated development. It provides for a mechanism for pre-application consultation. The required contents of an application are specified as well as the requirement to give public notice of an application and details of the public consultation procedure. It sets out who may submit an application for designated development under this procedure, being limited to Gas Networks Ireland or such other public bodies as may be prescribed.  Part 4 contains 17 sections relating to the environmental impact assessment and appropriate assessment procedures that will apply to an application for designated development. These assessments shall be carried out by An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la within specified, accelerated timelines. It provides for a period of 18 weeks for a decision to be made by An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la from receipt of an application to final decision. Time when An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la is waiting for a return of further information by the applicant will be disregarded towards this overall time period.  Part 5 contains three sections relating to the determination of an application for approval to carry out designated development. Part 6 provides for miscellaneous provisions relating to designated development granted approval under this bespoke process. Section 15 of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 is disapplied to relevant bodies performing functions in relation to designated development. The Minister may also issue a direction to competent authorities responsible for the granting of relevant consents, to facilitate priority consenting of the project. The judicial review and access to justice provisions have been adapted from the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, retaining the well-tested framework that currently applies to a challenge to a planning decision in the courts.  Part 7 contains one section relating to a consequential amendment to the Environmental Protection Act 1992. I commend the Bill to the House and I look forward to the debate and the contributions from Members. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  Energy security is one of the most fundamental responsibilities of any Government. It is the promise we will be able to keep the lights on and keep the country's energy system powered. In this increasingly volatile world, we are trying to meet our energy needs but the Government has utterly failed. What we are presented with is a rushed and flawed solution that is in danger of shifting the financial burden for the Government's failures onto ordinary households. The Government is rushing through the legislation without time for proper democratic oversight or scrutiny. The deadline for Committee Stage amendments was yesterday before Second Stage had been read. This is not about guaranteeing Irish energy security but about managing the failure of the Government to invest properly in offshore wind and to make the necessary progress to ensuring energy independence and energy security.  Despite being warned of the dangers of this for years, Ireland continues to rely on imports for approximately 80% of energy requirements, making us the fourth most fossil fuel import-dependent economy in the EU. We import nearly all of our oil and gas and over 80% of natural gas. In addition, under Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael Ireland relies on fossil fuels to generate 81% of our energy requirements. This set-up was never going to deliver energy security. The risks were well flagged and vulnerabilities were well known, yet Fianna F\u00e1il and fine Gael did not make any progression.  For years the Government has failed to properly invest in indigenous renewable energy, and it has admitted this, failing to build the resilience of sufficient system. Now ordinary people have to step up. Instead of fixing the structural issues, the Bill doubles down on the same approach locking us further into fossil fuel dependency and charging the public. It is a fundamental breach of trust and families and workers are already struggling under the weight of the highest energy bills in Europe. We have more people owing on their bills for longer. They should not have to bankroll a Government that has failed to plan and invest and failed to protect our energy future.  The Government is supposed to act as a safety net for households and not the other way around. Ordinary people did not decide to leave Ireland dependent on imported gas, they did not fail to deliver on renewable energy and they certainly did not design an energy model that prioritises corporate demand over public need. Sinn F\u00e9in is clear there must be no increase in household energy bills to protect Ireland's energy security. Ordinary people must not foot the bill. We have introduced amendments to this effect and they go to the heart of fairness. We propose a legislative wording that prohibits the socialisation of costs across household and SME energy bills, which would mandate that the regulator carries out a full assessment of the impact on household bills and that the Minister would introduce measures to mitigate this.  I will turn to the changes the Bill proposes to our planning process. Unprecedented changes such as these require oversight, debate and scrutiny but the Minister of State has refused to engage on this. There are dangers associated with this potentially introducing further delays which could exacerbate the risks to Ireland's energy security.  If the public are being asked to consent, then the changes and impact must be made explicitly clear.  We wrote to the Minister of State and his officials to provide explicit clarification on the principal differences between the standard planning process for a strategic infrastructure development and-or a standard planning application under the Planning and Development Act 2024 and the Planning and Development Act 2000 and the alternative planning process as outlined. We have also requested this information be provided in advance of the remaining Stages, so that it can be properly scrutinised. I am waiting and hoping that it will be delivered before next Tuesday.  We have proposed an amendment to delete the disapplication of the planning Acts. Nobody here is arguing that Ireland\u2019s energy security should not be a priority. We have always said that it should be. Without those protections, however, we will never agree to rubberstamp any legislation to remove the safeguards without clarification and justification and robust safeguards. For example, this legislation fails to guarantee that the floating LNG facility will be explicitly and exclusively State-led. If it is truly strategic, then it should be State-led, publicly owned and delivered in the public interest. There should be no backdoor for commercial LNG. The legislation does state that Gas Networks Ireland, GNI, may apply to the Minister for approval but it does not explicitly rule out infrastructure being led by a commercial entity. Our amendments, therefore, will insist that any reserve should be fully State-led.  We are also moving to ensure that the reserve will only be used in genuine emergencies. We will define the reserve as for emergency use only, aligned with EU standards, and prevent its use for routine energy supply. Ongoing reporting will be required to ensure compliance. Without these protections, there is a real risk that the strategic reserve would become normalised and entrench gas dependency.  Our other amendments will ensure that such a facility is temporary, with a defined lifespan of ten years, subject to regular review every three years, has a decommissioning plan and is accompanied by independent assessments of whether it is necessary or proportionate and the best available option. If this is an emergency measure, then it should not become a permanent fixture by default. There is concern across the board that this could happen.  We are also seeking to reverse one of the elements of this Bill, which is the potential sidelining of community engagement. Our amendment will require meaningful public consultation, including access to information, impact assessments and public hearings, because communities in County Clare must not be cut out of decisions that affect them so profoundly.  We are also insisting on honesty about what is driving the energy crisis. Our amendments will require an independent assessment of the impact of data centres on energy demand and an analysis of whether this demand is driving the need for this reserve. We cannot have a situation where households pay more because the structural drivers of rising demand are left unaddressed.  We believe this Bill is flawed, unfair, regressive and makes ordinary people shoulder the potential costs. It risks locking us into further fuel dependency and prioritises the wrong interest. Our amendments are about protection. They are to protect households from higher bills, protect the public interest and protect our energy future because the simple truth is that we cannot absorb any more costs. We need a different approach to drive down costs and put the needs of citizens first. We will be opposing this Bill, and I urge the House to support our amendments that put fairness, accountability and the public good back at the centre of our energy policy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael have been in government for over a decade. They have had years to secure our energy future, yet they have failed. They have squandered our renewable potential and left us dangerously overexposed to volatile international markets and geopolitical conflict. We saw this during the invasion of Ukraine, and we are seeing it again now. Families and workers are left paying extortionate energy bills because this Government refused to plan.  Now, in a panic, it is asking us to spend \u20ac1 billion to fix a crisis of its own making. Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael cannot be trusted on energy security because they do not treat it as a public good; they treat it as a corporate commodity. Sinn F\u00e9in believes that the answer to Ireland\u2019s energy security must be State-led and guided by the public interest and not the corporate bottom line. This legislation is not fit for purpose. It disapplies the planning Act, strips local communities of their democratic rights and treats people with contempt. By removing normal planning safeguards, this Government is guaranteeing one thing: legal challenges and further delays.  The Bill rolls out the red carpet to commercial LNG. The 2023 energy security review recommended a State-led facility as a strategic reserve, and it set out specific conditions. This legislation ignores those conditions. It allows private commercial developers to bypass the rules to which everybody else must adhere. Why is this? It is to impress international developers and not to serve the Irish people. This Bill will hike up household bills. The estimated \u20ac60 million annual running costs will be socialised through a levy on energy bills. Ordinary workers and families are already struggling with the cost of living, and Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael want to add a new tax to their bills to pay for their failures. This is simply unacceptable.  The Government will tell us this is necessary for our N-1 gas reserve criteria but the reality is that we are in this position because this Government has failed to develop our indigenous renewable resources. Ireland has 640 GW of untapped offshore wind potential. How much of it has been delivered? The answer is zero. We actually have less now than we had 20 years ago, such is the level of incompetence.  The Government talks a big game but it is all hot air. Projects in the pipeline have not even broken ground. We are one of the most fossil fuel-dependent countries in Europe, importing 94% of our energy from fossil fuels. That is a strategic vulnerability, and this Government has entrenched it rather than fixed it. This move would further entrench it. Sinn F\u00e9in has a better vision. We want to achieve energy independence through renewables which are publicly-owned and community-owned, and serving the common good. We want to follow countries like Spain, Norway and Denmark, which insulated their citizens from crises through public investment.  If this facility must go ahead, then it must be strictly State-led, fully transparent and subject to democratic oversight. It must not be a backdoor for commercial LNG or an excuse to hike bills further. The State must lead and the people must come first. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy R\u00e9ada Cronin  This Bill is a damning indictment of this Government\u2019s failure to properly address our energy security, and this is absolutely essential in a functioning democracy. Two geopolitical events have landed and given us ample warning about the need for energy independence. Yet this is the Government's solution. It has done nothing else. The Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and the American-Israeli war on Iran this year have shown us that we simply cannot continue to rely on imports to keep the lights on and our energy going. This is what is ultimately driving up the cost of our electricity bills, which are now the highest in Europe. A total of 80% of our energy is currently fuelled by imports. Realising that this is probably not the best way to guarantee energy security, the Government thinks this is a good idea to solve the problem. It is even more investment in fossil fuel and imported gas, and all to placate Trump. It is glaringly obvious to most people that the simple solution to our energy crisis issues is to invest in indigenous sources of energy, such as wind and solar, something that could have been ramped up immediately following the energy crisis in 2022. The Government failed to act then and this is the solution it has arrived at now.  The lack of intervention and meaningful attempts to try to get a handle on household bills means one in three is now in energy arrears. This is why Sinn F\u00e9in tabled amendments to the current Bill to ensure that ordinary people do not have to foot the bill for this daft attempt at protecting Ireland\u2019s energy security. It is the Government which has completely butchered our energy security. It is entirely its responsibility. Its solution is a double-edged sword, as proven by the two wars started by Russia and by America and Israel. Any form of gas that we import will be susceptible to market price shocks. An LNG terminal will be much the same. It will also further lock us into fossil fuel infrastructure and increase our emissions output.  This would come at a time when we are seeing some of the highest temperatures ever recorded. Just yesterday, France recorded its hottest day since records began in 1947, breaking the record of the previous day. As many as 40 people drowned in that country in the past few days as they tried to cool themselves down in the scorching heat. Today, we in Ireland expect to record historic highs in temperatures.  This must be a stark warning for us. We cannot keep going down the path of fossil fuels. Also, we cannot afford merely to develop our grid and ensure energy supply, as this Bill does, to keep data centres on stream.  As part of our amendments to the Bill, we ask that a fully independent assessment of the impact of data centres on energy demand and security be carried out. We cannot have a situation where households are asked to pay more, as they will be because of this Bill, while data centres suck up the energy that is vital to build the infrastructure we desperately need. As my colleague Deputy Pa Daly has previously outlined, we urge the Minister to consider the amendments put forward by Sinn F\u00e9in, support them and put the public good at the centre of our energy policy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  The incredible weather we are seeing across Europe and its significance are not going to be lost on anybody. France has recorded its hottest day, at 44.3\u00b0C. Tragically, at least 18 heat-related deaths have been seen in France and dozens of people have drowned as they tried to cool off. The UK had its hottest June day on record this month, at 36.1\u00b0C. We have seen red heat warnings issued across Europe. Indeed, here in Ireland it would appear we are seeing our hottest day on record.  It is clear that climate change is not something that is coming. It is not something that is going to be presented to us in the future. Climate change is here. Days like today really need to be warning signs for the Government because it has a very big job to do. That is not just to ensure that, as a country, we can adapt to the climate change that we are experiencing but also to do everything it can to stop it from getting worse and to work internationally in that regard.  Unfortunately, what we have seen from this Government is a rowing back when it comes to climate action and climate-action ambition. We have seen a repeated failure to meet targets, and even a failure to lay out the list of policies that would meet our 51% legal reduction target. Not once has the climate action plan specified enough policies to meet our targets. This is not even about implementing them. I am referring to the Government setting out what policies we need. Never once has the current or previous Government spelt out enough policies. That in itself is a very stark illustration that the Government is not taking this seriously enough.  The LNG facility has not just come upon us in the last week or two, the last month or two or, indeed, the last year. This discussion is happening because the current and previous Governments have failed to come to grips with our energy security and to put in place measures that will assist us to become energy independent. This LNG facility is a sort of emergency solution because all the hard work has not been done.  We have seen delay after delay regarding much of the major infrastructure we would need in order to deal with our emissions, but also to have a very strong renewable energy system. We have less offshore wind energy now than 20 years ago. Twenty years ago, we were a world leader in offshore wind. We had the Arklow Bank but that has been decommissioned. We have had delays in respect of our interconnectors. As I have raised repeatedly, I do not believe the Government has done enough when it comes to solar energy to make households resilient and to support people in this regard. I do not believe the Government has focused enough on battery storage and its potential. Over the past number of weeks, we have heard from some experts at meetings of the climate committee on the huge potential of, and the technological advances that have been made when it comes to, battery storage. Yet we have not had a Government that has focused on all those issues. Indeed, we have had a Government that has closed its eyes to the issue of demand management. At some stage, a tough decision is going to have to be made where we say we cannot afford to allow the continued incredible growth of large energy users like data centres, because that will ultimately make us more vulnerable when it comes to energy security. They are reliant on gas and they are pushing up our energy prices. They are the reason that we now apparently need the \u20ac1 billion LNG facility.  It is not to meet the needs of individual households or businesses, or people in hospitals or schools. It is not to meet those needs. The LNG facility is to ensure that if there is a problem with the interconnector or the gas line from Scotland, energy for the approximately 250 large corporates will be available. At some stage, we do have to start considering bringing our enterprise, climate and energy policies all together, because at the moment we are seeing far too much siloing of the issues.  The Government is in a position now where it is acknowledging there is a big problem, that we are at risk and that we need to come up with a solution. There are alternatives to what is being proposed. I really do not believe there has been enough examination of the alternatives. In the event that we lose connection with Scotland for a gas pipeline, which is highly unlikely but would be very problematic, what are the alternatives to the LNG facility? I really do not believe that has been given enough consideration.  I have spoken about demand management, battery storage, fast-tracking our interconnectors, district heating to provide heating to people, alternative fuels and requiring large corporates to have more alternative fuels on site. These have not been examined robustly enough. When I read through the energy security reports, it appears that the Government essentially got the answers it wanted from the questions put in the reviews. It is really important that the Government stall now. This is a major piece of infrastructure and it is costly. It will cost us \u20ac1 billion at least and it will be in place for many years. It will also be costly from an environmental perspective. The Minister of State needs to re-examine that. The Social Democrats have tabled amendments reflecting these views. We will be debating them when appropriate, but I ask that the Minister of State give serious consideration to looking at all the different pieces of the jigsaw and seeing whether there is a way that the various elements can be brought together to ensure we are energy resilient.  The other issue I want to raise with the Minister of State is one that very much surprised me. There is a general lack of trust in the Department and Government in this regard. I certainly was very sceptical and I was concerned that this legislation was a way of allowing for commercial LNG facilities to begin operating. When there was a pulling back on the fracked gas policy and when the Minister did not really engage on the planning issues in Shannon, my sense was that this was really a Trojan Horse to allow a commercial facility to operate. I do not know whether that is the case or not.  The one thing I have repeatedly raised with the Minister, and on which I have repeatedly received assurances from him, is that the LNG facility will be State-owned, State-led and not commercial, and that there will be sufficient guardrails in place to make sure that is the case.  I have had this back and forth with the Minister many times, as I did at committee. It has always been promised that it would be the case. I am worried as to why it was not mentioned in the Bill. The primary purpose of this LNG facility is to act as a risk-mitigation measure in a very limited fashion that can only be done by the State, run and managed by the State, and is not to increase our gas usage. That usage is to be very controlled. If that is the purpose of the facility, this why is that not stated in the Bill? It is not mentioned at all. I am sure the Minister of State will understand that it sets off alarms. It says to me that this process cannot be trusted. Now, when the Department or anyone makes any statements or comes forward with any advice, solutions or evidence, I and others are going to be questioning it because there is a fear that it is not being transparent. That is why the energy security, as the Department is looking at all the other measures, is also important. We want a transparent process. We want to ensure that the people who will be footing the bill for this \u20ac1 billion know why this has gone in and know that the Government looked at all these other measures and decided they were not going to work. It must be transparent. It is important that the Government gets that done.  I would like to make a similar point. I am hugely worried about the disapplication of the birds and habitat directive. As I said, there has been a rowing back on a lot of climate legislation. There has been fear that there would be a similar rowing back on legislation to protect biodiversity. There has certainly been a movement in Europe to do that so I was disappointed to see that also being applied in this Bill. I was also very surprised to see it because during pre-legislative scrutiny, we were told at that stage that we will not be exempting this facility from the habitats directive. That is what we were told in committee. Yet, this Bill disapplies the birds and habitats directive. That again comes back to the lack of trust about what the motives are here. That is another important consideration.  We have been far too slow in ensuring that Ireland can exist as an independent energy State. We have relied far too heavily on other countries to do the heavy lifting for us. We have not been innovative enough. We have really been quite lazy when it comes to our energy security and independence, and ensuring that we have an energy system that people in this country can afford. The lived experience of the people at the moment is that that is not the case. Ireland has the highest electricity prices. An official from the Department was in talking about the issue recently. The official was stressing that we have done so well when it comes to our renewable energies. We have but what are we doing with them? We are funnelling them back into these large corporates. The benefits from the renewables are not being felt by individuals and that is a problem. We want our citizens, domestic users and small businesses to have faith that when we move to a fossil fuel-free future, they will not be left behind. That is not happening because they are actually being left behind. Not only are they being left behind, they are having to foot the bill. They are footing the bill for data centres. They are going to be footing the \u20ac1 billion bill for this LNG facility that is only there to ensure that 250 large energy users can continue to operate if there is problem with the pipeline. Domestic users will be footing that bill. That not only has problems from an equity perspective. It is also a problem from a social and community perspective. We cannot allow people to feel that they are being left behind by this transition and that the people who are gaining the benefit and are being prioritised by this Government are the big boys and the big players. We want everybody to be able to benefit and to enjoy lower electricity prices and warmer homes. We want them to be energy independent. We want them to be able to drive electric vehicles and have solar panels on their homes. When they do need to access electricity or energy from the grid, we must ensure it is there at an affordable price. Unfortunately, the Government is far away from that at the moment.  However, it is not too late. There is now an opportunity to pause things and bring in that review. If the Government is so convinced that this LNG facility is the only answer to this energy security risk, it needs to spell it out for people. It should do the analysis and let everybody see it because it is costly and, as I said, not just financially but environmentally. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Clendennen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Clendennen  I welcome the Bill. It is legislation that we debated at length at the Joint Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy. As a member of the committee, I can say that we had open and frank encagement. Objectively, our goals are to be independent, secure and affordable and to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels but we also need to ensure that we have a backup policy in place.  I listened to some of the criticism about other projects taking too long to deliver and that we talk about them too much. On the other hand, we now want to talk about them further. There was pre-legislative scrutiny of the Bill. It was to a shorter timeframe but we must highlight and emphasise that this is an emergency, this is a temporary measure and we need to ensure its delivery. Fundamentally, there is a responsibility on the State to ensure that we have security around our energy and that is the objective here, while also being cognisant of our client obligations.  This Bill came about as part of 17 actions highlighted by the Department's 2023 strategy, Energy Security in Ireland to 2030. I recently attended an EirGrid strategy launch where its representatives said that during the Covid-19 pandemic, demand was not peaking and we did not have the same level of economic activity that would result in spikes. However, since we have exited the pandemic, there is that additional demand and additional focus required to ensure investment. Considering current global volatility and international conflicts, how they weaponise energy supplies and how fragile global markets can be, we must have our own independence. In that context, it is unacceptable not to act when we can see clearly where our vulnerabilities lie. To that end, I support the Bill and the intentions behind it. This is an insurance policy for the State.  We also have a temporary energy generation facility at Shannonbridge in my constituency to ensure that we do not see mass blackouts. We must be fair and open to the public at large that we need that backup plan and energy security. We need a contingency in place to plan for the worst.  In terms of independence, we are going in completely the opposite direction when we talk about interconnectors. We cannot depend solely on our neighbours for our energy supply. We must have independence. That is another reason it is so important that we ensure this Bill proceeds.  To be fair to the debate at the committee, one of the items we debated comprehensively in terms of the provisions in the Bill was how we would allow development or operation by a commercial operator. Those concerns have been listened to, despite the shorter timeframe for pre-legislative scrutiny. Only public bodies will be prescribed by the Minister in relation to this operation.  If this is truly to be a strategic reserve, we need to prepare for the worst-case scenario and it must stay within the confines of State control as a result. We are seeing growing demand and growing economic activity and we need to ensure we proceed with this strategic gas emergency reserve in the form of the floating storage and regasification unit in Clare. It must be strictly an emergency reserve. It cannot become a backdoor for new commercial fossil fuel infrastructure, nor can it lead to an overall increase in our national gas consumption.  Our focus on the development of renewables must be steadfast. County Offaly has been to the fore. I hear other speakers here say we need to do more on renewables. Why do they not go back to look at their county development plans and outline more spatial areas for renewable development? That is what we did in Offaly and we have been successful with 30% of our landmass in the county. We are one of the highest producers of energy in the country. Rather than looking at national Government, Deputies should have a discussion at local government level to see how county development plans can be prepared and devised.  I cast my mind back to the national broadband plan and some of the commentary of the Opposition about that plan facing catastrophic failure and it being reckless to proceed with it. It is the same song with a different tune today. We need this. We need to ensure we remain competitive, that we see digital and tech advancements and that we keep our position on the global stage in attracting employment and making sure this is a good place to invest, work and live. This is not a decision of either-or when it comes to large energy users or homes. It has to be that they work concurrently and for the right reasons.  We cannot pause this. We have to proceed with it. It is an important Bill. It sends the right message that Ireland is working towards renewables, but is also working towards energy security. I commend the Minister of State on bringing the Bill to the House and look forward to seeing it pass. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  I sincerely believe that from a climate perspective, this is perhaps the most regressive legislation produced by the Government. Any legislation or infrastructure that requires us to overturn a ban on fracked gas is just inherently bad for the climate.  I heard the Minister of State on \"Morning Ireland\" this morning and I sympathise with his desire to enhance our energy security, particularly in the current context. We all understand the vulnerabilities Ireland faces. We know the risks posed by geopolitical instability and our over-reliance on imported fossil fuels. Equally, we know the importance of ensuring households can heat their homes, hospitals can operate, businesses can function and that our entire energy system remains stable in times of crisis. None of us dispute that. Energy security matters, and there are lessons to be learned from the events of recent years when it comes to our energy system and energy security but it appears, based on this effort to import even more fossil fuel, that the Government is learning precisely the wrong lessons.  I would absolutely support genuine measures to strengthen Ireland's energy security. We raised these during pre-legislative scrutiny of this Bill. Other Deputies have raised them in this House today already. They include investment in renewables, energy storage, interconnection, demand management and grid improvements. This is the direction of travel we want to see, if we are serious about energy security and our climate commitments. Look at Spain. Following Putin's illegal invasion of Ukraine, it rapidly scaled up investment in renewables and it is now largely insulated from the recent fossil fuel price shocks because it is not importing quite so much oil and gas. This is the sort of effort we want to see here and I would gladly support the Government in such efforts.  What I and the Labour Party cannot support is legislation that risks locking us into greater fossil fuel dependence, while simultaneously weakening planning safeguards, diluting climate accountability and concentrating an extraordinary amount of power in the hands of a Minister. It is frankly ludicrous that the plan the Government has landed on to strengthen our energy security is to import more harmful and increasingly volatile fossil fuels. I would have thought recent events might at least have given pause for thought. We were talking about having to ration oil and gas just a few months ago. The reality that is becoming increasingly apparent, and which the Government is refusing to accept, is that strengthening our energy security and continuing to rely on imported fossil fuels are incompatible.  As I have said on a number of occasions, the best and perhaps only way to genuinely secure our energy supply into the future is to urgently and significantly scale up our renewable generation and, importantly, our storage capacity. We have the potential to achieve genuine energy sovereignty and, crucially, we have the potential to do so from clean sources. The Minister of State could have brought forward a Bill that would inject much-needed urgency into the deployment of renewables, particularly offshore wind. He could have brought forward a Bill to speed up the necessary works that need to be done on our ports so they can handle offshore wind turbines, or he could have prioritised the long-awaited marine protected areas legislation to ensure the necessary environmental safeguards are in place. He would certainly have my support in doing so.  Instead of seeking to speed up the deployment of renewables, the Government is further entrenching expensive, harmful and unreliable fossil fuels in our system the supply of which, at the end of the day, is largely out of our control. We fundamentally cannot reduce our dependence on fossil fuels by importing more of them. This will lock us into fossil fuel use for decades and the infrastructure contemplated here - offshore moorings, the onshore terminal, pipeline connection to the existing gas network - represents capital investment with a multi-decade operational lifespan. There is a structural tension with statutory climate commitments that require a trajectory to net zero by 2050 and which include carbon budgets.  In our pre-legislative scrutiny report, the Oireachtas climate committee recommended a sunset clause be included in the Bill with a clear phase-out mechanism and explicit decommissioning requirements. All of that is absent. Sometimes I wonder why we bother. There is no sunset clause, no legislated end date and no statutory pathway towards closure of the facility. There is no requirement the facility cease operations once particular energy security or renewable generation benchmarks are met. While the Government presents this facility as a sort of temporary, emergency piece of infrastructure, there are virtually no safeguards against it becoming a permanent feature of our energy system. This is where the lack of trust in the Government's plans for this facility other Deputies have spoken about comes from. I and other members of the Opposition have submitted amendments to give effect to our pre-legislative scrutiny recommendations and I hope the Minister of State will genuinely consider these on Committee Stage.  The Minister of State is bringing forward this Bill on the back of an energy security review, but the landscape has changed completely since that review was carried. Even prior to the present fossil fuel crisis, during pre-legislative scrutiny, the committee heard extensive evidence suggesting the assumptions made when the review was conducted around demand, security risks, renewable deployment, storage technologies and so on, had evolved considerably in the meantime and the committee report recommended a new review be carried out on that basis. That recommendation has also been ignored.  Let us talk about the cost. It has been estimated that the LNG terminal will cost just shy of \u20ac1 billion over the next decade. How will that be paid for? It will not be through higher prices levied against large energy users like data centres. Last week, the Labour Party brought forward a motion calling on the Government to make data centres pay their fair share, but it was voted down. Ordinary household bill payers, who are already being fleeced, will foot the bill for this. The committee made several recommendations on the cost burden of the facility. The first recommendation of the report says the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, should have to carry out an assessment of the impact on household bills and justify the socialisation of LNG costs across households and small businesses. There is a also a recommendation that costs be weighted towards large energy users rather than households and another that an overall cost-benefit analysis be conducted. Again, none of these feature in the Bill. No protections for consumers against higher bills are included in the proposed law.  I would like to know whether any assessment has been carried out on the impact the recent crisis in the fuel markets has had on the Government's cost estimate. The European benchmark price for LNG soared by as much as 60% in the days following the start of Trump and Netanyahu's illegal war on Iran, after the shutdown of a major LNG facility in Qatar.  God knows when that war is actually going to come to an end and presumably the current extreme level of volatility is not priced into the previous cost estimate. The likelihood is the price we end up paying for this terminal over the next decade will far exceed \u20ac1 billion. This underscores the irresponsibility of going ahead with this proposal. We simply cannot secure our energy supply by further exposing ourselves to price shocks like this. We are already vulnerable to an increasingly unstable geopolitical arena and ordinary households and commuters are paying the price. Charging ahead with the introduction of even more fossil fuels to Ireland will only make matters worse.  One of the things that has frustrated me most in the conversation on energy security and this particular proposal is that energy insecurity and this LNG terminal are presented in binary terms as if it was a simple choice between building LNG infrastructure and energy insecurity, which I do not accept. There are alternatives, some of which I have mentioned, that strengthen security while simultaneously reducing emissions and that reduce our fossil fuel dependence rather than increase it. These alternatives have already been demonstrably successful elsewhere in Europe and I have already referred to Spain. It is incredibly frustrating this is being presented as our only option.  This Bill goes well beyond just being an energy security matter. It seeks to bypass not just our climate laws but also our planning laws which, funnily enough, were presented as the Minister's magnum opus in his previous brief. Sections 6 and 7 disapply both the Planning and Development Act of 2000 and the Planning and Development Act of 2024 to designated development carried out under an approval granted under section 29, which itself concentrates decision-making power in the hands of the Minister. Planning consent processes under those Acts would ordinarily require consideration of national planning policy, including the national planning framework and any climate-related material considerations. Their disapplication removes that layer of scrutiny entirely and channels decision-making exclusively to the Minister. We saw a similar arrangement in the passenger cap Bill earlier this week. It is true An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la has to carry out an environmental impact assessment and an appropriate assessment which the Minister must consider but he must also consider \"the urgent need to ensure and protect the security of gas supply in the State\". It is pretty obvious the latter will be given precedence.  Regrettably, despite the current extreme hot weather warnings and our abysmal record on decarbonisation, there is yet again no urgency when it comes to the climate. It is quite clear the only urgency the Government considers is facilitating more imported fossil fuels via an LNG terminal or essentially unrestricted additional flights from Dublin Airport. There is no real statutory requirement on the face of section 29 of the Bill for the Minister to give reasons for departing from, or accepting, environmental assessments beyond a few generalities. With this Bill the Government is trying to ram through approval of a hugely damaging piece of infrastructure by creating a bespoke planning route unavailable to other projects and certainly not ones that would benefit us from a climate and decarbonisation perspective. Like the passenger cap Bill, this is a significant departure from normal planning practice. It is a departure several stakeholders raised concerns about during pre-legislative scrutiny at the climate committee. Nobody is claiming our planning system is perfect - far from it - but public confidence depends on decisions being made through transparent and independent processes. When Government proposes to remove a project from the ordinary planning framework and place final authority directly in the hands of a Minister, it has a duty to demonstrate such extraordinary powers are absolutely necessary. I am not convinced it has done so.  The Bill goes further still. For the third time this term and the second time this week, the Government is proposing we abandon section 15 of the climate Act which requires public bodies to perform their functions in a manner consistent with national climate objectives and climate policy. Disapplying it removes a legally-operative constraint that would otherwise require those bodies to weigh climate considerations in discharging their statutory functions. This is a deliberative legislative choice to insulate the project from climate scrutiny at the decision-making level. By consistently disapplying section 15 when it is politically inconvenient, the Government is rendering it effectively meaningless but it exists for a reason. Climate and environmental considerations are not an optional extra. The climate crisis is quite literally existential and section 15 of the climate Act more generally is the legal framework through which we seek to meet our obligations. When Government starts carving out exemptions from climate legislation for fossil fuel infrastructure, it raises serious questions about the credibility of our commitment to our climate goals. If our obligations can be set aside whenever they become inconvenient, what confidence can the public have that climate legislation means what it says?  This issue featured prominently during pre-legislative scrutiny. Several witnesses voiced concerns about this provision, which will effectively deem LNG infrastructure compatible with our climate laws regardless of the emissions impact. Recommendation 13 of the pre-legislative scrutiny report stated \"The Bill should explicitly state that the Strategic Gas Emergency Reserve will be required to comply with Section 15 obligations under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015\". The Bill does the exact opposite. The recommendations in that report were agreed on a cross-party basis. There were some recommendations that did not make it in because we voted against them and the Government voted them down but this report was agreed across parties. To see it ignored so thoroughly is very depressing.  This is the second aggressively anti-climate Bill we have seen from this Government this week alone. The Government is telling people that taking climate change and our biodiversity crisis seriously was a luxury of a previous era and something that is now preventing progress. I fundamentally disagree with that line of thinking. The climate catastrophe facing us requires progress but it is a different kind of progress to the one this Government is currently offering. There is huge opportunity for our country in tackling our climate crisis. There are huge numbers of new jobs to be created, new industries to be established and new futures to be forged. This Government can and should be treating decarbonisation and our climate targets with the same urgency it is treating the delivery of this LNG reserve, the removal of the Dublin Airport cap and the provision of critical infrastructure.  The Government is going to guillotine debate on both this Bill and the Dublin Airport cap next week. In the Labour Party, we have a vision for a different kind of Ireland which is a fairer, better future-facing country but the proposals and Bills being put forward by this Government lack ambition for that different kind of Ireland and a different world. This Government is all about simply continuing the status quo and going back to doing things the same way we always have done, that is, captured by fossil fuel interests. Those of us who want this to change are called Luddites. The guardrails put in place by the previous Government to finally force this State and its governments to face up to our climate obligations are being systematically dismantled. I, the Labour Party and others in opposition will continue to push this Government to live up to its responsibilities and to give some hope to our future generations, who badly need it. We will be putting forward numerous amendments to this Bill and I look forward to debating them in the House in the limited time that is being given. I really hope the Government will take them seriously and integrate as many of them as possible into the legislation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cormac Devlin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cormac Devlin  I am pleased to speak on this Bill, which I support. Recent events in the Middle East have underscored the necessity of this Bill. The energy crisis caused by the conflict in the Middle East has seen record price hikes but, more importantly, raised questions over Ireland's energy security. This is an issue that I have highlighted on several occasions in the House in this term and the previous one.  We are an island at the end of the European supply line. We have no meaningful buffer and no gas storage. We are the only country in the European Union in that position. When a shock comes, it reaches us very quickly and it hits hard, so this Bill matters to us. The State-led strategic gas reserve in the form of a floating storage and regasification unit to be located on the Shannon Estuary, is a sensible, welcome and necessary measure. It will provide backup for our electricity supply at moments of low renewable output and it gives us a cushion in the event of a serious disruption to supply. I particularly welcome that it is designed as a temporary, State-owned, emergency-only facility. The Minister repeatedly said this was the plan. The scaremongering and disinformation we have heard has been disappointing but not surprising. The proposed structure matters. It reduces the risk of stranded assets, does not stimulate additional gas demand and it is compatible with our binding climate targets. This is energy security and climate responsibility working together, not against one another.  I also welcome the accelerated consenting framework in the Bill. The conventional planning route would have delivered this around 2031 and we cannot wait until then. The bespoke process here retains the essentials, namely, the environmental impact assessment, the appropriate assessment and public consultation, but within defined timelines. That is the right balance.  That is the right balance. It reflects a Government that has learned the hard lesson that infrastructure delayed is, too often, infrastructure denied. I want to be clear that this reserve is a safety net. It is not a strategy. A reserve is what we draw down in an emergency. It is not what keeps the lights on year after year.  I will use my remaining time to speak about the bigger picture. If the recent crisis has taught us anything, it is that we need to be far more ambitious about our indigenous supply. Corrib, which has served us well, is reaching the end of its productive life. When it goes, our domestic gas production goes with it and our import dependency becomes near total at precisely the wrong moment. I have long argued, including during my time on the climate action committee in the previous D\u00e1il, that we are dangerously exposed. I want to see us extend the productive life of the Corrib infrastructure where it is feasible and responsible to do so. The existing infrastructure off the Mayo coast is a national asset. There are indigenous prospects within tie-back range of it that could materially reduce our reliance on imported gas. That is gas that arrives with a carbon footprint many times higher than anything we would produce ourselves. It makes no environmental or strategic sense to shut down our cleaner production only to import dirtier gas through a single pipeline from another jurisdiction.  This is not a choice between fossil fuels and renewables; it is both, sequenced properly. I want to see us go faster on solar and far faster on offshore wind. The Minister of State is aware of my promotion of those renewables. Our offshore wind potential is among the best in Europe, but we have been far too slow to capture it. Ultimately, the renewable transition is the destination, but we will need a bridging supply to get there safely. We should be honest with people about that, rather than pretending otherwise.  I will mention households because all of this is abstract to families and households worried about heating bills. Oil prices have eased back in recent weeks from their crisis peak, and that relief must be passed on at the pump and on the bill. It cannot be absorbed quietly into margins. I ask the Minister of State to ensure the regulator and relevant authorities are watching this closely. Looking to the winter ahead, the Government must act to protect the most vulnerable. I ask that we increase the fuel allowance in the budget and seriously examine a further energy credit for households, particularly those in need. People have been through a challenging number of months and certain households will need support as we enter this winter.  With all that said, this is a Bill that is long overdue. The energy supply report that was published was referred to earlier. We have to use that as the basis. Any more time given to this will be time delayed to such a strategic infrastructural piece that this country needs. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Neville  I support this important Bill. Often, Government TDs assume things will go ahead and Ministers will lead the charge, but it is important that we stand behind them and explain the benefits.  When I was a councillor, I saw infrastructure in small, local ways, such as local bridges, roads or maybe a burst water pipe. In here, however, we are looking at the national issues. Coming into the national Parliament, we are so much more conscious of what is going on internationally. Deputy Devlin spoke about how energy has become key to the national conversation, but it is also key to the worldwide conversation. We often read about how energy is the key to national autonomy. If a country does not have access to energy, it is at risk of compromising its freedom. Obviously, I am not saying we are compromising our freedom but, at the same time, we need to ensure that we have opportunities for everyone. That is what this Bill is allowing us to do.  The Bill is not saying that we have to go in one specific direction. Rather, it is a part of a range of different targets and things we are putting in place to provide us with greater energy security. As Deputy Devlin outlined, it is not all about focusing on this specifically. This gives us the opportunity to seek other ways.  As someone who was a CFO of a solar energy company, I know the benefits of renewables. I would be the first to say that renewables are the way forward. I would put them on every roof in the country if I could. It is important to push for that, as well as ensuring we have offshore wind infrastructure. Those are important to do. In response to Deputy Ahern, no one on this side of the House is losing that focus. We are really focused on that. I can see that all across my party. At the same time, we are trying to put options and opportunities in place. It is about putting storage and back-up in place. Ultimately, we would all love it if we could just build wind farms and have it all done in the morning, with windmills outside our houses and everything solved, but it is honestly not as simplistic as that.  I listened patiently to Deputy Ahern for quite a long time. There is both good and bad in the different points he made. I agree with some of them and, obviously, I fundamentally disagree with others. I disagree with his description of the ethos on this side of the House. Ultimately, everyone in this Chamber wants what is best for the country and for the future of our children. We all want what is best for our families in many different ways, children or not. We are trying to secure their future. Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn will have different views, as will Deputy Cronin, but we are all coming here for the right reasons. We might have a different view of how those rules should be applied. Some say we should do less, while others say we should do more. I do not think anyone would be more aware of what the needs and requirements of the people in Clare are than the Minister of State, Deputy Dooley, who is sitting on the Front Bench. More than anyone else, he fundamentally knows the impact on the locality and, more importantly, the broad opportunities that exist in this situation.  To speak to the wider point, the infrastructure committee launched its latest report, a key part of which was the Critical Infrastructure Bill. The country and Government are doing well economically. No one needs me to say we are running budgets surpluses. We are an anomaly in the western world with the amount of money we have. We are very successful in that regard, but we must ensure we are investing it in infrastructure and the future of the country. This is one such step. I know Members might have a different view in this regard but if we do not put those templates in place, we will not be able to develop in the future. This is what this Bill is part of.  I want to make sure the Minister of State knows there is good support on this side of the House, rather than simply hearing the negative from the other side of the House. It is important we build that future because, ultimately, we are all here to do the best on behalf of the country. We may have slightly different ways of doing it but this is an important step towards energy security, which is a huge issue for the country. I welcome the opportunity to support the Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  This is the second Bill I will discuss this week which will act to tear holes in our country's climate ambition. It is doing that on a week when we are seeing the realities of the scale of climate change across Europe, with heat impacting on so many countries and making life intolerable for millions of people. The irony of this is lost on the Government, which is rushing through this legislation and the airport cap legislation with the minimum of debate. I will focus on that before I get into the substantive discussion.  I have heard other Deputies eloquently advocate for this legislation. There are clear, different approaches and views in this regard, and that is fine. However, if that is the case, let us test it. This Bill and the Dublin Airport cap Bill will be discussed on Committee, Report and Remaining Stages for two hours each next week. I cannot recall seeing such important legislation rammed through this House with such little respect. I have put a set of amendments down on each of these Bills and other members of the Opposition have done likewise. There is a difference in approach between the Government and the Opposition. Let that be tested on Committee Stage. It could be done on Committee Stage next week. We all know what the end result will be, but this could be tested on Committee Stage next week and the Bill could then proceed to Report Stage the following week. It would still be done by the end of this year. It is deeply disrespectful, but also indicative of the lack of seriousness with which the Government treats these issues, that it is simply ramming this through the D\u00e1il without the requisite opportunity to debate, amend or improve.  I will now turn to the legislation before us. My central issue with this Bill, the airport cap Bill and the Critical Infrastructure Bill is that all three seek a carve-out from the application of the climate action Act. With regard to this Bill, to be clear, no proposal to introduce new fossil fuel infrastructure into our country's energy mix should go ahead without a climate impact assessment.  That is exactly what section 33 of this Bill proposes to do. If an emergency reserve is needed, and it is a big \"if\", that \"if\" will be contingent on several factors. It will be contingent on how soon and how readily we can electrify our energy systems and support it with interconnection and support it with storage. Then it is critically important that a Bill that enables such a piece of infrastructure would take place within the framework of decarbonising our society. To do otherwise would create a situation where we develop a reserve which locks us in to further fossil fuel dependency well past its sale-by date. That, in my view, is what this proposal will do.  Every member of the Government who spoke on this said this is only for an emergency. If the Government is serious about that, let it help us achieve that by putting the relevant measures into this Bill, make sure it is time-bound and make sure it is compliant with our larger climate obligations in the Act and in the annual climate action plans. That is what would at least provide some element of reassurance that this is only emergency legislation. That could be done. I will be bringing forward amendments to allow that - other members of the Opposition will be doing the same - although they will not be accepted. That is why it is hard to hear this tale being spun that we are all in it together. There are two distinct views here about what this Bill could achieve and we will not even get the opportunity to tease that out over the next week.  Exempting fossil fuel infrastructure from the application of the climate Act sets a worrying precedent. It also makes a mockery of the efforts taking place all over the country, in households and in businesses in wide-ranging sectors of the economy, to reduce our emissions. What is happening with this legislation, taken in conjunction with the Critical Infrastructure Bill 2026 passed by the Houses, is the Government is creating a situation where our climate targets will undergo death by a thousand exemptions. Let us remember that where we exempt sections of society or the economy from the application of the Act, other sections of society have to meet the difference in terms of emissions. Therefore, we are pushing the burden onto households, small businesses and other parts of the economy.  We are exempting this liquefied natural gas, LNG, terminal but for every other public body in Ireland, the commitment to national mitigation plans and to the adaptation frameworks and the transition objectives all are legally binding. They are not only guidelines; they are legally binding. That is what happened in the Act all of us, all parties represented here, voted for in 2021. Now we have a major fossil fuel project that has been planned to work outside of the country's climate law and that will inevitably lead to calls for other pieces of infrastructure to be excluded too. We see that with the airport cap and the Critical Infrastructure Bill.  If the climate law applies to everything except the most carbon intensive projects, essentially, it applies to nothing at all. That is what we are doing in the three pieces of legislation that will be passed in this House over these two months.  Without the right guardrails in place in this legislation, we are putting ourselves at risk of creating significant fossil fuel lock-in within our energy system and doubling down on a higher cost of fuel for families and for homes. LNG terminals do not store LNG for long periods of time. They have to be continually topped off because of the burn off of LNG, even when there is no emergency. This creates a continual demand for the LNG gas in the energy system, sending the exact opposite message to what we should be sending right now.  We know that long-term use of fossil fuels is incompatible with our 2050 targets, which should take priority. Even if the terminal is built for security today, and let us not forget it will not be built today but will be operational in 2030 at the earliest, the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, has recognised that LNG terminals will have to be phased out within ten-to-15 years. Then we will have this terminal as a stranded asset. It will become unusable and uneconomic. I note that this Bill does not require the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, to have a clear pathway to wind down and decommission the reserve while approving it, and that only adds to those risks.  If we are to have a gas reserve, it should entail the smallest possible amount for the shortest possible period of time with a clear exit strategy, all of which is underpinned by the mechanisms of the climate Act. The Bill we are debating today does none of those things. Instead, it leaves the use of LNG in our energy system as an open-ended question at a time when we know just how unreliable supplies of fossil fuels can be globally.  I will turn to that point of security of supply because that has been the central argument that the Government has put forward. I believe tying ourselves into LNG will do the opposite of providing security of energy supply in our country. We know that using LNG fails to deliver affordability. We saw the first day of the Iran war, the price of LNG shot up 46% in one single day. The world's largest LNG terminal, Ras Laffan, in Qatar, was closed on day two of the Iran conflict. Twenty per cent of the world's LNG comes from there. Much of the rest of the LNG comes from the United States, with all the risks of being dependent on the whims of the Trump Administration and whoever follows him. We are tying our economy into a substance, a highly-polluting fossil fuel, that is unstable as to both its price and its availability. That is not energy security. What will deliver energy security for Ireland is producing our own renewable energy here at home and that should be our priority. That should be where the Government is fixing its time and where the Government is fixing the huge economic resources - \u20ac900 million - that this particular project will cost.  We should not be relying on other countries to produce our energy for us, such as using Qatari LNG or US fracked gas. We need our own energy so that we can make our own choices. The solution is to rapidly build onshore and offshore wind, develop our solar farms, put in place the energy interconnection systems that will tie us into other grids and ensure the energy we create here at times of high production from renewables is stored through rolling out battery storage at scale, and I raised this issue with the Taoiseach earlier this week.  When my party was in government, as part of the Government, we put in place the frameworks that would enable the roll-out of offshore wind. We went from a situation where there was only a skeleton crew of staff working in the Department of energy on the issue of offshore to creating a new offshore wind unit in the Department. We brought together a task force, bringing in industry so that it could engage with the Department in terms of the barriers that existed there. As part of that Government, we worked with Ministers in other Departments to set up Marine Area Regulatory Authority, MARA, to get the marine planning legislation passed. That Government was able to advance five major renewable energy auctions in 2023. Three years on, there is still not one of those feeding into the grid. At the same time, every time wind energy industry representatives comes into this House and talk to TDs, they say An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la does not have enough staff to get the planning applications done in detail. The Minister, Deputy Chambers, will stand up and say that he doubled the number of staff in An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la and he is not giving any more. That is the barrier the industry experts have cited to us in getting our offshore wind energy system online. The barriers are lack of staff in An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la to undertake this scrutiny. It is not judicial reviews. It is not the climate Act. It is not environmental NGOs. It is a failure to address the substantive barriers to the delivery of offshore wind and of the wider electrification of our energy systems.  The Minister of State, Deputy Dooley, and I have spoken already about something small that will not change the world. In plug-in solar, even something small such as that, Ireland is behind because there is not that effort to bring those concerned, whether ESB Networks, EirGrid and the Irish standards authority, together to bring about a solution to allow more people enjoy lower cost energy from these solutions.  The Celtic interconnector, something that will guarantee significant energy security and enough electricity to support 450,000 households, is delayed by two years. These are the areas where the Government needs to focus. Instead, we have a grandiose project such as this.  We have Members on the backbenches touting nuclear fuel. We need to focus on the areas where we can actually deliver and have a track record but where there are clear barriers to the rapid delivery of the electrification of our energy networks. I wish the same passion and determination were put into the changes that would allow us to create our own energy in Ireland as have been put into driving forward this Bill and other Bills that undermine our climate obligations.  I will talk a little about the project itself because it is not going to deliver energy security in the short term. The best estimate we got in the committee was that it would take three and a half years - until 2030 - before this would be built, assuming there are no delays. There are few projects in this country where we can see that happening. It is going to cost \u20ac900 million in capital and running costs. This huge investment would pay for many of the solar panels Deputy Neville said he would love to see going up across the country.  We have to remember that by the time the terminal is open, climate targets will be higher, our carbon budget will be far more constrained and our reliance on fossil fuels should be declining, not growing. However, through this Bill and the facility that will be created under it, we will lock ourselves even further into a continued fossil fuel reliance, which could last for decades. This is completely misaligned with the climate goals the country agreed to. We should not be planning further fossil fuel energy infrastructure at the same time as we are trying to move away from fossil fuels as a core national policy. This creates a real risk that when this terminal is created, our energy goals and climate policies will have moved on. By 2030 and 2031, we will be in a different place. Hopefully, some of that wind power will be feeding into our system, but we will have invested \u20ac900 million in this infrastructure.  To take the example of Germany, in 2022, it invested \u20ac2.5 billion in LNG infrastructure. Since then, it has had to spend more than \u20ac4 billion extra in state aid to cover the losses, as these terminals' operating costs continue to rise. These rising costs can be attributed to Germany's decreased reliance on natural gas since the terminals were built. That question of having a stranded asset is not one that has been examined in sufficient detail. In years to come, there will be real questions raised about the wisdom of investing so much in a large piece of expensive infrastructure when our national policy is that we do not want to use this fuel any more.  This Bill is a clear effort to undermine and weaken our climate law, in combination with the other three Bills I referred to earlier. I passionately believe in energy security for this country. I remember my parents talking to me about the late 1970s and the oil crisis in that period. Four times in my time in D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann, our country has been struck by dramatic energy security incidents, generated by the wars in Ukraine and Iran. Those energy crises have impacted on families and caused misery and financial hardship all over the country. I passionately believe in delivering security of supply, but I am not convinced by the argument the Government is bringing forward. Tying ourselves to a polluting fossil fuel that has seen its price spike and its availability shrink in each of these energy fuel crises is not the solution to our security of supply. Security of supply for energy in Ireland is delivered by making our own renewable energy here in Ireland. That is where the focus of this Government's action, legislation and investment needs to be. Very importantly, the Minister and his civil servants, in creating policy, need to focus on getting through the blockages in our system. The industry groups supporting the electrification of our nation's energy systems are trying to get through those blockages. However, they are not getting help because the focus is on work like such as this, namely, legislation that requires a huge amount of work and is locking us into a system and energy source we need to move away from.  I look forward to the opportunity to tease out in detail my objections and the objections of others to the Bill. I look forward to bringing forward meaningful solutions to some of the issues I have raised. I appeal to the Minister of State to speak to his colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, about the time allocated to this Bill. It is not acceptable to have two hours for Committee, Report and Remaining stages. It does not do his or any of our arguments justice. This is an important matter, and it deserves more than two hours. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  I was going to say I welcome the Bill, but I do not welcome it; it is a necessary evil. Its purpose is to secure the provision of energy to this country in the long term, at a time when the provision of energy and resources to generate energy are tremendously volatile and precipitous in terms of our access to energy.  I listened to Deputy O'Gorman say security of supply should be achieved by domestic generation. I would fully agree with that statement, but for the fact that we are not capable of generating everything we need on this island. Thankfully, we have access to the UK electricity market through the North-South interconnector, and I look forward to accessing mainland Europe electricity in 2028, through the Celtic interconnector, a 575 km undersea cable that will connect us to Brittany. When that is completed, we will have access to the electricity there. That will be an important part of building energy security for this country.  Some of the electricity coming through the Celtic interconnector will come from electricity generated by nuclear power stations. I do not have a problem with that but I would distinguish myself from other Government backbenchers who were referred to earlier. I do not think nuclear is part of the solution to our problems here, by any stretch. For a start, the cost involved is enormous. Moreover, the time delivery for it is way beyond what we would need to put in clean solutions such as wind, solar and, hopefully, wave, which is not being used nearly enough. More importantly, the use of nuclear energy as a solution to the security of supply for Ireland would build up enormous problems for future generations, and I simply do not hold with that idea. I am not afraid of the conversation in that regard, but I do not think nuclear is part of the answer.  I understand why this Bill is being brought forward. As I said, I consider it to be a necessary evil. The reason for providing for an LNG terminal is to secure a supply of gas, if it is required and the supply of gas from elsewhere ceased. However, I am still not happy about that. For example, I am not happy that there are no guarantees in this legislation regarding fracked gas that might come here as LNG. There are not, and there cannot be, because it would create all kinds of other difficulties. It is, of course, important to build resilience into our system but I wonder if we will have missed the boat by the time we do so in 2030.  As of today, there is not a single operational offshore wind farm in this country. The Minister of State will agree that this is not just regrettable; it is disgraceful. I know the Arklow Bank wind farm has been decommissioned but may well come back into service in due course, with further applications and all the rest. I am aware of projects off the coast of my constituency. I welcome those and look forward to their operation but we are years away from seeing those generate electricity. We have other problems, including growing electricity demand. If the LNG terminal is not going to be available until 2030, as I understand it, that in itself creates a problem from the point of view of its real assistance in energy security for this country. I wonder about the efficacy of it in that regard.  There is always a balance to be struck to meet the requirements of the State. As bad as this might be, it would be a thousand times worse if, in a couple of years' time, there were rolling blackouts on our electricity grid or people were not able to avail of electricity for their homes and businesses or, worse, for essential services. We must do everything we can, as a Government, State, country and body politic, to ensure we are putting in place resilience measures so that we can compensate if there is a problem in this regard.  Security of supply is central. We should be moving towards becoming energy independent. That should the end point of all our energy goals. We have the natural resources to do it. We have the wind, and I am told we have the solar. Even though it might feel like it today, it does not feel like it on a cold Monday in November.  The point is that the natural resources exist and if we are to develop wave technology and other renewable technologies, we can do that. I recognise there is a long lead-in to that, which is far too long, in my opinion. The blocking and delays of offshore wind projects, which are even less problematic than onshore wind projects, are unacceptable. That is the kind of thing that we should target. If we are going to use a slot for controversial legislation, let us do it for that instead of creating an LNG terminal. However, I recognise the policy objective behind it.  There are other aspects of the Bill that I am a little unhappy with. The objections I have primarily relate to drafting. For example, at the end of the Bill, Part 7, section 38, creates a consequential amendment to the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992. This is something that I say about legislation all the time. If we expect legislation to be readable by ordinary citizens, the amendment should be contained in the amending section. Section 38 states that a section of the 1992 Act is amended by replacing paragraph (b) with the following words, which is no use to anybody reading this Bill when it comes law. They then have to go and get the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992 and read the two of them together to understand what this legislation is doing. It is a consistent disservice that we do in this House to the citizens of this country that we cannot, in amending a section, essentially repeal the old one and restate it in this Bill so that it is easily read by citizens. It would be an easy thing to do, yet we never, ever do it. This is, far and away, not the worst example. There have been more than a dozen Road Traffic (Amendment) Acts, for example. The 1961 Act, the primary Act, simply does not exist any more because it has been amended so many times, yet we have no consolidated Act. It is a point I make all the time because we would serve people much better if we were willing to actually engage with something that they could read.  The other drafting points I wanted to make relate to the judicial review provisions in section 35 and elsewhere. The test for leave for a judicial review is amended in section 35(6). There is no need for that. We should allow the courts to do their job. Judicial review is a constitutional right that citizens have. We should not water that down. If they want to challenge it, let them challenge it. It is the same with the cost provisions in section 37(1). Why on earth would we need to put a cost provision in? The courts are managing that for themselves. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed  As Ireland prepares to assume the Presidency of the European Union, the question of energy security has rarely been more urgent or relevant. While we are making real progress on the development of renewables, we must also recognise the vulnerabilities that remain in our system. With the risk of disruption to gas supply, whether through geopolitical instability or hybrid attack, our critical infrastructure underlying the need for a strategic gas emergency reserve, and I support that in principle. The recent global energy shocks have exposed just how fragile energy systems can be and how dependent we are on imported fuels. While the current crisis may have eased, with petrol and diesel prices coming down at the pumps, it would be a mistake to assume that those risks have passed. The reality is that we are entering a more uncertain and volatile geopolitical environment and our domestic energy policy must reflect that.  The Joint Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy undertook pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme of this Bill. We heard from a range of witnesses and had a pretty thorough debate about the merits of the facility. The clear conclusions from that process were that while reducing gas demand and scaling up renewables would significantly strengthen our position, those measures alone are not sufficient to fully address the energy security risks that we face. Ultimately, a strategic gas emergency reserve, implemented on a transitional basis only, and used only in the event of supply disruption, represents the most immediate and cost-effective way to enhance Ireland's energy resilience. Importantly, the committee was also clear that this reserve must not distort the market or lead to increased gas consumption in Ireland. It is an energy security measure only and should solely be seen as a bridge to maintaining greater gas security and resilience. I urge the Minister of State that the Government recognise the importance of this and ensure that this legislation remains focused on that purpose alone, and there are clear measures for decommissioning the facility, and a sunset clause, on the basis that it will not be with us in the long term.  The debate also speaks to a more fundamental question about what energy mix we can expect to see in Ireland in the future. It is a topic that the Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach knows comes up at the committee frequently. While we are rightly committed to a system predominantly powered by renewable energy, there will still be a need for dispatchable power. Renewable energy by its nature depends on the weather. While batteries are improving and can manage short-term changes in supply and demand, they do not and will not, in the short term, be able to sustain electricity supply over long periods. Yesterday at the committee, we discussed nuclear power. Lots of people have been getting very excited about nuclear power, but the hard reality, as we heard yesterday, is that it will be at least 2040 and most likely 2050 before we can get it. It is very expensive. We have no regulatory regime in Ireland and no legislation to support it. Much of the technology is unproven. Small modular reactors, SMRs, have been talked about for so long. There are 64 projects in various guises at the moment worldwide. Only two are in operation to demonstrate the technology. It is just not ready at the moment.  Investment in our grid will alleviate some of the issues relating to power, providing a level of flexibility and interconnection with other markets which currently does not exist. Plug-in solar, as the Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach, Deputy Heneghan, has mentioned numerous times, and as mentioned by Deputy O'Gorman, is another thing we should do to distribute the load. Without these transformations, the ambition of a renewables-led system cannot be realised. However, even with the grid upgraded, Ireland will continue to require reliable, dispatchable baseload power. For the foreseeable future, that role will continue to be met primarily by gas. I wish it was different, but that is the reality. The strategic gas emergency reserve is a reflection of that reality. It is a pragmatic and necessary step to ensure that, in the event of a severe disruption, we have the capacity to protect households, businesses, and critical services.  When we looked at that issue, community groups came in from the environs where the facility is to be built. It is important that they are kept up to speed about what is happening. They have all sorts of concerns, from health to impact on the local community. It is important that the Government engages with those communities and brings them along on this journey as this facility is developed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  Ireland's energy system is a mess at the moment. We have the highest domestic electricity prices in the whole European Union. We are enormously exposed to shocks. Our grid is falling apart at the moment. It is not able to handle the electricity that is coming onto the system at all. It has happened as a result, in large part, of an absence of investment since the crash. We have had infrastructure capital depreciation at an enormous rate, which has not been filled with investment, as a result, in large part, of the Minister's Government.  We need gas storage in Ireland. Ireland is the only country in the European Union without a gas storage facility. That leaves us significantly exposed to changes in the supply of gas and the price of gas too. This came to light in its most severe manner during the onset of the Ukraine war, when the supply of gas through most of Europe collapsed. We saw a massive increase in the cost of gas. This crisis continues today, with the war in Iran, a situation whereby a quick change in the Strait of Hormuz has had knock-on effects on the price of gas in this country. These are not aberrations. We are living in an unstable world and the locations of the production of gas are often the most unstable on the planet.  Obviously gas is really important in the pricing and supply of electricity, because we have a system in this country, the Government's system, whereby we have marginal pricing when it comes electricity. That means the price of electricity is dependent on the last unit of electricity that is produced. In this country, it is typically produced by gas. This dependency is not going anywhere soon, for a number of reasons. One is the slow increase in renewable energy, and another is that the Government is significantly increasing demand because it is lamping on serious numbers of data centres. At the moment, about 24% of all electricity consumed in the State is being consumed by data centres, an outlier in Europe, where typically 4% to 5% of electricity in other countries is consumed by data centres.  This means, no matter how much sustainable energy that we push onto the system, we are never going to reach the end because gas will always be necessary because the Government is increasing the demand for gas at a serious rate. Gas will play a role in the production of electricity for a long time to come. Even if that were not the case, we have a system that is highly unstable if we rely just upon renewable energy. There are many days when there is no wind or sun. You will always need a backup of gas-produced electricity. There is no doubt that we need a gas storage system in this country.  I want to talk about the infrastructure for a start. The infrastructure in this country is so poor it is incredible. We have bottlenecks and constraints, and it is leading to a significant dispatch down in terms of electricity providers. We are actually paying wind turbine companies to stop producing electricity at certain times because it cannot be accepted onto the system. Of course, that is an extra price for the end user. Then we are paying for the backup of the gas systems to come on as well during that particular time. We have a strange system now whereby every extra wind turbine that we add onto the system has a diminishing return in terms of value to the system. I am not saying that they do not have a value or that it is not beneficial, but each extra turbine is less beneficial because the system is not able to allow for those turbines to come along.  I am old enough the remember the oceans of bumf that used to come from the Government that used to say that Ireland would be the Saudi Arabia of sustainable energy development. The Minister of State must remember that himself. There used to be brochures upon brochures telling people that we were going to become net exporters in terms of electricity. What has actually happened? The opposite. We are significant net importers of electricity. That is going to increase. The more connections we plug in to the rest of Europe, the more electricity that we will import. One of the reasons for this is Government incompetence and Government lack of investment. I will give the House an example of Government incompetence. Over the last 15 years, the Government has had five international conferences on offshore wind energy. The Government has paid for five conferences and invited Ministers from all around the world and experts in companies to those five conferences on offshore wind energy. On the other side of the equation, how many wind turbines do we have offshore? Zero. We have had more conferences on offshore wind turbines in this country than we have offshore wind turbines. You could not make this up. If you were to create a comedy show to lampoon the Government's incapability to deliver energy, you would not have the creativity to contrast those two elements in the manner that they are there. There is such a problem in relation to this. This issue is getting worse. There are no offshore wind turbines at the moment. Many of the companies currently engaging in the system to become wind energy companies are actually disengaging now as a result.  We in Aont\u00fa believe we need to build renewable energy in this country. We want to see a far bigger element of the electricity production come from renewables. We want to see this country become energy secure. We talk a lot in this Chamber about food security. Energy security is as important as food security in this country. The more dependent we are on other countries, the more insecure we are. We believe that we need more microgeneration. More homes need to become self-sufficient in electricity. We need more rooftop production of electricity. The way to do that is to make sure that those solar systems are accessible to everybody. They are not accessible to everybody because the grants that are available are still far too small for low-income and middle-income families. We want to see more farmers get involved. Energy should be seen as a crop for farmers to be able to make a living from. Far more use should be made of sheds, land and biodigestion. I went to the headquarters of the Belgium electricity provider a number of years ago. We were looking at the grid system. They were looking at the grid and seeing a reduction in the grid over a number of years. I asked why the grid was reducing. They said that electricity would be locally generated in the future, that we are not going to have the necessity for the massive grids to transport electricity across the country and far more electricity will be microgenerated and locally generated.  Another aspect of this is a spatial element. A lot of the wind generation is happening in locations where the industry is not and, as a result, that creates the bottlenecks and difficulties getting the electricity to these locations. We should be developing industry into the areas where the electricity is coming from. It is very similar to the whole debate on taking water from the Parteen Basin to send to Dublin and add more of a population to Dublin rather than adding the population to Limerick, and, as a result, not having to move that resource so far in that area.  We want to see a healthy environment. We believe in a biodiverse environment. We want to see this country grow strongly in making sure that we have a healthier environment. We also need to make sure that there is human balance in that discussion. There are European laws, such as the habitats directive, which make it difficult for human beings to live in certain parts of the country. The big problem in Enniscorthy at the moment is the floods. I love the pearl mussel. I want to see the pearl mussel to do well. Unfortunately, the pearl mussel is located right in the middle of Enniscorthy, which stops the building of these flood defences. As a result, Enniscorthy has flooded for the last 25 years. Midleton flood defences have waited 14 years for a planning application to be put in. One of the issues here is we have to have a realisation that human beings also share these locations. Laws that come from Europe, such as the habitats directive, need to take that into consideration too.  We also need to realise that one of the problems we have in energy production in Ireland is that we have the slowest planning, tendering, procurement, licensing and judicial reviews in the whole European Union. All of these tools necessary for the production of infrastructure are slower here than they are in most of the European Union. That is because of this Government's incompetence on those issues.  I have problems with this Bill that are important. LNG is likely to be the source of the gas storage. Fracked gas is a major element of LNG. Fracked gas is incredibly damaging for the locations from which it is fracked and it has a far higher emission rate in terms of methane, which is pushed out in the system too. Aont\u00fa is against fracked gas in Ireland. It would be hypocritical to support an energy solution that includes fracked gas from other parts of the world. I also believe that there has not been enough examination of the potential impact of the gas terminal on the communities in County Clare and their health. That is important. Local communities must have consent for the production of infrastructure. When I went to Belgium, I asked what the parameters and priorities were to plan for infrastructural projects for their electricity. Second on that list was the idea of community consent. Community consent is nowhere in the aspects of the development in Ireland. That lack of community consent and the lack of ability to achieve that community consent at the start slows down projects. The Minister of State will know that there is a Government plan to build a North-South interconnector for electricity. I was in short trousers when the Government came up with that idea. It is incredible. That project has been going on so long. It has gone through all the hoops and is still no closer to getting built. Why? Farmers along the curtilage of that particular route are refusing to allow the ESB and EirGrid onto their sites. They are not going to let them onto their sites. It is not going to get built as a result. The Government went bull-headed in relation to that particular project and, as a result, slow it down, instead of using the technology that is used between Aachen and Li\u00e8ge in relation to the movement of electricity, which is to underground it.  It is really important that community consent is worked out at the start.  At the back of all this is the issue of data centres. Data centres are significantly pushing up the price of electricity for individuals. It is causing problems with the energy system being on a knife-edge at all times. We need to stop data centres. They need to pay the same electricity costs as domestic households. That would do two things: it would decrease the price of electricity for domestic householders in Ireland and it would reduce the incentive for data centres to come here.  There is a lot in the process that we are yet to look at. We will wait until the committee has looked at the Bill. We probably disagree with many of the Opposition parties in that we believe we do need a gas storage system. Whether this is the gas storage system remains to be seen. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  It is funny, for all the talk about speaking rights, to see a lot of Opposition not turning up to speak. This is a giant infrastructure project. I am not here to wreck this Bill - energy has always been a priority for me, having studied it before I had the honour of being elected \u2013 but we really need to look at it. I understand we need energy security. If, God forbid, there was an issue with one of the interconnectors or there was an energy disaster, critical services, hospitals, homes and people who really need it would lose access to power. That needs to be addressed. A more accurate cost-benefit analysis of this project should be carried out and compared with the option of decentralising our grid with more distribution system operators, DSOs, energy sharing and battery storage. I welcome the recent announcements on storage and how it is being looked at. I held a meeting in the audiovisual room with Energy Storage Ireland which was attended by a lot of Deputies and Senators. It was looking at changing the current regulations in the area.  I second what a lot of Deputies have said about data centres paying the same price as domestic energy users. Possibly, they should pay more. One way they could reduce the cost would be by using on-site renewable-generated electricity. I hope my Bill will enable them and other high-energy users to do so.  The \u20ac900 million cost of building the facility could be put into more renewables or enabling people to use plug-in solar. I thank the Department for publishing the consultation on plug-in solar from 2024. I read the five reviews \u2013 I think it was EIA, Bord G\u00e1is, ESB, EirGrid and ESBN and the Electricity Association \u2013 and a lot of them were very happy with it so I do not understand why the Department was saying it would be dangerous. The UK made a recent announcement on plug-in solar. We should run a pilot scheme and allow people in Fingal or Dublin City Council or any other county council with new-build social and affordable housing to have plug-in solar installed and show the savings to the State and the council through these systems. Some 3% or 4% of German electricity is generated from plug-in solar systems. That is no small feat for a system that can cost \u20ac300 or \u20ac400 from a Lidl or Aldi and the person can take it with them if they move. That is something that can really help. There is \u20ac900 million for this project. I know a plug-in solar system cannot power a hospital but an on-site best battery system which was charged up at night rate from the grid, stored for those emergencies at multiple locations in these systems, is another option we should be examining. We could also store HVOs for hospitals and use them for generators if there was to be an energy disaster. We are putting ourselves in a clear demand response. LNG cannot be stored for long periods in this system. It needs to be used. I welcome the work that has gone in by the Department. I also want to acknowledge EirGrid and ESB Networks - I generally do not do so but they do deserve some credit - as renewable sources supplied 49% of Ireland\u2019s electricity. I know the hard-working men and women in these companies are doing the best they can. Our grid was very old and they had to do everything they could but, as the Minister of State knows, in this House we rarely congratulate people. It is something we should do more in politics.  The CRU has approved up to \u20ac18.9 billion in green investment, which is a genuine step. However a recent article said it would not be able to take on external staff. It needs to take on external staff because it needs to be a regulator and to do its job. I welcome the engagement I have had with it and the Department.  I said I would not go over five minutes but now I have got going. Serious engineers are doing serious work. Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn mentioned the interconnectors. We are on an island which is politically divided, sadly. That is something I would love to see change during my time in this House. When that happens we will have people in a single government on this island of Ireland. However, when it comes to the interconnectors, we are seeing repeated cases of nimbyism where local politicians object to an overhead cable. I understand Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn referred to undergrounding the cables but induction means it will not be viable for long distances. I understand that it might be used in parts and it might be brilliant in some cases. Farmers should have the right to ask for the cables to go underground on their land rather than above it.  We were told this reserve is needed to bring about energy independence but I would again ask how adding one more single point of failure brings more energy independence and security. Surely multiple points of failure would bring that? If, God forbid, there was an attack on our energy infrastructure, on one of the interconnectors, for example, surely having one large LNG terminal would make it a big bullseye for someone who wants to take out our energy infrastructure. Multiple underground energy storage units would be energy independence and security in my opinion. Maybe the Government is doing that and it just does not want me to say that on the record of the House.  On ports, Ireland has only 44 ha of planned offshore renewable energy space. Belfast has a backlog of bookings and is the only port suitable for large scale ORE. We are missing an opportunity. I have welcomed the investment into Cork Port many times and I also welcome the work the Department is doing with port marshalling to allow more investment into port.  I will have two amendments to the Bill which I look forward to discussing.  I have said before that Churchill tried before to limit coal coming into Ireland to force de Valera\u2019s hand. The UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, resigned recently. Looking at the polls, we do not know who will be in power in UK after the next election. Making our country dependent on an interconnector when we do not control the energy coming from the other side is not energy independence. I know this would but I am talking on the broader scheme. The Bill should be amended to include a clause to re-examine that.  I support the principle of the Bill. It is a necessary evil, as Deputy Ward said. A lot of work could have been done by a previous government, when the Green Party was in coalition, to prevent this. I can only do what I can do when I am in this House since my election. I ask the Minister and the Department to look at my amendments and consider the discussion I hope to have about the future-proofing of our grid.  I will ask once more about plug-in solar. I welcome that we are having discussion on it at the climate and energy committee. It is a quick fix, it is low cost and will save people in the constituency I represent money. I welcome the engagement the Minister of State and the Minister, Deputy O\u2019Brien, have had.  That only took me eight minutes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment (Deputy Timmy Dooley)  In line with the Deputy\u2019s comments, I congratulate him on being so succinct in his points. He managed to do it in a relatively quick time.  I will make a number of general comments. We have had a good debate across a lot of areas, many of which are not part of or subject to this legislation. This Bill is the first stage in addressing the energy security deficit that we have.  It is an enabling piece of legislation to allow for the procurement of the necessary permissions. It sets out a timely way to do that by setting aside certain pieces of existing legislation in order to get it done at the haste it needs to happen. Everybody recognises, and there has been a broad consensus, that we need energy security. Others have pivoted to saying what we should be doing is addressing the renewables issue, which of course we are. Bringing forward this piece of legislation in no way distracts from the Government's agenda to move towards and reach our climate change targets in relation to the reduction of CO2 emissions, the electrification of our economy and generation of that electricity from renewable resources within our own ambit. It is the right thing to do from a climate change perspective. It is the right thing to do from an energy security perspective. It is the right thing to do for our citizens and businesses into the future, from the perspective of competitiveness. It guarantees us costs. It allows us to reduce costs and not to be vulnerable to the kinds of shocks that everybody has talked about. I know we are in a political Chamber but if you strip away a lot of the politics, there is little between any of us in this House about where we need to go.  It is the case that we are all aligned on renewables but to get renewables at scale and reach the capacity to power our economy when the wind is not blowing or the sun is not shining, we need something else to power our electricity generation. We will require greater amounts of that as we move heating, transport and more components of our economy onto the grid and we need to invest in our grid. We are doing that. I know there is some criticism that we do not have any turbines in the water at the moment. We were ahead of others, and we have fallen behind for sure. However, the plans we have in place and the projects at different stages of permissions were not mentioned at all. We have to work them through, and we expect by 2031 or 2032 to have between 3 GW and 5 GW of electricity generated from offshore renewable sources. We are at about 8 GW on land at the minute, between solar and wind. That is a significant quantum of electricity.  The previous Government changed the strategy for the development of offshore renewables. Rather than having it being developer led, identifying sites and responding to various options, we now have a planned approach in place. The DMAP for an area off the south-east coast of Ireland has worked well. The bid went through last December. Some 900 MW of electricity has been procured and that is now working its way through the planning system. The State has derisked projects like that by capturing the subsea data and providing it to the bidders. There was a caustic comment about the number of conferences we have had. I have participated in those. I have travelled to encourage international developers to participate in those auctions. That is to the long-term benefit of Ireland. There is a recognition among the large companies that take on these projects that Ireland is a good place to invest, and they are following through on that. There were three or four bidders for the auction off the south-east coast. They are still interested in Ireland and there are three other opportunities in the same designated zone, which will be going to auction over the coming months and year. In addition, the State has undertaken a national designation for such sites, and we will have all of those sites identified by the end of 2027. That strategy is working towards our commitment out to 2040, so we will have identified all the necessary sites to generate an additional 15 GW of electricity. That will far surpass our domestic demand. It opens up opportunities if we can get the right interconnectors in place. We have the Celtic one coming on board. The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, on behalf of the Government, recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Spain to look at the possibility of interconnection there too. We are travelling at significant pace and scale now to reach our renewable targets.  We are also developing a strategy for hydrogen because we identified that getting to 2050 and reaching net zero, particularly with regard to our electricity generation, will not be possible without hydrogen or some component thereof, be it ammonia or whatever. Ultimately, if we get to a point where we are able to use the electricity for the purpose of generating hydrogen at times where the demand is not on the grid, we will have effective storage of clean energy in a molecule format that can be stored. It will either be that or through ammonia, whatever is the safest method of doing it as technologies develop. That ensures you are not grounding electrons or doing dispatch downs.  Some seem to suggest, from a critical perspective, that the Government was not talking a strategic approach but of course we are. We are planning it now in a long-term strategic way, recognising where our targets are and what we have to achieve. In the here and now, today, and beyond 2030 as we head towards 2040, we will still need fossil fuels to fill that gap in our energy mix. It would be foolhardy of any administration of whatever hue in this House to somehow walk away from its responsibility to provide insofar as it can a back-up storage plan in the less likely but still possible event of some disruption to the two gas interconnectors out of Scotland. For years gone by, we were drawing a significant amount of our gas from the Corrib gas field. As that is petering out, and the level of gas coming from it is reducing significantly, we have to move on this. Frankly, I think we should have moved sooner. That would be my criticism. This should have been in place. We are doing it now. Others then suggested we were baking in or locking ourselves into fossil fuel infrastructure. Had we allowed some of the commercial operators who sought to do this to build a gas terminal, then yes we would be locking ourselves in. This is a mobile piece of kit. There will be some hardware on the ground but, in essence, it is a ship storing gas connected to our pipeline. When the Government gets to a point that it no longer requires that level of storage, the asset moves on.  A lot of questions were raised today that do not really relate to this Bill. This is just about the permission and setting aside certain elements of existing planning legislation to get the fast-tracked approach through. Another Bill will come forward later this year that will effectively be the operational component, and which will address the costs and the kinds of commitments that have been sought with regard to the length of time, usage, access for private capital and all of that. All of those elements will be in a later Bill. The issues were raised and there are amendments. I have had a quick look at them and have been briefed on a number of them. They are more likely to relate to the next Bill rather than this Bill. Some of the concepts and discussions we were having today and the issues raised have more application in the operational piece of legislation rather than just on the planning side. Deputy Whitmore raised a number of issues she was concerned were not in this Bill, and I want to assure her and many others that those elements will be addressed or, if they are not, Members can discuss them with us. We will happily look at them. I obviously make no commitment in advance of a piece of legislation that has yet to be published. The heads of Bill probably still have to go to Government to clear but we have a broad plan here and we want to implement it. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and declared carried."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Development (Strategic Gas Reserve) Bill 2026: Second Stage"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_35","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Message from Select Committee","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_35","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Barry Heneghan)  The Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade has completed its consideration of the Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2026 and has made no amendments thereto. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Message from Select Committee"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_36","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_36","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Barry Heneghan)  I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case:  Deputy Shane Moynihan - To discuss delays in reimbursement under the cross-border healthcare directive.  Deputy Jen Cummins - To discuss the arts and humanities Research Ireland funding.  Deputy Tom Brabazon - To discuss the loss of staff at a school in Priorswood.  Deputy Malcolm Byrne - To discuss the development of Bunclody Community College, County Wexford.  Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan - To discuss the reimbursement of a drug and implementation of the drug reimbursement system.  Deputy Pa Daly - To discuss delivery of a new building for a school in County Kerry.  Deputy Colm Burke - To discuss actions to reduce the risk to children who require MRI scans under anaesthetic.  Deputy Barry Ward - To discuss steps to ensure that LGBTQI+ people who are victims of hate-motivated incidents have confidence in reporting offences to An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na.  Deputy Gary Gannon - To discuss the proposed reforms of the criminal legal aid system.  Deputies Se\u00e1n Crowe, John Lahart, Paul Murphy and Ciar\u00e1n Ahern - To discuss the timeline for completion of the Sancta Maria College school building and sports hall project.  Deputy Darren O'Rourke - To discuss the urgent need to address the deficit of playing pitches, playgrounds and public green space in Meath.  The matters raised by Deputies Jen Cummins; Darren O'Rourke; Se\u00e1n Crowe, John Lahart, Paul Murphy and Ciar\u00e1n Ahern; and Barry Ward have been selected for discussion "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_37","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_37","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_38","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Research Funding","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_37","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_37","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_38","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  I wish to raise the issue of the growing concern in Ireland's academic community with regard to the future of funding for arts, humanities and social science research under the new Research Ireland strategy. Before getting into the details, I note that I come from an arts background. My primary degree was in history, sociology and English, my next was in sociology and I have a doctorate in education, so I am clearly a little biased on this. I really feel the value of the arts, social sciences and humanities in terms of how we are as a country and how we conduct ourselves. That is not to say that I am anti-STEM at all. To balance that off, my husband works in that field, and my son is now doing it in college, so I think we can have a balanced conversation.  It is important that we are not pitting one thing against the other. That is the nub of the issue here. Research Ireland has a finite amount of money, and it can only fund a certain number of things, but value needs to be put on both STEM and the arts, humanities and social sciences. If we look at the background of this, I am bringing it forward because almost 2,000 academics from universities across the country wrote an open letter to The Irish Times expressing the concerns they have with regard to what Research Ireland's current direction appears to be, and that it is towards more industry-focused research, which they feel is undervaluing the arts, humanities and social sciences.  Of course, it is important that we have research that is able to grow the economy and that looks to the technological innovations we will need to have in the future. I have stood in this Chamber several times to talk about what we need from a science perspective because I am also the spokesperson for further and higher education, research, innovation and science - the shortest title of any spokesperson role, I would say. That is not to say that it only has to be that way. We need to make sure that when the industry is funding and leading what we want, it does not take over the other things that are necessary as well.  When people look at the arts and humanities, they think that they are just subjects that you do - they are nice but you will never get a job from that. I note there was a debate recently about getting rid of arts programmes, and I would argue absolutely against that. A lot of the time, when young people leave second level and go to third level, they do not know what they want to do, so a firm basis in general sciences, general arts or other more general degrees is beneficial for them to discover themselves.  To bring that back to the level of research, we need to be able to look, from a social scientific point of view, at what our future world is going to bring to us, what we need to know and what we know now about what is going to happen in the future, so we can build schools, homes and all of those things. That comes from social science. It is not just statistical analysis from a STEM perspective.  The fear of the Postgraduate Workers' Organisation, IFUT and others is that Research Ireland and the Department made these decisions and kind of let them know along the way how things were going to go. That is not consultation; that is just letting someone know. It is a concern that I also have. It is important when things are changing and evolving that people are brought along, not just left to the side and told a couple of weeks beforehand that this is what the changes are going to be. There needs to be a right to be able to challenge that. That is why the open letter has happened. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kieran O'Donnell)  I thank Deputy Cummins for raising this issue, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Deputy James Lawless. I welcome the opportunity to update colleagues on how the arts, humanities, and social sciences will be supported through the Research Ireland strategy and the progress on implementation to date.  Research Ireland was established as the national research and innovation funding agency to promote and continue developing excellence in research across all disciplines, including arts, humanities and social sciences, AHSS. The new agency strategy was published in March of this year. The strategy names AHSS as a distinctive national strength, with a role across all three impact themes: talent, society and the economy. The strategy safeguards AHSS funding through a guaranteed minimum floor, which will ensure continuity of funding for AHSS at or above existing levels. No cuts are proposed to funding or to the number of places being funded by the agency.  The dedicated society impact theme commits to investment in strengthening capacity across the breadth of disciplines and enabling interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research to bring together diverse perspectives, expertise and cross-government support to tackle key societal challenges. The agency will be working to strengthen engagement and collaboration with wider research users and performers, such as not-for-profit organisations and charities, and the arts and culture sector, to drive and showcase greater benefit to society.  Basic, fundamental research is also firmly recognised and supported within Research Ireland\u2019s strategy. It has been a consistent goal of this Government to support fundamental and frontier research at all times, and this is set out strongly. There has been substantial consultation across the research system in developing the new strategy, and there is ongoing consultation on implementation. The agency has a remit to be more than a funder, and to also work in partnership across a more cohesive system with researchers, institutions and representative bodies to ensure that the strategy delivers for all disciplines. This work is ongoing. The agency also has a role in supporting higher education institutions in developing research and innovation strategies of their own.  A key action of the strategy is to review existing PhD funding programmes and develop an enhanced suite of programmes, with the ambition to make Ireland the leading location in Europe for PhD training, in partnership with the HEIs and the wider system. The agency is currently undertaking consultation on a proposed strategic institutional funding model, as an evolution of the Government of Ireland programme, which is intended to: reduce the administrative burden for students; provide more security and stability of funding across a course of research or study; address issues in relation to researchers accessing funding for materials or consumables, travel and networking funding; address maternity, paternity and adoptive leave supplements; and enhance long-term planning and institutional capability.  Since February 2026, Research Ireland has conducted more than 20 engagement sessions, including seven in-person AHSS-focused events across the country and two national webinars attended by more than 700 participants. The senior leadership from the agency have met with research leaders and researchers across the country, and with the representative bodies.  The proposed new model would bring the agency funding model for these awards closer to international best practice. The agency funding portfolio is split almost evenly, and it is intended to maintain this balance across the programme plan and agency funding portfolio. Other calls funded or managed by the agency now available to AHSS researchers include: public service fellowships; challenge funding, which is open to all disciplines; and international calls, such as the Research Ireland-UKRI Arts and Humanities Research Council joint call on creative industries.  The agency has prioritised growing investigator-led funding in planning, recognising the increasing demand for investigator-led research funding. The Minister, Deputy Lawless, is aware of these issues, and he met with representatives of the signatories earlier this week to examine the concerns raised. This has been a constructive and positive ongoing engagement, with insight from the research community informing the design of the new programme. There is consensus on what must be protected: excellence, transparency, mobility and disciplinary diversity. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  I thank the Minister of State for his response. I appreciate it. I am very happy to hear that international best practice will be applied in this situation. I know from my engagement with PhD researchers that Ireland is not on a par with other countries throughout Europe or internationally. There are challenges with regard to the stipends, although I know they have increased over the past while. There is also the issue of employee status. I am speaking about PhD researchers as distinct from doctoral students, which I was myself. I am not talking about somebody who is a student but somebody who is a researcher. I am talking about a role advertised by an institution that states it wants a PhD researcher. With regard to their employment status, if they do tutorials or other work that needs to be protected for them.  The Minister of State briefly mentioned types of leave. It is very important this is embedded in the contract so they have the possibility of taking sick leave, annual leave or maternity leave. The future progression and careers of researchers afterwards can be precarious. It is very important to mention that when things are industry led or agency led, whether it is in the arts, humanities and social science or STEM, at all times this research has to be independent. Just because it is funded does not mean the research can be influenced by people looking for a particular outcome. Research has to have its independence. It needs to be verifiable and not just focused on only making more money.  I have mentioned previously that I do not think we should be using the word \"talent\" in our discourse. These are people who are researchers and who are valuable members of our community. We need to reduce the use of this word. I appreciate the Minister of State is reading from a script. I have mentioned it in the House previously and I want to say again that we should talk about \"people\" and not \"talent\". They are talented but I ask that the two words are used differently. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kieran O'Donnell  I thank Deputy Cummins for raising this important matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Lawless. He will ensure her contribution will form part of the ongoing consultation. New opportunities are being created for AHSS through the Research Ireland strategy, supported by additional Government investment to deliver the strategy, including the development of the development of larger-scale initiatives. New opportunities have arisen for researchers through the newly established Global Talent Ireland and other strategic initiatives, such as the INSPIRE programme, to support infrastructure and the investigators programme.  The strategy commits Research Ireland to ongoing consultation and stakeholder partnership, including establishing a formal advisory council which will be predominantly comprised of academics. It will have representation across all disciplines with a focus on AHSS. The Minister, Deputy Lawless, looks forward to working with the agency on realising the ambitions of the new agency strategy for all disciplines, including AHSS, in the coming years. Deputy Cummins has raised particular points in respect of PhD students. It is obviously an area she is familiar with, having been one herself. These are matters that will be brought to the attention of the Department and the Minister. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Research Funding"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_39","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Housing Policy","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_37","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_37","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_39","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  I thank the Ceann Comhairle's office for selecting this matter for debate. It is something I am very interested in and is something that communities across the State and in my constituency are very interested in. They struggle to understand why we cannot do better on it. It is about access to playing pitches, playgrounds and public green space. In my home county of Meath during the 20 years between 1996 and 2016 the population significantly increased and it continued in this vein until 2022, which is the latest census we have. There are thousands of houses but parks, playgrounds and public playing pitches did not materialise. The truth is that our communities were failed and continue to be failed. During the Celtic tiger developer-led construction and poor planning meant we got dense residential estates but zero public green space. The people of Meath lived up to their side of the agreement. They bought houses, raised families and built communities but local and central government failed to live up to their side.  The Minister of State in his response will likely point to the planning and development Acts, development plans, guidelines for planning authorities, the sustainable residential development and compact settlement guidelines and probably to other planning Acts because we have asked these questions previously. The fact of the matter is that it is not happening. The parks, pitches and playgrounds are not being delivered. The truth is when we ask who is responsible for making it happen we get pointed to somebody else or we get a blank response. We have a siloed planning system and communities right across the State - I am talking about my constituency of Meath East and I live in one of this communities - are being failed. We are being incredibly frustrated by the lack of progress. I am frustrated because this is an issue I am passionate about. It is one I have tried to make constructive contributions about but we are seeing no progress.  Along with colleagues, I launched Delivering Liveable Urban Spaces, Sinn F\u00e9in's policy document, alongside our proposal for a dedicated public park, green space and woodland fund, which we call Ciste Beithe. Our proposals are clear and practical and the Government should listen to them. We want the sequencing of developments, meaning playing pitches, parks, playgrounds and river walks must be delivered in tandem with houses and not put on the long finger. We want funding ring-fenced from development levies and we want green and blue spaces placed on an elevated footing in our county development plans. Most importantly, we want the voice of local communities heard at every step, from design to planning to delivery. If implemented, these proposals would transform County Meath and every other county. They would help us to build communities and not just houses. They would ensure that our children have somewhere safe to play and they would give us a fighting chance of dealing with the policy failures of the past. There needs to be a policy change and a step change to empower local authorities as a matter of priority to deliver on this vital community infrastructure. Will this happen? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kieran O'Donnell  I take this opportunity to thank Deputy O'Rourke for raising this important matter and providing me with an opportunity to update the House. I am taking this Topical Issue on behalf of Deputy James Browne, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.  Under the Planning and Development Act 2024 local authorities are obliged to prepare and adopt development plans that may make provision for the delivery of recreational facilities and amenities. While the making of a development plan is a reserved function of the elected members of each local authority under the Act, the development plan guidelines for planning authorities of 2022 set out that when making zoning decisions, consideration must be given to the future availability of, or the capacity to provide, supporting local community and amenity services and infrastructure, including recreation and sports facilities.  The sustainable residential development and compact settlements guidelines of 2024 indicate that planning authorities should plan for an integrated network of well-designed neighbourhoods that can meet day-to-day needs, including sporting needs, within a ten- to 15-minute walk of all homes. In the case of larger settlements, the residents of less central neighbourhoods should have the opportunity to travel by public transport, and other sustainable modes such as greenways, to access higher order services and amenities at more central and accessible locations. Section 7.3 of these guidelines sets out that every development plan should include an objective for a community, social and cultural infrastructure audit for areas that are likely to experience significant new development and should have a clear evidence-based rationale for future requirements in order to maximise the social return and community benefit generated by public investment by State agencies and others.  Policy and objective 5.1 of these guidelines states that statutory development plans should include an objective relating to the provision of public open space in new residential developments and in mixed-use developments that include a residential element. The requirement in the development plan shall be for public open space provision of not less than a minimum of 10% of net site area and not more than 15% of net site area, save in exceptional circumstances. Different minimum requirements within the 10% to 15% range may be set for different areas. The guidelines state that public open spaces should be designed to cater for a range of active and passive recreational needs, including play, physical activity, active travel, cultural uses and community gardens and allotments, as appropriate to the context.  The Deputy may be interested to note that Sport Ireland is a prescribed body for the purposes of plan-making in accordance with the Planning and Development (Prescribed Persons - Statutory Plans) Regulations 2025, SI 458 of 2025.  The Office of the Planning Regulator, OPR, is carrying out initial research into sporting facilities and the planning system. As part of this, it is liaising with Sport Ireland and other sporting bodies to examine how local authorities can more effectively plan for the provision of sports and recreational facilities for their communities. With regard to the delivery of such facilities, responsibility for Government policy on sport and the funding and function of Sport Ireland lies with my colleague, the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport. In accordance with section 63(3) of the Local Government Act 2001, local authorities are independent in the performance of their functions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  I am aware of all that detail, and it actually spells out what the problem is. That is the current state of affairs and it is not working. The Minister of State knows this as well as I do. Anyone who is a public representative, and anyone who has an interest in sport, the outdoors or building communities, knows this is not happening at a local authority level or in county development plans. Too much is dependent on a deal being made between a local community and a local developer to provide a pitch as part of a housing development. It is a nonsense. Communities are being failed as a result. In many places, the community facilities never materialise because they are promised and when the houses are delivered, the developer has left. We have to get this right. Too many communities have been failed.  Along with Sinn F\u00e9in colleagues, I met representatives of the GAA. They spoke about the report published by the GAA, No One Shouted Stop - Until Now: The GAA's Response to Ireland's Demographic Shift. This is a document about rural depopulation and rural decline. It is also directly related to massive pressure in urban areas. The representatives spoke about the need for support for balanced rural development and its inclusion in planning policy frameworks. We need to strengthen frameworks. There was a reference to Britain having a 6-acre standard, which local authorities should deliver on. In regard to delivering facilities with the OPR, I welcome this aspect. There is a need to develop an all-island sporting facilities strategy, as is zoning for sport and recreation facilities, as well as funding for sport and recreation facilities.  There are two major issues. One is that the planning rules and guidelines need to be improved. We have 4,000 schools in the State, and there is an ad hoc arrangement for getting access to their sporting and green spaces. This needs to be addressed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kieran O'Donnell  I thank Deputy O'Rourke again for raising this important matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy James Browne. In addition to the need to make provision for recreational facilities within statutory development plans, such facilities may also be funded by development contribution schemes, determined by elected members of each planning authority under section 48 of the Planning and Development Act 2000. Conditions attached to permissions requiring contributions to be made towards such schemes may include open spaces and recreational and community facilities.  The Planning and Development Act 2024 recognises that recreational facilities are best supported through meaningful public participation in local development planning and decision-making. Effective planning is not solely about technical assessments or infrastructure co-ordination; it is also about ensuring communities have a genuine opportunity to shape the future of the places in which they live, work and raise their families.  The Act strengthens the importance of engagement at all stages of the planning process, from the preparation of development plans and local area plans to consultation on individual planning applications and broader regeneration initiatives. As the provisions of the 2024 Act are commenced, meaningful community participation will remain a central element of a modern, democratic and plan-led system that seeks to deliver sustainable development and an improved quality of life for communities across Ireland.  I note the points Deputy O'Rourke has raised. Dare I say it, but they are not just related to one Department. I have no doubt that he will be taking these up with those other Departments as well. I will bring the points the Deputy has raised here to the attention of the Minister, Deputy Browne, and the Department. I thank the Deputy again. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Housing Policy"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_40","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Schools Building Projects","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":4},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_37","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_37","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_40","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Lahart","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Lahart.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Lahart.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Crowe  I am joined by my constituency colleagues, from the Opposition and the Government, in relation to this issue. Sancta Maria College got approval for a new school gym and drama room back in 2001. That is 25 years, a quarter of a century, ago. Right now, the school has two half-built structures after the construction company went into liquidation eight years ago. Generations of students have come and gone without the facilities that were promised. Worse still, there are leaks in the roof and difficulties with the sewerage system.  The school has been waiting for more than a year now for a stage 2b report to be responded to by the Department of education. Without the Department's approval, the school cannot move to the tendering process and get the works back on track. The tender process takes long enough without the perpetual delays which dealing with the Department always entails. Will the Minister of State make a commitment to the pupils and teachers from Sancta Maria College that another generation of students will not pass through the school staring at a half-built extension? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Lahart","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Lahart.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Lahart.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Lahart  I thank my colleagues for joining me in bringing this question forward. We do this sometimes in this Chamber. Sancta Maria College is unfinished business. It is an unfinished school. A school without a sports hall is not a school. A school without performance facilities and space and creative space and facilities is not a finished school either. It is what we can call an incomplete school or an uncompleted school, giving, essentially, an incomplete education to the girls who attend there and have attended there for a number of years.  What a school it is, when we look at the students, teachers, the principal, the board of management and the parents council. Through no fault of their own, a building, as was explained earlier, is unfinished and incomplete, yet the school still seems to max out in terms of the success and education it delivers. It remains, however, an incomplete school delivering an incomplete education. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  The issue of a school not having a sports hall is one very close to my heart because I went to the boys' school next door to Sancta Maria College, Col\u00e1iste \u00c9anna, as did Deputy Lahart. For my entire time there, we had no sports hall. It means the school cannot offer PE, which is so important for children's mental and physical health. Even in the time since a sports hall was completed in Col\u00e1iste \u00c9anna, we can see that a basketball club has developed in the area. It is a case of if you build it, they will come. It is such an important asset, not just for the school but for the area too. As the other Deputies have said, this is something that has been completely out of the school\u2019s control. The building project started back in 2018. In 2020, during Covid, the developer, the builder, went bust. In the six years since then, nothing has happened. We now have a derelict site right beside a school. As Deputy Lahart said, we have an incomplete school with incomplete education, but we also have a fairly serious health and safety risk to the school community and the community at large. A small fire was started in that area. There are potential insurance issues for the school because of that. We are just looking for the school to get this building completed, as was promised 25 years ago, as Deputy Crowe said. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kieran O'Donnell  I thank Deputies Crowe, Lahart and Ahern for raising this important matter on behalf of their constituents. I am taking it on behalf of the Minister for Education and Youth, Deputy Hildegarde Naughton, to outline to the D\u00e1il the current position in relation to the school project for Sancta Maria College, Ballyroan, Rathfarnham, County Dublin.  The completion project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at stage 2b, architectural planning-detailed design. The brief is for a completion contract for refurbishment works and a sports hall, following termination of the original contract. The design team completed a stage 2b submission which is currently with the Department for review.  The 105 projects prioritised to proceed to tender and-or construction in 2026 and 2027 represent a first tranche of large-scale extension and modular projects. However, further tranches will be prioritised to proceed at a later stage over what is a five-year national development plan, NDP, with a total investment of \u20ac7.55 billion. The projects selected for the initial tranche were already at stage 3, tender stage, and the most urgent projects at stage 2b, detailed design, that had planning permission. Projects not already at this stage of readiness were not eligible for consideration for the initial tranche. The stage 2b projects selected to progress were identified as meeting the most urgent requirements from a special education, demographics or building condition perspective.  As part of planning ahead for the next tranche of projects to progress to tender, a Department-led prioritisation process will continue over the course of 2026 and 2027. This includes engagement with key stakeholders, and this has commenced recently. The Department-led energy and condition survey of the school estate, which will be finalised later in 2026, will provide an additional evidence base for assessing priorities. A next tranche of projects to proceed to tender is expected to be announced in 2027.  Engagement with individual schools will also continue and will include the consideration of issues such as any interim accommodation requirements and, in some cases, advancing enabling works to facilitate smooth progress to construction at a later stage.  It is important to note that the 105 projects on the initial NDP priority list represent a subset of the overall school building programme. In total, there are 260 to 300 projects under construction at any one time. Over the course of 2026, some 1,000 school projects of varying scales will be under construction. In addition to large-scale extension and modular projects, the projects include climate action projects, summer works and repurposing of rooms for special education classes.  I will bring the specific point raised on behalf of the Deputies' constituents, and more particularly the pupils, staff, parents and wider community, to the attention of the Minister for Education and Youth, Deputy Hildegarde Naughton, and her Department. I can see that this is something of great importance to the Deputies in their representational roles and particularly to the people they represent. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Crowe  The big question we ask is why the school has not been prioritised. It is a half-finished school. The Minister of State has outlined the number of projects that are planned and the funding that is being allocated, but the question the parents, teachers and pupils are asking is, \"Why not our school?\" It is a fair question.  Children deserve the best and most modern facilities. We cannot live with a process that can last over 25 years. I again ask the Minister of State to go back to his ministerial colleagues and raise this. The school needs to be put on some list. What is happening is unfair and wrong and I do not think anyone could stand over it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Lahart","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Lahart.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Lahart.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Lahart  I thank the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, for that. I appreciate him bringing back our sentiments to the Minister. Before starting on a new project, why not finish the projects that are outstanding? What is happening is through no fault of the school itself. It is affecting how the school attracts students and how education is provided there. It is affecting enrolment and the school's ability to enrol. It is also affecting wider personal, physical, mental and well-being education. On top of that, the site is a building site. We really appreciate the Minister of State taking on board what we are saying, and we look forward to hearing from and engaging further with the Minister, Deputy Naughton, as the year goes on. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  I thank the Minister of State for his comments. The project has been at stage 2B for a considerable period, for the last year in fact, and the school is just waiting to hear back from the Department. We know that another tranche of projects is going to be approved. As the Minister of State said, there will be new projects approved in early 2027. The school wants to know what it needs to do to ensure it is on the list for early 2027. If the Minister of State could arrange a meeting with the Department, it would be helpful. One of the issues the school is having is that it is just not getting anything back from the Department. Even facilitating some communication for the school and ensuring that it can do everything possible to ensure it is next in line for the next tranche would be helpful. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kieran O'Donnell  Once again, the completion of the building project for Sancta Maria College in Ballyroan is a very important matter. It is currently at stage 2B, architectural planning and detailed design. The brief is a completion contract for refurbishment works and a sports hall, following termination of the original contract. The design team completed a stage 2B submission, which is currently with the Department for review.  As part of planning ahead for the next tranche of projects to progress to tender, a Department-led prioritisation process will continue over the course of 2026 and 2027. This includes engagement with key stakeholders, and this has commenced recently. The Department-led energy and condition survey of the school estate, which will be finalised later in 2026, will provide an additional evidence base for assessing priorities. A next tranche of projects to proceed to tender is expected to be announced in 2027. In the Deputies' follow-up questions, they requested a meeting with the Department. I will take that up with the Minister. I have no doubt that the three experienced politicians raising this matter will follow up with correspondence, directly with the Department and Minister, seeking such a meeting on behalf of their constituents to progress the school building project. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Schools Building Projects"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_41","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Crime Prevention","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_37","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_37","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_41","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  I thank the Minister for coming in to take this issue. It is important, particularly in this week of Pride, that we acknowledge there are still issues concerning the LGBT community and the confidence it might have in the prosecution of offences or the following up of allegations related to events that clearly have a hate motivation to them.  In June 2024, when I was a Senator, I raised an issue in the Seanad about two young men who were pursued through Phoenix Park with hammers and knives and who were very frightened, for understandable reasons, by an attack during which there were repeated shouts of homophobic slurs at them. I do not want to or expect the Minister to go into the details of that case because I do not know the status of the prosecution. People were brought before the courts in relation to the matter, and that is a matter for the courts. The point I wanted to make was that I raised that issue. I give credit to the garda\u00ed involved for acting swiftly. Somebody was apprehended, and that will follow due course. The point I am making is that in Ireland of 2024, or indeed Ireland of 2026, the kind of thing I have described is still happening.  In 2024, there was still hate crime, hate speech or incitement to hatred legislation before these Houses that was due to become law. It was essentially watered down before it did and it has been abandoned.  There are those people who think it is acceptable to behave in a way that threatens and frightens members of a particular community, not for any good reason but simply because they are members of that community, and they think they can do that with impunity. Of course, we have incitement to hatred legislation dating back to the early 1990s, which we know is largely ineffective because there has only been a sum total of about 50 prosecutions under it. Of course it is an offence to intimidate somebody anyway. It is an offence to threaten somebody. There were ancillary offences in that prosecution that were not necessarily based on the hate crime element of it.  My understanding is that very often in these cases, when people are brought before the Garda for interview or brought before the courts to account for what they have done, they will say their action was not hate motivated and was not because the victims were members of the LGBT community, for example. My concern is that the law is not equipped to address the hate element properly. Listening to members of the LGBT community, I have noted that they are concerned that garda\u00ed are either ill-equipped or unable to deal with these matters in a way that satisfies them that they are safe.  I know the Minister will agree that this is something we have to remedy. We cannot have a situation where ordinary, law-abiding, decent people are being persecuted by a tiny section of society that has some misguided belief that it should or can pursue these people, as I say, not for any good reason but simply because of who they are and, in this instance, because of their sexual orientation. It cannot be allowed to continue. It must be stopped.  The reason I am raising this issue with the Minister is not just because this is Pride Week, although it is and so it is appropriate. I would really like him to set out the steps his Department is putting in place to give confidence to the LGBT community, and to show them in a concrete manner that we are serious as a body politic about tackling this issue and sending out a message to anybody who thinks he or she can behave this way that it will not be tolerated, that there will be prosecutions, that there will be serious consequences from the courts, and that the Minister is satisfied that An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and the criminal court system have everything they need to prosecute these offences, hold people to account and mete out the appropriate punishments that will be effective in stopping this kind of behaviour. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Jim O'Callaghan)  I thank Deputy Ward for raising this issue. It is appropriate that he raises it during Pride week. Part of the reason we have Pride week is not just for the purpose of people being able openly to celebrate their sexuality, but also to recognise that historically people who were gay were suppressed and were not able to express their sexuality within society in the way that other people could do. It is therefore very appropriate that Deputy Ward has raised this issue. I should also inform the House that I have just come from the Seanad, where I am very pleased to say that Committee Stage of the Criminal Law, Civil Law and Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 has passed. It included, as the Deputy knows, and because he spoke very much in favour of it, a disregard scheme that is going to disregard historic convictions made against persons because of their sexuality.  It is shocking that any previous generation or the current generation would seek to discriminate against a person because of an inherent characteristic, whether it is their race or religion, or, in this context, their sexual orientation.  Not just from what the Deputy has said but from gay friends speaking to me, I am concerned about the fact that we seem to be regressing when it comes to abusive comments being made about individuals who are gay. In many instances, that emanates from individuals who are youths or children. As the Deputy and I know, it is founded upon ignorance and prejudice. In terms of the laws that are in place, however, the primary focus of concern the Deputy has raised is around what laws are there and whether I  am satisfied with what the Department and the Garda can do where that abuse becomes physically threatening, incites violence or leads to the commission of violence. As the Deputy knows, in 2024, the Criminal Justice (Hate Offences) Act was commenced. It was commenced at the end of 2024 and has put in place a separate statutory provision which provides that if somebody is convicted of an offence such as assault which is motivated by hate, as in the instance of somebody being assaulted because they were gay, that will result in an increased tariff that can be imposed by the court when that person is being sentenced. I very much welcome that legislation. We need to give it time to bed in. The Deputy will be aware that we are seeing circumstances where the hate factor is being taken into account by the courts or during the course of the prosecutions. That is one thing that is being done.  More important than that is the resources of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. Historically, the Garda, like many other police forces around the world, may not have been sufficiently sensitive to these types of offences or may not have recognised that they are offences that are motivated by hate. I must say that has now changed. The Garda now has approximately 666 diversity officers. They are very well informed. They recognise the need to ensure there is greater protection for individuals, such as gay people, who find themselves being subjected to a criminal assault. I am satisfied with the resources that are in place.  The Deputy also mentioned hate speech. We have incitement to hatred legislation in place and I believe it is sufficient. I also believe, however, that the origin of this prejudice and discrimination is ignorance. We need to educate people more about the inappropriateness of condemning, criticising or abusing people because of an inherent characteristic such as their human sexuality. There is a broader body of work that needs to be done outside of the criminal justice system, as I am sure the Deputy appreciates. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  I thank the Minister and appreciate the acknowledgment that this behaviour is ongoing. It is important to say clearly that there is a problem. I also appreciate what the Minister said about the legislation that was passed and commenced in 2024. However, I am not convinced that it is sufficient. What it does is to give greater discretion to a judge to consider a particular hate element to be an aggravating factor. There is certainly a part of me that would have thought it should not have been necessary to put that into law. I do not know, for example, what training is being provided to judges to deal with hate aspects of crimes that come before them for sentence.  My big problem is that we had much stronger hate legislation with the Bill that was before these Houses. It was watered down in amendments on subsequent Stages. There is not really the provision of a hate crime. It is probably unfair to ask the Minister on the hoof the number of prosecutions that involved an increased tariff on sentence because of a hate element. I do not know if the Minister would have those figures to hand. However, that is a matter we should be looking at because if it is the case that it is a very small number, that is a demonstration that legislation that is now on the Statute Book and has been operational for 18 months is not being effectively used to tackle these things. Of course, we have to give it time but an analysis after 18 months gives us a reasonable assessment of whether the legislation is being used.  I also acknowledge what the Minister said about disregard scheme. I absolutely agree with that, and it is overdue, but it is not relevant to this discussion. Of course we send out the message to people but the real issue in this Topical Issue I am raising with the Minister is that a lot of people who are members of the LGBT community either do not feel safe or feel that when something happens to them, which is demonstrably motivated by hate, there is not an adequate response from the system. That is something we have to tackle because if we fail to do so, it creates a much greater problem. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I thank the Deputy. It is worthwhile having this debate and discussion. My own view, as Minister for justice, is that An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, which is responsible for investigating the types of criminal offences to which the Deputy referred, is vigilant and aware of ensuring thorough investigations in respect of crimes that are motivated by hate. We see that in respect of people who are gay. We see it in respect of people because of their race. Once somebody assaults another person or commits a crime against that person, there must be an absolute commitment by An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na to ensure that the crime is thoroughly investigated.  I regret to say that many crimes such as these in Ireland are motivated by the ignorance and prejudice of the attacker. It is difficult to determine the best way to reduce and respond to ignorance and prejudice in any society. The criminal justice system obviously plays a necessary role and I believe by having the hate offences legislation in place, we have that criminal justice response. The policing response is also necessary. When you look at the fact that we have 666 diversity officers, and the Garda takes these offences extremely seriously, it shows there is a policing response to it. Ultimately, the most significant response will be ensuring that people who are drowned in prejudice realise their prejudice emanates from a position and a place of ignorance. We all have a responsibility to try to emphasise again and again that discrimination, harassment or criminal attacks upon individuals because of inherent characteristics, such as their sexuality, is wholly unacceptable. Once that is explained to people, and it should be repeatedly explained to them because they need to be educated about it, there will be a positive response. I assure the Deputy that there is a vigilant legislative and policing response to these heinous crimes. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Crime Prevention"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-25\/debate\/dbsect_42","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2025\/79","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2025\/79\/dail\/2","houseCode":"dail","stage":"2","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Civil Liability (Child Sexual Abuse Proceedings Against Unincorporated Bodies of Persons) Bill 2025: Second Stage [Private Members] (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Civil Liability (Child Sexual Abuse Proceedings Against Unincorporated Bodies of Persons) Bill 2025: Second Stage [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":11,"speakerCount":8},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_42","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  I move: \"That the Bill be now read a Second Time.\"  I am delighted to be moving the Second Reading motion for this important Bill. I am particularly moved to be doing so today in the presence of some important visitors in the Gallery. I acknowledge the presence in particular of Mr. William Gorry of the Residential Institutions Survivors' Network and Mr. David Ryan. I also acknowledge Mr. Ryan's late brother, Mr. Mark Ryan. They did so much between them to expose the reality of abuse in schools. I also acknowledge Ms Deirdre Kenny, CEO of One in Four. I acknowledge those visitors. I should also say that I have been working with many other survivors and their families. Many have come forward to me over recent days and many are watching the debate on this Bill on Oireachtas TV.  I will begin by saluting the courage of all those survivors who have spoken out, disclosed and shone a light on a dark and shameful chapter in the history of this country in highlighting the reality of their lived experience of abuse as children. Indeed, I acknowledge the many survivors who cannot speak out for other reasons and who continue to suffer. We all think of them and what they have endured.  It is in that context that I am glad to be moving the Second Reading of this Bill. If passed, it will be an Act to facilitate the bringing of child sexual abuse proceedings against unincorporated bodies of persons. It seeks to enable such a body to pay damages arising from such proceedings and from the assets of an associated trust, to extend the limitation period arising from claims of child sexual abuse and to provide for connected matters. This Bill creates what I have been referring to as an \"unblocking mechanism\". Its purpose is to unblock the process of seeking redress from religious bodies and associated lay-run trusts. It would facilitate the bringing of child sexual abuse proceedings against unincorporated bodies of persons, notably religious orders, and would empower survivors to recover damages arising from such proceedings, not only from the orders but also from the assets of an associated trust in certain circumstances. It would extend the limitation period provided for by the Statute of Limitations in respect of civil proceedings arising from claims of child sexual abuse.  This is a Bill I have been working on for some years. In a previous life as a practising barrister, I represented many survivors of abuse before what was then known as the Residential Institutions Redress Board, which operated in the 1990s into the 2000s, as the Minister will be aware. These were proceedings arising out of abuse perpetrated, in most cases, against children in industrial schools. I will never forget hearing about the experiences of the survivors I represented, the utterly chilling accounts of the terrible abuse they suffered at the hands of both religious and lay figures employed in industrial schools, many of which were run by religious orders. The experiences were shocking. Desperate damage, harm and hurt were caused to many people. Individuals spoke to me of suicidal ideation as a result of their childhood experiences, of their ongoing difficulties in sustaining relationships and of their fears of passing on the effects of the trauma they had suffered to their children. At the time, it was important that the State made attempts to ensure redress.  The Minister will recall, as I do, the difficulties with the Woods cap on the amount of redress to be paid by the religious orders in the 2002 deal. Quite apart from that cap, however, the scheme was also flawed in other ways, and victims were retraumatised by being dragged through lengthy and unnecessarily adversarial proceedings. In the context of the 2002 Woods deal and subsequent attempts to secure contributions to redress from religious orders, we have seen successive Governments - the State - bearing the vast bulk of the cost of redress. Of course, the State remains responsible. Religious orders were also responsible, but they have got away with paying nothing like their fair share. The Woods deal applied a cap of \u20ac128 million. The total cost of the Residential Institutional Redress Board scheme is now estimated at \u20ac1.5 billion.  I am working with a number of survivors groups to improve the State\u2019s response to dealing with the awful legacy of church-State collusion against some of the most vulnerable members of Irish society, particularly children. I am also working with groups like the Residential Institutions Survivor's Network, which I have spoken about and on behalf of which I recently wrote to the Taoiseach and the Ministers for education and Social Protection. That group has identified a litany of flaws in current State redress schemes and schemes to support victims. Survivors are often retraumatised by their exclusion through application of apparently arbitrary rules, inadequate redress processes or simply by unduly bureaucratic and insufficiently compassionate responses such as a helpline that does not deal in a compassionate and kind way with survivors who contact it. That is the kind of basic thing the State should be getting right.  We heard this week from 19 of the women who were abused by Leo Hickey in Dunderrow National School but who were excluded from redress schemes, so there is a great deal to do to ensure that the State\u2019s response to the legacy of child abuse is survivor led and that the State is kind and compassionate in its approach to those who are now adults but who were abused as children. Much of the work to deliver justice has also been stymied by the religious orders by means of obfuscation, delaying tactics and the deployment of entirely legal but unethical devices which have the effect of them avoiding paying their share of redress.  The Bill stems from my desire to do right by survivors. It is my belief and that of the Labour Party that no organisation, church or State, should be able to hide from or escape accountability. For many years, we have been aware of the practice whereby religious orders have shifted their assets into lay-run trusts that have no legal liability to survivors. The orders which have the liability have much fewer trusts that can be targeted. I hasten to add that the legislation I am proposing is not limited to religious orders. It would apply to all unincorporated bodies, including sports clubs, political parties and so on. Clearly, what we are seeking to address is the deployment of what we might refer to as lawfare, that is, legal tactics deployed with a detrimental effect. Such tactics are used by religious orders in particular. The orders are using the law to frustrate the efforts of those seeking redress for terrible damage inflicted on them in childhood. Lay-run trusts that hold the assets bear no legal liability and, therefore, the State lacks leverage when it seeks to recover a proportion of redress from the religious orders.  I spoke about the 2002 deal, but there have been numerous attempts since then by the State to recover a share of compensation or redress from the religious orders. There have been attempts to secure voluntary contributions from the religious orders. There was Sheila Nunan's process, but none of these processes have delivered anything like the share of redress we would expect from religious orders that are serious about meeting obligations.  Religious orders must answer serious ethical questions about how they have engaged with the State and with survivors of abuse. One of the first moral lessons any of us teach our children, regardless of faith, relates to the need for honesty when we have done wrong and the need to step up, admit we have done wrong and ensure accountability. We cannot say the response of religious orders to historical sex abuse of children has embodied that principle. These are sneaky tactics being used by institutions that purport to show moral leadership in our society. Appeals to the moral duties of religious orders have clearly not worked. I refer to the processes we have seen over the years in which religious orders have not stepped up.  A recent study in The Sunday Times estimated that \u20ac755 million in compensation to victims of abuse is still outstanding from religious orders. Meanwhile, EY compiled a recent study, which I understand was commissioned by the Minister's Department, which found that a sample of religious orders hold \u20ac1.3 billion in assets. The money is there and the assets are there, and we are talking about the most heinous of crimes perpetrated against children. It seems that religious orders are displaying more concern for their reputations and the bottom line than they are for victims. It is the job of the Government and legislators to make sure that religious orders cannot continue to deploy this indefensible practice.  I brought forward this Bill - I have spoken about it in the House on several occasions - in an attempt to be constructive and to ensure we do our bit to make sure that religious orders pay their share. I welcome that the Government has established a high-level interdepartmental group to advise it in respect of the funding of future redress claims in the same way that I welcomed the establishment of the commission of investigation into abuse in schools. It will be quite a long process before the commission reports, and we have heard that the interdepartmental group's report is not due until May 2027. I welcomed the Taoiseach\u2019s confirmation on Tuesday that he will make efforts to bring forward the date of the of the interdepartmental group\u2019s report, because May 2027 is a long way off. Survivors who have waited decades for justice should not be kept waiting any longer than is absolutely necessary.  That is why, while I welcomed the commitment by the Taoiseach to bring forward the date of the publication of the group's report, I was disappointed to hear him say that the Government will seek to impose a six-month delay on the Second Stage reading of this Bill. Not only am I disappointed, I do not understand it. I published this Bill years ago. It has been nearly two years since I was told that the previous Government had referred it to the Attorney General\u2019s office for consideration. I introduced the Bill on First Stage in December, and the Taoiseach has said it aligns with Government priorities. The T\u00e1naiste spoke just this week about the need to ensure that religious orders pay their share. Why does the Government need to delay the Second Stage reading for a further six months?  We in the Labour Party are happy to work with the Minister and his team to scrutinise the Bill in order to make sure that it passes muster and that the mechanisms in it to ensure accountability of religious orders and associated trusts are watertight. We are happy to accept amendments and to work with the Minister to see the Bill become law, but we do not believe another six months will be required before it can move to the Committee Stage.  I asked the Minister previously about bringing forward a Bill like this. He indicated that he would wait for recommendations from the Law Reform Commission. He will see that in the explanatory memorandum of our Bill, we refer to the consultation paper on unincorporated associations published previously by the Law Reform Commission. The report is still awaited, but we have used the consultation paper and what has been done already in drafting this Bill and can see no reason \u2013 legal or political \u2013 for the kind of can-kicking that a six-month delay represents.  I return to the matter of the courage of survivors. Over decades, extraordinarily brave people have come forward to expose this dark chapter. That disclosure comes at a personal cost. Survivors should not have to go public with their stories in order to see action taken. They should not have to go public only to be told to wait longer for recognition. The Dunderrow women spoke of abuse in respect of which a conviction was secured in 1998, yet they are still waiting for redress. Survivors have spoken out to ensure that the State will confront the appalling abuse perpetrated against them and other children in schools and institutions, many of which were run by religious orders.  We want to do more than praise and pay tribute to survivors. We want to ensure that they get justice. In many cases, survivors have tried to pursue justice through the courts but have found themselves thwarted by legal structures that frustrate accountability and that obstruct the taking of legal action through the use of unincorporated associations. There is no justification for seeking a further six-month delay.  We simply cannot support that and we will be challenging that attempt, if indeed that is what the Minister will propose.  I mentioned the 19 women who have come forward in the past few days to speak about their abuse in Dunderrow National School. We have also recently heard other terrible accounts of abuse of children in the past. We were reminded of this with the death last week of the notorious abuser Bill Kenneally. We were reminded by the RT\u00c9 documentary that highlighted the appalling decades perpetrated by Eamonn Cooke upon his victims and we heard this week of the conviction in the North of Jeffrey Donaldson. Again and again these stories of the abuse of power against children have exposed a deep trauma that exists in Irish society. We are all aware that when the commission of investigation reports - I think it is not due to until 2030 - it will provide another indication of the huge extent of the abuse that was perpetrated against children.  Fortunately, we have reformed procedures and processes and Ireland and Irish schools and institutions are much safer now. We have made this society safer for children but we must accept there is unfinished business. One such piece of unfinished is the shortfall in compensation left unpaid by religious organisations that have cash and property assets running into the billions. We are asking the Minister to do the right thing and ensure we can see this Bill go through to the next Stage. We will work with him through Committee and Report Stages to get it into law. It aligns with Government priorities, will not cost the State a cent and will indeed facilitate leverage for the State in negotiations with the religious orders where currently there is no mechanism to ensure they can be made to pay compensation. This will provide such a mechanism and that is why I speak of it as an unblocking mechanism. I am asking the Minister to do right by survivors and to pass this Bill rather than delaying it for a further six months. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Jim O'Callaghan)  I move amendment No. 1:  To delete all words after \"That\" and substitute the following:  \"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann resolves that the Civil Liability (Child Sexual Abuse Proceedings Against Unincorporated Bodies of Persons) Bill 2025 be deemed to be read a second time this day six months, to allow for the consideration of the legal and policy implications of the Bill's provisions to be undertaken.\".  I thank Deputy Bacik for introducing this Bill. Like her I welcome to the Public Gallery William Gorry, David Ryan and Deirdre Kenny. At the end of her contribution, Deputy Bacik referred to survivors and it is appropriate we, as legislators, recognise the very significant impact survivors can have on policy and legislation through their bravery in coming forward and providing further information in respect of the trauma they went through. Sometimes I do not think survivors and victims of crime recognise the impact and influence they have. They may not realise how influential they are when it comes to the consequences of their narratives but Deputy Bacik will agree with me when I say it is hugely influential from the point of view of legislators. I assure them also that from the point of view of a Minister, policy is very much affected by the narratives I hear from victims of crime and survivors of sexual abuse.  As Deputy Bacik indicated, her Bill seeks to facilitate civil proceedings in respect of child sexual abuse cases against unincorpororated bodies, such as religious orders, and to facilitate the recovery of damages awarded from any such body, including from any trusts associated with it. It also seeks - and this is a more complicated provision - to provide for a one-year window outside the normal limitation period provided for in the Statute of Limitations to enable any proceedings to which the Bill would apply to be brought within 12 months, if enacted. That latter provision is a significant one, as I am sure the Deputy appreciates, and is part of the reason there is a necessity for me to seek a six-month adjournment prior to the Bill moving to the next Stage. In fairness to the Deputy, I think she acknowledges most religious orders select a nominee to represent them in child sexual abuse cases but, unfortunately, this is not always the case. The refusal of some religious orders, or, indeed, any unincorporated bodies, to co-operate with or contribute to previous redress schemes is a matter of considerable trauma and distress for survivors of sexual abuse and their families. It is a difficult and concerning aspect of this awful legacy. I assure the House the Government and I share the dissatisfaction expressed by the Deputy about this issue and I also wish to inform the House this Government is actively looking at possible avenues to ensure those responsible for the running of the schools where sexual abuse occurred are accountable.  In that regard, I will give a brief overview of the work currently being undertaken in this area. A commission of investigation into the handling of historical child sexual abuse in schools has been established following the publication of the report of a scoping inquiry by Mary O\u2019Toole SC in September 2024. That is an example of the impact survivors have had on policy-making because it was as a result of the documentary made by RT\u00c9, inspired by the experience of David and the late Mark Ryan, that the aforementioned scoping inquiry was established, leading in turn to the establishment of a commission of investigation. The commission, which is chaired by Mr. Justice Michael MacGrath, is independent in the performance of its functions and is currently in its establishment phase undertaking essential preparatory work. The task of the inquiry is huge. Four commissioners have been appointed to join the chair in leading the work of the commission, namely, Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring, Mr. Roddy Bourke, Ms Michele Clarke and Mr. Kieran McGrath.  The report of the interdepartmental group established to advise the Minister and the Government on the recommendations of the scoping inquiry was published in July 2025. This report was cognisant of the views of survivors in relation to redress as a measure of accountability. Recommendation 2 of that scoping inquiry stated consideration should be given by the Government to establishing a redress scheme for survivors of historical sexual abuse in day and boarding schools run by the religious orders. Not only was that recommendation given consideration by Government but we abided by it and followed it and as a result we have the commission of investigation in place. The interdepartmental group recognised consideration of a redress scheme may have far-reaching implications and advised a further phase of more detailed work was required to ensure Government is fully informed in any decision it may take. In considering this recommendation, an interdepartmental subgroup of the interdepartmental group was set up in November 2025 to examine the complex issues in establishing such a scheme, including how it might be funded. This subgroup comprises representatives from several Government Departments, State agencies and representatives from the Office of the Attorney General. The purpose of the work of this group is to examine and evaluate key legal and other potential measures to require that those responsible for schools where sexual abuse occurred meet their redress obligations to survivors. This is with a view to informing Government of its findings on possible mechanisms for redress. The subgroup aims to report to the Minister for Education and Youth, and subsequently Government, by May 2027. As Deputies can imagine, the issues to be considered in this area are extremely difficult and time-consuming. This work includes consideration of complicated administrative, legal, financial and other mechanisms, including how any potential scheme might be appropriately funded by those responsible. It also includes examination of international approaches to redress, including models in Ireland, other common law and EU jurisdictions.  The underlying aims of Deputy Bacik's Bill align in part with the matters currently being considered by the interdepartmental subgroup. Many of these complex legal, policy and operational considerations are relevant to those contained in the Bill. Given the intricate and challenging nature of these issues, many aspects of this Bill raise legal and constitutional considerations which must be thoroughly examined and approved by the Office of the Attorney General. By way of illustration, the Bill raises complex issues in respect of the apportionment of liability on unincorporated bodies, measures regarding the associated trusts of unincorporated bodies and trusts formerly associated with an unincorporated body. The area of unincorporated bodies and associations is exceptionally complex in law. To that end, in 2022 the Law Reform Commission published a consultation paper entitled Liability of Clubs, Societies and other Unincorporated Associations. It sought submissions from the public. The report of the Law Reform Commission will be important to the development of the law in this area.  To give the House a sense of how complex the issues regarding unincorporated bodies are, my Department understands that the Law Reform Commission\u2019s report will not be published before early 2028.  The Bill provides for the nomination of a proper defendant by an unincorporated body or, if no such nomination is forthcoming, for the court to appoint a proper defendant. The reason Deputy Bacik has included this is that if there is a legal person who can be sued, whether it is a corporate identity or an individual, that is the appropriate way to go. Unfortunately, in the case of an unincorporated body or a loose association of people, it is difficult to sue that identity unless a representative name is provided. In most instances, as I said, unincorporated bodies that are defendants or intended defendants will provide a representative name. However, as Deputy Bacik is aware, that is not always the case. It places a litigant who wants to institute proceedings in a difficult position if they are not given a representative name that can be used as the representative defendant in any proceedings. The effect is that people\u2019s proceedings are delayed and they may have to go through a complicated court application based on no statutory regime to grant them authority from the court to issue proceedings against an individual who may be identified by the court. The advantage of Deputy Bacik\u2019s Bill, if enacted, is that there would be a statutory mechanism that sets out a procedure for how the court can nominate or identify a person who will be the nominated defendant for the purpose of proceedings.  The Bill provides for the nomination of a proper defendant by an unincorporated body or, if no such nomination is forthcoming for the court, to appoint a proper defendant. The apportionment of direct liability on individuals, who have no knowledge of an allegation or may not have been associated with the relevant body at the time of the alleged harm, raises serious issues regarding constitutionality and fair procedures that must be thoroughly examined.  It is easier in circumstances where a partnership is being sued. While it itself is an unincorporated identity, if a partnership of solicitors or accountants needs to be sued, the appropriate mechanism is to name all of the partners. There can only be a limited number. However, the difficultly that arises, which is inspiring Deputy Bacik\u2019s Bill, is when it comes to an identity such as a religious order. To be frank, it is implausible to try to institute proceedings against every single member of that religious order, particularly when there is a requirement for the purpose of proceedings that court papers, whether plenary summons or statements of claim, are served on each defendant. It is clearly the case that there is a huge advantage in having a statutory mechanism available that allows the court to nominate an appropriate individual as the nominated defendant.  It is also important to point out, however, as I mentioned earlier, that the Bill raises practical and legal concerns regarding prospective knowledge of awards of damages and issues in relation to the retrospective effect of the legislation, including for cases already initiated and live before the courts.  More importantly, the Bill proposes a one-year window outside the limitation period provided for in the Statute of Limitations to enable any proceedings to which the Bill applies to be brought within 12 months of its enactment. It would also appear to revive expired causes of action. Reform of the Statute of Limitations would have implications for the State, not just the cohort identified in the Bill. In effect, one of the complicating and complex issues raised and provided for in Deputy Bacik\u2019s Bill is that cases that are, at present, statute-barred would no longer be statute-barred in certain circumstances because of this one-year extension provided to the statute, pursuant to the terms of this Bill. As Deputy Bacik will appreciate, this is a complex legal and constitutional issue. Given the legal policy and constitutional complexity of the issues contained in the Bill and those currently being examined by the interdepartmental subgroup, the views of the Office of the Attorney General were sought again. It indicated that there are significant and complex policy and legal issues that require further in-depth analysis.  Deputy Bacik inquired what the reason is for a six-month timed amendment. For the purpose of individuals in the Gallery, a timed amendment means there is a vote on the Second Stage of the Bill, and I am proposing a timed amendment of six months. The effect of that will mean that the legislation will pass Second Stage on the 25 December 2026. It puts a time period on it and ensures that Second Stage will be passed. While that time will pass quickly, it provides my Department and the Office of the Attorney General with an opportunity to consider the complex legal issues identified here. I know Deputy Bacik will be anxious to ensure that this legislation proceeds promptly. Certainly, it will pass Second Stage by the end of the year. During that period, I will have an opportunity to secure further advice from the Office of the Attorney General and internally within my Department. I was the person who proposed at government on Tuesday that we have a timed amendment. In general, as colleagues will know, timed amendments generally operate for a period of a year but I sought six months in this instance. Having that time period will enable me to get the necessary advice that I require. I assure Deputy Bacik that if there are mechanisms to advance her legislation, I will have no difficulty in advancing them or adopting the Bill and trying to reformulate it if some changes are needed.  I conclude by saying that I brought the memorandum to Government seeking approval for this Bill be read a Second Time on this day six months to allow for consideration of the legal and policy implications of provisions of the Bill. I confirm this was endorsed by Cabinet. I thank Deputy Bacik and commend her on the legislation. I recognise its importance. Although this measure may only be necessary in limited circumstances, it is nonetheless a statutory provision that should be in place to enable people to bring proceedings. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  I begin by saying how proud I am that the Labour Party and my colleague, Deputy Bacik, are bringing forward this Bill today. I also welcome the visitors to the Public Gallery. This is a Bill about fairness, accountability and justice. It is a Bill that is rooted in the bravery of survivors who have refused to be silent and simply roll over and take whatever paltry offers come their way.  This country\u2019s history during the last century was, for far too many of its citizens, one of abuse and failure. We are all too aware of the many revelations that have emerged and continue to emerge in recent decades. We have all heard the horrific stories of what was inflicted on innocent children and women behind the high walls of religious institutions in cities, towns and villages across this island. We will never know the real extent of the lives destroyed by institutional abuse during those dark decades. There is a moral obligation on this State and us, as legislators, sitting in our national Parliament to do by right by survivors. Successive governments have recognised that moral imperative. That is what led to the redress schemes that followed the Ryan report, the report on the mother and baby and county homes and other reports. Many of those schemes have been deeply flawed and have, at times, retraumatised victims and their families. Indeed, my wife, Maeve O\u2019Rourke, and her colleagues in Justice for Magdalenes Research and the Clann Project have been to the forefront in advocating for justice for survivors of Magdalene laundries and mother and baby homes. They advocate for redress schemes that are not exclusionary and that live up to the promises of the reports and recommendations that proceeded them.  The redress schemes introduced have at least showed an understanding on the part of the State that there was a wrong to be righted. The attitude, meanwhile, of certain religious orders has fallen short of that. We have seen the reports of mixed engagement from religious orders on redress. We have heard the stories right from the mouths of the brave survivors who have had to go through the difficult retraumatising experience of the courts to get the redress they are owed. We know that many of the orders that facilitated, enabled and covered up child sexual abuse for years and years continue to hide behind the legal fiction of lay-run trusts to escape accountability for the horrors they caused.  There is a veil of fog around the financial affairs of these orders that is troubling. The total value of assets held by religious congregations, orders and institutions is unknown, despite a number of official processes that sought to estimate these resources. After the mother and baby homes report was published, negotiations with eight religious bodies involved in those institutions sought to secure financial contributions.  Only two organisations responded to requests for specific financial information and five did not offer any contribution. We know these are wealthy organisations. An analysis of the financial returns provided by a sample group of religious congregations to the Charities Regulator has shown that collectively they have had approximately \u20ac1.3 billion in cash and other assets.  What we are really talking about here is impunity. These are wealthy, powerful groups of people who protected abusers in their ranks and now protect themselves from the consequences. I have to say, having gone to one of their schools, the Christian Brothers, CBs, are notorious. It seems that as a policy they do not nominate a defendant to a court case. They use their unincorporated status to avoid accountability. It is sickening to see.  This Bill is about saying, \"No more.\" We should not have to accept this. Survivors should not have to accept it. We clearly cannot rely on any spirit of Christian charity from these orders. It is time to get tough and to get survivors the redress they deserve. We can start to legislate for that here this evening if the Government chooses to support this important Bill. The Bill will enable the recovery of damages from these religious orders and the lay-run trusts into which they have moved their assets. No longer will the grubby practice of lay-run trusts shielding orders from providing redress be possible. In short, it would deliver accountability at last.  I welcome some of the comments made by the Minister and the encouraging noises from the Taoiseach earlier this week about Deputy Bacik's Bill and how it aligns with Government priorities. This day six months will obviously be Christmas Day. I put it to the Minister that in deferring the Bill for six months, he is acting as the anti-Santa. He is delaying justice. I appreciate it is a complex issue but we have been talking about this for a long time. I urge the Minister to put all his resources into getting the complex legal issues at the heart of this Bill sorted as quickly as possible, and deliver accountability and justice for survivors at long last who just cannot keep waiting. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill and thank Deputy Bacik and the Labour Party for bringing it forward. Sinn F\u00e9in supports this legislation and any step towards ensuring that survivors of institutional abuse can finally access the justice they have been denied for so long. I welcome the visitors to the Gallery.  For decades, survivors have shown immense courage in their fight for recognition and redress. They have campaigned tirelessly to break the silence of a shameful chapter in our history. Sinn F\u00e9in has consistently stood with them, as we did when we brought forward amendments to the Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill to provide for a contributory State pension, a full Health (Amendment) Act, HAA, medical card and other supports to reflect the intergenerational trauma suffered. Another amendment I proposed at that time was commensurate compensation from religious orders, that \"Within 6 months of the passing of this Act, the Minister shall prepare a comprehensive plan to deliver commensurate compensation from Religious Orders, this to include a consideration of every avenue of recourse and a timeline of engagements and actions, in pursuit of the public good.\". That was an amendment that we proposed, but the Government had other plans. Those plans serve only to delay and deny.  I listened to the Minister. I do not know if he was going for a record in terms of mentioning the word \"complex\" in one D\u00e1il statement. I am not legally qualified. I think I am the first person to speak on this so far who is not legally qualified. I recognise that these issues are complex but when I hear complexity, I hear a bureaucratic governmental language that serves only to delay. Let us act with haste here and pursue these issues aggressively to deliver justice. That is not to do a disservice to the complexity of them at all.  The Bill before us is a direct response to repeated failures by the State to compel religious orders and other unincorporated bodies to pay their fair share. It is a further stain on this Government that it has taken so long to act. Successive Administrations have failed to hold these institutions accountable, leaving survivors to navigate a labyrinth of legal obstacles while religious orders engaged in legal and financial manoeuvring to shield their assets, which, I believe, is a deliberate conscious decision on their part.  The core of this Bill is about ending that evasion. It will allow civil proceedings to be brought directly against unincorporated bodies and remove the absurd legal barrier that has prevented survivors from suing organisations directly. Importantly, it provides a mechanism to access the assets of associated trusts, preventing orders from hiding behind complex structures to avoid their responsibilities. This aligns with Sinn F\u00e9in's stated position that everything must be on the table, including legal action and the seizure of assets, to ensure these institutions, orders and organisations contribute to redress.  For too long, the Government has offered only tea and sympathy. The State has failed survivors in their early years and has continued to fail them in their later years. Today, we have a chance to right a wrong. The Government should allow this Bill to progress, with no six-month delay. If there are technical concerns, they can be addressed in committee. What cannot be countenanced is further obstruction or delay. It is incumbent on the Government to facilitate the Bill's scrutiny through the relevant Oireachtas sectoral committee. This is a reasonable request.  The interdepartmental group, IDG, is examining redress for historical sexual abuse in schools. In recent responses to me, the Minister for education said that the IDG is examining the mechanisms that can be brought to bear to ensure that any future redress scheme is appropriately funded by those who were responsible for the schools where child sexual abuse took place. These mechanisms may include any administrative, legal, financial or other processes that can assist Government in its consideration of the issue of redress and how any scheme to be considered might be funded by those responsible for schools where sexual abuse occurred.  We do not know what will come of this review but time is of the essence and we cannot countenance any unnecessary delay. Most importantly, this cannot be a case of tinkering at the edges. This has to be ambitious and aggressive in its pursuit of what is right; that those who perpetrated these harms are held accountable. It is a matter of justice.  Any future redress scheme must be funded properly by those responsible and this Bill is a helpful tool to achieve that. I urge all sides of the House to support its passage. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  First of all, I thank my colleague and party leader, Deputy Bacik, for bringing this Bill forward. I also welcome the visitors to the Gallery.  This Bill is timely for two reasons. It is timely because it addresses one of the most disgusting and hideous aspects of our shameful past, namely, the abuse perpetuated by religious orders and facilitated by the State. Many religious orders hold substantial wealth, particularly in terms of property and land, yet many refuse to engage and refuse to pay compensation for the horrendous damage they inflicted on poor innocent undeserving people. This Bill is also timely because in the week in which it has come up for debate, we have seen the conviction of two vile paedophiles who were two men in positions of authority and influence - Leo Hickey and Jeffrey Donaldson.  For decades, the State has grappled with the dark, painful and deeply stained legacy of institutional abuse. We have sat in this Chamber and listened to statements. We have listened to apologies and we have all read reports. We read the reports into the mother and baby homes. Some of us read the Ryan report. Time and again, we have seen brave courageous survivors stand up, recount their deepest traumas and ask this country to do one simple thing, which is to get them accountability. Yet, on many occasions they have been met with a State redress scheme that is cold, bureaucratic, adversarial and forces them to repeatedly prove they are not lying.  If the State's failures are cause for deep concern, the utter moral bankruptcy of certain religious orders is worse. We need to call this out for what it is. This is a masterclass in corporate evasion by institutions that claim they are Christian, but whose actions, in reality, are anything but.  Culpable religious orders are actively dodging their responsibilities. They are using grubby, dirty, cynical legal tactics to place their vast wealth and considerable assets completely out of reach. They move properties and millions of euro into lay-run trusts, drawing a legal curtain between their riches and money, and the victims they broke, bruised and failed - vulnerable people who were, in many cases, in their care. The recent scoping inquiry noted \"mixed engagement\" from the orders on redress. In my view, \"mixed\" is a laughable term to use. It is almost a euphemism for literally whacking the door shut on survivors.  We cannot continue the same failed approach of asking religious orders to, effectively, appeal to their better nature. That approach has failed us for nearly 30 years. It is time for the State to force their hand. I want to read an excerpt from an email I received from a constituent of mine who is a survivor of Sean Ross Abbey, which outlines eloquently the core of the issue:  If the State truly understood the lifelong damage caused to women and children by mother and baby homes, it would never have designed the redress scheme as it did. Women entered these institutions at one of the most vulnerable times in their lives, and many arrived frightened, alone and ashamed, often having already been rejected by their families and communities. Instead of compassion, proper maternity care and support, women in Sean Ross Abbey experienced fear, humiliation and inadequate care. Women have spoken about being left in pain during childbirth and being told to offer up their suffering for their sins. Many mothers left these institutions without their babies. Many children grew up not knowing who they were, where they came from or why they had been separated from their mothers.  This trauma did not end when the doors of these institutions closed because women and children continue to live with the physical and emotional consequences today, and many still require counselling and support decades later. No amount of money can compensate mothers and children for the trauma, abuse and lifelong consequences of what happened in mother and baby homes. However, the State has effectively decided what that suffering is worth. The redress scheme tells its own story, with the arbitrary cut-offs and medical card eligibility issues once again reducing lifelong trauma and its consequences to a simple calculation of days. Recently, two survivors successfully challenged their exclusion from the redress scheme through the courts. The Government's response was not to accept these decisions; it was to appeal. Only weeks after the Minister stood in the D\u00e1il and apologised to survivors, the State is once again forcing survivors through the courts. Survivors are looking for justice, for accountability and for religious orders to pay what they owe.  It is shocking that in 2026, mothers out there who are survivors of these institutions have no clue - and may never have a clue - where their dead children are buried. When survivors consistently seek answers about what happened, information remains unavailable and important questions remained unanswered. Apologies have been made, reports have been published and legislation has been introduced, but for many people time is running out. I note with deep disappointment the Minister of State's amendment providing for a six-month time delay, because some of these survivors may not have six months. The Bill my colleague has introduced provides the legal teeth to break through these trusts and recover the damage that is rightfully owed to survivors. No survivor should have to resort to dragging themselves through an adversarial court system to fight for their dignity. If an institution facilitated, enabled and covered up the horrific sexual abuse of children, that institution must pay what is owed. We have given the Minister of State a mechanism to act; please use it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  I thank Deputy Bacik and the Labour Party for this Bill. I welcome the visitors to the Public Gallery. I am sure it is not easy for them to listen to the back and forth on something that should be an easy and straightforward thing to do. The Social Democrats welcome this Bill. We are disappointed in the Government for the six-month delay. As has been said, perhaps some people do not have six months, and have waited a very long time for redress.  As I have listened to this debate, it has struck me how many debates are had in this Chamber on this topic. I am sure previous speakers have said this already, but when people contact me to tell me what happened to them as a child, it is absolutely horrific to read the words, to hear people on the phone and to try to understand what a child experienced at the hands of an adult in this country. I am also absolutely certain this is not historic. I know we are talking about historic at present, but this is going on now.  The reality is that they were alone as children. They were scared and vulnerable, but we do not seem to be able to understand that. When that person receives redress, that does not mean it wipes away the pain, the hurt and everything that happened to them as a child. Redress does not wipe that away. It is not an erasure, but a recognition that the wrongs that happened to that child were not and are not acceptable. It does not take away the pain, but it is a recognition.  Going back for a moment, \"RT\u00c9 Investigates\" had a very interesting documentary, which I am sure people have seen, that explained very clearly how the religious orders use these unincorporated bodies to hide their assets. To be very clear, these religious orders are still running schools. They are called something different; they are not called the Christian brothers but something else. They are still running schools, and have all these unincorporated bodies and resources.  At the time of several redress schemes, the religious orders said they did not have the money to contribute as much to them. They did not have the money, yet over a 35-year period they sold 800 properties. They got rid of them; they had the money, so they were able to generate it. We were talking about dereliction earlier this week. The Department of education owns a huge amount of vacant properties that would have come originally through religious orders, so there are plenty of resources. However, these are organisations that successfully hid paedophiles in every nook and cranny of every institution and educational building. They were able to hide them so well, and now they are hiding in every nook and cranny any piece of property, cash or resources they have so that they do not have to feed back into the redress system. That is their responsibility. Yes, it is the responsibility of the State, but it is the responsibility of the people who perpetrated these horrific crimes on children to pay for that.  The \"RT\u00c9 Investigates\" documentary reported that there were members of the Christian brothers organisation who were not only paedophiles, but were also responsible for setting up the structures and making sure the resources were not able to be used. That is something that came as a shock to many people. This is a State failure, but we cannot pass the buck to others. We need to ensure mechanisms of the State are able to reach into those orders and get behind the red tape.  It is fixable. I suppose I am a little frustrated because if you think if there is a problem, you fix it. There is a solution here; Deputy Bacik is giving a very clear and easy solution. We are able to tackle these unincorporated bodies. I had somebody contact me by email - I am not going to give his name because I do not have permission - who told me he has to sue 120 Christian brothers. That is in the High Court. It is not acceptable to hide behind this. For people who maybe do not understand, trauma has a way of incorporating every part of your body - sorry for the pun there. It takes over your whole body and mind. To be able to deal with sexual abuse trauma and then have to navigate a system that is set against you is absolutely cruel and is totally avoidable.  Going back to the survivors for a minute, it is utterly heartbreaking. I keep saying \"heartbreaking\". I am a mother. I have children. I keep thinking of how the survivors were failed, but we are continuing to fail them. We keep coming back in here, talking about it, proposing things and then delaying it. I do not understand why we are delaying it. Maybe that is how survivors feel. They do not understand why so many barriers and blockages have to be put in their way, when the State is saying it sees them, hears them and will do redress, but it will only do redress if they lived in the mother and baby homes for more than six months. I do not understand what the difference is between living there for five minutes or six months. It is a trauma that continues for the rest of their lives. How do you measure those things?  When we stood in this Chamber, when Helen McEntee was Minister for Education, and discussed what would happen with regard to sexual abuse in schools in Ireland, so many people said that had to be a trauma-focused, survivor-focused way of approaching it. It needs to allow people to speak, not to speak, to find a space and to not be retraumatising, yet here we are again, having this conversation, and there will be a delay. The Government has said several times, on so many Bills over the last year, that the Opposition never comes up with any solutions and only criticises it. The Labour Party is giving an excellent solution here, yet the Government's new thing, and I say new as if I have been here for years when I have not, seems to be to put a delay on things. I ask the Government to please not do that. It is unfair to the victims, the survivors and those people who suffered in our schools. When education and health is outsourced to organisations, that does not mean the responsibility for it can be outsourced.  The State has had to pay a significant amount of money in redress, and rightly so. The religious orders, the other organisations and other unincorporated bodies, of which there are so many that I will not be able to name them all, need to be able to pay back and should be paying back, but they are not, because they are smart and they are moving their money around. Maybe this is possible because maybe a really rich organisation is able to move its money around, and I am just naive. What I am not naive about is the fact that people who have been educated in this country and have been in institutions deserve better, and we have to try better. The Government needs to catch up with the rest of us with regard to empathy and a trauma-informed way of looking at things, because this is not it, and putting that delay on this Bill is a disgrace. I would like the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, to take that back to Government and ask Fianna F\u00e1il, Fine Gael and all the other people who make up the Government to please discuss it. We are now looking at a situation where there is a solution which will help people. It will never ever wipe away the pain that those children, now adults, have endured, but it may do something to help, and it will perhaps be less traumatising and less retraumatising. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas le gach duine a labhair ar an \u00e1bhar t\u00e1bhachtach seo. I commend Deputy Bacik on bringing this Bill before the House. I acknowledge those survivors and welcome them to the Chamber. They worked to raise awareness of this issue, often at considerable personal cost, long before it reached the floor of D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann. This issue was brought to light because of the litigation strategy adopted by the leadership of the Congregation of Christian Brothers, as mentioned by other Deputies who have spoken before me. While the current leadership may not be directly responsible for the acts or the abuse themselves, they are undoubtedly accountable for how they choose to respond to that legacy. Their choices have had a direct and profound adverse impact on victims and survivors, not only in the past but continuing right up to this present day. I welcome again the survivors this afternoon. This Chamber cannot even begin to comprehend how distressing it is for them to have to deal with this order's leadership.  In late 2022, this matter was referred to the Law Reform Commission. I would appreciate if the Minister of State could update the House on whether there has been any commission progress to address the legal loophole whereby unincorporated bodies are not obliged to nominate a person to accept service of legal proceedings on behalf of their organisation. Like Deputy O'Rourke, I am not from a legal background. For context, in 2017, the leadership of the Christian Brothers order chose to introduce a litigation strategy that has had the effect of obstructing survivors' access to our civil courts. This is secondary abuse. Survivors speak of years trapped in procedural disputes, unable to progress their cases. They describe being suspended in a legal limbo that delays healing, impedes meaningful engagement with therapy and causes ongoing retraumatisation.  Survivors describe the litigation strategy as a continuing exercise of power and control over their lives. For many, it echoes the powerlessness that they experienced as children when they were abused by members of that same order. Survivors are often isolated and initially were not aware that their treatment was part of a broad litigation strategy. They campaigned tirelessly to raise public awareness and provided evidence, examined in the mentioned and award-winning 2023 \"RT\u00c9 Investigates\" documentary. That programme revealed the litigation strategy, the extent of which we all know now. It brought national attention to the efforts being made by the Christian Brothers order to prevent survivors from pursuing their claims through civil courts.  In seeking symbolic justice, survivors also commenced a campaign to rescind the freedom of Drogheda, previously awarded to an individual who, in 2017, presided over the introduction by his order of this litigation strategy. This message was difficult to articulate as the freedom recipient was not directly responsible for those acts of primary harm, and some public representatives spread misinformation and many refused to listen and to allow survivors to express their views. Numerous individuals and organisations, including One In Four, publicly supported the campaign and articulated the legitimate concerns underpinning it.  In order to engage with public representatives, survivors of childhood abuse, rape, and torture, whom this Bill is designed to support, experienced little empathy or compassion, blanket refusals to engage, abusive text messages directed at supporters, and complicity by some public representatives as lawful motions were removed or interfered with by non-elected actors. There were extremely hurtful personalised attacks and misinformed victim-blaming in local as well as social media, and conflicts of interest resulting in victims of rape being refused the service they were entitled to by a rape crisis centre, for which Cuan, Ireland's statutory agency for tackling sexual violence, was notified.  Arguments being made in media that it was the choice of survivors to be subjected to the religious orders' abusive litigation strategies were akin to 1970s and 1980s Ireland. Public representatives revealed and exercised deference to powerful religious leaders whose choices continue to harm victims. Most hurtful of all was that many public representatives ignored or refused to hear the harm which this choice of litigation strategy was causing. Seventeen victims who travelled to Drogheda to meet public representatives, paid for a meeting room, gave nine days' notice and paid for uneaten sandwiches at that meeting were largely ignored by those invited. Most of them did not even have the courtesy to RSVP and the request was very basic. The survivors wanted to be listened to and treated with dignity. I regret to say that most of these experiences involved elected representatives of the Labour Party at local, national and European level.  However, it would be wrong to suggest this problem was confined to one political party. This reflected a broader systematic and political failure rather than a series of isolated incidents. I understand that these concerns were brought to the attention of Deputy Bacik in 2023 and 2024, including requests that concerns regarding the conduct of certain representatives were to be examined, but no responses were forthcoming. These events occurred in 2023 and are relevant to the forthcoming Commission of Investigation into the Handling of Historical Child Sexual Abuse in Schools. If survivors feel unable to secure a hearing from elected representatives today, it is understandable some may be fearful participating in the State process tomorrow. I therefore ask Deputy Bacik to meet these survivors and listen to their experiences. The survivors request that One in Four support them in this meeting.  This legislation can mark a new chapter. I commend Deputy Bacik again. Survivors are grateful to her for bringing forward this Bill. They acknowledge her past work with survivors and believe that she will be willing to bring transparency, learning and accountability.  Survivors have asked me to put on the D\u00e1il record their eternal appreciation for the broadcast journalism of Michael Reade. Ar dheis D\u00e9 go raibh a anam d\u00edlis. Without Michael's extraordinary work ethic and his compassion, they believe that we will not be debating this Bill today. I look forward to engaging with this Bill on Committee Stage and subsequent Stages. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Jim O'Callaghan)  I apologise, as I had to step out for a number of minutes to meet a group that I had a long-standing arrangement with. I thank Deputy Bacik again for putting forward this legislation. As I indicated earlier on, it is important legislation that aligns with Government policy but there are areas in respect of it that I need to give consideration to. I also want to speak in general about how we get justice. It is important from the point of view of survivors that we emphasise and recognise that justice in Ireland can only be delivered through the courts. The courts are there to deliver justice. In the first instance, when people are survivors of sexual abuse or rape, the first port of call, hopefully, is a criminal court where the perpetrator of the heinous crime can be held to account. That is the primary way that liability and criminal responsibility is apportioned and individuals can be held liable before criminal courts for their heinous crimes and attacks upon survivors. In order for that to occur, however, it involves a significant amount of effort on the part of the person who makes the complaint and proceeds and pursues the claim through the courts. We all saw it recently in terms of what happened in another jurisdiction north of the Border recently when you look at the process that had to be gone through in order for the complainants in that trial to achieve justice before the criminal courts.  The criminal courts are where justice is provided in terms of the apportionment of criminal liability. However, justice can be delivered and administered through the civil courts. That is the mechanism that this legislation seeks to engage with. Even though an individual may be criminally responsible for the heinous act of sexual assault or rape, there may also be others associated with that individual who have a broader responsibility and a fiduciary duty that results in them have a liability for the actions of that person. That is why, in so many instances, in situations that arise where people are abused and assaulted by persons who are part of an institution, that institution can be held liable if it can be established that the institution did not take the necessary steps to protect individuals who are vulnerable, such as schoolchildren, who are within the responsibility of the person who carried out the criminal act. That is why, in many instances, it is necessary and appropriate for people to institute proceedings in the civil courts against unincorporated bodies that have a responsibility and liability for the actions of an individual.  I know Deputy Bacik is not saying this, but there are many times when people do things on their own and the entity has no responsibility for it. If a member of a political party does something on their own without anyone within the political party being aware of it, the political party should not have responsibility for it. Where there are circumstances which are apparent that the unincorporated body is aware of the actions of the individual or has reports made to them about the dangerous actions of the individual and they do nothing about it, or, even worse, they move the person elsewhere in the knowledge that these serious allegations have been made, in that context, there is a liability before the civil courts that will fall upon the unincorporated body. In those instances, victims who come before the civil courts who want to institute proceedings should be able to institute those proceedings in a readily accessible manner.  The purpose of this legislation is to ensure that in circumstances where the unincorporated entity will not give a representative's name or will not nominate an individual to be a representative defendant, the court should step in by directing an individual who will be the nominated representative and defendant. The reason that is a form of justice is that justice does provide that damages are a remedy that are to be payable by a wrongdoer in respect of the offences that were committed by that wrongdoer or for which that entity is responsible for. I will conclude by recognising the important role that survivors play in terms of legislation. I have no doubt that this legislation was inspired by the narrative of survivors. I will be back here considering these matter in the Houses in due course. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  In the first instance, I thank my own Labour colleagues, Deputies Ahern and Sheehan, and the representatives and speakers from other parties who supported this important Bill. I thank the Minister for his engagement on the Bill too. Listening carefully to what he said, he spoke in encouraging terms about the principle behind the Bill. He spoke about the need for people to be able to access the courts and secure redress in a readily accessible manner. He spoke earlier with great clarity about the current difficulties that arise for anyone who seeks to pursue an unincorporated association through the courts. Indeed, Deputy Cummins gave a pertinent example of somebody seeking to pursue the Christian Brothers. Deputy Ahern referred to the Christian Brothers too and having to name 120 individual members. That is the difficulty. The Christian Brothers, through the establishment of the lay-run trust, the Edmund Rice Schools Trust, divested a great deal of assets into that lay-run trust. That is precisely the mechanism that we are seeking to address in this Bill. I thank all of those survivors with whom I have spoken and who have been so courageous in coming forward over the years to disclose about the impact of abuse upon them. I thank the Minister for acknowledging the impact survivors can have on shaping policy. We are seeing that with the debate today on this Bill. It is important to acknowledge.  Deputy O'Rourke commented that the Minister used the word \"complex\" quite a number of times. The Minister used it again in his response. I am disappointed that this is used as the device to justify the six-month delay. I was disappointed also to hear the Minister's reference to the likely publication date of that long-awaited Law Reform Commission report into unincorporated associations. I think the Minister said it is not due until early 2028. That will be six years after the consultation paper was published. My concern is that will then become another - the Minister was referencing it today - pre-emptive delaying device and that, in fact, the Minister will not be able to support any Bill until after that date. He did not indicate that the interdepartmental group report might be brought forward. The Taoiseach indicated on Tuesday in his response to me that this publication date would not be as late as May 2027 and that it might be earlier. I would welcome some clarity on that. I can speak to the Minister afterward about that.  I want to come back to that point of complexity. Yes, there are complex matters here, but, at its core, this is straightforward. We are talking about a mechanism or legal tactic being used by religious orders. I have referred to it previously as a sort of \"developer's wife\" tactic, where the religious order bears the liability, as typically a male developer would.  It transfers its assets into the lay-run trust as the developer would have transferred assets to their spouse - in a gendered way, typically to the wife - and the owner of the assets is therefore beyond the reach of legal accountability, given that the spouse does not have the liability whereas the person liable no longer possesses the assets. That is the simplest way to describe what this mechanism is. Our Bill is a way of getting around that and lifting the veil, lifting the obstruction and making it easier to sue because, as the Minister said himself, and I made a note of his word, it is implausible currently that you have to sue every member of a religious order in order to pursue religious orders as unincorporated associations. I should say I have some experience: I was taken to the courts as a student union officer, indeed threatened with prison, many years ago for providing women with information on abortion but we were pursued as individuals through the courts because we were officers of an unincorporated association and the union could not be sued as a students' union at the time. Therefore, I am well aware of the mechanisms behind this. Our Bill is very carefully drafted to make sure that it only applies in narrow circumstances. Under section 2, which sets out the circumstances where the legal curtain can be lifted, the wrongdoer is a member of the unincorporated association and the plaintiff was sexually abused as a child. Section 5 sets out how the court appoints the proper defendant. I thought the Minister quoted approvingly the device we put in here. We have set out very careful criteria for when an associated trust can be pursued. Therefore, the Bill is carefully drafted and narrowly focused.  The Minister put particular focus on section 8 and the lifting of the proviso around the Statute of Limitations and indicated that that was particularly complex. I acknowledge that, and I acknowledge that we are looking to provide for a sort of retrospective effect. That, of course, has consequences, but I am very happy along with Labour colleagues and, I think, colleagues across the Opposition to work with the Minister and the Attorney General\u2019s office to address any issues in this regard on Committee Stage.  The Minister proposes to defer this until Christmas Day, which Deputy Ahern described as the anti-Santa approach, although it is more like a Scrooge approach really. My concern is that that will delay our ability to confer with the Attorney General or move to Committee Stage. No doubt we will then be told to wait until May 2027 for the IDG report and then to wait until early 2028 for the Law Reform Commission report. That is just delaying justice and delaying redress for survivors. That is really important because it will mean that survivors will continue to face obstacles and obstructions in looking to pursue religious orders through the courts, because they will have to go through this crazy process where you have to name all the individuals, the orders may or may not provide the nominated name and so on. Survivors should not have to go to court.  The other purpose of the Bill is to provide a leverage for the State in negotiating with the religious orders to get the fair share of redress paid. Currently, State bodies, and the Department of education in particular, are at a huge disadvantage in seeking orders to come forward and pay their share, as Sheila Nunan discovered. Deputy Sheehan referred to the difficulties and complexity in trying to get the religious orders to come forward. I think the language used was \u201ca mixed response\u201d from religious orders when they were asked to make voluntary contributions to the State. It was mixed because the State has no sanction. The State cannot say to religious orders that if they do not pay up voluntarily, then it will compel them, as there is currently no power of compulsion.  At its core, this Bill is simple. It is about trying to unblock the current obstructions that lie in the way of pursuing religious orders. It is about lifting an obstruction to justice for survivors. So many survivors have come forward and asked that this Bill be progressed and that we see a speedier and more urgent response from the Government. Just yesterday, I heard from a mother whose son, who is non-verbal, was physically and sexually abused while in the care of a particular religious order. She asked what prospect there was for non-verbal children. That is a specific question and one of many that have been put to me. I submitted a parliamentary question on that particular issue. There are many heartbreaking stories of the distress, trauma, deep hurt and damage, and life-long consequences of abuse upon many survivors yet there is a failure to be able to secure accountability from the religious orders that were responsible in many cases.  Others have referred rightly to the bigger picture here, that being, the immense power that the church and religious orders wielded for many decades through the State, and the sort of shadow welfare state that the Catholic church operated in running industrial schools, mother and baby homes, Magdalen institutions and many other institutions in which vulnerable persons, women and children primarily, were incarcerated for many shameful decades. The church and the religious orders continue to wield enormous power in our education system through the patronage model. Ninety percent of our primary schools are still under the patronage of the Catholic church and the religious orders, so that power remains. This Bill is one small attempt to get behind the power and the wealth, let us name it, of these religious institutions. The report that others and I referenced earlier noted \u20ac1.3 billion of assets held in cash and property by eight religious orders. That is an enormous sum of money. It should be accessible to survivors of abuse and to State bodies that are seeking to do right now by survivors whom they failed for so long.  This Bill is aligned with stated Government policy and priorities in seeking to pursue and make accountable religious orders that have escaped accountability for far too long. The scale of this is astounding.  I welcomed earlier the movements made on the commission of investigation into abuse in schools but look at the scoping inquiry of 2024. What does it tell us? There were 2,400 allegations of abuse in 308 schools, with more than a quarter originating in facilities for children with special needs. It is absolutely shocking. There were 884 alleged abusers in 42 religious orders. We only know what is the tip of the iceberg. We have relied so much on the bravery of individual survivors to come forward but clearly there is an enormous mountain of undisclosed trauma that is still there among many people who were abused. Listen to the accounts from Dunderrow and those women who are still reliving the trauma of being abused in a systematic, calculated fashion by Leo Hickey. That is the sort of trauma that we are now beginning to uncover. As the oppressive Catholic church doctrine is lifting from the laws of the State, and the Minister reminded us about that with the disregard law this week, which we welcome, we know now how much we have to do to do right by survivors. This Bill represents just one way that we can do right by survivors. I urge the Minister to drop the six-month delay. We have to oppose it. We want to see this Bill pass into law as swiftly as possible to do right by survivors. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  In accordance with Standing Order 85(2), the division is postponed until next week's division time. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar athl\u00f3 ar 6.38 p.m. go dt\u00ed 2 p.m., D\u00e9 M\u00e1irt, an 30 Meitheamh 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The D\u00e1il adjourned at 6.38 p.m. until 2 p.m. on Tuesday, 30 June 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Civil Liability (Child Sexual Abuse Proceedings Against Unincorporated Bodies of Persons) Bill 2025: Second Stage [Private Members]"}]}}]},"contextDate":"2026-06-25"},{"debateRecord":{"house":{"showAs":"34th D\u00e1il","committeeCode":"","houseCode":"dail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/house\/dail\/34","chamberType":"house","houseNo":"34"},"chamber":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/def\/house\/dail","showAs":"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann"},"lastUpdated":"2026-06-30T02:11:49+00:00","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-24\/debate\/main","formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-24\/debate\/mul@\/main.xml"},"pdf":null},"date":"2026-06-24","counts":{"contributorCount":170,"divisionCount":6,"debateSectionCount":24,"questionCount":37,"billCount":4},"debateType":"debate","debateSections":[{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-24\/debate\/dbsect_2","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case:  Deputy Sorca Clarke - To discuss access to neurology services in the Midlands Regional Hospital, Mullingar.  Deputy Shane Moynihan - To discuss delays in reimbursement under the cross-border healthcare directive.  Deputy Aindrias Moynihan - To discuss the need to advance bus services for people living west of Cork city.  Deputy Joe Neville - To discuss the national semiconductor plan.  Deputy Danny Healy-Rae - To discuss funding for rehabilitation repair works for bridges in Kerry.  Deputy Ruth Coppinger - To discuss the announcement by a company of the suspension of its drone delivery service.  Deputy Pat Buckley - To discuss the lack of school transport for children with intellectual disabilities at a school in Cork.  Deputy Tom Brabazon - To discuss the loss of staff at a school in Priorswood in the context of its new DEIS plus status.  Deputy Malcolm Byrne - To discuss the development of Bunclody Community College, County Wexford.  Deputy Albert Dolan - To discuss the pricing of train tickets between Athenry and Galway.  Deputy David Cullinane - To discuss the severe childcare services deficit in County Waterford.  Deputy Gary Gannon - To discuss data collection and sentencing guidelines relating to unprovoked \"one punch\" fatal assaults.  Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan - To discuss the reimbursement of a drug and implementation of the drug reimbursement system.  Deputy Pa Daly - To discuss delivery of a new building for a school in County Kerry.  Deputy Colm Burke - To discuss actions to reduce the risk to children who require MRI scans under anaesthetic.  Deputy Rory Hearne - To discuss community safety and policing issues in Ballymun and Finglas in the context of the upcoming Presidency of the Council of the EU.  Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa - To discuss the planned industrial action at Oberstown.  Deputies George Lawlor, Sin\u00e9ad Gibney and Richard Boyd Barrett - To discuss mass redundancies at a company and other job loses associated with AI.  Deputies Darren O'Rourke and Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire - To discuss the need for redress for survivors of historical abuse at a school.  Deputy Michael Cahill - To discuss and address the concerns of advanced nurse practitioners in the pay review process.  Deputy Marie Sherlock - To discuss the status of the reception class programme.  The matters raised by Deputies Sorca Clarke, Aindrias Moynihan, Ruth Coppinger, George Lawlor, Sin\u00e9ad Gibney, Richard Boyd Barrett and Marie Sherlock have been selected for discussion "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-24\/debate\/dbsect_3","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-24\/debate\/dbsect_4","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Hospital Services","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-24\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_4","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sorca Clarke  Go raibh m\u00edle maith agat. I welcome the opportunity to raise the issue of the lack of a dedicated neurological service at the Regional Hospital Mullingar. It is not that we have an under-resourced service or a service that needs expansion; we simply do not have any dedicated neurology service at all. Instead, there is a limited outreach arrangement with another hospital in another county. For perspective, it will take one of my constituents from Moyne 90 minutes, each way, to travel to Tullamore. It is 105 km.  The national model of care for neurology services, published in 2016, clearly states that all model 3 hospitals should have a dedicated neurology service. A decade later, the people of Longford-Westmeath are still waiting for their service. The consultant neurologist in Tullamore Hospital is not on a full-time basis. The service delivers three 90-minute telephone clinics per week and one in-person clinic every second Thursday. For a catchment population of over 200,000 people across Longford, Westmeath, Offaly and surrounding counties, are we really expected to believe that this constitutes an acceptable neurology service? Does the Minister of State believe that this is safe? Does he believe it is sustainable? Does he believe it is a clinically appropriate level of care given the demand?  Neurological conditions are now the leading cause of disabilities worldwide. In Ireland, one in six people is now living with a neurological condition. People are living with Parkinson\u2019s disease, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, acquired brain injury, motor neurone disease and numerous other conditions that require specialist assessment, diagnosis, treatment and long-term management. The consequences of failing to provide local services are felt every day by my constituents and their families in Longford-Westmeath. People are being forced to travel to Dublin for appointments that should be available closer to home. They are being forced to travel to Tullamore for appointments that should be available closer to home. We know there are thousands of outpatient appointments in St. James's Hospital every year for people in my area, based solely on the addresses they provide to that hospital.  For many patients, particularly those with progressive neurological conditions, these journeys are not a minor inconvenience. They need time off work, suffer a loss of income, incur transport and parking costs, must arrange carers and family support and endure lengthy travel times, while dealing with what can be debilitating symptoms. There have been reports and press releases about healthcare being delivered closer to home. Neurological patients have every right to ask where that care is for them in Longford-Westmeath.  The Neurological Alliance of Ireland, NAI, has highlighted significant regional inequalities in access to neurological care. A recent report found that people living in regional and rural areas face longer waits, greater travel burdens and poorer access to specialist services than those living in major urban centres. One woman I met, a patient, summed up the problem perfectly when she said that Ireland is policy rich but implementation poor. That phrase stuck with me because, in this instance, we have policies, reports and models of care but what we do not have is delivery. The national model of care clearly states that every model 3 hospital should have a dedicated neurology service. The programme for Government commits to improving neurological care. Yet in the midlands, people are being left behind.  Added to that concern is the fact that Ireland still does not have a national brain health strategy. This is a time when neurological conditions are increasing, our population is ageing and demand is rising. The absence of that coherent national strategy is becoming increasingly difficult for the Government to justify. It is not simply about staffing numbers and waiting lists. This should and must be about equity. A person's access to neurological care should not depend on their address and their ability to travel to Dublin. People across Longford and Westmeath deserve the same access to specialist neurological services as people living elsewhere in the State.  I ask the Minister of State to first acknowledge the reality that there is no dedicated neurological service in the Regional Hospital Mullingar and to commit to delivering one because ten years after the report, my constituents deserve it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (Deputy Alan Dillon)  I thank Deputy Clarke for the opportunity to address the House today on an issue that I know is of real importance to her constituents and to the midlands.  I am taking this Topical Issue debate on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. The HSE recognises the vital importance of timely access to neurological services for patients across the midlands and acknowledges the significant impact that delays in accessing specialist care can have on patients and their families. The HSE has advised that, currently, neurological services for patients in the midlands are provided through a combination of local services at Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar and specialist regional neurological services. While there is currently no onsite specialist neurological services at Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar, it is important to be clear that access to specialist neurological options for patients in the midlands is available through the established referral pathway to specialist services at the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital.  The HSE continues to monitor demand for neurological services in Mullingar and across the midlands and is working with clinical teams to maximise available capacity, improve patient pathways and ensure that patients are prioritised according to clinical need. Patients requiring urgent assessment continue to be seen as a priority through available referral pathways while every effort is being made to reduce waiting times for routine appointments. Indeed, the challenges facing neurological services are not unique to the midlands. The national clinical programme for neurology has acknowledged that demand for neurological services has grown significantly in recent years. To address this, the Minister for Health allocated significant investment in 2025 to expand regional neurological services. This included \u20ac4 million in funding for the recruitment of five additional consultant neurologists and six clinical nurse specialists specifically to support services in model 3 hospitals, including Mullingar.  A further 16 neurological nurse specialist posts and three health and social care professional posts were funded across a range of specialist neurological services. The HSE anticipates that these positions will be filled during 2026, helping to address some of the service gaps identified and improve access to care for patients. This service development is supporting progress on the implementation of the HSE's model of care for neurology.  The focus of the neurology initiative is aimed at improving access to appropriate neurological services; improving safety and quality in the delivery of patient-centred neurological care; and improving value for both patient and health services across neurological services. More broadly, the national clinical programme for neurology is actively working on a hub and spoke model to guide equitable neurology services across the country. This aligns with the health regions and aims to tackle the gaps in neurology services nationally. The model will include one model 4 hospital hub per health region, catering for the most complex neurological care. These sites will support model 3 spoke sites, including Mullingar, which will provide services for people with less complex needs.  Many hospitals already have well-developed neurological services, but funding received in 2025 is enabling the delivery of phase 1 of the hub and spoke model. It is expected that this proposed hub and spoke model will enable a reduction in waiting lists and timely access to diagnosis and treatment and thus improve quality of life and prognosis for people with neurological symptoms. This will cater for people with all neurological conditions and will deliver on the Sl\u00e1intecare principle of delivering care closer to the patient's home. Improving access to specialist care remains a priority for this Government and the HSE is continuing to work with the national clinical programme for neurology to strengthen neurological services. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sorca Clarke  I want to return to the evidence, because the facts contained in the Neurological Alliance report are stark. Mullingar hospital is a model 3 hospital. The national model of care says that it should have a dedicated service. The first fact is that one in six people in Ireland are living with a neurological condition and it is now the leading cause of disability worldwide. Yet, despite the growing demand, Mullingar hospital still does not have a dedicated service. The second fact is that the Neurological Alliance report specifically highlights concerns that Mullingar remains dependent on an outreach service and does not have a dedicated service as outlined in that model of care. The third fact is that demand has outstripped capacity. The Neurological Alliance briefing note says that more than 160 people are currently on a waiting list for neurology services in Mullingar alone. The fourth fact, which we know from various other areas outside health, is that regional inequality is a national problem. People living in regions and rural areas face greater travel burdens, longer waits, and poorer access to specialist expertise than those living in centres. That is a system where access to care is being determined by geography rather than need.  The Neurological Alliance found that consultant neurology staffing remains below recommended levels nationally. Specialist nursing numbers remain significantly below recommended levels. Major gaps exist in multi-disciplinary supports and neurorehabilitation services. These are not my figures or Opposition speaking points. These are the findings of a report from a national umbrella body representing almost 40 neurological organisations and more than 860,000 people living with neurological conditions. The evidence exists, the need is highlighted and the recommendations are outlined. When will the people of Longford-Westmeath get a dedicated neurology service in Mullingar Regional Hospital, which they were promised a decade ago? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  Again, I thank Deputy Clarke for raising this important issue. I fully acknowledge that too many patients are still waiting far too long for appointments and treatment. I recognise the real strain that is placing on individuals and families. As outlined, neurological services in the midlands are delivered through a combination of local supports in Mullingar and specialist regional services. Urgent patients continue to be prioritised and every effort is being made to reduce waiting lists for routine appointments. It is important to recognise that significant investment has been made to expand neurological services, which will help to address the service gaps and improve access to care for patients right across the regions.  As I mentioned in my opening remarks, the implementation of the model of care for neurological services, including the hub and spoke system, is a key part of this, because this will focus on reducing waiting lists, ensure early diagnostics and also deliver timely treatment for patients. It will also improve the quality of life and outcomes for those living with neurological conditions. Regarding Mullingar itself, strengthening services, reducing delays and delivering care close to home is a key priority that the Government wants to achieve. The Minister remains fully committed to improving neurological services right across the country, including for patients in Mullingar and across the midlands, with regard to reducing waiting times, expanding capacity and ensuring patients can access neurological care closer to home when they need to. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Hospital Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-24\/debate\/dbsect_5","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Bus Services","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-24\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_5","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Canney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aindrias Moynihan  I need to raise with the Minister of State the need to improve bus services on the western side of County Cork, from Cork city, up the Lee valley towards Ballyvourney, the upper Blackwater valley over as far as Millstreet and along the Bandon Valley too. Students need to be able to get to college on time. People need to be able to get to work on time and to use public transport to do that, and to be able to get back home again in a timely way as well. These are growing communities west of Cork city. Large numbers of houses are being built, or are already built, with construction happening in places like Millstreet, Ballyvourney, Macroom, Coachford, Cloghduff, and Ovens. They need that infrastructure to be able to get to and from work and into Cork city.  I acknowledge that progress has been made on public transport locally with the installation and building of bus shelters, and the new improvement of the No. 40 route, with the stop on the western side of Macroom, as well as the recently approved planning permission for Macroom bus station. Macroom bus station, after the bypass has been built, offers a real opportunity to act as a hub, so there will be buses coming in from the likes of Killarney, Bantry, Millstreet, Bandon and Cork, and an opportunity for people to switch services there.  One service which I want to draw particular attention to is the 256. This is coming from Bantry. Currently, two local transport initiatives operate back to back, Bantry to Ballingeary and Inchigeelagh to Macroom. The NTA has been examining this option, which is advanced, fully planned and ready to go.  It is joining the dots, putting together the two services to have one continuous service operating from Bantry through to Macroom. However, they are held up waiting for PSO funding. The new service is not a far-off concept. It is ready to go. The NTA needs to get the PSO funding up and running.  The 257 is planned to run from Millstreet to Macroom to Bandon. Half of that is done, so the next stage, from Macroom to Bandon, needs to advance. There are also plans fairly well advanced with BusConnects to serve Ovens. Things need to advance for Crossbarry and Donoughmore. Many of the projects are already under way or fairly advanced in planning, but they are stuck waiting for PSO funding. The NTA is very clear on that. Really what we need to do is bring them along to that next stage.  If the Minister looks, for example, at that 257 that I gave as an example, the council is already planning bus stops and bus shelters along part of that, including, for example, in Crookstown. The actual bus part needs to be advanced. The NTA is adamant that it has done its planning and is now waiting for PSO funding. Cork North-West needs delivery, certainty and fairness, not further delays. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Canney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Transport (Deputy Se\u00e1n Canney)  I thank Deputy Moynihan for giving me the opportunity to address the issue of bus services for people living west of Cork city. I want to clarify from the outset that the Minister for Transport has responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport but that neither the Minister nor his officials are involved in the day-to-day operation of public transport services. Statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally rests with the NTA. The NTA works with the public transport operators who deliver the services and have responsibility for day-to-day operational matters.  That said, I reassure the Deputy that the Government is strongly committed to providing all citizens with reliable and realistic sustainable mobility options, and public transport plays a key role in the delivery of this goal. To support this objective, in budget 2026 the Department of Transport secured \u20ac940 million in funding for PSO and TFI Local Link services, an increase from \u20ac650 million in 2025. This will go towards funding and subsidising existing public transport services across Ireland by maintaining targeted fares, including initiatives such as the recently introduced free travel for all children up to the age of nine and the young adult card for those aged from 19 to 25 as part of the NTA\u2019s national fares strategy. The Department continues to engage with the NTA to ensure existing levels of service, resilience and driver shortages are considered, and to ensure that planning and strategic decisions are informed by both operational and resource considerations.  A sum of \u20ac31 million has been secured for continued investment in our rural transport service in 2026, a 38% increase on last year\u2019s funding. This funding ensures the continued delivery of vital transport services across rural Ireland, building on the significant increase in recent years. In County Cork in particular, funding increased by 47% between 2024 and 2025, boosting passenger numbers by 95%.  A great example of this continued investment can be seen on route 519, introduced in July 2025. This new route provides passengers travelling from Charleville to Cork with a morning service at 7.05 a.m. and a service from Cork to Charleville at 5.45 p.m., Monday to Friday. This new route is part of the Connecting Ireland rural mobility plan, a major public transport initiative. Since 2022, 185 new and enhanced services have commenced. Over 240 towns and villages are now linked into the public transport network. Thirty-six of these new and enhanced services were delivered in 2025. These services, introduced under Connecting Ireland, now provide new transport connections to 41 higher education facilities and 61 healthcare facilities, as well as offering 71 connections to rail services, allowing passengers to continue to connect to the wider TFI network.  Approximately 600,000 people now have access to these new services. Increased services have led to exponential growth in passenger numbers, with more than 8 million passenger journeys recorded across services in 2025. This represents an increase of 70% when compared with patronage in 2023.  The expansion of rural bus services has brought life back into villages and towns. Under the Connecting Ireland initiative, the NTA plans to extend the 320 service to Charleville rail station and extend the frequency of services connecting Charleville town centre to the station, as well as Limerick city, Patrickswell and Croom, subject to the availability of funding and operational readiness. I assure the Deputy that transport connectivity is very important for people who live and work in rural Ireland, including in west Cork. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aindrias Moynihan  I thank the Minister of State for outlining the various works under way. I readily acknowledge that there is headway being made in different places. In this regard I have referred to bus shelters, including for the No. 40 route. Time and again, I have raised here the need to advance the 233 bus service. It is a vital service that goes up and down the Lee valley, serving the area from Macroom to Cork. However, it does not serve those settlements alone as it also services a huge number of people in growing communities in between, from Kilmurry to Crookstown. Cloghduff is growing dramatically, as are Aherla, Killumney and Ovens. On the other side of the Lee, over in Carrig, there are Dripsey and Coachford. Large numbers of houses have been built in this area and people are moving in. They want to be able to get to and from college on time. They want a bus that will give them an opportunity to get to work.  The background work by the NTA is under way on these routes. Its plan is to have three strands of the 233 service, for example in the north, centre and south, to serve the various communities. Again, the NTA is coming up against the roadblock I have described. It was very clear when we raised the matter with them that, as much planning as it has done, it is held up waiting for PSO funding to be able to advance the routes. The 233 is an essential service to serve communities right down the Lee valley.  Can the Minister give an indication of when the NTA can expect to get the PSO funding to have the routes in place? Cork North-West needs delivery, certainty and fairness, not further delays. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Canney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Canney  I thank the Deputy. I reassure him again that the Department, its Minister, Deputy O\u2019Brien, my fellow Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, and I are fully committed to delivering a more sustainable, inclusive and accessible transport system for the benefit of current and future generations. In the Programme for Government: Securing Ireland\u2019s Future, the Government committed to the continued roll-out of the Connecting Ireland rural mobility plan. Investment can be seen in the enhanced route 521 between Newcastle West and Charleville. This enhanced service now includes the addition of an early-morning service and higher frequency services from Thursday to Sunday. It operates seven daily return services from Monday to Wednesday, nine daily return services from Thursday to Saturday and four daily return services on Sunday. The route also provides late-evening and peak-time services for commuters and improved connectivity to Limerick city.  The NTA has stated a number of new routes and route enhancements under the plan have yet to be implemented. The Deputy mentioned route 256 between Bantry and Macroom. This is at an advanced stage of planning and commencement is subject to funding. Discussions are ongoing between the Department of Transport and the NTA. Currently, they do not have a definite timeframe, but I can assure the Deputy that route 256, and the 257 and 233 he mentioned, will be raised with the Department and the Minister, Deputy O\u2019Brien, and the other Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer. We will see where we can get with them.  I appreciate the Deputy\u2019s passionate plea. Coming from a rural constituency myself, I see the growth in demand for public transport. It is up to the Government to deliver on that. I thank the Deputy. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Bus Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-24\/debate\/dbsect_6","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Planning Issues","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-24\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_6","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Canney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  This is not the first time I have raised the issue of commercial drone fast-food deliveries in residential areas. Last week, we had the announcement from Manna Air Delivery, which was the company operating in Dublin 15 and Cork, that it is suspending and pulling out of Ireland.  Residents who were suffering as a result of the noise and lack of privacy, and who had wildlife concerns, etc., but who particularly suffered as a result of the noise, peace and quiet in their back gardens and neighbours having been lost, are celebrating. This technology was very invasive. It was brought in without any proper consultation. The company seemed to operate without having to go for planning permission. When it was forced to do so by community action and by communities getting organised and challenging the way the company was operating, the council started to take notice. The local authority started to act.  I have a list of issues that residents have raised with me and I am directly using the words they have sent me. How is it that commercial drone delivery operations were permitted by this Government to roll out without prior public consultation and without environmental or health impact assessments being done? For two years, Manna Air Delivery was granted a licence by the Irish Aviation Authority, IAA, and was able to bypass public consultation. It provided its own statements without any objective evidence concerning noise and environmental impact. It took a year-long effort by communities, certainly in Dublin 15, including the residents' group Drone Action D15. Public meetings in Dundrum were well attended. It makes no sense. Every piece of technology that comes along does not have to be embraced. It should depend on its social usefulness. One hundred people suffer unbearable propeller noise for one person to get a cup of coffee flown over to them. Who said we needed that? As a journalist said, this was answering a question that was never asked.  We now need to look at the fact that the noise of drones in residential areas make them an unacceptable technology. There are loads of good uses for drones, and I am all for their use in topography, photography, emergency medicine and many other areas. Flying burgers, takeaways and coffees in residential areas is not a good use. We need to ensure that commercial drone deliveries are not allowed again in residential areas. The national drone policy that will be drawn up must reflect that. Commercial drone companies must be required, like everybody else, to apply for planning permission for bases they are setting up and for the impact they have.  Manna Air Delivery was operating in a regulatory vacuum. There is now a framework whereby the public are considered stakeholders and must be consulted. It seems that was something this particular company did not like. It did not like the fact that the public had to be consulted. It had strong opposition in Cork and Dublin 15. That it was mooted to go into Dundrum and Dublin city brought a huge reaction from residents. We now have a framework and we must ensure that the IAA is not lagging behind and enforces it, not just on behalf of the people it regulates, such as the drone operators, but also on behalf of the general public. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Canney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Canney  I thank the Deputy for raising this matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien. I note Manna Air Delivery's recent statement that it will for now cease deliveries by drone in Ireland. The Minister recently met with representatives of Manna Air Delivery and we welcome the company's continued commitment to operating significant research and development and manufacturing bases in Ireland, where it will test, design and build drones. The company will continue to pursue international opportunities with the Irish bases central to that strategy.  From an aviation safety perspective, the regulation of both the recreational and commercial use of drones, or \"unmanned aircraft systems\", UAS, as they are technically called, is provided for under European Union regulations that are directly applicable to Ireland. Two drone-specific EU regulations ensure drone operations across Europe are safe and secure. Regulation 2019\/947 sets operational rules that apply to both professional drone operators and those flying drones for leisure. Another regulation sets the common EU-wide technical requirements for drones and the features and capabilities that drones must have in order to be flown safely. This regulation also seeks to foster investment in the industry.  The Irish Aviation Authority, the civil aviation regulator, oversees the implementation of the EU regulations and standards. The drone regulations are operation-centric and focus on the risk of drone operations so regulation is lighter on low-risk operations and more demanding on high-risk operations. Under the EU regulatory regime, drone operations are classified into three broad categories, open, specific and certified, with different regulatory considerations applying to each category. Commercial drone operations may fall into any one of the categories depending on the risk associated. Low-risk commercial drone operations, such as aerial photography, which the Deputy mentioned, may fall into the open category where regulation and oversight of operations are lighter. Other commercial drone operations, such as drone delivery operations, are more closely regulated. These types of commercial drone operations may fall into the medium-risk specific category, which may require specific authorisation by the IAA. This type of operation is recognised EU member states. To obtain an operational authorisation, an operator must provide a comprehensive safety portfolio, which includes assessing and addressing both ground and air risks with appropriate mitigations. Manna Air Delivery holds such an authorisation from the IAA. In addition to complying with the drone regulation, drone operators are also subject to national laws, including environmental, planning and data protection laws.  While there is a comprehensive regulatory framework in place from an aviation perspective, there are areas where the rapid pace of expansion of UAS operations has resulted in gaps and uncertainties. The Government, aware that the impact of the growing UAS sector needed further consideration, included in the programme for Government a commitment to guide high-level strategic planning and the development of the sector in Ireland. The national policy framework for UAS, agreed by the Government, was published by the Minister in August last year. The policy framework aims to guide high-level strategic planning and development in the drone sector in Ireland through support, growth and innovation, while ensuring safe and secure operations. It seeks to identify and address any policy, regulatory or legislative gaps that may have arisen due to the pace of the expansion of the drone operations. These include areas such as planning and noise regulation where the rapid pace of expansion of drone operations have resulted in gaps and uncertainty. The policy framework proposed a number of structures and actions that aim to address concerns in relation to UAS usage and operations in balance with the realisation of the economic and societal benefits from the emerging sector.  There is also a need for clarity on areas outside aviation safety and in respect of the roles and responsibility of bodies. Since the launch of the policy, the Department of Transport has also established the national policy monitoring group and this group will support and monitor progress on the implementation of the framework. I will continue with the rest of my response later. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  I urge that the framework specifically rules out these drones operating in residential areas. They cause considerable physical and mental health damage to residents who are suffering under them. The Minister of State said in his reply that the drone companies must comply. They are \"subject to national laws, including environmental, planning and data protection laws\". How come Manna Air Delivery was not so subject for two years? How come it was operating in bases that had no planning permission? Its representatives came in front an Oireachtas committee and told the residents that they could have a no-fly zone over their homes. When residents wrote to the company asking for that, it was never implemented. The company has been operating with impunity. It was funded, by the way, by Enterprise Ireland.  I want to comment about jobs. Nobody wants to see any jobs lost as the result of a business closing. Manna Air Delivery has stated that 10% of its 200 employees will be affected, so 20 jobs are potentially at risk. That is the fault of an employer for establishing a company without proper planning. It is extremely antisocial. It had no consultation. There was no assent or buy-in from the community. It is estimated that the company had approximately 1,000 customers. The population of Blanchardstown is 150,000. There was not huge enthusiasm for this technology. It replaced delivery riders on e-bikes. It replaced delivery drivers, too. I would imagine that the balance in jobs will even out.  There were also environmental claims. The delivery had to be driven to the drone base from the takeaway.  Huge claims were made about the benefits of this technology to society. The game is up now because residents got organised in various communities. I see this as a victory for communities over big tech. Tech is not inevitable and we do not have to accept every single thing that is foisted on us. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Canney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Canney  Implementation of the policy framework is tracked and reported on through a series of annual action plans and progress reports. An implementation action plan for 2026, which sets out actions and corresponding timelines, is available on the Government's website. It is important for the public to know that.  I am aware that the rapid pace of expansion of UAS operations has resulted in challenges and generated real concerns and uncertainty among communities, as the Deputy explained, particularly around the issues of noise, intrusion and privacy. The policy framework seeks to identify and address any policy regulatory or legislative gaps. The framework proposes a number of structures and actions to address concerns in relation to UAS usage and operations. It proposes 16 actions under three main areas: the use of airspace and planning; compliance and enforcement; and enterprise and innovation. Actions in the policy framework include the establishment of a national working group on UAS geographical zones to develop transparent processes and procedures for the designation of these zones; the safe management of the integration of UAS into our airspace; the impact on society and the environment; the establishment of a national u-space steering group to develop a national plan for the implementation of the u-space; a set of specific procedures designed to ensure safe and efficient access to and coexistence in airspace for the high volume of UAS; and the establishment of a UAS enterprise and innovation leadership group to foster the development of a robust ongoing policy on innovation.  Implementation of the policy framework relies on cross-governmental structures, and the continuation of engagement and support from various Departments, agencies, the UAS sector and most importantly the public. I encourage the public to keep engaging on this particular matter. I again thank the Deputy for raising such an important matter. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Planning Issues"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-24\/debate\/dbsect_7","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Job Losses","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":4},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-24\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy George Lawlor  The issue of mass redundancies in the tech sector is very live at the minute. One of the companies we are speaking about this morning is Covalen. The actions of this company have been far from savoury in terms of the treatment of the employees it is making redundant. It has rejected calls for better severance packages and declined a request to start the process of voluntary rather than compulsory lay-offs. The tech industry faces major structural issues mainly as a result of AI. We have seen it across the board. However, the actions of Covalen are particularly sinister in the treatment of its employees. It is making bonus payments available as a gesture of goodwill, but these bonuses had already been earned by the workers.  Given the pace of change in the tech industry, what new or expanded reskilling programmes, particularly in the area of AI, cybersecurity and advanced digital skills, will be funded to help displaced workers transition quickly into high-demand roles? I know my colleagues will speak in particular about Covalen but the tech industry is under attack from AI. While AI may have many benefits, the Department needs to seriously look at redundancies in that industry. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  I have been working with this particular group of Covalen staff since January when the initial threats of redundancies were mooted. Since then, we have seen much larger redundancy numbers hitting this group. It has been an inspiring experience to work with them. They are a newly mobilised part of the workers' sector where tech and data workers are realising how precarious their jobs are right now in the context of artificial intelligence.  Rather than going over what has already been discussed in the Chamber, I will pick up from an exchange last week when in response to questions from Deputy Pa Daly, the Minister of State said that Ireland has a strong robust legal framework in place to protect workers experiencing redundancy. I really want to question and interrogate that today. Although these workers have been mobilised, because we have a voluntary system they have found this new understanding of workers\u2019 rights but then they have been faced with the fact that the company does not have to meet them there. One of the workers who emailed me stated, \"Currently a majority of impacted staff do not meet the criteria for the statutory redundancy entitlements - it is crucial that the department intervene to demonstrate that AI related job cuts of this magnitude are not allowed to have such disproportionately negative consequences for workers\" "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Covalen is a window into the future for hundreds of thousands of workers in this country and across the world about AI replacing their jobs and then being made redundant by companies that have made enormous profits off the back of those workers and then leave those workers high and dry. In the case of Covalen workers, nearly 1,000 workers have lost their jobs over the last year, 720 recently, almost halving the workforce. They trained the AI to replace them and then they got left high and dry. As Meta has said they cannot work for another six months for any other company, what are they supposed to do to pay the rent?  Covalen, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cpl, an Irish company which has contracts with the Government, is refusing to even talk to the workers\u2019 trade union. These are people who protect us from the toxic disgusting content of social media as content moderators. They do an important job in our society and are being treated like dirt. Many of them will walk away with nothing or minimum statutory redundancy while Covalen has made enormous profits for Cpl and for Meta. The Government should not allow this and should use the leverage of Cpl contracts with the Government to say it will not get any more Government contracts if it treats workers like dirt like this. It is in the interest of every worker to support Cpl workers because this is the future for other workers if Covalen gets away with this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I thank the Deputies for bringing this important matter to the floor the D\u00e1il. As they are aware, on 27 April 2026 Covalen informed its employees of its intention to reduce its workforce. My understanding is that the company has been impacted by a shift in client demand, resulting in a reduction in the volume of services required and a requirement to adjust operations accordingly.  My first and most immediate concern, and that of the Government, is the potential impact on employees and their families during this uncertain time. In response, the IDA has been engaging at a senior level with the company to ensure it is aware of the full range of IDA supports available at this time and will continue to do so. IDA Ireland has established an internal process for managing potential job-loss situations with its client companies. In respect of impacted employees, the IDA is proactively engaging across its client base to identify potential redeployment opportunities where there is a skills match. The IDA has also facilitated connections between interested companies and company representatives, and this work is ongoing.  On the broader comments, I will talk to Deputy Gibney\u2019s point regarding the Government\u2019s publication of the action plan on collective bargaining, which has been welcomed by the social partners. That is currently being implemented to ensure that employees\u2019 and employers\u2019 voices are recognised. The situation also raises a broader issue which was mentioned - the impact of artificial intelligence and technology on the changing labour market and on jobs. I think we need to be clear and honest that artificial intelligence is a transformative technology with significant potential for Ireland's economy and competitiveness.  Equally, there is a challenge in that we are all trying to predict how work will evolve. We recognise the very real concerns about job displacement but the evidence suggests that AI is more likely to augment jobs than replace them. We will see some displacements, which is natural, but the nature of work will also change significantly. That is why Government policy is very much focused on preparing workers for that transition. We have published the national digital and AI strategy which is very much focused on how we can invest in upskilling and reskilling, and how we can support workers to adapt and ensure Ireland continues to remain competitive in a changing global economy.  We must deal with the immediate impact of job losses while also preparing for the long-term transition of work. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy George Lawlor  The treatment of the Covalen workers has been absolutely toxic. We have workers who have been involved in a company that has made millions as a result of their work, including moderating, as Deputy Boyd Barrett alluded to, yet this company is treating its workers with such disregard by offering two weeks statutory pay and saying they are getting bonuses as a goodwill gesture. They have already earned these bonuses, which were due to them anyway. The notion that we would allow a company to act in this manner, given the profits it makes, is absolutely disgraceful. As a Parliament, we have to do something about this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  I cannot think of a better description than \"head in the sand\" for the Government's response to AI and labour displacement. To tell us that labour is going to be augmented and not displaced because of AI is genuinely shocking to me. When I raise AI and labour displacement, this is what I get - we are focusing on reskilling and retraining, jobs are going to improve and we are going to have better jobs. There is no recognition of the massive transformation that is happening in society and there are no efforts to deal with it. If this is the Government's canary in the coalmine and an example of what is happening, and this is its response to what is happening to Covalen workers, then we are doomed because there is so much more of this coming down the track. To pretend that it is just going to make jobs better is so ridiculous. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  AI potentially threatens to do to hundreds of thousands of workers what is being done to Covalen workers. That is why we have to act now. AI aside, there are mass collective redundancies where companies refuse to talk to trade unions - as is happening in this case - do not consult with workers, dump workers and leave them high and dry, even though they have made big profits. We have seen that before with Debenhams and in many circumstances, yet the Government continues to allow it to happen. The Government must demand that these companies engage with workers and their trade unions, and use the Government's leverage with Cpl to tell it - an Irish company - that it cannot treat workers like this and if it does, it is getting no more Government contracts. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I thank the Deputies for their contribution. The Government fully understands the impact jobs losses have on workers, their families and communities. In the immediate term, we are very much providing the supports, which are being mobilised. We are also engaging with the IDA, the State agency, in terms of redeployment. That is actively being pursued. Engagement with the company is ongoing.  Looking beyond the immediate situation here, we have recognised that technological change, in particular AI, will certainly reshape our labour market. We have been very clear on that. My Department continues to monitor this very closely and the impact it will have on our labour market. We have engaged with the research from the expert group on future skills needs, which very much highlights the rapid growth of AI adoption in Ireland, the strong demand for AI-related roles and the robust pipeline we have in terms of skilled workers that are emerging. It is important to re-emphasise that notwithstanding the adaptation that will be required and the significant challenges that will present in terms of how that transition is managed, that is why we have funding for research which is very much focused on future skills needs.  We are also supporting lifelong learning in terms of reskilling and monitoring the labour market in real time. We are not being passive in this space. We are very much engaging with the Department of further and higher education and many industrial sectors. Our responsibility is twofold: to support workers affected today but also to ensure that workers are equipped for the jobs of the future. Ireland's workforce is ready to grow and thrive in an AI environment. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Job Losses"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-24\/debate\/dbsect_8","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Early Childhood Care and Education","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-24\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marie Sherlock  My question relates to the reception class in St. Joseph's Co-Educational Primary School in East Wall in Dublin 3. A reception class has been running there since 1984. It is in its 43rd year. It is a pre-junior infants class, so effectively there is a three-year infant cycle. It was one of four pioneering schools that has run such a class. Now there is only one school in the country providing such a reception class. The fantastic thing about this reception class is that it is not like preschool or a cr\u00e8che . It is about the first step in adapting to the school environment in disadvantaged communities, such as my own in Dublin Central and particularly in East Wall, which is a really diverse community that has had many decades of disadvantage. That reception class is critically important in affording children the ability to access supports for language development, school readiness and transition into junior infants.  We know that not every child going into junior infants in this country goes in as an equal. There is no level playing field. Some children, particularly in more advantaged families go into primary school with far greater social and educational skills, but it is different in other areas. In particular we know there is uneven access to literacy and numeracy for preschool-going children. The reality is that this is a very important class that has worked well for many decades in St. Joseph's Co-Educational Primary School. Earlier this year, the school was told that it was going to lose the post that allows it to continue running that class, which would have a devastating impact for many across the community.  The reality is we do not have many preschools in the East Wall area. We have two preschools, and then you have to go as far as Se\u00e1n McDermott Street to access the next preschool. There is a huge gap in the area, but that alone is not a justification for holding on to the reception class. The reception class does amazing work. The Holy Child Pre-School in Rutland Street, which started as a pilot, has performed a similar and brilliant role over many decades but it has been left in limbo by the Department. There has been a reduction in the early intervention classes being run out of primary schools in recent years. I passionately believe these classes have a very important role particularly in disadvantaged communities.  Will there be ongoing certainty for St. Joseph's in East Wall with regard to the continuation of that reception class into the future? It has certainty for the coming school year but not beyond that. There is an enormous appetite and demand within the local community to ensure that the reception class, albeit that it is unique across the education system, continues long into the future to support children to adapt to the primary school environment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Education and Youth (Deputy Michael Moynihan)  I thank Deputy Sherlock very much for raising this matter. As she rightly said, a reception class has been in operation in St. Joseph's Co-Educational Primary School, East Wall, since 2002. This class operates as a preparatory infant year for four-year-olds. The reception class was one of a small number that operated prior to the establishment of the early childhood care and education, ECCE, scheme, to provide pre-junior infants education in certain communities. With the wide expansion of the ECCE scheme, this is now the only reception class that operates in the country. The Department has engaged with the school in respect of its teaching allocation for 2026-27 and has sanctioned a teaching post for the reception class for 2026-27. The Department will continue to engage with the school early in the 2026-27 school year with regard to the reception class. The early childhood care and education programme is a Government-funded, universal preschool programme designed to give children their first formal experience of early learning before primary school. It is funded by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality.  To cut to the chase, back in 2002, this class was sanctioned and it has been operational within St. Joseph's Co-Educational Primary School for quite some time. I have no doubt what Deputy Sherlock has articulated this morning are the facts. It has been a huge enabler for children prior to going into primary school and has given them certainty in it.  Sanction was given for this year and, as it is one of the only ones operational in the country, we continue to engage with and monitor it. A lot of investment and funding has gone into the education system and we continue to do that in urban and rural Ireland. The commitment I can give the Deputy today is that there will be early engagement with the school authorities in the next school year because we understand the value of it. It has been articulated in various documentation through the Department and extremely capably by the school authorities.  As the Deputy mentioned, it targets a particular cohort in a challenged community and has been a great enabler for it. We have sanction for 2026-27 and we are serious about engaging early in the school year in the forward planning for it. When it has been in operation - if my maths are correct, it is going into its 25th year this year and it has a long-established tradition - generations of students have benefited from that year. However, we have to evaluate it because we continue to invest in trying to upskill all school communities. The school community there has done amazing work and has taken advantage of the extra year to make sure the students coming from disadvantaged areas benefit fully from it, as the Deputy articulated.  Our commitment is for this year, 2026-27, and we will engage early with the school authorities again. I will take the valid points the Deputy made strongly on board as we prepare to engage with the school authorities early in the next school year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marie Sherlock  My request is that the Department show ambition, particularly regarding communities where not every child goes to school equal at the age of five. The role and value of the reception class is critical, not just for the East Wall area and it should be looked at in other areas.  It is also important to say, as I understand it, this is not the first time there has been a wobble in the Department about the reception class for St. Joseph's. The class started 43 years ago. It was terminated around 1999-2000 but the Department reinstated it in 2002. That is the critical thing. This class has worked for generations of people in East Wall. It has worked for other schools as well. Unfortunately, it was taken away in other schools.  The Department needs to seriously look at and build on the work of DEIS plus and all that, by looking at particular schools and the transition into the primary school system. While the early childhood care and education, ECCE, programme is fantastic, it is a one size fits all and that is not good enough, nor should it be the height of ambition for the Department of education. Particularly in disadvantaged communities and diverse fast-growing communities like East Wall, it is critical we hear from the Department that it is willing to continue funding the post and this class long into the future. The teachers tell me they can see the results when a child goes into junior infants and that has to be recognised and broadened out in the education system. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  There has been a huge amount of investment at Department of education level in terms of disadvantage, including in DEIS and so on. We are not blind to the fact that there are massive challenges in some communities with disadvantage. We are applying the resources to make sure we give every child the best possible chance in disadvantaged areas and across the education system.  In parallel, the early childcare scheme has been hugely funded. The funding that has gone into it in the past quarter of a century to bring it up to standard has been quite amazing. There are two pieces. One is the early childcare scheme to make sure we are giving two years - it is not long ago that it was just one year - and to make sure children are as prepared as possible to go into primary school.  We are constantly looking at where patterns and initiatives have developed in communities. The Deputy is right that this goes way back, beyond the 25 years since 2002. It was to capture a particular cohort of students. We continue to invest in the DEIS programme and to monitor it. This programme has been operating in the school for quite some time. We continue to monitor it and engage with the school and the outcomes. We have to be mindful of the investment going into the education system and the most important measure of that is to make sure children have positive outcomes when they go from primary school to post-primary school and on to adulthood. We have to constantly evaluate that to see whether we are targeting the right resources at the right communities, and to make the best possible choices for children into the future. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Early Childhood Care and Education"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-24\/debate\/dbsect_9","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Teachtaireacht \u00f3n Seanad - Message from Seanad","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  Seanad \u00c9ireann has passed the Health (Amendment)(Home Support Providers) Bill 2025 without amendment. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Teachtaireacht \u00f3n Seanad - Message from Seanad"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-24\/debate\/dbsect_10","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"State Responsibility for Foundation Retention Risk in Defective Concrete Homes: Motion [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":29,"speakerCount":28},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_10","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donna McGettigan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  Leanfaimid ar aghaidh leis an gc\u00e9ad \u00e1bhar eile, an tairiscint maidir le freagracht an St\u00e1it maidir le coinne\u00e1il priacail i leith bunsraithe i dtithe le coincr\u00e9id lochtach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charles Ward  I move:  That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann:  notes that:  \u2014 thousands of homeowners affected by defective concrete have spent years living with uncertainty regarding the safety of their homes, the adequacy of available remediation options and the long-term security of their families;  \u2014 many affected families have experienced repeated changes in engineering advice, evolving scientific understanding and revisions to the redress scheme throughout that period;  \u2014 for homeowners undertaking remediation works, decisions regarding whether existing foundations should be retained or replaced are among the most significant and irreversible choices they will make;  \u2014 the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme permits the retention of existing foundations in affected dwellings in accordance with the updated National Standards Authority of Ireland I.S. (Irish Standard) 465:2026;  \u2014 research underpinning I.S. 465:2026 has identified pyrrhotite and other sulphide minerals in the concrete foundations of affected homes, with evidence of oxidation and early-stage internal sulphate attack in some cases;  \u2014 the scientific basis underpinning I.S. 465:2026 remains limited in duration, scale and longitudinal evidence, and does not conclusively establish long-term foundation performance;  \u2014 as a result, I.S. 465:2026 operates in circumstances of acknowledged material scientific uncertainty regarding long-term structural durability; and  \u2014 affected homeowners are being required to make decisions about retaining or remediating foundations in conditions of that uncertainty, with significant financial, legal and psychological consequences;  recognises that:  \u2014 the State is relying on I.S. 465:2026 as the governing technical standard for remediation decisions, despite acknowledged scientific uncertainty in its underpinning evidence;  \u2014 where the State adopts a Standard in conditions of uncertainty, it must bear responsibility for managing resulting long-term structural risk and not transfer it to individual homeowners;  \u2014 homeowners should not be exposed to future liability or repeated remediation costs arising from limitations in the scientific evidence base underpinning the Standard; and  \u2014 in circumstances where failure mechanisms may be latent, progressive and not fully observable within assessment timeframes, policy must err decisively on the side of homeowner protection; and  calls on the Government to:  \u2014 commission an independent international review of the scientific basis of I.S. 465:2026, with specific focus on sulphide-related deterioration mechanisms in foundation concrete and their long-term behaviour;  \u2014 publish in full the evidential basis, assumptions and uncertainty ranges used to justify foundation retention under I.S. 465:2026;  \u2014 amend the operation of the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme to ensure that no homeowner is required to retain foundations where there is material engineering uncertainty regarding long-term durability;  \u2014 provide an explicit entitlement for homeowners to opt for full foundation replacement where reasonable doubt exists as to future performance;  \u2014 ensure that responsibility for residual long-term structural risk arising from application of I.S. 465:2026 remains with the State and not individual homeowners; and  \u2014 report to D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann within six months on the implementation of these measures and on any revision required to I.S. 465:2026 in light of emerging scientific evidence.  I thank all those who worked on this motion, particularly my staff and 100% Redress party councillors who work every day on the ground dealing with owners of homes with defective concrete. I thank Dr. Chris Brough and Professor Paul Dunlop for their extremely important research on this topic. I also thank all the Opposition TDs and their parties for supporting this motion.  The motion is about the State making decisions about people's homes in circumstances where its own technical standard accepts the science is not fully developed in certain foundation cases. These decisions determine remediation, housing security and the level of uncertainty families are left carrying for decades. At the centre of this is a simple question. When the science is not complete and the State must still act, who carries what remains unresolved? Is it the State or the homeowner?  I should inform the House that I am directly affected by this matter and I deal with it every day. I am living with a defective concrete crisis. I am not relying on this at this stage of the argument but I mention it because it requires me to examine engineering reports and technical matters in great detail. What these reports make clear is not a disagreement about whether the risk exists. It is how the uncertainty is defined in the system and how it is carried into decisions that affect homes, finance and long-term security. The real issue is how known limits in technical knowledge become policy decisions. The governing standard says that the state of knowledge relating to foundations is insufficient to provide guidance for certain combinations of aggregate and active internal sulfate attack, ISA, risk factors. This is the precise limitation written into the standard. It acknowledges there are defined foundation conditions where scientific knowledge is insufficient for decision-making. The standard continues that undertaking sampling, testing and analysis of foundation concrete is expected to strengthen the knowledge base and inform future editions of the document. Therefore, the framework is not final. It is expected to evolve as more evidence becomes available.  Since tabling this motion, I hosted a scientific briefing in Leinster House attended by researchers directly involved in investigating defective concrete deterioration mechanisms across Ireland. The purpose of the briefing was not to challenge the science. It was to listen to the science, which was presented. It reinforced a point already acknowledged in IS 465, that is, that understanding continues to evolve as more testing is undertaken and long-term evidence becomes available. The research highlighted that the scale of the affected properties will continue to expand significantly as testing progresses and deterioration becomes visible on properties that may not yet exhibit symptoms.  This is precisely why this motion matters. When an evidence base is still developing, public policy must be designed to accommodate the reality, rather than assume all future outcomes are already known. It also states the purpose of foundation concrete testing is to identify, first, aggregate types, second, deleterious materials, and, third, potential future deterioration. Testing identifies risk factors but it does not resolve how these factors behave over time in every case. Importantly, foundation testing does not provide a full evaluation of a foundation's current conditions, which would necessitate more extensive sampling for inspection. Even after testing, there are recognised limits to what is known about the structure. This is a technical engineering standard and is not designed for conveyancing or property transactions but, in practice, it is now influencing mortgage assessments, insurance decisions and property values in affected areas. This is not theatrical. This is already reflected when homes are valued, financed and traded. In places like Donegal, defects and uncertainty are already visible in the housing market.  The House should reflect carefully what was presented at the scientific briefing. The research did not present an estimate for all homes in Donegal. Analysis indicated a minimum of 12,000 homes in Donegal alone may ultimately fall within the high-risk category. That does not include social homes, of which there are 2,400, or community buildings, of which there are hundreds. It does not include commercial premises or mixed-use buildings. The distinction is extremely important. When we hear a figure of 12,000 homes, we are not looking at the full housing picture. It is a baseline. We are looking at only one segment of it. For years the State has pointed at figures of approximately 10,000 affected homes nationally, yet we have scientific analysis to suggest Donegal alone will exceed that figure. If that analysis is proven correct, the scale of this crisis has been profoundly underestimated.  We must ask ourselves whether future risk has also been underestimated. The position is clear. The science is incomplete in defined areas. The standard acknowledges this directly. Decisions are still required within a framework. When that happens, uncertainty does not disappear. It is carried forward by the system and, in practice, the homeowners. The classification approach in the standard reinforces this structure. It states that foundation concrete should be classified in accordance with samples of foundation concrete from the highest risk classification. That would be the core sample taken with the most damage. Where multiple indicators exist, the highest classification must apply. Risk is not averaged. In determining the strongest identifying factor, where uncertainty is not fully resolved, it is not eliminated at the point of decision. It is deferred. This is the issue. Deferred uncertainty returns later as further remediation works, higher public costs and increased complexity as scientific understanding develops over time. What is not resolved does not disappear; it re-emerges later on. It will be more costly.  This motion is not a criticism of the scientists, engineers or researchers who have worked on and informed IS 465 - quite the opposite. Good science identifies not only what is known but also what is not yet known. The research has been transparent about the limits of current evidence. We need ongoing testing and expectations that understanding will continue to develop. The question before the House is, therefore, whether we trust a science. The question is whether policy is responding appropriately to what the science is telling us. We have remaining uncertainty. This policy question is not a scientific one. This motion does not challenge the standard. It accepts what it states. It asks straightforward questions of policy coherence.  Where the State accepts scientific knowledge is not yet complete in certain foundation conditions, should the consequences and uncertainty be carried by the homeowner by default? If the answer is \"Yes\", then this is a clear policy choice. If the answer is \"No\", the system must adjust to reflect the reality of what is going on. This matters because the decision before us is not simply about foundations; it is about the consequences of being wrong.  The State has got this badly wrong once already. We are 14 years into this. Poor quality materials entered homes across affected counties and families are still paying the price today. We are being asked to make long-term foundation decisions in circumstances where the Government standard acknowledges limitations in current knowledge, where the evidence base continues to evolve and where there is uncertainty regarding long-term performance of retained foundations. If the scale of defective properties is significantly greater than previously understood, then potential consequences will be enormous.  Saving money today by retaining foundations where reasonable doubt remains may reduce immediate expenditure but if those assumptions are proved incorrect in the years ahead, the cost will dwarf any short-term saving. The cost will not be simply financial; it will be measured in homes requiring further remediation, families forced to go through a process for a second time and properties that become difficult to finance, insure and sell. In a housing system already struggling to meet demand, the State's first failure contributed to this crisis. It would be unforgivable if, in attempting to resolve it, we were to spend public money in a manner that risked creating an even greater housing crisis.  When uncertainty remains, caution is not an expensive option. Caution is a reasonable option. It is important to be clear what this means in practice. These are not abstract issues. They affect a home and whether a home can be sold, remortgaged or insured. They affect whether families can rely on their homes as stable, long-term assets. They affect financial security and the housing market in Donegal and all affected counties. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  I thank Deputy Ward for tabling this important motion and for his diligent attention to detail on this issue. It is about making sure the Government cannot get away with just burying the issue and saying it is now dealt with - it is definitely not dealt with. This has fundamentally been the approach of the past number of Governments in terms of trying to bury this from the very start of the scandal.  The campaign started in 2011. Affected households were fobbed off for nearly ten years, forced to campaign strongly, forced to protest and forced to organise in an extremely impressive way that put huge pressure on the Government before finally getting a remediation scheme that may turn out to be based on faulty scientific evidence. I pay tribute to the campaigners who got us to this point and who continue to push. I thank them for their generosity with their time and solidarity in assisting us when we were getting the campaign of redress for those affected by apartment and duplex defects off the ground. They had plenty of things on their plate but were willing to come to big meetings and small meetings to talk about their experience and how a campaign could be built on an issue that fundamentally has the same foundations, in the sense of a lax approach to regulation by the Government and various corporate operators operating like cowboys to maximise profit at the expense of ordinary householders.  The problem is the remediation scheme we now have may be based on faulty scientific evidence. We heard from Deputy Ward how IS 465:2026 may not stand the test of time. It acknowledges that itself by admitting there is uncertainty about the scientific evidence. That uncertainty might not be anyone's fault but it is certainly not the fault of affected households. We know that for a fact. That has to be the guiding principle in this. None of this is the fault of affected households. They should not be the ones to suffer the consequences. Unfortunately, they have been the only ones to suffer any real consequences to this point. Pending the outcome of legal cases, it is not clear Donegal County Council, the National Standards Authority of Ireland or the block suppliers and quarry operators will be made to pay. Cassidy Brothers Concrete Products Limited, Cassidy Brothers Topmix Limited and Cranford Concrete Products Limited are all being taken to court by affected households. The scale of the scandal remains huge.  We heard a lot of scientific evidence and detail in the briefing organised by Deputy Charles Ward and the 100% Redress Party yesterday but I have to say the thing that stuck with me most was the evidence suggesting that we are not even at the middle of this scandal yet; we are only in the early phase of this scandal. The broad public outside the counties which have the most affected households up to this point would be shocked to realise that we are only at the start of this process. I think the Government may be shocked to realise this but the evidence presented was very strong. The latest scientific evidence is that 20,000 houses in estates in Donegal, Mayo, Clare and Limerick are affected. That does not include one-off housing, which we know there is a lot of in those counties, social housing, business premises or community buildings. We also know that defective concrete is not confined to those four counties and that it is a problem in other counties as well but we do not have sight of the sort of numbers that would be involved there. The 20,000 households is not the whole picture but only part of it.  The central problem with IS 465:2026 is that it allows the retention of concrete foundations in certain circumstances - circumstances that may turn out to be based on faulty scientific assumptions. The evidence presented yesterday was absolutely compelling. Geoscientists Professor Paul Dunlop and Dr. Chris Brough told us about sulphide oxidation, internal sulphate attack, long-term deterioration mechanisms in defective concrete that can affect retained foundations. That is a huge problem because the foundation of your house is exactly that. It is the foundation upon which everything else rests. If the foundation is faulty then your whole house, your whole home and your whole life is insecure - you are literally resting on faulty foundations.  No matter what happens above ground, if your foundations are faulty you have a very big problem. Imagine the psychological impact of that for a moment. We have all seen the pictures and heard the stories and you can talk to Deputy Charles Ward about the reality of living in such a house. You have gone through the heartache of your home falling apart and potentially the massive stress of campaigning to fight for some sort of justice for yourself, your family and your local community, you have gone through the hassle of applying for remediation and the disruption of having the house substantially rebuilt and now it could turn out that the foundation is still faulty. In a worst-case scenario the whole thing may need to be demolished and rebuilt again. That is an unthinkable prospect for people. It is enough to drive anyone over the edge. Even if demolition is not needed in future, the fact that uncertainty remains about the long-term durability of the foundation creates massive issues for homeowners. Their remediated house is still not the same as another house. If there is still a bad smell around it for prospective buyers, banks and insurance companies, they may face difficulties remortgaging or if they need to sell for whatever reason \u2013 if they need to move somewhere else in the country or out of the country or any other reason \u2013 they simply cannot sell their house and so they are stuck with this. To add insult to injury, all this can then be passed on to their children after they die, turning what has been a nightmare for one generation into a nightmare for the next. It is an inter-generational nightmare for which responsibility fundamentally rests with the State and the various companies.  The underlying issue underpinning all this is that the State is still refusing to take full responsibility for this crisis even though it was the State that created the flawed standards and failed to police them and that came up with flawed remediation schemes which we were warned about at the time. Let us remember this is not just glorious informed hindsight but we had some of these arguments at the time. None of this is the fault of the homeowners yet they are still paying for this every single day. We would not be here debating this today if the ordinary people affected had not got organised, demonstrated and forced the Government kicking and screaming to take action but now we have to say that the action has to be appropriate and measure up to the latest scientific evidence and be adaptable to the latest scientific evidence.  In the water charges movement we had a slogan, probably the most popular slogan of the movement, which was \"No way, we won\u2019t pay\". That should be the guiding light here as well in terms of the cost being put on individual homeowners who bear no responsibility whatsoever. It is not their fault; they must not be forced to pay financially, emotionally, psychologically and in the massive disruption to their lives. It is not right for all this to be put on them. It is the State and the private companies who are responsible and they should pay not ordinary homeowners. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan)  I move amendment No. 1:  To delete all words after \"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann\" and substitute the following:  \"notes that:  \u2014 the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme (DCB Scheme), which provides grants to help those affected by defective concrete blocks to remediate their homes, is underpinned by the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (2022 Act);  \u2014 over 3,500 homeowners are now at various stages of the DCB Scheme, and will be supported with grants for 100 per cent of eligible expenditure up to a maximum cap of \u20ac462,000 per household, and this represents a 10 per cent increase in the maximum cap since the DCB Scheme launched in 2023;  \u2014 more than \u20ac336 million has been spent on the DCB Scheme to date, with a commitment to more than doubling the level of funding for 2026 to \u20ac175 million, and to continue higher investment levels over the entire period of the National Development Plan 2026-2030;  \u2014 the DCB Scheme is actively helping homeowners to rebuild their homes, allowing them to move on with their lives;  \u2014 over 500 homes have been fully remediated to date, with approximately 750 more currently at various stages of construction;  \u2014 additional counties continue to be added to the DCB Scheme, clearly showing the Government's commitment to help all those affected by the legacy defects caused by defective blocks;  \u2014 the legislation refers to I.S. (Irish Standard) 465:2018, the Standard which provides for the assessment, testing and categorisation of damaged buildings incorporating concrete blocks containing certain deleterious material, which was published in November 2018, and the 2018 version of the Standard did not require any testing of foundations as there has never been any evidence of damage to foundations, and the DCB Scheme and the underpinning legislation make no provision for such testing;  \u2014 in November 2021, as Ireland's official standards body, the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) was tasked by the Government with a special review of the concrete Standard, this review started in March 2022, and has been conducted by the TC 63 Concrete Blocks Committee of the NSAI, membership of this Committee included representatives of the concrete industry, Engineers Ireland, the Geological Survey Ireland, homeowner action groups, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Housing Agency; and  \u2014 a new revised Standard, I.S. 465:2026, was recently published by the NSAI on 2nd June, 2026, and the revised Standard is based on new research in the area, it entails quite significant changes from the previous Standard in that, under the new Standard, almost all houses with defective concrete blocks would be demolished, and furthermore, the Standard provides for the testing of the foundations of each house in case they may be found to be affected at some point in the future, notwithstanding that there are no current cases of damage to foundations; and  agrees that:  \u2014 aspects of the changes entailed by the new Standard require detailed consideration in terms of the DCB Scheme, and could entail significant financial implications for the State if adopted under the DCB Scheme;  \u2014 the 2022 Act requires that the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage shall, on the publication of the revised Standard, undertake a review of the legislation, the Act also requires that, not later than three months after the completion of the review, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage shall make a report to each House of the Oireachtas of their findings and conclusions resulting from the review, and it is intended that this formal review of the DCB Scheme will be initiated by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage shortly;  \u2014 existing DCB Scheme participants who have already received their determination under I.S. 465:2018 will have the choice to continue with their works;  \u2014 the review will focus, as per the provisions of Section 51 of the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022, on the operation of the Act in the first instance, with all matters relating to the introduction of I.S. 465:2026 and its interaction with the DCB Scheme being considered as part of the review, and this will include the matter of foundations; and  \u2014 the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage will consider all implications of the new I.S. 465:2026, and make recommendations to the Government on any proposed changes to the DCB Scheme as soon as possible.\".  I would like to thank the group involved in bringing this motion to the House today. The case is well made by Deputy Charles Ward, in particular. No one has lived this experience the way he has. No Member of this House can say they have lived and breathed this issue the way he has, having personally experienced it, so I completely appreciate the points and sentiments made. That is no disrespect to Deputy Murphy, in that his point is made as well but I wanted to say at the outset that Deputy Ward has lived this and can speak about it with authority.  The standards were just revised on 2 June. We have to rely on the science that we have. There are mixed messages. On the one hand Deputy Murphy is saying the science is faulty. Deputy Ward is saying he has full faith in the science and the scientists. We have to decide whether we trust the science and the evidence we have as per the revised standards or not. If I can give a shred of comfort, despite the fact we are proposing an amendment, the Minister has committed to reviewing the Act as quickly as possible. I do not have an exact timeline for that but it will be reviewed as quickly as possible because, as the Deputy said, new evidence is always emerging.  Today's motion sets out a number of matters relating to the recently released national standard. I will do my best in the time I have to address as many as I can. As the debate progresses, I am sure there will be time at the end to address further issues during the time allocated for concluding remarks.  First, I would like to emphasise the Government recognises the distress experienced by thousands of homeowners caused by the use of defective concrete blocks in their homes. My Government colleagues and I are absolutely committed to ensuring that all such homeowners are provided with the right assistance to remediate their homes to allow them to move on with their lives.  The publication of the new standard is welcome. The Deputies will be aware that in November 2021 as Ireland's official standards body, the National Standards Authority of Ireland was tasked by the Government with a special review of the previous standard. This review started in March 2022 and has been conducted by the TC63 concrete blocks committee of the National Standards Authority of Ireland.  Membership of this committee included representatives of the concrete industry, Engineers Ireland, the Geological Survey Ireland, homeowner action groups and the Housing Agency. The Department also participated in this group during the full period of its deliberations on the revision of IS 465: 2018. The State also funded the required independent research that contributed significantly to the review of the standard. My Department remains in regular contact with those affected and we continue to work to listen to homeowners as we keep the scheme under review to identify where we can improve how it operates.  The level of commitment shown by this Government to affected homeowners is clearly shown by our actions over the past few years. Principally these relate to the funding we have provided and the way we have extended the scope of the scheme as and when needed. Finally, there is the very real and practical way in which we monitor how the scheme is working within the framework of the legislation set down by the Oireachtas and how we adapt to changing circumstances to improve the scheme for homeowner participants on a continuous basis, including making amending legislation in the Houses last year.  Over 3,500 homeowners are now at various stages of the DCB grant scheme and will be supported with grants for eligible expenditure up to a maximum cap of \u20ac462,000 per household - this represents a 10% increase in the maximum cap since the scheme launched in 2023. More than \u20ac336 million has been spent on the scheme to date and Government funding for this work continues to be provided as and when required on an annual basis, with a record \u20ac175 million allocated to fund the scheme in 2026 - that is more than double the amount allocated to the scheme last year and reflects in the increase up take in the grant scheme.  Over 500 homes have been fully remediated to date, with approximately 750 more currently at various stages of construction.  When the current grant scheme launched in 2023 it contained four designated local authority areas. In 2024 Sligo County Council was added to the scheme and this year parts of Fingal County Council and Wexford County Council were added to the scheme. Parts of Meath County Council and Carlow County Council will also shortly be added to the scheme. Following the commencement of various parts of the defective concrete block (amendment) Act 2025 , the Minister, Deputy Browne, adopted regulations in February and June that provided welcome improvements to the grant scheme. The February regulations allowed homeowners who had suffered construction inflation to apply to the scheme for an increased grant, which resulted in them receiving additional funding to remediate their homes. The June regulations operationalised further improvements, including a key change to allow certain homeowners apply to the scheme to enable them to build a new property adjacent to their defective home and remain in it until the new home is completed. This has provided welcome relief for families who have homes adapted for the needs of members of the household. These regulations also recognised that there are many affected homes that are attached to other affected homes, such as semi-detached properties. Prior to this change, if one of the two attached dwellings did not meet the scheme damage threshold, it could not proceed to obtain a determination from the Housing Agency. The regulations provide a route for this cohort of applicants and provide a pathway for them to receive a determination under the grant scheme. The point is there have been adaptations and amendments since the grant scheme was first introduced.  The current grant scheme was designed in accordance with the prevailing scientific evidence available at the time. With the publication of IS 465:2026 we have the most up-to-date science available that will help shape changes to the grant scheme following a review of the operation of the 2022 Act. This requirement is contained in section 51 of the Act. It requires the Minister for Housing must initiate a review within three months of the completion of the review of the national standard, I.S. 465:2018, and that within months of the completion of the review he shall make a report to each House of the Oireachtas with his findings and conclusions of the review. I understand the urgency of this review for homeowners. Officials in my Department have already begun preparation work that will assist the review. A request for legal advice was submitted to the Attorney General's office and it has provided initial advice on the implications of I.S. 465:2026 for the grant scheme, with further advice expected in the coming weeks. The initial advice has indicated current scheme participants can continue to proceed with their works under the determination given to them. I emphasise that the review will focus, as per the provisions of the 2022 Act, on the operation of the Act in the first instance.  All matters relating to the introduction of IS 465:2026 and its interaction with the grant scheme will be considered as part of the review of the 2022 Act. This will include the matter of foundations. I appreciate that naturally there has been significant focus on the foundations issue arising out of the publication of the revised standard. My understanding is that there were a range of views submitted to the NSAI regarding the impact or otherwise on foundations in the medium to longer term. Until this important review is complete it would be premature for me to speculate on exactly what changes may be required to the grant scheme with regard to foundations or indeed any other aspect of the scheme. I want to ensure that, as we now have the most up-to-date science, proper time and consideration is given to understanding how this new knowledge impacts the scheme and how we can best use it to assist applicants to the scheme.  I am very much aware also of the very real concern out there among homeowners who wish to have clarity and certainty about how their sometimes unique sets of circumstances will be catered for going forward. A balance will have to be struck between a robust and comprehensive review and the need to have this done in a timely manner that pays due respect to the real concerns of homeowners. My Department has been working closely over the past few weeks since the publication of IS 465:2026 with the designated local authorities, the Housing Agency and the homeowner liaison officer. A number of meetings have taken place to assess the potential immediate impact of the revised standard on scheme participants. Communications will issue shortly from my Department to update homeowners in detail, where appropriate, on where they stand following the IS 465 revision.  This Government has always committed to following the science when it comes to the defective concrete blocks scheme. The approach I have outlined in my speech is once again clear evidence of this. I conclude by thanking the National Standards Authority of Ireland for the time and effort that went into the new standard. I specifically acknowledge the efforts of the committee members and acknowledge that this voluntary work was time-consuming and difficult. That outlines the current situation. The new standards have just been published. The potential impact is still being realised but, as has been the case since the grant scheme was introduced, we have always amended and adapted it and introduced new measures and provisions. If it is necessary to do so again, we will do that, but the Minister has committed to reviewing the Act as quickly as possible and bringing that report to the Houses. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  I have huge sympathy for the people affected by this in Donegal, Mayo, Clare, Limerick and other areas because I live in an area where we had the blight of pyrite. So many housing estates in our area were affected because the quarry was situated there. It did not regulate itself and there was a lack of Government regulation. Thousands of people were impacted by this and I campaigned on it and held public meetings on it over the years. This is slightly different but the principle is the same, namely, developers have been allowed to do whatever they want. Any time there are building defects they are not made to pay and it is often the State that pays. That is a political decision by Fianna F\u00e1il, Fine Gael and the other parties that have been in power with them.  This is quite a technical motion but the basics of it are that people are in a situation where they do not know whether what the Government is providing is going to work and whether it will be enough. They cannot be the people who are left paying for this because of a lack of government regulation of developers. We know the history of the Minister of State\u2019s party in particular, including the Galway tent and all that. The lack of regulation stems from that. Since the last motion was put on this issue I understand the number of homes affected by the defective blocks could rise to 20,000. That is up from the 9,500 mentioned at the housing committee last year. Only 435 houses built with defective concrete blocks, or 13% of the homes, have had remediation works and the State-funded scheme to address the situation has not been sufficient. At the time of the last motion the standards that were used to determine remediation under the scheme were being revised and reviewed. People are essentially being asked to make a decision on retaining or changing a foundation based on uncertain grounds and a complete absence of long-term knowledge. This motion is asking for a full independent review of the standard and in particular wants the remediation scheme to acknowledge this uncertainty. The State has a responsibility to these homeowners. It cannot be a one-and-done situation. The State must provide long-term supports for those affected and it requires a long-term commitment from this Government.  I will mention the experience of people of with pyrite in their houses in many counties. The Minister might clarify something about the Pyrite Remediation Board. It was going to finish this November. That cannot happen. As recently as yesterday I was in a home in my local area. The woman who lives there is a teacher and has owned it for 20 years. She bought an affordable home and it is still cracking. There are cracks appearing in the walls and ceilings and there are holes. There is movement of the home. The assessment she had done \u2013 this is a real problem \u2013 indicated the house had pyrite level 1, which is not enough to be fixed under the remediation scheme, whereby a house must have at least pyrite level 2. There are thousands of people in this situation where there are homes that are not going to be fixed by the scheme. What are they meant to do? Obviously they cannot sell the homes. The engineer who did the assessment also said there were huge levels of shoddy workmanship and shoddy building practices. The company that did those homes has moved on, with a new name I believe, as they do. It is building away and profiteering from the housing shortage. I do not know the figure but I know people in my local area who have been - diagnosed is not the right word - assessed as having pyrite level 1.  They have not been able to avail of the scheme. Somebody has to fix their houses. It is the fault of the developer and the State for not having the building regulations in place that pertain in most advanced capitalist countries. They are just not in place in Ireland.  According to the reply to a parliamentary question that I asked, the pyrite remediation scheme has fixed 2,932 homes. That was due to campaigns by residents. It was not the Government waking up one morning and saying, \u201cWe should do the right thing.\u201d It was a campaign of public meetings in my own area, petitions, meetings with the council and meetings with politicians. That was the case in other areas as well. There were protests outside the D\u00e1il before I was ever a TD. It was the residents who had to campaign. In fairness, the pyrite remediation scheme worked very well for the residents I spoke to, who were at level 2 and were able to get their whole home fixed and accommodation sorted out. Kudos for that, but it is leaving out people whose homes were said not to be sufficiently damaged. However, those homes are still heaving and there is still movement. It should not cost as much as it would to fix a house from scratch, or anything like that, but they need to be fixed.  I also want to raise the other building regulation issues that have arisen. I have been contacted by people in apartments in Ashtown who have had a levy put on their management fees in order to pay to fix fire safety defects. The residents, who probably paid hand over fist for the apartments, are being levied to pay to fix fire defects. They have applied to the Housing Agency under the statutory remediation scheme, but they had to go to TDs to ask if we can also push to see if they can get any reimbursement. What is the story? It is bad enough that they have to raise the money to get it fixed and that they are having difficulty getting reimbursed. I am sure there are several schemes that the housing Department is involved in, but the fact there are schemes like that shows that there also has to be some scheme for the possibly hundreds of homes that did not have sufficient pyrite for it to be fixed fully under the remediation scheme.  I want to send my solidarity to all of those affected by the defective concrete blocks issue. I have seen first-hand the impact it has on people's health. Where there is damp and dust, anyone with an asthmatic or respiratory condition could testify that it has made it much worse, but there is also the issue of dealing with a crumbling home. The home is the one safety and security people have in their lives. To see this constantly happening to the adults, children and teenagers affected is unbelievable. When are we going to hold building companies to account in this country? Light-touch regulation or no regulation at all is what happened here. It led to these situations where quarries were not regulated and, therefore, mica, pyrite and all of these issues have developed. To allow builders to build and move off, and to then have the residents themselves pay for safety issues in apartments, is completely out of order. It is beyond time that this was dealt with. I fully support the motion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  When you read the book Defects written by my colleague, Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin, you realise that the decisions that led to this absolute disaster emanated from this Chamber. Again and again over the years, Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael Governments and Ministers were challenged about the regulation of the building and construction industry. Again and again, they failed to properly regulate and oversee that industry, and we will pay a devastating cost for generations. As has been said, last night, we learned from Chris Brough, the head of Petrolab, an expert who is testing these concrete blocks, that he estimates the number of houses that will be affected is going to be over 20,000. I believe that is a very conservative estimate. The cost to the Exchequer will not be what the Taoiseach, Deputy Miche\u00e1l Martin, said, which is \u20ac3.6 billion. It will be over \u20ac9 billion, and I believe that is a conservative estimate. We are going to be haunted by this for generations because of the utter political failure. Where we are at now is on a scale with the bailing out of the banks and the bondholders. That is the impact this will have.  It goes deeper. I live in the epicentre of this. My friends, my family and my neighbours are utterly devastated. Can we imagine it? The biggest purchase of your life is your home, the roof over your head. You commit to it with a mortgage for years and years. It is your castle, your pride and joy. All your memories, everything, are built around that. For a long time, I have seen the utter devastation of the impact and cost of the decisions that were made in this Chamber, the neglect that took place in this Chamber, and the relationships that people who are in this Chamber had with people who were building and manufacturing. It reached its apex during the Celtic tiger. That is when so many of these homes were built utterly recklessly.  I want to be very clear, although it has been said already. The Government wants to move on. It wants to say that it is on top of this: \u201cSee that protest with 20,000 people. We have all moved on from that now.\u201d To be very clear, it is just the beginning of the realisation of the scale. There are housing estates in Donegal near my home area where only 10% or 15% of the whole estate is being rebuilt. All of those houses will have to be rebuilt. Tens of thousands of properties will have to be rebuilt. It will be a massive amount of money that will impact us for generations, thanks to people in this Chamber who made those decisions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  I thank Deputy Charles Ward for bringing forward this enormously important motion, but also for inviting Sinn F\u00e9in and other Opposition parties to co-sign it, which we did with enormous enthusiasm. It is deeply disappointing that the Minister has tabled the amendment. In fact, what it says to me is that he is not listening to homeowners in the affected counties. What Deputy Ward and others have put in the motion is eminently reasonable. It is to encourage further scientific clarity to support homeowners.  The gap between the Government's rhetoric on the scheme to date and the lived reality of affected homeowners is growing ever wider. The numbers do not lie. It is eight years since the Government took a decision to introduce a defective concrete blocks scheme, six years since the first applications were received, four years since deeply problematic, controversial legislation for a renewed scheme was rushed through this House and three years since that scheme opened for applications. How many homes have been fully remediated in that time? According to the Department, the most recent update from May is 527. In eight years, only 3,500 homes have applied, and about half of those have been approved.  Why? This motion goes to the very heart of it. It is because of the uncertainty underpinning the science and the fact that it is not 100% redress. I spoke to a woman with a modest home in County Clare that needs a full demolition and rebuild. She had to find an additional \u20ac80,000 to cover the cost of her home, and that is not an unusual case. Of course, there is the ongoing bureaucracy and delay in decisions.  I am also deeply disappointed that the Minister is not able to give us a timeline for the review. This review is crucial to fix the many aspects of this broken scheme. We need the Minister to tell us when the review will be, who it will be led by, what the terms of reference will be and what the outcomes will be. Without a timeline, we are going nowhere. This motion is sensible and reasonable. The defective concrete blocks scheme is utterly broken and needs urgent reform, but there is simply no urgency whatsoever from the Government. That is not a surprise. The entire history of the Government dealing with building defects has been a lack of ambition and urgency.  A case in point is that we still do not even have the underpinning legislation for the redress scheme for Celtic tiger era building defects.  We were promised it would be introduced at the start of this year and be passed before the summer, with the Minister saying he hoped people would be able to apply for that scheme by the end of 2026. The legislation has not even been written yet. Deputy Coppinger is right; the two schemes for interim fire safety works and retrospective repayments are not working. Not a single retrospective payment has been paid to date, and only three schemes out of approximately 200 have got into the interim fire safety. It is utterly broken and needs change but this Government is not listening. However, I commend this motion to the House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I welcome Deputy Ward's motion and am delighted to be able to sign it. There is no doubt that huge credit is due to people like Professor Paul Dunlop and his colleagues at Ulster University, as well as Members of this House, including members of my own party such as Deputy Mac Lochlainn and others who have led the charge along with Deputy \u00d3 Broin in relation to this area here.  The reality is that the Government has got this wrong. For many years, we have stood in this House and in committees and told the Government it is analysing the wrong problem and that, as a result, it is coming up with the wrong solutions. Now, the penny has dropped. The international evidence has been accepted and the standards have been updated. However, there are now many people in my county and other counties who have been told the remedy was something flawed. Outer leaf was nonsense, partial demolition was nonsense and downgrading of the assessments was absolute nonsense, but the Government refuses to listen over and over again.  In the middle of all this, as we are talking about blocks in houses and costs and all the rest, there are human beings and families who are living in these situations. The Government continues with the misery, pain and hardship because it still will not recognise what needs to be done here. We need a full 100% redress scheme - an end-to-end scheme such as the one we in Sinn F\u00e9in put forward to the Government many years ago. For six, seven or eight years, we have been telling Government that the people of Donegal, Clare, Mayo and right across the west coast and beyond deserve the same rights as those who had it on the east coast, who got 100% redress and an end-to-end scheme.  The reality is that the Government wants to put its head in the sand and hope this will go away, but it will not. No matter what tinkering the Government does with this scheme, it is not going to work for many people because they do not have \u20ac50,000, \u20ac60,000 or \u20ac70,000 under their mattress; it does not exist. There are people at an age in life who should never be asked to manage rebuilding their home. Why? Because it was not their fault. It was the Government's fault. As Deputy Mac Lochlainn said, it was the Government's fault because it cosied up to builders and developers and filled its pockets down in the Galway tent, allowing for no regulation. That has caused havoc in my county. It has destroyed the lives of people.  Now that the Government has finally seen sense with regard to the standards, it should please listen to the experts, the people on the ground and the Opposition when we tell it to stop with the tinkering. We need a 100% redress scheme, we need an end-to-end scheme and we need to end this misery once and for all. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  I thank Deputy Ward for bringing forward this motion. It is no surprise that I and my colleagues are very happy to support it. It is very important we all work together to tackle this.  However, the Government is still not listening; it is not hearing what is being said. That is the great tragedy of all this. Since we started this nearly 12 years ago - or more than that - on the Erris peninsula in Mayo, the Government has not listened. If it had listened, we would now have a 100% redress scheme and many people would have their homes and lives rebuilt. I cannot understand why it is inflicting this cruelty on people through no fault of their own. This was negligence of Government; it was a lack of regulation. Now, we see all kinds of other things where we are told regulations are too strict and we need to deregulate things. My God, there is a human cost to this as well as the monetary and opportunity costs.  Yesterday, Dr. Chris Browne and Professor Paul Dunlop - I do not know where we would be without them and their colleagues in Ulster University who have brought forward the science on this, because the Government has not done it - presented the cost as being estimated at \u20ac462,000 per property for 20,000 properties, which will be at least \u20ac9.2 billion. That is what is coming out of taxpayers' pockets to do this. There has not been any proper attempt to recoup some of that money from anywhere else, as was done in Wales, as Dr. Browne explained to us yesterday, where there was a division of the responsibilities and how the redress funds were set up. It has not been set up like that here but the decisions have to be based on the science.  The other very important thing which came up yesterday was foundations. We have said all along that foundations have to be tested. For God's sake, Engineering Ireland has told the Government that. It cannot sign off on properties where the foundations have not been replaced. People cannot afford the gaps that are there. Deputy Doherty spoke about the gaps of \u20ac80,000 or whatever, but there are gaps of up to \u20ac100,000 that people are asked to find to pay for the Government's negligence on this.  The off-ramping situation also has to be looked at in order to be able to speed up the testing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donna McGettigan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donna McGettigan  Thousands of homeowners affected by defective concrete have spent many years living with uncertainty in their homes. They have constantly worried every time there is a storm whether their house is going to survive, and I have helped some of them as they navigated the inadequate remediation options. I have watched as they have become experts in what is destroying their homes. When they finally get approval for a scheme, they are left with decisions on whether the existing foundations should be retained or not, or whether they can even afford to get the foundations removed on top of all the other costs involved in a so-called 100% redress scheme.  In the Minister of State's amendment, he states that 3,500 homeowners are now at various stages of the DCB scheme and will be supported with grants for 100% of eligible expenditure with a cap. In his opening statement, there was no mention of 100% redress, and I have yet to meet anyone going through this scheme who has not had to pay tens of thousands out of their own pockets to fix or rebuild their homes.  The Minister of State also said the DCB scheme is actively helping homeowners rebuild their homes, allowing them to move on with their lives. Has he gone out to meet these people? The process they have had to go through on a rebuild is not that simple. I have met them and they actively cannot just move on with their lives; it is not that simple. They have had to spend years fighting the system and many hours learning what it is that is destroying their homes, and they have had to beg and borrow in order to rebuild their homes. The mental scars they have been left with mean they cannot just simply move on.  The Taoiseach promised 100% redress and he has let the people down. The Government talks about changes and that a new standard could entail significant financial implications, but those who are actually responsible should be held to account. The homeowner should never have to be the fall guy when they are already the victim, but of course, it is easier to lay it all in the hands of families who just want to live in a home that is safe and secure. Does the Government even care that they have to borrow? Some couples I have met are in retirement and cannot get a loan. At a time in life when they should be enjoying the time they have, they are spending it in constant worry.  There are families out there living in crumbling homes and homes affected by fire safety regulations who have no choice but to continue living there until they fall down, because of the failure of this Government to make them feel they can rebuild with a 100% redress scheme and move on with their lives. We have repeatedly raised this issue with successive Governments for years now. I have attended protests over the years with those in Clare who are affected. The light-touch building regulation, poor oversight of construction products and the reckless practices of some manufacturers, builders and developers have left thousands of homeowners with the devastation of crumbling or unsafe homes.  They did not ask for this, and it is time the Government gave a genuine, 100% redress scheme delivered by the State from end-to-end. The standard IS 465:2026 is welcome and should be included. Professor Paul Dunlop has to be commended for this. I commend Deputy Ward on the motion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  I commend Deputy Ward on bringing forward this motion here today. The reality is that we are here because of the light touch regulation of Government and the practices of quarries and those who developed the concrete products used through the boom across many parts of the country. In my own constituency in Sligo, we have hundreds of houses that have been affected, and it has also spread to other areas. It is not just the counties on this list.  It is important to recognise there are houses outside of it and people in other communities that are also affected.  I spoke to some people in a housing estate. They can see the issues, they are talking about them and they have spoken to the county council. They are afraid to tell their neighbours they have this problem because everybody is frightened of what impact it is going to have on the value of their home and that of the other houses built around them. The worry all this causes is devastating. That worry is compounded by the Government having refused to put in place a scheme that will actually give 100% redress.  I welcome the changes in the new regulations, where we now see that there is at least a recognition it may not be mica or pyrite in some of these houses. It may be other minerals causing these issues. I know of a number of cases where tests were done. I am thinking of two houses in particular. The first test said those houses had mica, while the second said they had none. They are going off now for a third test to see what the situation is. If the result again states there is nothing, then these people will be back in a situation where they do not comply with the standards. We have got serious issues here with many people who have serious problems.  The other issue is that it is not just blocks in many cases. It is other concrete materials, including the foundations. I welcome that this aspect is now going to be examined and will be part of the scheme. For years, however, we have been saying this, and the Government has refused to listen. The reason the Government has refused to listen is because it wants to continue to back away from the problem it created. The Government created this problem through light-touch regulation and the cosy relationship there was with the people who provided these products. The builders, who in so many cases are innocent, bought the products in good faith and put them into the houses. Who was left to foot the bill? Only the householders. We need to see a proper scheme put in place to give people at least some sense that the Government has their backs in these circumstances. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  I thank Deputy Charles Ward for bringing forward this motion and for giving us the opportunity to co-sign it, which, as my colleague said, we were more than pleased to do.  I have been dealing with the legacy of the Government\u2019s soft touch or, indeed, non-existent regulation since I was elected. The core point here, and this is the thing that is very often lost, most especially on Fianna F\u00e1il Ministers but also on the Government in general, is that my constituents in north County Dublin did absolutely nothing wrong. They bought their homes. They made what is the biggest investment of their lives in good faith. They are not engineers. When the builder told them that the house was up to scratch, they expected that it was going to be up to scratch. For decades, thousands of them have endured their homes crumbling. Can you imagine the trauma of not feeling safe in your home? It is the one place where you should have a right to feel safe and secure. While the lads who were in the Galway tent will sail away off into the sunset, happy, rich and benefiting from the sale of those homes, the people they left behind will deal with the trauma for generations.  Homeowners in Lusk are now being told they will have to pay for another test to get a green certificate, when they were told back in 2013 that they had to wait three years and would then get their green certificate. They are not getting it now. They have to get another test that is, potentially, going to cost them \u20ac2,500. This is never-ending. These people have been dealing with this situation now for 20 years. They bought their homes in 2003 and, within a couple of years, those houses started to crumble. The problem is never going to end unless the Government is prepared to deal with it. Likewise, Fingal was only admitted to the new scheme this year and already people are being told that this scheme is not fit for purpose.  I ask the Minister of State to please withdraw the Government\u2019s obnoxious amendment and listen to the people, and their representatives, who are dealing with this issue. I also ask him to acknowledge the role of his party, the Galway tent, its cosy relationship with developers and all that has happened, and to have the decency to say sorry to people and to make proper amends. A 100% redress scheme should mean 100%. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  On behalf of the Social Democrats, I am very happy to speak to this issue today. I commend Deputy Charles Ward on the work he has done in bringing this motion to the floor of the D\u00e1il and for his tireless work on this issue. We are very happy to co-sign this motion. I will also mention that my colleague, Deputy Rory Hearne, is unavailable today, which is why I am stepping in. He remains, as we do as a party, 100% committed to 100% redress and to communities, particularly along the west coast, so horrifically impacted by this issue.  I also thank Deputy Ward and his team for the new research we were briefed on yesterday. Key to what we learned from that briefing, and it has come up a number of times already today, is that the County and City Management Association, CCMA, previously estimated at an Oireachtas committee that the number of homes affected by defective concrete blocks stood at 9,500. Members heard yesterday, however, that there could actually be up to 20,000 homes, and that is just the figure for private estate homes. This estimate excludes data from social housing, businesses and community buildings.  In relation to the Government\u2019s amendment, it is significant that a new revised standard, I.S. 465:2026, was published on 2 June. This new standard does allow for the testing of foundations, which is a key point of today\u2019s motion and for the campaign to date, but the ball is now very much in the Government\u2019s court. It now needs to review these new standards and make recommendations regarding any proposed changes. People will be postponing works while they wait on the outcome of these changes, and these are works which, in some cases, may have been in train for ten years.  I also wish to speak about the administrative issues associated with the scheme. Deputy Ward has brought a number of cases to the floor of the D\u00e1il. He has discussed how some constituents of his were assessed and, subsequently, their remediation options were downgraded from full demolitions. If the guiding principle of these assessments is I.S. 465:2018, and this is causing people to have to stay in unsafe homes or is not providing sufficient remediation for the demolition needed, then the standard itself must be re-examined. The State cannot allow people to stay in unsafe homes due to an outdated standard applying to assessments. As of April, only 13% of applicants had completed the remediation process, with 87% stuck in administrative limbo.  This is where we now see the massive human cost of this scandal. Homes with defective concrete blocks are linked to a severely high prevalence of mental health conditions. Rates of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, complex post-traumatic stress disorder and suicidal ideation were \u201ccomparable to those seen in disaster-stricken and displaced populations\u201d, as noted by one researcher in 2025. Researchers from Ulster University called for immediate, targeted mental health interventions for those affected by the issue of defective concrete blocks. There is extreme trauma in these communities and families that will have knock-on effects in these communities for years and generations if adequate supports are not provided to people in tandem with the appropriate and accessible redress schemes.  People living in these homes have described their lives as existing and not living. I have had conversations with people living in homes affected by this issue. I have previously mentioned their names here in the Chamber; Ms Marti McElhinney and Dr. \u00c1ine Sperrin. They spoke about how frustrating the process of getting redress is, how families are unable to finance a demolition that has been approved, and how they are unable to find somewhere to stay in the meantime, while their towns are dotted with short-term lets. They told me stories about engineers telling families that their houses needed to be knocked, only for the scheme to only approve partial works. They told me how all these costs have to be paid upfront by families who simply do not have the money, how the communities affected by this crisis are some of the most impoverished in the country, how their houses are literally falling down around them, how the knock-on impact means that children suffer health issues connected to living in unsafe conditions, and that those with disabilities are stuck in crumbling buildings because they cannot get temporary accommodation that is accessible. As has been raised time and time again, the mental stress and strain of this impacts every single aspect of people's lives. We are not only letting them suffer; we are denying them the basic rights of health equality and adequate standards of living.  Picking up on one of the points raised by those contributors, there is a dearth right now of alternative housing. This is because there has been stagnant social housing delivery for decades. There are estimates that 12,000 homes in County Donegal will need to be replaced. These people will need to be housed but, as is the case up and down the country, there is nowhere for them to go. There are very few homes to rent and fewer again of these are affordable homes. It is welcome that the scheme will be expanded to those who need it, but the problem of where people will live while works are ongoing will follow this scheme wherever it is available.  This brings me to my next point, which is that side-by-side building should be allowed under the scheme. Currently, side-by-side building is not permitted under the defective concrete blocks, DCB, redress scheme. This would have allowed for families to remain on site and not bear the burden of rent or storage costs while works are ongoing. In the last five years, 300 homes have been built, and over 3,000 people currently trying to go through the scheme are stuck in this process.  For children with additional needs, the disruption of moving home for the duration of the rebuild has been raised by parents as an issue. Finally, I want to speak to accountability because lax regulations and a hands-off approach from successive Governments has allowed cowboy developers to wreak havoc in communities across Ireland and essentially sowed the seeds for this scandal. Now, these cowboys are facing no consequences. These are builders who used defective materials, built dangerously, and then walked away, leaving families and children to suffer the consequences of their carelessness and pay for it with their homes. The vast majority are still building. A number of them are getting very high-profile public sector contracts. It seems there are no consequences. There is remediation in this scheme but it is not close to justice.  I want to pick up on one line in the Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan's statement, before the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, arrived. He said, \"The level of commitment shown by this Government to affected homeowners is clearly shown by our actions over the past few years.\" It just does not ring true compared with every contribution that we are hearing here today. The countermotion the Government has put forward needs to be withdrawn. The Government needs to support this motion. It is a detailed, technical motion, put forward by an expert and the community he represents, who are experts in their own lives and their own situations. We need 100% redress. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  I support this motion. I am thinking of the thousands of families across Ireland whose lives are absolutely devastated by the defective concrete blocks crisis. I pay tribute to Deputy Charles Ward for his relentless work on this issue. Since he came in through this door, he has gone at this issue every single week. He could not have worked harder on this. The people who elected him to D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann must be very proud of the work he is doing, so well done and keep going. I have no doubt that the Deputy will keep going. I know he is trying to secure justice, accountability and full redress for the people who he represents in Donegal and throughout the country, so well done to him.  I do not think this is just an issue in housing. It also has community-wide and education effects. As education spokesperson, I am aware that there are 16 schools in Donegal that we know of affected by this crisis, with seemingly a new report every week of it happening elsewhere throughout the country. If there are children in those schools who are living in a home that is affected by the defective blocks, then they go to school and it is the same situation, there is no let-up for that child. As my colleague said, this is affecting people's mental health. The foundations of their life are literally crumbling beneath them. If that is at home and at it is at school, it is utterly heartbreaking for those people.  I am aware the Department of education has confirmed that it is engaging with the schools. I do not know if it engages with every single school because it did not give me that number. If we are spending State money on State buildings and they are defective, it is an utter waste of money and an utter disgrace. This is creating untold anxiety for parents, staff and the children in those buildings. This whole scenario showed a lack of oversight, regulation and accountability. Families have spent years campaigning for their experiences to even be understood and believed. The Government is quite slow on this. I would say people feel a little bit gaslit. I do not think that is good enough. I think it is a shame, when an expert tables a motion, that the Government comes with a countermotion. It is a waste. Why does the Government not just believe what is being said and why does it not listen and get this sorted? As my colleague said, cowboy builders have gone off, not a bother on them, and the State is left to pick it up. Do pick it up and do make it better for the people who are affected by this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  I welcome the visitors to the Gallery. As others have said, I pay tribute to Deputy Ward on the work he has done. Last October, my colleague, Senator Nessa Cosgrove, and I went to Donegal to visit some of the people who are affected by this humanitarian disaster. I thought I knew about defective concrete and that I could quantify in my head the actual scale of the humanitarian disaster but I cannot. I cannot help thinking, every time I think of defective concrete, of putting my hand on someone's house and feeling the wall come away like dust. I cannot help but think of the smell of the black mould in the kitchens we went to visit, the fact that the lights and electricity keep tripping because water is ingressing through everything, and that chimneys fall off people's houses and that is considered to be not that big a deal. I met somebody else who was concerned about their safety and their children's because the walls were crumbling so badly on their house that they are afraid that the roof would come down and crush them.  The Government's amendment to the motion is tone-deaf. The amendment states that the scheme relies on IS 465:2018, which does not require testing of foundations. What is the point of pouring a brand new house onto a cracked foundation? It does not make any sense. The motion notes that 500 homes were remediated. Five hundred homes is a fraction. It is minuscule compared with the true level of need. We had a very informative presentation in the audiovisual room by Professor Paul Dunlop, who is an expert in this area. He quantified that at least 12,000 homes could be affected in Donegal at home. We have this in Limerick too. It is not just an issue in Donegal and the north west. We have this in Limerick city. I have had people in my constituency office in tears because they are living in semi-detached homes in Limerick city. As Professor Dunlop pointed out yesterday, defective concrete takes a lot longer to actually show up in areas like Limerick. A woman who came to see me, who is involved in the defective concrete campaign in Limerick, only had the defective concrete show up when she got an SEAI grant and got the walls pumped. When she got the walls pumped, that effectively showed all the cracks.  The core issue remains, that the people who are suffering this humanitarian disaster are being treated as second-class citizens in comparison to the people who were equally devastated by pyrite in Fingal and on the eastern seaboard of the country. That is a fact and the core of the issue here. The legislation is too narrow. I cannot believe that people are still talking about mica, when the fact of the matter is that this is not just something that affects defective concrete blocks in houses but affects poured concrete and other building material. The core issue, as always in this country with anything during the Celtic tiger period, is the lack of any accountability because we know that, as well as the quarry owners, the political system was up to its neck in this. We have had a total regulatory failure. We have quarries which have and are manufacturing defective concrete and getting away with it.  How has the State responded? It has responded, as it always does to victims of injustice, by forcing blameless citizens to prove that they are not lying, by bureaucratically downgrading their applications at the click of a mouse, and by passing the long-term risk back onto them. The State is effectively telling homeowners to rebuild their lives on top of foundations that we know contain pyrite and other sulphide materials, and it is absolute madness. You are talking about being penny wise but you are really being pound foolish. The standard that the Government is relying on is operating under conditions of material scientific uncertainty. There is no long-term evidence that these foundations will hold up over the next 30, 40 or 50 years. You cannot tell a family to build a home on a questionable foundation and just leave them to hold the legal and financial bag if the foundation fails a decade or more from now.  We need an independent review of IS 465:2026, specifically considering how sulphites and pyrrhotite destroy foundations over time. We need to amend the defective concrete block scheme so no individual is ever forced to retain a foundation where engineering uncertainty exists.  Homeowners must have an explicit, fully funded right to opt for a complete foundation replacement if there is reasonable doubt. We need to ensure that all residual structural risk remains with the State. If the State standard fails, then the State is going to have to pay because the homeowners cannot.  This crisis was caused by a catastrophic failure of government regulation and a total lack of oversight in the quarrying sector, particularly from the Fianna F\u00e1il Government of 1997 onwards. The State completely failed to protect the affected people. It is now time for the Government to stop the ducking and half measures and actually deliver the 100% redress the families fundamentally deserve so that they can have peace of mind.  I welcome every opportunity to speak on this issue. I commend Deputy Ward on his motion because what he is seeking to do is ensure the State assumes accountability for the risk of defective foundations in concrete homes. It is imperative that this burden does not fall on homeowners who cannot afford to pay the difference.  We have a duty as legislators to listen to and reflect the views of the people we represent. The poor families who have been affected should not be expected or forced to bear the responsibility and cost required to remedy the problem when they have gone out of their way to secure a home for their family and made that purchase in good faith, with an expectation that the home they live in will not fall down on top of them.  Homeowners should be able to feel safe in their homes. They should have confidence in the structure of the dwelling they live in. These are relatively basic things. Invariably, when homeowners like these poor people are forced into some sort of rebuild, they have one shot to make it work. They must not be forced to put blood, sweat and tears, and an insane amount of money, into rebuilding their homes only for them to be rebuilt essentially on quicksand. Forcing them to do so is absolutely bananas because once a decision has been made to rebuild, one cannot turn back the clock on it. That is why this is really important.  Through detailed scientific research, it is now known that the problems with defective concrete can be traced to an internal sulphite attack. It is clearly apparent that, with the distribution of this defective and highly damaging concrete material, numerous EU and Irish concrete regulations were violated. It is of critical importance that these regulations be enforced to prevent the status quo from continuing.  As other speakers said, we do not just have defective concrete in homes. There is defective concrete in secondary schools in Limerick. We need the Government to address this by commissioning an independent international review of the scientific basis of IS 465:2026 because we need a greater understanding of how and why this entered the market in the first place.  In my city, Limerick, we reckon 2,500 properties may be affected by concrete defects and deterioration. We need a different approach to this, and that is why I am really disappointed by the Government amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  I thank Deputy Charles Ward for all the work he has done on this. What is the Government guilty of? I sat on the housing committee last term. It is on the record of that committee that I highlighted to the Minister, and all the various witnesses and so-called professionals brought in by the Department, the issues with blocks, foundations and the weight loads on foundations under the new regulations that you try to meet when rebuilding a house. How much has it cost to bring in all the people who have given the Minister the information? We brought in professors and people from all the different sectors to inform the Minister.  Deputy Ward is like me. I am a block layer by trade. I have 35 years\u2019 experience with something that none of the Minister\u2019s professionals could actually even answer questions on when asked at meetings of the housing committee. I was able to do weight loads for them. They could not answer.  Why has it taken so long and why have people been suffering? The Government is guilty. It takes so long to build houses in this country and so long to bring in redress. That is what it is guilty of. It cannot manage anything. It does not take advice from the people who can give it and who can speed things up. If you look at the record, you see the knowledge is available. For God\u2019s sake, will the Government wake up and look at the facts? The information has been available for five or six years but the Government allowed all the families to be put through stress and anxiety, with them not knowing whether their houses would crumble down around them. The Minister sat on that committee with me, so he was present to hear what was put on record. Therefore, I do not even need to verify it. The minutes are available. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  I congratulate Deputy Charles Ward on tabling this motion in the House. I am aware of the tremendous work he has done on redress and I want to acknowledge that here today.  This motion goes to the heart of trust between the State and the homeowners affected by defective concrete. The defective concrete grant scheme allows foundations to be retained under IS 465:2026 but the research behind the standard has already found that minerals have been discovered in concrete, with early signs of internal oxidation and sulphate attacks. The State\u2019s own evidence admits it does not know how these foundations will perform over time. The Government is asking families along the western seaboard, from Donegal down as far as Limerick, to take an irreversible decision to retain something that may have to be replaced in 15 to 20 years\u2019 time. If the State sets a standard, the State must take ownership of the risk.  Deputy Ward\u2019s motion calls for three fair things: the publication of the evidence base behind IS 465:2026; homeowners to be given a clear right to opt for the full replacement of foundations, which is fair and the right thing to do; and the commissioning of an independent international review of the science. That is the right thing to do. I ask everybody in this House, even though Fianna F\u00e1il has not attended the debate and only two Donegal TDs are here, to support this motion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  I thank Deputy Charles Ward and his group for putting forward this motion. Would anyone in the D\u00e1il like to be one of the people living in the affected homes? That is the reality we are asking families to accept.  We all know that buying a home is the biggest purchase most people will ever make. It is the biggest expense they will carry in a lifetime. More than that, a home is supposed to be a place of comfort, a place where, after a long day\u2019s work, one can walk in the door and feel safe, secure and at peace. For many of the homeowners, that is not the case. Instead, they are going home to houses that are literally falling apart around them, with cracks in the walls and floors and shifting foundations. These are homes that no longer feel safe. While the physical damage to these homes is bad enough, we can only imagine the toll this is taking on people\u2019s mental health, the stress, anxiety, sleepless nights and constant fear of what lies ahead.  On top of all that, we are asking the families to make a permanent decision based on standards where even the science is still evolving. That is not fair and it is not right. Families did not build these homes incorrectly. They did not create the defective materials and they certainly did not write IS 465. The State chooses the standard. The State is asking people to rely on it and, if it is asking them to do that, it must stand over the standard completely. That means that where there is doubt, the benefit must go to the homeowner. It means that if there is any risk in retaining foundations, that risk cannot and must not rest on the shoulders of ordinary, hard-working families. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  Gabhaim m\u00edle bu\u00edochas leis an Teachta Charles Ward agus leis an bhfeachtas at\u00e1 ann mar gheall ar defective blocks, agus de bharr an r\u00fain at\u00e1 os \u00e1r gcomhair faoi l\u00e1thair. Communities have been battling for years in relation to the very basic premise that the house they have paid for should be of a standard that they can live in and that can stand.  Communities have been battling for years in defence of the basic premise that the house they paid for should be of a standard they can live in and that can stand. Aont\u00fa has been solidly behind the campaign over the past decade. I have visited many homes in Donegal with Mary T. Sweeney and witnessed the devastation. We have held public meetings in Donegal about the issue. We have marched and spoken at demonstrations in Dublin. The truth is that families' lives have been absolutely destroyed by what has happened. Local authority buildings, public buildings and schools have been left in a situation where the blocks are crumbling around them. This has happened because of light-touch regulation by previous Governments. The fact that nobody has ever been held to account is at the heart of the problem. We have a system whereby the Government allowed light-touch regulation and then did not provide for any enforcement of any regulation. Therefore, there is a responsibility on the Government to ensure there is proper compensation and these homes are brought back to proper physical standards.  I have no doubt but that there is a spatial element to this. If those defective blocks were in south Dublin, there is no doubt in my mind that the Government's approach to the issue would be significantly different. It would make sure that proper standards were in place and the proper financial supports were in place as well. There is definitely a Dublin regional bias in respect of this issue.  The Government talks about 100% redress but house owners will tell you that there is a significant difference between the redress that has been achieved and delivering the change in the buildings themselves. This legislation is still making it extremely difficult, if not impossible, for many people to come up with the necessary finance to pay for the work that is being done.  It is not just happening in Donegal. It is also happening in Mayo, Clare and Limerick, and now Meath and Cavan have been brought in too. I ask the Government to sit down with the families and not to draw out the situation any further. I ask it to ensure there is proper investment and that the standards being used in rebuilding and redress are the standards that are scientifically appropriate, as ascertained by the campaigners. That is not the case at the moment and as a result, it is creating serious difficulties for families. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  I thank Deputy Charles Ward for tabling this latest motion on behalf of families who are living in defective homes and who have waited years for help. They have got some assistance but not anything near what is needed. As I have said previously, the Deputy is meeting his mandate 1 million times over and I am happy to support him.  This motion is important for families on the western and north-western seaboards but also for those in other counties, as we have increasingly found out. The motion references the lack of redress, but also specifically focuses on the scientific gaps in IS 465:2026, such as the lack of long-term evidence on sulphide-related deterioration and the impossible decision this places on homeowners when they are asked to make what are going to be irreversible decisions about the nature of their foundations and the works required when they have no way of knowing.  The Government amendment attempts to pass the buck or put it down the road. It does not address the issues. It lists the spending commitments and the process reviews, but is still placing the burden on the families to carry the long-term risk of failures that they clearly did not cause. This has, as we know, nothing to do with snag lists or anything like that. It is about woeful incompetence that was not monitored by the Government. The review required under existing legislation is not the solution but a delaying tactic. We had years of weak oversight and a regulatory system that did not police the standards. Others have mentioned the cosy relationship between the State, sectors of industry and developers, which allowed the defective blocks to enter the market unchecked. We cannot put the burden on families when the coffers were filled for the companies and businesses, some of which have gone bankrupt. That money has long since been spent. The Government failed to enforce its own rules. This motion demands tangible action, an independent review and full transparency and that homeowners be allowed to choose the foundation replacement where uncertainty exists. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  Gabhaim m\u00edle bu\u00edochas leis an Teachta Ward. B\u00edonn s\u00e9 i gc\u00f3na\u00ed ag caint faoin \u00e1bhar t\u00e1bhachtach seo. B\u00edm ag \u00e9isteacht leis agus cloisim an br\u00f3d at\u00e1 aige as T\u00edr Chonaill. I have visited some of them in my own capacity since we last spoke about the issue in this Chamber. Some of the houses in the northern part of my constituency have faced concrete defects and other issues. I welcome the Deputy's motion, particularly in respect of IS 465:2026. Irish standards were set to protect Irish people. They should not be punishing them.  We must also ensure full and fair redress and ensure that it keeps happening. What happened in my constituency, and as too often happens, was that developers and construction companies walked away, leaving areas that could not be taken in charge by the council and houses that were unreliable from a fire safety perspective to fall into degradation. After going into liquidation, such companies reopened under another name. It is not acceptable that these developers are off the hook while Irish families are paying the costs. Those responsible for the defective building work must be held accountable and stronger protections must be provided.  I looked at the amendment to the motion. It refers to a review, but a review has been done. This is not new. I urge that the review come into action.  I welcome the Minister of State's work on this issue. I hope that the Government will do that and help Deputy Charles Ward to fulfil his mandate to his constituents. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Healy-Rae  I sincerely thank Deputy Charles Ward for bringing forward this important motion. It is a reasonable motion. I acknowledge the work that has been done by people from the Government and the Opposition in securing the situation with IS 465:2026. Large sums of money have been put forward to help the affected families. I have spoken to many of them over the years. The one thing of paramount importance is the case-by-case study. In other words, I note that the motion brought forward calls for \"an explicit entitlement for homeowners to opt for full foundation replacement where reasonable doubt exists as to future performance\". That is reasonable. I have read the countermotion by Government. Of course, it states \"notwithstanding that there are no current cases of damage to foundations\" and then goes on to state the Government's position. If you look at this, it makes no sense whatsoever to not make allowances where foundations are deemed to be unsafe or unsure. It does not make sense to be giving people assistance to build a house on top of a foundation that might in the future weaken and not be of a proper standard. That is why this motion is reasonable.  I highlight at this stage that tonight I am facilitating a Minister by pairing with him to allow him to do his work but only for that fact, I would be supporting this motion. It is a reasonable motion but I am unable to vote because I am facilitating a Minister in his work.  I highlight the concern among people who find themselves in this awful situation. It is like leaving the handle go with the hatchet. The Government has recognised that this is a problem. Ignoring the fact that the foundations could also be a problem is inherently wrong. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mattie McGrath  I, too, compliment Deputy Ward, an Teachta Ward, for bringing forward this motion and for all the work he has done since he was elected and before he was elected. I also compliment na daoine in the Gallery, including Councillors Denis McGee and Joy Beard. Indeed, I also compliment the staff of Deputy Ward and the people and families who are affected. How many more times must they make the major journey to Dublin, Baile \u00c1tha Cliath, with their plastic bags? They come with knobs of concrete and they are like sawdust. It is quite obvious.  The previous Government made efforts, but I cannot for the life of me understand how anyone could decide to have a redress scheme for the blocks, mortar and walls, and forget the foundations. I have some experience. I am a plant hire contractor in foundational work and site work and everything else. The foundation is the most important part of anything, including the foundation of the families. This is so distressing to the families who have had to put up with this for so long now. It is distressing that the foundations are not included.  It is just pure lunacy. We have standards and regulations, as we have in so many other areas in this country, but they are ignored. We have regulators for everything. They have fancy offices with a brass plate outside, a CEO and staff, but they do nothing. They are toothless, useless and fruitless in my opinion. There are many of them; we appointed another one last week. We appoint them every week and there are thousands of them now.  What about the families? It is a noble intention for any person to build their own house and have a house for their family. It is the noblest intention in the world. Now people are forced to replace their homes because of the incompetence and blackguarding of a big company, which has been fined hundreds of millions in Canada, America and all over the world. However, we will not fine it here; not at all. We will put a 5% levy on the ordinary man trying to build a house to pay for this, instead of making the company pay. Everybody knows which one it is. I would be nearly afraid to speak the name, even with privilege. It is CRH. There are different names on the lorries going in and out, but CRH owns the lot because it has a monopoly. It is disgraceful and despicable. I have attended its AGMs here in Dublin a few times, not to cover mica issues but to cover countless other issues where it got away with blatant corruption. This is a shocking case of big business in the pockets of the big parties. I was in a party for long enough and I know how it works. That is the holy all of it. The families are left thrown to the wind. We will have investigations, more reviews and a motion here. It is just pass the parcel. We need to think of the families sleeping in their houses in fear.  My daughter, Councillor M\u00e1ir\u00edn McGrath, was in Donegal. Her colleagues up there brought her around and showed her the houses. They showed her housing estates that were empty, gan aon duine ansin. They had to move out. If this happened in Ukraine, we would be talking about it. No doubt we will find hundreds of millions to rebuild Ukraine and there will not be a word about it. There will be no questions asked, no reviews, no tests of the concrete and no anything else, but our own people do not matter. We know that our own families do not matter to this Government. I am not putting this personally to the Minister of State, who I know is a hard-working Minister of State, as is the Minister, Deputy Browne. However, what is going on is just not acceptable. It is time to lay it nakedly out there and support the families who home themselves; they did not ask anybody to home them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  I am glad to say a few words in support of Charles Ward's motion. He has raised it many times inside here since he was elected, as others have done. I cannot understand how this is taking so long to resolve. There has been quibbling about the foundation. It is only a day's work to put in a foundation. Often it is done much quicker than that if the concrete came - proper concrete - and it is organised on time. Something must have been lacking with Government regulations or if there was a regulator. Like all the regulators, maybe he did not want to be seen at all. For any regulator we are depending on, there is no account of him. He is either asleep or gone missing because all of the regulators we have are being paid for doing absolutely nothing.  Building a home is the biggest venture that a young couple will ever put themselves through given the cost and worry involved in getting it up. It is terrible for people to find their homes are falling asunder like they are. The faster this is remedied, the better. I welcome the people from Donegal to the House. I know they have plenty of other things to do. It is a priority for them to ensure that the people with defective homes in Donegal are sorted out. When Bridie Gallagher sang a song about the homes of Donegal, we never envisaged that this would be happening to the homes after she sang that song that so many people were glad to listen to.  The Minister of State should not put the people through having to come in here again. If it is down to the foundations and that is all that is at stake, just dig them out. It would not be a day's work to dig them out and order concrete and a few steel bars to build them up again. They will go off in a couple of days and people can start afresh. A house has to have good foundations when starting out. There is no point in taking chances and saving that amount of money. There is more time spent talking about them inside here and in that time a lot of them could be fixed. The people are worried. They have children and they are worried what will be the end of all this. Some of the houses have been done, but there are a lot more to be done. For God's sake, will the Government come out and sort it for once and for all? It is no bother for me to support the people of Donegal, but we should not be having to do this day after day. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy John Cummins)  I thank all Deputies for their contributions and for their genuine advocacy and work in this area. I recognise the real hurt and anger right across the country of homeowners who have been impacted by legacy defects as a result of defective concrete blocks. I want to put that on record.  As the Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan, and the Minister, Deputy Browne, have said previously, the Government is committed to assisting homeowners who have been impacted by defective concrete blocks. We have provided significant funding to the scheme and we will continue to do so. We have also kept the scheme under review and have made changes to it as and when required to try to assist more homeowners. The statutory obligation placed on Government by the 2022 Act, arising from the publication of the new IS 465:2026 standard, will now be actioned as soon as possible and a review of the Act will get under way shortly. Importantly, the very large number of homeowners who have already received a determination and grant amount can continue with their works.  The current enhanced defective concrete blocks grant scheme has been open for applications since 2023. The Government put it in place to assist homeowners to remediate damage caused by the use of defective concrete blocks. Notwithstanding that the current grant scheme contains improvements on the previous scheme, the Government has been mindful that the scheme requires monitoring and when changes are needed, they have been actioned. When it was recognised that construction inflation was presenting difficulties for homeowners, an increase in the grant scheme cap and rates was legislated for. This brought the overall scheme cap from \u20ac420,000 to a maximum of \u20ac462,000, along with an increase in the associated grant rates.  The Government is committed to funding all eligible expenditure under the scheme. Originally, the estimated cost was more than \u20ac2.2 billion, excluding inflation, with an estimated 7,500 households impacted. I note the comments from Deputies here as to the scale of the challenge ahead. A review is ongoing, with the local government sector, of the numbers and of the impact of the new standard IS 465:2026. Furthermore, the changes to the scheme that the standard might necessitate could add further cost to the scheme. Therefore, Deputies will appreciate that the approach now being taken by Government to review the Act is a logical one.  The publication of the revised IS 465 is the culmination of years of work in a complex and sensitive area that has real meaning and importance to thousands of households in many parts of Ireland. The Government is mindful of the very real concerns of affected homeowners who deserve the chance to be helped to fix their homes and to move on with their lives as much as possible.  As the Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan, has said, the Department, in partnership with the local authority sector and the Housing Agency, will update homeowners in the near future in as clear and comprehensive a way as possible regarding what this new standard might mean for them. From listening to the debate, it is clear that one of the primary focuses is to address the issue of foundations. While the focus on foundations is absolutely understandable, the Department's communication will address a wider suite of issues raised in the weeks since the publication of IS 465:2026.  Notwithstanding some of the genuinely articulated and personal cases that have been highlighted by Deputies, it is important to point out that the scheme is working for many. As of today, over 3,500 homeowners are at various stages of the grant scheme. Over 500 homes have been remediated, with another 750 at various stages of construction having notified the relevant designated authority of commencement. The Government realised at an early stage that homes affected by defective concrete blocks may not be limited to Donegal, Mayo, Clare and Limerick, and the 2022 Act provides a pathway for additional local authorities to seek designation under the grant scheme. Since 2023, Sligo and parts of the Fingal and Wexford County Council areas have been designated under the grant scheme.  As the Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan, pointed out earlier, parts of Meath County Council and Carlow County Council will shortly be designated under the grant scheme. I am sure this will be welcome news for householders in those areas that have homes impacted by defective concrete blocks.  At the end of 2025, the Minister, Deputy Browne, brought forward very important legislation, the Defective Concrete Blocks (Amendment) Act 2025. This Act contains numerous beneficial changes for homeowners in the grant scheme. The Minister operationalised the majority of this Act in February and June of this year. These regulations provided for additional funding to homeowners who were previously unable to avail of the uplift in the scheme cap and rates, which was a particularly important issue for many. Crucially, the regulations also provided for homeowners where either they or members of their family live in a home affected by defective concrete blocks that has been adapted for the needs of the resident living there.  The Minister is aware that since the publication of the new standard, homeowners either already in the grant scheme or intending to apply to the scheme will have questions on what the new standard means for them. I emphasise that homeowners already in the scheme and undertaking works can continue with those works. Grant payments will continue to be made by local authorities so homeowners can complete their works.  As some Members are aware, officials in my Department met members of the implementation steering group last week to provide an update regarding the scheme and the new standard, noting that the Department will issue guidance for local authorities and the Housing Agency on various categories of applicants to the scheme. At this meeting, members were brought up to speed on the review process and what it will entail. The group includes officials from the designated local authorities, the Housing Agency and the homeowner liaison officer, all of whom can assist homeowners with their queries. The Department met again yesterday with the group to focus on how best to keep homeowners informed of ongoing developments in a timely manner.  Allowing the review to be undertaken and completed will be key to the success of the grant scheme. The 2022 Act, as set down by the Oireachtas, clearly identified the need for this review. The review will focus, as per the provisions of section 51 of the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022, on the operation of the Act, in the first instance, in all matters relating to the introduction of IS 465 and its interaction with the grant scheme will be considered as part of the review. On completion, the Minister will make recommendations to the Government on any proposed changes to the defective concrete blocks scheme. Ensuring homeowners are treated fairly under the grant scheme has and will continue to be the focus of the Government. The Minister is well aware of the urgency of the review. He and his officials are working hard to ensure it is prioritised in a timely fashion.  I will circle back to what I said at the outset. I totally understand and appreciate the impact defective concrete blocks have had on homeowners who have been impacted. Very real stories have been articulated by Members of this House. Of that, there is no doubt. I acknowledge everybody involved and their advocacy and work in this area. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  I commend Deputy Charles Ward on his diligent and relentless campaigning on behalf of the tens of thousands of people affected by defective blocks. He is one of those people personally affected, along with tens of thousands of others. I commend all of those who work with him in the 100% Redress party, and all of those who have been affected by this issue, on their campaigning and their refusal to take this lying down. I am very glad to support the motion.  In a way, I am also very glad that I do not have the expertise Deputy Charles Ward has. I have been trying to get educated by him on the issue. It is not something that has emerged in my constituency, at least so far, but I am aware of the consequences of the willingness by Fianna F\u00e1il in particular, but also Fine Gael, to allow developers and people in the construction industry not to be properly regulated or controlled and for that to have devastating consequences on homeowners and renters, in particular with fire safety issues. Many tens of thousands of people are affected by buildings that were not built properly and have fire safety issues, which imposed costs and hardships on them. Some of that stuff is not over. I recently came across a new social housing development where, within months of moving in, people have damp, mould and so on all over the place and are having to fight to have those things addressed. This stuff is still going on, so there is a lot at stake on these issues.  It is shocking that at least 20,000 householders are living in homes that are crumbling around their ears and which are now worthless. They worked hard for those homes and they are worthless. They cannot sell them. The Government seemed to be crowing about its redress scheme, but if I understand this correctly, the reason only slightly more than 3,000 people have applied for it is that the scheme is so inadequate, and the gap between the cost of remediating a home and what the Government is willing to give means that for huge numbers of people affected by this issue the scheme the Government is proposing is completely inadequate and will not allow them to remediate their homes. That means they are stuck in crumbling homes unable to deal with the consequences of something that was basically the responsibility of the Government and its failure to regulate cowboys - profit-driven, unscrupulous people - in the construction industry.  On top of that, where people may try to rebuild their homes with an inadequate scheme, the Government is forcing them to build on foundations that may crumble in the future. Where people know that the material that could lead to that crumbling - the defective substances or substance that lead to these defects - are there but we do not know what will happen in the future, rather than giving those people the option to fully replace the foundations, the Government is insisting they build on foundations that could crumble. Why would the Government do that? First, the people have gone through having their homes crumble around them and become worthless and they have to rebuild them. Then they are being made build on foundations that could crumble again in the future, causing them anxiety, concern and all the hardship that would involve, in addition to the cost of doing that.  It defies belief that the Government will not take on board what Deputy Ward is saying here, namely, that people should have the option to fully replace those foundations and, more generally, that the Government should be providing 100% redress from end to end to resolve this for all of those who have been affected by this terrible issue of defective concrete. The amendment the Government has put forward is extremely disappointing. It should withdraw it and take on board what Deputy Ward is very reasonably asking for to help the many tens of thousands of people affected by this scandal. There may be a lot more affected. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charles Ward  I thank my colleagues who stood with me today and those who took the time to go beyond the briefing material and the political framing and had the empathy to understand what families are living through on the ground. Before we vote, I want to speak plainly, not in a language of schemes, standards or reassurance, but in a language that explains what is happening to people on the ground. I have sat in homes where families are in this crisis, and I have heard things that have never appeared in reports. People are lying awake at night wondering if their home is safe. Parents are trying to hide this fear from their children. Families are trying to hold ordinary life together while carrying on in an uncertainty that they did not create. This is the reality. There is no data and there are no summaries and no briefing. It is reality.  No homeowner or child caused this crisis, yet they are the ones that are carrying it. We are told the scheme is improving. We are told progress is being made, but uncertainty is still in people's homes. It is still at the kitchen table, and it is still in their lives. I ask the House one question. Who is carrying the uncertainty? It is not being carried in here.  It has been carried elsewhere by the families, by the children. People who stood should never have been asked to carry this burden at all. Never should this have happened.  I recognise that many Members will vote under party instruction, but this Chamber has also seen Members break that. I ask that safety and security, and the future of children and their families, be on Deputies' conscience when they are voting. They have to go back to their constituents when it is in their area, and tell them why they did not vote to help. I hope Deputies will realise in the years to come what has gone on and that we have a catastrophic situation on our hands. The responsibility for this cannot be ignored. The time is now. We have to address this. There is a choice before us, it is a responsibility we cannot keep avoiding: families or system. I am clear. The uncertainty does not belong in family homes. This belongs now to the State. It is the State that has a responsibility to carry this burden, not the families, the people who did nothing wrong or the children growing up underneath the shadow of the defective concrete. When the bell rings for the vote this evening, this House will decide something very simple: where the burden sits. That decision does not end with this vote; it begins there. I stand with the families, like all my colleagues in opposition today who have stood. I say to the homeowners that we are fighting for them night and day and we will not forget. I will not move the burden onto those who did not create it. I am asking this House to remember where the weight of this situation has occurred. The Government and the State have a responsibility. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  In accordance with Standing Order 85(2), the division is postponed until the weekly division time this evening. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"State Responsibility for Foundation Retention Risk in Defective Concrete Homes: Motion [Private Members]"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-24\/debate\/dbsect_11","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Message from Select Committee","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_11","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Select Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage has completed its consideration of the Housing and Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 and has made amendments thereto. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Message from Select Committee"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-24\/debate\/dbsect_12","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions","counts":{"speechCount":37,"speakerCount":7},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_12","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  An tseachtain seo caite, v\u00f3t\u00e1il Rialtas an Taoisigh leis an dl\u00ed a athr\u00fa chun praghsanna peitril agus d\u00edosail a ard\u00fa \u00f3n 1 L\u00fanasa. Mar gheall ar chinnt\u00ed an Rialtais, ard\u00f3idh praghas an d\u00edosail 32 cent agus praghas an pheitril 27 cent. N\u00ed f\u00e9idir leis an Rialtas lean\u00faint ar aghaidh leis na harduithe seo ar pheitreal agus ar dh\u00edosal. Caithfidh s\u00e9 a aithint go bhfuil bot\u00fan m\u00f3r d\u00e9anta aige agus r\u00e9iteach airgeadais a chur os comhair na D\u00e1la l\u00e1ithreach chun stop a chur leis na harduithe seo agus na praghsanna seo ag dul in airde an m\u00e9id sin \u00f3n 1 L\u00fanasa, rud a chuirfidh br\u00fa ar ghn\u00e1th-theaghlaigh fud fad na t\u00edre.  In the past year, soaring fuel prices have put huge pressure on ordinary households that are struggling to keep up. That pressure came to a head in April. After weeks of Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael refusing to listen, ordinary people rose up in protest. They were forced to take action and they also forced the Taoiseach to take action to reduce the cost of petrol and diesel. They had to fight for what little relief they eventually got from the Government. Imagine their reaction last week when the Government voted to pass the Finance Bill, a law that will see the cost of petrol and diesel increase from 1 August. The Taoiseach voted against Sinn F\u00e9in's proposals and, as a result of his decision, diesel will go up 32 cent and petrol will go up 27 cent. What does that mean for ordinary folks out there? In just a matter of weeks, they will once again be hit with rip-off prices at the pumps, if the Taoiseach does not act now to stop it. Diesel will shoot up to over \u20ac2 and petrol will hit something similar. It is clear that the Government has not learned anything from the fuel protests or the pressure that ordinary people are under.  Did the Taoiseach not see the Barnardos report that was released just yesterday? It told us very clearly that more than half of parents are worried that they do not have enough money to put fuel in the car. Real people, real families, real pressure. Sinn F\u00e9in was the only party here last week that stood up to challenge the Government and stand against its decision. We proposed amendment after amendment to stop the fuel hikes because we understand those hikes are going to heap further pressure on ordinary families. The Government kept on going down the track it has set and it is going to make things even harder for families. It is going to increase the price of diesel by 32 cent and petrol by 27 cent. While the D\u00e1il is in recess and Ministers are off on their holidays, these price increases kick in. That is what the Taoiseach voted for last week in the Finance Bill. Unless he acts now, ordinary people are going to pay the price. We cannot have a repeat of what happened in April. It was only after those who keep Ireland moving rose up in protest that the Government was finally forced to act.  The Taoiseach needs to recognise the pressure that is increasing on people. It is not easing; it is increasing. The Government cannot go ahead with these petrol and diesel increases on the scale outlined. There is still time to change course. The Taoiseach needs to listen, and he needs to make it clear that this pressure will not be placed on families at the pumps in just a number of weeks. He needs to realise that he made a big, big mistake in voting against Sinn F\u00e9in's proposals last week. Will the Taoiseach urgently bring forward a financial resolution to stop these huge increases in petrol and diesel taking effect in just a number of weeks? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Is l\u00e9ir gur tharla ard\u00fa an-ard ar fad ar phraghsanna peitril agus d\u00edosail de dheasca an chogaidh san Iar\u00e1in. Bh\u00ed br\u00fa faoi leith ar mhuintir na t\u00edre agus ar an ngeilleagar agus t\u00e1 f\u00f3s. Rinne an Rialtas cinneadh faoi leith suas le \u20ac750 milli\u00fan a chur ar f\u00e1il chun an br\u00fa seo a laghd\u00fa do dhaoine. D'\u00e9irigh linn. Mar aon leis sin, rinneamar i bhfad n\u00edos m\u00f3, go h\u00e1irithe \u00f3 thaobh c\u00farsa\u00ed talmha\u00edochta, iascaireachta agus iompair de.  The Government reduced petrol excise and diesel by 32 cent and 27 cent. We did not increase it. Clearly, the Deputy is all about politics and not about policy. He played politics last week with this and he is playing politics this week with it. Sinn F\u00e9in cleverly put in a few amendments last week. They get voted down, and then the Deputy turns it around and says the Government is voting for increases. It is a game he is at. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Crowe  So much for legislation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The pressures on people have been very significant because of the increase in fuel prices arising out of the war in Iran between America and Iran. On the Hormuz strait, there has been a cessation of violence and war, but there has also been at least a resolution which has given some respite to the situation. We took significant measures to try to help people. I will come back to that in a moment. Brent crude, as a result of what has been happening in recent time, oil prices currently stand at around $75 per barrel. That is down from its peak closing price of $115 per barrel in early May, but still above prices of around $70 per barrel recorded before the war.  We have seen stability domestically in recent weeks, with steady declines in the prices for kerosene, auto fuels and marked gas oil. We are closely monitoring the international domestic fuel prices. This will inform our decision-making process. The latest Eurostat data shows that Ireland experienced one of the largest reductions in diesel prices across the European Union in May, reflecting easing international energy pressures and improved conditions in global markets. The recent increases as a result of the war are beginning to unwind. Irish diesel prices fell by 8.1% in May; I do not have June figures yet. That is the fourth-largest reduction in the European Union. Petrol prices in Ireland also declined by 2%, with Ireland among the countries seeing reductions when many others continue to experience increases. Wholesale energy prices fell significantly month on month following the sharp spike recorded in April.  In terms of the measures we took, we took 32 cent off diesel, 27 cent off petrol and 7.4% off MGO. We deferred the carbon tax increase to 14 October. Some \u20ac40 million per month was allocated to transport over three months and a \u20ac100 million fuel scheme for farmers, contractors and fishers was introduced. The diesel rebate increased to 12 cent per litre. We increased the fuel allowance to \u20ac38 per week and expanded eligibility, with about 470,000 households supported as a result of that. In the budget proper we did the core budgets. The Deputy seems to be making assumptions. The end of July is more than a month away. The Government will keep this under review. We have said this repeatedly. The Government will take a decision in respect of the diesel and petrol situation before the D\u00e1il recess. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I am assuming nothing. Last week I put forward an amendment that would see those increases not taking effect. The Taoiseach accused me of games. This is nothing to do with games. How dare you? When I give voice to the concerns of people right across the State about the Government putting up the price of petrol and diesel by 32 cent, which it voted for last week, that is not a game for them. When people tell me they do not have enough money in their pockets to pay for the bare necessities in this Ireland of 2026, that is not a game for them. I am doing my job when I stand up and represent the people right across the State who are put to the pin of their collar because of decisions the Government has made. The Finance Bill has passed the D\u00e1il. On 1 August, these prices will increase. I have asked the Taoiseach a clear question. The Government does not need more reports, reviews or anything bar getting its head out of the sand and recognising that putting up the price of diesel by 32 cent a number of weeks from now is reckless. It will put huge pressure on ordinary families. I asked the Taoiseach whether he will bring forward a financial resolution without delay or whether he will stick to his position, which is that these increases will go ahead. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  First of all, we did not, as the Deputy said, vote last week to increase anything. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  There was. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Deputy Doherty just wants to look after the oil companies by giving them whatever. He does not even want to monitor what is going to happen over the next number of weeks. It makes sense that one watches the market - of course it does - otherwise one is just filling the pockets of the oil companies which will benefit from the decline. We are talking about taxpayers' money. As I said, we have some distance to go before the end of July. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  You think there was no vote last week. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I did not interrupt you. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  No, he did not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Okay. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy put the amendments down last week so he could then make the allegation that we are increasing prices and try to engineer protests. That is what is going on. I have seen the Facebook pages. I have seen it all. The Government makes a decision, there are going to be protests. That is the game. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Does the Taoiseach think we should pat him on the back----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  No, no. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  -----when he pushes up the price of petrol? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy is entitled to raise the issue, but that is----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Is that what he wants? Does he want a pat on the back for pushing up the prices? Not a chance. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----the political agenda. I did not interrupt the Deputy. He has an awful habit of doing it. That is his political agenda. The Government has not made a decision in respect of the end of July. Is that clear? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you. Time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  You voted for it last week. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Government is going to keep it under review and act accordingly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Taoiseach, the time is up. Thank you very much. I now call on Deputy Holly Cairns. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  Someone dies from a drug overdose in Ireland almost every day. Drug deaths in this country are almost three times the EU average. The Taoiseach has a big decision to make. The Government can keep on doing what we all know is not working - criminalising people who struggle with addiction, failing to fund the services that could help them and cramming people into overcrowded prisons where drug use is endemic - or it can be radical and brave. It can opt to change its policy approach so that it is evidence-based and health-led. It can address the underlying causes of drug addiction. It can save lives.  That is what the cross-party report from the Committee on Drugs Use has recommended today. The decision was unanimous. Its key recommendations are that the possession of drugs for personal use be decriminalised and that we introduce a comprehensive health-led approach to the use and misuse of drugs. The committee did not pull these recommendations out of thin air. It listened to a wide variety of experts, community groups, people with lived experience of drug use and recovery and families affected by addiction.  The committee also heard comprehensive evidence about other parts of the world where this approach has worked, such as Portugal, which decriminalised drugs 25 years ago and has seen a significant reduction in drug-related deaths with no increase in drug use. The committee also heard about places where decriminalisation was introduced but not done properly, such as Oregon, where drugs were decriminalised but there was no increase in resources for treatment. What is clear is that decriminalisation must be accompanied by increased investment in health services. It will not work in isolation. That is key to the committee's recommendations.  Treatment options for drug use are threadbare. This is especially true in prisons, which are dangerously overcrowded. It is estimated that 70% of people entering prison have an addiction or substance abuse problem. That is about 4,000 people. How many addiction nurses are employed in Irish prisons? Zero. This is not a health-led approach; it is killing people. It is, quite frankly, inhumane.  The Oireachtas gave the members of the drugs committee a job. They have done that work and issued a unanimous report with cross-party support. The national drugs strategy will be finalised next month. If the recommendations of the committee are not included, it will have little credibility. Will the Taoiseach ignore the report or will he make a commitment today that its recommendations will be included? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I welcome the final report of the joint committee. I have not had an opportunity to read it in its entirety. Senator Mary Fitzpatrick, who is a member of the committee, made a presentation to the Fianna F\u00e1il Parliamentary Party last evening on the report's core recommendations. Fundamentally, over the past 20 years we have moved to a health-led approach in terms of drug addiction. It has not been a criminal response, in the main. Rather, it has been health-led, going back to the methadone clinics for heroin in an earlier era. The focus, generally speaking, has been a health-led one.  A significant number of cases present for treatment for problem drug use. In 2025, the figure was about 15,422, a 16% increase and a 73% increase in the annual number of cases entering treatment since the commencement of the current national drug strategy in 2017. Communities continue to experience harm because of drug use. In some areas, the level of harm in communities is acute. The increase in treatment numbers reflects increased investment. There has been a lot of investment. We can continue to increase the level of investment, but we also have to be rigorous. That is why the Oireachtas report is important. It is also important that investment sees a return. Cocaine was the most commonly treated main problem drug in 2025, accounting for 42% of all cases. There has been an increase in investment in treatment services as a result of that.  In terms of diversion, the Government had agreed to divert those found in possession of drugs for personal use to the health services, in line with the health-led approach. The Minister responsible for that has agreed that will commence on an administrative basis for the time being. Obviously, the Government will assess the Oireachtas report in terms of the broader issues, including the decriminalisation proposal. About \u20ac170 million was provided last year to the Department of Health and HSE for drugs services, an increase of about \u20ac54 million over the past seven or eight years. It is all about treating addiction and having more drug treatment services. We will continue to expand that side of the equation. There has been an increase in recurring funding and so on. Addiction treatment is extremely important and the education side is extremely important, as is the health-led approach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  The Taoiseach said the Government is taking a health-led approach to this issue. Respectfully, the Government is not taking a health-led approach. A citizens' assembly was established and issued its findings. A cross-party Oireachtas committee did the same. Both of them found that we need to change to a health-led approach. That includes decriminalisation among a range of other health-led approach methods.  From the Taoiseach's reply, I take it that he plans to continue with more of the same and he thinks we have a health-led approach. I really urge him to reconsider that. He highlighted that a lot of funding is going into different things. It costs a lot of money, too, to put people in prison. Crucially, the most important figure in all of this is the number of lives it is costing, which is equivalent to nearly one person every day in Ireland. It is hard to articulate the impact that has on those people's families and communities and on everything. The Taoiseach has an opportunity to do something that will save lives. I ask him again whether the recommendations in the report will be included in the drugs strategy next month. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Government accepts and has accepted that possession of illicit drugs for personal use is fundamentally a public health issue and not just a matter for the criminal justice system. That has been the position for quite some time. The Government will shortly introduce a health referral scheme for those found to be in possession of illicit drugs for personal use. The report has just been published. As is necessary, both the Department of Health and the Department of justice will examine it. There are some 160 recommendations in it. The mental health dimension will be examined as well. We are going to give it very serious consideration.  However, having been a Minister in the Department of Health and having experience of dealing with this issue, I can say the approach has been predominantly health-led but that does not guarantee that consumption goes down. It does not actually quite guarantee it. There are different experiences in different jurisdictions. We need to examine the report and keep working on this. There is more than just one recommendation; there are 160 recommendations and we have to implement them all. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charles Ward  When IS 465:2026 was introduced, I welcomed the intent behind it but had reservations about how it might be interpreted by engineers. Reading several reports tells me I was correct. I reference one report where a house was given a group 4 classification, indicating the worst possible level of structural damage, with widespread deterioration and a clear finding of evidence of chemical damage. There is evidence of sulphate attack gypsum replacing binder secondary eclogite formation, mobile sulphates within the concrete system and full carbonisation of the concrete metrics. This describes concrete systems that undergo significant internal change and ongoing failure. Yet, despite this, the home in question is excluded from remediation. The conclusion drawn was that the sulphates are likely externally sourced and not linked to defective blocks.  This is where the core issue is now arising, with decisions driven by a heavily focused but narrowly presented one-day snapshot of sulphate content. The most recent research, by Leemann, M\u00fcnch and Dunlop in 2026, demonstrates that internal sulphate attack, ISA, can occur even where sulphate content is low because the sulphates have consumed, transformed, distributed and leached over time. The damaging chemistry does not remain static. It evolves, which means a low sulphate reading today does not mean sulphate-driven damage was never present. It may simply mean the reaction has already run its course and the sulphates have been used up. It is like arriving at a house that has been burnt out. Flames may no longer be seen and there may be little smoke remaining but the damage to the structure is still there. It cannot be concluded that there was no fire simply because the active stage has passed. There was a fire once upon time.  This raises deeper concerns. Should decisions under IS 465 rest mainly with engineering interpretations and threshold readings or should they be grounded in a full materials science analysis of how these chemical systems evolve? There is a risk that homes are being judged on what chemical traces remain rather than the scientific reality of how the damage actually developed. Will the Taoiseach ensure that interpretation of sulphate-related damage under IS 465 is led by independent materials science expertise in order that evolved internal chemical deterioration is properly recognised, rather than leaving decisions to be based primarily on scheme engineers' assessments of present-day sulphate readings? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. Clearly, the defective concrete blocks issue has evolved. It is a very complex issue, which the Government is addressing in the first instance by agreeing and allocating very significant amounts of funds to the affected homeowners to enable families to rebuild their homes and get on with their lives. I believe in a multidisciplinary approach to issues. The Deputy's basic query is whether IS 465 should be led by independent materials science expertise or by engineering. I think perhaps it should be both. There always have to be inputs.  The grant scheme is underpinned by the national testing standard. We have agencies, including the National Standards Authority of Ireland, NSAI, and so on to determine the standards. IS 465 was revised on 2 June and that revision now needs to be examined in more detail. The Government remains committed to following the science when it comes to homes affected by defective concrete blocks, as per the provisions of the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022. The Minister for housing intends to carry out a review of the operation of the Act as quickly as possible. That is provided for under the legislation. The issue of how damage interpretation is dealt with under the revised national standard will be addressed as part of that review.  In the meantime, the scheme can continue to operate to fix homes for the many homeowners who have already received a determination and a grant amount under the former standard. Since the Government commitment of 2020, more than 3,500 homeowners have been progressing through the defective concrete blocks grant scheme, with grants covering 100% of eligible costs up to \u20ac462,000 per household. That is a 10% increase since 2023. Over \u20ac336 million has been spent to date, which shows the scheme is really ramping up, with a record \u20ac175 million allocated this year. More than 500 homes have been completed, with 750 currently undergoing remediation. Approximately 80% of the affected homes are in Donegal. This is a significant scheme by any yardstick. I do not think it has any precedent in terms of its scale.  The issue the Deputy raised is a technical issue, albeit a significant one, arising from recent changes to the national standard governing the scheme. The changes have to be assessed and a review process is required under the legislation. IS 465 is the national standard currently used to assess damage caused by mica or pyrite in affected homes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charles Ward  The reason I raised this issue is that right now, as we speak, there will be people going in with foundations with levels of ISA in them. They will potentially be building on top of a foundation that may fail in the future. I am talking about being fiscally responsible. As the revised IS 465 has been published, there is now a trigger. Can the Taoiseach give me dates for this? I do not want people to be building on top of foundations that contain an ISA and then, in a year or two years' time, the foundations on which their brand-new home is built are tested and shown to be damaged. It is about fiscal responsibility and doing things right. Is it possible to get some kind of timeframe for when this will happen? As the Taoiseach said, there are homeowners progressing through the scheme. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  For what is the Deputy seeking a timeframe? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charles Ward  I am asking for a timeframe for when this decision will be implemented. The trigger is off now with the revision of IS 465. When will the Minister for housing review and adapt to these changes? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The revision to IS 465 was made on 2 June. Under section 51 of the Act, the Minister must review the scheme following that revision. The review will examine several aspects of the scheme, including treatment of foundations. Findings must be reported to the Oireachtas within three months of completion. That is the timeline. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  Is the Taoiseach aware that parents of children with additional needs are now facing the prospect of being unable to access early years childcare services because of the Government's failure to support the childcare sector? In 2021, the Government made two clear promises, namely, that childcare costs would be reduced to \u20ac200 per month and that providers would be supported through a new core funding model. The reality is that it has failed on both counts. Childcare providers honoured their side of the agreement. When core funding was introduced, they accepted fee freezes because they believed the Government would work with them to address the mounting pressures facing the sector.  Instead, providers were left carrying rising costs, increasing regulation, staff shortages and growing financial burdens while Government Ministers sat on their hands. Today, we are witnessing the consequences. Children with additional needs are at risk of losing access to vital services. Parents who rely on childcare to remain in employment are facing impossible choices. Many will have to reduce their hours, take unpaid leave or in some cases leave the workforce entirely to care for their children. That comes at a huge personal cost to families and significant economic cost to the State.  This crisis did not appear overnight. It is a direct result of Government inaction. Every week another childcare provider closes its doors. Since 2021, 137 cr\u00e8ches have closed in the Taoiseach's county alone. Nationally, 977 early years childcare services have shut down in that time. That represents childcare places for between 32,000 and 35,000 children disappearing from communities across the country. At the same time, approximately 40,000 children are now on waiting lists, with rural Ireland being hit hardest. Families in towns and villages are finding that there are no places available. Yet, when challenged on these figures, the Government points to the opening of 579 new services since 2021. What the Government fails to tell the people is that these are predominantly after-school services and do little or nothing to address the collapse in early years provision.  Once again, we see the Government massaging figures to suit a political narrative rather than confronting the reality facing families. The most vulnerable children in our society need support, their parents need support and childcare providers need support. Instead, they have been ignored. The solution is neither complicated nor unreasonable. Providers are calling on the Government to reverse the funding freezes and introduce a sustainable funding model that reflects the real cost of delivering childcare. They are asking to be treated as partners rather than an afterthought, but that respect has never come. Instead, it is the same old story. The men and women who get up early every morning to go to work, pay their taxes and try to provide for their families continue to be squeezed from every direction. Childcare providers are being choked by costs and parents are being left without options. This sector is on the brink. The warning signs have been there for years. How many more closures, how many more waiting lists and how many more families must be pushed to breaking point before the Government finally acts? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We need a sense of balance and perspective here. The Deputy's assessment is way off the mark, in terms of painting a picture of where childcare is today compared with where it was even five years ago. We have delivered more progress on childcare in five years than in the previous 30 years. Costs are down by 36%, investment is at a record high and now, for the first time in the State's history, we are beginning to directly build childcare facilities. New measures announced this month will reduce fees further from September 2026. Childcare will be a central priority in budget 2027. We will really focus on it. I know that the Minister, Deputy Norma Foley, has significant proposals which will be part of the budget preparations and negotiations. We are very conscious of the essential role that childcare plays, first of all, in the development of the child. We always have to keep the child centre stage in respect of childcare provision and child development, and then in terms of parents and to facilitate people to access the workplace.  Core funding participation is at its highest level since the scheme began, despite what the Deputy has said. As of today, over 4,590 services have signed up for the 2025-26 programme, making this the largest number of partner services in core funding since the launch. Some 177 services left core funding at some point over the lifetime of the scheme and currently operate outside of it. A total of 415 services left at some point but later rejoined and are now participating in year 4. Over 70% of services that had exited have returned. This demonstrates the scheme's underlying strength and stability. More than 92% of eligible providers remained engaged across the first three years of core funding, showing sustained sector-wide participation. We increased core funding again this year to about \u20ac480 million. That is an increase of \u20ac90 million on the current year.  We are just 16 months into a five-year term for this Government. We are focusing on reducing the fees and core funding is a mechanism for doing that. We have made significant progress in relation to that. For a typical full-day place, the maximum fee drops from approximately \u20ac280 to \u20ac183 per week, after the universal national childcare subsidy scheme. This is a saving of over \u20ac600 per family since we froze price levels in 2022. We are also increasing income thresholds from September. About 25% of children in the national childcare scheme are now already paying under \u20ac200 per month. We will make continued progress on increasing the number who will be paying \u20ac200 or less and we will make a significant move on that in the forthcoming budget. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  My assessment is not way off the mark. I have sat down with early childcare providers and they are telling me this. They are the people who are on the ground. They know the crisis that is there. This is no longer a crisis but an implosion that is unfolding before the Government's eyes. The truth is that the Government has allowed the sector to drift from crisis into collapse. It is jeopardising the future of thousands of children, particularly those with additional needs, who depend on these services. What makes this even more astonishing is that after years of rising costs, soaring inflation and relentless financial pressure, the Government's response was to increase the base core funding rate by just 9 cent per child per hour. In what world does a 9 cent increase even begin to address inflation, wage pressures, insurance costs, energy bills and the wider cost-of-living crisis? It is completely detached from the reality facing providers on the ground. For once, stop kicking this issue down the road. Stop hiding behind future budgets and long-term reviews. The sector needs action now and not another promise, not another consultation and not another excuse. If the Government does not act urgently, the damage being done to children, families and childcare providers will be felt for years to come. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Budget 2026 invested almost \u20ac1.5 billion in early learning and childcare, which is a 12% increase. Going back a decade, that figure was \u20ac260 million. Numbers speak for themselves in terms of the funding. A total of 277,000 children will benefit from the national childcare scheme in 2026. That is 27,000 more than last year. That is not collapse; it is expansion. Childcare prices have fallen by 36% since October 2022, with fees held at 2021 levels while the rest of the cost of living has risen. Some 105,000 children accessed two free preschool years under ECCE.  The access and inclusion model supports a record 8,400 children with special needs or disabilities. That figure is up from 7,900. A total of 806 services receive equal start targeted supports, reaching 38,000 vulnerable children. For the first time in the history of the State, the Government is directly building and acquiring childcare facilities. Up to eight facilities will be delivered in 2026. That is not collapse; that is expansion. Yes, there are challenges. We will do more again in the forthcoming budget to copper-fasten, consolidate and expand services and reduce the price that people have to pay for childcare. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-24\/debate\/dbsect_13","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 na Comhalta\u00ed Eile - Other Members\u2019 Questions","counts":{"speechCount":10,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_13","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gillian Toole","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gillian-Toole.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Gillian-Toole.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gillian Toole","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gillian-Toole.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Gillian-Toole.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gillian Toole  I hope I have the correct question because I submitted two. There are four issues that are separate and significant but share a common thread. Last November in Kells, County Meath, there was an important Samhain festival and food symposium. It was an excellent symposium attended by Darina Allen, where a lot of topics around food security, food safety, biosecurity, health and soil health were discussed, including the school meals programme, the possibility of sourcing these meals as locally as possible and integrating local suppliers, chefs, shops such as SuperValu and Centra, etc. There were excellent books on the issues of ultra-processed food and the production of food. All of that was linked in to chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes, which are on the increase. That is the first issue.  The second issue concerns a family of seven brothers - seven sons and three generations of succession farming in action. They are all tillage farmers and acknowledge the excellent support of the tillage support payment that was made. However, grain from 2025 is still in storage and we have imports from other markets with genetically modified components to them.  The third issue is a land-use plan, which we are still waiting on, and the implications for renewable fuel and solar production. The tillage farmers are having difficulty accessing land to lease or purchase to produce the native grains and legumes that we require.  We know we have the cost-of-living crisis and the issues around the cost of fuel. They are all linked. There is then the point of defending ourselves and biosecurity and the food that we eat, whether it is imported or we produce it ourselves. With the balance of land availability to produce the food we need but also to produce renewable energy, we have possibly a defence situation.  My condensed question stems from Canadian Prime Minister Carney's presentation last week at Trinity College. It is something he also said, I think, at the World Economic Forum, and that is the question about sovereignty. There is much debate and discourse on social media and in the media on the interpretation of sovereignty vis-\u00e0-vis borders, migration etc. However, I am going to link sovereignty to our ability to feed ourselves, fuel ourselves and defend ourselves along the lines of the remarks from the Prime Minister of Canada. What specific steps are being taken to ensure we can feed, fuel and defend ourselves? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank Deputy Toole for her thought-provoking question and the ideas that emanate from it in terms of looking at security through a much broader lens than tends to be the case where people look at it more conventionally as military or defence capability. Food security, in my view, is a fundamental part of both economics and a nation's security and it goes to the very heart of sovereignty.  Ireland, in respect of food security, has to be looking at a European context, given our membership of the EU, but also because we export to about 180 countries. It is an extraordinary story. It is about \u20ac21 billion in exports. A lot of that is in dairy, beef, lamb, poultry, pig meat and so on and the added value products deriving from those.  There is more work we can do on the horticultural front because we import a lot as well on the vegetable side and fruit side. The Government is always open to it. We have supported horticulture and continue to do so. Over the past number of years there has been a strong investment in organic farming, in particular over the past five years. I think there has been a step-change in our approach and attitude to organic farming both within the Department of agriculture and culturally within the agricultural community. That has continued to grow.  I have received correspondence from Darina Allen in respect of the issues Deputy Toole has raised. They are pertinent. We do need to make sure we create the environment to facilitate the continued growth of healthy foods because there is a connection to cardiovascular health and health more generally in terms of fresh sourced food. That is something we will continue to work on.  The land use study will be published shortly. That will create its own debate. We will publish it and invite society generally to reflect on it. Obviously, various stakeholders will come back in respect of that.  Deputy Toole mentioned the family with the seven sons who are all tillage farmers and the access to land issue. It is an issue for tillage because they can be at a disadvantage to others who might have greater access to resources and land access is a significant issue.  Climate change is the other big factor here. Climate is going to dramatically impact food production. We can see it through drought or excessive rain and floods. We saw it all across Europe and the world in the past number of years and it is happening here too. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gillian Toole","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gillian-Toole.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Gillian-Toole.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gillian Toole  I welcome those tentative updates. Could we firm up timelines for the publication of the land use study and particularly the timelines for the issuing of solar farm guidelines? Land use in general is particularly important because a lot of local authorities are currently preparing county development plans or variations on county development plans. If we are to really have a macro-consideration of all the elements of sovereignty and of security - yes, we are part of the greater Union - we have to begin from our home standpoint. There is great value to be achieved in transportation costs, with a shorter route from farm to fork, and in terms of the reduction in additives to food if it is produced as close as possible to home. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  When I mentioned Europe, I meant Ireland will be feeding a lot of Europe. That is my point. We are. In fact, I was reading Ronan McGreevy's work on Se\u00e1n Lemass recently. During the war a lot of our foodstuffs went to Britain. That is an aspect of war and security that rarely gets documented or referenced but it was a significant contribution in its own way. Even globally, the work we do in Africa, particularly in terms of climate resilience advice and product and so on in terms of crops is quite strong because of our experience of famine. The point I am making trying to make is that we have a global role in terms of food security and we should maintain our own production capacity as a result of that.  Regarding the solar farm guidelines, there are many guidelines falling due. Solar is growing very fast. It is now the third fuel. When we look at all the debate we have about war in Iran and fossil fuel volatility, we need a broader debate in the House on the balance here----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----because we need more renewables so we are not subject and exposed to volatility on fuel prices into the future, which derails our economy very quickly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you. You will have to talk to the Chief Whip about that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Sorry? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  You said we need a debate. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I will ask her on the Order of Business. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 na Comhalta\u00ed Eile - Other Members\u2019 Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-24\/debate\/dbsect_14","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Pholasa\u00ed n\u00f3 ar Reachta\u00edocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation","counts":{"speechCount":75,"speakerCount":21},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_14","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eamon Scanlon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eamon-Scanlon.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Eamon-Scanlon.S.2002-09-12","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"S\u00e9amus McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Women's Aid has recorded the highest level of domestic abuse disclosures in history. The organisation's annual report is a stark reminder for us all that, for many women and children, escaping domestic abuse is made harder by failures that are within the Government's power to fix. Victims are trapped by the housing crisis, delays in the family court, inadequate access to civil legal aid and a family justice system that often fails to recognise the realities of domestic abuse and coercive control.  For many women, leaving an abusive partner does not mean the abuse ends. Ensuring safety after leaving an abusive partner requires the enforcement of protection orders and ensuring a consistent approach, particularly around bail conditions when they are breached, is implemented. For example, the Government commissioned a review of bail laws that recommended that breaches of domestic violence court orders be made an offence under the Bail Act. I am going to ask the Taoiseach something, in particular in light of this report. There is a simple fix. Will the Taoiseach implement this simple but important proposal that came from the Government's own commissioned review? It could mean a lot for so many people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  This is a societal issue. Blaming Government for what is going on alone is not a sufficient response. The impact report is quite shocking. It reported 62,275 disclosures of domestic abuse. That is an increase of 33%, including 4,755 involving children. This is a shameful and shocking indictment on Irish society.  We need, and there has been, a significant criminal justice response. The Minister for justice has progressed Jennie's law and Valerie's law, the first of which relates to a domestic violence register and the second removes guardianship rights of those convicted of killing partners. We have the national strategy. We are now heading towards a fourth strategy and I invite submissions from the House and different parties in respect of this issue. We have the O'Malley report in terms of the journey of a victim through our courts system and a lot of that has been implemented. Cuan was established, probably the most significant development in the past number of years, which is a national agency to try to pull things together. There is more investment in refuge. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  What about my question? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It is going to need more than that, I think. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Taoiseach. I call Deputy Jen Cummins. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We need to stand back, read the report and reflect on it. We will follow up on that proposal. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I thank the Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  I also want to raise the Women's Aid annual report for this year. It shows a 33% increase in domestic violence disclosures and a significant proportion of those - almost 5,000 - are children. A long time ago I worked in the UK with a domestic violence project. What I see is that it is just getting worse. I do not want to play politics with this.  Every single person in this House has a responsibility to work together to make sure we increase the supports to women and increase the punishment for the people who are perpetrating these crimes.  We were delighted, as Social Democrats, that Senator Patricia Stephenson's Bill went forward to support women and people who are escaping domestic violence. I refer to the free travel scheme. We were thankful to the Government for supporting that. We need to work together. This is an epidemic of massive proportions, not just in Ireland but throughout the world. However, we are responsible for here. I really want us to work together. Will the Taoiseach work with us? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Absolutely. I agree 100% with the Deputy. We do need to work together on this. There are many factors here that we have to address. The Minister for justice, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan, has been very proactive in terms of quite a range of legislative measures that he has introduced. I referenced Jennie's law and Valerie's law. The fourth strategy on domestic and gender-based violence is perhaps one we can structure an all-party approach to and input into as well. My understanding is that by the end of the year, we should have about 94 safe homes and about 193 refuge units, with 50 also under construction. There is a multifaceted response required here. It is a very shocking situation. We have to stand back and see how we can input further on this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  I welcome the report today from the Oireachtas committee, which has recommended decriminalisation of possession of drugs for personal use. I commend the work of the committee's members, including our Labour Party Deputy Marie Sherlock. This follows from the recommendations of the justice committee some years ago. I was a member of that committee, which also recommended decriminalisation and took, in particular, the Portuguese approach as a model. This is long-standing Labour Party policy led by our now MEP, Aodh\u00e1n \u00d3 R\u00edord\u00e1in, who as a Minister of State some years ago, brought in facilities for injecting centres, which we have now seen put in place.  The evidence from around the world is increasingly clear. Prison is no place to treat the sick and criminalising addiction has not worked. The war on drugs has not worked. Addiction is a public health issue, not a criminal justice issue. The Labour Party brought forward a motion on decriminalisation of drug users in 2025 and the Government told us then to wait for the report. It has been launched today. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The question, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  Have we a timeline for implementation of the recommendations of this report? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Government will have to examine it. There are 160 recommendations. We will examine them. Much of the thrust of that report in terms of the health diversion programme, which will be introduced by the Department, is in that direction in any event. The de facto reality on the ground is that we are implementing a health-led approach. We have been adopting a health-led approach for the past 20 years, fundamentally. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  Not in the courts. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We more or less have in reality. That is the situation but we will examine the report. There are 160 recommendations. I welcome the fact that the committee has unanimously agreed those recommendations and we will certainly examine them. Senator Mary Fitzpatrick, as I said, presented to us last evening very briefly on it and we will come back again. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  Workers at Castolin Eutectic have been out on strike for three days now. They are due to go on strike again next week for five days. This is about eight workers being made redundant. The company agreed to go to the Labour Court but has since refused to implement the Labour Court's recommendation of 1.5 weeks per year of service on top of statutory redundancy. The cost of this to the company is minimal. It will be \u20ac30,000 or so. This is a company generating over \u20ac300 million annually in sales. It is owned by a venture capitalist company, Paragon Partners, which manages about \u20ac2.4 billion. Does the Taoiseach agree that this very wealthy company should at the very least abide by the recommendation of the Labour Court and pay the workers a half-decent redundancy? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  First of all, I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I do not have the specifics of the Labour Court recommendation but where people participate in and engage with the Labour Court, or the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, acceptance and implementation of awards should follow that engagement and participation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  Each week, thousands of mothers face the worry of not knowing when court-ordered child maintenance payments are going to arrive, or if they will arrive at all. Their ex-partners can drive their flashy cars, go on loads of holidays, sometimes gamble the money away and often live extravagant lifestyles while the women are forced to take out multiple loans just to pay the mortgage, buy food and pay for fuel. This deliberate non-compliance is basically a malicious form of coercive control and financial abuse but the courts system tends to largely ignore it, especially if you are broke. It is great that the Government has brought in some social welfare updates to help people but we also need real enforcement to tackle the shysters abusing their children in this way, such as automatic deductions at source tied directly to personal public service numbers, PPSNs, Revenue refunds and even assessing inheritance payments, because people get big payouts and no one knows about them. When is the Taoiseach going to bring in the tough enforcement legislation that is needed to make sure people pay up? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising what is a very important issue. In many instances, he has accurately reflected the experiences of people out there around the volatility or unreliability of child maintenance payments being delivered on and paid. I will talk to the Minister for justice and others in the Department of Social Protection to see what we can do, particularly on automatic deduction at source. These are proposals that have been around for quite some time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eamon Scanlon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eamon-Scanlon.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Eamon-Scanlon.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eamon Scanlon  The Taoiseach will be aware of the devastating situation now facing two major festivals in the north west following the collapse of Tickets.ie over the June bank holiday weekend. The Rory Gallagher International Festival in Ballyshannon is owed \u20ac283,000 and the Cowboys and Heroes festival in Leitrim is owed \u20ac130,000 in revenue that rightly belongs to them. These festivals are not just annual events. They are significant cultural and economic drivers for communities in Donegal and Leitrim and attract thousands of visitors every year. Organisers are determined to pay their suppliers but without intervention they will be left with crippling debt and may struggle to survive to 2027. What is urgently needed is Government assistance to ensure the revenue can be recovered. Beyond that, we need robust legislation to compel ticketing agents to ring-fence client funds so this kind of collapse can never happen again. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The question, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eamon Scanlon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eamon-Scanlon.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Eamon-Scanlon.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eamon Scanlon  What support can we give these people? Legislation should be introduced to make safe clients' funds, as is the case with solicitors and estate agents. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank Deputy Scanlon for raising this issue. They are both very significant festivals - the Rory Gallagher one in particular. Even in Cork, I have always admired the Donegal capture of Rory Gallagher in terms of its wonderful festival. In a serious vein, this is a serious issue for them. It is----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eamon Scanlon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eamon-Scanlon.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Eamon-Scanlon.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eamon Scanlon  It is \u20ac283,000. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----\u20ac283,000. That is huge. There is need for a legislative response but I also think we have to work to see if we can help those festivals in the short term. I understand the Minister, Deputy Burke, has been examining this but I will talk to my colleagues to see what assistance we can provide or what we can do here because these are important festivals in those localities. I will revert to the Deputy on that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Brennan  I am looking for an update in relation to the Taoiseach's plans on dealing with inheritance tax in the upcoming budget. It is believed that approximately 1 million people in Ireland do not have children. That is for many reasons - maybe life choice, medical or simply their personal choice. Under the current inheritance tax threshold, if a parent leaves a property or investment, there is a threshold of \u20ac400,000 but if an aunt or uncle leaves their property or investment to their niece or nephew, their threshold is 10% of this amount. This is simply unfair and is actually discriminating against people who do not have children. Since the boom in 2007, there has been no change to the threshold despite property prices increasing by 25%. As society changes and property prices increase, and as people have already paid their taxes to build their homes and invest, can we look at a fairer and more equitable scheme to address these fundamental issues? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I am very conscious of the issue, particularly in regard to those without children who have worked hard all their lives and want to leave an inheritance to nieces, nephews or family members. The Government, in the last budget, increased the thresholds by about 20% across the different categories. We will examine this again in the context of the budget to see what we can do, particularly on that issue of those without children who want to leave an inheritance. The costs are significant as well.  We also have an income tax package to frame. There are many demands on the budget, both on the tax side and the public expenditure side, which the Government, over the next while, has to try to reconcile. Various TDs and Senators from different political parties, including the parties that make up the Government, have also brought forward ideas and solutions on tax, including this one. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  Members of the F\u00f3rsa trade union working at the Oberstown Children Detention Campus will commence industrial action, including work to rule, tomorrow, 25 June, on the basis of issues with staffing and safety and capacity concerns. We have all heard about them. Reports of assaults are in the public domain. I have spoken to a number of people who work in Oberstown. What is the Government's response going to be? We need this place of detention to be safe for those who work in it and, obviously, for the children who are detained there.  I will quickly deal with legal fees and associated claims for State claims payments for the last three years. In 2023, the figure was \u20ac854,645; in 2024, it was \u20ac826,541; and last year, it was \u20ac861,807. Obviously, there is a particular issue here. It needs to be dealt with and we need a Government response. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Oberstown is the State's only dedicated detention facility for children, providing care, education, health and rehabilitation supports. Children with complex needs are often referred to Oberstown by the courts. There is always a very difficult balance between safety and care. The latest available information shows that 129 children were detained in Oberstown in 2023, 120 in 2024 and 119 in 2025. I pay tribute to all those who are working there because HIQA found strong provision in Oberstown in education, health and aftercare planning. The Council of Europe committee for the prevention of torture, CPT, report in 2024 showed that young people spoke positively about staff and their approach. I hope this matter can be resolved through the industrial relations machinery. Work is perhaps under way to resolve it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  In the base of the redress scheme and the different grades that people get in redress, there is an issue turning up at the moment----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Which redress scheme? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  The scheme for pyrite. There are different grades. People might get grade 1 or grade 4 or 5. One of the grades is where people are told their roof is okay but their block walls have to come out. What people are being asked to do is prop up the house and take out the walls down to the foundation level, which means the footpaths and floors collapse. It is specialised work. When we work out the economics of it, we do not have enough specialist contractors in this country to do this. There are not enough of them here and those who are here are trying to build houses. There is a cost to doing this and it also means people will be out of their houses longer. The realistic thing to do is demolish and rebuild the house. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We have spent about \u20ac317 million on the mica scheme alone. Increasingly now, we are working through a specialist, standard-based approach. We have agencies. I am not going to argue to and fro on the specifics. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  It is common sense. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Yes, but D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann cannot----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  We have experience. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Do not----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We have legislation----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  We have 35 years' experience. Come on. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  That is enough, Deputy. Allow the Taoiseach to answer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I am not going to arbitrate in terms of professional advice and expertise on how to operate various schemes. Everybody is coming in now with solutions to every single issue from a technical point of view. We have established agencies to deal with standards, technical aspects and the remediation of the homes. This is a legislative assembly, not the national building standards agency. The agencies have work to do and we have to resource and improve them. We have appealed for common sense in terms of how people deal with issues. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  This week, people around the country will be enjoying the good weather that is currently forecast. However, hot temperatures can be a real challenge for some in our communities, such as the elderly, the very young and people with underlying conditions. Once again, we are seeing record-breaking temperatures around Europe, with red alerts being issued in many countries and temperatures of over 40\u00b0C expected. Sustained heat in summer is here to stay. Over the last year, I have been seeking information from the Department of Health and the HSE on how Ireland records the impact of heatwaves on vulnerable populations. The HSE has admitted that heat-related deaths are simply not recorded and the Minister has acknowledged that more needs to be done to improve recording in this area. If we do not measure a problem, we cannot bring forward a real solution to it. Will the Taoiseach commit that the Government will bring forward clear measurements about how heatwaves are impacting vulnerable communities, particularly in the area of mortality? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  An evidence-based approach is always to be recommended, and we should measure. People should begin to measure the impact of severe heat. We have not had too many heatwaves. That is the sense anyway. People are amazed this week by the heat. It is a serious matter. We are looking at 40\u00b0C across the water tomorrow. That is very serious from a health and climate point of view. We need to start adjusting because climate change is here. We also need to start changing our systems to meet that reality. From a health and public health perspective, ordinarily the focus is on the cancer front and using sunscreen and so on, but there is a very real health issue in terms of such high temperatures - dehydration and so on. Therefore, it does demand and command a response. Maybe I will talk to the Health Research Board and ask it to do some research on this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John McGuinness  Two cases in my constituency concerning farming families have been dealt with in the course of the business of this House and the committees. Dan Brennan is one of them. It was agreed that an expert, Dr. Se\u00e1n Brady, would be appointed to provide the Department with a report. Dan Brennan is an excellent farmer. He has been waiting for the outcome of this since 1990. I have been told, through a response to a parliamentary question, that the Department cannot say when it will be concluded.  The second case relates to a family and serious health concerns affecting horses. Again, the Department of Health has been on site. However, a report that was issued in 2016 dropped off significant recommendations and findings that did not come to light until 2024. The Minister will not meet this family who have written to the Taoiseach about the matter.  Will the Taoiseach intervene in those two cases and ensure the rights of those two farming families are acknowledged and vindicated? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I presume we are talking about the Department of agriculture. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John McGuinness  Yes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I am not familiar with the first case but it seems extraordinary that a report would have been started in 1990 and it is now 2026, so that is 36 years that a report has not been published. I will check that and get a response from the Department of agriculture as quickly as I can.  On the second case, I will check in terms of correspondence. It is not ringing a bell right now. It may have, but we have a lot of emails and so forth. The Deputy said a report issued in 2016 but that certain recommendations, if I heard him correctly, were dropped off or not included in that report. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John McGuinness  A number of them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy can follow up in correspondence. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I want to get the information so people can check this. I will obviously have to check the provenance of the correspondence and try to get a response. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy can have further engagement. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Donnelly  I met with the parents of Grace Lynch. I commend them on their advocacy on road safety and tackling scramblers and illegal e-bikes and scooters. On Monday, hundreds of residents in Hartstown marched around Hartstown Park to highlight the issue of antisocial behaviour, scramblers and illegal e-bikes in the parks. People are saying there are a couple of things that can be done. The first is a change in legislation to allow garda\u00ed to actively pursue those on scramblers. The second is that resources be given to the Garda to establish a specialised anti-scrambler unit. I have called for this on many occasions. These units are in place in Britain, France and all over Europe. They are specially trained, specially resourced and equipped to deal proactively with people who are using illegal scramblers on the roads. They are a danger to themselves and other people on our roads. We know what the issue is at the moment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I have also met Grace's parents, who have been through a very traumatic and harrowing experience but have also articulated how communities are impacted by scrambling. The legislation is very clear. Scramblers cannot be on the public roads and there are significant additional powers there. There was a recent case in the courts involving a garda. My understanding is that the Minister is going to bring further legislation to amend that to make sure garda\u00ed will not suffer any negative repercussions from pursuing scramblers in the interests of public safety. On having an anti-scrambler unit, that is an operational decision for the Commissioner. However, I understand well over 1,000 scramblers have been seized. We want more activity. The Commissioner is adamant that he is going to focus very strongly on this issue. I will continue to engage with the Deputy on this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marie Sherlock  While I warmly welcome the announcement of the public consultation on the future of the GPO, I express my deep disappointment in the plans for the meanwhile use. There are 4,000 sq. m of enormous potential in the heart of Dublin, yet we are hearing it is going to be allocated to office space, with some vague notion of cultural and community space. We know there is a very sizeable office vacancy rate in Dublin. The OPW has also had empty office space for a considerable period. We know there is a massive shortage of artists' space in Dublin. I would love the OPW to show real ambition for the meanwhile use of the GPO space. The State's plans for an artists' campus in Dublin Port have been put on hold and we know there is a big gap in Dublin with regard to artists' space. I ask the Taoiseach to ensure the OPW shows greater ambition for meanwhile use of the GPO, so that it becomes a proper living and thriving institution for the next few years while we understand what its future use will be. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The steering group has been established under the chairmanship of my office and officials from my office will co-ordinate across all Departments. The cultural and artistic dimension will be the strongest dimension of the building itself and of the GPO. The Government approved this only yesterday, following a lot of work. We need to get it right. Sometimes what becomes interim becomes permanent too. We have to be conscious of that. This is an opportunity to really transform not just the GPO's impact but the wider area, with multipurpose functions on this site, while also being conscious of the remainder of the street to see what we can do there, as well as the work on Moore Street. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Healy-Rae  I urge the Government to outline its position on the EU lead ammunition proposal. This is the proposal to take lead out of ammunition, which could have a negative effect on 150,000 licensed shotgun owners in Ireland. There seems to be a problem in government in identifying which Minister and Department is actually going to be responsible for this. I would like a bit of effort to be made in that regard because rural stakeholders deserve to know what position Ireland intends to take before any decisions are made that could have significant negative consequences for firearm owners, farmers and sporting interests across the country. I know this is of particular interest to the National Association of Regional Game Councils of Ireland. These people represent real people on the ground. They are very responsible licensed gun-holders. What is being proposed by the EU is nonsensical. I would like to know what our position will be and which Minister and Department will be responsible for this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The proposed restriction on lead ammunition is being developed at the level of the European Union under the REACH regulation, which aims to protect human health and the environment from harmful chemical exposure. The proposal is intended primarily to reduce lead pollution from spent ammunition and to protect wild birds, hunters and their families from the harmful effects of lead exposure. The Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment participates in REACH processes through the Health and Safety Authority. Policy responsibility for matters relating to hunting, firearms and wildlife protection and environmental impacts rests with other Departments and agencies. The Department of enterprise has engaged with a number of relevant bodies. The Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment is engaged with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of housing, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Department of justice, and it continues to circulate relevant Departments. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Healy-Rae  Yes, but the Minister seems to be saying it is not his responsibility. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  No, Deputy. That is not how this works. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I hear the Deputy. Having read the reply, I know what is going on in the sense----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The clock is not with you, Taoiseach. I call Deputy Heneghan. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I will revert to the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  As someone who was recently diagnosed with ADHD, and as chair of the Oireachtas cross-party group on ADHD reform, I acknowledge the work done by the Minister of State, Deputy Butler. Continuing on from that, we had the ADHD Ireland strategic plan last week. I was lucky to have supports growing up when I had not been diagnosed with ADHD, but there are people in my constituency and across Ireland who do not have the family supports I have. When someone has ADHD they are more likely to engage in crime or experience addiction. Will the Government commit to ensuring the strategic plan is matched with real improvements in assessments, treatments and support for children and young adults living with ADHD? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Mary Butler)  I thank the Deputy for his advocacy in relation to ADHD, for the way he speaks openly about it and also for forming a cross-party committee on ADHD. As he knows, the model of care was launched in 2021 for adults with ADHD. We look after children with ADHD through the child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS. There was a recommendation to have 14 funded adult teams. All 14 teams have been funded. Eleven are in place and we are working to get the last three under recruitment. However, when the model of care was devised we did not anticipate the number of referrals that would be made to it. It is under review again. I can talk to the Deputy about it. I thank him for his advocacy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  We are nearly out of time. I ask Deputy McGrath to be as brief as he can. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"S\u00e9amus McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy S\u00e9amus McGrath  I raise the offence of spiking. As we know, this is where a drug is administered to somebody, without their consent, in a drink or an injection in a busy night-time scene. It is a gross invasion of an individual and it can result in catastrophic consequences such as serious sexual assault. The programme for Government states that we will impose stronger laws in relation to spiking. Currently, spiking is dealt with under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act through an offence of poisoning. Stand-alone legislation is required to make this a dedicated and stand-alone offence. Will the Taoiseach take this matter up with the Department of justice to ensure the Government fulfils its commitment under the programme for Government? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  This is a very serious issue and I will take it up with the Minister for justice. I will talk to the Minister in respect of this issue and work to see if we can make progress on it, which I think we can. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  Last week, I had a meeting with two individuals, Sharon Lynn and Bryan Gallagher, which left a lasting impression on me. Both lost siblings individually in one-punch attacks. What they are asking for is structured sentencing guidelines for manslaughter cases, but also a national strategy on male-on-male violence. Is that something the Taoiseach's Department has considered? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I appreciate the work that Sharon Lynn and Bryan Gallagher are doing. Courts often respond negatively to mandatory guidelines from the Oireachtas but, nonetheless, it is something I will ask the Minister for justice to explore, in terms of manslaughter and male-on-male violence. More broadly, within our education system and the criminal justice system, we should focus on violence more generally. We had an earlier discussion on the shocking report from Women's Aid in respect of the number of terrible, violent incidents and domestic violence. There is an issue there that needs to be addressed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joanna Byrne  I received a letter from Louth County Council, which I did not expect, requesting urgent support in securing Government funding to assist the council in addressing the extensive damage caused to the county's road and drainage infrastructure following Storm Chandra. The scale of the damage across the county is significant in both urban and rural areas, with the council recording 69 road closures and 81----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  A question please, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joanna Byrne  -----road locations, with an estimated overall reinstatement requirement of \u20ac3.61 million. In all my years dealing with Louth County Council, it has always gone through the proper channels, but for the council to call on TDs and Senators to publicise the need for additional Government funding highlights the dire situation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I said briefly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joanna Byrne  Will the Taoiseach explore this with the relevant Departments and Ministers, if he can? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  This is a general issue, not one that just applies to County Louth. What the Minister for public expenditure would say is that all county councils will have received funding that involved a provision for emergencies. That said, submissions have been made from county councils across the country, particularly those that were more affected than others by Storm Chandra.  The Government is giving consideration to that. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Pholasa\u00ed n\u00f3 ar Reachta\u00edocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-24\/debate\/dbsect_15","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna - Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna - Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-24\/debate\/dbsect_16","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Cabinet Committees","counts":{"speechCount":55,"speakerCount":15},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-24\/debate\/dbsect_15","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","showAs":"Ceisteanna - Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_16","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-24\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_16.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  We have two groupings, the first is questions Nos. 1 to 20, inclusive. The Taoiseach will have three minutes and I propose that Deputies will have 30 seconds each in order to accommodate the 20 Deputies. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Are there 20 in the room? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I am afraid I have to prepare on the basis that they will turn up. That is my job. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 20, inclusive, together.  The Cabinet committee on water quality oversees the implementation of programme for Government commitments in relation to issues affecting Ireland's water, including those related to agriculture, forestry, land-use change and wastewater treatment.  Water quality is vital to the well-being of our society, economy and environment. The programme for Government commits to improving water quality. The EPA recently published Water Quality in 2025: An Indicators Report, which signals annual changes and key indicators for water quality. In 2025, some improvements were recorded at a local level, although there had been no overall improvement in water quality nationally, with 54% of rivers recorded as having good or better biological quality. While the EPA analysis shows that significant challenges remain, it is important to recognise the progress that has been made. An example of positive improvement is the Ballyteigue-Bannow catchment in Wexford seeing the biological quality of a number of its rivers improve.  Last year's budget allocated almost \u20ac2.5 billion to the delivery of water services. That is an increase of \u20ac612 million on 2025. As part of this, \u20ac42 million in funding has been allocated to the 2026 water quality capital programme. Uisce \u00c9ireann is investing more than \u20ac2.3 billion in stand-alone projects at 108 wastewater treatment plans. This will deliver ten new wastewater treatment plant upgrades where current discharges place significant pressures on water bodies.  The water action plan published last year sets out over 150 actions to protect, improve and restore water quality. These include: the implementation and tracking of water action plan actions; the development of a stronger sixth nitrates action programme; the Farming for Water European Innovation Partnership project; and the national barrier mitigation programme, which will support fish migration and water quality.  The Minister, Deputy Browne, published the sixth nitrates action programme in December. It will run until 2028. This plan gives effect to the nitrates directive, which governs the management of nitrates loss from agriculture to water bodies. On foot of the measures included in this plan, in December 2025, the European Commission granted Ireland a three-year extension to its nitrates derogation. The Minister, Deputy Heydon, is working with his officials to address key conditions within the derogation decision. These include operationalising the environmental assessments to demonstrate enhanced compliance with respect to the nitrates derogation, the habitats directive and the water framework directive.  It will be important to safeguard the economic contribution of farmers in the areas most affected by the derogation while also implementing workable solutions for water quality. Last year, the Government published Water and Agriculture: A collaborative approach. This plan sets out a range of measures that address the twin objectives of improving water quality and building a convincing case for the maintenance of Ireland's derogation from certain aspects of the EU nitrates directive.   Additional information not given on the floor of the House    The Environmental Protection Agency recently released its report, Domestic Waste Water Treatment System Inspections 2025. This details the findings of septic tank inspections by local authorities in 2025. A total of 1,466 septic tank inspections were carried out in 2025, targeting areas of greatest risk from an environmental and health perspective. Of these, 59% failed inspection, with many posing a risk to nearby rivers and drinking water wells. Since 2013, 7,212 septic tanks have failed inspections, with 84% fixed by the end of 2025. Improved resolution of faulty septic tanks by homeowners has been aided by increased Government grant support.  The water quality Cabinet committee provides a focus to drive the improvement of water quality. The Cabinet committee met most recently on 30 October and will meet again in July. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  There are 20 questions and there are nine Members present. I will give them a minute each. They may risk not getting a fair answer if other Members join us. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere  I am happy enough because I am first. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  You are still only getting a minute. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere  As someone who was born and reared in rural Ireland and who lives there, I will highlight the very real challenges facing communities in my constituency of Carlow-Kilkenny. In communities like those of Mullinavat and Inistioge, inadequate wastewater treatment capacity is becoming a serious barrier to future growth and future investment. People in these communities want to see homes delivered and young families supported. They want to see local businesses, sports clubs and schools given the opportunity to develop. However, without the necessary water and wastewater infrastructure, rural towns and villages around the country are being limited in their ability to reach their full potential. If this Government is serious about rural regeneration and balanced regional development, essential infrastructure must be delivered to deliver on those ambitions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  Last week, we read headlines such as \"No improvement to water quality standards in 2025 - EPA\" and \"Ireland\u2019s \u2018best rivers\u2019 continue to deteriorate in water quality\". I will raise the specific issue of combined sewer systems. In many of our urban areas, these are a particular contributor to deterioration in water quality. In these systems, wastewater and surface water are combined. The EPA has a programme to address this issue but it is not ambitious enough. Significantly increased investment is needed in the town of Kells in County Meath to rehabilitate its sewers through this combined sewer programme. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Erin McGreehan  I ask that the Cabinet consider expanding eligibility for the septic tank grant scheme so that every household with a defective system can access support regardless of geography. If we do not take that step, we are asking people to protect water quality without giving them the means to do so. There are close to 500,000 septic tanks in use across the State. The recent grant of \u20ac12,000 is welcome but the scheme remains far too narrowly focused. Most of the time, people fall outside the criteria. In practice, households can only access support if they fail an inspection or fall within specific priority areas. If we are really serious about protecting water quality, we cannot rely on this reactive scheme. We want to be proactive. We need to take a preventative approach that supports homeowners before pollution occurs. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call on Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa. I am sorry; I did not see Deputy McCormack. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  I am not that small. I welcome the progress being made on the Shannon water supply project, which is now before An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la. This project is about much more than supplying Dublin with water. It is also about creating opportunities in the future to develop spurs leading to Tullamore and Mullingar, which would create a counterbalance to Dublin and drive balanced growth within the midlands region. We all know that, when projects get done, the second phase can sometimes be left on the long finger, which can push them 20, 30 or 40 years down the road. Will the Taoiseach work with me to put pressure on Irish Water to ensure this second phase happens? It should become part of the first phase to provide more opportunities in Offaly, Westmeath and right across the midlands. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I will again bring up the issue of water infrastructure in County Louth, particularly in Hackballscross and Sheelagh. With regard to the reservoir in Dunbin, there have been telemetric monitoring failures and an issue with pumps being unable to contact these monitoring systems. For a number of weeks, families have not had water for days. Farms have gone without water and schools have been closed early. It is not good enough. We need to solve this issue. Locally, Irish Water has told me that it has some of the issues resolved but I need a meeting with Uisce \u00c9ireann at a corporate level. I request that the Taoiseach's office help facilitate this because I am having an issue with it. It is absolutely necessary. We should also look at an alternative water supply in the short term. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Connolly  I ask the Government to examine legislation and regulation in respect of the term \"bathing season\". The bathing season began on 1 June and will run until the end of September. The challenge is that local authorities will only sample water quality in bathing areas during the bathing season. This is despite the fact that people are now swimming outdoors throughout the year. This has developed in popularity since the Covid pandemic began. We do not know the quality of the water people are swimming in outside of what is considered the bathing season. Galway City Council only samples the water during the bathing season. Dublin City Council is the only local authority in the State that samples water outside of the bathing season. I know the Taoiseach himself enjoys a swim on Christmas Day. Everyone who enjoys swimming throughout the year needs to know the quality of the water they are swimming in. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  I will raise an issue in respect of Woodlands, a housing estate in Portlaw, County Waterford. At the moment, water is provided through developer-provided infrastructure. This is costing the residents in this housing estate a lot of money. They obviously want to be connected to the public infrastructure. That will come at a cost. Catherine Burke, a councillor in the area, has been engaging with Irish Water on the issue for a long time. There does not seem to be a resolution. Will the Taoiseach make inquiries to Irish Water on my behalf? I have contacted it but I believe contact from the Taoiseach could make a difference. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Met \u00c9ireann is saying that we are facing tropical temperatures tonight.  It is absolutely baking out there and people want, and should be able, to swim. However, all across D\u00fan Laoghaire-Rathdown there are warning notices saying people cannot swim. The reason - and I have raised this repeatedly - is because of the failure of Irish Water-Uisce \u00c9ireann to rehabilitate the water infrastructure and the fact that when heavy rains come down, rainwater mixes with sewage and it goes into Dublin Bay. The test results come three days later and there is a warning asking people not to swim. By the way, people are swimming despite this and endangering their health. I have raised this repeatedly. The only reason we have testing outside the bathing season, by the way, is because we fought for it in Dublin. We need same-day testing and the rehabilitation of this decrepit water infrastructure that is preventing people swimming. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  There are thousands of people already at our coasts or on their way to our coasts to swim but there are swimming restrictions in place across all of the closest designated swimming spots south of the city centre. The Half Moon, Seapoint, D\u00fan Laoghaire Baths, Sandycove and the Forty Foot have all been under an eight-day swim restriction notice since Thursday last. The notice warns of a possible increase in bacteria following heavy rainfall. In other words, there is a good chance you are swimming in faeces. The same notice goes up every time there is heavy rain, which means it happens a lot, because the sewage system is overloaded due to decades of underinvestment. The council is advising beach-goers to reduce the risk of illness by avoiding splashing or swallowing water. Tell that to the hundreds of kids swimming at beaches yesterday. Does the Taoiseach think it is acceptable for children to be swimming in faeces? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  One of the most basic responsibilities of a Government is to keep water in the taps and keep the lights on, yet in County Meath our water infrastructure is that of a developing country. County Meath towns are regularly without water and new housing estates are being delayed as a result of the water infrastructure. I know of one housing estate that has to wait more than a year for Uisce \u00c9ireann to connect it to the water infrastructure. Last month, Ballivor was without water for so long that the school had to close. Today, they are trucking water to Ballivor. Tomorrow, Athboy and Kildalkey will be without water. Water supply is cut regularly and the water is regularly discoloured, and vulnerable people are hurting. Can the Taoiseach confirm that the people of County Meath will have clean and consistent water within the next 50 years? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Did the Deputy say 50 years? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  Yes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  The people of Newport have waited decades for a wastewater treatment plant that is fit for purpose. This is absolutely critical infrastructure. For them to hear now that it may be 2031 before they get this critical infrastructure is absolutely not acceptable for families, businesses or community groups in the area. This is a beautiful town that has waited too long. I am asking the Taoiseach to intervene so that it does not have to wait until 2031 for something as basic as a wastewater treatment plant. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  In 2024, 59% of Ireland\u2019s existing treatment plants failed to consistently meet the standards set out in their EPA licence. Nearly half of these, that is approximately 120 instances, were due to poor operational management, things like pumps not working and maintenance not happening on equipment. In fact, the EPA has prosecuted Uisce \u00c9ireann 35 times for failing to properly treat wastewater. Can the Taoiseach tell me why Uisce \u00c9ireann gave 47 of its best-paid employees an average of \u20ac21,000 in bonus payments for good performance in 2024, while at the same time there were 120 instances of someone, somewhere not doing his or her job when it came to treating our water and ensuring and protecting our water supply? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  I was swimming in D\u00fan Laoghaire this morning, so I am very worried. I have raised this multiple times. In the north Dublin coastal communities of Clontarf, Bayside and Howth, swimmers constantly get swim warnings. Se\u00e1n Dublin Bay Loftus, a former Independent TD in my constituency whose family endorsed me, fought to protect Dublin Bay from pollution. Other countries have cracked this. The Netherlands has restored millions of seagrass plants along its coasts, as well as oysters which can use natural means to clean the water. However, that is treating the problem. At the end of the day, we need to get to the root cause, which is more water treatment plants. The water treatment plant in north Dublin proposed under the greater Dublin drainage project needs to be brought in faster. The current overflow system in Poolbeg is not large enough and needs to be looked at for swimmers in my area. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I would love a swim now. I will not get one. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  The Taoiseach cannot go to D\u00fan Laoghaire, I am afraid. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I am working too hard all day and will not get the chance. The Deputies have all made me very envious. Everyone is going swimming and we are in here. We should reflect.  Deputy \u2018Chap\u2019 Cleere made a very valid point in terms of Mullinavat and Inistioge. I have been saying this to Irish Water. As the Deputy knows, one of the outcomes of our discussions has been developer-led treatment plants. There were some decisions made on that, but it is in terms of naturally based water treatment processes which would then enable developer-led waste treatment to be put in for villages and towns, because Irish Water has said it will never get to them. It will be doing the bigger stuff and it will not get out to the villages and towns around Ireland. That has been decided upon. We need to do more than that, if I am honest. I am not quite satisfied that is sufficient, but it is a start. We have many towns which have basic facilities in terms of additional housing contiguous to the village and so on. I am with the Deputy on that one.  Deputy O\u2019Rourke spoke about Kells and the combined sewer investment. Again, I will talk to Irish Water. There is progress and work on that but I will certainly raise it with Irish Water.  Deputy McGreehan gave a very interesting presentation on septic tanks. She said the scheme is too narrowly focused. I will examine that. The EPA recently released a report on domestic wastewater treatment system inspections in 2025. It is interesting that 1,400 septic tank inspections were carried out and 59% failed inspection, with many posing a risk to nearby rivers and drinking water. Since 2013, 7,000 septic tanks failed inspections, with 84% fixed by the end of 2025. There is Government grant support, as the Deputy said. I will speak to the Minister. The Deputy is saying to broaden it out and have a more proactive approach. That is a very good idea and I will see if we can activate that as opposed to a reactive one.  I could not agree more with Deputy McCormack. It is the eastern midlands project. I did not realise that the midlands was the second phase. In my view, if we are going up along, we need to sort it out and do the midlands. By the way, it will be the best argument for the east as well. Some people are worried about it and opposing it but it is absolutely essential for the future of the country the that project gets off the ground and developed in terms of water supply and wastewater. It will have a negligible impact on the Shannon or ecology, in my view. It should have happened earlier. This Government has taken a decision in terms of a fundamental piece of infrastructure that simply has to happen. The midlands is a natural growth area that would take pressure off the east and whose time has come for a broader-based economic development prospect. Between the energy side and this project, that gives us the fundamentals to do that.  All politics is local but I note Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa wants a meeting at corporate level. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I have met locally. What I am looking for----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  My experience in life is that the engineer or person on the ground might know an awful lot more than the corporates in terms of specific pipes and so on. I will pursue it and I will raise the fact that the Deputy has raised it with me.  Deputy Connolly has a sensible proposal. The bathing season of June to September does not make sense any more. Particularly since Covid, an awful lot more people swim all 12 months round. I interviewed Professor Luke O'Neill some time back, before I became Taoiseach. Cold water is very good for you, apparently. It is very good for the immune system. People are swimming all year round. Deputy 'Chap' Cleere should try it some time. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It makes absolute sense to carry out testing, particularly in rural towns and villages, during the festive season and the winter when there are many swimming events, such as on Christmas Day, new year's eve and new year's day. A lot of people gather in those areas for those events.  It is a very good point. I will get the Minister to send a circular to the local authorities on that.  Deputy Cullinane said to inquire with Irish Water about Portlaw and Woodlands. I hope he does not mind but I better inquire with the Minister of State, Deputy Mary Butler as well. She is from Portlaw, as the Deputy knows. I will try to sort out what is happening and what the county council is doing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  Just to get a response from Irish Water. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We have a number of areas where things are not taken in charge. These things should be facilitated by the agencies.  I got the message from Deputy Boyd Barrett but he went from tropical weather to torrential rainfall within one minute. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  It was within three days. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Within three days. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  That is precisely what tropical weather is. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  We have to be fair to everybody. The Taoiseach, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I am trying to work out when the torrential rainfall was but the point is well made. There is a fundamental issue there and that is why we are putting \u20ac2.5 billion into this to do some very substantial wastewater infrastructure. Dublin is one of the areas that is probably most impacted because of the access to the coast, the huge population and so on.  Deputy Paul Murphy essentially made the same point in terms of the impacts on swimmers. This is a public health issue and we cannot take it lightly. When warnings are given we have to take them on board because it can result in significant illness for people who could be immunosupressed or whatever, which would be doubly dangerous for them.  Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  Fifty years. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  In 50 years. I would like to commit, yes, but I think we will do it much sooner. There is huge investment going in. The delivery and upgrading continues apace.  On the issue raised by Deputy Conway-Walsh, I am not sure of the background as to why there are delays until 2031. The project is under way, I take it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  Could the Taoiseach tell them to hurry up? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  No, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I will examine it with Irish Water. They make a very good black pudding in Newport as well, by the way. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Taoiseach, there are two more Deputies and one minute. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I will certainly look into it and check with Irish Water as to why. It might be an operational or planning issue. I do not know but I will check with them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Whitmore's question was next. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Deputy Whitmore referenced 59%. This is a very serious point which I have raised with Irish Water. In my view, there should not be operational errors or non-performance which then leads to poor water quality. The Irish water authority should be the personification of excellence in terms of clean water. There has been some pretty poor evidence in some areas where standards have dropped. In fairness to the 47 best-paid employees, I would say they were not involved. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  Someone at the top has to be. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, we will be out of time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Collectively, there is a question about ethos here. We have had presentations from the EPA and Irish Water and this is an issue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  We are out of time, Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Deputy Heneghan, too, raised the issue of water quality. You are looking okay but, that said----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  Thank you very much. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  You are looking very well, actually. You are invigorated from your swim. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Time, Taoiseach. We have to move on. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  However, at the same time, we will----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  We will report further. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Cabinet Committees"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-24\/debate\/dbsect_17","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"British-Irish Co-operation","counts":{"speechCount":57,"speakerCount":14},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-24\/debate\/dbsect_15","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","showAs":"Ceisteanna - Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cormac Devlin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brendan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","memberCode":"Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-24\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_17.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I propose to take Questions Nos. 21 to 37, inclusive, together.  I note the announcement of the resignation of the Uniter Kingdom Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, earlier this week, and acknowledge the very significant role he has played in resetting the Irish-British relationship, as well as relations between the United Kingdom and the European Union, during his time as Prime Minister. Since Prime Minister Starmer took office two years ago, he has worked with us to set a new direction and depth in the relationship between Ireland and the United Kingdom for the benefit of all our citizens, North-South and east-west. Our two Governments also took an important step forward in dealing with the legacy of the past in Northern Ireland, publishing a joint framework on addressing the legacy of the Troubles. As I said this week, Keir is a person of great ability, decency and honour and I want to wish him, his wife Victoria and their family the very best in the next chapter in their lives. I have no doubt that his successor as Prime Minister will wish to continue to deepen and strengthen the relationship between the United Kingdom and Ireland, and we will continue to work in furtherance of that objective.  I hosted a United Kingdom-Ireland summit in Cork on 12 and 13 March. This was the second summit in a series initiated in Liverpool last year, at which Prime Minister Keir Starmer and I agreed a new comprehensive programme of strategic co-operation: United Kingdom-Ireland 2030. This year\u2019s summit was an opportunity to review progress on United Kingdom-Ireland 2030 and to identify further areas for co-operation and work to be taken forward across government in collaboration with United Kingdom counterparts.  The summit in Cork had an extensive programme over two days, reflecting the significant nature of this bilateral relationship. The opening engagement was a round-table event attended by businesses and business representative groups to explore issues related to trade and investment and what Ireland and the United Kingdom can do together to further our already substantial economic relationship.  The Prime Minister and I also had the opportunity to meet representatives of the Ireland-UK Youth Forum, established in January 2026 in fulfilment of a commitment made at last year\u2019s summit. The aim of the forum is to ensure that a new generation is involved in the strengthening of relations across these islands.  The summit programme also included a civic and cultural reception in Cork City Hall and a research- and innovation-focused visit to the Tyndall National Institute. Prime Minister Starmer and I also met over dinner on 12 March.  The summit plenary, held in Fota House, saw a wide-ranging discussion on achievements to date under United Kingdom-Ireland 2030, and on shared ambitions to see co-operation deepen and deliver to 2030 across a range of areas, including energy security and the transition to clean energy, protection of subsea infrastructure, cybersecurity, cultural exchange and competitiveness. We also discussed wider international issues, including the Middle East, the Gulf region and Ukraine.   Additional information not given on the floor of the House   We agreed a joint statement reflecting the overall theme of the summit, Shared Prosperity, Shared Seas, Shared Ties, which set out achievements over the past year and looked ahead to future work together to the mutual benefit of both countries.  I was accompanied at the summit by the T\u00e1naiste and Minister for Finance, Deputy Simon Harris; the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence, Deputy Helen McEntee; the Minister for Climate, Environment, Energy, and Transport, Deputy Darragh O\u2019Brien, and the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Deputy Jim O\u2019 Callaghan. Accompanying Prime Minister Starmer were Ed Miliband, Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero; Emma Reynolds, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Peter Kyle, Secretary of State for Business and Trade and Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  There are 17 Deputies and the best I can do is to give those here a minute each. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  Now that we have the EU asylum and migration pact there needs to be particular recognition and consideration of the Border with the North and the common travel area. Has the Taoiseach discussed or considered how those asylum and migration systems will work North-South and east-west? Are there plans for improved co-operation? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  Some 85% of asylum seekers who come into this State are coming from Britain through the North of Ireland. It is by far the biggest pathway for the movement of people in relation to the asylum process. We enjoy a common travel area with Britain but there have been significant problems over the past number of years. That is because there are three separate jurisdictions and not a lot of sharing of information. It means Ireland and Britain cannot control the movement of people and we do not have accurate records as to who is where. The Traditional Unionist Voice, TUV, has indicated recently there needs to be a hard border but that is simply impossible. There are 270 roads going north and south. I got information on Operation Sonnet last week. This is where Border checks are placed North and South. They happened on 30 days last year and there were 184 detections. It is window dressing, in reality. What we need is an Irish sea border for the movement of people. That has been accepted by the Taoiseach, Europe and Britain for the movement of goods as the only real way to be able to track the movement of goods. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Devlin is next. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  It is possible to have an Irish sea border and still enjoy the common travel area----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Devlin is on his feet. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  -----just with the use of passports and driver's licences in relation to British and Irish citizens. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cormac Devlin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cormac Devlin  Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  Will the Taoiseach bring this up with the new British Administration, please? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Devlin. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cormac Devlin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cormac Devlin  I join the Taoiseach in his remarks about Prime Minister Starmer and all of the work he has done in rebuilding the relationship between Ireland and the UK, including through the UK-Ireland summits that have taken place in Liverpool and Cork.  I welcome the \u20ac377 million announced overnight for the shared island initiative, particularly the \u20ac193 million for the Dublin-Belfast-Derry line. That is real all-island progress and the Taoiseach deserves credit as well for starting that initiative. Much of this funding rightly is for large infrastructure but some of the most lasting reconciliation happens at community level. On that point, in my own constituency of D\u00fan Laoghaire, local schools and sport links had been created between Shankill in D\u00fan Laoghaire and Shankill in Belfast. That is practical community relations.  Will the Taoiseach consider whether the shared island fund can support more of these people-to-people connections, be it sporting or community organisations, on both sides of the Border, alongside its investment in roads and the rail network? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shane Moynihan  I associate myself with the Taoiseach's remarks about Prime Minister Starmer and I wish him and his family well.  One of the great things about our relationship with UK is the fact that we can still take advantage of the cross-border directive. However, constituents have been contacting me in recent weeks about significant delays in reimbursement under that directive. Some applicants are waiting five or six months despite indicative timelines of three months. In many cases, this is causing financial strain for patients who must pay upfront, including accumulating interest costs where loans are required. Will the Taoiseach intervene and see if clarity can be provided on whether these backlogs relate to staffing constraints and whether the additional interest that may be accrued will be reimbursed when processing times are exceeded? The cross-border directive is an excellent scheme and I would hate for it to lose public confidence due to operational issues. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brendan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","memberCode":"Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brendan Smith  I welcome the establishment of annual UK-Ireland summits. These have the potential to strengthen further bilateral relationships and intensify collaboration in areas such as trade, business, technology, investment, energy and environment. Alongside these annual summits, the Government must also ensure that the potential of the institutions established under the Good Friday Agreement across our jurisdictions are maximised to the best possible extent. As well as that important work, legacy issues must get priority attention in all Irish-British discussions. I refer again to the heinous crimes and loss of life inflicted on communities in my constituency, crimes for which nobody has been brought to justice. I instance again the murder of two young teenagers in my own home area when Geraldine O\u2019Reilly and Patrick Stanley were killed in the bombing in Belturbet on 28 December 1972, and the dreadful loss of life in Monaghan and Dublin on 17 May 1974, when 34 innocent people, including an unborn child, were killed and 300 were seriously injured. Decade after decade has passed and families continue to grieve but there has been little if any progress on investigations into these murders. These must be addressed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  We have seen recently the T\u00e1naiste's foray into united Ireland politics. I would like to think that would lead to a change in relation to Government policy. We all welcome that infrastructural deficits will be dealt with as a result of the shared island unit. We all want to see the likes of the Narrow Water Bridge and we also want to see whatever relationships can be built, but let us be clear, the one thing that we do need to see is movement towards constitutional change. This means preparation. It is sensible to do preparation. Sinn F\u00e9in wants to see a Green Paper and a citizens' assembly. It does not have to be citizens' assembly, it just needs to be any kind of forum to have those discussions on what this could look like. That would be the best means of dealing with the issue that we constantly talk about as regards reconciliation and whatever else. I would like to think that we would see movement on that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Workers at Haldane Fisher in Newry, one of the biggest construction supply companies in the whole of Ireland, North and South, and in the UK, are on strike because Haldane Fisher, a very profitable company, is offering them pay increases that are significantly below the rate of inflation. The workers reckon that they have actually lost about 3% or 4% in real income terms over recent years. Haldane Fisher seems to be trying to break the strike and is refusing to negotiate with Unite the Union, which represents the workers.  I would say that one reason Keir Starmer is on his way out is because he failed working people on the cost-of-living crisis. That is something we should not do. It is important that a message be sent to Haldane Fisher. It should engage with these workers. These workers, and all workers, deserve pay increases that at least keep pace with inflation so that they are not losing income. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  You would not know it from listening to the British commentariat, but a key factor in the downfall of Keir Starmer was his complicity in genocide and, in particular, that infamous clip where he says Israel does have the right to block water, block food and block electricity from Gaza while engaging in very blatant war crimes.  Another man entirely complicit in genocide is Peter Thiel, the founder of Palantir, which is deeply integrated into the Israeli military structure and has played a crucial role in the slaughter of huge numbers of Palestinians. Peter Thiel is planning a sinister event in Ireland, organised by Dialog. It is a secretive event involving 200 people, with high-powered people and others with connections to genocide, including US Senator Ted Cruz, Secretary Scott Bessent and the NATO Europe commander. The topics are bizarre and include bringing back nuclear, navigating a third world war and battlefield technologies. Does the Taoiseach think the Powerscourt Hotel should be facilitating this event? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  The Taoiseach talked about Keir Starmer being decent and resetting relationships. If ever there was a Prime Minister who did moral bankruptcy, it is Keir Starmer. Here is somebody who got in with a huge Labour majority and proceeded to lean in to racism, anti-migrant sentiment, transphobia and every single thing you can think of. He inflicted austerity on pensioners and the disabled. Let us talk about Palestine. Deputies here are meant to be supporting Palestine and yet they are congratulating Starmer and wishing him well. What about the Palestinian families whose water he thought it was fine to cut off? What about the spy flights over Gaza which Starmer endorsed? He shared intelligence with the Israel Defense Forces, IDF, and exported military goods worth $169 million. He has jailed young people for committing non-violent crimes. He put them on a par with ISIS and jailed them as terrorists. That is not decent. It is absolutely reprehensible. To support a genocide is reprehensible. Good riddance to him. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Erin McGreehan  There is a significant opportunity to place research, innovation, higher education and collaboration at the centre of any future conversations we have with regard to any UK-Ireland summits. The UK\u2019s return to Horizon Europe is an important and welcome development. Restoring those research links will benefit both our islands. It should also encourage us to think more ambitiously about what additional bilateral initiatives could achieve. I propose that between now and the next UK-Ireland summit we consider the establishment of a dedicated UK-Ireland innovation and research partnership to complement Horizon Europe and deepen collaboration between our universities, researchers and industries. Such a partnership could support joint research projects, research and mobility, doctoral training programmes and innovation-led collaborations in areas where both our countries share strategic interests, such as healthcare, climate action, food security, AI and advanced technologies. The academic relationship between Ireland and the UK took a hit during Brexit and this an opportunity for us all. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  Plug-in solar represents a huge opportunity to enable renters and those who live in apartments or in heritage homes to access the benefits of solar power and to make savings on their bills. The UK is powering ahead with this and I hope Ireland will follow suit. I have raised this repeatedly with the Minister and I know he is open to this. I understand the ESB is looking at it. I ask that the Taoiseach actually put a timeline on it because the Department has been looking at this for two years and we really cannot have any delays. This really needs to be fast-tracked. The benefits are huge and we are obviously in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis. I ask that the Taoiseach speed up progress on this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  Any upcoming legislation on clerical institutional abuse must have a cross-Border dimension. Catholic dioceses like Clogher span the Border and so do their school networks. We have evidence of clergy being moved between jurisdictions because of abuse concerns. Survivors of abuse in this State who sought refuge in the North found that the abuse continued there, and they are now dealing with both An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and the PSNI. Will the Taoiseach commit to engage with the Executive in Belfast, or is he already doing so, to strengthen co-operation between the two criminal justice systems so that abusers cannot use jurisdictional gaps to escape accountability? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Deputy O'Rourke asked about the EU asylum pact and the common travel area. The European Union asylum pact creates a structure that is positive, firm and robust. It has critics on the left and it has critics on the right. One side is saying we are not going far enough and the other is saying that we are going too far in terms of the returns aspect. We need to protect the common travel area because it is of enormous value to our citizens. Equally, as others have said, it creates challenges in terms of migration flows, particularly with people coming from the UK into Northern Ireland and over the Border. That is reality. The Minister for justice has been in touch with the home secretary. There was a call last week. We discussed this during the UK summit.  I do also believe, in terms of Operation Sonnet and other operations, that there is strengthened monitoring of traffic and people coming across, and that there is checking of public transport and other areas. There will never be a hard Border. There cannot be a hard Border. Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn also raised this issue and made a claim of 85%. I do not have a precise figure on that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  Nobody has the precise figure because of the movement of people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Everybody needs an answer, so do not interrupt. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn then went on to give a precise figure. I will just leave it----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  I am only telling the Taoiseach what the Minister said. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I do not care. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The point is I think it is high. I am not arguing the figure, but the point I would make is there is a need for data on this. There are also less and less coming in through airports because of controls and so on that have been implemented over the last two to three years. There is an issue, but I am not clear. Could the Deputy flesh out his proposals and send me a paper on the Irish Sea border, and how that would operate and could be implemented? That is challenging as well and we need to be honest with people when ideas like that are floated. We do need more monitoring and controls so that we understand what is happening in these flows, as well as to deal with traffickers. I came across some terrible cases when I met Women's Aid in Northern Ireland recently in terms of women who were trafficked and horrifically abused in the course of the trafficking. Trafficking is a significant driver of migration also, and that does not get captured enough in the debate and the narrative.  I appreciate Deputy Devlin's reference to what is a very significant allocation from the shared island fund. It is more than just infrastructure. It is about people and the shared island initiative has put more research into systems North and South, such as health and education, than anything that has been done since the foundation of the State. I also direct that to Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa. Under the shared island initiative, there is facilitation for people-to-people supports. The shared home place programme is one potential area, and the Department of foreign affairs, under the shared island initiative, has a community-based funding scheme and programme. We have a dialogue strand which is bringing people together and then we have a research strand. The funding strand deals with research between universities, collaboration on cancer and issues of mutual concern to communities. If the Deputy has particular ideas, please talk to us. The connectivity that is happening now----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Nine Deputies. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----is particularly important. In that respect, I would make the point that in terms of the Narrow Water Bridge project, a lot of people were talking about it for a long time and nothing was done----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  True. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----both in the North as well as the South, including members of Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa's party, but the point is that this Government has done it and we have put a scheme in place to enable that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Moynihan. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Deputy Moynihan raised the cross-Border directive. We are going to do more work on that. We have identified that as an area generally under the Labour Employer Economic Forum, LEEF, and also in terms of North-South relationships. We are asking Departments about tax, treatment of workers and so on. Have I picked up the Deputy's issue correctly? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shane Moynihan  It was in reference to health procedures and reimbursements. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  That is not fair to other Members. There is no interaction. The Taoiseach has eight Members to respond to. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I am going to get everyone done. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach has three minutes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Anything is possible. In response to Deputy Smith, I want to say that legacy issues remain a very top priority, particularly with a new Prime Minister coming in. The legislation is in the UK and they need to implement it. We will pursue the Monaghan and Dublin bombings, although we are waiting for Operation Denton to perhaps bring more clarity to that.  In response to Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa, the amount of research that has been done under the shared island initiative is revealing. It is extensive and it is pointing up issues that we are trying to deal with and are dealing with. Where is the Deputy's Green Paper? There is nothing stopping Sinn F\u00e9in from producing a Green Paper. It is my view that Sinn F\u00e9in----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  He is the Taoiseach. He has the power of the State. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We are working. We are working flat out. I am substance all the way. I am not about slogans. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  Do something on unity. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I am not saying someone else give me the solution. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I am saying the State. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Sorry, the Deputy is always saying that Sinn F\u00e9in's view is that \"Everybody else must do the Green Paper except ourselves\". That is the bottom line. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Boyd Barrett. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  In any event----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Boyd Barrett. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  In response to Deputy Boyd Barrett, again, I do not have the specifics on the strike. Industrial relations mechanisms are there to resolve issues between companies and workers and they should be utilised.  In response to the Deputy Murphy's comments on the British commentariat, to suggest that Prime Minister Starmer committed genocide, as Deputies Murphy and Coppinger did, is outrageous. He did not commit genocide. I do not know much about the event the Deputy is talking about. We are a democracy in this country. If people are meeting, so long as they are not doing any harm to anybody else----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  They are planning to do a lot of harm. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  There are three Deputies, that is not fair. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  There is a tendency on the far left and on the far right to say that no one else can meet but themselves. I have no truck with these people. I have no interest in whatever is going on there, but----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Five deputies, Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----citizens of different countries are entitled to come to Ireland. If they get visas, they are entitled to meet and organise. We have a very good democracy here. In the international transparency index, by all measures, we score very highly because of our approach to these issues. That is generally a positive, and we should not try to undermine that either.  I disagree with Deputy Coppinger's remarks on former Prime Minister Keir Starmer. I would not have agreed with all his views on Palestine and the Middle East, but I would not make the assertions and allegations that she has in respect of him.  In response to Deputy McGreehan's question on research and education, the idea of an innovation partnership with the UK is one that we will next pursue for the next summit. We endeavour to try to bring industry and businesses together more, but the idea of an academic collaboration, which has an enterprise dimension to it around new ideas, products and services, is definitely something we could and will pursue to see if can put flesh and bone on that in preparation for next year's summit. Again, the combination of universities, companies and State agencies, like Enterprise Ireland and InterTradeIreland, with their UK counterparts, is something that is very positive. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Taoiseach, please be quick. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We recently endowed a chair for history in Cambridge university to try to strengthen the academic partnership in the humanities between the UK and Ireland.  In response to Deputy Whitmore, I will actually go the Minister and ask him for a timeline. He is committed to plug-in solar. Deputy Heneghan has spoken about this quite a lot as well. The Minister is worried, and he is getting feedback that we have to make sure that domestic capacity exists and we do not unintended consequences like fires at particular houses and so on. He is concerned about that, and it is real concern. I will put it to him that we need a timeline, if he does not have one already.  In response to Deputy Heneghan, there is ongoing co-operation between the PSNI and the Garda, but also in terms of abuse North-South, we will work with the Executive on issues of that kind. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Is f\u00e9idir teacht ar Cheisteanna Scr\u00edofa ar www.oireachtas.ie. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Written Answers are published on the Oireachtas website. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar fionra\u00ed ar 2.08 p.m. agus cuireadh t\u00fas leis ar\u00eds ar 3.10 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Sitting suspended at 2.08 p.m. and resumed at 3.10 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"British-Irish Co-operation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-24\/debate\/dbsect_18","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Message from Select Committee","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  The Select Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration has completed its detailed scrutiny of the Victims of Sexual Violence Civil Protection Orders Bill 2025 and, in accordance with Standing Order 185, has recommended that, for the reasons outlined in its report, the Bill should proceed to Committee Stage. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Message from Select Committee"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-24\/debate\/dbsect_19","debateType":"statement","bill":null,"showAs":"Pride: Statements","counts":{"speechCount":37,"speakerCount":33},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_19","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donna McGettigan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ann Graves","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  We commence our debate with a statement from the Minister, Norma Foley, followed by one from the Minister of State, Emer Higgins. The 25 minutes are to be shared, I think. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Children, Disability and Equality (Deputy Norma Foley)  A Leas-Cheann Comhairle, ba mhaith liom mo bhu\u00edochas a ghabh\u00e1il leat as ucht an deis seo a thabhairt dom. I welcome the opportunity to speak to the House on Pride. It is a time of celebration, a time of reflection and a time of renewed commitment. Pride is not merely a festival; it is a living reminder of courage, resistance and the enduring pursuit of dignity for LGBTIQ+ people. It acts as a reminder of the work still to do to allow the LGBTIQ+ community to live openly and freely without fear of discrimination or hatred.  Throughout Ireland, many events will take place for Pride throughout designated days in June and July and, as always, I look forward to those events in my home constituency of Kerry in the coming weeks. However, the impact reaches far beyond just one singular day in any part of the country. It is inspiring to see the expansion of Pride festivals across Ireland, particularly in rural areas, and I warmly welcome their continued growth year after year.  In Ireland we often speak of progress, and rightly so. We have travelled a remarkable distance in a relatively short time. The marriage equality referendum in 2015 changed Ireland in so many profound ways. There is so much to celebrate in terms of the path to equality for the LGBTIQ+ community since that remarkable day. Ireland has in many ways become an example of what social change can look like when driven by compassion, activism and active engagement with the Government.  Last year I launched the national LGBTIQ+ inclusion strategy 2024-2028 and its associated first two-year action plan. The strategy aims to promote and respect the right of LGBTIQ+ people to live their lives safely, free of harassment and free of violence. This is by means of several prevention and protection measures. The strategy incorporates a stronger outcomes-focused approach and a transparent implementation structure. It features achievable actions and clear performance indicators. It has adopted a more focused approach to ensure that actions are realistic and achievable while still being ambitious.  The pillars on which the strategy is built are: safety; health and well-being; participation and inclusion; and equality and non-discrimination. These pillars seek to directly confront the continuing challenges faced by LGBTIQ+ people today. The actions through which the strategy is being implemented reflect the determination of the whole of government and State agencies to work together to that end. Since the launch of the strategy in June 2025, Departments and agencies have been advancing a range of actions set out in the first action plan. While progress takes time, important and promising work is taking place under all four pillars.  As my colleagues will be aware, I submitted a memorandum for Government for information to Cabinet on 23 June in relation to the inaugural national LGBTIQ+ inclusion strategy. The report marks an important milestone in our shared commitment to building a more equal, a more inclusive and a more respectful society, a society where every single person can live with dignity, safety and full participation. The drafting of this inaugural report not only provides an opportunity to reflect on the progress achieved over the past year but also strengthens our determination to address the challenges that remain.  The safety pillar includes several prevention and protection measures to promote and respect the right of LGBTIQ+ people to live their lives safely, free of harassment and, as I have said, violence. Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n's online safety code came into full effect in July 2025, thereby strengthening protections against harmful content, including harassment and abusive remarks directed against LGBTIQ+ people. An Coimisi\u00fan has also made strong progress on sector-wide equality and diversity supports and the development of gender equality, diversity and inclusion standards.  Local community safety partnerships were established under the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, which commenced in 2025. These partnerships represent a significant step towards a more collaborative, responsive and locally driven model of community safety.  An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na has continued to invest in its network of Garda diversity officers. These officers are trained and supported to actively engage with and attend to the concerns of minority, diverse and hard-to-reach communities. They aim to provide reassurance, build trust and extend the accessibility of the Garda service. A review of the Garda diversity officers' network took place in November 2025, and workshops were carried out for 12 Garda divisions. This added an additional 150 officers to the network, bringing the current number of Garda diversity officers to 666.  Progress under the health and well-being pillar shows increased investment in strengthening mental health supports for LGBTIQ+ people. The Mental Health Commission developed a guidance document for staff working in mental health services on the care and treatment of LGBTIQ+ people and launched it in 2025. This progress is essential because research has shown that LGBTIQ+ people can face higher levels of depression, anxiety and stress.  A key achievement under the national inclusion strategy was the establishment of the LGBTIQ+ community services fund. This fund provides vital funding for initiatives that promote inclusion, protect rights and improve the quality of life and well-being for members of the LGBTIQ+ community. It helps them to participate fully in Ireland's social, economic, cultural and political life. The fund supports the establishment and enhancement of safe spaces in their many forms across the country. The importance of these safe spaces cannot be overestimated. They allow for the creation of connection, solidarity and a sense of belonging. Today I was delighted to announce that 52 projects are to receive funding under the 2026 community services funding call. Through the fund, a total of \u20ac1.8 million will be made available to support organisations to deliver projects at national, regional and local levels. This support will help ensure that LGBTIQ+ individuals across Ireland can access these vital services and continue to flourish within their own communities. Successful projects include assisting LGBTIQ+ people living in rural communities to access safe spaces, providing supports to older and disabled LGBTIQ+ people and strengthening community and counselling supports. Since 2020 over \u20ac9 million in funding has been provided to 231 projects. The amount of funding available under the fund has increased annually since 2020, indicating the importance of this funding both to the Government and to the wider community. I thank the community for its continued engagement with the community services fund over the past six years.  Notable achievements have been made under the participation and inclusion pillar. This reflects strong efforts to ensure that LGBTIQ+ voices are heard as part of the relevant strategy and policy development and are embedded across national youth engagement structures. LGBTIQ+ people are now represented within Youth Ireland's governance structures, and work is ongoing to ensure their inclusion in wider Government consultations.  Under the strategy, the first annual LGBTIQ+ forum was successfully held in April of this year. The event brought together representatives, organisations, civil society, public bodies and colleagues from across Government Departments. The forum was established to showcase examples of best practice, provide an opportunity to ask questions on implementation of the strategy and to feed back directly to the steering committee that oversees the strategy. I acknowledge the importance and the value of the forum. It brings together people with lived experience, community organisations and public bodies to talk openly about what is working and, importantly, what still needs to change. Personal insights and experiences are essential to shaping better outcomes.  The strategy only works if it leads to real change, manifest change in people's lives. That is why the work done at the forum discussing the implementation of the strategy as it relates to the community and identifying the most important actions for the second action plan was so valuable. It illustrates how we in government remain committed to working in partnership with LGBTIQ+ people. We know that progress requires listening, respect and genuine collaboration.  As we approach our Presidency of the European Union, we have chosen to showcase and uphold the values of the Union, values founded on the respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights. This choice once again confirms our Government's commitment to creating an equal society. Now more than ever, the EU needs to defend and vindicate those values within Europe and globally. The Irish Presidency will seek to strengthen the EU's approach to equality, social inclusion, non-discrimination and the protection of the rights of minorities in line with the renewed Union of equality strategies. Ireland will use the EU Presidency to advance LGBTIQ+ equality and inclusion.  The Department of Children, Disability and Equality will host a high-level conference on non-discrimination on 6 October 2026. The conference will offer an opportunity to highlight achievement across key policy areas while considering the varying levels of progress towards advancing more and more equality across the EU, ensuring there are areas of interest for a broader audience. The policy areas considered at the conference will align closely with the Equality Strategy 2026-2030. One area that will be explored is LGBTIQ+ equality across the lifecycle, looking at supporting young LGBTIQ+ people and their families, with a particular emphasis on the digital environment, and examining the challenges faced by older people. The event will gather national governments, EU institutions, international organisations and LGBTIQ+ civil society representatives among others to discuss progress and challenges. A meeting of the expert group on LGBTIQ+ equality will follow the conference. The expert group is composed of government experts nominated by member states to support and monitor progress and the protection of people's rights in the member states. Ireland is also supporting a further conference in October as a Presidency-associated event. The ILGA-Europe annual conference is the largest gathering of LGBTIQ+ activists, organisations and allies in Europe and central Asia. It brings together around 400 participants each year for several days of strategy-building, networking, knowledge-sharing and decision-making.  We must be mindful that equality is not a single destination; it is a continuous journey, and one that we must remain committed to. As a Government, we must continue working to build an Ireland where diversity is embraced, where equality is not an aspiration but a lived reality for all citizens. Pride is a moment to look forward, not just a moment to look back, to reflect on the work still to be done to combat discrimination, to ensure our schools, services and workplaces are inclusive for all and, most importantly, to show the LGBTIQ+ community that we stand in solidarity with them and that we will rise to meet the challenges they continue to face. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Children, Disability and Equality (Deputy Emer Higgins)  I want to start by wishing everybody a really happy Pride and a really happy Pride month, especially those who are heading out to celebrate this weekend. Hopefully, the weather stays as fabulous as it has been the past couple of days for the Dublin Pride parade. Every year that I attend the Dublin Pride parade, I am struck by the sense of community, inclusion, fun, colour, energy and positivity. It brings the streets of Dublin to life and I wish everybody participating in it this year the very best. I think we can see that same feeling reflected in celebrations right across the country. Those celebrations are taking place right throughout this month, and that is something we can all be proud of. Pride is a really important month and a really important moment in the year, a time to celebrate and a time to reflect, as the Minister, Deputy Foley, said. It is a powerful expression of visibility, dignity and joy for the LGBTQI community but it also reminds us why it is so important that we speak up, stand together and show our solidarity and support. It is really important to recognise how far we have come as a country when it comes to supporting and including LGBTQI+ people. There is a lot to be proud of but Pride is also a reminder that it all started as a protest and that part of it is still really important too. There are still people who experience discrimination and online abuse. We are seeing more and more of that online, unfortunately. It can be incredibly damaging. It has a real impact on people, on their confidence and well-being and on how safe they feel to just be themselves. While Pride is a celebration, it is also a moment to remind ourselves to keep standing up for each other, call out hate when we see it and keep working towards an Ireland where everyone feels respected, supported and free to be who they are.  It is through that continued commitment that we are seeing real, tangible progress in our policies, our services, and in how we support people in their day-to-day lives. One area where we are seeing that progress is in transgender healthcare. Work is well under way to improve services for both adults and young people, including the development of an updated clinical model of care for gender healthcare which we expect to be completed later this year. A national clinical programme for gender healthcare working group has been set up to develop this, bringing together expertise from across the system with a clear focus on delivering more joined-up, accessible care linking primary care, community supports and specialist services in a way that works better for people.  We are also continuing to focus on challenging stigma and raising awareness. The You, Me and HIV campaign is back again this year across TV, radio and online channels. It is sharing a really clear message that effective treatment means HIV cannot be passed on. Through real life stories, this campaign is helping to build understanding and create a more supportive and informed society. We are beginning to see some impact from the campaign and recent figures point to a modest downward trend in discriminatory attitudes, with levels decreasing from 54% in late 2024 to 49% at the end of last year. We still have a way to go. More people are also saying they feel comfortable with someone living with HIV in their everyday lives, whether it is a family member, friend, neighbour or colleague. That is clear progress but it is gradual and the level of stigma remains significant. While we are making some progress in the right direction, it is clear that we need to keep moving. Changing attitudes takes time and continued effort. That is essential if we are to achieve more meaningful and lasting change. That is why it is so important that we keep having these conversations and that we keep challenging the stigma and continuing to build a society where people feel fully accepted, supported and included.  We are also seeing really positive progress in our schools. Inclusion is becoming part of everyday learning. The updated senior cycle SPHE programme, which now includes LGBTIQ+ identities, is being introduced for students in the leaving certificate applied. This is being supported at primary level through the new well-being curriculum, including SPHE, which covers topics like diversity, gender stereotypes and tackling bullying from an early age. It is because of our core values, inclusion, respect, understanding and acceptance, and that really matters. As we all know, it is these early experiences that shape how we see and treat each other, as individuals but also as a society. More broadly, we are continuing to strengthen the legal protections that protect LGBTIQ+ people from discrimination, harm and hatred. While I know progress in this area can sometimes feel slow, it is important to take the time to get it right and to make sure the laws we introduce are strong and effective and that they make a real difference in people's lives.  It is in that context that there are very clear commitments in place, including a commitment in both the programme for Government and the national LGBTIQ+ inclusion strategy, to ban conversion practices. This goes to the core of protecting people's equality and dignity. Of course, turning that commitment into something meaningful in practice takes time and careful work. That work is already well under way, with officials developing the approach and working closely with the Office of the Attorney General. Alongside that work, we have also seen important progress in other areas. Just this month, the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan, recommended that the Criminal Law, Civil Law and Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 include an amendment regarding historical convictions for consensual same-sex activity. In practical real terms, this amendment will introduce a process where people can apply to have a certain historical conviction for consensual same-sex activity formally disregarded. This is particularly significant when we reflect on how recent these laws are in our history. Homosexuality was only decriminalised in Ireland in 1993 following a long and hard-fought campaign led by former Senator, David Norris, and many others.  For many people those convictions did not simply disappear. They were punished for relationships that were entirely consensual, something that should never have been criminal in the first place, and they have carried that burden for years, often quietly, through their everyday lives. While we have moved forward as a society, it is important to recognise that this is not the case everywhere. At an international level, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, alongside Ireland's diplomatic missions, continues to advocate strongly for the rights of LGBTIQ+ people, including supporting the decriminalisation of homosexuality where it still exists and opposing any attempts to introduce such laws.  It is in that context, recognising the progress we have made and the work that remains, that the legislation is important. It will provide a formal process through which individuals can and will apply to have convictions disregarded and effectively nullified. It also represents a sincere recognition of the violation of individuals' human rights and dignity and acknowledgement of the lasting harm caused by the criminalisation of LGBTIQ+ people and communities more broadly around the world.  That recognition matters all the more in the context we are in today. While we have made real progress, we are seeing that progress being challenged not just at home but influenced by wider international trends, including the more polarised debates that we are seeing, especially overseas. Those conversations, in particular online, can quickly take hold and contribute to an increase in negative rhetoric, misinformation and, in some cases, harassment directed at the LGBTIQ+ community. That is why steps like this are so important, not just in terms of addressing the past but also in reaffirming the kind of society we want to be and the values of equality, dignity and respect we all stand for.  Work does not stop there. Work on the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) (Amendment) Bill, as colleagues will be aware, is now at an advanced stage, with drafting being led by the Office of Parliamentary Counsel alongside relevant Departments. I am informed it is expected to be introduced to the D\u00e1il this term. Finalising the legislation, along with establishing the assisted human reproduction regulatory authority, will be key to enabling the introduction of surrogacy leave and ensuring that families are recognised and supported and treated equally. I commend Irish Families Through Surrogacy and all those who have advocated in this space.  All this work across policy and legislation, and across seas in terms of our international engagement, shows the direction we are moving in and reflects a clear and ongoing commitment to advancing equality at home and abroad. The Department of Children, Disability and Equality leads on a number of whole-of-government equality strategies, including the national LGBTIQ+ inclusion strategy. As the core, they are about addressing the barriers that people face and making sure that everyone has the opportunity to participate fully and equally in society, regardless of their sex, race, ethnicity, social origin, religion, belief, political opinion, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or sex characteristics.  These strategies also give us a way to respond to the challenges that people face, many of which are shared across different communities. They are all designed to work together. That is where an intersectional approach becomes so important. It helps us to better understand and respond to inequality in a way that reflects people's lived experience. It is important to say that those lived experiences have been central to shaping our most recent strategies, including the national LGBTIQ+ inclusion strategy. At the end of the day, it is only by listening to people, trying to understand their experiences and putting people at the centre of our policy decisions can we develop policies that are truly meaningful and will make a genuine difference. This is about listening, learning and making sure that people's experiences are reflected in the decisions that we take.  While today is an opportunity to reflect on how far we have come, it is also a reminder of the responsibility that we all share to keep moving forward. Equality is not something that we achieve once. It requires commitment, listening and action. There is much to be proud of this Pride but there is much more to do. We are moving in the right direction. I thank everyone who continues to play a part in making Ireland a more inclusive and compassionate place for everyone, all of the NGOs operating in the space and everybody who is celebrating Pride this month. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy M\u00e1ire Devine  I welcome the groups in the Gallery who have come to listen to this debate. I hope it proves inspiring from all of us to you.  Pride, or Br\u00f3d, month began with the bravery of a demonstration in Dublin in 1974. A group of men and women protested against the archaic laws of the 1800s that criminalised homosexual relations. It was not until 1993 that it was decriminalised, marking a significant step towards LGBTQI rights in Ireland. Another significant step towards equality was taken by ICTU in 1986, which produced and implemented a radical policy for the time regarding lesbian and gay rights in the workplace. This paved the way for progressive legislation, including the hatred Act, equality in all public sector employment, sexual orientation on the basis of equality in 1993, the Equal Status Act 2000 and many other laws. I am a member of the Oireachtas rainbow caucus and we are progressing plans to mark the 40th anniversary of ICTU's progressive role in promoting equal rights. It was the beginning of a safer work environment, which made a huge difference to the lives of LGBT people of the time.  Decriminalisation, led by the indomitable Senator Norris and others, including my pal, Kieran Rose, went on for 16 years but did not expunge prior convictions. My colleague, Deputy \u00d3 Snodaigh, introduced legislation to do so, known as the disregard Bill. It has passed all Stages in this Chamber and is working its way through the Seanad. It will be enacted in the next few weeks before the recess. It is another milestone in righting wrongs.  The rise of hate crime and anti-LGBTQIA+ rhetoric worldwide by bad actors is calculated to reverse hard fought human rights gains. It is a hateful and destructive narrative, fed by some world leaders. It is divisive and damages the human spirit. The manosphere narrows the mind and seeks to regress human civil rights and dignity. It is amplified by the increase in online and offline hate. It is a mammoth task to counteract this as a global political shift to the right is happening. Homophobic and transphobic rhetoric is seeping more and more into the public domain. We can never let our guard down. It needs to be called out.  In 2015, marriage equality was a momentous and proud moment for Ireland, the first country to legislate for this by a referendum of the people. Those glorious days which were celebrated and embraced seem to have dwindled since then, with Trump and his cohort and Brexit and xenophobia playing their part as civil rights are being rolled back. Br\u00f3d has come a long way. June is the month of celebration and Pride continues its success.  More work is required. Nothing is ever done and dusted. Things evolve, damage is repaired and wrongs are corrected. Ireland's transgender healthcare is a mess. The National Gender Service is not fit for purpose. Trans people deserve care based on international best practice. Everybody has the right to safety, integrity of identity and happiness. Conversion therapy, which is abhorrent and has inflicted so much suffering, is another breach of human rights. The former Sinn F\u00e9in Senator, Fintan Warfield, introduced a Bill to ban it, as did Sinn F\u00e9in Minister of Communities, Deirdre Hargey, in the Six Counties. This legislation is the antidote to the barbaric and medieval practice of conversion.  There is much to be positive about. A debate was part of a Pride event on Monday. It discussed statistics showing that we have evolved from a dark place of fear to an LGBT community that is more accepted and we are up there with the top countries in Europe. There is an accepting and welcoming involvement by all of us in shaping our society and island and respecting an Ireland for all. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donna McGettigan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donna McGettigan  As we mark Pride, we celebrate courage and resilience. However, Pride is not simply a celebration; it is also a call to action. For decades, LGBTQI+ people across Ireland were told they were less than equal. They were criminalised and excluded. Yet, through sheer determination and solidarity, they changed society for the better. We have come a long way. We have seen marriage equality become a reality. We have seen greater visibility and acceptance. We have seen countless people being able to live openly and in a way that is true to themselves, which is something of which previous generations could only dream. That progress belongs to those who fought for it, to those who marched when it was unpopular and dangerous to do so and to those who never lived to see the equality they helped to secure.  While we celebrate progress, we must also be honest about the challenges we face today. Across Ireland and internationally, we are witnessing a disturbing rise in anti-LGBTQI+ rhetoric. Online abuse and intimidation have become all too common. Both my son and I have personal experience of being at the end of such hateful attacks. Social media platforms are awash with hateful attacks directed at LGBTQI+ individuals, particularly young people and transgender people, and their families. Behind screens, some seek to spread fear and division. Words matter and hate has consequences. LGBTQI+ people have been subject to violent attacks and, tragically, lives have been lost. We remember those who have lost their lives through murder or suicide. We remember the people who felt they had no place in the world after experiencing rejection and bullying. Every single one of those lives mattered and is a reminder that equality on paper does not always mean equality in practice.  While we have moved forward in many respects, there are areas where we have gone backwards. Rights that many believed were secure are now being questioned. Across the world, we see attempts to roll back protections, restrict healthcare and target transgender people. Those developments should concern us all. The lesson of history is clear: progress is never guaranteed and rights won through struggle can be eroded if they are not defended. As proud republicans, Sinn F\u00e9in's position is unequivocal in that the rights of LGBTQI+ people are human rights. They are not a matter for culture wars and should not be used as a political football.  I stand firmly with LGBTQI+ individuals and families. We support equality and respect, strong protections against discrimination and the right of every person to live free from fear and hate. The hatred shown by those who seek to attack or intimidate people has no place in Irish society. We reject it. We cannot stand by while any community is targeted because of who its members are or whom they love. Pride is a positive force. It is about dignity, visibility and building a society in which all people can reach their full potential and live with respect and equality. When LGBTQI+ people thrive, our communities are stronger and our society is richer. Today, let us celebrate how far we have come, honour those who paved the way and, most importantly, remember those we have lost. Let us recommit ourselves to the work that continues. The struggle for equality is not over. Solidarity matters and an Ireland of equals must mean equality for everyone. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  I welcome the opportunity to mark Pride Month. It is a time to celebrate diversity and inclusion and also to reflect on the journey that has brought us here and the work that remains to be done. Ireland has made significant progress in recent years in advancing the rights and dignity of LGBTQ+ people, including, as my colleague Deputy Devine noted, through the work of ICTU. We welcome Deputy \u00d3 Snodaigh's legislation and hope it will be passed by the House in the next couple of weeks. From the historic marriage equality referendum to the greater visibility and acceptance of LGBTQ+ people across society, these achievements are a testament to the courage and determination of the activists, campaigners, families and communities who have fought tirelessly for equality and basic human rights. We recognise the contribution of LGBTQ+ people to our families, communities, workplaces, our culture and our country.  However, progress cannot be measured solely by legislative change. Last week, I met with a member of the LGBTQ+ community from County Mayo who spoke really candidly and honestly about the challenges many people continue to face, particularly in rural Ireland. Despite the advances we have made, too many LGBTQ+ people still experience isolation, discrimination and barriers to accessing the healthcare, including mental health services, they need and deserve. People living in rural communities should not have to travel long distances or face lengthy waiting lists to receive appropriate and affirming care. Everyone deserves timely access to healthcare and services that recognise and respect their identity and to mental health supports that are responsive to their experiences.  We must ensure that young people feel safe, supported and valued at an early age. I commend our schools and teachers on the vital role they play in fostering understanding, respect and inclusion. However, it is the Government's responsibility to make adequate supports available at school level and within school communities to challenge discrimination and to ensure all young people know they belong and that they are not alone.  Pride reminds us that we must continue to stand together to challenge prejudice wherever it exists and to work towards an Ireland where all people can live openly, safely and with dignity regardless of who they are or whom they love. It is beyond time that we stamped out hatred and intolerance everywhere in our society. People cannot abuse others either online or in person and then call themselves decent. A person who does that is not decent. The technology and social media companies that are making money on the back of such abuse have a responsibility to ensure it stops. Some of the material we see online, particularly in recent times, should be of concern to all of us. It is not acceptable. LGBTQ+ rights are basic human rights. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh  It is more than ten years since marriage equality was achieved. It is an achievement of which we all can be proud but it is important that we continue to strive forward until equality is achieved in every aspect of life for LGBTQI+ citizens. As we make statements on Pride in this House and as thousands take to the streets for Pride festivals around the island, it is easy to miss how much inequality still exists.  It is important that we remind ourselves every June of where Pride really again, which was on the streets of Greenwich Village in New York. In Ireland today, in places like PantiBar and The George, gay communities are free to host and curate in spaces that are run by them and for them. That was not the case in New York city in the sixties. It was after the police raids at the Stonewall Inn in Lower Manhattan in 1969 that members of the LGBTQI+ community took to the streets to fight back against the persecution of sexual minorities and to affirm their rights as human beings in a world that was trying to marginalise and repress them. That is a burden that continues to be borne to this day with the rise of fascism and the far right and the efforts to erode rights that were hard fought for and won by the LGBTQI+ community. Those reactive elements also look to discriminate against and marginalise people of colour, women and anyone who comes from abroad. Marsha P. Johnson, a key activist for LGBTQI+ rights in New York city, once said, \"No Pride for some of us without liberation for all of us\".  While Ireland may be progressive on LGBTQI+ rights in comparison with some other countries, we are far from perfect. Last month, a constituent of mine in Kildare contacted me to tell me about an ordeal she and her wife faced when seeking passports for their young twins. While both mothers are listed on the children's birth certificates and both are recognised in law as the parents of their children, the Passport Office sought court orders to explain how it is possible for two women to be on the birth certificate, asking invasive questions about the circumstances of the children's birth despite their mothers' legal parenthood. When I asked the Minister for foreign affairs to confirm whether this is standard practice for same-sex parents, the response I received from her officials was that they simply did not know. A system of institutional suspicion and shame surrounding same-sex parents in this State still exists today, just as it did historically.  Caithfidh muid, mar shocha\u00ed, a bheith i bhfad n\u00edos tuisceana\u00ed ar an bpobal LADTIA+ sa t\u00edr seo. Tar \u00e9is na mblianta fada a bheith ag troid ar son chearta p\u00f3sta, sl\u00e1inte agus fosta\u00edochta, t\u00e1 gn\u00e9ithe den eite dheis ag iarraidh f\u00e1il r\u00e9idh leo. T\u00e1 siad ag iarraidh f\u00e1il r\u00e9idh leis na cearta sin n\u00ed hamh\u00e1in don phobal LADTIA+, ach do mhn\u00e1, daoine le dath agus imircigh chomh maith. Seasaimis go l\u00e9ir an f\u00f3d ina gcoinne le ch\u00e9ile. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  I too welcome everyone in the Gallery, including many former colleagues of mine who work in LGBT organisations across the country. They do phenomenal work every single day supporting people in the community. I thank them for their work; it is greatly appreciated. Pride is an important time of year and a very good celebration. It is also a protest and a time to call for progress. Sadly, we have not seen the kind of progress we need to see on these crucial issues. Sometimes when I listen to the speeches of Government Ministers I think I live in a different country. It was painful to listen to the speech by the Minister of State in which she described as one of the achievements progress on trans healthcare. We have the worst trans healthcare in all of Europe. How can a Minister of State stand in the D\u00e1il and call that an achievement and say there is progress on it when the lived reality for trans, non-binary and intersex people in this country is awful in terms of accessing basic healthcare?  Similarly, the Minister spoke about progress in terms of the community service fund. That has existed for many years now. It is basic funding to provide basic services, but it is not enough. It is a drop in the ocean compared to the need.  The Minister of State mentioned progress on HIV and while the campaign is certainly good, the Government has given up on its target of ending HIV transmissions by 2030. It has admitted it is not going to get there. That is not an achievement. We are missing the mark. We could be ending HIV transmissions in this decade if we would just commit to putting in the services, doing the rapid testing and rolling out pre-exposure prophylaxis, PrEP. We know what needs to be done but the Government is not committing to doing it. It is deeply frustrating to have members of the Government come into the House and call these achievements when the Government is utterly failing to make progress on crucial issues.  Conversion practices were mentioned. There was a commitment in the 2020 programme for Government to ban conversion practices. That is six years ago. The Minister spoke about taking time but how much time does she need? It has been six years since the Government committed to a ban. Eight other countries in Europe have done. We do not have to reinvent the wheel here. We can look at what other countries have done and implement it here. We do not have to keep waiting. We should not keep waiting and we should demand more.  Assisted human reproduction was mentioned. It has been 20 years since the Commission on Assisted Human Reproduction produced its report. Twenty years we have been waiting. The Minister said we will have legislation this term. Does she mean before the D\u00e1il recess? We need to know exactly when. Families are waiting to have their rights vindicated and the gaps in family law closed. We need to know when that legislation will be before the D\u00e1il because we have waited far too long.  The disregard legislation was mentioned. It has still not been enacted and we are still waiting for it to happen. It should have happened 33 years ago when the State decriminalised homosexuality. We have been left waiting and it not good enough. Rainbow flags outside Government Buildings are nice but what we actually want to see is progress on LGBT rights. I could come have in here and given the same speech I gave last year. I could have said exactly the same, because we have not made progress. If the Minister does not believe me, she should believe ILGA-Europe, which is holding its conference in Dublin this year. It ranks every European country on LGBT human rights and policy protections. It has ranked Ireland 14th year after year and has told us we are not making progress on this crucial issue.  If the Minister needs to know what needs to be done, she should have a look at the policy platforms set out by the Social Democrats. We have listed the LGBT rights that need to be progressed. We need to see law reform, family rights issues addressed, the Equality Acts updated, legal gender recognition for non-binary people and a ban on infant genital mutilation. Ireland scored 0% on the ILGA-Europe rankings on the rights and protections for intersex people. We need a national action plan to ban hate crime. I could go on and on. We also need to address issues of mental health. We need better funding and services. We need to tackle HIV transmission and invest in community services across the country. We need to close the remaining gaps in the law and focus on the more marginalised parts of our community. A large number of people who are LGBT are homeless or seeking international protection. We need to ensure we have support and dedicated services in place for more vulnerable members of the community. We are not making the kind of progress we should be making on these issues.  We also need to stand up to countries around the world that are rowing back on LGBT rights. We need to get a stronger stance in international and foreign affairs on these issues.  I do not want to be back here next year saying again that we have not seen the kind of progress we need. I want the Government to make progress. I will cheer it on if it advances the law reform agenda set out by the Social Democrats and others, but the Government has not made that kind of progress. It has not done the kinds of things that need to be done to improve people's lives. During this Pride, we want the Government to make commitments to advance all of these issues and more. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  I wish a happy Pride to everybody, particularly those in the Gallery who are visiting today. I welcome everybody to the House. This month is a celebration of our queer community. I want to give a shout-out to my daughter Bella, one of my favourite members of the queer community, and maybe I can also mention Anna Nolan, one of my other favourite lesbians who is in the Gallery today.  Pride is also about its origins, which was about calling out the systemic ways in which the LGBT community are marginalised. We have to do that here in Ireland and recognise the ways in which we are failing those among us who are LGBT. My colleague Deputy Rice has just given a tour de force on how exactly that is happening. It is also important for us, as legislators, to acknowledge and recognise the ways in which we can fix this and the things we can do to make progress.  I will tell a short story to illustrate three things, namely, the pride we are celebrating, the ways in which discrimination happens and what we can do to fix it. I was contacted by Joe Caslin, who is a brilliant mural artist. In the coming days, he will be unveiling a new piece, which has a trans theme and celebrates our trans community. Joe's work is hugely celebrated; it is beautiful, thought provoking and prompting. I am sure many of here will remember his work, The Claddagh Embrace , which, in the run-up to the marriage equality debate, really helped to prompt public discourse and dialogue about how we were all feeling about that debate, and also for us to see a visual representation of gay men. It was beautiful and really well received, and it is something I think we all remember. Joe is an incredibly well-respected, internationally-reputed artist. It was unfortunate for me to hear his experience. He was commissioned to do this work last year and we are at the point where it is about to be unveiled in the coming days. Unfortunately, what he came across as a street artist was a framework, when he was engaging with Dublin City Council, which was totally opaque and which did not nurture that street art as a genre or the community he represents. Instead, he was made to jump through hoops. He was given no clarity as to how the decision was being made. He was forced into decisions that he should not have had to make. It looks like a lot of these decisions are made in the planning part of the organisation rather than where they should be, which is in the artistic part of the organisation. Unfortunately, what this results in is that this art, which is such an important part of who we are, is relegated to construction hoardings and electricity boxes. This art is challenging, as it should be, and that is why we have to celebrate it. It is why I give a commitment to Joe today that I will do everything I can to resolve that and to work with my colleagues in Dublin City Council to make sure we acknowledge street art for what it is. Street art is a crucial way for us to recognise all parts of society, prompt dialogue and celebrate our queer community. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  Why is Pride important and why do we march every year? I was contemplating these questions over the last while. For as long as people are being attacked for who they are, are not able to be who they are and are targeted for their sexuality or identity, we will need to continue marching. That is why. I look forward to Saturday.  Verbal abuse of the LGBTQ+ community is a daily, casual occurrence. It is a chipping away of safety, security and belonging. An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na said there has been a rise in hate crimes over the last number of years. Not all of these were aimed at LGBTQ+ people but sexual orientation and gender identity are among the monitored motivations. Belong To has recently opened a space for young people in town to make sure they feel welcome, they can be who they are and they can be with people who will accept them for who they are. I commend Belong To and its youth workers on creating that space for those young people. Belong To has found that one in four people has been attacked physically because of their identity.  I will talk about teachers since the Minister is here. The INTO's LGBTQ+ teachers group has said that about one in five teachers in primary schools is not out in their school because they know that it would not be accepted.  Even though there are protections in the employment equality Act 2015, the reality for so many teachers is that they do not feel they can be themselves when they apply for jobs, when they are in those jobs or when they are delivering the curriculum set out by the Department and the NCCA.  The Children and Family Relationships Act did not include all children. I am thinking particularly of the families in my constituency who contacted me and who are looking for that legislation to be fully implemented. It is so important for those families. They love their children as much as everybody else and they need to be recognised like everybody else is. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Education and Youth (Deputy Hildegarde Naughton)  Ireland has made remarkable progress in promoting and protecting the rights of LGBTQI+ people. Pride offers us a valuable moment to reflect on that journey, to celebrate the diversity, inclusion and joy that define it and to stand in solidarity with the LGBTQI+ community.  I want to acknowledge those who campaigned for equality at a time when doing so required great courage. The freedoms we recognise today were hard won and Pride is both the celebration of that progress and a reminder that our work is not yet complete.  We must ensure everyone in our society can live openly, safely and with dignity, especially our children and our young people, who deserve to grow up in environments that are supportive, inclusive and free from fear. Our schools are guided by a whole-school approach that prioritises respect, belonging and inclusion for every student. This is regardless of their background, beliefs, their sexual orientation or gender identity. Well-being sits at the heart of this approach because we know that when young people feel safe and supported, they are better able to thrive both academically and personally. However, we must also be clear eyed about the challenges that remain. Some LGBTQI+ young people still experience discrimination, bullying and isolation, both in person and online.  There can be no complacency. We must remain vigilant in protecting that progress that has been achieved and in challenging any efforts to roll back hard-won rights. Throughout my Department, we are taking concrete steps to address these issues. The cine\u00e1ltas initiative provides a comprehensive framework for preventing and tackling bullying in schools. This includes bullying related to both gender identity and sexual orientation. The b\u00ed cine\u00e1lta procedures take a child-centred partnership approach. These procedures bring together students, teachers, staff and parents to create school communities that actively prevent and address all forms of bullying.  We also continue to work closely with organisations such as Belong To, supporting initiatives like Stand Up Awareness Week. This empowers schools to foster respect and inclusion. This partnership reflects our commitment to building an education system and a society where every young person feels valued and supported.  Pride is not only a celebration; it is a call to action. It reminds us how far we have come and of the responsibility we share to protect that progress and to extend it further. Together we can ensure that Ireland remains a country that is safe, fair and inclusive for all and one in which every person can be themselves without fear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathal Crowe  I am glad to have speaking time in this debate. I was born in 1982, so I spent much of the 1990s in primary school and secondary school, finishing up in 2000. During all those years the schoolyards were, I think, tougher places than they are now. I was a teacher before I became a TD and I think the school I taught in was quite soft and inclusive. However, certainly when I was in school, you shot insults from the hip like a gunslinger. Usually those insults were homophobic and they were thrown around the schoolyard here, there and everywhere, every single day of the year. To many, they were brushed off and were water off a ducks back but years later, I met some of my schoolmates who said how those comments hurt because during those teenage adolescent years, they were struggling with their sexuality.  It was not a time when people would just come out, although nowadays some people do not come out at all. They just grow up, meet people and form relationships. They do not have to tell mom, dad or their circle of friends they are gay. Coming out is not a thing but back then coming out was a colossal thing.  For these people to be struggling in those years and for everyone around them in the schoolyard throwing these insults, that was quite typical in the 1990s. I do not fault the school system, parents or anything. I think it was a cultural thing. It is a cultural thing that, to a large degree, we have overcome. I was delighted years later when holding electoral office that I and many more people of my era were able to atone for those schoolyard days when we went out and campaigned for marriage equality.  Naively, as an ally of the LGBTQ+ community, I thought that was it. I thought that was the moon landing moment, that there is marriage equality, that it is fantastic and that anything that went before, including the illegality of homosexual relationships and the criminalisation people who were in same-sex relationships was all behind us because we recognised, as a State, that marriage equality was a thing that was to be cherished and respected but not so, as it turns out.  What I increasingly hear when people come to my clinics and when I speak with the gay community in County Clare that life is not getting easier for them and, if anything, it is getting more difficult. They attribute some of this to the rise of the far right and an intolerance of people who might have different coloured skin, a different religion or who love differently. That kind of intolerance has no place at all in modern Irish life. It is 2026 and it has no place whatsoever in modern Irish life.  Like others, I am alarmed. I am an INTO member and a teacher and I am alarmed that one fifth of my profession who identify as being LGBTQ+ have only come out in the school environment with the employers, colleagues and the school patron. That is something we need to seriously look at. Someone should feel comfortable in their workplace to be who they are. In that staff room over a cup of coffee, they should be able to talk about what they are doing with their boyfriend, girlfriend, husband or wife and what their weekend plans are and what their relationship is. All of that is quite commonplace and it should not be the case that someone feels they have to hide something from their employer or their colleagues and it is quite perverse in that regard.  It is great that in this House we have had a Taoiseach who is openly gay as well as many Members of this House who are married and very open. Maybe they do not consider it day to day but they carry huge leadership roles within the LGBTQ+ community. However, as someone who follows sport avidly, it does concern me that in elite sport, we have very few people who have felt comfortable enough to come out and be able to share with fans and supporters. They share so much of their lives now. It is not just what happens on the field, on the court or on the running track. So much of their lives is now lived out on social media or on the back pages of the newspaper that have the sporting columns. Yet, within so many sports - I will not just single out one - they too feel the need to hide. I think some of that may be down to terrace chat. To some degree, it happens in Ireland but certainly in the UK when you go to soccer matches, the insults roared from the sidelines are not acceptable. We need to support athletes, in particular, because in music and in the arts there does not seem to be those same barriers and people can be who they want to be. In politics, thankfully, in 2026, any Member here who is gay is able to be, without any judgment. There are probably idiots online who give them grief but colleagues, from all political persuasions, would not.  We are coming up to the fifth anniversary of the awful attack in August 2021 on Olympian Jack Woolley in Dublin city centre. He is someone who has represented our nation at the top level. He stood many times on the podium in his preferred sport, taekwondo. He is an outstanding young man. He was on \"Dancing with the Stars\" as well. He is an outstanding role model for young people and yet he was attacked just a couple of hundred yards down the street in Dublin for being who he is. That is wrong.  To close on a positive note, I wish all who celebrate Pride, those who are part of the LGBTQ+ community - they will have to shorten that or make it easier for us to rattle off - and those who will march at the weekend a very happy Pride. As someone who grew up in the 1990s, with a bit of maturity and getting away from that schoolyard when the bell rings and all that happens in the schoolyard, I would be absolutely thrilled and delighted if any son or daughter of mine came out in years to come and said \"Dad, I am gay, I love someone the same sex as me\" but I hope they will not have to. I hope we get to that point. A lot of people are in inclusive families where they do not have to say that. Hopefully, that is the pathway forward for most.  Those of us who sit in government and in opposition have to make sure public policy reflects the kind of inclusive values we have. One thing that jumped out from a few contributors today is the idea that four fifths of teachers - my own profession - who are gay feel they cannot say that in their work environment. That is something we need to reflect on. I am Chair of the Oireachtas education and youth committee and working in tandem with the Minister, we need to do a body of work on that because it is not acceptable. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Before I go to the next speaker, I welcome the ladies from Ballybofey and Stranorlar to the Public Gallery. They are here with Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher. I hope they enjoy their day in the D\u00e1il with him. I also extend a very warm welcome to all of those in the Public Gallery who are here specifically for this debate. They are very welcome. We will now move to our next speaker, Deputy Graves. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ann Graves","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ann Graves  Pride has grown from a small gathering in Dublin to a nationwide celebration of diversity and inclusion. While it is very important that we recognise and celebrate progress, we must not become complacent. There are those who would roll back the progress and drag us back to the dark and less inclusive times.  Pride has its roots in the struggle for equality and human rights but now these human rights are under attack. According to Amnesty International, attacks and hate crimes against our LGBT+ brothers and sisters have significantly increased in recent years across Europe, Britain and the United States, with transgender and gender non-conforming people being disproportionately targeted. This is really concerning.  This wave of hate does not happen in a vacuum. It is encouraged by political rhetoric and the online spreading of misinformation and lies. Unfortunately, we in Ireland are not insulated against this. An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na recorded a 12% increase in reported hate crimes. A survey by Belong To found that, sadly, one in four members of Ireland's LGBT+ community has been physically attacked due to their identity.  As politicians, we have an important role in challenging this homophobia and discrimination and to provide leadership. Pride must be more than speeches. While it is great to have the opportunity today to make our statements, simple gestures are just not enough. They need to be seen as a rallying call to challenge hate speech and misinformation. It means standing up to those who spread lies. Sinn F\u00e9in condemns these increasing attacks. We reject transphobia and homophobia in Ireland and overseas.  I want to take this opportunity to congratulate Fingal Pride, which is part of Dublin Pride. Launched in 2021, its mission is to support people and their friends and families in Fingal by organising regular events and activities throughout the county and by increasing visibility and integration. This year, the theme is, \"Beat a drum for Pride\", with an event today in Clonsilla. I wish them very success. I would also encourage everyone to come along and join the main national Pride parade this Saturday at 12.30 p.m. at the Garden of Remembrance. Sinn F\u00e9in will be there front and centre on Saturday and I hope every other political party is well represented.  Now, more than ever, we need to send out a loud, proud message: we do not tolerate homophobia or transphobia here in the Oireachtas, on the streets of Dublin, in the workplace or anywhere it raises its ugly head. Sinn F\u00e9in wants to build an inclusive, all-Ireland nation based on equal rights for all, and we will continue to work actively with the LGBT+ community across the island of Ireland. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  I welcome the statements on Pride this week. Pride is as important as it has ever been. Pride is protest and it is a call on people to stand in solidarity with those who identify or whose way of life is under attack. I pay tribute to my colleague, Senator Laura Harmon, on her work and advocacy as cathaoirleach of the rainbow caucus.  Speaking up for trans healthcare is so important, given that Ireland ranks bottom in Europe for healthcare provision. It is vital that we discuss Pride and highlight the culture war on the trans community. Many colleagues in this House, in government and in opposition, are allies who stand up to the hate levelled at trans people and I thank them for their advocacy and decency.  We have seen the resignation of a Prime Minister in the UK in recent days. Starmer's Labour Government scapegoated trans people and painted them as an enemy to women. Rather than standing up for a minority group under attack, they furthered the misery and culture war on trans people. I know for certain that trans people in the UK will be happy to see the back of him. I genuinely hope his successor stands up for trans people and trans rights and changes tack from punching down on people who simply want respect and dignity - a bare minimum expectation from a leader who hoists the red flag.  For same-sex partners, the fight for equality continues for what is an administrative change on the State's part that has brought consequences for family life and parenting. I commend the advocacy of Irish Gay Dads. Gay dads still face significant legal inequality in family law in the context of parental recognition, where many male same-sex families cannot get both parents legally recognised on their child's birth certificate from birth. I put it to the Government and the House that we passed marriage equality and changed the law. That work does not end there and I believe we have the numbers in this House to right the wrongs that still exist. I call on the Minister for justice to meet with Irish Gay Dads and begin this work.  I only have a few minutes, so I cannot acknowledge every group or person but I would also like to commend Belong To, whom I have met with and regularly engage with, in particular on its research and advocacy in protecting young gay people online. I want to mention Cork's first LGBTQ+ inclusive GAA club, Na Laochra Aeracha, who have faced significant hurdles fielding their team due to the Ladies Gaelic Football Association, LGFA, strictly enforcing 2010 city limits rather than the expanding city boundary agreed upon by councils in 2019. Because of these restricted boundaries, the club cannot meet the minimum number of players required to legally register a women's team in competitive leagues. These matters can be resolved and I encourage the association to do it. I ask now that the Minister would engage constructively with the LGFA to do so. Having inclusive teams like this in our games only serves to grow our sports. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Wall  The point we have reached today, with Members proudly speaking on LGBT Pride, does not just happen. It comes after decades of work, bravery, courage and consistent fighting by advocates. We can never forget this. We must always remember this fact and remember the many people who broke down the closed doors and made Ireland a much more welcoming place for our LGBT comrades. They did so because it was the right thing to do and, in many cases, they walked a long and lonely road to get Ireland where we are today.  I am proud to stand here as a member of the Labour Party, which has fought so hard over the years to achieve the social progress we enjoy in this country today. It was the Labour Party that in 1993 decriminalised homosexuality. We continued fighting for equality and, in 2015, delivered same-sex marriage, a defining moment in this country's history. In 2018, we secured an official State apology for gay and bisexual men, and I want to commend the work done by my Labour Party colleague, Deputy Ged Nash, who has tirelessly worked to ensure Government disregards these convictions.  Pride is more than a celebration. It is a march founded on civil activism and protest. Pride is a collective of pivotal moments in Ireland's history that lead us to where we are now. We must remember this and how far we have come as an island. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  I welcome the visitors to the Gallery. First of all, it is a real privilege to be a gay man because you are navigating a world that was not built for you. I think most LGBT people have a heightened sense of empathy because you know, for example, that many people around the world do not have the human rights which many of us - including myself, as somebody who is privileged enough to live in Ireland - take for granted. There are so many countries around the world where it is illegal to be gay. It was illegal to be gay here until 1993. There are so many men - and they are men - who are still living with convictions for same-sex activity. You are also free from the traditions, expectations and pressures that many of my straight friends have in relation to what I call the heterosexual normality of life.  However, at the same time, the world is getting more dangerous for LGBT people, including here in Ireland. Homophobia is on the rise again. Transphobia is, unfortunately, becoming more and more normalised. It has even come into this House. It has crept in, in ways. People whom I would consider totally reasonable on loads of issues have said things on the record in this House, jollied up as concerns, that are, in effect, transphobic and dehumanising. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert O'Donoghue  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  Furthermore, I look, for example, at Belong To and the work it has done, and the 87% of teenagers who have received online harassment for being LGBT. I can even look at my own social media. Any time I talk about any of these things, I get a plethora of stuff underneath the posts and, to be honest, it is horrible but it does not particularly bother me because I know there is some young boy or young girl out there in this country at the moment who probably thinks they are better off being dead than being LGBT. The fact of the matter is that while we have come so far, we have a much further journey to travel.  We need to see the full commencement of the 2024 Act in relation to the issues around surrogacy. I have one friend who is a parent and is, effectively, legally a stranger in the lives of their children. We need to move on trans healthcare. Thankfully, by having the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, in government, we actually have somebody who genuinely gets it and wants to make a difference and will make a difference. We need to make sure that all forms of homophobia, including transphobia and biphobia, are called out and that we have zero tolerance. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert O'Donoghue  I am grateful for the opportunity to speak on this matter today. This debate is particularly poignant for me because one of the members of my staff is a member of the LGBTQ+ community. Mark, whom I work alongside every day, is someone I value enormously - he is my friend and someone whose experiences remind me that these discussions are not abstract debates. They are about real people, real lives and real journeys. Every LGBT person has their own story. Some are accepted early on in life. Others spend years wondering whether they will be accepted within their families, communities, workplaces or society itself. Some even emigrate to find that acceptance.  As a party that was founded to protect workers, Labour can be proud of that achievement. We have always understood that equality is not simply about words or aspirations. The struggle for workers\u2019 rights and the struggle for LGBTQ+ rights are not separate stories. They are part of the same stories; the belief that every person deserves dignity, equality and fair treatment. With that in mind, I want to pay tribute to former Labour Party Minister Mervyn Taylor, who was at the forefront of the struggle to ensure that equality that meant having the right to work, earn a living, provide for one's family and live with dignity, free from discrimination.  To echo Deputy Crowe, not one person from any community, background or gender who walks into their place of work should feel bullied, isolated, ignored or discriminated against. No one should walk into their place of work with anxiety or have to take a circuitous route to get to their place of work to avoid someone who might make them feel like they are not good enough.  To Mark, my staff member, and to the wider LGBTQ+ community, I hope I have done you justice to bring your experiences to life in the Chamber today. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Wall  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Grace Boland  I welcome the opportunity to speak on this debate and to mark Pride. Pride is at the heart about people. It is about recognising the dignity, worth and equality of every person in our society. It is about ensuring that people can live their lives openly, safely and authentically without fear of discrimination, intimidation or abuse.  Ireland has come a long way. Many people in this House will remember a very different Ireland. We have made enormous progress thanks to the courage of those who spoke up, shared their stories and challenged attitudes. That is progress we should be proud of, but we cannot be complacent and we still have work to do.  I echo Deputy Sheehan's call for the commencement of the provisions in relation to surrogacy. Across Ireland and around the world, we are seeing an increase in hate-motivated incidents and a hardening of public discourse. We see examples of people being targeted because of their sexuality, gender, race, religion or simply because they are perceived to be different.  Much of this is amplified online. Social media has brought many benefits but it has also provided a platform for those who seek to divide communities, spread misinformation and pit one group against another. Too often, bad actors deliberately exploit people's fears and frustrations for their own political, ideological or financial gain. We know this division generates clicks. Anger generates engagement. Outrage generates attention. However, the consequences are very real for the people on the receiving end. We saw that recently in Fingal when my colleague, Councillor Luke Corkery, who is in the Gallery, became the target of online abuse following his post on the gorgeous rainbow road crossing which was painted by Fingal County Council in Swords. People are entitled to have views on public policy. People are entitled to agree or disagree with decisions made by local authorities. However, what is not acceptable is the personal abuse, intimidation and hostility that can follow.  Nobody should be subjected to harassment for championing and supporting inclusion, nobody should be subjected to harassment for who they are and nobody should be afraid to participate in public life because of the abuse they may receive online. The reality is that we do not have to agree with one another. In a democracy we never will, and that is a good thing. We will have different views on social issues, economic issues, local issues and national issues. Robust debate is healthy and essential, but there is a fundamental difference between disagreement and disrespect. We can challenge ideas without attacking one another. We can argue passionately for our beliefs without dehumanising those who hold different views. We can stand firmly for our values while still recognising the humanity and dignity of others. That is true when discussing Pride. It is true when discussing immigration. It is true when discussing housing. It is true when discussing termination of pregnancy or any other issue that comes before this House. The tone we set here matters. The language we use here matters. The examples that we provide matter. Public discourse does not stay in this Chamber. It influences conversations in workplaces, schools, sports clubs, community groups and online spaces throughout the country. Young people, in particular, are watching. They are learning what respectful disagreement looks like. They are learning how we treat people with whom we disagree. We have a responsibility, in every debate in this House, to ensure that the example we set is one of decency, respect and empathy. Pride gives us an opportunity to celebrate diversity and inclusion but it should also remind us of something broader, which is that a strong society is one where people can be different, hold different views and live different lives while still treating one another with respect. That is the Ireland I want to live in; an Ireland where everyone feels they belong, where nobody is targeted because of who they are and where our disagreements never come at the expense of our common humanity. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail  I welcome the opportunity to speak today as we mark Pride and reflect on the progress we have made as a country and, more importantly, the work that still lays ahead. I want to acknowledge my friends, family members and, indeed, colleagues here this afternoon as we mark Pride. It has been said here a few times already but Pride is not just a celebration; it is a restatement or statement of values. It reminds us that equality is something we must continue to advance, protect and, indeed, demand.  Ireland's journey over the past three decades has been remarkable. In fairness, it has been slow but it has happened. The decriminalisation of homosexuality in 1993 was a foundation of reform that opened the door to a more equal society. The marriage equality referendum in 2015, which many people here were involved in, was another defining moment, not just legally but culturally. It demonstrated that the Irish people believe in fairness, dignity and the right of every person to live and love openly.  However, progress does not mean that the challenges have disappeared - far from it. Recent data have shown that 22% of people in Ireland have experienced discrimination in the past few years. For LGBTQI+ communities, the figures are significantly higher; 59% of gay and lesbian people, 55% of bisexual people and 46% of trans and non-binary people report discrimination. The workplace remains the most common setting for harassment and exclusion. These numbers are stark and they reflect lived experiences that we cannot ignore.  The Government is committed to building a safe, fair and inclusive society for all and the national LGBTQI+ inclusion strategy provides a whole-of-government framework to advance equality.  Its vision is clear: a society where LGBTQI+ people can live safe, healthy and fulfilling lives, and participate fully in every aspect of Irish life. The accompanying 2025 to 2026 action plan sets out concrete deliverables across safety, rights, protections, health and well-being. From an inclusion perspective there are several areas where continued focus is essential. The first area is education. Young LGBTQI+ people deserve to feel safe, supported and respected in their schools, be that primary, secondary or third level. We know that early experiences of exclusion or bullying can have long-lasting impacts. Strengthening teacher training, embedding inclusive curriculums and ensuring that every school is a welcoming environment must remain priorities for both the Department of education and the Department of further and higher education.  The second area is healthcare and mental health supports. LGBTQI+ people continue to face barriers in accessing appropriate care and many report negative experiences when seeking support. Improving cultural competency across the health service, expanding mental health supports and ensuring timely access to gender-affirming care are all vital steps in building a system that serves everyone fairly. Surrogacy has been commented on here on a number of occasions this afternoon, as has the full commencement of the 2024 Act. That must proceed. I have friends in same-sex marriages with children and they face difficulties day in day out, in terms of recognition. That needs to be prioritised by the Minister for justice.  The third area is safety and confidence in reporting. Too many people still feel unsafe in public spaces or are reluctant to report harassment or hate crime. Strengthening community policing, which has worked well in a lot of other areas, improving reporting mechanisms and building trust between communities and the State are essential if we are to ensure that every person feels protected. As we mark Pride, let us recommit to the work ahead. Let us ensure our workplaces our respectful, our public services inclusive and our society one in which every person, regardless of who they are or whom they love, can thrive. Pride, as I said at the beginning, is a celebration, but it is also a call to action. I believe that this House working together can honour both. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joanna Byrne  I welcome these statements on Pride and the chance to talk of where it began in Ireland and where we are now. Pride began in response to the darkest of crimes. It has now grown into a beacon of light, positivity, progressiveness and inclusivity. Pride, a banner that previously criminalised and marginalised, is now one that cohorts of people can stand behind together full of colour and hope. The first Pride parade in Ireland was in 1983 in response to the homophobic murder of Declan Flynn in Fairview Park in Dublin. There were earlier smaller marches but this was the first Pride parade.  It beggars belief that it took another decade and a case at the European Court of Human Rights brought against this State in 1988 by former Senator David Norris for the 1993 Act that gave us the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Ireland. It is almost unfathomable to me that homosexuality was illegal in my lifetime. That is why these statements on Pride are important. Even though gay rights have come a long way in a truly short period of time, we must be reminded that it is, in fact, a short period of time. Just like in previous decades, there are those out there who would row back on gay rights, ban Pride like they did in Orb\u00e1n's Hungary - an EU country - and drag this State back to the Dark Ages. We must now and always speak up on Pride, support Pride, educate people on what Pride means and on what this State was like before Pride.  We still have work to do to heal some of the sins of the past. That is why the joint Opposition Bill, originally sponsored by the now President Catherine Connolly, the Disregard of Historic Offences for Consensual Sexual Activity Between Men Bill 2025 is especially important. It is an example of a broad church of Opposition parties working together to correct a historic wrong and a stark injustice perpetrated on the gay community. It is testament to Pride that this Bill is on our legislative agenda here in the D\u00e1il. However, it cannot and should not be left to this House to speak up for Pride and for gay rights. Pride parades in every county, city and town should be supported. As a straight woman, Pride is a movement that is close to my heart. In my first year as a Louth county councillor in 2016, I cut the ribbon to officially start the first Pride celebration in Drogheda and did so for many years afterwards. I have marched in Pride parades, I have attended events, and I was and am keen to show our LGBTQI+ family, friends and neighbours that modern Ireland is friendly, welcoming and accepting.  It has also been a great honour of mine to support the Dundalk and Drogheda Outcomers and the Drogheda LGBTQ Social and Support Group in many ways over many years. They do phenomenal work in supporting the LGBTQ community in Louth. Their hard work, along with huge teams of political and non-political canvassers, including us here in Sinn F\u00e9in, drove Louth to a 63.5% yes vote in the May 2015 marriage equality referendum. It was a proud day for the wee county, a proud day for this State, and a sign of our more positive and more progressive times. However, there are still many challenges facing the LGBTQI+ community such as youth homelessness, mental health, violence and healthcare. These are all things on which we need to redouble our efforts to address. Pride seeks to address those issues as an unbelievably happy and positive social justice movement. It is actually quite unique. Everyone who supports Pride should be proud of Pride. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  I acknowledge the presence in the Gallery of representatives of many of the LGBTQ+ groups around the country. I thank them for their work and I recognise that I, and queer people all over our country, enjoy rights as a result of their efforts.  Pride remains an empowering expression of community, visibility and celebration. It is a chance for LGBTQ+ people to gather openly and proudly. However, as many of the speakers have noted, while it is an opportunity for us to reflect on how far Ireland has come in recent years, it also has to be a truthful recognition of the challenges our communities still experience. I have made the point in this Chamber and elsewhere that the trajectory of progress in Ireland has not all been one-way. In particular, the level of abuse that gay, lesbian and particularly trans people receive online, and now regularly in person as well, has spiked in recent years. Most gay people have had to deal with homophobia at some point in their lives. We learn how to deal with it, we learn how to overcome it and sometimes we learn how to ignore it. That can be a very deeply personal journey for each person involved.  For a time in the afterglow of the marriage referendum, it was felt that we had turned a corner and that Ireland had settled a fundamental question about dignity and equality. I believe, as I know many in the community do, that there has been a change, and a change for the worse, in recent years. The biggest driver of that change is the poisoning of our online spaces. It is not right that harmful and hateful content can be posted and shared so widely. It is not right that an innumerable amount of bot accounts can spread this type of hate. It is not right that a person struggling to come to terms with their own sexuality or their own gender identity is bombarded with that content. In the past, at least you could be safe from verbal homophobic abuse in your own home space, but now through the ubiquity of platforms that abuse feel inescapable. It is not because there is suddenly more hateful people in our society but because social media platforms have built systems that reward outrage, division and fear. This is not a question about simply offensive comments online; this is a question about who feels safe participating in our public life.  There are bad actors out there who would like nothing more than to stigmatise us and drive us back into the closet. We will not allow that to happen. As Dublin celebrates Pride this weekend we mark how far we have come. Let us also be clear that we will not accept any push-back on our LGBTQ+ rights; not internationally and not here in our own country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  Pride has always been a protest as well as a great party and a celebration, and unfortunately there is still a lot to protest about. The Government's record on trans healthcare is really shocking. It is the worst in the European Union with record waiting lists of up to 18 years for the only public gender clinic. You cannot talk about trans rights when you cannot access trans healthcare. It is eight years since the Government's own review of the Gender Recognition Act recommended non-binary recognition. Still, the Government has done nothing. I am pleased to support Deputy Coppinger who is introducing a Bill to recognise both non-binary and intersex people for the first time. I hope everyone in the House will support it.  The rise in hate directed at the queer community by the far right is absolutely frightening. You see it. It is not just online. It is in the real world as well, with a big increase of homophobic and transphobic attacks both verbal and physical.  All of that hate is being massively amplified by toxic social media algorithms designed to increase the profits of the big tech social media companies by pushing hate, whether homophobia, transphobia, misogyny or racism. Dublin Pride, Belong To, LGBT Ireland and TENI all want recommender algorithms to be turned off by default. They are not calling for under-16s to be banned entirely from social media, which can be a vital lifeline for young queer people who may be socially isolated. A survey of young queer people in Australia before the social media ban found that more than half felt they could more be themselves online than in person. A blanket social media ban on under-16s ignores that and lets big tech off the hook as regards cleaning up its act. This is why we introduced a Private Members' Bill months ago to require social media algorithms to be turned off by default. That now needs to happen urgently. It was a bad mistake on the part of the Government to vote it down. We need to turn off the hate against queer people that is being pushed by the likes of Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg and the rest of the social media bosses.  I will also say a word about the disgusting attempt to create a provocation at Pride this Saturday. A far-right Dublin councillor who is known for promoting racism and anti-immigrant hate is hosting a so-called \"march for Ireland\", coincidentally just an hour or two after Pride stops. Given his previous comments about the rainbow flag, I suspect this is designed to be a deliberate provocation. We will see, however. We will see that many more people will turn out for Pride to stand for equality and respect than those who will turn up to call for hate and discrimination against gay people, trans people, people of colour and immigrants. I believe there is a big majority on our side. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  These annual statements are important. It had to be called out when they were not tabled in June last year. However, they also have to be real. We saw remarkable progress in 2015 with the same-sex marriage referendum passing after a grassroots movement. This was followed by repeal, the Gender Recognition Act and huge social progress. However, this is a completely different decade. Hostility, transphobia, homophobia, misogyny and racism are being unleashed. Within Ireland, while the Government is not doing that or anything like it, certainly not openly, progress has stalled. Promises the Government made in terms of non-binary recognition under the Gender Recognition Act, which were part of the programme for Government, still have not been fulfilled. I hope the Government and other Opposition parties will get behind my Bill to recognise non-binary and intersex people. Non-binary people are recognised in 17 other countries. Intersex people are also recognised in other countries.  I will talk about trans healthcare. As has already been said, we have the worst trans healthcare in Europe. It has got worse even since last year's debate. A UCD report found a 13% increase in discrimination against LGBT+ people and an increase in the waiting lists. Some 23% of trans people report spending over \u20ac2,000 on healthcare because of the Government's failure. We do not have an informed consent model but a gatekeeping model. In the North, the Executive signed off on a ban on puberty blockers for teenage trans people, leading to a ban on all Assembly parties in eight Pride parades in the North this year.  While there has been progress, we can clearly see that the influence of the far right and the anti-LGBT lobby is also having an impact. Belong To has talked about the experiences of young people. I do not have time to go into all of the details but rates of depression, suicidal ideation and so on are all much higher. We should be very clear. We need to correct some of the myths that are put out there. No surgery is done on young people in this country, with the exception of surgery carried out on intersex babies as the result of a push for a strong binary in our society. We need to turn these statements into action. We need to continue to support the LGBT+ community. We need to challenge the scapegoating of trans people. We need to stand rock solid against that and against the scapegoating of other minorities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  I am very pleased to be able to speak on this issue. It is hugely important. There is so much to be said about Pride and the importance of expressing pride and of facilitating that expression of pride but I will focus on two particular issues.  The first is conversion therapy, which is not banned in this jurisdiction. This practice is there to \"convert\" or \"cure\" people of their sexual orientation or gender identity, or tell them that it is wrong, and essentially convince them of the opposite. It is appalling. The UN recognises it as a form of torture. It is done in the totally misguided belief that these things are a choice and can be changed when we all know they are inherent in people. Conversion therapy is banned in a number of European Union countries. Malta banned it in 2016. It has also been banned outright in Germany, France, Greece, Spain, Belgium, Cyprus and Portugal. The Dutch Senate has also recently voted to pass legislation to ban so-called conversion therapy. It is not banned here, however. It is still legal in Ireland. A landmark 2023 study by Trinity College Dublin confirmed that practices aimed at changing or suppressing sexual orientation or gender identity do occur in Ireland. That honestly surprised me. I thought that people's sexual orientation was just accepted in this country and that there were not issues with it. However, I have looked into this and it is still a major issue. Two successive programmes for Government have committed to a ban but it still has not happened. The then Minister, Deputy Roderic O'Gorman, announced research into a ban on conversion therapy in 2022 and reaffirmed the Government's commitment to legislating to ban the practice but it still has not happened. There is a gap there. It is something we need to fix. We need to bring in the legislation we promised we would.  As I said, I was surprised. I am aware that it is a big problem in the United States and even elsewhere on this island. I did not think it was something that happened in this jurisdiction but, as I said, there is academic research showing that it does. Such a ban is therefore far more than symbolic. It is a real, practical and forceful measure that would prevent the genuine harm that is done to people who are subjected to this so-called therapy. It would also make an important statement to members of the LGBT community in this country, particularly young people who might be struggling with their identity or with something that is new to them, that they are as accepted as anybody else in this society by this State, that we stand with them, that they cannot be \"fixed\" and that they are valuable exactly as they are. I hope the Minister of State will take on board the need to move on that particular subject with a view to moving things along.  The second issue I will mention is hate speech. There was hate speech legislation before the previous D\u00e1il with a view to changing the law and updating the prohibition of incitement to hatred Act, which was so ineptly phrased that only 50-odd prosecutions have been taken under it. Again, you would like to think that in a modern Ireland, people who are LGBT or who present with a different gender identity would be safe from incitement to hatred and incitement to violence but they are not. Emily Bolger, who works in my office and who is incredibly valuable to us, tells me that she was abused on the street in town last night. Somebody across the street roared at her because of her sexual orientation. You would think that in 21st-century Ireland we would have moved beyond such absolutely craven nonsense but the reality is that it is still happening.  We had a Bill in these Houses that aimed to advance the prohibition of incitement to hatred and incitement to violence. That has fallen by the wayside. It shows a certain political cowardice on the part of these Houses that we cannot address this issue, which we know exists, and put in place measures that protect not just LGBT people but anybody from a set of vulnerable groups listed in the legislation. The fact that we cannot do that is a really poor reflection on the ability of this House to enforce laws that make a difference to people's quality of life. That is what it is really about. It is about the notion that members of the LGBT community or any other minority or vulnerable community would be entitled to enjoy their lives and have space to go about their business, their social lives and their work lives where they live with exactly the same entitlement to peaceable enjoyment as the Minister of State, myself or anybody else in the county has.  These two issues have been left on the table and we have not dealt with them.  The time has come to deal with them. Let us ban conversion therapies and get to grips with hate speech and actions which incite violence and hatred against people once and for all, so that everyone can feel safe and included. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere  I am very grateful to be able to speak about Pride in the Chamber because it means so much to so many people. It is a celebration of love, identity, courage and hope. However, it is also a reminder of the journey that has brought us here and the responsibility we all share to continue to build a kinder, fairer and more inclusive society. I am proud to speak about Pride because it represents something much bigger that a parade or celebration. It represents the freedom to live openly, honestly and authentically, as well as the belief that every person deserves dignity, respect and the opportunity to be themselves without fear. Ireland has come a remarkable distance.  In 2015, the people of Ireland made history by becoming the first country in the world to approve marriage equality by popular vote. That referendum was about far more than changing our Constitution. It was about recognising that love is equal. It was about neighbours, families, friends and communities standing together and saying that everyone deserves the same rights, respect and opportunity to build a life with the person they love. It was one of Ireland\u2019s proudest moments, and showed the world what compassion, equality and hope can achieve.  School remains one of the toughest places in Irish life to be an LGBTQ+ young person, with three quarters of these students reporting that they feel unsafe, and half experiencing bullying. No young person should have to feel he or she has to hide who he or she is simply to feel safe. Pride gives hope to those young people and reminds them they are not alone. It tells them there is a community that accepts and values them, and believes they deserve every opportunity to live full and happy lives. Pride is equally important for parents and families because every parent wants his or her child to grow up safe, confident and accepted. Many parents of young children carry worries, not because they are anything other than immensely proud of their children, but because they know society can still be unkind at times and worry about bullying, discrimination, mental health and whether their child will be judged for simply being themselves. No parent should have to carry those fears.  One of the greatest challenges facing all young people today is social media. This has given many LGBTQ+ people the opportunity to find support, build friendships, and realise they are not alone. For many it has been life-changing but it does have another side. Too often social media rewards outrage instead of understanding. It can amplify division instead of dialogue, spread misinformation instead of truth and give a platform to abuse that would never be tolerated face to face. We are seeing, not just in Ireland but across the world, how online hostility can create a more divided society. If we want a more inclusive Ireland, we must ensure that the values we show offline are reflected online too.  We must not forget the excellent services that our youth services provide in our local communities, especially those in my own constituency, where we have the Carlow Regional Youth Services in County Carlow, and Ossory Youth in County Kilkenny. Their staff and volunteers do unbelievable work for our young people. Continued financial support for them is essential to continue to provide these irreplaceable services. The Pride festivals of counties Carlow and Kilkenny are taking place in July. They have fantastic committees of volunteers who do outstanding work to make the city of Kilkenny and county of Carlow vibrant, colourful and safe places to be.  When people march in Pride, they are not simply marching for themselves. The march for the teenager who is still afraid to tell his or her parents who he or she is, for the young person sitting in a classroom wondering if he or she will ever truly belong, and for those who still fear rejection because of who they love or how they identify. Their courage lights the way for someone else.  We must continue to work harder than ever to build a society that is truly inclusive and respectful of all those who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. Those who identify as heterosexual have an equally important role to play. Being an ally is not complicated, it means standing up against bullying, challenging prejudice, speaking with kindness and creating workplaces, schools, sports clubs and communities where everyone feels welcome. Equality is strengthened when everyone stands together. The Ireland we should strive for is one where no one feels they have to hide who they are; a country where every child grows up believing he or she belongs. It is a society where difference is celebrated rather than feared. The marriage equality referendum showed us what Ireland can be when compassion triumphs over division. Let us honour that legacy, not only during Pride month but every day of the year, because love is love and no-one should ever have to live that love in fear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  Cuirim f\u00e1ilte roimh an deis labhairt ag an d\u00edosp\u00f3ireacht seo. Pride, it is important to remember, emerged from repression, as a movement for equality. It is important that we celebrate all those who stood up and fought for change during periods when it was not easy to do so.  In Ireland and in this State, Pride emerged as a response to what was, for much of our history, a conservative and reactionary State that was hostile in the extreme to anybody who was perceived as different, particularly gay people but also often women, working-class communities, republicans, and left-wing activists. Pride emerged from the horrific, homophobic murder of Declan Flynn in 1983, which rightly caused widespread revulsion. The Sinn F\u00e9in Ernie O\u2019Malley Cumann from Drumcondra was part of that very first Pride protest in 1983, when activists marched to Fairview Park where Declan Flynn was killed. It was another ten years before homosexual acts were decriminalised and the Government only acted then having being forced to do so and having been dragged to the European courts. The reality, not always acknowledged, is that the reactionary Irish State was a harsh place for far too many people, particularly anyone who was different; as I said, gay people, single mothers, victims of abuse, those with mental health struggles and those from deprived communities.  From partition to 1983, the Irish State treated gay people as criminals and outcasts. Male homosexual acts were illegal under laws inherited from Britain. The pervasive influence of the Catholic Church hierarchy reinforced stigma, censorship and silence around homosexuality. Before decriminalisation, many gay people lived hidden lives under shame, isolation and criminalisation. This had serious mental health and indeed, often tragic outcomes. Many gay people, like others who faced discrimination, just left what they considered to be a suffocating State to build lives elsewhere. I remember when I attended my first Pride parade in Dublin in 1997, there was still a sense of repression and isolation. It is right then, that at Pride we celebrate how far we have come from the dark days when Government Ministers dismissed any suggestions of law reforms, to the point where we had a successful referendum on the recognition of same-sex marriage. At the core of that vote in that referendum was the humanity of the Irish people and an understanding of why equality matters - something that reactionary Governments had lacked in preceding decades.  We are proud of those who stood against discrimination during dark days and we are proud of those who continue to demand equality for all of our people today, including those from the LGBT+ communities. In particular, I welcome the fact that the Government has finally moved to provide for the disregard of historical convictions for homosexual activity. It should not have taken 33 years since decriminalisation to achieve this. It is further evidence that the work is not over and the aspiration of pride in, and equality for, all of our citizens remains unfinished business. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  Some 43 years ago, the killing of Declan Flynn shocked Ireland. There were thousands who marched through Dublin afterwards to refuse to accept violence against gay people. I speak today as a gay man and I am proud of the history and of the rights the gay and lesbian community has won over those years. That violence did not end in 1982. In 2022, Aidan Moffitt and Michael Snee were tragically murdered in County Sligo, because they were gay men. Their deaths are proof that hatred towards this community is not a thing of history but is indeed something of present tense.  I raise this not for sympathy but for honesty about this movement and what it was built to fight. That is exactly why I will say what many gay, lesbian and bisexual men and women say privately and that many in this House are too afraid to say plainly, that is, this movement has been hijacked. It no longer speaks for the people who built it or the people who are still at risk. We are told to make room and redefine same-sex attraction to fold into the ever-expanding list of letters that has grown so broad it has become meaningless. Does anyone in this House know at this stage what the plus even means or stands for any more? That is not progress. To my mind, that is erasure dressed up as inclusion.  I want to be direct about the flying of flags.  I truly believe that one flag should belong to all our State buildings and local authority buildings in this country and should be flown for 365 days per year. That is the Tricolour. It belongs to every citizen regardless of their sexuality, religion or political belief. State buildings should be there to unite the citizens. They should not be there to divide for competitive identity groups, each waiting for its day, week, month or turn. I remind this House that men and women died for that flag; they died in 1916. They died afterwards fighting for the right to fly that flag for a free Ireland, the flag that draped the coffins of Irish patriots and servicemen in the Defence Forces alike. They did not die so that a sitting Member of the Upper House of the Oireachtas could stand up generations later and call it a source of terror. That is not just an insult to me; it is an insult to every Member and every family who buried someone under that flag and called it a price worth paying. I will name the hypocrisy plainly. Senator Eileen Flynn told Seanad \u00c9ireann she feels terrified at the sight of the Tricolour. She is a public representative, paid for by this State and she said it in a State building that flies the flag every day. That is not principle; it is an insult to every citizen who has ever stood under that flag, and I will not pretend otherwise to keep the peace.  The people who marched for Declan Flynn did not march so that gay men and women could become a Government photo opportunity once a year. They marched for freedom to live without fear, not for the right to be paraded out as proof of what seems to be a progressive country, as it claims to be. We must not let their courage be reduced to press releases or photo opportunities. Their courage was not given so it could be borrowed by other people with other agendas. Lesbians, gays and bisexuals are citizens of this Republic, not props for other political uses. They marched once and, let me remind the House, they did not march so their fight could be handed over to others who shout the loudest. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  LGBT and Pride. Pride stands for \"respect\". I listen in this House daily and people say \"far left\" and \"far right\" and brand everything. What is wrong with just being yourself? Why do you have to be branded? Respect means that if somebody is gay, lesbian or trans, you give them respect and let them give you respect. I do not believe in all of this branding. They are people, human beings. That is what they are.  I have been attacked here and called far right and a homophobe and then people found out I have a son who is gay. Why should he be branded as gay? He is my son. He is a person. Why do we have to brand everything? Regardless of what you are or what you want to be, you should be treated with respect for whatever you want to be. If someone has a problem with that, it is they who have the problem, not the person who wants to be whatever they are. That is what it comes down to - simple respect.  As a father, grandfather and public representative, I am hopeful that, in future, regardless of what you are and how you identify as in this country or in this world, you will be safe and when you go out, you will not be targeted or identified for being different. For decades, people who had disabilities were hidden from the public. Now, and rightly so, they are part of our families, communities and workforce, where they were previously identified and hidden away. If anything can be learned from this today, it is that respect equals pride. Regardless of what you are or who you are, nobody should be labelled. You are a person, a human being, and that deserves respect from all sides, regardless of your beliefs or religion. It does not matter. I have my religion and other people have theirs. I respect theirs and they respect mine. That is what I stand for - respect. If you cannot respect other people and you have a go at other people, even down to religion, then you have the problem. I do not and it does not bother me any more. There is only one answer I have for people like that; in one ear and out two. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor)  I am pleased to join my colleagues today in marking Pride month. This is an important month to reflect on the role we each play in supporting equality and inclusion in Irish society. Pride is about visibility, dignity, respect and celebrating identity and belonging. As a Minister of State in the Department of Health, I am particularly conscious of the importance of inclusion services. Good public health policy must recognise difference and remove barriers to access. Members of the LGBT+ community can face more complex health challenges in relation to mental health, well-being and substance use. Our goal is for everybody to be equal. We want Ireland to be a place where absolutely everyone can live healthy and safe lives.  As Minister of State with responsibility for the national drugs strategy, I am determined our drug and alcohol services across the country are designed to be accessible, safe and responsive. That is why building capacity within services to understand and meet the needs of diverse communities remains a key priority for me. Our community services enhancement fund has previously helped expand access for groups which can face additional barriers, including women, minority communities and the LGBT+ community. We also know that tailored supports are important. Dedicated services for LGBT+ young people, developed through local drug and alcohol task forces, provide safe and non-judgmental spaces for support. These services focus on education, early intervention and harm reduction, empowering young people to make informed choices and to seek help when they need it.  The draft national drugs strategy for 2026 to 2029 places a strong emphasis on fairness and access and seeks to ensure services are responsive to the needs of all communities. We are also continuing to implement our national sexual health strategy and develop a model of care for HIV. This is alongside continuing to invest in PrEP and expanding access to meet demand. Every year, \u20ac6.5 million is invested in this and we also make sure we have the staffing there, which is hugely important.  Our Healthy Ireland framework is also being reviewed for the first time since 2013. I want to ensure the importance of promoting good health and well-being for our LGBT+ community is acknowledged in the framework.  Pride is a celebration of identity and community and I wish everyone who is celebrating this weekend in Dublin a happy Pride. I know Carlow is having its Pride parade on 12 July and Kilkenny's Pride celebration runs from 23 July but the parade itself will be on 25 July.  We have come a long way in Ireland in improving rights for the LGBT+ community and it is important to celebrate this. It is also important that we are mindful of those who would seek to take us backwards or say we have not done enough. I know we need to do more and we have to do so. I compliment my good friend John Paul Payne who is organising the Pride parade in Carlow with a load of volunteers. Well done to him. Carlow Regional Youth Services has a dedicated youth worker and a safe drop-in place. All these measures are important. Pride is important, not just as a celebration but as a chance to refocus our efforts on making Ireland a truly inclusive society. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  I often wonder why are we having these statements on Pride? I reflect in many ways on my own political journey and I remember that, as a student and young person, I saw M\u00e1ire Geoghegan-Quinn decriminalise homosexuality. As someone who was very closeted at the time, that had a big impact on me in terms of challenging my own thinking.  My experience, even though I never hid my sexuality, was that I ended up being outed by the media in 2006. What struck home to me about that was the support I got from family, friends and my local community. I knew the real Ireland that existed then. In 2012, at the Fianna F\u00e1il Ard-Fheis, we became the second party to support marriage equality and, interestingly, the first to support same-sex adoption at the time. There was the joyous occasion of the marriage equality referendum in 2015. Now, we have a cross-party equality caucus here in Leinster House. I pay tribute to the leadership of the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, in that regard. In many ways, it is now unremarkable that we have so many Members of these Houses who identify as LGBT or as allies and no one really passes many remarks on it.  I also see this in my local community, in the likes of The Vault youth centre in Arklow, the Gorey Youth Needs group and FDYS in Gorey, all of which have LGBT support groups. I pay particular tribute to Creagh College, which has done an incredible amount of work with the LGBTQ allies' support group in the school. The school has now achieved the Belong To quality mark. Incredible work has been done by the teachers and students to ensure the school is an inclusive environment. So many schools are doing that.  I was at Gorey Library this week where, flying proudly outside the library, as indeed it is outside many libraries, is the Pride flag. It has a lot of books celebrating that and ensuring our libraries are inclusive spaces.  When I look at all that progress I wonder if we still need to discuss and raise these issues. I am certain, even hearing some of the comments in the House today, that we do. I have no intention of pulling up the ladder on my trans brothers and sisters. We still have a long way to go, particularly in areas like trans healthcare. There is a responsibility on those who have been on our own journey to be supportive of those who still feel that the State is not recognising their needs or being sufficiently supportive.  Reference has been made to social media. I am deeply concerned about Facebook. Meta is not taking sufficient action. Facebook used to be very much a community space for those who identified as LGBT to be able to come together. We are now seeing hate, particularly homophobia, discrimination and racism, being amplified. In the last year or two, in every single case where I have reported hate as being against the community guidelines that are set out, Facebook is upholding the content. There has to be a challenge made to Meta. If Facebook is taking part in the Pride parade in Dublin this weekend, it needs to look at itself and ask what it is doing as a company to be able to tackle this. Facebook, which was always an inclusive and welcoming space, has now gone nearly as bad as X in terms of fostering division and hatred.  While we are fortunate in this country that we have come so far, we need to look at what continues to go on around the world. It is abhorrent that there are still countries where same-sex relations are illegal, even where there is an assumption that one has a same-sex attraction. Not only that but there are also countries where same-sex relations remain punishable by death. We have a moral obligation to continue to call out those countries. They include Brunei, Iran, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and other parts of the world, including a number of regions in Nigeria where Sharia law is implemented.  With regard to our foreign policy, I commend the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. When it comes to making decisions on overseas development aid, we should include a requirement that citizens are respected, regardless of who they love or are purported to love. The European Union must be a union of values as well as interests. I certainly believe that we are now seeing progress in Hungary where we had seen a lot of discrimination against members of the LGBT community. For countries on the accession pathway, these values also need to be very clearly communicated. I welcome that the Pride parade in Kyiv last weekend was ten times larger than normal. There is in Ukraine a recognition that the country needs to adhere to the value of inclusiveness.  As others have said, this is a republic and we are judged by how we treat all of our citizens. For those who are LGBTQ, identify as LGBTQ or are our allies, I say \"Happy Pride\". "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  I am an Irish republican and I believe deeply in the principles of equality, solidarity and community. Those values shape my politics. They are also the values that exist at the heart of Pride. That is why I am proud to stand here today and every day as an ally of the LGBTQ community.  Pride is a celebration of people being able to live freely, openly, honestly and without fear. It is about recognising the dignity and worth of every person and building a society where everyone feels respected and included. T\u00e1 cearta agus comhionannas r\u00edth\u00e1bhachtach agus t\u00e1 s\u00e9 chomh t\u00e1bhachtach c\u00e9anna go dt\u00f3gfaimid pobal ina bhfeictear gach uile dhuine, ina gcloistear iad agus ina bhfuil gr\u00e1, cine\u00e1ltas agus meas mar chro\u00edl\u00e1r na beatha.  While we have made significant progress in recent decades, we know that the work is not finished. Many LGBTQ+ people continue to experience discrimination and isolation, and barriers to services continue to exist. We see this in areas such as mental health and housing in particular. Those challenges can be especially acute outside major urban centres. We know that visibility and representation matter. Knowing that you belong in your community matters. Every person, regardless of where they live, deserves to feel safe and accepted for who they are.  We should also remember that the rights enjoyed today were secured through the determination and courage of many activists. There is nothing inevitable about the progress that we enjoy today. The progress made to date was only achieved because people stood up, spoke out, demanded equality and fought for it. T\u00e1 cumhacht ar leith ag baint le saol a chaitheamh le br\u00f3d, le bheith mar chuid de phobal, le glacadh le daoine eile agus a bheith glactha ionat f\u00e9in. Is \u00e9 sin cro\u00edl\u00e1r an Bhr\u00f3id.  As republicans, we seek an Ireland based on equality and respect for all. We must continue working towards that full lived equality where every LGBTQ+ person is seen, heard, protected and valued. We know that Pride is about solidarity, community and belonging. Those principles are worth defending every single day of the year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (Deputy Jerry Buttimer)  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas le gach ball a bh\u00ed p\u00e1irteach sa d\u00edosp\u00f3ireacht th\u00e1bhachtach seo. Gu\u00edm Br\u00f3d sona ar gach duine. Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an gCeann Comhairle as ceannaireacht a thabhairt do gach Ball den Teach an tseachtain seo caite mar gheall ar cheili\u00faradh Bhr\u00f3d.  I thank the Ceann Comhairle for her leadership as the custodian of the Chair of the House, for being impartial and for being a leader in building an equal and inclusive Houses of the Oireachtas. It does mean something and it is important. I thank all Members of the House for their participation in this important debate. It is not just a debate; it is an opportunity to participate in a discussion and look at where we have come from and where we are going to move to. I was struck by the varied contributions of the debate. Those people who know me will know that Harvey Milk has been a hero of mine. I was struck by these words of his:  It takes no compromise to give people their rights. It takes no money to respect the individual. It takes no political deal to give people freedom. It takes no survey to remove repression.  As we celebrate Pride and reflect on some of the contributions made in this debate, I am not being nostalgic in saying there are some key moments where we have jumped and made significant progress. This is Pride month, but not for everybody in the world, as we just heard. Just 12 months ago, in the European Union, people in Budapest were fighting a battle to have the right and ability to march, celebrate and protest.  I thank Deputy Roderic O'Gorman and the former Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, for their leadership, and the Mayor of Budapest for having the bravery to have that parade. I was in Budapest recently and people were looking forward to Pride this year. Deputy Byrne mentioned Kyiv as an example of a place where people do not just want to celebrate, but to advocate and protest too. That is what this month is about. It is about that opportunity to shine a light on the aspiration of equality for all people that was spoken about at our coffee morning and the diverse, rich lives that our Proclamation speaks about, of cherishing all of us equally. As we heard today, not everybody feels they can inhabit that space and be free to be who they are.  I thank the activists in the Gallery, those who are watching online and those who are back in the offices working to ensure we have people who will campaign, raise issues and hold us to account. I ask all Members of the Oireachtas to read this wonderful document by Transgender Equality Network of Ireland, TENI. I thank Daire Dempsey for putting it together. I also thank the Library and Research Service, which put together a comprehensive document for today's debate as well. I will come back to both those documents in a moment.  I read an article in the Irish Independent during the week by Kevin Penrose, a footballer from Tyrone. He spoke passionately about his life. He said that for a long time he resented the sport as he never thought he could truly be himself, whether it was his sexuality or a GAA player. If we take the example of sport, look at the transformative change that has taken place in our country. There is acceptance, progress and inclusivity in the GAA, soccer, rugby and athletics, and they are just examples of some sports. That shows us the progress we have made.  I also thank members of the Oireachtas equality caucus, which is led by Senator Laura Harmon, and our allies and friends. Deputies Devine and Byrne are here. These are meetings of people where there is little rancour. We have a lot of debate, we seek change and we work on a cross-party platform to deliver for people.  The backdrop to this debate has been against some of the briefings and engagements we have had. One of the questions posed in this discussion today was why we still have Pride. TENI speaks about the outstanding gaps in the law, policy and services that prevent people achieving full equality, and that is the tenor that has come through some of the debate here. Many people who do not understand and do not necessarily read about the issues think the marriage equality referendum put a roof on the house but, of course, it did not, as we all know. It was an important milestone and an extraordinary result, but we still have significant work to do.  For many of us in the community, and we heard it in the debate today, it feels like the world is in fire. Deputy Byrne listed a number of countries where no progress has been made and there is no recognition in any shape or form. I have had the privilege of being the Cathaoirleach and Leader of the Seanad, a Minister of State and a Member of the House. I have travelled the world raising matters and have been met with a frosty silence. In many ways, it reminded me of Bertie Ahern's image of playing handball against a haystack.  However, in the despair that we heard in some of the contributions, we have to be optimistic. We have to continue with our statements, which have the support of so many. If we are honest about it, there has been monumental progress and a sea change in opinion in all our political parties, which allows us to have that person-centred approach so that we can have the gender-affirming healthcare service we need to have for our trans community and friends. Deputy Byrne is right. We cannot and should never pull the ladder up. We must fight, advocate and stand with our family members, colleagues and friends because if we do not, we will fail them.  Building on the Gender Recognition Act 2015, it is clear that we need to reform and review our healthcare system, and inculcate the need not just a real pathway, but also the delivery of gender-affirming healthcare. We owe that to our trans friends, colleagues and family members.  We are thankfully in a Parliament where the majority of us are on the same page. We may be on different lines but we are on the same page, and that is a positive.  We have all met and spoken to representatives from End Discrimination in Inheritance Tax, EDIT, the reform group looking for a change to the inheritance tax. I pay tribute to James Sexton and his group on their campaign. It is an important point that it raises. Many of us who will not have children will be faced with that inheritance issue at the end of our lives. What we have or do not have is not the point. The issue is equality in the treatment of people. I hope the families EDIT represents will see a change in the policy around inheritance tax.  Reflecting on today, the theme of love, acceptance and inclusion has come across very much. I will single out two people before I conclude. Bishop Paul Colton has retired as the Church of Ireland bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross. At a time when it was not popular, he led. He brought people and his church along. Deputy Carthy made reference to the church earlier and I think he may have been reflecting on the leadership of the Catholic Church. Bishop Colton made a hugely positive contribution. I ask all of the churches to reflect upon their attitudes and doctrines. As a former seminarian and someone with a degree in theology, I hope they do so because language and words matter.  I also pay tribute to Kate Moynihan, who has retired as the chief executive of LINQ in Cork. A Kerry woman living and working in Cork, she did huge work building an inclusive and empowering society for women and all of us in the community. I thank her and wish her well in her retirement.  As we head towards Pride at the weekend, the flying of the rainbow flag is about visibility. It shows that we have come from Stonewall, where oppression was the order of the day, to liberation today. To the Members of the House and staff, thank you. To our friends watching and listening at home, have a good Pride. Without our friends in the Gallery, who have worked so hard and are working every day, we would be a poorer society. As we have said, Pride is a day of celebration and protest. It is a day to be enjoyed and to walk with pride. To everyone, I say \"Thank you\". Gabhaim m\u00edle bu\u00edochas, a Cheann Comhairle, for your leadership. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank the Minister of State. That concludes the statements on Pride. I add my own voice in wishing everyone a happy Pride weekend. May the sun continue to shine for them, so they can enjoy it all the more. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Pride: Statements"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-24\/debate\/dbsect_20","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Messages from Select Committee","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_20","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Select Committee on Transport has completed its consideration of the Dublin Transport Authority (Amendment) Bill 2026. It has made no amendments thereto.  The Select Committee on Transport has completed its consideration of the following Supplementary Estimate for Public Services for the service of the year ending on 31 2026: Vote 31 - Transport. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Messages from Select Committee"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-24\/debate\/dbsect_21","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/69","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/69\/dail\/2","houseCode":"dail","stage":"2","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Bill 2026: Second Stage (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Bill 2026: Second Stage","counts":{"speechCount":30,"speakerCount":23},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niamh Smyth","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Geoghegan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Clendennen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cormac Devlin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maeve O'Connell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maeve-O'Connell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Maeve-O'Connell.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Keira Keogh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niamh Smyth","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (Deputy Niamh Smyth)  I move: \"That the Bill be now read a Second Time.\"  I am very pleased to bring this Bill before the House today. The purpose of the Bill is to give full effect in Ireland to EU Regulation 2024\/1689 of the European Parliament and Council, and of the EU's Artificial Intelligence Act, which I will refer to throughout as the AI Act.  The Al Act is designed to provide a high level of protection to people's health, safety and fundamental rights and to promote the adoption of human-centric, trustworthy Al.  As with all EU regulations, the Al Act has direct legal effect across all member states. It aims to harmonise rules for Al systems across the EU, creating a single market and ensuring a consistent approach to risk, safety and fundamental rights. With those aims in mind, this Bill is a technical implementing measure. It neither adds to nor alters the obligations placed on regulated entities by the Al Act. The Bill establishes essential domestic regulatory architecture for the supervision and enforcement of the Al Act in the State.  A central feature of the Bill is the establishment of oifig intleacht shaorga na h\u00c9ireann, the Al office of Ireland, as an independent statutory body. Our new Al office will be designated as the single point of contact for our citizens at home, the European Commission and other member states. In this role it will support consistent enforcement of the Act and facilitate co-operation between competent authorities and fundamental rights bodies. The office will promote Al innovation and literacy and oversee the Al regulatory sandbox, which will foster innovation and support startups and SMEs in compliance with the Al Act.  The Bill also empowers our competent authorities and it creates a robust administrative sanctions framework. The Bill establishes a regulatory foundation on which to build trust in society for an evolution of Al that serves as a tool for people, with the ultimate aim of increasing human well-being.  Artificial intelligence is one of the defining technologies of our era. Its applications now reach into virtually every corner of the economy and society, from healthcare and financial services to the delivery of public services and much more. Al has brought remarkable benefits. It is accelerating scientific discovery, improving outcomes in medicine, expanding access to services and generating significant economic opportunity. Our national digital and Al strategy, Digital Ireland: Connecting our People, Securing our Future, sets out Ireland's ambition to be a global hub for applied Al innovation.  Al also carries real risk, however. Without appropriate oversight, it can embed and amplify discrimination, manipulate behaviour or exploit the vulnerabilities of people, posing threats to the health, safety and fundamental rights of our citizens. The Al Act, which entered into force in August 2024, is the first ever legal framework designed to address these concerns while simultaneously fostering innovation of responsible and ethical Al. The Al Act is a risk-based, horizontal regulation. It applies across all sectors of the economy, both private and public, with targeted exemptions for national defence, national security and purely personal use. Crucially, its measures are proportionate: most Al systems will give rise only to minimal risk and can be marketed and used subject to existing legislation, without additional obligations under the Al Act. This ensures that the EU and Ireland remain competitive for Al investment and innovation. The Al Act also takes into account the specific interests and needs of SMEs in terms of simplified obligations and tailored supports.  There are five main pillars to the Al Act, which set out obligations across a number of categories and uses of Al systems and models. Under prohibited practices, eight Al practices are prohibited due to the unacceptable risk they pose to European values and fundamental rights, including practices such as harmful manipulation, social scoring and real-time remote biometric identification. Given the rapid development of technology, the Al Act also provides for the list of prohibited practices to be kept under regular review. Stringent requirements apply to high-risk Al systems used in eight areas set out in the Al Act, such as biometrics and critical infrastructure. Under transparency obligations, specific requirements apply to Al systems that interact with users, generate synthetic content with risks of impersonation or enable deepfakes. Under the general purpose Al pillar, providers of general-purpose Al models face obligations to mitigate systemic risks. Enforcement will be led by the European Commission with member state co-operation. Under the enforcement pillar, member states are required to designate competent authorities to supervise and enforce the regulation of Al and to provide for significant penalties, with fines of up to \u20ac35 million or 7% of global annual turnover for the most serious infringements.  I will now speak to the importance and urgency of the legislation. Ireland has a key position in the European regulatory landscape. Eight of the leading providers of foundational Al models are established here. These are the companies at the frontier of Al development and deployment globally. Maintaining the competitiveness and viability of Ireland's digital economy is an overarching national imperative, as outlined in Programme for Government: Securing Ireland's Future, and is the driver behind a number of key commitments in the Government's recently updated national Al and digital strategy.  As Ireland assumes the Presidency of the Council of the EU, meeting our obligations under the Al Act will further strengthen our position as an EU centre of excellence and digital regulatory hub. It will also demonstrate our commitment to fostering responsible, human-centric Al innovation, both domestically and across Europe.  There is also a firm legal deadline. Enforcement of prohibited Al practices posing unacceptable risks, as set out in Article 5 of the Al Act, takes effect as of 2 August 2026. Ireland must have the necessary national supervisory and enforcement infrastructure in place by that date. I acknowledge the considerable complexity and pace of work required to reach that point. The EU allowed a comparatively short window between the Al Act entering into force and its application. The complexity of the Bill, combined with the parallel development of the EU's digital omnibus proposal, has required extraordinary efforts from my officials, the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel and the Office of the Attorney General. To them I am most grateful.  As I have noted, and as Deputies will no doubt be aware, the EU's digital omnibus on Al, a set of targeted amendments to the Al Act, was provisionally agreed in May 2026 and approved by the European Parliament in June. Ireland supports the agreed omnibus, which helps increase legal certainty and reduce administrative burden. Importantly, the omnibus extends certain implementation timelines, including for transparency obligations and high-risk Al system requirements. However, the omnibus does not extend the timeline for enforcement of prohibited Al practices under Article 5. The 2 August 2026 deadline remains firm, and this Bill addresses it directly. Any amendments to domestic legislation that may be required following formal adoption of the digital omnibus on Al will be addressed as part of phase 2 of this work in the autumn. The second phase will also provide an opportunity to further enhance Al regulation in accordance with the Al Act if required.  Having set out the context and the urgency of the Bill, I will now outline its provisions. The Bill is structured in ten Parts, with 139 sections and 4 Schedules. Its overarching policy objective is to ensure that the Al Act can be comprehensively and effectively implemented here in Ireland.  Part 1 of the Bill, comprising sections 1 to 5, inclusive, provides for the Title and commencement, key definitions, regulation-making powers, service of documents, and expenses, to provide that the costs of administering the Act are funded with the appropriate ministerial approval.  Part 2 is set out over sections 6 to 40, inclusive, and provides for the establishment of oifig IS na h\u00c9ireann and its governance structure, including appointment of its board, CEO and staff and its accountability, funding and functions. Sections 12 to 23, inclusive, are concerned specifically with matters relating to board governance, with provisions on board establishment and membership, appointment process, terms of appointment, membership of either House of the Oireachtas, remuneration, conflict of interest and others. Sections 24 to 33, inclusive, relate to the chief executive officer role and provide for the matters relating to the CEO's appointment, resignation, accountability and functions. Sections 34 to 36, inclusive, relate to the staff of oifig IS na h\u00c9ireann and confidentiality.  The appointment of staff is subject to the Public Services Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004 and the Civil Service Regulation Acts 1956 to 2005. Sections 37 to 40, inclusive, provide for funding and accountability, including the strategy statement, accounts and annual report.  Part 3, comprising sections 41 to 52, inclusive, provides for the practical operational infrastructure underpinning enforcement of the Al Act in Ireland. Section 42 designates the Al office as the national single point of contact in relation to the public and other counterparts at member state and Union levels, and to help increase organisational efficiency as required by the Al Act. Section 43 provides that the Al office will establish and maintain a national Al register, recording all instances of prohibited Al practices, serious incidents involving high-risk Al systems, and other required notifications. Transparency and public accountability are embedded from the outset. Section 46 provides for the establishment of Al regulatory sandboxes under the supervision of the Al office. SMEs and start-ups are to receive priority access. Sections 48 to 50, inclusive, make provision for real-world testing of high-risk Al systems in controlled conditions, subject to appropriate safeguards, oversight, and rights of review.  Market surveillance authorities are a key cohort of the national competent authorities required for the implementation of the Al Act and Part 4 sets out, at sections 54 to 62, inclusive, the general obligations and powers of market surveillance authorities, including the power to receive complaints from the public. Section 59 enables fundamental rights bodies to request the testing of high-risk Al systems where infringements of fundamental rights are suspected. Sections 63 and 64 are concerned with co-operation agreements of relevant market surveillance authorities. Sections 65 and 66 set out data protection matters for relevant competent authorities.  Part 5 provides market surveillance authorities with a comprehensive, structured, and proportionate enforcement toolkit, progressing from co-operative compliance measures through to coercive intervention. Authorised officers, appointed by each market surveillance authority under sections 68 to 70, inclusive, will have powers to enter premises, inspect relevant Al products and records, require the production of information, and take samples. Section 71 provides that contravention notices may be issued requiring an operator to remedy a breach. Section 72 provides that prohibition notices may be issued to stop an Al system from being placed on the market or put into service where it poses a risk or breaches the Al Act. Sections 73 and 74 provide powers for seizure, disposal, and forfeiture of unsafe Al products and, under section 75, in the most serious cases, for the removal of online content to eliminate serious risk. Section 77 provides rights of appeal to the District Court throughout.  Part 6 establishes, at sections 78 to 120, inclusive, the independent adjudication system for the imposition of administrative fines for breaches of the Al Act. Sections 79 to 86, inclusive, provide that where a market surveillance authority believes an infringement has occurred and an authorised officer has conducted an investigation, the matter may, with the authority's consent, be referred to an independent adjudicator. The administrative fines, set out in section 105, are substantial and fully aligned with fines set out under the Al Act. For public bodies, fines are capped at \u20ac1 million, in line with the data protection legislation. Section 114 provides that no administrative fine takes effect without confirmation by the High Court, which is a key procedural safeguard. Sections 107 to 109, inclusive, provide for the rights of appeal. Sections 116 to 117 provide for the nomination of adjudicators by the Al office and appointment by the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment. Section 118 expressly provides for the adjudicators\u2019 independence in the performance of their functions.  Part 7 of the Bill concerns penalties and miscellaneous provisions and, at sections 121 to 127, inclusive, sets out criminal penalties for obstruction of authorised officers, failure to comply with enforcement notices, and unauthorised disclosure of confidential information. Part 8, at sections 128 to 133, inclusive, amends the Central Bank Act 1942 to equip the Central Bank with the investigatory and sanctioning tools necessary for its role as a market surveillance authority under the Al Act. Part 9, at sections 134 to 137, inclusive, amends the Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2014 to equip the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission with the investigatory and sanctioning tools necessary for its role as a market surveillance authority under the Al Act.  Part 10, at sections 138 and 139, contains miscellaneous amendments, including consequential amendments to the Communications Regulation Act 2002, and the Freedom of Information Act 2014. Additionally, there are four Schedules governing oral hearing procedures, the assignment of adjudicators and the register of adjudicators.  In conclusion, establishing a credible and coherent Al enforcement regime in Ireland underscores our commitment to responsible Al development and is a core component of our international competitiveness offering. In this respect, the Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Bill 2026 matters to how Al will impact our society, our economy, our international standing and, of course, our future. It puts in place the enforcement structures that will protect people in Ireland from Al systems that pose unacceptable risks to their health, safety, and their fundamental rights. It provides the regulatory clarity and helps build the public trust that businesses, both indigenous and multinational, need to invest, operate, and grow with confidence.  As we assume the Presidency of the Council of EU, meeting our obligations under the Al Act demonstrates our commitment to responsible digital governance and to being a trusted partner in the EU. The implementing measures enabled by this legislation, including the establishment of the new Al office of Ireland, will provide an enduring foundation, strengthening our position as an EU centre of excellence and digital regulatory hub, and demonstrate our commitment to fostering and promoting responsible Al innovation and adoption both in Ireland and in Europe. It is imperative that the State has a comprehensive and robust legal basis for the full and effective implementation of the Al Act. I am confident this Bill achieves that objective in a balanced, proportionate and technically sound manner. I thank colleagues for their attention and commend the Bill to the House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  Artificial intelligence is transforming our economy, workplaces and daily lives at an extraordinary pace. It offers enormous opportunities to improve public services, drive innovation and enhance productivity but it also presents serious risks that cannot be ignored. We all can recognise the benefits AI can bring to individuals, business and the public sector, be it through task automation, improved data analysis or increased efficiency and competitiveness across many sectors. However, AI is not an inherently positive force. It is a tool that can be used for good or bad, depending on the intentions of those who develop and deploy it. This is precisely why it must be properly and robustly regulated.  I welcome the Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Bill 2026, which will establish the national structures required to implement and enforce the EU AI Act in Ireland. It will provide the governance, supervision and enforcement framework necessary to ensure Ireland meets its obligation to have a fully operational AI regulatory regime in place by 2 August 2026. This important deadline falls during Ireland's Presidency of the European Union. As a country that has positioned itself as a major digital hub within Europe, it is important that Ireland demonstrates leadership and a clear commitment to online safety, accountability and the responsible use of emerging technologies.  The establishment of a dedicated national AI office is indeed welcome. However, its effectiveness will depend on whether it has the necessary independence, staffing and financial resources to carry out its functions properly.  It will be important that the board members of the new office collectively possess expertise in AI and computer science, human rights and equality law, trade union and workers' rights matters, consumer protection and civil society engagement. There must be no conflict between the State's deployment of AI and its role in promoting innovation and its responsibility to regulate and enforce compliance. The office must have sufficient authority and capacity to support other regulators and fundamental rights bodies. We in Sinn F\u00e9in support empowering enforcement bodies to tackle the misuse of artificial intelligence and protect citizens from harmful or unlawful practices. However, enforcement mechanisms must be matched by adequate resources, transparency and oversight.  While much of the debate around artificial intelligence focuses on innovation and competitiveness, we must not lose sight of its impact on workers. Technological advancement should improve people's lives, not undermine their livelihoods. AI should enhance human labour, not replace it. We are already witnessing the consequences of AI-driven restructuring. Recently, 720 workers in Covalen learned their jobs are to be made redundant as advances in artificial intelligence increasingly replace functions previously carried out by people. The Government cannot simply sit back and hope for the best as artificial intelligence reshapes our labour market.  A recent report by the ERSI and Department of Finance estimated that around 7% of jobs in Ireland could be displaced by AI in the short- to medium-term, the equivalent of almost 200,000 jobs. This should serve as a wake-up call that future displaced workers need meaningful protections and supports to be put in place. The new AI office must promote the development and deployment of AI systems that advance high-quality employment, regional development, social inclusion and the provision of public services. Workers must be supported to adapt to changing technologies, gain new qualifications and transition into emerging sectors. More broadly, I want the Government to develop a comprehensive national strategy to manage the impact of AI on employment and ensure workers are partners in shaping technological change, rather than casualties of it. The new AI office could contribute significantly to this work.  The Government has already stated that the Bill does not create substantive administrative obligations beyond those already contained in the EU AI Act. With this Bill we need to be careful not to over-regulate AI and add to the already large administrative burden of SMEs. It is a difference between the administrative burden and regulation that we need. We must also ensure Irish companies can access AI technology to the same extent as international competitors, otherwise, Ireland's competitiveness will be negatively impacted. Regulation must protect citizens while also enabling responsible technological development and economic growth. For Sinn F\u00e9in, regulation of AI must be guided by clear principles. Transparency is essential. AI-generated content and tools should be clearly identified where there is potential for public consumption. Copyright protections must be upheld to protect artists, designers, writers and those working in creative industries from having their original works replicated and exploited without consent.  Privacy rights cannot be compromised. AI systems must comply fully with the GDPR and all relevant data protection legislation. Personal information, including sensitive and biometric data, must be processed lawfully, fairly and transparently. Fairness is another key consideration. AI must never reinforce discrimination, inequality or social exclusion. I say that in particular in regard to access to vital public services by elderly people, people with disabilities and vulnerable people in our communities. Regular monitoring of systems is required to identify and eliminate biases, in particular where AI is used in employment decisions, recruitment processes or the delivery of public services.  We must also recognise the growing cybersecurity threats associated with artificial intelligence. AI has already been used by malicious actors to create increasingly sophisticated phishing exercises, deepfake scams and fraudulent communications. It can automate cyberattacks, identify vulnerabilities at scale and facilitate the spread of misinformation. As AI capabilities become more advanced, the potential for criminal exploitation also increases. The State must ensure that cybersecurity considerations are embedded in AI regulation and governance frameworks. Businesses, public bodies and critical infrastructure providers must be equipped to deal with these evolving threats. Therefore, public engagement and education are vitally important. The Government must be proactive in informing citizens about what artificial intelligence is, how it is being used and what risks and opportunities it presents. Public awareness campaigns, online tutorials and our education system all have a role to play in ensuring people can use these technologies safely and competently.  Particular attention must be paid to vulnerable groups in society, as I said. The rights of children and the elderly must come first and we must have meaningful engagement with people with disabilities to better understand their experiences with AI technologies. Artificial intelligence is evolving much faster than legislation. The Government must remain agile and capable of responding quickly to emerging risks and developments. Sinn F\u00e9in supports the principle of effective AI regulation. We welcome measures that protect citizens, uphold fundamental rights and ensure accountability, but regulation alone is not enough. The Government must ensure that workers are protected, citizens are informed, enforcement bodies are adequately resourced and innovation proceeds in a way that benefits society as a whole. Artificial intelligence should serve people, strengthen our communities and support our economy, while always remaining subject to democratic oversight, human judgment and public interest.  On SMEs, in particular small businesses and the use of AI, we see the use of AI in big tech. We need to be conscious of the supports that are necessary for small and medium businesses, including small retailers, in order to be able to avail of the opportunities of AI while also protecting their businesses. I want a front-loading of the supports and services that are available to SMEs. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Bill 2026. It represents a significant step in establishing the institutional and enforcement framework for the EU AI Act in Ireland. It creates a new AI regulator as an independent statutory body and establishes the supervisory powers and penalty regime we need to meet our obligation to have an operational regulatory framework in place by 2 August. That deadline falls during our EU Presidency. As a digital regulatory hub, it is essential that we demonstrate our commitment to online safety.  Let me be clear from the outset. The Bill is the absolute minimum required. Meeting the deadline is not the same as meeting the moment. I ask that the Minister of State engage with the Opposition on the Bill as it goes through the Houses because there are opportunities for improvement to every aspect of it, to put it mildly. Fundamentally, I would argue that it prioritises economic competitiveness over the protection of fundamental rights. It is important that we get the Bill right.  There are systemic gaps in the regulatory architecture. The enforcement regime is not what it needs to be. The AI office needs to be more than a single point of contact. I know from different iterations of the Bill and pre-legislative scrutiny that some surveillance powers or duties were not included.  Regarding the enforcement regime and its funding and resourcing, there is a deep concern that we will end up with a regime that is incredibly fragmented and impossible to navigate. There are also very real concerns in relation to child protection. Children are a vulnerable group and there is concern to ensure their fundamental rights are protected.  It was frustrating for the members of the AI committee that we were not more central to the design of this legislation. However, we have an opportunity now to discuss it. Concerns were raised about the independence of the AI office and how it will be constituted. I am open to discussion on this but I still question the influence of the Minister, the role of the Department and the potential for executive overreach. Along with my colleagues in Sinn F\u00e9in, we will chart our own way forward on this legislation but I am flagging these issues at this Stage because they are concerns that immediately are apparent to me and I know others have raised, and will raise, similar concerns.  We in Sinn F\u00e9in recognise the immense potential of artificial intelligence. The benefits are there to see, including automation of repetitive tasks, improved accuracy in data analytics, enhanced healthcare outcomes and increased productivity. The potential at least is there for those outcomes to be achieved. However, we are equally, if not more, aware of AI's profound capacity for harm. Those aspects are very apparent and have already been seen. This is not a choice between embracing the future and protecting our citizens. It is our duty to do both and to do so with foresight and determination.  The Grok scandal some months ago, where generative AI was used to create non-consensual sexualised deepfake images of thousands of Irish women and children, was a watershed moment. It was not an event that could not be predicated. Rather, it was a direct consequence of a regulatory vacuum and the failure of successive Governments to act with the vigilance and urgency the situation demanded. The scandal exposed a profound failure to protect citizens from the predatory usage of AI. What happened was not a glitch or accident and it certainly was not acceptable.  Sinn F\u00e9in brought forward legislation to close the loophole in Coco's Law by explicitly criminalising the generation of non-consensual intimate deepfake imagery. While the Government did not oppose our Bill, it remains to be seen whether it will match our and others' commitment to this measure with meaningful action. The message must be made clear that creating such material is illegal. A zero-tolerance approach to violence against women and children means taking action when new threats emerge, not waiting for harm to be done before we intervene. The victims of such attacks deserve more than sympathy. They deserve justice. The State's approach to AI regulation cannot simply be reactive. The Government cannot afford to wait for a scandal to force its hand.  For Sinn F\u00e9in, the focus is clear. Safety, ethics and fundamental rights must be central to the design of our regulatory framework. We must ensure that technological advancement does not come at the expense of the rights and dignity of our citizens, particularly our most vulnerable and especially children. When we talk about vulnerable groups, we are talking about real people, including young girls whose images are stolen and manipulated, women whose career and reputation can be destroyed by a single malicious deepfake image and members of minority communities that are already disproportionately targeted by disinformation and algorithmic bias. These are not abstract risks. They are present dangers that require an immediate and robust response.  The Bill before us introduces enforcement powers. It will allow regulators to issue contravention notices requiring compliance, withdrawal, recall or destruction of AI systems. There is a need for improvement and enhancement of every aspect of the Bill. The Oireachtas AI committee has argued that the EU AI Act must be treated as the minimum legislative requirement, not the ceiling. As AI development moves much faster than legislation, the Government must be able to combat negative developments in a swift manner. We need regular monitoring of AI systems to ensure illegal activity, inequality, bias and discrimination can be detected and removed. That will protect citizens' rights where AI is used in decision-making, where deepfake images are circulated and when AI is used for the delivery of public services. It will ensure that racial, gender or socio-economic discrimination is prevented.  GDPR and copyright legislation must continue to apply to AI. New and stronger legislation may be necessary to ensure that AI systems process data in a lawful, fair and transparent manner. There must be proactive delivery of public information and education. We need to ensure AI is inclusive and accessible for everyone. Public campaigns, online tutorials and the education system must inform citizens about how to use AI in a safe and appropriate manner. The rights of children and young people need to come first. Operators must ensure their platforms account for child safety and protection. There must be engagement with people with disabilities and supports for older people navigating technological developments.  Adoption of AI comes with the danger of job losses, which we are already seeing in manufacturing, technology and finance. Sinn F\u00e9in advocates for strong protections to ensure technological advancements do not erode workers' rights, safety or employment security.  We must also look at the bigger picture. Sinn F\u00e9in has serious concerns about the direction of travel at EU level. The digital omnibus package significantly weakens broader AI regulations and I am proud to say our MEPs voted accordingly. We will not accept a future where safeguards are traded away in the name of simplification and where the primary focus is on facilitating innovation, profits or competition between tech bros to the neglect of fundamental rights. The drive for competitiveness cannot come at the cost of our citizens' safety. The Government must stand firm against any efforts to dilute protections. There are real questions in that regard. This Bill is an important step but it is really important to get it right. I appeal to the Minister of State to work with the Opposition to ensure that happens. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  Cuirim f\u00e1ilte roimh an mBille seo. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 thar a bheith t\u00e1bhachtach go mbeidh na dl\u00edthe cu\u00ed againn chun dul i ngleic le AI agus go mbeimid r\u00e9idh le d\u00e9ile\u00e1il leis an teicneola\u00edocht at\u00e1 romhainn.  On behalf of the Social Democrats, I welcome the Bill and the discussion on Second Stage on the regulation of AI, as provided for in the Bill. Before speaking more specifically, including on some of the amendments I have already submitted, I will comment more broadly on AI and how it is impacting on our society. That is the basis on which we are trying to regulate its use. It is what is prompting governments and regulators around the world to deal with it.  My first point concerns the definition of AI. I am a member of the artificial intelligence committee, where we obviously discuss AI, and the communications committee, where part of our role involves the regulation of technology platforms. I am my party's spokesperson on enterprise, which is the area within which regulation of AI currently sits. In addition, data protection comes within the justice sphere. We are already in a very complex arrangement whereby a lot of different bodies and different perspectives are informing the discussion. I highlight this because in some people's mind, there is still a separation between technology in the form of online platforms and social media, for example, and AI. There is an idea that they are separate but that is no longer the case.  In fact, AI is the only show in town. It has long been the case that it is powering the social media platforms. The use of artificial intelligence is why algorithms are becoming more and more effective at making their products addictive. I worked in the technology sector between 2006 and 2014 and I remember someone telling me that some of the operations in the company I worked at went from a 5% level of automation to 95% during that period.  It is the case that AI is powering the technology all around us and it is not just the robots, the more exciting stuff that people sometimes associate with it. It is powering so much of the technology that reaches deep into our lives and it really has such a broad range. Some of it affects us directly, some of it is hidden, some of it is clearly technology and some of it we do not even associate with that. For me there are three different categories of concerns this raises.  The first one is the existential risk that we do not talk about it a lot in this Chamber. It has to be acknowledged that there are ways in which the technology is developing faster than not only regulators but even the engineers themselves can keep up with. We have seen headlines recently about this tipping point that we are currently getting to where AI agents can potentially start making decisions for themselves. They can start doing things which essentially contradict the wishes of the engineers who have developed that technology but are of a self-interest basis. That is the kind of dystopian world we see in movies and TV programmes and we do not really think it is ever going to happen. That is part of what is happening now and really why we are at such a critical moment right this minute of getting a handle on this and really getting control of it.  The second huge category that artificial intelligence raises for me as a concern is in labour displacement. Only this morning I was speaking to the Minister of State, Deputy Dillon, about the Covalen workers and the broader picture of AI labour displacement in Ireland. We are not dealing with this. In fact, it is for me the definition of \"head in the sand\" that when I raise this, the stock response from Government is that it knows AI is going to disrupt labour, but actually it has the potential to augment - I think that is the word the Minister of State, Deputy Dillon, used earlier - it as well, that it will improve jobs and we will have better-quality jobs and more critical thinking within our roles because all the automation and more mundane and tedious tasks will be done by technology. There is nothing in the path that has got us to this point so far that gives me confidence that this will be the case. It is automation which has transformed industries around us, like taxi drivers and delivery drivers more generally as well. None of it has been good for job security, job stability or for pay and conditions of those workers. What automation has done so far is to turn various parts of our employment sectors into a gig economy and it is not to the benefit of workers. It might be to the benefit of innovation, competitiveness and profit, but it is not to the benefit of workers. Unless we acknowledge that there is going to be major labour displacement as a result of artificial intelligence and unless we are honest with ourselves as policy makers and the Government is honest with itself, then this is going to be an issue that will absolutely dominate the next ten years of politics.  Within that for me one of the most important parts is that we do not have the structures for workers' rights in this country which allow us to deal with a crisis of this size. This is the thing. It should not be a crisis. It should be that if labour is being displaced that actually we have more time as a species for leisure to actually get to do things and we get to value, for example, professions that are traditionally undervalued, like teaching or caring, which are things that cannot be automated and are predominantly done by women. That is an opportunity, but unless we acknowledge it and are honest about it, none of these things are going to happen. As is the case with so much of AI there is opportunity, but unless we are honest about the threats, we will not be able to harness that opportunity and I have major concerns about that.  The last of the three categories that I would see as being evoked in this is the harms one. Grok was an example of that. I know the Minister of State's response was to be horrified, and rightly so, at what happened earlier this year when that feature became available. However, the reality is that this feature still exists. People can access it on their phones in this country using the right technology if they wish to do so. People can still nudify images. They can still promote child sexual abuse material and image-based sexual abuse using the technology that is made available to them by a private company. Nobody has yet been prosecuted, no sanctions have been levied and nothing has actually happened. I know there is a range of different responses in terms of inquiries, investigations, prosecutions and so on. I keep being told that there is this overburdensome regulatory framework that people are trying to deal with and yet we have a clear scandal and this overly burdensome regulatory framework cannot seem to react to it in any level of real time. Maybe it will get there eventually but the reality is that we can still access these features. That is just an example of the whack-a-mole model the Government will be dealing with. Grok is one feature on one application on one platform. It abounds. We do not know yet; just like we did not anticipate nudification being the crisis that it became, we do not know where the next one is coming from. Adding to the digital omnibus, which is essentially what happened, the very specifics around nudification, is not enough, because it is not treating the fundamental issue around the business model of these tech companies and the control of power they currently have.  I agree with other speakers who have mentioned that, unfortunately, the view of this Government, which is absolutely mirrored from Brussels, is a very industry-focued lens for the governance of AI. Everything is done through the prism of business and industry, competitiveness, enterprise and innovation. Unfortunately, that is not going to work. Establishing our AI office in the Department of enterprise is, to me, the first mistake we are making in that lens being applied to the development of this governance. It does not balance effectively the rights and protections that we need to bake in to the governance of this technology. Every time I hear a Government spokesperson, they speak about those things and say that the Government has to balance it with the protections, but nothing that is being done is convincing me that this is actually happening. I am sorry but it is just not coming through in the Government's actions.  I mentioned power and this is really important. It is becoming more and more accepted that the control and power of this technology is in the hands of too few people and specifically in the hands of five or six tech broligarchs in the States. This group of people is pushing Donald Trump to lobby Brussels to deregulate so that they can have more access to the market. We have heard them say this. They do not hide this. This control and power means that we will always face this imbalance. We will always have to deal with a heavy regulatory framework to try to wrestle back that control, but there are other ways we can do so. We need to open that conversation and be honest about it.  Another thing we need to think about is the just transition. We talk about a just transition in relation to the climate but we need to add to that a digital component. We are dealing with a transformation in society because of the man-made climate change and we are also dealing with a transformation in society because of the technology we are developing. Beyond the governance, we also need to talk about it at that very fundamental, societal level. Here is the thing; if we trust AI and we actually build governance that is effective and good, there is so much to harness. There is so much benefit that we can bring to society that we can all enjoy. I have said before that algorithms are not bad things. Algorithms are bad at the moment because they are designed to keep our eyes on the screen and to addict us to the products, but they are just a maths equation. If we instead were able to repurpose those algorithms to promote well-being, equality, employment, whatever it might be, whatever the social difficulty is that we are tackling at any given time within a jurisdiction, we can actually harness these tools for good social impact. We will never be able to do that as long as the control sits in the hands of so few people who are entirely motivated by profit. Whatever the secondary missions of their companies might say, these are for-profit businesses with shareholders and all that involves. As long as that is the case, we will have issues with it.  I encourage the Minister of State and I will give her my copy of a brilliant book by Bruce Schneier titled Rewiring Democracy , which really helps to unpick this. It is a brilliant piece of work by a cybersecurity expert. I have quoted it a few times as it is such a helpful book. It is a very positive take on it and it says how this is technology that can be good in society but it will only ever work if we trust it. Otherwise, we will see a complete divergence between people paying to have technology they can trust and the rest of us swimming around in the cesspit that the Internet is increasingly becoming.  Before I go into specifics of the Bill, I want to touch on the AI Act and the digital omnibus because I do not support the digital omnibus. It has moved what could have been more promising legislation back towards light-touch regulation and that is a problem. I appreciate that there were a couple of carve-outs at the last minute, which meant that the digital omnibus was not as negative as it could have been. Nonetheless, I think it has cut the AI Act at the knees before it has even started to get going. That is a real shame. Specifically on the Bill, I want to talk about some of the amendments I have submitted, which we will get a chance to discuss further on Committee Stage.  While it is obviously welcome that we are legislating for artificial intelligence, I note it is disappointing that such vital and important legislation is being rushed because of what I can only call inadequate advanced planning. The EU AI Act applies from August and we have had years of lead-in time to legislate for that application but yet this 106-page Bill was published late last week and the deadline for amendments for Committee Stage was this morning at 11 a.m. We have to get legislation like this right and to do that we need proper parliamentary scrutiny in the establishment of new State bodies and a complex framework of regulation. We need a process that will create space and time to identify key improvements for this Bill. That is extremely difficult to do when legislation is rushed through these Houses in the manner we are seeing right now.  Governance and independence of the AI office is something I have commented on a lot. I will continue to work on it throughout the passage of this Bill and it pertains to the bulk of the amendments I have put forward. I have spoken at length about the importance of the AI office as a regulator having the appropriate independence and resources to operate. That means it can act appropriately in its functions and that it is insulated from potential corporate capture, like we saw with the environment agency in the UK, or pressure from those it seeks to regulate. It needs independence from the Government like other regulators in this country. Its board and leadership must be appointed in a transparent manner and we cannot have a situation where such a vital piece of our regulatory framework - a framework that affects all parts of Irish society - is shaped wholly by the wants and interests of the Department of enterprise.  I was the head of an independent State agency. I understand what that independence looks like and how it can make bodies so much more effective. I raised this in committee but I also encourage the Minister of State's Department to look into the Paris Principles as essentially a gold standard in independence. The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission is the only agency in the State that applies the Paris Principles and that is because it is a UN accredited body, but there is no reason we cannot apply those same standards to other bodies.  As it stands, this Bill suggests that the first board and CEO be appointed by the Minister for enterprise with little reference to any binding recommendations from the Public Appointments Service or procedures in the appointment to safeguard independence from the beginning. This is not for a caretaker or interim period before permanent appointments can be made; it is for the full five-year term. If we want independence, transparency and due regard for all sections of society that are impacted by the proposed remit of the AI office, we cannot have all that power and discretion over the people who will shape the direction and the governance of the office resting solely with the Department of, or the Minister for, enterprise.  I have concerns over that control within the Department because I have been reassured time and again by the Government that the AI office will be wholly independent. However, in my reading of this Bill I do not see how that can be the case because if we are serious about having an effective AI office and an effective administration of the AI Act, we need to address the gaps and deficiencies in this Bill and I hope we are able to discuss the constructively on Committee Stage.  The idea that the Minister can instruct the office to act as he sees fit, even with carve-outs for specific enforcement matters, undermines that independence. We cannot have an effective, independent State body that must provide clear and evidence-based views and guidance on the regulation of artificial intelligence that is not permitted to comment on Government policy when asked by Members of these Houses at Oireachtas committees. These are very basic and straightforward infringements on the potential independence of the AI office under this Bill. We have a myriad of examples of agencies and bodies in this State where these constraints are not applied and we see the benefit in ensuring accountability, boosting public confidence and giving us all clarity when it comes to legal and policy areas that need work. I want the perspective of those working in regulating AI to inform wider society, us included, but that is not possible if they are explicitly prohibited from sharing their perspective.  Next, I wish to speak to high-risk systems and ensuring that dangerous products are taken off the market. I welcome that we will eventually have a clear way of dealing with high-risk AI systems, but we need to be able to reflect reality. There are high-risk systems already in use that should not be there and waiting for legislation to catch up is just not okay. Under the digital omnibus plans that the Government has said it supports, we will be waiting another year until the regulations on these systems apply. That means we are essentially inviting companies to enter their products into an unregulated space within the next year before the regulation kicks in in 12 months' time when we will have rushed products and where developers' own safety processes will be rushed.  These are not simple, harmless products. They are explicitly the type of AI product which poses a high level of potential risk to our fundamental rights and safety. We, as a State, and particularly as a country where a lot of AI and tech companies are based, should be pushing for these safeguards for our citizens to be introduced and bedded in as soon as possible. With deepfakes, AI scams and more already affecting people, we cannot let these extremely powerful business interests have their way when it comes to the current status quo of no regulation, light-touch regulation and, in some cases, even self-regulation.  We also need to see clarity when it comes to the remit and co-ordination of market surveillance authorities and fundamental rights bodies because I understand and appreciate the reasons for adopting a distributed approach to the implementation of the EU AI Act but as others have mentioned, this approach is only effective when the national co-ordinating body, the AI office, can act as that co-ordinator effectively, that is, when it can mediate disputes between bodies where there are competing investigations and ensure smooth co-operation between the bodies involved. This is something that was flagged during pre-legislative scrutiny and which I am disappointed to see was not addressed in the Bill itself. I hope we can address this gap as the Bill proceeds through the Houses as it is absolutely vital to ensure that businesses, citizens and regulators have certainty on where they stand, how investigations proceed and who is in charge of those investigations in each case.  On that last point, it might be helpful for the Minister of State and her officials to have a look at the national preventive mechanism, NPM, structure. It is not actually legislated for here in Ireland yet. This is for the optional protocol to the convention against torture, OPCAT. It is actually quite a similar model where there is a co-ordinating body at the top and then that is co-ordinating sectoral inspectors. The legislation will eventually come in here in Ireland but there is a similar model in New Zealand that the Minister of State can examine. Basically it says that, because certain agencies will have greater powers in terms of independence, powers of publication and so on, they should then be able to co-ordinate bodies that do not have that same level of autonomy or independence. They may be further embedded into Departments, for example, but have quite specific roles to play because obviously, with the market surveillance authorities and the fundamental rights bodies identified within the Act, that is going to be the case.  As there will be a mixture of independence and autonomy within each of those agencies, making that co-ordinator as independent, autonomous and well resourced as it can be to do its job is absolutely crucial. Again, having been in a body where these functions are designated to you and assigned to you, rarely are they matched with the resources needed to do the job. We need to make sure that those fundamental rights bodies that are listed in Article 77 have the actual resources to do their job well. I have a range of amendments submitted and I look forward to discussing them on Committee Stage. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Aire St\u00e1it as an mBille seo a thabhairt os comhair na D\u00e1la. I welcome this Bill and want to start by commending the Minister of State and her officials on the considerable work behind it. As a member of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Artificial Intelligence, I have watched this framework take shape and I want to state clearly that its arrival is good news. It puts our implementation of the EU AI Act on a proper statutory footing and it does so at a moment when certainty matters.  The Act requires member states to have their market surveillance authorities, MSAs, in place by August 2025 and the high-risk rules apply from August this year. Businesses, public bodies and citizens have been waiting for this clarity and this Bill begins to deliver it. There is a great deal to welcome. The establishment of Oifig Intleachta Shaorga na h\u00c9ireann will give us, for the first time, a national home for AI co-ordination, literacy and public awareness. The regulatory sandbox and the real-world testing provisions in Part 3 are genuinely pro-innovation and they give smaller Irish companies and start-ups a supervised path to develop responsibly. That balance of safeguarding people while supporting innovation is exactly the balance we should strike.  I also welcome the careful enforcement process in Parts 5 and 6 with proper notice, the right to make representations and appeals to District Court and confirmation of fines by the High Court. This is firm but fair and it respects due process. I welcome that the Bill names our fundamental rights bodies in section 53 with the Data Protection Commissioner, IHREC, Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n and An Coimisi\u00fan Toghch\u00e1in among them, with a clear route to test high-risk systems.  So, the foundations are strong and I support this Bill. I rise not to oppose it but to help strengthen it. In that collaborative spirit, there will be a need for some amendments, in my opinion, on Committee Stage and I want to set out some of those that I believe the Minister of State and her officials should be considering, and that we will consider, on Committee Stage with this House.  The first concerns the office itself. Under section 9, it is provided that Oifig Intleachta Shaorga na h\u00c9ireann co-ordinates, advises and promotes but it does not investigate, inspect or enforce.  Those powers rest with the designated sectoral authorities. I understand the logic of a distributed model and there is much to be said for drawing on the deep expertise of our existing regulators but there is a risk that the body the public will see as the national AI regulator will have no power of its own to act. There is a related point in section 42, which states, \"The Office is designated as the single point of contact\", yet Article 72 of the AI Act provides that the single point of contact is to be a market surveillance authority. I will bring an amendment to clarify the office's mandate in order that it can co-ordinate with real authority and our single point of contact will sit comfortably with Article 72. I would welcome the Minister of State's thoughts on that as well.  The second concerns co-ordination. Co-operation across several authorities and the Central Bank depends, under section 63, on voluntary co-operation agreements, and section 63(8) provides that a failure to comply with such an agreement does not invalidate the exercise of any power. Co-operation is welcome, but co-ordination that rests only on goodwill can become co-ordination on paper. Again, I will bring an amendment to provide a modest backstop so that where authorities overlap or a gap appears between them, there is a clear means to resolve it rather than hoping they agree it between themselves.  The third concern for resourcing is that Article 73 of the AI Act requires our competent authorities to have adequate technical, financial and human resources. The Bill provides for funding of the office but it is quieter on the capacity of the sectoral authorities that will carry out the enforcement on the ground. Again, I will bring an amendment for regular reports to this House on the resourcing of those designated authorities, which goes beyond the Minister of State's remit and, obviously, to the competent authorities.  I will add one further point. Section 9 provides that the office is independent while section 11 allows the Minister to direct it. I simply ask that, as the Bill progresses, we ensure such directions can never reach the operational or investigative judgment of the office.  I offer all of this in genuine partnership. This is a welcome and important Bill and I want to see it enacted and working well for the people we serve. I look forward to working with the Minister and my colleagues across the House and on the AI committee on Committee Stage, and to making the Bill even stronger. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Geoghegan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Geoghegan  I commend the Minister of State on bringing this Bill to these Houses. I want to make one point about the Oireachtas AI committee. Unfortunately, as the Minister of State knows, this was a Bill that did not go to the Oireachtas AI committee; it went to the Department of enterprise committee. This is not within the Minister of State's gift but I do not believe this is the last time in these Houses that we will be regulating or legislating in the area of artificial intelligence. I think the work we have done on the AI committee demonstrates a level of knowledge and understanding in relation to these issues. In the future, we should look at making it a permanent committee that would have the role and function of scrutinising legislation like this.  Unlike some other speakers, I like the aspect of the Bill whereby the Minister can direct certain aspects of how the AI office would operate outside of the regulatory and enforcement level. I think we should be more specific as to what kinds of directions we are going to give the AI office. Right now, we know what the AI office is going to do. It is going to enforce the EU AI regulation and make sure that enterprises are compliant in relation to it. What we do not know is the role it will have in regard to advocacy. I would like to see the Bill reflecting an AI office that would work on AI literacy, for example, and would have a clear, stated function in the whole area of AI literacy for both enterprises and consumers.  Ultimately, the fears and apprehensions people have about AI are similar in industry and to people just living their daily lives. There is a great fear about what AI is going to bring and yet people, particularly in Ireland, have taken up its usage quite rapidly. In the OECD, we are even making improvements in respect of our small business adaptation, yet that fear remains and prevails. Quite clearly, this new AI office, perhaps working with Enterprise Ireland, could have a very strong role in delivering a wide literacy programme. However, AI literacy is more than just enterprise. It is in our primary and secondary schools. What role will the AI office have in respect of AI literacy everywhere?  What we are doing at a regulatory level with the AI office makes sense. We are going to have a number of competent authorities that are going to have a regulatory function as it relates to AI within their own specialist domain and yet we are still going to have this single, overarching AI office when it comes to regulation. Surely we should have the exact same thing when it comes to advocacy, understanding and AI literacy that while it might not be the AI office delivering AI literacy schemes in schools, it could be the AI office that advises and directs the Department of education. It could be the AI office - if perhaps not meeting with small business to foster greater understanding of their adaptation of AI - playing a role in working with Enterprise Ireland to ensure that Enterprise Ireland is sufficiently tooled up to provide those necessary levels of adaptation if we are going to remain competitive.  I might conclude with the wider context. It is a good thing that we are introducing laws in the area of AI. It should help grow and foster trust among the public as regards what we are doing but let us be real here. There are massive fears about the impact of AI in regard to unemployment. I know SOLAS is establishing a national skills observatory under the Department of further and higher education but there are even greater global fears. They talk about superintelligent AI being a global systemic risk. Even industry is now kind of saying the same things as people were perhaps previously in industry and are critical at the pace of growth among these frontier AI companies. They are talking about a moment similar to the nuclear arms race, where the world needs to come together and agree certain levels of norms.  Right now, the European Union, with 700 million people, has agreed certain levels of norms but if the United States, China, India and other major global powers are not all in agreement as to how we are going to regulate AI moving forward, if we are at a certain level of superintelligent AI, God knows where we will be in 20 years. If we do not deal with that challenge, everyone will suffer. I hope that in our hosting of the EU Presidency, the AI summit, our enactment of the laws today and the establishment of the AI office, that we can play some role in that major global decision and that we can use the Presidency to do that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  I welcome this Bill and I thank the Minister of State and her officials for the work on it. I note that there was a fairly tight timeframe for amendments so I hope, on Committee Stage, there will be consideration of some of the issues here. While I commend the Minister of State on her understanding of the implications of AI right across society, I am concerned that there are certain Departments that have not yet got sufficiently up to speed and are not sufficiently invested in this area.  To speak specifically to the Bill, I welcome the fact that the AI office is, in a sense, positioning itself as a key hub and that it is going to be regarded not as a \"thou shalt not\" regulator but as an enabling body. I certainly welcome the distributed regulatory model that is proposed within this legislation. There is sector-specific expertise within all of our existing regulators and it needs to be supported to be able to ensure - for instance, if it is the Central Bank and it is dealing with a financial product but in these circumstances it is an AI-designed financial product - that it can regulate it in the same way as every other financial product. The legislation is quite silent on this and the Minister of State might respond on it, but that requires ensuring that those regulators and those who are identified within this legislation are adequately resourced both in terms of cash and, more importantly, personnel. That needs to be addressed.  In regard to some of the functions, it needs to be seen more as enabling. I welcome the provisions around the regulatory sandboxes but how this will enable businesses to safely use AI, certainly in respect of the educational role and the whole area of what I would call AI fluency, is essential.  There is one thing I would like to see in this. The Minister of State knows that when she worked with me in the context of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act, we provided, when Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n was being established, that there would be a children and young people's advisory panel. That was established. The Minister of State knows that it worked very successfully as well with the Ombudsman for Children's Office. I think it is critical within this legislation. It should be put on a statutory basis that we have a children and young people's advisory panel and that they are very specifically identified as a vulnerable group but also people who are going to be very engaged with this technology. I ask that on Committee Stage there would be statutory provision for such a panel in the same way as we have seen with some other bodies.  I welcome the definitions in respect of the chief executive. I understand recruitment for the role is under way at the moment. On the appointment of whomever that individual will be, he or she will, in many ways, set the direction for this body. I appreciate the Minister of State will have certain roles in being able to direct how the office is going. The message that has to go out there is about how Ireland will balance support for innovation on the one hand with safe regulation on the other, and that this office will be an enabling one rather than an office that will seek to shut down the possibilities that AI provides. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  The whole world has changed so much in the past decade. Certainly, the advent of AI has been a huge advance, in one sense, in respect of all of that. I recently spoke to somebody who has developed a business in the United States in regard to the whole issue of cybersecurity and AI is central to what they do in respect of all of that. We also, of course, know that it has the ability to do repetitive tasks without ever getting fatigued or tired or lazy. It can do all those things. It can assess vast amounts of data and zone into what is effective. It has huge potential and that has to be acknowledged as well. It is not a force for good only; it can also be a force for great harm. It depends on how it is used and who uses it. That is where human intent comes into play in respect of that.  That is why it is important that we have regulation. We often talk about the enforcement of regulation and enforcement to ensure that the negative is not enabled in respect of this but is disabled. It also has to have an element where the enforcement of that regulation has to be able to ensure that the positive is enabled and that there is a means by which people can easily access and bring forward ideas and prospects and that the means of using artificial intelligence are for the good and advancement of people. We must ensure we have better systems in place that can deliver for populations.  The big issue people often come up against is that it can have a very negative effect in that it will take away jobs and all of those things. That is always, of course, an aspect to it. However, there are so many of the tasks we cannot find people to do that artificial intelligence will never be able to do. I refer to healthcare and a whole range of areas where we absolutely will never be able to do any of those things without having human beings to do them who can show care and compassion and all those things. Artificial intelligence does not have that. That is what we need to acknowledge and understand.  While the whole issue and one of the big focuses in respect of this is safety and security, it is also about ensuring that the negative aspects of it are not allowed to overtake to become the dominant feature of it. So much of what we see and understand of the world of cyber and the Internet has become so negative. It has become so damaging and so evil, one could say, when we see some of the stuff that is going on there. We want to ensure that artificial intelligence is prevented from - it is already starting to do it - magnifying and exaggerating and pushing of those negative things even further. That is a big aspect of what to put in place here. Of course, there also has to be accountability, fairness and integrity around it. Having an office in place and having laws and regulations in place do not provide any of those things unless we ensure that we have the intent and we are absolutely sure we have the ability. That is about staffing. That is about funding. That is about making sure we can have the regulations but that those regulations are applied rigidly, particularly in situations where we have large groups in different parts of the world that can hide behind each other. We talk about the cloud. Where is the cloud? Where does it exist? How does one get access to it? There are big issues here that need to be dealt with. Artificial intelligence can actually be used to deal with those difficulties and that is where it needs to be done positively. The concept of this is welcome, but we have a distance to go. I am particularly concerned with regard to the funding and staffing of the offices. I am concerned that we may not have enough time to get into this race because we are in a race against very negative actors who are continually trying to undermine the very aspect of civilisation. They are trying to set us back into the past and we need to make sure that does not happen. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy George Lawlor  We in the Labour Party welcome the intent of this Bill. We are far from the first to say it, as the Minister of State knows, but the emergence of artificial intelligence could be the most significant societal and economic change we will see in our lifetimes. AI is already reshaping how decisions are made that affect people's lives - decisions about credit, employment, healthcare and policing. It is reshaping our economy, our jobs market, the way we work and, fundamentally, how we live our lives. The pace of change is only set to pick up. Sadly, we see AI almost on a daily basis attacking jobs, particularly in the tech sector. Governments around the world need to recognise the scale of the change and challenge here and respond. It is not enough to leave this transformative change in the hands of the tech giants whose sole priority will be the power and profits they hope to reap from this transformation. Regulation is essential. Democratic guard rails are essential. Governments are facing a choice, not between AI or no AI but between AI that serves the people or AI that serves the tech billionaires. The false dichotomy that some powerful interests would paint between regulation of AI, on one hand, and innovation on the other needs to be rejected. AI has the potential to deliver so much good in healthcare and how we deliver services and productivity but to unlock any of those benefits requires public trust. Securing that public trust requires effective regulation.  That is why the EU AI Act was such an important world first in beginning to put regulatory guard rails on how we use and develop artificial intelligence. It was pushed for by socialists and democrats in Europe who recognise that in the face of a new industrial revolution, we need to put the safety and well-being of citizens first. We need to keep humanity at the centre of AI policy. The EU AI Act is not perfect. There are issues around companies effectively self-designating as high-risk or otherwise and around how it fails to effectively safeguard copyright protections for creatives, to name but two. There are gaps in its definition of high-risk AI uses, such as chatbots used by children. It was, nonetheless, a hugely important step for Europe to take.  The Bill aims to implement some of the requirements on member states arising from that legislation as they relate to Ireland. That indeed is a welcome aim, and the establishment of Oifig Intleachta Shaorga na h\u00c9ireann is to be welcomed. However, we need to make sure this legislation is watertight. The regulation we put in place needs to be effective and workable.  It is in that light that while I support the ambition of the Bill, I want to raise a fundamental concern about one specific part of it. The Bill creates a system of very large financial penalties, fines that in some cases could run to tens of millions of euro or a percentage of a company\u2019s global turnover. It provides that these fines are to be determined not by a court, but by a person called an adjudicator who is appointed under the Bill and who operates within the regulatory system. The role of the courts comes late. By the time the courts are involved, the critical decisions have already been made. In Ireland, we have had systems of administrative fines in financial regulation, competition law and data protection for many years. This Bill pushes the model further than it has been pushed before. At some point, the model breaks, not as a matter of legal technicality but as a matter of basic constitutional principle. As the Minister of State knows, our Constitution is built on a separation of powers. The judicial function is reserved to the courts by Article 34 of the Constitution. It cannot be handed over to a civil servant or regulator or an adjudicator, however well-qualified and however independently they act. The reason is that the independence of the courts and the procedural protections of court proceedings are structural guarantees that protect the citizen from the power of the State. They are not formalities.  With that background in mind, let me set out the four concerns we have. The first concerns the nature of the penalties themselves. Our courts recognise that not everything attracting a financial penalty is a criminal matter in the constitutional sense. A fine imposed by Revenue for late filing of a tax return is not a criminal conviction. A penalty imposed by the Central Bank on a financial institution for a regulatory breach is not the same as a criminal prosecution. The courts have drawn a distinction, in broad terms, between penalties that are genuinely regulatory in character, aimed at securing compliance with a scheme that the regulated party has voluntarily entered and penalties that are, in substance, punitive, aimed at identifying, denouncing and punishing wrongdoing. These punishment cases require the full protection of a criminal trial before an independent court.  The difficulty with this Bill is that the fines it contemplates do not sit comfortably in the regulatory category. They can be absolutely enormous. The Al Act provides for fines of up to \u20ac35 million, or 7% of a company\u2019s total worldwide annual turnover, for the most serious of violations. For a large technology company, 7% of global turnover could be billions of euro. No court in Ireland has ever had to decide whether a penalty of that magnitude can be described as regulatory rather than punitive. I am advised that when looking at a fine that could put a company out of business entirely, the word regulatory starts to lose its meaning and the constitutional protections that attach to criminal proceedings start to apply.  There is also a difficulty with the consent argument that sometimes justifies administrative penalties in other regulated sectors. For banking and financial services, there is at least an argument that companies entering a licensed sector applied for a licence and knew what they were signing up for. That argument simply does not work here. The Al Act applies to anyone who develops, deploys or uses certain types of Al system. There is no licence to apply for. The consent justification, which has some logic in the banking context, is not available here.  I should also address directly the argument that because this Bill gives domestic effect to an EU regulation, our domestic constitutional concerns do not apply. That argument does not work in this case. The EU Al Act requires lreland to have a penalty regime, but it does not prescribe how that regime must be structured. The choice to use an adjudicator model with a court confirmation mechanism is an Irish choice, made by the Irish Government, and it falls to be assessed against the Irish Constitution. We cannot borrow the authority of EU law to excuse a domestic structural choice that EU law did not require us to make.  The second concern goes deeper and it does not depend on the penalties being characterised as criminal. Even if one accepted that these are purely administrative rather than criminal penalties, the process of imposing them may still amount to what the Constitution calls an administration of justice, and the Constitution permits only limited functions of a judicial nature to be exercised by non-judicial bodies. Our courts addressed this question directly in a case called Re Haughey in 1971. That case arose from proceedings before a D\u00e1il committee. The Supreme Court held that the label attached to a proceeding does not determine its character. What matters is the substance. Is a body making findings of fact about a named individual, with legal consequences adverse to that individual? If so, the proceeding has the character of an administration of justice. Then, the constitutional rules that govern the administration of justice apply regardless of whether the body is called a court, a committee, a tribunal, or, I would add, an adjudicator.  Applied to this Bill, the argument is straightforward. An adjudicator under Part 6 makes findings of fact on whether the company breached the Al Act and, on the basis of those findings, imposes financial consequences of enormous severity on a named legal person. That is, in substance, an administration of justice. The adjudicator is not merely advising, not merely investigating or not merely recommending; the adjudicator is determining. I am advised that a body that determines justiciable controversies with serious consequences for individual rights is administering justice, whatever it is called. Again, by looking to the size of the available penalties, it is very hard to see how this could be classed as a limited exercise of a judicial function.  The third concern arises directly from what the Supreme Court said in Re Haughey about the mechanism used in that case to involve the courts. The D\u00e1il committee in that case could certify a person for contempt to the High Court, which then had jurisdiction to punish. The argument was made that this saved the constitutional position. The committee investigated and certified that the court punished, therefore. the judicial function was exercised by the court after all. The Supreme Court rejected that argument, however. It said that what was being sent to the High Court was not a case to be tried. The trial, such as it was, had already taken place. What was being sent was effectively a person to be sentenced, and a sentencing hearing before a court that has not itself tried the matter is not an administration of justice. The court was being used as a rubber stamp, not as a decision maker.  We can compare that with the confirmation mechanism in this Bill. Under sections 110 to 114, when a fine imposed by an adjudicator is not appealed, the market surveillance authority must apply to the High Court to confirm it. The High Court must confirm unless there is a fundamental and manifest error of law or the fine is clearly excessive or disproportionate. The evidence available to the High Court is limited to what is before the adjudicator and the adjudicator\u2019s findings are binding. The High Court does not rehear the case and it does not make its own findings of fact. It reviews, on a deferential standard, a determination already made by someone else. The parallel with Re Haughey is exact. The adjudicator tries and the High Court merely confirms. The findings of fact are not revisited. The evidence is not re-examined. That is a sentencing hearing, not a trial. I am also advised that it is open to precisely the same constitutional objection that the Supreme Court upheld in Re Haughey, in that the court is being given a jurisdiction to endorse a determination made elsewhere and not a jurisdiction to determine anything itself. If the process before the adjudicator is constitutionally infirm for that reason, nothing the High Court does at the confirmation stage can cure it. A flawed process does not become constitutionally valid because a court subsequently endorses it.  The fourth concern is that constitutionally it is for the court, and the court alone, to make findings of fact in proceedings with serious consequences. A statute that requires a court to accept as established a fact found by someone who is not a judge, in proceedings that were not a trial, is removing the fact-finding function from the court and that, the Supreme Court said, is unconstitutional. I am advised that the confirmation mechanism in this Bill is open to precisely this objection. The High Court at the confirmation stage is bound to accept the adjudicator\u2019s findings of fact. It cannot go behind them. It cannot hear fresh evidence that contradicts them. It must treat those findings as established and proceed to confirm the fine on that basis, unless the error is fundamental and manifest. The facts have been found elsewhere by a non-judicial body and the court is required to accept them. The High Court cannot be given a jurisdiction that presupposes the facts have already been found.  Taken together, these four concerns point in the same direction. The confirmation mechanism is not a genuine exercise of the judicial function. It is a review of a determination made elsewhere, on a deferential standard with a closed evidential record, in respect of findings of fact that the court is not permitted to revisit. That is not what the Constitution means by the administration of justice. I am also advised that a court exercising that kind of jurisdiction is not curing whatever constitutional deficiency existed in the adjudication process. It is merely adding a judicial gloss to a process that remains, in substance, non-judicial.  I invite the Minister of State in her response to engage with the constitutional question directly. These are not peripheral concerns. They go to the central mechanism by which this Bill proposes to enforce the Al Act in Ireland. I appreciate the Bill has been carefully prepared, but careful preparation and constitutional validity are not always the same thing, and on this particular point the Bill, as drafted, is on genuinely uncertain ground. We absolutely need to get this right. Al, as we all know, is rapidly changing the world around us. Regulation is vital to ensure that ordinary people are protected and proper guardrails are in place. That idea is not in conflict with innovation or adoption; it is essential to it. Europe has led the way globally on this. When we are now looking to implement those regulatory guardrails in our own State, we need to be certain that we are on firm ground. It is too important to get wrong. As I said at the outset, we in the Labour Party welcome the intent of the Bill, but we simply need to get it absolutely watertight and right.  It is far too important not to. I look forward to the Minister of State's response. I commend the principles of the Bill to the House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Erin McGreehan  I very much welcome the opportunity to speak on the Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Bill. I commend the Minister of State on bringing forward such important legislation and congratulate her on all the work she does in her brief. I wish her continued success in this area.  As we all know, artificial intelligence is transforming how we live, work, learn and access services. It offers enormous opportunities in healthcare, education, scientific research, agriculture, and business innovation and productivity. However, those opportunities come with significant responsibilities. This Bill provides a necessary framework to implement and enforce the EU Artificial Intelligence Act in Ireland. It establishes the AI office in Ireland as an independent statutory body and ensures that appropriate oversight, accountability and enforcement mechanisms are in place. Importantly, it does not create additional burdens beyond those already provided for under EU law. Rather, it ensures that Ireland can meet its obligations effectively.  As Chair of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, I particularly welcome the establishment of the AI office. I believe its role should be extended beyond regulation alone. The office should become a national co-ordination hub, working closely with organisations like Skillnet Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, our local enterprise offices, higher education institutions, further education and training providers, schools and industry partners to drive AI awareness, adoption and skills development across our entire society.  The reality is that AI is not something for the future; it is already here. Our challenge is to ensure that individuals, businesses, public services and communities are prepared. We need to build AI literacy across the population so that people understand both the opportunities and all the risks. At the same time, we must ensure that workers, students and enterprises have the practical skills needed to harness the benefits of these technologies. If we get this right, AI could help us improve public services, support innovation, increase productivity and deliver breakthroughs in research, healthcare and education. However, those benefits will only be realised if we invest in people and equip them with the confidence and skills to engage with AI effectively.  We must ensure transparency, accountability and inclusion remain at the heart of all of our approaches. New technology must empower people and not exclude them. That means paying particular attention to accessibility, disability inclusion and equal opportunities as AI systems become embedded in everyday life. AI must always serve the public good. Innovation cannot come at the expense of public trust, child safety or the rights of vulnerable people. Technology companies must be properly regulated and high-risk AI systems carefully monitored. We must also ensure that workers whose jobs may be affected by AI are supported to retrain and adapt, including through greater use of the National Training Fund to provide flexible upskilling and reskilling opportunities.  Ireland has a huge opportunity. I am hugely ambitious about our role in this. We can be a leader not only in AI innovation, but also in AI readiness. This legislation is a really important step in building the foundations for that future. I am very pleased to support it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Clendennen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Clendennen  I welcome this Bill. It underscores Ireland's commitment, under EU direction, to a future where technological advancement will be inextricably linked to ethical governance and societal well-being. The commitment to implementing this through the EU AI Act is about protecting citizens and building trust around AI. More often than not, we hear too much doom, gloom and negativity around AI. We hear about the threats it poses rather than the opportunities it presents. We must focus on ensuring the regulations are robust in that regard. The context makes this Bill not a mere legislative formality, but our collective national response to artificial intelligence as we ensure that we implement the EU AI Act effectively and responsibly. I want to focus particularly on responsibility this evening.  We have discussed SMEs at length in the enterprise committee. Let us look at some statistics. SMEs are the backbone of the Irish economy, yet evidence shows a growing divide in AI adoption between larger companies and smaller firms. Recent data from the CSO shows that while 58% of large enterprises are using AI, only 17% of small enterprises are doing so. Ireland currently ranks only mid-table in Europe for business AI adoption. If we are serious about competitiveness, we must close that gap.  Should the AI office have a stronger statutory mandate than is currently provided for in the Bill? At present, the legislation contains extensive provisions regarding investigations, sanctions and enforcement. By contrast, there is no real focus on supporting businesses to adopt AI responsibly and successfully. The AI office should have a stronger enterprise support mandate. This would include providing practical guidance to businesses on compliance, delivering training and awareness programmes, advising Government and State agencies on measures to increase SME adoption, and promoting innovation, competitiveness and responsible deployment. We must be cognisant of the fact that regulation and innovation are not competing objectives. If implemented appropriately, they complement each other.  The Data Protection Commission could also have a greater role. It has protected citizens and their rights through the enforcement of the GDPR. However, as AI becomes more deeply integrated into business operations, organisations increasingly need practical guidelines and guidance on how to comply with both data protection requirements and emerging AI rules. Strengthening the DPC's mandate to include a clearer business support and guidance function would complement rather than diminish its independence as a regulator. I encourage the Minister of State to look at the amendments to strengthen the enterprise support mandates of the proposed AI office and the DPC.  I acknowledge our position globally. We will ensure that protections in high-risk areas such as biometrics, education and employment are robustly implemented by the December 2027 deadline. Considering our location and that Ireland is home to eight of the leading foundational AI model providers globally, we are uniquely positioned to be a hub for AI innovation. Implementing a functional, clear and effective regulatory framework will not only meet our EU obligations, but also strengthen our position as a leader in responsible AI development, which will, in turn, attract further investment and foster economic growth.  This Bill demonstrates our commitment to online safety and the promotion of trustworthy AI innovation. I commend the Minister of State on bringing it to the House. I very much welcome it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Before I call on our next speaker, I welcome all of those in the Public Gallery. I hope they are enjoying the debate and finding it informative. They are very welcome to Leinster House. I particularly welcome Peter and Briege Rust from Dundalk, who are here with Deputy McGreehan, and Deputy Cormac Devlin's friends and neighbours. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cormac Devlin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cormac Devlin  I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for that. I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate on the Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Bill 2026. As the Taoiseach noted, the accelerating growth of AI is both a challenge and an opportunity. AI is here, being used daily by businesses and individuals, and it will continue to develop. It is not something we can ignore. AI-related economic activity is already beginning to materially influence the Irish economy.  I support the Government\u2019s ambition to make Ireland a global hub for applied AI innovation. The Bill implements European legislation in this area, establishing the AI office of Ireland, which will co-ordinate efforts to supervise the sector. In itself, legislation is insufficient. We learned that from the failures relating to the banking sector and social media policy. Given Ireland\u2019s position as a base for many companies, it is important that we support the sector, but it is also critical that regulators take an active role, proactively working alongside major providers to ensure algorithms and products benefit the public good and do not create undue risk.  More broadly, I will raise the issue of access. Together, the EU and UK comprise a market of almost 520 million people with a combined GDP of almost \u20ac24 trillion. We need to see a far more robust response from the European Commission to ensure businesses and individuals have access to the latest software to remain competitive. I hope Ireland will take this up as a priority for the upcoming Presidency. Europe cannot be allowed to fall behind or be locked out of essential advanced products and services. Together, the US, EU and UK comprise the largest global market by far. It is in everyone\u2019s interest that we work together, remain competitive and deal with the challenges and opportunities presented by the growth of AI. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Donnelly  I welcome the Bill and the opportunity to speak on it. It is critically important. AI is something we use every single day, whether we know it or not. Many of the applications we use have a major component of AI. In many areas it has a really useful purpose. Students and workers use it, and people in here use it on a daily basis. As I said, AI has a really useful purpose. I have watched a number of programmes on the use of AI in medical and pharmaceutical applications. This technology is driving real innovation and speeding up the time it takes to complete trials looking at different ways pharmaceuticals and medicine can help people. In that regard, it is really important and useful.  The genie is out of the bottle. AI is with us and it is not going anywhere. What we do with it is the most important issue. What this House does in terms of regulation and ensuring the companies driving all of this do so in the proper way and are monitored, with proper due diligence done on how AI impacts society, is very important. We know AI has positive impacts but it also has extremely negative impacts. We are talking about social media and how it impacts on young people, with different countries moving towards banning social media for young people. Sometimes we look at all of this in very simplistic ways. AI is deeply complex and something we are going to be learning about as it changes exponentially. It is moving at such a fast pace that what we talk about and think about today in relation to AI could be obsolete in a couple of months' time. That is how fast this is moving.  We need to make sure we have properly resourced structures in place. We are dealing with multibillion dollar companies which have vast resources and profits on a scale we have never seen. They have the capacity to tie up organisations such as the one we are discussing in legal issues. If we do not have the structures we are talking about in place and properly resourced and supported, our approach will not be effective. We will then be relying on the companies themselves to police themselves. That is the one thing we cannot do because we know they are driven exclusively by profit.  In relation to workers' rights, we are already seeing workers directly affected by AI. We need to make sure workers and young people are protected. We have talked about AI and social media use and the damage caused by algorithms and the lack of attention social media companies are giving to dealing with the harmful issues in relation to them. We need to make sure this body is regulated, well resourced and capable of taking on the big companies because we cannot trust them. That is the most important thing. We cannot trust these companies. They are driven by profit only. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy John McGuinness)  I extend a welcome to Deputy Heneghan's former teachers and class who are in the public Gallery. They have a lot to answer for. They are very welcome and I hope they enjoy the debate. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maeve O'Connell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maeve-O'Connell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Maeve-O'Connell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Maeve O'Connell  This legislation seeks to ensure that AI transformation is guided by key principles, namely, safety, accountability and trust. We must also ensure that we extend those principles to the transformation AI is having on higher education. AI can, of course, supporting learning but it can also produce essays and other assessments. Now we have AI tools to help us detect AI-generated assessments. This has resulted in a weird arms race, with increasingly sophisticated AI tools to generate assignments and increasingly sophisticated AI tools to try to detect its use. Meanwhile, the impact of AI is threatening the success in widening access to higher education because in many cases, information technology is now being removed from assessments entirely.  The only comparator I have to the impact AI is having on higher education is Covid, which resulted in everybody having to work from home and teaching going online. However, there is one key difference. With Covid, there was always the expectation that eventually we would return to campuses and more familiar operations. It is not the same with AI. There is no return to the status quo there. This transformation is permanent.  The higher education system is not designed to withstand this level of a systematic shock. It is designed for gradual change and structured review. Assessment methods are regularly evaluated but these are informed by industry, research and engagement with stakeholders before any changes are implemented. This protects academic integrity and ensures students are taught what they need to prepare them for their futures. It is a core element of the design of system. This is not a system designed for overnight transformation.  Covid prompted a rapid shift to promote teaching and assessment and staff very much rose to the challenge. They transformed how they worked to support the students they had. However, it required an enormous amount of staff effort and commitment, which were never really fully recognised. It was the same for many other people who had to change how they did things during that time. After only a few years, we are asking those exact same staff to once again transform how they work.  Another key difference is that this time we have no established play book. We have no experts out there who have already solved all of these problems. Research is still emerging and best practice is still evolving. Meanwhile, our lecturers and researchers are on the front lines, addressing these challenges in real time on a daily basis. They are redesigning curriculum, rethinking assessment methods, responding to the misuse of AI tools and helping their students navigate AI ethically, all the while maintaining high standards of teaching and research. They are expected to do this in a system that was never designed to be this agile. This is an unrecognised and unacknowledged extra workload and responsibility on our academic staff. This adds to the existing workforce issues, where we have one in five academic staff employed in temporary or short-term contracts. We are now expecting those staff to navigate this changing world of AI and engage in all that adaptation, not knowing if they will have a job next semester or year.  If we are serious about ensuring AI is well governed, we need to invest in a national approach to AI in education because there are no ivory towers in a post-AI higher education world. We owe that to our third level staff and students and to the future of our higher education system. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shane Moynihan  T\u00e1 \u00e1thas orm bheith in ann labhairt ar an mBille seo trathn\u00f3na. Ba mhaith liom moladh a thabhairt don Aire St\u00e1it, an Teachta Smyth, agus an Teachta \u00d3 Cear\u00fail as ucht a gcuid oibre leis an mBille seo a chur le ch\u00e9ile.  I welcome the establishment of oifig intleachta shaorga na h\u00c9ireann, which will be a very important piece of the architecture to ensure the overall enforcement and monitoring of this legislation. My plea at this stage, as we establish that office, is that we staff it appropriately, get the appropriate talent and hire the appropriate professionals with the skills necessary to ensure we have strong and competent regulation in terms of how we engage with AI in Ireland. I emphasise that is not necessarily just saying we need to regulate. It positions Ireland as a very strong centre for companies and research centres that want to learn more about how to use AI. If we have the people and professionals in our regulatory and monitoring authorities who are able to watch, monitor and collaborate with that innovation, it will set us up to be a better centre for regulation, both in Ireland and across the European Union. Alignment with the European Union is extremely important in this instance.  The second point I make is with regard to the need to encourage innovation. LinkedIn data shows that Ireland is exceptionally attractive to AI engineers from all over the world. We have seen net positive migration of those individuals to this country over the past year.  That shows we have the skill sets and competence in this country and in that sense the oifig should be thinking about innovation. I encourage the Minister to consider whether there is scope to include in the Bill provisions to make oifig intleachta shaorga na h\u00c9ireann take the mandating and encouraging of innovation very seriously, not only in encouraging innovation around AI but also ensuring the regulation is fit for purpose. Often the criticism is made in this House and other places that regulation does not catch up with technology as it is developed. One solution would be to have the regulator sitting beside centres of innovation so it understands how that innovation takes place and how the resulting regulation can take account of that.  My third point relates to the need to ensure the oifig takes training and proficiency in AI skills as a core part of its mandate and in the roll-out of its work. All of the research on AI points to the fact that while AI technical skills are extremely important, human-centric skills, such as problem solving, team building and critical thinking, are also important. They are what makes AI such a powerful tool and it is important the oifig does not lose sight of that. I encourage those three points to be taken into account as the Bill proceeds to Committee Stage. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I am delighted to have this opportunity to speak on the Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Bill 2026. It has been said by many previous speakers that AI is just a reality we are dealing with. Even though some people worry about it, we are a long way removed from Skynet coming live, if anyone remembers the glorious days of \"Terminator\".  We all know the issues with the tech sector. When we talk about AI, we know about the part that crosses over into the issues we are having with social media. We know there is a requirement for regulation. It is obviously vital we have oifig intleachta shaorga na h\u00c9ireann, the AI office of Ireland. We need a body to co-ordinate this. I get that in some level it will almost work against itself, in the sense that the first part of its work will be regulation, which will be required given all the issues we have seen with the tech sector lately and the fact we are not even entirely sure where AI is at now, never mind where it will be in two weeks' or two years' time.  It is very easy to talk about ensuring we promote AI literacy and have the proper regulatory sandboxes - controlled and contained situations where we can actually try to test AI. Obviously there will be a huge amount of international co-operation. We know who the big players are, namely, America and China. We know there is a certain element of open source and we are not entirely sure who wins out here. We know the huge dangers there are. The very simplistic dangers are the ones we know only too well. People will talk about Covalen and the loss of upwards of 720 jobs there. I have said it for a long time in relation to some of the jobs I have seen being lost in the likes of PayPal. I get the point that can be an issue of machine learning meeting AI. We have to have a strategy to ensure we do not miss out on the benefits of AI but we also have to deal with the displacement of jobs and other risks.  I attended a Children's Rights Alliance event earlier. A major part of the discussion related to where AI meets recommender algorithms in social media. We can all work on the basis that social media and big tech companies are about keeping you online. They will show you whatever they need to show you to keep you online. It is about you staying online and them making money. It is as simple as that. We know we will have to see a hell of a lot more from the Government, but also from Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n, the European Commission and the Data Protection Commissioner, if we are going to see those companies brought to book properly. That needs to happen because we know of the huge dangers there are for children.  It was pointed out to me that, in dealing with this legislation, we have to make sure there is regulation of AI and protection and that we put in specific protections for children. The social media issue is about regulation. As others have said, as much as we want to see AI literacy, we also need to see digital literacy. We also need to see that people show a capacity and ability to critically analyse circumstances and situations. We need to ensure we teach----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  The time is up, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I could go on for a lot longer but I will not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I understand Deputies Michael Collins, O'Flynn and O'Donoghue are sharing time equally. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  I do not think I will take the full amount of time I have. As a young fella growing up, AI had a totally different meaning in west Cork from what it means today. When we talked about AI, we were looking after animals and trying to bring a new type of animal into the world, but now AI refers to artificial intelligence. I do not know what they are going to call the artificial insemination man now. He was called the bull man down my way but they will have to call it some other kind of intelligence.  There is another aspect of artificial intelligence that we need to speak about plainly, that is, its misuse in everyday life. AI is a powerful tool when it is used correctly, or so I am told because I do not use it at all myself. It can help businesses to grow, improve services and make life easier for people. No one in this House disputes that. However, when it is misused we start to see real problems and ordinary people are the ones who pay the price. I am increasingly hearing from people who are on the receiving end of AI-generated communications, messages and letters that look like they have come from solicitors, are dressed up in legal language and are designed to put the fear of God into them. These are automated, often aggressive in tone and sent out in bulk. That is not professionalism; it is intimation by automation, and I have no time for it.  We are also seeing AI being used to waste people's time with endless, low-quality content, spam-type material and automated responses that add nothing valuable but create confusion and frustration. People are busy enough without having to deal with that kind of nonsense.  Then there is this issue of fake images and misleading content. AI can now generate highly convincing pictures that are simply not real. These are being used alongside exaggerated or completely false headlines. This is clickbait designed to grab attention rather than tell the truth. It undermines public trust, not just in technology but in information itself. Again, let me be very clear that I have no time for that either.  If we are serious about regulating AI, we cannot just focus on high level systems or large corporations. We must also recognise the everyday misuse that affects ordinary people, including the farmer, the small business owner and the pensioner who receives a threatening letter or sees a misleading image online. Regulation must send a clear message that AI is not a free licence to mislead, intimidate or waste people's time. There must be accountability when AI is abused. While we support innovation, we must also draw firm lines. AI should serve people, not frustrate, frighten or deceive them. That balance is what we need to get right. It is right, therefore, that we regulate AI. Independent Ireland accepts the need for clear rules, strong consumer protections and accountability.  However, supporting regulation does not mean giving the Government a blank cheque. The Bill creates a new State body with significant structures. The public deserves clarity on the cost and on whether we are duplicating existing regulators. We must also be honest about the burden on small Irish businesses. Large multinationals can absorb complex compliance rules. Local businesses in Cork and elsewhere cannot. We cannot create a system that suits big corporations while leaving Irish enterprises behind. The enforcement powers in this BiIl are substantial, including access to data and even source code. These must be exercised in a balanced and proportionate way to maintain industry confidence.  There are positives. The regulatory sandbox, AI literacy and the complaints system are all welcome but the key is balance. Ireland should be the best place in Europe for responsible AI innovation, protecting people while supporting enterprise. We support the objective of the Bill but we will press the Government on cost, proportionality and fairness for small businesses. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  My colleague has spoken about the positives and negatives of AI. I want to concentrate more on the technicalities of the Bill.  I want to be clear from the outset what this Bill is and what it is not. Whatever we are being told it is certainly not a modest piece of housekeeping. Indeed, it is a scaffolding for an entire, new, State-run, artificial intelligence regulator, a Bill which now has 139 sections and four schedules, a statutory body and a sanctions regime reaching \u20ac35 million, or up to 7% of a company\u2019s global turnover. That is what we are discussing here. Yet, this House is being invited to waive through this legislation on the understanding that it is just a little bit of housekeeping. That is the Government\u2019s own framing of this. We are told that these are technically implementable measures. We are told that the real law is going to be written in Brussels, and that we are just there simply to be the building mechanism and the machinery behind that, to enforce something that will be taken from Brussels legislation and which has not yet been fully written. For that reason, and for that reason alone, to rush this Bill through should tell this House that for the reasons I have outlined we need to scrutinise this legislation far more closely, have far more time on this debate, and look at the legislation and the Bill far more than we are.  When a Parliament is reduced to installing the plumbing for a law that it cannot amend, the least we can do in this House is make sense of that plumbing work. Here in this Bill it does not. The Bill requires a new AI office of Ireland to be operational by August of this year. The State has set up an entire institution, it has to staff it, it has to fund it, and it has to switch the lights on within weeks. Yet, at a European Union level, the very obligations this office are meant to enforce are being pushed back under the digital ombudsman agreement, which I do not believe has been mentioned in this House, reached in May and not yet formally adopted, but already agreed between the institutions. The high-risk rules at the heart of this regime to be set up and applied will not be this August but in December 2027. We are here in this House and we are actually building a referee, at speed and with cost, 16 months before the match even begins. I put it to the Minister of State, Deputy Smyth, that we are legislating in the fog. That is what we are doing in this House at the moment with this information and this Bill. We cannot be told in this House the certainties and rules by which this office will finally have something to enforce. It is not coming in from Europe yet. We have not yet received that information.  Let us turn now to what is at stake for this country. I do not think we have played this out enough or thought enough about it. Ireland is not a bystander when it comes to artificial intelligence. We host it in American technology companies that lead the field and run their European Union operations from all across this country. They did not do this accidentally. The point, which the Government will not say out loud, is that last year corporation tax brought in the sum of \u20ac33 billion, which is a record amount. The top ten companies, overwhelmingly American multinationals, paid well over 50% of it. Around 75% of all corporation tax comes through United States firms. Those companies employ directly almost 200,000 people in the State, and another 160,000 indirectly in this State. That is not competitive advantage, or should be taken as casual trade. That is the single most concentrated precarious revenue stream in this State, and it must be protected and minded. With that in mind, what are we doing with it? We are volunteering to be the most diligent enforcer of a framework from the European Union that is imposed on an industry that it has failed to build itself. Europe has not built AI: America and China have. Europe is way behind when it comes to AI and AI firms. What are we doing here with the very firms we depend on for finance? Is the Minister of State aware that the independent Irish Fiscal Advisory Council has already said that tighter regulation in the sector will be a risk to the revenue receipts of the State? That is a very important statement and something we all need to reflect on in this Chamber. The Minister of State has met with these companies. They are mobile companies. They make location decisions every day. We should be giving them every reason to stay in this country rather than giving them reasons to exit this country. Instead, what we have decided to do through this Bill is implement and hand them a \u20ac35 million fine regime and 15 separate regulators to answer to. It seems bizarre to me to have 15 separate regulators to answer to.  Let me be straight with this House. I am not against oversight of technology in any way. No serious person in this House should be against oversight of technology, but artificial intelligence raises real questions and the public are entitled to real answers. A Parliament that truly cares about its citizens does not switch on an enforcement mechanism or an enforcement machine without knowing the rules around it first. It does not impose a cost on its taxpayers by putting at risk the very receipts that fund the Exchequer, that fund our social welfare, that fund our schools, that fund our third level colleges, that fund our hospitals and that fund our senior citizen homes.  To my mind, good governance has always been about sequencing. It means waiting until the European Union rules are there and settled upon before we build Irish machinery to enforce them. It means protecting the jobs of the State and the revenue that the State actually depends upon, and not gambling them to look busy in front of our lords and masters in Brussels in their shadow. For this reason, this Bill in its current form and in this timeline is an entire mistake. The Bill asks this House to legislate before Europe has done so. It asks us to put taxpayers' funds at risk 16 institutional months ahead of its own purpose. It firmly asks this economy to carry and absorb the cost at haste, and the firms that deliver so much of that tax revenue to us. Currently I cannot support the Bill. I ask the Minister of State to rethink it before she brings it to the House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  AI in some instances scares me and in some instances it is good for different parts if it is used correctly. How many people go on their phone and then no longer know what is actually factual or not? My concern about AI is that we need to get on top of it fairly quickly. I was in the Central Bank on Tuesday for a visit with the budgetary oversight committee. There are concerns about AI in this country. Now we do not know if the Strait of Hormuz is open or not because we do not know what to believe on this or not. What kinds of decisions are being made when things are happening around this world and people have a knee-jerk reaction to something they think is happening but it is not? From that point of view, we need to do something with AI.  Children today actually look at their phones and everything they look at on their phone actually works on them whereby anything they click on is put in front of them every time they turn on their phone. Every time they flick up on something or look at something, regardless of what it is, it keeps a rota going on with that system because the algorithm knows this is what the child is interested in. So, what does it do? It brainwashes them. If you keep seeing the same thing over and over again, then you start following different paths.  When it comes to our children and our students, they go to school to learn but they now have systems put in place to see if they are using it for their homework. Now we have to put a system in place to see if somebody is doing their homework or not, and that is based over the four or five years that they are in school. They are actually using the system now to see if the are actually using AI as part of their homework system. Again, technology is good and it can help with research and so on, but now we have to put things in place to make sure it is actually the person who is doing the work. This does not just apply to children and students. A lot of people use it in their jobs at the moment and also the people in this House. How many of us are using AI? How many used AI to do their speeches today? I did not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Neville  A pen and paper. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  Good man, but paper does not mean that you have got it in front of you. If you have the pen in front of you, that is what makes the difference.  A lot of the time I do not come into this House with paperwork because I do not want it to be shown that it was AI-generated. What you are looking at when you look at me is me. What comes out of my mouth is what I researched myself. I have never used AI.  Something was sent to me during the week and the person who sent it said, \"Richard, you looked great at a function\". I was not even there. It was another me. This is the part that scares me. In a situation where we might have a terrorist issue or a financial issue, my concern is that we will have a knee-jerk reactions to something that is not actually there. How safe is our banking network? How safe are our identities when they can be used? With the stuff that is being put out at the moment, we cannot differentiate between what is real and what is not unless it is on mainstream media. That is a concern that I have with AI. We need to put whatever procedures in place to protect us, livelihoods, businesses and to stop people misusing AI for the wrong reasons.  There is no doubt that it will replace jobs. People read comments on social media. Most of the comments that are posted, if person looks at them and segregates them, are coming from bots. They are not coming from people; they are coming from bots. How many people were caught out by something that was AI-generated and put online? They then apologise and say that it was not them and was generated through AI.  When people look in at this House, they want to see real people delivering real results that they have researched themselves and that it are not AI-generated. That is my concern for the future and the here and now.  We are putting measures in place to try to counteract this, but we are also last on the field. The United States and China are on the field a long time. We are only playing catch-up. We are so far behind in stopping this from becoming destructive instead of something that can help. We are so far behind on that. We need to get on top of that for the protection and the governance of this country and all walks of life. If we are not careful, AI will take over and the simple part of our existence will be mirrored everywhere we go. I would like to see how AI will get on with me because sometimes I do not know what I am going to do myself when I walk out the door, so it will have a hard job with me. There are, however, a lot of people who are repetitive and it will screen them and know their next move all the time.  We need to put measures in place for the protection of everyone and the protection their finances from criminality so the sooner we get something put together the better. We also need to get it right. It needs to be researched correctly - not AI research. It needs to be researched properly for the protection of this country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Neville  Deputy O'Donoghue just spoke, and I have a west Limerick background. When I heard about AI when I younger, it was on the farm, and it was not artificial intelligence. It was artificial insemination, but things have changed over many years. That joke has been made many times but it always speaks to me about how we have to keep in touch.  Deputy O'Flynn spoke earlier, and I have a lot of the same concerns he has. He spoke clearly about them, and many people have the same concerns. We need regulation but we have to be careful. We do not want to over-regulate or over-instruct, but AI is an evolutionary change. We cannot have it becoming like the Wild West, so we need strong rules and regulations in place, and we need to harmonise them and make sure they are there because they have to be. That is why this is such a balancing act and why it is something that is brand new.  We all know that artificial intelligence is having an effect on all our daily lives in many different ways. Some people use it all the time. Some people use it for work. It is changing small companies, and it is really having an impact on large companies. Employee numbers are probably smaller. I started in PriceWaterhouseCoopers as a young auditor. I am sure that within the next couple of years, those numbers will be reduced over time, especially in the US. It will be first to embrace this and after that Ireland will, no doubt, follow the same path. Companies will no longer need people to go in and assess the basics. They will go in at a higher level.  Regarding the impact that AI will have, we do not know where it is going to end up. Those large companies that are in charge of it are working with other companies and getting in deeper. Ultimately, the risk is that people will be excluded and that is the larger existential AI risk in the workplace.  Previous speakers mentioned about a potential AI tax, a term I hate, on users and corporates, which is something I referenced before, because no one knows where it will end up. If workers, companies and smaller SMEs are going to be displaced then we have to have some way to monitor this. That is further down the field, but these conversations need to be had at the outset because we do not know the impact that AI will have. That is why I welcome the Bill in place and the office being established. We need someone to spot the gaps, differences and potential impacts because this needs to be monitored.  As was referenced earlier, Ireland is currently benefiting from AI through corporation taxes and even business. I was in with the Central Bank yesterday. Its officials spoke about how a vast element of the growth in the economy is related to AI and data centres. That is where we are seeing the benefits in many ways that other countries are not. I am not going to speak out of two sides of my mouth and complain and worry because we are seeing a real benefit from it. At the same time, it does not mean that we cannot look towards the future.  I welcome the Bill, and it is really important that we do this. We also need to ensure that we do not over-regulate and go too far. At the same time, we have to monitor it and that is the balance that we will have to get right out of this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Keira Keogh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Keira Keogh  If Deputy O'Donoghue thinks that he has not used AI before, he definitely has. Even if he has not used a particular AI app, if he put a search into Google this evening, he would have got an AI summary whether he wanted it or not.  As a member of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Artificial Intelligence, I welcome this Bill and the work of the Department officials and the Minister of State. It is legislation that is hugely important and necessary to ensure that Ireland meets its obligations in overseeing the development and deployment of artificial intelligence systems. More importantly, this legislation aims to protect our citizens and uphold their fundamental rights. I welcome the establishment of the AI office, but I would like it to have more of a role in advocacy and literacy. It has the opportunity to be a one-stop shop with a cross-sectoral approach that will look at health. We know that people are turning to AI at the moment to get advice on health. Children in our education settings are using AI and they may not be aware of the hallucinations and the misinformation that it can produce. We have the risk to our SMEs and other jobs in business and enterprise. The disability space has a real concern that the bias that is already in place will unintentionally be reinforced by AI. The AI office could be a trusted one-stop shop to also engage in advocacy and literacy. I welcome the enforcement mechanisms and sanctions. It seems the Bill will give us robust oversight and significant penalties.  As the chair of the children and equality committee, I must examine this through the lens of children's rights, and I see where there might be gaps. Under the heading \"fundamental rights\", children will be protected but the issues relating to technology and social media have more consequences for our young people growing up in this new reality.  I have serious concerns about harmful chatbots. We know there have been times when people have been coached into suicide. I often talk about the fact that there was no Tinder when I was in secondary school and now there are Tinder babies and marriages. I am worried about the next generation. It might not even be Tinder. They might have their first relationship with a chatbot. What happens then when the company introduces a significant subscription fee for that chatbot?  Do they then lose access to their boyfriend or girlfriend, and where does that leave their mental health? I think children will face this concern more than others. We know they are facing deepfakes and having their videos manipulated for potential bullying. I ask that provision be made for the expertise of children and young people, perhaps through an advisory panel, which we have seen work so well in other areas, and to support the rights groups that are watch-guards in this space. This afternoon I was on a panel discussion with the Children's Rights Alliance, and this is something it and its members are passionate about. I believe there will be scope to address those concerns on Committee Stage or at phase 2 in the autumn. Children need named protection in this Bill. As I said, AI features are now embedded into almost everything they do, from daily Internet searches and their gaming to the educational tools within their classrooms. On every single screen a child touches, AI is now a feature.  The fundamental rights agencies will, of course, still play a role. They can make complaints, they will co-operate with regulators and they may channel decisions through legal mechanisms. We must continue our work towards a system that genuinely protects the rights of all those who might be most at risk. I have mentioned children in my role, but the disability community and our older people are also very much at risk of AI, aside from the jobs that could be lost in the enterprise sectors, an issue which has been very much covered.  As we approach the beginning of Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the EU, I really welcome this Bill and our obligations under the AI Act. I hope we remain steadfast as we continue to demonstrate our commitment to online safety in promoting responsible AI innovation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  I welcome the Bill. Regulation in this space is perhaps more important than any other regulatory Bill we will pass in this House this year. Any new technology poses problems, difficulties, challenges and threats and, undoubtedly, that is true of artificial intelligence. It does not mean we cannot regulate to protect ourselves and it does not mean we cannot put measures in place to protect ourselves and our children. There is a concern about the notion of over-regulation, that we will therefore stifle innovation or prevent people from coming up with new ideas or new technologies. In fairness, artificial intelligence represents one of the greatest achievements of mankind from the point of view of creating something that can grow itself, feed itself and inform itself. That in and of itself should not be overlooked. The danger that comes with that is that we do not control how it feeds itself or how it informs itself. We have already seen the many pitfalls where artificial intelligence will throw up results in a search online or through an artificial intelligence app that are patently false. As a lawyer, I can tell the House that I have seen many instances of that happen in the legal world, thankfully not in this jurisdiction but certainly, if the Internet is to be believed, and frequently it is not, quite a lot in America. You see lawyers in legal cases submit legal submissions which cite cases that never actually occurred. The danger is that artificial intelligence does not have the ethical framework that humans have. It does not have the understanding. It certainly does not have emotional intelligence or any of those things that we factor into human decision-making.  We therefore need to put in place regulation to ensure we do not have a raft of falsehoods being propagated by artificial intelligence. Now, that already happens. It happened with the Internet before artificial intelligence. It happens very often at the nefarious hand of humans with normal intelligence, but artificial intelligence can do it on a scale and at a pace we cannot match, so regulation is hugely important there.  I do not believe that regulation stifles innovation necessarily. It can, of course, and over-regulation can hold things back. However, one of the things we can say very proudly in Europe is that innovation and regulation are not mutually exclusive; we can have both. We can have regulations that protect us, protect our information systems and protect our children from exposure to these things online, but we can also have an environment that allows entrepreneurs, developers and the creators and the creative people in this world to constantly build new technologies. That is a good thing. Many of the criticisms that are made against artificial intelligence were made against the Internet and the computer and, before that, the machine that sliced bread, if proverbs are to be believed. I am not a Luddite. I do not believe we should not be progressing - of course we should - but we need to progress in a way that can ensure the protection of the citizenry's rights and the integrity of what they view, for example, on the Internet. Reference was made earlier to the fact that anybody who has done a Google search in recent times has used AI, whether they actively consented to it or not. I have an issue with that because nobody asked my consent to enter my search criteria into an AI bot or an AI application. This is the kind of thing for which regulation is needed. If people are to engage with artificial intelligence, they should do so in an informed way and actively consent to doing that. Otherwise they do not really know what is coming back or whether they can rely on the search results that come back. Perhaps what is most important is that, irrespective of what regulations arise from this legislation, people still have to check things themselves.  May I make just one point about the drafting? The Bill does not actually define what artificial intelligence is. In section 2, the interpretation section, it does make reference to the European legislative instruments, but it does not actually say what they say. That is a drafting difficulty that means people will have to look up that stuff elsewhere, which can be quite difficult for them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niamh Smyth","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (Deputy Niamh Smyth)  I thank everybody for their contributions, their helpfulness and their thoughtfulness in their statements, comments and observations. It has been a very wide and varied discussion. AI inevitably touches almost every aspect of society, from innovation and economic growth to public services and jobs. While these are important and wide-ranging issues, today we are here to introduce this legislation, which is focused on implementing the EU AI Act in Ireland and establishing the framework necessary for its effective supervision and enforcement. I have no doubt this House will continue to discuss and to debate the broader implications of AI in the months and years ahead. That is both necessary and welcome.  There were some comments that this is very rushed. Since I have come into the Department 16 months ago, these very smart and bright people to my right, the officials in my Department, have been working night and day on this legislation. They could in no way be accused of having rushed this without real and proper consideration and thought. While I do appreciate we are bringing it through the Houses quite quickly, I am certainly open to working with the Opposition on any aspect of this in the weeks ahead.  On the protection of fundamental rights, which came up quite a bit across the House, and the enforcement regime in the Bill, I point to the fact again that the EU AI Act has direct effect in Irish law and it sets out very clear obligations on providers of AI systems, deployers, importers, etc., that the Bill must be read alongside the EU AI Act. You cannot read or consider one without the other. Safety, ethics and fundamental rights are the key focus of the AI Act. The enforcement regime in the Bill is robust and builds on the strong market surveillance frameworks already in place. It enables the ramping up of enforcement, from contravention notices to encouragement of compliance to the larger fines. That is incredibly important to say about safety, ethics and fundamental rights.  There was some discussion about the labour market. I would be the first, and I think I always have been since I have come into this Chamber to discuss artificial intelligence, to put my hand up and say there will be labour disruption and displacement. There is certainly no putting our heads in the sand over that matter. The establishment of the AI office seeks to address that. The Government is committed to preparing Ireland for the inevitable transition that is happening within the workplace. Ireland has had its third highest level of STEM graduates. One of the biggest demands of qualified students coming here to Ireland is for AI-related jobs, even though I acknowledge there have been job lay-offs in certain companies. However, it is important to note that there is still huge and driving demand for those skilled in AI. The leading providers have established in this country, along with our strong education system, and we continue to attract that talent and investment. It was noted that we have some of the biggest AI companies here in Ireland. That is because we create the environment for that. We are in no way attempting to compromise that or compromise any of the jobs that are directly affected by that. The national AI and digital strategy provides establishment of OBAIR to monitor and provide insight into the evolving impact of AI on skills and the labour force. That is all done under the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. Within our own Department, we are also setting about to establish an observatory that looks at exactly that - the implication for jobs - and trying to mitigate that as much as possible.  The national AI digital strategy has been refreshed on a number of occasions to try to really be that agile blueprint that we can refer to and work with all the time. It is certainly not going to be stiff or stale, or sitting on a shelf. Again the officials are to be applauded for the incredible work on that.  Deputy Lawlor went into great detail on constitutional matters. I know he may not have been here for my introduction to this but all the provisions of the Bill have been drafted with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel, with constant engagement and consultation with the Office of the Attorney General on the legal and constitutional matters. However, I have taken copious notes, and I am sure my officials have too, on the matters he raised tonight. We will certainly do our best to bring peace of mind to that.  Another matter that was raised on a number of occasions was AI literacy. The role of the AI office is not just oversight of the regulatory market surveillance and regulatory bodies that already exist. As the general scheme recognises, effective AI regulation depends not only on enforcement but also on the appropriate level of AI literacy of those who develop, deploy, use or are impacted by AI systems. To support the development of AI literacy, the AI office has been given a very specific role around AI literacy, supporting awareness of AI-related risks and obligations; providing guidance and information to organisations and to public bodies; facilitating informed engagement with AI technologies and contributing to public trust in terms of the AI systems. It is not going to be a one-trick pony. It is a very broad, all-encompassing, across-the-board piece of legislation, which has been described to me as horizontal, that the AI office will bring to the fore.  I thank Deputy Conway-Walsh for being here until the conclusion of the Bill. She raised certain things and I assure her they are being addressed. I can provide her with further reassurance and notes. She raised independence and resourcing. I am certainly going to address that. I think I have addressed displacement already in my closing comments.  On regional developments, the Deputy is absolutely right that there is huge potential. She and I both come from very rural parts of this island, and I think that is one of the absolute benefits to AI deployment.  Simplification has come up quite a lot, with negativity about having another regulatory body. The Department and officials have been so cognisant of not bringing in more red tape or burying business and SMEs in more bureaucracy, to actually make things simple and not add another layer of time-consuming cost burden to business. I want to acknowledge that and state it on the record.  Deputy Conway-Walsh also raised transparency and the creative industries. As somebody who has come from the creative industries, I am very mindful around copyright and artists' work being mimicked or copied without their approval, their say or any remuneration. All of that is being taken into consideration and I can supply the Deputy with further information on all the matters she raised here tonight.  I hope I have addressed Deputy Keogh's piece on AI literacy in some way tonight, too.  I thank all the Deputies for their contributions to the debate and look forward to their support in this Bill and its further consideration on Committee Stage. I re-emphasise that the purpose of the Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Bill 2026 is to provide for the implementation in Ireland of the AI Act and EU regulation. This Bill is a landmark for Ireland's digital regulatory framework. AI is a transformative technology which offers extraordinary potential for our economy and our citizens, but realising that potential requires appropriate oversight and accountability. This Bill delivers exactly that. It fulfils Ireland's EU obligations, giving effect to Ireland's pioneering AI Act in domestic law by ensuring we have the national infrastructure in place to supervise and enforce it effectively.  The Bill establishes Oifig IS na h\u00c9ireann, the new AI office in Ireland, as an independent institution at the centre of our AI regulatory system, and empowers our competent authorities with the investigative and enforcement tools they need and, most importantly, the skill base that everybody has referred to, the skills that are needed in terms of scrutinising AI that will be available to the competent authorities.  Ireland has adopted a distributive model for the regulation of AI, levering the expertise and capability of the State's existing regulators and providing that expertise to them. This is speaking to the fact that we do not want to bring any extra regulatory burden. We must remember that regulation is the gold stamp of approval. The businesses I have talked to want that approval. They want to know what the safeguards and rules of engagement are around AI. That is going to bring confidence to this country, particularly to those in business and enterprise. It is not mitigation or putting a huge emphasis on enterprise and forgetting about the human centrepiece, which is being really considered throughout this work.  I would particularly like to thank the many Government Departments and their authorities, agencies and offices that have been involved in consultation on this Bill. My Department remains actively engaged with the competent authorities and their line Departments as preparations for implementation of the AI Act and enactment of the Bill continue. Again I note that the Bill is a technical instrument that will ensure that the rights and protections provided by the EU's AI Act will be rigorously asserted in Ireland for the benefit and protection of Irish citizens. It does not add to or alter the obligations on businesses under the AI Act. It is mandatory under the AI Act for EU member states to give effect to these national provisions by 2 August 2026. I thank all the colleagues around the House and most particularly the officials in the Department, who have worked might and main to bring this to fruition. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Bill 2026: Second Stage"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-24\/debate\/dbsect_22","debateType":"billReport","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/36","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/36\/dail\/4_sub","houseCode":"dail","stage":"4_sub","isBillStage":false,"showAs":"Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) (Amendment) Bill 2026: Report and Final Stages (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) (Amendment) Bill 2026: Report and Final Stages","counts":{"speechCount":16,"speakerCount":4},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Amendment No. 1 in the name of Deputy Sherlock has been ruled out of order, as it does not arise out of committee proceedings. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  I move amendment No. 2:  In page 27, to delete lines 5 to 39, and in page 28, to delete lines 1 to 7 and substitute the following:   \u201cRetail packaging of nicotine inhaling product and nicotine consumption products   32E. (1) Subject to Regulation 29 of the Regulations of 2016 and subsection (6), a unit packet of a nicotine inhaling product or a nicotine consumption product intended for sale by retail in the State shall comply with the following requirements:  (a) the outer surface thereof shall be a prescribed colour;  (b) the inner surface thereof shall be a prescribed colour;  (c) it shall not bear any decorative ridges, embossing or other embellishments;  (d) it shall not contain an adhesive that is coloured or non-transparent;  (e) it shall not contain any imagery such as cartoons or graphics, other than\u2014  (i) a single realistic depiction of the nicotine inhaling product or nicotine consumption product, which depiction complies with the requirements of sections 32C and 32D, or  (ii) any illustrated safety or usage instructions;  (f) where any text, safety or usage instructions or a trade mark is visible, such text, safety or usage instructions or trade mark shall be a prescribed colour;  (g) it shall not contain any affixed item or any item other than the nicotine inhaling product or nicotine consumption product itself and any inner packaging other than as provided for by law.  (2) A barcode or other identification mark or code may be printed once on a unit packet and, if so printed, shall be printed in a prescribed colour.  (3) Subsections (1) and (2) shall apply with all necessary modifications to any other form of outside packaging of nicotine inhaling products or nicotine consumption products.  (4) A wrapper that covers a unit packet or any other form of outside packaging for a nicotine inhaling product or a nicotine consumption product shall comply with the following requirements:  (a) it shall be transparent and not be coloured;  (b) it shall not bear any decorative ridges, embossing or other embellishments;  (c) where a tear strip is included, such tear strip shall be a prescribed colour;  (d) it shall not have any affixed item other than as provided for by law.  (5) Where a unit packet of a nicotine inhaling product or a nicotine consumption product contains a lining or inner packaging, such lining or inner packaging shall be of such colour and material as may be prescribed.  (6) Subsection (1) shall not apply to any warnings or identification marks (including health warnings) provided for by law.  (7) A person who sells by retail a nicotine inhaling product which contravenes subsection (1), (2), (4) or (5) commits an offence.\u201d.\u201d.  On the amendment that was ruled out of order, just to note that it deals with an important issue. Maybe it could be considered at a future stage. It is happening that they are being given out for free at festivals and I think Deputy Sherlock had a point there.  On my own amendments, I will speak about amendments Nos. 2 and 3 together because they are related. On Second Stage, I raised concerns about the exclusion of nicotine pouches from the packaging and flavouring restrictions. We should treat nicotine pouches and any other nicotine consumption products the same as we are treating vapes. It is incredibly short-sighted not to amend this legislation. If it is not addressed now, it seems inevitable that further legislation will be required. As I have said repeatedly, we should use our time effectively and efficiently in the D\u00e1il and we should legislate here while we have the opportunity instead of waiting, coming back with another Bill and doing this at a future stage. We should do this now.  The amendments I am putting forward today have been drafted in collaboration with the Irish Cancer Society and the Irish Heart Foundation, which support the calls here. I hope the D\u00e1il will endorse them. As people will know, nicotine pouches are small, odourless tobacco-free pouches that contain nicotine, flavourings and other ingredients. They are placed between the lips and the gum. You get between 15 and 20 pouches for around \u20ac5 to \u20ac7. They are available in various strengths and are designed to deliver high-concentration amounts of nicotine into the bloodstream. There is no smoke or vapour with these products, unlike cigarettes or vapes. At the moment these products are openly displayed in shops in bright, attractive packaging and in a wide variety of flavours. We have talked in the Social Democrats - my colleague, Deputy Whitmore, has raised it numerous times - about the rise in teens using these products and how they are being targeted in the advertising of these products. It is no longer just anecdotal evidence. We now have data which was financed by the Department of Health. In May 2025, the European school survey project on alcohol and other drugs found that 8% of 15- and 16-year-olds reported having used nicotine pouches at some point, while 4% currently use nicotine pouches. The use of nicotine pouches was significantly higher among male students at 9.1% and the most common age at which people started using these nicotine pouches was 15. It is important to note that this data is from fieldwork carried out between March and May of 2024. Given the noticeable surge in nicotine pouch use since then and the aggressive marketing of these products, we would have to assume that it is much higher now. We need to take action on this and I do not think we should delay, otherwise we will be back here again. If we do not accept these amendments tonight, we will be here in future with another Bill.  We will be trying to do it then. As I said, we should try to close all of the gaps now and be efficient in how we deal with legislation in the House. The Government should be open to taking amendments from the Opposition. These amendments were drafted in collaboration with the Irish Cancer Society and the Irish Heart Foundation. I encourage the Minister of State to accept them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor)  I thank the Deputy for tabling the amendment, which relates to flavours and packaging law being introduced in respect of vapes as a result of a nicotine consumption order. The Bill introduces measures relating to nicotine consumption products, including pouches or any other products containing nicotine, in order to protect our children and take action while the use of these products is low. The measures in the Bill include a ban on sale to minors, a prohibition on advertising in retail outlets and a display ban in mixed retail outlets. These are important measures to protect our children and because of their nature are not likely to fall under harmonised law.  While I understand the intention behind the amendment, if these amendments were accepted, they would require a new notification at EU level. The provision in the Bill in this regard has already been notified to the EU. If no issues arise from a member state or the Commission, the process will conclude on 7 July. As it stands, the Bill has gone to Europe. It is my intention that the Bill will be enacted before the end of the year. I hope to have it passed before the recess. A new notification at EU level at this stage would mean not only a three- or six-month standstill period, but also a risk that the Bill would be delayed by at least 12 months or more. This will happen if the European Commission determines that Ireland is proposing law on an issue that it has already announced its intention to legislate for at EU level.  In April, the Commission announced that it will publish a revision of the tobacco products directive this year. The evaluation of the latest framework for tobacco control documents signals the areas that a revised directive will target, namely new tobacco and nicotine products and the rise of digital marketing, which particularly targets our younger people. Accepting the amendments would risk delaying the Bill by a year or more. While the same measures are likely to be proposed at EU level later this year, the law would be more effective in harmonised form. If we were to change the Bill now, that would mean waiting another year or so to pass it.  The Department and I hope to be able to pass the Bill by the end of July. As the Deputy said, we will have to look at this. There is no question about that. We need to move quickly on this, and that is why I will not be able to accept the amendment. As I said, we need to move on this now and then consider other matters. All of this can be examined in a few months' time. We need to get this through. I understand the Deputy's concerns, but, as I said, we are awaiting word from the EU. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Does the Deputy wish to respond? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  If I understand the Minister of State correctly, what she is suggesting is that the Government did not think about this and neglected to address this part of the legislation, thereby leaving a hole in the law. We now have to proceed because if we address this, we will have to go to the EU to get permission to do so. There is clearly a gap in the Bill, and there is no explanation from the Minister of State as to why this was not dealt with in either the first draft or the original notification to the EU.  I accept the Minister of State's argument that addressing this could delay the Bill, particularly as it was not done in the first place, but that is a mess of the Government's making. It is not our mess; we are trying to fix the hole in the law. It is inevitable that we will have to deal with nicotine pouches, advertising and flavours. Our argument is that we should do so now.  On EU law, the Minister of State might clarify whether there is a suggestion that the EU might pass an EU-wide law or give direction at national level, meaning that we will be back here dealing with another Bill. Is an EU-wide law proposed for nicotine pouches? Why was this not included in the Bill in the first place? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor  Again, I understand. Pouches have been spoken about. We are all learning about pouches. Vaping was new to us a while ago. We are looking at pouches now, and that is why there will be a second Bill to deal with pouches, colours, flavours and packaging. There are directives from the EU. We moved very quickly on this. We feel that this younger people, and we need to move on pouches, colours, flavours and packaging. The Government will move as quickly as it can and will work with its European counterparts on the other matters. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Does the Deputy want to respond? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  I am not convinced that we should not be doing this now. As I said, we will be back here trying to do it anyway. I do not see a reason for that, other than the fact that there would be a delay. That seems to be part of the EU process. It appears that we will have to legislate in any event and will be back here with another Bill.  I do not accept the argument from the Minister of State that we are only hearing about these matters now. My party and my colleague Deputy Whitmore have raised this point repeatedly in the media and in the House over a number of years. This is not new; it is not something we came up with last week. There has been concern about the use of nicotine pouches by teenagers in schools. We have flagged this concern, but it is clear that we are not being listened to when we make contributions in the D\u00e1il. Ministers and their officials do not listen to us. We then end up with legislation that is defective and that needs to be improved. It is not just me saying that; it is also the Irish Cancer Society and the Irish Heart Foundation. Very well respected national organisations which campaign on these issues have stated that there is a gap in our law and that we should proceed with our amendment. I would like to see these amendments being progressed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  For clarity, has the Deputy moved the amendment? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  I have. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Amendment No. 2 arises out of committee proceedings. Is the Deputy pressing the amendment? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  Yes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  I move amendment No. 3:  In page 28, to delete lines 8 to 39, and substitute the following:   \u201cFlavour names of nicotine inhaling products and nicotine consumption products   32F . (1) Subject to subsection (2), a person shall not sell by retail a nicotine inhaling product or nicotine consumption product with a flavour name.  (2) Subsection (1) shall not apply to the sale by retail of a nicotine inhaling product or nicotine consumption product with a flavour name specified in the Schedule.  (3) Subject to subsection (4), the Minister may, by regulation, add flavour names to the flavour names specified in the Schedule or remove flavour names specified in the Schedule.  (4) When making regulations under subsection (3), the Minister shall, having regard to public health and to the objectives of reducing harm from tobacco products, nicotine inhaling products and nicotine consumption products and prioritising the protection of health of children, take the following matters into account:  (a) the need to limit flavour names that may disproportionately appeal to children;  (b) evidence relating to flavours for nicotine inhaling products and smoking cessation, initiation and continuation of nicotine inhaling product use, or harm to health relating to nicotine inhaling products and nicotine consumption products;  (c) the prevalence of smoking of tobacco and use of nicotine inhaling products or nicotine consumption products in both children and adults, and the demographics of children and adults who smoke tobacco or use nicotine inhaling products or nicotine consumption products;  (d) evidence of the effectiveness, and other impacts, of the restrictions concerning flavour names for nicotine inhaling products and nicotine consumption products contained in this Act.  (5) A person shall not sell by retail a nicotine inhaling product or nicotine consumption product with a variant name which implies that such product has\u2014  (a) a particular sensory characteristic, or otherwise contains references to temperatures, textures or oral sensations, or  (b) a flavour other than that described in the flavour name.  (6) A person who contravenes subsection (1) or (5) commits an offence.\u201d.\u201d. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment, by leave, withdrawn."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  I move amendment No. 4:  In page 34, between lines 5 and 6, to insert the following:  \u201c     Menthol     Miontal      \u201d. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The time permitted for this debate having expired, I am required to put the following question in accordance with an order of the D\u00e1il of 23 June: \"That Fourth Stage is hereby completed and the Bill is hereby passed.\" "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Bill will now be sent to the Seanad. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) (Amendment) Bill 2026: Report and Final Stages"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-24\/debate\/dbsect_31","debateType":"billReport","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/48","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/48\/dail\/4","houseCode":"dail","stage":"4","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"National Treasury Management Agency (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026: Report Stage (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"National Treasury Management Agency (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026: Report Stage","counts":{"speechCount":33,"speakerCount":5},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_31","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Amendments Nos. 1 and 3 are related and may be discussed together by agreement. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I move amendment No. 1:  In page 8, between lines 13 and 14, to insert the following:  \u201c Report on NAMA performance  7. The Minister shall, within 6 months of the passing of this Act, prepare and lay before both Houses of the Oireachtas a report on the performance of NAMA including a specific analysis on the potential for higher returns to the State had the property portfolio been managed for longer rather than sold off.\u201d  We discussed this at length on Committee Stage and I want to put on the record again that I genuinely believe that NAMA has failed in its obligations, its duties and what this House set out for it in terms of the legislation, which I opposed and one of the Government parties opposed at the time. NAMA was to recover the assets of the State at that time. The book value of the loans was \u20ac74.4 billion. NAMA purchased those loans for \u20ac31.8 billion. That means it got a reduction of \u20ac42.6 billion. The job of NAMA at the time was to recover all of the money. The Ministers went on television and said that developers would be chased to the ends of the earth to secure that money.  If property prices did not recover then it could not actually manage assets and could not sell assets to realise values that did not exist, but the reality is that asset prices have recovered and, in some cases, have surpassed where they were at the time. That is not universally the case and there are portions of land that did not have planning permission, that were overvalued or where the loans taken out should never have been given. However, generally, property prices have recovered. Therefore, we should ask ourselves a question. How, if NAMA bought loans for \u20ac42 billion less than what the book value was and property prices have recovered over the ten years, when the job of the agency was to manage the assets and recover the full cost or as much as it could, it made a surplus of only \u20ac5 billion? That \u20ac5 billion sounds like big money for ordinary punters out there, but in the context of a \u20ac42 billion haircut and the context of recovering all of its assets, I believe it is a staggering failure.  It is a staggering failure because NAMA was also interfered with in terms of the direction of the Government. Michael Noonan made it very clear that he wanted to find a floor for the property market back in 2013 when he invited in the vulture funds. They made no bones about this. They were very clear that they rolled out the red carpet, welcomed the vulture funds for this State and pressed NAMA into what was, in my view, a fire sale of assets at the wrong time, incurring huge loses to the Irish taxpayer as a result.  NAMA did not just fail in that regard. The Comptroller and Auditor General has the unique task in this State to look at expenditure and value for money in Government Departments and also in respect of NAMA. The Comptroller and Auditor General in the 2024 report concluded:  NAMA did not achieve the residential output target. As at the end of 2021, it had delivered 11,049 units on sites in which it has an interest. This represents delivery of 55% of the target, a year later than originally projected.  A return of 55% of the target is appalling. That is really bad in the middle of a housing crisis. There is nothing to be writing home about regarding that. The C and AG went on to say:  NAMA estimated that sites sold by NAMA debtors\/receivers by end 2024 had the potential to deliver 105,000 residential units. By end 2024, an estimated 27,108 units had been constructed on sites sold. This level of delivery represents just 26% of the estimated overall capacity of the residential development sites sold by NAMA debtors\/receivers to end 2024.  Anybody who sat the junior certificate or leaving certificate last week and got a result of 26% got a big, fat \"F\". That is a failure, and that is what NAMA has done in relation to the housing part of it, never mind the billions of euro that could and should have been collected in the recovering-property scenario of its objectives. That is why the amendment before us is crucial. It is crucial that there is: \"a report on the performance of NAMA including a specific analysis on the potential for higher returns to the State had the property portfolio been managed for longer rather than sold off.\"  I argue the Irish people deserve nothing less. It is their money. It is their children who were forced to emigrate because of the policies of Fianna F\u00e1il at that time, because of how Fianna F\u00e1il wrecked the economy, because it cosied up to the bankers and developers and bust not only the banking situation but also the construction situation and had our public finances in such a weak position that so much damage was done. As we wind up NAMA in this legislation, it is important that the full truth is exposed and that everybody knows what the missed opportunity was here, what NAMA was tasked with and why it did not recover more than the \u20ac5 billion additional it did recover. That is the question.  I do not know what the Government is hiding from. I do not know why the Government does not want the Irish people to know that. Is it because the Minister of State knows, in his heart of hearts, that NAMA should have recovered a lot more, that there was political interference in relation to the strategy in terms of the vulture funds? I believe that is the case. Otherwise the Minister of State may surprise me, support this amendment and allow the public to have what we are asking for, a report. That is all we are asking for. Just show the public the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. That is what we are asking for so please support the amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Did Deputy O'Callaghan raise his hand? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  Yes, but thank you for the encouragement. My amendment No. 3 is very similar to amendment No. 1 from Deputy Doherty. There is a slight difference in that I am being move generous in the timeline being afforded to the Minister to make this report.  The fundamental point here is that the public has a right to know. They should get this information. I made the point on Committee Stage that, with NAMA there was a massive lost opportunity in terms of what could have been delivered in affordable housing for people. NAMA took on 60,000 individual assets, sites, land banks that should and could have been used to create affordable housing for the people of this country. That would have made a massive difference and would have meant we were not in the housing crisis that we are now. Instead, we saw land banks and in some cases housing almost completely finished and unfinished housing sold on at discount rates that was then often bought back by the State or financed by the State through long-term leases and so forth. It was a terribly bad use of money and terrible value for money.  I think a report like this would help shed some light on this and on some of the impact of this failure. As I have said before, it is not the individuals working in NAMA where the failing was here. The failing here was the political direction given to it by Government. Whatever about at the start, as prices were recovering and as there was a change going on in the housing supply conditions and prices, at that point, at the very latest, the Government should have intervened and redirected NAMA towards not just recovery in terms of price, but also in terms of making sure one of its key aims was affordable housing.  To this very day, while things are done in terms of affordable housing, if we look at our planning system and our housing system in general there is not enough of that at all directed at affordable housing. It should be one of the core aims we are trying to achieve. It should have been for NAMA and it should be something we are trying to do through the planning system and through our housing delivery system. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Deputy Robert Troy)  I thank the Deputies for tabling these amendments. While I fully appreciate and understand the intent behind them, I am not in a position to accept them. This matter has been considered in detail at pre-legislative scrutiny, Second Stage and Committee Stage.  I agree that scrutiny of NAMA's performance and of the value delivered to the taxpayer is both appropriate and important. However, I must again set out why this amendment is neither necessary nor feasible. First, NAMA's performance has been subject to extensive oversight throughout its lifetime. Its annual and quarterly accounts were laid before the Oireachtas and audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General. The Department of Finance conducted statutory five-year reviews and the Comptroller and Auditor General has also taken independent reviews including one published as recently as last month. Taken together, these provide a comprehensive and independent evidence base on NAMA's performance.  Second, the available evidence indicates that NAMA has met and, in some respects, exceeded its objectives. It delivered a lifetime contribution of \u20ac5.6 billion to the State and eliminated a significant contingent liability through the early redemption of its senior debt.  The Comptroller and Auditor General estimates a lifetime return of 6.8%, compared to the initial expectation of 5%. More broadly, NAMA is widely regarded internationally as a successful example of a state-backed asset management agency.  Turning to the substance of the amendment, there are clear, practical and legal limitations. NAMA did not acquire property assets directly. It acquired and managed loans secured on property, with the assets remaining in the ownership of debtors or receivers. Once loans were resolved or the underlying asset disposed of, they exited the NAMA system. NAMA's mandate, as set by the Oireachtas, was to deal with its portfolio expeditiously. It was never intended to operate as a long-term asset holder nor would it have been appropriate to attend assets on a speculative basis in the hope of future price increases.  The recent report by Professor John FitzGerald provides useful context. It notes that despite the Government facing external pressure to accelerate disposals, NAMA adhered to its strategy and, in doing so, was able to maximise value. The report concluded that this was the right approach. As market conditions improved, many borrowers refinanced or repaid their loans. In such cases, loans exited the NAMA system and the agency could not, and should not, have prevented this. This is a normal feature of a recovering financial system. It is also the case that in the post-crisis environment, debt levels in many instances exceeded underlying asset values. In that context, agreed disposal strategies were a necessary part of deleveraging and reflected the financial realities of the time. As a result, NAMA does not systematically retain or control information on subsequent resale values or updated valuations.  Constructing such a database retrospectively would require extensive third-party data, much of which are not publicly available or are commercially sensitive. More fundamentally, even if such data were available, the proposal would be inherently counterfactual. It relies on assumptions about future market conditions, financing costs and risks that cannot be reliably reconstructed. It does not reflect the context in which NAMA operated - a distressed market, significant uncertainty and a statutory obligation to reduce risk and dispose of assets over time and not to speculate on future price movements. Subsequent valuations taken in isolation do not provide a reliable basis for assessing decisions taken at the time. In many cases, assets were further developed, restructured or invested in after disposal and any uplift in value reflects those subsequent actions. This is not unique to NAMA but a normal feature of property markets.  Crucially, only the property owner holds the full information on post-sale investment, including capital and operating costs. This information is essential to any robust comparison but is not accessible, even to the Department of Finance. Without it, any analysis would be incomplete and potentially misleading. There are also strict, statutory confidentiality obligations limiting the disclosure of debtor-specific or commercially sensitive information. These obligations continue after NAMA's dissolution.  It is important to consider the broader context. NAMA has delivered a strong return to the State, repaid its debt in full and substantially completed its mandate, and successfully managed a complex and high-risk portfolio by supporting financial stability. NAMA was established to manage impaired loans, not to hold assets indefinitely in anticipation of future gains. It operated within a statutory and state aid framework that required it manage and dispose of assets over time. A speculative holding strategy would have exposed the State to ongoing risk and delayed deleveraging and would have potentially hindered economic recovery. In that context, comparison with later market values does not provide a meaningful basis for assessing decisions taken at the time nor is it well-founded to assume that assets could simply have been held longer to generate higher returns.  While the objective of transparency is fully accepted, the approach proposed in this amendment would neither be feasible nor produce meaningful results. NAMA's performance has already been subject to extensive audit reporting and independent review and for those reasons, I will not accept the amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  In regard to the reasons I outlined, I understand the Minister of State has to defend NAMA and his position but the facts speak for themselves. The Comptroller and Auditor General's facts also speak for themselves and for that reason, I am pressing the amendment. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared lost."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I move amendment No. 2:  In page 8, between lines 13 and 14, to insert the following:   \u201cReport on transfer of staff to NTMA   7. The Minister shall, within 1 month of the passing of this Act, prepare and lay before both Houses of the Oireachtas a report detailing all of the transfer of staff from NAMA to the NTMA, provide information on salary and if any existing vacancies were filled or new positions created within the NTMA in addition to the resolution unit.\u201d.  I also raised this with the Minister of State on Committee Stage. The bumper salary of the CEO of NAMA has turned into an ongoing saga and nobody wants to answer questions on it. The Government's fingerprints is all over this because, obviously, it wanted that individual to end up being in a wee cosy job it has earmarked for him as the housing tsar but that all fell asunder as well.  We have been stonewalled on this for months. Information should be available to the public as to whether the NAMA CEO is going to keep his \u20ac430,000 salary when he returns to the NTMA. That is a salary he has as a result of him being the CEO of NAMA. It was never intended for him to return from NAMA because the Government wanted him as the housing tsar until that fell apart, when the public was outraged that he would be paid so much to do what is essentially the Minister's job.  When that fell through, the section in the heads of the Bill that said all staff of NAMA, when it was wound up, would be transferred to the resolution unit of the NTMA to handle the residual activity was taken out of the legislation when it was published. We all know that the NAMA CEO will return to the NTMA but not to the resolution unit. What we do not know is whether he is going to keep his salary despite no longer being a CEO. What we also do not know if there is an existing vacancy at senior management team level or if that job is going to be created for him. What we are missing here is transparency, and I believe it is a disgrace in regard to transparency.  There should be no reason for secrecy or hidden information in this regard. We are talking about how public money is spent and how the Government is refusing to answer questions and has gone to great lengths to hide it from any real oversight. We are winding up NAMA. The Government produced legislation to say that everybody, including the CEO, was supposed to go into the resolution unit but it did not tell us at the time it published that legislation that it had another plan for the CEO. It wanted to second him and make him the housing tsar with a huge salary because it wanted its Minister, who was not up to the job, to have a dig-out from a housing tsar. Now, when that fell apart, the Government has had to create a new system and it will not give us any information on it.  This is not on because it is public money at the end of the day. The NAMA CEO is now going to go into a senior role in the NTMA. Is it being created for him? Is there a vacancy? Is one being created to justify him keeping a salary of \u20ac430,000? I have no idea because the Government will not give us the information and it is a scandal, in my view. It is a murky ending that is all too fitting for the role NAMA has played in our society.  Between Committee and Report Stages - because these questions were asked of him on Committee Stage - he should now know this information and he should put it on the public record in the House. I would be happy to hear that there is a vacancy with a reduced salary, that he will be taking that up, and that the Minister of State is transparent in giving us the criteria or the salary range. However, if it is just more stonewalling, what are we on the Opposition benches or the general public supposed to conclude from all of that? That is why we have tabled the amendment, which makes it clear that it is not acceptable that the Minister of State has made these types of arrangements and that we have within six months a report laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas detailing all the transfer of staff from NAMA to the NTMA, providing information on salary and whether any existing vacancies were filled or new positions created within the NTMA, in addition to the resolution unit.  Outside of all that, we do not need the report. What we need is just a bit of transparency and a bit of upfrontness from the Government. It was because of all this dodgy cageyness and not being transparent with the public that the Government's plans for the CEO of NAMA fell through. It created a wee job for him, somebody the public perceived as an insider who was already in a well-paid position. That is no disrespect to the individual himself but the Government created the situation and put him in that situation.  Now, the Minister of State is in a position where he is not being transparent. We do not know where the CEO is going. We do not know if there is a job being created. We do not know if a vacancy exists within the NTMA. This is all basic information that should be said in public. It should be said that there is a vacancy at senior management level in the NTMA, the salary range is between \u20ac150,000 and \u20ac250,000 for those types of management roles, and that is where he is going in because he was seconded from  it. That would bring transparency to this situation or it might be a case, because I do not know, that a position is being created for the CEO, he will retain his salary of \u20ac400,000 or maybe he will take a wee cut of \u20ac50,000 - he will still be on \u20ac380,000 - and we are creating a job for him because the job does not exist, but he was not supposed to go there because the job the Government had for him fell through because he has handled it arseways. Therefore, will the Minister of State please tell us what is happening with the CEO of  NAMA? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  I will respond to the amendment that was put down, which is relates to the transfer of staff, not one individual staff member. I thank Deputy Doherty for bringing forward this amendment which proposes to amend the legislation to require us reporting on staff from NAMA to the NTMA, including salary information.  As outlined on Committee Stage, the legislation does not include any provisions relating to the transfer of staff from NAMA to the NTMA. The general scheme of the Bill, published in 2024, had included a standard provision to provide for the transfer of staff, reflecting precedents in other similar legislation. However, following further engagement with NAMA and the NTMA, it became clear that no statutory mechanism is necessary in this case. This is because NAMA does not employ staff in its own right. All individuals working in NAMA have always have been employees of the NTMA assigned to perform NAMA functions. Accordingly, there is no transfer of employment arising from the dissolution of NAMA and therefore the premise of the transfer of staff does not arise in fact or in law. In practical terms, a small number of staff will be assigned to a dedicated unit within the NTMA to manage the limited residual work that will remain following NAMA's dissolution. This is not a new statutory structure but a functional unit operating within the NTMA's existing operational governance and resourcing framework. The roles within the unit are aligned with the completion of the residual work and the work itself is simply being integrated into the ongoing operations of the NTMA. When operational, the unit's eight staff are expected to comprise a head of unit, two finance professionals, two operational professionals, two better case managers and one legal professional. The head of the unit will report to the NTMA's chief financial and operating officer and the unit will be supported by the NTMA's wider operational platform including IT, compliance, human resources and facilities. No additional stand-alone corporate infrastructure is required.  It is also important to recognise the broader organisational context. The NTMA is a large established State body with approximately 688 employees at the end of 2025, excluding those assigned to NAMA. While the dissolution of NAMA is a significant step reflecting the fact that it has largely concluded its operational work, the assignment of a small number of staff to a specific function within the NTMA is an internal organisational matter. While the Deputy does not specifically refer to the position of chief executive officer in his amendment, he does in his contribution. I again note that this role will cease on the dissolution of NAMA as the legislative basis for the position is repealed. The current CEO has been a permanent employee of the NTMA operating in a senior executive role before NAMA's establishment. He will transition within the organisation under his existing contractual framework. This does not involve a new appointment but reflects the normal reassignment of an NTMA employee following organisational change. As with all NTMA staff, matters relating to assignments, roles and individual contractual terms are managed within the agency. Neither the T\u00e1naiste, as Minister for Finance, or I have any role in such arrangements.  Turning to the remuneration, the NTMA operates within an established statutory and governance framework. It complies fully with the code of practise for the governance of State bodies and provides transparency through its annual report, including the publication of employee remuneration in bands of \u20ac25,000, beginning with those earning in excess of \u20ac50,000. This ensures appropriate public accountability at an aggregate level. It would not be appropriate to publish salary information relating to individual employees. Such information constitutes personal data and is subject to contractual confidentiality and data protection requirements. Staff assigned to the resolution unit will be captured within the existing NTMA reporting arrangements in the same manner as staff across all other functional areas of the NTMA. More broadly, the NTMA is an established State body with its own statutory functions, governance structures and accountability arrangements. Decisions related to staffing, organisational structure and the allocation of roles within the agency are matters for the NTMA itself operating within that framework. In that context, the additional reporting requirements proposed in this amendment are neither necessary nor proportionate. The amendment is predicated on a transfer of staff that does not arise as all NAMA staff are employed by the NTMA and there is no transfer of staff under the legislation. The information sought is also already either publicly available at an appropriate level of aggregation or relates to matters that are governed within NTMA's existing oversight and confidentiality framework. For these reasons, I am not in the position to accept the amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  For the reasons that we are no wiser after the five-minute contribution from the Minister of State in relation to whether the CEO of NAMA is going to go into the NTMA on \u20ac430,000, whether there is going to be a vacancy there or whether a job is going to be created, I will press the amendment because, obviously, no light has been shone by the Minister of State on this issue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Cathal Crowe)  Is the amendment being pressed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  I would like to come in. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Cathal Crowe)  The Minister of State may go ahead. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  I would make the point that the current CEO of NAMA had been a permanent employee of the NTMA since before NAMA's establishment. The NAMA CEO position will cease on the dissolution of NAMA. At that point, he will continue as an NTMA employee under his existing employment framework and individual contract. This does not involve a new appointment or, indeed, any special arrangement but reflects his ongoing status as an NTMA employee. He has not been newly appointed or accommodated. Rather, his role is changing following the dissolution of NAMA, and any future role he takes within the organisation is a matter for the current CEO of the NTMA and he will report within the NTMA structure. He will not be the Accounting Officer. He will not be the CEO of the NTMA. As with all staff, his contractual rights as an employee continue to apply. Matters relating to individual contacts are the responsibility of the CEO and the NTMA and are not determined by the Minister. Neither I, as Minister of State, or, indeed, the senior Minister have any role in individual contractual terms and conditions or assignments within the NTMA. The CEO of the NTMA is appointed through an open competitive process and is accountable to the Committee of Public Accounts and the staff underneath him are accountable to the CEO. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I still have no more answers from what the Minister of State said. We still do not know what the salary scale is going to be, whether the job at senior level has been created, whether he is going to keep his \u20ac430,000 or whether the contract he has at the minute will actually be remuneration, which entitles him not just to \u20ac430,000 but a bonus of a portion of that. I think it is about 25% on an annual basis. In fairness, he has never accepted it to my knowledge. I stand to be corrected, but that is the case. Therefore, because we have no information and we are asking to wind up an agency where the individual will transfer, I am pressing the amendment. It is ridiculous that we do not have this information. It will come out sometime. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Cathal Crowe)  Okay. So, the amendment is being pressed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  We will have to wait for the publication of the annual report. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  It will not come out in the annual report because as the Minister of State said, he is not an Accounting Officer. Therefore, we will never have----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  In an aggregated----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  There is never a responsibility for him to publish what he is getting. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  In an aggregated format. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  He could go into the NTMA and he could be paid \u20ac1 million and we would never know. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Cathal Crowe)  The debate is finished. I am going to put the amendment. The question is that the amendment----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Hold on, with respect, the proposer of the amendment has three opportunities. I only took two. I am the only person who has a third opportunity. Is that okay? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Cathal Crowe)  Okay. Proceed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Let me make the point again.  This information will never come to light under the reporting, in the way the Minister of State suggests, because the former CEO of NAMA will not be an accounting officer. As CEO of NAMA, he had to disclose his wages, but now that he is going back into the NTMA, he does not. He is not an accounting officer, so it will not be reported. The issue here is that hypothetically he could be going back in on a million quid and we would never know. We would never know he would be paid that amount of money. We would have to deduce it was him, somebody else or whoever. The Minister of State is asking us to support legislation that is the transfer of his position into the NTMA. As I have said, the Minister of State has had two opportunities to address this issue. He has failed to address it. He has failed to tell us whether it is a new position or whether it is a position that is in vacancy. Again, if the Minister of State told me that there was a vacancy at senior management level and that the range of those senior management levels was X and Y, that would bring the issue to the conclusion. There is a huge issue around this here because this is somebody the Department never wanted to go into the NTMA. It wanted him to be the housing tsar on a huge salary. That fell through and now the Minister of State is not being transparent. I press the amendment. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared lost."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  I move amendment No. 3:  In page 8, after line 34, to insert the following:   \u201cReport on NAMA managed properties   10. The Minister shall, within 6 months of the passing of this Act, lay a report before both Houses of the Oireachtas that provides a table outlining all NAMA managed properties, their value at the time of their sale, compared to their current or most recent valuation.\u201d. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared lost."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Cathal Crowe)  We move on to amendment No. 4 in the name of the Minister. It arises out of committee proceedings. Amendments Nos. 4 to 8, inclusive, are related and may be discussed together. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  I move amendment No. 4:  In page 17, to delete lines 35 to 43, and in page 18, to delete lines 1 and 2 and substitute the following:  \u201c \u2018residual NAMA matter\u2019 means any asset, liability, right, cause of action, entitlement or obligation of any nature or kind, or legal proceedings, that immediately before the dissolution day was an asset, liability, right, cause of action, entitlement or obligation of any nature or kind of, or relating to, NAMA or a NAMA group entity and, in the case of legal proceedings, were legal proceedings to which NAMA or a NAMA group entity was a party or which were otherwise relating to NAMA or a NAMA group entity, and which on and after the dissolution day is an asset, liability, right, cause of action, entitlement or obligation of, or relating to, the Agency or a subsidiary of the Agency, as the case may be, or, in the case of legal proceedings, are legal proceedings to which the Agency or a subsidiary of the Agency is a party or which are otherwise relating to the Agency or a subsidiary of the Agency, as the case may be;\u201d.  I flagged on Committee Stage that I intended to introduce a small number of amendments to Part 4 of the Bill on behalf of the Minister for Finance. These amendments are technical in nature and are designed to ensure clarity and consistency in the drafting of the legislation. As Deputies will be aware, the Bill provides for the orderly wind-down of NAMA and for the transfer of any residual matters to the NTMA for management to completion, including the continuation of any ongoing proceedings. The Bill also facilitates the conclusion of the IBRC special liquidation, with provision for any remaining residual matters to transfer to the NTMA for management to completion by way of transfer agreement entered into between the relevant parties. A key element of that process is ensuring the seamless continuation of any outstanding matters, including ongoing legal proceedings, with provision for the substitution of the NTMA in place of NAMA and the IBRC as appropriate in such proceedings, along with the continuation of associated rights and obligations. In that context, the amendments being brought relate to the terminology used in Part 4 and ensure clarity and consistency in how references to proceedings are expressed across the relevant positions. This is simply to ensure that the provisions operate clearly and consistently in practice. These amendments are purely technical in nature and do not alter the underlying policy intent of the Bill in any way. The policy remains unchanged, namely to ensure the effective transfer of residual functions, assets, liabilities and legal matters to the NTMA, and to allow those matters to be brought to an orderly conclusion. I therefore commend these amendments to the House. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  I move amendment No. 5:  In page 20, line 2, after \u201cproceedings\u201d to insert \u201cof any nature or kind (including legal proceedings)\u201d. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  I move amendment No. 6:  In page 27, line 36, after \u201cto\u201d where it firstly occurs to insert \u201clegal\u201d. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  I move amendment No. 7:  In page 28, line 12, after \u201cany\u201d to insert \u201clegal\u201d. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  I move amendment No. 8:  In page 28, lines 25 to 27, to delete all words from and including \u201cin\u201d in line 25 down to and including \u201cmatters\u201d in line 27 and substitute \u201c, in relation to any relevant residual matter\u201d. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Bill, as amended, received for final consideration and passed."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Cathal Crowe)  We will now proceed to the voting block. I thank Members. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"National Treasury Management Agency (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026: Report Stage"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-24\/debate\/dbsect_32","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 and Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009: Motions (Resumed)","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_32","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The following motion was moved by Deputy Jim O'Callaghan on Tuesday, 23 June 2026:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann resolves that sections 2 to 4, 6 to 12, 14 and 17 of the Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 (No. 39 of 1998) shall continue in operation for the period beginning on 30th June, 2026 and ending on 29th June, 2027."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"- (Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration)"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Debate resumed on amendment No. 1:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"To insert the following after \"ending on 29th June, 2027\":"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\"; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 calls on the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to bring forward legislation to give effect to the recommendations of the Independent Review Group without further delay.\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"- (Deputy Matt Carthy)"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"An Ceann Comhairle: I must now deal with a postponed division relating to the motion regarding the Offences Against the State Act. On Tuesday, 23 June 2026, on the question, \"That the amendment to the motion be agreed to\", a division was claimed and in accordance with Standing Order 85(2), that division must be taken now."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Motion agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The following motion was moved by Deputy Jim O'Callaghan on Tuesday, 23 June 2026:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann resolves that section 8 of the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009 (No. 32 of 2009) shall continue in operation for the period beginning on 30th June, 2026 and ending on 29th June, 2027."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"- (Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration)"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I must now deal with a postponed division relating to the motion regarding the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009. On Tuesday, 23 June 2026, on the question, \"That motion be agreed to\", a division was claimed and in accordance with Standing Order 85(2), that division must be taken now. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 and Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009: Motions (Resumed)"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-24\/debate\/dbsect_41","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"State Responsibility for Foundation Retention Risk in Defective Concrete Homes: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_41","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The following motion was moved by Deputy Charles Ward on Wednesday, 24 June 2026:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"notes that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 thousands of homeowners affected by defective concrete have spent years living with uncertainty regarding the safety of their homes, the adequacy of available remediation options and the long-term security of their families;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 many affected families have experienced repeated changes in engineering advice, evolving scientific understanding and revisions to the redress scheme throughout that period;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 for homeowners undertaking remediation works, decisions regarding whether existing foundations should be retained or replaced are among the most significant and irreversible choices they will make;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme permits the retention of existing foundations in affected dwellings in accordance with the updated National Standards Authority of Ireland I.S. (Irish Standard) 465:2026;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 research underpinning I.S. 465:2026 has identified pyrrhotite and other sulphide minerals in the concrete foundations of affected homes, with evidence of oxidation and early-stage internal sulphate attack in some cases;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the scientific basis underpinning I.S. 465:2026 remains limited in duration, scale and longitudinal evidence, and does not conclusively establish long-term foundation performance;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 as a result, I.S. 465:2026 operates in circumstances of acknowledged material scientific uncertainty regarding long-term structural durability; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 affected homeowners are being required to make decisions about retaining or remediating foundations in conditions of that uncertainty, with significant financial, legal and psychological consequences;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"recognises that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the State is relying on I.S. 465:2026 as the governing technical standard for remediation decisions, despite acknowledged scientific uncertainty in its underpinning evidence;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 where the State adopts a Standard in conditions of uncertainty, it must bear responsibility for managing resulting long-term structural risk and not transfer it to individual homeowners;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 homeowners should not be exposed to future liability or repeated remediation costs arising from limitations in the scientific evidence base underpinning the Standard; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 in circumstances where failure mechanisms may be latent, progressive and not fully observable within assessment timeframes, policy must err decisively on the side of homeowner protection; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"calls on the Government to:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 commission an independent international review of the scientific basis of I.S. 465:2026, with specific focus on sulphide-related deterioration mechanisms in foundation concrete and their long-term behaviour;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 publish in full the evidential basis, assumptions and uncertainty ranges used to justify foundation retention under I.S. 465:2026;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 amend the operation of the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme to ensure that no homeowner is required to retain foundations where there is material engineering uncertainty regarding long-term durability;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 provide an explicit entitlement for homeowners to opt for full foundation replacement where reasonable doubt exists as to future performance;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 ensure that responsibility for residual long-term structural risk arising from application of I.S. 465:2026 remains with the State and not individual homeowners; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 report to D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann within six months on the implementation of these measures and on any revision required to I.S. 465:2026 in light of emerging scientific evidence."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Debate resumed on amendment No. 1:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"To delete all words after \"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann\" and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\"notes that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme (DCB Scheme), which provides grants to help those affected by defective concrete blocks to remediate their homes, is underpinned by the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (2022 Act);"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 over 3,500 homeowners are now at various stages of the DCB Scheme, and will be supported with grants for 100 per cent of eligible expenditure up to a maximum cap of \u20ac462,000 per household, and this represents a 10 per cent increase in the maximum cap since the DCB Scheme launched in 2023;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 more than \u20ac336 million has been spent on the DCB Scheme to date, with a commitment to more than doubling the level of funding for 2026 to \u20ac175 million, and to continue higher investment levels over the entire period of the National Development Plan 2026-2030;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the DCB Scheme is actively helping homeowners to rebuild their homes, allowing them to move on with their lives;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 over 500 homes have been fully remediated to date, with approximately 750 more currently at various stages of construction;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 additional counties continue to be added to the DCB Scheme, clearly showing the Government's commitment to help all those affected by the legacy defects caused by defective blocks;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the legislation refers to I.S. (Irish Standard) 465:2018, the Standard which provides for the assessment, testing and categorisation of damaged buildings incorporating concrete blocks containing certain deleterious material, which was published in November 2018, and the 2018 version of the Standard did not require any testing of foundations as there has never been any evidence of damage to foundations, and the DCB Scheme and the underpinning legislation make no provision for such testing;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 in November 2021, as Ireland's official standards body, the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) was tasked by the Government with a special review of the concrete Standard, this review started in March 2022, and has been conducted by the TC 63 Concrete Blocks Committee of the NSAI, membership of this Committee included representatives of the concrete industry, Engineers Ireland, the Geological Survey Ireland, homeowner action groups, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Housing Agency; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 a new revised Standard, I.S. 465:2026, was recently published by the NSAI on 2nd June, 2026, and the revised Standard is based on new research in the area, it entails quite significant changes from the previous Standard in that, under the new Standard, almost all houses with defective concrete blocks would be demolished, and furthermore, the Standard provides for the testing of the foundations of each house in case they may be found to be affected at some point in the future, notwithstanding that there are no current cases of damage to foundations; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"agrees that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 aspects of the changes entailed by the new Standard require detailed consideration in terms of the DCB Scheme, and could entail significant financial implications for the State if adopted under the DCB Scheme;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the 2022 Act requires that the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage shall, on the publication of the revised Standard, undertake a review of the legislation, the Act also requires that, not later than three months after the completion of the review, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage shall make a report to each House of the Oireachtas of their findings and conclusions resulting from the review, and it is intended that this formal review of the DCB Scheme will be initiated by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage shortly;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 existing DCB Scheme participants who have already received their determination under I.S. 465:2018 will have the choice to continue with their works;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the review will focus, as per the provisions of Section 51 of the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022, on the operation of the Act in the first instance, with all matters relating to the introduction of I.S. 465:2026 and its interaction with the DCB Scheme being considered as part of the review, and this will include the matter of foundations; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage will consider all implications of the new I.S. 465:2026, and make recommendations to the Government on any proposed changes to the DCB Scheme as soon as possible.\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"- (Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage)"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I must now deal with a postponed division relating to State responsibility for foundation retention risk in defective concrete homes. On Tuesday, 23 June 2026, on the question, \"That the amendment to the motion be agreed to\", a division was claimed and in accordance with Standing Order 85(2), that division must be taken now. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar athl\u00f3 ar 9.47 p.m. go dt\u00ed 8.47 a.m., D\u00e9ardaoin, an 25 Meitheamh 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The D\u00e1il adjourned at 9.47 p.m. until 8.47 a.m. on Thursday, 25 June 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"State Responsibility for Foundation Retention Risk in Defective Concrete Homes: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members]"}]}}]},"contextDate":"2026-06-24"},{"debateRecord":{"house":{"showAs":"34th D\u00e1il","committeeCode":"","houseCode":"dail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/house\/dail\/34","chamberType":"house","houseNo":"34"},"chamber":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/def\/house\/dail","showAs":"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann"},"lastUpdated":"2026-06-30T02:11:57+00:00","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-23\/debate\/main","formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-23\/debate\/mul@\/main.xml"},"pdf":null},"date":"2026-06-23","counts":{"contributorCount":170,"divisionCount":1,"debateSectionCount":31,"questionCount":14,"billCount":3},"debateType":"debate","debateSections":[{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-23\/debate\/dbsect_2","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions","counts":{"speechCount":21,"speakerCount":7},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  \"T\u00e1im ag iarraidh go nglacfaidh an Rialtas lena fhreagracht agus, ar a laghad, go dtabharfaidh siad s\u00edoch\u00e1in d\u00fainn ag deireadh \u00e1r r\u00e9.\" Is iad seo na focail \u00f3 bhean amh\u00e1in de chuid mhn\u00e1 Dh\u00fan Dar\u00fa. Is marthan\u00f3ir\u00ed iad a bh\u00ed tar \u00e9is m\u00ed-\u00fas\u00e1id ghn\u00e9asach uaf\u00e1sach a fhulaingt i Scoil N\u00e1isi\u00fanta Dh\u00fan Dar\u00fa i gCorcaigh sna seascaid\u00ed agus sna seacht\u00f3id\u00ed. An inseoidh an Taoiseach d\u00f3ibh inniu go nd\u00e9anfaidh s\u00e9 an rud ceart agus go gcuirfidh s\u00e9 c\u00faiteamh ar f\u00e1il sa d\u00f3igh at\u00e1 ceart agus gan tuilleadh moille?  The following are the words of one of the Dunderrow women:  I want the Government to take responsibility and to at least give us peace at the end of our time. I'm here suffering along with fellow victims who went to a school that was run by the State, and this was done to innocent children. It's totally wrong, totally unfair. I want justice.  These women are survivors of horrific sexual abuse inflicted on children by teacher Leo Hickey at Dunderrow National School in Cork in the sixties and seventies. They have now broken their silence in their quest for justice and for compensation for the State's failure to protect them.  The Taoiseach will recall how Louise O'Keeffe, one of Hickey's victims, spent years courageously battling for the State to take responsibility and provide redress. In fact, the Taoiseach was the Minister for education who fought Louise through the Irish courts back in 1998. She was forced to take her case all the way to the European Court of Human Rights and she won that case in 2014. The court found that the State had an obligation to protect children from sexual abuse in State-run schools and to provide redress to survivors.  The judgment meant the State had to pay compensation to Louise O'Keeffe but the Irish courts found it was not just her who was abused in that school. We are talking about women whose children were abused by the same person in the same school during the same period but, 12 and a half years on from the European Court of Human Rights judgment, these women are still waiting, still being ignored and still having to fight the State to own up to its responsibilities.  These women are told that they cannot access compensation because they have not previously taken a legal case against the State. Seriously, is the Taoiseach not going to do the right thing for these women who were abused because of some technicality? The State, true to form, wants to drag these women through the courts and wants to force them to take on expensive legal proceedings to get compensation. We have seen this all before, and we know it is cruel. These are women who are now in their 60s and 70s who suffered appalling sexual abuse at the time and whose children were catastrophically failed by the State. It is shameful what is happening to them. The women have suffered enough. They are being retraumatised and being forced into a position where they must sue the State to get what they are entitled to by law, and that is wrong and we all know that.  Louise O'Keeffe summed up the injustice perfectly when she said, \"I was abused by Leo Hickey in Dunderrow school. The Dunderrow women were also abused by Leo Hickey in Dunderrow school. It is time to give these women the redress that is theirs. It is time to do what is right.\" I am asking the Taoiseach today to bring this to an end. I asking him to tell them today that he will do what is right. I asking him to tell them that he will provide redress without any further delay. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The abuse carried out by Leo Hickey was evil, horrific and deeply harmful to many people who were children at the time that he was in Dunderrow National School in the 1960s. I do appreciate and I am fully conscious of the enormous trauma experienced by the survivors of sexual abuse in that school and abuse carried out by Leo Hickey. It is important that their voices are heard and listened to. In 2014, the European Court of Human Rights found that in respect of day schools the State failed in its obligation in specific circumstances to protect Louise O'Keeffe from sexual abuse by Leo Hickey. This was not the Irish courts but the European Court of Human Rights.  The key issue was the absence of any safeguarding advices or Children First guidelines. All of that was not in place at the time. That was not advised to what was a diocesan school at the time. That was the key underlying reason for the decision of the European Court of Human Rights. Since then, a number of measures have been put in place to implement the judgment, including an ex gratia payment scheme. That said, in 2015 the then Government established an ex gratia scheme of payments for victims of abuse by teachers and other school employees that was designed to ensure the implementation of the judgment. However, that scheme was not adequate at all, and it was reviewed in 2019 by an independent assessor, Mr. Justice Iarfhlaith O'Neill. This involves some who were in Dunderrow but others who were not in Dunderrow. The scope of the scheme was expanded following Mr. Justice O'Neill's conclusions and there was a more straightforward process. Some 193 applications were made to the revised ex gratia scheme and a total of \u20ac10.75 million has issued to about 128 approved applicants. The scheme closed to applications in July 2023.  Meanwhile, as Members know, the scoping inquiry into historical sexual abuse in day and boarding schools more generally run by religious orders published in 2024 recognised the significance of the issues for survivors and their expressed wish that those running those schools where sexual abuse occurred should be held accountable financially. An interdepartmental group was then established in the aftermath of the scoping report to work on each of the recommendations, particularly in the context of redress. The interdepartmental group recognised that consideration of a redress payment scheme, more generally, has far-reaching implications and it is doing further detailed work in respect of that.  The survivors of the abuse by Leo Hickey from Dunderrow, through their legal representatives, have sought mediation. As I have said, legal advice is that we would enter into mediation. We will enter into a mediation in good faith and we will engage constructively.  I said that earlier this morning. Admha\u00edm gur fhulaing na mn\u00e1 agus na dalta\u00ed go han-mh\u00f3r ar fad as ucht an m\u00e9id a rinne an m\u00fainteoir Leo Hickey. Bh\u00ed s\u00e9 uaf\u00e1sach agus go hainnis. Admha\u00edm go bhfuil tr\u00e1ma faoi leith ann do na daoine at\u00e1 f\u00f3s ag fulaingt as ucht an m\u00e9id a rinne s\u00e9. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  The plea from the survivors of the abuse at Dunderrow is: give us peace at the end of our days; we want justice. They are asking how long do they have to wait? This goes right back to 1998 when the Taoiseach was the Minister at the time. That is nearly 30 years ago. It is twelve and a half years since the European court made a judgment that the State was liable and we are hearing words from Ministers and taoisigh about mediation and about listening when the survivors are asking for peace at the end of their days and for justice. I am asking the Taoiseach a very simple question because he knows. Louise O'Keeffe had to win her case and fight her battles in the European court and have compensation paid to her but the Taoiseach knows that the Irish courts have made it very clear that other women were abused in that school by the same teacher at the same time. Will the Taoiseach say to these women that, yes, compensation will be paid to them, that we hear them and we see them and that we are going to set this right? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  To set the record straight, back in 1998 and 1999 the issue was industrial schools. I created a commission into abuse that happened in industrial schools. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  The first proceedings were lodged in 1998. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I want to put that on the record. It was the first time ever any Irish Government established a commission of inquiry into abuse in schools and that was in the context of industrial schools. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  The Taoiseach was named in the Louise O'Keeffe case, in fairness. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I want to make that point. It was many years later when this particular case came to the Irish courts and then it went on to the European Court of Human Rights. That said, various ex gratia payment schemes were developed in respect of Dunderrow and others who were party to the case at the European court. As I said earlier, about 193 applications were made. About 128 were approved under the ex gratia payment scheme. We are going to enter into remediation at this stage in good faith. We have a wider issue which the interdepartmental group is examining in terms of both redress and the implications of all that for the State, for survivors and for religious orders in terms of their culpability and accountability in respect of contributing to redress. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  I want to read into the record the testimonies of two women who were sexually abused by Leo Hickey, their principal in Dunderrow National School in Kinsale. One said:  Sometimes while abusing me with his right hand, I would see him put his left hand inside the clothes on the lower part of the body of the girl beside me. Again, this could last for the duration of the class.  Another said:  I remember feeling something hard pressed against the small of my back and I remember wondering what this hard object was. I thought it was something in his pocket. This seemed to happen for a long time, but it probably lasted about ten minutes. I remember wanting to get out to play before the break would be over ...  These women and 17 of their schoolmates are, rightly, seeking redress for what was done to them as children. They were failed by every system that was supposed to protect them and they are still being failed today.  Leo Hickey was eventually convicted while the State managed to evade all responsibility. I spoke to Louise O'Keeffe today, who spent 16 years fighting to change that. The State fought her, in her words, \"tooth and nail\" every step of the way, pursuing her through the courts and aggressively seeking legal costs against her. In 2014, she finally won at the European Court of Human Rights, which found the State had failed in its duty to protect children.  That judgment should have been a turning point. Instead, in a textbook Irish Government approach to how it treats survivors of abuse, the redress scheme excluded the very people it was supposed to help. Incredibly, 19 victims of Leo Hickey - women whose evidence helped secure his conviction - have been denied redress. Their testimony was good enough for the criminal court but somehow is not good enough for the State. It is unbelievable.  In 2019, the Taoiseach stood on this side of the House and said that the O'Keeffe judgment demands that every child who experienced sexual abuse in a defective child protection framework in schools be compensated for that abuse. He also said that redress should not wait for the results of any commission of investigation. Survivors do not need another review, report or excuse. They need a Government willing to do what the Taoiseach himself called for.  I have two questions. Does the Taoiseach recognise the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights and if so, will he commit to providing fair redress to all survivors without arbitrary barriers? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  First of all, I thank the Deputy for again raising this issue. As I have said, the abuse committed by Leo Hickey was horrific and unconscionable. The suffering and trauma people went through because of him has been life lasting. The Deputy is correct that in 2019, I advocated very strongly that the original redress scheme of 2015 was far too limited. That led to the appointment of Mr. Justice Iarfhlaith O'Neill to recommend an expansion of the ex gratia payment scheme. That is what I have already referenced; that opened it up to some degree back then to 128 people. Obviously, not all were in Dunderrow but I did not have the identities of all of them. I represented one or two people myself from outside of Dunderrow, who had come to me as a TD at the time because I was not in Government then. That person would have received compensation at the time but even that is at a modest level, if I am honest.  The legal representatives wrote to the Attorney General last week. As I said, we are going to engage in a constructive way and I do want to see a resolution of this. There are also wider implications in the context of what emerged in the last number of years in some religious-run secondary schools, which led to the scoping inquiry that recommended a full inquiry - which we have established - into abuse in primary schools and all schools across the country. There is also the issue of redress and how that would be handled. An interdepartmental group was established to deal with that, which will have far-reaching implications all round but also with regard to accountability and responsibility.  The established mechanism was that where schools were run by the diocesan authorities or by religious orders, it was those that were primarily culpable in terms of abuse that happened. In the context of Dunderrow, of course, in the 1960s, this was pre any official guidelines from the State or Government to these patron bodies in respect of safeguarding children and guidelines that we have today, like Children First. We have a far greater framework of laws and guidelines to try and protect children, which did not exist then. That is the area where the European court found the State culpable in respect of adequate safeguarding not being provided to schools at that particular time. We will take this forward and revert to the House in due course. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  What the Taoiseach has highlighted is the well-established practice of the State. At the hands of the State, people are seriously and systematically abused. They try to seek justice. There is delay after delay, an interdepartmental group, a commission of investigation, and a redress scheme that is blatantly cruel and excludes the people who need it, then the State does it all again with another redress scheme that also does not work.  It is delay, delay and consult. The Taoiseach said today he should positively engage and listen to these people. I spoke to Louise O'Keeffe this morning. She said she met the Taoiseach in March 2025 and he said he would get back to her in a month. She has not heard from the Taoiseach since. This is not engaging positively.  She went to the European Court of Human Rights after fighting the State for over a decade. She won. Eighteen other people were abused in the same school by the same man. Their testimony was used in the criminal court to convict him but the Taoiseach will not take that as good enough to provide the redress these people have been waiting over a decade for. The Taoiseach will delay more with another interdepartmental group and another redress scheme. Why will he not commit to giving these people what they are entitled to now and end this despicable practice of disregarding survivors and delaying, delaying and delaying? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It is not delay, delay, delay in respect of the mediation that has been sought by the representatives of the survivors of the abuse by Leo Hickey. We will engage in that mediation. There is a wider redress issue that has to be examined in the context of schools in general across the nation over the last number of decades. That is the point I am making. This has been in a legal framework for quite some time as well. I have no issue meeting with people but the Government has to resolve this as well and come to conclusions in respect of it. I am clear on what we need to do, specifically in terms of these survivors of this particular abuse but there will be others as well. There will be other schools and a need for further responses in different contexts. That was the idea of the overall comprehensive inquiry and the idea of the interdepartmental group to examine how we deal with all of these issues, not just in one or two schools but the generality of where abuse has taken place. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  Over recent days, we have once again been confronted with some of the darkest chapters in the history of this island. Yesterday saw the conviction of former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson for horrific sex offences against children. Today, survivors of systematic sexual abuse, perpetrated upon them by Leo Hickey at Dunderrow National School, have come forward to share their harrowing ordeal. Still excluded from existing State redress schemes, they are calling for an effective route to recognition for the horrific campaign of abuse they suffered as children. Last night, we heard the final episode of RT\u00c9\u2019s \"Pirate Predator\" documentary, with renewed calls from survivors for an inquiry into the State\u2019s failures to apprehend the prolific and violent sex offender Eamon Cooke. Last week, we learned of the death of paedophile Bill Kenneally, whose crimes destroyed numerous young lives and many of whose victims are still seeking justice. I want to begin by paying tribute to every survivor of child sexual abuse. Survivors have shown extraordinary courage in coming forward. As they tell us, many are still fighting for justice and to be heard.  A common theme runs through these appalling cases of child sexual abuse: power and silence; abuse of power by monstrous predators; and silence from the institutions of both State and church that should have been protecting children. The church and the State have a duty to make amends for decades of their failures towards victims. We know the commission of investigation into abuse in schools is under way and that an interdepartmental group is examining options for future redress. That report is due in May next year. Its recommendations must be survivor-led. These may require significant legislative and policy reform, but there are things we can do now to deliver justice for survivors.  The first is in respect of the Dunderrow survivors. I spoke again today with a representative from the group of women. They want to see action. They heard what the Taoiseach said about listening to them but they want action and they want redress. Second, the T\u00e1naiste has said that religious orders must pay their fair share of redress - I agree with him and I welcome his comments. The Taoiseach will know that the Labour Party has a Bill before this House on Thursday in my name. It is a Bill to enable survivors of institutional child sexual abuse to pursue redress from religious orders, which have substantial assets. An analysis of finances from a sample group of congregations showed that collectively they had about \u20ac1.3 billion in cash and other assets. Yet, they owe the State \u20ac750 million in unpaid redress in respect of those who were abused in schools and institutions that were run by religious orders. Our Bill would end an indefensible practice from religious orders that purport to show moral leadership, yet are refusing to pay redress and are shifting assets to put them out of reach of survivors.  All institutions in both State and church that facilitated or enabled abuse of children should pay redress. We want to hear from the Taoiseach about justice and redress for Dunderrow survivors, and about what the Government attitude will be to our Bill on Thursday. Will it facilitate the Bill's passage? We have spoken before about it. The Taoiseach said he would refer it to the Attorney General and I know his interdepartmental group is looking at mechanisms to pursue religious orders for redress, but survivors cannot wait. The commission of investigation is not due to report for three or four years and the interdepartmental group in a year's time. There are things we can be doing now for survivors. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. If we look back over the last three decades, we have had numerous episodes or revelations pertaining to institutions both public and private in respect of child sexual abuse. It has been quite horrific. I refer to governments from about the late 1990s onwards and the 1999 period onwards when we first initiated the inquiry into industrial schools. I recall the anger when the State paid up close to \u20ac1 billion in redress. Everybody attacked the government of the day, of which I was a member, because the accusation was we left the religious off. I never accepted this fully by the way because I felt the State had culpability there too, in terms of inspectorial reports and so on. The State always had culpability in respect of its involvement in the industrial schools. As to the capacity to get money at the time, we did not want to put victims and survivors at that time through years and years of courts. Then, we had the swimming abuse inquiry. We had a series of diocesan inquiries, which the government initiated against Cloyne and against Dublin. I remember the Ferns inquiry, for example, and further abuses and revelations right up to the present day in respect of the Spiritans and of schools more generally.  We are now in a situation where we have a comprehensive commission of inquiry into schools, which we did not have before. The situation has evolved. There was a time prior to the nineties when the State did not habitually establish commissions of inquiry into abuse, but from the late 1990s onwards Irish society was opened up in many respects. It was not opened up completely, not comprehensively, but in many respects. A torrent of abuse has emerged in all aspects of life, it seems to me. We can look at the SAVI report going back along and the context in which it reported in respect of its estimations of the nature of abuse.  That said, on religious orders, the Government's position on the Labour Party's legislation will be a six-month timed amendment. We believe it aligns with Government policy. We are not in disagreement with the intent or purpose of what the Labour Party is proposing legislatively. We will support that. We are entering into mediation in respect of Dunderrow. We will try to progress that as quickly and as effectively as we can, while also knowing we have a broader issue to deal with, as the Deputy has said, in respect of the interdepartmental group. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  I certainly do not need a lecture on the vile history of child sexual abuse and State and church cover-up in this country. I represented survivors of abuse in the 1990s before the Residential Institutions Redress Board. I recall the flaws in that scheme, which I have spoken about before. I also recall the 2002 agreement, the shameful Michael Woods agreement, which capped the contribution of religious orders at a fraction of that \u20ac1.5 billion cost the Taoiseach rightly pointed out. Of course, religious orders should pay more, but given opportunities multiple times since 2002 they have failed to do so. That is why the Labour Party is proposing this constructive Bill. I welcome the Taoiseach's indication that the Government will support that Bill on Thursday and will look to see it brought into law as it aligns - as it absolutely should - with Government policy.  Over the decades since the Ryan report, with all of the revelations and all the bravery and courage of survivors, we have learned so much about church and State cover-ups. The practical steps we take now are what is important. I welcome the Taoiseach's comments on our redress Bill. It does offer a way forward. It gives the State leverage to pursue religious orders for unpaid redress. Second, I ask precisely what the Taoiseach means by mediation for the Dunderrow victims.  This group of 19 women are absolutely right to seek redress now in respect of the abuse they suffered at the hands of Leo Hickey. What does the Taoiseach mean by \"mediation\"? What is the timeline? Can these women secure redress before we see the very welcome further developments at a broader level through the interdepartmental group? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The legal representatives of the Dunderrow survivors have written to the Government and to the Minister inviting the Government to enter mediation with their clients with a view to resolving their claim against the State. That is what I said this morning. We will respond positively to that invitation. Those are the specifics of the request. This correspondence arrived in the past week or ten days. That is the factual and specific response to that point. On the broader issue, the interdepartmental group is due to report next year. We will see if we can bring that forward. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  In April of this year, 46% of our country's electricity came from wind and a further 7% came from solar. That 53% of our electricity or 1,300 GWh of clean renewable electricity in a single month. A key problem with the electricity system in Ireland is that we do not have the energy storage capacity to take full advantage of renewable energy when those conditions are right. At times, renewable producers are directed to create less energy than they have capacity to generate. The system uses technical language like \"curtailment\" or \"dispatch down\" for this but there is a simpler word, \"waste\". In the middle of a worldwide energy crisis, when Irish households' electricity bills are shooting up, renewable energy is being wasted at scale. According to EirGrid, in April 2026, 18% of wind energy was wasted.  This is why we need more energy storage in Ireland. The concept is simple. Battery storage captures renewable electricity when wind and solar production is high and releases it back onto our grid when demand is high. A significant number of battery storage systems have been granted planning permission here in Ireland. However, when Energy Storage Ireland presented to us in audiovisual room recently, the key barrier it set out was a lack of routes to market access. The last Government published the electricity storage policy framework in July 2024, almost two years ago. This included ten actions. Action 7 required the Taoiseach's Government to set a long-term target for the amount of battery storage needed in order to give an indication to the industry of how much battery storage is anticipated. Action 9 requires the creation of a market framework to incentivise energy storage technologies. Wind and solar electricity have the renewable energy support scheme. Energy storage needs similar financial certainty to incentivise development.  Two years after the publication of that framework, these two actions have not been achieved. As a result, millions of euro worth of renewable energy, renewable electricity, is being squandered. The problem here is not judicial reviews, gold-plated environmental regulations or the climate action Act. The problem is the failure of the Government to prioritise the detailed policy work that is needed to ensure that this technology can work for Irish consumers and for the Irish economy. Will the Taoiseach commit to his Government setting a clear target for long-term energy storage needs in Ireland by the end of this year? Will he also commit to putting in place a renewable energy support scheme for battery storage by the middle of 2027 so that this waste of renewable electricity will come to an end? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  What the Deputy said at the beginning is true. We are making very significant progress on renewable energy in this country. We have reached a record of circa 8 GW of renewable energy generation capacity, which is up from 4.8 GW in 2020. Onshore wind now provides very significant levels of power. Last year, we hit the important milestone of 5 GW of installed onshore wind capacity. We also reached the milestone of 2GW of installed solar capacity last November.  In terms of solar generated electricity, in April we reached a peak of 1 GW on the grid. That is enough power for around 500,000 people. Solar generation went from zero to replace coal as the third highest source of indigenous generation in less than a decade. This is the progress we are making. There is about 1.91 GW of electricity storage systems with planning permission and connection contracts pending fulfilment with EirGrid as of last December. As the Deputy knows, we are pursuing offshore wind capacity. Particularly in terms of the auctions that were concluded over the past two years, if we can get those developed, then we will be in a very significant position in terms of renewables powering the majority of electricity.  On the storage issue more generally, we will commit to setting a target. In terms of an incentive scheme or grants, as the Deputy has outlined, I will revert to the Minister in respect of that. Again, that is something that will be assessed. More broadly, the technology is improving all the time. There is a significant degree of private sector investment in the storage area, also. I have witnessed some of this at some of the openings we have been at. For example, in the midlands in particular, we will see further developments in that regard. However, we have made a lot of progress. We can make more progress. When the Deputy said it is wasted and so on, it is an issue of technology and technology catching up in terms of that storage area. That has been an evolving story for the past number of years. It is not quite there yet but it is making huge progress. We will do everything that we can to support it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  With respect, while the Taoiseach is right that it is an issue of technology, the solution is there. The solution is there in terms of battery storage and we do not have enough of it. What representatives of the industry told all Members of the Oireachtas from the Opposition to the Government when they were in with us is that the two key barriers to them are the lack of a national target for how much the Government thinks in terms of energy support that is needed and that support system to help them to deliver it. The Taoiseach is right that planning permission has been granted for plenty of battery storage units around the country but they will not get the financing if they do not see that there is a clear route to market access. The companies that are looking to set up here are mobile. They can support it in Germany or other European countries - the countries that actually have put in the work to put in those support frameworks to make it financially viable. What is needed is here is focus on getting through the policy blockages that exist and that can actually ensure that this technology that is available can deliver lower price energy for Irish consumers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Minister is pursuing these issues across the board. We certainly we engage in respect of a support system. When any industry comes looking for a support system, it is reasonable that the Government approaches that in terms of value for money, representing the taxpayer and to make sure that we do it properly and right. I will engage with Minister in respect of the issues the Deputy has raised now and revert to him. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-23\/debate\/dbsect_3","debateType":"orderofBusiness","bill":null,"showAs":"An tOrd Gn\u00f3 - Order of Business","counts":{"speechCount":60,"speakerCount":23},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Daniel Ennis","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Daniel-Ennis.D.2026-05-25","memberCode":"Daniel-Ennis.D.2026-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Mythen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Mythen.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Mythen.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Edward Timmins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Clendennen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"William Aird","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Mary Butler)  I move:  I move:  Tuesday's business shall be:  - Motion re Proposed approval by D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann of the Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 51(3)) and (Section 60(6)) (Commission of Investigation into the Handling of Historical Child Sexual Abuse in Day and Boarding Schools) Regulations 2026 (without debate and any division claimed to be taken immediately)  - Dublin Airport (Passenger Capacity) Bill 2026 (Second Stage) (to conclude after the first round, not to exceed 3 hours and 34 minutes)  - Motion re Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act 1998  - Motion re Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009  Tuesday's private members' business shall be the Motion re Dental and Orthodontic Services, selected by Sinn F\u00e9in.  Wednesday's business shall be:  - Statements on Pride (not to exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes)  - Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Bill 2026 (Second Stage) (to conclude after the first round, not to exceed 3 hours and 34 minutes)  - Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) (Amendment) Bill 2026 (Report and Final Stages) (to commence no earlier than 8 p.m. and to conclude within 30 minutes)  - National Treasury Management Agency (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 (Report and Final Stages) (to conclude within 1 hour)  Wednesday's private members' business shall be the Motion re State Responsibility for Risk in Defective Concrete Homes, selected by Independent and Parties Technical Group.  Thursday's business shall be:  - Development (Strategic Gas Reserve) Bill 2026 (Second Stage) (to conclude after the first round, not to exceed 3 hours and 34 minutes and any division claimed to be taken immediately prior to Committee Stage on Tuesday, 30th June, 2026)  Thursday evening business shall be the Second Stage of the Civil Liability (Child Sexual Abuse Proceedings Against Unincorporated Bodies of Persons) Bill 2025, sponsored by Deputy Ivana Bacik.  Proposed Arrangements for this week\u2019s business:  In relation to Tuesday\u2019s business, it is proposed that:  1. notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders:  (a) the time allotted for Government Business shall be extended in accordance with the arrangements for that business, and the D\u00e1il may sit later than 10.48 p.m.;  (b) Parliamentary Questions to the Taoiseach pursuant to Standing Order 47(1) shall not be taken, and Government business shall commence at the time when Parliamentary Questions to the Taoiseach would normally be taken; and  (c) private members' business may be taken later than 6.12 p.m. and shall in any event be taken on the conclusion of proceedings on Motion re Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 and Motion re Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009, with consequential effect on the commencement time for the items following in the ordinary routine of business;  2. the proceedings on the Motion re Proposed approval by D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann of the Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 51(3)) and (Section 60(6)) (Commission of Investigation into the Handling of Historical Child Sexual Abuse in Day and Boarding Schools) Regulations 2026 shall be taken without debate and any division claimed thereon shall be taken immediately;  3. the proceedings on the Second Stage of the Dublin Airport (Passenger Capacity) Bill 2026 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at the end of the first speaking round and the following arrangements shall apply thereto:  (a) the first-round speeches shall be in accordance with the table below (to be read across);  (b) on the conclusion of the first speaking round or where speeches conclude before the 3 hours and 24 minutes have elapsed and no other member is offering, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a speech in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes, whereupon proceedings shall be brought to a conclusion; and  (c) members may share time; and          Gov      SF      SD      Gov      SF       Mins    20    20    20    12    4           Lab      Gov      SF      IPTG      Gov       Mins    20    12    4    20    12           SF      ITG      Gov      SF      OM       Mins    4    20    12    4    20                           Total: 3 hours 24 mins      4. the proceedings on the Motion re Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act and Motion re Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 80 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply thereto:  (a) the two motions shall be debated together, with separate questions put on proceedings thereon;  (b) the order of speaking and allocation of time shall be as follows:-  \u2014 opening speech by a Minister or Minister of State \u2013 15 minutes;  \u2014 speeches by representatives of Sinn F\u00e9in - 12 minutes  \u2014 speeches by representatives of the Social Democrats, the Labour Party, Independent and Parties Technical Group, and Independent Technical Group \u2013 9 minutes per party or group;  \u2014 speeches by non-party\/group members \u2013 9 minutes in total; and  (c) speech in response by the Minister \u2013 8 minutes; and  (d) members may share time.  In relation to Wednesday's business, it is proposed that:  1. notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders:  (a) the time allotted for Government Business shall be extended in accordance with the arrangements for that business and the D\u00e1il may sit later than 9.30 p.m.;  (b) the SOS pursuant to Standing Order 25(1) shall be taken immediately following Taoiseach\u2019s Oral Parliamentary Questions pursuant to Standing Order 47(1), which shall be taken at the time when the SOS would normally be taken; and  (c) in the event proceedings on the Second Stage of the Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Bill 2026 conclude before 8 p.m., the sitting shall stand suspended until 8 p.m. when the order of business shall resume with the Public Health (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill 2026;  2. the Statements on Pride shall not exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply:  (a) the statements, not including the Ministerial response, shall be in accordance with the sequence contained in the table immediately below (to be read across);  (b) following the statements, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes; and  (c) members may share time;          Gov      SF      SD      Gov      SF       Mins    25    15    10    10    3           Lab      Gov      SF      IPTG      Gov       Mins    10    10    3    9    10           SF      ITG      Gov      SF      OM       Mins    3    9    10    3    5                           Total: 2 hours 15 mins      3. the proceedings on the Second Stage of the Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Bill 2026 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at the end of the first speaking round and the following arrangements shall apply:  (a) the first-round speeches, not including the Ministerial response, shall be in accordance with the table below (to be read across);  (b) on conclusion of the first speaking round, or where speeches conclude before the 3 hours and 24 minutes have elapsed and no other member is offering, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a speech in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes, whereupon proceedings shall be brought to a conclusion; and  (c) members may share time;          Gov      SF      SD      Gov      SF       Mins    20    20    20    12    4           Lab      Gov      SF      IPTG      Gov       Mins    20    12    4    20    12           SF      ITG      Gov      SF      OM       Mins    4    20    12    4    20                           Total: 3 hours 24 mins      4. the proceedings on Report and Final Stages of the Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) (Amendment) Bill 2026 shall commence no earlier than 8 p.m. and shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 30 minutes by one question, which shall be put from the Chair, and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Health; and  5. the proceedings on Report and Final Stages of the National Treasury Management Agency (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 1 hour by one question, which shall be put from the Chair, and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Finance.  In relation to Thursday's business, it is proposed that:  1. notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, topical issues may be taken earlier than 7.24 p.m. with consequential effect on the commencement time for Second Stage of the Civil Liability (Child Sexual Abuse Proceedings Against Unincorporated Bodies of Persons) Bill 2025, and on the time for the adjournment of the D\u00e1il;  2. the proceedings on the Second Stage of the Development (Strategic Gas Reserve) Bill 2026 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at the end of the first speaking round and the following arrangements shall apply thereto:  (a) the first-round speeches shall be in accordance with the table below (to be read across);  (b) on the conclusion of the first speaking round or where speeches conclude before the 3 hours and 24 minutes have elapsed and no other member is offering, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a speech in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes, whereupon proceedings shall be brought to a conclusion; Provided that any division claimed on the Second Stage proceedings shall be taken immediately prior to Committee Stage on Tuesday, 30th June 2026; and  (c) members may share time.          Gov      SF      SD      Gov      SF       Mins    20    20    20    12    4           Lab      Gov      SF      IPTG      Gov       Mins    20    12    4    20    12           SF      ITG      Gov      SF      OM       Mins    4    20    12    4    20                           Total: 3 hours 24 mins       "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Are the proposed arrangements for the week's business agreed to? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  Not agreed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I call Deputy Carthy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  There is chaos reigning in our courts as thousands of cases are being adjourned due to the withdrawal of services by legal aid solicitors. The Government and the Minister are responsible for further backlogging the legal system and for creating havoc for many of the people involved in these cases, including victims. There should be a D\u00e1il debate this week on the proposed changes to the criminal legal aid scheme. Most importantly, the Government and the Minister need to immediately engage with stakeholders and then bring forward viable, workable proposals that deliver the value for money and that reduce the court adjournments but also ensures there is access to justice for everyone who needs it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I call Deputy Collins. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  I wish to address the devastating case of 19 women who were sexually abused by the former school principal in Dunderrow National School and who are now being forced to take legal action against the State to seek redress. Given that Louise O'Keeffe successfully established before the European Court of Human Rights that the State failed in its duty to protect children, how can the Government justify a situation where other victims of the same abuser in the same school continue to be excluded from redress?  We need statements in the D\u00e1il this week in relation to that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  The proposed public inquiry into Children's Health Ireland is in a state of crisis. At the weekend, two of the advocacy groups representing 900 families pulled out of the scoping inquiry. They did this because they have not been provided with information they need to meaningfully engage with the terms of reference. We called on the Minister to provide this information in March; she has not done so. We need statements in the D\u00e1il this week from the Minister on what steps she will take to get this important public inquiry back on track. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  We are debating Committee Stage amendments to the occupied territories Bill this evening. There could also be another committee meeting on Thursday morning to continue discussion on the Bill. However, the deadline for Report Stage amendments is tomorrow, Wednesday. I ask that the deadline for Report Stage amendments be moved to late Thursday or Friday if Committee Stage goes to Thursday, so that everything is in order and we are not rushing this Bill any more than it is already being rushed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  I also ask for statements on the issue of historical abuse in schools. The Taoiseach said he will listen to the women from Cork who suffered the most terrible abuse. I raised the case of a man some time ago in the Chamber. He is in 70s and was abused terribly. His whole life has been impacted as a consequence. Coincidentally, he was in with me yesterday. He asked where the redress scheme is, if he is going to be included in it and if he will still be alive when it happens. It is just not acceptable that people who are victims of this abuse and whose lives were damaged permanently do not know the answers to those questions. We need an urgent discussion to answer questions for many people who were victims of this kind of abuse in our schools and about the State's responsibility. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  In relation to Report Stage amendments, I will have a word with the Minister after this session and we will look at that to see about the timelines. In relation to everything else that was raised, we can discuss it at the Business Committee on Thursday. We had a very solid Business Committee meeting last week. We have a lot of legislation to get through this week so the Order of Business stands. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Are the proposed arrangements for this week's business agreed to? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  They are not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Before we take questions on policy or legislation, on behalf of the Government Whip, the Minister of State, Mary Butler, I welcome the Dolmen active retirement group from Waterford to the Public Gallery. I hope you all enjoy your day in Leinster House. You are very welcome. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Families of children with additional needs are once again being let down by the Taoiseach's Government's disastrous mishandling of the summer programme, also known as July provision. Parents are still waiting for home tuition and hours to be sanctioned just days before the schools close. Schools are reporting reduced teacher and SNA allocations despite growing demand, while late decisions have made it really hard for people to recruit staff, putting programmes at risk. For children with autism and additional needs, this programme provides vital continuity and support over the summer months. Instead, families now face uncertainty and needless stress because of the Government's failures. This follows the utter chaos in relation to this year's application process.  The Taoiseach really needs to explain to parents, teachers and SNAs across the State why this has happened and what the Government will do to ensure that the summer programme supports children with additional needs and that it will be delivered on time and with the staffing and resources children and families need.  There is a programme in my own county and if they do not get the SNA it is not going ahead. These kids need this support. The programme is supposed to start on Monday. It is not acceptable. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy paints a picture of a scheme that is growing and growing year on year but he does not articulate that in his presentation. Funding has grown from about \u20ac12 million back in 2016 to about \u20ac62 million this year, with over 70,000 students participating across 2,000 schools. We have gone from 8,000 students participating to 70,000. That is an enormous, exponential increase in students participating in the summer scheme. The funding has increased by \u20ac42 million. I am told here that no eligible child is being precluded from taking part in the summer programme this year, that all sanction letters to schools that applied to run a programme have issued, and that officials in the Department of education are engaging with schools on an individual basis in relation to the running of their summer programme and staffing allocations. Particularly for complex special educational needs, again, there is provision for SNAs and for teachers. In 2025, there were about 11,500 special needs assistants participating in the programme and similar numbers are expected to participate in this year's programme. For any specifics, I can revert to the Minister.  I would like to welcome the Dolmen group from Butlerstown and Portlaw. They are very welcome. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Daniel Ennis","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Daniel-Ennis.D.2026-05-25","memberCode":"Daniel-Ennis.D.2026-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Daniel Ennis  In the run-up to the by-election, I knocked on close to 40,000 doors and the same issue came up time and time again, affecting constituents in every corner of the constituency: the cost of living. A new report from Barnardos today outlines just how much pressure families are under. It is absolutely shocking. Up to 80% of parents believe their children have been negatively impacted by the cost-of-living crisis. They are parents in every corner of the country, in all our communities, who are struggling and whose children are struggling. Thirty per cent of people said they did not have enough food to feed their children at some point over the last year. It is absolutely shocking. It also shows that more than one third of families went into arrears in their energy bills at some point over the last 12 months. Ireland is one of the richest countries in Europe and we are seeing record levels of homelessness and child poverty, all under the Taoiseach's watch. It is absolutely shameful. This is an emergency and it requires an emergency response. We need a targeted energy credit for low- and middle-income households to give them some relief. Will the Taoiseach commit to that? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Actually, I would disagree with the Deputy's solution. What we did in the budget was child support payments for the lowest income, not the middle but the lowest income, We dramatically increased it and have done for the last two budgets. That is how you tackle poverty. It did reduce in the budget by any yardstick and objective. Over the last number of years, we brought in free primary school books and post-primary school books for children, which is a huge help to families. We have expanded and extended the free hot school meals. There is a universal childcare subsidy. There is a \u20ac280 new baby grant. Hospital inpatient charges were abolished. We have expanded free GP care and free contraception and we have done much more than that. In the forthcoming budget, we are going to focus very much on the child poverty question, as we did in the last budget. It is recognised that increasing child support payments and domiciliary care allowance is a very targeted way of helping those most in need, and that is what we intend to do. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  I commend the makers of the RT\u00c9 Documentary on One, \"Pirate Predator\", for their chilling investigation into the prolific and powerful Dublin sexual predator and paedophile, Eamon Cooke, the owner of the pirate radio station, Radio Dublin. Cooke has been compared with Jimmy Savile, whom he knew and met on many occasions. The true number of children abused by Cooke is now thought to run potentially to hundreds. I pay tribute to the extraordinary bravery of the women who did come forward, two of whose testimony at last secured Cooke's conviction in 2007 after years of failed attempts to bring him to justice. We owe them gratitude but there is a glaring question outstanding about Cooke: how did he get away with this for so long? In recent days I have had the privilege of speaking directly with a number of the women whom Cooke abused. They have asked me to ask the Taoiseach that question. They are seeking answers as to how Cooke continued to perpetrate abuse for decades, and how he was able to use his position as owner of Radio Dublin and his influence to escape justice. It took more than 20 years after a complaint was first made to the Garda about his abuse before he was finally convicted. Survivors believe his malign influence extended into the Garda and the Church, as well as other powerful networks.  I commend Gerry Kelly in particular and other garda\u00ed who did investigate and enabled him to be brought to justice. Does the Taoiseach support survivors' calls for an inquiry to investigate the State's role in why justice took so long? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I have not seen the programme. I appreciate that the work that went into the making of that programme. Again, it is another story of horrific abuse as we discussed earlier in terms of the wide-scale prevalence of child sexual abuse in our society and by institutions as well. We have had a number of inquiries and a number of them are being contemplated again in respect of these issues. To a certain extent, the system is being fairly widely stretched in terms of the number of inquiries. I will ask the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to examine this in greater detail and I will revert to the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  Last week, we had a presentation on stroke awareness and recovery. The session was led by Martin Quinn, a constituent of mine from Bansha in County Tipperary. He is a stroke survivor himself, a national stroke advocate and a lifelong community and voluntary activist at local and national levels. He is a former national president of Muintir na Tire, chair of the Citizens Information Service Network of Companies and an organiser of the Tipperary Peace Convention. At that stroke presentation, he acknowledged the improvement in treatment and rehabilitation in recent years but went on to say that more needs to be done, particularly in the area of additional specialist stroke units, rehabilitation services and support services. He is also the co-ordinator of the South Tipperary Stroke Communication Group, which supports stroke survivors and families and organises national conferences. There is a pressing need for support groups like this throughout the country and for financial support for these groups and I am asking the Government to include in the 2027 budget funding for groups like the South Tipperary Stroke Communication Group and other such stroke groups. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Health (Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill)  I am so glad the Deputy referenced the improvement in stroke care rising from the stroke strategy. We need to continue to drive on with that. It is also important to note the number of step-down beds that are necessary to help stroke patients step out of acute hospitals. I was recently in Blarney with Deputy Colm Burke and others where there is a step-down facility for neurorehabilitation and stroke in particular out of Mercy Hospital. There needs to be more of those community supports for people with stroke to enable their longer-term rehabilitation. The Deputy is correct. The stroke strategy has had very good impacts and I am grateful to the clinicians for that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  I want to raise the deeply distressing case of the 19 women abused by a former school principal at Dunderrow National School in west Cork. These women suffered unimaginable abuse as children. One survivor described how you were not safe anywhere in that school - not in the classroom, not in the bathroom, not even the school grounds - yet decades later, many of these women remain excluded from redress despite the fact that Louise O'Keeffe successfully proved before the European Court of Human Rights that the Irish State failed in its duty to protect children from abuse. Today, these women are being forced to consider legal action simply to obtain recognition and justice. This cannot be right. They are now being told to wait for further reviews and an interdepartmental process when many of these women with whom I have spoken to have already spent decades seeking acknowledgement and justice. Does the Taoiseach accept that forcing survivors into lengthy legal proceedings risks further traumatising them? Will he commit to engaging directly with the women involved to seek resolution without the need for court action and if he engages, how soon these innocent women can be included in redress? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  As I said earlier to a series of questions on this issue, we will be responding in a positive way to correspondence from representatives of the survivors of Dunderrow National School in regard to mediation. The abuse was horrific - of that there can be no question - and the trauma experienced was equally life-enduring but there were earlier ex gratia payment schemes so mediation will be entered into in respect of the correspondence we received. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail  The Government prioritised critical infrastructure in the last budget and we are seeing the benefits of that in Kildare with water infrastructure. However, the management of the projects by Uisce \u00c9ireann is extremely poor from traffic to water outages. There have been particular issues in Celbridge, Maynooth, Leixlip and north east Kildare. The difficulty I and communities face involves holding Uisce \u00c9ireann accountable around timelines and particularly around traffic and water outages. What can we do in relation to Uisce \u00c9ireann because its responses take weeks and if we are fortunate, days.  There needs to be more accountability from Irish Water, particularly on these specific projects. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. There is a unit now within Uisce \u00c9ireann that is meant to be responding to public representatives in respect of issues. I do not have the specifics but I clearly can detect from the nature of the Deputy's contribution that he is irate at what has transpired in respect of a project in his area. I will talk to the Minister about it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Burke  Will the Taoiseach outline when funding will be provided for the construction of the new paediatric unit at Cork University Hospital, CUH, given that planning permission was granted in 2022 and also taking into account that eight senior medical consultants have signed a letter expressing concern in respect of the current situation in the paediatric unit and stating there is a risk to patients? Can clarification be given as regards the emergency work that is required to be put in place immediately to deal with their concerns? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  My understanding is that under the current programme, the development is on track to go to tender for the main building works this year and to appoint a main contractor in quarter 1 of 2027, subject to the necessary approvals. As the Deputy knows, there was a phase 1 back in 2017. Phase 2 is the paediatric inpatient accommodation, which will deliver 82 much-needed inpatient beds, both new and replacement. It has taken time but, in parallel with all this, a substantial package of enabling works has been under way since 2024 to support both the paediatric unit and the wider redevelopment of the CUH campus. The paediatric unit forms part of the first phase of major CUH campus developments, which are significant in scale, cost and complexity. We will keep a weather eye on the project. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  Today's announcement regarding the empty GPO and the row-back from the wholesale commercialisation of the site is welcome. Maybe now the Taoiseach can row back on his endorsement of the Hammerson plan to destroy the nearby battlefield site on Moore Street, not just because that plan would lay waste to one of Dublin's most important historical heritage sites but also because of Hammerson's continued partnership with Allianz, which has been cited in a UN report as an enabler of Israel's genocide in Palestine with its \u20ac1 billion purchase of Israeli war bonds and more. Will the Taoiseach end his association with and support for Hammerson and Allianz and their plans for Moore Street? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  First, there was no reversal in respect of the GPO. You guys in Sinn F\u00e9in created a false controversy and made false assertions that we were turning the GPO into a retail outlet. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  They were your words. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Then your party ran a great campaign. It is the normal kind of behaviour you go on with. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  Your words. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Allow the Taoiseach to answer, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It is terribly cynical politics of the worst kind but it is a great old technique to create an issue and send a hare up the field when actually there is no issue in the first place. Of course the GPO will be an iconic building by the time we are finished with it but, as the Deputy knows, there is a huge complex behind it. We are looking at the major iconic cultural aspect. There will be a post office there and there will be other elements there as well to create footfall. We hope to have either a State agency or a public service there also. It will take a lot of work.  Likewise, there is some very good work being done on Moore Street by the State but that has been attacked as well by your good selves. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  There is no work happening on Moore Street. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It seems to me you want to keep the campaign going on forever. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  You are telling lies again. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Deputy McDonald told the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, she was against it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  When is it opening? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy \u00d3 Snodaigh, please. I have called Deputy Cummins. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  The Taoiseach should not mislead the D\u00e1il. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  In my constituency, there are a number of children at risk of deportation. They are too young to have known anywhere else and they are going to be ripped from the communities in which they have friends, classmates and all the people who care for and love them. This time last year, a number of children from my constituency were deported before the end of the school year, which was very traumatic for everybody. This year, I do not know whether the deportations will happen during the school year. I asked last year that they not happen during the school year. What work has been done since last year by Tusla and the Department of justice to make sure children who are being deported are treated with the utmost respect and dignity and that both their human rights and their rights as children are protected? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Everything will be done to uphold the rights of children and human rights. There also has to be a fair and firm migration system. The key to it is to have timely processing of applications so that children or families are not here an inordinate length of time, during which they put down roots and so on, before then, as a result of the application process, being found not to have proper status. Huge progress has been made in accelerating the timelines for the first phase of applications. Work is also under way on the next phase in terms of the appeals process. I think ensuring children are not deported during school time is a reasonable position. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Mythen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Mythen.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Mythen.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Johnny Mythen  The recent severe storms have dramatically accelerated erosion around our coastline. The coastal erosion at Rosslare Strand has reached a critical level that is endangering the entire community in the area, no more so than at the well-known and well-established tourist destination of Kelly's Resort Hotel, which is a family business that was built up over decades. This is a thriving community that services the entire country. It is a natural beauty spot with easy access to beautiful white beaches. The Coast Protection Act 1963 includes a specific reference to a requirement that Rosslare Strand be maintained \"in proper repair and effective condition\". Under the Act, once coastal erosion is identified, as is the case right now, the State has a duty to act to protect the coastline. Will the Taoiseach ask the relevant Departments to consider prioritising the delivery of the coastal protection scheme for Rosslare Strand? Cosmetic repairs will not save this coastal community and its most valuable national tourist attraction. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy has raised the specific case of Rosslare. More generally, we will have to put more resources to one side for the costs of adaptation to climate change. That change is here now. I understand the temperature in London, for example, will be 40 \u00b0C by the end of the week. That is an extraordinarily high temperature across the water. There has been too much complacency about climate change being something in the distant future. The impacts of climate change are here and now. We need stronger budget lines for the costs of those impacts. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell  T\u00e1 go leor cainte faoi ch\u00farsa\u00ed infreastrucht\u00fair faoi l\u00e1thair. D\u2019ardaigh m\u00e9 cheana leis an Taoiseach na fadhbanna sa bhuninfreastrucht\u00far i gConamara. Cialla\u00edonn s\u00e9 sin an cine\u00e1l infreastrucht\u00far simpl\u00ed at\u00e1 ag teast\u00e1il ionas go mbeadh daoine in ann a bheith ina gc\u00f3na\u00ed in \u00e1it agus go mbeadh siad in ann obair ann freisin. Ceann de na ruda\u00ed bun\u00fasacha sin n\u00e1 c\u00farsa\u00ed leathanbhanda. T\u00e1 \u00e1iteanna ar fud fad Conamara nach bhfuil leathanbhanda iontu, ach t\u00e1 ceantair freisin at\u00e1 s\u00e1ch gar don chathair \u00e1it nach bhfuil leathanbhanda ach in \u00e1iteanna \u00e1irithe sna bailte sin. C\u00e9n uair a cheapann an Taoiseach go mbeidh an buninfreastrucht\u00far sin ann do mhuintir Chonamara, go h\u00e1irithe nuair at\u00e1imid ag caint ar ch\u00farsa\u00ed leathanbhanda d\u00f3ibh si\u00fad a bhfuil gn\u00f3lachta\u00ed acu, mar shampla? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Aonta\u00edm leis an Teachta gur cheart go mbeadh muid in ann an buninfreastrucht\u00far sin a chur i bhfeidhm. T\u00e1 deacracht ann go h\u00e1irithe in \u00e1iteanna iarg\u00falta. Bh\u00ed s\u00e9 soil\u00e9ir le linn Stoirm \u00c9owyn, mar shampla, nach raibh an c\u00f3ras chomh l\u00e1idir is a cheap gach \u00e9inne go raibh s\u00e9. Cailleadh an c\u00f3ras go han-tapa ar fad. Beidh m\u00e9 ag caint leis an Aire, an Teachta Calleary, le f\u00e9achaint an f\u00e9idir linn n\u00edos m\u00f3 a dh\u00e9anamh \u00f3 thaobh \u00e1iteanna iarg\u00falta agus b\u2019fh\u00e9idir n\u00edos m\u00f3 taca\u00edochta a thabhairt don pobal n\u00f3 do na comhlachta\u00ed chun plean a chur i bhfeidhm ionas go mbeidh broadband ann don phobal. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Edward Timmins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Edward Timmins  The 132 bus service is the only bus to Dublin for most of west Wicklow. A year ago, I was told by the National Transport Authority, NTA, that the frequency of the service would be doubling. Nothing has happened since then. How do different Departments and Government bodies talk to one other? The NTA made that announcement without even having a timetable from Bus \u00c9ireann. How will communication be improved between Departments and different bodies? Second, the much-needed 199 bus service promised for last September from Glendalough to Bray was all ready to go before being canned at the last minute. How can we ensure Departments and State bodies talk and work better together? There seems to be a complete breakdown in communication. They are telling us different stories. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  There will be songs written about the 132 bus yet. It has been raised here on numerous occasions and I will talk to the Minister in respect of it.  There could be a few PhD theses written about Government agencies and Government Departments talking to each other. There is a human tendency to try to live in silos. We work extremely hard to break all of that down. The integrated approach of people working together is key. I will follow up with the Minister for Transport in respect of bus transport. There has been a significant expansion of bus services over the last number of years. There was some degree of consolidation this year, to be frank, and in terms of other expenditure items. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Clendennen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Clendennen  Earlier this year I received confirmation that an additional 12 therapists would be appointed to the midlands integrated healthcare area. This would benefit my own constituency with occupational therapy, physiotherapy and children's disability services. I fully understand the challenges around recruitment right now but this week another barrier was brought to my attention via a response to a parliamentary question. This is the whole area of Garda vetting, with the HSE referring to significant delays in the process in relation to recruitment. I have no issue with strict Garda vetting. It is necessary but when it becomes an additional barrier to recruitment we have to address it. There are too many families waiting on these services, on the likes of physiotherapy and disability services. Any delays that we can rule out, we should be addressing them. I ask the Government to engage with the Garda National Vetting Bureau and the HSE to ensure that we reduce these barriers as soon as possible. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That is a reasonable point. I will talk to the Minister for justice on this to see if there are ways we can streamline vetting, particularly when someone has already been through a vetting procedure and process. If they apply for another job in parallel or some time afterwards, in a different area, apparently they have to go through the process again. Recruitment has been a considerable issue for us in the health service, particularly in the area of therapy. Anything we can do to speed that up is something we should do. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  The July provision summer programme exists for the most vulnerable children in this country. This year the government has made a complete shambles of it. First, the Government opened and closed the application window before many schools and families even knew it was open. Second, the Government significantly cut some of the teachers and SNAs allocated to schools. Third, effectively the late allocations arriving at the eleventh hour means that many schools do not know whether or not they can open on Monday morning. For example, Claremorris National School last year ran the programme with 15 staff members. This year, this allocation has been cut to just five. The fact that this allocation only arrived last week, days before the summer programme is due to commence, has left this programme under significant jeopardy. This is not just an isolated issue. It is happening right across the country. Children with disabilities are the most vulnerable. This July provision, in terms of the reduced allocation to schools, and the fact that the late allocations have arrived, means that many principals do not know whether or not they can open the door on Monday morning. Will the Taoiseach instruct the Department to review? Will he give schools the authority and the confidence to open on Monday morning with an appropriate staffing ratio? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I am mindful of language but in ten years we have gone from about 8,700 students availing of the summer scheme to 70,000 students availing of it. How does the Deputy call that a shambles? That is nonsense. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  The application window opened and closed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That is across 2,000 schools and funding has increased by \u20ac42 million. The scheme has grown out of all proportion. In fact, it was a scheme that originally was meant to target children with additional needs or children in certain circumstances of disadvantage. Any review would need to keep a focus. It has grown exponentially. There has been a lot of interaction between the Department and the schools. We have a lot of SNAs appointed. About 11,500 SNAs participated last year, with a similar number expected this year. That is now a very significant resource, so let us have some balance and perspective. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  What about the late applications? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"William Aird","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy William Aird  I want to raise the issue of Leprino Foods Company in Portlaoise. This was a joint venture between Glanbia and the Leprino family which is known worldwide for its mozzarella cheese. The company came to Portlaoise in a joint venture to manufacture stringy mozzarella cheese. The Leprino family bought Glanbia out of the project, so we now have a situation where Leprino Foods is exiting this country and moving to the North of Ireland and Wales. This factory is three minutes from junction 17. It is in our enterprise park, which I am delighted to say is completely full now. This factory cost \u20ac130 million to build. Roughly \u20ac7 million of taxpayers' money went into it and it is now for sale, as I speak here today, for \u20ac12 million. I ask the Taoiseach to use his good offices at this critical time and sit down with relevant Ministers to ensure that we get somebody in there because it is such a new factory. It is there available with all new equipment and is open, from my point of view, to many industries in the food sector. We have to compliment the likes of Tirl\u00e1n and Kerry Group that have invested huge money in this. I am asking the Taoiseach to please take a personal interest in it for the people of Portlaoise and County Laois. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I am conscious of the fact that Laois needs investment in the industrial context. I will ask the Minister, Deputy Peter Burke, to engage with Enterprise Ireland and the IDA to see what their views on this are. It may sell private sector to private sector and another enterprise could come in there. From what the Deputy is saying it seems to be a modern factory, so it is a facility that potentially another company could utilise. I would have concerns that Leprino Foods is moving to Northern Ireland or to Wales. We need to understand the reasons behind that because that would be a concern. Maybe those areas are offering more supports but we need to have a full understanding as to why the move happened. I will talk the Minister to see if something can be done with the agencies in respect of that facility. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"An tOrd Gn\u00f3 - Order of Business"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-23\/debate\/dbsect_8","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/73","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/73\/dail\/1","houseCode":"dail","stage":"1","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Anti-Shrinkflation Bill 2026: First Stage (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Anti-Shrinkflation Bill 2026: First Stage","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  I move:  That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to provide price transparency for consumers by preventing hidden price increases by way of quantity reduction, allowing consumers to make informed purchasing decisions.  When people go to the supermarket they deserve to know what they are paying for. They deserve to know if the product they bought last week has become smaller this week and if the quantity has been reduced while the price has stayed the same, or worse, gone up. Everyone deserves to be able to make informed choices about how they spend their money but, right now, too many people feel like they are being caught out. The weekly shop costs more than ever, and people know they are getting less for their money, but it is not often very clear why. That is because of a practice known as shrinkflation. This happens when a product is reduced in size or quantity while the price stays the same. It is a tactic used by manufacturers and retailers to maintain profit while giving the impression that nothing has changed. It is a hidden price increase and it can be very difficult to spot. We have all seen examples of chocolate bars getting smaller, cereal boxes with fewer grammes inside and fewer items in a multipack.  Consumer reports show everyday household essentials are shrinking while prices continue to rise. It is happening across every major supermarket chain in the country. The changes might seem minor - fewer biscuits in a pack or sheets on a toilet roll - but there is a reason these price increases are hidden. Increasing the label price by 20% would be noticed and would make people think twice about buying a product and go for something else. Shrinking the contents means people notice the change a little later, after they have made the purchase, opened the packet and finished the product and realise it did not last as long as it used to. People realise that they will now have to buy more earlier than they thought they would. It is part of the reason people often feel like their money just is not stretching as far as it used to even when, on paper, their shopping lists and shopping bills have stayed the same. We are in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis that is putting enormous pressure on households across the country. Pensioners are making difficult choices every week. Families are stretching every single euro. Workers are watching their wages disappear into rent, childcare, energy bills and, more and more, into food costs.  When every euro counts, transparency matters. That is what this Bill seeks to address.  This legislation would require large retailers to provide clear labelling on a product or a notice nearby to inform consumers when shrinkflation has occurred. Consumers would be clearly informed that the product costs more than it used to and contains less. It does not ban reducing quantity, impose price controls or tell businesses what they can charge. What it does is say consumers have a right to know if a product has become smaller and more expensive. This is a very simple proposal. The exact same regulations have been introduced in France and Austria. Both countries recognised something important, namely, that transparency builds trust and allows people to make informed choices.  The cost-of-living crisis is out of control and people often feel that the system is stacked against ordinary consumers. This Bill is just one small, practical step we can take to address that. Consumers should not need a magnifying glass, a spreadsheet or a photographic memory to work out whether they are getting value for their money. The information should be available to them clearly and openly at the point of purchase. Transparency should be the norm, not the exception. That is very simply what this legislation seeks to achieve. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Is the Bill opposed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Mary Butler)  No. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Since this is a Private Members' Bill, Second Stage must, under Standing Orders, be taken in Private Members' time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  I move: \"That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time.\" "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Anti-Shrinkflation Bill 2026: First Stage"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-23\/debate\/dbsect_9","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Data Protection Act 2018 under (Section 60(6)) and (Section 51(3)) Regulations 2026: Motion","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Education and Youth (Deputy Hildegarde Naughton)  I move:  That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann approves the following Regulations in draft:  Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 60(6)) and (Section 51(3)) (Commission of Investigation into the Handling of Historical Child Sexual Abuse in Day and Boarding Schools) Regulations 2026;  a copy of which was laid in draft before D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann on the 16th June, 2026. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Data Protection Act 2018 under (Section 60(6)) and (Section 51(3)) Regulations 2026: Motion"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-23\/debate\/dbsect_10","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/70","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/70\/dail\/2","houseCode":"dail","stage":"2","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Dublin Airport (Passenger Capacity) Bill 2026: Second Stage (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Dublin Airport (Passenger Capacity) Bill 2026: Second Stage","counts":{"speechCount":74,"speakerCount":29},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_10","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gillian Toole","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gillian-Toole.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Gillian-Toole.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Geoghegan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cormac Devlin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ann Graves","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Transport (Deputy Darragh O'Brien)  I move: \"That the Bill be now read a Second Time.\"  I am pleased to introduce the Dublin Airport (Passenger Capacity) Bill 2026 for the consideration of the House. The main purpose of this Bill is to address the passenger cap planning condition at Dublin Airport. The importance of addressing the passenger cap and its effects on Dublin Airport is recognised clearly in the programme for Government, which includes a clear commitment to work with stakeholders to achieve the objective of lifting the passenger cap at Dublin Airport as soon as possible.  I have met with a wide variety of stakeholders over the past 18 months, including local residents, airlines, business groups and industry regulators in relation to the passenger cap planning condition. The general scheme of the Bill has also been scrutinised by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport, which received a considerable number of submissions from a wide range of stakeholders. The committee held several hearings to ensure that the views of all interested parties were heard, and I have taken on board the recommendations of the committee insofar as possible in finalising the text of the Bill.  In drafting this legislative intervention, I have taken the views of all of these stakeholders into account. I have also obtained extensive legal advice throughout the drafting of the legislation, and I am satisfied that what I am presenting will allow for the continued sustainable development of Dublin Airport, while balancing the rights of local residents with the objectives of Ireland's national aviation policy and the needs of business and tourism.  I think we can all agree that, as an island nation, Dublin Airport is of strategic importance to this country. Over 36 million passengers travelled through Dublin Airport in 2025. As such, there are a number of recognised risks around the passenger cap planning condition remaining in place. First, if enforced, it would result in an immediate cut of over 4 million passengers per annum, impacting on existing connectivity and employment at the airport and in the wider aviation sector. Second, it would stifle continued growth, undermine our ambitious hub strategy for the airport and negatively impact on our economy in terms of business, trade and tourism. It will also very negatively impact on the jobs the airport underpins. There are about 130,000 direct and indirect jobs in Dublin Airport. Airlines need certainty to plan future schedules and the continued existence of the cap creates only uncertainty, which can be expected to continue to affect the choices that airlines will make about serving the Dublin Airport. Finally, the reputational damage for Ireland could be impacted if capacity is restricted at our main international gateway.  The 32 million passenger cap is a planning condition that was imposed by An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la, then known as An Bord Plean\u00e1la, when granting permission for terminal 2 in 2007 and extension works at terminal 1 in 2008. The condition was put in place primarily to address surface access constraints at the time. However, there have been significant upgrades of local road access and public transport offerings to and from the airport since then. It is also very significant, as Members will know, that we have a full, clean planning permission for MetroLink, on which construction will start next year.  DAA has statutory responsibility for the management, operation and development of Dublin Airport and it is its responsibility to engage with the relevant planning authorities to ensure that planning permission is in place to facilitate the development of the airport. DAA submitted its infrastructure application to the relevant planning authority, Fingal County Council, in December 2023, seeking to increase the passenger cap to 40 million passengers per annum and seeking permission, importantly, for the development of a suite of infrastructure projects at the airport to facilitate growth.  This planning application is currently under consideration by Fingal County Council. As part of the process in place for development at the airport since the enactment of the Aircraft Noise (Dublin Airport) Regulation Act 2019, a draft noise-related regulatory decision was published by the Aircraft Noise Competent Authority, ANCA, last month and is currently subject to a public consultation for a period of 14 weeks. A final regulatory decision in relation to the noise aspect of this planning application is expected after that period ends. This decision will be incorporated in the planning decision by Fingal County Council, which is expected shortly thereafter. It is, however, likely that any planning decision by Fingal County Council may then be appealed to An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la and may also be subject to judicial review. This further highlights the need to address the passenger cap by way of a legislative solution to ensure clarity for all stakeholders and to ensure that connectivity to and from our country is not undermined.  I will now take colleagues through the main provisions of the Bill that will empower me, as the Minister for Transport, to make an order to amend or revoke the passenger cap planning condition. In Part 1, the first thing I draw attention to is the definition of \"passenger capacity condition\" under section 2 of the Bill. This definition makes it clear that the power to make an order relates solely to a planning condition that limits the number of passengers who use Dublin Airport for the purpose of travelling by air to or from another airport in any period. I know there were concerns raised during pre-legislative scrutiny that the power being provided to amend any planning condition in the general scheme was too broad, and that has been addressed. Under section 6 of this Part, I have a general power of direction to DAA for any purpose related to this Bill. I may use this power to procure information from DAA in relation to an application, ensure the preparation and submission of appropriate reports relating to the environmental assessments or initiate the application process, which is a very important provision. In such directions, I may specify the period and form in which information should be provided. DAA has a legal obligation to comply with such a direction.  Part 2 provides that DAA may make an application for the making of an order under the legislation. That application from DAA will propose the manner in which the passenger cap is to be amended or revoked, reasons for the application and a summary of the environmental impacts. I will consider the application and consult any person I consider appropriate. If I am satisfied there is justification to make an order, I will notify DAA of my intention to do so and direct it to prepare an environmental impact assessment report and a Natura impact statement. I have the power to accept, vary or refuse an application from DAA.  Part 3, covering sections 8 to 23, inclusive, provides for the environmental impact assessment and appropriate assessment that will be undertaken independently of me, as Minister. An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la will carry out the assessments under the habitats directive and the environmental impact assessment directive, which will include consideration of compliance with the water framework directive.  As part of these assessments, the commission will publish the material for the assessments and undertake a public consultation for a period of no longer than 30 days. There is provision, though, for a further 30-day public consultation should the commission seek and receive further information that is substantial in nature. I have included strict timelines within the legislation, and the commission will have 20 weeks to carry out the assessments and come to a reasoned conclusion in relation to the environmental impacts of making an order and a determination as to whether there will be an impact on the surrounding habitats. There is the ability to pause this timeline for a period of four weeks to allow for any requests for further information to be dealt with. The commission is encouraged, insofar as possible, to carry out these assessments jointly and to take all necessary steps to work in an expeditious manner, avoid any undue delays and ensure that appropriate resources are allocated to carry out its functions under the legislation within the timeframe provided. The commission will notify me of its findings arising from the environmental assessments and publish its reasoned conclusion and determination.  Part 4 sets out the parameters around the making of the order by me and that an order will be superseded by a planning decision on the DAA's infrastructure application. Under section 24, I am prohibited from making an order until the environmental assessments have been carried out. I believe that provision addresses some concerns raised during pre-legislative scrutiny about the public being excluded from the process. This is not the case. At least one period of public consultation in relation to the environmental impacts of making an order will take place.  Under section 25, I am empowered to make an order to amend or revoke the passenger cap, where I am of the opinion that the passenger cap is causing harm to the economy of the State, international connectivity and Ireland's reputation in respect of air transport. In making an order, I will consider and take account of the outcomes of the environmental assessments undertaken by the commission, and I have the power to include any conditions in an order that I deem appropriate to mitigate any impact on the environment.  In consultation with the Minister for housing, where appropriate, I can deem the conditions attached to an order as exempted development but only where they are not separately subject to environmental assessments under EU law. I will publish an order on my Department\u2019s website and in Iris Oifigi\u00fail and inform Fingal County Council, which is the relevant planning authority.  While it is critical that we deal with the passenger cap planning condition, it would be meaningless to do so if we did not have the infrastructure to accommodate that future growth. Therefore, in the preparation of this legislation, one of the key objectives was to protect DAA's live planning application. As such, the legislation I bring before the House today was crafted to allow that application to proceed through the planning process, notwithstanding the making of an order. Section 26 sets out the effect of an order as it relates to that planning application given that both deal with the same planning condition, namely, the 32 million passenger cap.  In short, once a final decision is made in relation to DAA's infrastructure application, that decision will supersede any order made under this legislation in this particular application. However, an order will remain in place through any appeal or judicial review, JR, of that planning decision and if that planning application is refused, then the order will also remain in effect. This will ensure consistency and certainty for all stakeholders while DAA's planning application proceeds to a final planning decision. I believe this also addresses a recommendation, which, again, arose from the committee, for a sunset clause to be introduced.  Part 5, which covers sections 27 to 35, inclusive, sets out the judicial review procedures. The validity of an order made under the legislation, or an alleged failure to carry out a function under the legislation, may only be challenged by way of judicial review. An application for leave to apply for a JR must be taken within eight weeks and the applicant must have sufficient interest in the matter.  Part 6 provides for amendments to the Planning and Developments Acts. Under these amendments, Fingal County Council and An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la are prevented from imposing a passenger cap as a condition in future planning decisions related to Dublin Airport. However, this does not apply in the case of the condition being imposed following a noise assessment by the noise regulator, ANCA, under the balanced approach and it does not apply, in this instance specifically, to the DAA's live infrastructure application.  This Part also provides for amendments to the Aircraft Noise (Dublin Airport) Regulation Act 2019. The definition of operating restriction has been amended to align with EU regulations on the establishment of rules and procedures with regard to the introduction of noise-related operating restrictions at European Union airports within the balanced approach. Two transitional provisions that are no longer relevant have been deleted and a provision has been inserted to clarify that the 32 million passenger cap is not an operating restriction within the meaning of the 2019 Act.  Section 39 provides a derogation from section 15(1) of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015. I want to explain a couple of reasons this is the case. First, the passenger cap was not a targeted climate measure and, second, international aviation emissions are excluded from the climate action plan. As such, this provides clarity as to the application of that Act to the actions that are under this specific legislation.  As I mentioned, we are an island nation and we cannot ignore the strategic importance of Dublin Airport to our economy and the serious harm that would be caused to the economy, our people, our international connectivity and the international reputation of the State by failing to be in a position to facilitate not only future growth, but the current level of passengers and cargo at our main international gateway.  The legislation I am proposing will not only allow us to ensure the sustainable development of the airport, but will also ensure that any environmental impacts will be independently assessed and the views of the public will be heard as part of that process. As such, it is my view that the approach set out in the legislation represents the most balanced and reasonable way forward.  We are dealing here with a legacy issue. The Dublin Airport passenger cap does not serve this State or the people of the region well. I want the airport to grow on a sustainable basis and to operate as a good neighbour. I grew up beside the airport and have lived in the area my whole life. I know that tens of thousands of people derive income and good salaries from Dublin Airport. It is a critical part of infrastructure in this country and critical to our international connectivity. We have tens of thousands of people working there who not only derive an income there, as I said, but are at the leading edge of aviation, not just in Ireland but across Europe and the globe.  This legislation is critical to ensuring we can grow Dublin Airport in a sustainable manner. It ensures and enshrines public consultation within it but sets strict timelines in that regard. We have also ensured that the existing planning application that is with Fingal County Council is fully protected. There is a process within this as well, in that the Bill gives the Minister of the day the power to preclude the imposition of further caps but also to seek applications from the Dublin Airport authority in this instance to raise the cap further in that regard.  I am looking forward to the debate and the input from Members from across the House. I thank the members of the joint committee under the chairpersonship of Deputy Michael Murphy for the work they have done in this regard. We have reflected many of the recommendations from the pre-legislative scrutiny and the committee's report in the Bill. This Bill is of strategic importance. It is urgent that it be passed. For this reason, I thank the House for its consideration of Second Stage today. I look forward to moving the legislation to its conclusion next week. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  As an island nation, our connectivity is obviously not optional. Our economy, tourism sector, diaspora connections and ability to attract investment all depend on Ireland's connectivity. It is the lynchpin for hundreds of thousands of jobs. There can, therefore, be no question than an ambitious, forward-looking aviation strategy is essential. As Ireland's primary international gateway and a critical piece of infrastructure, Dublin Airport is fundamental.  Right now, the passenger cap is being constrained by a rule that no longer makes sense. The cap is outdated and out of step with reality. Some 36 million passengers passed through Dublin Airport despite the cap being set at 32 million. A difference of 4 million between the two is not a rounding error; it is proof that something has not been working.  We in Sinn F\u00e9in believe the Dublin Airport passenger cap should be lifted but we are not here just to rubberstamp the legislation. While the cap must be lifted in order that we allow for progress, that does not mean the Government's approach should be given carte blanche . First, the aviation strategy must move beyond the city and county of Dublin.  Rather than being treated as an afterthought, the Government must recognise that regional airports are key to unlocking Ireland's potential and to delivering balanced regional development. Therefore, Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael must move beyond their current narrow focus on Dublin and expand their horizons, supported by whatever Independent TDs are still currently supporting Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael.  From Kerry to Cork, Shannon, Knock, Waterford, Donegal, Belfast, Derry and beyond, Ireland's regional airports are awash with unlocked potential. The Bill must engage with the fact that local communities have felt ignored and overlooked for years. Proper community consultation does not mean preventing progress. When it is done properly, it can enhance it. The Bill presents an opportunity to make the Minister and DAA do a better job. There are amendments that Sinn F\u00e9in will be proposing because the outdated airport cap is holding Ireland back. The original 32 million cap, as the Minister said, was introduced as a planning condition at the time of the planning permission for terminal 2. As he said, it was primarily to address the surface access constraints at the time. It was rooted in very specific concerns about traffic congestion and local impacts but the world has moved on.  Passenger demand has outgrown the cap and the cap itself has become blunt and outdated. The infrastructure around the airport has changed since 2007. It is now creating uncertainty, not only for the airport authority but for airlines, workers, the wider economy and the stakeholders the Minister mentioned in his opening speech. There are ongoing legal challenges and looming regulatory decisions at European level that could force stricter enforcement of the cap if it remained in place and we could potentially see reduced flight slots or curtailed capacity and possible damage to tourism, trade and jobs. Legal and regulatory chaos could result from it. That is not a risk we should take.  Industry stakeholders have been quite clear that the cap was limiting growth and restricting connectivity, particularly on key transatlantic routes, and creating uncertainty that could undermine Ireland's competitiveness. Nowhere is this more true than the tourism sector, which is so important in my county of Kerry. Tourism supports almost 230,000 jobs across the country which is nearly one in ten jobs. These are jobs in every county, in rural communities as well as cities. Many of them are in sectors where workers are already under pressure. The sector is facing real challenges. In 2025, international trips declined and visitor spending fell. That is a warning sign we cannot ignore.  Connectivity is also critical to reversing that trend. Without sufficient capacity at Dublin Airport, we risk losing visitors to other destinations. However, growth and tourism must also be fair and balanced. Sinn F\u00e9in has consistently argued for a tourism strategy that delivers shared prosperity and supports communities right across the island, not just the stakeholders who are involved here. That means linking aviation policy to regional development, sustainability and decent working conditions for those who are employed in the sector. The Government cannot claim to support workers while failing to ensure the benefits reach them by delaying the living wage and leaving low-paid workers carrying the burden. It is about more than just lifting the cap. It is about ensuring that lifting the barrier to Dublin Airport's capacity means Ireland's true aviation potential is achieved in a fair and regionally balanced way. It is not just about lifting the cap and the problem is solved as nothing could be further from the truth. Lifting Dublin Airport's cap while continuing to ignore the potential of the regional airports will never produce the answer that Ireland needs and will continue to leave large parts of our island behind. Despite what the Government thinks, not all runways lead to Dublin.  This Bill presents us with an opportunity to address one of the significant failings of the Government; its lack of ambition when it comes to regional aviation. At present, Dublin Airport handles the overwhelming majority of passenger traffic at about 88%. By contrast, Cork Airport accounts for about 6% and others even less. That imbalance is not inevitable. It is the result of policy choices. The over-concentration is not strategy and it is holding back certain parts of the country. Regional airports have enormous potential to drive economic growth, support tourism and create jobs but they are not being given the tools or investment they need. Funding for regional airports remains limited, fragmented and overly focused on maintaining basic operations, rather than enabling growth and expansion.  Spread over years and across multiple airports, the sums allocated are not sufficient to transform connectivity or attract new routes. The result is a system that underperforms and leaves regional economies and airports, such as Kerry Airport, at a disadvantage. We need a fundamentally different approach that recognises the role of regional airports as engines of development and not afterthoughts. We need strategic investment and infrastructure, support for route development and airline partnerships, integration with wider transport networks and a clear, long-term vision for balanced aviation growth. We cannot continue with the model where Dublin expands without a strategy for the rest of the country. Ultimately, there has been an incoherent aviation strategy, no long-term plan for Dublin Airport, no serious roadmap for regional airports and, importantly, no all-island approach to connectivity. That is not good enough for a modern economy.  As part of its focus on regional airports, the Government needs to see beyond the partitionist approach. Ireland is a small island economy and our connectivity challenges do not stop at the border. An all-island approach to aviation offers real opportunities for tourism, trade and regional balance. We saw how fragile our transport links were when disruptions hit key routes and yet the Government refuses to think holistically about how people and goods move on and off this island. There is a clear need for resilience and co-ordination across the island. The Bill should be seen in that broader context; not just as a measure for Dublin Airport but as a wider strategy for connectivity across the island. Lifting the cap also requires the addressing of the very real concerns of communities that live around Dublin Airport. For too long, local voices have not been heard in a meaningful way. Residents have raised serious issues but they continue to be rebuffed and ignored. We will be bringing forward amendments that should give the Government the opportunity to take the concerns of the residents into consideration, which have not been heard in a meaningful way. There are also outstanding issues around flight paths, planning compliance and infrastructure commitments that were originally tied to the passenger cap. Many of these commitments, including road improvements, have not been fully delivered. We are now being asked to support legislation that will override planning conditions that exist without adequately addressing the failures. If we are to lift the cap, we must also strengthen protections for local communities.  The final key issue I will address is the scope of ministerial powers. The legislation gives the Minister significant authority to amend or revoke the passenger cap. While that may be necessary, it must be clearly defined, transparent and limited in scope. I see what the Minister has said about the power to make the order relating solely to a planning condition limiting the number of passengers who use Dublin Airport. That needs to be stated clearly. There is also concern and it must not extend beyond the passenger cap to other planning conditions. There are questions about oversight, accountability and the role of existing regulatory bodies. We need to ensure the powers granted are proportionate, clearly defined and subject to appropriate safeguards. The cap must go. We know it is outdated. We know it is damaging. However, lifting that is not alone a solution. If the Government thinks it can bulldoze this legislation through without fixing other underlying issues, it is mistaken because it is about protecting communities, supporting workers, delivering regional development and building a real aviation strategy for the future of island. Get that right and this Bill can work. If we get it wrong, we will be back here again dealing with the consequences of short-term thinking and missed opportunities. We will engage and we will propose solutions to work with. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  This legislation on the passenger cap must strike the right balance between ensuring our island's connectivity while also acknowledging the experiences and voices of local residents who live close to the airport. The \u20ac32 million annual passenger cap has been in place for many years now. However, in this time, passenger demand has far outgrown this limit and the cap has caused significant regulatory uncertainty for the aviation sector. Sinn F\u00e9in supports the abolition of the cap but we believe this should be done in a measured way which provides the opportunity for local residents to meaningfully engage in the future of the airport, especially in terms of the regulation of noise levels and flight paths. As Deputy Daly outlined, we have significant concerns surrounding the powers this Bill proposes to give to the Minister. We will be submitting a number of amendments across the many sections of this Bill.  While lifting the passenger cap for Dublin Airport is critical to our island's connectivity, the Government must place just as much energy into developing our regional airports.  Airports such as those at Shannon and Knock provide a fantastic service, especially for people who live in the west of Ireland, and are key economic and tourism drivers for our region. These airports have seen passenger growth over the last number of years but the reality is that the lion's share of traffic continues to be processed through Dublin, with well over 80% of the State's air-passenger traffic being processed there. Increasing the use of airports like Shannon and Knock would reduce the level of traffic at Dublin Airport while also supporting greater growth opportunities across the west. Developing and promoting the use of our regional airports is an essential tool to deliver economic growth to every corner of this island and to promote balanced regional development. However, investment from Government must be there to deliver on this. This includes investment in the likes of reliable public transport links, both bus and rail, to airports like Shannon and Knock, which is a recommendation from the all-island rail review, so that people can make the switch to using these airports. In particular, the full reopening of the western rail corridor would provide a significant opportunity to improve connectivity to Knock Airport.  I also raise that it has been over ten years since the national aviation policy was published. From parliamentary questions I have submitted, there is still no sign of when the much-promised updated policy will be delivered. Without an overarching national aviation policy that reflects the developments in aviation, how can we have confidence in the Government's approach to aviation development, especially for our regional airports, which I have outlined?  We have waited quite a while for this legislation but there are still significant gaps and shortfalls that need to be addressed. This legislation must be used as an opportunity to ensure the residents who live near Dublin Airport are engaged with in a meaningful way and to ensure the DAA is not given carte blanche to do what it wants. The work surrounding this legislation must also be used as an opportunity to encourage the use of our regional airports. We need to see an updated national aviation policy delivered as a matter of urgency, and we will be submitting a number of amendments to this legislation. These amendments will be an opportunity for the Minister and Government to ensure this legislation is fit for the transport needs of the whole island. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  I welcome the opportunity to make a contribution this afternoon. I thank Deputies Daly and O'Hara for their work on this legislation and for their continued work in this area. I also commend the residents' groups, including the St. Margaret\u2019s The Ward group and other groups that represent the people who are living in the environs of Dublin Airport.  I wish to address two issues the Minister raised in his remarks and I hope he will be able to come back to them in his concluding remarks. I will try to get back in if I can to hear these, but I will look back on the recording in any event. The Minister referenced the programme for Government including \"a clear commitment to work with stakeholders to achieve the objective of lifting the passenger cap\". Will he outline, in terms of the residents, how that commitment will be achieved? He also told us that what he is presenting here today will allow for the continued sustainable development of Dublin Airport while balancing the rights of local residents. Will the Minister outline for me what the rights of local residents are exactly and how that balance will be achieved? The Minister will know, having represented this area for a long time - I have represented them for ten years myself - that sometimes the residents who live in the environs of the airport do not feel like they have been listened to or that their concerns have been taken on board. As the Minister will know, all they want is for the airport to be a good neighbour. They feel that they are good neighbours and they want the airport to be a good neighbour. However, when your neighbour is as big and noisy as Dublin Airport is, it is sometimes very difficult to see and feel that it is being a good neighbour.  The residents want to be treated fairly, which is not unreasonable. Many of the people who live in the environs of the airport do not want to relocate but, if they have to do so, they want to be able to get a settlement from the voluntary dwelling purchase scheme that will enable them to move on with their lives while maintaining as much as possible what they have in terms of their family, etc. There are people who live near the airport who are there for generations. The airport grew up around them. They were there first. The Minister will know these people well. If they are forced to relocate and cannot remain where they are, they want a decent settlement so that they can rebuild their lives elsewhere.  I am also conscious of those people who are employed in the airport. Again, many of them are constituents of mine. I know how important the airport is as an employer and also as a driver of business. More can be done in terms of regional balance.  There is also a real need for an independent review and an assessment of the flight paths. The changes to the flight paths that took place recently were shrouded in mystery. People who never had a plane go over their house before found themselves in flight paths and they found it very hard to get answers or to get to the bottom of it. They will say themselves that they felt like they were gaslit by the Government and the airport.  We will be bringing forward amendments, as has been outlined. Those amendments are intended to be constructive but also to ensure the voices of the residents will be heard. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  As the Minister knows, Ireland is an island and, therefore, its connectivity to the rest of the world is essential. The passenger cap at Dublin Airport is simply not working. In 2025, the cap was exceeded by around 4 million. Not only is it not working, it is not being adhered to. The Government must be mindful that any increase in the passenger cap at Dublin Airport will put pressure on existing services.  As was said already, Dublin Airport is an important employer. I was contacted recently by a pilot from my area about car parking issues for staff at Dublin Airport. His employer is unable to provide staff parking due to limited DAA parking capacity, which means many airport workers are being pushed into paid DAA parking or private airport parking options that require pre-booking. He told me that pilots are regularly rostered for standby duties, which leaves them in a really difficult position. Either they pay in advance for expensive parking that they may not ultimately need or they risk having no parking available if they are called off standby and have only an hour to report for duty. As can be imagined, this is really far from practical. During the summer months, public parking is often fully booked, which adds further uncertainty. It does not take a rocket scientist to work out that lifting the passenger cap will mean more staff. More staff will mean more driving and more driving will mean that we will need more parking. I am calling on the Government to plan for this certain outcome when lifting any passenger cap.  Public transport is not a viable option for that pilot and many other people in Dublin Mid-West. I have raised many times with the Minister that there is no practical way to travel from Dublin Mid-West to the airport using public transport. The Airport Hopper was the most economical way for people in the area to get to the airport. People in Clondalkin, Lucan and Tallaght have been impacted by the decision to close this route. People in these areas have been left without a dedicated bus service to the airport for over a year. As the Minister knows, I asked him and the NTA to step in because when a privately run service stops, the State can take it over through a public service obligation agreement. My pleas have fallen on deaf ears so far. In light of removal of the passenger cap, I ask that any public service obligations are revisited and reconsidered because of the impact that will have on people in Dublin Mid-West.  I have a final point which I have raised numerous times as well. It is a national embarrassment that Dublin Airport does not have a current rail or metro link. MetroLink was spoken about in 2005. Fianna F\u00e1il crashed the economy. It basically crashed MetroLink at the time. Twenty years later, it was announced. Will the Minister fill us in on any update on MetroLink? Will we see it any time this decade? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  We start building next year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aidan Farrelly  It is my first opportunity to speak with the Minister since becoming the Social Democrats spokesperson on transport and I put on record that I am looking forward to working with him for the duration of this term. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  Me too. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aidan Farrelly  The Minister does not need me to inform him just how important Dublin Airport is to this island. Directly, thousands of people work between both terminals every day and indirectly we have seen very impressive figures of the impact of the airport on hundreds of thousands of jobs. In 2025 alone, 36 million passengers went through Dublin Airport, a 5% increase year on year and a 46% increase since 2015. There were 215 days last year with more than 100,000 passengers. That equates to real, essential figures regarding tourism and employment opportunities. The 1.7 million transfers show us that Dublin can be and is a gateway to Europe and the rest of the world.  As the Minister will know, aviation accounts for 2.5% of global carbon emissions and close to 14% of transport emissions.  It is the second-largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the transport sector. While we can see a rapid pace in decarbonisation in road transport due to alternative fuel sources, as Hannah Ritchie and Pablo Rosado suggest, the outlook for aviation is less clear. Some 1% of biofuel produced globally is used for air travel and less than 1% of aviation fuel is made up of biofuel. Globally, we do not have the infrastructure to supply the aviation fleet, even in the most optimistic of scenarios. As the Minister has said, the impact of aviation on climate and biodiversity should always be central to any discussion about expanding our aviation strategy.  I am very aware that this cap was first introduced largely as the result of local infrastructure deficits and legitimate concerns regarding congestion, noise and impediments to those who live in the area or under the flight paths. It is worth putting on the record of this House that these issues have not gone away. If you couple the significant population increases in many of these areas with the significant increases in the number of passengers since 2007, if anything, the local infrastructure is less capable than ever of dealing with the consequences of the proposed legislation. As a Minister in the constituency, I accept Deputy O'Brien's bona fides in telling us of the support he is receiving on the ground from many who say this cap should be lifted for the sake of employment opportunities. That is also a very important point to make.  If we are going to have a serious conversation about the future capacity of our national airport, it should not be based solely on the capacity of nearby roads to cope with passenger numbers. However, I must ask if there is appetite across government to deliver meaningfully for the communities most affected by this legislation. I remind the Minister that, during preparation of the pre-legislative scrutiny report, we heard that 8,000 homes were affected by the north runway under the current flight paths, compared with the 538 homes that would have been affected under the original permitted route. That is a 15-fold increase. Recommendation 5 of the pre-legislative scrutiny report is \"that meaningful engagement is undertaken by the daa with local communities to mitigate the impact of noise from the north runway.\" These are tangible actions that could be progressed alongside this legislation as it moves through the House.  We all know that Dublin Airport is not the only international airport on this island. Cork Airport has a capacity of 5 million passengers annually. Last year, 3.4 million people travelled through that airport. Shannon Airport welcomed 2.3 million passengers. That airport is also operating well below capacity. Ireland West Airport's passenger numbers exceeded 950,000 last year when it has capacity for 1.5 million. As the Minister is well aware, other airports exist in Kerry and Donegal. I am really not suggesting that they can collectively address the capacity issues that are before the Minister with regard to Dublin Airport but it is important that any aviation strategy include them as part of the conversation. It is this Government's obligation to ensure that legislation is evidence-based. What preparatory or exploratory work has been undertaken to see whether we are maximising the use of all airports on the island, while also addressing the capacity constraints at Dublin Airport?  On the pre-legislative scrutiny undertaken by the Oireachtas committee, I heard the Minister on the radio last week and I join him in commending those committee members who did such a thorough pre-legislative scrutiny report on this Bill. Those recommendations paint a very thorough picture for the Minister and his officials as to how they should proceed in terms of Government amendments. If the Minister did not know before, he now knows about the potential health outcomes associated with this legislation and its impact on people, particularly children. Their voices must always be more important than sectoral interests. What mitigations are in place now that we know more?  I will particularly highlight recommendation 12, which is:  The Government should commission a comprehensive economic assessment of Dublin Airport on the model of the Schiphol assessment conducted by CE Delft, which examined the full climate, health, congestion and community costs of different capacity scenarios.  This would be a very positive and worthwhile exercise. I ask the Minister to include all airports on the island in this exercise.  I will finish with one final recommendation, which is, \"Head 5 should be amended to ensure that the Minister's power to revoke or amend planning conditions is limited solely to the passenger cap condition.\" As the Minister will be very aware from his former role as Minister for housing and local government, we need a wider discussion within Cabinet about the role of local authorities. I understand how we got here on this issue but seeking to bring such comprehensive powers into the office of the Minister of the day potentially undermines the role of local authorities even further.  We will be proposing a number of amendments over the coming days. They will be tabled in a very constructive manner. I look forward to debate on the next stage with regard to the role of local authorities and the very important issues of climate and biodiversity. Again, I am grateful for the opportunity to debate this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gillian Toole","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gillian-Toole.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Gillian-Toole.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gillian Toole  I had not expected to speak yet but I will take the opportunity. Things have moved very quickly. The benefit of Dublin Airport to Meath East is unquestionable. The opportunities for employment, the increase in the number of residents or constituents in the area and the opportunities for travel are all to our advantage. However, in recent times, the residents of Meath East have, without consultation, been affected by the increased number of flights to and from Dublin Airport.  I will speak in particular about the north runway. My comments will be no surprise to the Minister, his officials or the Taoiseach as I have raised these issues previously. As I have said before, I try to focus on solutions. In that vein, I will read solutions into the D\u00e1il record, some of which were conveyed to the Committee on Transport. I am not a member of that committee. I am grateful to Deputy Michael Murphy for his indulgence in letting me speak there. As we know, there are many affected residents in Meath East. There are people who bought homes in the constituency who never anticipated being overflown. The impact of the noise preferential route on these communities was never measured. Consultation with Meath County Council was never considered. Consultation was not extended to that council. I welcome the consideration within the Bill regarding public consultation in respect of environmental impact assessments being extended to Meath County Council.  I will read something into the record. I hope it will come in under time. Parts of it have previously been read into the record. As I have said before, I am a solutions-focused person. This is a solution to the issues facing the St. Margaret's residents and the Meath East residents. It is provided by the North Runway Technical Group, a voluntary group comprising residents and pilots with technical expertise. There is a way out. It reverses a change rather than making a change. The 28R departure routes flown since 2023 have turned aircraft off the straight-ahead procedures for air navigation services-aircraft operations, PANS-OPS, default without the safety assessment that change required. Returning these routes to the default removes the unassessed change. Most of it can start this month with no loss to the capacity Dublin Airport operates today. Indeed, there is a possible opportunity for increased capacity. We currently have DAA and AirNav flying 28R departures straight ahead on the omnidirectional departure route DAA already publishes, operated using the dependent mode. That is the mode Dublin Airport already operates whenever there is a missed approach on the parallel runway. Given that the straight-ahead path follows the corridor the original assessment reserved for departures, every population count falls under this approach. The number directly overflown drops by nearly 80% and the number in the wider affected swathe falls by more than 40%.  This fix reduces the impact rather than moving it onto anyone else. That has been cited repeatedly. It stops the steep low-altitude turn and only needs procedures and a mode that already exist. It is a permanent and independently designed solution.  In this instance, the Government can commission a qualified procedure designer independent of AirNav and DAA with a proper published brief to design the durable solution, turning the 28L missed approach - the south runaway missed approach - rather than the departure and run it through a full four pillar balanced approach. Everyone wins - the DAA keeps its capacity and growth, the residents come out from under the routes and AirNav and the IAA get a defensible design. We are solving the problem ourselves and then moving forward with the Bill in the intended mode.  However, the affected residents are my primary concern. The Minister knows from the committee that there have been presentations on the health impacts to residents in the area, which is estimated at a cost of \u20ac800 million per annum. Again, this reverses a change rather than making a change.  I wish to raise the overflight of Meath. The current situation that we have is the 30-degree separation from the missed approach path of the parallel runway, 28L. That separation is a requirement of independent, segregated, parallel operations. It does not apply when the two runways operate in dependent mode. Dublin already operates in a dependent mode in this respect. The north runway already holds whenever there is a missed approach on the south runaway. The dependent operation is not something that AirNav would have to create. It is already there. It operates in constrained conditions, such as strong winds. It is the co-ordination process. Operating in dependent mode and releasing the north runway departures straight ahead on the omnidirectional procedure changes nothing except the direction of the turn. I repeat that it does not reduce the capacity that Dublin already operates.  I hate to sound repetitious but the solution is here in reversing a change and the impact on the 30,000 people. Without referring directly to challenges that exist, we are aware that there are legal challenges take place. In the spirit of offering a solution, it is to reinforce this. I apologise for my repetition but there is a solution to this, which then it allows moving forward without opposition.  Reversing the change reduces both the overflown and the affected population. The interim arrangement will deliver that reduction immediately. The North Runway Technical Group has published geographic information system, GIS, analysis. It has been measured on the published departure centre lines against the convention of an overflown swathe within 1.5 km based on the UK's department of transport track keeping norms and an affected swathe within 3 km of the track flown. It gives the total population within each corridor. Regarding the statistics in relation to Fingal and east Meath and the routes flown since February 2023, 13,923 residents have been overflown, and 30,540 residents are in the affected swathe. On the straight-ahead design based on the 2004 to 2005 environmental impact statement, EIS, for the 2007 application, the figures here are stark. This is where the solution focus is. A total of 2,888 residents are overflown and 17,481 residents are in the affected area. This is a reduction in the total impact, not a redistribution of it, which I can understand is a fear. I am somebody who would be living in the affected swathe where the straight-ahead mode be complied with.  In the spirit of being solution focused, I seriously ask for this consideration to be acted on. However, first of all, I wish for it to be analysed. I have requested the safety reports that relate to the current 30-degree departure, and the subsequent 56-degree turn on departure from 28R. I await those. This is something that can be implemented within a very short timeframe. In the spirit of being the good neighbour as per the Dublin Airport Authority's website, a good neighbour in this instance is about reducing the health impacts, recognising the benefits of the airport and recognising our island status but trying to factor in, plan and implement for a win-win situation for our residents. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Healy-Rae  The Minister knows my views on this whole matter. Like Deputy Toole, I would like to think that I am coming at this from a sound and sensible perspective, not like the motion we had here last week where we had people who were against economic activity, building roads and everything we are trying to do from a common-sense point of view. We need roads and houses. A term used in the motion last week was \"unsustainable housing\". I would love to know what an unsustainable house is. I would love to know how any politician could deem what the Government is doing with Dublin Airport is wrong from an economic point of view, from a bringing people into this country point of view and from a strategic point of view. When we look at people like Michael O'Leary, I am very glad to use Michael O'Leary's name in the D\u00e1il in a positive way. Usually, people like him are demeaned and downgraded in here because of their success, usually by a certain group of politicians who absolutely despite and hold a grudge against anybody who seems to create wealth, growth and employment. They seem to have a set against them.  I wish to remind people about County Kerry's airport, Farranfore, which is strategically very important to us. Michael O'Leary has continuously told us that it is money that he makes in places like Dublin Airport that allows him to provide us with the service we have and are very thankful for. While I am at it, I would like to put in a spoke for more flights in and out of County Kerry provided by good people, such as Michael O'Leary and Ryanair. If we could have an earlier service in the morning, and if it is deemed financially viable to do so, we certainly would welcome it with open arms because Farranfore is one of the most unusual places in Ireland. It has an excellent road service and train service. That is a great advantage to us in the heart of County Kerry.  Coming back to the whole idea of what the Government is trying to achieve in Dublin, it is very welcome. We need to remove this cap because, quite simply, we need to allow more business to come into this country. We need connectivity to the airport. There is no point in being retrospective about it but it is surprising that we do not a rail service to and from the airport after all of these years. Again, Rome was not built in a day. I refer to the way the Government is going and the removal of the cap. I have met with residents who outlined their concerns. Of course, there will always be concerns. One of the things that it always reminds of, and I would like the Minister to take this on board, is the person who applies for planning permission to build a house near another person's farmyard. When they are living in their house, they then complain about the farmyard. In other words, what was there first? Many of the estates----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Healy-Rae  Is my time up? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Yes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Healy-Rae  Sorry. Regarding many of the estates that are built there, the airport was there before the houses, and they knew where they were going to live. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I call Deputy Danny Healy-Rae. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  Who is next? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  You. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle very much. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  The Deputy has three minutes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  I am glad to get the opportunity to talk on this Bill.  There has been a lot of talk about Dublin Airport and the cap. I know residents are concerned about it but Ireland has to move on. We need to open it up a bit anyway, give some relief there and give the operators like Michael O'Leary, who has been making a lot of sense about it, a chance to keep their flights and their business going. Until Ryanair came along, it was very expensive to travel in and out of this country.  At the same time, I ask that Shannon and the regional airports not be forgotten, starting with Kerry Airport. It is very important to us. The more flights we can get in and out of Kerry, it would be a great help to people in Kerry who need to travel for work and many different things. For both Kerry and Shannon, which is a regional airport with a long and great tradition, more needs to be done to help the mid-west. Many of my uncles and aunts travelled through Shannon coming and going to America. Four of them made their lives over there - my father's brothers and sisters. It was through Shannon they had to go when they were coming and going to America. Likewise, we are very close to Cork Airport but Kerry is the one we support and we ask the best for it all the time.  There is an issue this weekend. Kerry people may be disenfranchised if the Minister does not do something about the trains to ensure - I hope he is listening to me----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  I am. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  -----that Kerry people can travel to this match. We are playing Tyrone on Saturday at 6.15 p.m. It is not a great time for Kerry people who will be trying to get home, maybe leaving Croke Park as late as 9 p.m. I ask that enough trains be put on for that event to make sure the people of Kerry can get up there and get back home again. I have to say to the Minister it is unfortunate Kerry people and elderly people cannot watch this massive game on TV when RT\u00c9 got millions of euro - it got \u20ac725 million - to keep it floating, the very same amount the people of Ireland got----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Conor Sheehan)  Keep it relevant to the Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  -----to help them with the cost of diesel. Do not forget us, Minister----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Conor Sheehan)  I told you to keep it relevant to the Bill, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  ------it is very important the people of Kerry can see the game, come up and get home again. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mattie McGrath  I am happy to speak on the Dublin Airport (Passenger Capacity) Bill 2026 this evening. The cap must be lifted but there are fundamental questions. There are other issues besides Dublin; it cannot all be about Dublin. That is what it has been. There is huge investment in Dublin. We do not begrudge it one bit but we need a more balanced regional approach. While I support the lifting of the cap, for years policy and investment have been overwhelmingly focused on the capital while our regional airports at Cork, Shannon, Knock - Deputy Healy-Rae mentioned Kerry - and now Waterford. We welcome the investment there. There is great potential for people in the south east. They have all remained under-utilised despite being efficient, modern and easy to get to, and easy to grow as well. I compliment the staff there.  Passengers across the south and mid-west are paying the price. They face long journeys to Dublin, traffic gridlock on the M50, which I just came through in the past hour and a half myself, excessive costs for car parking at Dublin Airport, longer queues, bigger crowds and more stressful journeys. That is for sure - they are more stressful. Cork and Shannon airports serve vast regions, including County Tipperary, yet they are not supported in a balanced way. We must have more balanced regional development. It is imperative - we cannot not have it. The community wants to fly locally, and visitors to the south and south west do not want to face a two- to four-hour journey from the airport to wherever they are visiting in Ireland, yet they are given little choice with limited flights in these other airports. We must look at a better timetable for those airports and Waterford when it is completed. I compliment the private investor there and all who worked on it. My former colleague, Matt Shanahan, was a daily lobbyist here for Waterford Airport.  Instead of continuing to overload Dublin, we should invest in and promote regional airports as available alternatives. Everything in this country appears to revolve around Dublin, while the people in Dublin do not want an increase in passenger numbers. You cannot blame them - they have issues and problems. The DAA must answer a simple question: how can it justify seeking ever higher passenger numbers in Dublin while Cork and Shannon remain significantly underused? It is an obvious question. Any of us in business would look at that and see what we could do about it. A fair and balanced aviation strategy is essential for regional development as far the travelling public is concerned. I recall a debate here with former Minister Shane Ross who I met today at his book signing Clonmel. I wish him well. He was here for a debate so it is a while ago now. It is an ongoing issue. The Minister has grasped the nettle; it is no bother to him. He is a good man to take on issues. This has to be sorted out. Long term, we must be understanding of the regions of Ireland, the south east with Waterford and the south and south west with Shannon and Cork. Cork and Shannon airports are a doddle to go through. The staff are very helpful. You are in and out. You are not stuck in queues for hours or in traffic. You have to be there three hours in advance for transatlantic flights; it is way too much and it is frustrating. It is not a pleasant journey. That is for us to think about. If we expect investors to come here, we need seamless travel to get to the regions where we want industry without undue delay and being held up at airports and in traffic. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Grace Boland  As trains have been mentioned, I might take the opportunity to ask the Minister to engage with Irish Rail to make sure the 5.48 p.m. train from Drogheda Pearse to Malahide on Saturday evenings is a full eight-carriage train as the last two Saturdays with the gigs on----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Conor Sheehan)  You might stick to the Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Grace Boland  -----in Malahide Castle have been half trains. They have left people behind in Donabate. I am sure the Minister will be concerned about that.  I welcome the steps being taken to remove the passenger cap at Dublin Airport. We are an island nation. We depend on connectivity. A cap on our capital city's airport, as the Minister said himself, is a cap on our growth. Dublin Airport is not only an employer of approximately 130,000 people; it is also a gateway through which Ireland does business, attracts foreign direct investment and connects to Europe and beyond. As a TD for Dublin Fingal West, or north County Dublin, it is a constituency I know to be the best in the country in which to live and work. It is also the constituency where the airport is located. I must raise a number of issues with the Minister.  The DAA has repeatedly said it is acting as a good neighbour to residents, community groups and sports and outdoor organisations affected by being close to the airport, in particular in relation to noise and traffic, but the Minister and I both know from our direct engagement with constituents that this is simply not the lived reality for many people. I urge the Minister to instruct the DAA to act fairly and genuinely invest in surrounding communities. That means widening the voluntary dwelling purchase scheme, offering fair and appropriate buy-outs to families most impacted and significantly expanding the noise insulation scheme so that homes receive high-quality, modern insulation that actually works. These measures already exist in principle but are too narrow and too limited in their application. They must be strengthened if we are serious about maintaining community trust.  The second issue is flight paths.  Following multiple engagements with the DAA, the IAA, Department officials and local residents, I have to say that I am none the wiser on flight paths. What I do know, however, is that something has changed in the last few years. That is obvious to anybody living in north County Dublin, to people working or playing outdoors, to families who were not previously impacted by noise, despite living beside the airport, but now are, and to anyone sitting on a plane departing Dublin Airport where aircraft frequently bank sharply after take-off. Adherence to safe flight paths that genuinely minimise the number of people impacted is absolutely essential. I am tired of hearing explanations that do not align with the lived experience of residents. I simply do not understand how this issue has not been resolved by now.  The third issue is traffic. A credible and detailed traffic mitigation plan is not optional; it is absolutely essential. Increased airport capacity will place additional pressure on the already strained M50 and M1 corridor. At the same time, as the Minister knows, Fingal is delivering much-needed housing at pace. That will further increase traffic volumes. We also have to factor in the disruption that will arise from the construction of MetroLink and the DAA's infrastructure development plans. The delivery of a western access road from the M2 is critical. We also need a fit-for-purpose and fully integrated transport hub at the airport, with practical measures such as sufficient ticketing infrastructure, including Leap card facilities, until such time as we have contactless payments.  I also raise a concern in relation to how the Bill is drafted. As it stands, it allows the DAA to apply to amend or revoke the passenger cap but it does not require that application to include concrete proposals on traffic mitigation, noise reduction, insulation, buyouts or any meaningful engagement with affected communities. Nor does it require those protections to be in place before the order is made. In effect, it creates a pathway for expansion without ensuring from the outset that robust and forceful protections are in place for those of us living close by the airport. I ask the Minister to look at that again and at what is included in the onus on the DAA in making this application.  Finally, I raise the question of the national aviation policy. When will we see it? If we are serious about balanced regional development, we must ensure that regional airports are also supported to grow and reach their potential. Dublin Airport cannot and should not carry the entire burden of national connectivity. I welcome progress on this important legislation but I urge the Minister to ensure the DAA genuinely acts as a good neighbour to those of us living and working in north County Dublin and to strengthen the legislation to make sure the DAA must demonstrate it is a good neighbour in any application to the Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Geoghegan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Geoghegan  This is serious legislation. The complexity involved in it is there for all to see. By virtue of the Minister's opening address and on any examination of the Bill, we can see just how complex this law has been in bringing it to the floor of the House. Understandably, there has been a lot of frustration among the sector owing to the delays in bringing a Bill like this to the House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  There was no delay. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Geoghegan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Geoghegan  Now the Bill is before the House. I am not criticising the Minister. I am talking about the past when the Bill was not brought to the Houses, and how long it has taken for a Government, that is, this one rather than the previous one, to legislate to address this issue. I compliment the Minister on bringing the Bill to the House and bringing us to this position.  As a small, open economy, we face intense competition for the foreign direct investment that has been the bedrock of our prosperity. We do not compete for this investment for the sake of it. Investment and growth are required to fund better public services, the construction of housing and a more just society. For too long, Dublin Airport, which is the gateway to this country for investors and tourists, has been constrained by a planning condition that no longer reflects the reality we face in today's world. Passenger demand has already exceeded the cap for consecutive years, but this outdated restriction has been used to undermine our broader economic objective and limit our national potential. In my view, the Bill addresses this problem. At its core, this legislation changes something very simple. It changes who should decide the future of a piece of infrastructure that is of national importance. Dublin Airport is not a local facility; it is the gateway to Ireland for tourists, investors and people bringing jobs to this country. It is a gateway to Europe and the world for our people, students and exporters. Ultimately, the airport is the critical node underpinning the trade, tourism and investment that are the foundations of Ireland's economic success.  Given that reality, it is entirely appropriate that the Minister for Transport have the power to amend or remove a constraint that is choking the airport's and the country's potential. There is nothing progressive about supporting a measure that constrains Dublin Airport's growth. Independent research shows that over 100,000 jobs are linked to the airport and that it contributes \u20ac9.6 billion in gross value added to the Irish economy. These figures show that the benefits of allowing the airport to grow are not abstract. It will create more jobs and investment in Ireland. That is what allows us to build more housing, improve public services and invest in transport, healthcare and education.  I accept fully that this Bill involves difficult choices. It removes some planning powers from the local authority and moves them towards the centre, but that choice is justified in this instance. The airport's growth is an issue of national importance and requires considerations beyond that level.  Environmental concerns have also been raised. It is clear that the Bill takes those concerns seriously. Too often, environmental-type arguments are used as a blocking tactic by those who fundamentally do not want to see Ireland grow, develop or attract investment. Again, that is not a progressive position to take and it is certainly not in the national interest. The Bill does not disregard environmental concerns. It provides for full environmental impact assessments, appropriate assessments under EU law, public consultation and independent scrutiny. These are robust and structured safeguards, so the notion that these changes represent a free-for-all is completely unfounded. The appropriate balance, in my view, has been struck by this Bill.  The important and notable issue of noise, which Deputy Boland, as a local representative, outlined, is clearly a sensitive one in respect of Dublin Airport. Nobody can dismiss the concerns of people living near or adjacent to the airport. Equally, in order to be proportionate, using the small number of concerns people have as a justification for a veto over the growth of critical infrastructure cannot be countenanced. Importantly, in this Bill the assessments indicate that noise impacts are limited and manageable. Aircraft technology is continuously improving and the noise levels will continue to reduce over time. A blanket constraint on growth is neither proportionate nor sustainable.  Overall, this Bill is a welcome and necessary measure. It recognises the central role that Dublin Airport plays in our economy. By providing the Government with the powers necessary to act in the national interest, it will allow Ireland to remain competitive in attracting the investment that funds social progress in this country, and it does this in a way that maintains robust environmental oversight. If we are serious about building a more prosperous Ireland for everyone, we must be serious about building the infrastructure that makes this possible. This Bill does that.  I compliment the Minister on the work he has done in bringing the Bill to the House and all the work underpinning that work. I look forward to its enactment. I also look forward to the benefits that signalling the enactment of this Bill will bring to this country. The more routes that come to this country, the more investment we will see. I welcome the Bill's introduction. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill. Dublin Airport is incredibly important strategic infrastructure for the island of Ireland. Sinn F\u00e9in does not oppose the lifting of the passenger cap in and of itself. We acknowledge the existing cap is no longer fit for purpose and we committed in our 2024 general election manifesto to address that. However, the Bill before us risks rushing headlong into expansion without a proper assessment or plan for the consequences. It fails to meet the basic test of sustainability and, very disappointingly, it seems to ignore many of the substantial recommendations from pre-legislative scrutiny. As a result, Sinn F\u00e9in will table amendments on Committee Stage. I will now outline three of these.  First, the Minister must ensure that the commencement of this Bill is contingent upon a comprehensive and independent assessment of the economic implications of lifting the cap, modelled on CE Delft analysis for Schiphol Airport. The model is there.  The assessment must look beyond balance sheets. It must consider the impacts on health, housing, education, water, transport and the social fabric of our communities. It must also look at the impact of lifting the cap on other airports and regional and local economies on the island, and aviation policy more generally. As the UN special rapporteur on the right to help the environment noted during her visit to Ireland, \"urgency cannot justify bypassing our obligation to undertake comprehensive ... assessments\". The Minister should not ignore that advice.  Second, the Minister should take the opportunity to improve aviation sector governance in the Bill. Sinn F\u00e9in will push for a review of the structure and operation of the Aircraft Noise Competent Authority to be completed within 12 months. If the airport is to grow, we need a regulator that is truly independent and robust enough to perform its duties and protect local residents. Currently, the body being regulated, the DAA, is responsible for collecting and collating data, including complaints data. This is an anomaly that has eroded public trust and it must be changed.  Third, and crucially, we need an independent evaluation of the airport's flight paths. This evaluation must be completed within nine months and present proposals for alternative routes. An essential goal of this evaluation must be to minimise noise impact on existing neighbours and nearby residents. Communities in places like Ratoath, Ashbourne and St. Margaret's and the Ward are being ignored and left in the dark. They are facing unauthorised flight paths, sleepless nights and, in some cases, worse. There is a better way to do things. Local experts have gone a long way towards spelling that out. The Minister must insist on action in this regard. That is what our amendment will seek to achieve.  Everyone can recognise that Dublin Airport is a vital national asset, but it cannot be treated as a law unto itself. Growth must be planned, transparent and mindful of the families who live in the airport's shadow. Sinn F\u00e9in will work constructively with the Government to ensure this happens and hold the Minister to account on these fundamental points. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Conor Sheehan)  Ag bogadh ar aghaidh go dt\u00ed P\u00e1irt\u00ed an Lucht Oibre, glaoim ar an Teachta Ahern. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  I will share my time with Deputy Smith. This is an aggressively anti-climate Bill. This Government is making it clear to us that climate, environment or biodiversity considerations have absolutely no place when it comes to our aviation policy. It is ironic that we are debating this proposal to add potentially limitless additional carbon into our atmosphere on the same day that we are suffering with record temperatures, with hot weather warnings across Europe. We have heard that 40 people have drowned in France over the past few days due to the heat. Children are dying in cars, Europe is heating at twice the rate of the rest of the world and this is where our Government's priorities lie. This is the third Bill produced this term that seeks to disapply the climate Act. We have seen it with the infrastructure Bill, we are seeing it with this Bill and we will see it later again this week with the liquified natural gas, or LNG, reserve Bill.  Section 39 provides that section 15 of the climate Act will not apply, having regard to the likely consequences for the economy of the State and international connectivity if an order is not made. This effectively amounts to a legislative predetermination that economic interests and connectivity, whatever the hell that means, completely override climate considerations. Even our birds and natural habitats regulations are in the crossfire. The Minister will point to section 15 and assure us all that environmental impact assessments will be carried out and so on, but those provisions are rendered essentially meaningless by section 25, which states that, in effect, the Minister can just ignore or override an environmental condition from An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la following an EIA. Basically, the whole environmental assessment process in the Bill is advisory, at best.  Moreover, in cases where the commission determines there are likely to be adverse affects on habitats from a proposal to increase the cap, the Minister can unilaterally decide there are \"imperative reasons of overriding public interest\" in the proposal going ahead. There is no requirement on the Minister to engage in any sort of consultation in coming to that decision. He might opt to consult the housing Minister, An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la, the DAA and other Ministers, but only where the Minister is already of the opinion that the public interest provision already exists. There is no obligation to consult any dedicated climate and environmental bodies, such as the Climate Change Advisory Council, the EPA or, indeed, the climate Minister at any stage in this process. For the record, not once is the climate and environment Minister mentioned in this Bill. References to the housing Minister appear repeatedly. Given that section 39 explicitly disapplies section 15 of the climate Act for both the Minister and An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la, the absence of any consultation with the climate Minister is beyond concerning.  It is becoming increasingly clear that there has been a significant amount of corporate capture of this Government, whether it is this Bill, which could have been written by Michael O'Leary himself, the data centre drive or the LNG Bill, which is being brought through to ensure continuity of its ever-increasing gas demands. We will keep hearing an economic argument from the Government on removing the passenger cap, and I will come back to that, but we need to be honest about what this Bill will do. Scrapping the passenger cap at Dublin Airport means more flights, more pollution and higher emissions at a time when Ireland is already dangerously off track on climate action. Any hypothetical economic gains from removing the cap, and those are debatable, could be wiped out by the \u20ac26 billion in fines we might be facing from failing to meet our climate targets.  This Bill does not just raise the current cap of 32 million passengers, which, for the record, Dublin Airport has consistently broken in recent years, to some higher figure. It allows the Minister to scrap the cap altogether. There is no alternative ceiling proposed. The Minister has floated a figure of 60 million passengers a year, almost doubling the current limit. As per anything one might expect on climate from this Government, there is a clause exempting the Minister from having regard to section 15 of the climate Act when making this decision. If this expansion is sustainable, as the Minister says, why is the Government running scared of the climate action Act under environmental legislation?  The Minister and this Government are intent on compounding our already abysmal record on climate and are abandoning any pretence of caring or wanting to at least try to catch up on what we have legally committed to. Against the backdrop of our failure in achieving our climate and emission reductions targets, the Government is now proposing a policy change that independent analysis suggests will see flight emissions increase by 24% if passenger numbers rise to 40 million. That is almost 581,000 tonnes of additional CO2 by 2034, and 40 million passengers is a conservative scenario. As I said, the Minister suggested 60 million passengers, in time. However, it is fine according to the Government because international aviation emissions are not counted towards our national emission figures. Our emissions obviously impact globally, and in a world where only 5% of our global population has ever taken a flight, to suggest that because we do not count international aviation emissions means it is okay to expand exponentially betrays a total disregard for any semblance of global climate justice.  This Government is rapidly losing any credibility internationally and here at home when it comes to the climate crisis. That has consequences. It cannot, on the one hand, tell our workers, farmers, hauliers and households that they must bear the cost of our decarbonisation efforts and, on the other, wave through unlimited aviation growth with a legislative shield against its own climate Act. People will understandably start to question why they should bother when those at the top are not only allowed to continue to pollute on a massive scale, but are actually being facilitated to increase their emissions.  This is a bowing down to corporate interests and greed dressed up in the language of connectivity and competitiveness. This is not just a moral failing; it is a legal one too. Notwithstanding the disapplication of our own climate laws, under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, the State has a positive obligation to protect its citizens from the foreseeable harms of the climate crisis. I do not mean that in an abstract sense. The European Court of Human Rights found exactly this in the recent KlimaSeniorinnen Schweiz case against Switzerland. The Dutch Supreme Court found likewise in the Urgenda Foundation case and the International Court of Justice, in its advisory opinion last year, confirmed that states must use all means at their disposal to prevent harm from greenhouse gas emissions, including, expressly, emissions from fossil fuel consumption, which includes aviation fuel.  A legal analysis of the passenger cap removal commissioned by Opportunity Green and prepared by barrister Tim Johnston of Brick Court Chambers sets out plainly that Ireland, already behind in our own targets and comparable countries and already in breach of climate commitments, is exposed to a credible claim that lifting this cap, while simultaneously excepting the decision from climate scrutiny, constitutes a breach of Article 8 of the ECHR. I am sure a copy of that report has been shared with the Minister. Not only are we risking our climate, but the Government is also actively risking public funds in litigation that this analysis tells us is entirely foreseeable.  The Minister has relied on the environmental impact assessment provisions as a way of getting around the climate argument.  He knows well that this is a wholly inadequate framework for assessing the climate impact of this decision. As section 15 of the 2015 Act will not apply, any environmental impact assessment carried out under this Bill cannot properly account for the national transition objective or our greenhouse gas mitigation obligations. In any case, are we really to believe that an environmental impact assessment will throw up something that will make the Minister reverse course on this? It is literally written into the Bill that he can simply ignore such assessments. It is a fait accompli . However, we have clear jurisprudence from several different courts, including the ECHR and the UK Supreme Court, that environmental impact assessments for high-emitting projects must comprehensively assess downstream combustion emissions, must look at scopes 1, 2 and 3 emissions and must be grounded in the best available science. The cases in the rulings of these courts involve fossil fuel extraction but the logic applies equally to a project that will materially increase aviation emissions into the future. If this Government proceeds with an assessment framework that does not capture the full climate footprint of additional flights, arrivals and departures, carbon dioxide and non-carbon dioxide effects alike, it is inviting a legal challenge that, on the weight of recent European jurisprudence, it stands a real chance of losing. Exempting the Minister from section 15 of the climate Act does not make the climate consequences disappear; it defers them and it leaves even less room to manoeuvre for every future Minister, planning authority and local councillor, who will all have to find emissions reductions elsewhere to compensate for the growth this Bill will unleash. We are still waiting to hear from the Minister on where the equivalent emissions reductions will come from. Will it be farmers who are asked to pick up the slack, those in the transport sector or regular households, many of whom are already doing their best to be environmentally conscious? It is households in the Minister's own constituency who will feel the impact of this move most immediately by virtue of the fact that they live under the flight paths.  The consequences here are being pushed further downstream to the local planning authority, which can fiddle with planning conditions but cannot touch the one lever that actually matters: the number of aircraft flying overhead. We have seen where this can lead us. A ruling in the Hague District Court in 2024 stated that the Dutch Government had acted unlawfully in failing to protect residents near Schiphol Airport from noise pollution, breaching Article 8 of the ECHR, and ordered the Government to provide practical and effective protections to those affected. The same protections under Article 8 apply to residents here, and further protections apply under Article 40.3 of our own Constitution, which obliges the State to protect the property rights of every citizen. The assessment provisions in this Bill are unlikely to meet even the basic common law obligations to consult those whose rights are affected.  I referred earlier to the Minister making decisions on this cap based on economic interests and international connectivity. Can the Minister please define \"international connectivity\"? There is no definition in this Bill. Does it mean routes to specific destinations, frequency of services, the number of carriers or some other aggregate measures? We know we live on an island and we know we do not want to be stranded here but how much connectivity is enough? This approach to connectivity is just like the Government's approach to the unmitigated expansion of data centres. How much is enough? If the Minister is basing his decision on international connectivity, it would be helpful to know what the actual metric is.  On the economic case, I point the Minister to a study commissioned by the social council for Schiphol Airport. It examined what would happen to broad welfare under three different scenarios for the size of the airport in terms of flight numbers. Broad welfare, for the benefit of this House, is a framework that goes beyond GDP to capture economic output. It looks at employment, health, housing, noise, nature and climate all together, precisely the kind of holistic accounting that this Government has failed to apply to its own decision on Dublin Airport. The findings are instructive, and I seriously encourage the Minister to examine the report. The study found that even a substantially smaller Schiphol, with 250,000 flights, barely half of today's traffic, could still preserve a large majority of the connectivity that Dutch travellers actually use because the destinations that disappear are disproportionately sustained by transfer passengers rather than Dutch residents. The extra journey time imposed on the average traveller was measured in minutes, not hours. The most salient finding of this report, however, is that the aviation sector losses are dwarfed by the climate gains. In other words, restraint on flight numbers does not just reduce harm: on the Dutch evidence, it produces a net welfare gain once climate costs are properly priced in, even after aviation sector losses are accounted for. This study also acknowledges that capacity caps are not the only option. It refers to a cost-benefit analysis of the options available to Schiphol, tellingly titled \"Shrink or become sustainable?\". The analysis found that environmental and noise measures, including a higher distance-based flight tax, delivered considerably greater broad welfare benefits than a blunt capacity restriction does, precisely because pricing instruments let you target the noisiest, most polluting, longest haul flights rather than cutting capacity indiscriminately.  The lesson, then, is not that caps are the only available tool; it is that doing nothing and simply lifting the cap with no replacement mechanism, as the Government is doing here, is the worst of all options. Reducing flights or pricing their environmental cost properly can deliver a net gain for society. Unlimited expansion, on this evidence, risks a net loss.  What is more is that we have a persistent travel deficit in this country. Irish people spend more abroad than tourists spend here, so more flights actually takes more money out of the country than it brings in. Research shows this and it undermines the Government's claim that aviation expansion is an unqualified economic benefit. The serious international evidence shows that the relationship between airport size and national prosperity is far weaker than that assumption and that the environmental and health costs of unrestrained growth are not some marginal externality to be waved away. They are large enough, on a comparable European analysis, to turn an apparently pro-growth decision into a net loss for the country as a whole.  Finally - and this is frankly pathetic - this Bill provides an open invitation for airlines to bully the Government and talk down Ireland if they perceive that there is some inhibitor to their commercial interests in Dublin. Section 25 gives licence to the Minister to change planning conditions where they are perceived to be potentially damaging to \"the international reputation of the State in respect of air transport\". This is extremely open ended and essentially unfalsifiable. There is no objective standard for reputational damage, no evidence threshold, no definition. The provision could be invoked on the basis of adverse commentary from Michael O'Leary, a familiar noise to all of us. What do we think will happen here? We will have an airline lobby that is never happy and we will have incessant calls to expand and expand, with the airlines knowing that if they paint Ireland in an unsavoury light, they will get their way. We are enshrining corporate bullying of the State in our law. That is embarrassing and it is the cherry on top of what is fundamentally a regressive and bad policy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  Last week the Minister accused the Labour Party and, by implication, myself of being anti-Dublin Airport and anti-growth. He knows me and the Labour Party better than that. This is a far more complex issue than he purports or presents it to be. I know where I stand on the airport, and my record stands up in terms of representing airport workers at all grades and all levels through the Covid pandemic and all the other difficulties. I want the airport to thrive but not at any cost. The values of the Labour Party, in terms of this Bill, are based on good planning and standing up for a good planning system. The implication of this Bill is that Fingal County Council, the local planning authority, is in some way unable to deal with the complexities, the needs, the desires and the implications of Dublin Airport in a planning capacity, that this has to be taken out of the airport's control because it does not have the expertise or the professionalism to deal with it, that this has to be taken in centrally and that only the Minister can determine what is right for Dublin Airport.  Nothing could be further from the truth. DAA, under previous leadership, has actively polluted its relationship with Fingal County Council. The planning application DAA put in in 2023 to raise the passenger cap was one of the largest planning applications ever submitted to Fingal County Council. The application was declared invalid by Fingal County Council, which said it failed to comply with various planning and development regulations and was misleading, inadequate and non-compliant with relevant regulations. In addition, DAA failed to ask for a series of pre-planning meetings with Fingal County Council. That is absolutely incredible for a planning application of that size and that import. By the way, it was not just about raising the cap; this was about 11 huge buildings, with tunnels under the aprons. It was a massive planning application. DAA put it in designed to fail because, ultimately, it wanted to get this matter here. It wanted to get its desires in the ear of the Minister on some amorphous definition of growth, which, as my colleague outlined, is difficult, almost impossible, to define. It is, however, a great weapon to throw at Opposition Members who have issues with this Bill: \"You are anti-growth.\" We are not anti-growth. We are pro-climate, yes, but we are also pro-good planning.  This passenger cap was brought in as a condition of the north runway through the planning system and it should have been dealt with and tackled through the planning system.  The fact that it was not is not the fault of the planning authority or the planning system; the fault is squarely on the DAA. This semi-State organisation rented trucks with loudhailers to drive up and down Swords Main Street in front of Fingal County Council's office, saying, \"Get rid of the passenger cap\". They sent them down to Croke Park when Dublin were playing in the all-Ireland last year, the loudhailers going, \"Get rid of the passenger cap\". This was childish, ridiculous behaviour, totally unbecoming of any organisation, never mind a State agency with such strategic importance as Dublin Airport Authority.  As for this whole thing that opposition to this is down to some NIMBYs in north County Dublin, we have to put that to bed as well. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae earlier was saying the airport was there before the residents. That is an absolute fallacy in terms of the reality of the situation. When it comes to aircraft noise, residents on an east-west trajectory were given insulation - some were - and the day the north runway opened, the planes took off and deviated 30% north and flew over Rolestown, Ballyboughal and other villages in north County Dublin which had seen big growth in housing and were not covered by noise insulation. They had done their due diligence when they bought their homes. They were told they were not going to be under flight paths. It turns out the wool was pulled over their eyes by the DAA and now they are being flown over every day and have no recourse.  These residents are airport people. They understand aviation and the airport better than the vast majority of people in this House. They do not want the airport to fail or aviation to fail, but they want a bit of fairness. They want the DAA to act professionally. I am not even going to get into the point about good neighbours and bad neighbours because that has been well made. They want the DAA to act professionally but how the DAA has acted over the last number of years and under the previous leadership has been an absolute disgrace.  We now have a Bill which is going to have untold consequences in terms of the planning system. It is a template for when a Government is unhappy with a planning condition or decision of any local authority; it will just bring in some primary legislation. My colleague, Deputy Ahern, has articulated incredibly well the setting aside of the climate action Act. It is a huge concern. The DAA has brought us here, the squeaky wheel is getting the oil and it is going to have huge impacts on our planning system and on our climate. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cormac Devlin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cormac Devlin  I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate on the Dublin Airport (Passenger Capacity) Bill 2026. Last year, the airport saw 36.4 million passengers travel through it. It was the busiest year in the airport\u2019s history, up more than 5% on the year before. Passenger numbers there have grown by 46% in the last decade. The cap is set at 32 million, so last year the airport carried more than 4 million people above the limit that was imposed on it. The demand is real and the growth is real. The cap is the one thing standing against both. This is the heart of the matter.  We are not debating whether people want to fly to and from Ireland; they already are, in record numbers. We are debating whether the law should keep pretending they cannot. Dublin Airport is not just a transport hub; it is one of the largest pieces of critical economic infrastructure in the State. An independent study commissioned by DAA found that the airport contributes \u20ac9.6 billion in gross value added to the Irish economy. This is the equivalent of 2.3% of the entire national economy. It supports or facilitates over 116,000 jobs across the Republic. This is not a Dublin story alone. The same study found that 28% of the airport\u2019s economic contribution lands outside Dublin and the rest of Leinster, and that 31% of the jobs it sustains are across the rest of the country. When Dublin Airport grows, Wexford, Donegal and Kerry grow. The gateway is in Dublin and the benefit is of national importance. That is the figure that should focus minds.  The same independent analysis found that holding the cap at 32 million would cost Ireland an additional 17,800 jobs and \u20ac1.5 billion in economic value by 2030. This is the price of inaction, not a saving. It is a loss for the country. As an island nation with an open economy, connectivity is not a convenience for us; it is the condition of trade, tourism and investment. Research consistently shows that well-connected economies export far more than poorly connected ones. The cap works against every one of those elements, and it does so at our own expense. If a route cannot land in Dublin, it lands in another European capital instead. The connectivity goes elsewhere and so do the jobs. The cap does not protect Ireland, it penalises Ireland.  This Bill does not ignore the people who live around the airport. Their concerns, which were raised earlier, about noise and flight movements are legitimate, and they are taken seriously in this legislation. Before the Minister can make any order, An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la must carry out a full environmental impact assessment and an appropriate assessment, in line with EU law, with public consultation built in. The Minister must take account of the outcome. That is the right sequence: lift the cap, but do it lawfully, transparently, and with the environment properly assessed.  The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport did serious work in this regard. It received 136 submissions, held six public hearings, and made 16 recommendations. The Bill reflects that scrutiny. The Minister\u2019s power is confined to the passenger cap alone, an order falls away once a planning decision replaces it and the assessments are built into the process rather than bolted on after it. Some will ask why we cannot simply wait for the planning system. The honest answer is time. A planning decision on DAA\u2019s application to raise the cap to 40 million is expected later this year or early next. It is likely to be appealed, if not judicially reviewed. That could add another year of uncertainty. Airlines plan their networks years in advance. They cannot plan against a moving target. This Bill provides a lawful interim solution that addresses the cap while the planning process runs its course, and it protects that live application so nothing here delays it.  I welcome the Bill. It is a measure for jobs, connectivity and the economy. It is balanced and, on the evidence, it is needed now. I ask the Minister to confirm that the stakeholder forum planned for July will give the communities around the airport a clear and meaningful voice, alongside the airlines and the airport itself. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  I broadly welcome this Bill. It is, however, correctly contentious and controversial in circumstances where we as a country and as a planet face an extraordinary challenge in terms of reducing emissions and dealing with the consequences of climate change, which we see today as we all schlep around here in suits, sweating. I do have reservations about the de facto setting aside of the climate action legislation in the context of this removal of the cap, and also later this week in the context of the gas reserve Bill. It is problematic to entirely throw out responsibility in that regard. I would like to hear from the Minister what safeguards he has put in place to deal with that. Creating an open-ended situation is not the right answer, either.  I say that, however, conscious of the fact that Dublin Airport is the primary route to get people and goods in and out of this country, particularly from further afield. We are an island country and we do rely on air transport to get people on and off the island and to get goods in and out. I recognise the reality of the situation and the fact that steps have to be taken. Reference has been made by many speakers in this debate to the growth of over 40% in terms of passenger accommodation in the airport, and of over 36.4 million people in the airport last year. That is entirely predictable in circumstances where our population has grown by over a million in the past less than ten years. We know the country is growing. It makes sense, therefore, that the cap would also grow. You cannot have a situation where the population is getting bigger and bigger and, by extension, the demand for air transport is growing, and not reflect that in terms of the changes that are being made to the cap. I accept the necessity for this. When we look at air transport in other European countries, there is not the same restriction on airports in other European capitals as there might be in Dublin. It does not mean we throw the baby out with the bathwater or say that there should be no limit or control. I know the Bill does not say there is no control and there are procedures for orders by Minister and all the rest. I am just sounding a note of caution in relation to the complete removal of the restriction. I wonder about where the trade-off is. It does not remove our obligations in terms of meeting climate targets or emissions reduction targets. Where is the counterpoint?  Where is the point where we are going to enhance our emissions reduction if we are now de facto going to increase emissions from the airport? We know that emissions from the airport have increased with the increased air transport in and out. Again, I recognise it might be a necessity that comes with that but I also recognise that we have a necessity to act in terms of climate change and the level of emissions being produced here in Ireland, so what sector is going to have enhanced work to reduce emissions? Where are we going to counterbalance the effect of removing this cap to ensure that we do not let the situation with emissions completely run away with itself and leave ourselves and, by extension, everybody else on the planet in a very difficult position? I would love to hear a comprehensive answer to that question. I am not sure it is an easy question to answer, in fairness to the Minister of State, but I do think that we need to keep a check on our progression towards emissions targets and how we are going to manage that.  I do not have a difficulty with increasing air traffic in and out of the airport; I think it is a necessity. It is a reflection of the reality but, therefore, we must look at some other sector where we can reduce them. The Minister of State will be aware that there are other sectors where we are not reaching targets or making the emissions reductions we need to make. Let us have that grown-up conversation, recognising the reality, and decide what we are going to do in the other areas to ensure that we do not just let the whole thing get away from us, which is a real danger now. We can see the effects of climate change in real terms, not just with hot weather but also with stormy weather and the effects that global warming generally has on weather systems and the risk we face as a country and as a world in terms of what those emissions are going to do. That is my primary concern. In principle, I do not have a problem with this but I do have a problem with the notion that we just scrap a realistic attempt to meet our climate ambitions and our emissions reductions.  It is a very well put-together Bill but I do have some issues with it. The first is the use of \"daa\" in lower-case letters. That is a branding function of Dublin Airport. It has created it and trades as daa. In statutory terms, my understanding from looking at section 2 of the State Airports Act 2004 is that it is DAA - Dublin Airport Authority with a capital \"D\", capital \"A\" and capital \"A\". I do not see where that has changed anywhere in legislation - I am open to correction in that regard - but the use of lower-case letters, which is a branding function by Dublin Airport, is replete throughout this Bill. It is like what happened when the Child and Family Agency suddenly became Tusla. Nobody actually authorised that in statute. It is the Child and Family agency but is routinely referred to by its marketing name, which is Tusla. That is all very well but I just wonder about that in the context of a statutory piece of legislation going through these Houses. The reference to daa is defined in the Bill as the Dublin Airport Authority - the company, that is - but I do not think it is appropriate to refer to it using lower-case letters in the marketing term.  I will now turn to provisions later on in the Bill that relate to judicial review. Section 29 changes the test for bringing judicial review against any order or any decision made and requires the applicant in judicial review proceedings to establish substantial grounds, which is a much higher bar than is usually required for judicial review. Similarly, section 30(2) removes permission for the applicant to amend the grounds on which leave was granted, which is done as a matter of course in judicial review proceedings. Sometimes circumstances will change or information will become available that will require the change of the grounds on which leave is being granted. This is part of a broader Government attitude to judicial review. I understand that judicial review is a pain and that it obstructs things and can delay things but it is also a constitutional right of the citizens of this State to go to the courts to review the administrative decisions of the Government, Departments and other agencies. It is an important right and I do not know about the constitutionality of curtailing that right in the way that it is being curtailed in sections 29 and 30, for example. If we are concerned about the length of time it takes to bring judicial reviews, it would be much better to invest in speeding up the process of the courts, investing in something akin to what was done in the Commercial Court over 20 years ago. It would involve investing in more judges and more resources for the Courts Service so that people could still have their opportunity to challenge decisions and do so in a real and meaningful way under the Constitution, but it would be done in a faster and more efficient way. I recognise it is a problem but the answer is not to curtail the rights of citizens to challenge the administrative decisions of Departments and agencies. The answer is actually to facilitate it to a much greater extent and I wonder if the constitutionality of those specific provisions has been really thought through from the point of view that they curtail citizens' rights. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ann Graves","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ann Graves  As a an island economy, Ireland's connectivity is essential and, to maximise the benefits to our economy, we need an ambitious aviation strategy. That does not mean that all roads lead to Dublin Airport, which is just as well considering the traffic mayhem there at the moment and the lack of a sustainable transport system. A successful strategy demands balanced, connected infrastructure that leads to sustainable rural and regional development.  There is an all-Ireland dimension that also needs to be addressed. Brexit demonstrated how important trade into and out of this island is. Dublin Airport has long been operating over capacity. The passenger cap is not fit for purpose and was never adhered to. In 2019, 2023, 2024 and 2025, the DAA knowingly ignored and exceeded the cap. Last year alone, the cap was exceeded by over four million passengers.  As this Bill is very light on detail, Sinn F\u00e9in will be tabling amendments to address this. We will propose amendments to mandate the Government to update our national aviation policy, ensure balanced regional development and set out a long-term strategy for Dublin Airport that includes an all-Ireland dimension. The lifting of the passenger cup must be done in an organised fashion that benefits not just airlines and big business but also the wider community. To ensure this happens, our proposed amendments to the Bill would ensure that residents, community groups and other stakeholders are fully consulted with. Despite what the Minister says, residents feel that they are being ignored. The lifting of the cap will also require that adequate and well-resourced infrastructure is put in place to meet the extra demands from increased passenger numbers. This was one of the reasons for the cap in the first place. It was a condition of planning for the north runway development. This means a better public transport system that includes delivering the long overdue metro north project.  The lifting of the cap cannot be allowed to contribute to worsening the traffic chaos that already exists in Swords and Dublin Fingal East. We will also be seeking wider investment in insulation, better buy-out deals, agreed flight paths and overall better protection for residents. I understand why local residents are frustrated and angry. The DAA's engagement with residents has been consistently poor. It is not a good neighbour. Residents have been forced to take court action to ensure that their voices are heard. The cap is now subject to legal challenge under EU law. If the cap is not lifted before the forthcoming European court ruling, this could force the IAA to enforce the cap more strictly. This would have a very negative impact on Ireland's economy, particularly on our tourism sector. Regardless of the court ruling, local residents must be heard and included in a meaningful way by both the DAA and Fingal County Council.  There are a number of important unresolved matters that must be addressed, including night flights, flight paths, noise and kerosene fumes from planes waiting to take off. Night-time flights are of particular concern, with flights permitted at the airport increasing from an average of 65 a night to 95 between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. Long before I was elected to local or central government, I stood with the residents in St. Margaret's The Ward and the people of Swords who have sought a better life and I have continued to engage with the wider community in Fingal east. I live in Swords and I represent the people in Donabate, Portmarnock, Malahide, Portrane and Kinsealy - all of the areas that are worst affected by noise at varying degrees. When I was on the council, I had a motion unanimously agreed for the Fingal development plan that highlighted the need to tackle the serious health and safety issue of noise pollution for the local community. Unfortunately this motion was ruled out of order under the direction of the then Minister.  The proposed legislation does not effectively deal with residents' concerns, including in respect of health and well-being. I can assure residents of Fingal east that I have heard their concerns and we will work tirelessly to ensure they are addressed. Our priority will be to mandate the DAA to engage meaningfully with residents; to enhance community compensation, including for voluntary relocation, improved insulation and mitigation measures; and to address the variations in flight paths while protecting residents and staff. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  If there is anything we do not need during a climate emergency when we are literally having a heatwave right now - we had one two weeks ago and we will probably have many more over the rest of the summer - and when the world is literally burning, it is the Minister is coming in today to lift the passenger cap on flights at Dublin Airport. People are saying that we need this for growth. We need to do something about the climate emergency and we should actually be reducing flights rather than aiming to increase them in any way, shape or form.  It has been amusing to listen to the contributions of some people who normally jump up and down about Dublin being the fount of all evil. This proposal is really against balanced regional development. I am shocked that some of those who complain about Dublin getting everything are okay with lifting the passenger cap on Dublin Airport. Currently, Dublin gets ten times more passengers than Cork. Dublin is the capital city but it does not have ten times the population of Cork. After this measure, it is estimated that passenger numbers will increase by 22% by 2031.  Aviation accounts for approximately 6% of our carbon emissions, with Dublin Airport making up some 85% of that. What we have seen from the Government is that the environment just does not matter. Whether it is data centres or flights, the message is that we are open for business no matter what. A Fine Gael Deputy asked how this measure will be made up for elsewhere in the economy. No answer has been given but it seems that Deputy will line up to vote for the Bill. The other issue is that the Bill comes at the request of Ryanair and the American airlines. Ryanair's carbon emissions are now 50% higher than they were in 2019, which is the largest increase among the top 20 most polluting airlines worldwide.  There are real environmental issues associated with lifting the passenger cap. When so much is already going through Dublin, there are implications for balanced regional development. Is there any other airport without a rail line that would lift its passenger cap? It is absolutely farcical that people walking out of Dublin Airport have to get a bus or taxi. I do not know of any other capital where there is talk of enlarging its airport in that situation. There will be increased car traffic as a result. A metro line from the airport to the city is in the dim and distant future. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  Construction starts next year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  There are issues for residents. An earlier speaker said that everyone living in a house near the airport knew this would happen. In fact, people did not know. There are lots of much older communities in the area that predate the airport. People certainly did not know there would be relentless growth of the airport. The impact of airport noise on people's sleep is being studied worldwide, including by Dr. John Garvey, director of the sleep laboratory at St. Vincent's hospital. His evidence shows that airport noise leads to more cardiovascular issues in affected areas and those statistics are backed up internationally. We do not know what impact the lifting of the cap will have specifically on night flights but it will mean many more flights and much more noise for those impacted. In 2024, 6,700 more people were affected by airport noise, which was a big increase on the previous year.  Another issue is the lack of democracy. Fingal County Council will have any controls in relation to the airport taken from it, and the Minister is happy with that. It is being done because elected councillors are much closer to communities and residents. It is anti-democratic. As I said, airport noise in the Fingal area leads to a huge number of health issues and the lifting of the passenger cap will make that situation worse.  The Minister is from one of the impacted areas. The lifting of a passenger cap in any airport during a climate emergency would have to be queried. Will he answer the question asked by a Fine Gael Deputy before he came into the Chamber as to how the increase in carbon emissions will be made up for elsewhere in the economy and in society? We should know that before we vote on this Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  Ireland is an island nation and we all recognise the necessity of airport connectivity for our people and our economy. We already have good air links and they will continue. The question before us today is whether this legislation is a proportionate and appropriate way to balance our commitment to a connected island with our obligations to meet climate targets, protect local communities and care for our environment. My concern is that the Bill does not even make an attempt at balancing those competing needs. Instead, we have legislation that is one-sided in its focus, was constructed entirely with the desires of one set of stakeholders in mind, ignoring all others, and creates a set of real risks.  The first and probably most glaring issue with the Bill is its direct effort to undermine the signature climate action legislation that is intended to keep Ireland on track to meet its climate obligations. Last month, the Environmental Protection Agency reported that Ireland is on track to significantly exceed its 2030 climate limits. With less than four years until we are supposed to reduce our 2018 emissions level by 50%, the Minister has already announced that we are far off track. Raising the passenger cap by just 8 million is likely to increase flight emissions by about 24%. Yet, the Minister has indicated in remarks he has made over the past year that he wants to double the numbers currently going through Dublin Airport. This is not about saying people should not fly. It is inevitable that people will fly out of and into Ireland. The question is whether it makes sense to have absolutely no upper limit on flight numbers going through Dublin Airport, with all the connected climate, environmental and community impacts of that approach.  Just as significant is the message the Bill is sending on national climate commitments. In recent years, the Government has tried to undermine the climate Acts in numerous ways, particularly by way of legislative mechanisms. The Critical Infrastructure Bill, the Development (Strategic Gas Reserve) Bill and this Bill each contain specific carve-outs to exempt the particular issue they deal with from scrutiny under section 15 of the 2015 Act. There is a sense almost of pre-emptive guilt on the part of the Government. The exemptions are an admission that it knows these legislative measures will not stand up to scrutiny from a climate perspective. It is seeking to forestall any opposition before it even starts. In essence, the Government is seeking to remove even any monitoring of some of the most carbon-intensive industries in our country at a time when we are significantly failing in our climate commitments.  This is not an abstract issue. It exposes us to serious environmental, social and financial risks. We know there is a cost to non-compliance that is in a range somewhere between \u20ac8 billion and \u20ac26 billion. The removal of the obligation to adhere to section 15 of the climate action Act in relation to the passenger cap does not remove the Government's wider obligations under national law, international law or, indeed, under the European Convention on Human Rights. A legal opinion that was sought on the Bill found the lifting of the cap without introducing any other protections will expose the Government to a credible claim that it is in breach of Article 8 of the convention, which concerns the right to protection of private and family life, by failing to shield its citizens from the health impacts of the climate crisis. The same opinion also found the State had a procedural obligation to conduct an environmental impact assessment, EIA, including of all CO2 and non-CO2 emissions from arriving and departing flights, or face significant risk of being challenged in the courts.  The Bill will not make our climate commitments go away but it does leave significantly less room for manoeuvre for all sectors of our economy that are not insulated from scrutiny in the way the Bill insulates the aviation sector. In effect, one sector will have no upward cap on its emissions, while others will have to constrain themselves even further to allow that to happen. The legal opinion I mentioned makes that point quite starkly: \"The disapplication of section 15 of the 2015 Act ... directly impacts Ireland's climate targets, as the significant emissions associated with the Cap Repeal will significantly constrain the margin of discretion of public authorities to make strategic decisions about future infrastructure.\"  In short, this Bill is robbing Peter to pay Paul. Any disapplication will push climate costs away from aviation onto other sections of the economy and other sections of our society. Future infrastructure projects will be increasingly jeopardised and constrained to mitigate the consequences of what I would say is the reckless deregulation proposed in this legislation. The justification for all this that we have heard from the Minister this evening is that this Bill is critical for economic growth for our country, when no cost-benefit analysis has been carried out and we know current activity levels at the airport are incurring health-related costs, as outlined by other Deputies. A recent report by the UK Department for Transport on the economic implications from the expansion of Heathrow Airport found that the positive gains were outweighed by the social and environmental impact, which for that airport was estimated at between \u00a358 billion and \u00a382 billion. An independent cost-benefit analysis of the impact of this expansion is necessary, and that should have been conducted in advance of legislation being moved forward.  Compounding the Government's unbalanced approach to the legislation is the attitude that has been taken to stakeholder engagement. In preparation for this debate, I asked the Minister via a parliamentary question to provide information about the companies and the lobbyists he had met to discuss this Bill. The result is quite stark. The Minister and the Taoiseach were very willing to engage with the airlines and their representatives and that is absolutely fine; they are lobbyists. However, no efforts were made to engage with the environmental organisations to get alternative perspectives on this particular area. I note in particular that a number of environmental organisations actively sought engagement with the Minister, including Children's Rights Over Flights and Friends of the Earth, and these meetings were not granted on this issue. This is not a balanced approach. It appears that in the drafting of this legislation that perspective about the environment was entirely absent from considerations.  Deputy O'Brien is the Minister for Transport but he is also the Minister with responsibility for the environment and climate. Yet, he seems allergic to meeting organisations representing those particular interests. This lack of consultation feeds into the way in which this legislation is likely to impact on local communities. It does not appear the key concerns that local communities have voiced throughout this process and in detail at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport, when we heard on this issue, have been taken into account in a meaningful way in this Bill. Since the north runway entered operation, local residents living close to Dublin Airport have already highlighted significant concerns around a range of issues, particularly the issue of noise. I know the Minister has constituents in his constituency who have undoubtedly brought this issue to his attention. Deputy Coppinger and I have heard from people in places like Hollystown, Hollywoodrath and Tyrrelstown, where the impact of noise is a regular issue and particularly the change in flight paths from what people were told to what actually was eventually permitted. Of course, all of this is taking place with the current restriction and current cap in place.  I understand the Minister met residents of St. Margaret's and The Ward last month. I think they provided the Minister with an economic analysis they have done of the costs to health, particularly from noise generated from the airport. Local residents are already being severely impacted by the current levels of activity at Dublin Airport but, again, instead of engaging meaningfully with those concerns, this proposal is to introduce potentially limitless increases in the number of flights on top of the existing problematic patterns. I know from FOI requests that there has been more correspondence between the Minister and Airlines for America than with local groups. In advertising this Bill on social media over the last week, the Minister said that people's concerns would be addressed in a substantive way that is respectful of local communities. I do not believe this adds up when I look at this draft right now. The Bill does not in any way anticipate an assessment-of-noise impact and it again pushes responsibility for noise mitigation back onto the planning authority.  The need for air connectivity in an island nation like Ireland is unavoidable. Again, nobody disputes that. What is of concern here is the ill-considered way in which this legislation has been brought forward, without any recognition of a balancing or any recognition that other considerations need to be taken account of in bringing a change like this forward. The hallmark of good legislation is a balanced approach between competing needs within our society. This legislation makes no efforts to do that. It is single-minded in its approach and offers no idea as to what a proportional approach to passenger numbers at Dublin Airport might look like. To achieve this, it undermines the climate action Act and ignores those key concerns of local communities that have been voiced to us all on many occasions. This is a reflection of the way that the legislation was prepared in close consultation with the aviation industry but with the concerns of those key environmental groups entirely excluded. Ultimately, it will be ordinary people who bear the consequences of this approach in the costs of complying with missed climate targets and in the impacts from increased noise for those living in the vicinity of the airport. Again, and it is unfortunate to say, the approach being adopted to this legislation is more and more replicated across the Government's approach to all issues to do with climate and the environment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed  I join my colleagues today in emphasising the importance of Dublin Airport as a key international hub and the crucial role it plays in driving economic growth, strengthening connectivity and supporting jobs across the country. As an island nation, our connectivity depends on aviation and seafaring. Irish residents travel more frequently and over longer distances than their European counterparts, with air travel per capita almost double the European average. For that reason, the passenger cap constrained our ability in this country to meet clear and growing demand and its removal is a welcome and necessary step. Dublin Airport is central to our economic success. In 2025, more than 36 million passengers came through the airport making it the busiest year on record. Those numbers have grown strongly in recent years reflecting Ireland's openness and international reach. That connectivity is a huge strength, with more than 190 destinations, over 2,600 weekly departures and connections to 130 cities across Europe. Dublin Airport anchors Ireland in the global economy. That is the economic reality the Minister and I live in.  As the only EU member state with English as a primary official language, this connectivity gives us a unique advantage in attracting investment and building strong commercial ties with countries and like-minded individuals abroad. The economic contribution is substantial. A 2023 study estimated that Dublin Airport supports over 116,000 jobs across the State, makes a \u20ac4.9 billion contribution in wages and contributes \u20ac9.6 billion in gross value added. That is 2.3% of the national economy, give or take. Each job created can be linked back to Dublin Airport and the role it plays.  Tourism is another major beneficiary. In 2024, over 4 million tourists visited Dublin. On Dublin's contribution to regional development, many of those tourists came through Dublin Airport but went on from the city to visit many corners of Ireland. Dublin Airport was again at the heart of that success. As visitors numbers go up, so do pressures on local services and I reiterate my support that we look at that tourism levy again as a Government. If we are to get greater numbers in through the airport coming to Dublin and beyond, the tourism levy is a key element of making sure that Dublin has a good offering and is well maintained, open and welcoming to our visitors.  This expansion also presents an opportunity to lead in the area of sustainable aviation fuel, SAF. Whether through advanced biofuels or synthetic fuels, we are well positioned to develop expertise in this area. There are very limited quantities of SAF currently available on the market and development and deployment will need to quickly ramp up, as by 2050 it is mandated that at least 70% of the fuel supplied to many EU airports will be SAF blended with conventional aviation fuel. This is a gap in an area that Dublin Airport can inhabit. As the sustainable aviation fuel policy roadmap published last year highlights, there is a real commercial opportunity for advanced biofuel production in Ireland in the medium term.  In this respect, the roadmap identifies the national biomethane strategy as an important policy interlinked with SAF policy development. There is a big opportunity in Dublin Airport to lead out in Europe on this area. There is also a broader benefit. That same expertise developed in low-carbon aviation fuels could help address a major domestic challenge, namely, the 750,000-odd homes that still rely on kerosene for home heating. Developing alternative low-carbon and liquid fuels could support households where electrification is not yet viable, providing a practical pathway to reduce emissions. Aviation sustainability is not just a challenge, but a real opportunity for Ireland to lead, innovate and reshape how we connect with the world. In an area defined by environmental responsibility let us lead out. Let us become a European centre for sustainable aviation fuel.  The expansion of Dublin Airport is a positive for the entire country. However, it must proceed in a way that respects local communities. I ask that the Minister urges the DAA to continue expanding its residential noise insulation schemes so nearby residents are protected and insulated from noise as the airport grows. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Maurice Quinlivan  As an island with a dispersed population, connectivity is crucial to our continued economic development. To continue this development it is necessary to lift the passenger cap in Dublin Airport while also focusing on delivering balanced regional aviation growth. That is something I suggest this Government and its predecessor have failed to do. Last year, Dublin Airport exceeded the passenger cap by more than 4 million passengers. The 32 million passenger cap must now be removed. If not, and due to legal challenges, there is a danger that the Irish Aviation Authority could be forced into enforcing this cap more strictly, which will negatively impact our wider economy particularly our foreign direct investment jobs and tourism economy.  While we in Sinn F\u00e9in are supportive of the Bill, we are not uncritical of it. We will be introducing amendments to address gaps regarding regional development and an absence of an all-Ireland aspect to the Bill. The very fact that Dublin Airport is exceeding the cap by 12.5% shows there is great potential to expand capacity at our regional airports, specifically at Shannon Airport. Balanced regional development is essential to ensuring prosperity across Ireland and, as such, we need to see more ambition when it comes to the development of Ireland's regional airports. With 88% of all passenger traffic coming through Dublin, there is huge opportunity to expand the performance of our regional airports. Simply put, there has been insufficient capital funding to our regional airports, with only \u20ac82.3 million assigned for the whole decade to 2030. This level of funding spread across airports and across years is far short of what is needed if we are serious about improving connectivity, expanding routes and developing sustainable regional economic growth.  Shannon Airport has been performing very well. In quarter 1 of this year, 427,655 passengers used the airport, which is an increase of 11% on the 385,000 who used the airport in the same period in 2025. Comparing these periods, there was an even greater increase in the transport of cargo through the airport, with 5,443 tonnes passing through in quarter 1 this year, which is a 53% increase on quarter 1 of 2025. Increasing the use of Shannon Airport is crucial to improve the regional balance. A 2023 report noted that operations by Shannon Airport Group contributed \u20ac4 billion to the Irish economy. The potential is there to deliver much more. Shannon Airport has been performing well but has the capacity to grow its numbers easily enough. Its terminal has the capacity to handle up to 5,000 passengers. The year 2025 was the airport's most successful in 16 years, with 2.3 million passengers using the airport. Today, while we talk about the necessity of lifting the cap at Dublin Airport, we must also give consideration to enhancing capacity at Shannon Airport, an enhancement that should coincide with improved public transport services to the airport.  The mid-west, where Shannon Airport is situated, is uniquely positioned to drive regional balanced development. Shannon Airport has been the fulcrum around which the economy of the mid-west has been built. Within Shannon we have an industrial estate not too far away and in my city of Limerick we have several large international companies across numerous industrial estates that would benefit greatly from increased capacity and an increase in destinations serviced by Shannon Airport. Further to this, the airport serves as a gateway to the Wild Atlantic Way and some of the best golf courses in the world.  Having worked in the travel and tourism industry for nearly 20 years, I understand the challenge of attracting additional routes and new airlines to airports outside of Dublin. The Shannon Airport Oireachtas group, of which I am a member, is a cross-party group of mid-west TDs and has met many times with the Shannon Airport Group. From those discussions there is absolutely no doubt that they are ready and willing to see an increase in the use of the airport for traffic.  The lifting of the cap at Dublin Airport is undoubtedly necessary but this Bill stands as a missed opportunity to deliver meaningful regional development. The level of support provided to regional airports has, so far, been insufficient. Quite simply, ambition is not matched by support. An opportunity exists to enhance the performance of Shannon Airport and this must be seized at the moment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  I welcome the opportunity to contribute on what is without question a significant, far-reaching piece of legislation. Independent Ireland recognises the critical importance of Dublin Airport to this country. It is our main gateway to the world. It underpins tourism, supports our exporters, connects families and plays a vital role in attracting international investment. There is no point in pretending otherwise. If connectivity suffers, the national economy suffers and we are where we are. The current passenger cap of 32 million put in place under very different circumstances is now widely seen as a constraint. Businesses are saying it. The tourism sector is saying it. The workers whose livelihoods depend on those sectors are saying it so, yes, action is needed.  However, the question before us today is not whether something should be done; it is how it will be done. This Bill proposes to give the Minister sweeping powers to override existing planning conditions, effectively allowing a single political officeholder to amend or remove the passenger cap even while the processes are ongoing elsewhere. That is a very serious step. It represents a significant shift away from our established planning framework and towards a model where central government can step in and bypass the usual checks and balances.  I understand the frustration with delays. We all do. Communities across Ireland are waiting years and sometimes decades for critical infrastructure. Planning has become, at times, painfully slow and overly complex but we must be careful that in trying to fix one problem we do not create another. Once a precedent like this is set, where a Minister can effectively overwrite planning conditions in the name of economic interest, it raises the simple question, where does it stop? Today it is Dublin Airport. Tomorrow it could be another major project and the risk is that local voices and communities who live with the consequences are gradually pushed further to the margins. That is not a road we should go down lightly.  Independent Ireland believes in balance. We believe in supporting growth but not at any cost. We believe in infrastructure but also in fairness, and we believe that communities, whether in Dublin, Cork, Kerry or anywhere else, deserve to have their concerns heard and respected. That brings me to the communities around Dublin Airport. For many years, residents have raised legitimate concerns about noise traffic congestion and the day-to-day impact of airport operations. I have met a lot of those residents. Those concerns cannot simply be brushed aside. They must remain central to any decision. The Bill provides for environmental assessment and that is welcome, but it also allows the Minister to proceed even where the impacts are identified, provided the mitigation measures are put in place. That will raise concerns and rightly so. We have to ensure that mitigation is not simply a box-ticking exercise but something really enforceable that actually protects people's quality of life.  At the same time, we must look beyond Dublin if we are serious about balanced regional development, which this Government says it is. We cannot put all our focus on expanding capacity in one location. Airports in Cork, Shannon and Knock are vital regional assets. They are engines of employment, tourism and economic activity in their own areas but they need support. They need investment and they need to be part of a coherent national aviation strategy, not an afterthought. There is a real risk here that continued expansion of Dublin Airport could further concentrate activity in the capital, drawing routes and resources away from regional airports. That would be the wrong approach. We should be growing capacity in Dublin Airport but alongside meaningful development in the regions, not instead of it.  Another concern in this Bill are the restrictions on further passenger caps throughout the planning system. That is a profound change. Planning authorities exist for reasons. They provide a level of oversight and accountability that is essential in a democratic system. Removing their ability to impose such conditions in future essentially rewrites the rules and we need to be very clear about the implications of that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  In 2021, the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act was introduced by the Government. It was supported by Sinn F\u00e9in and introduced the carbon tax. Today, yesterday and the day before Sinn F\u00e9in were saying they are against carbon tax. Yet, they voted for it in the climate action Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  You must not have been here last week, with the amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  They are now coming out saying they are against these things. Every week they jump up and down here saying they are against it but last week they decided they were going to fight for it. Deputy Daly is right; I was not here last week for one reason----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  The Deputy must not have been paying attention for a few years now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  We were wondering. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  I was the first person to come to the D\u00e1il in a truck protesting against carbon tax. The Deputies must not have been here that time because they never came out to the truckers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  Keep clapping yourself on the back there, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  They never came out to the people on the protest but they came out the last day to support them. That is what they did.  Now, getting back to this----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  It is better to fight with us than with the Government, is it not? We are recommending----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  The Deputies love talking about other people but they cannot talk about themselves. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Can we have some order, please? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  Exactly. There is no order. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  Where were the Deputy's amendments? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  This is what Sinn F\u00e9in tries to do to the Government. It will not silence me because I know what I am talking about. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  Put in the work and bring in amendments. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  What way is the wind blowing today for Sinn F\u00e9in? Hold on, I must check. Here they are; the wind is over here. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  The Deputy is getting good laughs. The Minister is having a good laugh at him. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  Good. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  Do the work on the amendments, Deputy. You are sitting back. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  The Deputies are still talking. Look at this, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Go ahead, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  Thank you very much. To get back to Dublin Airport, I am delighted the airport is doing well but as regards climate emissions, the climate action Bill was supported by the Deputies on my right. They brought in that Bill. Where are most of the people who are landing here going? They are not staying around Dublin, are they? They are travelling throughout the country. Where are the carbon emissions when the Government is talking about that? What about the cost of fuel, which it wants to increase by 32 cent per litre? Where is the Government going with this? On the one hand, it talks about carbon emissions, while, on the other, it wants to expand Dublin Airport, which is 6 million passengers over quota. Why did it not look at Shannon Airport, which could add another 2.5 million passengers without any infrastructural change? Why did it not look at Cork Airport? Why do people have to travel from all different parts of the country to come to Dublin? It is because they cannot get connecting flights due to the monopoly in Dublin.  The people who live around Dublin Airport are all complaining about noise pollution and traffic congestion caused by people trying to get to the airport. What do the Dublin TDs say? Let us make Dublin more congested, they say, and stop any person coming home to Dublin to live with their parents or grandparents. Let us stop them because we are going to make sure we have all our eggs in one basket. Ireland should be the basket where everything is shared, rather than just looking to Dublin. I have brought this issue up more times, even in the convention centre. When I was in the Central Bank today, I said we were in the convention centre for a year. I brought the issue up that time when the former Minister, Eamon Ryan, was talking out of both sides of his mouth about carbon tax. What is the Government doing? It is stopping people coming home by overdeveloping Dublin and not looking after the rest of the country.  This all comes back to carbon tax. The Government will take more and more carbon tax and stop families from looking after their young ones and building their own houses. It will stop infrastructure in this country because of inflation, all of which has been brought on by the carbon tax, but it has no problem in letting buses and trucks travel from the port in Dublin. Of the passengers coming into this country, 83% travel down the country. I would welcome them to Limerick but they could have landed in Shannon Airport and come into Limerick or gone to Kerry, Cork or Galway. They could land anywhere in the country and we would divide up the carbon emissions, but, no, the Government just wants to extend one place. It wants to put suffering on the people of Dublin, whose families cannot come home, and build houses in this area because it is overpopulated. The rest of the country is crying out for business, including the other airports. The Government could expand Knock airport or Kerry airport, which would lower emissions. As for most of the targets, we see all the buses travelling down west on day trips before heading back up to Dublin again. All of it is down to carbon emissions, which the Government says it is trying to reduce, but, at the same time, it is trying to accelerate them. Where is the Minister's explanation for that?  I am all for working together but I am also for equality for the other airports, which should expand at the same time. How can they go against a monopoly that has all the connecting flights? There are only a certain number of flights out of Shannon Airport because the connecting flights leave from Dublin. That is a problem. If the Government wants to do the right thing, it should connect all of Ireland and let all the airports develop together. Then it should look at increasing the cap if the quota is too low. It should look at the issue that way. Increasing the cap in one airport while not helping the other airports and people around the country is wrong. It is not forward planning; it is Dublin planning. The Government is destroying the future of the next generation who want to come back and live in Dublin. It is destroying the lives of people who live around the airport with the extra flights that are going out.  Aeroplanes taking off at Dublin Airport are supposed to bank at a certain time. Now the airport is asking how it is going to organise that. The planes are supposed to go out 3 km before they bank. Now, because there are so many flights coming in, they are banking at 1.5 km out. That means they are going over more residential areas, yet the Government wants to approve more residential building and allow more people to live there. The Government should look in the mirror when it is introducing laws because it is breaking the law. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  There are serious spatial development problems in this country. The Minister is long enough around these Houses to recognise that, and he should recognise it. A demographic change that has accelerated in recent years has been one of population moving from the west coast to the east coast. Currently, 40% of the population lives in the greater Dublin area.  The GAA did a very good report recently on the demographic problem we are hitting. Two thirds of the population of the country, North and South, live in a very narrow band along the east coast. Most university-level jobs are being located in Dublin. Young people have to move to Dublin to work in those jobs but, obviously, Dublin is too expensive. They cannot afford to live in the city, so they end up living 40 km, 50 km and 60 km away in a commuter hell as they try to hold down those jobs. That commuter hell is obviously bad for their lives. Spending two or three hours daily in a car is bad for mental and physical health. For people with a young family, it hurts the children they do not get to see and creates anxiety for them. It hurts the community because those people do not get home until 8 o'clock in the evening, which means it is too late for them to be able to volunteer in their football, soccer and rugby clubs. People are commuting from Ulster, Connacht and Munster into Dublin on a daily basis. Disastrous, lopsided, city-state spatial development is happening under this Government, with absolutely nothing being done to mitigate it or push against it.  While this is happening, it is not good for Dublin. Dublin is becoming more congested, with people having less access to housing and education. Transport facilities are becoming harder to access while, at the same time, schools are being closed in rural and regional Ireland, which is emptying out its young people. The average age of the population in Killarney is now ten years higher than the average age of the population in Balbriggan. That is a self-fulfilling prophecy because the energy of development usually happens with the youth and because regional and rural Ireland is missing its youth, it is also missing that development.  Some 50% of the State's total income tax revenue is spent in the Dublin area. The vast majority of foreign direct investment is going to the greater Dublin area. There are significant problems. Ireland is an outlier here. Many people will say that London is too big for the rest of the economy, but 40% of the Irish population live in Dublin whereas about 20% of the British population live in London. We are an outlier, in European terms, with regard to how horrendously lopsided we are as a country. What is the Government's response to that? Its response to the water pressures in Dublin is to spend billions of euro to take water out of the Parteen Basin and bring it up to Dublin. Most logical and spatially aware Governments would say we should develop the Limerick region and get the population into the region where that natural resource is located.  The same is happening in regard to airports. Today, tens of thousands of people will have left areas right next door to another airport to travel three or four hours to Dublin Airport. Some 40% of the people who land in Dublin daily travel west, where there are other airports. Shannon Airport can take 5 million passengers. The current number is not even half that. Cork Airport could take another 2 million passengers and Knock Airport could take another 500,000 passengers. There is massive spare capacity in these airports, and using it would cause no difficulty at all.  Putting all your eggs in one basket is dangerous in terms of exposure for transport.  All of us can remember the images of the fuel protests when the M50 was blocked. We saw people having to walk, pulling their travel bags behind them, up a motorway to try to get to the airport. Making sure all of the growth happens in Dublin at the expense of the regional airports also creates a problem. There is no contingency plan for Dublin as a result of this.  I will touch briefly on the issue of noise, which is having a massive impact on the towns and villages in north Dublin and south-east Meath that surround Dublin Airport. The airport is currently in breach of planning permissions that were put in place to protect people. That is wrong. The guidelines on this are not being implemented. The DAA has been given eight warning letters and two enforcement notices and is still not responding to this. There are 65 flights at night-time. Places like St. Margaret's are dying. The IAA is not doing the necessary assessment on the two runways working in unison. We want to be accessible to the rest of the world. As an island nation, we need accessibility but I plead with the Minister to start to inject proper spatial development into his plans.  There is then the issue of carbon emissions. Telling people to make sure there is less water in the kettle before boiling it and turn off the lights, while, at the same time, pushing up this cap and putting so many data centres in the country makes a mockery of the Government's ask that people cut back their own emissions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  Knock Airport has been one of modern Ireland's biggest success stories. Monsignor Horan built Knock Airport on a hill. Everyone said it could not be done. When the Government cut funding, he went to America and Australia and raised the shortfall himself. Over the past 40 years, Knock Airport has been a lifeline. It has helped hundreds of thousands of families see their loved ones. It has been so important to Mayo and the broader region.  The focus on Dublin and the Dublin-centric nature of the Government is crippling Dublin. It is incredible to think of this conversation on the passenger cap and all of the difficulties that are arising as a result, while regional airports are crying out for funding and have the capacity to grow, with minimal investment.  In the region of 40 buses a day leave Galway city and travel to Dublin Airport. That is one operator, Citylink, which runs 40 buses. It is incredible. Galway city is actually in the catchment of Knock Airport. In many instances, it is easier for a person from Galway using public transport to access Dublin city and Dublin Airport than it is to access Knock Airport. That is a fundamental gap and fundamental issue. It is one of the reasons the full potential of Knock Airport is not being realised or utilised. In the region of 40% of people using Dublin Airport land at the airport and then travel west. The Minister's answer to that is to increase the passenger cap. Would it not make more sense for spatial development and to people's lives if we were to alleviate the difficulties in regional airports and address those issues? On so many issues, including infrastructure, traffic, housing and employment, the focus on Dublin has not only been detrimental to Dublin, the east and the next generation of families who want to build and live in Dublin, but it has cost the west and regional Ireland the sons and daughters of all of the families who had to leave to seek employment in Dublin. It has cost the people of Dublin and their children the ability to purchase homes in Dublin. We see this focus on Dublin and an instinct to put Dublin first playing out in this policy.  I urge the Minister to take the opportunities presented by Knock Airport and the other regional airports. They are there to be grasped. Knock Airport serves a catchment of 1.1 million people. How can those people access the airport? They do so with tremendous difficulty. That is the answer. We do not have rail to Knock Airport. The Minister for Transport has an opportunity to drive the western rail corridor, not just from Galway to Claremorris but on to Sligo and connecting to the airport via a shuttle bus. He should make Knock Airport the first airport connected by rail. These types of measures will help the people of Dublin but they will also help the people of the west. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  I will not take lectures from Independent Ireland which recently said sport should not become a tool about Israel playing Ireland. The Minister should have taken a stronger stance on that, but Independent Ireland should not accuse Sinn F\u00e9in of anything when we are only trying to help the public.  I welcome the legislation, which will encourage tourism on the island of Ireland. However, it is a blunt tool which is not fit for purpose and may well be legally unsound. That said, there is an absolute need for the Government and the DAA to recognise the outstanding issues that local residents have. It is disappointing that the Bill does not provide that recognition. I appeal to him to work constructively with the Opposition as we seek to address these issues. In particular, he should mandate the DAA to engage meaningfully with residents.  I am also deeply concerned about the impact maintaining the cap could have on our tourism sector, which supports well over 200,000 jobs, often in parts of the country that have otherwise suffered from a dearth of inward investment. The tourism sector, as the Minister knows, has not had enough attention from the Government in particular areas where it is needed. This is especially case with regard to the many workers in the sector on the minimum wage and the Government's decision to delay the implementation of the national living wage until the end of the decade. Crucially, the tourism sector has immense potential in terms of geographical spread and even greater again in terms of its ability to contribute to economic regional balance. I contend that has yet to be realised. Our regional airports are necessary components of balance, which has been lacking.  Galway and Sligo airports are closed to commercial traffic. Kerry, Knock and Waterford airports need far greater consideration, Waterford Airport in particular where positive development is being seen almost in spite of the Government. It is a positive thing that we can look to Dublin Airport as having even greater potential, but with 88% of passenger traffic passing through that airport, it would be wrong to think our regional airports do not have more to offer. We need to encourage more tourists to visit the untapped parts of the country beyond Dublin and the larger and more traditional destinations. There is not a county in Ireland that lacks the potential to draw great numbers of tourists. I was a member of the Sliabh Beagh Partnership Committee when I was a councillor. I was delighted to see the allocation of funding last year to develop the Sliabh Beagh area as an eco-tourism destination. I know that every county has similar potential. Investment is needed but so too is greater encouragement for tourists to travel to all destinations. All of our regional airports have a role to play in this.  Derry and Belfast also need particular consideration in the context of cross-Border tourism. It should be recognised that to maximise tourism potential on the island of Ireland, all airports on our island need to be considered. We should seek to remove the hurdles and recognise that Ireland is a single destination, one that has a diverse range of offerings in every corner of the country and the space in-between. In that context, I appeal to the Government to progress this legislation, but to do so in the context of a wider, considered aviation strategy in which balanced regional development, including tourism, are to the fore.  Ireland, as the Minister knows, has 32 counties. We need to encourage tourism to all counties and to increase flight caps nationwide, not just in Dublin. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Transport (Deputy Darragh O'Brien)  I thank all Deputies for the contributions they have made. I thank them for the constructive contributions that were made by most. It is unfortunate that the Members who were some of the most vociferous opponents and made the most impassioned pleas have not remained in the Chamber to get an answer to the questions or the points they have raised. I hope that will be what Committee Stage is for.  I will deal with regional growth and regional airports in a moment, but first, this Bill provides us an opportunity to deal with a legacy issue that is there and, frankly, to deal with some issues that DAA under previous management did not deal with. This condition was on two planning applications going back to 2007 and 2008. It should have been dealt with before this. It is unsustainable that it remains in place. This cap will be lifted through this legislation in a sustainable and respectful way to adjacent communities. To complement that is the draft decision of the Aircraft Noise Competent Authority, ANCA, which it just issued last month in relation to noise. There are real noise issues with some communities. I listened to Deputy Coppinger and Deputy Ahern of Labour, whose points I may speak to in a moment, but as I said earlier on in the debate, the reality of it is I live beside the airport. I represent an airport community. We know how important that airport is. We know that in some incidences that relationship between the airport and some local communities has not been as it should be and needs to improve further. The draft regulatory decision by ANCA will be a very important one. I have written directly to the airport in relation to expansion of the noise insulation scheme. We want to see that happen. The ANCA decision will allow that happen. We want to see improvement to the voluntary purchase scheme for those directly impacted. I talk about residents who I have met in St. Margaret's, the Ward and the wider area, but also residents in parts of Portmarnock for whom noise insulation needs to be addressed.  Deputy Toole and some others mentioned flight paths, which was valid. I am committing here that we will carry out an independent assessment of flight paths. There have been issues for residents where flight paths and planning permissions have been granted and they have not seen those flight paths operate as they were approved. That is not acceptable. A retention application went in on that. That is something I am committing to the House that we will have an independent assessment of the flight paths operated out of Dublin Airport.  Dublin Airport does need to continue to grow, and it is growing. It underpins jobs, as Deputy Daly said on behalf of Sinn F\u00e9in. It is recognised, as other Deputies said, how many thousands of jobs, livelihoods and families are sustained by the airport. I also refer to the international connectivity we derive from the airport as an island nation within Europe. I was surprised that the Labour Party spokesperson on transport needed a definition to try to understand what international connectivity is about.  I broadly welcome the input to the debate. Residents are to the forefront of my mind; as are those residents' jobs and people's jobs. That has been rightly raised here because some, like Deputy Richard O'Donoghue, have tried to paint it as some Dublin instead of any other airport thing. That is just not true. We are in the middle of a \u20ac200 million investment in Cork Airport at the moment. Let us look at the regional airports. Cork Airport is up 13% from 2024 to 2025 with 3.46 million passengers. Deputy Quinlivan mentioned Shannon Airport; I have been there on a number of occasions. It is up 9% in passenger growth on a full year basis to 2.3 million, with capacity to do more and a very good capital plan. We have now brought Shannon Airport into the regional airports programme. We have changed the regional airports programme to enable us to assist and fund Shannon. I want Shannon Airport to grow. It is growing. I want Cork Airport to continue to grow. It is also growing, thankfully. I want Ireland West Airport at Knock to continue to grow. Its numbers are up 13.5% year on year. I was at the 40th anniversary of the airport at Knock. It is a wonderful facility and it is touching on a million passenger journeys through there. Kerry Airport is at 440,000 passengers, up about 5.5% year on year. As regards Donegal Airport, also critical to the northwest region, we have made sure we are supporting the PSO service and the schedule there. That is really important. On an all-island basis, we are funding through the Taoiseach's shared island initiative, the PSO that will enable us to start the Dublin to Derry route again. That will also be great for connectivity in that area. We do have Belfast International Airport on the island as well. We have to look at this on an island basis.  Some have asked about a national aviation policy. We have committed to doing that. We will be bringing forward an issues paper later this year and will seek public consultation into a new national aviation policy. We are world leaders in aviation. Some people want to ignore that. We have the largest airline in Europe. Some of the CEOs of the top companies all the way across the world are actually Irish. We have great expertise and a great track record in this sector too. If we look at the area of leasing, over 50% of the aircraft that fly across the world are leased in this country. Aircraft engines are leased in this country. There is also the expertise that our MRO sector has, underpinning tens of thousands of other jobs. There is a new facility open in Knock airport where aircraft engines are being repurposed. Lots of really good things are happening here. We cannot have a situation whereby, through a legacy planning condition, the main international airport - I say the main, not the only - and an airport that is also an international hub is stifled in its growth. If we do not address this we may not only be looking at stifling its growth. Deputy O'Gorman seems to want that we go back to the 32 million cap. Some 34.6 million passengers went through the airport last year. If you cut those numbers you are cutting jobs, connectivity and routes. I do not think anyone can say with any degree of honesty that this is something the general public across Ireland would want. Even among many of my constituents, the vast majority of them support the move to remove the cap in a sustainable way. There are others who do not - let us be straight about that too - and I respect where they are coming from. A lot of that has been down to the way they feel and the way they have been treated over ten, 15 and 20 years. I want that to improve. The airport has to operate under a good neighbour policy. I can assure the House that the board that is there, the interim chief executive, the management team and the new chairperson who is coming in, are really clear about that and they want to that to happen. In many incidences they do. This is not just through community benefit funds and others. We need to see expansion of the noise insulation schemes and the other things I have mentioned. The new national aviation policy will be important in that regard to underpin this. I can assure Members that we will work on a constructive basis through Committee and Remaining Stages on this Bill. It is a very important piece of legislation. I am committing to the House on the independent assessment of flight paths that we will carry out.  To those who came into the House and said there is no environmental considerations in this Bill, that is not true. It is absolutely not true. It is clear throughout the Bill. Those assessments will be assessed by An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la; not by the Department or by me as Minister, and rightly so. I am just surprised the leader of the Green Party is not very clear on our obligations under the climate Act or our international obligations under climate agreements. The emissions of the aviation sector are not counted in that sector. As a small island nation, we do not have large industrials here. We are moving in the right direction in relation to emissions reductions. We also have to see how we connect with the rest of the world, how we continue to drive growth in that sector, continue to ensure technological advances in aviation continue where we are reducing emissions and fuel use, and that we look at alternative fuels. We have to do more than look at it but also look at how we can improve the blend, as Deputy \u00d3 Muir\u00ed was mentioning earlier in relation to the work we have done on SAF. We are one of the first European countries to come out with a SAF roadmap.  This legislation is urgent. It is priority and it is needed. I welcome the support from most of the House, though not from all, to look very clearly at what we are intending to do. We are not intending to rip up the planning Act in any way, shape or form. We are dealing with the legacy issue here in a way that is fully respectful of our environmental considerations. We are also ensuring that the airport operates under a good neighbour policy and improving the situation for the small number of residents who are very directly impacted. We want to operate and move this legislation through in an efficient way but in a fair and balanced way, which we will also do. I thank the Deputies for their contribution. I thank my own team from the Department who have been here assiduously taking notes of contributions, as have I. That will inform us as we go into the Committee, Report and Final Stages of the debate, which I understand we intend to have next week in the D\u00e1il. Then from there it will go to the Seanad.  I very much appreciate people's time here today and their input into this important legislation. Let us move on and get this done for the good of our country, of the Dublin region and of all of us by virtue of the jobs and economic growth it underpins. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Dublin Airport (Passenger Capacity) Bill 2026: Second Stage"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-23\/debate\/dbsect_11","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/70","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/70\/dail\/motion\/referral","houseCode":"dail","stage":"motion","isBillStage":false,"showAs":"Dublin Airport (Passenger Capacity) Bill 2026: Referral to Select Committee (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Dublin Airport (Passenger Capacity) Bill 2026: Referral to Select Committee","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_11","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Transport (Deputy Darragh O'Brien)  I move:  That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Transport pursuant to Standing Orders 103 and 188. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Dublin Airport (Passenger Capacity) Bill 2026: Referral to Select Committee"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-23\/debate\/dbsect_12","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Teachtaireacht \u00f3n Seanad - Message from Seanad","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_12","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Seanad \u00c9ireann has passed the \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta Bill 2024, without amendment. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Teachtaireacht \u00f3n Seanad - Message from Seanad"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-23\/debate\/dbsect_13","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 and Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009: Motions","counts":{"speechCount":21,"speakerCount":12},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_13","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Catherine Ardagh)  I move:  That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann resolves that sections 2 to 4, 6 to 12, 14 and 17 of the Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 (No. 39 of 1998) shall continue in operation for the period beginning on 30th June, 2026 and ending on 29th June, 2027.  The two motions before the House seek the approval of D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann to continue in force provisions in the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 and the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009 aimed at combating terrorism and organised crime. Given the nature of these important provisions, the Houses of the Oireachtas have decided that they should be periodically reviewed. The Minister for Justice, Home Affairs, and Migration is required to lay reports before the Oireachtas on the use of the relevant provisions in the two Acts. Reports covering the 12 months up to 31 May 2026 were placed in the Oireachtas Library on 19 June.  Deputies will be aware that the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 was enacted in the aftermath of the Omagh bombing in August 1998. This was a necessary and proportionate response to an atrocious and barbaric act and the murder of 29 innocent people by the Real IRA. These provisions of the criminal law provide strong legislative powers to ensure that An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and the courts are in a position to meet the challenge laid down by those opponents of peace. Section 18 of the 1998 Act provides that sections 2 to 4, inclusive, 6 to 12, inclusive, 14 and 17 must be renewed by the Oireachtas at least annually if they are to remain in force.  The report laid before the House includes information provided by the Garda Commissioner on the use of the provisions in question over the past 12 months and a table setting out usage figures for each of the years since the Act came into operation. It is notable that six of the 12 provisions to be renewed, those in sections 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 17, have not been utilised during the reporting period. Of course, the fact that a provision is not used in a particular year does not mean that it is redundant or unnecessary as the usage of different sections can vary from year to year.  It is clear that so-called dissident republicans, who have their origins in the Provisional IRA and INLA, continue to represent a threat. Despite the progress towards peace made over the years, they continue to seek to return to the fruitless violence of the past, as evidenced by two recent attempted attacks on police stations in Lurgan, County Armagh, and Dunmurry, just outside Belfast. We must continue to do all we can to deal with this threat. Let no one be under any illusion that these groups do not represent a threat, although we can be thankful that threat is lesser than in the past. These groups have remained resolute in their opposition to democracy, the rule of law and all that the Good Friday Agreement stands for. They remain wedded to brutality and criminality. It is also well established that these groups have links to, and operate hand in hand with, organised criminals.  North-South co-operation in this area is crucial and co-operation between garda\u00ed and their counterparts in Northern Ireland is strong. Indeed, it is automatic when needed most. In recent years, the benefits of that co-operation have been apparent from successful joint operations between An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and the PSNI. There is a long shared history between the two jurisdictions in counteracting terrorism on the island. It is essential that we continue to build on this strong co-operation in the post-Brexit period. The joint Cross Border Policing Strategy 2025-2027 provides a platform for An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and the PSNI to build on existing strategic and operational collaboration and to strengthen policing capacity and capability.  I pay tribute to the garda\u00ed and PSNI officers who continue to co-operate closely and work tirelessly together to keep their communities safe and to counter all threats from terrorism. It is our duty to ensure that those tasked with protecting us from this threat have at their disposal the appropriate measures to meet it. In that regard, I am firmly of the view that the provisions whose renewal I am seeking today are necessary to support An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na in investigating, disrupting and dismantling the activities of terrorists.  In addition to providing information on the use of the provisions in question over the past year, the report laid before this House notes the clear view of the Garda Commissioner that the Act continues to be an important tool in ongoing efforts to combat terrorism. While the 1998 Act was a response to a domestic threat arising from dissident republican terrorism, as an open democracy, it is very important that we do not lose sight of the threat from violent extremism and international terrorism. There has been a general deterioration in the international security landscape in recent times, in part due to terrible wars in Ukraine and in the Middle East. In its most recent terrorism situation and trend report, published in 2025, Europol sets out the threat situation at EU level. The report confirms that terrorism, particularly jihadist and lone actor attacks, remains a key threat to the EU\u2019s internal security.  Last year, the EU published its internal security strategy, ProtectEU. The strategy notes the changed security environment and evolving geopolitical landscape, where the links between the EU\u2019s internal and external security require more action against the range of threats faced, including: hybrid threats by hostile foreign states and state-sponsored actors; powerful organised crime networks; the ongoing threat faced from terrorism; technological advancements and more. In response to these threats, the strategy sets out a work plan involving a stronger legal framework, better information sharing and closer co-operation. Ireland is not immune from the threats arising in this changed security environment and we must have the capability to deal with the threats arising. Building on ProtectEU, in February 2026, the EU published its agenda to prevent and counter terrorism and online extremism, which reinforces Europe's collective response to evolving terrorist and violent extremist threats.  As I have said, the views of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na are clearly set out in the report. That view is that the continued operation of these provisions is required. It is my strong view, and the strong view of the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, that the relevant sections should be continued in operation for a further 12 months.  Section 8 of the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009 is also the subject of a motion before the House. It refers to a small number of serious organised crime offences that are set out in Part 7 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006. Section 8 of the 2009 Act makes these offences scheduled offences for the purposes of Part V of the Offences Against the State Act 1939, which is to say that trials for these offences are to be heard in the Special Criminal Court, subject to the power of the Director of Public Prosecutions to direct that the offences be tried in the ordinary courts.  The purpose of this provision is to guard against the possibility of interference with jury trial by ruthless criminal groups that seek to behave as though they are beyond the law. It was enacted as a response to a number of difficulties where the justice system was considered to be under serious threat from organised crime. Organised crime groups had shown a particular ruthlessness in their activities, including attacks on witnesses and intimidation of jurors. It was imperative that the criminal justice system was robust enough to withstand the assault launched upon it through intimidation and violence. I believe most Deputies will agree that imperative remains. The House will be aware of the threat that society and the criminal justice system face from groups that will stop at nothing in pursuit of their criminal activities. There is no disputing the damage they have inflicted upon communities throughout the country. Their willingness to resort to extreme violence and their flagrant disregard for communities is apparent.  Supporting the efforts of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na to combat organised crime and to bring to justice those involved remains a priority for the Government. This is reflected in the record allocation of over \u20ac2.59 billion in budget 2026, which allows for sustained investment in recruitment, equipment, technology and vehicles. An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na is working intensively to bear down on the criminals involved and deserves praise for its considerable successes in disrupting their activities, in making significant seizures of drugs, cash, and weapons, in bringing criminals to justice, and, most importantly, in preventing further loss of life.  I draw attention to a joint task force operation in April between An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and the PSNI, resulting in \u20ac5.2 million of drugs seized in Larne Harbour, and a joint An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na operation with Revenue which seized \u20ac10.5 million in cocaine at Rosslare Harbour in October 2025. Deputies will also be aware of significant cases in which individuals have been convicted and sentenced in the Special Criminal Court in recent weeks. I acknowledge this important work and the brave garda\u00ed who persevere with it, day in, day out.  The report that the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, has laid before the House in accordance with section 8 covers the period from 1 June 2025 to 31 May 2026. It includes information provided by the Garda Commissioner on the use over the past 12 months of the provisions in question and details the relevant offences. It is clear from the report that An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na made a significant number of arrests in respect of the offences relevant to section 8 of the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009, with 33 charges laid before the courts. One of these was laid before the Special Criminal Court and three convictions were recorded during the reporting period. The view of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na is clearly set out in the report and it is that the continued operation of this provision is required. It is my strong view, and the strong view of the Minister, that section 8 should be continued in operation for a further 12 months.  The House will be aware that the majority and minority reports of the independent review group were published in June 2023. The majority recommended the repeal of the Acts and their replacement with modern bespoke legislation. As part of this, the assessment of the majority of the review group was that there is, and will continue to be, an ongoing need for a non-jury court as permitted by the Constitution to try serious criminal offences in certain limited and exceptional circumstances. I take seriously that assessment in the context of safeguarding the security of the State and our citizens. The majority also devised a suite of proposals in relation to how the court might operate to uphold the rights of accused persons and to support transparency and maintain public confidence.  I and the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration are firmly of the view that the Offences Against the State Acts have served our country well in combating both subversives and organised crime and have fulfilled a vital role in our criminal justice system. The Special Criminal Court was established to respond to the threat to the State and its people from republican terrorism over the decades and it continues to deal with the threat posed by terrorism and the most serious organised crime cases. It serves to eliminate the very real risk to jurors and potential jurors by subversives and ruthless crime groups who place no value on human life. While it is, of course, my firm view that trial by jury should be preserved to the greatest extent possible, I have a responsibility not to ignore the threat posed by such groups.  I highlight the fact that, in accordance with that principle, the Special Criminal Court is only used in very limited circumstances. I am informed that there were 18 defendants brought before the Special Criminal Court last year on 104 charges. Indeed, the vast majority of scheduled offences continue to be dealt with in the ordinary courts and the DPP on her website has set out very clearly the decision-making process involved where An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na recommends that a case be tried in the Special Criminal Court. Last year, the Minister informed the Government that he accepted, in principle, the recommendations of the majority report. Accepting the recommendations of the majority report sets a clear direction for reform. Proposals for new legislation are currently under development and the Minister will return to the Government in due course with these.  In the meantime, and in conclusion, as set out in the two reports laid before the House, it is the clear view of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na that the provisions in the 1998 Act and the 2009 Act continue to be necessary and effective in ongoing efforts in the fight against terrorism and serious organised crime. On the basis of the information set out in those reports, and on the advice of the Garda authorities, I propose that the House should approve the continued operation of the relevant provisions of the 1998 Act and the 2009 Act for a further 12 months, commencing on 30 June 2026. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I move amendment No. 1:  To insert the following after \"ending on 29th June, 2027\":  \"; and  \u2014 calls on the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to bring forward legislation to give effect to the recommendations of the Independent Review Group without further delay.\".  T\u00e1 d\u00edom\u00e1 orm go bhfuil muid ag filleadh ar ais ar\u00eds anseo ag athnuachan cumhachta\u00ed \u00e9igeand\u00e1la agus reachta\u00edochta at\u00e1 as d\u00e1ta. Ba cheart go nd\u00e9ile\u00e1lfadh an Rialtas leis seo roimhe seo. It is disappointing that we are back here once again renewing emergency powers and outdated legislation. Promised proposals on this matter have not been delivered and it seems that Government is either incapable or unwilling to deliver them. Not only has there not been any progress, the prospect of movement to implement the proposals of the independent review seems further away than ever.  When the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, who, for the second year in a row, is not here to discuss this motion, first came into office we were told to expect some proposals to be brought forward by the end of last year. When I asked again recently by way of parliamentary question, no indicative timetable could be given. In the Minister of State's speech, she left it until the very end and, within that, there were just two paragraphs where there was any reference to the independent report that was commissioned by the Government at a large expense to the taxpayer. Now, she is saying that the Minister will return in due course. It is as clear as absolute mud. I am beginning to wonder if the Minister has any intention of dealing with this issue during his term of office. That is why it is disappointing that we are back here once again renewing provisions in an Act which we know, because the expert committee we established told us so, should have been replaced a long time ago.  Last year, the Government belatedly acknowledged that the offences against the State legislation had to be overhauled, but it is three years now since the publication of the independent review on the Offences Against the State Acts that was chaired by Mr. Justice Michael Peart. There has been absolutely no progress in the time since. In fact, we have probably moved backwards over the past 12 months. To remind the House, the independent review group publication in 2023 recommended that the Offences Against the State Act be abolished in its entirety, with a majority recommending that a new non-jury court replace the Special Criminal Court to try serious criminal offences for which a threshold has been reached. Sinn F\u00e9in has repeatedly called for the proposals of this report to be implemented and for legislation to be brought forward. As the Government has not acted and shows no sign that it is going to act, I wish to inform the House that I, along with my colleague, Deputy Mark Ward, will be introducing a Bill complied in conjunction with the OPLA to compel the Government to act on the independent review. That the Offences Against the State Acts are outdated is undisputed. That emergency legislation should not be used on an ongoing basis is without question. Just think about what we do here. On an annual basis, we renew emergency legislation. We have been doing that for decades. We need a modern legal framework to effectively address organised crime and to properly protect jurors.  There are serious issues in relation to organised crime that our courts and garda\u00ed must be empowered to tackle. We are all in agreement on that. Recently, we have seen activities in respect of the Kinahan gang. We saw the recent incident involving a Swedish contract killer who died in Limerick. We need a sophisticated modern legal system to deal with organised crime, not outdated legislation that needs to be renewed on an annual basis. These are circumstances and situations that bear no relation to the situation when the legislation was first introduced. We are approaching 90 years since the Offences Against the State Act was initially introduced. The legislation has moved significantly from its original intention.  These emergency power legislations were expanded with the creation of the Special Criminal Court in 1972 and then further expansions of the Act in 1998 following the Omagh bomb. The Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009 was enacted to put in place certain additional legislative measures to tackle organised crime. What we have had is successive Governments repeatedly dragging their feet on dealing with this issue, despite that there is widespread criticism, both domestically and internationally,of the continuation of the Offences Against the State Acts. Logically, the time to deal with this would have been in the immediate aftermath of the Good Friday Agreement. Many would have expected it to be the case.  To remind Members of the House what the Good Friday Agreement said, specifically referencing the use of emergency legislation, it said that the Irish Government will \"initiate a wide-ranging review of the Offences against the State Acts with a view to both reform and dispensing with those elements no longer required as circumstances permit\". Following the Good Friday Agreement, the Hederman committee chaired by a former Supreme Court justice conducted a review of the Offences Against the State Act published in August 2002. Its recommendations included new legislation and the repeal of existing legislation. Does that sound familiar? That was in 2002; here we are in 2026 and of course those recommendations were never implemented. That is the crux of the problem. There is little confidence based on the track record and on the Minister of State's statement today that the Government will actually deal with this issue. There is a real concern with the level of delay and inaction we have seen that the independent review will similarly end up on a shelf somewhere to be cited in 20 years' time by whoever replaces us in these Houses if there is a continuation of the go-slow Governments we have had to date.  In our submission to the independent review of the Offences Against the State Act, Sinn F\u00e9in called for a number of things, specifically, an end to the Offences Against the State Act, an end to emergency legislation and the replacement of the current Special Criminal Court with a new, non-jury human rights-compliant system. The independent review group recommended that the Offences Against the State Act be abolished in its entirety with a majority recommending a new non-jury trial replace the Special Criminal Court to trial serious offences for which a threshold has been reached. It is unacceptable we are not seeing any movement on the implementation of these proposals. I have said, and I will repeat, I want to work constructively with the Minister on this but we can only do that if we get some movement or real clarity of intention on the part of the Minister.  We in Sinn F\u00e9in have argued that the legislation should stipulate that the courts be provided with the power to decide on whether a non-jury trial should take place rather than the DPP as proposed in the majority report. The Special Criminal Court was criticised by the United Nations Human Rights Committee in 2001. Central to that criticism was the failure of the Irish Government to demonstrate that the decision of the DPP to certify that the applicant be tried by the Special Criminal Court was based on reasonable and objective grounds. The UN committee also pointed to the fact that the DPP was under no obligation to provide reasons for its decision. It is my view and Sinn F\u00e9in's that the legislation to give effect to the independent review should also include a higher bar than what was recommended in the majority report for a non-jury trial. The legislation should include a requirement of evidence of real and present danger that jury tampering would take place. Jury tampering is often cited as the reason for special courts. While it is a real concern, the argument is a little hollow if no action is taken to protect juries. The right to a trial by jury should be protected except in exceptional circumstances. To protect that fundamental right, we need to protect jurors.  The Law Reform Commission in 2013 recommended a number of steps that could be taken to give greater protection to juries, including the creation of a stand-alone offence of jury tampering. In our submission to the independent review group, Sinn F\u00e9in called for the recommendations of the Law Reform Commission in relation to the protection of jurors to be implemented and the practices of other jurisdictions to be examined with a view to adopting the best practice in line with international standards to protect juries. The independent review group on the Offences Against the State Act also called for this to be done. There is no reason for ongoing delays in doing so. I would like to see the Minister bring forward proposals on this issue in line with what the Law Reform Commission and the independent review group proposed.  The debate on the motions before the D\u00e1il today do not take place in a vacuum. While robust legislation is required to deal with the threat of modern, sophisticated organised crime, as I said earlier, the battle against such criminals starts in the community and on our streets. The criminal justice system must be adequately resourced and equipped to tackle organised crime. In addition to the failure to deal with the issue of the Offences Against the State Act since taking office, the Minister has done very little to deal with the recruitment and retention crisis in the Garda. The failure to tackle this crisis means we simply do not have enough garda\u00ed for crucial tasks which are the bedrock of crime prevention such as community policing. Interventions to prevent young people being dragged into crime, investing in communities and diversion and putting enough community garda\u00ed on our streets are all equally important. We know young people who get involved in organised crime are often groomed to be involved at a very young age. Preventable intervention at this age is crucial. We also need to ensure we have proper garda visibility in all communities.  What we have seen since the Minister, Deputy Jim' O'Callaghan, took office can give us very little confidence that the long-overdue overhaul of the Offences Against the State Act will be acted upon. If we are to take the Minister of State's speech today, this Government has no intention of moving on this area. The Government should be held to account to ensure the recommendations of the independent review group are implemented without further delay. That is why I tabled an amendment to the motions. I urge all Members of this House to support the Sinn F\u00e9in amendment. In time, Sinn F\u00e9in will introduce legislation to force the Government to act. When talking about the Special Criminal Court and Offences Against the State Act, it is noteworthy that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the Sallins case. It is way beyond time the people involved in that case received the truth and justice for which they have been campaigning for the past five decades. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  This is the seventh year I have showed up to vote for something which I profoundly disagree with. I believe fully in a trial by jury. Ordinary citizens should be able to sit in judgment. When the State accuses somebody of a serious crime, one of the strongest protections we possess is the right to be judged by our peers. Yet, seven years in a row I have voted for something I disagree with. This year and last year, I have also been very conscious that if I was to take a stand and say I will not vote for it this time, I do not believe this Government and this State have the capacity to project jurors. That is a sad indictment of the system and a continuity of Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael Governments which have left us showing up and reaffirming a collective belief that the ordinary courts of this State are inadequate. That is not hyperbole; it is provided for in Article 38.3.1 of the Constitution which allows for juryless courts in the scenario that \"ordinary courts are inadequate to secure the effective administration of justice, and the preservation of public peace and order.\" That is effectively what we do every single year. We show up and say our ordinary courts are inadequate for the administration of justice. That should shame us all. As we talk about the various reforms and reviews such as the Hederman review in 2002 and the Peart minority and majority review, we describe the belief that our courts are not good enough to try the people who appear before the Special Criminal Court. That should be something we all take stock of. It is not a form of strength or a tough-on-crime position to try the worst of the worst in the Special Criminal Court. It is actually a concession; it concedes ground to these people who try to actively instil fear in communities like mine and yours that we do not believe the ordinary courts of this State are adequate or the State has a monopoly on violence for which we protect jurors within the State. That is a sad indictment on all of us.  Every year this House renews these powers, we acknowledge inadequacy. This is no longer 1972 or the darkest year of the Troubles; it is 2026. The people who have been responsible for our judicial system the entire time are solely Fine Gael and Fianna F\u00e1il. The report laid before the House today tells us how many cases were tried in Special Criminal Courts last year and the year before.  One of the things it does not tell us is why the Special Criminal Court was deemed the appropriate court to try these individuals. I do not doubt for a second that some of the people who come before the court, recently and potentially in the future, are vicious criminals who would try to undermine our Judiciary and try to intimidate jurors and their families. All of that is absolutely true but nobody stops and tells me why we do not have the capacity within the State to prescribe the types of protections there are in other jurisdictions. We are an outlier. The Irish State is an outlier in the sense that we do not provide safety for our jurors. In Italy they have dealt with this with the Mafia. Lots of other jurisdictions have dealt with this. Ireland is really only comparable to Denmark at the moment. Everywhere else seems to make allowances in exceptional cases but we are saying that this exception is now becoming the norm.  Last year, the Minister said that he believed in the Peart majority report. I would disagree but where are we in terms of the actual legislation? There is an element of basic cowardice here that we continue to renew the Special Criminal Court without justifying the inadequacies of the Government and State as to why we cannot protect ourselves, or what we are bringing in with regard to reform. I would like to see that soon. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  It is sad that we find ourselves once again standing up and making statements about the Special Criminal Court without any of the issues that it raises having been advanced by this Government. My colleague, Deputy Gary Gannon, has just mentioned the Peart review. As a party, many of our positions would align more closely with the minority report of the Peart review. Essentially, what we have here is a parallel system within our criminal justice system where people can, technically, be tried for the same crime in different courts that have vastly different conviction rates, one of which is not a jury court. If we want to experience equality before the law, one of the principles we should be upholding is that it is absolutely reasonable for people to expect to be tried by a jury of their peers. This for me is one of the huge issues, but besides that I believe the principle of presumption of innocence is undermined by the continuation of this parallel system.  Even if we park all of the principles around it, one of the biggest issues is the actual practical development. As long as we hive off the issue of jury intimidation and remove juries from certain courts so that we do not have to deal with jury intimidation from what we anticipate would happen, and rightly so, we will never actually deal with jury intimidation in our main courts. That is something this Government has to deal with. The Government has to lock horns with it and tackle it. There are a lot of ways in which juries need support in the existing system, never mind getting into intimidation, but right now we cannot get the data around it. We do not really know the grounds on which the decision is made to deal with jury intimidation by creating an entirely separate system for trying those offences. I need to see from this Government the research, the data and the consultation. Consultation was supposed to follow from the Peart review but this Government has not even dealt with the Hederman review, which was in the early 2000s. There is so much work that needs to be done to ensure we do not find ourselves year after year up on our feet talking about the lack of balance between human rights and what is absolutely and rightly preventing gangland crime. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  I have very deep concerns about the operation of the Special Criminal Court. The right to a fair trial is a fundamental human right. The lack of juries and the operating provisions of this court are undermining that right to a fair trial. The Minister of State, Deputy Ardagh, and her Government are undermining people's human rights here. The Special Criminal Court was set up in 1972 as an emergency provision. Over 50 years later are we still saying that we are in a state of emergency in the State? There are clear examples in this court of mission creep and they should concern the Minister of State. They should concern us all. I urge the Minister of State to read the book Prophet Song by Paul Lynch. It will show the Minister of State how emergency powers are used against ordinary people. It should concern us all that these sit on our Statue Book.  In 2022, the co-leader of the Social Democrats, Catherine Murphy, called on the Government to implement reforms over the three-year period up to 2025. The Government absolutely failed to act on those recommendations and it failed to advance any of the reforms. Jury intimidation is not a uniquely Irish issue. Other countries deal with this. They have provisions and they have ways of doing it. The Government needs to look at ways other countries are doing it and implement them here. The Minister of State and the Government have absolutely failed to heed those warnings. They failed to heed the warnings from the UN, from the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, IHREC, from the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, ICCL, from Amnesty International, and from all of the human rights bodies who say they have deep concerns about this court. The Government's failure to change this has backed us into a corner and left us with no choice but to vote for these provisions. I think it is a disgrace. Our call is that in advance of next year's vote the Government would advance reforms to please give us other options here. My vote is not a vote for this court: it is a vote and an urgent call for the Minister of State and the Government to progress reforms. These emergency powers cannot stay on the Statute Book. Citizens in the State deserve a right to a fair trial and the Government is undermining that right. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  As this is my first engagement with the Minister of State, I wish her the best of luck in her new role.  We will be supporting Deputy Carthy's motion again this year. It is just a few weeks since we debated the Bill to allow the State to support and participate in the work of the Omagh Bombing Inquiry. As we debate these motions again this year, it is vital to remember why we have these annual reauthorisations. We remember the victims of the Omagh atrocity and we think of their families, their friends and all those who suffered through the violence of the Troubles. We all know too well the impact of the sale of illegal drugs and the violence that creates and brings to so many communities around Ireland. As the State closes in on individuals hiding away in the Middle East, an issue I raised here in the D\u00e1il fairly directly with then Taoiseach Leo Varadkar on 11 June 2020, this legal framework while outdated and flawed in places provides vital tools to take on organised international crime.  While we in the Labour Party will still vote for the final motions, the Minister of State will know that the Labour Party has long argued for and supported the need for comprehensive reform of the law in this area. Others have spoken before about how jurisdictions in other countries deal with jury intimidation. It is long beyond time that we as a country dealt with this issue. That the State is not able to provide safeguards around jury intimidation is, frankly, unacceptable in modern times. To have this legislation on that basis is unacceptable and a failure of the State. Threats from crime and terrorism are constantly evolving and our legal framework must do so too. We said it last year, and no doubt we will end up repeating it next year given the way things are going, that there is no need for an annual vote on some of the provisions we will vote on in relation to this. These should be part of the permanent criminal code. Withholding information about the commission of a crime should be a permanent offence, and directing an unlawful criminal organisation should also be a crime rather than regarded as an emergency provision.  In the past, the Labour Party has also raised the absence of sufficient information to support an informed finding as to the adequacy or otherwise of the ordinary courts to secure the effective administration of justice and the preservation of public peace and order in relation to offences under the Act. Every year the D\u00e1il and Seanad are asked to declare that the ordinary criminal courts are inadequate and that a jury trial is somewhat not fit to deal with particular offences. This decision should be based on more evidence than we have ever seen provided when asked to make this declaration. We are never given any information as to the adequacy of the criminal courts or on the risk of intimidation of jurors. It is three years since the publication of the independent review of the offences against the State Acts. Last year, the Minister set out the direction he was going and that he broadly accepted the majority report recommendations to repeal and replace the Offences against the State Act. He indicated that new legislation would not be ready by now but failed to clearly set out what timeframe he would adopt for reform. Maybe in her reply the Minister of State might be able to give us some indication of same.  We have had the Hederman report in 2002, the Peart majority and minority reports, various other reports, reviews and recommendations, and the Law Reform Commission report on jury service in 2013. I could go on and on. The Oireachtas was called upon to repeal the existing Acts and replace them with a single consolidated Act containing significant reforms. The Peart review minority report went further and recommended the abolition of the Special Criminal Court. The majority report supported its retention but also recommended that there should be no blanket referral of offences to a non-jury court.  Instead, the DPP should use the power it already has to decide on a case-by-case basis whether there is sufficient threat to the administration of justice to justify sending a particular trial to a non-jury court.  Page 12 of the report states:  the current system of schedule offences under which certain offences are automatically or presumptively tried by a non-jury court should be abolished. Instead, the decision as to whether a non-jury court is used should, in every instance, be based on an assessment of the circumstances pertaining to the particular case.  The offence would remain in place and be triable in the ordinary way and the DPP would retain its discretion to transfer any particular trial to the Special Criminal Court. Looking to the minority recommendations, however, in a scenario where there is a permanent standing special court, the Labour Party would therefore support the minority recommendation that decisions on trial venues should be made by a judge and not the DPP. This should be based on clear criteria set out in the legislation that recognises the exceptional nature of a non-jury trial. This will provide an added layer of accountability and indeed, transparency.  The review group also recommended many other reforms and safeguards, including the repeal of many outdated provisions and offences. As the Labour Party set out in our most recent manifesto, we need to ensure non-jury trials are the exception and introduce measures to address concerns about jury tampering or intimidation. Modern technology has a crucial role to play in the implementation of reforms and could be used to facilitate such things as remote juries, like Scotland used not so Iong ago. That is why when the Minister and his Department eventually get around to publishing the heads of a Bill or a detailed framework for reform, it is vital that they carefully consider the proposals from the minority report. Significant issues around belief, evidence, prescription, disclosure and the publication of decisions will also need to be addressed in any reforms. This time next year when we come to debate these motions yet again, it would be far more useful for us to use the time to debate the merits of such published draft proposals if they come, and what further steps or reforms are still needed, or what changes collectively we as a Chamber or Oireachtas need to put in place. I also encourage the Minister of State to ensure that when her Department does get around to formulating more concrete proposals, it seeks the technical assistance of the UN Special Rapporteur on counter-terrorism and human rights to ensure the draft legislation is benchmarked against the best applicable international standards. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Before I call on the other Deputies, we are very lucky to have dancers from a prestigious, world-champion school of Irish dancing visiting, the dancers of the Cabe Academy of Castleknock, who are here with Deputy Emer Currie. I ask them to stand up and let us see their uniforms. Very well done to them. They are most welcome. I congratulate them at such a young age to be representing us on a world stage. I call on Deputy Murphy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  Fair play to them.  Here we go again with another one of these annual farces we have in this place. However, this one is pretty important. It is the nodding through of abolishing the fundamental human right to a fair trial by the Government and the vast majority of the Opposition. It is incredible that we do this on a yearly basis. Shamefully, it is again going to include Sinn F\u00e9in. For years, Sinn F\u00e9in has been using the promise of a slight reform of this diplock court as an excuse for not opposing it, after decades of correctly being against it. How much longer can Sinn F\u00e9in keep that up? The Government has been saying it needs these so-called emergency powers for 54 years now, so presumably this can go on forever. Most of the rest of the Opposition, including those on the left, also engage every year in this, the lowest form of respectability politics, afraid they are going to look bad if they defend the basic right to a fair trial by a jury of one\u2019s peers, even though every domestic and international human rights organisation from the Irish Council of Civil Liberties to Amnesty International, the State\u2019s own Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission and the United Nations unanimously oppose the Special Criminal Court.  The point of civil liberties is not so much to defend the rights of people we agree with, but to defend the rights of those we do not. The Minister said last year we would be here again in a year\u2019s time. Are we going to be here again next year? How much longer is this farce going to continue? The Minister of State has already told us that the only alternative to the Special Criminal Court is a slightly reformed and rebranded non-jury court. Shamefully, the vast majority of the Opposition, including Sinn F\u00e9in, is going along with that too, and supporting the idea of making non-jury courts permanent forever. The minority of the independent review group, which not surprisingly was a minority made-up of human rights experts, rightly saw no need for special, non-jury courts. The vast majority of democracies around the world see no need for them either. That is why I urge for a vote to be called on these motions every single year. People have a right to know where the Members of this House stand on fundamental questions of civil liberties. Do TDs believe that everyone has the right to a fair trial by a jury of their peers or do they support convictions in secret courts by a trio of judges based on the say-so of a senior Garda? If that had been the case with the seven Jobstown not guilty defendants, we would all still be in prison right now.  These types of draconian powers are always creeping. One day used against criminals which sounds reasonable, the next used against water charges protesters, Palestine protesters, striking workers or whoever else has been wrongly categorised as criminals or terrorists. Just look at the draconian measures imposed on peaceful protesters classified as terrorists in Britain and think that exactly the same thing could happen here and the Special Criminal Court could be used as a part of that cracking down on civil liberties. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  I welcome the opportunity to speak on this but it is a bit of a charade. It is my 16th year here and year after year, we come in here and it is renewed by Government. The Offences against the State Act was first introduced in 1939. There was an emergency then; there was the Second World War. The fact is that this is renewed annually now, 89 years later. That is a cause of great concern.  Numerous legal practitioners and the UN human rights committee, Amnesty International, and the Irish Council for Civil Liberties have all called for repeal or substantial reform of this legislation. The Government commission report by Justice Hederman in 2002, and more recently the Government\u2019s report of 2023, recommended changes, including the non-jury dimension. As I said, this is my 16th year for this. It should never be dealt with in this way. Emergency legislation is emergency legislation. I have stated before and I do so again, that the Offences against the State Act was at times used for political purposes. That is a fact. Refusal to answer loaded questions should never be used as a method of implying guilt, nor should the conduct of the accused during interrogation or at other times or by association. They have the potential to be abused, as has the word of a Garda superintendent.  The Minister of State\u2019s party trumpets - I was a supporter of it, maybe a reluctant supporter - the Good Friday Agreement, which referred to the Offences against the State Act. The Government stated it was committed to initiating \"a wide-ranging review of the Offences against the State Acts [1939] with a view to both reform and dispensing with those elements no longer required as circumstances permit.\" It is a different world now than 1939 or indeed 1970 or 1980. The Minister for justice said last year that: \"The main reason I believe the Act should be repealed is that the threats the State faces today...have reduced and significantly altered.\" I agree. Is it not time to confine this legislation to the history books or the dustbin?  While there is a problem with organised crime, there needs to be adequate legislation for that. There are suggestions around that. There is technology and methods for protecting witnesses. I understand organised crime and drugs cartels are a challenge for everybody, but all of those options should be utilised and we should confine this legislation to the history books. I hope we are not here next year. I welcome the Minister of State as a new Minister and wish her well in her job, but I hope we are not here around this date next year, renewing this outdated, draconian legislation. It has been abused in the past, I am not saying always, but it certainly has been used for political purposes and that has no place in the Ireland of 2026. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  Consistently, socialists who have been elected here have come in and expressed our opposition to these powers being extended. We are in agreement with the ICCL, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, the UN human rights committee, Amnesty International, and a myriad of legal experts and civil liberties campaigners.  The Irish Government likes to portray our country as a liberal democracy, yet it has this parallel legal system where there are no juries. The ICCL highlighted six defects in its submission on this issue, including lack of a jury; the dual role of judges as judge and jury; the extensive powers of the DPP; the claiming of privilege by garda\u00ed; and the acceptance of beliefs and inferences as actual evidence. Nowhere else accepts secret evidence from police officers as being sufficient to send somebody to jail.  I find it highly ironic that we were in here about two weeks ago talking about counselling notes and the Minister of State's colleague stood opposite me and told us there was no way in the wide earthly world their use could be outlawed because of the right to a fair trial being paramount in Ireland. One of the women made an excellent point: how come there is a Special Criminal Court then? You can now waive these rights when it suits you, but the Government could not intervene, for example, to do something that actually affects so many victims of crime. It is highly ironic.  We have seen in Britain in recent times things that we never thought would happen. Young people have been charged with terrorist acts, when the offence should have been criminal damage at most, for challenging companies that were producing weaponry to be sent to Palestine to kill people. They will be heroes in history in the future but now they are imprisoned as terrorists. This Government last year transposed an EU directive as to what constitutes terrorist acts. There is a definite movement in the direction of repressive legislation by so many governments. That EU directive includes grounds such as receiving training, travelling for the purpose of terrorism and public provocation to commit a terrorist offence - really dangerous stuff that can definitely be used against activists, including Palestine solidarity campaigners, environmental activists and many others in the future. It is time now to abolish the Special Criminal Court, to get rid of the Offences against the State Act and to stop using this as an excuse again and again each year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Gogarty's colleagues are not here, so he has the floor until one arrives or until the end of his speaking time "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  I will not use all the time. This is a mixed bag because we want to protect the citizens of this State from the wrong kind of people but, equally, we want to allow those who are not happy with the State to protest in a meaningful way without being lumped in with them. I support the motion if it is taken in isolation, in the absence of the real reform that others have been calling for, but I want to be entirely clear. As others have said, I do not agree that dragging it on year on year is right. I am very torn - there is no harm in saying you can be torn on weighing up legislation - because there is still a major threat to public safety, whether it is the gangland cartels or lingering dissident groups, some of which could be reactivated depending on how things are going. Obviously, there are also fundamentalists of various persuasions, some of whom are individuals with a propensity to violence. If they want to raise money for their cause through getting involved in robberies or if they want to maim and kill people because of their beliefs, these are individuals the Garda has its eyes on in this country and they are also a danger. They are not just people who want to have their voice heard in a peaceful protest. They are people who have shown time and time again that they are willing to intimidate witnesses and compromise juries. An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na is often trying to deal with these groups with one hand tied behind its back, so we do need this kind of support in terms of the types of courts and the Offences against the State Act.  Equally, however, we cannot have a legislative vacuum and questions asked about which group is a peace-loving group and which group is a terrorist organisation. This annual event basically brings a sticking plaster in, with renewal under the emergency offences against the State legislation on an ongoing basis. I do support keeping security checks going while pointing out that the current cycle of these extensions is not a sustainable way to run a modern democracy. We need a credible alternative. The independent review group provided a roadmap. If that roadmap is flawed in some way, we can add to it but we need a draconian approach to those who pose a real danger. At the same time, however, we need a system that protects ordinary citizens and their civil liberties and the right to protest. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  Our local garda\u00ed are doing Trojan work and deserve the full backing of rural Ireland, including areas like west Cork. They are the backbone of community safety and they are out at all hours dealing with everything thrown at them, often with limited and stretched resources. They know their communities. That is their strength. That is how people keep safe, not just with legislation from Dublin.  Let us be honest about this motion. We are again being asked to roll over what are meant to be temporary emergency powers. Year after year it is the same thing. That is not good enough. Of course, there are real threats of organised crime, which is a serious issue, but supporting the Garda is not about giving the State a blank cheque. It is about giving garda\u00ed the resources, the numbers and the visibility they need on the ground. Strong community policing works. People seeing their local garda, knowing they are there - that is what makes a real difference. We will always stand up for our garda\u00ed and the work they do, but I cannot support the ongoing extension of laws like this without proper reform and accountability.  When I talk about garda\u00ed, I talk about the lack of garda appointments made to west Cork. I think it has been zero in the past number of years, or there have been very few if any new garda\u00ed into west Cork. That is a very unfair situation we find ourselves in because community policing is all about the number of garda\u00ed in the community. I am a big believer that garda\u00ed should live in the area in which they work, or as close as they can, because they get to know the people, they get to know who is right and who is wrong and they can nip crime in the bud. I have often said that. I see in my own area Garda Jonathan McCarthy in Ballydehob. He and his family live there and there is a very protective community there and care for the community. He is a Trojan garda. He knows when to be there and when not to be there, as such.  I see also the Garda Youth Awards. I praise garda\u00ed like Don Davis and Damian White and so many garda\u00ed out there who are really pushing the boundaries and are there for their community and for their people. It is great for young people too to see that and to get an award at the Garda Youth Awards. I refer to Garda Brigid Hartnett and all those who are involved in that initiative. It really sends a very different type of message from that which we hear sometimes hear throughout the country that maybe the long hand of the law is the right way to deal with young people. Sometimes it is to praise them, work with them and be supportive of them, and that is what we need to do.  There is definitely a lack of garda\u00ed in west Cork. I am worried about Drimoleague Garda station and places like that which have gone unmanned for months and months because there is a complete lack of garda\u00ed. The Garda cannot squeeze blood out of a turnip. When the appointments are made, no matter where it is, it must be done in a fair manner throughout the country. We cannot have one county like Dublin, which is a big county, with a lot of newly appointed garda\u00ed but west Cork left without. That is something we need to reverse. I have said that to the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, when he has been in here. That has to be looked at going forward if we are to make sure that people are living in a protected and safe area. A fair distribution of the new garda\u00ed when they are appointed should be spun out throughout Ireland, not just the capital. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  As we have no further speakers, I ask the Minister of State to make her response in eight minutes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Catherine Ardagh)  I am very grateful to the House for its consideration of these motions. I thank Deputies for their contributions, particularly those in support but also those who do not support the motion because their discourse is very important. Many issues have been raised. I know I have only eight minutes.  For the benefit of the House and for those watching, the independent review group carried out a comprehensive review of the law in this area and the majority and minority reports of the group were published in June 2023. The main recommendations of the majority report can be summarised as follows: repeal of the Offences against the State Act, with select elements reflective of current or potential threats being re-enacted in replacement legislation; establishing a new standing non-jury court to replace the Special Criminal Court to try serious criminal offences where the ordinary courts are inadequate; and consideration to be given to consolidation of all legislation dealing with terrorist offences.  A lot of Deputies raised the issue of the timeline of the implementation of the majority report.  I can say that my Department has engaged in consultation on the recommendations of the review group and it has examined the reports from a variety of perspectives, including policing, governance and legislation. It was after completing and considering this extensive consultation that the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, notified the Government that he accepts in principle the recommendations of the majority report. This sets a clear direction for reform. However, given the importance of the Acts over many decades, detailed proposals for reform must be thoroughly considered and approached with the utmost of case. These considerations, as we know, take time and the Minister intends to return to Government with detailed proposals in due course.  There is, as we know, significant legislative work under way to bolster our national security, with four Bills currently in the Houses. The Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) (Amendment) Bill will address the foreign terrorist fighter phenomenon, which includes offences of travelling to commit a terrorist offence or organising or facilitating travel to commit a terrorist offence, and receiving training for terrorism. The Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na (Powers) Bill and the Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na (Recording Devices) (Amendment) Bill are before the Houses. The Criminal Law, Civil Law and Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill will confirm that legal authority of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na to deploy radio frequency jammers for counter-unmanned aircraft systems purposes, where necessary to carry out its policing functions. I refer also to other civil security-related legislation. While work on proposals to replace the Offences Against the State Act is well under way, the threat from terrorism and organised crime very much remains. The renewal of these provisions is necessary today to combat this threat.  Many Members raised the issue of lack of information, asking why the ordinary courts are not sufficient. This was raised, in particular, by the Labour Party and Deputies Gibney and Gannon from the Social Democrats. Clearly the review group recommended on the basis of the best information available to it that there is, and will continue to be, an ongoing need for a non-jury court, as permitted by the Constitution, to try serious criminal offences in certain limited and exceptional circumstances where the ordinary courts are inadequate to secure the effective administration of justice and the preservation of public peace and order. It is up to the DPP in any individual case to direct that a trial take place before the Special Criminal Court. That decision is subject to careful consideration on the facts and circumstances of the case. I am conscious of the recommendation for more transparency around the court and the procedure in particular. In that regard, I note that the DPP has placed more information into to the public domain on how that decision-making process currently operates, for the purpose of transparency. The report laid also provides a brief assessment of the security situation. I should caution, however, that there are clear constraints on the detail of what is and can be reported, to ensure there is no longer a danger of prejudice to the investigation or prosecution of crime or the security of the State.  Deputy Paul Murphy raised issues in relation to fundamental human rights, as did Deputy Coppinger. Some argue that non-jury courts are contrary to fundamental rights of persons before the law and international principles of administration of justice. I respectfully disagree with that analysis. While jury trial is commonplace here, and is our very much preferred approach, it is not at all commonplace in the criminal justice systems of many other European states, for example, Sweden and Norway. The Special Criminal Court operates without a jury for sound reasons. Trials are heard there by three judges rather than one. The issuing of a reasoned judgment, which obviously would not be available in a jury trial, is one of the benefits of the Special Criminal Court and provides a basis for analysis and for parties to appeal a ruling should they wish to do so. While those judgments have always been available to the parties to the case, I welcome the plans of the Courts Service to facilitate their publication, should a judge so decide in a given case. The rules of evidence that apply in proceedings before the Special Criminal Court are the same as those applicable in trials in the Central Criminal Court. Anyone tried before the Special Criminal Court has a full range of procedural protections available to them, including appeals to the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.  Deputy Coppinger raised the issue of belief evidence. I want to clarify that belief evidence, which is permissible in trials for membership of an unlawful organisation by virtue of section 3(2) of the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act 1972, is not one of the provisions for renewal today. Rather, I am seeking the renewal of section 2 of the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act. That section provides that in proceedings concerned with the offence of membership of an unlawful organisation, it is permitted for inferences to be drawn by an accused's failure to answer any question material to the offence. It is important to note that inferences may be treated as corroboration of any evidence in relation to the offence, but a person cannot be convicted solely on the basis of inferences. The majority recommended that this provision be re-enacted in any legislation that replaces the Offences Against the State Acts, with the additional safeguard that provision be made in legislation to the effect that an inference drawn under this section should not be capable of providing the sole corroboration for belief evidence.  Many Members, including Deputy Carthy, raised the issue of our response to organised crime. The record budgetary resources of over \u20ac2.74 billion in budget 2025 allocated to An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na have enabled the Garda Commissioner to assign extra resources to the specialist units involved in tackling organised crime. These include the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the armed support unit and the Criminal Assets Bureau.  In relation to an explanation as to why we have this temporary legislation today, first, as we know, the Special Criminal Court is provided for in our Constitution. We have to remember that. Part V of the Offences Against the State Act 1939 provides for the establishment of the Special Criminal Court, and the legislation is clear that the Government was entitled to make a proclamation providing for the establishment of the court whenever it was necessary to do so. There is no provision in statute whereby such courts can only be of a limited duration, nor is there any sunset clause providing that the court only last any particular time. The Offences Against the State Acts are not emergency laws. They are complementary to our general criminal law and apply only in the most serious of cases.  In relation to a point raised by Deputy Paul Murphy on the minority report, while not endorsing the recommendation of the majority for a standing non-jury court, the minority report did accept that recourse to a non-jury court may be warranted in the interests of justice where there is a real and present danger of jury intimidation. Many Members, including Deputies Gannon, Gibney and Rice, raised the issues of the jury. I note the recommendations of the majority and also the minority in relation to examining the measures, short of non-jury trial, that can be taken to protect jurors. This is in both the reports.  In relation to Garda recruitment, the Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities and strengthening An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, and very much supporting An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na in that regard. The overall Garda workforce increased from 15,908 in 2016 to over 18,000 as of April.  Deputy Collins and others raised Garda resources. Over the previous few years, the focus has been on ramping up funding to provide the equipment, technology and facilities and fleet personnel for An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na so that it can keep our communities safe. The Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities.  At the heart of this debate, it is about protecting the public, supporting the rule of law and ensuring that those who seek to undermine our democracy and communities are met with a firm and effective response to the State. I commend the motions to the House. A Cheann Comhairle, could I get back to Deputy Carthy on Sallins? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Go ahead. We are within time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Ardagh  I know Deputy Carthy raised the issue of Sallins. The establishment of a public inquiry is something we can only proceed with in accordance with the legislation governing inquiries. The most important requirement is that the matter be of urgent public importance requiring investigation. In light of developments since 1976, the Minister is satisfied that it is not warranted. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  The Minister of State need not have bothered. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  In accordance with Standing Order 85(2), the division is postponed until the weekly division time on Wednesday, 24 June 2026. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Catherine Ardagh)  I move:  That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann resolves that section 8 of the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009 (No. 32 of 2009) shall continue in operation for the period beginning on 30th June, 2026 and ending on 29th June, 2027. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  In accordance with Standing Order 85(2), the division is postponed until the weekly division time on Wednesday, 24 June 2026. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 and Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009: Motions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-23\/debate\/dbsect_14","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Dental and Orthodontic Services: Motion [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":36,"speakerCount":30},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_14","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dessie Ellis","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Mythen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Mythen.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Mythen.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  I move:  That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann:  notes that:  \u2014 there are more than 11,000 people, mainly children, on waiting lists for dental and orthodontic treatment with the Health Service Executive (HSE), including for braces and for dental surgery under general anaesthetic, and that more than 8,000 of them are waiting over a year for an appointment;  \u2014 half of primary school children are leaving school without ever having received a screening appointment, with average waiting times of four years for an appointment, and upwards of four and a half years in some areas such as Waterford City;  \u2014 access to dental care for medical card patients through the Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) has become severely limited, with less than half of dentists signed onto the scheme; and  further notes:  \u2014 the Joint Committee on Health report entitled \"Report on Dental Services in the Healthcare System\" published April 2026; and  \u2014 considers that the National Oral Health Policy Smile agus Sl\u00e1inte fails to prioritise the development of public dental services;  calls on the Government to:  \u2014 publish an action plan targeting an urgent reduction in years-long waiting lists for dental and orthodontic care so that children get the preventive and corrective treatment that they need, when they need it;  \u2014 invest in public dental services which will prioritise school screening and medical card holders, including the development of a public-only dentist contract;  \u2014 modernise the DTSS and integrate this with the GP Visit Card to widen access to preventative primary care services on the basis of need, and not the ability to pay;  \u2014 revise Smile agus Sl\u00e1inte to include the development of public dental services and publish a timebound implementation plan;  \u2014 establish a multi-disciplinary working group on the development of a public model of dental and oral health service provision;  \u2014 develop a strategic workforce plan for dentistry, including an increase in training places across all dental care professions;  \u2014 allow direct access to dental hygienists and dental nurses for appropriate care within their scope of practice without a referral from a dentist following the development of the necessary regulatory guidelines and oversight, and engage with professional societies on this;  \u2014 introduce a new Dental Act to update the out-dated legal framework of the 1985 Act, in line with the recommendations of the Dental Council of Ireland, which should also place new entitlements to access dental care services on a statutory footing; and  \u2014 improve the collection and publication of data on special care patients, which includes patients with intellectual disabilities, to ensure transparency and accountability for waiting lists in this area and ensure timely access to care under general anaesthetic for these patients who need it.  The public dental service in this State is absolutely shocking and clearly is not working. I have dealt with this now for a long number of years. I have tabled parliamentary questions. We have raised it in the Oireachtas Committee on Health.  We have had the Irish Dental Association in along with the HSE and the Department. I have written countless letters on behalf of constituents not just in Waterford but across the State whose children are waiting years on orthodontic and dental waiting lists for braces and treatment. Some of those children are in pain and yet are waiting so long for access to a dentist and an orthodontist. The HSE and the Department went as far as apologising to parents in letters, which I have received, and indeed at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health because they are simply not giving children the care they need. We have 11,000 children waiting for braces and tens of thousands of children waiting for access to an orthodontist. They are on an assessment list, they have not been assessed or they are waiting to see a dentist for all sorts of different reasons. The public system clearly is not working and is clearly failing patients.  To add insult to injury, despite a scheme the Government put in place, and which we should all value, encourage and support, to ensure children get proper screening in schools - the Government policy being that each primary school child would get two screenings over their journey in primary school - the majority of children are not getting those screenings. Some get one screening but very few, if any, get both. Again, it is a symptom of a system that is not working.  The public dental treatment service scheme has collapsed. Dentists have walked away from it because they do not think it is working. A number of dentists, including one from Deputy Doherty's constituency in Donegal, have contacted me to say that they get paid for extractions and can have an unlimited number of extractions under the current scheme but can only do two fillings. Yet in a lot of cases, fillings are actually the answer. If that is happening, that is, again, shocking. That scheme has collapsed for some time and only about 800 dentists out of about 2,200 private dentists are operating that scheme so, obviously, there is no confidence in it on the part of dentists.  An alternative needs to be put in place. I put forward alternative proposals and solutions to the Government on this time and again, including in a very substantial policy document I did in this area but also in similar debates in the D\u00e1il and elsewhere. We need to train more dentists. The reality is that a significant amount of international training takes place in our training colleges and dental schools. I have no problem with an element of that but when it gets to a point where more or as many international students come to be trained and we are not training as many domestic dentists as we need, who will actually stay here, work in the public system and treat patients, that is a problem. The first thing we have to do is to make sure we have enough dental training schools and enough training places and we clearly do not. We need to encourage more dentists and more orthodontists to come into the public system.  I have been dealing with parents for the past number of years and I have to say what they tell me when I deal with them is that their children are on waiting lists that are going nowhere. When one looks at the breakdown of how long children are waiting, one can see that there children who are deemed to be grade four or five - the most urgent cases - waiting five, six, seven and in some cases, eight years for treatment. How is that acceptable? How has that been allowed to happen? It is worse in some parts of the country. The Minister of State comes from the south east as do I. It is one of the worst performing areas. We have been raising this time and again with the Minister, the previous Minister, the HSE and the Department but every time we raise it, we are told there will be a new strategy and an updated plan and new measures will be put in place but it is not happening and it is not working. The facts speak for themselves. A total of 11,000 children are on waiting lists for braces of which 40% are waiting over two years; some of them are waiting as long as six, seven or even eight years; children in pain are waiting for treatment; and children with disabilities, who also have additional needs for dentistry, are often waiting. We have dealt with those issues on the floor of the D\u00e1il. The screening system has collapsed and is not working, which is not good for children.  The public system for medical card patients has not been working for some time. I have to be honest. I do not know if it is ideological coming from this Government but there is no will on the part of the Government to fix it. It has been a problem for years and public patients and medical card holders are simply told to \"Go whistle somewhere, do what you like, go private, we cannot do anything for you\". That is all I hear from the Government on this and it is not good enough. All of those problems need to be fixed, which is why we put forward not just this motion but the alternatives involving more training places, hiring more public orthodontists and dentists and fixing the problems with the dental treatment service scheme. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I commend Deputy Cullinane on his work and advocacy on this and the proposals he has brought forward in this Private Members' motion. There is no doubt that dental care is no longer simply under pressure. It is in crisis. That is clear for everybody to see. Across the State, there are 11,000 people - mainly children - waiting on dental and orthodontic treatment while thousands of others are waiting far too long for routine dental care. That is why we are calling for urgent action. In counties like my own county of Donegal, the issue has been felt. It is really serious there. There 420 people in the north west - mainly children - on the HSE waiting list for dental and orthodontic treatment. This for braces, dental surgery and other types of interventions. Nearly one quarter of these people are waiting for over a year. That is disgraceful. The number of dentists participating in the dental treatment services scheme in Donegal and elsewhere has fallen in recent years.  Over recent weeks, I have been contacted by dentists in the Irish Dental Association who outlined the growing crisis facing patients in Donegal. They have told me that there is a significant and ongoing withdrawal of dentists from the medical card scheme. Everybody living in the county can tell you that. Long-established clinics are no longer accepting new medical card patients while others have withdrawn from the scheme altogether or have had to reduce the services they provide and there has been no response from Government. In rural counties like Donegal, this means that people are travelling significant distances simply to access basic dental care and some cannot get an appointment at all. One dentist in Donegal even told me that the system is designed to force dentists to go private. He also explained that on many occasions, dentists like him are being asked to extract teeth for free in emergencies and are constantly under pressure to provide fillings for free because people cannot get free care.  All of this exposes a system that is simply no longer working and it is having a real impact on older people, families with younger children and those living in isolated rural communities. Access to care increasingly depends not just on need but on where people live and whether they can afford to pay privately. The Government should be listening to those on the front line. Instead of allowing the system to continue to collapse and deteriorate, it needs to work with the profession to restore access and ensure that nobody is left without essential care. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  When one hears about the waste of Government money and about the people all around the State, but particularly the people to whom I listen in Kerry, who cannot access dental services, it makes one even angrier. Over the past couple of weeks, I have been speaking to people about this. One person told me her 19-year-old son has never been seen, another person said their children aged eight and 15 had never been seen while another told me of three children aged 17, 13 and ten who were never called. They speak of a chaotic dental service that is going backwards and that has been neglected and underfunded with no vision. Another person to whom I spoke said, and this is a common theme, their child had never been seen all the way through primary school and they were forced to pay thousands of euro for proper dental treatment.  We put down a parliamentary question on it and discovered the number of people in Kerry who are waiting because the medical card system has completely collapsed. In the Killarney and east Kerry area, 600 second class children are waiting to be seen. In Tralee in west Kerry, 912 are waiting to be seen. In sixth class, 466 in the Killarney area and 788 in the Tralee area are waiting to be seen and that is not to mention people in other parts of the county. While the Government is wasting money on one hand, there are children who are literally in agony waiting for dental services.  Across the State, we can see that there are 11,000 people on waiting lists. Half of children leave school without ever having received an appointment. In Kerry, the figure is way more than that because there is practically no chance of getting seen by a dentist if you have a medical card. Private dentists will tell you that it is not worth their while and that they actually lose money if they participate in the medical card scheme. This has been going on for years but the Government is sitting on its hands and is doing nothing about it. We need proper investment in public dental services, proper school screening, proper medical card services and a workforce plan for dentistry to get more people into the public service just to meet the needs of children who are going through the system and are not being seen. We also need direct access to hygienists and dental nurses to stop the agony of children across the county. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  Sinn F\u00e9in has brought forward this motion because the Government simply refused to understand that dental care is an essential part of healthcare. Across the State, particularly in counties like Cavan and Monaghan, families are being failed by a dental service that is stretched beyond capacity. State-wide, as colleagues have outlined, thousands of people, mostly children, are waiting for dental or orthodontic treatment, with a significant proportion waiting well over a year. Many children are leaving primary school without ever receiving the dental screening to which they are entitled.  All of these numbers represent real children and families. In my constituency, parents contact me in utter desperation and frustration because their children are waiting years for orthodontic treatment. People feel they must contact local politicians because their child needs braces or other healthcare. This is the scenario that Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael have allowed to develop. Many people stretch themselves to access private treatment. A whole cohort of others just cannot afford that option and feel they are letting down their children. In fact, it is the Government that is letting them down. There are staffing issues in Monaghan, with vacancies in the local dental service for dental hygienists, general surgeons and dental nurses. All of those vacancies have been in place for a prolonged period. Then there is the situation at Dundalk hospital for the children who are referred there. We might as well tell them they will not receive the orthopaedic care they need.  This cannot stand. We need urgent action to reduce orthodontic and dental waiting lists. We need investment in public dental services, a dedicated public-only dental contract and workforce planning. We must ensure dental places in our universities are being utilised by those we can encourage to work in the domestic system, rather than being sold to international students to make up for the shortfall in Government funding for the third level sector. We need a dental treatment service that actually works for the people it is supposed to serve. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  I thank Deputy Cullinane for bringing forward this important motion. We need action on this issue. A number of parents in my constituency of Meath East have written to me. I was told about a 12-year-old in Dunshaughlin who has never been called to the HSE dentist. One wrote: \"My daughter is 11 and has not been called for any HSE dental services at all.\" A parent wrote about a son, who is 12 this year, who has never been called. Another parent wrote:  My son is 12, nearly 13, just about to finish in primary school and has never been called to be seen by a HSE dentist. Obviously, I have gone private and paid myself but it is a totally different experience to my daughter, who is 12 years older and got all her checks through the HSE. I called about four years ago to see why he still hasn't been called and they said that due to Covid, everything was delayed. It's an absolute joke.  A parent wrote to me: \"My daughter is 13 and has never been called to see a HSE dentist and is starting secondary school in September.\" Another parent told me of a daughter who is 15 and had her first HSE check-up eight weeks ago. That is the pattern not just across my constituency but across the State.  The figures provided by Deputy Cullinane comparing waiting lists in quarter 1 of 2026 with quarter 1 of 2021 are absolutely stark. The number of orthodontic patients at grade 5 waiting more than 48 months, or four years, significantly increased between 2021 and this year from 180 to 250. We can only imagine the pain those children are suffering. The overall numbers waiting have more than doubled from 734 to 1,565. These are the most severe cases representing those most in need. The waiting lists are absolutely obscene. Will the Minister of State please do something about them? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  I acknowledge the hard work done by my colleague Deputy Cullinane in this area. He has presented all the proposals and solutions to fix what is happening in dental services. Dental care is a critical part of the health and well-being of any human being but it is not treated as such by the Government, which has failed to address the critical shortage in this area of healthcare provision. Between 2019 and 2025, the number of dentists in Mayo providing care under the dental treatment services scheme fell from just 31 to 22. How can there be dentists available when the Government fails to invest in public services? All of those dental practices are full to capacity. The evidence is clear that we must introduce a public-only dentist contract in order to reduce waiting lists, ensure children have timely access to preventative and corrective care and prioritise school screening and medical card holders. Patients should have direct access to hygienists and dental nurses within their scope of practice to reduce the waiting lists.  A mother from Mayo contacted me about her seven-year-old son who had to attend a private dentist because he could not access public treatment. She was told he would need to be referred to Dublin because he needed two surgeries. Those surgeries would normally be done in Galway but the service was full to capacity. The treatment, she was told, would cost \u20ac4,000. That is completely unaffordable for the vast majority of parents. Another child is 12 years old and has never been seen by a dentist through school. One mother told me her child has been waiting three years for braces. Another mum described the ordeal of her autistic deaf son who needed urgent dental care. He had to be hospitalised before being sent to Oranmore Dental Care, then to the Hermitage Clinic and then to Dundrum. The whole experience was very traumatising for the child and it ended up costing \u20ac6,000. That is just nuts.  We need an action plan to improve dental care delivery and drastically reduce the waiting lists. We need a strategic workforce plan to address the skills shortages. The solutions are set out in the motion and the Minister needs to implement them. I am aware of an elderly woman for whom a dentist could not be found anywhere to provide the critical care she needed. The horrific cases that are coming forward must be dealt with. I am really tired of bringing up this subject and nothing being done. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joanna Byrne  Week in and out, my constituency office is inundated with people trying to access dental and orthodontic services. The population in Drogheda and south Louth is growing faster now than it ever has before but vital services are not by any stretch keeping up with the population growth. In fact, they are getting worse under the Minister's watch. The number of dentists working under the dental treatment services scheme in Louth dropped between 2019 and 2025. There is huge population growth but the level of service provision is declining.  The number of children waiting for dental treatment under the primary school dental checks scheme can only be described as scandalous. One parent told me her daughter has been on the list for braces since fifth class. She is 20 now and has never received the public care she needed. That is a nine-year wait and it beggars belief. Half of primary school children are leaving school without ever having received a screening appointment. Consultant orthodontic vacancies have been unfilled since 2024 in Louth. The total number on school dental screening waiting lists in the county continues to increase year on year. A total of 2,800 children were waiting to be seen and 718 were waiting for orthodontic treatment at the end of 2025.  Although this is detrimental to the children in question, it is not just children who are affected. Miriam, a widow in her late 70s with a full medical card, needed to have her dentures replaced as they were too large for her mouth. She was in pain and could not eat properly. Facing exorbitant waiting times, she had to borrow money to the tune of thousands of euro to get the care she needed. Another constituent needed extensive dental work as a direct consequence of domestic violence. She was told that advanced restorative treatment is not provided to medical card holders and that no assistance is available to help meet the costs of private care.  Parliamentary question responses provided to me in recent months have stated that the capacity of the service is based on available resources. There are limitations to clinical capacity, we are told. Data shows ongoing service pressures, reduced staff levels and declining levels of oral health assessments. This is not news to anyone trying to access services or to those providing services. It surely cannot be news to the Government. This has not happened by accident. Rather, it is a direct result of underinvestment, failure to plan and a hands-off approach by successive Ministers. The Government's inaction on dental services leaves those languishing on waiting lists either in pain or in significant debt. Either way, they have been completely failed. The cost of the Minister's neglect of this issue will be felt for decades. Action is long overdue on the dental care crisis in this country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor)  I thank the Members for this very important motion and for giving me the opportunity to discuss dentistry services and to provide an update on the developments in the sector and the oral health action plan. The Government allocates over \u20ac240 million to the provision of public oral healthcare services every year across the Department of Health and the Department of Social Protection. This ongoing investment shows our commitment to delivering services, progressing reforms and addressing the challenges we know exist in dentistry services. We fully acknowledge that more needs to be done. The Minister for Health wants to do much more to improve oral healthcare services and to address access issues. The Minister welcomed the Joint Committee on Health\u2019s recent report on dental services and understands the frustration families and individuals are experiencing with the current services. In my own clinics I see this daily. The current position on public dental services is not good enough. Too many people cannot get timely care. We have to do two things, namely, take practical steps now to improve access and deliver lasting reform in the long term. The model of services we operate is largely from the 1990s, and it must be modernised. While that reform is progressing, we are determined to ease the pressure people are facing now. In practical terms, that means improving access through the public system, especially for children and adult medical card holders. The Department and the HSE are currently finalising a two-year action plan - and this is where a lot of work has been done - that aims to deliver meaningful impact in the short term while also making progress on the structural reforms outlined in the national oral health policy.  The salaried HSE oral healthcare service provides dental care to several groups of patients. In the January to April period this year, it provided care to over 56,000 adults and children. This includes over 16,000 emergency appointments to eligible patients, on a same-day or next-day basis. Those with additional needs who cannot receive care in a general dental practice may need special care services provided by the HSE. The HSE provides these patients with an oral health examination and where necessary, their treatment is provided using additional supports. This service provides care to many children and adults who would not otherwise have access to oral healthcare services.  Regarding access to public oral healthcare services for children, there are access issues in respect of the current model of service provided by the HSE. This service aims to offer the first of three appointments to children while they are in second class, or seven years old. Due to capacity challenges, the HSE needed to prioritise patient groups, to ensure emergency care remains available for all eligible HSE patients. Within the three childhood appointments, the sixth-class appointment is prioritised by the HSE. This is to ensure that children receive preventative treatment on their permanent molars and, for those children who require it, a referral for an orthodontics assessment. Some \u20ac4 million in additional funding has been provided to support the HSE to complete recruitment of 15 additional whole-time equivalents across dentists and dental nurses. The public oral healthcare services provided by the State includes orthodontic treatment. I know the Deputy spoke about how many are on the waiting list. The HSE provides orthodontic treatment to those who have the greatest level of clinical need and have been assessed and referred for treatment before their 16th birthday.  It is positive to note that 5,500 grade 4 patients have been removed from orthodontic waiting lists since the introduction of the waiting list action plan in 2020. This includes 392 patients so far in 2026. A further \u20ac2.85 million has been invested this year to support continued measures to reduce orthodontics waiting lists. However, despite additional capacity provided via private contractors under the waiting list action plan, waiting lists remain high due to staffing and recruitment challenges. I know Deputies are aware of this. The action plan seeks to address this and improve the current orthodontic waiting lists.  I am aware there are challenges in the provision of dental services under general anaesthetic. I know this is not acceptable for those who are on these waiting lists. This is why the action plan will consider initiatives such as using the emerging availability of capacity that the new surgical hubs will enable. This will help reduce the current waiting times for general anaesthetic access for both children and adults. An important part of this work will be to improve the collection and availability of data, in particular for our special care patients, which includes those with intellectual disabilities. We want to ensure timely access to care under general anaesthetic for those who most need it.  I want to turn to the dental treatment services scheme, DTSS. Last year the State provided care to over 300,000 medical card holders over the age of 16 under the scheme. In order to address contractor concerns regarding the DTSS, a range of measures came into effect in May 2022 to introduce and reintroduce elements of preventative care. The Minister for Health also increased the fees paid to dentists for most treatment items by from 40% to 60%. These measures are having an impact, with access to care continuing to increase each year since they were introduced.  In 2025, over 241,000 additional treatments were provided under the DTSS, with an extra 50,000 patients treated, when compared with 2022. Activity has continued to increase further into this year. Initial data from the first half of this year indicates that more than 4,000 additional patients have been treated, compared with the same period in 2025. These are important signs of progress and improved access, however, we have much more to do and I do understand the frustration. Reform of the DTSS is one of the actions in the action plan that my Department and the Minister have committed to. We look forward to working with relevant stakeholders in progressing this reform. A key enabler of successful reform and improvement of oral health services is ensuring that we have enough appropriately-trained oral healthcare professionals. In particular, we need to maximise the contribution of our hygienists, dental nurses and other oral healthcare professionals to provide the modernised, prevention-focused care we are developing. This requires changes to our educational and legislative frameworks which is acknowledged in the oral health action plan. We also need to consider educational models which enable students to experience providing care in a community setting, within our most vulnerable communities, equipping them with the experience and confidence needed to serve the entire population following graduation.  I am delighted to note that we currently have more dentists on the Dental Council of Ireland's register than ever before, with 3,962 as of June 2026. There has been a steady increase in the number of registered dentists. In 2019, there were 3,100 and therefore we have seen an increase of over 28% since the national oral health policy was published. There is also a need to increase the number of dental hygienists and other oral healthcare professionals. The Department of Health has commenced work on a draft strategic workforce plan for dentistry and oral health. This plan recognises and highlights the challenges in terms of data gaps in the dentistry sector. To address the gaps in data, the Department has designed an oral healthcare workforce census framework. The workforce census is intended to gather information, including the proportion of registered oral healthcare professionals who are practising in their registered profession, the services they provide, and the skills they have. The roll-out of the workforce census is expected to be a key action in the new dental action plan. The census data will provide information to support the development of the sector and to support workforce planning.  The Government is committed to ensuring our healthcare services are supported by a steady and sustainable pipeline of highly skilled graduates and one of the programme for Government commitments is to increase the number of healthcare college places, including for dentistry. We have achieved a lot in this area through collaboration with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and the Higher Education Authority, HEA. This work has led to the commencement of a new bachelor of dentistry degree programme in the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, RCSI, in September 2025. The RCSI model trains dental students in a community-based model of dental education. The RCSI has taken in 21 Irish and EU students in 2025 and has secured an agreement with the HEA to expand its intake of Irish and EU students to 35 places by 2027. This will significantly increase the number of dental training places available and will enhance the workforce capacity.  We know that more must be done in this area which is why we have engaged with Cork University Dental School and Hospital at University College Cork, UCC, and the Dublin Dental University Hospital at Trinity College Dublin regarding the expansion of dentistry training places. These engagements are ongoing, with a view to developing potential options to facilitate further expansions.  In terms of improving access to services and supporting reform, the Department of Health is progressing policy to introduce direct access for dental hygienists in Ireland.  This will allow dental hygienists to provide appropriate elements. I am sorry I did not have time to finish this statement. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  You will be back in. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor  I do understand the challenges that are there. I see them daily. With our new action plan, going forward, we want to make those changes. We are not opposing the motion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  I commend my colleague, an Teachta David Cullinane, for bringing forward this motion, for his work on this issue and for the well-crafted solutions he has brought to the floor of the D\u00e1il.  I strongly encourage the Minister of State to engage with the solutions and proposals brought here this evening by Sinn F\u00e9in because it is very clear that what the Government is doing is not working. There are over 1,500 kids in north Dublin on waiting lists for orthodontic treatment having been assessed as grade 5. Grade 5 means they are already in pain. They have had the assessment and they need the treatment but they cannot get it. It is not hard to see what is needed. The Minister of State did not need ten minutes to tell us what is needed. We know what is needed. We need investment in our kids' dental health. The Government needs to treat it like healthcare because that is what it is.  I do not know if the waiting lists I deal with in my constituency office day in, day out result from indifference, incompetence or both but the parents who contact me day in, day out are at the end of their rope. Of course, because this is Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael, the private sector has moved right into this space. We now see that people can go to a private provider that did not provide dental care for kids previously but does so now. There is a price list on their website. It costs \u20ac77 for a filling and \u20ac40 for an assessment. That is \u20ac120. If parents do not have it, and plenty of them do not, does the Minister of State know what they can do? Buy now and pay later. That is getting important healthcare for children on the drip, on the never-never, on the buy now, pay later. They are getting themselves into debt. The private provider has brochures and leaflets it hands out. The incompetence of this Government has opened up that space for it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Crowe  Access to timely, effective and affordable dental care is one of the most important guarantees of a good quality of life. Persistent pain from an abscess or tooth decay is one of the most unpleasant and debilitating things a child or adult can go through. A modern healthcare system should make it a top priority. Instead, the Government parties have long abandoned affordable dental services. It is almost entirely privatised now, as my colleague has said, with the number of dentists directly employed by the HSE dwindling every year.  This means more than half of children do not get a dental screening in primary school. This is just a basic check-up and we cannot even provide that. This Government does not even know how many dentists are practising in Ireland or how many dental clinics there are. It is completely detached from a vital aspect of healthcare provision in Ireland. The national oral health policy was published in 2019. We still do not have an implementation plan for that policy.  Access to dental care for people with a medical card has collapsed, as other speakers have said. More than half the dentists have withdrawn from the medical card scheme, leaving thousands of patients without the care that they need and are entitled to.  Successive Ministers for Health promised that a breakthrough to fix the scheme was imminent, but it is ordinary people in need of urgent care who are suffering. We must invest in a public dental scheme that will prioritise school screening and medical card holders, including the development of a public-only dentist contract. We must modernise the medical card scheme to guarantee access to care on the basis of need and not on the ability to pay. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sorca Clarke  The Minister of State mentioned access issues nine individual times in her opening address. I am going to tell her what these so-called access issues really involve. A mother told me she had spent three weeks trying to contact the school-age dental team and when she finally got through this morning she was told nothing could be done, not even in an emergency, until that child's school was called, despite the case being referred to as \"urgent\" by a private dentist. The mother of a young girl with autism spectrum disorder, hypoplastic teeth and a severe 8.5 mm overjet was provided with documentation indicating that the girl would qualify under national criteria while simultaneously being told that she did not qualify under the modified regional criteria. Parents should not have to navigate contradictory and inconsistent rules to get dental care for their child.  The last aspect I will bring to the Minister of State's attention are medical card patients. They are really struggling. A constituent told me she had no option but to have a tooth extracted because she simply did not have the cash to stretch as far as a filling. They are what the Minister of State is calling \"access issues\". They are not access issues. That is an abject failure of this scheme.  The Minister of State cannot continue to ignore a shortage of dentists while failing to adequately address workforce planning. Sinn F\u00e9in has consistently called for more training places, a workforce strategy that retains graduates here and investment directly into our public dental service, rather than continuing to rely on crisis management.  It is an absolute shame that this Government stands over a system where half of primary school children leave school without ever having received a screening appointment. At the health committee we heard of children who, when they were finally called for that screening programme, drove themselves to their dental appointment. Where is that in the Government's two-year action plan? Is that going to be covered by the initiatives the Government will consider in surgical hubs that do not yet exist? That is why change is needed and needed now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan  I commend my colleague, Deputy Cullinane, for his work on this motion. The numbers speak for themselves. Over 11,000 people, the vast majority of them children, are left suffering on dental treatment waiting lists across the country. The State is failing them, plain and simple, yet what do we see from Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael? The same attempt to normalise these shocking delays, just as they have done with the disastrous waiting list for the children seeking an assessment of need. These waiting lists are not just numbers; they are children left suffering. I have spoken to so many parents drowning in stress, feeling that their only option is to go private at crippling personal cost just to get adequate care for their child. All the while, those in the private sector continue to line their pockets off the back of the Government's incompetency.  This Government needs to accept a hard truth: the current system is outdated, chronically under-resourced and simply not fit for purpose. A child should be able to see a dentist when they need one, rather than having to wait until six years down the line. A family that contacted my office were told their child would be waiting six agonising years for dental treatment. With a bit of help, they finally got a notice in March to say he was on the priority list but just last week they were told the funding had run out. His booking was cancelled. They were told the patients on the list from January and half of those from February would be seen. How the money can run out that early in the year is beyond me. This family are absolutely devastated. God knows how long he is going to be on the list. This child does not smile anymore. This is not just about his physical health; this is about children's mental health also. A child should be able to smile. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  The Government has utterly failed in terms of dental services. It has especially failed every child, with more than 11,000 children waiting years to get braces and half of all children not getting their scheduled dental check-ups through the school dental scheme. The Government is especially failing children in my county of Monaghan, where, as of October last year, not a single child in the 2024-25 cohort had received their dental checkup. Not a single child out of 832. How do Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael account for this failure? When I submit questions to the Minister for Health, the excuse provided is that it is down to staff vacancies arising from maternity leave and retirement. If the Minister and senior HSE management are unable to implement adequate workforce planning to account for women having children or people retiring, that calls into question basic competencies.  Equally, at one point last year when I asked the Minister about access to orthodontic treatment for people from Monaghan, she told me that service was under-resourced, with three vacant orthodontic posts.  This is utterly unacceptable and I commend the Sinn F\u00e9in spokesperson on health, Deputy David Cullinane, on bring forward these very detailed proposals, which outline the solutions that seem to be needed for this ever-worsening crisis. I appeal to all Members of this House to endorse this plan because this is what the children of our nation deserve - not excuses that they will not receive the healthcare that is their right simply because a dentist has retired or is off having a baby. We need a workforce plan and complete reform of our access to dental care. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  I welcome this debate and thank Sinn F\u00e9in for putting forward the motion. It is a really welcome debate and it follows on from the work done by the joint Oireachtas committee and the report we published on this matter.  I sometimes wonder if I live in a different country when I hear some speeches from Ministers talking about the money they have invested and that their ongoing investment shows their commitment to delivering services, progressing reforms and addressing challenges. From what we have heard tonight, none of that is happening. The Government is not showing commitment to services, progressing reforms and addressing challenges. The evidence sadly speaks for itself and it is not the rosy picture that is presented by the Minister of State, unfortunately.  There is a long history here of dysfunction when it comes to oral health policy in the State. Successive Governments have utterly neglected public dental services. The first clear statement of the State's aims and objectives for dental services was first published in 1994. That was called the dental health action plan. That plan led to the development of the dental treatment service scheme for medical card holders but it would take a quarter of a century for another dental policy to be published. In 2007, the then Minister for Health, the former Deputy Mary Harney, announced the development of a new oral health policy and although a draft plan was presented to the Minister in 2009, it was never published.  In the years between 2001 and 2017, aside from one mention of community water fluoridation, oral health did not feature in any of the national healthcare policy documents. That only changed with the publication of Sl\u00e1intecare. Then, in 2019, a new oral health policy was finally published, Smile agus Sl\u00e1inte, 25 years after Ireland's first and only dental policy plan had been published. What we see over the period and the history of the State is neglect of this area and a failure to plan and put policies in place. Even sometimes when policies are formed, there is a failure to implement, prioritise, publish and resource them. It is not just the current Government that is failing on this; there is a track record of failure from successive Governments that have led us to the state we are in today.  On Smile agus Sl\u00e1inte, in 2019 the oral health policy did not set out a roadmap for the practical delivery of its vision. It was developed without proper consultation with dentists and allied healthcare professionals. In 2024, the former president of the Irish Dental Association, IDA, Dr. Eamon Croke, said that the 2019 policy \"was launched from behind a veil of secrecy\". While Dr. Croke said that the IDA may share and support many of the 2019 plans and their aspirations, the Department of Health had yet to articulate how its vision would be enacted, a situation that prevails to this day.  In January of this year, the Department of Health told the health committee that a three-year implementation plan to progress phase 1 of the 2019 plan was in development. This is now seven years after the plan was put in place that we were still waiting for the implementation plan. The implementation has been described as imminent since 2024. We are led to believe that this implementation plan will finally be published this year. However, in January, the Minister said it was at an advanced stage, while in April, she said her goal was to publish it in the coming weeks. It is now the end of June and we still do not have that implementation plan for a policy that was published seven years ago - back in 2019. If that does not tell you how much of a priority this issue is for the Government, I do not know what will. In the Minister of State's speech this evening, she said it is currently being finalised. I would ask the Minister of State, in her closing address, to give us a solid timeline. We have been told for many months that it was coming to the end. We would like to know exactly when the Minister intends to publish that. We have been waiting, as I said, since 2019 for this. I do not think it is unreasonable to give the D\u00e1il a final date on when that implementation plan will be published.  On the Oireachtas health committee's report, which was published previously, this followed engagement with stakeholders. The health committee published its report on dental services back in April. This report included 19 recommendations, with the first three all relating to implementation of that 2019 plan. We found there had been no noticeable improvement in dental services since 2019. There was no noticeable improvement over a seven-year period. There had been no progress, according to the report produced across the parties, including Government members of the joint committee.  In fact, the situation has gotten worse and not better. Children are leaving primary school without being screened. The medical card scheme is haemorrhaging dentists. The laws governing dentistry are over 40 years old and they are putting the public at risk. The Dental Council of Ireland has been calling for a new Act and additional powers since 2008. It urgently needs powers to investigate, enter and inspect dental practices. Here are just some examples of instances in which it has not got the powers to act. There was an unregistered person convicted of sexual assault practicing as a dentist. There was an unregistered dentist offered dental treatments, including X-rays, from the sitting room of an apartment in central Dublin. Three unregistered dentists were operating pop-up clinics in Munster and Connacht. These are the kinds of patient safety issues we have here - people convicted of sexual assault practicing of dentists; clinics in apartments across the State; and unregistered dentists. We need regulatory reform that is supported by both the regulator and the regulated.  In regard to children's dental services, children should be screened three times before leaving primary school but some children are not being seen until transition year. If that is not a failing on behalf of the State, I do not know what is. This is because of understaffing and under-resourcing of the school screening programme. Check-up targets have been missed on a massive scale. In 2023, only half of the eligible population of children were screened. Half of the children who were entitled to this completely missed the screening. This is really important screening to check on children and it just being missed. They are being completely failed and neglected and it is utterly unacceptable.  We urgently need the strategic workforce plan, as recommended by the health committee. We need to know what the capacity requirements of a school screening programme are if it is to deliver a service that actually works for people. At present, the Department simply does not know how many public dentists are needed. All we know is that we do not have enough, and that the number of public dentists delivering the dental scheme has dropped by 30 since 2012. We are seeing a fall in the number. Despite what the Minister of State may talk about, investment in services and the number of dentists working in the public dental scheme is dropping. We need to make public dentistry an attractive option for dentists. That includes the development of new and attractive public dental contracts to support the public model. Outsourcing children's dental services to the private market is not the answer. Scaling up the public service is. That should be a priority and it should be a matter of real concern to the Minister of State that we have children in the State who are entitled to these screenings who are missing them. It being half of the eligible population, it is really utterly unacceptable.  The concerns we have do not just extend to children; they also extend to adults on the medical card and medical card patients. Under the medical card scheme, private dentists are contracted by the HSE to provide services to medical card patients but this scheme is haemorrhaging dentists and medical card patients are paying the price. In 2015, there were around 1,600 dentists participating in the scheme but, by last year, that had halved to 800. The scheme is no longer fit for purpose and the health committee, in our report, called on the Minister to enter immediate talks with the Irish Dental Association to replace it with a new scheme, one that allows dentists to provide medical card patients with the best care and not just emergency care. It is unacceptable in the current scheme that the number of fillings per year is limited but the number of extractions is not. As a result, people are having teeth removed when they could have had fillings and prevention. This is not the proactive, preventative type of care that should be provided in our public dental scheme. This scheme is a relic of the 1990s. It is no longer fit for purpose. We need modernisation and mere modification will not be enough. The scheme must be completely modernised.  In the health committee's dental report, we also called for the development of a strategic workforce plan not just for dentists but for allied dental healthcare professionals. We also recommended that the roles of those dental health professionals should be expanded, allowing direct access without the need for referral. In the context of the national oral health policy's aims to move from an outdated curative care model to a prevention first model, direct access from dental hygienists is particularly important. The Minister of State has already said that work is under way to develop a policy paper on direct access for dental hygienists. This needs to be accelerated. Unnecessary barriers to direct access must be removed. Allowing direct access for dental hygienists will increase capacity, enable earlier interventions, reduce waiting times and allow dentists to focus on more complex and high-need care.  This is already in place in the UK. A 2023 UK General Dental Council evaluation paper found no evidence of patient safety concerns associated with direct access to dental hygienists and therapist practices when their defined scope and appropriate referral pathways are in place. I met with the Irish Dental Hygienists Association earlier this year and it did excellent work in putting forward a case for direct access. Patients should have the option of accessing care from dental hygienists without needing to see a dentist first. Advancing this practical and evidence-based reform should not be put on the long finger any longer. It is a key reform and it will help dentists, patients and the public at large.  The Government is not doing enough here. It is not investing enough. The issue is not being prioritised. The reforms to the dental Act that are needed have not been progressed. I say this all the time when we have statements the House; we could be progressing reforms to legislation, including the dental Act. I have real concerns about the school screening programme and the number of children who are being absolutely failed, are not getting the appointments they need and are being completely neglected. We heard at the health committee that in some cases, people are driving themselves to their first screening when they should have been screened in primary school. It is not good enough. It is utterly unacceptable. I urge the Minister of State and the Minister to get a grasp on this issue.  For our part, the health committee has set out a series of recommendations. We have laid out clearly exactly what needs to be done step by step. I urge the Minister of State to engage with that report and the recommendations and progress the reforms needed because people deserve access to good quality public dental care. The least people should get in this Republic is access to good quality healthcare, particularly children, medical card holders and others who have been failed and failed by successive governments. The time for reform is now. I urge the Minister of State to listen to what we are saying and prioritise this issue because together, by working with the health committee and the recommendations we put forward, we can make real progress on this issue. However, it needs to become more of a priority for the Minister of State, her Department, her officials and the Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call Deputy Marie Sherlock, who is sharing with Deputy Kenny. Deputy Sherlock has ten minutes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marie Sherlock  I very much welcome the opportunity to speak on this motion and I thank Sinn F\u00e9in for introducing it this evening. The Labour Party will very much be supporting this motion. The Government has effectively watched our public community dental services collapse over the last decade. It is very clear that oral healthcare is very much the poor relation of the health service. It is almost a year to the day since we had a debate in this Chamber last year, with a motion then sponsored by Deputy Stanley. It is clear that almost little or nothing has happened since then. We are seven years on since the smile agus sl\u00e1inte national strategy on dental care was published, yet we have seen a deterioration and disregard for public dental services in this country.  One of the critical things we know about dental care is that prevention is as important as treatment. We know the one organisation that was set up 40 years ago to promote oral health awareness, the Dental Health Foundation, lost a massive chunk of its funding a number of years ago. We have to ask serious questions about the seriousness and intent of the Department of Health with regard to oral healthcare in this country. We know that so many people out there are now having to go abroad for cosmetic dental surgeries to make up for years of neglect by the public dental system. The size of your wallet should not determine your health, yet, in oral healthcare in particular, it absolutely is the case. People are no longer just afraid of the dentist's chair. They are terrified of the cost of visiting the dentist. We know that children in particular are not getting the dental care they need.  Along with anybody else who was contributing to the debate last year, we looked at the drop in the number of public dentists and those participating in the dental treatment scheme. It is devastating to see and was reflected in the cross-party report that Deputy Rice spoke about. It was from the Oireachtas health committee and was published a number of months ago. It very clearly set out what needs to happen. We have seen little or no response from the Department of Health since then. Earlier this year, the Irish Dental Association told our committee that more than half of dentists had withdrawn from the medical card scheme, leaving thousands of patients without the free care they are entitled to. If that were to happen within GP care, there would be absolute uproar and alarm - rightly so. Yet, we are not seeing that same level of attention or care for our public health service.  The reality is that as of April this year, there are just 232 whole-time equivalent dentists across the public health service. In 2009, there were 330. It is scandalous that we have seen such a decline. I know from talking to public dentists on the ground there are enormous challenges with regard to trying to get additional dentists recruited into the system. Business cases sit there for months on end. That is absolutely unacceptable if we are to take public dental care seriously. The reality is that those on medical cards and those who struggle to afford to see a dentist are the ones who are most disadvantaged by this. They are the ones suffering from real inequality. People are genuinely delayed for months, just to save the money needed to get basic treatment.  With regard to children, the number of children participating in targeted programmes and scheduled appointments within community dental services has significantly dropped. We know that across all CHO areas, the number of children in first and second class, or fifth and sixth class and other targeted groups, attending scheduled appointments has dropped dramatically over the past five years. Tens of thousands of children are leaving primary school without any basic checks. Last year, I relayed a story in this Chamber of a public dentist telling me that she had patients, who were no longer children because they were driving a car, driving themselves to an appointment they were supposed to get in sixth class but they were in fifth or sixth year by the time that appointment came through. That is absolutely unacceptable and the costs we are storing up for our health service further down the line because of those delays to care is frankly outrageous. We know there was a 30% drop in the number of children attending these scheduled assessments between 2019 and 2024. The reality is there is a bit of a ticking time bomb here. If we do not put the money in early to the preventative aspect of our dental healthcare system, we will end up with a health system that has much greater costs further down the line. Surely, the ambition and aim of all of us here should be to ensure we are looking after people's health as opposed to ill-health further down the line.  I very much welcome in particular the reference to general anaesthetic services in this motion because the reality is there are hundreds of children across this country who need general anaesthetic to receive dental care. Many are waiting over a year. There are children and special care adults left in excruciating pain with simply nowhere to go. We know people have to travel very long distances. In the south west, 310 people with additional needs are waiting more than a year for general anaesthetic. In some parts of the country, like my own area of Dublin north city and west, there is no special care service for children at all. We know children have to travel to either Louth or Kildare to get general anaesthetic if that becomes available and, of course, they are in the queue with everybody else from that area.  The reality with the dental treatment services scheme, DTSS, is that we have seen a drastic reduction in the willingness of dentists to participate in it over the last number of years. We must have a serious conversation with dentists about that. It is not good enough to just wave our arms in the air and say there are dentists going into cosmetic surgery and they should stay in dentistry. We need to have a serious conversation about the number of dentists who are currently in the private system and the number who would be willing to get involved with the dental treatment services scheme if the conditions were right. This is not about a free pass for dentists. This is about a serious negotiation. The other aspect of it that is critically important is what is actually available within the DTSS. It is frankly bizarre if you have had two fillings and require a third one in a particular year, you have to wait a further year but there is no limit on the number of extractions done. That is from the dark ages and we have to change how the dental treatment services scheme is designed.  It is also critically important to say the recruitment of dentists needs to be significantly looked at. We know there has not been any significant expansion or investment into our dental schools in decades. Barely half of the 70 dentists who graduate in Ireland each year opt to practise here in the long term. We know we need to add dental nurses and hygienists to critical skills lists. The other key issue for me is that notion of an apprenticeship scheme for dentists. I remember 20 years ago, which was a time dentists were coming out of college around the same time as myself.  Dentists were able to do part-time work with the HSE and part-time with a private practice. It was excellent training for that year after they graduated. Many dentists stayed in the private system but continued to provide that public care through the DTSS. Unfortunately, that system fell away in the intervening years and we do not have that nature of apprenticeship now within our dental services in this country. That needs to be restored. The plea is that we will not be standing here again this time next year talking about the same issues. We need to make sure the right investment goes into dental services and, in particular, there needs to be an absolute focus on prevention so that we are not storing up greater issues for our health service further down the line. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  On this very important motion by Sinn F\u00e9in, I raise the significant issue of the dental treatment service scheme. Last year in the D\u00e1il, I, along with my colleague, Deputy Sherlock, spoke about this scheme and about how it is simply not working. I refer to the number of people who come to constituency offices right across this country who tell us they are medical card holders but they cannot get access to a dentist in their locality. It is just not acceptable that a medical card holder in this country cannot get access to basic services like dentistry. The people who often take the blame for this are the dentists themselves. I spoke to a dentist practising in my home town of Mallow today who told me she saw a medical card holder, a patient of hers, last week. The cost of the dental treatment was \u20ac333. She received \u20ac109 from the HSE through the service scheme. Why, if I was a dentist, would I stay in that scheme? I would not because I am not covering the basic costs. Dentists themselves also have to live. We are failing two cohorts of people here. We are failing the very dentists we have in this country who are doing their best to provide the care needed in the country, and we are also failing those who have medical cards who very much need the dentistry care.  I worked previously for former Deputy Se\u00e1n Sherlock who was a TD for 17 years, and year on year he would tell me about the significant issues being faced right across the constituencies by those who cannot access dentistry. If a constituent comes to me seeking my support in accessing a dentist who will take them on as a medical card holder, I have to ring around - and I do it because they are constituents of mine - different dentists across the county to ask them if they will take on a medical card holder. In the north Lee catchment area, which covers my constituency of Cork North-Central, 66 dentists have left the dental treatments service scheme in the past five years while just over 20 have joined the scheme. Give or take, about 40 dentists have left that scheme. That should speak wonders to those who are in charge of our health service. It should speak wonders to the HSE in relation to the system itself and the scheme being provided. It is simply not working and it is unacceptable for us, as politicians, to stand in this House and to speak about it year after year, from D\u00e1il term to D\u00e1il term, without actually fixing the problem.  We have a system that is not working. We must change it for the benefit of the people across this country who rely on this care and for the very dentists who provide it. It is a system that is not working and we must change it. It is as simple as that. We must provide effective dentistry care in this country for everybody. There is a socioeconomic issue here as well. People who are on medical cards may be those who are less well-off than those who can pay the all-out cost of dentistry care. There is a socioeconomic problem here as well. It is vulnerable people who are being left behind. We need to fix this dental treatment service scheme because it is not working. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  Tipperary town, in my constituency, with a population of over 5,000 people and serving a further 10,000 in mid-Tipperary and east Limerick in its hinterland, has no dentist accepting public patients, medical card holders. That is absolutely and totally unacceptable. It is proof positive that the dental and oral health service in this country is totally in disarray and is failing patients very badly. In 2024, the number of dentists operating the dental treatment services scheme was 810. That was down from 1,452 in 2012; a drop of 642. Currently, the number in the scheme is believed to be less than 600. The very small number of dentists employed by the HSE in the public dental service is also reducing by 30, with 65 unfilled posts as of early this year.  The year 2019 saw the Smile agus Sl\u00e1inte plan for the dental service. That was a strategy that was supposed to move the outdated curative care emphasis to a preventative care and health promotion model. However, seven years later, in 2026 there is no implementation of that plan. There is no plan; it is still apparently under consideration. The service has deteriorated since.  Of the 208,000 eligible school children, only 104,000 were screened - 50% - and that figure itself was down by 31,000 on the 2017 figure. Between 2009 and 2023, there was an \u20ac800 million cut in the funding for dental care for PRSI and medical card patients. Under that dental treatment services scheme, there was a drop of 94,000 in treatments between 2012 and 2024. That was down from 395,000 in 2012 to 301,000 in 2024.  As other speakers said, there is a two-year waiting list for patients in pain but requiring general anaesthetics. That is totally unacceptable. Of course, there is also the six-year wait for orthodontic treatment. Parents are being forced into private orthodontic treatment costing literally thousands of euro, sometimes as high as \u20ac6,000, \u20ac7,000 or \u20ac8,000, or their children must suffer on. Orthodontic treatment, as we know, is time sensitive and should be available when necessary. Middle-income and low-income families suffer most due to the lack of the public orthodontic service.  Even in the private service, dentists tell us that 25% are not accepting new adult patients and 33% are not accepting new child private patients. The ratio of dentists to patients in this country is one to 2,160, therefore we are at the lowest quartile of OECD in that regard.  The dental services is in chaos. What we need is a fully-funded resourced and staffed public dental service, and that should be established as a matter of priority. That requires a determined focused and multifaceted strategy to retain the existing dentists and to recruit additional dentists into the public dental service. To do that, a significant number of additional training places for dental professionals at third level must be put in place. Currently, there are only 70 dentists qualifying each year. That will increase in the next academic cycle to 87 due to the new dental school at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. However, because of the fact that these colleges use fees from overseas students, 44% of students in them are from overseas, so it is almost certain that up to half of the students will never practice in Ireland. We should also remove dental nurses, dental technicians and hygienists from the ineligible list for employment permits and add them to the critical skills list. That would allow recruitment from areas outside the EU. Direct access to dental nurses, hygienists and technicians should be introduced in a similar way that pharmacists can now prescribe in limited regulated circumstances.  The legislation in this area is well over 40 years old. It is absolutely outdated and requires urgent updating. I support this motion and compliment Deputy Cullinane and Sinn F\u00e9in on bringing it forward. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  I welcome the fact that these proposals are before the D\u00e1il tonight. Only a few short weeks ago, I brought similar proposals to the floor of the D\u00e1il and to Deputy Miche\u00e1l Martin and set out a lot of what is in this motion. However, it is good that we are here and that parties are getting behind this.  I have raised these issues with successive Ministers for Health: James O'Reilly, Leo Varadkar, Deputy Simon Harris, Stephen Donnelly and the current Minister. We have had four governments in that time. It is a major failure on the part of a relatively wealthy state that we do not have a good public dental system. We have actually gone backwards. In the case of Laois, the figures show that matters have deteriorated. Students should be getting their first examination in third or fourth class in primary school, just as the Minister of State probably got in Graiguecullen and as I got in Laois. Prevention is key. However, they are now not getting that first examination until third, fourth or fifth year in secondary school. That is according to the HSE. There are 6,600 waiting for their first examination and 800 of these are overdue by six years, according to figures I recently got from the HSE. Some 1,500 are overdue by five years. If prevention is key, untold damage is being done.  I will raise the position of children and adults with special needs. This is a really serious issue. Those who can only have dental treatment under general anaesthetic are really being neglected. I have dealt with a number of cases where people have waited years for hospital access. In one case, not 100 miles from the Minister of State's own house in Laois, a boy has been waiting six years for treatment under general anaesthetic. This child is non-verbal and has serious inflammatory disease. He is in constant pain. This is medical neglect and it is not good enough. After repeated representations, he finally received dental treatment in a hospital recently. He had extractions but the teeth that remain are in very poor condition. The family tell me there is advanced decay and infection. I am informed that he will lose those teeth but the child cannot have dentures. This is very regrettable.  The school dental scheme has to be the foundation of a public dental scheme. We have to catch people when they are young. When this fails, as it is clearly failing in Laois, the whole system fails. How it is failing in other parts of the country has been outlined but the Taoiseach has agreed with me that Laois is a black spot. He also gave me a commitment to take this up with the Minister for Health. I would like to see that followed through on.  The dental treatment services scheme is 95% non-existent. There is just one dentist from Carlow providing this service in a community centre in Killeshin on the Laois-Carlow border. It is impossible for 95% of medical card patients to get treatment under the DTSS, the scheme that is supposed to cater for them. No dentist will do it. No dentist will take on new patients. The PRSI-based scheme, the dental treatment benefit scheme, only provides workers and families with a cleaning and an examination. It does not cover treatment. The Irish Dental Association estimates that we need at least 500 additional public dentists immediately because, as has been outlined here, we actually have fewer public dentists now than we had five years ago. According to the Irish Dental Association, we need an extra 500 if we are to make a start in providing dental care.  The fact is that, as a State, we have failed. Successive governments have failed to put a public dental system in place. Those with special needs have been failed, as have those with medical cards. Workers and families making use of the dental treatment benefit scheme have been failed. Crucially, there has been a failure to provide a proper school dental scheme. All of this shows that we are way behind and have a great deal of work to do. We are supposed to arrive at the full implementation of Sl\u00e1intecare and a public health system within 18 months but, of course, we are nowhere near that. This should form part of that. I acknowledge that extra dental training places have been put in place but it is key that these students are recruited as public dentists and then retained.  There is work to be done. The Government needs to prioritise this with the HSE. We are putting money into the dental system. We probably need to increase that funding. I always argue for money to go into front-line services as much as is possible and for bureaucracy and the top layers to be reduced to make sure money is not wasted before it can be used to provide services. It is time for a major shake-up of how dental services are delivered. Other countries can do it. We should do it. We clearly need action and an action plan. We need to prioritise the areas I have outlined: the public dental scheme, the schools scheme, and children and adults with special needs, particularly those who are non-verbal and need to have treatment under general anaesthetic. Other countries can do it. Other countries did it years ago. We should do it. It needs political will. It is part of Sl\u00e1intecare. We should get to work on it now and waste no opportunity. As I said, I have raised this issue with five or possibly even six Ministers across four governments but we are still not there. We have ground to make up. As an Opposition TD, I would certainly support Government in this. We need to do it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  Where has the Government gone wrong on dental and orthodontic services? I was here when this was being raised seven years ago. Where has the Government gone wrong? Why has it not learned and why has it not listened? There are 11,000 on waiting lists, most of whom are children. Some 8,000 have been waiting to see a dentist for longer than two years. Where has the Government gone wrong? All my colleagues here have said the very same things. They have said it is absolutely disgusting and a disgrace that people cannot get to see a dentist. Children are supposed to have at least three visits to a dentist before they leave primary school but they do not get to see a dentist at all.  How do we fix this? As we told the Government a couple of years ago, fixing it is very simple. You build a team. You try to retain the next generation within the country. You train them and get them into practices where they have regular hours. So many people are waiting for services that the dental surgeries are staying open and people are working longer hours. Dentists coming into these practices do not want to stay there because the hours are too long and they can get better hours in other areas. They may leave the country. We have to build a team and encourage that team to stay here working in practices, even local practices, to help people. The same thing happened with SouthDoc, Shannondoc and our doctors' surgeries. The same thing is happening all the time but the Government is ignoring it. The small practices cannot keep going. You see doctors retiring and nobody taking on their surgeries. The same thing is now happening in dentistry.  The Government still has not listened. I have been here listening to this for seven years now. It is the same thing over and over again. We are promised it will be sorted this year, next year or the year after. As this goes on, children and adults are left suffering. I guarantee that if the Minister of State himself had an issue with his teeth, he would not wait. He would go private because he is in a financial position to do so. A lot of people in this country are not in that position. They are watching their children suffer because the Government did not listen and did not build a team to ensure we would have dentistry into the future. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  If you want to understand the true state of a nation's healthcare system, do not just look at its emergency rooms or its hospital beds. Look at its smiles. Look at the teeth of its children, the stress lines of its working class and the growing bills on the kitchen tables of ordinary families. In 2026, Ireland is celebrated globally for economic prosperity, technological innovation and a soaring population but beneath that shiny surface lies a painful systematic reality.  Dental and orthodontic services in Ireland are in state of absolute crisis. There has been a 4% decline in the number of dentists employed by the HSE in the past seven years. There has been a 31% decrease in the number of dental surgeons employed by the HSE since 2005 despite population growth of 32%. There are 27% fewer whole-time equivalent dentists now compared with 2019 and 25.3% fewer dental nurse whole-time equivalents than there were in 2019, with 7.7% of those in the Cork-Kerry region. The crisis hits no one harder than our children. Our target primary school screening programme, once the jewel of preventative care, is broken.  Recent data reveals that over 100,000 eligible schoolchildren were completely denied dental screenings because the number of public HSE dentists per capita has steadily fallen, leaving dozens of vital roles permanently vacant. Only about half of our students are getting checked when they should. What happens when children clear that hurdle and need structural help? They enter the punishing labyrinth of HSE orthodontic waiting lists. Right now, more than 11,000 people, mostly children, are stranded on waiting lists for braces and jaw surgeries in some regions. Families face a six-year wait for public orthodontics. I ask the Minister of State to think about that. A child identified with a severe agonising bite deformity at age 11 might not see a specialist until they are nearly an adult.  The data from the Irish Dental Association also shows 979 children waiting in HSE South West, of whom 438 have been on the list for over a year, 277 waiting in the HSE Dublin and South East region, of whom 172 have been on the list for over 12 months, and 81 on the HSE Mid West list who have been waiting over 12 months for a general anaesthetic. Too many children are leaving primary school without ever having had a dental screening. In 2023, fewer than 104,000 children were screened out of an eligible cohort of 208,000. What we are witnessing today is what professional bodies, such as the Irish Dental Association, have rightly called a poor law service, a regression to an outdated, unequal system where decent, timely oral care has effectively become a luxury for those who can pay and a lottery of charity for those who cannot. The foundation of our public oral health network is crumbling for years. The dental treatment service scheme was meant to guard the most vulnerable, namely, our medical card holders. That scheme has fundamentally collapsed. Private practitioners are withdrawing from State schemes in droves because they are forced to operate under austerity era rules dating back to the financial crisis. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  Families are contacting me regularly about dental care. The level of frustration and desperation is shocking. The truth is that in many parts of the country people cannot access their dentist. In parts of the country people with a medical card will not find a dentist. That is how bad the dental service scheme is.  In relation to the school screening programme, according to the Government, every child is entitled to see a dentist before they leave primary school. However, the vast majority will never see a dentist and get their teeth examined under that programme. The system is in such chaos and has such bottlenecks that thousands of students will continue to leave the school system without ever seeing a dentist. That is absolutely wrong. There are so many families in Ireland who simply cannot afford to go private. These children are suffering and that suffering will go on into adulthood because their teeth will no longer be baby teeth. That is the truth of it.  We need to look at the dental Act. At present, there are bottlenecks in the system. For example, a dental hygienist cannot be seen until a dentist refers a patient to the public system. The fact that someone cannot access a dentist means that, therefore, they cannot access a dental hygienist. That is a bottleneck that needs to be addressed.  Workplace planning is important. This Government is not planning for the future when it comes to dental care, as with many other services in this country. I submitted a parliamentary question to the Minister for further education. The data I received was alarming. It showed that 40% of students studying dentistry in Ireland are from outside of the EU. That is extraordinary. We are training so few dentists in the country, yet 40% are from outside of the EU. The remaining 60% are a combination of Irish, British and EU students. This Government is not even capturing that data. This is really important. We need to understand how many Irish students are in the system. At a time when dental care is in crisis and the Irish Dental Association has said we are currently about 500 dentists short, the solution to this problem is that the Government gives a significant number of the limited places to students from outside of the EU, the vast majority of whom will not be retained in the Irish system. This crisis is going to go on and on.  I have listened to Deputies from around the House outline how many years we are into this crisis. A crisis is temporary. This is now complete and utter gross mismanagement of the system. We need to address workplace planning in the system, expand the places and protect those places for Irish students. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  I am not the first to say it, but more than 11,000 children are on HSE dental and orthodontist waiting lists. Over 8,000 have been waiting more than a year. Half of all primary school children now finish school without ever receiving even a screening appointment. In some areas, the waiting time is four and a half years. This is not acceptable. In CHO 7, which covers Lucan, Palmerstown, Clondalkin, Saggart, Rathcoole, Citywest, Newcastle, Brittas and Adamstown, it is one of the bottlenecks. The Irish Dental Association told the Committee on Health that dental services are in severe shortage, with multi-year delays for school screenings, and there are chronic vacancies that it was the HSE's job to fill, but it did not do so.  The dental treatment service scheme has collapsed in many places, including my constituency. Participation fell from 1,600 dentists to 600. Different parliamentary question replies have confirmed that some areas have had periods in which no dentists were available. At the same time, we have rapidly growing areas in my constituency, including Adamstown strategic development zone, SDZ, and Clonburris SDZ. It is one of Ireland's fastest growing urban areas, with tens of thousands of new homes and new residents. There has been no corresponding increase in public dental staff, if only to keep up with the low levels we already had.  Again, I am repeating points that others who spoke before me made. Of the children needing dental surgery under general anaesthetic, 3,500 are waiting nationally, of whom 40% have been waiting more than a year. As others noted, there are solutions. It is about training more people who are going work here. If we have to recruit internationally, we have to do it properly and effectively. HSE campaigns, for whatever reason, whether it is pay, the number of adverts or the targeting of people, have been largely unsuccessful, with many posts remaining unfilled and some regions receiving no applicants. This does not only apply to dental services, but it is relevant to this debate. There are persistent vacancies year on year, but we have not run a serious recruitment strategy.  We need more tied scholarships that would assist people doing these courses, while getting them to work in the public sector for a period of time. We need more large-scale recruitment campaigns to beat the Australians at their own game and expanded training places. Again, we need to tie this to people who will work in this country. That is what we should be doing because we are in a crisis. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mattie McGrath  I commend Sinn F\u00e9in on bringing this motion forward. It is a shocking and alarming situation. The old saying is \"Mol an \u00f3ige agus tiocfaidh s\u00ed\" - praise the young and they will come. How can they come forward? The dental service is in crisis. In my constituency of Tipperary, we now face the shocking reality that Tipperary town, one of our major county towns, no longer has a dentist providing a service to public patients. This is not acceptable. The Government has repeatedly ignored warnings and pleas for changes to the dental medical card scheme. I have raised my concerns many times in the House and repeatedly with various Ministers for Health, yet we continue to see a complete failure to act. The Government has ignored the cost of dental inflation and expects private dentists to absorb the cost. That cannot happen and it simply will not happen. Anybody in business knows that, for very good reason, it cannot happen. The dentists cannot afford to do it.  The HSE pays a maximum of \u20ac109.96 for up to three repairs.  The laboratory fees alone for that work can range between \u20ac120 and \u20ac150. It is simple maths - it will not save your business if you do that. Before a dentist even factors in their own time, staff or overheads, they are already operating at a loss. These are substantial issues, which the HSE just will not listen to or engage with. A dentist is expected to absorb that and continue to treat public patients. It cannot happen - dentists are disappearing from the system and you cannot blame them.  Dentists simply cannot continue like this. As a result, many have a made the decision to withdraw from the scheme entirely. Others are limiting their services to basic pain relief only. A small minority of dentists are still trying to provide care under the scheme but they are at their wits' end. They are carrying the burden of an underfunded system without the support they need or deserve. It is just not acceptable. When you see a problem, you should try to fix it because this is getting worse year by year. Figures have been quoted on the thousands of children waiting. Children need treatment when they go into their teens or late teens. It is a big issue for them, especially young girls. We talk about mental health but these issues, when children need assistance with their teeth, should be sorted out.  I pay a full and special tribute to Dr. Daniel O'Connell, a Clonmel dentist working on the Quay. For nearly 40 years, he has served this community with professionalism and dedication. He has been sounding the alarm on this issue for years but, like so many others, his voice has not been listened to. Now, entire communities are left without public dental care. He has been warning about this but nobody was listening. I salute him and his staff, the dental technicians and receptionists. You could not find a finer practice.  The situation is untenable. The Government must urgently review reimbursement rates, engage meaningfully with the professionals and take immediate action to restore confidence in the public system. I received an email this evening from a mother about her son. It would bring tears to a stone. He was referred for attention. She asked if we can do anything. The son, whose first name is Noah, was approved by the HSE for publicly funded orthodontic treatment, his orthodontic issues being assessed as severe enough to qualify. When this was originally approved the parents were told Noah would be at least 18 before he was called for the treatment. Imagine that. Having discussed this with his orthodontist, who advised that 18 would be way too late for treatment to be effective, they made a difficult decision to begin private treatment at the end of February. On 5 March, the mother received a call from the orthodontic department of the HSE in Waterford, who informed her that the boy would move forward and receive funding beginning in November 2026. She explained that he had started treatment with a private orthodontist based in County Cork, the parents would be willing to remove him from that service and remove the wire that had been put in if Noah went back onto the public system. She was told that would not be a problem but, hey presto, it would be November 2026. On that basis, the wires were removed in anticipation of his public treatment but, sadly, on 12 June, two weeks ago, the parents received a further call informing them that the national oral health office had withdrawn the offer of funding and the boy, along with about 200 other children, would no longer be entitled to the treatment and would be placed back at the end of the waiting list. What kind of incompetence and disgraceful treatment is that to give a young boy who needs that treatment, was forced to go private, started treatment, got a call that it could be done publicly and later withdrew from that, having been told he would be get treatment in the public system----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Sorca Clarke)  Thank you, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mattie McGrath  -----and then the money was pulled again. It is a body blow. It is disgusting and someone should be held accountable. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Sorca Clarke)  Deputy, your time is up. I call Deputy Danny Healy-Rae. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  I thank Sinn F\u00e9in for bringing this serious and important motion to the Chamber this evening. I have encountered many people looking for orthodontic treatment for their children as well as elderly people looking to get seen by a dentist when they only have a medical card. More than 2,000 people, mostly children, are waiting for dental and orthodontic treatment in the south-west region, Cork and Kerry. Deputy Michael Collins came at it from his side. Children are waiting for braces for more than two years. We all know if they do not get the braces when they need them, children can outgrow the possibility of the braces ever working or having the desired effect. I dealt with a number of young girls who lost confidence and would not leave their rooms. They barely go to school and after school they have no interaction with their friends. They do not go out in the evenings, at 16 or 17 years old. They felt they did not look right and they should look better. They were waiting for this treatment but they did not get it.  I do not know if the Minister of State is listening to me but he would want to listen to me about this. Maybe he will listen to other Deputies. We all have the same story. There is something wrong. Children are not getting the treatment they should get at 12, 13 or 14 years of age. When they go beyond that, they are gone beyond the time the braces and the work would have any genuine effect on their problems.  Not all parents can afford to pay for dental care. It is extremely costly and a lot of parents cannot afford it. This has life-long adverse effects on children. I cannot find any dentist in Kerry who accepts the medical card. It does not work because the medical card does not cover the cost. Is the Government giving enough to the HSE? Are we, as taxpayers, giving enough to the HSE to pay dentists properly? They cannot all be wrong. We have great dentists in Kerry, including Killarney, but they say it does not pay them and they have to put on more staff to cover public patients but the money they get to do it does not cover them. That question needs to be addressed. Does the HSE have the money? Is it going elsewhere with it like it is doing with a lot of other things? That question needs to be answered.  Many elderly people have to travel outside the county. I found two dentists - I believe they are both elderly - who would take patients and have taken the patients from Kerry. It is some distance from Kerry but I cannot say where it is because they would be overpowered with people coming to them and maybe then, they would not treat my patients. This is terrible. John Reilly, the publican across the road from us, was a great man to summarise things. Any of us know children have trouble with teeth coming but he used to say, they are trouble coming and trouble going, that is the story with teeth. People have a lot of pain. When a person is in pain and a tooth needs to be extracted, if they have a medical card and do not have the funds to pay for an extraction themselves, surely we should be able to do that for them. Any person in pain, whatever pain it is, it hurts them and drives them crazy. A toothache would drive you insane, out of your mind with pain when it goes on for days and days. I ask the Government to do something about funding the dentists properly to ensure these people can get treatment locally rather than travelling outside the county of Kerry. The Minister of State knows the effort to travel outside the county of Kerry and if you live in a place like Dingle or Cahersiveen, you have to travel two hours before you get to the county boundary to go to Limerick or Cork.  It is not right. We have great dentists in Kerry - very good, professional people - but they cannot afford to do teeth extractions, not to mind fillings, for what they are being reimbursed by the HSE. What is the HSE doing with the funding? Is the Minister giving the HSE enough funding? This is what we need to ask. If we are, then what is the HSE doing with it because it is not giving it to the dentists? There needs to be a re-evaluation. Every dentist cannot be wrong. They all have the same story - it is not paying them to do it. We are not coming in here and making this up. I am telling the Minister of State the God's gospel truth. Every day and every week, we have people in our office looking to see can they get a tooth pulled, but they cannot find a dentist who will take the medical card. That is the gospel truth. I am asking the Minister of State, for God's sake, to do something about it because it is time he did. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Deputy Robert Troy)  I thank all Deputies across the House for their contributions to the debate. I will not disagree with many of the arguments they made. While some progress has been made recently, it is absolutely fair to say that the current level of access to dental and orthodontic services is not where it needs to be. It needs to be improved. I know this from the various contributions that have been made tonight, having taken this debate on behalf of the Government, and from my engagement with constituents. It is important to recognise the challenges that many individuals and families are facing, whether they involve delays in accessing dental care, lengthy waiting lists for orthodontic treatment or difficulties accessing general anaesthetic. These issues are simply not good enough.  As has been acknowledged, meaningful reform is needed to address these long-standing issues. Work is under way in this regard. The Department of Health is working in conjunction with the HSE to develop a focused two-year national oral health action plan to improve access to oral healthcare services, while long-term reform is under way. Completion of the action plan, which is at an advanced stage, will also be informed, insofar as possible, by the recommendations made by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health in its report on dental services. The action plan will respond to sustained service pressures, workforce constraints and growing waiting lists, particularly for children, people with additional needs and other vulnerable members of our community.  The plan contains ten key action areas for implementation, including addressing waiting lists for the child dental programme and orthodontic services; a review of the dental treatment service scheme; support for recruitment, education and training for dental service positions; and support for innovation and new models of service. In the coming weeks, the Department expects to meet with the Irish Dental Association to further consult on the plan, with a view to finalising and publishing it shortly thereafter. Engagement is critically important but the publication and implementation of this plan are a priority and cannot come quick enough. I think we can all agree on this. The implementation of the plan will be overseen by an implementation oversight group jointly chaired by the Department of Health and the HSE. The Department and the HSE will continue to engage with key stakeholders to inform the delivery of the plan.  I acknowledge that the current school-based appointment service for children in second, fourth and sixth class is inadequate. Delays in early intervention can result in children needing more extensive treatment in later life. The action plan will address this by reducing the appointment backlog, with an initial focus on children in sixth class. While this is an important step, it is not a substitute for a service that provides early preventative oral health care for all children. This reform will be essential to improving oral healthcare services and is aligned with our national oral health policy, Smile agus Sl\u00e1inte.  The success of the action plan will be enabled through addressing workforce constraints. Without a significant number of trained oral healthcare professionals, we cannot deliver the service to the level that is required. While it is encouraging that the number of dentists has increased by over 28% since 2019, this is simply not good enough. We still need more dentists, as well as dental hygienists and dental nurses, to provide the oral healthcare services that the public needs, deserves and requires. At the same time, we must maximise the role of dental hygienists, dental nurses and other dental healthcare professionals, including through the introduction of direct access, where appropriate, to enhance the capacity of our workforce. In collaboration with the Dental Council of Ireland, the scopes of practice of oral healthcare professionals, including dental hygienists, are being examined by the Department of Health to ensure each oral healthcare professional can work to the top of their licence, which is aligned with Sl\u00e1intecare. Workforce reform must also be supported by a modern legislative framework. Updating the Dentists Act 1985 and introducing statutory continuous professional development are important steps in ensuring our oral healthcare services are fit for purpose and capable of meeting future demands. These reforms will help to support ongoing professional development across the dental sector.  I assure the Deputies that the Minister for Health will continue the ongoing work to address both the access issues that are affecting current healthcare services and to progress work on the implementation of the oral health action plan, which sets out a body of transformational reforms. These challenges are significant but we aim to address them across a multi-year programme of work. The first phase over the next two years will have a specific focus on short-term improvements to core services aimed at improving access and reducing waiting times. At the same time, this plan will support strategic planning and progressing the necessary structural reform required to build an oral healthcare service that provides care to people, with the right care in the right place at the right time. Along with the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Murnane O'Connor, I again thank the Deputies across the House for their contributions and reiterate the Government's commitment to improving our oral healthcare services. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dessie Ellis","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dessie Ellis  Early childhood dental examinations are important because they identify problems before they become serious. Early assessments of a child's teeth, jaws and bite can detect developmental issues that can reduce the need for more extensive treatment at a later age. Early check-ups can detect other health concerns and dentists may note the signs of conditions that can affect the child's overall health, such as nutritional deficiencies, oral infections and so on. Preventative dental care and early treatment is more cost-effective and less invasive than treating advanced dental disease. Early dental examinations ensure healthy oral development and establish good dental habits into adulthood. However, children can often face years before orthodontic treatment begins. This can be a result of staff shortages as the HSE has recruitment and staff retention problems. This has impacted school dental screening programmes and caused significant delays in routine dental assessments for children.  The long waits for specialist orthodontic treatment and the fact that orthodontic treatment is not covered by a medical card have meant that parents and adults have turned to private care. The cost of private orthodontic treatment can be prohibitive and treatments can cost several thousand euro. Children requiring moderate orthodontic treatment will not qualify for free care as the HSE will only fund treatments for children with severe orthodontic problems based on strict clinical criteria.  There are significant backlogs in targeted check-ups in the school dental screening service. This is a result of the many children reaching secondary school before receiving dental assessments. There are also fewer dentists participating in State-funded schemes. Among the measures the Government plans could implement is to put in place a plan to reduce waiting times for dental care and to increase resources for the school screening programme. Our dental healthcare is a system beset by workforce shortages, underfunded State schemes and outdated legislation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in  Once again there is a crisis for families and primary school children in Counties Wicklow and Wexford and across the State. From Bunclody right up to An Bhearn Dearg, from Rathdrum to Kilmuckridge, children are waiting not months but years to have their teeth checked and attended to. My background is in primary school teaching and half of children at primary school level are not receiving dental screening appointments, something that was standard 50 years ago when this country was supposed to have been poor.  More than 11,000, mostly children, are waiting on dental treatment, with over 8,000 for more than a year. Some 40% of children are on a waiting list two years for braces. In counties Wicklow and Wexford, almost 900 young people are waiting between three and four years for orthodontic treatment. It gets worse. Following a parliamentary question I submitted last year, in 2025, the HSE admitted that the public dental service was still only targeting children who were in second or sixth class in 2019. That means many children in counties Wicklow and Wexford have simply been left behind, and could be in their leaving certificate cycle before being seen by a dentist, instead of having been seen in sixth class in primary school. This is unbelievable in a super-wealthy country in 2026. Meanwhile, the number of dentists available locally under the dental treatment services scheme has collapsed by 50% in County Wexford and 25% in County Wicklow over the past seven years. That is not an accident; it is a failure of planning, investment and political will.  Let us be clear about what needs to happen. The Minister of State needs to publish a real action plan to cut the waiting lists fast, modernise the DTSS, restart school screening immediately, integrate this with the GP visit card, invest properly in public dental services, expand access to dental nurses and hygienists and introduce a dental Act. I ask him to vote for our motion to bring about these changes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Mythen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Mythen.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Mythen.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Johnny Mythen  This motion calls for major reform of dental care in Ireland because the current system is systematically broken. The HSE dental lists are evidence of this, with 11,000 people, most of whom are children, waiting for an appointment. Some 8,000 are waiting more than a year, while 40% of children are waiting more than two years. In fact, we had a well-known and reported case in my own county of Wexford, where a pensioner, Mr. Hayes, pulled out his own teeth because he was in excruciating pain and had tried in vain to get an appointment at several dental practices. This is totally unacceptable in a wealthy, modern country.  Only one third of dentists are providing public dental treatment services, and only one tenth of dentists work for the HSE. This is causing major financial hardship for working families and people with disabilities, especially those who require an anaesthetic. This type of treatment costs a small fortune. Many families have to borrow from their local credit union for dental treatment. This is wrong. The recommendations of the Dental Council of Ireland should be implemented and a new dental Act should replace the outdated 1985 Act. A workforce plan must be implemented and more places must be made available for our young trainee dentists. Sinn F\u00e9in is also calling for a digitalisation of data for special care patients and patients with intellectual disabilities to ensure transparency and accountability.  We have an ageing population. It is not rocket science. It is a global fact that people will have problems with their teeth and oral health as they grow older. This is why we in Sinn F\u00e9in are calling for a total overhaul of our current dental system, which is completely out of date, and a legal framework for dental practices. Every man, woman and child should have access to a dentist if they need one. A major reform of our dental care system must happen because the current one is creating a two-tier operation that is only serving those who can afford it and those who have expensive medical insurance, while the majority of citizens are left to wait for years for treatment. This is wrong and something must change. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  The Minister of State has accepted that dental care, especially orthodontic care in this State, particularly that provided by the public system, is not fit-for-purpose in any way, shape or form. I do not know how many times we have all been in here talking about the DTSS. The fact is a person is incredibly lucky on a medical card if he or she can find a dentist and avail of it, but we have all seen that even in those cases, a person may be offered an extraction at times instead of a filling, on the basis of how not fit-for-purpose the system is.  I do not know how long we are going to continue talking about this. It would make an awful lot of sense if rather than saying great strides are being made, the Minister of State was saying great strides have been made and the Government has delivered a system that works for the people. It is as simple as that.  Regarding orthodontic care and Louth County Hospital, in one of my recent parliamentary questions, I asked for an update and the response was:  At this time, the Department is under-resourced, with a vacant consultant orthodontist post. There is a 1.0 whole-time equivalent for the Louth-Meath region, and 1.2 whole-time equivalent vacant specialist orthodontist post in Dundalk clinic.  The specialist orthodontist position has been vacant since January 2024. In August 2024, a recruitment campaign was halted due to the pay and numbers strategy, leaving only one valid vacancy to fill. The latest update I received on this is the post has been readvertised. It does not matter about the closing date, we need to see somebody in position. I could say the same about the specialist orthodontist 0.2 WTE post which has been vacant since March 2025 and, again, \u201creadvertised lately.\u201d We need to see that filled. The consultant orthodontist post has been vacant since late December 2022. This is not working at all. I also have a letter from a company saying it offers cross-Border orthodontic health care for patients. It states that the contract that was offered to it has failed miserably and it cannot even offer a private, short-term solution. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  I thank all of the speakers for their contributions. It has to be said, among Government and Opposition Members, including the Ministers, there is a recognition that we have a real problem, and that children and adults, but particularly children, are waiting too long. The problem is that this is not the first debate we have had on this issue. It is not the first time that issues and problems with dental and orthodontic wait times have been raised in this D\u00e1il.  I mentioned that the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health had a number of sessions on this and published a report. I have been talking about this issue for the best part of ten years or more. I recall dealing with this issue when I was a member of Waterford City and County Council, many years ago. There is no part of the country about which it can be said a top class service is being provided but there are parts of the country where it is really bad, and the south east and Waterford is unfortunately one of the worst-performing. The Minister of State talked about the system relying on private contractors, and it is, but no public system should depend on private contractors. The problem is that we simply do not have enough dentists and orthodontists working in the public system. That is a reality. When the Government says it cannot hire or find them or get them into the public system, that is what workforce planning is about. The Government starts a plan and examines why something is the case, deals with those challenges, overcomes them and puts in place a strategy to enable us to train more dentists and orthodontists, recruit more and have them in the public system, but it is not happening, and because it is not happening, we are not treating children in schools or doing the screening. Children with disabilities are waiting too long for treatment and the vast majority of children waiting for braces or urgent care are waiting far too long.  It is simply not good enough. We have put forward solutions in this motion. This motion is not being opposed by Government but what I want to see is not just the Government not opposing it, but actually engaging with the solutions we have put on the table. Let us improve this service so that we are not here in a year or a number of years having the same circular debate with more children unfortunately waiting for care. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and declared carried."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Dental and Orthodontic Services: Motion [Private Members]"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-23\/debate\/dbsect_15","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-23\/debate\/dbsect_16","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Disabilities Assessments","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-23\/debate\/dbsect_15","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_16","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-23\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_16.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I ask the Minister of State to provide an update on the progress of the establishment of a new autism assessment service. We all know about the issue that exists. We are talking about more than 20,000 on the assessment of need waiting lists, many of them over the six months in which that should be provided legally. There are a huge number of parents out there who can get neither an assessment nor the therapies their child requires. We really need to solve this for the parents out there. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Children, Disability and Equality (Deputy Emer Higgins)  I thank the Deputy for this question. On 26 May, the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Deputy Foley and I, along with the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, and the HSE were pleased to launch the new autism assessment and intervention pathway protocol - the autism protocol.  The new protocol represents an important step in ensuring that children and adults have access to appropriate and timely autism assessment processes. The new protocol will, for the very first time, provide a standardised assessment process across children's disability network teams, primary care and mental health services.  Evidence tells us that some presentations of autism are easier to identify than others. Informed by this evidence, the HSE has designed a protocol that will introduce a three-tiered approach to autism assessment. It will match the intensity of assessment to the complexity of the presentation, as decided by the assessing clinicians. It is a pathway designed specifically for autism assessment, and this includes differential assessment and diagnosis, as required, as well as the development of a formulation to provide clearer understanding of the person's lived experience and the services and supports they may require.  The autism protocol has been developed over a period of five years, with input from people with lived experience, civil society and all clinical disciplines involved in assessments as well as managers and service leaders across disability, primary care and mental health services.  To support the implementation of this, my Department secured funding in this year's budget for the development of inreach teams. These will consist of a psychologist, a speech and language therapist, an occupational therapist and a case worker. These teams will work with the health areas to support and to build capacity within community services, including mental health and primary care teams as well as our CDNTs.  Implementation planning for the protocol within the regions will commence in quarter 3 of this year and will include relative briefing and training within the regional healthcare areas. We are providing training in the meantime, until that point. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I ask the Minister of State to give the exact timelines when she gets an opportunity again----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Higgins  Sure. I understand. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  -----because, obviously, it is vital that we see this. It is also a matter of knowing how these assessments will be made. Some have said they would be worried about how the assessment officer or whoever makes the clinical determination. It is about ensuring that there would be a sufficient amount of clinical backup. We all accept that if we were starting again, we would have to look at a different system as regards assessment of need and how therapies are provided. I have always had a worry about how we will try to ensure we have enough of a workforce as regards therapists, whether we are talking about the inreach teams, CDNTs or primary care. In addition, I ask the Minister of State to give the up-to-date figure for the assessment-of-need waiting list and how she sees this impacting that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Higgins  To be clear on the timelines, since the Deputy specifically asked, this is now launched. It will be rolled out in quarter 3 of this year. Right now, we are working with teams across the country to upskill and to train them on this new system of autism protocol and pathways. It is expected that when it is fully rolled out, each of the 20 integrated health areas will have one established inreach team. This year we will recruit 11 inreach teams. The final design and respective roles of the teams are being finalised. Recruitment for those inreach teams will commence in quarter 3 and quarter 4 of this year and they will be, as the Deputy referred to them in his remarks, the backup for the system. While it is not possible to quantify the exact impact at this stage in terms of assessments, it is anticipated that the successful implementation of the autism protocol will help to reduce demand for assessment of need, which the Deputy also mentioned. It will do that through the provision of a more direct and a clearer path to autism assessment for children and their families. To be clear, however, this does not in any way impact anybody's statutory right to an assessment of need. It is just a clearer access pathway through existing services such as primary care, our children's disability network teams and CAMHS, should people with an appropriate route to an assessment require one. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I understand that your right to an assessment of need remains, but the fact is that these are attempts to reduce the waiting list. We all know that what parents want to see is a better form or means of assessment and provision of therapies. We need to ensure we have a proper framework that works. I will ask again about an aspect of this matter that I have asked about in a further question which I imagine will not get answered tonight. At this point in time, what are the numbers for the assessment of need waiting list and, as I said, specifically the number that is above the six months that are legally required to provide that service for families? We all know the issues that exist out there. The problem is that parents and children are really suffering from the fact that we have not put a proper framework in place to provide the therapies and the constant assessment, which is the best means of doing this, to provide something that works. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Higgins  I agree with much of what the Deputy says. This is an attempt to provide alternative means for assessments. There will be three tiers in this autism assessment and intervention pathway protocol. Tier 1 is for an assessment with clear presentations of autism, tier 2 is a more detailed assessment for unclear causes using structured tools and input from multiple professionals, and tier 3 is an assessment for more complex presentations involving additional specialists and further reports. I know the Deputy has a further parliamentary question. I think it is No. 19. The updated figure we have is that there are 21,782 applications overdue for completion. That was as at the end of March. The figures we have are on a quarterly basis, so that is the most up-to-date figure we have this quarter. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Disabilities Assessments"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-23\/debate\/dbsect_17","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Childcare Services","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-23\/debate\/dbsect_15","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Daniel Ennis","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Daniel-Ennis.D.2026-05-25","memberCode":"Daniel-Ennis.D.2026-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-23\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_17.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Daniel Ennis","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Daniel-Ennis.D.2026-05-25","memberCode":"Daniel-Ennis.D.2026-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Daniel Ennis  Affordable, accessible childcare provision is vital for the proper functioning of our society and our economy. What plans does the Minister have to publish a detailed timeframe, including milestones and key performance indicators, for the provision of \u20ac200-per-month childcare, as set out in the commitments in the programme for Government? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Children, Disability and Equality (Deputy Norma Foley)  I wish Deputy Ennis well in his new position as spokesperson for his party on all matters to do with children. I acknowledge his predecessor, Deputy Farrelly, who gave 110% to his spokesmanship. I wish him well in his new appointment. I think he is in transport now, is he? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Daniel Ennis","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Daniel-Ennis.D.2026-05-25","memberCode":"Daniel-Ennis.D.2026-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Daniel Ennis  Yes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  I wish him well regardless of where he has moved to. Anyway, I welcome Deputy Ennis.  In relation to the question he has asked, I have always been clear in communicating that the \u20ac200-per-month programme for Government commitment is to be achieved over the lifetime of this Government. Shaping the Future: Early Years Action Plan, Phase 1 Report, published last December, sets out measures to achieve key programme for Government commitments on the affordability, quality and accessibility of early learning and care and school-age childcare. The action plan adopts a phased approach that enables action to be taken in 2026 while allowing adequate time for a broad public consultation and analysis on longer term actions.  The consultation process has a number of channels designed to facilitate the participation of a wide range of stakeholders. It includes an online survey which has received more than 11,000 responses; 56 local consultation events right across the country; an art-based engagement exercise with children; and a national consultation event, which is scheduled to take place later in the year. Results of this consultation, and additional analysis, will inform phase 2 of the plan. Phase 2 will set out actions to be undertaken from 2027 right through to the end of 2029.  The fee freeze and maximum fee caps required for core funding have been key to the progress in recent years in making ELC and SAC services more affordable. The 2026 actions on affordability will include further reduction in some of the highest fees paid by parents by lowering the maximum fees that core funding partner services can charge. In addition, from autumn 2026, we will reduce out-of-pocket costs for lower income families through the national childcare scheme. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Daniel Ennis","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Daniel-Ennis.D.2026-05-25","memberCode":"Daniel-Ennis.D.2026-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Daniel Ennis  In the lead-up to the last election, the T\u00e1naiste promised to cap childcare fees at \u20ac200 per month, and that was to do with the early stage of the Government. His words were exactly these:  I actually believe the cost bit we can deliver quite quickly. I believe it can be delivered in the early time of the government.  Not the end. Last week, on a podcast, he said that we would not get there by the next budget, that that was never the commitment - again, his words - and that the commitment was over the lifetime of the Government, as the Minister mentioned. Once again the goalposts seem to have moved. Timelines seem to have moved. The targets are moving yet again. What commitment is this Government giving such that we will not see broken promises before an election again? Not only are we so far from the \u20ac200-per-month reduction that was promised again in the programme for Government; we are yet to see a clear roadmap on how this reduction will take place. Again, the same roadmap was promised by the T\u00e1naiste. Goalposts are being moved.  In his words again, it was to be within the Government's first 100 days. We are now 500 days into the lifetime of this Government. It is just not good enough or quick enough for families that are struggling. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  In the interests of clarity, we must be clear that after any election there is a negotiation with various parties to make up a Government. As part of that, a programme for Government is written down and committed to. Those are the plans which will be committed to over the lifetime of the Government. I was involved in the writing of the programme for Government. When that was being done, the commitment was clear. This Government involves a number of parties and individuals. The programme for Government lays out that over the lifetime of the Government, the cap of \u20ac200 will be achieved. There is no deviation in that regard. There is no equivocation. It was made clear when the Government was formed.  As already stated, there has been progress in terms of a reduction in costs for low-income families. The lower income threshold for the income-assessed subsidy has been increased from \u20ac26,000 to \u20ac34,000 in order to ensure that families with incomes below the relative poverty income line receive the maximum subsidy. There has also been an increase in the upper threshold. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Daniel Ennis","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Daniel-Ennis.D.2026-05-25","memberCode":"Daniel-Ennis.D.2026-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Daniel Ennis  I take on board what the Minister is saying. I do not hold out much hope. Time and again, the Government has treated childcare as an afterthought. As a father of two, this is something I live with every day. Childcare costs are crippling families. I knocked on close to 40,000 doors, and it came up quite a lot. We were not seeing it much in representations or emails, but it certainly came up in the one-to-one conversations. The Government has failed so many times in respect of this promise. We are talking about getting costs down. We are a long way from the \u20ac200 per month cap. The average cost of childcare is \u20ac850 per month. Ireland is an outlier in Europe. We are not moving quick enough with this. I hope to see this happening sharpish. Working with the Minister on the committee, we hope to do that. I do not hold out much hope, however. That was a promise before the election that I was hoping would be delivered for my family and many others. This problem is not just in Dublin Central, it is right across the country. Families are crippled. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  I look forward to working with the Deputy at the committee. Just to be clear, 25% of families are already on the \u20ac50 per week or are paying less than that. I absolutely accept that there is much more work to do. In recent weeks, we have introduced the fee caps. The full cost for families availing of just less than 50 hours' service - this is the full day service that the vast majority of parents are availing of - is \u20ac198 per week. That is when the national childcare subsidy is included. That will now be reduced to \u20ac183 per week. We are seeing progress.  I already mentioned something that has been fought very hard for by so many different people in terms of children at risk of disadvantage, namely that the thresholds have been increased from \u20ac26,000 to \u20ac34,000 and from \u20ac60,000 to \u20ac68,000 in order to maximise people's access to the national childcare subsidy. Some progress has been made. There is more progress to be made, and we will continue that through phase 2 of the action plan. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Childcare Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-23\/debate\/dbsect_18","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Childcare Services","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-23\/debate\/dbsect_15","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-23\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_18.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Claire Kerrane  I want to begin by wishing Deputy Ennis well. I look forward to working with him both in the House and on the committee. I congratulate him on his appointment.  I want to ask the Minister about the eight locations that will be chosen this year for the State-led childcare facilities, which is something I very much welcome. I would really appreciate an update on where we are at and when we will see those locations announced, particularly as we come to the halfway point in the year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  I appreciate the Deputy's interest in this matter. She has advocated very strongly in respect of it. I can confirm that \u20ac135 million is being made available between 2026 and 2030 for the State-led early learning and childcare capital programme to facilitate the provision high-quality and accessible early learning and childcare. The process begins this year, with investment in buildings in what is a groundbreaking initiative for the Department of children. Capital funding will be used to acquire and-or fit out buildings depending on requirements.  The Department will work with not-for-profit providers to design, open and operate services. These will be not-for-profit services. To assess potential sites, a forward planning model has been developed. The model seeks to identify the nature and volume of different types of early learning and childcare places across the country, and how that aligns with the number of children in the corresponding age cohorts at local level. An extensive data analysis exercise has been undertaken to map available publicly subsidised supply.  As well as a forward planning model, a suite of appraisal criteria and tools is being developed in order to assess potential adjustment and alignment of projects with Department goals of promoting equality, inclusion, accessibility and affordability. The Department is assessing project options in order to identify which are best placed to deliver on the goals of the programme. Analysis of project options is advancing well. Project proposals can be brought to the attention of the Department through completion of a preliminary appraisal form, which is available from the city and county childcare committees. When a suitable project is brought to the Department, the forward planning and delivery unit develops a preliminary business case. The preliminary business case assesses the building and the location associated with the project against the programme's appraisal criteria, as well as analysing cost, value for money and the quality of the proposed building. The preliminary business case is considered by a capital steering group comprising senior Department officials and members from the Office of Public Works and the Department of Education and Youth. It can then be submitted for approval in principle. It is important to note that this is not a guarantee of funding for a project; it is, rather, another step along the way. Following approval in principle, a final business case is developed for the project which includes selection of an eligible operator, agreement of investment or purchasing a building, and detailed building design and costing work. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Claire Kerrane  I welcome this, but we all know, and it is no secret to say, that eight locations will be announced this year to provide, I understand, about 800 places. We have to look at the level of need. We know there are between 40,000 and 50,000 children on waiting lists across the State. Ahead of the budget, I want to ask the Minister again about the next phase of building blocks, given the level of need and demand that exists. I met IBEC last week to discuss women in particular not being able to return to the workforce. They now see access to childcare as a major labour market issue. We have the impact, typically, on the mother but also on the family as a whole and the child. There there is the ability to work, pay tax, get out in the morning and have your child in a safe place where they are looked after and educated, in many cases for the entire day. I want to ask about building blocks and extending it to purchase existing buildings rather than just focusing on new builds, simply in view of the level of need. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  I agree entirely in terms of what we are seeking to achieve in early years. It is equality of opportunity for children in the first instance. That is probably the most important element, but it is much more as well. It is also equality of opportunity for women in many respects in order to allow them, as the Deputy outlined, to go out and take up other opportunities should they choose to do so.  I want to comment on where we are at currently. The final business case is considered by the capital steering group prior to being submitted for approval. Only once a final business case has been developed, which provides full details of a project, can final approval for funding be sought. To date, four projects have received approval in principle and are being developed. A further five projects are being prepared for submission for approval in principle. No final decisions have been made on the specific projects, but I look forward to sharing the details of the projects as they are agreed. Local city and county childcare committees are supporting the development of projects. In that context, community early learning and childcare operators, local authorities, developers and others who might have suitable premises or projects should contact their local committee.  On building blocks, everything is being considered in the context of the budget. We will see how we go with that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Claire Kerrane  I know I am like a broken record, but it would be remiss of me not to mention Boyle in north Roscommon. The needs analysis, which was very well done, showed that the national benchmark is 20 childcare places per 75 households. In the town of Boyle and in the surrounding rural area, there are 20 childcare places per 1,043 households. There is a real need in Boyle, and that has been proven through the needs analysis I shared with the Minister and the forward planning unit, which very kindly gave us an extremely helpful briefing this morning on the model.  A former childcare facility on the outskirts of Boyle has become available again. It was available and then it was not. It is now available again. The childcare committee has passed on the information in that regard. We have a unique opportunity now. It is a purpose-built facility and is ready to go. That is a project that really needs to be looked at in terms of the eight overall projects. Again, I would love to see building blocks extended. We have so many empty buildings in the State. Let us use them for childcare and for communities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  I acknowledge the Deputy's advocacy on an ongoing basis. I get that from Deputy Martin Daly, from councillors and from everybody across the system. They are very well situated to advocate. I get it from my Fine Gael colleagues as well. We are very conscious of the fact that State-led is one element while Building Blocks is another. If we can pour more into both or, indeed, other initiatives, we are happy to do so.  It is a significant step forward in terms of State-led. We have never done this before and we are able to stand up eight this year. The Deputy specifically referenced buildings being made available. That is the purpose of State-led at this point, in that where buildings are readily available, we can access them quite quickly and move on to finding not-for-profit providers. Be assured that everything is in the mix for this forthcoming budget and we consider everything, including Building Blocks. We have had a scheme this year and in the previous year. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Childcare Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-23\/debate\/dbsect_19","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Childcare Services","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-23\/debate\/dbsect_15","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_19","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-23\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_19.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Wall  I wish Deputy Ennis the very best in his new role and look forward to working with him on childcare. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  I have raised the matter with the Minister for Health. Indeed, I have forwarded the Deputy's question to her for her attention because it is a matter that is more directly within her remit. The Department of Children, Disability and Equality does not determine the use of buildings when it is not involved in funding them. The design of buildings and the designation of space within them, including for the purposes of early learning and childcare, is a matter for the owners of the building in accordance with the wider planning legislation. Individual planning decisions are a function of planning authorities and An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la is statutorily independent in the performance of these functions.  The 2001 planning guidelines for local authorities and childcare facilities were issued under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 by the Minister for housing. The guidelines are intended to ensure a consistent approach to the treatment of planning applications in respect of the land use planning aspects of early learning and childcare provisions. The guidelines propose appropriate locations for early learning and childcare facilities, including in the vicinity of concentrations of workplaces where significant numbers of staff are employed.  While the 2001 planning guidelines have contributed to the delivery of a substantial level of early learning and childcare infrastructure, I am also aware that there are challenges in implementing the guidelines. The Government is committed to reviewing the guidelines to ensure early learning and childcare spaces are provided and put into use. The Planning and Development Act 2024 and the revised national planning framework, along with the ongoing work on Shaping the Future, the phase 2 action plan for the development of the early learning and childcare sector, provides a strong basis from which to pursue this work.  Separately, the Department of Children, Disability and Equality has been liaising with Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage with regard to the planning process as set out in the planning and development regulations of 2001. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has confirmed that the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality will be designated as a prescribed body to be notified by local authorities of planning applications that might give rise to a change in the demand from early learning and childcare provision. This is a really positive step forward for us in the Department. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Wall  That is a very comprehensive reply. I have a couple of questions arising from it. The Minister sent my question to the Minister for Health. Has the Minister for Health come back to the Minister on this? Does the Minister, Deputy Foley, agree with us all that it beggars belief that, when we are spending so much money on the children's hospital, we are not spending any money within that hospital on childcare facilities, given what Deputies Ennis and Kerrane have said about the lack of childcare facilities right throughout the country and the fact that the Minister comes in here every month and tells us that she is doing her best? I have no doubt that she is, but we are spending up to \u20ac2 billion on the children's hospital when, as the Minister stated, we are looking at somewhere in the vicinity to have childcare facilities. Given the need for childcare facilities in such a facility and the fact that we want to ensure that consultants and all those employed in the hospital can actually get to work and increase the number of women in particular who can go back to work, does the Minister agree with us that this is a missed opportunity at the very least and somebody needs to come back to us as quickly as possible? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  To be fair to the Minister for Health, this has just been brought to her attention. She is going to look into it, she has a copy of the Deputy's question and I have no doubt she will revert. We would have to examine whether this the norm in hospitals across the country. Only the Minister for Health can confirm that.  I have to say that the guidelines themselves actually refer to within \"the vicinity\". I am not saying that these guidelines are perfect, and we have had discussions here before where we were looking for them to be updated. I have raised the matter with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and there is a piece of work ongoing on that.  I appreciate the Deputy's bona fides in raising this matter. It is outside my remit but I accept the goodwill of the Minister for Health, who has said that she will look at it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Wall  I will take up the Minister's second point, or maybe the other point that she made, about planning guidelines. Is she telling the House that she will now be consulted on all planning applications and that this is a first for the Department of Children, Disability and Equality? Has the Department never been consulted on projects such as this because if that is the case, it is worrying? It is an opportunity for us all to get involved in the planning process but, more importantly, her Department will now be involved in planning applications as we move forward, given the lack of childcare that we have all mentioned.  Will the Minister confirm that her Department was not previously involved in planning applications as one of the bodies that would be asked to comment on them and that that has changed? Obviously, that will be positive going forward. Is her Department now getting involved in such planning applications? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  The Deputy and anybody who has served in a local authority will be aware of prescribed bodies that are consulted in terms of what is coming before the local authority. The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage has consented and confirmed that the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality will now be one of the prescribed bodies to be notified by local authorities of a planning application that might give rise to a change in the demand for early learning and childcare provision. For example, I think we are all very aware that where permission has been granted for a childcare facility for whatever reason, a further application can be made down the line for a change of use, which is something that is granted by local authorities very frequently. This new departure will give us an opportunity to make our observations and make our case that this really should not be allowed. If it is designated as an early years and childcare facility, it should serve the community. That is what it is there for. This will be really helpful and I am appreciative of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in this regard. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Childcare Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-23\/debate\/dbsect_20","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Children in Care","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-23\/debate\/dbsect_15","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_20","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-23\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_20.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Claire Kerrane  I wish to ask the Minister about voluntary residential care services in our State in terms of looking after some of our most vulnerable children, namely, children in the care of the State. I recently visited a voluntary residential service and was really impressed. It was literally like walking into any other family home in the country. I want to ask the Minister specifically about investment in these voluntary, not-for-profit services. Targets have been set for increased capacity by Tusla but they have not materialised. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  I know that the vast majority of Members will agree with me that the preferred option for children coming into the care of the State is foster care. It is the first option. This is where almost nine in every ten children in care are placed. However, Tusla operates in a very challenging and demand-led environment providing vital services to children, young people and families that often present with particularly complex issues, and foster care might not meet their needs. Tusla has acknowledged the need to increase its provision of residential placements, including those provided by community and voluntary organisations. Like the Deputy, I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge the incredible work done by staff in community and voluntary organisations to provide safe and supportive placements for children in care. I was really pleased to meet with representatives of the community and voluntary sector in January of this year to discuss matters affecting them and the children for whom they provide care.  It is important to note that the State has invested significantly in community and voluntary care provision, with the sector being allocated an increase in funding of \u20ac5.2 million in 2023 to ensure its ongoing sustainability. I was also pleased to see community and voluntary workers agree to a pay increase of 9.25% last year, ensuring that voluntary workers are better paid for their very valuable work.  I am conscious that Tusla is independent in its functions and it is a matter for the agency to manage and allocate resources, including voluntary residential provision, to address areas of greatest need while managing within its allocated budget. In 2025, Tusla reported that it had provided funding for community and voluntary residential provision of just under \u20ac30 million. The Department continues to support Tusla in the provision of the funding and resources needed to carry out its functions.  It is committed to ensuring the continuity of Tusla's work in supporting vulnerable children and families, as evidenced by the year-on-year increases in funding provided to the agency. In budget 2026, an overall increase of \u20ac177 million was provided, which amounted to a 14% increase in Tusla's budget over its 2025 allocation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Claire Kerrane  The committee on children will be writing to the Minister, if she has not already received our correspondence, asking that she seek a specific allocation for Tusla in the budget that would be used to expand residential places within the voluntary sector. I am really uncomfortable with the reality right now whereby we have voluntary residential services that have been in place for decades, are regulated to the hit, and rightly so, have to account for every red cent they receive and return any unspent moneys, while at the same time, we see millions of euro being given at the drop of a hat for special emergency arrangements, SEAs. That is a kick in the teeth for those voluntary organisations that do everything right and have to fundraise to keep their doors open. It seems lots of money can be given to organisations that are not regulated or inspected and which do not have to do anything in respect of those regulations. Will the Minister look specifically at money for expansion solely in the voluntary sector? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  To reiterate, there has been a significant year-on-year increase in Tusla funding, with a 14% increase this year, or \u20ac177 million, in the context of its overall budget of \u20ac1.4 billion for 2026. That will provide Tusla with the opportunity to increase the overall provision of residential placements for children in need to more than 800. The Deputy will appreciate that as the 2027 budget process is ongoing, I cannot give a commitment at this stage in respect of future funding. She can be assured that we have seen increases for Tusla year on year.  Work is already under way on Ireland's first national policy framework for alternative care. That is really important and will be to the benefit of children in State care. The framework aims to articulate a whole-of-government vision for the future of alternative care in Ireland, thereby delivering on a programme for Government commitment in this area. We have had excellent engagement from the community and voluntary sector through the consultation process. It is really important that it have a say in shaping the future of the care system in Ireland, including the alternative care system. The framework will provide the basis for future investment in the care system. I acknowledge all the contributions that have been made to support that process in recent months. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Claire Kerrane  The issue I am raising is that while funding to Tusla has increased, the question is where that funding is going. Given the crisis that exists for any child who is in care and while acknowledging that foster care is absolutely the number one option, I ask the Minister, where fostering is not available, to look to invest within the voluntary sector. I was really alarmed to see correspondence from America in a couple of instances recently looking to see whether people would be interested in setting up residential places in Ireland. International companies are looking to Ireland as a way to make money on the back of our care system. That is disgusting. What is more disgusting is that good, decent and proper voluntary organisations that provide homes to our most vulnerable children, and which are regulated, inspected and must account for every cent, are struggling to remain open. Some face closure and although we cannot give them the money they need to keep operating, we are looking at giving millions of euro to international investors that are not subject to regulation and inspection. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  To be clear, the additional funding Tusla was given this year allowed it to open an additional 38 residential care placements in 2025, with a prediction that a further 47 will be provided in 2026-27, which gives a total over the two years of 85. The overall budget increase will help Tusla to increase the overall availability of places for children in need to more than 800. Notwithstanding that, I hear the Deputy's point regarding special emergency arrangements being unregulated. I want to be clear that Tusla has done an awful lot of work to ensure all of those SEAs are now regulated. They are either directly under the remit of Tusla itself or are fully regulated themselves.  We are very conscious of the excellent work that is done by the voluntary sector. We want to ensure it continues doing that work. I will go into the budget mindful of the need to again seek the maximum funding possible for Tusla to allow it to support everything that falls within its remit, including the voluntary sector in this instance. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Children in Care"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-23\/debate\/dbsect_21","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Disability Services","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-23\/debate\/dbsect_15","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-23\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_21.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Grace Boland  As the Minister of State knows, the Fingal area is one of the youngest areas in the country and Balbriggan is the youngest large town. However, our CDNTs are creaking. Will she give an update on whether the vacancies that have been persistent for the past couple of years have been addressed and where we are in terms of staffing levels for the CDNTs in both Balbriggan and Swords? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Higgins  The Government is committed to ensuring that children with disabilities and their families who need early intervention and therapy input can access that support in a timely way. That commitment is reflected in the sizeable investment in disability services. In this year's budget alone, more than \u20ac3.8 billion has been allocated for disability services, which is an increase of \u20ac1.8 billion since 2020. As part of the budget process, funding was also secured for additional posts in children's disability network teams, with further investment to fund 150 posts for teams across the country. That investment builds on a 28% increase in staffing levels nationwide from October 2023 to October 2025.  Services in the Dublin north county integrated healthcare area, which is the Deputy's area, are delivered through the two CDNTs she mentioned, both of which are under the Central Remedial Clinic, CRC. To support service development and respond to increasing demand, additional staffing resources have been allocated by the HSE in recent years to the CRC. In 2026, the CRC received approval for development posts across both CDNTs, comprising 1.5 posts for Balbriggan and two posts for Swords. Two of those posts been allocated to behaviour support services, with the remaining posts allocated to speech and language therapy. The CRC was also allocated two full-time assistant therapy posts last year to support therapists and enhance service delivery across both teams.  The Deputy consistently advocates for the Fingal area. It is a fast-growing and young community. To drive further improvements, not just in Fingal but across the country, a dedicated disability workforce strategy is being worked on by the HSE and will be published this year. The strategy will help to meet growing service demands and address recruitment and retention challenges across specialist disability services, including CDNTs such as those in the Deputy's area. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Grace Boland  I very much welcome the investment in disability services, funding for additional posts and the allocation for behavioural supports and speech and language therapy. However, when I look at the raw figures, I see that every single post for Balbriggan is underfunded. We are supposed to have six occupational therapists but there are only five; instead of five speech and language therapists, we only have 3.6; there are two physiotherapists rather than four; and we have two psychologists instead of four. It is a similar picture for Swords, with only one psychologist in place instead of four. As the Minister of State knows, early intervention is absolutely key to addressing the issues we are discussing and to supporting children and their families. While posts have been allocated, we do not have people in post. As I repeatedly highlight, it is absolutely essential that Fingal be prioritised for posts at CDNT level. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Higgins  In Balbriggan, 81% of posts are filled but the figure for Swords is only 52%. That is why we are doing so much work on our recruitment and retention strategies. I pay tribute to the staff in both CDNTs for the huge progress they have made. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the total number of CDNTs across the HSE Dublin and North East region, which includes north-west Dublin, north Dublin, Cavan, Monaghan and Louth. There has been a huge increase in the number of children on open caseloads, that is, the children being seen by our CDNTs. There also has been a reduction in the number of children on CDNT waiting lists. At the end of March, across the region, that number was down substantially from the previous year, from 3,672 to 1,908. The number of children waiting over 12 months on CDNT waiting lists is also reducing. We are focusing on delivering much-needed therapies to children in Fingal and across the region. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Grace Boland  I welcome the reductions. I really do not profess to know the science behind this but there is movement of children from CDNT lists to primary care and there is movement of children on CDNT lists from Balbriggan to Swords. I am not really sure why all of that happens, but I want to make sure that the children and families who need the therapies are getting them. While numbers look like they are reducing, I am not sure that the children have actually got the therapies they have sought.  The other thing I would like to raise is the fact of the allocations generally. I know the Minister of State said that some new posts had been allocated, but given the demographics and the rapidly growing area that Fingal is, will the Minister of State tell me how often the allocations will be updated and reviewed and are they sufficient for the demographics of the area? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Higgins  Now that we have a single point of access for the HSE, that will have a huge impact and it will mean that there will be no wrong door. If a child goes to primary care and should be on a CDNT list or vice versa , they will not be put back to the start of the list again. That is a whole-of-HSE approach. The strategy we are working on at the moment is our HSE resourcing strategy. This will be about making sure we are putting the right resources in the right places. It has been very positive for the Deputy\u2019s area in that 3.5 new roles have been created this year alone. That builds on the two new roles allocated last year. This year we have funding to deliver 150 new posts across the country in our CDNT teams and we are in discussions at the moment in terms of the Estimates for next year and we hope to be able to build on that. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Disability Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-23\/debate\/dbsect_22","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 7 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-23\/debate\/dbsect_23","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Childcare Services","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-23\/debate\/dbsect_22","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_23","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-23\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_23.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  In 2024, parties were falling over themselves, as we know, including the Minister\u2019s, promising parents \u20ac200 a month childcare. The latest Fianna F\u00e1il meeting was talking about \u20ac786 per month, possibly, later on this year, so it will be like \u20ac200 a week will be nearer the mark. However, the real problem we have is childcare provision. The private childcare model is simply not working for parents. With so many more providers falling out of the sector, we need a public model. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  Perhaps the Deputy was not in the Chamber earlier when we spoke about the progress that has been made towards the \u20ac200. As I said, we have published phase 1 of the action plan and phase 2 is under way. We have made some progress. For example, we made the announcement recently in terms of the maximum fee caps. For the vast majority of people who are availing of childcare services of less than 50 hours, and this is the cohort paying the highest fees, that payment will reduce to \u20ac183 per week.  We have also confirmed that 25% of families are already on the \u20ac200 or paying less than \u20ac200 a month, or \u20ac50 a week. We have also increased the thresholds to gain the maximum in terms of the national childcare subsidy. We are on the journey. We said it would be committed to and delivered over the lifetime of the Government in terms of \u20ac200, and we are on that journey and we are in the early stages of this Government presently.  Specifically in terms of the State-led model or, as the Deputy referred to it, the public provision, the Government is committed to undertaking a broad consultation and to publishing phase 2 of the action plan on an affordable, high-quality, accessible early childhood education and care system, with State-led facilities adding capacity for the first time, noting that the plan will enhance parental choice through ongoing support for public, private and community provision as well as childminders. Shaping the Future, the early years action plan phase 1, was published in December of 2025 and sets out measures to achieve key programme for Government commitments on the affordability, which I have already mentioned, quality and accessibility of early learning and care and school-age childcare over the course of 2026. This includes a broad-based consultation which has been under way during the first half of 2026. The consultation resulted in 11,000 responses initially to the online survey, with 56 local consultation events held across the country, engagement with children to ascertain their views and a national consultation event, which is due to take place later in the year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  The problem is that the private childcare model is being heavily subsidised by the State, but even with these subsidies it is simply not working. Discovery Montessori in Castleknock has written to TDs, for example, in my area. It is the latest childcare provider saying that the core funding model cannot work for it. The fee freezes mean that it would not be able to meet its costs in wages, utilities, insurance, etc. I do not have a way of checking out all of those claims, but what I will say is that there is no way we can provide quality childcare with decent pay under the private model. The Minister used to be Minister for education. We need preschool to be provided in the same way that primary and secondary are, underpinned by the State, with childcare workers trained by the State and given decent pay and conditions to attract them into the profession. We know it is an horrifically unstable profession and very badly paid - female-centred, as usual. I know there is a consultation but the Minister needs to look at that long-term strategy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  To be fair, I agree with the Deputy in terms of issues she has raised, such as that of pay, for example. It is for that reason that \u20ac45 million was ring-fenced last year and will be this year to improve the pay for workers, notwithstanding the fact that the State is not the employer here, and the Deputy has made that point very eloquently, However, the State is stepping in. How that is divvied up is independent of the Minister and the Department and that work is under way. Over two years, \u20ac90 million being put on the table by Government is a significant amount of money in terms of wages.  On the action plan and the State led model, this is the first time the State has ever stepped in to provide a State-led model. We have said that this year, for the first time, eight different facilities will be provided for across the country to meet demand in the area and they will be not-for-profit. We will learn a huge amount from this first year as to how we might be able to move forward, but this is an important first step. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  I do get that it is the first step but it is a very slow process. It needs to be a lot more ambitious and radical. It took long enough for a realisation that the State needed to lead on childcare in Ireland. In other countries, it is par for the course. Things like training schools have to be set up where people would be guaranteed decent pay and conditions. It is appalling what many childcare workers are paid. It would be good if the State was able to underwrite it in the same way it does for education, by keeping electricity and insurance costs down, because that is what is breaking an awful lot of the private childcare providers. By the way, there are a lot of excellent private childcare providers. It is not their fault. A lot of them obviously love children, while others are just doing it as a big business. I hope that they could be incorporated into the system because obviously people would not be excluded. We cannot move forward unless there is a huge increase in the number of staff and buildings available. Schools can also be used much more than they are. After school hours the premises are all there. A lot of parents have raised that, and schools are saying \"No\" when they are asked. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  The Deputy is correct when she says it is about having the staff, the premises and a sufficient number of places available at costs that are affordable to parents. There are at least three key elements here that have to be achieved. There is no point in achieving one if we are not achieving the other two. I take the Deputy's point in relation to schools and she is right. I have worked the vast majority of my life in schools. It is part of the programme for Government that we would look at, for example, where new schools are being built, that there would be opportunities for childcare facilities to be included. I agree 100% about facilities that could be made available after school hours. These are State premises so there should be opportunities there as well and all of that is being looked at.  I acknowledge, as the Deputy did, that there are excellent private providers. The purpose of what we are doing here in the first instance with the State-led model is to work alongside where there is provision, and where nobody has stepped in and additional provision is required, the State would step in. It is not an either-or.  Eight buildings are being developed this year and next year we are hoping to go a step further. Where we may do so, we will build. We will have to see how we go forward, but it is an innovative and positive step forward. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Childcare Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-23\/debate\/dbsect_24","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Childcare Services","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-23\/debate\/dbsect_22","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aisling Dempsey","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aisling-Dempsey.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aisling-Dempsey.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-23\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_24.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa)  T\u00e1 an ch\u00e9ad cheist eile in ainm an Teachta Eamon Scanlon ach t\u00e1 s\u00e9 tar \u00e9is an Teachta Aisling Dempsey a ainmni\u00fa chun \u00ed a th\u00f3g\u00e1il. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aisling Dempsey","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aisling-Dempsey.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aisling-Dempsey.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aisling Dempsey  I want to ask the Minister to outline the current and future actions that are being taken to reduce the cost of childcare for parents across the country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  I thank Deputy Dempsey. I have always made it clear that the \u20ac200-per-month programme for Government commitment is to be achieved over the lifetime of this Government. We did discuss this earlier. Shaping the Future: The Early Years Action Plan, phase 1 report, was published last December and we have now moved on to phase 2 of the action plan report. That is very much focusing on consultation and drawing in the opinions, thoughts and lived experience of people who are in the sector, such as parents and others who have an interest in this area.  The consultation process has been really significant. We were really pleased that over 11,000 people engaged online with the survey. There were 56 local consultations held right across the country. They were on the ground, as it were. I want to acknowledge the work of the City and County Childcare Committees in that respect. There was also, very importantly, an engagement with children. It was done in art form but it was important that the views of children would be solicited and harnessed. There will also be a national consultation event which will take place later this year.  Results of this consultation, phase 2, and the additional analysis, will inform how we move forward from 2027 through to 2029. The fee-freeze and maximum fee caps required for core funding have been key to the progress in recent years in making early learning and care and school-age childcare services more affordable. The 2026 actions on affordability will include further reductions in some of the highest fees paid by parents by lowering the maximum fees that core funding partner services can charge. In addition, from autumn 2026 we will reduce out-of-pocket costs for lower-income families through the national childcare scheme, NCS.  The measures we are introducing include an increase to the lower base or income threshold of the income-assessed subsidy from \u20ac26,000 to \u20ac34,000, and on the upper end increasing it from \u20ac60,000 to \u20ac68,000, to extend income-assessed subsidies to more families. An increase to the multiple child deduction, MCD, component of the income-assessed subsidy is also being provided for where there are two children under the age of 15. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aisling Dempsey","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aisling-Dempsey.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aisling-Dempsey.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aisling Dempsey  I thank the Minister for that update. I really welcome the maximum fee cap the Minister mentioned that is coming in September and will cap those fees at \u20ac183.70. That is a real tangible step for families to achieving really affordable childcare. Families that are facing those highest fees will see the money back in their pockets. Where are those services that will benefit the most from that? Are there many of those families in Meath that will see a reduction in their fees? The Minister mentioned the \u20ac200-per-month commitment in the programme for Government. Like many people, I knew it would take the lifetime of this Government to achieve that. Is the Minister confident that in the next budget there will be more of a positive and significant change that will make childcare more affordable? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  I want to acknowledge Deputy Dempsey's personal engagement with me specifically on the areas of early years and childcare and in particular the costs. She can be absolutely assured that we are going into this budget seeking the maximum funding we can to advance the ambition. It is a very clear ambition that is in the programme for Government around the \u20ac200-per-month cost, or the \u20ac50-per-week. Also part of that is ensuring there is sufficiency of funding that there are enough places available so parents are catered for and also that there are core funding supports available, whether that is for staff, providers or whatever the case might be.  I want to reference the maximum fee caps. That is very significant. These are the cohort of people who are paying the most fees. Once they have the national childcare subsidies included, it will reduce from \u20ac198 per week to \u20ac183.70 per week. Other elements we have already referenced are the thresholds for the income-assessed subsidy support. Again, that is very significant. The figures specifically for County Meath I will have to find separately for the Deputy but I will make sure she gets them. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Childcare Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-23\/debate\/dbsect_25","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Early Childhood Care and Education","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-23\/debate\/dbsect_22","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_25","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-23\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_25.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Currie  The early childhood care and education scheme, ECCE, is transformative for children, particularly those from low-income families and disadvantaged backgrounds. The State now offers two free years of pre-school, 15 hours per week and three hours per day. Ninety-six percent of children take it up. The Government has said it wants to get that to 100%. Why are we allowing the imposition of commercial rates on ECCE services and on ECCE-only services, which could potentially close them down? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  I thank Deputy Currie. She is correct when she says that 96% is regarded as a very high uptake of the ECCE services, but it is our aspiration to reach 100%. I am aware that a number of ECCE-only services have been receiving rates-payable notifications from their local authorities. The Department, and others, have previously advised the sector that ECCE-only services are exempt from paying commercial rates under paragraph 10 of Schedule 4 of the Valuation Act 2001.  Given the importance of early learning and childcare for children, families and communities across the country, I am giving this matter my full attention. I have engaged with my Cabinet colleague, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy James Browne, on a number of occasions. On foot of this engagement, the Department of children and the Department of housing have jointly sought formal advice from the Office of the Attorney General on this matter. As the Deputy is aware, this is not within the gift of the Department of children; we have no role whatsoever in relation to rates. It is a matter outside of our remit. However, I am very pleased that the Department of housing has agreed on a joint submission to the Office of the Attorney General.  The Office of the Attorney General is now looking at this particular issue and has informed the Department that it has sought advice from external counsel on this matter, very specifically. On receipt of this advice, I will continue to engage with the Attorney General and the Minister, Deputy Browne, with a view to achieving a resolution as soon as possible.  Deputy Currie is correct that it is really important we get absolute clarity on this matter. It is a concern and a worry to those who are providing the ECCE services here. We are giving this every consideration. I want to express my gratitude to the Attorney General who has sought this external advice. Officials in the Department are also engaging with colleagues in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to explore the solutions that might be available to rectify this situation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Currie  When Tailte \u00c9ireann was before the housing committee a couple of weeks ago, I raised this matter with the representatives. They said they had taken legal advice via the Chief State Solicitor's Office and the Office of the Attorney General and it was unequivocal that ECCE services are rateable and are inherently operating for profit. This means that all ECCE services, including 100% Government-funded stand-alone ECCE services that receive no parental fees, are fair game for commercial rates, which in turn means that commercial rates for ECCE services are coming to every county in Ireland. Three-hour preschool services that do not charge parents any fees are going to be liable for commercial rates. I do not believe they should be treated like commercial businesses. I fear this is going to close down services. It is going to reduce childcare places. ECCE-only services, I believe, are already in decline. Some of these services have reached out to me saying they are potentially closing in June and will not reopen in September. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  As I previously outlined, there was a clear understanding. The Department is very clear, based on correspondence and the understanding it had received previously from its sister Department, that ECCE-only services were exempt from paying commercial rates under paragraph 10 of Schedule 4 of the Valuation Act 2001. Notwithstanding that, it is not within the gift of the Department to set commercial rates for early learning and childcare service providers. However, I want to acknowledge that there has been an absolute openness from the Minister for housing to seek a resolution here. There has been a particular willingness from the Attorney General to engage in this matter. Indeed, the Attorney General has confirmed that he is seeking external advice on this. I want to be able to furnish at the earliest possible point information to the early learning and childcare sector and, indeed, this House on the update we receive from the Attorney General at his earliest convenience. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Currie  I thank the Minister. I know she is not responsible for this and it is something that has really come to light. The legal implications of the valuation tribunal and a case in the High Court have had an impact since 2024 but there is an urgency about this. Legislation seems to be required. I have worked on legislation. Will the Minister consider working with me on that to deal with this in an urgent way? Part of that legislation also includes sessional services that offer 30 minutes of care to support parents with flexibility but they are being penalised for it. As part of that legislation, I have included that if they operate those 30 minutes at ECCE rates of \u20ac4.60 per hour, they too should be exempt. This is affecting services in four counties but it is coming to more counties. I have seen bills ranging from \u20ac1,000 to \u20ac10,000 for ECCE-only services. These services are 100% Government-funded. Why would the Government give them funding to operate and be viable and then, through another arm of the State, charge them commercial rates? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  It is important to confirm again that we need to take this step by step. We are currently engaging with the Department of housing, the Minister for housing and the Attorney General to see if there is any avenue to resolve this matter in the context of current legislation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Currie  Okay. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  That is the first step. I appreciate what the Deputy is doing; I absolutely do but I will take it step by step. I will wait for the adjudication of the Attorney General. He has given it his personal attention. He is also seeking external advice and we will see what we can do within the current legislation.  I am also aware that a number of childminding services have also received rates payable notifications from their local authorities and that has also been a huge concern. I have also stated previously that under no circumstances do I believe childminders should have their homes assessed for commercial rates. We did receive from Tailte \u00c9ireann a positive response where it confirmed our previous understanding that childminders are only likely to be charged rates if they have space dedicated solely to their childminding business and that the large majority of childminders who use the normal family homes in the home for childminding are, therefore, unlikely to be charged any rates at all. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Early Childhood Care and Education"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-23\/debate\/dbsect_26","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Disability Services","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-23\/debate\/dbsect_22","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_26","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-23\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_26.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Grace Boland  I welcome the new autism assessment and intervention pathway protocol. It is an effort to bring greater consistency as to how autism is assessed across services. The success of this reform will depend on whether autistic people and their families feel that it reflects their lived experience. The Minister of State might please advise us as to what engagement took place with the autism community in developing the protocol. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Higgins  As the Deputy will be aware, on 26 May, the HSE launched the new autism assessment and intervention pathway protocol, or the autism protocol. Once implemented, it will apply to all HSE and HSE-funded providers, as well as private providers. I am delighted that extensive collaboration by Government underpinned the development of the autism protocol. My Department and I remain committed to ongoing engagement with autistic individuals, families and representative organisations to continue to improve access to services.  The protocol introduces a three-tiered approach to autism assessment, reflecting the evidence and lived experience that some presentations are easier to identify than others. It matches the level of assessment to the complexity of each case, as determined by clinicians. The pathway is specific to autism assessment and includes differential diagnosis where necessary, along with developing a formulation to better understand the person\u2019s lived experience and the support they require.  The autism protocol was developed over five years. It was developed with input from people with lived experience, civil society, clinicians across multiple disciplines and service leaders from the disability, primary care and mental health sectors.  The service improvement programme board for the autistic community is a national HSE governance body that provides oversight, leadership and accountability for autism assessment and intervention services, including the autism protocol. When the service improvement programme board for the autistic community was established, a national expression of interest ensured representation from individuals with lived experience, including young people, adults and family members. The board included senior operational and clinical decision-makers, academic support and representatives with lived experience as equal contributors.  As the programme progressed, two working groups were created. The assessment and pathways working group, which reports to the service improvement programme board for the autistic community, included three representatives with lived experience and clinicians from psychology, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, public health nursing and social work. It also included senior managers, family members and leaders, and they helped shape it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Grace Boland  I thank the Minister of State. In regard to going forward and making sure that the lived experience of autistic people and their families included and that we learn from the experience they go through in this new process, can she confirm that there will be that ongoing structured engagement around any reforms, changes or tweaks made to the protocol, as may be required from the process? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Higgins  Absolutely. I am completely happy to say that to the Deputy. As she said in her opening remarks, the success of this depends on people's lived experience. That is exactly what we have used to help shape it. We also had expert input from a clinical advisory group as well as that assessment and pathways working group within the service improvement programme board for the autistic community. That was to ensure there was also a clinical perspective on this.  The assessment and pathways working group produced a comprehensive report. It was over 250 pages long and it outlined the new assessment approach. There were two versions of that protocol that were shared through workshops and webinars. Two consultation sessions took place in March with civil society, advocacy groups and people with lived experience. Feedback was provided to participants.  To be really clear, our approach, that of the Minister, Deputy Foley and I, and of our Department and the HSE, is to include people with lived experience. \"Nothing about us without us\" is something we are very proud to stand over. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Grace Boland  I know the Minister of State touched on it earlier but my area has one of the longest waiting lists for assessments of need. What parents at home want to know is whether this protocol will help them get assessments and therapies? Will it make a difference to them? She might please help me give some comfort to families at home. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Higgins  Absolutely. This process is all about families, children and ensuring that we have appropriate and faster access to the most appropriate clinical decisions. This is also in response to the fact that 40% of assessments, of children who are going through assessments of need, are being diagnosed as autistic. As a result of that, through five years of collaboration, hard work and clinical expertise, this protocol has been designed as part of the response to that. That is not just in Ireland. The OECD finds that there has been, overall, almost a 10% increase in autistic presentations. This is to support that but to clarify, it is totally different, distinct and independent from the assessments of need process and there is no change to anybody's statutory right to an assessment of need. What we are trying to do here is provide a quicker and clearer access pathway through our existing services, whether it is primary care, CDNTs or CAMHS teams, for people who are presenting as potentially autistic. We have three tiers as part of that protocol. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 12 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Disability Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-23\/debate\/dbsect_27","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Childcare Services","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-23\/debate\/dbsect_22","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_27","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-23\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_27.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  In line with the requirements of the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016 and the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Year Services) (Registration of School Age Services) Regulations 2018, those wishing to operate an early years service or a school-age service are required to register with Tusla for the purposes of regulation.  As of the end of quarter 1 2026, there were 3,941 early years services and 3,032 school-age services registered with Tusla in line with these statutory provisions.  The Department is in the process of drafting revised regulations for school-age childcare services, building on the initial 2018 registration regulations. There is no regulatory requirement in relation to qualifications and health welfare and development of the child in the Child Care Act 1991 and the regulations 2018. Tusla currently only inspect school-age services where risks are highlighted or concerns raised.  In relation to early years services, there are important caveats regarding the data requested by the Deputy. In that context, the regulatory requirements for Garda vetting, staff qualifications and ensuring the basic needs of children in early years settings are set out in regulation 9, management and recruitment, and regulation 19, health, welfare and development of the child, of the 2016 early years services regulations. In the context of regulation 19, the health, welfare and development of the child relate to a range of practices, including basic and individual care needs, relationships between adults and children and providing an effective programme and an environment that supports learning and development. Due to the nature of the statutory instrument in which the 2016 regulations are set out, these requirements are outlined only as specific individual components of regulations 9 and 19, both of which comprise a number of additional components and regulatory elements, the number of which Tusla is aware. On this basis, the information I will outline relates to compliance non-attainment with regulation 9(2)(c), Garda vetting, and regulation 9(4), staff qualifications, and the entirety of regulation 19, health, welfare and development of child.  Separately, as the regulatory requirements for staffing ratios comprise all components of regulation 11, staffing levels, I will outline compliance non-attainment in respect of that regulation, which addresses this element of the Deputy\u2019s query. I will get to the specifics in my next contribution. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Wall  I will yield to the Minister in order to allow her to conclude. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  Gorgeous. For ease of reference, a full copy of the 2016 regulations is available to download from Tusla's website. The data provided by Tusla is in respect of inspections as opposed to services. This is because some services may have been inspected more than once. That is an important consideration. The figures I am about to provide relate to inspections, not services.  Over 3,500 inspections of early years services took place over the period. The level of non-compliance by regulation at the end of the inspection process, post submission of corrective action and preventive action response from the provider, was as follows. Out of the 3,500 inspections, there were five non-compliant inspections relating to Garda vetting, 60 relating to qualifications, ten relating to staffing levels and 14 relating to the health, welfare and development of the child. That refers to care needs, relationships or effective programme and environment.  On Garda vetting, immediate action notices were issued in relation to all five services, and the registered provider committed to removing them from having access to children until vetting is in place. The inspectorate records all non-adherence to Garda vetting and follows up with the relevant service.  In relation to qualifications, there are a number of factors relating to non-compliance. I will explain those in my next contribution. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Wall  I tabled this question in order to find out what is going on with all of our childcare facilities and to ensure that best practice obtains right across the country. I am very happy to hear that after 3,500 inspections and in the context of the figures the Minister provided, we have a very low level of non-compliance. I am sure the Minister will agree, however, that even one instance of non-compliance is a concern. I know she will come back to me with further information on this.  When we get the figures and have time to study them, I am sure we will all have further questions. The reason for tabling this question was to ensure that there is some regulation of this important childcare sector. The fact that the number of issues identified is good in one sense. Without the detail behind them, however, we cannot comment any further. I am glad that the figures relating to the 3,500 inspections are on the low side. I again stress that one instance of non-compliance is one too many. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  I will add some information in order to provide flavour. In the context of qualifications, there are a number of factors relating to why people might be non-compliant. Staff may have some component modules of a level 5 completed and may be in the process of studying further. Some staff from abroad may not yet have applied to the Department for qualification recognition. They may have a qualification but are in the process of applying for recognition. Some Irish staff may not have applied to the Department for qualification equivalency. They could be coming from a different background and may be looking for equivalency.  In the case of Kildare, as I know that is of interest to the Deputy, the level of non-compliance at the end of the inspection process, post submission of corrective action and preventive action response from the provider, was zero for Garda vetting, zero for qualifications and zero issues in respect of staffing levels. There was one issue regarding the health, welfare and development of the child. That could be for a variety of different reasons. The early years inspectorate requires registered providers to submit a corrective action and a preventive action, with supporting evidence, to address all instances of non-compliance identified in the draft inspection report issued to them. If the corrective actions and-or preventive actions do not address the non-compliance, the registered provider may be subject to the escalation and-or enforcement processes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Wall  That is why we need more childcare in Kildare. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  There you go. I thought it was a very good report. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Wall  Absolutely. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Childcare Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-23\/debate\/dbsect_28","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Childcare Services","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-23\/debate\/dbsect_22","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_28","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-23\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_28.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Claire Kerrane  I also want to raise with the Minister the issue of the childminding regulations. I understand that the review of the regulations is imminent. We need to ensure that we get the regulations right. That is what we all want. It is very much what childminders want. Can the Minister provide further information on when the review will take place? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  The Deputy has raised this matter consistently. I am very happy to confirm that the review of the initial implementation of the childminding regulations, which will be managed by an external company, launched on Friday of last week with an open call for submissions. The review will include consultation with childminders and other stakeholders and will provide an important opportunity to learn lessons from initial experiences with the regulations. In addition to hearing from childminders who have not yet registered, it is important that the review adequately captures and benefits from the experiences of those who have registered and been through the registration process and who have operated under the new regulations. A consultation survey will follow the call for submissions, in addition to focus groups, stakeholder interviews and case studies. This is the initial step where there is a general call for submissions. When that closes, further work that will involve stakeholder interviews, case studies, focus groups and a survey will be done.  The scope of the review is broader than initially outlined in the national action plan for childminding and will now examine the effectiveness of supports made available to assist with the registration of childminders, as well as the barriers to registration and regulatory compliance, including financial and information barriers. The National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028 set out a pathway for the extension of regulation to childminders. A key objective of the national action plan is to enable parents who use childminders to also benefit from State subsidies through the national childcare scheme.  The Childcare Support Act 2018, which provides a statutory basis for the national childcare scheme, specifies that only Tusla-registered childminders are eligible to participate in the scheme. The limitation of public funding schemes to Tusla-registered providers helps to ensure that public funding is provided where there is assurance of the quality of provision. The regulation of childminding services is critical to the safeguarding of children. Childminders acknowledge that too. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Claire Kerrane  I thank the Minister. I cannot believe after all of my questions on this, the review began on Friday and I did not even realise. I thank the Minister for that important information. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  No worries. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Claire Kerrane  Obviously, I will follow up on that tomorrow.  It is very clear that there is an issue when you look at the number of childminders who have registered with Tusla. It should be of concern to all of us and that is why this review is so important. I do not know if the Minister has up to date figures. The most recent figure was, perhaps, 160. The Minister can correct me if I am wrong. Based on that figure, the review is important but it is really important there is some level of a communication campaign with clear information on exactly what the regulations look like and what they will mean. There is confusion and we need greater clarity, particularly clarity on the inspection. That is really what many, not all, childminders fear. Any of us would be concerned about a stranger coming into our homes. I ask for that to be looked at. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  I agree with the Deputy. It is a cause for concern. It is for that reason I wanted to move it to the earliest point possible, accepting the Deputy has articulated that also. We are in a three-year transitioned period up to September 2027. The numbers are low. The exact figure is fewer than 200. The Deputy is right in that there is a body of work to be done. I want this to work for childminders. They are a really important element of service provision, along with all the other elements of service that are out there.  We will have a great opportunity to hear from those who have gone through the process, but also from those who have not gone through the process on why they have not and what the issues might be. I am really encouraging them to have their say and to participate in the review, either in the open call initially or through the stakeholder engagement, the case study, the online surveys or whatever the case may be. In the interim, if there are childminders who have specific questions, I ask them to engage with the city and county childcare committees. There is a designated person in each of the city and county childcare committees charged with the responsibility of supporting childminders. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Claire Kerrane  This is certainly an issue on which we are all very much in agreement, not least because we desperately need to retain the childminders we have and we need more of them. We have heard anecdotally, particularly through the media, about childminders who have decided to end providing that much-needed service. The Minister and I know the greater level of flexibility, particularly in rural areas, it provides over an 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or 6 p.m. formal childcare setting. That is really important, particularly in rural areas where there may not be that level of capacity or formal childcare settings and, therefore, childminders become part of the family and such a significant part of a child's life. That is why it is special and we should seek to retain these childminders in as many numbers as we can.  How wide is the open call for submissions going to be? How are we going to ensure that every single childminder in the State knows that it is happening and knows they have a way to have their say? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  That call has been open since last Friday and will remain so until 20 July. There will be strong communication through the city and county childcare committees and we will do all that we can. To be clear, we are going to afford a number of different opportunities for engagement. This is the first. There will be focus groups, stakeholder engagement, online surveys and lots of other opportunities. We want the maximum engagement.  To reiterate, we are really keen that parents who avail of childminders will ultimately have an opportunity to benefit from the national childcare scheme as well. That would be a huge help to parents. Therefore, we need to have the childminders registered. They have nothing to be afraid of. They are providing an excellent service. They are rooted in the community. They are much loved, as the Deputy outlined, by the children who use the service and by the families. They are a very important additional element to the offering that is out there. I ask people to engage in this process. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Childcare Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-23\/debate\/dbsect_29","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Guardians Ad Litem","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-23\/debate\/dbsect_22","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_29","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-23\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_29.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Claire Kerrane  It is apt to raise this question on the national service now that it is under way. Does the Minister have any figures for the number of practising guardians ad litem , GALs, who have signed up and will now be part of the national service? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  The guardian ad litem national service has now been established following commencement of the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2022. This signifies a major step forward in delivering a high-quality, consistent service for children, grounded in children\u2019s rights. There is a 12-month transition period for existing guardians, as set out in the legislation. This means that the GALs already appointed by the courts can continue in their current roles. Of the 107 guardians currently practising, 95 guardians ad litem applied and were successful in their application to avail of the transitional arrangements. This means that they may continue as appointed guardians from 23 June 2026 for 12 months, as set out in the legislation. All of these continuing appointments have been subject to updated checks. This is to ensure that the best interests of all children requiring a guardian are the focus of such measures, as intended by the legislation.  The guardian ad litem national service has received approval from the Department of public expenditure for 92 posts, with 65 posts allocated as full-time employed guardians. Recruitment for these roles opened in December 2025 and the competition was conducted in partnership with the Public Appointments Service. There was strong interest in the role from both currently practising guardians and other appropriately qualified professionals. Thirty-five of the current practising guardians were successful in the selection process. Five employed guardians commenced employment with the national service on 22 June. A further 31 successful candidates are at contracting stage, of which 25 are current practising guardians. A further 25 candidates are going through the clearance stage with the Public Appointments Service. The objective is to have the 65 guardian posts offered in place by end of 2026.  The guardian ad litem national service has engaged with existing guardians ad litem around the management of existing court orders during the period of transition. This covered standards of conduct and reviews of cases. Newly employed guardians will benefit from training on similar material at the outset of their employment with the national service. The Child Care (Amendment) Act 2022 also provides scope for setting and revising standards and practice on the function, training, record-keeping and conduct of the guardians. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Claire Kerrane  I thank the Minister. I am glad she referenced record-keeping at the end of her contribution because an issue has been brought to my attention about the records of children. The new service is not going to seek any existing records of children and is not going to hold any records moving forward, which I find very odd. There will be children who will grow up who will have GALs. They might have one or they might have a number of them throughout their time. When those children get into adulthood, they may seek their records, information or correspondence - a letter that they wrote to a judge of the day or whatever it may be. All of that information is really important to them, especially for children who, regardless of the reason they end up in the care of the State, have some level of trauma. That record-keeping by the national service is important and I do not understand why it cannot be retained and managed within the national service. That may be something the Minister will look at. It was new to me, certainly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  I thank the Deputy. The Act provides scope for, in the first instance, setting and revising standards and practice as regards the function, training, record-keeping and conduct of guardians in their roles. The national service will keep these issues under consideration as it completes its work during the first 12 months from June 2026. On records, it is my understanding that cards or any kind of correspondence of that nature would be kept by Tusla. Anything pertaining to the court case is a different matter. I can get the Deputy further clarification on that.  I acknowledge the great work of guardians. There is no doubt about it that they are advocates for the children. They speak for the children and first, last and always we want to the voice of children to be heard. This is a very positive step forward. I wish the director, the team, the guardians and everyone else working there every success with the work. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Claire Kerrane  I believe that the Minister would agree and acknowledge that legal representation has been a major issue and one that GALs themselves have brought forward. It is something that they are genuinely concerned about it and something I have raised with the Minister many times. Given that it genuinely has been an issue, will it be looked at and data kept in terms of where legal representation from a GAL is sought and either approved or not approved? I have asked many times and I still do not have an answer as to why we would remove the guaranteed legal representation for a GAL standing in a court of law in which they may never have stood before, usually against Tusla and its representation and a parent and their legal representation. A GAL who has never been in a court in their life could be standing there with no legal representation. When I put this to the head of the national service, she told me that if there was an issue one day in court, the service would look at it again. However, what are the consequences of that day in court? That child could be sent here, there or anywhere. Looking at it the next day really is not good enough, given the consequences that this can have on a child's life. Will data be held in relation to that legal representation, given that it genuinely has been an issue? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  I accept that queries have been raised around legal representation. I wish to confirm that I have met with the directorate and there is an in-house legal team of a number of very highly qualified individuals with the appropriate legal background who make themselves available at all times for any kind of legal advice that might be required. I have met the head of legal in that respect and she has ensured me that she and her team are available at all times.  There is also very specific legal representation available should a guardian ad litem be bringing a case, be party to a case or whatever the case may be. It is very reassuring that the legal team is available at all times. For the first time, there will be legal representation in each of the areas covered by the courts. That is also very important. If representation is needed at the last minute, it is available. I accept the concerns that have been raised but the directorate has worked hard to ensure those fears are allayed. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 16 to 23, inclusive, taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Guardians Ad Litem"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-23\/debate\/dbsect_30","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Disabilities Assessments","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-23\/debate\/dbsect_22","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_30","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-23\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_30.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  Well, we actually did make it to this question. I requested information on the number of children currently waiting on assessments of need for longer than the statutory waiting time in each regional health area in tabular form. I want to get a notion of where we are. We spoke about the new autism protocol earlier but the fact is that this figure is far too big. We need to deal with this. Parents are not getting assessments and therapies for their children. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Higgins  The Deputy is absolutely correct. The delivery of an effective and efficient assessment of need system is a priority for the Government. The Department and the HSE are working intensively to address delays in the provision of assessments of need to children and their families. It is important to reiterate that children do not require an assessment of need report to access health services, such as primary care, children\u2019s disability network teams or mental health services, or education supports.  Demand for assessments of need has increased significantly in recent years. This reflects both the increase in population and the increase in the number of families exploring all options to access services for their child. Over 13,000 applications for assessments of need were received last year, with over 3,800 applications made in the first three months of this year. This demand is absolutely outpacing the capacity of the system to respond. As a result, 21,782 applications were overdue for completion at the end of March. I gave the Deputy that figure earlier. To break that figure down by regional health area: the figure in HSE Dublin and North East is 6,608; in HSE Dublin and Midlands, it is 7,772; in HSE Dublin and South East, it is 3,204; in HSE South West, it is 2,004; in HSE Mid West, it is 595; and in HSE West and North West, it is 1,599. These numbers are really stark. It is really important to remember that behind every number is a child or young person. It is not acceptable that children and families have to wait so long for assessment of need applications to be processed.  This Government, the Minister, Deputy Foley, and I have made it very clear that change is needed. There has been progress in the past two years with a noticeable increase in the number of completed applications. Over 5,900 assessment of need reports were completed in 2025, which is a 43% increase on the previous year and an 85% increase on the year previous to that. This progress has been and will continue to be assisted by the assessment of need targeted waitlist initiative, which funds the procurement of clinical assessments from private providers to inform the assessment of need process. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  It goes without saying that the figure of 21,782 should be shocking. Unfortunately, it is not. The figure in my own area, HSE Dublin and North East, is 6,608. As the Minister of State has said, behind each of these figures is a child and a family. None of this is good enough. We sometimes come in here and talk about CDNTs and the number of unfilled positions. I will work on the basis that the number of vacancies is still in the high 300s. Even if we had double that number, I am not sure the CDNTs would be able to deal with the need that is out there. We have had many interactions in relation to this recently. Many people have bought into the idea of putting the resources where they are needed, which is to say, in school therapies. It is going to be very difficult if we do not look at the whole gamut from assessments right through to therapies. We are constantly trying to change little bits rather than looking at the overall picture and putting in place a framework that delivers for the children and families out there. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Higgins  The Deputy is right; the demand is increasing year on year. It has increased quite exponentially in the last five years. As a result, it has been difficult for us to keep up with demand. Our CDNTs around the country do absolutely incredible work not just with regard to assessments of need, but also, importantly, in the delivery of therapies. It is those interventions that parents and children want.  In response to an earlier question of the Deputy's, we spoke about the new autism intervention and pathways protocol. That is another Government investment to ensure we provide access to more timely assessments and more targeted interventions for children and young people across Ireland. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  We have the figures. None of them are good enough. Unfortunately, despite all the initiatives that have been taken, we have not drastically dealt with that figure. That is the frightening part. It is the one right that parents have. It is sometimes the only right they can vindicate through the courts and there is therefore huge emphasis on it. However, as we all know, it does not provide you with the therapies, which are absolutely necessary. I am going back to the idea of putting a system in place across the board. I am worried that, even if we were to recruit all the occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, and psychologists for which there are unfilled positions in the CDNTs, in primary care and in the in-reach teams, which is probably not possible to do without a huge increase in workforce planning, we would still not be able to deliver on the need that is out there. We have to look at this in a far more comprehensive way that relates to how we deal with disabilities across the board. At the UN conference, we discussed the idea of mainstreaming, making reasonable accommodations and allowing full participation for those with disabilities. We need to stop this failure. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Higgins  The Government is absolutely committed to ensuring that this is dealt with in a comprehensive way. Part of our response will be a series of improvements to the assessment of need process to make it more efficient and effective for children and families. Over time, this will lead to a reduction in the waiting time to receive an assessment of need. I thank the Deputy for his work on the Committee on Disability Matters. From that work, he will know that the general scheme of the disability (amendment) Bill has been published on the Department's website. The Deputy's committee has published a report following pre-legislative scrutiny of the Bill. The Department is now considering the recommendations. I thank everybody who was involved in those committee hearings and in pulling together that report. A series of recommendations were made and we are now working on these to improve the proposed legislation. A document addressing frequently asked questions has also been published.  Legislation is only part of our response. We also need to enhance the processes, to improve training and to increase administrative support for our HSE assessment officers, who are responsible for the production of the assessment reports. The Department is working really closely with the HSE and with the working groups that are in place to ensure this happens. As the Deputy has said, we need to address the wider issues. That is exactly what was set out in this year's HSE national services plan. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  Do we have any idea of the timeline for the legislation? "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Is f\u00e9idir teacht ar Cheisteanna Scr\u00edofa ar www.oireachtas.ie. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Written Answers are published on the Oireachtas website. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Disabilities Assessments"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-23\/debate\/dbsect_31","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_31","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa)  I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case:  Deputy Pat Buckley - To discuss the lack of school transport for children with intellectual disabilities at a school in Cork,  Deputy Tom Brabazon - To discuss the loss of staff at a school in Priorswood in the context of its new DEIS plus status.  Deputy Malcolm Byrne - To discuss the development of Bunclody Community College, County Wexford.  Deputy Albert Dolan - To discuss the pricing of train tickets between Athenry and Galway.  Deputy Eamon Scanlon - To discuss exceptional staffing pressures at a school in County Sligo.  Deputy Michael Murphy - To discuss the failure to recruit a consultant ophthalmologist in south Tipperary.  Deputy Shane Moynihan - To discuss delays in reimbursement under the cross-border healthcare directive.  Deputy Mark Wall - To discuss the ongoing illegal encampments in the Curragh, County Kildare.  Deputy Gary Gannon - To discuss data collection and sentencing guidelines relating to unprovoked one-punch fatal assaults.  Deputy Donna McGettigan - To discuss the potential loss of 87 jobs and the uncertainty facing 600 students at Carlow College.  Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan - To discuss the reimbursement of a drug (details supplied) and the implementation of the drug reimbursement system as committed to in the programme for Government,  Deputy Pa Daly - To discuss delivery of a new building for a school in County Kerry.  Deputy Colm Burke - To discuss actions to reduce the risk to children who require MRI scans under anaesthetic.  Deputy Rory Hearne - To discuss community safety and policing issues in Ballymun and Finglas in the context of the upcoming Presidency of the Council of the EU.  Deputy Roderic O'Gorman - To discuss health and safety concerns in a school in Chapelizod, Dublin 20.  Deputies David Cullinane and Conor D McGuinness - To discuss the severe childcare services deficit in County Waterford.  Deputies Louis O'Hara, Mair\u00e9ad Farrell and Claire Kerrane - To discuss the underfunding of Galway County Council.  Deputies Darren O'Rourke and Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire - To discuss the need for redress for survivor's of historical abuse at a school.  Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa - To discuss the planned industrial action at Oberstown.  The matters raised by Deputies Donna McGettigan, Eamon Scanlon, Mark Wall, Louis O'Hara, Mair\u00e9ad Farrell and Claire Kerrane have been selected for discussion "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-23\/debate\/dbsect_32","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_32","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-23\/debate\/dbsect_33","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Third Level Education","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-23\/debate\/dbsect_32","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_32","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_33","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donna McGettigan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marian Harkin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donna McGettigan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donna McGettigan  I want to talk about the job losses at Carlow College, St. Patrick's, and the severe impact on students and the regional workforce. The recent announcement of the phased wind-down and closure of Carlow College over a two-year period marks a devastating blow to higher education in Carlow.  Initially, staff and students expected that the college would merge under the South East Technology University, SETU, umbrella. I recently visited the campus and spoke directly to those affected by this decision. There is genuine shock and disbelief about the closure. There is an attempt from the Government to play down the reality that there may be 87 staff members facing redundancies with a phased termination process beginning as early as August. This decision has come as a shock to staff who were given absolutely no prior consultation or engagement.  There are many questions on this issue. On what date did the Department or SETU formally advise Carlow College's senior management that staff and programmes would not be transferring into SETU? At what point did the Minister notify Carlow College and advise that it engage with staff? Was formal notice given to the Central Applications Office that Carlow College would not be in a position to accept students for the coming academic year? Was an independent valuation conducted on Carlow College's lands and buildings? What were the terms of agreement transferring this multimillion euro asset to SETU? What exactly what the Minister's understanding of the original merger plan? Why did we have a complete pivot on that? Will there be transparency on staff layoffs in August to prevent operational disruption when the semester opens in September? Will there be ring-fenced funding for Carlow College's tailored student supports, which serve an exceptionally diverse and non-traditional student body? Will there be unnecessary duplication of expenditure involved in dismantling an established highly successful infrastructure just to recreate it at SETU? What will happen to those students who are expecting to do a four-year degree and come out with a level 8 qualification who will now only come out with a level 7 and have to do one year less?  According to replies at a meeting of the public accounts committee to Deputy Paul Murphy, there is an asset, which is the buildings, and this will be used to look after staff redundancies. What is the worth of this asset? Why can it not be used to integrate, or at least give the choice to integrate, staff into SETU? The Department claims that student welfare is paramount, yet redundancies will be announced in August - a week before the September term begins. I spoke to students who said that because of the nature and smallness of Carlow College, they were given a chance at the college. This closure is being felt by the neurodivergent community. The smaller class sizes and tight knit, friendly, personalised environment meant that many students with additional needs thrived. This small group learning meant that there was a reduction in sensory overload and academic anxiety compared with larger impersonal university settings. Where will these students find a place where they can thrive and flourish? The planned wind-down of Carlow College requires strict adherence to CORU regulations for students in the BA on applied social studies and the professional social care. This means that the degree programme remains fully accredited and recognised for statutory registration as long as the student completes it within a two-year period. Why are students not told of this sooner, so they may choose to not start in the first place? If a student is entering year two in September, this means that they face a very tight timeline because of the wind-down, which has to be done fully by 2028. A standard four-year BA track cannot be completed on the Carlow campus in its current form. What will happen to those students? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marian Harkin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Deputy Marian Harkin)  I thank the Deputy. As she will be aware, Carlow College is and has always been, a private and autonomous institution operating outside the publicly funded higher education system. Despite this, it has received substantial State support, including over \u20ac3.1 million in student fee grants, with an annual uplift of \u20ac750,000 in place since 2022. Following repeated requests for additional assistance, an independent review in 2024 identified a deteriorating and ultimately unsustainable financial position. It became clear that without intervention the college was at serious risk of imminent closure, with significant consequences for students, staff and the wider regional education landscape. Through the support of the Minister, Deputy Lawless, and our Department to prevent a disorderly shutdown, SETU agreed in 2025 to engage with Carlow College. An independent mediator was appointed to guide Carlow College through the process. The engagement included extensive analysis and due diligence, culminating in a detailed report delivered to both institutions. The resulting framework is, therefore, a joint proposal arising from sustained and transparent engagement between both parties with Carlow College fully involved throughout and reflecting the preferred option of Carlow College to teach out the existing students and programmes over the next two academic years.  Throughout this period, particular attention has been given to the position of staff. The Minister has consistently emphasised the need for clear and proactive communication with employees. This included direct correspondence in December 2025 urging the college's president to prioritise staff engagement in early 2026. In considering the proposed pathway forward, the priority has been to safeguard the interests of the college community while enabling a fair and transparent process for staff. The agreed plan provides for an orderly wind-down of academic activity over a two-year period finishing in August 2028. What has been agreed between the two parties is a structured and phased teach-out designed to minimise disruption to students and staff. The Minister has continued to engage. Most recently yesterday, he met both autonomous institutions and separately a staff delegation from Carlow College with their union. He is acutely aware of the impact of this announcement on Carlow College and its staff and has asked the college to support them through clear engagement in this process. All local representatives from Carlow and Kilkenny were invited to an online briefing last night to discuss these matters.  A key element of this framework is the planned acquisition and transfer of the college\u2019s land and buildings to SETU at the end of this period. In return, a significant level of State funding, based on an independent valuation, will be provided to Carlow College. This funding will be committed by Carlow College to support its teach-out and staff redundancy costs. These issues will be managed through established representative structures and trade unions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donna McGettigan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donna McGettigan  I hear that this a private entity and the State could not step in, but the State is about to get a multimillion euro campus for free. That is my understanding of this. That does not seem to be clear in any of these discussions. Does the Minister of State even know the cost of this campus? She said there was clear talking with the staff yet conditions were laid down regarding this campus that are not being met. One of the conditions was that staff would be integrated with SETU. That does not seem to be happening. Staff were shocked to discover this, so there was no clear conversation with staff. Losing this campus will affect many students in the future who depend on a small personal environment - a place that they feel they belong and a place for them to flourish. Facility and support staff will return in September with zero clarity regarding their exact workloads, module allocations or scheduling. The sudden exit of specialist experts right at the start of an academic year ensures immediate systemic disruption to lecturing, dissertations, supervision and placement mentoring. Carlow College serves a unique, non-traditional student demographic that the university sector regularly fails to reach.  In the social care cohort, over 80% are non-leaving certificate students. I was one these in a different college, Limerick College of Further Education. I was given a second chance through that college. Carlow College has tailored supports that face the acts. Students have succeeded because of the college's hyper-tailored specialised support staff. Redundancies targeting support personnel will directly trigger high drop-out rates among students with disabilities and those from marginalised backgrounds. The Psychological Society of Ireland and the Irish Association of Social Workers have repeatedly declared a crisis due to critical backlogs in health, education and mental healthcare. Winding down these specific programmes directly starves the south-east region of professionally trained graduates. It will worsen unacceptably long waiting times for vital mental and educational care for vulnerable service users. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marian Harkin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marian Harkin  I thank the Deputy.  I believe the framework agreed by the two institutions is a prudent and measured approach that protects the educational attainment and interests of students in the region. Every current learner in Carlow College will be able to complete their studies and graduate as planned without disruption or disadvantage. That commitment of continuity and fairness has guided every step of the process. At the same time, the framework provides the autonomy and responsibilities of Carlow College as a private institution and employer with a long history. Government has every confidence the formal discussions commenced by Carlow College with its staff and staff reps will be carried out in a transparent and forthright manner.  Of course we are concerned about the staff. Our thoughts are with all of them as they deal with the news of the closure of the college and the loss of their employment. Through future expansion and development of programmes in areas of demand, regionally and nationally, there will be opportunities for the highly qualified and experienced staff of the college to apply for job opportunities but, it is important to say, through open competition. The Deputy mentioned social care. The Minister, Deputy Lawless, and his Department are running a new expression of interest across disability therapies and social care to expand provision nationally.  In terms of opportunities for the enhancement of higher education in the Carlow region, the planned transfer of the campus to SETU creates a strong foundation for continued investment in Carlow, ensuring this historic site remains a vibrant hub of learning and opportunity. Under SETU's leadership, there is a clear pathway to strengthen provision, expand access and support regional development. SETU will preserve the use of the site for educational purposes. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Third Level Education"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-23\/debate\/dbsect_34","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"School Enrolments","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-23\/debate\/dbsect_32","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_32","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_34","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eamon Scanlon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eamon-Scanlon.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Eamon-Scanlon.S.2002-09-12","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eamon Scanlon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eamon-Scanlon.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Eamon-Scanlon.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eamon Scanlon  I wish to highlight an urgent and exceptional situation facing St. Patrick's National School in Calry, County Sligo, which requires immediate and practical intervention to ensure children in this community can access the education they are entitled to. St. Patrick's National School is experiencing unprecedented staffing pressures for the 2026-2027 school year. The school has already pursued the appropriate channels and submitted an appeal to the appeals board for an additional teaching post. Despite presenting a strong case, the appeal was unsuccessful. The school met three of the four criteria required for consideration. The only unmet criterion was the requirement to have enrolled more than 30 junior infants in each of the previous two years. However, this single unmet condition does not reflect the reality on the ground.  The school has submitted substantial additional information to demonstrate the exceptional circumstances it now faces which cannot be addressed within the limits of the standard criteria. For September 2026, the school has already received 45 completed applications for junior infant enrolment. This is almost double the 24 pupils enrolled in the 2025-2026 cohort. No places have yet been allocated but the scale of demand is clear. The intake is far above the national average for a single-stream junior infant class. It also represents a cohort with early intervention needs in literacy, oral language, numeracy and social development. The board of management, the school's patron and the planning and building unit of the Department of education have all approved the opening of a second junior infant stream for September. The school has the physical capacity to accommodate this class. It has a vacant classroom ready to be used. Crucially, no additional capital investment is required. The nearest alternative school, which these children would not ordinarily attend, is already oversubscribed, operating a waiting list, and has no capacity to take additional pupils. The overwhelming majority of applicants for September 2026 are siblings of existing pupils. These are families who have already entrusted their children to St. Patrick's National School. The school has a clear obligation to meet this local demand.  What are these parents supposed to do now? The school currently has seven mainstream teachers and one unused classroom. Without an additional teaching post, it is simply not possible to split classes further or to manage the projected enrolment in a way that is safe, sustainable or educationally sound. The combination of sustained enrolment growth, a significantly oversized junior infant cohort and the need for a senior split class clearly constitutes an exceptional circumstance. It is also important to note St. Patrick's National School will meet the threshold for an additional teacher in September 2027. Based on current projections the enrolment will exceed 192 pupils on 30 September 2026 with a projected enrolment of 203 children. In other words, this is not a temporary spike, it is a sustained upward trend.  Given the scale and projected enrolment, the absence of alternative school capacity and the school's readiness to accommodate an additional class without any capital expenditure, the case for immediate intervention is compelling. For these reasons, I request urgent approval for additional teaching posts for September 2026. This is a necessary and proportionate response to ensure children in Calry can access the education they deserve in their local school alongside their siblings in an environment that supports their learning development. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Deputy Robert Troy)  I am taking this Topical Issue on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Naughton, who sends her apologies that she cannot be here to today. I thank Deputy Scanlon for his strong advocacy on behalf of St. Patrick\u2019s National School.  The primary staffing schedule is a long-standing feature of the primary allocation system which ensures fairness and transparency in the allocation of mainstream class teachers across our primary schools, regardless of location. The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. The staffing arrangements for primary schools for the 2026-27 school year are set out in Circular 0025\/2026. St. Patrick\u2019s National School has a current mainstream staffing of an administrative principal and seven mainstream class teachers based on an enrolment of 177 pupils as of 30 September 2024. The mainstream staffing of the school is due to stay the same for the 2026-27 academic year based on the returned enrolment of 182 pupils as of 30 September 2025. The staffing arrangements include an appeals mechanism for the school to submit a staffing appeal under certain published criteria. The school\u2019s staffing appeal was unsuccessful. The primary staffing appeals board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final. The staffing arrangements also include a projected enrolment process whereby schools experiencing significant increase in enrolment may apply for additional mainstream staffing.  I acknowledge what the Deputy said and commit to him that I have taken it on board. He mentioned that further information has been submitted in relation to the exceptional circumstances. There is capacity within the school with an existing free classroom that can be used, putting no additional demand for capital resources, and many of the additional students are siblings of existing pupils of the school. While I cannot commit to overturning any decision this evening, I will relay to the Minister the strong case Deputy Scanlon has made on behalf of the school and ask the Minister to reply directly to him as a matter of urgency. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eamon Scanlon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eamon-Scanlon.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Eamon-Scanlon.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eamon Scanlon  I thank the Minister of State. I acknowledge the primary staffing appeals board operates independently of the Department and I understand from the response to my representation that its decision is considered final. However, what is at stake goes far beyond the numbers or technical criteria.  The decision not to allocate an additional teacher to St. Patrick's National School is, in practical terms, short-sighted and it risks having a deeply damaging impact on children, on families and on the wider Calry community. This is not an abstract administrative issue; it is about whether 45 four and five-year-olds have a fair, safe and appropriate start to their education. We have already seen comparable situations addressed differently. In March 2025 the Department sanctioned the opening of a second junior infants class at Dunshaughlin Community National School in County Meath. This intervention demonstrated that flexibility is both possible and appropriate when exceptional pressures arise. The circumstances now facing St. Patrick's National School deserve the same level of examination and the same fair treatment. The reality is simple. The school cannot absorb over 45 incoming junior infants without an additional teacher. Current projections show that significant challenges would place unsustainable pressures on teaching, learning and deployment of special education resources. The school has a classroom ready and it requires no capital investment. Based on projected enrolment, the school will qualify for an additional teacher in September 2027. The need is clear, the space is available and the demand is already at the door. Surely it makes sense to act now to prevent disruption, distress and the educational fallout that will inevitably follow if this situation is not resolved.  The current system of allocating teachers based on the previous year's enrolment is no longer fit for purpose. We need a model that uses projected enrolment so schools are not left scrambling when large junior infant cohorts arrive. Schools across the country are experiencing rapid growth. Relying on outdated figures only creates avoidable crises like the one we are facing now. For these reasons I urge the Minister of State and the Department to intervene and approve the allocation of the additional teaching post for September 2026. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  Teacher numbers at primary schools have reached the highest ever level in the current school year. Currently there are over 43,000 teaching posts allocated across the primary school system. This represents an increase of just over 5,000 teachers when compared to the 2019-2020 year. This has led to a steady improvement in the pupil-teacher ratio and to average class sizes reducing in this period. The Government has significantly invested in our schools and in our teacher workforce in recent years. Deputy Scanlon will be aware that the programme for Government commits to making further progress in this area with an aim to reduce the general pupil-teacher ratio at primary level to 19:1 over the term of the Government.  That is all very well but it does not answer Deputy Scanlon's point here this evening. The Deputy makes a very strong case in relation to the enrolment for this year, the projected enrolment next year, the high number of junior infants that will be in the school, and the challenges that presents. The Deputy said there is existing capacity within the school and there is no capital requirement for putting on additional space. I am taking on board all of these points here this evening and I commit to the Deputy that I will relay them back to the Minister, Deputy Naughton. I will ask the Minister to come back to the Deputy urgently with a reply to the points he has raised on behalf of his school here this evening. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"School Enrolments"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-23\/debate\/dbsect_35","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Defence Forces","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-23\/debate\/dbsect_32","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_32","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_35","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Wall  The Minister of State is very welcome here tonight. I have often described the Curragh Plains in County Kildare as the jewel in the crown of the whole county. It is 4,870 acres of historic and, in the main, undeveloped land. It is home to our Defence Forces, the racing industry and a large number of sheep farmers, along with a number of magnificent sports clubs. As well as being home to those organisations and entities it is also home to many unique plants and bird species. The Curragh Plains conservation plan states that there are over 200 historic sites and monuments on the Curragh, with many more yet to be discovered. I will come back to the Curragh Plains conservation plan later.  Along with other Oireachtas colleagues over the last number of weeks, months and at this stage years, I have been raising concerns about the growing number of illegal encampments on the Curragh. In 2024, for example, the Department of Defence spent \u20ac186,000 cleaning up after illegal encampments on the Curragh. This is the Curragh of Kildare where there are currently two battlefield sites with no legal protection. The last Curragh of Kildare Act was in 1969, which is 57 years ago. That Act replaced the Acts of 1868, 1870 and 1961.  The Curragh Plains conservation management plan includes engagement with a number of bodies and runs to 161 pages. Its conclusion is that we need to review the Curragh by-laws. They were last reviewed in 1969. It also states that we need to look at the Curragh of Kildare Act, and form a dedicated agency. In 2021, along with a number of colleagues, I took part in consultation and that has developed into the particular plan I mention. As I understand it, that plan has been prepared for over a year and a half now, but in a recent reply I have seen the Minister states that she is still working on the implementation of that plan. Unfortunately, over the last number of weeks we have seen, once again, a large number of caravans in an illegal encampment. At one stage the numbers rose to over 100. We also saw the imposition of circus tents on the Curragh. The Curragh is a magnificent facility that is used by many people from the towns of Newbridge, Kildare town, Kilcullen and all the surrounding areas of County Kildare, yet we are being defined by illegal encampments. We are being defined by people who come here and do not respect the Curragh and by extension the people of Kildare.  What I am asking for tonight, and I hope the Minister of State, Deputy Troy, has some answers for us, is that the Government will finally realise the importance of the Curragh of Kildare, that the Government will enact the Curragh Plains conservation management plan strategy, and that we will see an entity such as a dedicated agency taking it over. In replies I have received in the last number of weeks, the Minister for Defence has told me that her Department has been in and out of the High Court trying to get injunctions against these illegal encampments. I hope the Minister of State has some good news for all of us who value the Curragh of Kildare as the jewel in the crown of our great county. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  I welcome the opportunity to respond on this matter. I thank the Deputy for raising it. I pass on the apologies of the Minister for Defence that she cannot be here in the Chamber this evening. I acknowledge Deputy Wall's advocacy in this area. During his contribution the Deputy referred to the seriousness of this issue, which is demonstrated in the cross-party support for trying to get this addressed. I addressed this very issue with my colleague Senator O'Loughlin in the Seanad earlier today. Deputy \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl has also raised this point in the D\u00e1il. It demonstrates the seriousness of the issue and how we are working together to try to have it addressed.  Since earlier this year the Curragh has seen several different illegal encampments, including one containing approximately 100 caravans. This has caused a great deal of disruption and anxiety to local stakeholders. The Department of Defence does not accept that those occupying the encampments have any right to reside on the Curragh Plains and it has engaged regularly with the Chief State Solicitor's Office to ensure that all legal steps are taken to promptly protect the plains. The Department initiated legal proceedings in April for relief for trespass in the High Court, and in the preceding months a number of other parties were served with notices and added to the proceedings before the court. On 5 June Mr. Justice Jordan granted an interim court order against 35 named individuals and other persons unknown in occupation on the Curragh. These orders were served on the occupants by bailiffs on the evening of Monday, 8 June with orders to vacate, and the order was served on the occupants of the large encampment on the evening of Friday, 12 June. Further notices to quit were delivered to the encampment on Saturday, 20 June.  In terms of addressing these challenges in the longer-term, the Department of Defence is working to ensure that we move to a modern and sustainable regulatory model in managing this historically important landscape. In collaboration with Kildare County Council, the Curragh consultancy project was published in 2024, as the Deputy referenced, which identified the need for a review of the Curragh bye-laws and the Curragh of Kildare Act, and potential amendments to provide effective solutions to challenges faced. The report also identified the need to consider a dedicated agency responsible for the Curragh, or to assign responsibility for the site to an existing agency with the necessary expertise to maximise the potential of the plains.  This Government is committed to the implementation of these recommendations to address both the opportunities and challenges, as can be seen by its inclusion in the programme for Government. To this end, Department officials are continuing to engage with the National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS, which has undertaken an initial scoping of their likely requirements. I am informed that officials from the Department's property management branch met with officials from the NPWS on Wednesday last, 17 June, at the Curragh, and undertook a tour of the plains. I am informed this was a very positive engagement and that the appropriate next steps will be identified in the near future.  I thank the Deputy again for raising this matter and would like to assure him that it is the Department\u2019s intention to ensure that the Curragh Plains, as an important element of our shared heritage, are protected into the future, while also ensuring maximum benefit to the local population and to those who come to visit the area. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Wall  I thank the Minister of State for that comprehensive reply. He is 100% right. All the public representatives of County Kildare, particularly those of south Kildare, have continued to raise the importance of the Curragh Plains to everybody in County Kildare. I welcome the fact that a positive meeting took place on 17 June at the Curragh, because when anybody visits the Curragh - we will have thousands of very welcome visitors to the Irish Derby Festival this weekend on Friday, Saturday and Sunday - they go away with a sense of a place that is truly unique in many ways. It is unique in the fact that we can have sporting clubs, as I mentioned, that people can go walking, and that a person can bring pets, etc. There are sports clubs on the edge of it, and it is the home of the Defence Forces and, in the main, to the Irish racing industry. We cannot continue to see the destruction of the Curragh of Kildare and the Department of Defence paying \u20ac158,000 year on year to those who do not covet this great asset that we have in County Kildare. Imagine what we could do and what the Department could do with some of the dereliction I mentioned before, with the Curragh camp, if it could spend \u20ac158,000 a year on the Curragh rather than having to spend it on the cleanup of illegal encampment.  I hope the Minister of State will bring back my concerns, and I know he will, to the Minister for Defence. I have directly engaged with her on the Curragh, as he said, over many years, and with previous Ministers as well. All we want is to see the Curragh have its rightful place as one of the most important places in the whole country, not just in County Kildare. It is a unique place and everybody is welcome as long as they obey and leave no trace behind them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  I thank the Deputy again for his contribution. The Minister for Defence is the custodian and the guardian of the Curragh lands, pursuant to the provisions of the Curragh of Kildare Act 1961. Under that Act, the Curragh Plains are recognised as a working environment for the State's Defence Forces, as well as being a place of historical and cultural importance, as the Deputy alluded to. As I have already stated, the Minister remains fully committed to pursuing a modern and a sustainable regulatory model in managing the historically important landscape that is the Curragh. The Curragh Plains conservation management plan will provide the foundation for implementing the recommendations identified, including the progression of proposals for the future management of the plains. Any such proposals will be brought before the Cabinet to decide on a future management structure.  It is right and proper to say that the situation needs to be addressed. It is something that has been raised multiple times. As somebody who is not from the area but has heard it raised in the Order of Business both in the Seanad and D\u00e1il, I give the Deputy a guarantee that I will impress upon the Minister, Deputy McEntee, the urgency of this situation. Plans and proposals are all very important, but what is plain to be seen now is that public representatives who represent the area want to see the implementation and delivery of the plan. This is something that has gone on for too long. I will certainly impress upon the Minister, Deputy McEntee, the urgency of bringing those plans to Cabinet and agreeing an implementation plan as quickly as ever is possible. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Defence Forces"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-23\/debate\/dbsect_36","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"State Bodies","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":4},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-23\/debate\/dbsect_32","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_32","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_36","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  Galway County Council has been underfunded for years, and the figures are stark. Galway County Council receives \u20ac1,051 per person, while the average across the State is \u20ac1,534. If Galway County Council was receiving that State average, its annual budget would increase from \u20ac203 million to \u20ac296 million, an increase of almost 50%.  It is undeniable that we are not receiving our fair share in County Galway. This has an enormous impact on all of the services which are provided by the council, whether roads, environment, recreation, community facilities and especially housing, where we have serious issues in maintenance, homeless services, voids and much more. This underfunding means that key projects like Dunguaire Castle and the Craughwell wastewater upgrade are being left in limbo because the council cannot provide for them from its own resources. One of the most frustrating aspects of this is that we have never received any good reason or explanation from Government as to why Galway does not receive its fair share. I have asked parliamentary questions repeatedly, but the Department still will not disclose the formula as to how it is calculating the funding for local authorities and why Galway is losing out. That is not good enough. It is a serious lack of transparency. Why, Minister, does Galway lag so far behind other counties, and when will the Government rectify this unfairness? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell  Galway County Council continues to be underfunded to the tune of millions of euro. This is something that again shows the poor budgeting of this Government, the fact that it is unable to fund Galway County Council as is needed. This has consequences. This is something that the people of County Galway live every single day. It is seen in the state of our roads. If one looks at the state of the roads across Conamara, that is a safety issue. People do not have basic infrastructure.  If we take the health of the people of County Galway, if the Council does not have the maintenance funding to be able to conduct necessary maintenance on homes, that will have health implications for its people. Can the Minister of State tell us why the Government continues to underfund Galway County Council? Can he please give us an exact reason as to why, because this is not the first time I have raised this in this Chamber. Five years ago, myself and Deputy Kerrane raised it with the Minister at the time, and we have seen no resolution come as a result. It is high time for action. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Claire Kerrane  As my colleagues have said, the funding Galway County Council receives is below the national average, yet it is the second biggest county in the State. It makes no sense and it has a huge impact on every single person who lives in County Galway. It impacts council resources, and it has a significant impact and is really seen on the ground in terms of outdoor staff, who have been absolutely slashed across Galway County Council. I am very proud to represent east Galway, and in particular the town of Ballinasloe. It is regularly pointed out to me in relation to the maintenance of the streets, roads and homes across Ballinasloe and the towns and villages throughout County Galway. It makes no sense. When we look at the funding year on year for the second largest county in the State, it is typically second last or last in terms of the level of funding it receives.  This is stifling development across the county of Galway. We also see question marks over value for money where the outdoor staff are not there. With simple basic things like the litter that has to be gathered up, the services have to be contracted out. That is not value for money. We should have the staff and resources to do it ourselves. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  I thank the Deputies for raising this important matter and providing me an opportunity to update the House. I am taking this Topical Issue on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy James Browne.  The funding system for local authorities is a complex one, as authorities derive their income from a variety of sources, including commercial rates, charges for goods and services and local property tax, LPT, as well as funding from Government Departments and other bodies. Central government funding of local authorities is made up of transfers, both current and capital, coming from a wide range of Departments and offices for a variety of purposes. The Department is an important source of this funding, and it provided \u20ac99.8 million in 2023, \u20ac114 million in 2024 and \u20ac149.3 million in 2025 to Galway County Council across a number of schemes and funding sources.  The amount of funding provided under housing programmes and voluntary call schemes such as the URDF is largely determined by individual local authority ambition and activity. In 2025, a sizeable portion of funding to Galway County Council from this Department, almost \u20ac93 million, was in respect of a range of capital and current housing programmes. It is crucial to note that the Department does not provide specific funding allocations to local authorities for housing delivery, but rather recoups the relevant local authorities as projects advance and claims fall due for payment in line with the relevant scheme conditions.  With regard to the URDF calls 1 and 2, Galway County Council secured funding for the one project applied for, and under URDF call 3, Galway County Council secured \u20ac3 million. This is close to the average funding provided to all of the non-metropolitan area local authorities, of which the council still has \u20ac2.91 million available in its fund.  In respect of LPT funding, an important determinant of this allocation for Galway County Council is the baseline, which is the minimum level of funding available to each local authority from LPT. Following a review in 2023, the baselines for each local authority were adjusted in accordance with five criteria: population, area, deprivation levels, an authority\u2019s locally raised income and the achievement of national policy priorities. Galway County Council received the second largest increase of any authority. There has been a further increase in the overall baselines in 2026, in line with the expected increased yield from the revaluation. As a result of both of these changes, Galway County Council\u2019s baseline has seen a significant increase of over \u20ac7 million, or almost 50%, in a three-year period. While Galway County Council has the second largest area and the tenth largest population of any authority, on balance, this would appear to be fairly reflected by the fact that Galway County Council now has the fifth highest baseline in the country.  Apart from housing funding and LPT, in 2025, Galway County Council benefited from many other funding streams across the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, including allocations from the Local Government Fund to cover the impact of national pay agreements and the stranded costs associated with water transformation. While I appreciate the challenges faced by Galway County Council, I am confident that every effort has been made to assist the sector in recent years. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  The Minister of State's response does not address the key questions as to why Galway County Council is losing out and what specific formula is being used to calculate the funding to local authorities. It is important to say that Galway County Council has done everything that has been asked of it. It increased the local property tax - I did not support that, but it did it - on the specific promise that increased funding would be coming from central government in response to that. It also increased the rates, but the increased funding has not come. The Department threw the council a couple of million here and there previously, but we need a long-term, sustainable solution. We have lost out on an awful lot of funding over the years. The council executive has come to the Government with a specific ask for an uplift of \u20ac15 million. I call on the Minister of State and the Government as a whole to ensure that happens. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell  One thing I have learned in this Chamber is that if the Government does not want to explain something, it will say it is complex, and that it is a little bit too complex for us to understand. It is not too complex for us to understand. We are fully and acutely aware that Galway County Council has continuously been underfunded. How do we know that? It is because Galway County Council has been clear about it. It has been raised in meetings, including county council meetings. The council has been clear that the funding is not there to deliver the services that people need. The Minister of State might not be the Minister in charge in this regard, but he is a Minister of State at the Department of Finance. He fully understands that in order for things to function, they need to be funded. That is what we are asking the Government to do here. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Claire Kerrane  It is true to say that the level of funding is not adequate. Galway County Council, even with the recent uplifts in additional funding that have come from here and there, is so far behind due to years of underinvestment and not receiving an adequate amount that it is going to take some time to catch up. That is why the specific ask from the council should be heard by the Government and made available. The nub of the issue remains. There are smaller counties with smaller land areas and smaller populations that have more outdoor staff, more council resources and receive more money from central government than Galway County Council. That is the nub of the issue, and it has not been answered again this evening. None of us is any the wiser as to why that is the case for Galway County Council. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  I again thank the Deputies for raising this issue. As acknowledged by the Deputies across the Chamber, I am taking this on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Browne. I will conclude by acknowledging the current financial environment in which all local authorities, including Galway County Council, are operating and the pressures facing them in respect of general inflation and higher costs. I get that from my own local authority as well. Recently, the Department has received representations from the Galway County Council executive and elected members in relation to its LPT allocation and baseline. The baseline has been increased twice in just three years, as I mentioned in my earlier contribution. The intention is that baselines will be reviewed every five years in line with the updated census data, as well as periodic reviews in line with LPT revaluation cycles. It would not be appropriate or equitable to examine the baselines of individual authorities outside these sector-wide reviews.  Furthermore, it is important to note that the LPT allocation represents just 12% of Galway County Council's revenue income in 2025. It is a finite income source, being dependent on the level of LPT collected in Galway and across the State. Therefore, the scope for significant increases is limited. With this in mind, Galway County Council must ensure that it is effectively leveraging all funding opportunities at its disposal and identify where it can increase its allocation by seeking more funding for projects that are ready to be delivered from the range of available funding calls. It is important also to focus on locally raised income sources. I know the council has made significant progress in this area in recent years. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar athl\u00f3 ar 12.08 a.m. go dt\u00ed 9 a.m., D\u00e9 C\u00e9adaoin, an 24 Meitheamh 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The D\u00e1il adjourned at 12.08 a.m. until 9 a.m. on Wednesday, 24 June 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"State Bodies"}]}}]},"contextDate":"2026-06-23"},{"debateRecord":{"house":{"showAs":"34th D\u00e1il","committeeCode":"","houseCode":"dail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/house\/dail\/34","chamberType":"house","houseNo":"34"},"chamber":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/def\/house\/dail","showAs":"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann"},"lastUpdated":"2026-06-27T02:13:09+00:00","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/main","formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/mul@\/main.xml"},"pdf":null},"date":"2026-06-18","counts":{"contributorCount":140,"divisionCount":0,"debateSectionCount":45,"questionCount":28,"billCount":0},"debateType":"debate","debateSections":[{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_2","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_3","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Social Welfare Appeals","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_2","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_3.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  This is a fairly straightforward question and one I have asked before, because it is an issue I like to keep track of. It has to do with the high rate of people who are unsuccessful the first time but successful the second time, often in circumstances where there has been no change. I know that the Minister will say this is not the case, but I can tell him that my constituents do believe that there is a policy. Some of the people who contact my office believe that there is a policy of refuse first and see if people come back. That is not a good thing, I am sure the Minister will agree, but it is certainly the impression that people have. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Dara Calleary)  I thank Deputies O'Reilly and Wall for their ongoing work on this issue. The DCA is a monthly payment to a parent or a guardian in respect of a child aged under 16 who has a severe disability and requires care and attention substantially over and above that needed by a child of the same age. The payment is not means tested. There is no restriction on the number of children for whom a person may claim the payment.  The current rate of appeal for DCA is not disproportionately higher than that of similar medical-based schemes administered by the Department. In 2026, to the end of May, the appeal rate was 20%, with 6,742 decisions made and 1,366 appeals submitted. It is important to note that where decisions are allowed in the receipt of an appeal, this may not mean that the initial decision was incorrect. A decision is more often revised because the person making an appeal provides additional information that was not available when the decision was first made. In other jurisdictions, appellants are not allowed to submit additional information, but instead are required to submit a new application. By referring the appeal papers back to the Department's decision team for review, our process is more flexible. As a result, 692, or 62%, of the 1,111 DCA appeals granted in the period from January to May 2026 were decided by way of a revised decision by the scheme's deciding officers. This shows the Department's efforts to ensure that as few cases as possible have to go through the full appeals process. To reduce the level of appeals, we encourage those to provide all relevant information in the initial application. In a further effort to assist customers applying for DCA, claims can now be made online and improvements are being introduced to make that process easier for families.  The number of DCA appeals on hand has reduced significantly. At the end of 2024, there were 1,709 appeals on hand. This reduced to 664 by the end of 2025. There are 610 appeals on hand this year to date. This is in the context of a significant increase in applications for DCA in recent years. The number of applications increased by 17.5% in 2025, with a similar rate of increase evident so far this year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  I know that the Minister is very aware that in order to apply for DCA, a parent has to fill out a very long form, be it online or done with a biro. It is a very long form and they must describe their child on their worst day. They must talk about all of the things about their child that are negative for their family. It is soul destroying and exhausting. I can say this because I conducted a survey last year where I talked to people about it.  The experience of having an appeal rejected is somewhat traumatising for parents. I have had people in my office and I am trying to encourage them to appeal where there are no changes in the circumstances and they get it on appeal. It is welcome that people can apply online, as this removes some of the burden but, in truth, these forms are onerous. Filling them out is really hard for parents only to have an application rejected while knowing they have an entitlement and to have to go back and appeal. My understanding is that the percentage being overturned on appeal has risen. That is not a good thing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I have placed considerable emphasis on this since being appointed. At the end of 2024, there were 1,700 appeals on hand. At the end of 2025, there were 664 appeals on hand, and we had a 17.5% increase in applications in 2025. As I said at the end of my previous contribution, we have a similar increase this year. We have allocated additional resources to manage it. By moving it online, we have taken some of that paperwork burden out of it.  I am very much open to feedback. We are doing a review of all the forms and processes at the moment. It is important for us to get a balance between getting the information we need to make a decision and to allow people to make an informed decision. I do not want a situation where we are adding to the challenges of a parent's life and, most importantly, a child's life. I need to strike a balance and I am very much open to feedback from offices about the design of any of our forms, but particularly the DCA form. I do not want people to have to go through any more challenges than they already do in their daily lives. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  Some of this stuff is very easy to understand. If someone has a child who has a condition or a disability and that child is doubly incontinent, there you go and that should be enough without a parent having to go into a narrative about what that means. We know what that means. That means restrictions on where people can go. That means they have to be with their child constantly. All of these things we know. Sometimes, the Department requires a lot of information from people about the impact that having a child with a disability has on the household. That is really hard for parents to do.  We conducted a survey. A really high proportion came back to us and advised that they experienced poverty in the period between making the application and actually receiving the DCA, regardless of whether that required an appeal. That is not acceptable. A lot can be done to streamline the forms but that narrative part of the form is really tough for parents to engage with. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  We have the online option. The average time to award a payment in 2026 to date has been seven weeks. The target is nine. We have also put a fast-track system in place between our medical assessors and my officials to ensure that all medical issues are expedited. I am trying to take all the blockages out of the application system. In response to the work of Deputies O'Reilly and Wall, who have consistently raised this, often outside the Chamber as well, we are keeping a very sharp focus on delays in the appeals. We have to strike a balance between getting the full information to make an informed decision efficiently and effectively. I have asked my officials to remember at all times the day-to-day experiences of the parents and guardians applying for it and of the children in particular. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Social Welfare Appeals"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_4","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Social Welfare Eligibility","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_2","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_4","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_4.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  I come back to a very important issue that I have raised previously, namely, the abolition of the means test for the carer's allowance. I am asking the Minister to do that on 1 July, in view of the promises made in the general election in 2024 by all political parties and particularly in view of the recent report by Family Carers Ireland that showed very significant issues in care provision. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  As the Deputy knows, the carer's allowance is the main scheme by which my Department provides income support for carers. Currently, just over 108,000 carers receive this payment, with a provision of over \u20ac1.4 billion euro this year. The carer's support grant is a separate payment that was paid to over 147,000 carers on 4 June 2026, at a rate of \u20ac2,000 per person being cared for, marking an investment of \u20ac336 million.  The programme for Government has set out a commitment to significantly increase the income disregards for carer's allowance in each budget, with a view to phasing out of the means test during the lifetime of this Government. This process is well under way. Last July, the amount of weekly earnings disregard was increased to \u20ac625 for a single person and \u20ac1,250 for a couple. As part of budget 2026, I announced further improvements to the means tests. They will be introduced from 2 July. From then, the weekly income disregard will increase from \u20ac625 to \u20ac1,000 for a single person and from \u20ac1,250 to \u20ac2,000 for carers who are part of a couple. These are the largest ever increases in income disregards. They are higher than for any other payment.  In its recent report, Family Carers Ireland acknowledged the significant progress made in increasing income disregards. The report states that 68% of Irish households are now falling within the financial eligibility criteria. The impact of the increases will mean that those recipients on a reduced payment due to their means will see their payments increase. In addition, more carers will qualify for the carer's allowance. For example, a carer in a two-adult household with an income of approximately \u20ac110,000 will retain a full carer's allowance payment and a carer with an income of \u20ac138,000 will retain a partial payment. When one considers that the commitment to remove the means test is estimated to cost a minimum of about \u20ac600 million, it is clear that a commitment can only be phased in through a number of budgets. I intend to do this over the lifetime of the Government, in keeping with the conditions of the programme for Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  The findings of the report from Family Carers Ireland, entitled \"The State of Caring 2026\", should shock us all. Some of the key findings include that 75% of carers have never received respite, 76% are cutting back on non-essentials, 71% find it difficult to make ends meet, 69% do not receive sufficient formal support, and 49% are cutting back on essentials like food and heating.  A stark 48% experience severe loneliness, 32% report very bad mental health and 19% report bad or very bad physical health. Carers do significant work and save the State billions of euro. It is now time to recognise that and implement the commitments and promises that were made during the general election 2024. The Minister has the opportunity to do that on 1 July and he should do that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I am very aware of the work of Family Carers Ireland. We host a forum specifically for carers every year. We did that in May. I am very aware of the challenges being faced by carers in terms of respite and other supports. The Deputy may have missed the point within the report that over 68% of families would now receive a carer's allowance payment as a consequence of the income disregards being changed from July. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  That leaves 32%. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  This means that somebody on an income of \u20ac110,000 can receive a full carer's allowance payment and those on \u20ac138,000 can receive a partial payment. So, we are making very substantial progress in phasing out the means test. It is a commitment in the programme for Government and I will continue to progress it. I also have other commitments and I want to ensure that we look at the people who are on existing carer's payments for support.  Carers are very important and we had a full morning of engagement with them at our carers forum, where many of the issues in the Family Carers Ireland report were raised. We are working through those with other colleagues across the Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  Every political party, including Fianna F\u00e1il, made a commitment in general election 2024 to abolish the carer's means test, full stop, no ifs or buts. There were no terms and conditions. There was no small print and no devil in the detail. The Government was going to abolish the means test for carer's allowance, but it has not honoured that commitment. That raises the whole question of trust in politics and politicians. The public are becoming quite cynical now about all things political.  The Minister has another opportunity to do the right thing on 1 July. He is already making some changes, which are welcome. However, it still leaves one third of carers above the threshold of the means test. The Government has the funds available. The cost ranges from about \u20ac259 million to the figure the Minister has used, which is \u20ac600 million. The Parliamentary Budget Office says \u20ac259 million. The Government has a \u20ac9.2 billion surplus in budget 2026. The Minister has the opportunity and the funds. He should do the right thing and show the Government's bona fides to carers on 1 July. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  The lifetime of this Government is to 2029. I have my ambitions to maintain this commitment. Any situation where a social protection support is available to a family on \u20ac110,000 per year in full or to a family on \u20ac138,000 in part represents very good progress. These are the biggest increases in the income disregard for the carer's allowance and will come into effect on 1 July. However, I also must have consideration of other pressures and priorities within my Department. I must have consideration for the people receiving carer's allowance at the moment. That is why we were able to introduce a \u20ac10 increase in the weekly carer's allowance for 2026.  I am very much aware of, and determined to implement, that programme for Government commitment. We will continue our work with Family Carers Ireland. We had a very good carers forum and there are many issued raised within \"The State of Caring 2026\" report that I will work on within my Department and with colleagues across the Government. I assure the Deputy that, given what we are doing from 1 July with the biggest increases in income disregards since the allowance's introduction, I am very much delivering to my party's commitment in this area. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Social Welfare Eligibility"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_5","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Social Welfare Payments","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_2","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_5","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_5.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  The Minister and I discussed this at committee. I received a response from the Minister for Health advising that the general medical services, GMS, contract does not cover the filling out of forms. As the Minister for Social Protection knows, a lot of people require medical information in order to apply for social welfare and other things. Given that filling out forms is not covered, my question is on the significant barriers, be they administrative, financial or otherwise. Once I started to look into this, I realised that there were a lot of people who found it quite daunting to approach the Department of Social Protection. Specifically, my concern is around the people on the medical card. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I thank the Deputy. We are very committed in the Department to reducing any administrative, financial or other barrier that may prevent people from accessing their social protection entitlements. Our schemes are generally accessed through two main mechanisms: by assessing the PRSI contribution record of a person in respect of social benefit schemes; and by applying a means test and other conditions as appropriate in the case of social assistance schemes.  In respect of contributory schemes, we have broadened access and entitlements in recent years through the introduction of new schemes such as jobseekers pay-related benefit; the expansion of access to existing schemes, for example, to carer's benefit for the self-employed; and the extension of the duration of schemes. In respect of means-tested social assistance schemes, significant adjustments have been made in income disregards, which have enabled more people to qualify for schemes such as carer's allowance, fuel allowance and disability allowance in recent years.  The statistics back up the fact that people are increasingly facilitated in accessing our Department's schemes. Annual transaction volumes have increased from 3.2 million in 2024 to over 3.4 million in 2025. We have sought to make it easier, as we discussed earlier in the context of DCA, through the expansion of the Department\u2019s digital and IT platforms. These developments allow, for example, the auto-award of many payments, including the automatic award of approximately 85,000 back to school clothing and footwear allowance payments, which will be done over July, and the automatic award of 147,000 carer support grants in recent weeks. Many child benefit claims for second and subsequent children are also auto-awarded while the sharing of information with Revenue means that many jobseeker claims can also be awarded without recourse to seeking prior employment records.  The Department is also witnessing a very considerable increase in use of our online service platform, MyWelfare.ie . We are continuing to provide in-person and phone-based support services.  I will address the issue around the medical cards in my subsequent reply. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  Excellent, and I hope that the Minister will confirm to me that people can apply for supplementary welfare allowance in order to pay for the GP. If this is not covered on the medical card and someone does not have the means to pay \u20ac80 but absolutely does need to apply for whatever reason, it strikes me that it should be available on the supplementary welfare allowance. I am hoping that the Minister will confirm that to me this morning. If it is not available, then I am hopeful that the Minister will say where people can get the money.  People cannot magic up \u20ac80. If they have not got \u20ac80, they have not got it. Many GPs will fill out a form, but only on a grace and favour arrangement. More and more people are finding that their GPs will not fill out the forms or that they have to pay for a visit outside of the GMS. That is \u20ac80. Perhaps the Minister will confirm that people can apply for supplementary welfare allowance because that is not the experience of my constituents. I am hoping that the Minister can confirm that this morning. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  To put Deputy O'Reilly's remarks in context, we discussed this at committee last week. I followed it up. I am going to follow this up with the Deputy. It was raised by many Deputies following her intervention. The Department of Social Protection does not require applicants to obtain private assessments or specialist medical reports to submit an application for a social welfare payment. All available evidence submitted as part of the application is considered. In addition, the Department funds GPs to complete the medical portion of relevant social welfare application forms.  I am going to follow that issue up within the Department and with the Deputy. We are happy to engage with any Deputy where there is this issue. We do not need to know the specific circumstances. I do not want people being unable to access social protection support for the want of not having income. It goes against everything the social protection system stands for, with a lack of resources preventing someone from accessing the system that is supposed to help them. I am very focused on this.  I am going to be doing a lot of work on this but this is my initial response and I am happy to engage with the Deputy on it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  That is very welcome to hear and I am more than happy to work with the Minister. I can provide him with practical examples of where this has happened. I can also say, as I used to represent nurses and I do not hold a massive candle for doctors, that many GPs do this. The problem usually arises when a person goes in to get a form filled and they find out that maybe there is a new GP or they have moved to a different type of service and they just do not do that form. People are not seeing the same GP when they go back and they are coming to my office. When they go for supplementary welfare allowance, that is not always clear cut either and a lot of the time people are sent back. They are told to go to the doctor because the doctor has to do it but the doctor does not have to do it, as the Minister for Health has confirmed to me.  I really welcome that the Minister is going to examine this matter. I can tell him that I will work with him and I am sure plenty of others will as well because it cannot just be an issue in my area. I would imagine it is across the board. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I thank the Deputy. We will engage with the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, in relation to the communication of this. It is something we have noticed coming up in forums as well - that there is a genuine consideration that we require very complex medical assessments. We do not. I also meant to emphasise in relation to the domiciliary care allowance earlier that we do not require assessments of need. That is still out there. We are trying to minimise the burden on those seeking to access the services. I certainly look forward to feedback from all Deputies in relation to this. We will continue to work with the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. I will also ask my Department's officials to communicate this and make sure that this is communicated as we redesign forms and application processes. Forms, for many people, are no longer the means of accessing our services. We will communicate very clearly what is required and, most importantly, what is not. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Social Welfare Payments"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_6","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Poverty Data","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_2","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_6","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_6.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  My question is about older people living alone. According to the Central Statistics Office, CSO, about 30%, or one in three, are at risk of poverty. It seems quite incredible that in a country with a \u20ac9 billion surplus in cash and one of the highest GDPs per capita in the world that we would have such a level of people living alone and pensioners in poverty. I would like to hear what the Minister is going to do about it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I thank the Deputy. As he knows, the State pension is the bedrock of our pension system in Ireland. As reflected in data from the CSO, it is effective in ensuring that our pensioners do not experience poverty. We, as a Government, are committed to ensuring that this remains the case for current pensioners, including those nearing State pension age, and today\u2019s young workers, including those only starting their careers.  Over \u20ac12 billion was allocated to State pensions in budget 2026, an increase on budget 2025. From January of this year, the weekly State pension increased by \u20ac10, which now means the maximum rate of the State contributory pension is \u20ac299.30 per week. Since 2021, the State contributory pension has increased by \u20ac51 per week, which shows a commitment to supporting older people. This continues to be a priority for me.  It is recognised that the cost of living for a person living alone is greater than the individualised cost of one of two or more people living together. That is why a weekly living alone increase of \u20ac22 is payable to all those aged 66 and over, who are in receipt of a State pension payment from my Department. The living alone allowance has risen by over 144% since 2019, when it was \u20ac9 per week. It is paid to about 260,000 people every week. All of these recipients also qualify for the so-called free schemes under the household benefits package, including an electricity or gas allowance and a free TV licence. The telephone support allowance and the fuel allowance payment which, as the Deputy will be aware, was extended by a further four weeks in 2026, is also available subject to a means test.  The rates of primary and secondary payments to pensioners, and their adequacy, are considered in the context of the annual budgetary process. In doing so, we consider evidence from a wide range of sources, including agencies such as the CSO, and also research from groups such as the Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice and its minimum essential standard of living, which has just been published today. I am very conscious about the pressures facing those living alone. It will very much feed into my work in the context of budget 2027. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  The Minister said that the State pension is aimed at making sure older people do not experience poverty but, according to the CSO, one in ten is experiencing consistent poverty. That is a doubling since the year before in 2024. Notably, this is particularly acute in rural areas and in the Minister's constituency of Mayo and Belmullet. Some 27% of households are reliant on the State pension exclusively. They are living alone; they are isolated in rural areas and entirely reliant on State support. One of the things the Minister mentioned was the increase to the living alone allowance. He selectively looked at 2019. The majority of that increase happened in 2020 and there has not been a significant increase to the living alone allowance since. What will the Minister do on the living alone and telephone allowances in the forthcoming budget? What is the threshold for him to tackle poverty for people living alone? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I am very aware of the people of Belmullet. I had the privilege of being there recently at a 100th birthday, and with a neighbour who is 101. I give my good wishes to Mrs. Ginnelly who is 100 today. That is three people in one village breaking the 100 year mark. I am very aware of it and of older people everywhere, including in Dublin Bay South. We want to ensure there is an adequacy of income, particularly for those living alone. I am very aware of the gap and the cliff edge - for want of a better phrase - that people face when they lose their partner. They are left with the same expenses but their income is reduced. We are definitely looking at the living alone allowance but, as I said, when you look at the level of increase since 2019, it is 144%. It was \u20ac9 per week in 2019, so there has been a very definitive increase there, and also when you look at the other payments that are available. The fuel allowance is paid to many pensioners. That was extended for four weeks to bring it to 1 May.  We are looking at the telephone support allowance and the free TV licence. We are looking to see if those payments continue to be relevant in the context of different forms of communication, such as streaming services, etc. I want to make sure that communications are as relevant as possible because for somebody living alone, communications and the ability to have them are essential. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  I would strongly welcome the Minister doing that in the forthcoming budget. To come back to the fuel allowance in particular, many older people are struggling to heat their homes. They are often staying in bed rather than getting up because they cannot afford the gas or the home heating oil.  I want to focus on the question of targeted energy credits. This is something that has been talked about in the House many times. There are 500,000 households in arrears, according to the Commission for Regulation of Utilities. I assume that many households like that include older people living alone. The Minister's Department, in particular, has an obligation to look at how it targets energy credits for different people. I know it can be administratively difficult but I would be interested to know if that is something the Minister is planning to do as well for older people living alone. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  The fuel allowance is paid to many people, such as pensioners, but it is paid to allow them make decisions about their own fuel and energy. I am certainly open to ideas as to how we make sure it can help people directly with fuel payments. People's fuel demands and fuel bills are different, depending on their use of fuel, what kind of heating systems they have and where they live. The whole basis of the fuel allowance, which we increased by \u20ac5 per week and extended by four weeks, is that people have the choice to use that money to make the payment for their fuel in whatever way they want. We have seen proposals and had proposals and debate about how that gets targeted but I am not sure, by taking away people's choice, whether we will worsen the situation inadvertently. There are proposals that we should give it directly to energy companies but I am not convinced that will work. For many people, that might not be their fuel pressure in terms of income. I am very open to proposals on how we can use the fuel allowance to ensure we have more targeting. I look forward to the proposals in the Deputy's budget submission. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Poverty Data"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_7","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Social Welfare Schemes","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_2","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_7.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy David Maxwell)  Deputy McAuliffe has the next four questions in a row. We are on Question No. 5. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul McAuliffe  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an gCathaoirleach. Could the Minister address the issue of the fuel allowance, particularly the income thresholds for those over the age of 66 in single-income households? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I thank Deputy McAuliffe for his question and his ongoing work on this. As a result of that work, there have been significant improvements in the fuel allowance scheme, particularly in relation to the income thresholds for those who are 66 and over.  In January 2023, in order to allow more pensioner households qualify for the fuel allowance, a new fuel allowance payment was introduced for those aged 70 and over. People over 70 no longer needed to be in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment to be eligible for fuel allowance. A single person with means of up to \u20ac500 per week or a couple with \u20ac1,000 per week became eligible. The amount of savings and investments that are disregarded was also increased for those aged 70 or over from \u20ac20,000 to \u20ac50,000.  From January 2025, this measure was extended to applicants aged 66 and over, with an increase to the weekly means that could be disregarded to \u20ac534 for a single person and \u20ac1,068 for a couple.  Recent expansions to the scheme have resulted in many more households qualifying for the payment and have resulted in the budget for the scheme increasing to an estimated \u20ac557.4 million in 2026 compared to an expenditure of \u20ac290.45 million in 2020. Since 2020, when the Deputy was elected to the D\u00e1il, an additional 100,000 households have become eligible for the fuel allowance. I am aware there may be exceptional circumstances where a person does not qualify for the fuel allowance but may need support. It is for this reason that we can make additional needs payments, through the local community welfare service, to meet essential expenses.  The programme for Government includes a commitment to examine key benefits such as the fuel allowance, the household benefits package and the living alone allowance increase to support vulnerable groups. This will be ongoing activity as part of our annual budget planning process. I intend to continue to make improvements to the key benefits, such as the fuel allowance. I am very aware of their necessity and the support they give to older and vulnerable cohorts. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul McAuliffe  I saw a statistic that 25% of all homes now in the State are in receipt of the fuel allowance. It is certainly a very significant figure. It is coming close to nearly 500,000 homes. Any of us as Deputies can see when you walk around and knock on doors, there are homes that have been able to avail of the better energy warmer home scheme because of their eligibility for fuel allowance. My worry is about the cliff-edge for people. There might be two people over-66 living in a home and for that household, the threshold is \u20ac52,000 of annual income. Next door, if there was a person living on their own who could often be a widow or widower, their income threshold is only \u20ac26,000 but it costs the same money to heat both homes. The 50% reduction in the income threshold for a single person is very significant. Perhaps it should be something closer to two thirds of it. Particularly for those in the over-66 category, there are many people who find themselves in that situation because of bereavement and it is worth examining. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I thank the Deputy for that example. Those are the anomalies I am looking at in the context of my previous discussion with Deputy Hayes. We are also looking at the living alone allowance. A person living on their own does not necessarily have half the costs. It is a rather arbitrary figure. In particular, it is especially challenging for somebody who goes through the trauma of losing a spouse or partner and is immediately faced with that cliff-edge. That is definitely something we will look at and particularly for the older cohort, who have higher bills for energy and food and less chance to make up that in terms of day-to-day earnings. In the context of looking at the living alone allowance increase and the fuel allowance payment for budget 2027, they are areas we will be considering. I look forward to engagement across the House ahead of budget 2027 in October. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul McAuliffe  It is a new scheme that is popular and people want to avail of it. If you are sitting in someone's home and as you go through the form, you say to them you are only eligible for one income threshold of \u20ac26,000. The person almost feels like they are being punished for having lost their partner. You can see it etched in their face. I ask the Minister to examine it. A 50% reduction is too significant and particularly for that older cohort. With his colleague, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, the Minister needs to examine how this scheme interacts with the better energy warmer homes scheme. It is an amazing scheme and you can get nearly \u20ac50,000 of works done to your home at no cost to the homeowner. Giving a gateway to that scheme, without necessarily significantly changing the fuel allowance scheme, could be one way of addressing the issue I am raising. While often people are seeking the payment of nearly \u20ac1,000 per year, they really want to make the improvements to their home to reduce their bills through the better energy warmer home scheme. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I will work with the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, on that. The living alone allowance is also available for people in that situation and it is \u20ac1,144 a year. The weekly rate for the living alone allowance is higher than the 28 weeks of the fuel allowance payment. I will say it to everybody about the household benefits package. There are many people who qualify for the households benefits package who are not in receipt of it. We all need to work with those who come into our offices to make sure they are in receipt of everything they are entitled to receive. That is one package in particular that I have noticed the numbers are down on. I will be doing some work on that.  The proposals and suggestions Deputy McAuliffe has made in the context of household composition and how we assess that are very worthy and could potentially make a difference. They will have to be looked at in the context of budgetary decisions and negotiations. We will be doing that. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Social Welfare Schemes"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_8","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_9","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Care Services","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_8","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_9.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul McAuliffe  I ask the Minister for Social Protection for a report on his attendance at the annual carers' forum. I note the Minister's earlier reply so I have no difficulty making that more brief because of the answer he gave to the House a moment ago. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I thank Deputy McAuliffe. The annual carers\u2019 forum was held on 7 May this year and I was delighted to attend and speak at the forum. The carers' forum is an important platform within the Department of Social Protection and allows family carers to engage directly with my Department and officials from other Departments to discuss important issues and carers' invaluable role in Irish society. I thank Family Carers Ireland and Care Alliance Ireland for partnering with my Department in organising the forum and contributing to its success. The event brings together family carers, carer organisations and Government officials in structured dialogue and, more importantly, for the sharing of personal lived experiences.  A broad range of issues were addressed, including proposals relating to the carer\u2019s allowance means test and measures aimed at improving access to supports. The workshops also highlighted cross-Government concerns, such as access to respite services, which we discussed earlier, housing and transport. We published a comprehensive note of proceedings on my Department\u2019s website.  We fully recognise the vital contribution of family carers and as a Government, we are committed to supporting them. I am pleased to confirm that, from next month, the weekly income disregard for carer's allowance will increase from \u20ac625 to \u20ac1,000 for a single person and from \u20ac1,250 to \u20ac2,000 for carers with a spouse or partner. These are the highest ever increases. They will enable individuals with higher incomes to qualify for carer\u2019s payments. For example, a carer in a two-adult household with an income of approximately \u20ac110,000 will retain their full payment and even with an income of \u20ac138,000, they will retain a partial payment. Additionally, the annual carer's support grant was paid earlier this month at a rate of \u20ac2,000 to over 147,000 carers at a cost of \u20ac336 million. We will have further engagement at our annual pre-budget forum on 1 July with the carers groups. These will all inform my priorities for budget 2027, the work for which is under way. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul McAuliffe  I note this question was transferred to me from Deputy Aisling Dempsey. She has spoken to me about the issue of carers. In the previous election, Family Carer's Ireland campaigned very strongly for abolishing the means test for carers. The commitment was very clear that we would do that over the lifetime of the Government. The increase in the income thresholds has to be acknowledged. As the Minister said, it has increased to \u20ac110,000 for a full payment and \u20ac138,000 for a partial payment. That very significantly includes the vast majority of people who were in that category and came to us to ask to abolish the means test.  Of course, it is not just about getting access to the payment. It is also about acknowledging that this is real work, it should not be means tested and it should not be linked to the income of your partner. I want to acknowledge that in the first budget that was a very significant amount of money spent that was not spent elsewhere. I acknowledge it was done in terms of carers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I thank the Deputy. As I reiterated to Deputy Healy, in the Family Carers Ireland State of Caring in Ireland report, it estimated that 68% of families can now access a carer's payment. We have made a very strong commitment in terms of abolishing the means test for the carer's payment during the lifetime of the Government which, as I remind people, is due to go until 2029. There are many other areas and the State of Caring in Ireland report outlines there are many challenges with respite in particular and access to transport. They were articulated very strongly on 7 May at the carer's forum. I took the chance this year and last year to get that shared experience and hear directly from carers.  I particularly want to pay tribute to and thank the young carers' group who were there. There are examples of young carers going to school and college and coming back and taking up caring responsibilities. I really want to look at what we can do to support our young carers, as well as carers as a whole. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul McAuliffe  I thank the Minister. To return to that point I made, often carers are women. Having spoken to them, I know they feel particularly aggrieved that just because their partner has done an extra five or six hours overtime a week or they have got a pay rise, that in some way means they lose their payment. That underlines the point that this should not be a means tested payment. It should be an acknowledgement for work done on behalf of the State. They are saving the State money. The quicker we move towards the abolition of the means test, the quicker we will be able to resolve that injustice. I acknowledge that the cases of the vast majority of people who would have previously come to my clinic on this issue have been addressed. Those people earning over \u20ac140,000 have not yet been addressed but obviously the Government is going to deal with that. I acknowledge the work the Minister has done. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  There continues to be anomalies. I am due to receive a report into means testing generally across all of our Department's schemes in the coming weeks and we will be considering that. We obviously have to have means tests in many cases. We have made a commitment in relation to carers, but the kind of situation the Deputy has just described, where the caring spouse of somebody who works hard has to pay the bill for that and gets their allowance reduced, is not fair either. We are going to try to ensure this is as hassle-free as possible. Carers do extraordinary work, but it is very clear from our interaction on 7 May that there is more we can do across government to reduce the burden on carers. In many cases, it is getting out of their way. In many cases, it is facilitating things such as respite and transport. As I said, I want to work with colleagues across government, particularly the Minister, Deputy Foley, and the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, at the Departments of children and education, respectively, in respect of young carers and what more we can do for them. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Care Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_10","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Social Welfare Rates","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_8","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_10","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_10.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul McAuliffe  I acknowledge my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Ardagh, and I apologise for my enthusiasm in my first round of questions. I think I submitted too many. I ask the Minister for Social Protection if he will give consideration to changing the living alone allowance. I note his previous reply to Deputy Hayes as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I commend the Minister of State, Deputy Ardagh, on her appointment and wish her every success in her new role.  It is acknowledged, as we have done this morning, that those who live alone and are dependent on certain payments from my Department face a higher cost of living than a two-person household. It is for this reason that the living alone increase is available to those in receipt of qualifying payments from my Department. The living alone allowance is a supplementary payment to those who are 66 or over, living alone and in receipt of a State contributory pension, State non-contributory pension, bereaved partner\u2019s contributory pension, bereaved partner's pension under the occupational injuries benefit scheme, incapacity supplement under the occupational injuries benefit scheme or deserted wife's benefit. It is also paid to people aged under 66 who live alone and are in receipt of a disability allowance, invalidity pension, incapacity supplement or blind pension. It is not a stand-alone payment and for this reason it is only available to those in receipt of one of those specified payments.  In total about 260,000 people receive the payment weekly. The current rate of the living alone allowance is \u20ac22 a week. It has increased by over 144% since 2019, when it was just \u20ac9 per week. The most recent change to the rate was in budget 2022 when it increased by \u20ac3, from \u20ac19 per week to its current rate of \u20ac22 per week. Any future changes to the qualifying criteria or rate of pay for the living alone allowance will have to be considered in the overall budgetary context, including possible increases to primary rates and other supports available. I look forward to input from colleagues, particularly around the qualifying criteria for the living alone allowance as well as the rate of pay. Many anomalies have been highlighted around the qualifying criteria. Deputy McAuliffe referred to one of these earlier and those are the areas I want to see if we can iron out over the course of our budgetary considerations. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul McAuliffe  The anomalies here are an issue. I know sometimes there might be three individuals sharing a home who are not in any way related to one another, and that can provide some complications. We have been able to resolve this issue in some cases. When we are dealing with anomalies, there is that issue of people sharing a home as to who gets the fuel allowance. If one person gets it, then other people in the home do not. That is something I ask the Minister to examine.  The other thing I would say regarding the living alone allowance is that when the State spends money it inevitably has an impact on inflation. Regarding increasing the living alone allowance, this relates to costs which people already have and are already paying. People have to pay their household bills and so on. It is an area that does not have as much of an inflationary impact as perhaps increases in social welfare payments would. I am not advocating for increases in the payments but I am saying it is something to be conscious of that the living alone allowance itself does not have as much of an inflationary leakage or impact. It is something to consider. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I was wondering there, Deputy.  I want to focus this year on targeted interventions to address those particular cohorts of people who are most at risk of falling into poverty. I want a situation where we can iron out rules within the systems that may be doing that inadvertently and may be driving people in that direction. As I said earlier, there is the situation of somebody who loses their spouse or partner and is immediately faced with the same bills but with half the income. We need to work better in terms of making the living alone allowance available quicker and providing information on it. There is also the fuel allowance. I am also conscious we have not increased the living alone allowance since budget 2022, so we have some way to catch up there. The Deputy and Deputy S\u00e9amus McGrath in particular have been consistent in their work on this and I look forward to all colleagues providing input on this because it is something we all get in our constituency clinics on this particular payment. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Social Welfare Rates"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_11","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"State Savings Schemes","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_8","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_11","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_11.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul McAuliffe  On behalf of Deputy Brennan, I ask the Minister to provide an update on the operation of MyFutureFund, the automatic enrolment saving scheme. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  The programme for Government contained a commitment to introduce the automatic enrolment, AE, retirement savings system. The aim of introducing AE is to address the pension coverage gap that exists in Ireland and to provide workers with greater comfort and security regarding their retirement income. MyFutureFund was commenced on 1 January 2026. All elements of the system are operating as planned. The employer and participant website portals are fully functional and there is a very high level of compliance by employers registering for the scheme and remitting contributions.  Since 1 January, based on analysis of payroll data from Revenue, over 835,000 employees have been automatically enrolled in MyFutureFund. These employees work for approximately 112,750 employers. In addition, more than 9,000 employees have applied to join MyFutureFund voluntarily. Approximately \u20ac323 million of contributions have already been collected for investment with the three contracted investment managers. This includes the employer and the State top-ups, meaning contributors have already seen a 133% increase in their fund over and above their personal contribution. In years to come, with these expected investment returns and top-ups, participants should continue to see their funds accumulate to deliver a significant savings pot for their retirement.  The National Auto-Enrolment Retirement Savings Authority, NAERSA, is the statutory body responsible for the administration of MyFutureFund. It is running a campaign on social media, print, radio and TV highlighting the benefits of MyFutureFund for participants. Alongside this, my Department will continue to work closely with NAERSA to ensure awareness of the scheme, the easy administration for employers, and the benefits of saving for retirement for employees. I thank the staff and board of NAERSA for their exception work on the introduction of MyFutureFund, and all the team within my Department, particularly Mr. Tim Duggan who led the work and is just retiring as assistant secretary. I thank him not just for his work on automatic enrolment but his contribution to the State generally. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul McAuliffe  I join with the Minister in those comments. The establishment of the auto-enrolment scheme was a very significant measure. It had been spoken about for many years. Provision for people's future retirement is incredibly important and auto-enrolment makes it easier for people to make that decision. There is an opportunity to opt out of the scheme. While we have very significant numbers enrolled in the scheme, we want to make sure those numbers do not decrease as time goes on. I encourage the Minister's Department to do everything it can to communicate the benefits of involvement in this scheme or any other pension scheme. We must ensure that people plan for their future and have that greater degree of financial independence. I ask the Minister about ongoing participation in the scheme and how the Department is monitoring those numbers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  It has been very successful so far. A Revenue analysis shows that 835,000 workers have been automatically enrolled. Over 9,000 have joined the scheme voluntarily and 112,750 employers are involved. Contributions thus far total \u20ac323 million. As I have said, the National Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings Authority is running a campaign outlining the benefits of MyFutureFund. That will continue as the opt-out process opens. I know people are under pressure. I am very conscious of that pressure but I made the point during the run-in to the introduction of MyFutureFund that, if you get to the age of 66 and have no retirement plan in place, you will face a massive drop in income. Going from \u20ac48,000 or \u20ac50,000 a year to \u20ac16,500, which is what the State contributory pension provides, is an extraordinary drop. MyFutureFund gives those 835,000-odd people a substantial cushion to alleviate the impact of that drop. That is what it is about. It is about looking to your retirement, when you will not be earning the kind of money you may be earning today, and making provision for that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul McAuliffe  I appreciate that. I reiterate my point on ensuring that people remain within the scheme. I was recently at an apprenticeship fair and one of the people encouraging people to take up apprenticeships indicated that, by participating in the workforce earlier, they would be contributing to their pensions for a much longer period than people who went on to third level. The numbers are staggering. Whenever you start paying into your pension, those extra few years make a huge difference. That is the reason the auto-enrolment scheme is so important. It is the reason it will have a real impact over decades. It is also why I want to ensure that we retain as many people as possible within the scheme and that the benefits are communicated. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  As I have said, the benefits are very much there. Somebody at the age of 23 may feel they are a long way from the age of 66. Looking around the room, I do not see anybody in that space. I assure the Members I am talking about the age of 66. However, it does happen. You get there very quickly and you do not notice it. We genuinely do have a major gap in pension coverage in this country. It is fine now, when we have four workers for every person over the age of 66, but, by the time we get to 2050, which is not that far away, we will have two workers for every such person. I reiterate that the State pension will continue to be the bedrock of our pensions system but we also have to ensure that people have adequate income provision for their retirement years. That is what MyFutureFund is about. We are the last country in the OECD to do this. That is not something to be proud of but it has allowed us to learn from systems across the OECD and from mistakes that were made. We have tried to ensure that our system is user-friendly and that it supports participants and delivers the outcomes we want. The figure of 835,000 enrolees has shown that to be right. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"State Savings Schemes"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_12","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Employment Schemes","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_8","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_12","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_12.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John McGuinness  On behalf of Deputy Malcolm Byrne, I ask the Minister to give us an update on the workings of the wage subsidy scheme and any other initiatives that are available to employers and those who have intellectual disabilities and need employment. I believe there is scope to improve the wage subsidy scheme, to include others and to encourage employers to participate more fully. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I thank Deputy McGuinness for raising this matter. Supporting disabled people and reducing the disability employment gap are key priorities for me. The wage subsidy scheme is the key disability employment support provided by my Department. It aims to encourage employers to offer substantial and sustainable employment to disabled people through a subsidy.  In 2024, the Department published a review of the wage subsidy scheme following a public consultation. We aimed to make the scheme more accessible and more flexible. As a result, the minimum hours were reduced from 21 hours per week to 15 and the scheme was expanded to the community and voluntary sector and the non-commercial semi-State sector. In addition, we changed the language of the scheme to align with the social model of disability.  One of the recommendations made was to regularly review the subsidy rate. The national human rights strategy for disabled people also includes a commitment to examine an increase in the subsidy rate. The rate was reviewed in the context of budget 2026. As a result, the number of bands was reduced and the subsidy rates were increased. The base wage subsidy paid to employers who employ disabled people is now \u20ac7.50 per hour, an increase from \u20ac6.30. Employers who employ 25 or more employees on the wage subsidy scheme can still avail of a grant of \u20ac30,000 towards the cost of employing an employment assistance officer. Budget 2026 also provided for the expansion of the scheme to those who acquire a disability while in employment, those who have a progressive or degenerative condition that worsens, and those who transfer from invalidity pension to partial capacity benefit.  We hope these changes encourage more employers to hire more disabled people to increase uptake of the scheme and I am engaging with employer organisations to this end. Later this morning, I will attend the Light the Way event hosted by MrPRICE, one of our leading providers of employment for disabled people that work with the wage subsidy scheme. I have also made administrative changes to the wage subsidy scheme to centralise processing to ensure a more consistent and quicker service for those employers that are in receipt of a subsidy under the scheme. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John McGuinness  Does the Minister believe enough is being done to inform employers of the scheme, its benefits and how it assists both employers and those who have an intellectual disability? Does more need to be done to promote the scheme? I come across a lot of people who have intellectual disabilities or acquired disabilities who would like to return to the workforce to do some work and whose health would benefit from being involved in the workforce and working a meaningful number of hours per week. If more was done to promote and expand the scheme, perhaps working with family resource centres and organisations like Talking Heads in Carlow, more employers would take up the scheme. There are plenty of people in the disability sector who would be willing to engage. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I completely agree with the Deputy. Last year, we ran an overall information campaign about the wage subsidy scheme. This involved normal advertising. It led to a very small increase. We met on this issue this week. I intend to target chambers of commerce, which have a very direct connection to local businesses. Many national businesses support and use the programme. I want to see more local businesses involved because local visibility is important. I will certainly expand our outreach to include family resource centres. If any Deputy would like to suggest organisations that have a local reach and that can get us into local businesses, I am more than happy to work with them. We will be engaging. We are setting up meetings with local business organisations. We deal with the employer organisations on this matter. I want to involve organisations that have more local connections to employers and that can engage with them. I acknowledge the many local employers who do excellent work on this. As a Department, we will be running a themed week in October, work and skills week. This will look at the employment vacancies that are available and matching those with disabilities to those vacancies. Any employer that does not engage with the wage subsidy scheme is missing out on a really talented bunch of people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John McGuinness  I encourage the Department to have an open day where employers can come and meet those who have a disability or those with an acquired disability to see how they can match those who want work with their companies. There are many organisations that are now funded to prepare young people in particular but anybody who is disabled or intellectually disabled to encourage them back into the workforce and to give them the tools necessary to contribute to that work. The employers do not see enough of that interaction and enough of what is available to them from this whole disability sector. I refer to the Talking Heads organisation in Carlow and Kilkenny and to those with acquired brain injuries and disabilities. Much more needs to be done to give them the opportunity to come back into the workforce. They have something to contribute. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  Again, I do not disagree. We have a designated employment personal adviser in the 62 Intreo offices nationwide for disabled people to meet and discuss employment options. I have changed the work and access scheme. The work and access scheme offers seven different supports to facilitate those with disabilities in the workforce. I changed it to include assistive technology, which is a new thing. In May 2026, there were 1,568 employers supporting 2,621 employees through the wage subsidy scheme. That is not enough. We have the worst disability employment gap in Europe. I am determined to address it and make changes to address it. It will also be a key part of my priorities during the European Presidency, as to how we can learn from Europe. There may be areas that Europe can learn from us in the context of reducing this gap. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Employment Schemes"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_13","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Social Welfare Benefits","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_8","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_13","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_13.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Burke  I very much welcome that a large number of additional people will benefit from increases in the carer's allowance means test threshold, which comes into place on 1 July. Has the Minister engaged with the Minister for Health and her Department to ensure that carer's allowance income will not be included under the medical cards means test, so that those who benefit from the expanded threshold will not be at risk of losing their medical card? I ask him to make a statement on the matter. I have heard from a number of people who have decided not to apply until the issue is clarified. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I thank the Deputy for his question.  The programme for Government contains a commitment to continue to significantly increase the income disregard for carer's allowance across a series of budgets with a view of phasing out the means test over the lifetime of the Government. Budget 2026 has increased the earnings disregard for carer's allowance to \u20ac1,000 for a single person and \u20ac2,000 for a couple. Those changes will be effective from July this year. These are the largest ever increases in the carer's allowance income disregards and are evidence of our determination to deliver on our commitment to carers.  Since 2022, the disregard will have increased cumulatively by \u20ac667.50 per week for a single person and by \u20ac1,335 per week for a couple. This measure will benefit both those current recipients who are on means-reduced rate and who will see an increase in their payment rate and those people making new claim applications who otherwise would have been subject to a means-reduced rate in 2026.  On foot of the increases in the carer's allowance income disregards, a single person providing full-timer care, who also does part-time work this year, will be able to earn just over \u20ac54,000 and receive a full carer's payment. Similarly, for a couple household, a person who is providing full-time care and where their partner earns approximately \u20ac108,000 per annum will receive a full carer's payment. In its recent report, Family Carers Ireland acknowledged the significant progress made in increasing income disregards for carer's allowance. It stated that 68% of households are now falling within the financial eligibility criteria.  We are still looking at what the estimated take up will be. For budget purposes, we have prepared estimates on the basis that approximately 3,000 carers nationally will benefit. Given that the scheme is demand led, and it is likely that many who are outside the means test would have not have previously applied for carer's allowance, it is very difficult to estimate the potential inflow from this measure with certainty. We will engage with the Minister for Health around the Deputy's proposal on the means test. It certainly was an issue that was raised with me on 7 May at the carer's forum in relation to supports for carers. Supports for carers, including the medical card and respite, are highlighted in the Family Carers Ireland's state of caring report. The Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, is somebody who is very supportive of our work in this space. We will engage with her. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Burke  I very much welcome the Minister's reply. However, where I am coming from is about the people who are marginally outside under the old scheme who now qualify under the new changes that the Minister has made. I very much welcome those changes because people who are providing care in the home for their immediate family or for relatives are providing a fantastic service. What I am concerned about now is where people are pulling back from applying because they are afraid of losing their medical card. That is extremely important to them, especially for anyone who is providing care but also has their own medical challenges and are still well able to provide that care. That is why I am looking for clarification. As the Minister knows, the qualifying criteria for medical cards has not changed for quite some time. That is another issue that needs to be reviewed but that is not under the Minister's Department. Can we get clarification before 1 July on this issue? It is going to affect quite a number of people who will not put in the application at this stage. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  To be clear, the medical card means test is a matter for the Department of Health and the HSE. It is not a matter for the Department of Social Protection. Our commitment in relation to carers is increasing the income disregard with a view to phasing out the means test for carers between now and 2029 - the lifetime of the Government. There is the carer's support grant and increasing the weekly rates for that income for carers. I assure the Deputy that I will engage with the Minister in relation to the forthcoming increase in the income disregards. I share his concern that those who qualify are not taking it up. This is not just with carers but across a number of schemes. I want to ensure that those who can qualify for this can take it up without fear of losing other benefits. Those who are performing carer duties do exceptional work. We need to make their lives a lot easier and take the complications away. We will definitely engage with the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, in relation to this urgently in the context of 1 July. She is very committed and is very supportive of work in relation to the income disregards. She is very committed to the work of family carers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Burke  I very much welcome the reply. The changes that are coming into effect on 1 July are very good. There are a huge number of people who provide a good standard of care in the home rather than people having to go into full-time residential care in nursing homes. They are providing an invaluable service. It is important that we make sure that we tick all the boxes and that they are discouraged from continuing to provide that care because they qualify for the allowance but they are afraid of applying for it as they are afraid of losing their medical card. That is an issue that we need to get clarification on. Again, I thank the Minister for the work that has been done in this area and the number of additional people who are now going to come in under the qualifying criteria, so they can get the carer's allowance in support of the work that they are doing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I reiterate to the Deputy that we will engage with the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. We are looking at all of our schemes to see what is stopping people from applying. At the start of the session this morning, Deputy O'Reilly raised other points in that space. I am open to feedback in relation to that. As we go to a situation where somebody on \u20ac108,000 can still access the full carer's payment, we obviously have issues that not everybody is applying for it. I am going to drill down on those issues. We will the carer's organisations, Family Carers Ireland and the carer's allowance to increase awareness of the income disregards being increased in the manner that they are. Many people may not be aware of that income disregard, particularly carers. One point that is consistently made to me, and to all of us, is that carers often do not have the time to look at this kind of information because they are so busy, focused and engaged in their caring role.  We have to work with the organisations and family resource centres in every way to get the information about the supports available out to people. I will engage with the Minister for Health on the matter. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Social Welfare Benefits"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_14","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Children in Care","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_8","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_14","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_14.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  Matters relating to foster care are the responsibility of my colleague the Minister, Deputy Foley. However, the Government acknowledges the very important role of all carers, including foster carers. We remain fully committed to supporting them.  Once the minimum requirement of ten years' paid contributions is met, the State contributory pension system provides a range of measures to recognise caring periods outside of paid employment. These include PRSI credits, homemaking disregards and home caring periods. Homemaking disregards and home caring periods recognise caring periods of up to 20 years outside of paid employment in the calculation of a payment rate. Foster carers are entitled to benefit from these measures on the same basis as other family carers and parents. Questions of equity would arise if access to pension benefits was afforded to any of these groups, including foster parents and carers, on a preferential basis.  Since January 2024, long-term carer's contributions can be awarded to those who have cared for incapacitated persons for a period of 20 years or more. These contributions are treated the same as paid contributions for State contributory pension entitlement only and can be used to fill any gaps in a person's contribution record, including satisfying the minimum ten years of paid contributions required for eligibility. Foster carers who have cared for an incapacitated dependent or dependents for over 20 years also benefit from this provision. These measures assist foster carers to access the State pension system and recognise the years spent caring for children in the same way as biological or adoptive parents while ensuring that our pension system remains sustainable.  Changes to any aspect of the State pension system have to be considered in the overall policy and budgetary context including the sustainability of the Social Insurance Fund. I am very much aware of the importance of their work. I am happy to work with the Deputy on any proposals he may have in this space over the lifetime of the Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed  There are nearly 4,000 foster parents in Ireland who open their homes long term to children who often come from difficult and traumatic starts in life. The Minister has met them, as have I. It is a vocation for those families. At times, I wonder how they do it because of the workload involved, but they are really committed. Part of the challenge is that the number seems to be dwindling. There were over 4,000 a few years ago. Now, there are 3,800 foster parents who have 6,000 children in their care. I do not want to see a move away from a really good family-based environment for those children either back into institutional care or into private care where they will lose the family connection built up with those children. Everything we can do to encourage parents to get involved and keep them in that area is to be welcomed and explored. I appreciate the challenged the Minister set out but looking at pension provision should be part of that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I agree; an extraordinary service is provided. It gives stability and changes outcomes which would otherwise be very different. Tusla manages the foster parent-foster carer system. It pays the foster carer allowance which is \u20ac400 per week for per child under 12 and \u20ac425 per child 12 or over. That is to offset expenses. Accordingly, it does not affect tax. It is not assessed as a means for social assistance payments. We will look at further supports but anything we do in the State pension context has to have the overall sustainability of the State and equity in mind. I would love to be able to give the Deputy a guarantee around that but I have to look at those elements as well in terms of our pension system and facing the challenges we discussed in the previous discussion with Deputy McAuliffe. I agree with the Deputy on the vital work being done. The Minister, Deputy Foley, worked closely with me in relation to this matter. We want to continue to work with foster carers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed  I welcome the Minister's comments and the commitment to the effect that he and the Minister for children, Deputy Foley, will continue to look at and develop this area. To come at it from the children's perspective, the CSO analysis of children who come through foster care shows they have higher rates of absenteeism from school, leave school earlier and their educational achievement generally is lower. Everything we can do to support these children, who have had a really difficult start in life, is to be considered and welcomed. I come at it from the point of view of the foster carers. I know things like the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance may be an option for consideration. I would welcome all of the supports we can consider to try to make the provision of support for those children a little easier.  I accept the Minister's comments in relation to pensions, the integrity of the pension system and how important it is to manage that, but I hope the Government and the Minsters will consider this matter in the round, seek to make progress and see if there are ways it can be developed for foster carers in the future to keep the family-based service going well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  We made changes last year in relation to the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance. Where we can, we will continue to do that. From the perspective of the children fortunate enough to receive foster care, it is a changer for them. Many have gone through multiples of carers and generations so it is an area I am looking at.  I am also looking at the area of kinship. Along with Deputy McGreehan, I met the Kinship Care Ireland last year. We want to see how we can do more to support that but I would not like to give false expectation either. There are many complex issues around pensions and eligibility we are trying to work through. We have to work through them with the overall sustainability of our pension system in mind. We will work with the Deputy and the Minister, Deputy Foley. Tuigim c\u00e9 chomh t\u00e1bhachtach is at\u00e1 an obair seo le haghaidh na tuismitheoir\u00ed seo. Caithfimid seasamh leo. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Children in Care"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_15","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Social Welfare Schemes","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_8","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_15.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  The programme for Government contains a commitment to protect core welfare rates while ensuring that available resources are targeted at vulnerable groups. It also includes a commitment to examine key ancillary benefits, including the fuel allowance, household benefits package and living alone allowance to support vulnerable groups. This is an ongoing activity as part of the Department's budget planning each year. As part of budget 2026, I increased the weekly rate of fuel allowance by \u20ac5 which increased the weekly rate payable by 15% from \u20ac33 to \u20ac38 a week or \u20ac1,064 per fuel season. In addition, in March I extended the 2026-27 fuel allowance season by four weeks, which added an extra \u20ac152 to households in most need of support and increased the fuel season amount to \u20ac1,216 for this year. Estimated expenditure on the scheme in 2026 is \u20ac557.4 million.  The household benefits package comprises the electricity or gas allowance and the free television licence, with an annual payment of \u20ac580 per recipient. The Department will invest approximately \u20ac317 million this year in this package. The living alone allowance is a supplement to a primary social protection payment of \u20ac22 per week, \u20ac1,144 a year, made to people aged 66 or over in receipt of certain social welfare payments and who are living alone. The estimated cost of the living alone allowance this year is \u20ac298 million.  In budget 2026, we extended the fuel allowance to all recipients of the working family payment. This benefits some 50,000 families. In addition, from September, those moving from disability allowance or blind pension to take up employment will continue to receive their fuel allowance for five years after exiting their payment.  These improvements, which are targeted, have resulted in many more households qualifying for the payment and have resulted in the budget for the scheme increasing to an estimated \u20ac557.4 million in 2026 compared with \u20ac290.4 million in 2020. I will continue, as part of the budget planning process, to examine improvements to key ancillary benefits. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Burke  I very much welcome that over \u20ac28.9 billion is being provided in range of areas via budget 2026. There is a concern, however - and this was outlined this morning on \"Morning Ireland\" - that we may soon have an inflation rate of 5%. That is on the upper end of the scale. Because the cost of fuel and hearing are both increasing, we need to take action to keep pace with that in order to ensure that we have adequate supports for people who are vulnerable and who are very much dependent on the social welfare system. It is in this context that I am asking about whether the review has occurred and what we need to do in the context of planning forward, especially for budget 2027. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  Absolutely. We will be looking at those targeted supports. This year, we have increased the fuel allowance rate by \u20ac5 per week and extended the season by four weeks. Most importantly, we sponsored the working family payment in order that those on low incomes can access the fuel allowance payment. We ensured that we backdated this to 1 January. That is the kind of area I want to look at in the context of targeting payments to support those under the most pressure and, in particular, to support, as we have discussed at considerable length this morning, those in receipt of the living alone allowance. Anomalies in this regard have been highlighted by Deputies Burke, McAuliffe and O'Reilly. We want to look at those.  There are a lot of areas in which we can iron out difficulties. As Deputy Hayes stated earlier, the living alone allowance and the fuel allowance affect people in different ways. We have to make sure that we try to ensure consistency. That will be part of our overall budgetary process, but that is done within a very tight financial window in view of the other challenges the Department faces. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Burke  I fully understand that. As was stated earlier, I have a number of people who are living in rural areas - the position would be the same in the Minister's constituency - in circumstances where there are two old-age pensions coming into the household. If one of the parties dies, there is a sudden drop in income. However, the cost of heating and travel for those individuals remain substantial. This is a huge challenge, especially for people in rural areas. The matter needs to be looked at very carefully. I fully understand that there will be many demands in healthcare and other areas in the context of the forthcoming budget, but this is something we need to keep pace with in order to ensure that people who are in receipt of social welfare supports do not lose out because of the inflation that is either going to occur or that has occurred over the past 12 months. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  The incidences the Deputy cites relate to an area I am very focused on and concerned about, namely where a person loses their partner and then faces a massive and sudden drop in income while the bills remain the same. We will be looking at all of our schemes in that context. This year, we have taken action to increase the fuel allowance and expand the scheme. On foot of the war in Iran, we expanded the season by four weeks. That is a very targeted payment. I do not know if the Deputy was here earlier for the discussion on how we target that and how we can ensure that it is targeted more by allowing people the choice to spend the money on whatever energy source they want. The position with the living alone allowance is similar. There has been an increase since 2019, and an increase in the overall budget, which is substantial, but still not enough people are getting access to it and too many are left facing a cliff edge and a financial challenge at a time of huge personal loss and grief. We need to do something in that regard, because this is not the right way to have it. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Social Welfare Schemes"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_16","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Social Welfare Benefits","counts":{"speechCount":10,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_8","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_16","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_16.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy David Maxwell)  Is Deputy Murphy taking this question on behalf of Deputy Boyd Barrett? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  Yes. I am fairly certain it was emailed in. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy David Maxwell)  There is no request in front of me, but that is okay. Away you go, Deputy Murphy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  This question relates to the cost-of-disability payment. Obviously, a big political issue over the past six months was the cut in the budget of \u20ac1,400-plus for disabled people and the call for emergency cost-of-living disability payments. In response, the Government stated that it is working on a cost-of-disability payment and is going to introduce it in budget 2027. The Minister had promised to bring forward a concrete proposal by the end of the month, but this has not appeared yet. Where is it? Will the Minister guarantee that it will be included in budget 2027? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I am not in position to discuss in detail any measures that will be in budget 2027. Work is under way in relation to that, and the details have to be discussed within Government. However, we have made it clear that we recognise that there are significant additional costs which disabled people face in their daily lives. We are committed to addressing this as a priority over the term of this Government. That is why we have the commitment to introduce the permanent cost-of-disability payment. This initiative will add to work done in the context of budget 2026. As part of an overall package of \u20ac1.15 billion for new social protection measures, expenditure in respect of disabled people and their carers was increased to just over \u20ac6 billion per annum. The budget contained significant targeted measures to support disabled people, including increases to core welfare rates, the largest ever increase in the child support payment, the largest ever increase in the income disregard for carer's allowance, increases in the rate of the domiciliary care allowance and improvements to the wage subsidy scheme.  In the national human rights strategy, there was a commitment to establish a strategic focus network summit on the cost of disability. Considerable work is under way in this regard. We hosted a summit at the Aviva Stadium on 13 May. Last week, I spent an hour and a half with the joint Oireachtas committee discussing the cost-of-disability payment. A public consultation payment process ahead of the summit on the cost of disability received over 1,100 submissions. I will shortly bring to the Government the report relating to the summit, the submissions made and details of the interaction with the Oireachtas committee last week. Given the high level of submissions, work on this matter is continuing. I would like to thank the team in my Department who are giving considerable attention to it.  The submissions request that universal payment be made to all people with disabilities, but with a recognition that a differentiated approach could be developed over time to reflect the fact that some forms disability give rise to higher challenges and costs than others. We are continuing to engage with disability groups. A specific workshop on disability matters was hosted as part of the national economic dialogue and we will continue to engage, including at our pre-budget forum on 1 July and with the network of disabled persons organisations that we have within the Department. I intend to bring a proposal to Government as part of my budget 2027 discussions. This is a priority for me. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  I do not question that the Minister knows the real impact of having a disability, and he knows the figures. He stated at the conference that the additional cost for households with a disabled person is up to \u20ac555 a week. I am sure the Minister knows that the official risk of poverty rates are 32.5%. When we take into account the cost of disability, however, this rises to over 65%, which is obviously immense. The issue is whether the Government is going to deliver on what it said in the context of the uproar, rightly, about the budget last year and that we were going to introduce this. The Minister told the conference he would bring a concrete proposal on a new cost-of-disability payment to the Department by the end of June. The Minister did not repeat that commitment in his answer here. I wonder will the Minister repeat it now. It does seem to me that the timeframe is very tight in terms of this actually being delivered for budget 2027. Disabled people cannot be asked to wait again for another budget, which I worry we are on track for. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I will absolutely be bringing it to Government. I still hope to do so if not by the end of June then very early in July. That is a consequence of 1,100 people who participated, including three of the four political parties represented in the House at the moment. I cannot recall receiving a submission from the Deputy's party in relation to how it might work or with regard to making the tough choices as to how it might be paid and how it might be outlined. Sinn F\u00e9in and the Social Democrats are the two other parties that are represented here. On the day of the summit, we engaged with various groups to discuss how it could be paid.  To be absolutely clear, I cannot write the budget at this point. I wish I could and give the Deputy a guarantee on it. There will be very robust discussion, but I cannot make it any clearer that it is a priority for me to introduce a permanent payment and then to allow it to develop over the lifetime of this Government and future Governments.  We have people currently going through all the submissions to ensure that they are recognised, and I will be in a position to bring a proposal to the Government as a consequence of the budgetary process, but we are also very clear that we are going to engage with the disabled persons organisations, DPOs, and the representative organisations as part of that ongoing process. It will not be done in isolation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  The tough choices I am in favour of the Government making are putting a levy on data centres, putting a wealth tax on the multimillionaires and increasing corporation tax. They are the tough choices that we make in our budget proposals on an annual basis and in which we included a cost-of-disability payment for a number of years. They are better tough choices than forcing disabled people to live in poverty.  The Minister is saying that it will not be the end of June or early July any more. I presume he accepts that that is a very tight timeframe for a concrete proposal to make its way into a budget. The Minister made the point, and the point was made at the conference, that the cost would not be insignificant if a universal payment was introduced, which we support. This needs to be in the budget. There need to be measures to address the deep poverty that disabled people are sinking into. The figures are going to be worse reflecting this year's budget. I stress very strongly that this needs to be done as soon as possible, and it needs to be included in the budget. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  The Deputy's proposals would drive people into unemployment, reduce our tax bases and reduce our ability to actually address this because without a sustainable economy and without sustainable resources, we cannot make these kinds of payments. That is not a tough choice. The Deputy is making a choice that will impair our ability to address and assist people with disabilities.  What we are trying to do is have a programme that works and has a backup. We had 1,173 responses to the process. That was an extraordinary response, and each response has been gone through. There were 1,086 responses from individuals and 87 responses from groups and other organisations.  The Taoiseach, the T\u00e1naiste and the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, as the three Government leaders, attended the cost-of-disability summit on 13 May and are very much engaged in this process. They took time out of their diaries to engage with it and listen. We have done a lot of pre-work in relation to this. This will not be something that will be landed on colleagues in government when it comes, and I continue to work on this daily. We had a very good session of about an hour and half at the Oireachtas committee last week where we went through the proposals of other parties that were willing to put choices on the line in relation to this payment. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 14 and 15 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy David Maxwell)  We are nearly out of time. I will allow Deputy O'Reilly to ask the next question, with one response from the Minister. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Social Welfare Benefits"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_17","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Social Welfare Payments","counts":{"speechCount":3,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_8","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_17.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  I thank the Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach for being very fair. I am taking this question on behalf of my colleague, Teachta Rose Conway-Walsh. It is to ask the Minister for Social Protection if he has plans to improve turnaround times on decisions regarding applications for supplementary welfare allowance to cover transport costs for going to hospital appointments for patients who may receive an appointment at short notice and do not necessarily have the time to wait for a decision. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Dara Calleary)  The answer is \"Yes\". I am going to engage with Deputy Conway-Walsh and any other rural TD, in particular, who may have other examples in this space. I am very much aware of people getting appointments at short notice and - this is a real bugbear of mine - people getting appointments at a time that they have to stay overnight the night before because they cannot get transport. I will engage directly with Deputy Conway-Walsh in relation to her proposal in this space. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Aire. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Social Welfare Payments"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_18","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_19","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Public Transport","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_18","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_19","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_19.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  This question is in the context of the National Transport Authority, NTA, stating that it does not have money for further public transport expansion this year. Why has it been left in this position? I have a relevant local example in Athenry in my area. I know that the Minster is aware of the situation there. Will he touch on it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Transport (Deputy Darragh O'Brien)  Sustained investment in the public service obligation, PSO, programme has driven record public transport use, with passenger numbers up 23% and continuing to grow this year, alongside an expanded network serving over 240 towns and villages. As demand rises and congestion issues remain, Ireland\u2019s public transport system has reached a pivotal point, with an increasing need for reliable services.  A fundamental reset in funding was required to place the PSO programme on a sustainable, long-term footing in line with the programme for Government commitment. Accordingly, the 2026 PSO allocation was structured to eliminate the need for supplementary in-year funding, providing greater certainty and stability for service delivery.  To underpin this, my Department secured an unprecedented \u20ac940 million allocation for PSO services in budget 2026, which was a 43% increase on the previous year. This significant investment provides a robust foundation to ensure that existing public transport services are delivered reliably and sustainably throughout the year, enabling the system to meet rising passenger demand and assist in absorbing growing operational costs.  The NTA is managing the 2026 allocation by prioritising delivery of existing programmes in line with operational readiness and resources. Enhancements within the current allocation are prioritised. Some changes are cost neutral while others require additional resources, and all are subject to funding, readiness and capacity.  Funding for new services in 2027 will be determined through the annual Estimates process, which we will be entering into shortly. Within the constraints of the reliable resources available, the NTA will be responsible for prioritising its service plan, taking into account operational readiness, demonstrated and anticipated passenger demand, and the need to deliver value for money. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  This reset the Minister is talking about means fewer new services. That is what the NTA is saying, and the impact of that is massive. I know the impact of it in Athenry, and the Minister knows the story there, where we have been promised a PSO bus service for the past two years since the previous service ended. We still do not have that bus service.  We have been told that the 6.50 a.m. train, the only early morning train service at around that time between Athenry and Galway, is ending in six weeks' time at the end of July due to a lack of funding. Athenry is a large and growing town with a population of over 5,000 people. We have Dexcom now and up and running in the town, and many people commute in and out of Galway city. There are serious problems on rail services, with dangerous overcrowding at peak times.  We are being left waiting for these services. We are being told that the money is not there for the new bus services or to maintain this vital, early morning train service. There is no justification for us being left to wait any longer. I presented the Minister with a petition signed by 1,700 people within Athenry calling for these services to be maintained. Will the Minister ensure that that happens? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  The 6.50 a.m. service is not going. Let us be clear on that. I know that the Deputy has been running a bit of a campaign locally. The 6.50 a.m. train service will be retained; end of story.  What I was trying to explain in my answer was that we got a big uplift in PSO funding. For the past five years in the Department of Transport, a big supplementary budget was requested at the end of the year to basically backfill new services. I did not want to do it that way, which is why we got a big uplift - a 42% increase - in the PSO allocation to stabilise those services across this year. We are now entering into the annual Estimates process, and I will obviously be looking for additional funding in that space to provide those new services that many Deputies are asking for and that I am looking for in my area, but we need them to be set up on a sustainable footing. We have managed to do that this year. There are resource constraints too, but this year is a stabilisation year. Even though we are seeing increasing passenger numbers, which is great, I want to provide additional services, and that is why we are entering the Estimates process shortly to provide additional funds next year to roll out new services. This year has been a year to stabilise the services that we have added to already. I have taken on board a lot of the different feedback I have got from Deputies about specific services and that will be in the NTA service plan. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  I welcome the Minister's commitment on the 6.50 a.m. train. I ask that that be communicated to the NTA and Irish Rail as well, that clarity is provided to them on that. The responses I am getting have not reflected that until now but I welcome the Minister's comments on the matter today. If additional funding is forthcoming, of course that will be very welcome as well but my question is on when that will happen. In terms of Athenry, we have been waiting two years for that promised bus service. The NTA says that while it does not have any additional funding, it cannot implement that service. My big question, then, is: when that will happen? It is urgent for Athenry and, I am sure, for many other areas across the State where there are real constraints in terms of public transport capacity. I urge the Minister to ensure that this happens very quickly. The NTA wants to be able to provide more services. We all know that public transport has become increasingly popular but people want to be able to rely on it and they should be supported to do so. We need the commitment from the Government and, crucially, the funding to do that. I ask the Minister to provide clarity on when we can expect that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  I have spoken on the record of the House about the 6.50 a.m. train. The Deputy has raised it. Deputy Albert Dolan has raised it with me as well. That service is being retained, and I will relay that information. I am not sure how it got to the stage where there was uncertainty around it.  The broader point, which I have explained, is that about \u20ac1.6 billion is the operational cost of our public transport network across the board, most of that being PSO and fares. That is what it costs to run what we have, which is a greatly expanded public transport service, including Local Link services, trains and buses, right the way through our whole network. What I am doing now with the Ministers of State, Deputies Buttimer and Canney, is entering into the Estimates process for next year. Now that we have stabilised an increased service, which is good, and we have seen significant increases, we have a much higher base. We will seek additional funds for 2027 in order that we can roll out those additional services in 2027, subject to the NTA's service delivery plan. That is my intention. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Public Transport"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_20","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Bus Services","counts":{"speechCount":10,"speakerCount":5},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_18","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_20","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_20.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  Can the Minister give me an update on the Local Link 199 service and when it is due to start? It was actually meant to start last September. A bus has been purchased for it. Drivers are in place. The community really needs this bus service up and running. There is very much a lack of clarity because the Government says one thing and the NTA says the other. Can we have a start date for this service this morning? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  I thank the Deputy for raising this issue again. I know there is a campaign on the ground supported by her. This is an important service that we want to get into use. I mentioned in my previous answer that this year has been a year to ensure that we got an increase in the PSO funding, which is very significant.  There has been considerable investment in services throughout the country under the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan. I think everyone is agreed that has been a real success. I have met many of the Local Link services across the country. The plan is improving how rural communities access public transport. I am pleased to state that passengers are responding to this continued investment, with TFI Local Link services recording a combined 6.97 million passenger journeys just last year, marking a record and a 19% increase on the previous year. That is just short of 7 million journeys.  In counties Wicklow, Carlow and Kilkenny, funding increased by 25% between 2024 and 2025 to over \u20ac4.6 million, boosting passenger numbers by 81%. A great example of this can be seen in route 183, which was enhanced from Arklow to Sallins. The enhanced route offers connectivity to Avoca, Rathdrum, Rathnew, Wicklow, Roundwood and Laragh and improved connections to regional public transport, including a morning connection to Arklow.  The PSO allocation, as I mentioned earlier, has risen to \u20ac940 million. That is 43% up on 2025's allocation. I want that on a sustainable footing; I do not want to have to go back looking for supplementary funding every year. That is a record level of funding we have provided and that underpins the new routes we have brought forward. It is a priority to roll out the 199 service, which is part of the NTA's service plan. The service is subject to the same considerations around funding.  To be straight, I expect that, as part of the Estimates process, with the additional funding we will receive, routes like the 199 service will operate from early next year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  I thank the Minister but that response just is not good enough. It just does not cut it. This service was to start last September. People have been relying on it. They have been making life decisions - dropping out of college, not able to get jobs in other parts - because they are relying on this service to go from, say, Roundwood to Bray. They were told it would happen in September. I am glad to hear the Minister say that it should happen from next January but what people need is an actual date. We have some members of the Government saying that an announcement was to be made last week and the NTA says there is no funding for this. There is a complete lack of clarity. This service needs to start at least in September because people in those areas cannot get to college or get to many of the schools they need to get to. To say now that there will be another six months' delay, following a year's delay, is just not good enough. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  I have outlined that this is an important service for people. I have outlined what has been done in just the past two years in relation to Local Link services in Wicklow. I think everyone acknowledges that there has been a significant increase. This route, this service, is a priority. I want to see it in place as soon as we can. I am trying to give a realistic timeframe for its implementation because the Deputy is right that people need certainty around it. They do not need to be told it might be next week and next week and next week. What I and the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, have been able to do is significantly increase the funding for these types of services to get this onto a sustainable footing, with a 42% increase and record public transport passenger numbers right the way across the country and continued growth. I want to grow that further. We are seeking additional funding for next year to roll out services like the 199. If I get additional funds this year - and it is an if - any of the services that we can roll out additionally we will do this year. I am trying to give the Deputy a realistic timeframe for her constituents. I am confident that we will be able to get this up and running early next year. We will be in our Estimates negotiations pretty soon. I want to get additional funding for that. We are looking at how that funding is made up between PSO and fares to be able to deliver new services like this, and the Deputy is right that people are responding to it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  I do acknowledge that the Minister is trying to give a realistic date. I think that has been part of the problem: that people have been waiting week by week for this service to be rolled out. The difficulty, however, is that I was told in May last year that this service was funded, that the money was there for it. It was tendered and it was contracted. There is a bus sitting in Clonshaugh in Dublin empty, not running, waiting to be used on this service. Four drivers have been hired for this service. Everything is ready to go, and I do not understand how that funding is no longer there. I know the Minister is saying that he is trying to stabilise funding this year and next year and that new services will come in but this service was promised. Because we are coming into the start of a new school year and a new college year, I ask that the Minister try to find that funding for just four months of the year to get this running. It is ready to go. Literally, the bus is sitting there. I ask the Minister to try to find that funding to bridge that gap. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  I know people have been told this is funded. I know that the bus is purchased. People have been employed. If we can get it started earlier, we will do so. I will go back and specifically ask why that was advised previously. What the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, and I have tried to do - and I think we have done it pretty well - is to get that big uplift so we are starting from a higher base and then we can really be sustainable. As to what happened over the past five years, it was great to see the increases in services but there was no certainty around any of them----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  Correct. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  -----because it was just a matter of going in every year for additional moneys towards the end of the year. I will specifically and personally check this one out and I will revert to the Deputy. I am trying to give a realistic timeline and, in fairness, she has accepted that. If it can be done sooner, we will do it sooner because I know the bus has been purchased. Let us see what we can do in that regard and I will come back to the Deputy directly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy O'Hara, are you taking Deputy Daly's questions? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  Yes. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Bus Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_21","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Rail Network","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_18","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_21.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  I ask the Minister to provide an update on the replacement of the State's rail traffic management system; to provide an updated timeline for delivery; the projected costs for this; and to make a statement on the matter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  The National Train Control Centre building was completed in November 2022, on time and within budget, despite significant disruption to the construction sector throughout the Covid pandemic. While the building today houses some signalling operations and Iarnr\u00f3d \u00c9ireann staff, as well as approximately 100 personnel of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na overseeing communications in the Dublin metropolitan region, bringing the centre into full operation has been delayed by slower-than-projected progress in developing and rolling out the new traffic management system, which is the software that integrates a range of complex railway systems, such as signalling and communications.  Taxpayers and train users are rightly concerned about this delay as I am too, I assure the Deputy. In my capacity as Minister, I have met with Indra, the contractor delivering the traffic management system. I met them last August and again in January of this year.  On both occasions, I expressed my clear dissatisfaction with the state of progress and emphasised the importance of bringing the project to a successful conclusion as quickly as possible.  A re-baselined programme was agreed between Iarnr\u00f3d \u00c9ireann, the NTA and Indra in November 2024, breaking the project into eight discrete commissioning phases to improve deliverability and realise benefits incrementally. The contractor delivered software to Iarnr\u00f3d \u00c9ireann in mid-April to support the planned implementation of commissioning phase 1 on the Rosslare line for early next year. A three-month software testing period is now ongoing. Decisions on software acceptance and future commissioning phases will be taken in mid-July, the middle of next month.  Given issues in terms of project delivery, I understand that the board of Iarnr\u00f3d \u00c9ireann is also considering potential options for the future delivery of the project. I await its recommendations, which I have not received yet. In advance of the conclusion of software testing and consideration by the Iarnr\u00f3d \u00c9ireann board, it would be premature to discuss schedule and cost implications for the project because I do not have that information yet. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  The \u20ac50 million that has been written off on this failed traffic management system represents a shocking waste of public money. The information given to the transport committee last week by Irish Rail showed that, for years, Iarnr\u00f3d \u00c9ireann staff expressed concerns about the ability of the contractor, Indra, to deliver this project. Despite these concerns, millions of euro continued to be put into this project. It demonstrates a real failure in project oversight.  I understand that, in mid-2025, Iarnr\u00f3d \u00c9ireann recommended to the NTA that the contract be terminated due to the ongoing delivery concerns, yet that contract is still in place. The Minister mentioned that he had met the contractor. I know the Department has been kept updated on this. Why was a stop not put to this contract, given all the evidence that Indra was failing to deliver it? What has the Minister done to ensure that costs are kept under control to avoid this waste of money? What is going to happen to this contract going forward, and how will the Minister ensure that costs are kept under control? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  It is a very important system. We need this system in place. It is not a question of just pulling the plug on it. It has to be managed through. I have said very clearly to Indra myself that I am most unhappy with the manner in which this is being delivered and the delays in the system.  In relation to the write-down amount, I note that the asset value of the national train control centre, NTCC, is also considered in the CI\u00c9 Group accounts for 2025. These accounts were received by my Department on 18 May and are currently being reviewed in the Department and by financial advisers in NewERA, and I expect to receive them shortly. I have not got them yet. I want to look into that in detail. It is my intention to bring the accounts to the Government and have them laid before the Oireachtas in the coming weeks.  Fundamentally, though, and regardless of who delivers this system, we need it. It is important for signalling and safety. The manner in which it is being brought about is far from acceptable, and that is putting it mildly. I am acutely conscious that the money we invest on behalf of our people has to be invested correctly and projects like this have to be delivered on time.  When I have further details on this, I will come back to the House. The accounts will be laid before the Oireachtas shortly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  It is a very important project. It is clear from the evidence that Iarnr\u00f3d \u00c9ireann provided that the failure to deliver the system now risks the possibility of disruption to rail services. A sum of \u20ac50 million is an enormous amount of money. We just had a discussion about the lack of funding that was available for new public transport services, and \u20ac50 million would make a huge difference there and right across the public transport system in terms of the constraints that exist. The Minister needs to ensure that the costs are brought back under control, and that there is no risk to the safe operation of the rail network. The Minister should provide clarity on how we have got to this point and why this lack of oversight has been allowed to happen, as well as on what his own role has been in terms of oversight here.  Indra is also the contractor responsible for the delivery of the contactless payments on the public transport system, as part of next-generation ticketing. The cost of that programme is up to \u20ac269 million. Will the Minister confirm what actions he is taking to oversee that project as well? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  We are on track to deliver contactless payments. I have met Indra specifically about the contactless payments. That is critical for the public transport offering that we have across the country. Real-time testing rolls out on a phased basis next year, leading to a phased roll-out from 2028. That is a very intricate system. It has to operate in tandem with Leap as well, so we have to operate dual systems.  On this specifically, I want to be clear that from a rail safety perspective, contingency plans are in place to mitigate the impact of delays on the traffic management system. To safeguard the signalling resilience of the rail network, I approved an additional allocation of \u20ac5.7 million in May to enable Iarnr\u00f3d \u00c9ireann to commence additional signalling works to increase operational resilience within the greater Dublin area, the busiest part of our rail network.  When I have the accounts, when they are back from NewERA and that work is done, I will be assessing them. I do not micromanage every agency's budget. That is not my role. The NTA and Iarnr\u00f3d \u00c9ireann are supposed to manage that appropriately. I take this very seriously, though. I will be looking at the accounts when I receive them. I will be bringing them to the Cabinet. The figure that has been put out there may not be the figure. That is from what I have been told. That will be laid before the Oireachtas and it would be a good opportunity for the transport committee to further interrogate it as well. The main thing is we need the system delivered. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Rail Network"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_22","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Rail Network","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_18","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_22.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  We are about to start MetroLink out in Dublin north. MetroLink to the south west would be another transformational project. I welcome the Deputy\u2019s question on this. If we want people choosing public transport instead of cars, which they are in many areas whether for cost, congestion or climate reasons, we need to provide an integrated transport network that lets people travel throughout the city. It is for this reason that we do not try to bring forward rail lines or routes in isolation but use the Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy 2022-2042 to inform planning and development of public transport infrastructure in Dublin, including metro lines.  As the Deputy knows, the NTA has statutory responsibility for the transport strategy and must review it every six years, meaning that the next review is due to be concluded by 2028. As part of this review, the NTA will reassess the need for additional metro lines, among other transport options, in the greater Dublin area. This review will consider updated travel demand forecasts as well as changes in land use and spatial planning policies. This background analytical work is expected to commence over the next year. The feasibility study for a metro to south-west Dublin will be undertaken as part of this broader strategic review process. The Deputy will, I hope, understand that this approach will help ensure that it is considered in an integrated and holistic manner, alongside wider transport and spatial planning objectives for the greater Dublin area.  The projects we are delivering now include DART+ South West and DART+ West, DART+ Coastal North, the MetroLink and the extension to Luas lines, which we are doing at Luas Finglas.  As Deputy has noted, the programme for Government includes a commitment to undertake a feasibility study for a metro south west in Dublin. We will do that. The operative railway order for MetroLink was secured in January 2026. With this key milestone now achieved, attention is turning to the preparation of the review of the strategy. On this basis, I look forward to the upcoming review of the transport strategy with a specific focus on this potential new MetroLink line. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  I thank the Minister. Getting MetroLink built and even getting it started in earnest will be a fantastic legacy for him as a Minister for Transport. He will have the full support of the Labour Party and, I think, others in opposition in getting that done in as speedy a manner as possible. We know how vital it is for our city. I am asking that he does not just stop when he gets to Charlemont. We know these tunnel-boring machines are going to be in the ground. I ask that the line be continued on to Dublin South-West through Rathmines, Terenure, Rathfarnham, Knocklyon, Firhouse and Tallaght. There is a group in the Public Gallery from St. Colmcille's in Knocklyon. Maybe by the time they are my age, the line might actually be built.  This is not a new proposal. It is something Deputy Bacik has been requesting for a long time, as has the Metro South West Group. I understand that it needs to be done in a planned, integrated and sustainable manner. It makes sense to us that a line would not stop in the middle of the city but would continue out, and that this should be done in as efficient a manner as possible. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  It is a very good point. This year has been really significant in the delivery of metro. We have our full railway order and clean planning permission. It is out to tender and some of the enabling works have started already in the Swords area, with the realignment of the roads, and construction is to start next year.  On a MetroLink to Dublin South-West, I fully get what the Deputy is saying. This will be a six-to-eight-year build. While that is happening, this review will have been undertaken. MetroLink will be the first real integrated system. When it comes into the St. Stephen's Green area, it will integrate with heavy rail, intercity rail, DART and the Luas.  There are major opportunities to expand further. The Deputy can be assured that there will be a specific focus on this as part of the review. That review scoping work will start next year, with the review to be undertaken in 2028. We will start building MetroLink next year and that will be rolled out on a phased basis. The review will happen. I know the Deputy will continue to advocate for it and he will have my support. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  That is great. I thank the Minister for giving clear timelines. That will be much appreciated in the area. Dublin South-West has historically been underserved by public transport. We have a Luas line that starts in Tallaght but conspicuously avoids the rest of the constituency. We support the roll-out of BusConnects and would like to see that done as quickly as possible. There are some issues with routes, but broadly speaking we support that. As the Minister knows, no growing modern city can survive on bus routes alone. It requires light rail or a metro. Given the road space constraints in this particular area of the city, extending the metro through the city centre to Dublin South-West would make sense. As I said, a previous feasibility study ended the line in Knocklyon. It would make more sense for the line to go all the way to Tallaght whether has been a huge increase in population and new housing is being built all the time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  This is a very exciting time for public transport. This five-year period is a delivery period of major projects that people have heard and spoken about, including the expansion of the DART and, as I mentioned, DART+ West, DART+ South-West, DART+ Coastal North, Cork light rail, phase 1 of Cork commuter rail, which is concluding, and the commencement of MetroLink. These are transformational projects that are badly needed. A lot of them will deal with an infrastructural deficit that we have carried for a long number of years.  Thankfully, when we provide public transport options people use them. I welcome the support of the Labour Party for this project. Over the next year it is important that the Deputy and others in Dublin South-West and beyond engage with the NTA through the process of that review. We are commencing the construction and delivery of MetroLink, which will enable us to deliver further extensions to the MetroLink line, like what is being done with the Luas. I intend to bring Luas Finglas forward. Under the previous Government, the project was due in the mid-2030s. I think we can start construction in 2028. I use it as an example because it is an existing line that is being extended. The same can apply to this. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Rail Network"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_23","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Bus Services","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_18","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_23","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_23.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  I want to again raise with the Minister an issue that is close to my heart and the hearts of residents across Dublin 15, namely, the provision of the N8 orbital bus service, a new BusConnects service linking Blanchardstown with Dublin Airport. I want to tie down a commitment the Minister made on a previous occasion that the route will be up and running by the end of this year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  That is what we are hoping to do. I want to again make it clear that the NTA is responsible for the provision, scheduling and timetabling of public transport services nationwide. The Deputy knows that. It works with operators to deliver these services.  I mentioned in response to earlier questions that we have secured a significant uplift in PSO funding, a 42% increase. I do not want to get back into supplementary budgets every year to provide services. We need certainty. The N8 route is planned to be implemented as part of phase 9 of the BusConnects Dublin network redesign programme. The exact implementation date for the route will be determined by funding provisions and operational readiness.  The route will run between Blanchardstown and Clongriffin via Dublin Airport. It will be critical to the Deputy's constituents. When the route is launched it will allow seamless and easy interchange with the W4 service which runs from Tallaght to Blanchardstown. I have answered the Deputy's question on a previous occasion. As soon as we can get funding for the route it will be a priority project. We have increased the funding. I still think we will be on track for later this year or early next year to roll out the service. If we can do it any sooner we will.  There has been a significant increase in public transport use. We have substantially expanded the service. Blanchardstown and the Dublin 15 area is a major growth area. It is in the service plan. We want to deliver it. As I have said before, I would like to deliver it by the end of the year. My position on that has not changed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  As the Minister knows, this route is long delayed. When I contacted the NTA in 2024, I was told it would be in place in 2025. When I asked about it in 2025, I was told it would be in place in 2026. When I asked about it earlier this year, I was told it would be in place in 2027. The Minister and I have discussed this route in the Chamber a number of times. He gave a strong commitment last time in terms of having the route delivered this year. I received a written reply from the Minister's Department on the same day which hedged somewhat and referred to 2026 or maybe 2027.  I am a bit concerned about what the Minister has said because I do not feel he was quite as committed to getting the route delivered this year. He raised a point about delivery of funding. I know he does not run the opening of individual routes day by day, but he is responsible for the money. I am unclear why the Minister is asking whether the money will be ready this year. He is the person with responsibility for whether there is money to deliver the N8 from Blanchardstown to Dublin Airport in 2026 to which he has committed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  To be fair to the Deputy, he has advocated for this. He mentioned he has been asking this question since 2024. The route was planned and approved before I came in as Minister for Transport. Having said that, in this year's budget we were able to secure \u20ac1.6 billion to run our public transport network. We have about \u20ac960 million in PSO, up 42% on the previous year, which gives us a much higher base.  I want to deliver the bus route this year. I have said that before. I do not have an exact date. As is the case with everything, it is subject to funding. In the Estimates process this year, I want to take another step up so that we can provide more new services across the country. This year has been very much about stabilising. I know how important the N8 is to the area. It will be a critical link and will also link to the W4 route. I will keep the Deputy fully informed as to the date when we can get the service.going. It is still my intention to get that started this year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  The ongoing delay in the delivery of the N8 is emblematic of wider delays in the delivery of bus services. I refer in particular to my constituency. The B spine route has been delayed. A judicial review is ongoing and I understand is that is coming to an end. Large numbers of new houses are being built. The Minister and I were at the opening of new estates over the past number of years. Additional bus service in places like Hollystown, Tyrrelstown and Kilmartin Grove are important in terms of dealing with the housing crisis in our country, but those areas are not seeing an increase in the level of services and capacity. There is already pressure to extend the N8 to cover areas like Hollystown and Hollywoodrath so that people have links to the airport and other areas of high employment. Again, it comes down to the question of money and providing financial backing to open these new services. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  It does come down to money. The Deputy is absolutely right. When I came into the Department of Transport we were very short of money, including PSO funding. Over the term of the previous Government, every year there was a supplementary budget, that is, additional moneys added at the end of every year. We could not plan new services properly. My big focus this year was securing an increase of 43%, up to \u20ac940 million. That is a much higher base which means we move into next year with a higher level of funding to provide new services.  I know the area the Deputy has spoken of very well. As is the case in my area, it is a major growth area in the Fingal region providing thousands of new homes, something the Deputy and I want to do and worked hard to do. We are seeing more of that happen. Additional bus routes are critical in those areas that are wholly dependent on bus services to get into town. As I said, not for fear of repetition, it is my intention, working with the NTA, to get the route started this year. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Bus Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_24","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Public Transport","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_18","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_24.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  I want to highlight the urgent need for increased investment in public transport, specifically in north Dublin. I have raised the roll-out of contactless payments and how it has been delayed until 2028 and the need for accurate live updates for when lifts are unavailable for people with mobility or disability needs. I want to ask the Minister about more frequent services, more carriages and the timeline for the roll-out of contactless payments. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Transport (Deputy Jerry Buttimer)  Our Department, the NTA and service operators are working hard to deliver improvements to public transport services, including contactless payments and late-night services. We have delivered significant improvements over the past number of years, which should be pointed out. I thank the Deputy for his advocacy and commitment to enhanced public transport. The continued roll-out of the BusConnects network redesign has given passengers across the greater Dublin area more late-night options that ever before. We now have 15 24-hour bus services operating seven days a week across the city.  That means the vast majority of the suburbs now have access to a daily round-the-clock bus service. It is a significant change from five years ago, when there was no 24-hour provision at all.  In addition, Dublin Bus operates 12 nitelink services between midnight and 4 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights, linking the city centre to suburban areas during peak late-night demand. Most other Dublin Bus routes run until 11.30 p.m. daily. Go-Ahead Ireland operates 35 routes across Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow, with most running from morning until midnight. We also have the rail and Luas services running at capacity, with additional late-night trains provided, where possible, during peak periods.  We are acutely aware of the benefits these services bring. As the Minister said, it is about reliability and putting public service transport on a sustainable footing. The Deputy's question captures a fundamental shift we must engage in, as a society and on the part of service operators and providers. That shift relates to a movement towards early-morning and late-night working. We must think differently to address the needs of those workers, including workers in the night-time economy. The Deputy's question is a very pertinent one for all of us involved in this area. We have seen change, and more change is needed. I will say more about that in my supplementary response. The Deputy has asked a very good question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  My frustration with the current situation of ghost buses and infrequency of DART services certainly is one of the issues that got me involved in politics. I spoke this morning to a Clongriffin resident who had to run to the end of the platform and squeeze onto the train like a sardine to get to work. I understand there are restrictions on the lines in terms of the size of platforms and how many carriages can be installed but can the frequency of the service be increased? I know there is an unsolvable problem at Connolly Station but I have seen how efficiently run the transport system is in London. I do not have my head in the sky; I acknowledge we have a smaller population, that our country only recently became much wealthier and that we do not have the same infrastructure the UK has in place. However, we now have a lot more money and we have the ability and manpower to do this.  A concern is that even with MetroLink being rolled out, residents in north Dublin will still not be able to easily access the airport. The Minister of State will be well aware of the proposals for a monorail or a two-way system to connect the DART line to the airport, in conjunction with the metro, as an alternative solution. Will he comment on that? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  The points the Deputy has raised are fundamental to our philosophy in terms of where we want to go with public transport. I was reflecting on that the other day when I was at Cork Airport, where there is an issue with the bus service. The Deputy is right that we need to think differently. The existing transport provision timetable has changed. The Minister is very much committed to bringing new electric and battery-electric trains on stream. Testing of that fleet is under way and we will see an enhanced offering.  The Deputy's fundamental point is about our relationship, as a country, with public transport. There are exciting things happening in Cork with the Luas and commuter rail service. We have seen that if we plan and take on board some of what the Deputy has articulated, we can get it right. The Minister, the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and I are very much committed to what he is advocating this morning. It is about getting people out of their car and onto a bus or train. As the Minister noted, we are seeing record numbers using public transport. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  I hope those record numbers continue to rise with the quick roll-out of contactless payment and better accessibility. I welcome the engagement on those matters.  I also welcome the increase in the upper age limit for school bus drivers. The community bus service in Dublin has been lost. The No. 88 bus used to be a feeder bus service for Howth and Sutton DART stations. It did a constant loop of Howth Peninsula. Restoring that route would offer safe and convenient transport for families, for children travelling to GAA and football games and to school and for people going to the graveyard in Howth. I ask that the Department give consideration to that. It should also look at providing small-scale bus links within the BusConnects system. In such local micro-systems, the bus is a community service where users see the same people every day. That has been lost in north Dublin. Bringing it back would really benefit people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  I will take the Deputy's points back to the Department. As Minister of State with responsibility for rural transport, I am very aware of the success of Local Link services. There has been an exponential growth in the numbers using those services all across the country. Fundamentally, the Minister, the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and I are all about ensuring sustainability and stabilisation to enable continued growth. The Deputy is right that the numbers using public transport will rise. The Minister made the point earlier that we are at a pivotal point in the development of our transport system. We welcome the growing demand but, as the Deputy has articulated, it has implications.  What we need to do now is take on the winnable parts of public transport provision. We must get rid of the urban congestion we see in many parts of our cities and towns. Resilience and reliability must be built into public transport. I look forward to working with the Deputy on these matters. I have taken notes on what he said and I will take them back to both the NTA and the Department. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Public Transport"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_25","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_25","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_26","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Rail Network","counts":{"speechCount":28,"speakerCount":4},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_25","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_25","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_26","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_26.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  Will the Minister provide an update on when he intends to approve and release the funding for DART+ South West, which is a vital public infrastructure project for Dublin Mid-West? It is urgently needed and it is greatly delayed. Public representatives and, crucially, people living along that rail corridor were deeply disappointed when the Minister made the announcement last year that he would not honour his predecessor's commitment to approve the funding and have the project start as a matter of urgency. I would welcome an update on the matter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  The DART+ programme, including DART+ South West, is a priority investment for me as Minister and for the Department of Transport. Collectively, the programme will triple the length of the electrified Dublin commuter rail network and double its capacity, with customers starting to experience tangible benefits from the middle of next year when services to and from Drogheda come into operation. That is the first iteration of the programme.  In terms of DART+ South West specifically, a major milestone was cleared in November 2024 when the project secured full planning approval. Procurement for both DART+ South West and DART+ West is now progressing, with pre-qualification questionnaires for design and build works advertised for both in May 2025.  Last year, the national development plan allocated funding to advance DART+ West into construction from late next year. DART+ West must proceed first in terms of the infrastructure programmes, as it includes a new depot to house the expanded DART fleet and necessary city centre capacity upgrades to expedite the subsequent delivery of DART+ South West. The two projects are interlinked. The procurement approach will see supplier frameworks established across both projects for common project elements. That will enable us to advance the projects sooner. NDP funding was also allocated to commence the compulsory purchase order process for DART+ South West. That commenced in February this year.  I will continue to engage with colleagues on this project. It is my intention, through the frameworks I have outlined, to deliver elements of both projects together, including the depot. There is some scheduling to be done between the two projects but they are an absolute commitment for us and we intend to deliver them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  The problem is that what the Minister has described is a very different scenario from what was promised by his predecessor, who indicated that funding would be announced and approved in 2025 and the project would be completed by 2030. From all the conversations I am having with public transport providers, I do not accept that the electrified depot capacity is the problem. My view is that the Government simply is not willing at this point to commit the funding for DART+ South West. That means the project will not start until 2028 or 2029 at the earliest and possibly not until 2030. The hard-working people of Dublin Mid-West will then have to wait another four to five years, which takes us into the middle of the next decade.  I think the Minister is misleading the House and the public when he tries to link the refusal to bring forward the funding for this project as a matter of urgency to infrastructural provision elsewhere in the system. Can he at least tell us---- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  The Deputy's time is up. The Minister to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  I have not misled the House. I do not do that and the Deputy should withdraw that comment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  The Minister is famous for it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  This is the first time the Deputy has come into the Chamber for transport questions to even ask about this project. He is feigning an interest in it. Other colleagues across other parties regularly advocate for this. The Deputy does not like good news and he does not like to see any progress on anything because it does not suit----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  When will we get the funding? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  -----his political narrative. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  When will we get the funding? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy \u00d3 Broin, allow the Minister to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  I have missed the Deputy from my days in the Department of housing. He continues to barrack people all of the time. He lost that debate too, in the last general election. We are going to deliver this project. We have published an NDP that is fully funded. We are bringing the funding forward on this for DART+ West and DART+ South West. It is clear; I have said it and that is what is happening. There is no resiling from that whatsoever. This period of time is actually the delivery period for many transformational public transport projects right across the country. It might disappoint the Deputy to actually see those commencing and being delivered because it gives him less to give out about. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  I would be more than happy to commend the Minister and welcome an actual announcement on the actual date the funding is going to be released. I would even write him a personal letter of thanks on behalf of my constituents. The problem is that he took a decision to delay a vital piece of public transport infrastructure for five years on a commitment given by his predecessor. Those are the facts. Yes, it is the first time I have come here, but the Minister knows I have been raising this matter with him since he became the Minister responsible, and I did so with his predecessor. It is a very simple question. When will the NTA have the funding? Procurement is going to take possibly about a year, then it is ready to go. Is the Minister saying that if the NTA is ready to go and commence construction in 2027 or 2028 he is willing to provide the funding or are we going to have to wait until we get the NDP review and maybe the funding will be released by 2030? All I am asking for is an actual date. The Minister had a long track record of misleading the House under his previous responsibility. I will not stand for it now, just like I did not then. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I am in the Chair. You should not make those remarks, Deputy \u00d3 Broin, unless they are----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  Unless they are factually accurate, which they are. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  No, hold on a second. You should allow the Minister to answer the question you have put in time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  I have respect for his constituents but it is very difficult to respect the Deputy when he continues to behave in this way. I completely reject what he has said. It is the first time in 18 months that he has come into this Chamber and bothered to take the time to raise this project that apparently he cares so much about. I contrast that with his colleague, Deputy Shane Moynihan, who has regularly raised it, advocated and sought meetings with the NTA. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  As we all have. When will it get the funding? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy \u00d3 Broin, allow the Minister to use his time to answer or leave the Chamber. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  He will not answer the question. He has 27 seconds. When will the NTA get the money? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  He is going to leave the Chamber after the question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  I do not know how things operate in Sinn F\u00e9in but I have a fair idea. The Deputy may get away with bullying people in his own party but he will not bully or barrack me. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  When will the NTA get the money? It is a simple question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  Is there any point in even trying to answer? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I am going to move on to the next question because there is no point. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  Pathetic, Eoin, pathetic. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  No answers, as usual, Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  You are pathetic. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Rail Network"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_27","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Bus \u00c9ireann","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_25","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_25","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_27","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_27.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  I want to ask about the measures being taken to address the deteriorating service on the 103 bus route serving areas including Ashbourne and Ratoath to and from Dublin. There is huge frustration about the services. Not a day passes without constituents raising concerns about the service, not just to me but also to Government colleagues in Meath and in Meath East. We need improvement on these services. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  I thank Deputy O'Rourke for raising this matter which I am taking on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Canney. The NTA has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally and for the scheduling and timetabling of these services, in conjunction with the relevant transport operators. The services are subsidised and the NTA is responsible for the routes, fares and shared systems.  In the case of route 103 serving Dublin to Ratoath via Ashbourne, Bus \u00c9ireann is responsible, as we have said, for the management and day-to-day operation as the operator, alongside the other PSO services. The performance of all public transport operators is monitored by the NTA as part of the contractual arrangements in place between the operators and the NTA. The contracts allow for not just the monitoring of performance but also the publication of the annual performance reports and, importantly, for the imposition of financial penalties to reinvest into the network in places where performance does not meet the minimum required standards, as well as reasonable incentive payments where performance exceeds the set standards.  In terms of punctuality, the 103 has unfortunately been generally performing below the minimum contractual standards since the start of this year. However, adhering to on-time performance can be challenging given the length of the route, the variability of traffic conditions in towns and villages along the way, as well as general traffic congestion in Dublin city centre. The point the Deputy is making about improving the services is not one that we can gloss over and we need to listen to his articulation of the issue on behalf of the many people who are frustrated.  I understand from the NTA that since the start of this year lost kilometres on the 103 route have been higher than desired, primarily due to mechanical issues and bus breakdowns. In line with its prescribed allocations and available resources for the year, the NTA is currently working with Bus \u00c9ireann to introduce a revised timetable on this route later this year.  Additionally, the NTA is also meeting Bus \u00c9ireann weekly at senior management level to review all service performances and monitor the operator's plans to improve reliability. We as a Department have asked the NTA to promptly apprise us of the progress to address these challenges. When we get a report we will get back to the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  As I said, there is not a day passes that constituents do not raise concerns in relation to the service. Sometimes it is better to use their words rather than mine. I will give an example from the last 24 hours.  To Whom it may Concern,  I am writing this email as i am so disappointed and disgusted with the Bus Eireann service Ratoath\/Ashbourne to Dublin. Number 103.  I have lived in Ashbourne since 2004 and now in 2026 the bus service is worse than it was 22 years ago. How is that possible?  Constantly late, no shows, the last few weeks there have been buses cancelled both ways, no explanation given and the notice given for the cancellation maybe less than 20 mins. When i am trying to get home from work i get on at Harts Corner, the buses are usually full and don't stop, especially when schools and colleges are open. The bus due at Harts Corner at 17:10 is usually a coach, what's the point in that?  [...]  There are only so many times an employer is going to listen to the excuse, the bus was cancelled or full.  What do we say to these constituents? What does the Minister of State say to them? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  First of all, it is not acceptable that there is that level of frustration and lateness for work. I accept that the issue is there. As I outlined in my initial response to the Deputy, there is engagement with Bus \u00c9ireann. We need to ensure that the frustration of people is now replaced by delivery of services. That is why the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and I have been engaged fully with the NTA in terms of the review of not just the service, with the provision of staff in terms of fixing broken buses, but also in terms of the reliability. That is why we are very anxious that in this year it is about sustainability and building resilience.  Where there are issues, there are fines. I know the fines are not good or acceptable to the person whose email the Deputy read out. I will take back the Deputy's comments. As someone who uses the bus service in Cork city, I know that people are looking for reliability and punctuality and we must build confidence in the system. I understand that and I will take back the Deputy's points. I am not familiar with route 103 but I certainly find it unacceptable that the person's email is a common one. That should not be the case. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  It is very common. Across the political spectrum, local representatives at Oireachtas level and local authority level have met the NTA and Bus \u00c9ireann but it is like we are banging our heads off a wall. That is why I am raising this specific route here today. Considerable residential development is happening in Ashbourne and Ratoath and it is welcome but these services are not fit for purpose. If the Minister of State has this information I would appreciate it and if he does not I ask him to send it on to me. He has acknowledged that there are failures in these services. Has Bus \u00c9ireann been fined in relation to this and, if so, to what extent? It is important that the Minister of State puts the focus on this. There is a review of the Navan-Dublin bus corridor. There should be a detailed review of this service, the Dublin to Ratoath via Ashbourne corridor. It is hugely important and very popular. Lots of people want to use the bus but are not getting the opportunity of a reliable service. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  I do not have the information the Deputy requested but I will ask my officials to communicate with him. The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and I, as a Department, have asked that a report on the route be directly given back to us.  As the Deputy said, it is a critically important route. What is happening is unacceptable. We have been very clear on that. For us, punctuality is critical, Reliability is equally important. We, as Ministers, and the Department are very much of the view that we must build sustainability in order to stabilise matters. The Department, working with the NTA and Bus \u00c9ireann, has put in place plans in respect of mechanics, drivers and recruitment. We have spoken to the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment regarding visas and work permits.  What we want is a transport system that operates for the travelling public. If Deputy O'Rourke sends us the information he has, we will certainly communicate with him in respect of the fines. There have been fines levied on the bus providers, as the Deputy knows. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Bus \u00c9ireann"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_28","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Rail Network","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_25","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_25","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_28","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_28.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul McAuliffe  Will the Minister outline the most recent timeline for the construction of the Finglas Luas project following the resolution of the relevant legal action earlier in the year? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  I thank Deputy McAuliffe for tabling this important question. I am sure he will agree that Luas Finglas is an exciting project that has the potential to transform Finglas and the wider area around it. There are about 58,000 households in that area. The project will also provide benefits for those living far beyond the immediate community. The park-and-ride facility at St. Margaret's Road and the interchanges with heavy rail and bus at Broombridge, which Deputy McAuliffe and I visited, will allow anyone using those services to connect with the wider public transport network. This is a fantastic project. Importantly, the project will reduce journey times, get people out of cars, help with decarbonisation, provide a more efficient transport system and support the development of businesses and housing in the area.  As the Deputy will be aware, we have had a clean railway order in place since October 2025. Three judicial review applications were submitted. However, these have been successfully resolved. I commend TII and the parties involved on the work they did in this regard. This means that Luas Finglas now has, in effect, full planning permission. In November, my Department published its NDP in which it noted the construction of Luas Finglas.  The project team in TII is currently preparing for future phases of the project, including drafting and updating the detailed business case, the procurement strategy and the tender documents. TII is seeking to position the project to a ready-to-start stage, with the aim that the main design and build contract being tendered at the start of next year. I want to bring this forward at that point in order that we can look to accelerating it with a view to getting into construction in 2028.  This project will have immense benefits for Deputy McAuliffe's area. He has been a really strong advocate for it. If we look at the previous NDP, the project was sitting in the middle of the 2030s. TII is really excited about this project. It is 3.9 km of off-road development. We can bring it forward. The final documents are being prepared. We can get the project out to tender at the start of next year and then, hopefully, get into construction in 2028. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul McAuliffe  The Minister summed up the project very well. There was a time when I came into the House seeking to explain the project to people and extoll its virtues. The point the Minister has made is that the case for Luas Finglas has been won. The funding is there and the reality is that we have to get on with the job putting the project out to tender and having it built.  This will be a transformative project. Only last week, the Land Development Agency purchased a significant piece of land adjacent to that relating to the Luas project for what it hopes will be affordable purchase and affordable rental accommodation. That would not have been possible without the Luas project. This shows the very real, tangible and immediate impact of the project.  I hope that later this year and early in 2027 we can start to do some of the enabling works that will allow us to proceed with the larger project next year and into 2028. I also hope that the project will be delivered in the next two or three years. I thank the Minister for the work he has done in respect of this project. He has played no small part in pushing it along the line. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  As stated, this nearly 4 km extension to the Luas and linking up with heavy rail will be a game-changer for the Dublin north-west area and for the wider north Dublin area as well in light of the interconnection with other services. We are going to bring it forward. Deputy McAuliffe and I have sat down with senior officials from TII and have worked through the details of the plan. The TII did super work in being able to resolve the judicial review. That puts us in a position whereby we can invest and get this project started. We want to get it out to tender. There is already significant interest in it. We will have a competitive tendering process, which we obviously have to go through. We will get that done. Subject to everything going well, we will be getting this into construction in 2028. I do not see any reason why we cannot do so.  This extension of the Luas and linking it up with other services at Broombridge will be the most tangible sign of real change regarding our rail network in the Dublin area. I am very excited about it. I am looking forward to work commencing. I keep Deputy McAuliffe fully abreast of developments. The benefits for his constituents and for people in the wider area of this Luas extension are difficult to actually quantify. In the context of housing, business, quality of life and climate, it ticks every box. We are going to move it forward. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul McAuliffe  It was great to have the Minister out at Broombridge to see where the current line ends and to look over at Tolka Valley Park in order to see where the line will continue. I have already talked about the benefits. There will also be a park-and-ride facility that will be of benefit to the wider area. There are some sporting facilities, including an all-weather facility, that we can develop in Tolka Valley Park in conjunction with Dublin City Council. This is also going to create employment along the way. We are going to see some movement from employment land to housing land in terms of zoning, but the Luas will bring more jobs to our area.  I want to acknowledge TII. Its representatives have been passionate about this project. They have come out and met with residents. We have not always been able to get agreement, but they literally fought for this project on the streets, outside people's homes and at community meetings. The way we will reward them for that work is to ensure that everything possible is put in place from a Government perspective. I know it has been.  I also want to acknowledge all the community people who fought for this project. I include my colleague and former Deputy Noel Rock, who also fought for this, in that regard. We did not often give each other much acknowledgement. In fairness, there are people who champion these projects. Success can have many mothers and fathers. This will be a real benefit for my constituency. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  It is good of Deputy McAuliffe to acknowledge former Deputy Noel Rock, who is no longer here. It is very easy to do that, but fair play. It was very magnanimous of Deputy McAuliffe to do so.  I have been out there. I know the area very well. TII has done superb work on this. Its public consultation and outreach into communities in respect of the project is an exemplar. We are now at the delivery phase, not just across this project but also in the context of our wider rail network. We will start Luas Finglas and we will have our new trains on the northern line, which is the start of DART+ Coastal North. I have already mentioned DART+ West and tried to answer Deputy \u00d3 Broin about DART+ South West, but he just continued to shout me down, which is fine. There are some who do not want to see this progress happening, but this project is happening. I am looking forward to visiting the area again with Deputy McAuliffe in order to walk the new route. We will keep him fully abreast of the situation. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 111 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Rail Network"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_29","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Bus Services","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_25","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_25","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_29","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_29.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John McGuinness  I want to raise the fact that Expressway has pulled out of providing services on route 4. We are faced with a public service obligation route being provided from Waterford to Carlow. I attended a public meeting on the matter in Mullinavat and have attended two further meetings since. I want to reflect the anger of the people who attended those meetings regarding the lack of a response from the National Transport Authority, NTA, and the lack of proper explanation from the very beginning of this debacle. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  I thank Deputy McGuinness for raising this matter. For context, Bus \u00c9ireann operates both PSO services and Expressway intercity services. The latter operate on a commercial basis and do not receive any State subvention. We are aware that Bus \u00c9ireann recently announced the withdrawal of some services which operate under its Expressway banner. Deputy McGuinness referenced route 4, the Waterford via Carlow service, in this regard.  The point the Deputy makes reflects a lot of the frustration experienced by people. He referred to the meeting held in Mullinavat. It is important that Bus \u00c9ireann and the NTA communicate with people, the travelling public and public representatives in a very clear and cogent manner. It is unacceptable that the decision in this regard, which was taken following a financial and operational review, was not communicated by Bus \u00c9ireann in terms of the need to provide clarity and certainty to people.  In saying that, Bus \u00c9ireann has said to us that in regard to the Expressway performance over recent years, it was concerned about the long-term financial sustainability of the company as a whole.  The NTA, as Deputy McGuinness has referenced, is the licensing authority for the commercial bus sector. As is the case with any such commercial route withdrawals, the withdrawal of these routes triggers the NTA's public service obligation termination process, the outcome of which has been published by the NTA.  I know the NTA - and I will ask it to communicate directly with Deputy McGuinness - has undertaken a detailed assessment of the potential impact to customers. The review identified that the loss of route 4 would, as we have heard, significantly reduce the capacity and connectivity between Waterford and Carlow, and that is regrettable. The NTA has introduced a new Transport for Ireland, TFI, route 365, as subsidised by the bus service to maintain vital transport links and support regional accessibility. I would be anxious to hear how that service, which will have four daily returns, will meet the needs of the people Deputy McGuinness speaks about and I would be happy to communicate with the NTA on his behalf as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John McGuinness  That is a statement of fact, I suppose, in respect of the response given but, in reality, it does not address the real issue of the connection between Waterford and other towns along the route to Dublin and Dublin Airport. There are students who use that route to go to college. There are those who visit the hospitals in Dublin and elsewhere, or those who go to the airport. There are those who are, maybe, socialising and use the bus service. It has been withdrawn. Bus \u00c9ireann has shown a total disregard for its customers by the manner in which it withdrew it and by the lack of information it has given. The National Transport Authority has missed the point in relation to the connection through all of those towns from Waterford to Dublin and Dublin Airport. I ask that this route be examined again, that a proper service be provided and that the customers be informed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  The new 365 route will provide four daily returns, which will provide access for passengers travelling from Waterford and Carlow to Dublin via the counties in between. Passengers travelling onwards will benefit from connections in Carlow to existing bus and rail services to Dublin and beyond. As I said, the route will be operated by Bus \u00c9ireann on an interim basis. The new service will provide four return journeys. It will ensure continued access for passengers travelling from Waterford, Carlow and the surrounding counties will be provided for.  I take the Deputy's point on the need to have the travelling public communicated with. He said it was a \"statement of fact\". I hear what he is saying. I will communicate the Deputy's frustrations and the concerns of the people in regard to the NTA missing the point about the connection piece. As the Deputy knows, the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and I are not the people directly engaged in that but we will ask the NTA to account for it and report back to us on the matter. It is an important point. I know the town of Carlow well and the Deputy makes good points with regard to hospital and college. It is a large centre of population as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John McGuinness  We are missing the point here. The customers are central to all of this and their needs must be met in a modern world. The Minister of State talked earlier on about the need to use public transport. We talk about our carbon footprint and so on. This flies in the face of all of that. They are not being given the service in rural Ireland. There is a real problem here in regard to communication and providing the solution to this issue. The only solution is to speak to the customers and put on a service that will provide the same kind of service as Expressway, to do it more efficiently and to ensure that the connectivity to rural Ireland is maintained and enhanced. It is not good enough.  I want to repeat that the communication from the NTA was not what I find acceptable and the customers and the public are not being informed. They are not being listened to. Please engage with them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  First of all, the point the Deputy made in regard to communication is critically important. The NTA should communicate clearly and succinctly people. The route 365 will have four daily return journeys. There will be that continued access but I hear the points Deputy McGuinness has made. I understand what he is saying. Connectivity is important. We have seen the success of Local Link and it has grown exponentially around the country in regard to rural transport. I will communicate the points made very eloquently here this morning with the NTA on behalf of Deputy McGuinness and the people he has spoken about.  We are committed, as a Government, to providing all of our citizens, no matter where they are, with reliable and realistic sustainable mobility options. I know that public transport, as I said earlier - I do not recoil from this - plays a significant role in that. The NTA and the Department will, following this morning's questions, liaise with Deputy McGuinness on the provision of services and if the route 365 does not work, then there obviously has to be a reappraisal of what the situation is. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Bus Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_30","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Public Transport","counts":{"speechCount":30,"speakerCount":4},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_25","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_25","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_30","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_30.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  My question to the Minister is on whether he is going to seek additional investment in public transport in light of the fuel crisis. Two days ago, the Minister got the Climate Change Advisory Council's annual review of transport. It is pretty damning as an assessment in that, already, the sectoral emissions ceiling has been exceeded. The 2025 one is projected to exceed the second one. The report also calls for investment to be expedited in a range of public transport infrastructure projects. Will the Minister go along with that? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  I am taking the question on behalf of the Minister. As the Deputy knows, offering a more affordable and sustainable alternative for many people, public transport has had a particularly important role to play in responding to the demand driven by fluctuating geopolitical developments, as we have said, which are consequently and consistently impacting the cost of fuel. As we all know, rising fuel costs increases the likelihood of car users switching to public transport. We have seen that but that modal shift is unpredictable. What we do have is an increase in people using public transport.  As the Deputy knows, in respect of targeted measures to further support the impacted sectors, in April of this year Government approved and introduced a range of measures to mitigate rising fuel costs, including the road transport support scheme and additional supports for bus and coach operators, including providing TFI Local Link and school transport services. These supports, worth approximately \u20ac120 million over three months, are helping operators manage current pressures and maintain service levels.  While operating in an uncertain environment, the immediate priority for our Department and the NTA has been to protect existing services and ensure continuity across the network within the resources allocated to the public service obligation, PSO, programme in 2026. Where opportunities arise to enhance services in a timely and practical way, these will be actively considered and progressed.  The Department of Transport and the NTA continue to remain in close contact with operators to monitor demand and operational impacts. It is important to outline that we are carefully considering all aspects of what is happening at the moment within the available of resources, so that we can continue to provide effective, sustainable public transport where we can see benefits for the people. Additionally, our fare structures in Ireland for public transport compares very favourably with our European counterparts. I will come back further in the supplementary with other comments. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  I thank the Minister of State. We are in a deep climate crisis and we are missing our sectoral emissions targets with regard to transport, as well as our targets as a whole, by a very wide margin. We are in a cost-of-living crisis. An immediate answer to both of those is investment in public transport. Yet, what the Government is doing is delaying investment in necessary public transport projects. I will quote from the Climate Change Advisory Council review:  ... under the current National Development Plan ... DART+ South West construction will not commence until post 2030 and construction of Luas Finglas ... will not commence until 2029. The delays in construction for these shovel-ready projects are unnecessary. The Council believes that allocation of funding to advance both projects should be expedited and strongly recommends that the Government commit funding to these projects in Budget 2027.  Is the Government going to do that? Why is this delay taking place? The Government cannot blame planning or funds. Is it because of grid issues? Data centres are effectively using up all of the power in the greater Dublin area. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  The fundamental point Deputy Murphy misses is that we secured an extraordinary allocation of \u20ac940 million - an uplift of 43% - for our PSO services in the budget. I reiterate what the Minister said earlier, namely that the focus for this year is on stabilisation. It is about ensuring services that are already in place can operate reliably and sustainably and that we see progressive improvements in other services.  The other point is that we are meeting our climate change objectives. More and more people are moving to public transport. There is a commitment to electrify the fleet. We have seen more investment than ever before in that area. We are very much committed to having a reliable public transport system that is a movement away from the old style of public transport provision to electric trains and buses. We are seeing that across the country and in the city of Dublin. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  Can the Minister of State repeat that? Did he just say we are meeting our climate change targets? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  We are meeting them in terms of moving away from fossil fuel vehicles to----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  Can the Minister of State repeat it on the record? We are meeting our climate change targets. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  I am saying that we are moving towards the electrification of the fleet. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  That is not meeting our climate change targets. Our legally binding climate change targets are set out. They state that we have to reduce emissions in this sector or that sector by certain amounts. The Climate Change Advisory Council review states, \"The sector has likely exceeded its first sectoral emissions ceiling (2021\u20132025) and is projected to exceed its second (2026\u20132030).\" The Government is not meeting its climate targets. It is not coming anywhere close to meeting its climate targets. It is trying to lull people to sleep by saying things that are inaccurate such as, for example, that we are meeting our climate change targets. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  We are electrifying the----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  The fundamental point the Minister of State is missing is that the Government is choosing to delay investment in public transport against the advice of Climate Change Advisory Council. That is a fact. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  Did the Deputy read the NDP? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  I will ask again. Is the reason the Government is not proceeding with the project down to the fact that all of the power is going to the data centres? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  Sure that is----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  I refer to the briefing note prepared for the Government's major project governance oversight group, which warned that there is insufficient power in the ESB network to support DART+. The target is 100%, and we need ten times more power. Where will that come from? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  I know Deputy Murphy does not want to hear good news. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  I would like some good news. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  It is the job of the Opposition to hark and bark, and that is all right. We are politicians, and I understand that. One in every four euro is going on public transport investment and one in every eight euro is being spent on public transport. I reiterate that there has been 43% uplift in the budget for this year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  That was not the question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  I ask Deputy Murphy to read the NDP for transport. Has he read it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  I have. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  The Deputy will have read about the Government's commitment to the provision of public transport, the electrification of the fleet, the purchase of new vehicles and the move away from diesel engines. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  We are not charging the vehicles. The NTA told the Committee of Public Accounts that we are not charging them because the data centres are using all the power. We have electric buses that are sitting there not being charged. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Barry Heneghan)  This is not a back and forth. Allow the Minister of State to answer the question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  The Deputy does not want to hear good news. If he had his way, we would have no BusConnects, no Cork commuter rail, no MetroLink and no DART and he would be asking what are we doing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  We do not have 60% of BusConnects. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  The reality is that we are developing a transport plan----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  Where is BusConnects? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  Deputy \u00d3 Broin got his answer earlier and did not like it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  I will be coming back in shortly. The Minster of State need not worry. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Public Transport"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_31","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Road Network","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_25","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_25","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_31","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_31.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John McGuinness  On the completion of the next phase of the Kilkenny ring road, I am seeking to establish what stage the process is at, when it is likely to be approved and when the funding will be made available. I made a recommendation to the Minister, because funding is coming directly from the Department's budget, that the \u20ac50 million or so needed to cover the project should be set aside in lump sums each year in order that when the planning process is completed, the necessary funding will be in place. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  I am taking this question on behalf of the Minister. In accordance with section 13 of the Roads Act 1993, as amended, the improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority. Work on such roads is funded from councils' resources, supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is a matter in the first case for the local authority. Any new road projects in respect of which State funding is sought are assessed by our Department on a case-by-case basis. All projects proposed by local authorities for consideration must comply with the requirements of the infrastructure guidelines and the Department's transport appraisal framework. Given the limited funding available for regional and local road improvement works, it is important for each local authority to prioritise projects within these requirements.  In the case of the Kilkenny city north transport project, the Kilkenny ring road, it aims to reduce city centre congestion and improve cross-river connectivity via a potential northern ring road extension. In January 2023, in line with Government requirements, Kilkenny County Council produced a strategic assessment report for the Kilkenny northern ring road extension and a draft was forwarded by our Department for review. Since then, both the public spending code and the Department\u2019s transport appraisal framework guidance have been updated. In 2024, following the provision of funding from our Department, Kilkenny County Council submitted an updated project outline document, POD, for the Kilkenny city north transport project. While this process was underway, funding was also allocated for traffic and junction analysis in the Butts Green area of the city to further assess and better understand traffic patterns.  In 2025, following a review of the POD by our Department, \u20ac200,000 was allocated to the Kilkenny northern transport project to allow Kilkenny County Council to progress it to phase 2, the options stage. This year, Kilkenny County Council appointed a design consultant to progress the options stage. An additional \u20ac300,000 was allocated by the Department of Transport, which will continue to liaise with Kilkenny County Council as the project progresses. For this year, \u20ac718 million was allocated through the regional and local roads grant programme for improvement and maintenance, with approximately 90% of this funding allocated to road maintenance and renewal. I will come back in with more information for Deputy McGuinness in a moment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John McGuinness  Just to be clear, there are two issues I am trying to address here. One is the completion of the next phase of the northern part of the ring road around Kilkenny. I ask the Department to liaise with Kilkenny County Council to proactively move that process and consideration forward so that we can get to the point of approval quickly. The completion of that section has been delayed for some time. I see no reason why we cannot look at the final phase of the project in order to ensure that there will be no time lost in completing the full northern extension of that ring road.  The second point relates to the fact that TFI looked at the existing ring road and instructed the council to implement safety measures, which it has failed to do. I am asking if TFI will examine the matter again and come up with a more efficient plan. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  Who has failed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John McGuinness  TFI has failed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  I will ask the NTA to liaise with Kilkenny County Council. As Deputy McGuinness knows, it is mainly the responsibility of Kilkenny County Council to decide its programme for road maintenance.  On the safety issue, I will certainly ask the council to liaise and engage, particularly as safety is paramount. I know that Kilkenny County Council has received significant moneys for road protection and renewal works. It is certainly important that there is collaboration and both entities work together to ensure the existing sections of roads can be completed.  In terms of the north ring road, there has been the appointment of a design consultant. I will ask our officials to liaise with council on the matter because it is important. I know it from Deputy McGuinness's ongoing advocacy and it is critical to the growth of Kilkenny and the area. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John McGuinness  There are a lot of cooks in the kitchen in the context of all of this. Sometimes, too many of them can spoil the dish. I ask that there be some communication between all of those involved, namely Kilkenny County Council, the transport infrastructure people and those responsible for funding in order that the mess they have made of the Black Quarry roundabout might be addressed and to prevent traffic from backing up right along the ring road. There is still a problem with safety that should be addressed. I accept what the Minister of State said about the northern part of that ring road. I will work with Kilkenny County Council to ensure that we move quickly through the process. I again ask for the support of the Department as we do that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  As the Deputy will appreciate, I do not have information in respect of that issue. I will certainly ask about the Black Quarry roundabout and ask people to liaise with Deputy McGuinness on the matter. I take the point the Deputy makes that too many cooks spoil everything, but it is important Kilkenny County Council, as the lead agency, can liaise with other stakeholders.  I will ask the Minister, Deputy O'Brien's officials to liaise with Deputy McGuinness. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Road Network"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_32","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Transport Costs","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_25","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_25","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_32","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_32.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Barry Heneghan)  T\u00e1 ceist Uimh. 114 \u00e1 th\u00f3g\u00e1il ag an Teachta O'Hara ar son an Teachta Daly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  Safeguarding long-term financial sustainability while being responsive to passenger needs remains a central commitment under the programme for Government. Achieving this requires a careful balance between delivering high-quality reliable services and ensuring that the network is adequately resourced to meet growing demand. Passenger numbers have continued to rise in recent years, with a record-breaking 363.5 million journeys undertaken just last year.  As the statutory body responsible for regulating fares across services operated under PSO contracts, the NTA is central to shaping a public transport system that is fair, efficient and accessible. Through its management of fare strategies, it helps to ensure that pricing structures support social inclusion and the modal shift while also underpinning the financial viability and resilience of the network.  Public transport fares in Ireland remain comparatively low due to a range of targeted measures introduced in recent years. For context, Ireland's farebox recovery average stands at 38% when compared to a 44% European average. Including the young adult card, the 90-minute fare and free travel for children under nine years of age, such targeted initiatives have significantly improved affordability and accessibility. They also increase reliance on subsidy, making fare revenue a critical component of maintaining a financially sustainable PSO model.  In line with international best practice, prioritising the reinvestment of the fare revenue is essential to support service improvements, expansion and system resilience. Maintaining a stable funding base is, therefore, critical to sustaining service levels and ensuring public transport continues to meet passenger needs over the long term.  Regarding budget 2027, the PSO funding allocation will be subject to the annual budgetary and Estimates process. As is standard in all budgetary deliberations between Departments and State agencies, a comprehensive assessment of all service provision costs and requirements will be undertaken, with a strong focus on ensuring value, fairness and accessibility for all passengers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  I thank the Minister of State. The cost of fares is obviously a significant expense for people who rely on public transport. At a time when households right across the State are struggling with rising costs, rising rents and rising everything else, there is a need for the Government to be upfront with people as to whether commuters will face an increase in public transport fares. In the Minister of State's response, he has not given any clarity as to whether fares may increase.  I want to raise the taxsaver scheme because this is one area where commuters try to save money on their fares. While many people have the opportunity to participate in that scheme, it is only available to commuters who are employed at companies that are taking part in the scheme. It has been raised with me that this requirement means that a whole cohort of people are being excluded from the scheme. I understand that the Department of Finance has a role in that also. Has the Department of Transport given any consideration to extending this scheme to all employers to make everybody eligible to benefit from it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  Everything will be considered in the budgetary deliberations for next year. As the Deputy knows, all deliberations between our Department and the various agencies under it are subject to a thorough assessment in terms of their service provision, cost and requirements. There is a strong commitment to and focus on ensuring that value, fairness and accessibility for all passengers is achieved. Looking at what we have done, we have made public transport accessible for people through the young adult card, the PSO uplift and the funding of cost-of-living measures.  The point the Deputy makes as to how we can get more people to use public transport and to incentivise them is one on which we must reflect. I certainly have heard it from many people in terms of the taxsaver scheme. If we look at the whole national fares strategy, it is one we are always looking to examine, review and analyse. As the Deputy says, this is about getting people in that modal shift. He referred to other routes in his earlier contributions. I will certainly take the Deputy's point back to the Minister and the Department, but I cannot give any answer this morning because the budgetary process has not commenced yet. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  It would be good if changes could be considered. A related issue I wish to raise is the significant difference that commuters in Galway are paying for rail fares compared to other parts of the State, particularly Dublin. I had a constituent in touch with me highlighting that rail passengers between Athenry and Galway city pay \u20ac5.10 each way for a 20-minute train journey. At the same time, a commuter travelling between Clonsilla to Connolly Station in Dublin, a journey of roughly 30 minutes, can travel for approximately \u20ac2.60 each way. Athenry to Galway is a commuter route. There is clearly an unfairness in passengers on those trains having to pay significantly more - double what a commuter in Dublin could expect to pay. At a time when the Government is trying to encourage and promote the use of public transport, why are commuters in Galway paying twice what commuters in Dublin could expect to pay for their rail fares, especially given that public transport is much more limited in the west? Will the Minister of State review this difference in fares and ensure that commuters in Galway are treated fairly when it comes to the cost of public transport? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  I think the Deputy has raised this matter before. The important point I would make is that we are committed as a Government to maintaining a fare strategy that is fair and equitable. We are committed to helping to ensure that the pricing structure supports social inclusion and the modal shift, whether it is in Cork, Galway, Dublin or Offaly. It does not matter where. For us, our public transport provision is very important. If we look at the comparison to Europe, the farebox recovery average stands at 38% compared to the 44% European average.  I will take the point the Deputy makes back to the Department. We are committed to improving the offerings for people. We have a very good model of fare strategy, and if there are improvements to be made, let us make those happen. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 116 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Transport Costs"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_33","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Bus Services","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_25","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_25","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_33","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_33.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Grace Boland  The public accounts committee has, after protracted correspondence, finally got to the bottom of where we might be in terms of the cost of storage of 384 buses over the last four years, with 98 electric buses still in storage. These are much-needed buses that should be servicing our community. Will the Minister of State specifically tell us the cost of those electric buses, and also the projected cost, given that we are still counting for the 98 buses still in storage? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  Delays in the entry into service of new buses are very much regrettable. However, I must emphasise that the storing of buses while we deploy charging infrastructure is preferable to deferring their purchase in the first place until we have a charger available for every bus. If an alternative approach had been adopted where buses were only purchased after charging infrastructure was installed to ensure no delay in fleet absorption, the cost of purchasing fleet would have significantly escalated in recent years due to inflation. As an example, if electric bus purchases were deferred by one year from their actual order placement dates, the additional purchase cost of the buses would have been approximately \u20ac12 million, compared to around \u20ac7 million in costs that have actually been incurred as a result of bus storage.  As of today, over 250 battery electric buses have been accepted into the Dublin Bus and Bus \u00c9ireann fleets across the country, including the operation of our first fully electric services in Limerick and Athlone. Ninety-eight battery electric buses are currently awaiting deployment pending the installation of charging infrastructure. The 56 buses to be deployed in the greater Dublin area are planned to enter service later this year. The 42 remaining buses for use in Galway are all planned to enter into operation late this year and early 2027.  There can be a 12-to-48-month timeline when ordering a new electric bus, while installing charging infrastructure typically requires securing planning approval and subsequent procurement of charger supplier and installation. Achieving full alignment between the delivery of the new electric bus fleet and the charger installations is challenging. The delay is regrettable, as the Deputy said. To help address the mismatched timelines of charging capacity and fleet delivery in future, the NTA plans to award a new national electric bus charging infrastructure framework later this month. This framework, from which suppliers can be accessed for depot electrification projects anywhere in the country in the future, will replace the fragmented, project-by-project procurement approach to date. I hope that gives the Deputy some answers to her question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Grace Boland  If hundreds of electric, zero-emission buses sitting in storage represents value for money, I would like the Department to publish a full cost-benefit analysis, the opportunity cost and the opportunity lost. Will the Minister of State please confirm that the Department will do that? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  I will have the Department communicate with Deputy Boland. I take the point she makes and it is a very fair point. The overarching point is we must be conscious of spending public money and I take her point on both. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Is f\u00e9idir teacht ar Cheisteanna Scr\u00edofa ar www.oireachtas.ie. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Written Answers are published on the Oireachtas website. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  While we are waiting, I welcome a group from Scoil \u00cdosag\u00e1in, Coolgreany, who are guests of Deputy \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in, to the Public Gallery. I hope they enjoy this morning's proceedings. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Bus Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_34","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions","counts":{"speechCount":34,"speakerCount":9},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_34","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Inniu, d'fhoilsigh coiste tith\u00edochta an Oireachtais tuarasc\u00e1il shuntasach. Is \u00e9 an moladh is suntasa\u00ed n\u00e1 go dtabharfadh Rialtas an T\u00e1naiste cosc \u00e9igeand\u00e1la ar dh\u00edshealbhuithe gan locht isteach ar\u00eds. T\u00e1 an ceart ag an choiste. T\u00e1 g\u00e9argh\u00e1 le cosc den chine\u00e1l sin anois n\u00edos m\u00f3 n\u00e1 riamh. T\u00e1 c\u00edosanna ardaithe go dt\u00ed leibh\u00e9il n\u00e1r fhaca muid le 25 bliain anuas. T\u00e1 an easpa d\u00eddine ag dul i m\u00e9id i gc\u00f3na\u00ed agus taifid nua \u00e1 mbriseadh gach m\u00ed. T\u00e1 l\u00edon na nd\u00edshealbhuithe anois ag an leibh\u00e9al is airde \u00f3 aimsir an Ghorta Mh\u00f3ir. T\u00e1 c\u00falbhinseoir\u00ed ph\u00e1irt\u00ed an T\u00e1naiste f\u00e9in, Fine Gael, ag iarraidh ar an Rialtas gn\u00edomh\u00fa chun cosc ar dh\u00edshealbhuithe gan locht a thabhairt isteach ar\u00eds.  Today, the Oireachtas committee on housing published a major report. This report makes it clear that the Government is not doing enough to tackle the housing and homelessness crisis. It calls on the Government to introduce an emergency response to the crisis, including a ban on no-fault evictions. This call comes from TDs of all parties, including Fine Gael and Fianna F\u00e1il. The committee is right. Such a ban is needed now more than ever. The situation was bad enough but the Government's rent hikes legislation has made things even worse. The consequences are plain to see. Rip-off rents have now jumped to their highest levels in 25 years. Homelessness rates continue to rise, breaking new records every single month. Evictions are now at the highest level since the Famine.  As a result of the Government's legislation, we have seen an alarming increase in the number of evictions since the start of this year. Many people and families now find themselves in desperate situations, seeking a new place to live. Those who can find a place face paying thousands and thousands extra in rent. Those who cannot find a place are left in awful situations. We are talking about working families with good jobs and sometimes with two incomes. We are talking about older people who have paid rent all their lives and parents who are robbed of the security they need to build a good life for them and their children.  It seems that everybody sees how bad things are except for the T\u00e1naiste's Government. Even the Government parties' own backbenchers who helped drafted this report are now calling on the Government to act to reintroduce the ban on no-fault evictions. The writing is on the wall. If this intervention is not made immediately, many more people will be forced to move back into their parents' homes or insecure situations or, even worse, will find themselves in homelessness. There are many steps we can take to protect people.  A ban on no-fault evictions would provide people in housing difficulty with the safety net they need. It would relieve stress and pressure and give these people the security they need. It is not just Sinn F\u00e9in that is urging the T\u00e1naiste to do this. This is a cross-party call for his Government to move with urgency and ambition to stem the flow of evictions. The T\u00e1naiste now has an opportunity to make a real difference. For too long, the story of housing in Ireland has been a story of pressure, stress, desperation and hopelessness. That story can be changed, however. That tide can be turned. Hope can be restored for people who just want a secure home for them and their families. However, it has to start with better decisions. The T\u00e1naiste has to make one of those decisions today. He has to make that difference. Will he tell people that he will make that decision and reintroduce a ban on no-fault evictions, as members of parties across this House have called for? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Doherty for his question and I thank the Oireachtas committee on housing for its work. The committee report published this morning makes 14 recommendations. Of course, we will work our way through the report and consider all of the recommendations, as we do with all committee reports.  Page 5 of the report states that these committee recommendations arise from hearings held on 16 December last year. A number of decisions and actions have been taken by Government since then. As I look through the recommendations, I am pleased to say that many are in train or in place. The report calls for a greater focus on prevention and for increased funding, which we are providing. Very importantly, the committee recommends that the best interests of the child must be a key priority in addressing homelessness, and I believe everyone across the House can agree on that. We agree and that is why legislation is being brought forward to amend the Housing Act 1988 to ensure that consideration is given to the best interests of the child in the process of making decisions on accommodation for households. This is a key ask of many of those who work with homeless families across the country.  The report also seeks a child and family homelessness prevention plan. I am pleased to tell the House that this plan will be published before the summer recess. It is important work. We do not want to see anybody homeless in Ireland but we all particularly want to see progress made on children in homelessness. This plan is intended to drive a real focus on preventing children and families entering emergency accommodation while also providing enhanced supports for children who do experience homelessness. It will also include measures to accelerate exits and to reduce the time children and their families spend in homeless emergency accommodation. This was also a recommendation of the report.  The committee also recommends engagement with stakeholders. There has objectively never been more engagement but Government is always open to hearing any ideas from across this House as to what more could be done.  Since this committee hearing in December of last year, we have seen the legislation come into effect on 1 March 2026. That puts a range of protections in place in respect of tenancies. As the Deputy will know, we have extended the rent pressure zones nationwide. These now include the Deputy's own county of Donegal, which was previously not included. We brought in six-year tenancies. That is very important. We now live in a country where the majority of tenants are covered by an effective no-fault eviction ban. There was a debate in this House as to the right way to do that and there was debate about making sure that policies did not result in smaller landlords, those with one or two houses, leaving the market, causing a supply challenge. However, it is a statement of fact that there is now an effective no-fault eviction ban in place for the majority of tenants in the country. That also acts on a recommendation of the report.  We are also continuing a record level of investment in social housing, with \u20ac2.9 billion in capital allocated to support the delivery of social homes. We will continue to do that. The report is welcome. I take the Deputy's raising of the important issue of housing in the spirit intended. There is no more important domestic issue. However, it is not true to say that this cross-party report says that the Government should bring in a no-fault eviction ban. The cross-party report says \"The Committee urges the Minister to keep all options under review including an emergency ban on no fault evictions\". Of course, the Government keeps things under review. Let us not misrepresent the good cross-party work that was done in relation to this report. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  The T\u00e1naiste cannot seriously make up his own facts. He has twice said that it is a fact that the majority of tenancies are effectively subject to a no-fault eviction ban. That is not true and I think the T\u00e1naiste knows that. This provision only applies to new tenancies and not existing tenancies. It also only applies to tenancies with large landlords. Please stop making stuff up. I know it is very difficult to defend the situation the T\u00e1naiste finds himself in but a bit of truth and honesty would be welcome.  The committee is very clear. Not enough is being done and we need an emergency response. The T\u00e1naiste is right that the hearings were held in December but the committee only launched its report this morning. What has happened since December? Rents and house prices have continued to rise, homelessness records have been broken over and over again, and the number of evictions has gone through the roof because of Government legislation allowing landlords to increase rents over and over again. Something has to give. The T\u00e1naiste is not listening to Sinn F\u00e9in, to advocacy groups or to people who are under serious housing pressure. Perhaps it is time for him to listen to some of his backbenchers, who are saying that there is now a need for an emergency response. The T\u00e1naiste can shake his head all he wants but the reality is that we are seeing more evictions. We are seeing rents at their highest levels in 25 years. Despite this, the T\u00e1naiste somehow thinks that everything is rosy in the garden and that the Government is doing everything it needs to. There is a need to introduce a ban on no-fault evictions at this point in time. The Government needs to relieve this pressure and this stress for people. There are options. The Government can stem the tide. It can take measures that will make a meaningful difference in people's lives. I again ask whether the Government will bring forward a ban on no-fault evictions, as has been recommended. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  While Deputy Doherty can speak for Sinn F\u00e9in, he certainly does not speak for Fine Gael backbench TDs or Senators. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Donnelly  They speak for themselves. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I have seen what they said. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I speak for the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  It is here in black and white. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  It is not helpful for the people at home or those in the Gallery for people to shout me down. The reality is that I speak for the Government in his House today and, as its leader, I speak for the Fine Gael Party.  We will follow our policy agenda, which is clearly published, while the Deputy will come into this House and continue to oppose and object every positive measure that we bring forward. Of course, the comments that I have made in relation to no-fault evictions apply to tenancies in place since the legislation came in. How could it apply to anything else? We have put that in since the legislation in March. The Deputy knows that------ "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  So, it is not the fact. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  It is not the vast majority. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  -----to be true. We have also taken a number of other measures, including this week, with more than \u20ac800 million through the housing, activation and infrastructure office to help counties right across this country to put in place key enabling pieces of infrastructure that are required to deliver more homes. Housing is an emergency in this country. Housing is a real challenge. The cross-party committee has done good work. Do not misrepresent what it has said, though. It has not said to bring in a no-fault eviction ban. It has said to keep all things under review. It has made 14 recommendations. Many of them are under way. Many of them merit further consideration. They will, of course, all be taken very serious. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  In the Rotunda, there are consultants on public-only contracts receiving payments for delivering babies while covering for their private colleagues. On Tuesday, I told the Taoiseach that this was happening at Cork University Maternity Hospital, CUMH, too. The Taoiseach admitted that he did not know anything about this. Today, it has been reported in the Irish Independent that a long-standing professional fee arrangement had been in place among consultants in CUMH. The spokeswoman for the HSE said, \"This a private professional arrangement between some consultants in which Cork University Maternity Hospital plays no part\". While it is no doubt true that hospital management plays no part in administering the payments, it organises the rosters that facilitate this practice. It appears from reports today that rosters are being changed and this practice has been stopped in Cork this week. However, no such confirmation has been forthcoming from the Rotunda.  We also know that there are major issues at University Hospital Galway where public consultants are being asked by management to do lab work for a private hospital. While some are refusing to do this, this is nonetheless leading to huge delays, including in tests for life-threatening conditions such as cancer. As a result, lab work is being outsourced for both public and private patients to commercially run labs. This is at enormous expense to the public purse.  This is not just about consultants and public-only contracts getting extra payments for private work or billing insurers for work for private patients. It is also having a real and negative impact on the care of public patients. These are patients whose lab work is being delayed while private work is done. These are patients whose health and lives are being put at risk.  The whole point of the public-only contract is to improve our health system and level up care for public patients so that they are receiving the same continuity and quality of care as private patients. Instead, at the Rotunda and the CUMH, rostering gaps were being filled for private consultants. This appears to be stopping at CUMH, but what about the Rotunda? Has the Rotunda been instructed to stop this practice? Has University Hospital Galway been told to stop asking public consultants to do lab work for private hospitals? What is the T\u00e1naiste doing to ensure that the public-only contract is being enforced around the country? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. At the outset, I agree with him on the importance of the public-only consultant contract. It is something that arose from one of the better days or better periods of time in this House where the Government and Opposition worked together on a vision for the future of the health service called Sl\u00e1intecare. I was the Minister at the time. The Deputy's former party leader, R\u00f3is\u00edn Shortall, chaired that committee. It has produced a good blueprint that we are all working our way through. It has taken some of the day-to-day politics in terms of policy direction out of health. That is a good thing. I want everybody who works in our health service, no matter what role they play, to understand that this Oireachtas speaks with one very clear voice when it comes to public health policy and we all expect it to be followed.  I also agree with the Deputy that there has been progress. We see the benefits of the public-only consultant contract. I will not go through them all, but as an example, St. Vincent's University Hospital has brought about a Saturday hub with participation by 40 consultants. In Wexford General Hospital, we now have weekend consultant cover in emergency medicine, surgery, paediatrics and gynae services. In University Hospital Waterford, we have seen a minimum of 26 consultants rostered at the weekend with outpatient diagnostics running until 8 p.m. during the week and on certain weekends. I use these as examples of where when this is applied correctly, we can see the real benefit in terms of public healthcare.  In relation to some of what has emerged, I acknowledge the Deputy and Deputy Rice's work on this. The idea of anybody being given a gift or paid to do a nixer effectively is not in line with the contract. It is not an improved HSE arrangement. It is not something that the Department of Health, the Minister for Health, the HSE or the Government would condone. Measures are now being taken to ensure that this practice ceases with immediate effect. My understanding is that the HSE chief executive is currently engaging with all the regional health areas and the regional clinical directors in relation to this practice.  I wish to make a couple of other points because people - certainly not the Deputy; quite the opposite to him - sometimes try to muddy the waters in relation to this. As would be the case in all specialties, the maternity consultant on duty in any hospital is responsible for the care of all patients requiring attention regardless of whether they are private or public. This idea that if a consultant is on call, they have to be given some sort of gift or payment is not how it works. Doctors know that, too. Cross-cover between consultants is routine. It is an expected part of how our public health services are delivered, ensuring continuity of care. Any suggestion of private financial arrangements in this context is inconsistent with contractual obligations, raises concerns and risks diverting time and resources away from treating public patients. We have seen no tolerance from the Minister for people who sign on the dotted of a contract and do not adhere by it. The Deputy can be sure that the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, is working intensely on ensuring the full implementation.  Speaking as the Minister of Finance, and lest anyone be of any other view, I wish to say that any income, be it direct or indirect, gained from employment is taxable. Revenue has standard audit compliance procedures that it operates across all sectors. Whether it is payment in the traditional way, a gift or a nixer, please be aware of the taxable obligations on any income derived through that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  There are patients waiting on test results who want answers in relation to lab work at University Hospital Galway. They want to know what is being done in terms of their test results, which they need a quick turnaround on. Their health and lives depend on a quick turnaround. They want answers as to what the Government is doing on that. The T\u00e1naiste has not addressed that at all. He may say what the Government is doing about that.  It is welcome that the HSE is following up on this, but when are people going to know that these additional payments that are in breach of the public-only contract have stopped? We are seeing more and more things emerging about breaches of the public-only contract. What is the Government doing to ensure that the public-only contract is being enforced? Is it waiting for a drip feed of things to emerge around the country? Is it being proactive in ensuring that the taxpayer and public are getting the service that they are paying for and deserve? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I assure the Deputy that there are few more proactive Ministers than Deputy Carroll MacNeill. She is fully committed to the implementation and enforcement of the public-only consultant contact. We have already seen strong national uptake of the contract, with 3,416 consultants signed up as of the end of May, including 1,220 new entrants. There are over 2,000 consultants who switched from the older contract as well. We now have a health service where 69% of all consultants working in our hospitals are now on the public-only consultant contract. This represents a lot of progress in the time between now and 2023 when it was introduced. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  I asked about breaches. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I know. I will get those. Consultant numbers have also increased significantly.  Regarding any breaches, the Minister for Health and the wider Government have shown that they simply will not be tolerated. There is a process under way - I have briefed on this at the Cabinet subcommittee on health - within the HSE and led by the chief executive, regional health area by regional health area and hospital by hospital, to make sure there is full compliance. The Minister is very eager to keep engaging with the Deputy's colleague, Deputy Rice, as Chair of the Oireachtas health committee on this. That committee is a useful place to continue monitoring progress. This can be a game-changer for the delivery of public health. When someone signs on the dotted line and takes the larger salary, they are expected to deliver on those terms just like anybody working in the public service. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  \"Certainty, clarity and stability for the rental sector\" were the words of the Minister for housing when he introduced his disastrous rental reform Bill in February. He did mention the word \"eviction\" once. As predicted, this new law has caused carnage in the private rental sector - not stability, just chaos. There were over 7,000 notices of termination in the first three months of the year. That was a 51% increase on the year before. It is the highest level of evictions ever recorded. There are record and ever-growing levels of homelessness, with 5,604 children now officially homeless.  It is a terrible record and the new normal. It never gets the media coverage or outrage it should. Whether they are from Ireland or not is irrelevant; it is a child without a home. This week, the T\u00e1naiste had a go at local authorities but the problem they have is the lack of powers to act whether on dereliction or homelessness. The Labour Party has long campaigned with Focus Ireland to require local authorities to take the best interests of the child into account when working with families who present as homeless. The Government has failed to act on this for nearly a decade. There are many things we can do to address evictions and homelessness. We all know we need more supply but the Government has been saying that for a decade and the problem keeps getting worse. The housing committee today published an important report on homelessness. It includes 14 recommendations, all suggestions those of us in opposition have previously called for in some form or another. We know preventing homelessness is the best use of resources. It keeps people in their existing home and is much more cost effective. The Chair of the committee, Deputy Carrigy, was correct on \"Morning Ireland\" when he said no child should have to spend any period of time in homelessness. This committee, which has a Government majority, has called for a child homelessness strategy, an emergency package of measures to reduce homelessness and, critically, is open to an emergency ban on no-fault evictions for a defined period of time. We have the highest level of evictions since the Famine and the Government has the power to do something about it. Will it stand up for the thousands of children without a home? There is a Government housing Bill going through the D\u00e1il right now. Committee Stage resumes today at 12.30 p.m. You can introduce a ban on no-fault evictions, stem the tide of rising homelessness and protect the best interests of the child. I ask the T\u00e1naiste for a straight answer - if it will not ban evictions, what will the Government do before the summer recess to reduce homelessness? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I agree with a variety of things the Deputy said but I fundamentally disagree with the baloney and spin coming from some local authority officials in relation to dereliction. Deputy Sheehan represents a county and city with an excellent record in tackling dereliction. Last time I checked this country has one national set of laws. It is quite simple; I am not buying into this idea that all local authorities are performing equally well when it is simply untrue. Eleven did not bother collecting a cent. I can find more derelict properties in County Wicklow on my nightly walk than the entire local authority can find in the course of a year. We have to take this deadly seriously, speak with one voice as an Oireachtas and when we say dereliction is a scourge, put in place a variety of measures to help people fix it such as the living city initiative, cro\u00ed c\u00f3naithe with the vacancy grant and CPO powers. Some local authorities are doing a bloody great job and we thank them for that. Some are not treating this like an emergency. It is as simple as - no one is going to change my mind on this but we are going to change the law because they cannot be trusted or depended on to deliver on this so we will bring in the powers to rectify this through the Revenue Commissioners. I know this from my own councillors. They tell me they raise it week in, week out at council meetings across the country. Councillors are frustrated about this as well. Dereliction is a scourge. Everybody needs to take it much more seriously including local authorities. Some like Limerick are doing great but some are not doing well at all and it is not on.  In relation to the best interests of the child, I agree with the Deputy as does the Government. We will amend the Housing Act 1988 so that it will be very clear that in the decision-making process on accommodation for households the best interests of the child are included. I also agree with the Deputy and the committee on the child and family homelessness prevention plan. It is committed in the Government's national housing plan. It will be published before the summer recess. I will make sure the points in that committee report, if they are not already encompassed, are given further consideration because it is an important area we all want to make progress on across parties.  We made changes on the no-fault eviction ban in March in relation to new tenancies and a no-fault eviction ban except for some small landlords. That was an attempt to get the balance right between increasing renter and tenant protections and supply. We also expanded RPZs and brought in six-year tenancies. They are practical measures. Next week we will see the rural planning guidelines to help make it easier for people to build in their communities. In the budget there will be dereliction taxation to help to tackle dereliction. This week saw housing activation funding to try to get housing going. Every day, we take more measures together to try to make a real difference. We saw in the past that a blanket no-fault eviction ban resulted in a significant spike in notices to quit when it was lifted. We need to be careful. That is why the wording of the report is quite careful in asking that we keep matters under review. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  The T\u00e1naiste said local authorities cannot be trusted or depended on. That is an outrageous statement. It is the centralisation of power in the Custom House that has weakened the ability of councils to build new homes, prioritise children in homelessness and tackle dereliction. The measures the T\u00e1naiste spoke of regarding security of tenure are completely undermined by the market rent reset mechanism baked into the legislation which allows landlords to reset rent to the market rate in between tenancies, exposing renters, the most vulnerable people in housing, to record double-digit rent increases. The T\u00e1naiste's own backbenchers are talking about the need for a ban on evictions. What emergency measures will he take before the summer recess? Why will he not recognise that only a ban on evictions will actually reduce homelessness? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I am really confused with the Deputy's position on dereliction because he is defending the system rather than the people the system is meant to represent. People are being let down by inactivity on the derelict sites levy. I gave the Deputy an open goal and said his own council is doing a great job. Limerick is one of the best. It has no superpowers the rest of the country does not have except maybe on the GAA pitch. There are 11 local authorities that did not collect anything. It is not good enough. Deputies can come into this House, kick me around and say the Government needs to do more on housing; that is fine. The Government has a major role to play in housing but so does local government. It is unacceptable that more than \u20ac26 million could have been collected was not. We saw in the excellent journalism of \"RT\u00c9 Investigates\" bizarre baloney in the excuses why this had not been taken more seriously. I am not commentating on this; I am acting. That is why this week I brought forward proposals to bring in a derelict site tax because if they do not take it seriously we will. The Deputy is defending the system but it is letting young people down. I have the table here; it is available. Look at the local authorities that did not collect any money and did not think there was any dereliction in their own county. It is not good enough. This Government is not living by arbitrary deadlines of what more are we going to do by this or that date. Every day we come to work we take more concrete actions help to tackle homelessness. This week it was the housing activation funding across the country including the Deputy's county. The child and family homelessness action plan is the next major step we will take before the summer recess. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  Over the past week or so the T\u00e1naiste has been very critical of county councils which he said think they have \"done enough\" on housing. He said, \u201cThere\u2019s too much sluggishness in parts of the system, in terms of zoning land.\" Laois cannot be counted as one of them if one looks at what it has done on zoning this week. It has exceeded the Department of housing's targets. We need more affordable and social housing and cost rental but it has gone well past the targets. On zoning, this week Laois zoned lands on top of what is already zoned for an additional 8,200 homes. That is a population increase of between 25,000 and 30,000 in a county with about 95,000 of a population at the moment. It is in the top three highest population increases in the State. This was demanded by Fianna F\u00e1il, Fine Gael and the Government. I have no problem with it but the facts are we do not have the infrastructure in the county. The funding allocation this year under the national development plan announced earlier for roads was zero. Cash is required. We need a new primary school in Portlaoise, Col\u00e1iste Dh\u00fan M\u00e1sc secondary school needs to be fast-tracked, Col\u00e1iste \u00cdosag\u00e1in, Portarlington, needs to be built and Saplings Special School in Graiguecullen is dependent on the goodwill of strangers apparently. The N80 bypass in Mountmellick is long promised; the T\u00e1naiste saw it himself when he was there a year and a half ago. It is urgently needed from Fairgreen to Kilminchy roundabout. The N80 goes through a highly populated area and HGVs hit the rail bridge and are chugging along through the market square. The whole place is choked up. Three of the very large land banks zoned this week are on the path of the Portlaoise northern orbital route which is there since my time on the council and before that.  That needs to be constructed. There is a critical shortage of wastewater infrastructure in some of the towns and villages that have been earmarked: Borris-in-Ossory with 160 homes; Ballybrittas with 114 homes; Ballinakill with 58 homes; and Graiguecullen with 437. All of them need wastewater infrastructure upgrades or network connections. A primary care centre is needed in Portlaoise. That needs to be built. Laois County Council has provided whatever infrastructure and facilities it can with the limited resources it has. Any of the Ministers who have been down - including the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, who did not invite me when he was coming but came and sneaked in even though he was only about a quarter of a mile from me - will have seen what is being delivered in Laois. The chief executive officer of the council and the councillors are saying they have done their bit, will do more when they get the money and will come up with whatever money they can as well, but the funds have to be provided for those projects. Will the T\u00e1naiste get the chequebook out and make sure that we get those pieces of infrastructure, including roads, wastewater facilities, schools, a primary care centre and sports facilities, that are needed in the county? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Stanley. Firstly can I say, because fair is fair, that Laois is a good performer when it comes to housing. I have my sheet here. There is nowhere to hide here, by the way. The data is there. It shows who is doing a good job and who is not doing a good job. Laois has actually done quite a good job in relation to dereliction. I think there were 13 derelict sites levied during the year 2024. Laois has performed pretty well when it comes to housing delivery. It has done very well on the housing delivery targets and in relation to zoning. I acknowledge that and I thank the county council for its work in relation to that.  I am told by my colleague and friend Deputy Aird that this week Laois did receive good news in relation to funding, I believe it is \u20ac10 million, for the new road in Portlaoise. I think it was successful in two projects in relation to the housing activation and infrastructure office as well. The Government is doing its part. One of the reasons we set up the housing activation office - Deputy Stanley does have a valid point in relation to this - is that infrastructure is a key enabler for housing, 100%. That is why this week we allocated more than \u20ac800 million in funding to projects right across the country. We intend to build on that. The Deputy might that remember call 1, which is the round we have just given out, was only open to local authorities to apply for funding. In the future I think we will look at going beyond local authorities to give opportunities for partnership with private industry and with developers as well.  The Deputy mentioned sports clubs. The sports capital funding will be opening very shortly and I expect clubs in the Deputy's own county and right across the country will benefit. The Governmental will receive an update on that this month. That is important too.  We have a lot of funding. The Deputy said to get the chequebook out. We have a lot of funding allocated in relation to infrastructure. We intend as a Government to spend \u20ac275 billion on infrastructure between now and 2035. One of the collective challenges that central government and local government will have is speeding up delivery. This is why getting the Critical Infrastructure Bill 2026 passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas before the summer recess is a key enabler of delivering on some of those projects.  Schools are a real issue, 100%, and I know there are a lot of pressure points, particularly in high-demand population areas. There will be further allocations in relation to school funding from a capital point of view in the time ahead. The list that has been published is not the final word on the matter. There will be a need to do more and the medium-term fiscal plan the Government has published has unallocated capital that we will be able to return to again. I hope education can benefit from that.  I push back slightly when I hear this idea that the councils are willing to build a few more houses if we are willing to give them A, B or C. It is not that. It is not binary. There is a housing emergency and everybody has a responsibility to do everything they can to build homes so our young people can get out of the box rooms and into their own homes. It is not the case that they will do it, but they will only do it if they are given us this. They need to do it. They need to do their job. It is a national emergency and they should get on with it. However, they will find in partnership a Government willing to work to put in place that key infrastructure to make sure we do not just build homes but also build sustainable communities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  I have to say to the T\u00e1naiste that the Minister, Deputy Calleary, the Minister, Deputy Browne, the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, and the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, have all been in the constituency. It is kind of like an election year, but it is good to see them all down there. The Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, was the only one who did not tell me he was coming.  Yes, funding has been allocated and that is fair enough, but the roundabout the T\u00e1naiste is talking about that one of those is earmarked for is nearly built. I passed it very early this morning on my way here. There are big projects. The Portlaoise northern orbital route, PNOR, and the N80 in Mountmellick are key. The Uisce \u00c9ireann scheme for small towns and villages needs to be delivered on. We need to see that happen. We cannot increase the population of the county by 25%, 26%, or 27% without putting in extra infrastructure, and that is on top of what is already zoned. I appeal to the T\u00e1naiste to go back and look again at this.  On the cost of housing, I heard the debate the other night with the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, and Deputy Sheehan from the Labour Party. Back a number of years ago when Fine Gael and the Labour Party were in government, the Kenny report came out. Mr. Justice Kenny was not a member of the revolutionary Marxist party of Ireland or the Maoist Shining Path revolution. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I ask Deputy Stanley to conclude. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  He was a conservative man but he came up with a very practical solution regarding the cost of land. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  T\u00e1naiste----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  The cost of land is one of the things driving up the cost of housing. The Government needs to go back again and look at this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I think my friends in the Labour Party are suggesting they were not in government then. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  That report came out in 1973, so neither of us were born then. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Yes. Neither Ged nor I were born so we cannot be held responsible for that one. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  It is good report though. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  There are a couple of serious points there. This is the first time I have ever been in this House while somebody seems to be bemoaning so many Ministers coming to Laois. Deputy Stanley obviously has not met Deputy Willie Aird. It is easier to go to Laois and try to deliver. We intend to continue to visit. Deputy Stanley is right that there is no election for quite a number of years, be assured of that, but there is a hell of a lot of work to do. We intend to be out and about on the ground in communities, including the Deputy's good county of Laois, working with communities and trying to deliver. We are delivering. We are delivering a lot when it comes to infrastructure. There were two announcements of projects this week for Laois through the housing activation office. Every \u20ac3 we are going to spend on capital over the next number of years is going to be spent on housing or infrastructure to enable the delivery of housing. That is an important thing to say.  I want to acknowledge that there is good partnership. I get a bit spiky every now and again when there are different parts of the system that needs to do more. I think that is part of our job. In general there is good partnership between the Government, local government, approved housing bodies, the LDA, and bringing in Uisce \u00c9ireann and the ESB. Everybody has to work together if we are to rectify these issues.  I take the point that Deputy Stanley makes about water and the like. The change we have made to allow developer-led infrastructure in smaller communities will make a difference in County Laois, as will the rural planning guidelines, which I expect to go to Cabinet next week. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_35","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 na Comhalta\u00ed Eile - Other Members\u2019 Questions","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_35","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Maxwell  Will the Government consider amending the incremental tenant purchase scheme 2016 to allow houses acquired under Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 to be made eligible for purchase under this scheme? I want to highlight today the unfairness for some tenants with the ongoing injustice within our local authority housing system. The incremental tenant purchase scheme was launched to give long-term social housing tenants a fair path towards owning their own home. It builds generational wealth, it stabilises neighbourhoods and it rewards hard-working families. Today, however, thousands of families around the country are being fundamentally locked out of this dream through no fault of their own. These are tenants living in Part V properties. Consider the reality on the ground where there are two tenants who have both paid their rent reliably for over ten years, both have identical household incomes and both are upstanding members of the local community. One tenant lives in a standard council-built housing estate and is granted a 40% to 60% discount to purchase their home while the other tenant lives just down the road in a home acquired through a private developer's Part V obligation. This second tenant is handed an outright refusal.  This is an arbitrary roadblock. It penalises families simply based on the legal mechanism the council used to acquire the land, the bricks and mortar. While we all agree on the crucial importance of protecting social housing stock, we cannot build a fair system on a foundation of discrimination. Tenants in Part V homes do not want to destroy mixed-tenure communities; they want to permanently invest in them. They want to ensure their children have a permanent stake in the area that they can call home. It is now time for the Government to review these outdated guidelines. We must introduce a fairer model that protects the State's investment while ending the housing lottery for Part V residents.  I put it to the T\u00e1naiste that this is not a theoretical issue. It is a very real and pressing concern for families across Cavan and Monaghan and around the country. Under the incremental tenant purchase scheme, houses acquired by local authorities are excluded from sale. Social housing tenants living in a Part V property cannot purchase their home through this scheme. The core issue is that many families entered these homes with the understanding that they would have an opportunity to purchase them. However, due to legislative changes introduced around 2016 that pathway has effectively been closed off on those Part V homes. These are not just houses; they are homes where people have raised families, invested their own money and built their lives. Many of these tenants are now in a position to secure a mortgage and wish to purchase their home. Due to their age, however, this opportunity will not remain open indefinitely.  Cavan and Monaghan county councils and other councils have a strong record in housing delivery. I believe there is scope for a practical and fair solution here. I am asking the Government and the Minister to consider allowing flexibility within the scheme, especially to enable local authorities to transfer Part V status in cases where tenants do not wish to purchase, thereby opening a pathway for those who do.  This is about fairness, recognising long-term tenants and enabling home ownership where it is both desired and achievable. The primary goal of the Part V is to build long-term, socially integrated and mixed-tenure communities. That is commendable but to deny a few families the chance to own their own homes that they may have lived in for up to 20 years needs to be addressed. Will the T\u00e1naiste commit to reviewing this matter? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Maxwell for raising this issue on behalf of people in Cavan and Monaghan where he sees it as an issue on the ground, and it has been brought to his attention. The programme for Government and the Government's new housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities, commit to maintaining the right of social housing tenants to purchase their home. The aim of the tenant incremental purchase scheme was to try to strike that balance but balance is always a subjective term that requires constant monitoring to ensure the balance is always right. That balance is between increasing the scope for those who are in receipt of long-term housing support to purchase their local authority home and doing it in a way that does not unduly diminish local authority housing stock.  As Deputy Maxwell reminded us, there is a difference at the moment where the scheme provides for the purchase by eligible tenants of council houses which are available for sale under the scheme, and the scheme is underpinned by the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 and the housing (sale of local authority houses) regulation of 2015. Those regulations provide for a number of specified classes of houses to be excluded from sale, including houses transferred to councils for the purpose of providing social housing under Part V, which is really the nub of the issue that Deputy Maxwell brought up. Some other classes of property, for example, houses specifically designed for older people, group Traveller housing schemes and houses provided to facilitate people with disability transferring from institutional care to community-based living are also excluded from the current scheme.  The provisions of Part V of the Planning and Development Act are, as Deputy Maxwell said, designed to enable the development of mixed-tenure sustainable communities, and to make sure that there is that mix and that the aim is not eroded over time. We all agree, and I know the Deputy said it too, that the continued development of mixed-tenure communities is important in terms of social integration and cohesion.  The Deputy's broader point about the need to review and engage on this is one that I, the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, and the Minister, Deputy Browne, are happy to engage on as well because it is always important to keep these things under review. I know that the Deputy has some real and practical examples in his own constituency, and if he is happy to share them with me and the Ministers, we will certainly have an engagement in relation to them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Maxwell  I thank the T\u00e1naiste for his response. As I said, this affects a number of families around the country. The people who have come to my office only want to have security in the knowledge that they can own their own home. A number did get a chance before 2016 but their financial circumstances at the time did not allow them to take up that offer to secure a home loan, so they had to decline it. After making a home in these houses, working hard, saving their money and building a track record in savings, some people can now apply and be successful with a home loan application for the house they have lived in for maybe up to the past 20 years but they are now being told, \"Sorry, just keep renting it\". This is not every Part V house. Not everyone wants to buy but for the families who do, can we look at the scheme?  With the announcement of \u20ac850 million under the housing activation fund - I thank our colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, for all his work on this over the past year - to unlock houses around the country, including up to 1,195 houses in Monaghan and 750 in Cavan, and other initiatives the Government is bringing forward to help increase the housing stock, if we increase the housing stock, will that help us to alleviate that problem? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  That is a very fair way to put it. As housing supply begins to rise in Cavan, Monaghan and across the country, should we then go back and ask, \"Hang on, do the balances we had in place at a time of more constrained supply merit being looked at again?\". That is a logical thing to do.  I thank the Deputy for his words in relation to the work of the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, who has been a real reformer with the Minister, Deputy Browne, in trying to find practical ways of increasing housing supply. The changes we have made in relation to Uisce \u00c9ireann, allowing developer-led water infrastructure, and the rural planning guidelines that we are bringing to Cabinet next week are two measures that will have benefit across the country but they will have particular benefit in constituencies like the Deputy's in Cavan and Monaghan.  We are eager and happy to engage on this issue. It is that balance. We do believe, as I know the Deputy very much does, in mixed-tenure development. We need to make sure that we do not erode that stock or mix over time but, as supply begins to increase, we will certainly keep these matters under review and are happy to engage further on it. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 na Comhalta\u00ed Eile - Other Members\u2019 Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_36","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Pholasa\u00ed n\u00f3 ar Reachta\u00edocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation","counts":{"speechCount":40,"speakerCount":20},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_36","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Roche","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"S\u00e9amus McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  The television licence is in big trouble, and it has had its day. Sales, as the T\u00e1naiste knows, have collapsed. New figures show that fewer than 300,000 licences have been sold so far this year. When we consider that nearly 1 million licences were sold in 2022, we can see the scale of the problem. One-in-three households liable to pay has simply stopped paying the television licence. It is a staggering drop in the past four years, and the public are sick to their teeth of the raft of financial scandals at RT\u00c9, the constant waste of public money and that culture of entitlement that does not seem to have gone away.  People are voting with their feet. That is the reality. Sales are plummeting every year, and it presents a real problem for the funding of public media. It also presents the Government with a decision. It has to choose whether to chase hundreds of thousands of people through the courts for not paying their television licence or it can move to a modern, sustainable funding model though the Exchequer. It is time to face reality. The TV licence has to be scrapped. Will the Government scrap the television licence or is its intention to just pursue 300,000 or 400,000 through the courts? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  It is not that crude at all. I thought that we were going through a Thursday where the Deputy was not going to call on me to abolish a tax or a charge or spend loads more money but I should have known that it is Thursday, and it happens every Thursday. The reality of the situation is that public service broadcasting matters. Public service broadcasting needs to be funded. I encourage the Deputy to support public service broadcasting. There have been a range of scandals and crises in RT\u00c9 but there are also really good and decent people working in public service broadcasting. There are also really good people working in public service broadcasting beyond RT\u00c9. I think people in Ireland value public service broadcasting; I do. I have my television licence, and I am sure the Deputy has his. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  What is the T\u00e1naiste going to do about it? Will he answer the question? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  The summer provision programme has been very difficult this year. It used to not be difficult to implement but this year it has been particularly difficult. I have spoken with parents and principals who feel very disrespected. They have had to assume an extra burden this year, and the stress has really been really unacceptable. The issues include the short timeframe that the portal was opened. It was then reopened thanks to pressure from Members, including the T\u00e1naiste. They are also upset about the business case model they have to put forward, the reduction in staffing and that the parents who did not get a school place are now not getting to get a home-based provision.  Inclusive education has been an omnishambles this academic year. Has the Government got a handle on this, and will it be able to make sure that things are sorted out for the next academic year? Will the Government apologise to any child who does not have a summer provision this year because they are going to be at home when other children are having the time of their lives in the summer? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Cummins for raising the issue, and I respect and accept the sincerity in which she does so. The first thing I suggest is that in general we should be having earlier engagements and conversations in this House, in committees and, of course, with the school communities. I take that point. I suggest that perhaps at an earlier time post this summer, we have the conversation about next summer because there are always learnings. I take that point.  I am going to balance that by saying that since 2019, the summer programme has gone from strength to strength. We have more than 1,800 schools and 71,000 children participating in the programme. That compares to 545 schools and 23,000 children in 2020, so there is an increase of 210% in child participation as well. The point I am making is that there is growing demand. I thank the people who will be involved in providing the programmes across the country this year. I am very happy, and I know the Minister will be, to have a detailed discussion about any learnings from this in terms of the future. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  Some 14 step-down beds are to be removed from the Cottage Hospital in Drogheda. This will leave Ireland's largest town with no transitional care beds whatsoever. On Tuesday, up to 30 staff at the Cottage Hospital were told that their jobs were being unilaterally moved to the Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital. This move is being justified by the HSE on the basis that there will be a net gain of step-down beds in Louth and Meath by the end of 2026 but I know for a fact that there are no plans at this point to staff those additional beds in a new unit in Ardee. What is actually happening is that the service in the Cottage Hospital is being gutted. Staff are being moved to currently unstaffed beds in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital because management there are simply not allowed to recruit the staff that they can prove they need to staff those new beds.  Does the T\u00e1naiste agree with this robbing-Peter-to-pay-Paul strategy? It is unacceptable. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  No, I do not. I thank Deputy Nash for raising this issue. I accept the importance of it. I will follow up on the matter with the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, and the HSE and will ask that they engage with Deputy Nash today on it in the context of seeing what more can be done. I take the point that it is an expansion of capacity that we need. Let me engage further on this with the Deputy today. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  The transport committee has been discussing the topic of road safety for the past six months. We have heard detailed and often very upsetting evidence from a range of organisations, from cycling groups all the way through to the Road Haulage Association, and the one point that unites them all is that they all do not have confidence in the Road Safety Authority, RSA. The T\u00e1naiste will recall that in 2024 a radical reform of the RSA was proposed. This would have split it up and allowed the authority to focus on the central issue of saving lives. In December of last year, the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, scrapped that reform plan. The Minister of State attended the transport committee yesterday. He doubled down on scrapping the reform plan and said that he would prefer reform from within. Eighteen months into the lifetime of this Government, we have still no idea of what those reforms actually are. A total of 190 people died on our roads last year and 79 have died to date this year. Does the T\u00e1naiste have confidence in the RSA or does he agree with the organisations and families of victims that want to see real reform of this organisation? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy O'Gorman for raising this issue. I acknowledge the very good work that has been done by the Oireachtas committee, which is chaired by my colleague Deputy Michael Murphy, who continually keeps me apprised of this work. I very much look forward to the report of the committee. My message to everybody on the committee is that we should not rule anything out in relation to steps that may be needed. I approach this issue with humility. In the context of what we are doing in relation to road safety, I can only say that we need to do more. I am not satisfied that the current structures are delivering the outcome we need, but I also want to hear from the committee and to see if there can be a cross-party consensus as to what the next steps should be. I have heard different ideas from different victims' groups, including the idea of a road safety commissioner and the like. There is some logic in that. I also think of where the Road Safety Authority is today versus where it was in the past. We think of Gay Byrne and all of that era.  I have an open mind on this. I will engage with the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, but, from my perspective, the next important development is the report on road safety, which I think we expect relatively shortly from the Oireachtas committee. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  Action 1.7 of the LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy 2019-2021 contains a commitment to taking into account LGBTI+ needs in public libraries and compiling and updating a reading list under the Healthy Ireland at Your Library initiative. That includes reading materials recommended for children as young as 12. Will the T\u00e1naiste indicate who exactly reviews the reading list and the age-appropriateness of the material on it before it goes to libraries, which are serving children as young as 12? What Minister, Department or agency signs off on the list? What mechanisms are available to allow parents who find explicit sexual content on the shelves marked for 12-year-olds to have that material reviewed or removed? As the T\u00e1naiste is aware, Children's Books Ireland has already had to pull at least one title from its Pride reading guide after concerns were raised, yet the book remains on library shelves and is still linked to the HSE's parental materials. Does the T\u00e1naiste agree that parents deserve an answer as to who is responsible and what mechanism is available to them? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I truthfully do not know the answer, so I will not pretend I do. However, I will endeavour to find information and ask the relevant Minister to respond to the Deputy. All information and books should always be age appropriate. I think that is something we all believe is important in both our libraries and education system. I will ask the Minister of State with responsibility for our libraries, Deputy Buttimer, and the Minister, Deputy Calleary, to come back to Deputy O'Flynn directly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Connolly  I ask that the Government offer some guidance to local authorities on providing access to our bathing waters for people with limited mobility or wheelchair users. The bathing season commenced on 1 June. That term is somewhat archaic. I think we need to look at it. Many people cannot access the waters, and there seems to be some divergence among local authorities as to how they address this situation. I understand that Mayo County Council is very proactive in the area. Unfortunately, however, despite having the apparatus to do so and despite there being two blue-flag beaches in Galway city, people with limited mobility or wheelchair users cannot access our bathing waters. There is a young family in my community. Their daughter, Ruby, a lovely child, is a wheelchair user and she has a strong desire to get to the bathing waters with her family when the weather is good, something I have the good fortune to be able to take for granted for my children. I ask that the Government offer some direction to local authorities as to how they can address this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  That is a really good idea. I think of my local beach in Greystones, where tracks were put in place relatively recently that allow people to walk, push buggies, use wheelchairs, etc. This has been transformational in terms of improving accessibility to the beach. The Deputy's point about accessing bathing water in and of itself is an important one. We are back to this issue again. We do not have to split the atom here. If some counties are doing it well and others are not, we need to share that information. On foot of the Deputy raising this today, I will certainly ask that this happens. I am sitting beside the Minister of State with responsibility for local government. I will ask that we look at how we would convey best practice from some local authorities to others. We will come back to the Deputy directly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Roche","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Roche  As the T\u00e1naiste is aware, this is Men's Health Week. Government policy acknowledges or recognises that improving men's health has clear benefits for families, partners and children right across society. A key part of that is the experience of early parenthood. I refer to paternity leave in particular in this regard. A report this week titled Extra Time with Dad shows that Ireland is falling way behind. We provide just two weeks' paternity leave. That is the EU minimum and it ranks near the bottom in OECD terms of leave for partners. In practice, many dads face a 75% drop in income while on leave. Some seven in ten of them rely on top-ups from their employers, with a similar proportion experiencing financial strain. Does the Government acknowledge and see the need to address that deficit? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Roche for raising this important matter. Of course, we all want to make sure that new parents, mums and dads, are able to spend time with their babies. There are currently two weeks of paternity leave available in Ireland. It is also important to say there are also nine weeks of parent's leave and benefit available to both parents. Parent's benefit is currently paid at a rate of \u20ac299 per week. Let us be truthful here: the take-up of parent's leave is much lower among men than it is among women. Again, we should try to unpack this because I think some of the issues the Deputy talks about may well be correct: young families, mortgages to pay, financial commitments and people trying to balance a range of issues and bills that a household will face. There is a commitment in the programme for Government to introduce pay-related parent's benefit whereby your payment would be linked to your salary, similar to what we have done in relation to pay-related jobseeker's benefit. That is a good model. People who have worked hard and paid into the system then are able to get something back from that system at a time when they might need it as well. It is a commitment I am keen to see progressed, and I will ask that the Minister, Deputy Calleary, updates Deputy Roche on it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  There is a huge issue with scramblers in my constituency. Following the new laws that came in earlier this year in the aftermath of the tragic death of 16-year-old Grace Lynch, communities were hoping that this would see a reduction in the use of scramblers. However, I have had to phone the Garda numerous times in the intervening period. On Monday night last, I had to phone the Garda three times because of scramblers being driven in a dangerous manner in communities right across the northside, including on St. Mary's Road, Sprigg's Road and Kilmore Road. In Fairfield, there is a beautiful park that Cork City Council put in, a walk-around for people, but the scramblers are using it like a track. I met with people there two weeks ago. They said that they tried to talk to the lads on the scramblers to tell them that it is dangerous but that all they are getting is abuse. We have a serious issue now. Local garda\u00ed tell me they do not have the resources. I am asking the T\u00e1naiste for two things. First, will the Government give the Garda the resources to tackle this and to stop it and to tackle these scramblers? Second, will it give local authorities funding to put in tracks or trails? Some people do not want to play sport. They want to be in the arts or they want to drive cars or bikes. They have to be given an outlet, and right now there is nowhere for them to go. What must happen immediately is that the use of scramblers must be stopped, because I fear there could be another tragedy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Gould for raising this issue. I met with Grace Lynch's parents last week and was really struck not only their advocacy but also - I do not wish to speak for them - by the very clear views they have on what more that can and should be done in this space.  I am very happy that we would engage with Deputy Gould on this as well. There is definitely an issue. I had a good conversation with the Minister for justice and the Minister for Transport on it this week. There is a legitimate issue around supporting the Garda, including potentially in relation to their driving training, resourcing and the likes. In fairness to the Minister, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan, he is very much committed to that. I also think there is a real issue around ownership and how we track and trace it. Other countries, quite frankly, have done that better than we have so far. I have mixed views - \"mixed views\" might be the wrong phrase - on the facility piece because from some of what I hear back, I am not sure if some of these people are looking for somewhere to go and do this. I think, and the Deputy would see it in his own constituency, there is sometimes an element of intimidation and the likes. I will reflect more on that point. On foot of the Deputy raising this, I will ask that the Ministers, Deputies O'Brien and O'Callaghan, come back to him with an outline of the next steps we intend to take. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  Thank you. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  In light of the ongoing and deepening crisis in the fishing sector and the severe impact it continues to have on coastal and inland communities, can the Minister provide an update on the fishing task force established by the Government earlier in 2026 to examine the future sustainability and viability of the sector? Can he confirm the task force has met in accordance with its intended schedule, the number of meetings that have taken place, and the current status of its work? When can fisherman and affected communities expect concrete measures arising from the process? Given the urgency on the ground, will he also clarify what interim supports or actions are being advanced pending the task force's final report? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Martin Heydon)  I thank Deputy Collins for raising this important issue. The Food Vision seafood sector group was launched on 16 February by me and my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Dooley. The group was established in a response to the significantly reduced fishing opportunities for 2026 and will operate under the auspices of the Food Vision 2030 group, through which we have had a series of Food Vision subgroups to look at and tackle key areas. It is considering the challenges facing all three components of the Irish seafood sector, from the catch fisheries, aquaculture and seafood processing. The group's membership is comprised of representatives from across the seafood industry. Mr. Michael Berkery, the former general secretary of the IFA, has been appointed as the independent chairperson for this group.  In answer to the Deputy's direct question, he was tasked with drafting a chairman's report by June of this year. There has been a series of meetings since 16 February, the meeting of the task force group that I attended in Howth. The deadline for receipt of seafood industry submissions was 2 March. On 10 and 11 March, there were five sector-specific meetings held in the Department's Backweston campus. Representatives from across the seafood industry have attended and have had a series of meetings. That work has been ongoing. I commend everyone on their very strong commitment to this and look forward to receiving the chairman's report in the near future. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Currie  When Coolmine Community School opened in 1974, it was one of Ireland's first community schools and a trail-blazer for education. It had an enviable mix of academic achievements, extracurricular activities and social activity. For many in Dublin West, it represented a modern community with a strong sense of identity and pride. Many of the parents of students attending today are former students who remember that pride. More than 50 years later, however, the building remains largely unchanged. While Blanchardstown has grown into one of Ireland's largest and most dynamic communities, the spaces where our students learn have been left behind. The young people of today deserve facilities that are as ambitious as they are, and that match the quality of education they are getting at Coolmine. Very recently the school's patron and the board of management submitted an application for a new school building under the major capital works programme. I have looked at the figures. Between 2015 and 2023, over seven years, \u20ac750,000 was put into emergency works. More has gone in since I was elected. Can the T\u00e1naiste encourage the Minister, Deputy Naughton, to visit the school, which I am doing, and give its development the priority it really deserves? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Currie for raising this project. She has worked with Coolmine Community School and the board of management to get an application for a new building into the Department, which was submitted a couple of weeks ago. I can confirm that the Department received the application from Coolmine Community School on 5 May for that large-scale capital funding to provide a new school building. The Department recently already agreed a brief for the provision of two special education classrooms as well, which will be delivered as quickly as possible through modern methods of construction. The application that is submitted now will go through its detailed appraisal and there will be good engagement with the school. On foot of the Deputy raising this today, I will ask the Minister, Deputy Naughton, to visit the school with her in the near future. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aidan Farrelly  The results of a survey of parents in Kildare have been published, the majority of whom do not have access to childcare in September. What those results mean is that a number of parents are not able to go back to work. They are having to reduce their hours or give up their jobs because they simply cannot access a fairly basic service in a very fast-growing county. We are seeing significant issues in Kildare regarding capacity and conditions for the workforce. While we still seem to be no closer to that \u20ac200 per month commitment, I really welcome the State-led pilot. It has the potential to do something really positive but I think we would all agree that is in the medium to long term. What can I say to these parents in Naas, Kilcock, Maynooth and Celbridge who really have no option but to give up their job because they cannot access this childcare service? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. On foot of his raising it, I will specifically ask the Minister, Deputy Foley, to engage with him on the particular and immediate issue he is highlighting in Kildare. I take that point. When I talk about what we are going to do more broadly, he is highlighting an issue that is a factor in the here and now for people. We are significantly increasing our investment to childcare, core funding and the employment agreements for people working in childcare. We are fully committed to that \u20ac200 per child, per month in the lifetime of the Government. That is a commitment in the lifetime of the programme for Government. Myself, the Minister, Deputy Chambers, and the Taoiseach have all said we want to see progress made on that over the course of the next four budgets. Specifically in the here and now, I will ask the Minister, Deputy Foley, to come back to the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  The FAI released a statement on 12 June justifying playing Israel behind closed doors and outside Ireland. It spoke of consultation with stakeholders, in particular the Palestinian Football Association which the statement strongly implied backed the FAI's position. Today, the Palestinian Football Association has had to release a statement saying it did not endorse or support the decision to proceed with the games: \"[O]ur position regarding Israeli football remains unchanged and unequivocal.\" It stated that: \"[T]he PFA categorically rejects any attempt to promote or impose matches with an occupying power that systematically targets Palestinian athletes and sports infrastructure.\"  Did the FAI not deceive the people of Ireland and the global media with this claim? Did it not shamefully twist the words of the most hard-pressed and vulnerable sports association? Will the T\u00e1naiste call on the FAI to come in front of an Oireachtas committee to explain this and the entire venture? I refer also to the sports Ministers who are backing these immoral games and shameful decision. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Of course, the Ministers are not doing that at all. Let us be clear. This is a decision the FAI has to take. If we start making decisions on the floor of the D\u00e1il in relation to running Irish soccer, God knows where we will end up. The reality is there are very clear rules that UEFA and FIFA have. Those rules specifically exclude and preclude parliaments from making decisions in relation to the governing authorities. The FAI has gone through a process, I think it has gone through a robust process. It has made a decision. The last thing any one of us would want to do is take a decision that ends up benefiting the Israeli football team and disadvantaging the Irish soccer team. I hear about what the players have had to say about not wanting pressure in relation to them.  I have not seen that statement from the Palestinian Football Association. I take in good faith what the Deputy said. My own note tells me that the Palestinian Football Association stated: \"The Palestinian Football Association expresses its appreciation for the principled positions taken by the Football Association of Ireland in support of the rights of the Palestinian people and Palestinian athletes.\" "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  Today's statement was contradicting the way the FAI used that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  In fairness, that statement says that the Palestinian Football Association expresses its appreciation. There should always be engagement between governing bodies that the taxpayer funds. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  Parents in Cork could be spending \u20ac800 to \u20ac900 a month for childcare. That is if there is only one child they need childcare for. It could be well over \u20ac1,000, or \u20ac1,500 if they have two children. It is absolutely breaking families, and that is if they can find childcare facilities at all. In large parts of my constituency, in places like Douglas and Carrigaline, it is effectively impossible to find a place. The T\u00e1naiste went to the people in the last election and talked about \u20ac200 a month. The new maximum fee cap of \u20ac183.70 a week is a reduction but is still closer to \u20ac200 a week. We are a very considerable distance from \u20ac200 a month.  This is absolutely breaking families. The T\u00e1naiste and his party like to talk about the squeezed middle. Any parent who needs childcare is definitely in the squeezed middle. There is no doubt about that. We have not seen any progress in the last budget. We need to see progress in this budget for families who are absolutely broken by childcare costs. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  We definitely needed to see more progress and the Minister, Deputy Foley, is ambitious about making that progress. Under the new maximum fee caps, we have seen the highest possible upfront cost for a typical full-day place of 45 hours per week drop. The Deputy is correct that that is still too high. However, the cost has dropped from \u20ac198 per week to \u20ac183.70 per week. The commitment is very clear. It is not just my commitment; it is a commitment every political party in the House gave. The parties in government and Opposition parties agreed that the direction of travel is to get to \u20ac200 per child per month in the lifetime of this Oireachtas. That commitment is in the programme for Government. It is a commitment every member of the Government has signed up to. I agree with the Deputy that we need to make more progress in the budget. I, along with the Minister, Deputy Chambers, the Taoiseach and the Minister, Deputy Foley, have all said that is our intention. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in  When will the long overdue emergency funding for rural roads in Wicklow and Wexford be delivered? The T\u00e1naiste may have driven on some in the south-west of Wicklow. It is absolutely disgraceful that we are now in June, in the middle of a dry period, when it is perfect to do works. We have waited since November, when Storm Claudia struck. Wicklow County Council sought between \u20ac15 million and \u20ac20 million and Wexford sought a similar amount. These counties have historically had the worst rural roads in Ireland. I have been driving on them all of my life. In Wexford, \u20ac194 million is needed to bring the roads up to what is classed as an acceptable standard. It is a perfect time to do the work. I have repeatedly requested funding since November, and for the past 12 years. It is absolutely shocking that those of us who live in rural Ireland and drive on small country roads have to have our cars wrecked and are unable to drive on safe roads. When will the funding be delivered? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. As he knows, I know the roads in Wicklow and Wexford well. He is correct that like many counties in the country they saw a significant impact from that storm. Work has been underway. I spoke to Wicklow County Council about submitting documentation to the Government, which I am sure also applies to Wexford. That has happened, in fairness. I would like to see the process come to a conclusion very quickly. The Deputy is correct that there is a window when the weather is relatively better than it often is. It is a concern for Deputies across the House. I will follow up with the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and come back to the Deputy with a timeline. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  I wish to raise the significant issue of back-to-school costs. It is my understanding that children who are entitled to school-based July provision will have to pay upwards of \u20ac120 for extracurricular activities during that period. I also wish to raise a significant issue in regard to schools requiring children to get laptops, tablets or ICT equipment for the coming academic year. It is my understanding that the Minister, Deputy Naughton, has written to all of the relevant schools in regard to this, but schools are still requiring them. A parent has contacted me. She is a carer for her husband and does not receive carer's allowance due to the means coming into the house and is not entitled to any exceptional needs payment. Anybody who applies for an exceptional needs payment to pay for ICT equipment finds the payment does not cover that. Will the Government extend the exceptional needs payment to cover ICT equipment for schools? Will it also look into the payment of upwards of \u20ac120 for those availing of school-based July provision for extra curricular activities? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Kenny for raising this issue, which is quite a serious one. The summer programme is fully funded by the Department of Education and Youth and schools are supposed to run the programme within the budget provided by the Department. I am not unfairly having a go. Of course small costs above and beyond might arise and a decision may be made to do something outside the programme. I get that somewhat. The level of cost the Deputy is highlighting is completely at odds with the purpose of the programme, which is taxpayer funded as part of the education system and open to all who qualify for it. I ask that the Deputy pass on the information to the Minister for Education and Youth who will examine it. The Deputy's second point is also correct. There is cross-party consensus on the idea of free school books. What we do not want to see is that free school books are now free school books being replaced with everything going onto a tablet, laptop or the likes. The Minister has written schools about this. I ask that she further engage with the Deputy on this on foot of him raising the issue. I will speak to the Minister, Deputy Calleary, about the exceptional needs payment and he will come back to the Deputy directly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  I wish to raise the ongoing and very serious issue of excessive waiting times in the accident and emergency department in Cavan General Hospital. As the T\u00e1naiste is aware, residents of County Monaghan do not have access to an accident and emergency department in their county. Instead, they have to travel to Cavan hospital to receive emergency care. This places significant and unstable pressure on services. I continue to receive deeply concerning reports from constituents who are waiting for up to 24 hours before being seen by a nurse or doctor. The situation is simply not acceptable. Today, I urge the T\u00e1naiste to consider the case for restoring a full accident and emergency service at Monaghan hospital. Doing so would significantly alleviate the pressure on Cavan hospital and ensure that the people of Monaghan, a county with a growing population of over 65,000, have timely and safe access to emergency care. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Bennett. While we do not have plans to open new emergency departments, we do have plans to continue to drive investment into hospitals at levels 2 and 3, including Monaghan hospital. I remember visiting it a number of years ago. It is a very good hospital and it is ambitious about doing more. On foot of the Deputy raising this issue, I will ask the Minister for Health to come back to her on Cavan emergency department wait times and any further plans in regard to Monaghan. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan  We all know the great work done in our maternity wards across the country. I would like to thank all of the doctors, nurses, midwives and consultants who provide care for women across the country. My wife gave birth to our three children in the maternity ward in CUH and received the best of care. It has come to my attention that for some reason one of the State's four tertiary maternity hospitals serving the south of Ireland, CUH, does not have a dedicated consultant in maternal medicine to manage complex medical conditions in pregnancy. Is there a plan for funding and recruitment to establish such a service or post? Can the T\u00e1naiste bring this matter to the attention of the Minister for Health and HSE? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I will bring it to the attention of the Minister for Health and ask that she engage with the Deputy directly on the women and infants health programme and the HSE on the need for that consultant post for complex conditions during pregnancy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"S\u00e9amus McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy S\u00e9amus McGrath  I also want to raise summer provision, something I raised a number of weeks ago. I welcome that the application process reopened and thank the T\u00e1naiste for that. I want to raise concerns brought to my attention by schools in respect of delays with approvals and information from the Department regarding staffing requirements, in particular for schools which are seeking additional staffing requirements to deal with children with higher needs. There is a total lack of certainty. These schools are under intense pressure as they try to prepare for the summer programme in the coming weeks. I ask the Minister to take the matter up with the Department as a matter of urgency. There are further delays in terms of approvals for home-based provision. Many parents across the country are in the dark as to what approvals they will get. As the T\u00e1naiste knows, teachers and SNAs need to be sourced for home-based provision. Parents are in a very difficult position. I ask the T\u00e1naiste to please take this matter back to the Department and ask him to inject some urgency into this and get information back to parents and schools. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy McGrath for raising this issue. It is not the first time he has raised it. He raised the application process window on a previous occasion and I was pleased that we were in a position to reopen it. I will now speak with Ministers Naughton and Moynihan on clarity and staff requirements for schools, in particular the issue the Deputy highlighted around home-based provision and the need for clarity for parents. I am conscious it is a very tight window. As I said earlier, and I say sincerely, once we get through the summer we should have broader engagement on how we can learn lessons. The Minister and the Government are very committed to the programme. We have seen a huge increase in the number of people using it and the number of schools availing of it, which is all great, but there are timeline issues and clarity could perhaps ease the stress and anxiety for people in future years. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar fionra\u00ed ar 1.19 p.m. agus cuireadh t\u00fas leis ar\u00eds ar 1.59 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Sitting suspended at 1.19 p.m. and resumed at 1.59 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Pholasa\u00ed n\u00f3 ar Reachta\u00edocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_37","debateType":"statement","bill":null,"showAs":"Rare Diseases: Statements","counts":{"speechCount":44,"speakerCount":27},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_37","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"William Aird","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Lahart","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Lahart.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Lahart.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Health (Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill)  I begin not with policy, but with people. I acknowledge with sincerity and respect the people across Ireland who are living with a rare disease and the parents, partners, children, siblings, carers, families and friends who walk that journey with them every single day. The Government is committed to improving the lives of people living with rare diseases. That means working to support earlier diagnosis, better co-ordinated care, appropriate access to treatment and stronger patient partnership. I acknowledge the work of Members of both Houses, including Deputies Lahart and P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan and Senator Costello, in continuing to raise awareness of rare diseases and the experience of patients and families.  We know that many rare conditions are complex, lifelong and, in some cases, life limiting. We also know that families can face real challenges in accessing diagnoses, services, medicines, technologies and supports in a timely and co-ordinated way. That is why the programme for Government includes commitments to publish and fund a new national rare diseases strategy, improve access to orphan medicines and examine new approaches to earlier reimbursement of certain treatments, including an early access scheme for rare diseases.  Last August, we published the National Rare Disease Strategy 2025-2030, which gives Ireland a clear national framework for improving diagnosis, treatment and support for people living with rare diseases. At its heart, the strategy is about improving quality of life, supporting fairer access to healthcare and making sure that innovation in research and treatment translates into real benefits for patients and families. It responds to a reality that many families know all too well. While each rare disease may affect a small number of people, rare diseases together represent a significant public health challenge. An estimated 300,000 people in Ireland are living with a rare disease, and the impact on individuals, families, health services and wider society can be substantial and complex.  To ensure the strategy moves from words to action, a three-year strategic implementation plan is being finalised. Its purpose is to turn the strategy's recommendations into clear actions, timelines and governance arrangements in order that progress can be planned, tracked and delivered in a way people can see and feel. The first phase of implementation will focus on priority actions across several important work streams, including research and innovation, international co-operation, European reference networks, data and registries, education and public information, and screening, diagnosis and access. Across all of that work, three cross-cutting themes will remain central, namely, governance and accountability, implementation and monitoring, and patient partnership. The latter is highly important and even more so when it comes to the nuances of people's experience of rare disease.  In every discussion about rare diseases in this House, people reference the real lives of the children, young people, adults and families in their areas who carry a weight that is often unseen. Families may spend years searching for answers, moving from appointment to appointment and telling their story again and again, hoping somebody will join the dots for them. For many people, living with a rare disease is defined not only by a diagnosis, but by uncertainty, waiting and having to navigate a system that was never designed for something so complex. That is why it is so important that we are discussing rare diseases here today. I thank those who called for the debate, including Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan, who is in the Chair. It is important that we lend not just our voice, but also our commitment to action.  Collectively, rare diseases are not rare at all. There are more than 8,000 different rare diseases, with approximately 300,000 people in Ireland and 30 million people across Europe living with such diseases. That is one in every 17 people. It is not a marginal issue. In fact, it touches every community, every county and every constituency represented in this House. One of the strongest messages I hear, and I know Deputies hear it too, is about the importance of listening to patients. People living with rare diseases want their experiences to shape the services on which they rely. They want to be treated as partners whose expertise is trusted. The national rare disease strategy makes clear that people living with a rare disease must be treated not as passive recipients of care, but as equal partners in shaping policy and services. That is fundamental to better decision making, better design and better outcomes. It is why patient and public involvement must run through every aspect of our response, from policy formulation and service design to research, clinical trials, awareness and education. If we are serious about reform, we must be serious about listening and about how we listen.  A point I hear clearly from patients, families and advocates relates not only to access to care, but to how that care is experienced. For many people living with rare diseases, care can still feel fragmented, with different appointments, different specialists, different locations and different parts of the system that do not always connect as they should. That is even more significant when it comes to parents bringing their children to different appointments in the paediatric hospital system. That process could be much better co-ordinated from the perspective of the child and the family, particularly those families that have to travel for appointments, which often will be many times in a single month. When that disconnect happens, the burden falls on individuals and their whole families as they try to hold everything together. The national rare disease strategy is very clear on that point. It calls for equitable, inclusive and integrated health and social care, including access to wrap-around supports, better transitions between child and adult services and improved care co-ordination. It acknowledges the particular burden created when people and families are left to co-ordinate complex care themselves across multiple specialties and settings.  A total of 13 care co-ordinators have been provided to support patients in navigating the health service. We are also continuing to develop integrated rare disease care pathways, several of which have already been developed and approved. The HSE's national rare diseases office hosted a symposium in May focused on improving diagnostic pathways, care pathways and supports. It brought together patients, policymakers and healthcare professionals. Two further events are planned later this year. That engagement is important. Care pathways are not an abstract policy tool. For people living with rare diseases, they mean the difference between joined-up care and fragmentation; between clarity and confusion; and between confidence and crisis.  We must be honest in acknowledging that accessing integrated, organised and well-co-ordinated care remains one of the major pressures felt by families, as they have articulated clearly. When community, disability, primary care and acute services do not align as they should, the burden falls back on the individual and the family. That is not fair. Awareness and education among healthcare professionals are greatly improving and the implementation plan addresses those issues directly. For far too many families, however, their experience is still one of navigating complexity alone.  When I launched the national rare diseases strategy last August, a phrase that really stuck with me, which I understand captures the experience of many families, is \"diagnostic odyssey\". It refers to the long, painful journey to find out what is wrong, which often leads to years of uncertainty in which symptoms progress but answers do not come. The strategy addresses this directly, acknowledging that many individuals wait far too long for an accurate diagnosis and that this delay can have lasting consequences. This situation is not unique to Ireland. The World Health Organization has highlighted that many people across the world never receive a timely or adequate diagnosis. It has emphasised that improving early diagnosis must be a priority. When diagnosis is delayed, everything else is delayed, including access to treatment, support and understanding. That is why early diagnosis is so crucial. It helps to bring certainty and, in some cases, it can change the course of a condition entirely.  That is why the continued expansion of newborn screening is such an important step forward. I acknowledge the presence in the Chamber of the deputy chief medical officer, Professor Ellen Crushell, who works in paediatric care and is working alongside me to try to bring in as many conditions as possible. We have seen progress this year with the introduction in April of screening for rare conditions such as severe combined immunodeficiency, SCID, and spinal muscular atrophy, SMA, which brought the total number of conditions screened for under the newborn bloodspot screening programme to 11. This can allow intervention to begin earlier, when it matters most, thereby slowing or preventing progression in some cases.  This is just a beginning and not the end. Every step we take toward earlier diagnosis is a step towards a fairer system in which families do not have to fight so hard simply to be understood. The national screening advisory committee, NSAC, and its dedicated newborn screening subgroup continue to work to review and consider further expansions of the newborn screening programme. I have given a political direction that it is an absolute priority to work as quickly and efficiently as possible to bring in as many conditions as we can as quickly as we can, recognising the enormous impact it can have on families to be able to find out what the situation is with their child much sooner than might otherwise be the case.  The national strategy for accelerating genetic and genomic medicine in Ireland was launched in December 2022. It sets out a clear vision for a modern, national genetics and genomics service that is equitable, timely and centred on patients and their families. It recognises that advances in genomics are transforming how we understand disease, particularly rare disease, and commits to building a system where people can access the right test at the right time informed by clinical need. In practical terms, that means developing national infrastructure, strengthening laboratory capacity, supporting clinical workforce expertise and ensuring genetic and genomic services are integrated into everyday care in order that earlier diagnosis becomes the norm, not the exception.  The HSE\u2019s national genetics and genomics office was established in 2023 to implement that strategy and to co-ordinate a national approach to genetics and genomics, ensuring patient and public involvement and partnerships, building the workforce for the future, enhancing clinical services, and strengthening infrastructure. We are now beginning to see that vision take concrete form. The national genomic test directory, launched at the end of 2024, is a significant step forward in delivering a more consistent and equitable approach to testing across the country. It was developed by the HSE\u2019s national genetics and genomics office and the directory sets out clearly which genetic tests should be used for specific clinical indications, who should receive them, and how they are to be delivered. It is designed to ensure that patients receive the most appropriate test, in a timely way, and in the correct setting, reducing variation, avoiding duplication and supporting better clinical decision-making. The test directory's initial focus was specifically in the area of rare and inherited diseases, and now it is looking to expand the test to other specialties.  The test directory operates alongside the national genomic processing service, which was launched earlier this year. This is a centralised pre- and post-analytical service that manages sample processing and routing to quality assessed laboratories for genomic testing, as well as the return of associated reports, which then streamlines and accelerates the flow of samples and results. For families who have too often experienced delay and uncertainty, this represents an important step towards a more streamlined, predictable, and responsive diagnostic system, one that can shorten the diagnostic journey and bring clarity sooner in the lives of those who need it. We will continue to strive for timely diagnosis through improved care pathways and build our capacity in genetics and genomics.  I want to speak also about hope because hope is often what sustains families through the hardest moments. For people living with rare diseases, that hope is often tied to treatment, particularly in relation to orphan medicines. These are often newly developed, high-tech and high-cost treatments, with limited or emerging evidence. These are treatments that give people hope where it might not otherwise be found. Specific treatments have only been developed for a small proportion of rare diseases, which makes every advance significant. The national rare disease strategy recognises this reality. It clearly states that orphan medicines can offer hope where previously little existed, and it aligns with the programme for Government commitment to review options for earlier reimbursement of orphan medicinal products and to examine, which we are doing, early access schemes for rare diseases.  The Government recognises the importance of access to innovative medicines for patients in Ireland, especially for patients diagnosed with rare diseases. Annual public expenditure on medicines is now approaching \u20ac4 billion, which is an extraordinarily sizeable sum and a very significant investment by the State. Recent budgets have provided dedicated funding for new medicines, supporting the HSE in approving reimbursement for a substantial number of new medicines, including many medicines for rare diseases.  The recent framework agreements on the supply and pricing of medicines, finalised in March 2026, are designed to enable faster access to new innovative medicines, to strengthen security of supply, and to support a structured process towards a 180-day timeline for reimbursement decisions by quarter 1 of 2029. I want to thank all of the State representatives and pharmaceutical sector representatives who concluded this agreement because it is for the benefit of all of us that we have this measure of certainty for the next four years, particularly at a time of very difficult and changing geopolitical external circumstances.  Crucially, the State and the pharmaceutical sector also agreed to develop a piloted, early access programme for rare diseases, in line with the programme for Government commitment. That matters hugely. For families waiting for access, timelines are not abstract. They are measured not in months but in moments that matter to each person and each family. I am conscious that access to orphan medicines is complex. It necessarily involves questions of evidence because we are a country that is still determined to focus on science and scientific outcomes and evidence. It necessarily involves questions of evidence. It necessarily involves budget implications, sustainability and fairness across the health service. Those are practically impossible conditions to ask anybody to make decisions in and yet the people in our national centre for pharmacoeconomics are tasked with making exactly those decisions. I want to thank them for their work in making such complex and difficult decisions.  We are trying to improve the system responsibly, transparently and in a way that better serves patients. That is why I have now approved a comprehensive, end-to-end review of the entire medicines approval and reimbursement services, covering every stage, from initial assessment through to final patient access. That has now progressed to tender stage, with an anticipated completion timeframe of six to nine months, once the contract is awarded. The aim of the work is clear. It is to identify where delays in our processes arise, where our processes can be streamlined and how we can ensure that decisions are made as efficiently and transparently as possible, while maintaining the necessary rigorous clinical and value assessments. I want to be clear that it is up to us to be disciplined in our processes but it is also the responsibility of the pharmaceutical companies that have developed these medicines to make the applications to us in a timely and complete way so that people know that we are able to assess them. That is not always the case. Sometimes the fault is on our side and sometimes it is on theirs. What we are trying to do is make sure that our processes are as robust and tight as possible in every way to make sure we are discharging our obligation and responsibility to get the medicines we can get that are evidence based and that we can sustain for people who need them.  The framework agreement we reached, the early access, the commitment to the move towards a 180-day reimbursement timeline and partnership and urgency from all parties can translate into faster, fairer access to orphan medicines for those who need them most. This is exceptionally important to me my Department and I know to every person in this House.  I am very conscious of the advocacy of individuals and families whose lives have been affected by rare diseases. Some of those have been very topical and in the news because of European Medicine Agency, EMA, approval for certain drugs. Many of those drugs are not available across Europe at the moment. It is very much a country-by-country experience at the moment. I am conscious, in particular, of those people whose lives are affected Friedreich\u2019s ataxia, a rare genetic neurological condition. I know that many Deputies may raise access to treatment for this condition today, and I want to respond carefully and respectfully. I met many of the families and many of the people suffering from Friedreich's ataxia, privately and in the audiovisual room briefing. I was very glad to have the opportunity to meet those patients, as I have had the opportunity to meet other patients.  Skyclarys has been authorised at European level for Friedreich\u2019s ataxia. In Ireland, as with other medicines, any decision on reimbursement must follow the statutory pricing and reimbursement process I have just described. The National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics carried out a rapid review and recommended a full health-technology assessment to consider the clinical effectiveness and cost effectiveness of the medicine. That application remains under active consideration by the HSE. The discussions and the information received and the timing is all of real interest - of course, it is - to all of the patients and their families. Again, I would reference my earlier comments about the need for both parties to provide all the relevant information at an early stage. The application remains under active consideration and I cannot discuss commercial negotiations, which are confidential to the State and would prejudice all us were I to do so. Please forgive me that I am not able to go further in my remarks than this.  I want to emphasise that, as Minister for Health, I do not necessarily have a role in pricing and reimbursement decisions. We have created our political institutions to be robust and independent. We have given protection to scientists making these decisions in our collective interest. We have increased access to medicines because of the processes that we have put our confidence in. That will generate many good days and it may also generate difficult days but we have to continue to believe in a system that is based on science and that has served us well so far. The decisions are made by the HSE under the 2013 Act, which Deputies are familiar with. They are informed by clinical, economic, budgetary and other relevant considerations. No reimbursement decision has yet been made on Skyclarys.  I really understand that for families this sort of process language can feel very distant from the reality of living with a progressive condition. I also understand the frustration when a medicine has been authorised at European level but has not yet completed the national reimbursement process. I discussed this with my colleagues in Luxembourg on Tuesday last. We talked about the difficulties that many countries, particularly small ones, are facing in this regard. This drug is not authorised or available right across the EU. It is different in every country. However, the issue more broadly is about access to drugs and companies making applications for drugs that have been approved by the EMA and to be able to be the sort of market that can attract and fund applications is really difficult for many of us. I still feel that many of the European countries are working - not deliberately against each other as such - in a vacuum of information because of the confidential pricing structure that in many cases gives all of the information to the company and not to the European states that might work better in partnership. We really need to reflect on this.  As I said, authorisation and reimbursement are at different stage right across Europe in relation to this medication and other medications.  I have asked my officials to continue to engage very closely with the HSE on the progression of all rare disease medicines through the reimbursement pathway while respecting the statutory independence of the HSE\u2019s decision-making process and protecting the independence of the scientists involved. I fully understand the extreme difficultly for families. That is why the wider programme for Government commitments on orphan medicines, reimbursement timelines and early access are so important. We must improve access responsibly, fairly and transparently while ensuring that decisions are evidence based, science based and sustainable for the health service as a whole.  We are beginning to see tangible progress in individual conditions. One example is Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a rare, progressive and life-limiting condition that affects boys and young men and on which families have advocated. I was pleased to have the opportunity to meet some of the patients and families who were waiting for a reimbursement decision following EMA approval last June. I am pleased to say that the medicine givinostat was recently recommended for reimbursement by the HSE\u2019s drugs group and was approved by the HSE senior leadership team just this week. It represents a positive step forward, not only for those directly affected, but for what it demonstrates more broadly. I thank the HSE for the speed with which it acted in relation to this at health technology assessment, HTA, level, at rapid review level and at every other stage of this process. Where the decision or process was with the HSE, it acted with real speed.  In order to get this application made in Ireland, I had to ask the Italian health minister not once, but twice, to encourage the Italian company to make the application in Ireland. The Taoiseach had to ask Prime Minister Meloni to encourage the Italian company to make the application in Ireland. That was a real barrier and we were trying to do our best within it. I hope that the genuine efforts we are trying to make within the constraints of companies making applications within Ireland is reflected honestly to patients, both as regards givinostat and the other medication, Skyclarys. It shows the drive and resolve of the HSE in terms of making these decisions very quickly and not adding to the time it takes to get access to important medicines.  I want to reflect that we are seeing important developments at a European level that will help shape access to medicines for people with diseases, in particular rare diseases. The reform of the EU pharmaceutical legislation, often referred to as the EU pharma package, is the most significant overhaul of the sector in 20 years and has a clear focus on access to safe, effective and affordable medicines. We are trying to actively see how we can partner with other member states to make us a more attractive market for pharmaceutical companies for new and innovative drugs.  For orphan medicines, we are trying to strengthen incentives for innovation while encouraging faster and more consistent availability of treatments. That complements wider European work on critical medicines, biotechnology, life sciences and clinical trials, and it reinforces our own national efforts. With the European Presidency, I will be president of the European health Council and Ireland will hold the pen to make as much progress as possible in relation to medical devices regulations and the biotechnology Act, as well as progressing the trilogues with the European Parliament on the biotech directive.  With the Minister, Peter Burke, I have just from four hours of meetings this morning with the life sciences and pharmaceutical sector to work out how we can do better at bringing the innovation that is developed in Ireland to patients in Ireland through the life sciences strategy and other ways. We really are trying. However, it is important that people understand that, by virtue of our small market size, Ireland is not always prioritised by pharmaceutical companies launching new medicines. We benefit from working with like-minded states such as through the Beneluxa initiative. Beneluxa plays a role in member states\u2019 shared priority of securing access to high-cost, innovative treatments in an affordable way while respecting the national competencies of pricing and reimbursement.  We have been working closely on the initiative on horizon scanning, health technology assessments, information sharing and policy exchanges but there is a great deal more we can do in streamlining European processes. We have had some success through the Beneluxa initiative already, for example, the reimbursement of Libmeldy, and we will continue to progress that.  We can speak later to research but the treatment of rare diseases is increasingly recognised internationally as a core health policy. The World Health Assembly adopted its first ever resolution on rare diseases in 2025. Ireland is supportive of that. We need a much stronger European environment drawing together all of the different aspects of the EU health and life sciences plan. This can help us get drugs to people who need it.  I started with people and I want to end with people. All of my officials and all of the people in the HSE are just people as well, cognisant of the impact of the decisions, access and speed at which we work on the lives of people with rare diseases. We are here to do everything we can to try to maintain our science- and sustainability-based system and to deliver for the people whom we know need the help we can try to get them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan)  I now call Deputy Cullinane. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  I want to start by commending the Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach and the role he has played in campaigning for better supports for patients with rare diseases.  Rare diseases affect more people than many realise. A rare disease is defined broadly as a life-long or life-threatening condition affecting no more than one in 2,000 people, which essentially means a condition that affects no more than 3,500 people on our island. Taken individually, these conditions are rare. Taken together, they affect one in 20 people across Ireland. This means hundreds of thousands of people, parents, children, carers and families whose lives are shaped by conditions that too often the health service is not properly equipped to understand, diagnose, treat or support. For those families, rare disease is not an abstract policy area; it is daily life. The shortcomings and successes of the health service and medical research define their lived experience.  This too often manifests as a long wait for a diagnosis, if one ever comes; long distance travel across the country and abroad to find a suitable expert; and fighting for access to scans, therapies, medicines, educational supports, home supports, disability services, mental health supports and, at times, medical cards. Parents and families become case managers, counsellors, researchers, advocates and campaigners because the State has not put the right supports in place for these communities. People living with rare diseases face that on top of the same capacity problems, waiting lists and delays in physical and mental health services that we know exist right across the board.  The publication of the rare disease strategy was, therefore, a very important and welcome step. It is a long overdue strategy and is essential for realising earlier diagnosis, care co-ordination, registries, research, access to medicines and harnessing the capacity of the health service and medical research to improve lives. The test will be in the implementation and delivery of measurable progress. A second test will be whether the HSE and the health and social care trusts in the North can genuinely come together to maximise access to care and expertise, given that we are talking about very small groups of patients who will be better served if we optimise services through all-island delivery.  Awareness is the first challenge. Rare disease patients are too often met by a system that has no or limited knowledge of their conditions, where to refer them or how to support them. This means that symptoms can be missed, referrals delayed and families left scrambling for answers. Earlier diagnosis will require better awareness across primary care, emergency care, paediatrics, adult services and community services. It also requires investment in genetics and genomics, which the Minster mentioned, genetic counselling, laboratory capacity, data systems and specialist workforce planning. We cannot promise earlier diagnosis without building the capacity to deliver it.  Care networks are just as important. Patients should not have to rely on luck, personal advocacy or overseas contacts to access expertise. Care pathways must be strengthened. We need proper clinical links, referral routes, shared learning and all-island co-operation to maximise the capacity and expertise shared across our health services for these very small groups of patients. For some very rare conditions, the number of patients is so small that collaboration across Ireland, across Europe and between specialist centres is essential. Complex rare disease cases should have accessible key workers who can manage them.  The time and emotional burden of a rare disease is enormous. Families should not be left to manage it all by themselves and to co-ordinate appointments, therapies, medicines, travel, disability supports, social protection supports, school supports and home care on their own.  I want to talk about access to medicines for rare diseases because it is an area that needs to be reformed. The Minister mentioned givinostat and Skyclarys. Delays in this area have an impact on patients. I think we all accept there must be a process to protect the taxpayer and secure value for money and, of course, the independence of it and the scientific underpinning but the current reimbursement process is not designed properly for rare diseases. Applying the same cost-effectiveness model used for common medicines creates predictable delays and unfair outcomes because that system is not suitable for assessing orphan drugs. It is not good enough to tell people with rare diseases that they are too expensive to help. Ireland needs a dedicated, timebound reform of the rare disease medicines pathway. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy R\u00e9ada Cronin  I welcome the opportunity to speak about rare diseases today. One of my constituents has a rare disease and is a great advocate. Today, I wish to speak about a condition that affects thousands of people across Ireland, yet remains widely misunderstood and too often invisible, and that is neurofibromatosis, NF.  Neurofibromatosis is classified as a rare disease. It is a genetic disorder that causes tumours to grow on nerves anywhere on the body. These tumours are usually benign but their impact is anything but. This can lead to chronic pain, disfigurement, hearing and vision loss, mobility issues, learning difficulties and, in some cases, life-threatening complications. As NF varies so wildly from person to person, no two journeys look the same. Despite the seriousness of this condition, neurofibromatosis remains under-recognised and under-resourced within our health service.  For those with the condition, one of the biggest obstacles to care is delayed diagnosis, and many families spend years trying to obtain that diagnosis. If they do eventually get it, access to specialist care is extremely limited. An early diagnosis is essential for issues such as medical management, psychological care and educational supports. Of equal concern is that there is no neurofibromatosis centre in Ireland, meaning patients rely on fragmented services spread across multiple hospitals and healthcare settings. Children may receive good paediatric support but once they turn 18, they face many difficulties in accessing the care they need. Adults with NF struggle to access neurologists, psychologists and pain and other specialists who understand their condition.  Over the years, I have submitted many questions in regard to all these areas and I hope the Minister will continue to work with me on this issue so we can provide better services for those who are affected. I had two children in with me on work experience last year, Paul and Charlotte, twins who both suffer from NF. They were a joy to have in the office for the few days. Their two younger siblings, Rafael and Roman-Jean, also have NF, as does their mam, Gillian. Gillian lives in Maynooth and she really is a great advocate in campaigning to get a neurofibromatosis centre in Ireland.  We talked about orphan drugs. I often feel very sorry for the man who goes out on \"Prime Time\" to explain why they cannot cover this drug or the delay, particularly when drug companies make so much money. When you think about the people and the scientists who work in those laboratories, they are not doing it for the money; they are doing it for the recognition and because there is a drive in them. It is really important that we financially support the research into this. Maybe it is for legacy that they want to do it but they do want our interest. The motivation is not always money but they do need the support. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan  I strongly welcome this debate on rare diseases. Only last week, I had the privilege of welcoming young adults living with Friedreich's ataxia, FA, to Leinster House. Tragically, they are waiting and watching their conditions deteriorate rapidly, not due to the lack of medical progress but due to what I can only call administrative neglect by the HSE. Skyclarys is a breakthrough drug for those over 16 with FA. It is widely used across European public health systems, yet it remains out of reach here. These families have now endured nearly 700 days of anguish waiting for the HSE to decide on the reimbursement.  The paperwork was submitted ahead of the deadline for the last meeting. The families have proof but the HSE's response was that while it was submitted on time, it was not opened until after the deadline, and it was, therefore, excluded. What kind of underhand carry-on is this? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  That is just not true. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan  Can the HSE simply shut its eyes and pretend it saw nothing? Then we had the Taoiseach stand up here last week and give a different date, adding insult to injury for families already at breaking point. There is no accountability on that side of the House.  I have spoken to Emily's family throughout this week. They are devastated. Once again, they have been kicked in the teeth and kicked to the back of the queue. As a mother of four young lads, I find it crippling to see what these parents endure watching their children's health decline while the HSE drags its feet. No parent should have to fight this hard for their child's treatment.  Just this week, they got more bad news. The specialist clinic recommended annual visits but, due to resource shortages, it only sees the patients every 18 months. This has now been pushed from August to October. Friedreich's ataxia places immense strain on the heart. Emily's cardiac check-up is now delayed far beyond clinical recommendations. That is simply not acceptable. We need adequate resources for these combined ataxia clinics immediately and we need the Taoiseach to correct the D\u00e1il record on what he said last week and acknowledge the profound hurt he has caused those with FA and their families. They deserve better. They deserve action and they deserve it now.  When is the next HSE drug group meeting and will they be included on it? If Skyclarys cannot be introduced fast enough, can there be an interim access where they can get it, whether it is through Europe or if there is another way? Every minute, as the Minister knows, it is debilitating for them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Ward might indulge me for a moment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  Go ahead, a Cheann Comhairle. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The tours are on, and I wish to welcome the members of Rosslare Harbour Women's Shed who have come to visit us today and are in the Gallery. They are most welcome. I call Deputy Mark Ward. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I welcome the women's shed here as well. My family now lives in Wexford as well. My father is in the men's shed in Gorey and he loves it down there. Thank you, a Cheann Comhairle.  I am delighted to have the opportunity to talk about rare diseases. I have been contacted by many residents in my area about Duchenne muscular dystrophy. As the Minister knows, Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a severe, progressive genetic disorder that weakens muscles and affects around 100 children in Ireland. Two of those children are in my area. They are brothers Conor and Dean from Lucan. They are nine and ten years of age. I met with their parents, Karen and Jamie, as they fought to secure life-saving treatment for their two beautiful boys. They were campaigning for their boys to have access to the drug givinostat. Givinostat is not available for Duchenne muscular dystrophy in the Republic of Ireland despite being available across the North. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  It is available, since yesterday. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I was at a recent briefing in Leinster House and listened to families affected by Duchenne muscular dystrophy. I cannot say there was one person who left that briefing, across the parties, who was not affected listening to the real-life stories of these families' struggles in trying to get this lifesaving drug. I thank every person who contacted, rang or emailed me or called to my constituency offices in relation to this. There has been progress and I welcome the Minister's comments in relation to the progress. I accept the struggles she had with other jurisdictions in trying to get this across the board so that is to be welcomed as well.  While it is welcome, we still have a bit to go. What I would like to see happening is that the next step in this process is not delayed. In fact, I would like to see the next step in this process prioritised so that the drug givinostat gets to the children who need it. Families should not have to watch their children lose abilities while waiting for access to treatment that already exists. Lost abilities cannot be recovered.  As we heard directly from parents, \"time is muscle\". They are some of the most poignant three words I have ever heard in any briefing from anybody - \"time is muscle\". Every day these children are waiting for this life-changing medication, their children's muscles are literally wasting away.  Parents and campaigners also want to see equal access to the drug for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Campaigners want to see that the eligibility criteria for givinostat are aligned with the UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, NICE, approach, ensuring access for boys who can walk or stand with or without support.  They are looking for the same criteria that is there so that boys in the South are not disadvantaged over boys in the North and everybody receives equal access to care.  I will finish up on a small point. We are talking about early diagnosis and how it is key for early intervention. I speak as a person who is living with multiple sclerosis. I often say I am not living with multiple sclerosis but multiple sclerosis is living with me - and God love it. However, it took me a long time to get to that place. I know it is not a rare disease and there are about 10,000 people living with multiple sclerosis in Ireland but it took me a long time to get diagnosed. I was waiting to get diagnosed and get the treatment I needed. The treatment provided by the HSE is absolutely brilliant. The neurology service in Tallaght is absolutely fantastic. If you can get early intervention for no matter what it is, it makes a big difference. The access to public health nurses in Dublin Mid-West needs to be looked at. There are children who are not getting their full developmental checks and that is something we could look at as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  It is welcome that the issue of rare diseases is on the political agenda. It has been neglected for far too long. In a large part, it is thanks to the advocacy of parents and families as well as political allies within the system here. Members of the health committee, including Deputy O'Sullivan and Senator Teresa Costello, have raised this issue consistently. One of the things I find quite difficult as a health spokesperson is the fact we are constantly hearing from families and individuals who have to come to Leinster House and who have to campaign to get access to medication. We are talking about people who are sick, who have deteriorating diseases and who have limited energy. I do not think that energy or time should have to be spent campaigning, advocating and pushing the political system into reform. It is something we need to reflect on and try to achieve change for people, so that families, young people and people with rare diseases can live their lives to the full and not have to spend their time and energy campaigning and advocating for progress on these issues. Any real reform of services and reimbursement processes would be far more beneficial than anything that is said in this House in terms of statements. That is what is crucially important to families.  Last August, the new rare diseases strategy was finally published but it should not have taken seven years for a new strategy to be published. The previous strategy expired in 2018. Such an extensive gap without any guiding services or rare diseases policy is unacceptable and cannot be repeated again. Equally, we cannot afford a repeat of the failure to implement all of the recommendations from the last plan. It is one thing publishing a plan but ensuring it is implemented is something entirely different and the latter should be our focus. We see this across the board. In this State, we have implementation deficit disorder when it comes to many of the State's strategies and plans. Too often, they gather dust on the shelves of Government Departments instead of being implemented in full.  I accept that this time around with rare diseases, an implementation oversight group has been established and that is certainly welcome. We need to see an implementation plan published that will outline the necessary actions required to achieve the strategy's recommendations. That must have timelines and funding commitments. That is crucially important for all of our strategies, in that they are time-bound and within the budget and there are the resources and funding to make sure the actions happen. Otherwise, we will not see progress. The programme for Government committed to publishing a new rare diseases strategy and that has been delivered. However, other commitments remain outstanding. The first is a review of the entire reimbursement process. A year and a half into the Government's term, that work is just beginning. I understand the tender details were only approved at the beginning of this month. We were told that this review, once commenced, would take about six months but given past performance, there are serious question marks on the timeline. Mazars, which carried out the previous reimbursement process review, was tasked with that job in 2019 but it was 2023 - four years later - before the long overdue report was published.  Rare Diseases Ireland has raised concerns about the next review, given how little change the last review brought about. I can completely understand these concerns. Rare disease patients have already waited long enough and many do not have the luxury of time. More immediate action is required - not more delays. The current reimbursement process is failing patients, in particular patients with rare diseases. They should not have to campaign tirelessly to progress decisions on orphan drugs or need to lobby Government and Opposition to reform the reimbursement process. This is a heavy burden which the rare disease community should not have to carry. Take for, example, the children who have Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Last week, they finally received the good news that the HSE drug group recommended givinostat for reimbursement but they have had to campaign tirelessly and fight to get to that stage, all the while watching the symptoms progress. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  That is just not true. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  If I picked the Minister up right, I understand the HSE leadership has signed off on that. We want to know when drugs will be in the hands of patients. For those boys, every day without treatment means further loss of muscle functions. Some boys who were able to walk a year ago have since lost that ability. It is heartbreaking for parents to watch as their children's symptoms progress, losing their independence and mobility, especially when effective medications exist. It is also crucial that the eligibility criteria for givinostat mirrors that of the North. Across the Border, treatment is available to boys who can walk and stand with or without support. The same must apply in this jurisdiction.  At the same time, people living with Freidrich's ataxia, FA, are still waiting for a decision on Skyclarys. This is the first and only treatment for around 200 people in Ireland living with this progressive and life shortening disease. It is those living with rare diseases and their loved ones who are forced to fight for access to treatment. Skyclarys has been shown to markedly improve neurological function in those with FA and they are still waiting for access. Their illness is not waiting; it is progressing every day. I understand an application for Skyclarys was submitted in August 2024, which is almost two years ago. What happened to the 180 day timeline for decisions? That obligation on the HSE is set down in legislation and yet, it is rarely met.  I have been pursuing progress on the application for quite some time and have been repeatedly been told by the Minister that the HSE cannot comment on negotiations with pharmaceutical companies. I accept this but I do not accept the delays and the process is the problem. That is what we need to look at. We now know the HSE received a commercial proposal on 27 May and are waiting for the HSE drug group to make a recommendation. This must be prioritised and should be on the agenda for the HSE drug group meeting. That meeting should be scheduled without delay. The prospect of further delays cannot be countenanced and for people with FA, every delay means abilities lost and independence reduced.  This is not just about some rare disease conditions or some treatments. We need to improve the system for everybody who has a rare disease. Otherwise, the same issues and delays will continue to occur. It is entirely predictable. We should not be putting any more patients with rare diseases and their loved ones through this. We need a system that works and this is particularly important when it comes to orphan drugs. We are still waiting for real progress on the programme for Government's commitment and the rare diseases strategy recommendations on an early access scheme for new medications for rare diseases. Ireland is an outlier in Europe for not having an early access scheme place. Yet, our Government has only just begun looking at this with a pilot initiative in development.  Where is the sense of urgency? People with rare diseases need action now and, more importantly, greater access to innovative new medicines, like their counterparts across Europe. Without a specific system for orphan drugs, people with rare diseases will continue to have to protest outside the gates of Leinster House and tell their stories over and over again. This should not be necessary. People with rare diseases have enough to contend with without the emotional and physical toll of consistently having to fight for treatments and reforms of the system.  I welcome the news on European co-operation on these issues and the opportunities with the European Presidency to have greater co-operation across Europe on this. I would also like to briefly speak about the newborn screening programme, which was recently extended to include severe combined immunodeficiency, SCID and spinal muscular atrophy, SMA. This expansion of the programme was approved by the previous Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, in 2023 and yet, it took three years to implement. This is despite the fact that funding was approved in 2024 to operationalise these additions. The previous Minister had said it will be rolled out by the end of 2024. That is simply not good enough. Additions to the newborn screening programme must be prioritised. This is made very clear in the rare disease strategy. The primary focus of the screening programme is to identify babies with rare conditions and improve outcomes. Early intervention can prevent the onset of disease symptoms or delay disease progression, improving the quality of life of newborns. According to the rare disease strategy, screening can be used for up to 50 rare diseases but Ireland still only screens for 11 conditions.  While I accept there is considerable variation across Europe, Ireland lags behind the European average of screening for 18 conditions. As of last year, Italy was top of the pack by screening for 48 conditions. That was followed by Austria screening for 31 conditions and Portugal screening for 30. Clearly, Ireland has some distance to go if it wants to be a leader in this area and that should be our aim. I understand that HIQA is currently examining the potential addition of congenital adrenal hyperplasia, CAH, and a further three conditions will be considered following that. It is welcome that we are now seeing movement in this area. However, we cannot allow another three year window between announcement and rollout if these conditions are approved.  I draw the Minister's attention to a survey conducted by Rare Disease Ireland earlier this year. In it, 60% of respondents were found to be pessimistic about the potential impact of the rare disease strategy to improve lives. That should give the Minister pause for thought. Almost a year on from publication, one thing is sure; it has not been a great start. People with rare diseases are continuing to be left behind by the system and this cannot go on. The second year of this strategy must deliver real change. People with rare diseases cannot wait any longer.  As I was saying at the start, we find ourselves in the House making statements on the important issues,but not progressing on the reforms that are so badly needed. We should focus our time, energy and efforts in this Parliament on actually achieving change. I welcome the acceleration of legislation from the Department of Health. We got the legislation yesterday. However, we need to see more of that, more legislative reform across the board in the area of heath, and to see real change. That is what makes a big difference for people and families. It is not speeches in the D\u00e1il that change lives for people; it is the work of real reform, improving services, improving access to drugs and changing legislation that has the real impact on people's lives. If we are going to have a Parliament that works better, that should be our priority. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank Deputy Rice. Before I call the next Member, I wish to welcome, from my own village of Ramsgrange, the group Blokes With Cameras. They have had a few women join them today and they are all most welcome. I now call Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan  I think it was five weeks ago the T\u00e1naiste suggested we do these statements and I commend him for that. I thank the Minister for being here. We have had many a discussion over the 18 months since the Minister was appointed. I wish to start by commending her. She has showed an awful lot of interest in this area since she has taken up office; far more, than many of her predecessors of the ten or 15 years prior, I might add. I commend her for that. The news of the review was kind of lost last week with the whole reimbursement or the positive recommendation of givinostat, which was obviously very welcome. It is not fully there but it is a positive recommendation nonetheless. What got lost in that was that the Minister had started this end-to-end review. This was a programme for Government commitment, as she alluded to in her speech and it is something that I and colleagues in my party have long asked for. We chased, harassed and harried our previous colleague, Stephen Donnelly, in relation to such a review and could not get it over the line. I genuinely give the Minister honest praise for that. It is appreciated by the families concerned at the centre of these campaigns.  I do not want to repeat a lot of what was said. We all have constituency clinics and meet patient groups and people who have these rare diseases. They rank amongst the hardest stories I have listened to in my seven years up here. Many people will be familiar with Friedreich's ataxia, which I know the Minister obviously cannot speak about today in any great detail. The heartbreaking stories of those families and individuals such as Craig Coady and Emily Felix have been referenced here, as have those of many people we have brought into the House. What those people have to go through is dehumanising in a way. They have not had the best luck in the world with the disease they were diagnosed with, and to compound that further we have a system that unfortunately nearly encourages them to go on \"Prime Time\", \"The Claire Byrne Show\" and come in here and bare their souls to us and to the nation. To me that is fundamentally wrong, but, nonetheless, they felt they had to do it.  I am heartened in the last few weeks with the progress on givinostat, as I have said. I am not the most religious person in the world but I am saying prayers every night before I go to bed in relation to the Skyclarys drug, which, despite what was said earlier, will be at the next drugs group meeting in July. There is also an attempt to bring that meeting forward. It is incredibly difficult.  I am encouraged by the Minister's words on this review when she stated that:  The aim of this work is clear: to identify where delays arise, where processes can be streamlined, and how we can ensure that decisions are made as efficiently and transparently as possible, while maintaining the necessary rigorous clinical and value assessments.  That is fine. That is good. We have already had the transparency piece answered by Mazars. Mazars was a bit of a letdown for me and for many other people involved in the campaigns over the years. It solely and exclusively dealt with transparency. It has achieved an awful lot in that regard, but the challenge is around the process. Back in 2021, I published a Bill which would provide a separate pathway, like other people have referenced here. I do not think any system - I referenced this when I was on \"The Claire Byrne Show\" recently - that assesses a cough syrup or a medicine for migraines should be the same one that is used for these high-tech drugs. It makes no sense. The implementation of a quality threshold per quality-adjusted life-year added is \u20ac45,000. We know these drugs are going to cost in excess of that. Again, adherence to that in the assessment needs to be reviewed. I will not give the Minister a lecture about it because the review will be the review and she will have all the professionals in the country feeding into it. I do hope it differs from Mazars and that it provides a meaningful review and not something tokenistic. Mazars was the provision of an online transparency tracker and that was kind of it. If it is tokenistic like that, then unfortunately it will not have my support. However, I am optimistic because the Minister has approached this in a very forthright manner and, as such, I hope this will be a fruitful review.  I get very frustrated listening to people from within the Department of Health appearing on radio and TV justifying delays. As the Minister rightfully said, in the case of givinostat, she was able to knock heads together, reduce timelines and get people around the table. That did cut some of the waiting times in comparison with other medicines. The biggest delay in the system is the health technology assessment, HTA, and the negotiation piece, and there is nothing to stop us having that negotiation piece while people are accessing medicines. That can happen retrospectively and that also needs to be looked at as part of any review. It happens in other countries. There is also the possibility of burden-sharing and risk-sharing with drugs. Again, I hope that will feed into the review. Many other countries do it. If a drug is effective, then a company can get reimbursed. If a drug is provided and it is not effective, the company gets a reduced amount or does not get reimbursed at all. Schemes like that need to be looked at because the fundamental thing here is to try to get medicines to people as quickly as possible. However, my concern is that the argument of the rare disease drugs and the new cancer drugs is getting lost in that \u20ac4 billion. The new drugs budget typically ranges from between \u20ac20 million and \u20ac50 million per annum over the last few years. I am saying it and nobody has contradicted me. If the Minister has evidence to the contrary, I would like to see it or hear it. That represents less than 1% of the total drugs budget and for me that is not a meaningful apportionment of the existing drugs funding that is there. If clarity could be brought to me on that, I would appreciate it.  I wish to speak about the delays. Yes, the HSE is to blame for some of the delays. Probably more often, drug manufacturers are to blame. That needs to be acknowledged. It also needs to be acknowledged that many manufacturers do not want to come here not just because it is a small market but because they know they are going to feed into a system that will, as was alluded to earlier, take between five and 800 days in going through a HTA predominantly and a reimbursement process that is not fit for purpose. I do not blame them if they go to Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia. We are not talking here about France, Italy and big countries. We understand why manufacturers go to those bigger markets, but there are other smaller countries across Europe which have a higher proportion of reimbursed drugs than we do. That is a fact. The number increased recently. I acknowledge that we have reimbursed the bones of 50 drugs, give or take, over the last three years, which was a dramatic increase on the previous decade. However, it must also be said that only 30% of all EMA-approved drugs in Europe are available here, compared with an EU average of 45% or thereabouts. Even on that 15%, if we could just get ourselves on a par with our European counterparts we would be setting the bar quite high. I would like to see that happen.  The reason I became involved in rare diseases six years ago is that I met a constituent and supporter of mine who was diagnosed with a disease called amyloidosis. It was a very rare genetic disease that predominately affected people in Donegal. This poor man below in Cork, due to his genetic history, was unfortunately diagnosed with it. That is how I became involved with it. We lobbied for a drug called patisiran at the time and we were successful in that. However, as I said at the start, I think it is dehumanising, whether it is amyloidosis, Friedreich's ataxia or Duchenne muscular dystrophy.  It is dehumanising that we put people on that platform. I call it Groundhog Day. As I said to the Minister's colleague Deputy Aird when he first approached me about a constituent of his, this is just going to be repeated. All of the eggs are in the basket of this review. When this review is done, it will probably be the last attempt at a review for the next five or ten years. I really do hope it is meaningful and thorough.  I will leave it on a positive note. I complimented the Minister at the start. She has gone above and beyond. She has met people privately in a personal capacity. She has met the families who are at the core of it. She said that the whole thing here is to provide hope. I know she has children. I also have children. Most people in this Chamber today have children. I always put myself in the position of their parents when they are fighting for these medicines and treatments. We would do anything for our children. Everybody in here would. We cannot blame the parents who are involved in these campaigns for doing the same. All the eggs are in the basket of this review. I hope there will be a positive outcome in the next six to nine months that gives people real hope. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  I have spoken to the Minister about Paudie Coady. He is 16 years old and has been diagnosed with Friedreich's ataxia. His brother passed away from the same condition last year. It is a terminal condition. It is unbelievable that his father, Craig, has buried one son, has another son who is dying and that his wife is now in care because she has Huntington's disease. I cannot even get my mind around the tragedy facing this family. I know why Craig gets up every day. He gets up every day because he wants to do his very best for Paudie and for his wife.  There is now a drug that can reduce Paudie's symptoms, give him a longer life and improve his quality of life. I have spoken to the Minister and to the Taoiseach and other people have raised this issue in here in respect of different people. Paudie can walk for about ten minutes. He can go to school and can just about go on a holiday. He can do a few things. He is looking at his friends growing into big strong men while he declines. Paudie should be given access to the drug Skyclarys under the compassionate access programme. We know this drug would have a huge positive effect on Paudie's quality of life. I know the Minister is a compassionate woman. She is a compassionate Minister. We need to make this drug available to Paudie on an exceptional basis. The Minister has the power to do this. It has happened in other European countries. Will the Minister talk to the Department about approving the drug under the compassionate access programme to give Paudie a longer life and a better quality of life? I know we are all going to die but this child is going to die and there is a drug that could really help.  I spoke to Craig, Paudie's father, a while ago. He feels that those in the Government who have met with him have been genuinely sympathetic and supportive. I do not want to dismiss that here. I do not want to make politics of this. However, at the end of the day, the Minister has this ability under the compassionate access programme. No family or child should be denied hope because of money issues. I sincerely ask the Minister to consider this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  It is important to say that I do not have that power. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Minister says that she does not have that power. She can address the issue later. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  The power is there. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  I welcome this opportunity to speak on rare diseases. I spoke on the issue in the previous D\u00e1il. I do not think I have spoken about it in the current D\u00e1il. It has been said many times that, although rare diseases are classified as rare, we all probably know somebody who has one because one in 17 people in the country, a total of 300,000 people, have a rare disease. It is a very difficult issue to talk about. The system to approve medicines in this country has been poor. It has resulted in medicines that are available to sufferers of rare diseases under the public system in other countries, including some medicines I will discuss in a few moments and that others have already mentioned, taking longer to get to the people who need them in Ireland. I know the Minister and her predecessor have worked to change that. We need to make progress to expedite the system and to ensure that we get the best drugs in the world into treatment programmes for people in this country who have rare diseases.  I take this opportunity praise the families of those children living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Their tenacity in fighting for their children is unbelievably admirable and we are glad to have met so many of them in recent years. I acknowledge the work of Senator Teresa Costello and my colleague Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan, who has been steadfast in his work and advocacy for sufferers during all his time in the D\u00e1il. I will also mention the former TD, Denis Naughten, who did a great deal of work over many years. I am so glad for those children living with DMD that the HSE drugs group has recommended reimbursement. It is now imperative that those children get access to this drug as soon as is practicable.  At the core of this fight was the sheer length of time it took for this medicine to be considered and to go through the assessment process for reimbursement following EMA approval. I am sure that all of us in this House, including the Minister, agree that the process needs to be reformed. Our health spokesperson, Deputy Marie Sherlock, wrote to the Minister more than a year ago about access to this medicine. While it might have been given approval faster than other medicines, it was still too slow, taking far beyond 180 days. This is especially so as it had been made clear that these children simply did not have time on their side. As a result, some young people living with DMD will unfortunately not be able to benefit from this very welcome decision. It would be good to hear from the Minister and the HSE senior leadership team as when the drug will be formally approved - that may have been done; I am not sure of the timelines - and when these families can expect this medicine.  I will raise, as others have, Skyclarys and the treatment of Friedreich's ataxia, a rare neurodegenerative disorder that progresses very quickly, resulting in neurological decline, the loss of bodily function, mobility and independence, and ultimately death. Approximately 200 people in Ireland have Friedreich's ataxia. I know the Minister met some of them earlier this year. Skyclarys is the only approved treatment for this condition. It was approved by the EMA in February 2024 and is available in many states across the EU. As yet, it is not publicly available in Ireland. An application was lodged here in August 2024. A constituent of my colleague Deputy Sherlock has told us that she and others are losing hope. People she knows have lost the ability to stand upright, to walk, to feed and dress themselves and to speak clearly. Just like those children with DMD, time is not on the side of those with Friedreich's ataxia. This person has said:  I am not asking for special treatment - just the fair treatment that patients in Germany, Italy, and many other European countries already receive. Please help to ensure that the \"National Rare Disease Strategy\" becomes a reality for those of us who cannot afford to wait any longer and, by doing so, provide access to this life-changing treatment.  The HSE drugs group needs to consider this medicine with the utmost urgency.  The reality that Irish patients cannot access many novel and innovative medicines that other citizens across the EU can is a let-down coming into our EU Presidency. We believe the EU Presidency presents a clear opportunity for the Minister and for Ireland with regard to the procurement of medicines, particularly orphan and innovative medicines. During the Covid pandemic, the EU proved how effective the collective procurement of treatments can be through its procurement of Covid vaccines. We must work to create a similar process for the procurement of medicines, particularly rare medicines, which can be costly for states with smaller populations to procure.  It has been well flagged to the Minister and to many of us here that the value-for-money or quality-adjusted life-year assessment needs to be looked at given the small number of patients with rare diseases, where there are treatments. Many innovative medicines struggle to meet this threshold. This needs to change. I welcome the recent announcement of a review into the reimbursement process. I hope this will consider my point regarding the quality-adjusted life-year assessment.  Rare disease patients can wait up to 722 days for decisions to be made on orphan medicines. This is far above the European average. I welcome the plan to a more structured approach of achieving a 180-day reimbursement decision. As the Marie Keating Foundation has stated, we must make the 180-day timeline a dependable standard as opposed to an aspiration. Ireland is now the only country in western Europe without a formal early access programme. We need to see the consideration and introduction of a compassionate early access programme. This is about recognising that for rare diseases, time is often not on the side of those with such diseases. In some cases, the earlier a medication is started, the more effective it can be in slowing illness progression down. The Minister has stated that she is working on this. We will support her in that regard.  While prostate cancer is certainly not a rare disease, I want to raise once again issues with accessing innovative medicines, which is certainly an issue that also relates to rare diseases. It comes down to access. It is the case that access to private medical treatment here can, in turn, grant access to medicines that one cannot get in the public system. The Minister will agree that this is utterly unfair. We accept the need for value for money, but we must demand equitable access to treatments. I reference Pluvicto, which is a medicine to treat men with metastasized prostate cancer. This is a matter I have previously raised with the Minister. The drug is not reimbursed by the HSE, yet a patient in, for example, the Mater Private Hospital can get access to it. The inequity is unacceptable. I ask that the Minister might at some stage provide an update on the HSE's engagement with the manufacturer in relation to this medicine.  In the context of other issues that we raise in the D\u00e1il, we sometimes can get a sense that a Minister or the Government do not quite get the issue or understand it. I do not think that is the case with rare diseases. The Minister and the Government understand the issue and the difficulties relating to it and are aware of what needs to be done. She will have our support if we are moving in the right direction. I hope that we do so. I hope that we can get the 180 days. I hope that people, especially children, with rare disease can get access to various novel medications that have been approved elsewhere as soon as possible. I hope that we do not have to have statements on rare diseases too often and that we can move forward. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Burke  Fourteen years ago in June 2012, the first meeting was held with the then Minister for Health, James Reilly, in Farmleigh House, when a whole lot of people involved in the area of rare diseases, including parents and different lobby groups, were brought together. That was the first that a serious effort was made to get everyone together in order to see how we could plan forward to deal with the many rare diseases that are there.  Rare diseases may be individually uncommon but, together, they affect 300,000 people and their families across Ireland. Behind every diagnosis is a child, parent, carer or an adult who is living with a condition that often requires specialist treatment, ongoing support and access to innovative medicines. The publication of Ireland's National Rare Disease Strategy 2025-2030 was an important step forward. The strategy provides a roadmap for more integrated person-centred care and recognises the unique challenges faced by those living with rare diseases. However, for many families, progress on paper has yet to translate into improvements in daily life. Recent findings from Rare Diseases Ireland are concerning. Four in ten respondents reported poor access to healthcare services. More than 40% rated their physical health as poor, while over one third reported poor mental well-being. Nearly four in ten families described their financial situation as poor due to medical costs, travel expenses and reduced income arising from their condition. More strikingly, only a small minority expressed optimism that the new strategy will improve their quality of life.  One area requiring urgent attention is access to orphan medicines. Currently, patients in Ireland wait, on average, more than 800 days between a medicine receiving market authorisation and becoming available to patients. This places Ireland among the poorest performers in the European Union and well behind the EU average. In 2018, I was involved in the health committee as regards producing a report on how we could speed up access to medicines. That report that has not been acted on. It is disappointing that some of the proposals set out in the report have not been followed through on. We must continue efforts to improve assessment processes, pricing negotiations and reimbursement pathways in order that effective treatments can reach patients more quickly. However, while these reforms are being pursued, we cannot ignore the immediate pressures facing families today.  The National Rare Disease Strategy 2025-2030 rightly recognises that the costs associated with rare disease diagnosis should be considered in medical card assessments. It also highlights the need for integrated care pathways, co-ordinated community supports, special services, respite care, psychological supports and smoother transitions from childhood to adult healthcare. These commitments must now be implemented with urgency. Families should not have to wait years for access to treatment while also struggling with financial hardship, travel costs and fragmented services. Our responsibility is not only to improve access to orphan medicines but also to ensure that every person living with a rare disease receives the support they need to live with dignity and security. The strategy provides the framework; we must now deliver on the action.  Going back to 2012, I was one of the only Oireachtas Members at the event in Farmleigh House. While a lot of progress has been made in 14 years, we need to expedite that progress in the next three to four years. We have medication in a lot of cases, but what is needed is access. It is important that we improve the process for making sure that the medication is available in a timely matter. I ask the Minister and the Department give priority to that matter. A lot of progress has been made. We need to make a lot more, but in a shorter timeframe. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Erin McGreehan  I very much welcome the opportunity to speak on rare diseases. An estimated 300,000 people in Ireland are living with rare diseases. For their families, the challenges are absolutely immense. Too many face long waits for diagnosis, fragmented care and difficulties accessing treatments that could significantly improve or extend their lives. While each rare disease may affect a small number of people, collectively, rare diseases affect one in 17 people in this country. This is not a niche issue; it is a national issue. The Oireachtas and the Government need to work together to make sure that there is a national response.  I welcome the National Rare Disease Strategy 2025-2030 and the commitment to improving diagnosis, care, research and access to medicines. Strategies alone do not change lives, however. Patients need to see real and tangible improvements.  One of the greatest frustrations for patients is that scientific advances are moving faster than our ability to deliver such advances to the people who need them. Ireland is a global leader in pharmaceutical innovation. We manufacture some of the most advance medicines in the world. We are rightly proud of the jobs this creates, the investment it attracts and the contribution the sector makes to our economy. There is a desperate contradiction at the heart of our system that we cannot continue to ignore. The medicines are developed here. The innovations happen here. Our researchers, scientists and healthcare professionals are helping to drive breakthroughs that are changing lives across the world. Our economy benefits enormously from that innovation. Too often, however, Irish patients are upon the last to benefit. We have seen this recently in the context of heartbreaking battles to get people care and treatment. The drugs highlighted in the media recently are givinostat and Skyclarys. I congratulate my colleagues Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan and Senator Teresa Costello on the strong and diligent work that they have done in relation to these two drugs. Thankfully, givinostat has been approved but people with Friedreich's ataxia are waiting for Skyclarys to be approved.  This inequity is to be found across the entire healthcare sector, including in the areas of rare diseases and cancer. We have effectively developed a two-tier system where access to innovative medicines can depend on whether a person has private health insurance or on their ability to pay. Patients who are treated privately can often access new therapies far sooner than those who rely on the public health service. That is not equity. It is not what Sl\u00e1intecare promised. It is not what the Irish healthcare system should be. Healthcare should be based on need rather than income. The chance of accessing a life-changing treatment for cancer, for example, or, indeed, a rare disease should never depend on a person's financial circumstances.  That is why an early access programme for innovative medicines is essential. Patients with rare diseases and cancer should not have to wait for years to access treatments that have already demonstrated significant benefit elsewhere. We also need a greater and more sustainable budget for new and innovative medicines. Investment in these therapies is not simply a cost, it is an investment in better outcomes, longer lives and better quality of life. We must strengthen our commitment to clinical trials and research. I met Cancer Trials Ireland recently and heard how clinical trials are not only improving patient outcomes but also saving the State millions. They provide patients with access to cutting-edge treatment and help to build a stronger and more innovative health service. For patients living with rare diseases and cancer, every day matters and every delay is excruciating. Our responsibility is to ensure innovation does not stop at the laboratory door or the factory gate; it must reach the patient. It is a standard our healthcare system should be judged by and the standard our patients deserve. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  I welcome the opportunity to speak today. An estimated 300,000 people in Ireland live with a rare disease. Too often, they are faced with years of uncertainty, navigating a fragmented system. This must change. The national rare disease strategy is welcome and provides a framework but it must be properly funded and implemented. It promises integrated life-course care pathways, expanded newborn screening and wraparound supports. To deliver this, the Government must deliver the necessary funding. The development of diagnostic, critical specialist and general multidisciplinary capacity must be a priority. It is still the case that access to life-changing drugs is far too slow. Government must deliver on its own commitments in the programme for Government. I welcome the Minister's commitment to a review and the additional capacity in the system. A tracking system was committed to which must be delivered on. Importantly, there is a commitment in the programme for Government to try to ensure early access. Government must ensure early access happens. I acknowledge the pilot but while pilots are something, they are by their very nature exclusive. I noted the Minister's comments early on Skyclarys for Friedreich's ataxia. She has to know time is of the essence and every day counts. It is similar for boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. I welcome recent developments with respect to accessing givinostat but I implore the Minister and the Government to maintain momentum until every child who would benefit from that drug has access to it. We must also ensure the drugs reimbursement system is fair, transparent, accountable and commands public confidence. That is why I am proud Sinn F\u00e9in Healthcare (Transparent Payments) Bill 2022 which I cosponsored with colleagues will go to Second Stage next week. This Bill is about ensuring integrity in our health service. It will require pharmaceutical companies to declare all payments and transfers of value to healthcare professionals and organisations, ending the current inadequate voluntary system and bringing Ireland in line with international best practice. An estimated 300,000 people are waiting for action. They need timely diagnoses, access to medicines and a system they can trust. We must deliver for them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  I express solidarity with the many people and many children suffering from rare diseases in Ireland. I pay tribute to the many who have to speak out publicly about what they and their families are going through to bring pressure on the Government to approve various medicines, people like Archie Ennis and A.J. Slevin. There are far too many and we should not have to know about their stories. It speaks to something very wrong in how our society, the economy and the pharmaceutical sector are organised. I recently read about research done in France which showed the majority of new medicines developed offer no therapeutic benefit or advancement and about 25% represent real therapeutic advancements. In the vast majority of research, money is going into marketing, research into products with massive markets already and therefore they are just variations on drugs to keep patents ongoing. There is very little in prioritising people's needs and rare diseases. Where there are developments, pharmaceutical companies are holding out to get as much money as they possibly can for them. We need a very different sort of pharmaceutical sector in public ownership in the public interest. I welcome the recommendation of the HSE drug group to approve givinostat for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. I add a request for children like A.J. who will not be of an age to benefit from it - I think you need to be six - that support is given in the meantime - for example, support from the HSE with splints to ensure their muscles do not get weaker while waiting for access. I hope access is granted for whoever needs it as soon possible. On Friedreich's ataxia Skyclarys is the only drug that has been shown to slow the disease. It was approved by the EMA and is available in other European countries. I will quote from a constituent:  The NCPE issued a harsh verdict for Skyclarys on 17 December 2025. While I understand the HSE is still in discussions with the manufacturer, the delay is costing my niece time to slow this cruel disease. It is already heartbreaking watching her fade even though a drug that works exists but is out of reach. In the 570 plus days since the application for its use in Ireland was lodged, many in the community have lost the ability to stand upright, walk, feed or dress themselves and to speak clearly. Many have lost all hope.  Time is ticking. We need urgent movement on Skyclarys and the other orphan drugs that have not been approved in our system. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  I add to the calls for the availability of treatments for Friedreich's ataxia and Duchenne muscular dystrophy and to recognise the very brave patients and their advocates who have made this case in Leinster House. Skyclarys is the first and only approved treatment for Friedreich's ataxia which around 200 people live with in Ireland. This medication can slow the progression of their condition. The company that makes Skyclarys has put the official pricing proposal to the CPU and now the situation is fully in the hands of the HSE. Patients do not know how long it will take for the HSE to make its final decision. On 26 May, I asked the Minister for Health for a definitive timeline on consideration of Skyclarys for reimbursement. Many patients and their advocates were really upset when it became apparent Skyclarys was not discussed at the 10 June meeting of the HSE's corporate pharmaceutical unit. It is important this process is completed as quickly as possible. I ask the Minister to do all she can to ensure Skyclarys is included on the agenda of the August meeting of the CPU. I would also like to raise the approval of givinostat for people suffering with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. I have raised it as have others on several occasions with the Minister for Health since EMA approval was granted last year. Last week the HSE recommended the drug for approval. This week the SLT signed off on this, bringing children with Duchenne closer to accessing this medication in Ireland. The Minister said the timeline for children getting this medication will depend on supply and the final approval steps. I urge her to use all possible influence to speed up this process so that children who desperately need this medication can avail of it. The approval of this treatment is welcome but it should not have taken this level of concerted lobbying by parents and patients to achieve. The Minister says decisions around pricing are not made by her personally and they are rightly in the hands of experts. That is the right approach but the issue is not with the making of the decision, it is the process, the time it takes and a system that has become overly bureaucratised and needs to be streamlined.  A review of that system is going on at the moment. That review is timely and I hope we get the result quickly. I hope we get the changes that are necessary made to the system of reviewing approvals for these orphan drugs because patients and their families deserve better. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  I recall in the D\u00e1il about a decade ago when Leo Varadkar was the Minister for Health. He said that he would almost become a socialist when it comes to the issue of the drug companies and the health industry. It did not quite work, obviously. Here we are again asking why it is taking so long for drugs to be approved in this country. These are drugs that we know are having life-saving impacts. We are a small country so, in some ways, a rare disease in a small country is even more difficult. Cystic fibrosis is very common in Ireland, yet that took ages as well.  I echo the calls for the treatments for Friedreich's ataxia and Duchenne muscular dystrophy, DMD, to be approved as quickly as possible. I spoke on that issue a year ago in the D\u00e1il. Families are going through heartbreak. DMD in particular is a progressive disease. I read that givinostat has now been approved. I am asking the Minister of State to ensure that this is moved as quickly as possible so that givinostat benefits as many as possible.  I want to mention a case that was brought to my attention of a young woman, called Debbie, who has been diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour, a WHO grade 4 glioblastoma. As the House can imagine, she has undergone extensive neurosurgery removing huge parts of her brain, as well as radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The problem is this. There is a revolutionary second-line treatment available called dendritic cell therapy, DCT, available in Germany. It has been overwhelmingly positive in its results in the first few years at trial stage. Debbie has comprehensive health insurance but this therapy is not available on VHI anyway. It should be available to all, of course, but I just cite the fact that insurance companies are not providing insurance cover for many conditions. This results in families having to do GoFundMe to raise money to go abroad, all when people are in such dire health situations. The family in question have done so and have had to raise huge amounts of money. This is treatment inequality.  Cutting-edge treatments like DCT are available in other European countries but are not available in Ireland despite the fact that a lot of the pharmaceuticals in question are manufactured in this country up the road from where I live. There are also health insurance barriers and systemic delays. Even basic administrative requirements such as requesting medical records to go to another country add up with regard to people's life expectancy and quality of life. The system is failing people like Debbie and we need to act to make that treatment available. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  The terrible thing about this subject is that it comes down so much to economics and it should not. It should come down to individuals and everything that we can do for them. I want to echo what many speakers have said in this debate about how we need to accelerate the progress in relation to the provision of treatments for rare diseases. The fact that they are rare diseases should not mean that people do not have access to the treatments they need.  I have listened to some of the comments on how we need to have a pharma industry that works for the people. While that is laudable and entirely appropriate, we also have to be mindful that the money spent on research and development comes from private investors, and much of it essentially comes to nothing. The hope is that researchers strike upon some drug or treatment that actually solves a problem and, therefore, is marketable, saleable and profitable. If we had a situation where we were spending public money on research and development for pharma companies, the public would rightly be outraged by the amount of money that was spent on programmes that simply came to nothing in the end. Let us not be naive about this. We need private investment and we need the pharma companies, which are expert at this whereas the State is not, to innovate in this space and develop the very treatments that we are relying on them to create, patent and market to solve problems.  There is, however, a legitimate criticism to be made of certain pharma companies. We have individual markets on drugs throughout the European Union and I understand why that is. Since Ireland is a small market, it is not going to be as profitable for a large multinational pharmaceutical company to make the application to have the drugs included in the payment scheme and all the rest of it in this jurisdiction, because there are fewer people here who are going to consume the drug than in somewhere like France, Germany or Italy. That is a particular shame and it reflects very poorly on the pharmaceutical companies that they do not do this.  Duchenne muscular dystrophy has been mentioned today. It is a case where the application has been made. I raised the issue this morning with the Minister for Health. My understanding was that she was waiting for the application to be made. It has now been made and we hope it will be accelerated. It is a case where time is very much against people who are suffering from Duchenne muscular dystrophy and we need to provide that treatment as soon as possible.  Another example is eosinophilic esophagitis, EoE, which is a chronic, allergic inflammatory disease of the esophagus from which people suffer and that can be treated by a particular drug produced by Sanofi. Some 50% of its global production is in Waterford, yet that drug is not available for treatment of juveniles in this jurisdiction. My understanding of the reason it is not available is quite simply that Sanofi has not made the application. There might be really good reasons for that and if there are, then let us have them out, but my concern is that because Ireland is a smaller market for these drugs, it disincentivises the company from making what is presumably a costlier application from the point of view putting together material than it might be in another country. For dealing with rare diseases in the longer term, perhaps we should be looking at a single European Union market for these things, which would be a single EU authorisation or application market so that we no longer suffered from being the smaller market within the European Union. We could tell drug companies to apply to the European Union and then they would get to run their drugs in Ireland and get to avail of the schemes in Ireland. In that way, we would solve this problem. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"William Aird","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy William Aird  I join with other speakers in highlighting the issue of rare diseases. In particular, I want to speak about a condition affecting a small number of people in Ireland, which is SMA, a genetic disorder that affects motor neurons in the spinal cord, leading to progressive muscular weaknesses, loss of function and even shortened life expectancy. For many years, families affected by SMA lived with little hope of effective treatment. Thankfully, however, breakthroughs in research mean that there are therapies available today that can dramatically improve the quality of life for many patients.  Ireland can be proud of the progress that has been made. The State has agreed reimbursement for innovative SMA treatments for children and young people. These decisions have transformed lives, and this is something we should acknowledge and commend. However, there remains a small group of adults with SMA who have been denied treatment because their dates of birth do not comply with the chosen cut-off date. Approximately 16 adults in Ireland with SMA are currently excluded from reimbursement of treatments that are available to younger patients. Through no fault of their own, they miss an opportunity afforded to those who came after them. As a result, we have a situation where two people with the same condition are treated very differently. A patient diagnosed as a child will continue to receive the treatment into adulthood but another adult with the same diagnosis and the same clinical need may be unable to access reimbursement at all. That is unjust and inequitable. It discriminates against this small group of people because of their age. I appreciate fully that decisions on reimbursement must be evidence based, clinically informed and financially responsible but I ask that, alongside the necessary procedures, we apply a degree of joined-up thinking, practicality and humanity. We need to think outside the box for this small group of adults. Their lives could be improved by treatments that are already recognised, licensed and reimbursed elsewhere for others with SMA in this country.  When this group of adults looks to Europe and sees other adults with SMA accessing therapies, and when they look to Northern Ireland and across the Irish Sea where similar patients are receiving treatment, and when they see younger Irish patients benefiting from these medicines, is it any wonder that they feel frustrated, excluded and let down? Rare disease policy requires us to think differently. One size does not fit all. Traditional health technology assessment models are designed around larger patient populations.  Rare diseases do not fit neatly into these frameworks. This is why flexibility and innovation are practically essential. I ask that every effort be made to explore practical solutions for this exceptionally small group of patients through management access arrangements, conditional reimbursement measures, special rare disease pathways and other approaches. There is scope for constructive engagement that balances fiscal responsibility and compassion. Our national rare disease strategy recognises that people living with rare disease face many barriers. These 16 adults are experiencing a unique barrier - their age. I know the Minister is committed to improving outcomes for those living with rare diseases. I know that significant work is underway with the Department----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy's time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"William Aird","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy William Aird  ----- and I ask that special attention be given to this group----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy is eating into other Members' time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"William Aird","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy William Aird  -----and that the Minister engages further with EMA Ireland. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail  First, I want to pay tribute to the parents and families of young boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy who have campaigned for access to givinostat. I commend them for their work, and I also acknowledge the work of colleagues in this House, such as Senators Teresa Costello and Anne Rabbitte, and Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan, for their work in driving this from a parliamentary perspective. I also acknowledge the Taoiseach and the Minister for Health for their engagement as well.  Many people in the House today have already spoken about the positive news that we got regarding givinostat. However, we are still waiting for that good news when it comes to skyclarys in relation to Friedreich's ataxia. This something that the Government and the HSE must prioritise, particularly its corporate pharmaceutical unit because, as other Deputies have said, time is something that these families do not have in abundance, and we need to ensure that these types of medications are in the hands of families to ensure that they can limit the impacts of these particular rare diseases.  One thing that frustrates most people is the process and the time that it takes. We welcome the review into how rare diseases are dealt with. Deputy Barry Ward has already spoken about the need for a single European market when it comes to accessing drugs for rare diseases, and it is something that I was going to speak about. It makes sense. We are a small nation with a population of just over 5 million people and a small market to these pharmaceutical companies, but when we combine that with all of Europe, particularly when a lot of these drugs are being approved from European bases, we need to use that strength in numbers to ensure the access for people with these rare diseases.  There is a bigger issue in Ireland when it comes to access to drugs. The long-term illness scheme has not been updated since the 1970s. I appreciate the costs that are involved in this, however, if we look at permanent anaphylaxis, for example, young children and adults who need access to EpiPens cannot get them. This is something that we really need to review, particularly when it comes to long-term illnesses. We need to review how people with rare diseases, and people with diseases that are not that rare, access drugs in this country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  I want to pick up on a point made by Deputy Ward. He is right that an awful lot of these decisions come down to economics, and that is not the way it should be. There are clearly medicines that not only can make a profound impact on people's quality of life but can actually save lives. Of course, there has to be a system and decisions have to be made in an appropriate way, but that cuts very little mustard with someone like Craig Coady, who has lost a child through Friedreich's ataxia, and is now worried about his other child. It cuts very little mustard with a parent of a child who has Duchenne muscular dystrophy and who is watching their son's functions, muscular abilities, strength and ability to live their life to the greatest level possible go further and further from them.  The key point is that there has to be processes, but they have to be efficient, quick and responsive, and in our view that is not the case at this moment in time. In the first instance, I welcome the fact that there is now a rare disease strategy. The implementation of it will be key, but there are a number of key points that Ireland is falling down on. First, in relation to orphan medicines, in the instance of the 5% of rare diseases that benefit from an orphan medicine, where treatments exist, access is delayed. The State is an outlier when it comes to early access. There is no early access scheme for rare diseases. That should be happening. Rare Diseases Ireland has made the call that it should happen within one year of EMA authorisation. That is the case already, for example, with givinostat, which will benefit those with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. It has already been approved by the EMA, but it has been quite delayed getting through the system here. It is also the case that the reimbursement system is not designed for rare diseases. This is not a contradiction, but sometimes when we talk about rare diseases, we think of it the wrong way. Each disease is rare in and off itself, but when we take them cumulatively, they are not rare. It is not unusual for someone in the population to have a rare disease. It affects quite a lot of people, but by the nature of each individual condition, which has a smaller evidence basis as patient populations are smaller, the reimbursement scheme is not working for them. Smaller numbers are affected and it is not designed for rare diseases and this needs to be addressed.  I echo the point made in relation to the long-term illness scheme as well. There are instances, and I can send the Minister an example, where there are two people with the same disease with slight differences and one qualifies and one does not. That is not good enough either. The process clearly needs to be improved, but I welcome the progress made and I encourage the approval of givinostat and skyclarys. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  Rare disease is an issue that affects thousands of families across Ireland, yet too often it receives far too little attention in this House. In particular, many patients face struggles gaining access to the medicines and treatments that could transform or even save their lives.  The word \"rare\" can be misleading. When people hear the term \u201crare disease\u201d, they imagine something that affects only a handful of people, but when we put all of these conditions together, the reality is very different. Today, around one in every 17 people in Ireland is living with a rare disease. That means hundreds of thousands of people across the country are affected in some way.  Behind every statistic is a family. There is a child waiting for a diagnosis. There is a parent fighting to access treatment. There is a young adult wondering whether their condition will deteriorate before a medicine becomes available, and there are families carrying enormous emotional, physical and financial burdens while having to navigate a healthcare system that is often difficult to access and even harder to understand. A treatment may exist. A medicine may already be approved elsewhere in Europe. Patients may know that the drug could help them, yet they can still face lengthy delays before that medicine becomes available in Ireland.  I particularly want to acknowledge the families who have spent months and years fighting for access to givinostat for children living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The recent recommendation from the HSE drugs group to approve this treatment is very welcome news and a testament to the determination of parents who simply refused to accept that their children should be left waiting while the clock ticked on. These families have shown enormous courage and persistence. They have attended meetings, spoken to public representatives, told their stories in the media and campaigned relentlessly because they understood one simple truth \u2014 time is muscle. Every day matters when a child is living with Duchenne.  I welcome the decision by the senior HSE leadership team to approve this treatment following intensive lobbying by Muscular Dystrophy Ireland, affected families and patient advocates. It shows what can be achieved when people come together and refuse to give up. We must now ensure that eligible children can access this medicine without delay and that the lessons learned from this campaign are applied to other rare disease treatments in the future.  I am calling on the Minister to ensure that the managed access protocol is expedited for these families. Independent Ireland believes that every citizen should have access to healthcare based on need, not on where they live, who they know or how effectively they can campaign for attention. We believe that patients suffering from rare diseases deserve the same urgency and commitment from the State as patients with more common conditions.  The publication of Ireland's national rare disease strategy was an important and welcome step. It recognises the need for earlier diagnosis, better care pathways, improved research, stronger patient involvement and improved access to orphan medicines, but strategies alone do not change lives. Implementation changes lives. Families do not need another glossy document sitting on a shelf. They need action, appointments, diagnostics and, where appropriate, they need timely access to treatment. The current system often evaluates these medicines using frameworks designed for large population treatments.  As a result, patients can experience lengthy delays before decisions are made.  Independent Ireland believes there is room for a more flexible and patient-centred approach. Our party believes that where a medicine has demonstrated clear clinical benefit and has received European regulatory approval, every effort should be made to ensure that Irish patients are not left waiting unnecessarily while administrative processes continue. Independent Ireland has consistently argued that public services should be built around the needs of citizens rather than bureaucracy. The healthcare system is no different. The needs of patients and families must come first. Recent agreements aimed at accelerating access to new medicines are welcome. However, the true test will not be what is written in an agreement; but whether patients and families notice a difference in their everyday lives. Can a child receive treatment sooner? Can a family avoid travelling abroad? Can a patient access a medicine before irreversible damage occurs? Those are the questions that matter.  Independent Ireland has consistently highlighted the challenges faced by families living outside major urban centres. Many rare disease patients must travel repeatedly to Dublin and to specialist centres for consultations, diagnostics and treatment. The financial burden, the time away from work and school and the emotional strain this places on families can be enormous. We need faster diagnostic pathways. We need improved support services for families. We need better regional access to specialist care wherever possible. We need a medicines approval system that recognises the particular challenges associated with rare diseases. More importantly, we need to listen to patients. Nobody understands the shortcomings of the system better than those who live with these conditions every day. Their voices must be at the centre of decision-making. A society is often judged by how it treats those who are most vulnerable. Families affected by rare diseases have shown extraordinary resilience, courage and determination. They should not have to spend years fighting for recognition, they should not have to spend years fighting for treatment and they certainly should not have to spend years fighting bureaucracy while their conditions deteriorate. Our job in this House is to ensure that hope is matched by action. That is what fairness demands. That is what compassion requires. That is what Independent Ireland believes should be delivered.  I wish to ask the Minister of State about Friedreich's ataxia and the medication Skyclarys. Where are we in relation to getting patients access to Skyclarys? The brother of Emma O'Shea in west Cork died from this disease. I met a group of young people who were here in Leinster House a few weeks ago. One was a young lady who was devastated by what the disease was doing to her. Every second without Skyclarys medication is a death sentence. I ask the Minister of State, how can we in opposition help the Government? We are not here to blame the Government, but how can we help? Surely if one of our children needed Skyclarys, we would find a way. I ask the Minister of State to please tell me how we can help. In his summing up, he might let me know where developments with regard to Skyclarys are. I have been in contact personally with Emma O'Shea continuously, even just up to a few minutes ago. She is struggling greatly and wants to know when there will be an announcement. I am not here to point fingers; I am just here to plead on behalf of that lady and other people who need Skyclarys. I would really appreciate when the Minister of State is summing up if he could give us some guideline. There was talk it might be announced last week - that did not happen - and that it could be announced next month. If it is, we would be absolutely overjoyed. This is a life-and-death issue. If Emma lost her brother, it is quite possible she could lose her own life. She is determined to fight on. There was a very strong piece in the Southern Star today about Emma and what she was suffering and going through. I would really appreciate if the Minister of State would give us some idea as to where the process is and whether there is a possibility in that regard. It might be clearer next month. If it is, it will certainly lead to saving Emma's life and the lives of many more out there. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  I want to speak on behalf of families and patients with Friedreich's ataxia and muscular dystrophy. I want to speak particularly for Eric Fitzgerald, a young man from Ballyhaunis, in County Mayo, who is losing power and muscle and whose lower limbs have weakened significantly. His condition is getting progressively worse. For Eric, the passage of time means the loss of muscle. It is extraordinarily sad. I met a group of young people with Friedreich's ataxia last month. I met a wonderful young woman called Emily Felix. Emily's story is again exceptionally sad. Emily has started recording her voice because she is losing her voice and losing muscle. That tells you how painful this disease is.  There is some hope, however, and that hope is in the form of the medication Skyclarys. It was approved by the European Medicines Agency in 2024. While it is not a full cure, the clinical guidelines show that it will reduce the progression of the disease by half for some patients. For many patients, that is the difference between living and surviving. It would have an immense impact on these young people's lives.  I know there is a very important meeting coming up in August. Many families across Ireland are clinging on to hope. I ask the Minister of State to make sure that the voices of these families are heard in that CPU meeting and I ask him to update this House as soon as possible. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Miche\u00e1l Carrigy  I welcome the opportunity to speak on this important issue. While some conditions are more widely known than others, both common and rare diseases have far-reaching impacts across our society. In recent times, awareness and advocacy campaigns have brought these issues to the forefront of public and political discourse. We have seen this through initiatives such as the FTD brothers' campaign raising awareness of dementia and through the courageous efforts of families affected by Friedreich's ataxia who have spoken publicly about the urgent need for medical intervention. In my home county, there are a number of families living with Friedreich's ataxia. I think particularly of Liam and Kiara Lynch and Theresa Kane and her two young children.  For those who are unfamiliar with this disease, it is a rare, inherited neurodegenerative disorder that can cause progressive damage to the nervous system and the heart. There is a treatment that has the potential to slow the progression of this and it offers life-changing benefits and, crucially, more time for those living with the condition. Approximately 200 people and their families are affected by Friedreich's ataxia in Ireland, and ensuring early access to this treatment would make a meaningful difference to each of them.  This issue highlights the broader challenges around access to innovative medicines for rare diseases. We must adopt a more responsive and flexible approach in Ireland to ensure that patients can access new, potentially life-altering treatments in a timely fashion.  In recent weeks, I have met with Biogen, the producer of Skyclarys, on a number of occasions to urge efficiency and urgency in its negotiations with the HSE. I have also engaged with the HSE and the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, to push as strongly as possible and to make sure that we get this drug, within the constraints of the proper negotiations that have to take place on behalf of the State. These discussions are progressing, albeit slowly, but we must examine our wider approach to rare diseases. A recent paper from the Alliance of Rare Disease Companies Ireland highlights the need for reform, noting that the current one-size-fits-all model for assessment and reimbursement is not fit for purpose. The programme for Government includes a commitment to review the drugs reimbursement process. However, it is essential that specific consideration be given to innovative and orphan medicines as part of this review.  I have recently learned of the managed access approach, which is used in other countries such as France. This model allows patients to access new treatments immediately while data is gathered over a defined period. A formal review takes place, with negotiations continuing in parallel. It is a pragmatic solution that prioritises patients' care while ensuring robust evaluation.  We need to be more innovative and flexible in how we approach access to medicines. There are critical conversations and they must continue if we are to ensure that patients receive the life-changing care they need when they need it. I would also support further research and development incentives for our pharma industry to do research into producing new drugs that may give an improved quality of life to our citizens and work in tandem with the managed access programme so that when these innovative drugs are developed, they are accessible and can be used by our citizens.  I thank the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, for her engagement with me on this. It is important that we come to a conclusion shortly to make sure that our citizens and those who are suffering, particularly from Friedreich's ataxia, get the treatment they need to give them an extended quality of life. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Lahart","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Lahart.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Lahart.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Lahart  I welcome the opportunity to contribute to these statements on rare diseases. I chair an ad hoc cross-party committee in the Oireachtas on the subject of rare diseases and have done for some time. My speaking time is very limited.  To put it in context, one in 17 people in Ireland has a rare disease. In this D\u00e1il Chamber, that would mean ten Members would have a rare disease. If we populate those ten around the seating in the Chamber it actually brings it to life and gives it reality. We all know someone and there are possibly colleagues who have rare diseases.  As colleagues with whom I have been privileged to work will know, particularly Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan who spoke earlier, I never put this on the record but have said to groups that when we are fighting for a cause that includes the word \"rare\" in terms of the disease, and \"orphan\" in terms of the drug, we know we are fighting an uphill battle. Any advocacy work that begins with those two words means being out on the extremes and the sidelines, fighting. My colleague, Deputy Dr. Martin Daly is here and he will know far more about this than I do. One of the ways I look at this is that we are learning much more about the recognised, mainstream diseases, as it were. Drugs are becoming much more targeted and there are more hybrid approaches to tackling many of the regular and everyday conditions that we meet. Where there would have been orphan drugs before, we have an awful lot more hybrid drugs that are born out of existing medications. I fully understand my colleagues mentioning specific conditions. I am reluctant to do so out of the knowledge, having dealt with some constituents over the last decade and beyond, that for every condition we mention here that is in need of assistance, there is probably someone sitting at home saying \"what about my condition?\" that is one of the 2,000-odd rare diseases.  I commend the dynamism, innovation, creativity and research that is going on among the best of our pharma companies. We are very well placed here. I have often told the pharma companies that they really ought to be pushing their weight about a little bit more. Ireland depends hugely on them. We should have far more clinical trials here. It is an issue that the rare diseases group recognises. I commend the Minister on some of the work that has been done recently. Particularly, I welcome the commitment to establish a national rare disease registry and an implementation oversight group. They are some of the things that can be done. I will defer to my colleague, Deputy Dr. Martin Daly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Daly  I acknowledge the families and people who live with rare diseases for their advocacy and their resilience. I am not going to go into individual diseases. It is welcome news, though, that givinostat has been approved. I pay particular tribute to the current Minister for Health, who has really taken on the issue around givinostat and is also looking at the reform of the accessibility for orphan drugs for people. I also pay tribute to Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan, who has been at this for a number of years. It is sometimes a demoralising task. I commend also Senator Anne Rabbitte, and Senator Teresa Costello on her unstinting support for families who are living with boys with Duchenne dystrophy.  I will just make a couple of points. We have to factor everything into these rare diseases. They are often chronic, progressive, debilitating diseases. We need to factor in the cost of care without the early intervention of these drugs. That is not to give an open chequebook to pharmaceutical firms that produce orphan drugs. While we are grateful that they take on the research and development of orphan drugs, by their nature they are exclusive to that condition, so they have a closed market and considerable leverage over states in terms of the cost of those drugs. Some of those drugs that are designated orphan drugs achieve wider applications and become very profitable for those companies, outside the rare disease piece. I think of drugs like rituximab and Avastin, some of which have applications in inflammatory diseases beyond the rare diseases, such as inflammatory arthritis and in the area of treatment of cancers. That needs to be balanced.  We also need to understand that it cannot always be that the State has to just open the coffers. We have to balance it. There is a defined budget and we have to balance the needs of other people in the system. That is not taking away from the need to have a proper, efficient system of evaluation and bringing these drugs to patients who need them. As a small country, we lack the heft and leverage with these companies. We should be operating through the European Union to try to have better negotiating leverage. We need better-managed access to these drugs and early access schemes. We are not engaging properly in clinical trials, for a country that hosts so much pharma industry. That is a recurring theme. I would like to think that a ring-fenced fund could be achieved out of the tax revenues from some of the pharma companies, that would be designated for the treatment of rare diseases. At the end of this, I want to remember the people who are suffering from these diseases and the families who live with them. We cannot imagine unless we walk in their shoes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  I was really pleased to see this on the agenda. It is very important that we have this discussion in the Chamber today because it really matters. On orphan drugs and clinical trials, it is important to have that negotiation power for the leverage we need, and it is really important that we address this on an all-island basis and have an all-island system. We have been looking at this within the Good Friday Agreement as well in terms of an all-island national healthcare system. It is clearly coming through that were we to have an increased population for all of the island, it would make it much easier and much more efficient to have those clinical trials. It is important to note that going out from here today.  I want to raise the urgent need for access to Skyclarys. It has been raised many times in the Chamber. I was watching on the screens. There are over 200 people living with Friedrich's ataxia in Ireland. For those diagnosed with this devastating rare condition, this drug represents far more than another medicine. It offers hope for slowing progression, preserving mobility and maintaining independence and giving families precious time together, yet many families in Mayo and across Ireland are forced to watch their loved ones deteriorate while waiting for the decision on funding through the HSE. Every month that passes means a loss of function that can never be regained. Time matters enormously for people with progressive degenerative conditions. Skyclarys was approved by the European Medicines Agency in February 2024 and is available to patients in the US, UK, France, Germany, Austria and other countries. Meanwhile, here in Ireland we continue to lag behind. We rank 23rd out of 27 EU countries for the speed at which we reimburse treatments for rare diseases. That is simply not good enough. Countless families in Mayo and many other places have contacted me directly, pleading for Skyclarys to be approved. One email came from a 32-year-old man who has lived with Friedrich's ataxia his whole life and has been in a wheelchair since he was 17. He and his family should not have to spend their days campaigning, fundraising and begging for access to medicine that could change the course of his illness.  Friedrich's ataxia is only one example. Boys living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy who were waiting over a year for a decision regarding givinostat only received the positive news this week that this drug would be reimbursed. I certainly welcome that but there are so many families trapped in similar situations while bureaucratic processes drag on. We need an urgent decision on Skyclarys. Beyond that, we need fundamental reform of the entire medicines approval and reimbursement process. I am glad the Minister has started that but six months is a long time for some of these families. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  I appreciate the opportunity to speak on this very important issue. I acknowledge all of the groups that have reached out to me and to my office. We all have a responsibility to do everything possible to ensure that all the people of Ireland can get the best treatments, medicines and supports available.  I want to highlight specific conditions which have already been mentioned. Members of the Friedreich's ataxia group are still awaiting approval and access to a drug. There has been some movement on that, which I welcome. I welcome the opportunity to meet the group and the extraordinary individuals who are advocating, including Emily. The group travelled to Leinster House and successfully highlighted the unacceptable and prolonged wait they continue to endure. Emily put it very simply to me, namely that every delay has real consequences for her independence and function. That is why the opportunity to have this debate really matters.  For these families, this is not simply an administrative process. Every week and month that passes can mean further deterioration in not only their physical health but also their mental health and quality of life. They want an opportunity to live independently as most young adults do. I welcome that the Minister and Taoiseach have engaged directly with the Italian manufacturer to encourage an application. I appreciate the response the Minister shared with my office on 27 May.  I urge that every effort be made to progress this as quickly as possible because every time there is a delay in the treatment of a rare disease which is brought to the attention of the media or this House by successful campaigners, it shows that there is clearly a systematic error in how we deal with the new medicines and treatments that become available.  I also want to highlight something multiple constituents have raised with me, namely Duchenne muscular dystrophy. I thank Stephanie for meeting me. It is a devastating and progressive condition but she was very strong and said she would be watching the debate. I want to welcome the positive recommendation from the HSE drug group. I thank it for the work that has been done on that. There is a lot more to be done and I will continue to engage with the Minister's office. I will always acknowledge when work has been done successfully.  The former Minister for disabilities, Finian McGrath, got me into politics and worked tirelessly on the provision of a cystic fibrosis unit in Beaumont Hospital. I recently attended a meeting of Cystic Fibrosis Ireland and met service users and people currently attending treatment centres. A lot more can be done for those with cystic fibrosis. I welcome the 20-bed unit in Beaumont Hospital and the installation of other units. People with cystic fibrosis cannot be in close contact with others. There needs to be more public awareness of the difficulties facing those with cystic fibrosis and the other rare diseases mentioned by Members of the House today.  I would encourage us to speak more about this issue. This is one of the first opportunities I have had since being elected to the House speak on this important issue. We, as legislators, have an obligation to make the lives of the people of Ireland better. I welcome the work the Minister of State has done with special education in my constituency.  With regard to rare diseases, it needs more attention. When errors in the system pop up, they need to be dealt with as quickly as possible. We are not just dealing with a leak in a tap. Rare diseases affect people's lives and development. It is something that we need to fix. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Rare Diseases: Statements"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_38","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_38","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case:  Deputy Pat Buckley - To discuss an application for an interim ancillary grant by a national school in Mitchelstown.  Deputy Tom Brabazon - To discuss the loss of staff at St. Francis Junior School in Priorswood in the context of its new DEIS plus status.  Deputy Barry Ward - To discuss the steps being taken to address and mitigate storm water overflow discharges affecting Dublin Bay, including their impact on bathing water quality along the D\u00fan Laoghaire coastline.  Deputy Shane Moynihan - To discuss delays in reimbursement under the cross-border healthcare directive.  Deputy Louise O'Reilly - To discuss the national child poverty target.  Deputy Malcolm Byrne - To discuss the development of Bunclody Community College, County Wexford.  Deputy Gary Gannon - To discuss the proposed reforms of the criminal legal aid system.  Deputy Paul Murphy - To discuss the decision of South Dublin County Council to increase council, HAP and homeless HAP rents from July.  Deputy Barry Heneghan - To discuss the proposed relocation of An Post sorting office, Harmonstown and the impact on local postal services.  Deputy Joe Neville - To discuss ongoing water issues in Kildare North, including a low water reserve in Donadea and surrounding areas as well as ongoing pipe bursts in Leixlip and the mismanagement of Uisce \u00c9ireann in North Kildare.  Deputy Ged Nash - To discuss the HSE's decision to close 14 transitional care beds in the Cottage Hospital, Drogheda, County Louth, and redeploy staff to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital.  Deputy Maurice Quinlivan - To discuss the need to allocate funding for the roll out of BusConnects in Limerick city.  Deputy Robert O'Donoghue - Uisce \u00c9ireann to minimise disruption from planned water outages in Lusk.  Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan - To discuss the ongoing issues with Courtbrack, County Cork, water supply, which has been under a boil water notice for almost one year.  Deputies Claire Kerrane and Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa - To discuss F\u00f3rsa's planned industrial action at Oberstown.  The matters raised by Deputies Barry Heneghan, Joe Neville, Robert O'Donoghue, P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan and Louise O'Reilly have been selected for discussion. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_39","debateType":"statement","bill":null,"showAs":"Rare Diseases: Statements (Resumed)","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_39","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Education and Youth (Deputy Michael Moynihan)  I thank all the Deputies from across the House who have contributed to this important discussion. The contributions from across the House have been thoughtful, constructive and, above all, grounded in the lived experience of the families and people affected by rare diseases. Many Members have spoken with real insight and compassion about the challenges faced, the long wait for diagnosis, the difficulty navigating services, the strain placed on families and the understandable frustration when access to medicine and treatments are delayed.  What has come through clearly is that while the details of individual conditions may differ, the themes are constant. People want answers sooner. People want care that is more joined up. They want greater clarity, better support and, where possible, access to new and innovative treatment in a timely and compassionate manner. Above all, they want to be heard, not occasionally but as a core part of how decisions are made. I want to acknowledge the powerful advocacy that Members have reflected on today. I want to pay tribute to Deputy O'Sullivan, others in my party and Members across House who have advocated.  Deputies have brought the voices of patients and families directly into this Chamber. This ensures the work remains grounded in the reality of people's lives, not just in policy frameworks. I want to take a moment to acknowledge Craig Coady, who was here today, and his son Paudie. I have known the family for many years over my time as a public representative. I know Craig has been to the fore in accessing drugs for Paudie. I pay particular tribute to him for the advocacy and engagement he has had with Members across the Chamber. He has advocated on behalf of his family and I pay tribute to him for the outstanding person he is, considering the burdens that have been placed upon him. He is working very hard and I reach out to him and other the families today. I know Craig well as well as the many others who have reached out to us. Like all Deputies in the House, we know families in our own areas.  I cannot pre-empt the outcomes of the HSE drug group but having engaged with the Department of Health, I know that everybody across the national system and in the HSE is working as quickly and thoroughly as possible to advance the process involved. Nobody is trying to delay this and everyone is acutely aware of how important the timelines are for individuals and families. In all contributions, there has been a strong and shared understanding that while progress has been made, there is an awful lot more work to do. It is important that we recognise that.  The national rare disease strategy 2025-30 provides a clear structure and patient-centred framework for change. As we speak today, patients, advocates, clinicians and Department officials are meeting to further review the strategic implementation plan. This is to ensure that commitments in the strategy translate into practical actions with timelines and accountability. We have made progress in screening and diagnosis, including the expansion of the newborn screening programme to include more rare diseases. This step will make a real difference for children and families by enabling earlier intervention.  Work will continue to further expand our newborn screening programme. In this regard, the National Screening Advisory Committee, NSAC, has accepted advice from its newborn screening subgroup on the grouping of similar conditions into a singular health technology assessment, HTA, process. The aim of grouping conditions is to expedite the review process timeline. As things stand, and dependent on the findings of the HTA, this creates a pathway to significantly expand the national newborn blood spot screening programme before the conclusion of the national rare disease strategy in 2030.  We are strengthening our approach to genetics and genomics, including through the delivery of the national genomics test directory for rare and inherited diseases. This will help to ensure patients receive the right test in the right place at the right time.  We are seeing progress on care co-ordination, with the introduction of dedicated care co-ordinators and continuing development of integrated care pathways. This is in recognition that, for patients, co-ordination is not an administrative detail but a fundamental part of their experience of care.  We are taking steps to improve access to medicines, including through the new framework arrangements, the commitment to an early access scheme for rare diseases and the move towards timely reimbursement decisions. We are also looking critically at our existing systems. The decision to undertake an end-to-end review of the medicines approval and reimbursement process reflects the recognition that we must continue to improve how we deliver for patients, particularly where delays and uncertainties have real impacts on the lives of our citizens.  We are seeing encouraging examples of progress on individual conditions. A number of decisions were taken recently whereby we showed that when we work together constructively, we can move forward and do so at pace. That kind of collaboration really matters and we must continue to build on it.  At the same time, we must be honest that despite all the progress we are making, families are still experiencing many of the challenges Deputies have raised. For too many people, care is still fragmented, diagnosis is taking too long, and access to services and support can be difficult. For families waiting for treatment, the timelines feel far too long. That reality must continue to guide our work. The true measure of progress is not what we can point to in a policy document but, rather, what people experience in their daily lives. Do they receive answers more quickly, is their care more co-ordinated, does the system feel easier to navigate and do they feel supported, not just clinically but as individuals and families? These are elements we must improve.  I return briefly to the central theme that has run through this debate, namely, the importance of patient partnership. It is not an optional element of the policy; it is absolutely fundamental to it. People living with rare diseases and their families bring expertise that no system can replicate. Their voices must continue to shape how we design services, prioritise investment and measure progress. That is why patient involvement is embedded in the national rare diseases strategy. That commitment must now be fully carried through into the implementation of the policy.  We are at a point of real opportunity. We have a national strategy, we are putting structures in place and we have momentum. Internationally, rare diseases are now recognised as a global health priority and there is increased alignment across Europe on the need for more co-ordinated approaches to research, diagnosis, care and access to treatment. The task ahead is clear. We must continue to implement the rare diseases strategy with a focus and urgency to reduce delays in diagnosis, improve co-ordination of care, strengthen access to medicines and treatments in a fair, transparent and timely way, and ensure patients' voices remain at the very centre of everything we do.  No one should have to navigate these complexities alone. Nobody should have to fight so hard to be heard, understood and to have access to the care they need. Our role, collectively and individually, is to build a system that responds with compassion, clarity and co-ordination. We have made progress. There is more to do but we are moving in the right direction. Working together, in government and right across the House, together with the stakeholders, patients and their families, we can continue to make real progress. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  On a point of order, will the Minister of State give us some direction on the situation regarding Skyclarys? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Sorry, Deputy, that is not allowed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  That is all I am asking. The Minister of State might respond briefly in the 30 seconds remaining to him. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy has not raised a point of order. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  It is a very important issue. People are dying. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  If the Minister of State wishes to use the time remaining to respond to the Deputy, he may do so. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  I appreciate the importance of this issue but I do not want to mislead the House. There is movement on it. We are pushing it with seriousness at our end. There is a lot of complexity involved but we are working seriously on the issue. I cannot give the Deputy dates but I can guarantee that everything that can be done on the Government's part is being done. We all know families and individuals affected by this. We are bound to ensure we remove any obstacles on our side. That is being done in a very serious way. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Rare Diseases: Statements (Resumed)"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_40","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_40","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_41","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Postal Services","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_40","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_40","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_41","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  The issue I raise has been raised by other Deputies in the Chamber. It is something that is happening across Dublin. I was in the Chair last week when colleagues asked about the closure of the sorting office on Griffith Avenue. The response from the Government was, I understand, the one it received from An Post. Before the Minister of State reads out the response he has been given, I ask him to recall why he got involved in politics and the passion he has for his area.  Within two weeks of starting a petition on the proposed relocation of the sorting office in Harmonstown, I had collected 2,000 signatures from the people I represent. More than 300 people contacted my office by telephone after I dropped leaflets in Harmonstown, Artane and the other affected areas. I have asked the Minister of State to think back to why he became involved in politics. As public representatives, we need information to represent the public successfully. I have been asking An Post what alternative arrangements will be implemented for the elderly and for people with mobility issues and other disabilities to enable them to collect their packages. Currently, if people are not home when an attempt is made to deliver, their package will go to the sorting office for storage until they collect it.  An Post has said people will be able to go to the other post offices. However, we have seen the issues arising from the increasing numbers of parcel deliveries. Anyone who works Monday to Friday will miss their parcel. My understanding of what is currently proposed is that people in the Harmonstown area will have to go to Finglas to collect their parcels. That is a problem when traffic is already bad enough, we are looking to decarbonise our energy system and we are examining the idea of a 15-minute city. Some 2,000 people responded to my petition. That includes only the people I could reach. This is the community that I represent having its say. The sorting office is already up for sale. All we are asking for, as set out in my petition, is that An Post guarantee the community that there will be enough locations from which to collect their parcels. An Post has told us that local collection will remain in the area but there is no detail on that. It is not good enough. How can a community be okay with losing a vital amenity when the detail of what will replace it has not been given?  An Post is owned by the people. Since the foundation of the State, it is has been one of the best-run public services. I know a lot of the workers, who are brilliant. They not only do their job; they have a chat with the people who come to collect their parcel. The sorting office is a community asset. I am not asking the Minister of State to collapse An Post and set it right as to its operational needs. The engineers and others working there, when discussing their plans for the day, are trying to react to the changes in how the postal service is being used. What I am asking is that the Minister of State seek a clear answer from An Post as to where the people I represent will collect their post when the sorting office in Harmonstown is gone. They need that answer before the office, which is already up for sale, is relocated. The community needs to know what will replace that service, upon which they rely. I spoke to many people on the doorsteps who were visibly upset about this. The office has been there since they bought their home. It is not acceptable for An Post to say this is an operational matter.  It has been done in other areas across the country and has been shown to fail. I would love an answer as to how they will get back to the Minister of State. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Education and Youth (Deputy Michael Moynihan)  An Post is a commercial semi-State company with a mandate to act commercially. As such, day-to-day operational matters such as decisions in relation to the size, distribution and future of the network are matters for the board and the management of the company. They are not matters in respect of which either the Minister of State, Deputy McConalogue, or the Minister, Deputy O\u2019Donovan, have a statutory function. The Ministers are well aware of the impact that decisions relating to changes in An Post operations have on communities and individuals in both rural and urban Ireland. As noted, this is a matter for the company. It would be inappropriate for the Government, as a shareholder, to comment on or prejudice decisions which are for the board and management of An Post to consider.  That said, this is an operational matter. Officials have been engaging with the company. An Post has advised in the case of Harmonstown, which the Deputy referred to, that the move is very much in the future and that there is much to be considered in the interim, including the facilities in the local area to be utilised in respect of undelivered mail. An Post has advised that it is in consultation with its staff and their unions on the details of the move. An Post notes that it is consolidating its national network of local sorting offices, which are also known as delivery sorting units, DSU. The company advises that it needs larger and purpose-fitted premises to manage increased parcel volumes. It also advises that as part of a city-wide plan over this year and next, it is relocating a number of its delivery offices to the new city delivery hubs. Among these will be the An Post delivery offices in Harmonstown, Dublin 5, and Griffith Avenue, Whitehall, Dublin 9, moving to a new north Dublin delivery hub. An Post states that the proposed move is scheduled for the second quarter of next year and that there is much to be considered before then. An Post states that its delivery office in Finglas, Dublin 11, will also be sharing the new facility which is being completed and purpose fitted at the North City Business Park in Dublin 11. An Post remains in consultation with its staff and unions on the details of the above moves.  An Post further advises that it will facilitate the collection of missed mail in local post offices and parcel collection pick up at the post point outlets. An Post states that the move will have little day-to-day impact on local customers because the same postal workers will be delivering on the same local routes as before. An Post advises that it needs much larger premises and-or repurposed facilities to manage increased parcel volumes and to meet the future needs of the city and the changing needs of customers. An Post notes these new buildings also represent an improvement in working conditions for staff and make huge inroads in terms of sustainability around heating, lighting and the day-to-day operations of buildings like the new delivery hub.  An Post advises that it is also hiring 300 additional postmen and postwomen across the country, some of whom will be working in this area, to manage the massive growth in volume. The Government is committed to a sustainable An Post. The post office network as a key component of the economic and social infrastructure throughout Ireland. The programme for Government states that the Government will continue to provide a nationwide network of post offices with funding to ensure their sustainability and to enhance the value they bring to local communities. The Department of Culture, Communications and Sport is working to deliver on this and an enhanced amount of \u20ac15 million per annum has been allocated for supporting the network, subject to all legal requirements being satisfied. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  I appreciate the response. As I said, An Post is a semi-State company. This is one of the most frustrating things that has been done. I know it has been done across the globe. When it happens, a Minister can offload the issue to the regulator. That is done with the HSE and the NTA. I would love if that could be revoked in order that we could actually elect people who can make decisions rather than having unelected officials in every Department making them.  I was in the Chair when the reply was given. I am not having a go at the Minister of State. I welcome the work he has done. I know he is covering for the Minister and is reading out the response that An Post supplied. The other two responses that An Post gave were nearly identical. The only thing that has changed is that the timeline has shifted from very much in the future, which was given to another Deputy in my constituency three weeks ago, to quarter 2 of next year.  The Government cannot keep saying it has no statutory function, even though I accept that is the current legal position. However, a shareholder does have influence. Every shareholder has influence and the Government of Ireland should have influence over An Post. The idea that the company is a semi-State body but yet the State has zero influence on it makes no sense. Talk to my constituents before their services are uprooted. I hope the Minister of State will relay this to the Minister and that he, in turn, will relay it to An Post.  An Post needs to speak to my constituents. I simply do not accept that a semi-State company cannot communicate with the service users of our national postal service. The people I represent are not asking for this not to be done; they are asking for the basic respect of being told the plan as to where they will collect their post, before the move is made as opposed to afterwards. I will continue to pursue this matter. The petition is still open and more people are signing it every day, because this was thrown at this community. We and the people of north Dublin need to know what is going to happen. I appreciate the Minister of State's engagement so far. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  The point the Deputy makes is one that is being made about urban and rural Ireland by people across the country. An Post has been a very trusted brand over many years. As with everything, life evolves. There is a big challenge for An Post in the context of how the traditional mail delivery service has moved on in terms of the amount of mail being posted, but there has also been a huge uptick in parcel deliveries. It is very important that An Post is properly structured, not just in urban areas but also right across the country, because it is a huge brand that we have trust in. In order to ensure its future, very difficult decisions will have to be made.  The Deputy made a fundamental point about the collection of undelivered parcels and so forth. There is the An Post network and then there are the post points which are dotted across the cities and urban and rural Ireland. These have to be a hugely integral part of how An Post delivers it services into the future.  I am deviating slightly from the note I have been given, but I believe that An Post will have to evolve into the Ireland of 2026 and beyond as we go forward. With the network, brand and trust that An Post has, we need to ensure that is reachable for all urban and rural communities. An Post is expanding its operations and is recruiting over 300 postal staff. That is great to see, and it is hugely important that our semi-State company makes the right decisions in order to ensure that we deliver for the citizens of Ireland over the next number of years. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Postal Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_42","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Water Services","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_40","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_40","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_42","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Neville  I take this opportunity to voice my frustration and that of thousands of people who live in north Kildare in the context of dealing with the semi-State body that is Uisce \u00c9ireann. Across the north of the county, from Leixlip all the way to Johnstownbridge and down to Naas, we regularly come across issues with Uisce \u00c9ireann. I want to deal with specific issues. We have issues in Leixlip where we get a consistent water burst near the Intel plant. Not a month goes by without a pipe bursting. Typically, it happens at around 6 p.m. on Fridays or at weekends. This means that we can be without water for 12 or 14 hours at a time and are reliant on contractors.  Second, there are the low water levels at the reservoir in Allenwood. This affects Carbury, Kilmeage, Prosperous and all the other places in the area. Up to 15,000 people at time can be impacted.  Third, I want to speak specifically about the issues in Celbridge. There has been low water pressure in the town for a number of years. Work is ongoing at Hazelhatch to alleviate the problem, which is a positive. At the same time, however, two huge construction projects are under way in Celbridge.  I will speak specifically to the second of these. As Fine Gael's spokesperson on infrastructure and delivery and as vice chairman of the Oireachtas infrastructure committee, I welcome any water infrastructure upgrades that are happening for houses in my constituency. I am, however, frustrated by the speed at which those upgrades and infrastructure in general are being delivered and rolled out. I specifically refer to the towns of Prosperous and Staplestown in this regard, where Councillors Brendan Wyse and William Durkan are consistently raising this matter at council level. They are highlighting the impact that water levels are having and are not getting the answers they require from Uisce \u00c9ireann.  As a result of low water levels at Allenwood reservoir, 15,000 people, typically the most vulnerable, are regularly impacted. We need a simple, clear explanation as to the cause of the recurring low water levels and outages at the reservoir, an explanation as to why residents frequently receive inadequate advance notice, clarification on whether current and projected housing development has outpaced existing water infrastructure capacity and, most of all, details of any short-, medium- or long-term infrastructure works or investment plans to resolve these issues. We want to develop and to build, but we want to ensure that we have the water infrastructure in place for the houses that are built. Information on contingency planning for future supplies is required.  As I said, there are two water projects in train in Celbridge. People cannot get in and out of the town as a result of issues we are having with traffic. That is simply not good enough. The second of these projects relates to a new development of houses, which I obviously welcome, but the plan has been implemented in the wrong way at the wrong place, which means that the pipes are running down towards the main entrance into Celbridge. A public meeting was held. I was one of the only politicians present. We were informed as to what the impact would be. In the interim, we have had to change it a number of times with Uisce \u00c9ireann. That was not because Uisce \u00c9ireann came to us, it was because we went to Uisce \u00c9ireann.  As already stated, in Leixlip, every six weeks without fail we have a burst along the main line, which many Deputies here will know, between Carton and Intel. This does not happen by accident. It happens because the water pressure comes. These bursts happen regularly. The matter needs to be resolved. This is something I highlighted when I was a councillor. It embarrasses me to raise it here as a TD. The people of Leixlip have been let down. They are frustrated. This not only impacts Leixlip, it also impacts Celbridge and Maynooth. That is why I raised both matters today in the form of a Topical Issue relating to Uisce \u00c9ireann. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. I am answering the issue on behalf of the Minister, James Browne, who sends his apologies as he cannot be here.  As the Deputy knows, Uisce \u00c9ireann has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services and planning. Neither I nor the Minister have operational functions in respect of the matter. However, we have made inquiries with Uisce \u00c9ireann and have been informed that it is committed to solving and replacing the necessary section of the Maynooth-Leixlip mains water network and has a project in place to do so. Design challenges have arisen in the context of reinforcing the existing pipe and routing a replacement, all while maintaining the required capacity to meet demand on the network. Solutions are being investigated. In the interim, immediate steps have been taken to respond to bursts in the area and to manage supply interruptions as quickly as possible, such as ramping up out-of-hours repair crews and gearing up local stores to ensure urgent availability of materials required. Uisce \u00c9ireann is also working with businesses in the area to encourage and ensure on-site storage is in place to limit supply interruptions.  Uisce \u00c9ireann acknowledges that a long-term solution is required. It is in the process of designing one. In County Kildare, there is a proposed investment of over \u20ac170 million in capital projects including the Celbridge and Maynooth leakage reduction programmes and Crodaun wastewater network upgrade that will address some of the most urgent infrastructure deficits, meet environmental obligations and support capacity for housing.  It is important to note that Uisce \u00c9ireann is dealing with a legacy of underinvestment in water services and infrastructure across Ireland. The scale of the remedial work necessary in our water and wastewater systems will take a number of years and investment cycles to resolve. Uisce \u00c9ireann has delivered significant improvements in the provision of water services. Hundreds of water and wastewater treatment plants have been upgraded, thousands of kilometres of new or rehabilitated water mains have been installed, the national leakage rate has been reduced and the overall quality of drinking water remains very high. As part of its future investment plans, Uisce \u00c9ireann has brought together the water for growth programme, which is a comprehensive view of water supply and resilience projects in the eastern region, including parts of Kildare. This programme includes some 30 water projects at an estimated investment of \u20ac500 million in treatment plant upgrades, new trunk mains and strategic reservoirs to strengthen supply and support growth across the region.  I know this is a matter in respect of which Deputy Neville has been advocating for some time, but Uisce \u00c9ireann is engaging in respect of some of the fundamental issues. I accept that more work needs to be done. Uisce \u00c9ireann assures us that it is meeting the many challenges that exist in the area to which the Deputy referred head-on as best it can. I will refer to that aspect in my closing remarks. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Neville  I thank the Minister for State. Unfortunately, I have heard a lot of that before - not from the Minister of State but from Uisce \u00c9ireann - during my time as a councillor and since I was elected as a TD. I raised this matter on Questions on Policy or Legislation with the T\u00e1naiste, Deputy Simon Harris, on 30 April. That was three days after the pipe burst on 27 April. The kids at Confey Community College were here and, like many of their counterparts in the other schools in Leixlip, they were sent home. Last week, on 9 June, we had another outage. The water goes off a 6 p.m. and does not come back on until 3 a.m. It is gone all evening and most of the night. Children cannot be bathed. Elderly people do not have access to water.  That is the reality of life in Leixlip. People can, within reason, estimate that every five or six weeks the water is going to go. We have Intel in Leixlip. The company employs 5,000 people. We know that we can build infrastructure. Infrastructure has been developed. One of the most technologically advanced semiconductor plants in the world is located there, but we have a pipe that bloody bursts every month, which leaves people without water. Breweries in the area are impacted. Other businesses and coffee shops cannot open as a result of the same issue. All we need to do is fix a pipe.  As stated, I raised this matter when I was a councillor. I am raising it again as a TD. I do not want to be coming in here every month or six weeks to raise the same issue. This is about the basics. It is about people being able to have a shower. It is about being able to drink water. It is about the elderly people knowing that they can use their toilets. To be frank, it is not good enough. What Uisce \u00c9ireann said in the reply is simply not good enough. It has not been good enough for the past couple of years since it made the same reply to me when I was a councillor. Unfortunately, I will have to keep raising this matter until it is resolved. I do not want to hear excuses or about the plans, ideas, concepts or struggles Uisce \u00c9ireann is having because, frankly, its delivery in north Kildare across all areas has not been good enough. It needs to do much better. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  I hear loud and clear the frustration in the Deputy's voice in relation to this issue. The points he made are very relevant. Water is a basic requirement for everyday living. The Deputy referred to children, adults and the elderly. Water is a fundamental aspect of everyday living. The Deputy also spoke about businesses and the frustration people have when the water is cut off. The challenge we have is when there is a commitment given that it will be back by 9 a.m. but does not come back until 2 p.m. the following day for whatever reason.  People's livelihoods are being put at risk. The Deputy spoke about cafes and other businesses. I hear the frustration, and I know the first port of call for people is their local TD or councillor to ask what they are going to do about it. What the Deputy said about Leixlip in testimony to the fact that, as he outlined, what is happening is simply not good enough. I will take back what I have heard to the Department and to Uisce \u00c9ireann and, in the strongest possible terms, ask them to respond. While the D\u00e1il is the forum in which to raise important issues such as those outlined by the Deputy, we still have to get responses from the statutory bodies. I will communicate the Deputy's frustration to the Minister, in the first instance, and to Uisce \u00c9ireann, which I will ask for an update. I do not just mean seeking a response that will come back in a week or ten days; I mean real action on what needs to be done in Leixlip. I assure the Deputy that we will relay what he said to those to whom I refer. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Water Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_43","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Water Supply","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_40","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_40","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_43","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert O'Donoghue  I thank the Minister of State for taking Topical Issues again - two days in a row. I must be following him around. It is appreciated. I wish to raise a matter today, similar to the previous speaker, around the growing concerns for families in Lusk, in my constituency of Dublin Fingal West. Repeated water outages have taken place for the past couple of weeks affecting two estates, in particular Kelly Park and Dun Emer.  From the outset, I want to be clear. I am not denying that maintenance and upgrade work to our infrastructure is not essential. Some of these pipes are 50 or 60 years old, so the fact that they are being done is to be welcomed. We all want reliable and resilient water infrastructure and investment in that infrastructure is welcome.  However, serious questions must be asked as to how these works are being scheduled and the impact they are having on local families, childcare providers and businesses. Councillor Mark Boland and I have been inundated by a number of businesses in Lusk over the past couple of weeks, including two early years education providers. Between them, they provide care for up to 100 families. Under the Tusla regulations, these providers must have access to running water in order to operate safely and legally. They are full-day services so they cannot use just what they have in the tank. It is not that they are early childhood care and education, ECCE, or national childcare scheme, NCS, services. When the water supply is interrupted, they simply cannot open their doors.  The consequences are significant. Parents are left scrambling at short notice to find alternative childcare arrangements. Many have no choice but to take annual leave from work. Others lose a day's wages. Meanwhile, they continue to pay their regular childcare fees and taxes that fund Government subsidies to support these providers. They are forced to pay a third time when they are looking for alternative childcare. This is not a minor inconvenience; it places real financial pressure on working families who are already dealing with the rising cost of living.  My question is straightforward. Why are these planned outages repeatedly taking place during normal working hours on weekdays? If they are scheduled and planned works, surely every effort should be made to minimise disruption to families and businesses. Have any alternatives been considered? Can these works be scheduled in the evenings, overnight and at weekends when the impact on early education and school-age childcare providers, schools, businesses and working parents would be substantially reduced?  The people of Lusk understand the need for infrastructure works. What we are asking for is consideration, communication and common sense in regard to how these works are carried out. Therefore, I am calling on Uisce \u00c9ireann and the Minister of State to review the schedule around planned water outages and engage directly with affected communities to ensure that essential works can proceed while minimising disruption to families, childcare providers and local businesses. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  I thank the Deputy. These are operational matters for Uisce \u00c9ireann but we have been making inquiries in relation to the issues the Deputy raised. I have been informed that works in Lusk have been undertaken between the junction to Hand's Lane and Minister's Road, along Minister's Road and Barrack Lane to the junction at Treen Hill and then Kelly Park. This is a targeted programme of works to strengthen the local water network at Kelly Park and Dun Emer in Lusk to replace old and fragile water mains. These works include laying new water service connections from the public water main in the road to customers' property boundaries and connecting it to the customers' water supply. The project began back in March and work is expected to be completed this summer.  Uisce \u00c9ireann tells us that very effort has been made to minimise disruption to residents and businesses during these works. Planned supply interruptions have been short in duration. However, the discovery of an undocumented branch off the water main led to unexpected interruptions. Further investigations are now required to map older sections of the network so that redundant sections of pipes can be closed off completely. Customers have been notified about this unavoidable disruption, which is essential to help Uisce \u00c9ireann to complete this important work to provide a more reliable and resilient water supply in the area.  A contractor liaison officer is now in regular contact with the early years services, including visiting the business on Monday in advance of a planned interruption today, Thursday. An Uisce \u00c9ireann area inspector has also been in contact with the business and understands that limited storage is available on site. Uisce \u00c9ireann is offering the cr\u00e8che owner the services of its first fix free scheme to establish if there is any leakage on the premises which may be affecting its storage capacity.  The Kelly Park and Dun Emer areas are residential areas and it would not be possible to schedule future outages in the evenings or overnight. There are three more outages required to close out the project and Uisce \u00c9ireann is working to put in place a detailed programme which can then be communicated to key stakeholders to give more advance notice than normal.  In regard to the correspondence we had on getting this question, the most frustrating piece is that where there are works going on, the communities do not know in advance. It can lead to huge frustration. I will take that back as well. There is no way that I can come in here and defend the lack of communication, which is basic. I will ask Uisce \u00c9ireann to look at other areas that could be looked at in respect of minimising the disruption, particularly to young people and young families. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert O'Donoghue  I thank the Minister of State. I have seen the reference to undocumented branches. If pipes were put in 50 or 60 years ago, the mapping may not have been as good as it is today. I accept and understand that. I welcome that Uisce \u00c9ireann is engaging with the businesses but if it could speak to the two cr\u00e8che owners in particular, it would certainly alleviate some of the frustrations felt by the residents in the local area. I get that there is no ideal solution here but, as the Minister of State mentioned, what families are looking for is to minimise the disruption as much as possible, to alleviate the stress on working families and for Uisce \u00c9ireann to engage with the local communities and cr\u00e8ches as much as possible.  Before I finish up, I wish to welcome my former French teacher, Mr. Robin Gallagher, to the Gallery, and my ex-colleague in St. Joseph's Secondary School, the German teacher, Ms Anita Irwin, who is a big supporter of Europe Day every year. Like myself, she is probably looking forward to the EU Presidency. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  It is great to see Deputies welcoming their former teachers to the Gallery. They are very welcome and I hope they are enjoying their trip to Leinster House today.  The investment is being put in to upgrade the pipe network. A lot of investigation has gone into the pipe network in this area, which is 50, 60 or possibly more years old. In a lot of the upgrading, particularly in urban Ireland, when Uisce \u00c9ireann digs down, it finds there are offshoots here and there. Then it finds that is where the leak is and why there was no water pressure.  There has been unscheduled work here. As I understand it, Uisce \u00c9ireann had communicated what it was doing and the timeframe it was doing it in. Now with the extra unscheduled work, there are more difficulties but I will relay back to it what the Deputy has asked with regard to the cr\u00e8che owners in particular. I will ensure there is full engagement with all the community. While Uisce \u00c9ireann is doing a major job in the area, it is important it would engage with all the businesses and householders in terms of leak reduction or anything else. Uisce \u00c9ireann is on site now and it should be using that time, fundamentally, to make sure the right things are done and we do not have to go back to it in the future. There was an added piece here and not just the original piece. However, families have had to make decisions on whether to take time off or take annual leave to take care of their children. That is hugely frustrating and it is not acceptable. As a matter of policy, Uisce \u00c9ireann, where disruptions are taking place, should always consider childcare facilities and schools to make sure they are communicated with in timely manner. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Water Supply"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_44","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Water Supply","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_40","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_40","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_44","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan  I realise this is the third Topical Issue out of five relating to Irish Water. I cannot say I am surprised, although they are different issues.  I feel obliged to come here this evening to relay the concerns of the residents of Courtbrack, outside Blarney. There is an issue happening with their water supply for some time. I have all of the emails here from Irish Water. There are pages and pages of them and it thanks me for my representation and hopes it has provided clarity and answered all the queries of the residents. Nothing could be further from the truth . Somewhere, buried beneath all of those pages, there are little bits of information. The reality here is people want to know when they will have a safe drinking water supply at home.  I know the Minister of State will be familiar with Courtbrack. People are spending \u20ac400,000 and \u20ac500,000 on new houses. They do not really have broadband. It is improving but it is still behind where it should be. You cannot get a phone signal except via the Internet, so it is a chicken-and-egg situation. There is light at the end of the tunnel with that because they have been told broadband will be provided by a certain period of time. They have absolutely no faith whatsoever in the service provision from Irish Water or when they will have a safe drinking water supply. They have been on a boil water notice for some time. I know the Minister of State will tell me in his response that it predates Irish Water and it inherited this. The key question I have is why in Christ's name did Irish Water take charge of this when it knew - I have it here in the various emails - the water plant was problematic? It is said it is below par and the conditions they would set. I do not understand why they would take charge of it and not compel the developer at the time to stump up before they took charge of it to improve the facility that was there. That is one thing I would like answered. I know the Minister of State probably does not have that answer.  I know the Minister of State has responsibility for special education and, God love him, he is in here answering questions about water. I know the statutory responsibility for the provision of water, be it operational, infrastructure or servicing, lies with Uisce \u00c9ireann and not with the Minister himself. I am not the first person to come in here cribbing about the quality of water or the conduct of Irish Water but there is a statutory obligation on it to provide water. If it is not meeting its statutory obligations, it is incumbent on the Minister to intervene.  That is not just in the case of Courtbrack - it is in dozens and dozens of locations across the country. I do not want to be parochial about it but in my own constituency, the wastewater situation in Carrignavar sees raw sewage seeping into the river. It is three times overloaded. We were told it would be seven to ten years, at best, before it gets an upgrade. There are big HGV lorries and tankers going through a new housing estate in Whitechurch just to service the existing requirement. Guess what? We will zone more land in the next development plan for more houses without having an adequate water supply in Whitechurch. Knockraha is an old chestnut of mine and is in my parish. I am totally despondent at this stage because it is happening for 15 years. Raw sewage is being pumped into a nearby landowner's field. Whether Irish Water likes it or not, it has a statutory responsibility. It is failing to adhere to that. If the State does not do it, I encourage people up and down the country to meet Irish Water in the courts and make sure it is responsible for enforcing that statutory obligation it has. I am sorry for the rant since the Minister of State has responsibility for special education but I get that he gets this frustration as well and not just from my part of the country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  I thank the Deputy. Three out of five of the Topical Issues have been about Irish Water. I know the Deputy has been talking about Courtbrack and other communities in his constituency for quite some time. In the correspondence we had in the past half hour or so, it covered three constituencies in Kildare, Dublin and Cork, so we can see the frustration of Members about Irish Water, the challenges that are being faced and how we will overcome them. Fundamentally, the availability of water and wastewater treatment plants is one of the most important resources we have to be able to develop further into the future. Over many decades, we have seen as a country the challenges with economic prosperity, but this is one of the key things. I am deviating from the question I was asked but I see the frustration of Members here today and the frustration of Members from across the country. I could turn back and talk about a number of communities I represent and the frustrations I have with it.  Irish Water is the statutory body. It has taken charge of this plant. As I understand it, the plant was taken over in January of this year and it was not fit for purpose. It was one of those developer-provided pieces of infrastructure going back a number of years. It is important that we understand the challenges that are there. They are on a boil water notice and the information I have is that, since taking over the operation, Uisce \u00c9ireann has been carrying out technical and detailed operational assessments of the plant to determine the works required to ensure a safe and secure water supply to enable the boil water notice to be lifted. Uisce \u00c9ireann has now completed the initial scoping work and the first phase of remedial works has now commenced on site. These works are focused on upgrading and improving the existing plant. Uisce \u00c9ireann expects to have greater clarity on timelines as these works progress. Once the outcome of this first phase of the remedial works is fully assessed, the impact will inform the need for any subsequent phases of work, if required, which will ultimately guide the approach to resolving the issues at the plant.  Given the importance of protecting public health, this process must be thorough and evidence-based. In parallel to these shorter-term improvement works, Uisce \u00c9ireann is also progressing the assessment of a longer term rationalisation option. This would provide a more permanent solution but is subject to all necessary planning, environmental and regulatory consenting processes. If the short-term works successfully address the issues at the plant, the need for this longer term project will be reviewed. The boil water notice remains in place and will continue until such time as it is safe to lift, based on the outcomes of the ongoing works. The assessment that Uisce \u00c9ireann is doing should be completed in a timely fashion so that we can move forward with confidence that the boil water notice can be lifted. There is a bigger issue with it as well. Even if the short-term issues are resolved, Uisce \u00c9ireann should not forget about the long-term issues either. I will relay the Deputy's frustration to both the Department and Uisce \u00c9ireann again and ask them to complete the remedial work in as short a timeframe as possible. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan  I thank the Minister of State. That is more or less the same answer I got in all of these emails so it is not surprising. The Minister of State knows the score and I know the score. Most people here know the standard of responses we get from Irish Water. I do not think it is too much to ask on behalf of residents, especially if the Minister will make representations on this and I will talk to him myself about it, what specific remedial works are being referenced? The Minister of State read in the answer that Irish Water will carry out remedial works. Tell us what they are. Will it screen the water? Will it add more chemicals? Will it fix pipes? Will it lay new pipes? Is there a problem with manganese, like there is in other parts of the city? Tell us what specific interventions it is making because I received that broad strokes answer of it doing remedial works and scoping. but it is not telling us the fine detail of what it is doing, bit by bit. Irish Water is saying there are remedial works currently under way. Tell us when they will be done. When will we have a timeline for when that initial phase will be done? From what Irish Water is saying, it will see how successful the short-term interventions are. Depending on the degree of success, it might do another longer term intervention. Tell us what that is as well. Tell us what the criteria is. Tell us the standard. Tell us what the threshold is for making that decision.  Most fundamentally, Courtbrack is a lovely rural village to live. A lot of people have moved out there from the city in particular. They spent a lot of money on their houses. I have already outlined the deficit in services, but at the same time it is not too much to ask that the residents get direct updates from Irish Water. They are coming to representatives like me to get updates or they are approaching fellas as they see them who are doing these remedial works and they are getting little tidbits information when they need something. If you are without water for the best part of a year, the very least that Irish Water should be doing for those people is giving them clear information.  My final point is about the statutory requirement. This is happening in hundreds of locations across the country.  Whether they like it or not, or whether they were handed a mess or not, they have a statutory obligation and a need to come clean with that and to give people what they are entitled to, which is safe drinking water. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  I thank the Deputy. He has heard all the official answers in relation to what is being done. What he needs to do is to have clear sight of what that is, what that means in simple English, what screening and what work is going on, what levels they have to reach, and what stage they are at. I will endeavour to get sight of the remedial works Uisce \u00c9ireann is doing and also what they are considering in the long term. Whatever about the remedial works that are to be done here, the long-term issues have to be put out as well for Courtbrack and all those communities. Irish Water is engaging now with the Courtbrack community and it should not be allowed take its sight off it. It should complete the work it is doing on the remedial work in getting the water fit to lift the boiled-water notice and then on top of that to come back and say what the project will be over the next while. It should not just long-finger it but make sure what it is in the short-term. The least we want is to have the water systems fit for purpose. I will endeavour to ask both the Department and Uisce \u00c9ireann for concise, direct and informative information in relation to what they are doing in Courtbrack, what the timelines are on it and when they hope they can reach those targets and timelines. I will endeavour to get that information for the Deputy from the Department and Uisce \u00c9ireann and forward it to him. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Water Supply"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_45","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Child Poverty","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_40","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_40","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_45","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  I thank the Minister of State for being here to take this Topical Issue. It relates to the national child poverty target. Social Justice Ireland tells us that there are 211,150 children at risk of poverty. Crucially, this figure does not take account of the household spend on accommodation. Two adults working on a low income or the minimum wage do not earn enough to live decently, and neither can they bring their kids up on that money. The MESL report, which was out this morning, tells us that older children, aged 12 and older, in households headed by single adults have the greatest risk of deep income inadequacy if they are dependent on social welfare. This has been true consistently and we have heard it consistently. Single-adult households make up over half of the deep inadequacy cases. Households with one older child of 12 and over account for 94% of those cases. I do not need to tell the Minister of State that kids are expensive; we know this. People who are living in poverty or at risk of poverty are doing their best to try to manage but it is getting impossible for them. We know that the Department of Social Protection and the child poverty unit in the Department of the Taoiseach have chosen a figure to measure that does not include accommodation costs. When we compare poverty rates among renters without housing supports, before the impact of housing costs on their disposable income is taken into account, 20.5% are at risk of poverty. After housing costs, this becomes 42.6%. That is more than double. Even more worryingly, the 22% of supported renters in poverty jumps to 58% once housing costs are accounted for.  The Minister of State and I both know that direct cash transfers in the form of additional child benefit, or whatever way the Government wants to dress it up, have been recommended by the ESRI and others as the most effective way to reduce child poverty. Plain and simple, the Government did not commit enough money to the issue of child poverty to make serious progress towards its target. For years the targets have been set and we know they have been missed. The truth about child poverty exists in those homes where parents are earning but they are paying extortionate childcare rates, for really massive rents or their mortgage has increased, or they are forking out for devices, which are going far ahead of free school books. They are paying energy bills that are among the highest in Europe. I am interested to know what progress is being made to reach the Government's target, but I am also interested to know if it is interested in what the real picture is. The real picture exists when you take into account accommodation costs. If you do not take accommodation costs into account you are missing the picture and therefore will always miss the target. If you are not measuring it properly you will not be able to resolve it.  We know from the MESL report that home energy costs have risen by 24.9% in the last year and doubled since 2020. Home heating oil, included in the rural MESL basket, has risen by 72.4% in the last year. That is 186.8% compared to 2020. These are all really serious factors which are impacting. The Children's Rights Alliance tells us that between 24 and 25 there has been an increase in the proportion of individuals living in consistent poverty and experiencing food deprivation.  There is an awful lot of talk about a social media ban for children under 16 years of age and I am very concerned that this is acting as a distraction from what is really happening. There are kids who will fall through the cracks because the Government's target is based on figures that are not real figures because they do not take accommodation into account. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  To take the last point first before I go into it. Not to take it in isolation, that is a completely separate issue. Reducing child poverty is a key aspect of Government policy. The Government has been working on this and understands it. In September 2025, the Government agreed a new target to reduce the child consistent poverty rate to 3% or less by 2030. While an ambitious target, in setting this rate, the Government was clear that no level of child poverty is acceptable, and this is reflected in the programme for Government. The Department of the Taoiseach's child poverty and well-being programme office continues to lead and drive this important work and break down silos across Government. It has developed a dashboard of indicators to complement this target and to measure child poverty across health, housing, education, early learning and other indicators.  As a developed economy, poverty in Ireland is measured on a relative rather than an absolute basis. A risk of poverty is assessed by comparing a person's income to the average income in society. As a relatively high-income country, this means that some households assessed as experiencing poverty in Ireland might not be considered so in other EU countries. Nevertheless, as we are committed to reducing poverty, it is important to retain this approach. Moreover, the consistent poverty measure that we use is unique to Ireland and captures those both at risk of relative poverty and who self-report deprivation.  The Government was pleased to see a reduction in the CSO Survey on Income and Living Conditions, SILC, 2025 rate of child consistent poverty, from 8.5% in 2024 to 7.8% in 2025. This reduction reflects the impact of Government measures to date. The SILC data has a time lag and is based on income from 2024. It therefore does not yet reflect the 2025 budget and the very significant budget 2026 measures. Despite this, we fully recognise that much more needs to be done to reduce child poverty and to deliver on our target by the end of 2030. This requires sustained cross-government investment and commitment over many years. Budget 2026 reflected this commitment, with \u20ac320 million allocated to the Department to address child poverty. Significant measures included record increases in the child support payment, higher working family payment thresholds, broader access to the fuel allowance and the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance, and an expansion of the hot school meals programme. These build on important programmes already under way that work to reduce child poverty, such as free schoolbooks, free GP visit cards and early childhood supports. While existing targeted income supports, including the child support payment and the working family payment, are effective at tackling child poverty, the Department of Social Protection is exploring reforms to both the working age and the child income supports. A public consultation on this concluded recently.  Reflecting the need for a multidimensional approach, work continues right across Government in other key areas such as housing, employment, childcare, education and health to address child poverty. The Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2026-2030 outlines many of these actions, with the aim of achieving our target by the end of the decade. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  I do not want to seem ungrateful for the Minister of State's reply but he has said things like, as a relatively high-income country, some households assessed as experiencing poverty in Ireland might not be considered so in other EU countries. They are not paying rent or buying groceries in any other EU country, are they? They are doing all that there. If they are in relative poverty, they are in relative poverty. There is no point telling them they would be well-off if they were living in Spain. They do not live there; they live here. As I said, I do not want to seem ungrateful for the reply but I personally would have been embarrassed to read that out.  The Minister of State referenced the SILC data and the time lag. That is important because these findings are based on incomes in 2024. We all know what happened in 2024. There was an election and, in the run-in to that election, there were energy supports and all sorts of other things. That is all gone now. When the SILC data catches up, it will reflect the fact that energy supports have been withdrawn and that people in this State are paying some of the highest energy prices in Europe. Moreover, families who are living in poverty are more likely to be on pay-as-you-go meters. I am sure the Minister of State sees this in his constituency office just as I do in mine. Those people are paying even higher rates. It is very expensive to be poor in this State.  The SILC data also does not include accommodation costs. That is huge. There are people on ordinary wages who work really hard. If we are making comparisons with other EU countries, in any other EU country, they would be able to expect to go on a holiday or to have a few bob on a Friday night. All of that is gone. They are just paying their rent. Their kids are paying the price for the Government's failure to act on child poverty. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  The CSO surveys are hugely important as a basis on which to measure poverty. The investment the Government has made over the past number of budgets, not just those for 2024 and 2025 but also for 2026, and the social protection measures we have put in place, show that not just the Department of Social Protection but all Government Departments are very conscious of child poverty. We are very conscious of the long-term impacts on those children. We are trying to give them the best possible opportunity. You only get one childhood. My Department and Departments right across Government, particularly the Department of Social Protection, are making sure that we are investing as much as possible into capturing the reasons for child poverty. We are investing to make sure we are giving children the best possible opportunities.  The CSO documentation and the data we get through the survey on income and living conditions are hugely important in framing Government policy. This is driven from the Department of the Taoiseach to ensure we are doing everything that can be done across Government to tackle child poverty. I assure all Deputies in the House that we understand. We know that, when you meet parents and families who are experiencing child poverty, you can have all the statistics in the world but you need to be able to point to something that can get them from where they are to where they would like to be or to at least give them a roadmap. Everyone wants the best for their families. This is something that every one of us experiences. The Government is working extremely hard to tackle child poverty. We have seen reductions in the indicators over the last number of years. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Child Poverty"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-18\/debate\/dbsect_46","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"Report of the Joint Committee on Disability Matters: Motion","counts":{"speechCount":17,"speakerCount":7},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_46","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gillian Toole","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gillian-Toole.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Gillian-Toole.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Maurice Quinlivan  I move:  That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann shall take note of the Report of the Joint Committee on Disability Matters entitled \"Report on Inclusive Education for Persons with Disabilities\", copies of which were laid before D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann on 25th March, 2026.  I welcome the opportunity to move this motion and to present the committee's report on inclusive education for persons with disabilities. I acknowledge the disabled learners, families, educators, representative organisations, service providers and other experts, especially Corpus Christi Primary School in my own constituency of Limerick city and St. James's Primary School in Dublin, who contributed to the committee's work. Their input was invaluable. Their lived experience, expertise and insights were central to the development of the report and its recommendations.  While reading the report, I encourage the Minister of State and his officials to look especially at the Sky is the Limit programme operating in Corpus Christi Primary School in Moyross in my constituency of Limerick city. The school both presented before the committee and hosted members of the committee at the school on the importance of this inclusive education project. The project aims to provide psychological support to members of the school community and the surrounding community, recognising that education does not end at the school gate. The programme embeds counselling, therapy and family support services within the school environment, thus allowing pupils and parents to access help that would otherwise be difficult for them to navigate. It is a model that could be looked at as part of needed changes to how we deal with the issue of special education. We cannot rinse and repeat the same tired and outdated approach to special educational needs. We need to do much better.  The community of Moyross has faced many challenges over the years, from organised crime and drug dealing to violent feuds and deprivation. The work community members have done, particularly in partnership with the local school, has turned the area into a thriving community with one of the best primary schools in Limerick, if not the best. I mention this just to highlight how important inclusive education is not just for children but for their teachers, their family members and the wider community.  On the report itself, the Joint Committee on Disability Matters undertook a comprehensive examination of inclusive education for persons with disabilities through a programme of public meetings, engagements with stakeholders and consideration of written submissions. The committee's work was guided by Article 24 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which recognises the right of persons with disabilities to education without discrimination on the basis of equal opportunity. The committee considers inclusive education to be a fundamental rights issue. Inclusive education is not solely about where a child is educated. It is about ensuring that all learners can participate, communicate, belong and achieve their full potential within the education system.  The committee's 33 recommendations provide a practical roadmap towards a more inclusive education system. The committee heard that significant progress has been made in recent years through investment in special educational supports, special classes and additional teaching resources. However, witnesses also identified significant barriers that continue to impede the full realisation of inclusive education.  A recurring theme throughout the committee's engagement was the need to strengthen Ireland's legislative and policy framework so that it more fully reflects the principles and requirements of Article 24 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The committee therefore recommends that legislation, policy and practice be reviewed and strengthened to support a rights-based approach to inclusive education to advance Ireland's obligations under the convention.  Witnesses emphasised that inclusive education is not solely about access to supports and services. It is also about ensuring that learners experience belonging, participation, dignity and respect within their schools and education communities. The committee heard that many families continue to experience difficulties accessing educational supports and services. Witnesses highlighted the importance of ensuring that supports are responsive to the needs of learners and are available in a timely and equitable manner. The committee recommends that access to supports become increasingly responsive to the needs of learners and less dependent on diagnostic labels alone.  The committee also heard significant evidence regarding workforce shortages across educational psychology, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and other specialist services. Witnesses highlighted the impact these shortages can have on participation, communication, educational attainment and well-being. The committee, therefore, recommends the development of a national workforce plan to address staffing shortages and improve access to specialist supports.  The committee heard strong evidence regarding the importance of communication rights and access to appropriate communication supports. Particular attention was drawn to the experience of deaf learners, the implementation of the Irish Sign Language Act 2017 and the importance of ensuring access to Irish Sign Language and other communication supports, including augmentative and alternative communications. The committee recommends strengthening the implementation of communication rights and improved access to the supports necessary to enable learners to participate fully in education.  The committee also heard evidence regarding the importance of learner voice and participation in decision making. The committee emphasised that disabled learners should be supported to participate in decisions affecting their education and that their views should be taken into account in education planning and policy development.  Witnesses highlighted the benefit of inclusive education practices and school environments that are designed to accommodate diverse learners from the outset. The committee, therefore, recommended the further embedding of universal design for learning principles across teacher education, continued professional development and classroom practice. The committee heard evidence regarding the value of multidisciplinary working and the importance of closer collaboration between education, health and disability services. The committee recommended the expansion of initiatives, such as the in-school therapy support demonstration project and strengthened inter-agency co-ordination to support learners and families.  The committee also examined transitions between early years settings, primary education, post-primary education and further and higher education which were identified as particular points of vulnerability for learners with disabilities. The committee recommended improving planning, co-ordination and continuity of support during these transitions. The committee considered barriers experienced by disabled learners in further and higher education and recommended continued action to improve accessibility, participation and support across all stages of the education system. Evidence received by the committee highlighted concerns regarding the use of reduced timetables and the impact that such arrangements can have on educational participation. The committee recommended that reduced timetables should be used only in exceptional circumstances for the shortest possible period and subject to appropriate safeguards and oversight.  The committee also heard evidence regarding the need for stronger data collection and monitoring and accountability mechanisms to support evidence-based policymaking and measures progressing towards inclusion. The committee recommended improved collection and publication of data to support planning, transparency and accountability across the education system. A consistent message throughout the committee's work was that disabled people and their representative organisations must be involved in the development of policies that affect their lives. The committee, therefore, emphasised the importance of consultation and coproduction with disabled learners, families and disabled organisations in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the principle of \"nothing about us, without us\". The committee recognises that achieving inclusive education will require sustained implementation, co-ordination and accountability across government. The report, therefore, recommends a co-ordinated approach to implementation and involving the education, health and disability sectors. Progress will depend, not only education policy, but also on disability services, health support, transport, workforce planning and broader societal inclusion. The committee believes that the implementation of these recommendations will support the development of an education system in which all learners, regardless of their disability, are able to participate fully, achieve their potential and enjoy equal opportunities throughout their educational journey.  I look forward to other Members' contributions. I will come back in at the end of the debate. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Education and Youth (Deputy Michael Moynihan)  I express my gratitude to everyone and thank all the members of the joint committee for their work in preparing this report. I know full well the work that they are engaging with. As I was the chair of the committee in the previous D\u00e1il term, I am aware of the work, effort and preparation involved. I have watched a number of the committee's meetings over the past year or so. The dedication, commitment and the depth of knowledge within the committee is a joy to behold. The seriousness that members take their role as advocates in the committee for disability matters is hugely important. I congratulate each and every one of them for their input into it. It is one of the most important committees in the Houses of Oireachtas because one fifth of us now according to the various censuses have a disability of one type or another.  The committee is led by Mairead who had a huge influence. There is a great team on the disability committee. I thank them all for that. There are a number of issues that were raised in the report on inclusive education. In his opening remarks, the Chairman mentioned a school in his constituency in Limerick. If there is proper investment in education for people with additional needs or disabilities, they can flourish in all those settings. It is about how we pathway that to grow. Since my appointment to this role, I have taken on this role extremely seriously and I have worked with all stakeholders to ensure that we have the best possible education system.  A number of the points were made in the report regarding the transitions in education. In any child's life who has a disability when they enter preschool, go from preschool to primary school, then go to primary to post-primary and then onto adulthood, those key points are hugely important. In my engagement, not just as chair of the committee, but as a public representative for a number of years, families have been in contact with me. They are the key points or the key difficult moments in family's lives. It is important that we have the right resources in place there. Over the past week or so, I am pleased that we have secured additional funding, particularly on special schools, and there will be extra resources given to special schools to guide the students and their families as to what the future looks like when they leave the special school, whether it is into supported employment, day services or beyond. They are a hugely important piece in it.  If we compare September 2025 and September 2026, we will have close to 1,000 extra special classes opened across the country at primary and post-primary level. These classes did not just come about. A lot of work done by the Department, Deputy McEntee in her time in the Department, the Minister, Deputy Naughton, myself and the school communities over the past 12 months to bring this to fruition. With the engagement that the committee has had with school authorities and school communities, it is important to note that there is a huge openness across primary and post-primary schools to engage with specialised education and to improve and make sure that we have more inclusivity and classes within that. That is a work that is being done. We have also introduced the new inclusive special classes at post-primary and primary, which have been welcomed by the school communities. We have to embed them and ensure that we are doing the right thing.  The one thing that I constantly I push is that the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is an overarching document with overarching reach. The optional protocol was one the issues that we addressed in our committee and to ensure it was signed during the term of the previous Government, which it was finally. It is only as good as how the Republic of Ireland will interpret that and ensure that we have the supports in place to ensure that every child matters and that every child that goes through education who has special educational needs has the best possible outcomes within the education system. I passionately believe that if we invest properly in special education, we will improve the life cycle of the individuals who has special educational needs and their families. We will also improve a variety of issues societally.. That is fundamental. As a country, we have invested hugely in education over the past 100 or so years, which has served us well. We have to ensure that we continue the level of engagement and support across the special education system to ensure that the best possible outcomes for children with disabilities.  Over the past five or six weeks, in five locations across the country, we met the principals of the special schools. We sat down with them for four or five hours on a Friday to see what the challenges are for them in their school communities, including what they, their teams, their leadership, teachers and SNAs face on a daily basis and to feed that back to ensure that we are doing the right thing. One of the big issues they were looking at was career guidance. What we have done is ensure that hours are provided across the special schools to support students and their families into the future.  We also worked extremely hard in relation the SNA workforce development plan, the workforce redeployment plan and the circular which will replace the 2014 circular. The 2026 circular has been brought out. It gives certainty to many thousands. This year alone, over 26,000 SNAs will be employed in the education system. That number will increase over the coming years. We are listening carefully to what is being said.  I was delighted to meet members of the committee in Liskennett recently. Everybody who was at the centre in Liskennett was really impressed with the service provided there and the ongoing work being done by St. Joseph's Foundation in Charleville. I congratulate the Joint Committee on Disability Matters on visiting the site to see the work being done at first hand. The service in question works with 80 schools across the region. It provides therapy sessions to special classes and special schools. It is an integral part of those classes and schools in the context of the wider community. On one of the days I was there, people had travelled from as far north as Ennistymon in County Clare, Limerick, Tipperary and beyond to get an hour or less of equine therapy. Such therapy is of huge benefit to the children. You could not but be impressed by the work ethic of the teams at Liskennett and by the services they provide for the children involved. It supplements and supports special classes and inclusive education.  We are starting inclusive special classes this year. Other countries tell us that they do not have special schools but that they have very inclusive models. Not every child, because of their needs, can meet the strict criteria. We have to have special schools, special classes and integrated classes across the system. Some practitioners in education have been extremely capable in pushing the boat out and challenging me and other policymakers as to the best next steps for education and how we can be more inclusive. We have been engaging thoroughly since I took up this role, for example, with the National Council for Special Education, and the work it does. Over the past number of years we have increased the number of special educational needs organisers, SENOs, from 60 to 120. There are now more SENOs who liaise with families to ensure that they make the best possible informed decisions for their children. Last year, we had the 51 recommendations regarding the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs, EPSEN, Act. The latter was developed over 20 years ago and was reviewed in the context of how we make sure that we have the best possible education system and the next steps. I was Chair of the education committee 20 years ago when people were talking about mainstreaming and the challenges involved Education has evolved enormously in those 20 years for the better. We must now look at the next 20 years in the context of what is the right thing to do with the review of the EPSEN Act. The Government is holding a forum on special education and ensuring that the various stakeholders are talking about the next steps. We all have to understand that our schools are our future. It is important to ensure that we are engaging.  In every role across the education system, we see great practice. I could not but have been impressed by what has been done at Maynooth Community College. It reached out and set up a sports day for every special class in Leinster. Students in special classes in post-primary schools across Leinster were all invited to take part. I was there on the morning of the launch. No matter the challenges, you would have to be extremely impressed by the co-ordination involved, by the people in Maynooth Community College who were driving it in the first instance, by their understanding of the concept in having the special classes involved in their own day - all other students have their sports days - and by their energy, commitment and dedication. Those are some of the great practices.  When I was first appointed, people said we should look at best practice across different countries. We have a lot of very good practice in our education system, however. The challenge is to ensure that we replicate that best practice across the country. The committee's report speaks to the many challenges and issues we have to face up to across education, including teacher training, reduced timetables and exclusion, which is important at school level. I spoke about transition and inclusion. The Chair raised the issue of sign languages and co-ordination. We are best able to implement policy by collecting data and ensuring that we have the relevant data across the education system. Governance is also important.  I cannot but congratulate the committee unreservedly on its work. I appeal to all the members of the committee to continue with that work. If we continue to invest in specialised education as we are - one third of the budget is being spent on specialised education - in the years head we will see great benefits for the children, their families and wider society. I am delighted to accept this report. I encourage the committee to continue its work. It is hugely important. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Louise O'Reilly)  I also add my congratulations and thanks to the committee. It is a great committee and does fantastic work. I call Deputy Toole. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gillian Toole","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gillian-Toole.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Gillian-Toole.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gillian Toole  I thank Deputy Quinlivan for chairing our committee so ably and for tolerating a lot of toing and froing and time overruns, but the purpose and spirit committee members brought to the task at hand is manifest in the report. I urge all Members of both Houses and officials in all Departments to pay special attention to it.  The report runs to 42 pages. Pages 9 to 11 are the key pages because they contain the 33 recommendations. None of our work would have been possible without the submissions, in-person attendance and work of the secretariat in the background, keeping us on the straight and narrow and providing research and guidance. We had contributions from special needs assistants, personal assistants, teachers, allied healthcare professionals, service providers at the coalface and the National Council of Special Education.  I appreciate that whole school communities have had quite a lot of turmoil and policy change to grapple with in recent years. They have risen to the challenge wholeheartedly and are producing fantastic results for our children and for our future, while trying to manage change in policy with finite resource and oft times very scarce resources. That places immense stress on the system.  They are then trying to co-ordinate communication with parents, linking in with the health sector, and linking in with all the different service providers that may be appropriate along the way. What has become evident, and it is manifest in Article 24 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, UNCRPD, is that the focus now has to be needs based and on the needs of the child, and not necessarily set in concrete in a diagnostic process. We are moving towards a change in that area. I am quite an impatient person so I suppose I am always thinking of what actions can we actually implement. We are part of a five-year cycle and I hope the recommendations in the report do not take the full term to achieve implementation. I will give an example of where action has come about quite quickly, and the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, referred to it. I visited St. Bernadette's in Letterkenny on Monday. My niece is on the staff there. Mr. Haran, the principal there, welcomed the recent funding for that transition piece from primary to secondary, and secondary to tertiary or to service provision. That is most welcome. The Minister of State is hitting the ground running so more would be most welcome.  The objective of Article 24 and the right that underpins all this is that all learners with disabilities can access an inclusive, high-quality education system with the appropriate supports, with reasonable accommodation, and without discrimination. The results in the report will address all that in succession. It is fair to say at this stage that national policy has evolved considerably. I cast my mind back to the time when I was a child and my mother was a primary school teacher in County Meath. When the bell rang, as kids all we wanted to do was get out, get into the car and go home. We did not quite understand why mam might have been the extra hour or even the extra hour and a half or two hours after school. What she was actually doing at that time was ad hoc support and assistance to children in her care who needed it. Cross check that with the current situation with the EPSEN Act, the review thereof and the recommendations, and things are moving in the right direction.  Again I refer to my impatience. What I would like to see, and I think the signs are good, is that the education, health and disability supports that are currently fragmented across regions and perhaps across schools and between individual children, will all move to a point where we have inter-agency co-ordination and we have joined-up working. That is essential. There is a task force within the Department of the Taoiseach. There is the Minister of State's Department of Education and Youth. We have the Department of Children, Equality and Disability. It is about more of those links.  I am being cheeky now but the Cathaoirleach of the Joint Committee on Disability Matters is here. I am jumping ahead but I would like to see more attendances at our committee meetings, either in public or in private session, so we are very much aware of what the different groups are doing and that we are all on the same page, so we can deliver outcomes for children as quickly as possible. I will refer to some of the points that witnesses have emphasised. The key starting point is that children's ability to learn and engage meaningfully in school is linked to emotional regulation, psychological safety, and access to timely therapeutic supports. The Minister of State referred to the Liskennett centre and the fantastic work being done there through the medium of equine assisted therapy. This is the type of approach that helps with regulation and helps with the release of oxytocin, which biochemically helps bring about calmness. When we have calmness and regulation, the channels open up for learning. The good work at Liskennett is being replicated at Clonalvy in County Meath with Joy Murray and at Stewarts Care in Kilcloon through Terri Brosnan and her team there. We wish to see more of that. I appreciate that officials are looking for an evidence base but I would like to flag something with the Minister of State that I noticed on social media, which is the Department of agriculture funded equine therapy and programmes that are available around the country for the children of farming communities who have additional needs. If the Department of agriculture can do it, perhaps we could see more of that provided through the Minister of State's Department. I am very happy to work with him on that.  Well-being supports are well proven to help sustain inclusion for students with complex needs. As referred to on page 25 of the report, there is a requirement for holistic, multidisciplinary, social and emotional supports. We had a fantastic visit to the Corpus Christi school in Limerick where we met with the team there. We had the team from St. James's primary school in to visit us. I have been to St. Bernadette's. We also have St. Mary's in County Meath. This is not to take away for one minute from the work that is being done in special classes. I would also like to commend the library services through the local authorities, in particular Meath County Council. Through the healthy Meath programme, it has have embraced well-being classes and story massage through Una Curran, who has also done this online with other local authorities. If colleagues would like information to that effect, I can pass on her details. There is a whole area referenced in the report on art and music therapy. I will bring one book to the attention of Members. The question arises of the evidence base and whether there is there an evidence base for all these integrated therapies. There is indeed and there is an excellent book called Art Cure: the Science of How the Arts Transform our Health . It is also very beneficial to elder care. I just wanted to flag that.  In the area of recruitment, I commend the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Deputy Lawless, and the Minister of State, Deputy Harkin, on the move towards the increased college places for occupational therapists, speech and language therapists and students of psychology, and for the reforms that are coming in the area of education. These are most welcome. I will give a particular mention to Dunboyne College of Further Education, which is now linking in with Enable Ireland and with the HSE primary care teams.  To conclude, I would highly recommend all Members to please read the report. We refer to the area of personalised budgets and personal assistants minimally in the report but that is an area for future development. It underlies all our work on the committee. I will finish with a quotation from Dr. Margaret Mead, the famous American anthropologist. She had fantastic observations of the social norms of her day but they are very relevant at this point in time. The Minister of State made a similar comment this afternoon. Dr. Mead said, \"The solution to adult problems tomorrow depends in large measure upon the way our children grow up today.\" "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I also commend Deputy Quinlivan, as committee Chair, the clerk to the committee and the committee secretariat who have done a huge amount of work.  I would like to tackle one of the issues Deputy Toole brought up. It is absolutely spurious to believe that anyone would have gone over time at the Joint Committee on Disability Matters and I would just like that recorded. I cannot imagine who she meant----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gillian Toole","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gillian-Toole.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Gillian-Toole.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gillian Toole  I am looking at you. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  -----and neither can the Minister of State. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  No. Certainly not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  When we are talking about inclusive education we need to make sure that this is part of wider inclusivity. Deputy Quinlivan, two other members of the committee and I were lucky enough to be at the 19th Conference of States Parties to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on the 20th year of the UNCRPD. We dealt with a huge range of issues. It was everything from autism services for adults, to participation in sport right through to the role and impact of conflict on those with disabilities. I commend ambassador and permanent representative, Mr. Fergal Mythen, and the mission to the UN, whose guests we were, on what was a very worthwhile enterprise. We were doing this in the United Nations in New York when the regime in America is obviously putting extreme pressure on the United Nations and the whole idea of multilateralism and international law.  On some level it nearly makes it more important at this point in time.  The ethos across the board was about inclusivity and ensuring that those with disabilities could participate fully in every aspect of society. It was about mainstreaming, which is about supports and ensuring, as much possible when talking about education, that people with disabilities can play a full part in mainstream education if that suits. I understand that will be different for every person.  On universal design, whether we are talking about course content, capital projects and settings like this, it is about ensuring as much as possible that we facilitate as many as possible. We are talking about those with mobility issues, those who Deputy Quinlivan spoke about who have issues with hearing, those who have vision-related issues and those who are neurodivergent. We already know that this particular Chamber would suit almost none of them but that is what we need to be about. It is about universal design, mainstreaming and reasonable accommodation. In fairness, that means it has to be reasonable. While we will not always be able to facilitate everyone, the plan should be to facilitate as many as possible and then, if we need bespoke solutions for those with more challenging needs, we should be able to provide them.  I do not think I could continue on mentioning the NOW Group, that the Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach, Deputy O'Reilly, a number of others and I were lucky enough to meet earlier. It is a social enterprise group that is based in Dublin, Belfast and throughout. I think it has a place in the Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach's constituency. It was really worthwhile. No more than a lot of the interactions that the disability matters committee has had, we listened to people talking about their lived experience. We also dealt with the cost-of-living issue at the disability matters committee this week. I do not think I need to go into the absolute need for a cost-of-living payment and ensuring that it is for everybody, and not just those who are getting social protection payments based on their disability at present.  We met representatives from the Irish Wheelchair Association, Rehab and AsIAm. Conor Lynott and \u00c1ine Dunne, in particular, spoke about their cases in relation to housing but no more than the young people from the NOW Group, they spoke about getting jobs, and how we do not allow for all those transitions, be they the transitions from early childcare through to primary, post-primary and tertiary education, as well as the transition into work. There are those who are worried about losing their payments and those who are worried about losing a medical card, even if it is a number of years later. We could be talking about people who have significant health needs.  We also spoke about the issues that this State has to get better at in respect of facilitating the connection between industry, enterprise and these young people, who will be able to provide a real benefit to the economy and to these companies. In fairness, there was talk about how many companies are worried, have an element of trepidation and are unaware of the schemes that exist such as the wage subsidy scheme or the work and access programme. What also was pointed out to us is that those schemes are not fit for purpose. We must have a more comprehensive and holistic look at how we deal with disability.  When we talk about inclusive education, we all know the issues that exist. We could literally spend our entire time here talking about the issues facing those who are waiting for an assessment of need. We could talk about those who, even if they have an assessment, cannot get the necessary therapies. For all of the improvements there have been with regard to workforce planning, we know that we need the back-up of assistive technology.  When I am in these circumstances, I find it hard not to use the example that I know the best, which is our Turlough. I am sure that all the Members have heard me speak about him before. He is 17 and is autistic. He attends \u00d3 Fiaich Institute of Further Education. He attended St. Joseph's National School before that and as I have said previously, he has been facilitated no end. I often talk about speech and language therapy, SLT, and what I will say is that he, his family and the school all would have been better off had those therapies happened within a school setting and had we been involved. It would have been even better if we had assistive technology rather than photocopies - and I am not taking away from the quality of the SLT that was provided - but from the State's point of view, it is about getting the best bang for buck. It is also about getting the best bang for buck from Turlough's point of view - who is the person who definitely needs it - as well as ensuring that I and my wife, who does all the heavy lifting in relation to most of this, would also get the best benefit out of it. Children of his age have no issue or rather probably too many issues in relation to using screens but we can all see how it would work if we were talking about assistive technology and apps that back up best practice and which would also benefit teaching staff and SNAs.  Being from Limerick, Deputy Quinlivan could not but speak about the Corpus Christi Primary School. I also have to mention it. I was really taken with the principal, Tiernan O'Neill, and his staff. In fairness, I see it as nothing but an outlier school in relation to being at the absolute centre of the Moyross community but even beyond that, through fundraising it ensured that it had the supports that were required within that school setting. These are for all children and that is the idea of mainstreaming because we are talking about counselling and psychological services, along with SLT, OT and all those requirements that are needed.  We often speak about early intervention without actually delivering it. In a lot of cases, if we could give most children that early intervention, it would probably reduce those situations and circumstances that arise. From the State's point of view, that would be easier, quicker, faster and cheaper. From a budgetary point of view, it is an absolute win-win. It is about ensuring that we can deliver this. The report also deals with the reality of the fact that we do not have enough OTs, SLTs, or psychologists and while we need to do those pieces of work, there is far more that we need to do.  Deputy Toole spoke about how a lot of parents come to us and their issues are generally related to school, including reduced timetables. Some schools can be better than others depending on a number of factors. If there are staff changes and a particular SNA, teacher or SET leaves, it can change the dynamic within a school. Meltdowns can be very difficult to deal with but if strategies are employed, they can be reduced and are generally avoidable. I can speak from my own experience in this regard.  Along with Liskennett and equine therapy, I could not but mention Louth Disability Cycling Club. I also have to mention that Louth County Council and the HSE are coming on board to make it into something that is sustainable because that is beneficial to those people with disabilities who engage with it and their families. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Louise O'Reilly)  The Deputy's time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  It is well up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  I commend Deputy Quinlivan and the committee on producing a very good report. I have not read it all yet, but I have read a fair bit of it and it seems like an important piece of work. Well done to them all. I am not a member of the committee but it is an important issue.  I have a particular reason I want to raise a specific issue with the Minister of State in relation to people's access to education and special needs assistance and I will get to it in a minute.  The starting point of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the fact that equal access to education is a right for children regardless of disability or additional needs was brought into very sharp focus recently with the Government's move to reduce the number of special needs assistants in many schools and the explosion of anger from school communities that caused. The Government has responded to that explosion, but it highlights something that is terribly important, which is the need to listen to those who are impacted by our decisions and by whether the systems we have and the resources we allocate are adequate to actually ensure the quality we profess to try to achieve in terms of delivering equal access to education. What we learnt from school communities, parents, teachers and SNAs during the recent events is that the role of the SNA had massively evolved from when the 2014 circular, for example, was originally done up; that a sort of minimalist approach to the special needs resources that were needed for children was not adequate; that there had to be recognition of that evolution of the role of the SNA in providing social support, communication support and emotional support to children; and that a minimalist approach which led people to think they could reduce SNA support on spurious grounds failed to take on board the actual needs of children and the views and opinions of the SNAs, the parents and the school communities. It was a matter of listening to those directly affected. A \"nothing about us without us\" approach is terribly important in this regard.  It is in that context that I want to highlight to the Minister of State - I do not know whether he got an email about this - the situation, which may be impacting more broadly than the particular example I have come across, of the allocation of SNAs to children under IPAS, which is a different system. The Government, in the context of the recent protests and so on, promised that there would be no reductions in SNA supports for schools in September, but that has not come to pass in the case of the provision of SNAs for children from IPAS accommodation. They are in the same schools as other children, but it is a different system for allocating special needs supports. I was not aware of that, but this is where you learn from people on the front line, in this case from Holy Family National School, in Monkstown Farm, in my area. The way SNAs are allocated is that for every 15 IPAS students the school has you get a half-time SNA, half a post, for 16 hours. If, however, the number of IPAS students drops below that number, you lose that. That is what has happened to Holy Family National School. This happens even if the number drops only temporarily. In the case of the Holy Family, the school informs me and has informed the Department that the number has briefly dropped below the threshold of 15 but that it will go back up above the threshold in September. In the meantime, however, the school has had the half an SNA post withdrawn and it simply cannot cope with the impact of that. It does seem crazy to have a cliff edge of that sort. If you have 15 students, you get half an SNA post, but if you have 14, you get none, so you just go over a cliff. Then the school has to pick up the slack, and that will impact everything else in the school. An injury to one is literally an injury to all, and that is not fair. I ask, on behalf of Holy Family National School, all the children involved - the IPAS children and all the other children - and the teachers who will be impacted as a result of that, for that to be addressed and for the schools, please, to be heard.  It does speak more generally to something I think Simon Lewis said to me about the approach we have to have in ensuring inclusivity and in giving the necessary supports and resources to avoid a penny-pinching or box-ticking model that can end up not really doing justice to the actual human lived reality of children with disabilities or special needs. The way he put it, in literally one sentence, was that we have to trust schools, that we should just trust schools. There are so many buzzwords in all these documents, but I think that is what is referred to when we talk about rights-based and needs-based provision - that it is the actual needs that have to determine things, rather than ticking boxes or rationing resources, which is so often the case. That, I think, was at the back of the recent debacle in terms of the withdrawal of special needs supports for so many schools, causing panic and alarm in school communities across the country. We must recognise those on the front line: the parents, the teachers, the SNAs, the children themselves, the school communities. They can tell us what the needs are. They are the experts. They should be believed; they should not be distrusted. It should not be thought that they are trying to rip the Department off of resources. Their words should be accepted. That is not to say that very occasionally people might not look for things they do not need. By and large, however, people do not look for things they do not need, and there should not be an attitude at Department level that people are looking for things they do not deserve. It is when that attitude of gatekeeping comes in that we get problems.  In my last minute and a half I wish to mention a couple of things. When will the pilot project on providing therapies in schools be expanded to all schools? From what I hear, it is a storming success, and how could it not be? How could providing OTs, speech and language therapists and psychologists in schools not be a good thing? We do not really need to pilot any more. It is working. Let us just do it and roll it out and have a plan to get all these speech and language therapists, psychologists and----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  In the new school year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Excellent.  Can we also, then, have psychology departments in post-primary schools? That would be the next thing, something that has happened in many other schools. We know mental health issues are huge in terms of special needs, neurodivergence and so on but also just generally for young people. There should be, as there are in many other countries, psychology departments in every single school. That should be an aspiration for us in every school.  I agree with Deputy Toole's point about arts. When we talk about expanding the basic income for the arts scheme, we should develop a scheme to offer jobs to artists in every single school, whereby you get a decent, liveable income and you have time to practise your own art but also help bring art to children with special needs, disabilities and so on, and indeed to children generally in schools. That would be well worth investing in in every single school and would be an imperative to reach across the education system. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  Congratulations to Deputy Quinlivan and everybody on the disability matters committee for this great document. I have read it. There is so much in it. It must have been a huge amount of work. It is very thorough. My colleague Deputy Liam Quaide is not able to speak today but he would love to have been able to do so.  One of the things that struck me with this report is that in schools, education and in this place, we often silo things. The disability matters committee has done a wonderful report. We in the education and youth committee are down in committee room 4 most weeks, and we are looking at inclusive education. It is imperative that these two pieces of work meet each other and that we do not stay siloed. This is not about maths, Irish or English in school. It is serious and is about people's lives. I would love to see what comes out of our report and how they speak to one another. They are independent pieces of work but I have no doubt there will be so many things that are similar between them.  The only difference is that ours will be for primary and secondary school and will not examine third level. That is the missing conversation that never happens in here. What happens for young people who go on to third level, whether to an apprenticeship or college or to any institution or course? The Disability Federation of Ireland has said that 25% of adults with disabilities have now completed third level in comparison to 32% of the general population. We are still not on a par. We need to ensure that tertiary education is as available as primary and secondary. It is not so easy. That conversation definitely needs to happen. I would love to see the further and higher education committee, which I attend although I am not a member, looking at the situation as well.  On education and children with disabilities, not a day goes by that somebody does not contact my office about the state of things. I just got off the phone with a mother where the school clearly does not want the child to be there. Deputy Boyd Barrett said to trust the schools but in this scenario I do not. This poor child has been ostracised. I am obviously not going to name them. There are examples of poor practice around the country because of lack of leadership and lack of challenges. We need to make sure that if this is the situation, it is called out. For the most part, schools are doing absolutely excellently. However, not every school is suitable for every single child. If that is the case, how do we make sure a child does not continue in an education setting that ruins them as an individual?  Separate to this, when I was a school completion co-ordinator, we had the iScoil programme. It is not for children with disabilities but for children who left school and were not in school for six months at a time. They would come to us broken, thinking they were stupid and thinking they were not able to learn anything. The system broke them because it did not understand them as individuals and their needs and rights. When they would come to us, we would have to build their confidence so they would know they are not stupid, and there is a place for them in this world and for every single person. We need to challenge that in every aspect of our education system at primary, secondary and third level, so nobody feels they are not able to be valued and have a place in that.  The systems in this world have to fit around people. People do not have to be jammed into a system that is wrong for them. That is so important, particularly for people with disabilities who already face so many challenges in other aspects of their lives. Over the course of being a TD, I have been struck by the different types of challenges that people have when they have a disability. For example, on reading, there are reading classes that are being closed, or are not open or are full, because they are not being invested in. The vision is to be inclusive so that the local school will be the inclusive school and children will just go to their local school. That is fantastic but in the meantime, until that is a reality, we need to be safeguarding those reading classes and making sure that children have access to that. There are children who are going on to second level who have not managed to access or get through the primary school curriculum. They are not able to read it because they have not been given the skills to do that. We are using programmes like Reading Recovery, which is being struck off in other countries, and we are investing a quarter of a million euro or more in it. We need to look at structured literacy and how that happens, and why it is effective in the long term for children.  While I am talking about books, I cannot ever forget about the young person who came to the education committee and told us that he got his Braille books the week before he was doing the leaving certificate, even though they were ordered in fourth year. I just cannot get over that. There is a system that shows an absolute breakdown for a child, that they would not have their books for the two years of studying the leaving certificate.  I have mentioned mild general learning disability schools so many times. I did not know they existed until I was a TD. Now I know. I have been at one and was at a beautiful graduation in Scoil Eoin in Crumlin last week. I was trying not to cry too much since it was not my children, but it was absolutely gorgeous. Those young people have left that school with their heads held so high, with absolute support, love and care. They are going to meet the world right where it is and will be able to do whatever they want in the future because of the care they got in that school. I know we want to have the local school being the inclusive school, but until that is an actual reality we cannot close those schools because those children will not get the same love and care in a school with 1,000 pupils. There is just no way they can. There is a balancing act. When we transition into the new system we would like to have, we need to make sure that until we are definitely able to deliver on that side, we do not put those children in jeopardy.  Today in the education committee the teacher and SNA unions were in. One of the challenges they have is the lack of time for planning. They do not just rock up on a Monday morning at 9 o'clock and decide what they are doing today. They have to have plans. That needs to be built in, particularly if they are supporting children with additional needs. It is about what needs to be done, when, what is the routine and who is doing what - all those things. That needs to be built in to the planning week, as does the overall view of how inclusive education is done in a school. It is the culture of a school and who manages it. When the principal is running around doing all the other things, who is the person who instils that culture in a school? The principal is that person but she or he cannot do everything. We need a way of making sure that culture is there in schools.  We also need to make sure for any school that is being opened, a special school or special class, that the training is there for those staff members. Teachers who are newly qualified or who are very long in the system are telling me time and again that they did learn anything about this in college, yet they are expected to go in and work with the child when they have no idea how to manage or do that. It is not good enough. We are failing the teacher or SNA and we are failing the child. We need to make sure that the training and CPD is there for the best chance for everybody in the situation.  I agree that it has to be rights-based and needs-based. It needs to be about fairness and equality, but also equity. We cannot give everybody the same because some people need more than others. There is a fine balance as to how we make sure that everybody gets exactly what is appropriate to them to make sure they are on an equal footing with everybody else. When I was visiting a school a very long time ago, I saw a lovely picture of children looking over a wall. You just saw their faces across the wall, but on the other side you saw children of different heights. Some were standing on a higher or lower ladder or stool, but they all looked the same from the other side of the wall. It was showing what equity is. Equity is to give people what they need in order for them to be on an equal footing with everybody else. That is not only for primary and secondary school but also for third level. Early intervention classes set children up to succeed in primary school. We cannot see them closed until we have proper alternatives in our primary schools. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Education and Youth (Deputy Michael Moynihan)  I thank the Members for their contributions. A number of issues were raised. It was remiss of me at the start not to talk about the education therapy services. We made a decision at Government back in March or April of 2025.  Some people said we would not be able to do it. This involves the whole of Government. It was a decision made at the Cabinet disability committee. The housing committee is the committee that meets the most, and the disability subcommittee is second.  A decision was taken to put therapies back into schools, starting with special schools and then rolling services out elsewhere. There are two elements to that. The first is recruitment. Thankfully we have had a successful recruitment process. Services will be clinically led by the NCSE and the structure is in place. Services are being rolled out in special schools.  The Department of further and higher education has examined expanding the amount of training and college places available for occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, behavioural therapists and other therapists. We cannot manufacture therapists; we have to train them through the system. We are working extensively across Government. We have increased capacity in third level colleges to ensure that we have an adequate number of occupational and speech and language therapists.  The other piece is that heretofore no block release was available for occupational therapy, in particular, for special schools in Ireland. A number of occupational therapists were being trained in college and were then going to block release in the UK or other jurisdictions. We know when people go on block release we lose a certain percentage of them. From this year, that is being addressed in special schools. Block release is available for education therapy services. This is a great enabler and will be significant for students who are going to special schools. We have to continue to monitor and work on that. I can report to the House that is being done.  There was a pilot scheme in 2024. The new scheme includes 45 schools and is a permanent scheme to provide therapies. It will be rolled out to over 140 schools. Over the past five years we have added another 20 special schools across the system because we need to build capacity in terms of education therapy. It will be a great enabler for the system.  The teams working in special schools are superhuman beings and are doing an amazing job. We have to encourage and understand them. That is why I reached out to all the principals over the past number of weeks and met them face-to-face. We will continue to examine schools that have embraced special classes, including inclusive special classes, with such great enthusiasm and excitement.  Across the Chamber I heard about the commitment and dedication to special education. I reflected on some of the reports we launched when I was chair of the committee. The level of commitment to special education and disability on the floor of the D\u00e1il is a joy to behold. People are well informed and see the challenges. We are dealing with a system that is evolving and we have to ensure that we are equipping the system not just for the short term but for the next decade and beyond. We spoke about the workforce development plan over the next decade or so. We have to ensure that we are equipping it for the next decade and beyond. The decisions that we make today are for the betterment of society.  I thank Members for their contributions. I engaged with all of those who contributed as best I could individually and collectively. I thank the Committee on Disability Matters for the work it does. I ask that it continue the good work and I look forward to going before it again in the not too distant future. The committee visited Liskennett in Limerick. The committee is a powerful body and the more it is out in communities and groups the more informed the Oireachtas is, so keep up the good work. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Maurice Quinlivan  I thank the Minister of State for his kind and supportive comments for the committee and its members. It is much appreciated. I thank all of the members of the committee who contributed to the report, turned up to meetings, read all of the submissions, made suggestions, changes and amendments and helped us to deliver what I believe is a good report. I hope it will be accepted. I want to I record my thanks to the committee secretariat, ably led by Mairead O'Donovan and supported by Ronan O'Connor and Tracey Driscoll, who did a fantastic job in delivering the report.  Inclusive education, as I said, is not simply about access to school places but also participation, belonging, communications, achievement and equal opportunities. Last week, as Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa said, members of the Committee on Disability Matters visited New York city to attend events around the application of the United Nations CRPD on its twentieth anniversary. The committee's recommendation provides a practical roadmap to advance inclusive education in Ireland, in line with Article 24 of the UN CRPD. I take this opportunity to thank ambassador Fergal Mythen and the team at Ireland's permanent mission to the UN for the fantastic support they gave the committee in terms of organising meetings and events and hosting meetings at the permanent mission across the road from the UN. The meetings were very useful and there were learning experiences for all of us.  I thank the members of the committee and committee secretariat for their work in developing the report and all of those who engaged with the committee throughout the process. The committee hopes that the recommendations contained in the report will assist in advancing an education system in which every learner is valued, supported and enabled to participate fully. I again thank everybody who contributed to the report. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar athl\u00f3 ar 6.38 p.m. go dt\u00ed 2 p.m., D\u00e9 M\u00e1irt, an 23 Meitheamh 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The D\u00e1il adjourned at 6.38 p.m. until 2 p.m. on Tuesday, 23 June 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Report of the Joint Committee on Disability Matters: Motion"}]}}]},"contextDate":"2026-06-18"},{"debateRecord":{"house":{"showAs":"34th D\u00e1il","committeeCode":"","houseCode":"dail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/house\/dail\/34","chamberType":"house","houseNo":"34"},"chamber":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/def\/house\/dail","showAs":"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann"},"lastUpdated":"2026-06-27T02:13:12+00:00","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-17\/debate\/main","formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-17\/debate\/mul@\/main.xml"},"pdf":null},"date":"2026-06-17","counts":{"contributorCount":170,"divisionCount":13,"debateSectionCount":27,"questionCount":0,"billCount":18},"debateType":"debate","debateSections":[{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-17\/debate\/dbsect_2","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case:  Deputy Joe Cooney - To discuss industrial development and employment opportunities in the mid-west region.  Deputy Robert O'Donoghue - To discuss provision of a permanent two-classroom SEN facility and PE hall for Balscadden National School.  Deputies Sorca Clarke and Martin Kenny - To discuss the Peterhead Ten.  Deputy Barry Ward - To discuss the status of the assessment for the drug givinostat for patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.  Deputy Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in - To discuss emergency winter funding for rural roads in Wicklow and Wexford.  Deputy Shane Moynihan - To discuss delays in reimbursement under the cross-border healthcare directive.  Deputy Pa Daly - To discuss funding for a building to include an autism unit in a Kerry school (details supplied).  Deputy Darren O'Rourke - To discuss access to, and staffing for, the summer programme for 2026.  Deputy Louise O'Reilly - To discuss the national child poverty target.  Deputy Pat Buckley - To discuss an application for an interim ancillary grant by a national school in Mitchelstown.  Deputy Malcolm Byrne - To discuss the development of Bunclody Community College, County Wexford.  Deputy Michael Murphy - To discuss the recruitment of a consultant ophthalmologist in south Tipperary.  Deputy Gary Gannon - To discuss the proposed reforms of the criminal legal aid system.  Deputy Paul Murphy - To discuss the decision of South Dublin County Council to increase council, HAP and homeless HAP rents from July.  Deputy Maurice Quinlivan - To discuss funding for the roll-out of BusConnects in Limerick city.  Deputy Barry Heneghan - To discuss the proposed relocation of An Post's Harmonstown sorting office and the impact on local postal services.  Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire - To discuss the timeline to progress the Cork southern distributor link multimodal route.  Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa - To discuss appropriate school places for children with challenging needs in County Louth.  The matters raised by Deputies Barry Ward, Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa, Darren O'Rourke, Robert O'Donoghue and Joe Cooney have been selected for discussion. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-17\/debate\/dbsect_3","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-17\/debate\/dbsect_4","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Medicinal Products","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-17\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_4","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  I acknowledge that the Minister is here in person. It does not always happen for Topical Issues but I am grateful for the fact that she is here. It is probably a reflection of the fact that she is getting the same emails I am getting from people in our constituency who are affected by Duchenne muscular dystrophy.  I am sure the Minister already knows about it but Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a condition that affects muscular restoration and muscular development, mostly in boys although not exclusively. It occurs from about the age of four. It is a degenerative condition. Over time, it restricts the ability of those boys to do things that all our children take for granted, simple things, whether that is getting up after a fall, getting up out of a chair, getting in and out of a car or climbing stairs. Over time, that gets worse and worse until eventually they cannot stand independently or cannot stand up at all. Unfortunately, the nature of this condition is that as it gets worse and worse, boys who suffer from it will often not be able to walk by the age of 12. This is, therefore, a heartbreaking condition for parents as they watch their young children unable to do the things their peers are able to do. That degenerative nature of the disease must be extraordinarily difficult for them. It is a rare disease. I know there are different assessments as to how common it is. Ultimately, it does not affect a huge number of people but those people whom it does affect are deeply affected by it, not only the families and the extended families but also, obviously, the people who suffer from it themselves.  The Minister is aware that families were in here last week, a year after they first brought this to our attention, to have a meeting to inform many of the Members of this House about the situation in relation to Duchenne muscular dystrophy and the treatments that are available. Many Members will have attended that briefing in the audiovisual room. The families referred specifically to givinostat, a drug that is available for the treatment of the condition. Givinostat is really important because it is a turning point in the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. It cancels out some of the enzymes that prevent muscular development and muscular restoration. The muscles of young boys who suffer from Duchenne's are generally wasting away; they cannot restore themselves. Now there is a drug that is available and has been approved, for example, in the United States and provisionally in the European Union and that can treat that specific cause and deal with the enzyme that prevents the muscles from regenerating and being restored. It acts as a pause or a stop on the progress of the disease.  There are a couple of difficulties with it, however. The first is that it is not something that can be taken at any stage in a sufferer with Duchenne's. There are boys who are no longer eligible to take givinostat because of the delays in getting the drug approved in this jurisdiction. There are other boys who are approaching the point at which they will not be able to take it. Time is therefore of the essence in this matter. As one parent who wrote to me said, time is muscle when it comes to Duchenne's. Again, I am sure the Minister is familiar with these issues.  Those parents who have children who suffer from Duchenne's are therefore incredibly anxious that this drug will progress. I know that was a meeting - last week, I think - of the senior management team or that this is progressing through the Minister's Department. What I would really like her to tell us, though, is the progress in relation to givinostat; whether the families can expect that this drug will be available not only to them but on the same terms that it is available in other parts of the island - for example, in Northern Ireland; and if she can tell parents, conscious that time is muscle and conscious that there are kids who need this drug urgently, if this will progress in such a way that it will be available to them in the short term, or when it will be available to them. This heartbreaking disease can be stopped in its tracks for some patients, and we should be doing everything we can to ensure that happens. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Health (Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill)  I thank Deputy Ward for raising this issue. This is something I have been working on with families for over a year now, since this drug was approved by the European Medicines Agency. I have met many of those families. I met them when they were here last week, before they had their audiovisual room briefing, I have met them four, five or six times online and I met them past year in person - I have met them so many different times. Together, we have been working to try to get this drug approved within the Irish system.  As the Deputy will be aware, when a drug is approved at a European Medicines Agency level, it does not necessarily mean that it will be available in Ireland. Why? It is because it is necessary for the drugs company to make an application to have the drug available in Ireland. It is not as though Ireland simply gets it as a matter of course. The HSE needs an application to be made. The drug company has to choose to want to sell it here. We have been trying to encourage Italco Pharma for some time to make the appropriate application.  The drug was approved in June of last year. I immediately met families in relation to the next steps. We did not get an application from the maker of givinostat for some time, so we all engaged in a lobbying campaign in different ways. I met the Italian health minister, Mr. Schillaci, in Luxembourg to encourage him to ask the company to make an application in Ireland. I made the same ask of him again at a later stage, in November, in South Africa, at the G20 meeting. The Taoiseach has been involved in this, asking Prime Minister Meloni to get involved to ask the Italian pharmaceutical company to make the appropriate, complete application here in order that the HSE could respond. I was on my summer holidays in August of last year waiting to see every day with the HSE whether the application had been made. Eventually, on 6 August, the HTA application was first made. I thank Michael Barry and the people in the HSE for the speed with which they processed that part of the application, which was exceptionally quick. The National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics did a rapid review. The application was made on 6 August, the rapid review was completed on 14 August and a full HTA commissioned on 26 August. That is unprecedentedly fast, and I am very grateful to the HSE for its speed, reflecting the seriousness of this.  On 30 September the HSE met with Italco Pharma to assess the HTA process. The assessment of the pricing and reimbursement application could not proceed until the full HTA was received from the Italian company.  That was eventually received on 15 January 2026. We were updating the families at every stage, discussing and giving them full information and transparency as to what was happening. I am grateful to the HSE for concluding the assessment on 3 March, which was a matter of 26 days or so. That was very fast. The HSE's corporate pharmaceutical element, which is the interface between the HSE and the pharmaceutical industry, held a meeting with Italfarmaco on 27 March 2026. A commercial offer was received from Italfarmaco on 8 May 2026. Again, we were waiting for these applications to be made.  The HSE drugs group continued that application at a meeting one month later on 9 June. When we bring together all of the different experts, it is not something that is stood up quickly. We have to review the documentation and have the scientific experts there. The drugs group supported the reimbursement of givinostat. Yesterday, the senior leadership team in the HSE supported that application and the drug will now proceed through a managed access protocol.  We have discussed in detail with the families how a managed access protocol works. It is a matter of clinical decision making as to who gets the drug. Of course, as the Deputy has referenced, not every boy is suitable for it. The question of being ambulatory, being able to stand and all of those things are not decisions for the Deputy and I but are decisions for clinicians. We want to make that drug as broadly available as possible but, ultimately, it is a clinical decision as to who should get the drug and who should not. I am so thankful to the HSE and thankful to the families for their constant engagement with me in relation to this, not just in our constituency, but around the country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  I thank the Minister. I join with her in thanking the HSE for the work that has been done and also acknowledge her commitment to this. Anybody who has dealt with families who are suffering with this disease understands both the heartbreaking nature of it and the urgency involved.  Listening to what the Minister has said in relation to the progress and the managed access protocol, do we have a timeline for when it will be available? I accept entirely what the Minister has said about the clinical criteria for the application of the drug. That is entirely appropriate and, unfortunately, there will be boys, because of the delay in the application outside our control, who may not be eligible to receive the drug now.  For those who are still eligible and those who can still stand up independently or who can stand up, can we give them a timeline for when they might be assessed for that and the conditions under which it will be made available to them? I am conscious of the fact that muscle is time and the fact that this drug is the very best way available to sufferers of Duchenne muscular dystrophy to stop the progress of this disease and to stop the degeneration of their muscles, which is irreversible. For the families the Minister has been dealing with and I have been dealing with, can we give them a particular timeline for when they can hope to be clinically assessed, if that still has to happen, but more importantly to have access to this drug in the same way it is available, for example, to our cousins in the North of Ireland under the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, NICE, protocols? Will the drug be available under the same conditions as it is available in the UK under the NHS? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  It was \u00dana Ennis who coined the phrase \"time is muscle\". I am grateful to her for her engagement and advocacy all the way through. The first thing is that we are trying to get the drug physically into the country. My officials have been working on that for some time in anticipation of what we hoped would be a positive response. Of course, it is not just a decision whether to give the drug or not. It is also a decision about whether the drug is effective and for whom it is effective. It is a complicated balance and we must always defer to the scientists on these decisions as well, recognising that Ireland remains a country that believes in science.  We are trying to get the drug physically into the country. This is a high-tech drug and not one that is put on the back of a van and sent to a pharmacy. Due to the way in which it is given, we are trying to work out whether this is something we can do more quickly in acute settings and how we can most quickly get this drug to the boys who need it so badly. Our broad approach is one of trying to give maximum access to it but I will defer to clinicians on who the appropriate people are to get it.  Yesterday, I was meeting with the European health ministers. We had a working lunch specifically on medicines and the challenge of most favoured nation, MFN, access to medicines. We have been trying to work in different ways on two things. As a small country Ireland, like the Benelux countries, Croatia and other small countries, have a difficulty with access to drugs. If we look at drug companies making applications, they are making it to the likes of France, Germany and other huge markets. We are just not in the same space. We do not have the same visibility. We are trying to partner with other countries to create a bigger market so we can be more attractive and also so we can negotiate on more attractive terms.  I feel that the only group with all of the information are the drug companies and that the member states are working somewhat against each other in terms of each of them making individual negotiations because of the way the European treaty is structured and health being a national competence. It is something we need to reflect on. I am working with other European health ministers to find a way to streamline the way the HTA process works, reduce some of the national country administrative burden, make Europe a more powerful block, and rebalance that balance of power, crucially so that patients get access and so the Irish State can spend as much money as possible in getting as many drugs as possible for the broadest range of people. That will not always result in positive decisions by the HSE. I need to say that loudly. We have had difficult days on that, too, but we are desperately trying to take the right approach in every way. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Medicinal Products"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-17\/debate\/dbsect_5","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Special Educational Needs","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-17\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_5","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I thank the Minister for taking this. When we talk about finding an appropriate place for children, particularly those with special needs and challenging needs, it is a constant battle for those parents. It is a constant battle even at times for elected representatives who are contacted in relation to this, whether it is contacting the special educational needs organiser, SENO, contacting schools individually or even in instances when we have to bring it to the floor of Leinster House.  Obviously, I have made the Minister of State aware of some of these cases and if we are lucky enough to meet afterwards and deal with this, unfortunately, there will be more names I have to add to that list. I will use these as examples. Again, we are not only talking about children going from primary into secondary school where the roadmap should be a lot clearer and straightforward on the basis that they are not coming from Mars. They are already in the system.  We also suffer from the circumstance where a child is probably put in an inappropriate place and that may fall apart, and then they are left with no school place whatsoever. We are talking about cases where the educational welfare officer, EWO, is checking why the child is not at school and realises there is an issue. There is then no pressure on the parent from the point of view that the child is not at school, yet there is no solution. That is not taking away from the work done by SENOs and EWOs, but we need a far better system to actually deliver.  I am going to use a couple of examples. One is an eight-year-old named Hollybelle from Dundalk who has Down syndrome and an autism diagnosis. At this point in time, she has mobility issues and is non-verbal, so I am not taking away from the complexity of the case. She was given a special class within a school. That fell apart and now, months on, she does not have a place. Unfortunately, there has been a huge number of representations made by her mother over and back, particularly with the National Council For Special Education, NCSE, which I have contacted also. However, we are not in a place that we have a solution.  Another example is Tristan, who is a 12-year-old from Dundalk. The recommendation is for a special school or special class catering to autism spectrum disorder, ASD. I could talk about the multiple representations this mother has made to special schools and to schools with units and, in fairness, others and I have been in contact with all the services and there have been parliamentary questions placed. In some cases, it is schools that have not necessarily had their requisite ASD places or classes commissioned. Nonetheless, the Minister of State can imagine the pressure that these parents are under.  I am dealing with a young boy of 12 years old from Dundalk who is on the autism spectrum and there is no place whatsoever. His father has been in and out of my office and is under severe pressure.  There is another man with an 11-year-old boy. The school place he had previously then fell apart and at this point in time the child has been languishing at home.  There are sometimes issues that need to be dealt with around transport and whatever. I accept that----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  I thank the Deputy. He will have a further two minutes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Education and Youth (Deputy Michael Moynihan)  I thank Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa for raising this question regarding County Louth. I will first give him an overview of where we are and then address the specifics, if that is okay.  We are extremely committed to the provision of additional places for children with exceptional educational needs. The number of special classes provided across the country has doubled over the last few years. In addition, 16 new special schools have been established in recent years. School capacity has also been expanded across a number of schools nationwide. Four of these special schools are in County Louth, educating approximately 450 students with complex educational needs. These schools are supported by the Department of education and the National Council for Special Education, NCSE.  As the Deputy will be aware, an earlier notification deadline was introduced last year to support forward planning. This also meant that the NCSE was equipped earlier with local information as to what students would be leaving school, transitioning to post-primary specialised places or seeking specialised places and entering the education system for the first time. This information is crucial when examining where places must be provided to meet demand.  The National Council for Special Education started sanctioning special classes for the 2026-27 school year in January, several months earlier than the previous year. To date, 565 new special classes have been sanctioned by the NCSE for the 2026-27 school year. By way of information, between September 2025 and September 2026, close to 1,000 extra special classes will have been sanctioned and opened across the country. The vast majority of these new special classes are for children with autism. The new special class sanctions mean there will be over 4,300 special classes operating in mainstream schools across the country in the next school year, up from 1,836 in 2020. The earlier notification has given us insight into the need. The Department has worked extremely well with the NCSE and with school communities across the country to open extra classes at both primary and post-primary levels.  On the issues the Deputy has raised regarding education, we have those who are entering primary school for the first time and those who are transitioning from primary to post-primary school. These are the pinch points or challenges we face. We are acutely aware of the breakdown of places. We are working extremely well with the new teams within the NCSE across all counties to make sure we are meeting the needs of children with additional educational requirements.  The Deputy mentioned a number of children. While it would not be appropriate for me to discuss these cases on the floor of the D\u00e1il, the Deputy shared the details with me yesterday evening and I will certainly take these matters up and respond to him offline. I fully understand. One of my motivations in my role is that, a few short years ago, I met a parent at a school gate whose child was finishing primary school in June of that particular school year. This parent did not know where that child would go to post-primary school that September. That has really guided me in making sure we have appropriate places. On being appointed, I looked at moving the date to earlier in the year so that we would have earlier sight of educational requirements. We are working to ensure that again next year. It is proper to engage in forward planning to make sure we have sight of the need. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  We all welcome the attempts to streamline the system. The problem is that too many children are still falling between stools. I am not taking away from the particular issues but I spoke about Hollybelle. One of the schools she applied to was a special school that she did not qualify for. Her intellectual disability was seen as too severe. As much as we have an insufficient number of places for those who have autism - I accept that there have been increases, which is necessary - there are also a number of children who fall into the bracket of intellectual disability who have no place to go. We really need to look at this across the board and come up with a comprehensive solution. The Minister of State can imagine the absolute disaster this is for families and the pressure they are under. I spoke to Tristan's mother. I believe she will be here later to protest because she is at the end of her tether and does not know where to go.  I welcome the fact that we will continue this conversation offline. I did not expect to hear the solutions in here today. However, we need to get them.  On a point of information, when we talk about situations breaking down, a mother wrote to me about her son Matthew, who is going to secondary school in September. She could not get him a place in an ASD class, so he has to go into a mainstream class. The problem is that the SNA co-ordinator has told her that they cannot promise him SNA access as there are only six SNAs available between first year and sixth year. She has detailed Matthew's issues to me. We are going to have cases like that across the board. We need to find a way to deliver. I will follow up with the Minister of State afterwards. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  There are a number of issues to discuss. The Deputy mentioned a case. I do not want to go into the specifics on the floor of the D\u00e1il but that is one of the pieces we are concerned about. We are concerned about meeting profound levels of need within an appropriate school. We are doing a number of things. We have sight of the need earlier in the school year. We will continue with that programme over the next while. We are also gathering information from other Departments, including information from the access and inclusion model and the domiciliary care section, to make sure that we have full sight of this need, particularly at primary level. In addition, during the school year, school placements may not work out for a whole variety of reasons. We really need to work on that. While primary schools right across the country have done a huge amount of work with regard to additional special classes and working through the system, we have more work to do with regard to post-primary schools. Students will be going from primary school to post-primary school. We will be looking very carefully at that issue over the next while. We are also looking at where placements break down and the supports we can provide through the NCSE, the SENOs and team leaders right across the country.  The Deputy asked about County Louth. We are investing in special schools and special classes right across County Louth. Of course, we are supporting students in mainstream education as well. I assure the Deputy of that. It is extremely important. I know and understand the pressures families are under, particularly as we are now galloping towards the end of the school year with a new one on the horizon. Families need certainty on that. I will follow up on the queries the Deputy has shared with me and report back to him. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Special Educational Needs"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-17\/debate\/dbsect_6","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Special Educational Needs","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-17\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_6","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  The level of support provided by the summer programme and its recognised benefits are very clear. It is recognised by school communities, parents and children themselves. There is increasing demand for the programme and, in recent years, an increased number of places have been provided. However, very real problems have been identified this year. Something different is happening in the administration of the scheme this year. In some cases, this means that children who were intended to benefit from the programme now will not.  I have my suspicions about what is going on here. We all hear about the budgetary challenges in the Department. I believe they are at play here.  We raised the issue of the very narrow application window, which the Department revisited, and that was welcome. I am hearing this from school communities and parents across the length the breadth of Ireland. A thread running through all of the complaints is that an entirely different approach is being taken now by the Department regarding SNA allocation.  I have specific examples. In County Offaly, a school does tremendous work in special education and has an above-circular allocation in recognition of the complex needs in the school. It has nine SNAs but has been told it will have six for the summer programme. In Trim, a school with a tremendous track record in special education has 18 SNAs but has been told it has 12 for the summer programme. This means that children with additional and complex needs will be locked out of the scheme. There is another case in a DEIS school in County Cavan. It wants to roll out a literacy and numeracy camp but will have to exclude children with additional needs because of the lack of SNA allocation. This is one very important issue that I want addressed by the Minister of State.  The other is the home-based programme. There is an absolute delay in sanctioning this to the extent that children, particularly secondary school children but also some in primary, might not get the opportunity at all. We know that in previous years the sanction happened way earlier. We are now running towards the end of June, and this has not been sanctioned. Schools that applied earlier in the year were told that it would be late May or early June before they would get the sanction letters but they are now told it will be the end of June. In some cases, tutors, teachers and SNAs are only available in the month of June. Their own children are at primary school and they are working in secondary schools, so they have the flexibility in the month of June that they do not have in July and August. These children are going to miss out on the summer programme as a result of these delays. What is going on? Can the Minister of State urgently address those deficiencies? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  I thank the Deputy for the question. Like the Deputy, we recognise the importance of the summer programme as a vital piece in the education system. It is vital for children at primary and post-primary school. It is specifically designed for children with complex educational needs or those at risk of educational disadvantage. While it is delivered during the summer months, it is an educational programme and it is important that it is viewed as educational rather than as recreation in summer camps.  Since 2021, the Department of Education and Youth\u2019s inspectorate has evaluated the programme annually. The findings consistently highlight the programme\u2019s positive impact on the many children and young people who have taken part, with parents, staff and the children themselves reporting improvements in confidence, attitude and readiness to return to school in September. The original intention and continued emphasis of the summer programme is to mitigate the impact of learning loss on those children while schools are closed. An increase in special educational needs prevalence rates, particularly of autism, and the presentation of children with more complex needs, has meant that the summer programme is more important than ever.  Details of the summer programme were communicated to schools and stakeholders in early May. While it is acknowledged that the details of the programme are typically announced earlier, the Department has continually kept in touch with stakeholders who are querying when the summer programme might be announced. This ensured that schools understood it would be forthcoming and that they should start their preparations. As a result, the online application portals for both the school-based and the home-based programmes were opened from 6 May to 15 May. Both the Minister, Deputy Naughton, and I were aware of the deadline, and the application portals were reopened again from 2 to 5 June. Details of this reopening were announced in May.  The summer programme has been well established for several years, so even though there was a shorter window for applications, schools were prepared in advance. The Department subsequently received more applications for the school-based scheme this year than in 2025, with increases across primary, post-primary and special schools. In addition, the number of home-based applications has significantly increased on last year. The Department has been engaging with schools on an individual basis in relation to the running of their summer programme. Schools have now received their sanction letters with their staffing allocation. This allocation is based on the number of children who are taking part in accordance with the published terms and conditions of the programme.  In instances where schools believe they require additional supports, they can engage, and many are engaging, with the Department to outline the unique circumstances that require additional resources. I know the Department has been working with schools on an individual basis to ensure they can meet the needs of all the children taking part. Equally, it is acknowledged that there are some children with complex special educational needs whose school is not running a school-based programme or that a place on the school-based programme is not available. In this instance, these children can avail of the home-based provision.  The Department is working hard to ensure it is communicating with families as a matter of urgency. As the Deputy rightly pointed out, we are in the second half of June, and we need to get certainty to all communities. Many schools have been liaising with us in the past week or ten days in particular, and the Department has been engaging with them. Where a need is demonstrated, additional staffing is being made available. This will continue to work until the summer programme is up and running. We are very serious about making sure that the summer programme works this year and into the future. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  I would be interested to know the numbers. I recognise they have been increasing year on year. My understanding from replies to parliamentary question that I have received from the Department is that the budget has increased but it has not increased in the past two years and has been static. I know there were 1,800 schools and 71,000 children last year. How many schools and children are there this year? Will the Minister of State indicate whether more schools will participate this year and whether more children will be accommodated?  I know many schools are engaging in the appeals process. I implore the Minister of State to ensure timely responses. I am dealing with a number of schools that have appealed. They engaged in good faith and outlined their particular circumstances but it is more than ten working days later and they have had no response from the Department. That has to change.  When will the sanction letters for the home-based programme be issued to give people a clear indication that they can go about making arrangements? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  There has been an increase in the number of schools. More applications were received for school-based programmes this year than in 2025, with an increase across the primary, post-primary and special schools. In addition, there has been an increase in home-based applications, which significantly increased last year. We are working across the system to ensure we are delivering decisions and appeals. Further information has been sent in by school authorities to the Department in recent days, and that is being worked on in a timely manner. Certainty is being issued to schools, and we understand the need for that.  There has been an increase. This shows the value that the families and school communities put on the summer programme. I am pleased to see that more primary, post-primary and special schools are engaging in the programme. That is what we want. We want to make sure the programme is open to all. In the past few years, there has been an increase of 210% in child participation. That is welcome. It is what it is all about. It is to ensure that children who require further education, those with additional educational needs and children from disadvantaged backgrounds have the opportunity of the summer programme.  This programme was devised many years ago and it has been successful and has been running across the schools. We understand the value of it. The engagement between the Department and the school authorities is ongoing. A lot of documentation was issued over the last day or so in terms of staffing and that will continue. On the home-based tuition, or the home-based programme, we are working to bring clarity to families because I know families need certainty at this point in the year. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Special Educational Needs"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-17\/debate\/dbsect_7","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"School Accommodation","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-17\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert O'Donoghue  I want to highlight a deeply concerning situation facing Balscadden National School in my constituency in Dublin Fingal West. The school is simply asking for appropriate educational provision for children with additional needs. It has been informed by the Department that it will only provide a single special educational needs, SEN, classroom through a modular build. This decision appears to be based on the assertion that a two-classroom unit would require planning permission and would delay the project. However, the information available to the school raises serious questions about this justification. A report has suggested that a septic tank would need to be relocated to accommodate the two-classroom unit. The school disputes this and believes that the tank does not need to be moved. Furthermore, if planning permission is required, the additional timeframe is estimated at about 12 weeks. When we consider that the most optimistic opening date would be spring 2027, and that September 2027 would be a more realistic target in either scenario, it is difficult to understand why a long-term educational need is being sacrificed for a relatively short administrative delay. The reality is that the single SEN classroom would be filled immediately. Once it reaches capacity there would be no further places available until pupils reach sixth class. So what happens to the children who are coming in for 2028, 2029 and beyond? Are the families expected to wait years for appropriate provision? Are children expected to travel long distances because sufficient capacity was not provided from the outset?  There are also significant concerns about the quality of provision being proposed. A singular modular unit comes with fewer facilities for children who will use it. In addition, the Department proposes providing only 50 sq. m of soft play space. The school believes this is wholly inadequate to facilitate meaningful reverse integration and inclusive educational opportunities. The Education Act makes clear that every child is entitled to the most inclusive education possible. Inclusion cannot simply be spoken about; it must be properly resourced and designed into our schools. A restricted space of 50 sq. m does not allow the level of interaction and integration that children deserve.  Finally, the school community has been informed that its playground will be disrupted and effectively removed during construction. It is entirely reasonable that playground damage or loss as part of this project should be fully reinstated when the works are complete. I call on the Minister of State and the Department to urgently review this proposal, engage constructively with the school, provide a two-classroom SEN unit that meets future demand, ensure adequate outdoor space for inclusive education and guarantee the full replacement of the playground following construction. Our children deserve planning that looks beyond next year and provides for the future needs of Balscadden National School. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  I thank the Deputy. I appreciate the question and thank him for his ongoing engagement on matters of education, not just in the House but also his own engagement in it. It is important that we do so.  I want to go to the school the Deputy raised. I assure the Deputy that the Government is fully committed to supporting students with special educational needs to fulfil their full potential. The programme for Government makes a number of commitments to deliver on this important objective.  I can assure the Deputy that the Department has been working closely with the school authorities in relation to the school's accommodation requirement and will continue to do so. The Department of education appointed a project manager who visited the school to examine the feasibility of providing two special educational needs modular classrooms at the school's preferred location on the school site. The Department was advised that due to a site-specific technical constraint only one unit could be accommodated at the school's preferred location. However, I commend the school's strong preference for proceeding with two special educational needs classrooms, and the project manager is now undertaking a revised viability assessment report, including examining the possibility of relocating the modular accommodation to an alternative location on the school site. The Department of education will endeavour to assist in facilitating this option. Once the process has been completed, officials from the Department of education will be in contact with the school authorities.  The Deputy will appreciate that the Department is required to utilise the funding available to it to ensure that every child has access to a school place, and indeed there is a large demand for school places and class provision in the Balbriggan school planning area. I assure the Deputy that the Department is fully committed to the optimum special education needs accommodation solution at the school and will continue to engage with the school in this regard.  It is important to note the project manager has been appointed and has gone out there. I could not but strongly commend the school authorities for wanting to go ahead with the two special classes. That is not universal but perhaps the Deputy might convey to the school authorities that we do appreciate that they are looking to the future as well. One of the things we have to bear in mind as a Department and a Government is the large demand for special education class provision in the Balbriggan school planning area. That is one thing we have to be very cognisant of as we move forward. I will give a commitment that we will work very closely with the school authorities to ensure we find the best possible solution there and to ensure engagement with the school authorities on it.  By way of information, the Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, is the statutory body for the provision of special education and allocating supports for children with additional needs. The Department is guided by the NCSE in relation to requirements for special classes in the first instance. In order to respond to the urgent need for special educational needs class provision identified by the National Council for Special Education, my Department is progressing urgent building projects that involve providing modular accommodation for SEN class provision. This delivery method and modern methods of construction offer an extremely high-quality carbon-friendly building combined with fast delivery. In overall terms, it is important to have a range of delivery mechanisms for delivering school accommodation to support the very strong and ambitious roll-out of school building projects across the country.  I assure the Deputy that the Department will be working very closely with the project manager and the school authorities in order to progress the delivery of special education class accommodation as quickly as possible. My officials will engage directly with the school again on the next steps for delivery of this accommodation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert O'Donoghue  I thank the Minister of State. I will convey this to the school principal, Mr. White. While seeking the two SEN classrooms is probably not as common as it should be, it is good to hear that the Department is working closely with the school. I feel that myself and my Dublin Fingal West colleagues are like a broken record at this point. It is the fastest-growing local authority area in Ireland. I am glad to see that facilities like this are being taken seriously, as is coming forward from the Department. From my own point of view, I am asking the Minister of State to continue that engagement with the principal, Mr. White, and the school community on this issue. It will certainly be used in the coming years and without a doubt it will future-proof one area of the north county. The school community is willing to provide the Minister of State with any solutions or any further input he might need that will work to find what we perceive as a better solution than that originally put forward. Engaging with them can bring a better conclusion. That is the outcome we are all looking for. I thank the Minister of State. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  In all school projects when the Department engages, the Department is one side of it, the planning and building unit is one side of it, and there is the National Council for Special Education, which has sight of the numbers that are notified on a yearly basis. The most important ingredient as well is the school authorities and we have to bring them with us.  The school authorities have the best interests of their communities at heart and they want to see what is the best option for them. In this instance, they are very clear in demonstrating that a quick fix in relation to one classroom will not meet the needs into the future. Where population growth is anticipated right across the country, we have to be very mindful that we have to future proof, so that we are not trying to catch up year after year and make provision for specialised education. There must be reflection on the points that have been made and the really serious engagement the school authorities have had with the Department on pushing the two classes in the overall decision that we are making. I assure the Deputy that the Department will continue to work with the school authorities and bear in mind the challenges that will arise not just in 2026 but into the future in the greater Balbriggan area as well. We will work closely and we will report back the Deputy. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"School Accommodation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-17\/debate\/dbsect_8","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Industrial Development","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-17\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Cooney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Cooney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Cooney  Ireland is at a crossroads. Dublin is bursting at the seams, housing is scarce, costs are out of control, infrastructure cannot cope and commuters spend hours of their lives on packed roads every day but two hours west of this Chamber, we have an asset of great national potential, Shannon and the wider region. Developing Shannon as Ireland's second economic engine is not just good for County Clare, it is essential policy for Ireland. With excellent road and rail connections and port access at Foynes, Shannon has the freight and logistics capacity that any foreign direct investment team would find compelling. Shannon Airport is the only airport outside Dublin that can handle long-haul flights. It is critical national infrastructure that needs to be used more. The Shannon Airport Business Park is the largest outside Dublin with hundreds of companies employing thousands of people across a range of businesses. It has 130 acres of land available for new development, doubling the park's current capacity and driving the economy of the entire region.  What Shannon offers that Dublin cannot is space, which is vital. Physical space for companies, space in the housing market for workers who can afford homes within reach of their workplaces, and space in the planning system to move with ambition and speed. There are 9,000 students graduating every year from the University of Limerick, UL, and the Technological University of the Shannon, TUS. Shannon itself is home to the Shannon College of Hotel Management.  Pharma, medtech, ICT, financial services, aviation, agrifood, and green energy sectors all have a natural home in the Shannon region. The Roche site in Clarecastle is a prime example of the region's industrial capacity. It is a flagship location that is perfectly placed to attract the next generation of global life sciences and clean-tech investment directly into County Clare. With Ireland's offshore wind potential off the Atlantic coast, Shannon is ideally placed to be the industrial hub for new energy-intensive and net-zero industries. The national planning framework commits to regional balance in principle. Successive Governments have promised balanced regional development but promising it and actively delivering it are two very different things. What steps is the Minister taking to back up those promises? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (Deputy Peter Burke)  I thank Deputy Cooney for raising this very important Topical Issue on the mid-west region, Shannon Airport and County Clare. The mid-west region is uniquely positioned to drive balanced regional development, with assets including Shannon Airport, Foynes Port, excellent road and rail connectivity and a highly skilled workforce. There are strong links to leading education institutions. The region has all the fundamentals required to support sustained industrial growth and job creation. Government policy is fully aligned with unlocking this potential. Through the White Paper on Enterprise 2022-2030 and our regional development agenda, we are focused on ensuring every region, including the mid-west region, can realise its full economic and employment potential.  My Department contributes to this agenda through the work of IDA lreland, Enterprise Ireland, the local enterprise offices, LEOs, and nine regional enterprise plans, REPs. The regional enterprise plans have proven effective in fostering regional collaboration, bringing together key stakeholders to identify challenges and opportunities and to take action in areas such as cluster development, manufacturing and knowledge economy.  Since 2017 my Department, through Enterprise Ireland, has made available over \u20ac150 million in regional enterprise development funding. Looking ahead, Enterprise 2035, as set out in the programme for Government, will build on this progress. It will support long-term enterprise growth and job creation, focusing on key enablers such as skills, infrastructure, digital connectivity, access to finance and sustainability.  The LEOs play a vital role at grassroots level, supporting job creation in small businesses across the region, providing targeted grants for scaling and exporting firms, including support for specialist hires, and driving digital, green and lean transformation across sectors. Enterprise Ireland also supports over 700 client companies across the mid-west region, with employment growing in 2025 to almost 27,000. This growth is driven by strong performance in key sectors like medtech and healthcare, as referenced by Deputy Cooney. We are seeing this in major announcements, including Aerogen, lreland's largest indigenous medtech company, announcing this year the creation of 725 jobs between its two manufacturing sites in Shannon and Galway and Vitalograph's expansion in Clare and Limerick which will see it take on an extra 200 employees.  In May 2025, Enterprise Ireland announced the high potential start-up, HPSU, class of 2024 in which \u20ac27.6 million was invested in Irish start-ups, supporting over 157 start-ups in 2024 through HPSU or pre-seed funding, of which six were in the mid-west. The region is already delivering strong results. There are 158 IDA client companies in the mid-west region employing 28,125 people, with employment among IDA clients increasing by 18% in recent years. Key sectors include technology, life sciences, international financial services and engineering.  The strategic location, excellent connectivity through Shannon Airport, and a skilled workforce supported by the UL and TUS make the mid-west region an attractive environment for multinational corporations. Some of the major FDI companies have expanded their operations here, citing access to talent, quality infrastructure, and Government support through IDA Ireland as key factors. Adjoining Shannon International Airport, Shannon Free Zone remains a cornerstone of international investment, hosting one of the largest clusters of North American investment in the State, with continued growth in traded services and technology investment also accelerating. Looking ahead, continued investment, infrastructure and collaboration will ensure the Shannon region can fully capitalise on its key advantages. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Cooney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Cooney  I thank the Minister for his update and his commitment to Shannon and the wider mid-west region, which is very much appreciated. The overdevelopment of Dublin is not a Dublin problem, it is a national failure of planning and political will. Shannon and the wider region are not asking for charity. They are asking for the investment and commitment to do what they have always been able to do: contribute in a meaningful way to Ireland's economic future. Let us stop managing congestion in Dublin and start building prosperity in the west, which is important. Let us recognise the strategic importance of Shannon and the wider region by investing in our airport, in the roads and in the public transport network and in public services that will ensure its future growth. The Shannon Chamber, which I have worked with on raising this issue, the Shannon Airport Group, Clare County Council and the wider business community in the region are willing to support the Government in delivering on its commitment to balanced regional development. We need the political will to match. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  I again thank Deputy Cooney. I had a great visit with him to County Clare and Shannon focusing on some of the key businesses that are there.  We visited the Roche site, where there is huge potential, and we saw the works that are being carried out to remediate that site. We also visited Beckman Coulter, another exciting life sciences company, and we will see significant investment from other companies in the region, like Jaguar Land Rover, which is really working to invest significantly, and also PPG and Zimmer Biomet. There is huge opportunity. Working with Deputy Cooney and the key support he has provided to me and the Government, we hope we will have a very significant announcement during the summer by a leading Irish-born company in relation to Shannon. This will be a strong testament to the work of the Government in providing the key infrastructure but also in ensuring that we have a highly skilled workforce, and that we are getting key training opportunities into our workforce to meet the challenges of artificial intelligence, getting our skills observatory up and running, and ensuring that the high-performance in Enterprise Ireland that looks after our homegrown entities is excelling. We see right now that of the 196 high-performance graduates, half of them are grounded in AI. That is where we need to be as a country to take those key opportunities.  I assure Deputy Cooney of my purpose and delivery and we will work very hard together to ensure we are delivering for the west and Shannon as a key economic hub and a driver for the mid-west and our country, as the Deputy has pointed out. I know it has been very successful at getting additional funding under the regional airports fund and it will be important to keep up that commitment from Government. I assure the Deputy of my support and I look forward to the announcement later in the summer. Last year, on a trade mission, as the first time ever for an Irish Minister, I visited the top Irish-born companies in Ireland over two days and sought what their issues and challenges were. Right now in this country, the top ten Irish-born companies employ 450,000 people globally, which is a very strong testament to Irish-born companies and the indigenous economy. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Industrial Development"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-17\/debate\/dbsect_9","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Data Centres, Energy Use and Climate Change: Motion [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":43,"speakerCount":36},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Mythen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Mythen.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Mythen.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  I move:  That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann:  notes that:  \u2014 climate change resulted in Irish temperatures in excess of 30\u00b0C in May, breaking a 29-year-old record by more than two degrees;  \u2014 a United Nations report has described Ireland as a cautionary tale on the environmental impact of data centres;  \u2014 the Government is implementing policies that will increase fossil fuel use, by facilitating further new data centres through the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) Large Energy User (LEU) connection policy, the introduction of private wires legislation, and the construction of a floating terminal for the importation and storage of liquid natural gas, including fracked gas;  \u2014 over 22 per cent of our electricity is already used by data centres, this will rise to over 30 per cent by 2030, and to 55 per cent if growth continues as projected, using more power than every other electricity user in the country combined;  \u2014 in May, the Climate Change Advisory Council noted that all new renewable energy being developed in the State is being cannibalised by new demand created by data centres, rather than going towards decarbonising homes, transport or industry;  \u2014 research projects that the 5.8 gigawatt (GW) of additional data centre capacity under the LEU may result in a doubling of the State's peak demand for electricity generation, and lead to an increase in gas consumption by 2030 against the current projected decline, should capacity be constructed ahead of new renewables capacity; and  \u2014 no offshore wind power generation capacity will be available before 2030 despite a 5 GW target;  further notes that:  \u2014 Ireland has the highest electricity prices in the European Union, and over 500,000 households are in arrears on their energy bills;  \u2014 the increased and inflexible energy demands of data centres means that more and more often gas generation sets the wholesale price of electricity, rather than renewables, resulting in higher prices for households, while Eurostat shows that large energy users pay lower network charges;  \u2014 research by Friends of the Earth Ireland, shows that Irish households paid an estimated \u20ac715 million more in electricity bills from 2015 to 2023 due to data centres, equivalent to \u20ac360 per household, and face an additional \u20ac1.43 billion in costs up to 2034, costing each household up to \u20ac644 more; and  \u2014 the Economic and Social Research Institute has shown that recent energy price increases hit low-income households harder, and that more targeted support measures are needed;  regrets that:  \u2014 the Climate Action Plan 2026 still has not been published;  \u2014 the final, phase 2 oversight group report of the Land Use Review, was submitted over a year ago and has still not been published; and  \u2014 planned legislation to prioritise critical infrastructure will bypass statutory climate obligations;  recognises that:  \u2014 data centres are essential infrastructure for the modern digital economy and the development of artificial intelligence technology but are overly concentrated in Ireland, are using an ever-increasing amount of energy, resulting in higher costs for households and businesses, and increased development is now at odds with our climate targets;  \u2014 discussion by Government of nuclear power is a nonsense and a form of climate obstructionism which distracts and blocks real climate action; and  \u2014 the Government will further increase carbon emissions by lifting the Dublin Airport cap, promoting unsustainable housing and economic development, and by no longer prioritising public transport and active travel investment over roads construction;  condemns the decision of the Government to use the Critical Infrastructure Bill 2026, to disapply Section 15 of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Acts 2015 to 2021 from designated projects; and  calls on the Government to:  \u2014 publish the Climate Action Plan 2026, and the final phase 2 oversight group report of the Land Use Review without any further delay;  \u2014 delete Section 7 of the Critical Infrastructure Bill 2026, and publish the legal advice confirming the constitutionality of the provision to disapply Section 15 of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Acts 2015 to 2021;  \u2014 suspend the CRU LEU connection policy, and commission an independent study of the impact of data centres on electricity prices, carbon emissions, water usage and grid stability;  \u2014 introduce a moratorium on the further construction of data centres until renewable energy from offshore wind comes online, and households and businesses can benefit from lower energy costs;  \u2014 introduce a levy on the energy usage of data centres, to recover the higher electricity costs now being imposed on Irish households and businesses;  \u2014 confirm by how much Ireland will miss our binding 2030 emission targets, what the cost of securing additional carbon credits will be, and how the next Government will pay for those; and  \u2014 immediately reintroduce targeted energy credits and more targeted Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland supports for households in advance of Budget 2027.  We are bringing forward this motion today out of a genuinely held concern that this Government is giving up even the pretence of caring about our climate ambitions. Earlier this year, we had what felt like three months of non-stop rain, leading to severe flooding in parts of the country, including my constituency of Dublin South-West. Just a few weeks ago, Ireland recorded record temperatures above 30\u00b0C in May for the first time in almost three decades, shattering a record that had stood for 29 years by more than 2\u00b0C.  Speaking of breaking records, I increasingly feel like a broken record when I bring up our climate crisis in this House. In Ireland and globally, we are seeing much more frequent and severe weather events, from droughts to floods to extreme heat. We have moved beyond the point of warning about the potential consequences of climate change. It is here. These consequences are already being felt. Urgency is required to prevent the most catastrophic outcomes - urgency in bringing down our emissions, in our energy transition and in addressing the costs of this perpetual fossil fuel crisis.  However, this Government is failing to acknowledge that there is any urgency. It still has not yet published a climate action plan for this year. It is June. It has failed to publish the land use review, which has been sitting on the Minister's desk for over a year now. The Minister, who is not here, is trying to make a virtue of admitting that we are going to fail miserably in reaching our 2030 carbon reduction targets. What is another few years? This Minister will be long gone from the climate brief by the time any of this matters.  Not only is this Government failing to act with any real urgency to decarbonise; it is also actively pursuing policies that are moving us in the opposite direction. This motion seeks to address some of this Government's failings when it comes to climate, starting with the most obvious example - the rapid expansion of data centres and the consequences their growth is having on our climate obligations and on household energy bills.  None of us here are Luddites. We accept and understand that data centres are part of a modern economy and industrial strategy. We all have a mobile phone; we all use cloud services. Many of us even use artificial intelligence, AI, though certainly not for parliamentary questions. This is not a question about whether data centres should or should not exist, and I hope the Government does not try to reduce the debate to those binary terms again. The debate has moved on. The question is whether we are content to continue to allow unlimited expansion of these data centres without regard for the very real consequences on people and our environment. This is a question of the Government's industrial and economic strategy as much as it is a question of our climate obligations and the cost-of-living implications of this strategy. The Government must be honest about the consequences and costs of allowing more and more of our energy to be used by data centres. It must be honest that much of the legislation it is pushing through is designed to facilitate and placate large energy users. I refer to the private wires Bill, the strategic liquefied natural gas, LNG, emergency reserve, which will import highly polluting fracked gas, and the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU's, new large energy user policy. Who knows what kinds of fossil fuel-guzzling projects a future Minister might deem to be critical infrastructure if that particular Bill passes?  The UN has described Ireland as a cautionary tale regarding the environmental impact of data centres. I would hope that would be a wake-up call for the Government but I will not hold my breath. Perhaps the Friends of the Earth report published a couple of weeks ago will be more impactful. It concluded that \u20ac715 million had been added to household bills between 2015 and 2023 as a direct result of data centre energy demands pushing up prices. A further \u20ac1.5 billion could be the price households pay for data centres over the next decade. This is at a time when, according to the latest figures from the CRU, more than 500,000 households are in arrears and cannot afford to keep up with their energy bills. We already have the highest electricity prices in the EU and this is, in part, directly attributable to data centres.  As our motion says, the massive energy demand from data centres means that gas is setting the wholesale price rather than renewables, making everyone's electricity more expensive. This is only going to get worse if we continue to build more and more of them. Data centres currently consume 22% of the electricity in this State. This is projected to grow to 30% by 2030 and they could ultimately consume as much as 55% of all the electricity demand in Ireland. This is insane. That is more than every household, school, hospital, small business, farm and factory combined. An entire energy system is increasingly organised around the demands of a small number of large corporate users and their interests.  That is why we are calling for the introduction of a levy on data centre energy usage. It is about fairness. Not alone are data centres pushing up prices for everyone else but we have a ludicrous situation where they are actually paying less than your average punter in network tariffs. If data centres are contributing to higher costs across the electricity network, then it is reasonable that they should contribute more towards those costs. It is not about punishing data centre operators or deterring investment. It is simply about making sure that ordinary households are not left footing the bill, which is currently the case.  What is particularly alarming is that the Climate Change Advisory Council has warned that all new renewable energy is being cannibalised by the growth in demand from data centres rather than decarbonising out transport sector, agriculture, industry or home heating. The Government's response to all of this has basically been, \"Yeah, but jobs\". However, the recent KPMG report commissioned by the Government makes the absolutely laughable claim that 900,000 jobs are attributable to data centres. The actual number of jobs directly created by data centres is around 19,500, the vast majority of which are in construction and are temporary in nature. The actual figure is about 3,000 ongoing jobs. That is not to be sniffed at, but is it worth building an entire energy system around and dumping our climate targets for? I would say the jury is out on that one.  The Government will say it is encouraging more renewables because 80% of the energy for our new data centres must come from renewables, but even with that, the remaining 20% will lead to a potential doubling of our peak gas demand. This means more imported fossil fuels, more emissions, more exposure to international energy price shocks and, ultimately, higher bills for hard-pressed Irish households. That is why we are calling for a moratorium on further data centre expansion. We want a pause until we have sufficient renewable capacity so we can ensure they are not impacting on our decarbonisation efforts or pushing up prices for ordinary households.  An additional concern addressed in our motion is the Government's Critical Infrastructure Bill and the disapplication of section 15 of the climate Act. Of course we want to see Ireland's infrastructure deficit filled. We have had a decade of wasted prosperity under Fine Gael and Fianna F\u00e1il Governments and it is typical that they would now seek to point the finger for their failures to build our necessary infrastructure at anyone but themselves.  They are punching down on the environment. However, we need to be clear that seeking to uphold our environmental and biodiversity laws is not the cause of the delays in getting vital infrastructure built in a timely fashion in this country. It is resourcing issues. For years, our planning authorities, courts and public bodies have been under-resourced. That is the reason we are seeing decisions taking years and years, delaying delivery. That is not the fault of environmental law. It is a fault of Fine Gael's and Fianna F\u00e1il's lack of strategic planning. None of the 20 delays to the completion of the National Children's Hospital is due to the environment. Section 15 of the climate Act exists for a reason. It ensures that our public bodies act consistently with our climate objectives. Removing it suggests that those objectives apply only when it is convenient and can be set aside when it is politically inconvenient. I will continue on this later. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  I commend my colleague and our climate spokesperson, Deputy Ahern, on proposing this motion, which I am delighted to second on behalf of the Labour Party. In my constituency of Dublin Bay South, we saw the largest mobilisation of young people in the first school strike for climate in 2019. My constituency is also home to a great many people working in the tech sector. However, it is also a constituency where many households are now struggling to make ends meet, in part due to the outrageously high cost of energy.  I make these points at the outset to illustrate the strong connection between the climate crisis, the cost-of-living crisis and the future of our economy and our workplaces. The connection here is so clear for the working families I represent. Every month, and the Minister of State will be aware of this, people open electricity bills they can scarcely afford. They watch prices rise, while they see people in other countries like Spain, which have invested heavily in renewables, availing of cheaper, cleaner energy. Ireland still has some of the highest electricity prices in Europe. More than 500,000 people are in arrears on their energy bills. Energy security is a buzz word for Government when it comes to justifying liquefied natural gas but less so when it comes to being honest with people about data centres.  As Deputy Ahern pointed out, data centres are now consuming more electricity than all urban households combined and that demand is set to grow. It seems the demands of multinational tech corporations have an outsized influence on national energy policy for this Government. I say none of this to diminish the importance of tech jobs. I know it well as local TD. However, there is a balance to be struck with the needs of working families and, indeed, other sectors and other businesses matter too. At present, what renewables we do bring on stream, the capacity is immediately being swallowed by the growing demand from data centres instead of reducing bills for households or improving our energy security. That is why in this motion, the Labour Party is calling for a levy on energy used by data centres and a moratorium on the introduction of new data centres until bills come down. We need to see offshore wind generation operating and capable of supporting that growth. We need that renewables revolution that we have seen driven by a socialist Government in Spain and that we have seen in other countries. We need to see a Government that is using evidence to drive energy policy, not just acquiescing to the calls of tech giants and fossil fuel lobbyists.  Before I finish, I want to emphasise that for Labour and for all of us, the debate should also be about jobs because the same artificial intelligence, AI, revolution driving demand for data centres is reshaping our labour market. Companies are selling AI and marketing its use as a way to flatten teams, which is a euphemism for cutting jobs. Young graduates are seeing diminished job prospects as early-stage AI lay-offs really cut deep. Generative AI is also having serious ethical implications due to the risk of mass theft of intellectual property. The Government is sleepwalking through an AI revolution. As a tech hub, we have an opportunity to lead on a just green transition for quality jobs, a renewables revolution and finally being able to meet our climate targets. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert O'Donoghue  I want to acknowledge my party colleagues today for bringing forward this motion because ordinary working - people I represent Dublin Fingal West - are to the pins of their collars trying to pay for heating their homes, filling the cars and putting food on the table. Ireland has the highest costs of energy prices in the EU, and why? It is because this Government continues to hand incentives, discounts and preferential treatment to some of the wealthiest corporations on the planet for their data centres. These are companies and tech billionaires who do not need a subsidy from the Irish taxpayer. The cost of these decisions is being carried by ordinary people struggling through crisis after crisis. We are living through a series of crises. It is an omnicrisis happening all at once: a housing crisis; a fuel crisis; a food and cost-of-living crisis; a childcare crisis; health and mental health crises; and a disability crisis. People are exhausted, angry and frustrated. That frustration is turning into resentment because they feel that the system is working for powerful interests and not working for them. At the same time, millions of euro are being poured into data centres, AI infrastructure and corporate expansion, while households are told to tighten their belts and accept ever-rising bills. This is where the climate crisis comes in.  The climate crisis is deeply connected to every one of these pressures I have mentioned for working families. However, too many people have been led to believe that climate change is somehow a distant issue. There is no point in telling people that temperatures are rising when what they are living through is extreme weather, such as flooding that is ripping up the roads and damaging homes. The climate crisis is driving food insecurity through higher food prices and reduced access to good, nutritious food. It contributes to energy instability and rising fuel costs. It places greater pressure on public services in the communities that are already stretched to breaking point. If we continue to protect corporate profits while asking ordinary people to bear the burden, we fail on both social justice and climate. The answer is not to make working families pay more. The answer is to make the biggest polluters and wealthiest beneficiaries of our energy system pay their fair share. We must use that revenue to lower bills, strengthen public services and build resilience against the crises people are facing every day. For the people struggling to keep the lights on, fill the tank and feed their children, that will be the understanding of climate crisis - it is not separate from their lives; it is woven into them. Until we address those realities together, we will solve none of them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  This Government is going backwards with climate change. I commend Deputy Ahern on this motion and his commitment to bringing home to all the people of Ireland the impact that data centres are having not only on our climate but also on their household bills and the cost-of-living crisis. The UN has referenced us as a cautionary tale. Yet, does Ireland listen? No. When the tech bros call, this Irish Government jumps and asks, \u201cHow high?\u201d Its amendment to the motion is absolutely embarrassing. It opens with the point that the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, states that we are moving in the right direction. The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, did a media tour two weeks ago and admitted that we are nowhere near hitting our carbon reduction targets. He admitted it. This Government admits that, at best, if everything goes in the right direction for it, it will get a 25% reduction in emissions. It is, quite frankly, embarrassing. What is this Government also allowing to happen? What is this Government allowing to be brought to the debate? It is allowing its own backbenchers to start to talk about nuclear power and bring that into the debate when so many other European states have either ended their reliance on nuclear power or are phasing it out. Italy, Germany, Lithuania, Belgium and Spain are all at different levels of either ending nuclear power or have pledged to reduce it. What is Ireland doing in 2026? We are going to bring nuclear power back in, so let us have a grown-up debate about it. It is absolutely pathetic.  This Government and this Minister are all over the place on climate and not just the big level in terms of power generation and data centres, but right down to public transport. I do not accept that this Minister is new in the brief. He understands from his previous brief the importance of climate mitigation measures when it comes to transport. In the constituency we share in Donabate where there has been an awful lot of house building, we have only seen one new bus in the morning with no return bus in the evening. We have seen no movement on the four-track solution for the northern commuter line, which is the most congested commuter line in Ireland. My colleague, Deputy O'Donoghue, will attest to that. It is absolutely pathetic. I also want an answer in terms of what this Government is allowing to happen with Dublin Bus routes. Our understanding is that Dublin Bus is now going to have to take 35 old EV and AX models in to busy routes in Dublin city centre while Go-Ahead Ireland is going to get 35 new electric or hybrid vehicles on less busy urban routes because Go-Ahead Ireland is failing to deliver a service on those routes. Air quality in Dublin city is one of the worst in Europe and this Government is forcing Dublin Bus to take old buses and disimprove that air quality. It is an absolute disgrace from top to bottom. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  As my colleague Deputy Smith said, the Government's countermotion is embarrassing and shameful. Really, it is a Comical Ali-type approach to politics.  It does good government, and the idea of good government, a disservice. Frankly, we need to put the breaks on the development of data centres, at least until our grid capacity increases and household bills come down.  If this Government put more energy, pun intended, into developing our offshore wind capacity rather than developing more data centres, we might build the kind of resilience we need in our grid for industry and domestic customers to avail of plentiful and cheap energy, but as usual the Government is putting the cart before the horse and is left wondering why the cart is not pulling. The Government has made, and will make today, all kinds of thin arguments to say we are wrong. It will argue that data centres create jobs. The reality is they take up massive acreage and resources and create only a comparatively small handful of long-term jobs. As the motion lays out, over 22% of our electricity is already being used up by data centres and by 2030 that will be over 30%. At the current rate of growth, it will not be long before over half of our electricity is eaten up by this one source.  As colleagues have said, Ireland has the highest electricity prices in the EU. The fact we are also the European leader in data centre permissions is no accident, and this Government needs to join the dots. There is a direct link between the proliferation of data centres in the country and ever-rising energy bills. Research by Friends of the Earth shows that Irish households paid an estimated \u20ac715 million more in electricity bills from 2015 to 2023 directly due to data centres. That is an equivalent of some \u20ac360 per household. In effect, in Ireland, under this Government, each bill payer is charged a data centre tax. The same research shows that Irish households face a further \u20ac1.43 billion in rising bills up to 2034 because of the projected growth in data centres. That will mean an extra \u20ac644 per household on household bills.  These are the same bills for which the Government used taxpayers' money to help pay for energy credits in recent years. Think about that \u2013 these are effectively more taxpayer subsidies for data centres. These increases I referred to will disproportionately impact on lower income households. That is why in this motion we are also calling for targeted energy credits and SEAI supports for households in budget 2027.  The motion also makes clear Labour\u2019s opposition to the decision made in the Critical Infrastructure Bill to disapply section 15 of the climate Act. This is constitutionally dubious and is wide open to challenge. That Bill is concluding in the Seanad this week and it is not too late for the Government to change course. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  Gabhaim comhghairdeas leis an Aire St\u00e1it nua. Go n-\u00e9ir\u00ed an t-\u00e1dh lei ina phost nua. I offer the Minister of State many congratulations on her new role. I call on her to move the Government\u2019s amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Catherine Ardagh)  I move amendment No. 1:  To delete all words after \"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann\" and substitute the following:  \"notes that in relation to Climate Action:  \u2014 last month, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched its latest Ireland's Greenhouse Gas Emissions Projections 2025-2030, which show that we are moving in the right direction and improving our performance compared with the previous year;  \u2014 for the first time, the EPA now projects that we are close to meeting our first carbon budget, following a consistent trend of improving projections for that budget over recent years;  \u2014 the EPA is projecting a decrease in emissions of between 13 per cent and 25 per cent by 2030 (from 2018 base);  \u2014 emissions are reducing across many sectors while our population is growing, and our economy is growing;  \u2014 we now have the lowest level of greenhouse gas emissions in 35 years, and we have decoupled growth from emissions;  \u2014 Ireland is at the forefront of transitioning to an electricity system dominated by variable renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, and indeed renewable sources generated almost half of Ireland's electricity in February, March and April of this year;  \u2014 significant investment has taken place in increasing the technical flexibility of Ireland's power system to enhance its renewable integration capabilities \u2013 through storage and other technologies;  \u2014 the electricity system in Ireland can operate with up to 75 per cent wind and solar at any given moment; and  \u2014 there are now 241,000 electric and hybrid vehicles on Irish roads;  in relation to, energy affordability:  \u2014 the Government is deeply aware of the pressures placed on households and businesses by high energy costs, and has taken a number of steps to support households and business;  \u2014 the National Energy Affordability Taskforce (NEAT) was established in June 2025 to identify, assess and implement measures that will enhance energy affordability for households and businesses while delivering key renewables commitments and protecting security of supply and economic stability;  \u2014 in recent months the Government introduced a \u20ac750 million package of fuel supports, which is among the largest per capita of any European Union state, while Budget 2026 had a range of other measures;  \u2014 the Value-Added Tax (VAT) rate on electricity bills has been reduced to 9 per cent VAT until 2030;  \u2014 enhanced social protection payments have been introduced, including an increase to the fuel allowance rate and an expansion of the eligibility rules, which applies to about a quarter of Irish households; and  \u2014 the NEAT continues to work intensively on an energy affordability action plan to be submitted to the Government in quarter 3 of this year;  in relation to, infrastructure delivery:  \u2014 a record allocation of \u20ac640 million in Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) retrofitting schemes;  \u2014 since 2019, we have invested over \u20ac1.8 billion in retrofitting, and we have been able to provide energy upgrades for 268,000 homes;  \u2014 in the first quarter of 2026, over 12,000 homes have been upgraded through SEAI schemes, including over 1,500 homes at risk of energy poverty under the Warmer Homes Scheme;  \u2014 since the formation of this Government, over 70,000 homes have been upgraded, including over 9,000 homes at risk of energy poverty under the Warmer Homes Scheme;  \u2014 Ireland currently has over 8 GW of renewable generation capacity, and onshore wind is the largest contributor to this, with over 5 GW of wind generation capacity and 2.5 GW of Solar Photovoltaics installed, with hydro, biomass, and other small sources contributing the remainder;  \u2014 Government approval was received in July 2025 for \u20ac3.5 billion investment in EirGrid and ESB to facilitate the investment programme of up to \u20ac18.9 billion out to 2030, and connection of 5 GW offshore wind; and  \u2014 the Critical Infrastructure Bill 2026, is a timely and important piece of legislation and will make a significant contribution to the prompt delivery of nationally important infrastructure, whilst maintaining robust regulatory, environmental and planning safeguards;  in relation to:  \u2014 data centres are a very important part of Ireland's economic and digital present and future, and a key part of our value proposition for foreign direct investment;  \u2014 the recent KPMG study on data centres, undertaken on behalf of the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, reports there are 19,500 directly employed in the industry;  \u2014 Ireland's industrial electricity demand is primarily concentrated in our digital economy, this is our core energy intensive industry;  \u2014 the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU) Data Centre Connection policy published in 2025, clearly set out what is required for a new data centre connection, including the requirement to get 80 per cent of its energy through new renewable sources; and  \u2014 the CRU decision simply refers to market research data on 5.8 GW of prospective interest in data centre growth, rather than linked to any contractual demand in place at present; and  further recognises that:  \u2014 the Government is committed to taking further action to deliver on the twin objective of decarbonisation and digitalisation in a sustainable and affordable manner;  \u2014 the Government is committed to delivering on Ireland's responsibility to address the climate crisis, and work remains ongoing right across Government to implement climate mitigation measures every single day of the week;  \u2014 the priority is driving implementation, particularly on high-impact measures with multiple societal and economic benefits;  \u2014 the Climate Action Plan will be more focused on the most impactful measures and will report on the ones that make the biggest difference;  \u2014 the NEAT continues to work intensively on an energy affordability action plan to be submitted to the Government in quarter 3 of this year; and  \u2014 the Government's Large Energy User Action Plan, published in January 2026 sets out a 'plan-led' approach for very large and energy intensive investments, which due to scale and energy consumption will benefit from coordinated national infrastructure planning.\".  I welcome the opportunity to discuss the Labour Party Private Members\u2019 motion on data centres, energy use and climate change. However, the Government proposes to reject this motion and put forward a countermotion. The Government is fully committed to delivering on Ireland\u2019s climate ambition across all sectors and to progressing climate action in a planned and coherent way.  Our approach ensures that sustainability, affordability, competitiveness and energy security remain central to this policy. This is reflected in our countermotion, where we demonstrate through effective and focused policies and measures that we are making tangible progress towards objectives of decarbonisation while supporting sustained economic growth for wider societal benefits.  With regard to climate action, Ireland now has the lowest level of greenhouse gas emissions in 35 years, decoupling population growth and economic success from emissions. The EPA now projects that we are close to meeting our first carbon budget, and a decrease in emissions of between 13% and 25% by 2030. The work remains ongoing right across government to implement climate mitigation measures. The priority is driving implementation, particularly on high-impact measures with multiple societal and economic benefits.  Climate action plans 2024 and 2025 provide the basis for this progress. Work is under way on the next climate action plan, with public consultation launched this week. The plan will continue to focus on the most impactful measures. For example, Ireland is at the forefront of transitioning to an electricity system dominated by variable renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, and we have achieved record breaking levels of renewable electricity generation, reducing our reliance on imported fossil fuels.  Most notably, emissions from electricity generation are estimated to reduce by between 53% and 60% by 2030. Significant investment has taken place in increasing the technical flexibility of Ireland\u2019s power system to enhance its renewable integration capabilities. The electricity system in Ireland can operate with up to 75% wind and solar at any given moment. The International Energy Agency, IEA, recognised this achievement as remarkable and a global milestone.  Ireland currently has over 8 GW of renewable generation capacity, with over 5 GW onshore wind and 2.5 GW of solar PV installed, and hydro, biomass and other small sources contributing to the remainder. The Government has also prioritised unprecedented investment in our grid - of up to \u20ac18.9 billion, underpinned by \u20ac3.5 billion Government equity investment - and expanding our electricity energy generation, with an emphasis on renewable energy sources, which will be advantageous for all customers and will ensure Ireland's electricity grid continues to provide capacity to support the delivery of Government targets across society and the economy.  Infrastructure delivery, and having a grid that is fit for purpose to support this, is critical to future success. The Critical Infrastructure Bill is a central pillar of the Government's accelerating infrastructure report and will make a significant contribution to the prompt delivery of nationally important infrastructure while maintaining robust regulatory, environmental and planning safeguards. Accelerated delivery of infrastructure does not disapply our climate commitments or our national level targets, but recognises an urgent need for the completion of major infrastructure projects in the State.  The Bill provides for the disapplication of section 15 of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 in very limited circumstances for programmes and projects designated as critical infrastructure. It does not disapply our climate commitments or our national level targets. It will lead to a better balance in decision-making that will lead to accelerated infrastructure while also preserving the rights of the public to access the courts on the legality of the decisions of public bodies.  The motion also raised a number of concerns with respect to data centres. Data centres are central to Ireland's modern economy and play a critical enabling role across a wide range of digitally intensive sectors, enhancing the competitiveness of the Irish economy. They strengthen Ireland\u2019s position as a strategic knowledge intensive regional hub for the ICT sector and also support broader retention and expansion of existing investment that supports billions in annual economic value for Ireland via high-wage employment, tax receipts and supplier ecosystems.  According to independent analysis, the industry employs 19,500 people directly. Our technology sector, underpinned by data centre infrastructure, accounted for approximately 7% of our total workforce and over half of total services exports. Their value is evident and the Government remains committed to supporting sustainable data centre development as a result. It is important to note that unlike countries like the Netherlands, Germany and the UK, Ireland does not host a large, energy-intensive industrial sector. Ireland's industrial electricity demand is primarily concentrated in our digital economy. This is our core energy-intensive industry. Germany and other countries consume more electricity to support their heavy industry sites like car manufacturing, steel and chemicals.  Connecting such large energy loads is a challenge many energy systems are grappling with across the world. In response, the Government\u2019s large energy user action plan, LEAP, published in January 2026, set out a plan-led approach for very large and energy intensive investments, including data centres, which due to scale and energy consumption will benefit from co-ordinated national infrastructure planning.  LEAP will enable Ireland to capture next generation investment in a planned and managed way and unlock significant associated economic, employment and renewable energy opportunities. Alongside LEAP, the CRU data centre connection policy sets out what is required for new data centre connections, including the requirement to get 80% of its energy through new renewable electricity generated in Ireland.  The Government is acutely aware of the pressure faced by high energy costs and is taking action to help households and businesses with the cost of energy. In recent months the Government introduced a \u20ac750 million package of fuel supports, which is among the largest per capita of any EU state. Previously, the Government included a range of measures in budget 2026 to help households with energy costs, namely, an extended VAT reduction on electricity and gas bills until 2030, an increase to the fuel allowance payment and expanded eligibility, which applies to about a quarter of Irish households, and a record allocation of \u20ac640 million for SEAI retrofit home energy upgrade schemes.  Since 2019, we have invested over \u20ac1.8 billion in retrofitting and we have been able to provide energy upgrades for 268,000 homes. These upgrades protect those homes and families from energy shocks and reduce their costs and energy consumption.  The national energy affordability task force is working intensively on an energy affordability plan, which will be submitted to the Government in quarter 3. It will include measures that will enhance energy affordability for households and businesses while delivering key renewables commitments and protecting security of supply and economic stability.  In closing, I reiterate that the Government\u2019s amendment reflects the reality of the commitments in place and more importantly the tangible progress being made and further actions being taken to support and reduce emissions and to retain a prosperous and competitive economy, with targeted supports for households and businesses as required.  The Government is committed to delivering on Ireland's responsibility to address the climate crisis, and work is ongoing on the next climate action plan. Work across our governance structures, key sectors and in government is under way to outline the key deliverables to continue to reduce our emissions in the most impactful of ways. The national energy affordability task force continues to work intensively on an energy affordability action plan to be submitted to the Government in quarter 3 of this year.  The Government\u2019s LEAP advances a plan-led approach for very large and energy intensive investments that will facilitate future investment while unlocking Ireland\u2019s renewable energy opportunities. I reiterate that the Government rejects the Labour Party motion, and I propose the Government amendment that more accurately reflects the reality of the situation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  I congratulate the Minister of State on her appointment, and that is probably where the good news ends.  I am very disappointed with the Government's amendment. In fact, I found parts of it quite laughable. \"Sustainable data centre development\" almost sounds like someone coming along 30 or 40 years ago and saying that we need to move sustainable smoking, and that if a person smokes a packet of Marlboro Lights, it is not as bad.  It is not just about electricity, water and carbon emissions. We have seen that data centres place considerable strain on local infrastructure. We are literally halfway through the year. Notwithstanding the fact that the climate Minister is not here, where is the climate action plan? We need to introduce a levy upon data centres to help offset the costs and to drive down the extraordinarily high bills that the people we all represent are struggling with.  The concern that I have is that we are in the middle of an industrial revolution when it comes to artificial intelligence, and this Government is fumbling around in the dark. There was a report by the Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI, a couple of months ago that found that one in 14 jobs could be affected by AI. We could be looking at widespread labour displacement, yet I am hearing nothing from the Government that inspires me with confidence that it knows how to navigate its way through this. Any data centre growth must be aligned with offshore renewables.  In the time I have left, I want to talk about housing because climate can and must be a critical consideration of the Government's response to the housing crisis. The Government set a target that 500,000 homes would be retrofitted to a BER of B2 by 2030, and that 400,000 heat pumps would be installed. According to the SEAI, we had only 80,000 retrofits between 2018 and 2025 and only 18,765 heat pump installations. These numbers are way off target.  I do not understand what the Government is doing in respect of this new electric car grant because the biggest issue that my constituents raise with me about the transition to electric vehicles is the lack of an adequate charging infrastructure. Electric cars are actually getting cheaper and outselling diesel and petrol cars at the moment, which means that the market is working. Instead of gimmicky grants, we need to see investment in the charging infrastructure. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Wall  I want to start by thanking my colleague, Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern, for bringing forward this very important motion and for all of the work he is doing on this issue.  Ireland has one of the highest electricity costs in Europe. Eurostat recently reported that prices in Ireland were nearly 40% above the EU average. It seems that every other week an energy provider is upping its prices once again. The Government cannot continue to sit on its hands while this happens.  Many workers are just surviving, going from bill to bill, while those hardest hit like older people, carers and people with disabilities are afraid to turn on the lights or heating. Over 500,000 households cannot afford to pay their gas or electricity bills. We need a targeted energy credit to help workers and families that are struggling with the high cost of energy. The Labour Party has continued to call for this because it would provide immediate relief to those struggling, but the Government continues to turn its back on workers.  Workers, older people, carers and people with disabilities must be prioritised when we talk about targeted measures. We need to get greater investment in supports and grants that help these households retrofit their homes, so that they are protected from ongoing price shocks like we are seeing at the moment.  We need to look at fully funded grants for these households. I want to give the Minister of State the example of an older man who called into my office this week. He is trying to access the SEAI's one-stop-shop to retrofit his home, which is in a very poor condition. He was quoted \u20ac850 for a survey and consultation, with a grant available of \u20ac350, meaning that he would have to come up with \u20ac500 of his own money just to start this process. That is simply not money that people like the person who came to my office have lying around.  I acknowledge that the Government has made increases in these grants. The warmer homes scheme grant is one of the best grants for those who qualify, but waiting an average of two years for works on many homes, and particularly for those who need it most, is just not sustainable. We are in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis where every euro is being counted. People do not have the money to make these upgrades to their homes, and the Government needs to do more.  Workers and families are facing higher bills because the Government supports data centres more than working people. We need to put an immediate stop to the building of data centres, which are using more than 20% of Ireland's electricity and are on track to be largest electricity users in this country. We cannot let this continue. We cannot become the data centre capital of Europe.  The Labour Party's motion calls for the Government to put workers first, tackle the high energy bills they are facing and provide fully funded grants so that households can retrofit their homes. The Government must take this issue seriously and finally show up for workers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  I wish my former public accounts committee colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Ardagh, the very best in her role. It is probably remiss of me to mention that there are the Minister and two Ministers of State in this Department, yet none of them is able to show up for this debate. I commend my colleague, Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern, and his staff for the work they have done in bringing this motion to the D\u00e1il Chamber.  When we discuss the rising costs in energy bills being paid by households, it is vital that we look at where the energy from the grid is going, what it is being used for and what we, the Irish people, are getting out of it.  Data centres employ relatively few people. The level of employment relating to data centres is in the construction of them and, of course, those projects are time limited. In turn, I strongly encourage Ministers to stop trying to muddy the waters between the employment within a data centre and the employment in the construction of a data centre. It is dishonest and we should not have such conflation coming from Ministers.  In the pre-election budget of 2024, the Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael Government introduced energy supports. Post election, the new Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael Government scrapped these supports. I am not in favour of introducing one-off measures, but targeted supports are necessary, and the Government failed to provide them to the carers and people living with disabilities, the most vulnerable people in this society.  However, when there is no short-term solution, an advancement in the construction of renewable energy and renewable energy infrastructure is not a swift process.  The State must act to ensure that households are not being pinned to their collar just for heating and running their homes, for which they already paid extortionate prices to buy or to rent. For the average worker and household, it feels like there is no end to the rising cost of living. This is all while wages remain stagnant.  The lack of a climate act plan is very concerning in relation to progress and for meeting our targets. While some in the Opposition also profess to care about the climate, voting in favour of gutting it in the D\u00e1il and the Seanad undermines progress on climate action. On a national level, there must be a renewed interest from central government to get more capacity in our bus and rail network, to invest in a lower emissions fleet, and to reduce the cost of public transport for commuters. The State must ensure that those living in our towns, cities and villages can be assured that public transport is cheaper and genuinely viable for commuters. The fact that many multinationals in Ireland - I look at Apple on the northside of Cork city - continue to run their own bus services from the cities and towns for their staff speaks to the lack of faith in the State's ability to ramp up public infrastructure routes and capacity. This has to change. I will always acknowledge efforts by the Government to increase services. Services by rail in Cork have improved and there are ambitious plans for the rail network and for the Cork Luas. However, these are long-term projects that must overcome funding hurdles. We need to see the delivery of proposed bus routes linking rural areas and towns, and we need to see a reduction in fares to ensure affordability and encourage more people out of their cars.  This motion is ultimately about supporting the most vulnerable people in this society, who feel there is no end to the cost-of-living crisis they are facing. I am disappointed that the Government has failed to realise that this motion of constructive solutions, created by the Labour Party to give the most vulnerable people in this society an opportunity to deal with the cost of living they are facing, is appropriate for these very people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  First, I congratulate the Minister of State on her elevation. It is obvious that she has to take one for the team, given that no Minister or Minister of State from the relevant Department has come in to deal with this. Fair play to her. However, I am disappointed with what has been prepared as the amendment by her colleagues in government.  The Government maintains that it is acutely aware of the pressure faced by people due to high energy costs and mentions the national energy affordability task force. It has been sitting for over a year but we are still going to have to wait until quarter 3 of this year to have the action plan while families and households are suffering. The EV scheme, even though there have been some recent amendments to it, has for the main part been nothing more than a wealth transfer to people who can afford cars that are worth \u20ac55,000 or more. The retrofitting scheme has been unaffordable for many people in rural areas. Regarding offshore wind, a Minister of State said on Radio Kerry that the Government had been sitting on its hands and navel-gazing on it. I cannot say I disagree with the wise words from that particular Minister of State. All in all, the Government has been failing on climate action. We have huge potential with the hopeful vision of the 540 GW of renewable energy in offshore wind. We can achieve energy independence but we need State investment.  As the Minister of State knows, we have the highest electricity prices in the EU. Recent reports from the ESRI and Eurostat show we are paying 40% more than the European average - \u20ac480 more than the average bill - and have the third highest increase in costs behind Austria and Romania. There are a record number of households. Their debt levels are higher and lasting for longer than ever before. The ESRI called for an independent investigation and for the regulator to release the data for independent analysis, but the Government and the regulator have refused.  One of the key drivers is network costs. The Government has not intervened. It is saying that we must get the balance right, keep our powder dry and there is nothing it can do. It is saying that it is all the fault of the war in Ukraine and the war Iran and that it is too complex and technical to fix. However, that is not the case. We used to have the lowest electricity prices in the EU and now we have the highest. Fine F\u00e1il and Fine Gael have presided over this change. Not only did they do nothing to stop it, but they reinforced the system. They chose not to intervene and the energy giants are posting about enormous profits, profits that have been driven by crisis, war and instability.  There are solutions, though. We believe in transparency and fairness, a just transition, and an energy system that delivers for the public good rather than for corporate profit. We have tabled legislation with commonsense measures to give the energy regulator the teeth it needs to hold energy companies to account, including a prioritisation framework. However, we need immediate action on that. That is why Sinn F\u00e9in called for the reintroduction of energy credits. I see that is in the motion that is being proposed by Deputy Ahern. I commend him on bringing his motion to the D\u00e1il to allow space to discuss this. We wanted the electricity credits to give families breathing space while we fixed the deeper structural problems that have left Ireland with some of the highest energy costs in Europe. To reduce prices long term, we need to address the flaws. We wanted to strengthen oversight of energy companies' pricing and hedging strategies, allow the regulator to investigate and sanction anti-competitive behaviour, and increase transparency.  Let us come to the Government's reckless approach to data centres. They consume massive amounts of electricity, drive demand and put strain on the grid. Who is footing the bill only ordinary workers and families paying six, eight or maybe ten times more on network charges than data centres are, and double the unit price? What did Eurostat identify in its report as the leading factor in Ireland's extortionate energy costs? Network charges. We must address one of the glaring injustices in our system, which is the imbalance between what households and large energy users like data centres are paying. Households are effectively subsidising the corporations that are driving up demand on our grid and, therefore, prices to boot. The biggest users are paying the least and households are paying the price for these grid upgrades. Data centres must pay their fair share. We need to restructure the charges and the public service obligation, PSO, levy and prioritise the use of our grid for the public good rather than unfettered data centre expansion. Families are dealing with soaring electricity bills. Data centres now consume 22% of Ireland's electricity, and that is only increasing. A stall needs to be put on them and we are calling on the Government to act to rebalance the system. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  The continued growth of data centres and their growing energy demand is having a significant impact on our electricity grid and the cost of electricity. Data centres are responsible for approximately 20% of Ireland's electricity demand, and the Government's hands-off approach to their expansion is going to increase this share of demand in the coming years. A recent report found that rising electricity demand from data centres is putting upward pressure on electricity costs for households, coming at a time when households are facing rising costs right across the board. According to Eurostat, Ireland has the highest household electricity prices in the European Union and the average household in Ireland is paying around \u20ac480 more a year for its electricity when compared to the EU average. It comes then as no surprise that there are over 500,000 households in arrears on their energy bills. In recent weeks, energy companies have once again announced that they are going to be hiking up energy prices further.  Earlier this year, Sinn F\u00e9in introduced two Bills that would have empowered the energy regulator to hold energy companies to account. We have consistently brought forward proposals to increase the powers of the energy regulator to ensure oversight of hedging practices, protect against price gouging and profiteering, regulate standing charges, and make the PSO levy and network charges fair. These are the tools needed to protect consumers, yet the Government refuses to support this legislation and these proposals when so many households are being hammered by the cost of energy.  This is not the first time that the Government has sat on its hands and refused to protect households. In last year's budget, it decided to withdraw the energy credits that many households depended on. It knew the effect this would have, especially on the most vulnerable, but it went ahead with it anyway. We saw this cold approach once again when it came to the recent fuel crisis where the Government had the opportunity to support households, but it decided to dither and delay. When it decided to act, it only delivered half-measures. Now, the Government is telling everybody to wait for next year's budget for support. This is at a time when the Government has unprecedented resources. It is no comfort to the 500,000 households in arrears right now. The only commitment that the Government has been able to give is that it will be increasing the carbon tax on home heating oil in October's budget.  Households are struggling now. The Government has the tools available to support them.  The Government must use them to ensure households can afford the essentials needed to live, hold energy companies accountable and deliver supports to those who need them most. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy R\u00e9ada Cronin  Ba mhaith liom mo bhu\u00edochas a ghabh\u00e1il leis an Teachta Ahern as an r\u00fan Chomhalta\u00ed Pr\u00edobh\u00e1ideacha seo a chur chun cinn. Over 22% of the electricity we currently use is used by data centres. That is up from 5% in 2015, a rise of 531% over that period, the equivalent of almost 400,000 households. This is set to rise to over 30% by 2030 and 55% if projected growth continues. All the while, our grid is creaking at the seams. Major upgrades are needed immediately and well into the future if we are to build the houses and infrastructure we so desperately need to support our citizens. Speaking at the climate committee in March this year during a session on private wires, ICTU noted a scarce resource of labour, giving us a stark warning that we can either throw our resources at housing, reinforcing the grid and protecting our infrastructure or we throw those resources at data centres. Expanding grid capacity to facilitate data centre expansion is not only costing households more in electricity bills, it is also leapfrogging housing for electric connections. We are at a crossroads. A recent UN report on the environmental cost of AI's energy use cited Ireland specifically as a cautionary tale of energy demand running ahead of infrastructure. AI's growth completely outpaces energy planning. This is particularly concerning my constituency in north Kildare where the Herbata data centre proposed for Naas will create serious difficulties for future housing developments in the area and water quality. The truth is AI completely outpaces energy planning. We have to be concerned about the growth of data centres increasingly being driven by AI and numerous social media bots that spread disinformation and manipulate public debate. At a time when households are struggling with high energy costs and we, as a State, are striving to reduce emissions, serious questions must be asked about why we are dedicating so much energy infrastructure to activities that undermine the people's democracy in a Republic. Expecting the people in my constituency to pay to subsidise it beggars belief. Not only are data centres increasing household bills, they also directly impact the state of our environment. They will continue to contribute to our carbon footprint and our nation's emissions as they expand. Fines could be as much as \u20ac28 billion. We need a moratorium on data centres immediately and for the Government to properly tackle energy costs. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  I congratulate the Minister of State on her new post. I alert her that the Government continues to fail the ordinary people struggling to keep the lights on and their homes warm. A new record of more than 500,000 are now in arrears on their gas and electricity bills. The most impactful action by this Government was to pull the plug, withdrawing energy credits that were for many people just keeping their heads above water. There are an additional 200,000 households in arrears since the Government made that cruel choice. Even that does not take into account those who cannot afford to top up their pay-as-you-go meters or reflect those who cannot afford to keep their homes warm with home heating oil because not one cent was reduced. The Government imposes a carbon tax on the people yet at the same time it stands aside and allows our constituents to be hammered on energy costs. It takes a light-touch approach to energy companies especially data centres which now consume 22% of all electricity. Government is not responsible for the root cause of this crisis but it is utterly shameful that its policy choices are responsible for the scale of the impact on ordinary households. The Government needs to act for the people. Action needs to be taken to end the practice of ordinary households subsidising energy bills for big tech companies and for households in need of relief through the restoration of energy costs. I ask Deputy Ardagh as a new Minister of State to stand up to this supposed Government, stand by the consumers and make the big tech companies pay for their electricity. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  The electricity grid is out of date. It simply does not work. It is not capable of meeting the growing demand across all sectors in particular data centres which are causing huge problems. Ordinary people and small businesses are under strain to try to pay very high bills. We are told we have the highest in Europe. If you looked at it globally, we are probably among the highest. We need to look at our situation. It goes to the core of the difference between Government and Opposition. Government has continually over the years set out everything essential to private providers. From the point of view of those in opposition, it should be provided by the State. That is the difference. When we had the lowest electricity prices in Europe, the ESB was run by the State. That is the difference. We are told when all these things are done, it will be good for the consumer because competition will bring prices down. When you go back and look at all these situations, two things happen - prices go up and infrastructure crumbles. That is the case in all of these situations. It is no different here. The reality is we do not have the capacity in this Government to provide the kind of infrastructure we need. I recall when the Green Party was in government it said we had the equivalent of a Gulf oil stream off the coast with wind if we could only get it in and there was the notion that we would be the richest country in the world with all the wind power we were going to generate to export everywhere. We have not done anything with regard to putting that infrastructure in place. Government is totally failing in respect of all of this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in  I visited the new data centre in Clondalkin last month at the invitation of Echelon which is installing two centres outside Arklow. I heard extraordinary and fantastical claims of the benefits in terms of employment and income for Arklow and the wider area. We shall see about that. Even if I was to believe it all, once the plant is operational the benefits to the community of Arklow and south Wicklow in local employment may be minimal. I am sure their electricity will not be any cheaper. On my visit, I stressed that local contractors and local labour from south Wicklow and north Wexford must be a priority in the building of the two centres and that a large community fund should be made available to local community groups. Echelon's two data centres in Arklow are supposed to be the first of such centres to open which must generate renewable energy to run their own systems. It will be exceptional if this happens. Currently, there are 89 centres in Ireland which is straining the national grid. I attended a meeting on this with Professor Hannah Daly in the audiovisual room. She highlighted how they are straining power grids enormously, gobbling up 22% of the grid and that may become just under one third shortly. This can affect home connections to the electricity grid which need to be the number one priority. If the new data centres in Arklow do go ahead, I hope they will be the exception to the other 89, as claimed. Last year, I attended the launch of the long-awaited Arklow wastewater treatment plant which should facilitate desperately needed housing in the Arklow area. I attended the Echelon launch an hour later. The Taoiseach was at both. We cannot ever tolerate data centres taking precedence over young families and new home owners when both are competing for connections to the electricity grid. That would be unconscionable as I am sure the Minister of State would agree. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan  I too would like to wish the Minister of State the best in her new post. A single data centre uses as much energy as the entire city of Kilkenny. In the middle of a housing crisis, this Government has prioritised powering data centres faster than powering new homes across Carlow and Kilkenny. Homes are in urgent need but due to lack of infrastructure they cannot proceed. Nearly one quarter of our entire national grid is consumed by these centres. Ordinary families and workers are subsidising multinational profits. That is simply unfair. We now have nearly 100 data centres across the State. At the same time, the Government is rushing to build wind turbines across rural Ireland but much of that energy is wasted because our national grid is simply not fit for purpose. The community of Ballytobin has a modest, reasonable ask - no more wind farms until the national wind energy development guidelines are updated. It has been 20 years since they were last revised. Building regulations are updated constantly to keep people safe and ensure best practice so why does the safety of rural communities matter less than that of our houses? We have seen what happens when regulations are not kept up to date; the people and the State end up paying the price.  I support this most modest of requests from the community of Ballytobin and I call on the Minister of State to stop stalling and provide updated regulations and guidelines. This climate crisis is not letting up. We are seeing more and more extreme weather across the world. At the start of the year, devastating floods hit County Carlow. Ministers arrived for photo opportunities and grand announcements. A sum of \u20ac4 million was pledged to repair damaged roads. Here we are in the middle of June and these funds still have not been released to the councils. It is simply unacceptable that the communities across County Carlow are treated with such a lack of respect. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Mythen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Mythen.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Mythen.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Johnny Mythen  I too congratulate the Minister of State on her appointment. I thank the Labour Party for bringing forward the motion. I am a member of the Oireachtas committee on AI. We have listened to many academic and expert contributions concerning data centres, energy and climate change. As stated, 22% of our electricity is consumed by data centres. The country coming anywhere close to this is Singapore. To put this into context as it stands, this is an unprecedented percentage per capita in a developed economy.  The Minister of State must also be aware that EirGrid has already acknowledged it will be a challenging position to keep supply to these data centres until 2028 and will likely stretch beyond that. We in Sinn F\u00e9in challenge the Government's postcolonial strategy specifically on industrialisation by invitation. We must have meant governance and tackle the environmental impacts and implications on our own citizens. For example, taxpayers are footing the bill for grid upgrades. Between 2015 and 2023, Irish taxpayers paid \u20ac750 million extra for their electricity. We had the second-highest electricity prices in the EU in the second half of 2025. We also have more than 500,000 people in gas and electricity arrears. On 1 July, we will see the price of domestic electricity and gas units increase by 9.5% per unit. At present, domestic units are charged at roughly 36.8 cent per kilowatt while data centres' prices are 19.1 cents per kilowatt.  The Government's amendment refers to its large energy user plan. We ask the Minister of State to revisit this plan as it has the potential to lock in our energy sector, effectively locking private tech solutions, including more fossil fuel gases, into our energy grid. This action threatens our public energy legislation that has been in place since the foundation of the State. There should be no unnecessary trade-offs or cost of doing business if it allows mechanisms of backdoor privatisation on our national energy sector. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  I congratulate the Minister of State on her new role and wish her the best in it. I thank the Labour Party for this very important and extensive motion. Any time we get to debate energy, climate action and the cost of living in this D\u00e1il Chamber it is very worthwhile. I have just read through the amendment the Government has tabled. I understand the normal process is that the speechwriters do the speeches but I ask the Minister State to cast a critical eye over it because the amount of spin in the document is incredible. The one thing we need to be with the public is honest when it comes to not only the risks of climate change but also the level of climate action. If the Government gives the impression that all of these actions are happening and all of this momentum and change is happening and it is not actually happening, there is a huge risk from a climate and environmental perspective. This is such an important area because there is also a huge level of risk when it comes to social cohesion. We have seen that in Ireland to a small degree, but when we look at the UK, the US or other countries in Europe, there is a real divide in some societies and climate action is being blamed and utilised as the scapegoat for that divide, and it is not. The reason that divide is happening is because a huge number of people feel they are being left behind and there is a focus on the big players - the big corporates and businesses - and they are the ones benefiting from high energy prices and any of the climate measures. A lot of people are feeling very left behind. When they go to blame someone or point the finger because they cannot afford electricity or food or there is no bus to bring them to work, unfortunately we have elements, very bad actors in some areas, who will point to climate change and say it is the reason, that it is a made-up issue and Government is using it to essentially leave them behind. Climate action is not just about the environment or living more sustainably; there is such an important element of social cohesion that needs to be dealt with. That is why we have all of those discussions about just transition and the importance of that. That language has fallen off the table and I am sort of happy about it to be honest, because most ordinary people have no idea what just transition is. Ultimately, when the Government is doing its policies it needs to make sure people are not being left behind.  If we use, for example, how people are experiencing and being impacted by the proliferation of data centres, in their real lives the way people are being impacted is through pricing. People have seen their electricity prices go up. There are a whole lot of other elements to it as well; I understand that. However, data centres are absolutely increasing prices. The demand placed on our electricity grid on the markets is pushing up prices. We heard this as recently as last week, when Friends of the Environment gave a presentation with a really in-depth analysis that showed that household bills have gone up by \u20ac360, primarily in the time between 2022 and 2024. That was purely based on the additional demand put on by data centres.  We also have the costs of keeping our grid updated and robust because, obviously, a number of years ago there were major issues with grid security. We were looking at the potential for blackouts and brownouts. As a result, we had to spend a lot of money bringing in temporary generators. That was primarily because we saw this huge increase in data centres and our grid was not able to cope. The PR6 at the ESB \u2013 the \u20ac18 billion or \u20ac19 billion that has been put into the grid by the ESB \u2013 is not to support the grid for future data centre development; it is only to support and keep the grid robust for existing data centre development. Anything additional we put on it is going to cause problems.  Professor Hannah Daly, a professor in sustainable energy at UCC, was in Leinster House last week and she has written a blog post on data centres and the risks. I do not know if the Minister of State has read it, but I would certainly advise her to take a look at it. Particularly in her role, it will be really important that she get independent advice in relation to the impact. Professor Daly states the CRU estimates there is potentially 5.8 GW to come on stream. She goes through all the risks. It is quite stark from both cost and demand perspectives.  The motion states 80% of the energy will have to be from renewable sources, but there is six years before that has to be hit. Even the fact that 20% does not have to be from renewable sources is crazy when we are trying to move away from fossil fuels. If a target is to be in place, it should be 100%. There are data centres currently operating now which are claiming they are essentially 100% renewable because they are buying credits from Germany in relation to biomethane. There are all of these loops built into this system which will cause us problems down the road. There will be difficulties with it.  In 2021, the Social Democrats asked for a moratorium on data centres. We called for one because we said it is really important to get our facts right on this. We need to know how many we can have and at what cost. How many can we afford from price, energy demand and climate perspectives? I so wish the previous Government had taken the opportunity to pause back in 2021. If it had done so, we would be in a much better position now. If a tree was not planted 20 years ago, the next best time to plant it is now. I ask the Minister of State to take a really close look at this now and do the analysis. This is a risk we cannot afford to take. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  I congratulate the Minister of State. We need to cut through the AI hype. I talk a lot about artificial intelligence in this Chamber and at committee meetings. It is often about the policy of its use, its governance and so on, but it is absolutely vital that we also look at the infrastructure that props up this technology.  Time and again, the conversations around regulation, energy and infrastructure are muddied by a lack of understanding of what AI is and the attempts of AI companies to associate energy-guzzling generative AI, which by and large has little social benefit, with positive AI technology such as weather prediction. This is a clear effort to cause confusion and to imply that all data centres are there for positive advancements when we know that the vast majority of these centres have nothing to do with science or social uses but are there for private companies generating slop and profit on the Internet. That is why these \"gotcha\" arguments of, \"Well don't you use email? Don't you use websites?\" do not wash because email and web hosting processing demands pale in comparison to the behemoth of generative AI data centres. It was put best by Professor Hannah Daly at the Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence last week when she said that the question is whether unregulated growth of that industry follows logically from the fact we need it and that the rapid and unmitigated growth of data centres has made the United Nations brand Ireland a cautionary tale.  How is it actually benefiting the average citizen? I do not see a return on investment on this permissive strategy - not in the form of a just transition, not in the form of communities benefiting and not in terms of jobs. The recent KPMG report commissioned by the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment exposed this when, in trying to get creative with the numbers, it went too far. The dogs on the street know that 870,000 is not a credible figure of jobs attributable to data centres despite what that report tried to claim. In doing so, it highlighted the problem we face when it comes to the regulation of big tech for the common good, which is that these decisions are led totally by the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment and that our policy on whether tech practices or tech infrastructure are good for society lacks any consideration or nuance beyond \"what the industry wants, we must provide\". That is not an industrial policy. That is the result of a complete lack of backbone or consideration of what the needs of our industry, communities, infrastructure and economy actually are.  We are facing a situation where our energy use is increasing at a time when it should be decreasing. That cautionary tale told about Ireland is one where we are failing to displace fossil fuels as a source of energy because all of our new renewable energy is being eaten up by an ever-hungrier network of data centres. If we do not drastically change course, it will cost us and our children their future. We need a moratorium on data centre expansion. We cannot continue to expand our energy use and think there will be no consequences. We do not have a planet B. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  If ever there was a Government policy that was just so reckless and servile, it is this policy of welcoming and allowing data centres at the cost of our environment but also now at the cost of the pockets of ordinary working-class people. For the second month in a row, Ireland has the highest electricity prices in Europe. They are 52% higher than the European average. The average household in the country is paying around \u20ac400 a year more for its electricity compared with the EU average and, incredibly, it pays twice as much per unit of electricity compared with some of the big data centres and the big companies.  Plans for data centre expansion would see data centres use the same amount of power as every other electricity user in the country combined. They are already using up 22% of all electricity in the country, which is the highest figure in the world. Ireland is now the warning - the bogey man for other countries - in international publications of what not to do. We hear that \u20ac400 more a year is being paid for electricity. A total of \u20ac360 of that, on average, is estimated to be down to high data centre energy demand. Lower-income households - ordinary working-class people and single parents - are the victims of this because they pay more for energy than other people do. Ireland in particular has been singled out by the UN.  I previously raised the Minister for Climate, Energy and Environment's complete fixation on AI. Apart from the social issues of AI making people less critical and more stupid and causing problems academically, the impact on the environment is massive and it is not worth it. Any attempt to use renewables now is eaten up by the corollary of data centre usage. Ireland will significantly go past its greenhouse gas emission targets. We now have to say that we must stop any more data centres being established but there should also be a levy. These data centres need to be taxed to the hilt to pay for the damage they are doing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  Momentum is growing against data centres and the Government's slavish adherence to the policy on demands of big tech because more and more people are seeing the reality of the threats data centres pose to our environment, our energy supply and the cost of living. In our alternative budget last year, People Before Profit proposed a \u20ac1 billion energy levy on data centres to fund a \u20ac500 universal electricity credit. The effect would be to charge data centres roughly the same amount for electricity as households pay. At the moment, they pay half as much per unit as households do.  On top of that, data centres are driving up electricity prices for everybody by pushing the system into peak rates more often through their constant insatiable demand for energy. Data centres are the main reason that standing charges are being increased to fund investment in the grid, which they have completely maxed out in the greater Dublin area. The consequence is that housing developments are being stalled because they cannot connect to the grid, Dublin Bus has not been able to charge new electric buses for up to three years and vital public transport projects like DART+, MetroLink and Luas are being delayed as a consequence. The ESB has warned that MetroLink construction and further electrification of Dublin Bus will have to rely on \"timed electricity connections\" to avoid winter peak loads. A briefing note prepared for the Government's major project governance oversight group in April 2025 warned that there was insufficient power in the ESB network to support DART+. Then we hear that funding for DART+ South West and Luas Finglas has been delayed until 2030. It does not take a genius to figure out why. There is no point in building the system if we cannot power it because data centres are using up all of the electricity. It is embarrassing enough for the Government not to be able to charge a few hundred buses but entire train and Luas lines would expose the Government's incompetence completely.  At a meeting last week of the Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence, we heard that we have no chance of achieving our emissions target because of Government policy to allow unfettered expansion of data centres as long as they build their own power plants. This means privatising our electricity supply, enabling big tech to use fossil fuels indefinitely to power them and smashing through our climate targets. Despite the Government's bluster and despite the nonsense about almost 900,000 jobs, listening to the industry itself, it is clear that it employs about 1,800 people in this country. A giant empty box is coming for your job and the Government calls it progress. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  I thank the Labour Party for bringing forward this important and timely motion. Global digital transformation and accelerated AI technology adoption are driving a rapid expansion of data centres in Ireland. While data centres are one part of the infrastructure for business operations, they pose significant social and environmental concerns. Ireland's current power grid cannot support the energy demands that data centres require. We know that they use up a tremendous amount of energy, currently at 22% of Ireland's electricity. Our current available renewable capacity cannot meet this demand, which is only going to result in higher prices for consumers. It is described as the data centre effect. The average household paid \u20ac360 extra in additional energy costs between 2015 and 2023 due to the pressure that data centres are exerting on the grid. It is estimated that consumers could pay up to \u20ac644 extra between 2025 and 2034 if data centres continue to expand at this rate.  The current solution to reduce grid strain is to use dispatchable generation or back-up generators. These generators are often gas-powered, release emissions and, therefore, undermine our climate goals. It is most likely that there will be even more reliance on these generators in the future as data centre infrastructure continues to outpace renewable infrastructure. In 2022, my colleague Eamon Ryan introduced the Government's statement on the role of data centres and the result of this was that there were no new data centre connections to the grid after that intervention. Yet now, through the large energy user action plan, the Government is actively trying to source more AI data centres in our country. On 2 June, just a few weeks ago, a 600 acre data centre was granted planning permission by Westmeath County Council. That data centre is expected to rely primarily on gas-powered solid oxide fuel cells and solar power.  The data centre, and this is from its own application, is expected to omit 493,0000 tonnes of CO2 per annum, again actively undermining our climate goals. As well as the energy concerns, there is also deep concern about the amount of water used. Right now, it is about 1.3% of Uisce \u00c9ireann's annual water but that is only set to grow. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  I welcome and support this motion and fully support the points made previously by my Independent and Parties Technical Group colleagues. I want to take the opportunity to highlight a number of retrofit and insulation issues affecting middle and low income families across the country. The warmer homes scheme available to families in receipt of fuel allowance is an excellent scheme in itself but it is underfunded and under-resourced. This results in a huge backlog of applications, with it to increase due to more families qualifying for key social welfare payments which underpin the scheme. Currently, it takes two years to complete a retrofit under the scheme. It takes two visits and 14 months to do the survey and it takes a further ten to 12 months to have the works commenced and completed. That timescale is obviously unacceptable and the scheme needs to be resourced and funded to ensure retrofitting is completed in at least 12 months.  In regard to the retrofitting of local authority council houses, the National Oversight and Audit Commission has confirmed the target to retrofit 36,500 social housing units to B2 standard by 2030 will not be met, and not by a long shot. The target is low anyway and lacks ambition but the report states that even this low target is compromised by insufficient financial resources and by the operation of the scheme on an annual rather than multi-annual basis.  The third issue is the lack of access by middle income families to various energy efficiency schemes. Representatives from the SEAI recently told the Oireachtas climate committee that cash upfront is a serious issue for middle income families, who have neither excess cash nor access to cash to avail of these schemes. After Government grants, a retrofit can cost up to \u20ac43,000 per house. This is leading to a green divide, where homes in affluent areas have access to the schemes as they have moneys and funds available for these upfront costs. I urge the Minister to take these issues on board and to act on them urgently as they are affecting families right across the country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  There is one point in this motion that nobody in this House can dispute. Irish families and small businesses are being crippled by electricity costs and if anyone doubts the scale of that crisis, they only need to look at the figures. At the end of last year, nearly 320,000 households in this country were behind on their electricity bills. That is roughly one in seven homes struggling to keep up. The average amount owed is around \u20ac466 per household. That has gone to over \u20ac500 now and is rising. That is the reality facing people - not theory and not projections. What happened? At the same time the Government removed electricity credits from the most recent budget, credits that had already been scaled back year after year.  People will remember that in budget 2023, households received \u20ac600 in electricity credits. That dropped to \u20ac450 the following year and then to \u20ac250 in budget 2025, paid in two instalments. This year, there was nothing. At the very moment when families are under the most pressure, support has been taken away. It is no surprise arrears have surged. Our energy system is under serious pressure. Our grid is stretched. Our reliance on gas remains far too high and the delivery of offshore wind and renewables has been far too slow.  That is not the fault of ordinary people. That is a failure of Government planning and delivery over many years. We hear a lot in this House about climate being blamed for flooding, and yes weather patterns are changing and we accept that. However, before we blame everything on climate, we need to look at what is happening on the ground. We have walked away from the basics. The ditches are blocked, the drains are choked and the rivers and waterways are all not being maintained any more. Years ago, this work was done as a matter of routine and it made a difference. Now people are tied up in red tape. They are afraid to clean a ditch or clear a drain and the result is simple; water has nowhere to go. When water has nowhere to go, it floods homes, farms and roadways. Yes, we can talk about climate but let us talk about common sense. Start by clearing the ditches, maintaining the channels and doing the basic work we know prevents flooding because until we do that, we are only dealing with half the problem.  Independent Ireland would be slow to support a blanket moratorium on data centres. That approach risks jobs, undermines investment and sends out a damaging signal that Ireland is closed for business. Data centres are part of the modern economy. They bring employment, tax revenue and opportunity, particularly to regional Ireland. The problem is not growth; the problem is that the infrastructure has not kept pace. Nowhere is that clearer than in our approach to EVs. We are telling people they must transition. We are setting targets and deadlines but the reality on the ground is that the system is simply not ready. The public EV charging infrastructure in this country is not fit for purpose; it is far from it. It is too complicated. There are too many providers, too many apps and too many accounts. People are expected to download app after app just to charge their car. When they finally arrive at a charging point, it is out of service, blocked or so slow it is practically useless. That is happening every day across the country. Then we ask why people are reluctant to make the switch. If you want people to move to electric vehicles, the system must work and it must be simple. Anyone should be able to pull up, plug in, tap their debit or credit card and charge their car. It should be as simple as buying fuel with no apps, no confusion and no barrier. As a matter of fact, the only place I have been told about in Ireland - there probably are more but people have checked it out fairly well - is in Schull in Jeremy Brosnan's Centra. You drive up, plug in the car, tap your debit card and the car gets charged. It is simple and all people want. They do not want complications. We are nowhere near that standard around the rest of Ireland.  There is also a rural reality here that cannot be ignored. In many parts of rural Ireland, there are simply not enough charging points, if any at all. People are being asked to change but without the infrastructure to support them. That is not a fair ask. A lot of people, particularly older people or those not comfortable with technology, are completely turned off by the system as it stands. It is a major barrier to progress.  The same disconnect applies when we talk about solar energy. Families are being told and encouraged to install solar panel and want to do so but the numbers simply do not stack up. For a typical household to install a system that would truly meet all their needs, powering their home and perhaps an electric car, they are looking at a cost of \u20ac20,000. What is the grant? It is \u20ac1,800. It is probably the lowest in Europe, the UK and Scotland. That is not an incentive. It is nowhere near enough. It does not bridge the gap for ordinary families.  Again, the issue is not willingness. The issue is that supports do not match reality. If we had invested properly in grid infrastructure, in renewables and in practical supports, we would not be in this position today. Instead of shutting down investment through moratoriums, we should be building capacity. We also have serious concerns about the proposals for new levies on data centres. We know how this works. Costs introduced in one part of the system often end up being passed on elsewhere. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  Rural Ireland is bearing the brunt of the country's energy policy and getting very little in return. In Mayo and right across the west of Ireland, planning applications for huge wind turbines are landing at massive rates. These structures are not small. Indeed, they are bigger than the Dublin Spire, Big Ben and the Statue of Liberty. Community consultation is simply inadequate. In some cases, it is not being done properly at all and it is restrictive in terms of who can access or engage with developers. These are the communities who are responsible. These are the communities who will live with these turbines for decades to come. The truth is that the Government has resisted Aont\u00fa's calls for planning guidelines. The guidelines are 20 years out of date. The Minister knows this.  Turbines are being situated dangerously close to families and their homes and it is unacceptable. It is unacceptable at a time when applications are coming at such a significant rate. Right across Mayo, planning applications are being submitted. Meanwhile, the Minister is sitting on the guidelines that are 20 years out of date. It is unacceptable. We have called for updated guidelines and, indeed, many other parties have called for them. It is only fair. The Minister should provide updated guidelines for families in relation to wind turbines.  Meanwhile, households right across Ireland are paying the highest electricity costs in Europe. More than 500,000 energy bills are now in arrears and data centres are the primary driver of this. They are causing an inflationary aspect to household bills.  The bigger issue in relation to all of this is that the EPA has told us in black and white that even if all of the planned measures are delivered, Ireland will achieve a reduction of 23% of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and not the target of 51%. The target is out of reach and has been for a number of years. Under the EU's effort-sharing regulation, that gap comes with significant fines. I have raised a number of times on the floor of the D\u00e1il that these are fines the Minister simply ignores. The Irish Fiscal Advisory Council and the Climate Change Advisory Council have outlined that we are going to face fines of somewhere in the region of \u20ac6 billion to \u20ac26 billion. This has been confirmed the Comptroller and Auditor General. The Minister can smile but I have asked him what his plan is and he has no plan to address this and no plan to provide protection for rural communities. It is simply unacceptable. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  In its countermotion the Government mentions that tit is close to meeting the first carbon budget, according to EPA projections. There are several issues raised, including that any emissions that exceed this budget have to be deducted from the second budget. There is also the fact that, as others have mentioned, the five-year budget will not be anywhere near being reached. It will be exceeded in all major sectors, tracking well above the legal limits by 2030 targets. It will be at just half of the required 51% national reduction target going past 2030. This is absolutely inadequate. We are the laggards of Europe.  We are trying to push data centres. We will have huge revenue potential down the line from data centres. We are an ideal location but only if we have surplus capacity. As I have said in multiple debates, we are not investing in getting the offshore wind we already have up and running, we are not investing in tidal energy, and we are not investing in solar energy or wave technology as countries such as Denmark are. We could be leaders. We could have the deep-sea ports preplanned. We could be exporting twice our own requirements and have all of this extra spare capacity, through converted hydrogen and battery storage, to operate the data centres and make good revenue to pay for a good social system and a good education system in this country. We have to put the medium-term investment in now. We have to put our surplus into a short-term, what I would call wartime, effort. We have to ramp up massively over the next ten years. It will cost us money and we may even have to borrow money but the returns would be infinitesimal and we have to do it. Otherwise we will not meet our climate change targets and we will put our people in jeopardy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  I want to be clear from the outset that I agree with the sentiment of what the Labour Party is trying to do and I believe the frustration is real. The Minister is well aware that energy is one of my key priorities. Irish families pay too much and it is very clear that data centres are consuming an ever-increasing share of our electricity. These are facts and they do deserve to be addressed. However, I will not support the motion and there are several reasons for this. The moratorium on data centres would cost Irish jobs and the development of our country. These are real jobs, real wages and real families in my area. We cannot simultaneously say we care about the cost of living but then vote to put people's jobs at risk.  Deputies in favour of the motion really need to tell their constituents that they are against section 7 of the Critical Infrastructure Bill. What would happen to the hospital in their ward, the housing development that needs a wastewater connection and the water treatment plant that every home and growing town needs? Without section 7, every one of these will be exposed to legal challenges, which we are all aware have cost the State billions. The existing legislation is consistent with the climate energy pact because the EU climate law still applies in full and the environmental impact assessment directive still applies. What section 7 does is remove the legal uncertainty. Removing section 7 will not help the climate but it will help lawyers, which I know some Deputies may have been in a previous life.  The problem is not that data centres are here but that they are running on the wrong energy. Today I will introduce a Bill that is trying to fix this, and I welcome the Minister's engagement on it. It would give data centres, SMEs and community energy the ability to use renewable energy more easily. I will welcome the development and progression of the Bill. While we are talking about the cost of living, thousands of apartment dwellers are waiting for solar plug-in to be legalised. I know there is an ISO standard that needs to be removed. Will the Minister do a pilot scheme for new-build social and affordable housing, whereby solar plug-in can be installed by Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council, in conjunction with an inverter and battery, and save people money immediately? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Healy-Rae  This motion is mad. It states that D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann recognises that the Government will further increase carbon emissions by lifting the Dublin Airport cap, promoting unsustainable housing and economic development and by no longer prioritising public transport and active travel investment over road construction. The message must go out loud and clear from here today that the Labour Party is against tourism and economic development, it is against house building and it is against the construction of roads. This is a very clear message by the Labour Party here in the motion.  Targets underpinned by the climate action Bill, which 129 TDs across all parties voted for, are wholly unachievable and always were. The people paying the price for unachievable targets are not politicians in Dublin but farmers, families with two cars who are working hard, small business owners and rural communities who have no alternatives. The Government is removing the cap for Dublin Airport. What will this do? It will help us an awful lot. It will bring more people into the country. It will bring economic development here. When I see the Minister prioritising road safety, saving lives by spending money on roads and infrastructure, I welcome it. I see the Government targeting housing and then a motion like this comes along trying to undermine this type of work. That is why I say the motion is mad and makes no sense. Again, let the message go out clearly that the Labour Party is against tourism and economic development, it is against house building and it is against the construction of roads. This makes absolutely no sense to me or to the people from Kerry whom I represent, whom I want to continue to fight for, argue for and be there to support. What the Labour Party is trying to do in undermining the work that is being carried out is absolutely crazy and insane and I do not agree with it. I certainly will not support it in any shape or fashion whatsoever. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  I just want to say that the Member did not speak to our motion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mattie McGrath  I am glad to be able to speak on the motion today. I know the Minister is walking a tightrope and it is very difficult to get the proper balance. We have been waiting for the wind energy guidelines for 21 years. Fine Gael promised two elections ago that we would have them in 12 months. Councils are at a loss. It is the same with the solar situation. The best of land in the country is being taken over by solar. With regard to data centres, the United Nations, which I do not often pay a lot of attention to, is even issuing a cautionary tale about us in Ireland for allowing data centre growth to run far ahead of our energy and water capacity. When the UN is warning us, something must be amiss. We need to cut our cloth according to our measure.  I am not opposed per se to data centres or any other development. However, I am against what is going on with the huge amount of electricity they use and the great need they have for water to cool their systems and everything else. The proposed Shannon pipeline is like a runaway train. It will be a second children's hospital. It is to bring water to Dublin when there are plenty of aquifers and water in the vicinity of Dublin without having this mad project. I call it madness. It will do huge ecological damage to the mid-west. Uisce \u00c9ireann has gone off without planning and without any licence from the EPA or anybody else and has spent a fortune compensating farmers and paying them 25% upfront. Does Uisce \u00c9ireann have some inner contact line whereby it gets the nod to go ahead and do this and to hell with planning, An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la and anything else and it can do this and start spending money? It is out of control completely.  As I said with regard to data centres, people are trying to heat their homes, the cost of living is going up and data centres are having an inordinate impact. Most of them are in the capital city, which is bursting at the seams. We need more balanced regional development. Several speakers referred during the motion to the home support scheme for ordinary families to try to make savings on their energy and do something for the climate and have retrofits in a timely fashion so they can avail of them.  No families have \u20ac45,000 in their back pockets that they can dish out to pay for these retrofits, so there is a lot to do. I know it is a hard balancing act, and the Minister is doing his best, but we have to get a better balance and listen when people like the United Nations tell us that capacity here is all wrong and we have too many eggs in one basket. We must try to redress that and have more balanced regional development as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  I am glad to get the opportunity to talk on this topic, even though I have only a couple of minutes. I could talk for a whole day about it. I do not agree with many people here. The climate is changing but the climate has always changed. It is not man-made. We are not causing it here on this Earth. The climate changed back over the centuries, and those are the facts. History will show that to us at different times. We had periods of severe cold and severe rain. A famine in the 1740s was caused by two years of incessant rain, when one third of our population and most of our cattle and sheep died. If we all walked off the island of Ireland today, it would only mean a difference of 0.13% of 1% in the whole worldwide context. That is another fact. With all these ideas that the Government has about the climate, I honestly say that no human being here can have any effect in changing the climate and never will.  We have the highest ESB charges now simply because we are told we cannot buy turf or burn fossil fuels, yet Germany has opened two new coalmines. It is in Europe as well. I wonder what the Minister will say about that.  In 2019, there was a vote here on the targets for 2030. I believe I was the only TD who voted against those targets at that time because I knew then, as I know now, what it would mean to hard-working people. It would put pressure on them financially. This is what the Government is trying to do now in every sector because of climate change. Massive amounts of taxpayers' money are being spent to address this issue, but it will fail because it is not possible to change the weather. No matter what we do here, we do not have the power to change the weather. We cannot do lesser things or things closer to home or to the needs of the people. We cannot achieve those things.  I will just mention one thing. We do not have enough houses for the number of people coming into the country and the way our population is exploding. Then there is this carbon tax. People are being charged massive amounts of carbon tax. Farmers should be completely exempt because they are sequestering more carbon than they are emitting. Growing grass sequesters carbon. They are planting hedges and trees, and they are sequestering more carbon. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Darren O'Rourke)  Go raibh maith agat. I thank an Teachta. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  They are still being charged carbon tax. They are using AdBlue. They are doing everything possible and yet the Government is charging them carbon tax. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment (Deputy Darragh O'Brien)  I thank the Labour Party for tabling this motion, and I will deal with elements of it in my response.  I have been struck by many of the responses, many of which have been constructive and well-meaning. Others have not been. Turning specifically to Deputy Danny Healy-Rae, climate change is real and is happening now. The science is indisputable and climate action is critically important to counter climate change. Climate action is also important because it affords us great opportunities here. There are great opportunities in the context of climate action in relation to new technologies for the electrification of our country, which will make us more competitive and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. Even if one were to argue, therefore, which I never would, that fossil fuels do not impact the climate, which they do, Ireland is still too dependent on imports of fossil fuels. To state the very obvious, we are an island nation. We have low interconnection rates. We import 80% of our gas from our nearest neighbour. We produce the other 20%. What do we need to do? We need to accelerate the deployment of renewables. I will return to this aspect later in my remarks.  We have tabled a countermotion. I do not do that lightly, but there are elements in the Labour Party motion that I profoundly disagree with. It is interesting that things like the airport cap were thrown into this debate. As someone who represents an airport constituency, I remember a time when the Labour Party was a supporter of airport workers. Even in advance of the debate on the Dublin Airport (passenger capacity) Bill 2026, it is clear that this is not a side that the Labour Party is taking any more, which is regrettable. If I take the example of the airport, and I will move on to data centres and ICT in a moment, 130,000 direct and indirect jobs derive very good incomes from Dublin Airport alone. We are growing Shannon, Cork and Ireland West airports as well, so it is not just one instead of the other. I do not think anyone can argue that an 18-year-old planning condition is appropriate and serves Ireland well right now. I agree with much of what Deputy Michael Healy-Rae said in that regard. I ask people to reflect on this issue. It does not set aside environmental considerations either. That is purely incorrect in the motion. I ask people to look at the legislation. An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la will be the organisation that evaluates the environmental assessments and not me as the Minister. This change needs to happen if we are serious about growth in jobs and protecting our connectivity and competitiveness. This needs to happen, and I would warn against a move towards populism in that regard.  On energy pricing, I was at the Energy Ireland conference earlier, so the Minister of State, Deputy Ardagh, took the first half of the debate but I listened to it on the way back. Many Deputies threw out this figure of there being 500,000 households in energy arrears. That is not correct. What was reported on RT\u00c9 was not correct, and it took it quite a while to even correct it. The Commission for Regulation of Utilities actually called that out. Arrears are too high and energy prices are too high, and we need to get them down. I do not dispute that at all. All that has been done to get that 500,000 figure, though, is adding the figures for gas arrears to those for electricity arrears. Unfortunately, many households are across both, so saying 500,000 households are in arrears is just not true, and the record should be corrected on this. It should have been corrected on our national broadcaster but it was not because it did not suit its narrative. Everyone in arrears is counted from the first day, from day one when a bill is not paid. When we look at the figures for those who have been 90 days in arrears, and we do need to help people to get out of that situation, we are looking at about 8% of electricity customers, which amounts to 184,000 households. It is still too high, absolutely, but let us deal with the facts and not go down that route of effectively looking at the bigger figure because it will get more prominence.  It is good that we are having a discussion, particularly on data centres and ICT. It is a pity Deputies Paul Murphy and Coppinger are not here. They are always giving very constructive remarks here in the Chamber. They opposed the climate Act, by the way, which has been able to ensure that Ireland is moving towards meeting those climate obligations that we have.  On data centres, Ireland is not a large industrial nation. We do not make cars or military equipment and do not have large industrial companies. We do, however, have a substantial ICT sector employing just short of 200,000 people. It is around 185,000 people. The figure is 19,000 people in the data centres, but they support all those other jobs at the leading edge of technology. Many of our young people are the best in the world at this. We need an infrastructure that supports that, and data centres are part of that. When people say 22% of our energy is used by data centres, that is correct. If we went to Germany, however, we could ask how much energy there is used for large industrial developments, including car manufacturing and all those various things. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  How many jobs are attached to it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  That is why we brought forward the large energy user action plan and the decision of CRU in relation to large energy users. It is a plan-led approach going forward. Any new data centre connections will have to be on the basis of using 80% renewables - new renewables, not existing renewables. This idea that existing renewables will be used up is not correct. We need that plan-led approach. I support the ICT sector, new jobs and new technologies. It is good for us as a country and a small, open economy. We cannot be complacent about that. The idea that we would pull the shutters down again on this area is not correct, but it has to be done in a planned way. I agree with many contributors from the Opposition who have said this. The question now is how we can continue to protect families and businesses in the short term.  Retrofitting is critical. Many people, including Deputy Healy, were talking about middle-income families being able to access grants. That is why I have specifically brought forward the retrofitting passport for households and broken down the grants such that we are not just doing deep retrofits but are allowing for the inclusion of windows and doors, attic insulation, wall cavity insulation and all those different things, including solar at scale as well. If we go back to when we started retrofitting, about 268,000 homes across the country have now been retrofitted to different degrees.  That protects them to a large degree against future price shocks, reduces their energy usage, reduces their emissions and makes them warmer and more efficient. We need to accelerate that. In the first quarter of this year, 12,000 homes were upgraded under the scheme, including 1,500 under the warmer homes scheme for those at risk of energy poverty. Since the formation of this Government, 70,000 homes have been retrofitted.  The purpose of the change in the grants is to ensure that households can access them. We have seen an absolutely incredible response, with over 50,000 applications in the first four months of this year, including significant applications for solar. We want to do more with regard to batteries. That is the position on households.  Five thousand businesses have been retrofitted. Of course, we can do more, but we are targeting 73,000 households to be retrofitted this year. It will be the largest number done in any given year. We are actually building up a really good domestic sector and domestic expertise, with new Irish companies, particularly in our rural areas. This really speaks to regional development.  What are we doing at a national level regarding our grid and energy? We have now reached a really significant figure of 8 GW of renewable energy integrated into our system. Yes, of course we need to do more. One gigawatt powers about 500,000 homes. That is what we are talking about. Our wind capacity has doubled in ten years. We have added 5 GW of renewables in just a ten-year period. The figure for solar will probably be 3 GW by the end of this year alone, with over 1 GW from rooftop solar. We want to continue to support households in this regard.  I am considering measures with regard to domestic batteries. I have asked the ESB to examine the whole area of balcony or plug-in solar, as it is called. These are things that are critically needed.  What is also critically needed is investment in our grid. For argument's sake, I will use the example of a capital project that should have been completed already and that needs to be completed without delay, namely, the North-South interconnector. There have been four reviews of the interconnector, including in respect of whether it should be underground or overground. The reviews are done now. There are no more and it needs to happen. Three local authorities need to discharge the planning consents and we need to get building it. I returned from a conference this morning with my colleague in the North, Caoimhe Archibald. The Executive in the North is in absolute agreement on this as well. This one piece of infrastructure will do more for the resilience of our electricity grid than any other project, and that needs to start. I expect cross-party support, from both the Government and Opposition, to commence work on this and to deliver the project by 2031, which is still exacting. That will deliver affordability.  On offshore wind, the target was 5 GW by 2030, as Deputy Gogarty mentioned. There have been planning consent delays all the way through. We hope to have positive planning decisions on two projects this year. My target is to get them to construction this year. That would be a game-changer for us. I absolutely agree in this regard. In the meantime, we need more onshore wind and more onshore solar.  To answer the questions some Deputies have raised about the wind energy guidelines, the revised guidelines will be published and made available this year. I get the point in that regard. The revised guidelines will be produced this year through the work I am doing with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Browne.  I thank Labour Party colleagues for the motion. This has been a decent debate. I will not be accepting the motion but I look forward to continuing to work with the Deputies on a constructive basis. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy George Lawlor  Listening to the Minister's comments about the arrears issue, I noted he turned it into a maths equation. I cannot believe how disconnected he is from the reality on the ground. If he needs another reminder, we had fuel protests some time ago. The entire nation was convulsed. Even the former Minister of State Deputy Michael Healy-Rae was so convulsed by it that he stood up and said he had no confidence in the leadership of the Government. He went out and held his fist up in support of the protesters. This morning, of course, he is back in love with the Government as he tries to get himself back into some sort of ministerial role.  I am very glad to support the Labour Party motion, my party's motion, because it speaks the truth that can no longer be ignored. Of course, data centres have a crucial role to play in much of the economic development of this country, but there is no use having them if, in a few years' time, people will go home from working in companies that have benefited from them and there is no electricity to turn their lights on. This has happened in other parts of the world. We should learn from the experience of other areas.  The evidence on the climate is stark. Last month, temperatures in Ireland in May exceeded 30\u00b0C. If that is not an indication of climate change, what is? I do not know what weather they have in Kerry, but Deputy Danny Healy-Rae seems to have no confidence whatsoever that climate change is taking place. He should say that to those in places like Enniscorthy and other parts of the country that are decimated almost year in, year out as a result of it.  A recent UN report described Ireland as a cautionary tale for the environmental impact of data centres. That should alarm every single Member of this House. We now have over 22% of our electricity consumed by data centres, and this is projected to rise to 30% by 2030, and potentially to an unbelievable 55% if growth continues unchecked. That would mean data centres would be using more electricity than every home, farm, small business, hospital and school in the country combined.  The Minister spoke about retrofitting. Retrofitting would be a most welcome addition to every home in the country. However, when you ask people to come up with \u20ac30,000, \u20ac40,000 or \u20ac50,000 in matching funding, you might as well be asking them for \u20ac1 million. They just do not have it. It is too expensive for ordinary decent working people to invest in. They do not have the money. One of the things I have proposed in the past is a fair deal-type scheme for retrofitting, whereby the Government would invest to ensure the people have access. There is no use having a great scheme if people cannot access it. There is a great scheme, but you have to have tens of thousands of euro in addition to the grant.  The Government's own policies are making the situation worse. The CRU's large energy user connection policy, the private wires legislation and the proposed LNG terminal all point in the same direction: more fossil fuels. The Climate Change Advisory Council has already warned that all new renewable energy is being swallowed up by new data centre demand. Where there are vast solar farms, and there is one in Gusserane in Wexford, people have no real problem; however, they do have a problem in a very rural area where 100 battery energy storage system, BESS, batteries are being installed, each the size of a container. We have to look into this again. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marie Sherlock  I thank my colleague Deputy Ahern for introducing this really important and timely motion. It is frankly shambolic that, more than six months into 2026, we still have yet to see a national climate action plan. That speaks volumes about this Government and its commitment to climate mitigation in this country. Instead of a Government prioritising clean, cheap energy for the many, we have had to introduce this motion because of the huge drain that data centres represent to our grid at this point, with real-world consequences for so many households across the country. It is absolutely shambolic that the vast majority of the renewable resources being developed are going towards data centres as opposed to reducing bills and making a meaningful impact on the utility bills of households across the country.  Some of us here accept that there is a role in many economies for data centres. However, when one notes that data centres account for 22% of our energy, and when the Minister for enterprise, Deputy Burke, talks about data centre activity being a strategic opportunity for the Irish economy to bring forward the green transition, nothing could be further from the truth. The reality is that data centres are sucking up the renewable energy generated in the Irish economy, which needs to be going to real households. We need to see a significant change in the approach of the Government. It has become the cornerstone of industrial policy. We need to see that changed for the households I deal with in Dublin Central and the 14% of low-income households that are in dire circumstances. A woman who came to me yesterday had a bill of \u20ac1,200 in the middle of May. There are thousands of others like her across the country. I hear the Minister dancing on the head of a pin about 500,000 household energy accounts that are in long-term arrears. That is what we are talking about. For the Minister to get defensive about the level of arrears in this country is simply wrong. He needs to engage regarding the level of need that exists.  We believe there needs to be a complete change with regard to how we retrofit households across this country. At the moment, those who are able to access the grants have means. The many who do not have those means week in, week out, and who are living from week to week, cannot access the grants. We need to change the whole framework of grants to ensure those in both social and private housing can collectively receive support from the SEAI to make meaningful changes to retrofit their homes and permanently lower their costs.  We feel that the Minister has his head in the clouds with regard to the true level of the issue out there in terms of the energy bills and arrears that households are dealing with. We want to see a real change in how the Government deals with the level of need out there. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  \"The Minister has his head in the cloud computing\" is what my colleague might have wanted to say. I thank him for gracing us with his presence for the second half of this debate. It was disappointing that neither he nor the two Ministers of State from the Department were able to turn up for the first half. If nothing else, I am pleased that we have helped to reunite the Healy-Rae brothers over their joint passion for climate denial. It was lovely to see that collectivity back in the House. Do not say the Labour Party never did anything for you, lads. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  You will not change the weather. It would be too late for that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  We have today been accused of being anti-growth, anti-jobs and even populist in what we are talking about, but Deputies are missing the point. We are legitimately questioning the Government's industrial strategy. Even Deputy Michael Collins accepted that we were relying too much on imported oil and gas. The Government policies, promoted by the Minister, are leading to more oil and gas dependence and undermining any chance we have of energy security, which the Government seems to say is so important. Data centres, car dependence, lifting the Dublin Airport cap and all those measures that the Government is taking are going to lead to increased use of fossil fuels. How is the Government going to square that circle? How is the Government going to continue to grow the economy, which we all want to see, while meeting our legally binding climate, biodiversity and decarbonisation targets?  We are not alone in questioning the continued roll-out of data centres. Just last week, the EU Commissioner for the environment was before the climate committee. She expressed her reservations about the massive amount of water that was going through data centres. She is trying to avoid a water crisis. Communities in the US, including in Pennsylvania and other places, are rising up against huge data centres being built there. Paschal Donohoe, our former finance Minister, in his new role has expressed concerns about the proliferation of data centres across the Continent. How many data centres are enough for this Government? How much are they going to be allowed to add to households' bills.  We are calling for a pause. We are calling for fairness for households and families. We are calling for the Minister to show us his homework on this issue. The Government says it can do it all, so I ask it to show us the climate action plan. In the remarks prepared earlier, we were told that a public consultation on this year's climate action plan was only being opened this week. It is going to be open for another two months. At the time we are debating the budget for 2027, we are only going to be seeing for the first time the climate action plan for this year. That shows us what the Government's priorities are. I ask the Minister to stop undermining the climate Act, bring us the Government's climate action plan and support the Labour Party's motion. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The division is deferred until the weekly division time. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Data Centres, Energy Use and Climate Change: Motion [Private Members]"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-17\/debate\/dbsect_10","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Teachtaireacht \u00f3n Seanad - Message from Seanad","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_10","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Seanad \u00c9ireann has passed the Critical Infrastructure Bill 2026, without amendment. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Teachtaireacht \u00f3n Seanad - Message from Seanad"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-17\/debate\/dbsect_11","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions","counts":{"speechCount":55,"speakerCount":11},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_11","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kevin Boxer Moran","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Today, the families of those killed or injured at Creeslough will bring their fight for answers to the D\u00e1il. They will be here to speak to Members later this afternoon and we will make them most welcome. Every one of us remembers that fateful Friday afternoon in October 2022. We remember the reports of an explosion at an Applegreen service station and apartments in the small Donegal village and how that shock later turned to disbelief as we learned that the explosion had claimed the lives of ten people. It took the life of five-year-old Shauna Flanagan Garwe, the youngest victim, and that of her doting father, Robert; 13-year-old James Monaghan and his mother, Catherine O'Donnell; 14-year-old Leona Harper; Jessica Gallagher; James O'Flaherty; Martin McGill; Martina Martin; and Hugh Kelly, aged 59, who was the oldest to die. It was a tragedy that spanned generations and is etched into the collective memory of the people of Donegal. Families were left heartbroken, shattered and bereft.  Both the Taoiseach and I visited Creeslough in the immediate aftermath of the explosion and I certainly will never forget the devastation. No doubt, neither will the Taoiseach. For nearly four years, these families have fought for answers, for the full truth of what happened to their loved ones and how it happened. Families are calling for the establishment of a public inquiry. The Government's response is that a public inquiry cannot be granted while the criminal investigation is ongoing, but the former Garda Commissioner was clear. He stated that it was possible to hold a public inquiry without compromising that investigation.  The families' reasons for wanting a public inquiry are very well-founded. They are concerned that the criminal investigation may not examine regulatory oversight and safety standards, that without a public inquiry, the full circumstances of the disaster may never be established, and that criminal proceedings may take years, thereby delaying answers.  It is wrong that the families had to campaign publicly simply to secure a meeting with the Minister for justice. The Minister, the House will recall, initially spurned the families' request for engagement. That caused real upset, anger and frustration. Finally, after sustained pressure, the Minister changed his mind and met the families on 9 April. Following that meeting, Darragh Mackin, the legal representative of some of the families, stated, \"The minister has now confirmed unequivocally to these families that he will consider holding an inquest with a senior judge or the senior coroner, something similar to Stardust\". Yet nearly three months later, there has been no progress and the families are left feeling like they are in limbo. That is why they bring their campaign for truth and justice to Leinster House today.  T\u00e1 freagra\u00ed tuillte ag na teaghlaigh a mara\u00edodh agus a ngorta\u00edodh a ndaoine muinteartha i bpl\u00e9ascadh an Chraoslaigh. T\u00e1 siad ag \u00e9ileamh fiosr\u00fach\u00e1n poibl\u00ed chun an fh\u00edrinne ioml\u00e1n a aimsi\u00fa. Caithfidh an Rialtas freagairt d\u00e1 n-\u00e9ileamh gan a thuilleadh moille.  These families have endured years without answers about the deaths of their loved ones. What exactly happened? How did it happen? Could it have been prevented? After four years, they need clarity. They need to know what the Government is going to do. Please, will he tell them today that the Government will establish a public inquiry? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  First of all, I do of course recall the horrific events at Creeslough where ten people died. It was an horrific tragedy in its impact on all those individual families of those who died and on the wider community. It is important that the survivors and families get comprehensive answers, but also accountability and justice. The real issue and debate here are about the best mechanism to get answers, accountability and justice.  It is important that the Garda has been leading a tripartite investigation alongside the Health and Safety Authority and the Commission for Regulation of Utilities. Seven arrests have been made in relation to the case. The most recent occurred on 12 September 2025. No charges have been brought at this point. An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na submitted a primary investigation file to the Director of Public Prosecutions on 29 September 2025. A supplementary file was submitted in March 2026. The supplementary file includes formal recommendations from An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na.  That file is being considered by the Director of Public Prosecutions, DPP. We must acknowledge that there is, and in my experience there has always been, an issue with public inquiries while a criminal investigation is under way. It is not as simple as the Deputy articulated. I genuinely think there is an issue. We should allow the criminal justice system to conclude. Quite a significant degree of the case would be in public, if a criminal investigation is to be initiated or if charges are served and so forth. The question is what is the best mechanism to get the full answers about what transpired and to get accountability and justice in the event of any criminal negligence or wrongdoing being found.  All the advice I have received down through the years, and particularly Attorney General advice, has been that inquiries can compromise criminal investigations. However, we are open to an inquiry. If there were a criminal case, or if a case were to be heard in court, it would reveal a substantial amount of information, but if there are ongoing and outstanding issues and concerns that remain after the conclusion of a criminal investigation and an inquest, consideration can be given to the establishment of a public inquiry. I understand that, in April, the Donegal coroner met the families of those who died, explained the inquest process to them and reiterated to the families that the Garda investigation would take precedence, as it is the most important investigation at the time.  I understand fully. It must be awful to be waiting so long for answers about what transpired. Our thoughts are with the victims, their families and loved ones, the survivors of the tragedy and the wider community of Creeslough, which was so impacted by what happened more than three years ago. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  It is not I, but the former Garda Commissioner, who offered strongly the view and advice that there would be no compromising of the criminal investigation in the holding of a public inquiry. Be that as it may, we are now nearly four years on and the families have to have clarity on the direction of travel from the Government. The Taoiseach seemed to indicate an acceptance of the idea of an inquiry and that the question might be what the outstanding issues are and how they might emerge. Will he meet the families and hear from them directly? Undoubtedly, there is a need for accountability, including criminal accountability in open court. I do not dispute that for a second. The Garda and other statutory authorities must do their jobs, but the families have additional requests and questions. Will the Taoiseach make clear the direction of Government travel and meet the families at a time of mutual convenience? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I will make two points. The Minister, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan, met a number of family members and their legal representatives in April of this year. It is unfair to say he spurned them. Generally, the position has always been, when a criminal investigation is under way, that Ministers for justice have to keep a distance from the case, given the separation of powers and so forth. I have no issue with meeting the families and will do so. That is to be worked out.  However, there is a fundamental point, if the Deputy thinks about. Regarding the viability of having a criminal investigation and a public inquiry at the one time, as a layperson - this is not a legal observation - I think it would be problematic and challenging as regards witnesses and so forth. The Government's position is clear. It is that we want to see the criminal justice system bring this to its conclusion. I accept the point about doing so in a timely manner and I am assured that the Director of Public Prosecutions is assessing the file and will make her decision. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  Today, we have another damning report from the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, on Ireland's declining water quality. Nearly half of our rivers are ecologically unhealthy. They are dying, as is all the wildlife and biodiversity in them. Our high status water bodies are deteriorating. These rivers are hugely important ecologically. They are refuges for some of our protected species, such as kingfisher and salmon. Almost 10% of these rivers have declined in quality in the past year alone. More worrying, we have seen a net decline of 25% in the number of high quality rivers since 2012. The trend is clear and undeniable, and we all know why it is happening. It is predominantly because of agricultural run-off, with wastewater discharges also being a major cause. These are the facts. That is the science.  We can see the devastating impact of Government policy and inaction. In many cases, that impact will irreversible. Last week, the journalist Ella McSweeney shared a graph of wild salmon returns to Irish waters in recent decades. From the mid-1970s to today, salmon returns collapsed from 180,000 per year to fewer than 20,000 per year. Ms McSweeney rightly referred to it as extinction in our time. That is what we are witnessing and what the Government is facilitating.  Just last week, there was another major fish kill incident in the River Glyde in County Louth. Drone footage captured 25 km of pollution and tens of thousands of dead fish, including adult and juvenile Atlantic salmon and European eel. The source of the pollution has been confirmed to be agricultural discharge. A file is now being prepared for a potential prosecution, but even if that happens and the prosecution is successful, the fines are so small that they barely register. There is a reason Ireland is now the only country in the EU with a nitrates derogation. It is because the derogation is simply incompatible with good water quality.  The Taoiseach will accuse me and the Social Democrats of attacking farmers, but nothing could be further from the truth. As a party, we just do not peddle obvious falsehoods and inherent contradictions, so we do not claim it is possible to spread disproportionate levels of nitrogen on soil and keep our rivers clean, not when we all know that agricultural run-off is our biggest pollutant. That is not anti-farmer. It is just fact. Does the Taoiseach accept that fact? If not, will he just come out and say it, that protecting our waterways and biodiversity simply is not a priority for the Government? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  First, it is a priority for the Government. The EPA report has serious findings. There were some positives in terms of some areas that had improved, and I think the report recommends that they be studied more, particularly in the Bannow area, to understand what is being done there that could be replicated elsewhere.  The Deputy will be aware that we have set up a Cabinet subcommittee specifically on water quality to oversee the implementation of the programme for Government commitments. A number of key Ministers are on it.  In terms of investment in water quality, there is an overall national development plan allocation for water. The Government has allocated about \u20ac12.2 billion over the next few years for water services and water quality, of which 95% or \u20ac11.7 billion is earmarked directly for Uisce \u00c9ireann. There is a further \u20ac230 million for rural water infrastructure, including group water schemes and so forth. Regarding river, lake and coastal water quality restoration, about \u20ac306 million has been allocated to that. A substantial amount of the money for Uisce \u00c9ireann is for capital projects, which means upgrading water treatment plants, removing supplies from the EPA remedial action list, eliminating contamination risks, new wastewater treatment plants, upgrading sewerage infrastructure, eliminating untreated sewage discharges into rivers and coastal waters, water mains replacement, pipe upgrades and the national leakage reduction programme. That is the level of investment we are putting in, which is unprecedented. The Deputy cannot say that the Government is not prioritising water quality, because that is one very effective way of improving it.  By the way, I will say in passing that Uisce \u00c9ireann needs to dramatically reduce the pollution emanating from its own discharges, half of which are operational issues, which in my view is absolutely unacceptable from a governance and management perspective.  In terms of agriculture, there is a significant issue there. We have never said there was not, but we have again, in a range of initiatives, provided supports for farmers to take additional measures to improve water quality. The farming for water European innovation partnership, EIP, with funding of over \u20ac60 million, was launched in 2024 and involved Teagasc, Dairy Industry Ireland and the local authorities water programme, LAWPRO. There were about 5,500 applications from the farming community. Since 2015, close to \u20ac200 million has supported investment in manure storage and low-emission slurry-spreading equipment. There are about 54,000 farmers participating in the agri-climate rural environment scheme, ACRES, while the agricultural sustainability support and advisory programme, ASSAP, will continue providing free, confidential water quality advice through to 2027. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  In the 1980s, we had over 500 pristine rivers. Now, we have just 20 - actually, it is probably less than that because that is a 2018 figure - so for the Taoiseach to say this is a priority for the Government simply is not credible. Agricultural run-off was responsible for pollution in approximately 1,000 water bodies and the Government consistently fights for a derogation for Ireland to be able to apply more chemical applications to the soil, which inevitably run off into the rivers. Not that we needed further evidence that this was not a priority for the Government, but research has been done on alternatives to applying chemical nitrogen and we know that red clover can be as effective at fixing nitrogen into the soil, and the Government shelved that scheme only last month. The Taoiseach should stand up again and tell me how it is credible to say that the Government is prioritising water quality in terms of agricultural run-off. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  On the maintenance of the nitrates derogation, we have been availing of the derogation since 2006 primarily because our grass-based farming system is much different to systems across the Continent. About 7,000 farmers have participated in that. By the way, those participating farmers probably have a higher and better record than those outside the derogation.  It is more complex than the Deputy is articulating. In some tillage areas, you can have significant run-off. It is not all dairy. Depending on----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  I did not say it was. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Please, I did not interrupt the Deputy. It depends on soil composition and other factors.  I looked at the data on estuaries. There has been quite a significant improvement in terms of phosphorous in estuaries, although not so much in terms of rivers and lakes. It is not where it should be - there is no question around that - but we have a number of fronts. You could end the directive tomorrow morning but that would have huge impacts on the dairy industry and other industries. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy has not spelled that out----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call Deputy Bacik. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----and has not even articulated that either. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  I have many times. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  We actually did today, Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Bacik, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kevin Boxer Moran","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran  Blame the poor farmer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. No woman who lived under the shadow of the eighth amendment will ever forget its impact. Many of us will recall the X case, the A, B and C case, the PP case and the tragic death of Savita Halappanavar. We all know that there are thousands of other women who were harmed and whose lives were deeply impacted by Ireland\u2019s constitutional ban on abortion between 1983 and 2018. Thousands had to travel abroad for necessary healthcare. In later years, many self-medicated with pills purchased online and far too many, in the early years, had to resort to using underground phone lines to get abortion information. As students union president in Trinity in 1989, I will never forget taking calls from women and girls in crisis pregnancy who were seeking the phone numbers of abortion clinics in England and had nowhere else to turn. Women who were panicked and desperate would describe their terror to me. Their bodies were no longer their own. Their futures were no longer their own. Due to the eighth amendment, they had to resort to calling a Trinity student\u2019s phone line to ask for help.  After many decades of campaigning, we succeeded in repealing the eighth amendment in 2018 and in legalising abortion here. That was very welcome but far too many women are still travelling. At least 1,500 have done so since 2019. Women across Ireland are still feeling the loneliness of rejection by their own health service, so we must address the barriers to accessing necessary reproductive healthcare. Resources are not the issue. The constitutional ban is gone. What is preventing women from getting the care they need is political squeamishness and cowardice. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  It is a residual, insulting, patriarchal mistrust of women that forms the basis of the mandatory three-day wait and the Government's unwillingness to engage with the evidence that other change is needed.  I welcome the Taoiseach's confirmation that he will vote in support of the Private Members' Bill to remove the three-day wait on Second Stage tonight, but even if that reform is introduced, it will not be enough. It will not be enough, in particular, for women who receive a devastating diagnosis of fatal foetal abnormality and who still have to travel abroad because of the unnecessarily restrictive provisions in the current law.  The Taoiseach asked barrister Marie O\u2019Shea to lead a review into how abortion care was working in Ireland. Her report was published three years ago. From that moment, he and his colleagues were on notice the system was failing women and that arbitrary and paternalistic processes were failing women and, indeed, doctors. Therefore, we need to go further than removing the mandatory three-day wait. We need urgent reform of the overly restrictive provisions on fatal foetal anomaly and implementation of all the recommendations from Marie O\u2019Shea\u2019s report.  The three-day wait is just one serious obstacle and women cannot wait any longer for it to be repealed, so can we have a timeline for this change? None was forthcoming from the Government yesterday. Three years on from the O\u2019Shea review, when will we see all of her recommendations implemented to deliver effective reproductive care and abortion rights? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  First of all, I recognise that this is a very sensitive issue and I appreciate the Deputy raising it in the manner she has. She campaigned consistently over a long period for the abolition of the eighth amendment. On reflection, in my view, this area should never have been in the Constitution in the first instance. It came out of a particular era in the 1980s.  Be that as it may, the people spoke in the referendum. In the context of that referendum, there was a general debate on what would follow. If we look at what has happened, there is now safe and equitable access to termination of pregnancy services. The Deputy did not really acknowledge that in her presentation. Significant steps have been taken in this regard, including the expansion of hospital services, a sustained increase in community providers - there are about 492 now - the introduction of safe access zones and the continuation of the revised model of care for termination in early pregnancy. These measures have substantially reduced barriers and increased access to services for those who need it.  There is a broad spectrum of sincerely held views on this issue. We should respect that, and the Government respects that insofar as we have a conscience vote on these issues, and we have had. The constituent members - Fianna F\u00e1il, Fine Gael and Independents - allow for a conscience vote on this. That is what will happen in respect of the vote this evening on the three-day wait period, and we should respect everybody's perspectives and views on this question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  On the three days, it is interesting if you look at the unplanned pregnancy and abortion care, UnPAC, study commissioned as part of the review of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018. It explored the experiences of individuals accessing abortion services under section 12 of the Act. The findings indicate that the mandatory three-day waiting period was a recurring feature of discussions across the majority of interviews conducted. Participants expressed a range of views regarding its value and impact. While some regarded it as a procedural requirement that had to be navigated, others viewed it as a barrier or deterrent to accessing care. Very few participants considered the waiting period to have been beneficial to their own decision-making process, although some acknowledged that other women might value additional time for reflection. Those availing of the services now illustrate the degree to which the services have proved to be quite comprehensive in scope and access. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  I absolutely acknowledge the progress that has been made since 2018 and since the legislation commenced in 2019, but we still have to acknowledge we are failing far too many women. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  Fifteen hundred women is not a small number, and in each situation, there are really difficult circumstances. I am glad that we are seeing a change of heart from the Government on the three-day waiting period after years of insisting that, because it was inserted into draft legislation late in the campaign just prior to the vote, the Government was prevented from looking to abolish it.  I welcome the Taoiseach's change of heart on this but supporting this modest measure through the first stage of a multi-phase legislative process is not enough. We need a timeline for its passage into law, if indeed Government is going to support that.  We also need to see the crucial change on fatal foetal anomaly. I am looking at Marie O'Shea's report. She talks about the challenges in clinical practice and the potentially unfair outcomes for parents arising from implementing the current section. I have spoken with doctors and with women and couples affected. We need to acknowledge the language in that section needs change. That is another crucial part of the reforms necessary to guarantee women and their partners decent healthcare. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The timeline for the amendment is subject to the Oireachtas. It is going to go to the committee if it is passed; if it is not, it will not go to the committee. That is where we are. It will be subject to the vote this evening and, subsequent to that, it will be considered by the committee. The Minister has already engaged with Deputy Cullinane on this. The Minister will be co-operative and in constructive mode if the amendment is carried this evening.  We have to be careful when generalising about the reasons every single person had to go to the UK. One of the issues here is every case can be different. Legislative attempts to deal with that could have unintended consequences. I voted against the Social Democrats Bill two weeks ago because I felt it went too far. Legislatively it was imprecise and poor in terms of wanting Government to interfere in clinical decision-making. Maybe that was unintended but it was clearly in what was proposed. This is not simple. We will continue with a conscience vote in terms of the members of our party. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  We are living in a rip-off Republic at the moment and the Government is the architect of it. Families are being hammered on a daily basis by ever-burgeoning prices on a range of necessities of life. The price of electricity has risen by 57% in just five years. Ireland has the highest household cost of electricity in the whole of the European Union. The ESB, a semi-State operating on the basis of Government policy, made \u20ac636 million in profit last year. It is an incredible fact that a semi-State operating under Government policy is making supernormal profits at a time when 500,000 people are in energy arrears. That works out at \u20ac300 profit for every household in the county.  Last year, according to replies we received to parliamentary questions, the Government made \u20ac4.3 billion in fuel taxes. In the jaws of a cost-of-living crisis, it made more in fuel taxes than ever before. Its plan is to increase carbon tax. Carbon taxes were \u20ac1.2 billion last year - 80% higher than they were five years ago. They will increase in October this year and every year to 2030. The cost of diesel is 40% more than last year and carbon tax is the main driver of that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It is not the main driver. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  It is the main driver of the increase in the price of diesel. It is a blind tax. It takes no consideration of people's ability to pay. In actual fact, it hurts those on low incomes the most. This is the most detached Government in generations. It simply does not get it. It does not understand what is happening in people's kitchens - the pressures, the stress, the anger. People are a toothache or a timing belt away from debt. They are living from overdraft to overdraft. People are working all the hours they can get, yet they are struggling to keep the lights on and pay for fuel to commute to work.  We had a warning from the Central Bank last night that inflation is about to get worse. Gabriel Makhlouf said global supply chain pressures intensified in March and April and will put upward pressure on goods prices. It is spreading across all sectors - retail, services, industry, construction. All this has pushed mortgage rates up in recent weeks. Despite all this, despite the crisis families are in, at midnight on 31 July, away from the political spotlight, when D\u00e1il Members are sunning themselves on holiday----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  Ridiculous. What kind of populist----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  -----it is the Government's plan to raise petrol by 27 cent per litre and diesel by 32 cent per litre. That is an incredible thing. Is this not the ultimate two fingers to the people of this county who are in trouble in terms of the cost of living? Will the Taoiseach commit today not to increase fuel taxes on 31 July and to give the people of Ireland some respite? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I will be working throughout July. I hope people get a bit of sunshine in July but the way things are going it is a fairly rare occurrence these days.  The issue the Deputy raised is serious. The one issue he studiously avoided mentioning, bar indirectly when quoting the Governor of the Central Bank, was the war in the Middle East. He ignored the two wars - ignored them completely - and he said other things were the drivers of increases in energy prices. The driver has been clearly the war in Iran. Everybody knows that and he ignored it in his presentation.  We acknowledge there is a cost-of-living issue. The Deputy quoted from the Governor of the Central Bank. What did the Governor say? The Deputy can quote it back to me if he wishes. It was that global pressures will create inflationary pressures here. That is true across Europe.  When the governor of the European Central Bank spoke to the EU Council at the commencement of the war, she said things were going in the right direction. Inflation was coming down to around 2% and growth was happening again in the European economy more widely. The war hit and we saw what happened in Qatar. The positive news is we have, hopefully, a sustainable peace. That will lead and already has led to a reduction in the global market price of oil and gas. That will continue for the rest of the year and into the new year. Even better outcomes could develop from that.  We are very conscious of inflationary pressures. That is why in the budget and in the recent package of \u20ac750 million, we intervened to alleviate pressures as much as possible on people. Some reductions in the budget were of a permanent nature. We increased core social protection rates by \u20ac10 and introduced a significant targeted increase in child support payments. The fuel allowance was increased and expanded to take in those on the working family payment. A one-adult household on the lone parent payment with one child will see an increase of 9%, that is \u20ac1,800, from the Department. A two-adult household will see an increase of just over 8% or \u20ac2,300, in their payments.  On the broader issue of those in arrears, there are about 184,000 in arrears on electricity over 90 days. The Department of energy and the Department of Social Protection will further analyse that and see how our resources can be targeted on that issue as they have been in other areas through MABS. We have helped families and so on deal with situations that they are in.  They key issue of course is we have to replace fossil fuels with renewables. The Deputy mentioned the carbon tax. Substantial money goes to farmers - 60% of ACRES is from the Exchequer. Substantial money goes on retrofitting. Since 2019, over \u20ac1.8 billion has been spent on retrofitting. We have been able to provide energy upgrades to 268,000 homes. We could not have done that if we did not have the carbon tax in place. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  There are global pressures. There is no doubt about that, but this country is an outlier in terms of many of the costs people are paying. It is the Government's effect that makes this country an outlier. The Taoiseach talks about the carbon tax. We have shown through parliamentary questions that hundreds of millions of euro from that have gone back into the Exchequer and have never been used. These are parliamentary questions answered by Ministers.  The price of a shopping trolley has increased by 40% since 2021. This is the second most expensive country in the European Union. Groceries cost 15% more than the European average. Average rents have increased by 36% in five years, up to \u20ac2,700 in Dublin. In one year over the last five years, the cost of living has gone up \u20ac4,000 on average per household. That is the definition of a rip-off. We are one of the richest countries in the world, yet middle-income families are so squeezed as a result of Government decisions. The Taoiseach studiously stopped answering that question. I simply asked him a question. He might address it. Will he stop the increases in taxes on petrol and diesel on 31 July? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Government is monitoring the situation and will make clear to the D\u00e1il before the summer recess our position on that and how we deal with that. The permanent reductions in cost of living the Government has introduced include free schoolbooks at primary and secondary level, expansion of free hot school meals, universal childcare subsidy, \u20ac280 new baby grant, hospital inpatient charges abolished, expanded free GP care, free contraception for 17- to 35-year-olds, free HRT. I could go on in terms of the interventions the Government has done to create a permanent reduction in the cost of living, notwithstanding the huge increases.  We have had the Covid pandemic. The supply-chain crisis led to inflation. The war in Ukraine led to inflation and an energy crisis----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  The ESB. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----and so did the war in Iran lead to very substantial increases. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  It is from the dysfunctional system of electricity generation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  Increases in supply. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We need to get to renewables and we need a better grid, but Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn opposed the North-South connector. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  No, we support it; we just think it should be underground. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  You do not support it. You want it delayed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  You oppose it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  No. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  You oppose it. That is the bottom line. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  It is not built because you want it overground. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  If we keep doing that in this country, we will have more crises. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Taoiseach. The time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We have to expand the grid and we have to get more renewable energy. That is it----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Just before I move to Other Members----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----but Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn does not support any of that deep down. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  Stand on the back of a trailer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Taoiseach. I have two welcomes, one is to Ale, Sallyann, Gail, Emma and Dara from Gorey who are here as guests of Deputy \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.  I also welcome the Athboy Tidy Towns group. The Athboy person of the year is present, Lily Mangan. They are in the Gallery and they are guests of Deputy Aisling Dempsey. You are most welcome, everybody. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-17\/debate\/dbsect_12","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 na Comhalta\u00ed Eile - Other Members\u2019 Questions","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_12","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Keira Keogh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Keira Keogh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Keira Keogh  Sunday was a proud, historic and, I think the Taoiseach will agree, unforgettable day when we welcomed Prime Minister Mark Carney to Westport, Mayo but, more importantly, to his ancestral family home in Aughagower village. I thank him and his wife, Diana, as well as the Taoiseach and his wife, Mary, for coming and for being so gracious with their time.  It is also really important to thank Colette O'Toole, chairperson of Aughagower Community Council, and all of the community there for the powerful moment that they took for their small village where they were on the international stage and the amount of work that they put in to make the place look spectacular. I thank Rosaleen Heraty, her staff in Westport Town Hall Theatre, and all of Mayo County Council who put on a civil reception that showcased the warmth and the pride that we have in our community; the Hughes family in the historic Westport Estate; as well as Joe Gilmore and all the staff at Knock. I think the Taoiseach will agree that this was a deep, meaningful homecoming that celebrated the enduring bond between Ireland and Canada and anybody who painted a wall, swept a street, waved a flag or came out to just see the occasion deserves a big buladh bos.  Today, I want to talk about housing. I welcome yesterday's announcement that a project on the Lodge Road in Westport was one of 82 successful under the new housing infrastructure investment fund. This has the potential to unlock 200 houses on local authority land and potentially 300 more. I thank my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy John Cummins, whom I see in the Chamber.  I want to talk today about the thresholds for social housing. In 2023, all local authorities got an increase of \u20ac5,000 under the Housing for All review. However, Mayo currently is under band 3, which is only \u20ac30,000, and this threshold is locking people out of social housing for earning too much. Meanwhile they are not earning enough to survive the private market. I understand that this is a complex challenge and that if you increase the housing threshold you might add to the already overwhelmed list, but right now what option do I have for a working family who are slightly above the threshold and may get a notice to quit and present in my office as homeless? I offer them emergency accommodation 60 km away - away from their jobs, away from the schools and away from the community. As they are above the housing threshold, there is no hope.  I was contacted by Councillor Peter Flynn, chairperson of the housing strategic policy committee, SPC, on behalf of the members there, to ask if the bands will be reviewed. They pointed out that our neighbours in Galway are in band 2, which is \u20ac35,000, \u20ac5,000 more than Mayo. When we look at prices in Mayo last year, in Westport the average price was \u20ac327,000 where as in Kiltimagh in Mayo it was \u20ac155,000. This shows the significant variation across the county.  I raised this in a parliamentary question in December. I was informed that the Department was examining the existing income limits and work was ongoing, but I would really appreciate the Taoiseach's thoughts on this today. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  First of all, I could not agree more with the Deputy in terms of the wonderful day we had on Sunday with the visit of Mark Carney and his wife Diana back to their home town of Aughagower. I pay tribute to Colette O'Toole and the entire community in Aughagower, including Fr. Tod and all involved, for the celebration of the mass there and the wonderful sense of community spirit which illustrates the strength of community spirit in Ireland - it is still very alive and well. There was a certain degree of pride that the grandson of one of their own was returning as Prime Minister of Canada and, in addition, strengthening also the political and economic links between Canada and Ireland and Canada and the European Union, and we will have more of that during the Irish Presidency of the European Union. On Westport, the Deputy was right to mention Rosaleen Heraty. The people of Mayo did themselves proud in terms of how they organised at community-based level and that was evident in the civic reception.  I want to give a mention to Cuimsi\u00fa, which Chuck and Mair\u00e9ad Dunford created, which facilitates special needs children participating in live traditional music. It was fantastic to witness. It was their own child coming back home in the car said to them, \"When will I be playing in the Fleadh?\" They went to Comhaltas and a Comhaltas branch in Mayo has started this. Now two or three Comhaltas branches are doing it, which is sending out a signal to the rest of the country and the world that we want Comhaltas branches ultimately trying to embrace this. They put on a show and performance which was heartwarming and fantastic, and their daughter, Hannah, led the way. Hannah has a wonderful personality and performed on a number of instruments and sang, etc. It was a wonderful experience.  In terms of social housing income thresholds, I have spoken to the Minister, Deputy James Browne, and the Minister of State, Deputy John Cummins, and we have had discussions on this. Yesterday's announcement was very significant. The \u20ac1 billion announced by the Minister will unlock thousands of houses.  I am in favour of increasing social housing income thresholds substantially and significantly. There are issues in terms of the coupling of that with housing assistance payments and so on, but we need to bite the bullet on this because working people need an opportunity to access social housing, particularly workers who will not be at a level that they can borrow. I said to the Department that there are all these traditional reasons we cannot do something but we did it in 2023 with the \u20ac5,000 increase.  Family composition should be weighted more as well. If a family have two children or three children, there should be a higher weight to family composition and eligibility for a social house also. It is interesting there have been misleading articles and so on. Because we are nearly at 10,000 social houses a year being built----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Taoiseach. I call Deputy Keogh to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I will deal with that argument later. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Yes, thank you. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Keira Keogh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Keira Keogh  I agree Hannah was the star of the show and that whole group and that powerful moment of inclusion was really special.  I welcome the Taoiseach's comments. I am happy to hear that he is talking about family composition. Councillor Donna Sheridan also contacted me. She is working at present with a separated single mother with two children who is trying to leave the family home. The mother is only slightly above the threshold but does not qualify for social housing. She is looking at her options. Does she ask her boss to reduce her hours so that she can come under the threshold, does she stay in the family home where things have broken down, or does she potentially accept substandard housing or move away from her community? She is salaried at \u20ac36,000 and, even with the allowances for her children, she does not qualify. Councillor Sheridan put it strongly when she said that we are excluding from social housing our SNAs, our carers and the people who keep the backbone of the country going, and we really need to increase the thresholds. I am glad to go back to the housing SPC and say that the Taoiseach agrees with and is moving towards that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Indeed, I must pay tribute to Councillor Sean Carey as well for the leadership he gave to the council at the weekend.  One of the challenges is that somebody could be on a list for four years, five years or even longer in cities and then an increase in income could suddenly take them out of the eligibility. We have to watch that as well. The Minister is examining it and will come back to us with his proposals on this. The Minister will come back to the House on that because there are many cases similar to what the Deputy articulated and illustrated. That is the general direction of travel that we want to go in as a Government. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 na Comhalta\u00ed Eile - Other Members\u2019 Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-17\/debate\/dbsect_13","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Pholasa\u00ed n\u00f3 ar Reachta\u00edocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation","counts":{"speechCount":72,"speakerCount":22},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_13","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aisling Dempsey","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aisling-Dempsey.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aisling-Dempsey.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Geoghegan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  Payment of the TV licence fee has collapsed. Fewer than 300,000 licences have been sold so far this year. It is a significant drop on last year.  It is no surprise that far fewer people are willing to pay the licence fee. People are turned off by the financial scandals at RT\u00c9, the waste of public money, the culture of arrogance and the lack of accountability.  We need vibrant, diverse and financially sustainable public media in Ireland but the funding model, through the TV licence, is broken. People are voting with their feet. It is time to scrap the TV licence.  It is time for a modern funding model that strengthens public broadcasting and builds a thriving, secure and independent media sector in Ireland. Will the Government deliver that? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Will the Deputy tell me what his model is? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  We have set it out in policy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach's question was rhetorical, Deputy O'Rourke. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The bottom line is the licence creates significant revenue, notwithstanding that it has come down somewhat. The Deputy just cannot have it each and every way. Saying \"scrap it\" sounds good - it is populist; it is grand. However, the Government cannot be paying for everything all the time and that reality needs to sink in as well. The licence fee is there and it complements what the Government has invested in public service broadcasting and in public service media more generally through Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n, various schemes and so forth. We all need a bit of a reality check here. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  What about the report of the Future of Media Commission? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  All questions have been put. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  People cannot be looking for extras everywhere across the board----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  We can look at taxation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  ----and saying we should just get rid of this model and do this and that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The progress of our business is dependent on getting in all Members. It is not dependent on the Taoiseach asking rhetorical questions. They are not to be answered. Deputies' questions must be delivered within the minute available to them, including----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  The Taoiseach asked me a question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  It was rhetorical. Deputies can take such questions as rhetorical. Responding is not allowed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  It was a challenge. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call Deputy Gannon. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  Has the Taoiseach any idea what is happening in the Department of justice at the moment? There seems to be an impulsivity driving and leading the Department that has scant regard for consequences. In our courts, for example, the criminal legal aid system is on the verge of collapse. Solicitors have taken to removing their labour for three days and that will continue into next week. Over the past couple of weeks, when the spokespersons asked for the analysis that is the basis on which the flat fee is being introduced, we got nothing back from the Department. Yet, I was able to ready about it today in the Daily Mail and elsewhere. There is chaos happening in, and emanating from, the Department of justice. This is nowhere better seen than in what is happening in the courts at the moment. Will the Taoiseach ask the Minister to re-engage with the people who deliver the criminal legal aid system? They have currently withdrawn their labour and the consequences of that will be dire. Nobody seems to have a clue what is going on, and no less so the Minister for justice. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I disagree with the Deputy. I think we have a strong Minister for justice who is making sensible decisions. Some people will perhaps not like it because they liked the old system. We should not be having multiplicities of hearings. That is not tenable or sustainable. There is going to be no reduction in the cost to the State of providing criminal legal aid because of the reform. The Minister is proposing a flat fee. He has engaged with the Law Society and the Bar Council in respect of this. Expenditure on criminal legal aid in the District Court has nearly doubled from \u20ac19 million in 2015 to \u20ac37 million in 2024. Come on, Deputy. We cannot all go around the place saying----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  Can we see the analysis? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Whose analysis? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  For God's sake. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Apologies, a Cheann Comhairle, I should not have asked. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Bold. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It is important though because----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call Deputy Bacik. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  I renew a request I previously made to the Taoiseach relating to the campaign by Ms Lisa Phillips, who is a courageous survivor of sex abuse by Jeffrey Epstein. She and other survivors are engaged in a quest for truth and justice. Since the initial batch of files relating to Epstein's depraved international paedophile network was released, we have seen a further drip feed of allegations about his connections, which have implicated many people in public life, including former European Commissioners. Troublingly, the files also suggest that Epstein visited Ireland on quite a number of occasions, which opens the question as to whether he may have committed crimes here. I wrote to the Taoiseach again earlier this week, at Lisa Phillips's request, to forward him a request she has made for a meeting with him to outline her concerns about the nature of visits Epstein made to Ireland and about whether any criminal behaviour may have been engaged in by him here. I again ask that the Taoiseach and the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, consider meeting with Lisa Phillips on her next visit to Ireland. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I certainly will consider meeting with Lisa Phillips. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  I thank the Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Any information she has in respect of those visits, if they involved criminal activity, should be referred to the Garda. I do not know whether that has occurred. I have no issue meeting with Lisa Phillips. I got a very late request to do so in Washington but it was not possible to schedule a meeting. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  It is an absolute scandal that we have tens of thousands of vacant properties in this country while people face homelessness and the effects of the housing crisis. I ask the Taoiseach to look into something I became aware of this week. I have written to D\u00fan Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council about it. I received a tip-off from a very credible source that there are 22 apartments in an apartment complex off the Stillorgan Road that were handed over for Part V social housing three years ago but have been sitting empty ever since. Those 22 apartments are empty while families are being sent from D\u00fan Laoghaire-Rathdown into homeless hostels in the city and thousands of people have been on the housing waiting list for years. If this report is true, and it needs to be checked, there are 22 apartments earmarked for social housing sitting empty in an apartment complex off the Stillorgan Road. Will the Taoiseach look into this as a matter or urgency? I have written to the CEO of D\u00fan Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. This kind of thing just cannot go on. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  First, I agree with the Deputy that if this is true, it would be scandalous and unacceptable. However, I do not have the details behind it and I do not know who gave him the tip-off. If he gives me the details, I certainly will pursue the matter because there can be no justification for that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  Adult and community education across Ireland is facing a crisis. Classes are being cut, jobs are being lost and earnings are being slashed in multiple education and training boards. A total of \u20ac20 million has been removed from the programmes serving some of the most marginalised learners in our communities. There are over 500 further education and training campuses across Ireland, six of which are in my constituency of Cork South-West. More than 40% of those attending them are senior citizens. These classes are a lifeline for many who live alone and would otherwise be at risk of social isolation. Will the Taoiseach find out for my constituents and me, and for the country, what criteria are being used for cutting courses and making tutors redundant? Is he aware that these cuts will mainly target and affect the most marginalised learners in our communities? Adult education gives people a second chance to learn, grow and build a better future for themselves. Why are important opportunities being denied to some of our most vulnerable people through cuts in the budget for adult education? I ask that the decision be overturned. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for his question but I think he is conflating separate matters. This is not a cut in adult education. A total of 16 ETBs provide free English language classes for speakers of other languages. Demand rose sharply after the war in Ukraine broke out, going from approximately 9,000 learners in 2019 to more than 30,000 last year, 61% of whom were international protection applicants or displaced Ukrainians. In response to that increased demand and the need to ensure effective integration, temporary funding of up to \u20ac25 million annually was provided between 2023 and 2025. In line with budget 2026, that temporary funding has now been reduced but the core provision has not been reduced. ETBs retain flexibility within their overall budgets to prioritise English language classes locally. The change will have impacts. The additional funding was there for quite a number of years and it was a temporary intervention. The ETBs will work with SOLAS and others to try to maximise provision and deal with a newer phase. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aisling Dempsey","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aisling-Dempsey.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aisling-Dempsey.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aisling Dempsey  I raise the school summer programme, which was formerly called the July provision. I have been contacted by numerous parents, school staff and principals who are really frustrated and very stressed. People at St. Michael's school and Scoil Mhuire in Trim, St. Anne's school in Navan and many more schools across Meath West have told me they have not been allocated enough resources and staff by the Department to run the programme this year. The summer programme has been really responsive to me and I know its staff are working with schools. However, I am really concerned that the wording in the relevant circular will trump common sense. The summer programme is not a summer camp or a luxury. It is a really valuable educational programme and an essential support for parents. We must make sure the letter of the law in terms of this circular is not enforced and that the school summer programme team works closely with schools to get them what they need. These schools and parents know the ratio of teachers and SNAs to children that is needed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. The Department is saying it has received more applications for the school-based scheme this year than the number that ran it in 2025, with increases across primary, post-primary and special schools. In addition, the number of home-based applications has significantly increased since last year. Officials in the Department are engaging with schools on an individual basis in relation to the running of the summer programme. The staffing allocation for special class groups in the primary school scheme is typically the same as the special class resource allocation that exists during the school year.  After this year's scheme, there should be a review of this. We need to target our resources at those most in need. The scheme has been expanding significantly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Paul O'Shea  I raise the ongoing dispute between the Department of Social Protection and the Branch Managers' Association, which represents the social welfare branch offices that continue to provide vital social services in communities across the country. In April 2018, former Labour Court chairman Kevin Duffy issued recommendations which were accepted as a full and final settlement of the issues between both parties. Those recommendations specifically provided for the ongoing consultation, regular engagement and a forum for discussion between the Department and the Branch Managers' Association. Unfortunately, relations have deteriorated in recent times and significant concerns remain unsolved. At a time when these local offices continue to provide an invaluable service, particularly in rural Ireland, it is important that constructive engagement takes place. Will the Taoiseach ask the Minister and the Department to re-engage directly with the Branch Managers' Association to facilitate meaningful dialogue to resolve the current difficulties? Surely the best way forward is through discussion, mutual respect and a willingness of all sides to find a workable solution that protects services for the public and provides certainty for branch managers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Minister, Deputy Calleary, has already met branch managers. The Department of Social Protection has offered all branch managers a 10% increase in their remuneration with effect from 1 June 2026. This has been sanctioned and my understanding is that a number of branch managers have accepted the increase, but the Branch Managers' Association has refused the increase. I am told the Department is not in a position to agree to this request for arbitration either collectively or individually. Across the board, the Government has public service norms, pay norms, and various frameworks to govern issues that arise in respect of remuneration. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Donnelly  This week, I met the wonderful students of the National Learning Network in Parslickstown in Mulhuddart. It is a place that has shown a way for people with different abilities to learn the social and work schools to enable them to build their own personal skill sets and possibly enter the workforce. Unfortunately and sadly, we have the lowest number of people with disabilities in work and this must be challenged. Due to funding cuts, they have a waiting list, and each person on that waiting list is losing time and opportunities. It is directly linked to City of Dublin ETB and it does not seem to be an issue with the other ETBs in Dublin. Will the Taoiseach please engage with the Minister to work with City of Dublin ETB to reverse the cuts to the numbers and end the waiting list the National Learning Network currently has? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That might be a similar issue to the one that Deputy Collins raised. I will talk to the Minister in respect of it. The scheme for English language classes was quite expansive because of the arrival under the international protection order----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Donnelly  This is people with disabilities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I will follow it up with the Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Geoghegan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Geoghegan  One of the commitments in the programme for Government is to make the criminal justice system more victim-centred. Yesterday, I met Sharon Lynn, the sister of Martin Lynn, who died following a one-punch attack in 2023. The senseless death of her brother Martin and her interaction as a victim in the court process during the trial of Martin's assailant is a story that Sharon has had to tell on countless occasions, and I witnessed that anguish in my office yesterday. She stood on a platform with the Minister for justice and he indicated that he would meet her. I ask that that meeting take place. As someone who did not practise in criminal law but practised at the civil end of crime, I definitely think we can do better for victims. What steps is the Government taking to make the criminal justice system more victim-centred? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  With the O'Malley report and so on, right across the board, there have been significant reforms in respect of support for victims through the criminal justice system. We will continue to have victims as a core focus of our policy. I will speak to the Minister in respect of----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Geoghegan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Geoghegan  Sharon Lynn, about her brother, Martin Lynn. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I will speak to the Minister about Sharon's request for a meeting. I appreciate it is a traumatic situation. The Minister has met many victims over the last while. As the Deputy knows, Jennie's Law is coming in because of his engagement with TDs, families, Deputy Paul McAuliffe and others, so the Minister is responsive to situations. I will alert him that the Deputy raised this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  There is very serious overcrowding in Tullamore hospital at the moment. It is the largest hospital in the midlands region. A memo was sent around to staff stating that there was a black escalation, as I have been told by staff within the hospital. They were told that 35 inpatients are being accommodated in surge beds across the hospital, with a further 14 off-site in private medical beds. This is not the flu season or the depths of winter. It is happening in the middle of summer. I am told that it has been caused by increases in population and a parallel failure to increase facilities to cope with the extra numbers. Will the Taoiseach tell the D\u00e1il today what he will put in place to deal with the crisis immediately? What long-term plan has the Government to make sure that this does not arise in the future? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Health (Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill)  I compliment the management of Tullamore hospital, who have managed demand better than most hospitals in the country and consistently achieve very few people on trolleys. We do that through a number of different ways, including purchasing private beds where necessary. That is part of what every hospital and region does. We need to standardise the cost in relation to that but we do use off-site capacity. I do not know what the Deputy is referring to with regard to black escalation. If it is that we are trying to manage the budget overall because the HSE has hired essentially an additional 2,500 people at the beginning of this year, without a corresponding reduction in agency staff, it may be that. The Dublin and midlands areas are particularly egregious in their agency use instead of hiring for permanent positions. There is no question that the entire D\u00e1il wants to see a reduction in agency use. If that is what the Deputy is referring to, I do not know why it is being referred to in those terms, but it is certainly necessary, and it was told to me in the health committee, that we make sure we reduce agency staff and recruit permanent staff instead. I do not know what else the Deputy referred to. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  I can get the details to the Minister today if she likes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  Healthcare assistants in Northside Home Care Services do incredibly important work looking after the elderly and the community. They are paid just above the minimum wage, well below the HSE going rate. They took strike action in January and they have taken industrial action since, with work stoppages. They should not have to do this. They should be paid a fair wage that respects the work that they do. Does the Taoiseach agree that they should be paid the HSE's going rate? Will the Government introduce a sectoral wage agreement so that healthcare assistants are paid the going HSE rate, a fair wage? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  As we know, there are agreements about public service pay. There have been agreements with the section 39 workers. I understand from the Minister that about \u20ac35 per hour is the rate for tendering for services. I believe every effort should be made to try to resolve this. Regarding this company, it seems that how this is all being structured is an anomaly. I might be wrong but that is my sense of it. We need to get to the bottom of it and make sure there is a sustainable basis for workers and for the service. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Carol Nolan  I wish to raise serious concerns again about the dental system and the total collapse of dental services for medical card patients and the lack of timely assessments for schoolgoing children. I and others have noted that this has really regressed. In the 1980s, as schoolchildren, we all had those timely assessments but we seem to be going backwards. It is getting no better. Even PRSI patients have had a number of benefits that they would have got in the past eliminated. There are a number of issues regarding dental care. I know the Irish Dental Association has been calling for some time for the contract to be renewed and for complete reform of the system. It is very frustrated with the HSE and the Department of Health. Will the Minister please intervene with the HSE and Department of Health to ensure that they can get a renewed contract in place as soon as possible? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  I have already intervened with the HSE on two fronts. We will be producing a dental-specific plan. It is important to reference what the Deputy said about long waits, particularly for children. A specific intervention programme will last about two years. The Irish Dental Association has been involved with that. Let us not give the speaking points of private representative bodies either. I was at its conference and raised the increase in fees.  The fee paid to dentists for medical card patients has been increased by 40% and yet people still do not want to do it. I do have to acknowledge that as part of their conference dentists had two days, one on dentistry and one on aesthetics. I challenged the Irish Dental Association on that and it robustly defended the ability of dentists to do Botox and other things as part of their choice of how they practise. I have to highlight all these different things. Yes, we need to have a new contract anyway. Yes, we need to continue to make sure that we have a structured programme particularly for children. However, it is also true that there is not just dentistry happening and that is reducing capacity particularly in the public system. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Grace Boland  The summer provision has worked well for many years now. It has supported families and in particular children with disabilities but this year has not gone to plan. Schools have no certainty about summer provision, July provision, in particular in relation to the home-based school provision. Parents are supposed to source teachers and SNAs to provide this. We are seven days out from schools closing and parents have no certainty as to whether their children have been accepted. Can the Taoiseach confirm urgently that parents will receive confirmation today in relation to home-based provision? For next year can we really encourage that this be provided within schools rather than outsourced to parents? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  As I said earlier, and this is just a general view, I think we need to review this. The scheme has expanded beyond any original parameters, which is a good thing. Funding has increased from about \u20ac12 million in 2016 to about \u20ac62 million now, supporting 70,800 students across 2,000 schools. Funding has increased by \u20ac42 million in the last five years alone. The programme is open to all schools, with a particular focus on increasing participation in special schools. Eligibility remains largely unchanged from 2025. My understanding is that it was originally for special schools and special needs children. That was the original objective of the schools summer programme. There always has to be a razor-sharp focus on targeting those who most need it. I will talk to the Minister, Deputy Hildegarde Naughton, and let her know the Deputy has raised the issue of home-based provision. More schools have participated this year than last year. That is probably creating challenges as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charles Ward  Concerns have been raised by a local charity, Lifeline, about being able to access family law under the legal aid scheme in Donegal. I understand there are significant delays in processing legal aid applications at the moment. During this period, organisations supporting vulnerable individuals and families often need to identify solicitors who may be able to assist in urgent family law matters. However, it appears that information on solicitors participating in the Legal Aid Board\u2019s law panel is not readily available to organisations such as Lifeline Inishowen and other organisations. This creates difficulties in attempting to assist individuals who are experiencing family breakdown, domestic abuse, child access issues and guardianship access issues. Access to timely legal advice is critical in family law and I am concerned that the current arrangements may be creating unnecessary barriers for vulnerable people and assistants. Why can information not be provided to organisations such as Lifeline Inishowen and other organisations on this issue? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The fact is that supports have been provided. On the specifics of the organisation the Deputy referenced, I do not have the details here. I will alert the Minister for justice that the Deputy has raised that specific case and ask him to revert to the Deputy on it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Callaghan  On behalf of the cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council, Councillor Tommy Kinsella, I ask the Taoiseach about the funding that was promised to repair the rural roads around Carlow that were damaged by Storm Chandra. In south and east Carlow, many rural roads around Borris, Myshall, Clonmore and other areas were left in desperate conditions after the storm. Due to the delay in the receipt of the \u20ac4 million that was promised and is required to repair the damage done, Carlow County Council now has to reallocate the budget it had for its standard maintenance programme in order to repair these roads. That will have a substantial knock-on effect on the entire road network in Carlow and not just for 2026. When can Carlow County Council and its cathaoirleach, Councillor Kinsella, expect to receive that funding? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Every allocation to local authorities also had contingency provision for events. That said, the Ministers concerned are still engaging on that issue. I will revert to the Deputy. I will alert the Ministers that she has specifically raised Carlow, but I think it is a more nationwide issue as well. Capital expenditure has increased fairly significantly year on year. I accept that the storms created specific challenges in the areas that were most affected by Storm Chandra in particular. There are implications for the need for urgent road repairs in Carlow, Wicklow and other areas. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  I raise the ongoing issue of the future long-term funding for the network of live-monitored CCTV cameras in Limerick. I understand this was raised at the mayoral forum recently. In light of the total Garda budget of \u20ac2.74 billion, the funding shortfall here is \u20ac880,000. I know that the Department of justice cannot fund this directly. Would the Taoiseach support the Garda to fund the local authority to ensure that this service continues in the context of the overall Garda budget and the NDP investment? If this service is not funded, the live monitoring will have to cease and it will be akin to losing 30 garda\u00ed on the beat. The Government is investing \u20ac58 million directly for the Ryder Cup and \u20ac115 million in infrastructure. This is \u20ac880,000 and it is vital for the safety and security of the people in the region both during the Ryder Cup and beyond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Let us not conflate the two issues. I think the Ryder Cup is a good event for Limerick. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  It is. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I am sure the Deputy acknowledges that. I am a great supporter of CCTV. I think it does help security and helps with the detection of crime in many instances. It can be a deterrent to committing crime. There probably should be a tripartite contribution or at least the council and the Department of justice should make a contribution to schemes. I do not have the specifics on the Limerick CCTV scheme. I will talk to the Minister for justice in respect of the shortfall. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marie Sherlock  In March we all warmly welcomed the purchase of the site in Raheen in Limerick for the much-needed expansion of acute hospital capacity in the mid-west region. In March there was a commitment to establishing a new board and that there would be an initial report by this September. What is the delay in the formation of that board? Is that September date now off the table? Is there a timeline for the formation of the board and that initial report? Is resourcing an issue? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  No, resourcing is not an issue. First, I want to go and see Clare myself to understand that better, and ask for a plan for the region for the development of services in Clare and Tipperary - Ennis and Nenagh - and not just Limerick. Overwhelmingly the focus in the mid-west has been on Limerick, which I understand. However, proper community care and proper integrated care requires a focus on Nenagh and Ennis as well. I have agreed a chair, who I believe will be excellent. I will meet the patient council this week. I really want its perspectives before I finalise the board. Thereafter we will appoint a board to do that work. That will begin over the summer but it will begin structurally in a very detailed way thereafter. I have a little bit more work to do on that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  A Cheann Comhairle, you might join me in welcoming Abraham Phelan and Rikke Sorensen from the Silk Road Caf\u00e9, who are here in the Gallery. This past weekend, the Silk Road Caf\u00e9, a private operator in the Chester Beatty Library on the Dublin Castle campus, was forced to close as a result of upcoming EU Presidency events there. Over the last number of weeks, several of us in this Chamber have raised the issue and written to various Ministers but no one has given us an adequate response. The lack of engagement with a business that has provided excellent services to the public in one of our national institutions for 25 years gives me great concern about how other small businesses in similar positions are to be treated by the State. Given that this is the last question the Taoiseach is taking today and I think this week, and given that Abraham is here now, will the Taoiseach now meet Abraham and intervene to ensure his business is properly supported and compensated given this Government-imposed closure? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I did not realise people were coming into the Public Gallery. I am not in a position to meet today. I have checked this out and I have to be careful in what I say. I understand it is not down to the European Union Presidency and there may be other issues - I do not know. I do not know if it is up for tender. Sorry, when I say I do not know, there have been indications that there are wider issues but I would not want the Presidency to be a factor in closing down the caf\u00e9. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  It definitely was in the next month. He has a lease until----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I was told the reason for the six-month closure was the Presidency. I do not think that is a fair argument either. I would not want any facility to have to close for six months because of the EU Presidency. It does not merit that from a security point of view. The main activities at Dublin Castle are to the latter part of the Presidency. There will be ongoing events but there has to be balance and perspective. I have checked this out and I do not think it is closing for six months because of the Presidency. I think the Chester Beatty Library in Dublin Castle is involved. I have asked my officials to check and they have----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank the Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----and that is the feedback. It is better that these issues are not discussed publicly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach's time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  You need the details of this to discuss it publicly and that is problematic too. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Pholasa\u00ed n\u00f3 ar Reachta\u00edocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-17\/debate\/dbsect_14","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/67","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/67\/dail\/1","houseCode":"dail","stage":"1","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Health (Amendment) Bill 2026: First Stage (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Health (Amendment) Bill 2026: First Stage","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":4},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_14","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  I move:  That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Health Act 1970 and to provide for related matters.  I will share my time. The Bill amends the Health Act 1970 to ensure the effectiveness of the provision without charge of drugs, medicines or medical or surgical appliances to persons suffering from the precise disease or disability of a permanent or long-term nature through a review every three years. The long-term illness, LTI, scheme has been a success since its establishment and has assisted many people across this State. However, it has not been updated for a long time and as a result, we now know about many disabilities, ailments and illness that would not have been known about when the Bill was first introduced. They are long-term and lifelong but in some instances they are not covered by the scheme. In order to know if this scheme is fit for purpose and is delivering for those who need it, it is important that it is monitored and reviewed and that this is done on a consistent basis.  Conditions such as endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome, PCOS, should be covered by the scheme. However, women find themselves having to find the money for treatment in some instances and shop around, as it were, and go to multiple appointments to be prescribed drugs. This can have a very severe impact on their pocket. Obviously, there is the drugs payment scheme but, again, that does not always work and sometimes acts as a barrier for these women.  In order for any Government scheme to be effective and for us to know it is working and delivering in the way intended, it should be reviewed on a regular basis. It is important that the review is then placed before the D\u00e1il so that we have a chance to have that debate but also so that the findings of any such review are incorporated into ensuring any scheme is fit for purpose, delivering, modern, effective and capable of taking into account any illnesses that might arise. It is important that there is a periodic, mandated review, which will give us a chance in this House to have a discussion but will also give the Minister for Health of the day the opportunity to engage with the review and update the scheme as appropriate. We believe the scheme is a good scheme but not reviewing it for decades does not make it effective. It is becoming less effective with time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  The long-term illness scheme was established under section 59 of the Health Act in 1971. The last time a condition was added to the scheme was in 1975. In the meantime, 51 years of advancement in medical knowledge has been ignored and those suffering from chronic or long-term conditions who cannot get a medical card have been left without support. This, of course, would not have been an issue if the Government had advanced universal health care, but the medical card thresholds have not been touched in over 20 years.  We all agree that the long-term illness scheme should not be needed because anyone who needs care should receive it on the basis of need and not the ability to pay. This is a principle we all signed up to but, unfortunately, there has been little change in medical card entitlements since 2005, and there is no commitment in the programme for Government to address this. This is why we are introducing this legislation. We have no faith that the Government will take any meaningful action to deliver universal healthcare that is free at the point of use. People with long-term and chronic conditions cannot be left on the long finger for another decade while they wait for change.  This Bill is straightforward. It requires the Minister for Health to undertake periodic reviews of the conditions, medications and equipment on the long-term illness scheme to make sure it is fit for purpose. It would require the first review to start within a year and subsequent reviews to take place every three years. There are so many conditions that are not on the long-term illness scheme but should be. One major example of this is endometriosis. Endometriosis is a serious chronic disease and can cause severe pain, heavy and painful periods, infertility, internal scarring and damage to organs including the bowel, bladder and kidneys. It affects at least one in ten women in Ireland and yet it can take years to receive a diagnosis. Steps have been taken to address this under the endometriosis framework. We are all working across this House to improve access to care in Ireland for women but supports for medication and equipment for non-medical cardholders is a major emission from the work under way in the HSE.  Endometriosis is not short term and it is not cheap to manage. It is a long-term condition with a profound impact on quality of life, work, relationships, fertility and mental health. This is exactly the kind of condition the long-term illness scheme should be capable of recognising. I hope that when we move this Bill on Second Stage, the Government will be in a position to support it and add other illnesses to the scheme. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Is the Bill being opposed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Mary Butler)  It is not opposed. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Since this is a Private Members' Bill, Second Stage must, under Standing Orders, be taken in Private Members' time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  I move: \"That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time.\" "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Health (Amendment) Bill 2026: First Stage"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-17\/debate\/dbsect_15","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/68","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/68\/dail\/1","houseCode":"dail","stage":"1","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Electricity Regulation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2026: First Stage (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Electricity Regulation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2026: First Stage","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":4},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kevin Boxer Moran","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  I move:  That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 to provide for the regulation of direct lines; and to provide for related matters.  Ar dt\u00fas, ba mhaith liom m\u00edle bu\u00edochas a ghabh\u00e1il le gach duine a bh\u00ed ag cabhr\u00fa liom. I wish to briefly acknowledge the people who helped me get elected to the D\u00e1il and also helped me bring this Bill to where it is today. I thank the team at the Office of Parliamentary Legal Advisers, OPLA, who met me multiple times, and the Bill\u2019s Office for its guidance. I thank my colleagues in the Independent Technical Group and the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and Department officials for engaging constructively with me. I thank my team at the office, who have listened to me tirelessly, and my professors in DCU, who were patient as I developed in my developing years in engineering.  One definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. Section 37 of the Electricity Regulation Act has been on the books for 27 years and allows for direct connections, but in practice it has delivered practically none. The conditions are so restrictive that in a quarter of a century, this provision has been rendered entirely meaningless. With development in our grid and of energy infrastructure across the globe, we need to act. My Bill repeals section 37 and replaces it with something I believe actually works.  The scale of the problem we face at the moment is significant. We are curtailing clean energy on a massive scale. We are switching off wind farms, solar installations and renewable sources because the grid cannot absorb what it is generating. At the same time, Irish families and businesses are paying some of the highest electricity bills in Europe. These two facts should not co-exist. The reason they do relates to energy policy failure, and my Bill is trying to fix that. I welcome the constructive work the Government and the Minister have done on this Bill. As the Ceann Comhairle knows, our grid is under enormous pressure but demand is rising and will continue to do so if we look to projected figures across the globe. Connection queues are growing, and the ESB and Eir Grid networks do great work and have great standards but need more resources. The solution to that is with the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, and that is what my Bill hopes to provide. These networks need tools and resources to manage and my Bill gives them that. I have raised this issue repeatedly in the House and probably sound like a broken record at this stage, talking about private wires. I have raised it at Leaders' Questions, in committees and directly with the CRU three weeks ago, when it confirmed to me, on the record of the committee, that private wires or direct lines will facilitate more renewables which otherwise could not happen.  We are trying to run a modern, renewable system on tools that belong to another era. Countries like Germany are reducing bills by allowing plug-in solar and easier battery roll-out by allowing renewables, and they have safe standards for it. Meanwhile, on another point, we are still making providers install 100,000 analogue remote terminal unit, RTU, boxes which rely on electronic dispatch logging, EDL, and manual dispatch systems. An engineer knows that is absolutely ridiculous. In comparison, operators across Europe and the UK have already moved to secure digital application programming interface, API, systems. We have not. People are struggling with energy costs and we need to act faster to tackle them. While we have been waiting, other countries across the EU have legislated and allowed homes and businesses to reduce their bills. They have increased their FDI and guaranteed investment into their country.  A small manufacturer in a rural town in Ireland is paying crippling energy prices while there is a solar farm built two fields away. Under the current system, there is no legal mechanism to run a direct connection between them. My Bill enables it to be done safely. A school with solar panels on its roof, which during the summer months does not have as much of an energy demand, could directly link them to a nearby nursing home or community hub that would benefit from lower electricity costs. Private wires and direct lines can change this situation and the significant issue we have with data centres can be tackled by allowing them to easily connect to renewable energy.  The CRU should be the single sheriff in town, but to do so, there will be a monetary cost and the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, will have to get more staff and more powers, which is covered in this hefty Bill. One independent regulator in the CRU, one clear process and a mandatory timeline would increase FDI, increase job security and benefit the Irish people and SMEs. Communities in Austria share energy, reducing energy bills with multiple distribution system operators, DSOs, while we are limited here. The valid concern that I have raised about the community benefit fund, which we see with wind energy, would be addressed directly.  I know that more can be done on this Bill and I look forward to working constructively with members of the Opposition, as I am a solution-focused TD with a firm intention to address matters constructively on Committee Stage. I will not let my ego get in the way of benefiting the Irish people. The Bill is 18 months in development, it has an Office of Parliamentary Legal Advisers, OPLA, stamp and it answers all of the 47 pre-legislative scrutiny recommendations from the climate and energy committee. It is compliant and it is ready. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Is the Bill opposed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Mary Butler)  No. I congratulate the Deputy because I know he has put a significant amount of work into getting the Bill ready for First Stage. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kevin Boxer Moran","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran  Do not worry. He has a good teacher right beside him. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Congratulations. Since this is a Private Members' Bill, Second Stage must, under Standing Orders, be taken in Private Members' time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  I move: \"That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time.\" "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar fionra\u00ed ar 1.32 p.m. agus cuireadh t\u00fas leis ar\u00eds ar 2.31 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Sitting suspended at 1.32 p.m. and resumed at 2.31 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Electricity Regulation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2026: First Stage"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-17\/debate\/dbsect_16","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/59","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/59\/dail\/2","houseCode":"dail","stage":"2","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Criminal Justice (International Cooperation on Electronic Evidence and Other Matters) Bill 2026: Second Stage (Resumed) (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Criminal Justice (International Cooperation on Electronic Evidence and Other Matters) Bill 2026: Second Stage (Resumed)","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_16","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I must deal with a deferred division relating to the Second Reading motion on the Criminal Justice (International Cooperation on Electronic Evidence and Other Matters) Bill 2026, taken on Tuesday, 16 June 2026. On the question, \"That the Bill be now read a Second Time\", a division was claimed and the division must be taken now. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Criminal Justice (International Cooperation on Electronic Evidence and Other Matters) Bill 2026: Second Stage (Resumed)"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-17\/debate\/dbsect_21","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/59","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/59\/dail\/3_sub","houseCode":"dail","stage":"3_sub","isBillStage":false,"showAs":"Criminal Justice (International Cooperation on Electronic Evidence and Other Matters) Bill 2026: Committee and Remaining Stages (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Criminal Justice (International Cooperation on Electronic Evidence and Other Matters) Bill 2026: Committee and Remaining Stages","counts":{"speechCount":47,"speakerCount":8},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Sections 1 to 7, inclusive, agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"NEW SECTION"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I move amendment No. 1:   In page 10, between lines 33 and 34, to insert the following:   \"8. The Minister, having consulted with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, may by regulation direct that the Director suspend cooperation, in part or in full, with a state in breach of\u2014  (a) the Rule of Law Conditionality Regulation, or  (b) Article 6 of the Treaty on European Union,  or whereby cooperation would place Ireland in breach of Article 6 of the Treaty on European Union.\".  I want to put on the record that I consider the way in which justice legislation is being dealt with on an ongoing basis to be inappropriate and unacceptable.  We are literally just two minutes after voting on Second Stage of this legislation, yet here we are dealing with Committee Stage. Amendments for this Stage had to be submitted before the Second Stage debate had taken place. That is no way to do business. It would be potentially excusable if this were a scenario where we were dealing with something that came out of the blue, but the Minister has been well aware of this legislation coming down the track for some time.  I take the opportunity to congratulate the new Minister of State. I should have done that at the outset. I wish her well and look forward to working with her.  Amendment No. 1 seeks to insert the following into section 8:  The Minister, having consulted with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, may by regulation direct that the Director suspend cooperation, in part or in full, with a state in breach of\u2014  (a) the Rule of Law Conditionality Regulation, or  (b) Article 6 of the Treaty on European Union,  or whereby cooperation would place Ireland in breach of Article 6 of the Treaty on European Union.\u201d.  The reason for this amendment is fairly straightforward. It is about protecting Irish interests and also the principles of the rule of law, democracy and our own sovereignty, when required. Essentially, the regulations we are dealing with here allow police services in any other European state to request, in the first instance, information in relation to criminal investigations from companies based here. They then establish a governing body that can intervene in cases where there is a dispute or a company fails to comply.  There is a particular responsibility from Ireland\u2019s perspective because we have such a large IT sector. This means there will potentially be a huge number of such applications. The Department\u2019s own guidance note states that over 600 service providers based in Ireland are expected to be designated as an addressee in Ireland. It is anticipated that the number of production orders issued to service providers based in Ireland will well exceed 300,000 annually. That is a complete outlier. In contrast, Irish authorities are expected to send 2,000 requests to others. Of all other EU states, therefore, we are likely to request that about 2,000 production orders be fulfilled in any given year whereas 300,000 are expected to be requested from Ireland. They will come from all over. In practice, then, the expectation of how this will work in practice is that police services will request information from IT companies and it will be given over. Where it is not, though, the new body will be given the responsibility.  In principle, all of that is very important and welcome. We absolutely accept the principle, when we consider that many criminal investigations - I think virtually all - have an electronic component and where either text messages, server data or emails are required. We want that to be a seamless process in 95% of cases. It is also important to acknowledge, however, what these requests will be based on. When the justice committee received a briefing from the Department, a briefing that I think the committee unanimously agreed was unsatisfactory in respect of quite a number of questions going unanswered, the officials acknowledged that, \u201cIn theory, the regulation is based on the idea of full faith in credit in the member states' legal systems.\" This means that the entire premise of us adopting this legislation is accepting at face value that the legal system in every other EU state is and forever will be operating in accordance with the rule of law and the treaties of the European Union. As Deputy Mark Ward indicated during the Second Stage debate, however, \u201ctheory\u201d is doing a lot of heavy lifting in that sentence. We have seen how easy it is for democratic backsliding to happen. We saw this in Hungary in particular, but also in other states where rule-of-law issues have become a major concern. There is always a fear that if a government system does not have the judicial and policing independence we would take for granted here in Ireland, we could have a potential attempt to use this legislation to do all sorts of things.  The difficulty is that once this legislation is adopted as part of an EU framework, then we are locked into it. That is the ratchet mechanism in how EU policy works. Once you are in, you cannot get out. We know the challenges that the EU-Israel Association Agreement has created. We signed up to it - and I think, very clearly, we should not have - and now we cannot get out of it, despite the fact that Israel is committing genocide. It is not tenable, and I do not think it should be accepted as just part of the process, that if another member state, for whatever reason, has a government that tries to abuse these regulations, we have no option but to deal with it. If we have a situation where the courts in another state have been manipulated or become less independent than we would accept as a given, and we do not have some form of control here, then we would just have to accede to every request that comes through. That is, ultimately, what is in place. These are not the politics of efficiency or harmonisation. These are actually the politics of potentially damaging our own justice system to facilitate the lowest common denominator across Europe.  The difficulty here, and the reason I think this amendment is so important, is that this is potentially the last chance the Oireachtas will have to put some form of protection in place. To be very clear on what the protection is, it is not looking for anything other than for the Minister to have the authority, in conjunction with the Minister for foreign affairs, to realise that there is a particular area of concern and then direct that there be a suspension of co-operation to protect Ireland\u2019s legal framework and position, thereby potentially protecting Irish citizens and other European Union citizens. The amendment further states that this would be important in the event that by co-operating and facilitating one member state in breach of Article 6 of the EU treaties, we would breach the treaties ourselves by facilitating it.  We discussed this at the justice committee, and we received nowhere near the required level of assurance that we would not end up in a situation where we were sharing very sensitive information with a police authority that might have some form of negative agenda. This has now been put clearly on the record of the House. I do not want to see a situation in ten years or any future point where we have Ministers shrugging their shoulders and saying they have no option but to facilitate such and such a government in what is clearly a nefarious request because we are bound to do so by a law we adopted in these Houses. Members will have an opportunity to put in place this protection, and I am encouraging and urging the Minister of State to adopt and accept this amendment, or at least give an indication that she will put forward a similar amendment that will, ultimately, do the same thing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Catherine Ardagh)  I thank the Deputy very much for his amendment. I understand his concerns in relation to fundamental rights and countries not adhering to the rule of law as we might in Ireland.  However, I regret that we cannot accept his proposed amendment. The e-evidence package provides for co-operation between member states of the EU. It does not allow any member state to unilaterally suspend its operation, and the proposed amendment would be in clear breach of our legal obligations under EU law.  On a point of principle, giving a member of the Executive the power to interfere with the exercise of judicial functions by a judicial authority within the EU would be a breach of the democratic principles of the separation of powers under the rule of law. The director is being made independent specifically to prevent any suggestion that a director might be subject to influence or direction from a member of the Executive as regards the implementation of judicial orders. That would not be right. The EU regulation already contains certain safeguards, including the provision in paragraph 3 of Article 1, which states that the regulation shall not have the effect of modifying the obligation to respect the fundamental rights and legal principles as enshrined in the charter and in Article 6 of the Treaty on European Union.  The regulation also has specific safeguards. Under Article 8, the Irish enforcing authority must be notified of incoming European production orders unless they relate to an offence in the issuing state committed by a person who resides in that state, and execution can be refused. Article 12 sets out the grounds for refusal. Article 10 provides a channel through which the service provider may alert the Irish enforcing authority when it considers the order would interfere with freedom of expression.  The Deputy might ask what happens after the director has been notified of a production order under Article 8 of the e-evidence measure. What are the practical steps? Where a director, as an enforcing authority, is notified by the issuing authority of a European production order, the director must assess the order and, where appropriate, raise one of several grounds for refusal. Following an assessment, the director can raise the following grounds for refusal. The director can state that the data requested are protected by immunities or privileges under Irish law; that the data requested are covered by rules on the determination or limitation of criminal liability that relate to freedom of the press, freedom of expression and other media; that execution of the order would entail a manifest breach of relevant fundamental rights, as set out in Article 6 of the Treaty on European Union and in the charter, which speaks to the points the Deputy is raising on fundamental rights; that the execution of the order would be contrary to the principle of ne bis in idem , the double jeopardy concept; and that the conduct for which the order has been issued does not constitute an offence under Irish law, unless it concerns an offence listed within the categories of offences set out in Annex IV, all of which are offences under Irish law, if it is punishable in the issuing state by a custodial sentence or detention order for a maximum period of at least three years.  Before raising any of the above refusal grounds, the director, as enforcing authority, has to contact the issuing authority to discuss the matter. The issuing authority may decide to withdraw, adapt or maintain the order. If there is no solution, the director may raise one of the grounds for refusal. If the director, as enforcing authority, raises one of the refusal grounds, they must inform the addressee and the issuing authority. The addressee then must stop the execution of the European production order and not transfer the data, and the issuing authority has to withdraw the order. I hope that helps the Deputy regarding his amendment and gives him some comfort. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  It does not because, with due respect, the Minister of State is missing the point. The amendment is in respect of specific states and the ability to suspend co-operation, in part or in full, based on the list of scenarios I have set out. Arguably and hopefully, the provision would never need to be utilised, but it would be negligent not to put a safeguard in place. People might ask when or how what I describe could happen. Consider where the Hungarian Government got very close to in terms of control of the courts and the breakdown of independence in the Judiciary and the police. It is not beyond our wildest imagination that we could end up in a similar situation. What the Minister has outlined is a very convoluted process whereby each individual application that might come from a state would have to be dealt with through the process as outlined.  I understand what the Minister is saying about potential Executive powers. Again, however, the motion as it is set out states it would involve the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration in consultation with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. Essentially, that implies it will be a Government decision. There would be very real concerns and very valid reasons a Cabinet would come to the point that it would invoke the measure, and it would only be on the basis that it was actually protecting the rule of law, the conditionality regulation, protecting our own Constitution and protecting the EU treaty frameworks in respect of democracy and the rule of law. I hope such a provision will never be needed, but I can tell the Minister of State that if the protection is needed and we do not have it in place, these Houses will be judged very harshly.  My next point is critical because this is a debate that probably is not happening to the same extent in all EU member states. Considering the prevalence of the companies in respect of which orders and requests will be made in this State, we are going to play a disproportionate role in the decisions made. With 300,000 requests annually, I fear this will become routine for any member state seeking information.  For most criminal investigations, we want a seamless process. We want Irish authorities to be able to contact other authorities to seek electronic data and to get the information very quickly. We have to be confident, however, that all such requests are made on the basis of a genuine need to address a criminal issue rather than for some of the more concerning reasons for which requests have been in other states around the world. In this regard, the type of power in question has been used to curtail people\u2019s freedom, not only freedom of expression but also freedom of movement and other fundamental human rights.  Again, I ask for support for the amendment. I am urging that we put in place a protection. This is what it is. Ultimately, we are talking about a protection that we hope and expect will never need to be used but without which I fear we will be adopting legislation that is going to be very good only in theory, as the officials themselves said to the committee, and that ultimately will not provide the confidence in our legislation that we should be demanding as that legislation would be underpinned by EU regulations we would have no power to amend in the future. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  I wish the Minister of State well in her new role. I am sure she will find it to be very fast-moving and to have many different parts. We are finding that sometimes the hurry does not result in things operating at their most effective. Anyone who walked down to the District Court, the Central Criminal Court or the High Court today would have seen evidence of that.  This Bill is very important. That we do not have rule of law or an amendment built in at national level is very important to note. There is a huge responsibility on Ireland specifically. What we are doing here is creating a criminal justice international co-operation office in Ireland that is going to be different from what is in most other European states because of the prevalence here of the tech companies, including the Googles, Metas, LinkedIns and TikToks, which have headquarters here. To that very important office, we are allocating a budget of \u20ac2.8 million and 30 staff, who will be sent from another part of the Department of justice. The consequences of the decisions those staff will have to make with their very small budget are enormous. Do we think it is unimaginable that at some point they will have to make a determination on surveillance abuses or the use of spyware against journalists or Opposition politicians? Do we think they will not have to deal with requests that come under the heading of \u201cdemocratic backsliding from some states\u201d? They will.  If we do not have an application of our own values within those decision-making processes, we become complicit in them. That is why I will be supporting this amendment. That is why I will vote against a Bill which I mostly believe in. The rushed nature, lack of structure and inability to budget for the unforeseen makes this impossible for me to vote for. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Ardagh  As we all know, we are members of the European Union and the Members opposite know well that we cannot include this provision. It is in breach of the treaties and our obligations as a member of the European Union. We all know that we have legal obligations in relation to this regulation and we simply cannot ignore that. If we were to enact the amendment, service providers would still remain obligated to execute orders. That would be without oversight from directors. For the reasons I have stated, I simply cannot accept the Deputies' amendment. We cannot rewrite the regulation. There is no legal basis for Ireland to include such a provision. The Irish Executive cannot unilaterally decide to suspend legal co-operation entirely with another EU member state that is party to this instrument. To do so would place us in breach of our legal obligations under EU law. There are safeguards in the regulation to address instances with the execution of a specific order that might be in breach of fundamental rights. I set out in detail in my initial contribution these safeguards.  This regulation shall not have the effect of modifying the obligation to respect the fundamental rights and legal principles enshrined in the Charter and in Article 6 of the Treaty of the European Union. The regulation also has specific safeguards whereby under Article 8, the Irish enforcing authority must be notified of incoming European production orders unless they relate to an offence in the issuing state committed by a person who resides in that state. Execution can be refused. Article 12 sets out the grounds on which they may be refused and Article 10 provides a channel through which the service provider may alert the Irish enforcing authority when it considers the order would interfere with the freedom of expression. At this stage, I have nothing more to add. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Sections 8 to 16, inclusive, agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"SECTION 17"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Amendments Nos. 2 and 3 are related and may be discussed together, by agreement. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I move amendment No. 2:  In page 15, between lines 14 and 15, to insert the following:  \u201c(g) ensure minimal administrative burden is placed on small to medium sized service providers.\u201d.  There is real concern about the administrative burden this legislation could place on small and medium enterprises, SMEs, particularly in the IT sector. The Government conducted an SME test and I will talk more about that later but it found that the legislative impact on the SME sector will be significantly greater than it will be on larger companies and that there will be administrative and compliance costs.  This amendment is simple but it will be incredibly useful. It is to put in a provision on page 15 of the Bill after line 14 to \"ensure minimal administrative burden is placed on small to medium sized service providers\u201d.  The amendment is aspirational in many respects but it also sets out a template. It is important to say the vast majority of requests that will come through due to this legislation will come to the largest companies in the world, in effect, which happen to be headquartered here. The SME test carried out by the Department is a very useful document. It estimated that the five largest service providers will receive about 95% of all current cross-border requests in Europe and that even if there are substantial changes, about 90% will go to those companies. I do not think anybody will feel much sympathy if those companies experience an additional administration or cost burden to fulfil their obligations. The irony is companies of that size are probably going to end up making savings as a result of the EU directive. Because they operate on such a global scale, having a unified framework across the EU will be of benefit to them. There are the big five, and you could even say big ten to include the vast majority, but 600 service providers are likely to be impacted as addressees in Ireland. A significant proportion of those are going to be small, Irish-based SMEs. When we are talking about, as I mentioned earlier, 300,000 requests annually, even a small proportion coming to those SMEs could be an important point.  The potential effect on SMEs has been identified by the Department in its analysis. It stated:  For SMEs in particular, the requirement under the e-Evidence Package for authorities to nominate an addressee as a single point of contact for law enforcement authorities seeking to access electronic evidence will make it easier and more affordable for service providers to authenticate production orders. [However] ... the most significant burden on SMEs identified by the Commission\u2019s assessment is the obligation to designate (and empower) a legal representative ... For SMEs [and again, this is all taken directly from the Department's regulatory analysis] not already engaged in voluntary direct cooperation activities, the e-Evidence Package presents a new regulatory burden that comes with potential legal, administrative and technical costs. SMEs that do not designate an addressee, for example, or fail to comply with the e-Evidence Directive or Regulation will be exposed to administrative penalties.  Nobody is suggesting that should be a byball and that SMEs should be therefore exempt from having to comply with the directive, but when we talk about SMEs some people have the idea that we mean Enterprise Ireland companies, whereas in some cases we could be talking about companies with two or three employees, even though they may be operating in this area.  The e-evidence regulation requires the development of a centralised IT system. No one should know the potential costs of that better than this Government because every time it tries to do one, it has ended up spending clean fortunes. It is clear that \"While many large service provides will create their own infrastructure to connect with the decentralised IT system, a requirement for SMEs to do the same would have a disproportionate impact.\" Again, those are not my words but those from the Department\u2019s report. That report says \"consideration is being given to the development of a web-based interface which will allow service providers to communicate securely with authorities without having to establish their own infrastructure.\" I would welcome an update on whether that has happened.  The really interesting thing about the SME test the Department conducted is that it asks very clear questions and gives yes-no answers, which is somewhat unique. One of the questions is \"Is the new policy, primary or secondary legislation, or regulatory compliance requirement relevant for SMEs?\" The answer given was \"Yes\". The test then asks, \"Are SME impacts likely to be more substantial than on other companies, for example, in terms of adverse effects?\" The answer was unequivocally \"Yes\". There is a whole section about the consultations that took place and it says \"Department officials engaged bilaterally with relevant industry stakeholders and with the SME representative bodies to incorporate their views where appropriate.\" That is important, but nothing in the legislation puts an onus on the director of the new body to take into consideration all of that. This is going to impact large companies and medium companies but it is also going to impact micro companies, which have between one and nine employees. As I mentioned, some of these could be very small indeed. Again, the question the Department asked of itself was \"Has an estimate been carried out of the numbers of micro, small and medium companies affected directly or indirectly by the measure?\" The answer to that question was \"No\".  I would have thought that if the Department had gone to the effort of carrying out an analysis of whether this would have a disproportionate impact on smaller enterprises and it came to the conclusion that it would, the next thing it would do is ask precisely how many companies it was going to have an impact on and ask what the Department and the Government could do, within legislation, to provide supports. Another question is \"Will the proposed changes result in any of the following impacts for SMEs?\" With respect to additional administrative costs, the answer was \"Yes\", as it was with respect to additional compliance costs. Across the board there is recognition.  The Department's paper sets out a number of mitigation measures that will be put in place, including:  - A \u2018one-stop-shop\u2019 for e-Evidence international cooperation  - Development of a web portal ... [which I have asked for an update on]  - Consideration of the impact of penalties based on size and financial situation  - No requirement for service providers to collect, compile and report data to Member States or the Commission  However, none of that is an assurance efforts will be made to ensure a minimal administrative burden is placed on small to medium-sized service providers. That is why this is a very simple amendment, but it is crucial because these enterprises are Irish based in large part. They are not going to up and leave as a result of changes to tax policy or international regulatory frameworks. These are the people who could potentially become the next generation of IT powerhouses, and more important, they could be based in Ireland. We need to be supporting these companies to navigate their way to a point where perhaps some of them will be able to compete, I hope in a better-regulated world, with some of the other large multinational operations. I hope they will be based in Ireland and will be part of the Irish framework as opposed to the international framework, which can be a bit like the wild west.  I ask the Minister of State to support this amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Ardagh  I thank the Deputy for his amendment. He sought information on the e-portal. Connection to the decentralised IT system for SMEs will be via a web portal and access will be provided to their nominated addressee. If the data being returned is less than 25 Mb it will be sent via the system, but if it is greater it will be sent via another secure means and the cost associated with this will be minimal.  Unfortunately, I cannot accept amendments Nos. 2 and 3.  The language of amendment No. 2 is quite vague and it would be effectively meaningless in practice. The legal obligations on service providers are determined by EU regulation and directive. It is not open to the director to alter them. If there is a case for non-compliance, there will be an administrative burden on service providers who are subject to investigation but that cannot be avoided if a proper, fair and impartial investigation is to be carried out.  Amendment No. 3 seeks to introduce a double criminality provision. However, the question of double criminality is determined by the EU regulation. It is addressed in Article 12(1)(d) of the regulation, which provides one of the grounds for refusal of a European production order by an enforcing authority such as a director. It states:  the conduct for which the order has been issued does not constitute an offence under the law of the enforcing State, unless it concerns an offence listed within the categories of offences set out in Annex IV, as indicated by the issuing authority in the EPOC, if it is punishable in the issuing State by a custodial sentence or a detention order for a maximum period of at least three years.  Annex IV contains a list of 32 categories of serious offences, all of which constitute offences under Irish law. It is not open to us to vary this EU provision, which is legally binding on the director. In the case of Irish law, the regulation is not in conflict with the intention behind the amendment, so the amendment is redundant. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  My apologies. I meant to speak to amendment No. 3. It is actually sometimes useful to get the Minister's response before speaking to an amendment.  I would encourage the Minister of State to look back at the Oireachtas justice committee. There was quite substantive discussion with officials on dual criminality, particularly how the civil law system that operates in most of Europe relates to Ireland's common law tradition. If the Minister of State were to review the transcript of that engagement, she would see clearly that the current wording of the legislation failed to fully reassure members this was adequately addressed. The justice committee has the benefit of having members who are much more legally astute than I am. They are able to probe these questions in great detail. The legal practitioners on the committee raised the most serious concerns in respect of this provision. While acknowledging provisions within the e-evidence package, we believe there needs to be strong, robust provisions in any legislation to ensure information will only be provided where any alleged offence constitutes an offence under Irish criminal law. That requires an explicit provision in domestic law.  The Minister of State described amendment No. 2 as very broad and virtually meaningless but it would insert a guidance to the new agency. That is something that has been included in other legislation, where there are guidances to ensure one of the agency's roles is not to overburden a particular sector. The Minister of State says this is EU regulations and directives and there is no ability to amend it but Ministers always seem to forget or ignore when talking about EU regulations and directives in this House that the Government signed up to them at an EU level. Any gaps and failings are failings and gaps on the part of the Government. That needs to be recognised.  Amendment No. 3 is important. I will press it but will not call a vote. I will call a vote on amendment No. 2 because it is really important there be provision in the legislation, not to allow companies escape the provisions of the directive, whose importance we acknowledge, but to recognise this will place an administrative and cost burden on some companies that will not be an issue for the larger companies. We need as legislators to say clearly we want to minimise that administrative and cost burden. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Ardagh  The Department is not unsympathetic to small and medium-sized enterprises, which are the backbone of our economy. That is very much acknowledged. The web portal that will be used will have a minimal cost. The vast majority of orders in these cases will be directed to a small number of large service providers. However, where a small to medium-sized service provider is subject to an e-evidence order and holds electronic evidence related to the investigation of serious crime, it will have obligations under this regulation. That will be the cost of doing business in this industry. To relieve service providers of these obligations would likely create a gap criminals would exploit by moving to services offered by SMEs and would seriously undermine the effectiveness of the evidence package.  That said, the provisions in sections 38 and 40 are specifically designed to allow the director to remedy breaches by service providers without the need to proceed to investigation or the imposition of fines. In particular, the director can seek a compliance report to clarify the issues and may enter into an agreement with the service provider setting out the steps to be taken to remedy any issues identified. Furthermore, there is a legal obligation on the legal officers under section 50(2)(f) to give special consideration to small and medium-sized enterprises when considering the imposition of fines. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I move amendment No. 3:  In page 15, between lines 14 and 15, to insert the following:  \u201c(g) ensure the conduct for which orders have been received constitute an offence under Irish law.\u201d. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared lost."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Amendments Nos. 4 and 5 are related and may be discussed together. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I move amendment No. 4:  In page 15, between lines 25 and 26, to insert the following:  \"(g) the Data Protection Commission.\".  Like the previous amendments, these are simple proposals. Amendment No. 4 seeks to facilitate the office of the director of criminal justice international co-operation in making representations to or assisting the Data Protection Commission, DPC, in regard to the e-evidence package in the same way the legislation provides for such co-operation in the case of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n, the Corporate Enforcement Authority, Fiosr\u00fa, An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and the Revenue Commissioners. Amendment No. 5 does something very similar in facilitating the office of the director to enter into an information-sharing agreement with the Data Protection Commission in the same way it can do so with those other offices.  There are significant implications for data protection in Ireland arising from this Bill. To some extent, we will, in effect, be ceding sovereignty to courts in other jurisdictions. That is why the facilitation I am proposing should be included. At the committee hearing, the departmental officials stated that the Data Protection Commission did not consider it appropriate that it be the enforcement authority, and the Department accepted that. I, too, am willing to accept it. However, if the Department engaged with the commission at one point, as acknowledged by the officials, that suggests it believed at that point that the commission might be the appropriate body to deal with these matters. That surely is an acknowledgement that there is an overlap of functions or at least a relevance. Given everything we have already spoken about, it would be a welcome assurance for the legislation at least to formally facilitate engagement between the two bodies even if it did not mandate what that might look like at this time.  These are mainly technical amendments but they are important ones. I urge the Government to accept them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  This is my first engagement with the Minister of State, Deputy Ardagh. I wish her well in her role and look forward to more engagements with her, particularly in respect of youth justice, which is an area in which I have a lot of interest. I look forward to working with her from the Opposition benches in a tangible and constructive way.  As my colleague said, the Bill provides for engagement and information sharing between the office of the director and An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n and other bodies. We are seeking provision for the same engagement with the DPC. Some concerns were expressed at the committee regarding the way the Bill has been rolled out. I will not rehash all the arguments that have been made already, including by me on Second Stage. The manner in which the Bill has been brought through the Houses of the Oireachtas has seen Second Stage taken yesterday, with us going straight to Committee Stage today without the proper pre-legislative scrutiny that was needed. It may be that there is no need for the DPC to have a role in this but we do not know that because we did not have the time to tease out that question. We did not have proper scrutiny of the Bill. In that context, I support my colleague's amendments to provide for an ongoing engagement with the DPC. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Ardagh  I thank Deputy Carthy for his amendments Nos. 4 and 5. I thank Deputy Ward for his comments on my appointment. Regretfully, I cannot accept the amendments. The definition of \"public authority\" in section 17(4) is intended to cover those Irish public authorities that have a law enforcement role and that may need to seek a European production order in the context of a criminal investigation into serious crime. The director in the role of central authority responsible for administration and transmission of such orders to other jurisdictions, and the receipt of data under Article 4.6 of the EU regulation, may have a role in assisting those bodies in the transmission of such orders and to pass on data received from service providers. That is provided for in section 17(1)(f).  Given that there could be a flow of data between the office of the director and those public authorities, provision is made in section 19 for information-sharing agreements to ensure the proper safeguarding of such data. The Data Protection Commission will not have a role in the issuing of European production orders and, therefore, it would not be appropriate to include a reference to the commission in sections 17 or 19. The Data Protection Commission does have a role in ensuring data is processed and the rights of data subjects are respected, and extensive powers to investigate any potential wrongdoing lie therein. The office of the director is subject to the provisions of the Data Protection Act 2018. The Data Protection Commission was consulted about this legislation and did not seek to have any special information-sharing agreements with the office.  I hope that answers the Deputies' concerns. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  It would be useful if the Minister of State could outline in greater detail exactly what was involved in the consultation with the Data Protection Commission. It has been referenced both at the committee and here in the D\u00e1il that there was such engagement with the commission. We have been told that it did not see itself as the appropriate enforcement authority and, as we have heard from the Minister of State just now, that it did not seek additional provision in the legislation. Was the question asked of the Data Protection Commission as to whether such a provision would be helpful or potentially useful in the outworking of this legislation? Without knowing the context of the engagement, it is too simplistic to say the departmental officials spoke to people in the commission about the legislation and they never mentioned this issue. Were there formal sit-down engagements and, if so, was the Minister or a Minister of State present for any of those engagements, or was it all done through written correspondence? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Ardagh  On the Deputy's specific question about the format of the liaison with the Data Protection Commission, there was a lot of interaction with it about the scheme of the Bill. I advise Deputies that my Department, in accordance with Article 36.4 of the GDPR and section 84(12) of the Data Protection Act 2018, the Data Protection Commission was consulted about the specifics of the drafting of the Bill throughout. This was done in writing, not orally. The Data Protection Commission has carefully examined all data protection-related measures in the Bill and the related European measures at a very high level, and it did not identify a need for any such amendments or explicit provisions allowing for information-sharing agreements between the office and the Data Protection Commission.  I hope that answers the Deputy's question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  It does not really. I understand that the Minister of State is only new in the role and I do not expect her to know the details of that. I think she is confirming that there was no actual physical engagement and this was all done via emails or written submission. The question I asked was whether the question was put to the Data Protection Commission. Is it the case that all agencies received an email with the draft Bill, telling them to highlight any concerns they may have with it, and if one did not come back, it was assumed that the Minister could get up and say that agency did not identify any need for additional powers? For example, did each of the State bodies referenced in the legislation, off its own bat, request to be included in the legislation or were those bodies in the initial drafts? Had this paragraph (g) about the Data Protection Commission been included in the first draft, is there reason to believe that the Data Protection Commission would have objected to it? If so, perhaps we could get a sense of the thinking about why the Data Protection Commission would not want to be included in the legislation in this manner. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Ardagh  As I said, this legislation applies to criminal law enforcement bodies. We know that the Data Protection Commission is not one such body. We consulted the DPC about the general scheme and it commented on the benefit of information sharing with listed public authorities. An expert team from the DPC would have been in touch with my Department for detailed engagement on a written basis, which is not unusual.  At this stage, I have nothing further to add about the matter. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared lost."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 17 agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 18 agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"SECTION 19"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I move amendment No. 5:  In page 16, between lines 12 and 13, to insert the following:  \u201c(g) the Data Protection Commission.\u201d. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared lost."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 19 agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"SECTION 20"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I move amendment No. 6:  In page 16, between lines 23 and 24, to insert the following:  \u201c(4) Such an annual report shall contain statistical data in relation to\u2014  (a) the number of orders which were notified to the Director,  (b) the number of orders that were refused,  (c) the number of agreements entered into with service providers under subsection 40(1) and the status thereof by category,  (d) the number of instances whereby a court confirmed, set aside, replaced, or remitted either the decision or financial penalty of an adjudicating officer,  (e) the number of instances whereby the Director failed to sanction or refuse an order within the required timeframe, and  (f) the whole-time equivalent allocation, by cost, by role,  including the data category requested, the addressees, the situation (emergency case or not), grounds for refusal by category, number of court appearances, by country of origin.\u201d.  Going back to our infamous committee meeting, which I know was before the Minister of State was appointed, we expected the meeting to be a short, technical briefing, but it raised serious concerns among members about legislation that we thought would be fairly straightforward. One question that was asked that could not be answered related to the potential scale of what this body could cost the Irish taxpayer annually. Somebody mentioned that we were kicking off with a \u20ac2.8 million budget this year, which would provide for 29 staff and associated costs. We also know that there are suggestions that we could end up with 150 staff in this body. We are told that the State is expected to receive in excess of 300,000 orders each year. We also know that the Department seemed to think, or at least provided evidence, that the impact on the courts would be minimal and the Courts Service itself has said that limited data is available about the number of cases that may arise after commencement. That is probably a diplomatic way of saying that we have not a clue. It goes on to suggest that the Department's projections may prove optimistic.  I am quite concerned that after the summer, when this comes into effect, combined with the as yet unknown outworkings of the reform to barristers' pay and so on, and when we have the EU Presidency putting pressure on the ability of garda\u00ed to attend courts, we may be facing a substantial backlog in the courts, even worse than is already the case. Apart from all of these things, we know that many questions have not been answered but we do not know much else.  This amendment is intended to ensure that, at a minimum, the Oireachtas can be assured that there will be an annual report that will lay out how the office is functioning so that we can be kept abreast on an ongoing basis. Paragraph (c) is necessary so that we have a view of the number of instances where the office is engaging in what might be called corrective behaviour rather than levelling fines against service providers in breach of their obligations. Paragraph (d) would help to inform how the office is functioning, if its decisions are actually standing up to scrutiny and, crucially, the impact, if any, it is having on the Courts Service. Paragraph (e) would likewise provide a view about whether the office was meeting its obligations. Paragraph (f) is included to provide insight into the efficiencies and effectiveness of the office, how a large organisation like this can develop and the bill that the Irish taxpayer will be expected to foot for this facet of European co-operation. I can almost pre-empt that the Minister of State will say that this is not necessary and it is open to Members to submit parliamentary questions, but given the concerns about the potential annual costs of this new body, I believe it is important that, from day 1, we set out that the organisation will have to report on these matters in an annual report so that there can be transparency and scrutiny.  We know that there is an issue with the Minister of State's Department. Maybe the Minister of State can put it on her to-do list. It is what I would call the refusal and evasiveness of her Department when dealing with any parliamentary questions.  For virtually every body under the Department\u2019s authority at this point, we get responses back to parliamentary questions saying that the Minister will not be held accountable and will not provide any information. It is not the same in every other Department. Many other Departments will provide information or, at a minimum, seek out information for the benefit of Deputies. However, the Department of justice has got to a point where it is just refusing point blank. I would say it probably makes as many refusals to parliamentary questions as it gives answers. I assume this body will be the same and the Department will again refuse to answer any parliamentary questions, so we will be dependent on the annual report to actually provide information not only to Members of the Oireachtas, but also to members of the public. Therefore, we need to ensure that the annual report is actually detailed and provides the type of information that would be useful for us in analysing the effectiveness of this body. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  Having an annual report on something that is new - a new Bill, a new operation or a new entity - is an absolute no-brainer just to see how things are working. We have no idea of the scale of cost of this and where it will end up. Based on the bit of information we got at the pre-legislative scrutiny stage, it is starting with 29 staff. It could be dealing with up to 300,000 orders each year and there are some suggestions that the staff number could rise to 150. Will 150 be the maximum number of staff in this new body? Do we expect 300,000 orders a year or could that rise?  There is the potential for this to be a runaway train. We do not know where it is going to end up. That is why I am saying that having an annual report to report on how many staff are coming in and the cost of it is a no-brainer and it will give us the evidence to see if we need to put more resources into it. The office may have more resources than it needs and we might be able to deploy those resources somewhere else where they are really needed.  I also have concerns about the impact on our court system, which is already bursting at the seams. Nothing I have heard so far, yesterday on Second Stage or at the pre-legislative scrutiny, has given me any confidence that this operation will not put any additional pressure on our court system. Does the Minister of State have any evidence that the court system will not be unduly impacted by all of these orders coming in? In relation to the annual report we are asking for, and in addition to the costs, the staffing levels and the other matters that were outlined by Deputy Carthy and me, the annual report could provide the evidence of how this is impacting on our court system.  Having an annual report on something that is new is a no-brainer. It is best practice for anybody bringing in something new at the very start. Whether a small or medium-sized enterprise, a multinational or a government, when bringing in something new, there should be an annual report to see how things are working. The Minister of State should consider it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  The audacity of such an amendment from Deputy Carthy. Imagine wanting an annual report on a brand new structure, a brand new office, that we are told will probably have 300,000 requests and will try to hold to account some of the largest corporations in the world that may be liable to fines of 2% of their annual turnover. This democratic Chamber, which is supposedly one of accountability where we hold account, is simply asking for an annual report and somehow I assume that will not be the case.  I do not blame to Minister of State at all for this, but there is an arrogance that emanates from the Department of justice. It shows itself in the number of parliamentary questions that are declined and how it deals with Bills of considerable substance. Last week, the annulment of historical convictions for homosexual men was lumped in with the same Bill dealing with whether rape counselling notes should be allowed in trials. Today, we had to submit amendments for the Third Stage of a Bill before Second Stage had even concluded.  In the current environment in which this Chamber operates, this is an audacious amendment that simply asks for the means to allow us to scrutinise whether a new institution is actually working. I imagine that the amendment will be declined, which is a shame and shows how things have developed in this Chamber. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Ardagh  I know that time is sometimes very precious in this House. Section 20 of the legislation requires the publication of an annual report. That is set out very clearly in the legislation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  Will it impact on the Courts Service? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Ardagh  The annual report shall provide information as the director considers appropriate or as the director may direct. The section deliberately did not prescribe in detail exactly what statistical data should be included, as we are setting up a new entity. Until we have some experience of how it operates, it would be premature to determine what statistical information is most relevant and available. My Department believes that we should maintain a flexible approach at this stage but I will put on the record that I see no reason for the information referred to in the amendment not to be included in future in an annual report. I also remind Deputies that the Freedom of Information Act will apply, so there will be no question of hiding information.  In any case, most of the statistical information will be provided by the director to the Minister under section 21. Also under section 21, the director must submit to the Minister information on the number of notifications made under Article 8 and the number of production orders refused. This must be done by type of data requested, address and grounds for refusal.  Deputies were looking for further information on the impact on our court system. I assure Deputies that this impact will be minimal. For the purposes of this Bill, our courts will principally be involved in confirming compliance decisions, the imposition of fines and appeals. Our courts will otherwise not have a significant role in incoming orders issued by courts based in other member states.  In relation to the costs, the potential number of cases that will be going through the office and the number of requests made to the office, current estimates suggest that approximately 300,000 orders will be sent to service providers based in the State each year. This is based on the number of law enforcement requests currently received by the largest service providers based here. However, as only certain types of data request require a notification to be sent to the enforcing authority, the office of the director of criminal justice international co-operation will receive only a subset of those orders for review. Current estimates suggest that the office could receive around 24,000 notifications each year and as the e-evidence package represents a new legal framework for obtaining electronic evidence across the EU, the exact number of orders that will be issued and, consequently, the number of notifications sent to the office will only be known once the regulation comes into effect.  Deputies were also interested in the proposed cost of the office. An allocation of \u20ac2.8 million was secured in budget 2026 to establish the new office of the director of criminal justice international co-operation. The figure of \u20ac2.8 million reflects both pay and non-pay costs associated with setting up the office in 2026. This is a part-year cost. The approach to establishing the office as agreed by the Government has always been that it will do so on a phased basis. The Department has been focused on the progression of the legislation and the recruitment of the director, which is nearing completion. The process of recruitment of staff of the office is under way and my officials are engaging with the Public Appointments Service on that matter. It is expected that 20 staff will be recruited to the office by the end of the year and the recruitment process will continue as and when required on a phased basis.  I hope that answers the Deputies\u2019 questions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I welcome that the Minister of State has put on the record that she believes the information set out in this amendment should be provided in the annual report. That is important. However, I think there is a tacit acknowledgement in what the Minister of State has said that there will be no obligation whatsoever on the new entity to actually provide that because it has been given direction by the legislation to produce an annual report with no direction as to what should be in it. It is like asking 20 children in a class to write a report on their trip to the zoo, which could result in 20 very different versions of what was actually important apart from, hopefully, all of them agreeing that it was enjoyed by all.  A couple of things need to be said in respect of accountability.  First, there is a requirement for the Minister to receive information from the new body. Is the Minister obliged or committed to publishing that or sharing it with the rest of the Oireachtas and to being answerable in respect of it?  Second, the Minister said the body will be subject to freedom of information, FOI, requests. That is not an appropriate mechanism for transparency. Most of the reasons FOIs have to be submitted in the first place are because there is a lack of transparency around a particular matter, obviously personal issues excepted. I do not know why we would put a stipulation on a statutory body to produce an annual report without any detail as to what should be in it. I recall legislation I dealt with directly regarding the Agri Food Regulator and another body I was dealing with. The provisions around the annual reports were very detailed precisely because the Houses of the Oireachtas wanted to set out very clearly the information they expect in a report. If we do not actually set out what it is we are looking for in an annual report, invariably what ends up happening is that people compare one annual report with another to see what is missing. That is not the way we should be commencing this process at all. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I thank the Minister of State for giving us some sort of clarity that there will be an annual report. I refer to the process yesterday and today. We were here yesterday for Second Stage and the senior Minister got up and gave his opening statement. We all stood up and asked him some questions we were hoping would be referred to in his concluding remarks. Those questions were not answered, however, because another Minister for State came in and did not address the specific questions we had asked. No offence to the Minister of State, but we have another Minister of State here today. There is no consistency with this whatsoever.  The Minister of State expects 24,000 orders per year will be processed by this body and she hopes to have 20 staff in place by the end of the year. I do not know how long these orders are going to take to process but, if each of those staff members will be processing orders and will not be there for other administration purposes, that is 1,200 orders each member of staff will process per year. How long does the Minister of State reckon it will take to process one of these orders? There seems to be a really big burden on the staff the Minister of State is hoping to recruit. I ask for clarity on that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  I have a brief question. In terms of the annual report which is catered for in section 20, what should this House expect from the first annual report? In 12 months\u2019 time, when the first annual report is delivered, what information should we expect? Presumably we understand that the office may evolve. There was reference to 30 staff when we were at the committee and it seems to be 20 now, along with a budget of \u20ac2.8 million. If this moves into the type of behemoth we imagine it would be, what should we expect from that first report? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Ardagh  In relation to the annual report, Deputy Carthy was curious as to whether it would be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. Section 20(4) provides that it would be presented to the Houses of the Oireachtas. As to what the contents of the report would be and what would form part of the report, that would be at the discretion of the Minister. Under section 20(3), the annual report \"shall be in such form, and include such information in respect of the performance by the Director of his or her functions, as the Director considers appropriate or as the Minister may direct.\" As I outlined, under section 21, the director must submit to the Minister information on the number of notifications under article 8, the number of production orders refused and the type of data requested, the addressees and the grounds for refusal, etc.  In relation to Deputy Gannon\u2019s point on why not be prescriptive at this stage or why state we are not being prescriptive, this is a new body and office and it was the considered thought of the Minister that the section would deliberately not be prescriptive so that we can take into account the experience and how the body is operating. It was the Minister\u2019s view that it would be premature to determine what statistical information is most relevant at this point, and he came to that decision having considered the matter with his officials and having put a lot of thought into it. I hope that answers some of the Deputies\u2019 questions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  If the Minister of State has the information, in relation to the 20 members of staff and the 24,000 orders per year they are going to be processing, how long will each of these take to process? Does the Minister of State think that is going to be a burden on the staff? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Ardagh  Orders must be processed in ten days or 96 hours. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I will have to get my calculator and work out how long it is going to take. Maybe that could be in the annual report also. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared lost."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 20 agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 21 agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"SECTION 22"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aidan Farrelly)  Amendments Nos. 7 and 12 are related. Amendment No. 12 is consequential on amendment No. 7. Amendments Nos. 7 and 12 may be discussed together. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I move amendment No. 7:  In page 17, between lines 3 and 4, to insert the following:  \u201c(2) Notwithstanding this section, the Minister shall, no later than 31 July, publish guidance notes for small to medium sized service providers to promote compliance with their obligations under this Act.\u201d  This is, again, a simple insertion. It goes back to the earlier point on the need to actually support small and medium enterprises which will receive a minority of the requests but for which this will have the biggest impact and implication, as acknowledged by the Department itself. We know all service providers are going to have to comply with the directive and regulation by August. There will be very little time between the enactment of the legislation and the obligation being placed on service providers, and that is entirely a result of the approach of the Minister and Department to this, bringing it forward late in the day and not being able to answer questions. This is again rushed legislation from the Department of justice. I appreciate there is a Department webpage in relation to registering as a service provider but there is a significant body of work necessary to ensure that SMEs that will be affected will be adequately supported.  I hope the Minister of State will accept this amendment but, on the off-chance she is not going to accept one of my amendments, I ask that she give a definitive answer on the number of service providers in Ireland at this stage that are going to be caught up in this legislation. Is there an online portal, web app or similar available to each of them? Will the Minister put into the hands of each service provider a comprehensive but accessible and straightforward guide as to their obligations and how they can be best complied with? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aidan Farrelly)  Does Deputy Carthy want to address amendment No. 12 now? If not, I can let other Members in. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  Not at this time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aidan Farrelly)  Do any other Members wish to speak? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Ardagh  In relation to the Deputy\u2019s question on the number of service providers that will be affected, 420 have been identified but the Department believes it may affect up to 600 service providers. I hope that provides clarification.  I propose to address amendments Nos. 7 and 12 together. Regretfully, I cannot accept either of these amendments. The purpose of establishing an independent office is to ensure that the Minister, as a member of the Executive, does not have any direct role in the enforcement of the obligations by service providers under this Bill. It would be neither desirable nor practical for the Minister to publish guidance notes when he or she has no role in determining compliance with the provisions. That is why section 22 provides that the director may issue guidance notes. I will not agree to an amendment that would undermine the role of the director in this regard, and neither can I agree to give service providers a free pass to breach their obligations under the e-evidence package pending the issue of guidance notes. I point out that the provisions of sections 38 and 40 are specifically designed to allow the director to remedy breaches by service providers without the need to proceed to investigations and the imposition of fines.  In particular, the director can seek a compliance report to clarify what the issues are and may enter into an agreement with the service provider setting out the steps to be taken to remedy any issues. Furthermore, there is a legal obligation on adjudication officers under section 50(2)(f) to give special consideration to small and medium-sized enterprises when considering the imposition of fines. The purpose is to ensure compliance with the legislation and the imposition of fines is very much a last resort. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared lost."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 22 agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Sections 23 to 31, inclusive, agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"SECTION 32"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aidan Farrelly)  Amendments Nos. 8 and 9 are related and may be discussed together by agreement. Is that agreed? Agreed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Wall  I move amendment No. 8:  In page 21, between lines 3 and 4, to insert the following:  \u201c(4) (a) Where an authorised officer or an adjudication officer compels the disclosure of a record or takes possession of a record in accordance with subsection (3) \u2014  (i) the officer concerned shall not, pending the final determination of an application under subsection (4) or (6) , as the case may be, use, copy, communicate or otherwise act upon the record or its contents for any purpose other than its secure retention in accordance with any directions given by the High Court under subsection (7) ,  (ii) the record shall be retained in a sealed and secure form, and shall not be accessed by any person, save for the purpose of complying with a direction of the High Court under subsection (7) , and  (iii) any person having custody of the record shall be bound by the restriction in subsection (3) and shall, if required by the High Court, give an undertaking to that effect.  (b) Where no application is made under subsection (4) or (6) within the period of 30 days referred to in subsection (4) , or within such extended period as the High Court may allow, the record shall be returned forthwith to the person from whom it was taken or compelled, and the officer concerned shall certify in writing that the record has not been used, copied or communicated during the period of its retention.\u201d.  I take the opportunity to wish the Minister of State well in her new role. We served together in the Seanad and it great to see her promotion. I am sure we will have many engagements in the coming months. Amendments Nos. 8 and 9 deal with privileged material. In recent times, the Government has sometimes been slow to recognise the impact that some of this legislation could have on the protection of legal or journalistic privilege. Under section 32(3) and (4), the Bill allows for the compelled disclosure of potentially privileged material. This is subject to a subsequent High Court determination with a 30-day window to apply. The key word here is \"subsequent\". As currently drafted, the provision puts the cart before the horse. The 30-day window runs from the date of disclosure of taking of possession. An authorised officer has up to 30 days to apply to the High Court for a retroactive determination of privilege after he or she has already taken possession of that piece of digital evidence but there is nothing here that amounts to any sort of explicit ban or interim restraint on the use of that privileged material while the court application is pending. We believe that this is essential and have tabled these two amendments to make clear on the face of the Bill that where an authorised officer or adjudication officer compels disclosure or takes possession of a record, the record may be subject to legal privilege and they cannot use, copy, communicate or act upon that record before the High Court's determination. I hope the Government will look closely at these amendments and that common sense will prevail. We want to prevent any potential loopholes with this legislation and I hope the Minister of State can agree to our amendments. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Ardagh  Regretfully, I must oppose both amendments. Section 32 is intended to deal with a situation where an investigation is under way by an authorised officer into a possible contravention by a service provider of a relevant obligation under the directive - notification of designated establishment or legal representative or failure to provide same with the necessary powers and resources. It could also apply where an adjudication is being made as to whether to impose a fine for a breach of certain provisions of the e-evidence regulation by a service provider. In the course of such an investigation or adjudication, the service provider may have to provide certain material. Section 32, which is a standard provision on the Statute Book that functions well, addresses the situation where a question of privilege arises. The intention is that in such cases, the material shall be handed over subject to its being held in safe-keeping by the authorised officer or adjudication officer, who must make an application to the High Court within 30 days. The High Court then decides what to do with it.  If I understand the Deputy correctly, his concern is about what happens to the material between the handing over the material and the application to the High Court. I agree with the Deputy that the material should be kept securely but I do not believe that his amendment is required. Subsection (3) of section 32 already provides that an officer can only compel the disclosure of the record or take possession of the record provided that the privilege asserted can be maintained. This provision is already quite sufficient to achieve the end sought by the Deputy's amendment - the preservation of privilege asserted over the record until such time as the court has ruled on the matter. An authorised officer or adjudication officer may only access material for the purpose of an investigation or adjudication and clearly cannot use material if privilege is claimed until and unless the High Court judge issues a direction or rules on the matter. Furthermore, under section 33(1), an authorised officer may not disclose any confidential information. To do so is a criminal offence under section 33(3). There are similar provisions for adjudication officers in section 33(2).  In summary, I agree with the sentiment underlying these amendments but I believe they are unnecessary and may be too restrictive as to means of preserving privilege. I am confident that the existing provisions and the High Court will ensure that there is no such abuse. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared lost."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Wall  I move amendment No. 9:  In page 21, between lines 31 and 32, to insert the following:  \u201c(c) the prohibition on use, copying, communication or other action in respect of the record pending the final determination of the application, including such prohibition as against any person to whom the record may have been disclosed prior to the assertion of privilege.\u201d. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared lost."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I move amendment No. 10:  In page 21, between lines 34 and 35, to insert the following:  \u201c(9) Counselling records in relation to sexual offence trials shall not be processed under this Act.\u201d.  We have had extensive engagement with the Minister in recent weeks in the D\u00e1il regarding the disclosure of counselling notes in trials. I appreciate that the Minister has moved somewhat on the issue but I will take the opportunity to ask him to move further and meet the needs as outlined by survivors with whom we have engaged. This gets to the core of the concerns regarding this Bill. It involves what happens with a court case in another jurisdiction regarding an alleged offence when it is known that a counsellor has electronic records of counselling notes. An order is received by a service provider in Ireland that provides online storage facilities. Is the Minister of State willing to stand over legal protection for survivors of domestic, sexual or gender-based violence that is less than what we provide for people in Ireland? The Minister of State might say that the legal systems here are different and have different safeguards and that would be true but is she willing to stand over whichever legal system in the EU may provide the least amount of protection to survivors----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aidan Farrelly)  We must conclude. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  Time is up. That is not the first time we have had discussions and time has run out. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aidan Farrelly)  As the time has expired, I am now required to put the following question in accordance with an order of the D\u00e1il of 16 June 2026: \"That in respect of each of the sections undisposed of, the section is hereby agreed to in Committee, the Title is hereby agreed to in Committee, the Bill is accordingly reported to the House without amendment, Fourth Stage is hereby completed and the Bill is hereby passed.\" "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Criminal Justice (International Cooperation on Electronic Evidence and Other Matters) Bill 2026: Committee and Remaining Stages"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-17\/debate\/dbsect_30","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Message from Select Committee","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_30","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aidan Farrelly)  The Select Committee on Health has completed its consideration of the Health (Amendment) Bill 2025 and has made amendments thereto. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Message from Select Committee"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-17\/debate\/dbsect_31","debateType":"billReport","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/53","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/53\/dail\/4_sub","houseCode":"dail","stage":"4_sub","isBillStage":false,"showAs":"Guardianship of Infants and Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2026: Report and Final Stages (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Guardianship of Infants and Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2026: Report and Final Stages","counts":{"speechCount":18,"speakerCount":5},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_31","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I move amendment No. 1:  In page 4, lines 18 to 32, to delete all words from and including \u201c(1) Where\u2014\u201d in line 18 down to and including line 32 and substitute the following:  \u201c(1) Where a person (in this section referred to as the \u2018convicted guardian\u2019) who is a guardian of a child is convicted in the State of the murder or manslaughter of a person who was, at the time of the commission of the offence concerned, another guardian of the child concerned the Child and Family Agency shall, as soon as practicable but not later than 3 months after the conviction or any extension of that period under subsection (2), apply to the court in that behalf for an order under subsection (3).\u201d.  I welcome Mr. David French to the Visitors Gallery. When he attended the Oireachtas committee on justice yesterday, I said only half in jest that he has a better attendance rate in this place than some Members do. Everybody in the House, including the Minister, will acknowledge the reason this Bill is before us at all is largely down to the efforts of David and his family. Their efforts in memory of Valerie are commendable.  The amendment seeks to strengthen section 12C by requiring Tusla to apply to the court in every case following a conviction and by requiring that to be done within three months. As it stands, there is a discretionary test I am concerned about that could limit applications where reasonable cause is not established and that contradicts the stated intention that the application would be made in all cases. A conviction for the murder or manslaughter of a co-guardian is in itself sufficient evidence of a fundamental breach of the duty to the child and no further threshold need apply, so removing the discretion ensures consistency, protects the child and avoids the risk the legislation becomes ineffective in practice. I raised this with the Minister on Committee Stage. My appeal was that he would either accept this amendment or provide another formula of words that would be acceptable to him because there is a concern in terms of the veracity of Tusla in these matters. We had Tusla representatives before the committee yesterday. Essentially, it appears that in practice this will operate with a single social worker making a determination. That is concerning. There could be a situation where Tusla decides, via one person or very small number of people, that this law should not be applicable in a situation whereby somebody who has killed another parent and is still considered under law a legal guardian of a child who has been deprived of a parent by that individual and that that might remain legally the position at the behest of a single institution. Therefore, we believe there is a need for absolute clarity in terms of the law and to ensure there is no ambiguity.  As the Minister knows, we have a further amendment that clarifies one of the areas he has raised and it is a valid point whereby somebody could have been convicted but on the basis of all the discernible evidence it could be proven that they had been a victim of domestic abuse. In that regard, we recognise there needs to be a level of discretion but it is our view that discretion should be in the hands of the courts, not in the hands of the agency. There should be a very clear level playing field in terms of where these decisions are made. As in all cases, once Tusla brings an application, it will be for the courts to adjudicate but there is a real concern by campaigners and by the people who have brought us to this point that you could have a scenario whereby one parent is responsible for the murder or manslaughter of another parent and Tusla, in whatever wisdom or logic, decides it does not believe there is a case to be brought to remove guardianship rights from that parent. There is no mechanism for appeal in that regard. That is unfair and it goes against the spirit of everything the Minister has quite rightly said in terms of the importance of this legislation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy M\u00e1ire Devine  The Guardianship of Infants and Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2026 will always be known as Valerie's law. Thanks to Valerie's brother, David French, this is a very proud moment for all of us and especially for him and his family. His tenacity is to be admired given the arduous journey over the years to get to this point, with many occasions appearing to be confusing. I would say that trying to find a way has been exhausting for him but sibling love and loyalty spurred him on.  As a Sinn F\u00e9in spokesperson on gender and domestic violence, with the support of the agencies that support women, we are always calling on men - our brothers, husbands, sons, fathers and uncles - to stand with us; to stand with women. Often men say, \"We are not like that; you have our support\". Where is your voice, your presence in marching with us demanding protections, in addressing your mates' behaviour and in calling out cringeworthy attitudes and actions? Take a leaf from Mr. French's book whose dignified determination shows how our men and boys can be, how they respect their loves, their mothers, wives and daughters, who make up over half the population. He stood firm and this will inform his nephews - Valerie's sons - how to carry their heartache while living their best lives as equality advocates in their community. Maith th\u00fa, Daith\u00ed, we owe you much. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  It is an important moment to acknowledge the courage and commitment of Mr. David French who has travelled here for every committee hearing and briefing out of love for his sister Valerie and to ensure the passage of the Bill we are discussing today. It is an important moment to take stock to reflect on that courage. Too often, we see people who have to place the trauma of their loss or absence alongside the courage needed to get up and go out and make things better for those who come after them. It is an important point to mention. I will be supporting Deputy Carthy's amendment. We should acknowledge that Tusla is a reluctant litigant in this regard and there should be space for families to ensure they can seek accountability when perhaps Tusla does not see the purpose of that should the case arise. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Jim O'Callaghan)  Like my colleagues, I too welcome Mr. David French to the Gallery. I commend him on his perseverance and the encouragement he has provided, not only to me in terms of trying to ensure the legislation could be introduced to the Houses of the Oireachtas but also in terms of the encouragement and support to other Members of the House.  It is unusual to have legislation that is universally supported. I am very conscious Members are perfectly entitled to put down amendments but it is unusual to have legislation that is so universally supported. This is in no small part due to the presence and campaigning of David French.  I thank Deputy Carthy for his amendment, which seeks to do two things. It seeks to amend section 12C, which at present, under the draft that was approved on Committee Stage, requires the Child and Family Agency to bring an application as soon as practicable but not later than six months after the conviction of the person for manslaughter or murder. Deputy Carthy's amendment wishes to amend this so that it states \"3 months\". I cannot accept the amendment because I believe the statutory provision that is there at present is fairly clear to the Child and Family Agency. It requires it to bring an application as soon as practicable. This requires it to move with considerable expediency and the timeline limit on which the application can be made is six months.  My concern is that by changing the statutory limitation from six months to three months I will find myself in a situation where the Child and Family Agency will recognise that it cannot get all of the material before the courts within the three months and we will encourage applications for extensions of time. As Deputy Carthy is aware, under the legislation such applications for an extension of time are permitted and sometimes they may be necessary. My concern is that if we limit it so tightly to three months, there will necessarily be constant immediate applications for extensions.  It is also important to point out that when it comes to making this application it will, presumably, be an application that is made on affidavit by Tusla, in which it will have to set out the basis for the application. It will have to provide evidential proof of the conviction by way of the order from the Central Criminal Court. It will take a bit of time to do this. It will also need to put before the court evidence that it states is necessary to show that the second requirement for the implication of the application has been met, which is that the convicted parent has failed in his or her obligation to the child.  This brings me to the second part of Deputy Carthy's amendment, which is that he seeks to remove from the consideration the test that Tusla must be satisfied the convicted guardian has failed in his or her duty towards the child concerned. The reason this is included, and I emphasised this on Committee Stage, is based on the constitutional threshold for State intervention in the family. It is important, as I have stated repeatedly, that this provision is not perceived as being a penalty imposed on a guardian who is convicted of manslaughter or murder. That is not the purpose of it. If it were the purpose, challenges would be brought to it on grounds of equality. The purpose is to trigger an application in circumstances where there is a conviction of a guardian of the murder or manslaughter of another guardian and there is a belief that the convicted guardian has failed in his or her duty towards the child concerned. I agree with virtually everyone here that in the vast majority of circumstances where an individual guardian has been convicted of murder or manslaughter of another guardian and there are children, this is in itself a child protection issue and the person who is convicted has failed in his or her duty towards the child concerned.  To use the example that Deputy Carthy gave a few moments ago, which is present in one of his forthcoming amendments, say there was a situation where a female guardian who had repeatedly been subjected to domestic violence was prosecuted for murder or manslaughter and was convicted. There could be situations where Tusla, as the party bringing the application, could look to see who else was a potential guardian of the children. It could determine in this situation and in this context that it would not be appropriate to bring an application because the mother of the children should remain as the guardian. In such circumstances it would be inappropriate for such an application to be made. For this reason I cannot accept the amendment, notwithstanding that we all agree with the sentiment that we want applications such as this to be brought as soon as is reasonably practicable. I cannot remove the second limb of the triggering test, which is the requirement for Tusla to be satisfied that the convicted guardian has failed in his or her duty towards the children.  Tusla is the Child and Family Agency and it is the appropriate entity to bring such an application. I know in due course this afternoon we will be discussing amendments from Deputy Carthy on other family members being permitted to bring an application. This would create a very contentious and difficult scenario for the family and the children in certain circumstances. This is a public law issue. Because of this, the public statutory body responsible for the protection of children is the appropriate entity to bring the application. For this reason I respectfully say I cannot agree to Deputy Carthy's first amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I will make a couple of points. In respect of the three-month provision included in my amendment, I want to restate clearly, as I did to the Minister on Committee Stage, that if this was the big stumbling block I would have quite happily accepted his suggestion to increase the time. To me this is a red herring because it is clearly on the record of the House that there is a willingness to accept it. I do not accept his other arguments in respect of the broader issue here, which is the ability of a single agency. Tusla has told the Oireachtas justice committee this will mean that ultimately it will be down to the call of a single social worker, somebody who in 90% of cases, if not 99.9% of cases, will have the best interests of the child at heart, or at least what they consider to be the best interests of the child at heart. They will make a judgment call. We could have a situation where somebody who is convicted of murdering a parent remains the guardian of the children, where an individual or a small group of individuals in Tusla think this is okay but any other reasonable person outside of that organisation might consider it not to be okay. There is no mechanism in this law for anybody else to make this application. It is not possible for a garda, other family members or interested parties in terms of the well-being of the child. This to me is a lacuna in the law and more than is the case with any of the other amendments, should we get to a point where we could agree to this alone, we would have much stronger legislation that would have a much clearer impetus and support of all concerned. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  We had a good discussion about this on Committee Stage. I note what Deputy Carthy is trying to do but I have to stick with what I have in terms of the six months and the statutory requirement. The last thing any of us in the House want is for an application to be challenged in the courts by a person who is convicted and who says it is an extra penalty being imposed on them, that they are a person who has been convicted of murder or manslaughter and is being treated differently from others who have been convicted of murder or manslaughter because an extra penalty is being imposed upon them, namely, the removal of their guardianship rights. I have to take this into account. The reason the Minister for children is sitting beside me and is so supportive of the legislation is that it is about protecting children. That is the primary focus of it. It arises in the context of the criminal justice system reaching a certain determination but the provision in the legislation is about protecting children. If I deviate from that and start focusing on matters other than children, we are going to get ourselves into legal difficulties. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I ask Members to remain in the Chamber while Deputy Carthy moves amendment No. 2: "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I move amendment No. 2:  In page 6, between lines 8 and 9, to insert the following:  \"(8)(a) Notwithstanding subsections (1) to (7), this section shall not apply, or shall apply with such modifications as the court considers appropriate, in a case where the convicted guardian was convicted of manslaughter and the court is satisfied that\u2014  (i) the act giving rise to the conviction was committed in self-defence, or  (ii) at the time of the commission of the offence, the convicted guardian had been subjected to domestic violence (within the meaning of the Domestic Violence Act 2018) by the deceased guardian, and the offence occurred in circumstances materially connected to that history of domestic violence.  (b) In determining whether paragraph (a) applies, the court shall have regard to\u2014  (i) any findings of fact made in the criminal proceedings,  (ii) any evidence of domestic violence, including patterns of coercive control, and  (iii) the best interests of the child concerned.  (c) Where paragraph (a) applies, the Child and Family Agency shall not be required to make an application under subsection (1), unless the Agency is satisfied that, notwithstanding those circumstances, there is a risk to the safety or welfare of the child concerned.  (d) Nothing in this subsection shall prevent the court from making an order under subsection (3) where it is satisfied that such an order is necessary and proportionate to protect the safety or welfare of the child concerned.\".  In moving amendment No. 2, I am conscious that the vote on amendment No. 1 is probably going to be the only one on this legislation, which has cross-party support and will be known as Valerie's law because of the campaigning efforts of David French, who has brought us all to this point. It is appropriate, seeing that we are all in this House, to acknowledge David and his family. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Members rose and applauded. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared lost."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I move amendment No. 3:  In page 11, lines 29 to 32, to delete all words from and including \"(1) An\" in line 29 down to and including line 32 and substitute the following:  \"(1) An application to the court for an order under this Part shall not be made in relation to the child concerned other than on notice to\u2014  (a) each guardian of that child (including a victim guardian within the meaning of section 12D), and  (b) the next of kin of a deceased guardian of that child, where that deceased guardian died as a result of an offence referred to in section 12C(1); provided that a person shall not be regarded as next of kin for the purposes of this paragraph if that person has been convicted of that offence,\".  This amendment ensures that all relevant parties, including the next of kin of a deceased guardian, would be notified of court applications affecting a child. It is important that the family of a guardian who has been killed be made a notice party in proceedings. Such a family have a clear and legitimate interest in the child's welfare, and that role should be recognised, respected and reflected in the process. We discussed this at length on Committee Stage and the Minister did not accept our amendment of the basis that \"next of kin\" was not defined in the legislation, but the meaning of \"next of kin\" is quite clear, as is how that would be applied in real terms before a court. It is for this reason that we tabled the amendment again on Report Stage. I ask the Minister to accept it. If he feels there is a better formula of wording, we have been very clear that we are open to that. This is about ensuring families are notified. We should remember that we are talking about families who have lost a loved one in the most cruel circumstances by murder or manslaughter. They have a vested interest in the well-being of the child in relation to whom a court order is applied for. I do not believe notifying them is too much to ask for.  We asked Tusla when its representatives appeared before the committee about their approach to these matters and they were not forthcoming in giving the committee a sense of how the agency currently approaches the issue. It is crucially and critically important that we do not have a situation where there is a court hearing in respect of a case involving a child where the family of the deceased person is not a notice party or perhaps is not even aware that the case is before the court. I appeal to the Minister to either agree to this wording or agree to find a formula of words that will meet the same purpose. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I thank the Deputy for his amendment. I do have a better type of wording and it is set out in section 12I of the legislation. The section is entitled \"Notice parties to proceedings under this Part\". Section 12I(i) states, \"An application to the court for an order under this Part shall not be made in relation to the child concerned other than on notice to each guardian of that child\". Whether it is an application in circumstances where the victim guardian is still alive, and that can happen, an application must be made to that victim guardian or, indeed, to any other guardian who is available. It will obviously have to be served on notice to the convicted guardian as well.  The legislation before us also provides in section 12I(ii), \"A relative of the child concerned may seek leave to be joined as a notice party to proceedings under this Part.\" If a relative becomes aware that Tusla is bringing such an application, that application will obviously be on notice to the guardians of the child who are living and a relative can nonetheless still apply to the court to be made a notice party to the proceedings.  I am concerned that the Deputy's amendment could give rise to a lot of contentious and difficult circumstances during the hearing of the application. What the Deputy wants to introduce is a requirement that Tusla would have to notify the next of kin of a deceased guardian of that child. It is important to set out that there is no definition of who is the next of kin within the Deputy's amendment. When it comes to the relative, defined in section 12I, I have specified who a relative is for the purpose of making such an application. Section 12 I(3) states, \"In subsection (2) \u2018relative\u2019, in relation to the child concerned, means a grandparent, brother, sister, uncle or aunt, whether of the whole blood, half blood or by affinity, and includes the spouse of any such person and any person cohabiting with any such person.\" Under the provision I have, a relative can apply to be put on notice and can seek the leave of the court to be joined. Under the Deputy's proposal, there is a statutory requirement to be imposed on Tusla to put on notice the undefined next of kin. It is not possible for me to accept such a vague and ill-defined amendment.  Even if it were the case that I was to accept the Deputy's amendment, if it were precise, we must think of the difficulties that could arise in circumstances where all the next of kin of a deceased guardian of a child would be put on notice. Let us use an example where the mother of the child or children is the victim and, regrettably, that is predominantly the case. In such circumstances, is it the case that Tusla will have to put on notice every sibling of that deceased person? What about her parents and grandparents? It is not defined as to who should be put on notice. The reality is that in a particular family, it may be the case that the next of kin of the deceased has no relationship with the deceased or their child. Alternatively, a next of kin may have a very close relationship with the convicted guardian. It may in some circumstances be difficult to identify or locate such people as the next of kin. There is a requirement to put them on notice.  Like me, Deputy Carthy wants to ensure that these applications are heard as soon as practicable. If it is the case that Tusla is required to put every next of kin on notice, what happens in circumstances where a next of kin, say a sibling of the deceased guardian, lives in Australia or elsewhere outside the jurisdiction? That will, in effect, mean that the District Court hearing the application will say there is a statutory obligation and the Oireachtas has determined that the next of kin must be put on notice. If one of the people who are the next of kin is living in Australia, the application could not proceed until such time as that person has been put on notice of the application. It would impose a barrier, and I know the Deputy does not want to put in place barriers. It would impose a barrier to bringing an application in a speedy manner and would not provide any additional benefit for the child concerned.  As I say, I believe the provisions that are set out in section 12I, which deals with notice parties to proceedings under this Part, are sufficient. The guardians must be put on notice. A relative can seek the leave of the court to be put on notice. It does not mean that the court is going to, on each occasion, say that person will be granted leave to be heard in the case. The court may say it does not need to turn this into a family row among the remaining relatives of the deceased guardian, with a number of them in court saying that they want the children to remain within the guardianship of the convicted guardian while another part of the family is saying they want to guardianship rights of the convicted guardian taken away. We must recognise that there will not always be harmony within a family in terms of what should happen at the outcome and the provision that I have included at section 12I is, to use Deputy Carthy's words, better wording, and that is what we should stick to. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  The Minister again, purposely or otherwise, has missed the point. This amendment was brought forward not because it was something that I wanted to bring forward. I brought it forward because the affected families pointed out to us that this is an anomaly. They have not been made notice parties or have not been informed at all, or have had to fight and battle with Tusla to have any say whatsoever about the care of a child that they love. They feel strongly that the legislation, as currently worded, does not cater for that. It is for that reason that this amendment was put forward. I take it that the Minister has issues with the wording we put forward but I hope he will accept our bona fides in saying that there are legitimate concerns that the Government's legislation does not fully address this issue. The answer, therefore, is not to leave things as they are but to find a solution. As with all of these amendments, if there is a middle road to be found, I am quite happy to travel there. It appears that the Minister does not want to accept the amendment. He starts from that position and then finds whatever reason he can to build up to what might appear to be a logical argument against it. The real logic of the fact is that we have had situations where court cases involving the well-being of children have not been notified to people who, probably more than anybody, have the care of those children at heart. That needs to be rectified, whether in this legislation or another piece of legislation. I am arguing that now is the time to do that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I am not dismissing Deputy Carthy's proposed amendment because it is coming from him. I listen carefully to what he says and what other colleagues contribute. We want to get this right. I must be honest with the Deputy in the House about what I think the consequence of his amendment would be. It is true that there is no definition for who is the next of kin. The first thing a court will do when it is mandated by the legislation to put on notice the next of kin is to ask who the next of kin is. Is it all the siblings of the deceased guardian or does it extend only to certain among them? We need to be precise and will be criticised by the courts if we do not define this accurately.  The Deputy raises the valid point that families want to be involved in this. We know that the genesis of this legislation is the love of a brother for his deceased sister.  That is why I included, in section 12I, a provision that allows family members to bring an application to the District Court requesting to be put on notice of this application because, for example, they represent the interests of their deceased sister and would like the court to hear those during the hearing of the application. That provision is there already. As well as that, Tusla is not an island. People contact it, write to it and make submissions to it. There is an express statutory provision in place. It is not Tusla that will decide whether a family member is to be a notice party. The court will decide and I think that resolves the issue of concern to Deputy Carthy. No disrespect meant to his amendment but the provision in the Bill is far better and the amendment put forward by Deputy Carthy would create confusion. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared lost."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I move amendment No. 4:  In page 12, between lines 16 and 17, to insert the following:  \u201c(1A) Where a guardian ad litem of the child, another guardian of the child, or a relative of the child (being a person who would be entitled to notice of proceedings under this Act) is of the opinion that an application under subsection (1) ought to be made in the best interests of the child, he or she may request the Child and Family Agency to make such an application.  (1B) The Child and Family Agency shall consider any request under subsection (1A) and, where it decides not to make an application under subsection (1), shall, on request, provide reasons for that decision to the person who made the request.\u201d.  This is another amendment we discussed at length on Committee Stage and I was hopeful the Minister would bring forward his own amendment to deal with this issue. As discussed, this deals with historical cases. As it stands, the section gives Tusla discretion in dealing with convictions that occurred before the Act commenced. The Minister made quite a lot of reference on Committee Stage to the fact that this is peculiar - I am not sure it is entirely unique - in that it has a retrospective element. That is important and I commend the Minister and Department on including it.  However, without strengthening the provision to include other parties, as this amendment seeks to do, there is a risk that there will be cases where applications will not be brought where they should be. This amendment recognises that guardians ad litem , other guardians and relatives should have a role in prompting action where it is in the child's best interests. This is particularly important considering Tusla has raised concerns about resourcing and identifying historical cases. It is, therefore, essential that those closest to the child can bring matters forward and ensure appropriate applications are made to the court.  The Minister previously indicated that people can contact Tusla anyway and that a provision in legislation is not needed. That is not necessarily an argument for not doing something. There is a strong case to put on a legislative basis that people can engage with Tusla to ensure there is, in the first instance, consideration of any such request. Equally important, in terms of the amendment we have put forward, is the provision that, if a decision is made not to pursue it, at least the rationale for that decision would be notified because that would resolve a question mark or concern on the part of those affected. I encourage the Minister to accept the amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I thank Deputy Carthy for his amendment. In paragraph (1A), in effect what Deputy Carthy is seeking to achieve is already the law under the provision. Deputy Carthy's amendment states \"where a guardian ad litem of the child, another guardian of the child, or a relative of the child ... is of the opinion that an application ... ought to be made in the best interests of the child\", he can request Tusla to do so. The situation at present is that if Tusla believes it is in the best interests of the child - that is the second limb of the test we discussed under amendment No. 1 - it must bring the application, where there has been a conviction of murder or manslaughter. That is a requirement. The purpose of Deputy Carthy's first paragraph is to achieve something that will happen in any event. As Deputy Carthy fairly acknowledged I said on Committee Stage, there is nothing to stop relatives, guardians ad litem or other guardians of the child contacting Tusla to say they believe an application should be brought. If it is the case that an application is in the best interests of the child, Tusla must bring it.  My real concern about the proposed amendment, however, is the requirement in paragraph (1B) for Tusla to provide reasons to the person who made the request if an application is not made. Although Deputy Carthy does not define \"relative\", we will assume it has the same definition as it has in section 12I. Deputies will see that I included a very broad definition of \"relative\". Under this provision, there would be a requirement on Tusla to set out to a broad range of family members reasons an application is not being made. There may be reasons that are sensitive or personal which Tusla might not want to give out because of the central importance of the child being protected. They could be matters confidential to the child, such as the child's views.  I appreciate what Deputy Carthy is trying to do in all the amendments but I have to try to ensure that, at the end of this, we get a Bill that is coherent and will work and I am concerned that doing this would undermine the effectiveness of the legislation. On balance, I do not think it would improve the legislation. I say that with the greatest of respect for Deputy Carthy.  I am fearful the obligation on Tusla to provide reasons would become quite a legal process. It would recognise that any reasons it gives out would have to thorough and that might have an impact on the decisions it makes. It is always the case that if Tusla is not fulfilling its public law duty as required, there are remedies available to family members, guardians ad litem or the other guardians by way of judicial review. That is not the outcome anyone wants but there is a certain architecture to this legislation that will permit families to engage with Tusla. It permits family members or relatives to be put on notice of the application before the courts. If family members are put on notice of the application, they will be given a right to be heard by the District Court so their views will be well aired before the court. In balancing the rights of relatives, or the next of kin as Deputy Carthy referred to, it is important they have a process in which their views can be accommodated and listened to. I have included that in section 12I and the process whereby the application is made and people can contact Tusla is sufficient. I just do not want to put Tusla on a defensive, litigious footing when it comes to communications from family members where Tusla has a statutory obligation to provide reasons to those people that it is not bringing the application. I do not want that to become the dominant part.  We want this to be as simple as possible. There is a conviction for murder or manslaughter. It is in the best interests of the child for an application to be made under this section. Tusla goes promptly to the District Court. The District Court considers the application. Family members will apply to the District Court to be heard and put on notice. I am sure in many instances the court will permit that while not turning it into a situation where every family member has a separate entitlement to be heard.  We can then have a prompt decision which, as always, is guided by what is in the best interests of the very unfortunate children who are left behind. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  There is not much to say because we have argued this out in relation to all the amendments. The Minister is particularly wrong in this case. Consider a scenario in which a parent of a child has murdered or killed another parent of a child. They are in law currently considered to be guardians. There is now a provision where Tusla can apply to the courts to have that guardianship removed. For cases that predate the passage of this legislation, there is a level of discretion involved as to whether Tusla will bring such cases. This amendment simply seeks to allow family members of the deceased parent to make an application or a request of Tusla to bring it forward. If Tusla decides that in that situation, where the person who killed the other parent should remain the guardian and will not even bring the matter before a court for decision, the family of the deceased person should be told why. It is not too much to ask and that is why I am pressing the amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  A Leas-Cheann Comhairle, may I come in? I support the amendment and will be very brief. The Minister has said a couple of times that there is nothing to stop the family having the right to make a request----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I have to interrupt you, Deputy Gannon. The time permitted for the debate having expired, I am required to put the following question in accordance with the order of the D\u00e1il of 16 June: \"That Fourth Stage is hereby completed and the Bill is hereby passed.\" "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  The Bill will now be sent to the Seanad. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Guardianship of Infants and Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2026: Report and Final Stages"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-17\/debate\/dbsect_36","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/51","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/51\/dail\/3_sub","houseCode":"dail","stage":"3_sub","isBillStage":false,"showAs":"Finance Bill 2026: Committee and Remaining Stages (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Finance Bill 2026: Committee and Remaining Stages","counts":{"speechCount":32,"speakerCount":6},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_36","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"SECTION 1"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question proposed: \"That section 1 stand part of the Bill.\""},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Section 1 deals with the diesel rebate scheme. As I have said to the Minister of State and the T\u00e1naiste, there are many issues with this scheme. One of the particular issues is cash flow. I have outlined previously to the House that the best way to support hauliers and transport operators was to provide the rebate at the pump. There would be no delay and operators would not have to wait for three months, meaning there would be no issue with cash flow. In addition, given the way the energy directive is formed, that would allow for the same benefit to be passed on to other consumers, like the motorists travelling the length and breadth of the State who have in the last period paid significantly increased sums for their diesel. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Deputy Robert Troy)  I acknowledge the Deputy raised this on Second Stage and I replied to advise that any issues that were there initially have been identified and rebates are being processed as efficiently as possible. The temporary enhancement to the diesel rebate scheme has been agreed by Government in light of the severe price impacts that have arisen following the outbreak of the conflict in the Middle East. It is acknowledged it is a short-term and targeted measure that helps to ease the burden on households and businesses across the State by minimising the inflationary impact of fuel costs for road haulage and bus services during this period.  The Deputy said the wanted to ensure people could get access to it in a timely way. We have taken that back and referred it. We have been assured any glitches there were have been ironed out and rebates will be processed in a timely way. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"SECTION 2"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Amendments Nos. 1 to 4, inclusive, are related and may be discussed together. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I move amendment No. 1:  In page 6, to delete lines 1 to 22 and substitute the following:  \"     1 July 2026    \u20ac381.00    \u20ac502.88    \u20ac250.00    \u20ac371.85    \u20ac371.85    \u20ac0.00    \u20ac210.45    \u20ac21.00    \u20ac167.25    \u20ac79.17    \u20ac11.48      14 October 2026    \u20ac706.14    \u20ac706.14    \u20ac615.76    \u20ac615.76    \u20ac615.76    \u20ac160.81    \u20ac210.45    \u20ac219.50    \u20ac167.25    \u20ac103.66    \u20ac11.48     \".  These amendments go to the core of the legislation. This legislation is flawed because it has left people under severe financial pressure in the middle of a really hard time for so many families across the State. Amendment No. 1 probably sums that up best. It would remove excise completely from home heating oil. It is folly but we hear from Government all the time that there is no excise tax on home heating oil despite numerous replies to parliamentary question saying over and over that there is excise duty on home heating oil in the form of carbon tax, and carbon tax is excise. We should really stop that stupid debate because this is legislation that deals with excise, a version of which is mineral oil tax and part of that is carbon tax, which is an excise duty.  The core of this is the Government has refused to cut excise duty on home heating oil at all. The reason it has done that is it is called \"carbon tax\". Government has this idea of carbon tax as a Holy Grail, so no matter how difficult things get for families, it is not willing to deal with it just because the excise duty is called carbon tax. It is as if there is a separate pot of money into which carbon taxes go. There is no such thing in Irish tax law as a certain tax being assigned to a certain type of spend. It does not exist. Hypothecation does not happen in Irish tax law, so this money that comes in from carbon tax as people pay to heat their homes and to drive from A to B goes into the big kitty - the State's purse - and then is divvied out.  The Comptroller and Auditor General's office cannot identify where a significant amount of that carbon tax, I think about 40% if not more, is spent despite Government saying it is spent on supports for climate change and measures of that nature. However, that is not what is happening with all of the money. We show time and again that there are other ways revenues can be raised to do not only those types of measures but also to do more and to deal genuinely with issues of climate.  Our amendment would reduce excise by \u20ac183 on a 1,000-litre fill. The cost of home heating oil has increased significantly since March. In some cases, it has gone up 50%. It is still \u20ac300 more expensive to refill a tank than it would have been before the recent spikes resulting from the war in Iran.  Amendment No. 2 deletes all further carbon tax increases. We submitted this as a single amendment to the Bills Office but it split the amendment. Why is it important that we do not increase carbon taxes? Because carbon taxes are regressive. Carbon taxes are a punishment on ordinary families across the State. The idea we would increase carbon tax over and over, knowing the alternatives are out of the reach of many families, is simply punishing the families because they are not wealthy enough to buy an electric car, do not have enough sitting in their bank account to put air-to-water systems into their house or cannot afford a deep energy retrofit in their homes and do not qualify for the free one. It is not fair. It is regressive and the Government is punishing people by implementing it. It is not just me saying it is regressive; the ESRI in its report made it clear that carbon taxes are regressive.  Is there a case for taxes that can change behaviour? Of course there is. I have supported taxes in the past that can change behaviour but for that to happen we need alternatives and those alternatives have to be readily available and affordable.  Members of this House will be asked when they vote on the schedule later on to vote for an increase in the prices of petrol, diesel and home heating oil in October 2026; not only that, they will also agree to vote for similar increases in 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030. There is no other legislation that comes before the House with such a long-term vision or that the Government is so certain of that it says it will do this, that and the other over the next four or five years. Where is the Government's legislation in relation to children with additional needs that lays down in law the targets and benefits that will be provided between now and 2030? It does not exist. Where is the legislation that lays down in law the right to housing increasing every year between now and 2030? It does not exist. For all the serious issues in this State, the Government does not provide long-term plans or legally binding legislative provisions. However, when it comes to punishing people in my constituency because they have to drive to work, drop their kids to school or go to a dental or hospital appointment, then it has no problem not only punishing them by making it more expensive to get from A to B come October, but also doing the same thing the next year, the year after, the year after and the year after. Parties in this House, including so-called Opposition parties, will back the Government to the hilt in that. It is disgraceful.  I will not be part of it. We were right to vote against the legislation last time. People called me out on it and said I was isolated. By God, I was not isolated. The people who came onto the streets took our position. They knew the Government's first miserly excuses for cuts to diesel and petrol were pathetic. That is why people rose up and took to the streets. That is why the barricades were set. That is why the country said, \"No more of this here\". Folks, this is wrong what you are doing in terms of increasing carbon tax every year between now and 2030. It is absolutely regressive. It punishes ordinary families the length and breadth of this State and the argument put forward about a ring fence to support these families is completely and utterly hollow. It does not stand up to scrutiny under the Finance Act or in relation to what the ESRI and Comptroller and Auditor General have said.  I will push amendment No. 1 because people deserve a reduction in excise duty and, particularly, a reduction in home heating oil. I will push amendment No. 2 because I stand against any more increases in carbon tax on solid fuels, and amendment No. 3 when it comes to natural gas. People are trying to heat their home at a time when one in four households - get this, folks; let the penny drop here - one in four households across this State cannot pay their gas bills, yet the legislation before us asks us to vote to increase those gas bills in October, the following October, the following October and the following October. We in Sinn F\u00e9in will not stand for that. We should be bringing forward legislation to support families, not more punishment, not punishing them for using gas or home heating oil to heat their home or putting petrol or diesel in the car to get from A to B.  The last thing that is absolutely obnoxious and that we will not stand for in this legislation is the Government asking us to agree a schedule for petrol and diesel prices to increase significantly come 1 August. This D\u00e1il goes into recess in four weeks' time so when this kicks in on 1 August, the Government will not be in this Chamber. This legislation will not pass these Houses until July yet on the last day of July diesel is to increase by 32 cent and petrol by 27 cent. That is nuts. It is absolutely bonkers that the Government is asking us to support legislation - whatever about its humming and hawing as to what it might do in two weeks' time - that would see diesel go up to \u20ac2.20 on 1 August when the D\u00e1il is not even sitting, and petrol going up to similar levels. Not in my name. I oppose the Government's schedule. I believe it did not go far enough in its excise cuts. I stand with the Irish people in opposing the increases in carbon tax the Government plans for this year and every year until 2030. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  I am happy to reply to Deputy Doherty but it is probably a futile and pointless exercise because he has come in with his mind made up. I will reply anyway because we know his contribution today was for Facebook later on.  Amendment No. 1 proposes from 1 July until 14 October 2026 a further reduction in mineral oil tax rates and petrol and auto diesel and to reduce the mineral oil tax rates applicable to kerosene used other than as a propellant, as well as further deviations from the mineral oil tax rates applying to other fuels. It further proposes to set mineral oil tax from 14 October 2026 at the rates applicable prior to the rate cuts introduced in March and April of this year.  Amendments Nos. 2, 3 and 4 effectively propose to end carbon tax trajectory at current rates. Mineral oil tax comprises a non-carbon and a carbon component, commonly referred to as the carbon tax. That is the difference. When we talk of no excise on kerosene, there is a carbon element and that is called carbon tax. We commonly refer to one element as excise duty and another as carbon tax. There is carbon associated with kerosene. The increase that was to come in at the beginning of May has been deferred until later in the year to recognise the cost pressures at the time it was to come in. Kerosene rose to \u20ac1.77 per litre in April; over the past month, the average prices have been down to \u20ac1.26 per litre. It is welcome to see it back on a downward trajectory. We need to see it go further but that is its current status.  The Deputy calls out his party's opposition to carbon tax. To be fair, that has been a consistent approach but there is a different approach on this side of the House. It is not today or as part of this Bill that we are realising that approach to carbon tax; this is a well-enshrined approach by this Government.  The programme for Government committed to continue with carbon tax increases, aligning with the recommendations from the Climate Change Advisory Council and scientific experts, and to using the revenues raised to support climate action measures and ensure the most vulnerable are protected from unintended impacts of the tax increases. This includes funding for retrofitting - tens of thousands of homes have benefited from this, particularly people in receipt of fuel allowance, who get a deep retrofitting free of charge - and agri-environmental schemes, along with targeted social welfare payments and other initiatives to prevent fuel poverty and ensure a just transition. These measures are, contrary to what the Deputy says, designed to be progressive.  To give effect to the programme for Government commitment to protect the vulnerable, a targeted package of social protection interventions was developed, which is informed by ESRI research that was commissioned to address this issue specifically.  As of budget 2026, the Government has allocated over \u20ac4.2 billion in carbon tax revenue for these purposes since 2020. ESRI analysis consistently shows those on lower incomes are better off as a result of the social protection measures funded by the increased carbon tax.  In budget 2026, over \u20ac1.1 billion was allocated to climate action measures and to ensure the most vulnerable are protected from the unintended impacts of the increase. This was an increase on the 2025 allocation, and included funding of \u20ac566 million for retrofitting programmes and just transition,\u20ac350 million for targeted social welfare interventions such as the fuel allowance and \u20ac173 million for green and sustainable farming measures. Pausing the carbon tax trajectory current rates would decrease the funding available for these just transition and climate measures, which are demonstrably progressive.  Our need to decouple from fossil fuel dependence and achieve energy security is even more apparent now, given the levels of volatility in international fuel markets. Ireland's long-term commitment to tackling climate change remains strong. Furthermore, as the Deputy will be aware, energy taxation is covered by the energy taxation directive, which sets out excise duty rules covering all energy products in the EU used for heating and transport, as well as electricity. The directive sets out minimum levels of taxation applicable to these energy products for specific uses. For diesel used as a propellant, the minimum rate is \u20ac330 per 1,000 litres, exclusive of VAT. The total rate of mineral oil tax on auto diesel is currently approximately 37 cent per litre, having taken account of the 30 cent reduction that was introduced. When taken together with the diesel rebate scheme maximum repayment rate, which was temporarily increased to 12 cent per litre, qualifying haulage and passenger transport operators pay an effective rate of mineral oil tax of approximately 25 cent per litre. This means that Ireland is currently below the minimum rates allowable under the energy taxation directive by approximately 8 cent in respect of qualifying road haulage and passenger transport operators. In light of this fact, we have engaged with the EU Commission and requested a temporary derogation under Article 19 of the energy taxation directive due to the exceptional circumstances that the conflict in the Middle East has caused.  Finally, the proposed amendments from Deputy Doherty would come at great cost to the Exchequer and jeopardise potentially other areas of investment. That is why Government have introduced a targeted set of temporary supports. The package of measures the Government has introduced totalling over \u20ac750 million is helping to reduce the cost burden at the petrol pump, supporting those most at risk of energy poverty and assisting key sectors such as agriculture and haulage that are critical to keeping our economy moving. These measures are deliberately time-bound and targeted, because our support must be both responsive and responsible. The Government is continuing to act in a way that protects the most vulnerable and sustains our economic stability. As the Taoiseach said on Leaders' Questions earlier today, just has we have in the past, we will keep an eye on the costs. We will keep them monitored and if further interventions are required, there is the capacity to do so.  For the reasons I outlined, I am not proposing to accept these amendments. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  The Minister of State obviously came down here with his mind made up as well. That is fair enough, but maybe he would help me along the way. Will he convince me of why I should vote to increase the pressure on a neighbour of mine who heats their home with home-heating oil, who does not get fuel allowance, and whose incomes, because they have two incomes coming in, mean they cannot avail of the free retrofit? Why should I stand here and vote to make their life harder every year for the next four years when I know they do not have the money to do a deep retrofit, do not have the money to convert to air to water and do not have the money to buy a new electric vehicle? Why should I do that?  When the Minister of State is on his feet trying to convince me of why I should do that, why I should make life harder for my constituents, maybe he would answer me this as well. Why should I vote for this knowing that the Minister of State is asking me here in this Schedule that, on 1 August 2026, when the D\u00e1il is on holidays, diesel will go up at the pumps by 32 cent and that petrol would go up by 27 cent? Why should I vote tonight to put that in law? How do I turn, go back to Donegal and say to folks that they should not worry, I was their messenger this week, I spoke for them and I made sure that, come 1 August, when the D\u00e1il is on holidays, diesel will go up 32 cent and petrol will go up 27 cent, and I did that because the Minister of State asked me to do it? Will the Minister of State convince me why that is in the interests of my constituents? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  I all the Minister of State said, there was a complete absence of acknowledgment of the very real pain that people on low-to-middle incomes are under in terms of the price increases. If you look at home-heating oil, for example, and people who do not avail of the fuel allowance increase because they are above those thresholds and cannot afford those increases in home-heating oil, the Government does not seem to be acknowledging that. We have put forward proposals. A targeted energy credit of \u20ac400 would be a start to helping households in that situation. We have put forward proposals for investment now, which would mean a long-term and permanent reduction in the cost of living for households that are struggling, by much-improved grants for solar. That would be a once-off investment by Government but it would be a permanent reduction. It would be good for sustainability and good for households that are really struggling.  What is really enraging - the ESRI research backs this up - is that when you look at the huge investment that has gone into grants, it is the households with the most resources, those which needed support least, that have overwhelmingly been able to avail of those different grants. The households really struggling to keep food on the table and to heat their homes are the ones that cannot avail of those grants. They simply do not have the resources to do so and they are the ones that are getting squeezed more and more. What is needed is a change in approach so that the greatest supports go to those households that are really struggling with their bills, that is, the low-to-middle income households. The Minister of State should design the grants for those households in a way that they can access them. In fact, why should households on the highest of incomes be able to avail of those grants? They do not need that support or help at all. Why not prioritise the households that really need it?  The Government keep on talking about targeting but yet, when it comes down to it, that is not what the Government does. The Government needs to be serious about just transition, which we all need to be serious about, and serious about getting support and buy-in for that. The Government approach, however, has ignored that people across the country want to support that but they have to be able to afford to support it. We have put forward two very practical measures the Minister of State could take - targeted energy credits now to help those who need the help most but also measures such as proper grants that can be accessible to low-and-middle income households to install solar so they get a permanent reduction in their bills, and that would be good for the country in terms of helping to break some of our dependence on fossil fuels. I cannot for the life of me understand why the Minister of State would not adopt our proposals. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  I will speak to Deputy O'Callaghan's amendment when we get to it but the one point I would agree with him on is that we should always look at introducing targeted measures to help those who need the greatest level of support the most. The Deputy made the fair point that there is a cohort of people who are above the eligibility thresholds to qualify for the working family payment but need additional supports.  I agree with the Deputy on that and I certainly will fight hard to ensure they get those supports in the upcoming budget.  There were targeted measures introduced in the budget last year. The eligibility criteria for the fuel allowance were extended to include the 40,000 recipients of the working family payment. That was a very targeted measure for working people on low incomes who benefit from social welfare support. They got access to the fuel allowance for the first time. In addition, in recognition of high energy costs as a result of the war in the Middle East, a commitment was given to extend the fuel allowance payment period by four weeks, which gives people an extra \u20ac152 per annum. Again, this is a measure that is very much targeted.  The Deputy talked about measures to facilitate retrofitting and energy upgrades to people's homes. Earlier this year, the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, increased the financial support and grant assistance available to people to upgrade their homes. We are all operators within our own constituencies. From assisting those who come through my constituency office, I know there are now many more people availing of those supports than there were in the past. The credit unions have introduced a greenify loan to support people who want to do upgrades by allowing repayments to be spread over a period at reduced rates. They are enabling people to reap the rewards in a way, as I am sure the Deputy will agree, that is beneficial both for the homeowner and for the environment by helping us to meet our targets. We can agree somewhat on that area.  The measures that were introduced by the Government are some of the most generous in per capita terms across Europe. That is independently verifiable. We probably could keep debating this point until the D\u00e1il rises tonight at 10.30 p.m. or 11 p.m. No matter what measures the Government introduces, it is the job of the Opposition to call for more supports and to say we are not doing enough. We have committed \u20ac750 million in funding to additional measures. Those measures are targeted at the people on the lowest incomes. They are also targeted at sectors of the economy, including transport and agriculture, that are high energy users. We want to assist them in recognition that if energy costs become hugely unbearable to the transport sector, for example, they will be passed on to households. As well as being targeted, the measures are time-specific. As we said from the beginning, we will be keeping them under review.  For the reasons I have outlined, I do not propose to accept the amendments. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I challenged the Minister of State to convince me as to why I should make my constituents' lives harder by agreeing to an increase in the price of petrol, diesel, gas and home heating oil every year for the next four years. He did not even try to convince me. These measures are based on a Government ideology or policy. It is the wrong one and, for that reason, I will be pressing amendment No. 1. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  I spoke about some of the additional supports we have been able to implement as a result of the introduction of the carbon tax. I am not sure whether the Deputy was in the Chamber at the time or if he was taking a telephone call outside it. I made the point that carbon tax has a role to play in terms of changing behaviour and helping people who can change to do so. As a representative of a rural constituency, I accept there are not the same alternatives in rural Ireland as there are in large urban areas. It is to protect the people who have been most adversely affected by the carbon tax, namely, those in lower income households, that we introduced deep retrofits for householders who are availing of the fuel allowance and expanded eligibility for the allowance. It is why we have increased the rates of SEAI grants for which people can qualify. For the first time, householders can qualify for grants of up to \u20ac4,000 for windows, grants for new front and back doors and increased levels of support for insulation, including house wrapping.  All of those measures, which were introduced in recent months, are being funded by the carbon tax. The money is being put back in to support people to make the change. In recognition of the huge increase in current fuel costs, which it is not always recognised in this House is something that is outside our control, a decision was made to defer the carbon tax in May this year.  I also said that in the context of the upcoming budget, I will be very forceful as a member of the Government on the need to ensure additional measures are introduced to support working families who may be falling short of eligibility for the benefits of some of the schemes I have mentioned and who need additional support. I acknowledged that need and will work towards addressing it.  What the Deputy is proposing today would cost in the region of at least an additional \u20ac500 million right here and now. For that reason, I cannot and will not accept the amendments. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared lost."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I move amendment No. 2:  In page 6, to delete lines 56 to 67, and in page 7, to delete lines 1 to 5. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question, \u201cThat section 2 stand part of the Bill\u201d, put and declared carried."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"SECTION 3"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I move amendment No. 3:  In page 7, to delete lines 20 to 24. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question, \u201cThat section 3 stand part of the Bill\u201d, put and declared carried."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"SECTION 4"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I move amendment No. 4:  In page 8, to delete lines 1 to 6. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question, \u201cThat section 4 stand part of the Bill\u201d, put and declared carried."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"NEW SECTIONS"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Amendment No. 5 has been ruled out of order. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment No. 5 not moved."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  I move amendment No. 6:  In page 8, between lines 7 and 8, to insert the following:   \u201cReport on impact of an energy credit   5. Within 3 months of the implementation of the new Mineral Oil Tax rates, the Minister shall produce a report on the impact of an energy credit of \u20ac400 for each household with an income up to \u20ac70,000 per annum.\u201d.  This amendment is about the need for targeted energy credits. As I have said before, the Government is making a key mistake in not having targeted energy credits aimed at low-to-middle-income households that are really feeling pain from this cost-of-living crisis and not just from the increases that have happened since the attacks on Iran, given that we were already experiencing a cost-of-living crisis before that. In his earlier comments, the Minister of State failed to acknowledge that disabled people were up to \u20ac1,400 worse off as a result of the budget. This was before any recent increases in home heating oil or any other fuel costs.  The Minister of State said that he agreed that there needed to be more support for those who were the ineligible for the working family payment. He acknowledged that there was a gap for people above that threshold on low and middle incomes, yet the Government will presumably vote down this amendment. Indeed, the Government has failed to introduce a measure like this.  I have to make it very clear that a targeted measure like this is just part of what is needed. A targeted energy credit of \u20ac400 for those who need it most is a start but what is fundamentally missing from the Government's approach and much of this discussion is investment in long-term measures that would permanently bring down the cost of living, such as the proposals that we put forward on solar energy. A targeted energy credit of \u20ac400 should be part and parcel of a wider approach involving measures that mean households will have money off their energy bills for good so that they are better able to meet future energy shocks and cope with this existing cost-of-living crisis, and we as a country are less exposed to energy shocks and fuel price increases. We are one of the most exposed countries in Europe when it comes to this so we have to get out of short-term measures, which are necessary, and take measures that will stand with us over the coming weeks, months and years. A big problem with the approach taken by the Government over the years is the use of short-term measures and we end up with nothing to show for it in the long term. We need that combination of emergency measures, as are proposed in this amendment, and measures that will get us out of the hole and help households over the long term. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  I speak in support of this amendment. We in Labour have been long-standing supporters of the proposition that we would use the taxation system to assist people who are finding it very difficult to meet their energy bills. The evidence before us about people's problems meeting electricity bills and utility bills more generally is very clear and apparent to all of us in our everyday work as TDs in our constituencies and our engagement with people on a day-to-day basis. This is a real problem for working people who I remind the Minister of State did not have the benefit of the indexation of their PAYE tax bands, rates and credits last year. They are falling further behind and are finding the going increasingly difficult.  This is about using the taxation system to target support where it is evidently needed the most. We use the social welfare system successfully. I think there is a universal welcome across the House for the expansion of supports for people who depend on the State for their income. The extension of the fuel allowance by a number of weeks is welcome while the inclusion of other cohorts of society in the scheme has been welcomed by everybody. It has been universally acclaimed and welcomed. It is necessary. However, the people who are caught in the middle are the problem. We know for people on higher salaries that the cost-of-living crisis and the increases in energy bills are, dare I say it, inconveniences - things they would prefer not to see but things that, by and large, people on good incomes can absorb. It is the people on incomes of \u20ac70,000 to \u20ac80,000 or below and who are not captured by the fuel allowance scheme who require support. We have used our very sophisticated taxation and revenue collection system before. The Revenue Commissioners is an extraordinary organisation and one of the best organisations in the public service in terms of how it responds to the requirements of the Government and the State. It demonstrated that during the pandemic, introducing the employment wage subsidy scheme and, subsequently, the temporary wage subsidy scheme based on the information and expertise it had. It is very easy to identify the people who would benefit from a targeted energy credit like this.  The simple fact of the matter is that the political will to do it is not there. This is something that will need the Minister of State's attention and the attention of his Government colleagues ahead of October's budget. This is necessary until such time as we have the renewables and retrofitting revolution that is far too slow to happen in this country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I welcome this amendment. I assume it refers to disposable income with regard to households. I believe \u20ac70,000 is a low figure, given the scale of the energy crisis and , in particular, how far it has reached with nearly 320,000 households unable to pay their electricity bills and one in four unable to pay their gas bills. Two earners on quite low wages of \u20ac35,000 each would not be eligible for that support. I know plenty of people on what would be a low income of \u20ac35,000 each and who would really struggle, so that number is low. However, that does not take away from the actual substance of the report being called for because we can always argue about what threshold we should introduce. It is about the principle of ensuring first and foremost that there are energy credits for individuals because of the scale of the challenge facing so many households and, second, that they should be targeted.  This is something that we in our party sat down and discussed with the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, many years ago. We do not call for targeted measures immediately because they cannot be done. We need to be realistic as to what can be done next week. The CRU has made it clear to us that they cannot be delivered in a week or two weeks, but they can be delivered. In fairness, the Government has had years to deliver a system, between the CRU and the Department of Social Protection, that would allow for the targeting of energy credits in the way Sinn F\u00e9in has proposed, which is a \u20ac400 credit. What we need right now in relation to supports is to have money flowing into the coffers now, not in October, not in November. That is why we continue to argue that the energy credits need to be delivered right now. Obviously, the mistake is that the Government has not designed a system. If a system had been designed the Government, would have been able to target energy credits and we could have had a genuine debate about whether \u20ac70,000, \u20ac80,000 or whatever number is the point the energy credits were targeted at.  I agree with the amendment on two points. First, energy credits should be available. Second, they should be targeted. I have a question for the Minister of State. This is part of the toolkit, unfortunately, because of the high energy costs that the State is paying. A report came out just last week showing that while we know we have the highest electricity costs in Europe, we are told that we have the second highest electricity costs in the world. This stuff is mental in a country that used to have some of the cheapest electricity prices. We still have companies making huge profits on the backs of ordinary people. The Government simply has not done the homework to design a system between the regulator and the Departments of Social Protection and Finance to look at how we can ensure that energy credits can flow to people in a very simple, straightforward way, one where people do not have to apply and the credits just come off their bills, and where the credits can be targeted. That is a case of joining up systems and doing the homework. I urge the Government to do that work. These types of amendment that call for a report are the instigation of that.  I support the amendment. I have small reservations about the household income for the reasons I outlined. Many households that would be struggling would still not get the benefit of this. More importantly, there is no point calling for something unless the system is created and that is the intention behind the amendment, namely, to force the Government into doing something it should have done four years ago.  The Government will probably turn around in October and introduce energy credits. See if it does. Credits should be delivered now, but for God's sake, do the work so that, in a couple of months' time, the Government will have the ability to target them. Energy credits should not be going to holiday homes. We have called this out so many times. There are people, in this House and elsewhere, who got energy credits and have multiple properties. It is absolutely nuts and it went on for years. At the start of a massive challenge when things happen, the Government sometimes has to respond fluidly and do things, and maybe people get supports they should not have got. We saw this during the pandemic and so forth. That is all right in the first couple of weeks or even the first months of a crisis, but it is not acceptable four years on. It is not acceptable that it does not exist in our toolbox that we can deliver energy credits to families and that there is no ability between the Department and the CRU to target them at whatever level we agree. That it simply does not exist is appalling and an indictment of the Government and its lazy attitude to dealing with these issues. That type of measure should exist as part of its toolbox so that it can support households at a time of need. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  I thank Deputy O'Callaghan for raising this issue. To be fair to him, the amendment calls for a report to be published within \"3 months of the implementation of the new Mineral Oil Tax rates ... on the impact of an energy credit of \u20ac400 for each household with an income up to \u20ac70,000 per annum.\" While I accept he is trying to generate a debate here today and that it will not put a cost on the Exchequer here and now, but I presume what he is trying to do is to ensure that this can feed into the budgetary process for the budget that is a number of months away. I do agree, and as I said at the outset, the way we should be helping people is through targeted supports. We have demonstrated our commitment to helping those who are in the most need of support through the fuel allowance and extending the eligibility criteria for the working family payment, which ensured that an extra 40,000 people on the working family payment got a fuel allowance for the very first time, but we do need to go further. There is an acknowledgement, certainly from my party in government, that there are a cohort of people who are falling short of some of the supports that were introduced. That is why there is a determination by us in government to ensure that we look to that cohort in the upcoming budget.  The budgetary process is well under way for budget 2027. In the past number of days, we had the national economic dialogue, which brought together civil society, the Government, union representatives, and representatives of business, academia and research. My Department will look at all available data from the Central Statistics Office, CSO, the Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI, and other State agencies and representative bodies in order to put together a budget that will be fair, impactful and progressive. That is what we want to achieve. In the next number of weeks, we will see the summer economic statement, which will outline the spending parameters open to us for budget 2027. I assure all Deputies that all data will be looked at to ensure that we bring forward a budget that is fair. They will have the opportunity, when budget day comes, to present an alternative budget, as is the case every single year. At that stage, the Deputies will have to come forward with proposals that are costed and we will have an opportunity to compare our respective positions.  A point that has been made on a number of occasions is about cuts that were implemented to particular sections of society when temporary measures concluded. The difficulty is when you introduce temporary measures, and when they are reintroduced for a time, people tend to have them embedded into their daily living and their expectations. In particular, Deputy O'Callaghan referenced people in receipt of disability payments who, when their temporary measures expired, were at a loss. That was the case, but they were temporary measures that were introduced at a particular time. There is a commitment, and work is well advanced, to introduce permanent measures to ensure that we put in place the right supports, not on a temporary basis, but on a permanent one into the future. In budget 2027, we will see the Government living up to our commitment in that regard.  It is important that we invest in our infrastructure and that is why the Government approved the landmark \u20ac3.5 billion investment in Ireland's electricity grid infrastructure across 2026 to 2030 as part of the national development plan. This represents the largest single investment in the country's electricity network in its history. A sum of \u20ac1.5 billion was allocated to ESB Networks and \u20ac2 billion to EirGrid, which will enable both companies to significantly increase capital investment to expand their onshore and offshore electricity transmission and distribution network infrastructure, which is critical as we move away from fossil fuels. The Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Act 2025 enacted last November provided the legal mechanism for the State to make a \u20ac1.5 billion equity investment in ESB Networks and increase its statutory borrowing limit from \u20ac12 billion to \u20ac17 billion.  The \u20ac1.5 billion was transferred from the Central Fund to the ESB in mid-December, ensuring ESB Networks can begin delivering on this ambitious onshore grid investment programme next year. Work is happening on putting in place the necessary investment in infrastructure for this transmission. We are all at one that we would like to see it accelerated and done in a more efficient manner. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  I find it extraordinary that the reaction to the withdrawal of temporary supports on which people had relied seemed to come as a surprise to the Government and Ministers. People on a low income got a temporary support. To withdraw this support and not put a permanent support in its place was unforgivable. Disabled people on low incomes were absolutely reliant on those temporary measures. They were taken away with a promise that the Government was working on the permanent measures and people were told to wait until they were put in place. This winter people were in very tough circumstances when those temporary supports were taken with a promise of a permanent measure in future. This is no good. People cannot heat their homes on the promise of permanent measures.  The Minister of State has said he will look at all of the available data. I ask him to look immediately at the figures from the Central Statistics Office which show the rate of those aged over 65 who are in consistent poverty increased by 70% in just one year. This was as a direct result of choices the Government has made. T\u00e1 ruda\u00ed go dona ach go h\u00e1irithe mar gheall go ndearna an Rialtas na roghanna m\u00edchearta, ach n\u00ed bh\u00edonn s\u00e9 roghnach riamh an rud ceart a dh\u00e9anamh. The Government can always do the right thing. It can do the right thing now by introducing targeted energy credits as an emergency measure. As has been pointed out, the Government has had ample time and warning to put in place its systems for this, and if its intention is to do something in the budget it has plenty of time to get its act in order on it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  Temporary measures are temporary measures; that is the nature of a temporary measure. What did happen in the previous budget was the largest increase in investment in the disability sector on record, with an almost 20% increase on the previous year. My colleague tells me it was \u20ac620 million. That is how much additional funding was put into disability services, daycare and respite. These are all areas that people with a disability have been looking for. There is a commitment this year, and the Minister, Deputy Calleary, has already begun work on a permanent cost-of-living measure for people with a disability. I want to put that on the record of the House this evening.  Deputy O'Callaghan mentioned people aged over 65. This is why in the previous budget there was an increase in the rate of fuel allowance paid weekly. There was a change in the eligibility criteria, an increase in the weekly rate and an increase in how much people can have in terms of the means test. There was also an increase in the number of the weeks paid out. Measures have been put in place to help address people who are affected the most adversely by high energy costs. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  I do not want to take away from the investment in disability services, which was absolutely necessary and we have a distance to go there. It is good that progress is being made and it is long overdue. Disabled people make the point very strongly that they are not just people who use services. In fact, a lot of disabled people do not necessarily use services. They need to be able to live, survive and thrive independently. It is a fact we have the highest unemployment rate of disabled people in Europe. That is an area that absolutely has to be addressed because it should not just be an issue of income support. It should be an issue, as in other European countries, of disabled people being able to participate fully. Of course, having a basic income to be able to participate fully, including in the employment market, is key, which is why it is important. I know measures are temporary but to introduce temporary measures, take them out, acknowledge that permanent measures are needed and say the work has not been done on them leaves people in a very difficult situation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  The Minister of State does not sit at the Cabinet table but the 15 Ministers who sat around the Cabinet table last October and made a decision to withdraw energy credits made a decision to leave people with disabilities \u20ac1,400 worse off. At a time when they knew that prices were going to continue to go up, and at a time when they knew that so many families were under pressure, what did they think was going to happen? What was going to happen is what we have seen materialise in front of our eyes, which is that more and more people have fallen into financial pressure. Each month more and more families cannot pay their electricity bills or gas bills. I see it when I speak to people. Sometimes we get numb to the numbers. Sometimes numbers such as half a million just roll off our tongues but 320,000 families are not able to pay their electricity bills and 180,000 families are not able to pay their gas bills. This is massive. Many of these families have two, three or four people in their household. Just think about what this looks like. Think about how many times Croke Park would be filled over and over again with the people who cannot pay for their basics in the Ireland of 2026, and who cannot pay for their electricity or their gas. We could fill Croke Park ten times over and there would still be queues of people outside, young and old, who say they also cannot pay their electricity or gas bills. The decision of the Government was to withdraw the only support they relied on. Knowing that the pressure was getting worse and that inflation was continuing to rise, it withdrew the supports.  What it did to people with disability, leaving them \u20ac1,400 worse off, was disgraceful. I called it out on budget night. The cost of disability is real. We thought the Government finally understood this when it paid a lump sum that was higher than in the past to people with disability but instead what it did was took away those supports that people depended on. This is why so many people are angry, frustrated and under serious pressure.  There are policies the Government can deliver that would provide benefits to people right here and right now. Earlier when speaking on this legislation I said the only guarantee the Irish people have is that carbon tax is going up to make petrol and diesel dearer, to make home heating oil dearer, to make the cost of gas dearer and to make the cost of a bag of coal dearer. The only guarantee people have is that Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael will put it up every single year for the next four years. There is no guarantee in terms of what people on social welfare or people with disabilities depend on and how much more they can expect in the next couple of years. There is no legislation to say what it will look like for them. What the Government is doing is wrong. T\u00e1 an rud at\u00e1 an Rialtas ag d\u00e9anamh go huile agus go hioml\u00e1n contr\u00e1ilte. T\u00e1imid in Sinn F\u00e9in ag cur molta\u00ed chun tosaigh ar\u00eds agus ar\u00eds eile ag r\u00e1 go soil\u00e9ir - is sampla iad na ceithre leasuithe at\u00e1 curtha s\u00edos agam anocht - go bhfuil tuilleadh taca\u00edochta de dh\u00edth ar ghn\u00e1thdhaoine na t\u00edre seo, agus go bhfuil an t-airgead sa t\u00edr seo leis an taca\u00edocht sin a chur ar f\u00e1il. Is \u00e9 an rud at\u00e1 in easnamh anseo n\u00e1 Rialtas a thuigeann an br\u00fa at\u00e1 ar ghn\u00e1thdhaoine na t\u00edre seo. N\u00edl an Rialtas r\u00e9idh agus s\u00e1sta beart a dh\u00e9anamh le cuidi\u00fa leo. T\u00e1 an cuidi\u00fa sin de dh\u00edth ar dhaoine fud fad na t\u00edre seo. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 contr\u00e1ilte go bhfuil an Rialtas ag tabhairt isteach reachta\u00edochta agus ag r\u00e1 le daoine sa t\u00edr seo go bhfuil s\u00e9 ag cur suas an praghas ar dh\u00edosal faoi 32 cent ar an 1 L\u00fanasa agus an praghas ar pheitreal faoi 27 cent ar an l\u00e1 c\u00e9anna, agus ag ard\u00fa an praghas ar pheitreal agus ar dh\u00edosal ar\u00eds i m\u00ed Dheireadh F\u00f3mhair mar aon le hola le haghaidh t\u00e9amh t\u00ed. Sin an f\u00e1th go seasann Sinn F\u00e9in in \u00e9adan na reachta\u00edochta seo.  Sin an f\u00e1th fosta go dtabharfaimid taca\u00edocht don leas\u00fa at\u00e1 os \u00e1r gcomhair le cinnte a dh\u00e9anamh de go bhfuil taca\u00edocht ansin do dhaoine sa t\u00edr seo \u00f3 thaobh costais fuinnimh de. T\u00e1 320,000 duine fud fad na t\u00edre seo nach bhfuil \u00e1balta a gcuid bill\u00ed leictreachais a dh\u00edol agus duine as achan ceathrar nach bhfuil \u00e1balta a gcuid bill\u00ed g\u00e1is a dh\u00edol. Is \u00e9 an f\u00e1th go bhfuil s\u00e9 sin ag tarl\u00fa n\u00e1 go bhfuil Rialtas againn nach dtuigeann an br\u00fa at\u00e1 ar dhaoine. T\u00e1 an t-airgead sa t\u00edr ach n\u00edl an toil pholaiti\u00fail ansin. Tugaim taca\u00edocht don leas\u00fa seo ach seasaim in \u00e9adan na reachta\u00edochta at\u00e1 an Rialtas ag cur chun tosaigh f\u00e1 choinne na f\u00e1thanna at\u00e1 curtha chun tosaigh agam anseo. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  One basic point people fail to acknowledge and recognise is that the huge increase in energy prices is not as a consequence of decisions taken by the Government but as a consequence of an issue happening in the Middle East. That is not of the Government\u2019s making. I think we can all agree on that. This is what has been the biggest driver in the increase in the cost of energy since the crisis began. As a consequence of and in reply to that, the Government did take corrective actions, not once but twice. This was to the tune of a total of \u20ac750 million. We are never going to agree because no matter how much we did on this side of the House, those on the other side of the House will say we should have done more and gone further. They do not even recognise that we made interventions, and that this action was one of the largest across the EU.  On Leaders; Questions today, the Taoiseach gave a firm commitment that the situation would be kept under continuous review. We have to acknowledge, thankfully, that the price of a barrel of crude oil is much lower now than it was at its peak. Thankfully, the signs seem positive in relation to a peace deal in the Middle East and, hopefully, that will open up the Strait of Hormuz. This will see a huge increase in the supply, which will, hopefully, bring down the cost of oil even further. We, therefore, have to be agile and responsive to what is happening on the international stage because this is what is affecting the cost of energy in Ireland today.  The differences regarding the benefits of the carbon tax have been exposed among the people on the Opposition benches. The most recent votes identified this. A sizeable majority in this D\u00e1il supports it and supports what is being done to ensure that the revenue generated by the carbon tax is reinvested to protect those who need the greater support through the fuel allowance, social welfare payments, investment in environmental and agricultural schemes in the agriculture sector, Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, grants to help people retrofit their homes and a deep retrofit for those who need it the most, namely those people at risk of energy poverty and receiving social welfare fuel allowance. The tens of thousands of households that have benefited from that welcome it.  I assist people in this regard, and I acknowledge everybody does in this Chamber. We assist people daily and weekly in our clinics and in our constituencies. If we talk to anybody, in the context of the fuel allowance, who has had the benefit of a deep retrofit and the benefit they have derived, they will speak about the improved quality of life in their homes and the huge reduction in what they are spending weekly, monthly or bimonthly on energy to heat their homes. That is a permanent support for people at risk of energy poverty. It is a permanent benefit that we have been able to provide because of the carbon tax, and that is never acknowledged when Deputy Doherty gets up to speak.  I have outlined that our budgetary process has commenced. I acknowledge that more needs to be done in relation to people who are working and who are finding it difficult in terms of the cost of living. Work is ongoing to ensure that people get that extra support in budget 2027. We will see that when the Minister, Deputy Chambers, and the Minister, Deputy Harris, get up to deliver the budget in a few short months. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I need to put a few home truths on the record here because the Minister of State cannot get away with that. He cannot continue to come in here and say that carbon tax revenue is all going to fund X, Y and Z. Does he seriously think the Comptroller and Auditor General is lying, or does he just want to ignore what the Comptroller and Auditor General has said in his reports? Let us have an honest conversation about this topic. The Comptroller and Auditor General has said very clearly that hundreds of millions of euro being brought in from carbon tax cannot be identified as going to any of the intended causes: retrofits, climate change and social welfare payments. The carbon tax cannot be identified as going to those ends. This amounts to hundreds of millions of euro. This is not Sinn F\u00e9in speaking but the Comptroller and Auditor General before the Committee of Public Accounts. It is in black and white and there for everybody to see. I ask the Minister of State to stop spouting the stuff he is saying because it is not true.  We have shown the Government time and again not only how it can deliver retrofits and environmentally-friendly programmes but that it can do so in a better way that is not a transfer of taxpayers' money to people who are already wealthy, those who can already afford to buy their electric vehicle or do the deep retrofit, and still get the grants. We need to make sure that more of that money flows into the households that cannot afford to do this, and that is why we need to see a restructuring of the grants. We also need to see more money spent on these programmes and we do not need carbon tax to do this. The Government could look at other types of tax.  I have a novel idea for the Minister of State in this regard, and I ask him to think about it for a second. Stop picking the pockets of my neighbour, who cannot afford an electric vehicle, and pick the pockets of the banks, which made \u20ac3 billion in profits last year. The Government allowed them to pay 1% in tax. Why not do this? Why not let the banks fund energy retrofits? Why is the Government picking the pockets of my neighbour?  The Minister of State spoke about what this legislation is about and that the energy crisis has been created by the war in Iran. Of course, the latest version of this has been created by the war in Iran. Nobody disputes that and, hopefully, some of this will settle but it does not let the Government off the hook. This Government is instrumental in driving up the costs of gas, electricity, petrol, diesel, home heating oil, a bag of coal and a bale of briquettes. It has been doing this every year for the past six years and it plans to continue doing it for the next four years. It is in the legislation. It is what the Minister of State is asking me to vote for. I am not voting for it because it is not just Trump and his antics driving up these costs. The Government is driving up these costs. This legislation is driving up these costs. How am I supposed to turn around to people in Gweedore, Letterkenny or Killybegs on 1 August and explain to them how the hell, under God, I voted for legislation that put up the price of diesel by 32%? They will think I do not understand what they are dealing with at the minute. That is what the Minister of State is asking me to do, and I am not doing it.  I am also calling out the Minister of State because some of the stuff he is saying is simply not true. If we want to have a debate, then let us have an honest debate. I ask the Minister of State, however, to please acknowledge what the Comptroller and Auditor General has said, namely that hundreds of millions of euro of carbon tax is not ring-fenced for the intended purposes. If the Minister of State wants, I will quote exactly what he has said. Between 2020 and 2023, the Comptroller and Auditor General cannot say where more than \u20ac500 million has been spent in terms of the intended projects. The Government keeps on saying that the carbon tax revenue is ring-fenced for these measures when it is not. Does the Minister of State want to stand there and say that the Comptroller and Auditor General, and his office, is simply wrong and misleading the public and the D\u00e1il? If the Minister of State is not willing to stand there and say that, I ask him to stop misleading the D\u00e1il and the public, and to have an honest debate in relation to where carbon tax goes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  The Deputy has had the vote, so he can go back and claim he has taken that position. The House has had to vote on his amendment. It was comprehensively beaten, not just by the Government Members but by other Members in the D\u00e1il who support the model that has been implemented because they can see the benefit of it in terms of the money being reinvested.  I will just give the Deputy a flavour. In budget 2026, \u20ac1.114 billion was allocated for climate measures and to ensure the most vulnerable would be protected from the unintended consequences of the tax increase. This is \u20ac163 million more than the 2025 allocation. There is \u20ac566 million for the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment for retrofitting programmes, just transition and the ODA green climate fund, representing an increase of \u20ac89 million on the amount for 2025; \u20ac350 million for the Department of Social Protection for targeted social welfare interventions, representing an increase of \u20ac44 million on the amount for 2025; \u20ac173 million for the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine for green and sustainable farming measures, representing an increase of \u20ac30 million on the amount for 2025; \u20ac20 million for the Department of Transport for the continuation of carbon tax-funded programmes; and \u20ac5 million for the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage for the continuation of carbon tax-funded programmes. That is how the money that was collected is being spent. We can agree to disagree on the policy proposal, but that is where we are. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  The Minister of State started talking about a couple of million here and a couple of million there. I have called him out in relation to what he is saying over and over again about the revenue being reinvested. I am asking him, and challenging him here in the D\u00e1il, either to stand over what he is saying or call out the Comptroller and Auditor General. You cannot have it both ways. Who is telling the fibs here? The Minister of State is saying that carbon tax is completely reinvested and the Comptroller and Auditor General is saying not under his watch, not that he can find. He is saying that between 2020 and 2023, about \u20ac500 million of the \u20ac1.3 billion brought in did not go towards the intended scheme. Therefore, the Minister of State should please stop. I am challenging him here now. Does he stand over what he is saying? He should please answer this question: is the Comptroller and Auditor General wrong, or is all the revenue reinvested? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  This is Deputy O\u2019Callaghan\u2019s amendment and he has said twice he is pressing it. Does he wish to press it now or shall I go back to the Minister? We have ten minutes left. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  I am happy to let the Minister in again but I wish to press the amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I am finished. I appreciate that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Okay. I thank the Deputies. After the Minister of State\u2019s comments, Deputy O\u2019Callaghan may press the amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  What I am quoting are the figures from 2025 and 2026. I have outlined how the \u20ac1.114 billion was allocated to each Department. I cannot break it down in granular form for the Deputy here today, but what I am outlining, at a high level, is how the money collected is going back to the various Departments. When carbon tax was introduced initially, my understanding was that the first \u20ac20 was not ring-fenced and that anything over and above that was for the measures I have outlined already. I will come back to the Deputy on what he is saying about the period 2020 to 2023. The figures I have quoted this evening are from 2025 and to date in 2026.  Fundamentally, the Deputy is opposed to the policy. I recognise that. He has been consistent in his approach to it, and that is fair and is his prerogative. What we have said is that this is a policy that has been introduced to change behaviour. It has been done in a way to protect those at the lowest income levels from unintended consequences and to generate funding that can be reinvested in permanent measures that will help people through environmental schemes in agriculture, deep retrofitting and the increases in the SEAI grants, which the relevant Minister, Deputy O\u2019Brien, announced earlier this year. The figures I have spoken about are for 2025 and 2026. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The time permitted for this debate having expired, I am now required to put the following question in accordance with an order of the D\u00e1il of 9 June: \"That in respect of each of the sections undisposed of, the section is hereby agreed to in Committee, the Title is hereby agreed to in Committee, the Bill is accordingly reported to the House without amendment, Fourth Stage is hereby completed and the Bill is hereby passed.\" "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Finance Bill 2026: Committee and Remaining Stages"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-17\/debate\/dbsect_57","debateType":"billReport","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2025\/5","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2025\/5\/dail\/4_sub","houseCode":"dail","stage":"4_sub","isBillStage":false,"showAs":"Insurance (Disregard of Certain Medical History and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025: Report and Final Stages (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Insurance (Disregard of Certain Medical History and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025: Report and Final Stages","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":4},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_57","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call Deputy Ged Nash to move amendment No. 1 which arises out of committee proceedings. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  I move amendment No. 1:  In page 5, between lines 31 and 32, to insert the following:  \u201c(7) For the purposes of this section, a person is not precluded from being in complete remission by reason only of the fact that the person is receiving\u2014  (a) anti-hormonal medications, or  (b) any form of preventative therapy or medicine intended to reduce the risk of recurrence of cancer following the end of active cancer treatment.\u201d  I thank the Minister of State for the way in which he has engaged with me on this matter in recent days. I think he accepts that we in the Labour Party proposed this amendment in good faith. I might describe it as a belt and braces approach to the particular provision in the Bill. The intention is to strengthen and galvanise it and ensure there is no ambiguity in any respect in terms of how this provision is interpreted by the insurance industry when people are in the position that they ought to have access to disregards and where there may be issues around it, intentional or otherwise. I think the Minister of State accepts this was proposed in good faith and in the spirit that we want to see the full Bill implemented so that there will not be any ambiguity whatsoever about any definitions in it, such as about what \"remission\" or \"five years beyond active treatment\" mean because those two tests are contained in the Bill.  I am aware the Minister of State has received clear advice on his view there is no ambiguity and that the full intention and spirit of the Bill will be implemented. However, this is designed to avoid any ambiguity that might arise, especially in relation to the requirement of some cancer survivors who are in remission to receive ongoing hormonal treatment. That would apply, as the Minister of State is aware, primarily in the case of breast cancer survivors who have had a HER2-positive diagnosis and also in the case of some prostate cancers that are typically hormonally-driven and require the taking of medication on an ongoing basis.  I would appreciate it if the Minister of State would put on record his position on the amendment. It would be a worthwhile exercise in itself just to establish the advice he has. I ask him to provide some clarity on his position on this and some reassurance that the Bill and the provision as currently drafted is, for want of a better description, bulletproof. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  I put on record the strong support of the Social Democrats for this Bill. I compliment the Minister of State, Deputy Ardagh, and all who have worked on this on a cross-party basis, including the Irish Cancer Society and the volunteers from that society. It is an excellent example of how this Oireachtas can and should work very effectively. We need to see more of this approach to legislation progressing not just from Cabinet but from backbenchers across the Oireachtas.  I support Deputy Nash's amendment. It is a very good effort to try to ensure there is not ambiguity in the Bill and he raises an important point. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Deputy Robert Troy)  To the Deputy's latter point, I am always open to good suggestions from the Opposition; I am just not sure it always come forward with them. I say that in jest. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  I know. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  In all seriousness, I acknowledge all Members of the D\u00e1il in terms of their co-operation and their positive engagement on this legislation since it was first introduced by my colleague the Minister of State, Deputy Ardagh, when she was a backbench TD.  I fully appreciate the amendment is coming from a position of good faith and I am not at all questioning Deputy Nash's bona fides in relation to the reason for advancing it. The Government has considered the proposal to insert a new subsection that would provide a person shall not be regarded as precluded from being in complete remission solely by reason of receiving anti-hormonal medications or preventative therapies or medicine and understands the underlying concern this is aimed at addressing. While the intent of the amendment is acknowledged and understood, the Government does not consider it necessary to include this provision as the legislation provides \"complete remission\" is determined by an oncologist on request. The five-year threshold only applies to primary treatment such as surgery or chemotherapy, which is considered \"active cancer treatment\". Anti-hormonal medications or any form of preventative therapy or medicine intended to reduce the risk of reoccurrence of cancer following the end of active cancer treatment are excluded from consideration for the disregard. For example, industry has clarified that an applicant who had surgery for breast cancer five years ago and is certified as being in complete remission by an oncologist but still takes anti-hormonal medication would qualify for the disregard under this legislation.  The Bill as amended clearly defines \"active cancer treatment\" in section 3 and explicitly provides this does not include anti-hormonal medications or any form of preventative therapy or medicine intended to reduce the risk of reoccurrence following the end of active treatment. Individuals who are receiving these therapies or medications are already regarded, for the purpose of this Bill, as having completed active cancer treatment where all other criteria are met. The Bill therefore already accommodates the scenario where an applicant is no longer being treated for cancer and is in remission but may be taking medication or undergoing therapy for preventative reoccurrence.  Officials in my Department engaged with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to the Government, representatives of the insurance industry, the Irish Society of Medical Oncology, the Society of Actuaries in Ireland and very importantly, the Irish Cancer Society, which the Deputy has engaged with, on this definition. The result of this consultation is a definition that closely follows that of the voluntary code. Additional consultation with industry has certified that, in practice, insurers do not consider medication to prevent reoccurrence as rendering applicants ineligible. Consequently, I do not propose to accept the amendment despite the Deputy's good intentions. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared lost."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Bill received for final consideration and passed."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Bill will now be sent to the Seanad. Congratulations to all concerned. It is one of my favourite times to be in the Chair. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar fionra\u00ed ar 8.17 p.m. agus cuireadh t\u00fas leis ar\u00eds ar 8.20 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Sitting suspended at 8.17 p.m. and resumed at 8.20 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Insurance (Disregard of Certain Medical History and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025: Report and Final Stages"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-17\/debate\/dbsect_58","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2024\/18","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2024\/18\/dail\/seanad_amd","houseCode":"dail","stage":"seanad_amd","isBillStage":false,"showAs":"Microenterprise Loan Fund (Amendment) Bill 2024: From the Seanad (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Microenterprise Loan Fund (Amendment) Bill 2024: From the Seanad","counts":{"speechCount":2,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_58","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The D\u00e1il went into Committee to consider amendments from the Seanad."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 1:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 8: In page 5, to delete lines 24 and 25 and substitute \u201cMinister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation.\u201d."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Seanad amendments Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, and Nos. 6 to 11, inclusive, are related and may be discussed together. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 2:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 9: In page 6, to delete lines 7 and 8 and substitute \u201cthe Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, may determine.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 3:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 9: In page 7, to delete line 9 and substitute \u201cExpenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 4:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 12: In page 9, between lines 25 and 26, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" \u201cInsertion of sections 16A and 16B into Act of 2012 "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"12. The Act of 2012 is amended by the insertion of the following sections after section 16:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" \u201cStaff of Microfinance Ireland "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"16A. (1) Microfinance Ireland may, with the approval of the Minister and the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, appoint such and so many persons to be members of the staff of Microfinance Ireland as it from time to time considers appropriate."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(2) The grades of the staff of Microfinance Ireland and the numbers of staff in each grade shall be determined by Microfinance Ireland with the consent of the Minister and the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(3) The staff of Microfinance Ireland shall be employed on such terms and conditions as may be determined by Microfinance Ireland from time to time subject to the approval of the Minister and the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(4) There shall be paid by Microfinance Ireland to the members of its staff such remuneration and allowances for expenses as may be determined by Microfinance Ireland with the approval of the Minister and the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(5) Where a member of staff of Microfinance Ireland is\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) nominated as a member of Seanad \u00c9ireann,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) elected as a member of either House of the Oireachtas or to be a member of the European Parliament,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(c) regarded pursuant to Part XIII of the Second Schedule to the European Parliament Elections Act 1997 as having been elected to the European Parliament, or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(d) elected or co-opted as a member of a local authority, he or she shall stand seconded from employment by Microfinance Ireland and shall not be paid by, or be entitled to receive from, Microfinance Ireland any remuneration or allowances for expenses in respect of the period commencing on such nomination, election or co-option, as the case may be, and ending when such person ceases to be a member of either such House, member of such Parliament or member of a local authority."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(6) A period of secondment referred to in subsection (5) shall not, for the purposes of any superannuation benefit, be reckoned as service with Microfinance Ireland."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Existing staff of Microfinance Ireland "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"16B. (1) Each person who was a member of staff of Microfinance Ireland immediately before the appointed day shall, on the appointed day, be deemed to be a member of staff of Microfinance Ireland for the period remaining unexpired (if any) under the contract of employment under which he or she was employed by Microfinance Ireland as if he or she had been appointed under section 16A."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(2) A person referred to in subsection (1) shall be subject to such terms and conditions of service, including terms and conditions relating to remuneration, as are not less favourable than the terms and conditions of service, including terms and conditions relating to remuneration, to which the person was subject immediately before the appointed day."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(3) In subsection (2), the reference to terms and conditions relating to remuneration does not include terms and conditions relating to superannuation."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(4) In relation to a person referred to in subsection (1), previous service with Microfinance Ireland prior to the appointed day shall be reckonable for the purposes of, but subject to any exceptions or exclusions in, the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) the Redundancy Payments Acts 1967 to 2022;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) the Protection of Employees (Part-Time Work) Act 2001;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(c) the Protection of Employees (Fixed-Term Work) Act 2003;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(d) the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(e) the Terms of Employment (Information) Acts 1994 to 2014;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(f) the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Acts 1973 to 2005;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(g) the Unfair Dismissals Acts 1977 to 2015;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(h) the Maternity Protection Acts 1994 to 2022;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(i) the Parental Leave Acts 1998 to 2023;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(j) the Adoptive Leave Acts 1995 and 2005;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(k) the Carer\u2019s Leave Act 2001;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(l) the Paternity Leave and Benefit Act 2016;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(m) the Parent\u2019s Leave and Benefit Act 2019."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(5) In this section, \u201cappointed day\u201d means the day appointed by order under section 12(3A).\u201d.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 5:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 13: In page 9, to delete line 35 and substitute \u201cof section 13 of the Microenterprise Loan Fund (Amendment) Act 2026, Microfinance Ireland shall, with the approval of the\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 6:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 13: In page 10, to delete lines 1 and 2 and substitute \u201cMinister and the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, make a scheme or\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 7:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 13: In page 10, to delete lines 11 and 12 and substitute \u201cconsent of the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, make a scheme amending or revoking a\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 8:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 13: In page 10, to delete lines 19 and 20 and substitute \u201csubject to the agreement of the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, make a\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 9:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 13: In page 10, to delete lines 25 and 26 and substitute \u201cwith the consent of the Minister and the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 10:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 14: In page 11, to delete line 2 and substitute \u201cExpenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, make\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 11:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Title: In page 3, line 7, to delete \u201cMinister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment\u201d and substitute \u201cMinister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendments reported."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  A message will be sent to Seanad \u00c9ireann acquainting it that D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann has agreed to amendments Nos. 1 to 11, inclusive, made by Seanad \u00c9ireann to the Microenterprise Loan Fund (Amendment) Bill 2024. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Sitting suspended at 8.22 p.m. and resumed at 8.27 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Microenterprise Loan Fund (Amendment) Bill 2024: From the Seanad"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-17\/debate\/dbsect_59","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"EU Directive on Combating Firearms Trafficking: Motion","counts":{"speechCount":12,"speakerCount":10},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_59","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Catherine Ardagh)  I move:  That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann approves the exercise by the State of the option or discretion under Protocol No. 21 on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the area of freedom, security and justice annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, to take part in the adoption and application of the following proposed measure:  Proposal for a DIRECTIVE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on combating firearms trafficking and other firearms-related offences and amending Directive (EU) 2024\/1260 of the European Parliament and of the Council,  a copy of which was laid before D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann on 18th March, 2026.  I thank the House for facilitating this motion. I welcome the opportunity to address the D\u00e1il on Ireland's opt-in to a new EU proposal for a directive on combating firearms trafficking and other firearms-related offences.  Ireland has an option, provided for in Article 3.1 of Protocol 21 annexed to the Treaty of Lisbon, to opt in to individual proposals in the area of freedom, security and justice. The protocol provides that Ireland has three months from the date a proposal is presented to the Council to notify the Presidency of the Council of its wish to take part in the negotiation, adoption and application of the measure. The three-month period for this proposal ends on 23 June 2026. The exercise of the opt-in is subject to the approval of both Houses of the Oireachtas, so it has been necessary to bring this proposal to the Houses as swiftly as possible. Ireland can accept a proposal at any time after it has been adopted but in such cases Ireland will not have been in a position to vote on the final content of the proposal. It must also be noted that Ireland made a declaration appended to the Treaty of Lisbon of its intention to opt in to measures in the area of freedom, security and justice to the maximum extent it deems possible.  The EU has previously adopted several instruments regulating the legal acquisition and possession of firearms. Opting in to this measure in relation to firearms trafficking provides an important opportunity for Ireland to reiterate our commitment to tackling illicit firearms, the trafficking of which poses a serious threat to both our and our European neighbours\u2019 security, and beyond.  On 26 February, the European Commission put forward this proposal with the intention to combat firearms trafficking and other firearms-related offences. The aim is to introduce a EU-wide framework with common definitions of firearms offences and penalties, support stronger co-operation between member states and improve the collection and use of data. The proposal also closes the gap when it comes to the misuse of 3D printing for illicit weapons production and includes an obligation for member states to establish a national firearms focal point to better enable operational co-operation between member states.  Illicit firearms pose a serious threat to the security of all EU citizens. They enable a wide range of serious and organised crimes, including drug trafficking, extortion, robbery and gang violence.  The issue has intensified due to geopolitical events in geographical proximity to the Union. There is a high risk that the surplus of weapons from ongoing conflict, such as the one in the Ukraine, will leak into illegal markets.  Key challenges that have been identified that further the facilitation of illicit firearms trafficking are the technological shifts creating the possibility of online dissemination of 3D-printing blueprints. The large gap in data and reliable, comprehensive statistics also make it more challenging for law enforcement and policymakers to assess the scale of this threat and identify possible solutions.  Firearms trafficking has been consistently identified as a major internal security threat to the EU. The necessity for harmonisation of criminal standards has been highlighted in both the 2025 ProtectEU internal security strategy and the new counter-terrorism agenda. However, there are significant differences in how firearms-related crimes are defined and punished across the member states. This lack of harmonisation hinders cross-border co-operation, complicates investigations and prosecutions, and reduces the overall effectiveness of law enforcement against firearms trafficking and its related offences.  I will provide more detail about the specific elements of the measure that is under discussion. The directive aims to protect EU citizens from the threat of illicit firearms by reducing the number of illegal weapons and related criminal activities, harmonising firearms offences and penalties and improving data quality and availability. The proposal targets intentional acts involving illicit firearms and does not propose to change existing EU rules on the legal acquisition, possession and cross-border movement of licit firearms. The proposal will harmonise the definitions and penalties of criminal offences to include the trafficking, manufacturing or possession of illicit firearms, the falsifying or illicitly removing or altering of mandatory firearm markings, and the illicit creation, acquisition, possession and dissemination of 3D printing of firearms.  Under this proposed directive, each member state will be obliged to establish a national firearms focal point to facilitate co-ordination and co-operation between the competent authorities. This directive will also strengthen data collection on seized firearms, which will enhance the capabilities of law enforcement officers and policymakers. It will allow for better resource allocation and it will enhance threat and policy evaluation.  Harmonised EU-level action will also support broader security goals, as firearms crimes are closely linked to terrorism, money laundering, drug trafficking and other types of organised crimes. As firearms trafficking continues to worsen, we are committed to combating this challenge through a co-ordinated and coherent approach. To do this, we must ensure our legislative measures are fit for purpose. In Ireland, we have robust legislation safeguarding the use of firearms through the Firearms Act 1925. However, this represents the first firearms trafficking measure at EU level. This legislation will remove the fragmentation that exists across the European Union to provide for harmonisation, thus enhancing cross-border co-operation, criminal investigations and prosecutions. The ultimate goal is to safeguard citizens and ensure that serious criminality is disrupted and punished.  The views of the Office of the Attorney General have been sought on this directive. The legal advice confirmed that there are no legal or constitutional obstacles to Ireland opting in to this directive.  Naturally, given the importance of this issue, officials from my Department will continue to participate actively in the negotiations at working party meetings and engage with other Departments and agencies to ensure the final text of the directive works well for Ireland and the EU as a whole. As part of Ireland's Presidency responsibilities, senior officials in my Department will be leading on the negotiation of the measure as it progresses in Brussels. By opting in to the measure, we will join our European colleagues to help fight this collective challenge.  The Government has no hesitation in commending this motion to the House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I am sure the Government has no hesitation at all.  There is a serious issue in terms of how the Minister for justice is dealing with some incredibly important Bills that will have implications for years to come, and that is his inability to engage with the Houses of the Oireachtas regarding EU matters in a timely manner. I have lost count of the number of times that a Minister from the Department of justice has come in here with a proposal and said that time is of the essence and we have to adopt it within the following number of weeks. The question is: whose fault is that? It is certainly not the fault of Opposition Members who are told that there is an urgency. This is particularly the case with this proposal.  The briefing note circulated by the Department highlights the particular urgency and lists 23 June, less than a week from now, as the deadline. That is the timeframe the Houses have to consider it.  The Minister might consider me to be naive but I would have thought that the purpose of debates in this House was to scrutinise proposals, identify issues and suggest improvements or other beneficial courses of action, but the truth of the matter is that these motions have become a rubber-stamping exercise that have become the hallmark of how he approaches this. The least that the Houses of the Oireachtas deserve is an adequate timeline. I am told that for all the lack of notice we got in this House, the Seanad was give 24 hours' notice in respect of this motion.  The Minister of State referred to the deadline of 23 June. She stated this is because of the pressures of Article 3 of protocol 21 and it is important that we go back to the basis of where protocol 21 came from. It provided an opt-out for Ireland and Britain at the time in respect of matters concerning security, freedom and of that nature. There are two provisions in it. The first, Article 3, that the Minister of State cites, essentially allows the Government to opt in at an early stage of the deliberative process and within which comes a very tight deadline, but I am astounded that her contribution never mentioned Article 4 because Article 4 provides a different mechanism for Ireland to opt in, if that is the considered view of the Government and the Houses of the Oireachtas. That allows us to sign in at any stage after the enactment of the proposal.  Of course, the Government will cite that Article 3 brings us to the table, allows us to be part of the deliberations and the decision-making process but it also forces us to accept whatever decision is made, even if we oppose it and are in a minority in a qualified majority voting situation. Two questions arise from that. Do we have faith in the Ministers to defend and fight for the positions of the Oireachtas behind closed doors when they treat the Oireachtas with such contempt on an ongoing basis in relation to these motions? Do we trust the Minister at a time he is signing us up under protocol 21 to probably the greatest number of EU proposals ever? He has given up opt-outs where we have always had them and opted in and he is increasingly using Article 3 rather than Article 4, which was the primary mechanism used by previous Governments to sign up. This is all too familiar. We saw the furore in recent weeks when members of the public became aware in respect of the EU migration and asylum pact that we are locked in not only through this Government but future governments to an EU framework that takes no account of the unique circumstances and challenges that this particular island nation, divided as it is, faces.  In the Seanad earlier, the Minister misrepresented, or at least misunderstood, Sinn F\u00e9in's position because we have always acknowledged that there are areas where there is a need for EU collaboration. It is absolutely the case that combating firearms trafficking and other firearms-related offences could be one of them but that should be done on the basis of considered discussion in this House. That should have been done as a result of debates at the Oireachtas joint committee on justice in the first instance where we have thoughtful detailed conversations as to what precisely it means for Ireland to opt in, what provisions of sovereignty precisely are being handed over and what the value for this State is in handing over that sovereignty, then a considered debate in this House and then moving forward, but instead what happens is decisions are made behind closed doors to opt in.  I have the briefing note here. That is what has been provided to the Oireachtas by way of considered deliberation by the Department by way of briefing and then we are being asked at short notice to opt in under Article 3 and trust the Ministers to have our back as a state in EU negotiations.  It does not matter after that whether they do have our backs, because we are locked in anyway. This is not at all the way to do business.  There is a particular issue when it comes to firearms. When we are dealing with terrorism and serious firearms trafficking, I fully accept there is a need for, and merit in, operating on an EU basis. However, game clubs and hunting organisations, for example, have highlighted to us that when previous Governments signed us up under Article 4 to firearms legislation at EU level, there was no consideration for the impact on those types of local organisations and, subsequently, no real engagement on the part of the Department.  I will be voting against this motion. I do so on the basis of standing up for the rights of the Houses of the Oireachtas to have full and proper consideration of these matters, not to be subjected to a rubber-stamping exercise and not to be treated with what I consider to be absolute and utter disdain in terms of proper accountability. The Minister of State can say these are democratic decisions. Yes, this will be a democratic decision in that Members will vote on it, but nobody can argue in any way that there has been democratic consideration, accountability and discussion in respect of this motion. That absolutely has not happened. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  The Social Democrats will support this motion because we want Ireland to opt in to the EU directive on combating firearms trafficking and other firearms-related offences. We do so because firearms trafficking, by its very nature, is a cross-border criminal activity. Organised criminal networks do not respect borders. The firearms used by criminal gangs across the country do not magically appear here. They are trafficked across jurisdictions, moved through criminal supply chains and exploited by organised crime groups operating across Europe. We accept that co-operation between member states is essential, as is information sharing between law enforcement agencies to enable them to work together effectively.  However, supporting the opt-in should not mean suspending scrutiny. We have major concerns about how the Department of justice, led by the Minister, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan, is continuously undermining democratic and parliamentary norms in this House. We will support the measure because we believe it is an important one but we do so while highlighting the failure of the Department once again to apply the required level of scrutiny. The EU's Regulatory Scrutiny Board has itself raised concerns about the level of analysis applied to this proposal, with a report noting that it was moving through the system without the level of detailed examination such a significant criminal justice measure deserves.  That concern is very well founded. When Ireland chooses to opt in to a justice and home affairs measure, it is not a routine administrative exercise. Rather, it is a significant policy decision that means accepting that European legislation will shape part of our criminal justice framework. That should always be done carefully, deliberately and on the basis of evidence, particularly at a time when security concerns across Europe are becoming increasingly more complex. We are living through a period of significant geopolitical instability. We have seen organised crime become more sophisticated, growing security concerns across the Continent, conflict on Europe's borders and increasing pressure on law enforcement agencies in many member states.  In that environment, it is entirely reasonable that the EU would seek to strengthen co-operation against firearms trafficking. It it equally reasonable for this House to ask questions. The central question I have for the Minister of State and the Government she represents is a simple one. What specific gaps in Irish law does this directive close? When we examine our existing legislation, we find that Ireland already has some of the strongest firearm laws in Europe. We already provide for severe penalties for unlawful possession of firearms and significant penalties where firearms are possessed in suspicious circumstances. We already provide for sentences up to and including life imprisonment for the most serious firearm offences.  If we are being asked to opt in to this measure, the Government should be able to clearly identify where the deficiencies lie but I did not hear that addressed in the Minister of State's contribution. Is the benefit primarily to do with information sharing, tracing firearms, intelligence co-operation or offences relating to the illicit manufacture of 3D-printed weapons, or is there a more substantive gap that has not yet been outlined to the House? Those questions are not arguments against the directive. They are arguments for proper scrutiny and they are questions that should have been debated at committee level.  The directive contains provisions on minimum and maximum penalties and a sentencing framework. If we are introducing new sentencing approaches, they should be justified by facts, evidence and a clear understanding of what actually reduces organised crime. Too often in politics, there is a temptation to assume that longer sentences automatically produce better outcomes. The evidence internationally is far more mixed. The objective must not simply be to increase penalties for the sake of it. The objective must be to reduce firearms trafficking, reduce gun violence and improve public safety.  What bothers me most about a discussion like this in the Chamber specifically about firearms offences is that we very rarely discuss one of the major issues occurring across Irish society right now, which is the pernicious nature of gang violence and all the tentacles that surround it. The Minister of State represents Dublin South-Central, which is a constituency very similar to mine. Surely she must see the level of child grooming into criminality that is happening. My eyes almost rolled back into my head a couple of months ago when the Minister talked about the fact we have not had a death by firearms as a consequence of gangland criminality in the past year. Yet, as I walk home via O'Connell Street and Dorset Street, the level of coercion of children into criminality I see there is something many of us have not seen in our lifetime. This directive does not counter that but nor have I seen anything from the Government that does so.  Drug-related intimidation is no longer happening only in inner-city communities. It is a nationwide problem. Rural and farm-based communities are experiencing it. The drug-related intimidation and violence engagement, DRIVE, programme is funded to the tune of some \u20ac240,000 each year. The level of drug-related intimidation far exceeds what that funding could possibly do. We have a multitude of disparate but better organised gangs emerging every single week in this country. Inevitably, somebody will say we need an initiative like the inner-city task force for Ballymun, Blanchardstown or Limerick, rather than accepting this is a national problem that requires manifold interventions.  I consistently hear that the Minister at the Department of justice is doing the best work in the country. When I look at the outcomes, I just do not see it. I will vote for this motion on the EU directive because co-operation matters. Scrutiny also matters, however, and it has not been applied in this instance. I genuinely do not believe the Department of justice is taking any degree of interest in the people who hold the firearms and the people who are coercing children and young people in this country into carrying out the type of intimidation of which we have been seeing the evidence since 2001. There have been 2,600 incidences of drug-related intimidation in the past two years and arson attacks have increased manyfold. We are not getting to grips with a problem that used to be under the radar but about which we now simply do not talk. This directive lacks proper parliamentary oversight. The problems it is trying to solve will not be addressed unless the Government actually takes the issues seriously. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Miche\u00e1l Carrigy)  The next slot is for the Independent and Parties Technical Group but there are no Members from that group present. Therefore, we will move on to the Independent Technical Group, with Deputy Gogarty up first. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  Like previous speakers, I do not like the short notice given for this debate but I otherwise broadly welcome the Government motion on Ireland opting in to the proposed EU directive on combating firearms trafficking under Protocol 21. It makes sense because it aligns us with newer EU-wide rules on tracing, information and data sharing and penalties. The directive is focused on tackling the illegal movement of firearms, which is an activity that crosses all sorts of national borders in different jurisdictions with different rules. The criminal networks exploit those differences between legal systems across Europe. By joining this measure, Ireland strengthens its ability to work with other member states. It will improve information sharing and, we hope, will strengthen penalties.  Some people have concerns about the directive. In terms of the sovereignty argument, there is always an element of trade-off. There is an aspect of swings and roundabouts.  Other people fear that it might affect people who use firearms responsibly for sport or farming. We should discuss it more because the short period is not desirable. In general, I think this is essential legislation and I will be supporting it because it strengthens An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na's work. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  We have a big problem with gun crime in this country. It is important that we work collectively with other countries to stop that. Crime is causing enormous stress for rural communities, in towns and villages right across the country. It is important that we have a serious conversation about what happens to people when they are released from prison. Over the past five years, more than 3,500 persons have been released from prison with no fixed abode. Many go straight into emergency accommodation, with no plan, no supports and no oversight. What is effectively happening in rural communities is that some local authorities are sending individuals into Mayo, in places like Knock, Balla and Crossmolina, and placing them into the hands of private landlords without any professional support structures, risk assessment or rehabilitation pathways whatsoever. In this model, the only beneficiary is the landlord itself.  I have been reliably informed that Roscommon County Council is sending persons released from prison to landlords in Mayo. Worryingly, one of these landlords has plans to expand his enterprise into Claremorris, into a location beside schools. Mayo should not be used as a dumping ground in relation to this. I have spoken to professionals, addiction counsellors, psychologists and many other specialists, and they have all agreed that you cannot place recently released offenders into privately run, profit-led facilities without any oversight. When you take a man who may have burgled a house and place him alongside a man who may have burgled a car, that is not a rehabilitation centre. You are effectively creating a school of crime. When one person can learn from another, it is the reverse of Batman and Robin. This is happening in Knock, Balla and Crossmolina. It is causing devastating consequences for the individuals, where no rehabilitation is happening, for the community, who have to live with the effects of this, and for the garda\u00ed, who are massively stretched and yet have to deal with such difficult circumstances as well.  There is a better way. If you look at how Galway County Council operates its model, people who are released from prison go to a professionally run service with counselling and risk assessment protocols. It is effectively operating a step-down facility and COPE charity is managing that for the council. It protects individuals, promotes rehabilitation, protects communities, and, crucially, it protects the garda\u00ed too. Instead of funnelling public money into the hands and pockets of landlords, we should be investing properly in rehabilitation and step-down facilities. The model is there and I call on the Minister of State to end this failed experiment. It is causing devastating consequences in Mayo in particular. I want the Minister of State to put proper structures in place. No one should be released from prison with no fixed abode and effectively shoved into a large accommodation centre with other people who have recently been released from prison. It is a dynamite combination and it must be ended. I call on the Minister of State to look into this issue in Mayo, Knock, Balla and Crossmolina. I ask her to come back to me on it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  I raise a matter that has caused huge concern among farmers, hunters and licensed firearms owners right across rural Ireland. This is about the proposed EU restrictions on lead ammunition and, more important, the complete lack of information and engagement by this Government. This issue did not appear yesterday. Concerns about these proposals have been voiced over the past number of years. Representative organisations have been looking for meetings and meaningful engagement with the Minister of State, Deputy Alan Dillon, and officials in his Department, and they have got virtually nothing back. In many cases, they have got nothing at all. That is simply not acceptable. The people affected by this are farmers protecting livestock, people carrying out vermin control, hunters, sporting shooters, and ordinary licence-holders who obey the law and pay their taxes like everyone else. Many of them who live in rural Ireland feel they are being ignored, and I can see why. There has been no meaningful consultation, no proper stakeholder engagement, no effort to bring people around the table and no effort to explain what Ireland's position actually is. That is just shocking. The Government talks endlessly about stakeholders' engagement and consultation, but when it comes to rural stakeholder groups, too often they seem to be the last people anyone wants to listen to. That is exactly the impression being created here.  The REACH vote is due on Thursday week, yet here we are, days away from a hugely important decision, and stakeholders still do not know which way Ireland intends to vote. How is this acceptable to this Government? There are over 150,000 licensed firearms owners in this country. Many have serious concerns about the practical consequences of these proposals. There are concerns about availability, the suitability of existing firearms, safety, cost and supply. What is Ireland's position? Will we vote against or in favour of this proposal? The Health and Safety Authority under the Department of enterprise will cast a vote. Which way do we plan to vote? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Carol Nolan  I begin by briefly addressing the motion concerning Ireland's opt-in to the proposed EU directive on combating firearms trafficking and other firearms-related offences. I have no difficulty with supporting proportionate, targeted measures that genuinely strengthen our capacity to tackle the illegal trafficking of weapons, particularly those entering the EU from conflict zones or through organised criminal networks. I do want to be absolutely clear, however, that this directive is about criminal law harmonisation and not about the lawful, responsible and highly regulated community of licensed firearms holders in this State. It is certainly not about ammunition standards or hunting practices. However, it is precisely because this directive is not about those issues that I must take this opportunity to highlight a real and growing concern among rural communities, sports shooters and hunting organisations, concerns that I have raised repeatedly through parliamentary questions.  Only last year, I submitted a series of parliamentary questions to the Ministers for agriculture and for the environment, seeking clarity on the European Chemicals Agency's proposals under REACH to further restrict or effectively phase out the use of lead ammunition, including for shotguns used in hunting and pest control. I specifically asked the Minister at that time to outline the Government's engagement with the National Association of Regional Game Councils, NARGC, with local gun clubs and with the tens of thousands of responsible firearm holders who will be directly affected. The replies, unfortunately, were very vague, non-committal and in some cases outright dismissive of the scale of the impact. Now we see NARGC again calling for clarity and sounding the alarm. This time, it is warning that the proposed EU restrictions could have serious, disproportionate and unnecessary consequences for rural gun owners, clay pigeon clubs, wildlife management and farmers who rely on shotguns as a practical tool. NARGC is absolutely right to highlight that many of the alternatives to lead shot are more expensive, less effective and in some cases unsafe in older firearms that were never designed for high-pressure steel loads. I have raised this repeatedly and we are not seeing any action on it or engagement with the game council. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mattie McGrath  I wish the Minister of State well in her new role. I am concerned about these opt-ins. We are opting in very often without any proper legal scrutiny or impact analysis. None of us can say there is not a huge problem with gun crime. The availability of and activity involving guns is outrageous. We can have all the opt-ins and European agreements we like, but we do not have the Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na on the ground to deal with it. I commend the ABGN Gun Club in four parishes in my area, and also the many gun clubs around the country that do excellent work in nurturing species that are in in danger, habitats and everything else.  They have huge concerns here. There was absolutely no consultation with the national organisation or those clubs. They are concerned as are the farmers who, for instance, cannot farm potatoes, which are coming up now, because of crows. They have to have a shotgun. They can have these bangers and everything else. They also need them for deer hunting and for shooting vermin. These people are not being consulted and the worry is that this is the thin end of the wedge. If we opt in to this, we do not know what it is and where it might end up when it comes down on top of us.  I also have huge issues with the Prison Service at the moment. Our prisons have double the number of prisoners that they can hold and they are releasing prisoners on a regular basis to unscrupulous landlords, some of whom have IPAS centres. I attended a briefing in the audiovisual room this morning. The money that is being paid to some greedy developers here is shocking. They have friends in high places and involves literally billions in money overall. As Deputy Paul Lawless said, it is just shocking. They are putting in one, two and three different criminals who have been released here without any rehabilitation. It is only a cocktail for more crime, more gun crime and all kinds of heinous crimes.  We can come in here and rush through legislation to opt in to this, that and the other with the EU. We are forgetting about the ordinary people who look after our country, our land, our heritage and, of course, our habitats. Yet we do not know the impact of what we are passing will have on them and on those in the farming community who are trying to survive, eke out a living, protect their crops and above all, protect their people. This is wide open for abuse from the EU afterwards. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  I, too, wish the Minister of State, Deputy Ardagh, the very best in her new position.  I am concerned. Every one of us would support the objective of protecting people from the threat that guns or illicit firearms pose to people\u2019s lives. To reach this general objective, it is important to reduce the number of illicit firearms and the activity of the illegal firearms market in the EU, to reduce the discrepancies between EU member states, to harmonise firearms-related offences and penalties across member states, and to enhance the overall picture of the threat posed by firearms by improving the availability and quality of data.  However, I am very concerned about the ordinary people in Ireland who hold firearms, whether rifles, shotguns or whatever, for the protection of their farms and to keep wildlife a reasonable distance away. All parts of Kerry are completely overrun by deer. If we were to hurt those who are trying to keep the numbers down - we really appreciate the great work they are doing - it would be very wrong. I believe we have not had enough debate on this motion and I am very concerned about it.  We all know the great work the gun clubs do and they are completely above board. I am also worried about the change relating to lead bullets and that this would in some way speed up getting rid of the lead cartridges we have had for years and years. I am very concerned about how little debate we are having on it this evening. As I said at the start, we are all worried about drug lords, the use of guns and the deaths especially here in the capital and also in other parts of the country. I am very concerned that we might in some way hurt the users of legally held guns in the countryside for the protection of farms and their livelihoods. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Miche\u00e1l Carrigy)  I also congratulate the Minister of State, Deputy Ardagh, and I wish her well in her new role. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Catherine Ardagh)  I thank the House for facilitating this motion today. I thank colleagues from across the House for their contributions. I would like to address some specific questions raised. Deputies Nolan, Michael Collins, Danny Healy-Rae and Carthy raised the issue of the legal acquisition and use of firearms particularly in rural areas. Their points were well made in relation to the use of hunting rifles and rifles used to protect property from animals. However, this proposal will not redefine the rules on legal ownership of firearms. The proposal only targets intentional acts involving illicit firearms, fully preserving legitimate activities by authorised dealers, industry and citizens. It does not change or affect in any way the existing EU rules on the legal acquisition, possession and cross-border movement of hunting rifles and those types of firearms.  Many Deputies expressed dismay over the timelines. I assure the House that this measure was laid before the Oireachtas one month after its publication. There is some urgency in relation to it given that we have so much legislation going through the Houses and I ask them to bear with us. I note all the positive support for the proposal today.  At the outset, Deputy Carthy spoke about the difference between Article 3 and Article 4 in respect of the opt-in. Under Protocol 21 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Ireland has two avenues in relation to opting into EU proposals. Under Article 3, Ireland can notify the EU institutions within three months of a proposal being published that it wishes to participate from the outset. This gives Ireland a seat at the negotiation table during the Council working groups and ministerial discussions, allowing it to influence the final wording and operation of the legislation.  Under Article 4, Ireland can wait until after the EU measure has been adopted and then decide whether to opt in to the final instrument. However, at that stage Ireland has no role in shaping the legislation and must effectively accept the measure as negotiated by other member states. An opt-in under Article 3 of Protocol 21 therefore ensures that Ireland is at the table and involved in the discussions and negotiations with other European partners. It is stated Government policy that Ireland participate in the justice and home affairs measures by default, opting out only where concrete and well-defined legal impediments can be identified. This issue was also mentioned by Deputy Gary Gannon.  Deputies Gannon and Carthy also asked why we are now deciding to opt in. The Government is supportive of the proposal and views it as a valuable instrument in combating serious and organised crime, particularly in terms of the increased sophistication and technological advancement in the modus operandi used to commit such crimes. It should be noted that it is the Government's stated policy that Ireland participate in justice and home affairs measures by default, opting out only where concrete and well-defined national interests are at stake. In policy and procedural terms, it is considered desirable that Ireland opt in to this measure pursuant to Article 3.  In light of legal advice received from the Attorney General on 27 May that this measure provides no legal or constitutional impediments to Ireland\u2019s participation, Ireland should opt in to this proposal. Opting in now will allow Ireland to stay in step with other European partners and strengthen our efforts to fight trafficking of illicit firearms. As part of Ireland\u2019s Presidency responsibilities, senior officials in my Department will lead the negotiation of the measure as it progresses through the House.  Deputy Gannon also raised the status of the negotiations. Negotiations are currently under way and have been ongoing since the first working party meeting took place in March 2026. As part of Ireland\u2019s Presidency responsibilities, senior officials in my Department will be leading on the negotiation of the measure as it progresses in Brussels. It is anticipated a general approach will be reached during the Irish Presidency. Opting in now will ensure the likelihood that Ireland can take a role in these negotiations, which will be really important so as to ensure the final measure be transposed in a manner compatible with Ireland\u2019s common law legal system.  Another huge issue that is very important to me as a representative for Dublin South-Central relates to drug-related intimidation. The Department of justice on the DRIVE oversight board is hugely supportive of this programme to tackle drug-related intimidation at community level. I have delegated responsibility for youth diversion. I look forward to working with Deputy Gannon and other Members of the House in relation to early intervention to ensure that young people do not end up in the justice system and are diverted before it becomes more serious and before they are recruited by criminal gangs.  I thank the Deputies for contributing today. The EU strategy to tackle organised crime and the renewed impact framework are alike in recognising firearms trafficking as a priority. The Government has no hesitation in commending to the House the motion that we opt in to this proposal. By doing so now under the Article 3 opt-in, it will ensure we are at the table with our European partners and can be involved in the detailed discussions. For all of these reasons, I commend the motion to the House. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"EU Directive on Combating Firearms Trafficking: Motion"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-17\/debate\/dbsect_64","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Estimates for Public Services 2026: Motion","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_64","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (Deputy Jack Chambers)  I move the following Further Revised Estimate:   Vote 26 \u2014 Education and Youth (Further Revised Estimate)   That a sum not exceeding \u20ac13,642,152,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2026, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Education and Youth, for certain services administered by that Office, and for the payments of certain grants. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Vote put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Estimates for Public Services 2026: Motion"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-17\/debate\/dbsect_65","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 Order: Motion","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_65","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy James Browne)  I move:  That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann approves the following Order in draft:  Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (Designation of Meath County Council) (Parts of Administrative Area) Order 2026,  a copy of which has been laid in draft form before D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann on 2nd April, 2026. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 Order: Motion"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-17\/debate\/dbsect_66","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 Order: Motion","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_66","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy James Browne)  I move:  That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann approves the following Order in draft:  Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (Designation of Carlow County Council) Order 2026,  a copy of which has been laid in draft form before D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann on 15th May, 2026. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 Order: Motion"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-17\/debate\/dbsect_67","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/47","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/47\/dail\/2","houseCode":"dail","stage":"2","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Health (Abolition of Three Day Wait Rule) (Amendment) Bill 2026: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members] (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Health (Abolition of Three Day Wait Rule) (Amendment) Bill 2026: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_67","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I must now deal with a deferred division relating to the Second Reading motion on the Health (Abolition of Three Day Wait Rule) (Amendment) Bill 2026. On Tuesday, 16 June 2026, on the question, \"That the Bill be now read a Second Time\", a division was claimed and that division must be taken now. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Health (Abolition of Three Day Wait Rule) (Amendment) Bill 2026: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members]"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-17\/debate\/dbsect_72","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Data Centres, Energy Use and Climate Change: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_72","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The following motion was moved by Deputy Ciaran Ahern on Wednesday,17 June 2026:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"notes that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 climate change resulted in Irish temperatures in excess of 30\u00b0C in May, breaking a 29-year-old record by more than two degrees;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 a United Nations report has described Ireland as a cautionary tale on the environmental impact of data centres;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government is implementing policies that will increase fossil fuel use, by facilitating further new data centres through the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) Large Energy User (LEU) connection policy, the introduction of private wires legislation, and the construction of a floating terminal for the importation and storage of liquid natural gas, including fracked gas;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 over 22 per cent of our electricity is already used by data centres, this will rise to over 30 per cent by 2030, and to 55 per cent if growth continues as projected, using more power than every other electricity user in the country combined;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 in May, the Climate Change Advisory Council noted that all new renewable energy being developed in the State is being cannibalised by new demand created by data centres, rather than going towards decarbonising homes, transport or industry;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 research projects that the 5.8 gigawatt (GW) of additional data centre capacity under the LEU may result in a doubling of the State's peak demand for electricity generation, and lead to an increase in gas consumption by 2030 against the current projected decline, should capacity be constructed ahead of new renewables capacity; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 no offshore wind power generation capacity will be available before 2030 despite a 5 GW target;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"further notes that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Ireland has the highest electricity prices in the European Union, and over 500,000 households are in arrears on their energy bills;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the increased and inflexible energy demands of data centres means that more and more often gas generation sets the wholesale price of electricity, rather than renewables, resulting in higher prices for households, while Eurostat shows that large energy users pay lower network charges;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 research by Friends of the Earth Ireland, shows that Irish households paid an estimated \u20ac715 million more in electricity bills from 2015 to 2023 due to data centres, equivalent to \u20ac360 per household, and face an additional \u20ac1.43 billion in costs up to 2034, costing each household up to \u20ac644 more; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Economic and Social Research Institute has shown that recent energy price increases hit low-income households harder, and that more targeted support measures are needed;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"regrets that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Climate Action Plan 2026 still has not been published;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the final, phase 2 oversight group report of the Land Use Review, was submitted over a year ago and has still not been published; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 planned legislation to prioritise critical infrastructure will bypass statutory climate obligations;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"recognises that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 data centres are essential infrastructure for the modern digital economy and the development of artificial intelligence technology but are overly concentrated in Ireland, are using an ever-increasing amount of energy, resulting in higher costs for households and businesses, and increased development is now at odds with our climate targets;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 discussion by Government of nuclear power is a nonsense and a form of climate obstructionism which distracts and blocks real climate action; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government will further increase carbon emissions by lifting the Dublin Airport cap, promoting unsustainable housing and economic development, and by no longer prioritising public transport and active travel investment over roads construction;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"condemns the decision of the Government to use the Critical Infrastructure Bill 2026, to disapply Section 15 of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Acts 2015 to 2021 from designated projects; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"calls on the Government to:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 publish the Climate Action Plan 2026, and the final phase 2 oversight group report of the Land Use Review without any further delay;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 delete Section 7 of the Critical Infrastructure Bill 2026, and publish the legal advice confirming the constitutionality of the provision to disapply Section 15 of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Acts 2015 to 2021;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 suspend the CRU LEU connection policy, and commission an independent study of the impact of data centres on electricity prices, carbon emissions, water usage and grid stability;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 introduce a moratorium on the further construction of data centres until renewable energy from offshore wind comes online, and households and businesses can benefit from lower energy costs;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 introduce a levy on the energy usage of data centres, to recover the higher electricity costs now being imposed on Irish households and businesses;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 confirm by how much Ireland will miss our binding 2030 emission targets, what the cost of securing additional carbon credits will be, and how the next Government will pay for those; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 immediately reintroduce targeted energy credits and more targeted Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland supports for households in advance of Budget 2027."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Debate resumed on amendment No. 1:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"To delete all words after \"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann\" and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\"notes that in relation to Climate Action:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 last month, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched its latest Ireland's Greenhouse Gas Emissions Projections 2025-2030, which show that we are moving in the right direction and improving our performance compared with the previous year;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 for the first time, the EPA now projects that we are close to meeting our first carbon budget, following a consistent trend of improving projections for that budget over recent years;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the EPA is projecting a decrease in emissions of between 13 per cent and 25 per cent by 2030 (from 2018 base);"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 emissions are reducing across many sectors while our population is growing, and our economy is growing;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 we now have the lowest level of greenhouse gas emissions in 35 years, and we have decoupled growth from emissions;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Ireland is at the forefront of transitioning to an electricity system dominated by variable renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, and indeed renewable sources generated almost half of Ireland's electricity in February, March and April of this year;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 significant investment has taken place in increasing the technical flexibility of Ireland's power system to enhance its renewable integration capabilities \u2013 through storage and other technologies;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the electricity system in Ireland can operate with up to 75 per cent wind and solar at any given moment; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 there are now 241,000 electric and hybrid vehicles on Irish roads;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"in relation to, energy affordability:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government is deeply aware of the pressures placed on households and businesses by high energy costs, and has taken a number of steps to support households and business;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the National Energy Affordability Taskforce (NEAT) was established in June 2025 to identify, assess and implement measures that will enhance energy affordability for households and businesses while delivering key renewables commitments and protecting security of supply and economic stability;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 in recent months the Government introduced a \u20ac750 million package of fuel supports, which is among the largest per capita of any European Union state, while Budget 2026 had a range of other measures;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Value-Added Tax (VAT) rate on electricity bills has been reduced to 9 per cent VAT until 2030;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 enhanced social protection payments have been introduced, including an increase to the fuel allowance rate and an expansion of the eligibility rules, which applies to about a quarter of Irish households; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the NEAT continues to work intensively on an energy affordability action plan to be submitted to the Government in quarter 3 of this year;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"in relation to, infrastructure delivery:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 a record allocation of \u20ac640 million in Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) retrofitting schemes;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 since 2019, we have invested over \u20ac1.8 billion in retrofitting, and we have been able to provide energy upgrades for 268,000 homes;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 in the first quarter of 2026, over 12,000 homes have been upgraded through SEAI schemes, including over 1,500 homes at risk of energy poverty under the Warmer Homes Scheme;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 since the formation of this Government, over 70,000 homes have been upgraded, including over 9,000 homes at risk of energy poverty under the Warmer Homes Scheme;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Ireland currently has over 8 GW of renewable generation capacity, and onshore wind is the largest contributor to this, with over 5 GW of wind generation capacity and 2.5 GW of Solar Photovoltaics installed, with hydro, biomass, and other small sources contributing the remainder;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Government approval was received in July 2025 for \u20ac3.5 billion investment in EirGrid and ESB to facilitate the investment programme of up to \u20ac18.9 billion out to 2030, and connection of 5 GW offshore wind; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Critical Infrastructure Bill 2026, is a timely and important piece of legislation and will make a significant contribution to the prompt delivery of nationally important infrastructure, whilst maintaining robust regulatory, environmental and planning safeguards;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"in relation to:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 data centres are a very important part of Ireland's economic and digital present and future, and a key part of our value proposition for foreign direct investment;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the recent KPMG study on data centres, undertaken on behalf of the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, reports there are 19,500 directly employed in the industry;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Ireland's industrial electricity demand is primarily concentrated in our digital economy, this is our core energy intensive industry;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU) Data Centre Connection policy published in 2025, clearly set out what is required for a new data centre connection, including the requirement to get 80 per cent of its energy through new renewable sources; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the CRU decision simply refers to market research data on 5.8 GW of prospective interest in data centre growth, rather than linked to any contractual demand in place at present; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"further recognises that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government is committed to taking further action to deliver on the twin objective of decarbonisation and digitalisation in a sustainable and affordable manner;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government is committed to delivering on Ireland's responsibility to address the climate crisis, and work remains ongoing right across Government to implement climate mitigation measures every single day of the week;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the priority is driving implementation, particularly on high-impact measures with multiple societal and economic benefits;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Climate Action Plan will be more focused on the most impactful measures and will report on the ones that make the biggest difference;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the NEAT continues to work intensively on an energy affordability action plan to be submitted to the Government in quarter 3 of this year; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government's Large Energy User Action Plan, published in January 2026 sets out a 'plan-led' approach for very large and energy intensive investments, which due to scale and energy consumption will benefit from coordinated national infrastructure planning.\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"- (Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Deputy Catherine Ardagh)"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I must now deal with a deferred division relating to the ministerial amendment to the motion on data centres, energy use and climate change. Yesterday, on the question that the amendment be made, a division was claimed and the division must be taken now. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar athl\u00f3 ar 9.45 p.m. go dt\u00ed 8.47 a.m., D\u00e9ardaoin, an 18 Meitheamh 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The D\u00e1il adjourned at 9.45 p.m. until 8.47 a.m. on Thursday, 18 June 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Data Centres, Energy Use and Climate Change: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members]"}]}}]},"contextDate":"2026-06-17"},{"debateRecord":{"house":{"showAs":"34th D\u00e1il","committeeCode":"","houseCode":"dail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/house\/dail\/34","chamberType":"house","houseNo":"34"},"chamber":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/def\/house\/dail","showAs":"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann"},"lastUpdated":"2026-06-27T02:13:21+00:00","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/main","formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/mul@\/main.xml"},"pdf":null},"date":"2026-06-16","counts":{"contributorCount":167,"divisionCount":1,"debateSectionCount":35,"questionCount":57,"billCount":5},"debateType":"debate","debateSections":[{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/dbsect_2","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions","counts":{"speechCount":57,"speakerCount":10},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  The Government is failing to tackle the scourge of dereliction. Every day, people pass homes, buildings and derelict sites in their communities. Houses are left to rot while land hoarders and speculators get off scot-free. I cannot tell you how angry and demoralised people seeking a home feel when they see all of this, not to mention the impact on our cities, towns and villages, with rows of derelict homes that are magnets for dumping, rats and antisocial behaviour - symbols of decay. Volunteers who keep neighbourhoods clean, community groups and sporting organisations without a base all look on in anger.  The housing Minister announced what he called a \"war on dereliction\" in October last year, and this was followed by Simon Harris announcing, and re-announcing, plans for a new derelict property tax. There were plenty of soundbites, press releases and big promises. Today, finally, he brings his tax proposal to the Cabinet. The questions people will be asking are whether this is the big step forward that is so badly required and if it will bring the necessary pace to tackle dereliction head on. The answer to both of those questions is \"No\", because the tax will not come into effect until 2027 and collection of the tax may not start until 2028. Today, we learn the tax will not apply to the entire State, but only to places with populations of 4,000 people or more. This phased approach means that thousands of derelict properties will not be captured by the tax in its initial phase.  If the Government is serious about dealing with the blight of dereliction, urgency is required. It has to put it up to those responsible for dereliction with legislation and serious financial penalties that will get homes and buildings back into use. Sitting back and pushing the derelict property tax out for another two years is not the mark of a Government intent on getting the job done. It is incredible that there is nothing in Simon Harris's proposal to ensure the collection of the more than \u20ac30 million already owed in derelict site levies. We told the Government that this money was not being collected and that local authorities did not have the capacity to collect it. We gave the Government the solutions, but instead, it gifted a multimillion euro amnesty to land hoarders. N\u00ed leor leathiarracht maidir le foirgnimh tr\u00e9igthe. Caithfidh an Rialtas gn\u00edomh\u00fa go pr\u00e1inneach agus go h\u00e9ifeacht\u00fail chun dul i ngleic leis seo i gceart agus chun tithe agus foirgnimh a thabhairt ar ais in \u00fas\u00e1id.  It is time to get serious on the issue of dereliction. We need a derelict property tax with real teeth. We need to penalise property hoarding and incentivise homes and buildings being reoccupied. Property hoarders who are not playing ball must be hit hard. The tax should be introduced now and ratcheted up - doubled, we believe - every year.  Of course, we have to ensure that every last cent owed by property hoarders is collected. Anyone who hoards property must pay the price and does not simply get to walk away. That is what urgency looks like. That is what ambition looks like. That and that alone is what will bring thousands of homes back into use. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I would dispute what the Deputy has said and her analysis and presentation of it. Dealing with vacancy and dereliction is multi-stranded and must involve a multi-stranded approach. As far back as 2022, the Government introduced what I would consider to have been a game-changing initiative in terms of the vacant property refurbishment grant, which provides up to \u20ac50,000 for vacant properties and up to \u20ac70,000 for derelict properties. Since its launch in 2022, a total of 17,486 applications have been received; over 13,000 have been approved; \u20ac285 million had been paid out by quarter 1 of this year; and over 5,300 vacant or derelict homes have been returned to use. That is proactive and going at this in a very significant and pragmatic way, and it has yielded results.  Then we have the new vacant above-the-shop grant which was introduced last April. That provides up to \u20ac140,000 to convert vacant upper floor commercial space into housing alongside a \u20ac5,000 expert advice grant. We have regeneration and local authority action. Government has allocated \u20ac150 million through the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund to tackle vacancy and dereliction. About \u20ac142.5 million has already been allocated and more than 1,300 properties approved for intervention. Dublin City Council has received \u20ac10 million with approximately \u20ac9 million still available for deployment. That allows local authorities to acquire vacant or derelict properties, carry out works and return them to productive use our or sale.  The town centre first policy is a significant initiative to support community-led regeneration and reuse of vacant buildings in towns across Ireland. Cappoquin in Waterford is a good illustration. It has gone from 33 derelict properties to 11 in five years through a plan from the Cappoquin Development Association supported with investment from the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht through the town and village renewal scheme and Rural Regeneration and Development Fund.  We provide support to local authorities to address vacant housing. The local authority vacancy rate was 2.75% at the end of 2024. It had been a 3.18% prior to that. That is the national residential vacancy rate. We have made a lot of progress in terms of social housing.  In terms of the derelict property tax, the Government took a decision last year to change it and to move the function from local authorities and to move it from a levy to a tax to be implemented by Revenue. I would appreciate the Deputy\u2019s support for. She is indicating she will support it wholeheartedly. It needs legislation and it will be legislated for in this year's finance Act but a lot of work has to happen and is happening to make sure it is accurate, comprehensive and up to date.  There is a tendency always for the Deputy and others to be all things to all people. She has said the local authorities did not have the capacity; they did have the capacity. The reason we are moving this to Revenue is that local authorities have not succeeded at all in implementing the derelict sites Act as it was fashioned. Some local authorities did. Limerick and others had the capacity to do it; others just did not bother. I do not want to be criticising people for the sake of it but the bottom line is this. On another day in this House people will decry the lack of devolved authority in government in Ireland but here is an area where local authorities really did not go after it----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  You are in control of housing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----in any effective way. That has to be said and articulated. T\u00e1 an Rialtas ag d\u00e9anamh gach aon iarracht an fhadhb seo a r\u00e9iteach. T\u00e1 dul chun cinn le feiscint anois sna deontais \u00e9ags\u00fala a chuirimid i bhfeidhm. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  According to the census, there are up to 180,000 vacant and derelict properties across the State. That cannot stand at any time but particularly in the grip of such a serious housing crisis.  The failure to collect that more than \u20ac30 million in the derelict site levy speaks to an ambivalence or, certainly, a slowness on the part of the Government.  Let me just repeat the problems here that need to be solved: delaying the introduction of this tax, which is a tax we recognise is absolutely necessary,----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy supports it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  -----until 2027 and the collection of it until 2028; and the Government saying it will only apply to places with populations of more than 4,000 people. None of that makes sense at a time when we need immediate, comprehensive action. By the way, the level of tax----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  The financial penalty has to be significant and ought to be ratcheted up against those who do not play ball. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I appreciate the Deputy\u2019s support for the Government\u2019s initiative on the tax front. It is not being delayed. In many ways, what is happening here is illustrative of the inaction and the absence of a comprehensive database to bring in a tax in the first instance. Work is ongoing between the Department of housing and the Department of Finance in that regard. Local authorities have had the Derelict Sites Act for decades. There are deficiencies in terms of identifying all of the properties that come under dereliction, not necessarily vacancy because not all vacant properties are derelict. We have to make that point. This is going to be done properly and comprehensively----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  Slowly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  Very slowly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----and in a way that ensures there is a very defined and precise database to enable the tax to be levelled by Revenue. We will do everything we can to accelerate this. There is no delaying of this in any shape or form. It will be legislated for in the forthcoming Finance Bill, which it has to be legislated for. I welcome the Deputy\u2019s support for it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call Deputy Cian O\u2019Callaghan of the Social Democrats. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  The board of the Rotunda has now said it will abide by national healthcare policy and ensure that consultants on public-only contracts are not breaching them by treating private patients. How confident is the Taoiseach that he can rely on what the board says? At the weekend, the Irish Independent revealed more concerning details of practices at the hospital. Consultants on public-only contracts who deliver babies for private patients at the weekend are routinely gifted with sums of up to \u20ac1,500 by consultants contracted to do that private work. The hospital is aware of this and described it as a long-standing practice. The hospital also says that the payment of these gifts is, \u201cpersonal to the consultants and the hospital is not involved\u201d. Given that women are giving birth in the Rotunda and are treated by consultants employed by the Rotunda, this is clearly nonsense. The hospital is very much involved. It just does not want to act.  Whistleblowers have informed my colleague, Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice, that the payment of these gifts is not confined to the Rotunda. It is happening at Cork University Maternity Hospital, CUMH, too. It takes place at weekends because of the way the Rotunda and CUMH are operating their rosters. They each have just one roster while other hospitals are operating two, one for public patients and one for private patients.  Whistleblowers have also come forward to Deputy Rice about issues at University Hospital Galway. The hospital has a deal in place to do laboratory work for a private hospital and consultants on public-only contracts are being asked by management at the hospital to do laboratory work for private patients. While many consultants on public-only contracts are refusing to do this, it is nonetheless leading to big delays in the processing of samples for public patients. This includes public patients with cancer. As the Taoiseach knows, an early cancer diagnosis can save a life while a delayed diagnosis can be fatal. Delays are so bad at the hospital that it is outsourcing some laboratory work for both public and private patients to commercially run labs. This is at an enormous expense to the public purse.  Was the Taoiseach aware that some consultants in the Rotunda were receiving gifts of up to \u20ac1,500 to deliver a baby? Did he know that this was also happening in Cork University Maternity Hospital? Has Revenue started an investigation into these gifts, given that no tax is being paid? Is the Taoiseach concerned that this could give rise to a level of fraud if insurers are being billed for work consultants have not done? Was he aware of the issues at University Hospital Galway? Is he concerned that public patients are receiving----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  -----delayed diagnoses for life-threatening conditions?  What actions will the Taoiseach take to address this? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  First, the last Government moved in terms of negotiating the public-only consultant contract. We spent a lot of time and did a lot of work on it. We negotiated that with the IHCA. The Government not only expects that to be fulfilled, but will work relentlessly to ensure its enforcement and fulfilment. People cannot be signing contracts and then arbitrarily varying those contracts or deciding to ignore them. Neither can hospitals that are funded predominantly by the State do that either. It is an imperative that the public-only consultant contract is implemented and that it works as it is supposed to across the entire health service. Strong progress has been made in contract uptake and in increasing consultant capacity, but the clear focus now, on the Minister's behalf, the Department's and the HSE's, is on delivering in practice, particularly extended hours and weekend services for patients. More consultants are now rostered for evening and Saturday work, but the current levels remain too low and need to improve further.  We are fully committed, from the Government's side, to the implementation and enforcement of the public-only consultant contract. As I said, there has been strong national uptake - about 3,416 consultants had signed up as of 29 May of this year, including 1,220 new entrants and 2,196 consultants who have switched from the older contracts. This means that about 69% of all consultants working in our hospitals are now on the public-only consultant contract. Consultant numbers themselves have also increased significantly, with 51% more consultants now working in our hospitals than in 2020, strengthening overall capacity. The fundamental issue and the rationale for the contract is delivering stronger consultant presence on site, including at evening times and at weekends, so that the patients see the benefits of this contract.  As the Deputy knows, the contract allows for rostering from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Friday and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays. At the moment, current figures show that only 37% of consultants are rostered for evening working and only 11% for Saturday. That is far too low and simply has to improve. The HSE has governance and programme structures to strengthen its oversight, reporting and accountability and the Minister is very clear about engaging with all of the hospitals to ensure compliance and implementation.  In terms of the Deputy's two questions, the answers are \"No\" and \"No\". I was not aware of what was contained in the report at the weekend in respect of gifts to consultants who turned up. Again, as the Deputy knows, Revenue is independent, but I am sure Revenue read the article, as the Deputy and I did. It is a matter for Revenue now to pursue any issues that arise from that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  Clearly, this is an issue beyond the Rotunda. There are instances in Cork and Galway. There is an emerging pattern around the country of breaches of the public-only contract. The Taoiseach and the Government have a responsibility to patients and to the taxpayer to ensure that the contract is being implemented. He is clearly not aware of the different breaches around the country. The Taoiseach, the Government and the Minister for Health need to get a grip on this. They need to get ahead on this. They need to take actions to ensure that the public-only contract is actually being implemented and enforced. What are the Taoiseach, the Minister for Health and the Government doing to ensure that the public-only contract is being adhered to? Is he going to get a grip or a handle on this? When are we going to see results in terms of ensuring that the public-only contracts are actually implemented? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  First, the Deputy mentioned whistleblowers. I have not had access to those whistleblowers. I do not know whether they have formally given their information to the HSE or to the Department. Are they whistleblowers as per the Act or are they people who have gone to the Deputy directly? The Deputy might clarify that at a later stage; he does not have the opportunity now and I appreciate that. That is an important point. It needs to be clarified and the Deputy needs to be very transparent about that because I do not have access----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  The Taoiseach needs to be transparent about what he is doing to address this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I do not have access to that information. What I can say to the Deputy, however, is that the Minister is extremely strong on this. The Government brought in this contract, which, in itself was a radical change from what had historically been the case. We are determined that it has an impact and an effect. As far as the Government is concerned - I was very clear last weekend in my statements on this, and the Minister likewise - we will not tolerate any variation from the contracts that people have signed up to. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  What are you doing? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That will have to be implemented. I would like the Social Democrats to support that. They did the last time----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Taoiseach. The time is up. We move to the Labour Party's Deputy Bacik. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  The Minister for housing has declared a \"war on dereliction\"; fighting talk and a striking turn of phrase. This is the Government's tactic. It is to flood the airwaves with repeated announcements, deflect responsibility and spin its failures to save face. This week, the T\u00e1naiste sought to pin responsibility for vacancy and dereliction on councils alone, a convenient distraction from years of Government failure. Who has been in charge of national housing policy for the past decade? It is the Taoiseach and the T\u00e1naiste.  For years, the Government ignored the growing number of vacant and derelict properties blighting the country. Meanwhile, rents and house prices have spiralled, homelessness continues to rise and people are losing hope. After years of inaction, it seems the best response from the Government will be a thinly-veiled attempt to pass the buck.  What has this so-called war on dereliction delivered? A delayed measure, already announced in last year's budget, the renaming of a 35-year-old levy and a promise that Revenue will now collect it. If it worked, this could be significant but, as with so many of the Government's housing plans, it is a half measure, delayed and diluted, and arbitrarily deployed, initially only to urban areas with populations of 4,000 or more. As if dereliction did not affect small towns and villages when we all know it is a blight on every community. PAYE tax is paid by every employee, so why this selective approach? The Government said it is phasing this in but why this approach and why rule out these small towns and villages which are also blighted by dereliction?  Speculators and land hoarders in every part of the country, not just in larger urban centres, are profiting from the misery caused by the chronic shortage of homes so unless this new tax is set at an effective and meaningful level, speculators will keep sitting on their assets, literally. Derelict buildings on empty streets across the country will remain a visual reminder of the Government's failure to get off the fence and fix housing.  We are all hearing from people who have been directly affected by this. Every day, I hear from people who have received an eviction notice and who can find nowhere else; nowhere to rent and nowhere to buy. Each case and each family situation is heartbreaking. I am supporting one such mother of three, who has had her eviction notice and now feels she has no option but to overhold. She and her young family have literally nowhere to go and in Dublin Bay South, they see vacant houses and derelict sites all around them.  People like that young mother need the Government to act now on dereliction. The Labour Party is calling for the introduction of compulsory sales orders - a new mechanism to force persistently vacant and derelict properties back into use. We are calling on the Government to fund vacancy and dereliction teams in local authorities across the country. The Taoiseach is not a commentator; he has effectively been in government for a decade, so when will he and his Ministers stop blaming everyone else for the vacancy and dereliction crisis? Will the Government introduce the stronger measures needed to bring empty homes back into use and to generate greater housing supply to fix this housing crisis? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Just to say, Fianna F\u00e1il came back into Government in 2020. I was not in government for the past decade. Facts matter. We did not have the executive authority we now have. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  We all know the arrangement. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The most significant measure we have taken in terms of dereliction----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul McAuliffe  The Labour Party was in government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----is the introduction of the grant to refurbish derelict and vacant housing. There is no question about it. I took a personal interest in that because when I walked in rural areas or urban areas I could see dereliction. The Minister at the time, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, introduced it. Some 17,500 applications is no mean change and 13,000 of them have been approved so that has been a significant initiative. So, it is not years of doing nothing. That is a very significant measure the Deputy chooses to ignore. Around \u20ac285 million has been paid out by quarter 1 of 2026. That grant scheme has been extended to 2030.  The vacant above the shop grant will do significant work as well. The Government has allocated \u20ac150 million through the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund to tackle vacancy and dereliction, and \u20ac142 million of that has already been allocated. Again, this charge of inaction, as it nothing is happening, is just not true. There are many more initiatives as well.  The Government launched the CPO activation programme in 2023 to support proactive local authority acquisition of vacant and derelict properties. Approximately, 11,000-plus properties engaged, 400 CPOs commenced and 250-plus were completed. Proposals are also being advanced to centralise certain CPO powers to An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la. The existing unpaid derelict site levy will remain a charge on affected properties and continue to be collected by local authorities.  In terms of the replacement of the derelict site levy with the tax, I think we all have to agree. It seems very clear to me.  Deputy Bacik mentioned 35 years with regard to derelict sites. Does anybody acknowledge there has been some weakness here in local government in terms of implementing the derelict sites levy? No, but Deputy Bacik chooses to blame central government. We need to make up our minds in the Oireachtas. When we delegate and gift powers to local authorities, there comes a time when there has to be accountability from local authorities as well. When we look at the tables in terms of who did what at local authority level, there are differences. Some are far more proactive than others but no one on the Opposition side ever wants to criticise this aspect of it because it has to be the Government's fault for everything. We have a very double-standard approach to regional delegation of power and local authority devolution. The reason we are transferring this to Revenue is because we believe Revenue has a tendency to concentrate the mind a bit more than local authorities have done. That is the bottom line. When people see Revenue coming, behaviour will change but we are going to have to do it in a comprehensive way. We are going to have to do it in a proper, precise way, again illustrating some degree of inaction by local authorities in terms of having ready registers and ready maps of properties----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The time is up, Taoiseach, and Deputy Bacik will respond now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  I have listened carefully and the Taoiseach's answer is again a textbook response by Government. People like the young mother in my constituency are sick of central government looking to claim ownership for any win but absolutely looking to absolve itself of responsibility for any failure. It is buck-passing to local authorities and it is utterly shameless and meaningless to people who are looking for action. Yes, of course we acknowledge that one third of local authorities collected no derelict sites tax revenue in 2024. Clearly there are issues with the existing model but it is the job of central government to fix it. I have several questions because the Government has no sense of urgency and there is no sense of urgency from it on these new announcements. Why is the Government introducing this new tax on a selective basis? Why, when all employees have to pay PAYE, is this new tax, even once it finally comes in, going to be confined to urban areas with a population of 4,000 or more? Has there been pressure from somewhere? Why is this arbitrary distinction being made? Is it not true that the new tax will not be collected until 2028 at the earliest? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The point I am making is that the reason it is over 4,000 is because that is where the housing need is and it is where there is the greatest degree of dereliction. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  Who says? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It is also the first phase of this because this is a mammoth task. Notwithstanding the Derelict Sites Act being there, the database as inherited is not sufficient to immediately introduce a tax when we do not have a comprehensive database on derelict registers the length and breadth of the country. This is a tax that is coming in, so it will have to be done properly and in a very precise and effective way that will make a difference. It is very important that we get it right and do it properly.  We expanded the living city initiative in the last budget and that will help significantly with regeneration in cities as well. The URDF and the rural community development fund are doing an awful lot of work in towns across the country and in cities in terms of bringing back to life city streets. Sometimes people might say Deputy Bacik is textbook Opposition and that everything has to be the Government's fault but the point I make is that a lot of progress has been made in a lot of areas. We need to do more----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The time is up and we will move to the Independent and Parties Technical Group and Deputy Healy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  As Fianna F\u00e1il leader, the Taoiseach led the party into a confidence and supply arrangement with Fine Gael in 2016, ten years ago. That was in the wake of large-scale water protests, which resulted eventually in the abolition of domestic water charges and the setting up of a special Oireachtas committee on water services. I and former Deputy Thomas Pringle represented the Independent TDs on that committee. That Government, which the Taoiseach supported, promised and committed to bring forward a referendum to put public ownership of water services into Bunreacht na h\u00c9ireann. Ten years later, we are no nearer to that referendum. I compliment former TDs and colleagues, Joan Collins and Thomas Pringle, for their efforts in pursuing this referendum and introducing the Thirty-fifth Amendment of the Constitution (Water in Public Ownership) (No. 2) Bill 2016. In the intervening years, that commitment has been given by successive taoisigh and Ministers.  In 2017, the Oireachtas committee on water unanimously agreed that a referendum should be held. In 2019, the then Minister, Eoghan Murphy of Fine Gael, promised that a referendum would take place in the first half of 2020. The programme for Government in 2020, Our Shared Future, again promised a referendum to \"Retain Irish Water in public ownership as a national, standalone, regulated utility.\" In November 2022, Miche\u00e1l Martin, as Taoiseach, told the D\u00e1il that the Government intended to hold a referendum on housing and water in, as he said, the near future, and that the Minister, Deputy Darragh O\u2019Brien, would be in a position to act on these issues early in the new year in 2023. In March 2023, the then Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, said the Government was committed to holding a constitutional referendum to keep Irish Water in public ownership.  Ten years later, and after all those commitments, we are no nearer to that referendum. Where is the referendum relating to the Thirty-fifth Amendment of the Constitution (Water in Public Ownership) (No. 2) Bill 2022? When will the Minister bring this Bill forward to the D\u00e1il? When does the Government intend to call a referendum to put water services into the Constitution as a public utility? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  First, I do remember the chronology of events very well. Regarding the issue of keeping the provision of water in public control and ownership, the Government has fulfilled that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  No, it has not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Irish Water is entirely publicly owned and will remain so. Recently, the Government, in the context of the national development plan, NDP, allocated unprecedented funding to Irish Water for the development of water infrastructure across the length and breadth of the country.  The urgency and imperative right now is to fundamentally improve the water supply infrastructure. It is a key utility, and the State is investing unprecedented amounts of taxpayers' money to make sure that we get the big wastewater treatment plants through. These include the eastern and midlands project. It will be interesting to see if the House will support that very important public infrastructure. If it does not happen within a decade or so, the midlands, Dublin and other areas on the east coast will be running out of water. It is likewise with the wastewater treatment plant and the Dublin drainage project. Big projects are under way, and that is where all the focus has been and will continue to be.  It is arguable at this stage whether a referendum is really required at all in respect of this matter. There is unanimity in the House in respect of keeping it in public ownership. It will stay in public ownership. Of course, when it comes to constitutional amendments, the divil is always in the detail and in the framing of the language and the wording. That is always problematic and challenging at the best of times. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  It has been ten years. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The more important point is that there are no proposals from anybody around the privatisation of Irish Water or any of the water services.  The more important focus for us is repairing and upgrading the existing infrastructure, but also expanding it. Utilities are key to the future of our society and economy, and that is why we are putting huge amounts of money and equity into Irish Water to make sure it has the capacity to do the type of work that is required. In the last three years, particularly in the context of the national development plan, the allocation underpins the significant growth and development of water infrastructure and supplies in this country. The key question will be whether we can get community and political buy-in to the kinds of projects that the country requires and avoid partisan rows that would undermine the national and public interest in terms of getting these projects done. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  The Government has certainly not honoured its ten years of commitments, as I outlined. All those commitments have been broken. The Taoiseach has not answered the questions. We can only presume that he and the Government wish to keep the door open to the future privatisation of water services in this country.  The Taoiseach must know that if that happened, it would be an absolute disaster. We only need to look across the water to the UK to see this. The UK water sector struggles with a combination of massive debt, failing infrastructure and underinvestment. It is now generally accepted that the UK privatised-for-profit water services model is flawed. Profits and dividends are prioritised over modernisation. Thames Water, for instance, has a debt burden of about \u20ac20 billion and is facing collapse. The Taoiseach should close the door on privatisation, announce a referendum, as he and previous taoisigh committed to over the past ten years. He should honour those commitments. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I remember the negotiations when we were in opposition but part of the confidence and supply agreement to make sure the country had a Government, which is something the Deputy has never quite had to worry about because he is always in splendid isolation----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  What about the referendum? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----and splendid opposition, which is his entitlement. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Abide by the rules. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  The Taoiseach promised a referendum. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  However, the point I am making is that what we negotiated was----- "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  If I could be allowed to answer----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  The Taoiseach has not honoured his commitment----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy should allow the Taoiseach to answer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  Answer the question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I am trying to be the Deputy is interrupting. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy is interrupting. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  He is not answering the question; he is deflecting. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/dbsect_3","debateType":"orderofBusiness","bill":null,"showAs":"An tOrd Gn\u00f3 - Order of Business","counts":{"speechCount":83,"speakerCount":24},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":" A Deputy","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"William Aird","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Brady","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ryan O'Meara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  We now move on to the Order of Business. In accordance with Standing Order 35, I call on the Chief Whip, Deputy Mary Butler, to move the arrangements for the week's business. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Mary Butler)  I move:  Tuesday's business shall be:  - Motion re Proposed approval by D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann of the Data Protection Act 2018 (Sections 51(3) and 60(6)) (Scoping Exercise in response to requests from Dignity4Patients) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 (without debate and any division claimed to be taken immediately)   - Motion re Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions (1) (without debate and any division claimed to be taken immediately)  - Motion re Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions (2) (without debate and any division claimed to be taken immediately)  - Motion re Appointment of Committee Cathaoirligh (without debate and any division claimed to be taken immediately)  - Criminal Justice (International Cooperation on Electronic Evidence and Other Matters) Bill 2026 (Second Stage) (to conclude after the first round, not to exceed 3 hours and 34 minutes and any division claimed to be taken immediately prior to Committee Stage on Wednesday)  Tuesday's private members' business shall be Second Stage of the Health (Abolition of Three Day Wait Rule) (Amendment) Bill 2026, selected by Sinn F\u00e9in.  Wednesday's business shall be:  - Criminal Justice (International Cooperation on Electronic Evidence and Other Matters) Bill 2026 (Committee and remaining Stages) (to conclude within 2 hours)  - Guardianship of Infants and Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2026 (Report and Final Stages) (to conclude within 1 hour)  - Finance Bill 2026 (Committee and remaining Stages) (to conclude within 2 hours)  - Insurance (Disregard of Certain Medical History and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025 (Report and Final Stages) (to conclude within 1 hour)   - Microenterprise Loan Fund (Amendment) Bill 2024 (Amendments from the Seanad) (to conclude within 1 hour)  - Motion re Proposed approval by D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann for a Directive on combating firearms trafficking and other firearms-related offences and amending Directive (EU) 2024\/1260 (to conclude within 1 hour and any division claimed to be taken immediately)  - Motion for Further Revised Estimate for Public Services 2026 [Vote 26] (back from committee) (without debate and any division claimed to be taken immediately)   - Motion re Proposed Approval by D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann of the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (Designation of Meath County Council) Order 2026 (without debate and any division claimed to be taken immediately)   - Motion re Proposed Approval by D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann of the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (Designation of Carlow County Council) Order 2026 (without debate and any division claimed to be taken immediately)  Wednesday's private members' business shall be the Motion re Data Centres, Energy Use and Climate change, selected by the Labour Party.  Thursday's business shall be:  - Statements on Rare Diseases (not to exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes)  Thursday evening business shall be the Motion re Report entitled \"Report on Inclusive Education for Persons with Disabilities\", sponsored by the Joint Committee on Disability Matters.    Proposed Arrangements for this week\u2019s business:    In relation to Tuesday\u2019s business, it is proposed that:  1. notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders:  (a) the time allocated to Government business shall be extended in accordance with the arrangements for that business and the D\u00e1il may sit later than 10.48 p.m.; and  (b) private members\u2019 business shall be taken following proceedings on the Second Stage of the Criminal Justice (International Cooperation on Electronic Evidence and Other Matters) Bill 2026, with consequential effect on the commencement times for the items following in the ordinary routine of business;  2. the proceedings on the Motion re Proposed approval by D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann of the Data Protection Act 2018 (Sections 51(3) and 60(6)) (Scoping Exercise in response to requests from Dignity4Patients) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 shall be taken without debate and any division claimed thereon shall be taken immediately;  3. the proceedings on the Motion re Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions (1) shall be taken without debate and any division claimed thereon shall be taken immediately;  4. the proceedings on the Motion re Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions (2) shall be taken without debate and any division claimed thereon shall be taken immediately;  5. the proceedings on the Motion re Appointment of Committee Cathaoirligh shall be taken without debate and any division claimed thereon shall be taken immediately;  6. the proceedings on the Second Stage of the Criminal Justice (International Cooperation on Electronic Evidence and Other Matters) Bill 2026 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at the end of the first speaking round and the following arrangements shall apply:  (a) the first-round speeches, not including the Ministerial response, shall be in accordance with the table below (to be read across);  (b) on conclusion of the first speaking round, or where speeches conclude before the 3 hours and 24 minutes have elapsed and no other member is offering, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a speech in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes; Provided that any division claimed on the Second Stage proceedings shall be taken immediately prior to Committee Stage on Wednesday; and  (c) members may share time; and          Gov      SF      SD      Gov      SF       Mins    20    20    20    12    4           Lab      Gov      SF      IPTG      Gov       Mins    20    12    4    20    12           SF      ITG      Gov      SF      OM       Mins    4    20    12    4    20                           Total: 3 hours 24 mins      7. notwithstanding anything in Standing Order 177(2), the proceedings on Second Stage of the Water Services (Repeal of Water Charges) Bill 2025 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 2 hours.  In relation to Wednesday's business, it is proposed that:  1. notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders:  (a) the time allotted for Government Business shall be extended in accordance with the arrangements for that business and the D\u00e1il may sit later than 9.30 p.m.;  (b) the Order of the D\u00e1il of 9th June 2026 referring the Finance Bill 2026 to the Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Sector Reform, Digitalisation, and Taoiseach is hereby discharged and Third Stage of the Bill shall be taken in Committee of the whole D\u00e1il;  (c) any motions to be taken without debate shall be taken on the conclusion of the Motion re Proposed approval by D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann for a Directive on combating firearms trafficking and other firearms-related offences and amending Directive (EU) 2024\/1260; and  (d) the weekly division time shall be taken on the conclusion of proceedings on any motions without debate;  2. the proceedings on Committee and Remaining Stages of the Criminal Justice (International Cooperation on Electronic Evidence and Other Matters) Bill 2026 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 2 hours by one question, which shall be put from the Chair, and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration;  3. the proceedings on Report and Final Stages of the Guardianship of Infants and Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2026 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 1 hour by one question, which shall be put from the Chair, and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration;  4. the proceedings on Committee and Remaining Stages of the Finance Bill 2026 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 2 hours by one question, which shall be put from the Chair, and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Finance;  5. the proceedings on Report and Final Stages of the Insurance (Disregard of Certain Medical History and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 1 hour by one question, which shall be put from the Chair, and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Finance;  6. the proceedings on the amendments from the Seanad to the Microenterprise Loan Fund (Amendment) Bill 2024 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 1 hour, and any amendments from the Seanad not disposed of shall be decided by one question which shall be put from the Chair, and which shall, in relation to amendments to the Seanad amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment;  7. the proceedings on the Motion re Proposed approval by D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann for a Directive on combating firearms trafficking and other firearms-related offences and amending Directive (EU) 2024\/1260 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 60 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply thereto:  (a) the order of speaking and allocation of time shall be as follows:-  \u2014 opening speech by a Minister or Minister of State \u2013 10 minutes;  \u2014 speeches by representatives of Sinn F\u00e9in, Social Democrats, the Labour Party, Independent and Parties Technical Group, and Independent Technical Group \u2013 7.5 minutes per party or group;  \u2014 speeches by non-party\/group members \u2013 7.5 minutes in total; and  \u2014 a speech in response by the Minister \u2013 5 minutes;  (b) members may share time; and  (c) any division claimed thereon shall be taken immediately;  8. the proceedings on the Motion for the Further Revised Estimate for Public Services 2026 [Vote 26] shall be taken without debate and any division claimed thereon shall be taken immediately;  9. the proceedings on the Motion re Proposed Approval by D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann of the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (Designation of Meath County Council) Order 2026 shall be taken without debate and any division claimed thereon shall be taken immediately; and  10. the proceedings on the Motion re Proposed Approval by D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann of the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (Designation of Carlow County Council) Order 2026 shall be taken without debate and any division demanded thereon shall be taken immediately.  In relation to Thursday's business, it is proposed that:  1. notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, topical issues may be taken earlier than 7.24 p.m. with consequential effect on the commencement time for Motion re Report entitled \u2018Report on Inclusive Education for Persons with Disabilities\u2019, and on the time for the adjournment of the D\u00e1il; and  2. the Statements on Rare Diseases shall not exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply:  (a) the statements, not including the Ministerial response, shall be in accordance with the sequence contained in the table immediately below (to be read across) ;  (b) following the statements, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes; and  (c) members may share time.          Gov      SF      SD      Gov      SF       Mins    25    15    10    10    3           Lab      Gov      SF      IPTG      Gov       Mins    10    10    3    9    10           SF      ITG      Gov      SF      OM       Mins    3    9    10    3    5                           Total: 2 hours 15 mins      "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Are the proposed arrangements for the week's business agreed to? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  They are not agreed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  They are not agreed. I listened with interest to the T\u00e1naiste, Deputy Simon Harris's, confirmation of Fine Gael's plans around Irish reunification. We are waiting to hear what the Taoiseach's plans are. For weeks, we have asked for statements on Irish unity. Later today, Deputy Mary Lou McDonald will introduce a Bill for constitutional change about responsible planning for Irish unity, a citizens' assembly and a Green Paper. We would love to hear the Taoiseach's plans. Maybe he could do that through statements in the D\u00e1il as soon as possible on Irish unity. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Where is the Deputy's Green Paper? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  We are waiting for the Taoiseach's plans. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Where is the Deputy's plan? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Please, Taoiseach. I call Deputy Farrelly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Chancer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aidan Farrelly  It looks like the Government is hell-bent on introducing a social media ban for young people under the age of 16, despite the research and experience from other countries telling us it simply will not work. I am asking for speaking time on this really important issue so the Taoiseach and T\u00e1naiste, instead of speaking on podcasts and in media interviews, can come to this House to debate it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  There is significant concern in relation to the new workforce development plan proposed for special needs assistants, SNAs, right across this country. A significant amount of SNAs have contacted TDs in this House on the wording and the extra responsibilities they will have to undertake because of this plan. I understand there was stakeholder engagement on the plan. That is to be welcomed but that is not the feeling on the ground among SNAs. It is important that this feeling be heard in this House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  I have repeatedly asked for statements in the House about the use of Shannon Airport by the US military and about the use of our airspace to transport weapons to Israel while it continues to slaughter people in Gaza. Every single day, people are being murdered by the Israelis in Gaza, and we have very likely facilitated some of that either through the US military using our airports----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy's time is up. I call Deputy Collins. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  -----or our airspace being used to transport weapons to these mass murderers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  We are back to square one again in relation to the short-term lets. This was discussed at the Cabinet meeting today. One Minister has said it is going to include strong enforcement laws and the Revenue Commissioners coming down hard on short-term lets. The Taoiseach said in a statement here in the D\u00e1il that any short-term let over seven years would not need planning permission. Is that the case? Yes or no? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  No. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  We need statements on it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  I thank all the various Whips for their commentaries. We can discuss all these matters again on Thursday. To clarify, statements will be held on Irish unification, as the T\u00e1naiste has said previously, very shortly. I can confirm it this on Thursday but the Order of Business stands. We have a huge amount of legislation to get through, as everybody can see. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Are the proposed arrangements for this week's business agreed to? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  They are not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Sinn F\u00e9in is this evening bringing forward important legislation to end the mandatory three-day wait for women who need an abortion. This wait is causing real damage to women. It has pushed some beyond the 12-week period, meaning they cannot access services here in Ireland and have to travel. Women who have suffered sexual assault or who live with domestic violence or coercive control are left in a really awful situation and it has meant hardship for many women who struggle to get a GP appointment in their county. Changing the law and removing the three-day wait would ensure that women could access healthcare when they needed it. I believe we can do this together and I hope every TD will look to trust, to care and to compassion when they cast their vote on this matter tomorrow night. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I recognise that this is a very sensitive issue. There are a range of opinions and perspectives in this House and, indeed, among the public. The people voted to repeal the eighth amendment in 2018 and to provide free, safe and legal access to termination services. We have made a lot of progress since then on the implementation of the Act. I am aware of the arguments for and against the removal of the three-day waiting period. It is important we have a respectful debate in the House. I intend to vote for this to go through to Committee Stage. On Committee Stage, there will perhaps be a need for consequential amendments, which I think the Minister has flagged with Deputy Cullinane. That only relates to the actual issue and does not undermine - in fact, it enhances - the intent of the amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  People are sick of seeing derelict buildings across this country when they cannot get a home of their own but the Taoiseach and the T\u00e1naiste's blaming of councils is shameless. The Taoiseach was in government during the Celtic tiger when councils were gutted. Fine Gael has been in government since 2011 and has starved local authorities of funding. The reality is the new derelict sites tax, just like the vacant homes tax, is designed to fail. There are over 20,000 derelict properties but it is only going to apply to those on the register, which is in the region of 2,000 homes. The tax will actually apply to a fraction of derelict sites and buildings. Will the Government give councils sufficient capacity to ensure that every derelict building is put on the register? Will it bring in the tax immediately for all derelict buildings? Will it ensure that councils have the funding to compulsorily purchase derelict buildings on the register and turn them into homes? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  First of all, councils have not been gutted. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  Of course they were. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That is a ridiculous statement and a stupid statement to make. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  It is not stupid. The Government did it during austerity. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  There have been very significant investments made. There has been very significant allocation of resources to local authorities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  The Government absolutely destroyed councils' capacity. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, out of respect for other Members, we need to stick to the time and the rules. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  The stupid statement is the Taoiseach's. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" A Deputy","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" A Deputy  Withdraw it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Hearne, please. I ask that you refrain. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  He just said I made a stupid----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I do not care. Everybody else has to have an opportunity. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  It hit a bone because it is true. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  There has been very significant allocation of resources to local authorities and we have increased funding on a whole range of fronts. The bottom line is we are moving to Revenue to impose a tax. A lot of work has to be done to do this properly. That work is under way and will be resourced. It is very important that we do this with good precision and we do it comprehensively. I believe that this move, because it is Revenue and is a tax, will change the psychology around this and the implementation of it. It did not happen under local authorities for a long, long time----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  That is the Government's fault, not theirs. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----and the Deputy cannot use the lazy excuse of resources. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call Deputy Bacik. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  I want to raise the very serious issue of road safety with the Taoiseach. Ireland is now one of the few European countries where road deaths are increasing despite an official target to halve fatalities by 2030. Behind the figures of fatalities and injuries are lives lost, families devastated and communities traumatised. The Crowe report on roads policing was clear about the need for stronger enforcement but there has been a fall in the number of checkpoints and breath tests for motorists and there are nearly 400 fewer garda\u00ed on our roads than there were in 2009.  The Government's road safety strategy is not being delivered. In addition, today we see a concerning report from thejournal.ie based on a study it has done, showing that almost half of all speeding prosecutions never reach conviction in the courts and showing some disturbing regional variations across different court districts.  How does the Taoiseach propose to address these issues and ensure that our roads are safer? In particular, how can we address enforcement and see an increase in the number of roads police? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  First of all, I agree that every fatality on Irish roads is one too many. For well over a decade or two, we had seen dramatic reductions in road fatalities and injuries, but in the last number of years, post-Covid in particular, there has been an incremental increase with some moderation of that.  We have a clear road safety strategy. Progress has been made to deliver on phase 2 of the action plan for the period 2025 to 2027. There have been 12 primary transformative actions and 77 support actions.  Progress to date includes the following. The default speed limit was reduced from 80 km\/h to 60 km\/h on rural and local roads in February 2025. Local authorities are now working to lower speed limits, where appropriate, to 30 km\/h in urban and built-up areas by March 2027. The first national safety camera strategy was published on 29 April. There is much more I do not have the time to go through here. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The time is up. I call Deputy Charles Ward. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charles Ward  I have raised this multiple times over the past few months. I welcome that the Minister of Health has signed off on the end-to-end review for funding of new drugs in Ireland but we have said on many occasions that for children suffering from Duchenne muscular dystrophy, DMD, time is muscle and children with DMD face a blatant inequality under the current system.  I am sure the Taoiseach will be aware of two boys in Donegal. Diarmuid O\u2019Sullivan has DMD, as does has his brother. His brother is on a trial and has access to the medicine, but Diarmuid does not. Aaron Langan lives in Laghey, ten minutes from Belleek, County Fermanagh, where the drug is readily available. Can the Taoiseach give us a timeline on the review of Ireland's approval system for drugs such as givinostat? The families cannot wait. We need to make sure we get on this now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  There are three points. First, we are acutely aware of the pressures and anxieties in families in relation to a number of drugs pertaining to rare diseases. There was good news last week in terms of the HSE drug group approving givinostat and sending it forward to the senior leadership group, which will now consider it. Hopefully we can get this progressed as quickly as possible. There are other drugs. Skyclarys is on the agenda, among others. In fact, we are increasing the number of approvals on a year-by-year basis. The recent pharmaceutical agreement arrived at with the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association, IPHA, and the Government provides for better timelines in terms of getting drugs approved.  The Minister has also signed off on a review, which, I think, is very important, but only made that decision following work up from her Department officials who have given considerable thought to this because what we will see now and into the future is a greater volume of what used be called orphan drugs for rare diseases. Where companies in the past never invested, now they are. That is going to come at us fairly significantly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call Deputy O'Flynn. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  Cork alone has 1,788 derelict properties. Nationally, nearly 19,000 homes sit idle while people sleep on sofas or in their cars, working adults are in their parents' box rooms and there will be over 17,000 people in homeless services tonight. The Government has a derelict levy which is obviously not working. The Government has watched some of the local authorities fail to collect a single cent. The Minister for Finance is now blaming local government. It is worth noting that 31 of the local authorities are largely controlled by Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael councillors. There are 493 Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael councillors out of 949. Will the Taoiseach now own his own failures - every empty house, every family on a waiting list, every night someone spends in emergency accommodation? Will the Taoiseach explain, not only to this House but to the 61,000 households on waiting lists, why the Government answer to its own failure is always the same - to find someone else to blame? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  In this case, the Government is blaming its Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael councillors. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy was a long time a councillor. He knows the intricacies of this more than anybody does in terms of the application and enforcement of derelict site levies. There has been very significant progress in Cork in terms of housing. There needs to be more and we need to do more but in terms of the housing schemes that have started, been developed and are continuing, particularly along the docklands and, more recently, the schemes at Creamfields, Ballyvolane and many more, there are a lot of big housing projects under way in Cork. Moving from a levy to a tax will make a difference.  The other key issue is that the grants are very substantial for derelict and vacant houses, at \u20ac70,000 and \u20ac50,000, respectively. That is having a huge impact, with about 17,000 applications. Nothing like that had happened before we introduced it in 2022. It has made a big difference and will continue to make a difference in respective of this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere  I raise the ongoing challenge of providing adequate home support hours to some of the most vulnerable people in our communities. Every week, families across Carlow and Kilkenny contact my office after being told that approved hours cannot be delivered because there simply are not enough carers available. Older people and people with disabilities are being left without the support they need to remain safely and independently in their own homes. In many cases, family members are forced to step in, often at considerable personal and financial cost.  We all agree that supporting people to live at home for as long as possible is the right approach but that commitment means little when approved services are unavailable. The situation is causing distress and huge pressure for families, hospitals and residential care services. What immediate actions will be taken to ensure approved home support hours are not just approved on paper but are actually delivered in practice? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising what is a very important issue for many people across the length and breadth of the country. We have a target for 2026 of 26.7 million home care hours. Additional hours will be delivered through a mixture of public and private provision, with a focus on addressing persistent waiting lists in certain areas of the country. Preliminary data shows that as of 31 March, 6.55 million hours were provided in the year to date, which is about 541,000 more hours than in the same period last year. A total of 61,000 people were receiving home support at the end of the month, while 66,000 had received home support since the start of the year.  There had been issues previously in respect of recruitment and so forth but the Minister has made, and continues to make, significant progress in relation to that. We will continue to allocate resources to this. It is a growing issue and we will continue to look to address it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"William Aird","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy William Aird  I raise the urgent issue of waiting lists for orthopaedic surgery, especially hip and knee replacements, at Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore. In recent months, I have received numerous queries from constituents who are in severe pain and unable to engage in day-to-day life while they wait for surgery. Many of them have been told by their consultant that they are a priority but they are still waiting more than eight months, and longer in some cases, without any confirmed date for surgery. This is not acceptable. It is also very frustrating for patients to learn that the same treatment is available across the Border with almost no waiting list. People who can no longer endure the pain are being forced to look outside the State for timely care. Those who cannot afford to do so are left waiting indefinitely. This is not equality. We must increase orthopaedic capacity, reduce waiting times and ensure that those who require urgent surgery undergo their procedures without further delay. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue. I will raise the points he made regarding Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore with the Minister for Health as to whether there are specific issues there. There is a lot of work under way in terms of development of surgical hubs, the National Treatment Purchase Fund expanding its programme in regard to particular specialties - the public-only contract should help in that regard - and continued investment in capacity. We acknowledge that more needs to be done in terms of getting the waiting times down. The sooner people can have intervention and surgery, the better the outcomes. We will continue to address the issue the Deputy raised. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  Applications for the very much-needed special school that is due to open in Balbriggan closed on 29 May. It is very likely to be oversubscribed.  As the Taoiseach can imagine, there is quite a number of anxious parents wanting confirmation that this school is going to open. I am concerned at the fact that I have now been contacted by SNAs who cannot find any information about the recruitment process, which leads me to believe it may not open in September as has been promised.  I am not expecting the Taoiseach to have the answer here this afternoon - it would be unfair of me to expect that - but I ask him to engage with the Minister for education to get confirmation that the much-needed special school for Balbriggan will open in September. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I will raise this issue with the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, and the Minister for education, Deputy Naughton, in respect of that new school for Balbriggan. I do not have the specific details here, but we are working flat out to get as many places available through classes and new schools as quickly as possible to make sure pupils have places in September. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Brady","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Brady  The people of Wicklow are constantly being let down by chronic failures in public transport. The badly needed 199 Bray to Glendalough bus service promised in 2024 and procured last year is still not operating there. People in Wicklow are equally frustrated by the two-year delay in upgrading the chronically unreliable 132 route, leaving west Wicklow commuters stranded, with buses continuously breaking down. For months now, the Department, along with the NTA, has repeated that no funding is currently available for new services in 2026, and discussions are ongoing. How much longer must Wicklow communities wait? There has been \u20ac7 million spent on storing electric vehicle buses due to a lack of charging infrastructure; \u20ac20,000 on storing another 98 buses for God knows how long; and a failing IT system in Irish Rail, with \u20ac50 million being written off. The question has to be asked: where is the so-called Minister for Transport in this? When will the Minister finally take responsibility for----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach to respond. The Deputy's time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Brady","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Brady  ----- his ministry, do his job, stop the waste and deliver services? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  There were about 15 questions there but I think the Deputy started with the 199 Bray to Glendalough route, which I understand is a significant issue; other Deputies from Wicklow have also made that point to me. Obviously, there has been a significant expansion in transport services in recent years, with considerable public expenditure allocated to it. We are continuing to look at other services that need to be expanded and the Minister will be working with the NTA and TII on a range of issues in that respect. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shane Moynihan  Is ioma\u00ed duine at\u00e1 i mo Dh\u00e1ilcheantar a th\u00e9ann amach ag obair go dian gach l\u00e1. Like in the Taoiseach's constituency and many others around the country, people in my constituency go out and work hard every day and they need to understand that the Government has their back in ensuring work continues to pay. We need to continue making progress on tax and ensuring low- and middle-income workers in particular see that work pays and they get the worthwhile results and desserts of the hard effort they engage in every day.  Will the Taoiseach support me in calling for measures to assist those hard-pressed families up and down the country and to continue to ensure hard work does pay and there is fairness across the board? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Aonta\u00edm leis an Teachta. T\u00e1 g\u00e9argh\u00e1 go dtuigeann na daoine a bh\u00edonn ag obair Domhnach is d\u00e1lach go mbeidh faoiseamh le teacht. I am confident that in the forthcoming budget we will have a comprehensive framework to try to programme decisions on tax and other areas to help middle-income and low-paid workers with their tax burden.  We have significantly reduced the tax burden for the low-paid. In particular, the number who are not paying tax has increased significantly in recent years. Without question, there is a need to provide tax relief to workers. We will take the opportunity in the next budget. Obviously, a lot of work and discussions have to continue with the three parties in government before the finalisation of proposals in respect of the budget. That is one of the issues that is certainly under active discussion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Brennan  I wish to speak today about the proposed reforms to the criminal legal aid system, which include the introduction of a flat fee payment model for legally aided District Court cases. It is proposed that solicitors would receive a single payment of \u20ac455 for District Court criminal cases, regardless of the number of court appearances involved. Members of Criminal Justice Solicitors Ireland have raised serious concerns and are urgently seeking engagement on this matter. They have already begun withdrawing service from certain aspects of criminal legal aid work until further notice. This will have a detrimental impact on the operation of courts and the administration of justice. Further engagement must be opened as a matter of urgency.  I have spoken to solicitors in Wexford and Wicklow who have told me of one case where a solicitor made as many as 27 appearances on behalf of one client. How is this a reasonable payment for that level of work? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We need to be careful on all fronts in the sense that the Minister fully recognises the critical role played by the legal profession in the effective administration of criminal justice. There is no intention here to reduce the cost to the State of providing criminal legal aid. I will just point out that expenditure on criminal legal aid in the District Court has nearly doubled, from \u20ac19 million in 2015 to \u20ac37 million in 2024. The reform here is primarily aimed at improving efficiencies, speeding up case resolution - there is an issue if there are 29 appearances - and reducing unnecessary adjournments, while ensuring fair and sustainable remuneration for legal practitioners. There is a lot of merit in what the Minister is proposing. He met with the Bar Council on 27 May and the Law Society on 29 May, last week. The Department will continue to engage with all relevant stakeholders, including the Law Society and Bar Council, in advance of the reforms being introduced. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  Garda vetting is an important process to ensure the safety of children in many settings, such as schools, creches and sports clubs and, in the case of bus drivers and escorts, school buses. It takes at least three to seven weeks in some instances to get Garda vetted. Could this process be streamlined? Many people find themselves having to be Garda vetted three or four times if they are driving a school bus or working with schoolchildren, even as a volunteer. People working in creches have to do it if they want to work in different creches. Going back to the school buses, I could have a driver who is Garda vetted but cannot drive for the fella down the road who might be stuck for a driver of a morning because he would need to be Garda vetted for that person as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  Could it be streamlined? Could we have a card or something like a driver's licence----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy has asked the question and his time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  ----that would show a person had vetting for a number of years? The card could be used in each place. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy is being unfair to his colleagues. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I will raise the issue with the Minister. Garda vetting is an important mechanism but, from my understanding, the legislation provides for or obliges repeated securing of vetting for different functions or roles. There is a case to be made for some streamlining of that. If a teacher or escort, for example, receives Garda vetting, then I take the point that there is a need to look at whether they should need a second Garda vetting for another activity a month later. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Maurice Quinlivan  Ballinacurra Weston in Limerick is one of the most disadvantaged areas in this State. This time last year, the Minister, Deputy Calleary, acknowledged it was an area forgotten by the State and that it now has Government support. He made those comments while visiting Our Lady of Lourdes Community Centre. That same centre is now facing the daunting task of telling local families there are no early childcare places for their children. We are not just talking about a few families but, rather, 214 children on a waiting list who are unable to access early childcare places in Our Lady of Lourdes early years service. While staff are busy preparing for September, there are no playschool places available at all. The stark reality facing many families is that the majority of local children will not have access to integrated early years education and family supports, and parental choice simply does not exist. Staff in the area are having to tell families they have no place for their child. Early intervention, as the Taoiseach knows, particularly in more disadvantaged areas, is critical to child development.  I ask the Taoiseach to ensure that local demand will be met------ "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Maurice Quinlivan  -----or will Ballinacurra Weston once again be forgotten by Government? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy's time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Is it that the existing service has been closed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Maurice Quinlivan  No, the waiting list has 214 children on it. It is completely overwhelmed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I will raise the matter with the Minister to see if any intervention can occur there. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ryan O'Meara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ryan O'Meara  Many communities I represent in north Tipperary and north-west Kilkenny want to know when the Government is going to introduce updated guidelines for onshore windfarms. Last December in this Chamber I received a commitment that we would see regulations this year to update the 2006 regulations we are currently dealing with.  In April I received a response to a parliamentary question which stated that a review of the 2006 wind energy development guidelines had been undertaken as part of a national planning statement on wind energy under the Planning and Development Act 2024. Included in this was noise, setback distance, shadow flicker, community obligations, community dividend and grid connections. It appears that some progress might have been made but a clear commitment was made to me here last December. When will the Government produce new guidelines for modern technology for onshore wind farms? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I welcome the raising of the issue. There has been work done and the review is under way, as the Deputy has said. The Minister for energy has engaged with the Minister for housing on this. One Department has the responsibility for the planning statement under the Planning and Development Act but the energy Department has significant responsibilities here as well. A further public consultation process will take place on the draft NPS and accompanying SEA environmental report. Communities, organisations and individuals will have the opportunity - we are hoping in the latter part of the year, perhaps late autumn. I will not have a specific date until the engagement between the two Departments is finalised and we are in a position to bring forward a draft statement. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl  Successive governments have been derelict in their duty to respect and properly manage the extensive national resource that is the 5,000 acres of the Curragh Camp. The Government proposes to rectify that problem with a proposal in the programme for Government to bring forward a new management structure. A year and a half into the Government, we have yet to see that. In a year in which there is greater misuse, greater abuse and greater degradation of the plains and when a greater number of illegal encampments are taking place, there is huge public cynicism about what is going to be done. I ask the Taoiseach to give the House the commitment today that the Government will bring forward before the end of this year the necessary legislation to rectify this problem. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I appreciate the Deputy\u2019s raising the issue. It is a very serious issue and it has dragged on for a number of years between different Departments and Government agencies. I have intervened. I spoke with the National Park and Wildlife Service to see if it could take a stronger role in terms of the Curragh because it is an important landmass in itself. The Department of Defence has obviously had a key role there historically. Part of our discussions centre on whether we can develop a national park as part of this but there is still some work to be done. I am engaged on it with the relevant agencies and Departments and I will continue to do that until I get a resolution. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"An tOrd Gn\u00f3 - Order of Business"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/dbsect_8","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/64","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/64\/dail\/1","houseCode":"dail","stage":"1","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Forestry (Critical Infrastructure) (Amendment) Bill 2026: First Stage (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Forestry (Critical Infrastructure) (Amendment) Bill 2026: First Stage","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":4},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  I move:  That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Forestry Act 2014 to provide for the effective management of critical infrastructure corridors and forestry management, and to provide for related matters.  As Deputies will be aware, this is a Bill to deal with the forestry situation. It is to amend the Forestry Act 2014 to provide for the effective management of critical infrastructure corridors and forestry management and related matters. We all remember Storm \u00c9owyn and the havoc it caused across the country to many thousands of households that were left without electricity and, as consequence of that, were also left without water. Roads were blocked by fallen trees with people cut off for days in many cases. In my constituency covering Sligo, Leitrim and south Donegal, along with many other countries in the north west, we were severely impacted by the storm with power outages and water outages. This was not the first time; it has been happening on a regular basis. As these storms seem to continue to become more frequent, we cannot allow these extended power outages to continue or indeed to become the norm. The biggest issue the ESB faced in restoring electricity was forestry where trees had fallen upon power lines and the corridors for the power lines were blocked for days. These corridors had to be cleared before repair works could be carried out.  This legislation, the Forestry (Critical Infrastructure) (Amendment) Bill 2026, would prevent this happening in the future. The Bill aims to establish minimum corridor widths for specific categories of critical infrastructure as currently outlined under the forestry standards manual. The critical infrastructure is defined as water mains, gas lines and electricity lines of varying voltage capacities. The minimum width of forestry corridors for critical infrastructure shall be as follows: 15 m width for water mains; 15 m minimum distance for gas lines; and a 30 m minimum corridor shall apply where a gas line has been installed after the forestry has been planted. Minimum width corridors for electricity lines shall be as follows: 55 m centre minimum width in the case of a 10 KV capacity line; 55 m centre minimum width for a 38 KV capacity line; 61 m centre minimum width for a 110 KV capacity line; 60 m centre minimum width for a 220 KV capacity line; and 74 m centre minimum width for a 400 KV capacity line.  The Government promised to introduce legislation on this but has failed to do so and nothing has happened. It has been 18 months since Storm \u00c9owyn wreaked havoc across the country. We all hear from Government that the legislation is being progressed but nothing has happened. We need to get this legislation passed as soon as possible because we do not want a situation where we have more weather warnings and more storms and people start to worry again that they will be left without electricity, water and heat.  I am asking for cross-party support for this legislation. We are open to getting everybody to come together to find a solution for something that has affected thousands of people across the country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Claire Kerrane  I am very glad to co-sponsor this legislation with my colleague, Martin Kenny. For those living in Roscommon and Galway, the people I represent, and particularly for those in north Roscommon, no part of Roscommon is immune from trees falling on power lines during storms. Storm \u00c9owyn really put a spotlight on the issue, with householders at the time left for 15, 16, 17 or more days with no electricity, no water and in some cases no heating either. We have a vicious circle when this happens. A storm comes. There is huge damage. We talk about what needs to be done and all the failures but nothing happens.  When a storm hits, I get a call from certain people in my community and I know what they are going to say: the trees have fallen and the electricity is down. It is important to acknowledge the ESB workers given the sites they have to go out to as well as those engaged in tree felling and tree services and what they have to try to deal with and the conditions they have to endure when they are under pressure to get power back.  This issue needs to be resolved once and for all. We need to do right by those householders who, when a storm comes and trees fall causing major issues, suffer outages for days on end. This is something that can be solved. For new forestry now being planted when we have the new forestry programme, we need to ensure that we get this right. We have to do that for householders and particularly for vulnerable customers. Being on a vulnerable customer list with ESB does not mean much bar an acknowledgement and some bit of notice of a power outage if that is possible. This is something the Government has a say on. It is something that we can do and we can make a difference. We can end that vicious circle for householders in rural areas who pay a lot more for their electricity than those in other parts but then suffer from outages. It is not right and I ask Members to support the Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Is the Bill opposed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Mary Butler)  No. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Since this is a Private Members' Bill, Second Stage must, under Standing Orders, be taken in Private Members' time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  I move: \"That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time.\" "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Forestry (Critical Infrastructure) (Amendment) Bill 2026: First Stage"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/dbsect_9","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/65","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/65\/dail\/1","houseCode":"dail","stage":"1","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Planning for Constitutional Change Bill 2026: First Stage (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Planning for Constitutional Change Bill 2026: First Stage","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  I move:  That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to provide for planning and preparation for the possibility of constitutional change on the island of Ireland, in accordance with the right of self-determination of the people of the island of Ireland as recognised by the British-Irish Agreement Act 1999 and as provided for in the Multi-Party Agreement reached at Belfast on the 10th day of April 1998; to require the Taoiseach to prepare and publish a Green Paper; to provide for the convening of a Citizens\u2019 Assembly from within such resources as are available under the Vote for the Department of the Taoiseach; to require periodic reporting to the Houses of the Oireachtas on progress; and to provide for related matters.  Ending partition and Irish reunification is the very best idea for the future of Ireland. It presents an immense historic opportunity for our country and our people to realise our potential economically, socially and politically. Unity is the vehicle by which we can achieve full nationhood and build a new 32-county Republic, a Republic where resources are used not to enrich the privileged few but to make life better for working people, for families, for children and for our young people.  The unity conversation is under way but conversation alone is not enough.  To seize the opportunity of reunification, the Government must step forward and lead. This requires work, planning and preparation. That is what this Bill directs the Government to do, that is, to proactively plan and prepare for the reunification of Ireland and to put this work at the heart of the Oireachtas.  The Bill obliges the Government to draft and publish a Green Paper on Irish reunification within 12 months. The Green Paper must cover a range of topics, including public finance, taxation, public services, human rights, governance arrangements and relations between Britain and Ireland. Drafting this Green Paper requires consultation with the broad spectrum of society, civil groups, experts, all political traditions and, of course, unionist and Protestant representatives.  Second, the Bill obliges the Government to establish a citizens\u2019 assembly on Irish unity within six months of the publication of the Green Paper. Convened and funded by the Department of An Taoiseach, this will bring together representatives of the people of Ireland from all communities and citizens who have a stake in the future. It would be a forum for real discussion on what a new united Ireland would look like.  As we approach the 30th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, it is important to acknowledge the scale of transformation in Ireland. More and more people now see that partition has failed communities and Ireland. There are encouraging signs of growing support for Irish unity in successive electoral results, demographic change, contributions from civic society, opinion polling and public commentary.  I very much welcome the Fine Gael initiative on Irish unity announced by the T\u00e1naiste at the weekend. However, what we need is a Government initiative on unity. We need work and action. We need ambition and urgency. We need to plan and prepare for unity referendums.  It is now two years since the joint committee on the Good Friday Agreement published its major report on constitutional change. This was a positive, exciting, cross-party vision for a united Ireland. It called for a whole-of-government approach to immediately start planning for Irish unity. It recommended that the Government publish a detailed Green Paper and establish citizens' assemblies, and our legislation provides for those very things. Two years is far too long to wait for progress on what is the most important national conversation of our time. It is time to move forward with pace.  Treora\u00edonn Bille Shinn F\u00e9in an Rialtas chun plean\u00e1il agus ullmh\u00fa le haghaidh \u00c9ireann aontaithe tr\u00ed Ph\u00e1ip\u00e9ar Uaine a fhoilsi\u00fa agus tion\u00f3l saor\u00e1nach ar aontacht a bhun\u00fa. Is deis ollmh\u00f3r \u00e9 an t-athaont\u00fa. Is \u00e9 an smaoineamh is fearr \u00e9 do thodhcha\u00ed na h\u00c9ireann.  The Bill that we move today is about putting planning for a united Ireland at the top of our agenda. That is what the future demands of us and of the Government. The need to prepare for Irish unity is urgent. The position of \u201cYes, but not now\u201d, can no longer hold. We can achieve a united Ireland in our time. The Bill obliges the Government to pursue that future with vigour, ambition and determination to complete our journey from peace to unity and nationhood. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Deputies : Hear, hear."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Is the Bill being opposed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Mary Butler)  No. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Since this is a Private Members' Bill, Second Stage must, under Standing Orders, be taken in Private Members' time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  I move: \"That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time.\" "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Planning for Constitutional Change Bill 2026: First Stage"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/dbsect_10","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/66","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/66\/dail\/1","houseCode":"dail","stage":"1","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"School Meals Nutritional Standards Bill 2026: First Stage (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"School Meals Nutritional Standards Bill 2026: First Stage","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_10","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  I move:  That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to provide for the making of regulations by the Minister for Health providing for nutritional standards and related requirements for school meals provided under school meal schemes funded by moneys provided directly or indirectly by the State or local authorities; to provide for the enforcement of such regulations by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland; and to provide for related matters.  As this is my first Bill in D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann, I am both very proud and nervous. It feels like my maiden speech all over again. It has taken 16 months of work since I was elected in November 2024 to bring this forward and I will thank a few people first. I thank my team, who are in the Public Gallery. They are diligent, hardworking and great craic to work with. It has been an absolute pleasure to get this over the line today. I thank the wider Social Democrats membership as well as the parents, school staff and children who contacted me about their experience of the hot school meal programme. Without their input, I would not have had the impetus to move this forward. I thank the members and the secretariat of the education committee. We spent a number of weeks talking about hot school meals and published a report. We also had the opportunity to go to Finland to experience the hot school meals programme there.  I particularly thank the Office of Parliamentary Legal Advisers, OPLA, which drafted this legislation. The office is such a help, particularly for new TDs who need that help and guidance. I thank the children with whom I worked since the late nineties. I have worked in a number of communities throughout his city. I have worked with the children in Blanchardstown youth theatre, Cabra youth service and Ballymun Anseo school completion programme. I also worked with children and young people for my doctoral research. Those young people taught me that this country has a lot of problems that need to be changed, and that is why I am a politician. I could not change them out there, so I came in here in the hope that I could change something. While we are going nice and slowly, I am still going to keep marching on.  I wish to thank my family. My dad and husband, who have worked in the food industry, are sitting in the Public Gallery. I hope I am not going to cry. I thank my children who have to put up with me never being there and talking about stuff that I am sure they do not want to talk about. All of us in this House who have children know the challenge it is to do this work every single day. I thank them for being there and putting up with me.  I will now move onto the Bill. The hot school meals programme came into place because there were children in this country arriving to school every day hungry, and that is not acceptable in this country in 2026. A number of years ago, a pilot was started. Anyone who has heard me speak about education before knows I am not a fan of pilot schemes but that pilot scheme came into place and it was subsequently rolled out. It is now on offer to every primary school in the country. While it also exists in some secondary schools, I am not going to talk about that today. That is another day\u2019s work.  This Bill will ensure that the nutritional standards of any school meal served is of a high standard. That is important because a child cannot learn if they are hungry. Equally, they cannot learn if they are not nourished properly. Some of the food that was sent to me was a challenge in that regard. This programme is universal because if a child is hungry and everyone gets a meal, no one knows who is hungry. Everyone is eating the meal and, therefore, no one knows who the hungry child is. That is the huge benefit of this being universal.  When it comes to the nutritional value of the meals, some of the meals sent to me had no vegetables. They had no balance or colour. They were unpalatable. I showed some of those photographs to members of the education committee, including to Deputy Darren O\u2019Rourke, who is in the Chamber. Other people have been sent photographs of the hot schools meals. This is not acceptable. It is a waste of taxpayers\u2019 money to have food served in schools that is not correct. It is also unfair on the children.  This Bill would place nutritional standards on a statutory footing. At the moment, they are guidelines. This would bring them onto a statutory footing. It would require the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, to introduce regulations to cover appropriate portion sizes, as we saw challenges with junior infants being served the same amount as a child in sixth class. Anyone with children knows, they eat a different amount of food. It would also address the quality, quantity and balance of the food, as well as appropriate portion sizes and methods of preparation. It would ensure certain food types are offered on a rotating basis.  The Bill would allow for the prohibition of certain foods as well as the inclusion of healthy drinks and the provision of vegetarian options, as well as dietary requirements. It would also provide for the enforcement of the food legislation through the Food Safety Authority of Ireland. It would amend the Education Act 1998 to insert the words \"to promote a healthy life and healthy food environments for students\" into section 9(d). That is a bit technical, but that is all right. At the heart of this Bill, it is about recognising that every single child in this country deserves to have access to nutritious food that supports their health, development and ability to learn. Children learn better when they are nourished. Habits for eating healthy food start at a young age. I ask, therefore, for cross-party support for this Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Is the Bill being opposed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Mary Butler)  No. I congratulate Deputy Cummins on her first Bill. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Since this is a Private Members' Bill, Second Stage must, under Standing Orders, be taken in Private Members' time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  I move: \"That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time.\" "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank Deputy Cummins. I also commend her husband on his wonderful Christmas cake that I had the pleasure of tasting last year. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"School Meals Nutritional Standards Bill 2026: First Stage"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/dbsect_11","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Data Protection Act 2018 under (Section 60(6)) and (Section 51(3)) Regulations 2026: Motion","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_11","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Mary Butler)  I move:  That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann approve the following Regulations in draft:  Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 60(6)) (Scoping Exercise in Response to Requests from Dignity4Patients) (Amendment) Regulations 2026, and  Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 51(3)) (Scoping Exercise in Response to Requests from Dignity4Patients) (Amendment) Regulations 2026,  copies of which were laid in draft form before D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann on 11th June, 2026. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Data Protection Act 2018 under (Section 60(6)) and (Section 51(3)) Regulations 2026: Motion"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/dbsect_12","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions: Motion","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_12","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Mary Butler)  I move:  That, notwithstanding anything in the Order of the D\u00e1il of 5th February, 2025, or in the Order of the D\u00e1il of 15th April, 2026, setting out the rota in which Questions to members of the Government are to be asked, Questions for oral answer following those next set down to the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration shall be set down to Ministers in the following temporary sequence, without any change to the allocation of Priority Questions:  Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade  Minister for Further Education, Research, Innovation and Science  Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation  Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine  whereupon the sequence established by the Order of 5th February, 2025, shall continue with Questions to the T\u00e1naiste and Minister for Finance. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions: Motion"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/dbsect_13","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions: Motion","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_13","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Mary Butler)  I move:  That, notwithstanding anything in the Order of the D\u00e1il of 5th February, 2025, or in the Orders of the D\u00e1il of 15th April, and 19th May, 2026, and today's, setting out the rota in which Questions to members of the Government are to be asked, Questions for oral answer following those next set down to the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality shall be set down to Ministers in the following temporary sequence, without any change to the allocation of Priority Questions:  T\u00e1naiste and Minster for Finance  Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage  Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration  Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade  Minister for Further Education, Research, Innovation and Science  Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation  Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine  Minister for Health  whereupon the sequence established by the Order of 5th February, 2025, shall continue with Questions to the Minister for Rural Community Development and the Gaeltacht. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions: Motion"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/dbsect_14","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Appointment of Committee Cathaoirligh: Motion","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_14","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Mary Butler)  I move:  That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann, with effect from 17th June, 2026, appoints\u2014  ( a ) Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail to be Cathaoirleach of the Committee on Artificial Intelligence, and  ( b ) Deputy Shane Moynihan to be Cathaoirleach of the Committee on the Irish Language, Gaeltacht and the Irish-speaking Community. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Appointment of Committee Cathaoirligh: Motion"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/dbsect_15","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna - Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna - Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/dbsect_16","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements","counts":{"speechCount":77,"speakerCount":16},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/dbsect_15","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","showAs":"Ceisteanna - Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_16","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shay Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_16.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 23, inclusive, together.  I joined leaders in Cyprus for an informal meeting of the European Council on 23 and 24 April. The main focus of this meeting was to discuss the geopolitical situation including in the Middle East and Ukraine, and to discuss the next multi-annual financial framework for 2028 to 2034, which is essentially the next European Union budget. At the meeting we had an important exchange with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, who attended in person. We reaffirmed our steadfast support for Ukraine and agreed on the need to increase pressure on Russia to ends its war and engage in meaningful peace negotiations. We welcomed the two recent decisions to strengthen Ukraine and increase pressure on Russia, first the \u20ac90 billion loan to support Ukraine's overall budget and defence needs in 2026 and 2027, and the 20th package of sanctions to weaken Russia's war machine.  On the Middle East, leaders welcomed recent ceasefires in Iran and Lebanon and urged all parties to engage in good faith to achieve peace. We expressed our support for diplomatic efforts to achieve a negotiated solution to the conflict. In response to the impact that the conflict in the Middle East is having on energy prices, President Costa also underlined the importance of co-ordination and stressed that the European Union must speed up its energy transition and accelerate the deployment of homegrown clean energy sources to ensure energy security. Affordability of energy for households and businesses and its centrality to Europe's competitiveness were also discussed. Leaders also considered the European Union's next multi-annual budget, or multi-annual financial framework, MFF. Leaders will return to this discussion at our next meeting of the European Council in Brussels on 18 and 19 June next. This discussion will be based on an updated proposal with figures, the so-called negotiating box, prepared by the Cypriot Presidency. We will work with President Costa during our upcoming Presidency of the European Union with a view to securing agreement by the end of the year if at all possible.  Leaders also returned to our discussions on Europe\u2019s competitiveness. On the margins of the meeting, the President of the Republic of Cyprus, as the rotating President of the Council of the European Union, and the Presidents of the European Parliament and the European Commission signed an agreement on the implementation of the \"One Europe, One Market\" roadmap, delivery of which will be a central focus of our European Union Presidency. Leaders also held a number of exchanges, including the usual engagement with European Parliament President Roberta Metsola and a working lunch with the leaders of Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Egypt and the Gulf Cooperation Council, where we discussed shared challenges and emerging opportunities for co-operation. In the lead-up to Ireland assuming the Presidency of the Council of the European Union on 1 July, I have been visiting my counterparts in European capitals to hear their views on key files and priorities. This has included visits to, among other countries, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, France, Italy and, most recently, Hungary. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  There were 23 questions, and while not all the Deputies are present, most are. I propose that Deputies have 30 seconds each, with a minute for the Members who tabled two questions. I will inform them who they are. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  I wish the Taoiseach well during the time of the Presidency of the EU Council. When I submitted a parliamentary question to the Department of enterprise on a domestic issue, where I did not get a satisfactory response, the Department said that was due to competing work priorities, including the upcoming Presidency of the European Union. Given that in response to other parliamentary questions, 300 additional staff have been hired across all Departments for the EU Presidency, how can we ensure that the focus of the Government remains on domestic issues? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail  I believe that the Taoiseach will have the next meeting of EU leaders next week. What will be on the agenda next week? Will the leaders be discussing the suspension of the EU-Israel trade agreement? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shay Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shay Brennan  Ireland takes the chair of the 2028-2034 MFF negotiations in July. This is a pivotal period in these complex and highly consequential negotiations. Delivering a finalised agreement within our term would be of significant reputational benefit for Ireland. Will the Taoiseach give an assessment of the prospects for achieving that and outline what he sees as the key pitfalls and opportunities for Ireland in holding the chair at this pivotal moment? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Boyd Barrett has one minute for his two questions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  I am involved with a coalition of Palestine advocacy groups, anti-war groups and others who are planning protests around the forthcoming EU Presidency, particularly around the shameful, inexcusable complicity of the European Union as an institution and as individual states with Israel's ongoing genocidal crimes against the Palestinian people. Would people not be right to protest? Can the Taoiseach explain how it is in any way acceptable that any states across Europe, including our State, continue to do business, trade and in some cases are involved in arms going to Israel? As we know, \u20ac20 million worth of dual-use exports from this country went to the IDF. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy. Your time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  How can it be acceptable when this regime is in the dock for genocide and commits crimes on a daily basis against Palestinians? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Murphy has one minute for his two questions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  Has the Taoiseach had any discussion about local democracy with his European counterparts, and about the fact Ireland has the lowest levels of autonomy and local democracy in all of Europe? I will give the Taoiseach a dramatic illustration of this. I have raised before with him the attempt by South Dublin County Council to massively hike rents for 20,000 families - council tenants, housing assistance payment, HAP, tenants, homeless HAP tenants and approved housing body, AHB, tenants - at an average of \u20ac1,000. It is trying to do this without a vote. It was not included in the budget. Then it tried to say it was going to be implemented from 1 July, because it is an executive function and the council can just set it. Eleven councillors signed a motion to call a special meeting to hear a section 140 motion to stop this rent increase going ahead until the previously unanimously agreed consultation would take place. Just yesterday, council management ruled that out. The motion is considered invalid and the request for a special meeting of the council is not being granted. One of the reasons the council is doing so is that it says the motion is effectively seeking to prevent the performance of a function which the chief executive is required by law to perform. The chief executive is not required to increase rents. Can the Taoiseach confirm that? Does he agree that the councillors should be allowed to meet and vote? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  We know the issue in relation to the Israeli genocide and continuing violence. We have seen no movement on the EU-Israel Association Agreement. Where is it now? What can be done to move that on? If we cannot move it on, we have to accept that we have to do what we can. We are all disappointed as regards the occupied territories Bill and the fact that services will not be included.  Given the T\u00e1naiste's foray into the issue of a united Ireland, would the Taoiseach consider that now is the time for the Government to do something and move properly? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Quaide has one minute for his two questions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Liam Quaide  More than 500 Ukrainian residents in Trabolgan, east Cork, are facing eviction from the holiday village. They include 167 children and 74 pensioners. Many of those children are settled in local schools. These are people who fled war and have over time become part of the community in east Cork. Local teachers, SNAs, volunteers and community groups have worked in partnership with them to help the children settle, build trust and give the families a sense of stability after trauma. I appreciate that a temporary accommodation arrangement such as this cannot last unchanged forever, but the State has a duty of care here. Any transition for these families must be humane, carefully planned and properly communicated, not a jolting upheaval for families who have already lost so much, particularly as Ukraine has been facing increasing bombardment in recent months. What plans does the Government have for the residents in Trabolgan?  How will vulnerable groups such as older adults, disabled people, or those whose homes or towns have been destroyed or occupied by Russia be treated? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  The European Union has proposed a new delegated Act that classifies nitrous oxide as harmful to reproductive health and this is to come into place by February 2027. In January of this year, the Government kicked down the road by nine months the Sinn F\u00e9in legislation that would have regulated nitrous oxide. What has the Government done in the past five months to tackle the misuse of nitrous oxide? What has it done to prepare for the EU delegated Act that is coming in next year? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  It has been reported that Ireland has signed a memorandum of understanding, MOU, with the French Government around the purchase of military hardware and the training of Irish soldiers by the French army. I understand this may include the location of French soldiers and military hardware in Ireland. I understand it is to aid interoperability between the two armies. There are major concerns the MOU will limit future procurement competition and therefore push up prices, and there are also concerns as to whether this MOU seeks to provide French military cover to Ireland. We have already tied ourselves into British military cover in our skies and seas. Many in Europe see the west coast of Ireland as a weakness in military defence----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy. I call Deputy Ruth Coppinger. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  -----and the location of French planes here could reduce mobilisation time for the French. Will the Taoiseach address these concerns? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  The world has its first trillionaire, thanks largely to the policies of the likes of the EU and the G7. Should billionaires exist? Should a trillionaire exist? Elon Musk is now richer than 46% of the world's population, 3.8 billion people. He makes $1 million a minute. It has been estimated that $1 million could feed 5,500 for a year. It is wealth you cannot even spend. It is wealth that is not in any way used to further humanity. As we see, he is able to persuade kids in Belfast to throw rocks----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy. I call Deputy O'Gorman. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  -----and people to hate trans people. Should such a person exist? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  On Saturday, I had the privilege of joining members of the Bosnian community in Ireland, in the TU buildings in Blanchardstown, to mark the 31st anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide. We had an update from Ireland's new ambassador to Bosnia on our ongoing diplomatic relations with that country. One clear point that came out was the sense from Bosnians here and in their own country that the pathway towards EU accession is not clear. Will the Taoiseach use the EU Presidency to put a focus on Bosnian accession to the European Union? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shane Moynihan  I welcome the conclusions of the recent European Council meetings about the need for a focus on competitiveness because that is a vindication of the view that the economy and jobs are not things that just happen; they are the result of policy and of a deliberate effort to grow our economy and jobs. Will the Taoiseach speak about the priorities the Presidency has for improving competitiveness in Europe, especially the opportunities for Irish companies that want to scale up, and for creating and deepening a Single Market that incentivises a good environment for rapidly growing European and Irish companies as Europe takes its place in the world? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell  The conflict in Sudan is causing devastating levels of hunger and displacement. The Sudanese community here in Ireland is making the point that the conflict will continue. There is serious concern regarding violence in the Kordofan and Blue Nile states and the expected intensification of conflict in North Darfur. Day after day, people are being killed, but because it is happening on the African continent it barely raises any comment across the political establishment throughout Europe. Will the Taoiseach report on his attendance at the EU Council meeting in relation to Sudan, and will he commit to ensuring it is a priority in future meetings of the Council? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The first question was from Deputy Malcolm Byrne. The additional staff in the Department of foreign affairs are focused on the Presidency and that is why they were recruited. As I have said before, it will mean a very significant additional workload all round but the Government is absolutely determined to maintain its focus on the domestic agenda, both within the D\u00e1il and in terms of policies and the implementation of them. Already, we are working on the budget and we have had a number of preliminary meetings, which is earlier than normal, because of the Presidency and we have to reorganise our schedules and so on. The Presidency simply means a heavier workload all round. We have obligations to deliver not just a strong, competent and efficient Presidency but one that leaves an impact for the better for the European Union and for our own citizens as well.  Deputy \u00d3 Cear\u00fail raised the issue of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. I wrote to the President of the EU Council some weeks ago asking that he would put this issue on the agenda for this week, on Thursday and Friday, in respect of the need to respond to the Israeli waging of war on Lebanon and the continued subjugation of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, and that Europe simply has to respond. I followed up on that issue - that the Council simply has to respond - during my meeting with Kaja Kallas, the high representative, when she visited late last week. The issue is whether we can secure a majority to support a suspension, if not of the entire agreement, at least of elements of the agreement and that is proving challenging. In my view, a vote should be held at some stage and the issue should be put to a vote, either at the Foreign Affairs Council, FAC, or at a future Council meeting.  I would make the point, and other questions were raised on this, that Europe remains the largest donor to Palestine of any entity across the world, and to Palestinians more generally. It remains the largest donor to the Palestinian Authority, by significantly more than its neighbours. Yes, there are issues in terms of the inability of Europe to develop a consensus on Israeli atrocities in Gaza but Europe has been to the forefront in providing a continued range of supports. There has been a lack of access to Gaza. It is quite extraordinary that international authorities and powers, bar the UN and others, have not been allowed into Gaza and that the international media has not been allowed into Gaza to witness the horrors that have unfolded. That is something I have been consistently pushing for.  Deputy Boyd Barrett also raised this issue and I reassert that point. There are positives to the European contribution to Palestine as well, which we should not lose sight of. For example, it is arguable that without the European Union, the Palestinian Authority would be in even greater difficulty because Israel has withheld all revenues that are legitimately owed to the Palestinian Authority, which is impairing its capacity to deliver services in the West Bank. There is a greater encroachment in the West Bank, which needs very urgent attention from the international community because it will render non-viable, if it continues, the prospect of a two-state solution.  I think we have to be careful of the words \"complicit in genocide\". It is a wonderful slogan to articulate but I think it is unfair. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  We are. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  It is very clear what it means. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Some countries support Israel but not all do. Many EU member states do not, and that number is increasing. We just need to keep working. The pressure has to be on Israel, not on Ireland and not on other governments that are doing everything they can to put the pressure on Israel. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  We tried. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It is just a fair point. I have made this point repeatedly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  There is no pressure on them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  On a separate question, Deputy Murphy raised the issue of autonomy. It is kind of a paradoxical proposition he put to me, because he said we have the lowest level of local autonomy and at the same time is asking me to intervene in what councils are doing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  I am not asking the Taoiseach to intervene. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, we have ten others to come in. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  I am asking that councillors get a vote. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, please co-operate with the Chair. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  There are various frameworks. We cannot have it both ways and we tend to have it both ways. We just had a debate this afternoon on derelict sites and all of that and everybody was saying it is all our fault. You cannot have it both ways and then say, in respect of this, that we should intervene and essentially take over the powers of local authority executives, or indeed councillors, for that reason. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  No, you should not. The council should. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I do not have the specifics of it but----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  Did you legally direct the council to increase rents? That is what the council issaying. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Murphy, you know you are working against the Chair. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  Did you legally direct the council to increase rents? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I am asking the Deputy to co-operate with the Chair. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  Did you? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  No. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I am asking the Deputy to co-operate with the Chair, on behalf of your colleagues, to get an answer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  I know you did not. That is what the council is claiming. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  No, but you want me to intervene. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  No, I do not want you to. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Murphy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I will speak through the Chair. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  I am happy to get that clarified. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Taoiseach, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa also raised the EU-Israel Association Agreement and the occupied territories BiIl. Again, I did get it on the agenda of the European Council meeting this week. The Minister, Deputy McEntee, also has raised it repeatedly at FAC, and we will continue to do that.  In terms of Deputy Quaide----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  What about the united Ireland question? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Sorry? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  What about the united Ireland question? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Please, Taoiseach, do not invite questions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  All right. Deputy Quaide referred to 500 Ukrainians. Have they received notice? I will talk to the Minister in respect of that. There is a significant number there and, obviously, the impacts for the children will be significant. I will revert to the Deputy.  As Deputy Quaide acknowledged in the question, there are issues in terms of commercial premises, the costs involved and the sustainability of all of that. Transition is important, particularly in terms of children attending schools. That has to be handled with care.  Deputy Ward raised the issue of nitrous oxide and the regulation of it. I will speak to the Minister. Obviously, the transposition of the EU directive is under way. We are continuously transposing EU directives. This is a significant issue and it does need regulation.  To respond to Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn, the Government put out a tender. We can involve a member state of the European Union in joint procurement to accelerate the procurement of needed defence capability. In this case, it was radar and sonar in particular, which are urgent. In my view, it is a significant deficiency that we do not have radar. The entire motivation, while respecting all of the laws governing procurement - and, by the way, it has taken quite a number of years to get to this point - is that we do have capacity to do this with people and to do it in a way that can accelerate the process so that we have capability. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  It is not just radar. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Interoperability is a long-standing principle. If we operate in places like Lebanon on peacekeeping missions, we require interoperability. Currently in Lebanon, we are with Polish troops in IRISHPOLBATT, some Hungarian troops and some Maltese who train in Ireland. Our roles, as Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn knows, are always peacekeeping, peace monitoring, civilian support and so on like that. I do not see any conspiracies. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  There are other military vehicles included in the----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Deputy Coppinger asked a philosophical question. She could have asked it a century ago as to whether there should be a millionaire. Of course, a lot of this trillionaire stuff is on paper. America has its system and Ireland has its system. We have a fairly progressive taxation system in Ireland where the highest paid by a long shot - the top 5% - pay nearly 50% of all income tax. I can check that but it is roughly where we are. We have a very progressive tax system here. I do believe in a progressive tax system. It is arguable that it could be too high at some levels and we do need entrepreneurship, individual innovation and to incentivise people in life as well, but we need a strong collective underpinning that in terms of our social protection system and a lot of State intervention in our society and in our economy. Ireland is not America in that respect. America has a different ethos and always had. There has always been a debate in the United States between big government versus less big government. People are entitled to have that debate in different societies and to vote accordingly. Just as they look askance at some of our practices, we look askance at some of theirs, to put it mildly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  We have billionaires as well. It is not just an American thing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We do not have any trillionaire. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  We have billionaires. I asked whether billionaires should exist. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy Coppinger, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I am not being facetious but what Deputy Coppinger is asking is whether someone should take all of the wealth at some stage. We have a different view of the creation of wealth and so on. I was at an event recently honouring Chuck Feeney. He got rid of all of his wealth in an altruistic and philanthropic approach. He made it his aim to get rid of all his wealth before he died. Ireland's universities benefited from this, as did many charities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  The Taoiseach is picking out one example. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It is a bit more complex than we have time to discuss. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  It is a yes-no answer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Deputy Roderic O'Gorman spoke about Bosnia-Herzegovina and its succession path to the European Union is a bit more complex than others. There are challenges within Bosnia-Herzegovina, particularly Republika Srpska in terms of how it is operating. We will work with it to try to progress the application.  Deputy Shane Moynihan spoke about competitiveness. A roadmap has been agreed between the Council, the Parliament and the Commission on the competitiveness roadmap, which gives us a lot of work to get done and the files are there. We think we can get a lot done on the savings and investment union, the establishment of the 28th regime for SMEs, the industrial accelerator Act, simplification of regulation, deepening of the Single Market and the grids package. There is a hell of lot there in the competitiveness agenda that we need to develop.  Deputy Shay Brennan spoke about the multi-annual financial framework. This will be very complex. The Cypriots have come up with a negotiating box, which is the first real concrete attempt to try to put figures on the general orientation of the budget. It is our job now to look at this and take soundings, and it will be our job to produce a negotiating box, which we will do, for the October meeting. Then the President, Antonio Costa, and ourselves will have to assess whether we can get it over the line by December. A lot of people want us to get the budget done by December but there are competing demands. People want a defence component in it because there are 5% deficits on the eastern flank, with Finland, Poland and all of these countries. There are big deficits now because of trying to defend themselves and have defence capability against Russia. Meanwhile, people want to have a stronger competitiveness fund or have a stronger Common Agricultural Policy, which we do. People want much more for less and there is great difficulty getting own resources on top of the GNI approach to providing revenue to the European Union. It is worth remembering that the budget is about 1% of European GDP. It is not a huge amount in the overall total. There is a lot of debate to happen. Some want us to borrow. The French are strong advocates of that while Germany is very clear that it does not want any more collective borrowing, as we had during Covid. It is a lot of work. We want to land this before the end of the year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  We will now move on to the next group of questions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for his latitude. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell  I asked about Sudan. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I apologise. I have been raising Sudan consistently at European Union meetings. It is shocking and horrific and it has not got the same international attention or profile as other wars have. The level of human displacement in Sudan is quite shocking. I have called on some of the neighbouring states that are arming the different belligerents to stop because there is too much external manipulation of Sudan, too much external interference and too much provision of weaponry to the different elements on the Government side and the rebel side. The people are suffering. There is a virtual genocide happening there as well in terms of the level of killing. We need to stop wars in this world and stop conflict. The world leadership needs to get together because it is creating new norms that are robbing people of any concept of human dignity and the importance of every single life. It is awful what is happening in Sudan and I appreciate the fact that Deputy Farrell has raised it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  As we are due to finish questions at 4:26 p.m., I ask Members to keep to 30 seconds each or so. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/dbsect_17","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Artificial Intelligence","counts":{"speechCount":34,"speakerCount":12},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/dbsect_15","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","showAs":"Ceisteanna - Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_17.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I propose to take Questions Nos. 24 to 43, inclusive, together.  The Government published our new national digital and AI strategy, a commitment in the programme for Government, in February. Digital Ireland \u2013 Connecting our People, Securing our Future sets out the Government's ambition to 2030 to strengthen Ireland's position as a digital leader and a global hub for applied AI innovation. Through Digital Ireland, we are building on our strengths, our well-established reputation as a digital hub, an exceptional talent base and a vibrant innovation ecosystem to ensure our economy reaps the benefit of digital and AI for growth and competitiveness, to enhance public service delivery and to empower our people to thrive in a digital society.  The strategy sets out 20 high-level objectives and 90 specific deliverables, reflecting the breadth of ambition across Government on public service delivery, enterprise, infrastructure, cybersecurity, digital regulation, online safety and skills and talent. It outlines five strategic mutually reinforcing ambitions - apply, grow, invest, lead and empower - reflecting the agile approach needed to succeed in a fast-evolving digital world. Included in it are applying digital and AI technologies to enhance how we deliver our public services and drive responsible AI adoption across the public sector; growing our digital economy and competitiveness and strengthening our profile as a location for investment in a global hub for applied AI; investing in secure and resilient future-proofed digital infrastructure, including building our cybersecurity capacity; leading as a trusted, agile and forward-looking digital regulatory hub and centre of excellence; empowering our people, workers and businesses to thrive in a digital economy and society through responsive and inclusive digital and AI skills and literacy opportunities; and enhancing our online safety framework at national and EU levels to protect vulnerable cohorts, in particular children and young people.  We will continue to be a strong voice in Europe for a digital economy that supports competitiveness and innovation while protecting data privacy and fundamental rights. This includes continuing to advocate for an ambitious and dynamic approach to digital simplification. Digital Ireland reiterates our commitment to strengthening Ireland's position as an EU centre of excellence and digital regulatory hub and to ensuring a modern, cohesive and well-resourced regulatory framework that is responsive to the evolving digital age.  We are mindful that technological advances such as AI will, inevitably, bring labour market disruption. The strategy includes a range of measures to support all workers, in the public and private sectors, to navigate and mitigate the impact of potential job displacement, including through responsive and accessible skills supports. I recently proposed that the Government, trade unions and employers establish a forum under the Labour Employer Economic Forum, LEEF, to explore specifically the impacts of AI and wider digital change on the workplace in more detail. The updated strategy was developed through extensive cross-Government and stakeholder consultation, and regular stakeholder engagement will be a central feature of its delivery.  I will read the rest but will first allow others to come in. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  As I understand it, it is proposed that the Government is going to proceed with a ban on access to social media apps for those under 16. While I am agnostic about this because the evidence is quite mixed as to its effectiveness, particularly regarding the ability of young people to get around such bans, it will not be effective on its own unless there is a major programme of education. I believe it is critical that instead of focusing on and placing all the pressure on children and young people, we instead look at placing a greater digital duty of care on the tech companies. In any consideration, however, I ask that the views of children and young people be taken into account and that there be engagement with children and young people and their representatives. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail  I welcome the progress made to date in relation to the national digital and AI strategy, with the 20 objectives and the 90 deliverables. Things such as the AI skilling platform, AI Ready, are already up and running. We have seen progress made with the regulatory sandbox and the AI office, which is due to open in August. There are a lot of competing demands here and a lot of priorities, including some that are crucial and time sensitive. Are there specific action items, with times aligned to them, in relation to the plan over the next 12 months? I appreciate it runs until 2030, but some elements will need to be completed sooner rather than later. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Erin McGreehan  I very much welcome the publication of the revised national digital and AI strategy. It recognises that AI and digital technologies are transforming how we do business and compete in the global economy. Will the Taoiseach outline how the strategy will support our SMEs in County Louth and across the country to adopt AI and digital technologies in a practical way? Skillnet is at the forefront of this process. It works directly with businesses and workers to help develop the skills needed for improved productivity and to remain competitive. I believe we need to front-load funding to unlock this potential. This strategy needs to strengthen collaboration between industry, Skillnet and our higher and further education sector to build the talent pipeline needed for Ireland\u2019s digital future. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  We are already seeing displacement due to artificial intelligence. We know that there are huge possibilities in relation to innovation. As my constituency colleague just said, it is necessary that we allocate funding and resources, whether through Skillnet or however else we do it, to make sure that businesses, including local businesses in County Louth and everywhere else, have the facilities and resources to implement artificial intelligence.  How exactly does the Government intend to deliver the social media ban for under-16s? There is much evidence concerning the difficulty of actually doing this. I think there will be engagement with not only young people but a huge number of stakeholders. The pressure, though, really needs to be on the tech companies. We know they are running addictive-by-design recommender algorithms that are about keeping people online, no matter how bad the information being put in front of them is or whether they are under or over 16. We really need these companies to be brought to account. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Connolly  Similar to previous speakers, I urge a note of caution. The impetus seems to be focused on introducing a ban on social media for those under 16. Deputy Malcolm Byrne mentioned the importance of getting the input of children in the decision-making process. The children's committee held a number of meetings regarding this issue. It met experts from the world of academia and those who worked with children and young people. It also met young people themselves, who had very strong feelings about the practicalities of this ban and how it would work, if, indeed, it did work. There was a much stronger feeling that we must be better at holding the platforms and social media companies to account for the content on their platforms and for the addictive methods they use to ensure that young people are using them excessively. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  I agree entirely. The Taoiseach has said that, \"Social media is the public health issue of our time\". It is nice that he has discovered it after voting against the Bill to ban recommender algorithms just a few months ago. However, does the Taoiseach think that this public health issue just stops as soon as people turn 16? Does he think that people are then suddenly immune to addictive design, to infinite scroll, to the manosphere and to pro-eating disorder content being spewed out at them? All of that will remain on social media if under-16s are barred from it because that is what is core to the big tech business model. We know from Australia that many under-16s find it easy to bypass the age verification. We cannot rely on it to keep our kids safe. The answer is very clear. It is what the media committee, the AI committee and every expert recommends: clean up social media at source by turning off the toxic algorithms that big tech profits from. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  When the Government announced the AI strategy in February, there was a very long press release, but it did not mention the word \u201cjobs\u201d. I want to raise a specific case in my constituency. Covalen made 720 workers redundant, and it blamed 540 of those lay-offs on AI. The company works for Meta. A total of 540 workers were under the two-year mark for statutory severance payments and they also have a six-month cooling off period. The company has refused to meet with their union, even though 30% of the workforce are members of the Communication Workers Union, CWU. In this AI strategy, what will the Government do to strengthen and uphold workers\u2019 rights in the age of AI lay-offs? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  Social media is robbing childhood from many young children. It is putting enormous pressure on children, isolating them and creating situations where there is 24-hour bullying. This is leading to all sorts of distortions in relation to children\u2019s understanding of the world.  One suggestion I made to the Taoiseach previously was for the Government to seek to ban the purchase of smartphones by those under 16. That would be far easier to implement. It would not completely erase the challenge of the issue, but it would significantly mitigate it.  In terms of AI, we have a real problem. The Government is too uncritical of AI. AI is leading to the loss of potentially hundreds of thousands of jobs in this country, stealing the creativity of authors, creating a massive demand for energy, putting downward pressure on cognitive ability in education, and putting enormous power in the hands of a few wealthy oligarchs. We need far more global regulation of this enormous power. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy George Lawlor  Despite it being early days in the digital and AI strategy, do we have any feedback on how the Observatory for Business AI Readiness, OBAIR, is performing in actively assisting regional businesses to adopt AI? What are the tools it is using to immerse itself in the businesses in regional parts of the country? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank all of the Deputies who raised various issues. I think the common denominator among all the contributions is the issue of protecting children, in particular, from the very harmful effects of social media. I understand and share parents\u2019 concerns about the damage being done to children by social media. It was not today or yesterday that I described it as \"the public health [challenge] of our time\". "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  The Taoiseach voted against----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It was actually over two years ago when I made that very point at our own Ard-Fheis in terms of the challenges. There is no question that it is harming cognitive development and making many children\u2019s lives much more challenging, difficult and, in some cases, miserable. It can facilitate bullying and much worse. It is ruining childhoods for too many children, so action needs to be taken.  I respect Deputy Malcolm Byrne\u2019s right to be agnostic on some solutions, but we have to work on a number of fronts. I can recall the case with other addictive substances, such as tobacco. People always said that if we banned it, or banned the pack of ten, people would find a way around it. Kids used to get single cigarettes at the time we banned it.  We just made it harder. It does not mean there is complete compliance or complete coverage, but at least we are making it more restrictive and denormalising what has now become normal. I suggest there is an incremental series of steps that we have to take in respect of this.  Our preference is for an EU-wide approach. I attended a meeting recently hosted by President Macron on the banning of social media for under-15s and under-16s. The European Commission, with President von der Leyen, is bringing forward proposals in respect of this quite shortly. Commissioner McGrath, whom I met on Friday, said this to me as well. An EU-wide approach basically means taking on the platforms and saying to the platforms that they are preventing access. That would be more straightforward for the platforms to implement. It would avoid gaps in application and enforcement for regulators. An EU-wide approach to digital services, because they are provided across borders, would be a more effective way of doing this.  I was taken by the Oireachtas committee\u2019s report. It was well researched, to be fair. I accept we do need to debate this. The precise mechanisms by which access to these platforms would be prohibited need to be worked out. I also accept what Deputy Malcolm Byrne has said about the views of children and young people being ascertained. We have a history of doing that, in fairness \u2013 even before the Department of children was established. I remember the idea that one would consult children and young people being laughed at in the early 2000s. Now it is the norm. Regarding child poverty last year, we convened a group of young people to consult on the relevant issues. We do it across the board, and there is no reason we should not do it for AI.  I will come back to Deputy \u00d3 Cear\u00fail on his question on specific times and actions. The more important thing is to get the substantive stuff done. What is interesting is that, in some of the economic appraisals, Ireland is doing quite well in attracting investment because of AI and the levels of skills within the country already. We have to look at this as both a challenge and an opportunity. Sometimes too much of the debate can be on the challenge side of it, with not enough on the opportunity. I will come back to the matter.  Deputy McGreehan is spot on in terms of the skills issue. Skillnet will have a major role.  One of the issues we will discuss with the social partners, and which we have encountered in recent times, relates to our having used some of the fund for skills, the National Training Fund, for universities and so on. There is an argument that we should try to ring-fence some of that fund for AI skills training. There will have to be a massive nationwide programme on upskilling because the focus should be on redeployment. There are opportunities within the public sector in terms of changing the nature of work, and new opportunities to redeploy and maybe achieve more effective outcomes as a result. Training is going to be key, and we will consider front-loading funding in respect of that issue.  Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa also raised Skillnet, the under-16s and the addictive algorithms. These are the issues that I understand the European Commission will be addressing. I would make the point, however, that last year we brought in a restriction in schools concerning the utilisation of smartphones, and the Deputies opposite lampooned and attacked it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  The Taoiseach had a way of doing it. We can move on. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  Nine euro socks. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  There was not a better way of doing it. Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn was at it as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  The Taoiseach should not provoke him because we have only five minutes left, or two minutes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  The Taoiseach is having a laugh now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Through the Chair, we need to be consistent on this. It worked. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I was asking about how the Taoiseach would implement a social media ban. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It was impactful and it was a start in getting young people out of utilisation. By the way, all of the Deputies should leave their phones outside the D\u00e1il. Let us start here. We are talking about the pervasive impact. All of the Deputies have mobile phones. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I am trying to stay in contact with a committee. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  They do not concentrate on the job at hand. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  How could Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa miss these words? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy just pressed it now again. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  They are multitasking. Give them a chance. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I was putting it out of the way. As I said, it is addictive. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Deputy Connolly raised the issue of the importance of having children and young people involved. I agree with that. Deputy Paul Murphy and Deputy Connolly raised the issue of what happens at 15 or 16. The education piece is very important, but it is the scale and the overwhelming nature of social media that seem to me to be quite different from the scale associated with earlier restrictive practices like censorship of books or other material in the past. Access to social media is universal; that is the problem. In previous eras, we endeavoured to educate for these reasons. As with most issues, it is a combination of education, prevention and restrictive laws at the same time. We have never had a laissez-faire approach to any issue that could potentially damage children and young people, so we cannot have the same laissez-faire attitude to social media either. However, I take the point that the mechanisms by which we achieve this are important and are still up for debate. The Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Services, Reform and Digitalisation, Deputy Jack Chambers, is working on this with the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Deputy Patrick O\u2019Donovan, as well, because the former of the two has responsibility for the implementation of the EU digital wallet, which is a factor in age verification. There are thorny issues around that as well, which I expect Deputies will come to us on. It is about holding platforms to account over the material they are providing.  I believe I have answered some of what Deputy Paul Murphy said. It is about what people can and should not have access to, and the companies have to respond. That is why an EU approach would be the optimal one. We will act ourselves, obviously, if we do not have that, but we already have significant laws in place. However, this is moving it on. It is interesting that the UK has made announcements. We will examine the Australian model and so forth.  On the AI strategy, Deputy Hayes said jobs were not mentioned. Jobs are critical. I did mention jobs but the point the Deputy is making is that people were laid off in Covalen. We have to be careful, too. Some companies are saying jobs are being lost because of AI but we must ask whether this is the cause in all cases. In other words, is it the application of AI that is causing job losses in some instances or is it decisions to invest hugely in AI and then look for resources elsewhere within an organisation or a company? It could be a bit of both. It is surprising that many of the workers are under the two-year mark. At best, that suggests fairly poor human resource planning. We have labour law here and workers have rights and entitlements. We will again work on the situation raised. I am not familiar with the specifics but I believe there are labour laws governing some aspects. The company should meet the union and engage with it on this.  I discussed most of the issues Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn raised. I would not say we are too uncritical of AI. We are not, but I made a point earlier that it is about challenges and opportunities. We have to look at the opportunities as well as the challenges, and also the reality. The Deputy might not like AI, but for me it has many potential benefits----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  Local regulation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----particularly in health diagnostics, in terms of what it can do in disease prevention or understanding pathways in getting to develop medicines and interventions that could accelerate really better treatments for people in a whole range of areas. Therefore, there are opportunities. I visited Analog last week, and it is very clear to me that it is already looking towards the next era, when sensors and semiconductors will be engaging with AI. Essentially, it is going to be quite dramatic. We can either watch and bemoan the emergence of AI or we can seek to be ahead of the posse because we have to be competitive and have to protect and create jobs for people.  It is probably a bit early to refer to the observatory on AI business readiness, but I will ask the relevant Minister, Deputy Burke, to respond to the Deputy on it. We have to evaluate measures we have implemented to determine what is happening. I appreciate the point the Deputy is making but business adoption is a key part of the strategy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  That concludes Taoiseach's Questions. We will now move to Second Stage of the Criminal Justice (International Cooperation on Electronic Evidence and Other Matters) Bill 2026, a Government Bill sponsored by the Minister for justice. The Taoiseach is using his phone. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I spotted that. Well spotted, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Multitasking. I admire him. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  And he told us not to bring them into the House. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Artificial Intelligence"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/dbsect_18","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/59","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/59\/dail\/2","houseCode":"dail","stage":"2","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Criminal Justice (International Cooperation on Electronic Evidence and Other Matters) Bill 2026: Second Stage (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Criminal Justice (International Cooperation on Electronic Evidence and Other Matters) Bill 2026: Second Stage","counts":{"speechCount":20,"speakerCount":14},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cormac Devlin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tom Brabazon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Jim O'Callaghan)  I move: \"That the Bill be now read a Second Time.\"  I am grateful for the opportunity to bring this important Bill before the House. Electronic evidence is now central to almost every criminal investigation. While data flows globally, law enforcement authorities across Europe are often in need of foreign-held evidence for domestic cases, including data held by service providers in this jurisdiction. Electronic data is volatile and can be easily deleted, altered or moved. The emergence of cloud computing, where the exact physical location of data is often dynamic, has brought another set of jurisdictional difficulties for criminal investigations.  Existing means of legal co-operation between countries, namely mutual legal assistance, are slow and complex. As a result, law enforcement and judicial authorities often experience difficulties in accessing electronic evidence relevant to an investigation, rendering prosecutions ineffective. Increasingly, law enforcement has become reliant on voluntary co-operation with service providers but this method lacks enforcement power, fails to protect fundamental rights and leaves it up to service providers to determine the legitimacy of requests.  It is to address these deficiencies that I am introducing the Criminal Justice (International Cooperation on Electronic Evidence and Other Matters) Bill. The Bill delivers on the programme for Government commitment to implement the EU e-evidence package. That package provides a clear, legally certain and efficient process for law enforcement in one member state to directly request electronic evidence from service providers established in another member state, while protecting fundamental rights.  Ireland's role is central to implementation of the e-evidence package. It is expected that up to 600 service providers could designate their addressee in the State, and it is estimated that the number of production orders issued to those service providers will be in the hundreds of thousands annually. This has significant implications for Ireland's tech sector and criminal justice system. How we implement this framework matters well beyond our borders. Implementation will enhance Ireland's reputation as a hub for digital regulation and ensure effective and timely access to digital evidence in tackling serious crime to the benefit of all EU citizens.  The EU e-evidence package, which this Bill seeks to implement, is composed of two separate but interdependent legislative instruments: the e-evidence regulation and the e-evidence directive. The regulation, which the Oireachtas agreed to opt in to in 2018, has direct effect, while the directive is an internal market instrument which is binding on Ireland. The regulation imposes an obligation upon service providers to preserve or produce electronic evidence at the request of a judicial authority of another member state, imposing a legal obligation upon them to do so. The directive requires that member states ensure service providers offering services in the EU designate an addressee to process incoming orders. It also obliges member states to check that service providers adequately resource and empower addressees to respond to production orders.  Both the regulation and the directive require that penalty provisions be put in place to address issues of non-compliance as and when they arise. The Bill provides for the establishment of the office of director of criminal justice international co-operation. This office, headed by a director with statutory powers, will serve as the regulatory body for implementation of the EU e-evidence package in Ireland. The Bill provides that the director will be designated as the central authority under both the e-evidence regulation and directive, and as the enforcement authority under the e-evidence regulation. The director will be responsible for the monitoring and enforcement of compliance by service providers with the e-evidence regulation, as well as their obligations under the e-evidence directive. The director will have the power to impose financial penalties on service providers that are in contravention of their obligations under the e-evidence regulation or directive. The director may also refuse certain production orders on various grounds, including that the execution of the order might violate fundamental rights or where the conduct for which the order has been issued is not an offence in this jurisdiction.  Unfortunately, and notwithstanding the significant efforts made by my officials and the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel, the transposition deadline for the e-evidence directive of 18 February 2026 could not be met. Transposition of the directive via this Bill is, therefore, imperative for Ireland to achieve. The e-evidence regulation applies from 18 August 2026. The Government intends that this target will be met. The director will also be assigned the role of competent authority for the scrutinising of incoming removal orders under the EU terrorist content online regulation, addressing a separate outstanding legal obligation.  I will turn now to providing an outline of the various provisions of the Bill. The Bill is composed of five Parts and a Schedule. Part 1 is comprised of standard provisions concerning the Short Title, commencement and expenses, and the definition of key words and terms used in the Bill. It also addresses matters relating to the designation of the director as the competent authority under Article 12(1)(b) of the terrorist content online regulation.  Section 1 of the Bill provides for the Short Title and commencement of the Bill. Section 2 provides for the definition of terms used in the Bill. Section 3 is a standard provision regarding expenses incurred in the administration of the Bill. Section 4 provides for the designation of the director of criminal justice international co-operation as the competent authority for the purposes of Article 12(1)(b) of the terrorist content online regulation. Section 5 is a necessary companion provision to section 4, providing for the revocation of the European Union (Online Dissemination of Terrorist Content) (Designation of the Commissioner of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na as a Competent Authority) Regulations 2025, SI 375\/2025. These regulations provide for the designation of the Garda Commissioner as competent authority, which was done on a temporary basis pending the enactment of this Bill. Section 6 provides for the service of notices or other documents under this Bill, including by electronic means. Section 7 is a standard provision relating to regulations and orders to be made under this Bill.  Part 2 of the Bill, comprising sections 8 to 22, inclusive, provides for the establishment of the office of director of criminal justice international co-operation, the appointment of the director and staff, the functions of the director and other related matters.  Section 8 provides for the establishment of oifig an sti\u00farth\u00f3ra um chomhar idirn\u00e1isi\u00fanta ceartais choiri\u00fail or, in the English language, the office of director of criminal justice international co-operation. The holder of this office shall be known as the director of criminal justice international co-operation and is referred to in the Bill as \"the Director\". As Deputies will be aware, section 9D(1) of the Official Languages Act 2003 provides that the default and mandatory position is that newly established statutory bodies should be named in Irish only. However, provision is made in section 9D(1) for the departure from this in future enactments. Naming and establishing this body solely in Irish would adversely affect its messaging and visibility to both competent and central authorities in other EU member states that would not be familiar with the Irish language or the requirements of the 2003 Act. Section 8 also provides that the Schedule to the Bill shall have effect in relation to the director. The Schedule details the provisions applicable to the director, providing that the director will be a corporation sole with perpetual succession and official seal and power to sue and be sued and to acquire, hold and dispose of land, etc.  Section 9 provides for the appointment of the director, while section 10 sets out the circumstances in which a person is not eligible for, or is disqualified from, the office of director. Section 11 is a standard provision, providing that a person cannot simultaneously hold office as both director and as a Member of the Oireachtas or a member of the European Parliament or a local authority. Section 12 provides for the resignation and removal of the director. The appointment of members of staff of the director is provided for in section 13 of the Bill, while section 14 provides for the appointment by the director of a deputy director from a member of staff of the office. Section 15 provides that the director may engage consultants and advisers. Section 16 provides that the director will be indemnified against legal costs and damages relating to the carrying out of his or her functions. Section 17 outlines the various functions of the director and provides that the director will be independent in the performance of those functions. Section 18 is a standard provision providing for the delegation of functions of the director to a member of staff. Section 19 provides that the director may enter into an information-sharing agreement with certain national authorities. Section 20 provides that the director shall submit an annual report to the Minister, while section 21 sets out the statistical information that the director must collect and submit to the Minister.  Section 22 provides that the director may issue guidance notes to service providers.  Part 3, comprising sections 23 and 24, provides for the designation of the director as the enforcement authority and central authority, respectively, for the purposes the e-evidence regulation.  Part 4, comprising sections 25 to 30, inclusive, provides for the designation of the director as the central authority for the e-evidence directive. It also sets out the various obligations of service providers and actions that may be taken by the director in relation to their implementation. Section 25 is a standard provision providing for definition of terms used in Part 4 of the Bill. Section 26 designates the director as the central authority in the State for the e-evidence directive. Section 27 provides that service providers must designate a designated establishment or a legal representative for the receipt of, compliance with and enforcement of decisions or orders. Section 28 acts as a companion provision to this, providing that service providers must ensure that designated establishments or legal representatives have the necessary powers and resources to comply with decisions and orders. Section 29 provides that service providers must notify the director of the addresses and contact details of their designated establishments and legal representatives. Section 30 provides that service providers and their designated establishments or legal representatives shall be jointly and severally liable.  Part 5, comprising sections 31 to 70, inclusive, provides the necessary enforcement mechanisms for non-compliant service providers. Section 31 provides for the definition of terms used in Part 5 of the Bill, including key phrases necessary to the mechanics of the Bill. It defines \"e-evidence regulation obligation\u201d as an obligation under Article 10, 11 or 13(4) of the e-evidence regulation. It also defines \u201crelevant obligation\u201d as an obligation on a service provider to, where applicable, designate a designated establishment or appoint a legal representative in accordance with section 26; provide a designated establishment or legal representative with the necessary powers and resources in accordance with section 27; comply with a notice in accordance with section 27; or notify the director in accordance with section 28. Section 32 is a standard provision intended to protect legal privilege. Section 33 creates an offence if certain persons, including staff of the director, an authorised officer or an adjudication officer, make an unauthorised disclosure of information acquired while performing functions under this Bill. Section 34 creates an offence where a person knowingly gives false information or evidence to the director or an adjudication officer. Section 35 provides for the appointment of authorised officers by the director for the purposes of the Bill. Section 36 provides for the powers of those authorised officers.  Section 37 provides that a judge of the District Court may issue a search warrant authorising an authorised officer to enter a place. Section 38 provides that the director may request that a service provider provide a compliance report to enable the director to confirm that the service provider is complying with a relevant obligation. Section 39 provides that, where the director is of the opinion that a service provider has contravened a relevant obligation, the director may either enter into an agreement with the service provider in respect of the alleged contravention or cause a directed investigation to be started. Section 40 provides that the director may enter into a written agreement with a service provider setting out the steps to comply with a relevant obligation. Section 41 provides for definitions of terms used in Chapter 4 of Part 5 of the Bill. Section 42 provides that the director may direct an authorised officer to undertake a directed investigation. Section 43 provides that an authorised officer shall submit a copy of the report to the director and the service provider concerned. Section 44 sets out the actions that may be taken by the director having received and considered an investigation report, including referring the investigation report to the chief adjudication officer for the purposes of conducting an adjudication. Section 45 provides for the definition of terms in Chapter 5 of the Bill. Section 46 provides that, for the purposes of undertaking an adjudication, the chief adjudication officer shall assign an adjudication officer. Section 47 provides that service providers shall not be liable to be penalised twice for the same contravention. Section 48 sets out the actions an adjudication officer shall take for the purposes of assisting him or her in the making of a decision as to whether a service provider has committed a relevant contravention. Section 49 provides that an adjudication officer shall make a decision on the balance of probabilities as to whether a service provider has committed, or is committing, a relevant contravention.  Section 50 sets out that the maximum financial penalty that can be imposed on a service provider can be no greater than 2% of the total world annual turnover of the service provider in the preceding financial year. Section 51 provides that an adjudication officer must send the director and the service provider concerned a written notice of a decision. Section 52 sets out the circumstances in which a decision as to contravention and financial penalty take effect. Section 53 provides that a service provider may appeal against a decision. Section 54 provides that, where there is no appeal, the director shall make an application in a summary manner to the Circuit Court for confirmation. Section 55 sets out procedural and other matters concerning the conduct of an oral hearing by an adjudication officer. Section 56 provides that an adjudication officer may, before making a decision as to contravention or the imposition of a financial penalty, refer a question to the High Court. Section 57 provides that an adjudication officer may award the costs of proceedings against the service provider or director for improper conduct. Section 58 provides that the Minister may make regulations. Section 59 provides that a payment made by a service provider in respect of a financial penalty shall be paid to the Exchequer.  Section 60 sets out the circumstances in which a person is not eligible for appointment or disqualified from holding office as an adjudication officer. Section 61 provides that a person cannot simultaneously hold office as an adjudication officer and be an elected person. Section 62 provides for the nomination by the director of persons for appointment as adjudication officers. Section 63 provides for the appointment by the Minister of adjudication officers. Section 64 provides that an adjudication officer is independent. Section 65 provides that the Minister shall make regulations. Section 66 provides that the director may require staff, or persons on contract or appointed as advisors, to assist adjudication officers. Section 67 provides that summary proceedings for an offence may be brought and prosecuted by the director. Section 68 provides that summary proceedings for an offence under the Bill may be instituted at any time within two years. Section 69 provides for liability by corporate entities. Section 70 provides that, where a person is convicted of an offence under the Bill, the court shall order the person to pay the director any costs and expenses incurred.  The provisions of the Bill have been drafted with a view to successful implementation of the EU evidence package. However, this is not only about compliance. It is also about leadership. It is an opportunity to enhance Ireland\u2019s position as a European hub for digital regulation and a trusted partner in international justice. For law enforcement, it means faster, clearer and legally secure access to the evidence needed to tackle serious crime and for citizens, it means confidence that their data and rights are protected, as we enhance our capacity to fight crime in the digital age.  The regulation provides that access to personal data through the mechanism of European production orders will be subject to existing data protection rules and principles. In particular, the regulation reiterates the requirements of necessity and proportionality and sets out the key safeguards in this area, including the limitations on the types of data that can be requested and the ability of enforcing States to object to orders under certain circumstances.  The EU-evidence package will be implemented in a manner which respects fundamental rights and freedoms, including individuals' rights to privacy and data protection. I look forward to hearing the views and observations of Deputies and answering their questions on this important Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I welcome this opportunity to discuss the EU e-evidence package and this legislation, which seeks to transpose it into Irish law. The broad purpose of this package and legislation is evidently worthy. With an estimated up to 80% of court cases involving electronic evidence in some format and relevant companies often being headquartered outside the jurisdictions where the crime is alleged to have been committed, we should, of course, seek to introduce efficiencies where existing processes may struggle with scale. The question then is whether the Minister has got the approach right. I remain unconvinced he has for various reasons.  Another week has passed in which the Minister has engaged in poor parliamentary practice. Here we are again debating a Bill on Second Stage when the deadline for Committee Stage amendments has already passed. If something were to come up in this debate, I would not be able to table an amendment on it because the deadline has already passed. That is bad practice. This follows a number of instances where Bills have been similarly rushed and, especially in recent weeks, we have had motions to extend the purpose of other Bills - some multiple times - to introduce various unrelated subject matters to legislation already in process. All this means is that legislation passes through these Houses with the bare minimum of scrutiny, and in some cases virtually no scrutiny at all.  The reason the Minister will give that this legislation must be rushed is that the transposition deadline was last February and with the directive due to come into force in August.  I put on record Sinn F\u00e9in's utter disgust that the D\u00e1il is seeing its constitutional mandate limited by the Minister, arising from his failure to meet his obligation to process legislation in a timely and competent manner. That needs to change. Taking such an approach to the D\u00e1il plays a role in undermining public confidence in our political institutions. I invite the Minister to reflect on his role in that.  I understand the Department officials considered whether any existing State body or agency could take on the functions of this office but found there is no existing criminal justice body equipped to deal with the task required by the e-evidence package. We also know the majority of orders across the EU are expected to be processed through Ireland, so what we are dealing with is important, substantive and could have a significant impact in Ireland. While the e-evidence package has been presented in terms of efficiencies, it is not at all apparent it will not have the opposite impact in Ireland. The Department seems to think there will be minimal impact on court services but the Courts Service itself seems much more circumspect and has stated there is limited data available on the number of cases that may arise after commencement. It went on to say the Department\u2019s projections may prove optimistic. That is hardly a ringing endorsement.  Then there are the efficiencies the office is meant to bring. With the majority of orders expected to be processed here, it will be the Irish taxpayer who picks up the tab for virtually the entire European Union. The Minister will say it is a small price to pay and arises out of foreign direct investment but I would be interested whether he could provide a single example whereby an individual member state was on the hook to such an extent regarding a single directive or regulations. From our engagement with Department officials, it seems the Minister cannot even tell us the scale, the cost or where this new body is going to end up. There is \u20ac2.8 million set aside for this year to provide for 29 staff and associated costs. Officials see it moving upwards to 150 staff but there seems little certainty that will be a cap of sorts, especially given indications it is already intended to expand the remit of this new office to include the European investigation orders.  Significant concerns also exist about the safeguards in this Bill. Department officials acknowledged at the committee that in theory the regulation is based on the idea of full faith and credit in the member states' legal systems. \"Theory\" is doing an awful lot of heavy lifting here. In the past decade, we have seen democratic backsliding from some European Union states as well as issues with the rule of law. We have seen interference in the judicial system, European governments seeking to deny fundamental rights and the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia due to her journalism exposing major acts of corruption. These are just a few examples.  I, therefore, have major concerns with the approach of this Bill and the potential for rogue governments, or elements in governments, to abuse the trust and authority the Minister would vest in them. I appreciate he may say the entire European project might be based on such a theory but in this instance we are talking about fundamental rights. We are talking about political persecution. In that context, that seems designed to minimise judicial and Irish oversight.  Sinn F\u00e9in is not alone in having a critique of safeguards in the e-evidence package generally. As highlighted by Digital Rights Ireland in its submission to the justice committee, in an article on balancing efficiency and fundamental rights in this package, one academic described the e-evidence package as having minimal fundamental safeguards, so there is an absolute need for any Irish legislation to empower a Minister to suspend co-operation, where necessary. There was also extensive discussion at the Oireachtas justice committee on the issue of dual criminality and in particular how the civil law systems will relate to Ireland\u2019s common law tradition. I do not believe engagement with Department officials answered all the questions raised or left members entirely reassured. Sinn F\u00e9in believes there needs to be strong, robust provisions in any Irish legislation that ensure information may only be provided where an alleged offence constitutes and offence under Irish criminal law.  Sinn F\u00e9in is also concerned about the administrative burden this could place on SMEs. The Government\u2019s SME test identified this will impact SMEs more than larger companies and that they will incur administrative and compliance costs, notably working against ongoing efforts to increase competitiveness and reduce administrative and regulatory business. It would be more useful if the director of this office had an ongoing, explicit mandate to ensure minimal administrative burden for the SME sector specifically. An area of particular concern to me is the ability of smaller SMEs to meet the required timeframes necessitated by this legislation, which could be as little as eight hours in the case of an emergency order.  Section 49, as the Minister said, provides that in exceptional circumstances, where a service provider is in breach, an adjudication officer may decide not to impose a financial penalty. The Bill later clarifies such exceptional circumstances may include a micro-enterprise of fewer than ten people not responding to an emergency order. I am not at all confident this is robust enough a safeguard for SMEs. In any small businesses, not just micro-enterprises, it would not be exceptional to not have 24-7 cover, which is in effect what this Bill mandates them to have.  Sinn F\u00e9in welcomes that it is envisaged a decentralised IT system will be developed to facilitate engagement and reporting to SMEs. It would be of use if the Minister could provide an update on the status of this in his closing remarks. While the Minister's Bill makes provision for engagement and information-sharing with other relevant public bodies like the Garda, Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n and others, there is nothing in here on the Data Protection Commission. Given the concerns that exist, it would be reassuring for the Minister to, at the very least, similarly facilitate formal engagement between the office and the Data Protection Commission.  The proposed legislation is rushed. It leaves too many questions remaining on key provisions, especially about sovereignty, safeguards and the rule of law. Consequently, Sinn F\u00e9in cannot support this Bill in its current format. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  There is no dispute that an office of this nature is required. International co-operation, especially in regard to electronic data is obviously something we continually need as we move into the modern age. An awful lot of criminal cases will reach for information that is being stored in the cloud somewhere and an application will have to be made to try to pull that information down. That can often cause, as the Minister is well aware, huge delays in the criminal process and in moving cases forward, so this type of legislation is obviously needed. The way we are connected electronically across the world and across Europe is evidence of that.  It is unfortunate this legislation is being rushed in the way it is. It is not allowing for the proper kind of scrutiny we need for something of this scale being established. The time we have to debate it is very limited. It is supposed to come into effect on 18 August with the EU regulation. To suggest the office would be up and running given the huge scale of this is extremely ambitious but perhaps the Minister will enlighten us as to how that is going to happen. That it could be done in such a short time would be pretty amazing. If we were able to do everything else as quickly here, we would be well ahead of things but we are where we are.  The EU evidence regulation was adopted three years ago in 2023. Many people are pointing to the delay as being due to some level of incompetence, possibly on the part of the Government. We are now deciding we are going to rush it through the House. It is estimated service providers based in Ireland will receive in excess of 300,000 orders per annum because of the number of these information technology companies based here. Expecting the office, which is to be set up in such a short time, to be able to deal with that volume is something we really need to get answers about. Answers have not been provided in respect of that to date.  There are serious questions about the financial and human resources this office is going to need. We are all aware of the difficulties people have in recruiting staff, especially where technological expertise is needed, as it certainly will be in respect of this office. It is even very difficult to get administrative staff, so I just do not understand how the Minister expects that this office is going to get established in that short period. The adequate level of resources needed is something that needs to be addressed.  We are aware that there are concerns in relation to the lack of safeguards and incentives for service providers to consider data rights and other rights. We also have laws around privacy and laws to prevent overreach. That has to be taken into consideration.  There is a right to appeal in the legislation and that could significantly increase times and put pressure on our Courts Service. Five member states issued statements expressing concerns about the protection of fundamental rights and the application of effective judicial review under the e-evidence package. The concerns related to grounds of refusal in a case of manifest breach of fundamental rights. There are a number of those rights. One is the possibility of double criminality. It is about whether Ireland will inadvertently contribute to human rights abuses. That is something we all have to be conscious of. We see a level of, quite frankly, fascism arising in many states around the world. The impact that may have has to be considered. Would Ireland facilitate the prosecution of individuals who have committed acts that would not constitute a criminal offence here? I notice in the Minister's opening remarks he suggested that would not happen. That is welcome if it is the case.  There is the requirement for a publicly accessible register providing information on requests from other member states and questions around how those requests will be processed and their respective outcomes. There is a lack of safeguards and incentives for providers to consider data protection rights and other fundamental rights. In all these situations, the right to privacy and fundamental human rights have to be protected.  We are aware of the debates around social media in many jurisdictions. In most cases, it may come down to social media companies' preparedness to co-operate with the criminal justice system, which has been unfortunately absent in most cases to date. I hope the level of penalties put in place will be enough to do that. There is provision for 2% of annual turnover; in other circumstances, it can be up to 10% of annual turnover. Is this something we are falling short on? We need to have sharp teeth when it comes to dealing with these companies. To date, that has not been the case and they have been allowed to get away with far too much in many jurisdictions. I am not just picking on Ireland or the European Union; it has been a global phenomenon.  My colleagues, Deputies Carthy and Ward, have tabled a number of amendments that they hope will provide assurances and protection to Irish citizens and to small and medium providers, who also need to be protected. This Bill is coming at the eleventh hour. It is very rushed. It is a big piece of legislation and is establishing something that will have a major impact. It is impossible to support legislation coming in this manner. The Minister's Department would do well to sit down, look at how it prepares and work out systems for the future because this is not the way to proceed on matters of such importance. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  Taking up on what Deputy Kenny said, there are two things. This is not the first time we have dealt with legislation like this. We are talking about transposing the EU e-evidence package, the regulation and the directive. It has been on the books for a considerable amount of time. It has taken too long for us to get to this point and now that we are, as per normal, it is utterly last minute. We want a sufficient amount of time to do some element of due diligence.  My colleagues, Deputies Ward and Kenny, have spoken about some of the issues. Where technology meets domestic and international law, we all know the difficulties that are involved. For those involved in investigating and prosecuting crimes, there is a requirement that they can get the evidence. Sometimes, the first time you see issues of antisocial behaviour or whatever is when they are up on TikTok or somebody has taken a screen grab on Snapchat. You are sent that and you send it to the guards. The guards talk about the difficulties they have in getting that information and getting it in the correct format, even when dealing with companies that are based here. We want to see this office set up to deal with these issues for those across the European Union looking for evidence, particularly given that a significant number of the big players in the tech world have their headquarters here. Therefore, there will be multiple contacts.  Deputy Kenny spoke about 300,000 requests. It is hard to see how this office, no matter how it is resourced, would not be overwhelmed by that. We need to have the systems, know-how and technology to deal with this. There is a huge issue when dealing with social media giants from the point of view of delivering evidence. Nearly every committee in the Oireachtas has dealt with the big tech companies, such is their impact on and footprint in the world in which we live. It has generally been from the point of view that we have insufficient regulation and leverage to deal with what they offer, which is social media platforms that are addictive by design, have recommender algorithms and are based on keeping people online no matter what the material is. They will say they offer a service that goes above and beyond the law and that the minute nefarious material is there, they get rid of it. What anyone realises who has lived in the real world, used any of these platforms or talked to the young people in front of the children's committee, the EU affairs committee or the media committee is that these companies have made little effort in relation to facilitating those who have had information put up that is detrimental to them. I have a particular issue with it.  We know what sort of material we are talking about. We are talking about sometimes intimate material, including intimate material produced through artificial intelligence. I have no doubt this office will be dealing with a huge number of these issues. When we talk about Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n, the Data Protection Commission and even the European Commission, I am not quite sure they are sufficiently resourced to take on Google, Meta or TikTok. I think I said before it is like having your winter league team going up against Barcelona at their best. We need to resource the office. There is a particular issue in relation to this office. We are talking about social media bans but we are not next or near having a conversation and ensuring we have the tools----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  -----to really put it up to these companies so we can make this place safer for all who use social media, particularly young people,----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy. I call Deputy Gannon. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  -----and tackle the issues in relation to disinformation and even more nefarious material that we keep seeing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Do you know when the clock goes red, Deputy? Just in case you do not know----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I am colour-blind. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  It is when the Chair asks you to move on. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  Nobody is for a second disputing the problem this legislation is trying to solve. The reality is electronic evidence now forms part of almost every criminal investigation, whether organised crime, fraud, child exploitation, trafficking or terrorism. The days when investigations were confined to physical evidence and paper trails are long gone. The need for international co-operation is real, as is the need to modernise how evidence is gathered, but good intentions do not automatically make good legislation.  What concerns me about this Bill is it feels like another example of a Department of justice, led by the Minister, that has become obsessed with speed, efficiency and finding shortcuts, and increasingly detached from the practical realities of delivering the public services and judicial services we need. In short, it is all hurry and no pace.  When you scratch beneath the surface of this proposal, there are enormous questions that remain unanswered. The first is resourcing. During pre-legislative scrutiny, the Department told the committee that Ireland could ultimately become responsible for processing over 300,000 electronic evidence requests every year because so many of the major technology companies operating across Europe were headquartered here. With 300,000 potential requests, the Department has budgeted exactly \u20ac2.8 million and allocated an initial staff complement of 30 people. I struggle to understand how anyone can look at those figures and conclude that they remotely add up to the seriousness of what we are discussing. The Department itself admitted during scrutiny that it did not yet know how many of those requests would require intervention and what the final staffing requirement would be. It admitted that the office may eventually require 150 staff or more. Let us be honest about what is happening here. We are being asked to establish a major new State body with significant powers and responsibilities without knowing how much it will ultimately cost, how many staff it will require or whether the proposed model is remotely capable of coping with the workload that is potentially coming, and it is being sold to us in the language of efficiency. Everything is about speeding things up. Everything is about streamlining processes but there is a difference between efficiency and what appears to me to be wishful thinking on the Minister's part. If he genuinely believes that 30 staff can oversee a system potentially dealing with hundreds of thousands of requests every year, we are not building an efficient system; we are building a backlog, building delays, building appeals and, ultimately, building costs - far greater costs that if the system had been properly designed and resourced in the first place.  The second major concern I have is regarding the human rights implications of this Bill. One of the most important issues raised during pre-legislative scrutiny was the reality that not every EU member state had the same track record when it came to civil liberties, democratic standards and human rights protection. We heard concerns about democratic backsliding, surveillance powers, and journalists, activists and minority groups who potentially might be targeted. The answers we received about hugely important matters, such as abortion rights, freedom of expression and LGBT rights, were not particularly reassuring. In fact, the Department acknowledged that if the new office did not intervene within the required timeframe, the service provider may simply proceed regardless. I ask the Minister to think about that. The safeguards in the system are only as strong as the capacity of the office tasked with enforcing them, which brings us directly back to the resourcing issue because rights-based protections on paper are meaningless if the body responsible for protecting those rights is overwhelmed from day 1, and that is precisely why the amendments to the Bill are so important. Amendments dealing with human rights protections, double criminality, transparency and reporting requirements are not attempts to derail the legislation. They are attempts to make it workable. They seem like attempts to introduce the safeguards that many people assumed would already be present. The amendments requiring greater scrutiny would not constitute an offence under Irish law and the amendments strengthening accountability are fundamental safeguards that this Bill needs, and if the Government is not willing to accept those safeguards or bring forward alternatives that achieve the same objective, I do not believe that this legislation is tenable in its current form. The Department is effectively asking us to trust a system of extraordinary scale while simultaneously admitting that it does not yet know what scale that system will operate at. That is the exact moment when safeguards matter most. Not after something goes wrong or rights have been infringed, but before these powers are granted.  This Bill does not exist in isolation. It is part of a pattern of decision-making within the Department of justice, led by the Minister, where efficiency increasingly appears to trump expertise. I will highlight one recent example of that that left me shocked to my core, namely, the contract awarded to respond to the arrival of unaccompanied minors. A management services company, one that specialises in pest control, was awarded that contract. You could not make that up. At the same time that highly skilled organisations with extensive experience in trauma-informed care for children and young people were applying for that work, a management company that specialised in pest control was awarded the contract, but, apparently, that is where expertise mattered. That is where efficiency mattered. That, unfortunately, is exactly the same mindset that seems to underpin legislation such as this - the belief that if we centralise enough, automate enough, outsource enough and streamline enough, somehow everything will become cheaper, quicker and better. That, quite clearly, does not work, because public services are not about managing units and every time we try to squeeze complex human problems into simplistic administrative solutions, we end up paying for it later. We will see this over the next couple of years. We will pay for it more through appeals. We will pay through delays. We will pay through court challenges.  If this office is under-resourced, if decisions are rushed and if safeguards fail, millions of euro will ultimately be squandered dealing with the consequences - far more than would have been spent getting it right in the first place. That is why I believe we can do better than this, that we can have a system that facilitates international co-operation, tackles serious crime and allows evidence to move efficiently across borders, but that we can also have a system that is properly resourced, transparent and built on realistic assessments of workload rather than opportunistic assumptions. If this legislation is genuinely expected to deal with hundreds of thousands of requests every year, we should stop pretending that \u20ac2.8 million and 30 staff constitute a serious answer to that challenge because we owe the public something better than that.  I believe there is a pattern here. We are talking about efficiency. It happened last week in the D\u00e1il during the miscellaneous provisions Bill the Minister brought through where we questioned the fact that we had so many different aspects of the judicial system all contained within the same Bill and the Minister's response was that he was getting a lot done. There is a difference between being in a hurry and having some pace that brings lasting achievement. I have not seen any of it and we will not see any of it in this Bill either. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cormac Devlin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cormac Devlin  I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Criminal Justice (International Cooperation on Electronic Evidence and Other Matters) Bill 2026. The objective of this Bill is to support efforts to tackle crime being facilitated over the Internet.  The large drugs cartel being organised on an encrypted app, the fraud run from a server in another country, the grooming of a child through a social media account or the money laundered through a chain of digital transactions - none of these crimes respects a border. The evidence sits on servers that may be in Dublin, in Frankfurt, in any country or in a data centre on another continent. The development of the online ecosystem has outpaced existing legislation, and even where national governments have introduced legislation, the transnational nature of the problem means an EU-wide response is warranted and necessary to address the issue.  Today, when a Garda investigation needs evidence held on servers in another member state, the process is slow. A European investigation order can take up to 120 days. A mutual legal assistance request takes, on average, ten months. Think about what ten months mean in a live investigation. Data is deleted, trails go cold and victims ultimately wait. A suspect who should go before a court remains at large. That delay is not a technical inconvenience; it is a gap that major criminals regularly exploit.  This Bill closes that gap. It transposes the EU e-evidence directive and gives further effect to the e-evidence regulation. Together, they create two new tools. The first is the European production order. This will allow a judicial authority in one member state to obtain electronic evidence directly from a service provider in another. It must respond within ten days or, in an emergency, within eight hours. It is ten days instead of ten months. The second is the European preservation order, which allows authorities to require that specific data be preserved so it is not lost while a fuller request is prepared.  The scale here is significant. It is expected that up to 600 service providers could designate an addressee in Ireland. The number of production orders issued to providers based here is anticipated to exceed 300,000 every year. Our own authorities are likely to issue around 2,000 orders to providers in other member states to advance investigations here at home. These are not abstract figures. Each order represents an investigation into a real crime affecting real people.  To manage this, the Bill establishes a new office, the office of director of criminal justice international co-operation. The new office is necessary, as it centralises functions that would otherwise be scattered across existing bodies. The State is right to centralise the skills, expertise and responsibility to one office. There will be a single point of contact for cross-border co-operation on electronic evidence. The director will monitor and enforce compliance by service providers and will have the power to impose financial penalties where providers fail to meet their obligations.  On the previous speaker's point about staffing, it is clear that the office will be built up on a phased basis, with the process to appoint a director now under way.  When the State takes on new powers to access people's data, the safeguards matter as much as the powers themselves. The Bill, and the package behind it, takes that seriously. It is important to note the protections being proposed. The framework guarantees strong protection of fundamental rights, including the right to the protection of personal data. A person whose data is sought is entitled to legal remedies. Where it is warranted, the authorities of the member state in which the provider is established will be brought in through a notification mechanism and can stop the production of data on a defined list of grounds. The director here in Ireland will scrutinise certain incoming production orders and may refuse them on the grounds set out in the regulation. Where a provider faces a conflict of laws, a specific procedure involving a judge or a court applies. All of this will be run through a secure, decentralised IT system that authenticates everyone taking part. Requests for sensitive data will not be flying around on email. These are real checks, not just window dressing.  The Bill also does something sensible in joining up our response to terrorist content online. Under the EU's terrorist content online regulation, removal orders can be issued requiring hosting providers to take down terrorist material. The receiving state must be able to scrutinise those orders to ensure they do not breach the regulation or, indeed, fundamental rights. Ireland struggled to find a suitable body for that scrutiny role. The Garda Commissioner was designated on an interim basis to address an infringement case. The Bill assigns that scrutiny function to the new director, where it sits naturally alongside the very similar task of scrutinising incoming production orders. It is a coherent fit and puts a proper, permanent arrangement in place.  The transposition deadline for the e-evidence directive was 18 February this year. I welcome the work to date by the Minister and his officials on the legislation. Ireland hosts a large share of Europe's digital economy. Many of the service providers that other member states will turn to for evidence are based here. That gives us a responsibility and an opportunity. By implementing this package fully and on a proper footing, we confirm Ireland as a serious centre of expertise for digital regulation and a reliable partner in the digital Single Market. We give legal certainty to the businesses operating here. We also give confidence to our European partners that when they come looking for evidence of a serious crime, Ireland will be ready to assist lawfully and quickly.  This Bill is about giving An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and our courts the modern tools they need to investigate modern types of crime while protecting the rights of citizens at every step. It honours a commitment in the programme for Government, it meets our European obligations and it makes us a more compatible and trustworthy partner in the fight against serious cross-border crimes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy George Lawlor  This is an important Bill that deals with the most serious of questions, namely, how we keep our citizens and citizens of neighbouring states safe and how we co-operate with our European neighbours to ensure the rights of our citizens are protected. The Minister has publicly stated that the Bill is an important step in demonstrating Ireland's commitment to implementing the EU's e-evidence package and improving access to digital evidence for serious crime investigations. It is about how we make sure that the digital world is one where laws are enforced, rights are safeguarded and the technology giants upon which so much of modern life depends play their part and are held accountable.  I understand that the rush to legislate is not unusual for EU deadline-driven legislation. We faced similar time pressures in the past when implementing EU directives or regulations with fixed application dates. However, the seriously reduced opportunity to engage with this Bill in the House is both unfortunate and somewhat disrespectful to Members. Given the package was first endorsed in the EU in 2023, it really beggars belief that we could not have had far more dialogue on it before now.  The Bill puts in place an entirely new office and staff to enforce its rules. The Department has made clear that this body will grow to a substantial size and carry a significant budget with it. Ireland, being home to many of the world's biggest technology and digital services firms, can expect to have a large workload arising from these EU rules. We can be leaders in that but it is absolutely vital that we get it right from the off. We must be sure that the procedures and bodies we put in place to carry out the work are properly resourced and are given not just enough powers but the right powers. This is a Bill that deserves close scrutiny in the Oireachtas. The questions at play are simply too important to risk getting it wrong.  International co-operation on law enforcement is absolutely essential, particularly in the digital space. Digital evidence does not respect borders, and police forces and enforcement bodies simply cannot afford to operate in national silos when it comes to online evidence. The European Union is in a unique position globally to put the mechanisms in place to ensure its member states' national and local law enforcement bodies co-operate in this area. That idea was at the heart of the EU's e-evidence package and it is at the heart of this Bill. It is a sensible and welcome idea. However, we in the Labour Party have some questions about the legislation, which we will raise as it progresses through the Oireachtas.  The first issue I raise concerns privileged material. It is an issue that been raised repeatedly in the House in recent times. Repeatedly, the Government has been slow to recognise the importance of protecting legal or journalistic privilege when bringing forward legislation. That has been particularly true in relation to legislation coming from the Department of justice. Subsections (3) and (4) of section 32 allow for the compelled disclosure of potentially privileged material subject to a subsequent High Court determination, with a 30-day window to apply. The key word here is \"subsequent\". The 30-day window runs from the date of disclosure or taking of possession but there is no explicit ban or any kind of interim restraint on the use of that privileged material while the court application is pending.  It is essential to address this issue and, to that end, we have tabled amendments to make clear in the Bill that where an authorised officer or adjudication officer compels disclosure or takes possession of a record that may be subject to legal privilege, the officer cannot use, copy, communicate or act upon that record before the High Court's determination. Our amendments will be debated on Committee Stage tomorrow. I hope the Government will look closely at the issue and accept the amendments. This is common sense. Legal privilege must be protected throughout the process. The Government recognises that by including section 32 in the first place but we need to ensure that there are no potential loopholes. We cannot have a situation where legislation potentially allows for the free usage of material that might later be ruled privileged by the High Court.  We also have serious questions about the resourcing of the new office of the director of criminal justice international co-operation and the potential costs associated with it. Those concerns were raised during pre-legislative scrutiny and I have yet to see a convincing answer to them from the Government. As the home to a very large number of digital service providers, Ireland can expect a larger number of requests relative to our size than other member states. How will the Government ensure that the new office can handle that large volume of work without doing so being to the detriment of the current workings of the Department of justice? We have heard that the expectation is that the office could grow in size to 150 staff. The estimate based on current numbers is that it will deal with 24,000 notifications each year. However, the actual number could be much higher. The Department has said that the number of notifications sent to the office will only be known once the regulation comes into effect. There is real potential for two different scenarios, neither of which is welcome. We could have an under-resourced office that cannot keep up with the amount of work landing on its desk, leading to long waiting times or even mistakes being made, or we may have an office that keeps expanding and taking an ever-growing share of the Department's expenditure and requiring ever-growing staff numbers. There is a real risk of a very large cost arising that balloons over time.  I have no doubt that this work is important, even vital, but how will the Government ensure the potential costs and resourcing requirements are properly managed?  We can look at the example of the National Cyber Security Centre, which is a key public body aimed at keeping digital space safe. It has been under resourced and overworked throughout its existence. We cannot afford to keep making the same mistakes, and the Government has done nothing to earn our confidence that this new office will not face similar challenges. Can the Minister give real assurances that this body will be properly resourced to undertake the substantial job of work that will come across its desk and that a proper assessment of the potential for future growth in a number of notifications that it deals with has been carried out?  Finally, it is essential that Ireland does not risk double criminalisation and we do not end up facilitating the prosecution of individuals who have committed an act that would not constitute a criminal offence here in Ireland. This issue was also raised at pre-legislative scrutiny. For example, if an EU member state were to criminalise the provision of online information about abortion services, would there be a risk that Ireland would be required to collaborate in evidence-sharing about a potential breach of that law? I have seen the Department's response to the committee's pre-legislative scrutiny report, which seems to point to Article 12(1)(d) of the e-evidence regulation for reassurance on this point. However, it still seems to be the case that service providers based in Ireland, as distinct from the new office itself, could be compelled to co-operate on such a case. I would welcome more clarity on this from the Minister. Can he assure the House that this legislation will not undermine Irish law in any way?  International co-operation on digital law enforcement is absolutely vital, particularly within the EU; no one on these benches will argue with that. However, there are significant elements of this Bill that need greater clarity from the Government, and we will continue to press those as this Bill moves forward. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tom Brabazon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tom Brabazon  I commend the Minister and his Department on bringing forward the Bill. The Government committed to implementing the e-evidence package and to establishing the new office of the director of criminal justice international co-operation, CJICO, in the programme for Government. It is welcome to see that commitment now being progressed.  The Bill is practical and necessary and will strengthen Ireland's ability to access digital evidence to support criminal investigations. It will also help to ensure those involved in serious and organised crime can be brought before the courts and ultimately brought to justice. We all know criminal gangs do not respect borders and that their activities are not confined to one village, one county or even one country. Criminal networks are international, and their communications are often online. Their financing, planning and contacts can move across borders in seconds. We have to be able to respond to that.  We cannot underplay the importance of international co-operation. We have seen in recent weeks how working closely with other jurisdictions and law enforcement agencies can lead to major breakthroughs in tackling transnational organised crime and can bring significant players in the criminal underworld to justice. When garda\u00ed can co-operate effectively with their counterparts in other countries, it becomes much harder for these criminals to hide behind borders. In today's day and age, everything is done through digital means and crime is no different. A person in this State can easily communicate with a group on the other side of the world to organise a drug shipment, move money and co-ordinate other criminal activity. This can happen quickly and discreetly, and the evidence of that activity may be held by a service provider in another EU country. In these circumstances, any delay can seriously damage an investigation.  Investigations into organised crime are increasingly dependent on digital evidence and there are countless cases where convictions have been secured based on digital material. We have to support An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na insofar is possible to make it faster and easier for it to access electronic evidence. Speed matters in any investigation and it is particularly important in organised crime cases, where those engaged in this activity will often try to cover their tracks, encrypt their communications or delete incriminating material entirely. The European production and preservation orders provided for in the e-evidence package and this legislation will be an important tool in ensuring relevant evidence can be obtained or preserved quickly. The creation of the new office of the director of criminal justice international co-operation is very welcome and the Bill gives that office real teeth by giving it the power to monitor and enforce compliance by service providers.  Criminals are quick to adapt and will seek to carry out their activities wherever they can. The State must be a step ahead of them and must be able to respond urgently. We need to look ahead of the curve to see what technology is coming down the tracks so that we can keep up with it. In particular, AI as a tool can be very positive while also nefarious at the same time. This Bill will help close gaps criminals have been able to exploit. It will improve co-operation with our European partners, support the gathering of new evidence and, most important, assist in holding those involved in serious and organised crime to account. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  Cuirim f\u00e1ilte roimh an mBille seo. D\u00e9anaim comhghairdeas leis an Aire freisin as ucht an luais a bh\u00ed leis. Nuair at\u00e1imid ag labhairt faoin dl\u00ed ag an leibh\u00e9al Eorpach, is g\u00e1 d\u00fainn na rialacha mar sin a chur sa dl\u00ed sa t\u00edr seo. D\u00e9anaim comhghairdeas leis maidir leis sin. Ag an am c\u00e9anna, bh\u00ed m\u00e9 ag \u00e9isteacht leis an d\u00edosp\u00f3ireacht anseo freisin. T\u00e1 a fhios agam go bhfuil daoine sa Teach seo a bhfuil imn\u00ed orthu faoi ruda\u00ed at\u00e1 sa Bhille agus ceisteanna at\u00e1 f\u00f3s le freagairt ag an Aire. Labhr\u00f3idh m\u00e9 f\u00fathu si\u00fad ar feadh tamaill\u00edn. While it is obviously very important to implement this legislation and to give legal effect to the European regulations and directives in law in this country, it is important that we do so in a way that is effective, above challenge and is going to work.  I note what the Minister said about the likelihood that many of the companies that will be affected by the EU e-evidence package will give their addressee in this State. This will possibly result in hundreds of thousands of requests, under the package, being brought to companies in this State and therefore being subject to regulation within this State. That is a significant administrative burden, so I would certainly welcome an assurance from the Minister that resources will be given to the office to ensure it can carry out its function. That is what I mean when I say it must be effective. If we are to give legal meaning to this legislation, it must be something where the CJICO to be established here will be able to do the work it has to do.  However, let me say this on co-operation with our European colleagues: I cannot think of a single example where it was not absolutely in Ireland's interest to be part of exercises and co-operation agreements exactly like this. As a small country in Europe, albeit one in which digital and technological regulation has come to the fore for us because so many companies have been headquartered here, it nonetheless serves us at every head's turn to be part of co-operation agreements with our European colleagues so that we can share information with them and will also be the beneficiaries of access to information across the European Union.  Looking specifically at law enforcement, I have listened to colleagues who have said crime does not respect borders, and they are absolutely correct in that regard. When we look at European law enforcement, we should be moving, to the greatest extent possible, to a single jurisdiction on this Continent so that we can accelerate the enforcement of law and the prosecution of those responsible for breaking the law. That said, we also need to build safeguards into all legislation. I listened to what was said about concerns relating to potential discrepancies between law in one member state and this member state and the idea that Irish addressees or companies based in this jurisdiction would therefore be aiding another jurisdiction to prosecute an offence that is not known to law in this jurisdiction. Safeguards are important. I know reference was made to Article 12(1)(d). I must say I am satisfied this gives the assurance required. In this context, for example, with the European arrest warrant framework that came into law over 20 years ago, at that time, if I remember correctly, during the debates there were also concerns regarding offences in other countries that were not offences here. The concern was that people would be extradited or surrendered all the time to other European countries for matters we do not recognise as against the law here. Again, notwithstanding the concerns expressed by Members at that time, that framework specifically addressed that, and in a similar way to what Article 12 does in the e-evidence package with a view to saying, \"Actually, no, you cannot do that.\" We have seen in the European arrest warrant framework, for example, that it is something the High Court must establish here before the extradition or surrender ever takes place. The High Court here must be satisfied that the offence complained of by the jurisdiction seeking to have a person surrendered is a matter known to Irish law. I would say the same must be true in terms of the operation of the CJICO and it satisfying itself. Article 12 gives that but, again, I would be grateful to hear confirmation from the Minister that he is also satisfied Article 12 does this.  The reality is that we are not just a geographic island but also, in many ways, a legal island within the European Union. The common law jurisdiction that operates here has benefited us hugely from the point of view of continuity over time in the interpretation of the law by our judges. It has also benefited us in the sense that international businesses and individuals coming to this State can rely on a rule of law that is consistently applied and the direction of which can be visibly seen.  They can have confidence that our system applies the law in a way that they can predict and therefore they can abide by.  There are other technical common law jurisdictions in the European Union - Cyprus and Malta, for example. They are more hybrid than we are. We are essentially the last pure common law jurisdiction left in the European Union after Brexit. We have to be mindful that different legal systems create different ways in which crime is prosecuted. In many respects, I have concerns about the way certain matters are addressed by courts under civil law jurisdiction and the rights that we take for granted in this jurisdiction may not be as openly available to citizens in other European countries. That is not to call into question the effectiveness or the fairness of their legal systems; it is just different. However, because of that difference, we have to create that balancing act between the two to ensure that there is not an injustice perpetrated because of a request made from one country to an addressee in this country in relation to something that may be at variance with our laws. I would be grateful to the Minister for confirmation that there is not an issue under Article 12 and that that satisfies any concerns that might exist in that regard.  I come back to the efficiency issue in relation to the operation of the CJICO. I ask the Minister to address the question of resources that will be made available to it. If, for example, hundreds of addressees who are based in this jurisdiction are nominated by companies in the digital space in Europe and we find hundreds of thousands of requests being made from across the European Union to this jurisdiction, will the resources to be available to the CJICO to deal with those requests? Has provision been made or consideration given to how that will happen?  Again, I refer to the European arrest warrant framework in this regard. Countries have applied it differently without any criticism. For example, Poland identified the European arrest warrant framework as a very effective way of getting citizens, particularly from Ireland, to go back to Poland. There has been criticism in the Supreme Court of the minor nature of some offences on which the return of a Polish citizen from Ireland was sought by Poland. Again, that is something that had to be dealt with by the Supreme Court. If, for example, the CJICO feels that a request is frivolous - in using that word I do so without any criticism - or more minor than may have been envisaged initially in this Bill or in the package generally, is that something that CJICO will be empowered to deal with itself? Will it have recourse to the courts? What will the ultimate arbiter be if addressees in this jurisdiction are receiving requests from other European countries that are just beyond the pale or beyond what we envisaged when this package was put together?  At the end of the day this e-evidence package makes perfect sense. The notion that we would be delaying criminal prosecutions because of administrative difficulties in transferring e-evidence from one entity to another or across borders is nonsense. We should not tolerate that. We should not encourage it. We should be doing everything we can in a legislative context to avoid that happening. That is what this Bill does as I understand it. It does not mean that it is perfect. It does not mean that it is not worth looking at the possible pitfalls that we may have experienced in transposing similar applications of European legislation into national legislation.  Has consideration been given to the possibility that one country might be very zealous - I will not say overzealous - in its pursuit of requests to addressees who might actually be resident in this jurisdiction? How will we deal with that? Is it sufficient for the CJICO or is it something that will require recourse to the Irish courts? If there is recourse to the Irish courts to solve those issues, what about the capacity of the courts to deal with those questions as they arise? We already have a criminal justice system and a court system generally that is under strain. We do not have enough judges. We do not have enough frequency of cases travelling through the courts. Will there be a dedicated court? Is that something that will create a blockage in the system? Has consideration been given to this?  All of this comes back to the basic point of this. We are a small entity within the European Union. We have had a universally positive experience of being part of the European Union and we have benefited enormously from co-operation with other European Union states whether through international co-operation on criminal justice matters, trade, travel or the free movement of ideas, goods and services, and all of the principles that we have come to take for granted as being part of the European Union. These are all good things for us.  I welcome the Bill from the point of view that it transposes the EU e-evidence package. It is important and it will benefit us. In the final analysis, our job in this House is to look at this Bill and the manner in which it transposes that package. Does it do it in a way that still serves us? More importantly, does it do it in a way that avoids pitfalls that will sometimes emerge from transposing complex legislation that is meant to apply to 27 states - hopefully in the near future more - by narrowing that into our jurisdiction and fitting it, like the peg that goes into a hole, into our specific common law jurisdiction. Does it work? Are there pitfalls and have all possible unintended consequences been considered? I am quite sure the Minister thinks they have but I would be very grateful to hear what specific considerations in that area have been given.  Maidir leis an mBille f\u00e9in, t\u00e1 m\u00e9 thar a bheith i bhfabhar an Bhille agus an mh\u00e9id a dh\u00e9anfaidh s\u00e9 maidir leis an dl\u00ed agus an dl\u00ed Eorpach at\u00e1 ag teacht go h\u00c9irinn. Is maith an rud \u00e9. Is maith d\u00fainn \u00e9 mar mhuintir na h\u00c9ireann. Cuirim f\u00e1ilte roimh an mBille agus t\u00e1 s\u00fail agam go rachaidh s\u00e9 tr\u00ed Thithe an Oireachtais leis an luas c\u00e9anna lenar th\u00e1inig s\u00e9 go dt\u00ed an Teach seo. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  I am glad to get the opportunity to speak. I welcome the introduction of this Bill which will ensure that electronic evidence needed for criminal investigations can be requested by law enforcement from service providers. What I am thinking about is the apprehension of drug lords who are ruining our society and causing so much mayhem in families. We see youngsters committing suicide and the disruption of families. As I said, the mayhem it causes is terrible. I support any way that we can apprehend these people rapidly because they have our society completely ruined. It is happening in most rural places, villages and towns, and of course our cities. The effect it is having on family life is desperate.  In relation to international co-operation, is this only with countries within the European Union's jurisdiction? It needs to go further than that. We need to have the same co-operation with countries outside of the European Union. Every one of us here knows they are coming from every part of the world. My worry, as I have said to the Minister here before, is our exposure along our coast. In many places even Kerry, we no longer have Garda stations. I worry, and many people worry, that drugs are coming in along the shore at night when they know nobody is monitoring or knows what is going on. We need more surveillance for that reason alone. That is a very important reason.  We know the existing means to get the electronic evidence needed for criminal investigation is slow and complex, and depends on the goodwill of service providers. When we are in the vein of apprehending criminals, we should not be impeded in any way. It should not be down to goodwill as to whether they give the evidence or not. It should be mandatory that they give it. I am just talking about drugs and the desperate situation that we have in our country at the present time. We know the Garda is doing very good work in apprehending big amounts of drugs but that only tells you the amounts that are getting through. The disruption caused and the harm they are doing to our youngsters is terrible.  More and more cases depend on electronic evidence, so any improvements in this process is welcome if it ensures criminal investigations can be progressed in a timely manner.  My concerns, however, relate to the total cost of implementing this and running it each year. So far, the financial implications amount to a budget allocation of \u20ac73,000 for pay costs in 2026. In the context of the costs we have today with other things, that is a minimal amount of funding. I do not know how that can be effective or adequate. A total of \u20ac3 million in capital expenditure has also been allocated for the building of an IT system necessary to connect to the EU decentralised IT system. I must make way for my colleague, Deputy Carol Nolan. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Carol Nolan  I wish to speak about the Criminal Justice (International Cooperation on Electronic Evidence and Other Matters) Bill 2026. It is a Bill that gives the State and the European Union sweeping new powers to obtain, preserve and transfer electronic evidence at extraordinary speed. I raise a simple question: why is the political will so strong in some areas but so weak in others? When it comes to digital surveillance and cross-border data demands, the State is prepared to move mountains. This Bill creates a system where Ireland becomes the central enforcement hub for the entire EU\u2019s e-evidence regime. Matheson LLP, in a detailed legal analysis, warns that Ireland will face significant operational demands and, potentially, substantial volumes of foreign data production orders, all under extremely tight deadlines, sometimes as short as eight hours. The machinery can move quickly when Europe needs it to. The political will is there when the European Parliament calls. The urgency is there and the resources are being found. When we look at another area, however, such as the identification of individuals entering our State through the migration system, including those who may be wanted abroad for serious crimes, the urgency suddenly evaporates. We still do not have a fully effective identity verification system at our borders. We still have gaps in biometric checks and delays in information-sharing. We still have well-documented cases in the public domain where individuals wanted abroad have entered Ireland undetected. I ask again: why is the State prepared to build a high-speed, high-capacity surveillance compliance machine for the EU but not an equally robust system to protect our own borders and people? That question needs to be answered.  This Bill will allow foreign authorities to obtain identifying data from Irish-based companies at speed. It will allow Ireland to process hundreds of thousands of requests every year. It will require garda\u00ed and our courts to prioritise and bow down to these demands even though they are already stretched to the limit. However, when it comes to identifying individuals entering our State - individuals who may have no documentation, no verified identity and, in some cases, criminal histories abroad - we still rely on systems that are slow, inconsistent and, in many cases, simply not fit for purpose. That is the contrast that I wish to highlight here this evening. I do not seek to undermine any co-operation or policing. Rather, I ask why the political will is uneven and unbalanced.  We can build a rapid-response, digital evidence system for Europe but we cannot build a rapid-response identity verification system for Ireland, which is a small island. Why is that? That is the question. We can enforce foreign data production orders within hours, but we cannot reliably confirm who is entering the State. We can impose major compliance burdens on Irish companies, but we cannot impose equivalent standards on the systems that protect our borders.  I support international co-operation and effective and efficient policing, but I also support consistency, balance and, above all, common sense. If we are prepared to grant sweeping new powers in the digital sphere, then, surely, we must show the same determination in the physical world at our borders, in our migration system and in the basic task of knowing who exactly is entering this State. This is the contrast that I am raising here today. It is a contrast that deserves answers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Neale Richmond)  I am glad to take the close of this Second Stage debate on behalf of the Minister, Deputy O\u2019Callaghan. I acknowledge with great thanks the engagement shown by all those present, particularly Deputies Mark Ward and Carol Nolan, in relation to today\u2019s discussion on what is an extremely important Bill.  The significance of Ireland\u2019s active engagement in the EU\u2019s e-evidence initiative, particularly as we progress towards Ireland\u2019s looming Presidency of the Council of the European Union, is substantial. Ireland\u2019s success in attracting industry at the forefront of technological innovation carries significant associated responsibilities. The nature of the services provided within the State by service providers has had many positive benefits for citizens across the European Union. However, the benefits of technology to our citizens can also prove beneficial to those who wish to cause harm or profit from crime. Fortunately, the usage of technological services can be logged and tracked, providing an avenue for the detection and prosecution of crime both within the State and across the European Union.  I commend service providers for their active engagement on the implementation of the EU e-evidence package and their recognition that they can play an important role in addressing criminal activity. The office that will be established under this Bill will be a central hub for digital and judicial co-operation and will bring coherence, efficiency and expertise, enhancing Ireland\u2019s role in the international judicial co-operation space. By investing in this office and centralising these responsibilities, we can ensure that Ireland speaks with one clear, expert voice in the EU and global regulatory forums.  Ireland\u2019s position as a technology hub for many of the larger service providers in the EU means the regulatory model we adopt will have significance beyond our shores. As a result, the office and its director established by this legislation will play an important role in the modernisation of evidence-gathering for criminal justice investigations throughout the European Union. The director and the office will have the critical task of ensuring service providers comply with lawful requests and that fundamental rights, data protection and privacy rights are upheld. This is not a small undertaking and it will require co-operation between service providers and judicial authorities alike.  Service providers have dual obligations. They are both gatekeepers for their customers\u2019 data and, potentially, if unwittingly, holders of information that may be crucial to criminal investigations. The various processes, procedures and safeguards outlined in both the e-evidence directive and regulation, together with those contained in the Bill, provide the means by which the director and the office will weigh these potentially competing interests.  While the Government expects compliance from service providers, the Bill also provides for the imposition of potentially significant penalties for non-compliance with the requirements of either the directive or the regulation. The inclusion of the provision for an adjudication officer, in line with advice from the Office of the Attorney General, ensures that fair procedures with regard to the assessment of the validity or degree of fines imposed will be in place.  I advise Deputies that the Minister, Deputy O\u2019Callaghan, intends to speedily progress this Bill through the Houses, thus ensuring that Ireland is ready for the launch of the e-evidence regime on 18 August 2026. Committee Stage has already been arranged and the Minister looks forward to actively engaging with Deputies on the details of this Bill. While the Minister is prepared to consider suggested amendments, he advises Deputies that there is likely to be limited scope for their acceptance. The requirements imposed by both the directive and the regulation, as well as legal advices obtained by the Office of the Attorney General, limit what can be accommodated. However, the Minister, and the Government more widely, can ensure Deputies that progression of the Bill will send a positive signal to the Commission and member states that, as we take up the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, we recognise Ireland\u2019s importance in ensuring the success of the EU e-evidence initiative and its objective. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The division will be taken immediately prior to Committee Stage of the Bill, which will be taken in committee of the whole D\u00e1il on Wednesday, 17 June 2026. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Criminal Justice (International Cooperation on Electronic Evidence and Other Matters) Bill 2026: Second Stage"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/dbsect_19","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/47","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/47\/dail\/2","houseCode":"dail","stage":"2","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Health (Abolition of Three Day Wait Rule) (Amendment) Bill 2026: Second Stage [Private Members] (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Health (Abolition of Three Day Wait Rule) (Amendment) Bill 2026: Second Stage [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":33,"speakerCount":28},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_19","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ann Graves","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donna McGettigan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Geoghegan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Government has indicated that it is not opposing the Second Reading of the Bill. I call Deputy Mary Lou McDonald to move the Second Reading. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  I move: \"That the Bill be now read a Second Time.\"  This is an important piece of legislation before the D\u00e1il. It is a Bill to remove the mandatory three-day wait for women who need an abortion. It goes without saying that every woman must have the space, the understanding and the support she needs to come to her decision in her time. Any woman making this decision will have given it very deep thought. We should never underestimate, dismiss or discount that reality. To force a woman to wait for three days is just wrong. Tomorrow night, every TD will have an opportunity to right that wrong, to vote to change the law to remove this barrier to healthcare for women and to uphold the promise of repeal and take a significant step toward compassion. After all, that was the guiding principle when the people voted to repeal the eighth amendment eight years ago. We said then that we would trust women, and that is what we must do, not just with words or promises but with delivery.  In truth, the three-day waiting period should never have been introduced. In fact, the original review of the legislation states very clearly that the three-day wait has to go. This is a considered recommendation based on real experience and the real impact of the enforced wait on the lives of women. This wait has caused huge harm and trauma. The three-day mandatory wait has seen women pushed beyond the 12-week period, meaning that they cannot access services here in Ireland. Eight years after repeal, some women are still forced to travel abroad. Women who have been sexually assaulted, who are the victims of domestic violence or are in abusive coercive relationships are left in the most awful of circumstances. The wait is also a very serious problem for women who have difficulty accessing a GP and services in their own county. Many are forced to travel for hours for the initial appointment, only to be sent away and told to return again after three days. I cannot tell the Minister of State the level of distress, suffering and emotional anguish for women across the country that this has caused. None of this is care. None of this is fair. None of this is compassionate.  The three-day wait simply denies women the right to come to their decisions about their healthcare on their own terms and in their own time. It is wrong that women are forced into this arbitrary delay when they have already made a decision and presented themselves to their doctor. The three-day wait is not healthcare. It does not make services safer or better. It only serves as a barrier to women accessing the service they need. I believe there is widespread support across our society to end this three-day wait, for us to live up to the declaration that women are trusted and that we are respected to make decisions in our own time with compassion, space, understanding and care.  Today, we can change the law. Irish women have been failed in so many ways for such a long time. We now have an opportunity to put one of those wrongs to right.  I am conscious the review of the legislation asks that the D\u00e1il and the Oireachtas consider other matters, including fatal foetal anomaly, and I urge the Government to establish the expert panel necessary to give us the advice, as an Oireachtas, in respect of those matters.  I acknowledge the Government has indicated support for this legislation. I very much welcome that, and the support from Members right across the benches in this House. It is so important we work together to make this really essential change and that we all do the right thing by women.  When the people voted to repeal the eighth amendment in 2018, it was a watershed moment, and the message was loud and clear; the days of women being denied the right to make decisions about our own healthcare were over. Trust, compassion and care; those were the values the Irish people chose to back. By voting to remove the three-day wait we can take a significant step to honouring that promise because for too long women have been let down. This is our opportunity now to ensure compassion and trust prevail. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  In 2018, the people voted in a historic referendum to appeal the eighth amendment and to remove legal barriers preventing women from exercising choice over their own pregnancies. This Bill is about respecting and trusting women in exercising that choice to access the care they need when they need it. It is about recognising that women do not take this decision lightly, that this is something they consider deeply and that they do not need the State or politicians to force them to wait for longer, as if they cannot be trusted to make decisions about their own pregnancies for themselves in their own time.  This is a straightforward and targeted Bill. It does just one thing. It proposes to remove the mandatory three-day wait for access to an abortion during early pregnancy. It does this by deleting section 12(3) and by amending section 12(4) to remove the requirement for three days to have elapsed before a termination can be carried out. It does not require an abortion to happen on the day of a first consultation but when a woman is certain that this is what she wants, it allows her to make that decision for herself in her own time about her own pregnancy without a mandatory delay. I am open to working across the House on an amendment to clarify this further in the Bill, and I hope to do so. I understand there may be a number of technical amendments needed by Government if and when this Bill goes to Committee Stage.  Under the current law, when a woman attends a doctor seeking a termination of pregnancy within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, the doctor must certify that it has been fewer than 12 weeks since the end of the pregnant woman's last period. A woman must then wait for at least three days before the doctor can carry out the procedure. The termination cannot happen at all if a woman subsequently times out of the 12-week period due to the mandatory delay. Instead, our Bill allows the termination to take place as soon as may be desired by the woman in her own time. This allows women who have made up their mind to access care when they seek it and still allows time for reflection for a woman who still needs time to think about this decision. This is important because the clear feedback from women is that they were bring pushed beyond the 12-week threshold by the three-day mandatory wait or were unable to secure a second appointment on time, which denied them their choice to end a pregnancy.  Sinn F\u00e9in has always been clear and consistent that we did not approve of the mandatory waiting period; that it puts women in difficult positions; and that it is not compassionate to women who have suffered rape or sexual assault, to women who learn of their pregnancy late or to women who are subject to controlling or abusing partners and for whom that first appointment may be the only appointment they get.  The three-day wait was examined as part of the review of the operation of the Act. Its removal is one of the clearest recommendations arising from that process. We recognise in law and in policy that women should have access to abortion services on the basis of their own choice. This was the compassionate position put before the people in 2018 and it is the basis on which services have been provided since. The question before us now is whether the State should continue to impose an arbitrary delay after a woman has already made her decision and presented to a doctor. I do not believe that it should. This waiting period does not provide care. It does not provide support. It does not make any service safer. It simply makes access harder, especially for those who can least afford delay. It can create real difficulty for women: for women who have travelled for long distances; for women arranging time off work or childcare; for women in crisis; and for women living with coercive, controlling partners, or domestic violence. For many women, having to return days later is not a small inconvenience but it can be a very serious barrier and has been identified as such.  Removing the mandatory waiting period does not mean that the termination must take place on the first day. It does not remove a woman's ability to take more time if she wants to and in those circumstances she should and she must be supported. What this Bill does is remove the requirement that the State must force every woman to wait, regardless of her circumstances, her decision, her health or her needs.  This Bill clearly sets out the Sinn F\u00e9in policy that was endorsed at our Ard-Fheis earlier this year. This Bill strikes the right balance. It is the right change to make. It is overdue. It respects women's decisions. It removes an unnecessary barrier to care. There are many other issues that these Houses should and must work through, arising from the review of the Act. I commend this Bill to the House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joanna Byrne  I am immensely proud to have played an active part in campaigning to repeal the eighth amendment. I had so many people share their very private and personal experiences with me on the doorsteps in Drogheda and the wider parts of my county. Activists of all political hues joined together under the banner of Together For Yes. We asked voters to trust women and we asked them to support providing compassionate care at home. We met daughters, mothers, sisters and grandmothers from all walks of life who had their own harrowing experiences of being forced to travel, forced to borrow money and, crucially, being forced to wait to access terminations.  In my home county of Louth, 66.5% of voters said \"Yes\" to repealing the eighth amendment. At a time when we watched women's rights and autonomy being eroded in other parts of the world, activists young and old took pride in playing their part in reclaiming their bodies and rights here at home.  Now, more than six years on, we know that forcing women to wait for a mandatory three-day period is having a negative impact and that it is a barrier to accessing the same compassionate care people voted for. To the best of my knowledge, a three-day waiting period enshrined in law does not apply to any other medical procedure, yet here we are this evening debating the removal of a mandatory wait that is applied to women's healthcare. The waiting period does not provide care. It leaves women exposed, isolated and vulnerable. It adds unnecessary stress and anxiety to what is an already difficult decision and sometimes in awful, harrowing circumstances.  Nobody makes the decision to access a termination lightly and removing this mandatory three-day wait will not stop anyone who wants to take more time to make their decision. Removing this unnecessary wait period is the right thing to do and instead of offering isolation, we would be offering compassion. Women deserve dignity, women deserve respect and, crucially, women deserve trust - trust to make that decision for themselves in their own time about their own pregnancies without a mandatory delay. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ann Graves","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ann Graves  Removal of the mandatory three-day wait period for abortion in early pregnancy is a hugely step forward for women the length and breadth of this country. As it stands, it affects women's access to healthcare right across Ireland; women from all different backgrounds who have made their choices for many different reasons. We have to put the health of women to the forefront and this is key to the Sinn F\u00e9in legislation. This Bill supports and trusts women. It allows women access to healthcare in a respectful and understanding way and it respects their choice.  Ireland has come a long way in my lifetime. We are a far more understanding and caring society than the one I grew up in but we still have more to do. I have seen the negative spin around this on social media. It does not reflect the needs of the women in Ireland or the views of the wider public. I have seen some people attempt to muddy the waters, play politics with women's health, and make baseless claims about this Bill. This Bill is focused on the three-day wait and nothing else. I acknowledge all those women and men who campaigned against the original eighth amendment and then successfully campaigned to remove that amendment from the Constitution.  The three-day wait should never have been introduced and has had serious consequences. It is time for the law to change and this will be a significant move towards removing barriers to women accessing healthcare.  Since the repeal of the eighth amendment and the passing of abortion legislation, there have been concerns expressed at the mandatory three-day wait and the negative implications it has had for women. A review of the legislation recommended that it had to go. Any woman making this decision will not have done so lightly. Removing the mandatory wait does not mean a woman cannot take more time if she wishes, this option will still, of course, be available but forcing a woman into a three-day mandatory wait is not on. It has had a very negative effect and it is cruel. It has meant that some women time out and have to travel abroad simply because they cannot get access to care. Perhaps they have difficulty getting a GP appointment in their area.  It has had serious consequences for women in very difficult circumstances where they are victims of domestic violence or sexual assault, and are being forced into additional trauma and distress. I am working with a woman in my constituency who was abused for years by a close family member. When she discovered she was pregnant she was devastated and decided on a termination. She had her mind made up and there was no question but she found the three-day delay very difficult to deal with. Not only had she to deal with abuse, which she is now addressing, thankfully, she has also suffered through an additional needless wait.  Sinn F\u00e9in published the legislation and moved First Stage on 7 June, a number of weeks after our party's Ard-Fheis endorsed the position. I am happy the Government is supporting the Bill but to those TDs who may have doubts about it, I ask them to please stop and think about the women they know. I ask them to put themselves in their shoes, support them, trust in them and please do the right thing by supporting the Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donna McGettigan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donna McGettigan  I thank my colleagues in Sinn F\u00e9in for the Bill. At its heart, this legislation is about one simple principle, which is trusting women. The mandatory three-day waiting period does not provide care and it does not provide support. What it does is make women wait. It delays access to healthcare at what is already one of the most difficult moments in their lives. Do we really believe that women have not already thought long and hard about this decision before they walk through the door of a GP or consultant's office? It is not an easy decision and it is not one taken lightly. By the time a woman seeks an abortion, she has already gone through an agonising process of reflection and consideration.  The State should not be in the business of imposing barriers based on an outdated notion that women cannot be trusted to make decisions about their own healthcare. For some women this delay can be particularly cruel. Think of those experiencing coercive control, women trapped in abusive relationships, and victims of domestic violence, rape and sexual assault. For these women every extra day can mean further distress and trauma. Imagine the courage it takes for a young woman who has been sexually abused to come forward to seek medical help and to make a decision about her future. The last thing she needs to be told is to go away and wait. We cannot justify forcing victims of rape, sexual assault and abuse to endure additional waiting periods that serve no medical purpose.  There may also be women in situations of rape or sexual assault who find out late about their pregnancy due to the trauma they are enduring. Making them wait could mean them reliving the trauma for days more than they should. We all know that accessing a GP in a timely manner is becoming increasingly difficult. This also causes delays and anxiety. The mandatory waiting period does not ease this burden but prolongs it and extends the agony at a time when compassion should be the guiding light. We must also remember that some women could be going through this alone.  The Bill does not require an abortion to take place at the first consultation. It does not remove the option of taking more time. Any woman who wishes to wait three days can still do so. This choice will remain entirely hers. What the Bill does is remove the mandatory wait. It removes the State-imposed delay and allows a woman, in consultation with her healthcare provider, to decide what is right for her and when. The legislation recognises a very simple truth, which is that women are capable of making decisions about their own lives and their own bodies.  We said during the referendum campaign that we would trust women. If we meant these words, then we must mean it now. The question in the Bill is straight forward. It is whether or not we trust women. We have heard from countless women who have been forced to endure this waiting time. They have told us it did not change their minds and that it did not provide comfort or offer reassurance, it simply prolonged what was already a difficult experience. This legislation is not radical but it is compassionate and it gives women the respect they deserve. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Children, Disability and Equality (Deputy Emer Higgins)  I am taking this debate on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, who unfortunately is unable to be here this evening as she is attending a meeting of EU heath ministers in Luxembourg. I assure the House she would have been here otherwise and I am sure that Members will appreciate that it just was not possible for her to be here this evening. I have spoken to the Minister and I will seek to reflect her views and the views of the Department in the information provided in the debate on the Bill.  I thank Sinn F\u00e9in and Deputy Cullinane for their work on this Bill. I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this important debate. Like the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, and many of us here in the House, I have heard the experiences of women who have availed of termination of pregnancy services. Their honesty and their feedback are so appreciated and so valued. The Minister has also heard the views of clinicians and medical practitioners. I recognise that there is a broad spectrum of sincerely held opinion on the issue of termination of pregnancy, and on the removal of the three-day wait.  This House needs to facilitate an open and respectful debate to reflect both sides of the argument and all views. It is important that all voices are heard and that we respect and listen to each other. The Government is committed to ensuring that there is safe and equitable access to termination of pregnancy services. I assure the House that this remains an ongoing priority. I am also aware that the arguments for and against the removal of the mandatory three-day waiting period have been well aired in the public domain.  At the outset, one very important thing to do is to point out that the current model of care, which includes the three-day wait, is safe and effective. There are some very practical and operational considerations and challenges involved in abolishing the three-day wait. These are not insurmountable. However, I do have a responsibility to the House to be frank and to set them out. It is critical that when we are required to vote, we do so on the basis that we are making an informed choice, so I will now set out some of the implications of the Bill.  I understand the reasons behind the three-day wait and the reluctance and concerns of those who oppose its removal. I am aware it was included in the 2018 Act, the outline of which was published as part of the information campaign on the referendum itself. It allows individuals to consider their decision carefully and avoid feeling rushed or pressured. It was intended to act as a legal safeguard demonstrating the serious and irreversible nature of the decision. From an operational perspective, the waiting period provides a structured and predictable pathway for service users and providers.  The HSE advises that the current model of care is safe and effective and that, as it stands, the model of care for termination of pregnancy services, the national clinical guidelines, service configuration and public information materials all centre around the requirement for a three-day wait. The provision of services would, therefore, have to be fundamentally reconfigured if this Bill were to pass. It would, therefore, require careful consideration and planning. The removal of the statutory waiting period would have implications for the current model of care, the national clinical guidelines, service configuration and public information materials, as I have said.  Clarification would be required regarding whether assessment and treatment could occur during the same visit, whether same-day treatment would be expected or simply permitted, and whether any reflection period would remain available at the request of the service user. The existing service model is based on separate stages of assessment, certification and treatment. Any move towards a more flexible or same-day pathway would necessitate changes to clinic scheduling, workforce deployment, patient flow arrangements and administrative processes. Consideration would also need to be given to the potential impact on service demand and capacity, particularly if there is an increase in requests for treatment on the day of assessment. As I have said, these are not insurmountable.  It is also important to point out that some of the logistical difficulties or burdens associated with the three-day wait have been alleviated by the introduction of the blended model of care for termination of pregnancy services in the community. This model, as Members may be aware, was first introduced in response to the Covid pandemic and has been approved as the enduring model of care. Under this approach, it is possible for one of the two consultations required for termination in early pregnancy, usually the first, to take place remotely.  On the other hand, it is necessary to recognise that mandatory waiting periods represent a departure from the norm when it comes to health. In most areas of healthcare, informed consent is based on a patient's capacity, understanding and voluntary decision-making rather than a prescribed waiting period. This debate provides us with the opportunity to reflect on whether it is necessary or, indeed, appropriate to retain such a requirement here in Ireland.  I am aware that there are many who continue to view it as a necessary protection that provides women with a valued opportunity for reflection and consideration before treatment proceeds. Some will point to the gap in the numbers between those presenting for a first appointment and those proceeding to terminate the pregnancy. They will argue that the provision is saving lives. It is worth mentioning that the figures quoted in this respect are not collated for, or a reflection of, evaluating the effectiveness of the three-day wait. They are simply claims for payment from community providers, which are subject to review and change.  There are many reasons a woman may not return for a second appointment with a community provider. First, she may be over nine weeks pregnant and therefore be transferred into the hospital system. She may not have been pregnant at all. She may miscarry, or she may travel abroad for care. Undoubtedly, there is a proportion of women who are changing their minds, although many studies, such as that of the Irish Family Planning Association, IFPA, would suggest that the figure is quite small. It would be important to ensure that any proposed amendment to the current legislation makes provision for the retention of a reflection period should a woman wish to avail of it.  It is important to emphasise that women can continue to change their minds if they so wish. The lack of a mandatory reflection period would not mean a woman could not change her mind. She is perfectly at liberty, after discussing the matter with her doctor, to decide not to proceed with the termination. The decision is hers and hers alone. Moreover, there are supports available to assist her in making that decision, should she wish to avail of them. The HSE-funded My Options service offers non-directive counselling and information for people experiencing an unplanned pregnancy. My Options is staffed by professionally trained counsellors who are experienced in providing support to women experiencing an unplanned pregnancy. The ethos of the service is client centred and counsellors take their lead from the person contacting them for information and support.  More fundamentally, we must acknowledge the difficulties that the mandatory waiting period can present for some women. It may in some circumstances create an unnecessary delay once a clear and informed decision has been made. Some women have said that it creates practical challenges relating to travel, childcare, employment and other personal circumstances. Moreover, the additional appointments and administrative processes can push patients past gestational limits. These can pose particular difficulties for vulnerable groups and individuals.  The unplanned abortion care study, commissioned as part of the review of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018, explored the experiences of individuals accessing abortion services under section 12 of the Act. The findings indicate that the mandatory three-day waiting period was a recurring feature of discussions across the majority of interviews conducted. Participants expressed a range of views regarding its value and impact. While some regarded it as a procedural requirement that had to be navigated, others viewed it as a barrier or deterrent to accessing care. Very few participants considered the waiting period to have been beneficial to their own decision-making process, although some acknowledged that other women might value additional time for reflection.  Internationally, the landscape has also shifted somewhat away from mandatory waiting periods. Health bodies such as the United Nations and the World Health Organization, WHO, take a clear and evidence-based position on mandatory waiting periods for termination of pregnancy. The WHO, in its 2022 abortion care guideline, explicitly recommends against mandatory waiting periods, arguing that research shows that such delays offer no medical benefit and instead only restrict access to care and undermine service provision. These concerns are echoed by human rights bodies within the United Nations. In addition, while reflection periods were a feature of the legislative regimes in many European countries at the time of the introduction of the 2018 Act, a number of jurisdictions, including Spain, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, have since removed them, reflecting a broader trend towards reliance on standard informed consent processes.  In conclusion, I would like to once again thank Sinn F\u00e9in for introducing this Private Members' Bill. It is important that we as legislators provide a forum to debate important issues. The requirement for a mandatory waiting period is primarily a policy choice, and we need to consistently look at our policies. This Bill provides us with an opportunity to reflect on the operation of the three-day wait. Those who support the passage of the Bill will point to the significant burdens enforced delays can cause, while those who oppose it will argue that the waiting period is not a barrier but a protection against rushing into a choice a person may later regret. The key challenge now in coming to a decision on the Bill is to find the appropriate balance between protective measures and compassionate, timely access to healthcare.  I would like to conclude my remarks by making it clear that should this Private Members' Bill pass Second Stage, there will be full access to appropriate legal and drafting expertise to ensure there are no unintended consequences and that the legislation will be as robust as possible if it passes. I look forward to a constructive engagement. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  I thank my colleague, an Teachta Cullinane, for bringing forward this legislation. I look back on the speeches given on the day the post-repeal legislation was introduced here in the D\u00e1il. The three-day wait was opposed by Sinn F\u00e9in, the Labour Party and People Before Profit, PBP. I have to say that we were right to oppose it. I am glad to say that other parties that did not take the opportunity that night have come to the same conclusion.  The three-day wait is nothing more than a political construct. It was not recommended by the citizens' assembly, and anyone who watched the proceedings, as I did, knows the assembly was very comprehensive in its deliberations. It was not recommended by the eighth amendment committee, of which I was a member. In all of our hours and hours of discussion over many months, we never recommended a three-day wait. It was inserted by Fine Gael, and I hope that I will see many Fine Gaelers in here tomorrow voting in the right way this time to get it gone.  I would like, as I generally do when I discuss abortion healthcare, to recall those many people who campaigned for access over so many decades. These include people like my parents, who campaigned against the insertion of the eighth amendment, and Ailbhe Smyth, who, as we know, was a tireless campaigner for women's rights. I also recall those women who were the victims of regressive laws and denied access to care. These were women like Sheila Hodgers, who was a very good friend of my mother's, Ann Lovett and Savita Halappanavar, and there are many more whom I do not have time to list this evening.  My activism on abortion rights did not start with repeal, and I am not naive enough to believe that it will end with one debate or one law, because I know this is a fight that we must continue. I was a small child when I first marched with my mam for abortion access. Then, we were marching for information. I marched with my friends to get the State to legislate for X. I marched and campaigned with my daughter and, although he was tiny, with my grandson for repeal. At every stage, we count our wins, we accept our losses and we keep going. This legislation is evidence of that. We will keep going.  Let us get the three-day wait gone. Let us mark our progress. Let us keep campaigning for women's rights, because I am long enough around and long enough campaigning to know that one piece of legislation without consensus makes a point. Building consensus and getting the law changed makes a real difference. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy R\u00e9ada Cronin  Repeal was a movement built by women for women. It was a movement built to trust women, to listen to women and, ultimately, to care for women. It was a proud moment for the women of Ireland who fought tirelessly to ensure equal access and healthcare for all. I remember that we did great work in north Kildare and in the Kildare Coalition for Repeal. I think we knew after the first canvass that this referendum was going to be won. It inspired hope in so many of us and truly turned the page for progressive politics here in Ireland.  This is only the beginning, though. We are still fighting and legislating for healthcare services for women. The three-day wait rule should never have been introduced following the repeal referendum. I would go so far as to say that women's healthcare should never have even been in the Constitution at all. The removal of this rule is critical if we are to honour the repeal of the eighth amendment. Sinn F\u00e9in has always been against the three-day rule. The citizens' assembly and the Oireachtas committee did not look for it. This rule neither trusts nor listens to women. In fact, the three-day rule treats women with suspicion, suggesting we cannot come to conclusions on our own. All it does is make access to healthcare harder for all of us, and this is not what women need, especially not those who have extremely difficult circumstances, including women who have suffered from domestic violence, coercive control by a partner or rape. A three-day wait is the very last thing a woman in those circumstances needs. This is a time when they need to be listened to and shown compassion.  Let us be honest about the three-day rule itself. Some claim it leads to fewer abortions, but as the Minister of State said herself, that is simply not the case. There are examples of some women actually suffering a miscarriage during the three-day wait. This is a time when they need care and not to be hanging on. The truth is that a woman can take as many days as she needs herself to make that decision. She does not need to mark off a date with a medical professional and then come back three days later. However many days she takes to decide within the law, that is up to her. I implore TDs to vote in favour of our motion and show that Ireland trusts and listens to women. B\u00edodh muin\u00edn againn as mn\u00e1 na h\u00c9ireann. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh  The three-day wait has to go. I am glad to get the chance to speak on this Bill. I welcome Sinn F\u00e9in's constructive and consensus-seeking approach on this key issue affecting every woman in this State in one way or another. It is a modest proposal, doing the bare minimum in implementing a key recommendation of the O'Shea report.  The three-day wait is backward, causing harm to women and forcing them to go abroad for essential healthcare. When the Irish people voted for repeal, they voted to trust women, give them ownership over their own bodies and allow them to choose whether they were prepared to carry and welcome a child into the world. This is a very serious decision, and we can all rest assured it is given serious consideration by mn\u00e1 na h\u00c9ireann. No woman having an abortion is making the choice lightly or frivolously. We have a responsibility to take women's agency seriously and to trust their judgment. We cannot, on the one hand, say we are giving women the choice and, on the other, say they have to wait. It is paternalistic and patriarchal, taking control away from women regarding decisions to do with their own bodies.  We have all heard stories of the awful predicament this rule leaves women in and, as such, it represents an unacceptable barrier to access. Women who are victims of sexual violence and coercive control, women who do not have easy access to GP care and women who learn of their pregnancies late cannot afford to wait. These women should not be punished for the failings of society.  This Sinn F\u00e9in Bill takes an important step towards a compassionate vision of healthcare that places the well-being of patients at the centre. This is only the first step. Many other barriers remain for women accessing reproductive rights. Crucially, abortion care needs to be removed from the law related to criminal offences in the Statute Book.  Caithfear f\u00e1il r\u00e9idh leis an tr\u00e9imhse feithimh tr\u00ed l\u00e1 chun rochtain a fh\u00e1il ar ghinmhilleadh. N\u00edl s\u00e9 ag coinne\u00e1il le spiorad an reifrinn repeal a thug cearta do mhn\u00e1 maidir le f\u00e9inriar colainne. Teasta\u00edonn uainn smacht a thabhairt do mhn\u00e1 ar chinnt\u00ed a bhaineann lena gcolainn f\u00e9in agus muin\u00edn a chur iontu go bhfuil siad ag d\u00e9anamh an chinnidh chirt d\u00f3ibh f\u00e9in. T\u00e1 an tr\u00e9imhse feithimh ag d\u00e9anamh dochar d'an-chuid ban agus ag cur iachall orthu taisteal. Molaim do gach Teachta sa Teach seo tac\u00fa len\u00e1r mBille agus muin\u00edn a l\u00e9iri\u00fa i mn\u00e1 na h\u00c9ireann. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell  Just over eight years ago, the people of this State made a decision. They made that decision to repeal the eighth amendment. We saw how it impacted on people. It impacted on young people and older people. We saw how this created a movement that saw young Irish people who were scattered across the globe come home to vote in what they felt was a critical referendum for their future.  Many of us here, including me, got involved in campaign groups with people of a variety of political viewpoints to make a change we all felt was necessary. We knocked on doors, had long conversations with many people and, on 25 May 2018, the people voted and made the decision to repeal the amendment. That decision was rooted in a trust of women \u2013 a trust in women's decision-making and a deep need for compassion around women's healthcare.  It is now eight years later and we now have women with lived experiences who have spoken to all of us in this Chamber and who have felt the need to share their stories in order to help others. The question of the mandatory three-day wait has been to the forefront of this conversation. Sinn F\u00e9in has been clear from the get-go that we are opposed to the three-day wait and that it hinders women's ability to access the care they need. This is not just something we believe but something women have told us consistently since the repeal of the eighth amendment.  As with everything, there are many examples and differing realities concerning how people are impacted. I am conscious when I give examples of those impacted that there are people watching today who have had different experiences. Of course, we think of all of those experiences. However, the issues of coercive control and domestic abuse are becoming far more prevalent in public discourse. With greater recognition of the effects they have, we realise the reality for women in such scenarios is that access to a first medical appointment may be incredibly difficult to arrange. It can be impossible to arrange a second one. Some women may find out later in pregnancy that they are in fact pregnant and, therefore, the three-day wait may push them out of the timeline that allows for termination. It is not showing the compassion to survivors of sexual assault and rape that they should be shown within the healthcare system. There are, of course, many other scenarios, but it ultimately comes down to the fact that the three-day wait is not grounded in the compassionate healthcare that women need. I hope this Chamber votes to get rid of it tomorrow evening. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  We now move to the Social Democrats. Deputies P\u00e1draig Rice and Sin\u00e9ad Gibney are sharing time. They have six minutes each. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  On behalf of the Social Democrats, I am delighted to welcome this Bill and say we will be supporting it. We support access to free, safe and legal abortion. We need to trust women, listen to them, provide care with compassion and remove barriers to access. There are currently too many barriers to accessing terminations in Ireland, and the three-day wait is a core part of that and needs to be removed. We are strongly in support of that.  As others have said, the three-day wait is medically unnecessary and insulting to women. It is the only form of healthcare with a State-imposed delay. It is a paternalistic restriction, and we have a history of paternalistic attitudes in our healthcare service that need to be undone. It is interfering with women's ability to make decisions about their own bodies and it is having a disproportionate effect on vulnerable groups, including those experiencing domestic violence, those who have language-based access issues, those who struggle to access a GP, and many others. We are aware that the World Health Organization recommends against the provision because there is no medical evidence for it. It is beyond time that the three-day wait was gone.  We are aware that there are other barriers, like people being forced to take additional days off work just in order to go back to the second appointment. Therefore, the provision is completely unnecessary and needs to go. We are also aware that there are huge issues in accessing GP services across the country. My party had a motion setting out a 20-point plan on how to improve access to GP services. Some women are forced to travel between counties to access GP services and, under the three-day wait, are forced to do that twice and at a huge personal cost. Therefore, the provision absolutely needs to be removed.  Others will talk here about the number of people who change their mind or do not return for the second appointment, as the Minister of State referred to, but this is not just about people changing their minds. There are issues around having miscarriages, negative pregnancy tests, ectopic pregnancies, having gone to another doctor, having gone over time, having travelled abroad and having been pushed over the 12-week limit between the two appointments. There are many reasons people may not return to the second appointment. They may have difficulty accessing an appointment.  There is an uneven distribution of services across the country and that impacts marginalised and vulnerable women in particular. The IFPA conducts an annual analysis of its services, and this is probably the most detailed qualitative data set available. It has found that 98% of its clients proceeded to access abortion care following the three-day wait. This data makes it clear that women are affirming their decisions before consulting a medical professional. The IFPA has said that standard practice regarding informed consent is that doctors encourage patients to take additional time if that is what they need, but there is no scientific support for imposing a time limit. Women will still be able to have that time to make the decision, but it just will not be enforced.  It is welcome that the rule will be removed and it is welcome to hear that there is significant support across the House, including, I understand, from the Taoiseach, T\u00e1naiste and others in government, for making this change. From the Social Democrats' perspective, we would have gone further. Our Bill a number of weeks ago would have gone further with the changes.  The O'Shea report had a series of recommendations. The review was provided for in the original legislation in 2018. The O'Shea report should not be allowed to sit on a shelf and gather dust. Its recommendations should be implemented in full, and we need to make progress beyond just the three-day wait, including on decriminalisation. The arrangement is having a chilling effect on doctors, and there is the possibility of a 14-year prison sentence.  We also need to make changes in terms of fatal foetal abnormality to ensure no more women have to travel abroad. That was core to the referendum. I was the secretary of Cork Together for Yes for a long time and I knocked on many doors and spoke to many women. When we were campaigning in Cork and across the country, it came up time and again that women should not have to travel abroad to access services that should be available in Ireland. Until we make all the required changes, women will continue to travel abroad, and we cannot have it. We must be brave in this Oireachtas, go further and implement those changes, particularly in respect of the 28-day limit in terms of fatal foetal abnormality.  We know that, in most European countries, it is recognised that fatal foetal conditions and the length of neonatal survival are unpredictable and most other countries avoid having specific day counts. We should follow suit here.  The Social Democrats would have liked to have gone further. However, I hope this Bill passes and makes progress. I hope it is enacted and put on the Statute Book. I have a concern that that is as far as this Oireachtas will go and we will be left waiting until the next Oireachtas or longer, that women will be left waiting and the political energy and capital was spent on this one change as opposed to the further and deeper reforms that are needed and are recommended in the O'Shea report, which was commissioned by the Government. I would like the Oireachtas to do more and to remove more barriers, provide expanded access and address the concerns being set out by doctors and women. I would like the Oireachtas to go further.  There has been positive engagement from the Minister in working with Opposition parties on amendments and improving Bills. I wish a similar approach were adopted to Opposition legislation in other areas. I would like a more constructive approach to be adopted by the Government to matters we raise rather than rejecting them out of hand. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  I also welcome the Bill and thank Sinn F\u00e9in for its work in bringing it to the D\u00e1il floor. Repeal is deeply a part of who we are as a party. There are many members and, indeed, elected representatives within our party who were politically mobilised and activated by their experience in repeal and who feel passionately about the full implementation of the repeal movement and what it means for women and reproductive rights in Ireland.  I welcome, most importantly, the opportunity to address what is a legislative gap that was identified in the O'Shea report and urgently needs to be addressed. The three-day wait is a hangover of the infantilising, patronising and misogynistic treatment of women that we have seen recur many times in our provision of health services in this country. Symphysiotomy is another example. There are many more ways in which women have been mistreated through the provision of healthcare and this is another example. What we learned from the repeal campaign and the stories of so many women, and, since then, the implementation of the legislation and the provision of abortion care in Ireland, is that women know their own bodies. Women need to be trusted.  Twenty-six years ago, I was in the middle of a crisis pregnancy. I was a young woman. I was not in a relationship with my daughter's father. In many ways, people would have expected me to be a prime candidate for an abortion. I remember from the moment I got pregnant that I wanted the baby. We talk a lot about choice. For me, it was compulsion. There was no decision-making. When we think about choice and what women go through, we think that they sit down and tot things up. That was not my experience. Many friends of mine have accessed abortion care. On paper, they probably had the types of circumstance that people would not have assumed would prompt them towards termination. The reality is that we, ourselves individually and in consultation with appropriate healthcare providers, know our minds, bodies, health and circumstances, and we know our own family planning. We need to be able to access it. The imposition of a three-day waiting period goes against all of that. By all means, if people wish to self-impose a three-day waiting period, they absolutely should if it makes sense to them. Going back to that determination of choice, we need to speak to and listen to women, and we know that the three-day waiting period, if it is imposed in a mandatory way, is wrong and redundant and simply must go.  It is regrettable that this legislation does not cover the comprehensive gaps we know are there. The O'Shea report came of the review mechanism that was built into the 2018 Act. It provided an analysis of the implementation and a clear roadmap for how to address those gaps. Those operational gaps have been filled, as we know, by the Department through the provision across multiple hospitals and all the different ways it can be done without legislation. There have, however, been tumbleweeds in respect of the legislative changes recommended in the report.  It is welcome that the Bill is being welcomed by the Government. There are indications that Government representatives will be voting in favour of it. However, I find it hard to stomach that our own legislation was not supported in the same way just a couple of weeks ago. Any concerns about these additional measures, which we know need to be addressed, could have been ironed out on Committee Stage. The Minister of State spoke in her opening comments about an open and respectful debate. That is all we were seeking in providing for comprehensive coverage of the gaps that were identified by Marie O'Shea in a way that we believed would provide a positive legislative roadmap going forward. If we cast our minds back to 2018, we know it was the case that many voters in Ireland were swayed by the stories of women who had experienced fatal foetal abnormalities and how the Irish healthcare system treated them. That experience continues today. Women who welcome the pregnancies and want these children are being forced to travel and to bring back their baby's bodies in the boots of their cars. That is happening this week and we must address it.  We will continue to push for the full legislative changes that are required, that were recommended in the O'Shea report, and that will bring Ireland up to the level of care that we know women deserve in reproductive healthcare. I look forward to proposing amendments to this legislation that I know our party will support and I look forward to discussing on Committee Stage how we can proactively support that. As Deputy Rice has pointed out, it would be such a shame to expend all of our political capital addressing one isolated part of what we know is a comprehensive set of legislative gaps and make those women wait. I believe most of us in society connected with those women as part of this dialogue in recent years. We must help them to find the solutions they need. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marie Sherlock  I thank Deputy Cullinane and Sinn F\u00e9in for bringing forward the Bill. It addresses one part of the O'Shea report. I am disappointed that there is an element of cherry-picking from the O'Shea report. If we are accepting the bona fides of the report, we should be looking at all the issues it addressed. I express the Labour Party's disappointment with Sinn F\u00e9in that it is singling out one issue. It is, however, the one issue on which there seems to be greater political consensus compared with some of the other issues identified in the O'Shea report and in that spirit, I very much welcome the Bill.  I stand here a little bit frustrated that it has taken another Private Members' Bill to discuss this issue. As the Minister of State knows, the legislation committed to a three-year review. That took way longer than planned. The O'Shea report has been gathering dust in the Department of Health for three years. The Minister came into the Chamber a month ago to express her own personal position with regard to the part of the O'Shea report relating to the three-day wait. We are not going to be a lot further along after this debate in providing those assurances. It is now in the power of the Government to ensure we have speedy passage of this legislation, whether it is the Sinn F\u00e9in Bill or a Bill brought forward by the Government. The reality is that there are women out there looking on who have either recently found themselves in this circumstance or may over the coming months. We have had hours of debate in this House but very little progress. Even if this Bill does pass this evening, there is now an onus on the Government to expedite the legislation to ensure that we get rid of the three-day wait.  Back in 2018, I was extremely proud to be a part of the Dublin Central Together for Yes campaign. In fact, I will look back on it as one of the most unique and special campaigns I have ever been involved in, given the cross-party support at the time, and night after night, the message from the doorsteps to us was that we could not continue to export our problem, an Irish problem.  When two-thirds of voters cast their votes in support of repealing the eighth amendment back in 2018, I passionately believe they were not voting for 1,500 women to still have to go abroad to access a termination in the following years. In 2023, just one year, 240 women had to travel to England - and that is just England - to access a termination of pregnancy because they could not access it here because they timed out of the 12 weeks or because of the rules on fatal foetal abnormalities. The three-day wait plays an important part in delaying and blocking women's access to that necessary healthcare. There is absolutely zero clinical indication for the three-day wait period and it has to go. It is frankly demeaning and degrading to send a woman away who comes to request an abortion. I was struck by what Deputy Gibney said about her pregnancy more than 20 years ago. When women turn up to the doctor they know what they want. It is not a question of them having to be sent away to reflect. When women take the decision to approach a doctor to ask for a termination, they have already thought long and hard about it. It is frankly moralistic and paternalistic and a political fix, which was not proposed by the citizens' assembly or the special Oireachtas committee on abortion care. It was simply a political fix that was put in place to try to make the legislation more palatable, as opposed to it being the right thing to do.  There are women out there who, for a whole variety of reasons, fall outside the 12-week mark because of the logistics of the three days, because of trying to access their GP locally, because they are in domestic violence situations or because they have to take time away from work. I was struck by an email I received today from a woman in my constituency who thanked God that she had the luxury of being located close to a medical practitioner who could provide the service and thanked God she had the reality of a flexible working arrangement to be able to access that service. Many women in many parts of the country simply cannot. In particular, if there is a language barrier or a cultural issue with regards to accessing a GP, those issues are exacerbated.  I should note a pause was put on language interpretation services in our part of Dublin in recent months, which was frightening for many patients because that service is absolutely necessary for patients to be able to access healthcare in the way the Minister of State or I or any of the rest of us here can when we go to our doctors. Thankfully, it has now been restored, but the reality is they are the challenges and stumbling blocks women face when they go to their doctors. The three-day waiting period must go. It is simply paternalistic. The reality is that we have seen wait periods being removed in many other European countries. They are almost non-existent in most other European countries and Ireland needs to fall into line with that, because, as was said clearly in the O'Shea report and we know from talking to many doctors, there is no clinical indication for this.  On the Minister's comments on the legislation, I welcome the exploration of the issues. The cynic in me might say that we have not spent as much time talking about the issue of accessing GP care for the past 12 months as we did in the few minutes during the Minister of State's contribution. The logistical issues of clinical scheduling, patient flow, service demand and capacity are broader issues related to access to GP care. The reality is that in many parts of the country we have significant waiting lists for access to GPs. That is on the Government because of its failure to ensure there is a fair and even distribution of GPs across the country. In my constituency, in Cabra there is one GP to every 3,000 people and in the north inner city there is one GP to every 3,500. In other areas, it is one GP to 1,500 people. There is a huge inequity of access. It is not just for women who are trying to access termination of pregnancy. Many people are affected by the systemic shortage of GPs across the country.  I have already said this legislation should be expedited - this legislation or the Government's legislation - after tomorrow night, when I hope it will pass. I implore all TDs on the Government benches to do the right thing, not to pass judgment on women but make sure they afford women the opportunity to do the thing that is best for them, their families and their bodies and not to pass judgment about what is right or wrong.  I cannot let the occasion pass without talking about fatal foetal abnormalities, because I passionately believe that has to be part of the conversation. Unfortunately, it is not part of this legislation, but it is hugely important to the Labour Party. There are serious questions about the clinical indication with regard to the 28 days. Neonatologists and obstetricians talk about the extreme difficulty of being able to predict with any great certainty, with regard to fatal foetal abnormalities, whether a baby will pass away within the 28-day limit. The Labour Party believes the 28-day limit has to be reviewed. I listened to a woman named Holly on Cork's 96 FM this morning who spoke eloquently and bravely about the loss of her daughter Hazel. She had been yearning for a baby, but the reality was when she was 14 weeks pregnant, there was a realisation that there was a fatal foetal abnormality. As there could not be certainty about whether it would happen within 28 days, she felt she had to travel. There will be many other families who want to stay the course and give birth to that baby in this country, but others will not. Again, this is about trusting women. If we are to take the key message from the 2018 referendum to repeal the eighth amendment, it is about trusting women and, crucially, trusting doctors. Again, our legislation is not built to trust doctors with how it seeks to criminalise and suppress those making decisions and the rigid definition of fatal foetal abnormalities.  This has been a long time coming. We should not be here in 2026, eight years after the referendum and five years after the review should have been completed, still talking about just one part of the updating of our termination of pregnancy legislation. Eliminating the three-day wait needs to be the simple part of the conversation. My appeal to the Minister of State is for the Government to back this proposal tomorrow night - not just have a free vote - and give a firm and clear commitment it will progress the abolition of the three-day wait as speedily as possible, ideally before we rise for the recess, because there will be women who will be affected by our lack of action in the D\u00e1il over the summer and into the winter months. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  I welcome and support this Bill. In December 2018, the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill was signed into law. Section 7 of the Act provided that a review of the operation of the Act be carried out. That review was included to facilitate monitoring of the operation of the legislation in practice as well as of the delivery of services. A public consultation commenced in December 2021 and concluded in April 2022. Submissions to the consultation were accepted in several formats, including online, by email and by post. Almost 7,000 submissions were received and reviewed and the review found that, while the vast majority of early-stage terminations were accessed smoothly, significant structural and legislative barriers remained, including the three-day wait rule addressed by this proposed legislation. The report recommended the removal of the mandatory three-day wait, stating it delays time-sensitive healthcare and is demeaning to patients. As these services are not operated 365 days per year, the three-day wait can extend to four or five days, particularly if the first visit is towards the end of a week and if there are public holidays.  The mandatory three-day wait may cause women to time out of eligibility for care in Ireland as well. The review was also subject of a report by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and the committee supported the package of measures recommended by the review and stated work should be advanced to give effect to the recommendations without any delay. It recommended the Minister for Health should bring forward appropriate proposals as a matter of priority.  Access to GP services seriously impinges on this issue, especially for women in rural areas. It is increasingly the case GPs are not accepting new patients and GP appointments can be delayed for a week or more. This issue affects rural areas and areas of deprivation most. The statistics from the WHO show we are seriously under-resourced when it comes to GPs. The norm is one GP to 1,000 people but our figure is one GP to 1,759 people and can be as high as one per 3,500 people in some areas. A survey in 2024 found two thirds of GPs in rural Ireland could not accept new patients. This gives rise to a clear urban-rural divide, with rural women being disadvantaged. I support the Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  It is absolutely terrible that women and anybody who can become pregnant have had to wait eight years for this to happen. There has been no Government Bill and no Opposition party one up to now either. It is a crying shame that people have had to endure this.  The O'Shea report made it very clear, especially about the three-day wait. I hate that term. It should be called a second doctor visit or something because people get the erroneous impression it just adds three days to the wait. However, particularly if an appointment is at the end of the week, if you have been trying to make a GP appointment for over a week then in most cases you will be waiting a week or two and in surveys that have been done a quarter of the women interviewed were waiting more than three days for the second visit. This especially affects the marginalised, rural women, anyone who is a victim of domestic violence, people in homeless accommodation and people who not have public or car transport. The poorest in society always pay the price. Unnecessary delays just add barriers for women.  There were other recommendations in the O'Shea report, such as that medical reasons be looked at again. I put on record that there is no other country where there is a distinction made between fatal and severe abnormality. It was only done in Ireland on the Oireachtas committee to avoid a debate about disability in the repeal referendum. Now people are suffering because of that. Imagine babies' bodies are still being transported in the backs of cars, as was testified only recently on the radio. There were also recommendations on safe access zones and where conscientious objection blocks any provision in an area. In the corridor here today I heard two men discussing women's healthcare, as if we need more of that in this country. They made the claim there are 10,000 children alive because of the second visit. It is put out by people who seem to submit AI parliamentary questions or whatever. I have never seen anything to back that up. The IFPA has said 98% of women go ahead. I also want to make something clear. From talking to Women on Web when abortion was illegal and we were trying to help people access it safely, that group made the point that sometimes when women received the pills online they did not go ahead because they could clearly make that decision without pressure and stress, so that is not an excuse for being patronising towards women.  I obviously welcome that Sinn F\u00e9in has put a Bill on abortion before the House, I think for the first time. I had a Bill on this I proposed on First Stage in January but I did not have the Private Members' time, so I am obviously glad for parties with more time to put these measures, but we cannot ignore the timing and the context here. A couple of weeks ago we were here with a Bill which had very important things about decriminalisation, things that the health spokesperson for Sinn F\u00e9in supported in 2021, because I found statements on it. There is backtracking going on and this was cover, but I am glad there is a Bill being put because I wanted to put such a Bill and I am delighted somebody else is doing it.  It is also important not to rewrite history. Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael did not win repeal. It was a grassroots movement that won repeal. There are people claiming here all the things they did for repeal. It is a bit like the GPO in 1916 and all that. Not everyone was there and some parties did not support this in the committee. In some parties no TDs supported it. It is very easy to jump on when everybody agrees. It is not easy when you are pioneering repeal Bills. When I put the first repeal Bill 11 TDs voted for it. Let us have progress but let this not be a cover for backtracking on essential women's rights. We need to go forward and fight the tide that is pushing back against people's right to bodily autonomy. We have seen the religious right and far right in the US take away abortion rights and we cannot allow this to happen in Ireland. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  I am pleased to be able to support this Bill on behalf of the Green Party. We were proud to campaign in support of repeal in 2018. During that campaign we worked with activists from all parties and none to share that central argument that Ireland needed to listen to women and to empower them to make their own decisions about their own bodies. The people responded to that argument and responded with compassion, especially to the stories that were shared throughout that campaign. Collectively we worked to bring a really historic change in our country.  That work is not yet complete and we need to continue to listen to women and to respect their right to choose on all aspects relating to their healthcare. I reaffirm the term \"healthcare\" because the three-day waiting period was not introduced as a health measure but as a political consideration and we know it is not something required by principles of care or good clinical practice. The World Health Organization said very clearly these waiting periods are unnecessary and of course the O\u2019Shea report recommended its removal.  In speaking on this Bill I should acknowledge that just a couple of weeks ago I was speaking in favour of legislation that also sought to remove the three-day waiting period and in addition sought to address other issues that were highlighted in the O\u2019Shea report. While this Bill is more narrow in its scope than I would prefer, it is important not to let perfection be the enemy of good and to recognise the removal of the three-day wait is in itself a positive step. I am hopeful that, should this Bill go to Committee Stage, we will be able to look again at the other elements of the O\u2019Shea report and indeed add elements to this Bill via amendments, especially to do with the issue of fatal foetal abnormalities. The current law in that area creates deeply traumatic circumstances that can put women and families in incredibly difficult situations. Those issues are not addressed in tonight\u2019s Bill and I will look to bring forward or support amendments if this Bill moves through the House, which I hope it does. I will look to support amendments that would address the issue of fatal foetal abnormalities.  The referendum campaign in 2018 was one by a coalition the repeal campaign forged and it was a prime example of the kind of progressive co-operation we can see across political parties and with people who had no prior political involvement. I hope on this particular matter we will see this co-operation extend to the Government benches as well. I welcome that a free vote is being permitted on this and that the Taoiseach has indicated he is going to be supportive, but we need that firm commitment from Government and in particular from the Minister for Health that if there is a positive vote on this Bill on Second Stage we will see the Government engage seriously with this legislation and with the central issue of the removal of the three-day wait.  The Government can demonstrate its seriousness by making sure this Bill is rapidly tabled on Committee Stage. In 2023, the rallying cry of the repeal campaign was \"Women Won't Wait\". Women should not have to wait in 2026. We have the opportunity now to continue the work begun in 2018 and to remove a condescending and paternalistic approach to an already difficult decision that many women in Ireland have to make. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  Last year there were 10,852 abortions in Ireland. The lives of 10,852 living human beings were ended last year as a result of the legislation that was passed a number of years ago. It is the highest figure on record. It is equivalent to 400 classrooms of children who are no longer with us as a result of that abortion law. It is absolutely heartbreaking. In all the politicking we see in this Chamber today on this issue, there is absolutely no recognition of the human cost or of the human devastation of thousands of lives lost annually. In 2018 there were 2,879 abortions and since that law was deregulated the number has surged. It has tripled in just seven years and yet there is no effort by the political establishment to understand why there is such a surge. There is no effort to ameliorate this awful human cost.  So high is the abortion rate today that it is affecting the birth rate. It is not the only reason the birth rate is falling; the cost-of-living crisis, the housing crisis and the cost of childcare are all pushing down the birth rate, but you cannot have 10,852 abortions annually without impacting on the birth rate of a country. In 2009, there were 77,000 children born in Ireland; 54,000 were born in 2024. That is a startling collapse in the birth rate.  The really shocking thing is that the lack of housing, the cost of living and the cost of childcare are not more to the fore in Sinn F\u00e9in's approach to this D\u00e1il. Dozens of women gave birth last year while homeless. Thousands of couples are postponing having children or not having children at all, not because they do not want a family but because the policies of the Government make it so difficult for them to have one. What is the response of the political establishment? Three separate abortion Bills this year and it is only June.  Sinn F\u00e9in experienced a collapse in support in recent years. It has become confused about where it stands in the political spectrum and is flip-flopping on a number of core values. This Bill is its effort to readjust itself in the political spectrum. It is more about political competition than about making an effort to deal with the bread-and-butter challenges families face. I say that because it is not based on evidence. Abortion is a massive decision and is irreversible. A child cannot be brought back after an abortion. It can lead to a lifetime of regret for mothers. For any big decision, a time of reflection is key. There are few elective procedures that can be done on the same day. You cannot have a mole removed, have cosmetic surgery or be sterilised without a period to wait and reflect.  We know the three-day wait is working. How do we know this? This is key - it is because 10,000 mothers who attended their first abortion meeting simply did not attend the second. There are 10,000 children alive today as a result of the three-day wait.  When the abortion review was discussed at the health committee, I asked the chair of the review a direct and important question: before recommending abolishing the three-day wait, had she spoken to one woman who went to the first abortion appointment, took three days to reflect, changed her mind and kept her baby? She admitted on the record of the committee she did not speak to one woman who availed of a three-day wait - an incredible admission. The Government report recommended a change in the law to get rid of the last remaining protection and nobody who authored that report sought to speak to one mother who availed of that reflection period. No author of the report took the time to speak to one of the thousands of children alive today and ask their view of the reflection period. There are thousands of children alive, some sitting around family tables, some playing in their gardens or simply laughing to cartoons on television, as a result of this law, yet it is Sinn F\u00e9in's objective to get rid of it. It is an incredible situation. Have members of the Sinn F\u00e9in front bench spoken to any of these mothers or children?  I received an email today. I am sure the other Deputies got it too. It is one of many I have received on this issue. It concerned an individual who accompanied her friend to an abortion appointment in 2022. Her friend, who had just found out she was pregnant, was adamant she wanted an abortion and very likely would have taken an abortion pill then and there if it was offered to her. By the time the three-day wait had elapsed, she had changed her mind, having received support from her friends and got over the initial shock of being pregnant. Today, according to that email, the woman often remarks that she cannot imagine her life without her son. The person sending the email questioned why Sinn F\u00e9in was pushing for the three-day wait to be abolished and why it was doing it without consulting the people it had affected.  Listening to local and national news stations, I can tell many people are disappointed with Sinn F\u00e9in using its chance to speak today not to tackle the cost-of-living crisis or the cost-of-childcare crisis but to push for more abortions. There is no desire for this change; it is not being raised at the doors. There are no petitions, protests or email campaigns. In fact, it is the opposite - many people are shocked and angry. It is no wonder they are shocked and angry because they were lied to right through the political debate.  Simon Harris said in an interview in The Times in 2018 that the proposed legislation would allow women to access care on consultation with their doctor for up to 12 weeks only. He stated: \"In this case, a three-day pause would be in place for women to access all information and counselling and make a considered decision.\u201d That is what the leader of the Minister of State's party said. Simon Harris could see in 2018 there was a need for a woman to access information and counselling ahead of a life-changing decision, one we all recognise has a heavy physical and mental weight. The T\u00e1naiste knew this pause was required to make a considered decision that was irreversible. Why is the T\u00e1naiste now removing that considered decision? What happens when any of us is rushed, during a crisis situation, into an ill-considered and irreversible decision? Simon Harris also said three days must elapse between certification and the procedure being carried out, that this provision was not unusual and that several countries in Europe, including Belgium and Germany, had similar provisions. That is the leader of the Minister of State's political party.  The Taoiseach, from Fianna F\u00e1il, said clear commitments were given during that campaign for a framework for the facilitation of this. As we went door to door, we spoke of the framework for the referendum and the three-day wait period. When you have a referendum, it is necessary to fulfil those commitments. The two leaders of the Government are supporting this. I am not particularly surprised we have a flip-flop from Simon Harris, or even Miche\u00e1l Martin, on this - two TDs on the record as stating in this Chamber they fully recognise an unborn child is a living human being. When the media and political winds changed, they voted for abortion. A simple case of \"These are my principles and if you don't like them, I have others\". Many people, including a large number who voted for repeal, are disgusted at being duped by the political establishment in relation to this.  It will be interesting to see how the vote is carried out. Tomorrow there will be a free vote in Fianna F\u00e1il, Fine Gael and maybe some of the other parties. Sinn F\u00e9in will not have a free vote on this - probably the only mainstream political party in western Europe and north America to enforce a whip on this issue. There are TDs in Sinn F\u00e9in today who are against this and they will have to vote against their conscience, their better judgment and the evidence if they want to remain in that party. I believe that is wrong. Those individuals should have the opportunity to vote in the direction they want to.  The right to life is a human right. It is the most important human right we have. No other right - the right to free speech, the right to assemble - can be guaranteed without the right to life. If you take the right to life off any human being, that is a major challenge to all the rest of their human rights.  The definition of a human right is that it is universal. It applies to all humans and if an unborn child is not a human being, what species is the unborn child?  It is really important that we have a time for reflection ourselves in Leinster House. We have to remember, first of all, what we need to do in relation to giving mothers across this country the economic confidence to be able to raise their families. We have to look at the evidence of this committee, a committee that completely ignored the 10,000 women who did not attend the second abortion meeting and the thousands of children who are alive today as a result of it. We also have to look to the clear commitment that was made right across this Chamber in relation to that legislation and ask ourselves is this what we are saying to the people of Ireland - \"Vote for this and in a few years, we will radically change it.\" I would implore any of the TDs opposite, who have a free vote and who can exercise their judgment on this issue, to make sure that one of the last protections that exists in this State in terms of the most vulnerable is protected. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Carol Nolan  There are moments in this Chamber when the sheer disconnect between political rhetoric and the political reality becomes almost unbearable. If Sinn F\u00e9in truly wants to build a future worth having, it should start by protecting the children who are meant to inherit it because while Sinn F\u00e9in tours the country promoting its future of Ireland commission report, which is full of language about hope, opportunity and the next generation, the very same party is here assisting in the passage of laws that guarantee no future at all for thousands of Irish babies in the womb.  You cannot speak about building a shared future while simultaneously dismantling the last remaining safeguard that has already saved up to 10,000 lives and Sinn F\u00e9in knows this. The data is not mine; it is the HSE's own data provided to me through parliamentary questions. That data shows that thousands of women do not return after the three-day period. That is proof - proof that the waiting period gives women time, space and the chance to reconsider under pressure, coercion or crisis.  What is truly staggering is the moral incoherence of a party that claims to care about Ireland's future while actively working to ensure that thousands of Irish children will never have one. Sinn F\u00e9in wants to talk about unity, about nationhood, about the Ireland of tomorrow but how can you speak about tomorrow when you refuse to protect the children who would live in it today? How can you speak about sovereignty when you will not even defend the sovereignty of the most basic human right - the right to life?  The three-day period is one of the few remaining commitments that voters were told explicitly would be part of the 2018 framework and Sinn F\u00e9in's attempt to erase it shows how out of touch they have become with the values of ordinary people. I have received hundreds of emails asking TDs to vote \"No\" from all around the country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Healy-Rae  \"Safe, legal and rare\" was the line in 2018. HSE data shows that between 2019 and 2024, 10,426 women who attended an abortion appointment did not return after the three-day cooling-off and waiting period. That proves that those ladies took time to reflect and made a different decision to what they might have made if they did not have the cooling-off period. The waiting period was presented as an important safeguard within the legislation.  There are close to 11,000 abortions taking place in Ireland every year. Over 60,000 abortions have happened since the law changed in 2019. Abortion now ends the lives of one in every six babies in Ireland. This, in my opinion, is a national tragedy.  I respect that people hold different views on abortion and they are perfectly entitled to their views but the question is whether politicians should now remove safeguards that formed part of the framework presented to the public in the first instance. I believe that what is happening now is blatantly wrong.  Why is there such a rush to dismantle a measure that was presented to voters as part of the balance in the legislation? It does not make sense. What it proves is that what was presented and what was sold to the public at the time by the politicians who were supporting the introduction of this change in the legislation is now being twisted and turned into something different and the safeguard is being removed. That is wrong. I respect everybody's right to hold the opinion that they have on this very important issue but I believe what is happening here is blatantly wrong and I completely disagree with it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas le gach duine a labhair faoin \u00e1bhar t\u00e1bhachtach seo. I welcome the Bill and I thank Sinn F\u00e9in for bringing it forward. I voted recently with the Social Democrats on its Bill. I suppose when it comes to anything what I always do is ask for advice from my team, my family, my sisters and my mother. I stood up in the Chamber and made a very clear point as to why the three-day wait should be abolished, particularly for a fatal foetal abnormality. I meant every word I said then and I still do. The main issue for me is whether we trust women. That is still the question and the answer for me is still \"Yes\".  I recognise that Sinn F\u00e9in has taken a different approach. I respect everyone's opinions. I will set that aside. The legislation is for the women it is meant to serve and I commend Sinn F\u00e9in on that. I would disagree fundamentally with an Teachta T\u00f3ib\u00edn. I wonder whether his party giving a free vote on this issue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  There is no need. The TDs are on the same side. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  Lovely.  The O'Shea report spoke about what was given to it. Three years on, women are still living with it. I would like to say to all the women across Dublin Bay North who financially would not be able to go the UK or to have an alternative means for abortion that we will be standing with them. We hear them. I spoke to a lot of these women at the doors. I represent Dublin Bay North. We had over 500 campaigners and it was the largest \"Yes\" turnout in the country. Those voters were promised change. They were not promised a review that would sit on a shelf. I welcome the engagement so far with my office on this. Removing the waiting period improves access for women and it will end the postcode lottery. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  I am glad to get the opportunity to talk on this. I cannot support Sinn F\u00e9in's Bill nor did I support the Social Democrats a week or so ago. It is my firm belief that the birth of a child is a wonder. It is better than anything. The child is entitled to the right to life, like we got a chance at it.  On this three-day wait, it surely is not much to have to wait when the birth of a child is at stake - a human being who has a right, once they are conceived, to be born and to live. Three days more cannot be that much and it could save the life of the child, and it has done so. A girl or a woman should get a few more hours to reflect on it and to look at options other than destroying the life of a little baby, a boy or a girl. No one knows or could imagine how much they would contribute to the world and to their families and the difference they could make. Too often, I see couples who fail to have children. Would it not be nice if they could adopt a child if the mother does not want to hold onto it?  I cannot vote for this Bill. I could never consider doing so. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Geoghegan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Geoghegan  I come to this debate as someone who voted to repeal the eighth amendment and is respectful of the freedom of conscience vote for Members of the parties of government but also with a clear sense of our obligations as legislators in a representative democracy. Section 7 of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018, the Act this Private Members' Bill proposes to amend, statutorily required a full review of its operation three years after its commencement date of 1 January 2019. That review was commissioned by the then Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly. It was initiated at the end of 2021 and carried out by Ms Marie O'Shea BL.  Drawing on extensive evidence, including 58 service user interviews, 43 provider interviews, 188 GP survey responses and 6,976 public submissions, the report was published in April 2023. It was unequivocal in its finding that there is no clinical basis for a mandatory three-day wait. The report went on to identify as an unforeseen practical consequence of the three-day rule that women are timing out of care, particularly when scans, referrals, weekends or bank holidays intervene. The report, which is now three years out of date, cites how many women already face delays before presenting, whether due to miscalculating gestational age, work and family pressures, financial constraints, language and cultural barriers or domestic abuse. The mandatory wait compounds those delays and can push women over the 12-week limit.  Perhaps the most important finding was that clinicians told the review that their training enables them, as it would in every clinical care setting, to identify uncertainty or coercion and to advise additional time where the clinician deems it appropriate to do so. They noted that they would continue to that even in the absence of a State-imposed three-day rule, which is a blunt instrument and is against best practice, including WHO best practice. In simple terms, we should trust our doctors and we should trust women. It is for those reasons that I will be voting in favour of removing the three-day wait and in favour of this Bill advancing to Committee Stage to enable an up-to-date examination of the impact of the rule three years on from the O'Shea report. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Neale Richmond)  I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to respond to this debate on behalf of my friend and colleague, the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. I sincerely thank all who contributed, both those who I agree with and, in particular, those with whom I do not agree. For the entirety of my life, disagreement on this issue has sometimes led to the worst scenes in politics, where party politics, personal ambition and personal focus from across the spectrum have, unfortunately, really diminished the level of debate and taken the political discourse into a place where the heart of the issue we are talking about has been moved into the abstract. It is a vitally important development that we are able, in 2026, to have what I would say has been a relatively civil and constructive debate in this Chamber in which we disagree with each other agreeably and respect fundamentally the right of all Deputies in the House to have their own personal or political party opinion and their own approach to this issue.  The Government is absolutely committed to ensuring there is safe and equitable access to termination of pregnancy services. In that respect, it is worth acknowledging the substantial progress that has been made to date. Termination services in early pregnancy are now provided in all 19 maternity hospitals. There also has been a sustained increase in community providers, with their number currently standing at 492. The revised model of care introduced in response to the Covid pandemic is now approved as the enduring model of care. Under that blended approach, it is possible for one of the two consultations required for termination in early pregnancy to take place remotely. As outlined earlier by the Minister of State, Deputy Higgins, this alleviates some of the difficulty that may be associated with the mandatory three-day waiting period in that it reduces the time and expense involved in travelling to the doctor's surgery twice. It also improves access for many women and addresses geographical and logistical barriers. Safe access zones legislation came into effect on 17 October 2024 under the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services) (Safe Access Zones) Act. The cumulative effect of all these measures is to substantially reduce barriers and increase access to services for those who need them. The feedback received directly from clinicians indicates that the service is working well. This is particularly significant if we take account of the fact it is a relatively new service that has been built up from the ground.  There is a broad range of sincerely held and articulately expressed views on termination of pregnancy and the removal of the three-day wait. In the interests of being helpful, I will briefly address some of the points raised while I have been in the Chamber. The Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, will, of course, continue to engage with Deputies from across the House on this issue. Deputies Sherlock and O'Gorman called for wider political co-operation to expedite the progress of the legislation. It is my understanding that the Minister has engaged in an element of consultation with the service providers and with politicians of all shades. She will continue that. The vote on this Bill tomorrow evening will decide at what rate that proceeds. This is not a straightforward process. Regardless of where people stand on the issue, we all know that any legislation that comes from this may be quite different from what we now envisage. It must be implemented in a practical way.  Deputy Coppinger made clear her view that the full recommendations of the O'Shea report should be put in place. There is a multitude of recommendations, as has been detailed in some depth from a legal point of view by Deputy Geoghegan. All of those recommendations are being taken on their merit. I understand why there is some frustration.  On Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn's point, I say sincerely that I have no interest in engaging in any politicking on this matter. I do not want this to become a political debate about the substance of the issue, regardless of people's stance on it and their deeply held personal convictions. We can all agree that the views expressed are all deeply personally held convictions. A person's stance on this issue is not one to which any of us has come lightly. It is my fundamental belief that what we voted on in 2018 - I campaigned on one side and some of the Deputies here campaigned on the other side; that is politics - was the decision to repeal the eighth amendment from our Constitution and to provide for termination of pregnancy services as a legislative matter. That is the core issue on which we voted. There were many other aspects of the campaign and I completely take Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn's points in that regard and those eloquently made by Deputies Nolan and Michael Healy-Rae. Fundamentally, however, the decision was taken by the Irish people to empower the democratically elected Members of the Oireachtas to legislate on these matters, as is done in jurisdictions around the world.  That was the fundamental decision and it is the basis on which we approach the debate this evening. The Government will not oppose the legislation because it has declared a conscience vote for Deputies from both parties in government and the group of Independent Deputies who support it. In that context, it is important to set out my own personal view. I would have been supportive of the Bill introduced a couple of weeks ago by the Social Democrats. I was the sole Fine Gael Member to vote for the Bill brought forward by People Before Profit in the previous D\u00e1il. I am absolutely consistent on this and, as such, I am supportive of the Bill before us and very grateful to the Sinn F\u00e9in Party for putting it forward. That is not the case for some other members of my party and some others of my fellow party TDs. They are empowered to make a decision on the Bill in their own right.  As Deputy Coppinger rightly said, the proposals in this Bill were brought about by a grassroots campaign. I know what it was like to be the sole Fine Gael Member who voted for legislation on this issue in the previous D\u00e1il. In 2014, in a local authority vote, the three people who voted in favour were the two People Before Profit councillors and me. There is a divergence of views on this issue that does not align with a narrow political division. We must respect that people reflect on it deeply and come at it from a very personal point of view.  Last night, I had the distinct honour of addressing the annual general conference of the International Planned Parenthood Federation, which was held in Dublin. An event like that being held here would have been completely unthinkable not so long ago. The people gathered came from more than 100 different countries around the world where they have seen clear legislative backsliding, not just in areas like this but more generally when it comes to gender equality, the rights of women and the rights of minorities, including those of minority faiths. They see real political and administrative pressure being put on their livelihoods. They came to Dublin because they know it is a safe place to have their conference and have a discussion, where people can disagree with them but not persecute them. I am delighted the Government is now in a position to support the federation. I signed off last night on a doubling of our funding to it.  That is something I will continue to do in my work as Minister of State with responsibility for international development in a situation where an arbitrary culture war being waged somewhere else has seen maternal health in the poorest countries in the world drop to some of the worst levels seen. We are living in a time when HIV-AIDS infection rates, after 25 years of reducing, are now rising again. That is fundamentally due to political decisions. AIDS rates are going up, malaria rates are going up and the level of infant mortality is rising because of political decisions. It is in the context of my work in international development that I want to ensure Ireland continues to be a safe and progressive place to be a woman, first and foremost, and everything that goes with that. The strides made by us in our constitutional decisions in recent years are something that go above and beyond politics. The tenor of those debates, going back to the citizens' assembly, the debates in the Seanad and at the eighth amendment committee, chaired by my dear friend and then Seanad colleague, Catherine Noone, were reflective of a better Ireland than the Ireland that voted when I was an infant in my mum's arms to insert the eighth amendment into the Constitution.  Regardless of what everyone feels about the issue, and I fundamentally respect that, they were not good debates and not good politics. It created a system of othering that none of us can stand over, whether we believe in the decision to legislatively pursue removing the three-day wait or not. From a deeply personal point of view, this legislation is welcome and I will, of course, support it but I think we all know - those of us who believe in this - that we can do more and we have a responsibility to do more. That will not come from a party-political decision, and there will be opposition to that which is healthy and democratic.  The Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, has stated she will also support this legislation, as will the Taoiseach and T\u00e1naiste. The decision taken by any other Member on the Government benches, whether they are a ministerial officeholder or other, is for them. I have laid out my very clear opinion, which I think can be respected by the Chamber, and we can continue this debate. If it is to be passed tomorrow night, and I sincerely hope it is passed by a majority in this Chamber, we can progress a legislative debate in the manner we have been able to achieve - a debate, I believe, on the most sensitive of topics on this island, carried out in a way that does not drag in unnecessary comparisons and which does not provide a campaigning platform for attack and negativity. At the end of the day, somewhere around the country at this moment is a 14- or 15-year-old girl who has been raped and is being faced with a very serious decision. She does not need politicians, particularly male politicians, using her as a political football. My appeal to the Chamber, whatever one's conscience is - and I respect it - is to please debate as if that young person is watching. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  Taca\u00edm leis an mBille agus tr\u00e9asla\u00edm leis an Teachta Cullinane as \u00e9 seo a thabhairt chun cinn. Is Bille t\u00e1bhachtach \u00e9 agus t\u00e1 s\u00e9 riachtanach. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 ciallmhar. This is an important legislative change. At the end of the day, and as far as I can see it, we are talking about a three-day wait for women to be able to access essential healthcare. Fundamentally, that is what this is about. It was never necessary in the context of the repeal of the eighth amendment and it is one of the strongest recommendations of the O'Shea report.  The testimony brought forward by many women is that the three-day wait has created immense difficulties, particularly for women who are coming from a background where they are experiencing coercive control or domestic violence, where attending even one appointment is an enormous challenge, much less trying to return again within that period. Ultimately, it has a significant impact on their ability to make the right decisions for them. People have talked about consideration. This does not abolish consideration; this abolishes a mandatory requirement and constraint on women who are very clear on what is necessary for them and what is necessary for their needs and healthcare. It does not abolish consideration, and it does not mean people cannot make their own decisions and give their own thoughts on that.  I would also make the point that in the review of the legislation, the O'Shea report asked the Oireachtas to consider other matters, including fatal foetal abnormalities. It asked that an expert panel be established to examine those issues and advise the Oireachtas accordingly. That is important and should proceed. People have talked about the human cost. There is a profound human cost for parents and for women who have no choice but to travel because of the situation they are in. The Oireachtas needs to address that and an expert panel needs to be established in that regard.  The three-day wait period is unnecessary, it is wrong and it is causing profound hardship, particularly for vulnerable women in difficult situations. I welcome this Bill and the fact many Members of Government intend to support it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  I am standing here as a man, and to be honest, I cannot imagine a situation where I would be told by my doctor to go away to have a think about things and come back in three days. It is just wrong, it does not make sense and it is not right. Why would anyone be told, when it is a health issue, to go away and think about it? How patronising is that?  This legislation is about protecting women, helping them at a very difficult time and giving them all the support we can. I am a father of two daughters - two brilliant girls. One is a teenager and the older girl is 20-years old. They are kind and intelligent. I trust them, I trust their friends and I trust their peers. I trust women to make their own decisions. Why am I getting involved in their healthcare? I will be there to support them and to be with them but at the end of the day, this is their decision and that is what we must respect - women's decisions.  I think about Ann Lovett, who died 42 years ago in a grotto. I think about Sheila Hodgers, who left two children behind her. I think of Savita Halappanavar, who would have turned 44 years of age this year. So many other stories over the decades were brushed under the carpet and that we never knew about but some people know - maybe their families or friends know. Those women who had tragic deaths, and all those tragic stories, are why we are here this evening to support this legislation.  I thank the Taoiseach, T\u00e1naiste, the Minister for Health and the Minister of State for coming along with us. I know not everyone can come with us because some people oppose it but I ask everyone to respect the debate and process because at the end of the day, this is about women's healthcare and trusting women to do the right thing. I want to send a clear message: this is above politics, politicians and above me as a man. This is about women being respected and being given the support and the trust we should all have in them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sorca Clarke  When the Irish people voted to repeal the eighth amendment, they voted to trust women and to trust the decisions they made about their own healthcare, their own bodies and their own lives. However, they also trusted legislators. They trusted them to listen to that O'Shea review when it came through and to act on the decisions or recommendations that came out of it. Ultimately, when repeal happened, it put the ball firmly in the court of this House. It is now up to us to do what is right, and it is right to remove the three-day limit. I did not agree with it at the time and I certainly do not agree with it now because we know this is more than just an inconvenience. For some women, this has some very real consequences. For women living with intimate partner abuse and domestic violence, those three days, each and every one of them, is another barrier to healthcare. For survivors of rape or sexual assault, being forced to navigate an unnecessary delay adds further trauma to an already devastating experience. The Minister of State spoke of a 14-year-old, and I agree with him. We never need to see another case like we have in the past.  We also know there still remains, to some degree, limited levels of services, and obtaining a GP appointment can be very difficult in some areas. For those women who discover their pregnancy later than expected, these three days can mean the difference between accessing healthcare here or being forced to travel abroad, and that causes distress. It has pushed women beyond the legal time limits for care in their own country. That is not what repeal intended to do. It is certainly not what I campaigned or voted for.  To be clear, there will always be the option for a woman to wait. It will always be there but it will be her choice whether it is one day, two days or three days; it will not be mandatory and will not be set down arbitrarily in legislation. This Bill recognises every woman's situation is different, and that decisions about healthcare are best made by the women themselves, supported by their doctors and not dictated to. If we want to get to a compassionate healthcare system, we must remove barriers, not reinforce and create them. Removing this three-day waiting period brings us that little step closer to a healthcare system that respects dignity, autonomy and access to timely care. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  Compassion and respect has always underpinned my approach to this issue. Like the Minister of State, I campaigned for repeal. I knocked on doors and I argued, debated, listened, agreed and disagreed.  In fact, some of the best exchanges I had were with people I disagreed with because they sharpened my awareness of the complexity of this issue and the fact that people come at it differently. At every single door I knocked on where I disagreed, I respected the opinion of the person who made an alternative argument. At the end of the day, the people voted in overwhelming numbers for change and for abortion services in certain circumstances. In that spirit, I have to say that some of the claims made today by some TDs in this Chamber are just factually wrong. Some people say that the HSE data indicate that 10,000 children are alive today because of the three-day wait. That is simply not fact and simply not the case. Nowhere in any publication or in any parliamentary question response does it say it that. There are conflation of data and a misunderstanding of actually what the HSE was saying. People know that and it needs to be put on the record.  Equally, I want to deal with the other issues that people raised suggesting that this legislation does not go far enough and that there are other recommendations in the review, as there were. One of those was on the grounds of fatal foetal abnormalities. Actually, the author of the independent report recommended that there would be an expert-led stakeholder review of that particular issue to look at the wording and to come back with recommendations for legislators. I believe that whatever changes we make have to be right. There cannot be any unintended consequences which is why I am grateful that the Minister and the Government are making resources available for me to be able to perfect the Bill which is before us. I believe it will pass and if it does pass, I want to make sure that it goes to Committee Stage and ultimately passes. I agree that other issues have to be dealt with. I ask the Minister for Health to set up that review panel to look at those other issues, make recommendations and then let us evaluate them on their merits with the independent data that we have.  I thank all Deputies who have spoken with respect and in the spirit of co-operation, listening and engaging. I respect all the different opinions which have been raised and I will ignore all the political charges that were made against my party and will not respond to them because I think this is about moving forward and making sure that what we voted for is what women get. For me that is the most important part of this legislation and this debate. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Paula Butterly)  In accordance with Standing Order 85(2), the division is postponed until the weekly division time on Wednesday, 17 June 2026. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Health (Abolition of Three Day Wait Rule) (Amendment) Bill 2026: Second Stage [Private Members]"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/dbsect_20","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_20","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/dbsect_21","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Job Losses","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/dbsect_20","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_20","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_21.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  I am covering the questions for Deputy Conway-Walsh. I ask the Minister to provide an update on any engagement with Covalen regarding recent job losses and redundancies announced by the company and to make a statement about it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (Deputy Alan Dillon)  The Minister, Deputy Peter Burke, is making his way back from Strasbourg and he should be joining us shortly. I will take some of the priority questions in his absence but he will be here later in Question Time.  As the Deputy will be aware, on 27 April 2026 Covalen informed its employees of its intention to reduce its workforce. Covalen is a Dublin-based provider of customer experience, business process outsourcing and managed services, headquartered in Sandyford. The company provides services across customer support, operations and content moderation. Covalen forms part of the Cpl Group, an international talent solutions and outsourcing provider headquartered in Dublin, operating across multiple markets and sectors. The company operates within a global outsourcing model where activity levels are aligned to client demand. My understanding is that the company has been impacted by a shift in client demand, resulting in a reduction in the volume of services required and a requirement to adjust operations accordingly.  My foremost concern, and that of the Government, is the potentially impacted employees and their families during this uncertain time. IDA Ireland has established internal processes for managing potential job loss situations with its client companies. This involves proactive engagement with site leadership of the company and its parent company to explore options to avoid or minimise any job losses.  In respect of impacted employees, IDA is proactively engaging across its client base to identify potential redeployment opportunities where there is a skills match. IDA has also facilitated connections between interested companies and company representatives, and this work is ongoing. IDA has been engaging at a senior level with the company to ensure it is aware of the full range of IDA supports available at this time. IDA remains in contact with the company regarding recent developments. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  I appreciate what the Minister of State has said about IDA but he will be aware that over 700 employees at the Meta contractor were told that they would lose their jobs which will be replaced by AI. They have written to the Minister requesting intervention. I want to know what engagement the Minister has had. What has the Department done to assist the impacted workers?  As the Minister of State is probably aware, last week Covalen workers and the CWU gave a briefing in the audiovisual room outlining the situation facing the 700 employees. I thank Deputy Boyd Barrett for facilitating that. These workers explained how they were being asked to train AI systems to do their own jobs, effectively digging their own graves. These are mostly content reviewers, watching some of the most horrific content online so that we and our children do not get to see it. While at work, there are no psychological or mental health supports. Some have been hospitalised from the traumatising impact and what have they been given? They have been shown the door with the bare minimum redundancy package. That highlights the attitude of some of these tech companies.  The employer is imposing a six-month cooling-off period which would prevent them taking up employment in similar roles. What are they supposed to do? Many of them are non-Irish nationals on critical skills visas with no family support network, which is all the more reason for the Government to step in. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  As I said earlier, my first and overriding concern in this situation is for the workers affected and their families who are facing a very uncertain time. IDA has been very active and proactive in its engagements at senior level with this company. That is very much with the clear focus of exploring all options to minimise job losses and also support the business through this transition. At the same time, IDA Ireland is working intensively to support the impacted employees. As with any redundancies, the industrial relations mechanisms of the State step in. Inevitably, there is a process that both the Government and the company have to abide by. In these situations, we certainly do not stand back. We are eager to engage early. We are eager to engage and support workers directly. We want to work with them to secure alternative employment wherever possible. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  These are vulnerable workers. Covalen had turnover of \u20ac722 million and a profit of \u20ac26.2 million and despite that is offering statutory redundancy, which is an absolute scandal. The parent company works on many other public sector accounts for the Government. An employer that treats employees like this really needs to be looked at when the public sector contracts are up for grabs. Some 20,000 jobs have been cut by the tech sector. This should be a wake-up call for Government. Government and the Department should be meeting them. These workers are not asking for any special treatment but they need the Government\u2019s help to end this six-month cooling-off period, so that they can work again in the same sector, put money in their pockets with a fair redundancy scheme, reform the redundancy procedures to improve their terms and legislate for their right to join a union. It is absolutely scandalous in this day and age that unions are kept out of some of these tech companies. I ask the Minister to intervene on behalf of workers to ensure they are treated fairly and receive what is due to them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I thank the Deputy for his question. It is essential that any redundancy process is co-ordinated fairly, transparently and in full compliance with the law. Ireland has a strong, robust legal framework in place to protect workers experiencing redundancy. That includes a 30-day consultation process in the case of collective redundancies. There are clear obligations required on Covalen in this regard to engage meaningfully with employee representatives. Indeed, any statutory redundancy entitlements and notice protections need to be enacted. That consultation is not just a tick-the-box exercise. It needs to be genuine, meaningful and focused on mitigating job losses wherever possible. That is where our focus is currently, along with raising concerns with regard to any issues that may arise. We will continue to work with the IDA and Covalen. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Job Losses"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/dbsect_22","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Social Media","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/dbsect_20","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_20","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_22.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  Increasingly, large amounts of different groups are recommending that toxic algorithms be turned off by default. Most recently, the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and sport, of which I am a member, made such a recommendation in our report. I would like to hear the steps the Department is taking to specifically deal with that measure to turn off algorithms. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I thank the Deputy for her question. Enhancing online safety, particularly for children and young people, is a whole-of-government priority. I recognise the important work of the committee, particularly the engagement with stakeholders from a wide range of backgrounds who informed the committee's recent report, which is an invaluable aid to understanding how online safety and participation can be improved.  In considering the committee's report, it is important to note the significant body of legislation already in place that provides the foundation for Ireland's online safety framework, including the regulation of online platforms. In Ireland, Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n is firmly established at the heart of the online safety framework, which comprises the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act, the EU Digital Services Act, DSA, and the EU terrorist content online regulation. In particular, the EU Digital Services Act contains provisions that specifically address recommender systems. Platforms must explain in plain language the main parameters their systems use to suggest content to users and provide options for users to change or influence these parameters. Additionally, very large online platforms and search engines that use recommender systems must allow users, including minors, the option to use recommender systems that do not rely on profiling.  Providers of online platforms are obliged to put in place measures to ensure a high level of privacy, safety and security of minors on their services, including a ban on adverts based on profiling, where the user is a minor. These online platforms and engines must also conduct a yearly assessment to identify and mitigate potential system risks associated with the design of their recommender algorithms.  I know the committee's report recognises the sound foundations that are provided by the DSA and the online safety code. It also notes the investigations under the DSA that have been taken by Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n.   Additional information not given on the floor of the House   The European Commission also has investigations ongoing into the use of recommender algorithms by a number of online platforms. This is EU regulation in action.  The recently published National Digital and AI Strategy 2030 contains measures that further reinforce the Government's commitment to enhancing online safety as a whole-system priority. In this context, the EU audio visual media services directive, which is the basis for Ireland's online safety code, is currently being evaluated and further measures are likely to be proposed at European level.  Online safety is under the remit of the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Deputy O'Donovan. His Department is currently assessing the ten recommendations set out in the committee's report, with a view to identifying and engaging the various Departments that will have a role in considering next steps. My officials will work closely with the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport in that regard. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  It is clear that the current legislation and regulatory framework are not working. The Minister of State talked a lot about the obligations on these platforms to allow users to adjust their settings and basically push back against algorithmic profiling and so on, but it is clear that it is not working. There have been multiple US cases recently where we see that the design of these products themselves promotes addiction, and the secret sauce behind all of them is the algorithm. Whatever the Minister of State is describing in terms of the existing regulatory framework, it is not working.  The Data Protection Commission, DPC, essentially failed because if it had properly enforced the GDPR, we would not have had to set up Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n. It now has a whole suite of European Union regulation to enforce, but it is still failing. We are now setting up an AI office within the Department of enterprise, which is just going to add to the complexity of a regulatory framework that is not working.  This is not just about children. These algorithms are toxic and problematic for all of us. I will go into detail on how. This is not working as it stands. Users are not to be blamed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I thank the Deputy for raising these concerns. I understand the concerns being raised and the impact recommender algorithms have on children. They are valid. Certainly, the Government takes the matter seriously. This is not simple. While it might sound straightforward to just ban recommender systems in theory, it needs to be evidence-based. There are also risks of unintended consequences. Having been a member of the media committee and having listened to many of the social media platforms, I am aware that recommender systems also form part of the solution. They do not just amplify harmful content. They are used as filters and to prioritise safety signals. They also reduce exposure to illegal and harmful material.  Through the Digital Services Act, we are focused on platforms reducing the risks with these algorithms and ensuring that we have continuous enforcement. The DSA has measures in place that are currently in existence and legislated for. They need to be enacted. That is the responsibility of the European Commission, along with Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  As I said, they are not working. I am not proposing a ban on algorithms. What I am saying is that algorithms are the way these products are being made addictive. We are all suffering as a result. They are radicalising people, promoting harmful content and polarising our society. We need to turn them off by default, and turn them off entirely for children. There are no unintended consequences in that regard. It would bring us back to the Internet that we used to enjoy, where we were not constantly bombarded with material that is trying to sell us things or keep our eyes locked on a screen.  This is more important than ever as AI develops. AI will go further than just keeping our eyes on the screen. It is seeking to make emotional connections with us that would exploit us further and make us more addicted to these products. We have to turn off the algorithm by default. We are going to spend the next year discussing this ban for under 16s, which is not going to work because it penalises children and raises major privacy concerns, when we know the solution is to turn off toxic algorithms by default and fully for children. That is what we need to do. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  A lot of work is being undertaken in our engagement with social media platforms. That includes age verification and working hand in hand with the European Commission. Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n is central to the enforcement role. We have seen many investigations in recent times. I believe we need to focus on a more co-ordinated approach through European regulation. These are many global platforms that have a global reach. Ireland alone cannot take a central role. We have to work with our partners to try to alleviate this. Work is under way in many ways to protect minors and children. The issue of restricting social media for under 16s will be debated in this House and I believe we need to put protections in place. I agree with the Deputy that algorithms are central to that. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Social Media"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/dbsect_23","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Export Controls","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/dbsect_20","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_20","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_23","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_23.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  We have all seen the devastation Israel has unleashed on the Middle East since 2023. Gaza has been razed to the ground, hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced and 70,000 have been killed. At the same time, in 2024, at the height of this onslaught by Israel, the Minister's Department approved \u20ac20 million worth of dual-use technology to the IDF and the Israeli Ministry for Defense. Will the Minister explain to the people of Ireland, and the people of Palestine, why the Government gave approval for this? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (Deputy Peter Burke)  My Department's responsibilities centre on the control of exports of dual-use and military items under EU and national legislation. Controls and export of dual-use items are administered by my Department in accordance with EU Regulation No. 2021\/821 of the European Parliament and the Council, setting up a Union regime for export controls, brokering, technical assistance, transit and transfer of dual-use items. The bulk of dual-use exports from Ireland, including those to end users in Israel, are mainstream business ICT products, both hardware and software.  They are categorised as dual-use items as a consequence of the fact that they incorporate strong encryption for ICT security purposes.  The primary purpose of export controls is not to block trade or exports, but to enable the free movement of legitimate goods while ensuring that certain sensitive categories are subject to appropriate regulation. All export licence applications are considered by my officials in accordance with criteria set out within the relevant dual-use and military EU and national regulations and Ireland's international obligations and responsibilities as members of non-proliferation regimes and export control arrangements. Each application is assessed individually, considering the nature of the items, the destination country, the identity of the end user and the intended end use. Ireland\u2019s export control decisions are guided by the EU common position and its criteria, which include respect for human rights, international obligations, regional stability and risk of diversion to another end use or end user.  The risk profile of an application is impacted by current geopolitical factors, the end user, the items in question and their ability to be misused. This risk profile can change on a case-by-case basis. If an application is deemed high risk and the exporter is unable to provide strong assurances to mitigate the risks identified, the application will be denied. As each application is treated on a case-by-case basis, the available verifiable information at the time and associated risk assessments can change from application to application. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  I thank the Minister for the reply. Have there been any reviews of the position since 2024? Let us talk through the facts. As the Minister has explained, to export dual-use technology, which is technology with civilian and military capabilities such as computers, chips and software, a licence is required, as the Minister explained. At least 11 dual-use licences were granted for goods, worth \u20ac35 million, to be exported to Israel, \u20ac20 million of that in 2024 alone at the height of the attacks on Gaza. The Currency reports that the end user of the these goods were the IDF and the Israeli Ministry for Defense. There are severe consequences under international law for exporting dual-use goods to a state sponsor of terrorism or a conflict zone. Crimes Israel committed in Gaza and is continuing to commit are under investigation by the International Court of Justice. The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory has already found that Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli Prime Minister, Netanyahu, and former Minister of Defense, Yoav Gallant, have arrest warrants against them. The Minister cannot claim he did not know what was happening. Is Ireland going to be complicit in continuing to support the genocide in Gaza because of decisions taken by the Department? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  First, I robustly refute that Ireland, in any circumstances, is supporting genocide in Gaza. This country has been a firm supporter of international law. We have worked with the people of Gaza and Palestine to ensure we recognise the State of Palestine. We supported UNRWA at a very difficult time when Commissioner V\u00e1rhelyi tried to take a unilateral decision. We were the first to support it. We joined the ICJ case and provided a significant amount of humanitarian aid.  In relation to export controls, with regard o every single item that is exported, there has to be proof what the end user is and, essentially, where the product will end up. The Department independently licenses those products in line with EU legislation and the framework established by the EU. As I said, that is grounded in humanitarian law, ensuring there are no unintended consequences from the exports. That has been critical to our approach in the Department. We always stand by that firm application process. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  I asked whether there had been any review because no dual licences for export to Israel were granted in 2025 and 2026. Was there some recognition that the technology was being used to facilitate military action across the Middle East, or did something change from 2025 onward? Why did the Government continue to permit dual-use exports in 2024 at the height of the onslaught and attacks? These are questions that need to be answered. Was there a change in tack? Did the Government review it? Did it realise that it had been making a mistake and that parts of the State were complicit?  In May 2024, Ireland recognised, finally, the State of Palestine, but in the same year, \u20ac20 million worth of technology was sanctioned to the IDF and the Israeli Ministry of Defense to assist them. By the end of that year, every single hospital in Gaza was either damaged or destroyed, 70,000 people had been killed, families were wiped out and homes and schools had been reduced to rubble. It is incomprehensible that an Irish Government would still continue to use dual licences to export to Israel. While the Government is speaking out on banning the exports of goods, actions speak louder than words. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  There has been no review. There has been no change in policy. Our regime is robust and strong. In no circumstances is it contributing in any way to genocide in Gaza. We have a very clear protocol, as established under the EU framework on the export of dual-use items. Applications have reduced and changed from year to year. That is the reality here. It is not the case that our policy has changed or something happened to cause us to review our policy. We have a clear framework in line with European Union and international obligations.  Ireland has been firm in its support of the people of Gaza. We are firm in calling out genocide and recognising the State of Palestine. We were firm in supporting UNRWA at a difficult time. We were firm in joining the ICJ case, standing up in the highest international forums - the UN and others - and, critically, in calling for a review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement and calling for sanctions in that regard. We were firm in all those measures, standing up for the vulnerable citizens in Palestine. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Export Controls"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/dbsect_24","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Export Controls","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/dbsect_20","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_20","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_24.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  The Minister was recently on the airwaves speaking about the huge volume of exports to Russia from the State and assuring us that the figures presented by the Central Statistics Office were, in fact, incorrect. He is on record saying that the CSO was the gold standard for statistics and that a current investigation of the plant in Aughinish would be carried out by the Department. We all want openness about this. Will the Minister update the House on the investigation and confirm whether it has been completed? Will he publish its findings? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  I thank the Deputy for this important question. I will first make a clarification. I never said the CSO was incorrect. I said the management of Aughinish Alumina had furnished incorrect information to the CSO and that the company was working with the CSO to rectify same. I want to be clear. The CSO is the gold standard and I never implied it was incorrect in any way.  Ireland remains unequivocal in its continuing support for Ukraine after Russia's unjustified invasion. I remind the Deputy that Aughinish Alumina is not subject to any sanctions by the EU and alumina is not a sanctioned good. Therefore, its export to other countries, including Russia, is not restricted. For context, the Aughinish Alumina plant is Europe's largest refinery and one of the most important suppliers to the EU aluminium sector. Since it began production in 1983, the Aughinish plant has also been a supplier of energy to the national grid and is a significant employer in the Limerick area.  My Department is currently investigating the matters raised in a recent report in The Irish Times report about Aughinish Alumina and its exports to Russia. I take the matter of potential sanctions violations very seriously. The report indicates the potential for the alumina being refined and ultimately processed into aluminium for use by the Russian military and sourced through a sanctioned entity. Therefore, the Deputy will appreciate that this is a highly complex investigation with multiple strands. It has necessitated my Department's engagement with other bodies within the State and with other member states, as well as with the company itself. Officials within my Department are working independently on this investigation. Upon its conclusion, engagements will be had at official and political level with the European Commission to discuss, as appropriate.  I am not in a position to comment on specifics of the investigation while it is ongoing because to do so could adversely affect its outcome. I must allow due process to be adhered to. I recognise the high-profile nature of this investigation. The Government will make a statement once it is completed. I cannot give a timeframe for the conclusion of my Department's investigation. While the Department is working as quickly as possible, it is crucial that this investigation is carried out thoroughly and in line with due process where all aspects are considered. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  I thank the Minister for the reply. Can he give an approximate time? Will it be by the end of the year, the middle of next year or the end of next year? As the Minister said, there is a question and it is valid. Legitimate questions are being asked about the plant exporting raw material to Russia to fuel the illegal attacks on Ukraine. Everybody in the House appreciates the level of employment the company provides in the Limerick and north Kerry area. At the same time, nobody is saying that its products should be used to assist an illegal war effort. There is a question mark. Society is questioning how it has been permitted to continue and why the Government has been so slow to conduct an investigation.  The Ukrainian Embassy has expressed serious concern about the continued sales to Russia, including for weapons such as ballistic missiles, hypersonic missiles and Shahed drones, the weapons we hear are being used against Ukrainian cities every week. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Sorca Clarke)  Thank you, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  I will finish on this. Even if it was an error to state that 80% of the company's exports went to Russia in 2025 and the true figure is 45%, that is still unacceptable. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  We need to ascertain where that 45% is going because there are many aspects of the economic model of every country that requires alumina. The material is used for making medical devices and in the food processing and automotive sectors. Obviously, the EU is a very significant importer of alumina as it is a critical raw material. It is important to put that on record.  I refute the statement that we were slow to commence an investigation. Once this report was published in The Irish Times and other authorities came forward with information, we immediately opened an investigation. We are in contact with the Swedish authorities and the Ukrainian authorities about the evidence they have received. We are updating the European Commission weekly on the investigation. Ireland has supported robustly and unanimously every one of the 21 rounds of sanctions against Russia for its illegal invasion of Ukraine. We will not tolerate it if it is proven that alumina is ending up in the Russian military complex. The Government of Ireland will take action in that regard. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  It is important, as I think the Minister will accept, that the Government step in, maybe with EU officials, to diversify this plant's market away from Russia because jobs are needed in the area and must be saved. That will not be an issue if the Russian exports are stopped, so it is a distraction to frame this as a risk to Limerick jobs. There is a huge global market for alumina and aluminium products outside of Russia - in Europe and other stable economies. The main reason alumina is not on the EU's Russian sanctions list is that any sanction would disproportionately damage European industry. This does not absolve the Government of its responsibility to prevent Aughinish Alumina from fuelling the Russia war effort and drone campaign against Ukrainians. We do not want to see any items or products from Ireland being used to facilitate weaponry directly or indirectly - we are a neutral country - in any illegal war in Ukraine, or anywhere else for that matter. We must be completely confident no products are ending up in the hands of the military. Will the Minister give an approximate timeline for the completion of the review? Has he given the individuals preparing the report a deadline by which he wants to see results? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  As the Deputy said, jobs must be saved. It is hard to reconcile that with his further statement in relation to Russia. We have to be clear that products are being exported to Russia that are being used in the Russian military complex, action will have to be taken. There are no easy answers to this. There are a huge number of jobs involved. The plant is responsible for a critical raw material. Any action would have big implications for Europe in the context of its security, for our grid, given that approximately 200,000 homes are powered by the plant, and for the Port of Foynes. There are serious implications but, as a country that upholds the rule of law and takes its obligations to citizens and human rights very seriously, we have to be to the fore on this.  I do not want to pressure those doing the investigation. I know a lot of meetings are taking place this week in respect of it. I hope to have the report very shortly. The investigation will not go on for months or years. It will be a quick investigation and I hope it will begin a process of ascertaining whether the supply chain is concealed, or not. What I am trying to establish here is whether there is a concealed supply chain and whether the company can prove that to the independent investigation and the Commission. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Export Controls"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/dbsect_25","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Tourist Accommodation","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/dbsect_20","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_20","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_25","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_25.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  I thank the Deputy for this very important question. In April last year, I obtained Government approval for the general scheme of the short-term letting and tourism Bill. Once enacted, this Bill will provide a statutory framework for regulating the short-term letting sector, including the establishment of a national register.  This register, which has been broadly welcomed by the tourism sector, will be implemented and managed by F\u00e1ilte Ireland in compliance with the EU short-term rental regulation. The register will launch on 1 December 2026, with a legal obligation on all operators to register by 31 December 2026. The new housing policy for short-term let activity was set out today at Cabinet by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy James Browne, in a national planning statement. The statement provides a balanced framework that supports sustainable tourism, protects communities, maintains housing supply and enables clear, consistent decision-making for both property owners and planners.  The new housing policy restricts the approval of new planning permissions for short-term lets in cities and larger towns with a population of over 20,000 in the last census. However, planning permission for short-term letting can be granted to preserve heritage or traditional buildings unsuitable for the long-term housing market. Upper floors in mixed-use buildings or small structures beside an owner-occupied home can also be approved, provided neighbours are not adversely affected. Permission will generally be favoured where a dwelling has been used continuously for short-term letting for at least seven years without enforcement action, in line with established use rights. A simplified administrative version of the application process for retention specifically for short-term lets will be introduced.  Short-term let accommodation providers in towns with a population of less than 20,000 have two years to meet planning compliance and additional provisions are being included in the Bill to give effect to this measure. This work will be completed shortly. I intend to bring the Bill to Government in the coming weeks to seek approval for publication, and to advance the Bill to enactment by early autumn. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Healy-Rae  I ask the Minister to give confidence to the sector - the long-established self-catering operators who have been operating legally for many years - that they will not be forced out of business as a consequence of the new short-term letting regulations? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  I know the Deputy has done a lot of work on this matter. In towns with a population of less than 20,000 in areas of the south and west coast where it is not viable to build a hotel and where short-term lets for tourism are needed, we will have a simplified administrative process for providers who have been in operation for more than seven years. We have issued a planning statement which will have a presumption for those operators to be granted planning. It will be a simplified process and there will be a presumption they will be granted planning to ensure they can continue in operation. As Minister, I want to see short-term lets continue in areas where they are needed, such as the west coast and the south. Kerry is a prime example, as are counties Mayo, Leitrim and Longford and rural County Galway. There are areas that need short-term lets to absorb the capacity because there is no hotel accommodation available. We will also bring forward an accommodation strategy this year to try to incentivise the growth of high-quality hotel accommodation as well, which will be another weapon in our armoury. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Healy-Rae  I thank the Minister. I know his heart is in the right place on this matter, which is the reason I am asking him the questions. What communications has he had on the national planning statement? Will the statement be made available for consultation with stakeholders before implementation? What would the Minister like to see in it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  I have had significant negotiations with the Minister, Deputy James Browne, to achieve a balance. Obviously, it is critical that we have accommodation in our cities, where there is acute pressure on housing units - we are in a housing crisis - and that those units are made available for wider society. Equally, in areas where the tourism sector is very important, and tourism drives economic activity in rural Ireland, it is important that short-term lets that have already been in operation are able to continue. The planning statement will be published and it will state that there will be a presumption of planning to be approved on all short-term lets in areas with a population of less than 20,000. There will be a simplified application process for such operators to go through and there will be a two-year window for them to regularise once the register comes into operation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Sorca Clarke)  Deputy Healy-Rae can follow up with the Minister in writing. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Tourist Accommodation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/dbsect_26","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_26","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/dbsect_27","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Business Supports","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/dbsect_26","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_26","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_27","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_27.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Albert Dolan  Essentially, what I am asking about is the cost of doing business. With rates, insurance, electricity and labour costs, the costs of doing business over the past few years have soared and while the Government has, at times, tried to intervene and support people, I want to know what plans the Minister has to further support businesses? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I thank the Deputy for his question.  The Government continues to actively monitor cost developments across all sectors of the economy.  The small business unit was established in the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment last year, fulfilling a programme for Government commitment. There are a number of tools this unit and the Department will use to enable its work, including rigorous implementation of the SME test. The SME test tasks policy makers to consider the impact that any new policy, legislation or regulation may have on SMEs and to mitigate those impacts, where appropriate.  Access to grants and support programmes has been simplified through the launch of the national enterprise hub. This is hosted and operated by Enterprise Ireland and has over 250 different supports for businesses from 32 Departments and agencies. Since its launch in 2024, the national enterprise hub has handled over 15,000 inquiries. Monthly volumes have grown steadily, with over 940 queries received in May alone, representing a 33% increase on the same period last year. The average response time has consistently remained within 24 hours. The hub's website has also attracted significant interest, with over 300,000 visits since its establishment.  The small business unit has responsibility for the local enterprise offices and we are ensuring the LEOs are properly resourced to help small businesses. A review of the full suite of LEO supports is currently under way, while the Department and Enterprise Ireland are completing a review of applications for all LEO grants to reduce the number of questions and simplify requirements.  The cost of doing business advisory forum was established in June 2025 as part of the programme for Government commitment to ensure we reduce business costs and ease regulatory burdens. This forum serves as a structured platform to bring together enterprise representative bodies and a number of sectors across Departments, State agencies and regulators. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Albert Dolan  Go raibh maith agat a Aire St\u00e1it. I appreciate the update and the work that is ongoing. A key area I want to highlight, and I know the Minister of State is hearing this regularly, is energy costs. Energy remains one of the largest overheads for SMEs, particular in the hospitality sector, the manufacturing sector and the agribusiness sector. Small businesses do not have the same purchasing power that larger entities or corporations might have. It might be feasible for a large entity to buy the energy coming from some renewable energy development but this is not feasible for small businesses and small manufacturing entities. We have so much talent in our communities. I think of all the great businesses in Galway East that have massive energy costs but do not have the scale to purchase power at that level. What is the Minister of State doing specifically to support further solar grants and energy efficiency and reduce long-term energy costs? The price of electricity is simply too high. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I thank Deputy Dolan for his question. I know he has been big advocate of ensuring our energy system is supported and remains resilient and sustainable. Across government, through the Department of climate and energy, we are driving the delivery of renewable energy and solar PV. Through SEAI grants we have seen a huge uptake in the number of businesses that have adopted new technology in regard to solar PV and energy efficiency measures, which is very important. The SEAI does wonderful work to engage with businesses throughout the country.  The cost of doing business advisory forum brings together decision-makers, enterprises and businesses, regulators and key agencies. We see work undertaken by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, on how we structure the cost of energy in terms of transparency on what businesses pay for. We want to go further in how we regulate that market. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Albert Dolan  The Government has to go further, in particular for small and medium enterprises that do not have the scale to acquire electricity at a discounted rate. This is who we have to consider and support.  I want to move on to another cost of business issue which is constantly coming up for me, in particular in recent weeks. It is with regard to rates. Commercial rates are increasingly becoming a frustration for businesses. I understand that rates were not revalued for a long time but the revaluation has led to significant costs imposed on businesses. Sometimes there is a value question. The businesses pay rates but they could be in a rural location and they just are not seeing the value of what they are paying. There has to be better engagement from local authorities on this. Has the Minister of State assessed the impact that increased rates costs are having on small and medium enterprises? What does he plan to do about this cost? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  The challenges around rates are always contentious for small businesses and retailers in every town and city. It is not a function of the Department of enterprise to control that. Rates are a very important revenue stream for local authorities and central to delivering the required services. Deputy Dolan knows, as a former councillor, how important it is and how contentious it is for executive management to ensure it has this income stream. However, we do need to make better utilisation of how rates are proportionately absorbed by a lot of small businesses. I will undertake a review of the local enterprise offices to ensure there is more structure in place. We see rates abatement for many new businesses that may establish in towns, whereby a percentage of the full rate is forgone in the early years. That is very important. Rates are a devolved function of councillors and local government but we need to modernise them in the current era and see how we can support businesses in future. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Business Supports"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/dbsect_28","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Company Law","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/dbsect_26","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_26","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_28","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shay Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_28.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shay Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shay Brennan  Ireland's funds industry manages trillions in assets and supports over 20,000 jobs. It is one of our most significant internationally traded sectors. Globally this sector is now moving rapidly towards tokenisation and the use of distributed ledger technology. Will the Minister advise what assessment the Department has undertaken of whether our company law framework, including the Companies Act 2014, ICAP and the Investment Limited Partnerships Act are fit for purpose to support this transformation? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  I thank Deputy Brennan for his question on a very important sector for the Irish economy. Tokenisation, the process whereby an underlying asset or pool of assets, tangible or intangible, is converted into digital tokens that act as its proxy, could fundamentally reform how capital markets operate, enabling real-time trades, increasing transparency and liquidity, expediting clearing and ultimately providing for atomic settlement.  As the Deputy is aware, the Minister for Finance, who has lead policy responsibility for this area, published a funds sector 2030 report in October 2024. The report, titled Funds Sector 2030: A Framework for Open, Resilient and Developing Markets, is a wide-ranging review of the funds and asset management sector. The report included a recommendation that the industry continue to engage with the Central Bank of Ireland and the Department of Finance, as necessary, \"with a view to mapping out a pathway for adoption of tokenisation\".  I am advised that the Department of Finance fully supports and encourages the work that industry has undertaken thus far to assess what can be done within the current legislative and regulatory frameworks. Officials from that Department are considering submissions from industry regarding proposed changes to the current legislative framework. This work is being done and led by that Department, and following this work my Department will examine any proposed legislative amendments to the Companies Act put forward by the Department of Finance, as is the current practice in the normal course of events. This is in tandem with other work involving negotiations by the Department of Finance as policy lead in this area, such as work at EU level involving financial services regulation. The Deputy may also be aware that, in line with recommendation 17 of the report, the Central Bank published a discussion paper on tokenisation last March, with submissions being invited by 5 June. I understand the intention now is for the Central Bank to publish a feedback statement following this consultation period. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shay Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shay Brennan  I thank the Minister. He will appreciate there is an urgency about this issue. The core requirement from the funds industry is quite narrow. It is recognition that distributed ledger technology is a valid medium for share issuance for transfer, registration and record keeping. No radical change is being sought, just some targeted non-technology-focused amendments to key relevant Acts. Major international asset managers are already launching tokenised fund products, particularly in the money market funds where Ireland is Europe's leading domicile. Is the Department aware of what legislative changes need to be implemented and of the urgency with which clarity needs to be communicated to fund managers?  Is the Minister actively considering legislative changes at this time, and if so, over what timeframe? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  I am very much aware of how important the funds sector is to our employment landscape. Over 60,000 jobs and, as the Deputy pointed out, trillions in assets are domiciled here. As I said, the Department of Finance has the lead policy responsibility for the area. Distributed ledger technology, as the Deputy pointed out, provides a game changer for the sector. It records transactions, and transactions that are recorded in multiple places at the same time. This can provide a huge opportunity for Ireland.  What is happening here now is that submissions have been sought. They have been coming into the Central Bank. The Department of Finance will communicate to our Department what changes are needed in the company law code, because our Department is responsible for this area. We will support the growth of the sector in that regard because we have seen how much it has contributed to our economy in terms of jobs and this being a highly regulated sector that has a pathway into the European market that is significant for Ireland. I can, therefore, assure the Deputy of my full attention to this matter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shay Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shay Brennan  The Minister will appreciate that the risk here is a straightforward competitiveness one. If competing jurisdictions provide clearer legal certainty first, the product development and the jobs that go with it will go elsewhere. The question is not whether tokenisation or distributed ledger technology will become a core component of the funds industry, but whether Ireland will be ready in time to maintain its leading global position in the funds sector.  Our reputation in financial services was largely built on anticipating market developments and rapidly adapting to them. Does the Minister accept that timely action on this issue is necessary and will he commit to engaging with industry stakeholders on specific legislative amendments that have been identified and other requirements that would support the industry? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  I am constantly engaging with stakeholders. Indeed, I meet many of them during my weekly business with the Department. I have had some very exciting job announcements in the financial services sector and have discussed this issue in detail with it and in relation to the work the Department of Finance has undertaken. It has been present for some of those announcements, so we are very much aware of the opportunity here. Ireland will absolutely be at the forefront to grasp that opportunity with both hands.  I should also point out the highly skilled workforce we have and the capacity to ensure that grows is so important for the sector as well. We are well set, therefore, to grow it further. The IDA has a number of exciting companies growing in this space. There is also our own fintech sector with Fenergo and others that have grown exponentially in recent years. I assure the Deputy of my full attention, and I am working closely with the Department of Finance and the Central Bank on this issue. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Company Law"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/dbsect_29","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Artificial Intelligence","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/dbsect_26","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_26","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_29","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_29.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Albert Dolan  Artificial intelligence, AI, is one of the biggest economic opportunities facing Ireland over the next decade. It has the potential to transform productivity, innovation and competitiveness across every sector. What is the Government doing to position Ireland as a leader in AI adoption and development? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  The Government recognises that the adoption of AI and digital technologies presents a significant opportunity for Irish businesses to enhance productivity, competitiveness and innovation across all sectors of the economy. The recently published national digital and AI strategy, Digital Ireland - Connecting our People, Securing our Future, sets out a clear roadmap for Ireland\u2019s digital and AI adoption and development in the years ahead.  One of the key priorities in the strategy is fast-tracking enterprise technology adoption, particularly in SMEs, to boost productivity and competitiveness. Under the AI - Good for Business initiative, a national AI and digital awareness roadshow has been established in tandem with local enterprise office, LEO, regions. The roadshow, which is already under way, helps SMEs to understand the practical benefits of AI and digital tools, showcases real SME success stories, and highlights the LEO supports available. Having participated in one of these roadshows in Galway in April, it is very encouraging to see the high levels of interest and uptake of AI by SMEs.  These supports include the Grow Digital voucher, which offers up to \u20ac5,000 to small businesses with under 50 employees to adopt digital tools like ecommerce, AI, cybersecurity, and website development. The digital for business consultancy scheme is a free service which connects businesses with expert advisers to assess needs and develop tailored plans. The European digital innovation hubs, EDIHs, in Dublin, Cork, Mullingar and Sligo offer hands-on support to help SMEs to understand, test and adopt advanced technologies. My Department recently allocated an additional \u20ac23 million in funding for these EDIHs to support SMEs in their uptake of AI and other cutting-edge technologies.  We are building on existing supports and developing a targeted sectoral strategy to develop and drive AI adoption. Enterprise Ireland will also appoint an AI sector champion to spotlight AI opportunities, and the charter for digital inclusion will also encourage larger businesses to support smaller ones in adopting digital tools. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Albert Dolan  I am firmly of the opinion that the countries that adopt AI responsibly will yield the greatest benefits over the next generation. We can be economic leaders through AI and we can show what a society is capable of. A part of where this conversation has to be is about the societal benefits that can come from AI-gained efficiencies.  With those efficiencies, however, come a lot of concerns. We have to address the challenges that there will be around job displacement and workforce skills and ensure that people can upskill, develop and wield the power that AI will give them as individuals. How is the Government going to ensure that Ireland will not simply be depending on other countries' AI but that we have some sort of AI independence? The Minister of State will have seen over the weekend that access to Fable and Mythos outside the US was shut down. How would we respond if we were dependent on AI services and they got shut down? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I thank the Deputy very much for his questions. I feel that one of the biggest barriers to AI adoption is not the reluctance to adopt the technology but is around awareness and understanding. This is why it is important that we get businesses engaged early in respect of how it can enhance their effectiveness, efficiencies and productivity. That is why we have the Grow Digital voucher, ensuring that experts can create digital plans and allow the technology to be embedded in a system. We are working on the AI observatory to make Ireland an international hub for AI adoption. That is very much part of the whole AI plan, and we really want to see SMEs as a success story in respect of the adoption of AI. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Albert Dolan  I would say that we need to be careful. I welcome the Grow Digital vouchers, but this would lead to businesses depending on those vouchers to get the expertise and skills to be talented with AI. The whole idea of AI is that it is going to be usable by anybody for anybody with their own critical thinking and their own ability. It is going to be about allowing people to gain the skillsets and the critical thinking capacity to use AI. I would be careful not to fund so many vouchers that people become dependent on them.  Another point is that the benefits of AI need to be felt and spread right across the country. From the point of view of the Government particularly, and this is something I have called for before, an AI hub for the west of Ireland is needed. We have an incredible medical technology and medical device sector in Galway. The Minister of State knows the huge investment Dexcom has made in Athenry. I would love to see a med tech AI hub in Galway that works with these companies to deliver next-generation technologies that can impact the globe. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I would certainly like to see more investment and I support the call made by the Deputy for having more centres of excellence in the west of Ireland around AI adoption. It is part of the Government\u2019s policy for balanced regional development. I know the project in Dexcom, in the Deputy's area, is significant and needs to be supported.  The new AI office will ensure that innovation is very much balanced and that safeguards are put in place. We are very much focused on the digital skills and talent area. We have one of the highest graduate levels in science, technology, engineering and maths, STEM, and we need to capitalise on this in respect of how AI is adopted.  I take the Deputy's point that early planning is very important for businesses, and that is why we need advice from experts to develop the associated skill set but also the plan for how to adopt the technology, having regard to how important it will be for businesses. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 145 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Artificial Intelligence"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/dbsect_30","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Foreign Direct Investment","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/dbsect_26","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_26","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_30","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_30.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  Competitiveness is so important to Ireland as an open market economy. What measures have been taken by the Department to improve Ireland's competitiveness to attract and retain FDI? Will the Minister of State make a statement on it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I propose to take Questions Nos. 146 and 149 together.  FDI is a key element of our economic strategy, with investments by IDA Ireland client companies consistently generating high-skilled jobs nationwide. The Department works closely with IDA Ireland and other stakeholders to ensure a strong pipeline of FDI into Ireland.  In light of the rapidly evolving global landscape and given the challenging international economic and trading environment, the Government is implementing a whole-of-government response to the challenges Ireland is facing, as set out in the Action Plan for Competitiveness and Productivity. The action plan strengthens Ireland's attractiveness for FDI by improving the business environment through measures on innovation, skills, infrastructure and cost competitiveness, ensuring Ireland remains a stable, competitive and future-ready location for global investors.  Complementing this approach is IDA Ireland's own strategy, Adapt Intelligently: A Strategy for Sustainable Growth and Innovation 2025\u201329. This strategy identifies clear opportunities for Ireland to win investment in key growth areas such as digitalisation and artificial intelligence, semiconductors, health and sustainability. This strategy reaffirms IDA Ireland's focus on maximising opportunities for existing and new clients to invest in regional locations. Building on the excellent performance over the previous strategy, IDA Ireland is targeting 55% of investments in regional locations over the five years of the current strategy.  Last year the Department launched Silicon Island: Ireland's National Semiconductor Strategy, which aims to make Ireland a global leader in semiconductors. The strategy promotes national policies and investments to further stimulate chip design and manufacturing capabilities. Later this year, we will also launch a national life sciences strategy, reflecting the level of importance of this sector to both foreign and domestic companies and the opportunities for its further development.  Investment remains strong. A total of 323 investments were secured by IDA Ireland during 2025, representing a 38% increase on the previous year and the highest number of projects on record secured by the agency. Employment in IDA Ireland client companies increased by 1.5% year on year in 2025 to 312,400. The Government is fully aware of the competitiveness challenges this country faces as we continue to compete for FDI. We are taking the necessary steps to position Ireland for the future and we will continue to place cost, planning, energy and research and development at the centre of forward-looking policymaking.  Competitiveness is a matter for all of Europe. The Government announced last week our Presidency priorities, which are centred on three key areas: competitiveness, values and security. My colleague, the Minister, Deputy Burke, will assume the chair of the EU Competitiveness Council in July and we will have an opportunity then to progress really important files to align with European ambition in this regard. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  I welcome the Government's continued focus on competitiveness and attracting investment through IDA Ireland. It is clear that the international trading environment has become more challenging in recent years, with increasing trade barriers and growing competition for investment globally. Given Ireland's reliance on international trade and FDI, will the Minister of State outline the key actions being taken across government to strengthen our competitiveness? In particular, what progress has been made in areas such as infrastructure delivery, skills development and regulatory efficiency, which are increasingly important factors for companies considering Ireland as a location for investment?  As sure as day follows night, and as we see in the economy, after every boom there is a recession. Things are getting tight at the moment. We are no longer in a position of comfort. Companies from other parts of the world will be looking at Ireland from a fiscal point of view, so what is the Minister of State's Department doing to make sure we remain as competitive as possible? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Albert Dolan  FDI decisions are going to be driven by talent, innovation and, ultimately, infrastructure. When I say infrastructure, I am talking about public transport, housing and everything that goes into the quality of life of the employee because, ultimately, companies are going to locate where the talent wants to be.  In Galway, as I have mentioned previously, we have a significant medtech sector. It is absolutely incredible what has happened there over the past 30 years. That does not just happen. We need to see a continued push to drive more investment into Galway and into our medtech sector. Beside the site where Dexcom Ireland has been developed are additional IDA lands that are prime for development for more jobs for east Galway. That is what I push for here this evening. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I thank the Deputies for their questions. I absolutely agree that competitiveness is not just for today; it is about preparing for the next decade. That is really important. That is why the Government is developing Enterprise 2035, which will be a long-term strategy focused on enterprise growth while also ensuring we have widespread job creation throughout the regions. It will be focused on skills, lifelong learning, innovation, access to finance, digital and green transitions, and building resilience against the uncertainty within our global economy. We have seen from global shocks how exposed we are. We have had the trade and tariff wars. We have had the challenge of supply chain disruption with the Middle East. I contend, in the knowledge that I am speaking to two rural TDs, that we are very much focused on ensuring the Government is investing but that investment benefits every region in the country. That is why over 57% of all new investments were based in regional Ireland. That is not accidental; that is a result of Government policy.  It is also about targeting regional property development and the next-generation sites to ensure they are serviced and brought forward, but also that we have strategic planning from IDA Ireland and that IDA Ireland is considering all the four corners and not just at our main cities and thoroughfares. This is about ensuring the high-value sectors Deputy Dolan talked about and the life sciences and semiconductor sectors, which create high-quality jobs and that anchor within regions, bring considerable employment but also act as a catalyst for indigenous companies to service the big multinationals. That is very important. We need to continue to work across government to make sure that happens. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  I welcome the strong performance in attracting investment into Ireland and the commitment to balanced regional development. As we look at the next phase of growth, it is important that counties such as Offaly and the wider midlands continue to benefit from new investment opportunities. Will the Minister provide an update on the measures being taken to support regional locations in competing for future investment? We are grateful in Offaly, particularly in Tullamore, for the investment by IDA Ireland in lands for a new IDA Ireland park. What progress has been made in getting the infrastructure into this park and what progress has been made in strengthening regional enterprise infrastructure, skills provision and site development so areas such as the midlands will be well positioned to secure a greater share of future jobs and investment? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Albert Dolan  I welcome the Minister of State's mention of the next-generation sites. As he knows, outside Oranmore there is potential for one of the country's most strategic sites. It was reported in the Business Post over a year ago that the Minister, Deputy Burke, was to bring a memo to the Cabinet about potential investment in Galway to upgrade the infrastructure on Mutton Island and wastewater infrastructure, and to provide a new link off the motorway and a new rail stop at the site.  Can I have an update? Where is that currently? Did that memo ever come to Cabinet? Will the Minister be able to provide an update about the prospects of a company selecting that site for a chip fabrication plant or whatever the preferred option is? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I again thank the Deputies for their questions and their support for continued investment in the regions of Offaly and Galway. The Minister is continuing to progress the next generation sites. That is important. He is progressing the west, which is important, initially. I hope we will have an announcement shortly in that regard. It is important that what we announce is serviced. There is a plan to ensure the site can be energised and there is access to utilities, critical services, etc. At Government level, that memo has been brought and approved, but not yet announced.  With regard to regional balance, the action plan for competitive productivity is important for how we continue to deliver the skills and talent within the regions. Offaly has had recent success with Bord na M\u00f3na's collaboration with Amazon. It is important to build on tech, data centres and everything that goes with them for job creation. It is also important that the infrastructure and planning continue to evolve to meet the needs of the local regions and areas. There are various strategies that the Government is currently working on and that will be brought forward, such as the new national semiconductor strategy and the new life science strategy. There will also be investment in infrastructure through the national development plan. These are all important competitive measures that will set Ireland apart for future investments in our regions. We are competing globally. There is no denying that it has been a challenging period to attract more international companies here to Ireland. IDA Ireland is doing a great job and the Minister, Deputy Burke, is actively working with the agency on a day-to-day basis. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Foreign Direct Investment"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/dbsect_31","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Departmental Strategies","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/dbsect_26","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_26","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_31","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_31.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paula Butterly  Will the Minister provide an update on the national tourism strategy, particularly with regard to the timelines and funding that will be required to enhance our food tourism sector? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  I thank the Deputy for a very important question relating to tourism, which is our largest indigenous sector. The programme for Government includes a clear commitment to support and expand food and drink tourism, reflecting its importance in shaping visitor experiences. Food and beverage accounts for approximately 34% of all visitor expenditure. A New Era for Irish Tourism, the Government's national tourism policy, focuses on sustainable development of our tourism sector and increasing the regional and seasonal spread of tourism activity. It includes a commitment to develop a new national culinary strategy to strengthen the quality and reputation of Ireland's food offering. This strategy will build on and complement destination experience development plans that place a strong emphasis on food at a local level. It will support the strengthening and promotion of authentic, sustainable experiences alongside the development of food trails and festivals that drive demand and help sustain over 46,000 tourism-related businesses. These objectives also clearly align with wider Government measures to support competitiveness, which include the reduction in VAT to 9% for food and catering services from next month.  Delivering on these commitments requires strong co-ordination and a clear focus on outcomes. In this context, I established a tourism policy oversight group, which will meet for the first time on 8 July. This group will bring together representation across government, agencies, local authorities and industry stakeholders to oversee, monitor and support the delivery of the 71 policy objectives. This group will be supported by targeted delivery streams, including a dedicated culinary stream, to ensure alignment across national and local government. All the key sectors will provide strategic oversight of the strategy's development and delivery.  Tourism Ireland is implementing a refreshed culinary tourism approach overseas, addressing outdated perceptions of Irish food and showcasing the quality, freshness and diversity of food and drink across the island as a key driver of destination choice, particularly among European visitors. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paula Butterly  It is great that 34% of tourism funding is directed towards food and drink, but that also highlights the scope we have to develop it even further. As a result, I welcome this strategy. However, a strategy is only as good as its implementation. As the Minister saw last Monday when he came to launch the Louth tourism strategy, we in County Louth have so much to offer. People can have oysters in Carlingford. They can go to The Glyde Inn in Annagassan and have all the fish delicacies we have to offer in County Louth. The best fish and chips are up in Clogherhead, while the best steak is over at the Monasterboice Inn, formerly known as Donegan's. We have all of that. We need to build the food strategy, along with the culture and heritage of the county, as do many towns and villages across the country at a regional level. How will the Minister develop that in practical terms? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  Critically, as the Deputy pointed out, the Louth strategy for tourism up to 2031 has key performance indicators, KPIs, to measure exactly the performance and ensure our objectives are realised. I took the view in our tourism plan that if it cannot be measured, it cannot be managed. That is why we have 71 objectives with clear KPIs attached to each. That is why Tourism Ireland has approximately \u20ac71 million for 2026 for marketing, and the culinary industry is key to that. We will develop our culinary strategy over this year. It will have a job of work in advancing the proposition that so many of our businesses have.  As the Deputy rightly pointed out, there is a vineyard in Louth. There are oysters. There is an incredible offering from the distillery. There are so many attractions to bring people to County Louth. It will be front and centre and will absorb huge resources. We will put in \u20ac400 million over the next five years. The culinary industry is unique, genuine and authentic food production that will put us in a good space to attract visitors. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paula Butterly  The Minister is exactly right. We have food and drink of the highest quality produced at a local level by great producers in County Louth. The core element to producing this food and drink is our farmers. Our farmers are struggling at the moment, particularly those in the tillage sector. I call on the Minister to co-ordinate and co-operate with the Minister for agriculture to ensure that from beginning to end, the chain is able to sustain a long-term food tourism strategy in County Louth and across the country. Without a good, strong agricultural sector, we will not be in a position to continue to produce the high-quality food and drink that we can offer tourists in Ireland. They then go home to America, France, Italy, Japan or South Africa and talk about the wonders of Irish food and drink. As a result, we have a strong export sector. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  I could not agree more with the Deputy and the proposals she is bringing forward. I look forward to working with her to grow our tourism sector. I particularly look forward to working with our businesses. There are 46,000 businesses across the country that provide a genuine, authentic c\u00e9ad m\u00edle f\u00e1ilte. We will come forward in September or October with a number of supports, capital grants, for attractions and businesses to help them with digitalisation to ensure they can grasp the opportunity that is ahead. Many of our visitors now use generative AI to plan out their itineraries, book and research online.  I am working closely with the Minister for agriculture, Deputy Heydon, to ensure that farmers are supported. Right now, for every 200 litre fill of diesel, farmers get \u20ac55 to support them in the production of food. That is reducing the price of groceries on tables and reducing the cost of production, critically, for businesses. In budget 2027, we will provide further supports. We had the national economic dialogue, which included a breakout session on agriculture, as well as one on tourism, to discuss the challenges for all the sectoral interests. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Departmental Strategies"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/dbsect_32","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Export Controls","counts":{"speechCount":10,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/dbsect_26","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_26","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_32","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_32.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  There may have been other questions earlier on this topic. I am looking forward to hearing the Minister's answer. It is difficult to comprehend how during a genocide, licences were approved, in particular for 2024, for dual-use goods for which the end user was the IDF and the department of defence in Israel. The value was \u20ac20 million. It is quite extraordinary. It is difficult to understand how such applications could have been approved in the context of such appalling crimes against humanity.  They should not have been approved. I welcome that has now stopped, but we need answers about why they were approved. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  First, there is no policy change in this area. My Department\u2019s responsibilities centre around the control of exports of dual-use and military items under EU and national legislation. Controls on the export of dual-use items are administered by my Department in accordance with EU Regulation 2021\/821 of the European Parliament and the Council setting up an EU regime for the control of exports, brokering, technical assistance, transit and transfer of dual-use items. The bulk of dual-use exports from Ireland, including those to end users in Israel, are mainstream business ICT products, both hardware and software. They are categorised as dual-use items as a consequence of the fact that they incorporate strong encryption for ICT security purposes. The primary purpose of export controls is not to block trade or exports, but to enable the free movement of legitimate goods, while ensuring that certain sensitive categories are subject to appropriate regulation.  All export licence applications are considered by my officials in accordance with criteria set out in the relevant dual-use and military EU and national regulations and Ireland\u2019s international obligations and responsibilities as members of non-proliferation regimes and export control arrangements. Each application is assessed individually by considering the nature of the items, the destination country, the identity of the end user and the intended use. Ireland\u2019s decisions are guided by the EU position and its eight criteria, which include respect for human rights, international obligations, regional stability and risk of diversion to another end user or end use.  The risk profile of an application is impacted by current geopolitical factors, the end user, the items in question and their ability to be misused. This risk profile can change on a case-by-case basis. If an application is deemed high risk and the exporter is unable to provide strong assurances to mitigate the risks identified, the application will be denied. As each application is treated on a case-by case basis, the available verifiable information at the time and associated risk assessments can change from application to application. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  The Minister said there is no change in policy. I find that hard to gather when for five years in a row licences were approved for significant sums of money and in the past two years, they have not been. I welcome that. The Minister said there has not been a policy change. I would say there has been and I welcome it. It is the right thing to do.  However, drilling into what the Minister said, the policy of the EU broadly speaking - appropriately - is that goods primarily used for civilian uses that could potentially be used for military uses, require a double check. They come back to the relevant agency in the state. That state then decides whether it is appropriate and whether the state is confident the end user will be civilian and will use it for a civilian purpose or for a military purpose. The end user here was the Israel Defense Forces, IDF, and the Israel Ministry of Defense in the context of tens of thousands of people, including tens of thousands of children, being killed. The Department was asked to sign off on this licence and it did. It did so three times to a value of \u20ac20 million in 2024. Why did it do so? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Sorca Clarke)  Thank you, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  It had all the information, unless the Minister can tell me otherwise and the Department did not have the information that it would end up in that place. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  As I said, there has been no policy change. The law is clear in the Control of Exports Act 2023, as set out by these Houses of which the Deputy is a Member, and in our European obligations under the framework and the eight criteria that have been established.  Ireland has been firm and strong in recognising the State of Palestine. We have supported the people of Gaza through the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, UNRWA, the competent authority which provides aid. We strongly supported it when Commissioner V\u00e1rhelyi tried to unilaterally withdraw key supports to vulnerable citizens. We joined the ICJ case with South Africa and have called out the genocide in Gaza. That is where we are clear. It is all about where the end user is and what the purpose is.  There has been no significant increase or decrease in applications being denied. The number of applications went down. That is not a change in policy by the Department. We do not control who comes to the Department seeking a licence. When the number of applications goes down, the value goes down. I assure the House there has been no change in policy whatsoever and no review has taken place either. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  There has to be a review. We are talking about millions of euro worth of goods ending up in the hands of the IDF and the Ministry of Defense in Israel, while they kill tens of thousands of civilians. There should be a review. There absolutely should.  The Minister has talked around it. The Government has done things in relation to Palestine that we have welcomed and other things that did not go far enough compared with other European countries. The standard in Europe is undoubtedly low and Ireland is perhaps above that but looking beyond that internationally, it is not anything to shout about.  However, the fundamental point, which the Minister has not answered, is that the Department was given the opportunity to refuse those licences. These landed in the Department. The framework the European Union created ensures the decision comes back to the Department, which makes a determination about whether there is a risk of the goods ending up in military situations beyond civilian use. The Department seems to have been satisfied there was no problem. Surely, it would have had information about where it was going to end up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Sorca Clarke)  Thank you, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  Why was it signed off? That is the key question, which the Minister has not answered. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  Very clearly, it is because it is in compliance with the law and with the criteria set down by the EU. We do not assess applications on the basis of made-up criteria. The criteria are grounded in the EU framework, which has eight clear measures, and the Control of Exports Act set down by this House in 2023. As I said in my substantive response, we have to satisfy ourselves that the end user will not bring any unintended consequences and that citizens are not being harmed by its actions. That is what we have to do. The criteria are clear. The robust procedures we have in the Department for doing that are crystal clear.  Ireland has been at the forefront of the European Union in standing with the people of Gaza, in calling for the EU-Israel Association Agreement to be suspended - we were at the forefront of doing that - and supporting the people of Gaza financially. No country has called out as much as Ireland has and the Palestinian Authority recognises that clearly in all our meetings with it. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 149 taken with Question No. 146. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Export Controls"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/dbsect_33","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Artificial Intelligence","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/dbsect_26","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_26","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_33","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_33.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aindrias Moynihan  AI is not simply about technological change. It is about whether Ireland continues to offer a fair and functioning pathway from education to employment or whether AI will risk closing the door on the next generation before it even gets a chance to start. Will the Minister outline what his Department's latest assessments show about AI impacts on employment, in particular on graduate and entry-level jobs? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  I thank Deputy Moynihan for his question. My Department is continually monitoring the labour market and the impact of artificial intelligence. We have a number of relevant pieces of research I can cite, including research from the expert group on future skills needs published last year, How AI is transforming the Irish Labour Market. This work highlights the speed at which Ireland is moving in relation to AI, noting the strong demand for AI jobs but also the robust supply pipeline in relation to AI. Ireland has a track record of producing very skilled workers and this is also happening with AI, as work in my Department has shown. Ireland has seen a doubling in AI jobs and usage since 2023. While this is a fast-changing field, it shows the inherent dynamism and resilience of the Irish labour market. This work is currently being updated, which is important given the fluid situation that exists.  Furthermore, work published in conjunction with the Department of Finance highlights that the labour market here is highly exposed to AI, given the composition of employment, specifically in relation to ICT, financial and professional services. The work also noted that AI may already be affecting employment patterns, with sectors more exposed to AI, such as ICT and financial services, recording significantly weaker employment growth in recent years.  In terms of graduate or entry-level jobs, we are monitoring developments closely and working closely with the Department of Finance. Its latest annual progress report from April 2026 is informative in this regard. It notes that employment growth among 15- to 29-year-olds in sectors at risk to AI declined by 2.5% between 2023 and 2025, despite overall employment increasing. This was particularly pronounced in the ICT sector.  More broadly in respect of the labour market, activity levels remain strong, despite a difficult international environment. The latest figures from the Central Statistics Office show that employment growth was effectively flat in quarter 1 of 2026. However, the overall employment levels remains exceptionally high at 2.8 million people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aindrias Moynihan  The data suggests it is not a collapse in opportunities, but more a fundamental restructuring of how graduates enter the workforce. Research indicates that almost half of employers are reducing their entry-level roles, directly linked to AI adoption, and 83% of recruiters say that hiring is now more selective and strategic. While almost 40% of employers increased recruitment earlier this year, that growth was concentrated in specialist roles.  Even in sectors like IT and telecommunications, where 56% of employers are increasing hiring, those roles are increasingly focused on experienced and highly specialised candidates and over a quarter of firms are recruiting specifically in AI and machine learning. The challenge is clear. The opportunities are not disappearing but the channel into them is narrowing. Will the Minister set out what targeted interventions are being developed to ensure graduates and entry-level workers are not choked out of the labour market as that transition accelerates? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  We are working very closely with all our skills partners and enterprise agencies to ensure training is being delivered in the key sectors that are at risk, namely, graduates, as well as particular cohorts of the employment market like ICT, professional services and legal and financial services. We have a huge amount of skills upgrading to do in those areas. Take the IDA for example. We set out an ambition to train 40,000 people over the four-year strategy and in year one we have hit 33,000. That demonstrates the capacity and training we are doing. There is also a huge amount of opportunity. It is not a period of decline for the labour market but a period of transition in which old functions will change and new opportunities will emerge. Take, for example, our high-performance growth unit in Enterprise Ireland. Of 196 new businesses this year, half of them are grounded in AI. That shows the opportunity there. We are working with the expert group on future skills. Our new national skills observatory, which will be profiling and matching the skills and work our skills partners will be doing, has been established. We will have our AI office up and running from 1 August and it will be building capacity and ensuring our citizens are fully trained to grasp the opportunities that are presented. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aindrias Moynihan  Ireland has strong growth in AI and high demand for skills but those entry-level roles are reducing and graduates are going to struggle to gain the experience required in that growth and to be ready to take part in that growth. A whole cohort of new graduates finished their exams a few weeks ago and are waiting on results and preparing to enter the labour market. Ireland's economy, as the Minister says, is especially exposed to AI with about 63% of employment estimated to be affected to some degree or another. That reflects our concentration in knowledge-intensive sectors. It makes Ireland both a leader in AI adoption but also very exposed to labour market disruption. Employers are increasingly optimising for productivity and they are doing that by hiring experienced workers. That is going to threaten the pipeline of future talent. What targeted interventions are being considered to sustain graduates with clear pathways? These could be internships or incentives for entry-level hiring. Crucially, how is the Government going to ensure Ireland's AI success does not come at the expense of opportunities for younger people? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  We have updated our digital and AI strategy, which has 80 deliverables, while working right across our skill partners to ensure our citizens are getting that transformational training that makes those jobs sticky. We also have done a huge amount of work on establishing our national skills observatory with the Minister, Deputy Lawless, and his Department of further and higher education to profile those skills and to ensure we are having the output from our tertiary education partners that really reflects a changing labour force. It is going to be a big challenge for someone who started a course in third level two or three years ago as the labour market has changed significantly, particularly at entry level. We have a huge amount of training and skills profiling in relation to that. I mentioned what our colleagues in the IDA are doing in making a database of 300,000 employees and making those jobs more sticky and targeting them before they come under pressure. The key thing we are trying to do is predict the cohorts that are under pressure and get that training in, get in with our employers and offer them the training so employees can benefit from it and ultimately secure the jobs rather than leaving them exposed to artificial intelligence. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Artificial Intelligence"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/dbsect_34","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Small and Medium Enterprises","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/dbsect_26","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_26","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_34","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_34.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  Last year we brought in the SME test. It is a great way of checking all legislation before it comes in to see how it will affect SMEs. In what ways does the Minister think the test has helped small businesses in that time? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I thank the Deputy very much for the question. The SME test encourages policymakers across Government to apply the principle of thinking small first, to consider the impact any measures may have on SMEs and to mitigate any impacts where possible. This approach helps small businesses by ensuring new policies are designed in a way that supports SMEs and reduces unnecessary burdens on them.  In May 2024, the Government committed to ensuring an enhanced SME test would be applied to all major new measures. In October 2024 the Government formally approved the enhanced SME test and guidelines. Under the current programme for Government we have committed to rigorously implementing the SME test to scrutinise every piece of legislation and regulation for its impact on SMEs. In addition, the Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity commits that all Departments will apply the SME test to all measures and in particular to policy initiatives where it is proposed to increase costs on small business and include the SME test in the Government handbook.  As for impact, we are seeing a growing and more consistent use of the SME test. In 2025, 33 SME tests were applied by ten Departments. This compares with 26 SME tests applied by eight Departments in 2024. The year-on-year growth of almost 27% in the number of tests applied in 2025 is a good indication the enhancements, implementation groups and Government commitments are having an impact. The SME test is influencing outcomes and helping small businesses in a practical way. For example, in the development of additional powers for the Agri-Food Regulator, engagement identified a potential burden on smaller firms, thereby resulting in small businesses with up to 50 full-time equivalent staff being excluded from the scope of the legislation. In our Department, its application to the employment permits Bill identified options to mitigate impacts on SMEs. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Aire St\u00e1it. The principle, as he said, behind the SME test is to think small first to reduce unnecessary administrative burdens on businesses. However, many small business owners would say they are still spending too much time dealing with paperwork and compliance requirements rather than running their businesses. For example, a constituent who operates a petrol station informed me he requires 14 separate licences, permits and registrations to operate his business. While each requirement may have a valid purpose, the cumulative burden can be significant. A lot of these requirements were there before we brought in the SME test but what can the Minister of State and his colleagues do to reduce this burden going forward? Will he outline specific examples where the SME test has resulted in reduced reporting obligations, streamlined processes or simplified compliance requirements for small businesses? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I again thank the Deputy. The Minister, Deputy Burke, and I are looking at how we streamline the application processes for a lot of businesses and SMEs that take the opportunity to apply for grants. We have undertaken a simplification process to do with the LEOs. We are also looking at more systemic reform within the LEOs to make them more accessible to small businesses across the 31 local authorities. We will ensure that we engage with businesses to make sure their feedback feeds in to the enhancement process. That is really important. Overall, the SME test and the consistency of its application is really important. The Minister, Deputy Burke, has been very vocal in ensuring it is in the Cabinet handbook that all Departments that are bringing memos to Government on new legislation or initiatives undertake the SME test to look at any untoward cost impact on businesses. It has been effective in its implementation so far. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Aire St\u00e1it. Another key objective of the SME test is to identify circumstances where exemption thresholds or more proportionate requirements may be appropriate for smaller businesses. Can the Minister of State provide examples where the SME test has resulted in exemptions or thresholds being introduced for smaller businesses? Furthermore, does he believe there is scope to expand the use of such measures in future, especially where the cost of compliance falls disproportionately on small businesses with limited staff and resources? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  As I said in my earlier contribution we have seen real, practical outcomes in regard to its implementation, such as with the Agri-Food Regulator legislation. SMEs employing fewer than 50 staff were excluded from the initial analysis in the employment permit system. Processes were simplified and digitalised and fees were made more flexible. As for regulatory thresholds, we have looked at turnover limits, which were introduced to protect small businesses from compliance costs. These are really practical and meaningful changes that directly benefit small businesses.  Through the enhanced framework, every memorandum for Government must include a completed SME test or explicitly explain why one is not required. That is a fundamental shift in how we protect small businesses from undue cost burdens and regulatory impact. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Is f\u00e9idir teacht ar Cheisteanna Scr\u00edofa ar www.oireachtas.ie. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Written Answers are published on the Oireachtas website. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Small and Medium Enterprises"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/dbsect_35","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_35","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa)  I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case:  Deputy Jen Cummins - To discuss Kilmurry National School's SNA allocation and the summer programme.  Deputy Pat Buckley - To discuss an application for an interim ancillary grant by Ballygiblin National School, Mitchelstown.  Deputy Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in - To discuss wheelchair access on Irish Rail and Bus \u00c9ireann services.  Deputy Daniel Ennis - To discuss a full independent public inquiry into the death of Terence Wheelock.  Deputy Barry Heneghan - To discuss the proposed relocation of Harmonstown An Post sorting office.  Deputy Malcolm Byrne - To discuss the development of Bunclody Community College, County Wexford.  Deputy Albert Dolan - To discuss the introduction of financial literacy to the school curriculum.  Deputy Michael Murphy - To discuss the ongoing failure to recruit a consultant ophthalmologist in south Tipperary.  Deputy Joanna Byrne - To discuss the need for the Drogheda north train station.  Deputy Gary Gannon - To discuss the proposed reforms to the criminal legal aid system.  Deputy Paul Murphy - To discuss the decision of South Dublin County Council to increase council, HAP and homeless HAP rents from July.  Deputy Shane Moynihan - To discuss delays in reimbursement under the cross-border healthcare directive.  Deputies M\u00e1ire Devine, Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh - To discuss matters relating to Kilmainham Gaol.  Deputy Maurice Quinlivan - To discuss funding for the roll-out of BusConnects in Limerick city.  Deputy John Connolly - To discuss the urgent need for a speech and language class in Connemara.  Deputy Pa Daly - To discuss the need for adult day service placement, respite and outreach for adults tranistioning from schools to adult services in Kerry.  Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire - To discuss progress of the Cork southern distributor link multimodal route.  Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa - To discuss appropriate school places for children with challenging needs in County Louth.  The matters raised by Deputies Connolly, Dolan, Daly, Devine and \u00d3 Snodaigh, and Byrne have been selected for discussion "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/dbsect_36","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_36","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/dbsect_37","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Special Educational Needs","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/dbsect_36","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_36","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_37","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Connolly  I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, for being here to take this Topical Issue. It is one of particular importance to the people of my constituency, particularly young families in the west part of the constituency, Connemara. I will elaborate on that as I go on.  One has to recognise in raising this topic the significant investment and expansion in the provision of classes for children with additional needs, this year in particular, but also in the previous academic year - since this Government came into office. It is one thing in the work of this Government we can reflect on with great pride. There have been in the region of 1,000 additional classes for children with additional needs in our mainstream schools since the Government came into office; that is 1,000 additional teachers and potentially 2,000 extra special needs assistants in the system, allowing children with additional needs to attend their local mainstream national school with their peers, as it should be. The Taoiseach said at the outset of this Government that he wanted to provide a step change in the provision of education and services for children and for people with additional needs.  The other great measure the Government has taken is in the area of providing therapeutic intervention in special schools, that is, providing special schools with speech and language therapists and occupational therapists. Hopefully, we will see that expanded to the mainstream setting in years to come. For now, unfortunately, that provision is not there, particularly in the area of speech and language. When reflecting on the additional classes provided this year, it would have to be said that we are meeting a significant demand for children with autism. However, in the list of over 500 classes that we provided this year - and I could be wrong - there is one class for children with delayed language disorder. Fortunately enough, it happens to be in my hometown and in my constituency. I know the school involved well. The school management are very appreciative of the effort and have already filled that class.  Connemara is in the west of my constituency. It is a significant geographic area. Even if going beyond the county border into west Mayo, there is no class for children with delayed language disorder. That is something we need to look at. A report from 2021 outlined that across the country there were in the region of 60 classes for children with delayed language disorder. They are dispersed and a significant number of them are in urban areas. We need to look beyond that to provision of classes elsewhere.  I have a unique request. My interest has been instigated by a family from west Connemara who came to see me. It is not practical for them to bring a child into Galway city to attend the delayed language disorder class. The Department of Education and Youth needs to look at the area between Moycullen and Clifden to see whether it can find a school where it can provide a class for children with delayed language disorder.  I have another request, which cannot be neglected either. In south Connemara, which is the Connemara Gaeltacht, Irish is the first language of the community. Delayed language disorder affects children irrespective of the language they speak. I have also been petitioned by parents in south Connemara. They are seeking a class for their children with additional need in the area of language disorder.  I appreciate the Minister of State being here. I acknowledge the great investment and expansion the Government is doing in the area of education of children with additional needs but I ask that this request get a fair hearing in the Department. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Neale Richmond)  I am very grateful to the Deputy for raising this issue. I awkwardly have my back to him but we will do our best with the dynamics of the Chamber. I am taking this on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Moynihan.  It is the policy of the Department of Education and Youth, in accordance with the principles of inclusive education, that students with additional learning needs are supported in mainstream classes along with their peers, with additional supports provided as necessary. Indeed, I am married to a special education teacher, SET, and this is something I hear about daily. The Department has invested considerably in ensuring that all recognised mainstream schools have been allocated additional special education teaching resources to support children with special educational needs, including students with literacy difficulties. Guidelines for schools on the organisation, deployment and use of their SETs have been published on the Department\u2019s website. There are 15,000 special education teachers allocated to primary and post-primary schools to enable them to support children with special educational needs.  Funding is also made available to schools for the purchase of specialised equipment, such as computers or software, to assist children with special educational needs, including children with a specific learning disability, where relevant professionals recommend the equipment as being essential for the provision of education. Schools apply to the National Council for Special Education through their local special educational needs officer for such support.  It is important to note that the majority of students with literacy difficulties currently receive additional teaching support from a special education teacher in a mainstream class. This is provided on the basis of the individual student\u2019s learning needs, identified in schools, as opposed to being based on a requirement for a child to have a diagnosis or assessment of a particular disability.  There are four schools dedicated to supporting students with specific learning disability, SLD. There are also fourteen SLD classes in eleven mainstream primary schools located across the country, in counties Dublin, Clare, Louth, Galway, Kerry and Wexford. These settings have a student-teacher ratio of 1:9 and are normally attended by students aged between eight and 12 years old for a maximum of two years. Students will have a diagnosis of dyslexia and score at the second percentile or lower on literacy standardised tests. They will also have an average or above average level of intelligence.  In May 2021, the inspectorate was requested by the Department of education's special education section to evaluate provision in special classes for children and young people with an SLD, as referred to by the Deputy. The purpose of the evaluations was to examine the quality of provision for children and young people with an SLD, with particular reference to understanding the placement of children and young people in these classes and to identifying the strengths and areas for improvement in learning and teaching in these classes. The Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, has discussed this issue with the inspectorate, and will be engaging with it further, as well as with officials in the Department and with several organisations and advocacy groups.  The Deputy has raised the cases of just two families but I have no doubt there is an abundance in all our constituencies, particularly in his constituency of Galway West. The Minister of State stands ready to take a deputation meeting, if required. I encourage the Deputy to pursue that where possible. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Connolly  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Aire St\u00e1it. I welcome the Minister of State's final comments. I would welcome very much that we would provide the opportunity for the families who are making this very genuine case. He is correct. I have met two families in these circumstances but no doubt there are many more who would benefit from the provision of a class for children who have a challenge with speech and language.  I noted in my previous contribution the distance parents will travel to meet the needs of their children. In this review done by the Department's inspectorate in 2021, it was found children travelled up to 45 km to attend a class for children with additional needs. It is difficult for them to maintain contact with their local school during placement. Placement would be generally for two academic years. For a child in national school between the ages of five and 11 or 12, a journey of 45 km every day from Monday to Friday is arduous. They should be able to access adequate education provision much closer to home. I understand we cannot, unfortunately, have such a class in each mainstream school but we need to look at the map and at where in the country there are gaps in the provision of such classes. Can the class be placed appropriately in an area that makes it difficult for nobody and where everybody has a suitable opportunity to attend?  The other crucial aspect, and we all know this because the data and the study from the inspectorate show this, is the importance of early intervention and how the outcomes can be enhanced by earlier intervention. This review, undertaken by the Department's inspectorate, highlights that many of the children attending have very positive outcomes and find they can in many instances overcome the language delay.  I appreciate the answer. I particularly appreciate the opportunity to bring a delegation to meet the Minister and I certainly will take him up on that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  It is important to remember that the vast majority of students with special educational needs are supported to attend school in mainstream classes with their peers. This goes to the crucial point raised eloquently by the Deputy about the hardships that a long commute would put on certain families, especially in a constituency such as his own or that of the Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach, Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa, or Deputy Daly, with such vast spaces. The notion of having to travel up to 45 km may be not something I or Deputy Devine would know in our constituencies but it is certainly something that would have a colossal impact and requires a level of attention. Central to providing that care and education, as I stated, are not only the 15,000 special education teachers but also, crucially, the 12,500 special need assistants. That is, obviously, always the optimum and the ideal, but there are always situations where children will need to go to specialist classes, even if it is not for the full duration of the two years.  I am extremely grateful to the Deputy for raising this. The Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, stands ready to engage with him further on the point. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Special Educational Needs"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/dbsect_38","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Educational Reform","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/dbsect_36","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_36","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_38","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Albert Dolan  This is something that I am very passionate about. It is something that affects us all. It is about financial literacy: understanding how a mortgage works, understanding how contributions to a pension can compound, understanding how people can better manage their own financial situations individually and, ultimately, understanding how people can make the best possible lives for themselves. That comes back to financial literacy and financial awareness.  In secondary school, there are courses on accounting, which teaches you the specifics and the technicalities of accounting - your debits and credits. There is economics that teaches you how an economy functions, and there is macroeconomics and microeconomics. There is also business studies, that looks at marketing, HR, European affairs and all such matters. However, the key is that there is no real personal financial education in our schooling system. Nobody is teaching young people: how to go about applying for a mortgage, what the qualifying criteria are, how you ensure you are maximising the potential of your pension, and how you ensure you are working towards an initiative for the future that will be beneficial to both yourself and your family into the future. Essentially, I am calling for consideration of an element of financial literacy to be brought into our education system. I do not know any education system where it has been brought in but there are so many people online who claim to be financial experts or who portray financial advice and they might not necessarily have the credentials or qualifications. I am not saying teachers should do a qualification to be financial adviser or become an expert in insurance products, rather question whether we as a society would not benefit significantly more financially if everyone had a base level of financial literacy. I see it across my constituency clinics and in dealings I have with people, that sometimes people do not understand how the system functions, how banking works, how they can best protect themselves in the event of something going wrong or how they can plan for a future.  I welcome the proposal to bring in the State saving scheme. That will be a huge opportunity but, like that, it is an investment and people need to know what are they investing in. From the start of this year, there are now thousands of people in auto-enrolment. Those are people who were not already in a pension, who were working hard and earning money but who were not contributing to their future retirement and now they are auto-enrolled into a pension. You would have to ask if they know what they are a part of. Do they know the potential of it? There are probably pamphlets and leaflets and everything online to explain it, but that education needs to come from the ground up. It was Warren Buffett and Albert Einstein who said the eighth wonder of the world was compound interest, because the power of it is significant. I believe that if financial literacy were in our schools, it would greatly help our young people as they go throughout life in managing their personal financial situations.  Money is still a taboo topic in Irish society and people do not want to talk about their money situations. It would greatly benefit our country going forward for everyone to have a base level understanding of financial literacy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  I am genuinely grateful to Deputy Dolan for raising this. It is even fortuitous that I get to give the response, albeit on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Naughton. The response I have been given is a constructive one, and while I will give it, I might add to it.  It is clear to the Department of education that financial literacy and opportunities to develop it are embedded throughout the Irish school curriculum from primary to junior cycle and into senior cycle. This commitment is reflected in the National Financial Literacy Strategy 2025-2029, as well as in Ireland's Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Literacy Strategy 2024-2033, which emphasise the importance of supporting financial literacy across all stages of learning.  At primary level, the primary curriculum framework of 2023 identifies seven key competencies, including being mathematical, which encourages children to apply mathematical thinking in real-world situations such as those the Deputy referred to. The redeveloped primary mathematics curriculum of 2023 strengthens this further by including money as a stand-alone strand unit. This allows children to gradually build their understanding of money, its value, its uses and how to work confidently with notes and coins in meaningful contexts. I was doing this with my own six-year-old just the other night, although I do not know if she will be using notes and coins in the way that I was when getting pocket money. However, that is a different story.  In the junior cycle, financial literacy is explicitly highlighted in statement of learning 14 of the framework for junior cycle, which focuses on students making informed financial decisions and developing strong consumer skills. The eight key skills of junior cycle, including being numerate, being literate, setting personal goals and making considered decisions, also contribute directly to financial literacy. Subjects, including mathematics, business studies, home economics as well as the ones mentioned by the Deputy, and the level 1 and level 2 learning programmes for students with general learning disabilities, provide structured opportunities for students to deepen their financial knowledge and skills.  The redeveloped senior cycle, places a strong emphasis on key student competencies, including those linked to financial literacy. A transition year micro-module on financial literacy, developed by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, NCCA, supports students in exploring their financial habits and understanding the importance of being financially informed.  Within leaving certificate subjects, financial literacy continues to be strengthened. The revised leaving certificate business specification helps students understand how business connects to their own lives while building financial and business literacy. The draft specification for leaving certificate home economics includes family resource management, where students learn about consumer empowerment, decision-making and managing household finances. The redevelopment of the mathematics and accounting specifications will further enhance students' numeracy and financial literacy skills.  The new specification for life, community and work, formerly the leaving certificate vocational programme, LCVP, supports students in preparing for life beyond school. Through its two modules, me and my future and community and work, students learn how to make informed decisions as they plan for their future pathways.  Beyond the formal curriculum, informal education also plays a significant role in developing students' financial literacy. The Department continues to work closely with a range of Departments, agencies and partners to support this work. Initiatives, such as maths week, money week, our money, our future and opportunities for students to connect with financial services providers in classroom learning help students build confidence in managing financial responsibilities both inside and outside school.  I have rushed through that because I want to use my remaining time to focus on one aspect that is not directly used but one we might be able to lean into and one I would have had great experience of as Minister of State in the Department of Finance when working with the credit union movement, which is the heartbeat and the most trusted brand of so many communities. This is something that needs to be taken on a cross-departmental basis, and not only the Departments of education and finance, which is looking at the credit unions, in particular, as anchors. So many of the credit unions are active at transition year in secondary schools. It is they who are talking about saving for college, what sort of money might be needed for tools for an apprenticeship and those sorts of practical things. However, as we all know, not every credit union has the resources to do that, not every school has a transition year and not every school with a transition year has that relationship with a credit union.  An informal pilot scheme is ongoing that addresses a lot of the issues the Deputy has raised. My question to him, which would also be asked by the Minister, Deputy Naughton, the Minister of State, Deputy Troy, and probably the T\u00e1naiste as well, is how we can mainstream that quasi-pilot scheme to address the very important issues we face. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Albert Dolan  I really appreciate the Minister of State's engagement on this issue. I welcome the response from the Minister, Deputy Naughton, and the financial literacy framework and directive that are in place. I know about that because I experienced it when I was in secondary school. I was really interested in commerce, economics and accounting and I went on to study accounting. I took those three subjects and did not do any science subjects. I was exposed to all those different elements and received a well-rounded learning in them. However, students who do not choose those subjects might only get exposed to those lessons in higher level mathematics if they do compound interest or the repayment calculation for their leaving certificate.  There is a focus on money in secondary school but it is very fragmented. We need a whole-of-life approach to how this is taught to young people for the benefit of their future. I could not agree more regarding credit unions. The role they can play is absolutely transformative in educating young people on how saving can benefit them in the future, whether for college, learning a trade, as mentioned, or otherwise. It is really important to educate students on how money functions specifically in an Irish context, including how different Government schemes and grant opportunities function. That aspect of the functioning of money can be very effective in terms of its impact on people's personal lives. This is an area where there is more work to be done. It is also about bringing all the elements together in one holistic approach to educating people about financial literacy and making them aware of how to manage their money and how they can take control of their own circumstances. As I said, there are a lot of people in the autumn enrolment who might not fully understand how money functions and how having knowledge of it will benefit them in the future. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  The Minister, Deputy Naughton, would like me to reaffirm very strongly that financial literacy is present throughout the school curriculum. I say that while also taking the Deputy's point about how we can look to bring the different aspects together in a more tangible and practical manner. There is the question of whether that should be done through a stand-alone subject of financial literacy or a stand-alone stream within the CSPE subject, for example, that is taken by all students in the junior cycle. How do we bring it into the national school curriculum without overburdening teachers while also making sure it is accessible? There is an element of it already there, largely through the mathematics provision. It is a question of how to bring all of it together in terms of preparing students for the general life cycle and providing the life skills with which we would like to equip our young people to make decisions for themselves.  Unfortunately, there is a very paternalistic attitude in this State that when students go through school, they should look to their parents for these types of supports, including when they are making financial decisions in relation to a SUSI grant, a loan for college or to get a car to do an apprenticeship. That is not the situation for everyone. Not everybody in school has a mum and dad. Not every student has a mum, dad or guardian who is able to contribute in that way. How can the State play a proactive and benevolent role at that basic level? There are countless examples of people who find themselves at 17, 18 or 19 years of age having to make very real decisions based on a very structured formal education situation in a way that the Deputy highlights as a real concern.  There is a job of work to do both within the curriculum of existing subjects, acknowledging there is a lot of good stuff there on financial literacy, and seeing how that can be complemented to ensure it is accessible for everyone, whether they are studying the subjects laid out by the Deputy, doing the leaving certificate applied or will not stay in formal education after the age of 16. What we have is good, and we should not lose sight of that, but it absolutely needs to be complemented. The Deputy's suggestion could be the basis for feeding into an overall review as opposed to a specific measure. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Educational Reform"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/dbsect_39","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Disability Services","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/dbsect_36","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_36","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_39","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  I am grateful to the Ceann Comhairle's office for the opportunity to raise this issue at short notice. Most Deputies have received correspondence from the Before We Die campaign. There is a notable lack of planning for the situation of adults requiring residential care as their parents approach their later years. There is huge stress, anxiety and worry for those parents as to what will happen to their children. There seems to be a huge lack of planning. We have moved away from decongregated settings but it seems there has to date been a lack of communication and planning between the various agencies, including the HSE and local authorities. I hope that will change.  I recently received correspondence from a couple who live in County Kerry asking for help with their son, who is 18 years old and will be leaving school in two weeks' time. He has autism and an intellectual disability and he has been treated very well at his school. However, two weeks from his finishing education, there is no confirmed adult day service for him. This boy has a PPSN and services have been aware of him for the past 18 years. It has been a cause of huge upset for his parents that there does not seem to be any pathway or plan for their son. I am hoping that will change.  However, I am not here to discuss his individual case but, rather, the options available in County Kerry. I remember meeting a group of parents when \u00c1ras na F\u00e9ile was closed by HIQA. There were no respite services then available in the north of the county. In the south of the county, in Cahersiveen, there are weekend respite services for adults with an intellectual disability but they are only available on 34 weekends of the year. The facility is there but the funding has not been provided to make it available any more frequently than that. When children with intellectual disabilities become adults, they need a daytime service, confirmation of placement and, as much as anyone else, they need opportunities for social interaction and community participation.  I ask that a plan be put in place for day service placements, interim supports, outreach services and an increase in approved respite facilities. More funding is required for all of that, as well as more accountability and transparency in respect of the transition of children to adult services. One parent told me there are very good facilities provided by the Kerry Parents and Friends Association and St. John of God, which provide a busy day structure. A lot of parents feel isolated and experience a huge struggle to access services, whether respite or housing. Housing should be provided by every local authority. Adults should have a place where they can go, backed up by services, and where their parents can be confident they will be looked after, rather than having to wait until the parents pass away. The elements of the overall scheme seem to be very unconnected to each other. I am calling for more adult day service placements, respite and outreach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  I am very grateful to the Deputy for raising this important issue, which I am responding to on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Higgins. Day services are a vital support for adults with disabilities to participate in the life of their community and to realise their own ambitions and desires. The majority of young people due to leave school in a given year who require a HSE-funded day service have been profiled by the end of the previous year to establish their support needs. Once needs are identified, referrals are made to the service provider of choice, funding is committed and negotiations are concluded with providers by the end of May to confirm placements to young people and their families. In many instances, young people due to leave school at the end of June are introduced to their day services for trialling purposes during April, May and June to ensure a natural transition into day services in September.  To support a young person\u2019s transition into adulthood, the HSE day opportunities team will work with the school, HSE services such as the children's disability network teams, CDNTs, the parent and the young person to explore options based on needs and the person\u2019s preferences. Once he or she reaches 18 years of age, the young person will transition into adult services. Discussions about this transition, including future living, activities and support needs, will often begin well in advance, in line with the goal setting for their individual family support plan, IFSP, as the focus shifts to preparing the young person for adulthood and accessing relevant adult services. The focus is on individualised planning and considering the young person's needs, preferences and goals for the future.  I will very briefly go through some of the budgetary matters because it is important, but I am not going to dwell on them because I realise we are talking about individuals and people here, not numbers. As the Deputy is aware, budget 2026 provides funding for an additional 1,400 placements for a new cohort of school leavers from September 2026, as well as supporting the costs of those that started in September 2025. For the first time, budget 2026 also provides funding for new day service placements for the order of 50 older adults, providing support and choice for people later in life as their circumstances and wishes change. This might include, for example, people who acquire a disability later in life. Budget 2026 provides \u20ac25 million in new development funding for respite services, which has afforded the HSE the opportunity to plan for the expansion of services.  The HSE national service plan 2026 targets the delivery of 10,000 additional respite overnight sessions and 25,000 additional respite day sessions this year. There will be particular focus on strengthening provision in areas that currently have a lower level of supports. The HSE anticipates that in the region of 500 more children and adults with a disability will receive respite sessions, both centre-based and alternative, within their community in 2026. Summer respite initiatives will also be supported, providing a diverse, flexible and person-centred and meaningful respite approach for individuals, children, families and carers throughout the country, including in Kerry. There are approximately 860 adults who avail of day services in Kerry, with services being delivered by 12 agencies across 51 locations. HSE South West disability services continues to invest in respite services, proactively seeking alternative respite models and utilising all available funding to provide respite services for adults who require them. HSE South West disability services are working with service providers to create new additional residential respite and alternative respite supports for adults in 2025-26.  I have also corresponded with the Before We Die group, which I am due to meet in my own constituency late next week, based on the timetables available to the group. I appreciate the very difficult situation the Deputy has raised regarding the individual family. It is not unique but obviously, it is accentuated in a county as large as Kerry. Quite a lot has been done but we can all agree, without being partisan, not enough has been done. In many regards, not enough will ever be done. However, the Minister of State, Deputy Higgins, is more than happy to engage with the Deputy directly on the individual case he has raised to see where opportunities may be available in that regard. More broadly, she remains absolutely committed to improving services continually and will happily work with all Deputies from all parties and none to achieve that across the country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  I thank the Minister of State for that reply. He clearly has a fair idea as to the extra challenges there are in a county like Kerry. It is not realistic to go from the very north of the county to mid-Kerry, which is at least an hour each way and would be very tiring for adults and children. Speaking to people working within the services, there are 80 plus school leavers in Kerry who will require these services. I note the Minister of State said at the start of the response that systems should be put in place by the end of May. From what I am hearing, this is not always the case but it should be.  The anxieties of the Before We Die group could be alleviated by proper planning earlier in their lives. I know of another couple who were so disheartened by the paucity of services available in the Kerry area that they sold their house and moved to Dublin where other members of their family reside because they could not be guaranteed the services. These people have grown up in the county, so it was huge for them to have to move away when they retired to try to access better services for their child. People in the HSE are telling me we need continued investment in day services because there is rising complexity and demand for complex disabilities seems to be increasing. We need multi-annual funding so that they can put the proper plans in place to invest in the services required for the best part of 1,000 people accessing the day services, as well as the 80 plus per year. The HSE needs to forward plan for the day service, housing and respite but it also needs to be co-ordinated at a Government level so that all the various agencies tie in together. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  I am very grateful to the Deputy for raising these individual cases and making very relevant points on which there is no disagreement. The majority of families and individuals are catered for but unfortunately, there are far too many who are falling through the gaps and are not getting that discussion or peace of mind at an early enough stage. That is something the Government and the Minister of State, Deputy Higgins, are absolutely committed to working through. That is why we see that 20% increase in the disability budget that will be allocated for this year to the order of \u20ac3.9 billion. Included in that is \u20ac150 million to fund service expansion in residential and respite services.  Beyond the individual care, and the Deputy has given very real examples, the real world examples can only be fed into what is required. As I stated, the Minister of State, Deputy Higgins, is more than happy to work with the Deputy, the HSE and other partners, or any Deputy, to see where those outstanding issues could be solved. However, the Deputy has called rightly for an increased level of investment. That is why, with the five-year horizon out to 2030, the national development plan provides for an investment of \u20ac278 million, particularly in specialist disability services. Capital funding will also enable the refurbishment and development of modern respite centres and day service hubs. This focus will be through both the HSE and section 38 and 39 providers. We very much hope this offers a real opportunity for substantial growth in services and makes sure that fewer, and in due course hopefully no families, find themselves in the situation of the two families the Deputy has mentioned in County Kerry.  In conclusion, the Minister is of course happy to continue working with the Deputy on an individual basis. She also wanted to express her real thanks to the Deputy for raising this issue on the floor of the Chamber. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Disability Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/dbsect_40","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Heritage Sites","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-16\/debate\/dbsect_36","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_36","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_40","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy M\u00e1ire Devine  I thank the Minister of State for the opportunity. This matter is obviously about Kilmainham Gaol and the board of visitors. I am not sure if the Minister of State knows the back story to all this, but Kilmainham Gaol itself has witnessed so much of modern Irish politics and history. It has covered everything from the United Irishmen to the Fenians, the Invincibles, the Famine and the Land League. It has a place in all our hearts and in hearts abroad.  A committee of trustees and voluntary workers, including my uncle Charlie, aka the suicide roofer, broke down the gates in 1960 and restored the prison from a state of complete ruin between the years 1960 and 1986. At that time, the then Minister of State, Brian Hayes, set up a board of visitors to take over from the trustees. There were a lot of politics going on at the time but he decided to establish it to represent the interests of the trustees and voluntary workers who had restored the prison.  As a member of the board, having been appointed for two consecutive terms - it is a five-year term - I and the board have approached the Minister of State, Deputy Boxer Moran, and the OPW for an event, which is what we are tasked with and is in our terms of reference, to honour those volunteers and their families. We reprinted the book, Ghosts of Kilmainham , which details the activities from 1963 onwards - and the prisoners - within the walls of that at-times fairly scary place.  However, I feel we have been treated quite disrespectfully. We have had no communication from either party. This has gone on for almost over two years, and we are trying to gather the families. As the Minister of State can imagine, there are very few volunteers left. There is only one I can think of, who is the chair, and that is Damien Cassidy.  I ask the Minister of State to please give a nudge to the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, and the OPW. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  I am here to support Deputy Devine's call.  Her uncle was one of those who was involved directly in the restoration project, a huge undertaking by a voluntary committee which did what the State had promised to do from the thirties, forties and fifties. They said that they would do it at no cost to the State. A group of men mainly - there are women in some of photographs - helped to clear the prison which had been abandoned from 1929 onwards despite requests in the thirties for it to be handed over to be a museum or a memorial of prisons and a memorial of the patriotic struggle. It was agreed even though not every party at the time agreed with it. The Labour Party in particular in the fifties thought this was a madcap scheme. We know now that it was not. It is one of the most, if not the most, sought-after tourist attractions. Those men in the early 1960s and before had a vision that people would come to look at this and would respect our history. It is not just the history of the patriotic struggle; it is the history of imprisonment. That can be seen in the way it was used as a film location because it is reflective of prisons of an era.  There were a lot of hangings there, including hangings of women. There were executions of republican soldiers by the British but also by the new State. They are remembered in the museum that is attached to it now. Anybody who has gone on a tour appreciates the work done. The problem at the moment is that the OPW does not seem to appreciate that when it was handed over to it in 1986 it agreed there would be a board of visitors which would be reflective of the families who did this restoration. That was one of the conditions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  I am very grateful to Deputies Devine and \u00d3 Snodaigh for raising this important matter and for their continued personal and political interest in Kilmainham Gaol and its remarkable history. I did enjoy some of the interventions this evening. I was not aware of Labour Party\u2019s opposition in the 1950s. That is a slight on me and our former coalition friends. The Minister of State, Deputy Moran, has asked me to read a couple things into the record, which is not for the Deputies\u2019 benefit, as they can understand, but it is for the Chamber\u2019s benefit as a whole. I know what I am about to read contains information they both know, having been intimately involved in it for a long time.  For the benefit of the House, Kilmainham Gaol occupies a unique place in Ireland's national story. The Office of Public Works recognises not only the significance of the gaol itself, but also the extraordinary contribution made by the members of the Kilmainham Gaol Restoration Society and the many volunteers whose commitment and dedication helped to rescue the building from dereliction and secure its future for generations to come.  As alluded to by Deputy Devine, following the transfer of the gaol to State care in 1986, a board of visitors was established to maintain a connection with those individuals and to provide an independent forum through which observations and recommendations relating to the gaol could be conveyed to the Minister. The board operates on a non-statutory basis and has no formal executive, management or governance role in the operation of the site. Rather, its purpose has been advisory in nature, providing an independent perspective on the condition, use and interpretation of Kilmainham Gaol.  The most recent board of visitors was appointed in late 2019 for a five-year term. Throughout its existence, the board has operated on a voluntary basis and has provided an important link to those involved in the restoration and preservation of the gaol. The contribution of its members over many years is acknowledged and appreciated by the OPW and the Minister of State, Deputy Moran. It will continue to receive the support that is required.  In relation to the publication of Ghosts of Kilmainham , the Minister of State wishes to acknowledge the significance of the work and the valuable record it provides of the restoration of Kilmainham Gaol and the people who made that achievement possible. The publication continues to be available to visitors and remains an important part of the historical record of the site. Proposals regarding an OPW-sponsored relaunch event for the publication have been considered. However, as the publication has been available for a number of years and continues to be available, it has been decided that an OPW-sponsored relaunch event will not proceed.  The OPW remains committed to ensuring that the role of the restoration society and the many volunteers associated with the restoration of Kilmainham Gaol is appropriately recognised through the interpretation and presentation of the site and through ongoing engagement with interested stakeholders.  I assure the Deputies that the Minister of State and the OPW greatly value the contribution made by those who helped to save Kilmainham Gaol and remain committed to preserving and presenting this important national monument to the highest standards. In the last month I had the good fortune to bring my children there for the first time. I know I join everyone in the House who is absolutely spellbound by the story that it tells, the importance of that story to our history and the importance of making sure that story is fully accessible to all, particularly our younger generation. I will do anything I can do to assist the Deputies, through the OPW or otherwise, to make sure that it is preserved. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy M\u00e1ire Devine  As the Minister of State can imagine, I am gobsmacked and very disappointed. I find the response very disrespectful to me as a family member of an individual who spent over 700 hours doing the roof of Kilmainham Gaol. It is extremely disrespectful to us, the families and the volunteers who are still around. The late Garret FitzGerald at the time said that the trustees were to provide advice, and to organise events and commemorative ceremonies to honour those who suffered and died in the prison. That is what the board of visitors are trying to do. We are being given the flipping finger by the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, the OPW or whoever has made that disgraceful decision. Surely they would be honoured to actually be part of what is our history and to pass it down to the next generation and the generation after. It is absolutely outrageous and I cannot think I would let that rest. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  I am also gobsmacked. It is very strange because it would not cost anything to facilitate the board of visitors. The venue is there to launch the book which has been republished as a new issue. There have been private launches of books and other events in the gaol. It is a great venue to have anything. Even though it is for sale in the museum shop in the old courthouse, it still deserves to be pushed again so that the public outside, those who do not get one of the golden tickets to attend Kilmainham Gaol, can be encouraged.  So much can be said. In fairness, the Labour Party view in 1954 was that this is all nonsense, that these schemes are nonsense. There is a very interesting list of the work the volunteers carried out, down to the hours. As M\u00e1ire said, her uncle spent 720 hours and that was in the first two years. They thought it would take five years and it took six or seven. The history is absolutely fantastic. I cannot find the quote now, but there is a quote from somebody early on that this was one of the best practical restorations they had seen and that we could do a lot more to encourage them. However, being rejected afterwards is the problem.  There is no mention in the response as to when the new board will be put in place. It is out of office at this stage. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  I completely understand the frustration and indeed anger of the Deputies and I do not contest it in any way. As a young history undergraduate student, I spent hours and hours - not quite 700 hours - in the gaol itself carrying out my own primary research and it was invaluable. I have a well-thumbed copy of Ghosts of Kilmainham . It was not actually mine originally; it was my sister\u2019s. She also studied history, albeit she was smarter than me and got into Trinity College.  Regarding the points made by the Deputies, while there are no plans to proceed with an OPW-sponsored relaunch event, the importance of the publication and the historical record contained in it is fully acknowledged. The publication continues and will continue to be available and remains an important account of the restoration story of Kilmainham Gaol.  We are not going to resolve this situation this evening. I do not believe the Deputies expect me to resolve it. Unfortunately, I am just in the firing line of their ire. That is the lot I have drawn this evening. However, I will write to the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, asking to arrange an urgent deputation meeting, involving him, the Deputies and the other interested party. That is the best I can do in the position I have. I give them my absolute commitment to do that. I have absolute sympathy for the case they have raised. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar athl\u00f3 ar 10.29 p.m. go dt\u00ed 9 a.m., D\u00e9 C\u00e9adaoin, an 17 Meitheamh 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The D\u00e1il adjourned at 10.29 p.m. until 9 a.m. on Wednesday, 17 June 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Heritage Sites"}]}}]},"contextDate":"2026-06-16"},{"debateRecord":{"house":{"showAs":"34th D\u00e1il","committeeCode":"","houseCode":"dail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/house\/dail\/34","chamberType":"house","houseNo":"34"},"chamber":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/def\/house\/dail","showAs":"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann"},"lastUpdated":"2026-06-18T02:12:14+00:00","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/main","formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/mul@\/main.xml"},"pdf":null},"date":"2026-06-11","counts":{"contributorCount":124,"divisionCount":0,"debateSectionCount":42,"questionCount":32,"billCount":4},"debateType":"debate","debateSections":[{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_2","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_3","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Data Centres","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_2","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_3.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  The United Nations is citing Ireland as a cautionary example of what happens when Government policy fails to keep pace with the explosive energy demand from data centres and AI. We are not leaders or an example for the rest of the world but a warning. This did not happen overnight. It is a result of political choices, the lack of a framework and the lack of a plan. What is the Minister's grip on this? Does he have any plans to deal with the mounting criticisms of our approach to data centres? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment (Deputy Darragh O'Brien)  Data centres are a very important part of Ireland's economic and digital present and future, and a key part of our value proposition for foreign direct investment. Data centres bring wider economic benefits, as most understand. They bring tax revenues, employment, broader digital infrastructure value and significant support and linkages provided to other high-value sectors of the economy.  The recent KPMG study on data centres, undertaken on behalf of the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, reports there are 19,500 directly employed in the industry. As detailed in our large energy user action plan, LEAP, Ireland's technology sector, underpinned by the very digital infrastructure in data centres, accounted for employing almost 183,000 people in quarter 4 of 2024. This is equivalent to 7% of Ireland's total workforce.  Unlike other European countries that have heavy industry bases, Ireland's industrial electricity demand is primarily concentrated in our digital economy. This is our core energy intensive industry.  I note the contents of the cited UN University report on Al energy, particularly on the need for responsible and informed capacity planning of the power system. The Government has for a long time recognised that data centres and their energy consumption need to be managed and planned appropriately. This is why we brought forward the Government's large energy user action plan in January 2026. It sets out a plan-led approach for very large and energy intensive investments. This will enable Ireland to capture next generation investment in energy intensive industries and unlock significant associated economic and employment opportunities.  The Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, is responsible for grid connection policy and is accountable to a committee of the Oireachtas, not to me as Minister. Changes to connections policy, including those proposed in the cited document of the EU Commission, are a matter for CRU. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  I agree that data centres are necessary in this country but it is a question of planning appropriately for what is there. The European Commission has already set out a clear pathway for a grid prioritisation framework, putting the public need, system readiness and climate obligations at the centre of decision-making. Here in Ireland we have an open season policy of first come, first served regardless of who benefits. Who is inevitably benefiting? It is the larger corporate and AI users of data centres. This is why the UN calls it a cautionary example. What does it mean for ordinary people, families and small businesses? They are forced to compete for electricity capacity in their own country and county, when a small number of large-scale operators are effectively being waved through without the prioritisation strategy that is necessary. We have been warning about this for years. Housing developments are being delayed, energy bills are being driven up and blackouts are on the cards. Does the Minister have any plan to insist on a prioritisation framework? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  I welcome the fact that Deputy Daly recognises the importance of ICT, digital infrastructure and data centres. This is something on which most will agree. The most critical parts of this are the large energy user action plan and the CRU decision on large energy users, both of which are from last year. Both clearly set out what is required for a new data centre or a large energy user connection. This means for a new data centre to get an energy connection it is required to get 80% of its energy through new renewable sources.  There is a plan-led approach. There is also the grid investment through PR6, which is critical for all of our industries and housing. This is the \u20ac18.9 billion investment to 2030 and beyond. It is absolutely critical. We need to ensure that we remain at the cutting edge of new technologies. As I mentioned, digital infrastructure is our large industrial base. Unlike many other European countries we are not a large manufacturing country. This is something we need to protect. We have not had a situation where any housing has not been connected due to the growth in our economy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  I thank the Minister for the reply but one of the consequences is in relation to our energy security. This is not a theoretical difficulty any more. When the system is pushed to its limits the risk is not that abstract. What we have, and we have seen this already, are blackouts, supply disruption and emergency measures. This is what happens when a grid is under strain. EirGrid has been warning about it for years. The Secretary General warned of the dangers of the approach and said that we need to choose between housing and AI. Officials in the Department of public expenditure warned that data centres are pushing up household bills. Despite these warnings, not enough is being done to ensure security of supply so that no matter what the circumstances homes will be heated, hospitals will operate, businesses can function and energy bills are not driven sky-high, as they have been over the last number of years. We have seen that instead of securing supply first and managing demand, the Government is allowing demand, particularly from these centres, to dictate the system, and this is the imbalance that is happening. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  I assure Deputy Daly they do not dictate the system. Connection policy is a matter for CRU, which is independent of me, which the Deputy knows. Grid investment is critical and we are doing that. Grid resilience is absolutely critical and this is why it is imperative that projects such as the North-South interconnector start and are completed as quickly as possible. I have already outlined what we are doing with regard to large energy users and we have published our plans in this regard. We also need to increase grid capacity and generation. What we have done in a ten-year period, when we look at generation of energy, is we have doubled wind capacity and there has been more than a 1,000% increase in solar, with a very good pipeline coming forward for more than 8 GW in renewables. This is where we need to get to. We need to ensure we are accelerating the deployment of renewables into our system and investing in our grid to make sure that grid resilience is there. There are backups to ensure the grid remains safe, such as fault ride through, which is there for large energy users also. This policy is one that is agreed by CRU in consultation with stakeholders. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Data Centres"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_4","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Legislative Measures","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_2","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_4","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_4.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  When does the Minister intend to introduce the strategic gas emergency reserve Bill to the D\u00e1il? Will he give us an update on the progress of the Bill? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  In March 2025, I received Government approval to develop a State-led strategic gas reserve. The delivery of a strategic gas reserve is critical to Ireland's energy security as we transition to indigenous, clean, renewable energy. Crucially, the strategic gas emergency reserve will also ensure compliance with EU standards and regulations and is consistent with our climate action plan.  The State-led, transitional nature of the reserve ensures that the risk of stranded fossil fuel assets is mitigated, that the reserve will be used for emergency use only, and that it does not support increased gas demand with a view to minimising impacts on greenhouse gas emissions. The Government remains committed to taking decisive action to radically reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and has greatly boosted the share of renewables in our increasingly electrified energy system. This, however, means greater reliance on gas to provide sufficient flexibility and backup for secure electricity supplies at times of low renewable output.  In line with the programme for Government priority, the approval to proceed with the strategic gas emergency reserve commits to exploring all opportunities to expedite delivery of the project. The gas reserve Bill that Deputy Whitmore asked about provides for an expedited consenting pathway to allow the next stage of delivery of the project. The Bill is being finalised, having completed pre-legislative scrutiny in February 2026, with a view to being completed, I hope, in this session. I will introduce it in this session and it is my intention to seek Government approval this month to publish the text of the Bill and to present the Bill to the Houses of the Oireachtas at the earliest opportunity thereafter. The general scheme of the legislation underpinning the operation of the strategic gas emergency reserve will be brought forward later this year. There will be two pieces of legislation, as Deputy Whitmore knows. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  I thank the Minister for the update. As he knows, we had pre-legislative scrutiny at the committee and concerns were raised at that point. I want to refer to an article written by the previous Minister for the environment, Eamon Ryan, shortly after the start of this D\u00e1il term when he was no longer a Member of the Oireachtas or a Minister. He was very clear that we do not require a floating LNG facility. As a former Minister, he was aware of the many details, discussions and reports that went through the Department, on which the Minister is also relying. He outlined a number of ways we could still secure our energy supply without relying on this LNG facility. I wish he had realised this when he first brought the plan forward. The strategic LNG facility was his proposal at the very start. I wish this work had been done at that point. However, it is important to be cognisant of what he has said. Has the Minister looked at his recommendations? This area moves quickly and technology moves quickly. It is an opportune time to review the policy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  I have been very clear that we need this reserve on a temporary basis. We have an oil reserve but we have no gas reserve. It is a significant risk to our energy security in this country. I have a lot of time for the former Minister, Eamon Ryan. I worked very well with him. On this item I do not agree with him and I say that in a very respectful way.  It is a risk that needs to be mitigated and that cannot be ignored. That is why, very early in this D\u00e1il term, I set aside that policy decision with agreement from the Government. Very clear legal advice was received, twice, in relation to the energy security report, with a particular focus on this idea of banning certain types of gas. The legal advice stated that was not possible, not feasible and not legal, end of story. This needs to be done for our energy security and it is consistent with our climate action plan. I fully respect Eamon Ryan. He did a very good job across the portfolio. In this area, my job is to mitigate risk and protect our State, and this is why I am bringing this forward. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  I think everybody agrees that we are an energy insecure country and that we do rely on external actors. That is very clear from the different energy shocks we have experienced in recent years. It is important that we shore up our energy security. The question is whether we require a strategic LNG facility to do it or if there is an alternative way to provide that energy security.  The former Minister, Eamon Ryan, based on the advice he received from the Department previously, is of the opinion that there is an alternative way to do that and this would be by using alternative fuels, battery storage and interconnector systems to provide energy security in the event that there were some catastrophic interruption to the gas pipelines coming into Ireland. That is a very unlikely event but it is a high-risk one. What came of the committee meeting was that the Government has not really looked at those alternatives. I ask the Minister to consider those alternatives. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  The reality is that we are building more interconnections. We are building the Celtic interconnector now. I signed a further memorandum of understanding, MOU, with Spain in relation to exploring opportunities to have another electricity interconnector to continental Europe.  In the meantime, we are accelerating the deployment of renewables. I agree with the former Minister, Eamon Ryan, and that is what we are doing. In relation to storage, in our grid alone, we have over 1 GW of long-duration battery storage. This is the third highest capacity in the European Union. We do, however, need to do more. This will deal with demand flexibility and reducing dispatch down rates and allow us to be able to deploy our energy, and particularly renewable energy sources, at times when the wind is not blowing and the sun is not shining. It will be possible to store that energy and then deploy it. This facility will be used temporarily. It is to mitigate risk should something happen to our gas pipelines to Scotland. We only produce 20% of the gas that we use now and import 80%. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Legislative Measures"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_5","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Energy Prices","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_2","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_5","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_5.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  The Minister knows we have the highest electricity bills in Europe. Families are struggling with increased costs year-on-year. The Government is continuing to preside over a system where costs are driven up by poor planning, over-reliance on imported gas and an energy model that prioritises the large corporate demand, particularly from data centres, over ordinary customers. Can the Minister explain why we are paying so much, what the Government has done that allows infrastructure and policy failures to push up the prices and what reliefs it is going to provide now? I ask the Minister not to say, \"the task force\". "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  The Deputy is going to tell me what I am going to say now. The household energy price index, HEPI, report, which is referenced in the Deputy's written question, although he did not mention it in his remarks, tracks energy prices across European capital cities. When adjusted for purchasing power standard, PPS, this report shows that Dublin was the ninth highest for electricity prices in May 2026 and the 14th highest for gas prices. The report notes that purchasing power standards are an approach that eliminates general price level differences between countries. Meanwhile, the latest data from Eurostat, which compares electricity prices across the EU, shows Ireland ranked fifth highest for electricity prices and eighth highest for gas prices among European countries in purchasing power parity terms.  That is still too high. I do not deny that at all. It is important to note, however, that price setting is a commercial and operational matter for each energy supplier. Retail prices are influenced by several factors, including wholesale energy prices, system operational costs and supplier hedging. We are deeply aware, however, of the pressures placed on households and businesses by high energy costs. We have taken a number of steps to support households and businesses facing those increased costs. This includes the \u20ac750 million package of fuel supports announced in March, which is the largest per capita of any EU state. Budget 2026 had a range of other measures. These included the extension until 2030 of the 9% VAT rate currently applied to gas and electricity bills. There were also enhanced social protection payments, including an increase to the fuel allowance rate and an expansion of the eligibility rules, which applies to about a quarter of Irish households, and a record allocation of \u20ac640 million in Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, retrofitting schemes. Those schemes are critically important. Since 2019, we have invested over \u20ac1.8 billion in retrofitting and we have been able to provide energy upgrades for 268,000 homes. These upgrades protect those homes and families from energy shocks and reduce their costs and energy consumption. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  The Minister said, and we all agree, that energy bills are too high, whether we have the highest, the second highest or the fourth highest costs. We all know that energy companies are, of course, going to raise their bills year-on-year. They have an obligation to shareholders, and they want to make a profit not only this year but an increased profit next year and the year afterwards. The question is: when the Minister is going to step in and tell them that enough is enough? I ask this because there is a lack of progress here. Energy suppliers had a recent spate of price hikes. One company raised its prices twice last summer. Once again, however, the Minister points to the insufficient measures, I think, contained in budget 2026. He did not, however, refer to the possibility of allocating energy credits, which we said would have been a temporary measure. The energy regulator warned that the withdrawal of these credits would lead to a spike in arrears, and that is exactly what happened. Is the Minister going to consider reintroducing energy credits as a temporary measure as part of budget 2027, given our prices are so high? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  I am going to mention the work being done by the national energy affordability task force. I will report on that in July. That will give options for further changes and will feed into budgetary deliberations. I am not writing anything off regarding the budget. I will wait to receive that report. In the meantime, however, we have to ensure we accelerate the retrofitting programme I spoke about. If we look at solar, for argument\u2019s sake, over 112,000 homes in this country now have solar systems. This reduces their bills permanently. It is also good for our climate as well as being good for people\u2019s pockets and household bills. We want to keep accelerating this development.  Our continued overdependence on imported fossil fuel means we are going to continue to be over-reliant on them until we reach the tipping point on renewables. This means we will be at risk of volatility in the international fossil fuel markets. We are making good progress in this regard. About 50% of our electricity, month on month, is generated by renewables. We need to get that figure up to 80%. This is why we need to continue to accelerate the progress.  I am not writing anything off for the budget. We will decide that as a Government. The national energy affordability task force will conclude its work in July in advance of the budget. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  Some progress is being made in offshore renewables but there is no State investment in it and we are way behind with it. Even one of the Government\u2019s own Ministers said it had been sitting on its hands and navel-gazing about offshore wind for many years. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  Who was that? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  The energy credits were supposed to be just a temporary measure while the structural failures were being sorted out. It is not just Sinn F\u00e9in or other Opposition parties saying this. The International Energy Agency, IEA, has queried and called into question the huge gap between the retail price and the wholesale energy costs here. Even the Taoiseach himself has admitted that price gouging is going on. We have the biggest gap in the world and it costs three times more to buy energy here than it does to produce it. The ESRI agrees with us. It highlights that wholesale prices have fallen much more slowly here than in other European countries. I see what the Minister said about the VAT rate, the network charges and the other levies but it seems that nothing is being done to address this situation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  I have specifically asked the CRU to look at that pass-on of wholesale price reductions to retail, and that gap. I have written to the commission specifically on that matter to say it is something I want looked at. I am writing nothing off. I am not suggesting for a moment that the measures in the last budget were going to soften the blow of all price increases. They did not but they helped.  We are going to seek to help again where we can. We need to consider structural reform. I assure the Deputy, with regard to offshore renewables, that the only delay has been on the planning side. I am hopeful that we will get two planning decisions through this year and that we can move towards construction in this decade. That is what I have always said. The original plan was electrification by 2030. That was not possible because of delays in the planning process. That is why I brought forward, in the term of the last Government, the Planning and Development Act, which, I remind the Deputy, his party opposed at the time. We will be working on measures in advance of the budget, and that will be informed by the final national energy affordability task force report. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Energy Prices"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_6","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Data Centres","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_2","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_6","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_6.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  I ask the Minister for his response to findings in a recent report by Friends of the Earth that data centre energy demand added a cumulative \u20ac715 million to household electricity bills between 2015 and 2023 and could add a further \u20ac1.6 billion over the next decade; his response to a recent report from KPMG on data centres commissioned by the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment; and whether he accepts the claims in that report regarding employment numbers and economic value. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment (Deputy Alan Dillon)  Data centres represent critical digital infrastructure that is central to Ireland's modern economy. They strengthen Ireland's position as a strategic, knowledge-intensive regional hub for the ICT sector and also support broader retention and expansion of existing investment that supports billions of euro in economic value for Ireland via high-wage employment, tax receipts and the supplier ecosystem.  The Government's policy is supportive of continued sustainable data centre developments that are consistent with our twin digital and green transitions. The Value of Data Centres to Ireland is an independent report commissioned by the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment that clearly demonstrates the significant role data centres play in our economy and draws on extensive consultation with relevant experts. It reports that there are over 19,500 directly employed in the industry.  As detailed in the large energy user action plan, Ireland's technology sector, underpinned by digital infrastructure and data centres, accounted for employment of over 180,000 people in quarter 4 of 2024, equivalent to 7% of Ireland's total workforce. This highlights that beyond their direct contribution to construction and operations, data centres play a critical role in enabling access to a wide range of digital-intensive sectors, enhancing the competitiveness of the Irish economy.  While data centres are large energy users, Ireland's industrial electricity demand \u2013 unlike that in other European countries, which are heavily industrially based \u2013 is primarily concentrated on the digital economy. This is a core energy-intensive sector and, as such, it reinforces the effectiveness of a plan-led approach for future development of the most energy-intensive industries, including data centres, as set out in the Government's large energy user action plan.  The environmental NGO report referred to by the Deputy is consistent with the Government position by underlining the importance of accelerating the deployment of renewable energy to remove gas-related cost effects driving energy prices. The Government has introduced a number of initiatives, including unprecedented investment in PR6 and ongoing co-operation in the acceleration of the infrastructure task force to support increased roll-out of renewables. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  I thank the Minister of State. Of course, data centres have a role in modern society. No one would dispute that, but there is an important conversation starting about the costs and benefits. The benefits must be in proportion to the costs. Many of us in this House fear that the balance is being lost here. The Friends of the Earth report spoke to the costs that data centres are adding to our energy bills. We know of the strain that they are putting on our electricity grid, and that they are undermining our decarbonisation goals. What we are trying to do here is scrutinise the Government's industrial policy as much as its climate and decarbonisation strategy.  The Minister of State mentioned that data centres are important in retaining jobs and industry here, but the job figures quoted in that report were frankly embarrassing. There were 876,000 jobs linked to data centres. Was the Minister of State not at all embarrassed about that kind of figure coming out? The real figure \u2013 the Minister of State mentioned 180,000 jobs \u2013 is more like 19,500, half of which are in construction. I would like the Minister of State's response to that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  Again, we have done extensive evidence-based analysis. If the Deputy examines the Department's KPMG report, he will note it reflects the reality of Ireland being recognised as a global digital hub. I accept that the future pathway needs to be different, and that is exactly what we are implementing. We will no longer be in a position where the sector will be unmanaged. We will introduce a plan-led framework based on the large energy user action plan. That will align energy demand with renewable supply and ensure we have grid stability that is protected. We are also very much focused on accelerating renewable delivery. We will see onshore wind, offshore wind and solar generation capacity rapidly increase, with a target of over 80% by 2030. Along with that, we are introducing affordability measures, and the Deputy will see that in the energy affordability action plan that will be published in quarter 3 of this year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  We welcome regulation and planning in this area. Currently, 22% of our energy is going to data centres. That is going to be 30% by 2030. Even under the Government's current plans, it looks like 55% of our energy will be going towards data centres, if all the data centres that are in planning are built. What does the Minister of State believe is an acceptable proportion of our energy going to data centres? Is it 22%? Is it 30%? Is it 55%? Even 22% means we have five times more energy going to data centres than in the USA. It is 20 times more than in China.  The Minister answered a question earlier on energy security, but data centre strategy is undermining our energy security by increasing the gas demand in this country. Even if only 20% of the energy going into data centres is associated with gas and not renewables, it will double the peak demand for gas in this country. Again, it is undermining the Government's other strategies. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I take the points the Deputy has raised. As I said, that is precisely why we have moved to a more plan-led approach under the large energy user action plan. That is in place. We predict that by the end of the decade, 30% of our energy will be focused towards digital hubs and data centres. What does that mean in practice? It means new connections will be subject to strict conditions. It will also mean that on-site or contracted renewable generation will be required. That is very much focused on a demand-led approach with flexibility. Also, system supports must be provided by operators. Most importantly, data centres are now part of the solution in regard to renewable energy projects, grid connections and energy storage. We have a huge pipeline of onshore and offshore projects coming through. If we manage renewables, we will have less reliance on gas and a stronger grid. That is exactly where Government policy now is focused. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Data Centres"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_7","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Greenhouse Gas Emissions","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_2","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_7.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  Recent reports have stated Government measures will not be sufficient to reduce emissions in order to meet our national and EU climate targets and obligations. What measures is the Minister taking to address this? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 and 6 together.  We are committed to delivering on Ireland's responsibility to address the climate crisis, and work remains ongoing right across government, not just in my Department, to implement climate mitigation measures every single day of the week. My priority is driving implementation, particularly on high-impact measures with multiple societal and economic benefits.  Last month, the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, launched its latest greenhouse gas emissions projections to 2030, which show that we are moving in the right direction and improving our performance compared with the previous year. For the first time, the EPA now projects that we are close to meeting our first carbon budget, following a consistent trend of improving projections for that budget over recent years. It is important to remember that in 2018, under existing measures, emissions were projected by the EPA to increase by 4% by 2030 because of population growth and economic growth, and that additional measures would reduce emissions by just 1%. Now, it is projecting a decrease in emissions of between 10% and 25% by 2030, which I welcome.  What we have been able to do is to decouple economic growth from emissions growth. We are seeing emissions reduce across many sectors while our population is growing and our economy is growing. We now have the lowest level of greenhouse gas emissions in 35 years, which is notable, given, as I mentioned earlier, we have 1.5 million more people in our country than we had then. More than 1 million new homes have been added since then. We also have over 1 million extra vehicles on our roads. As I mentioned, the important thing is decoupling growth from emissions. We are now world leaders in renewable energy. We have a higher rate of renewables integrated into our grid than any European state. We are more than halving the emissions in our electricity system, which is significant, and are now projected to reduce that by between 53% and 60% by the end of the decade. Emissions in agriculture are set to decrease by between 4% and 19% and emissions in transport are set to decrease by between 16% and 28%.  The EPA report shows that a significant increase in electric vehicles, EVs, last year has led to a significant change in the projections for emissions in the transport sector and we are seeing in the first five months of this year a further ramping up of EVs, in particular. Of course, we need to do more. I want to focus on the most impactful measures. That is why when I bring forward the climate action plan over the coming period, it will be more focused on the most impactful measures and will report on the ones that make the biggest difference. We need to try to bridge the gap to the target that has been set for greenhouse gas emission reductions by 2030. I have said in this House, and have said publicly elsewhere, that we will not reach that target by 2030 but we are moving towards it very well. We can get to that target in the early 2030s. For us in government, and indeed all of us in the House, it is about looking at the measures that we can take now, such as those we have discussed this morning, particularly the acceleration of renewables, the electrification of our country across sectors and the retrofitting of our homes and businesses. We must continue with the pipeline of projects we have, particularly offshore, and get them to construction.  We have seen from one year's projections to the next improvements. That is good. They are not enough to reach our overall target by 2030 but across sectors, we are moving towards the target significantly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  We accept, and the Minister accepts, that the small amount of money allocated for the new EV scheme, which is commencing on 1 July, is not going to address the issue. The way things are going, those funds will probably have been used up by the end of that month. Even though some money has been ring-fenced for rural areas, the scheme is not going to address the glaring need there.  The EPA has made it clear that even if the current measures were to be delivered, they will only cut emissions by approximately 25%. On the EU side, we are heading to approximately 23% when the obligation, as the Minister knows, is 42%. It is a policy failure. The consequence is that we could have up to \u20ac28 billion in fines, although the Minister has questioned that. We will have to pay some money towards carbon credit purchases. That money could be invested in communities and workers. Retrofit schemes are still too expensive. Rural communities are still facing rising costs and we have heard about energy prices. Workers and families have to carry this burden without clear, credible income supports and transition pathways. We need a just transition. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Grace Boland  While I welcome the progress that is being made, the EPA, as it stands, is telling us that, at best, we are only going to meet half of the targets that we need to meet for 2030. What urgent additional measures is the Minister and his Department considering to try to bring us further forward in reaching our 2030 goals? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  I would not dismiss what the EPA says and I have not done so. I welcome the work it does. We are taking measures that have been agreed at Cabinet and among Government members and TDs, such as Deputy Boland, who support the Government. We have changed the retrofitting grants, which has made a massive difference not only from a climate perspective in reducing energy use but also in terms of cost and affordability. Since the changes I brought forward in the first quarter of this year, there has been a doubling. There have been over 50,000 applications to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, for home retrofitting and bringing about that retrofitting passport, to which Deputy Daly also referred, which means that you can break up the grants and make them more accessible. We are seeing people respond to that now, which is good. I want to see more of that. Nearly \u20ac670 million has been allocated to that. I want that money invested and spent. Over 264,000 homes have now had energy upgrades. That is very good for climate, good for reducing emissions and very good for household budgets. There were approximately 5,000 business grants last year. I am working on measures to make those business grants more accessible, too.  I brought in another \u20ac40 million this year for EVs. There has been a substantial increase in the number of registrations of EVs. I have ring-fenced \u20ac10 million for the scrappage scheme. I have been clear that it is a pilot scheme. We want to see how it works. If it is over-subscribed, it is a success. We want to get cars that are 13 years old or older off the roads. I have ring-fenced 65% of that funding for rural areas, which I said I would. Friends of the Earth and others have welcomed the focus on rural areas in particular. I will monitor that. If the scheme is open for one, two or three months and is fully expended, we will go back and look at it again. That is just an example of the type of measures we are looking to bring forward.  Underpinning all of it is the acceleration of renewables. I will come back in with a supplementary contribution. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  I know the Minister has been asked to do that in respect of EV cars and it is good that he is moving towards addressing an issue for which we have been calling for a long time, which is the prioritisation of rural areas. What about second-hand cars? It is still the case that for people who will be selling or scrapping cars, it is a small amount of money. How about a scheme for second-hand purchasers if, for example, it is their first time buying an EV? We need a just transition. We need free or subsidised retrofits for those who need them the most. If you are in a rural area or are an older person, you are unlikely to make that big outward investment to retrofit your home. We also need affordable public transport and more rural connectivity. We need income supports and protections for workers and families through the transition. I ask the Minister to address those points and to have more of an emphasis on older people and rural areas. As the Minister knows, one third of the money for EVs has up to now been given for cars that are worth over \u20ac55,000. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Grace Boland  At a recent meeting of the Committee of Public Accounts, the Minister's Secretary General and I discussed retrofitting and delivering energy efficient homes. She acknowledged that is a real issue and there is a workforce gap. Has the Minister's Department made an assessment of that gap? What measures is he taking to address it?  The Minister mentioned an extra 1 million EVs on the road. What we really need is better public transport. In Fingal, as the Minister knows, we need better public transport. We need local buses to connect our sprawling towns with train lines. We need the electrification.  I ask the Minister and his very capable Secretary General to work with urgency to deliver all of these climate measures to ensure that we meet as much of our target as possible by 2030. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  I thank both Deputies. I will try to deal with both of their interventions. Deputy Boland can be assured that everything we do is to try to accelerate the actions we are taking in relation to climate. It is the number one crisis worldwide. Ireland, as a country, has shown that it is able to pivot and change quite quickly. I used the example earlier that we have doubled wind capacity in under ten years. In 2015, there was 2 MW of solar energy in our system. By the end of this year, there will be 3 GW. What does that mean? Just 1 GW is enough to power 500,000 homes. That is where solar has moved quickly. We are seeing a rooftop revolution and well over 120,000 homes with solar panels.  I completely agree about public transport. That is where the national development plan that we all agreed is important. One euro of every four invested between now and the end of this decade is being invested in transport. There is a public transport deficit that we need to catch up with and address with major projects that the Deputy and I are aware of.  In the year before last, which is the last full year for which we have figures, there were 365 million public transport passenger journeys. People are responding. We need to accelerate projects. We regularly discuss the need to get new services in place. The Deputy can be assured that we will do that.  The rural focus on electric vehicles is something Deputy Daly has been calling for. I have also, as part of the additional funding I have brought forward, reduced the value of cars for which grants are applicable from \u20ac60,000 to \u20ac50,00 because I do not want to grant-aid luxury cars. We want to focus on middle income families and families who actually need that assistance. Under the scrappage scheme, the grant is \u20ac8,500. New EV cars can now be bought for close to \u20ac20,000. I will not mention which brands; people can have a look. There are good cars available there. I will keep an open mind on second-hand cars but we need to do this through dealerships for certification and application reasons. It is something we will continue to look at. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Greenhouse Gas Emissions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_8","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_9","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Energy Policy","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_8","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Kyne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Kyne.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Kyne.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_9.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Kyne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Kyne.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Kyne.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Kyne  I am seeking an update on the work of the national energy affordability task force; when the action plan will be produced; the implementation timelines; and what will be done to assist households and businesses in advance of the coming winter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  First, I congratulate Deputy Se\u00e1n Kyne on his re-election to D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  He is very welcome.  Addressing energy affordability is a key priority for this Government. That is why, in June of last year, the Department established the national energy affordability task force, NEAT, to identify, assess and implement measures that will enhance energy affordability for households and businesses while delivering key renewables commitments and protecting security of supply and economic stability. The first report of the task force informed key aspects of budget 2026. That included a 15%, or \u20ac5 per week, increase to the fuel allowance, providing an additional \u20ac140 to recipients during the annual fuel allowance season. Eligibility for the fuel allowance was also expanded to include those in receipt of the working family payment and there was an extension to 2030 of the reduced VAT rate of 9%, which is applied to gas and electricity. A \u20ac400 income tax disregard for households involved in microgeneration was also extended for a further three years.  A record \u20ac640 million is also being provided to support the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland's residential and community energy upgrade scheme this year. This includes \u20ac340 million for the warmer homes scheme, which provides fully funded upgrades for households in energy poverty. The allocation means that more funding than ever will be available to make homes warmer, healthier, more comfortable and less expensive to heat. According to the SEAI, since 2019 over 17,000 homes have been upgraded in Galway alone under SEAI schemes, including over 1,400 fully funded upgrades for households at risk of energy poverty under the warmer homes scheme, and over 7,300 solar PV installations.  The NEAT continues to work intensively on an energy affordability action plan to be submitted to the Government in quarter 3 of this year. This action plan will focus on short-, medium- and long-term measures, such as addressing the price of energy, sustainable demand and enhancing flexibility, and addressing energy poverty, customer protections and energy affordability for businesses. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Kyne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Kyne.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Kyne.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Kyne  I acknowledge the work of the Government in assisting those in fuel poverty and under pressure, the extension of the fuel allowance season and the continuation of the reduction in VAT on electricity on gas. We saw during March and April significant increases in the price of home heating oil. Thankfully, that has now come back to a degree but it was certainly a shock to the budgets of many homeowners. While I acknowledge the medium and longer term role of retrofitting as well as the moneys being spent from the carbon tax on the fuel allowance and retrofitting and the investment by the Government and the work of the Department, how can we prepare for such a shock, if it were to happen again in the coming winter, in terms of home heating kerosine prices? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I thank the Deputy for his question. When we saw the huge volatility and the energy crisis that resulted from events in the Middle East, we introduced unprecedented supports. We expanded the fuel allowance for an additional four weeks, which provided some comfort for those who use home heating oil. Notwithstanding the pressures that energy costs are putting on many families and recognising the scale of the intervention that has already been delivered, we also recognise what is still required. That is why, through the national energy affordability task force, we are moving to the next phase, which is to move away from emergency supports to more long-term affordable solutions. The core driver is reducing our reliance on volatile fossil fuels, scaling up renewables and improving energy efficiency. We want to continue to protect those who are most vulnerable. As I said, a comprehensive plan, which will come to the Government in quarter 3 of this year, will include a number of measures for those who are in energy poverty and those who need them most. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Kyne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Kyne.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Kyne.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Kyne  I thank the Minister of State for his response. I agree that the action plan needs to be flexible in relation to such shocks. I know this is not just an issue for his Department, and requires a whole-of-government response. During the winter period, demand for and usage of home heating oil will increase in Galway and Mayo. We will have colder nights and people will stay in for longer. I certainly hope that there is, in the action plan and in the Department, work taking place to engage with the Minister for Finance and other Ministers to ensure there will be a response should there be another home heating oil price shock. I acknowledge the medium and longer term view in relation to retrofitting, insulation and alternative sources, but we also have to look at the here and now for those under pressure. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I take the points the Deputy has raised. We will feed in the challenges that many households that rely on kerosene face. The task force will engage with other Departments such as the Department of Social Protection on how the fuel allowance can better support those who require it. That is exactly how this should be structured. There should not be just one published document, but a phased approach in which we see immediate measures being delivered in the budget 2027 as well as further targeted actions, which can be finalised in the winter ahead, and a clear delivery timeline for the action plan itself. I take the points the Deputy has raised with regard to his constituents, especially those in rural areas who rely on oil and kerosene. I am sure we will engage with the Minister, Deputy Calleary, and other Departments on that. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Energy Policy"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_10","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Legislative Process","counts":{"speechCount":9,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_8","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_10","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brendan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","memberCode":"Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_10.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brendan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","memberCode":"Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brendan Smith  It is now a year and five months since Storm \u00c9owyn wreaked havoc on this country and caused so much damage. We were promised at that time that the Government would take effective measures to implement the learnings from this storm. I welcome the Minister's major commitment to upgrade energy infrastructure and to very substantial funding. There is also a need to implement new legislative measures, with particular regard to the relationship between forestry and power lines. I would like to know what the status of that legislation is because we do not want to be in a position where another storm happens and many areas of country are without electricity again. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  I thank Deputy Smith for raising this important matter. The Bill to which he refers, the Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2025, is being progressed by my Department as part of a wider programme of work to strengthen the resilience of Ireland's electricity network in the context of climate change and increasingly severe storms. Lessons have and must continue to be learned from Storm \u00c9owyn. We have seen significant work done in relation to the clearing of forestry corridors and debris. That work is under way.  The overarching objective is to ensure that overhead electricity networks and forestry can coexist in a manner that delivers a secure, reliable and climate-resilient electricity supply for homes, businesses and communities. The Bill will make provisions for a number of amendments, which include enhanced proactive vegetation management measures to protect the electricity network, including powers to clear vegetation likely to interfere with the network; the establishment and maintenance of forestry corridors to improve resilience and operational safety for the network; and statutory regulation of future forestry planting in proximity to the electricity network.  The Bill is informed by lessons learned from Storm \u00c9owyn and other severe weather events where we have seen specific vulnerabilities in parts of the country.  The proposed legislation seeks to provide a clear statutory framework to facilitate the proactive management of vegetation and forestry risks, while balancing environmental considerations, forestry interests and the rights of landowners. That is under way while, as the Deputy has recognised, we are investing in critical grid infrastructure across the country.  The updated draft heads of Bill are currently being revised and the team in my Department continues to engage, as a matter of priority, with stakeholders, in particular the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, but also ESB Networks, forestry representatives, landowner organisations and the Office of the Attorney General. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brendan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","memberCode":"Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brendan Smith  I thank the Minister for his reply. It should not be rocket science to bring forward these new legislative measures. The initial legislation in this area in this State is the Electricity (Supply) Act 1927, which was amended in 1999 to address the relationship between forestry and transmission lines. For years, I have raised in this House the difficulties facing communities, especially those in my county of Cavan, and also across Leitrim and into Sligo. Year after year, during lesser storms than Storm \u00c9owyn, trees were falling and bringing down power lines. I could be certain every January and February that I would have numerous calls from constituents who were without power due to forestry falling on power lines. This issue should have been addressed before Storm \u00c9owyn. I know the Minister is prioritising it but legislation at official level moves far too slowly. This has to be given priority, as he said. There is no reason this type of legislation should not be enacted quickly and effectively. The last thing we want is to have forestry continuing to damage our critical infrastructure, including telecoms and ESB lines. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  I agree with the Deputy. This is a priority. It needs to move quicker but there are a lot of stakeholders. To be frank about it, this is being made more complex than it should be because we are respecting the views of other stakeholders. We need to ensure the regulatory changes needed for new forestry are in place because the State is not going to be able to, nor should it, manage every private forest or private piece of land in the country. The State should not pay for it all either. The agreement with the Irish Farmers Association that was in place, which was a relatively loose agreement on forestry management, needs to be updated and put in legislation. We are operating under the 1927 Act and grey areas have been identified with respect to right of access. We are bottoming those out now. I met my team earlier this week. We are dependent on other stakeholders and Departments to work with us, which they are doing, but this needs to be done really quickly. I share the Deputy's sense of frustration with the pace heretofore but I assure him the legislation is being afforded priority. We need to get it done. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brendan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","memberCode":"Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brendan Smith  I thank the Minister for his reply. I cannot emphasise enough the priority that needs to be attached to this. We know the horrendous hardship and suffering that were inflicted on so many individuals, families and communities. Unfortunately, that also happened prior to Storm \u00c9owyn. We are going to have more severe weather events, according to all predictions. Whatever needs to be done, the relevant measures have to be put in place rapidly. Under no circumstances can we have this idea that people can plant land up to other people's houses and all of that. There has to be strict regulation. Also, where the Department of agriculture is paying out premiums for forestry, it should have an inspection regime to ensure forests are properly maintained. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  Absolutely. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brendan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","memberCode":"Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brendan Smith  It is the lack of maintenance that has allowed trees and forestry to cause so much damage. What has happened previously cannot be allowed continue. I implore the Minister again to emphasise to the stakeholders, namely, other Departments and the statutory agencies, that this legislation has to be prioritised.  I take this opportunity to pay tribute, as I did in 2025, to members of the emergency services who worked in very difficult circumstances to try to help families and communities, especially in ESB Networks. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  The work of our emergency services is exceptional. We saw the difficulties they had to operate under following recent storms, including Storm Chandra and Storm \u00c9owyn.  This work needs to be concluded. There is complexity in it. I hate even using the word because it seems like it is an excuse, but there is genuine complexity here. It involves updating legislation but also updating the operation and management of forestry. I agree with the Deputy completely that forestry owners have an absolute responsibility. That is why we need to get agreement now that we want re-afforestation across the country, with forests planted and maintained in such a way that we do not create a problem further down the road. We have nearly concluded that work and I will be convening stakeholders again in the next week or so. I expect to bring heads of Bill back to the Government well in advance of the summer recess. I completely understand the urgency of this legislation and I will keep the Deputy directly informed. I am aware of the impact this issue has had on areas of the country where there are large amounts of forestry, including the Deputy's area. Some of that forestry has not been managed or managed appropriately. I will keep him directly informed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy John Paul O'Shea)  With the permission of the House the next question, which is in the name of Deputy Barry Ward, will be taken by Deputy Kyne. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Legislative Process"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_11","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Recycling Policy","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_8","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_11","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Kyne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Kyne.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Kyne.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_11.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I thank the Deputy for the question. The framework for governance and oversight of the deposit return scheme, DRS, is set out in the Separate Collection (Deposit Return Scheme) Regulations 2024, the ministerial approval issued under those regulations and the code of corporate governance for compliance schemes. While Re-turn is responsible for all operational and funding matters relating to the DRS, officials from my Department monitor performance of the scheme closely and meet Re-turn monthly to review progress. In addition, quarterly meetings are held to discuss strategic priorities and governance matters. I have also met representatives of the company on a number of occasions.  Regulation 7 of the DRS regulations provides for a review of Re-turn's approval three years after the grant of approval and every third year thereafter. Re-turn's approval was granted in July 2022, which means the first review was initiated in 2025, and this remains under consideration. As this is the first review since the scheme went live, a number of matters require review to ensure the continued effectiveness of the scheme.  The scheme is performing very well to date. Communities around the country are making the most of this new fundraising opportunity and enjoying huge reductions in litter. The 2026 Irish Business Against Litter annual survey, which was published last week, reported cans and plastic bottles litter is down 50% since the scheme was introduced in early 2024. The approval also obliges the company to achieve two separate collection and recycling targets, namely, by 2025 to have an amount equal to 77% of products placed on the market by weight, and by 2029 to have an amount equal to 90% of products placed on the market by weight. The company will publish its annual report for 2025 in the coming weeks and will set out its performance against those targets and other metrics in detail. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Kyne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Kyne.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Kyne.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Kyne  I thank the Minister of State for the response. It is good to see the statistics from Irish Business Against Litter showing a reduction of can and bottle litter. It is certainly welcome. There have been some concerns raised about the accessibility of the machines to wheelchair users, where the unclaimed deposit money will go and how long it is in the system, as well as how the machines' screens are not photosensitive, meaning they are bright at night when they do not need to be and are therefore using excess energy. Perhaps these issues could be looked at. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  On accessibility, support and engagement are ongoing for those who require more adaptable Re-turn machines. The matter has certainly been brought to the attention of Re-turn and we have raised it. It is an operational issue for it. As the scheme continues to mature, more new initiatives will be included, not just through retailers but as part of the current review process.  In terms of the unredeemed deposits, the huge amounts that are sitting with a return are a significant issue, but it is also an opportunity. That money does not go to profit for return. It is reinvested in the scheme around educational awareness, but also circular initiatives. Again, it is my clear expectation that these funds will continue to strengthen and improve the system, notwithstanding the fact that we need to get to a more sustainable model. As the scheme continues to deliver as intended, those unredeemed deposits will continue to reduce. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Kyne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Kyne.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Kyne.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Kyne  It is important that unclaimed deposits be kept under review. Are there any regional differences in the uptake of the scheme? Is that something that could be examined, in particular whether particular parts of the country are lower? It is likely to be the case. There would be an average level and there would be some with higher rates of use and others with lower rates of use and return. We could engage with such communities to see what the issues, problems, stumbling blocks and impediments are to the uptake or what more could be done to improve the rates in those areas. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  Through the ongoing governance and reviews, we get monthly operational and monitoring data. That is reviewed by our Department. We also get quarterly governance and strategic reviews. This is part of the statutory approval process, notwithstanding the strict corporate code of practice around this scheme.  In response to the Deputy's point, we will continue to bring forward new initiatives if they are raised within this House and can be practically implemented. Overall, nationally we have seen a high uptake. More than 77% of PET bottles and aluminium cans are being collected and separated. We have seen a huge uptake in regard to it. More than 2 billion bottles and cans are being processed on the island of Ireland, which is significant. We will continue to engage with Re-Turn on how it can continue to adapt and deliver for all our communities and make it more accessible to people who require it. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 10 to 11, inclusive, taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Recycling Policy"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_12","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Electricity Grid","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_8","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_12","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Cooney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_12.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Cooney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Cooney  I welcome the opportunity to raise this important matter. Has the Department looked into the impact of high electricity prices in Ireland on the uptake of technology like heat pumps, electric vehicles, EVs, and home batteries that are needed to meet our decarbonisation target, and how that might impact on our 2030 targets? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 38 together.  I thank the Deputy for his question. The Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, is currently undertaking a multi-annual review of electricity network tariffs. Electricity network tariffs recover the costs of developing, operating, and maintaining the networks from the users connected to the electricity networks. The review will seek to put in place a framework for how network tariffs should be structured to ensure they are in the best interest of consumers, are fit for purpose for the modern evolving electricity networks and to help facilitate a low-carbon future.  The tariff review will take account of upcoming legal proposals from the European Commission on network charges which are expected to be published in July. It is anticipated that the legal proposals will aim to expedite the transition towards a more electrified, more efficient and more resilient energy system that can lower prices for consumers.  For the decarbonisation pathway to be efficient, our energy system must be smart. A smart and flexible energy system will reduce consumer energy bills by reducing the amount of generation and network assets that need to be built to meet peak demand.  Since 2019, capital expenditure of over \u20ac1.8 billion has delivered more than 268,000 home energy upgrades, including over 36,300 fully-funded upgrades for households at risk of energy poverty under the warmer homes scheme to the end of May 2026.  A rooftop revolution is under way across Ireland. More than 112,000 homes have received solar PV grants since the scheme began. The SEAI had received over 15,000 applications for solar PV in 2026, to the end of April. This is a 72% increase on the total applications in 2025. Some 99% of new housing is A-rated.  I recognise the importance of helping households and businesses under pressure as a result of increasing energy prices. The cross-government national energy affordability task force, NEAT, will play a key role in this regard. NEAT is working intensively on an energy affordability action plan, which will be focused on short, medium and longer term measures to support households and businesses to meet their energy costs. The action plan will be built around four key pillars: addressing the price of energy; sustainable demand and enhancing flexibility; addressing energy poverty and customer protections; and energy affordability for businesses. To facilitate this, a number of NEAT subgroups has been established, bringing together officials from a wide range of Departments and agencies. A period of intensive engagement to refine options for consideration by the task force is under way, with subgroups meeting on an ongoing basis. This work is also being supported by structured engagement with relevant external stakeholders. The action plan will be submitted to the Government in the third quarter of this year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Cooney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Cooney  Ireland has set an ambitious decarbonisation target of a 51% reduction in emissions by 2030, which is nearly full electrification of heat and transport. I heard from constituents who have recently undertaken works to electrify their homes and from others who are considering it. The price of electricity means the payback calculations, unfortunately, no longer stack up. We face a situation where, unfortunately, the technologies required to meet our reduction targets are being undermined by the cost of energy that powers them. We cannot afford to set targets and then allow market conditions to quietly hollow them out. What plans does the Minister of State have in place to ensure the public have confidence in making investments into these technologies for the future? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I again thank the Deputy for the points he raises. I fully understand the concerns. Householders need confidence when switching to electricity that it will save them money. We have seen with the number of applications for SEAI grants but also for solar PV grants that those investments are reaping rewards. Electrification, when combined with efficiency and renewables, will lower energy costs over time for households. That is very much what we are focused on. Heat pumps in well-insulated homes reduce household heating bills. Solar PV allows households to generate their own electricity. We have seen a huge uptake in EVs and that has significantly reduced fuel and maintenance costs. These are the real drivers of ensuring that we can reduce our exposure to volatile, fossil fuel prices, particularly gas. That is why the Minister, through the SEAI and others, is scaling up the supports. We are also scaling up our renewable electricity at pace, reducing dependency on fossil fuels, but also building a more stable, low-cost system.  Through NEAT, we are also bringing forward additional measures that will continue to support households. The risk to households who do not move to electrification in that they could stay locked into expensive fossil fuels. We will look at how we can utilise best practice, be it through smart meters, looking at lower tariffs, better use, better efficiency and better supports. That is the way forward for many consumers and households. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Cooney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Cooney  The electrification of our economy is the right policy direction but it will only succeed if ordinary households are not priced out of it. Ireland already has some of the highest electricity prices in Europe. The scale of grid investment required over the coming decade is enormous and there is a real concern that the cost of that infrastructure will be loaded onto domestic electricity bills through network charges.  If this continues, the people we are asking to switch to EVs and heat pumps are also the people being hit hardest by the cost of investing in the infrastructure needed to support our transition to full electrification. Will the Minister of State outline clearly how the Government will ensure that the burden of grid investment is distributed fairly and does not fall unequally on the domestic consumer who it is pushing to do the right thing? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I understand the points the Deputy raised. The challenge of high electricity prices is well-understood. That is actively shaping Government policy in terms of regulatory discussions and decisions, but also how we continue to prioritise investment through price review, PR, 6, through ESB Networks and also EirGrid. That is precisely also why we have commissioned the regulator of utilities to undertake an in-depth, fundamental and multi-annual review of the electricity network tariffs.  That review is very important in ensuring the costs are shared fairly right across users on the system, that households are protected, that they are not paying the most but also that they are protected from disproportionate impact, and that the tariff system supports electrification rather than acting as a barrier. That work will certainly be aligned with future forthcoming EU proposals that will be brought forward.  We want to continue to invest in our grid and bring more renewables on-stream, continue to support households and businesses through SEAI supports and ensure that businesses and households are protected into the future. We have already delivered in some of these areas. We reduced the VAT rate on electricity, in line with gas, to 9%. We have also increased the fuel allowance and its eligibility, bringing many recipients of the working family payment into direct energy supports. We will continue to shape budget 2027 around the energy affordability piece, working with other Departments, such as the Department of Social Protection, for those who are at risk of energy poverty. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Electricity Grid"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_13","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Renewable Energy Generation","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_8","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_13","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_13.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  Five phase 1 offshore projects are currently in planning, as the Deputy will be aware, off our east coast, with planned capacity of 3.8 GW. All five have submitted planning applications and first determinations from An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la are anticipated on at least two of these by the end of this year, with the others to follow in 2027. The reason for that is they received detailed requests for further information, particularly around bird surveys. Subject to planning approval, I anticipate that some of these projects will be in construction by 2030. I do not see any of them being electrified, although there is the possibility of one, with a fair wind, if the Deputy will excuse the pun. I have said that publicly. Our focus is in getting them into construction and operational by the early 2030s.  We also have the 900 MW Tonn Nua project off the coast of Waterford. It was the only successful auction in the EU. If Britain is included as part of the European Continent, it was one of only two, along with allocation round 7, AR7. I expect that to be energised in 2033. Tonn Nua was the first of four sites to be brought to auction from the south coast designated maritime area plan, DMAP. We are making preparations to bring the remaining three south coast DMAP sites to auction over the coming period.  Separately, we are in the middle of the national DMAP process, that is, mapping our full maritime area to build that pipeline of sites into the future to be able to continue with regular auctions. That is to facilitate a further 20 GW.  I am not being evasive but I cannot say this we will have in 2030, 2032 or beyond. Suffice it to say, it is getting these ones out of planning and getting the phase 1 ones into construction. Tonn Nua is now done. I want to move on L\u00ed Ban, for an auction there, and then conclude the national DMAP work by 2027, which is what we said we would do. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  The Minister pointed on some of the issues that I want to raise. The first is what has been identified as a substantial delay in the planning system. This was reported on and accounted in the Oireachtas committee at the back end of last year. There were examples there, which he touched on, in terms of entering into the planning system in 2024, an expectation that people would have a decision in 2025 and instead they get a massive request for further information. I would make two related points on that. The first is that it felt like a planning system getting used to new types of applications. Is that something that we can expect in the future will be resolved? The second is the capacity in the planning system and the staffing of it. It does not fall directly under the Minister's remit, but where is that? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  To be fair, on the Deputy's first point, that is acknowledge by what was then An Bord Plean\u00e1la and is now An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la. Certainly, those were the first type of projects that they ever had to deal with. I agree there are learnings and they have learnt from them. Second, the planning environment is different now. New applications will come under the Planning and Development Act 2024, which sets strict timelines on planning decisions and sets timelines around requests for further information and how often further information can be requested. In short, that will improve the situation.  In relation to resources, I can tell the Deputy, given my previous portfolio, that we have increased resources in An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la by over 50% and we have restructured an coimisi\u00fan. An coimisi\u00fan is meeting approximately 90% of its targets. I commend the officials on the work they are doing. The decisions are coming out quicker and more efficiently.  The Deputy made a very fair point. Tthese were large projects that had not been seen in the planning system previously. The learnings from them have been acknowledged. With the new planning Act, I expect that planning for new offshore wind projects will go through much quicker and much more efficiently. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  That is something that we need to keep a continued emphasis on to ensure that these applications are processed in a timely manner and that all of the necessary scrutiny is conducted from all aspects.  One of the key enabling infrastructures around offshore wind is our ports infrastructure. In terms of the development of our ports infrastructure, will we be ready to take advantage of the opportunity that presents itself in terms of offshore wind, whether in terms of ports for the maintenance of these facilities or for their construction? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  Ports will be critical. In the coming couple of weeks, certainly before the recess, we will be bringing the new national ports policy to Cabinet. A lot of work has gone into it, and fed in by stakeholders as well. The east coast will be very important on that. That will come to Cabinet and then we will publish it. That will go out for consultation and every party and all stakeholders will get to see it.  Right now, Belfast is the only port that one could say will be able to carry out both. Belfast will be important to the island of Ireland and I see it being utilised. Cork is well advanced as well. I have visited the Port of Cork on a number of occasions. There has been really good work on the extension of piers, and good assistance from the European Union in that regard.  I agree we need to increase port capacity for construction but also, really importantly, as the Deputy mentioned, for the maintenance that will be required.  I see we will be ready. The Port of Cork has moved forward. I see Belfast as part of our offering as well and part of that solution, and, indeed, other ports that may come forward as well. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 14 to 17, inclusive, taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy John Paul O'Shea)  The next available question is Question No. 18 in the name of Deputy Michael Murphy. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Renewable Energy Generation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_14","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Departmental Schemes","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_8","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_14","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_14.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Murphy  I want to champion the warmer homes scheme and the Minister's commitment to it. I am seeking an update on waiting times for initial assessment and for completion of works, and details of any action plan to reduce those times. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I thank the Deputy for his question. The warmer homes scheme aims to improve home energy efficiency and warmth for people at risk of energy poverty. It is a nationwide scheme delivering 100% funded energy efficiency improvements to the homes of people in receipt of certain welfare payments, thereby making their homes more comfortable and energy efficient and reducing their energy costs.  The scheme is operated by the SEAI on behalf of the Department and is funded through carbon tax receipts and the European Regional Development Fund, ERDF. From 2019 to the end of May 2026, SEAI schemes have provided more than \u20ac1.8 billion in support to homeowners for over 268,000 home energy improvements, including more than 36,300 fully funded upgrades for households at risk of energy poverty under the warmer homes schemes. Some 8,139 homes were upgraded under the scheme in 2025. In quarter 1 of 2026, the average cost of upgrades under the scheme, which were fully funded, was just over \u20ac31,000.  The breakdown of average wait times under the scheme in 2025 is as follows: 6.5 months for applications prior to publication of the building energy rating, BER; 13.5 months for applications for survey completed; 14.8 months for applications for contractor allocation; and 22 months for applications for work completed. The overall waiting time for applications for works completed represents a decrease from an average of 26 months for homes completed in 2022. In parallel with that decrease in the average waiting time, the number of homes upgraded in a year has almost doubled in the same period, increasing from more than 4,200 in 2022 to over 8,100 in 2025.  The reduction in waiting times and increase in the number of home upgrades follows a range of measures introduced by my Department and the SEAI. They include the allocation of additional staff to the warmer homes scheme, a significantly increased budget allocation, active contract engagement management by the SEAI to increase contractor output, and actions to address ongoing supply chain pressures. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Murphy  I reaffirm my support for the warmer homes scheme, which is having a real impact at local level, particularly for vulnerable householders, including older people and low-income families. The extension of the eligibility criteria for the scheme means that more than 470,000 families are now entitled to avail of it. My concern is the waiting times, with an average of 14 months for assessment and 24 to 26 months for completion of works. We really need to look at that. Having met with SEAI representatives this morning, my understanding is that there is an action plan for the scheme before the Department. A process is being gone through whereby there may be changes to the whole contractor system in terms of the individuals or companies that manage the contracts. With the numbers eligible for the scheme increasing, waiting times will surge unless we do something differently. While I support the scheme, I appeal for changes that will accelerate its operation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I thank the Deputy for raising those important points. He has been consistent in his advocacy for improvements in waiting times for the scheme. The Minister will meet again with SEAI representatives to try to progress and build more efficiencies into the programme. We are not where we want to be. We want to make the scheme more agile. Demand for it has increased significantly, as I said, because it is fully funded. We understand the real benefits it provides to households. At the same time, the level of work involved, often amounting to full home retrofits, means these are complex projects, not quick fixes.  The grants available are in the region of \u20ac31,000, which is significant. We have allocated record levels of funding to support the scheme and we have also increased contractor capacity. We will continue to work with the SEAI to make the process more efficient. We are very much committed to delivering twice as many upgrades annually compared with the numbers a few years ago. We will continue to do that in the months ahead. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Murphy  Since the early days of the scheme, which I continue to champion, more than 176,000 houses have been retrofitted. The Minister of State is right that the average retrofit cost per house is \u20ac31,000 but I am conscious that 30% of all applications are for what are called shallow refits involving both attic and wall insulation. When I met with the SEAI representatives this morning, there was a consciousness on both sides of the better energy homes scheme, which provides 100% funding for wall and attic insulation. We need to do more to encourage people on the waiting list for the warmer homes scheme who require only a shallow refit to avail of the better energy homes scheme instead, under which they can have wall and attic insulation done in the short term.  The key is to get the initial assessment done sooner and to avail of the capacity within the system. There are 1,000 BER assessors around the country. I understand there is a request within the action plan that is currently before the Department to better utilise those 1,000 assessors. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I again thank the Deputy for his work to try to streamline the process. I know he has engaged directly with the SEAI on a case-by-case basis regarding the operational details. There is no lack of oversight by the Department. We are very closely monitoring the overall performance with a view to improving it. We want to drive improvements and deliver more capacity within the schemes. That in itself will provide many more of the upgrades that people desperately need and that will reduce their reliance on fossil fuels and make their homes more comfortable and cheaper to heat and run. The objective of streamlining the process, maintaining the quality and increasing the speed of delivery is why we have allocated \u20ac340 million this year. The ambition is that it will deliver more than 11,500 upgrades. That is exactly what we are focused on doing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy John Paul O'Shea)  There are no more Members in the Chamber to put their questions. I might put my Question No. 46 if Deputy Murphy will take the Chair. The Deputy is agreeable. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 19 to 37, inclusive, taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 38 taken with Question No. 12. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 39 to 45, inclusive, taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Departmental Schemes"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_15","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Energy Prices","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_8","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_15.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Michael Murphy)  Deputy O'Shea had better not go over time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Paul O'Shea  What measures are being taken to address the crisis of high energy costs for householders and small businesses, particularly in rural areas? Will further targeted supports be considered in the upcoming budget? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  We have discussed a number of measures this morning, including directly funded retrofitting for families and the grants we can provide to reduce energy usage. Those measures are good for our climate because they reduce emissions and they reduce costs for households. We have been able to retrofit approximately 264,000 homes so far. Earlier this year, the Minister of State and I, along with our team, looked at the grants that were available and broke them down to make them more accessible, particularly for middle-income families. In the first quarter of this year, there were more than 50,000 applications for home retrofitting. We need to support that because it takes pressure off our energy system.  It is good as well because we are pointing families and householders in the direction of renewable energy. Over 120,000 homes now have rooftop solar systems. Those grants have been increased, as have heat pump grants. The focus on rural areas, which the Deputy mentioned, is critical.  We have brought forward things to be able to break down the grants, like attic insulation or cavity walls, which can be done separately. The windows and doors grants were also not available before unless you retrofitted your whole home. To be frank, many people could not afford to do that, even though the grants were substantial because these still needed to be matched with substantial funding. That is why we have broken them down. We have had over 8,000 applications for that grant alone, based on the last numbers I had, in just a two-month period. These are practical measures we are taking for people.  On the business side of things, we had 5,000 business retrofitting grants approved. We need to focus a lot more of our resources in that space because it protects people against future price shocks. When people get retrofitting done, their energy bills come down and they are protected against future shocks. They are also pivoting towards renewables and we are making good progress there. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Paul O'Shea  I concur with the Minister on the uptake of the grants, particularly the windows and doors grant. There has been a significant uptake in that grant. Certainly, through our own constituency offices, we can see there is great interest in it. I commend the Minister, his Department and all the team on making that available. Having the smaller grants available is hugely important for people who can afford them and can do retrofits in pieces and patches. That opportunity allows people to invest in their own homes as best as possible.  I also concur with the previous speaker, Deputy Murphy, as regards the warmer homes scheme and community energy scheme on how we can work with the SEAI to ensure more people can access those grants as quickly as possible. There is great appetite out there for more work in this space. I hope, along with budget 2027 and further budgets, we can continue the good work that has been done to date. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  On the warmer homes scheme, and I listened to the Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach's intervention on that, approximately 34,000 homes have been fully retrofitted with 100% grants. It is a great scheme, but waiting times are too long. To be fair to the SEAI, as Deputy Murphy said, it has submitted an action plan. I have a meeting later this afternoon in that regard to see how we can speed that up. We have made two specific changes for people on the warmer homes waiting list who can now access certain grants, which will not affect them while they are waiting for the overall grant. We are also retrofitting social homes at a level that has never been seen before, which is also a good thing. This protects those at risk of energy poverty, it is good for the climate and good for their pocket, as well as being good for our energy system. I will keep Members informed on this. I have a further meeting this afternoon with the team specifically relating to the SEAI action plan. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Paul O'Shea  The Minister mentioned in previous contributions this morning the national energy affordability task force. Having that come out in quarter 3 of this year will be very important, particularly the four points addressed as part of that. These are the price of energy, sustainability in demand, enhancement of flexibility and addressing energy poverty for the consumer and customer protections. That is hugely important because we have a lot of people who are currently in arrears. How we can target that energy poverty measures to those customers will be hugely important. Likewise, with energy affordability for businesses the Minister just mentioned, if we can keep going along that process for the next 12 months, we can also certainly do a significant amount of work and see significant benefits from that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  The meat of that report will feed into our budget considerations and deliberations. I expect to have that by the end of July this year. We have done a lot of work on it. It looks at some potential structural changes and short-, medium- and longer-term measures, as well as further improving measures that are in place.  We know we are not in the position we want to be in with regard to energy costs. That is why it is so important that we accelerate delivery of renewables across the board and reduce our dependence on wholesale fossil fuel markets. Fundamentally, that is the major problem we face.  The figures out today do not deal with long-term systemic arrears. They are arrears from day one to post-90 days, so the figures themselves need to be interrogated more. However, anyone who does find themselves in arrears should make contact with their energy provider. Plans are there and will be put in place to help households. The last thing anyone wants, and I have said this to energy providers, is for people to be cut off from the energy they need. People should engage with their providers. I thank the Deputy for his support. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Energy Prices"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_16","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_16","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_17","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Sports Events","counts":{"speechCount":22,"speakerCount":4},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_16","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_16","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_17.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joanna Byrne  The Minister of State will appreciate these questions were submitted before the recess and before the Government's shameful response to the two Private Members' motions on the Ireland and Israel fixtures this week. In spite of that, a response is warranted from the Minister of State to the Irish football community and Irish footballers as to why it is okay for him and the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, to publicly state they will not attend these fixtures, yet they will shoulder that burden onto our footballers and ask them to choose between what is right and wrong, and lining out for their country and playing the game they love. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport (Deputy Charlie McConalogue)  I propose to take Questions Nos. 62, 66 and 67 together.  At the outset, I believe the Minister has been in touch to indicate he is unavoidably unable to be here this morning. I am taking all the questions this morning for that reason.  I thank the Deputy for her question. As she indicated, this is an issue that has received very strong consideration and debate in the House, particularly over the course of this past week. As I outlined in those debates, from the point of view of the Government, it has been providing leadership on what is happening in Palestine and the unacceptable actions of the Israeli Government on many occasions, which has led to many innocent lives lost and so much destruction, as well as genocidal behaviour in the persecution in the war in Palestine. The Irish Government has led out internationally on addressing this and has been at the forefront of forming international opinion, whether that is the recognition of the State of Palestine, ensuring that UNRWA is fully supported and has its funding increased, or in the legal sphere in joining the South African legal case in the European Court of Justice regarding the genocidal behaviour by Israel in Palestine.  However, when it comes to the sporting situation, while the Government runs the country and sets our political policy, it is a well-established principle internationally that sporting organisations and federations are responsible for the conduct of sport. In this regard, it is UEFA at a European level and FIFA at a world level that decide and make policy decisions on whether teams and countries participate in competition. Obviously, we recognise the difficult position the FAI is in here with regard to the draw and having two games to participate in, but it has to work within the UEFA structures. After its AGM last November, the FAI brought a motion to UEFA seeking to have Israel excluded from international competition. It received very little support from other footballing nations on this and it now has to work within the UEFA rules. It has now indicated and made the decision to fulfil those two fixtures. This is a matter for the FAI to decide and the Government fully respects that. It is not appropriate for the Government to interfere here.  We debated motions on this over the past two days, the content of which would ultimately mean Irish athletes would not participate in international sports competitions in which Israel is also participating. For example, this would ultimately mean we would not be in a position to have any athletes participating in the next LA Olympics. Again, that is a matter for sporting bodies to decide upon. We as a Government will continue to give very strong leadership internationally in the political sense, but it is up to each sporting federation to make their own call, and the FAI has done so with the two fixtures it is programmed to play at the end of September and start of October. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joanna Byrne  I am delighted the Minister of State has learned a new word since Tuesday night-Wednesday morning. In the response which the Minister of State, Deputy McConalogue, gave to me on Tuesday night and which was carbon-copied by the Minister of State, Deputy Dooley, on Wednesday morning, the word \"genocide\" never featured at all. It is great that he has learned that word in the past two days. Even though he has now acknowledged there is a genocide and obviously understands what a genocide is, he still cannot grasp the magnitude of what this means to the Irish footballing community. They do not want this match to proceed. They do not want to normalise sports-washing.  Ireland playing Israel normalises a genocidal regime and gives cover for statute violations, for apartheid and for war crimes. In standing up and saying he will not attend these fixtures all he is doing is putting that pressure and that burden on our footballers. Inevitably, if this goes ahead, our footballers will have to make a conscious choice individually or collectively as a team as whether they should fulfil this fixture and it is not fair. The Minister of State had an opportunity this week to empower the FAI and to support the FAI. So, I do not buy all this back tapping for the FAI. The Minister of State had an opportunity to stand with the FAI, to stand with Irish football and to stand with our Irish football team but he chose not to. Shame on him. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  I totally refute that. Internationally we, as a country, have led out. We have called out the genocidal activity that Israel has persecuted in Palestine. We have led internationally in pushing for stronger sanctions to reflect the unacceptable behaviour of Israel and we will continue to do so. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joanna Byrne  You did not do so this week. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  Just last week the occupied territories Bill was approved by Cabinet will be brought through the Houses between now and the summer. Let us be clear. The Deputy is suggesting that the Government should get involved in deciding not just for the FAI but for all sporting organisations what competitions they should and should not participate in. The point that she is focusing on most of all is the Israel game coming up. However, she supports and did so again here last night that for all sports where Israel is participating, including for example the next Los Angeles Olympics, Irish athletes should not compete. That is what she is proposing. That would mean the Government getting involved in an unprecedented way in relation to the conduct of all sports and indeed preventing us from being able to participate in the Olympics for example. If other governments across the world took a similar approach to sport, sport simply would not be able to be conducted because of it always being mired in politics. Whatever the merits or otherwise might be, sport simply would not be able to be conducted across the world. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joanna Byrne  History, including his own party\u2019s history, is lost on the Minister of State. There is a precedent in this State of us taking a stand when it comes to sport. It is wrong for him to stand there and tell me that it is unprecedented. That is factually incorrect. He is a Fianna F\u00e1il Member and he should know this. He should talk to his previous Taoiseach. There is absolutely no justification for it. What he is saying this morning, what he said on Tuesday night and the script he handed to his colleague to say to Deputy Gibney on Wednesday morning is absolutely shameful and there is no justification for it. I think deep down he knows that because otherwise he would not have sat at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on sport to say he would not attend these fixtures but yet he expects our national team to line out and attend them. It is shocking and absolutely shameful. He is going down the wrong side of history on this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  It would be unprecedented to follow through on what the Deputy and Members of the Opposition are proposing, which is not participating in international sporting competitions, including not participating in the next Olympic Games as a country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joanna Byrne  The Minister of State is deflecting----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  I am not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joanna Byrne  ----- from the stop-the-game question that I specifically put to him on Tuesday night. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy Byrne, allow the Minister of State to answer, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  I am addressing the issue and addressing proposals that are coming from the Opposition, including all the logical outworkings of what the Deputy is proposing. It would be unprecedented and would have the Government getting involved in an unprecedented way in dictating what should happen in relation to sport. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joanna Byrne  It is taking a stand through sport. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  We will continue to lead out politically at European level as we have done here. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joanna Byrne  What about harmony? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  As I have said on a number of occasions, there is a real difference between what happened with Russia where there was unity at an EU political level to apply sanctions and also where both UEFA and FIFA banned Russia from participating in their competitions. That has not happened either at political level - there is not a consensus there - in relation to Israel or on the sporting side from UEFA or FIFA. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I call Deputy P\u00e1draig O\u2019Sullivan. He is aware that the questions were grouped and his Question No. 67 is part of that group. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan  I wish to ask specifically about the operational side of things in preparation for potentially playing this match in Dublin. What level of engagement has the FAI had with relevant agencies, including Dublin City Council and An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na over the past number of weeks in anticipation of this match? Are there any security concerns if the match were to be hosted here? What risks have been highlighted? What steps are being taken to mitigate those risks if the match were to be held? I will not get into a debate with the Minister of State about the merits of playing the match; we had a vote on that last night. However, I am interested in the preparations that have been made if the game were to be played here. We need to understand any risks highlighted by An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and Dublin City Council. I wish to find out about the level of engagement, the number of meetings and the content of those meetings. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  The FAI has been engaging domestically with the Garda in relation to the policing of the event. It has also been engaging internationally with other football associations. For example, it has engaged with the Norwegian Football Association, which hosted a match against Israel in Oslo in November, to learn from its experience and to see how the FAI can apply any learnings in relation to the operation of that match. We have had number of conversations with the FAI where it updated us on the steps it is taking as well but it is always on the basis that this is a matter for the FAI to deal with and a decision for it. I know from reports in recent days that it is considering whether the match be played in Dublin or elsewhere. Again, that is a matter for the FAI to decide on. We respect the responsibility and role it has as a football association and as the national governing body to make that call. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan  I refer to an article in The Irish Times from two days ago which stated that the association\u2019s board continues to meet to discuss the operational aspects of hosting the home fixture but that there are ongoing discussions. That is fine. It is still discussing potentially hosting the game here albeit as the Minister of State has referenced, it is very likely that the game will be held elsewhere if it is held at all. If the FAI is having meetings to discuss operational aspects of hosting it still, has the Minister of State had any briefing from the FAI, An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na or Dublin City Council about the risks, what it would cost, the additional security and any of that type of detail in relation to upcoming fixture? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  The Department of sport has not been involved in the operational details or discussions, which are matters for the FAI to deal with along with the appropriate authorities. It has had ongoing engagement with the Garda. I know the Garda has indicated to the FAI that it is willing to police the game but they continue to engage. I have no doubt the FAI has been engaging with Dublin City Council. We have not been party to those discussions. Obviously, this is a matter for the FAI to decide upon in relation to participating in the game and also as to where it would take place having had consultations particularly with the Garda authorities and Dublin City Council. It is entirely a matter for the FAI and not one of the Department of sport has been involved in. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Sports Events"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_18","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Planning Issues","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_16","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_16","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_18.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  I am following up today on the codes of practice for live events which I raised as a topic with the Minister, Deputy O\u2019Donovan, in March. I received correspondence which clearly shows confusion between Departments as to who is responsible for the codes of practice for live events. Will the Department support an effort alongside other Departments to close the governance gap and give organisers clarity? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  The Department has responsibility for policy and various funding streams that support the development of the live music sector. The Department, both through its own schemes as well as its funding of the Arts Council, provides a range of support to organisations that play essential roles in the development of live music events across the country. However, the Minister has no general responsibility for live events which extends beyond concerts and sport events. The codes of practice in relation to live events fall within the remit of a number of different bodies and Departments.  There are a number of key pieces of legislation, none of which fall under the remit of this Department, that are applicable to events. Part 16 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, which deals primarily with the licensing of large-scale outdoor events, is a matter for the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The licensing of events is a matter for local authorities under the licensing of outdoor events regulations, which were most recently amended under the Planning and Development Act 2000. In addition, the events industry is a matter for the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Deputy Burke, and the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005. Associated regulations are a matter for the Health and Safety Authority.  Of course, the Department will continue to support the live music sector through policy and various funding streams. Ultimately, as I have stated, the codes of practice for live events or music events do not fall under the remit of the Department. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  It is incredibly helpful that the Minister of State read that response because anyone listening is going to hear how complex this is. It is complex for me when I am trying to find information from parliamentary questions. We keep getting batted around. We cannot identify the right agency with responsibility for this. Once again, will the Minister of State do some work to clarify this?  Events are experiencing difficulty because different, inconsistent approaches are being taken depending on the local authority and the style of the event in question, be it a music, sporting or community event. There is simply no definition as to what a live event is. It seems clear to me that the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport is the Department that should have primary responsibility for this. Will the Minister of State work with those other Departments to help people who are trying to navigate this? In many cases, they are dealing with this level of complexity on top of already being underfunded and under-resourced. Often, the teams trying to navigate this work on a voluntary basis. They then end up dealing with additional expense and health and safety issues. Will the Minister of State take responsibility and work with his Cabinet colleagues on this? I ask him and the Department to take a lead on resolving this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  This is something that the night-time economy task force considered. It made recommendations that clear processes and procedures should be consistently applied across local authorities to assist festival and event organisers and ensure safe attendance at community group events of fewer than 5,000 people. The Department has been engaging with the Local Government Management Agency, LGMA, and the County and City Management Association, CCMA, which are leading on this action within the night-time economy task force, to examine ways to standardise the approach to event planning and streamline a system for festival organisers and event planners. Some local authorities, such as Fingal County Council, have developed guidance and templates to assist event organisers. I understand these have also been introduced across other local authority areas.  The night-time economy implementation group is continuing to work in partnership with the Department of justice, An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, the HSE and the Department of Health to ensure that we support the ongoing safety and innovative measures across all night-time economy activities, including outdoor festivals. It is something that has been addressed and discussed within the night-time economy task force. Work is continuing on its implementation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  The night-time economy task force is under the remit of the Minister of State\u2019s Department. Is that correct? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  Yes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  The Minister of State rattled off even more agencies, which only adds to the complexity people are navigating. Will he, or the Minister, Deputy O\u2019Donovan, commit to meet us so that we can thrash this out a little? We have been working with stakeholders in this space, such as the live events association. The Irish Music Rights Organisation, IMRO, has a big interest in this as well.  It is not just about the impact on organisations, however. Our young people have had community supports withdrawn. Movements like Give Us The Night are fighting for the entertainment sector to be preserved as a result of the growing cost of living. Many communities find themselves without places to meet, congregate or have joint experiences. That has a real isolating effect and means that vital sources of culture, entertainment and community are simply vanishing. With the decline of pubs and clubs, including the closure of The Complex in Dublin, we have seen that the hands-off approach does not work. I am keen to work on this, get clarity for these stakeholders and help them navigate what is a complex system that means they are falling between multiple stools. I would appreciate a commitment from the Minister of State that he will engage to deal with this effectively. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  As a Government and Department, we should always be open to assessing and discussing the challenges that are there, as well as listening to any ideas people have. As I said, the night-time economy task force considered and made recommendations in this regard. I am happy to ask officials to engage further with the Deputy around any proposals she might have and to consider the matter further. It is important that we always keep these matters under review. Where there are challenges and further discussion needed, that should happen. Certainly, I will ask for that engagement with the Deputy. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Planning Issues"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_19","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"An Ghaeltacht","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_16","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_16","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_19","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_19.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  Cad at\u00e1 beartaithe ag an St\u00e1t, an Roinn agus na hinstiti\u00faid\u00ed n\u00e1isi\u00fanta cult\u00fair chun com\u00f3radh agus ceili\u00faradh a dh\u00e9anamh ar 100 bliain \u00f3 tugadh aitheantas oifigi\u00fail don Ghaeltacht? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  Ar iarratas \u00f3 mo Roinn, d\u2019eagraigh An Chartlann N\u00e1isi\u00fanta - foras a thagann faoi sc\u00e1th na Roinne - taispe\u00e1ntas den ch\u00e9ad scoth anuraidh, An Ghaeilge agus Daon\u00e1ireamh na Gaeltachta 1925. Bh\u00ed an taispe\u00e1ntas le feice\u00e1il i gceanncheathr\u00fa nua mo Roinne agus ag an gcom\u00f3rtas treabhd\u00f3ireachta, the ploughing championship, i m\u00ed Mhe\u00e1n F\u00f3mhair seo caite. Cuireadh b\u00e9im sa taispe\u00e1ntas ar an nasc idir c\u00farsa\u00ed teanga, polasa\u00ed agus f\u00e9ini\u00falachta \u00f3 bhlianta tosaigh an St\u00e1it go dt\u00ed an l\u00e1 at\u00e1 inniu ann. L\u00e9ir\u00edodh, tr\u00ed ch\u00e1ip\u00e9is\u00ed cartlainne, na hiarrachta\u00ed chun an Ghaeilge a chosaint agus a athneart\u00fa, ag tos\u00fa le daon\u00e1ireamh na Gaeltachta i 1925 agus obair Choimisi\u00fan na Gaeltachta.  C\u00e9 nach eol dom aon taispe\u00e1ntas eile in institi\u00faid\u00ed n\u00e1isi\u00fanta cult\u00fartha i mbliana, t\u00e1 mo Roinn ag tac\u00fa le tionscnamh Chomhairle Contae na Gaillimhe, Cro\u00ed na Gaeltachta: Guthanna an Phobail, 1926. D\u00e9anfar ini\u00fachadh mar chuid den tionscnamh seo ar thaith\u00ed sh\u00f3isialta, cult\u00fartha agus stairi\u00fail phobail Ghaeltachta Chonamara le linn bhlianta tosaigh an St\u00e1it. Beidh cl\u00e1r c\u00f3naithe d'eala\u00edont\u00f3ir\u00ed ann agus glacfaidh pobail \u00e1iti\u00fala p\u00e1irt i ngn\u00edomha\u00edochta\u00ed ag tarraingt ar sc\u00e9alta, n\u00f3sanna \u00e1iti\u00fala agus an teanga. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 mar aidhm go gcruth\u00f3far saothar nua eala\u00edne a l\u00e9ireoidh teacht aniar, cruthaitheacht agus f\u00e9ini\u00falacht na bpobal Gaeltachta.  I m\u00ed Dheireadh F\u00f3mhair, re\u00e1cht\u00e1lfar cl\u00e1r mar chuid d'fh\u00e9ile eala\u00edon----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Aire St\u00e1it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  Buna\u00edodh Coimisi\u00fan na Gaeltachta in 1925 chun daon\u00e1ireamh a dh\u00e9anamh orthu si\u00fad a raibh Gaeilge acu timpeall na t\u00edre. Rinne An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na an census sin. Th\u00e1inig a l\u00e1n eolais as. Bunaithe air sin, leagadh amach na ceantair ar gh\u00e1 cosaint a dh\u00e9anamh orthu agus taca\u00edocht bhreise a thabhairt d\u00f3ibh le d\u00e9anamh cinnte go gcosn\u00f3fa\u00ed an tseoid n\u00e1isi\u00fanta a bh\u00edodh timpeall na gceantar sin, is \u00ed sin, an Ghaeilge agus an cult\u00far Gaelach agus Gaeltachta. Bh\u00ed 82 moladh ag an gcoimisi\u00fan. In 1928, bh\u00ed d\u00edosp\u00f3ireacht sa D\u00e1il faoi. I dtuairisc uachtar\u00e1n an choimisi\u00fain, d\u00fairt s\u00e9, \u201cOur language has been waylaid, beaten and robbed, and left for dead by the wayside\u201d. D\u00fairt an Teachta D\u00e1la, Proinsias \u00d3 Fathaigh, le linn na d\u00edosp\u00f3ireachta sin, \u201cA patient in such dire straits needs special care and attention, needs nursing and special remedies.\u201d N\u00edl na remedies sin ag tarl\u00fa go f\u00f3ill. T\u00e1 g\u00e9arch\u00e1s f\u00f3s \u00f3 thaobh na teanga de sa Ghaeltacht. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  Obviously, it is an historic moment to be 100 years on since the Gaeltacht was first officially recognised. The Deputy is asking what the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport in particular is doing to commemorate this. Across government, all Departments are going to have to consider and appropriately recognise this. Regarding my Department, last year, at the National Archives of Ireland we had an exhibition, The Irish Language and the 1925 Census of the Gaeltacht. I also outlined how the Department is supporting Galway County Council\u2019s initiative, cro\u00ed na Gaeltachta, community voices 1926. This October, Donegal County Council\u2019s Wainfest, which is an arts and book festival, will include a programme aimed at primary school children with a particular emphasis on the Irish language and the Gaeltacht. Those are some of the steps that my Department is taking. Obviously, across government, it is important we commemorate this important moment of being 100 years on from the official recognition of the Gaeltacht. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  Ag an am a rinneadh an daon\u00e1ireamh, is An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, mar a d\u00fairt m\u00e9, a rinne an daon\u00e1ireamh. Bh\u00ed na Gaeilgeoir\u00ed \u00e1 gcomhaireamh timpeall na gcontaetha acu. Ag an am c\u00e9anna, bh\u00ed siad ag comhaireamh c\u00e9 mh\u00e9ad b\u00f3 agus caora a bh\u00ed ag daoine. Those who spoke Irish in what are now Gaeltacht areas were equated with sheep and cattle, which were also being recorded by the commission and the census by An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na at the time. Ag an stad seo, ceapann daoine f\u00f3s go bhfuil an Ghaeilge agus an Ghaeltacht i mbaol agus is l\u00e9ir sin \u00f3 na fadhbanna at\u00e1 ann. Cad at\u00e1imid chun a dh\u00e9anamh? Cad iad na c\u00e9imeanna? N\u00ed com\u00f3radh agus c\u00e9imeanna amh\u00e1in at\u00e1 ann, cad iad na c\u00e9imeanna breise ar g\u00e1 a dh\u00e9anamh chun a chinnti\u00fa, i gceann 100 bliain eile go mbeidh an Ghaeltacht f\u00f3s beo beathach? Sin an cheist mh\u00f3r seachas d\u00edreach com\u00f3radh agus ceili\u00faradh. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  I have outlined the steps we are taking from a departmental point of view. It has been wonderful in recent years to see the renaissance of the Irish language and the particular focus on the spoken language. It is lamentable how so many of us have come through our education system and have such a poor grasp of speaking Irish. Unfortunately, I include myself in that, even though I come from a county - although I live a good distance from a Gaeltacht area - that has such a proud tradition and has kept the Irish language alive.  It is important we recognise how the Gaeltacht has progressed in the 100 years since its establishment and, in particular, take learnings from it. As we go forward, we have to try to ensure the Irish language is built upon. The momentum behind the language in recent times has been energising and from a Government point of view, it is important that we support that. The Deputy asked how our Department in particular is recognising that 100 years on from the establishment of the Gaeltacht. It is important we play a role in that, as we do across government. Most important is supporting growth again so that more and more people across the country can speak our native language fluently. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"An Ghaeltacht"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_20","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"National Governing Bodies","counts":{"speechCount":18,"speakerCount":4},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_16","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_16","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_20","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_20.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert O'Donoghue  Has consideration been given to the establishment of an independent governance authority for sporting and volunteer organisations to oversee committee conduct, ensure compliance with governance standards, provide independent dispute resolution mechanisms and support transparency and accountability in organisational administration? I have been asking this question for a while and I seem to be pushed from one agency to another without being able to get a clear answer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  National governing bodies of sport, NGBs, which represent over 13,000 sports clubs throughout the country, are independent, autonomous organisations which are responsible for governance of their sports at national, local and other levels, including disciplinary and complaints processes. Sport Ireland, as Ireland's sports development agency, works with NGBs to ensure that appropriate governance and safeguarding policies are put in place, as well as mechanisms to handle complaints or issues when they arise. This work is underpinned by Sport Ireland's governance code for sport, compliance with which is a condition of funding for NGBs.  While I am always open to exploring policy initiatives that could improve the operation of the Irish sports ecosystem, I consider that establishing a separate statutory governance authority for NGBs is not required and could have unintended negative consequences. For example, it could undermine NGB operational autonomy, alienate volunteer-led club networks, create bureaucratic duplication or trigger jurisdictional conflicts within existing international sports federations. Moving the disciplinary and dispute resolution processes of NGBs to a stand-alone governance authority could also lead to significant additional costs for the sector.  The safeguarding of everyone at all levels of sport, regardless of age, is a shared responsibility. In August 2023, a new national code of conduct template for sporting organisations was launched by Sport Ireland. The code sets out guidelines and principles promoting the behaviours and conduct expected from athletes, coaches, parents and guardians, supporters, referees, officials and all club members. All NGBs are expected to use this template code of conduct as an opportunity to review their existing policies and procedures for handling code breaches to ensure a safe and respectful environment for all involved in Irish sport. Leadership is being provided through Sport Ireland and the national governing bodies. To take that away from the NGBs entirely and have a separate body would have repercussions and undermine those NGBs. I am open to having further discussion on what is an important point. It is something we should consider fully. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert O'Donoghue  I thank the Minister of State for his response. I have come across a case in a volunteer-led organisation where a member raised serious issues through the appropriate channels. The organisation's committee stated that the matter had been investigated. However, it subsequently emerged that no thorough investigation had taken place. Most concerning of all, the party who made the complaint was not engaged in the process. When the complainant sought to escalate the matter to the NGB, they were informed that NGBs do not have the governance oversight of individual committees. There appears to be a significant accountability gap. In some cases, committee members can become embedded in positions of authority and act as though they are beyond scrutiny. No committee should be permitted to operate as though it owns the club or disregard the concerns of members without oversight. These organisations are in receipt of public money and membership fees but little governance or accountability seems to be attached to that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  This is an issue that requires careful consideration. To a significant extent, we have to empower NGBs and their membership to have good codes of governance and conduct within their organisations to deal with issues that arise. We would have to carefully consider any step that would bring that into a State body. It would have significant unintended consequences.  We are reviewing our national sport policy and there will be a public consultation over the coming months. It is important that all issues are considered in discussions on developing that policy and that it is thoroughly thought out. The Federation of Irish Sport, which is an independent organisation and works with our national governing bodies, offers a dispute resolution service for NGBs that have not been able to resolve a dispute within their organisation. That is an important service. To put it on a statutory basis would be a different kettle of fish altogether. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert O'Donoghue  It is good to hear about empowering NGBs and I accept that care and consideration are needed on this matter. Volunteer organisations play a vital role in our communities, but with that role comes responsibility to uphold good governance, transparency and accountability. I urge the Minister of State to bring forward those measures that he just mentioned and further measures, where they are needed, to ensure that members have access to an independent avenue of appeal when local governance processes fail.  I have since received a number of further disclosures from clubs and volunteer organisations concerning the conduct of committee members and the treatment of fee-paying members. Regrettably, a recurring response seems to be that those who disagree with the organisation's policies are encouraged to leave, when these policies could be causing significant distress to members of these organisations. It is deeply concerning that this situation arises. It poses serious questions about accountability and governance within these organisations. Who ensures that complaints are treated fairly, transparently and in accordance with the basic principles of natural justice? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  Sport Ireland is always available to work with national governing bodies in respect of their governance and how they run themselves. In 2023, it set in place the governance code for sport. It also launched the national code of conduct template, which NGBs are encouraged to adopt to make sure the structures and policies they have in place, and within which their membership, oversight bodies and committees have to operate, work. As I said, the Federation of Irish Sport also has a disputes resolution facility in place.  We have seen massive evolution and development in sporting governance and organisation over the last generation. The development and establishment of Sport Ireland over 20 years ago and bringing our national governing bodies underneath it was a massive step forward, one which has been very productive and enhanced sport nationally. The funding we have provided has added to that.  Where one puts the line and how one empowers NGBs is an important issue, one that we have to keep under review and consistently learn from. It is important that, in as far as possible, it is the members who deal with issues, with good conduct, governance and codes to guide them. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 66 and 67 taken with Question No. 62. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Question No. 66 was grouped with Questions Nos. 62 and 67. With the permission of Members, we will go back and take a question from Deputy Coppinger on Question No. 66. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  Apologies, I did not realise my question was grouped. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  It was, but go ahead with your question, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  I have heard the Minister of State say that sport and politics are separate. I thought that was quite amusing since he is a political representative in charge of sport, so obviously they are not separate. The Government, including the T\u00e1naiste recently, has said it has no role whatsoever in the Irish team playing against Israel in the two upcoming fixtures and it is solely up to the FAI. I do not know if the Minister of State received a letter from a legal firm but he will receive one because he does have a role, as does the Government, under many laws and because the FAI is publicly funded and we have signed the Genocide Convention. Deputy McConalogue is the Minister of State with overarching responsibility for sport. The FAI receives \u20ac6 million per annum and is a public body under genocide laws, the European Convention of Human Rights and the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  I thank Deputy Coppinger. I have not personally received a legal letter. There was correspondence to our Department. That legal letter was actually addressed to the previous Cabinet Minister, Catherine Martin, but it has been assessed and considered by the Department. As I have said in this House on numerous occasions this week, this is an issue that, from a footballing perspective, is one for the FAI to work on within the structures it has within UEFA and FIFA. It has been proactive within UEFA in bringing a motion seeking to have Israel excluded from competitions. Unlike what happened with Russia, where UEFA and FIFA banned Russia from participating in competitions, the FAI got very little support within UEFA whenever it brought that motion forward. The FAI then had a decision to make as to whether it will fulfil those games and it has decided and has been very clear that it intends to do so.  From a political point of view, the Government will continue to lead out in the international arena, particularly in the European scene, on addressing Israel's behaviour and the absolutely unacceptable conduct we saw in the war, the unacceptable loss of innocent lives and genocidal behaviour. We will continue to do that. Between now and the summer, we will bring forward an occupied territories Bill in the D\u00e1il to be passed by the Oireachtas as the latest step in providing that leadership and example internationally. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  I keep hearing the Minister of State say \"we will continue to do\". What has the Government actually done? I know it has talked but here is the chance to actually do something. For example, under the ruling of the International Court of Justice, which this Government has signed up to, all states are obliged not to recognise Israel's illegal acts. Only this week, two Palestinian women footballers were kidnapped. We know ten clubs play in occupied Palestinian territories. We know Israel has killed 1,000 athletes. What more does the Government want? We know it is very afraid of the American multinationals but surely the Government could do something on this. It has failed to act. The staff and players have a legal right to freedom of expression. I will keep the pressure on the Government to underwrite any potential losses the FAI might endure. It is very clear, however, that the FAI has huge legal grounds because UEFA is breaching its own statutes and legislation. There is no way the FAI would face fines. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  What the Deputy has been supporting and proposing in the House this week is not just related to the match, which obviously has dominated the discussion and debates. What she has been supporting and advocating is that all Irish athletes across all sports should not participate in any competitions internationally in which Israel is also participating. That basically means that while the illegal occupation of the occupied territories continues, Ireland would not participate in any sports anywhere. It would not just apply to the match at the end of September but to all sports. It means we would not be sending a team to the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 2028 unless the occupied territories are unoccupied by that point in time. That is what the Opposition is advocating for. It does not just relate to the match. It is the logical extension of saying the match should not go ahead. We have been clear, from a Government point of view, that it is not through closing down all sport that we take a stance and show leadership politically. It is by doing what we have been doing internationally, which we have been very much to the forefront of. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  My position is not that Irish athletes should have to take a decision not to participate. Israel should be kicked out of all sporting competitions, in the same way Russia was. Does the Minister of State agree with Russia being banned? I would like an answer to that question. Failing the authorities taking action, because they are hugely corrupt, players and athletes may have to take a decision, and they should take a decision. I would prefer if they took it as a collective, and I think they will. We already had S\u00e9amus Coleman say the other night that it should not be down to the players, it should be down to the governing bodies and the Government, but the players do know what is right and wrong. They should not be put in that position, however. They should have the full support of their governing body and the State.  The women's football team showed this in 2017 when they went on strike. If the Minister of State recalls, they refused to play against Czechia, which was a World Cup qualifier. They wore jerseys with \"respect\" written on them because they were facing discrimination in the way they were being treated. The Spanish women's football team refused to play until Rubiales was kicked out, so it can be done. Pressure can be put on to force change. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  I absolutely agree with the sanctions against Russia, which have been implemented with unity across the EU and have been replicated at a sporting level by FIFA and UEFA, excluding Russia from competitions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  That was four years ago. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  We as a country have worked to try to get strong sanctions against Israel for its behaviours over the last period of time. At European level, we are seeking the suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. To be clear about what Deputy Coppinger is saying, rather than Ireland continuing to lead out politically at international level, as we have done, and which we will do again in passing the occupied territories Bill in this House, the Deputy is saying that all of our athletes across all sports should stop participating in all competitions. That is what is being asked by the Opposition in this House this week and it is what the Government voted down. That is not the way for this country to do its work politically. It is a matter for each sporting organisation, within its federation, to decide its own participation and it is a matter for the governing bodies to have that exclusive option and decision. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  We are asking the Government to act. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"National Governing Bodies"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_21","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_22","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Arts Funding","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":4},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_21","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Cooney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_22.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Cooney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Cooney  I welcome the basic income for the arts, BIA, scheme and commend the Minister on securing funding to make it permanent. This is a genuinely progressive policy and is especially important to County Clare, with our rich arts tradition, from traditional music to visual arts and literature. I ask for an update on the application process, a breakdown by county and an outline of how rural counties such as Clare will be treated equally when faced with other more populated counties and urban centres. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  I propose to take Questions Nos. 69, 78, 103, 105, 114 and 123 together.  I thank the Deputy for his question and for his support for the basic income for the arts scheme. The main objective of the scheme is to support professional artists whose creative practice is based in Ireland. The scheme will provide 2,000 artists with a weekly payment of \u20ac325 for a period of three years. There has been significant international interest in the scheme, which clearly illustrates the value Ireland places on art and our artists here at home. Indeed, when it comes to the arts, Ireland as a small country punches well above our weight across film, music, and literature and this is in part due to the sustained investment in professional artistic practice.  Funding for the arts through the Arts Council, Screen Ireland and Culture Ireland is at the highest level ever in the history of the State. In February, the Government agreed to making the basic income for the arts scheme permanent, which was a major milestone for the arts in Ireland. Research conducted by the Department provided the Government with a clear evidence base on which to make that decision. The research clearly demonstrated both how precarious and difficult it is to be an artist and the positive benefits for society as a whole, which we are all very aware of, if we invest in our artists.  The pilot scheme was underpinned by a robust research project consisting of a randomised controlled trial with a treatment group of 2,000 and a control group of 1,000. The research element will continue in the successor scheme.  An independent cost-benefit analysis of the pilot published late last year shows that the scheme produced over \u20ac100 million in social and economic benefits; for every \u20ac1 of public money invested in the pilot, society received \u20ac1.39 in return. The net cost of the basic income for the arts pilot went from \u20ac105 million to under \u20ac72 million due to tax generated and savings on social welfare payments.  Late last year the Department conducted a public consultation into the basic income for the arts scheme. This consultation received over 17,000 submissions with 97% of respondents in favour of making the scheme permanent, showing very much the value of the scheme and how it is appreciated not only by those in the arts sector but also by society at large. With an allocation of \u20ac18.27 million for this year, the Department will be in a position to fund 2,000 artists. At the launch in February the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, stated that over time he would like to expand the scheme beyond 2,000 artists, should more funding become available in future budget cycles.  We have seen strong demand for the scheme, with approximately 10,000 applications submitted. For the pilot scheme more than 9,000 applications were received. Participants are selected using an anonymous random selection process. This is considered the fairest selection process where there is not enough funding to provide the scheme to all eligible applicants. All applicants had to complete a comprehensive survey at time of their application and those who will receive the payment will provide data on an ongoing basis. The applications submitted show that there is great variety in the Irish arts sector today. A diversity of arts practices, ages and geographical distribution is visible. The data collected as part of the application is very much a snapshot of the sector in 2026 and will be a strong resource for the Department in terms of developing future policy for the arts. A report setting out this data will be published in due course.  The Department has begun eligibility assessments, which will continue throughout the summer. Given the volume of applications it is difficult to be precise about the date applicants will be informed but it will certainly be September at the earliest. The first payment to selected recipients will be made before the end of 2026 and will be backdated to September 2026 if necessary. Compliance with eligibility will be continuously recorded and assessed throughout the time a recipient receives the payment. All successful participants will need to register with Revenue as self-employed and pay schedule D income tax where appropriate on the basic income for the arts scheme.  This is a ground-breaking support for the arts in Ireland, as Deputy Cooney recognises, and is significant for the artists in our country. It makes Ireland a world leader in how we support our artists and culture. It will help to sustain the careers of those artists who will receive it and retain their talent in the arts sector. Applications were received from every county in the country and the county breakdown for applications will be sent separately to Deputy Cooney. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Cooney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Cooney  I thank the Minister. My question today is important. Will rural counties such as Clare receive an equal share of the BIA scheme? The randomised selection model is fair in principle as it ensures no bias in individual selection. However, fairness in process is not the same as equity of outcome. Clare has a proud professional arts community but artists in rural counties often lack access to the institutional networks, residencies and funding bodies that provide the proof of professional practice needed for the scheme. The structural disadvantage is real and will result in the pool of eligible applicants being skewed toward urban centres with large populations. Therefore, a random draw will still produce an urban-heavy result. How will this structural issue be resolved? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  Over 10,000 people made applications for this particular round of the successor to the basic income for the arts scheme. The Department is in a position to support only about 20% of them. This means just over 2,000 artists will be supported and the other 80% will be left disappointed. This is about a similar level of disappointed applicants as we saw in the original pilot scheme launched by the then Minister, Catherine Martin. It is disappointing to see that the scheme is not growing. We welcomed at that time that there would be another round of funding coming for three years but the fact it is not growing and that more artists are not being supported and will not be able to enjoy the very real benefits of the scheme, which were charted by the research undertaken, is a letdown and I know many artists in the sector feel let down.  The Minister of State referenced that continuing research will be undertaken on the impact of the financial support on the second group of artists who receive it. Will he give us more detail about what is being measured and what is being examined? Will it be the same as the first time or are other benefits of the scheme being considered? Has consideration been given to putting the basic income for the arts scheme on a statutory footing so there would be real certainty that the scheme is an established part of the State's support for the artistic community? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  It is good to hear that progress is being made and that the Minister of State expects at some stage, probably in October by the sounds of it, that the scheme will start but will be backdated to September. This will mean that 2,000 more artists will benefit from a basic income and, hopefully, it will help them in their output and artistic endeavours. It is about trying to ensure that others in future can benefit and that this is rolled over. The Minister of State mentioned that \u20ac18 million has been set aside for this year. This seems to suggest that if it does not start until the end of September, or is not backdated to the end of September, there may be a surplus. Is this expected to be spent this year or will it be rolled into the budget for next year's basic income? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  I will take Deputy \u00d3 Snodaigh's question first. The budget is allocated for this year to be able to pay 2,000 applicants from September onwards. While every effort is being made to give people early decisions, the payment will be backdated to September so nobody will lose out financially by virtue of any delay in being approved. The budget will be utilised by the end of this year.  To respond to Deputy O'Gorman on the scheme and its permanence, I recognise the previous Minister, Catherine Martin, and her initiative in establishing the pilot. The Government has progressed and built on it. We have made it permanent. We have been clear that this will be a permanent scheme. I do not believe it needs to be on a statutory basis for it to be a permanent scheme. We have been clear from a policy point of view and a budgetary point of view that it is something that will be continued.  In terms of the specific research that will continue to be carried out, I will get Deputy O'Gorman a further response specifically on what is being measured and how it compares to previous research which was significant. Having a treatment group of the 2,000 who were in the scheme and a control group of 1,000 who were outside of it was significant research and important in relation to seeing the scheme become permanent and built upon. In relation to more participants, it is something we have indicated we would like to be able to do but it is budgetary dependent. Making it permanent is a significant step forward, as is making sure new artists and more artists are able to participate and have an opportunity to avail of it.  Deputy Cooney has advocated very strongly for his county. There have been 10,000 applicants and 2,000 will be able to participate and will be successful for participating in the scheme. The approach that is planned to be taken is an anonymous random selection process. The assessment is that this is the way to be fair to all artists who have applied and to have the best possible spread representative of the number of artists who have applied. Our objective is to be fair and equal and give as many people as possible the opportunity to participate. Obviously there will be different participants this time in the scheme compared to the pilot scheme, and the objective is to ensure that as many people as possible can avail of the support.  The approach will be that randomised, anonymised selection process to make sure that people have faith in how the selection is being done and everybody has an equal opportunity to benefit from it. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Arts Funding"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_23","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Heritage Schemes","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_21","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_23","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Edward Timmins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_23.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Edward Timmins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Edward Timmins  A total of 23 US Presidents have had Irish heritage, with many coming from Northern Ireland. As the Minister of State knows, I floated the idea of an American Presidents trail in the House early last year. I thank the Minister for his great support. I ask the Minister of State for an update on the progress of this project. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  I thank the Deputy for his question and his advocacy for this worthy project and his work on it. Significant progress has been made in advancing Ireland\u2019s America250 programme, which is the State\u2019s national commemorative initiative marking the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence. It is being delivered across this year and 2027, and the programme is being supported by \u20ac200,000 in funding from my Department to ensure a fitting and meaningful series of commemorative events.  The American Presidents trail is a key initiative within the programme. The Department is working closely with local authority partners to identify communities across the island with ancestral connections to former US Presidents, recognising the important contribution of Irish heritage to the American story. It is proposed that a native tree and interpretive information panel will mark the connection, creating a lasting legacy for local communities and visitors. A co-ordinated tree planting initiative is being developed as part of the trail.  Significant progress has also been made on the literary legacies of the American presidents' trail. Two publications, one for a general audience and another for younger readers, will provide a more widely accessible form of the presidents trail. The general publication is scheduled for completion in advance of the 4 July anniversary, with the children\u2019s edition expected in the autumn. Work is also continuing in partnership with the Department for Communities in Northern Ireland on the wider delivery of the America250 programme.  All activity will be guided by the established principles of commemorations: respectful remembrance, historical authenticity, inclusivity and accessibility. The American Presidents trail will leave a lasting legacy, celebrating the contribution of Irish communities to the American story while delivering cultural, educational and tourism benefits. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Edward Timmins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Edward Timmins  I thank the Minister of State. I am glad that progress is being made. The actions announced are the start of what will, hopefully, be a fully-fledged tourist route. I strongly believe that this proposal could be a positive North-South project. It could also be a major attraction for US visitors, especially those with Irish links, and could be comparable to the Wild Atlantic Way. I have pinpointed several key counties to consider with a suggested route. Ultimately, however, this map would benefit all parts of Ireland. This project should be a part of a national strategy for Tourism Ireland and F\u00e1ilte Ireland. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  Strong support for this project has also come from the shared island unit in the Department of the Taoiseach in respect of developing the two-year programme. That is important. It is also important that we are undertaking this project on an all-island basis, because all of the island has contributed to the American story and to the development of the American nation over the past 250 years. This has been the case throughout all levels of American society but the most high-profile way has been through the number of American presidents with Irish heritage who have served their country. I will certainly continue to ensure that the Department engages with the Deputy on his ideas to make sure the project and the presidents\u2019 trail are as impactful as possible and that any ideas in this regard are used and brought to reality. I recognise once again the Deputy\u2019s advocacy for and work on this trail. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Edward Timmins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Edward Timmins  Never has it been so important to highlight the close relationship we have with the United States. This trail would promote our close ties. It is a perfect example of the use of soft power. Soft power is something we have in the context of the US and we need to constantly remind ourselves of this fact, develop it and not take it for granted. It has contributed to the massive investment in this country by the US. The trail would also fit perfectly, as the Minister of State said, with the goals of the shared island unit. It would boost the economy of Northern Ireland and deliver benefits that we cannot predict. It would also improve co-operation between both parts of this island and develop relationships that currently do not exist. This is the best way to unite our island. We hear a lot of divisive talk about North and South, but this is the perfect opportunity where we can bring North and South together, build relationships and unite people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  I agree fully. The shared experience and history of both parts of our island have been crucial to bringing our island together. When Irish people have gone abroad, from North or South, and built relationships abroad, that has been extremely positive. Those international relationships bring our own island together as well, whether this concerns our shared heritage of people travelling over the decades and centuries to America, or within the European Union context, where sharing the European project also brought our island together in terms of removing borders. We saw the challenge posed when that process started to be reversed through Brexit. In terms of looking towards the contribution that North and South have made to America, there is a real opportunity there to ensure this is part of our shared future and brings us together in the context of our clear similarities and shared history and contribution. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 71 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Heritage Schemes"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_24","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Sport and Recreational Development","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_21","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_24.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  I thank the Deputy for raising this important topic for consideration. Sport Ireland, as the Deputy knows, is the statutory body that we have assigned with responsibility for the recognition of sports in Ireland. As part of the recognition criteria, Sport Ireland must be satisfied that an activity meets the criteria for sport as outlined in section 2 of the Sport Ireland Act 2015, which was adopted from the Council of Europe\u2019s definition of \"sport\". The Act defines competitive and recreational sport, a common theme being physical activity with the aim of improving physical fitness. It defines \"competitive sport\" as meaning: \"all forms of physical activity which, through organised participation, aim at expressing or improving physical fitness, and obtaining improved results in competition at all levels\". It also defines \"recreational sport\" as meaning: \"all forms of physical activity which, through casual or regular participation, aim at expressing or improving physical fitness and mental well-being, and forming social relationships\".  The physical activity and fitness underpinning the statutory understanding of sport is important due to the significant physical health benefits associated with sport, for both the individual and for society. These benefits are central to the rationale that we all have and agree on for public investment in sport. The existing definitions give regard to persons with disabilities and older people participating in sport as they begin by noting that sport \"includes all forms of physical activity\", which can include a wide range of adapted and disability-inclusive forms of sport. There is a risk that a widening of the definition of \"sport\" by relaxing physical activity conditions could result in an overly expansive understanding of sport that would encompass almost any organised recreational pastime involving competition. Accordingly, I do not propose at this juncture to amend the Sport Ireland Act 2015 as proposed by the Deputy. It is, though, something that can be considered in the context of the development of the next national sports strategy, which will set out a framework for the next ten years. Everything should be up for consideration to make sure we have the right approach, and I am happy to have a good discussion on this matter in that context. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joanna Byrne  I am asking this question because activities such as chess are not recognised as sports in Ireland. Chess is recognised as a sport in 24 of the 27 EU member states and in over 100 countries worldwide. It is recognised as a sport by the Olympic movement, which holds its own chess Olympiad. After football, chess is the most widely played sport in the world. It has been played for over 1,500 years. Chess has great health benefits for the ageing by stimulating the brain and has multiple benefits for children taking up sport.  I am asking the Minister of State to agree to a change in wording of the definition of \"sport\" to allow chess to become a sport.  This could have multiple benefits for bridge and similar games. It is a small change that could make a massive difference and have a huge impact on chess players right around the nation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  I thank the Deputy. I agree chess is a great game, one I played from an early age.  Any change that is made to the definition of \"sport\" within the legislation will have repercussions, not just for chess, and will have to be considered very carefully. We do not have any plans to change it but we are just coming to the end of the period covered by our first ever ten-year national policy for sport, which has been very impactful in bringing sport forward and improving participation across all sports in the country. From this autumn onwards, we will be doing the public consultation to have a new policy agreed by the end of next year to see us through the following ten years. We really want this to continue to be transformative for sport. The issues and their full implications should rightfully be considered in that context. I am happy to have the discussion and I thank the Deputy for raising the matter this morning. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joanna Byrne  The Minister of State\u2019s response is positive. I cannot ask for more than that. I ask that he keep the matter on the radar as we begin the consultation for, and the implementation of, a new sports strategy. If he bears it in mind, I will be happy to work with him in that regard. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  All topics should be up for consideration. Whenever we come to framing a ten-year national sports policy on the direction of travel for our NGBs and everyone working within sport, it is important to have thorough discussions. As I said about a couple of other matters earlier, let us make sure the consideration and consultation are thorough. All points, including the upsides and downsides, should be fully considered and we should have as much consensus as possible in making sure the next national sports policy is really strong, is as comprehensive as it can be, serves our communities as well as it possibly can and ultimately assists sporting competitions while, importantly, having physical activity and well-being at its core. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Sport and Recreational Development"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_25","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Sports Funding","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_21","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_25","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_25.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan  I ask the Minister for an update on the LSSIF, including detail about each project. Maybe the Minister of State can give me that afterwards. I do not expect him to list them all. I also ask for the amount that has been drawn down and the amount that has yet to be drawn down. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  The LSSIF, as the Deputy knows, was established under the national sports policy to provide Exchequer support for larger sports facility projects to be able to progress. Previously, there was a gap in that there was no such fund to enable larger projects to proceed. While it is aimed primarily at national governing bodies and local authorities, it is also open to other bodies. In this regard, I refer to applications that would necessarily have to be made and prioritised by a local authority in the process.  The cumulative investment under the LSSIF since 2020 has been \u20ac297 million across 68 projects. To date, \u20ac60 million has been drawn down by grantees, and the following projects have been completed: the linear walkway and playing fields project in Meath; phase 1 of Walsh Park in Waterford; the regional athletics hub in Limerick; the Dundalk Leisure Centre facilities refurbishment project; phases 1 and 2 of the Munster Technological University athletics track in Cork, in the Deputy\u2019s own part of the world; St. Conleth\u2019s Park in Kildare; Charlesland athletics track; Munster Centre of Excellence in Cork; Askeaton Pool and Leisure; Cavan Regional Sports Campus; St. Thomas\u2019s multisport complex, phase 1; and the Dexcom Connacht rugby stadium in Galway.  A number of other LSSIF projects are due to be completed this year or significantly progressed, for example, the RDS main arena and P\u00e1irc Tailteann in County Meath. My officials continue to work closely with fund grantees to help them progress their projects. Nine construction projects approved under the 2018 LSSIF programme have yet to commence. In addition, two have indicated their intention to withdraw their grant allocation. All applicants allocated funding under the 2024 round of LSSIF are working through the procedures required under the infrastructure guidelines, which set out the value for money guidelines for the evaluation, planning and management of public investment projects. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan  It will not come as a surprise to the Minister of State that I have asked this question before at committee meetings. To be fair, he knows my form on this. I do not begrudge anybody getting money they have applied for, or any of the sports bodies that have applied on behalf of clubs, mainly national clubs but what irks me is that, as he said, nine projects from 2018 have still not commenced. We just need to take the bull by the horns at some stage and have a realistic conversation with some of those organisations to say that, if they are not drawing down the money, it is going to be reallocated for another worthy project. I say this not out of a desire to take the money from any applicant. The reality is that some organisations have been sitting on the money for the best part of eight years, as the Minister of State said. I understand the difficulties and the amount they have to raise. It is onerous to draw down from the fund but, at the same time, we need the moneys drawn down. I am a massive supporter of the good the funding does. I would like to see allocations become more frequent but it is hard to argue for that when a fairly high proportion of clubs have still not commenced projects or drawn down the money. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  I acknowledge the Deputy\u2019s point on the need for realistic conversations with all applicants to make sure they are moving forward on drawing down the money. I assure him that those conversations are happening. We want to, and we have delivered the message that, these projects need to progress. The Government allocated the projects funding with the objective of seeing them come to fruition.  Between the two rounds so far, 68 applicants across the country have received funding. The projects probably would never have been able to get off the ground or be in a position to be viable without this State investment. We do need to see them move forward, however. This is not something that is going to be on the never-never. We are making it very clear to all of the projects that they need to be moving forward. My team is actively engaging with those behind them with the objective of making sure they can proceed to construction. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan  The Minister of State says this will not be on the never-never but the reality, as he said, is that nine projects have not commenced since 2018. There are more that have been allocated funding in a subsequent round. Deadlines need to be imposed. It gives me no satisfaction to say here that this is State money and that if State money were allocated for projects in any other field, we would be asking about it. We want accountability and transparency. We want projects delivered, let us be truthful. If the initial projects envisaged, or scaled-back versions, if required, could be completed, it should be explored. If those concerned are having difficulties with fundraising or whatever, it is a matter of helping them to bridge the gaps. Ultimately, however, we need projects completed.  There are sports clubs the length and breadth of the country crying out for substantial money like what has been allocated under the fund. The money for a certain project in Cork, which I will not mention here but with which the Minister is familiar, has been sitting there for six years, undrawn. Other potential suitors were interested in availing of it. A particular organisation has sat on it and withheld it from going towards a very positive project. The gun needs to be put to some of these organisations\u2019 heads and they need to get on with the works. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  I assure the Deputy that no project that has been given approval for funding is sitting on funding. We are spending all the money we have, managing the LSSIF funding stream to the nth degree and making sure it is getting invested. Likewise, we want to make sure every project is moving forward.  We will have one more round of the LSSIF over the term of the Government. I want that to be as early in the term as it can be but it will certainly be in the second half of it. It will be contingent on where we are at with projects. Projects that are not moving forward will have to be taken off the books so new ones can be considered. In the meantime, we are working with those involved to drive their projects forward and make sure that we see them completed so people can avail of and enjoy the benefits of these great facilities. We are working to try to deliver that. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 74 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Sports Funding"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_26","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Sports Funding","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_21","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_26","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_26.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  Ba mhaith liom ceist a chur ar an Aire St\u00e1it faoi ch\u00farsa\u00ed sp\u00f3irt i dtuaisceart Bhaile \u00c1tha Cliath. Is iontach an infheist\u00edocht at\u00e1 d\u00e9anta sa chlub Shells, but what steps are being taken to support grassroots sports clubs across north Dublin, including with clubhouses and changing facilities, in light of the recent bad weather? The weather this year, certainly the rain, was the worst in a long time. Multiple sports clubs had young girls and boys who could not play because of the lack of all-weather pitches. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  I thank the Deputy for his question and for his ongoing advocacy for the role that sport plays in our communities. I was glad to join him recently for a visit to Shelbourne Football Club. It was great to see the work happening there. I know the club recently completed a new astro pitch, which is making a real difference.  One of my key goals as Minister of State for sport is to see an increase in participation levels. As the Deputy pointed out, the availability of access to sports facilities, whether in a club setting, on public lands or in other amenity areas, is a key factor in drawing more people to participation in sport. Planning for future facilities' needs, locations and types is a particular focus of our current sports action plan. Through the sports action plan, we have two particular funds aimed at delivering funding to clubs. Those funds are the community sport facilities fund and the large-scale sport infrastructure fund. Over the past decade, over \u20ac96 million has been allocated to 1,435 sporting projects in Dublin under the community sport facilities fund, benefitting 57 different sport types.  Given the challenges of increased demand and a growing population, I consider that there is real merit in the development of municipally-backed shared facilities. As my Department does not purchase the land, local authorities have a key role to play here, including through the development plan process and through the processes by which they secure and acquire land. I also encourage sports' national governing bodies to work with local authorities to ensure that the land can be used to deliver sporting facilities. My Department is engaging with local authorities, particularly in Dublin, to see how we can work together to ensure we get maximum impact from the funding that will be put in there and particularly to see how we can address that challenge around land and space. We must ensure there are facilities available in communities for people to participate in. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Aire St\u00e1it agus le gach duine at\u00e1 ag obair sa Department faoi l\u00e1thair. I thank the men and women of Dublin City Council, go h\u00e1irithe na laethanta seo. They have put in more toilets than we have seen previously and are doing work in north Dublin. North Dublin has been neglected for too long. It is one of the main reasons I got involved. It is great to see that there is work being done. I thank the council for all the work at the Kilmore West Recreation Centre and the all-weather pitch at the Stardust Memorial Park, which I recently visited. I spoke to one of the executives in Dublin City Council and it is good to see that things are moving.  The Minister mentioned the multi-sport complex systems that we see in parts of southern European cities where all clubs use the facilities. It is not just one single clubhouse. Any club can use those facilities. That is an approach we should consider. We in Ireland need to move away from the idea of clubhouses for single clubs. We can put in more money, get better facilities for all clubs and get grassroots participation up.  I also want to ask about Killester Basketball Club, one of the largest basketball clubs with the largest number of female players. I would love for the Department to bring it any attention. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  I thank the Deputy. I outlined previously that nearly 1,500 projects have been supported across Dublin through the community sport facilities fund. That has a big impact on communities, as I know the Deputy knows. We want to continue and do more in that regard. The benefit of building those facilities is that we are seeing increased participation. We are particularly seeing more and more young girls playing sport at the same level as young boys, and staying with it. That brings pressure and a need for more facilities. We are going to continue to invest but we want to do so in as strategic a way as possible. We are working with local authorities to ensure we are making the most of the land available. That involves working with local authorities and encouraging national governing bodies to work together to see where they can collaborate. We must structure the community sport facilities fund in a way that encourages that collaboration.  In the next round, we will be focusing strongly on encouraging schools to work with clubs. Often, there are school facilities that investment could significantly improve or through which new facilities could be developed. They can be available to students during the day and to the community outside of school time. We can maximise the impact and return on investment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  I appreciate that update. We will kill two birds with one stone with that approach. We will give children the opportunity at break time in school to get away from the books and get onto the pitch to play football, rugby or whatever they want to play. The club would then benefit later.  There are two projects I would love to highlight. I welcome Dublin City Council's plan for an 11-a-side, 3G all-weather pitch. As the Minister of State knows, Dublin produces the best footballers. I will also mention the upgrade to all-weather pitches at Stardust Memorial Park and in Kilmore West Recreation Centre. Dublin Bay North is a broad constituency, which runs from Fairview to Howth and Darndale. Across the constituency, there is a lack of these all-weather pitches. I welcome the fact that the Department is looking at that issue. The Minister mentioned continuing to increase the participation levels for young women and boys and ensuring they continue to play sports. We need to give them all-weather pitches and nearby toilets. It makes it easier for parents and the hard-working coaches coming down on a Saturday night. I appreciate that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  The Deputy and I could have a debate about which county produces the best footballers. There would, however, be no debate about which county produces the best goalkeepers for the number 1 jersey.  We want to ensure that the investment we are making this time around delivers the biggest impact. We want to ensure clubs collaborate. There is some low-hanging fruit in our education system. Schools could do with better facilities and if we can put the facilities on the school grounds where a club is working with the school, there will be a great dividend for the community on all fronts. We will focus on working in education and with local authorities. That is the message we have been getting out there. We will push hard once we launch the round over the summer to ensure we get the best possible bang for the investment we are putting in. We want legs on the ground, lungs being busted and people getting great enjoyment from their involvement in sport. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Sports Funding"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_27","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Television Licence Fee","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_21","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_27","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_27.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  I ask the Minister of State to provide an update on TV licence sales for each of the years 2024, 2025 and to date 2026. I ask him to make a statement on the matter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  There are two key revenue streams associated with the TV licence, which are the revenue arising from television licences sold by An Post as statutory issuing agent and the allocation provided by the Department of Social Protection in respect of the provision of free television licences to recipients of the household benefits package. As I know the Deputy is aware, the number of television licences sold by An Post has been in decline over the past number of years. This has been driven by three factors. First, an ageing population means that the number of households qualifying for a free TV licence increases every year by between 13,000 and 20,000. Second, the number of households without a liable television set has increased, driven by changes in the way that people access audiovisual services. Third, there has been a marked increase in evasion since the revelations regarding presenter payments and governance failings in RT\u00c9 in July 2023.  In this context, TV licence sales have continued to decline over the past number of years. In 2024, 792,000 TV licences were sold by An Post. In 2025, this figure was just over 768,000. To the end of May 2026, just under 300,000 TV licences were sold, a 4.5% year-on-year decline in the year to date. A total of 299,373 were sold to the end of May this year.  In July 2024, the Government decided that the TV licence system would be retained, underpinned by improvements in collection and compliance to maximise revenue generation. The technical working group on the reform and enhancement of the TV licence was reconvened to bring forward proposals to that effect. The Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, recently received the report of the group and will decide on the next steps with Government colleagues. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  It is clear, based on the figures the Minister of State has outlined, that the TV licence funding model is completely broken. People are voting with their feet. The Minister of State has outlined a number of contributing factors. The single biggest contributing factor is scandal after scandal in RT\u00c9. In 2019, over 1 million TV licences were sold. The Minister of State is saying that in the first half of this year, fewer than 300,000 have been sold and in all of last year, only 768,000 were sold. This is a very significant decrease and it calls into serious question the fundamental funding model for public sector broadcasting in this State. When will decisions be made on the review that has been conducted and will the scrapping of the TV licence be considered? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  I thank the Deputy. As I said in my initial response, the technical working group on the reform and enhancement of the TV licence has brought forward proposals to that effect.  The report from that group has only recently been received by the Department. That will be considered and I have no doubt over the next short period we will step it out in responding to it and plotting the way forward. There are real challenges there as we all accept. It is really important we see the continuing reform happening at RT\u00c9 to build confidence in the public in terms of people purchasing their TV licence. I think we all agree it is more important than ever at the moment that we have a good public service broadcaster in this country and have that service. When we see what is happening in the level of disinformation and misinformation now in the online world, having a credible authoritative public service broadcaster is more important than ever. We have recognised that at Government level in putting the funding streams in place to support RT\u00c9. It is important we ensure there is a sustainable way forward and a strong broadcaster underpinned by that funding into the future. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Aire St\u00e1it. I absolutely agree and that is why it is important to raise these issues. At the heart of this is the question of the funding model for good-quality public service broadcasting. I will give another example on this. I welcome the Ashbourne Women's Shed who are visiting today. There were a number of posts for local democracy journalism funded across the State but in Meath and Mayo those posts have been withdrawn. They are not being funded. It was an initiative on behalf of this Government and the previous government. It was a welcome and important initiative. It could be seen reflected in local online and print media covering local council meetings and court services. There needs to be increased investment in this initiative. In particular, the post in County Meath needs to be reinstated. The public in County Meath need to have the same access to that service as we have in other parts of the State. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  There was a new round recently of those public service grants for coverage and journalism across different mediums, whether that is broadcast or print. Like the Deputy, I have seen the benefit and the impact of that in the increased coverage of what is happening in the public sphere by journalists. It is a very worthy scheme. I will certainly pass it back and ask the Department officials to consider the point the Deputy makes and to respond to him regarding Meath and Mayo. I expect it must be that from one round to the next not all applications would be able to be approved each time.  A sustainable funding model for our public service broadcaster and for public service broadcasting in general across different streams is really important in the country. It has been challenged. It is important we consider that and have debates and discussion around it. As a Government, we have committed to the TV licence. However, we have commissioned a report to look at how it can be reformed. We can all agree it is important that it is removed from the Government. That is a really important principle on which public service broadcasting is established in terms of a broadcaster. It is something we are taking seriously and will be coming forward, on the back of receiving the report, with that further direction of travel. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 76 and 77 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 78 taken with Question No. 69. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Television Licence Fee"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_28","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Broadcasting Sector","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_21","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_28","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Keira Keogh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_28.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Keira Keogh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Keira Keogh  I join with Deputy O'Rourke in congratulating Charlotte Davis who has her last day with that scheme tomorrow and is taking up a new role with the Western People. It has been a fantastic scheme.  Local and regional media plays a vital role in rural communities. However, they are facing rising costs as they continue to operate this crucial service. Especially concerning is the \u20ac3.7 million broadcast levy that has to be paid to Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n by local radio stations. Will the Minister of State consider measures to strengthen the sustainability of local and regional media outlets? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  I thank Deputy Keogh for her question. As we have just discussed, we are all agreed that local and regional media outlets play a vital role in providing high-quality public service content and in contributing to the diversity and plurality of trusted voices in our media sector, which greatly enhances democratic participation and also provides safeguards for our information space. The Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill will provide for the establishment of a statutory media fund, which will provide a robust framework for supporting the wider media sector in the long term. A suite of funding schemes catering to all parts of the media sector currently operates on an administrative basis, pending the establishment of the statutory media fund.  In January of this year, Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n announced a total package of approximately \u20ac15 million in supports for the wider media sector in order to enhance the provision of public-interest journalism, to assist the modernisation of technology and to support the upskilling of staff within the sector. Almost \u20ac5.7 million of that was awarded under the local democracy and courts reporting schemes to enhance the vital role of media service providers in reporting on public interest matters. We saw \u20ac3.8 million awarded through the news reporting scheme this year to support the provision of additional high-quality news and current affairs coverage. There was \u20ac2.7 million was awarded through the digital transformation scheme providing vital support, as the Deputy knows, for media outlets to enhance their technological and digital infrastructure, as well as to provide training and upskilling opportunities for staff in the context of the increasingly digitalised media landscape we are now seeing.  These supports are of particular important in rural areas where local, regional and community radio contributes significantly to the strength of communities and their access to trusted news. It is something to which we have been, and will stay, committed. I welcome the Deputy raising its importance here and her own strong commitment to seeing that public service in our regions, through our papers and our local radio, is very much supported. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Keira Keogh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Keira Keogh  I definitely welcome those funding schemes, especially the new ones that are going to come on board. Money does have to come in if it is going to go out, but that \u20ac3.7 million broadcast levy that has to be paid to Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n is \u20ac1 million more this year than it was last year, which is an average 39% increase. For some local radio stations that is translating to \u20ac14,000. That was communicated at really short notice and it did not give them a lot of time to put finances in place. When we look back, that has increased 69% over two years and, as the Minister of State said, local media outlets are a trusted source of news when there is so much misinformation and disinformation out there. Our constituents rely on them for updates on local issues, such as weather, community events, road conditions and other local notices, especially in Mayo. The Midwest Radio death notices are very popular and are turned on in the kitchen every single morning. Midwest Radio is like a friend in the kitchen. I just want to make sure these local media outlets have enough support. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  I hear what Deputy Keogh is saying in relation to the impact of costs but as she knows, neither the Government nor the relevant Department plays a role in formulating or approving the proposed income or expenditure of Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n or in setting the levy. The preparation of those annual estimates of income and expenditure under Section 26(1) of the Broadcasting Act requires Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n to submit such estimates to the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport. It is important to note that the Minister does not approve or agree the actual estimates or the annual budget. The Minister\u2019s sole role is in conjunction with the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to give an coimisi\u00fan consent for the publication of the budget on its website in accordance with Section 26(7) of the Act. That is the statutory position. I accept what the Deputy is saying and there have been many representations and points made in relation to the budget, which no doubt will be considered by Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n, but there is a statutory separation between the Government and the commission under the Act. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Keira Keogh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Keira Keogh  I thank the Minister of State. I absolutely appreciate and value that separation between the Minister and Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n. Given the shock that occurred across the county when that levy was announced, local radio stations in particular are struggling, and ahead of the approaching budget we should make sure they get as much support as possible. Older people in particular really rely on turning on that local radio station, getting the local update and hearing local voices. It is also vital, with some of the stations facing viability issues, that we consider local jobs. Many people start out in a local newspaper and then make it to sitting in the Gallery here in D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann. We have to make sure that these radio stations can continue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  This ties back to the previous conversation we had about public service broadcasting and the importance of the separation of the Government from the distribution of funding in relation to achieving good public service in broadcasting and media across the country. That is why Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n was established on a statutory basis. It then has a legal duty to set its levies in relation to that. The Government, as we just discussed, is giving significant funding with over \u20ac15 million distributed last year through Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n. We all agree in the House today that we can see the benefits of that in terms of media and communication at local and regional level.  We will continue with the commitment in relation to that. It is important we keep that separation so the allocation of Government funding is not tied to how the coverage looks, other than that it serves the public in a neutral way and in a way that enhances the quality of communications, broadcasting and journalism at all levels from local right up to national but especially at local and regional level. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Is f\u00e9idir teacht ar Cheisteanna Scr\u00edofa ar www.oireachtas.ie. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Written Answers are published on the Oireachtas website. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Broadcasting Sector"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_29","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions","counts":{"speechCount":26,"speakerCount":7},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_29","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  L\u00e9ir\u00edonn na figi\u00fair\u00ed is d\u00e9ana\u00ed \u00f3n CRU picti\u00far thar a bheith gruama den bhr\u00fa at\u00e1 ar theaghlaigh ar fud an St\u00e1it. Don ch\u00e9ad uair riamh anois, t\u00e1 n\u00edos m\u00f3 n\u00e1 500,000 cuntas fuinnimh teaghlaigh i riar\u00e1ist\u00ed. N\u00edl na teaghlaigh a dh\u00e9anann iad f\u00e9in a dh\u00edcheangal mar nach bhfuil siad \u00e1balta \u00edoc as m\u00e9adar \u00edoc-mar-a-\u00fas\u00e1idtear san \u00e1ireamh sna figi\u00fair\u00ed sin. I gc\u00e1s go leor seandaoine, iad si\u00fad at\u00e1 ina gc\u00f3na\u00ed leo f\u00e9in agus teaghlaigh le p\u00e1ist\u00ed \u00f3ga, b\u00edonn iarmhairt\u00ed tubaisteacha acu maidir le sl\u00e1inte, ar fholl\u00e1ine agus ar chaighde\u00e1n na beatha. Agus l\u00edon m\u00f3r teaghlaigh ag streachailt chun \u00edoc as bunriar\u00e1ist\u00ed fuinnimh, t\u00e1 m\u00e9aduithe eile f\u00f3gartha anois ag na comhlachta\u00ed fuinnimh. Cad \u00e9 go d\u00edreach at\u00e1 an Rialtas chun a dh\u00e9anamh faoi seo? Cad \u00e9 an freagra at\u00e1 ag an Rialtas do na c\u00e9adta m\u00edle teaghlaigh at\u00e1 ag tabhairt aghaidh ar chostais fhuinnimh at\u00e1 ag ard\u00fa agus an br\u00fa at\u00e1 ar ch\u00farsa\u00ed airgeadais?  The latest figures from the energy regulator paint a deeply concerning picture of the pressures that are facing families across this State. For the first time ever there are over 500,000 families with energy accounts in arrears. These figures show there are more 319,000 families who cannot pay their electricity bills and 183,000 families who cannot pay their gas bills. These figures only tell part of the story. They do not include households who silently disconnect because they cannot afford to top up a pay-as-you-go meter. For those living alone and families with young children these choices have real consequences for health, well-being and quality of life.  While record numbers of households are not able to pay for their basic energy needs we see energy companies have once again announced they are going to hike up energy costs. At at time when many families are already trying to keep pace with rising costs energy bills are set to rise again. Last week the biggest energy supplier in this State, Electric Ireland, announced sharp increases but there was not a peep out of those in Cabinet or Government. The Minister, Deputy Burke, points to economic growth and his Government points to record tax revenues and budget surpluses running into billions of euro. None of these things can reduce the bills that are landing on the kitchen tables each month and none of these things change the reality facing hundreds of thousands of families who are struggling with the cost of essential services. People are exhausted after years of rising costs. They have cut back where they can. They have adjusted their budgets and absorbed increase after increase but many feel there is no end in sight.  The most frustrating thing is this is all happening at a time when there are unprecedented financial resources at the Government's disposal. The Minister's Government claims to understand the pressures people are under but the regulator's figures tell a very different story. They show financial pressures remain severe for many households despite repeated assurances that conditions are improving. For the first time ever there are more than 500,000 households across this State in energy arrears and families are facing prices going up yet again. The Government still has an opportunity to act before the latest price increases take effect. Timely action now, including energy credits, would ease the pressure on workers, families and pensioners who are already struggling to keep up. Will the Government act now? Will it listen? Will it provide energy credits as an immediate solution for people who are really struggling? What is the Government's answer to the hundreds of thousands of families who are facing mounting energy costs and financial strain? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (Deputy Peter Burke)  I thank Deputy Doherty for his question on an area which is very close to the concern of the Government, which is energy affordability in our country and the ability of households to pay. Something the Government keeps a very close track of is those who are in arrears for 90 days. It is a critical component that shows stress over a period of time.  I want to outline what the Government is doing to really reduce costs at the kitchen table, as the Deputy put it. First of all, we came forward with a record level in an EU context per capita of intervention to support families across the country. We are supporting families with the cost of fuel, which is very significant for those who are commuting to work, families who are working and families who are trying to heat their homes, by reducing excise duties across all components with a \u20ac16 reduction in petrol per fill and a \u20ac19 reduction in diesel. Also, looking at the logistics and how food is produced to reduce the cost of groceries on the shelves for consumers, we have done a huge package for agriculture in terms of production and in haulage, with a 60% increase in the diesel rebate scheme, again underwriting the cost to the housewife, the homemaker and the person in the home to ensure they get that key support.  There are a few areas I also want to comment on in relation to how we get energy independence and reduce the cost to the family. At this point we have 258,000 homes that have been through energy improvements. We have fully-funded 32,700 under the warmer homes scheme. That is 32,700 families across the country who have had that support. We have brought forward 18,000 heat pumps, again to support people - and using money raised by the State. We have about \u20ac558 million of the \u20ac640 million through those schemes through the SEA to target the most vulnerable in society. I note when Deputy Doherty brought forward his party's proposals earlier this year in a motion he left out the fuel allowance, meaning no recompense to support the most vulnerable people in a targeted way, which is key and absolutely needed.  The Government's position is very clear. We stood up the national affordability task force to look at affordability right across the economy to the household and particularly to the most vulnerable. That report will be published in advance of consideration for the budget. We will be looking, through that report, at energy prices in the first instance and second at addressing energy poverty and consumer protections - which are very important - as well as energy affordability. I ask people who are struggling to first of all engage with their supplier. The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, has been very clear in meeting all the energy companies and working with them to ensure people are not cut off, people who engage with them, and to support people.  We will obviously be coming forward as a Government, collectively, with other measures in the context of the next budget. As Deputies have seen in previous budgets, we were agile. We reacted before the calendar turned and supported families right across the economy and supported the most vulnerable, which is key, through our targeted measures in the current budget, which are still being utilised and are supporting families as we speak. It is key we ensure we continue to support families. We will be doing that through evidence-based initiatives, through our national affordability task force and through supporting customers who are in arrears. I would also say to people who are in trouble that they should reach out to our Department of Social Protection, which has a range of supports, including the additional needs payment, and works with families to ensure no one gets cut off. The fuel allowance has increased significantly to \u20ac152 per month to support families in a targeted measure. There are now about 460,000 homes right across the economy, which are being supported by it. We extended it this year to people on the working families payment, thereby bringing 50,000 more families into that support and linking it to work as well, to support people who are working right across the economy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  The Minister and his Government withdrew energy credits in last year's budget. That is why we are seeing what is happening now. We have record numbers of families across this State who cannot pay their electricity or gas bills. That is on the Government. We are paying the highest electricity costs in Europe and the electricity companies have just told us they are going to jack up prices again. In less than three weeks 1.2 million families across the State are going to face near double-digit increases in electricity and gas prices? What is the Minister's response? It is that we should wait to see what the Government does in next year's budget. That is not good enough. The Government needs to call in the energy companies and it needs to tell them that increase after increase is simply not on. The Government also needs to make direct intervention. It needs to bring forward energy credits right now. It has to understand the scale of the problem.  There are people coming to me who never had a problem paying their electricity bill or gas bill, but because of the relentless price increases they now cannot pay their bills. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I thank Deputy Doherty. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  The penny needs to drop. Half a million households is massive. I am asking this very clearly. Will the Government act now, before these increases take effect in three weeks' time, and bring forward energy credits? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I thank Deputy Doherty. I call on the Minister to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Will the Government rein in the companies here and tell them we cannot face these energy increases time after time, while they make multimillion profits? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  We are acting right now at a record level in the economy, supporting people at the fuel pumps and through reductions in electricity VAT rates. We are supporting people right across the economy to ensure they are not cut off. The Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, has met with all the energy companies and given the Government an assurance that anyone who works with energy companies in relation to their bill will be supported.  The Deputy has brought forward a number of measures he said he costed at \u20ac100 million a month, to be brought forward at the start of this energy crisis. The Government is doing much more than that. Sinn F\u00e9in says the Government is doing nothing this side of the Border, but on the other side of the Border Sinn F\u00e9in is doing nothing. We are acting at a record level to support families. We will continue to do that through the national affordability task force, which is looking at energy affordability, protecting consumers and energy policy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  The task force will not pay their bills. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  We have always acted in the past and we will continue to do so to protect the most vulnerable in society. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Does the Minister actually care? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  Yesterday, the Taoiseach laid out Ireland's priorities for the EU Presidency. He said: \"Active support for Ukraine will be a defining priority for the Irish presidency.\" On Tuesday night, missiles rained down on the Kharkiv region bringing destruction, injury and death to the civilian population. One of those who lost their life was a 22-year-old pregnant woman. A one-year-old child was among those seriously injured. This is the brutality caused by drones and missiles that land on Ukrainian homes on a daily basis.  An investigation carried out by The Irish Times and the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project found that vast amounts of alumina are being shipped from Ireland to Russia. On arrival, it is being sold to a company that supplies dozens of Russian arms manufacturers. This flies in the face of Irish people's support for Ukraine. Alumina exports to Russia have increased from \u20ac196 million in 2021 to \u20ac318 million last year. According to a report by Swedish tax investigators, the Russian oligarch, Oleg Deripaska, retains a controlling share of the company that has a majority ownership of Aughinish Alumina. Deripaska is a close ally and supporter of Putin. He has contributed substantially to Putin's brutal invasion of Ukraine.  The Government's head-in-the-sand approach is in sharp contrast to the decisive action taken by Australia. It banned the export of alumina to Russia as soon as it invaded Ukraine. At the time, Australia supplied 20% of Russia's alumina, but it still acted with urgency. It did this because alumina played a critical role in Russia's war machine, as its then Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, said. The Australians did not want to play any part whatsoever in feeding Putin's murderous war. Instead, they said they would work with companies and exporters impacted by the ban to find new markets and expand existing ones. After Australia cut off its supply, the Russians had to look elsewhere to find replacements, including Aughinish Alumina, where exports to Russia have soared.  The Minister claims he has no idea about the end use of the alumina exported from Ireland, but it is clear from independent investigations that it is being used by Russian arms manufacturers. These arms are then being used to kill Ukrainian men, women and children. Will the Government stop the export of alumina to Russia? When will the Department's investigation be completed? Will it be published? Have we asked the Ukrainian Government for samples from drones and missiles to forensically analyse against samples from Aughinish? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  I thank Deputy Cian O'Callaghan for his very important question. I fully share the concern he has raised. That is why we have set about conducting an investigation in the Department of enterprise to impartially ascertain the evidence, working with the European Commission and the Swedish authorities, which came forward with additional evidence in the past ten days. We are also working with Aughinish Alumina to try to ascertain the truth. We will get to the bottom of the supply chain. We will need assurances that it is a concealed supply chain.  Ireland has supported every sanctions package in a European context against Russia, which is the aggressor in this case. That is a total of 21 packages we have fully supported. We have been very much to the fore as a country in supporting Ukraine, be it with the very significant \u20ac90 billion support loan we were part of underwriting in a European context, supporting Ukraine with non-lethal aid, giving it spare parts for its grid, welcoming so many Ukrainians here to Ireland and also providing more than 14,000 school places to support them at that very difficult time in their history. That is why I am very clear in the first instance that we must have a robust investigation here. We are working very closely with the European Commission.  Aughinish Alumina was established in Ireland around 1986. It is the largest supplier of alumina in Europe. There are a few important facts to set out in the first instance to understand the trajectory. First, alumina is a critical raw material. It is relied upon for so many parts by every economy, including Europe, for medical devices, the automotive industry, electric vehicles and the food sector. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  Will the Minister answer my questions? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  I will. I said that we are carrying out an investigation to get the evidence. As a Minister, I cannot make a decision without impartial evidence before me. We are working with the European Commission, which is the competent authority in this regard, to essentially recommend sanctions to the Department of enterprise and the Government. We are the enforcement authority. We carry out the execution of the sanction but the policy piece is the remit of the Commission, which we feed into. We will be working to ascertain the truth here. We are taking a pan-European approach with other European authorities, which is critical.  I will be very clear that the Irish Government would not tolerate any exports that were feeding the Russian military complex. We have supported Ukraine. We have a very strong track record of doing that. I have put an independent process in place to ensure that we get to the bottom of the facts of exactly where this alumina is ending up. We have to achieve that through the investigation.  In a European context, alumina is not a dual-use product and has not been designated as such. There are many products like that across the economy. We have to be clear. We must get the evidence and then take action if it is proven that the supply chain is not concealed and that it is going to aid and assist the Russian military complex. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  The facts on this have been established. Since the war began our exports to Russia have soared. That is one fact. The second fact is these exports come from a company where the majority ownership behind it is a Russian oligarch who is a close ally and supporter of Putin. The third fact that has been established by an independent investigation is that when these exports go to Russia they are being used to produce aluminium that is then being sold to Russian arms manufacturers. The fourth fact is those Russian arms manufacturers are supplying Putin's invasion of Ukraine and the missiles, drones and weapons are being used to kill Ukrainian people. The facts are staring the Minister in the face. The Australians knew the facts more than four years ago. They acted decisively. Why is the Government hiding behind its claim that it needs to ascertain the truth and establish what is going on here when it has been established already? When is the Government going to act decisively on this? When is it going to stop these exports? Will the Minister answer my questions? Has the Government asked the Ukrainian Government for samples of drones and missiles so it can forensically examine them to establish the links with the exports from Ireland? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  Yes, we have spoken to the Ukrainian Government and we have asked it for the evidence it possesses regarding the allegation that is before us. It is currently engaging with the Department in relation to that. That is why I said our investigation is very wide-ranging. It is a genuine investigation to get the evidence. I am working with the Swedish authorities on evidence that has come forward as well. We need to go through the process to prove the allegation the Deputy puts forward. I put on the record to be helpful that incorrect data was given to the Central Statistics Office about the exports of alumina to the EU and to Russia. About 45% of it goes to Russia and about 55% goes to the EU. I have to stress test the notes that are given to me. The independent investigation will do that. A large proportion of the alumina is imported back into the European Union from smelters in Russia. We have to assess all that and ensure that the information we have is correct.  I have put on the record very clearly, as a proud European, that we stand by Ukraine. We will not tolerate, in any shape or form, if exports from Ireland are advancing the cause of the Russian aggression in Ukraine and damaging their citizens. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  The greed of Rotunda Hospital consultants on public-only contracts trying to get a way with still treating private patients in public hospitals has been front-page news all week. The Minister for Health has said she believes \"in equality for every baby being born\".  The idea that some mothers and babies should get better care because of having more money is absolutely abhorrent but the question is: should that equality for babies stop the moment that they leave the maternity hospital? There is an unpublished report by EY into Children's Health Ireland, CHI, which shows that is exactly what is happening. It shows that children whose parents cannot afford health insurance, that is, approximately half of all children in this country, are being forced to wait much, much longer for essential surgery. Hospital consultants are prioritising private patients over those on public lists. It shows that children who need urology surgery are waiting up to a year longer if they do not have private health insurance. Kids who need time-sensitive spinal surgery are waiting more than six months longer because their little bodies are less profitable to operate on.  I will give the Minister some examples from the report. Urology consultant 2 in this sample has 20 public child patients. The average waiting time for surgery in public is 12.4 months. For ten private patients the average waiting time is 1.84 months. For consultant 5, in orthopaedics, the average waiting time in public is 8.7 months while the average waiting time in private is two months. That is pretty much across the board in terms of a massive discrepancy of waiting time in public versus waiting time for private.  Everyone pretends that discrimination between private and public patients has no impact on safety or patient care but the review shows that to be untrue. Let me quote from it: \"For Spinal patients, only 41% (9 out of 22) were treated within the Clinical Recommended Timeframes ... meaning 59% faced delays, sometimes for several months. Delays happened for both urgent and less urgent cases ... with a median delay of 143 days\". We all remember poor Harvey Morrison Sherratt suffering in agony on a waiting list. In urology, \"Of the 73 patients reviewed ... (41%) were treated outside the Clinical Recommended Timeframes ... The median delay was 152 days\". There was one case where a child waited seven years for routine surgery.  The report points out that children may wait longer than clinically recommended for assessment, investigation or treatment, with potential consequences for clinical outcomes, disease progression and quality of life. So much for cherishing all the children of the nation equally.  Does the Minister agree that this is utterly horrendous and that all children should get equal access to healthcare? Does he agree that this report needs to be published immediately? Does he agree that just as private healthcare has no place in the Rotunda, it should have no place in Children's Health Ireland either? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  I thank Deputy Murphy for his question. I am a firm believer in Sl\u00e1intecare. It is one time when the Oireachtas came together and charted how health policy evolves irrespective of the change of Governments that we have within the country.  First of all, the Deputy is quoting from a leaked report, which I have not seen and have no knowledge of. The Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, commissioned a report - ordered the HSE to do so - into Children's Health Ireland because of significant concerns that she had. I would acknowledge the exceptional work the Minister has carried out over the past two weeks to protect the integrity of the State and to ensure patients get equality of care right across our economy. The great work that has been carried out with the public-only consultant contract should be pointed out. As of the end of May 2026, 3,416 consultants have signed up to the public-only consultant contract. Out of 2,196 consultants, that represents almost 70% of all consultants working in Ireland. As a result of that, we have to ensure that work is public only. The Minister is committed to doing that, in line with the terms as set out by Sl\u00e1intecare which is very important. One of the critical things we can do with the public-only consultant contract is that, clinically, we can manage consultant availability with public demand. That will be very important as we see the challenges our health service faces in the years ahead.  It should be pointed out also that huge advances have taken place in a lot of hospitals across the country because of these changes. For example, in the Mater hospital, an additional 180 CT scans monthly and 84 MRI scans have taken place because of the public-only consultant contract. We see in other hospitals that many of the theatres are now operating at weekends. We get additional days out of consultants and, critically, the key decision-makers are in the room when patients have to be triaged and clinical decisions have to be made. Those senior consultants who are employed by the State on a public-only contract are available to make those decisions in support of patients, which is critical.  Sl\u00e1intecare has had its challenges but the Government is very committed to deliver it. It has never been so committed as under the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. The Minister has demonstrated that with the increase in budget the Health Service Executive has received over the past number of years, which now is at record levels, with the support we have in preventative medicine, which is key, and with the support for our children.  No one wants to stand over any child in this State having to wait for urgent healthcare. That is not acceptable in any society and I say that as a father, understanding the needs and the genuine concerns families have right across our society. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  The Minister's commitment to public healthcare is somewhat undermined by the fact that private suites are being built in the new national children's hospital right now - more inequality literally being built into the system even though private care in public hospitals is meant to be expiring.  I will ask again whether the Minister agrees that this report needs to be published. People have the right to see these figures which show the reality of the horrific effect of having private for-profit healthcare happening within our health system. What it means is worse health outcomes, longer times on waiting lists - sometimes in agony - and having poor outcomes at the end of it for kids whose parents do not have the money to have private healthcare. Is that okay? Is it okay that if you have private healthcare, you get to wait a lot less than if you have public healthcare? These are children. These are children who do not even make the choice about whether they have private healthcare or not.  Does the Minister agree that all children need to be treated equally, regardless of their health insurance status? Does he agree the report needs to be published? Does he agree that it is time to wipe private healthcare out of CHI and the whole public hospital system? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  First of all, I reiterate I have not seen the report. I do not know when it will be completed. I do not know what version the Deputy has that has been leaked. I do not know whether the Minister has received it yet. The Minister for Health commissioned this report and asked for an investigation into the practices at CHI to ensure there was equity of treatment of patients. The Minister asked for this and the Deputy is quoting the results of it. I do not know whether the Minister has seen that report and what actions she will take on foot of it but I am confident she will take action. The Minister demonstrated that quite clearly over the past number of days when she assured the protection of the public-only consultant contract. The Minister has got results.  That is why I am clear in my view. The Government is very committed to Sl\u00e1intecare and, critically, that all children are treated equally in our society. That is espoused in the Proclamation. It is something that we have strongly in our hearts as Irish people. We are doing everything we can to ensure there is equality of treatment for all our children. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  The matter that has caused great distress in communities and volunteer organisations across this country is a sudden collapse of tickets.ie . Last week, organisers who logged in to draw down moneys owed to them, moneys that had already been paid by ordinary people buying tickets in good faith, were met instead with a webpage telling them that the company, Tickets.ie, and Oshi Software Limited had ceased trading and were heading into liquidation. There was no warning and no telephone call, only a webpage telling them that the company had gone.  Some organisers in communication with the company the previous day were told their moneys were secure, there was no problem and it was business as usual when discussing ticket sales.  For more than 20 years, Tickets.ie was one of the State's largest independent ticketing platforms.  It was not the choice of the multinational or stadium promoters. It was the choice of the parish festivals, the local arts groups, the community sports clubs and the volunteer community organisations running music festivals to put their town on the map. They are precisely the events that rural and small towns in Ireland need but it is those groups that are now left out of pocket. The sums are not small. Between three festivals, namely, the Rory Gallagher International Festival, Rockathon and the Cowboys and Heroes festival in Ballinamore, organisers have reported collectively being owed in the region of \u20ac580,000. One festival alone faces losses of up to \u20ac135,000. For a volunteer committee, that is not just a setback; it is ruinous. It is the difference between that festival being run again next summer and having to wrap it up and finish for good.  When a licensed travel agent collapses, customers' moneys are protected because it was decided long ago in this House that businesses holding public moneys would be subject to safeguards in respect of those moneys. It should trouble every Member of this House that ticketing agencies in this State that may hold hundreds of thousands of euro belonging to promoters and ticket buyers can collapse overnight with no equivalent protections, that is, no ring fencing, no bond and no money supplied. The moneys will simply vanish into liquidation. That is a gap in the law of the State and it must be closed.  Will the Minister for enterprise intervene on behalf of the organisations caught in this collapse and will he and the Minister for culture provide and mobilise emergency funding? Second, will the Government commit to regulating the primary ticket sales agents to protect and ring-fence money paid by and being held on behalf of those organisations? We cannot go back but we can ensure that no more people involved in parish councils and community organisations find themselves looking at a webpage and wondering where their money has gone. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. I am aware of the many community groups up and down the country that give so much to organising festivals that benefit the wider community and attract significant numbers of visitors to rural areas. A number of Members put queries to me on this issue during the week. The Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, has been doing a lot of work with a number of festivals in his area. Deputy O'Flynn has outlined how much out of pocket some of the festivals are and the exposure faced by community groups.  I understand there is an intervention in the High Court in relation to this issue. Therefore, I must be careful in what I say. The first point I will make is that protections are very clearly set out for a lot of areas where client money is held. This particular area does concern me. As the Deputy rightly pointed out, there may be a gap in the regulatory environment. We will look at that because we want to ensure maximum protections are afforded to client moneys being held by any organisation. In the context of a liquidation process, the rules are very clear in terms of the action a liquidator will take in regard to preferential creditors and how that process is worked through. As I said, a court action is going on in the background.  I have asked my Department to investigate what we can do and what supports we can provide in this regard. However, I do not want to make false promises. We have committed a very significant budget over the next three years for festival events through F\u00e1ilte Ireland, which is supporting many festivals up and down the country. That will bring a huge amount of economic activity to many rural parts of our country. I absolutely am not in any way unsympathetic to the issues the Deputy has raised. I work with community groups. I am at the coalface in a rural town where exactly that activity is happening. I know how much of their time volunteers give to run festivals, particularly ones like the Rory Gallagher International Festival in Ballyshannon, Cowboys and Heroes in County Leitrim and Rockathon at Fairyhouse, that have a very significant reputation. They are all important events that contribute very substantially to their localities.  I will revert to the Deputy in the first instance in terms of regulatory gaps that may exist in relation to clients' funds. I need to go through that properly in the Department to see exactly what we can do in terms of supports. The Corporate Enforcement Authority is there. If there are any allegations, we can investigate them. However, I must be careful in terms of the High Court case that is currently under way. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  The reality is that the Minister will have to come up with something in respect of these groups. Many of the festivals will not survive. Some have gone ahead or will go ahead but they are carrying huge deficits. They will go into liquidation. Some are limited companies, some are parish councils and some are community organisations. We will have a serious deficit if the Government does not invest in our festivals and does not come up with emergency funding or an emergency package. I have written to the Minister and a number of his ministerial colleagues. I ask him to intervene on the issue. It is about keeping our festivals not just this year but for next year and the years after it. There is no coming back from the blow experienced by many of these festivals. They are run by volunteer groups that have no other source of income.  The Minister mentioned a gap in legislation and regulation on this issue. In fact, it is a gaping hole. No other industry is operating in this type of cowboy country situation. If we look at a solicitor's fund or any client fund, we see it is well organised and well protected. Regulation must be brought to the House as quickly as possible to ensure the same is in place in this area. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  I will revert to the House on this matter. This year, we are under significant pressure in terms of our budgetary perspective. However, we may be able, over the coming years, to look at what is needed to keep running these established festivals and how we can support them. I can commit to having a look at that in the next couple of years to see what my Department can do, together with the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, who has a lot of responsibility in this area. I appreciate that many genuinely voluntary organisations are working so hard and driving so much economic activity at the heart of their communities. Those involved are exactly the types of people the Government wants to support. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_30","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 na Comhalta\u00ed Eile - Other Members\u2019 Questions","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_30","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan  I again raise the issue of rare diseases, which I have raised consistently in the House for the past five years. I have spent the past hour and a half with Senator Costello, who was meeting with parents whose children suffer from Duchenne muscular dystrophy. They received the good news this week that the treatment drug is on its way to the HSE management team for consideration, having been positively recommended for reimbursement. It is a great relief for the families but the victory is bittersweet because they know that every week they lost waiting for the drug over recent years has led to a deterioration in their children's condition. Those parents are not alone in their story. There is a campaign currently under way by parents whose children primarily suffer from Friedreich's ataxia and who urgently require the drug Skyclarys. I understand that matter is at a sensitive stage of negotiations with the HSE and I do not expect the Minister to comment on it.  On the overall picture, the Minister made an important point in his interaction with Deputy Paul Murphy. The Minister is a father and, like me, he understands how difficult it is for parents of children who are ill. No child should have to wait for healthcare but we consistently have a system in this country under which children are waiting. On average, children in Ireland wait 800 days for rare disease drugs. That is in contrast with the situation in other EU and EEA countries. I am not talking about the big countries with the big economies and the big patient cohorts. I am talking about smaller countries, some of them with smaller economies than our own, like Iceland, Luxembourg and Denmark. They are reimbursing drugs at twice and three time the rates we are reimbursing them. We are consistently laggards in the league table when it comes to reimbursement of these drugs.  I commend Senator Costello and the families on their campaign over the past few months. It came to fruition this week and they have achieved the result they want. However, there must be dozens of families at home looking on enviously while they wait for the drug they need to be assessed for reimbursement. It is a cruel and horrible situation for any family to be in. It is inhumane. I am asking for follow-through on the two commitments on this issue in the programme for Government. One relates to the early access scheme and the other is for a review of the reimbursement process as a whole. To my knowledge, action has not commenced on either recommendation. I am hearing about bits and pieces going on but when I talk to clinicians and consultants, they tell me nothing is happening. The Government is a year and a half into its term. The Minister knows as well as I do that anything involving a review or report will take God knows how long. It could take a year, two years or three years, if we are lucky.  I ask the Minister to urgently speak with the Minister for Health to ensure those two commitments in the programme for Government are honoured and prioritised with immediate effect. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  I thank Deputy O'Sullivan for his important question. We have about 300,000 people in Ireland who are living with rare diseases - about one in seven of the population - which is very significant. We have made commitments in the programme for Government and we are working with the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, whom I know is very committed in this area. One of the critical areas we are working on is access to new medicines. That is why, later this year, we will bring forward a life science strategy which, in partnership with the Department of Health and my Department, will work to ensure access to rare medicines and incentivise innovation.  We have many life science companies in operation in Ireland, employing over 100,000 people, which are advancing the most clinically innovative drugs. It is critical we get access to those drugs for our population, particularly the cohort the Deputy mentioned. There is a mechanism for approval of rare drugs and resources have increased significantly to the Health Products Regulatory Authority, HPRA, to ensure we get better at approving these key medicines that are so important for society, children and families. As the Deputy rightly pointed out, there is family who are very much suffering because of that. I know Senator Maria Byrne and my Fine Gael colleagues do a huge amount of work with the rare diseases group here in the Oireachtas, and they are very interested in progressing it.  I look forward to working with the Deputy in this regard. I will relay the issues he raised to the Minister for Health. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan  I commend the Minister as she was central to this drug being approved. She met with families, treated them with dignity and gave them hope, and I commend her on that. However, it feels like groundhog day because I know that in three, six or nine months' time, another cohort of patients will be looking for another miracle drug. I have seen children regain their mobility from taking some of these drugs. That is what they do.  The innovation the Minister referred to is phenomenal. Every year, corporation tax collected from pharmaceutical companies amounts to between \u20ac7 billion and \u20ac10 billion. Even more phenomenal is that we cannot get a good price from these pharmaceutical companies. We cannot get these drugs at a quick pace, which we should. If we are facilitating these large corporations being here, the least we can do is get early access to a reasonably priced drug. If we do not listen to the health argument on this issue, which we have not done for over a decade now, I would make the argument that the jobs the Minister referred to are contingent on us keeping up with innovation. Unfortunately, we have an archaic system that has not changed and kept pace with that innovation. I ask the Minister to press home the issue with the Minister for Health to make sure we get an early access scheme as quickly as possible. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  I will raise this issue with the Minister of Health. As the Deputy pointed out, she is committed and has been meeting families on this. In budgets between 2021 and 2025, an additional \u20ac158 million was made available for new drugs and of the 263 new drugs, 72 were new drugs that were licensed in that regard. We also have the rare diseases strategy from 2025 to 2030, which the Government is working on to ensure we breathe life into its recommendations to support the families the Deputy referenced. That is what the Government is achieving. I will work with the Minister for Health and raise the concerns the Deputy has brought to the House this afternoon. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 na Comhalta\u00ed Eile - Other Members\u2019 Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_31","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Pholasa\u00ed n\u00f3 ar Reachta\u00edocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation","counts":{"speechCount":51,"speakerCount":20},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_31","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brendan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","memberCode":"Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Keira Keogh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eamon Scanlon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eamon-Scanlon.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Eamon-Scanlon.S.2002-09-12","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tom Brabazon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I return to the issue of the liquidation of tickets.ie . As I mentioned yesterday when I raised this issue, as somebody who is a director of a not-for-profit music festival, I understand the challenges festivals face across the State. In the past, I have raised the fact we have lost about a dozen major festivals across the State in recent years. The liquidation of tickets.ie has had a devastating impact on a number of festivals, including some that are not for profit, such as the Rory Gallagher International Festival in Ballyshannon in my county. The potential hit there is \u20ac283,000, which is literally wipe-out territory. That cannot happen. This is an excellent festival that attracts people internationally and keeps the name of Rory Gallagher alive. It is also very important for the local economy. Others have also been mentioned, including Liberty, Rockathon and other events. There is a serious flaw in the legislation that has to be fixed. This should never be allowed to happen and it has to be dealt with. However, the immediate priority here is ensuring we do not lose these festivals. What interaction has the Minister had with the parent company, which has a multimillion euro turnover in Germany? What is the Government looking at to make sure these festivals are rescued in terms of grant support? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  I thank Deputy Doherty for this important question. It is an area on which I can empathise. Many community groups have given so much of their time to bring in festivals that contribute to the local economy. I spoke with Barry O'Neill about the Rory Gallagher festival earlier this week and the concerns he has, some of which the Deputy outlined. I have to be careful about what I can do as regards contacting the parent company. When an entity goes into liquidation, the rules are very clear and prescriptive in legislation. Obviously, there has also been a High Court challenge taken. As I said to Deputy O'Flynn, when that takes place and crystalises, I will look at what I can do in the years proceeding. Some of these festivals will be key to local areas going ahead in the next few years. I do not want to make any promises because it is very early days yet. This has only happened in the past ten days. We want to see the events crystalise. I will do all I can, working with the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan. I want to see festivals take place in the communities that derive so much from them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aidan Farrelly  How many children experiencing poverty is too many for this Government? The Taoiseach and T\u00e1naiste have both said child poverty is a priority for the Government. Everything seems to be a priority for this Government, but outcomes are not improving and we see that justified in the Children's Rights Alliance report this week, which told us that one in 12 children is experiencing poverty in this country. The Minister will tell me about school meals or he might talk about school books as if they are silver bullets. We know they are not. What families need is income equality. We have been told, through the rumour mill, that a second tier of child benefit is in the mix. Can the Minister confirm if this is still in the mix for budget 2027? Families also need access to quality public services, such as childcare that is affordable, diagnoses, assessments and therapeutic services. Is one in 12 children experiencing poverty too many or is it one in ten or one in eight? What is the acceptable level of child poverty in this country? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  No one in this House, in any political party or none, wants to see any child in poverty or deems it acceptable, might I add, that any child would be in poverty. That is why we are doing everything we can as a Government to ensure we are assisting. Let me demonstrate some of the facts. First, regarding the target, in figures produced by the CSO, we have reduced child poverty from 8.5% in 2024 to 7.8%. That is too slow, but it is progress. Our child poverty unit is doing a huge amount of work. In budget 2026, we increased the under 12s child support payment by 16% and the over 12s payment by 25%. We increased the income disregard for one-parent families and increased the fuel allowance. We provided hot school meals and free school books to support families who are under pressure. We had a \u20ac320 million package in budget 2026, specifically to address child poverty. That is the policy the Government has embarked upon. We have a child poverty unit to try to ensure children get access to care and the therapies they need, as well as being supported in their family unit to ensure, in every way possible, that we are reducing child poverty. I have no doubt this is something that drives everyone in this House every single day. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert O'Donoghue  I want to bring forward a practical and potentially long overdue reform. Early years educators are currently not permitted to work July provision, providing supports to children transitioning from ECCE into primary school. I have been contacted by several early years educators from my constituency in Dublin Fingal West who have built trusted relationships and deep knowledge of children's individual needs, but are excluded from participating in July provision. This creates two clear problems. First, children are left without the consistent support they are entitled to during a critical stage of transition. Second, early years educators are left unemployed over the summer months, despite being willing and able to deliver this care. Allowing early years educators to participate in July provision would improve continuity for children, strengthen capacity where recruitment has failed and make better use of experienced educators who already understand these children best. It is a simple and practical step that would keep children at the centre of care. I would appreciate if the Minister would consider this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  I appreciate the Deputy's contribution. I will raise the matter with the Ministers for education and children.  As a Government, we really need to ensure that children get access to early intervention. I know the July provision has been a huge success but we have to do better. I will take the Deputy\u2019s contribution and bring it to the attention of both Ministers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  A 23-year-old woman from Portlaoise was not diagnosed with scoliosis until she was 17 due to inadequate services. She had surgery last December and four weeks later developed tremors in her leg, which have affected her ability to walk meaning she has to use a rollator or a stick. Her condition has worsened. She has serious mobility problems. She is facing a four-year wait for the Mater neurological clinic to get services. She has been refused access to other neurological clinics as they are full. She is meeting a brick wall. After having to wait until she was 17 to have a diagnosis and 23 to have a surgical intervention, she is left in limbo. Caoimhe is anxious to get back to work but she cannot. She has no access to adult occupational therapy, OT, services - nor does anybody else by the way - as there is none in County Laois. I have raised this many times in the D\u00e1il and with the Minister. Research has found that 58% of neurological patients in the midlands have no access to community rehab. In the midlands, and in Laois in particular, there is a four-year wait to get to a clinic and see somebody, 58% have no access to community rehab and we have absolutely no adult recovery or OT servicesinr primary care. I ask the Minister to ask the Minister for Health to address this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  The Deputy has a significant concern in relation to his constituent who is absolutely waiting too long. I will raise the issue with the Minister for Health. However, we have done a huge amount in relation to primary care improvements and reducing waiting lists. We have had an intervention specifically to reduce waiting lists. I will raise this specific issue which the Minister for Health and bring it to her attention. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  Everybody has been shocked by the brutal attack that happened in Belfast this week and by the subsequent riots. Hadi Alodid has been charged for the alleged attack. The Chief Constable in the North of Ireland has said that this individual is a Sudanese national who came to Belfast via Dublin from Paris but no information has been given by the Government as to his movements in this jurisdiction. How long was he in this jurisdiction? I have heard it was 24 hours. Is this true? Did he apply for asylum here? Was the application refused? Did he have a visa? Did he have a passport? Was he checked for criminal records in his background? The world is asking these questions and all we have is dead air from the Government at the moment. Was any of this specific information shared with the authorities in the North of Ireland or is it the case that the Government simply does not know any of this information whatsoever? The Government\u2019s silence is damaging the people's confidence in its ability to manage immigration on an all-Ireland basis. It is creating an information vacuum. Will the Minister tell the people the background of this individual? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  We have had a very strong response to immigration with the asylum and migration pact, which this House has adjudicated on and voted on, and which the Council of State has also adjudicated on. We are now very clear in terms of processing applications quickly in a 12-week period----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  This question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  -----ensuring that we have a very strong robust network throughout Europe to deal collectively what immigration. One thing I will not do is lean into people's fears like the Deputy is. I will not validate prejudice like he tried to do. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  That is a disgraceful load of rubbish. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  What I will do is work to ensure----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  I am simply asking factual questions that everybody understands. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  I will work with the Minister for justice, Deputy O\u2019Callaghan, and the Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, to ensure that we have a firm immigration system----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  Will the Minister answer these questions? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  ------that we have a fair immigration system and one that is hard on traffickers and smugglers, and where we decide the policy ourselves. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  Why will the Minister not answer any of those questions? That is a disgrace. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brendan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","memberCode":"Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brendan Smith  The Rathcorick day centre is the location for County Cavan\u2019s day activation unit. This unit provides adult day services for persons with complex needs. Unfortunately, this centre is totally outdated and needs to be replaced as quickly as possible. The adults attending a day activation unit deserve to have modern state-of-the-art facilities. It is not acceptable that these services are provided in totally inadequate accommodation at present. Day services provide a vital support for adults with disabilities to enable them to participate in day-to-day activities and to realise their own potential. A considerable time ago, approval was given for the provision of a new activation unit in the in the general Cavan town area and it is essential that this new accommodation be provided at an early date. The existing centre urgently needs to be replaced and relocated. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  I thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue for his area. I will raise it with the Minister in question. I do not have the knowledge of the specific issue in question but will raise it with the Minister and get her to revert to him directly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Keira Keogh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Keira Keogh  We are in the thick of the summer tourism season, despite the rain pummelling down outside. County Mayo has really exciting plans from the wild Mayo strategy, which has just been launched for north Mayo and which will hopefully include a new jaw-dropping suspension bridge at Ballycastle that will have a breathtaking view of Downpatrick Head right down to the continuing restoration, reimagining and rewilding at Westport House and gardens. Projects like these are absolutely vital to attract tourists and more importantly extend the tourist season. We want our visitors to experience word-class facilities when they explore our heritage and nature, such as the accessible Claggan mountain coastal trail that was recently reopened after a fire. Tourism is vital for providing jobs in Mayo. Will Westport and Mayo more generally be prioritised by F\u00e1ilte Ireland in its capital investment schemes? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  I thank the Deputy for her very important question on tourism. Since December, we have had a new plan, A New Era for Irish Tourism, which seeks to increase employment to 250,000 from 228,000, bring our domestic revenue up to \u20ac5.8 billion annually and bring our overseas revenue up to \u20ac9 billion, which will be significant growth for the tourism sector. Mayo will be front and centre to that development. I look forward to working with the Deputy on a number of capital projects we have in gestation to ensure that we are supporting the key infrastructure there. Westport has a huge ability to attract visitors. I was with the Deputy visiting a number of the organisations and people who work to support Westport as a town. I know the great work she does in supporting them through Government policy. Westport House is another key area that we can support through Government intervention. I look forward to working with the Deputy to ensure that Westport and, indeed, Mayo benefit from our tourism strategy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  I again want to raise Dunguaire Castle in Kinvara. The Minister is well aware of the situation there. I am getting hundreds of emails from locals and from tourists who cannot understand why this situation is being allowed to continue. They are rightly frustrated because this is an iconic landmark on the edge of Kinvara village and on the Wild Atlantic Way that has been closed indefinitely it seems. It is a huge loss to the local community and to the wider region. This issue comes down to funding for Galway County Council. What is the hesitation from Government in providing the funding that is necessary for the council to acquire the castle, bring it up to a safe standard and reopen it to the public? At this stage, people in Kinvara are sick and tired of the excuses coming from Government, passing the buck between Ministers and between Departments. We need to get this castle reopened. I call on the Minister to put a real proposal on the table and come down to Kinvara, meet community representatives, visit the castle and see for himself the situation there. It cannot be allowed to persist any longer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  I acknowledge the Deputy and the work we are trying to do on this significant asset. As he knows, we had a meeting with the key players who have the decision on this - the Department of Transport, Galway County Council and my Department through F\u00e1ilte Ireland. At that juncture, I advised them that our capital expenditure schemes would open from September of this year but I need a proposal that I can work with. I cannot fund through F\u00e1ilte Ireland the full capital and acquisition costs to bring this up to a level that would be amenable for visitors. I need to work with other parties to do that. If I get a proposal through F\u00e1ilte Ireland, I will be happy to work to bring it to fruition. The issue has been raised by a lot of people. Senator P. J. Murphy has been very much the forefront on it as well. We will do anything we can with the local authority and the Department of Transport but we have to work together. That is the key message I have. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eamon Scanlon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eamon-Scanlon.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Eamon-Scanlon.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eamon Scanlon  Recent legislative developments have not addressed practical barriers that continue to delay and prevent many people from setting up an enduring power of attorney, EPA. Before the Easter recess, the Government expedited the passage of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2026 through the D\u00e1il and Seanad. The Act\u2019s primary purpose is to enable High Court to extend on a case-by-case basis the timeframe for discharge of wardship. The legislation represented a missed opportunity to address well-documented challenges within the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015, particularly those seeking to establish an EPA. In principle, any individual should be able to put an EPA in place.  That is not currently the case. The process is fully digital and must be completed via a decision support service online portal. This system has proven complex and difficult to navigate. It leads to delays and, in some cases, abandonment of the process by a member of the public. The programme for Government commits to review the Act. Can the Minister confirm a timeline for delivery of this solicitor portal as per the programme for Government? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  The Deputy has raised an important area. I will have to revert to the Minister, Deputy O\u2019Callaghan, to get a timeline because it is not under my jurisdiction. It has progressed through the Houses significantly. We will find out where it is at for the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  The Minister drives from Mullingar most weeks when he comes to Dublin 2, which is in my constituency. He might have noticed the state of the roads in Dublin city. They are in a huge state of disrepair. It is problematic for many residents. The Minister must imagine my surprise when I received an email this week stating that the area engineer for this area does not have any budget remaining for the remainder of 2026 for road surfacing and footpath reconstruction. Did the Government knowingly underfund Dublin City Council to not start any new road resurfacing projects in the last six months of this year? Does the Minister and his Government care so little for this capital city that they use every week? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  I will forward the query to the Minister, Deputy O\u2019Brien, but I am not aware that we underfunded any local authority. We give local authorities funding, particularly for roads, but they have to, essentially, prioritise their budget on where the acute need is. It is important that Dublin City Council has a budget to repair roads. To have it committed this early is pretty alarming. I will talk to the Minister, Deputy O\u2019Brien, and forward the Deputy\u2019s concerns in that regard. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  I raise the issue of givinostat. I know it has been raised repeatedly but there was a packed audiovisual room briefing. There was welcome news on it yesterday. This is givinostat for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. It was recommended for reimbursement by the HSE drugs group and it is with the senior leadership team now. There are two specific asks I wish to raise with the Minister. First, this process must happen speedily. These children still do not have access to this drug, and they need access to it. Every day counts. The second ask is an important one. When it is recommended and reimbursed, it must be consistent with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, NICE, guidelines in Britain so that everyone who can stand or walk, with or without support, is included in the scheme. That is an important point. I would appreciate it if the Minister would bring that back. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  I thank the Deputy for raising an important point around the support for people with muscular dystrophy. It is a very debilitating condition. Obviously, from the interest and number of people who turned up to the audiovisual room, the will to support can be seen. I will raise it with the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. A significant amount of resources went into the Health Products Regulatory Authority, HPRA, and the drugs approval process in the context of budget 2026. New people were hired to get through the process quicker. I will raise the Deputy\u2019s concerns with the Minister and ask her to revert to the Deputy directly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  I raise the Local Link 199 bus route. It was approved last year. I was told by the NTA in May last year that it was funded. It went out to tender last summer. The company that won the tender bought a bus and hired four drivers. It was meant to start in September but it has not yet started. I held a public meeting last week on this. This bus is to go from Laragh to Glendalough, Roundwood and Bray. Some 150 people turned up to the meeting. It is a big issue.  My major concern is the lack of transparency and information about why this route has not started. The T\u00e1naiste, whom I was hoping would be here today to answer, has been telling constituents that the firm date for that service should be available this week and that the service is financed. In the past number of days, however, I have received an email from the NTA that states:  We require funding to operate this service. No funding is available. Unfortunately, a precise date for commencement cannot be provided at this time.  They are two very different statements. People \u2013 myself included - are frustrated at mixed messaging coming from the Government and the NTA. The communities in Wicklow who rely on the route deserve answers. They deserve clarity and a single message from the Government as to when the service is going to start because they are making life decisions based on that service, such as whether to go to college or where to get a job. They deserve transparency and the truth. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  I absolutely know the value of our Local Link services. I see it clearly in my constituency in bringing people of all ages to their destination, be it for education, appointments or just to bring people into their local town to do their grocery shopping. I will raise the issue of the 199 service with the Minister, Deputy O\u2019Brien, and ask him to get a response from the NTA. In good faith, I hope the service goes ahead because Local Link is an absolute gem to rural communities. It is important we prioritise its increased proliferation right across the country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  I wish to raise a cross-Border issue with regard to the poultry industry. North of the Border, the poultry industry is an important and large industry. Of course, a byproduct of that is poultry litter. Poultry litter contains a high level of phosphates. As a result of the North already having an abundance of them, and the South having a deficit, poultry litter has traditionally always been exported South of the Border under licence from the Department of agriculture. However, the Shared Environmental Services, SES, in the North \u2013 it is kind of a State-fund organisation similar to An Taisce down here \u2013 has raised questions about the export and spreading of this litter, particularly its impact on designated sites.  That has brought us to a situation where, in fact, there has been a suspension of licences being issued. The poultry litter cannot come across the Border and it is having a serious impact on farmers down here. As we know, the price of fertiliser has gone through the roof. They will have to buy fertiliser to replace this. It is a serious problem for both sides of the Border. Farmers in the North cannot get rid of it and farmers down here who want it are not being given a licence to get it. We need to get this resolved. I raised it with the Minister for agriculture, Deputy Heydon, in the past. He said he is trying to work something out. The Government needs to engage with the environmental services and the Department of agriculture, as well as with our counterparts north of the Border, to get this issue resolved as quickly as possible. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  I am happy to raise it with the Department of agriculture and the Minister for agriculture, Deputy Heydon, to get a response for the Deputy. I am not fully appraised of the situation and, therefore, I do not want to put anything on the record that I may not be fully aware of. If it was suckler cows, I might have been able to come back to the Deputy directly. When it comes to poultry, I cannot do so, unfortunately. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Burke  On Monday, the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, opened a new, 50-bed rehabilitation unit in Tower and Blarney in my constituency. A total of 30 beds are geriatric rehabilitation beds, while there are 20 neurosurgery rehabilitation beds. The whole idea behind the geriatric rehabilitation beds is that the person will be in unit for between 30 and 35 days going through rehabilitation, rather than being inside in a hospital where they would not have access to the same level of treatment. Will the Government identify sites around the country to develop and build these rehabilitation and step-down facilities so that we can free up hospital beds? Will a programme be put in place? This is an innovative way of trying to get people out of hospitals faster. At the same time, it will ensure that, when people go home, they have gone through a full rehabilitation programme and are ready and fit to go back to their homes and get suitable support thereafter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  I thank Deputy Burke for raising this important issue. I know he is a strong supporter of healthcare, particularly through his work on the health committee, to ensure that people of all ages get the adequate care they deserve. I will raise the concerns he has with the Minister for Health. Hopefully, we will have a capital programme. The Deputy quite rightly pointed out the saving that we have embarked upon in the acute hospital setting through capital infrastructure to support people like that. I will absolutely raise it with the Minister for Health. I know he is very much engaged with her on those key issues that affect people in their daily lives. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tom Brabazon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tom Brabazon  I again raise the issue of scramblers, e-bikes and e-scooters. We have to get a grip on the import and supply of these vehicles. We also need to have a far greater accountability from the suppliers of these vehicles, which are wreaking havoc in communities across the country. I have spoken previously of gangs of youths wearing balaclavas when driving on scramblers, etc., but they are not even wearing balaclavas anymore. They do not care and they are not afraid. They are not being pursued and are being given free reign.  From speaking with representatives of the GRA, garda\u00ed are afraid of pursuing them for fear of disciplinary action or, worse, prosecution. Will the Government introduce a statutory indemnity protecting garda\u00ed who pursue, within reason, scramblers? Will the Government introduce a separate professional driving licence for garda\u00ed so they can go about their duty?  Will the Government bring in stricter measures so that we can get rid of this scourge once and for all? Grace's Law on its own is insufficient. We need a comprehensive suite of measures that includes a ban of online sales in this jurisdiction to rid us of this scourge once and for all. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  I thank the Deputy for his important question. I know the Minister for justice is linked in with the Garda Commissioner in this area because adequate cover for An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na to do the enforcement work that is necessary in this area to fulfil the requirement to ensure communities are safe has been raised. I will bring it to his attention that the Deputy raised it. I know the Minister is working on a solution with the Garda Commissioner for An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  Last week, the Minister for children, Norma Foley, said that she was not familiar with the sexually explicit book What's the T? when asked whether it was appropriate for a recommendation by the State-funded body and promoted by Raidi\u00f3 Teilif\u00eds \u00c9ireann to children as young as 15. Since then, the former Minister, Charlie Flanagan, has publicly stated that he raised concerns with the Minister, Deputy Foley, in December 2023. He asked her to read that book. The question is: which is it? Is it the word of the Minister for children currently serving with the Minister for enterprise in Cabinet, or that of the former Minister, Charlie Flanagan, a member of his own party? Was the Minister, Deputy Foley, misleading the public with her knowledge of the book, or is the former Minister, Charlie Flanagan, mistaken when he said he raised the matter directly with her in December 2023? Is the Government satisfied with the standard of transparency and candour expected of a Minister in this particular case? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  I thank the Deputy. I do not propose to engage in \"He said, she said\" on the floor of the D\u00e1il because I am not----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  It is important. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  I am not aware of the debate myself in connection with----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  It is about transparency. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  I am not aware of the debate. I am not a witness to have heard what was said where and when between the two individuals the Deputy referred to. I cannot be because I was not there. He is asking me an absolutely impossible question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  Will he question the Minister? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  Sixteen-year-old Paudie Coady from Cork is living with Friedrich's ataxia, a rare and degenerative neurological condition. Last year, his younger brother, Rory, died from the same disease. Paudie's mother is also living with advanced Huntington's disease. Paudie's father, Craig, has said that he is in a race against time to secure access to Skyclarys, the first treatment shown to slow progression of this devastating illness. He has rightly stated that if there is a price tag on every child in this country, it is a sorry country to be in. The National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics said in December that it would not recommend that the HSE provided it because it was poor value for money and it was unsure, based on the available clinical evidence, of the meaningful improvements it could have. Families facing rare diseases cannot afford bureaucratic delays while conditions continue to progress. Will the Government commit to expediting the decision-making process on Skyclarys? Can the Minister give a clear timeline on when patients like Paudie will finally have access to this life-changing treatment? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  I cannot imagine the trauma that Paudie and his family are going through. It is a very distressing case that the Deputy has outlined, particularly on a number of fronts. I will raise it with the Minister for Health. I do not have the knowledge of the individual case to give a substantive response, but I will raise it as a priority with the Minister. I hope things get better and that approval does come. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  I want to raise school places in my constituency, specifically in Portmarnock. It is two months to the day since I stood in this Chamber and requested an urgent meeting with the Minister for Education and Youth on the severe deficit of school places in Portmarnock. I have had no official response to that meeting request and I have followed up with the Department a number of times. It is not good enough. It is not what the parents and the children deserve. The parliamentary questions I have tabled are getting the same copy and paste answer with duplication of applications being given as a reason and that this problem will work out itself, when we know that they will not. We have done the figures on the ground  I can understand why the Minister may not want to meet, but it is impossible to defend the Government's inability to deliver proper infrastructure where new homes are getting built. It just is not good enough. The Minister's colleague, a former Minister for housing, Deputy O'Brien, knows the area very well and was involved in assisting with the houses there. He is also aware of the school places issue. Will the Minister please contact the Minister for education on our behalf in order that we can provide assistance and assurance to the parents of Portmarnock that this Government is not giving up on them? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  I will revert to the Minister in relation to the Deputy's query. Crucially, we have seen through negotiations over the past number of weeks the very significant budget that the Department of education has right now to support families across our country and to ensure that children get the education they need and deserve. I will raise the Deputy's concerns with the Minister and ask her to revert to him directly. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar fionra\u00ed ar 1.15 p.m. agus cuireadh t\u00fas leis ar\u00eds ar 1.55 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Sitting suspended at 1.15 p.m. and resumed at 1.55 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Pholasa\u00ed n\u00f3 ar Reachta\u00edocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_32","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/58","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/58\/dail\/2","houseCode":"dail","stage":"2","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Housing and Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026: Second Stage (Resumed) (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Housing and Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026: Second Stage","counts":{"speechCount":10,"speakerCount":10},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_32","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy John Cummins)  I move: \"That the Bill be now read a Second Time.\"  On 19 May this year, the Government approved the publication of the Housing and Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026. This Bill is structured in three Parts, the two substantive elements being Part 2 and Part 3, which deal with amendments to the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 around eligibility for social housing, and the second, Part 3, which introduces a number of technical amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act 2004. The publication of the Bill follows pre-legislative scrutiny by the Oireachtas committee on housing of the general scheme of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill in early 2024. I thank the committee for its work.  Part 2 inserts two new sections into the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009. The first inserts a new section 20A that puts on a statutory footing residency requirements for social housing eligibility. The second inserts a new section 20B that provides for a new statutory appeals process for decisions relating to eligibility for social housing, including those relating to residency. Both of these legislative changes are founded on the Government\u2019s objective to ensure a robust legislative framework and a consistent and standardised approach across the local authority sector to eligibility for social housing.  There is currently no provision in the housing Acts requiring residency as an eligibility criteria for social housing support. The policy and guidance on this matter are provided in Department Circular 41\/2012. This Bill will put these eligibility requirements for accessing social housing supports on a statutory footing by amending the relevant provisions of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 consistent with the existing policy included in the relevant circular. The Bill introduces clear legal requirements that all applicants must be lawfully and habitually resident in the State.  These legislative reforms are building on existing policy and procedures which, in the first instance, define social housing as a long-term housing support. Therefore, successful applicants must be in a position to demonstrate that they have a long-term entitlement to reside in the State, that is, their permission to reside here is not temporary or short term. Putting these requirements on a statutory footing ensures there is a robust statutory and regulatory framework in an area of increasing demand. Ultimately, these changes will provide legal certainty for applicants, decision makers and the courts.  The Bill inserts a new section 20A into the 2009 Act. Section 20A prescribes clearly the specific residency requirements for Irish, UK, EU-EEA and non-EU-EEA nationals. These are grounded in existing policy and current decision-making in line with existing policy. These residency requirements are also consistent with our international obligations under various directives, EU treaties and related case law.  As with existing policy, those who have applied for international protection but have yet to receive a decision; a person who has a deportation or a return order against them where the notification is in force; those with immigration permissions that do not permit them to access certain social and public services; and those on certain temporary permissions, for example, temporary protection, will not be eligible for housing support.  The introduction of the new habitual residency requirement for all social housing applicants as a new eligibility criterion is consistent with the approach taken in social protection legislation and consistent with the policy objective that social housing is a long-term support. The measure will ensure social housing support recipients are resident in the State, have close links to the State, and have made Ireland their home. While demonstrating habitual residency is a new part of the application and assessment process, much, if not all, of the existing documentation required, such as proof of address, income and history of residency permission, will in most cases suffice. The introduction of the Bill is about ensuring we have a robust legislative framework, eliminating ambiguity and ensuring a statutory framework for the complex interaction of the immigration system and local authority social housing eligibility decision-making.  The Bill also provides for the appeal of social housing assessment decisions by housing authority decision makers. This builds on, but makes more robust, existing local authority arrangements in this area. The new appeal provisions will provide an independent, accessible and fair appeals service for social housing applicants in a prompt manner without the necessity to establish a new entity or body and the associated governance and related complexities this would bring. These provisions have been drafted with input and advice from the Office of the Attorney General and with the experience of the applicant and the expertise of local authorities in mind.  Part 3 of the Bill technically amends the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004 to 2026 to enhance their implementation and the outcomes thereunder, with greater efficiencies for stakeholders, including the Residential Tenancies Board and the courts. The key provisions of Part 3 include streamlining court enforcement of RTB determination orders and allowing members of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and officers of a housing authority, if required, to provide evidence in certain RTB dispute resolution cases, such as anti-social behaviour cases. They also include empowering the RTB to issue 28-day fixed payment notices for certain offences to provide the opportunity for an offender to avoid prosecution and speed up compliance with the RTA, and clearly providing for public RTB hearings in the context of adjudication, tribunal and sanctioning cases.  It is the intention of the Minister, Deputy Browne, to bring forward a number of Committee Stage amendments in relation to Part 2 of the Bill. These are technical amendments to take account of the enactment of the International Protection Act 2026 in a new section 20A, provisions on data and information sharing with the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to support implementation of residency provisions in an amendment to section 55 of the Housing Act 2014, and amendments to certain sections of the Housing Act 1988 and the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 relating to the provision of homeless services to be brought forward on Committee and Report Stages.  As a result of the considerable changes in the nature of homelessness which have occurred since the Housing Act 1988 was enacted, in July 2025 the Government approved the preparation of legislative amendments relating to the provision of homeless services by local authorities. On Committee Stage, we will bring forward a requirement for Tusla to be included as a member of each of the nine regional joint homelessness consultative fora. We will also bring Report Stage amendments on the introduction of eligibility criteria for access to homeless services, the expansion of the circumstances in which the provision of emergency accommodation can be withdrawn, and the recognition of the best interests of the child.  In line with amendments to eligibility for social housing support, lawful residency and habitual residency will be introduced as eligibility criteria for homelessness supports. The introduction of this amendment will ensure that the State is operating a harmonised and consistent approach to the provision of social entitlements in general. For a person deemed not eligible for homeless supports and services, a safety net service will allow local authorities to provide emergency accommodation to that person in strictly limited circumstances on a night-to-night basis. An amendment will also be brought forward to expand the circumstances in which local authorities can withdraw the provision of emergency accommodation.  The proposed amendments to be brought forward on Report Stage will also introduce a mechanism of appeal against decisions made by local authorities in relation to the withdrawal of the provision of emergency accommodation. They will also introduce an obligation on local authorities to have regard to the best interests of the child when emergency accommodation is being provided to a person and a child who normally resides with them and a definition of what a child is.  It is also the intention of the Minister, Deputy Browne, to bring forward a number of technical amendments to Part 3 of the Bill as it progresses through the Houses on Committee and Report Stages, including technical and consequential amendments to section 9. These will include extending the period from the date of an offence for the RTB to institute a prosecution and updating the references to the increases in the building energy rating required to qualify for an exemption from the rent increase restriction to reflect the new BER scale that came into force in May.  They will also include providing that landlords must serve a notice of rent review or notice of termination on the RTB within seven days of the date on which the notice is served on the tenant rather than on the same day on which the notice is served on the tenant. The purpose of this is to facilitate compliance as the postal service may not deliver such notices to both the RTB and the tenant on the same day. There will also be clarity that a party appealing a decision of an RTB adjudication to an RTB tribunal must state the ground or grounds for the appeal. Provision will also be made for two warning notices to issue prior to any fixed payment notice, as referred to earlier, and potentially, for related payment procedures. There will also be provision that a detached auxiliary dwelling developed in accordance with exempted development, as per forthcoming amendments to the planning and development regulations, shall not be a tenancy for the purposes of the Residential Tenancies Acts.  I will now outline the broad thrust of the Bill and I will focus specifically on the provisions. The Bill contains 50 sections. Sections 1 to 3, inclusive, contain standard provisions dealing with the short title, definitions, commencement, construction and collective citation of the Bill. Section 3 provides for the consequential repeal of sections 39A(3) and (4) of the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004 to 2026. The requirement on Residential Tenancies Board adjudicators and tribunals to have regard to any advices of the Money Advice and Budgeting Service in making determinations in relevant dispute cases will be more appropriately placed by this Bill as new sections 97(4A) and 104(8) of the Residential Tenancies Acts. Sections 4 to 6, inclusive, are technical amendments and consequential to other provisions.  Section 7 provides amendment of section 20 of the 2009 Act and allows regulations to be made for the amendment to the eligibility criteria for social housing support. Section 8, on residency requirements and social housing appeals, amends the Act of 2009 by the insertion of section 20A after section 20. Section 20A(1) provides that a household shall not be eligible for social housing support unless at the time of carrying out the social housing assessment each member of the household is lawfully resident. Section 20A(2) provides that being lawfully resident in the State does not apply to a member of a household who is a child, within the meaning of the Children Act 2001. Section 20A(3) sets out the members of a household that shall be considered lawfully resident in the State for the purposes of social housing support.  Section 20A(4) gives the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, with the consent of the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, the power to prescribe in regulations a class or classes of persons. It may include persons to whom permission as may be specified by the Minister, which is specified permission, has been given in accordance with the law of the State, to be or to remain in the State and, where considered appropriate, who have been lawfully resident for such period immediately preceding the specified permission.  Section 20A(5) outlines the matters that the Minister shall consider when prescribing a class or class of persons under subsection (4). Section 20A(6) outlines class or classes of persons that the Minister shall not prescribe under subsection (4).  Section 20A(7) provides for the five factors that the housing authority shall take into consideration when determining whether a member of a household is habitually resident in the State. Section 20A(8) provides for the conditions that apply to a person whose residency is based on the person availing of his or her right under SI 548 of 2015 European Communities (Free Movement of Persons) Regulations 2015.  They are not entitled to social housing support for a period of at least three months immediately prior to the day of application.  Section 20A(9) provides for conditions attached to persons under subsection (3)(i). Section 20A(10) provides for conditions attached to a connected family of persons under subsection (3)(1). Section 20A(11) outlines the persons that shall not be regarded as being habitually resident in the State for the purposes of social housing support and section 20A(12) contains standard provisions dealing with definitions.  Section 20B is concerned with appeal procedures. This outlines that households may appeal a determination by a housing authority that the household is not qualified for social housing support on eligibility and need criteria or a particular form of social housing support is the appropriate form of such support for that household. Section 20B(1) provides that a household may appeal a determination by the housing authority when it is determined that a household is (a) not qualified for social housing support or (b) where a household, having previously been determined as qualified for support, is no longer qualified for such support or (c) that a particular form of social housing support is the appropriate form of such support for that household. Section 20B(2) provides that an appeal does not apply to a household in receipt of social housing support. Section 20B(3) provides that a social housing appeal in relation to (a) or (b) in subsection (1) shall be on one or more of the grounds in relation to eligibility specified in subsection (4) only and that (c) in subsection (1) shall be on one or more of the grounds in relation to the classification of housing need specified in subsection (5) only. Section 20B(4) provides for the grounds on which households may appeal a decision in relation to the eligibility criteria. Section 20B(5) provides the grounds on which a household may appeal a decision in relation to the classification of household need. Section 20B(6) provides that a social housing appeal shall be made to the chief executive of the housing authority concerned within 14 days of the notification to the household concerned. Section 20B(7) provides that an appeal shall be in writing and what grounds the appeal is under. Section 20B(8) states that the household may submit such information and documents as the household considers appropriate to support the appeal. Section 20B(9) states that on receipt by a housing authority of a social housing appeal, the chief executive of that authority shall appoint an officer or employee of the authority to decide the appeal. Section 20B(10) provides that an appeals officer shall be a person who did not make the determination concerned and is in a more senior position in the authority than the person who participated in the original decision-making. Section 20B(11) states that an appeals officer shall be independent in the performance of his or her functions under this section. Section 20B(12) provides that an appeal shall be decided upon within 28 days and shall confirm the determination of the social housing appeal concerned, vary the determination, or set aside the determination and, where the appeals officer considers it appropriate, replace it with an alternative determination. Section 20B(13) provides that an appeals officer shall consider all information provided by a household, the social housing appeal and any accompanying information provided in accordance with subsection (8). Other provisions in this section relate to the decision-making period.  I am conscious of the time. I will move on to the transitional provisions in section 9 of the Bill, which aim to set out how local authorities deal with an application with the authority concerned but which has not yet determined the application; a review of an existing application from somebody already on the housing list where, immediately before the commencement of the relevant section, the authority has not yet concluded the review; and a summary under section 21 of the Act of 2009 where, immediately before the commencement of the section, the housing authority has not yet completed the summary. Subsections (2) to (5) of section 9 provide that the housing authority may give notice in writing that an applicant is required to complete and submit a prescribed form for the purposes of demonstrating that each member of the household satisfies the new provisions in relation to legal and habitual residency. Where a form is required, the householder shall submit the form within 21 days, and the housing authority may extend the period if it considers it appropriate. Provisions in section 9(6) provide that if a person is found guilty of an offence, a fine not exceeding \u20ac2,000 may be imposed. Section 9(7) provides that an offence under subsection (6) may be prosecuted by the housing authority that gave the notice concerned.  Part 3 of the Bill, which contains sections 10 to 50, provides for technical amendments, as I outlined previously, in relation to providing greater efficiencies for all stakeholders who interact with the RTB provisions. I outlined some of those in my original contribution in relation to bringing about efficiencies, ensuring we have a fines mechanism in place, statutory timelines and ensuring that High Court orders in appeal cases can be implemented in a more efficient manner.  I certainly hope all the measures contained in the Bill will be welcomed. I worked with some Members of the House during my time on the Oireachtas joint committee. I acknowledge the significant work the committee does in relation to this. I also thank my officials, who have done extensive work in relation to this legislation over a considerable time. I commend the Bill to the House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  I thank the Minister of State. I thank the officials from the Department of housing for the two very detailed briefings they gave us on Monday and Tuesday and for the follow-on assistance they have given us to try to get our heads around this complex legislation in a very short time.  The central proposition of this Bill is twofold. One is to take the existing eligibility rules for people to access social housing support and put them on a statutory basis, while the other is to provide an appeals mechanism for people refused social housing support, those who have that support removed or in other circumstances. We are not opposed to that proposition as it has been presented. The Minister of State will, though, expect a \u201cbut\u201d here. There are some concerns. I think it is important that the Minister and the Minister of State listen very carefully to the concerns they are going to hear here and from others outside the Chamber. As we move through the Committee, Report and Remaining Stages, it is important that these concerns are addressed either by way of further explanation or, where required, amendment.  We were not given enough time to consider this Bill before we came here. It was published on Friday. We did get the briefings, but amendments had to be submitted yesterday and not today, which is not ideal. Therefore, I do hope that enough time will be given in what will probably be two committee sessions next week to address the concerns the Minister of State is going to hear today. These are not just our concerns. The Minister, the officials and my party have received extensive correspondence from the statutory authorities like the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, IHREC, and from legal experts, often working on the front line for those most vulnerable in our society, including the Free Legal Advice Centres, FLAC, Community Law and Mediation and the Mercy Law Resource Centre. This is in addition to the Irish Homeless Policy Group. Its member agencies are made up of people who provide homeless services, as well as Threshold.  I urge the Minister, Deputy Browne, not just to respond to the concerns but to meet those organisations, as I understand he has been requested to do following the National Homeless Action Committee meeting this week. I refer in particular to those organisations that have the legal expertise to tease out some of the complexities of the interaction of immigration and housing law to ensure that nobody who should have an entitlement to social housing is wrongly denied it following the commencement of this legislation.  I also urge the Minister to work with us. The amendments we have all tabled have been made in good faith. Therefore, even when the technical drafting of our amendments might not meet the high standards of the Department, if the intention is right, I ask it to work with us over the next six weeks to get those corrected.  The key test for Sinn F\u00e9in throughout this process will be a simple proposition. Nobody who today has an entitlement to access social housing support, all other things being equal, should be denied access to social housing support following the passage and commencement of this Bill. Nobody who is currently in social housing support or on a county council waiting list should have that removed, all things being equal, arising from the passage of this legislation. That is the bottom line for us.  My understanding is that is the intention of this Bill and therefore we will work constructively with the Minister on it. We also need to ensure that the appeals mechanism, which I will talk to in some detail, is got right, and that the changes to the Residential Tenancies Act strengthen tenants\u2019 rights and do not undermine them.  I have a concern. We have eight pages of ministerial amendments. They were published late last night and, again, there is very little time to scrutinise them. Some of the most potentially problematic ministerial amendments have yet to be published, in particular the proposed amendments to section 10 of the Housing Act 1988 dealing with the provision of emergency accommodation. That was not included in the pre-legislative scrutiny. It has not received adequate attention from external bodies and, again, that is something we are going to need adequate time to address.  What are the principal concerns we have? The first relates to section 20A and the application of habitual residency conditions in the State to accessing social housing support. I have no issue with that at all. That is the current practice, effectively. While it is not framed in that way, people have to be legally and habitually resident in the State and, indeed, in the functional area of their local authority to access social housing support. That is not in dispute. There is, however, a lack of clarity on the text of proposed section 20A(1), whereby all members of the household have to be legally and habitually resident in the State, and on how the section interacts with sections 20A(2), 20A(3), 20A(8) and 20A(10). These are exceptionally technical. In fairness to the officials, when they gave us their detailed briefing they themselves expressed the challenge in drafting those sections. The greater the level of clarity on this fundamental question as we progress with this legislation, the better. The reason I am saying that is the core principle that you cannot have a situation where the lead applicant fulfils the conditions set out in section 20A(1), and is legally and habitually resident, while children, dependant adults or connected individuals fall foul of them. From my discussions with the officials, that is not the intention for how those sections should interact, but greater clarity from the Minister on the record would be helpful in this regard.  We also need to ensure that the impact of the changes on very vulnerable groups is adequately dealt with. The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission has made this a significant element of its correspondence with the Minister and ourselves. People fleeing domestic violence or those subject to human trafficking, for example, must be adequately dealt with, if not here or in our emergency accommodation system, then clearly somewhere else. This must not be palmed off to another Department in the hope that it will do something about it in the future.  The second area I will talk about relates to section 20B. I believe the Minister has got it wrong. An appeals mechanism is eminently sensible but the idea of having a designated individual making appeals in all 31-odd local authorities is the wrong way to do things. That is not the way it has worked for our social welfare system and, therefore, there is a very strong argument to rethink this and locate the appeals office in the Housing Agency, for a number of very simple reasons. One is to assure full independence. I am not at all suggesting that more senior officials in the council cannot, under certain circumstances, overturn the decisions of officials at grade 4 or 5, but we have an independent social welfare appeals office for a reason and that principle should translate through here too.  The second point is that the cases are going to be incredibly complex. There is not going to be a huge number but they will be at a level of complexity, as the Minister of State\u2019s officials have expressed to us, in understanding the interaction of immigration, EU freedom of movement law and housing policy. Therefore, to build up a body of expertise to ensure good-quality decisions that are made consistently, it makes more sense to have a single place where an individual or individuals can build up expertise over time. Many of us are in and out of our local authorities regularly. They have huge constraints on time, recruitment and retention in their housing sections. I suspect that if it were asked to give an honest answer, the County and City Management Association would be more than happy for the office to be located somewhere else so local authorities could get on with the job of meeting people\u2019s housing needs.  What appears to be a restriction on the provision of new information in the appeals process makes no sense. In fact, if you look at the Residential Tenancies Board and appeals to its tribunals, for example, one of the conditions of lodging an appeal is you are meant to bring new information that might have a bearing on the case, similar to social welfare appeals. It appears from my reading of the text of the legislation that new information would not be admissible. That would be a mistake. If I am wrong, it should be clarified. Therefore, I urge that this be looked at between now and Report Stage. It would not require significant textual change but we would be better for it.  The changes to the Residential Tenancies Act are broadly positive and I welcome all of those that extend tenants\u2019 rights. However, there are a couple of problems. On section 17, the slip rule should not be applicable to statutory declarations. Statutory declarations are documents of legal standing. There is an absolute obligation on the signatory and the solicitor in question to make sure they are right. There is no definition of what the criterion for a slip rule is. Is it the date? Is it the signature? Is it the name of the landlord or his or her agent? Those things are fundamentally important to the legal integrity of a statutory declaration. This is a section we will be strongly opposing.  I urge the Minister of State to change the notice period for RTB hearings back to 28 days from the ten or 11 days in section 30. The shorter period makes no sense and does not really speed up the process. That is not the primary delay. Giving a working person, particularly a single parent with a job and child, ten or 11 days to organise childcare, get time off work, etc., presents an exceptional difficulty. We have all dealt with cases where people, in advance of a tribunal hearing date, appealed to the RTB to delay that because they had very legitimate grounds for not being able to attend. That is being denied. Therefore, people need the maximum amount of time to make the arrangements to attend hearings because, as we know, when they cannot attend it is materially detrimental to them arguing their case.  I do not understand the need for the transitional provisions. We probably did not get as much time to discuss those with the officials at the briefing because we were focusing on sections 20A and 20B. I do not understand why we cannot continue with the regime that exists and then, when the section in question is fully enacted, have the new rules apply. The reason I am saying that is because, if I take the Minister of State at his word, there is actually no change to the rules. From the current regime to the new regime, the rules stay the same. The statutory underpinning of those rules is fundamentally different but local authorities should be making the same kinds of decisions based on the same policy criteria. Why, therefore, do we need complicated transitional mechanisms? This is going to be tricky enough, and adding in a third layer of complexity makes no sense. When we go through the sections of the Bill on Committee Stage, I will invite the Minister to explain the rationale for them. If they are needed, I will be more than happy to revise my opinion, but right now I do not see any set of circumstances where they would be required.  I will to talk about a couple of areas that are not in the Bill but should be, and then I will talk about the as yet unseen Committee Stage and Report Stage amendments before making my concluding remarks. The first is the long-standing issue of a social housing passport. We all know in our constituencies that there are people whose life circumstances change when on a local authority housing waiting list or in receipt of a social housing support such as the housing assistance payment, HAP. They might get a job in another local authority area or their children might need to attend specialist education or healthcare in another local authority area. They might have entered into a new relationship. Our current system punishes those people. If somebody in Dublin who is waiting for nine years on the local authority housing waiting list, or who is in receipt of HAP or rent supplement, gets a job offer in Cork that allows them to advance their career, they have to make a decision. Do they throw away their nine years on the list in Dublin, or do they move to Cork and take their the time on the list with them, which is not allowed?  This is absolutely the correct place for this issue to be addressed. It was in Deputy Alan Kelly\u2019s housing plan, rightly, but never implemented. It was in Simon Coveney\u2019s housing plan, rightly, but never implemented. It was in the plan of former Minister for housing, Deputy Darragh O\u2019Brien. It is not in the current programme for Government. My understanding is that it is not necessarily a case of opposition at political level but that the County and City Management Association is concerned about the level of administration involved in allowing people to move around the country. Of course, a social housing passport should set very strict criteria if people need to move for work, education, relationship reasons or healthcare reasons. I am aware that the local authorities are working with the Department on the protocol to address this issue with respect to domestic violence, and that is positive. This would be the ideal place to deal with that fundamental inequity in our housing system. This is relevant to habitual residency because ultimately people are moving their core centre of interest. I have an amendment tabled on this. I am sure the hard-working officials in the Department could do a much better job than me between now and Report Stage. The Minister of State knows my proposal will make sense. He should please talk to his colleagues and see whether it can be accepted.  The other issue, which I am sure gets cross-party support from the Opposition and the Government, relates to returning Irish migrants, particularly those who have been abroad for very long periods of time and would find it exceptionally difficult to meet the habitual residency test on return. Think of people who have lived in London for 30 or 40 years. Perhaps they got married and had children and a home. Perhaps their life circumstances then change and they want to spend the autumn years of their lives back where they are from but their families no longer live there. They no longer work there. Their pension entitlements come from the jurisdiction in which they lived for 30 or 40 years. There are many cases where those people find it challenging to meet the habitual residency condition or the local condition as it stands. I am sure the Minister of State and the Minister would by sympathetic to making sure that is not the case. There could be a legislative amendment or guidance alongside this Bill. However, we need to ensure that the habitual residency condition, which must apply to everybody equally and cannot have exemptions or opt-outs, does not act as a barrier to Irish people returning home to spend the final decades or years of their lives where they grew up and want to spend that time.  I want to talk about section 10. I am concerned that we are not getting to see these amendments on Committee Stage next week and the week after. I appreciate there are technical drafting issues. I would, therefore, urge that we get a briefing on those amendments as soon as they are ready to be published and get adequate time on Report and Final Stages to deal with them.  The Minister of State has explained the safety net. That was one of my questions and I am happy with that. However, here is one of the challenges. I could be somebody who has an entitlement to access emergency accommodation but a local authority makes the wrong decision. I could be completely entitled under this Bill and the decision could still be wrong. Not only would I be denied access to emergency accommodation and left sleeping on the streets, but I would not have the right to appeal. I understand that the local authorities are concerned that if there is a right to appeal a refusal of accommodation, it would create a challenge about ending that emergency accommodation. However, if we have already provided a safety net for those people who do not have reckonable residency, surely we have to provide something similar. We deal with cases all the time. I had an email from a gentleman in Wexford who was denied access to emergency accommodation on the absolutely illegal grounds that he did not have an entitlement to social housing support. As officials will say if asked, there is no relationship between an entitlement to social housing support under the 2010 Act and access to emergency accommodation under the 1988 Act. There is no issue whatsoever. That is a case where an individual has been denied access to emergency accommodation where he and his two children have an entitlement to it. Under this regime, there is no right to appeal and no safety net. That is fundamentally unfair and unjust. I appeal to the Government to reconsider that.  Correspondence from the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, IHREC, and others has raised issues about vulnerable groups, particularly those who have been human trafficked, that must be addressed to our satisfaction either here or elsewhere.  The Bill is going to need significant written guidance and support for local authorities to ensure consistency of decision-making. It is also going to require close monitoring by the Department and an annual review with reporting to the Oireachtas housing committee to ensure that what the Minister is saying he wants to do - and I am taking his word in good faith - is what will happen.  We can have all the discussion we want about the rules underpinning social housing support. However, if the Government is not supplying a sufficient volume of social homes, far too many people will wait far too long. The summary of social housing needs assessment was published last week. It is an important document. It shows a marginal increase in the number of households on local authority waiting lists but also shows that gross social housing need is declining as the number of people in the housing assistance payment, HAP, scheme and the rental accommodation scheme, RAS, continues to decline. If you do an analysis of the flows in and out of the list for HAP, it would take, on the basis of the delivery of social housing, new builds, acquisitions and leasing in the past three or four years, at least 55 years to meet current and emerging social housing need, all things being equal. Whatever about the political weight we have in this Chamber, that tells us that the current delivery and the targets for the coming years, even if they are met, will not come anywhere close to reducing the length of time people are waiting. People should not be waiting nine, ten, 12, 14 years or more for social housing. That is the reality in many counties across the State. There needs to be an honest assessment by the Government based on the data provided by the Housing Agency in the summary of social housing needs assessment of how long it will take to bring down the waiting lists and to ensure that people have access to adequate homes.  The Minister for housing is on the front page of today's Irish Examiner saying it is all about supply. That is not the right answer. It must be the right kind of supply in the right place and at the right price to meet people's needs.  This is one of those occasions, certainly from my party's point of view, when there is not a deep division between what the Government is saying it wants to do and what we can live with. The Government needs to listen carefully to what we are saying, and to what the organisations, homeless services, legal services, NGOs and statutory bodies are saying. It needs to work with us on Committee and Report Stages to ensure that nobody who today has access to social housing support will be denied it, all things being equal, on the other side of the Bill; that the appeals mechanism is fit for purpose and makes good decisions in a consistent manner based on correct interpretation of the law; that the Residential Tenancies Act changes do not in any way undermine tenants' rights; and, crucially, ensures that nobody who has an entitlement to emergency accommodation will be denied it in the future or, worse still, is denied any meaningful opportunity to appeal a decision that could be incorrect in law and detrimental to their well-being or that of their children.  I take the Minister of State at his word that he will work with us. The proof will be in the pudding and we will see him in committee next week to put that pudding to the test. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  The Minister of State is probably well aware of the significant concerns of a number of rights-based organisations working directly on housing on the front line, including the statutory body, IHREC, and others. I will outline what they have highlighted as some of the significant concerns about this Bill.  I was not a Deputy during the previous D\u00e1il term when this legislation went to the housing committee. I am looking at it from the perspective of someone who is coming new to these particular proposals. Stepping back and looking at it, I have serious questions. I asked the officials at the briefing what was the rationale for the introduction of these measures now. I would also ask what the rush is. We should give it the time it needs because there are serious concerns about it.  Is there a reason the Minister for housing is not here? Is he otherwise engaged? I would have thought, given the significance of this legislation, which makes the biggest change to homeless legislation since the enactment of the 1988 legislation, that the Minister for housing would be here to explain why he is introducing these changes, completely separate from what had gone through pre-legislative scrutiny. My deep concern is that the changes around emergency accommodation are a knee-jerk reaction to try to somehow massage the figures for emergency accommodation. If that is not the case, why introduce it? If it is going to make no material change to the numbers, why is it being introduced? It is, of course, going to have an impact. Otherwise, the Government would not be introducing it. Therefore, it is clear that the Government is introducing a significant change to access to emergency accommodation in the middle of the worst homelessness crisis in this State. It is moving to remove access to homeless accommodation. Why is it doing that? It is doing it because it wants to reduce homelessness numbers to try to take the political heat out of the issue. Even worse is the alternative, which is that the Government is pandering to a rising anti-immigrant sentiment. I have serious political concerns that that is what this Bill is about. I am concerned that it is not actually about addressing housing or homelessness but is about being seen, just like the Minister for justice, to be engaged in performative acts of hardening a stance on immigration in order to pander to what we are seeing, which is rising anti-immigrant sentiment and rising racism.  We saw the outcome of that in Belfast and we saw it in 2024 here. I have serious concern that the Government is not taking seriously the political impacts of introducing this, why it is introducing it and what messages it is sending out. This is not the start of this. The Taoiseach and the T\u00e1naiste have been saying for months that homelessness is more complex and is linked to immigration. The T\u00e1naiste, Deputy Simon Harris, said it himself that there are people in emergency accommodation who are not entitled to housing in this country. He said they do not have a right to housing here. Very clearly, this is being done in the context of that, to act on that to reduce the entitlements of access to emergency accommodation. What it is doing, and I will set out why, is making the most vulnerable people in this country, those who are homeless, pay for an absolute political failure to deal with a social and economic disaster of the housing crisis and homelessness. I am sure the Minister of State has seen that the organisations are calling for this to be paused. The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission has written to the Minister, to the Minister of State and to the House this week asking for this to be paused. IHREC is the statutory human rights organisation in this country that the State is supposed to be abiding by. Is the Government going to ignore it? We also have the Irish Homeless Policy Group, which sets out very clearly its concerns. Whatever the Government thinks about listening or not listening to us, this is Focus Ireland, the Simon Communities of Ireland, Threshold, and the organisations that are working on the front line of homelessness. I will set out what the Irish Homeless Policy Group has written this week. It said that along with its key concerns with the proposed Bill, we also ask that members of the committee ensure that the proposed legislation does not in any way prevent access to emergency accommodation while matters relating to residency status are being adjudicated by local authorities. This includes Irish citizen households returning from abroad in crisis. The issue of how this legislation going to impact on returning Irish emigrants has also been raised. Focus Ireland, Threshold and the Simon Community are concerned that implementing this legislation could lead to an increase in rough sleeping and households being pushed into increasingly vulnerable situations. They say it is critical that families and individuals are provided with accommodation and supports while residency status is determined.  The organisations working on the front line of homelessness are saying that this legislation could worsen homelessness. There needs to be a proper response to that to outline how this is not going to worsen homelessness. By that, we do not mean increasing numbers going into emergency accommodation. Of course, what happens if people are denied access to emergency accommodation is they are not counted as homeless. What we will see is a rise in hidden homelessness and in street homelessness - people sleeping in tents and on the streets as a result of these changes. Why would the Government do that?  The organisations also outline something that has been mentioned already and that we would support, namely, the social housing appeals board. My understanding is that the previous housing committee recommended that the appeals board would not be within local authorities but would actually be an independent board. I ask the Minister of State to take on board that it is not best practice to develop an appeals mechanism. The appeals mechanism should be done through an organisation independent from local authorities.  The Irish Homeless Policy Group and the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, the Mercy Law Resource Centre all raise this issue of how these changes are going to impact on particularly vulnerable cohorts. They mention specifically victims of domestic violence and human trafficking and they highlight that the IHREC made a specific recommendation when this went through pre-legislative scrutiny. I am sure the Minister of State has that recommendation and is familiar with it but IHREC recommended that the \"legislation should include exemptions from the habitual residence requirement for victims of trafficking and victims of domestic, sexual or gender-based violence.\" Again, I ask the Minister of State to include that as an amendment and to agree to that as a change because we cannot have a situation whereby we are introducing legislation that will mean that victims of trafficking, which we are obliged to support under international law we have signed up to, and victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence are going to be further marginalised, exposed and unsupported as a result of restricting access to social housing and emergency accommodation. It is absolutely essential that the Department and the Minister respond to that specific issue and outline how these changes are not going to result in this. IHREC also recommended that the legislation be amended to ensure that the five years' reckonable residency requirement does not apply specifically to the victims of trafficking in a manner that is contrary to the EU anti-trafficking directive.  The other recommendation was that discretion be given to local authorities to provide social housing supports to these vulnerable cohorts. I have been working for a long time in the area of housing specifically and the right to housing, and one of the issues that has come up is the 1988 Act and issues around it. Indeed, I wrote a research report specifically on it when I was in Maynooth. One of the criticisms by the likes of the Mercy Law Resource Centre, the community law centre and those working directly with people trying to access emergency accommodation was that there was no actual requirement on local authorities to provide emergency accommodation and that local authorities were constantly trying to find reasons not to provide it. People who come to my constituency office, and I am sure the Minister of State has it as well, would often say the local authority asked them if there was some couch they could sleep on or if there were parents they could go to as there was no emergency accommodation available. Local authorities would also ask about this issue of local connection and would refuse people access to emergency accommodation, or try to find ways to refuse people access to emergency accommodation, in part because they simply do not have the emergency accommodation.  The organisations also highlighted that discrimination was taking place against particular vulnerable groups, be they Travellers, Roma or migrants, by local authorities and that these organisations were constantly having to advocate. That is part of the work of the likes of the Mercy Law Resource Centre and in my own constituency, the northside community law centre, and Community Law and Mediation. They do a lot of that work trying to advocate on behalf of people to be able to access emergency accommodation. These organisations are deeply concerned that these changes are going to make it even harder for people and therefore we are going to see more people put into hidden homelessness.  The Mercy Law Resource Centre highlighted in its letter this week - as did Deputy \u00d3 Broin - our concern, along with the concern of those organisations at the speed in which the Government is pushing this through. I asked at the outset why the rush? What is the rush about this? Why are we not taking time to go through this, given the considerations?  The Mercy Law Resource Centre and others have significant concerns that the urgency in pushing the Bill through fails to allow time to give it full consideration and to investigate any potential unintended consequences. The centre states it is striking that the Bill fails to give consideration again to the victims of trafficking who may have difficulty satisfying the new habitual residence test. Similarly, it argues that a person returning to Ireland in crisis may have difficulty proving habitual residence and that we need only look at the recent actions of immigration officials in other jurisdiction to see the impact this could have. It said those were merely two examples that jumped out to it from an initial reading of the Bill.  The centre also outlined something that needs to be answered. IHREC has asked about this as well and it was also brought up in relation to the pre-legislative scrutiny. It is that the Bill may fail to comply with EU law, especially as it relates to the requirement that all members of a household must satisfy the habitual residence requirement. There is also the issue of EU nationals who are working here and the three-month period. The Irish Homeless Policy Group highlights a concern about the rights of EU workers, who are here with their families and children, to access services within the first three months. The group outlines \u2013 and I request an answer specifically on this \u2013 that this may be a contravention of EU Regulation No. 492\/2011, contrary to the European Court of Justice, and that the fundamental rights of Irish and EU citizen children under Article 20 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union will be contravened by this Bill. This is set out in Directive 2004\/38\/EC, which sets out that EU worker households and their family members are specifically protected from the application of the rule that can otherwise bar access to state supports in the first three months of residence. They are also guaranteed equal treatment and non-discrimination under Articles 7 and 9. I ask that this be addressed.  Before I move to the issue of the slip rule and the Residential Tenancies Act, I again express my deep concern about the way in which this Bill has been brought forward, the discussion of it, the framing of it and the adding in of the emergency accommodation restriction. The introduction of the best interests of the child should be positive and welcome. I have consistently made the point that children are quite invisible within homeless services and in the crisis of homelessness. We do not fully count how many children go through emergency accommodation and present as homeless, and we have not fundamentally accepted the deeply damaging impact on children of spending time in emergency accommodation. The Minister of State's party, Fine Gael, as well as Fianna F\u00e1il, have stood over this homelessness crisis. We have now been at it for over 12 years, since 2014. It is galling to hear the T\u00e1naiste in an interview talk about the housing crisis being an \"emergency\" and how he is so frustrated things just are not moving. Fine Gael has been in power for 15 years and homelessness has risen year after year and then the Minister of State gets up and talks about how the Government's big move on homelessness is to restrict access to emergency accommodation. It is not right. The Government's big action should be to introduce a ban on evictions to stop people being made homeless. Its priorities are all wrong. It is playing into a dangerous politics and it is deeply disappointing to see it being brought forward in this way, and cynical as well.  I have significant concerns about the Residential Tenancies Act and the slip rule being applied to statutory declarations. This will also lead to a further increase in evictions and a reduction in the right of tenants to be to challenge illegal notices to quit. This should not be applied to statutory declarations. Similarly, the length of time required for notification of hearings is too short. Tenants need a longer period to prepare their information, book time off work and arrange childcare. It also raises the issue that it is always down to tenants to try to challenge illegal evictions and the idea that our rental systems and its tenant protections are based on tenants having to spend a huge amount of time contacting the RTB and presenting to it. What should be in place is much stronger legal protection for tenants from evictions and rent hikes, but of course the Government is unwilling to do that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell  This Bill deals with access to social housing support. I am aware the rules outlined in it are already in place in my two local authorities, Galway City Council and Galway County Council. I want to talk about the impact of the housing crisis on the people of Galway. For the majority of people trying to access social housing support in Galway, it is extremely difficult, if not impossible. If you are homeless and present for emergency accommodation, you have to be put on a waiting list because emergency accommodation in Galway is full. It has been this way for years but the Government does nothing to offer additional supports to the local authorities to deal with this crisis.  Notices to quit rose dramatically across the State in the first quarter of this year, with over 7,000 notices issued in that time. I have been told by Galway City Council it is dealing with 160 active, valid notices to quit. Many of these notices are due to the properties in question being sold. Local authorities should be able to take advantage of this by acquiring the properties through the tenant in situ scheme, which was a crucial piece of homeless prevention before funding for it was cut. Local authorities should have more flexibility when it comes to acquisitions, not less. This would be especially appropriate in an area like Galway where the communities served by two separate local authorities are very intertwined. Councils should be able to work together to meet the housing need of people facing homelessness.  The two Galway councils are also extremely constrained when it comes to housing stock. We have seen commencements in 2025 and 2026 are on track to fall short of commencements in 2024. We need to be increasing these numbers year on year, not decreasing them. There are constraints not only on social housing stock but also on affordable private rented options, so families facing homelessness have no alternative places to rent. This is borne out in consecutive Locked Out reports, published by the Simon Community, which find again and again that there are no affordable private rented units in Galway and surrounding suburbs. It is also borne out in a recent report by a financial website. Its analysis showed Galway is the most unaffordable city in Ireland for renters when comparing average wages with average rents.  We often talk about facts, figures and statistics but there are real people behind each and every one of those figures. I want to share some of these stories with the Minister of State. A woman I have met, whose story was published today by RT\u00c9, has been homeless with her two sons for two years. She initially struggled to access emergency accommodation due to the pressure on homeless services in Galway. She is now living in one room with her sons, and her oldest child is having a really difficult time, like any child in emergency accommodation would. He is now also struggling with night terrors, a condition his mother has advised runs in her family. The boy has been referred to consultants who have signed off on the council's medical form, advising that he needs his own bedroom for his own health and the well-being of his brother. His mother is now struggling to get this medical advice accepted. I have met other individuals who are homeless and have serious health concerns, which mean emergency accommodation is not a suitable option for them. The only other option the council can offer them at this point is either to stay in overcrowded accommodation with friends and families or to self-fund a hotel or bed and breakfast accommodation. If you cannot afford the rents in Galway, you certainly cannot afford a room in a bed and breakfast until suitable housing can be offered. Local authorities have to have more options available to them beyond the one-size-fits-all emergency accommodation, so they can also support those medically vulnerable people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  The Government narrative on this Bill is that it is largely a technical Bill that is going to put on a statutory footing what is already the practice in terms of eligibility criteria on residency and habitual residency for social housing. It is just technical and it is a tidying-up exercise, providing a little bit more efficiency for decisions of the RTB in the second instance. There is nothing to see here and nothing to be concerned about.  That begs the question: why we are doing it? What is the rationale for this? As has been asked, why is the Minister doing it if we are not really doing much anyway, and why is there such a big rush to do it? That begs pretty serious questions. I have to ask that question in the context of what has happened up in the North this week because, sadly, I am afraid these things have become connected. We have a horrific attack taking place in Belfast, which should be utterly condemned. The perpetrator of that attack should be brought to justice. People are rightly horrified by what happened. Of course, our sympathy goes out to the victim of this terrible attack, but we have also seen how it has then resulted in horrific attacks on people who happen to be immigrants and people of colour in the North. Houses are being burnt out and vile, vicious racist attacks are taking place against people purely on the basis that they are deemed to be immigrants or people of colour who had nothing whatsoever to do with the attack. Horrific things happen all the time. As a lot of people have been highlighting, in the North we have horrific instances of violence against women where they are killed as a result of domestic violence. We have horrific instances of organised crime in this country where people are chopped up by criminals and so on. There is revulsion and horror but it does not generally lead to attacks on people who have nothing to do with that, and generalisations, but in the context of the North, it has fuelled racist pogroms against people of colour and migrants because the alleged perpetrator of that horrific assault was an immigrant. Certain political forces on the far right, who also coincidentally tend to be supporters of the Israeli regime, which I will just throw that in for good measure, who seem to get a lot of support online from the United States and Britain and so on for their targeting of immigrants and for whipping up hatred, fear and hostility and horrific, violent pogroms against immigrants. There is support from really vile political forces on the far right from those countries.  How is that all connected to what we are discussing here? We have got to stand up against that. The Government, and political forces that have any sense of decency, should not in any way lean into narratives that suggest that because someone is an immigrant or a person of colour, somehow he or she is a threat or something to be feared or that he or she is a problem for our society. We must not in any way lean into a narrative that can lead to that sort of stuff. That is what the Government is doing. It is leaning into that stuff because the truth is we have a shortage of housing and a catastrophic housing crisis not because of immigrants coming into this country, but because of a Government that has failed for more than a decade to address the housing crisis and to deliver the social and affordable housing necessary to address it and to deal with the homelessness crisis that continues to escalate. The Government has leant into the narrative that somehow it is because there are too many people rather than it has not provided enough social and affordable housing or it has failed to take measures that would prevent people ending up homeless. That leads into the racist narrative being pushed by the far right, which ends in the sort of stuff we have seen in the past few weeks.  There seems to be no apparent rationale for this because this is about rationing access to something there should not be a shortage of. That is essentially what this Bill is about. There should not be a shortage of housing. There should not be a shortage of social and affordable housing. There should not be homelessness, yet what this Bill is about is about rationing access to something that there should not be a shortage of because it should be a basic right. Of course, it is a handy way to deflect from the Government's own responsibility. The oldest trick in the book and in politics generally is, \"Watch what my right hand is doing so you don't see what my left hand is doing.\" This week I tried to highlight the fact that D\u00fan Laoghaire-Rathdown is selling off land zoned for 1,000 homes on publicly owned land to private developers. Nobody is talking about that. It is an absolute scandal. On a site that is publicly owned, where we should have 100% social and affordable housing, we are only going to get 20% social and affordable housing because the Government has decided to sell it off and somebody is going to profiteer from it. That is why we have a housing crisis. The Government is looking after people who are profiteering from the inadequate supply of the most basic thing in the world - an affordable, secure roof over one's head. Even in this Bill, it is doing things to benefit landlords and to make it ever so slightly easier, for example, to evict people. Technical problems with termination notices will not longer be a reason to stop an eviction. It will be just a little easier for landlords to evict people when they should not be allowed to evict people at all in the midst of a homelessness crisis.  The Government claims that nobody is going to be excluded from social housing eligibility who was previously eligible for it but, in actuality, as multiple organisations, including Mercy Law, IHREC and so on, are saying, the Bill may well result in that. In any event, there is a performative element to it because what it is saying is there is a problem we need to tighten up on here, suggesting that people who are not eligible and do not have a right to social housing might be getting it, so we have to tighten it up. That certainly is not happening. Asylum seekers are not being housed in social housing. It is not happening but there is an implication that maybe it is and therefore we have to tighten it up. The consequence may be that vulnerable people will be excluded from emergency accommodation or even potentially from eligibility for social housing because one person in the household does not quite meet the criteria, even though everybody else has met the criteria such as children, including vulnerable children, people who are victims of human trafficking and so on may be deemed ineligible. As I understand it, the Government is going to table amendments on the next Stage, which could mean the eligibility thresholds required for social housing could then be applied to access to emergency accommodation. Where are the people who are deemed ineligible or cannot gain access to emergency accommodation going to go? They are going to end up on the streets homeless. The Government has achieved a performative act of pointing the finger at them, setting them up as somehow a problem that has to be managed, fuelling and giving ground and concessions to the sort of people who are engaging in pogroms in the North at the moment.  To be honest, that is what I think the Government is up to here. I do not really see, other than that, the reasons for this legislation. I am deeply concerned about what the Government is doing.  We will have more detailed questions on Committee Stage about all of this. The Minister of State did not even accept many of the recommendations put forward by the joint committee on how this legislation should be processed, which begs serious questions about what the real agenda behind it is. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  The question with this Bill, as with previous ones, is: will it help families, particularly low-and-middle income families, to access affordable and secure accommodation? I have particularly in mind those in private rented accommodation. The concern is that the Minister of State is bringing in further measures and amendments to what was brought in in March. That was one of the most far-reaching Bills relating to tenants and renters in this country because the Minister threw them completely at the mercy of free market speculation. That was a recipe for disaster. Let us look across at America and other countries, where unbridled free-marketeering is the order of the day.  What I am hearing from some parts of the country and from my own constituency, Laois, is that those changes have been piled on. I am seeing it with the number of people coming into my constituency office. Since November-December of last year and right up to yesterday, the effects of those changes have been seen by us at local level. It is piling huge pressure on households and individuals renting.  There is a case on the street where I have my office where more than half the income of a household is going on rent. That is not sustainable. We cannot do that. That is the result of what is happening here, in this legislation and previous legislation that the Minister brought in. The notices to quit continue to spiral. Rents in new tenancies have not just hit the roof but gone out through it.  In particular, a cap needs to be reimposed in section 8. I will table an amendment to that effect. Most of us were critical of the rent pressure zones. We would have liked them to be stronger and there are ways out of it, but they provided some cooling effect in the municipal districts where they applied. The evidence of that is that when the Fianna F\u00e1il-Fine Gael Government removed them, we could see what happened. The evidence is there in the rent reports of Daft.ie. Looking at the Residential Tenancies Board figures, everything shows. It is not only us telling the Minister; the hard data tells him this.  I told the Minister about the increases in Laois. The average increase for a two-bedroom house or apartment has risen by 34% in the space of one year. Now there is nothing else that I know of that has gone up 34%. That is like something that would happen in a banana republic but that happened in County Laois. Nobody is disputing it because it can be seen in the hard data. Three-bedroom new lets cost over \u20ac2,000 a month. It is the law of the jungle. Nothing less than that is what has happened. It is Trumpian-style politics and that is regrettable. I recognise that some small landlords are being fair enough about it. In a lot of cases, they have tried to not be too penal about it.  On top of all that then, in recent times the Minister has lowered the standards and for apartments and the size, including the sizes of windows. The last time window sizes were reduced was under British rule because one of the issues on which the rent was based was the amount of light going into the little cabins that people lived in. Here we are now with 36 sq. m apartments and the Minister has limited the light going into them. Not alone has he limited space, he has limited the light. Then the developers building apartments, including those who had started, got a tax break. To cap it all, the Minister is bringing in this measure on rent so you have tenants competing against each other for somewhere to live. That is what is being played. It is like an auction and some landlords are using that.  In all of this, the context is always important. I am raising this with the Minister of State because I am hearing this from constituents day in, day out. All of this is happening at a time the cost of living is going up. There is no disputing it, with increases in the cost of electricity, fuel, groceries and transport. The coming winter will be very difficult. We are in June now, but renters and a lot of people who have mortgages are struggling badly at present.  The message I want to convey to the Minister of State is the human cost to all this. There is a human cost in terms of stress. There is a human cost in terms of mental health. There is a human cost in terms of conflict within families over it. Health is affected, relationships are breaking down and, of course, there is poverty. He will have seen the figures for child poverty earlier in the week. That is not good enough in one of the richest states in the world.  As always, I am not arguing for willy-nilly measures to be brought in. What I am trying to get across to the Minister of State is that the cumulative effect of the measures the Minister has taken over recent times has reduced standards, that landlords, and particularly big landlords and developers, have benefited, and that the Minister has piled further pressure to people who are already struggling. That is not good enough. We do not need to be doing this. There was another road to take with this.  The impact of the measures being imposed by the Fianna F\u00e1il-Fine Gael Government should be assessed. We should let it run maybe to the six-month point, and the effect of this on people and on housing should be assessed at that stage in September or October. It should be examined in the cold light of day. I urge the Government to do that.  The Minister may have disputed what we were saying to him in January, February and March but we were seeing what was happening on the ground. Let us see the effects of this in six months and see what is happening.  I am asking the Minister of State to use this Bill. He has introduced a pile of amendments. I ask him to go back and look at this and to try to put some cooling effect on the spiralling cost of private rented accommodation.  None of this will do anything for low-and-middle income households who are really under pressure. We should not be doing this to people. This is not fair. What has happened is not fair and everybody here in this House, if they look at the evidence, will recognise that. That is not the type of society that we should be trying to live in.  Of course, we need more housing. The measures the Minister of State brought in will not provide more housing. They are providing more hardship. That is what they are doing and that is not good enough. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Miche\u00e1l Carrigy  I welcome the Bill. As Chair of the housing committee, I am disappointed that some of the cross-party recommendations that were put forward by the committee have not been included in the Bill.  The Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2026, which came in on 1 March of this year and which I supported, is about giving certainty to tenancies but it is also about creating an environment where we will see further investment in the market to try to unlock all those tens of thousands of planning permissions for apartments that have not been built and ultimately provide new housing units.  Deputy Stanley made a point with regard to that Bill. This is something I have said publicly as Chair of the committee as well. As a committee we will be looking at the Act after 12 months. I have always believed this will take a number of months to settle but in the long term, it is the right thing to do. As a committee, we will be looking at the effects of it and the figures after 12 months.  The Bill is about creating statutory arrangements for residential requirements, eligibility for social housing and including a new habitual residency requirement. There is also a number of other technical amendments. These legislative reforms build on the existing policy and procedures that define social housing as a long-term housing support.  The legislation sets out residents' requirements for Irish, UK, EU, EEA and non-EU-EEA applicants. It also adds a new requirement that applicants be habitually resident in the State. The addition of that requirement is consistent with the approach taken by social protection legislation. It is considered appropriate to ensure social housing support recipients are, in fact, resident in the State. We discussed with Department officials the need for a provision, which was included in previous programmes for Government, to ensure this requirement does not mean returning Irish emigrants are at a disadvantage. People who hold Irish passports, if they have gone abroad for work purposes or whatever it might be, are still Irish citizens when they return to this country and should be entitled to the same rights as those who remain here.  The Bill puts in place a new statutory appeals mechanism in respect of local authority decisions relating to housing eligibility and assessment in general. Detailed provisions are set out in regard to this mechanism, stipulating that each local authority will appoint an appeals officer to decide on cases and ensure they are fully independent. It is important that these appeals officers are based within every local authority rather than at a national level.  There is a streamlining of enforcement of RTB determination orders through the courts, allowing Garda members and housing authority officials, if required, to give evidence in RTB cases. The RTB is empowered to issue 28-day fixed payment notices for certain offences, to hold hearings in the context of an adjudication tribunal and to sanction cases to be held in public. This is about giving more certainty for both tenants and landlords.  An issue that is not dealt with in the legislation is where a person from my county of Longford, for example, who moved to Dublin and was on a housing list there for X number of years without being allocated a house now wants to move back to Longford. The period in which people are on a housing list in another county should be taken into account when they move back to their home county. Will the Minister of State ask his officials to look at that issue? It is only right that people who return to their home county having not been made a housing offer in the county where they had been living should not go back to day one. The length of time they were on the housing list in the other county should be taken into account.  The legislation introduces requirements on landlords in respect of the RTB. The State, through our local authorities, is a landlord with a large number of tenancies. If we are putting in place strict requirements for private landlords, the State must likewise ensure it provides housing that is to a proper standard, including safety standard, for local authority tenants. Committee colleagues and I visited the Oliver Bond flats this morning to meet with residents. I ask that their situation be looked at again. The proposals put forward by Dublin City Council, which is the local housing authority, should be reviewed in terms of what is right for the residents. It is about building communities and homes for families, not units. Going out and seeing what is being proposed locally is the right thing to do. It is incumbent on the Government and the Department to put strong measures in place to support families in the same way we ask landlords to support their tenants.  I fully support the Bill. It is the right measure to create certainty for tenants into the future. It will bring in investment. I ask that consideration be given to ensuring returning Irish emigrants have certainty that they will have entitlement straight away and not have to prove it. If people are Irish citizens, they should not have to do anything else at all to secure that entitlement. I also ask that where people spend time on a housing list in another county and then return to their home county, the time spent on the list is carried forward with them. I refer only to the particular circumstance where someone is returning to his or her home county. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  It is long overdue for the Government to enact some changes to ensure that the implementation and enforcement of relevant Department circulars is put on a statutory footing. In doing so, the Bill takes some steps that are tentatively welcome but significant concerns remain that the legislation may make it increasingly difficult for those who should be entitled to access social housing to do so by increasing and complicating the criteria they have to meet. The Bill suggests an unreality in which the existing situation is in any way easy. It already is a complication and an absolute ordeal for many families just to get onto the list, never mind the journey towards getting an allocation. Individuals in our society who urgently require the support of public housing and emergency accommodation must have clearer pathways to accessing those rights. They must not be presented with further hurdles and complications. The Minister has assured us the Bill will not have such an impact on those requiring public housing but significant concern remains about what its ultimate outcome will be.  A critical element of concern is the requirement that the habitual residency condition apply to every member of a household applying for social housing. Any of us who deal with social housing applicants know very many applicants will fall foul of this new rule and that it has been designed for just that reason. The habitual residency condition should only apply to one member of a household, not the entire household. The new rule is designed to ensure many households will not have access to public housing.  An area that demands significant attention and modification is the ability of individuals to move between different local authorities without losing the social housing status they have obtained. A proposal to that effect, introduced in the Social Housing Passport Bill 2026, would have allowed individuals experiencing a variety of different problems and needs to transfer their status to their new local authority. Under current law, if individuals need to relocate to another area, they must reapply and, in effect, start from scratch. Many of us have asked colleagues in other constituencies to make representations to housing officials on behalf of families who are forced to move from our constituency - in my case, Dublin Fingal - to the colleague's constituency, whether that be in south Kildare, Meath, Louth or elsewhere, because of unemployment or inability to access private rental accommodation. Those people need to build lives, get their children into schools, etc., but could face losing the six, seven, eight, nine or ten years they have spent on the previous local authority housing list. That should not be allowed to happen.  Another concerning element of the Bill is the application of a slip rule to all documentation that accompanies a notice of termination, including other relevant or similar statutory declarations. It is of the utmost importance that the handling of infractions of the magnitude of ending an individual's tenancy is done with clarity. Changing or altering contracts or documents without the proper procedure and at a moment's notice leaves room for significant harm. By allowing corrections to statutory documents and declarations in this manner, we are putting at risk the due process that protects tenants and other individuals involved. It is deeply important that should errors arise, whether clerical in nature or otherwise, they are handled and resolved in a manner that allows for the traditional due process for corrections.  There is concern about the rigour of the new independent appeals process set out in the Bill. As recommended in the 2024 pre-legislative scrutiny report, this should be entirely independent of local authorities. Although the Bill establishes a formal independent statutory appeals process, it does not provide for its operation through a central body rather than through the proposed dedicated appeals officers. Anything but a central body would result in significant deficiencies and be incapable of meeting the gravity of these problems. The use of a central body for decision-making would allow expertise and institutional knowledge to accumulate over time, with the ultimate goal of a holistic and consistent system. These processes must go further in order to ensure the development of an appeals system that works for the benefit of the individuals who are in great need of help.  Additionally, the introduction of this Bill has sparked deep, wide-reaching concerns among numerous human rights groups and other related charities and organisations, as it could restrict critical access to many programmes, such as emergency homelessness services and highly sought-after social housing for society's most vulnerable and at-risk groups. We must not ignore these calls for help. The core of these issues arises from the proposed right to reside and habitual residence conditions as prerequisites to receive public housing. Various front-line groups have cautioned that these measures risk the exclusion of at-risk individuals from the basic emergency shelter they so desperately need. This would effectively create a direct and purposeful pipeline to more homelessness and individuals on the street without proper accommodation.  On homelessness, this Bill would greatly restrict access to social housing that so many individuals require. In the Bill as drafted, there exists no critical provisions for emergency accommodation as recommended by the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage. It is of critical importance that we enable those in urgent need to acquire the social housing they so desperately seek. The focus of the Department of housing should be on taking effective action to meet these problems head on. It is of the utmost importance that this Government supports those in critical need, rather than imposing more restrictive access on individuals with such great needs, which this Bill would ultimately do. The issue of quality, affordable and easy to access housing remains a critical concern for many individuals in society. The damage this Government is doing with its housing policy is crippling communities. These are communities that have struggled, survived and thrived at various times over the years, but are now facing great harm from this Government.  I will return to the issue of the Oliver Bond flats, an area that is very close to my heart. I spent an awful lot of time growing up there. I would not be here without Oliver Bond. It gave my nana and grandad a home when they needed one, and my dad and his siblings grew up there. There are five generations of people living in Oliver Bond who have, through all those generations, worked to ensure it has thrived and have created a wonderful, warm community. It has received regeneration in the past which has benefited the flats. I met Gayle Cullen Doyle a couple of weeks ago in Oliver Bond, and she spoke about the regeneration of the late 1980s and early 1990s. I remember the physical regeneration at the time. I remember the double-glazed windows, central heating and showers going in. Oliver Bond survived for 50 years without basic showering, central heating and all these things we take for granted in the modern day. Along with that, which I did not notice at the time as I was too young, investment and resources went in, with diversion programmes, drug addiction resources and health resources. That all went in at the time. Gayle will tell you - she has told anyone who has visited - that this was a big improvement. It helped turn around the difficulties of the 1980s in terms of the drug epidemic, which I have vivid memories of from that period in my mind's eye.  However, that investment stopped and has stopped for the past 20 years. Now, Oliver Bond receives attention through the media for poor living quality and poor health outcomes. What does this Government and the Department do? It turns its back on the plan of investment for Oliver Bond to ensure that the next five generations of families can live there because, ultimately, the bottom line is they will lose 28 units in an overall regeneration. Instead of talking about units, the Government should be talking about homes. Oliver Bond and other flat complexes that remain in Dublin city are the beating heart and the last vestige of a living city, such has been the hollowing out of the city for people to be able to live there. If we continue to hollow out Oliver Bond, Pearse House, Markievicz House and others, we will push families further out of Dublin city and hollow it out. Oliver Bond should not be one-bedroom apartments and studios. It should be one-bedroom, studio, two-bedroom and three-bedroom homes. The whole panoply of community should be allowed to live there for the next 90 years and beyond. It should not be about the bottom line all the time.  We need more housing; we need copious amounts of it. We need thousands more one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom homes all over the country. A reduction of 28 units would have to be accounted for, but when it will deliver overall more family homes for a community that has been in Dublin for 90 years, and needs to be there for another 90 years and beyond, Dublin City Council will need to swallow that. Those in opposition who are housing spokespeople and interested in this issue will understand that when it comes to regeneration projects because we know the complexities of it. Unfortunately, it seems those complexities are lost on the Department of housing. I am hoping that in the decision made in four to five weeks' time we will see common sense prevail, and that we will see a future not only for Oliver Bond but for other local authority complexes throughout Dublin city. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill this afternoon. An Teachta \u00d3 Broin has outlined in detail the Sinn F\u00e9in position on this legislation. I will say one thing, and this is more of a general point than a specific one, that at this early stage in the legislative process, the tabling of pages and pages of ministerial amendments is a little bit concerning. That is no disrespect to the people who put the work into drafting them, but it indicates a little bit of confusion, chaos and unpreparedness - I do not know what word you would use - on behalf of the Government.  The issue of housing is so important and it is very important we get it right. However, this is not the only legislation relating to housing where a Bill has been published and then almost immediately we have got a raft of ministerial amendments. It is very sloppy and speaks to a Government that is effectively disinterested in the legislative process. It is also disrespectful to those spokespersons who want to engage with the legislation and the amendments. At this stage, there should not be pages and pages of ministerial amendments to this legislation. Best practice would say that work should be done before publication but, again, there was a rush to publish for reasons that are not clear to me. However, the Minister of State will have an opportunity in his concluding remarks to answer that.  I ask myself a very simple question when I consider any legislation relating to housing. Will it help my constituents who are homeless, who are in emergency accommodation and who need stable, secure and affordable accommodation? For as long as I have been here, I have yet to see any legislation, aside from the Covid eviction ban, coming from Government that helps my constituents. In fact, in the ten years since I was elected, governments led by Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael - taking turns - have made the housing and homelessness crisis much worse. One very effective measure we have to gauge how effective Government policy is are the lists it publishes every month with the number of homeless people. That in itself is very worrying. I have said before that it is not normal to publish a list of people who are homeless every single month. That certainly did not happen when I was growing up. I know the Government would love for us to normalise that level of homelessness, but we will not.  I will ask a question of the Minister of State, who will have a chance in his remarks to address this. I will give him an example. There is a family living in my constituency - a mam, a dad and a son. They live in Balbriggan and the parents are both working locally. They are in private rental accommodation, have a notice to quit and are due out in September. I am working with them, and they have replied to hundreds of accommodation adverts at this stage, but they have nowhere to live. September will come fast. The Minister of State knows it himself. You think it is going to take ages but it does not; it goes in a flash.  This family is faced with the prospect of having to go into emergency accommodation but the dad, in this instance, is gravely ill and undergoing medical treatment for cancer. He is getting chemotherapy at the moment. His doctor asks about his housing situation every time he goes in to see him because of the level of stress it causes him. He asks, \"Where are you going to be?\" because he has embarked on a treatment schedule that is going to take months. They have come to me - no other TD has an office in my area - and asked what emergency accommodation is like. The Minister of State knows it is not nice. He would not like to live in it and neither would l, but that is where they are heading. He cannot go there because of his medical condition, yet I cannot answer where they are supposed to go. The Minister of State might answer that for them in his remarks. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  It is good that we are discussing housing, albeit a miscellaneous provisions Bill. I have not seen the Minister's amendments, even at this stage. We dealt with another miscellaneous Bill last night on justice and, at the last minute, we were dealing with a large volume of amendments which were not relevant to the original purpose of the Bill.  They were related to justice all right and they were miscellaneous but that was not what the Bill was. Hopefully, the amendments that have been tabled will address some of the issues I have.  One of the issues that we are dealing with in this State is basically that the State is totally dependent on private landlords and, in many cases, vulture funds to deal with housing issues. Yet we are here. Maybe it is about standardising the eligibility criteria. I never noticed that there was a problem in Dublin City Council, which is the local authority I mainly deal with. I think local authorities understood who was eligible and who was not across the board. Maybe we need a standardisation across the whole country to ensure similar processes and approaches to what we had in Dublin City Council with the points system and a scheme of lettings. There is a new scheme of lettings, which is another change only voted on last night and even that did not address all of the issues.  There are little peculiarities in Dublin City Council. Even in Dublin someone is allowed to be on three lists at the same time - three of the council lists because there are four local authorities in Dublin. The problem now is that many of those who end up homeless and then end up in hot properties who are from Dublin are ending up in Kildare, Wicklow or somewhere else, but they are not allowed to be on the Dublin City Council housing list any more because their focus of interest, according to the council, is elsewhere. You have to fight each case. Maybe there is a need for a single list for the whole country. It needs to be thought about even though there may be problems with it, such as taking away some of the powers of the local authority.  We need to ensure the model works. Others have highlighted the Vienna model which addresses the thresholds, which are absolutely meaningless in this city. There are couples who are working and once two adults in a house work they are basically nearly over the threshold at this stage. If they are not, they are getting penalised in Dublin City Council because they have just increased the rents to screw them, despite the fact that they are not getting a property that would stand up to the standards set by legislation for private landlords. There is a problem. If the price of housing keeps going up at the rate it is going, it means more and more people become dependent on social housing or housing supports, mainly HAP but also RAS. A third of the private tenancies in this country are now subsidised by the State which is absolutely crazy.  It is crazy that the State is now beholden to private landlordism. We should have gone away from that. We had moved away from it even when there was no funding there. When there was no money, there was availability of social housing. The lack of investment and the lack of building have forced us into a place where couples and families who are trying to buy are now competing against the private sector, the vulture funds or even just small-time capitalists who want the property because they know it will pay for itself through their mortgage. They are sometimes fighting against the local authority as well which causes its own problems. I could go into a whole list of problems in terms of the estate agents and how they are gaming the system at this stage and trying to drive up prices. That might be something that the Government could look at. If you want miscellaneous provisions, there is a whole area there that could regulate that market a lot better and stop them driving up the prices as well. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Debate adjourned."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Housing and Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026: Second Stage"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_33","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_33","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case:  Deputy Ged Nash - To discuss the recent fish kill on the River Glyde, County Louth.  Deputy Jen Cummins - To discuss religious instruction opt-out compliance in school admissions policies.  Deputy Malcolm Byrne - To discuss the need for social and affordable housing in Arklow, County Wicklow.  Deputy Louise O'Reilly - To discuss the school summer programme.  Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan - To discuss the progress of proposed school extension works at C\u00f3laiste an Phiarsaigh, Glanmire, Cork.  Deputy Daniel Ennis - To discuss a full independent public inquiry into the death of Terence Wheelock.  Deputies Tom Brabazon, Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed, Cian O'Callaghan, Barry Heneghan, Denise Mitchell - To discuss the loss of staff at St. Francis Junior School in Priorswood in the context of its new DEIS-plus status.  The matters raised by Deputies Ged Nash, P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan, Louise O'Reilly, Tom Brabazon, Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed, Cian O'Callaghan, Barry Heneghan, Denise Mitchell and Malcolm Byrne have been selected for discussion "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_34","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/58","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/58\/dail\/2","houseCode":"dail","stage":"2","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Housing and Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026: Second Stage (Resumed) (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Housing and Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026: Second Stage (Resumed)","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_34","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question again proposed: \"That the Bill be now read a Second Time.\""},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan)  I thank all the Members for their contributions during the Second Stage debate. Some concerns were raised and there was some support for the provisions within the Bill. I hope some of that can be addressed on Committee Stage.  I was here when Deputy O\u2019Reilly raised the issue of the terrible situation her constituent finds himself in. As she knows, the Minister cannot get involved in individual cases but I wish that gentleman the best of luck in his treatment and recovery. It should be the case that our emergency accommodation provision is fit for purpose, is comfortable and is a safe place. If that is not the case, I urge the Deputy to bring it to our attention if there is a particular emergency accommodation she has concerns about because that should not be the case.  In relation to the social housing provisions and residency requirements, these legislative reforms are building on existing policy and procedures which, in the first instance, define social housing as a long-term housing support and therefore successful applicants must be in a position to demonstrate that they have a long-term right to reside in the State, that is, their permission to reside here is not temporary or short term. These statutory provisions are founded on the Government\u2019s objective to ensure a robust legislative framework and a consistent and standardised approach across the local authority sector to eligibility for social housing.  There is currently no provision in the housing Acts requiring residency as an eligibility criterion for social housing support. The policy and guidance on this matter are provided in a 2012 Department circular. There is strong advice that operating such a significant decision framework in the absence of a statutory structure brings risks to the State. The Government is moving to manage that risk and ensure transparency and clarity for applicants and decision makers.  I understand that the pre-legislative scrutiny process, the Oireachtas joint committee report and engagement and input from the IHREC were an important benefit to the drafting of the provisions, since the general scheme was published in January 2024. This is a complex area of law, social housing and immigration policy, with a significant quantity of international and European law and case law needing to be considered. The advices and support of officials in the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration and the Attorney General\u2019s office have been important throughout, and the Government is satisfied that the Bill as drafted is fit for purpose.  A number of meaningful policy and legislative changes have been initiated in this area since the general scheme was drafted. These include the enactment of the International Protection Act 2026 and plans for the ending of temporary protection. The Department, in consultation with the Department of justice, has worked to ensure the Bill aligns with existing social housing policy and is robust but flexible, allowing the Minister to respond to the practical realities of the immigration and permissions system where the Minister for justice has powers to grant permissions and stamps, and set conditions which can change over time.  The introduction of the new habitual residency requirement for all social housing applicants as a new eligibility criterion is consistent with the approach taken in social protection legislation. The measure will ensure social housing support recipients are resident in the State, have close links to the State and have made Ireland their home. This habitual residence requirement is a question of fact, which seeks to ascertain whether the household member has established his or her centre of interest in the State by examining family connections, length of stay, employment history, etc.  However, this habitual residency requirement will not be onerous for those already assessed for social housing, on the waiting list and potentially being reassessed, as is normal practice over time under existing legislation, given that they are likely to already have been present in the State for a significant period of time. Very little additional information will be required as part of the application process for social housing. Much, if not all, of the existing documentation required, such as proof of address, income and history of residency permission, will in most cases suffice. The new requirement does not impact those already in receipt of social housing support, for example, or on HAP or in local authority or AHB dwellings, on the basis that they have moved past the eligibility process and their housing need is met.  In relation to the appeals mechanism, the Government is committed to the necessity for independence and fair process in the administration of these decisions. Again, the provisions have been the subject of detailed advices from the Attorney General to ensure that they are robust and meet a high bar of independent and transparent process.  The administration of the appeals mechanism remains within the local authority sector but it continues to be the case that applicants unhappy with the outcome of an appeal can make a case to the Ombudsman. The timelines for both applicants and appeal officers were developed following consultation with the local authority sector and drawing from existing experience of appeals and review processes already in place. On that basis, these timelines have been deemed to be sufficient and fair.  Notwithstanding that local authorities are already operating residency eligibility requirements for social housing on a non-statutory basis, important preparatory work is under way with the assistance of the Housing Agency to build a suite of information and training resources. New application forms and related public information are being developed to assist applicants with the process of both applying for social housing and making an appeal. Similarly, in the case of the new appeals mechanism, the Department and the Housing Agency will work closely to ensure a standardised approach to the implementation of the new provisions. Ongoing monitoring of the volume of appeals, and outcomes of the appeals, will be important to ensure that greater understanding can be brought to how decision-making can be improved in the interest of applicants.  The programme for Government 2025, Securing Ireland's Future, commits to protect renters and landlords from abusive practices by enhancing the enforcement powers of the Residential Tenancies Board, RTB. The Government\u2019s action plan on housing supply and targeting homelessness, Delivering Homes, Building Communities, similarly commits to strengthening the RTB\u2019s organisational capacity, processes and performance to ensure that its business and resourcing needs are optimised. These processes are important in the light of the updated regulatory and legislative framework being introduced through this Bill to better serve the rental sector.  It is important for both landlords and tenants that disputes are resolved as early as possible, and that parties to the dispute consider the process transparent and reflective of our rental law. The Government has provided increased levels of funding to the RTB, which will support improved dispute resolution and enforcement activities to minimise dispute resolution timelines and ensure effective outcomes for both landlords and tenants.  Part 3 of the Bill provides for technical amendments to the residential tenancies Acts 2004 to 2026 to enhance its implementation and the outcomes thereunder, with greater efficiencies for stakeholders, including the Residential Tenancies Board and the courts. The vast majority of the amendments were included in the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2024, as initiated in D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann on 24 July 2024. However, they lapsed with the dissolution of the D\u00e1il on 8 November 2024. Many amendments were also included in the general scheme of the residential tenancies (amendment) (No. 2) Bill, approved by the Government on 14 October 2025. The amendments to sections 9, 137, 137A and 138 are additional and are required in order to increase the penalties that apply for offences under the residential tenancies Acts, clarify the RTB powers to charge late registration fees to approved housing bodies and increase registration fees in line with inflation.  The key provisions of Part 3 of the Bill aim to streamline the court enforcement of RTB determination orders; allow members of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and officers of a housing authority, if required, to provide evidence in certain RTB dispute resolution cases, such as where antisocial behaviour arises or there is danger posed to a dwelling; empower the RTB to issue 28-day fixed payment notices for certain offences to provide the opportunity for the offender to avoid prosecution and to speed up compliance with the residential tenancies Acts; and clearly provide for public RTB hearings in the context of adjudication, tribunal and sanctioning cases. These reforms to how we regulate the sector will be critical as our rental sector continues to grow into the future.  The Irish rental market grew in quarter 1 of 2026, with registered private and cost-rental tenancies increasing by 2.4% year on year to 246,477, the highest level since the data series began. The RTB also received 16,548 new tenancy registrations for quarter 1 of 2026. The number of private landlords rose by 1.3% annually to 105,847, indicating increased participation in the rental market. While the notice of termination figures increased in the first two months of 2026, the data show a downward trend following the February peak. There are always landlords entering and leaving the rental market, with new notices of termination and new registrations. However, the longer term trends show that the market continues to grow. We must provide the RTB with the tools and resources to effectively regulate the sector.  Since the Government announcement on 10 June 2025 on the enhancement to rent controls and tenancy protections, my Department has engaged extensively with the RTB in relation to resource requirements for both staff and funding in order that it can implement rental law promptly and effectively. An Exchequer allocation of \u20ac22.8 million has been provided to the RTB for 2026, which is an increase of \u20ac8 million compared with 2025. This increase will assist the RTB to deliver its demand-led services and enable the enhancement of its ICT systems. My Department will continue to work with the RTB to ensure that it is sufficiently resourced to implement legislative changes and deliver on its mandate. The Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, has already specified to the House the further Government amendments to the residential tenancies Acts that will be made as the Bill progresses through the legislative process.  I thank Deputies for their contributions and commend the Housing and Residential----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  The Minister of State did not reply to any of the questions I asked. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan  -----Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 to the House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  It is farcical. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan  I look forward to progressing through the remaining Stages of the Bill over the coming weeks. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Housing and Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026: Second Stage (Resumed)"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_35","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_35","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_36","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Schools Building Projects","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_35","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_35","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_36","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan  I raise the new school building for Col\u00e1iste an Phiarsaigh. To be clear, I taught there once upon a time. I was also a former student there for six years, so I have a vested interest in this relatively big school building programme. I am asking for a clear update. It seems to be stuck at the 2b lottery stage, which I know is frustrating for many TDs. A lot of these building projects are frequently stuck in this phase 2b. This is just another example.  This school has a remarkable story. It opened in 1973 with only 20 students and six teachers. It had no building. Classes were held in a rented Church of Ireland premises in the village of Glenmire. They had, in the words of those who were there, neither \"cailc n\u00f3 cl\u00e1r dubh\", no chalk or blackboard. From that beginning, it has grown into one of the most successful Irish-medium schools in the country, with nearly 600 students and more than 60 staff. It consistently ranks as one of the best in terms of its academic achievement.  The new building promised for this school is not a modest one. As I said, it is a fairly large extension. It would make Col\u00e1iste an Phiarsaigh the largest Gaelscoil in Ireland, with a new sports hall, indoor running track and wellness suite. The students in the school, through the students' council, advocated for it to have a carbon-neutral design, with has been built into the design of the school.  In September 2023, the school community was told that construction would begin within 18 months. That timeline has now passed and families in Glenmire deserve to know why and what the revised position is. Glenmire is one of the fastest growing suburbs in Cork. The demand for Irish-medium education is only going in one direction. The students currently in first year will be sitting their leaving certificate before too long. They should not spend their entire secondary education waiting for a building they were told was imminent.  I am asking for the Minister of State, Deputy Dooley, to set out plainly the current stage of this project, when it is anticipated it will go to construction and when the doors of the new school will open. I have been involved with this school building project over the past five years. We have had senior Ministers visit, as well as the Taoiseach, cutting ribbons and launching plans. The expectation is quite high that this will be delivered in a timely manner. I understand the significant difficulties in the Department of education and the overspend. They are glaringly obvious for all of us. That said, big projects like this need to be delivered.  When I attended Col\u00e1iste an Phiarsaigh as a student, half the school campus was in prefabs, and some of those very same prefabs are still there today. The Minister of States knows the way this can go. There has been some improvement with other updated modular units over the past few years but the reason they are getting this big project is that half the school footprint is, in essence, modular. This will replace it with bricks and mortar.  This is something that has been long awaited. I genuinely hope that there is something the Minister of State will tell me which will illuminate things for me, although I will be dubious about it. It is high time we were straight with people in Glanmire and set out a timeline for when this project is likely to be delivered. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Timmy Dooley)  I thank Deputy O'Sullivan for his continued interest in this matter. It is an issue in which I know he has a personal interest and one on which he has advocated considerably in this House and elsewhere. I thank him for that continued work.  As the Deputy knows, the current position in relation to this major development project in Col\u00e1iste an Phiarsaigh, County Cork, is the responsibility of the Minister for Education and Youth. She has asked me to outline the current position. The project referred to has been devolved to the joint managerial body for delivery. The project brief for Col\u00e1iste an Phiarsaigh provides for a long-term projected enrolment of 750 pupils, including four classrooms for students with special educational needs. That is an important function and part of the overall project, because the Government has a considerable focus on providing appropriate locations for children with special educational needs.  The project is currently at stage 2b of the architectural design process, as the Deputy said. This allows for detailed design and planning, obtaining the necessary statutory permissions and the preparation of tender documents. Planning permission was granted in November 2025. The Department awaits submission of a stage 2b report. Once received, it will undergo a detailed technical and cost review in line with the Government's infrastructure guidelines. It is clear that the joint managerial body needs to get that stage 2b report to the Department to allow for the next stages along the way.  As the Deputy will be aware, the Department recently published the \u20ac7.55 billion NDP sectoral investment plan for the education and youth sectors for the period 2026 to 2030. The NDP sectoral investment plan involves a strong emphasis on maximising existing capacity and prioritisation of school building projects to meet the most urgent needs. In this regard, there will be a strong special education dimension to project roll-out. That is one of the important facets of the project, so that when it gets through the stage it is at, it will have significant prioritisation in the mix of other schools. Of the total \u20ac7.55 billion investment, it is envisaged that circa \u20ac5 billion will be used for project roll-out to support the delivery and modernisation of school buildings. This will build on the progress made over recent years with the continued roll-out of projects on a prioritised basis to meet the most urgent needs in terms of provision of additional capacity and modernisation of existing facilities. In this regard, a list of the 105 school building projects in the first tranche to proceed to construction or tender over 2026 and 2027 was published and this included 12 schools in Cork.  The progression of other projects through the pipeline will form part of overall programme management and prioritisation. The timing of a pipeline project moving from one stage to the next requires careful planning and is determined by a number of factors, such as confirmation that any existing or emerging school capacity in the area is being, or will be, optimised; confirmation of compliance with all technical and cost requirements relevant to that project stage; outcome of prioritisation assessment; and timing of affordability within annual NDP funding parameters, taking account of overall programme requirements.  In moving projects forward, the Department maintains a strong focus on delivering value for money and affordability, and includes phasing arrangements, where necessary, to ensure that spending remains sustainable. Functionality, long-term suitability and the specific needs of schools, including special education requirements, are also considered at each stage. This approach ensures that projects not only progress in a timely manner but also deliver maximum value for money and target priorities of the school estate. This prioritisation process will be informed by engagement with school patrons and management bodies, which is currently under way. The project at Col\u00e1iste an Phiarsaigh will form part of this overall process. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan  Unfortunately, I do not have my date. I get that we have invested an awful lot in infrastructure and education over the last few years. That is undeniable. I was struck by a couple of phrases the Minister of State used, including \"affordability\" and \"value for money\". We have all been in this House long enough to know that the longer we wait to do these projects, they more inflated the price becomes given the way the current market is. If we leave this another year, it could easily add another 10%, if not more, to the price of this school. Unfortunately, I think we are going to be waiting much longer than a year, judging by what the statement the Minister of State read out. I get that there is a \u20ac700 million overspend in the budget for the Department of education. The Department of public expenditure needs to talk to the Department of education and problems need to be worked through. The Department has to stay within the budget but, at the same time, this is not a problem that just emerged. While it is fair enough that the project only got planning last year, as I said, the prefabs have been there for 25 or 30 years. This build is largely to replace those prefabs.  We have another good story on the site in question. The people who established the school own the land around it. The Minister for the Gaeltacht, Deputy Calleary, is looking at turning an old building into a cult\u00farlann and have it as a real Irish-language hub in the centre of Glanmire. It would largely meet the needs of the Irish language community in Cork city. A lot of exciting things are happening with this project on this site, but they are all going to be held up because we are waiting for the school. Nothing else can happen until the school has initiated. I can only make the case for my constituency, as we all do here for our constituencies. This school will be the largest Gaelchol\u00e1iste in the country when it is built. That is at a time when officials in the Department would tell us that numbers in Gaelscoileanna normally do not exceed 600 or 700. This school could easily cater for 1,200 students, such is the demand. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Timmy Dooley  The Deputy has made a strong case for this project. I set out, in broad terms, the criteria that apply to all schools and building projects. I set out, in a clear way, the commitment of the Government, from an overall financial envelope available over the next number of years, to complete these projects and how they get assessed. Of course, there are more projects than there is money to address them over the next five years. That is why the prioritisation is part of it, but just because I have set out the prioritisation, it does not necessarily mean the school is not part of that. The first tranche has been announced. What is important now is for those preparing the stage 2b report to get it into the Department.  Knowing the Deputy as long as I do, I know his capacity to advocate. When the report is on the Department's desk, the Deputy will probably be back in the House looking for a further update. Of course, we will provide him with one. I know the Deputy will be advocating through his contacts in the Department as well. At every stage, I encourage the school to get the documentation and report in. I have identified the priorities for the Deputy. The key priority is that it is a Gaelscoil, but the fact that the focus is firmly on the special needs or educational element for children with special needs is a significant part of the overall jigsaw. I suggest that the Deputy emphasise that and continue to advocate. Sooner rather than later, the Department will be, I hope, in a position to move the project to the next stage. There are a number of stages, but every time the project moves on, the school gets closer to that mark. I apologise that I cannot give a timeframe, but it would be foolhardy for anyone to give a guesstimate given that the report is still awaited. I have every expectation that officials will be in touch with the school and that they will move on that. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Schools Building Projects"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_37","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Water Pollution","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_35","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_35","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_37","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  I appreciate that the Minister of State is here to take this Topical Issue. I have a simple question to put to him. When are people, individuals or corporate bodies, whose actions destroy our rivers and habitats going to see a law change that would see those responsible for the destruction of those habitats possibly face jail? The Minister of State was on the banks of the River Glyde in County Louth last week where he saw some of the remains of the 20,000 dead fish. He spoke to members of the Ardee and Glyde Fishing Development Association and some local representatives, who were pictured with him. He admitted that the fines and sanctions available to the State to prosecute those responsible for polluting our rivers and habitats are inadequate. He said they are \"not fit for purpose\". I suggest that this is a classic understatement.  This is not news either. From my research over the last few days, I have been looking at some of the issues that have arisen around the country.  In recent years a farmer who was found to be responsible for leaking animal shit, because that is what it is and I am sorry to use the colloquialism, into the River Tracton in Cork, received a conviction and fine of \u20ac2,000 in the local District Court in 2022. There were 5,000 fish killed. In the same year, in a case in Monaghan close to where the Minister of State was last week, there was a \u20ac400 fine and \u20ac5,000 in costs. His infraction was that silage effluent from his farm was found in a watercourse - more shit. I am sorry to use the colloquialism. I would not usually do that but I do not want to beat around the bush. When we describe this as \"waste\", \"effluent\" or \"discharge\", it minimises the impact and the issue.  There were 20,000 fish killed in the River Glyde last week, including Atlantic salmon, eels, brown trout, pikes, minnows and course fish, and 25 km of the finest river in mid-Louth was destroyed. Inland Fisheries Ireland, IFI, responded rapidly. I spoke to their representatives last week about this and I commend their actions. The Dee and Glyde fishing association does tremendous work. It is a custodian of the river. I have known those people for many years and have worked with them in the past. They have worked hard to protect and maintain the river's ecosystem.  I do not for a minute want to prejudice the outcome of any investigation or any possible prosecution that might arise but we know that in all likelihood in cases like this, it is the provisions of the 1959 Act that are used so those responsible can probably sleep soundly at night. The cases are heard in the District Court. This is, of course, where you will hear shoplifting cases, public order offences and traffic offences but nothing of this scale. History tells us that those who are responsible for major fish kills attract very small fines. They are a pittance.  This is ecocide. That is what it is. It is the mass destruction of habitats and is dangerous to public health. These are matters that ought to be dealt with through our legal code in the Circuit Court, at the very least, or, indeed, the High Court. When will we see changes in the law where the punishment will fit the crime? It has been said to me that in some cases, it is easier for operators to take the fine rather than spend the money they need to spend in order to up their game. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Timmy Dooley  I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and for allowing me to update the House on what has happened. I acknowledge the significance of a very severe fish kill that occurred on the River Glyde and the devastating impact it has had on the local communities, anglers and users of this important river catchment. I want to pay tribute to the angling community and those who use the river for leisure and other activities for the way in which they care for that river. As in many cases around the country, they act as citizen scientists, notifying IFI of various events that happen on the river. In fact, it was an angler who first identified the discharge and the death of fish. IFI reacted very quickly and was on site within about ten minutes. Within about four hours, using kayaks and drones it was able to identify the source of the effluent entering the river and end the discharge. Were it not for the fast action of all concerned the situation could have been far worse. That is not at all to undermine the damage that was done to the ecosystem of the river but I want to identify and thank people for that. We estimate that around 20,000 fish have been lost, including Atlantic salmon, eels, brown trout, pike, minnow and coarse fish species. That, of course, will have a devastating impact on the people who use the river but also on the ecology of the area.  The Deputy rightly asked what the next step is. The investigation is ongoing and IFI is putting together the details of what has happened and will prepare a file that will go to the Director of Public Prosecutions, DPP, and then a decision will be taken on whether or not to prosecute based on the evidence that has been procured. The Deputy raised an important issue in reference to the comments I made. I do not believe, quite frankly, the punishment, fines or the way the process is structured is in any way commensurate with the damage that is done. Therefore, I do not think it acts as a sufficient deterrent.  Often in a case like this it could be a licensed operator. I am speaking in general terms because I do not want to get into the specifics as I am conscious there may be a prosecution at some point. There can be a licensed entity, usually a commercial entity that has a licence to discharge into a particular body of water. The licence is issued by the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA. I think that at times the reissuance of licences should not be done - the continued issuance of a licence where there have been breaches. I have said this to the EPA and asked it to give me its views on what the fines structure should be. I have my own views but I must follow the professional advice and I await that determination.  Last year, soon after taking on this role with responsibility for inland fisheries, an event happened on the River Blackwater which again had devastating consequences. At the time, I asked both the EPA and IFI to look at the body of law that is there, to look at the fines and to come forward with suggestions. I await that information and will certainly move as quickly as I can as soon as I get it because the Deputy is right, in that I do not think it acts as a deterrent.  The Deputy is right in saying that sometimes it is wilful neglect because the fine is not serious enough to prevent accidents. Sometimes it is wilful destruction where somebody chooses to do this where, as the Deputy said, rather than investing, it is easier to breach and be fined and not be impacted. We have to elevate the fines and the punishment to a level in order that people take heed of the necessity to protect our rivers and waterways. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  I thank the Minister of State for his response and I eagerly await the evolution of the process he has outlined. This is not a new issue. My colleague, Deputy Eoghan Kenny, did a lot of work to raise awareness of the mass fish kill in the Blackwater last year and of the lacuna in the law at the moment in terms of the requirement for the sorts of sanctions that would be commensurate with a violation of the nature of what happened in the Blackwater. Similarly, the same perspective can be applied to this particular matter on the River Glyde in County Louth.  I am not aware of any case where an EPA licence was in place and was removed from somebody who was successfully prosecuted in the District Court or anywhere else for actions that led to a mass fish kill and ecological destruction in an area. We need to reflect on that. That is simply not good enough in this day and age. It was never good enough and it is certainly not good enough now. I would have particular words for any vested interest that stands in the way of us improving and enhancing this legislation and the sanctions available to the State to address these issues.  It is interesting that there is an EU directive in place, 2024\/1203 and that there is a criminal law element to but that we have decided not to transpose it. It deals with the question of ecocide and provides for, for example, eight years imprisonment for what is described as natural persons who may be involved in or found guilty of major habitat destruction. We have decided not to transpose that directive for a variety of reasons. We need to reflect on that if we are serious about ensuring the punishment fits the crime, if we can use the word \"crime\", in broad cases of this nature. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Timmy Dooley  I thank the Deputy for his contribution. I know Deputy Eoghan Kenny and other Members of this House were centrally involved in the Blackwater issue. As referenced, I cannot recount if a licence was ever removed. I know licences have been suspended in cases and it may be that there is a difficulty from the EPA's perspective on how it might do that. Maybe that does require to be codified better in the law. The lessons learned from the Blackwater fish kill continue to inform Government policy and are certainly guiding me. We did a review among the agencies involved but then we got an independent review undertaken by the European Commission's joint research centre and it identified some practical recommendations to strengthen prevention, detection and inter-agency co-ordination in responding to fish kill incidents.  Those recommendations are now being implemented alongside the modernisation of inland fisheries legislation to strengthen enforcement powers and ensure penalties provide an effective deterrent against environmental pollution. We are on a pathway to update the legislation and I look forward to the engagement of Deputy Nash and others in the House when we bring it to Committee Stage or on pre-legislative scrutiny, when there will be an opportunity for all to get involved.  I acknowledge the work of IFI, the local authorities and the many volunteers and community members, including the Dee and Glyde Fishing Development Association, who have responded to the incident. The Government remains committed to supporting the recovery of the River Glyde and to promoting Ireland's rivers for future generations. The overarching point here is that this cannot be done in isolation. We have to make the penalty and fines structure suitable for and commensurate with the damage that is ultimately being done. We mitigate the risks. Accidents do happen, for sure, but we have to ensure a lot more mitigation is taken because there is a lack of understanding of how important our rivers and oceans are from a biodiversity and climate change perspective. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Water Pollution"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_38","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Special Educational Needs","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_35","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_35","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_38","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  I thank the Minister of State for being here to take this Topical Issue. I will talk specifically about a school but a school that illustrates a broader problem. I will refer to one school but I am referring to a broader issue with the school summer programme. There was a delay, and the Minister of State is aware of this, in releasing the programme. Only in the past few weeks have schools been able to apply. I will speak about Gaelscoil Baile Brig\u00edn. It applied for two special classes and three mainstream classes, which is what it had applied for previously. Previously it had four mainstream groups with six students. This year it applied for three groups of 12 because that was what was in the guidelines.  The Department has said there must be at least 12 students in each group, with only one SNA and one teacher. This is a problem from the get-go because that will not be enough staff. This is a big increase in the number of students without any allowance for a reduction in group size or for students with complex needs. Additional staff are not being made available for students who have additional needs and who are accommodated for those needs. That does not make any sense because these are kids who have an SNA in their classroom every single day. Their needs do not change. Just because it is the summer, their needs do not change and they certainly do not decrease at any particular time in the calendar. If they are entitled to an SNA, they should have one. At the very least, they should have something that is similar.  The school has raised issues. It applied for three groups but was only sanctioned for two. This leaves the school community, the principal, the deputy principal and the staff in an awful position because they have to go back to parents and tell them that for reasons they do not know, they are not able to accommodate their kids. It is a horrible decision for the school community to have to make. Nobody wants to make lists when everyone on the list has a need and should have an entitlement to access the programme. The school now has to cut students from the programme, which is really awful.  What did the school do? It certainly did not sit around and do nothing. It made massive efforts to contact the Department by email and phone. It has not had any response. I get it because changes are being made, and I understand the Department is busy and under pressure. This is not meant to be disrespectful to the people who are answering the phones, who I know are doing their best. Unfortunately, the school cannot get an answer so now it has to speak to the parents of the children who possibly will not be able to be accommodated. When the parents ask why this is happening the school does not know because nobody will tell it. I sincerely hope these changes, which the Minister of State might try to dress up as some class of reform, are not being driven by the massive overspend in the Department, which I can tell him is not the fault of any of the parents or the teachers.  I am looking for a few very simple things. Will the Minister of State get me an explanation as to why Gaelscoil Baile Brig\u00edn and other schools were only sanctioned a reduced number of classes? Will he convey to the Minister the frustration of the teaching community at this last-minute decision-making? Months and months of planning go into getting ready for this. Will he explain why the changes are being brought in? If they are being driven by money, then he needs to tell us. Will he please ask the Department to reply to Gaelscoil Baile Brig\u00edn and those other schools waiting on answers? Will he confirm that home-based tuition will be available for the children who are going to be inevitably left out? Will he advise why there is no appeal? Will he clarify the number of SNAs that will be available per class? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Timmy Dooley  I thank Deputy O'Reilly very much for her series of questions. I know her interest in this area and she has been a strong advocate, not just for specific schools in her area but also for the educational needs of children.  The Government is fully committed to supporting children with special educational needs to fulfil their full potential and the programme for Government makes several commitments to deliver on this objective. The summer programme is a vital and targeted intervention that is specifically designed for children with complex special educational needs or those at risk of educational disadvantage. While it is delivered during the summer months, it is an educational programme and should not be viewed as a replacement for recreational summer camps. Since 2021, the Department of Education and Youth's inspectorate has evaluated the programme annually. Its findings consistently highlight the programme's positive impact on the many children and young people who have taken part, with parents, staff and the children themselves reporting improvements in confidence, attitude and readiness to return to school in September.  Deputy O'Reilly has asked a series of questions. I do not have all of the answers but I will ask the Department to communicate directly with her and the school on the specifics and I will speak on the general point. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  That is fair enough. I thank the Minister of State. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Timmy Dooley  The original intention and the continued emphasis of the summer programme is to mitigate the impact of learning loss on those children while schools are closed. An increase in special educational needs prevalence rates, particularly of autism, and the presentation of children with more complex needs has meant that the summer programme is more important than ever.  Details of the summer programme were communicated to schools and stakeholders in early May. While it is acknowledged that the details of the programme are typically announced earlier, the Department continually kept in touch with stakeholders querying when the summer programme might be announced to ensure they understood that it would be forthcoming and that schools should start their preparations. As a result, the online application portals for both the school-based and the home-based programmes were opened from 6 May to 15 May. The Minister, Deputy Naughton, and the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, listened to the concerns of schools that wanted to apply after the deadline, and the application portals were reopened from 2 to 5 June. Details on this reopening were communicated to all schools on Thursday, 29 May 2026.  The summer programme has been well established for several years, so even though there was a shorter window for applications, schools were prepared in advance. The Department subsequently received more applications for the school-based scheme this year than were run in 2025, with increases across primary, post-primary and special schools. In addition, the number of home-based applications has significantly increased on last year.  Officials in the Department have been engaging with schools on an individual basis in relation to the running of their summer programme. Schools have now received their sanction letters with their staffing allocation. This allocation is based on the number of children who are taking part in accordance with the published terms and conditions of the programme. Schools can engage with the Department if they have unique circumstances that require additional resources, and the Department will work with these schools on an individual basis to ensure that they can meet the needs of the children taking part. I believe this is what Deputy O'Reilly is asking, with regard to having a child-centric approach.  Equally, it is acknowledged that there are some children with complex special educational needs whose school is not running a school-based programme or a place on the school-based programme is not available. In this instance, these children can avail of the home-based provision which allows for tuition or care support to be provided on a one-to-one basis or in a small group setting. I hope this response outlines the general position to some extent. We will certainly try to ensure the Department comes back to Deputy O'Reilly with greater detail. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  That would be very welcome. The Minister of State said, and we agree on this, that the programme has a positive impact on the many children and young people who have taken part, and that parents, staff and the children themselves report improvements in confidence, attitude and readiness to return to school in September. There is nothing wrong with that. It is fantastic and a sign of something that is working. It is very natural and normal that I would come in the House and say, on behalf of my constituents, that if we all agree something is a good idea, that it should be happening and that there is a benefit for the children and the school community, then I have to circle back to my original question on why it is being cut. Why are there going to be kids who are attending Gaelscoil Baile Brig\u00edn who will be told, although I hope not because I hope when the Department looks at it that it will change it, that they may not have a place?  They may not, though, have a place, when the Minister of State himself acknowledged that this is a programme that works. It is a decent programme that the kids and the school community benefit from. It should not be this hard for the teachers and the school community to be able to access something where there is no disagreement. The Department says it is a good idea. The teachers say it is a good idea. The parents say it is a good idea. The kids clearly benefit from it. When all of these things come together, then I am left asking: why I am standing here asking for this to work when it has worked previously?  I have given a list of detailed questions. It was not my intention to blindside the Minister of State with them, but I hope that he will bring these to the attention of the Minister and get some answers not just for the school but also for the parents and the students. It is very hard to have to tell the students that they may not be accepted for the programme when they previously benefited from it. I do not want the school community, teachers, principal and deputy principals to be put into that position, and I am sure the Minister of State does not either. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Timmy Dooley  I thank the Deputy very much. As I indicated, there has been a significant increase in demand for both school-based and home-based tuition during those months. From a departmental perspective, it does take a little bit of time to iron out all of that. I will ask the Department to communicate directly on his specific questions and that, perhaps, there be a level of engagement between it and the school so that the school does not have to be at loggerheads or not have all the information available to it that it would need to take whatever actions it has to in the coming months. If that flow of information does not happen, I ask the Deputy to come back to me and I will be happy to follow through on it for her. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  Go raibh maith agat. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Special Educational Needs"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_39","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/58","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/58\/dail\/motion\/referral","houseCode":"dail","stage":"motion","isBillStage":false,"showAs":"Housing and Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026: Referral to Select Committee (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Housing and Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026: Referral to Select Committee","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_39","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Timmy Dooley  I move:  That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage pursuant to Standing Orders 103(2)( b ) and 188(1). "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Housing and Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026: Referral to Select Committee"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_40","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate (Resumed)","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_40","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate (Resumed)"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_41","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"School Staff","counts":{"speechCount":20,"speakerCount":7},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_40","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_40","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate (Resumed)"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_41","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tom Brabazon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Denise Mitchell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tom Brabazon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tom Brabazon  I wish to raise the issue of St. Francis Junior National School as it is set to lose one of its mainstream teachers because it was short one pupil. One teacher is going to be lost because of the lack of one single pupil. This is ridiculous, bureaucratic, box-ticking nonsense. The school appealed this decision and, in turn, that appeal was refused. It is frustrating to engage with the Department. In fact, the issue with the Department is that it does not engage but rather stonewalls any request for movement.  It is important that we make it clear who will suffer here. Ultimately, it is going to be the children of the school who will be impacted by this ridiculous decision. St. Francis Junior National School is not only a DEIS school but recently got DEIS plus status. It caters for a community with social and economic challenges. Many of the children attending the school have complex needs and have not attended any sort of preschool. The school and its teachers catch any sign of relevant needs----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Acting Chairman (Deputy Louise O'Reilly)  I thank the Deputy. He is taking time from his colleagues. I call Deputy \u00d3 Muir\u00ed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed  As Deputy Brabazon said, St. Francis Junior National School is a fabulous school in a challenging area. The school had the joy and elation of achieving DEIS plus status, which was very important for it, but now it faces the dismay of losing a teacher shortly after. This is happening when the pupil numbers are clearly coming back up for the school next year.  There are 66 children from Traveller families in this school, and we know the challenges that this brings for the education system and for those families. It is important that the school is part of the DEIS plus initiative and that we support it. We need to advocate for the school. That is why we are here and that is what we are doing. I ask the Minister of State to ask the Minister not for the decision to be reversed, but for a temporary arrangement to be put in place for one year, as has been done previously, to deal with this situation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  The key point here is that the school will have the numbers in the coming year. It will be above the threshold in coming year. All we need is a fix for this year. This was done before in 2020. The Minister for Education at that point intervened with a one-year fixed term contract. We are talking about the school being short one pupil last year. This is a school that has extra enrolments late every year, after 30 September, so this needs to be taken into account as well. I urge the Minister of State and the Minister for Education and Youth to put this situation right and get a solution in place for this year for the benefit of this great school, its dedicated staff and the pupils that really need action on this matter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  St. Francis Junior National School in Priorswood is short just one pupil. All five local TDs attended a meeting there. I am very proud when Dublin Bay North TDs come together on educational issues. While we differ politically, we have one passion, and that is representing north Dublin. The fact that all the constituency\u2019s TDs are here shows this.  A total of 40% of the pupils attending this school are from the Traveller community. Many of them are arriving in this school and need this support. The school is short one pupil and it is losing a teacher. There is a precedent for an additional teacher to be allocated. When a school misses out by just one pupil and loses one teacher, the system is wrong and it needs to be changed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Denise Mitchell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Denise Mitchell  As has been said, this is a fantastic school. It serves a disadvantaged community. As has been said as well, 40% of the students in the school are from the Traveller community. This school has children attending from Darndale and the wider community around Priorswood. The decision that has been taken, therefore, is absolutely ridiculous. The school was short just one pupil by a specific date, and this means it is going to lose a teacher. It was already said that all five TDs met the school community. This school community is very angry at this decision. Will the Minister intervene and either overrule the decision or find some other mechanism to make sure that this school does not lose its teacher? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Timmy Dooley  I thank the Deputies very much. It is refreshing to see everybody on the same side of an important issue like this.  Addressing educational disadvantage and ensuring that every child and young person can reach their full potential is a key priority for this Government. The DEIS plus scheme represents a significant expansion of targeted educational supports. It is designed to provide enhanced, evidence-based supports to schools with the highest concentrations of children and young people experiencing persistent and intergenerational disadvantage. Approximately 30,000 children and young people nationally will benefit from inclusion in the scheme in 121 schools.  Schools in the DEIS plus scheme will receive strengthened, research-informed supports across well-being, attendance, engagement, guidance, leadership capacity, community partnerships and access to services, including the introduction of a new positive mental health and well-being initiative to support a whole-school approach to student well-being. As part of St. Francis National School\u2019s inclusion in the DEIS plus scheme, the school will gain a positive mental health and well-being co-ordinator, PMHW, which is a full-time post of one teacher, and two administrative release days per week for the school\u2019s deputy principal.  Teacher numbers at primary level have reached the highest ever level in the current school year. Currently there are over 43,000 teaching posts allocated across the primary school system. This represents an increase of just over 5,000 teachers when compared with the 2019-20 school year, and this has led to a steady improvement in the pupil:teacher ratio and average class size during this period. In recent budgets, prioritisation was given to reducing the pupil-teacher ratios in primary schools, which has brought the teacher allocation ratio to an average of one classroom teacher for every 23 pupils in all primary schools, the most favourable ratio ever seen at primary level. More favourable ratios are implemented for DEIS urban band 1, including DEIS plus schools, at an average of 17:1, 21:1 and 19:1 for junior, senior and vertical schools respectively. A three-point reduction in the retention schedule, which was introduced in 2021, assists schools that would otherwise be at risk of losing teaching posts.  The latest figures relating to pupil-teacher ratio show an improved ratio of pupils to teachers, from 15:1 to 12.8:1, at primary level when comparing the 2019-20 school year to the 2024-25 school year. In the same period, the primary staffing schedule improved from 26:1 to 23:1 and average class sizes at primary level have improved from 24:1 to 22.2:1. The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. The primary staffing schedule is a long-standing feature of the primary allocation system, which ensures fairness and transparency in the allocation of mainstream class teachers across our primary schools, regardless of location.  St. Francis Junior National School currently has ten mainstream teachers. As the school\u2019s enrolment fell below the required enrolment threshold for that level of staffing, which all the TDs have identified, the mainstream staffing is due to be reduced by one in September.  I realise that others have said the number fell----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Denise Mitchell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Denise Mitchell  By one. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Timmy Dooley  -----by just one. I get that but there has to be a cut-off. There has to be some line so the Department's hands are tied in that regard.  As the Deputies know, the school submitted an appeal to the primary staffing appeals board and, unfortunately, that appeal was unsuccessful. The board operates entirely independently of the Department and the rules set out that its decision is final. It is unfortunate for the school to find itself in this situation but, on a more positive note, the Deputies seems to indicate the numbers will be available next year and that the position will return to what it was previously. I am sorry I cannot provide more positive information. I am guided by the Minister in this regard and the information that is available to me. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Louise O'Reilly)  For the supplementary questions to the Minister of State, each Member has 24 seconds. I remind them that I have no latitude to give additional time. Members all know that. I remind them that if they exceed their time, they will be taking time from one of their constituency colleagues. It is 24 seconds each. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Timmy Dooley  The Chair is emphasising that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Louise O'Reilly)  Le bhur dtoil. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  Incentivise. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Louise O'Reilly)  I am going to stick with the same order, so I call Deputy Brabazon. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tom Brabazon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tom Brabazon  We have given the school DEIS plus status and the decision to remove one teacher from it is a policy contradiction in itself. It is utterly ridiculous. I have found since I have been elected to this House that the Department of Education and Youth has been relying on circular this, circular that and circular the other. We are constrained and what is missing is common sense and practicality. It has to be reversed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed  I ask that this be taken to the Minister. We need a fix. It involves a one-year fix around one student. It will all straighten itself out in a year's time. This area, above all others, needs the level of support we are asking for. We have to give it to the school. The Minister of State should relay this to the Minister. I appreciate the Minister of State's feedback. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  I ask the Minister of State to ask the Minister, directly after this debate, about this matter. It was fixed in 2020 and can be fixed again, with a bit of common sense. We are all asking the Minister to do it. This school really needs it. It is a brilliant school doing great work with children facing a lot of challenges, and we just need her to go the extra mile and fix things. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  At the end of the Minister of State's response, which I realise the Department officials wrote for him, he said the appeal was unsuccessful. Who made it unsuccessful? I would love, with all the Deputies present, to invite the them to Priorswood and Darndale and show them the children and the teachers, who are working as hard as they can. The cost of an extra teacher compares favourably with the foreseen disadvantage that will affect the children's lives. The loss of one pupil should not determine the educational outcome for the entire school. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Denise Mitchell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Denise Mitchell  I am frustrated by the Minister of State's response. St. Francis school was mentioned only in the last two paragraphs that he read. I cannot understand how the Minister can award a school DEIS plus status and then, on the other hand, remove a teacher. This was resolved in 2020, and the five TDs here are asking her to do so again.  The Minister of State is going against his own programme for Government. It states the Government wants to reduce class sizes but, given what is happening, classes are going to have to merge into bigger classes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Timmy Dooley  I thank the Deputies. I understand and get the difficulty but there have to be objective criteria for allocating or reducing the number of teachers. My understanding is that, with the awarding of DEIS plus status, the school got additional resources. I set that out for the Deputies. There was an additional element. I get that it is challenging when there is a reduction of just one. If it were five or seven, it might be more easily comprehended and accepted. I will, of course, bring this matter directly to the attention of the Minister, but my understanding is that her hands are tied on this because, as with anything, there is the law of unintended consequences. Where provision is made for one, the impact on so many others must be thought about. I am not going to put the Minister in a position where she is a hostage to fortune but I will relay the Deputies' comments to her. If an engagement has to take place afterwards or something positive can come out of it, we will happily get back to the Deputies.  While I fully understand the sentiments that they expressed and the impact on the school, there has to be an objective criterion for managing fluctuations in pupil-teacher ratios and school numbers. The Deputies are all asking, given that it is obvious that the number enrolled next year will return to the previous level, whether there is an interim solution. On that basis, I will ask the Minister for guidance from the Department. Let us see where we go with that. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"School Staff"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_42","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Housing Provision","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_40","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_40","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate (Resumed)"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_42","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  I thank the Minister of State for taking this issue on behalf of the Minister for housing. Arklow is a fine coastal town with Viking heritage but for a long time, its infrastructural development had been held back because of the lack of wastewater capacity. In May of last year, the Taoiseach opened the Arklow wastewater treatment plant, a \u20ac139 million project. It was completed six months ahead of schedule and within budget, so it was a good news story. The Taoiseach made clear at that opening the importance of such strategic infrastructure not just in terms of cleaning up the Avoca River and for environmental reasons, but critically to provide housing within the community of Arklow and south Wicklow. He pointed out that the wastewater treatment plant could end up supporting a population of 24,000, with the potential of expanding that up to 36,000. In the 2022 census, Arklow had a population of 13,399, so there is going to be capacity there as a result of the new wastewater treatment plant.  The Minister of State knows as well as I do how strong the demand is for housing. In my office on the main street in Arklow, the most common issue that arises is raised by people who are looking for social or affordable housing. It is raised with me on the streets regularly in Arklow, as it is right around the country. We would imagine, after the hold-up for all these years, that suddenly we would start to see a surge of housing, particularly affordable housing.  I asked in November 2025, by way of parliamentary questions, what progress had been seen. It was pointed out in reply that since 2022 Wicklow had 970 households availing of affordable housing supports through the mix of various schemes. I inquired further as to how many of these were in the Arklow area. It was not the case that anything seemed to be happening. I contacted Wicklow County Council, which, in April this year, told me it had a number of schemes in the planning and detailed design stages at Tinahask and Sheephouse in the town, but it stated it is currently awaiting the housing delivery plan from the Government, which will determine the output required throughout the county. Not happy with that, I went back to the Department to obtain clarity on what social and affordable housing supports were being made available in Arklow through Wicklow County Council. The Department, in response to a parliamentary question, told me that to date it had not received any applications or plans for new starter home delivery in the local area of Arklow.  I am really frustrated about this. Arklow is a town that has been in need of development and housing for a long time. There is a problem with enrolment falling in some of the schools because there are no new families moving into the area. The town is within the commuter zone; it is a very fine town. Whether it is a matter for the Department or Wicklow County Council, we are just not seeing homes in general being built but I have a particular interest in social and affordable homes.  I contrast Arklow with the other main town in my constituency, Gorey, where we regularly see social and affordable schemes developed. In fact, there is another being opened in the town tomorrow by Wexford County Council. Considering that the Government has invested so much in the wastewater infrastructure in Arklow, whose lack was holding everything up, why are we not seeing the necessary social and affordable housing that we were expecting to see there? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Timmy Dooley  I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter regarding the delivery of social and affordable housing in Arklow. I am answering on behalf of our colleague the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Browne, and his Department.  Affordability and the chance to own a home remain at the heart of this Government's housing policy, as set out in our new national housing action plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025\u20132030. At the same time, we remain firmly committed to delivering the social housing needed to support individuals and families who require housing assistance and to building strong, sustainable communities across the country.  Under the housing action plan, the Government is targeting the delivery of 300,000 new homes by 2030, including 72,000 social homes. The plan will significantly increase the delivery of new-build social housing to an average of 12,000 homes per year and includes a range of measures to support local authorities in meeting this ambition. These include a streamlined approval process for social housing projects, greater use of standardised designs and modern methods of construction, enhanced land acquisition supports, dedicated housing delivery teams in every local authority and financial incentives to exceed annual social housing delivery targets.  Alongside these social housing measures, the plan reinforces and expands the range of affordable housing supports already being delivered, including the new starter homes programme, which aims to provide an average of 15,000 starter home supports annually to 2030. To underpin this ambition, the Government is investing at an unprecedented level through direct Exchequer funding, investment by the Land Development Agency and lending through the Housing Finance Agency.  Across the country, the starter purchase scheme, cost-rental scheme, first home scheme, help-to-buy scheme and the vacant property refurbishment grant are helping individuals and families access secure and affordable housing. Last year, more than 17,000 supports were delivered through these measures.  In Wicklow, significant progress has already been made. Since 2022, over 1,000 starter home supports have been delivered through a combination of starter purchase, cost rental, the first home scheme and the vacant property refurbishment grant. Wicklow County Council has delivered 91 starter purchase homes to date and has further schemes approved for delivery in the coming years. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has also funded seven dedicated starter homes administrative and technical posts within Wicklow County Council to support delivery.  Importantly, Wicklow County Council is also performing strongly in the delivery of social housing. The council has exceeded its social housing targets for the period 2022 to 2025, achieving 125% of its target. The latest social housing construction status report shows a strong pipeline of 512 social homes at various stages of design and procurement, including 166 homes under construction at the end of 2025. This demonstrates a local authority that is actively delivering homes and planning for future need.  While Wicklow County Council currently has a programme of housing delivery under way in other parts of the county, no applications have yet been received for starter homes schemes in Arklow. This is clearly a matter that requires continued engagement and focus.  The affordable housing fund remains available to Wicklow County Council to support the development of affordable homes where affordability pressures have been identified. The Department of housing, the Housing Agency and the housing delivery co-ordination office continue to work closely with local authorities to develop and advance housing projects that respond to local needs, including in key growth centres such as Arklow.  As local authorities prepare new housing delivery action plans under Delivering Homes, Building Communities, there will be a renewed focus on identifying and delivering both social and affordable housing solutions that reflect local needs and priorities. These plans will provide a clear pathway for future delivery and ensure that communities such as Arklow benefit from the full range of housing supports available.  This is about more than building houses, as the Deputy knows. It is about building sustainable communities, creating places where people can live, work and raise families, and ensuring that the homes we build today are fit for future generations. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  I thank the Minister of State for the answer. As he knows, I am supportive. There is an extensive programme of building social and affordable homes right around the country. As he acknowledged, Wicklow County Council has been very good in north Wicklow. The key line in the answer the Minister of State gave was about the fact that there are no applications from Arklow. He went on to say that \"this is clearly a matter that requires continued engagement and focus\". Can the Minister of State name any other town in the country with a population of over 13,000 where a single social or affordable home has not been constructed and where there have been no applications to the Department?  For those waiting for homes in Arklow and living around south Wicklow, there is no point telling them that there are many more homes being made available in Bray, Gorey or Clare, much as I welcome all of those homes. This is the largest town in the country where we are not seeing any progress on social and affordable homes.  I have raised the issue with the Minister but I ask the Minister of State to bring the issue back to him. It needs to be communicated to Wicklow County Council that it needs to prioritise this. The evidence is clear. We are not seeing any social and affordable homes. It is no good talking about it being a priority if we are not seeing progress. I do not know what it is that Wicklow County Council has against Arklow but it does not seem to be prioritising it in the context of the building of social and affordable homes. That is why I am getting it in the neck in my office over the Government's failure to deliver in that area. I am not getting it to the same extent in Gorey, where I am seeing real progress being made by Wexford County Council, as I am sure the Minister of State knows is happening in other parts of the country.  I ask the Minister of State to raise the issue directly with the Minister. I want the Department to call in Wicklow County Council and demand to know from it, if it is saying Arklow requires continued engagement and focus, what specific actions the council is undertaking. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Timmy Dooley  I thank the Deputy. Of course, I know of his significant interest in homes and housing. He has been and continues to be a strong advocate. There is a bit of a chicken-and-egg situation from the Department's perspective. It is looking at the overall delivery of social homes and it is on target and on budget. To get into micromanagement is a bit of a challenge for the Department but I will certainly raise the issue with the Minister.  The fact that the Deputy is raising the issue is giving vent to his concerns. Engagement with Wicklow County Council is needed. The Deputy was a member of a local authority and knows about that sort of engagement. Perhaps some collective work could be done to include the Minister and the Deputy, working with the councillors and the county manager, the chief executive. Perhaps a meeting could be arranged in Leinster House, and I am happy to facilitate that. The Deputy is well able to manage it but if he needs any assistance from me, I am happy to do that. Sometimes it takes a nudge to spark action. The county-wide approach is doing well, with 125% of its target achieved, but that is cold comfort to someone who is in the Deputy's constituency office and whose son or daughter wants to remain in Arklow, live their life there alongside their parents, siblings or whoever it might be, and is told there is a home in Gorey or wherever else. Up the road does not wash. I am happy to work with the Deputy. I will talk to the Minister, Deputy Browne. Perhaps we, collectively, can organise a meeting that involves a representative of the council, either the person involved in housing activation in Wicklow County Council, the director of service or the chief executive, to address this important issue. I thank the Deputy for his advocacy on this and many other issues. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Housing Provision"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-11\/debate\/dbsect_43","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2025\/11","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2025\/11\/dail\/2","houseCode":"dail","stage":"2","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Protection of Voice and Image Bill 2025: Second Stage [Private Members] (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Protection of Voice and Image Bill 2025: Second Stage [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":5},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_43","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  I move: \"That the Bill be now read a Second Time.\"  I congratulate the Minister of State on her new role and thank her for taking this Bill. I thank her and the Minister, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan, for agreeing to support the Bill and facilitate its movement to Committee Stage. I look forward to working with the Department to address the underlying issues within the Bill. I am happy to consider how we amend it to deal with some of the challenges that new technologies are posing to our digital identify.  I am conscious that this is a justice Bill. I know that, procedurally speaking, it is difficult to do but if it were possible for this to be referred to the Committee on Artificial Intelligence, it might work in a more effective way. If not, and it is referred to the justice committee, given the urgency of some of the issues, it is important that the underlying matters are addressed.  I first started taking an interest in some of these issues around deepfakes and misuse of our digital identity nearly a decade ago. At the time, people might remember that there were fairly poor deepfakes. There were some deepfakes of Nancy Pelosi slurring her words. They were pale imitations. I went the Museum of the Moving Image in Brooklyn, New York. It was exploring the issue of where deepfakes were going to go. The first mass watched event was the moon landing. It may not be widely known but there were two speeches prepared for President Nixon at the time. The speech he delivered was the speech for a successful moon landing. However, another speech was prepared in the event that the moon landing did not go well. What would he have had to deliver to the American people and the globe? Using footage of President Nixon, the museum reconstructed the speech that would have been delivered had the moon landing been unsuccessful.  I remember sitting and watching it in the museum, which had been set up like a sitting room from the 1960s. This was not political nerds watching all of this. I was convinced this was Richard Nixon. I thought it was particularly believable.  We have obviously seen technology move on in the last decade. We saw deepfakes in the presidential election. They were not great deepfakes and I was surprised by some of the people who had been taken in by them. I hosted a meeting with the Irish Recorded Music Association in the audiovisual room here in Leinster House in March. An Irish company, AudioStack, by taking just a couple of moments of my speaking in this House, was able to replicate or synthesise my voice and provide a speech that sounded as if I was delivering it in Leinster House. It was probably far more eloquent than I am, but colleagues who were listening at the time were absolutely convinced that this was the case. While this is a problem that we would be very aware of in a political context, there are concerns if our digital identity is misused in circumstances where it could have a personal impact. We all get dodgy text messages or our parents receive them and ask if they are a scam. Generally, people are getting much better at picking out those text messages. However, if you receive a telephone call and you think the voice you hear is your mother, father, son, daughter, loved one or somebody close to you, and you act on the basis of that, it can have potentially serious consequences. We have already seen that in other jurisdictions in cases of bank fraud where people use automated means of interaction.  This is also a problem for our musicians and artists and others in the creative industry. I am glad that IMRO and Irish Equity are among those who have been raising issues in relation to this. It is important that we listen to those voices that are expressing concerns in this area. What this legislation seeks to do is essential, namely, to protect artists and musicians such that others will not seek to commercially exploit their identity in an unauthorised way. We know that a lot of streaming services, for instance, are starting to remove deepfakes and so on, but there remains a real difficulty with how we can protect our own digital identity.  What this Bill is seeking to do, in protecting our digital identities, is to make it an offence to misuse someone's voice, image or likeness without their permission and for malign purposes. This is not about someone making up a funny meme or anything like that. It is for instances where it is very clear that there are malign purposes involved. We need to start to talk much more about our digital identity. We have done a very good job nationally and at European level in protecting our data rights but our digital identity now also needs to be protected.  As we see artificial intelligence develop so rapidly, the need for legislation in this area has never been as important. We have to remember, even in terms of how we speak in this House, our voice is an intrinsic part of who we are and we have to ensure we do not allow others to use it for the purposes of fraud or to misrepresent us. Technology now exists that allows for our voice or image to be simulated or replicated in such a way that it is believable to others. There are benefits to that and this legislation does not try to prevent that from happening. What the Bill seeks to do is to make it an offence where someone knowingly uses or infringes upon the use of an individual's name, photograph, voice or likeness by publishing, performing, distributing, transmitting or otherwise making it available to the public in any medium for the purposes of advertising products, events, political activities, merchandise, goods or services or for the purposes of fundraising, the solicitation of donations, the purchase of products, merchandised goods and services or to influence elections or referendums. Equally, it will make it an offence to distribute, transmit or otherwise make available on any algorithm, software tool or other technology, the primary purpose of which is the production of an individual's photograph, voice or likeness. These actions must be done without the individual's permission - if it is done with the individual's permission, it is not intended to be an offence - and with the intend to cause harm or to be reckless.  As I said, I am perfectly happy for the legislation to be amended and addressed on Committee Stage. I am open to that. This issue has come up time and again on both the artificial intelligence committee and the media committee. There is an urgency about being able to address this. We know Members of this House have seen their image associated with products they have nothing to do with. We have seen prominent journalists and economist purporting to sell things. We all think we are smart enough and we will not fall for it, but we know that people are so doing.  There are incredible, amazing creative possibilities in the use of AI and new technology but we also have to guard against harms. This is about protecting our own digital identity and protecting all of us, as citizens and consumers. For those in the creative industries, we need to protect their right to their voice, their expression and their identity against misuse. I urge the Minister of State to move with legislation in this area as quickly as possible. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Louise O'Reilly)  Before I ask the Minister of State, Deputy Ardagh, to address us, I extend my congratulations to her on her recent appointment and to wish her all the best in her role. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Catherine Ardagh)  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an gCathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach. I welcome the opportunity to speak on behalf of the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, on this important initiative proposed by Deputy Malcolm Byrne. The Deputy is to be commended on his work on this issue over many years and I am pleased to advise that the Government does not propose to oppose the progression of this Bill.  As artificial intelligence becomes more sophisticated, so too do the ways in which it can be misused, as outlined by Deputy Byrne. For many women and girls in particular, the unauthorised manipulation of their image or voice is not simply a technological issue but a deeply personal and traumatic violation of their dignity, privacy and sense of security. We have already seen how AI-generated content can be used to harass, intimidate and humiliate individuals, often with devastating consequences for their mental health and reputation. Legislation such as this sends an important message that innovation must always be accompanied by responsibility and respect for fundamental rights. It is often said that legislation struggles to keep pace with technology but Deputy Byrne has ensured that this House is actively engaging with these challenges, rather than simply reacting to them. I am, therefore, pleased to advise that the Government does not propose to oppose the progression of the Bill.  The Government recognises the importance of the digital economy to Ireland and the profound opportunities presented by Al. We are committed to reinforcing Ireland's position as a digital leader and regulatory hub and to strengthening our profile as a location for investment and a global centre for applied Al. Ireland possesses a vibrant and established innovation ecosystem, attracting eight of the leading providers of foundation Al models, which have chosen Ireland as their European headquarters. However, the evolution of Al technologies has given rise to new risks and challenges outlined by Deputy Byrne, including safety and privacy risks. We are committed to providing timely, robust and comprehensive responses to such challenges as and when they may arise.  Ireland will continue to be a strong voice in Europe for a digital economy which supports competitiveness and innovation, while also protecting data privacy and fundamental rights. In that context, consideration of the Bill's contents is timely. As Al tools have become more capable, with Al video becoming more proficient at depicting people realistically, opportunistic scams have proliferated across social media that misuse Al to impersonate public figures, including the Taoiseach and Deputy Byrne himself, as he outlined. These are clear attempts by fraudsters to exploit the online public through digital deception. Across a broad range of countries, deepfakes of various politicians, business leaders and celebrities have been circulated advertising fake investments intended to trick members of the public into sharing their bank details.  The realistic reproduction of a well-known figure's voice or likeness adds a veneer of authenticity and credibility to such financial scams. We have also seen a proliferation of Al-generated disinformation campaigns spreading falsehoods with the deliberate intent to deceive. Hyper-realistic synthetic media, including the use of deepfakes, has been increasingly deployed to influence political discourse, erode public trust and foster polarisation in many countries, including Ireland, especially - and worryingly - during election cycles.  There have been very significant concerns about the misuse of generative Al for the non-consensual sharing of intimate images or the creation of child sexual abuse material. It should be noted such content is already illegal under Irish law. Platforms must remove it when reported and very large online platforms must mitigate the risk of it appearing on their services in the first place.  The Government supports the Deputy Byrne's initiative and looks forward to working with him on it. The Protection of Voice and Image Bill 2025 seeks to address a real harm and growing threat in tackling the non-consensual use of an individual's personal characteristics and identity for the purpose of advertising, political messaging, fundraising or influencing public opinion. The Bill recognises the use of digital tools, including Al, to replicate or generate an individual's personal characteristics without that individual's consent and for clearly malicious purposes must be policed. The Bill will undoubtedly play an invaluable role in the push for further concrete actions to address this issue. While we will seek to continue to foster innovation and creativity, we must ensure that proper safeguards are in place against misuse of Al and other digital technologies, as the Deputy has clearly outlined.  Determining the means of most effectively addressing the misuse of generative Al and other digital tools will require further legal and policy analysis, taking account of existing legal remedies, statutory provisions and the wider national and EU regulatory framework. While lauding opportunities, we should not be afraid to also discuss the attendant risks that may also arise. It may be the case that the creation of a specific and delimited criminal offence category relating to the unauthorised creation, use and distribution of such personal identifying characteristics could play a role in addressing these harms.  There are existing criminal law provisions that address the misuse of deepfakes in certain circumstances. For instance, the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020, known as Coco's Law, creates an offence of distribution or publication of an intimate image without consent with intent to cause harm to the victim and attracts a maximum penalty of up to seven years' imprisonment, as well as an offence to threaten to distribute or publish such an image. The Act also provides for a strict liability offence, with a lower penalty, for engaging in the recording, distribution or publication of an \"intimate image\" without consent, with no requirement to prove an intention to cause harm. The definition of an \"intimate image\" under the 2020 Act is intentionally broad and includes any visual representation of a person. This includes intimate images, such as deepfakes, which have been altered or doctored prior to their distribution or publication. Similarly, the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998 is framed so that no distinction can be made between Al-generated material and other child sexual abuse material. The production and distribution of child sexual abuse material attracts a sentence of up to 14 years' imprisonment.  Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n, as Ireland's online safety and media regulator, is at the heart of Ireland's online safety framework, including the regulation of social media. Under the online safety framework, there is an obligation on platforms to act on reports of illegal content. A failure by a platform to protect against illegal or harmful content being shown can lead to significant financial sanctions and, under the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act, continued non-compliance can lead to criminal sanctions for senior management.  Under the Digital Services Act, the European Commission has powers with respect to the proliferation of illegal content online on platforms and the protection of fundamental rights, including protection for minors. The EU Council and Parliament also reached political agreement on 7 May 2026 on the proposed the digital omnibus on Al. The proposed measure will prohibit Al systems that generate non-consensual sexually explicit and intimate content or child sexual abuse material, such as Al nudification apps. It is intended this specific ban will take effect from 2 December 2026.  There is currently no stand-alone provision under Irish law that provides that identity theft or fraud constitutes an offence. However, it is addressed through a combination of legislative measures, primarily the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud) Offences Act 2001 and the Criminal Justice (Offences Relating to Information Systems) Act 2017. Section 6(1) of the 2001 Act provides for a broad offence of making gain or causing loss by deception, which can be applied to the fraudulent use of another person's identity. This can encompass a range of identity-based misconduct, including the use of deepfakes, where deception results in financial or personal gain. Separately, the use of deepfakes in certain circumstances could constitute harassment offence under section 10 of the Non-Fatal Offences against the Person Act 1997, where such use seriously interferes with another's peace and privacy or causes them alarm, distress or harm.  It is also important to be cognisant of existing civil remedies for individuals who have been subject to the unauthorised digital cloning or imitation of their likeness, voice or persona by Al systems. Under lrish law, a person can already take a legal action against a natural or legal person who makes a defamatory statement to another person. The Defamation Act 2009 defines a defamatory statement as \"a statement that tends to injure a person's reputation in the eyes of reasonable members of society\". Such a statement includes a visual image, sound or gesture and a statement that is published on the Internet or via electronic communication. Further, the Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 provides a statutory power for the Circuit Court, previously in the High Court, to issue a Norwich Pharmacal order directing a digital services provider to identify an anonymous poster of defamatory online material. This makes it a lot more accessible to members of the public. If defamation is proven the usual remedies, damages and an injunction to remove or restrain publication are available. In recent years, a number of individuals have taken High Court actions relating to online content, including the use of deepfakes, that seek damages for defamation, malicious falsehood, data rights infringement, personality rights appropriation and passing off. Social media platforms are frequently named as defendants in such actions, primarily as a mechanism for content removal and identity disclosure of third parties posting content.  Data protection law may also be relevant in addressing the unauthorised use and dissemination of synthetic deepfakes using generative Al tools. Content relating to personal characteristics is regarded as \"personal data\" and, accordingly, data controllers are required to demonstrate a lawful basis for processing such data. Creating or sharing an Al-generated video of an identifiable individual entails the processing of that individual's personal data. Unless this processing falls within a lawful basis under GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, which is unlikely if done without consent or any legitimate justification, it is unlawful.  Section 42 of the Consumer Protection Act 2007 prohibits misleading commercial practices including, under section 43, false information on the existence, extent or nature of any approval or sponsorship, whether direct or indirect, of the product by others. The unauthorised use of someone\u2019s image in advertising material to suggest that the person endorses or is affiliated with a product could arguably be considered a misleading commercial practice. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission is responsible for enforcing advertising rules in Ireland.  The regulatory framework for Al at the domestic and EU level is also very much evolving. The EU Artificial Intelligence Act introduces a legal requirement that aims to ensure a high level of protection of health, safety and fundamental rights against the harmful effects of Al systems in the European Union. The new Al office of Ireland will be established in 2026 as an independent statutory entity which will act as the central co-ordinating authority for the EU Al Act. Under the Al Act, certain Al practices will be prohibited and certain Al systems and uses of Al by providers and deployers will be subject to legal requirements in terms of governance, transparency and responses to risks and incidents.  The EU Artificial Intelligence Act regulates deepfakes, primarily through strict transparency obligations rather than outright bans. Article 50 of the EU Al Act introduces transparency obligations in four situations. These are, first, when AI interacts directly with people, second, when Al generates synthetic content, third, when Al is used for emotion recognition or biometric categorisation and, finally, when Al creates deepfakes or text published on matters of public interest. These obligations apply to all Al systems used in the four situations set out in Article 50, not just to high-risk systems.  Deployers using Al to create deepfakes will be required to disclose that the content has been artificially generated or manipulated. Deployers publishing Al-generated text with the purpose of informing the public on matters of public interest will be required to disclose the text is Al-generated unless it has been subject to human review and editorial responsibility. The proposed approaches include persistent visual labels, opening disclaimers for video and audible warnings for audio. These obligations apply from 2 August 2026.  It is evident that Deputy Byrne's Bill is aligned with a considerable number of recent legislative reforms, whether criminal, civil or regulatory, that seek to impose appropriate guardrails to protect privacy and fundamental rights. However, I am not convinced the creation of new criminal offences, beyond what is already provided for, is necessarily the best strategy to address the issues the Bill seeks to tackle, particularly if undertaken without regard to the existing and developing regulatory framework.  A criminal justice approach is applicable only after a deepfake has been deployed to cause harm and may well be an appropriate means to address the most egregious harms caused by the misuse of generative AI tools, such as the development, distribution and use of so-called nudification apps. On the other hand, a regulatory approach can enforce compliance, platform accountability and technical standards before deepfakes reach the public. I commend Deputy Byrne on bringing the Bill forward. I look forward to hearing the views of Members on it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  I congratulate the Minister of State on her appointment. We are likely to see swaps in some committee Chair positions in the next while. Deputy Byrne was doing a good job as committee Chair, leaving out the circumstances.  I welcome the Bill. In some ways we are dealing with an issue that is accelerating at a pace we have not seen before. That is one of the reasons I support this legislation. It is not that this is the only part of the armoury to deal with this; it is but one tool. We need to ensure that we have in our legislative system the tools required to react as quickly as possible. While we understand deepfakes and we can laugh about some of them, such as the crude ones that kids get up to that have been around for years, we need to think about the tools that are behind it and the ability to create deepfakes, as Deputy Byrne mentioned. At the push of a button, somebody can create my voice and play it back to somebody on a phone with me giving them an instruction. That has the potential to destroy people's careers and marriages or to result in suicide. That is on a one-to-one level, but what if it is a state actor, as they call them now, doing this? We have all had a laugh at clips of Donald Trump in Lego form coming from Iran. Literally one minute after an incident happens there is a new Lego video of Donald Trump being an idiot, as he is, but it is funny. That is the level it can be done at, and that is the speed it can be done at. That is the danger of it.  Apart from us legislating for it, one of the big issues is that we have to hold the companies that have the platforms and programmes to account, those who hold the purse strings because, at the end of the day, this is all to do with money. They have to put in place the protections that are required but they also have to act when something happens. The biggest failure in the digital media age we are in is that the big companies are very slow to act. If you ring them or send them an e-mail to say what is online is libellous or if you press the button to say something is malicious, it does not get taken down straight away. It is not suspended while the company adjudicates. In the vast majority of cases where I have reacted to posts or stuff online, it has never been taken down. What version of our law are they reading? If somebody accuses you online of a crime, that is the equivalent of libel. While you can go to court, by the time you get there it will have been seen by hundreds, thousands or millions of people because of the speed of technology. It is not suspended until you win the case. If I make a charge, it should be suspended while the company adjudicates. I have no problem with that.  As regards the incident we are dealing with, the programme most people were discussing at the time was Grok but it is not just one programme. It did not stop there, because that kind of ability to use people's images and to manipulate them and present them as reality is still available. We must have a way to protect people. Our image is our image. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of pictures of me. I am not too precious about whatever shape, size or whatever I am, but my image cannot be taken and put into another image to create a fake. I worked in the media for years so I know how to use images, but now it can literally be done by a child.  There is now a Bollywood film that was created from ten other films. The main actor is dead. All of the songs are new songs but they use his voice. The film has been sold and people have gone to see it, knowing it is not a fake but something created by AI that is considered brilliant. None of the other actors got a penny and the main actor is dead. The only people who benefit are those in the film company. That raises the issue of the protection of the image and who owns it when you die. Does your partner or your family own it?  This presents dangers. Mention was made of Nixon and the moon landing. We can all laugh at that, but if somebody like Deputy Byrne can be taken in, it just shows what is possible. That occurred a number of years ago. We have gone beyond that. Things can be smoothed out. You do not see six fingers on people any more in the pictures. It has gone beyond it. This technology is learning the whole time. It is now at the stage where it is teaching itself from its mistakes and identifying them. That is the nature of it. I am not afraid of it, but there are a lot of people who are afraid of it. A lot of older people are panicking. We have to find some way of helping them get around the problems that exist and teach them how to identify, as much as we can, what is fake and what is not fake. The only way we can do that is to show them examples. Way back when I was only a young fella, about 50 years ago, I remember doing a course in school. We had an imaginative teacher and he taught a media studies course. It was an extra class. He used to show us different pictures. He would block out one part and show that blocking out the context could change the interpretation and the purpose of the image. That was a photograph in a classroom of kids who were 13 or 14 years old. Now we have a computer that can do that and a lot more, for example, change the scenery or the background. It can be done for fun sometimes, which is what most people are doing, but it is not for fun when you start manipulating somebody's voice and what they are saying.  We have laws that protect us in some ways already. The Minister of State referred to some of them, but we have to be able to act quickly. Some of our laws were brought in to deal with libel. It was a form of assault on people. The way to assault people now is through an image. You went to court and took action but the damage was restricted to a small circle of people who saw it. If it was on The Irish Times , you had a circle of maybe 50,000 people in the whole country who saw it and it died. If it was on the television, maybe a few more saw it. Now, literally at the click of a button, a million people can see it, so the damage is done there and then. How do you call that image back? How do you call back screenshots and everything else? How do you stop people sharing? We saw, even this week, images that should not be shared. Those very graphic images from Belfast were shared worldwide in an instant and then used by other actors. That was not a case of anybody doing anything to change those images, but a voice-over could be put on it.  I think it was only a few hours later that the second person was there. There was no such thing and it was proven. However, it gets a head of steam and that head of steam is what you are trying to protect against here, to make sure that people understand it is illegal to do it in the first place but then that you have the power to stop it and to call it back before it does further damage.  I support this. There are concerns about the freedom of speech, satire, etc., and we will address them on Committee Stage, when this gets to the committee, because it is important we do as much of this collegially as possible. It is not only us as politicians being precious; it is our whole society. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail  I also join in congratulating the Minister of State, Deputy Ardagh, on her appointment and wish her the very best as she takes on this important and challenging role.  First of all, I commend Deputy Byrne and thank him for continuing with this legislation. Deputy Byrne had this on First Stage in April 2025. If we think of how far AI has developed in that time, this legislation is needed now more than ever before.  Let us think back to 2025. Deputy Byrne introduced this Bill on First Stage and the entire Grok controversy arose at the end of 2025 leading into this year. Had his Bill been enacted, a lot of the concerns that we have seen might not have arisen, particularly around Grok and different nudification apps. It shows the importance of this legislation.  Obviously, it needs to be discussed on Committee Stage. We will discuss it then, ideally at the artificial intelligence committee as well as the justice committee.  Progressing this legislation is critical in terms of getting to grips with the misuse of artificial intelligence, not only in Irish society, but globally. If it were to be progressed in the Houses, this could be an example of best practice to other countries, showing them how to do it.  Deputy Byrne has covered most of the issues, as has Deputy \u00d3 Snodaigh. I do not want to go over them too much. If we think of an older or elderly parent getting a call on a Saturday night that a son or daughter is in trouble, needs help, needs money or whatever it may be, and that call has been made through nefarious means, it is something that everybody fears, particularly if you look at the exploitation of older people when it comes to financial issues. Those are critical, as are people's music, art and entire identities. As the world is becoming more international, our individual identity is far more important to us than ever before. That includes our likenesses, namely, how we look and sound. Our likenesses being advantage of is something that we need to tackle head on.  While the Minister of State outlined that the EU AI Act covered a lot of ground in terms of various issues, such as how AI interacted with people and generated synthetic content and how it was used for emotional recognition and biometric categorisation, it does not cover the issue of the misuse of people's images, voices and likenesses. The Bill is crucial and key to getting to grips with and coming to terms with that.  We all will be aware of the transformative impact that AI is having but there need to be guardrails. We have seen a lot of misuse of AI and we have to do as much as possible in terms of the regulation of artificial intelligence. While the EU AI Act has been passed, the general scheme of the AI regulation Bill here is progressing through the House. The national AI office will be established by August of this year. That does not mean that we stand still. AI is changing quickly, and sometimes it is quite frustrating how slow Parliament here and, indeed, parliaments around the world operate. If we were to get to grips with the fast-changing element of artificial intelligence, then it should not be that First Stage of Deputy Byrne's Bill was in January of last year and in June 2026, nearly a year and a half later, we are discussing it on Second Stage and then moving on to Committee Stage. This is the type of time-sensitive issue where we need to find a method within this House to move legislation more quickly.  Deputy \u00d3 Snodaigh spoke about the large tech and AI companies. There needs to be a lot more done in terms of how they are regulated and how they answer not only to this House, but to the Garda and international police forces around the world, because if a complaint goes in, it can take weeks for any type of response. Meanwhile, that content has in some instances gone viral or stayed up and traumatised people.  There is a far bigger responsibility. We need to be doing more in this House to hold the large tech companies, and particularly the AI companies, to task for what they are and are not doing to protect people. That is a crucial element as well.  In fairness, the Bill goes a long way to protecting the individual identity that I mentioned previously. I will work with Deputy Byrne in terms of progressing this legislation. I commend him on this and give him my full support. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Catherine Ardagh)  I thank everyone for their contributions and Deputy Byrne for bringing this Private Members' Bill before the House. As Deputy \u00d3 Cear\u00fail says, Deputy Byrne was way ahead of the curve in relation to this. When they mention art imitating life, the Deputy's Bill came before the issues, especially when it came to Grok and the controversy we saw in late 2025.  I noted something Deputy \u00d3 Snodaigh mentioned in relation to Grok. On foot of the controversy and the concerns that we had, and as he will probably be aware, the European Commission launched a formal investigation of X under the Digital Services Act, DSA, on 26 January. Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n is formally now involved with the European Commission in the investigation and was instrumental in the work leading up to its launch. The new investigation will assess whether the company properly assessed and mitigated risks associated with the deployment of Grok's functionalities into X in the EU. This includes risks related to the dissemination of illegal content in the EU such as manipulated sexually explicit images, including content that may amount to child sexual abuse material. Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n will continue to formally support the European Commission as it conducts its investigation into X. I suppose this case is really a test case for other AI platforms and we all will be watching what happens there.  In relation to the review of criminal and civil legislation, if you look at the Defamation Act, the idea of changing the jurisdiction for Norwich Pharmacal orders from the High Court to the Circuit Court has really democratised access to justice. Without needing to spend huge money on High Court fees, people can now go to the Circuit Court and get a Norwich Pharmacal order. That is a really big step in terms of trying to figure out who is behind these anonymous AI-generated posts. It is something that is really welcome.  Regarding criminal legislation, I am committed - I know the Minister is committed - to ensuring it is sufficiently robust to protect people from digital harms. Technology is evolving rapidly. Dr. Mike Ryan's narrative that he used during Covid, namely, that we had to act fast, comes into play here. When we are drafting legislation, we obviously have to do it right, but we also have to act rapidly because the technology is evolving at such a rapid pace that it is hard for us mere mortals to keep up with it. One of the problems that we face in democracies is trying to keep apace with the speed at which we change, and the ability of companies to instigate commercialised products is effectively way faster than we can respond to them as legislators. That is a big problem we have across the EU when it comes to regulating cybersecurity, AI and the misuse of images.  As we have outlined, the rapid development of generative AI raises diverse challenges across the board in relation to data protection, intellectual property rights, defamation, copyright and harms that more clearly fall into the criminal sphere. However, many of the issues that this Bill seeks to address might be better addressed or supplemented by civil remedies and regulatory models that we see coming from the EU. That said, it is important for us to have the discussion and shine a light on the sort of vacuum that is there when it comes to legislation relating to technology and AI.  The way it is exploding is frightening, particularly for the young and the old. We have seen older citizens subjected to financial fraud and crime, with texts that seem to be from their children, for example, claiming to have lost their phone and needing money. It is so simple and people are falling for it. Young people are being made the subject of AI-generated videos. Such content might not be something Deputy \u00d3 Snodaigh or I would be upset by but young people seeing altered videos of themselves can have significant mental health implications. We really need to look at that.  From an education point of view, young people must be taught resilience and strength. There is an educational aspect in terms of how we can protect them emotionally from AI and in the social media space. We must evolve to meet the challenges that arise. We have a collective responsibility, across Departments and across the EU, in so far as we can, to channel technology where it may be of most benefit and to curb the instinct to misuse or abuse it. Technology should serve us, not be used as a tool to control or manipulate us. That really is the crux of the matter.  Deputy Byrne's Bill prompts the House to consider its core purpose and key responsibilities. The GDPR protects our personal information, the EU AI Act will regulate the use of AI tools, Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n regulates online content on our behalf and Coco's Law prohibits the publication of intimate images without consent. The Deputy's Bill seeks to build upon that foundation. We need to be aligned with EU thinking on this and related issues. We must balance any necessary actions with being open to the development and growth of new technologies. I commend Deputy Byrne on bringing forward this Bill. I commend it to the House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  I thank Deputies \u00d3 Snodaigh and \u00d3 Cear\u00fail and the Minister of State for their contributions and their support. The Minister of State outlined the current legislative provision in this area but the reality is it is not working. If the legislation were working, we would not be seeing the proliferation of deepfakes and other continuing problems. While I acknowledge that the jurisdiction of Norwich Pharmacal orders has been extended to the Circuit Court, that is still prohibitive for many people, particularly those who do not understand the justice system.  The Minister of State referred to Coco's Law, which came about following the incredible campaigning by Jackie Fox. She was often told there was legislation already in place to deal with much of what she was seeking. However, Coco's Law, and the public information campaign that followed, was so successful because while people do not necessarily need to know the detail of the legislation, it is fairly certain that most people in Ireland now know not to use intimate images of others without their permission.  We need to get to a situation where there is an awareness in society that we should not use somebody's voice, image or likeness in a malign way without that person's permission. We might think that should be obvious but, unfortunately, it is not. In order to enforce that, we need to have criminal sanctions in place. As Deputy \u00d3 Snodaigh said, the legislation is not a silver bullet. A broader series of measures must be in place. Our challenge is that we need to shift to a situation where we enforce a digital duty of care on technology companies such that they have consideration, before they allow products onto the market, as to how those products may be used. If they are misused, there must be the capability to take action.  AI has incredible potential and I am a huge advocate of it as a tool to achieve particular goals. However, we know the consequences of its misuse, which include fraud, theft of intellectual property, which is a big issue for creatives, and suicide. We all need to understand our digital identity and what it means. Talking about Coco's Law reminds me of one of the successes of the GDPR. There probably are not many people who have read the entire regulation and know it inside out but, overwhelmingly, people do know that they must not use the data of others for any purpose save that for which they have expressly given permission. We need to move to thinking in the same way about digital identities, namely, that people cannot misuse another person's identity and voice for malign purpose. We certainly need to protect freedom of expression in the context of satire and so on but this legislation deals very specifically with cases where such usage is for malign purposes and in, many cases, for particular gain.  I spent many hours dealing with the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill, both as a member of the media committee and a Member of the Seanad at the time. A lot of the work that was put into that legislation was quite far-reaching, including the setting up of the Office of the Online Safety Commissioner. One of the concerns I had was that we were not taking strong enough action against some of the technology companies when they failed to take action. It was always my view that where a provider wilfully or recklessly allows an online harm to go out on a platform, there should be consequences and individuals should be held responsible. The problem, as the Minister of State mentioned, is that a lot of technology companies will just write off significant financial sanctions as business costs. I do not accept and never did accept that provision for non-compliance leading to criminal sanction is strong enough within existing legislation. If we have been successful in that regard, why then, as part of our EU Presidency agenda, have we said that online safety is one of Ireland's top priorities? Clearly, it persists as a challenge and a problem.  As Deputy \u00d3 Cear\u00fail mentioned, this legislation was introduced before the arrival of Grok and so on. Those developments are impacting on society in many different ways. Our first obligation as legislators is to ensure the safety of our citizens, in the online space as much as in the offline space. We are going to see the misuse of digital identities grow in a whole variety of ways. While I am really appreciative of the Government's decision to allow this legislation to progress, I ask that there be movement to address these issues. I am not precious as to which exact legislation is progressed but it is clear that what we have currently is not strong enough. I recognise there will be challenges regarding extraterritoriality and all of that but there is an obligation on us to be able to protect people right now. It is critical that we take action on this.  In the same way as there was a campaign regarding the misuse of intimate images, we need to start talking about protection of digital identity and how people can protect their own voice, image and likeness. We need a dedicated campaign about copyright both specifically for the creative industries and more widely. My view is that when people are having digital family conversations, they will have to introduce family safe words. If members of my family want to make sure it is actually me they are talking to, they could ask me for the family safe word. Do we need to start looking at public information campaigns in that regard?  I encourage the Minister of State to work on building an awareness of our digital identities. Citizens do not necessarily need to have recourse to all the legislative provisions she listed but they need to know why their digital identity is important and that sanctions will be imposed on those who, for malign purposes, seek to misuse another's digital identity. I very much thank the Minister of State for accepting the legislation. I look forward to engaging further as it progresses. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar athl\u00f3 ar 5.50 p.m. go dt\u00ed 2 p.m., D\u00e9 M\u00e1irt, an 16 Meitheamh 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The D\u00e1il adjourned at 5.50 p.m. until 2 p.m. on Tuesday, 16 June 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Protection of Voice and Image Bill 2025: Second Stage [Private Members]"}]}}]},"contextDate":"2026-06-11"},{"debateRecord":{"house":{"showAs":"34th D\u00e1il","committeeCode":"","houseCode":"dail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/house\/dail\/34","chamberType":"house","houseNo":"34"},"chamber":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/def\/house\/dail","showAs":"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann"},"lastUpdated":"2026-06-26T02:20:18+00:00","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-10\/debate\/main","formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-10\/debate\/mul@\/main.xml"},"pdf":null},"date":"2026-06-10","counts":{"contributorCount":168,"divisionCount":8,"debateSectionCount":29,"questionCount":0,"billCount":12},"debateType":"debate","debateSections":[{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-10\/debate\/dbsect_2","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case:  Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire - To discuss the loss of staff at Bunscoil Chr\u00edost R\u00ed for 2026-27 school year.  Deputy Robert O'Donoghue - To discuss provision of a permanent two-classroom SEN facility and PE hall for Balscadden National School.  Deputy Joe Cooney - To discuss industrial development and employment opportunities for the Shannon region.  Deputy Martin Kenny - To discuss the Peterhead Ten.  Deputy Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in - To discuss the provision of school transport services.  Deputy Pat Buckley - To discuss an application for an interim ancillary grant by Ballygiblin National School, Mitchelstown.  Deputy Shane Moynihan - To discuss the reform of eye care services in line with emerging trends.  Deputies Paul Murphy, Ciar\u00e1n Ahern and Se\u00e1n Crowe - To discuss the exclusion of St. Dominic's National School, Tallaght from the DEIS plus scheme.  Deputy Albert Dolan - To discuss the pricing of train tickets between Athenry and Galway.  Deputy Malcolm Byrne - To discuss the need for social and affordable housing in Arklow, County Wicklow.  Deputy Thomas Gould - To discuss the proposed new prisons in The Glen, Cork.  Deputy Tom Brabazon - To discuss the loss of a mainstream teacher at St. Francis Junior School, Clonshaugh, Dublin 17.  Deputy Eamon Scanlon - To discuss the exceptional staffing pressures at St. Patrick's National School, County Sligo.  Deputy Pa Daly - To discuss the need for an autism unit at Causeway Comprehensive School - Scoil Chuimsitheach an T\u00f3chair.  Deputy Louise O'Reilly - To discuss the school summer programme.  Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher - To discuss the designation of Burtonport as an approved port for landings by fishing vessels on a Saturday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.  Deputy Matt Carthy - To discuss the EU pact on migration and asylum.  Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan - To discuss access to treatment for Friedreich's ataxia under the HSE reimbursement scheme.  Deputy Ged Nash - To discuss the recent fish kill on the River Glyde, County Louth.  Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan - To discuss the progress of proposed school extension works at C\u00f3laiste an Phiarsaigh, Glanmire, Cork.  Deputy Danny Healy-Rae - To discuss delays in the opening of the new Killarney Community Hospital.  Deputy Colm Burke - To discuss the establishment of a national radiation therapy equipment replacement programme.  The matters raised by Deputies Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire, Paul Murphy, Ciar\u00e1n Ahern and Se\u00e1n Crowe, Colm Burke, Danny Healy-Rae and Pat the Cope Gallagher have been selected for discussion. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-10\/debate\/dbsect_3","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-10\/debate\/dbsect_4","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"School Staff","counts":{"speechCount":9,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-10\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_4","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  Is mian liom labhairt faoin chruach\u00e1s ina bhfuil Bunscoil Chr\u00edost R\u00ed. De r\u00e9ir cos\u00falachta, beidh s\u00ed s\u00edos c\u00faigear m\u00fainteoir\u00ed don bhliain at\u00e1 romhainn.  Bunscoil Chr\u00edost R\u00ed is a primary school in the Turner's Cross area of Cork city. It is a very well-established school with a high reputation which does exceptionally good work. The Minister of State might be familiar with the school. It is probably the primary school the Taoiseach attended. The school currently faces a worrying situation for the 2026-27 school year. It could be down five teachers for the next year. I want to focus on the English as an additional language allocation. I will go through the manner in which the school could be down five teachers.  For enrolment reasons, it appears the school will lose two mainstream teachers. It is on the borderline, in that the school might be able to keep one because it has 455 students on the roll - the key date for enrolment was 30 September. That is a significant blow. The school is asking that consideration be given to that. The special education teacher hours were cut from 205 to 230. When school management considers its allocations, it is trying to understand what it has and how it can meet the needs in different ways. The school serves the Turner's Cross area, as well as a wider area. Many children come in from the Kinsale Road accommodation centre, which is the direct provision centre close to the airport. There is a high degree of diversity, including linguistic diversity, in the school. That has to be supported and resources need to be put in place for that.  The school has had a permanent English as an additional language post since 2013. For the past three years, the school has successfully applied for and received an additional two English as an additional language fixed-term posts due to the large English as an additional language numbers. The application form or process seems to have changed this year without any engagement, discussion or schools being made aware of it. In September 2025, as was the case in previous years, schools were informed of the situation and a table was provided which outlined the number of new entrant pupils and teaching hours per week. For one to four new entrant pupils there were five teaching hours, for nine to 13 there were 15 teaching hours and for 21 to 30 there were 25 teaching hours. That criteria seems not to have been included this year and does not seem to have been disclosed to schools.  For this year, the school had 39 category A and 49 category B pupils, which is much the same as last year in terms of the number of children with English as an additional language requirement for support. Due to the fact that the goalposts seem to have shifted, the school will now go from two full-time posts for English as an additional language to ten hours per week. That is a huge blow in and of itself. When a reduction in special education teaching hours and two full-time general allocation teachers being lost are added to that, it is a huge blow and it will be very difficult for the school to adjust to that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Education and Youth (Deputy Michael Moynihan)  The primary school staffing schedule is a long-standing feature of the primary allocation system which ensures fairness and transparency in the allocation of mainstream class teachers in primary schools across the country. The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided in an individual school is a staffing schedule for the relevant school year and the number of pupils enrolled on the previous 30 September. Staffing arrangements for primary schools for 2026-27 are set out in Circular 0025\/2026. Having an enrolment of 479 pupils in September 2024, Bunscoil Chr\u00edost R\u00ed has a current mainstream staffing of an administrative principal and 20 mainstream teachers.  The information given to me is that school enrolment fell to 453 pupils last September. The Deputy mentioned the figure was 455. Perhaps that is something we might check. This enrolment allows for mainstream staffing comprising an administrative principal and 18 classroom teachers for the 2026-27 school year, with two fewer teachers than are currently in place. The school also has additional supporting staff comprising nine special education teachers, one English as an additional language, EAL, teacher and three special class teachers under the rural DEIS and non-DEIS home school community liaison initiative. The school has been allocated a shared home school liaison teacher based on enrolment for the 2026-27 school year.  The Department has adapted to the dynamic landscape of student enrolment and has prioritised enhanced English as an additional language support.  An online portal system was introduced in the current year to allow schools to apply in a timely and efficient manner. Following the application process, Bunscoil Chr\u00edost R\u00ed has been informed of an EAL allocation of ten hours per week for the 2026-27 school year in addition to the permanent EAL post that is in place within the school. This is less than the current EAL allocation and corresponds with an increase in the overall enrolment in the school enrolments of pupils with EAL needs.  As I understand it and as it is presented to me, the school is not losing five teachers in the 2026-27 school year. The staffing arrangements, and I would be very strong on this, which have been long-standing, include arrangements for an appeals mechanism for schools to submit a staffing appeal under certain published criteria. The primary staffing appeals board meets three times a year. The board met in May and will meet again later this month. It is important that the school, if it wishes, should submit an appeal on the staffing allocations to the appeals board with all the necessary supporting information it can have from the school cohort and the school community as well. This will be a crucial meeting of the appeals board in June this year to try to ensure we have everything in place for September insofar as possible. However, I encourage the school to make sure an appeal is submitted. The application forms are available on Circular 0025\/2026. It is important we have sight of that and that a decision is made by the appeals board which, as the Deputy knows, is independent of the Department. Information should be submitted as soon as possible. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  Some of what I said is to give context to the way that this is being compounded. The key part to focus on is the English as an additional language aspect. The school is disappointed to be down by two mainstream teachers. However, they understand there are criteria regarding numbers. The 455 is by way of illustration that they have hit the bar on another date. Had the key date been another date, they might have been successful in keeping another teacher. However, the key part is the English as an additional language. The permanent position is still there, but they are effectively down by two positions in that area alone. This year they submitted 39 category A. According to the table I have here in front of me from last year and previous years before that, for the bracket 31 to 40 hours, that would have been 35 hours alone, even before we get into the 49 category B.  This is a school that is supporting a community that has a high degree of linguistic diversity, that includes a lot of children from direct provision from the Kinsale Road centre and is supporting a community which has mixed needs but certainly pockets of disadvantage. The goalposts have shifted here. That is the bit I would like the Minister of State to take back to the Department. Schools were not informed that there would be a different approach to the calculation in terms of EAL. The policy compounds that with the loss of the two permanent general allocation teachers and the loss of the special education teacher. Separately, it is now looking like there will be a loss of special needs assistant, SNA, hours. All of these things are compounding this, but the key injustice here is the fact that the goalposts have shifted and schools were not informed of this in advance. From having effectively three EAL positions it now looks as if the school will have one and ten hours. That is a huge loss, when the same number of children who have those needs are involved. Those children will now be in bigger classes, with access to fewer special education hours. That is a huge problem. I want the Minister of State to take that back to the Department. The goalposts shifted and the school is down because of it significantly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  We have a huge level of investment in terms of teachers. The past number of years have seen more than 5,000 extra teachers within the school system. That is little comfort to Bunscoil Chr\u00edost R\u00ed. In order that we are all understanding this, there is no reduction in SNAs from 2025 to 2026 or from 2026 to 2027. The Deputy will be aware of the documentation that was launched last week on the SNA workforce development plan, the redeployment plan and the new circular. That is setting out our roadmap for SNA employment. There will be no cliff edge in relation to schools or school communities into the future. It is important to understand that.  In regard to the point on the numbers, my information is 453. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  The criteria are different this year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  The Deputy mentioned 455. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  That is the general allocation. The English as an additional language is the key bit. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  The Minister of State will respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  I believe my information is correct in relation to that. I take the Deputy's point on the numbers and the acceptance of the school community. We have put in a huge amount. Bunscoil Chr\u00edost R\u00ed has a huge reputation as a massive school within the Turner's Cross area, as the Deputy outlined. Any information that is submitted to the Department in terms of an appeal will be adjudicated on. I know the school is facilitating and working with a diverse community as well. It is important to say that this policy documentation has not shifted the goalposts in a dramatic fashion. These are long-standing issues we have had. It is important that if the school, and I believe it will, submits an appeal, that appeal will be adjudicated on in a timely fashion to ensure that certainty is brought to the school community in advance of September 2026. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"School Staff"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-10\/debate\/dbsect_5","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Educational Disadvantage","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":4},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-10\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_5","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  We now have Deputies Paul Murphy, Ciar\u00e1n Ahern and Se\u00e1n Crowe to the Minister for Education and Youth to discuss the exclusion of St. Dominic's National School, Tallaght, from the DEIS plus programme. There are three names on it. If only two Deputies are speaking, we will split it half-and-half with two minutes each. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  Apologies from Deputy Crowe who supports this issue but cannot be here this morning. I welcome the DEIS plus scheme. It can make a real difference for children in school communities with high levels of educational disadvantage. The extra resources will make a real difference. There are other issues around the country but we are raising a particular issue regarding a school which is excluded from the current scheme. It has appealed that. It seems to highlight a flaw in the methodology which is primarily based, as far as I understand it, on the deprivation index. Therefore, it can miss the level of granularity which means that for some schools, the level of deprivation that was reflected in their school community is not fully captured by that data.  St. Dominic's National School in Tallaght is one such school. It is one of the largest DEIS band 1 schools in the country with 431 pupils. There are about 50 different nationalities represented. It is a really fantastic school and a great place for kids to learn but it definitely could do with the extra resources. One simple example is that in the area served by St. Dominic's is Tallaght village, which would not qualify as an area of particularly high deprivation. However, within this area, there is an IPAS centre and a homeless hub. Multiple children from both these places are going to the school. Many kids who are coming in are in homeless housing assistance payment, HAP, accommodation or are kids from lone parent families with high levels of intergenerational educational disadvantage. The school community is worried that it certainly was not captured at the first step and needs to be captured on appeal stage so that it gets DEIS plus status. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  To echo those comments, this is something that has joint political support across our constituency. We have worked constructively with the Minister of State before and we welcomed his engagement on the issues related to schools in Dublin South-West. DEIS plus is clearly very welcome and many schools in Dublin South-West have already benefited from it in the first round of applications. We are asking for this for St. Dominic's school which, as Deputy Murphy said, is a fabulous school in the heart of Tallaght serving 50 different nationalities. It already caters for two special classes and is opening an additional two in the coming year. It is a DEIS urban band 1 school, arguably one of the largest in the country, and is appealing the Department's decision not to include it in the DEIS plus first-round allocations. It has numerous reasons for doing that. Primarily, it seems that the methodology applied by the Department is very data-driven and is supposed to be objective, but possibly in sticking to so much data, some of the subtlety and the local knowledge are lost that would be involved in these kind of applications. What the school is saying is that the school itself and maybe the addresses of the students in the schools are not necessarily in the most deprived areas, strictly speaking, from a geographical point of view, including the conditions and situations in which the students are living and coming into the school.  The school takes from a very wide catchment, including from as far away as Citywest and the Citywest Hotel. Those students are in deprived situations and that data and that sort of subtlety are not captured by the Department's model. We are supporting the school's appeal for DEIS plus status and we would ask that the Minister of State would also give that significant consideration. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  I compliment the way both Deputies work across political divides in terms of education and I will continue to liaise with them. We might not turn water into wine at every juncture but we certainly will try.  Addressing educational disadvantage and ensuring that every child and young person can achieve their full potential are key priorities for me and the Minister for Education and Youth. The introduction of DEIS plus represents the most significant expansion of targeted education support since the establishment of the DEIS programme. The scheme is designed to provide enhanced supports to a small cohort of schools with the highest concentration of children and young people experiencing persistent and intergenerational disadvantage.  The Deputies raised the issue of St. Dominic's National School in Tallaght. I acknowledge the strong work being undertaken by the principal, all of the team and the wider school community in supporting pupils and families. It is important to stress that although the school was not identified under the DEIS plus programme, it does not mean that disadvantage is not present within the school community. St. Dominic's National School remains a DEIS urban band 1 school and continues to receive significant range of supports available under the programme, including reduced class sizes, enhanced staffing supports and full home school liaison provision.  DEIS plus schools were identified using a nationally consistent and evidence-based model developed using pupil-level administrative data and a range of indicators associated with persistent and intergenerational disadvantage. These indicators include deprivation level, Traveller and Roma identity and children residing in State-funded emergency accommodation and international protection accommodation. The model examines enrolment data across the previous three academic years to ensure consistency and fairness in its application nationally. I recognise that the local school communities can experience significant and complex challenges that are deeply felt by people's families and staff, however, in establishing a national scheme such as DEIS plus, it is essential that the same evidence-based criteria are applied consistently across all schools to ensure fairness and equality of treatment throughout the education system.  The scheme is intentionally highly targeted. Schools that have been included in the scheme have been assessed as having a concentration of disadvantage significantly above the national average and at the highest level nationally. While many similar schools clearly serve children and families experiencing disadvantage, the DEIS plus programme is targeted at those with the very highest concentration of students at risk of education disadvantage.  As the Deputies will be aware, the appeal process is currently under way for schools that were not satisfied with the outcome following the application of the DEIS plus identification model to their enrolment data. St. Dominic's National School has submitted an appeal under the process and I would be very mindful that it is not appropriate for me to comment on the specifics of any individual school appeal while the process remains ongoing. All appeals are subject to a technical review process in line with the criteria set out by the Department with independent oversight provided through an independent appeals panel. It is anticipated that the schools will be informed of the outcome of the appeals process by the end of June 2026.  The Department and I continue to engage with school communities and education stakeholders regarding the implementation of the DEIS strategy to 2035 and the range of supports available to schools serving communities experiencing educational disadvantage. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  We absolutely accept there need for objective criteria. That is not in doubt. The question is whether we have objective criteria that capture the reality beyond simply the geographical deprivation index. It is not entirely clear. I do not think a list of the criteria has been published - if a school is above this, it is in but if a school is below this, it is out. The school has appealed. There is a limit in the appeals process because the only basis on which the school could really appeal was to update the Primary Online Database about its pupils and then say it had done that. It obviously hopes that this is enough to put it over the line but there are flaws even there. If the school had pupils who were in it two years ago and who should be captured but who are now in a different school, it is not technically able to update their addresses because they are now registered elsewhere. Therefore, that is not being captured in the appeal and the school does not have a chance to put forward all these arguments. I think they have been submitted to the Minister of State in parliamentary questions in terms of the points about homeless hubs and IPAS so, hopefully, they can be taken into account. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  I thank the Minister of State for his engagement. The appeals process itself is basically based on the Primary Online Database, which is very rigid and does not really allow for any subtlety or colour to be given. Part of what we are doing today is giving the Minister of State an insight into how the school works and into the background of the students there. The school desperately needs the resources that DEIS would bring to allow it to have a well-being and a trauma teacher and an administrative deputy principal because like staff in so many schools around the country, the staff in the school are working to the pin of their collar and the students would hugely benefit from the additional resources that DEIS plus would bring, so we are asking the Minister of State to do it. One thought I will leave the Minister of State with is that when Deputy Murphy and I visited the school a couple of days ago, there were food and snack baskets at the door and they are not just used by the students but by the parents. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  I accept that engagement by all political representatives with regard to school communities in disadvantaged areas is hugely important because education is a fundamental. It can determine the trajectory of someone whether he or she is in a disadvantaged area or elsewhere. I do understand that the Deputies have a real and genuine engagement within the education sector.  Although St. Dominic's National School was not identified for inclusion in DEIS plus, that does not diminish in any way the challenges faced by the school communities and the outstanding work done there by the school leadership and all of the team working in the school and dealing with disadvantage.  Due to the appeals process, the Deputies will understand that it is important for me not to comment on that process right now and I do not intend to. The criteria set down very early on aimed to make sure that we were targeting the most disadvantaged communities across the country. The resources we were putting in - there are significant resources in DEIS plus and indeed the entire DEIS programme - are to ensure that disadvantage is dealt with within the communities. A number of Deputies have raised issues about the criteria but they are transparent. Deputy Ahern spoke about them not reflecting some of the things that are outside of them but, in the first instance, it is important that the appeals process is dealt with and that it is brought to a conclusion as early as possible. We are hopeful that decision will be taken by the end of June 2026, so the school will have certainty for next year. I do understand that there is disadvantage in other communities that has not been captured but we are targeting resources in the best possible way. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Educational Disadvantage"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-10\/debate\/dbsect_6","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Hospital Equipment","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-10\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_6","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Burke  Currently in Ireland, we have 23 linear accelerators in Galway, Dublin and Cork. Of those 14 linear accelerators in Dublin, 12 are more than ten years old and eight are more than 15 years old. It is clearly established that any machine that is more than ten years old is going to cause delays and breakdowns are far more frequent and as a result, the service cannot be delivered. In fact, the figures for 2025 are quite frightening where the radiation that people required was not delivered within the 14-day time period, which is the guideline.  Paragraph 22 of the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026 set out that a rolling replacement programme would be put in place. This has not occurred. In relation to radiation therapy, we have a whole team of people. We have radiation oncologists, radiation therapists, medical physics, dosimetrists and nurses. There is a whole team. If a linear accelerator breaks down, treatment is not provided and a whole team wastes one, two or three days.  Radiation therapy cures about 40% of cancers. The European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology, ESTRO, sets out quite clearly that the lifetime of these machines is ten years. Some of these machines are 18 years old. There is a programme, to start in 2027, which talks about replacing two machines per year but that is not enough. We now need to set out a clear programme of action so that the number of replacements is four per year over the next three years and not two per year. This needs to be put in place.  We have had a huge increase in population. We will also have an increase in the number of people who require treatment. We have the expertise. We have good and dedicated staff. It is important that we give them the support they require. There are 14 machines in total in Dublin. If St. Luke's replaces two machines every year, some of them will be over 21 years old by the time they are replaced. It is time that we looked at this. It is not a big cost in real terms because there would be a huge saving. We are wasting staff time when a machine is not working.  Over the past 12 months, we have also had to have patients receive treatment in the private sector. This cost over \u20ac17 million last year alone. Why are we delaying the replacement of these machines? Recently, I opened the cancer summit in Croke Park, which was attended by more than 300 people from hospitals, pharmaceutical companies and a whole range of services in the healthcare area. There was a big discussion about the fact that we are delaying putting new equipment in place. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor)  I thank Deputy Burke for raising this very important issue. The Government is committed to improving cancer care, ensuring better prevention and maintaining improvements in cancer survival rates and timely access to treatments. The availability of appropriate, fit-for-purpose facilities and equipment is critical to the safe and timely delivery of cancer care.  Since the launch of the national cancer strategy in 2017, the Government has allocated \u20ac105 million to support cancer services and improve outcomes for patients. Under the national cancer strategy and the recommendations of the national plan for radiation oncology, two state-of-the-art radiation oncology centres have opened in Cork and Galway, in 2019 and 2023 respectively, representing a \u20ac120 million capital investment.  Expansion and equipment replacement programmes are progressing across Ireland's public radiation oncology network. Deputy Burke spoke about the phased expansion that is under way. This is at Beaumont Hospital, where formal tender documents have already been issued to advance the project. A dedicated equipment replacement programme is also active across the St. Luke's Radiation Oncology Network to upgrade essential linear accelerators.  On a national scale, the Department of Health and the HSE are actively developing a strategic infrastructure programme to systematically plan for the future replacement and expansion of radiation therapy equipment at all public facilities. To progress this strategic initiative, formal engagement between the Department and relevant stakeholders is scheduled to begin on 12 June 2026, which is in two days' time. Centralised planning for this programme and subsequent oversight in its implementation will enable cost-effective procurement and efficient delivery of enabling works. The programme will also align with the national cancer strategy and Sl\u00e1intecare, supporting sustainable, high-quality radiotherapy services nationwide.  As advised by the HSE, replacement of equipment takes into account not only age but also performance linked to use and ongoing maintenance regimes - end of life and end of support, as designed by the manufacturer - and the availability of spare parts. This is a critical consideration in replacing radiation oncology equipment. As such, the replacement of this equipment in the St. Luke's Radiation Oncology Network in Dublin is a priority.  The majority of radiation oncology services in Ireland met or exceeded the KPI targets across 2025, with the exception of the St. Luke's Radiation Oncology Network which performed below target across the year. As I have previously stated, an equipment replacement programme is in place to address this issue. In November 2025, the Department of Health's sectoral plan for 2026 to 2030 was launched under the national development plan. The sectoral plan sets out infrastructure investment priorities for the next five years, building on a strong track record of delivery to support the provision of equitable, accessible and high-quality healthcare across Ireland. A key strategic priority under the sectoral plan is continued investment in cancer care, including radiation oncology. I welcome this opportunity to discuss equipment replacement and expansion. The Government recognises the importance of the timely replacement of equipment as its effectiveness decreases. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Burke  In 2016 access to radiation therapy within 15 days was 86.4% and in 2019 it was 86.5%. Last year it was 78.7%. It has dropped. In fact, in 2024 it was down to 64.7%. Part of the problem is machines breaking down. There is a need for a national radiotherapy equipment replacement programme. I know the programme is starting but it is about whether we can do it faster over the next four years. We will be in Government for this period of time so let us make a serious effort. We have the expertise and we need to make sure we have ring-fenced capital funding to replace four machines per year over the next three to four years so that we have a large number of machines replaced. This will create efficiency.  As I said earlier, all of the figures clearly indicate, because the population has increased dramatically over the past 20 years and we also have people living longer so we have an older population, that we are more likely to have more people identified with cancer. Therefore, more people will require treatment. Time is of the essence in providing treatment and it is very important that we have the best quality machines available so the staff can do this. This treatment cures up to 40% of cancers. It is extremely important that we give it priority over the next three to four years and set out a clear plan of capital funding. We must remember that when we are replacing the machines we will have delays because one or two fewer machines will be available. This is why we need to roll it on as fast as possible. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor  I thank Deputy Burke. As he said, this is a serious issue. I know the Government is committed and I will certainly bring it back to the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. Ensuring better prevention, maintaining improvements in cancer survival rates and timely access to treatment are priorities for the Government. Access to state-of-the-art and fit-for-purpose facilities and equipment is fundamental to the safe and timely delivery of such care. Deputy Burke is right that timely delivery is so important. He spoke about the machines that have broken down. As I have previously set out, a replacement programme for radiation therapy equipment is under way across St. Luke\u2019s Radiation Oncology Network in Dublin, funded under the HSE's capital plan for 2026. The replacement programme will conclude in 2030.  To address future radiotherapy equipment replacement, the Department of Health and the HSE are developing a strategic infrastructure programme to plan for the replacement and expansion of radiotherapy equipment at public radiation oncology facilities.  Engagement between the Department and relevant stakeholders will begin this week to advance this work. I assure the Deputy this will happen and I will definitely keep him updated, as that is important. Under the current strategic plan, direct investment of \u20ac120 million has been made in state-of-the-art radiation oncology centres in Cork and Galway to address radiotherapy equipment needs. A key strategic priority under the Department's health sectoral plan for 2026 to 2030 is the continued investment in cancer care, including radiation oncology. The plan will also progress national cancer infrastructure planning for oncology day wards, inpatient oncology, cancer diagnostics and outreach and community service delivery consistent with Sl\u00e1intecare and the national cancer strategy.  I again thank the Deputy for highlighting this matter. I will definitely go back to the Minister. As the Deputy said, timely care is so important. I assure him the Government is committed to that. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Hospital Equipment"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-10\/debate\/dbsect_7","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Healthcare Infrastructure Provision","counts":{"speechCount":10,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-10\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  I am glad to get the opportunity to raise this issue again. I will tell the Minister of State why I am doing it again. I raised this matter exactly a month ago, on 12 May, with the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell. We spoke at length about the need and the urgency of opening the community hospital in Killarney. On 29 May, there was a meeting arranged between the HSE locally and the five TDs from Kerry, one of whom is me. It was laid out clearly in front of us by the HSE people, who I believe are in charge of Cork and Kerry, that the community hospital would open before the end of June. That was on 29 May. About a week ago, it was made known to the county councillors that it would not open at the end of June. I will not speak for the other Deputies but I feel my credibility is being undermined by this kind of carry-on, which is what I would call it. We were told clearly it was going to open and the patients would be transferred from the old district hospital to the new community hospital building before the end of June. Who is calling the shots? Is it the HSE at national level? Is it the Minister? Who has the power or the responsibility? Who directed these people? Did they take it upon themselves? I do not think they did. Someone informed them to relay to us that the hospital would open before the end of June. I want an answer to that. I do not know whether the Minister of State can give it to me. I thought it might be the Minister of State who was here last month but I have learned he has gone away, and that is fine. The man is entitled to go about his business but I thought it would be him here.  There are many elderly patients waiting to get into this public nursing home. We have excellent private nursing homes all around Killarney but we need a dementia unit. It is critical for so many because there are people getting dementia at a younger age. There were to be 30 beds opening for dementia patients as part of this. Many of the private nursing homes cannot cater for dementia patients or do not have the facilities. We are begging for this on our knees. The lights have been on in the building since before Christmas and it was cleared to go.  I raised with the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, that the INMO said there was no engagement by the HSE with it regarding the staffing. The HSE said it was engaging with the INMO every second day or every second week. Who is telling the truth? It will come out now that the reason for the delay is exactly that, namely, that the INMO and also HIQA have questions to be answered. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  Go raibh maith agat, a Theachta. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  It is hard to see the children's hospital ever opening----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  The Minister of State----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  -----if the Government cannot open a community hospital in Killarney. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  Deputy, you will have an opportunity again in a moment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  All right. Thank you very much. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor  I thank the Deputy for raising this serious issue. I am taking it on behalf of the Minister of State with responsibility for older people and housing, Deputy O'Donnell. Long-term residential care is a crucial part of our healthcare system. Across the country, our HSE community nursing units, CNUs, and community hospitals play a vital role in the provision of long-term care and other services. The Government is committed to continued investment in healthcare infrastructure which supports the highest quality care for our older people. This investment includes the community nursing unit capital programme, which was launched to ensure up to 90 of our public community nursing units and community hospitals would be refurbished or replaced to ensure the best-quality environments for our older people.  The public private partnership, PPP, aspect of the CNU programme continues to progress and will deliver 528 beds in seven facilities across the country. The new CNU in Killarney is part of the PPP project and will have 130 beds, with, as the Deputy said, 50 long-stay beds, 30 dementia-specific beds and 50-short stay beds. The CNU will provide a high-quality living environment which will be in line with all regulatory requirements. The HSE advised me it expects the new Killarney community nursing unit to open before the end of June. The HSE is still saying that. This only came to me yesterday.  The opening is dependent on registration approval from HIQA, so the Deputy is right that this is what the HSE is waiting on. The HSE is engaging with HIQA regarding a small number of outstanding issues. The Deputy is right that this is about opening these units, which are critical. Once HIQA registration is granted, the HSE will set a date and move forward with the transfer of residents from St. Columbanus's Community Hospital and the district hospital to the new building. HSE South West has assured the Minister there is ongoing engagement with residents and their families ahead of the transfer, so there has been a lot of engagement.  All current staff from both St. Columbanus's Community Hospital and Killarney Community Hospital will transfer to the new facility. I have been advised by the HSE that the recruitment campaigns are under way for the additional staff required to extend occupancy to the full 130-bed capacity. I am aware - this is what the Deputy spoke about - that the INMO served notice of industrial action last Friday in relation to staffing levels at the newly built Killarney community nursing unit. The HSE has advised there has been active dialogue by way of weekly meetings with unions over the last two months. The HSE advised that much has been agreed and some further engagements regarding staff rosters are in the final stages. The HSE is, therefore, in the final stages of this process and there has been a lot of communication. The HSE will meet the INMO again tomorrow. The HSE hopes an agreement can be reached on the remaining outstanding issues at this meeting. I thank the staff and representative bodies for their continued engagement. We know the excellent work they do.  HSE South West will continue to engage with residents, their families, staff and the wider community on all updates about the opening of the new Killarney community nursing unit. The opening of the new unit is an absolute priority for me, the Minister and Ministers of State and the Department of Health. I have no doubt this state-of-the-art CNU will enhance the lives of older people in Killarney and surrounding areas for many years to come by providing the highest quality health and social care services. I look forward to seeing it officially opened. I am sure the Deputy will be at the opening. He is right that this is important. It is about everybody working together to get the unit opened. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  I thank the Minister of State for her reply but practically everything she read out was read out by the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, a month ago.  Here we are with this confusion again placed upon the people of Killarney and the surrounding area. Surely the HSE knew the hospital was to be finished before the end of last December. Surely it knew staffing arrangements would have to be agreed with the INMO. Surely it knew HIQA would have to have everything certified. Why was that not done? It has had nearly two years to organise all this and we are being told the same thing today that I was told a month ago.  So much is contingent on this hospital opening. We need extra respite services in Killarney, which were to go into the whole district. We need a minor injuries unit, which I think was going into St. Columbanus's Community Hospital, and a primary care centre. All these things are held up while this is being finalised. The summer holidays will come and I am worried the new hospital will not be open and there will be nothing at all done about those three things, especially the extra respite services that are needed. I see people could not go on holidays last year after minding their elderly or sick parents, sisters or brothers. They had no place for the patients to go. We were promised that would be decided and sorted out for this summer but it is not going to be. That is the crib I have. It is terrible to think there is some fooling and carry-on going on in the HSE. God knows it is getting enough money to spend it properly, to see it is properly done and to see things like this are done in a timely fashion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor  I thank the Deputy for highlighting this matter. The opening at the end of June is a priority for him. I reiterate the older persons' service in Killarney and surrounding areas will be enhanced by the opening of the new state-of-the-art, 130-bed community nursing units. The new CNU in Killarney is part of the overall CNU programme, which will deliver seven public private partnership, PPP, projects and provide a complement of 130 beds, of which 50 will be long-stay beds, 30 will be dementia-specific beds and 50 will be short-stay beds.  The HSE is engaging with HIQA on a small number of outstanding issues and expects the new Killarney community nursing unit to be open before the end of June. It is waiting on HIQA registration. I welcome the ongoing engagement taking place again tomorrow. I hope the outstanding issues can be resolved.  I thank the staff and representative bodies for their continued engagement. The opening of the new CNU in Killarney is an absolute priority for the Department of Health and the HSE. I am working with the Ministers and committed to ensuring residents can move into their new home without delay. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Healthcare Infrastructure Provision"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-10\/debate\/dbsect_8","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Ports Policy","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-10\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pat the Cope Gallagher","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pat-the-Cope-Gallagher.D.1981-06-30","memberCode":"Pat-the-Cope-Gallagher.D.1981-06-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pat the Cope Gallagher","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pat-the-Cope-Gallagher.D.1981-06-30","memberCode":"Pat-the-Cope-Gallagher.D.1981-06-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher  I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting my Topical Issue. I did not think last time I raised this matter in the House that I would have to come back again. It is not one of the major problems in the Department, which has more to deal with. However, whether it is the Department, the Minister of State or the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority, SFPA, they are unable to resolve this. I will make the charge immediately and explain it: it is total discrimination against the people I represent in Burtonport.  When Deputy Dooley assumed the office of Minister of State with responsibility for the marine and made his first visit to Donegal, he met with a fisherman from Burtonport who uses the port. He listened attentively to him and I thank him for that, but that was over a year and a half ago and still no progress has been made. I pose this question: who is in charge? Is it the Minister of State, the officials in the Department or the SFPA?  I will explain the simplicity of all this. As I outlined to the Minister of State at the time, Greencastle, Rathmullen and Burtonport were originally designated as landing ports for Northern Ireland-registered vessels landing crab into the State, with Bunagee, Malin and Glengad in the north of the county added later - not by the SFPA but by ministerial order. Burtonport was still ignored. All designated ports except Burtonport allow landings from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., Monday to Friday, and until 5 p.m. on Saturday. Burtonport is restricted to 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays, with no Saturday landings permitted. This places vessels landing in Burtonport at a clear disadvantage. They simply seek parity with other ports. This has a direct impact on access to the Chinese market. Transfers are made to Holland on Saturday for onward shipment to the premium markets in China where maximum prices can be attained for Irish products. Those landing into Burtonport are deprived of that. The restricted hours and lack of Saturday landings are inconsistent with the arrangements in the other designated ports.  To illustrate the impact, a recent landing had to be made at Burtonport on a Saturday when a crew member had to return to Burtonport to bring his child to hospital. That was not considered a force majeure . They very kindly said - I am being sarcastic when I say that, \"We're only warning you. We're not going to charge you.\" There are plenty of force majeure landings into D\u00fan Laoghaire by Belgian fleets. Where is the SFPA when this is happening? It happened when a father of a child had to be taken into Burtonport. An initiative has to be taken. There is no way this should be allowed to continue, whether it is the Minister of State, the Department or the SFPA. I had this out with the former executive chairman of the SFPA before his retirement. What steps has the Minister of State taken to replace that person? Some weeks afterwards, has he taken steps to put somebody there in an acting capacity?  Let me in conclusion make the charge of discrimination and vindictiveness, and pose the question again: who is in charge? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Timmy Dooley)  I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. It is an issue I am very familiar with as a result of his continued lobbying. I had an opportunity to meet with the Deputy and some representatives of the fishing community who use Burtonport Harbour.  All work in relation to Ireland's exclusive fisheries zone comprises law enforcement matters for the Irish control authorities. Under the Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006, all operational matters concerning sea-fisheries control are, as a matter of law, exclusively for the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority. It is effectively in charge of the entire operation there. The Naval Service is involved as well. Under the Act, I am precluded from getting involved in operational matters. When it comes to the designation of the port, I understand that is the competency of the Department and Minister concerned. As I have delegated powers in that regard, it is my responsibility.  UK fishing vessels, including Northern Irish vessels, had a pattern of landings into many Irish ports prior to the UK's withdrawal from the EU. In the post-Brexit period, UK vessels are now considered as third country vessels. County Donegal has the most landings by smaller Northern Ireland fishing vessels into smaller ports to which they traditionally landed.  Killybegs and Castletownbere have been designated for third country landings for some time. In 2021, Burtonport, Rathmullen, Greencastle, Howth and Ros an Mh\u00edl were designated as ports for third country landings also. In 2023, three new ports in County Donegal \u2014 Bunagee, Glengad and Malin Head \u2014 as well as Dunmore East, were designated for landing of UK-registered Northern Ireland vessels. In addition, the opening hours in Greencastle were extended. The four newly designated ports were additional to the seven ports already designated.  There are significant practical and cost implications for the State in the designation of EU ports for third country landings. Under EU regulations, such designations represent an entry point to the European Union, following which food is free to circulate within the full EU Common Market.  On this basis, for any ports designated, Ireland is obliged to ensure that it has in place a meaningful control presence.  The current ports designated and the opening days and times for those ports were decided to allow for Northern Ireland registered vessels to continue to land into Irish ports, while ensuring that the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority, SFPA, has the capacity to continue to perform its vital control functions effectively.  The authority has advised that additional resources would be required in order to extend the operational hours for Burtonport. On that basis, the SFPA has been asked to submit a business case to the Department on this matter, and any additional resources that may be required at Greencastle. All business cases are assessed on their own merits once submitted. Any additional headcount that may be sought by the SFPA will require sanction from both our Department and the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation.  I also assure the Deputy that the designation of ports for landings does not preclude vessels from coming into ports for force majeure reasons, such as safe harbour. I take on board the issue he raised, and I will try to have that investigated.  I have set out for him the facts as they are and will answer some of his specific questions. Paschal Hayes, as the Deputy knows, submitted his decision to retire some time ago. There will be a public competition to replace that third member of the authority, but in answer to the Deputy\u2019s question regarding who is now in charge, I intend to appoint in an acting capacity one of the two remaining members of the commission in the coming days. I will keep him updated on that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pat the Cope Gallagher","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pat-the-Cope-Gallagher.D.1981-06-30","memberCode":"Pat-the-Cope-Gallagher.D.1981-06-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher  I am disappointed to learn that a business case has to be made to open Burtonport for a few hours. When looking at the map of Donegal, there is no designated port from Greencastle to Killybegs where fishermen can land on Saturdays. It is putting people's lives of risks and depriving them of accessing the Chinese market. It makes no sense at all. It makes no sense to have Burtonport linked to Greencastle, which is an hour and a half away, whereas it should be linked to Killybegs, which is 48 km and 45 minutes away.  As the Minister of State knows, fishery officers are not laid off if there are no landings in Killybegs during the summer. There are 20 fishery officers there and all they have to do is slip down the back road from Killybegs to Ardara to Burtonport, and they do not have to come. There is an insinuation that a fishery officer has to be there every time a vessel is landed.  I will pose the question at a later stage and I want the details. Is there a fishery officer at every port when fish are being landed? There is not. I am around long around to know that. There is somebody in the Minister of State's Department or in the SFPA who is being difficult. They are being intransigent about this. They are discriminating against the people I represent. I strongly believe that this must be resolved soon rather than later.  I think I am the only one left in this House from the class of 1981. I am here all of these years and I never had to come in to make a case like this for something that is so simple. We talk about money; I understand if the SFPA is coming to make a case to the fisheries committee. When its officials attend, they have to spend some money in preparing to come there and the amount of money we are talking is peanuts.  A predecessor of the Minister of State's was able to designate ports in north Donegal but ignored west Donegal for some reason. To leave all of that area without a designated port on Saturdays deprives fishermen of going into that lucrative market. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  Go raibh maith agat, a Theachta. T\u00e1 an t-am caite. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pat the Cope Gallagher","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pat-the-Cope-Gallagher.D.1981-06-30","memberCode":"Pat-the-Cope-Gallagher.D.1981-06-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher  I sincerely hope that I will not have to come into this House again to make the case. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Timmy Dooley  I assure the Deputy that I will make every effort to ensure that he does not have come in and be as passionate as he is about this issue. It is something that I am aware of. I am working to try to find a resolution. I take the Deputy's point about the language that is sometimes used to set out the reasoning, with terms such as \"business case\", \"headcount\" and \"personnel\".  Having travelled the road in the Deputy's presence, it is clear to me that there is an issue here that has to be resolved. I commit to doing my best to try to get it resolved as quickly as possible. It is a fair ask. I do not believe it is unreasonable, and I certainly do not believe that the costs should be prohibitive taking everything into consideration. The Deputy should be assured of my effort to try to resolve this in so far as is possible and as quickly as possible. I thank him again. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pat the Cope Gallagher","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pat-the-Cope-Gallagher.D.1981-06-30","memberCode":"Pat-the-Cope-Gallagher.D.1981-06-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher  I thank the Minister of State. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ports Policy"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-10\/debate\/dbsect_9","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Message from Seanad","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  Seanad \u00c9ireann has passed the Arbitration (Amendment) Bill 2025 without amendment. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Message from Seanad"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-10\/debate\/dbsect_10","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Exclusion of Israel from Sporting Fixtures: Motion [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":32,"speakerCount":30},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_10","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Daniel Ennis","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Daniel-Ennis.D.2026-05-25","memberCode":"Daniel-Ennis.D.2026-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pat Buckley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pat-Buckley.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Pat-Buckley.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ann Graves","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  I move:  That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann:  agrees that:  \u2014 the State of Israel is committing an ongoing genocide in Gaza, something which both the Taoiseach and T\u00e1naiste have publicly acknowledged;  \u2014 since 7th October, 2023, nearly 75,000 people have been murdered by Israel in Gaza, including more than 20,000 children;  \u2014 of the more than 170,000 Palestinians who have been injured in Gaza since October 2023, 43,000 have sustained life-changing injuries, including amputations, spinal cord injuries and severe mobility impairments;  \u2014 all of Gaza's infrastructure, including water, energy, healthcare and education systems, have been systematically and deliberately destroyed by Israel;  \u2014 Israel has repeatedly violated a so-called ceasefire agreement that was announced in October 2025, with nearly 1,000 Palestinians being killed since then;  \u2014 on 28th May, Israel's Minister of Defense, Israel Katz, confirmed that he was committed to the ethnic cleansing of Gaza, through large-scale forced migration of Palestinians from Gaza;  \u2014 on the same date, 28th May, Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, announced that he had directed the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to increase its occupation of Gaza to 70 per cent of the territory;  \u2014 since October 2023, nearly 1,500 Palestinians have been murdered in the West Bank;  \u2014 violent settlers are acting with complete impunity in the West Bank, murdering Palestinians, razing Palestinian villages to the ground, and forcibly expelling Palestinians from their homes;  \u2014 since 2020, Israeli courts have not handed down any jail sentences to settlers found responsible for the deaths of Palestinians;  \u2014 Israel's bombardment of Lebanon has intensified in recent weeks, with approximately 20 per cent of Lebanon now occupied; and  \u2014 according to a statement from the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), on 29th May, 11 children are being killed or injured every day in Lebanon by the IDF;  notes that:  \u2014 on 18th May, 2026, the IDF boarded a Gaza aid flotilla in international waters, and kidnapped humanitarian activists, including 13 Irish citizens;  \u2014 those citizens were assaulted and abused by members of the Israeli military and publicly goaded by far-right Israeli Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, before being deported from Israel;  \u2014 at the time, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade stated that the treatment of detained activists was \"unacceptable\" and \"appalling\";  \u2014 the East 1 settlement construction, East of Jerusalem in Gaza and the West Bank, is currently being pursued by the State of Israel, in breach of international law;  \u2014 both the European Union and the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, have condemned the East 1 plan being carried out by the State of Israel, stating that these actions damage the viability of a two-state solution, and are in breach of international law; and  \u2014 this represents the ongoing denial by Israel of the Palestinian people's right to self-determination, is forcible transfer, and constitutes a war crime;  further notes that:  \u2014 sportswashing is a known method for apartheid States to distract from breaches of human rights and other unethical conduct, including war crimes;  \u2014 the Irish women's basketball team were not financially supported by the Government to boycott playing Israel in the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2025 qualifier, despite \"strong concerns\" expressed from Basketball Ireland over the fixture;  \u2014 in 1999, the then Fianna F\u00e1il Government prevented a Euro 2000 qualifying match between Ireland and Yugoslavia from taking place, because of Serbian atrocities in Kosovo;  \u2014 the Government acted, despite UEFA turning down a request from them to cancel the game;  \u2014 at the time, the then Taoiseach said \"It is not for a government to force a sporting decision on a body. But if the body refuses to make a decision, then we will have a decision to make\";  \u2014 in February 2022, FIFA and UEFA banned Russia from all club and international games, after Poland and Sweden refused to play World Cup qualifiers with the team;  \u2014 on 5th December, 2025, the Taoiseach described RT\u00c9's decision to boycott the Eurovision as \"an act of solidarity\";  \u2014 Irish athletes, such as Wheelchair Rugby player Alan Dineen, have stated they will refuse to play against Israel in international competitions;  \u2014 the removal of a fixture from grounds within the Republic of Ireland does not represent an appropriate measure, while the support of this measure is a continued endorsement of the fulfilment of fixtures against a State currently in breach of international law; and  \u2014 on 28th May, 2026, the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport and the Minister of State at the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, announced their intention to boycott the upcoming Ireland-Israel game; and  calls on the Government to:  \u2014 advocate, at national and international level, for Israel to be excluded from all international sporting competitions, as long as the genocide and illegal occupation continues; and  \u2014 support Irish sporting bodies to boycott fixtures, events, and competitions, where Israel is competing, as long as the genocide and illegal occupation continues.  I offer our sympathies, as a party, to the victim and family of the awful incident in Belfast on Monday, condemn the racist violence that has ensued and call for calm in all communities in the North at this moment.  I am proud to move the motion, which seeks to ask this Government to advocate for the exclusion of Israel from all international sporting competitions and to support Irish sporting bodies that are asked to compete in competitions where Israel has not been excluded.  I thank everybody who has worked on the motion and on the communications around it, the many civil society groups that have been tirelessly working on this campaign to stop the game, including the Stop the Game group and Irish Sport for Palestine, and many other volunteers who are working hard to really express a growing sentiment in society that this is not okay and that we cannot stand alongside Israel in a sporting fixture of this nature and allow that to be a sportswashing exercise for the ongoing genocide in Gaza, the West Bank and in Lebanon.  I will talk through some of the details of the motion. What we essentially offer is an opportunity for the Government parties to act as leaders, to stand up and say that we will not stand for this, we will distance ourselves from Israel and that we will wholeheartedly take part in the boycott, divestment and sanction movement that is growing globally to respond to the genocide in Gaza.  I also want to pre-empt some lines that the Government seems to always throw out when this is debated and when we discuss Gaza, which we discuss a lot in this Chamber. We are sick of hearing on the Opposition benches, and what is wearing really thin, is the continued line that this Government is a leader and is leading out in its response to Palestine.  Dr. Susan Power is the head of legal at Al-Haq, an organisation in Palestine. She spoke in briefing rooms in Leinster House and at a committee meeting. I also heard her at an event later the date. She spoke about how when the occupied territories Bill was originally proposed in 2018, the Irish flag was raised in Bethlehem and that people in Gaza heralded that finally a country was seeing what was going on and that it was responding. She says now that she is ashamed of Ireland's lack of action and that the words the Government speaks and the limited number of actions that it is so keen to list out again and again pale into insignificance compared to what we actually need to see in terms of action.  There are some many things that it can do as a government to support the Football Association of Ireland, FAI, in pushing back against UEFA on its failure to exclude Israel from the Nations League competition. Primarily, it can support the FAI in stopping the game and not playing. It can inoculate the FAI from any potential sanctions that may come its way. It can support the association in all of the fallout from any such exclusion.  The Minister of State and the Government can interact with the governments from the nations involved in this Nations League so that we have a united approach. That is what boycott is and the motion offers the Government the opportunity to boycott, to be leaders in this and to gain the momentum that we need to see for push back against this genocide.  One of the other lines I want to pick up on is that the Government constantly says that we, in the Opposition, do not have a monopoly on empathy. Nobody on the Opposition benches has ever claimed that we have a monopoly on empathy, but we do have empathy, and we choose to display it. In our role as Opposition Members, who have to hold the Government to account, we ask the Government: where is its empathy? Where is its leadership, and will it stop the game?  There is precedent here. As we all know, a Fianna F\u00e1il Government previously refused entry to players on similar grounds.  Le linn cinedh\u00edothaithe, n\u00edl aon rud neodrach faoi ph\u00e1irt a ghlacadh i gcluich\u00ed sp\u00f3irt leis an t\u00edr at\u00e1 i mbun an chinedh\u00edothaithe sin. Caithfidh muid seasamh a th\u00f3g\u00e1il, mar a tugadh in aghaidh na R\u00faise, in aghaidh na hAfraice Theas le linn apartheid agus in aghaidh na hI\u00fagslaive.  I ask the Minister of State to please listen to what we have to say and hear our indignation. His colleague, the Minister, Deputy O\u2019Donovan, said that we \u2013 my party and I \u2013 show indignation. The Minister of State will have a whole lot of it coming at him because we are indignant at this genocide and the impunity Israel is enjoying. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  Iarraim ar an Teachta nuathofa, an Teachta Ennis, labhairt den ch\u00e9ad uair. I welcome Deputy Ennis for his maidan speech. T\u00e1 c\u00faig n\u00f3im\u00e9ad aige. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Daniel Ennis","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Daniel-Ennis.D.2026-05-25","memberCode":"Daniel-Ennis.D.2026-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Daniel Ennis  In this maidan speech, I will start by thanking the people of Dublin Central who voted for me and turned out in good numbers. In everything I do, I am going to work to repay the trust they put in me. I thank my family and friends and everyone who has helped me get to this point. It is a proud honour for both myself and my family. Without my fianc\u00e9e, Chloe, my son, Wylder, and my daughter, Wren, I simply would not be here. I thank them for all their love and strength. I thank the amazing campaign team, Gary, C\u00e1it and El, as well as everyone who turned out, including volunteers and canvassers. I also thank the youth and sports clubs and schools that were my safety nets in the north inner city.  On that point of sport, sport has changed my life. Growing up in the north inner city, sport kept me on the right track. It kept me connected to my community and friends. From grassroots level on our local pitches and play spaces right up to national level, sport has always been a place of unity, friendship, inclusion and, most importantly, respect. I have seen sports pitches be places that unite our communities and bring people together over a shared love and language. Sport saves lives. It has taught me so much. It is more than just a game.  Sport only works as a tool when we ensure it is grounded in respect, that is, respect for each other, the game, our teammates and our opponents. We must also have respect for our athletes representing our nation and its jersey. This Government has shown a complete lack of respect for our nation, supporters and athletes when it insists that we should play any sporting fixture against Israel. Many of our athletes and club members have already voiced concerns and frustrations about the possibility of Ireland playing sporting fixtures against Israel. Wheelchair rugby player, Alan Dineen, made his position clear when he stated that he would refuse to play against Israel in any international competition. FAI members were clear when 93% of them passed a resolution last November to ask UEFA to remove Israel from all competitions. The Irish public could not be any clearer in this regard. We should not be playing against a genocidal regime.  People have said that politics should not be involved in this decision and that sport and politics simply do not belong together. Choosing to play any fixture against the Israeli state, however, is a political decision. It is a political decision because, for Israel, this is not about football; it is about keeping its reputation clean by continuing on like nothing is happening. For Israel, it is more than a game. It is certainly more than a game for us, too. It is more than a game because, right now, it represents a regime that, for nearly three years, has systematically committed genocide against the Palestinian people. It represents a regime that has overseen the killing of nearly 75,000 Palestinians, including some 22,000 children. It is absolutely shocking and shameful. It has deliberately destroyed water, energy, healthcare and education infrastructure in Gaza. It has committed ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people from Gaza. Sharing that pitch is sharing respect with not just the Israeli team but with that genocidal regime.  By our Government refusing to act on this matter, it is placing a responsibility on the shoulders of athletes. While the athletes who represent this country at international level are some of the bravest people we have - they have committed their lives to their sport - it is not and should not be their responsibility alone to make choices like this. This is a decision for our Government and governing bodies. In June 1999, we were faced with a similar situation that we are faced with now. The Republic of Ireland and Yugoslavia were scheduled to play a European qualifier at Lansdowne Road. UEFA refused to postpone the game and threatened the FAI with sanctions if they did not play. The public and players made themselves clear at that time that they did not want this to go ahead. Certainly, the Government at the time had a tough decision to make but days before the game was due to take place, the Government led by Bertie Ahern of Fianna F\u00e1il - in which our current Taoiseach was a Cabinet Minister - refused to grant the Yugoslavian players entry visas because of the atrocities that were taking place in Kosovo.  The football pitch has been a place where I have learned some of my core values. This set of values prioritises being brave, standing up for yourself and fighting for what you believe in and fighting for what is right. It is a set of values that all athletes show time and again when they play, especially when they play for our country. When they go out on the pitch or court, they put themselves out there and show bravery, leadership and accountability. They show how to be bigger and be a part of something bigger.  In 1999, when our Government decided that we could not justly play against Yugoslavia, it was brave. It stood up for what was right. It showed leadership and accountability. It showed the same traits that our athletes show every single time they step out to represent our country. We need our Government to act like our athletes again. We need it to be brave and stand up for what is right. We need it to ensure that none of our athletes have to be faced with a decision to play on the same pitch or court or in the same stadium as the same genocidal regime that is committing atrocities in Gaza. We need the Government to respect and trust the power of sport and show that this is more than just a game. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  Some 75,000 people have been murdered, 23,000 of whom were children. A total of 260 journalists and 565 footballers have been murdered. Both our Taoiseach and T\u00e1naiste have said it is a genocide. Yet, it is business as usual for Israel. It gets to pretend that it is a normal state. It is far from normal, however. It is a murderous regime that is conducting a genocide. Yet, it still gets to access European trading markets and European funds. The Israeli football team will now get to represent its country in a stadium, with its flag flying and its national anthem being sung, and the Irish Government thinks it is okay to send our players out representing Ireland to play against it.  We hear repeatedly that sport is above politics. That is one of the Government\u2019s mantras when it comes to this issue. Sport was not above politics when the former Taoiseach, Garret FitzGerald, supported the boycott of apartheid and sporting organisations at that time. It was not above politics when the Government at the time removed the visas from the Yugoslavian players. It was not above politics when, during the previous Government, Ministers supported the boycott of Russia. Yet, all of a sudden, when it comes to Israel, sport is above politics. The Government cannot take or make a decision on it. It cannot have a statement or opinion on it. Where is the Government\u2019s moral compass? That is what this comes down to. Where is its backbone, because previous Governments had courage when it came to this?  Our motions asks for two things. First, we ask the Government to advocate at a national and international level for a boycott. Second, we ask that it supports sporting organisations. What is so difficult for this Government to do that? Why is it so difficult? I ask the Minister of State to lead. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Liam Quaide  First, I commend my colleague, Deputy Gibney, on today\u2019s Private Members\u2019 motion and for her strength of advocacy on Palestine. The Israel-Ireland match should not go ahead. This is not a normal sporting fixture. It is a fixture involving a state that is carrying out genocide in Gaza, maintaining an ethno-supremist system of apartheid and accelerating ethnic cleansing in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and now southern Lebanon.  The Government wants credit for recognising the State of Palestine. I welcomed that recognition, as I welcomed other acts of solidarity it has taken. Those actions, however, cannot be treated as sufficient when Gaza has been almost entirely destroyed, much of its population murdered or permanently disabled, destruction and mass murder continue despite the so-called ceasefire and while the facts on the ground in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza increasingly make any meaningful, viable Palestinian State close to impossible.  Illegal settlement expansion and settler violence, property destruction and theft, military occupation and forced displacement are the machinery by which Palestine is being dismantled in real time. This is why the Government\u2019s ban on Israeli Ministers, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, from travelling to Ireland was such weak and empty tokenism. These insular tribalist extremists are about as likely to visit Mars as they are to take a trip to Ireland. This is cynical gesture politics aimed at two men who are never coming here. Ben-Gvir and Smotrich may be among the most grotesque versions of Israeli colonial criminality but they are not an aberration.  They are the logical outcome of a state being granted total impunity by our closest international allies, the US, UK and EU, to mass murder, terrorise, starve, displace and plunder a defenceless civilian population. The Government now says it cannot act but history says otherwise. In 1999, Ireland was due to host Yugoslavia at Lansdowne Road while atrocities were being committed in Kosovo. UEFA refused to postpone the fixture. The then Government did not shrug its shoulders and hide behind the sporting authorities. It refused entry visas to the Yugoslav squad and the match did not proceed. When the political will existed, an Irish Government used the powers available to it to prevent normal sporting relations with a state engaged in mass atrocities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  On the eve of the World Cup, it is worth remembering the immense potential for good that sport, and particular football, can have in the world. Much of what we will see in the coming weeks will be the global community coming together to cheer on their teams in the spirit of friendly competition and comradery. While the power of sport can be used for good, the same power can be usurped and used to obfuscate and distract from great wrong, from corruption and abuse, and even from the greatest crimes against humanity. It can be used by regimes that want to pretend that they are normal and are operating within the bounds of international laws and norms. Let us be clear: there is nothing normal about the regime in Israel. War crimes are not normal. Apartheid and indefinite occupation are not normal. Genocide is not normal. An Israeli Government headed by extreme ethnonationalists is not normal. With its flagrant and consistent breach of international norms, Israel has abdicated its right to be treated like a normal state.  The Gaza genocide has inflicted untold horrors on the Palestinian people. It has also seen incredible moments of defiance and courage from aid workers who have attended the wounded and hungry, journalists who have borne witness to the brutality of the Israeli regime and the brave activists who have sailed into the path of a military with no respect for international law. We have seen it in the refusal of many Jewish people around the world not to allow this onslaught to be carried out in their name. We have seen that courage most clearly in the resilience of the Palestinian people, who have refused to give up the hope for self-determination. It is this bravery that should impinge on the Government's conscience when it comes to the Nations League fixture against Israel. There will be consequences, fines and penalties imposed by UEFA but do any of these stack up against the horrors of Gaza or against the incredible bravery of those who are persecuted? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  I thank my colleague Deputy Gibney for the work she has done on this motion. I congratulate Deputy Ennis on his maiden speech. It is a great honour for people to be able to come here and I congratulate him.  Football is important to many people. This game has involved many people who would never watch a programme about politics or tune into anything to do with politics. This means a lot to people. The roll-out of this game in this country or another country has ignited a flame for many people who probably just go to football matches and never think about politics. I have been struck by that over the past while.  The Government is trying to hide behind the FAI by saying this is not its issue. That is a problem because it can do other things with other organisations. It can provide funding. It is a wishy-washy argument. People are saying that politics and sport should not be involved together and have nothing to do with each other. Politics is everything. Sport is everything to many people. Of course, they are naturally intertwined. It was not an issue when Russia invaded Ukraine. International sporting bodies acted swiftly. Sanctions were introduced and its teams were excluded. Political leaders at that time were not shrugging their shoulders as they are now. There are moments when silence is not the right thing and this is one of those moments.  I want to consider some numbers. Some 75,000 Palestinians have been murdered and 170,000 have been injured. The Aviva Stadium holds 51,700 for a football match. That is for a football match, where people are seated. That is not the capacity for a concert. I am talking about when people are seated. If the match were to be moved to Croke Park, which is bigger, the capacity would be 69,100. Neither of those stadiums would be big enough to hold the number of people dead because of the genocide. If people can picture that in their minds, they will realise the importance of making sure that this match is stopped. The world can see exactly what is going on with the genocide on the Palestinian people and what the Israeli Government is doing. Having that flag flying at any stadium in this country is not acceptable. Just because the match may be moved to a different country, out of sight will not be out of mind. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Timmy Dooley)  I move amendment No. 1:  To delete all words after \"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann\" and substitute the following:  \"notes:  \u2014 that the Irish people are deeply concerned about the conflict in the Middle East and Gulf region, particularly the situation in Palestine, and that the Government is committed to working with key partners to end the conflict;  \u2014 that Israeli actions in Palestine consistently contravene international law, and the Government continues to press for appropriate action, both at European Union (EU) and international level, in response to egregious Israeli breaches of human rights and democratic principles;  \u2014 Ireland's commitment to working with key partners to end the conflict in Gaza, and to advancing a sustainable peace plan and addressing the huge challenges facing Palestinians in Gaza;  \u2014 the Government's grave concerns about the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza, with intolerable conditions;  \u2014 that Israel must immediately remove restrictions on aid access and facilitate essential supplies and services to reach people across the Gaza Strip;  \u2014 the Government's condemnation of the law passed by the Israeli parliament to expand the scope of the death penalty and revive its implementation in Israel and occupied Palestine;  \u2014 the particular concerns about the discriminatory nature of the law as it relates to Palestinians, and that the implementation of this law would give rise to serious breaches of international human rights law and international humanitarian law;  \u2014 the approval and publication of the text of the Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2026, noting that the Bill fulfils the commitment set out in the Programme for Government, to progress legislation to prohibit the import of goods from Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, and further noting the proposed introduction of the Bill in D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann this week;  \u2014 that, in line with the Taoiseach's statement, Ireland will act to prevent those members of the Government of Israel who have been instrumental in fomenting the unfolding disaster in Gaza, and the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration has instructed immigration officers to refuse entry to Itamar Ben-Gvir, Minister of National Security of Israel, and Bezalel Smotrich, Minister of Finance of Israel, should they seek to enter Ireland;  \u2014 Ireland's support of an EU-wide prohibition on trade with Israeli settlements, and that at both the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) and the FAC Trade in May, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, requested that the European Commission bring forward proposals for a prohibition on EU trade with settlements, on the basis of the EU's Common Commercial Policy, and furthermore, that the Minister also reiterated Ireland's longstanding position that the EU-Israel Association Agreement should be suspended or, at a minimum, that the trade elements should be suspended;  \u2014 that a number of other member states supported Ireland's call for stronger collective EU action, and agreed that targeted sanctions alone cannot substitute for meaningful measures relating to trade with illegal settlements; and  \u2014 that the Taoiseach also wrote to European Council President, Ant\u00f3nio Costa, on 20th May, reiterating Ireland's position on EU trade with Israel, and requesting an urgent discussion of these issues among EU leaders at the next meeting of the European Council on 18-19 June;  in relation to sport, further notes that:  \u2014 the performance and integrity of our top athletes on the international stage have a very positive representational impact for Ireland, as Irish sport provides the world with a window into Ireland and the Irish people, both at home and abroad;  \u2014 international success for our top sports people enriches our country in a variety of ways, and Ireland's achievements on the global sporting stage have been a cause of both celebration and inspiration for the Irish public, and will continue to be so into the future; and  \u2014 the Government is committed to supporting Irish athletes competing at the highest level of international competition; and  recognises that:  \u2014 national governing bodies of sport, such as the Football Association of Ireland (FAI), are independent, autonomous bodies responsible for the governance of their own sports, including the organisation of sporting fixtures, whether in domestic or international competitions;  \u2014 it is the role of the FAI to decide to fulfil its UEFA Nations League fixtures against Israel in September (home) and October (away);  \u2014 the FAI has stated that it intends to fulfil both fixtures against Israel;  \u2014 the FAI has made this decision in accordance with its obligations as a member of UEFA, the governing body and confederation for football in Europe; and  \u2014 the Government acknowledges the FAI's independence and autonomy in arriving at this decision and any decisions it may make in the coming days.\".  I thank the Deputies for raising an issue of considerable importance to all of us. Nobody on this side of the House in any way disagrees with the sentiment they express about the atrocities that have been committed against a humble, innocent group of people. We differ on the specific issue but not on the meat or about the seriousness of what is happening. That is the case for the Irish people, who are deeply concerned about the conflict in the Middle East and the Gulf region, particularly the situation in Palestine. The Government is committed to working with key partners to end the conflict and to advance a sustainable peace plan.  Israeli actions in Palestine consistently contravene international law and the Government continues to press for appropriate action at EU and international level in response to egregious Israeli breaches of human rights and democratic principles. Last year, the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory called it out for what it is. Having examined carefully Israel's conduct of the war since 2023, as well as the actions and statements of senior Israeli military and political figures, it concluded that Israel is responsible for the commission of genocide in Gaza. That is the gravest of crimes in international law. The Government calls on Israel to immediately remove restrictions on aid access to facilitate essential supplies and services reaching people across Gaza.  There have been many calls for Irish sporting organisations to boycott or exclude Israel from international sporting competitions in the context of the conflict in Gaza. These include calls to the FAI not to fulfil its UEFA Nations League fixtures against Israel this autumn. It is important to note, however, that the national governing bodies of sport, such as the FAI, are independent, autonomous bodies responsible for the governance of their own sports, including the organisation of sporting fixtures in domestic or intentional competitions. That is a fact we cannot ignore. The Government and Sport Ireland have no role in determining or supporting the organisation of such fixtures. At the end of the day, neither the Government nor any of us here in this Chamber decides who plays whom in sport, whether at domestic or international level, notwithstanding the point that politics is involved in everything. Public opinion and our opinion is involved in everything but we have no role in making those decisions. If we were to suggest that we had a role, it would be considered by others as overreach. We must be careful what we are advocating for. Not responding to that request in no way limits the empathy of those on this side of the House or reduces the disgust and distress that we too feel about the atrocities that have been perpetrated on innocent civilians in that zone.  The FAI has stated that it intends to fulfil both fixtures against Israel in accordance with its obligations as a member of UEFA. The Government acknowledges the FAI's independence and autonomy in arriving at this decision and any decisions it may make in the coming days. The performance and integrity of our top athletes on the international stage have a positive representational impact for Ireland as Irish sport provides the world with a window into Ireland and the Irish people at home and abroad. International successes for our top sportspeople enriches our country in a variety of ways. Many of our fondest memories are centred on Ireland's achievements on the global sporting stage. These achievements have been a cause of celebration and inspiration for the public, and will continue to be into the future. That is why the Government is fully supportive of our athletes competing at the highest level of international competition. However, ultimately international sporting federations are responsible for deciding how to carry out their competitions and who may participate. International federations, in this case UEFA, have a leadership role for their global games and it is at that level that strategic decisions should be taken rather than by the national governing bodies of individual countries.  The Deputies opposite are well aware that the Government has advocated at European level for the ending of the neighbourhood agreement that exists between the EU and Israel. I think this is the appropriate action, that relates to governmental activity rather than sporting activity, that shows our commitment to trying to build an alliance at European level and hurt Israel where it matters most in relation to trade. Of course, that is something we have to continue.  The FAI has decided to play the fixtures against Israel in accordance with its obligations as a member of UEFA. While there is speculation that the FAI may request that UEFA allow the game to be moved to a neutral venue abroad in the coming days, this is ultimately a decision for the FAI to make. While the decision to fulfil the fixtures or not is a matter for the FAI, it is important to note that not fulfilling the games could have serious sporting consequences for the Irish team, including losing points, relegation in the national league standings, weaker seeding for Euro 2028 qualification and harm to Ireland\u2019s FIFA ranking. These consequences may not matter to some, for sure, but they matter to Irish football.  At an operational level, I understand that the FAI is continuing to engage with An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na to ensure appropriate preparations for and policing of the home leg of the fixture. The FAI has also engaged with the Norwegian Football Association, which hosted a match against Israel in November last year, to see if any lessons from its experience can be applied to the preparations for the upcoming game in Ireland. Norway played the away leg of its World Cup qualifiers against Israel in Debrecen in Hungary. Furthermore, the FAI is engaging with the Palestinian Football Association to get its views on how to prepare for the match. Additionally, the FAI has engaged with the Israel Football Association, which has confirmed that it does not expect a significant number of Israeli fans to travel to Ireland for the fixture.  In accordance with UEFA rules, home legs and fixtures cannot be played in another jurisdiction unless concerns are raised about the capacity for the fixture to be held securely and safely. This is in the broadest sense, from health and safety to fan behaviour to policing. In this instance, An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na has confirmed that it is prepared to police the home game.  While there has been a wholesale exclusion of Russia from most international sporting events, a point which was raised, the exclusion is built upon international consensus driven by international sporting bodies and within the EU is linked to sanctions against Russia following its illegal invasion of Ukraine. No such international consensus exists in relation to Israel. I am sorry that is not the case, notwithstanding the efforts that the Government has made and continues to make at European level to build that consensus.  It is the case that colleagues of mine in other parliaments across the European Union will reflect very positively on the statements and actions of the Government in being leaders in this regard. With respect, it was indicated that we had not shown leadership. In almost every other parliament in Europe, we are seen as being leaders in relation to what we are trying to do to bring Israel to heel for its atrocities. That is not the case in other member states and the consensus does not exist within parliaments there.  Reference was made, if not here, then elsewhere, to RT\u00c9 deciding in December 2025 to neither participate in nor broadcast the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest due to Israel\u2019s ongoing participation. This has been referred to in current debates. That was an independent decision taken by the State broadcaster, which is legally and editorially independent of the Government. Again, if there was a debate in this House demanding that the Government involve itself in a decision like that, it would be seen as overreach, and rightly so, if we were to get involved in what is an independent authority. I think it would reflect badly.  The issue of funding was also raised. Sport Ireland, which is funded by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, is a statutory body with responsibility for the development of sport, including the allocation of funding across its various programmes. The Sport Ireland recognises national governing bodies, NGBs, play a key role in helping to deliver the strategic priorities identified in national sports policy. Funding delivered via Sport Ireland to the NGBs is not tied to the operational or administrative models used by the NGBs, either nationally or locally. All NGBs are independent, autonomous bodies responsible for their own governance and decision-making, including regarding the organisation of and participation in international sporting competitions.  It is very clear that there have been issues with other organisations and NGBs over time, and it is all about corporate governance and good governance, the management of their strategic goals and ensuring that the State's money is spent appropriately. This is where the level of Government involvement has to end. Otherwise, it would be seen as an overreach. The Government has no role in how NGBs organise their sport or in their day-to-day operational functions. Furthermore, it would simply not be appropriate to intervene in matters such as this. The FAI is completely within its rights to fulfil its international fixtures and the Government acknowledges its right to do so.  The motion put forward today risks isolating not only Irish football but the entire Irish sporting ecosystem, making our sports and sportspeople merely an appendage of Irish foreign policy and entirely dependent on financing from the Government. I do not think, notwithstanding everything that has been said, that would be in the best interests of our sporting organisations. For these reasons, the Government proposes to amend the wording of this motion as per the amendment submitted to the House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  I thank Deputy Gibney for all her hard work on this motion. Moving the match to a neutral venue is not a solution; it is cowardice. The issue has never been where the game would be played. The issue is whether it should be played at all against an opponent actively committing genocide. A neutral venue will not make the game neutral.  Across Ireland, there has been overwhelming public support for strong action in response to Israel\u2019s barbarity but the Government has failed time and again to meet this moment and respond with the urgency needed. Instead, we get weak responses dressed up as difficult decisions, like finally introducing the occupied territories Bill after years of delay while gutting it by removing services. Similarly, the suggestion of moving the game to Hungary is an attempt to make the controversy go away. It is absolutely beyond belief that this Government can stand back and do absolutely nothing. Is this what passes for political leadership from this Government? Previous Governments were not so cowardly.  In 1999, a Fianna F\u00e1il Government took a stand in response to the atrocities in Kosovo and refused visas for Yugoslavian players, which was against the position of UEFA at the time and without the approval of the FAI. In 1999, we were not pretending that football existed in some separate moral universe. We understood the political power and symbolism of the game. What has changed? Israel is using sport to launder its international reputation in the midst of a genocidal campaign in Palestine and ethnic cleansing in Lebanon. Why are we facilitating that?  The Irish people do not want this game to go ahead. Is anyone listening to them? It is the job of this Government to represent the people and not to sit back and remain silent as a genocidal state plays soccer in Europe while committing mass murder in Palestine. Government Ministers are boycotting a match which they refuse to say should not go ahead. They expect players to walk onto the pitch and carry the consequences for this Government\u2019s political cowardice. The Minister of State said he does not disagree with the sentiment of this motion and went on to talk about his strength of feeling. He then read out, word for word, the same speech as the Minister of State, Deputy McConalogue, gave last night. This does not really display the sentiment that the Minister of State, Deputy Dooley, expressed. It is completely unacceptable. Ireland should not be facilitating this game, not in Dublin, not in Hungary and not anywhere. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aidan Farrelly  I take this opportunity to thank the Minister of State for reading, word for word, what is already on the Official Record of the D\u00e1il. It is a bit of an insult to everybody involved here this morning that this is pretty much the exact same speech we have heard very recently.  The Fine Gael Minister for sport, Deputy Patrick O\u2019Donovan, has told us that sport and politics should not mix. That same Minister for sport, who demands an invitation to the opening of an envelope in every sports club, has the cheek to tell us that sport and politics should not meet. That same Minister for sport, who threatened League of Ireland clubs with a funding freeze because of the actions of a small group of people, tells us that sport and politics should not mix. That same Minister for sport, who directly intervened to ensure that the FAI would appear before an Oireachtas committee last year, tells us that sport and politics should not meet. That same Minister for sport, who has told us he will not attend the game, but that the game should go ahead, tells us that sport and politics should not mix. Quite frankly, what a farcical situation we find ourselves in.  The political cowardice on show in this House on this issue is utterly shameful. Where is this Government\u2019s bravery? Where are its values, the very principles that should underpin its politics?  The principles I see are to blame everybody else and take no responsibility or action for yourselves. It is FIFA's fault, it is UEFA's fault, and it is the FAI's fault. My worry is who is next for the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan. It will be the players' fault. It will be Heimir Hallgr\u00edmsson's fault. It will be the fans' fault. It will be everybody's fault but the Minister's. Just stop the game. Of course, sport is political. Open any history book and you will find swathes of examples of the relationship between sport and politics, so we know this rhetoric from this Government will not cut it.  A neutral venue for this game is not the answer. What the Government has done is back the squad into a corner. The Government is backing the management and the players - the professionals - into making a decision. These elite athletes who so desperately require elite political representation instead get left with political amateurism, inaction and cowardice. Stop the game because what a sad day it is if it is left up to these players or staff to boycott. That is a position they should not find themselves in. Doing the right thing is not always easy but at least for us it is our job. It is not their job. That is why we are here. While this Minister and this Government continue to cherry-pick the times when politics and sport should collide, we should acknowledge the undeniable intersectionality between them.  It is only June. As the momentum builds behind this campaign, and those who play football or simply love Irish football are forced to be substitutes for those charged with making tough political decisions, we will be back here. I believe this Government will collectively rue the day it could have stood with the majority of people in Ireland and said, \"Stop the game.\"  I commend Deputy Gibney on her work on this and ask the Minister of State to consider withdrawing that amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  I also thank Deputy Gibney for her work in bringing forward this motion and the excellent work done in recent days highlighting what this Government should be doing. It is deeply disappointing to see this amendment moved and the Government should reconsider that seriously.  When we talk of sport and football, I will start by reading the words of 13-year-old Saif, who suffered a life-changing injury when he and his uncle were shelled by an Israeli tank. He said that he used to walk but everything he does now is in the chair. He also said that he used to play football with his friends and what he liked most was playing ball down at the sea. Saif cannot play football any more. He will never play football. It was his dream to play for Palestine. The game between Ireland and Israel cannot go ahead, not here, not anywhere. Ireland cannot normalise and legitimise a genocidal regime that continues to bomb children in tents and shelters.  The Taoiseach and the Minister talk weasel words about insisting the game must go ahead and talk about losing league standing and losing points. Why must the game go ahead? Israel is committing a genocide. Does the scale and depth of the barbarity and terror in that word - what Israel is doing - mean nothing any more? Surely it is our duty and our role, given how Ireland was colonised and brutalised in the past, that of all people we should be the first European country to take a principled stand and refuse to play Israel, not to mention our legal obligation to prevent genocide and war crimes. Ireland could start a global movement of countries refusing to be complicit with the dystopian terror that Netanyahu is inflicting on Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon. Stopping the game would give hope that there still remains a universal value called, \"Our common humanity\". Ireland could be a candle in the dark for Gaza. We did it before in 1979, when the Irish Government banned the South African rugby team due to apartheid. Why will this Government not show the bravery that government showed then?  There is a rising tide of anger on this. The Government is on the wrong side of history. It is going against the Irish people. The movement will grow until this game is stopped. Stop an cluiche. D\u00e9an an rud ceart. Seas suas do Gaza. Caithfidh \u00c9ire d\u00f3chas a thabhairt don Phalaist\u00edn. The game must be stopped. We can and must do it again.  I will finish with words from a doctor who writes about his experience in Gaza. It is horrific. He says that what is going on, right now, is hell, hell in one of its most severe forms, and that children have lost their childhoods. He said that a Gazan life, before all of this, was worth everything. Now, he says, it feels as if it is worth nothing. The Minister of State spoke about all the things the Irish Government is doing for Palestine. This is something. It is an act that is within the Government's power. The Minister of State talked about the EU-Israel free trade agreement not being within the Government's power; it is other governments. The Government can do this. If the Minister of State wants, he can stand up today and say, \"The Irish Government believes this game should not go ahead\". Why will the Minister of State not do that? The Government can support the FAI. It can support the consequences. The Minister of State can say, \"Ireland takes leadership. We will take a stand. That is the right thing to do.\" "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Darren O'Rourke)  We will go to a Sinn F\u00e9in slot. The first speaker is an Teachta \u00d3 Laoghaire. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  I congratulate Deputy Ennis on his maiden speech and on his election. I thank the Social Democrats for bringing forward this motion.  Listening to the Minister of State's speech, with references to governing bodies, UEFA, regulations, rules, etc., you would imagine this is a mere matter of sports administration and competitions. Let us engage with that for just a minute. Even on that front, this is an open and shut case. This is a football association that is acting completely contrary to every rule, statute and convention of FIFA and of world sporting organisations. Article 64.2 of the FIFA statute states that it is completely prohibited for football clubs from one country to organise themselves in the occupied territory of another country. It is the rule under which Russia was suspended from FIFA. Similar rules have excluded Russia from other forms of competition. The UN convention against apartheid in sport includes clear statements in relation to human rights treatment and the manner in which sports organisations should organise. Three hundred sports facilities in Gaza and the West Bank have been destroyed in the past number of years.  In terms of what people involved in football in the FAI, in Ireland, are saying, 89% of delegates say that they do not want this game to go ahead. That is the democratic body of the FAI. Two thirds of professional footballers are saying they do not want this to go ahead. Let us be frank. This is not simply a question of sports administration. This is a fixture against a state that is guilty of the greatest crimes of this century. This is a fixture against a football association which fully endorses that and fully endorses all the crimes that have happened in recent years. There have been 75,000 people killed in the past number of years, 20,000 of whom were children, and some 733 even since this supposed ceasefire. Children have been directly targeted. Hospitals have been directly targeted. Humanitarian refugee camps have been deliberately targeted. Aid has been refused. Medicines and food have been stopped at the border and even now are being delayed. What is getting through is barely a trickle. This is the same football association that is peopled and staffed by people who fully support and endorse this and wherever this fixture will take place, members of the Israeli Government will attend.  On that, I do not even understand why we are discussing this issue of Hungary and other locations where the match might be played. It is an Irish non-solution to a different problem. It is an answer to a question that nobody asked. This is not about how Israel does in competitions or how this fixture might go. It is not even about policing. It is, I am sure, partially about policing. Unfortunately, the track record of Israeli fans at many fixtures is a problem. Fundamentally, the issue here is that predecessor governments have set the precedent for this Government. The Government has chosen to ignore it but the fact is that previous Irish governments made it clear that they believed the then apartheid South African Government, the Yugoslavian Government and the Russian Government should not have their actions legitimised by allowing their sporting organisations to participate in sporting competitions as if they were a fully respected and accepted member of the international community.  That was the position then and it was the right position. Why is that not the position now? I do not think that is simply a matter of sports administration. I believe that is a matter of politics. There are worse governments than the Irish Government in Europe, yes, but when you look at the broader international scene, the Irish Government falls considerably short. It is always pulling its punches.  We will see that later on tonight with the occupied territories Bill. Two thirds of trade with those occupied territories is the kind of trade the Department of foreign affairs and the Department of enterprise say themselves should not happen and there should be no trade with the occupied territories. Effectively, it will make an exception and permit trade in services with the occupied territories. It effectively legitimises it. In this area, the Government is pulling its punches and in that area, the Government is pulling its punches. The context here is that the Israelis are trying to narrow the ground and effectively destroy the potential for self determination for the Palestinian people to have their own state. It is not that we have to do just one thing. We should take every action possible. The game must not go ahead. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  We must stop the game; it is as simple as that. The Irish Government must step in now. As the Social Democrats have outlined, all sporting events with Israel should be stopped. We should lead a campaign in Europe and the world to have Israel banned and boycotted, the exact same way it was done with the Russians. There are double standards here. The question we must ask ourselves is: where do these double standards come from? Is it Europe? Is it America? Is it big business? Is it the Israeli lobby? Or is it that this Government has no backbone to stand up and face it down?  When you think back to Mary Manning and her ten colleagues of female workers, for three years, they went on strike against Dunnes Stores, South Africa and the apartheid state and the Irish Government did not have the guts to back them. It took 11 working class women to stand up to a regime that the Americans and British supported. We are back here again all of these years later and the same countries are telling Ireland what to do because there is no other explanation for why this is happening.  You can look at what happened with Yugoslavia and how Bertie Ahern stepped in as the Fianna F\u00e1il Taoiseach at the time and stopped the team from coming here. Why does Miche\u00e1l Martin not stand up and say the Israeli team is not welcome here? The Irish basketball players had to play them over the past 12 months. Where was the Irish Government to support them?  At least 75,000 people have died, including 22,000 children. When you think about it - 22,000 children - it is unimaginable. I cannot imagine it. I have two children and 22,000 children have died. We are allowing Israel to come over and play soccer?  Fair play to RT\u00c9 as it had the guts to say it will not go into a competition with Israel. Now, we need the Government to have the guts to do the same. I stand with the Irish players, all the athletes, fans and sporting organisations. It is not their job. It is the Government's job as the Irish Government. Where is it? Stand up, say no to genocide and say this game will not go ahead. To all the Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael backbenchers who have come in here and cried crocodile tears for the past number of years, do not come in here and talk again unless they are willing to stand with this motion. This Government must stop the game. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pat Buckley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pat-Buckley.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Pat-Buckley.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pat Buckley  I thank the Social Democrats for bringing this motion here today. I sat here last night and have sat here again this morning, listening to the debates. The first thing I have noticed is there is absolutely zero from the Government bench. It is absolutely shameful. It is crocodile tears we see in here. I do not like scripts but I will speak very bluntly. The Government just does not have the balls to stand up to genocide. If this game goes ahead, you might as well bring in who I call Netanyahu the Devil along and dress him up in Prada and we will have a huge Israeli hoo-ha with the headline that the Devil wears Prada in honour of everything the Israelis did in Palestine. It is absolutely shameful.  There is awful pressure on those players. Everybody is very proud to put on their national jersey. To think of an Israeli team with an Israeli flag on Irish soil with the national anthem and the Israeli national anthem being sung and it being acknowledged as normal is absolutely unbelievable and unimaginable. Yesterday, I listened to a debate in the audiovisual room from the Stop the Game campaign. One thing that struck me was there were 100 children lined up on a soccer pitch in Palestine. They placed them so close together that it took one bullet to shoot every one of them. That is the gut these Israeli people have.  It has been said over and over again here that this Government has an opportunity. We are known as a very proud nation, a strong nation and a sporting nation but we also stand up for those who are being persecuted because we have learned from our own history. We have heard many lines here before about how we do not want to be on the wrong side of history. I urge the Government to withdraw its countermotion. It is utterly shameful. The Irish people are very angry and very hurt. What if the Government had to walk in the shoes of any Palestinian. I have spoken to many of them. I have asked them how they are actually still coping and living today. One individual said to me that all we have left is hope.  Each and every one of us has an opportunity to throw politics out the window, do the right thing and stand up to say \"No\" that we are not letting this game go ahead and that Ireland will not participate in any sporting event whatsoever and tell the FAI to forget about the sanctions. There is a court proceeding that can go further than this. I do not even think UEFA has the balls to take us on because it will set a precedent. If we do the right thing now, we can stand up here in a year's time or ten years' time and say we are proud we did the right thing and we stood up for the people who needed us. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  The Palestinian people have been subjected to starvation, occupation, dispossession and genocide at the hands of Israel, which has shown no restraint in its onslaught of the Palestine people. The international community has failed to stand up for Palestine for decades and speak up against the heinous crimes of the Israeli State. Israel is not a normal state and must not be treated as such. When Russia invaded Ukraine, both economic and sporting sanctions were imposed, and rightly so. There are many other examples but across the world, governments, FIFA and UEFA in this instance are completely silent when it comes to the genocide in Palestine. They are content to allow Israel to continue to participate as normal. It is a shocking double standard.  By participating in this game wherever it is held, we are normalising Israeli genocide and occupation. Ireland has a proud tradition of standing up for human rights on the international stage. We must use every opportunity available to us to stand up for international law. It is time for the Government to finally show some leadership and get behind this campaign to Stop the Game on legal and moral grounds. Stand with the people of Ireland who do not want this game to go ahead. Stand with the people of Palestine who are experiencing genocide. There is a moral obligation on us to do so.  On the one hand, the Government says the Israeli State is committing a genocide against the Palestinian people but on the other hand, the Government is content to welcome its sports teams here. Where is the leadership? Where is the Government's moral backbone? It is utter cowardice for the Government to expect Irish players, who are in a really difficult position, to go out and fulfil this fixture but Ministers then publicly announce they will not be attending the game. The Government will send the players out to play the game but it will not even show up on the day to back them up. The reason for that is the Government knows going ahead with this game is the wrong thing to do. The FAI's own members, stakeholders and supporters oppose this game taking place. Sport can send a really strong message and with the support of the Government, the FAI should be empowered to take a moral stance here. The Government should use its conscience and stop this game.  The occupied territories Bill will be debated today. The decision to strip that Bill of services is a cynical act by the Government. It knows it is diluting the legislation and by doing so, the Government is completely blunting the measures that are needed to hold the State of Israel to account for its genocidal acts. Start listening to the people, Stop the Game and pass the occupied territories Bill in full. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  I thank the Social Democrats for bringing this forward this morning.  The truth is we cannot have a situation where the world stands idly by but that is what has been happening, not just in the couple of years since Israel started bombarding Gaza but for decades. For more than half a century, we have seen Israel treat the Palestinian people as not just second class but as third- and fourth-class citizens. People have been mutilated in their own homes.  I am often struck by the fact that soccer and football, certainly in working class communities, bring everybody together, particularly those who come from different ethnic backgrounds. We see kids of all races and creeds coming together to play football. It brings huge energy and positivity to society, here in Ireland and around the globe. Yet, here we find it being used as something negative. Genocide and murder are being hidden behind soccer, a game that is so positive.  The Government has a job of work to do here. We have to recognise that this is not about the rules of international football; this is about politics. It is about whether we take a stand. It was very interesting to hear about a neutral venue. I think it was Desmond Tutu who said to claim neutrality in the time of oppression is to stand on the side of the oppressor. That is exactly what is being done here with this talk of neutrality. There is no such thing as a neutral venue. There is no such thing as a Government being neutral in a time of oppression. You have to either stand with the oppressed or stand with the oppressor. That is the choice we have here, and the choice which, unfortunately, the players may have to make at some point if the Government and others do not stand up to what is happening. Of course, there may be consequences. However, those consequences are minor compared to the consequence of the loss of one child, never mind 22,000 children who have lost their lives since this conflict erupted in its most recent form in Gaza.  Many soccer clubs affiliated with the Israel Football Association are located in occupied territories, on land which was stolen in the West Bank from Palestinian people. They are illegal soccer organisations, yet FIFA and World Soccer are doing nothing about it. The Government has an opportunity to stand with the oppressed, and that is what it has to do. That is what is required of a Government which claims to be in favour of international law and ensuring standards are applied equally and fairly. If they are applied equally and fairly, we should be applying them in the same way to the Israelis as we apply them to the Russians, applied them to the Yugoslavians and South Africans and would apply them to any other terrorist organisation around the world which claims to be a government.  There are Jewish people around the world and in Ireland - I met a couple of them recently - who are totally outraged by what is happening in Israel. They are very annoyed it is being done in their name. Zionism is a different thing altogether from the Jewish communities around the world who are being plagued by what is happening in Israel. It is totally wrong, and the Minister and Government need to stand up and say \"Stop the game\", so that we can truly identify with the people being oppressed in Gaza and the West Bank. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ann Graves","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ann Graves  I thank the Social Democrats for bringing forward this motion. I also congratulate Teachta Ennis on his maiden speech.  Sinn F\u00e9in fully supports the motion to exclude Israel from sporting fixtures. We also stand with the Stop the Game campaign, which includes a huge number of organisations and individuals across Ireland, from football clubs, fan clubs and trade unions to students, players and pro-Palestinian groups, all of whom are united in making sure Israel's genocide is not legitimised or sportswashed, in a coalition across Ireland campaigning to stop the Ireland versus Israel games in September and October.  There must be accountability for Israeli crimes against humanity. Israel should face boycotting, divestment and sanctions. The least we can do in Ireland is ensure the green jersey is not used to rehabilitate Israel at a time when the IDF is involved in genocide in Gaza and the first annexation of the West Bank. I have been around long enough to remember and to have stood in support of the brave stance taken by Dunnes Stores workers in Henry Street in 1984, when union members decided to take a stance against apartheid in South Africa. The Dunnes Stores strike led to the Irish Government introducing legislation to officially boycott apartheid in South Africa, contributing to the further international isolation and eventual downfall of apartheid there. It is a proud example of what we should be doing now with Israel.  Ireland should not play Israel in sport. Doing so legitimises genocide and gives cover to statute violations, apartheid and war crimes. Attempts to move the football games behind closed doors or to a different country are cowardly and have to be called out. The game should not go ahead, whether in Dublin, Hungary or anywhere else. That is not the point. We are witnessing is genocide in Gaza and the destruction of Palestine in real time. We know what is going on.  There should be no excuses, no change of venue, no games - just no way. The Government must rise to the challenge and show real leadership. It cannot pass the buck and leave it to sporting bodies, and most definitely not to the players. Only last year, the Government failed children in Palestine who could not visit Ireland to play Gaelic games. The excuse at the time related to visas. There should be no excuses. The Government must do the right thing and be the leader it claims to be.  Irish people have consistently stood shoulder to shoulder with Palestine. We have marched in our thousands in solidarity with the Palestinian people. The Government must respect the values of human rights, justice and international law. It must stand up against genocide in Gaza and Israeli apartheid and stop the games now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert O'Donoghue  I will start by quoting Eric Cantona, who has been very vocal in his support for boycotting Israel:  We all remember apartheid in South Africa. The sporting boycott was critical in ending it. We have power. You have power. And football fans around the world have power.  I would go further. It is not just football fans around the world who have power. Every sporting fan, every athlete, every governing body and every nation that participates in sport has power. Sport cannot be separated from human rights and sporting boycotts can play a significant role in increasing pressure for change. We are now more than one thousand days into the destruction of Gaza. Nobody can dispute the scale of human suffering that has taken place. Tens of thousands have been killed and entire communities have been devastated. We are witnessing a real-time destruction of the Palestinian people and we ask ourselves what are we prepared to do about it.  Sport is often described as having no place in politics. We hear that phrase repeatedly, but history tells us otherwise. Sport has always been political. Nations use sport to project an image of themselves to the world. Governments celebrate victories as national achievements. Major sporting events are used to showcase internationally how a country represents itself on a global stage. If sport can be used to promote a country's image, then surely it is legitimate to ask whether that image reflects reality. How a country represents itself on the global stage must be measured against how it treats other human beings. That is why this debate matters. I thank the Social Democrats for bringing it forward.  The motion argues that Israel should be excluded from international sporting competitions. I agree with this, as the destruction and illegal occupation continues. When apartheid South Africa was isolated from international sport, it was not just because of sport that it suddenly became political. It was because the world recognised that continuing as normal sent a message that oppression could be ignored. When Russia was rightly suspended from international competitions following its invasion of Ukraine, sporting organisations acted with remarkable speed. The question many people are asking today is simple: if sporting sanctions were appropriate in those circumstances, why is Israel being treated differently?  Here in Ireland, we have our own history of taking principled positions. In 1999, the Government intervened to prevent a game involving Yugoslavia because of atrocities taking place in Kosovo. The principle was clear, namely, that there are moments when events become so grave that business as usual is no longer acceptable. We were fined \u00a325,000, but we stood in solidarity with a nation under siege because how you treat the weak is your true nature calling.  We in this Chamber and sporting authorities need to provide that leadership again. What message do we send when sporting events continue exactly as normal? What message do we send when flags are waved, anthems are played and international fixtures proceed while images of destruction and suffering continue to emerge day after day?  Whether intentional or not, we risk normalising what should never be normal. We risk sending the message that there are no consequences, human rights are secondary and international law is optional.  Those who oppose sporting boycotts often argue that athletes should not be punished for the actions of government. That is a serious argument, one that deserves consideration. However, sporting sanctions have never been primarily about individual athletes. They are about international pressure. They are about signalling that the global community cannot continue with business as usual while grave violations are taking place. History shows us that sporting isolation can be a powerful non-violent tool. It allows ordinary people to take a stand without causing harm. It provides peaceful means of expressing collective outrage and demanding change. We need Ireland to advocate nationally and internationally for Israel's exclusion from sports competitions while the destruction of Palestine continues. Ireland should support sporting bodies which choose not to participate in fixtures involving Israel. A sport does not exist in a vacuum. Every generation is tested. Every generation faces moments when remaining silent becomes the choice itself.  Sport cannot stop war, rebuild a city or bring back those who have been lost, but sport can send a message. It can declare that human rights still matter, international law still matters and that no nation, regardless of power and influence, should be exempt from accountability. If we truly believe that sport has the power to unite and represent our values, then we must ensure that those values include justice, equality and human dignity. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  I thank the Social Democrats for this important motion. I must pay tribute also to senior international players like S\u00e9amus Coleman and Nathan Collins. They have been put in an incredibly difficult position, but they have shown in their recent comments how connected they are to the Irish supporters and to Irish society, and we are very proud of them.  In 2022, the Polish Football Association showed its mettle and its connection with its players. Polish players stood up against the sportswashing of Putin's murderous regime and forced the hand of UEFA and FIFA. I commend the Polish Football Association and the players for that stance. That is exactly the approach our football association should be taking and the fact that it has not shows the wild disconnect between the leadership of the FAI and the players and supporters of Ireland.  Taking a home international away from the team and supporters hits particularly hard when we consider that the Palestinian national team and supporters have not been able to have a true home game since 2019 because of a murderous and genocidal government that poses a lethal threat to players, fans and hundreds of thousands of innocent people. Many of us in this House, thousands of Irish people, activists, fans and players want to see this game cancelled and boycotted. The single most cowardly decision that the governing body could have made was to move this game to a neutral venue. It removes the ability of ordinary people, Irish fans, to protest what they firmly believe would be the sportswashing of genocide. No banners, no protests in the street, no platform for our soccer fans to have their voices heard. Irish fans would have no issue with having a home game taken from them if it meant that the Irish people and Irish soccer were taking a stand against Israel's participation.  Finally, I would like to say to those who spout nonsense about politics and sports, sport is political. All sport is political. Art is political, music is political. That sentiment is nothing but a cloak to guard an opinion that you do not care about standing up for the oppressed in the only ways that ordinary Irish people have at their disposal. Stop the game, Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  On 24 February 2022, the same day that Putin launched his illegal invasion of Ukraine, Russia's World Cup qualifier play-off opponents, Poland, Sweden and the Czech Republic, all announced they would refuse to play their matches on Russian soil. Three days later, those three countries announced they were all boycotting the fixtures in their entirety. These decisions were taken without the approval of FIFA. There was no hand-wringing about points deductions, world rankings or finances. They simply made the right decision. After these countries took this action themselves, FIFA then announced that Russia would be suspended indefinitely from international competitions and UEFA announced that Russian clubs would similarly be suspended. Those countries took that decision because, as it was put in a statement released by the Polish players and the Polish FA at the time, there are more important things in life than football.  This is a question of principles. Why is Russia's horrific and illegal war in Ukraine different from the genocide, the ethnic cleansing and the apartheid that Israel has inflicted on the Palestinian people? Israel should not be participating in sporting fixtures while it continues to bombard Gaza and Lebanon, expand settlements in the West Bank illegally and carry out its policies of apartheid. Hundreds of Palestinian footballers are among the victims of the genocide, including Suleiman al-Obeid, the \"Palestinian Pel\u00e9\", who was killed while he was waiting for humanitarian aid. The FAI must take the brave step and refuse to play against this genocidal regime, just as the Polish, Swedish and Czechs did before, and this Government must back them. It must reassure the FAI of its and our full support, financial, political and whatever else. Do not put this on the players. Football bodies take a stand on political issues all the time. They take stands against racism and against advertising alcohol, gambling and smoking. FIFA celebrates inclusivity and pride. These are all intensely political decisions. This decision is no different. Stop the game. Not here, not anymore. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  I heard the Minister of State on the television last night and I have to say it was mealy-mouthed, disingenuous and lacking in any moral fibre. What he said was that the Palestinians think we are great, that we are doing so much. He went on to dispute the idea that this match meant anything. I spoke to ordinary Palestinians who live in my area, some of whom have been the victims of the genocide and were helped out of Gaza by the Minister of State's Department, for example. It would mean a lot to them if this match were not to go ahead. Obviously they would prefer the Government to sanction Israel and impose economic sanctions, but it would mean a lot to people in Gaza to hear that a team stood out and refused to play Israel. I wanted to pass that message on to the Minister of State.  I do not know if the Minister of State has had any hand, act or part in the rumour that the FAI is talking about shifting the game. I think the magnitude has hit home with the FAI and the Government as regards playing fixtures here, given the history of this country and so on. Shifting solves nothing. The venue was never the issue. It is about playing a team that is steeped in genocide, apartheid and racism. I am not going to list the reasons, but many of these players have actively cheered the genocide. Many of them have been in the IDF. The women's team, for example, participated in a PR stunt where they swapped their jerseys for IDF jerseys. Two Palestinian women footballers were kidnapped last week. How long do we need to go on here?  The FAI moving the fixture is an attempt to quell the opposition and I do not think it is going to work. There is a very important role for the Government here. The FAI would fear finance and it would fear sanctions against it. Six points in the face of genocide is nothing to me, but the FAI would fear maybe financial retribution from UEFA and FIFA if it pulled out of having fixtures played here. I believe UEFA would be on very dodgy legal ground if it were to carry that out because it is breaking its own statutes anyway. The FAI would have a very strong legal case to challenge that, since UEFA is not abiding by what it says. However, the Minister of State could step in here and reassure the FAI that the Government will not allow the sport to suffer in any way financially. It is very important that he do that.  The pressure needs to be kept on the FAI and the Government. I also appeal to the players to get together and come to a collective decision, if needs be. Hopefully it will not come to that. The women's team went on strike in 2017 when players refused to play against the Czech Republic, a World Cup qualifier, because of their ill treatment and unequal treatment. That was a success.  The Spanish women\u2019s team refused to play a match as long as Rubiales was left in charge because of sexual harassment. Sometimes players take a stand for the right reasons and sometimes it is very effective. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  I thank the Social Democrats for bringing forward this comprehensive motion. Football is very important and I certainly do not want to be stopping any sport but there are other things that are more important. It is important that the slaughter that we have witnessed in Palestine, not just in the past two or three years, but going back over generations, is stopped. Medics, journalists, families and children have been killed; it is absolute genocide. The strangulation of normal life in the West Bank, ethnic cleansing of the West Bank and now Lebanon, all of southern Lebanon, almost a quarter of the territory, are war crimes. People in Israel who support it are as guilty as their government.  I do not care what religion anybody is. Whether they are Jewish, Catholic, Protestant or whatever I am not interested. That is not issue here. The issue is whether people support the genocide of their government and the people in Israel who do so share some of this blame. Many Israeli people do not support it and many Jews I have met do not support it, which is good but over 75,000 people have died in Gaza since October 2023. With the aerial bombardments, starvation, disease and people buried under rubble, what people have seen is horrendous. Since the October 2025 ceasefire, 947 Palestinians have been killed with over 3,000 injured. To rub salt into the wounds, the treatment of the flotilla, including the 13 Irish citizens, was fingers up to the international community.  Israel is not a normal state. Israel is a terrorist state and should be treated as such. FIFA and UEFA banned Russia and there have international bans on Yugoslavia as well. Is what Israel has done to Palestinians not the same? I note that well over 90% of FAI members voted to instruct the association to call on UEFA to suspend Israel and that should have happened.  There is growing support across the country for the match not to go ahead. Ordinary people, who normally would not think too much about politics or what is going on in the world, are horrified by what they have seen through the good work that has been done by journalists - those who have been left alive to actually witness it - in Gaza who have brought that information to us on a daily basis. People may say that it is tokenistic or whatever but back in 1984 when the women in Dunnes Stores took the small step of not handling South African fruit, it mushroomed and ballooned into the boycott of the apartheid regime. This has the potential to do the same thing.  We must send a powerful message to the Israeli Government and the Israeli people who support it. Its genocide is not acceptable. As I have said, there are some things more important than sport. Irish people want action and here is the opportunity. I welcome the measure taken by RT\u00c9 to boycott the Eurovision, which was good. I welcome to measure by the Government to ban the two Israeli ministers, the security minister and the finance minister, but it should go further than that. Israel needs to be ostracised in total until it makes amends for what it has done to the Palestinian people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  I love football. I have played football since I was aged five. One of the things I love about football is it is young people all over the world playing the beautiful game, doing something beautiful. What Israel is doing to Palestinian children is the very antithesis of what football is about because it is ugly, murderous and genocidal. A very significant part of Israel\u2019s decades-long genocidal campaign against the Palestinians is its desire to murder Palestinian children, including the children who play football.  Back in 2015, more than a decade ago, I read out a quote from among many from ministers. One particularly stuck out by Ayelet Shaked, a Knesset MP who later became minister for justice, talking about Palestinian children. He said, \"They should go, as should the physical homes in which they raised the snakes. Otherwise, more snakes will be raised.\" That was his attitude and he became a minister after saying that. That is the altitude of the Israeli regime towards Palestinian children that has led it to kill more than 350 children who play football in the past three years, more than 1,000 mostly young people who play sports of various kinds.  One of those children was a young man called Muhammad Khalifa. I was very proud to be part of organising one leg of soccer events involving Muhammad  Khalifa's team, Al-Hilal in Gaza. They played in Ballybrack as well as elsewhere in the country. He was aged 12 the time in 2016. A decade later, he was massacred along with seven members of his family and his brother. He had gone on to play for the Palestinian national youth team and he was wiped out by an Israeli attack which wiped out his entire family. He played hurling while he was here. He met the President. It was such a beautiful thing. His life was extinguished along with hundreds of other young people playing football by a regime that treats young Palestinians playing football and young children as snakes to be wiped out. That is the psychosis of the Israeli regime and that is why it must not be normalised. The idea of normalising it by playing a game of football against a state that does that to children is disgusting. The Government should support the boycott and stop the game. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  Benjamin Netanyahu\u2019s IDF have been involved in some of the worst atrocities have been committed anywhere in the world in the past 50 years. A total of 75,811 people have been killed in a few short years in the conflict in Gaza - 73,770 Palestinians and 2,039 Israelis. The word disproportionate does not cut it. This has been the slaughter of the people. It has been the intentional killing of tens of thousands of innocent women and children. Horrific images of blood-soaked children have flooded onto our screens and in the past number of years. Many of these children have been atomised by bombs supplied by Western countries. The Israeli Government is also facilitating the stealing of land in the West Bank. The IDF are now involved in a killing spree in Lebanon, demolishing whole swathes of villages, towns and cities. The IDF have pulled in the US into bombing Iran which is causing the cost-of-living crisis all around the world.  On the one hand, the Government is saying that the Israel is involved in genocide and on the other hand that we should play a soccer match against Israel. The Minister of State should think about the incongruence of that. The Government supports this soccer match against the perpetrators of genocide on this planet. The Government has an incredibly two-tiered approach to this - one approach for Russia and one for Israel. Why is that the case? It is simply because of the international community. The Government does not have the backbone to have a consistent approach in these two very similar situations.  We believe we should be doing far more than we are doing here. Ireland has a history as a campaigner for peace and justice. We have had our own peace process. Our peacekeepers have put their lives on the line for peace internationally. Irish missionaries have fed the poor, and built schools and hospitals all around the world. Ireland has a history of being an honest broker in relation to peace. Norway, another small country with similar population, worked hard and created the Oslo Accords. Norway focused its reputation and experience on becoming a catalyst for peace. We in Aont\u00fa have been calling on the Government to get off its backside and do the same to try to become a catalyst for peace in this region. We are not saying it will be easy. It may well end in failure but peace is always worth trying for.  Ireland has lived in the shadow of a powerful military neighbour for centuries. Our experience is very similar to the experience of the Palestinians. Britain has murdered and killed Irish people through bullets and famine in their hundreds of thousands and many Irish people see themselves in the eyes of the people of Palestine. Given this shared experience, the Government\u2019s actions are even harder to understand. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  I welcome the Minister of State with responsibility for sport to the House.  Sport has always occupied a unique place in humane society. It transcends politics, religion, ethnicity and nationality. It brings people together in a way that very few things can. That is why I approached this motion with extreme caution. Let me be clear to this House: I condemn the horrific attacks that were carried out by Hamas against Israel on 7 October 2023, the murder of innocent civilians, the taking of hostages and the acts of terror. None of that can ever be justified. Equally, I am deeply troubled and disgusted by the devastating loss of civilian life in Gaza and the suffering of innocent men, women and children. It is absolutely heartbreaking to watch. One lesson that I have learnt in life is that war brings tragedy and grief to everybody it touches. However, young athletes should not be asked to carry the burden of resolving geopolitical conflicts that they did not create. As the Minister of State knows, a sporting career is short. For many of these players, there will be few opportunities for them to represent their country on an international stage. We should be very careful, therefore, before we ask them to sacrifice for that decision of which they have absolutely no control. The decision regarding Israeli participation in games with Ireland in UEFA competition is a matter for UEFA, not the FAI or for this House to impose on sports people.  History teaches us one thing, which is very important. When South Africa emerged from apartheid, Nelson Mandela understood the extraordinary power of sport by uniting a nation and not dividing it. He used the Rugby World Cup not as a weapon, but as an instrument of reconciliation. He brought a country together where politics alone had failed to do so. That lesson is as relevant to this House today as it was then. I say to those who are angry that they have the right to be angry, and they should be angry. I say to them to bring their energy to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, this Chamber and the institutions and governments that have the power to act on that and to push for sanctions and for accountability locally, nationally and internationally. That is where the battle truly is, not on the sports ground. Parliaments and this Parliament exist to settle political disputes. Sport fields exist to bring people together. At a time the world feels increasingly divided, we need more spaces where people of different nationalities, beliefs and backgrounds can still meet peacefully and respectfully in a mutual respect of one another in the name of competition. This House should be protecting those spaces and not dismantling them.  Let politics be debated in the parliament. Let diplomacy be pursued by this Government and the European governments. However, let athletics compete, let supporters come together and let sports remain the most powerful focus that we have to unite the people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas le gach \u00e9inne a bh\u00ed ag caint. Aonta\u00edm le go leor ruda\u00ed at\u00e1 \u00e1 r\u00e1 ag an Teachta O\u2019Flynn faoi accountability but I disagree with him fundamentally on this. The Israelis have not let sport exist. When Alaa Al-Dali was trying to leave Gaza for the Olympics, he was deliberately shot in the knee. His own words described it as \"a grenade which exploded\". He is now an amputee. I met him when I was on the flotilla travelling to Gaza. Speaking of Nelson Mandela, his grandson was also on that flotilla. I speak to him regularly. He is a current elected official in South Africa. It is a repeat of what we said on yesterday's motion in the sense that sport is and can be a time for peace. However, when a country is inflicting genocide, multiple reports have said it is inflicting genocide and UN independent reports are stating that it is inflicting genocide and using starvation as a weapon of war, breaking every international law, illegally abducting EU citizens in EU territorial waters, then it has broken everything. Bringing them here and allowing them to play on our pitch while standing for Amhr\u00e1n na bhFiann is not nearly the same as the comparison that was just made by the Deputy. Under the Geneva Convention, we have every obligation to do everything that we can to oppose anyone that is inflicting genocide.  There is a rumour that Germany's away jersey is green because we were one of the first countries to play them after the Second World War. I used to say that thinking it was true, but it is not. We were one of the first countries to play them. We always have been a lobbyist for peace. Ireland is recognised worldwide for our peacekeeping missions, diplomacy, neutrality and everything that we have done. However, when we eventually played Germany, it was after the regime had fallen and the Germans had changed. This is the fundamental point. We are not against Israelis; we are against the current Israeli regime. I have said this 100 times. After my speech last night, I had people sending me emails and tweets saying that I am antisemitic. I am not antisemitic. This is against genocide. We had Israelis on the flotillas. Regarding the most recent flotilla, we had the video of the Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir I welcome that the Government has brought in sanctions. I welcome the investment that the Government has made in aid for Gaza and how it has been using its voice in the EU. I hope that when we take up the EU Presidency and we are setting the agenda, we use it to the best of our ability to be a broker for peace. Regarding our strength, n\u00edor bhain s\u00e9 go stairi\u00fail leis an l\u00edon saighdi\u00fair\u00ed n\u00f3 the big defence budget. Ireland\u2019s power is our respect worldwide as a broker for peace. That is why there needs to be a message sent out from this motion. I thank the Social Democrats and the Opposition. I thank the Minister of State for saying at last week's committee meeting last week that he is not going to go to the game. We need to look at in that sense. We did before in 1982. Another Fianna F\u00e1il Government did it back in 1999. We can do it again. Let us consider how quickly we and FIFA brought in sanctions for Russia. There is a clear hypocrisy and issue here that needs to be assessed.  I welcome the occupied territories Bill being brought in. I would love it to have services included. I would like something done rather than nothing. I look forward to it being introduced. That message will go around the world. Ireland will always oppose genocide, as Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn said based on our history and what all of our ancestors have seen. Le linn an Ghorta Mh\u00f3ir nuair a bh\u00ed na seandaoine ag ithe f\u00e9ir \u00f3 thaobh na mb\u00f3ithre timpeall na t\u00edre toisc nach raibh aon bhia in aon \u00e1it, with grass stains on their mouths, would they not have liked somebody to have stood up to someone inflicting genocide on our forefathers? That is why I support it and really support what the motion is doing. It is a fundamental difference. I hope and I am optimistic that there will be a global shift. It has been a very long time coming. This needs to change for all the children starving, who have lost parents and lost legs and for all the women and men who have been peacefully protesting in Gaza and been shot in the knee or head and blown up. The figures constantly get higher. Aid workers are being told that they cannot bring in aid, such as a prosthetic due to it possibly being used as a weapon. The flotillas that are bringing baby food and medicine, which is allowed under international law, are being illegally abducted. Nothing is happening. Irish citizens having bullets shot at them by the IDF while bringing in aid is not acceptable. Any regime that is inflicting and allowing this feels they can act in impunity, can get away with it and continues to do more.  I will not say that the Government has not done anything. I welcome what the Government has done in the past by recognising it at the ICJ and the millions of euro that we have given in aid.  We are lagging behind other countries but it is not too late for us to catch up, to run and lead with them, especially with the EU Presidency coming. I welcome this motion and will not support the Government's amendment to it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (Deputy Charlie McConalogue)  I thank Deputy Gibney and the Social Democrats for tabling this motion and I apologise for not being here at the outset of the debate. Based on the debate in the House today and the debate on the Sinn F\u00e9in Private Member's motion last night, as well as from the discussions we have on a regular basis in this House, it is very clear that this House and the people of Ireland have significant concerns about Israeli actions in Palestine and the dire and worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza. I reiterate that Israeli actions in Palestine consistently contravene international law. The Irish Government continues to press for appropriate action both at EU and international level in response to egregious Israeli breaches of human rights and democratic principles. Last year the independent international commission on the occupied territories called it out for what it is: genocide, the gravest of crimes in international law. The prevention by Israel of essential and sufficient humanitarian aid going in to the people of Gaza, the continued facilitation of violent settlers in the West Bank and the appalling displacement of so many people in Lebanon is completely unacceptable.  Ireland has taken a strong stance in respect of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, including recognising the State of Palestine, and the Government stands ready to play its part in working towards a sustainable peace between Israel and Palestine through the realisation of a two-state solution. We have a consistently strong record as a country in driving these issues and in taking action, including by intervening in the case taken by South Africa against Israel in the International Court of Justice alleging violations of the genocide convention. These are no small measures for a country like Ireland to take but it is clear that they will not be sufficient to drive meaningful change on the ground. The Government believes that the most effective and impactful way to deal with Israeli actions is at European Union level. It is clear that the EU needs to do more on this issue and the Taoiseach has written to the President of the European Council, Mr. Ant\u00f3nio Costa, asking that it is put on the table for the next European Council meeting which, I understand, he has agreed to do. We will continue to raise this at EU level which we believe will ultimately have far more effect than unilateral actions taken at home. We will also continue our endeavours to use our influence to persuade the international community to take appropriate action and stop this conflict.  Much has been made in this debate of moral imperatives. It is clear that the moral imperative in Ireland is to do what is most effective in attempting to mitigate and end the suffering of the Palestinian people. Reducing this conflict to one or two particular football games does not achieve that objective. For good reasons, governments should not interfere with international sports federations nor national governing bodies of sport, particularly in regard to directing who should play whom in international sporting events. FIFA, the world football governing body, and UEFA, the European football governing body are responsible for the system within which these fixtures are scheduled. They both maintain a strong line against interference by governments in international football competitions. What we do not want is to see the Irish team penalised due to interference by an Irish government. We are in government to run the country and the FAI should be left to run football. It would be a strange sight indeed to see governments dictating football fixtures or fixtures in any sport. The FAI. to its credit, has strongly represented the views of its membership that Israel should be excluded from international football competitions, including bringing a motion to UEFA to this effect last year. While we may all agree with the motion, the reality is that it was not passed by UEFA. The FAI must conduct itself in line with UEFA rules.  While deciding whether to fulfil these fixtures is ultimately a matter for the FAI, it must be acknowledged that refusing to play the games against Israel risks isolating Irish football from the international football community. This risk does not fall upon Members of this House but on the FA,I which has the decision-making and stewardship capacity. The FAI's role is to ensure that football remains viable domestically and in good standing globally, without inflicting long-term institutional damage on the sport. With support from the Government, the FAI has made great strides in reforming its operations over recent years, driving change towards a modern, professional and sustainable football ecosystem in the country. It is in no one's interests that Irish football becomes isolated and indefinitely dependent on Government goodwill, as has been effectively suggested by some in recent days. Punishing athletes for the actions of governments undermines the foundational principles of international sportsmanship. Players have trained their entire lives to compete for their country at the highest level and denying Irish footballers the opportunity to compete in the Nations League compromises their opportunity to engage in sport as well.  The motion is not limited to the upcoming Nations League matches but calls on the Government to support any and all sporting boycotts against Israel. Let us be clear about what it proposes. It calls on Irish sporting bodies to boycott fixtures, events and competitions where Israel is competing, as long as the illegal occupation continues. An official boycott would set a dangerous precedent with wider implications that are not realistic or reasonable in the sporting landscape. Reflecting the reality that meaningful change on the ground in this conflict will not be driven by unilateral action by Ireland but by action at an EU and international level, the motion risks isolating Irish sport, financially undermining the entire sector and reducing it to a tool of foreign policy. Across all sports Irish athletes are currently trying to qualify for the Los Angeles Olympics. Many will have to compete against athletes from Israel. Are these young sports people supposed to park their Olympic dreams because the IOC has not excluded Israel? Should our boxers sit out international tournaments where there is an Israeli competitor? The same could be argued for our rowers, sailors and almost all athletes across all sports. If the Social Democrats' motion and approach was to be followed through, it would be an empty plane that departs for Los Angeles.  Many Deputies have referenced UEFA, FIFA and other sporting organisations that have excluded Russia from international sporting competitions. Conveniently, they do not note that these exclusions were not decided by unilateral action but by multilateral action by a significant number of national sporting organisations. As has been long pointed out during this debate, all national governing bodies of sport, including the FAI, are independent and autonomous bodies responsible for the governance of their own sports, including the organisation of fixtures. The FAI is completely within its rights to fulfil these international fixtures and the Government acknowledges its right to do so. This well-established position has been rejected by the Social Democrats. Last night, Deputy Gibney called on the Government to intervene in the governance of football, and she does so again with this motion. As I have outlined previously, this would be very much at odds with the appropriate way for sports to be separate from political decisions. The Government does not have the legal authority to interfere with sporting fixtures and our amendment to the motion reflects this position. The Government's proposal to amend the wording of this motion has been submitted to the House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  I thank Deputy Gibney for her work on this motion and congratulate Deputy Ennis on his maiden speech. I want to remember Trevor Dietz, the Fontaines DC manager. He was someone I knew for 30 years who was a strong advocate for and steadfast supporter of the Palestinian people throughout his life. My thoughts are very much with his family and friends today.  The Minister of State, the Taoiseach and the T\u00e1naiste have all recognised that a genocide is taking place in Gaza. Indeed, everybody in this House recognises that a genocide is taking place. How can we actually recognise that and give meaning to it while at the same time take the approach that it should be just business as usual with Israel? That is what is happening. The current situation is that there are no meaningful sanctions against Israel. It actually has a preferential trade agreement with Europe in which Ireland participates. It is fine for the Government to say that we must address this at a European Union level because that will be more effective but it has been saying that for years. It is an absolute cop-out. There has been no agreement at EU level to do anything meaningful and there is unlikely to ever be agreement, and the Minister of State knows that. What we need the Government to do is show leadership. That is what we are asking for. Leadership was shown in the 1980s by the Dunnes Stores strikers in Henry Street and by Ireland. That had a real impact on bringing down apartheid in South Africa. We need leadership from the Government now, similar to that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  It is an extraordinary attempt at an Irish solution to tell us that the game of football the Irish national team is going to play against a country the Irish State believes is committing genocide against its people will now take place at a neutral venue and expect that to be some form of compromise. The Minister of State, Deputy McConalogue, referenced that the Taoiseach himself believes that Israel's actions against the Palestinian people and people in Gaza amounts to genocide. The Irish State has aligned itself to an International Court of Justice case that agrees this is genocide. Yet, we are now expected to take part in a game of football, or any sport, as if it is just normal that we remove our obligations and try to unsee what we have been watching every single day for the past three years and to which we have added legal weight at the highest international courts.  What actually makes a venue neutral? Will the Minister of State paint a picture for me of this neutral venue in some other state? Do the obligations of the Genocide Act not apply there? Are the players, who we expect to walk into the stadium, expected to leave their morality at the door? The Minister of State has said he will not attend the fixture in Ireland, presumably as a form of protest. That is a message but he expects the players to leave their morality at the door of the stadium on the way in. Does the Minister anticipate the stadium to be filled with fans or does he anticipate this neutral venue to be behind closed doors? Does the Minister of State reckon the capacity of the stadium would exceed about 75,000? When the Irish players look out into the stadium at the empty seats they may see a lost Gazan life that was taken by the same country whose flag now stands up beside our Tricolour and whose anthem we will listen to alongside our national anthem. Is that the Minister of State's expectation of an empty stadium where one can probably see dead Gazan bodies? Does he imagine there would be journalists there? Would those journalists have any consideration for the Gazan journalists who were targeted by Israel precisely because they could not tell the story of the horrors that are being inflicted there?  Football is something that I have lived by my whole life. It is where I found a lot of my identity. It is where I became inspired as a kid. The Gazan children who were murdered will not be inspired by a match that plays at this neutral venue, where apparently our obligations under the Genocide Act do not apply and where players are asked to leave their morality at the door. I am a football fan. I cheer wildly when Ireland scores but I do not care about six points in the Nations League division two if what we are asked to do is separate our morality or conscience to achieve that. This is not normal. This should not be seen as normal. I would not like to see the Irish team line out against Russia and I would protest that. I cannot separate the hypocrisy of being asked to do so against a state that the Irish State believes, at the highest levels, is carrying out a genocide.  Sport and politics always mix. There has been no time in history where sport and politics have not mixed. Where would we like to start? Yesterday I referenced examples from Ireland, from Yugoslavia, and from apartheid South Africa. I can go back in history as long as we want. Sport has always been a means by which people present their identity and their politics but on this particular occasion the Tricolour will fly alongside the flag of a nation we believe is carrying out genocide. There is weight to the Minister of State's office. There is weight to the Taoiseach's office. When he referred to the genocide, it was a brave decision but it does not stop there. In recognition of genocide, we also apply the standard that we will not treat as normal a state we believe is carrying out genocide. I understand the complexities but I also understand the simple reality that courage matters now more than ever. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  I thank everybody for their incredible contributions today. We have heard some really impassioned, very well informed and evidence-based detailed contributions from everybody on these opposition benches, unified in our message for the Minister of State to stop the game. What a shame that those contributions fall not just on deaf ears but there are no ears here as there is barely any representation from the Government. I welcome that the Minister of State, Deputy McConalogue, has been able to return here to the debate. I know he did explain in advance that he had another engagement but honestly it did not really make any difference because the words we heard delivered from his colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Timmy Dooley, were the exact same words we heard last night in a debate on a different motion. I am just shocked at that. The Ministers of State literally just changed the numbers at the top of the documents. This is the level of engagement they have given to this motion and to our work as parliamentarians to represent people who are appalled at the thought of us playing Israel in a soccer game. That is all the Ministers of State bothered to do; just change the number on a motion and read the script back to us.  The Minister of State's take on our motion is simply wrong. We are not trying to penalise the sporting community. We are not trying to set back Olympians and athletes in any sport. That is not what we are trying to do. It displays for me that the Minister of State does not understand what boycott actually means. As other colleagues have said, and as I called out to the Minister of State last night when he read out the exact same speech, the whole idea about this is that there is not the same consensus in the international community about Israel as there has been for Russia and other countries where we have seen a united action against them. We do not have that. In the absence of that, and in the Minister of State's now acknowledged acceptance that we do not have that, what we have to try to do one by one, as individual beings and as individual nations, is to stand up and say \"No, we will not take that\". What will happen is that a domino set of actions will follow, which means that we will not be the ones penalised and our sports people will not be the ones penalised but it will be Israel who will be penalised because they will not be able to stand in resistance to the actions that we start. That is what boycott, divestment and sanctions do. That is how it works and it seems to be lost on you guys completely.  This genocide is unique because we are all seeing the atrocities. We are all aghast because the other thing we are seeing is the inaction of governments the world over. I mentioned Al-Haq earlier. One of its other contributors was really powerful in their description. They said that not only is the inaction clear from governments but those same governments have ministers who have been to Palestine. The Minister of State's colleagues have been there and they have told us this. They know what is going on. The Minister of State will excuse me for getting graphic for a minute but they have heard of the decapitated bodies coming back to Palestinian communities. They have heard of and they have witnessed the atrocities that are going on there, including the not isolated but systemic rape and torture of Palestinian prisoners. They have seen this. The Government has seen this and in response chooses inaction. We are so angry as a party, as a people, as a football community and as a globe that this is being allowed to continue. We can all see it with our own eyes.  The Government obfuscates, dances on the heads of pins and tells us the reasons it cannot act. We cannot tolerate it any more. The Minister of State and his colleagues know what is going on. They know the tools that are available to them. They know the words of the Genocide Convention and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which say that we will save future generations from the scourges of war. The Government knows it has the ability to do this.  The final quote I want to finish on was from that same group. They said that the Palestinian people and the Lebanese people are not crying out now for us to save Palestine or for us to save Lebanon. They are crying out for us as a globe to save humanity. Do the one thing that is in front of you; stop the game. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  In accordance with Standing Order 85(2), the division is postponed until the weekly division time this evening. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Exclusion of Israel from Sporting Fixtures: Motion [Private Members]"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-10\/debate\/dbsect_11","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions","counts":{"speechCount":38,"speakerCount":8},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_11","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  We move on to Leaders' Questions. Under Standing Order 38 I call Deputy McDonald. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  We must address events in Belfast over the past 48 hours. There was a knife attack on Monday night that was barbaric, vicious and depraved; the stuff of nightmares. The victim suffered horrific slash injuries to his eyes, face and neck. Were it not for the selfless bravery of members of the community, including Maitiu M\u00e1g Tighearn\u00e1n putting himself at risk by jumping from his car and using his son\u2019s hurl to stop the brutal assault, the victim would surely have lost his life.  I acknowledge and thank the first responders on the scene and the swift action of the PSNI, which apprehended the suspect of this heinous crime. He is now in custody, faces the full weight of the law and must pay a heavy price for this brutal crime. My thoughts are of course with the victim and his family as they live through this nightmare and as he continues to be treated in hospital. It was right that political leaders in the North came together to unequivocally condemn this attack and call for the swift delivery of justice. The assault provoked genuine shock, disgust and anger across communities.  Last night, groups of masked men burned families out of their homes, targeted and attacked innocent people and terrified and endangered small children. We witnessed racist intimidation and violence orchestrated by loyalist and far-right thugs. These are people hell-bent on whipping up hatred for their own ends. Many of those leading this violence are the same people who will burn Tricolours on the top of bonfires on 12 July. What occurred last night echoes back to the pogroms on Bombay Street in 1969, when families and children were burnt out of their homes by loyalist mobs. Why? Because they were Catholic and Irish. Many were forced to leave, fleeing for their lives across the Border into Dundalk and beyond. They were refugees in their own country.  This was inflicted on Irish nationalists time and again. When we said \"never again\" and that we would never allow anyone to be treated this way again, we meant it. We meant anyone - not Irish and not any community. Nobody has the right to spread fear, intimidate or terrify innocent families. We have a duty to communities to show political leadership and stand up for what is right. The good, decent people of Belfast have lived through division and hatred before. They wear the scars and pain of those times and will not allow it to happen again. They will not allow their peace and better future to be robbed from them.  In the aftermath of this violence, threats have been made to the life of Belfast\u2019s mayor, R\u00f3is-M\u00e1ire Donnelly. She will not bow to these threats of violence against her. She will continue to stand with every community in Belfast and continue to call out racist thugs. I ask the Taoiseach to join with me in offering support to the victim of Monday night's vicious assault and to take this opportunity to condemn unequivocally the appalling, orchestrated violence carried out against innocent families last night. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The events of the last few days in Northern Ireland have filled us with horror. The attack on that young person two nights ago was absolutely savage and horrific. Our thoughts are with the victim and his family. It is beyond our comprehension that a person could wield such violence on another individual in such a manner. The very graphic representation of that on social media has shocked many people. Like the Deputy, I salute the courage of Maitiu M\u00e1g Tighearn\u00e1n for his very brave intervention to essentially save the life of the victim.  The violence of last night has to be roundly condemned. I pay tribute to all of the political leaders who yesterday responded in the first instance to the attack of the previous evening, and for the unified message condemning any attacks on individuals, families and homes. What we witnessed last evening is absolutely appalling - that families would be burned out of their homes because of race or ethnic reasons. I join with all Members of this House in condemning unreservedly the attacks of last evening. They were orchestrated. We have had evidence of this in other countries where situations like this are exploited, which results in the violence of the type we saw last evening.  All of us have to be very vigilant and clear in standing up for fundamental, human values in terms of the dignity of every single individual in our society. We uphold and defend the dignity of every single individual irrespective of what transpires or occurs and fully support the rule of law. In this instance, we fully support the PSNI in terms of its investigation of both the crime against that young individual and the violence and criminal activity in evidence last evening across the North but particularly in Belfast. An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na will continue to work with the PSNI in terms of the broader issues that relate to this. More fundamentally, we must call on all citizens to support the police, in this instance the PSNI, to get swift justice in respect of the appalling attack two nights ago, but also in terms of those who targeted individuals in their homes and burned out people from their homes.  This brings back appalling memories of incidents of this kind from the late 1960s and early 1970s but it has a particular manifestation in today\u2019s world. I watched some of the commentary from some social media outlets, and some media platforms of a particular orientation or political disposition which, to say the very least, was decidedly unhelpful in terms of how they portrayed the events of the past 48 hours. There can never be any implied justification for the attacks of last evening. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  There never can be any attempt at rationalisation of it either. Nobody has the right to take the law into their own hands or to say to someone,\u201cYou are not living here any more\u201d. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Of course, everyone has the right to live in safety. That vicious, depraved assault causes all of us disgust. Savagery like that has no place on our streets in any part of Ireland. The perpetrator of an act like that must face the full weight of justice.  The organised mobs, and this was organised, who burned families out of their homes and terrified children are the same people who in July will burn Irish Tricolours on the top of their bonfires. These people and their organised racism need to be faced down.  To carry out actions like that and then to threaten the life of Belfast's first citizen, R\u00f3is-M\u00e1ire Donnelly, reflects just how serious this matter is. I invite the Taoiseach again to assert that we will jointly face this down and I ask him to address the issue of those threats to Belfast's first citizen. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Such threats are appalling and must be roundly condemned. Unfortunately, it has become a phenomenon in this era that there are increasing numbers of threats to public representatives across the board. To threaten the Lord Mayor in the context of yesterday and the day before is appalling and has to be condemned. All threats to public representatives have to be condemned. Unfortunately, both the Garda and the PSNI are pursuing too many cases where threats are made to the lives of politicians in this House, in the Northern Assembly or, in this case, to the Lord Mayor. We all join in condemning that.  We also have to face down racism. We also have to make sure that our Garda here and the PSNI in the North are adequately resourced and supported without any equivocation----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  There is none. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----in all communities to pursue these people who seem to think they can create an alternative----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Taoiseach. Time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  Loyalists. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----framework to get their way. They must be resisted by all of us. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  I condemn the horrific attack in Belfast on Monday. Our thoughts are with the victim and his family. I also condemn the racist attacks last night and join others in calling for an end to the violence.  I will talk to the Taoiseach today about the extreme pressure family carers are under. Some 71% are now struggling to make ends meet, according to the recent Family Carers Ireland report. Nearly half are experiencing extreme loneliness, are desperate for support that never comes and are feeling like their world is shrinking. This is an indictment of the Taoiseach's Government. The State, which should be there to help them, is actually making their lives harder and pushing an increasing number of carers into poverty. That is the grim reality. Imagine how frustrating it is for those carers to hear this Government's repeated claims that it values their work as they are forced to pay out-of-pocket for essential equipment and therapies that should be provided by the State. They are forced to jump through endless hoops just to qualify for carer's allowance and are living in constant fear that a new review or a new assessment will push them just over the threshold leaving them with nothing - no financial support and no services.  Catherine Rossiter, who cares for her 12-year-old twins, Aoife and Eoghan, launched this report with Family Carers Ireland. She said:  I often think my life is a test of human endurance. How much can I take as a carer before I break? What will happen to my young daughter and son then? The worry feels endless.  This is the reality for so many carers across the country. They are exhausted, drained and filled with dread when they think about the future. The vast majority of carers in this position are women. They are saving the State billions of euro every year and what are they getting in return? Loneliness, burn-out and poverty.  The Government has a growing reputation for making commitments and abandoning them. It committed to abolishing the means test for carers. Carers have had enough of empty promises, so will the Government keep this one? There is no excuse not to do so. We can afford it. It would cost \u20ac266 million, according to the report by the Parliamentary Budget Office. It could be paid for by tripling the bank levy on banks earning record profits, with money left over to invest in services. Will the Government abolish the means test for carers in the forthcoming budget? Will it give carers that reassurance of making that commitment to them now? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Government does acknowledge and takes very seriously the role of carers in our society. I acknowledge that we have made commitments in the programme for Government, particularly the commitment in terms of the weekly income disregard and that we would eliminate the means test, essentially. Already, as part of the most recent budget, and from this July, the weekly income disregard will increase from \u20ac625 to \u20ac1,000 for a single person and from \u20ac1,250 to \u20ac2,000 for carers who are part of a couple. The latest reforms will result in more carers qualifying for carer's allowance. In effect, it means that a carer in a two-adult household with an income of approximately \u20ac110,000 will still retain their full carer's payment, and even with an income of \u20ac138,000 will retain a partial payment. That is a significant step taken already in respect of the programme for Government commitment to abolish the means test for carer's allowance over the lifetime of the Government, which is the commitment we made.  In addition to that, the carer's support grant of \u20ac2,000 is paid this month. We will in the forthcoming budget further develop on that commitment and further realise it in terms of the income disregard and the means test. We increased the core weekly social welfare rates by \u20ac10. The highest ever increases in child support payments occurred in the last budget. I took a keen interest in that with the Minister, Dara Calleary, because of the unit in my Department dealing with child poverty. We increased the child support payment for children aged 12 or over by \u20ac16 to \u20ac78 and for children under 12 by \u20ac8 to \u20ac58. Since 2020, that is, in the past five years, the weekly child support payment has increased by 95% for children aged 12 or over and by 61% for children under 12. I heard the Children's Rights Alliance this morning describe that as a significant move, although recent inflation in fuel prices has negated it to some extent. Nonetheless, it is recognised generally as a more targeted way of dealing with child poverty. We have increased the fuel allowance. We increased the domiciliary care allowance by \u20ac20, bringing it to \u20ac380 per month now. That has gone up by \u20ac70 since 2022. We are progressively increasing key payments that will help carers and children who are being cared for. The Minister is also working on proposals, and there has been a public consultation, in respect of the cost-of-disability payment. A lot of work has been done on that. There was a focus network summit on 13 May last in respect of that specific issue, which was hosted by the Minister for Social Protection. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  The Taoiseach says he acknowledges the role of carers and acknowledges the need to abolish the means test ultimately over the lifetime of this Government. I assume he acknowledges, then, that the changes in the threshold do not abolish it but, rather, slowly work towards that. I appreciate that the Government is doing that but if I am right, I can take it from the Taoiseach's reply that the Government does not plan to abolish it entirely in this budget, and that it is something it plans to do over the lifetime of the Government. I ask the Taoiseach to reconsider that because when you consider the very fortunate position the Government is in in terms of record surpluses as well as the reality of this report, which shows that 75% of carers have never received respite, 76% have cut back on non-essentials, 32% report bad mental health and 48% experience severe loneliness, this is something the Government can do now. It would cost \u20ac266 million when carers are saving the State billions of euro. I ask the Taoiseach to seriously reconsider and to consider doing this in the next budget. It is something the Government has committed to doing. It needs to happen now. Will the Government do it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  As I said, we are going to do it. We did give the commitment that it would happen over the lifetime of the Government. I would not underestimate the step we have already taken because I think that when this lands in July, the increase in the income disregard will actually be quite significant, maybe more significant than people thought. We will make a further significant move in the forthcoming budget and I think we will be well on the way then to eliminating the means test.  Of course, there is a wide variety of measures we have to take to improve the situation for carers and people with disabilities more generally. We are looking at a new transport scheme to be introduced by the Department of Transport and the Minister for Transport, which we have been working on in the Cabinet subcommittee on disability. I mentioned already family support payments and the cost-of-disability initiative. There is a wide range of areas, if you bring them all together, that will make a meaningful difference. Of course, there is the investment in core services as well. What can alleviate a lot of pressures on people is providing other supports such as----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Your time is up, Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----therapies, as we are doing in the school-based therapy service, which will take some pressure off carers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call Deputy Ivana Bacik. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  Before I begin, my thoughts are with the man who remains seriously injured in hospital, and with his family, following Monday's brutal knife attack in north Belfast. I also condemn the appalling violence perpetrated against Northern Ireland's migrant communities overnight and commend the work of the emergency services in response. We must all condemn those who seek to exploit any awful incident in order to target ethnic minority and immigrant communities. We saw it here during the Dublin riots in November 2023. All of us have a responsibility to unite against racism and violence.  I will raise with the Taoiseach the final report of the south east independent commission of investigation - the report into the depraved systemic sexual abuse of children by the paedophile, Bill Kenneally, which was published yesterday. The details set out in the report are nothing short of horrendous. So many young lives were destroyed by his vile and heinous crimes. I pay tribute to all the survivors. What they endured is the stuff of nightmares.  Bill Kenneally tortured young boys over many years in unfathomable ways. He exploited his position of authority to abuse them. He ensured their silence through blackmail and intimidation. When some of his young victims found the courage to report him, their bravery was met with inertia and cover-up by the Garda and by those who should have been protecting them, whose duty it was to protect them. For far too long they were not protected. The report is unequivocal. There was a clear dereliction of duty by senior garda\u00ed in dealing with Kenneally's disgusting crimes. Had proper procedures been followed, and had the children been taken seriously, more children could have been protected from suffering at the hands of Bill Kenneally.  No institution comes out of the report well - not the Garda, not the health authorities, not sporting bodies, not Fianna F\u00e1il and not the Catholic Church. It now falls to the Taoiseach and the Government to respond. I am still reading the report, as we all are. It is very detailed, but we know it makes a number of important recommendations. It recommends in particular an urgent review of the need to introduce a criminal offence of misconduct in public office. That in particular follows the failure of former Fianna F\u00e1il Deputy, Brendan Kenneally, to contact authorities after he became aware of his cousin's campaign of abuse in 2001.  We understand that the Taoiseach will offer a State apology to Bill Kenneally's victims. That is very welcome, but survivors deserve clarity about when that will happen. After the ordeal they suffered, the minimum these men deserve is the Taoiseach's respect. I regret to say that the decision by the Minister, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan, to share this 400-page report with the survivors so close to publication did not show sufficient respect, as they have said. We have seen this before. Survivors of mother and baby homes were forced to learn key findings of that report through the media. We understand that survivors of Kenneally's vile crimes were given only 24 hours to digest the report before its findings were all over the news.  Will the Taoiseach do right by Bill Kenneally's survivors? Will he engage respectfully and directly with them? Will he commence the process of introducing that crucial new offence and will he implement the other recommendations of the report into his crimes? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  First of all, I want to say without equivocation that the crimes committed by Bill Kenneally were absolutely horrific over a prolonged period of time and caused immense trauma and suffering to many people and families. I am reading through the report, like Deputy Bacik. The judge, Michael White, has been very clear in terms of the central finding of a failure and a dereliction of duty in relation to the way An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na dealt with this, particularly in 1987 when the perpetrator himself, Bill Kenneally, was in the Garda station and almost acknowledged culpability in respect of this, and the failure to do things properly in terms of taking statements and sending them to the DPP at the time. There are wider issues as to why the Garda was not in a position to do that and so forth, but I am not going to go through that here. That, in my view, and also some failings in terms of the health board at the time, demand a State apology. That is my clear reading of the report so far.  There is no equivocation by the commission in terms of that central conclusion in respect of the failure to deal with this properly and comprehensively at the time, even by the standards of the day. The report goes into the contrast, which it describes as profound, in terms of the understanding and the framework and edifice we have in place today for child protection, but even by the standards of the late 1980s the commission says it is absolutely not acceptable.  There is then also the behaviour of others, including the former public representative, former TD, Brendan Kenneally, at the time. The commission is very clear that it fell below the standards that one would expect. It seems to me that the recommendation that has been made pertains to the failure of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na in terms of that central failure to prosecute, and to do what one would consider to be the basic investigative response required to deal with the facts and the position that were known at the time. There were then failures to alert others. There was a failure to alert the Vikings basketball club by people who knew. To be very straight, there was a failure to notify the Fianna F\u00e1il Party locally. That is very clear in the report. It was not notified at that time----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank the Taoiseach. I call Deputy Bacik. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----by those who knew also. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call Deputy Bacik to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It is a damning report in that respect. We will follow through on it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach will be back in. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We hope to arrange time in the House to have a proper consideration of this report. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  I thank the Taoiseach for his considered response. Like him, I commend the judge, Michael White, on all his work and for taking on this report and giving us such a comprehensive picture. I agree that we need a debate in this House once we have had time to digest the full findings of the report. Unfortunately, however, there have been so many of these situations where we have seen paedophilia covered up and even facilitated by State agencies, and where we have seen failures to support and protect victims and survivors. I am thinking of the survivors of Eamonn Cooke, the survivors of industrial schools, the brave individuals who came forward about the \"Blackrock Boys\" and the survivors of Michael Shine. Deputy Nash has been speaking out on behalf of survivors in that appalling situation. I know the scoping inquiry is due to report soon. We have been looking for a public inquiry into the litany of failure there in respect to victims.  The State must clearly do better. I know, as the Taoiseach said, there are better procedures in place now, but we can still do more. On 25 June, in this House we will be putting forward the Labour Party's Bill to ensure that where religious orders have colluded in cover-ups, that they can be pursued in order to facilitate the payment of redress to victims. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy's time is up. I call on the Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  This is another step in ensuring survivors and victims are supported and protected and the justice system responds. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We need to let the report speak for itself. It does not have a finding of a cover-up, a conspiracy or collusion. We have to be true to the report of the commission. However, it does have a finding of gross dereliction of duty and the need to reform the law in that respect, which the Minister will now be pursuing with the Law Reform Commission, as recommended by the commission. Yes, we can do better. The State has initiated quite a range of inquiries, as the Deputy iterated, going back to the industrial schools. We have a scoping inquiry under way on the victims of Michael Shine. The Minister for Health is working on that and also on other inquiries at the moment. We must also make sure that State authorities and every official are aware of all the responsibilities people have in respect of any reporting and the necessity to report. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank the Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  In my view, in the first instance it bears rearticulation that any abuse allegation should be reported to the Garda. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call Deputy Coppinger. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  I want to send my sympathy and solidarity to the man who was brutally attacked in Belfast, and to all affected by the subsequent racist violence. I am going to refer to it in my Questions on Policy or Legislation.  I will raise with the Taoiseach again the issue of gender-based violence, which he and the Government acknowledge is an epidemic. It is largely unreported. One of the key reasons is the hostile, traumatising and misogynistic legal system that so many complainants face. Survivors' counselling notes being used in trials has been an issue raised on the floor of this D\u00e1il and campaigned on for over a year now by survivors and by the Rape Crisis Centre.  The handling of this issue by the Government is shocking and disgraceful. It is shoehorning that issue into 12 or 13 others. It is squeezing it with so many issues into a new Bill, which will finish tonight at 9.15 p.m. or so. We will gather here and survivors will be in that Gallery because they want to come and see this through to the end. They will see it squeezed and, potentially, amendments will not be reached for debate. These are amendments that were sought by survivors and by the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, whose representatives the Minister refused to even meet to discuss their proposals for dealing with this. I think the Minister let the cat out of the bag on Committee Stage when he asked a Sinn F\u00e9in Deputy and me what if an individual he was counselling provided information to him in that counselling session and, subsequently, a criminal trial took place and he had a record of what was said to him that completely undermined what was said in the prosecution - in other words, women lie and counselling notes can potentially be used as evidence to try to catch them out. He said that he cannot ban the counselling notes. What the Minister has always said, and the Taoiseach has said, is that it is unconstitutional but the Taoiseach had a chance even within the Constitution to make really strong privilege. Very quickly, in the 45 seconds, he has done nothing to limit or regulate the Garda or Director of Public Prosecutions, DPP, seeking the notes. The rape crisis centre had asked for a court order at that stage. It does not improve the standard for disclosure. The Government broke a promise to introduce presumption of non-disclosure explicitly. It does not require the accused to engage with the facts of the case at application stage. It removes survivors' agency to consent or not. It continues the violating practise of raw counselling notes being handed to lawyers and the accused. It does not expressly state that counselling notes are not evidence. There is no legal advice to survivors about the whole process. The complainant is only notified of an application order after the court order pre-trial hearing is given. There is a total ban in Tasmania but I think the Taoiseach could have gone much longer. Survivors are extremely disappointed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  At the outset, the Deputy made an assertion in respect of the Minister. She kind of made a few leaps and sort of said that the Minister is saying that women lie in court cases. That is outrageous and should be withdrawn. There is no room for that in debates of this kind. We are all coming to this issue in a bona fide way. That is the first point I would make. There is no agenda here. We agree that violence against women and domestic violence, in particular, is at an appalling level. There are multiple factors responsible for that and legislation can help. The reforms the previous Government and this one have introduced, particularly the establishment of Cuan, the expansion of refuge places, which needs to happen faster and at a more accelerated pace if we can get the infrastructure delivered, and a range of other measures are testament to that. There are also cultural issues and issues to deal with the increased prevalence of violent pornography online and so forth, which we really have to deal with and which is a factor in the level of violence against women and the misogyny we are experiencing in our societies.  The Minister has sought within the constitutional framework and within constitutional parameters to deal with the issue of disclosure. The Civil Law and Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill endeavours to do that to ensure, in the first instance, that judicial oversight governs the disclosure of any counselling records so that the rights of victims to privacy are always taken into account. On 19 May, the Minister brought forward further amendments to the legislation to further restrict the disclosure of counselling records. In this context, the presumption of non-disclosure was introduced in relation to these records. A presumption of non-disclosure ensures the legal status of these records is that they are not to be released except in certain circumstances. The current protection regime will also be extended to the following personal records: medical records, child protection records and social work records. Those records often contain highly personal information and are currently routinely disclosed. These reforms will ensure that any disclosure of sensitive material only occurs where necessary and always subject to strict judicial scrutiny.  It is a significant strengthening of the law over what we have. It restores the original intent of the original legislation and it is a better balance between competing rights. Of course, the constitutional rights are significant in terms of the accused's rights to a fair trial. The Minister is not just saying this for the sake of saying it. There are significant constitutional issues that have to be navigated in the drafting of this legislation. This is a significant improvement on where we are and it should be acknowledged as such. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  I think the Minister's remarks could certainly be interpreted that way. They show a complete lack of understanding about the impact of this issue and also about how therapy works wherein people can often blame themselves; they can take on guilt or they could say that maybe it was their fault and all sorts of things. I am not going to go into all the details again. I am just going to state what is in the law. Within the Constitution, there are other rights. There is the right to privacy, a right to dignity and a right to healthcare. I believe there are contending rights there. I am not saying it is easy but I think it could have been addressed. There are human rights as well. Even within the limit if the law, however, Dublin Rape Crisis Centre did contribute a detailed submission. Senior counsel, who the Minister knows, drafted it. There is not a presumption of non-disclosure stated in the Bill. That is the reality. It could have been stated. The rape crisis centre put forward the idea of a narrative rather than raw counsel notes being handed over. The Canadian system seems to be what the Minister is repeating, which has not reduced requests for access to the notes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I appreciate the Deputy has acknowledged that it is not easy and that there are difficulties in terms of framing legislation within constitutional parameters here. That is at the core of this. I would have much empathy with the broad argument in terms of the disclosure of counselling notes. However, this legislation represents a very significant improvement and strengthening of the legislation on behalf of women, in particular, as opposed to what we had. There had been a request for additional time. My understanding is that was facilitated by the Chief Whip, and there will be two hours and 30 minutes in total this evening for the conclusion of the legislation. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-10\/debate\/dbsect_12","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 na Comhalta\u00ed Eile - Other Members\u2019 Questions","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_12","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sean Fleming","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Fleming.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Fleming.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sean Fleming","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Fleming.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Fleming.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sean Fleming  I want to raise an issue with the Taoiseach today regarding the lack of Industrial Development Authority, IDA, supported jobs in County Laois. I think the Taoiseach will be shocked by what I have to say. The IDA has ignored Laois for many years. There are 145 IDA-supported jobs in County Laois. That is by far the bottom of its list by a long shot. If the Laois figures were replicated nationally, those figures would amount to 8,000 IDA-supported jobs across the country. If that was the case, the Government would have closed up the IDA for not doing its job years ago. Its record is so bad in County Laois and this has to be dealt with. I am pleading for the Taoiseach's personal help with the IDA chief executive and senior management to do something about this.  What happens every time we contact it we are referred to the regional office, which is based in Athlone. What I will say about the four counties the IDA covers in the midlands is that there are 8,000 jobs but only 145 of them are in Laois. Even when we look at the midlands region, it has only 2% of the jobs from IDA-supported companies. When we look at it nationally, it is even worse.  I got the figures for site visits to County Laois by the IDA for the most recent available year, which is 2024, from a response to a parliamentary question. There were two site visits to County Laois but there were 18 to Westmeath. Why? The IDA regional office is in Athlone and there is an absolute complete and total bias by the people in the regional office in Athlone in terms of bringing people to other counties. When somebody want to come to the midlands, what do they do? The people in the office in Athlone take them for a little drive down the road to some place on the outskirts of Athlone. That is what is happening. Of course, the IDA will say to us that it cannot tell people where to go; they want to go to places where there is already a cluster of other IDA companies. In pursuing that, however, it has left Laois totally out on a limb.  I think the Taoiseach will be shocked to hear that the figures are as stark as they are. I will shortly have a few words to say about Laois's central location, the motorway and the best train service of any regional town in Ireland. The population has gone from 30,000 to 90,000 in my time as a TD. The population of Portlaoise has gone from 10,000 to 30,000 in the last number of years. It is the fastest growing town Ireland. We are providing houses, as the Government wants us to do. Our local authority is ahead of every other country when it comes to the number of houses. We are getting those houses and we appreciate them. Of course, there are issues but we do not have jobs in Laois for most people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising this issue, specifically in respect of the industrial activity and the IDA's performance in attracting investment into County Laois. I must say that I find the figure of 150 jobs quite extraordinary. When we look at Laois geographically it is on the motorway. It has critical mass in terms of population and one would have thought that there would have been a natural gravitation of foreign direct investment to Laois because of its proximity to labour markets in Dublin, Cork and Limerick. Therefore, it has all the ingredients, one would have thought, to enable more jobs to be located there. Of course, Laois is close to other locations where there are substantial IDA jobs. County boundaries are important but if we look at Kildare, for example, it has an extraordinary number of FDI jobs. It is surprising, in contrast, that Laois does not have a more proportionate number of FDI jobs. Some of that may be because there is a significant critical mass of public sector jobs in Laois due to good decentralisation policies of previous Governments, of which Fianna F\u00e1il was a leading member, but we will not go there.  I have spoken to the IDA about this. It has happened a lot on the motorways in some other areas as well. I often thought Thurles would have done better because of its location. Not everywhere on the motorway has had quite the same degree of FDI as other places. It does need focus and attention.  The IDA aims to secure about 550 of 1,000 investments - about 55% - in regional locations, including a target of 40 investments in the midlands. Regional investment is supported through strong infrastructure, skilled talent and established industrial clusters, which perhaps is an issue in Laois, and available property solutions. Property solutions - suitable sites - are key. The IDA has invested a lot in land and infrastructure across the midlands, particularly in County Laois. About 30 ha are available for development at the IDA business and technology park in Portlaoise. Recent initiatives include supporting ESB infrastructure to increase local power capacity, enhancing site readiness for large-scale investment and securing planning permission for a new internal road to unlock additional development lands. All of these are designed to strengthen Portlaoise's attractiveness for future investments. The IDA is focusing on high-value manufacturing services and research and development opportunities in the region. Under its 2025 to 2029 property programme, the IDA plans 23 projects nationwide, including an advanced building solution and further business park upgrades in Portlaoise. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sean Fleming","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Fleming.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Fleming.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sean Fleming  What the Taoiseach said is interesting. Based on what he said, I can confirm the unusual situation that there are more people who leave County Laois every day to go to work outside the county than there are people with jobs in the county. More Laois people have to commute to work, maybe using the motorway. However, there is also good news. The IDA bought a 45 acre site a few years ago adjacent to a site it already had and it has planning permission to develop it. Let us hope that will bring jobs. The first critical step is for the IDA to arrange a few site visits, not a miserable two visits which it arranged two years ago. The figure has to be up at ten or 12. I understand the issue of clustering and I believe that can have an impact. We need a good kickstart in Laois to get up there in that regard.  Enterprise Ireland is not much better. We have only 2,000 Enterprise Ireland jobs in County Laois, which represents only one in six of the entire midlands region. Both outfits are ignoring County Laois. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Laois is a beautiful county but the Deputy's points about investments there are well made. I would give the example of Carlow. For many years, Carlow had an IDA site. When I was Minister for enterprise the IDA even gave up and wanted it to be used for indigenous companies. I advised patience and that we keep going. Eventually Merck Sharp and Dohme arrived to Carlow. It, along with others, has transformed the area industrially. The site is there and we appeal to the IDA to do everything it possibly can to secure a significant, sustainable, high-value industry for the area. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 na Comhalta\u00ed Eile - Other Members\u2019 Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-10\/debate\/dbsect_13","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Pholasa\u00ed n\u00f3 ar Reachta\u00edocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation","counts":{"speechCount":81,"speakerCount":22},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_13","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Geoghegan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Guirke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  The Taoiseach has brushed aside growing calls to stop Ireland's Nations League fixture against Israel while the genocide continues against the Palestinian people. His response and that of the Government have been utterly disingenuous. Nobody is asking the Government to usurp the role of UEFA or the FAI. The Taoiseach is being asked to show leadership, support the position that this game must be stopped, protect Irish players from any repercussions, provide the political, diplomatic and financial backing necessary to make that position sustainable and protect the FAI. There is a clear precedent for this. The Irish Government supported opposition to sporting fixtures involving apartheid South Africa. The Taoiseach was in Cabinet in 1999 when the Government refused visas to the Yugoslav team ahead of the planned Ireland-Yugoslavia fixture. In neither case was the Government organising or cancelling sporting fixtures. It was, however, providing leadership, so the truth is the Taoiseach can act. I know my microphone has been switched off. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, everyone is subject to the same time constraints. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  The Taoiseach can act and have influence but he chooses not to. Thank you for turning my microphone back on. I was two seconds over, was I? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  You were 20 seconds over and into someone else's time, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Thank you for turning off my microphone. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  Learn the rules. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  In the minute available to me, I will make the point that at one level the Deputy says that she is not asking us to usurp but she is, really. I do not understand the logic of what she is saying. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Then the Taoiseach cannot read. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We are not members of UEFA. The FAI has to navigate UEFA in the same way it has to navigate FIFA. The Irish football team has had a lot of success recently. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Do not start waffling again. I know that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Stop with the interruptions, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The bottom line here is----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  The Irish Government was not the IRFU when all of you took the right stance. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  The Irish Times reported----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  I am sick of this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  -----on figures that my colleague, Deputy Liam Quaide, obtained. Reports of wildlife crime to the National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS, have nearly doubled in five years. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Nobody wants to talk about it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  Sorry, a Cheann Comhairle. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I cannot hear a thing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Please do not interrupt, Deputy McDonald. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  I will start again. The Irish Times reported yesterday on figures that my colleague, Deputy Liam Quaide, obtained showing that reports of wildlife crime to the National Parks and Wildlife Service nearly doubled in five years, from 301 incidents in 2021 to 581 last year. These are serious offences and include illegal hedgerow removal, habitat destruction and unauthorised drainage, yet prosecutions collapsed to just 17 in 2024. That is one prosecution for every 34 reported crimes. Three entire counties had zero prosecutions in five years. Yet, when Deputy Quaide sought answers from the NPWS on its staffing capacity, the Minister of State refused to provide them. Without enforcement our wildlife laws are not worth the paper they are written on. Will the Taoiseach commit to a full review of the enforcement capacity of the NPWS and ensure there is transparency about the staffing of national parks in all regions? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I read that report and I will engage with the Minister of State, Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan, and the NPWS. I think we have roughly doubled the staffing level of the NPWS in the past five years and have provided it with additional resources, correctly so. The Minister of State is very focused on the enforcement dimension. There has been good success also in terms of conservation and the biodiversity side of the equation, so to speak. Enforcement is important because we need to stop this crime. It is interesting that in the initial phase of the reintroduction of the white-tailed eagle there were some cases of birds being poisoned many years ago but with education and by working with co-ops and people, a better understanding emerged. That programme is now a resounding success. Enforcement is important but education and working with people to change attitudes and culture are also very valuable inputs to this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  The cost-of-living perma-crisis is hurting all our communities, worst of all people on low and middle incomes. Spiralling costs in housing, health, energy and groceries are forcing people to spend more and more of their pay on bare necessities. This is causing real suffering. In this context, the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council has again issued warnings about the Government's spending. Five out of every six euro collected in corporation tax is being spent, but not in a sustainable way and not to deliver quality public services. We, in the Labour Party, are for public spending. We know communities need investment and we backed our spending plans with revenue raising proposals - taxes on wealth and not work. We have called for investment in what matters, not just for sectoral interests that shout the loudest. The Government is leaving PAYE workers behind. There was nothing for them in the Finance Bill debated last night. Will the Government give working people a break and commit to indexing tax bands for PAYE workers now to protect against inflation, as we in the Labour Party have consistently sought? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I am not quite clear about what the Deputy articulated in that minute, in terms of whether it was more spending, more tax or whatever. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  It is how it is spent. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We appreciate the role of the fiscal council. Its reports are a valuable part of the budgetary process. We fully accept there are issues in terms of how we manage our public finances in the context of the revenue. However, the Future Ireland Fund and the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund have been a success and they have not been funded by borrowing to date. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  We supported them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It is interesting that if we look at Irish expenditure over the last number of years in terms of the argument around the sustainability of public expenditure, there is no doubt that there have been a lot of increases, but one metric to evaluate is to look at total gross voted expenditure as a ratio of national output. Basically, we are kind of tracking fairly consistently over the last years, at about 33% through the 2026 to 2030 period. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  We are all sticking to time, Taoiseach. I call Deputy Coppinger. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It did increase sharply during Covid. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  I condemn the horrific attack on the man in Belfast. I hope he recovers and I send my solidarity and hope the perpetrator is brought to justice. However, I also want to condemn the horrific violence that is being wreaked in the North since that attack. It is straight from the far-right playbook to use an horrific tragedy or incident when it is a person of colour who is the suspect in a violent assault and to implement its precooked plan of racist and chaotic destruction. People are being stopped and questioned about their skin colour, nationality and race. Homes have been destroyed. Families who have been in the North for decades have been burnt out or attacked in their homes. Businesses have been set alight. Outside actors like Farage and Musk are intervening and actively whipping up violence as well. There has also been an element of hand-wringing from some politicians in the North who have been involved in stirring up racism themselves in the past. I commend the activist groups that have intervened and shown that type of solidarity. The majority of working class people do not want the North to unfold into a racist hellhole. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I appreciate the comments Deputy Coppinger has made. The violence last night in Belfast, the racism on display and the burning out of families because of their ethnicity have to be roundly condemned. It is very dangerous. It puts Northern Ireland in a very difficult and challenging spotlight in terms of where the North goes into the future societally. Some areas are potentially becoming no-go areas because of the colour of someone's skin or their ethnicity, despite the fact they might have been living in an area for quite some time. It is making life very difficult for many families and causing anxiety and stress. It will demand a significant community response and a response from social services. It is a very serious issue. On the exploitation of this by far-right elements in particular, we have to be extremely vigilant of in dealing with this because it is happening in other locations and jurisdictions as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  The EU migration pact was passed in the D\u00e1il by just seven votes and within six months, 35 TDs had either retired or lost their seats. Ireland is not in Schengen. Ireland shares a common travel area with Britain and we are an island nation. We have every right to control and manage our own borders. Yet, in June 2024 the Government voted to surrender that control. It handed decision-making over to the EU in terms of who can enter Ireland, how claims are processed and even the potential fines we will face. This pact was not designed for Ireland. It was not designed for our geography or, indeed, our housing crisis or public services crisis. Incredibly, the T\u00e1naiste cannot outline to the D\u00e1il----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I am the Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  -----what this is going to cost in terms of fines. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy is confused on this one; there is no question about that. The International Protection Act 2026 has been introduced by this D\u00e1il and supported by this D\u00e1il. It will provide a very fair, sustainable, efficient and robust asylum procedure. It will also result in faster dealing with applications and appeals that may be made against those decisions. It will be much faster. It also enables us to return asylum seekers who need to go back to the place where their asylum application originated in Europe. This is strengthening laws in respect of asylum seeking and no amount of shallow, empty soundbites that are used against this legislation will sustain. This is, again, part of a wider agenda to try to instil fear and misinformation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  What Deputy Lawless said there is misinformation. It is absolute misinformation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  It is handing over control to Europe of how they are being processed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It is absolute nonsense and I think it is wrong. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  We had a protocol and we could have opted out. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Nonsense, just bloody nonsense. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathal Crowe  I raise the issue of St. Joseph's Secondary School in Spanish Point, County Clare. A beautiful school, its enrolment has doubled across the last decade. With that growth have come certain difficulties for the school. At the moment, 216 female students in the school have to use four toilet cubicles. That is all the students have. The school has been approved for ten more toilet cubicles but the approval just sits on a shelf. The school keeps sending in the paperwork the Department requires but it is getting very little back. It has been approved for new science laboratories, preparatory areas, a music room, construction rooms and two general classrooms. It keeps sending in the information the Department requires but it seem to be on a hamster wheel going no place. For five years, the school has responded to every single thing asked of it. This is now at a critical stage. The school is now turning away students because it cannot cater for and those who are in the school do not have basic infrastructure like classrooms and even toilets. I ask the Taoiseach to intervene. I have raised this at the education committee and with the Minister but it does not seem to be going any place. It will need new impetus to get it moving. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank Deputy Crowe for his robust advocacy on behalf of St. Joseph's Secondary School and its extension application. I take on board what he said. There has been significant investment in school buildings but, clearly, there is a necessity for more. I will engage with the Minister for education on this issue to see if we can move forward and advance this extension for the benefit of the students who attend the school and, of course, the staff who work there, as well as the wider community. It is a valuable school in a beautiful part of the country. We will certainly do what we can. There are wider issues as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Geoghegan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Geoghegan  No international protection applicant should be sleeping in a tent in a public park in any part of this country. Yet, in my constituency, in Herbert Park, it is a regular occurrence of late that international protection applicants are sleeping in tents in a park beside a playground that people frequent with their families and children. From the questioning I have done in the public accounts committee, we know the average duration of stay of an international protection applicant in a tent is less than two days. We are paying \u20ac1 million for an NGO to refer international protection applicants in a tent to an accommodation service. As the International Protection Act comes into being very shortly, can the Taoiseach say that there will no longer be tents in public parks anywhere in this city in which international protection applicants will be sleeping? Operationally, we can make changes to prevent that happening. Even at the smaller numbers that we had in the past, this is not sustainable. Nor is it fair on the international protection applicants or the communities in which these tents are being put up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It is absolutely not sustainable and it is not safe for people either. It is not appropriate. It is wrong that people should feel the need to use tents at times.  The facilitation of that is something I have issues with. The Government does not support that. The Minister has sought accommodation in different locations but also, the Act itself will lead to much faster treatment of applications. About 70% of applications are decided in the negative; in other words, people do not actually have an entitlement to asylum. The number of negative responses to appeals is quite high as well. Speed in assessing the applications and also the appeals is crucial to this and critical to the avoidance of the kinds of issues the Deputy has raised. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I wish to raise again the atrocious conditions of many roads in Counties Cavan and Monaghan. I have raised this with the Taoiseach on a number of occasions. He has responded by saying that his Fianna F\u00e1il representatives have also raised this issue with him but, clearly, he has either not listened or his Cavan-Monaghan representatives are not effective. This year, the Government allocated less funding for local road restorations to Cavan and Monaghan than last year. Our local authorities are doing their best. They are trying to patch and stretch the funding but the funding simply is not enough. At a time people are paying more and more in taxes and charges for the luxury of driving their cars, which is, in fact, a necessity, I ask the Taoiseach again: will he ensure that Cavan and Monaghan receive additional funding as a matter of urgency for our local road restoration and maintenance? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy is being unfair to his colleagues, Government TDs who are----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  Less money this year than last year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----people of considerable experience and who have had significant impact over the years in respect of Cavan-Monaghan. There has been increased funding overall in terms of roads this year. I will engage with the Ministers for housing and the environment, local authorities and the Minister for public expenditure to make sure we can deal with the significant challenges that people undoubtedly face across the country in respect of roads, road maintenance and restoration. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed  I want to raise again the issue of microgeneration and the tax exemption limit for households. As I said here yesterday in the debate on the Finance Bill, targeted and practical changes over the lifetime of this Government will help us pull away from fossil fuels and towards renewable fuel permanently. One such change is the microgeneration taxation exemption. While the extension of the \u20ac400 exemption for selling electricity back into the grid to December 2028 is welcome, it is not enough. Once households exceed that threshold, the additional income must be declared and they have to enter into an administrative process to do that. It introduces a bit of complexity for them.  We know where energy prices are going. They are going up at the moment. Electric Ireland and company are putting those prices up. Can the Government look at raising this cap to \u20ac600, recognising that it will help us collectively achieve decarbonisation and energy security goals? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It is a very reasonable point the Deputy is making. It is a good scheme and it has been a good, welcome initiative. We always evaluate initiatives in terms of how they are working. I will speak to the Ministers for energy and Finance in respect of this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Healy-Rae  I welcome the statements from the Minister, Deputy James Browne, the Minister of State, Deputy John Cummins, and the T\u00e1naiste on overhauling rural planning. This is an issue the Taoiseach feels very strongly about himself. Kerry has been severely impacted. Places like Kilcummin and Beaufort are effectively sterilised, as is the Ring of Kerry route. Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, has questions to answer on this and on not allowing us to use existing entrances on the N70 or the N86 Tralee to Dingle road.  Meat needs to be put on the bones of those statements. For us to really make an impact on people's lives, we have to give clear direction to the local authorities as to what the Government's policy actually is. When will the national planning statement for rural planning be announced? What can we expect to see in that to help people to build houses for themselves? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for his comments. This is a very important issue for people generally, but young people and young couples in particular, in rural Ireland. Given the housing crisis we are in, we simply have to look at every avenue to increase housing capacity.  The Minister and the Minister of State with responsibility for housing have been working substantively on this with significant proposals. I envisage that in the next number of weeks, they will bring it to Cabinet. We have had a discussion at the Cabinet subcommittee on this and hopefully it can be brought to a conclusion sar i bhfad. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy George Lawlor  For a number of years, I have been working with St. Joseph's Gaelic football club in Wexford on the development of a fabulous new facility in the heart of Wexford town on Whiterock Hill. The club is just about to put the final touches to it. It has received assistance over the years, of course, but in the final touches, it has received an offer from Uisce \u00c9ireann to connect to water and sewerage services. Whiterock Hill is not an isolated area. There are about 1,500 houses on the hill and this will be a community facility. The club has received an offer of connection for \u20ac52,000 from Uisce \u00c9ireann, which will connect it to water and sewerage services. As I said, it is not in the middle of nowhere. It is alongside a main road and there are houses all around it. Can the Taoiseach personally intervene on this? I have written to the Minister for housing and I have received an acknowledgment. The club is anxious to get going on a fabulous community facility but \u20ac52,000 is just unacceptable. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I pay tribute to St. Joseph's Gaelic football club for its ambition and energy and for serving the community so well. This project represents the manifestation of a further milestone in the club's development and history. I will ask the Minister and endeavour to engage with Uisce \u00c9ireann to see if anything can be done here to facilitate what is a very significant community facility for the wider community that will be used by all. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Connolly  There are few other instances in the country that highlight how challenging and difficult we have made it to complete crucial infrastructure projects than the Galway city ring road. As the Taoiseach will be aware, the project was first mooted and planned for in 1999. There have been three separate planning decisions. The design and planning work that has gone into each of those has taken a significant time. There have been alternative compulsory purchase orders and a number of legal cases. The latest and third grant of planning for the project was on 9 April this year but, unfortunately, that faces judicial review, posing further delay to this crucial project and potential derailment.  On 14 April this year, TII announced it had reached agreement with parties, which will allow the withdrawal of the judicial review proceedings relating to Luas Finglas. TII said that this means Luas Finglas can now proceed. Last December, our colleague, the Minister for Transport, Deputy O'Brien, confirmed the withdrawal of judicial review proceedings against An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la's grant of planning for the metro project following constructive mediation. I ask that the Taoiseach supports----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach to respond now, Deputy. Time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Connolly  -----engagement with the transport authorities and the parties who have taken judicial reviews. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I also recognise the strength of his advocacy in regard to the ring road in Galway and the absolute necessity for it. It is with some degree of dismay that we read that there will be a judicial review of the planning. I urge the authorities - and I will engage with them - to see if mediation can bring about a speedier outcome to the issues that have been raised. My understanding is that the county council is the lead authority but I will talk to TII, the county council and relevant Ministers. I have spoken to the Minister for Transport on this because, for the wider public good and for Galway generally, this road needs to be built. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  I want to condemn the horrific attack in Belfast on Monday night and commend those who bravely intervened. I also want to condemn what was effectively a racist pogrom in Belfast last night. The scenes and the stories of families having their homes burned down and being forced to flee out of burning homes by violent gangs were absolutely heartbreaking. It is grimly reminiscent of the pogroms in Belfast in the 1920s and the 1960s.  The Taoiseach has rightly condemned those who set those homes alight. Will he also condemn those who fanned the flames online? I refer to the likes of Elon Musk, one of the richest, most powerful men in the world, Tommy Robinson, Conor McGregor and also those politicians who have engaged in the scapegoating of migrants. These people, who are at the top of society and some of whom are rich and powerful, are happy to see people divided and to see hate and division spread to distract from their own failures that people in our society are paying for. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I condemn, and I have condemned, what happened on last evening. \"Racist pogrom\" is a good description of last night in north Belfast. I made the point in my earlier remarks that there were certain media outlets of a particular political disposition that sought, from observing some of the interviews, to raise tensions.  That is unacceptable and I roundly condemn that. Everybody has a responsibility for what is said because the dignity of every individual must be respected. To have families and young children subjected to what happened last evening is unacceptable. What happened the previous evening was savage and has created huge anxiety, fear and anger. That must be acknowledged, but all of us in political life, as public representatives, must call out the level of racism that was evident last night. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mattie McGrath  I am appealing to the Taoiseach with just a couple of days to go to enact the European Union migration and asylum pact. I tried for almost two years on the Business Committee to have a debate here. Deputy Carol Nolan and I, and our rural Independent colleagues, tabled a motion on 1 May 2024, a May Day call, which the Government voted down. I appeal to the Taoiseach to have a pause and try to listen to the people. I ask the Taoiseach to please give the people a voice here and do not be patronising like he was in reply to Deputy Paul Lawless. This vote was passed in summer 2024 by a margin of merely seven votes. That was before we had nearly 40 new TDs here.  We all condemn the savage attacks in Belfast and that have been ongoing in this country. The Government has turned a blind eye to it and tried to demonise people. Please put this to the people and let the people decide. Is the Taoiseach so frightened of the people that he will not do this? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy's time is up. He is penalising everybody else. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  This is parliamentary democracy. By 86 votes to 62, the International Protection Act 2015 was passed in this House. It has been signed by the President. Why are Members inventing and deliberately misinforming people? That is what is going on here. This law has been debated in this House at length. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mattie McGrath  It was guillotined. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, stop interrupting. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It has been passed by this House. People have different perspectives, as they are entitled to. It has been passed, signed, and is coming into law. That is all. This is a new development where TDs are coming in to say that a matter was only won by this amount or that and we must have another debate, despite the fact that legislation went through all Stages. This is misinformation and let us call it out. All last week, there were emails going to everyone about how a terrible day was going to happen on Friday when legislation that was debated here at length was commenced. Legislation is commenced all of the time. That is all that is happening. By the way, it gives us control. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Guirke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Johnny Guirke  Since first being elected to the D\u00e1il, I have repeatedly raised water outages in Trim, Clonard and Ballivor in County Meath. Outages and disruption are causing huge frustration for residents in these areas, and rightly so. Recently, residents in Ballivor went days without water and this forced school closures and disruption to local businesses. Five years on from when the project was announced, construction has not started on the long-promised new water reservoir in Ballivor. Water is tankered in daily. Houses are being built where water infrastructure cannot cope. Uisce \u00c9ireann has been frustrating to deal with. Standard responses are being issued days after outages with no real answers for people in Ballivor who know that water outages will happen again. Just yesterday, parliamentary questions seeking answer on this issue from the Minister were disallowed, stating that the Minister has no responsibility to the D\u00e1il for this matter. Nobody is responsible for anything.  Can the Taoiseach commit to coming back to me with a start date for the upgrade to Ballivor water storage project? When will a shovel be in the ground? Previous commitments have not been honoured. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I cannot get involved in every single scheme with Uisce \u00c9ireann but I would say to Irish Water that it needs to reflect on its relationship with public representatives because the number of TDs who are complaining about not getting replies is too high. Something needs to be resolved here to have a proper flow of information. I will check with Irish Water but the Deputy is saying he cannot get any information. I do not know. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Guirke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Johnny Guirke  Not a word. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I am sorry, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  A number of TDs have been raising this kind of issue from time to time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Guirke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Johnny Guirke  We need to know. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I will go back to the Minister. We do not want people to have to flood the system with a load of parliamentary questions about a particular scheme. That information should be provided to Members automatically. I am hearing now of Members using AI for parliamentary questions. If we keep doing that, we will have thousands of questions in here and the system will be paralysed. I know the Deputy is not doing that, in fairness. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  I raise ongoing issues in my constituency of access to appropriate school places for children with additional needs. A parent was in touch with me about her child, Roman Slater. She is really worried. He is five years of age. He is currently in his third year of ageing out in pre-school. He has no placement and no July provision. He is on the list for schools locally, including St. Brigid's Infant National School and Gaelscoil U\u00ed Earc\u00e1in, but he has not yet been placed in a school, St. Canice's, where classrooms are being developed currently. His parents feel that they have not got the help needed from the special educational needs organiser, SENO. They are still waiting for a final report and assessment of need that has not been received. They are worried about where he will have a school place in September. On that, St. Canice's school has just completed the modular build for additional classroom, but parents are still waiting to hear if they will actually have places in September. Will the Taoiseach ask the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, if he can follow up on these cases please? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I will talk to the Minister of State. If this modular building is complete, there will be classes. We have allocated an extra \u20ac646 million over and above the Estimate of last year to the Department of Education and Youth. A significant amount of that will be allocated to special education for the express purpose of more teachers and special needs assistants. We want every child to have a place in September. If the Deputy can send the details on to the Minister of State, I will alert him that the Deputy has raised an issue with me here. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  This month's Irish Business Against Litter survey found an increase in the number of cigarette butts around our community. Cigarette butts cause damage to the environment in a number of ways. They are microplastics. They leach into the water system. It has been estimated that one butt can contaminate 1,000 litres of water, yet throughout the country, local authorities are doing nothing in their plans to educate or to enforce the law. Even here, in the smoking area just outside, there are butts scattered around. The Taoiseach should see the Department of agriculture building, where there is a massive number. There is significant ignorance and it is damaging our environment. We need to get a little tougher about it. I know it is not the biggest issue in the world but it is for the fish in the ocean and the lakes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It is a no-brainer. I am appalled that there are cigarette butts on the ground outside State institutions. It should not happen. It is just unacceptable. Every individual has responsibilities in that regard but we do, as institutions of the State, have responsibilities to make sure that does not happen. I will ask for a re-examination of that and see what measures can be taken to clamp down on this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  Are there plans to ensure that Uisce \u00c9ireann becomes more accountable to this House? The level of response and the slow rate of response to queries from Members of the Oireachtas is not acceptable. I would like the Taoiseach to commit to raising this with the chief executive of Uisce \u00c9ireann. The problem is that we are forced to table questions in this House and they are then disallowed, but we cannot get any answers from Uisce \u00c9ireann. I have specifically raised on a number of occasions plans for the development of the Ferns and Camolin wastewater treatment plant in County Wexford and Aughrim wastewater treatment plant in County Wicklow. We have seen water out yet again in Gorey in the past number of days. I appreciate the Taoiseach cannot get involved in every scheme or issue but the level of communication from Uisce \u00c9ireann to elected members is not acceptable. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I know he has raised it previously. Uisce \u00c9ireann is subject to audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General and is accountable to the Committee of Public Accounts but that is more in terms of the broader governance issues. It is also subject to requirements of the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies and has, I understand, established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. It has acknowledged, as I said earlier, that there are concerns around the effectiveness of communications of Uisce \u00c9ireann with public representatives. It has undertaken a review of elected representative engagement, with input from across its entire business, which is due to be concluded shortly. I will engage again with the Minister in light of this discussion with the Deputy and others in respect of a need to change and maybe demonstrate, by experience, an improvement. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Pholasa\u00ed n\u00f3 ar Reachta\u00edocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-10\/debate\/dbsect_14","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/61","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/61\/dail\/1","houseCode":"dail","stage":"1","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Prohibition of Sulky-Racing Bill 2026: First Stage (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Prohibition of Sulky-Racing Bill 2026: First Stage","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_14","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mattie McGrath  I move:  That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to prohibit sulky-racing where no lawful permission has been granted.  I am pleased to bring this legislation before the House once again. Its purpose is straightforward and urgently needed. The Bill prohibits sulky racing on public roads unless explicit permission has been granted and lawful permission has been there for that. As outlined in the briefing notes, sulky racing is an extremely dangerous activity. The practice places the public, young passengers and the horses themselves in grave danger.  The Bill is driven by the growing number of serious incidents occurring across the country and particularly in my own county, Tipperary. In recent months, garda\u00ed were called to the outskirts of Clonmel after a young trotting horse collapsed during an early-morning sulky run. There was another incident where the horse broke from its carriage and ran directly into oncoming traffic. A motorist narrowly avoided a multi-vehicle collision near Thurles when a group of sulkies took over both lanes of the N62 without warning. These events are becoming disturbingly frequent. The Clonmel incident happened outside a busy shop and a dance studio. There are often large numbers of youths and parents going in and out to the shop and the dance studio. If the horse had ploughed into them, it would have been horrific. It hit two cars. The briefing notes describe how children as young as ten hitch horses or ponies to lightweight carts and race them along busy regional, national and primary roads. The reality we are dealing with is unregulated, uninsured, high-speed racing on public roads, often alongside moving traffic. It is reckless, unsafe and horribly cruel to the horses.  In Tipperary we have seen horses driven to exhaustion, abandoned on roadsides and, in some cases, left to die where they fall. Images from the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, ISPCA, show the horrific injuries. I compliment the organisation and all the different horse and dog refuges that try to do so much in this case. These animals can suffer torn ligaments, broken bones and wounds inflicted by makeshift tack. This is not sport; this is avoidable cruelty.  Let me be clear: I am not anti-sport and I am not opposed to traditional equine culture. Tipperary is rightly proud of its world-class horse racing heritage but what is happening on our roads is not legitimate equine activity. It is unlicensed, unlawful and dangerous. It endangers motorists, pedestrians, young people involved and the animals themselves.  At present the law is a patchwork of inconsistent local authority by-laws. Counties such as Tipperary, Kilkenny, Limerick and Waterford all have different by-laws, which leads to a total lack of consistency in approach. The Bill seeks to correct this by establishing a national united framework. It grants local authorities the powers they need to enforce the law and it provides for meaningful penalties, including fines of up to \u20ac5,000 and, in more serious cases, imprisonment. The Bill does not interfere with off-road sulky racing - something that takes place in many countries and is very lucrative \u2013 on sand-based paths organised by legitimate equine sports organisations. It addresses growing dangerous practices of unlicenced, unlawful sulky racing on public roads, a practice that has caused serious injury and will continue to do so unless we act.  I do not claim the Bill is perfect but I hope that all sides of the House will support it. The issue straddle the Departments of justice, agriculture and local government. The Minister, Deputy Heydon, has been making noises that he would support it. I have introduced the legislation twice and it was not supported. I hope we will come together, take this legislation, amend it, if necessary, but do something now. We should not do like we did with the scramblers and end up with a law in the name of some person who was killed. Please act for the sake of ending the cruelty to the animals and for the safety of the public. I commend the Bill to the House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Is the Bill opposed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Mary Butler)  No. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Since this is a Private Members' Bill, Second Stage must, under Standing Orders, be taken in Private Members' time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mattie McGrath  I move: \"That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time.\" "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar fionra\u00ed ar 1.25 p.m. agus cuireadh t\u00fas leis ar\u00eds ar 2.29 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Sitting suspended at 1.25 p.m. and resumed at 2.29 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Prohibition of Sulky-Racing Bill 2026: First Stage"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-10\/debate\/dbsect_15","debateType":"statement","bill":null,"showAs":"Tourism: Statements","counts":{"speechCount":31,"speakerCount":29},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cormac Devlin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"William Aird","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Edward Timmins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (Deputy Peter Burke)  Tourism is one of Ireland's most important economic sectors. It supports 229,000 jobs, helps sustain 46,000 businesses and generates significant economic activity in every county. Few sectors have such a broad regional footprint with an estimated seven out of every ten jobs located outside of Dublin.  Tourism supports employment and enterprise in our cities and towns along the Wild Atlantic Way, throughout Ireland's Ancient East, in our coastal communities and increasingly across the Hidden Heartlands and other emerging destinations. Tourism is therefore not only an important economic sector in its own right, but also a key driver of regional development, supporting local businesses, creating employment opportunities and helping communities to thrive. The sector continues to perform strongly. Ireland remains an attractive destination for international visitors while domestic tourism continues to play an important role. This success is built on the strong foundations of a high-quality tourism offering, resilient and innovative businesses, the work of our tourism agencies and the contribution of communities who welcome visitors to every part of Ireland.  Government has an important role to play. The strength of Ireland\u2019s tourism sector is no accident. It is underpinned by strong policy direction, strategic investment and a co-ordinated approach across the public and private sectors. Our role is to create the conditions for tourism to succeed by supporting competitiveness, enabling investment and working with industry, communities and our tourism agencies to ensure the sector continues to deliver economic growth, regional prosperity and community well-being into the future.  My approach to the sector is set out in A New Era for Irish Tourism, launched in December 2025 as a key commitment under the programme for Government. The policy sets a clear, forward-looking framework for the development of the sector to 2031. It reflects tourism\u2019s role as a key economic driver of growth, job creation and balanced regional development. Through A New Era for Irish Tourism, I have set a clear ambition to grow visitors and revenue and create sustainable careers. A key focus of the policy is extending tourism beyond the traditional peak season, supporting more year-round activity and more sustainable employment in local communities. We want tourism to thrive, not just in our cities or traditional hot spots, but in every county, town and community. I want to grow total tourism revenue to \u20ac14.8 billion. That means boosting overseas revenue by 50% to \u20ac9 billion by 2031 and domestic revenue to \u20ac5.8 billion, increasing visitor numbers by at least 7% annually in less mature regions, shifting growth towards the off-peak season and providing employment for at least 250,000 people in quality sustainable jobs. These are ambitious goals, but I am confident they will be achievable through strong partnership and co-ordinated delivery.  Delivering on these ambitions requires more than a clear vision. It requires effective implementation, strong collaboration and a sustained focus on outcomes. That is why I am establishing a robust governance framework to oversee the delivery of A New Era for Irish Tourism. I will chair the tourism policy oversight group, which will meet for the first time next month. This group will bring together Government agencies, local authorities and key industry stakeholders to maintain a clear focus on implementation and progress. Supporting this work will be a number of targeted delivery streams focused on key priorities, including culinary tourism, sustainability, market development, robust data and insights, and unlocking the potential of key State assets. The purpose of these structures is to ensure alignment, consistency of approach and effective collaboration across Government agencies, local authorities, industry and other stakeholders that have a role to play in the future development of Irish tourism.  Supporting tourism growth requires sustained and targeted investment. Earlier this year, Government committed \u20ac400 million for tourism development and promotion through my Department\u2019s sectoral capital plan. My Department is working through F\u00e1ilte Ireland, and continuing to invest in the infrastructure, attractions and visitor experiences that underpin the sector and drive demand across all regions. This investment is delivering tangible results. A key example is the \u20ac12.6 million redevelopment of Galway City Museum. This flagship funding, provided by F\u00e1ilte Ireland in partnership with Galway City Council, contributes to a broader project value of \u20ac19.3 million. Upon completion, the redevelopment is expected to attract an additional 820,000 domestic and overseas visitors over a ten-year period and generate an estimated \u20ac47.3 million in direct visitor spending for local and regional tourism economies. Investment is also helping communities in regions undergoing economic transition. Through the EU Just Transition Fund, F\u00e1ilte Ireland is delivering a number of transformative tourism projects across the midlands. These projects are supporting regeneration of communities previously reliant on peat extraction, creating new visitor experiences, strengthening local economies and helping to position the region as a destination for sustainable tourism. They demonstrate that tourism can support economic diversification while also contributing to wider environmental and climate objectives.  We are now progressing a new capital investment plan through F\u00e1ilte Ireland, in which I will set out a clear direction for future funding and ensure that investment is aligned with objectives set out in A New Era for Irish Tourism. This will ensure that as the sector evolves our tourism offering continues to improve, supporting regional growth, strengthening competitiveness and delivering for communities across the country. I have a laser focus on balanced development, ensuring that less mature tourism markets in places like the midlands get the support and investment they need. We are already seeing encouraging evidence that a targeted approach is working. The latest figures for 2026 from the Central Statistics Office show encouraging signs that Ireland's tourism sector continues to perform strongly, with growth across all key indicators - visitor numbers, expenditure and length of stay. This is a clear reflection of both the strength of our offering and the effectiveness of our strategy. In April 2026, overseas visitors spent \u20ac431 million in Ireland, while visitor expenditure in the first four months of the year exceeded \u20ac1.3 billion. Visitors also spent almost 3.9 million nights in the country during April. Those figures highlight the significant contribution tourism continues to make to businesses, communities and local economies across our country.  The data also points to the value of maintaining a diverse visitor base. Great Britain remained our strongest local source market by visitor numbers, while continental Europe and North America continue to make a substantial contribution to tourism expenditure. This diversity is one of the sector\u2019s key strengths. It helps reduce exposure to economic or geopolitical shocks in any single market and supports a more resilient tourism sector overall. That is why market diversification is a central element of my Department\u2019s policy. Through the market diversification plan, Tourism Ireland and other key stakeholders are working to broaden Ireland's reach, strengthen our presence across a range of priority markets and ensure we remain well-positioned in an increasingly competitive international environment.  This strategic approach is being backed by targeted investment. In budget 2026, \u20ac7.5 million was secured to support market diversification initiatives and expand opportunities in both established and emerging markets. This complements other measures, including the strategic air access fund, which plays an important role in supporting connectivity and helping Ireland compete effectively for international visitors. Strong connectivity continues to underpin tourism performance. Winter 2025-26 saw significant growth in inbound capacity, with air seat capacity increasing by 15% year on year. Sea access also strengthened, with ferry capacity growing significantly. Looking ahead to summer 2026, capacity is expected to remain positive, with overall air access projected to increase by approximately 3%.  Tourism Ireland continues to promote the island intensively in overseas markets. Its 2026 programme spans over 15 key markets and focuses on attracting visitors with both the intent and means to travel. Its strategy includes sustaining strong demand in the United States and Great Britain, while growing tourism from mainland Europe and investing in high-potential markets such as Canada. It also includes building long-term partnerships in emerging markets such as India and China. Campaigns such as Ireland Goes Beyond and Ireland Unrushed showcase the depth and quality of Ireland\u2019s tourism offering and encourage visitors to explore more of the country. These campaigns are supported by strong partnerships with airlines and travel operators, ensuring effective reach and impact. Earlier this year, we announced a new direct flight from Dublin to Shanghai with the now active strategic air access fund matching direct flights with resources and boots on the ground to market this new connectivity.  Ireland is well-positioned as a welcoming, stable and high-quality destination, but we cannot be complacent. I am conscious that the global environment remains uncertain. Geopolitical developments, particularly in the Middle East, are impacting global aviation markets with rising fuel costs and capacity adjustments creating volatility. l am monitoring these developments closely and will continue to prioritise connectivity, ensuring that Ireland, as a destination, remains accessible and competitive to international markets. The strength of our policy approach is that it recognises this as a reality.  As the sector evolves in response to these global challenges, A New Era for Irish Tourism is guiding our approach by strengthening existing markets while creating new opportunities for growth. Through targeted investment, market diversification and strategic supports, we are helping to create the flexibility the tourism sector needs to respond quickly to changing circumstances and to seize new opportunities as they emerge.  Domestic tourism underpins the sector and continues to play a critical role in driving sustainable year-round growth across all regions. Strengthening this domestic base remains a key priority, particularly in the context of global uncertainty. It supports businesses, sustains employment and ensures that tourism activity is distributed across the country, particularly in less mature destinations where tourism acts as a vital driver of local economic development. F\u00e1ilte Ireland is central to turning our policy ambitions into action through the development of visitor experiences, support for businesses, strategic investment and regional tourism development.  On the domestic marketing front, we are taking clear and targeted action. In March 2026, F\u00e1ilte Ireland launched a national campaign, Find Yourself on a Short Break, which is designed to stimulate that domestic demand and encourage more frequent short breaks across the country. Delivered through a mix of advertising, digital engagement and partnerships, the campaign highlights the breadth and diversity of experiences available across Ireland. It places a strong emphasis on encouraging short breaks and regional travel, promoting off-season tourism and showcasing well-being and experiential offerings.  Another strong driver of both international and domestic demand are initiatives like festivals. Festivals are known to play a vital role in driving tourism across our regions. From large-scale international events to smaller local festivals, they bring visitors into communities, support local businesses and contribute to the vibrancy of our towns and villages. During 2026, over \u20ac600,000 is being provided to 31 local authorities through the regional festivals fund. Administered by F\u00e1ilte Ireland, this fund will support approximately 250 festivals nationwide. In addition, a further \u20ac310,000 has been made available to local authorities specifically to support food festivals, strengthening Ireland's growing culinary tourism offering. These campaigns and investments are fully aligned with A New Era for Irish Tourism and support the development of a stronger year-round tourism offering and, simultaneously, a more strategic approach to our food and drink sector.  Work is under way in F\u00e1ilte Ireland on progressing our new culinary tourism strategy, which will showcase the strength of Ireland's food heritage and create new opportunities for regional and year-round tourism. From local producers to world-class chefs, distilleries and local artisans, our food offering is a powerful driver of visitor experience and regional development and we are committed to ensuring it plays a central role in how Ireland is positioned internationally. The culinary delivery stream under my tourism policy oversight group will ensure there is a coherent approach to how we continue to deliver on what will be an exciting and prosperous opportunity for tourism.  Looking across the broader tourism sector, we are supporting businesses on the ground. I am very conscious of the cost pressures facing businesses across the tourism and hospitality sector. As part of our response, the Government has taken targeted action to support the sector, including through reducing the VAT rate for hospitality to 9%, which will take effect next month. This is a practical step to strengthen competitiveness, protect jobs and ensure that as the sector continues to grow it can deliver sustainable benefits for communities across every region of the country. We need to protect local employment.  Tourism offers rewarding and diverse careers across hospitality, culinary arts, outdoor recreation, transport, events, visitor attractions and destination management. As the sector continues to evolve, so too will the skills required to succeed within it. The future success of tourism greatly depends on our ability to attract, retain and develop talent particularly in these businesses. Earlier analysis by the expert group on future skills needs identified the importance of addressing skills needs in the hospitality sector, a priority that continues to be reflected in more recent workforce and training initiatives. Through continued collaboration between Government, industry, agencies and education partners, we must ensure that the workforce of the future is equipped with the skills needed to succeed in an increasingly innovative, digital and competitive tourism sector.  F\u00e1ilte Ireland is investing in the people at the heart of the sector through a strong focus on workforce and skills. The employer excellence programme supports businesses to strengthen HR capability, leadership and staff retention, while a national online learning platform provides accessible training across key business areas. At the same time, targeted workforce initiatives, including student placements and employer supports, are helping to build a stronger talent pipeline.  Alongside investing in people, we must also ensure that the wider conditions supporting sustainable growth are in place. We know that access to accommodation can be a factor for those considering employment in the sector, particularly in areas of strong tourism demand. More broadly, it highlights the importance of a balanced and co-ordinated approach across Government policy, ensuring that tourism development sits alongside wider housing and community needs.  The introduction of regulatory controls for the short-term letting sector is intended to ensure that tourism develops in a way that recognises and complements the wider needs of local communities, both economically and socially. The introduction of a national register for short-term letting from December 2026 will bring greater transparency to the sector and support a more balanced approach to its future development. F\u00e1ilte Ireland will have responsibility for implementing and managing this register in line with the relevant legislative framework and EU requirements. Work is progressing on a new tourist accommodation strategy and I was encouraged by the strong engagement in the recent public consultation process, reflecting the importance of this issue for communities and businesses across the country. As committed to in A New Era for Irish Tourism, the resulting strategy will complement existing legislative and regulatory frameworks and align with wider national policies supporting the continued development of sustainable tourism across all counties.  Tourism is a corner-stone of our economy and a key driver of growth across Ireland. The sector is performing strongly, supported by clear policy, targeted investment and effective delivery. We remain focused on sustaining that growth, addressing challenges and ensuring that tourism continues to deliver for communities across the country. I am confident that through the delivery of A New Era for Irish Tourism and the broad range of measures I have outlined, we can continue to realise our ambitions and ensure that tourism continues to grow and thrive in every region of Ireland. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  For counties such as Mayo, tourism is a critical economic driver. The Wild Atlantic Way has helped to showcase the extraordinary beauty of our coastline, our islands, our heritage and our communities. Yet, despite the success of these attraction, there remains significant untapped potential that requires sustained investment and support from Government. I am glad to hear the Minister talk about the oversight group and that the local authorities are part of it because it is often the case that the necessary joined-up thinking is not seen and we do not get the basics right. Keem Bay beach in Achill was named one of the best beaches in the world. That is really significant. There is an opportunity to establish a visitor centre to keep people in the area and to provide a better experience for them. It is very important that opportunity is taken.  If we are to be serious about growing tourism, we must be serious about the connectivity and infrastructure that is needed to maximise the outcomes from the money that is invested in tourism, including money invested in advertising abroad to attract people here. Tourism cannot thrive if visitors cannot easily reach destinations, move between regions and access attractions. Too often, the Government speaks about promoting tourism while failing to invest adequately in the transport networks and public infrastructure that underpin the sector. This is especially true in the west and north west. We cannot expect regions like Mayo to realise their full tourism potential when transport links remain inadequate and investment lags behind demand.  Visitors expect and need a seamless travel experience. They want reliable rail connections, accessible bus services, safe roads, quality walking and cycling infrastructure and straightforward information about how to get from one destination to another. However, many still encounter fragmented transport services, poor integration between providers and limited public transport options outside of our main cities. It goes without saying that we need stronger links between airports and ports and towns in tourism destinations. I will give the Minister an example. Ireland West Airport, Knock, recently celebrated its 40th anniversary.  I wanted to get from Castlebar to Knock to get a flight from Knock Airport. I wanted to use public transport. Just trying to find out about the bus service that connects Castlebar to Knock proved to be an onerous task in trying to do that. I went to the bus stop to see what was displayed there. There was nothing whatsoever displayed on the bus stop in Castlebar. It is the small things like that which need to be addressed to ensure people avail of the services that are even there. I commend all the bus drivers. It was quite an experience. Getting on the bus to Knock, I saw that I could not tap my card. It does not take a card; you have to have cash. If you do not have cash, what do you do in that situation? Besides the security issues that arise for drivers who have to provide their own floats, that is not good enough in 2026. When we talk about overarching and high-level stuff, we need to get the lower-level stuff right. That is the point that I want the Minister to go away with today. We need the stronger links. We need to get the basics right in tourism. We need transport providers that communicate with each other and provide integrated information and ticketing timetables. We need improved connectivity. It is not simply a tourism issue; it is a regional development issue as well. When we match up regional development with tourism, that is how we are going to get our maximum outcomes for what is needed.  As a party Sinn F\u00e9in understands that tourism policy and regional development policy go hand in hand. Better transport links help attract visitors, support local businesses, create employment opportunities and make rural communities more sustainable places to live and work in. These communities that welcome visitors must receive the infrastructure and services necessary to support increased tourism activity, such as public toilets, parking facilities and broadband connectivity. So many local community groups are doing really good work in developing tourist attractions and walkways, for example. They have to beg and beg for public toilets to be put on the local beach and to be supported in that way. That is not right. These things should become more automatic that those services are there. There is little value in encouraging visitors to travel to rural Ireland if we fail to provide the infrastructure needed to support them once they arrive.  It is obvious to us in Sinn F\u00e9in that the future success of Irish tourism requires a stronger all-island approach. Tourism Ireland was established as one of the formal areas of cross-Border co-operation under the Good Friday Agreement because it offers enormous potential to international visitors. International visitors do not see the island as two separate tourism destinations. They see Ireland as a single destination. Our tourism strategy should reflect that reality. Major tourism initiatives like the Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland's Ancient East and Ireland's Hidden Heartlands should be developed further on an all-island basis. Expanding and connecting these initiatives across the island would create a more seamless experience for visitors, encourage longer stays and increase spending in local economies, North and South. Again, an all-island tourism strategy must be matched by all-island connectivity. An unfortunate consequence of Brexit saw the British Government introduce the electronic travel authorisation requirement for international visitors. This has made additional barriers for tourists travelling between the North and South. It is something that has to be dealt with once and for all. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Tourism is one of Ireland's most important industries. We all know that it supports jobs, sustains local businesses and brings investment to local communities across the country. The beauty about tourism is that it goes right deep into some of our most rural and most hinterland parts of our island. If we are really serious about developing tourism, we must also be serious about addressing regional inequalities that continue to hold areas back. I come from Donegal. I can say hand on heart that it is the most beautiful and scenic place in the country. It is blessed with spectacular scenery that you would not see anywhere in Europe, although I am very biased in that regard. It has got that tradition and is rich in culture, our language, our heritage, our islands and all that it offers. However, the problem is that if we are being serious, there are serious infrastructural issues in relation to Donegal. The north west is not serviced by motorway. It is not serviced by rail links. It has serious issues in relation to its public transport infrastructure, which is supplemented by a number of private operators that have operated excellently for many years.  There is also basic infrastructure. I come from Gweedore, for example. There are hotel developments that are being stalled and held up because we do not have a sewerage scheme that been promised time and time again from the Government. We also have tourist attractions that need just that little bit of investment, particularly our islands, which have seen a huge explosion of tourism over the past while, but can be further developed in a more sustainable way. I wish to raise the issue in relation to Glenveagh National Park, which is a jewel in the crown in the north west. The issue here is that time and time again we see people come to Glenveagh National Park, they travel long distances to visit for the day and find that tours are not available depending on the day that they arrive. This should not be happening in a national park which is open seven days a week. Tours should be available at all times. It is basic investment that needs to be there. There were issues in the past where people could not get car parking and had to travel two hours back. Some of those issues are being addressed.  Tourism takes many different forms. There are types of investment that are required to sustain, support and supplement what we have. I have described Donegal as a number of pearls that we have across the county from different locations and different events. What is missing there is the necklace that ties them all together. In a way, the Wild Atlantic Way is a form of that type of necklace. When we are missing a pearl or two, the necklace does not look the way it should. When we make sure that all of the pearls are joined up, it is something that is attractive and can encourage more tours, operators and people from overseas to come here.  One of the issues that I have raised in the past has been the issue of the entertainment sector and it being able to attract tourism into regions across the State. I have raised the issue of the fact that we have seen music festivals close down over the last number of years and the need to support music festivals, in particular. I have skin in the game in this as I am a director and chairperson of our not-for-profit music festival in Donegal. I am not speaking about our own festival. The Minister will be aware of the liquidation of tickets.ie recently. This has caused major problems. We have not-for-profit music festivals that operate in my county of Donegal, such as the Rory Gallagher International Festival. It is an outstanding festival that has operated for many years that was a client of this company. We are now seeing them out hundreds of thousands of euro. This cannot stand. This company that is going into liquidation is 75% owned by the DEAG Entertainment Group in Berlin. We need to be looking all the avenues. That means our foreign affairs Minister, our EU Commissioner and the German ambassador here need to be called in. There are serious issues that do not just affect the Rory Gallagher International Festival; it also affects other private festivals in the State. There also may be an issue where the Government intervenes. There is a question now that we need to look at whether we want to make sure these festivals continue next year. If they do, the money has to be paid, or the State will have to support them in some way to make sure that they continue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  Tourism is such an important part of the Irish economy. It is such an important industry. More needs to be done to develop it, especially in my own city of Cork. In 1916, Thomas Kent's home was raided and his brother was seriously injured. He and his brothers were taken away. Thomas Kent was convicted and found guilty by the British. He was later shot in the grounds of the old Cork prison in the Glen. That was on 9 May 1916. He was the only person from Cork to be shot and executed as part of the 1916 Rising. For 99 years, his body was buried in that prison's grounds. That should be a historic centre. It is not just Thomas Kent was executed on that site; he was also imprisoned there. This is a building that should now be used not just for the community but for tourism. There is the likes of Ardmh\u00e9ara Tom\u00e1s MacCurtain who was shot in his bed by the British and the Irish Royal Constabulary, IRC. There was Terence MacSwiney who died on hunger strike in Brixton Prison. There were the Wallace sisters, the Delaney brothers and Ballycannon boys.  It goes on and on. The republican history in Cork is immense but we have nowhere for people to go to learn about it. A number of months ago I met a family who had returned from America, one of whom was the granddaughter of a volunteer who had brought back the medal he got for fighting for Irish independence. Members of the Irish diaspora, no matter where they are in the world and no matter where they have migrated to, have stories about home. When they come back here to visit they want to go to a diaspora centre. A huge number of people left for the four corners of the world from Cork Harbour but when they come back, there is nowhere for them to go to trace their heritage or learn about the proud republican history that we have.  What I want to see is investment in Cork. There is an independent councillor in Cork, Kieran McCarthy, who runs walking tours around the city. There is brilliant take-up but we need much more of that. We need the buy-in. There is huge interest in historical tourism. People want to find out what is really behind the Irish. Whether it is our republican history, the arts or our authors, we have a product here. A lot of it is in Dublin and it is great to see but I am looking for investment in Cork.  We have Shandon Tower and I am looking for investment in that area and in Cork more generally. We have one of the most iconic buildings in Shandon but it is not being utilised to the maximum. We have the Butter Museum. Butter was brought from all over Munster, but especially from Kerry and Cork, to the butter market in Cork when the British ruled us, and it was sent from there to the four corners of the world. From an agricultural and historical point of view, Shandon should be utilised more. However, I am not impressed with the way this Government has acted around Moore Street, the GPO and the two new prisons that are going into the old prison site. It is time to stand up for our heritage. Let us be proud that we are Irish republicans. Let us be proud of the fight for Irish freedom and let the world know about it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  I welcome the opportunity to speak on tourism today. I also welcome the information the Minister has provided on the plans in this space and the development that he is pursuing. The points that I want to make do not take away from any of that. I acknowledge the work that is being done but I have some concerns and I am sharing them today in the hope of being helpful to the Minister in the development of what he calls sustainable tourism. The point is that sustainable tourism has to be more than just a phrase. It has to be thought through. I also want to correct Deputy Doherty because it is actually Kerry that is the loveliest county in Ireland. Donegal is a close second and I am spending my holidays there this summer.  The key point I want to make around sustainability and the vision for tourism is that tourism is supposed to serve the community, not the other way around, but many communities up and down this country have seen that balance reversed, unfortunately. There is a growing awareness of this issue globally as well. In the effort to make ourselves palatable and commercialised for tourists, we risk losing the culture and society which brought the tourists here in the first place. I also want to talk about the fact that tourism is a key sector of our economy but it is also where we see some of the poorest quality employment, sadly.  I will start on the over-tourism point. As I said, tourism is supposed to serve our communities and not the other way around, but up and down the country, that balance has been reversed. Over-tourism is a serious problem that is already having an impact on people and communities across Ireland. Nobody is denying that tourism is important to a lot of people in this country. For many, particularly in areas along the west coast, it is either their livelihood or the livelihood of others in their community. On our islands and across many communities, the tourism income they take in each summer is the difference between continuing to exist as a community and not. However, these communities are also seeing the amount of money returned to them decrease, year on year, as big companies take more control in the sector, with tourism becoming a burden on community infrastructure instead of a boon for the people. We have seen in Spain and other countries the impact it can have if the approach to tourism is not properly planned and balanced. We do not need to look abroad to see this, however. If one goes to west Cork or Connemara, one will see holiday homes sitting empty or on Airbnb, while young people in the same community cannot afford to buy a house and start a family. One will see hordes of chain tourist shops selling the same gimmicky image of what Ireland is, while local small businesses and artisans cannot afford the premises costs and are priced out by cheap goods made overseas. We need a system that takes into account the housing, infrastructural and community needs of areas around the country when we develop tourism. We also need to ensure that when these communities generate countless euros for the Irish economy, they see a dividend for that instead of being further eroded as communities. Ba ch\u00f3ir go mbeidh bua eacnama\u00edoch na turas\u00f3ireachta ag dul chuig an bpobal f\u00e9in. M\u00e1 t\u00e1 turas\u00f3ireacht ag cur br\u00fa ar an bpobal, caithfimid a chinnti\u00fa go bhfuilimid ag tabhairt cothrom na F\u00e9inne do na pobail sin.  In the effort to make ourselves palatable and commercialised for tourists, we risk losing the culture and society which brought them here in the first place. I want to raise issues that were highlighted recently by the arts festival organiser, Naoise Nunn, with the strategic tourism festival investment scheme, where Kilkenny Animated is seeing a 75% cut in funding over three years. Arts-led festival organisers are highlighting that they appear to be losing out in favour of more commercially-led tourism events, despite the fact that arts-led festivals like this are exactly the things that draw people to Ireland as tourists. They come here to experience our culture and society but if we do not acknowledge that in support schemes for tourism initiatives, these festivals will be smaller and less engaging, and will eventually disappear altogether, one by one. This does not just impact the festival themselves, but the hotels people stay in, the restaurants they eat in and the businesses they go to. They represent huge value to the Irish economy, as the Minister acknowledged, particularly to indigenous Irish businesses. We need to ensure the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, and F\u00e1ilte Ireland in particular, view the support of these initiatives and festivals as part of their remit. We cannot leave this solely to a very underfunded Arts Council, particularly when these festivals clearly support and are a part of regional tourism. I have been having a lot of conversations with people in this space and there is frustration about falling between stools in different Departments. The success of our festivals in drawing in tourists cannot be underestimated. We need to deal urgently with the issues that are leaving them caught in a policy gap between Departments.  Finally, I want to raise the issue of the jobs supported by tourism. Tourism is a key sector of our economy but it is also where we see the poorest quality employment. Dr. Deirdre Curran in the University of Galway recently published a report on the experiences of hospitality workers in this country, the vast majority of whom work in workplaces where tourists are a key part of the customer base. The findings were stark, but not really surprising, given what we already know about pay and conditions in this sector. Around 52% of workers surveyed did not get the breaks to which they were entitled, just under half did not get a written employment contract and one in five said they did not get their holiday pay. There were tales of physical, verbal, and psychological abuse faced by these workers. It is also important to flag, however, that many of these people love the work they do. They carry it out with pride. They are proud to provide good service to their customers and are a key part of what makes Ireland the country of c\u00e9ad mile f\u00e1ilte.  We want to see a strong, resilient tourism industry but we will not be able to manage that if we do not tackle these issues. We must tackle staff turnover and invest in quality jobs in tourism. We urgently need to tackle low pay, ensure enforcement of employment law, and address the poor conditions faced by so many workers who are absolutely vital to Ireland's tourism industry and who love their jobs but who are being badly let down by the current practices this report has exposed. Teasta\u00edonn uaillmhian uainn san earn\u00e1il turas\u00f3ireachta. Teasta\u00edonn f\u00eds uainn do ghn\u00f3lachta\u00ed, f\u00e9ilte agus poist san earn\u00e1il seo a thaca\u00edonn leis an bpobal, len\u00e1r socha\u00ed agus len\u00e1r gcult\u00far, n\u00ed hamh\u00e1in \u00f3 thaobh airgid de, ach \u00f3 thaobh dea-thionchar ar na gn\u00e9ithe sin. We need a vision for tourism in Ireland that celebrates our culture and our communities and that benefits everyone, from the minimum wage worker in a hotel to the young family living on the Aran Islands. We can have it but only if we are serious about reforming our attitudes and policy to look beyond just money spent to where and how that money is spent and who, ultimately, benefits. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  Dublin 8 is a magnificent place of history. It is where I live. I am very proud to live there and am extremely proud to represent the area. There are so many places in Dublin 8 that tourists come to visit, including St. Patrick's Cathedral, Christchurch, Kilmainham Gaol, the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, IMMA, the Guinness Storehouse, Dublinia, Marsh's Library, the Liberties and the National War Memorial Gardens.  I could go on because there are loads of them. We are really lucky but not every part of the history of the Liberties has been preserved. These include places like Kilmainham Mill which is centuries old. It was brought to a certain standard but it has not been completed. People can go and look at it but it is not functional. I happen to know the person who is a descendant of the people who owned that mill. It is a crying shame.  That is not the only place where there is a difficulty. Newmarket was a thriving market for years. A requirement, as part of the planning permission for one of the buildings in the regeneration or redesign of the area, was that a market be provided in that space. The applicant agreed to that and said anyone can use Newmarket as a market space for \u20ac67,000 per year. That is totally unacceptable. I want to know what will be done to make sure a market returns to Newmarket. I have been asking that question of the Department for a very long time and I have been given the wrong answer. I am still asking for an answer to that question. I would really appreciate if the Minister brought it back to the Department.  The Iveagh Market lay derelict and in bits for decades. It has been brought back up to a certain standard that meets health and safety requirements. What is going to happen with it afterwards? Can we not be like other European countries, or even like Cork? I went down to the English Market recently. We need that in Dublin. It is such a magnificent thing to have, not only for tourists but for the people who live there. The Liberties is renowned for weaving. The Liberties Weavers were born from that whole tradition of weavers we have in our community. The group meets but it does not have a permanent place. We certainly have enough spaces to be able to provide for those people who are doing amazing work. It is fantastic.  The Tivoli Theatre was torn down. Anyone who went to the panto at Christmas or to any of the many different events in the Tivoli will sadly miss it. That space is now about as undramatic and uninspiring as a place can be. It is absolutely disastrous. It is an affront to people like me who live in the area, and to the people who came to the area to go to the theatre, to see what has been left in its place.  Some of the places I have mentioned are in Dublin Bay South and I do not want to rob anybody from Dublin Bay South of their places but in Dublin South-Central, in a very short time, we have seen many more hotels being built, more short-term lets and more student accommodation. We do not need more hotels in Dublin 8, we do not need more short-term lets and we definitely do not need more student accommodation. We need to have a city where people who live there are the ones who are able to enjoy markets, venues, theatre, going out and being with our neighbours. It is not all just about tourists; it is also for the people who live here. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cormac Devlin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cormac Devlin  I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate on tourism. Tourism is worth almost \u20ac9 billion a year to our national economy. It supports jobs in every county, town and community across this country. Last year, almost 6.5 million visitors from overseas came to Ireland, spending an estimated \u20ac5.5 billion. We should, however, be honest about the trend. Visitor numbers in 2025 were down 3% and spend was down 9%. Cost is a factor and access is a factor. We cannot take this sector for granted.  In my constituency of D\u00fan Laoghaire-Rathdown, tourism generates an estimated \u20ac126 million a year, according to the council's tourism strategy. It supports more than 3,000 jobs locally. At the centre of it is D\u00fan Laoghaire Harbour, a great regional amenity. Last year, more than 80 cruise ships called to the harbour. More than four in ten of those passengers spent time in the town itself. That is footfall through our local shops, caf\u00e9s and restaurants from April right through to September. The town has invested in itself. The DLR Lexicon, for example, is now the most visited public library in Ireland, welcoming around 1,300 people a day. The restored D\u00fan Laoghaire baths facility has been brought back to life and has brought life to the seafront as well.  Our visitors' offering is real and distinctive, with the east pier, the Forty Foot and the James Joyce Tower. Interestingly, next week is Bloomsday and I commend entrepreneurs like Peter Caviston and volunteers like Margaret Brown on all the work they have done keeping that event going over the decades. We also have the National Maritime Museum of Ireland in the Mariners' Church. The People's Park at weekends has a market. There is the Dalkey Castle and Heritage Centre, and Killiney Hill. All are great and fantastic amenities. Then there are the businesses that anchor the town. There is the Royal Marine Hotel, which has stood over the harbour since 1828. Teddy's ice-cream is known to generations of Dubliners. The Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel overlooks Dublin Bay. Our wonderful pubs, restaurants and caf\u00e9s, with their fantastic employees, make every visit to D\u00fan Laoghaire very special.  What do the businesses need from the Government? There are three things, in my view. The first is support without over-regulation. There are small businesses but every new form, levy and inspection regime lands on the same kitchen table. Yes to sensible regulation but no to micro-regulation.  The second is the night-time economy. The night-time economy task force reported back in 2021. Towns like D\u00fan Laoghaire would benefit directly. A visitor who stays overnight spends twice as much. I ask the Minister and his officials to set out a clear timeframe for implementing those reforms in full, including the modernisation of our licensing laws. That straddles not only the Minister's Department but the Department of justice as well.  As for the third, in budget 2026 the Government listened to the tourism sector. In the most recent budget the reduction in hospitality VAT to 9%, which the Minister referred to, was a significant, welcome and necessary intervention. That support must now be matched with practical measures in budget 2027, including targeted help with energy, employer and insurance costs, and marketing investment through Tourism Ireland on an all-island basis to win back European visitors.  I mention Tourism Ireland and investing on an all-island basis as I am the Chair of the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. The investment by the shared island fund in the likes of the Ulster Canal and the Narrow Water bridge project is going to bring huge investment and opportunities to that whole region, which is very welcome. However, at times the local councils' tourism strategies jar or do not necessarily link in with the overall national picture. I am sure this is a frustration to the Minister as well as to local officials. It is important that we try to link in as much as possible on a regional basis the benefit of those local tourism strategies.  I ask that we keep backing the tourism sector, implement the night-time economy reforms, hold the line against unnecessary red tape and deliver practical supports for tourism businesses in budget 2027. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Miche\u00e1l Carrigy  The Minister is very welcome. As he probably knows, I have been the chairperson of Longford Tourism for 12 or 13 years. When I started, County Longford probably had the lowest visitor figures in the country. We grasped that negative and we worked with the local authority and stakeholders to build the tourism product in our county. Last Christmas, we launched a new tourism network to drive the future of tourism in Longford. Our statement at the launch noted the following:  Longford\u2019s rich and often untold story forms the backbone of this vision, from ancient archaeological sites dating back to before the Egyptian pyramids, to revolutionary history, Celtic mythology, literary heritage and iconic love stories, all set within an unspoilt and undiscovered landscape.  That is what we are. We are unspoilt and undiscovered. We have been working very closely with Visit Westmeath where we were picked for one of the seven sites for the Home of Hallowe'en, which was a fantastic first year. We are looking forward to this continuing to be a successful festival. Longford is an unspoilt county. We have fantastic waterways, walkways and forest walks. We pride ourselves on the unspoilt beauty that we have and we want people to see that.  On Monday next, the Minister will be at the launch the new visitlongford.ie website, which is being worked on and is funded by the just transition fund. That fund had been transformational for our county by bringing in significant investment on the back of what was a negative story. The roles of the activation officers who were appointed to the various counties in the just transition area will finish at the end of this year. I ask that they continue for the just transition areas, which have suffered economically as a result of the shutdown of the power plants and the reduction in peat production. We should continue those roles. We need them because we have grown the product and the businesses in our region and we need that support for those businesses to make sure they are maintained in future.  I compliment our tourism officer, Denise Canavan, who is doing fantastic work since she took over the role, increasing the numbers of people, improving the product and working with all the communities in our county.  The Minister of State knows Longford very well, from the Maria Edgeworth Centre in Edgeworthstown and the Knights and Conquests Heritage Centre in Granard. I look forward to seeing the sod turned on the Norman heritage village on that site in 2026.  We have the fantastic Corlea trackway and its unspoiled beauty. It is undiscovered. That is the word I used earlier. I want to see further investment in that site. It goes back to 3,000 BC. It needs more investment to make sure more people come to see it. I ask that it be prioritised and we see significant investment in that project.  The Royal Canal project started in Longford, with the length from Cloondara out to the main line, and back into Longford town. It cost \u20ac300,000. In conjunction with Longford County Council, a group of seven of us on the committee secured LEADER funding and started that project with an 18 km section. We worked with other local authorities in counties Westmeath, Meath, Kildare and Dublin and shortly that project will now come in as far as Spencer Dock. People will be able to walk from Spencer Dock here in Dublin all the way down to the Shannon in Cloondara, and ultimately link up across the bogs into the west of Ireland out to Strokestown Park House. It is a fantastic project. The State has made significant investment in it and it is important to acknowledge the huge amount of funding that has been provided to make it a fantastic project. It will bring a further increase in tourism into our county.  I ask that the Government take away those issues. We are working hard on the ground with industry. We have all the stakeholders together. We just need support. We were delivering product through the just transition fund. I ask that support from that fund be continued, particularly through the tourism activator roles. Colm Croffey has had that role in Longford but they are in place throughout the region. We did not have support for a long number of years until the Hidden Heartlands brand was launched some years ago by people in the region, including me. The counties wanted their own brand. We were not on the Wild Atlantic Way or in Ireland's Ancient East. We have a unique beauty in the midlands and we want to make sure we get that support. Through the just transition fund, we have funding but we need continued support to make sure we can drive the tourism product, working with everybody involved, including local authorities, stakeholders, people in the business and the tourism committees and tourism officers throughout the region. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  I will start by speaking about a lot of the good work being done in County Galway to enhance our tourist offerings and support the many businesses and community organisations which contribute an awful lot to our history and heritage. I attended the 25th anniversary of the Athenry Heritage Centre last week and it was a fantastic occasion. The centre has been very successful in promoting Athenry as a heritage town and attracting visitors to the area. Huge credit should go to all involved in the local community.  Athenry is a town with significant tourism potential given our rich and unique history and heritage. It is fair to say that potential has not been fully realised. I acknowledge the many great efforts being made by community organisations to rectify that, and indeed by Galway County Council through the Athenry town team in terms of particular heritage spaces in the town. I hope those efforts are fully supported by the Government and the tourism authorities.  Last week, I attended the launch of the Yeats-Gregory explorer bus at Coole Park. This bus service that will run regularly through the summer months, linking all the key heritage, cultural and historical attractions across south Galway, including Coole, the Kiltartan Gregory Museum, Thoor Ballylee, Kilmacduagh and Gort town centre. It is a fantastic initiative that should be replicated elsewhere. Huge credit to the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Galway County Council and F\u00e1ilte Ireland for supporting it. There is a lot of positive work going on.  I raise Dunguaire Castle in Kinvara. The castle has been closed for the past three years. It is an enormous loss to the community and wider region, especially now as we come into the summer months and the height of the tourist season. It is a huge, missed opportunity for Kinvara and surrounding areas. This is an iconic landmark right on the Wild Atlantic Way that has been left essentially abandoned. One of our greatest tourist and heritage assets in County Galway has been left closed to the public indefinitely. We have tourists standing outside every single day who want to enter but cannot do so. I am getting hundreds of emails from locals and tourists alike who cannot understand why this is being allowed to continue. It is causing enormous frustration.  The core of this issue is funding. While Galway County Council is willing to acquire the castle from the Shannon Group and reopen it, it cannot do so without Government funding to bring the castle up to a safe standard. Why is the Government hesitating about providing the funding required? All we hear are excuses from different Ministers passing the buck between Departments. It seems no one is willing to take responsibility for this situation. The frustrating part is the Government did it before when it provided significant funding to Clare and Limerick county councils to acquire sites like Bunratty Castle and St. John's Castle from the Shannon Group. There is precedent here. We are asking for fair play and for the same funding to be provided to Galway County Council and Kinvara to get Dunguaire Castle reopened. I ask the Minister of State to consider coming down to the area to visit Kinvara and the castle to see the huge missed opportunity for himself. He could engage with representatives and stakeholders in the local community. This situation cannot persist any longer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy George Lawlor  I welcome the opportunity to speak in the Chamber on this hugely important yet too often underestimated pillar of our national economy. Tourism is not and should not be a luxury add-on to our economic strategy, nor a seasonal afterthought. It is an extremely important component of our national economy, one that sustains many of our rural communities. It supports small businesses, preserves our cultural heritage and, in many respects, keeps rural Ireland alive. If we are serious about balanced regional development, we must be serious about tourism. It contributes billions annually to the Irish economy and supports hundreds of thousands of jobs, many of them in rural counties where alternative industries are often limited. It drives demand for hospitality, transport, food production, crafts, festivals and cultural experiences. It is one of the few sectors that reach into every town, parish and county. Where tourism thrives, the entire nation thrives.  When tourism is neglected, rural Ireland feels it first and hardest. Nowhere is this more evident than in my own county of Wexford. Wexford is a county whose identity, economy and social fabric are massively intertwined with tourism. We are blessed with natural beauty, cultural richness and a heritage that stretches from the Norman invasion via Baginbun to the 1798 Rebellion to the modern arts festivals which draw visitors from across the world. However, blessings alone do not sustain an economy; investment, vision and leadership do.  Next year, 2027, is the year of the Norman. A few years back, I had the pleasure of hosting a delegation from Normandy, including the president of the Regional Council of Normandy, Herv\u00e9 Morin. Normandy has a population of 3.3 million. Incredibly, the delegation had very little knowledge of Ireland's or Wexford's connection to Normandy. It is with areas like Normandy that we should be looking to connect via much bigger national investment. There is huge potential in that connection, particularly since Brexit. The people of Normandy used to send their children to England to learn English. Ireland now has a terrific opportunity because of the constraints after Brexit.  If we look at a sister city of Wexford, Savannah in Georgia, it has huge historical connections with Ireland and Wexford. Some 57% of the population there trace their heritage to County Wexford. The city itself has a population of 170,000 people, yet last year it had 13 million visitors. If we compare that to Ireland, we had 6.4 million visitors. There is no direct flight to Savannah despite the huge connections. As an example, a 16,000 sq. ft Wexford bar has just opened in the heart of Savannah. I do not know if the Minister of State has been there----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  Not yet. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy George Lawlor  -----but it is a wonderful tourism addition and could be an embassy for our tourism industry.  We also need to look to exploit, in a sustainable way, what is available on our doorstep, for example, our seas and rivers. It is estimated that between 8 million and ten million people participate in sea angling across Europe every year, generating an economic impact of between \u20ac8 billion and \u20ac10 billion. France has recorded 1.4 million recreational anglers.  England and Wales show that, historically, participation reaches over 4.2 million, split between course, game and sea angling. Wexford hosted the world and European shore angling competitions in the recent past and will do so again, no doubt, in the future because of our dual coastline. It is a perfect area for angling, depending on the direction of the wind, yet we really do not pursue the opportunities that are clear in this sector, and it is something we really should be looking at.  The attractions we see across the country are not just points on a map; they are economic lifelines. They sustain jobs in hotels, caf\u00e9s, bed and breakfast accommodation, restaurants, taxis, shops and activity providers. They support farmers who supply local produce. They keep our towns vibrant and our villages open. In Wexford, tourism is not an optional extra; it is the cornerstone of our prosperity.  Local authorities are expected to promote tourism, develop local strategies, support festivals, maintain public amenities and market their region, but they are expected to do all this with budgets that are wholly inadequate for the scale of the task. We cannot keep asking local authorities to deliver world-class tourism outcomes on shoestring budgets. It is unrealistic, it is unfair and it is holding back the potential of counties such as Wexford. If we want tourism to flourish, we must invest in the people and institutions that make it happen. Local authorities need substantial, multi-year, ring-fenced funding for tourism promotion, not ad hoc grants, once-off allocations or competitive schemes that pit counties against one another. What they need is predictable, strategic investment that allows them to plan, innovate and build long-term capacity. Let us imagine what Wexford County Council and all other local authorities could achieve with a properly funded tourism promotion department. We could expand international marketing campaigns. We could develop new and more greenways, blueways and heritage trails. We could support more festivals, and not just the flagship ones but the smaller, community-led events that give towns their identity. We can really do so much more with this product. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  As the Minister will probably know, I used to work in Bord F\u00e1ilte and F\u00e1ilte Ireland until I made the crazy decision to get into politics. I am sure all Members wish I had not. I used to be a manager. I created the national tourism database. I am very proud of that because it distributes all the information to this day for everything we do in tourism. A colleague of mine, a fellow Tipperary man who was my manager, had a saying about tourism: \"We cannot forget the hole in the doughnut.\" The issue is that a large number of people who come into this country go around the outskirts of Ireland. If, however, we consider the quality of the offering and, from a price comparison point of view, of what is also available for tourists down the spine of Ireland, there is a golden opportunity for us, particularly with Deputy Burke as Minister and, dare I say, with the Minister of State, Deputy Smyth, beside him. From Cavan all the way down to the Cork-Kerry border, it as an oval shape that is the hole in the doughnut. That is where we need to concentrate capital and current investment.  A number of years ago, when we had very little money, we launched the Lough Derg plan, a roadmap for experience development and destination marketing. Where I am from, along Lough Derg, which touches County Clare, north Tipperary and south Galway and the Shannon basin, is a hidden secret. People come into Killaloe now that we have the new bridge, which I hold my hands up as being responsible for. Access is incredible. They come along the lake. Some of them have never heard of the greatest place on earth, Garrykennedy, which is unbelievably popular once people get there, or they go to Terryglass, Dromineer, Ballycommon, Ballina or wherever else.  I use that as an example of how we, as a country, need to extend our tourism season and our tourism product generally. Tourism can be defined by three As and an E: accommodation, attractions, activities and events. I urge the Minister, from a capital and current point of view, to put together a programme for - he does not have to call it this - the hole in the doughnut in this country when it comes to tourism. It is incredibly important that he does so, and it would be a testament and a legacy for him if he were to do so.  In the Nenagh and north Tipperary area, we are very proud of Shane MacGowan. There is a trail called Unravelling Shane MacGowan, which has been set up and supported by Siobhan, his sister, and Tipperary County Council, particularly Rosemary Joyce, with a huge number of people coming on the tour. There is the old family cottage, which we would love to get into some form of local authority or national ownership. I ask the Minister sometime he is passing down through the middle of Ireland - obviously, Nenagh is very central - to meet with the family there to discuss same. It would not involve a massive outlay but I wanted to take this opportunity to ask the Minister about that.  Finally, when it comes to the events side of the three As and the E, festivals are critical. The Minister is aware of the issue with tickets.ie . In fairness, he took a call from me last week about this. As regards the large-scale festival we have had in Thurles for the past number of years, Liberty Music Festival, now that tickets.ie has basically gone wallop, Councillor Jim Ryan in Thurles and others are having to find about \u20ac300,000 to support the festival to go ahead. Campsites and tickets are sold out yet, like a number of other festivals in this country, Liberty Music Festival is being massively affected by this. This is not the fault of the Government; it is a collective Oireachtas and regulatory fault. The idea that tickets.ie or any similar type of organisation can take millions of euro, put the money into its own account, hold it and then go wallop, just from a regulatory point of view, is nuts. It is insane. It is crazy. It should not be allowed to happen. Let us imagine where we would all be left if ticketmaster.ie went wallop in the morning. There are all these small festivals. I ask the Minister to examine this from a regulatory point of view. I commend all those who are supporting the festival to keep it going this year. I do not know where they will get the funding for it or how they will be supported, but if there is any way in which that can happen, it would be great. On the principle of tickets.ie and the regulatory process, we, as a Legislature, need to deal with it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"William Aird","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy William Aird  I welcome the opportunity to speak on the importance of tourism to our economy, our communities and our national identity. Tourism remains one of the most important and significant industries, supporting employment, enterprise and regional development in every county. Hundreds of thousands of people depend directly or indirectly on tourism activities, from accommodation to visitor attractions, transport, festivals, heritage sites and other recreation. Despite recent challenges, Ireland continues to attract millions of visitors each year.  As a TD for County Laois, I want to highlight the enormous tourism potential that exists in the midlands and in my own county and the need to match that potential with real investment on the ground. For far too long, Laois has been overlooked as a tourism destination but the reality is that the county has outstanding heritage, outdoor recreation and cultural experiences. We have the Rock of Dunamase, one of the most iconic medieval sites in the country, and Emo Court, one of the finest neoclassical estates in Ireland. Emo Court had 305,000 visitors last year and the Rock of Dunamase had 44,000. These figures show what is possible when the product is supported. Beyond that, the Slieve Bloom Mountains offer some of the best walking and cycling in the country. Our towns and villages, including Abbeyleix, Durrow, Portarlington, Timahoe and many others, have strong cultural and heritage experiences, supported by festivals and sporting events - real economic benefit into rural, local communities.  Laois is located within easy reach of Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford. However, tourism does not happen by accident. It needs investment in infrastructure, walking and cycling routes, public area improvements, heritage conservation and destination development. If we want counties like Laois to reach their potential, we must be fair in how national tourism funding is delivered. One of the biggest tourism and recreational gaps in County Laois is that we do not have a greenway. Ours is one of the few counties in this State without one. At a time outdoor recreation tourism is growing, that is a serious disadvantage.  However, I have good news as a Laois TD. Laois has real potential in this space, especially with the old Bord na M\u00f3na rail corridor from Cashel bog through Togher Woods and over to Ross bog. This is a continuation of an existing route, with strong potential conversion into a greenway, that exists and that was used to take the peat off the bogs, which is no longer allowed. That is why I am really passionate about what I say. I have called this proposal the O'More way. It reflects local identity and ambition. The corridor exists in its entirely, including under railway lines and national roads and routes. It is all there, ready to go up and ready to run if we get the funding.  I raised this recently at a joint committee meeting on rural development policy where I highlighted the need to prioritise viable greenway projects that are not yet funded. This is the frustration on the ground. Ready-made projects are waiting while others progress. I have also raised this directly with the Minister, Deputy Calleary. Too often, counties like Laois end up at the back of the queue when funding decisions are made. I want to acknowledge the work of Laois County Council and the local groups that are pushing this forward. The support is there, the demand is there; what is missing is delivery. We need better joined-up thinking involving agencies like Bord na M\u00f3na. We cannot afford to lose projects that already have roots and strong backing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Connolly  Like other Members I am going to discuss the virtues of my own constituency from a tourism perspective. It offers a unique tourism experience. Unlike many other areas, we have a bustling city that is expanding but we also have a region of great natural beauty beside it in Connemara. It offers tourists a unique opportunity to experience both. Many see Galway mar pr\u00edomhchathair dh\u00e1theangach agus pr\u00edomhchathair chult\u00fartha na t\u00edre seo - the bilingual capital of the country. One of the things about bilingualism and an Ghaeilge is nach nd\u00e9anfaimid d\u00f3thain chun c\u00farsa\u00ed turas\u00f3ireachta a spreagadh \u00f3 thaobh na teanga de - we do not use the language enough. We do not use the fact that the language is spoken as the daily language of the community in Connemara and is widely heard across Galway city as something to attract tourists to enjoy. Sadly, not every part of the country can say that but we can in Galway. We appreciate it and as locals we feel that offers a unique opportunity for tourists to come and experience it.  One of the things Galway City Council has sought to do - I support it on this. In fact, I was a member of the council when we first discussed it - is the opportunity for the local authority to develop a tourism tax. I am fortunate to have the opportunity to travel so much abroad. I always pay a tourism tax to the hotel operator in addition to the cost of staying at the hotel. Again, fortunately, it is something that I can do. We need to look at it as an opportunity for local authorities to raise revenue. There are additional costs on certain local authorities as a result of being a location that tourists enjoy. We like to keep the city cleaner. There is greater usage of public transport. There is a greater need to maintain good road quality and, as Deputy Aird says, to build things like greenways.  Local authorities would benefit from the opportunity to raise funds through a tourism tax. Dublin City Council has sought it. Galway City Council was the first to moot it. We should give councils the liberty and the opportunity to do so. They are conscious enough to do so in a way that does not make the attraction too expensive or that it will not kill the goose that lays the golden egg in terms of tourism. We should move on that and allow them to do that.  Bh\u00ed m\u00e9 ag caint faoi Chonamara ansin. Ba mhaith liom dh\u00e1 \u00e1it eile i gConamara a lua at\u00e1 thar a bheith t\u00e1bhachtach \u00f3 thaobh c\u00farsa\u00ed turas\u00f3ireachta agus cuairteoir\u00ed de. I want to mention the Connemara National Park. It offers a fantastic experience for tourists. In the region of a quarter of a million people visit it every year. I would like to see it being further developed. There is a wonderful visitor centre there and it has a new experience that teaches people about the Connemara pony - something that is again unique to the area.  Luaim chomh maith Ionad Cult\u00fartha an Phiarsaigh i Rosmuc, aonad a chuireann s\u00edos ar stair na h\u00e1ite maidir le P\u00e1draig Pearse. Bh\u00ed c\u00f3na\u00ed air san \u00e1it ar feadh blianta agus \u00e9 ag foghlaim na teanga. I will finish by referring to the importance of tourism to the offshore islands. It is the crucial industry for them. There is some concern about the impact of the changes to the short-term letting sphere that we are going to introduce. I just ask that we might consider particular details for the offshore islands. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John McGuinness  I want to make a pitch for my own constituency of Carlow-Kilkenny. We cannot be complacent about our success or rest on our laurels. We have to continue to be innovative and to develop our tourism product. In this regard, we need to look at the strengths of each county and not just make every county, city and village the same. We must look at what they have to offer and have strategic investment in what each county is doing or wants to do. It is not driven from the top; it is driven by the community and those who are involved in the tourism industry.  There should be a Norman museum and study centre in Kilkenny. It is the heart of our Norman history. It can attract tourists right across Europe who are engaging in Norman history and education. The Ministers for tourism and higher education should develop that type of offering with the South East Technological University, which will attract real money and real tourism. We need to build on the strengths that we have in the county, for example, in Graiguenamanagh, and highlight the historic areas and locations where business was conducted many years ago in a very different way, for example, Duiske Glass and Cushendale Mills. That would encourage people to know the brand and be able to identify it and buy it abroad.  There is a coal mining trail. I would link it to Castlecomer, County Kilkenny, which has historically been a big coal mining district. These are the things we should be looking at as well as what is happening currently in the equine industry. There are horses in Ireland, horses being exported, sport abroad and sport in Ireland. There is a massive amount of money that could benefit the economy if we were to exploit all of that area.  I agree with Deputies Lawlor and Gibney on what they said about festivals. We need to fund them in a strategic way. We need to give lot more funding through local authorities to ensure they can direct the funding to support the strategies they have for developing tourism. I urge that it would be considered seriously because the funding is very scattered and piecemeal. While there are big allocations, it is the smaller community efforts that should take pride of place and therefore the county should have a greater role in it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  I acknowledge the huge work that has been done by so many people around the country, particularly in a voluntary capacity to develop the tourism package that we offer to people. Tourists come to Ireland for a number of reasons. There is leisure tourism and activity tourism. We have a lot of that in my region with the Shannon waterway among others. We also have a lot of hill walking, etc.  In addition, we have interest tourism - people who want to come to look at history and how people lived in the past or developed. We have the coal mining experience in Arigna, Se\u00e1n Mac Diarmada's Cottage in north Leitrim as well as Yeats country. We have all of the types of tourism packages that attract people and bring those who have an interest in a particular region or a particular area.  The Government needs to put more investment into all of that and ensure that we have the level of support required to build the critical mass so that it can work on its own. Very often in the early days that is one of the critical points as a lot of tourism packages cannot develop without support. The Wild Atlantic Way has been a great success from a marketing perspective, as has the Hidden Heartlands, which also runs through a lot of my area. It has a lot more potential and needs a lot more investment.  I want to return to a topic that was raised by others, namely, festivals. They are a big part of summer tourism attractions, in particular in a lot of small places around the country. People come to music festivals, literature festivals and whatever else. A lot of them are organised by community projects and community groups and they need funding and assistance to ensure they can survive. In the past, some of them got bits of assistance from the local authorities. Then there is a need for a bit of crowd control and the Garda charges them a fortune to manage the crowd. It just seems to turn it on its head. There needs to be an overall examination of all of that.  Finally, I want to come to the issue of tickets.ie . As we know, it went wallop in the last week. A lot of festivals around the country were affected. The Rory Gallagher International Festival in Ballyshannon, County Donegal has lost an awful lot of money. The organisers do not know where it has gone. It has disappeared. Cowboys and Heroes in Ballinamore, County Leitrim is a country music festival that was on again last weekend. Everybody who attended had a tremendous time. It was wonderful, but the promoters say there is no money there any more. This company is owned by DEAG, which is the largest shareholder. I understand it is a German company with an annual turnover of about \u20ac450 million, so there is no absence of money in the parent company, which needs to be held accountable for this.  My understanding is that in the past couple years since it was taken over by international companies, it has been scaled down. Its offices have been closed. It has been scaled down to the stage where it was all being run by one man working from home. Now, it has pulled the plug on it and nobody knows where it has gone. There is an issue about how we regulate such agencies and organisations. A solicitor or an auctioneer has to have a client account. That is what it was doing. It was handling clients\u2019 money. It was selling the tickets to the customers, taking in the money, holding it and giving it back. There is no such thing as client account in these organisations. There needs to be an examination of how this can be properly regulated and properly done. There also needs to be some kind of compensation, particularly for the community organisations but for all the organisations that run festivals around the country that may be largely out of pocket because of this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  This is particularly important debate. It is a critical industry for our entire country. To start with, I want to praise the work of Tourism Ireland and F\u00e1ilte Ireland in terms of what they do to promote tourism in this country, build infrastructure and, indeed, build relationships.  Specifically, to the Minister of State's own brief, given that people are increasingly going to be using AI platforms to plan their holidays, we need to look at a strategy around how we can ensure Ireland is well-positioned to be able to avail of those opportunities. As the Minister of State knows, I am fortunate to represent the constituency of Wicklow-Wexford, which I would argue has some of the finest beaches in the country running from Brittas Bay through Arklow south beach to Clogga, Clone, Ballymoney, where I spent much of my own childhood and which has a beautiful beach, to Courtown harbour, which is in need of renourishment at the moment, to Cahore, Old Bawn, Morriscastle and many others in between. We need a strategy to ensure that we have sustainable beach tourism in Ireland.  I was very struck by the University of Galway's report today about the impact of climate change on our coastal communities. We have to protect homes and infrastructure but it is also important that we protect our beaches. They are a critical part of the local tourism infrastructure. Now that Wexford County Council has a marine area consent licence for the potential development of breakwaters at Courtown harbour, restoring the beach that many of us remember from our childhoods there is critical.  The Minister of State will be aware that next year, we are going to be celebrating Canada-Ireland 180, marking 180 years since 1847 when a lot of the connections developed between Ireland and Canada. As we know, Prime Minister Carney is coming here this week. Canada is now our fifth biggest market with over 200,000 people coming here each year but there is potential for a lot more. In the constituency I am proud to represent in south-west Wicklow, many travelled during the middle of the 1800s on assisted famine passage from that area. Over 6,000 men, women and children travelled from south-west Wicklow to Canada. That is, in fact, very much documented in the excellent book \"Shoeboxes: From Irish Roots to Canadian Branches\" by the late Kevin Lee and Tom Jenkins. Given the tens of thousands of people - there is a greater proportion of Canadians who claim Irish heritage than Americans - I believe it is a market that remains untapped.  As colleagues mentioned, next year is also the year of the Normans. While I know there are many who are making claims to Norman heritage, it was from Ferns Castle that the original invitation was sent to invite the Normans to Ireland. Ferns is a wonderful example of a Norman castle. It is very well maintained. Even more importantly, there is a Norman festival that takes place there, which I was involved in recently. There is a wonderful local Ferns village committee. It is critical, not alone in terms of us fostering our relationships with our nearest EU neighbour, France, particularly with all the ferries coming into Rosslare, for people to be able to explore those Norman links right around the south east. That potential is something we do need to do more about and to exploit and explore.  I also want to commend those who are involved in the development of the south Wicklow greenway project. We are aware of the success of greenways right around the country. The south Wicklow one has perhaps been taking a bit longer to get off the ground than many would have liked. I know that the chair, Anthony Murphy, former Councillor John Mullen and, indeed, many people in the local community who are very actively involved in this want to see it up and running. Developing those links from Arklow out to Shillelagh, even if it is done on a phased basis, is important for people to be able to visit all those wonderful villages right across south Wicklow as well as for the tourism potential we could see for Arklow town. We look at Dungarvan as an example and at how the Waterford greenway has been transformational. Something similar could happen with Arklow.  I am a bit frustrated about the slow pace of movement on the greenway. In fairness, the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, made money available to Wicklow County Council to progress it. I want to see this as a priority because of the tourism potential for all those villages from Aughrim and Avoca to Tinahely and Shillelagh and on to Carnew, and particularly with those Canadian connections. The potential of all that is huge and we need to explore it.  Sometimes we do not sell our island sufficiently. There is often too much of a focus, dare I say, on Dublin. It is critical, and I have outlined some of the points with regard to the potential of our links with Normandy and Canada. We need to talk about an all-island strategy. That is something I hope the Minister of State will take on board. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Neville  I am delighted to discuss tourism which is of national importance and significance. One thing we have in common across the country is the need for tourism. One very positive step we had with this Government is that we put tourism under the economic brief. With the Minister, Deputy Burke, in attendance, we have someone with an especially keen watch on tourism because it does show how tourism can impact. It is obviously great when people come to visit the country because, ultimately, what they do is spend money in our economy. They spend money positively. We do it ourselves when we go on holidays around the country. What we do is leave money behind us. As a country and as towns and villages, we have to be careful. We have to ensure that we do not try to take too much money. We cannot kill the golden goose. Something we have to careful about from our own economic perspective is that we keep an eye on prices, such as car rental prices, hotel prices and the lattes and scones potentially costing up to a tenner. They are the things we have to watch. We have to ensure that Ireland remains a place to visit where not only will people get a great experience but it will not cost them a fortune. In fairness, that is something on which we have to keep an eye. As Deputy Byrne outlined earlier, Ireland has a great tradition of tourism coming from the US, considering the number of people who went abroad. That is something we relied upon through different times. Movies like \"Ryan's Daughter\" sold Ireland to countries like America and since then, Ireland has benefitted economically from it. Tourism might be seen from a national perspective to have fallen down some levels of importance but we do know that for some areas, it is massively significant.  One issue I want to talk about is how this Government and, in fairness, the previous Government have over the past number of years reached out in many different ways to America, be it the American college football games or the NFL last year. We will have the Ryder Cup coming here. These events can draw in thousands of new people and thousands of eyeballs on the television. They can have a massive impact. That is hugely important.  Another issue I want to highlight is probably one we have not highlighted and sold enough to tourists. This should not always be about sales and money but one thing is the likes of the GAA. Do we push it enough to tourists? Do people know and understand that we have our own indigenous games? While we welcome games and highlight and showcase them, it is also important that we showcase what we have on our doorstep. We have traditions and games of our own. We are brilliant at exporting music and culture and those traditions but, ultimately, we also need to look at it from a sporting place. The GAA potentially has a great role to play. Obviously, it has done its bit with the museum and everything else but from a tourism board and national perspective, it is something we have to push more.  As I get down towards more of a parochial level, I look at Kildare North and Kildare in general. I have been lucky enough to have been a mayor of Kildare. I have been fortunate enough to be a councillor there for a number of years. However, one thing I felt was that we probably did not have enough visitors coming through. We have the golf courses and carting. We have the K Club. We have the horseracing. Indeed, we have places like Castletown House, Kilkea Castle and Lullymore in the north west of the county. We have some great locations. These are places that can really bring in more people because they are so close to the airport. Indeed, when we talk about tourism, we should not miss out on internal tourism and the fact that people are going from one side of the country to the other and spending their money.  We need to continue to push on this. I know Into Kildare has done a huge amount of work and put a huge amount of effort into marketing the county. I look for more assistance from the Department, if possible, to continue that. I was lucky to be in Castletown House on Monday and got shown around for the umpteenth time. The OPW has been able to buy the land. We now have access restored. This is a cultural pearl of north Kildare that we should continue to push as well.  As I said, there are lots of opportunities and possibilities but in the good hands of the Minister, Deputy Burke, there is no reason why tourism will not continue to thrive in the country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  I have been seeking this debate for about three months at the Business Committee so I am glad the Minister is here before us. I will concentrate very much on the serious issue of short-term lets. I have very little time so I will ask a number of questions the Minister might be able to answer in his summing up. There has been major confusion, as we have seen. Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael are all over the place on this issue, so much so that people have been told for the last two years to sign up in May but now that can has been kicked down the road. The Social Democrats and the Labour Party have been very clear that they do not support short-term lets. That is the end of tourism in rural communities as far as they are concerned and Sinn F\u00e9in is singing from both sides of its mouth.  Will the Minister confirm precisely what categories of accommodation are proposed to be exempted from the proposed planning restrictions? Will it be granny flats, converted barns and outbuildings? Is it them or is it glamping units, treehouses or accommodation attached to a principal private residence? Has there been any evidence-based assessment conducted by the Department to determine how many short-term letting properties would realistically become long-term residential tenancies if the proposed restrictions are implemented? Will that analysis be published? Will the Minister provide the most up-to-date estimate of the number of short-term letting units that will be affected in counties such as Cork, Kerry, Donegal, Mayo and Galway, broken down by local authority? Has the Department completed a tourism impact assessment quantifying the potential loss of visitor bed capacity arising from the proposed measures and if so will he bring it before the D\u00e1il for debate? Given the repeated delays to the legislation, will the Minister outline which specific provisions remain unresolved between Departments and whether disagreements relate to housing-supply projections, tourism impacts, planning law or enforcement mechanisms? Has the Department conducted any analysis of the economic impact on rural communities where short-term letting income supports local restaurants, pubs' activities, providers and tourism businesses?  On Tuesday, 28 April, the Taoiseach told this House that if someone is operating an Airbnb for seven years, he or she does not need planning permission. Does the Minister stand over that statement? My understanding is that they will be required to make an application for retention in order to be able to get on the register. Perhaps the Minister will have a word with the Taoiseach and ask him to come to the House and correct the record. On Tuesday, 28 April, the Taoiseach told this House, \"The policy decision we have taken, of which the Deputy is well aware, is that it relates to towns over 20,000, so that excludes straight away all of the western seaboard and the north western seaboard, all the way along.\" Perhaps the Minister could give the Taoiseach a geography lesson and remind him that Tralee, Limerick city, Galway city, Sligo and even towns such as Ennis and Letterkenny are vital hubs for the surrounding, rural, seaboard tourism communities. Will the Minister bring clarity today about the criteria that planning authorities will use in assessing and making determinations on material change-of-use applications for existing and new short-term letting units in both towns and villages? These are issues that I would appreciate an answer to. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  While I welcome this debate, I am representing the constituency of Cork North-Central. In 2034, Cork city will be celebrating its 850th birthday. It is a maritime city, with strong harbour connections and great stories. It has a huge natural harbour as the Minister knows. Our tourism industry is doing well when it comes to the number of cruises, which is up this year. Seamus Heaney from Visit Cork has been doing a tremendous job with a very small team of staff. I am not sure whether the Minister has had the opportunity to visit Seamus and his team, but they warrant tremendous respect for the amount of investment they have brought to Cork and the tremendous work that goes on in Visit Cork.  Thousands of tourists visit Blarney Castle every day but the problem is that Blarney does not retain those tourists. They are not staying there overnight. Equally with the cruises that come into the city, people are being taken on buses to Tipperary and Waterford. They are not investing in the city and the greater Cork area. As the Minister knows, Cork produces over 61% of the country's artisan foods. Cork is the largest producer of these foods. The English Market is doing a tremendous job as well. The recent royal visit prompted a lot of success and a lot of visitors. However, I do not see Tourism Ireland or the Department of tourism recognising Cork city as a place where you can invest in artisan food and where there is an investment opportunity for Cork to bring more people into Cork, to have the food and wine experience. The Minister is familiar with the Huguenot and Jacobite story in Cork as well, and the great wine houses of Bordeaux, which have direct connections to the Wine Geese of Cork, for example, Lawton's Quay and the great Pierre Lawton, who still operates his family's business, the Hennessy family, etc.  There is so much needed for Cork and there is so much needed for investment in Cork. We need to have an anchor tenant and we need to have an anchor business as an attraction to Cork. I am asking the Minister to bring in some sort of moneys and funding to the local authority to allow it to invest in a large anchor complex, such as what Guinness has in Dublin with the Guinness Storehouse. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  Mayo is one of the most scenic and beautiful counties in this country. In recent years, we welcomed the US President and I understand next week Mayo is due to welcome the Canadian Prime Minister, Mark Carney. Tourism is the lifeblood of so many areas in Mayo, including west Mayo, east Mayo, north and south, in Cong, for example, Westport, Clare Island, the Barony of Erris, which is absolutely stunning, and Achill Island. Mayo has so much to offer. Many communities, particularly rural ones, depend on tourism. That is why I am very concerned about the short-term lettings. It is very important that we protect families who have a long-standing tradition in relation to it.  I also concerned by the fact there was a 6% drop in tourism last year. That represents millions of euro to the Irish economy and cost competitiveness is a factor. Ireland is the second most expensive country in the EU. It is important that the Minister look at that, for example, car rentals. I spoke to an Irish-American family who came back to Ireland last year. They outlined the phenomenal expense of their stay. They said that going forward with a young family, it is becoming increasingly difficult. They talked about how obtaining a car rental and car insurance cost thousands of euro for a two-week trip. I ask the Minister to consider that and look at those practical measures. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  When I was told that I had 90 seconds to talk about tourism, my first thought was \"Aw fliuch\", because t\u00e1 s\u00e9 ag cur baist\u00ed i gcona\u00ed an t-am ar fad, so we have to make use of the fliuch or the wetness in Ireland. One of the ways to do it would be to promote Ireland as a more climate-friendly destination to people from the likes of Spain and the south of France. They could come here, get a little bit of coolness and have a great experience.  To tie in with that, i nd\u00e1ir\u00edre, we also have to make sure that we have proper canopies for cover, especially in our key tourism heritage sites. I mentioned in previous debates that we should have covered areas, both for markets and for eating, so that all the main streets of our tourist towns would have a canopy. It keeps the sun out, but it also keeps the rain out. If the Spanish, French or the Germans want to go for a hike in the rain, that is their prerogative and we should encourage that and promote it. Equally, when people want to enjoy the other experiences in Ireland they cannot sit outside, especially during the winter months. I note that the strategy references promoting more visits from May to October. Some of those months are dry but some of them are quite wet. We also have the potential in January and February for people with their coats on to sit outside in the fresh air have a cup of tea or coffee or have breakfast, but those coverings need to be in place. In terms of the strategy, maybe the Minister could look at that dry coverage for key tourist destinations. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Edward Timmins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Edward Timmins  I want to raise three topics under tourism. The first is short-term lets. Short-term lets provide the only form of tourist accommodation in many parts of rural Ireland. They bring tourists from all over the world to places that would never otherwise receive tourists. I know because I live in a village in rural west Wicklow and have witnessed what these short-term lets bring. These industries were here before the housing shortage and they will be here long after the housing shortage is gone. They supply accommodation where hotels will never be built. They offer a unique and authentic experience to the tourist and show Ireland at its best. We cannot destroy an industry on the basis that it may increase the housing supply by some small amount.  I know a poll was carried out across a number of host groups across the country. On average, 93% of hosts cannot or will not release their property to long-term letting. Hosts have no issue with a register. The impact of releasing extra rental accommodation will be negligible but the impact on tourism, people's incomes and rural Ireland is clear.  My second point is on the American Presidents trail. Twenty-three US Presidents have Irish heritage, with many coming from Northern Ireland. As the Minister will know, I first floated the idea of an American Presidents trail early last year in this House. I strongly believe this proposal could be a huge positive for a North-South project. It could also be a massive attraction for US visitors, especially those with Irish links and could be comparable to the Wild Atlantic Way. I strongly believe my proposal could be hugely positive for a North-South project and would fit with the whole reason for the shared island fund. It would boost the economy of the island and deliver benefits that we cannot predict.  I am pleased that the project has been approved by Cabinet and I want to thank the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, for his great support in this project and ask the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to support it as well. I look forward to the development of the project over the coming years. I also believe that Tourism Ireland and Bord F\u00e1ilte should be building this into their tourism strategy.  My final point relates to hill forts. Baltinglass, where I hail from, is a small town in west Wicklow. There are nine hill forts in the vicinity of the town and it is described by experts as the hill fort capital of Ireland. This is by far the biggest cluster in the country. Research work and archaeological digs have been carried out and this work was widely reported on national television and radio earlier this year. This has further revealed many other ancient sites and lead-researchers have now described the area and the archaeological capital of Ireland. I bring this to the Minister's attention today and ask for him to support and develop this huge part of our heritage and history and bring it to a wider audience. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed  Tourism is one of Ireland's most important indigenous industries. It is a huge employer, particularly down the country. It is so important to all sorts of businesses around the country. There are 6.4 million overseas visitors into Ireland, bringing \u20ac5.5 million into Ireland. We have Dublin in the middle of that, which is a very popular destination. I want to touch on the tourism levy, which I support. It is important we use and develop the offering in Dublin from a tourism perspective. I have raised it here before. I know it has been discussed in this Chamber and elsewhere in recent times. Ireland is a bit of an outlier at the moment, particularly when it comes to capital cities. For a capital city like Dublin, 21 out of 27 EU member states have some form of a tourism levy and I think Dubliners would be very supportive of it. Perhaps the fact they would not be paying it would help but they pay it when they travel to other countries and other capital cities in Europe. I think there is strong support for its introduction.  Dublin City Council has estimated it would raise between \u20ac15 million and \u20ac20 million, which could be reinvested in local infrastructure. We are talking a small charge of probably \u20ac2 a head for a night in a hotel or maybe something of the order of \u20ac3. It is common and it happens everywhere. People understand the concept and think it is a fair ask. We could reinvest that money in infrastructure to improve the tourism offering across the city and beyond.  I understand F\u00e1ilte Ireland is commissioning research on existing tourist levies across Europe in line with the recommendations of the Dublin City Task Force. As others have mentioned, I am delighted to see tourism under the Minister's brief because it is an economic activity and it is important it is treated like that and is developed. An oversight board led by the Department is already in place to oversee its implementation. We just need to get on with it now, get Government support confirmed and do it. I am very supportive of that and hope the Minister and his Department will progress it.  I just want to mention the regional development of tourism within Dublin city. In my area on the northside, we have Clontarf, Howth, which is an old fishing port with a fantastic tourism offering, Ireland's Eye, the Casino in Marino and Bram Stoker's house in Fairview. There is so much to see and do within Dublin, which is not just in the city centre. There are the mountains on the southern side of Dublin also. A regional strategy within Dublin which tries to target promotion and resources in some way would be very welcome and worth pursuing.  Others have mentioned the short-term lets issue. In the interests of fairness, somebody who has been operating an Airbnb for seven years or more, they are doing that well and professionally. It is not a big issue in terms of accommodation if they are left to continue to do that. That is an economic activity from a tourism perspective. They do exist in Dublin. They do exist on the northside. We need to make sure that they are afforded the opportunity to keep doing that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Albert Dolan  I am going to start off addressing the short-term lets. As the Minister knows, I am a member of the enterprise committee where we have been considering the legislation and considering the conversations around it. One of the main things that consistently comes across from people in the industry is that they are not really concerned with the register as such. However, they are very concerned with the implications that could follow on from the register if there is a planning obligation forced on so many of these rural lets. I represent Galway East where we have a significant number of fantastic short-term let options that provide accommodation that, to be honest, would not be there only for tourism. That accommodation is the type of accommodation that this Bill really is not going to bring back into long-term letting.  I can understand the power the Bill can have on big cities in terms of bringing townhouses and apartments back in as long-term rental accommodation use, which they were originally built for and which they were originally given planning permission for. However, there are a lot of units, dwellings, granny flats and really creative ideas like tepee huts and log cabins. A lot of these have been there for many years providing a unique form of accommodation and providing a unique experience. Whatever about the register, there needs to be serious consideration when it comes to the planning side of it because the obligation it would put on these operators would be seriously onerous and, from all the dealings I have seen from local authorities, is that it would amount to a significant cost on them as well. It would also add to the local authority's workload in their planning departments so that is also an important consideration.  Over the past decade, F\u00e1ilte Ireland did an incredible job, along with the local authorities, of implementing, designing and driving the Wild Atlantic Way. In 2024, there was a ten-year report on the Wild Atlantic Way and it showed it drives an extra \u20ac3 billion in revenue per year and has added an additional 35,000 jobs to the tourism sector. That is an incredible story. When the Wild Atlantic Way is so successful and has so much to offer, why are we allowing the best, most photographed castle in the west of Ireland and one of the most photographed castles in Ireland be left vacant and closed? It is currently owned by the Shannon Group, which is looking to divest. Galway County Council should take it over and should operate it. I know we have met with the Minister on this, that he has it as a consideration and that he needs other Departments to row in with him to make this a reality. Months have passed now and Galway County Council has not taken it into ownership. If Galway County Council took it into ownership, there is nothing stopping it from opening over the summer on a minimum viable product basis. That essentially means it does not have to be perfect for us to open it. Right now, the longer it is left sitting it is rotting and it is decaying and we will never be able to replace it. We are going to look back at history and say we did a great job with the Wild Atlantic Way but the best castle on the route was closed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy M\u00e1ire Devine  I thank the Minister for taking this. I represent Dublin South-Central, the premier tourist route in the country. Others might disagree with that but the facts speak for themselves. You start at Trinity College and walk a straight line that brings you through Trinity College to the Iveagh Markets, St. James's Hospital - the old South Dublin Union - Roe and Co. and Guinness. Then you find yourself at the Royal Hospital, and then onto Kilmainham Gaol - where I am a member of the board - and the Phoenix Park. All of these are in Dublin 8, apart from the starting point at Trinity.  I am here as a bit of a grouch, I suppose. I am not normally a grouch but I refer to decisions over the past number of years in relation to the Liberties, our old town that has been neglected for so long. It is a deliberate neglect, with its problems, poverty and addiction but also the joyousness of its community in regard to what it offers. The Liberties, our old town, is in decay and that decay is built by the glass cages growing up around us.  Hats off, in a way, to the guys who occupied the Ardee House pub recently in protest at vacancies, voids, dereliction and the lack of community centres. We do not have a community centre in Dublin 8. It was burned to the ground and still has not opened five years on.  Last week, I organised, along with the Bridgefoot Street Residents Association, a protest outside a granted aparthotel, the edifice of which is faceless, featureless, bland and adds nothing to the Liberties. It is a unique space that could be incorporated into the vision of what our old town could be.  The Liberties has reached a tipping point. Even the judge in the Ardee House pub occupation case is sympathetic to the occupiers and their demands and has given them extra time. The Vicar Street Hotel and the Molyneux Hotel developers are coming in and building. I do not know if the Minister knows John's Lane Church but the steeple there is very high. It is a top tourist attraction as is St. James's Church. They are going to block that out. They are going to block and box in our flat complexes. You just see cranes all around them. The Minister knows the controversy around Oliver Bond House recently but all the other inner city flat complexes in Dublin 8 are going to be blocked in by tourism.  The Liberties needs all of Dublin behind it. I put out that cry and ask everybody. I refer to the Save Stephen's Green and the Save the Cobblestone campaigns, and all those issues on which local communities gathered around and managed to make a difference. We need this old town. It needs respect. The whole of Dublin needs to support it as it affects all Dubliners. I ask that the vision for our old town would not be aparthotels, hotels and transient accommodation. Let us rebuild the community vibrancy that the working-class Liberties always offered to the entire city of Dublin. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mattie McGrath  I am not sure who is coming from my group. I will take as much time as I can. I thank the Minister, Deputy Burke, for coming to Clonmel some time ago and visiting what is known as the old Bulmer's site right in the centre of the town. It is a project that needs to be developed with something along the lines of the Guinness Storehouse, or something of the same nature. The Minister saw the vats, the history and the feeling of the work that went on there, the craftsmanship with the old barrels and the many hundreds of people who worked there. I remember, as a buachaill \u00f3g, drawing in apples on a tractor and trailer back in the 1960s.  Tipperary is a very proud county and we have Tipperary Tourism doing its best. I will start in south Tipperary with the Rock of Cashel, the wonderful cultural centre brought to fruition there by iar-Sheanad\u00f3ir Labhr\u00e1s \u00d3 Murch\u00fa agus a bhean ch\u00e9ile, \u00dana, and the culture there as well. I will also move on to Cahir Castle. Cahir Developments Association has done so much development around there, with Cahir Tidy Towns.  I also cannot say enough about the community groups, including Knockmealdown Active, Knockmealdown Crossing and all the different groups. Ballyporeen has its own music festival. They are struggling and not getting enough supports. They need more supports and we need more connectivity.  If you go on then to Carrick-on-Suir, there is Ormond Castle. The castle at Carrick-on-Suir is a wonderful castle. The whole Ormond Castle trail could be more interlinked and there could be more connectivity in it. We want to get the tourists in, look after them and give them the product.  Mar fhocal scoir, I want to say to the Minister that the Government has such a confusing message with the short-term lets. People who have developed them in their farmyards and adjacent to their farmhouses, and who have little business going there, are totally in limbo with the Government. They do not know whether they are coming or going. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  I am glad to get the opportunity to talk on this very important topic this evening. Tourism is major moneyspinner for businesses in Kerry. I want to thank the businesses of Kerry because they do it so much better than anywhere else. Our hotels, guesthouses, restaurants, bars and all the entities we have in tourism - our jarveys, boatmen and busmen - all do their work so professionally. That is why people keep coming back to Killarney.  We have an issue, or the Government seems to have an issue, with Airbnbs. It is a great way for people in Kerry to bring business into our county because people come for that product. I think that for the person who owns a house, it should be their decision, and not the Government's decision, that they can use it whichever way they wants. Many people have been doing Airbnbs for over 20 years. Some of them have been at it for six or seven years. I will say to the Minister that all those who have been at it for more than seven years are entitled to keep at it. We need to further and better those people and ensure they continue in business. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Carol Nolan  I am happy to speak on the critical importance of the tourism and hospitality sector, particularly as we face mounting challenges that threaten thousands of jobs and the viability of businesses right across rural Ireland. In my own constituency of Offaly, tourism supports 2,200 jobs, so I stand firmly with Offaly hoteliers and the Irish Hotels Federation in their call for targeted Government intervention to protect this vital industry.  As I stated earlier this year, we must deliver measures to safeguard the long-term sustainability of our local tourism economy. The sector is under severe pressure. Recent Central Statistics Office, CSO, labour force survey figures reveal a stark reality. Employment in food-led hospitality has plummeted by nearly 20,000 jobs over the past year, falling from 136,000 to 116,000. This represents a 14.7% decline. Wider hospitality employment has also dropped significantly, with businesses grappling with unsustainable cost increases, high insurance premiums, energy charges that are among the highest in Europe and growing consumer price sensitivity.  I welcome the Government's decision to reintroduce the 9% VAT rate for food and catering services. This was certainly positive and necessary. However, a single measure alone will not be enough. The rising costs of doing business, from insurance and energy to regulatory burdens, continue to squeeze businesses. At the same time, increases in the cost of living are reducing disposal income for Irish consumers, making Ireland less competitive for international visitors. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (Deputy Peter Burke)  I thank all the Members for their contributions and you can see by the varied nature and degree of contributions how important the tourism sector is for the Irish economy. It is our largest indigenous sector, with 228,000 people employed in it, which is about 300,000 people on an all-island basis. Some 46,000 businesses right across our country really offer that authentic c\u00e9ad m\u00edle f\u00e1ilte and are central to delivering that product for an indigenous sector. That is why I really welcome the fact that tourism is now at the very heart of the Department of enterprise, reflecting the huge amount it brings to our economy, indigenous sector, employment and, indeed, careers, which will be a very important part of my new strategy, A New Era for Irish Tourism, which looks at growing career pathways in the tourism sector, particularly with our tertiary education partners.  It will be important over the years ahead.  I note from this year, 2026, that we have seen a significant uptick in visitor numbers. About 564,000 visitors completed a trip to Ireland in April 2026. That is up by about 7% on 2025 and 3% on 2024, which was a significant year for Irish tourism. I believe we are back in a growth phase. We have seen since the start of the year that we have grown visitor numbers and spend, which is so important. Through the sectoral plan, we have amassed about \u20ac400 million to support the growth of the sector, realising the ambition that many businesses have and working with sector representatives across the economy. Month after month, I hope we can work together to secure the ambition in A New Era for Irish Tourism, which is significant with regard to the growth we are planning and obviously have to realise, with a 7% target for less mature markets, and 6% and 7% targets, respectively, for overseas and domestic visitors, and try to grow our jobs from 228,000 to 250,000, which would be a significant ambition and challenge.  I took a view when we were drafting A New Era for Irish Tourism that if you cannot measure something, you cannot manage it. That is why we now have key performance indicators over our 71 objectives in our new tourism plan. This is to ensure we are managing the actions of our State agency, F\u00e1ilte Ireland, and the work it does, and that we can measure that and see the output from the capital spend. That will be important.  I will take a number of important actions this year. We will have a new culinary strategy. It is important that we bring together our distilleries, artisan food producers and the exceptional offering we have for food in this country. I note from some of the research coming through in markets in which we are under significant pressure, particularly European markets, that many have a very different view of the food offering in Ireland until they come here, taste it and see the huge offering and authenticity of the produce, and the exceptional, sustainable way we have of producing our food. People are so impressed. I want to draw that together with our distilleries, put together a solid package this year and develop a strategy to grow that sector.  We will also come forward with an accommodation strategy. I note there are many counties in which viability is a significant question in trying to construct hotels and high-quality accommodation. We have the strategy open for public consultation right now. It will be important that we look at other ways in which the State can help to grow our accommodation, particularly the delivery of hotels. We know that in many towns and villages hotels are a focal point for many of he milestones in life. People share so many of their milestones in the setting of a family hotel. I am focused on working with the hotel sector to try to grow it and ensure we get more high-quality hotels in the country.  A number of Deputies raised the matter of short-term lets. The Government is clear about the direction we are taking here. First of all, we know the sector has grown by about 10% per annum over the last number of years. It is very difficult to have a sector grow at that scale when there is no regulation underpinning it. It is clear to me, as tourism Minister, that a number of counties rely on short-term lets to capture the opportunity that tourism presents and bring life into many local communities. There are far too many counties in the midlands, on the west coast and south coast and in parts of the east coast where it is essential to have a viable short-term letting proposition to bring tourists in. I am focused on ensuring that, in our big cities, where there are acute shortages of accommodation in our long-term rental market, we bring that accommodation back into the long-term market, and that where we have areas with a population of less than 20,000, which we set as a reasonable metric in the most recent census, we can continue with strong short-term letting accommodation. We will provide a mechanism through the work we are doing and which we are finalising. It is important that people who are in that cohort continue to offer the operation they have. I am also working on areas that are part of the curtilage or premises, or, to put it quite simply, are not suitable for the long-term market. A bit of common sense is needed to ensure they can continue to operate in that regard.  I have met representatives of all the short-term letting agencies. I have been very accessible. They were in Leinster House and I brought them to my Department. I met eight or nine representatives. I met a number of them in many different counties. We had a by-election recently in Galway, where I met many of them in Galway West. That is why I am clear that I want a balanced approach. We extended the registration period to the end of December, so people can regularise and the gun will not be to their head immediately. There will be a clear pathway for areas with populations of less than 20,000 to ensure that sector can continue. The last thing I want is to see communities where we need that accommodation miss out on that tourism opportunity.  Equally, we have to be clear that, given the huge need for long-term rental accommodation and the huge challenge with homeless people in our society, the Government cannot stand idly by and allow a sector grow incrementally each year. When we see that in the cities accommodation is only utilised for three or four days a month, we have a real concern. That is why the needs of society and rural communities need to be balanced. As a member of a rural community, I know very well what is needed. Critically, with our accommodation strategy, we have reduced the number of hotels contracted out to the State very significantly. Some 13% of hotel accommodation was under State control. That has gone down to under 6%. We want to continue that progress so that those hotels come back into community use and are available for visitors and tourists alike. They can then use them and bring life back into the night-time economy, which is critical. I am committed to doing that as part of our tourism strategy.  I should also mention our strategic air access fund. It supports new routes. We have about 23 routes to North America. When we get boots on the ground, we market it and drive the opportunity through to ensure we are capturing people coming into the country through those new routes. That will be critical.  Later this year, F\u00e1ilte Ireland will bring forward a number of capital programmes that will look at how we are developing the 46,000 businesses in our country to capture the opportunity for tourism. People coming into our country do the vast majority of their research on the web. They use the Internet to research their bookings, to book and to look at what attractions are on offer. About 30% of people use generative AI to plan their itineraries. If there are attractions and a large numbers of events in communities which cannot be captured by those search engines, we have a real problem. That is why I want to drive digitalisation and supports into many of the businesses so that they get picked up in those searches, as well as supporting them with regard to viability and utility bills, which are challenging. Much work will be going on with businesses over the course of this year, with our new capital programmes and looking at our attractions.  As Deputy Kelly pointed out, the spine of the country is critical. Much work has been done with the Wild Atlantic Way and coastal areas, but the spine of the country and our less mature markets need a lot of attention. Our tourism plan will be looking at how we can develop the centre of the country, from north to south, to ensure that all communities around the country get to experience the opportunity and value that tourism brings, and what it brings to our rural communities. I pointed out earlier the number of jobs in the tourism sector, at 228,000.  I want to continue to grow the North-South link, which we will work on through our shared island programme. Deputies will have seen Fermanagh come into Ireland's Hidden Heartlands, the work on Narrow Water bridge, Carlingford Lough and all the other areas that can be expanded. We also have the causeway coastal route linking with the Wild Atlantic Way.  There is a huge opportunity ahead. We will do our best to ensure we chart this sector through an uncertain geopolitical landscape. I am well aware that there is an opportunity for Ireland because what we have to offer has never been greater. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Tourism: Statements"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-10\/debate\/dbsect_16","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/57","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/57\/dail\/2","houseCode":"dail","stage":"2","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2026: Second Stage (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2026: Second Stage","counts":{"speechCount":57,"speakerCount":42},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_16","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen 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(Deputy Helen McEntee)  I move: \"That the Bill be now read a Second Time\".  I am pleased to introduce the Bill for the consideration of the House. I am conscious that the Bill has been the subject of much debate not only in this House and the media but also among the wider public. The Government fully understands the depth of feeling in Ireland and in this House on the subject of Palestine. We share these deeply held concerns. They are a product of our history and of our shared humanity. I personally understand and share the depth of feeling in this House. It is consistent with our core values - respect for human rights, dignity and international law - and it is the approach that this Government, and many Governments before us, have taken to different situations around the world where human rights and international law are not respected.  I am also very conscious that behind every debate we have in this House are people whose lives are shaped by the decisions of governments and institutions. It is in this context that I would like to clearly set out the purpose of this Bill, including the motivation behind it and what we hope to achieve by enacting it in this way.  I would like to address the situation on the ground in Gaza and the reality for ordinary Palestinians more broadly, which is the backdrop for our debate. I have mentioned many times my visit to the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip earlier this year. This is something that will always stick with me particularly because of the painful contrast. On one side, we had warehouses full of food that was going out of date because the labelling was not correct, significant volumes of medical supplies that could not be provided because there was metal in them and it was being suggested they were weapons and children\u2019s toys left sitting there. All that was left ready to deliver on one side while, on the other, more than two million people in Gaza were enduring conditions no one should be forced to survive. Men, women and children have lost their lives, countless more have been injured and entire families and communities have been utterly devastated. Behind every statistic is a human life cut short, a child deprived of a future and families living with unimaginable grief.  Today, the people of Gaza continue to endure unimaginable suffering. Intolerable conditions persist, as mass displacement and poor shelter conditions expose civilians to rising public health risks linked to pests and rodents, alongside ongoing Israeli strikes, shelling and gunfire. The food security situation remains precarious, while essential services are at risk of collapse. That is why Ireland has consistently and persistently provided and called for unhindered humanitarian access to people in Gaza. The situation continues to deteriorate in the West Bank. We are witnessing the massive expansion of settlements alongside rampant and escalating settler violence, which continues in an atmosphere of impunity. The scale, speed and severity of displacement and demolitions is unprecedented. In April, the Israeli security cabinet approved 34 new West Bank settlements, the largest approved by any government at one time. The planned E1 settlement near Jerusalem threatens to cut the West Bank completely in half, calling into question the viability of a Palestinian state.  The actions of this Israeli Government consistently contravene international law and are part of an established pattern to create a new status quo in the occupied Palestinian territory. Their actions are explicitly designed to bury the idea of a two-state solution. This is happening by design; not by accident.  Ireland will continue to defend a Palestinian state consisting of Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the right of Palestinians to self-determination, a right already enjoyed by Israelis.  We are committed to working with those who want to achieve a just and lasting peace where Israelis and Palestinians live side by side in two states, Israel and Palestine, in peace, security and dignity based on the 1967 borders. The cycle of violence that has brought suffering to both Palestinians and Israelis needs to be brought to an end.  During my visit to Rafah earlier this year, I announced that we would continue to provide the humanitarian assistance that is urgently needed but I would again use this opportunity to reiterate the need not only for Ireland or the EU but for international partners to continue that support.  The Bill we are discussing will contribute positively to Irish and international efforts to prevent unilateral actions that impinge upon the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and upon the viability of the two-state solution. I thank Senator Frances Black and others who have supported this legislation and other Bills for bringing them forward. The two-state solution is the only viable long-term solution. It is as important for Israelis as it is for Palestinians. Those who reject it appear to have no alternative plan. The current cycle of violence cannot be allowed to continue indefinitely. Let me be clear: at the same time, this Government has consistently condemned the appalling terrorist actions of Hamas on 7 October and the need for those responsible for the brutal murders of innocent civilians to be held accountable.  I must also reiterate the Government's view that the appalling and worsening situation in Gaza, the accelerating and rampant settler violence and settlement expansion in the West Bank, coupled with the ongoing situation in Lebanon can never be justified and demand serious and concrete actions in response.  The Bill will contribute positively to Ireland's efforts to uphold and comply with international law, including the findings of the 2024 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, ICJ. Because of our own experiences on this island, we feel a deep and personal affinity with those who seek self-determination, and who simply seek to live in dignity and peace. The actions that the Government is taking, including the progression of this Bill, are designed to advance these central objectives. On 19 July 2024, the ICJ delivered an advisory opinion on the legal consequences of the policies and practices of Israel in the occupied Palestinian territory, a case in which Ireland and more than 50 other states made written and oral submissions. The court concluded that states should \"take steps to prevent trade or investment relations that assist in the maintenance of the illegal situation created by Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory\".  The Bill also represents the fulfilment of a clear commitment made by this Government in our programme for Government where we committed to progressing legislation to prohibit the importation of goods from Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory. Today, we are beginning the process of that commitment. Again, I remind all of us we are talking about people. We are doing this on behalf of families who want safety, children who deserve a future and communities who have endured far too much loss and suffering.  We thank this House for the considerations that have taken place since the Government approved the general scheme of the Bill in June last year. This includes the pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme undertaken by the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade and published its report in July 2025. This report and its recommendations have been carefully considered in the period since publication and in the development of the Bill.  I will outline the detailed provisions of the Bill, with a particular focus on the key sections of the Bill. Sections 1 and 2 are standard provisions setting out the relevant definitions, and how the related regulations and orders will be dealt with.  Section 3 empowers the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, following consultation with the Minister for Finance, to proscribe by order certain postal codes that correspond to Israeli settlements. It should be noted that these postal codes are already set out under a technical arrangement concluded between the EU and the government of Israel. This is to ensure that importers are aware of which locations are not eligible for preferential tariff treatment under the EU-Israel Association Agreement. As the postal codes listed under the EU-Israel Technical Arrangement are periodically updated, section 4 allows the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, following consultation with the Minister for Finance, to amend or replace the list of proscribed postal codes. If new settlements are constructed, they will therefore be captured by the updated list of postcodes at the EU level, and our own list of proscribed postcodes will be updated accordingly. Practically speaking, the approach set out in the Bill essentially develops and updates Ireland's implementation of the existing obligations placed upon operators and customs authorities to distinguish between goods from the State of Israel and settlement goods under the EU-Israel Technical Arrangement, to ensure compliance with international law.  Section 5 prohibits the importation of goods originating in postal codes proscribed by order of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. Any such importation will thereby become an offence under section 14 of the Customs Act 2015.  The Bill does not create any new offences in and of itself. It is proposed that, under the legislation, goods originating in Israeli settlements would become \"goods subject to any prohibition or restriction on importation\" within the meaning of that phrase for the purpose of the Customs Act 2015. Once the Bill is enacted and commenced, it will be an offence under section 14 of the Customs Act to import settlement goods, and the provision of that Act concerning search, seizure and forfeiture will be available in respect of settlement goods. There has already been some disinformation suggesting that this Bill will target individuals. I will provide clarity on this point. The Bill will prohibit the import of commercial goods from Israeli settlements. A standard exemption is provided for those goods of a non-commercial nature that form part of an individual's personal baggage and are intended for his or her personal consumption or use. This applies in other areas as well.  Sections 6 and 7 deal with the matter of possible exemptions and appeals. As I mentioned earlier, a list of postal codes that correspond to Israeli settlements are set out under a technical arrangement concluded between the EU and the government of Israel. Some of these postcodes encompass an area that includes both a settlement area, and an area within Israel proper, and therefore even under the current system they already require some basic checks to determine the precise origin of the goods. Section 6 is aimed at addressing this issue. An importer from one of these postal codes can apply to the Revenue Commissioners for an exemption if their goods originate in the non-settlement part of the listed postal code. Before issuing such an exemption, the Revenue Commissioners will make inquires via the European Commission, or if necessary via another body such as the Embassy of Ireland in Tel Aviv, to ascertain the precise origin of the goods. This process for checking more or less replicates the current system we have. To facilitate the implementation of the process set out above, section 7 sets out the amendments to be made to section 45 of the Customs Act to allow for the importer to be notified of the decision of the Revenue Commissioners and to provide the importer with the right to appeal. Section 8 provides for information sharing and is designed to allow the relevant bodies to work together to effectively enforce the Bill. The remaining sections are all relatively standard provisions and deal with issues such as data protection and other technical issues.  There has been a lot of focus on what is not covered by the Bill with several suggestions that we are perhaps watering down the Bill because it does not cover services. I will address this directly. This Government has always been clear on what is possible in bringing forward legislation. We have a responsibility to ensure that any legislation is legally robust and able to withstand challenge. This would not be the case with respect to services. The Government has sought and received advice from the Attorney General on the legal permissibility of an EU member state adopting measures to prohibit trade in services with a third country or territory. In the case of goods, a public policy exemption exists in the EU regulation that controls the import of goods. This allows member states to adopt prohibitions on the import of goods for public policy reasons. There is no equivalent or similar broad public policy exemption relating to external trade in services.  Second, it is the Government's considered view that there would be huge challenges regarding the effective implementation and enforcement of restrictions on trade in services. By its very nature, trade in services is broad and wide-ranging. Services are in many cases digital or intangible and subject to a number of different regulatory regimes. The World Trade Organization's General Agreement on Trade in Services regulates global trade in services classified into 12 separate sectors and 150 subsectors. The European Single Market is a lot less harmonised in respect of trade in services than it is for trade in goods. It splits services across a variety of EU legislation. Essentially the implication is that the implementation of this becomes significantly more challenging.  The Government must ensure at all times that there is balance in all of the measures it takes, including consideration of any potential economic consequences. This Government will always take a responsible course of action. This contributes more broadly to our ability to lead internationally and to make a difference in progressing the overall objective here. To that effect, Ireland has shown leadership on this issue. We were the first EU country to announce our intention to prohibit the importation of settlement goods and the Government stated clearly at the time that we hoped this would encourage other countries to follow our example. This is what has happened. Spain has introduced legislation. The Netherlands and Belgium are also aligned with our progressive legislation. They are progressing their own legislation, as is Norway. We of course hope to see many others. All are primarily focused on the prohibition of the importation of goods from Israeli settlements.  Since taking on this role last November, I have ensured that Ireland remains at the forefront of every effort to support peace and human dignity by ensuring we uphold international law and that this issue is raised at every Council meeting I attend. Under the leadership of then Taoiseach, Deputy Simon Harris, Ireland recognised the State of Palestine. We did this alongside Spain and Norway. When it became clear that the prospects of both were diminishing, Ireland did not hesitate to lead on recognising the State of Palestine. We took this decision, despite some strong criticism, because we believed it was the right thing to do. Every decision we have taken with regard to Israel, Palestine and the current situation in Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon have been based on the right thing to do.  This brings me to actions at EU level. While we are moving ahead on settlement trade at national level, which is the legislation we are discussing today, our preference as stated to this House many times is that collective action be taken at EU level. This will have a much greater impact. I am absolutely convinced that if the EU were to act to progress legislation at European level and all 27 member states responded collectively and effectively, we would have a greater ability to change the direction and actions of the Israeli Government. I fundamentally believe this. We need to do more. The EU has not done enough. I have consistently called for further action and will continue to do so throughout our Presidency. At Foreign Affairs Councils I have consistently called on the European Commission to bring forward proposals to prohibit EU trade with Israeli settlements on the basis of the EU's Common Commercial Policy. A ban on trade with Israeli settlements at the EU level has the scope to be more comprehensive, have a wider impact and, in our view, is essential to ensure that the Common Commercial Policy meets the requirements of international law. Working closely with European partners, we have managed to build a greater consensus. We have for the first time built a consensus for sanctions against violent Israeli settlers responsible for attacks on Palestinian communities in the occupied West Bank, while also supporting EU sanctions against Hamas leaders and those responsible for the atrocious terrorist violence on 7 October. I have reiterated Ireland's previous calls to suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement, or at a minimum to suspend the trade element of the agreement as previously proposed by the President of the European Commission. This is in itself would have a significant impact in monetary terms on the overall Israeli economy. I believe it would impact change in its decision-making.  Ireland's position has increasingly been echoed across Europe. From November when I took on this role to the most recent meeting I attended, the number of member states speaking out and speaking up and that actively want to see Europe to take a stronger stance, and a stronger position has changed and increased. Ireland along with many other member states has brought us to that position. I also welcome today that 460 former and current European political leaders, diplomats and public figures published a joint appeal calling on the European Union to take stronger action in response to Israel's conduct in the West Bank. It is welcome, and I hope it will show progress and a greater level of support for the actions I have outlined.  The Taoiseach wrote to European Council President in the past month reiterating Ireland's position on the EU trade ban with Israel and requesting an urgent discussion among EU leaders, so we are not just discussing this at a Foreign Affairs Council or the European Council, but that this is front and centre in Council meetings. As Minister, I have repeatedly called for member states to sanction extremist settlers and entities and those that enable them. I was pleased that agreement could be reached on this in the past month. We next need to ensure that focus and pressure remain. When I attend the next Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg, I will reiterate that we do not just focus on banning travel for extremist ministers in Israel or on the need for a vote to suspend the trade element of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, but that at national level we replicate what we are doing in this Chamber and that the EU support a full ban on trade with the occupied territories at European level.  It is clear that our position has been consistent. We have led from the front on the recognition of Palestine. We have led from the front on the issue of trade with settlements and we will continue to lead on the need for effective EU action. I say this not just as a representative of the Government. We have all that in this House from an Irish perspective. Throughout this debate, we are reminded that this is essentially about people. It is about protecting the possibility of a just peace. We cannot lose sight of the immense human cost of this conflict in the lives lost, the families shattered and the generations of Palestinians and Israelis who deserve a future free from violence and fear.  I look forward to working with colleagues in this House as we continue our discussions and progress this important legislation in the coming weeks. I hope we can work together collectively to implement this legislation. We might not agree on every element but I sincerely believe that implementing this legislation will send the strongest message possible that we do not accept the actions of the Israeli Government, that we fully support the need to protect the possibility of a two-state solution, which is the only possible solution for peace within the region, and that we will continue to do everything we can to support those who are suffering unimaginable humanitarian issues at the moment. I believe that Ireland can continue to lead in this regard. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  T\u00e1 an Bille seo lag. Is cinnte go bhfuil na fiacla bainte de. N\u00edl s\u00e9 maith go leor ar chor ar bith. Cuirfimid an Rialtas faoi an-bhr\u00fa chun \u00e9 a fheabhs\u00fa mar n\u00edl s\u00e9 maith go leor faoi mar at\u00e1. It has been eight years, four months and 12 days since Senator Frances Black and others initiated the occupied territories Bill. What is in this Bill and more should have been on the Statute Book two general elections ago. This should already be Irish law. The Minister talked about showing leadership. My experience and interpretation of the last number of years is that this Government has been dragged kicking and screaming every bit of the way.  The initial response to the original occupied territories Bill, the one with substance rather than this watered down toothless affair, was to say that it was impossible and could not be done. Since that Bill was published, it has become a clarion call for all who are sympathetic to the Palestinian cause and who want to see justice, respect, human rights and self-determination for the Palestinian people. That is not because they suffer from a delusion that it would transform the situation, although it would have an impact in encouraging other states, but because of the statement that it makes, which is that the law has to apply. The law has to apply to Israel and in the occupied territories just as it should apply everywhere else. The experience we have had time and time again as regards Israel's actions against the Palestinian people, in Lebanon and against European and Irish nationals who were kidnapped on the high seas, is that Israel pays no attention to international law. That is why people who want to show solidarity with Palestine have taken this Bill to their hearts and believe it is a vitally important statement.  At one stage, Fine Gael quite trenchantly opposed the Bill but it took on all the more urgency and ultimately the presence of a genocide, the greatest crime of all, involving some of the most appalling scenes and crimes we have seen in this century, dragged the Government parties to it in advance of the last general election. None of this can be understated. At least 70,000 people have been killed and millions have been displaced. It has been said many times but it needs to be said again that behind each of those numbers is a person and a story. I think of the story of Hind Rajab, a five-year-old girl, just one year older than my own daughter. That story has resonated with people. Her family were waiting for assistance as they were trying to flee Gaza. There were all these warnings to flee. She was fleeing when she was left alone, waiting for assistance that never came, while her family were shot and killed. She was ultimately killed as well. There are many other stories and examples. Some 20,000 children have had their whole families wiped out. Whole generations have been wiped out and whole communities erased.  The Bill therefore took on all the more urgency and, belatedly, Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael went to the Irish people during the last general election campaign saying that they would pass an occupied territories Bill. The votes were counted, a government was formed and we were no longer looking at an occupied territories Bill. The considerations had suddenly changed and we were told that the Government might do something in relation to goods but it was not so sure about services. I am not sure that even this limited Bill would be anywhere were it not for the scenes we have seen in recent weeks. It is a poor reflection on the governments of Europe that it takes scenes of European citizens being abused for them to act in concert even in the imperfect way they are now talking about.  The Government should put out what the Attorney General has said to it because that same Attorney General told it a number of years ago that pursuing Senator Black's Bill would be a political choice rather than a legal choice. As far as I am concerned, the arguments are thin. The Minister and other Ministers have talked before about the effectiveness of the Bill. It talks about making this an offence under section 14 of the Customs Act 2015. I agree there are circumstances where it will be complex to identify a breach of this provision in respect of services but that does not mean it should not be put on the Statute Book. We cannot capture every instance of assault. It is not possible to convict someone in every instance of assault or theft but that does not mean we do not legislate for it. It does not mean we do not provide for people to be prosecuted where proof exists. There is no reason the same attitude should not be adopted here.  The issue of goods and services was discussed at length by the Oireachtas joint committee. It is true that there is a specific clause in the import regulation on goods and services that allows for public policy exemptions. Professor Panos Koutrakos told the committee that there is a public policy exemption to be found in Article 62 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, read in conjunction with Article 52. He went on to say:  It would be very odd if EU law were interpreted to mean that the powers of member states to restrict trade in services with third countries was significantly more curtailed than the power to restrict trade in goods, capital and in trade in services. In our view such a conclusion would be problematic and it would be justified by neither a systematic nor a purposive interpretation of EU law.  The reality is that this is a political decision. The public policy exemption exists, albeit in a different place. It is a crude analogy but it is like saying that we can act on goods because of a provision in primary legislation but not on services because we would have to rely on the Constitution. That is a crude comparison but it is effectively the same thing. There exists in the basic law the basis for a public policy exemption.  In any event, the Spanish have done it. The Minister said that the Spanish legislation related to the advertisement of services. Ultimately, Spain is over the line. Infringement proceedings could be taken against Spain in the same way they could be taken against us were we to move on services. That has not happened. It would be ideal if Spain would go the full hog in terms of services but, having acted on the advertisement of services, it is over the line. Its legislation provides the same basis for infringement proceedings. That has not happened. The road is clear for us. The Minister has talked about leadership before. The reality is that Ireland is no longer leading. I pay tribute to Senator Frances Black and the other Senators who initiated this legislation. They showed leadership but the Government has fallen behind. Other countries are moving ahead.  I am close to the end of my time but I will make two final points. The clear objective of the Israeli Government is to close off the possibility of a viable independent Palestinian state. The Minister has talked about European co-ordination and so on and so forth. If we can do that, we should, but the EU has clearly been found wanting. The situation on the ground is profoundly urgent. We need to do everything we can. That includes passing a Bill with teeth. The Government has watered it down and taken the teeth out of it. Two thirds of trade with the occupied territories is trade in services. That is no less immoral than trading in goods with those territories. It is not one bit less immoral or one bit less wrong. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Crowe  When the Irish people made their desire for an occupied territories Bill plain during the last election, the then Taoiseach, Deputy Simon Harris, said it would be passed within the first year of any government he was part of. It was clear then and it is clear now that Irish citizens want to see the Government take up a more robust and active policy in support of Palestinians, who are treated as second-class citizens in their own land. Since that election, we have waited 18 months and this Bill is all the Government has managed to produce in all that time. An occupied territories Bill that does not include services might soothe the Government's collective conscience but it will not trouble the genocidal Israeli regime in the slightest. There must be an effective ban on all trade, including trade in services, with Israel's illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem. Occupiers must not be allowed to legitimise their occupation through trade, let alone profit from it.  The Israeli Government is committed to making it impossible for Palestinian people to maintain a viable homeland. It respects no international laws or norms as it pursues a policy of scorched earth tearing down everything that the Palestinian people have built, including homes and businesses, and burying them beneath the rubble. Sinn F\u00e9in supported the original occupied territories Bill that was introduced by Senator Frances Black back in 2018. The only party to oppose the Bill back then was Fine Gael. Little has changed since it has taken every opportunity to drag its feet and water down the Bill until we are left with this token gesture. Why does this Government have such trouble in doing what is obvious, doing the right thing? Irish people rightly demand that we take a principled stance against genocide, and the Government continues to make lame excuses. A truly effective Bill would include services. Nothing else will send a strong, unambiguous statement from Ireland that there can be no impunity for Israel's genocide and its continued illegal occupation, ethnic cleansing of Palestinians and the forced removal from their land. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  There is a fundamental flaw at the heart of this Bill. That is the exclusion of services. It is no more complicated than that. I certainly wish to pay tribute to Senator Black who showed leadership when successive Governments refused to act. Senator Black's occupied territories Bill set out a clear and principled position. Before the 2024 general election, Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael promised the Irish people that the occupied territories Bill would be enacted. Instead, what we have before us is a watered-down version that excludes services. I do not know how the Minister can stand over that when 70% of trade between Ireland and the occupied territories is in services. If trading in goods from illegal settlements is wrong, why is the provision of services to those same settlements acceptable? If trade helps to sustain illegal Israeli entities in the occupied territories, why does it matter whether that activity is a good or service? It makes zero sense and compromises all credibility. The Government cannot acknowledge the illegality of the settlements on one hand and then carve out exemptions that allow trade with those settlements on the other hand. The Government says that it wants to ensure that Ireland is not complicit in the occupation of Palestinian land. If that is true, then the services must be included.  We are witnessing one of the greatest humanitarian catastrophes of our time - a genocide happening in real time before our very eyes on our phones and televisions in plain sight. More than 70,000 Palestinians have been slaughtered. Entire families have been wiped out. Homes, hospitals, schools and communities have been reduced to rubble. How many more Palestinian lives must be lost before the Government is prepared to include the services in this legislation? It has to scrap this hallow Bill, pass the original occupied territories Bill, including goods and services, and ensure that Ireland plays no part directly or indirectly in supporting Israel's illegal occupation of Palestinian lands and their genocide. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  The International Court of Justice's advisory opinion issued in July 2024 concluded that all states are under an obligation \"to abstain from entering into economic or trade dealings with Israel concerning the occupied Palestinian territory or parts thereof which may entrench its unlawful presence\" and \"to take steps to prevent trade or investment relations that assist in the maintenance of the illegal situation created by Israel in the occupied Palestinian territories\". It could not be clearer. In 1984, some workers in Dunnes Stores refused to handle South African fruit from the apartheid state. It was grassroots action. That then led to our State leading the way in sanctions against South Africa. We did not wait for everybody to fall in line. We did not wait for complete consensus internationally. It started with ordinary people, ordinary workers and trade unionists taking a stand. That is the moral thing to do. We did that because we had independent foreign policy. That was the mindset.  What has happened with our Government is an absolutely minimalist approach all the way even when we had genocide broadcast through our televisions and social media every single day and even when 81% of the properties, schools, homes, buildings, churches and mosques were destroyed. Imagine if 81% of the buildings in Dublin were damaged and most of them destroyed. The population of this city is very similar to the population of Gaza. Even in the face of that level of destruction, devastation and loss of lives, our response is absolutely minimalist even with the ICJ's decision giving us full clearance. We will be judged very harshly by future generations. They will compare it with how we dealt with South Africa's apartheid regime but this, and the South Africans will say this, is much worse. This is a scale that is unprecedented in relation to what has happened there in terms of the level of destruction and devastation. There is no honour for the State in this legislation that the Government has brought forward. I am sorry to say it. It is minimalist and absolutely not good enough. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  There is no legal or moral excuse for what this Government has done to the occupied territories Bill. For eight long years, it stalled and delayed. Now, it has cynically gutted the legislation by excluding services. Almost 70% of our trade with the occupied territories is in services. If we exclude services, this Bill will fall far short of its potential and what is necessary, appropriate and right. The Government claims legal impediments. That is a hallow argument. It is no argument at all. The International Court of Justice makes no distinction between goods and services. Spain has led the way. It has banned the advertising of services from illegal settlements. If I cannot advertise an AirBnB property, then I cannot sell it. The Government should not pretend that banning advertising amounts to nought. It is effectively a ban on the sale and supply of services. The Spanish Parliament voted decisively to do this. If Spain can do it, Ireland can do it. That, of course, is the whole point. It is not the case that the Government cannot include services, it does not want to. Instead, it wants to blunt the impact of this law. How do we know if it could include services if it wanted to? It is because they already are. The Government already applies sanctions on services in Russian occupied Ukraine. It knows how to do it. It is simply refusing to apply the same standard to the rogue state of Israel. This is a political decision - plain and simple. It is incomprehensible. The Government must work with the Opposition to pass an occupied territories Bill that includes goods and services. No more excuses. No more double standards. Apply international law and act now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell  The Minister is relatively new in the role as the Minister for foreign affairs. I am really concerned about the route she is going down on a number of issues. This week is outlining the Minister' policy position in terms of the Department of foreign affairs. The Government is looking to dismantle the triple lock, totally against the wishes of people. That is the dismantling of our neutrality. Now, the Government is looking at completely and utterly hallowing out the occupied territories Bill by excluding services from that Bill. Again, it is going completely and utterly against the wishes of the people. There are other governments and states that do not have the people on their side when it comes to Palestine or when it comes to passing the likes of the occupied territories Bill and including services. However, the Government does. It has the people on its side in relation to this. The people have been extremely clear that they want services included.  The Bill the Minister has brought forward today has been gutted. It has been stripped of its original intent and purpose. The Government has decided to hollow out this legislation and shy away from standing up to the Israeli Government and its genocidal violence. That is what the Minister is doing by bringing forward the legislation in this form. Excluding services blunts the impact of this legislation against the rogue Israeli State. We know where the money lies. It lies with services and to not include services in this Bill is simply outrageous. As other colleagues have said, the Government could do this. This has been done but the Government is choosing, politically, not to do it.  The third issue I have with the Minister's policies in the Department of foreign affairs relates to the Security Action for Europe, SAFE, legislation. The Minister has been quoted in the media as saying that she would like to see Britain included in SAFE. Has she not read the report of the Oireachtas committee on finance on the SAFE legislation? Has she not seen the recommendations that came out of that report, which were completely opposed to the policy intent of the Minister? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill. Like many others I am really disappointed that the Bill has taken this pathway, first, that it has taken so long to get here, despite the Government's electoral commitment and, second, that it is now watered down. Despite what the Minister said in her speech, everybody on the Opposition benches will agree that it is watered down.  I will speak first, as the Minister did, to the existing situation and what is going on and then I will get into the nuts and bolts of the legislation itself a little later on. I am really glad that the Minister used the term \"self-determination\" because we have lost sight of that, a little bit, at times. We are so focused on the atrocities that Israel is committing, the crimes it is committing and the methods it is using in its ethnic cleansing and expunging of people from the land they are from, that we lose sight of what we are actually trying to work towards here, which is the self-determination of the Palestinian people. I am really heartened to hear that it is, as she said in the top of her speech, something that she is still absolutely focused on.  I will also pick up on the two-state solution the Minister mentioned throughout her speech. Although that is obviously the stated goal of the Palestinian authority and most governments, it is rapidly slipping away from us. Israel is building its cities and its occupation on top of Gaza. There will be no opportunity for a two-state solution unless urgency is brought to the global response to Israel. That, for me, is deeply concerning because the people of Palestine are looking on as the supposed tools of international law are completely flouted on a daily basis in their existence but also in our response, as states, globally. They are looking at that response of a two-state solution slip from their grasp and are wondering how they are ever going to have their right to return realised. The phrase that is not in the Minister's speech, which we need to focus on again as international actors, is that right to return. I have heard Palestinian civil society contributions recently on how five generations of refugees will still name their village of origin in the West Bank or in Gaza, even though it is now occupied or under rubble. They will speak of how they cannot go outwards because of the occupation and so they must go upwards. Cities become refugee camps because of the very geographical fragmentation that Israel has imposed on Gaza, the West Bank and now on Lebanon.  Some of the research that I have done recently and some of the people I have spoken to in civil society have raised a question for me that I want to throw out today. I have raised this in the last couple of days in various debates. One of the lines from that which frustrates us all is when the Government says it is a leader, that it is doing everything it can, that it is lauded internationally and that the Palestinians thank us for it. I find that last part really hard to take. Of course they are going to thank us for recognising the State of Palestine and for providing aid. Of course they are not going to turn their back on that but I want the Government to delve a little deeper. I want it to go beyond the Palestinian authority. There are parts of civil society in Palestine who will say that the Palestinian authority is an Israeli mechanism. It is there to support a two-state solution but it will oppress leaders who are emerging from civil society right now in Palestine. I urge the Minister to listen to those voices, to listen to the people who are talking about what it is like on the ground and who are seeking that self-determination beyond the two-state solution and that right to return. These are the people we must all listen to now and I urge the Minister to do that.  I have also been prompted to cast my mind back to two and half years ago and to think about what those first few months were like for us all when the genocide started or, rather, escalated into the phase that we are now in because obviously this has been going on for decades. I will get to that in a minute but two and half years ago we were discussing things like \"Have they really bombed a hospital?\", \"Was it an accident?\" or \"Was it intel that was dodgy?\" Then we had the propaganda flowing from Israel to say that it had not committed any war crimes and this was all legitimate. Slowly, slowly, our respect for Israel's legitimacy was eroded over that period. It is really important to remember how we got here because now we are at a point where life is so depraved in Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon. We have to just think about this for a minute.  I was graphic this morning and I am going to get a little graphic again now. Apologies, I am not doing this gratuitously but I want us to remember the agony and the persecution that people are going through. One of the things I am hearing again and again from civil society in Palestine is that the situation for political prisoners is beyond at the moment. It is too much. There are 10,000 people in 20 prisons. Nineteen of those prisons are in Israel so those people cannot be visited by their loved ones. An estimated 50% of those political prisoners have had no trial or charge laid against them. We all know now that the death penalty looms over these people because the Knesset has approved that. In those prisons, torture is routine. We have heard the stories. It is not isolated. It is systemic torture, rape and brutality. Scabies is allowed to flourish in the prisons. The Israelis will not treat it because they do not want to and other diseases are starting to flourish as well. This is what is happening right now, on a daily basis. There are children in these prisons as well.  The settler policy is essentially allowing Israel to distance itself from what is happening on the ground. Israel brings in settlers who are violent and extremist people, no question, but that is done on purpose so that the Government can slightly distance itself and say it is the settlers who are doing it. Settlers will take the land of a Palestinian family while they remain in their home right beside it. This family will have to watch as Israeli settlers farm their land, violate them and pour aggression after aggression on to them. That is what is happening and it is allowing Israel, as a State, to distance itself from it. It is insidious. Israel is doing this so that when it annexes the West Bank, it will be an easy process for it. There is no question on the \"if\". Israel is right there, poised and ready to go for this. That is why remembering the self-determination is so important.  I will also talk about how we have got to this point. I urge the Minister to read Francesca Albanese's book, When the World Sleeps, because it gives us such a better understanding of how we have got to this point. This is the last phase of Israel's activities over the last number of decades. Its policies of fragmentation have got us here. Fragmentation is about dividing the geographical land and communities. It is about pulling from one family a child, or an adult, and keeping them detained long enough so that their community is suspicious of them when they are returned. It is about keeping people apart and sowing suspicion and division within families, villages and communities across Gaza. That fragmentation is a written policy. The Israelis want to wipe out the Palestinian people.  Public opinion here in Ireland is so clear on this. It is so clear where we need to be and I have said before that this Government has squandered that mandate. This week I remembered that during the 2024 election I canvassed a family. It must have been in September or October of that year. When they answered the door, it was one of the few times that I have actually cried on a doorstep. This family were so upset. They said they were watching the news every night, eating their dinner and crying at the atrocities that were happening. That was two years ago. It was after the ICJ ruling, by the way, that we are only now dealing with.  I have no faith that in response to any of this, we have seen the appropriate level of urgency, ambition or leadership from this Government. The thing that stands above everything else as an exemplar of that is the Government's treatment of the occupied territories Bill.  I want to use some of my time to dispel some of the myths around the occupied territories Bill that I have heard from the Government in the last few months. When it comes to decisions like the exclusion of services from the Bill, which is a political decision the Government has made, we deserve honesty and transparency on the real motivations that inform its rationale. We cannot and must not have a difference between what we say and what we do. First, services need to be included because of the ICJ ruling. The 2024 July advisory ruling by the ICJ is what the Government cited as freeing it up to pursue the occupied territories Bill. If that is the case, this Bill should be about bringing us into compliance with the ICJ ruling, but this legislation simply just does not achieve that.  I remind the Minister, Deputy McEntee, that in the negotiations with Senator Black, in one of the first meetings I had with her, I asked why the Bill was restricted to the occupied territories in Palestine. I asked why we should not broaden it so that all occupied lands across the world have sanctions against them given that we should not be trading with any occupied territories. The answer was that it makes it more compatible with the ICJ ruling, so we will go with that because we know we can secure it. Not only did that ruling give clarity on our obligations, but it clearly called for action on trade with all of the settlements. It noted that all states are under an obligation to abstain from entering into economic or trade dealings with the settlements. The Government at the time said it would pass the occupied territories Bill on that basis, yet there is a gap between what it said and what it is now doing.  Second, trade law does not discriminate. We know that in international trade law there is no legal distinction between goods and services - trade is trade. We had that confirmed by the committee during pre-legislative scrutiny. We heard from legal experts who, time and again, told us that there is no legal distinction between goods and services when it comes to fulfilling our obligations. The Government's own analysis stated that \"the only reasonable reading of the International Court of Justice advisory opinion is that a complete prohibition on trade with Israeli settlements is required\". Yet, there is this gap between what the Government says and what it is now doing.  Let us take a look at the Government's argument about jobs. Once we have made our way through the double-speak on why services are not included in this Bill, we get closer to the real reason. When we get past the barrier of \"It is not possible\", we uncover the truth, which is that \"We do not want to\". The Government has caved in to threats and weasel words from corporate lobbyists whose views and wants are more important than international law, the will of the Irish people and the lives and livelihoods of the people of Palestine who face daily threats, violence and apartheid from the occupation. Letters signed by a handful of members of the US Congress matter more to the Government than the tens of thousands of letters, emails and phone calls from the Irish people who elected us to this Chamber.  Another myth is the Government's attempt to say that services do not matter. After the Cabinet met on 26 May, the Taoiseach, Deputy Miche\u00e1l Martin, tried to conflate two things. He said that a ban on services was \"not implementable\" and he tied it to the impact on US multinationals. This tells us that it is not that the Government cannot ban services, as many legal experts showed us it could do during the pre-legislative scrutiny, but that it does not want to. Spain is home to many US multinationals that host Airbnb and booking.com listings of homes stolen from Palestinians in the West Bank. Spain included services in its legislation and now those listings, about 200 of them, are gone. That might not seem like a lot to this Government but it means a whole lot to the Palestinians who have had their homes stolen. Spain did it, so why can we not do it? Despite Spain including bans on services, it has not seen US companies shut up shop. The US is still one of the country's biggest trading partners and these bans on services do not touch its federal and anti-boycott laws. The sky the Government keeps telling us will fall in still seems to be doing just fine over Spain. Spain's courage has shown us that if we fail to include services, it is a political choice in the face of empty threats from business lobbyists, while genocide, apartheid and occupation are happening in front of our eyes.  Leadership means including services, shifting the dial and pushing our colleagues to do the same. It does not mean sweet words in this Chamber, promises at election time and excuses that never, ever stand up to scrutiny. We hear vague inferences about economic impact but no figures. We also hear from the Government, when it is trying to minimise the importance of this Bill, that trade with the occupied territories is minimal. The Government cannot say the trade is so little that it does not matter and so large that it will pull down the Irish economy, and expect us to accept that.  Finally, let us tackle the largest myth that it is legally not implementable to include services. Legal experts said that it is doable. The Minister does not have to take my word for it. She can take the word of leading global experts such as Professors Panos Koutrakos and Takis Tridimas. She can take the word of BIinne N\u00ed Ghr\u00e1laigh or 400 of Ireland's leading lawyers who signed a letter to that effect, or she can take the word of her own Attorney General who said it was a political choice to exclude services. There is a clear public policy exemption under EU law when it comes to trade. If we can rely on it for goods, we can rely on it for services. Pass the occupied territories Bill, and in full. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  I thank Deputy Gibney for outlining very clearly why services need to be included in this Bill. I will further develop that case because the Government is making a fundamental mistake in not including services. I will outline some of the international law, practice and findings in relation to the West Bank and what is going on. It is deeply disappointing that the Government has decided to exclude services from the Bill. This effectively significantly reduces the impact of the changes. The argument that Blinne N\u00ed Ghr\u00e1laigh has made is that this is going to be more negative than if it had not been done at all. I will outline why that is the case. I will also outline the reality of what trade in services means right now and what is happening.  We know what the ICJ has found. We know Ireland's legal obligations under that ruling in terms of settler violence and illegal settlements in the West Bank. I will talk about one specific case which will highlight the reality and take this discussion down to a human level when we talk about excluding services. It is the issue of Airbnb letting properties in the West Bank. I have done some research on this. There is a particular Israeli settlement called Tekoa near Tuqu\u2019. In September last year, the Secretary General of the United Nations outlined how this particular settlement has expanded, removed Palestinians from their land and occupied it. In his report, the Secretary General found that Tekoa is one of the largest single land expansions from a single settlement to date. According to Palestinian residents in the Tuqu\u2019 wilderness, settlers from the nearby outposts and settlements co-ordinate surveillance, harassment and attacks to force Palestinians from the area. This report is from September just gone. This settlement expansion and displacement of Palestinian herders was accompanied by the construction of military outposts, settler patrolled roads and a metal gate to restrict Palestinian access, indicating a degree of co-ordination between settlers and the state. Infrastructure projects include electricity lines, internal roads connecting the Tekoa settlement to the surrounding outposts, and earth mounds erected to block key routes, isolating Palestinian communities and restricting movement. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has documented settler attacks that forcibly displaced families from the wilderness around Tuqu\u2019. One family of three brothers, their wives and eight children were displaced five times between October 2023 and late 2024. The report goes on.  I went on to the Airbnb the site today and I looked up information on renting an Airbnb in Palestine. What came up but Tekoa, that very place. A number of properties are on Airbnb to rent on land that is illegally occupied and where the UN has found people have been displaced. One guest suite in Tekoa is advertised as a fully furnished luxury apartment isolated in the village. It is described as a 15-minute drive from Jerusalem. The apartment offers a locally authentic resting spot and a clear view of the desert where no one has set foot, which is of course completely untrue with regard to Palestinians. The advertisement also describes a \"wide and beautifully decorated\" house in another area where you can \"forget all your worries here\". This is what Ireland is facilitating via Airbnb and data centres in this country. We are facilitating that. The commercialisation, commodification and exploitation of illegal settler land is being facilitating by removing services from this Bill.  To quote directly from a human rights barrister who is lauded by the Government in terms of her work on the ICG case:  There is no basis in international law for differentiating between trade in goods and trade in services in the manner ... [you are proposing], and no international law justification for legislating for less than full compliance by Ireland with an international obligation articulated by the ICJ.  That could not be clearer. The Government is effectively saying to the international law that it is not going to oblige by it. She went on to say:  The flipside is that, if Ireland were to pass selective or restrictive legislation that did not fully comply with its obligations [which this is], that could have a very negative impact. It could be used by other states to say \"this much but no more\". It is not overstating the case to say that doing so could be extraordinarily harmful not only to the international legal order but to the very people and the very rights Ireland would be purporting to protect through this legislation ... We are at a stage when the fundamental precepts and structures of international law are under quite severe assault. For the Government to pass legislation that it does not believe to be fully compliant with its obligations would be deeply regrettable.  Why is the Government trying to have passed a Bill that does not fulfil our obligations under the international Court of Justice ruling in relation to genocide? This Bill should not be passed as it is and should include services. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tom Brabazon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tom Brabazon  I welcome this Bill being progressed and the opportunity to speak on it today. This is very important and, frankly, overdue legislation. Like all Members of the House, I am appalled and horrified by the treatment of the Palestinian people at the hands of the Israeli authorities and I condemn the Israeli Government, the genocide it has committed, the ongoing occupation of Palestinian lands, the destruction of homes, the forced displacement of families and collective punishment of an entire people.  The Palestinian people have endured decades of oppression, dispossession and injustice. They have had their land stolen, their basic rights denied and have been subjected to a system that no person should ever have to live under. Ireland has been one of the strongest supporters of the Palestinian people and our support has been unwavering. We know from our own history what it is like to experience oppression, abuse and discrimination. We know what it means to be denied dignity and freedom, and that gives us a particular understanding and responsibility to speak out on behalf of the Palestinian people. This Bill is not perfect, and we are all aware of the calls for the inclusion of services. I support the inclusion in particular of the advertisement of services, and if the Government could see its way to include services fully, I would support that also. We should follow what the Spanish have done. It would be helpful if the Government published the legal advice it has received on the inclusion of services.  The European Union must also do far more. The EU cannot lecture the world about human rights, freedom, and democracy while some member states fail to take meaningful action and are blocking the suspension of the EU trade agreement with Israel. EU sanctions have significant weight and influence. The EU must use that power and influence to prevent the suffering of the Palestinian people and the destruction of their land.  We should be clear about what the illegal settlements are and what they mean in reality. They mean families forced from their homes, people being spat at, abused and degraded by violent and thuggish settlers, and children harassed on their way to and from school and prevented from playing freely as all children should. It means the Palestinian people do not have the chance to live normal, safe and dignified lives. These settlements are illegal and wrong, and we cannot trade with them as normal. We cannot condemn the settlements and actions of the Israeli authorities on one hand and allow for occupation on the other. I urge Ireland, the European Union and the international community to stand up for the Palestinian people and continue to take further action. We have the influence and we must use it. The Palestinian people deserve freedom, justice and dignity. We owe it to the people of Palestine to show them that the world will not watch their suffering in silence but will instead stand up and take action. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul McAuliffe  At the outset, I commend the work of Senator Frances Black on this Bill. She has led from the front on it for many years. I acknowledge in this House the Ministers of State, Deputies Dooley and Collins, who worked with Senator Black to introduce this legislation to the House, albeit in a different form than the Minister has presented today.  On 19 July 2024, the International Court of Justice delivered an historic advisory opinion. Its findings were unequivocal. The court held that Israel\u2019s continued presence in the occupied Palestinian territories is unlawful and must end as rapidly as possible, and Israel must cease all new settlement activity, evacuate the settlers, and make reparations for the damage caused. That is the considered judgement of the world's highest court. The court told every state it must not aid or assist in maintaining that unlawful situation. This Bill is part of Ireland\u2019s response to that judgement and to the dire conditions in which the people of Palestine live today. Ireland has, of course, recognised the State of Palestine and intervened in the South African genocide case at the ICJ. We have funded UNWRA when others moved to defund and dismantle it and stood at the United Nations and the European Council, often almost alone among our partners, and refused to soften the truth of what was being done to tens of thousands of people in Palestine, that is, famine in our time, and we are a people who know what famine is, and the destruction of homes and hospitals.  With this legislation, Ireland joins the first group of EU states to prohibit the importation of goods originating in those illegal settlements. I hope we will be joined by many others. Once enacted, such importation becomes an offence under the Customs Act. The Bill uses the postal codes already identified under the EU-Israel technical arrangement, so it is precise, workable, and built to withstand challenge.  There are many who have discussed the issue of services, and as somebody who would wish to see services included in this Bill, I have listened carefully to what the Minister has informed us of. She has sought advice from the Attorney General. It seems that for goods, the EU provides a public policy exemption that lets a member state act for goods. However, no equivalent exemption exists in regards to services. We have to examine the practicality and legality of implementing that. There are more than 120 subcategories of services and that makes it incredibly complex and difficult to implement. People have referenced Spain and I note Spain has not banned trade in services but the advertisement of those services, and I would support the Government including such an amendment in the legislation.  I note also that there are people in this House who have voted for a full boycott of the entire Israeli state. We have to be conscious of what a sanctions regime should do. Government must act in a way that holds in law and does not wound our people more than those we wish to hold to account. All sanctions regimes have, as their principle, the core that we hold the sanctioned state to account more than the countries which implement the sanctions. That is the case with the Russian sanctions. They apply to certain services, companies and individuals. People in this House who voted for a total boycott of Israel have not thought out fully the implications of that for Irish people and the jobs of Irish people. That is not in any way to say that just because somebody works for a company that might have a small office in a part of the Israeli state, somehow that person working in Leixlip is complicit with genocide. That is an abhorrent thing to say. Many people who are working for multinational companies condemn what is happening in Gaza. Simply because they work for a certain company should not mean they should be punished. Who should be punished is the Netanyahu government and the Israeli state committing this genocide in Gaza. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Denise Mitchell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Denise Mitchell  It has taken the Government eight years to finally bring this version of the occupied territories Bill before this House - eight years of delays, eight years of dithering and eight years of blocking the Opposition. During those eight years, Israel has gone on a genocidal rampage in Gaza, murdering 70,000 people: men, women, children and babies. It has established dozens of illegal settlements and moved tens of thousands more settlers onto Palestinian land in the West Bank. After all that, the Minister comes in here with a Bill that has been gutted.  Some 70% of the trade between Ireland and Israel is in services, but this Bill allows that to continue because only physical goods will be subject to the ban. The International Court of Justice makes no distinction between goods and services. It says that states must prevent all trade and investment with illegal settlements.  What, then, is the Bill before us? I will tell the Minister what it is. It is a half-arsed attempt to be seen to do something. It does not go far enough. We need to have some guts on this issue and include services in this Bill. If Spain can do it, so can we. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy R\u00e9ada Cronin  How can the Minister justify banning trade with Israel without including services? Services are such an essential part of the occupied territories Bill, yet the Government continues to downplay their importance. Take Airbnb, for example, on which there are roughly 300 properties listed for rent in the occupied West Bank, homes stolen from Palestinians by Israeli settler thugs who then lease them out for profit. That is utterly depraved and completely illegal. These 300 properties represent only a fraction of the more than 8 million properties available worldwide on Airbnb, but for Palestinians whose homes have been stolen and who had lived in those homes for several generations, the sick thing is that they would not be allowed to lease those houses because they would not be allowed to use the apartheid roads to get to these places, as Conor O'Neill from Christian Aid told us yesterday. To suggest that Ireland blocking Airbnb from renting these properties will threaten jobs is farcical. The properties account for less than 0.00004% of the industry but it is 100% the right thing to do.  Including services in the Bill now also has a precedent, thanks to the Spanish Government. The Government should not try to mislead us that Spain banned only advertising services. Airbnb cannot list properties in the occupied territories under the occupied territories Bill. It is not just advertising. Our Taoiseach downplaying that to mere advertising is disgraceful. Spain has not seen any kind of financial or economic backlash from the United States, as so many have said would happen to us here. Nobody has lost their job in Spain over this and no company has moved abroad.  This genocide is not hidden from us; it is unfolding in front of us in real time, before the eyes of the world. Every day we witness unimaginable suffering. Future generations, including our children and grandchildren, will ask who spoke out, who acted and who cowered when courage was called out for. My generation often ask what we would have done if we had seen the Nazi Holocaust. Would we have remained silent and looked away? This is no longer a hypothetical question today. Ireland must send a clear message that we believe \"never again\" means never again. Including services in the Bill will not end the genocide - that is true - but years from now, when people look back on history, when our kids are reading their history books, they will see that Ireland did not just choose the bare minimum. Let it be said that when we were confronted with a genocide, Ireland gave it 100%. This partial Bill the Government is bringing forward brings dishonour on Senator Black's original intent. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  I acknowledge the presence and work of Senator Frances Black. It requires some degree of fortitude to deliver a Bill from the Opposition or as Independents in the Seanad and to see it through to this point, eight years later, in the D\u00e1il. I offer my heartfelt commendation to the Senator on getting the Bill this far, although it is clear that this is not the Bill she wrote. She is, however, the impetus and the source behind it. I also acknowledge to the Minister that two Thursdays ago in the D\u00e1il, I accused her of mothballing the occupied territories Bill. I did not believe she was going to bring this Bill to the floor, and she has done, so I apologise for that and say to her \"fair play\" for bringing it forward.  What I am not surprised about is that the Bill that has found its way to the floor is not the Bill we wanted to see. It is not the Bill we discussed and recommended through pre-legislative scrutiny last summer with unanimous agreement. It does not include both goods and services. The Minister, as Minister for justice previously, would have stated on a number of occasions how Fine Gael is the party of law and order. That is a tagline Fine Gael members have attached to their party over many years. However, Fine Gael is ignoring international law when it comes to this Bill because the ICJ and international law make no distinction between trade in goods and trade in services. In committee, the Minister's own Department of foreign affairs legal advisers accepted that a ban on goods alone would be only \"partially compliant\" and would move us \"towards compliance\" with international law. These are important points, and I know that they were made because I was at every committee hearing last summer. I worked with Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael backbenchers, along with everyone in opposition, to unanimously recommend that both goods and services be included in the final Bill. Now those same backbenchers are going to support a Bill that goes against the recommendations of that committee. It is absolutely ludicrous and it shows, if there was any doubt, where the real power lies in this country. It is not with the majority of people who, poll after poll, have demonstrated support for this Bill to include both goods and services. There is a disproportionate amount of power with American multinationals and the Trump Administration, whose finger has been very clearly put on the scale. The threats from ambassadors and members of Congress in written form have had an impact. We have seen a capitulation in terms of this Bill, with the removal of services and accusations that the Opposition are dealing in fantasy economics. The truth, however, is that the only one dealing in anything of the sort is the Government in terms of its cowardice in overly bending the knee to the United States and the Israeli lobby. No matter how this is spun, the simple truth remains: a euro flowing into the settlements from trade in physical products provides the same support and recognition as a euro flowing into trade in services. What does it say about our courage of convictions if the only thing we can do in response to war crimes is pass a watered down version of a Bill that has become totemic not just for Senator Black or for those of us in opposition but also for the Government, since the Government parties included it in their election manifestos and their programme for Government?  Israel is committing and has committed huge atrocities, war crimes and genocide. There is no longer any debate about that. Every day that passes, every day the West turns its head away and pretends that what is happening is not happening, allows Israel to get away with it. There will be more families who will have lost loved ones today, more children who will die just because they were born in the wrong part of the world. We have an opportunity to do things, and this is one of them, but, unfortunately, what has been put before us in the Chamber today is not as strong as it should be.  People want leadership from the Government. They are crying out for it and they deserve that leadership because it is how they feel in towns and villages all over this country. I am struck when the Taoiseach gets up at Leaders' Questions and tells the Chamber that he has met with the Palestinian ambassador or some other official and that they are thankful to the Irish Government, as if that is full support for everything we are doing. Of course they would be thankful, because they are seeking any form of support they can get in a world that has turned its back on them. However, the Government cannot argue seriously that it is the champion of this legislation. This legislation that has come through, unfortunately, is lacking, as I have laid out. The Government could not even lead from the front when it came to the football game, which has been debated yesterday and today. It is always found wanting when it comes down to the crunch. That is not to say the Government has not done things that are important. The recognition of the State of Palestine is important, and I acknowledge that there is work being done with other nations in Europe in terms of sanctions. However, in dealing with this Bill and its potential, we cannot help but feel the Government is leaving stuff behind and leaving out services due to pressure from the outside.  We talk about Israel in this Chamber so often and we get accused by Israelis and supporters of Israel of all sorts.  We have been confident and strident in our view that Israel is acting as a criminal, rogue and genocidal state, and we need to pull every single lever that we possibly can. Every piece of legislation that we bring in should be as strong as possible.  I am keeping my temper as even as possible because we have delivered many emotional speeches in this D\u00e1il, but we are now at the meat of the issue in terms of this Bill. I imagine this is going to go to Committee Stage and we are going to do everything we can to get services added to strengthen the Bill. I urge Government Members to return to the spirit of the summer of 2025 in the foreign affairs committee and to open their minds and hearts to the Palestinian people and look to change this Bill.  We have the figures on the deaths, the genocide and the killings. We have put them on the floor of this D\u00e1il so often, but they cannot lose meaning and impact. A total of 18,000 children have been killed in this conflict since 7 October. We spent the last two days talking about two football games. That is 18,000 children who will never get to see a football game or a sporting event of any sort. It is 18,000 children whose lives have been taken away by this criminal regime.  We know that this Bill will do very little to save lives, but it will send a strong message. The stronger this Bill is, the stronger the message it will send, which is why services matter so much. That is where the real sanctions lie. As a modern open economy, 70% of Ireland's trade with the wider world is in services and just 30% is in goods. The same is true of Ireland's trade with Israel. While the CSO has not published the data specifically on trade in services with the illegal settlements, the direction of travel is clear and tallies with other research. Physical goods like dates and olives are only a fraction of the economic relationship. The Government's legal advice excuse just does not wash. Frankly, it is insulting that it continues the pantomime about it when we all know the Government has been spooked by potential economic scare impacts, ignoring the work of the foreign affairs committee and all the experts. Even when we had IBEC in, when we tried to pin down anyone who may have been pro diminishing or diluting this Bill, they could not give us any facts or numbers for potential job losses or economic impact. They just do not have it because all they can rely on is scare tactics and scare economics. We have the facts. We have the moral justification. I urge the Minister to please open herself to include services on Committee Stage, to strengthen this Bill and make it all that it can be. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  I am pleased to see our colleague, Senator Frances Black, here this evening. It is only right and correct that she is here. I was proud to have been one of the co-signatories of the originally intended occupied territories Bill back in 2018 - the Bill, the Minister will not need reminding, that included services. The addition of services is legally complex but it is also permissible. It is politically difficult for this Government. That is the reality and that is why it is being excluded. My colleague, Deputy Duncan Smith, set out in very clear terms the position of my Labour Party colleagues and me. We are of the very clear and unequivocal and unambiguous view, that the legislation produced in 2018 - the legislation we need to see here today - should be reflective of that text and spirit. In fact, the legislation published back in 2018, which passed Second Stage in the Seanad, ought at this stage to be on the Statute Book already.  We in the Labour Party did not need Israel's genocide in Gaza, the illegal detention of peace activists by Israel or the actions of fascists like Ben-Gvir a few weeks ago to persuade us that a serious and practical stand needed to be taken against the genocidal regime in Israel. It is never the wrong time to do the right thing. Services should be included. They should be at the heart of this Bill for all of the reasons my colleague, Deputy Duncan Smith, has outlined. I accept this is a contested space. To me, the debate on where one stands on this issue is not one of legal interpretation. It does not break down on legal lines, it breaks down on political, ideological, moral and ethical lines. To say the least, the debate in the public sphere on this proposition over the last three years has been interesting.  I was not born yesterday. I have been around quite a number of years. I have a very keen ear attuned to economic trends and questions of investment in Ireland and jobs. I am a member of the Labour Party. My principal purpose in politics is to ensure that the material conditions of the Irish people are looked after and improved, and that we have meaningful, good, decent, well-paying work with good conditions, but the kind of shape-throwing we have seen by commentators who say they have an insight into the minds of US investors about the impact on Ireland of taking a stand like this, including services in this Bill, is, to say the very least, overdone. As we know, capital has no conscience. Investment will stay here despite all of the protestations to the contrary. We cannot and should not relent on the basis of some form or threatened form of imagined economic blackmail from US politicians or anyone else. Even the war criminal, Netanyahu, is losing the support of Trump and he needs to wake up to that reality.  In any case, this is hardly the point. We have a moral and ethical responsibility and a legal and political responsibility to take every conceivable action, to use every lever available to us, as Deputy Smith has said, to oppose, counter and stop genocide. The question here this evening is whether we all, as legislators, public representatives and citizens of this Republic, can truthfully and honestly say we have done that to the best of our ability. We accept that Ireland has taken a leadership role on Palestine internationally. We have done that over the decades but, by God, the bar internationally is disgracefully low. We need to include services in this Bill for it to have a meaningful impact, the kind of impact we all want to see. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  I thank the Minister for her statement. I want to be constructive in the time I have. I welcome the fact that we, belatedly, have an occupied territories Bill. I rise here with my colleagues in the Labour Party to be critical of the Government for failing to include services because I personally feel, and we in the Opposition can feel, almost by extension, the orange fingerprints of Donald Trump all over the exclusion of services from the Bill. There has been so much economic scaremongering and attempted bullying coming from the US in relation to this matter. It is important to remember that many of the letters that were written came from a small but vocal minority of people from the US Congress.  There is a precedent for the inclusion of services. We have seen how it can be done in Spain. We have also seen how it has not resulted in economic Armageddon. I would argue that if Spain can take a principled, legally sound stand without bringing economic ruin to its industries, then so can Ireland. If we ban the import of goods but allow the exchange of lucrative services, we are making a mockery of our own values and we are giving a green light to economic activity that entrenches this illegal occupation. An occupied territories Bill without services is a Bill without much impact. I very conscious that we are taking on the EU Presidency. As I said last night in the Chamber, we had Kaja Kallas only 200 metres from us last night. As we take up the EU Presidency, it is an opportunity for us to lead by example, which I believe we have done, but we need to go further than we are going with this Bill.  While we are one of the first countries to pass this legislation, I urge the Government not to introduce a watered-down Bill because every EU member state that follows will use our weak legislation not as a bar, but as a floor to do the bare minimum. When we look at the systematic torture that Israel is inflicting upon Palestinians, including the use of sexual violence, the persecution and torture of political prisoners and the indiscriminate shooting of innocent children, it shows us clearly why now is the time for us, as a country, to be brave and take a stance. I acknowledge that this Bill goes some way towards taking that stance but as the ICJ and international law does not distinguish between goods and services, we need to go further. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy George Lawlor  As we all know, there are moments in the life of a nation when hesitation becomes moral failure. This evening, Ireland stands at such a moment. The occupied territories Bill is not simply another Bill. It is a test of our values and courage and our willingness to act when international law is being trampled upon and human dignity is being denied. As we all know, for decades, the world has watched the expansion of illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory. These settlements are built in direct violation of international law, condemned by the United Nations, the International Court of Justice and human rights organisations across the globe. These settlements are the daily machinery of dispossession with homes demolished, land seized, families uprooted and entire communities pushed aside. This should ring so strongly and deeply, in our psyche. Ireland cannot continue to speak the language of human rights while refusing to legislate fully in the defence of these. Passing the occupied territories Bill in full, with services included, is the minimum moral response required of a country that claims to stand for justice.  There are, of course, those who will say we must wait, we must seek the permission and we must not upset our powerful partners in the USA or Israel. Human rights are not conditional, however, and international law is certainly not optional. Ireland's sovereignty and our right to legislate in accordance with our values must never be outsourced to the likes of America or Israel. The world is witnessing a catastrophe in Palestine that can only be described as unbearable. Entire families are being wiped out. Neighbourhoods are being reduced to rubble as we see on our TV screens. Children are being pulled lifeless from the ruins. This is not a conflicts; this is the systematic destruction of a people. The scale of suffering inflicted by the Israeli state on Palestinians is a stain on the conscience of humanity. No people should ensure such relentless bombardment, starvation or displacement. To stay silent is to be complicit. The Palestinian people deserve protection, justice and the full recognition of their humanity urgently, unequivocally and without delay. The Bill must not be anti-anyone. It is pro-law. It should be pro-justice and pro-human dignity. It simply states that Ireland will not be complicit economically, politically or symbolically in the ongoing violation of international law through settlement expansion. Ireland has a proud history of standing with the oppressed. We must not shrink from that legacy now because the world is watching and history is watching. The people of Ireland expect leadership, not excuses. We must not have a watered-down Bill. I commend Senator Black on eight years of work on this very important legislation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  I support the Bill. This is not an issue to which I am a stranger. I have spent quite a lot of time in the occupied territories in the West Bank and Gaza. I have witnessed the way the Israeli Defence Forces have behaved. I have thankfully never been a direct victim but I have had stones thrown at me by Israeli settlers in Hebron, so I have seen first hand what is there. I have seen sonic bombs being flown over Gaza city. I understand what is happening there.  I have consistently over 25 years been appalled by the manner in which Israel has behaved towards Palestinian people and the disgraceful attitude and actions it has perpetrated over that time and long before that. There is no doubt but that this legislation is entirely morally justified and important from the point of view of the principle that is at stake. However, we should not be dishonest either or unrealistic about what it is actually going to achieve. The reality is that banning trade with the occupied territories, whether that includes goods and services, is going to have very little impact in real terms on the conflict that shocks and disgusts us all. For that reason, I did not support Deputy Boyd Barrett's Bill recently, which sought to introduce sanctions on Isreal. However much I morally supported it and thought it would be wonderful to put in place, it is not reasonable to suggest to people that can be done because legally it cannot.  We, as Members of this Chamber, are bound by the restrictions of international law and, indeed, European Law and the abilities we have to restrict trade, for example. It is important for us, absolutely and unequivocally, to condemn what Israel has done and is doing and to equally condemn the precipitation of the most recent attacks since October 2023 by Hamas and the way it has essentially sacrificed its own population of ordinary innocent civilians on the altar of its political and war ambition. It is disgraceful for them but the resulting overreaction from Israel is unconscionable, illegal and genocidal. This Bill, therefore, makes sense in that regard but we also have to have regard to what it can and cannot achieve. I regret that the Bill does not include services. I think it should. I recognise that it is largely unenforceable. I recognise that fact, but there are lots of laws in this country that are not enforceable. We are not saying, for example, that nobody speeds. We are not saying that no people under 18 buy alcohol. We are not saying that people do not break the law. The fact that a law can be broken or is difficult to enforce is not a good reason not to put it in place. I understand that argument against it.  I also understand that there may be consequences from other jurisdictions in terms of passing this, but we do not make laws in this Chamber on the basis of what other countries think about those laws. I also recognise the reality of the situation, however. I would not underestimate the effect that Ireland has had on this conflict. When Hamas committed that attack in October 2023, it precipitated a reaction from Israel that was entirely predictable, if appalling. For a long time after that, however, Ireland was the only voice in the western world and in the European Union speaking against that. We were certainly the first country to come out and actually voice what was happening to the Palestinian people. There is a bravery in that that I fear has never been properly recognised in this Chamber, certainly by anybody in the Opposition. It is worth recognition because although there has been relentless criticism of the Government's action since then, the reality is that the Government, the Ministers for foreign affairs, Deputies McEntee and Harris, the Taoiseach and the T\u00e1naiste have built a coalition of European countries that are now supporting action against Israel and supporting criticism of Israel whether that is Spain, Malta, Slovenia, Belgium or the Netherlands. That is the way we will actually achieve something here. We cannot do it alone. No matter what Bills we pass here, we cannot stop the slaughter in Gaza but Europe can. The disappointing thing is that we have not yet brokered that real confidence at European level to stop this from happening, and that is what we really need to do. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Currie  The Bill will not on its own end the unimaginable suffering people have experienced and are experiencing in Gaza. However, it sends out a clear message to Israel and the wider international community that there economic, political and reputational consequences for the continued expansion of illegal settlements, the occupation of Palestinian territories, genocidal action and grave violations of international law. As a country with a long tradition of peacekeeping, peacebuilding and multilateral diplomacy, the Bill helps build international pressure and encourages other states and entities to make meaningful action. Ireland's response has been consistent and sustained and is based on a deeply felt commitment to human rights and the right to self-determination. By the end of 2026, Ireland will have provided approximately \u20ac144 million in humanitarian support to the Palestinian people. We have engaged in international legal processes, including the ICJ and work through the United Nations and with our European partners to strengthen the international response. We have called for this suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement in response to the humanitarian situation and continue to press for necessary and stronger collective European action, including European-wide measures on trade with Israeli settlements. Alongside this diplomatic work, we have taken practical humanitarian action. We have facilitated the medical evacuation of seriously ill children from Gaza, accompanied by family members, for treatment in Ireland and supported over 300 people to leave Gaza since the conflict began.  Ireland has recognised the State of Palestine and consistently advocated for a two-state solution and the only viable long-term solution. Our objective remains collective action at European level, which would have a greater reach and impact than the national measures alone. However, where there is the absence of consensus, we have also taken necessary action. No state should be immune from scrutiny when it comes to compliance with international law, and that is why this legislation matters. Peaceful societies are built on foundations of justice and accountability. History shows that injustice endures, retraumatises and perpetuates cycles of tension and conflict until it is confronted, something Ireland knows only too well. We criticise all violence, including the 7 October attacks. I acknowledge there is a legitimate debate about how far this Bill goes. It is a practical and principled step that ensures compliance with international legal obligations as identified in the ICJ advisory opinion of 2024, including the obligation on states to take steps to prevent trade of investment relations that assist in maintaining the illegal situation created by Israel in the occupied Palestinian territory. It will not resolve the conflict today or tomorrow. However, it has contributed and will continue to build on a growing momentum for collective, concrete and meaningful action. It reflects Ireland's commitment to ensuring that human rights and international law are respected, upheld and protected. Several member states are moving on this and we are seeing that momentum. Ireland must do everything it can to support the Palestinian people, to support peace, tackle injustice and work on a humanitarian level. I thank the Minister for bringing forward the Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  The Bill the Government has published is a hollowed-out version of what people want and expect. The Minister has not advanced a legal argument because there is not one. She should be honest with people and say that this is purely and simply a cowardly political decision. For eight years we and the Government have talked about and around the occupied territories Bill. The Minister knows that including services gives this legislation teeth but she has chosen to propose a hollowed-out version. She clearly does not want this Bill to have real teeth or any real impact and that is the only conclusion I can draw. It is worthwhile reading back over the coverage of the great and the good discussing what we should not do back in the 1980s when there was a weight of public opinion in favour of Ireland leading by example and challenging apartheid South Africa. It took a shop steward from Dunnes Stores and her colleagues, with the eventual backing of her trade union, to really show that leadership. If the Minister looks back at the coverage, she will see the same types of people who are now telling us that we should settle for second best. They are saying we are too small to make a difference. They said that back in the 1980s and they were wrong. They said we would be isolated and that there would be consequences. They said that in the 1980s as well and the Government is saying it now. The Government was wrong in the 1980s and it is wrong now. The Government knows the difference between action for the sake of it and real action. It knows what the right thing to do is. The Bill should include services. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Mythen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Mythen.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Mythen.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Johnny Mythen  Everyone understands the definition of genocide, the definition of illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories and the definition of enforced apartheid. Everyone also understands the definition of goods and services and what that exactly entails. Most countries in the world, as a rule of thumb, trade on the basis of 70% services and 30% of goods, which roughly equates to our trading position with Israel. If the Government is committed to upholding international law and international human rights, surely, as a small nation whose foundations are based on the very principles of liberty, equality and justice, we have a duty to stop individuals and companies profiteering from goods and services from the occupied Israeli settlements. We know that without the inclusion of services, this Bill will have a minimal effect. We have to make a stand and one that matters. Services are where the money is.  The only thing that will have any effect at all is to sanction services such as shipping, finances and tourism. Let us imagine a family who lived in the West Bank for over 80 years and who were forced out of their homes by Israeli settlers. Now, that same home is being rented out through Airbnb as a sun destination for tourists, yet that family are exiled and can never return to their ancestral home. We, of all people, know that history. We have suffered centuries of foreign military and colonial occupation, yet managed to protect our national integrity and self-determination. We all believe in freedom and justice as the fundamental principles of international law. This is not a time to lower the bar. In fact, it is rather the opposite. This is time to say \"No\" to genocide, \"No\" to oppression and \"No\" to apartheid. This is time to stand with the downtrodden and the oppressed. Sanctions of goods and services do matter because they force the perpetrators of this abhorrent regime to justify themselves in the eyes of the world. The Government has the chance to shine that beacon of truth and to stand with the likes of Spain and include services in the Bill. We all will be asked by history where we were when all this was happening. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  The Government is engaged in the most cynical exercise to try to convey to the public the idea that it wants to sanction Israel for its obscene crimes against the Palestinian people while actually making sure that no serious sanction whatsoever is imposed. The Government wants to dance to the tune of corporations that profit from their involvement with Israel and from states that continue to arm and support the State of Israel while it is committing its genocidal crimes. That is why the Government does not want to do anything. Against a background where we have \u20ac4 billion worth of goods coming from the Israeli regime into this country, we end up with a Bill that may impact on \u20ac200,000 worth of vegetables and a few goods from a few settlements in the West Bank, which will have no impact whatsoever, but that is the point. The Government does not want to have any impact. That is why it has excluded services on the completely dishonest basis that they are too complicated. I can give a solution to dealing with the complexities of services that does not involve gutting the Bill but in fact could make it have a real impact. We should impose sanctions not just in the occupied territories but all across the board against the Israeli regime. That would solve the complexity. We just would not do business in goods or services or any business whatsoever with the Israeli regime because the state is underwriting, orchestrating and enforcing the occupation of the Palestinian territories. When I asked the question about the purpose of sanctions against Russia, the Government said: \"It was with the aim of weakening Russia's economic base, depriving it of critical technologies and markets, and significantly curtailing its ability to wage war.\" In other words, the Government did not just sanction the occupied territories of Ukraine; it sanctioned the Russian regime's ability to sustain its war effort and that occupation. That is what we should be doing if we are serious about dealing with the illegal occupation of the occupied territories. We should sanction the regime that is underwriting that in total but the Government will not do that because it does not have a problem with the Israeli regime and it is just gaslighting the Irish public about its real intentions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  People up and down the country, and certainly people in County Laois, are infuriated by the war crimes carried out by Israel and what it has got away with: the illegal occupation of Palestinian lands, the genocide and slaughter we witness on our television screens evening after evening, the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian West Bank, the occupation of southern Lebanon, the massacre of Lebanese people and the deliberate efforts to prevent any hope of a two-state solution. Then there is the Israeli torture and abuse of Palestinian prisoners on the orders of the war criminals - they are not a government - who pose as an Israeli government. As a supposedly sovereign Parliament we have the power here to take action. All trade in goods and services to Israel, I believe, should be stopped. However, this Bill is about the occupied territories and we should ban all goods and services from the occupied territories. There should be no dancing around that and no ifs or buts.  We must also continue to demand and work with other EU states to cancel the EU preferential trade agreement. Anything less is a cop out. Of the trade between Ireland and the occupied territories, 70% is in services. The EU and Ireland were quick to ban trade and to put sanctions on Russia, and rightly so. Yet, when it comes to Israel all we hear are excuses. What is worse, a lot of EU states are actually helping to sustain Israel's war in terms of supplying it with arms and the materiel for arms. The International Court of Justice has decreed not just that we can do it, but that we are obliged to do it due to the war crimes being carried out.  Over 400 prominent lawyers have stated that we can ban trade in goods and services with the occupied territories but the Government said there are legal issues, that it is complicated and referred to the Attorney General's advice. They say the banning of services would be impossible to implement and so on. The Government should publish the Attorney General's advice. Spain has been able to impose a ban on goods and services and the advertisement of services. Other EU states are taking similar steps. There are clear parallels here with the boycott against South Africa and it may have been a small step at the time over in Dunnes Stores on Henry Street but that snowballed and was huge in terms of isolating the apartheid regime.  Trade with the occupied territories in Ireland will not amount to billions of euro but that is no excuse not to stop it. People are angry and people want action. There is massive support for penalties against Israel. It is time for action. We have had eight years of dithering. We cannot have it any longer. Ban trade in goods and services, use the forthcoming EU Presidency to push for similar measures at EU level and work towards the full suspension of the Israel-EU trade agreement. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  I am actually embarrassed for the Minister of State, to be frank. I remember in 2019 Fianna F\u00e1il jumping up and down on this. It was Fianna F\u00e1il that introduced the concept of this Bill and now here they are with a bit of an occupied territories Bill in a bit of the occupied territories. There is no moral backbone to this Government whatsoever, be it about trade, football or anything at all. Of our trade with the illegal settlements, 70% is in services according to Tr\u00f3caire. Yet, due to pressure from US big business and capitalism, the Government has decided to leave that out of the Bill. The Bill is also focused on the West Bank goods specifically.  We know it can be done because Spain and Slovenia have done it. They are two countries the Government says it is working with in Europe. So, there is no reason Ireland cannot do it except for the form of capitalism the Government has developed in this country for the last 50 to 60 years whereby foreign direct investment and multinationals rule the roost and we do not have our own independent policy. I commend Francis Black. Apart from relentlessly pursuing this and having the patience of an absolute saint, I commend her for dealing with all the ins and outs of this.  There is no legal impediment despite the nonsense the Taoiseach keeps saying. Hundreds of lawyers have said that. Now the Attorney General has said it was a political decision, not a legal decision. Academics Patrick Bresnihan and Patrick Brodie have pointed out that this has been done primarily for Airbnb and insurance brokers who advertise in those areas, and that seems to be why we now have this situation. Of course, we are the second biggest trader with Israel primarily because of one company, Intel, which is a company that invested $25 billion in Israel last December. We are complicit up to our oxters in this genocide because of the economic model that Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael have slavishly developed. Even David McWilliams is saying how enmeshed the multinationals are with trade and that we are shamefully complicit, refusing to even ban sales to the IDF throughout 2024. The Government can take unilateral action. It was laughable listening to Deputy Currie reciting the mantra. She must be looking for a future ministership or something because Austria, Canada, France, New Zealand, Norway and the UK have taken action on these issues. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  I appeal to the Government to listen to the sentiment of the House this evening and to accept Opposition amendments to include services in this Bill or, even better, to bring forward its own amendments in later Stages. The vote on the occupied territories Bill does not need to be divisive but the Government has chosen division by deciding to exclude services from the content of the Bill before us today.  This is despite the original draft presented by Senator Francis Black. This is despite the very detailed recommendations of the joint Oireachtas committee. This is despite the legal view of many legal experts and it is despite the very clear legal opinion from the International Court of Justice from July 2024. Let us recall that decision. Let us recall what the International Court of Justice held was a state's obligations. It said all states are under an obligation \"to abstain from entering into economic or trade dealings\" and to \"prevent trade or investment relations\" with the settlements. That is a very clear statement. The Court was very clear that trade included goods and services. Indeed, even the Irish Government and the Department of foreign affairs legal experts who gave testimony at the joint Oireachtas committee accepted that point.  So, why is the Government presenting us with a Bill that excludes services? The Government used to tell us that it was for legal reasons. The argument continuously trotted out was the Attorney General's advice. That was despite the fact the Attorney General's advice from 2024, which I was lucky enough to see and have presented to me, made it very clear there was no distinction made between goods and services. Indeed, when we look at the sanctions regime Ireland has signed up to in respect of Russia, it sanctions both trade in goods and services with Russia without any difficulty.  Indeed, if we look at the whole body of European Union law, there is a detailed body of case law and legislation specifically on the question of services. The issue is not a legal one. It is a political one. In fairness, that has become even clearer from remarks made by Government spokespeople and the Taoiseach in recent days. It is clear that it is fear of the Trump administration that is driving this decision and illogical arguments that the Trump administration might tolerate a Bill that bans goods but if we bring forward a Bill that covers trade in services that will somehow be a step too far for the Trump administration. Now is not the time to allow our values as a country to be shaped by fear of the Trump administration. I appeal to the Minister of State to bring forward amendments that include services in this Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charles Ward  I share the disappointment of my colleagues with what has been produced before us today. This Bill falls far short of what was promised and what is required, despite delays repeatedly over the years and despite Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael promising in the last election that this would be a priority. As far as I am concerned, the Government parties' election promises were nothing more than a box-ticking exercise. For years, campaigners in this House have tried to push forward this occupied territories Bill and today I think about the Opposition TDs who have been pushing for this for years, Senator Francis Black and the person who used to sit in the chair beside me, Catherine Connolly.  I cannot help but feel disappointment when I look at this and the original occupied territories Bill has been diluted to the point now where it is ineffective. The Government's decision to exclude services from the Bill is devastating and it means that the Bill loses any sort of meaningful impact and accountability. There is no legal justification for this. The decision appears to be purely political rather than actual legal necessity.  The Government is trying to pass this Bill as meaningful action, and is just living up to its pre-election promise and ticking the box to say it produced a document.  Since October 2023, Israel has killed more than 70,000 people and 20,000 of them are children in Gaza. One out of every 33 people in Gaza has been killed. Let us think about those numbers. The equivalent of five TDs in this House, when it is filled up, have been taken out and killed. One child has been killed every hour 24 hours a day for two years. That is a shocking statistic, which is down to a regime that is out of control and Benjamin Netanyahu, who is a war criminal. Every time this happens, it is normalised because we do not say anything about it. This was an opportunity the Government had to have the courage that Spain and Slovenia had but it is a missed opportunity. History will dictate on this. History will say we had the opportunity to stand up and do the right thing but we failed. We did not fail; the Government failed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  Ireland's long and dark history of British imperial domination and our imperially imposed genocidal famine gives Irish people a deep understanding and appreciation of the genocide being perpetrated by Israel on the Palestinian people in the occupied territories. Ireland has both a moral authority and a moral responsibility to lead a campaign to exclude Israel from all economic, social, cultural and sporting activities.  Israel is creating mayhem and devastation in the occupied territories. It is pursuing ethnic cleansing, driving Palestinians from their homes, farms and businesses and illegally occupying their lands. In July 2024, the International Court of Justice concluded that Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories is unlawful, that Israel should end that occupation, that it should desist from creating new settlements and evacuate existing settlements, and that it should pay reparations for land and property seized. Israel, of course, has refused to comply with that ruling. The court went further and confirmed that under international law, member states, including Ireland, are under an obligation to abstain from entering into economic or trade dealings with Israel concerning the occupied Palestinian territories or parts thereof, which may entrench its unlawful presence in the territory, and to take steps to prevent trade or investment relations that assist in the maintenance of the illegal situation created by the State of Israel in the occupied territories. This includes both goods and services.  In 2025, the Oireachtas foreign affairs committee unanimously recommended that services be included in a ban on trade with the illegal occupied territories in Palestine. There is no legal basis for the Government's decision to exclude services from this Bill. We know that from the opinion of the Attorney General. We know it from the opinion of the Department's own legal adviser, who told the Oireachtas committee that \"trade is trade in goods and services\".  This Bill, produced under public pressure, is a tokenistic measure designed to be ineffective. It is a political choice taken by this Government. Slovenia and Spain can include services; why can Ireland not? I ask the Minister to take back this legislation and bring in an amendment including services. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  What this debate is about is the shameful decision of the Government to gut Senator Frances Black's occupied territories Bill by excluding services. It only took up a tiny fraction of the Minister's opening statement but everybody knows that is what this debate is about. It is about the Government's decision to ignore the unanimous position of the foreign affairs committee and this D\u00e1il. It is about its decision to ignore the fact that Spain has implemented measures on services with no comeback and no legal action from the European Commission. It is about its decision to ignore the position and the decision of the International Court of Justice, which made no distinction between goods and services when it said that states must abstain from entering into economic or trade dealings with Israel concerning the occupied Palestinian territory.  The Government has been scratching around for some sort of legal justification to hang this upon. What it has come up with is the idea that the public policy exemption only applies to goods. I do not think the Minister believes it. I do not think she has any legal authority to base it upon because I presume she heard the evidence of expert after expert and eminent lawyer after eminent lawyer in the foreign affairs committee who said, one after the other, that public policy also provides a derogation not only for the free movement of goods but also the freedom to provide services.  However, everybody knows it is not about law. The Minister knows it is not about law. In 2018, in response to the original occupied territories Bill, the Minister said, \"The first and essential reason [we cannot support it] is that the essential purpose of the Bill is contrary to EU law and requires the State to do something which is not in its power.\" The Minister said then that legally, we could not do goods or services - neither - but European law has not changed an iota since then. The European law in relation to trade is the same. What has changed is politics. What has changed is that the Minister is under pressure on this issue. It is all about politics. The Attorney General said it was about politics. In the leaked advice, the Attorney General said that the decision to replace the occupied territories Bill is \"a political choice\".  What is the political choice? It is not to annoy Donald Trump and the US Administration too much. That is the bottom line. We know that 90 minutes after the US ambassador wrote to Miche\u00e1l Martin saying the US had concerns about this Bill, Miche\u00e1l Martin said the Bill was going to be reviewed rather than progressed. I think it is disgraceful. It is utterly disgraceful to prioritise relations with Donald Trump and US imperialism over standing up against genocide and apartheid. Public pressure is going to come to bear over the coming weeks to insist that we, at the very least, have a Bill that includes goods and services. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Lahart","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Lahart.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Lahart.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Lahart  I have observed, over the past year or so and before then, that the biggest critics of the Irish Government are the Netanyahu government and Members of our own Opposition, regardless of what the Irish Government does and the esteem in which it and the Irish people are held internationally in relation to their stance on Palestine and their defence of Palestinians. I have met many of these representatives in this House and abroad who hold Ireland up as an exemplar. It is never enough for the Opposition but I will focus, in my own brief contribution here, on the following points.  This is a good day for the people of Palestine. In the programme for Government, we committed to progressing legislation prohibiting importation of goods, albeit a small amount, from occupied Palestinian territories following the July 2024 International Court of Justice advisory opinion. This Bill is designed to provide for compliance by the State with that international legal obligation as identified by the ICJ in that advisory opinion, to take steps to prevent trade relations that assist in the maintenance of the illegal situation created by Israel in the occupied Palestinian territory and, for that purpose, to prohibit the importation of goods originating in certain Israeli settlements.  I chair the Oireachtas foreign affairs committee and chaired the meetings that carried out scrutiny of the Government's proposals in this Bill. Yes, the committee recommended unanimously that services be included in the Bill. The committee never divided on any of the amendments proposed for the Bill. In other words, we were never forced to a vote, such was the unanimity of the members of the committee who undertook the scrutiny. The committee also unanimously recommended that the Government continue to pursue its optimal policy scenario of action, which is being taken in relation to Gaza at EU level. It also recommended that the Government undertakes efforts to publish and establish a range of scenarios on the potential repercussions of the measure in respect of both international relations and economic effects, and to comprehensively engage with business.  That recommendation arose out of how reluctant business was to engage with the committee in its deliberations on the Bill. We were and are grateful that IBEC did engage in detail with the committee. This is what IBEC said: it warned that any deterioration in US trade with and investment in Ireland would have material impacts for households and businesses. It advised it is important that consideration of the merits of the Bill includes a recognition that these reputational costs may impact on Irish workers, households and businesses. IBEC advised that it was clear from IBEC members and their feedback that the costs for US businesses and for Ireland's reputation will be substantially greater should services be included in the scope of the Bill.  My comments in the preface to the report on scrutiny of the Bill included:  As Chair, I am also conscious of the different roles and responsibilities of parliamentary committees and government. Government has access to more information and carries heavier burdens in areas of governance, than a parliamentary committee.  Like the Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I have represented my country on many international forums, where Ireland's commitment to enacting an occupied territories Bill is widely admired and where I expect it to be mirrored. Ireland has taken so many steps at EU level. Everywhere I go, Palestinian representatives acknowledge and recognise the leading role that Ireland played, continues to play and will always play when it comes to defending the rights of and advocating for the people of the occupied territories and of Gaza. At every meeting I attend, and as chair, I meet many representatives. I continuously advocate for Palestine, as do my colleagues, robustly and without fear. I abhor the manner in which the Israeli Government has smeared and attempted to undermine the Irish Government at every turn.  I would argue that the sanctioning of two Israeli ministers by the Minister for justice, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan, last week, is far more impactful than any potential impact of an occupied territories Bill, including goods and services or not. I mentioned the critics here. I say to them that today is a good day. Is it a perfect day? No, it is not. There is always more to be done. In 2024, though, when we went before the people, we said we would enact an occupied territories Bill. We stand resolutely with the Palestinian people. Ireland stands always with Palestine. We are its strongest advocate at EU and international level. To answer the question asked by the Opposition today, history will show that today we fulfilled one commitment to enact an occupied territories Bill and that that process began in this parliamentary Chamber in Ireland today. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shay Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shay Brennan  I have been a member of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade through the scrutiny of this Bill. I think it is the right thing to do, not because it will in itself change the situation on the ground but because Ireland has obligations under international law and we should meet those obligations. Ireland was among the first countries in the world to call for Palestinian statehood. When Ireland formally recognised the State of Palestine in May 2024, it was the product of decades of consistent engagement that has given Ireland credibility on this issue that very few European countries can claim. The Palestinian Authority has acknowledged that and said to us clearly and on many occasions that what it needs from Ireland is not only action at home, but leadership in Brussels. It wants us to use that credibility to bring about a collective European response, because it understands, as we should, that collective European action is where the real impact lies.  This Bill responds to the ICJ's advisory opinion of July 2024, which found Israel's continued presence in the occupied Palestinian territory to be unlawful under international law and placed an obligation on third states to take steps to prevent trade that sustains that situation. Ireland is taking that step and I welcome it. The committee on which I serve recommended extending this Bill to cover trade in services as well as goods. I supported that recommendation. The ICJ's advisory opinion draws no distinction between goods and services, and there is no moral distinction either, but the legal advice is clear. The 2015 EU basic import regulation provides a public policy exception for goods. There is no equivalent for services under EU law. A Bill that includes services would face a real risk of infringement proceedings without solid legal ground to stand on. I have come to the view that a Bill which takes effect from day one and does what it sets out to do is preferable to a broader Bill that faces the real risk of getting tied up at length in a legal challenge. A measure that never comes into force serves nobody.  On scale, settlement goods imported into Ireland amounted to around \u20ac200,000 in 2024, mostly fruit and vegetables. The direct economic impact of this measure on Israel is modest. The agreement that would actually economically impact Israel in a way it cannot ignore is the EU-Israel association agreement, which underpins trade worth \u20ac42 billion annually. The Commission proposed a partial suspension of that agreement's trade provisions in September 2025, but was blocked by a small number of member states. Were that suspension to be achieved, the economic consequences for Israel would be of a different order entirely to what our Bill delivers. We should pass our Bill nonetheless, because our legal obligations do not depend on the size of the economic impact and because Ireland acting here adds to the pressure on other member states to also act.  I raised one matter at the committee that I want to put on the record. The regulatory impact analysis acknowledges that this Bill could prompt a response from third countries, notably the United States, with what it calls a potentially significant adverse impact on Irish economic interests. US companies employ around 250,000 people in this country and anti-boycott laws at federal and state level can result in companies being excluded from procurement contracts where they are seen to be participating in a boycott of Israel. At the committee, I tabled a recommendation which was adopted unanimously, that the Minister develop and publish a range of likely economic scenarios so that the Oireachtas could assess the potential diplomatic and economic consequences for Ireland. The committee's assessment were that those repercussions were, in its word, unknowable. We should pass this Bill and we should do so knowing what might follow. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Keira Keogh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Keira Keogh  We have an international obligation to stand up for international law and progressing this Bill is part of fulfilling these obligations. The Bill is an important contribution to upholding international law and supporting Palestinian self-determination. It also fulfils a specific commitment contained in the programme for Government to progress legislation banning imports from Israeli settlements. Those goes along with a line of decisions that we have already taken, recognising the State of Palestine, intervening in the ICJ case, sending over \u20ac150 million in aid, and evacuating about 300 people, including sick and injured children. We have also co-sponsored a UN resolution and most recently sanctioned two Israeli ministers.  Today, we are taking an important step based on the advisory opinion the ICJ gave on 19 July 2024, which stated that states should take steps to prevent trade that assists with maintaining the illegal situation in the occupied Palestinian territories. I understand that many are disappointed that this Bill does not include services, but I believe the Department and Minister have done the best they could with the advice that they received. This Bill will not bring an end to the dire situation on the ground in Palestine, but it is a symbol, similar to when we recognised the State of Palestine alongside Spain and Norway, and we are hopeful that other countries will follow suit just like that, and we will move closer to the overall objective of a peaceful two-state solution.  Our reputation in Ireland is one of peace-building. This has to continue to be our focus. While we see escalating violence and expanding settlements in the West Bank, we must continue to try to build consensus at an EU level to seek collective action, such as suspending the EU-Israel agreement. I know that, just yesterday, the Taoiseach and Minister met the EU High Representative, Kaja Kallas, to discuss this. We know that a vote is imminent and a collective majority most likely still has not been achieved. We must also try to seek a proposal to ban trade in the occupied Palestinian territories at an EU level. We know that trade in goods with Ireland is only about \u20ac200,000, but we know that at an EU level, it could be in the billions and it would have a real impact.  This Bill should be seen as an important signal. Ireland progressing legislation must be a signal for our EU counterparts to act decisively and collectively. I welcome the recent sanctions that were approved on violent settlers and also on Hamas leaders of the 7 October massacre. I continue to condemn, along with our Government, the multiple breaches of international law, and the recent regressive move to bring back the death penalty for Palestinians, which is absolutely abhorrent and repulsive. From our own history, the Irish people deeply understand and respect the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and we must continue until we see a full and absolute peace. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  This is not the Bill that Senator Frances Black intended that the D\u00e1il would pass. Others have outlined the differences already and I will not repeat them. Given Israel's actions since the Senator first published her occupied territories Bill, a watering down of the intent is not what is or was required. Given the slaughter in recent years by Israel, I reiterate my full support for calls for boycott, divestment and sanctions. The Israeli state's barbarity against Palestinians and neighbouring countries in comparable to very few regimes in modern history. It is genocide through and through. Seventy-five thousand are dead in Gaza, 175,000 are wounded, and 1 million have been displaced in the space of two and a half years. This is being funded by large companies, which have to be boycotted, divested from and sanctioned.  The company that the Taoiseach, Miche\u00e1l Martin, has endorsed to demolish the historic Moore Street site, Hammerson, is now in partnership with a company that has been named by the UN as having sustained Israel's settler colonial project of displacement and replacement of the Palestinians in the occupied territory and is profiting from Israel's economy of illegal occupation, apartheid and now genocide.  The Allianz asset management subsidiary, PIMCO, purchased nearly \u20ac1 billion of Israeli war bonds. We need to boycott Allianz, boycott Israel and impose sanctions. Along with others in this House, I have seen with my own eyes, the confiscated land, the clearances, the apartheid road, the contaminated farm lands, the demolished homes and businesses, the destruction of olive trees which take decades to grow, the harassment and interference with the day-to-day lives of Palestinians and the detention of hundreds. Last month alone, there were 1,695 attacks by Israelis - by military and settlers - against Palestinians in the West Bank. That needs to end. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in  Can the Minister imagine being an Irish person who had been farming their land for hundreds of years when violent, entitled, deluded thieves from Brooklyn, New York, Ukraine or Russia crossed the world, having decided they wanted to come to her community to terrorise her off her land, set dogs on her sheep, raze her ancestors\u2019 olive groves to the ground, rob her farm at gunpoint and then want to trade its fruit with us here in Ireland? Ireland knows about dispossession better than anyone. Trading with the occupied territories represents blood money. I think of the beautiful song \u201cStrange Fruit\u201d popularised by Nina Simone: \u201cBlood on the leaves and blood at the root\u201d. We do not need Israeli blood money, nor their strange fruit nor their services. Services must be included in any Bill or otherwise it is meaningless.  It was a great privilege for me to stay among these lovely hospitable people in several places across the West Bank and Gaza. Unfortunately, I could not get into Lebanon at the time. The world can plainly see what an evil, violent, warped, deranged and depraved society Israel has become. I do not want to be graphic but it is one that rapes children in mass concentration camps, trains dogs to perform unspeakable acts on detainees - this is all coming out now \u2013 bulldozes children into large pits, deliberately starves children, forcing them to run the gauntlet and then shoots them for sport in a sick kind of a \u201cSquid Game\u201d. They proudly post that on their social media. This is celebrated in Israeli society. It is mainstream. People who shoot babies through the head for target practice. Incinerating half-starved children with white phosphorous, which they are doing in Gaza, the occupied territories and now Lebanon. In Lebanon, Israel is now searching for Muslims being hidden and sheltered in the attics of their Christian neighbours. This is not like Europe 1944. They have taken the Nazi doctrine, they have refined it and they have made it for themselves. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in  Ireland does not need their blood money nor their services. We are better than that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Gogarty\u2019s colleague is not here. If he does not turn up, the Deputy has ten minutes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  I understand he may not be able to turn up. I will speak as long as I am able.  Like everyone here, we are appalled at the Israeli state\u2019s absolute dismantling of the West Bank over the years, whether it is allowing settlers to de facto annex parts of it in their own right or whether it is the state policy of dividing it up so as to make the West Bank no longer viable. This has been going on for decades and it is absolutely abysmal and reprehensible. It is on the same level as they have been treating the people of Gaza, although the more recent behaviour and genocide there goes to a totally new level. The West Bank has been subject to a systemic policy over many years.  I had conversations with Senator Black when she was trying to get her Bill agreed to by the Government. She was quite optimistic some years ago. She can speak for herself - I am not speaking for her \u2013 but the feeling I got from her was that she knew there would have to be some level of compromise or discussion on what legally could be and could not be done, but I do not think we have brought the ban as far as we can. Yes, arguably Ireland has done more than any country in the world to call out the Israeli atrocities as a neutral, non-aligned state with a history of brutal colonialism. We have done a fantastic job but at the same time we cannot slap ourselves on the back because it seems, within a European context, we are one of only a handful of countries with any moral compass. Whether it is the guilt of the Germans, the Danish rescue of Jewish citizens during the Second World War, the very close geographic relationship that Cyprus has with Israel, or the Austrian guilt, there are a lot of reasons, including association with the Holocaust, why other countries would not want to be seen to call out Israel for doing exactly the same thing in more recent years. However, countries like Spain and Norway have called out the Israeli state. We have been accused of antisemitism by the Israeli state, we have been put under pressure by the US Administration but we have persisted. This is where I want to praise the Government because we still persisted with our ICJ support and in finally getting to this Bill. I welcome that this Bill has finally come to the House. If it comes to a vote on whether to support the Bill, I will certainly vote for it.  However, as my colleagues have said, in banning goods alone, the Bill is not even going a fraction of the way because Ireland\u2019s trade with Israel is mostly in services. According to the CSO, between 68% and 72% of Ireland\u2019s exports to Israel in recent years have been in services and not goods. However we look at it, that means the Bill leaves the majority of relevant economic activity untouched. While a lot of the arguments here may be symbolic, they must have some meaning. We are arguing among ourselves as to which is the best body to decide on whether to play the Israeli football team, but this is something that has many times more legal issues. This is not a theoretical debate. The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, in its 2023 update on companies operating in settlements, stated that digital, financial and logistical services are structural enablers of settlement expansion. That is from its database of business enterprise 2023. Therefore, when we exclude services we are basically excluding the sectors that sustain settlement economies: the cloud hosting, the payment processing, the tourism platforms, the Airbnbs, which have been mentioned before, and property management systems.  All the people who know about this, the international legal experts, have been clear on this point. Professor Marco Sass\u00f2li, one of the world\u2019s leading scholars on occupation law, wrote in the International Review of the Red Cross that state responsibility extends to any economic activity, goods or services, that contributes to maintaining unlawful situations. Dr. Valentina Azarova, in a 2020 legal briefing for the European Parliament, stated service provision is a core component of modern supply chains and cannot be excluded from due diligence obligations. If we want a Bill that actually stops Irish economic activity from supporting the illegal settlements, then we have to include services or at least we have to try to do so. That is what I mean when I say we should push the boat out. Maybe there are barriers, such as those the Government has spoken of before, but let us push it out and see the legal action taken against us. If we take the business argument about how it might impact on businesses in Ireland, we could phase in the services aspect of it.  The ICJ 2024 ruling, which others have referred to in relation to our legal obligations, says that governments cannot be prevented by the European Union from acting alone. The advisory opinion states that all states are under an obligation not to render aid or assistance in maintaining the situation created by the illegal presence of Israel in the occupied Palestinian territory. That is basically the highest court in the world interpreting international law, which supersedes European law. Even the European Journal of International Law , in its 2024 commentary on the ruling, said that the ICJ opinion removes ambiguity regarding member state competence to restrict trade linked to illegal settlements. The former UN special rapporteur told a Chatham House briefing that states are required to take unilateral measures to avoid contributing to internationally wrongful acts. I also want to reference the former Attorney General and now Senator Michael McDowell, who knows not just a little about the law.  He said that nothing in EU law prevents Ireland from acting where international law imposes obligations. We have a legal and moral obligation. To make the Bill robust we have to reference the ICJ ruling in the preamble and we have to try to target the corporations in the occupied territories and not ordinary people. It is a fair point that we have not gone into the nuances of the legislation and how this law might impact on ordinary people in the occupied territories. That needs to be looked at in more detail as we get to Committee and Report Stages.  I focus specifically on the argument about how we might annoy the USA and put ourselves in great peril. Some Members on the other benches have argued that strengthening the Bill will irreparably damage our relationship with the US. We know how tied up the current US Administration is with the Israeli regime. We have seen it with the war on the admittedly despotic and murderous Iranian regime. However, it is an unjust and illegal war and Netanyahu's atrocities in Lebanon have basically been sanctioned by the Trump administration. If it stopped supplying weapons, they would dry up soon enough.  The argument is put that this will have a chilling effect on the relationship between Ireland and the US. I did some research, and I found out that the US already restricts imports from illegal settlements. A 2016 directive from US Customs and Border Protection stated that products from Western Sahara must be marked to indicate their origin. That is similar to what we are looking at. The US, when it suits it, will create its own types of laws. We have seen that in international law. The Trump administration basically says that what it says goes, rather than trying to take a multipolar approach where everyone has input and basic international law is respected.  We have taken independent positions before and been criticised. One was the recognition of Palestine. You could argue even that could have angered the Americans to the point where we would not be their best buddies any more and they would impose some sort of sanction on us. That did not happen. We did not support the illegal invasion of Iraq which led to a lot more people being killed than there were lives saved. If you look at the Realpolitik , the current President of the US is a bit of a lame duck. The mid-term elections will provide a massive kick in the face for his administration's policies. While there is a strong Israeli lobby in the US, the bottom line for the companies operating here is profit. What the collective Opposition is requesting in terms of services is not impacting in any major way on US companies' operations globally. That argument does not hold up to scrutiny. The political threat is that it will impact us economically, but the threat being made does not have any economic impact on the US companies. They are making a political argument rather than one that is intrinsically talking about how their bottom line will be impacted by our unilateral move. If, as the Minister says, it is not legally possible to do what the Opposition is arguing for by expanding the Bill to cover services, then I go back to the point I made a few minutes ago that we will be found out through some form of legal action that I do not believe it is possible to take. There is the argument about moral and sinister threats not to annoy our big cousins in the United States. I think we are bigger than that. We have stood up for ourselves before without major clawback. The Israelis will kick and scream. We will be called antisemites even more. However, we will basically be living up to our principles as an independent state.  I ask the Minister, on Committee Stage, to maybe explore and support Opposition proposals to include some level of services in the legislation. As it stands, this legislation is one third effective because two thirds of the on-the-ground impact relates to services. We can hold our hands up and say Kumbaya, we have done our little bit and we are all great. We have to remember that it has taken years to get to this point. It has taken years to get to a watered down Bill. That is shocking in its own right. While I welcome the legislation and will vote for whatever finally comes through the Houses because it sends a message, until that point we have a moral obligation to put the international legal argument, as well as the moral argument, that this should be the strongest legislation possible. If others can prove there are holes in it, let them come back after and refer it to the President to see if it is constitutional or not. That is something we should do. We should make the legislation as strong as we believe it can be. If we have a 70:30 or 30:70 uncertainty on the services aspect, let us put that to the test. Otherwise, it will be a watered down Bill. I urge the Minister, even at this stage, to try to strengthen it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Albert Dolan  I welcome the progression of the Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill. I am pleased the Government is now bringing forward legislation that reflects Ireland's long-held position on this issue. Ireland has consistently stood on the side of international law, human rights and the pursuit of peace. We have been among the strongest voices internationally in condemning the horrific loss of civilian life on Gaza, calling for an immediate ceasefire, demanding the release of hostages, supporting humanitarian access and advocating for a lasting solution.  The scenes we have witnessed over the past number of years, particularly in recent months, have shocked people across Ireland and the globe. Thousands of innocent civilians have suffered enormously. Families have been displaced, communities devastated and countless lives lost. It is right that Ireland continues to speak clearly and consistently against actions that undermine peace and deepen human suffering. This legislation is an absolutely critical step.  The position of Ireland is clear and the European Union's position needs to be clearer. Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories are illegal under international law and undermine the prospects of a viable two-state solution. The Bill sends a clear message that Ireland will not facilitate trade in goods originating from settlements considered illegal under international law. I welcome that. It demonstrates that our commitment to international law is not merely rhetorical but can be reflected in practical action. I also welcome our Government\u2019s effort to continue pursuing broader action at European level. I believe we must use our EU Presidency to do so. While Ireland has taken a national step today, lasting impact will come through collective, international action and renewed diplomatic efforts aimed at achieving a sustainable peace settlement.  Ireland has a proud history of supporting the Palestinian people and advocating for their right to self-determination. Last year, Ireland formally recognised the State of Palestine, reaffirming our belief that both Israelis and Palestinians deserve to live in peace, security, dignity and freedom. Ultimately, this legislation is about standing up for international law, supporting the prospect of a genuine two-state solution and ensuring that Ireland remains consistent in its commitment to justice, human rights and peace.  I welcome the introduction of the Bill and look forward to its passage through the Houses of the Oireachtas. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Burke  I very much welcome the publication of this Bill and the fact that it is proceeding through the House. In dealing with this issue, it is important that we bring other countries with us. I have experience of dealing with this issue. I was in Gaza in 2009 after the changeover of the American President. During the period of that changeover, on 27 December 2008, Israeli forces went into Gaza, bombing the area and killing 1,400 people, 400 of whom were children. They kept working until 18 January. The new President was sworn in on 20 January. Israel used that opportunity. No action was taken against Israel at that time. Its forces used cluster munitions, which are the same as the IRA nail bombs, and they used white phosphorous, in violation of all international law. No action was taken. If action was taken at that stage, 72,000 people would not have been killed in the last three years. It is therefore extremely important that we are careful in our approach to bringing the international community with us and that we manage it very well. The Minister and previous Ministers for Foreign Affairs have worked very well in this area.  It is about bringing all of Europe with us. I was in Washington in 2009. I was part of a joint committee of the European Parliament and the US Congress. There was no support for the Palestinians on that committee. I was probably the only person on that committee who was in any way supportive of Palestine and critical of Israel as a result of what happened on that occasion. We are now 17 years on and we have still not brought all of Europe with us on this issue. It is therefore extremely important that we work on that front. That is why it is important that the legislation we bring forward is moderate while still challenging what Israel has done.  The human cost of this conflict extends far beyond those killed and injured. Displacement has become a defining feature of the crisis. Families are uprooted from their homes and communities and deprived of security, stability and dignity. Amnesty International released a report today documenting that, between January 2023 and April 2026, 3,407 Palestinian homes in the occupied territories were demolished, resulting in the displacement of thousands of people. These figures serve as a stark reminder that behind every statistic is a family forced to leave behind their home, their livelihood and their future. We must recognise that displacement is not simply a humanitarian challenge; it is a profound human tragedy. Children lose access to education, communities are fragmented and generations face uncertainty as to whether they will ever be able to return to the places they call home. The protection of civilians from forced displacement must remain a core principle of international humanitarian law and a priority for the international community.  Equally concerning are efforts to obstruct or undermine humanitarian initiatives intended to assist civilians in Gaza. The international community has a responsibility to uphold international humanitarian law and to ensure that all parties to conflicts are held accountable for their actions. In September 2025, the United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel published its conclusions that Israeli authorities and security forced had committed four of the five acts defined as genocide in the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.  The human cost of this conflict remains devastating but it is important that, no matter what we do, we bring other countries within Europe with us. We must also work at an international level to bring countries with us to ensure decisive action is taken against Israel over this conflict, which has been allowed to continue. In the last 17 years, over 75,000 people have been killed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  If I may delay Deputy Neville, I am looking up and I think I may be able to see Daniel Wiffen. My eyesight is not as good as it was and the light is shining. I am not sure who is with him, but he is most welcome to the Parliament. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Neville  It is Brendan Griffin. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  It is the former Deputy, Brendan Griffin. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  It is the former Deputy, Brendan Griffin. Excuse me, my eyesight is bad. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Neville  He is a former Minister of State. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  It is a Wiffen and a Griffin. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  It is a most interesting debate to be involved in. Mr. Wiffen is most welcome as an Irish champion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Neville  I have met the former Minister of State many times but to have an Olympic gold medallist looking down on us is indeed an honour for us all. I congratulate Mr. Wiffen on all his work, what he has done for the country and how he raised the country's spirits during his time. His talent has inspired many people in this country. I thank him for being present and for taking the time to come to watch us in the Chamber.  To move to more pressing matters and the matter we came here today to discuss, I believe that Ireland has been and continues to be on the right side of history in relation to the oppression in Palestine. On 28 May 2024, Ireland recognised the State of Palestine, which was a huge step. Ireland committed new funding of \u20ac42 million for the people of Palestine for 2026 and many millions of this funding has already been provided. Ireland has provided a total of over \u20ac112 million in support of the people of Palestine since January 2023. Over \u20ac100 million of Irish support has been provided since October 2023. By the end of 2026, Ireland will have provided \u20ac144 million since January 2023. Indeed, Ireland's 2026 support continues a commitment of \u20ac20 million in core funding to UNRWA this year, bringing our total support to \u20ac78 million. The people of Palestine know that we are on their side. We have shown that support through our words but also through our funding. We are now taking the next step. The countries of Europe also know that we are on the side of the Palestinians. Indeed, the Americans know it too.  As I have outlined, we have led internationally and we continue to show solidarity with the people of Palestine through this Bill. We also need to ensure that the message goes out clearly from this Chamber that the Irish Government is against the occupation of these territories and the ongoing oppression taking place there. However, I am also conscious that some of the words used here may be wilfully misconstrued and echo differently in the political halls of Washington and the corporate rooms of America, where they might impact jobs in this country. I want to highlight businesses like Intel in my hometown of Leixlip, which the Taoiseach has previously referenced in this Chamber in relation to this matter. The Leixlip Intel campus employs 5,000 workers directly and many more indirectly. We need to ensure that people there are not impacted by loose language used by Opposition Members and that we make clear the goal of this Bill so that it cannot be used against us as a country.  While Ireland is showing leadership, real change will only happen if the rest of the EU and other countries take the same brave stance the Irish Government is taking. Surely, the Chamber should recognise that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  It is now eight years since the occupied territories Bill was first proposed. Fianna F\u00e1il said that it would support that Bill and that it wanted to see it move through the Oireachtas. For those eight years, there has been foot dragging every time the Bill has come up. The reality is that the people who live in the occupied territories continue to suffer under a cruel and harsh regime that continues to take their land and their houses from them and that allows them to be attacked by settlers with the protection of the military. It is a deplorable situation. International law says that it has to stop and that it is wrong and yet we are presented with an occupied territories Bill this evening that is only a half-measure. It leaves out trade in services, which is absolutely vital. The Government can make all kinds of excuses but, at the end of the day, we have to make a stand sometime. Many people live long and weary lives and go to their graves without ever having taken a stand for anything but that is what we are about in this place. We are about making a stand. We have to be leaders on this on the international stage.  Ireland of all countries, which was the victim of centuries of colonisation and imperialism, knows what it means to have somebody to lead. When the rest of the world was under the yoke of imperialism, Ireland stood and said that there can be a different way. We struck a blow in 1916 for freedom. It lit a torch that inspired oppressed people in every corner of the world and we still have an obligation to inspire oppressed people in every corner of the world. That is why what we do here is important. At the end of the day, we have an opportunity to make this so much better. That is why we appeal to the Minister to include services, to make the full stand that we need make and stand up for what is right and to ensure that the people of Palestine and the world know that Ireland of all places stands firmly with them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I acknowledge the work that Senator Black has done on this Bill over the past number of years. I commend her on getting it this far because she ran into so many obstacles on the way. In 2022, I was lucky enough to visit Palestine. I spent a fair bit of time there as part of a sports and cultural exchange. There were boxers from Belfast and Dublin taking part in the Shamrock and Olive Tree Boxing Project with the shamrock being from Ireland and the olive tree being from Palestine. I saw the settlements at first hand. I could talk about how I was treated over there, but it is not about me. There is this idea of settlements and we think of the wagons across the prairie. They are not like that. They are fortified. They are on high ground. They have military members of the IDF armed looking down like imperialists on the Palestinian population below them. They have separate roads. There is not even a bump in the roads they are that well put together that only Israelis are allowed to drive on. Palestinian civilians are not allowed to drive on these roads. The Palestinians have restricted movements going from A to B because they are in these occupied territories.  The thought of doing any business with these occupied territories, fortified institutions and these robbed and stolen lands sickens me to the core of my stomach. I do not just mean goods; I mean goods and services. We have spent eight years on this Bill. The Government dillyed, delayed and blocked. Now, in my opinion and most people's opinions, the Government has completely gutted this Bill. This is a cynical act by the Government. A total of 70% of trade between Ireland and the occupied territories is in services. What we are asking for is something very simple. We are asking for no trade in goods and services that originate in the occupied Palestinian territories, lands that have been stolen by military force by Israel. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  T\u00e1 a fhios ag madra\u00ed na sr\u00e1ide c\u00e9n chaoi a sheasaim ar an \u00e1bhar seo. T\u00e1 a fhios ag an domhan c\u00e1 bhfuil na daoine in \u00c9irinn ar an \u00e1bhar seo. Bh\u00ed m\u00e9 ag caint ar maidin agus inn\u00e9 faoin gcluiche agus faoi Alaa Al-Dali, an t-aon fhear a bh\u00ed ag rotha\u00edocht ar son na Palaist\u00edne. Bh\u00ed s\u00e9 chun a bheith ina Oilimpeach ach rinne an IOF urchar a scaoileadh lena ghl\u00fain agus bhris siad a ghl\u00fain. I would have loved to have seen services included in this. I would have loved to have seen the Attorney General's advice. When I sat over there in the House and I voted for the amendment of this Bill, I was told that there was legal advice. The Attorney General came out later saying that it was a political decision. I would have preferred if we saw now why services cannot be included. I will support the Bill because I want something rather than nothing. I ask if we could add services at a later stage if implemented correctly like Spain has done for the advertising of services in the occupied territories. I would love for more of the occupied territories across the country to fall under the remit of the Bill. Correct me if I am wrong and they do. However, from my understanding of the legislation, they would not directly apply to other occupied territories.  I commend Senator Black on her patience, hard work, determination and an obair ar fad at\u00e1 d\u00e9anta aici. N\u00edor stop s\u00ed. Bh\u00ed s\u00ed ag f\u00e1il go leor ruda\u00ed ar l\u00edne \u00f3 na bots agus na daoine at\u00e1 ag cur br\u00fa leis an mBille a scriosadh ach n\u00edor stop s\u00ed. I understand from the meetings that a lot of people would have preferred the inclusion of services, but I prefer something rather than nothing. That is always my political view on anything as an Independent TD. I would rather get something rather nothing. This is the same view that I am taking on this. I would love if the Bill inflicted that change. I would have loved to have seen what the Attorney General said. At an EU level, if it would have not passed is what we were told, can that be published? Has it already been published? I could not find it over the past few months. From listening to the Minister, I understand that there will be an EU trade complication. I commend the work that our diplomats and the Minister have done getting like-minded EU countries together. Other Deputies have acknowledged that Ireland's power would be best united on an EU front. Ireland's power has never been our strong military. It always been our worldwide respect as a peacekeeping country. That is why it is good that we are passing this now ahead of our EU Presidency, but it would be a lot better with services.  I listened to all the Deputies in my office. There is no other government that would have as much of a mandate apart from the Palestinian Government to enact this legislation. Look and listen to the people of Ireland. Look at the surveys. They want the legislation to include goods and services. At a later stage if it can be amended to include services, that should be done. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Thomas Byrne)  I thank colleagues who have contributed to the debate. We are witnessing in plain sight the persistent and ongoing human rights abuses that Palestinian people endure under occupation. We are witnessing an appalling and worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza. We are witnessing the deteriorating situation in the West Bank with massive expansion of settlements alongside rampant and escalating settler violence, all of which leads us to conclude that the actions of the current Israeli Government contravene international law. On the question of how best to respond, while we have moved ahead on prohibiting settlement trade in goods at a national level, our preference, which we have said this time and time again, is to work at an EU level and that collective action be taken at an EU level. This will have a much greater impact. Those who are quick to criticise the Government's approach are slow to take account of the broader realities, including the debates happening at the EU level. Ireland has led from the front on this issue. We were the first EU country to announce our intention to prohibit the importation of settlement goods. Others have followed our lead, not the other way around. Other member states have come to agree with us. In the past week, Slovenia has had a change of government, and it has completely changed its policy on Israel. It has had a complete reset in relations. We have to deal with the realities of all of this around the European table.  Ireland has repeatedly called for the suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement or, at a minimum, to suspend the trade elements of the agreement, as previously proposed by President Ursula von der Leyen. In advance of the Foreign Affairs Council next week, the Minister has asked the Commission to bring forward a proposal to prohibit EU trade with Israeli settlements on the basis of the EU's Common Commercial Policy. A number of member states supported this call in the Commission and were equally clear that proposals sanction certain Israeli Ministers cannot be a substitute or an alternative for an EU ban on trade with illegal Israeli settlements. The Taoiseach also wrote the President of the European Council, Ant\u00f3nio Costa, on 20 May reiterating Ireland's position on the EU's trade with Israel and requested an urgent discussion of these issues among EU leaders at the meeting of the European Council next week. I will ask for this as well at the General Affairs Council that I will attend next week.  Member states reached political agreement last month to sanction Israeli extremist settlers and entities and those who enable them. That was hard fought for around the table. Every member state has a veto on that issue. The political reality is that we have to deal with that around the table. We hold the veto dear every time we have a referendum. The previous Hungarian Government held up that particular provision for some time. I welcome that the position has changed and moved on. The politics changes in both directions. Actions taken at EU level in response to the appalling situation in Gaza have a much greater impact than those taken at national level.  We will always stand up for human rights and international law within the EU and for accountability when it comes to breaches of international law.  The question of services has been the main issue in this debate. This Government and any government has a responsibility to ensure that any legislation is legally robust, capable of being implemented and can withstand legal challenge. In the case of goods, a public policy exception exists in the EU regulation which controls the import of goods. This exception allows EU member states to adopt prohibitions on the import of goods for public policy reasons. For the avoidance of doubt, there is no equivalent or similar broad public policy exception relating to external trade in services. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  There is in the treaty. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  I acknowledge the point made by Deputies in respect of the absence of services from the Bill but no political view, however well meaning, whether expressed on this side of the House or the opposite side, can trump the rule of law. We cannot trump the law. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  We can do it through the treaty. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  At the European level, the Single Market is a lot less harmonised in respect of trade in services than it is for trade in goods. The regulation of services is split across a variety of EU legislation and there would be huge challenges regarding, as the Taoiseach has said, the effective implementation and enforcement of restrictions on trade in services. Again, on the issue of services and actions taken by the Spanish Government, there are some misunderstandings. Spain has not implemented a ban on trade in services, so it is incorrect to suggest that it has done so. It has introduced a targeted amendment to its consumer protection law to prohibit the advertisement in Spain of services provided in Israeli settlements. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  That is the same thing, effectively. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  This is the only aspect of the Spanish legislation that relates to services. The focus of the Spanish legislation is on the prohibition of the importation of goods. National legislation being taken forward by other EU member states is similarly focused on goods. Again, I remind the House that Ireland was the first EU country to announce its intention to prohibit the importation of settlement goods and other EU member states have followed that lead.  On the potential economic implications, the Oireachtas committee asked the Government to look at this. The Government does not have the luxury of putting forward proposals without fully working through all of the potential consequences. That includes potential implications for the economy and for jobs. These have been outlined in debates between the Taoiseach and Deputy Boyd Barrett in here. The Government has taken the time to carefully consider all of the options as well as the proposals that have been made as part of the debate in this House and during the pre-legislative scrutiny process. For those who dismiss the potential economic implications or who feel we should gamble or take a risk with them, the question is whose jobs they are willing to sacrifice. What companies do they want to see leave Ireland? That is a question that some people are quite prepared to answer in this House. I am not accusing the Deputies opposite but there are Deputies who are more than happy to answer that question. We need to be honest with people. The Government's job is to protect the interests of Irish people and to use that interest to make our voice heard at international level.  The Government has a track record of taking action in response to the actions taken by the Israeli Government which contravene international law. We are fulfilling our programme for Government commitment and this Bill is significant legislation. It is possible, because of the findings of the 2024 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, that it will also contribute positively to Irish and international efforts to prevent unilateral actions that impinge upon the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and upon the viability of the two-state solution. The two-state solution is the only answer here, to have Israel and Palestine, side by side, in peace and security. Who was the first Western politician to put forward that as a serious proposition? It was Brian Lenihan senior, in 1980, when he was Minister for Foreign Affairs. This Irish Government and Irish governments in general have led from the front on all of this. We have led from the front on the issue of trade with settlements and on the recognition of Palestine. We will continue to lead on the need for effective EU action.  On Friday, at the invitation of the French Minister for foreign affairs, Jean-No\u00ebl Barrot, I will represent the Irish Government at the second edition of the Paris call for the two-state solution. As a Government, our overarching approach encompasses our commitment to working with key partners to end the conflict in Gaza and to advance a sustainable peace plan ending the conflict and addressing the huge challenges facing Palestinians in Gaza. It encompasses our commitment to supporting a Palestinian state consisting of Gaza and the West Bank, including east Jerusalem. It also encompasses our commitment to achieving a just and lasting peace where Israelis and Palestinians can live side by side, in two states, Israel and Palestine, in peace, security and dignity within agreed borders based on 1967 borders. We have always been clear that our goal is for both Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace and security. The cycle of violence must be brought to an end. The suffering of Palestinians and Israelis needs to end. We must always be careful to remember that and to leave space for the people to people contacts that have always been the most valuable part of the relationship between Ireland and Israel. As a Minister of State in this Government, I want to stress that we must distinguish between the policies of the Israeli Government and the Israeli people. From our own history on this island we know that the politics of division never advances a peaceful outcome. Ireland's position on the Middle East is firmly rooted in respect for human rights and international law in both word and deed. Collective action at the EU level would be most effective in this case. The Government is proceeding with this Bill in accordance with its commitments under the programme for Government and I thank Members for their contributions to the debate on this Bill. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2026: Second Stage"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-10\/debate\/dbsect_17","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/57","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/57\/dail\/motion\/referral","houseCode":"dail","stage":"motion","isBillStage":false,"showAs":"Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2026: Referral to Select Committee (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2026: Referral to Select Committee","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Thomas Byrne)  I move:  That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade pursuant to Standing Orders 103(2)( b ) and 188(1). "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2026: Referral to Select Committee"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-10\/debate\/dbsect_18","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Estimates for Public Services 2026: Message from Select Committee","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Select Committee on Agriculture and Food has completed its consideration of the following Supplementary Estimate for public services for the year ending 31 December 2026: Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine, programmes A, B and C. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar fionra\u00ed ar 7.46 p.m. agus cuireadh t\u00fas leis ar\u00eds ar 8 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Sitting suspended at 7.46 p.m. and resumed at 8 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Estimates for Public Services 2026: Message from Select Committee"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-10\/debate\/dbsect_19","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Gn\u00f3 na D\u00e1la - Business of D\u00e1il","counts":{"speechCount":3,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_19","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I understand that the Government Chief Whip has a proposal for a minor amendment to the business for the week. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Mary Butler)  It is proposed, notwithstanding yesterday's Order of Business, that the motion regarding the Report of the Committee on Standing Orders and D\u00e1il Reform entitled \"Rotas and arrangements for Leaders' Questions, Questions nominated for priority and Private Members' Time\", shall be taken on the conclusion of proceedings on the Air Pollution (Amendment) Bill 2025, from the Seanad, without debate, and any division demanded thereon shall be taken immediately. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Is that agreed? Agreed. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Gn\u00f3 na D\u00e1la - Business of D\u00e1il"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-10\/debate\/dbsect_20","debateType":"billCommittee","bill":null,"showAs":"Criminal Law, Civil Law and Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026: Instruction to Committee","counts":{"speechCount":31,"speakerCount":11},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_20","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Jim O'Callaghan)  I move:  That Standing Order 194 is modified in accordance with Standing Order 241(2) to provide that it be an instruction to the Committee to which the Criminal Law, Civil Law and Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 may be recommitted in respect of certain amendments that it has the power to make amendments to the Bill which are outside the scope of the existing subject matter of the Bill in order to:  (a) make amendments to the International Criminal Court Act 2006 to:  (i) give effect to the ratification by the State of the 2010, 2017 and 2019 amendments to Article 8 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court which extend the specified acts that may constitute war crimes to include intentionally using starvation of civilians as a method of warfare in a non-international armed conflict and the use of certain weapons,  (ii) clarify the legal obligations of Ireland to co-operate with the International Criminal Court with respect to requests concerning all offences under the Court\u2019s jurisdiction, and  (iii) enable the Government by order to designate any future amendments or additions to the crimes contained in the Rome Statute as crimes in respect of which Ireland can provide co-operation to the Court,  and  (b) provide for an application-based scheme to enable the disregard of certain historical convictions and other determinations relating to consensual homosexual activity,  and to change the title of the Bill and make other consequential amendments required to take account of the changes above.  In my opening remarks on Committee Stage of this Bill I indicated my intention bring these amendments on Report Stage. I will first speak on the proposed amendments to the International Criminal Court Act. These amendments give effect to Ireland's intended ratification of the amendments to Article 8 of the Rome statute, and also ensure that there is an unambiguous basis for Ireland's full co-operation with the ICC in respect of all crimes within the court's jurisdiction, including those that are not offences in Irish law.  The amendments have three objectives to ensure that the definition of war crime in the 2006 Act is aligned with Ireland's proposed ratification of the amendments to Article 8. This will have the effect that the offence in Irish law of committing a war crime is expanded to include the use of microbial or other biological agents or toxins, the use of weapons whose primary effect is to injure by fragments, which in the human body escape detection by X-ray, and the use of laser weapons. Additionally, the offence in Irish law of committing a war crime in a non-international armed conflict will be expanded to include the following acts that already come within the definition of a war crime when committed in an international armed conflict: the use of poison and poisoned weapons; the use of asphyxiating poisonous gas; the use of bullets which expand; and intentionally using starvation on civilians as a method of warfare. Expanding the domestic definition of war crimes in this way will enable the State to give full effect to the principle of complementarity. This principle obliges State parties to exercise jurisdiction over crimes committed in their territory or by their nationals so that the ICC is used only as a court of last resort.  The second objective of these amendments is to take account of the Kampala amendments on the crime of aggression.  The third objective is to make it wholly clear and unambiguous that Ireland's co-operation with the ICC is not to be confined to those crimes that are domestic offences pursuant to section 9(1) of the 2006 Act, namely, genocide, a crime against humanity, a war crime or an ancillary offence, but that such co-operation also extends to other offences within the jurisdiction of the ICC, in particular the crime of aggression or offences against administration of justice by the court. Bringing this legislative clarity will ensure there is no impediment to Ireland fulfilling its obligations under the Rome statute to co-operate with the ICC.  Finally, it is also proposed to add into the Act an order-making power allowing the Government to designate any future amendments of the crimes contained in the Rome statute as crimes in respect of which Ireland can provide co-operation to the ICC. This would not criminalise the offences in Irish law but would ensure that in a scenario where Ireland may not yet have ratified such an amendment Ireland would still be able to fulfil its obligations to co-operate with the ICC.  I will now turn to the proposed legislative scheme for the disregard of certain historical convictions and other determinations, those other determinations being formal Garda cautions and probation orders. As I have previously stated, the Victorian era laws that criminalised consensual sexual activity between men are now widely recognised as a historical injustice driven by ignorance and prejudice. The offences in question were enacted under British rule but very regrettably continued in force for the first 70 years of the Irish State before finally being abolished in 1993. However, consenting adults who were convicted of such offences still carry the entirely undeserved stain of a criminal record. We cannot rewrite history but we can try to undo the pain and hardship those convictions inflicted upon so many men and their families. What our Legislature can do is create a basis by which such a conviction can effectively be nullified so that its recipient is treated in law as if it never happened. Unfortunately, that cannot be achieved by the expedient of a blanket disregard. This is because the offences in question, and hence the recorded convictions, made no distinction between consensual and non-consensual acts, nor between adults and minors. Any given case must, therefore, be assessed on its merits by reference to information provided by the applicant and whatever records are available.  In that context, a multi-stakeholder working group reported in 2023 with detailed recommendations on an application-based scheme for the disregard of such convictions. The proposals now before this House have been carefully crafted to align as far as practicable with those recommendations while ensuring the scheme is legally and procedurally robust and that it is efficient and accessible for those who wish to apply. These proposals are being put forward as a new part of the Bill set out across 14 sections, which variously provide for: the offences within the scope; the criteria for a disregard and who may apply, including where the person who received the conviction is now dead; the appointment of an independent person to consider applications and make recommendations to the Minister; the main processes involved in considering and determining applications and issuing successful applicants with certificates of disregard; the legal effects of a disregard, which are comprehensive; the procedures by which a disregard can be refused or, where it is found to be necessary, revoked; and provisions for the independent review of a refusal or revocation where requested by the applicant.  I am confident that these proposals provide a workable, equitable and accessible means by which those who were unfairly criminalised can finally seek the removal of this unwarranted blemish on their good name. They and their loved ones have waited a long time for a disregard mechanism and we now have an opportunity to pass it into law in a matter of weeks. I hope I can count on the support of the House for achieving this objective.  I recognise the very significant contributions made by Deputy \u00d3 Snodaigh, Deputy Nash and other Deputies who put forward their own legislation previously. Certainly, their advocacy on this issue was a major catalyst and influence on me in trying to ensure we can get this law enacted promptly.  While the amendments to the International Criminal Court Act and to provide for a disregard scheme are obviously completely different from each other thematically, what they have in common is they have each been a long time coming and are time-sensitive in their own ways. Both are also appropriate for inclusion in a miscellaneous criminal law Bill currently before the House. I think this legal instrument offers the most expedient route to get them on the Statute Book and into force. This is why I commend the motion to the House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I want to put on record that the way in which the Minister has handled this entire piece of legislation is in no way satisfactory, not even talking about the guillotine that is in place later on this evening. This is the second motion to instruct the committee we have had to the House where the Minister has added new and completely unrelated matters to a Bill that already covers a range of unrelated matters. Even the Title of the Bill has changed since we discussed it on Second Stage. Effectively what that means, and where the concern is, is there are matters within this Bill that have not been and will not be properly scrutinised by the D\u00e1il, not as part of the pre-legislative scrutiny process and not as part of the justice committee's examination of the Bill. I appeal to the Minister to not have a repeat of this situation, to stop the guillotine and the rushing, and to actually allow proper D\u00e1il scrutiny of legislation.  This debate focuses on the inclusion of provisions for the disregard of historical convictions for homosexual activity and the measures to give effect to amendments to the Rome statute, clarifying Ireland's obligation to co-operate with the International Criminal Court. I doubt if there will be an opposition voice against either. Therefore, it is regrettable that it has been brought in a manner which is itself, in my view, controversial. On the issue of disregard of certain historical convictions, I will take this opportunity to commend my party colleague Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh, along with those from across the Opposition benches who have brought forward a Bill to provide for this. It would absolutely have made more sense for the Minister to work with his Opposition colleagues in facilitating that Bill rather than introducing these provisions at this late stage in its D\u00e1il consideration.  Aside from that, this issue should have been dealt with decades ago. Although homosexuality between consenting men was eventually decriminalised in 1993, there was little acknowledgement of the profound harm inflicted on generations of men who were convicted in the years prior to this. In the ten years leading up to the decriminalisation, the State had commenced criminal proceedings in 309 cases that resulted in 94 convictions.  It is amazing that in our lifetime people were being convicted for their sexuality. It has to be said that for decades, gay men in Ireland lived under an repressive system that criminalised their identities and fostered widespread fear, isolation and persecution. We know that many gay Irish men felt they had no choice but to emigrate, and others felt they had no choice but to keep their sexual orientation a secret, sometimes for their whole life. At moments like this, we have to acknowledge what must have been profound hardship for people who were forced to live a lie their entire life.  Criminalisation had a real and devastating consequence for many people. During the AIDS crisis we know there was a stigma attached to homosexuality that meant little public support and often open hostility. In June 2018, the Government issued a formal apology, acknowledging that laws criminalising homosexuality were discriminatory, violated human dignity and caused significant harm to those affected. We have moved on. This is a welcome move but it should have happened long ago. There are different ways it should have been brought forward. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  T\u00e1 bu\u00edochas ag dul don Aire as seo a chur os \u00e1r gcomhair inniu. Mar a d\u00fairt mo chomhghleaca\u00ed, is trua nach raibh s\u00e9 os \u00e1r gcomhair roimhe seo agus nach raibh an dul chun cinn d\u00e9anta go dt\u00ed seo. I welcome this legislation. This is not the way to do this; it should have been done in a stand-alone Bill. This is substantial legislation, which is welcome, of course. We are not going to get the proper time to tease through all of the implications and the bits that are missing. Hopefully, when the Bill is in the Seanad, the Minister will be able to address some of the shortfalls or omissions that have been pointed out already by the LGBT+ Restorative Justice Campaign, which has raised issues. There are simple, technical issues which can be addressed and I hope we will have time, when discussing amendments, to point to some of those.  This is about correcting a wrong this State presided over, even if all it did was continue a tradition of the British where the abominable crime deserved penal servitude for life, or death as a felon because of, according to them, \"outrages of decency\". There are no exact figures for the numbers of people convicted of the offences during the reign of this State. Some figures suggest there were 1,000 or more convictions between the 1920s and 1993. However, there were probably thousands more because sometimes when people were charged, they jumped bail. Others evaded the courts. Some were acquitted. There was stigma attached to them. Some had cases dropped as they had funds or because of the scandal associated with it. Others died of suicide in that period. These are the types of people whose families or loved ones, hopefully - because many of them have passed this stage - will be able to apply for the disregard and the independent person will be able to make quick adjudications and will have the access because I do not think the range of files that will be needed is complete. The Mental Health Commission, for instance, controls all of the papers from Portrane and places like that. Some of the people charged were put into what at the time were called \"lunatic asylums\". Maybe those places are where the paperwork is to be found. Maybe between this Stage and the Bill being taken in the Seanad, we can look at making sure that those who are required to give records are defined broadly enough so as to ensure that if there is an eventuality, there will be no restriction or any way that a State organ can refuse or block any such access to records. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Is Deputy Gannon sharing time? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  I will speak for two minutes. I welcome the disregard amendments. I was delighted, on behalf of the Social Democrats, to sign the cross-party Opposition Bill, with Deputy \u00d3 Snodaigh and others, to advance this issue. It is also an issue I campaigned on before my election to the D\u00e1il. I welcome these amendments and thank the Minister for bringing them forward.  It should not have taken the State 33 years to get to this point; it should have happened much sooner. However, we welcome that it has happened. As I said previously, lives have been destroyed by these arrests and convictions. So many men across generations have been impacted. I have no doubt that those who lived through the 1980s and the HIV-AIDS crisis were impacted. More should have been done for those people.  I will take a minute to highlight some of the concerns raised by the LGBT+ Restorative Justice Campaign, in particular the omissions under military law. The 2022 working group report recommended including relevant offences under military law. That group was set up by the then Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee. Those issues should have been addressed. Similarly, convictions prior to the establishment of the State should have been included.  Provisions related to how relatives and friends can apply are too limited. Many of us in the LGBT community call our friends our chosen family. They should be able to apply.  I welcome the awareness campaign. That is a crucially important part of the measure. It needs to go right around the world. This issue is of a global nature because people left. There is a real opportunity to remove the legal scars caused by criminalisation, but this is just one step. This is just one thing. For true restorative justice, we need so much more, including transgender healthcare, closing gaps in family law, banning conversion practices and updating equality laws. Those of us campaigning and marching in Dublin Pride in a couple of weeks' time will be sending the message that we need much more to be done on this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  I acknowledge the work done in this area across the Chamber, in particular by my colleague, Deputy Rice. The provisions related to disregarding historical convictions are not only welcome, they are overdue. It is sometimes easy to talk about progress as though it is inevitable and Ireland simply arrived at a more equal place by accident. The reality is those rights were hard fought for. They were won by grit, determination, hurt and harm and by those who chose to believe in better. It is not some distant chapter of history in which homosexuality was criminalised in this country; it is within living memory. There are people alive today who grew up in a State that told them there was something wrong with who they are. These are people who carried not only the stigma of discrimination but, in some cases, the weight of a criminal conviction for consensual relationships. That was wrong, and where the State has done wrong, it has a responsibility to put it right.  At a time when we are seeing attacks on LGBTQ+ communities re-emerge across the world, and there are still countries where people face imprisonment simply for being gay, it is important that Ireland continues to move in the opposite direction. It is fitting that we are discussing these measures during Pride month. Pride continues to be a hugely important recognition of those who came before us, a recognition of the harm that was done and that equality is not something that can ever be taken for granted.  These provisions matter because they acknowledge a simple truth, namely, people should not spend the rest of their lives carrying the consequences of laws which should have never existed in the first place. For that reason, we will be supporting this important provision. There are aspects of the Bill which are particularly welcome, such as the inclusion of those convicted as juveniles. We know that some young people were caught up in a system that not only criminalised them but, in some cases, led them into institutions where the consequences followed them for years afterwards.  The recognition of discriminatory policing is also significant. For many gay men it was not simply the laws themselves which caused harm but the way in which those laws were enforced. Practices of entrapment and targeted policing ruined lives and careers and left many carrying a burden that lasted decades.  The recognition that many people were forced to leave this country to escape persecution is also welcome. We should never forget that for many Irish people, emigration was not a choice made in pursuit of opportunity, but an escape from a society that refused to accept them for who they were.  While we welcome the scheme overall, there are still issues that deserve further consideration. I am concerned that former members of the Defence Forces who may have been dishonourably discharged or otherwise penalised under parallel military provisions do not appear to be fully covered. The proposed timeframe may also be too restrictive. We know from every other historical injustice this State has attempted to address that trauma does not operate on a D\u00e1il timetable. It can take years for people to feel ready to come forward. That challenge will be even greater for those now living abroad.  These are not reasons to oppose the scheme; far from it. They are reasons to continue to improve it. If this legislation proceeds quickly to the Seanad, as appears likely, I hope there will be an opportunity to examine some of those issues further. While I welcome the substance of these provisions, I have to say that the process by which multiple complex policies have been added to this legislation at the last minute is deeply frustrating.  Once again, we are looking at a Bill that has become a vehicle for pretty much everything the Minister has chosen to add into it, without scrutiny. It deals with community sanctions, the use of incapacitant spray in prisons, counselling records in rape trials, firearms legislation, Defence Forces powers, European arrest warrants and now it deals with international criminal law and historical convictions. Many of those issues deserve attention and many deserve reform, but every single one of them deserves proper scrutiny.  Let us take the issue of counselling notes in sexual offence trials. We are talking about legislation that will affect survivors of rape and sexual violence and that goes to the heart of privacy, dignity, access to counselling, fair trial rights and the administration of justice. This is one of the most sensitive areas of criminal law this House has legislated for. The same can be said of the Defence Forces provisions inserted into this Bill. Hugely significant new statutory powers around State security and aid to the civil power have been added into a miscellaneous provisions Bill. These are powers that warrant detailed examination, detailed questions and detailed debate, yet here they sit alongside a huge range of unrelated matters, all bundled together under one legislative umbrella, and that is a problem. If legislation affects the most vulnerable rights of citizens, if it affects the victims of crime, if it affects civil liberties and if it affects State powers exercised, then it deserves the time and attention required to get it right. Instead we increasingly seem to be treating miscellaneous provisions Bills like legislative suitcases into which anything can be packed so long as there is room. The public cannot properly follow what is happening, civil society groups cannot properly engage and Members are expected to navigate a growing list of complex and unrelated issues within the same Bill. The irony is that some of the most important legislation we pass in this House often receives the least focused attention because it arrives bundled together with so many other measures. While I am delighted to see provisions that relate to historical convictions, and I support ensuring that Irish law keeps pace with developments in international criminal law, it is not unreasonable to ask why all these issues are being dealt with in this way. Important legislation deserves scrutiny, and legislation that will impact lives in the most profound ways should not be rushed, bundled together and pushed through as part of an ever-expanding miscellaneous provisions Bill.  This is really starting to look like a tactic. All of us have an important role in this House in scrutinising legislation, making amendments, engaging with groups that have been impacted, hearing from civil society groups, getting into committees and being deliberate and focused in our work. This is an eight-minute speech. Shortly after it, we will have a guillotine that falls after 90 minutes. That is no way of processing legislation. It undermines this House. We have seen it before with the International Protection Bill and we are back here again. It is a poor way of doing legislation and a poor way of treating Parliament. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  I have the guts of 20 years' service as a national public representative, but this is the most mental Bill I have ever dealt with in here. It is crazy. There is lots of really good stuff in it but, as regards the structure of a Bill, it is beyond comprehension. It gives \"miscellaneous\" a new meaning. It is so diverse. It is not good practice; it is the worst kind of practice. I can nearly guarantee the Minister that there will be issues arising out of this legislation because it has not been scrutinised to the level required. I respect that time is of the essence with some of these provisions. I know there is pressure, particularly from the Opposition, in relation to a range of issues, for instance, the disregards being brought in today, which we 100% support, but this is no way to do it. The list of stuff going through this Bill is like an A-to-Z of everything in the Department. It is crazy stuff. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  And another Department. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  And other Departments, including the Department of Defence. It is a Who's Who. We are doing the ICC Act and the disregard of convictions for homosexuality-related offences today, and there are provisions relating to arrest warrants, prisons, the Minister's capacity to ask for Defence Forces' help, counselling notes, sex for rent, DNA, pepper spray, community service orders, face coverings - there is so much----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  Good. We are getting a lot done. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  Yes, but if the Minister were sitting here a few years ago, there is no doubt he would be saying what I am saying. I recall quite clearly his criticism of the previous Minister for justice, whom he now sits beside, in relation to lots of legislation. I have to be honest about this. This is no way to do legislation. For instance, the disregard is such an important topic on its own. The issues in relation to the ICC Act and the Rome Statute are critical. They have potential domino impacts on the triple lock discussion, which I will point out in a second. In addition, from the point of view of the administration of democracy, it is borderline impossible for us to do our jobs here because of the manner in which this is constructed with the cross-references, from a legislative point of view, the drafting, the manner in which we have to approach it and the volume of legislation covered.. Even versioning is a problem in relation to this Bill.  In relation to the disregard of convictions for historical offences for people in same-sex relationships, I acknowledge all the work that has been done by many different people down through the years. I have named them in the House previously. I am delighted that the Minister is dealing with this issue and that he has honoured that commitment. I also acknowledge over a decade's work by my colleague Deputy Ged Nash who has been in the Minister's ear about this since he was appointed. It is very rare you get to say it about the person sitting beside you, but, as a colleague whom I have known for many years, Deputy Nash has continuously been on about this for well over a decade. I acknowledge that while he is present.  The second issue is relates to the ICC Act and the Rome Statute. I want to reference part of this and, particularly, the issue of the four components in relation to the act of aggression. Where there is an act of aggression by a state, the crime requires that the act \"by its character, gravity and scale, constitutes a manifest violation of the Charter of the United Nations\". Not every unlawful use of force will give rise to a manifest charter violation. However, since the ICC has not previously prosecuted in this regard, there is a possibility here, basically, of unintended consequences if the Government gets rid of the triple lock, and that is what I am trying to warn the Minister about. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  I very much appreciate the Minister's acknowledgement earlier in his opening contribution that the legislation I produced nine years ago was, in essence, the catalyst for the disregard propositions before us. For the bulk of the history of this State we made criminals of gay men because of who they were and who they loved. Many of those we did not criminalise received public order records, cautions and so on. They were imposed on them by an uncaring State at a very different time in our history. The Bill I presented in 2017 referred to the need for exonerations of men who had criminal records for having sexual relations that were no longer offences under the law. The first part of my Bill, the Minister will recall, called for a formal State apology for the wrongs this State and our society perpetrated by our laws and our actions against the LGBT+ community. I was very proud that, arising from that legislation, the then Government agreed to issue a formal State apology in both Houses of the Oireachtas in the summer of 2018, marking the 25th anniversary of decriminalisation.  Tonight is a milestone. It is a landmark. I pay tribute to people like Kieran Rose, Karl Hayden, who is with us here this evening, Eddie McGuinness, Brian Sheehan and other members of the LGBT restorative justice campaign, as well as successive Ministers, including Mr. Charles Flanagan, Deputy McEntee, the current Minister and others, and their officials for the contribution they have made to getting us to this point. My only regret is that the time given to this Bill by the Government is not in any way in accordance with the significance of what we are doing here tonight.  That is regrettable. I hope it is something the Minister reflects on. I also hope sufficient time will be provided in the Seanad for amendments on Committee and Report Stages to finesse and nuance the legislation and deal with the gaps. It is of such historic significance that I believe the Minister should give it due recognition and the time it deserves to be debated properly and nuanced and finessed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  There are some positive elements in the Bill that I would very much like to vote for and then there are difficulties with it as well. It is very broad and diverse. It would have been much more positive if we had the opportunity to engage with the issues on an individual level and discuss them in detail.  We support the proposal on counselling notes. People who have suffered, in particular from sexual assault, should not have their private counselling notes spilled out in a courtroom. The reforms in that regard are a step in the right direction.  However, there are some major concerns about the community service aspect of the Bill. One part of this legislation - it is quite clearly outlined - will potentially allow drug dealers, who in some cases would have been considered for a two-year prison sentence, to basically get community service. We wholeheartedly oppose that. It is very clear that the objective here is primarily more to do with prison capacity than the safety of citizens or anything else. The solution of a community service order is because of the fact that prisons are so overcrowded. In 2024, more than 1,000 prisoners were released on temporary release within 24 hours of being sent to prison. In reply to a parliamentary question, the previous Minister, Deputy McEntee, told Aont\u00fa that her officials were selecting candidates for early release due to capacity issues in prisons. It is deeply concerning that this is happening. We need to have a serious conversation about it. The Minister must ensure that prison capacity is significantly expanded so that legislation like this is not necessary. The idea of community service being used as a tool to try to alleviate the capacity difficulties in prisons should concern us all.  In 2024, some 700 prisoners went missing from the system. By the end of that year, 131 prisoners unlawfully at large were still unaccounted for. It is very worrying as well that currently 66% of prisoners in Ireland are repeat offenders. The system is crumbling and the fact that in some cases people are being released within a day of incarceration is simply not good enough. Prison capacity has an impact on the alarmingly high reoffending rate. It impacts on programmes that should be taking place and in some cases cannot because of the difficulties in the Prison Service. This is a obviously totally unacceptable. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  I am just here in the nick of time. I welcome the opportunity to speak on this legislation. As others have said, it is a mishmash, and probably worse for that fact. I want to focus on the section dealing with access to counselling records in sexual offence trials. Last week, Beyond Surviving conducted a focused consultation with survivors - 52 individuals who engaged between 6 and 9 June. These are people who know the harsh reality of the courtroom and understand the consequences of how legislation is drafted in a way that does not respect their needs and wishes. The message from survivors is that the Bill is welcome but it does not give them full protection. Section 13 strengthens the existing framework by requiring that all applications for counselling records must go before a judge. That is welcome. It is a shift away from informal or administrative disclosures. Survivors recognise this as a necessary safeguard. Amendments that introduce a presumption of non-disclosure, create a form of statutory privilege and extend protection to other sensitive records such as medical or child protection files are important steps. The Bill does take cognisance of the fact that counselling notes are very intimate information given in a context that does not have a court in mind. They are reflections of trauma. They are supposed to help people to heal from that trauma rather than prepare them for a court date. I welcome some moves in that respect, as do survivors.  The Bill reinforces the justification clause for disclosure and that there would be some form of judicial oversight. I was contacted by survivors and that is why I am emphasising them in particular. I know the Bill covers a whole lot of other areas in terms of historical convictions, the Department of Defence, etc. As others have said, the one point I want to emphasise is that, as far as I can see, the stated intention relating to the presumption of non-disclosure does not appear in the text. If the law does not operate as it is intended, it is not going to work. We must have an explicit presumption, not an implied one.  Second, the Bill does not set out what survivors describe as a clear statutory test in terms of relevance, necessity and proportionality in a way that ensures consistency in practice and in case law. Survivors told me about the failure of section 19A and vague drafting about broad intrusive requests. As one put it \"the drafting needs to be precise. The failures of section 19A cannot be repeated\".  The Bill also gives survivors no agency in decisions about their own counselling notes. They have no right to be heard. It is their notes and their life being discussed, yet they have absolutely no input. The waiver should stay in place as it provides autonomy. That loss of control is not addressed. Those are a couple of the points they have raised. I hope they will be taken on board. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul McAuliffe  Like the other speakers today, I appreciate that it is a huge technical challenge to try to put together the overall meaning behind each section of the Bill because, by its very nature, it is a miscellaneous Bill. The Minister has the benefit of his own advisers in the Department and the expertise of the Department of justice, but no doubt as a former Opposition spokesperson on justice he has sympathy with the rest of us who have to have to try to put it together. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  He has no sympathy at all. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul McAuliffe  The one thing I would say is that we were all here at a previous Stage and, notwithstanding changes that have been made, very significant elements of this Bill were already before us, as complex as they were then and as they are now. I look forward to speaking on some of the 72 amendments that have been tabled. Let us not fool ourselves: the reason there is pressure to get this Bill through is not because the Minister wants to get it through, but because many of the issues it covers are things that are being called for by members of the public and groups that have worked very hard and campaigned on them.  I acknowledge the work of Deputy Nash on historical convictions. In this House we often wonder whether we achieve anything at all and maybe on days like this people like him can take note that the work he undertook has reached completion. It is for that very reason I say that sometimes facilitating Bills in this way is really important because it is about getting stuff across the line as well.  I take on board comments made by members of the Opposition. I had that issue in the last phase of this Bill. I have done a little bit of homework since, however. There is a lot in this Bill that is to be commended. There is one significant area I have been waiting on for some time and that is the work of the Apartment Owners' Network under the guidance of Pat Montague, which has been seeking the transfer of responsibility for multi-unit developments and the legislation and regulation of that over to the Department of housing. That is incredibly important. We are about to pour millions of euro into an apartment defect scheme. The people with responsibility for spending and delivering that are private entities and private limited companies in the form of owners' management companies. We need to have a way to make sure we regulate those companies, and we cannot do that while the responsibility sits with the Department of justice and has to be transferred over to the Housing Agency. That is one of the many things this Bill does and we are waiting desperately for it to happen.  I understand the concerns raised by the Opposition, but I underline the point that the provisions in this Bill are needed and required. That is why I am glad to see them before the House and to see they will be enacted. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Jim O'Callaghan)  I thank all the Deputies for their contributions. I am not a very philosophical person, but one thing I do know is that ministerial careers come and go very quickly and as Deputy McAuliffe said----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  That is for sure. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  Tell me about it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I am well aware of it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  The Minister is in for the long haul. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I hope individuals in this House have the great privilege to be Ministers at some stage in the future----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  Been there, done that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  -----but it comes and goes----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  Bad ones go quicker. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  -----and the officials, with the greatest respect, are outstanding people but they will be there for many years. If you want to get something done as a politician----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  Fair point. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  -----you have to push it through. I know people are, at one level, criticising me because this Bill contains a whole variety of different issues. It does. I have tried to squash as many issues as possible into this Bill because I want to get these provisions enacted for the benefit of people, such as men in Ireland who were convicted of homosexual offences prior to decriminalisation. In fact, it was Deputies \u00d3 Snodaigh and Nash who raised it with me in my earlier days as a Minister and said they wanted this done. I went back to the Department and I recognised that the quickest way to get it done was to put in into a miscellaneous provisions Bill. With the greatest of respect, had I not done that and had I not put it into the miscellaneous provisions Bill, we would not even be near pre-legislative scrutiny at this stage. We have the report that is sitting there. One of the criticisms----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  The Minister did not need to guillotine it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  One of the criticisms that is regularly made is that I am not getting things done and I am sitting on things, as the Deputies are all perfectly entitled and obliged to say to me if things are not being done. I know they are not asking me to, but I am not going to apologise for trying to get important measures that are of benefit to the public enacted as quickly as possible. I think we all agree that the disregard scheme, as everyone has said, is something that should have been done decades ago. I was not going to allow a situation to develop where I found myself, maybe in the third year of being Minister for justice, wondering whether I would get it over the line. I have driven it and I want to get it done. By the way, I appreciate all the contributions that Members in this House make. It is not the case that they have not scrutinised the matter or given me their views on these issues. In many respects, I have been listening to them for the length of time I have been Minister and I hear them all the time in terms of saying what they want to get done.  I will deal with some of the other issues that were raised. The most important thing that was raised in respect of the disregard scheme was the issue about military law. Deputies Rice and Nash raised it. In the course of consultation on the drafting of this, there were significant legal concerns about including any case in which a person had been court-martialled for military misconduct. On careful consideration, I concluded that these offences could not appropriately be included. There were two principal difficulties. First, it would be legally questionable but also impracticable to attempt to determine whether a particular court martial was brought purely because of the homosexual nature of an act rather than because it involved a disciplinary infraction, such as abuse of rank, which would equally have been the case had the act been heterosexual in nature. Second, the relevant misconduct offences under the 1954 Act remain in force and, according to the Department of Defence, continue to be used today. Their inclusion will open the possibility of misconduct convictions right up to the present day and into the future being relitigated under a scheme intended to address an historical injustice. Equally, to impose a cut-off date, such as the 1993 decriminalisation, would almost certainly be challenged as arbitrary and unfair. For those reasons, I consider that the inclusion of these offences would not be legally or operationally viable. However, military convictions for the repealed offences of buggery, attempted buggery, gross indecency and importuning are within the scope of the scheme.  The second point of principle, which was raised by Deputy Rice, was about including convictions prior to the establishment of the State. This country, this Government, has no responsibility for acts that were done prior to the declaration of the Irish Republic and our Independence. I cannot go back historically and start operating a disregard scheme because of the criminal justice system that operated in Ireland under the crown. I applied that in respect of the granting of pardons as well. It is a different country. This Republic is not responsible for what happened prior to our Independence.  I very much welcome the discussion on this. I know there is a lot in the Bill. Everyone in this House wants to get these provisions enacted, not for the benefit of Deputies or Ministers or anyone else but for the benefit of members of the public, who all need to see this legislation enacted. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Criminal Law, Civil Law and Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026: Instruction to Committee"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-10\/debate\/dbsect_21","debateType":"billReport","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/1","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/1\/dail\/4_sub","houseCode":"dail","stage":"4_sub","isBillStage":false,"showAs":"Criminal Law, Civil Law and Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026: Report and Final Stages (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Criminal Law, Civil Law and Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026: Report and Final Stages","counts":{"speechCount":84,"speakerCount":12},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Jim O'Callaghan)  I move amendment No. 1:  In page 7, line 23, after \u201c2004,\u201d to insert \u201cthe Criminal Justice Act 2006,\u201d.  I will deal first with amendments Nos. 1, 21 and 32.  Amendment No. 1 amends the Long Title to include a reference to the Criminal Justice Act 2006.  Amendment No. 21 is a technical amendment to section 16(1)(b) to substitute a reference to the singular \"subsection\" with a reference to the plural \"subsections\".  Amendment No. 32 is a technical amendment to section 18 to substitute a reference to \u201csection 38(1) and section 45\u201d with a reference to \u201csections 38(1) and 45\u201d. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  We will move to amendment No. 2. A recommittal is necessary in respect of this amendment and the other related amendments as they do not arise from committee proceedings and relate to the motion to instruct to the committee. Amendments Nos. 2, 33, 35 to 45, inclusive, and 72 are related and will be discussed together. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Bill recommitted in respect of amendments Nos. 2, 33, 35 to 45, inclusive, and 72."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I move amendment No. 2:  In page 7, line 32, after \u201ctrial;\u201d to insert the following:  \u201cto give effect to the ratification by the State of certain amendments to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, to further enable authorities in the State to cooperate with the International Criminal Court, and for those and other related purposes to amend the International Criminal Court Act 2006;\u201d.  I am pleased to introduce these amendments, which propose a number of technical amendments to the International Criminal Court Act 2006 to give necessary effect to Ireland's intended ratification of the amendments to Article 8 of the Rome Statute. The main objective of these amendments is to amend the International Criminal Court Act 2006 to make clear that war crimes within the meaning of the Act include Article 8 of the Rome Statute. Expanding the domestic definition of war crimes in this way will enable the State to give full effect to the principle of complementarity, which I spoke about earlier. These amendments will also provide a legislative basis to ensure that Ireland can fully co-operate with the International Criminal Court, ICC, in respect of all crimes.  Amendment No. 2 inserts new text into the Long Title of the Bill.  Amendment No. 36 is a standard definition that defines the International Criminal Court Act 2006 as the \"Act of 2006\". Amendments Nos. 33 and 35 are consequential on that.  Amendment No. 37 inserts some new terms for definition in the interpretation provision in section 2 of the 2006 Act. First, the definition of the Rome Statute is updated. Second, it defines the term \"crime of aggression\". Third, it defines the term \"crime within the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court\". Fourth, in order to future-proof the extent of Ireland's ability to co-operate with the ICC, a new order-making power is inserted as a new section 64A in the 2006 Act. Finally, it inserts a new subsection (1A) to clarify that the term \"crime within the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court\" includes an act for which criminal responsibility is provided for by Articles 25 to 27, inclusive, of the Rome Statute.  Amendment No. 38 inserts an additional subsection into section 6 of the 2006 Act to clarify that where following the commencement of the section, a relevant amendment has been adopted with respect to Articles 6 to 8, inclusive, of the Rome Statute.  Any reference to an article of the Rome Statute in section 6 should be construed without having regard to that relevant amendment.  Amendment No. 39 replaces section 8(1) of the 2006 Act with a new subsection clarifying that, in addition to applying to genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, ancillary offences under the 2006 Act shall apply with respect to offences against the administration of justice, but not with respect to the crime of aggression. A new subsection (1A) will also be inserted in section 8 to clarify that for the purposes of subsection 1 account shall not be taken of any future relevant amendments that may be adopted to articles of the Rome Statute.  Amendment No. 40 ensures that no retroactive effect is given to the new domestic offences created by the amendments to the definition of the Rome Statute.  Amendment No. 41 clarifies that when the State exercises extraterritorial jurisdiction over war crimes, the referenced Article 8.2 of the Rome Statute shall not be construed as that Article, as amended by a relevant amendment.  Amendment No. 42 clarifies that the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration shall be able to request the ICC to provide assistance with a domestic investigation or prosecution of an offence against administration of justice, in addition to ICC offences or serious offences.  Amendment No. 43 inserts a new section 64A into the 2006 Act in order to confer an order-making power whereby should future amendments be adopted by the state parties to the Rome Statute definition of genocide, war crime and crime against humanity or the crime of aggression, an act specified in that amendment may be prescribed by the Government on my request, having consulted with the Minister for foreign affairs.  They are the amendments until we come to amendment No. 44, which makes a number of technical amendments to sections 4, 19, 22, 31, 37, 38, 50, 50A, 51, 52, 53, and 63 of the 2006 Act.  Amendments Nos. 45 and 72 insert an additional Schedule 1A into the 2006 Act. Part 1 of the Schedule will set out the three sets of amendments to Article 8.2.1.b and Article 8.2.1.e of the Rome Statute, concerning war crimes committed in international and non-international armed conflicts respectively, adopted in 2010, 2017 and 2019.  Part 2 will set out the amendments to the Rome Statute providing for the exercise of jurisdiction over the crime of aggression. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Pursuant to Standing Order 194(3), it is reported to the D\u00e1il that the Long Title has been amended. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Bill reported with amendment."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Bill recommitted in respect of amendments Nos. 3, 8, 12, 46, and 51 to 64, inclusive."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I move amendment No. 3:  In page 8, line 6, after \u201c2021;\u201d to insert the following:  \u201cto provide that the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration may, in respect of applications made to the Minister, issue to certain persons certificates of disregard in respect of certain historical convictions and other determinations relating to consensual sexual activity;\u201d.  The amendments I am moving in this group are in respect of the disregard scheme. Amendment No. 3 is grouped with amendments Nos. 8, 12, 46 and 51 to 64, inclusive. These amendments collectively provide for an application-based scheme to enable the disregard of certain historical convictions and other determinations relating to consensual homosexual activity. The other determinations in question are formal Garda cautions given in lieu of prosecution and probation orders given in lieu of conviction. The substantive amendments providing for the scheme are amendments Nos. 51 to 64, inclusive, which collectively insert a new Part 14 into the Bill, comprising 14 sections.  Amendment No. 51 inserts an interpretation section for the new Part 14. It includes the key definition of \"relevant conviction or other determination\", which includes convictions in a criminal or military court for the offences of buggery, attempted buggery, gross indecency and importuning. It also defines the categories of persons that come within the definition of an immediate family member and that of a relative. This is relevant for the purposes of applications that may be made on behalf of deceased people.  Amendment No. 52 inserts a new section which sets out the criteria that are to apply to the granting of a disregard application. Those criteria of course include that the relevant person did not cause any other person to participate in the sexual activity without their consent.  Amendment No. 53 inserts a new section setting out certain key provisions in relation to the making of an application. This includes provision that a disregard application may be made by a relevant person, namely, the person who incurred the conviction or by someone nominated by the relevant person to make the application on his behalf. It also provides that where the relevant person is deceased, a disregard application may be made by an immediate family member, or if no immediate family member can or wishes to make an application, by a relative, provided there is no objection from an immediate family member.  Amendment No. 54 inserts a new section providing for the appointment of suitably qualified or experienced independent persons to consider applications and independent reviewers to carry out reviews in cases where the Minister proposes to refuse an application and the applicant seeks such a review.  Amendment No. 55 inserts a new section providing for a preliminary assessment of an application by the independent person in order to satisfy himself or herself as to whether the applicant is the relevant person or is otherwise eligible to make an application on behalf of a deceased person. Where the independent person is not satisfied, the same provision is made that he or she shall not consider the application further and shall notify the applicant and the Minister accordingly.  Amendment No. 56 inserts a new section providing for the substantive consideration of the application by the independent person and the subsequent making of a recommendation to the Minister as to whether the independent person is satisfied that the conviction should be disregarded. The section includes a provision that any public body which may hold records relevant to the application shall provide those records to the independent person on request.  Amendment No. 57 inserts a new section providing that the Minister shall consider the independent person's recommendation and either issue a certificate of disregard or else notify the applicant that the Minister is not satisfied that the conviction should be disregarded. The section provides that where a disregard certificate is issued, the Minister shall notify all relevant public bodies and that they shall annotate any relevant records they may hold in order to clearly reflect the disregard.  Amendment No. 58 inserts a new section setting out the general effect of a certificate of disregard. The section effectively provides that the relevant person shall, to all intents and purposes, henceforth be treated as if the conviction never occurred and that there are no circumstances in which the disregarded conviction shall be disclosable, other than where the relevant person chooses to disclose it.  Amendment No. 59 inserts a new section to provide that an applicant may seek an independent review of the matter, either where the Minister has proposed to refuse a disregard or where the independent person is not satisfied that the applicant is a person eligible to make the application. In either case, the application shall be examined afresh by an independent reviewer other than the person who originally considered the application and a recommendation submitted to the Minister as to whether or not to reaffirm the decision in either case.  Amendment No. 60 inserts a new section to deal with a scenario where, subsequent to issuing a disregard, the Minister receives information giving rise to the reasonable belief that the application included or was supported by false or misleading information and the Minister is no longer satisfied that the conviction should be the subject of a certificate of disregard. The section provides that the Minister shall in any such case notify the applicant that the Minister intends to revoke the disregard and that the applicant may seek a review, which shall be carried out by a retired judge of the Circuit Court, High Court or Court of Appeal appointed by the Minister.  Amendment No. 61 inserts a new section to provide that where the Minister proceeds to revoke a disregard, he or she shall notify the applicant and also the relevant public bodies which shall be required to re-annotate their records to reflect the revocation.  Amendment No. 62 inserts a new section to provide that the Minister shall make appropriate efforts, including a public information campaign, to raise awareness, particularly among relevant persons in the State and beyond, of the disregard scheme and the effects of a disregard.  Amendment No. 63 inserts a new section containing a number of provisions relating to the protection of personal data under the scheme. This includes provisions for the redaction of any non-relevant convictions held by a relevant person, if alive, or any information that could identify any other living person in connection with any offence.  Amendment No. 64 inserts a new section to provide that nothing in this Part shall create any new rights or any cause of action, nor impose any liability on any person or on the State. This is provided for the avoidance of doubt.  Finally, there are a number of technical, consequential amendments as follows. Amendment No. 3 amends the Long Title of the Bill to take account of this new Part, while amendments Nos. 8, 12 and 46 each amend a number of definitions and references to enactments elsewhere in the Bill to take account of related references introduced by the new Part. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  This is basically the time where we get some discussion on the content of the amendments. As said earlier, I welcome the disregard scheme that is announced. I also welcome those members of the LGBT disregard campaign who are present in the Visitors Gallery. I thank them and other Deputies for all their hard work and for, thankfully, as the Minister has admitted, putting pressure on him, who in turn put pressure on the officials. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  Yes, certainly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  We are where we are and we have it before us. Between now and the debate in the Seanad, there may be small technical issues, as there always is with legislation, especially historical pieces. There was a question about why we are not going pre-1922. There have been pardons given by Presidents. Why 1922? Why was it not 1937 with the Constitution? Why not 1948 when the executive authority Act was repealed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  1962. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  Why not 1916, 1867 or if we want to go back to the first republic of 1626? That is something the Minister will have to answer himself or I will keep raising it.  In the main, the value of this is for families who have, in living memory, loved ones who have passed and who have had the smog or shadow of convictions upon them who were affected and those who are still alive, because there were still people before the courts well into the 1980s and early 1990s. The fact they were before the courts hung around like a bad smell on them and affected all of their work.  One of the public bodies that may have information is adoption. As someone who sought adoption of a child would be refused if they had a conviction, that may be one of the bodies. I mentioned the mental health institutions. The Department of education was also always very scrupulous about digging out people and throwing them out if they were anyway suspect in its eyes. There is the question of the employment records of people and whether they are kept. I do not know whether it is the Department of public expenditure or whatever. It is one of the provisions here that the Minister shall \"as soon as practicable, notify, or cause to be notified, each public body\". That is not just the public bodies that I mentioned, it could be other public bodies. It is to ensure that.  In the private sector with social media, there exists the right to be forgotten. One of the problems with some of this is that the names, and addresses in some cases, in the convictions are available online if one searches newspapers and so on. It is not necessary that we look for it today but it is something to look at to see whether an equivalent right to be forgotten can be done and that people who had that disregard could approach the social media companies, the newspapers or whoever to blank out those reference in order that they do not come up in a search. I believe that is the method used in the right to be forgotten. That was brought in to protect people with small or low-grade convictions to ensure it was not held against them when they went for employment or through other types of vetting processes.  It is welcome. Court documents will be key in this in many ways because when I did the research on convictions, which was only cursory, the newspapers carried very little specific detail. The Minister is right that distinctions have to be made and sometimes they did not make the full distinction of the background of whatever case. The churches are another case in point. They would have records of people. Suicides are another record.  If the Minister can manage to stick to the timetable that set out two months for the records to come back from any Department, in this country that would be very interesting. It will not be the Minister but rather the independent assessor and they must then make the judgment within two months of that. I would welcome that. The Minister has set himself a high bar. In addition to access to the National Archives, the other main one is the military services records as well. There are records there. There were people who were not necessarily court-martialed but were cashiered out of the Defence Forces rather than being charged. They would have those records in personnel files. This is not to add a burden; it is just to make sure. It might just be a provision at the end of the list of the public bodies that says, \"and any other public body that the independent assessor deems fit\". I do not know whether that would cover it. It is just in case there are instances because it might be people in the Coast Guard or in other services. I am not an expert on all of this because, as I said, when one researches this, the research is quite closed. It is welcome that we are trying to close a very dark chapter in our history. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  I just have a few brief comments to make. The issue in relation to the pre-1922 convictions is obviously different to what the working group said, which is a pity and the previous speaker spoke about military archives as well. How do we deal with that?  The working group proposed a dedicated independent body as the first contact, modelled on the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, IHREC. This is the first time we are getting this component of the legislation put into this Bill. We will not go back and talk about that again. However, was that something the Minister considered or does everything have to be transmitted through the Department of justice and the Minister himself? Everything is basically being routed one way. Does the Minister think that is the best way of doing it? If that is going to be the Minister's style with regard to everything, that is fine. In many other scenarios they would have gone through some form of independent process to cross-check and review everything one step away. Ministers usually like to be one step away but in fairness to the Minister in this case, he is right in there. On having no first point-of-contact body with support and advocacy, it is more the advocacy part of it that I am on about. There will be a lot of emotion in this regard in many cases and there is no standing panel of assessors.  The working group also proposed a hierarchical but flexible approach regarding representatives for deceased people. The query relates to the structure that is there for immediate family members, including cohabitants and partners, having a priority. If nobody immediate is willing to put forward the case for somebody, can somebody who is a close friend do it? Is there any process? I ask because there will be circumstances like that, given the nature of what we are discussing. Is there any potential pathway for somebody to act on behalf of somebody who is deceased to honour their wish, if there was a wish, for this to be dealt with?  The working group also devoted a dedicated chapter in the form of statements as the mechanism for cases where records no longer exist or are insufficient. It made specific recommendations on how such statements should be sought and assessed but the Bill does not contain an equivalent provision. So, there is no express mechanism for disregarding a conviction where no records can be found. Independent persons may seek information from public bodies but there is no formal statement procedure as a substitute where a person or persons would make a formal statement but where there are no records.  There can be reasons why records cannot be found, which the Minister has spoken about himself before in relation to other matters. Is there a process where the Minister could consider that formal statements could constitute a submission to this? He might look at that in the Seanad because I think it is probably the most important point I am going to make here as regards any amendments to this.  The review process the Minister has proposed in relation to a 28-day timeline is fine but it is different from what the review said as well.  I have a couple of final points. The working group recommended that the State apology of 2018 be reiterated on the launch of this scheme, and that individualised letters of apology from the Minister be provided to successful applicants. That is not in the Bill. Is that something the Minister would consider? It is quite an emotional issue, so I think it would be very nice. It is not a must-do but it would be a nice thing to do, in fairness, given the topic we are talking about.  The working group also recommended a fixed time limit for making applications. The Bill imposes a 24-month limitation period but I have read there that the Minister has discretion to extend that, so that is probably okay.  They are my honest contributions. There may be a couple of issues there, particularly in relation to where statements could be made in support where there is no documentation available. The Minister might consider that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  I will keep it brief because I do not want to reiterate the points that have already been made. The Minister might be able to answer me: is he still open to making amendments at the Seanad stage in regard to improving some aspects of the Bill? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I am. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  He is. I thank the Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I thank the Deputies for their contributions. I will start with Deputy \u00d3 Snodaigh. Like him and other Deputies, I should also commend people who are not Members of the Oireachtas but who really led the campaign to see this injustice righted, in particular, Karl Hayden and Kieran Rose. I commend them and acknowledge the excellent work they did.  Deputies \u00d3 Snodaigh and Kelly have both asked why the Bill does not apply to convictions prior to 1922. As I said to Deputy \u00d3 Snodaigh earlier on, I have a very strong view that this State does not have responsibility for convictions that were imposed when Ireland was a colony of the United Kingdom. We were not autonomous in exercising and operating our own criminal justice system. Consequently, it would be dishonest and inappropriate for us to go back and say that we have a responsibility for what happened prior to the declaration of the Irish Republic. Really, 1922 is the year that is picked because that is the time when, in effect and notwithstanding the earlier declaration of the Republic, that Irish people became responsible for their own affairs and we operated our own criminal justice system. That is the reason I made the policy decision, and got the approval of the Government, that we would not be going back into the 18th or 19th centuries and issuing pardons to people where we have no liability for what happened to them. Tone and Emmet were convicted of high treason. Are we going to say that we, in some way, are responsible for their convictions and that consequently we could pardon them? I do not think so.  Deputy \u00d3 Snodaigh also mentioned the court documents. The court documents are going to be extremely important. I agree with him in respect of that.  Deputy Kelly spoke about the pre-1922 convictions and I have already answered. He spoke about there not being an independent body but it is going through the Department of justice. There will obviously be independent people appointed as reviewers but I think this is the most efficient way to get it operating, acted out and achieving the objective as quickly as possible. I do not want to set up some separate statutory agency that has glossy reports, takes a year to get up and running and has PR. We just want to get this thing done and this is the best mechanism by which to do it. There is an independent process in respect of it.  I agree with Deputy Kelly about advocacy being very important. That is why we will be advertising this scheme. I know everyone in this House will co-operate in regard to making people aware of it.  Deputy Kelly also asked if I would give consideration to repeating the apology of 2018. I will consider that and listen to what Deputies and people outside have to say. However, I have to say that if you keep repeating an apology, it sometimes lessens the significance of the original apology. I thought that apology in 2018 was very significant and I do not want to take away from it.  Deputy Gannon asked if I was open to considering amendments in the Seanad. Of course I am----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  I refer to the query on statements. Will the Minister accept them if there is no record? That is most important. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  Yes. It could be the case that there are no records. The scheme is flexible enough to permit statements.  Another thing the Deputy mentioned was the friend. There is a very broad definition of a \"relative\", which is contained in the scheme and in section 42. This is going to apply in respect of a deceased person. There are mechanisms whereby it could be considered. The person may have nominated a person who is not a relative to make the application on their behalf after they are deceased. However, legislation necessarily discriminates. You identify a group of people that you want to try to benefit. There may be hard cases at the edges and I will give consideration to that in advance of the Seanad but the primary purpose of the Bill is, I think, sound in regard to the ability of people who are living to make an application and also for persons who are nominated by them to make an application on their behalf, or the \"relative\" definition. It is a very broad definition of \"relative\" that includes grand-nephews, grand-nieces and others involved. That is why it is important to make people aware of this scheme. There are people who may not be aware that they have a great-uncle who was convicted and they could bring the application. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  I did not intend to come back in but the Minister said something I profoundly disagree with. On the idea of having the cut-off at 1922 because the State should not be responsible for what happened when it was a colony, the Minister began his contributions earlier on by talking about how he inherited this system from the UK. It is not like we radically transformed the system right afterwards. What we did was maintain it, enforce it and became part of it. The idea might be that we must have a cut-off time because we cannot be responsible for what happened when we were a colony, but we did not deviate from it one iota when we were not. In regard to how we treated people, the Minister said that we inherited the system----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  Judges were appointed by the Crown. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  -----but we also maintained the system. A person who was imprisoned in 1921 for what were homosexual offences at the time would still have been in prison in 1922 or potentially in 1923.  We have become custodians of our own history. We cannot just draw a line. If the Government is not going to apologise, we can find the means by which we can honour, acknowledge, respect and say that we became complicit because it was not like we changed tack. We had this system right up until 1993, so I think we could find a way of acknowledging it. I appreciate we cannot do something about what happened when were a colony but we can acknowledge and honour the fact that we did not deviate when we were not straight afterwards. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Cathal Crowe)  Pursuant to Standing Order 194(3), it is reported to the D\u00e1il that the Long Title has now been amended. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Bill reported with amendments."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Cathal Crowe)  Amendment Nos. 4, 7 and 69 are related and will now be discussed together. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I move amendment No. 4:  In page 8, line 9, after \u201c1997,\u201d to insert \u201cthe Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005,\u201d.  Amendment No. 69 inserts a new section into the Bill to amend Schedule 5 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 in order to add the Courts Service to the Schedule. This will mean that the Courts Service will be a specified body for the purposes of specified provisions of the 2005 Act relating to the personal public service number, PPSN, and thereby enabled to use the PPSN where permitted in accordance with the 2005 Act.  Section 20 of the 2020 miscellaneous provisions Act, which provides an enabling basis for the transmission of documents and information by electronic means to and from courts and civil proceedings, envisaged the use of the personal public service number, PPSN, to verify the identity of persons transmitting documents and information by electronic means. This is also envisaged in court rules made pursuant to section 20. However, the 2005 Act was not consequentially amended by the 2020 Act to add the Courts Service to Schedule 5. This amendment addresses that gap and means that the identity of relevant court users can be authenticated via the PPSN as envisaged by the 2020 Act.  Amendment No. 4 amends the Long Title consequential on the insertion of the new section. Amendment No. 7 amends section 1(4) of the Bill to provide that the amendment to the 2005 Act, along with the amendment of the Defence Act 1954 in Part 4 of the Bill - introduced on Committee Stage - will be commenced on enactment rather than by ministerial order.  I want to flag that I am considering further commencement of the Bill generally and that subject to this consideration, I may introduce amendments in the Seanad to enable other provisions in the Bill to commence on enactment rather than by ministerial order. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  On the family law section, I want to raise one issue with the Minister. I was the beneficiary of the criminal legal aid scheme for many years. Concerns have been expressed by people who are on the scheme. As the Minister knows, a flat fee payment is coming in from 1 July and people will only be paid at the very end, when a case finishes in court. If people appear once or if they appear 20 times, they will only be paid at the very end. There are scenarios, particularly for vulnerable people, children, and people who do not have English as a first language, where the cases go on and on, sometimes appearing 12, 15 or 20 times, and those representing them are only paid once. We saw with the family law courts, in Kerry, for example, that there are only three or four solicitors left on the scheme after the introduction of a flat fee. Will the Minister review where people appear more than five or six times, because there could be a scenario where someone represents someone eight, nine or even ten times, then the client changes solicitor, and the new solicitor could get paid for one appearance and the person who has been there eight or nine times is not paid at all? There will be learnings from it. From the family law courts, just learn that the number of people representing has gone down. Just like in family law, where it is important that people receive representation and there is access to justice, it is the same with criminal law cases. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  In fairness to Deputy Daly, it would be a bit rich of me if I objected to him raising a matter that is outside the scope of the Bill, since the Bill is so broad in any event. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  It must be the only thing that is outside the scope of the Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I hear what Deputy Daly says. The scheme that is being brought in on 1 July is designed to improve efficiencies in the criminal legal aid scheme and the District Court. I fully appreciate the important role played by solicitors under that scheme. I have met the Law Society and Bar Council in respect of it. The system would be greatly improved and there will still be proper payment for solicitors in the very significant work that is done in the District Court. I will take into account what the Deputy said. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  On what basis is the Minister making the assumption that the scheme would be improved? Nobody else but the Minister seems to believe it. The Law Society and the Bar Council do not believe it. I have not seen any research that points to it. In fact, the evidence that those in the system would have says that we will have to develop another two-tier criminal system where those who can afford to pay will get better treatment, and because the system is no longer not only profitable but also, realistically, workable, people will be lost from the criminal justice system. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I am conscious that we have many amendments to get through. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  Do not guillotine it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  If Deputy Gannon wants to table it as a Topical Issue matter, I am happy to come in. The scheme that operates at present means that people get \u20ac260 for the first appearance and \u20ac60 for every appearance after that. That incentivises inefficiencies. Research has been completed in the Department that shows that the hearing of criminal cases in the District Court which are governed by the criminal legal aid scheme moves much more slowly than those which do not have the benefit of the criminal legal aid scheme. There are a number of anomalies, as I am sure the Deputy is aware, with certificates being granted for a whole series of offences in respect of the same person or indeed for a whole group of defendants who are effectively accused of the same type of offences and the same issue. I can assure Deputy Gannon that it needs to be reformed, but I am happy to come back to discuss it with him if he wants to table it as a Topical Issue matter. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Cathal Crowe)  Amendments Nos. 5, 6, 70 and 71 are all related and may be discussed together. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I move amendment No. 5:  In page 8, line 11, to delete \u201cand\u201d and substitute \u201c, the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023,\u201d.  Amendments Nos. 70 and 71 are small technical amendments to both the Family Courts Act 2024 and the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 that are necessary ahead of the standing up of the first family courts next year. The amendments are to fix a legislative lacuna that will otherwise arise when certain provisions of the Family Courts Act 2024 are commenced. The commencement of section 5 of the 2024 Act will repeal provisions of certain enactments, including sections 40 and 40A of the Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004, which provides for the in camera rule of proceedings under relevant enactments as defined in section 39 of the Act. Included in relevant enactments is section 37 of the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023, which provides for the in camera rule to apply to court proceedings under sections 28 to 30 of that Act, which in turn relates to applications for civil orders where there is the fear of violence or where serious alarm or distress is being caused by a person's behaviour. When I commence sections 96 and 97 of the 2024 Act, they will replace the repeal provisions and relevant enactments will be defined in section 95 of the 2024 Act. However, section 37 of the 2023 Act has not been defined as a relevant enactment for the purposes of the 2024 Act. That is why it is therefore necessary to make these technical but important amendments to fix this lacuna.  Amendments Nos. 5 and 6 amend the Long Title, consequential on the insertion of the new sections to amend the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act and the Family Courts Act 2024. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I move amendment No. 6:  In page 8, line 12, after \u201c2023\u201d to insert \u201cand the Family Courts Act 2024\u201d. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I move amendment No. 7:  In page 8, line 25, after \u201cAct\u201d to insert \u201c(other than Part 4 and section 44 )\u201d. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Bill recommitted in respect of amendment No. 8."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I move amendment No. 8:  In page 8, to delete line 31 and substitute the following:  \u201c \u201cAct of 2007\u201d means the Prisons Act 2007;  \u201cAct of 2017\u201d means the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017;\u201d. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Bill reported with amendment."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  I move amendment No. 9:  In page 9, between lines 2 and 3, to insert the following:   PART 2  AMENDMENT OF POLICING, SECURITY AND COMMUNITY SAFETY ACT 2024   Amendment of Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024   4. The Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 is amended by the insertion of the following section after section 98:   \u201cIntimidation   98A. A person who attempts in any way to coerce or intimidate a member, or any other person, in connection with the performance by the member of his or her functions as such a member shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable\u2014  (a) on summary conviction, to a class A fine or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months, or to both, or  (b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine not exceeding \u20ac30,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years, or to both.\u201d.\u201d.  We spoke about this previously and the Minister said he would look at it, so I gave him time to look at it. I did not see anything coming forward in relation to this. We are trying to ensure that if members of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na or their family members are intimidated in any way in the performance of their duties, this would be an offence. We know very well, given what has happened in the recent past in our jurisdiction, with the way in which garda\u00ed and their family members have been treated, with their houses having been targeted and how, at its national conference, the GRA referred to the manner in which members of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na have received significant intimidation when going about their lives off duty, that their capacity to function and perform as garda\u00ed has been affected. The Minister said that, as part of this miscellaneous Bill, which we have spoken about as so wide-ranging, that he would look at this with regard to this Stage. I am wondering if he has looked at it. I took on board what he said previously, but I resubmitted the amendment on the basis that he said he would look at it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I did say that and I looked at it. I support the intention behind the legislation to ensure that there is legal recognition of the fact that garda\u00ed deserve to be protected. My problem was that I need to have broader consideration of the legislative proposal in light of other legislation that exists at present. For instance, one of the things that was brought to my attention was that section 19 of the public order Act provides substantive protections for members of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and other peace officers such as prison officers and members of the fire brigade in the execution of their respective duties. If I am going to introduce this provision, I am going to have to think of what the response will be from those other emergency workers or people who are involved in the prison service or fire brigade. Section 91 of the 1994 Act provides that any person who assaults or threatens to assault a peace officer, including a member of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, is guilty of an offence.  There are very significant penalties there. On summary conviction a fine not exceeding \u20ac5,000 or a term of imprisonment of 12 months and on indictment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 years or both or a fine at the discretion of the court. It is an issue I am worried about. I cannot just put it in now because I need to consider the impact on other workers and groups but I will give the Deputy the commitment that I will give further consideration to it. I know he will not be hesitant about bringing this forward again. It is something I am aware of. The mischief is there where some people are becoming increasingly aggressive to An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na notwithstanding the fact that we all know the overwhelming majority of Irish people are very supportive of the Garda. I cannot accept the amendment at this Stage. I would need to give it more consideration, I am afraid, but I will not run away from it in the future. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  I take the Minister's word for it. I will pursue this issue. I honestly believe we need to reach another bar not only when it comes to garda\u00ed but all uniformed personnel. I am thinking of the intimidation of uniformed personnel in this country and the manner in which they are being treated, including off duty, and the way in which their families and homes are potentially targeted. We have reached a different threshold in relation to this issue in this country and we need to deal with it. There needs to be respect. The people who wear the uniforms obviously need to have respect as well and the great majority do. I am bringing this forward because I believe there is a need for it and the GRA has asked for it.  In conjunction with that, in order to protect An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, we also need to bring in legislation for pursuit and offences for pursuit where garda\u00ed are being prosecuted on their own licences on the basis of pursuits. In some cases that is really wrong.  On the basis of what the Minister said, that he will bring something forward, I will withdraw the amendment. If he does not I will and I hope he will support it. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment, by leave, withdrawn."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Cathal Crowe)  Amendment No. 10, in the name of Deputy Kelly, has been deemed out of order. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment No. 10 not moved."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  I move amendment No. 11:  In page 9, between lines 2 and 3, to insert the following:  \u201cPART 2  AMENDMENT OF NON-FATAL OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON ACT 1997   Amendment of Non-Fatal Offences against the Person Act 1997   4. The Non-Fatal Offences against the Person Act 1997 is amended by the insertion of the  following section:   \u201cObstructing free movement of member of House of Oireachtas   9A. A person who, by violent means or any form of intimidation and without lawful authority, obstructs or impedes the freedom of movement to or from any place of a member of either House of the Oireachtas is guilty of an offence and is liable\u2014  (a) on summary conviction to a class A fine or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both, or  (b) on conviction on indictment to a fine or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or to both.\u201d.\u201d.  This relates to the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. It inserts a provision which relates to every one of us in the D\u00e1il as well as Ministers and Senators. It relates to the obstruction of the free movement of Members of Houses of the Oireachtas. This is particularly pertinent because societally everything has changed. There has been numerous cases where people in this House have not been able to go about their business. We all know there are constitutional protections in relation to access to and from D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann but there are also cases where Members of this House, including members of the Government in recent times, have been restricted in their movements for a period of time and the manner by which some people dealt with them was far from acceptable and An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na may not have been available at the time.  This amendment makes it an offence to deliberately, and for an ongoing period, obstruct free movement of Members of the Houses of Oireachtas so that a person who, by violent means or any form of intimidation and without lawful authority, obstructs or impedes the freedom of movement to or from any place of a member of either House of the Oireachtas is guilty of an offence. I can guess the Minister\u2019s response will be that this will also need broader consideration but my party and I believe that we need to look broadly at how we will ensure that people who are elected to these Houses can go about their business as representatives of the people of this country, while respecting protest, without being intimidated or unlawfully dealt with or violently threatened in any way, shape or form. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  Unfortunately because of the way the Minister has framed this debate, a 90-minute debate is just not enough. It is not fair because there have already been lots of amendments which Deputies would have wished to speak for.  I want to put on the record that I do not support Deputy Kelly\u2019s amendment. Anybody who is preventing others by unlawful means, whether by obstructing them or impeding their freedom of movement, should be held to account before the law. It should not matter whether the person who is being impeded is a Member of the Oireachtas or not. I do not believe that in a republic you provide particular privileges to Members of the Houses. The Constitution has provision which protects unimpeded access to this House in order to fulfil our constitutional duties and I think it would send out the wrong signal if the Oireachtas was to pass legislation protecting Members of the Houses and not others.  Returning to my point about time, this debate started 40 minutes ago. We have only 90 minutes to deal with a wide range of areas. I do not know if it is in order but will the Minister propose an amendment to the Order of Business to extend this debate to ensure that particularly the debate we all want to have on counselling notes will have sufficient time? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  I ask Deputy Kelly to withdraw this amendment for a number of reasons. We are giving out about things being added onto this Bill. Here is another important issue being added on at this Stage.  I do not agree with the amendment. As much of a nuisance as it is going in and out of this D\u00e1il on many an occasion, I do not agree we should curb civil liberties and the right to protest late at night without proper discussion in this D\u00e1il. This would introduce something that would remove any form of intimidation which can be interpreted in lots of ways.  We are here in a disgraceful situation - and it is not the Deputy\u2019s fault, it is the Minister\u2019s fault \u2013 where there are survivors of sexual and gender-based violence in the Gallery tonight. They have been campaigning for a year and have spoken to the justice committee. I was told by the Taoiseach earlier today that they would have their issues heard. He said extra time had been added on but it added on extra time to other issues but not this issue. There are very important issues under discussion here, and I am not blaming any Deputy for raising them, but we are going to be in a situation that, unless the Minister agrees now to extend this debate, survivors will leave this Chamber with this Bill rammed through without any of their amendments heard, without the Rape Crisis Centre\u2019s amendments heard and lots of other issues. I think that is an absolute shame and it would send a horrifically bad message out about how this Government treats the issue of gender-based violence. I need to jump in now and support the call for the Order of Business to be changed. This is an absolute disgrace. I have never seen anything like it in my years in the D\u00e1il. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Cathal Crowe)  The Deputy has made her point. We have to try to speak to the amendment but I hear what she has said. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I am not supportive of Deputy Kelly\u2019s amendment. I do not find it frequently the case that my access or the access of many colleagues coming in and out of the Houses of the Oireachtas is blocked. I do not recall ever being blocked coming in or out. I suppose the purpose of it is to say we do not tolerate intimidation of elected Members of the Oireachtas and I think that is valid.  It is important to point out that I am aware that since October 2022, there have been approximately ten convictions of people for intimidation or violence against Members of the Oireachtas or people associated with it. We all know the case involving the T\u00e1naiste, there was a case in respect of the Taoiseach and one in respect of Deputy McDonald. If people start intimidating politicians online the law is there to meet them and if people start to intimidate or harass politicians, or anyone else, physically the law is there and the law is responding to it fairly vigorously. The laws in place are sufficient to ensure that happens. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Cathal Crowe)  Does the Deputy wish to press the amendment? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  I will save time. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment, by leave, withdrawn."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I move amendment No. 12:  In page 10, line 38, to delete \u201cPrisons Act 2007\u201d and substitute \u201cAct of 2007\u201d. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Cathal Crowe)  Amendments Nos. 13 and 14 are related and will be discussed together. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I move amendment No. 13:  In page 14, to delete lines 25 to 40, and in page 15, to delete lines 1 and 2.  This amendment seeks to delete lines 25 to 40. Back in April at the height of what are now called the fuel protests, the Minister added fuel to a volatile situation. He essentially called for the Defence Forces to be deployed to assist garda\u00ed in removing fuel protest blockades. It was a serious escalation and provocation at a time when the Government should have been focusing, and all Ministers, particularly the Minister for justice, should have been focusing on de-escalating the protests. We then had a situation a few weeks later. Out of the blue there were amendments brought forward by the Minister for Defence, added to the Minister for justice, to expand the deployment of Defence Forces under aid to civil power. There has been no explanation as to what happened to bring this situation about. When the Minister for Defence was before the justice committee on Committee Stage, she was completely evasive or ignorant. She was certainly unable to answer specific questions on why now and what additionality would be allowed or provided to the Defence Forces that is currently not provided in law. We do not know where the impetus to make these changes came from at this time, and why they are being made in such a rushed manner as part of a miscellaneous Bill, which as we have already discussed, covers a huge range of unrelated matters.  We have been clear in Sinn F\u00e9in. There are issues, particularly regarding our naval services, contained in these measures that we fully support. We support the concept in principle of aid to civil power. However, we also believe there has to be utmost accountability and transparency. There are serious concerns about what the Government and the justice and Defence Ministers are bringing forward and why they are doing it in the manner they are. The provisions on aid to civil power raise serious questions as to whether the Government, in an underhand way, is trying to amend the law so it can become common practice for the Defence Forces to be used for the policing of protests. We know An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na is the primary civilian policing authority, and any Defence Forces support has to remain exceptional, timebound and tightly controlled. Amendment No. 13 proposes the deletion of the provision in the Bill regarding aid to civil power. If those powers are needed, let us deal with them where they should be dealt with as part of a defence Bill where there can be proper scrutiny by the sectoral committee responsible for that and proper analysis of what exactly the Government is proposing and why. The Government should tell the Minister for Defence to bring forward a Bill that deals with that.  Amendment No. 14 would require an annual report and review of these sections in the event that the Government refuses to accept amendment No. 13, to allow a bit of democratic scrutiny of something that is crucially important. It deals with the policing of protests and many other areas. There are huge concerns about this provision. It is not so much what is in the provision as why it has been brought forward in the manner it has been. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I was at the committee hearing as well, as was Deputy Carthy. He got a straight answer from the Minister for Defence when she told him that these proposals were put before the Government before any fuel protest. His suggestion that there is an attempt to link them is completely untenable. I will deal promptly with this because, like others, I want to get to the counselling notes amendment, which is amendment No. 17. I am not going to accept amendments Nos. 13 and 14. I think it is appropriate that the legislation should make express provision for the long-standing role of the Defence Forces when they assist the garda\u00ed. I think that aid to civil power role is better off being set out on a statutory basis. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I ask the Minister not to be disingenuous by talking about wanting to get to the counselling notes issue. He has been asked by two Members to ask the Chief Whip to come in to amend the Order of Business to give more time. I have decided against every instinct in my body not to call a vote on this amendment, which I think it is crucially important. The reason I am not going to call a vote is because of the people in the Gallery and their right to hear this House discuss a matter of utmost importance that has come about as a result of them telling us their personal testimonies. I ask the Minister not to be so disingenuous. However, I will be calling a final vote on this Bill, and I will be voting against it. The primary reasons for that vote will be the manner in which this has been brought forward; the Minister's entire attitude towards this debate; and his decision - it was the Minister's decision - to curtail this entire debate. There is a myriad of measures involved here, with new provisions added at the last minute to a 90-minute debate. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared lost."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I move amendment No. 14:  In page 15, between lines 17 and 18, to insert the following:   \u201cReview and annual reporting on operation of Part IIIA   40D. (1) The Minister shall, in respect of each calendar year, carry out a review of the operation of this Part.  (2) A review under subsection (1) shall include an assessment of the exercise of powers under sections 40A, 40B and 40C, including the frequency and circumstances of their use.  (3) The Minister shall, as soon as practicable after the completion of a review under subsection (1), prepare and publish a report containing anonymised data relating to\u2014  (a) the number of occasions on which powers under sections 40A, 40B and 40C were exercised,  (b) the general nature of the operations or deployments concerned,  (c) the use of force in the exercise of those powers, and  (d) any other information the Minister considers appropriate for ensuring transparency in the operation of this Part.  (4) The Minister shall cause a copy of a report under this section to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as practicable after its publication.\u201d.\u201d. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared lost."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Cathal Crowe)  Amendments Nos. 15 and 16 are related and will be discussed together. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I move amendment No. 15:  In page 17, line 33, to delete \u201cparagraph\u201d where it firstly occurs and substitute \u201cparagraphs\u201d.  I will again be brief because I want to get to the next section, which is really important. This section is also important. Amendments Nos. 15 and 16 were proposed by a group of academic researchers and experts in probation services. Most of them gave their time to the joint committee as witnesses. They are experts in community sanctions, judicial attitudes, sentences and use of research and evidence in criminal justice policy. I know they sent these amendments to the Minister. I withdrew them on Committee Stage because he said he would consider bringing something forward himself. I will not argue the rest of the case. I want to hear if the Minister has considered bringing forward similar amendments. If he has not, what is the reason for not doing so? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I considered it, and my concern is that the proposed amendment is seeking to merge and align community service and probation. The Deputy knows they are different statutory regimes. The Probation of Offenders Act deals with a court being able to dispose of a summary offence either by dismissing the charge or by discharging the offender conditionally. Obviously, community service is something different. Having given it consideration, I thought the way the amendment was drafted was merging those two schemes inappropriately. They are distinct. I identify the objective of what the Deputy is doing, and I have no difficulty working with him in the future on proposals to ensure we have schemes in place in respect of community service and community sanctions. The Deputy also knows there are a lot of provisions in this Bill that deal with that, but I cannot accept the amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  It is ironic that the Minister is talking about merging Acts. He has merged a whole panoply of issues into one Bill here. I listened to the previous debate, and he wanted to squash everything in. I am sure there was a way to get this done. I will bring something forward on this again in my own time, probably as Private Members' business. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared lost."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I move amendment No. 16:  In page 18, between lines 3 and 4, to insert the following:  \u201c(ab) Where a court, by or before which an offender stands convicted, is of opinion that the appropriate sentence in respect of the offence of which the offender is convicted would, but for this Act, be one of imprisonment for a period of 24 months or less, and where, having considered in accordance with subsection (3) whether to make a community service order, decides not to make such an order, the court shall, as an alternative to that sentence, consider whether to make a probation order in respect of the offender and the court may, if satisfied, in relation to the offender, that such an order is appropriate, make a probation order in accordance with this section.  (ac) Where a court, having considered in accordance with paragraph (a) whether to make a probation order, decides not to make such an order, it shall give reasons for its decision.\u201d,\u201d. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared lost."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Cathal Crowe)  Amendments Nos. 17 to 20, inclusive, 22 to 26, inclusive, and 65 are related and will be discussed together. Amendments Nos. 18 to 20, exclusive, are physical alternatives to amendment No. 17. Amendments Nos. 19 and 20 are physical alternatives to amendment No. 18. Amendment No. 20 is a physical alternative to amendment No. 19. Amendment No. 65 is consequential on amendment No. 20. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  I move amendment No. 17:  In page 18, to delete lines 31 to 35, to delete pages 19 to 22, and in page 23, to delete lines 1 to 18 and substitute the following:   \u201cAmendment of section 19A of Criminal Evidence Act 1992   16. (1) The Criminal Evidence Act 1992 is amended by the substitution of the following section for section 19A:   \u201cDisclosure of third-party records in certain trials   19A. (1) In this section\u2014  \u2018Act of 1950\u2019 means the Nurses Act 1950;  \u2018Act of 1985\u2019 means the Nurses Act 1985;  \u2018Act of 1995\u2019 means the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995;  \u2018Act of 2005\u2019 means the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005;  \u2018Act of 2011\u2019 means the Nurses and Midwives Act 2011;  \u2018applicable record\u2019, in relation to criminal proceedings for a sexual offence, means a child protection record, a counselling record, a medical record or a social work record\u2014  (a) in relation to which there is a reasonable expectation of privacy,  (b) which was not compiled for the purposes of, or in contemplation of, the investigation into, or the prosecution of, the sexual offence concerned, and  (c) whether or not the service the subject of the record was provided for remuneration;  \u2018child protection\u2019 means an intervention or a series of interventions designed to safeguard children from abuse, neglect, violence, exploitation or harm and to promote their safety, wellbeing and rights;  \u2018child protection professional\u2019 means a person who has undertaken training or study resulting in a qualification, or who has professional experience, relevant to child protection;  \u2018child protection record\u2019 means any record, or part of a record, made by any means, by a person who was a child protection professional at the time of the making of the record, in the course of investigating or managing concerns, or carrying out assessments or interventions, in relation to the safety, welfare, or protection of a complainant when the complainant was a child;  \u2018competent person\u2019 means a person who has undertaken training or study or has experience relevant to the process of counselling;  \u2018complainant\u2019 means a person in respect of whom a sexual offence is alleged to have been committed;  \u2018counselling\u2019 means listening to and giving verbal or other support or encouragement to a person, or advising or providing therapy or other treatment to a person;  \u2018counselling record\u2019 means any record, or part of a record, made by any means, by a competent person in connection with the provision of counselling to a complainant;  \u2018court\u2019 means the District Court, Circuit Criminal Court or the Central Criminal Court;  \u2018disclosure application\u2019 has the meaning assigned to it by subsection (2);  \u2018medical professional\u2019 means\u2014  (a) a registered medical practitioner,  (b) a registered nurse, or  (c) a registered midwife;  \u2018medical record\u2019 means any record, or part of a record, made by any means, relating to the medical treatment of a complainant by, or ordered or initiated by, a person who was a medical professional at the time of the making of the record;  \u2018registered medical practitioner\u2019, in relation to a particular point in time, means a person\u2014  (a) who was a registered medical practitioner within the meaning of section 2 of the Medical Practitioners Act 2007,  (b) whose name was entered in the General Register of Medical Practitioners established under section 26 of the Medical Practitioners Act 1978, or  (c) who was registered in the Register of Medical Practitioners prepared and established under the Medical Practitioners Act 1927,  at that point in time;  \u2018registered midwife\u2019, in relation to a particular point in time, means a person whose name was entered in\u2014  (a) the midwives division of the register of nurses and midwives established under section 46(1) of the Act of 2011,  (b) the midwives division of the register of nurses established under section 27 of the Act of 1985, or  (c) the midwives division of the register of nurses maintained under section 41 of the Act of 1950,  at that point in time;  \u2018registered nurse\u2019, in relation to a particular point in time, means a person\u2014  (a) whose name was entered in the nurses division of the register of nurses and midwives established under section 46(1) of the Act of 2011,  (b) other than a registered midwife, whose name was entered in the register of nurses established under section 27 of the Act of 1985,  (c) other than a registered midwife, whose name was entered in the register of nurses maintained under section 41 of the Act of 1950, or  (d) who was registered in the register kept in pursuance of the Nurses Registration (Ireland) Act 1919,  at that point in time;  \u2018sexual offence\u2019 means an offence referred to in the Schedule to the Sex Offenders Act 2001;  \u2018social care worker\u2019\u2014  (a) in relation to a particular point in time prior to the establishment under section 36 of the Act of 2005 of the register of members of the profession of social care worker, means a person who was practising as such and who held a qualification that is listed opposite the profession of social care worker in the third column of Schedule 3 to the Act of 2005 or a qualification that is a corresponding qualification, within the meaning of Part 9 of that Act, to that qualification, or  (b) in relation to a particular point in time following the establishment of that register, means a person whose name was entered in that register,  at that point in time;  \u2018social worker\u2019\u2014  (a) in relation to a particular point in time prior to the establishment under section 36 of the Act of 2005 of the register of members of the profession of social worker, means a person who was practising as such and who held a qualification that is listed opposite the profession of social worker in the third column of Schedule 3 to the Act of 2005 or a qualification that is a corresponding qualification, within the meaning of Part 9 of that Act, to that qualification, or  (b) in relation to a particular point in time following the establishment of that register, means a person whose name was entered in that register,  at that point in time;  \u2018social work record\u2019 means any record, or part of a record, made by any means, by a person who was a social worker or social care worker at the time of the making of the record, as part of a professional practice relating to assessing or supporting the welfare of a complainant or any related intervention by the social worker or social care worker.  (2) There shall be a presumption against the disclosure of all applicable records. The presumption against disclosure may only be rebutted in accordance with subsection (11) and (12), furthermore\u2014  (a) applicable records may not be disclosed to the accused in proceedings for a sexual offence without the leave of the court in accordance with this section, and  (b) no one shall request access to a counselling record nor shall a counselling record be disclosed to the prosecutor or to the accused in proceedings for a sexual offence without the leave of the court in accordance with this section.  (3) Where, in criminal proceedings for a sexual offence, the prosecutor or the accused is of the opinion that an applicable record ought to be disclosed to the accused under subsection (11), the prosecutor or the accused, as the case may be, shall make an application (in this section referred to as a \u2018disclosure application\u2019), in writing, to the court setting out\u2014  (a) the specific applicable record sought, or particulars identifying same,  (b) cogent reasons for seeking the applicable record which engage with the facts of the case, and  (c) the grounds relied upon to establish that it is likely to be relevant to an issue at trial.  (4) A disclosure application under subsection (2) must be made within 28 days of service of the book of evidence (or the service of a pr\u00e9cis of evidence in the District Court) and must be made on notice to the prosecutor or accused, as applicable.  (5) Where a disclosure application is made under subsection (3), the court shall consider the application and where it is satisfied that the grounds relied upon in the application\u2014  (a) establish that the record is likely to be relevant to an issue at trial, the court shall order that a hearing referred to in subsection (8) be held, or  (b) do not establish that the record is likely to be relevant to an issue at trial, the court shall refuse the application.  (6) Where the court orders, under subsection (5)(a), that a hearing referred to in subsection (8) be held\u2014  (a) the court may order that the person who has possession or control of the applicable record concerned shall produce the record to the prosecutor not later than the beginning of such period in advance of the hearing as may be prescribed in rules of court but the court may not make such an order in respect of counselling records,  (b) the court may order that the person who has possession or control of the applicable record concerned, including a counselling record, shall produce the applicable record to the court only, in a confidential manner as prescribed in rules of court, and not later than the beginning of such period in advance of the hearing as may be prescribed in rules of court, and  (c) without prejudice to subsection (7), the prosecutor shall, not later than the beginning of such period as may be prescribed in rules of court, notify the person who has possession or control of the applicable record concerned, the complainant, and any other person to whom the prosecutor believes the applicable record relates of the order of the court under subsection (5)(a) and, where applicable, paragraphs (a) and (b).  (7) The court may, at any time, order that a disclosure application be notified to any person to whom it believes the applicable record may relate.  (8) The court shall hold a hearing to determine whether the content of the applicable record should be disclosed to the accused.  (9) The person who has possession or control of the applicable record, the complainant and any other person to whom the applicable record relates shall be entitled to appear and be heard at the hearing referred to in subsection (8).  (10) In determining, at the hearing referred to in subsection (8), whether the content of the applicable record should be disclosed to the accused under subsection (11), the court shall take the following factors, in particular, into account:  (a) the extent to which the record is necessary for the accused to defend the charges against him or her;  (b) the probative value of the record;  (c) the reasonable expectation of privacy with respect to the record;  (d) the potential prejudice to the right to privacy of any person to whom the record relates;  (e) the public interest in encouraging the reporting of sexual offences;  (f) the public interest in encouraging complainants of sexual offences to engage with the provision of services by a child protection professional, a competent person, a medical professional, a social care worker or a social worker;  (g) the effect of the determination on the integrity of the trial process;  (h) the likelihood that disclosing, or requiring the disclosure of, the record will cause harm to the complainant including the nature and extent of that harm;  (i) whether disclosure of the applicable records is sought on the basis of a discriminatory belief or basis.  (11) Subject to subsections (12), (13) and (14), a court shall not, after the hearing referred to in subsection (8), order disclosure of the content of the applicable record concerned to the accused, and where applicable, the prosecutor, unless the court is satisfied, having examined the record, that\u2014  (a) the record is likely to be relevant to an issue at trial,  (b) the information contained in the record cannot reasonably be obtained by any other means, and  (c) one or both of the following apply:  (i) there would be a real risk of an unfair trial in the absence of such disclosure;  (ii) it is otherwise in the interests of justice to so order.  (12) The Court shall not order disclosure of the content of a counselling record to the accused, and where applicable, the prosecutor, unless the court is satisfied, having examined the record, that the information contained in the record cannot reasonably be obtained by any other means and there would be a real risk of an unfair trial in the absence of such disclosure.  (13) The provisions within this section are mandatory. However, a complainant may, either in response to an application under this section or of their own motion through their own legal representation, indicate their consent to the disclosure of an applicable record to the court. Such consent should be fully-informed, based on legal advice and should be given directly to the court. In the event that a complainant wishes to provide their consent of their own motion, such application should be made on notice to the prosecutor and the accused within 28 days of service of the book of evidence or the pr\u00e9cis of evidence as the case may be.  (14) (a) Where an order is made pursuant to subsection (11), (12) or (13), in the interests of justice and to protect the right to privacy of any person to whom the applicable record relates, the court shall only grant disclosure of such specific material as is strictly necessary and the court may impose any condition it considers necessary on the disclosure of the record.  (b) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (a), one or more of the following conditions may be included in an order made pursuant to subsection (11), (12) or (13)\u2014  (i) that a part of the content of the applicable record be redacted,  (ii) that a copy of the applicable record and not the original be disclosed,  (iii) that the applicable record be viewed only at the offices of the court,  (iv) that no copies, or only a limited number of copies, of the applicable record, be made,  (v) that information concerning the address, telephone number or place of employment of any person named in the applicable record be redacted from the record, or  (vi) that the applicable record be returned to the person who owns or controls the said record.  (c) An applicable record that is disclosed to the accused pursuant to subsection (11), (12) or (13) must only be used for the purposes of the criminal proceedings for which the record has been disclosed and may not be disclosed to any person without leave of the court.  (15) The court shall provide reasons for ordering, or refusing to order, disclosure of the content of an applicable record pursuant to subsection (11) or (12).  (16) Where, upon application by the accused, the court considers that the interests of justice require the making of a disclosure application after the period permitted in subsection (3), the court may direct that such an application may be made.  (17) For the purposes of a hearing pursuant to subsection (8), all persons, other than officers of the court, persons directly concerned in the hearing and such other persons (if any) as the court may determine, shall be excluded from the court during the hearing.  (18) In addition to the meaning assigned to that expression by section 27 of the Act of 1995, \u2018legal aid\u2019 in that Act means representation by a solicitor or barrister, engaged by the Legal Aid Board under section 11 of that Act, on behalf of a complainant or witness in relation to an application pursuant to this section.  (19) Where any applicable record or counselling record containing opinion, interpretation, or third-party summaries is admitted in evidence, the judge shall issue a warning to the jury that such material is indirect, interpretive, may contain factual errors and should not be treated as a verbatim account of the complainant\u2019s words or actions in particular where the complainant did not have any opportunity to review or correct such contents.  (20) The Minister shall, within 18 months of the commencement of this section, conduct a review of its operation and lay a report of that review before both Houses of the Oireachtas.\u201d.\u201d. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  How much time is left? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Cathal Crowe)  There are 26 minutes left. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  Okay. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  We should be spending hours discussing this instead of 26 minutes. I am not going to take up all the time because I have spoken on this at length in the committee. On behalf of the Labour Party, I am putting forward an amendment drafted by Lorcan Staines SC for the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre. It proposes a compromise to deal with this highly sensitive issue. Our justice committee had harrowing, very upsetting and detailed evidence given to us directly. Many of us in that portfolio will also have heard about it personally. There is a pendulum here that we have to deal with. We must consider the constitutionality of what we are trying to achieve. I respect that. However, we must also push it as far as we possibly can. That is what this amendment tries to do. When it comes to the actual detail, it is a question of the independent review panel and what is being proposed in the legislation versus the phrase the Minister has introduced, \"in the interests of justice\", which moved the pendulum. That is where the debate was the last day. We are back here without any change so I have submitted the amendment again.  In spirit, all of us, whether in government or opposition, are of the one mind as to how we need to deal with this. Counselling notes should not be used. It is as simple as that. As legislators, we need to ensure we deal with the issue in a manner that meets constitutional, legal and technical requirements. I am definitely not going to go through it in the same level of detail as I did on Committee Stage, but it is proposed that panel members would create a narrative and that there would be limitations on the information provided in that narrative. That is the format by which we should deal with counselling notes. As a consequence, victims would not be retraumatised and counsellors would be protected. That is what I am trying to achieve. That is what the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre and the Labour Party are trying to achieve. It is why we spent so much time supporting this, speaking on it and voting on it on Committee Stage.  I believe there is spiritual support for this within the Minister's own party and within the Government. We believe this extends to the limits of what is achievable constitutionally. It would address the issue of how to deal with counselling notes. It would also ensure that victims are protected. It meets all of the requirements we need to meet within the limitations of what we can do constitutionally. That is why I have pushed the amendment forward again. At this late hour, I ask the Minister to reconsider this and to look at it again because, as I said on Committee Stage, I do not think anybody is going to be happy with the way the Bill is currently drafted by Government. Even if they are willing to walk through and vote for it, I do not think the Minister's own Government colleagues will be happy. As an Opposition Member, I am trying to create a compromise and to ensure we have something we can all support. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  It seems a long time ago that the justice committee considered the heads of this criminal and civil law Bill. A lot more heads have been introduced since. One of our criticisms of the heads of the Bill was that there were huge aspects of the Bill we were not able to spend any time on. We did not get to deal with the sex-for-rent provisions and a whole load of other areas at all. We could only deal with written submissions. We discussed this aspect of the Bill quite a lot, however. There was cross-party agreement. The Minister will know that pre-legislative scrutiny reports sometimes get nodded through and that sometimes somebody proposes something without others realising. This was a considered debate and discussion and all members of that committee agreed that there should be a complete and unconditional ban on the use of counselling records in sexual offence trials.  We all have a responsibility in this area but, as Chairperson of that committee, I feel a particular responsibility to bring forward and stay true to that position and to outline how that decision was come to. Crucial to reaching that decision was listening to what victims and survivors had to say both through written testimony - there was quite extensive written testimony - and through oral evidence from organisations that have first-hand experience. I will particularly mention Hazel Behan, who addressed the committee and made a profound impact on all of us, leading to the position being agreed.  Survivors have strongly asserted and told us that the practice of their counselling notes being used in criminal trials, potentially in defence of the person who attacked them, causes severe psychological harm and heightens suicide risk. That is the evidence we heard. I have not heard a single person disagree with the need to protect the right to a fair trial, but we also have a duty to victims and survivors. We must also keep that duty at the heart of our justice system. That includes not subjecting victims and survivors to degrading treatment. That is what this is. It is degrading treatment if a person discusses their most personal, intimate details with a professional only for that professional's notes, however elaborate or otherwise, to be demanded by the courts, the purveyors of justice in this State, to be used to defend the person who was the reason that person needed counselling in the first place. It is absolute lunacy.  Banning the disclosure of counselling notes is about recognising that they are hearsay evidence. It is about rebalancing our justice system so that there is not only a fair trial but a fair justice system for victims and survivors. The amendment I have put forward, No. 18, provides for a full ban on the disclosure of counselling notes, because that is what is needed. We have discussed it at length. We have heard from victims and survivors. We have heard about the trauma of intimate details being shared.  I will also speak briefly to amendment No. 24, which seeks to remove the Minister's wording \"in the interests of justice\". Again, we discussed this in quite a lot of detail on Committee Stage. Above all else, that amendment to the original Bill brought forward by the Minister is the cause of concern. We all know that solicitors and barristers are going to have an absolute field day discussing that wording. We know that term will allow some defence attorneys to secure the counselling notes of some victims. That is why we have brought forward that amendment.  Amendment No. 25 is the last resort. It was submitted on the advice of Rape Crisis Ireland. It proposes that, in the event of these types of notes being brought forward, there would be a very clear instruction to jurors that they are hearsay evidence. I hope that would dissuade some defence counsel from seeking them in the first place. However, what is actually needed is that full and unconditional ban. That is what the Oireachtas committee recommended.  That is our job. We are tasked with analysing the heads of the Bill and bringing forward recommendations to the Minister. I express my sincere thanks for those people who have told their stories. I have mentioned this before. In order to save others from the trauma that they have gone through, they have told the world their most intimate details. They have gone beyond the counselling room to try to make that a safe place for others. I thank all of those, including some of them who are in the Gallery and many others whom I have had the privilege of meeting. I acknowledge and recognise Deputy Coppinger's effort throughout all of this. I say this to my shame, but the first time that I became aware that this was an issue was when Deputy Coppinger brought a Private Members' Bill before this House. It is not too often on a Thursday late evening debate that you are moved by an issue, but I was moved by an issue. The argument appeared unassailable then and it is still unassailable as far as I am concerned. Even at this late stage, and we have the Stages in the Seanad and all of the rest of it, I implore the Minister to find a way to make all of those efforts worthwhile and find a way to ban a cruel and inhumane practice. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  How much time have we got left? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Fifteen minutes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  There are other Deputies who wish to speak. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  There are two more Deputies if Deputy Coppinger wishes to go ahead. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  The situation is disgraceful that we are in. We are rushing and rushing on very important things. Everybody has already raised, including Deputy Carthy and others, about how important this issue was to the justice committee. This should not be happening. It is disgraceful. I have not seen a Bill being pushed through with so many different things in it in this way at this time. It could have been extended. I have been here for other debates that went on for much longer.  I acknowledge the survivors who are in the Gallery tonight, including Hazel Bean, Paula Doyle and Sophie Brady. Hazel and Paula in particular have been campaigning on this. Telling the story does not do justice. They have campaigned in a real way in so many different forums. Paula, for example, was recognised by the Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. Hazel testified to the justice committee but has campaigned and organised protests, photo stunts, press conferences and so on. Sophie, I hope she does not mind me saying, has not attended therapy because this law exists. That is shocking and disgraceful that a young woman cannot avail of something because of how it might be used against her in trial. People are having to choose between trial or therapy. Unfortunately, with the changes that Minister proposes, that still exists because the chilling effect is still there.  I wish to mention people who are not here and many who have been here before and packed out the Gallery: Lisa Marie, another survivor who has done a huge amount of work on this, and in particular, a therapist, Bairbre Kelly, who has paved the way in raising this in the professional bodies. Therapists and psychologists right until today have made a statement that the Minister's changes do not go far enough and he has not dealt with the issue at all. There are three options in front of us tonight but we do not have adequate time to debate them. There is the Minister's option, there is a total ban as advocated in my motion and another Sinn F\u00e9in motion, and then there are attempts by pretty much all of us to mitigate the damage that the Minister's proposal is still inflicting on complainants by asking the Minister to do what he promised to do, which is to put in a presumption of non-disclosure written into the law to make it much stronger. All the survivors have asked for that if the Bill is not going to ban it totally. There should be warnings issued by judges. Therapy is not evidence and these notes should have a massive health warning in any trial.  I want to deal with some of the issues. The Minister launched the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre's annual report which showed a massive increase in calls. All of the service organisations say the same. They are people who have made contact, but there are so many people who do not report anything, do not talk to anybody and do not pursue a legal case. One of the reasons is because of this type of situation that is hostile, intimidating and retraumatising and where their own personal thoughts can be used against them by the person who did the most horrific crime to them. There is no doubt about it that character references are another major problem. Nearly every survivor has come out from court and named this as being something that should be changed.  In Tasmania, which is an Australian state, they have a total ban where the complainant must give their consent. That is another thing that the Minister is removing with his proposal. We all that there was a problem with the waiver, but he is taking away agency completely. He is taking away the right to say \"No\" to having a complainant's notes being handed over. He is passing it directly over to a judge who, by the way, is not trained in analysing therapy notes, how therapy works - the fluid way that it works - and the way people can potentially say things that could be seized upon. He is also not introducing very high bars. I will run through some of the key things that the proposal does not deal with. The explicit presumption of non-disclosure should have been written in. The Bill does not require the accused to engage with the facts of the case at application stage. It is very loose to have that it might be relevant to an issue in the case. The Minister has put in a real risk of an unfair trial, but then has watered it down with this huge proposal of in the interests of justice, which any decent lawyer is going to argue exists. He continues the violating practice of raw counselling records and notes being handed to teams of lawyers and the accused. The Minister could have put huge barriers in the way. He promised to do that, but it is still not done. The system he is bringing in seems to mirror the Canadian model, a system whereby there is a mandatory hearing for every single case. That is currently being reformed due to the damage that it has been found to have done to survivors.  It is worth mentioning, and it is just a statement of fact - I am not going to comment on the trial as I do not want to impinge on the outcome of it - that counselling notes have been used in the Donaldson trial in the North. That just speaks to how these notes are being used all the time. I obviously cannot say too much more about it; I do not want to effect it in any way. How damaging that is for any complainant who might be a victim of child sexual abuse is unbelievable. The Minister says a total ban is impossible. I believe there are other contending rights. Let us look at having a referendum in this country because we cannot continue to have a system that traumatises survivors. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paula Butterly  Like everybody else in this House, I would have had loved to have plenty of time to speak to my amendment, which is No. 20. Out of respect to Deputy Gannon, who I presume is going to want to speak on this, I am going to be quite brief and to try to contain myself to two minutes. Amendment No. 20 very much reflects Deputy Kelly's amendment, which was also reflective of my thoughts on counselling notes right from the very outset. It also reflects the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre. It essentially is looking for a halfway house on what the Minister has proposed and what we would like to see. We have accepted that a total ban on counselling notes is not possible. We are asking, urging and pleading with the Minister to please reconsider. Let us have a look at it again. Let us have amendments brought to the Seanad where we will have an expressed presumption of non-disclosure. We cannot continue to put women through this again and again.  The standard or bar must be very high. If we do not have this, we are just going to go around in circles again and again and we will be arguing, like lawyers do, on the head of a pin. We will find ways, if it is not express, clear and unambiguous, to work around this so it has to have an express presumption of non-disclosure. If not, all we have is a flood of applications coming into the courts which will clog the system and be costly to the system and ultimately, it will have no regard for the alleged victims.  I would also like the Minister to consider what we consider to be the relevant tests for this. Necessity and probative values are important but most importantly, no judge should issue a disclosure order unless he or she believes that there is a real risk of an unfair trial without disclosure. I am rushing, if not galloping, through this because I am very conscious of time. I would like the Minister to take amendment No. 20 in its entirety. It also talks about a timeline after the book of evidence so that these applications happen at the beginning of the process, not nearly towards the end or a day or two before a trial begins. I would like the Minister to look at that. I would also like him to include the District Court when considering the courts that can have the applications. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  There is not a lot of time left. This is an issue of such importance that I am going to concede my time, if it is okay with the Minister, so that we can have a vote on this particular issue. That might require the Minister to allow a vote to happen. I think that is fair. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  Do I have time to start, Ceann Comhairle? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  You do. You have an opportunity to tell them what you want----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  We will not have time to finish, though. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  What is the Deputy saying to me? Is he saying that I should not speak for too long to allow for a vote on this? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  Yes, just to allow the vote to happen because once----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  Okay. Can I have two minutes? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  That is up to you. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  The first thing I want to say is that I have listened to people in the House. I acknowledge the presence of survivors in the Gallery and I commend them because the law is being changed because of the advocacy of campaigners. We all agree on one thing, which is that the current situation is unacceptable. The current statutory scheme that operates is unacceptable and needs to be changed. It needs to be changed in order to weigh the balance between a fair trial and the right to privacy more in favour of the right to privacy. I believe that is what I am doing. I cannot ban counselling notes. I simply cannot do that because of the legal advice that I have received. The Labour Party recognises that. People in this House recognise that.  In terms of the proposal from the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, I gave consideration to it and have prepared a response in respect of it. I just want the House to know that its scheme is not that different from what I am operating, except that it would have a panel of barristers deciding it, as opposed to a judge.  Finally, on the interests of justice, the reason I left it in is because the advice I received is that counselling notes can be very beneficial to the prosecution of sexual offences and rapes. They corroborate what a complainant is saying and are very beneficial in terms of getting people convicted because the counselling notes confirm what the complainant is saying. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  My amendment allows for that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  That is why I have left them in and the advice I have received is that they have been of assistance in achieving convictions. I am conscious of what Deputy Gannon has said and I want to allow a vote. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  People can consent to give their notes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The time permitted for this debate having expired, I am now required to put the following question in accordance with an order of the D\u00e1il of 9 June: \"That amendment No. 30, and the amendments set down by the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, and not disposed of, including those in respect of which recommittal would, in the normal course, be required, are hereby made to the Bill, Fourth Stage is hereby completed and the Bill is hereby passed.\" "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Criminal Law, Civil Law and Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026: Report and Final Stages"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-10\/debate\/dbsect_30","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Estimates for Public Services 2026: Message from Select Committee","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_30","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Select Committee on Fisheries and Maritime Affairs has completed its consideration of the following Supplementary Estimates of the areas within its remit for Public Services for the service of the year ending on 31 December 2026: Vote 30 - Fisheries and Maritime Affairs. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Estimates for Public Services 2026: Message from Select Committee"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-10\/debate\/dbsect_31","debateType":"billReport","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/19","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/19\/dail\/4_sub","houseCode":"dail","stage":"4_sub","isBillStage":false,"showAs":"Media Regulation Bill 2026: Report and Final Stages (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Media Regulation Bill 2026: Report and Final Stages","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_31","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Bill received for final consideration and passed."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Media Regulation Bill 2026: Report and Final Stages"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-10\/debate\/dbsect_32","debateType":"billReport","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2025\/52","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2025\/52\/dail\/4_sub","houseCode":"dail","stage":"4_sub","isBillStage":false,"showAs":"Air Pollution (Amendment) Bill 2025 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Air Pollution (Amendment) Bill 2025 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_32","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Bill received for final consideration and passed."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  A message will be sent to the Seanad acquainting it accordingly. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Air Pollution (Amendment) Bill 2025 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-10\/debate\/dbsect_33","debateType":"#bill.2025.52.dail.4_sub","bill":null,"showAs":"Report of the Committee on Standing Orders and D\u00e1il Reform: Motion","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_33","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Mary Butler)  I move:  That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann adopts the rotas and arrangements recommended in the Report of the Committee on Standing Orders and D\u00e1il Reform entitled \"Rotas and arrangements for Leaders' Questions, Questions nominated for priority and Private Members' Time\", a copy of which was laid before D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann on 10th June, 2026. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Report of the Committee on Standing Orders and D\u00e1il Reform: Motion"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-10\/debate\/dbsect_34","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/54","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/54\/dail\/2","houseCode":"dail","stage":"2","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2026: Second Stage (Resumed) (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2026: Second Stage (Resumed)","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_34","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I must deal with a deferred division relating to the Second Reading motion on the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2026, taken on Thursday, 28 May 2026. On the question, \"That the Bill be now read a Second Time\", a division was claimed and the division must be taken now. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2026: Second Stage (Resumed)"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-10\/debate\/dbsect_39","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/54","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/54\/dail\/motion\/referral","houseCode":"dail","stage":"motion","isBillStage":false,"showAs":"Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2026: Referral to Select Committee (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2026: Referral to Select Committee","counts":{"speechCount":2,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_39","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I understand it is proposed to refer the Bill to the Select Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport, pursuant to Standing Orders 103 and 188. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment (Deputy Darragh O'Brien)  I move:  That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport pursuant to Standing Orders 103 and 188. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2026: Referral to Select Committee"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-10\/debate\/dbsect_40","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2025\/56","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2025\/56\/dail\/2","houseCode":"dail","stage":"2","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Public Health (Alcohol) (Amendment) Bill 2025: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members] (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Public Health (Alcohol) (Amendment) Bill 2025: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_40","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I must now deal with a deferred division relating to the Second Reading motion on the Public Health (Alcohol) (Amendment) Bill 2025. On Thursday, 28 May 2026, on the question, \"That the Bill be now read a Second Time\", a division was claimed and that division must be taken now. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Public Health (Alcohol) (Amendment) Bill 2025: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members]"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-10\/debate\/dbsect_45","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Stop the Game Campaign and FAI Participation in Matches against Israel: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_45","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The following motion was moved by Deputy Joanna Byrne on Tuesday, 9 June 2026:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"notes:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the findings of major international human rights organisations, including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and Palestinian human rights organisations, that Israel operates a system of apartheid against the Palestinian people;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the ongoing military occupation of Palestinian territories, the expansion of illegal settlements, restrictions on freedom of movement, collective punishment, and repeated attacks on civilians in Gaza and the West Bank;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the 2016 United Nations (UN) resolution, which reaffirms that Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, have no legal validity and constitute a flagrant violation under international law and a major obstacle to a two-state solution;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Advisory Opinion issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in July 2024 entitled \"Legal Consequences arising from the policies and practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem\", which determined that Israel's settlement policies, annexation and exploitation of natural resources violate International Law, and mandated Israel end its occupation, dismantle settlements and pay reparations to the Palestinian people;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Prevention of Genocide 2024 and 2025 provisional measures issued by the ICJ, that concluded that Palestinians are at risk of irreparable damage and ordering Israel to prevent genocidal acts that fall under the UN Convention for the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, and to comply with international humanitarian law;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 that FIFA's statutes prohibit member associations and their clubs from playing on the territory of another member association without that association's approval, Israeli clubs based in illegal West Bank settlements continue to play under the Israel Football Association within the territory of the Palestinian Football Association (PFA), without the PFA's consent, and thus contrary to this rule;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 that UEFA, as a confederation, is obliged to comply with, and enforce, FIFA statutes and decisions;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 that at least 1,008 athletes, players and sports officials have been killed in the genocide, and close to 300 sports facilities in Gaza and the occupied West Bank have been destroyed by Israel;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 that at least ten Israeli football clubs are located in occupied Palestinian territory, in violation of the ICJ Advisory Opinion of July 2024, and Article 64.2 of FIFA's statute; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Israel's policy of mandatory military service means that team members may have fought with the Israel Occupation Forces when war crimes were committed;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"further notes:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the historic role sport played in isolating apartheid South Africa, and the importance of sporting boycotts in challenging systems of racial segregation and oppression;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 FIFA and UEFA banned Russia in 2022, in response to the decision of the football associations of Czechia, Poland and Sweden to refuse to play Russia in international competition, and no action was taken by FIFA or UEFA against these associations for refusing to play Russia, thus setting a clear legal and moral precedent;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the UN International Convention against Apartheid in Sports (1985), which recognised that sporting contacts with apartheid states undermine international efforts against racial discrimination and oppression;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 that in November 2025, 93 per cent of Football Association of Ireland (FAI) members voted to instruct the Association to call on UEFA to suspend Israel;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 in May, FAI general assembly members secured the numbers to call an Emergency General Meeting to vote on Ireland's participation in the football matches;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the growing support across Ireland for the \"Stop the Game\" campaign, calling on the FAI to refuse participation in international fixtures against Israel, while violations of international law and apartheid policies continue; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the strong tradition of solidarity in Ireland with oppressed peoples and anti-apartheid struggles internationally;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"recognises that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 sport cannot be separated from fundamental questions of human rights, equality, and international law;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Article 31 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, affirms every child's right to play and participation in sporting life as integral to their dignity and development, and that the systematic killing of child athletes and destruction of sporting infrastructure in Gaza therefore constitutes not only a violation of international humanitarian law, but a direct and catastrophic assault on the fundamental rights of Palestinian children;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 under the UN Guiding Principles (UNGPs) on Business and Human Rights, all business enterprises, including sport's governing bodies, have a responsibility to respect human rights', and FIFA and UEFA have each voluntarily committed to meeting this responsibility by incorporating the UNGPs into their statutes and governance frameworks;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 allowing normal sporting relations with states accused of apartheid, and grave breaches of international law, contributes to the normalisation of oppression; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Irish sporting bodies, and the Irish Government, have moral and political responsibilities to uphold human rights standards and international law;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"believes that UEFA and FIFA should uphold their stated human rights commitments and suspend Israel from international football competitions, until it complies with international law and human rights obligations; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"calls on the Government to:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 support calls from the Irish football community, which includes the Professional Footballers Association of Ireland and Irish Football Supporters Partnership, for the FAI to refuse to participate in the proposed matches against Israel, scheduled for September 27th and October 4th, in protest on legal and moral grounds;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 uphold its obligations under international law to not engage in economic or trade dealings with Israel which may entrench the illegal occupation by implementing meaningful legislation and sanctions, and this extends to sporting and cultural life within illegal settlements, i.e., settlement football clubs, because engagement contributes to the normalisation of occupation and apartheid;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 support the application of the principles contained within the UN International Convention against Apartheid in Sports to states operating systems of racial domination and oppression, and to sign up to this Convention;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 deny any Israeli football players and staff, Israeli officials, including Israeli Minister of Culture and Sports, Makhlouf Zohar, and President of Israel, Isaac Herzog, and Israeli fans who have participated in violations of international law, entry into Ireland;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 agree to cover the costs of any financial penalty that the FAI may incur through refusing to play the games; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 send copies of this motion to the FAI, UEFA and FIFA."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Debate resumed on amendment No. 2:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"To delete all words after \"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann\" and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\"notes:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 that the Irish people are deeply concerned about the conflict in the Middle East and Gulf region, particularly the situation in Palestine, and that the Government is committed to working with key partners to end the conflict;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 that Israeli actions in Palestine consistently contravene international law, and the Government continues to press for appropriate action, both at European Union (EU) and international level, in response to egregious Israeli breaches of human rights and democratic principles;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Ireland's commitment to working with key partners to end the conflict in Gaza, and to advancing a sustainable peace plan and addressing the huge challenges facing Palestinians in Gaza;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government's grave concerns about the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza, with intolerable conditions;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 that Israel must immediately remove restrictions on aid access and facilitate essential supplies and services to reach people across the Gaza Strip;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government's condemnation of the law passed by the Israeli parliament to expand the scope of the death penalty and revive its implementation in Israel and occupied Palestine;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the particular concerns about the discriminatory nature of the law as it relates to Palestinians, and that the implementation of this law would give rise to serious breaches of international human rights law and international humanitarian law;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the approval and publication of the text of the Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2026, noting that the Bill fulfils the commitment set out in the Programme for Government, to progress legislation to prohibit the import of goods from Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, and further noting the proposed introduction of the Bill in D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann this week;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 that, in line with the Taoiseach's statement, Ireland will act to prevent those members of the Government of Israel who have been instrumental in fomenting the unfolding disaster in Gaza, and the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration has instructed immigration officers to refuse entry to Itamar Ben-Gvir, Minister of National Security of Israel, and Bezalel Smotrich, Minister of Finance of Israel, should they seek to enter Ireland;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Ireland's support of an EU-wide prohibition on trade with Israeli settlements, and that at both the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) and the FAC Trade in May, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, requested that the European Commission bring forward proposals for a prohibition on EU trade with settlements, on the basis of the EU's Common Commercial Policy, and furthermore, that the Minister also reiterated Ireland's longstanding position that the EU-Israel Association Agreement should be suspended or, at a minimum, that the trade elements should be suspended;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 that a number of other member states supported Ireland's call for stronger collective EU action, and agreed that targeted sanctions alone cannot substitute for meaningful measures relating to trade with illegal settlements; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 that the Taoiseach also wrote to European Council President, Ant\u00f3nio Costa, on 20th May, reiterating Ireland's position on EU trade with Israel, and requesting an urgent discussion of these issues among EU leaders at the next meeting of the European Council on 18-19 June;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"in relation to sport, further notes that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the performance and integrity of our top athletes on the international stage have a very positive representational impact for Ireland, as Irish sport provides the world with a window into Ireland and the Irish people, both at home and abroad;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 international success for our top sports people enriches our country in a variety of ways, and Ireland's achievements on the global sporting stage have been a cause of both celebration and inspiration for the Irish public, and will continue to be so into the future; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government is committed to supporting Irish athletes competing at the highest level of international competition; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"recognises that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 national governing bodies of sport, such as the Football Association of Ireland (FAI), are independent, autonomous bodies responsible for the governance of their own sports, including the organisation of sporting fixtures, whether in domestic or international competitions;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 it is the role of the FAI to decide to fulfil its UEFA Nations League fixtures against Israel in September (home) and October (away);"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the FAI has stated that it intends to fulfil both fixtures against Israel; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government acknowledges the FAI's independence and autonomy in arriving at this decision and any decisions it may make in the coming days.\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"- (Minister of State at the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport)"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I must now deal with a deferred division relating to the ministerial amendment to the motion on the Stop the Game campaign and FAI participation in matches against Israel. Yesterday, on the question, \"That the amendment be made\", a division was claimed and the division must be taken now. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment No. 1 not moved."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Stop the Game Campaign and FAI Participation in Matches against Israel: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members]"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-10\/debate\/dbsect_54","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Exclusion of Israel from Sporting Fixtures: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_54","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The following motion was moved by Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney on Wednesday, 10 June 2026:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"agrees that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the State of Israel is committing an ongoing genocide in Gaza, something which both the Taoiseach and T\u00e1naiste have publicly acknowledged;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 since 7th October, 2023, nearly 75,000 people have been murdered by Israel in Gaza, including more than 20,000 children;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 of the more than 170,000 Palestinians who have been injured in Gaza since October 2023, 43,000 have sustained life-changing injuries, including amputations, spinal cord injuries and severe mobility impairments;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 all of Gaza's infrastructure, including water, energy, healthcare and education systems, have been systematically and deliberately destroyed by Israel;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Israel has repeatedly violated a so-called ceasefire agreement that was announced in October 2025, with nearly 1,000 Palestinians being killed since then;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 on 28th May, Israel's Minister of Defense, Israel Katz, confirmed that he was committed to the ethnic cleansing of Gaza, through large-scale forced migration of Palestinians from Gaza;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 on the same date, 28th May, Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, announced that he had directed the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to increase its occupation of Gaza to 70 per cent of the territory;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 since October 2023, nearly 1,500 Palestinians have been murdered in the West Bank;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 violent settlers are acting with complete impunity in the West Bank, murdering Palestinians, razing Palestinian villages to the ground, and forcibly expelling Palestinians from their homes;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 since 2020, Israeli courts have not handed down any jail sentences to settlers found responsible for the deaths of Palestinians;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Israel's bombardment of Lebanon has intensified in recent weeks, with approximately 20 per cent of Lebanon now occupied; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 according to a statement from the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), on 29th May, 11 children are being killed or injured every day in Lebanon by the IDF;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"notes that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 on 18th May, 2026, the IDF boarded a Gaza aid flotilla in international waters, and kidnapped humanitarian activists, including 13 Irish citizens;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 those citizens were assaulted and abused by members of the Israeli military and publicly goaded by far-right Israeli Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, before being deported from Israel;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 at the time, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade stated that the treatment of detained activists was \"unacceptable\" and \"appalling\";"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the East 1 settlement construction, East of Jerusalem in Gaza and the West Bank, is currently being pursued by the State of Israel, in breach of international law;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 both the European Union and the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, have condemned the East 1 plan being carried out by the State of Israel, stating that these actions damage the viability of a two-state solution, and are in breach of international law; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 this represents the ongoing denial by Israel of the Palestinian people's right to self-determination, is forcible transfer, and constitutes a war crime;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"further notes that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 sportswashing is a known method for apartheid States to distract from breaches of human rights and other unethical conduct, including war crimes;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Irish women's basketball team were not financially supported by the Government to boycott playing Israel in the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2025 qualifier, despite \"strong concerns\" expressed from Basketball Ireland over the fixture;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 in 1999, the then Fianna F\u00e1il Government prevented a Euro 2000 qualifying match between Ireland and Yugoslavia from taking place, because of Serbian atrocities in Kosovo;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government acted, despite UEFA turning down a request from them to cancel the game;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 at the time, the then Taoiseach said \"It is not for a government to force a sporting decision on a body. But if the body refuses to make a decision, then we will have a decision to make\";"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 in February 2022, FIFA and UEFA banned Russia from all club and international games, after Poland and Sweden refused to play World Cup qualifiers with the team;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 on 5th December, 2025, the Taoiseach described RT\u00c9's decision to boycott the Eurovision as \"an act of solidarity\";"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Irish athletes, such as Wheelchair Rugby player Alan Dineen, have stated they will refuse to play against Israel in international competitions;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the removal of a fixture from grounds within the Republic of Ireland does not represent an appropriate measure, while the support of this measure is a continued endorsement of the fulfilment of fixtures against a State currently in breach of international law; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 on 28th May, 2026, the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport and the Minister of State at the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, announced their intention to boycott the upcoming Ireland-Israel game; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"calls on the Government to:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 advocate, at national and international level, for Israel to be excluded from all international sporting competitions, as long as the genocide and illegal occupation continues; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 support Irish sporting bodies to boycott fixtures, events, and competitions, where Israel is competing, as long as the genocide and illegal occupation continues."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Debate resumed on amendment No. 1:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"To delete all words after \"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann\" and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\"notes:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 that the Irish people are deeply concerned about the conflict in the Middle East and Gulf region, particularly the situation in Palestine, and that the Government is committed to working with key partners to end the conflict;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 that Israeli actions in Palestine consistently contravene international law, and the Government continues to press for appropriate action, both at European Union (EU) and international level, in response to egregious Israeli breaches of human rights and democratic principles;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Ireland's commitment to working with key partners to end the conflict in Gaza, and to advancing a sustainable peace plan and addressing the huge challenges facing Palestinians in Gaza;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government's grave concerns about the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza, with intolerable conditions;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 that Israel must immediately remove restrictions on aid access and facilitate essential supplies and services to reach people across the Gaza Strip;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government's condemnation of the law passed by the Israeli parliament to expand the scope of the death penalty and revive its implementation in Israel and occupied Palestine;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the particular concerns about the discriminatory nature of the law as it relates to Palestinians, and that the implementation of this law would give rise to serious breaches of international human rights law and international humanitarian law;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the approval and publication of the text of the Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2026, noting that the Bill fulfils the commitment set out in the Programme for Government, to progress legislation to prohibit the import of goods from Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, and further noting the proposed introduction of the Bill in D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann this week;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 that, in line with the Taoiseach's statement, Ireland will act to prevent those members of the Government of Israel who have been instrumental in fomenting the unfolding disaster in Gaza, and the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration has instructed immigration officers to refuse entry to Itamar Ben-Gvir, Minister of National Security of Israel, and Bezalel Smotrich, Minister of Finance of Israel, should they seek to enter Ireland;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Ireland's support of an EU-wide prohibition on trade with Israeli settlements, and that at both the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) and the FAC Trade in May, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, requested that the European Commission bring forward proposals for a prohibition on EU trade with settlements, on the basis of the EU's Common Commercial Policy, and furthermore, that the Minister also reiterated Ireland's longstanding position that the EU-Israel Association Agreement should be suspended or, at a minimum, that the trade elements should be suspended;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 that a number of other member states supported Ireland's call for stronger collective EU action, and agreed that targeted sanctions alone cannot substitute for meaningful measures relating to trade with illegal settlements; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 that the Taoiseach also wrote to European Council President, Ant\u00f3nio Costa, on 20th May, reiterating Ireland's position on EU trade with Israel, and requesting an urgent discussion of these issues among EU leaders at the next meeting of the European Council on 18-19 June;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"in relation to sport, further notes that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the performance and integrity of our top athletes on the international stage have a very positive representational impact for Ireland, as Irish sport provides the world with a window into Ireland and the Irish people, both at home and abroad;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 international success for our top sports people enriches our country in a variety of ways, and Ireland's achievements on the global sporting stage have been a cause of both celebration and inspiration for the Irish public, and will continue to be so into the future; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government is committed to supporting Irish athletes competing at the highest level of international competition; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"recognises that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 national governing bodies of sport, such as the Football Association of Ireland (FAI), are independent, autonomous bodies responsible for the governance of their own sports, including the organisation of sporting fixtures, whether in domestic or international competitions;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 it is the role of the FAI to decide to fulfil its UEFA Nations League fixtures against Israel in September (home) and October (away);"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the FAI has stated that it intends to fulfil both fixtures against Israel;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the FAI has made this decision in accordance with its obligations as a member of UEFA, the governing body and confederation for football in Europe; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government acknowledges the FAI's independence and autonomy in arriving at this decision and any decisions it may make in the coming days.\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"- (Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Timmy Dooley)"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I must now deal with a deferred division relating to the ministerial amendment to the motion on exclusion of Israel from sporting fixtures. Earlier today, on the question, \"That the amendment be made\", a division was claimed and that division must be taken now. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar athl\u00f3 ar 11.16 p.m. go dt\u00ed 8.47 a.m., D\u00e9ardaoin, an 11 Meitheamh 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The D\u00e1il adjourned at 11.16 p.m. until 8.47 a.m. on Thursday, 11 June 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Exclusion of Israel from Sporting Fixtures: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members]"}]}}]},"contextDate":"2026-06-10"},{"debateRecord":{"house":{"showAs":"34th D\u00e1il","committeeCode":"","houseCode":"dail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/house\/dail\/34","chamberType":"house","houseNo":"34"},"chamber":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/def\/house\/dail","showAs":"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann"},"lastUpdated":"2026-06-25T02:12:06+00:00","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/main","formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/mul@\/main.xml"},"pdf":null},"date":"2026-06-09","counts":{"contributorCount":170,"divisionCount":1,"debateSectionCount":34,"questionCount":46,"billCount":2},"debateType":"debate","debateSections":[{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/dbsect_2","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions","counts":{"speechCount":29,"speakerCount":8},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel Grealish","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I welcome everyone back as we head into our last session of the term. I call Deputy McDonald to commence Leaders' Questions under Standing Order 38. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  On Friday, the EU migration pact comes into effect. Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael have decided to opt Ireland into that pact. It was the wrong decision to hand over powers on migration to the European Union. We in Sinn F\u00e9in have made it clear that this pact undermines Irish sovereignty. We have told the Government that decisions on migration should be taken - must be taken - by the people of this country. We have also told it that the pact ignores our unique challenges and circumstances, especially that our country is still partitioned and that we share a common travel area with Britain. This pact will not fix the problems that the Government presides over in the international protection system. It will not end the outrageous level of profiteering that has made millionaires of a small number of people or address the Government's failure to engage with communities and protect social cohesion. It will not deliver the robust, fast, enforced system that we need and it certainly will not provide respect, dignity and a human rights based response for those who flee war and persecution for safety.  Over the last year, the Minister for justice has spent a huge amount of time and resources preparing for the commencement of this pact and rushing the International Protection Bill through the Oireachtas. This was intended to give the impression that progress is being made in tackling the dysfunction in Ireland's international protection system, but the facts tell a very different story. In April, there were 20,469 appeals pending. That is up 8,000 from the same month last year. Between applications and appeals, there were over 33,000 cases pending in April 2026, so while the numbers of applicants for international protection made in 2025 dropped from the previous year, the number of cases pending has increased. That tells us that the system is clogged up and is not working. It is still taking 16 months for standard cases to be processed and a further 16 months for appeal. That makes it all the more incredible that it is only today that the Government is considering the appointment of a chief appeals officer. It is utter incompetence and it does not stop there. When it comes to those refused permission to remain, the Government does not know whether the majority have left or not and, scandalously, it has done nothing to secure a bilateral agreement with Britain.  The truth is we do not need an EU migration pact to get on top of processing times, to stop the profiteering or to carry out deportations. What we need is a competent government and from the figures I outlined earlier, we can see that this Government is not that government. Ba bhot\u00fan m\u00f3r \u00e9 don Rialtas s\u00edni\u00fa suas do chomhshocr\u00fa an Aontais Eorpaigh maidir le himirce agus tearmann. Ba ch\u00f3ir go nd\u00e9anfa\u00ed cinnt\u00ed maidir le himirce anseo in \u00c9irinn.  The Government's decision to opt into the pack to hand key decision-making powers to Brussels is wrong. Does the Taoiseach accept that this has consequences for Irish sovereignty? Does he accept that the absence of a bilateral agreement with Great Britain compounds this problem? Does he accept that his Government's handling of these issues undermines public confidence letting down both communities here and, crucially, those who come here in need of protection from war and persecution? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  T\u00e1 an m\u00e9id at\u00e1 r\u00e1ite ag an Teachta dochreidte. N\u00edl s\u00ed mac\u00e1nta faoin cheist seo in aon chor. N\u00edl s\u00ed ceart ach an oiread. Caithfidh m\u00e9 a r\u00e1 go bhfuil c\u00farsa\u00ed polait\u00edochta i gceist aici. N\u00edl s\u00ed i nd\u00e1ir\u00edre in aon chor maidir leis an gceist seo.  The Deputy is being very dishonest in her presentation of this issue. She is being deliberately manipulative and is endeavouring to win votes on the back of the migration issue. The problem for Sinn F\u00e9in is that it is flip-flopping all over the place. Sometimes when the far left and the far right unite against legislation, I think we have hit the right spot. Sinn F\u00e9in does not know which way to turn or which way to jump at any given time on this issue because Deputy McDonald's assertion that her party has opposed the asylum pact from the very beginning is simply not true. Sinn F\u00e9in voted in favour of opting into two parts of the pact in the European Parliament in April 2024 through its MEP Chris MacManus - the asylum and migration management regulation and the Eurodac regulation. Eurodac is the EU's asylum and migration database and is the corner-stone of the implementation of the EU pact on asylum and migration. Of course, Sinn F\u00e9in turned tack again and changed its position when the International Protection Act came before the House. It was not rushed through the House. There was pre-legislative scrutiny, a long debate on Second Stage and it went through Committee Stage. It is a very comprehensive piece of legislation.  We are not ceding any sovereignty. We are not giving away any decision-making powers. Irish officials will still make decisions on whether applicants are granted protection status, An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na will still police our borders and Ireland will still control our deportation process, so the pact does not result in Ireland giving up its sovereignty in the area of immigration and no amount of empty, shallow, soundbites will change that reality and that truth. That is all Sinn F\u00e9in is about - all its postings and the online stuff. It is as if this Act was never debated in the D\u00e1il. A flurry of activity was created last week by all sorts online and filling everyone's emails about something desperate that is going to happen in the next week because of this pact coming in. The Act has been signed off on by the President following its passage through the House. We have never had a situation where legislation was passed and an attempt was made to try and fool the people into believing that it is all going to happen this week, when in fact this has been debated at great length in the House already. The Act the Minister brought through the House provides for faster processing, including a border procedure for applicants to have all decisions and appeals concluded within three months.  The Deputy referenced the chief appeals officer to the tribunal for asylum seekers as if it was the first time ever. How dishonest is she prepared to be when she is talking about these issues in the House? She knows that the new Act is bringing in a new appeals process, but the existing appeals process under the old framework continues apace to deal with all of the cases that were applied for prior to the introduction of this Act. The Deputy knows that and the Sinn F\u00e9in spokespeople know that, yet you come in here and deliberately distort the truth in terms of the legislation. It is about time you stopped playing these kind of games because we are dealing with people here too - human beings - and all Sinn F\u00e9in is interested in is exploiting it for electoral advantage.  However, Sinn F\u00e9in's problem is that when the far right start shouting, it goes over there and genuflects and when the far left does it, it throws in a few things about human rights and so on. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy M\u00e1ire Devine  Stop it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Sinn F\u00e9in does not know which way it is on this issue. That is its problem. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Taoiseach. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  I am very, very sure of our ground on this and I am very sure where we are. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Please, afford the same respect. Allow the leader to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel Grealish","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Noel Grealish  Wits' end. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Let me spell it out for those at the back who maybe have not heard it clearly enough. Decisions relating to migration, justice and home affairs are rightly decided in Ireland by those elected by the Irish people. That is why we had a special provision. That is why there was a necessity for the Government to opt this country in. The Taoiseach says he has not conceded sovereignty. Of course he has, by the very act of opting Ireland into this pact he concedes that point. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  The Taoiseach is happy not alone to be incompetent in his role but he goes a step further and hands those decisions away to people in Brussels. We think that is wrong. We have consistently argued that is the wrong approach. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Let me tell the Taoiseach that he is in geographic denial as well. This country is still partitioned and the Taoiseach has not secured an agreement with Britain. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The time is up, Deputy. I call the Taoiseach to respond. Deputy McDonald, the Taoiseach is to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Timmy Dooley  What way is the wind blowing? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  That is a dangerous, dangerous place to walk us into. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Respect the Chair. I call Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I must say one more time to the Deputy that the pact and the Act the Minister introduced does not, in any shape of form, give up our sovereignty in the area of immigration. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  That is a contradiction in terms. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Irish officials will still make----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  That is a contradiction in terms. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Deputy McDonald cannot even give a specific reason or area where we do. She has had four and a half minutes and it has been sound bite after sound bite with no substance behind it. The bottom line is that Irish officials will still make the decisions in terms of applicants. The Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na will still police our borders. Ireland will still be in control our deportation process. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Until Brussels says otherwise. That is the point of conceding competence. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  To be fair to the Minister, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan, he has brought in and is very focused on a firm, robust migration system with much faster times in terms of administration of the initial phase of the applications and on the appeal phase to get it done much faster. That is what we are doing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  You are going the wrong direction. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We have also increased the number of deportation orders quite significantly over the past while. The importance of this is that it enables us to return migrants back to countries where they probably originated with their applications. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" (Interruptions), "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That is important. That makes sense. Likewise, on the common travel area, it will be here long after any scenarios on the constitutionality of the island or whatever. The Deputy knows that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The time is up. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/dbsect_3","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Visit of US Delegation","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Before I move to the next Deputy, I have the privilege of welcoming the Mayor of Austin, Texas, who is with us in the Distinguished Visitors Gallery. I ask colleagues to join me in offering a warm c\u00e9ad m\u00edle f\u00e1ilte to Mr. Kirk Watson, the 59th Mayor of Austin, Texas. The mayor and his delegation are guests of the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Robert Troy. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Members applauded. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Visit of US Delegation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/dbsect_4","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed (At\u00f3g\u00e1il) - Leaders' Questions (Resumed)","counts":{"speechCount":33,"speakerCount":5},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_4","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I now move to our second leader, Deputy Holly Cairns. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  There have been a lot of questions raised about our----- "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Sorry, could we have decorum, so the Deputy can be heard? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  A lot of questions have been raised about our maternity services in recent weeks and there appears to be confusion about a hugely important issue. Which category of patient deserves continuity of care in our maternity services? Can I be absolutely clear about what I thought was obvious? Every woman accessing maternity services should be entitled to the highest quality care. It should not be an optional extra reserved for those who can pay for it. Public maternity services should not feel less safe than going private.  However, that is very much the feeling people have been left with because that is exactly what the master of the Rotunda said. He said the reason the hospital was breaching the public-only consultant contract by allowing consultants on that contract to treat private patients was \"safety for women\". He has not withdrawn that statement but in an interview with David McCullagh earlier, he attempted to clarify it. He said \"nobody is saying it is about safety\" even though that is literally what he said.  He went on to say that having consultants treating private patients at the Rotunda improved safety for public patients because if they happened to be around when a public patient needed consultant care, they could potentially pitch in. I cannot have been the only person listening to that interview in complete disbelief. Are we really saying that safety for public patients in maternity hospitals now depends on blind luck, in that if they happen to be giving birth when a consultant is on site with a private patient, then they will be taken care of? This is the type of two-tier care that the head of the busiest maternity hospital in the country is fighting for.  The Social Democrats fully supported the approach the Minister for Health took in relation to the Rotunda but this controversy has exposed deep flaws in our maternity services and the so-called choices that are available to women. The choice that is only available to women who can afford to pay for it is not a choice at all. What woman is choosing not to have continuity of care? Every woman should have that. It is the bare minimum we should expect in our public system and that is what the Government's national maternity strategy is supposed to deliver. The focus now needs to be on delivering this for all women in maternity services.  With regard to the particular consultant, will their previous patients be refunded? Are the eight current patients aware of the situation they are in? Does the Rotunda's statement draw a line under this for the Taoiseach, or is he aware of further concerns about the operation of public-only contracts in our hospitals? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising what is a very important issue. I appreciate her party's support for the Government's position on this and that of the Minister for Health because a lot was at stake here, not just for maternity services but for the entire edifice that should govern public health and the provision of public health into the future in our acute tertiary system.  The Government took a decision following negotiations in respect of the public-only consultant contract, which is a cornerstone of the Sl\u00e1intecare framework and policy. In our view, our very clear reading of this was that it was an attempted breach of the fundamental position regarding the public-only consultant. We were very clear from the beginning. The Minister was very clear from the beginning and I was 100% behind her in respect of her position, having been in the last Government with the previous Minister, the former Deputy Donnelly, in negotiating this contract, which was signed off by the representative organisation of the consultants, the Irish Hospital Consultants Association, IHCA. People cannot sign contracts and then casually deviate from those contracts.  On the question of safety, in my view, the private model of care in obstetrics and maternity is not sustainable. It has not been sustainable for a long time. The State had to intervene a long time ago - well over 20 years ago - in terms of indemnifying obstetricians and gynaecologists in respect of maternity care, given that the insurance costs and so on were just not sustainable for any individual consultant.  I recall when we built the maternity hospital in Cork, which is actually a very good example. In fact, in Cork, you had a ridiculous situation where if you went to the Bon Secours Hospital, when it was private, and there was a complication, you were sent straight away to the Erinville Hospital, the public hospital, because it was the only hospital that had a neonatal. That was a fairly rudimentary neonatal at the time because I recall having to make decisions around all of that subsequently. When we decided to build a maternity hospital in Cork, the Bon Secours Hospital acknowledged that it would not be able to sustain as a private maternity hospital. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  Can the Taoiseach answer the questions? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I will make my point generally. There is an issue here. We are very clear; we support what the Deputy is saying and, as far as we are concerned, a private model is not sustainable in maternity and, therefore, we want to build and develop hospitals where there is universal access and where, eventually, we will move to public-only consultants. Some have opted out of that, and that is their entitlement under the agreement. The patient should be refunded because this should not have happened in the first instance. These contracts were transparently signed up to by all concerned, including the hospital with regard to its service level agreement with the HSE. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  Like I said, I am glad that the Minister and Government held the line. The reason many people were surprised to see the Government coming out to bat so strongly for public health is that we do not see that with regard to all aspects of Sl\u00e1intecare. I hope that we see more of that now. For example, 80% of home care is private now. That is just going up and up. There is no money behind the 2025 plans for Sl\u00e1intecare. There are so many things that need to be addressed.  I asked the Taoiseach two questions and he did not answer either of them, so I will put them to him again. With regard to the particular consultant, will their previous patients be refunded and are their eight current patients aware of the situation that they are in, that their consultant who is providing this care has a public-only contract? Does the Rotunda's statement draw a line under this for the Taoiseach or is he concerned about other governance issues with regard to the public-only contract in hospitals around the country? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I did answer the question. I said the money should be refunded. I made that clear in my original reply. The Minister is concerned about the operation of the public-only consultant contract throughout the entirety of the health service and in all hospitals. There is no going back from the position that we negotiated fully, transparently and comprehensively. Over the last five years, there has been an extraordinary level of investment in our health service at a scale that has dwarfed anything the previous----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  Are the eight current patients aware? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  We do not allow a second contribution. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I made it clear that they should be refunded. The Minister has also sought assurances on that front. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  I am asking about a different answer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Cairns may have to write to the Taoiseach if she did not get the answer the first time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The investment has been substantial in the last five years. In terms of the Deputy's question about Sl\u00e1intecare, I do not think what she said about the lack of investment was fair. We could continue to invest more and more in health, but anybody looking at the last five years will see an extraordinary uptick and scaling up of investment in the public health service. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  After their great win against the Netherlands last week, I begin by wishing the Ireland women's team every success tonight as they play France.  Speaking of international sport, I raise the forthcoming Ireland-Israel football match. Football fans and all of us who are horrified by Israel's genocide in Gaza are concerned that this game will go ahead anywhere. We have been hearing from people who have contacted us in their droves with one message, that they want to stop the game in October. They want the Taoiseach and his Government to take a stand against the normalisation of genocide through sport. They want him to take a stand against Israel's war crimes in Gaza, the West Bank and south Lebanon. They want to stop the game from going ahead anywhere in the world.  This is about more than just one football match. Taking on Israel neither starts nor ends with this game. That is why Labour has been calling for full suspension of the EU-Israel trade agreement. That is why our party has called for the full passage of the occupied territories Bill to include a ban on both goods and services. We have been calling for stronger action to prevent US military refuelling in Shannon Airport. This is about whether states that are guilty of grave crimes against humanity can continue to enjoy normal and indeed preferential treatment while atrocities continue.  This is not just about Israel, Netanyahu, Ben-Gvir and their acolytes. This is about Vladimir Putin too. Ireland and the Government rightly condemn Russian aggression against Ukraine, as we all should, yet Irish-made alumina is being exported to Russia for use in weapons which are killing Ukrainian civilians. Indeed, exports from Aughinish Alumina have dramatically increased. They have doubled since the outset of Russia's brutal and illegal war. We have spent years in Ireland debating hypothetical military deployments under the triple lock. I deeply regret that the Cabinet is approving plans to abolish the triple lock today, despite strong national support for retaining it, even expressed in the Government's own public consultation. Despite that move, the Government is failing to take practical economic measures against Israel and Russia, which are states engaged in illegal wars of aggression.  Aughinish Alumina is undoubtedly a critical industrial facility for Europe and we are all conscious that hundreds of jobs are tied to the plant in Limerick. A solution must be found to protect those jobs and people's livelihoods, but also ensure a ban on deadly exports to Russia. Aughinish refinery is owned by a Russian company with links to the Kremlin though a sanctioned oligarch founder. The Irish Times has reported that 80% of Irish-made alumina went to Russia in the first three months of this year.  The trade Minister is disputing this figure and his own Department is investigating the ownership of Aughinish. At the same time, the Government is lobbying to keep Aughinish off sanctions lists.  It is easy to condemn war in Ukraine and Gaza. What is harder is taking meaningful action against Putin and Netanyahu and against bullies. Will the Taoiseach use our influence as a proudly neutral country to stand up for international law and protection of human life in Gaza and Ukraine? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I appreciate the Deputy has raised quite a range of issues. I will take Israel, Gaza, the West Bank and the Middle East first. Ireland has taken a stand against Israel internationally and that is well recognised internationally and within the European Union. We continue on the humanitarian side to give very substantive contributions to the Palestinian Authority and UNRWA \u2013 close to \u20ac150 million at this stage. Of course we have also recognised the State of Palestine. We also intervened in South Africa's International Court of Justice case against Israel under the Genocide Convention. We made a submission, by the Attorney General, to the International Court of Justice on the legal consequences of Israel's actions in the occupied territories. Subsequently, we co-sponsored a resolution at the UN General Assembly seeking to implement the court's advisory opinion. We have been evacuating sick children, along with other countries, from Gaza. We have supported about 300 people to leave Gaza to travel to Ireland since the crisis began, and we have done much more than that.  On the match involving the Football Association of Ireland, UEFA and FIFA have their rules for members of their organisations. Their rules provide that the national football governance bodies must act independently and be free of political interference. A series of countries have been suspended from international competition in the past because of political interference. That is the reality of it. I am not involved with FIFA, or UEFA for that matter, but I believe the Deputy is correct in saying that, at EU level, we should be dealing in a more robust and stronger way in terms of suspending the EU-Israel Association Agreement. I have just met the High Representative for foreign affairs, Kaja Kallas, and have been making that point. I think she is appreciative of the very strong feeling of opinion in Ireland in respect of that. The challenge has been to try to win over a critical majority of member states to that opinion. We have written to the EU Council. I want the issue on the EU Council's meeting next week and we want to see if we can get a vote on the issue of the suspension of that association agreement. That is the Government taking its role.  The problem for the FAI and the football team, and it should not be on them, is that there will be consequences for the football team. To be fair to the Irish football team, it has made a lot of ground recently. It has had good success and is building on that platform. I do not control FIFA, which I think should deal with this globally, as should UEFA in its remit, but the bottom line could be that the football team suffers in terms of seedings and all the rest. That would have repercussions down the line for other competitions ahead. We need to act at European level. I think that is a far more effective way of dealing with the issue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Time is up. I call Deputy Bacik. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I did not get a chance to deal with every issue but I will come back to the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  I would appreciate a response on my point on Aughinish Alumina. I acknowledge, as does the Labour Party, the strong steps Ireland has taken at international level in support of the rights of the people of Palestine. I welcome the Taoiseach\u2019s confirmation that he has been engaging with Kaja Kallas on the suspension of the trade agreement. That is welcome but there is more that can be done. I am looking at the recent report by Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on Palestine. She has identified Ireland as one of 63 countries which she says are complicit in the collective crime of genocide in Gaza. That is a devastatingly serious charge. Clearly, there is much more we can do, and I have outlined some of the measures the Labour Party is calling on the Government to take.  On the football game, of course there are complexities but it was a Fianna F\u00e1il Government in 1999 that took a strong stance against Yugoslavia, and rightly so, after the ethic cleansing it carried out in Bosnia and Kosovo. That was a strong stance taken in the context of an international football game. Many of us remember that. That is the stance that football fans and others are now calling on the Government to take in this case. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I reject what Francesca Albanese said. I have significant issues with much of what she has said on this issue, in terms of Ireland in particular.  We will work with the European Commission in respect of Aughinish. The Deputy said many jobs are at stake and a solution must be found. Let all of us be honest in the House. We will work with the Commission. We are conscious that there are about1,000 people directly depending on it from a jobs perspective. It is not going to be simple. If a call is made one way or the other, the repercussions will be what they will be. I do not think the Deputy should try to sugar-coat it to say there is a magical way to find a solution to this, and everything will be all right on the other side. We are not in that space. We will engage with the European Commission because there was a view that Aughinish is important for the alumina supply chain in Europe. It is a European competency. Europe decides what gets sanctioned and Europe decides what we do not put on the sanctions list. Europe did not put alumina on the sanctions list, no more than it put----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call Deputy O'Donoghue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  Before I start my question, I give my sympathies to the Fossett circus family on the burial today of Marion Fossett. Their circus will have been in existence for 138 years this year. They have been going around the country and internationally. They come to Limerick every year and have always had a charity day where people come in for charity. On my own behalf and that of Independent Ireland, I give my respects to the Fossett family.  My question is about Foynes and Uisce \u00c9ireann. For decades Foynes, the port in County Limerick, has been looking for a sewerage system. In Foynes, we are getting an upgraded sewerage system, for which we have been waiting decades. I welcome that. However, the problem is that the system that is being proposed only deals with secondary waste. Basically, it is to remove the solids and let the rest go to source. The Taoiseach is a person who loves to go swimming. He often says he goes swimming on New Year's Day. The discharge for this in Foynes is in the yacht club. I see people across the Chamber smiling at me. This is a health and safety issue. This is waste going back into the River Shannon and a health and safety issue with a yacht club next to it. All Uisce \u00c9ireann is going to do is remove the solids. I would welcome all of Members on the bench on the other side of the Chamber to come to Foynes to go for a swim in it. That will tell me how much they think of it when we bring it to them at source. Why is Uisce \u00c9ireann not putting in a tertiary system that removes all waste and treats it before it goes back to source? The tidal system has been investigated by professors in the field and they have shown that the waste goes off and returns two hours later to where it originated. However, all of this information is being hidden from Government when Uisce \u00c9ireann is putting in this system. We are talking about a waste of money. Why can a proper system not be put in in accordance with health and safety guidelines for everyone? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. We have made a lot of progress in the country with regard to wastewater treatment facilities. I am of the view that it should be tertiary and not secondary where possible. I am not aware of the specifics of the actual proposal for the wastewater facility earmarked for Foynes. I will check with Uisce \u00c9ireann on this. It may not be a waste of money because I presume it can be designed and constructed with a view to adding. Let us not look a gift horse in the mouth on one level. We need more treatment plants, particularly if planning has been secured and so on. We just need to get infrastructure in place.  There may be funding issues. There may originally have been cost issues, although we have substantially increased the allocation to Uisce \u00c9ireann now and into the foreseeable future through the national development plan. I will ask. The Deputy is absolutely correct that tertiary treatment is the optimal way to go to ensure quality of water, particularly where it is discharged into the river, which has implications for ecology, biodiversity and human health. We will respond to the Deputy's query. I will seek a response from Uisce \u00c9ireann on the specifics of the proposal. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  I appreciate the Taoiseach looking into this matter. The concerns of the people of Foynes is the location. They welcome the system but the location chosen will be prevent the future-proofing of Foynes. Anyone who knows Foynes will know there is hilly ground to the west. On the Limerick side, it is all flat ground. The proposed system will involve pumping it upwards and then letting it flow down with gravity. This is the perfect place for infrastructure for future housing but this will limit the amount of housing that can be put into Foynes. The town is to be connected by motorway by 2030 so it is going to be a vibrant place. We should do a bit of forward planning. The system should be put in on the Government-owned lands across the road. That is also on the side of the port. It would make sense and this infrastructure would allow for housing in the future. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I also pay tribute to Marion Fossett and the Fossett family for their extraordinary contribution to Irish life. I remember attending Fossett's Circus as a young child. Some might say I learned a few tricks from that experience. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  Motion carried. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Our thoughts and prayers are with them on this sad day for the family. We thank them for what they do.  On the wastewater treatment plant, from what I can see, Uisce \u00c9ireann is now engaging in extensive works. The Foynes sewerage scheme will include a new wastewater treatment plant and 3.5 km of new pipelines to convey wastewater to and from the new treatment plant site and an upgraded terminal pumping station with storm storage and an extension to the existing marine outfall will be constructed. It is fairly significant in and of itself. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  It is secondary. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I will make the point that, on location, there may be people for or against any given location but someone has to decide on a location from an objective engineering and wider planning perspective. I know of a wastewater treatment plant whose location was decided by one vote but, 30 years later, no one has complained. It did the job and it was the correct decision at the time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Taoiseach. I am sure there will be further engagement on this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  There was a lot of heat around that decision. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  That concludes Leaders' Questions.  Before I move on, we have a lot of groups to mention. We have a full Public Gallery. I welcome everyone. I particularly welcome visitors from Ballinamore Men's Shed, who are here at the behest of Deputy Martin Kenny, and visitors from D\u00e9ise Day Centre, Dungarvan, who are guests of the Chief Whip, Deputy Butler. They are all very welcome. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed (At\u00f3g\u00e1il) - Leaders' Questions (Resumed)"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/dbsect_5","debateType":"orderofBusiness","bill":null,"showAs":"An tOrd Gn\u00f3 - Order of Business","counts":{"speechCount":14,"speakerCount":7},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_5","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Mary Butler)  I move:  Tuesday's business shall be:  - Motion to Instruct the Committee on the Guardianship of Infants (Amendment) Bill 2026 (without debate and any division claimed to be taken immediately)  - Finance Bill 2026 (Second Stage) (to conclude at the end of the first speaking round; not to exceed 3 hours and 34 minutes)   Tuesday's private members' business shall be the Motion re \u201cStop the Game\u201d Campaign and FAI participation in matches against Israel, selected by Sinn F\u00e9in.  Wednesday's business shall be:  - Statements on Tourism (not to exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes)  - Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2026 (Second Stage) (to conclude at the end of the first speaking round; not to exceed 3 hours and 34 minutes)  - Motion to Instruct the Committee on the Criminal Law, Civil Law and Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 (to commence no earlier than 8 p.m. and to conclude within 60 minutes; any division claimed to be taken immediately)  - Criminal Law, Civil Law and Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 (Report and Final Stages) (to conclude within 90 minutes)  - Media Regulation Bill 2026 (Report and Final Stages) (to conclude within 1 hour)  - Air Pollution (Amendment) Bill 2025 [Seanad] (Report and Final Stages) (to conclude within 1 hour)   Wednesday's private members' business shall be the Motion re Exclusion of Israel from sporting fixtures, selected by Social Democrats.  Thursday's business shall be:  - Housing and Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 (Second Stage) (to conclude at the end of the first speaking round; not to exceed 3 hours and 34 minutes and with any division claimed to be taken immediately following Questions on Policy or Promised Legislation on Tuesday, 16 June 2026)  Thursday evening business shall be the Second Stage of the Protection of Voice and Image Bill 2025, sponsored by Deputy Malcolm Byrne.    Proposed Arrangements for this week\u2019s business:    In relation to Tuesday\u2019s business, it is proposed that:  1. notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders:  (a) the time allocated to Government business shall be extended in accordance with the arrangements for that business and the D\u00e1il may sit later than 10.48 p.m.; and  (b) private members\u2019 business shall be taken on the conclusion of proceedings on the Second Stage of the Finance Bill 2026 with consequential effect on the commencement times for the items following in the ordinary routine of business;  2. the proceedings on the Motion to Instruct the Committee on the Guardianship of Infants (Amendment) Bill 2026 shall be taken without debate and any division claimed thereon shall be taken immediately;  3. the proceedings on the Second Stage of the Finance Bill 2026 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at the end of the first speaking round and the following arrangements shall apply thereto:  (a) the first-round speeches shall be in accordance with the table below (to be read across);  (b) on the conclusion of the first speaking round or where speeches conclude before the 3 hours and 24 minutes have elapsed and no other member is offering, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a speech in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes, whereupon proceedings shall be brought to a conclusion; and  (c) members may share time.          Gov      SF      SD      Gov      SF       Mins    20    20    20    12    4           Lab      Gov      SF      IPTG      Gov       Mins    20    12    4    20    12           SF      ITG      Gov      SF      OM       Mins    4    20    12    4    20                           Total: 3 hours 24 mins       In relation to Wednesday's business, it is proposed that:  1. notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders:  (a) the time allotted for Government Business shall be extended in accordance with the arrangements for that business and the D\u00e1il may sit later than 9.30 p.m.;  (b) in the event proceedings on the Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2026 concludes before 8 p.m., the sitting shall stand suspended until 8 p.m., when the order of business shall resume with the Motion to Instruct the Committee on the Criminal Law, Civil Law and Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026; and  (c) the weekly division time shall be taken on the conclusion of proceedings on the Air Pollution (Amendment) Bill 2025;  2. the Statements on Tourism shall not exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply:  (a) the statements, not including the Ministerial response, shall be in accordance with the sequence contained in the table immediately below (to be read across);  (b) following the statements, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes; and  (c) members may share time;         Gov      SF      SD      Gov      SF       Mins    25    15    10    10    3           Lab      Gov      SF      IPTG      Gov       Mins    10    10    3    9    10           SF      ITG      Gov      SF      OM       Mins    3    9    10    3    5                           Total: 2 hours 15 mins      3. the proceedings on the Second Stage of the Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2026 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at the end of the first speaking round, and the following arrangements shall apply:  (a) the first-round speeches, not including the Ministerial response, shall be in accordance with the table below (to be read across);  (b) on the conclusion of the first speaking round or where speeches conclude before the 3 hours and 24 minutes have elapsed and no other member is offering, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a speech in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes, whereupon proceedings shall be brought to a conclusion; and  (c) members may share time;           Gov      SF      SD      Gov      SF       Mins    20    20    20    12    4           Lab      Gov      SF      IPTG      Gov       Mins    20    12    4    20    12           SF      ITG      Gov      SF      OM       Mins    4    20    12    4    20                           Total: 3 hours 24 mins      4. the proceedings on the Motion to Instruct the Committee on the Criminal Law, Civil Law and Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 shall commence no earlier than 8 p.m. and shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 60 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply thereto:  (a) the order of speaking and allocation of time shall be as follows:-  \u2014 opening speech by a Minister or Minister of State \u2013 10 minutes;  \u2014 speeches by representatives of Sinn F\u00e9in, Social Democrats, the Labour Party, Independent and Parties Technical Group, and Independent Technical Group \u2013 7.5 minutes per party or group;  \u2014 speeches by Other Members \u2013 7.5 minutes in total; and  \u2014 a speech in response by the Minister \u2013 5 minutes;  (b) members may share time; and  (c) any division claimed thereon shall be taken immediately;  5. the proceedings on Report and Final Stages of the Criminal Law, Civil Law and Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 90 minutes by one question, which shall be put from the Chair, and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration  6. the proceedings on Report and Final Stages of the Media Regulation Bill 2026 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 60 minutes by one question, which shall be put from the Chair, and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport; and  7. the proceedings on the Report and Final Stages of the Air Pollution (Amendment) Bill 2025 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 60 minutes by one question which shall be put from the Chair, and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment.  In relation to Thursday's business, it is proposed that:  1. notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, topical issues may be taken earlier than 7.24 p.m. with consequential effect on the commencement time for Second Stage of the Protection of Voice and Image Bill 2025 and on the time for the adjournment of the D\u00e1il; and  2. the proceedings on the Second Stage of the Housing and Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at the end of the first speaking round and the following arrangements shall apply:  (a) the first-round speeches shall be in accordance with the table below (to be read across);  (b) on the conclusion of the first speaking round or where speeches conclude before the 3 hours and 24 minutes have elapsed and no other member is offering, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a speech in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes, whereupon proceedings shall be brought to a conclusion;  (c) any division demanded on the Housing and Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 shall be deferred and taken immediately after Questions on Policy or Promised Legislation on Tuesday, 16 June 2026; and  (c) members may share time.           Gov      SF      SD      Gov      SF       Mins    20    20    20    12    4           Lab      Gov      SF      IPTG      Gov       Mins    20    12    4    20    12           SF      ITG      Gov      SF      OM       Mins    4    20    12    4    20                           Total: 3 hours 24 mins        "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Are the proposed arrangements agreed to? Not agreed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I propose an amendment to the Order of Business under Standing Order 35(3) such that we would include in this week's D\u00e1il schedule statements and questions on the EU Migration and Asylum Pact and the international protection system. A debate such as that would be useful, if only to fact-check the many misrepresentations the Taoiseach has made in this House, even today. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  There is huge public concern about this issue. It is imperative that the D\u00e1il have a debate. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  We are reeling from the report of the Kenneally commission, which was released this morning. There are a number of serious outcomes from that. Will the Taoiseach give serious consideration to a debate on one particular aspect, the absence of an offence of misconduct in public offence, an issue outlined in the commission's report? It is not the only thing to come out of the report but is an issue of ethics in public office that this Government has been dragging its heels on. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  There are continuing problems in the area of special education in this country. We now have an issue with summer provision, which used to be called July provision. There are children who are still locked out of that. They will not be able to attend school by day because of staffing issues. They will also not be able to apply for home-based provision because that portal has closed. We need an urgent debate in this House about what is going on in special education. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call Deputy Michael Collins. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  In June 2024----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Excuse me, a Cheann Comhairle, I was next . "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I am sorry, Deputy Boyd Barrett, I did not see you. Deputy Collins may proceed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  In June 2024, the D\u00e1il voted to opt Ireland into the EU migration and asylum pact, which comes into effect this week. We need an urgent debate in the D\u00e1il as there is a national outcry against this. We need to find a way to overturn this decision, like Denmark, which opted out. Other countries are trying to get out of this. We need an urgent discussion in the Chamber to do that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  The Government is speaking out of both sides of its mouth on the question of sanctions against Israel over its crimes against the Palestinians. It will not support the boycott, it is gutting the occupied territories Bill so it will effectively have no serious impact, and it wants to impose a guillotine on the debate tomorrow because it does not want to be exposed. There is a guillotine on the occupied territories Bill, and we have had this confirmed by the Ceann Comhairle. The Government is not allowing the many Members who would want to contribute to the debate about imposing sanctions on Israel and how the Government is gutting that Bill in the way it is. Please drop the guillotine and allow for a proper debate on that Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  I will start at the beginning in relation to the motion that Sinn F\u00e9in and the Independent Technical Group have tabled. I will not accept that motion.  In relation to the International Protection Act, which will be commenced on Friday, we should all note, and the Taoiseach spoke extensively to this, that the only change on Friday is that the balance between the State and the asylum applicant will shift in favour of the State. It will become much harder for those claiming asylum who are not entitled to asylum to succeed in their claims.  We have no problem facilitating Deputy Duncan Smith\u2019s request and we can discuss it at the Business Committee on Thursday. The position is similar with regard to Deputy Jen Cummins\u2019s request on special education.  In relation to the occupied territories Bill, it will be taken tomorrow afternoon for a full round, which is three and a half hours long.  The Order of Business stands. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  You are imposing a guillotine. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"An tOrd Gn\u00f3 - Order of Business"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/dbsect_10","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Visit of Albanian Delegation","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_10","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  We have some dignitaries in our Gallery. I wish to welcome the ambassador of Albania, His Excellency, Dr. Uran Ferizi, and his colleague, the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania, Mr. Ferit Hoxha. They are most welcome.  We also have our very own Irish ambassador to Greece, Ciara O\u2019Floinn. She is very welcome. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Visit of Albanian Delegation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/dbsect_11","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Pholasa\u00ed n\u00f3 ar Reachta\u00edocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation","counts":{"speechCount":93,"speakerCount":19},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_11","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Clendennen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Denise Mitchell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Roche","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Friedreich\u2019s ataxia is a progressive and degenerative disease for which there is no cure. Until recently there was no effective treatment either but now there is. It is called Skyclarys and it is available elsewhere in Europe but not here in Ireland. People with Friedreich\u2019s ataxia have been waiting since 1 August 2024, 677 days, for the HSE to make this drug available. Why is Skyclarys not on the agenda for the HSE drugs group meeting that will happen tomorrow? Further delay is intolerable and cruel because there is no pause in this disease.  Every day lost has consequences. Emily Felix told me that delay so far has cost her permanent damage - loss of swallow, loss of speech - and she is not prepared to suffer any more. I would like the Taoiseach to tell Emily Felix, Ois\u00edn Pollard, Jodie Donovan, Emily Kerrigan and Niamh Herbert, all in the Public Gallery, all waiting and waiting for this drug. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy. Your time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  I would like the Taoiseach confirm for them that the HSE drugs group will deal with this matter----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call the Taoiseach to respond. Deputy McDonald, you know you are way over time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  -----and that these fine people will have access to the treatment they need. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Co-operate, please. I call the Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I have discussed this with the Minister for Health. We want all those living with Friedreich's ataxia to have access to Skyclarys as fast as we possibly can. The company made its commercial proposal on 28 May----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  No, 21 May. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Please, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  On 28 May last----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  On 21 May. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Please, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  I have documentation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I am interested in getting this drug over the line. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  The Taoiseach cannot mislead the House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I am not interesting in playing games with this. The Deputy asked me a question. I ask her at least to allow me to answer because there are lots of families and people very dependent----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  They are here----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----on our getting this over the line. I have discussed this. I had an official with me yesterday when I met one individual who is living with Friedreich's ataxia and with his parent. The commercial proposal came in on 28 May. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  No. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy is referring to the original proposal in terms of 2024. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  No. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  There have been engagements between the HSE and the company, Biogen Idec. It will not be tomorrow----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Why not? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----but what we are endeavouring to do is to get this on----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Taoiseach. There may be further engagement on both sides. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I will just make the point because things have been said here and there are lots of families----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  But your time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  But they need to know the information. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  This is Questions on Policy or Legislation, Taoiseach. Your time is up. The next speaker is----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Basically, we want to get it as quickly as possible from the July meeting. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call Deputy Gibney. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  The Taoiseach needs to give them a date. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That is shocking. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Please, Deputy McDonald. I call Deputy Gibney. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  They are in the Public Gallery. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call Deputy Gibney. Would you please----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  Stop playing games. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  I am not playing games. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Gibney is on her feet. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  They want an answer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The rules are the rules, Deputy. Please co-operate. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  Shocking. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  What is shocking about it is that they do not have access. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Gibney is on her feet. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  Earlier, when the Taoiseach spoke about Stop the Game, I think he implied, basically, that sport is not political. I would have a litany of examples to show him that there are many ways in which sports and politics interact and have traditionally done so. What is political is boycott, and we have a proud tradition of boycotting in this country. It is a way of expressing our solidarity with a people who are being inflicted by a brutal regime with a genocide in Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon right now. Multiple of the Taoiseach's Ministers have said they would not attend the game, which I find highly hypocritical when the Taoiseach then says he will not support the FAI in changing its decision to UEFA not to hold the game. Will the Taoiseach allow a free vote on the motion from Sinn F\u00e9in this evening and from us in the Social Democrats tomorrow, where we propose that the Government advocate for exclusion of Israel in all international sporting fixtures? Will he allow his TDs to vote freely on our motion tomorrow? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The exclusion of Israel from international competition has to be, by definition, a decision taken by the people who own, control and organise those competitions, namely----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  We are asking you to advocate----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----FIFA and UEFA. There is an issue here - of course there is - and the Government has taken a stand on a whole range of issues in respect of Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon and much more in terms of the international positions we have taken. There is an issue for the Irish football team in that it could be the main loser in all this, not anybody else - not FIFA and not UEFA. They continue on because those organisations have not, if we are honest, shown themselves to be very politically focused or conscious in what they do----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  Will the Taoiseach allow a free vote? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----and that is another side of the coin. I have to weigh that up in respect of----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  Has the Taoiseach offered a free vote? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----the Irish football team as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call Deputy Ivana Bacik. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  It is welcome that the impasse with the Rotunda Hospital has come to an end, and it is important that the principles underlying Sl\u00e1intecare are upheld. I was concerned, however, by some of the language used by commentators in the debate, with men on social media and in national newspapers using derogatory terms like the \"posh push\", which is belittling of women and not helpful, especially given the shameful history in this country of women being failed by our reproductive health and maternity care systems. As my colleague Deputy Sherlock pointed out, the national maternity strategy is now ten years old, and almost all of the ambition within it has not been realised: no new midwife-led unit in ten years, less access now to home births, and Domino, the early transfer scheme, not available in every county. To ensure that women have decent choices and a decent maternity care system, we need to see progress on delivering a world-class, midwife-led maternity care model, as envisaged in the maternity strategy. What steps is the Government taking now to ensure that is the case? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I think the Minister is taking a strategic approach to the development of maternity services. There is a lot in what the Deputy says, although it needs to be discussed in more depth. As a former Minister, I have been through the home birth situation. It is not easy. There are a lot a complications, difficulties and challenges. Modern obstetrics has become far more complex and complicated but we need to strive for safety wherever a baby is and in whatever context a baby is delivered. Safety and a quality outcome have to be the number one priority for mother and child. The Minister is feeding into a new strategic direction. It seems to me that one of the issues this recent controversy has shown up again is that in health the institution seems to take precedence over the patient. I know I do not have the time to do so in this one-minute exchange, but we do need to reflect on that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach's time is up. I call Deputy Paul Murphy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Patients should never be put into the situations they were put into in the last number of weeks. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach's time is up. He knows that we must co-operate. I call Deputy Murphy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I will take the Deputy's point on board. She knows what I am saying. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  Family, friends and supporters of justice for Terence Wheelock were on the streets on Saturday. Terence was a young man who left his home 21 years ago. He was arrested by the Garda and brought to Store Street Garda station where he received fatal injuries from which he never recovered, and he never came home again. After that, his cell was completely renovated and repainted instead of being preserved for investigation. The photos show substantial bruising and cuts that were not on Terence's body when he was arrested. His clothes were heavily bloodstained. Changes were made to his custody record and there were significant problems with the timeframe between the supposed incident and an ambulance being called. The question for the Taoiseach is whether the Government will finally concede to the family's request to have an independent inquiry into the death of Terence Wheelock. Will the Taoiseach also indicate when his Minister is going to implement the regulations to allow the renaming of Diamond Park to the Terence Wheelock Memorial Park, as wanted by the community? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I will discuss the issues he has raised with the Minister for justice. He called for an independent inquiry but, again, we would have to discuss that in terms of the type of inquiry. We have had many inquiries. They take an inordinate length of time. I will talk to the Minister and see if we can get answers. That is a more important point for the family concerned here. It has been a long period of time. I will talk to the Minister and come back to the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  The Taoiseach has answered a question on this already. Perhaps he would give us a timeline. Will he urgently intervene to ensure that the drug, Skyclarys, is included in the HSE's drugs group agenda for tomorrow, 10 June? I raised this issue in the D\u00e1il a number of months ago. I have also written directly to the Minister for health about it, yet here we are again with no progress and families left in limbo. I am speaking on behalf of Emma O'Shea from Bantry who was first diagnosed at ten years of age, and others who are living with Friedreich's ataxia, a cruel and relentlessly progressive disease where every single month lost means a permanent loss of mobility and quality of life. Skyclarys is the first treatment proven to slow the condition. It is already approved and being provided in countries across Europe and the United States, yet Ireland's patients are once again left behind because of delays in the system. Will the Taoiseach intervene today with the Minister and the HSE to ensure Skyclarys is considered immediately? Does he accept that families cannot continue to wait while time and their health slip away because of bureaucracy? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I will very quickly go through it because I think he is looking for clarification. Basically, the HSE received an application for pricing and reimbursement on 1 August 2024 for Skyclarys, for adults and adolescents aged 16 years and older. On foot of a rapid review of the application by the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics, the HSE commissioned a full health technology assessment, HTA, on 25 September 2024. Necessary materials were submitted by Biogen Idec on 2 July 2025, ten months after the HTA was commissioned by the HSE. The agency met with Biogen Idec on 12 February. However, despite several requests, a commercial proposal from the applicant was not received until 28 May. This is the information that I have available.  That said, we need to get this decided upon as quickly as we possibly can. My understanding is it would be on the agenda for the July meeting of the HSE's drugs group, but if we can bring it forward, we will, although I do not want to make any commitments on that.  However, there are many families out there who are very worried and stressed. I acknowledge that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  Antisocial behaviour in some local authority estates and approved housing body, AHB, estates is becoming a growing concern. Constituents regularly contact me regarding intimidation, harassment, bullying and serious criminal activity. In some cases, affected residents will not contact the Garda for fear of reprisals. I have zero tolerance for this behaviour. Too often, the same individuals are given chance after chance while innocent neighbours are left living in fear in their own homes. In many cases, it is the victims who are forced to seek transfers, often waiting months or years to escape the situation while those causing the problems remain in place without consequences. Will the Taoiseach ask the Minister for housing to examine the current legislation and consider giving local authorities stronger powers to deal with antisocial behaviour and put more pressure on AHBs to deal with these types of issues quickly. The people causing these problems should be moved on, not the families who are simply trying to live peacefully in their own homes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I agree with what the Deputy is saying. This has been an issue that has been raised on a number of occasions. I will talk to the Minister for housing to see if additional legislation or regulation is required. Very often, it is the enforcement of existing regulations and laws that is the issue. There is a great reluctance to move in relation to people who are behaving in a significantly antisocial way and who are making life almost impossible for all the other residents. I have always been of the view that a firmer position has to be taken by the councils and approved housing bodies in respect of tenants who are not upholding the tenancy agreement in terms of proper social behaviour and cohesion within a residential estate. I will discuss the matter with the Minister for housing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Clendennen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Clendennen  The summer programme or July provision scheme has proven an invaluable resource to families and provides a vital service over the course of the summer months. Since the turn of the decade, those numbers have quadrupled from 13,000 to almost 70,000. However, I have received a number of queries from principals in the past 24 hours whose special needs assistant, SNA, allocation for this summer scheme has been cut. One particular example is Ballinamere National School, which had nine SNAs last year. It has been allocated six by the Department. We have had many debates in relation to SNAs in this Chamber. I would like reassurance from the Government that there will be no cut to SNAs in relation to the summer programme and that it will ensure that this vital service can be provided from 24 June. It is only a matter of weeks away. I would like that reassurance from the Government today to ensure that it can prevail so that activities can be booked and families can be accommodated. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy kind of answered it himself when he said that the scheme has quadrupled. The Government is investing in this scheme and expanding it. We have to have some balance and perspective here too. We do not allocate individually to each scheme. The scheme has increased again this year and funding has increased quite significantly. I do not know whether the scheme has expanded beyond the original parameters. We should always be targeting our resources to those who need the resources the most. However, I will alert the Minister to the fact that the Deputy has raised this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Denise Mitchell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Denise Mitchell  I want to raise the case of St. Francis Junior School in Priorswood. It is a school that is at the heart of the community and a source of great pride to the area, yet it is losing a mainstream teacher for being one pupil under the quota back in September 2025. The school has had more pupils enrolled since then but its appeal has been rejected. There is huge anger in the community. This is a DEIS plus school. It serves a very disadvantaged area and 40% of the pupils come from a Traveller background. The Minister said that the appeals board is independent and that she has no ability to intervene. Back in 2020, however, the school was facing an identical situation and the then Minister for education intervened and the school saved its teacher. On one hand, this school is DEIS plus, so it can receive the increased supports while on the other hand, the Government is removing a mainstream teacher. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That is a very difficult situation if it is just one pupil short. The Deputy knows there are basic frameworks and rules governing the pupil-teacher ratio in terms of enrolment numbers. The previous September governs how many teachers we have in the subsequent September. Some schools gain teachers; other schools lose teachers. There is a clause there, in terms of developing school status if numbers are potentially going to increase in a given location, that can be used as a basis for upholding an appeal or suggesting that the school would retain its teacher. Again, the appeals process is independent but I will make the case to the Minister in respect of the school. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Denise Mitchell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Denise Mitchell  It is a mainstream teacher. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  To be fair to the Minister, there is an independent appeals process. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Denise Mitchell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Denise Mitchell  However, it is DEIS plus. We are getting it on one hand  and losing it on the other. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy knows she will have to engage further at another time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  They are getting a lot more than one teacher now in DEIS plus. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Murphy  The State continues to fund an international protection accommodation services, IPAS, centre on the site of the former historic Dundrum House Hotel despite repeated concerns raised by me around due diligence, transparency, planning compliance and the protection of our built heritage. On the issue of planning compliance, a decision of An Bord Plean\u00e1la is imminent. In recent days, however, further evidence has emerged of the serious and accelerating deterioration of a protected structure on the site, that is, the manor house. What was once an important historic building is now being used as a dumping and storage area for the operation of the IPAS centre. There are broken and missing windows and stripped out interiors. It is a building left vacant, unsecured and exposed to the elements. Does the Government accept that public funds should never be used in a manner that facilitates the neglect of our architectural heritage? What immediate action will it take to ensure this protected structure is secure and preserved? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Is this the house itself? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Murphy  Yes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It has been providing accommodation under contract to the Department of justice since 2022 for people fleeing the war in Ukraine and people applying for international protection. A new contract commenced in April 2025 at this property to provide accommodation to people and families seeking international protection in Ireland. Then, a proper template must be completed and sent to the Department of justice. That requires details of accommodation services offered and regulatory matters like planning, building regulations, valid fire certification, insurance and staffing details. Once all that documentation is received, a contract may be offered. Confirmation of the required planning exemption for the local authority was provided to the Department of justice as part of agreeing this new contract. Valid insurance details were also reviewed as part of this process. Tipperary County Council acknowledged in court proceedings during 2025 that the granting of a pending exemption to the property in January 2025 had an administrative flaw in the process. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank the Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh  I wish to raise the issue of community safety in Kildare South. My constituents have reported serious concerns in both Kildare town and Newbridge, including violent incidents involving teenagers in public spaces as well as persistent antisocial behaviour, such as vandalism, intimidation and retail crime. While I welcome recent increased Garda presence on the back of public outcry, the visibility of garda\u00ed is not yet sufficient and policing alone will not resolve these issues. It is important to acknowledge the lack of dedicated facilities and services for young people in these growing towns. Community infrastructure has not kept up with our growing population in Kildare. We cannot be surprised by these problems when young people are left without adequate supports or positive outlets. We need a plan for Kildare town and Newbridge for residents to feel safe in their communities again. Will the Taoiseach commit to a co-ordinated plan based on community consultation that combines effective policing with youth diversion and community services in rapidly growing towns like Newbridge and Cill Dara? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Both towns are rapidly growing and we do, at all levels and in a co-ordinated way, have to deal with antisocial behaviour. A lot of investment has gone into sporting organisations. A lot of investment is going into community-based organisations with a view to providing alternative activities, services and opportunities for people and young people, in particular. Then, along with that, we are getting increased throughput in Templemore, so we need more garda\u00ed on the streets and we need greater visibility of garda\u00ed on the streets. That is occurring but maybe not yet at the levels required in Newbridge and Kildare town. Hopefully, with the increased numbers coming through and out of Templemore, we will be in a position to increase the number of garda\u00ed in the locations the Deputy has identified. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul McAuliffe  I understand that Cabinet today approved the domestic violence judgment register, or Jennie's law. It was only a matter of months after Jennifer Poole's death that Jason came to the House and discussed with me, the Minister, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan, and Senator O'Loughlin the shock of their family when they heard in court that the person who murdered their sister had previous convictions for domestic violence. They were not aware of that and nor was Jennifer. The legislation hopes to give families and partners access to previous domestic violence judgments. I appreciate the progress we have made on this. I ask the Taoiseach to do everything in his power to ensure the legislation is passed through the House as quickly as possible.  I hope the Chief Whip will be of assistance and I also hope that across the House and the justice committee, where there is a lot of agreement on this Bill, we will all work together to ensure that Jennifer Poole and her family will be the last to not know about previous domestic violence judgments against partners. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy and pay tribute to him for the role he played in advancing this issue and the work he has done with the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration. This is an issue the Deputy has championed for quite some time, with Jason Poole and others. The Government approved the Domestic Violence (Judgments) Register Bill 2026 today. The Minister brought it to Cabinet. It will provide for judgments in respect of those convicted of domestic violence against a former partner or partner to be included on a public register. We will seek to get the Bill through the House as quickly and efficiently as possible. The Chief Whip is very much focused on doing that. It shows that Members of the House and backbenchers generally can play a significant role in getting legislation through. This is one that matters to many families. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Roche","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Roche  The Courts Service owns a building in the heart of Tuam that has been derelict for the past 15 years. As part of the National Development Plan 2018 to 2027, reference was made to the possibility of it being refurbished at the end of that period. We are in the middle of 2026 and there is no sign of that. Dereliction should not be encouraged. In particular, State-owned buildings should not be left in that state right in the heart of the town of Tuam in east Galway. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I will talk to the Minister for justice. Obviously, there is a capital programme for the refurbishment of courts. The Deputy is saying this is a derelict building and I presume it is still owned by the Department. Therefore, it, along with the local authority, should work to get this resolved. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Donnelly  The K district is one of the busiest policing districts in the State, covering Blanchardstown, Cabra and Finglas. Unfortunately, we were short-changed with regard to the number of Garda recruits we received until the last batch, when we got 20 new garda\u00ed, which was very welcome. However, I am informed that 18 garda\u00ed are being transferred to the city centre for the next six months for the EU Presidency. This is a shocking decision for the people of Dublin West. We have had a decade in which we lacked garda\u00ed and just when we thought the numbers were being resolved, 18 garda\u00ed are to be pulled out of Dublin West for six months. Does the Taoiseach not agree that this is a disproportionate number to be pulled from such a busy district and that it will compromise community safety in our area for the next six months? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The allocation of 20 new garda\u00ed to the area is very good news and a manifestation of the progress we are making in recruiting more and more garda\u00ed. The numbers applying to go into Templemore are in or around 200 now per term, so that is good news. I will engage with the Minister. It is primarily an operational matter for the Garda Commissioner but I will seek clarity on the background to what is happening here. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  I again raise the boil water notice in place in Tipperary town, which affects over 5,000 people. It was implemented originally on 12 February 2026. For about ten weeks, the only information available to anybody was the initial post on the Irish Water website. I raised the issue with the Taoiseach and, through his intervention, an email was secured within a couple of days telling us that a new well was to be installed. There has been no further information, however. We are now four months into the boil water notice and the people of Tipperary town have no idea when a safe water supply will be back, whether it will be done by an existing contract, whether it will be open to a process of tendering or how long the work will take place. That is simply unacceptable. During all this time, sick people, families and businesses have been paying for bottled water. I know I should not be asking the Taoiseach this question and nor should he be involved in answering it, but this company is an absolute disaster and we need his intervention on this again. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising a very important issue for the people of Tipperary town and the surrounding district. I will again engage with Irish Water on the question. There has to be clarity of information for the people. At least if people know what is happening, there is some solace. Even if it means it is going to take some time to install a particular well or whatever is required, at least people know something is happening and there light at the end of the tunnel, so to speak. I will pursue the matter with Irish Water. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Neville  Last week, when the Committee of Public Accounts met with the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, CCPC, I raised the issue of dynamic pricing online and how it impacts the consumer. I highlighted how people go online with the intention of buying at one price but when dynamic pricing kicks in, consumers are quickly in the impulse buying position at a significantly higher price than that originally viewed. Over the weekend, we learned of the liquidation of the country's second biggest selling platform, Tickets.ie. This has dramatically impacted the people running these events, with potentially devastating financial losses, and the full knock-on impact of this liquidation is as yet unknown. Serious questions remain over the online ticketing industry and what safeguards we can put in place for promoters and consumers. It seems online ticketing is now the wild west of retailing. Will the Government examine what steps we can take to protect the consumer and local event organisers? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  This is a very important issue to many people. People individually have to behave responsibly as well but this is the role of the CCPC. We have funded the organisation so this is something it needs to pursue to protect the consumer. We create bodies and authorities to regulate and to make sure things are done properly and the consumer is protected. The Deputy is raising this again with me. I will revert to the Minister with responsibility for the CCPC and also with the body directly. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Pholasa\u00ed n\u00f3 ar Reachta\u00edocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/dbsect_12","debateType":"billCommittee","bill":null,"showAs":"Guardianship of Infants (Amendment) Bill 2026: Instruction to Committee","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_12","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Mary Butler)  I move:  That it be an instruction to the Select Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, on the Guardianship of Infants (Amendment) Bill 2026, that pursuant to Standing Order 194, the Committee has power to make amendments to the Bill which are outside the scope of the existing provisions of the Bill to provide that:  Part VA of the Child Care Act 1991 is amended for the purposes of providing additional clarification in relation to the appointment of a different guardian ad litem to a child concerned under section 35C; and for the purposes of providing additional clarification in relation to legal representation for guardians ad litem under section 35D;  and to make other technical and consequential amendments required to take account of the changes above. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Guardianship of Infants (Amendment) Bill 2026: Instruction to Committee"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/dbsect_13","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna - Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_13","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna - Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/dbsect_14","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Cabinet Committees","counts":{"speechCount":54,"speakerCount":12},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/dbsect_13","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_13","showAs":"Ceisteanna - Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_14","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"S\u00e9amus McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ryan O'Meara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_14.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 16, inclusive, together.  The Cabinet committee on housing last met on Thursday, 14 May. The committee will next meet on Monday, 29 June. The committee works to ensure a cross-government approach to the implementation of our commitments regarding housing policy.  Housing supply has increased significantly over the past number of years and home completions data for quarter 1 shows that 2026 is off to a very good start, with almost 8,000 new homes built, which is the highest number of quarter 1 completions since the series began 15 years ago. Apartment completions in quarter 1 of 2026, at 2,355, are up 33.3% from quarter 1 of 2025. In quarter 1 of 2026, more than half of the completions were scheme dwellings, 30% were apartments and 18% were single dwellings. In 2025, over 36,000 homes were completed, up 20% from 2024, while 2025 saw the highest number of people buying their first home in well over a decade, with first-time buyer mortgage drawdowns of almost 28,000, supported by Government-backed measures such as the first home and help to buy schemes. In addition, we now have the highest social housing build per annum on record.  Clearly, the measures we have implemented, backed by unprecedented State investment, are working but we have an awful lot more to do and are still not at the scale we need to reach to make sure we can provide for people to be able to buy or rent a house at an affordable rate. We have made available the highest ever commitment of Exchequer funding for housing - \u20ac28 billion up to 2030 - along with additional funding through State vehicles, including the Land Development Agency, the Housing Finance Agency, Home Building Finance Ireland, the first home scheme and the Irish Strategic Investment Fund.  The Land Development Agency has revised its corporate strategy in line with its expanded mandate - a wider geographical focus, an emphasis on starter homes, a greater mix of tenure to include more social and private housing delivery and infrastructure-led delivery, with an updated business plan expected by quarter 3 which will outline expected annual delivery to 2030.  Along with the agency's role in managing the State-owned lands to help develop new homes and regenerate underutilised sites, it will continue to unlock stalled private planning consented developments through its market engagement and home builder partnership initiative, Project Tosaigh. Through these various delivery channels, the LDA has delivered more than 3,000 homes to date and to scale up housing supply, we need to significantly zone more land and more serviced land. All 31 local authorities across the country have been tasked with ensuring that more than enough land is zoned to meet the needs of our citizens. The process is well under way, with local authorities signalling they will have over 70% of required land zoned complete by the end of June. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Time is up, Taoiseach. It will be read into the record. We have 16 Deputies. On the balance of fairness, I propose 45 seconds each. I will do my best so each Deputy gets a reasonable answer. I call on Deputy S\u00e9amus McGrath. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"S\u00e9amus McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy S\u00e9amus McGrath  I thank the Taoiseach for his update. I want to raise the issue of the qualifying income limits for social housing. The Minister for housing has indicated a willingness to examine these limits but I am raising it because I believe they urgently need to be increased. An increasing number of working people are finding themselves outside the social housing income limits and outside the social housing support bracket. This is increasing the cohort of people who are effectively receiving no support from the State. Traditionally, social housing was available to working people. We need to get back to that place. I ask the Taoiseach to please take this issue back and increase the limits as soon as possible. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul McAuliffe  In the past few weeks we have had a large number of social housing projects in my area completed, namely, Millview, Melville and Piper's Square, which will contribute more than several hundred cost-rental and social units. Last week, we were informed that the Land Development Agency had bought land for 600 units. Those units should be affordable purchase homes because that is not an option we currently have in the mix in our constituency. I ask the Taoiseach to do everything in his power to work with the LDA to ensure there is affordable purchase and cost-rental housing on this new site and that residents are engaged with about what that will mean for the area. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ryan O'Meara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ryan O'Meara  I wish to raise the issue of difficulties of building a one-off rural house, particularly in my constituency of Tipperary North and in north-west Kilkenny. From restrictions around access onto regional roads that do not always need to be there, to sight-line issues, ribbon development and the difficulty of building on one's own land, it should not be a privilege to build a house and live in the area in which you grew up. What is the Government doing to make it easier to build that one-off rural home, particularly for younger people who are trying to get back into their own area, perhaps coming home from abroad, start a family, raise their family there to support the local club, the local school and the local community? What are we, in Government, going to do to ensure we can build those houses in rural Ireland? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere  Last night in Kilkenny we had a very special evening when Eamon Langton was conferred with the honour of becoming a freeman of Kilkenny city. Mr Langton has been a champion of Kilkenny city for decades and has been a brilliant ambassador for all things that are great in Kilkenny, be that the Kilkenny hurling team and his support, tourism and employment. He has been absolutely fantastic. He joins a very exclusive club that includes \u00c9amon de Valera, Constance Markievicz, Brian Cody and Eddie Keher. Eamon Langton is a freeman of the city and it is much deserved. I pay tribute to and thank the mayor, Councillor John Coonan, for his foresight in nominating Eamon Langton. It was a very special evening. I congratulate Eamon and all his family. Can the Taoiseach give us an update on the rural housing and planning guidelines and when they will be published? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  I asked the Taoiseach about what I consider to be the absolutely disgraceful decision of DLR Properties, which is a corporate subsidiary of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, to put up for sale land zoned for more than 1,000 houses. We could have more than 1,000 social and affordable homes but instead a board, which is not accountable to the elected representatives on Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council or to the public but is populated by Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael councillors, has decided to sell off public land. I asked the Taoiseach about it last week. I would like to know because this is disgraceful. I thought all publicly-owned land that could be available for social and affordable housing was supposed to be made available, for example, to the LDA. The idea that it is being sold off to private developers who are then going to build housing that nobody can afford is a scandal. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Liam Quaide  The recent RT\u00c9 \"Prime Time\" programme on dereliction should shame the Government into action on this issue. It showed that driving the blight of dereliction is an abject failure of enforcement as well as a failure to even record the number of properties that are being left to rot in our towns, villages and cities. The problem is painfully visible in east Cork. Castlemartyr is a beautiful, historic village with enormous potential but large parts of its main street have been scarred by long-standing, egregious dereliction. It is well-known locally that much of that dereliction in Castlemartyr is linked to one family. This is not just about appearances. It damages community pride, housing supply, tourism appeal and heritage, and creates a wider impression of neglect and decay. How has this been allowed to happen for so long? There is no excuse for it. Will the Taoiseach commit to a proper national register, stronger enforcement and full collection of levies? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  South Dublin County Council management is planning massive rent hikes for 20,000 families from July of this year. That includes council tenants, HAP tenants, homeless HAP tenants and approved housing body tenants. The council is increasing the base rate by 25% but also making a series of other changes such as incorporating into the assessment the working family payment, which means some families are going to see their rents increased in July by 53%. Not only is this massively unjust and unaffordable for many, it flies in the face of what elected councillors agreed in a motion unanimously passed in February that stated there should be no change until there has been consultation with tenants and tenants unions, such as Community Action Tenants Union, CATU. That consultation has not taken place. At the very least, will the Taoiseach agree that this should be suspended until there has been a consultation and until elected councillors get to vote on it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  Limerick faces a severe housing deficit. It is 6,000 homes behind delivery targets. The Taoiseach recently spoke at the Limerick Chamber business luncheon but planning permissions and housing commencements are down 40% in Limerick in the past year and both the Chamber and An Taisce----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Did the Deputy say An Taisce? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  -----have raised reasonable issues in relation to the disconnect that is there between national policy enabling or hindering local development. Density zoning of 50 per hectare in Castletroy, Mungret, Raheen and other suburban areas is affecting viability in those areas and it is going to be very hard to get 100-plus dwellings per hectare in the city centre. What sort of targeted interventions are the Government considering to ensure that Limerick reaches its housing targets? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  In Ireland, 90% of protected habitats are in an unfavourable conservation condition. Ireland ranks one of the lowest in the world when it comes to nature intactness and we also spend, as a percentage of our GDP, one of the lowest amounts among countries in Europe. The Government has an Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund but the independent body that was set up to look at nature restoration has estimated it is going to cost \u20ac450 million to \u20ac700 million a year to roll out nature restoration plans in Ireland. However, there is no money currently ring-fenced for that under the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund. This is something I raised so many times with the previous Government and with the previous Minister. Funds needed to be ring-fenced for nature protection and restoration under the fund. It was not done by the previous Government. I am asking the Taoiseach to ring-fence money for nature protection. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  The Taoiseach has acknowledged the fact that we need service sites to deliver housing. In many parts of the country, our water network is absolutely creaking. This weekend, for practically the whole weekend, Duleek and Stamullen in County Meath were without water due to unscheduled outages and failed repairs. These outages are all too regular. There is a plan for investment in the network. I am asking the Taoiseach to ensure that is prioritised and rolled out as quickly as is possible and in the meantime, that Uisce \u00c9ireann is held to account for responsiveness to outages and to communities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach have roughly 11 minutes to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank all the Deputies who raised numerous issues. Deputy McGrath raised qualifying limits and thresholds for social housing. I agree with what he said and a lot of working people, because of their income being just a bit above the income threshold, are not in a position to buy or get a mortgage or get a social house. I have spoken to the Minister for housing on this. He is actively considering increasing the income thresholds. I will pursue the issue again with the Minister. It is something that should be done and we need to do it.  Deputy McAuliffe has been very active on the ground.  He is so active that he is gone out now doing something else and meeting somebody else. He referenced the fact that there are 600 units. I was going to suggest to him that he should engage with the LDA and so will I in respect of that matter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  That is where he is gone. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Okay. It is good to see. He outlined that close to 1,000 houses have been built and now there is a further proposal for 600 houses. There is a lot happening on the housing front. We just need more and more of it and to keep the momentum going.  Deputy O'Meara asked about one-off rural housing. I accept the basic principle that on your own land or in your own community we need people to have the capacity to regenerate that community, to grow up in it, to support the clubs, to maintain a population critical mass and to keep heritage and a community vibrant. The Minister, Deputy Browne, and the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, are close to new rural housing guidelines. We have discussed this. We are looking at the Gaeltacht as well. Hopefully, within the next number of weeks, we will have clarity on that and those guidelines will be brought to Cabinet.  In response to Deputy Cleere, I pay tribute to Eamon Langton as well. It is a wonderful tribute and he has joined an elite group of people. Fair play to the mayor, Councillor Coonan for his initiative in this regard. I have enjoyed their hospitality from time to time as well in the past while in Kilkenny. I note that Brian Cody was among the recipients as well. He is a good man to give a pep talk to any group of people, be they hurling or political. I do not know the man's politics at all but he is a man who speaks a lot of sense. On the rural housing guidelines, similar to Deputy O'Meara, Deputy Cleere has been championing that and arguing for it. I hope we will have the guidelines in the next fortnight or so.  In response to Deputy Boyd Barrett, I do not think I have the full story from him. I probably have the story from his perspective but I would be interested to know if it will definitely go for housing. A thousand houses will be built there. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Why are we selling it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I do not know. I do not know the background to this. I do not run every council or every subsidiary of every council, nor should I. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  A thousand homes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We delegate authority to local councils that are elected by the people in the given locality to get things done, but the Oireachtas pays lip service to that idea and notion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  The elected councillors did not decide this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, please. Be fair to other Members. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  They decide the subsidiary, I imagine. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  A decade. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Maybe things will get done there because, in regard to the councils on the other side, Dublin City Council had land for a long time - O'Devaney Gardens and you name it. Nothing happed there for a decade. We need people to get things moving and maybe the other side of this story, which I have not heard, is that people are anxious to get things moving here and that we could have 1,000 houses much faster than would otherwise have been the case. I do not know. I have not the specifics of it but I will follow it up.  On Deputy Quaide's question, to be fair, two of the big significant interventions in terms of dereliction have been the grants we have brought in to enable people to refurbish and bring back to life vacant houses and dilapidated or derelict houses. Up to 7,000 people have applied for those grants and they have been effective. On the Derelict Sites Act 1990, again, the local authorities have responsibility on dereliction. It is, fundamentally, a function of local authorities. I accept it has not happened with the uniformity or consistency across the country that it should have. Some councils are better than others, so the Government, in this year's budget, decided to hand responsibility to Revenue for a tax on derelict sites that would be administered by it, which will deliver a better outcome in bringing derelict buildings back into use much faster. There is a lot of mapping going on and so on, and work being done to make sure that proposal is implemented efficiently, effectively and comprehensively but it is the right direction of travel given that the Derelict Sites Act, as administered by councils over the past decade or so, has not been as effective as it should have been.  Deputy Paul Murphy raised the issue of South Dublin County Council. Again, I do not have the specifics of that. There has to be sustainability in whatever situation is there but the Deputy is saying rents will go up 53%. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  For some. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Not for everybody, I presume. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  No. The base rate is up 25%. Everyone is up 25%. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputies are like the terrible twins over there. Please stop. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I will have to examine that and see what the position of the council is in respect of that. In regard to Limerick----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  Should the councillors not get to vote on it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Murphy, you know it is not the format. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  Council management is on it contrary to the vote of the councillors. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I ask you not to ignore me, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I am not running the council. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  But the Taoiseach agrees that the councillors should get to vote and it should be suspended until there is a vote of the council. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Paul Murphy  I ask the Taoiseach not to encourage the Deputy. I ask the Deputy to please not ignore me. There is a format here and it is Taoiseach's Questions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  On another day, the Deputy would be attacking Government if we interfered in local authorities and local government. We need to make up our mind in the Oireachtas. Do we believe in a local authority system or not? Do we believe in delegating----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  We want to give power to councillors, not council management. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, please. Be fair to other Members. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Do we believe in delegating authority to them or not? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  The councillors. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Deputies are paying lip service and playing both ways as it suits.  I will come to the Deputy in regard to Limerick. Who was it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Sheehan, yes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I was going to say, \"Get your act together there\". We are providing the funding. We have asked the council to zone land. Is the Deputy saying the density is too low? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  It is rhetorical. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I cannot; it is a rhetorical question. We are anxious for it and we will work with the local authority to make progress here. We have provided substantial funding. We believe the councils, generally, should be rezoning more land to get more housing. In some places, density can be an issue, where apartment blocks may not be feasible or sustainable. I do not know which is which and in that case, that needs to be reviewed. Our view is a far more flexible approach needs to be adopted. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  That is my point. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy. We are on the one page in respect of that. I will talk to the Minister about that and ask him to talk to the Deputy.  In response to Deputy Whitmore's question, I am working with the Minister of State, Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan. The plan has been recently concluded, chaired by Dr. Aoibhinn N\u00ed Sh\u00failleabh\u00e1in. It is a fine, comprehensive plan that lays out a roadmap to preserve and enhance our biodiversity and habitats. I have met with the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Minister of State, and they have a plan on how the funding can be built up but it will not all be spent immediately or in one year. We are making progress. We have to have further discussions within Government to try to earmark over the next five years allocations of money from the nature fund for the implementation of this plan. That is the work I have under way. I know the Minister of State is working strongly with us and the relevant Ministers to bring that over the line.  We have established the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund. Some \u20ac2 billion went to the metro initially, and probably more. We also need to do funding for nature. Some of the good European Union projects will come to an end. They have been very effective. I refer to the lapwing and others. We are making a lot of progress as well on some fronts but we need to do it on a sustained basis over the next decade or so. There has to be a sustainable funding framework to enable us to restore biodiversity and really make progress. That will have benefits for farmers as well. It is a way of supplementing income for farmers, particularly on the western seaboard, in the north west and so on. I see a lot of potential here for harmony. Farmers signed up to this as well. The number of non-governmental organisations that endorsed the plan was also remarkable.  Deputy O'Rourke talked about the need for investment. There is a plan there for investment in Duleek and Stamullen, he said, and we will certainly work to activate that plan and to make sure to prioritise the funding there. The investment is planned for there. As the Deputy knows, the Minister, Deputy Jack Chambers, has been working on faster delivery of infrastructure and so forth to make sure things get done much more quickly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Taoiseach. We will have an extra minute and a half on the next question, which is to ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on disability will meet next. That will give Members a minute each. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Happy days. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I know. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Cabinet Committees"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/dbsect_15","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Cabinet Committees","counts":{"speechCount":22,"speakerCount":15},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/dbsect_13","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_13","showAs":"Ceisteanna - Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_15.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I propose to take Questions Nos. 17 to 33, inclusive, together.  The Cabinet committee on disability has been established to oversee the implementation of programme for Government commitments in the area of disability, with specific focus on children's disability services, as well as disability more generally under the Government' s new national human rights strategy for disabled people for 2025 to 2030.  Under the programme for Government, we are committed to delivering a step change in disability services and to advancing the rights and improving the lives of people with disabilities. To deliver on this, I established a stand-alone Cabinet committee on disability. This committee has met eight times to date, most recently on 27 April and it is due to meet again shortly. To date, the committee has considered issues, including the new national human rights strategy for disabled people, the provision of therapists in special schools, improving the delivery of services and reform of the assessment of need process.  Despite the committed efforts of so many working to provide services, and significant increases in funding and resources in recent years, we acknowledge that we can and have to do better and do more.  Reflecting the importance of disability issues, I have established a dedicated disability unit in my Department. An initial programme plan for the unit has been published, outlining the work of the unit, including its role supporting the Cabinet committee on disability and ensuring a truly all-of-government approach to disability, as set out in the new national disability strategy. The Government's new National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030 was published in September 2025. That is the framework for the whole-of-government approach to addressing disability. It represents our commitment and ambition that all disabled people in Ireland can live the life of their choosing and participate in their communities and our society to the fullest extent possible.  In budget 2026, we have taken initial steps to deliver on this commitment, with a strong focus on investment in both specialist disability services and mainstream services. A record \u20ac3.8 billion allocation to the Department of Children, Disability and Equality for specialist disability services represents a 20% increase in funding for disability services, which will improve both sustainability of the sector and delivery of residential, respite and therapy services for children and adults. The disabilities workforce is growing year on year, and budget 2026 will allow for further targeted expansion in the workforce across key services. Funding has been allocated for an additional 945 whole-time equivalents, which will bring the disability workforce to almost 23,600 by the end of this year.  Special education also saw record investment under budget 2026, totalling \u20ac3 billion, which will see an additional 860 special education teachers, SETs, appointed along with more than 1,700 additional special needs assistants, SNAs. A national therapy service in education has been established, commencing in special schools and subsequently extending gradually to schools with special classes and mainstream provision. As announced by the Minister for Education and Youth, Deputy Naughton, in early February this year, the first 45 special schools to benefit from this service have been selected and are based in clusters in counties Carlow, Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kildare, Kilkenny, Louth, Laois, Limerick, Longford, Meath, Monaghan, Tipperary, Westmeath, Wexford and Wicklow. Further roll-out of the service will occur on a phased basis with a wider roll-out to special schools commencing in the 2026-27 school year.   Additional information not given on the floor of the House   It is planned that this service will be extended to special classes and mainstream classes following the roll-out to special schools. Initially the service will include occupational therapy and speech and language therapy services. Over time further disciplines such as physiotherapy may be included. A recruitment campaign for senior and staff grade occupational therapists and speech and language therapists has recently taken place to support the 45 schools in the initial phase. Posts are currently being offered and it is expected that the first therapists will be in post very shortly. In all, we expect there will be almost 290 staff supporting the overall education therapy service. This service is not a replacement for existing services; rather, it will work in an integrated and complementary way with existing services, recognising that special schools support children with complex needs.  Other initiatives to support a whole-of-government approach to disability include increased investment in housing adaptation grants and in the public transport retrofit programme, along with enhanced supports for employers for the employment of disabled people. In addition, budget 2026 also contained targeted and mainstream social protection measures which will support households with disabilities, including increases in weekly rates, expansion of eligibility to schemes and amendments to income disregards for carers. Budget 2026 is a first step in the Government's ambition to deliver the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030. I believe we have made a strong start in year one of our programme of work and investment. I am determined that this will be a government that moves forward with purpose, in improving the level and scale of support for disabled people and their families. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Daly  I am aware of the Taoiseach's commitment to the matter of disability and the establishment of the unit in his Department, and the Minister, Deputy Norma Foley's, commitment to improving the lot of people who live with disability in Ireland. We have met groups of parents whose main concern and apprehension is the care of their vulnerable offspring when they are not around anymore, either through incapacity or death, which happens to us all eventually, and the expectation that their siblings will take on that care without negotiation and without any hope or respite in planning for their accommodation as they get older, whether it is in full residential care, supervised care or in community and local authority housing that is is suitably supported. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan  My question is fairly straightforward. We understand the pressures that disability services are under right across the country. They are more acutely felt in certain regions and there are black spots around the country that have been well-documented in many of our clinics. There is a particularly acute problem with therapies in Cork, as the Taoiseach is well aware. A post for disability clinical lead for the country was advertised a number of months ago. My understanding is a number of people were interviewed, but the post was not filled. They were not deemed to be satisfactory, which is fine, but this post has been left unfilled for a number of month. When will that post be readvertised? It needs to be filled urgently. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Erin McGreehan  I appreciate the Taoiseach's Department's ongoing work on disability. One aspect that is often overlooked is funding to support local authorities to have disability access officers and funding to back up their work by making accessibility a default and improving the quality of life for many people, including their access to towns and villages. I would like to see dedicated funding for those people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Liam Quaide  I raise the case of Paudie Cody from north Cork. As the Taoiseach knows, the Cody family has already suffered the devastating loss of Paudie's younger brother, Rory, to Friedreich's ataxia. Paudie, who is 16, is living with the same cruel condition and his health is deteriorating. I welcome the compassion the Taoiseach showed in meeting Paudie's father, Craig, in recent days and his commitment to do everything he can to help secure access to Skyclarys for Paudie and other patients who may benefit from it. I also acknowledge the strong advocacy of the Taoiseach's colleague, Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan, on this. I join other TDs, including Deputy O'Sullivan, in asking that this commitment be followed through with real urgency and that Paudie and other patients are not left waiting. There is a wider injustice here. The reimbursement system too often leaves families trapped in a process where time is lost as a condition progresses. Will the Taoiseach exhaust all efforts to try to bring forward the HSE drugs group discussion on Skyclarys from July to June so that Paudie and his family are not waiting unnecessarily any longer? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Tomorrow, there is another protest by Northside Home Care Services workers who have been engaging in a series of one-day protests and strikes over the fact that they did not benefit from the pay increases arising from the section 39 Workplace Relations Commission decision on pay restoration. Many of these workers used to be paid on a par with HSE workers. Now, they are on rates barely above the minimum wage. There are thousands of them. This is one group of 80. Their shop steward has been disciplined because of their engagement in the process and suspended. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  By who? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  By the not-for-profit company that provides services to the HSE. I met some of these other workers, doing the same thing. There are thousands of these people, all across the country, on poverty pay rates, who did not get the pay increase that other section 39 workers got. They are very angry and it is not fair. There should not be pay apartheid for home care workers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  I raise the matter of a group of children who are being left behind by this Government. Those are children with mild or moderate learning disabilities and complex needs. Mothers of children with Down's syndrome have written to me to express how abandoned they feel. They say that the Government is intentionally misleading people by talking about special classes when 89% of those classes are designed for children with autism. It is welcome that we are getting autism classes but the Government should be honest about that. When the Government announced in March that it was sanctioning 387 new special classes, only one was a general learning disability class. Of course, it is welcome to have some recognition by the Government of the needs of autistic children and their right to education but children with Down's syndrome have an equal right to education appropriate to their needs. An hour a day of special education support in mainstream does not provide that. Will the Taoiseach raise this? Will the Government commit to opening more general learning disability classes? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  I ask the Taoiseach about St. Francis Junior School in Dublin 17. It is a DEIS+ school that is losing a teacher this year. This is based on pupil numbers on 30 September last year. It is just one pupil short. This coming year, it will be over the threshold of pupil numbers, so this cut makes no sense at all. In 2020, in a similar situation, the Minister for Education intervened and a teacher was kept on a one-year fixed-term contract, which solved the school's problems. Will the Taoiseach ask the Minister for Education and Youth to look at this again and intervene? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  I raise a new special school that was announced for St. Fergal's in Bray. It was welcome news when this school was announced earlier this year. It will accommodate 18 to 24 students, beginning in September 2026. However, there has been radio silence about the school since. There has been no information for parents about how to apply and whether they will get places. The Taoiseach knows that children need to be prepared to start school in September. Indeed, parents have work to do to get a child ready for school. It is completely unacceptable that there has been no information locally about how parents can apply and whether they will get places in this school. I would appreciate it if the Taoiseach would raise that with the Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  Children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy in Ireland are still denied access to givinostat, a transformative drug. I understand that the HSE drugs group is to meet tomorrow, 10 June, to consider givinostat for reimbursement. This is after more than a year since it was licensed at European level.  A number of serious criteria need to be met in relation to it, principal among these is that the eligibility criteria would be aligned with the National Institute for Clinical Excellence, NICE, approach ensuring access for boys who can walk or who can stand with or without support to ensure Irish boys are not treated differently from their British or European counterparts. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Wall  I wish to raise St. Anne's Special School in the Curragh, County Kildare. It has been waiting ten years for a new school building. The project remains at stage 2b design, and planning permission is due to expire next year. The Taoiseach will appreciate there is very little time for the school to get shovels into the ground and start building. There is only one accessible bathroom for 40 students in the school. More than a dozen children, who are wheelchair users, have no access to inclusive equipment on the grounds at lunchtime or breaks. Due to the current condition of the school, the day-to-day operational costs are now diverting funding from essential educational and sensory equipment. I ask that the Taoiseach follow up with the Minister for education on this important project for St. Anne\u2019s Special School in the Curragh. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  I want to raise the Disability (Amendment) Bill. While the Government presents this legislation as reform, the details suggest a significant shift in how children will be able to access assessments and services. The Bill gives authority to an assessment officer to formally determine whether a child has a qualifying disability before a full clinical assessment to the medical needs can begin. This represents a fundamental change. It places the decision on eligibility at the very start of the process rather than allowing clinicians to assess need and determine diagnosis based on examination. It is my understanding that the assessment officers will be administrative officials. They will not have medical practitioner experience or they will not be therapists, yet under these proposal they are being given the central role in deciding whether a child proceeds to a full assessment. Does the Taoiseach agree with AsIAm, the Disability Federation Ireland and Inclusion Ireland which have warned that this could operate as a filtering mechanism, limiting the numbers entering the system, rather than resolving delays? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  The Northside Home Care Services workers are on strike again tomorrow. I submitted a parliamentary question two months ago which was followed up by another one because I could not get an answer. It was followed up by another one which eventually revealed that the Northside Home Care employers were invited by the Department\u2019s own agent to apply for the WRC pay agreement only to be excluded afterwards because of the HSE\u2019s procurement model. The workers have fallen into a Government-created loophole.  On my way to the Chamber, I met Emily Felix who is looking for the drug for Friedreich's ataxia. I know the HSE is meeting tomorrow. I would love for that to be examined. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I want to raise the waiting times for therapies for children\u2019s disability network teams. A couple of weeks ago, I raised the unacceptable waiting time for children in Lucan for speech and language therapy. The average is a two-year wait. I thought that was bad until I received a response yesterday about a four-year-old boy from Clondalkin who will be waiting five years before he gets speech and language therapy. Every expert will say that early intervention is key. One of the worst jobs for TDs across this House is when you have to send a response back to a parent. It is really upsetting as a TD but that pales into insignificance compared to what the parent in receipt of that letter experiences when they receive news that their four-year-old child will not get an appointment for speech and language therapy until they are nine years old. What will the Government do about this? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  That concludes the contributions. There are just over nine minutes for the Taoiseach to reply to the 12 Deputies. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank all the Deputies for raising these very important questions here.  On Deputy Martin Daly\u2019s question, I have also met the group, Before We Die, in relation to vulnerable adult children and the fear and anxiety of parents in terms of providing for them if they were to pass from this world. The Minister for housing has met the Minister of State for disability. The Minister for housing is instructing local authorities to build and to have a quota in every scheme for people with disabilities in the first instance and not do so on the basis that if they get wraparound services, they will build a house. They must just go and build it. We will have to put pressure on the HSE side, on the healthcare side, to make sure there are supports. The local authority will have to work proactively with the families and the health service to make sure the appropriate balance of care is provided. A lot of people with disabilities are in the position to manage so a continuum of care is required here. The last meeting of the disability group discussed this in some considerable detail. Having met the Before We Die group, it was clear the parents were being asked to jump hurdles that were really not appropriate, in my view. We should be more proactive as a State in helping them along this journey to try to provide for their children - particularly on the accommodation side. I met one parent who said her two sons could manage quite well with a bit of support and did not need anything too extraordinary. Others would need far more intensive care in a residential environment.  We also have to get the balance right between decongregation and new provision because if all the resources just go into decongregation, there are no resources for new provision. We have to try to work with all concerned in trying to find a way through this. I am just being honest and open here. The current situation is not sustainable - I am very clear about that. Both Departments are now working together to try to unblock that for the families concerned.  On Deputy P\u00e1draig O\u2019Sullivan\u2019s question, I will have to check. My understanding was that progress was being made in terms of the lead positions. On the national disability lead, I will talk to the Minister in respect of that. I will come back to the Deputy on that.  Deputy McGreehan raised disability access officers. That is a potentially powerful catalyst in every local authority area with the right people recruited who could look at the full range of policies across a local authority from housing to pedestrian access to roads to access to buildings to ensure the entire philosophy of local authorities is imbued with implementing the human-rights based strategy for disabled people. I will revert to the Deputy on where we are on that and the coverage across the country. It is something the Government is interested in expanding.  On Deputy Quaide's contribution, I met Craig Coady yesterday with Deputy P\u00e1draig O\u2019Sullivan. It was a very heartrending meeting. What the family has gone through is quite shocking. I have spoken to the Minister about this. We will do everything we can to accelerate consideration of Skyclarys provision. It was never scheduled for tomorrow but I think Givinostat is. However, we are hoping we can bring forward consideration of Skyclarys by the HSE's drugs group. We have about 200 families who are living with Friedreich's ataxia. I am very conscious of this as is the Minister. For the record of the House, I laid out earlier the information I was provided with in terms of the engagement between the HSE and the company. What is more important now is that we try to get this over the line as quickly as we possibly can in accordance with the procedures and processes that are laid out. Time is running out for many people, not least young Paudie himself who needs this as fast as we possibly can provide it. The Minister is taking other actions as well to make sure that if a positive decision was to emerge in the next number of weeks, we could make sure a green light could be given.  Deputy Boyd Barrett raised the Northside Home Care issue. Obviously, the industrial relations can be quite complex in terms section 39 organisations and WRC agreements. Every decision taken in relation to any one group does not stay with the one group. It has read across to other scenarios as well. I do not know whether that is the core issue here in terms of the nature of Northside Home Care and whether structure of it is the problem in terms of the application of the section 39 resolution of this through the WRC, which took a considerable length of time following the public service pay agreement. Deputy Heneghan also raised this. I will endeavour to engage with the Department of public expenditure on this and with all concerned to see if we can find a way to deal with this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  There are a lot more affected than just those 80 workers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That is the point. That is what invariably happens with industrial relations so that may be the factor here.  I accept Deputy Paul Murphy's general point. The incidence of autism seems to have grown dramatically. Although some say it is better diagnosed, I am not so sure any more. The numbers are significant in terms of expansion of services in health, but particularly in education. Even this year it has been significant. In the most recent census, in comparison with the previous one, there has been an exponential increase in adults and children declaring a disability. There is a challenge that in the overarching focus on autism, other disabilities perhaps do not get the same attention or focus. General disability special classes are important, such as for Down's syndrome. There are good organisations that advocate for Down's syndrome. The Government works well with them. However, it is something I will raise with the Minister to see whether we have a proper audit of the provision of service and there is a sufficiency of service for those with mild or moderate learning disabilities.  Deputy O'Callaghan raised St. Francis school. It was raised earlier in the Order of Business, presumably by his Sinn F\u00e9in constituency colleague. Apparently it went through the independent appeals process. It is one pupil short of the criteria governing the appointment of teachers and the enrolment numbers. I will raise it with the Minister, but the Minister made it clear to the Deputy that the independent appeals process made a decision on it. I do not know whether or not it is a growing population area or there is some manoeuvrability for the decision makers.  Deputy Whitmore raised a new special school for Wicklow. I will have to follow up on that. Is she saying absolutely nothing has happened since then? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  They have not heard anything. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  They have not heard anything. I will follow up because it is now June. If people want to get enrolled by September something has to happen. I will raise it with the Minister of State, Michael Moynihan and the Minister, Hildegarde Naughton.  Deputy O'Rourke said the meeting to consider the drug for Duchenne is tomorrow. I hope we will get a positive outcome from that and can make progress. There has been a fair degree of representation and advocacy in that regard from both Houses.  Deputy Wall raised St. Anne's special school in the Curragh. That is a new school project. It is at stage 2B. We will engage with the Minister in respect of that. This is a special school that needs to be provided.  Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn heard Deputy Mark Ward and others talking about access to services. The existing system is not working at all. In fact, it is exacerbating the situation. It has meant there are fewer therapists available for services than for assessments. We are trying to get a more common-sense approach to this, so that the preponderance of therapy would be allocated to children in the earlier stages and they would have access to the therapists much earlier than they have currently. We need to do more, look at how therapists are deployed and ask how we can get the maximum outcomes from interventions.  Deputy Heneghan raised the northside home care workers, which I spoke about earlier. I also spoke about Friedreich's ataxia. I will come back to him about the home care workers; I think I have already outlined to Deputy Quaide and other Deputies the situation with Friedreich's ataxia.  Deputy Ward raised waiting times for disabilities. Early intervention is key. That is why we are doing the reforms that we are doing. Not everybody likes it, but we believe it is better to do it the way we are proposing so we get the therapies to the people faster and get earlier interventions than is currently the case. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 1 to 33, inclusive, taken orally. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 34 to 41, inclusive, resubmitted. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 42 taken with Writtens. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 43 to 100, inclusive, resubmitted. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 101 taken with Writtens. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 102 to 114, inclusive, resubmitted. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 115 taken with Writtens. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions No. 116 to 118, inclusive, resubmitted. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Cabinet Committees"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/dbsect_16","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/51","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/51\/dail\/2","houseCode":"dail","stage":"2","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Finance Bill 2026: Second Stage (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Finance Bill 2026: Second Stage","counts":{"speechCount":40,"speakerCount":25},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_16","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tom Brabazon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cormac Devlin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Kyne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Kyne.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Kyne.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Deputy Robert Troy)  I move: \"That the Bill be now read a Second Time.\"  I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Bill, which is relatively short and covers the tax aspects of the energy support measures announced by the Government in March and April this year. I will first say a few words about the wider economic landscape. As Deputies are aware, the global economy is facing its second major energy price shock in less than five years. As a small, highly open economy and a net energy importer, Ireland is naturally exposed to movements in international energy prices. The disruption to energy supplies that we have seen to date has already fed into higher and more volatile energy prices with direct consequences for households and businesses.  The role of Government in these circumstances is to spread the burden to ensure that the most exposed sectors are partly shielded. We must also mitigate the impact on those least able to absorb the price changes. I stress that this is about burden sharing and not full absorption. No government in the world can absorb all of the price shock. Governments should not chase inflation when at full employment as this can lead to far greater economic problems over the longer term. We think we have struck the appropriate balance between delivering timely support while at the same time ensuring that the public finances remain on a sustainable trajectory. The combined energy support packages, which also included measures outside of the Bill under discussion today, is estimated to cost over \u20ac750 million.  The tax measures, which we will discuss today, are alone estimated to cost \u20ac442 million in terms of revenue foregone. As the House will be aware, this substantial package, which is one of the largest in Europe, was introduced following the energy price shocks caused by the conflict in the Middle East. The factors that have brought us here are far from our shores and beyond our control, but as a Government we have acted to mitigate the impacts across society with a broad range of measures. Some of the measures, like the diesel rebate scheme and the fuel allowance extension, are targeted, while others are more broad reaching, such as the excise rate reductions. As we have stated previously, no government can entirely eliminate the impacts of such a broad-reaching crisis. It is also important to again emphasise the importance of ensuring that our response needs to be measured and not risk second-round inflationary impacts.  I will briefly outline the elements of the support packages covered in the Finance Bill. These measures were debated in the House on 24 March and 14 April when the financial resolutions to give them temporary effect were approved. I thank the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach for its constructive engagement to date on the outline of the Bill, which means these important measures can move as quickly as possible through the legislative process. The Bill is quite short, consisting of four substantive sections. Section 1 provides for the increase in the maximum repayment rate under the diesel rebate scheme. Section 2 deals with the temporary excise rate reductions for petrol, diesel, green diesel and the deferral of the planned 1 May carbon tax increase for mineral oil fuels. Sections 3 and 4 relate to the deferral of the planned 1 May carbon tax increase for natural gas and solid fuels.  I will now turn to each section in detail. As I mentioned, section 1 relates to the diesel rebate scheme, which was introduced in 2013 to provide support for essential road users at times when the price of auto diesel was relatively high. The diesel rebate scheme, DRS, is permitted under Article 7 of the energy tax directive, subject to the conditions set out in the directive. The scheme provides qualifying road haulage and passenger transport operators with a partial repayment of mineral oil tax paid on auto diesel.  In 2025, close to \u20ac39 million was paid out under the scheme, providing targeted support to the road haulage and passenger transport sectors. The DRS also provides support to the wider economy, which is dependent on haulage as a distribution network. Households and other businesses benefit indirectly by virtue of reduced distribution costs. To qualify for the scheme, road haulage and passenger transport operators must have an appropriate road transport licence and be tax compliant. The auto diesel must be used in qualifying vehicles in the course of the transport operator\u2019s business. In addition, the auto diesel must have been purchased with tax paid in the State by means of a Revenue-approved fuel card provider or in bulk for delivery to the transport operator\u2019s business premises.  The diesel rebate scheme rate of repayment is linked to the average retail price of auto diesel based on data from the Central Statistics Office. Since the end of 2021, a 7.5 cent per litre maximum level of rebate has applied to all claims, reflecting the relatively low price of \u20ac1.43 per litre at which the maximum rebate was given. The amendment we are speaking to today provides for an increase in the repayment cap from 7.5 cent per litre to 12 cent per litre. This enhanced or extended repayment rate applies to claims covering auto diesel purchased between 1 January and 30 June this year.  The diesel rebate scheme operates on a quarterly repayment basis, with repayment claims available for submission to Revenue quarterly in arrears. On 1 April 2026, Revenue opened the claim period for the enhanced rate under the rebate scheme for quarter 1. Some 1,427 claims, to the value of \u20ac10.6 million, were submitted in the period from 1 April to 5 June 2026 in respect of the first quarter of 2026. This compares with the 1,015 claims to the value of \u20ac4.9 million which were received for quarter 1 in the same filing period in 2025. I am advised by Revenue that it is currently processing these claims and has, between 1 April and 5 June, refunded 847 of those 1,427 claims to the value of \u20ac5.9 million under the enhanced rebate scheme. The estimated cost of increasing the maximum repayment from 7.5 cent to 12 cent from this six-month period is just \u20ac10 million.  Moving to section 2, which relates to the temporary reductions in excise applying to auto diesel, petrol and green diesel and the deferral of the May carbon tax increase on certain fuels, in March, we legislated for VAT-inclusive excise reductions of 15 cent per litre for petrol, 20 cent per litre for auto diesel and 3 cent per litre for green diesel. In addition, the NORA levy was reduced by 2 cent per litre for liquid fuels such as auto diesel, petrol, green diesel and kerosene. The initial legislation provided for these temporary reductions to be effective from 25 March to 31 May at an estimated cost of \u20ac150 million in terms of revenue forgone. In April, the Government announced a further reduction of 10 cent per litre on auto diesel and petrol as well as a further 2.4 cent reduction for green diesel. Taking the 2 cent NORA levy reduction into account, this brings the total reductions to 32 cent per litre for auto diesel, 27 cent per litre for petrol and 7.4 cent per litre for green diesel. We also legislated to extend all of the excise reductions until 31 July 2026. The Minister for Climate, Energy and Environment has also acted to extend the NORA levy reduction until the end of July. The estimated cost of these further excise rate reductions and the extension of the initial reductions until is \u20ac260 million. The NORA levy reduction is estimated to cost \u20ac40 million.  Section 2 also provides for the deferral of the planned 1 May carbon tax increase on certain mineral oil fuels, including kerosene heating oil and marked gas oil. Sections 3 and 4 also deal with the deferral of the carbon tax increase for natural gas and solid fuels. The decision to defer the carbon tax increase was made in recognition of the sustained level of inflation that green diesel and kerosene in particular were facing. The deferral of the increase provides additional relief from price pressures to consumers of these fuels as well as consumers of natural gas and solid fuels. This decision reflects the Government\u2019s continued commitment to balancing climate ambition with the need to mitigate the impacts on households and businesses from the energy price shock.  As the T\u00e1naiste stated at the time of the decision in April, this is the first time that we have postponed a carbon tax increase since the multi-annual trajectory of carbon tax increases was introduced in 2020 and this was not a decision that was taken lightly. Since the introduction of carbon tax increases under budget 2020, the Government has ensured that revenues raised are transparently and purposefully recycled. These investments have funded energy efficiency upgrades in homes and communities, supported decarbonisation across agriculture and transport and underpinned just transition measures. The allocations for 2026 were determined as part of budget 2026 and are consistent with the approach taken in previous years. Over \u20ac1 billion has been allocated to climate action and social protection measures, representing an increase of \u20ac163 million on the 2025 allocation. These funds are specifically targeted at measures that ensure households most exposed to energy and fuel costs are protected from unintended impacts.  The agreed deferral of the carbon tax increase will result in lower carbon tax revenues in 2026 than originally projected, with an estimated revenue impact of \u20ac22 million. This represents a small share of the total allocation of approximately \u20ac1.1 billion, just under 2%. The allocations set out in budget 2026 were approved by the Oireachtas and remain the voted amounts for the year. This includes carbon tax funding commitments incorporated into the national development plan, which provides medium-term budgetary certainty for the sectors and communities supported by these measures. It is not possible to offset all of the recent increases, which are driven by market forces, using the tax system. However, the measures this Bill legislates for will provide significant mitigation, supporting households and businesses experiencing the most acute impacts of the increases in fuel prices.  As I mentioned earlier, these tax measures form part of the broader package of measures Government announced in March and April this year. In March, we also extended the fuel allowance by an additional four weeks. This targeted intervention provided the 470,000 households in receipt of the fuel allowance with an additional \u20ac38 per week, totalling \u20ac152 over the four-week period on top of the annual allowance of \u20ac1,064.  On 12 April, as part of the second package of supports, the Government announced a comprehensive \u20ac100 million fuel income support scheme. The fuel income support scheme has been introduced as a targeted income support to assist farmers, agricultural contractors and fishers facing unprecedented increases in fuel costs. The scheme is available for fuel used over the five-month period from March up to the end of July 2026, which coincides with peak fuel usage on farms. Farmers and agricultural contractors availing of the scheme will benefit from a support rate equivalent to approximately 20 cent per litre of green diesel. The funding will be distributed proportionally, reflecting a point that was strongly emphasised in engagements with the representative farm and farm contractor groups. In terms of the fuel income support scheme for farmers, foresters and contractors, which closed for applications on 2 June, it will take some time for all the relevant information to be collated to give definitive information regarding claimant numbers and likely payment amounts. This targeted and practical support package ensures that those most exposed to these increases will receive meaningful assistance at the most critical time of year. Farmers and agricultural contractors availing of the scheme will benefit from a support rate equivalent to approximately 20 cent per litre of green diesel.  To further support the haulage and coach sector, the Government has also established a new road transporters support scheme, RTSS. This is modelled on the licensed haulage support schemes of 2022 and 2023, which were deployed to assist the sector with the higher fuel prices following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The road transporters support scheme will provide direct payments to hauliers, both licensed and own account. Payments are graduated, with smaller businesses receiving a proportionately greater level of support.  Additionally, support for operators of Transport for Ireland's Local Link services will be available through the National Transport Authority, and support for school transport services will be facilitated by the Department of Education and Youth. The estimated cost of these additional transport sector supports is \u20ac120 million.  As I said, this is a short but important Finance Bill. There has already been extensive debate on these measures when they were first announced and when the subsequent financial resolutions were passed. I am fully aware of the sensitivity and topical nature of the issues at hand. I look forward to further constructive discussion on this now on Second Stage and as it progresses through the legislative process. I commend the Bill to the House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  T\u00e1im bu\u00edoch as an deis labhairt ar an mBille seo. The Bill follows on from the financial resolutions that were passed through these Houses and came into effect in March and again in April in relation to the fuel crisis. Section 1, as the Minister of State said, relates to the increase in the diesel rebate scheme. I have raised this issue on many occasions with the Minister of State and the senior Minister, given the fact that many hauliers have issues accessing the scheme. On top of that, as the T\u00e1naiste accepted when I put it to him previously, even the people who can access the scheme face severe cash flow issues and have to wait up to three months before they get the rebate. Despite the acceptance of this fact and the genuine issue that hauliers were facing, we still see no action to address it.  Sinn F\u00e9in argued in this House over and over again for a completely different approach. Because of how the EU energy directive is designed, when the diesel rebate scheme is increased, the space for the Government to reduce excise for the wider general public is reduced. However, there is a way in which the wider public, hauliers and transport operators can benefit at the same time. If the Government makes the cut directly at the pump, hauliers get the benefit, and they get it immediately without having to wait for three months. Everybody else also benefits - every commuter and every person who fills up their car with petrol or diesel - and it avoids the cash flow issues that the rebate scheme has ingrained within it.  Section 2 is probably the most substantive part of this legislation. It contains both excise cuts on fuels like petrol and diesel and the postponement of carbon taxes on home heating oil, green diesel and canister gas until October of this year. The excise cuts should have gone further on petrol, diesel and green diesel. We know people are still spending over \u20ac100 to fill their tanks. If they live in rural Ireland, have a long commute or drive as part of their work, they are getting crucified by those prices over and over again. We have heard from carers, home help workers and ordinary people who simply cannot afford to put fuel in their car. At the same time, the Government prioritised other areas. It cut private jet fuel by 17% while struggling to reduce home heating oil by a single cent. You could not make this up.  The second component of this section is that the carbon tax is being postponed until the autumn. That was one of the most frustrating elements of the Government's response to the crisis. The Taoiseach, Deputy Miche\u00e1l Martin, specifically ruled out taking this basic step over and over again. At a time of huge pressure and crisis, he stood and proudly said that he and his Government were going to put taxes on people in the middle of the crisis. His immediate reaction to the fuel crisis was to dig his heels in and refuse to consider postponing a carbon tax increase. Think of that from the perspective of someone who was sitting at home with an empty tank in a cold house. They had just seen the price of home heating oil almost double, and the Taoiseach was not only refusing - indeed, he still refuses - to cut a single cent of excise duty from home heating oil, but his reaction was also to heap more tax and more pressure on that same family. It is no wonder that anger boiled over and, by God, anger did boil over.  Section 3 does the same for the carbon tax on natural gas. There is no access to natural gas in Donegal. As with the rail network and the motorway network, my constituency is cut off from the gas network. However, for many people across the State, heating their homes and water with gas has become completely unaffordable. One in four households is unable to pay the gas bill. That is a shocking indictment of Government failure, and it does not even count all of the people on pay-as-you-go meters and those working every hour that God sends and just managing to keep their heads above water.  Section 4 deals with the postponement of carbon tax on solid fuels, such as coal, briquettes and turf. These are fuels that heat the coldest homes in the country. It is what people turn to when they cannot afford a refill of oil. The Government is now proposing to lump more tax on home heating oil, coal and natural gas in October. When the days are getting shorter and far colder, the response of this Government will be to push up taxes on home heating oil, coal and natural gas. You could not make it up.  This legislation also recommits to increasing the carbon tax every single year until 2030. The Government nowhere in legislation says that it will improve the healthcare outcomes for people until 2030, or make an investment every year. It does not say that with regard to tax changes that would allow people to keep more money in their pockets but, by God, when it comes to carbon tax, the Government is not found wanting. It has no problem saying that not only is it going to increase it in October, but it is going to do the same to you in 2027, the same to you in 2028, the same to you in 2029 and the same to you again in 2030. This Government knows one thing about the future, which is that it is going to put additional pressure on ordinary people.  It is striking that what we are talking about here is additional taxes on people, some of whom are already struggling to meet their needs. Sinn F\u00e9in opposes increasing carbon taxes. They are unfair, and they do nothing for the climate or the environment where alternatives do not exist or are unaffordable. It is a tax on people trying to heat their homes or to get from A to B. The kicker is that the more the Government fails in delivering affordable green electricity and public transport, the more it collects on carbon tax because people have no option. It is a regressive tax, plain and simple.  We are in the middle of a cost-of-living challenge for so many people. People are getting hammered by costs. This started long before the attacks on Iran that sent the energy markets into chaos. It has been unrelenting for years. Real wages have stagnated as prices have continued to go up. That was the reality for people up and down this country when the price of fuel spiked in early March, when Ministers were more concerned with their St. Patrick's Day trips than taking action to protect the Irish people. It was sustained pressure from Sinn F\u00e9in, including legislation that I brought before this House on 10 March, that dragged the Government into acting. It took three and a half weeks of mounting pressure on the Government to force it to finally do something. Not only was it late in coming, but its initial response was a disgrace and barely scratched the surface of what was needed. It was the catalyst that drove people onto the streets in their thousands in the fuel protests.  We only have to look at it through the eyes of those at the sharpest end. Farmers and farm contractors were watching the price of green diesel almost doubling. What was the Government\u2019s response? It was to cut the cost by 3 cent when the price went up from 90 cent to \u20ac1.60. That was the response of the Government after it had increased by 80 cent. People were gobsmacked, and that anger began to build as the reality bit home. Businesses were going to go under and jobs were on the line, but this Government did not seem to care. That is what the 3 cent cut in the price of green diesel meant to so many.  The message went out loud and clear that you were on your own. That was the message from this Government. That message demanded a response and, by God, did this Government get that response in the form of the fuel protests. All the disruption, all the tension and all the loss of income could have been avoided if the Government had listened. Instead, it decided to threaten the protesters and to stoke up tensions further.  The protests might have been spearheaded by farmers, farm contractors and hauliers, but their demands were much broader than just their own sector.  That is why they garnered support right across Irish society, despite the disruption that comes along with protests. They want direct cuts at the pumps that would help everyone. They called for excise duty cuts to home heating oil. That is why and how the protests tapped into the wider anger at the cost-of-living crisis, an anger that comes from feeling that it is just one thing after another. When we are talking about fuel costs, it is part of a wider picture. Right now there are many homes that have not had home heating oil since March. People are still feeling that they are getting absolutely hammered by the cost of petrol and diesel. Green diesel is far too expensive at the pumps. That is where we are at right now. The Government can pat itself on the back all it likes but that anger has not gone away.  The problem is that the legislation the Minister of State has brought forward today, the Finance Bill, will be enacted next month, in July. At the end of that month, what is going to happen? According to this Finance Bill that the Government is asking us to vote for, the price of diesel will go up by 32 cent and the price of petrol by 27 cent. What planet is the Government living on? People need support. The idea that this House will be in recess, that Ministers will be on holiday and that these prices will go up on 1 August is simply not acceptable. Nobody can predict, with certainty, oil prices in the future but the public deserves to know that there is a plan in place. The Houses of the Oireachtas will need to pass legislation to allow for an extension. These Houses are set to rise for the summer in mid-July. That leaves the Government with just a matter of weeks to bring forward any financial motions that are needed. Despite that looming cliff edge, everyone is being left in the dark. If prices stay at the current levels, then there needs to be an extension. Prices cannot be allowed to go up by 32 cent, as provided for in this legislation. What is the Government's answer to this? It has been mute on this issue so far. If that decision has not been made, then the Government should, at the very least, be able to tell the people when the decision will be made.  I will finish with one other cost-of-living issue. People shopping online are about to be hit with an additional \u20ac3 charge per item in parcels originating outside the European Union, including from Britain, as new EU custom rules come into effect next month, on 1 July. Many people simply do not know what they are about to be hit with. Shoppers beware is the message here. Somebody who buys three products from Amazon in Britain or from British online retail store, for example, like a pen, a notebook and a keyring, will have to pay an additional \u20ac9 on customs, with VAT added on top of that \u20ac9. At a time when people are under serious pressure from the cost of living, the last thing they need is another unexpected charge. Ireland is uniquely exposed because of online shopping and how it is integrated with Britain. For many households, buying everyday items online has become a normal part of life. The concerns that were raised this week by An Post and others cannot be ignored. If these changes are going to result in additional costs, delays and disruption for people, then the Government needs to act. Nobody argues against the need to ensure that products entering the EU meet proper standards but let us be clear, these measures were intended to tackle high-volume, low quality imports, not to leave ordinary people facing extra charges every time they shop online. The Government should be pressing for these changes to be stopped and reworked to ensure that people are protected. We need to see leadership on this because people cannot be left paying the price for these new rules. It will cause chaos and the fraudsters will have a field day. More importantly, people are going to be out a serious amount of money in their pockets as a result of this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell  This legislation is a suite of reluctant half-measures, a package that does not meet the challenge of high fuel prices. Once this legislation is enacted petrol, diesel and home heating oil will continue to be unaffordable for hundreds of thousands of people and that is just not good enough. We know that it is not just the cost of fuel that people are struggling with. A package to reduce the cost of fuel is so desperately needed because the Government has let the cost of living spiral out of control for the past five years. There are thousands of working people who cannot make ends meet and who do not have a cent in savings. There are thousands of families who are slipping into debt because they just cannot cover their rent, grocery and energy bills every single month. These people desperately need a break. They need the Government to finally step up and end the rip off.  This legislation is an admission that the Government's own policies are failing. If carbon taxes worked, the Government would not have to delay the planned increases to them. By delaying them, the Government is acknowledging the obvious, that alternatives to carbon-intensive fuels do not exist for many people. A pause in carbon tax increases is needed because rural people have no alternative to using home heating oil and travelling in petrol cars. It is incredibly unfair that these people continue to face artificially inflated energy prices that are pushing many of them into fuel poverty. Fuel support measures are so desperately needed, not only because of this recent spike in energy prices but because the Government has let the cost of living spiral out of control for the last five years.  In just three weeks, over 1 million households who get their energy from Electric Ireland will see their energy bills skyrocket. The biggest energy provider in the State is hiking up gas prices by 7.7% and electricity prices by 8%. What does this legislation do for them? Energy companies have been given free rein. The Government needs to call this out for what it is, namely price gouging by a few big energy companies. We know that these big energy companies are already selling energy to households at three times the wholesale cost. We know that our energy prices, which used to be the lowest in the EU, are now the highest among all EU states. They are not just marginally higher but a shocking 52% higher than the average EU country. What do these rogue energy companies want now? They want to hike both electricity and gas prices by over double the rate of inflation. When will this Government wake up to the realities that people are facing? When is enough? When will the Government act? What the Government is doing now is sitting on its hands and overseeing a system that protects profits over people. There is no protection for children living in cold homes, for working people who cannot afford a hot shower in the morning or for the 300,000 people already in energy arrears. The only thing that is protected is the profits of energy companies. They have been allowed to hedge prices up and up, insulating their profits from any global shocks without the smallest regard for the bills that land on the kitchen tables of workers, pensioners, students and parents who are all finding it increasingly hard to get by.  For weeks we have called on the Government to introduce an emergency cost-of-living budget, with energy credits to help thousands with these rip-off prices. The Government has ignored us and our demands. This legislation is testament to the Government's approach, which is to choose delay over action. It is too late and not enough. This legislation should include energy credits of \u20ac400, cuts to the USC to put \u20ac500 back in workers' pockets and targeted supports, including a \u20ac500 payment for people with disabilities. Instead, it is a reluctant suite of half measures that fail to tackle the reality of the energy poverty that, tragically, is widespread across this State. This problem cannot be solved by energy credits alone. We need a crackdown on energy companies to end these rip-off prices once and for all. Electricity and gas are natural monopolies. This market cannot be left to its own devices. The laissez-faire approach of this Government is exactly what has created the rip off in the first place. To have affordable energy we need regulation. We need an energy regulator with the powers to tackle price gouging and a mandate to ensure affordability. This legislation does nothing to recognise energy poverty. There is a not a single cent allocated to reducing the price of home heating oil which has surged by over 80% in the past year. Energy poverty exists because of the Government's political decisions, not because we do not have enough money to put an end to it. It exists because the Government has no ambition to end it. It has become more and more clear that the Government's ambitions lie elsewhere.  Last week the Minister for foreign affairs, Deputy McEntee, told reporters that she is really ambitious for our country. She spoke of spending more on militarisation when discussing the EU's security action for Europe programme. She said that we should have taken out an EU loan at the taxpayers' expense to increase our military spending. The Oireachtas finance committee thoroughly scrutinised the security action for Europe programme and identified that it potentially conflicts with our neutrality and is incompatible with the EU's commitment to peace. The committee stated that it completely opposed the use of the EU general budget as a guarantee for these loans. However, the Minister's comments suggest that she is much more worried about impressing our friends in the EU than about listening to the concerns of the cross-party Oireachtas finance committee. Unbelievably, the Minister, Deputy McEntee, went even further in her comments. She went on to say that Britain should have been included in the security action for Europe programme, indicating, again, that she was not listening to the Oireachtas finance committee.  It is shocking that a Government Minister wants Irish taxpayers' money to guarantee loans for British military spending that is being used to support Israel and the US as they commit genocide in Gaza. The cornerstone of our foreign policy has always been our neutrality and this Government is taking a wrecking ball to it. The shift towards militarisation and away from neutrality that is being pursued by this Government is an expensive and dangerous agenda that does nothing to serve the interests of the working people. Our national security relies on our neutrality. To think that today we are talking about not having the money to support working people who are unable to put food on the table and who are unable to meet the electricity bills they have - people who are thinking about whether they have the finance to pay energy bills if they put their electricity on and put their heating on. At the same time we have the Government telling us that it wants to go further in its militarisation agenda and it wants to go further in supporting the security action for Europe, SAFE, programme, about which the finance committee of this D\u00e1il raised serious concerns.  There is a serious question about where this Government's policies and interests lie because they do not lie with those working people, they do not lie with pensioners and they do not lie with those people who are \u20ac1,400 worse off as a result of the budget of last year. It is the people with disabilities who have said to the Government that enough is enough. They do not have the money to meet their daily needs but instead there seems to be enough money for militarisation and enough money to want the SAFE programme to go even further and to include Britain in that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  While we are broadly supportive of the measures in this Bill, I have to say that this is not a sustainable approach. The Social Democrats believe there needs to be targeted measures and investment that will permanently bring down the cost of living. That has completely failed in the Government's approach. The Government has failed to take action to help the pensioners who are unable to heat their homes. The whole issue of pensioners and people on low incomes who are reliant on home heating oil has not been properly addressed. The Government has failed to help renters who cannot make ends meet. Indeed, this Government has made the cost-of-living crisis even worse for renters in terms of the increased rents they are facing, putting an already very struggling and exposed group of people under more pressure again. The Government is failing to help families to put food on the table.  We read the reports today from Family Carers Ireland on the work it did when it spoke to 3,000 carers. It talks about the financial isolation they are under and the financial strain that is making their world shrink. Thousands of carers are saying they are cutting back on food and heat to make ends meet while at the same time they are paying out for crucial equipment such as wheelchairs for their loved ones, which of course should be funded by the public system. It is absolutely outrageous that given the resources at the disposal of this Government, this is not being properly addressed.  The measures in the Bill are untargeted and they ignore the root cause of Ireland's affordability crisis. Unfortunately, the war in the Middle East is showing no sign of coming to an end and the energy crisis is not going anywhere. The impact of this Finance Bill, which will cost half a billion euro, will soon be forgotten. Consider what has happened with home heating oil and the increases of 67% and almost 70% between February and March of this year. This has been the sharpest increase anywhere in the European Union. The people reliant on home heating oil can often be older people and people on low incomes. In rural areas a lot of people who are on lower incomes are very heavily affected by that. They have not been properly supported by the measures in this Bill.  One of the core increases in inflation has been driven by energy bills increasing by 15.5%. People simply cannot afford these increases. Ireland has the highest electricity bills in Europe. Over 300,000 households are in arrears and this is a direct result of a baffling failure to invest in our infrastructure. It is incredible that since Fine Gael has been in office, since 2011, we have no offshore wind farms. The one wind farm we did have has been decommissioned since, so we have actually gone backwards in that respect. Last year we lost over half a billion euro worth of wind energy, which was wasted because our crumbling grid infrastructure could not cope with that wind energy. We are an island on the edge of the Atlantic, yet we are not availing of this. We should be a net exporter of wind energy but we are nowhere near it because of this Government's failures.  We see too the issues with pensioner poverty. Incredible and stark figures have been released by the Central Statistics Office, CSO, showing that the consistent poverty rate for those over the age of 65 increased by 70% in just one year. People who have worked and done their very best all their lives are being pushed into poverty at a time when they should be supported in their retirement years.  The Social Democrats put forward proposals on this, for example, the targeted \u20ac400 energy credits for households earning less than \u20ac70,000 a year. That would be a start and would make a bit of a difference. We also need to invest in things like solar for all, which is our plan there. Existing grants would be doubled for people who want to install solar panels. We could make solar panels a realistic option for people on lower and middle incomes. It would be for those who are not covered by current schemes and those who cannot really avail of the current grants because they do not have the matching funds. This would be a once-off investment that would bring down people's energy bills, and bring them down year after year. It would be a long-term investment, it would help us meet our climate targets and it would reduce our country's exposure to energy crisis shocks. It is the kind of thinking we need but that is sorely lacking.  Let us look at this Government's budget promises and the promises it made at election time. For example, affordable childcare was to be cut to \u20ac200 per month. Instead, we have seen absolutely minimal progress on that. There were promises that third level fees will be phased out. Instead they were actually increased. There was a promise of a cost-of-disability payment. A \u20ac500 payment was meant to be introduced but in the last budget we saw the incomes of disabled people actually slashed by up to \u20ac1,400 because of decisions that this Government made. Childcare in Ireland is exorbitantly expensive and very difficult to access. This is making the cost-of-living crisis even more difficult for families.  We have record numbers of people now homeless. Shockingly, there are 5,604 children living without a home, which is absolutely devastating. Ar an gc\u00e9ad dul s\u00edos, d\u00e9arfaidh m\u00e9 go bhfuil ruda\u00ed an-deacair do dhaoine. Rinne an tAire St\u00e1it na roghanna m\u00edchearta. T\u00e1 na tosa\u00edochta\u00ed m\u00edchearta aige. T\u00e1 n\u00edos m\u00f3 agus n\u00edos m\u00f3 daoine \u00e1 mbr\u00fa i dtreo na bochtaineachta ag an Rialtas. T\u00e1 ruda\u00ed go dona, go h\u00e1irithe mar gheall go ndearna an Rialtas na roghanna m\u00edchearta.  I also want to address the situation of the workers from Northside Home Care who are taking industrial action this week. They work long and hard hours taking care of the elderly. This is another group of people who are really suffering under this cost-of-living crisis. Despite the incredibly important work they do, they are on just above the minimum wage. People who have been working there for 20 plus years are still just above the minimum wage. There is no recognition of the work they are doing. I call on the Minister of State, Deputy Troy, and his Government colleagues to actually intervene to ensure a proper wage for people doing home care work. There should be a sectoral wage agreement for that sector. It is utterly indefensible. These workers do an incredibly important job. Whether they are doing it at not-for-profit companies, or in the private sector rather than directly employed by the HSE, they are not getting the HSE going rate. It is grossly unfair. The Government needs to stop sitting on its hands on this and actually take some action.  The measures in this Finance Bill follow a familiar pattern from this Government. Instead of targeting resources where they are needed most, the money is spread evenly reducing its impact and, crucially, the Government is failing to invest in measures that will reduce the cost of living permanently. That is what the Government needs to be doing. I do wonder will this Government ever learn. If it was serious about tackling the cost-of-living crisis, it would target resources where they are needed most. Crucially, this would build resilience and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. That is absolutely essential for tackling the cost-of-living crisis and preparing us for the next one, and for helping us to meet our climate targets. Unfortunately, this Finance Bill does neither. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tom Brabazon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tom Brabazon  Aonta\u00edm leis an Teachta O'Callaghan sa mh\u00e9id is go raibh s\u00e9 ag tac\u00fa le muintir Northside Home Care. I fully agree with Deputy O' Callaghan in relation to Northside Home Care issue. It is really important that the considerable and important work done by these people is acknowledged by the Government and that they at least get equal pay for equal work.  With regard to the Finance Bill, my constituents in Dublin Bay North are really feeling the pinch, and particularly with rising energy costs.  I have spoken with many who have told me first hand of the difficulty and pressure they are facing in meeting their household costs. I welcome the measures the Government has taken. Thankfully, we have seen some reductions at the pumps in respect of fuel for transport but that is not to say the problem has been fully resolved. It is clear from the people I have been engaging with that energy costs remain a serious pressure for households and families. Interim supports are certainly welcome but we also have to bring forth longer-term measures to reduce bills.  It is very difficult to listen to elderly people who in the autumn of their years require a lot of heat in their houses and are simply not putting the heat on. Just this week I had one constituent tell me how their gas-electricity supplier has informed them their annual electricity bill will increase by almost 10%, and annual gas bill by 11%. Electric Ireland announced this week it is to increase its prices by 8%. By any measure, these are extraordinary increases and any household would struggle to cushion such costs. There is understandable frustration among the public when bills continue to rise at a time when households are already under considerable pressure. We need to see transparency from the energy providers and greater consumer protection to ensure the public is not being price-gouged by companies which are earning extraordinary profits.  The recent report that found Ireland has the highest household energy costs in the EU and the report published in recent days by the Household Energy Price Index that found that Dublin is the most expensive capital city in the EU for electricity are very concerning. My constituents are working hard and doing their utmost to make ends meet. They cannot take any more increases or pressure. I urge the Government to keep additional measures on its mind between now and the budget, keep this under consideration and invest in implementing long-term solutions to bring down bills. We must do everything we can to help households in meeting rising costs and ensure they have something to show for their hard work at the end of each week. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cormac Devlin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cormac Devlin  I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate on the Finance Bill 2026, which gives effect to the cost-of-living package introduced by the Government earlier this year. These supports include 32 cent off a litre of diesel, 27 cent off a litre of petrol and other measures which are not small adjustments. They are part of a significant \u20ac750 million package to support families and businesses as we deal with the energy shock caused by the continuing conflict in the Middle East. The Government\u2019s \u20ac750 million intervention was a serious response to the situation and one of the most significant across the EU. The Government also deferred the carbon tax increase that was due on 1 May. That deferral runs until 14 October and may need to be extended if energy prices remain elevated. It protects households heating their homes with kerosene, natural gas and solid fuels and is targeted relief at the moment people need it most.  I also acknowledge the supports provided for the transport sector. The diesel rebate scheme has been increased from 7.5 cent to 12 cent per litre and backdated to January. There is new road transporters support scheme worth \u20ac40 million a month. There is also \u20ac100 million scheme for farmers, contractors and fishers. Our hauliers, coach operators and farmers keep this country moving. They deserve that backing.  The situation in the Middle East seems to shift on an almost hourly basis. We all hope that a durable ceasefire can be achieved that gives way to permanent peace in the region. However, it is clear the energy shock caused by the conflict will continue in the short term.  Turning to budget 2027, I call on the Minister to ensure working families and individuals are supported in the budget with a decent tax package. I was disappointed income tax bands were not adjusted last year. This had a negative impact on workers and must be rectified in this year\u2019s upcoming budget. Further progress must also be made on the USC. Equally, given inflation, we need to see a decent package for social protection with particular emphasis on fuel allowance. A general energy credit should also be examined if energy prices remain high as we enter the winter.  More generally, I echo calls for adjustments to capital taxation rates and bands. I hope the Minister will consider the call I made last year to increase the small gift exemption from \u20ac3,000 per year. It has not been increased since the euro was introduced quite some time ago. I support calls for a more general overhaul of the inheritance tax system to give everyone a lifetime allowance which would be far more equitable.  In the limited time available, however, it is not possible to cover everything I would like to raise. I have highlighted a range of measures via parliamentary questions but I would like to see supports increase for schemes such as the cycle to work programme and to expand them to the self-employed. I would also like to see increased investment in capital projects, particularly in public transport. We badly need more buses, trains and Luas lines, and especially the expansion of the Luas line to Bray. Given the increase in the population in my constituency of D\u00fan Laoghaire, the Government must increase investment in local infrastructure that provides for critical services, such as the construction of a new Garda station in Cherrywood and a primary healthcare centre in Loughlinstown.  Value for money is important and I call on the Minister to examine some of the disruptive road interventions being planned across Dublin to ensure they deliver a real public benefit. Removing bus lanes, turning lanes, roundabouts or sliplanes along the N11 in particular, which was recently refurbished at a very significant cost, do not strike me as good use of public funds, particularly at this time. This funding would be far better invested in housing, upgrading public transport services or EV-charging infrastructure, which is critical to support the shift to green energy. I look forward to engaging with the Minister over the coming months ahead of budget 2027 to ensure it reflects priorities and supports hard-pressed households and indeed businesses. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  The first thing I want to say on the Finance Bill we are discussing is that it goes to show how this Government just does not get it. It is another failure at a time when the Government had the money and knew people were struggling. It could have stepped in. If people throw their minds back to late February and March when people came on to the street, remember the anger that was there. The Minister of State and the Government went on holidays for St. Patrick\u2019s Day to get out of here while people were paying double for home heating oil and struggling to pay their bills. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  I met protesters on the march. I did not go anywhere. I was not booed either. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  The Minister of State\u2019s Government was not where it should have been, namely in the D\u00e1il doing its job, protecting ordinary workers, families, pensioners, farmers, hauliers and small businesses who were, and who still are, looking for help. The Minister of State can try to interrupt me but I talk to these people. I was on the line in Whitegate, Cork city and Youghal. Those people are still feeling it today. There are more than 300,000 people in arrears with electricity. A quarter of people who get gas are in arrears.  There are people who use home heating oil who cannot pay their bills. Some people have to use their savings and some have to borrow from the credit union or family but some have to go cold because they do not have the money to put home heating oil in the tank. I know some of those people. The Minister of State might come in and say, \"We are great boys\" but----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  Not at all. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  -----Electric Ireland has 1 million customers and it is putting up  the cost of electricity by 8% and gas by 7.7% and the Government is doing nothing to tackle it. What is the famous phrase? It is standing idly by while energy companies come in and gouge the market. They pile the pressure on ordinary, hard-working families and what is the Government doing? It has half a Bill instead of delivering for people. We have pensioners who are afraid to turn on the lights, boil kettles or turn on the heating. The weather might be good today but if the Minister of State was around the past couple of days, he knows there was many a night when people had to put on the heating. Where is the support for ordinary, hard-working people and families? This Bill is not it.  I was outside SuperValu in Hollyhill and a guy who is not a farmer, haulier or owner of a small business but an ordinary working man said to me that he stood by the farmers. The reason he stood by them was that somebody had to stand up and be counted and they were there.  Over the summer the price of diesel will go up by 32 cent and the price of petrol will go up by 20 cent, and the Government uses the camouflage of the summer holidays again. It will run out of here, run out the door. I am asking the Minister of State a straight question. Will he give a commitment that those prices will not go up? We also had the carbon tax increases. Has the Government any idea what ordinary people are dealing with? I live in Cork. We have a bus service that is in chaos, with buses not turning up and buses always late, and then the Government puts extra taxes on people for their diesel and their petrol.  We need supports for ordinary people. Energy credits, a cost-of-living budget for people with disabilities and a reduction in the USC for ordinary, hard-working people - these are the things that need to be delivered. I have a list of stuff here where the Government has failed. Will it not stand up now and stand with the people? We are running a huge surplus and the Government is sitting on it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  I am pleased to speak on behalf of the Labour Party on this Bill, but I will speak predominantly about what is not in the Bill, more so than what is in it and the effect of its provisions.  Day in and day out, we see the impact of the cost-of-living permacrisis of the past few years. The Minister of State knows only too well - all the evidence shows this - that the impact is felt most acutely by those who are on low and middle incomes and those who depend on the State for their small incomes. We know the outside or exogenous causes of this: a global pandemic, closely followed by war on the continent of Europe and then the effects of Trump and Israel's insane folly in Iran. We can but hope that we are near the endgame of that and that fuel prices in the world's economy can get to a point where we can all catch a breath. That, I think, is the one thing that unites us all in this House. Any of us with any sense, however, know that no government, regardless of how fortunate this country is in terms of the surpluses we post year in, year out, can insulate every home and business from the effects of inflation. Anybody who pretends we can is simply playing political games. What divides us here is how the resources we do have to help have been deployed and on what basis.  The truth is that close to \u20ac750 million was dished out to a noisy group that stopped much of the country from getting to work to buy its silence and to placate it, and that has now been entrenched in this legislation. The other truth is that PAYE workers looked on at the events after last Easter and the reality dawned on them that this must be how you do business with this Government. That is not a good place to be for any government. I would not read too much, if I were the T\u00e1naiste, into a by-election win in Galway. Local circumstances were at play there and candidate quality and so on. PAYE workers and the trade union movement will, I guarantee the Minister of State, be much more muscular when it comes to pursuing pay claims and improved conditions based on the message sent after last Easter's fraught events. The silent discontent in households across the country is real because the impact of this cost-of-living crisis is very real. It is affecting people day in, day out, the choices they make and the limited resources they have.  All this is playing out before we see a likely two or three hikes to variable mortgage interest rates over the next few months and the inevitable energy price rises as we face into the winter, as if domestic energy prices in Ireland were not already high enough. Allied with ever-rising grocery price rises, no sign of the \u20ac200-a-month childcare we were promised or a break in college fees, rising health insurance and back-to-school costs and so on, households are in very real and present trouble. However, you would not think it from this Finance Bill or from the Government's actions over the last few weeks and months.  Much of this difficulty can be traced back to decisions made in budget 2026. Here is the truth: no matter what way you want to spin it, PAYE workers were left behind. It is why we in Labour Party produced a number of weeks ago, and the Minister of State responded to this particular initiative, a mini-budget, for the want of a better description, to try to assist working families between now and the budget. These are people who have been told to wait for a breather from the cost-of-living crisis that is so badly affecting households across the country. We know that in the budget, as I said, PAYE workers were left behind and we know why. Core social welfare payment increases have been eroded by inflation. The tax package favoured hospitality over working people. This Finance Bill gives the Government the chance to be more ambitious for working people, who are the real engines and the real producers of goods and resources in this economy. It gives the Government the chance to change course and to be more ambitious than has hitherto been the case.  However, in last year's budget, and it is important that we reflect on this, it was decided that at a full-year cost to the taxpayer of \u20ac680 million, the VAT rate in the hospitality sector would go from 13% to 9%. I have heard people argue that this is Government policy. We know it was Fine Gael policy before the 2024 general election, but so is the indexation of PAYE tax bands, rates and credits. We all know politics is about choices. I am comfortable with that and people in this House should be comfortable about it. It is the bread and butter of politics. I think the Minister of State will agree that politics is fundamentally about the generation or the creation of resources and how we redistribute those finite and precious resources. The bizarre decision was taken to cut VAT for the hospitality sector to boost the bottom line of restaurants and caf\u00e9s instead of providing some respite to working people. I have said it time and again and the Minister of State has seen all the evidence as much as I have. The objective, impartial evidence shows that this cut will favour the chains, which do not need it, rather than the small independent operators that we know are finding the going tough. What makes it all the more bizarre is the fact that we are using tax policy and how we distribute our precious resources to narrow the tax base for a sector that, in its totality, is adding jobs by the week. That makes no economic sense whatsoever. What is more is that all of this is being paid for by the working class having to forgo a small breather on their income tax, with hard-earned pay rises swallowed up by inflation and the failure to ensure that rates, bands and credits kept pace with the very inflation we are trying to combat at the moment and that has proven to be so problematic for consumers across the country.  All told, because of those fateful decisions taken last October and reflected in the Finance Act giving effect to the budget measures, what we are dealing with now is effective pay cuts for many low- and middle-income workers at the very time when the cost of everything is going up. It is reported in The Irish Times today that the T\u00e1naiste said yesterday - I found this remarkable - when he was talking about his favoured retail savings and investment scheme, which he has announced and reannounced about 562 times now, that PAYE workers are \"irked\" over the fact that income tax bands, rates and credits were not adjusted to allow for inflation this year. They are more than irked. They are incredibly annoyed about this because they can feel the impact in their day-to-day budgets and on their inability to manage their weekly and monthly budgets and household costs. That PAYE workers are irked is the understatement of the year. They have been left behind. Wait until that particular measure goes live on 1 July when people understand that the money that should have been going to them for some tax adjustments is going to McDonald's, Supermac's, KFC and so on. It is absolutely bizarre. It is bad economics and it is even worse politics. Fine Gael and Fianna F\u00e1il will have some explaining to do to constituents when they realise what is happening.  Nobody is saying for a moment that parts of the hospitality sector do not need some structural reforms. They do, but decisions taken to reintroduce a lazy rinse-and-repeat VAT cut that has been around in one form or another since 2011 is not the answer to the structural problems small hospitality businesses face. The answer is addressing once and for all the ridiculously high energy charges in this country for high consumers of energy like the hospitality sector. It is also a real reform of the commercial rates system for good bricks-and-mortar businesses around the country that employ significant cohorts of people. We must also ensure that staff in those sectors can have a real career. That used to be the case when organisations like CERT trained people to a very high international standard to be chefs, hospitality managers and so on. That is what we need to look at rather than the short-term sugar rush of VAT cuts, which improve the bottom line for a short period of time for hospitality businesses that are finding it difficult.  If the Minister of State is serious about giving working people a break he would use this Bill to address that issue, and use the resources that we have available to index PAYE workers' tax-rate bands and credits back to January to ensure that there is some respite for such workers. We know from experience that will not be the case. PAYE workers are being told in this Bill that they are going to have to wait. We have been told time and again that with the excise duty cuts this Bill will legislate to bring into primary legislation, based on the financial resolutions a number of weeks ago, there is some respite from high prices at the pumps for diesel and petrol for PAYE workers. That is an afterthought. PAYE workers certainly were not the target and the focus of this measure. When these measures were first announced a couple of months ago, the Labour Party said there was nothing in them for PAYE workers. There is nothing in this Bill for PAYE workers either and the Government will reap a political whirlwind because of that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Neville  I wish to speak today against the backdrop of the budget last year and the economic situation Ireland finds itself in. There is no doubt we find ourselves in a strange economic place. We are in a place where we have budget surpluses. We are not in an era of budget deficits, which was something we all grew up with in this State. It was a situation that came against us with the crash. This is also a situation that is widespread across Europe and in many areas across the world.  We are in a situation where we have billions of a surplus. That brings a need for big and difficult decisions, some of which were taken in the budget. The easy thing is to continue to spend. We have done a lot of spending. We have significantly increased our public spending over the last number of years. That is something of which we always have to be conscious. We also have to be conscious of maintaining fiscal discipline and ensure that we do not just spend the tax receipts that are coming in because, ultimately, we do not know exactly how long they will last.  We have a situation where we have windfall taxes of up to \u20ac20 billion. We have a budget surplus of \u20ac9 billion or \u20ac10 billion. We know that if the situation changes or the headwinds change the Irish economy would be in a very different situation and we would not have the money to back it up, but ultimately that is not the situation that exists here. The strong economic planning of this Government, and of previous governments, has led us into this situation where we do have that money. What this Government has decided to do is to spend heavily on infrastructure, which is something I would consider a significant need. As a councillor for a number of years in north Kildare, I saw the growth in the development of housing, which was obviously welcome, but we need the infrastructure to go with it. This is what the budget plans for and what future budgets over the next five years will continue to do. We need schools, roads, rail lines, wastewater plants and football pitches for people. That is one strong section of this budget and something that we have ensured that we deliver.  It is very easy to write cheques for this and that and to keep increasing spending. That is broadly what populists wish to do. I do not mean just in Ireland but across the world. We have seen the difficulties in many countries where populists have taken over politically. In Ireland we are lucky that we do not necessarily have that division, but at the same time those risks and demands exist.  As we continue to spend, there is a risk that we are not competitive for SMEs, which is another area I am very passionate about. We need to ensure that Irish companies are working in step with those US and other foreign-based companies that come to Ireland. Ultimately, indigenous Irish businesses and SMEs are what will keep us afloat, and are what have kept us afloat through the good and the bad. They are the people we rely on, so we need to ensure that they remain competitive and that we can support them.  Most of the decisions we made in this budget were to support local businesses and ensure that we got extra housing delivery. They were the type of decisions that we made. This is one of five budgets for this Government. There will be an aligned approach in the next budget. We might see a variance from a personal income perspective but that will go along with the budgetary and housing supports in this one.  Research and development tax credits might not necessarily get the kudos, plaudits or headlines but improvements in that regard are what keep those large businesses in place in Ireland. Companies like Intel, which is based in north Kildare, can benefit from such a tax credit, but small companies can also benefit from it. Tax credits are the sort of initiative and incentive that make sure we have jobs in our country. While this budget might not have garnered the same headlines from a populist point of view, what it did was put the economy on a solid footing. It ensured that we did not waste the money over the coming years. What we have done is put it into capital spending, infrastructure, businesses and housing, so we can ensure that in the coming years it could be the source of future economic success.  Ultimately, we are going to be here and we are going to be judged before the next election. I want to ensure Ireland is on a good economic footing and that people in Ireland can benefit. A short win today, politically, would not necessarily be of benefit in the long term. I see this budget as being one of five budgets to ensure the future of Ireland. I welcome the initiatives that were put in place in the budget and in the Finance Bill we are talking about today. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed  I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate today. The Finance Bill before the House is a reminder of how exposed we are as a country to fluctuations in global fuel markets. While I fully support the measures being discussed today, they are but a temporary solution to a longer term problem. To deal with it, we need to consider longer term measures.  To build energy independence, we need to look closer to home for the changes that are required. The last budget extended the \u20ac400 tax exemption on income earned by households from selling electricity back to the grid to December 2028. That was a welcome step but it is just that - a step. Households that make the leap to solar panels should be further supported through an increase in that exemption. As solar becomes more advanced, many households can now expect to export more than \u20ac400 to the grid each year. However, upfront installation costs remain high and act as a disincentive. Raising the exemption to \u20ac800 would send a clear signal to households that investing in solar is practical, supported by us, attractive and worthwhile.  Alongside panels, batteries are becoming more advanced and more affordable. When we add a battery to our solar PV system, we unlock a whole range of extra benefits, from greater energy independence to lower bills and protection in the event of a blackout. Locally, a 5 kWh battery costs between \u20ac1,700 and \u20ac3,000, with larger capacities more expensive still. Unlike PV panels, there is no grant available for batteries, meaning the upfront cost is out of the reach of many ordinary households. We should look to incentivise the purchase of batteries. The Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, has acknowledged that battery storage solutions have become increasingly viable. His Department is reviewing how microgeneration and battery storage could help homes and businesses reduce energy costs and reduce their dependence on the national grid.  The review is welcome but recent volatility underlines the fact that we need to move faster, particularly in advance of the upcoming budget for next year. Incremental, well-targeted changes made over the lifetime of this Government will deliver a real difference. We have a clear opportunity to reduce our dependence on global fuel markets and fossil fuels and deliver a more secure energy future for households across Ireland. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  We recognise that so many people were suffering so much as a consequence of the fuel crisis that many of them took to the streets and expressed huge frustration about a situation that was outside their control and about which they felt the Government could do much more. We all acknowledge the Government was not able to stop the war that caused the crisis in the first place but it could certainly have done more to ensure people could get a break, particularly when it came to home heating oil. In my part of the country and, I am sure, in the Minister of State's area, the vast majority of people use home heating as their source of fuel. Older people, people with disabilities and others found it difficult, having come through a long, hard winter when they were already hit with the cost-of-living crisis, that the cost of a fill of oil went through the roof and the Government did absolutely nothing about it. That is one of the big frustrations people had. They felt so let down by all of that.  Families who had to bring children to school and those who run small businesses and so forth also found their costs spiralling and, again, the Government did the minimum to help them. That was their experience. It is why we proposed that whatever reduction should come, it should come at the pump so that everybody would benefit from it. It would benefit hauliers, those who own a school bus that brings children to school but also people who cannot get a school bus and have to bring their children to school themselves. There are many people who have no option but to do that. People who go to work felt the Government simply was not listening. That is why there was such frustration and people took to the streets at that time.  Since then, prices have stabilised at a high level and have not come down enough for people who are struggling to survive. The squeezed middle are often talked about. People cannot manage to pay a mortgage because they are under so much pressure. They cannot manage to pay the car loan and everything that is hitting them at all angles. Then, they suddenly found the price of fuel, home heating oil and everything else going through the roof. The Government did little to help them and they felt they were left alone. That is what brought people to the streets. These people were not crazies. They were just ordinary people who felt they were being totally let down.  While the Finance Bill is about trying to put in place mechanisms to deliver the measures the Government put in place in March and April, it is really an opportunity for us to tell the Government it needs to wake up to ordinary people's struggles. Ordinary people feel the Government has opportunities to do so much more but continually hides away and pretends that, somehow or other, everything is out of its control and it has to put away money in a big piggy bank for a rainy day. People feel it is raining on them right now. That is the frustration we have and the frustration felt by the vast majority of ordinary decent people who just want to get on with their lives. They want to have a chance to do a little bit better than their parents before them and to see a future for their children coming after them. That is the problem for so many people. It was said to me the other day that in the past, back in the 1970s and 1980s in this country when things were terrible, people could buy a house and have a future. Today, people are saying their children will not be able to do those things.  These are the issues that are impacting people. We need to recognise that the Government has a role to play in assisting people through the ordinary things in their lives as well as the big things in the economy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  I had a look at petrol and diesel prices before I came into the Chamber. The Circle K on Belgard Road in Tallaght is charging \u20ac1.85 per litre for diesel and \u20ac1.84 per litre for petrol, even after the two rounds of VAT and excise cuts. A year ago, the average price for diesel was \u20ac1.76 and for petrol, it was \u20ac1.68. There is, therefore, still a big additional cost for ordinary people. In my constituency, many people are basically forced to drive because public transport is so bad and inadequate. It depends on where they are going, obviously. The least the Government should do during the fuel crisis - it should have done it a long time ago but it should do it now - is abolish fares for public transport and put on a load of additional buses so the service is made frequent and reliable. The other thing we need is to have price caps on petrol and diesel, so that every VAT and excise cut we see is not swallowed up by price increases. People need certainty that prices will not go any higher than \u20ac1.75 per litre, which is the price cap in People Before Profit's emergency price controls Bill. We first introduced that Bill during the previous energy crisis. It is even more important now when oil prices are so volatile and every day is bringing different news about when or if Trump and Netanyahu's illegal war will finally end.  The Finance Bill is only a drop in the ocean compared to the worsening cost-of-living crisis people are facing every single day. It is not only motorists who need help with rising costs. It is everyone who is forced to cut back on their weekly shop. It is the four in ten parents who say they go without or with less so their kids can eat properly. It is everyone who cannot pay rents that the Government has decided should go higher and higher in order to attract in more vultures to resolve our supply problem, ultimately some day long into the future. It is everyone who is behind on their energy bills, hundreds of thousands of people, because prices are the highest in Europe. It is disabled people who had about \u20ac1,400 cruelly taken from them in the most recent budget, despite the Government having billions of euro in surplus. Now, we have the ESB announcing another 8% increase in electricity and gas prices. People are at the end of their tether; they just have not got it. They cannot be bled dry by the Government, landlords and energy companies any longer. The rip-off off has to stop.  Apart from the electricity price increases we are seeing - we saw a report last week from Friends of the Earth - it is because this Government is beholden to big tech. It is because the Government has laid out the red carpet for big tech and their data centres to use as much electricity as they want. We heard this morning in the Joint Committee on Artificial Intelligence that we are potentially on track to reaching the point where data centres use as much electricity as the rest of the economy and the rest of society combined. They currently use well over 20% of electricity, but we are on track to them using 50% of electricity in this country. That is pushing up prices for ordinary people in this country who have already paid hundreds of euro as a consequence of that. The Government likes to defend this position with unfounded, ridiculous claims in terms of jobs. It has been trotting out a KPMG report claiming 870,000-odd jobs are related to data centres. The report counted every job that uses cloud computing, thereby fundamentally missing the point of what it is for something to be in the cloud. It means it can be accessed anywhere, which means there is no benefit to it being around the corner from us or even in the same country, as opposed to being somewhere else. It is interesting that the Government used to answer questions in the past about how many people are directly working for data centres. Five or six years ago, however, it simply stopped answering questions about that. It just refused to answer that question and instead talked about all the people who benefit from the data centres. However, if we read what comes from the data centre lobbyists themselves, they let the cat out of the bag. There was an article in The Irish Times in December of last year in which Tom Parlon, the representative of the data centre lobbyists in this country, spoke about them directly employing 1,800 people.  How many jobs are lost as a consequence of the data centres and the use of AI to replace jobs? We have seen that in Covalen and we are seeing it elsewhere in the economy. More jobs are being lost as a result of these data centres than are being added. We need to tackle this.  A serious plan to tackle the cost-of-living crisis simultaneously involves tackling the climate crisis. It means trying to reduce energy usage instead of expanding it, having no more data centres, getting people out of cars into free and frequent public transport and having a nationalised, not-for-profit electricity system that drives investment in renewables. With that comes price controls so that we give people certainty while the transition takes place.  The other thing that has to happen is a fight for higher wages. A few weeks ago, I introduced a Bill that would guarantee apprentices and young workers are paid at least the national minimum wage. That should not sound like a very big ask and it is should not require legislation. Right now, craft apprentices are being paid as little as \u20ac7.67 an hour, which is \u20ac6.48 less than the national minimum wage. We have a national minimum wage that is inadequate and is recognised not to be the living wage and then we legally say that young people - those under the age of 20 - and apprentices are legally allowed to be paid a lot less than this inadequate minimum wage. On what planet are people meant to survive on \u20ac7.67 an hour?  A first-year motor mechanic wrote to me after I introduced the Bill, saying that he is working 40 hours a week on \u20ac6.20 an hour. He is expected to pay for his own tools with only a \u20ac250 tool allowance. He points out that to even get an apprenticeship in most trades, you have to have a driver's licence, so he has to pay extortionate insurance on top of car loan repayments. He is walking away with \u20ac250 a week and is left with only \u20ac120 after bills. He says that \"taking into account the rising cost of living and the expenses of day-to-day life, it's nearly unbearable and as a worker, I feel disheartened and it's hard to get out of bed in the morning some days.\" On top of this, he says \"the greed of trade employers in Ireland is sickening\". I could not agree more. That greed and the dismissive attitude of this Government towards young workers are directly contributing to the housing crisis because it means there are not enough skilled construction workers to build the houses that we need. There are not enough skilled mechanics to run the bus service properly. A lack of mechanics is the main reason that Dublin Bus and Go-Ahead constantly give for ghost buses and cancellations. Another 20-year-old apprentice wrote to me to say:  The lack of young lads and women going into trade is because of the terrible pay that every employer in Ireland's paying them. I'm looking to move out of home and buy or build a house but I can't afford to do so because I can't get a mortgage from the bank because I'm an apprentice and making far less than the minimum wage.  The situation of young workers and apprentices sums up the cost-of-living crisis for many people in this country. Wages are far too low and the cost of living is far too high. What is the Government doing in response? The Low Pay Commission recommended abolishing subminimum wage rates for young workers back in March 2024. That was after we had proposed a Bill to abolish these rates for young workers in the D\u00e1il. It passed Second Stage. The Government placed a timed amendment of one year on it, the year passed and the Government said we needed to look into it. The Low Pay Commission looked into it, as did the ESRI, and it recommended that they be abolished. The Government then promised to look into it but then about a year ago, it said it was not going to do anything on it until 2029. It would not make a decision and we do not even have a commitment that it will abolish these incredible, exploitative subminimum wage rates in 2029. We just have a commitment that the Government is going to think about it in 2029. In the meantime, more and more employers are using subminimum pay rates as a loophole to avoid paying the minimum wage. The number being paid less than the minimum wage has gone up from 20%, or one in five in 2020, to 30%, or almost one in three young workers being legally paid less than the minimum wage. Now we have Fianna F\u00e1il TDs talking about bypassing the Low Pay Commission altogether and using a different mechanism to set the minimum wage that gets rid of any benchmarking with the public sector or multinational pay rates. The only reason to do so is to keep the minimum wage artificially low in order that bosses can make even bigger profits.  It is obvious from how this Government is treating workers that it thinks it can do whatever it wants and workers will not fight back. However, the fuel protests show that when people power takes it on, the Government is weak and can be forced to crumble very quickly and give concessions. The reason the hauliers and transport operators are getting a bailout in this Bill is that they forced it out of the Government through militant protest. The lesson there for the trade union movement is that politely going into pay talks over and over and playing by the rules is getting it nowhere. The Government has proved it will only listen to militant protest. That is what workers need to do. They need to get organised into trade unions and they need to fight within those trade unions for militant action for above-inflation pay rates to ensure they are not left behind and put in a position of deeper and deeper deprivation as a consequence of the cost-of-living crisis. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Grace Boland  This Bill represents progress in a number of important areas. It reflects an effort to respond to the pressures on working people through a number of targeted tax measures, including an increase in the USC threshold; the extension of supports, such as rent tax credits and mortgage interest relief, alongside continued investment in our infrastructure and public services; measures backing innovation, research and quality jobs; regenerating towns and city centres; and measures to intensify the supply of housing. No more is that evident than in my area of Fingal where we see housing developments in every town.  It is also clear, however, that pressures remain very real for many families because for many working people, the question is not whether measures are introduced, but whether they make a meaningful difference for families. It is about whether taking on extra hours or returning to work actually pays and whether the balance between wages, taxation, childcare costs and commuting costs works in their favour. That is particularly true in fast-growing commuter areas like Fingal. In towns such as Skerries, Balbriggan, Lusk and Rush, people are working hard, often commuting long distances, raising families and contributing to their communities, yet many still feel under financial pressure.  When we talk about workforce participation, we must look at the practical realities that many families face. Across the country, many people, in particular parents of young children, are working part time, not by choice but because it is the only viable option available to them. That is where childcare becomes central. While we have seen an increase in investments in childcare and more families benefiting from supports, availability remains a real issue on the ground. In Fingal, the shortage of childcare places, in particular community childcare places, is raised with me time and again. Parents want to work more hours or return to the workforce but they simply cannot do this because there are not enough places available. If we are serious about making work pay, particularly for families, this issue has to be addressed because without accessible childcare, financial supports alone are not enough. That is why areas experiencing rapid population growth, for example, north County Dublin, must be prioritised for additional childcare provision.  Alongside this, we must continue to invest in the fundamentals that allow communities to grow. That includes our schools. North County Dublin is seeing significant population growth, particularly among young families. That growth must be matched with timely delivery of school places in modern, warm buildings and appropriate supports. The increase in special needs assistants announced in budget 2026 is very welcome but families also need certainty that overall school capacity will keep pace with demand. That is what allows communities to put down roots with confidence.  We are also seeing very substantial investments at a national level in public transport, water infrastructure and strengthening our electricity grid. These are necessary investments, particularly if we are to support housing delivery and economic growth, but we must also ensure that this investment translates into real outcomes on the ground. The public needs confidence that funding is not just being announced but is being delivered effectively. It needs to see projects completed on time, systems working as they should and services improving in a way that makes a tangible difference in people's daily lives. That responsibility sits across the State, in the Departments and agencies and across the public and Civil Service. Ultimately, this is about trust that investment leads to delivery, that policy decisions translate into real improvement and that the system is working in the best interests of the people it serves.  Taken together, taxation, childcare, commuting and infrastructure all shape how families experience our country and the economy. This Bill moves us in the right direction. As we look ahead to budget 2027, we need to go further in making work pay, particularly for families balancing work and childcare, in ensuring that infrastructure keeps pace with population growth and in making sure that the significant investment being made is delivered effectively and visibly. For many working families, the question is not whether progress is being made; it is whether they can feel it in their everyday lives. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  The Bill the Minister of State has brought before the House in many ways represents everything that has been so wrong with the Government's approach to the fuel price crisis and to the broader cost-of-living crisis. Everything is too little, too late. It took far too long for the Government to listen and to accept and realise that ordinary workers, families, farmers, small businesses, coach drivers and hauliers had their backs to the wall and that people needed a bit of support and relief. The Government had to be dragged kicking and screaming to take any type of action at all. Of course when it did act, in typical Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael style it did far too little. What the Government did was insufficient. Then, when it introduced schemes in respect of contractors, it took far too long to bring clarity to how some of those measures would actually work. We have found out virtually every week since that there is another cohort in the business sector that was hopeful it would benefit from the rebate but which, it transpires, gets no benefit at all. It was for all of those reasons, and because of the failure to provide adequately or within an adequate timeframe, that Sinn F\u00e9in opposed the financial resolutions brought forward by the Government.  All of this is a choice. We have had the choices of the Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael parties and Independent TDs. What were those choices? To this day, there has not been a single cent of a reduction in the price of home heating oil, despite the fact that there are TDs across the Government benches who, I have no doubt, are aware of people in their constituencies who have had empty tanks for months because they cannot afford to put oil in them. They are going cold because the Government refuses to provide them with any support whatsoever or take any meaningful measures.  The average cost of diesel at one point in May, before the measures took effect, stood at \u20ac1.97. Today, the average cost of diesel is \u20ac1.88 a litre. It might be the Government's policy to have petrol and diesel at those prices on an ongoing basis, but they are too expensive for people who have no option but to use their cars to get to work. Green diesel costs nearly 50% more.  The most bizarre aspect of the financial resolutions that have come before the House is the Government's commitment to increase the carbon tax every single year until 2030, despite the irrefutable evidence that carbon taxes hit lower income people and people from rural communities hardest. Carbon taxes charge people for not changing to something that does not exist. The people I and the Minister of State represent cannot afford a new car costing \u20ac50,000, whether they have an \u20ac8,000 grant or not. They rely on their petrol or diesel car to do everything, from driving to work to driving their kids to school in some instances or to activities they are involved in, yet the Government's choice, time and again, has been to kick them in the teeth rather than give them the support they need. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  As I and others have said in this House, the measures were too little and too late. Nevertheless, we are extending them for another period of time. I would have preferred to have seen them extended to September because I cannot see the Strait of Hormuz crisis being sorted out by then, given the incumbent in the White House. The measures are welcome insofar as they are coming forward, but they should have been for a longer duration and for greater amounts, while being cognisant at all times that the bigger picture, the strategic picture, is, as I have said previously, our energy self-sufficiency and the fact that we are slow to ramp up to self-sufficiency and cut down on the massive amounts of foreign imports for which we are paying.  In the new era in which AI will impact on certain types of jobs, we have to find other types of jobs. We have to go the vocational route because there are huge incomes to be made in data centres if someone is an electrician, for example. However, if we have demand from companies to store data in Ireland, the only way it will be done is if we have a massive surplus of capacity, which is not what we have been gearing towards.  I note, although it is not being done in this legislation, the trial EV scrappage scheme of \u20ac5,000. I welcome this measure because for some vehicles, it will bring the price of a new EV with a range of between 200 km and 300 km down to around \u20ac12,000, which is an affordable amount for a credit union loan. I welcome the measure but it needs to be put on a better footing, with more of an incentive on top. In Dublin, I have been driving a 24 kW EV for the last ten years. It has a range of about 120 km, which is sufficient most of the time, although if I am travelling down the country, I have to stop off a few times. For someone in rural Ireland, a 250 km or 300 km range goes quite quickly. We have to encourage people in rural areas to invest in these types of vehicles at an affordable rate, alongside taking up grants for solar. We need to ensure that people get fair prices for exporting home-grown energy from their solar panels and make retrofitting affordable in the first place. The roll-out of retrofitting in local authority housing remains abysmal. We are still hitting those who can least afford it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  Let us be honest about the fuel support scheme. The Government sold farmers a pup. When the price of green diesel spiked by 80% and farmers were struggling, the Government offered them 2.4 cents off per litre. It was an insult. We warned the Government on the floor of the D\u00e1il what was going to happen. Sure enough, what happened was a revolt. When farmers and contractors went to the trouble of protesting, the Government, after several days of blackening those people, announced a bigger scheme for farmers worth \u20ac100 million. Ministers were on the radio promising \u20ac100 million and promising farmers relief. The reality was very different because the vast majority of farmers I have spoken to in County Mayo are ineligible. They cannot apply. They listened to the Minister for agriculture and many other Ministers on radio promising relief. When they looked at the detail of the scheme, they saw it is calculated so that the minimum payment is \u20ac100 and the minimum amount of fuel is 1,200 litres of green diesel from the previous year, 2025. That is the threshold. Below 1,200 litres, people cannot apply and do not qualify.  The Government has promised farmers a scheme and the vast majority of small and medium-sized farmers across Ireland are ineligible. Small beef farmers, part-time farmers, men and women who have 30, 40 or 50 suckler cows and 50 or 60 acres will not avail in the vast majority of cases. I have spoken to farm consultants who, in some cases, are advising farmers not to bother because it is not worth it. The spin has to end.  It is time the Government treated farmers and the people of this country with decency and honesty. All of this is landing at a time inputs continue to rise and factory quotes are falling dramatically. Over the past year, there have been reductions of over \u20ac1 per kg of beef and in the past number of weeks, there was about 50 cent of a drop. It is simply not good enough. The scheme is totally inadequate. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  We are living in a rip-off republic. The Minister of State started the debate with the pretence that the Government is fighting the costs that people are experiencing at the moment. The truth is that right now, the Government is one of the main causes of expensive prices in Ireland right across the system.  Let us consider the ESB, for example. Electricity prices in this country have risen by 57% in the past five years. That is startling. The ESB Group, which is a semi-State operating on the basis of Government policy, made a profit last year of \u20ac636 million, at a time people are in trouble in the context of the cost-of-living crisis. One third of a million people are in energy arrears at the moment, and a semi-State is milking the system for that amount. It works out at about \u20ac300 per family that the ESB is making in profit. The electricity system is a mess. The wholesale cost of electricity only works out at about 32% of the cost. The transmission and distribution system, which the Government is in charge of, is working at 42% of the cost of the electricity. It is simply not able to do the job it is meant to do.  Carbon taxes amount to \u20ac1 billion. They did not exist a couple of years ago and, right now, the Government's objective is to increase them in October and every October until 2030. There were some \u20ac4.1 billion in taxes last year. In the jaws of a cost-of-living crisis, the Government made more in fuel taxes than ever before. That is absolutely wrong. The cost of diesel has increased by 60% in the past five years and it is also driving up not just the cost of transport but every single food item on our shelves at the moment as well. The price of shopping has gone up 40% since 2021. A trolley that was costing \u20ac150 is now costing \u20ac225. That is \u20ac3,000 extra per family on groceries per year. Items such as chicken breasts are up from \u20ac5 to \u20ac12.98. Steak is up from \u20ac10 to \u20ac19.49. There has been a 35% increase in the price of eggs since 2021. Beef is up 32%. That is really hitting families hard and a lot of this is down to price.  One of the biggest frustrating elements is that at the end of the July, it is the Government's objective to put the price of diesel up 35 cent a litre and the price of petrol up by 22 cent. That is wrong, and I call on the Minister of State at this stage to say openly and in public that he will not increase petrol and diesel prices for families at a time of sheer pressure in terms of the cost of living. It is really important that he gets that right. The cost of living is bearing down hard on families at the moment. They are suffering at a rate I have never seen before.  Some 320,000 families are currently in energy arrears. This is not a luxury good; it is a staple they simply cannot pay for anymore. It is in the gift of the Government to ease the pressure on them by taking the foot off the accelerator on the taxes it is putting on those families at the moment. It is important that the Government reduces the taxes on home heating oil, otherwise families are going to go cold again next winter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  Independent Ireland always welcomed any fuel cuts that were made but, in fairness, they never went to the core of the problem. I know, following the protest, the Government was kicking and screaming against giving anything to the people. The people almost had a revolution in the country before it woke up and then when it woke up, it did not go about it in the right way. The right way is always at the pump. If money is taken off at the pump, it goes back into the wallet or purse of the mother or father who is out there working and struggling greatly at this time. However, the Government did not do that; instead it did through the tax system and this, that and the other thing. I met a farmer the other day who said to me that it all he got was three or four cent per litre. That is what it all boiled down to because by the time people have their accountants and others sorted out, they are not going to get anything. That is a terribly unfair way to deal with people. It is a kind of back door system of getting the money back - pushing it out one door and in the other.  This all hurts. It hurts the farmer on the ground. If he does not have some kind of relief, he has to pass that on to the person who is buying the produce in the shop, whether it is eggs, beef, potatoes or vegetables. That is all going to be passed on and people are feeling the hurt of this. The increases in the cost of butter and other foods are extraordinary and people are finding it very hard at this present time. In a crisis, Government is meant to be there to stand with the people. It failed to do that. Independent Ireland did and we got a lot of criticism from the Government. We know why; because we showed the Government up. We stood there on the side of the road. We tried to create peace and bring in an environment where the Government and the protesters could talk. That was refused. We thought we could reconvene the D\u00e1il so if the Government could not talk to the protesters, it could talk to us but it did not want to do that. We tried different mechanisms to put forward solutions and the people appreciated that. They knew there was some voice there. This was a voice for the people who were going out of business who are the men and the women who have built this country.  The one thing that taught me a lesson was that hard-working people who are working day and night said there was no voice for them. Everything is up on their backs and the Government believes, \"We will shove it up again\". Forget what the Government is doing. We have the Social Democrats and the Labour Party in here telling the Government that it needs to reduce the cost of fuel but they never shut up about carbon tax. Where do they think the money is going to come from? It is the same people. They have no understanding of how people are suffering because if they did, they would ask for a freeze on carbon taxes until the crisis is over and let us have a look at these things after it. They should not come into the D\u00e1il saying, \"I should do this\", but then shove up the carbon tax anyway because that does not matter, it is a great idea. It is not a great idea. It is an extra infliction on people at a difficult time.  The one little bit of comfort that people have in their own homes is home heating oil. That never really reduced in price. People have been telling me that up until last weekend the heating was still on in their homes because they have no choice. Nobody wants to have it on but the Minister of State knows the weather we have. There are cold, bitter evenings and a lot of people have to turn on the home heating oil. My God, did they get any break? They got no break. These are hard-working people or maybe retired people who have given to the State long enough and they get little or no respect.  Fishermen find themselves in the same situation regarding the rebates for fuel. They have huge fuel issues, whether it is the petrol for the inshore fishermen or the pelagic fleet. They have huge bills to pay and it was not long ago that Europe was willing to give some bit of a rebate to the Irish fishermen but the previous Government would not dare apply for it in case it gave some bit of relief to the people who work hard.  We seem to have a problem in this country. We bleed the man and the woman who works to death and do not support them or try and bring them through a situation where it is a known crisis throughout the world for other governments. There are over 300,000 people in arrears with their electricity bills, and that is a very serious issue. The Government helped them before by giving them a break but it will not even consider that now.  The Government is always on about renewables. Everybody is shouting about them. People want to change; there is no point in saying they should not. They would, of course. It is only a fool that would not. I refer to putting solar panels on their houses but there is only a grant of \u20ac1,800 - a measly, dirty little grant when all the rest of Europe is giving \u20ac7,000 or \u20ac8,000 for putting the same amount of solar panels on their roofs. The Government is way behind the times. It has the National Oil Reserves Agency fuel costs and a budget left that it never spent. The Government is not in the real world and it needs to catch up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  I was in Newcastle West last week at the agricultural show, the Newcastle West Show. One thing resonated with me at the show. A young girl of nine years of age from County Kerry came up to me. She was standing in front of me, her mother was behind her and I think her aunt was with her as well. She turned around to her mother and her mother said, \"Ask him yourself\". She asked if she could have a picture with me. I was intrigued as to why she wanted the picture. I was intrigued to know why a nine-year-old girl from Kerry recognised me and wanted a picture. I asked her, \"Why do you want the picture with me?\" Do you know what she said to me at nine years of age? She said: \"My mammy takes me to training. My mammy takes me to my matches. My mammy could not take me to two matches because of fuel.\"  She said I stood with them during the fuel crisis. That is what a nine-year-old from Kerry was saying. Can the Minister of State imagine that? It is not a laughing matter when a nine-year-old is saying it. Independent Ireland had our stall at the show in Newcastle West, and I did not get a minute to myself with people coming up to me thanking me for standing with them, for holding a peaceful process and for understanding where they were. I have said on more than one occasion that the people who were at the protests, who I stood with in Foynes, County Limerick, were people who had never protested before. They were all members of the Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael parties, but they said, \"Never again,\" because they believe they have become city-based parties, they have forgotten their roots and the Cabinet no longer reflects the whole country.  These cities or large towns were built by people who came from the county. They built the likes of Dublin. They moved here and integrated. Believe it or not, Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway everywhere all originated from people in the county, coming to build big cities. That is where they came from. Their ancestors are here but when it comes to the next election, they will remember what the Government has done to everyone in this country who could not afford to buy an electric car. People are building new homes and have A-rated houses with heat pumps and solar panels. I commend it, but when the snow hit and they went three weeks without power, they all bought diesel generators because when the infrastructure was down, they had no other way to heat their houses. The problem with heat pumps is a 20 kW generator is needed to run them so all they will do with their generators is run an electric heater and run the power in their houses.  In one sense, having an A-rated house is brilliant, but we are an island. Does the Government not understand it? Things go wrong and power goes out because of a lack of infrastructure. The Government should have allowed at least one fireplace in a house so people could heat themselves if the power goes out. What happened? They all went back to the houses of their parents, uncles, aunts, brothers and sisters that had heat because they could not sustain it in their own household. We talk to young people with young children who could not live in their own modern houses because of power outages. We are talking about how we want people using electric vehicles to protect the environment. It is great if people can afford it, but the average vehicle on the road at the moment is from between 2010 and 2018. That is what people can afford, but what does this Government do? Since that is all they can afford, it taxes them out of existence on fuel. That is what the Government is doing. It is taxing people who cannot afford to buy something electric out of existence. How will they ever get to where the Government wants them to go to?  People have infrastructure in the cities, which I welcome, but outside the cities, there is nothing because of the failure of Government, which put all its eggs in one basket, and now people in Dublin are giving out that their children cannot come home because there is no place for them to live. The Government filled all the cities, trying to make them bigger and bigger, and has forgotten about the generations that have moved out and want to come back home. If infrastructure was put in around the country, people should be able to live and work anywhere in Ireland, but all the Government does is try to cram more people into the one place where it thinks it can try to control them.  If the Government thinks it can give people a giveaway budget with five or six days to go coming up to the election, they will never believe it again. Each year, the Government is dropping in the ratings and, the next time, it will be dropping an awful lot more. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Carol Nolan  T\u00e1 \u00e1thas orm deis a fh\u00e1il labhairt ar an mBille Airgeadais seo at\u00e1 os \u00e1r gcomhair tr\u00e1thn\u00f3na inniu. As an Independent TD for Offaly, I have consistently highlighted the intolerable burden of high energy and fuel costs on families, farmers and hauliers across my constituency. I accept that this Bill seeks to provide some temporary relief in that it increases the diesel rebate scheme cap to \u20ac120 per 1,000 litres for qualifying road transport operators, until the middle of this year. It also implements cuts to mineral oil tax rates on petrol, auto diesel and other fuels until July, while postponing further carbon component increases until October but these steps are not enough and they offer modest short-term respite. We need a long-term strategy to protect our businesses and safeguard tens of thousands of jobs, particularly in rural areas, where we have haulage companies and agri-contractors. That is what I am concerned about. These steps represent a wholly inadequate response to a deep and sustained crisis. I stood with agri-contractors, hauliers, and construction workers on the lines in my constituency during the protests. I found it remarkable that there is a lack of acknowledgement of the struggles that businesses face in this country.  What is very concerning is the fact that I have seen businesses going to the wall in my constituency, Offaly, but I have never heard of one NGO going to the wall in this country. We have 34,000 NGOs. Let us face it. They are not known for creating employment. They are certainly not known for creating tens of thousands of jobs in rural counties like Offaly, yet we have a situation where there are 34,000 NGOs and there is massive duplication. We could have the same categories of NGOs over and over again. We paid out \u20ac6.2 billion of taxpayers' money last year. I have not heard of any of them going to the wall, but I have heard of agri-contractors and small businesses in my constituency going to the wall. I have heard of job losses. This is shameful.  I ask the Government to reflect on its policy position. When it comes to NGOs or overseas aid, it seems to have shifted too far to the left. They are left-wing policies. It is crazy. The Government has abandoned businesses. All we have to do is look at overseas aid. There are five countries on the watchdog list for human rights abuses. What did the Government do in this year's budget? It decided to pay them \u20ac840 million in overseas aid, with taxpayers' money. Some of those countries, incredibly, include Afghanistan, Sudan and North Korea. We have the Irish taxpayer paying overseas aid to North Korea and Afghanistan. Meanwhile, our own businesses go to the wall and 34,000 NGOs get \u20ac6.2 billion of taxpayers' money. That is not to mention the sham of the asylum system and the money that is handed out in social welfare payments.  We need to put Irish citizens first. We need to put our own businesses first and there needs to be a proper focus. The Government needs to move back from its left-wing policies because I can see it shifting further and further to the left. All it has to do is look at its position on NGOs and on paying countries with appalling human rights records. It is handing out our taxpayers' money to that sort of thing. It is crazy.  I have stood with many businesses in my constituency. They tell me that they are crippled with diesel costs, VAT costs, tolls, auto-enrolment costs, energy costs, regulatory costs and input costs for farmers. It is crazy. It goes on and on. Rural households continue to face some of Europe's highest energy prices while small peat producers and turf users in the midlands in counties like mine are penalised by policies that ignore basic realities and common sense, yet the Government has nothing to say about that. It has nothing to say to how it states, in the event of an energy crisis, people should not be allowed to cut their turf. They should be allowed to. The Government is bowing down to its EU masters all the time. It seems that its policy is to appease its EU masters, forget the Irish citizens and people in County Offaly who depend on solid fuel. It throws caution to the wind and forgets and ignores those people. I have repeatedly criticised Government's misplaced priorities.  It is directing vast sums of money where it should not be going, on asylum accommodation and on social welfare payments which are far too generous. It is acting as a pull factor, bringing in people we do not want on this island. All we have to do is look at what happened in Belfast. Do we want that down here? No we do not. We do not want that on any part of our island. It is high time the Government got its act together, clamped down on and cut the social welfare payments for people who are not genuine asylum seekers and treat the Irish taxpayer with respect.  Contrary to what a previous Fine Gael Taoiseach said about people getting up early in the morning getting fair play, they are not getting it. People in this country who get up early in the morning are being punished. There is tax upon tax on working people. That is where the Government is hitting them, yet it squanders money and pays into the whole sham of the asylum seeker accommodation. We do not have vetting of the people coming in and we do not have vetting of the cowboys and chancers providing the accommodation either. It is an absolute sham. I will continue to call it out because I think that as Irish citizens we need to stand up. I am listening to what people are saying to me. That is my job as a politician in here. I serve the interests of Ireland only and that is why I am raising it here again today. The Government needs to look at its policies. It has gone too far left altogether. It is just crazy what is going on.  I have constituents at absolute breaking point. I have had people in my office who are very upset. They are working people who are trying to make ends meet and put their children through college but instead of being helped, they are being taxed and punished. We must deliver permanent and meaningful tax reductions on fuel and energy. The USC, which was meant to be a temporary measure, must be abolished. We have to help working people here. Our own interests should always come first.  The Government should suspend punitive carbon charges for rural Ireland. I am glad to say I was one of the 12 who voted against the climate action Bill. I recognised at the time that it was not good and I remain opposed to the carbon tax. We need to support our local fuel and peat producers and place the needs of Irish citizens first.  This Bill is a small concession but it falls very short of the decisive and long-term action that Ireland demands. We need an end to the squandering of Irish taxpayers' money and to the crazy amounts of money going into NGOs. We need to support our businesses and working families in this country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Healy-Rae  In regard to the package put in place, I want to thank the Minister, Deputy Heydon, the Ministers of State, Deputies Dooley and Grealish, and the Minister, Deputy Darragh O\u2019Brien. I also thank the team who worked to put it together. Of course, I would welcome the package because I worked on it too. Like every package put together, the one thing you would always ask is whether it went far enough. The whole issue of taxation on fuel has to be looked at and that will have to be done ahead of budget 2027. Our tax system cannot rely so heavily on taxation on fuel given that rural people are at a disadvantage because they have to drive further, because of agriculture and contracting and because of trying to survive in rural Ireland. The carbon tax deferral is very welcome but this is a tax that will have to be examined as to its effectiveness because it is punishing people living in rural areas who do not have any alternative to driving. They have to use diesel or petrol because electric vehicles are not as reliable or give the same distance. That is why the whole issue of carbon tax is such a hot potato for people living in rural areas.  Again, I remind people that the package put in place was, if not the largest, the second largest fund put in place in Europe in response to the war being waged many thousands of miles away and which is totally beyond the control of this Government. At the same time, we have to be balanced and considerate in taxing fuel and to understand that an awful lot of people living in rural areas, like County Kerry, are being more directly and negatively impacted by taxes on fuel than others.  On carbon tax funds, the SEAI is being funded by carbon tax but it is ironic that we still have people waiting two years for retrofitting under the warmer homes scheme. Such an amount of money is being collected all the time through taxation to help people retrofit their homes. When a person in their 70s or 80s, who is living in a cold home, says they would like to make their home more energy efficient and to avail of the retrofitting grant - I welcome the retrofitting grant and I am glad it is there - they are told they qualify but they will have to wait so many years. The Minister of State will understand why that is a big worry to a person who might be shoving 80 years of age to be told they will be given the grant but they must wait two years for it. Surely we could do better when it comes to delivering. I know there are issues like manpower on the ground, labour and so on. I understand why there are difficulties delivering it more quickly but it is something we should seriously look at. I hope budget 2027 will look at aspects of that scheme to see if we can get the money to where it is needed more quickly and to bring relief, heat, warmth and comfort to older people more quickly than at present.  On issues like the carbon tax, we have to start looking at exactly how much is being collected and how quickly it is being delivered to help the people we are trying to help. Money is being collected and it is going to TAMS grants, for example. That is something we desperately want funding for. We have to strike a balance for the greater good at all times.  It would be wrong for anyone to talk on the Finance Bill and not recognise the package put in place was such a large and substantial sum of money. On agriculture and the marine, that fund was put in place in a very timely fashion. Yes, administration had to be dealt with but I want to acknowledge the work of the Secretary General, the people in the Department of Finance and the Minister, Deputy Heydon, for chairing all those meetings and being so diligent dealing with the representatives from all the groups, whether it was the contractors, the marine people, the fishers or the farmers, to try to deliver something that would be substantial enough that it would make a difference. That has been implemented now. People have put in their applications and will know what they will get. Any money they get is a help. There is another issue, in that because it is a rebate scheme, they should not have to pay tax on the money they get. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call Deputy Danny Healy-Rae. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  Many people are in a desperate state. I appeal to the Minister of State to acknowledge that. While I welcome these energy supports, which are badly needed, a lot more needs to be done. With over 300,000 people in energy arrears, there is no question as to the impact the increase in energy costs is having on people. Something needs to be done about the ever-increasing costs of electricity. Since Bord na M\u00f3na closed, the cost of electricity has gone up each and every day.  Electric Ireland is putting prices up by 8% again. Where is it going to stop? Is there any regulator? Many working people are finding it difficult to make ends meet. Those people at home all day on illness payments, disability and pensions need to have a warm home. It is quite cold for this time of the year. Those who are lucky enough to have turf have their fires lighting. Many people cannot afford heating because of the cost of electricity and the cost of the heating oil. Nothing was done for the people who need heating oil. There was nothing done except that the fuel allowance was extended. However, many people are not on fuel allowance and are not entitled to get it. Many farmers and farm contractors are under severe financial pressure to manage day to day costs of fuel and to carry out their work. It is shameful that these reductions in fuel are only temporary.  I am worried. The war is not over. We will go on holidays. The D\u00e1il will close down on 16 July, and we will not be back until around 15 September. I am worried about people in that space of time. Will there be any preparation to extend the relief packages in place? I ask the Government to go back to what I asked on 24 March when it forgot about the people on green diesel and heating oil. When green diesel went up 80 cent, the Government offered 3 cent. When green diesel is at \u20ac1 per litre the Government should not be claiming tax on anything above that, whether carbon tax, VAT or anything else and they should charge less for it. It is the same at the pumps. Give it back to the people at the pumps. The Government should take the taxes it was getting until the emergency happened and give back the rest of it to the people entitled to get it.  The carbon tax increase has been postponed, but what will happen in October? Will they carry on with it? When diesel and petrol were approximately \u20ac1.20 per litre and the Government was trying to discourage people from using both we saw that people cannot manage without it. They cannot afford electric cars. They will not go far enough. When it was \u20ac1.20 per litre carbon tax was put up. Surely there is no case to be made when it goes up to \u20ac1.80 per litre that they should get carbon tax then as well. That is wrong.  Many people have not qualified for these packages. I remind the Minister of State of that. Many people are not entitled to the rebate system in place. Packages should last until at least the end of September when we are back here to make sure people can live in between. I saw people protesting on the bypass in Killarney and I was hurt at that time because I saw friends there who would not talk to me. That was the worst part of it all. Maybe the Government thinks those people have forgotten what caused that. I can remind them there was a 94-year-old woman with a flag on the bypass in Killarney. Why was she out? Why were the nurses giving out? Why were the teachers giving out? Why were they all protesting? It was not just farmers and contractors. Many people were feeling the pinch and felt they could not pay the people who mind their children when they go to work and pay for the fuel to go to work and pay for everything else. I ask the Government not to leave those people behind if things are still as bad on 31 July, because that will not be long coming.  I am also very concerned about the value taxpayers are getting when we see the pressure they are under every day with the taxes they are paying. We then see that we have no bother in the world giving \u20ac40 million to Ukraine in the middle of the crisis. That is on top of all the other money it was given. We borrowed approximately \u20ac1.9 billion for a loan for Ukraine. We did not cause the war at all. No Irish person had anything to do with it. Does the Government think it is fair to load the people of Ireland with that kind of bill on top of the \u20ac125 million they gave Mr. Zelenskyy when he was here? They gave it to him in his back pocket when he was going home. There is a place called stop. See after your own people first and think of your own people, because they will think of you when you come to the door and will remember what the Government put them through in March and April. They will not forget. It is time to cop on. Do not leave the people behind at the end of July without ensuring they have packages going forward. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Time is up, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John McGuinness  With the Ceann Comhairle's permission, I am sharing time with our new Deputy Kyne. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Is that eight minutes and four minutes? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John McGuinness  Yes. I congratulate the Deputy on his success.  I join in some of the comments made about the carbon tax and I ask the Minister of State if he thinks we are getting value for money from it. Does he think it should be tailored to ensure there are not the types of increases faced through the carbon tax, and to divvy up the money raised from a lower amount of taxation? One of the issues that has come to the fore from the fuel protest and so on, is that enormous taxes are being taken from fuel throughout the country by the Government. It has reached the point of being absolutely unacceptable. I agree with the suggestion that relief should be given at the pumps. Everyone would have benefitted from that, and it would be an easy scheme to administer. The individuals who go to work and are hard-pressed would benefit from it. While the diesel rebate scheme and others put in place on the agri side are welcome, we cannot forget the people we represent. I refer particularly to pensioners and those on low pay who are feeling the squeeze because of the cost-of-living crisis. We have to ensure there is some benefit for those people in whatever action we take.  I think all who have spoken in this debate have mentioned that we know someone who cannot buy home heating oil. We know people who have cut back on their grocery bills. They cannot afford some of the prices being charged in supermarkets and shops. There is a need to examine the costs in all of these supermarkets and at the petrol pump to ensure there is not price gouging going on. Insurance costs have gone up. Commercial rates have gone up. Planning charges have gone up and the small to medium size businesses are being crucified once again. This is the sector we say employs up to 1 million people. These are the homegrown people who base their business on a family input and are the people we rely on. We seem to have abandoned that whole sector and walked away from it. The cost of fuel at the pumps needs to be addressed. The cost of home heating oil has to be addressed. The USC and tax bands need to be addressed. The USC was supposed to be temporary. I remember the late Brian Lenihan telling us all of that in this House. That is not the case. We need to reform the tax bands for workers to ensure they take home more to meet the various costs they are challenged by in their own homes. However, when the costs are added together and you move from the home to the SME sector you are destroying the local economy that keeps the shops open in villages and towns all over the country and in the high streets of Ireland. There is not enough said about these costs in this House. There is not enough action taken outside of this debate to ensure the businesses that are threatened and being challenged by current costs are kept open. We are not doing enough for them. We speak enough about them and praise them enough, yet when it comes to action I am afraid we fall far short of what is required.  One of the areas I am concerned about is the work of Comptroller and Auditor General and the costs that are spiralling for the children's hospital and in almost every project you can think of, without being challenged in a robust way by any of the committees of this House.  It is not that they do not want to do it. I am sure they would like to do it but, unfortunately, we are told their hands are tied, although that is not the case. We in this House have a job to do. We must work to ensure that every Secretary General and civil servant is made accountable to this House. We need reform to ensure that where we do not get value for money, where there are inefficiencies in the system and where public money is obviously being wasted, following scrutiny and due process, action is taken with regard to those who were central to the loss of funds to the Government or to the inefficiencies I have outlined.  I remember going to a state in Africa as Chairman of the public accounts committee to look for \u20ac4 million that had to be accounted for. When we visited the schools supported by money from the Irish Government, the children and the teachers were counting the pencils and the jotters, as they called them, to account for the money they spent, but the comptroller and auditor general in that country was driving a very big Mercedes and was subject to very little obvious accountability. We need to examine all of that. We need to empower our own Committee of Public Accounts and Comptroller and Auditor General to ensure we get real value for money. It is not happening.  I am beginning to receive huge complaints from people who are now more in tune with what is going on, or not going on, in Government. They see this waste and are appalled by it. It is a national disgrace that this is allowed to continue but successive governments have failed to introduce any real radical reform, or structural reform, to address these issues. Can the Minister of State imagine how much money we would have at budget time if we had a more efficient and accountable system, one that did not lose as much as the current system does? I know that it is a risk. I know decisions are risky. However, factoring all of that into how the State is managed, we see the same results: poor value for money and not enough attention being given to developing the Civil Service to a point where it is at the top of its game in relation to all of this.  I ask the Minister of State to reflect on what has been said and to factor in the fact that it has been said more than once. He has heard all of this from me more than once. I ask him to do something about it within Government and within our own party because, as far as I can see, no one is listening. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Kyne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Kyne.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Kyne.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Kyne  I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for sharing his time with me. As this is my first opportunity to give a speech, I will thank all members of the public in Galway West who voted for me and gave me the distinct honour of coming back to this House for a second chance to represent the people of Galway West. I thank everybody who voted for me in that election, whether they gave me their number one or a transfer. I acknowledge all of the other candidates who stood in the by-election. It was a clean and competitive election. I thank the director of elections, the Minister, Deputy Peter Burke; our party leader, Deputy Simon Harris; all of my colleagues in the parliamentary party, particularly Seanad colleagues; MEPs; city and county councillors in Galway; others who came to assist; and party members. As I said, it is a distinct honour to have been successful in that by-election. I will not take it for granted.  I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Troy. I acknowledge this Bill, the necessity for it and the reason behind it, which is the conflict in the Middle East and the resulting increases in fuel costs at our petrol pumps around the country. I also acknowledge the very valid cost-of-living concerns this has caused for members of the public. I welcome the postponement of the carbon tax increase until budget day. We will have a look at it at that stage. As I said in many of the election debates, we do not know what the world will be like in October. None of us has a crystal ball. We do not know how much longer this conflict will continue. It is important that we are in a position to review matters as things develop and to have the foresight to look to the future. We have to acknowledge that because of the management of the economy and the hard work of people across the country we have reserves for the forthcoming budget.  When talking about the carbon tax, it is important to note the moneys that derive from that tax go into very important areas of our economy, including ACRES for farmers, fuel allowance for those in need and home retrofit schemes. While no tax is popular, it is important to acknowledge where carbon tax revenues go, although we also need to keep these things under review in the future.  I will talk about another area I talked about during the campaign - home heating oil. Home heating oil is obviously not subject to excise duty but it still represents a significant cost. We have seen a significant increase for those who are reliant on home heating oil or kerosene across our country. We are closer to the next budget than we are to the last and it is important in that budget we ensure that if this conflict is still with us and if prices are still high, there is some rebate or other mechanism to assist those who are reliant on home heating oil or kerosene. It is absolutely vital that they are looked after. Again, this is not something new that I am saying. I have been saying this over the last number of weeks. We have seen home heating oil prices effectively double over the course of a number of weeks during this conflict.  I also acknowledge the substantial package the Government put in place both because it was done and because it was needed. It was absolutely vital to provide that support to those across the country who were impacted by the rise in prices at our petrol pumps arising from the conflict in the Middle East. It was important for Government to respond. As I said, it did so because it was necessary and because it had the resources to do so thanks to the management of the economy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I congratulate the Deputy. I was not aware it was his first speech here since being elected. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Deputy Robert Troy)  I thank all the Deputies for their contributions today. I join in the congratulations to my colleague. It is a great honour to be elected at any stage but he will be particularly pleased to be re-elected during a by-election. I offer him my best wishes for the remainder of this term.  Neither I nor anyone in Government are patting themselves on the back. We are acknowledging and outlining the measures we have introduced in response to a global issue. The one thing we can all agree on is the need to continually monitor our response to these international high energy costs. At the very beginning, when the first set of schemes, savings or supports were introduced, we said this would be kept under constant review and that we would revisit it, if needed. We did that. It is also right and proper to say that it is not possible to offset all of the recent market-driven fuel price increases using the tax system. Some in the Opposition will say that although not all will. It is fair to say that these measures, together with the non-tax supports introduced by Government, will provide significant mitigation, supporting those who are experiencing the most acute impact of the increases in fuel prices. The total estimated cost of the support packages the Government has introduced is over \u20ac750 million, making Ireland's support package one of the largest in Europe on a per capita basis.  I will say something to the Members opposite. I recently travelled to Belfast and had a very productive meeting with the their party colleague, the Minister, John O'Dowd. He too acknowledges the real challenges in trying to protect every single person. He would not claim to be able to do it either.  I will say that what we primarily spoke about was financial literacy, credit unions, the promotion of financial services and how we can work together but he was fair in his acknowledgement of the challenges that all governments have. Each of us across the various political parties, whether talking to sister parties in Europe, or when we travel as part of our membership of the multilateral fora, knows that every single government throughout the globe is facing huge challenges in bringing in supports. It is not possible, despite how it is portrayed, to absolve and mitigate all of the effects of the energy increases.  Deputy Doherty raised concerns with regard to the diesel rebate scheme and cash flow issues for recipients. The Government is cognisant of the current difficulties being faced by licensed operators. I would highlight that the diesel rebate scheme will provide much-needed cash flow to the sector. I can confirm that Revenue has reviewed its internal processes and identified several IT solutions, which are to be implemented to issue refunds faster to compliant taxpayers.  The Deputy was also critical of the fact that reductions applied to diesel and petrol were also applied to aviation fuels. As the Deputy will be aware, because, to be fair, he is competent in his job, the taxation of energy products in Ireland is governed by the EU energy tax directive. This directive prescribes the minimum rates for fuels and fuel uses. The directive prescribes that in addition to adhering to minimum rates, the excise duty rate on particular fuel types used for propellant purposes must be consistent across all propellant uses for that fuel. This means that the same mineral oil tax rate must apply to heavy oil, whether it is used as a propellant in motor vehicles, aircraft or waterborne vehicles. Ireland has no discretion in this regard, and we are simply adhering to EU law, as we must. Of course, the facts do not support the Deputy\u2019s narrative. He is portraying a different issue as if we made a conscious decision to not exclude private jet fuel. That is not factual. It cannot be done, and the Deputy knows it, but he wants to portray his narrative, and he wants to be able to stick it up on Facebook later this evening. That is the point. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  The Government went beyond the directive. Maybe the Minister of State does not know it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  Deputy Doherty also called for the carbon tax to be further reduced for kerosene, as well as for further reductions in the mineral oil tax for other fuels. The Government has deferred the planned increase in carbon tax scheduled for 1 May until October. This will impact green diesel and non-propellant fuels such as kerosene, heating oil, natural gas and solid fuels.  A number of speakers made the point that they are aware of old age pensioners who were going cold because they simply had no money for fuel. That should not be happening anywhere in any constituency. We are all constituency operators. We are all acutely aware of the exceptional needs payment that is available to people. When a Deputy gets up to say he was aware of three old-age pensioners, I would be asking why he did not assist those people to go to the community welfare officer and ensure they could get----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  How does the Minister of State know he did not? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  He did not claim that he did. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  He was cleaning up your mess. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  With regard to the carbon tax, some speakers referred to no concrete measures being taken to reduce the long-term cost of energy for people. The deep retrofitting of houses is making sure that people who are in receipt of fuel allowance, who are more likely to be susceptible to fuel poverty, have lower energy costs in the longer term. In 2025, \u20ac469 million was spent on the retrofitting of homes. They are permanent measures. I see it first hand in my constituency, and I am sure others see it also. Some \u20ac140 million was spent on energy efficiency and \u20ac99 million on the fuel allowance. The fuel allowance was increased in the most recent measures and in the previous budget. The income eligibility criteria were increased, and people on the working family payment can now avail of this. Some 470,000 people are availing of these additional measures that are targeted at those who most need support due to fuel poverty.  A number of Deputies, including Deputies Devlin, McGuinness, Brabazon and Kyne, made the point that the upcoming budget needs to ensure that workers are protected and supported. There should be a package of measures that rewards people who get up every day to go out to work, so they can feel the benefits of doing so. I would be very confident that that will happen in this budget.  Deputy Nash made the point that the generation of resources and how we redistribute resources are very important. He is right. Budget 2026 was about protecting jobs. The Deputy is critical of the VAT reduction, which was supported by many in the Opposition. Perhaps it would have been better if it were targeted more at smaller microenterprises. That said, there are 190,000 people working in the hospitality industry, and 75% of those are in businesses with fewer than ten people. It is about protecting jobs. We invested in services, and the largest ever investment in the most recent budget was for the provision of housing. The first home scheme and the shared equity scheme are supporting people into home ownership, which is something we can all agree on.  Deputy Michael Healy-Rae is right about the SEAI grants. We should be doing more. Anyone who applies for the grants only to be told there is an 18- to 24-month waiting list is bitterly disappointed. They see the benefits in their friend\u2019s house, and they want that. However, they want it faster, and we need to work towards that.  With regard to the overseas aid budget, Deputy Nolan suggested that if we did not give anything to overseas aid, we would have no challenge in society in Ireland today. While I would like to spend more, I am proud that as a developed country, we spend 0.56% of our gross national income on humanitarian supports for malnourished women and children across the globe, helping to build communities in the developing world. I think that is a good thing to do. To try to sow division by saying that if we did not do that, we would be able to answer all our problems, is distasteful and wrong. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Finance Bill 2026: Second Stage"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/dbsect_17","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/51","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/51\/dail\/motion\/referral","houseCode":"dail","stage":"motion","isBillStage":false,"showAs":"Finance Bill 2026: Referral to Select Committee (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Finance Bill 2026: Referral to Select Committee","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Deputy Robert Troy)  I move:  That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform, Digitalisation, and Taoiseach pursuant to Standing Orders 103(2)(b) and 188(1). "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Finance Bill 2026: Referral to Select Committee"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/dbsect_18","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Stop the Game Campaign and FAI Participation in Matches against Israel: Motion [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":101,"speakerCount":35},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donna McGettigan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel Grealish","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Guirke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dessie Ellis","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joanna Byrne  I move:  That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann:  notes:  \u2014 the findings of major international human rights organisations, including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and Palestinian human rights organisations, that Israel operates a system of apartheid against the Palestinian people;  \u2014 the ongoing military occupation of Palestinian territories, the expansion of illegal settlements, restrictions on freedom of movement, collective punishment, and repeated attacks on civilians in Gaza and the West Bank;  \u2014 the 2016 United Nations (UN) resolution, which reaffirms that Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, have no legal validity and constitute a flagrant violation under international law and a major obstacle to a two-state solution;  \u2014 the Advisory Opinion issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in July 2024 entitled \"Legal Consequences arising from the policies and practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem\", which determined that Israel's settlement policies, annexation and exploitation of natural resources violate International Law, and mandated Israel end its occupation, dismantle settlements and pay reparations to the Palestinian people;  \u2014 the Prevention of Genocide 2024 and 2025 provisional measures issued by the ICJ, that concluded that Palestinians are at risk of irreparable damage and ordering Israel to prevent genocidal acts that fall under the UN Convention for the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, and to comply with international humanitarian law;  \u2014 that FIFA's statutes prohibit member associations and their clubs from playing on the territory of another member association without that association's approval, Israeli clubs based in illegal West Bank settlements continue to play under the Israel Football Association within the territory of the Palestinian Football Association (PFA), without the PFA's consent, and thus contrary to this rule;  \u2014 that UEFA, as a confederation, is obliged to comply with, and enforce, FIFA statutes and decisions;  \u2014 that at least 1,008 athletes, players and sports officials have been killed in the genocide, and close to 300 sports facilities in Gaza and the occupied West Bank have been destroyed by Israel;  \u2014 that at least ten Israeli football clubs are located in occupied Palestinian territory, in violation of the ICJ Advisory Opinion of July 2024, and Article 64.2 of FIFA's statute; and  \u2014 Israel's policy of mandatory military service means that team members may have fought with the Israel Occupation Forces when war crimes were committed;  further notes:  \u2014 the historic role sport played in isolating apartheid South Africa, and the importance of sporting boycotts in challenging systems of racial segregation and oppression;  \u2014 FIFA and UEFA banned Russia in 2022, in response to the decision of the football associations of Czechia, Poland and Sweden to refuse to play Russia in international competition, and no action was taken by FIFA or UEFA against these associations for refusing to play Russia, thus setting a clear legal and moral precedent;  \u2014 the UN International Convention against Apartheid in Sports (1985), which recognised that sporting contacts with apartheid states undermine international efforts against racial discrimination and oppression;  \u2014 that in November 2025, 93 per cent of Football Association of Ireland (FAI) members voted to instruct the Association to call on UEFA to suspend Israel;  \u2014 in May, FAI general assembly members secured the numbers to call an Emergency General Meeting to vote on Ireland's participation in the football matches;  \u2014 the growing support across Ireland for the \"Stop the Game\" campaign, calling on the FAI to refuse participation in international fixtures against Israel, while violations of international law and apartheid policies continue; and  \u2014 the strong tradition of solidarity in Ireland with oppressed peoples and anti-apartheid struggles internationally;  recognises that:  \u2014 sport cannot be separated from fundamental questions of human rights, equality, and international law;  \u2014 Article 31 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, affirms every child's right to play and participation in sporting life as integral to their dignity and development, and that the systematic killing of child athletes and destruction of sporting infrastructure in Gaza therefore constitutes not only a violation of international humanitarian law, but a direct and catastrophic assault on the fundamental rights of Palestinian children;  \u2014 under the UN Guiding Principles (UNGPs) on Business and Human Rights, all business enterprises, including sport's governing bodies, have a responsibility to respect human rights', and FIFA and UEFA have each voluntarily committed to meeting this responsibility by incorporating the UNGPs into their statutes and governance frameworks;  \u2014 allowing normal sporting relations with states accused of apartheid, and grave breaches of international law, contributes to the normalisation of oppression; and  \u2014 Irish sporting bodies, and the Irish Government, have moral and political responsibilities to uphold human rights standards and international law;  believes that UEFA and FIFA should uphold their stated human rights commitments and suspend Israel from international football competitions, until it complies with international law and human rights obligations; and  calls on the Government to:  \u2014 support calls from the Irish football community, which includes the Professional Footballers Association of Ireland and Irish Football Supporters Partnership, for the FAI to refuse to participate in the proposed matches against Israel, scheduled for September 27th and October 4th, in protest on legal and moral grounds;  \u2014 uphold its obligations under international law to not engage in economic or trade dealings with Israel which may entrench the illegal occupation by implementing meaningful legislation and sanctions, and this extends to sporting and cultural life within illegal settlements, i.e., settlement football clubs, because engagement contributes to the normalisation of occupation and apartheid;  \u2014 support the application of the principles contained within the UN International Convention against Apartheid in Sports to states operating systems of racial domination and oppression, and to sign up to this Convention;  \u2014 deny any Israeli football players and staff, Israeli officials, including Israeli Minister of Culture and Sports, Makhlouf Zohar, and President of Israel, Isaac Herzog, and Israeli fans who have participated in violations of international law, entry into Ireland;  \u2014 agree to cover the costs of any financial penalty that the FAI may incur through refusing to play the games; and  \u2014 send copies of this motion to the FAI, UEFA and FIFA.  People all over this country, every week, in their tens of thousands, proudly play and watch football in their communities and treasure every moment of it, yet this is denied on a daily basis to those in Palestine and Gaza. At least 1,008 athletes, players and sports officials have been killed in the genocide, and close to 300 sports facilities in Gaza and the occupied West Bank have been destroyed by Israel.  There is no sporting infrastructure left. Stadiums are obliterated. At least ten Israeli football clubs are known to be located in the occupied Palestinian territory, in violation of the ICJ advisory opinion of July 2024 and Article 64.2 of FIFA's statute.  As somebody who was born into a football family, who took my first steps on my beloved club's football pitch and who was hand reared around my local football club, I find it completely incomprehensible that anybody believes our national team should line out against the terrorist state of Israel while this genocide is ongoing. The fact is that Israel should not even be in the Nations League competition. UEFA should have expelled it as soon as it went into Gaza on a genocidal, ethnic cleansing mission that has seen tens of thousands of innocents murdered, including hundreds of sportsmen and women. Israel should have been sanctioned long before that for its breaches, with clubs in illegal settlements built on lands stolen from Palestinians. Despite UEFA and FIFA being in contravention of their own rules, there are no sanctions and no expulsion because they are both serving their own political interests by cosying up to the US and Israeli governments.  Sport cannot be separated from justice and humanity. We have an opportunity now to take a stand, activists, civil society and politicians alike. Anybody who says there is no place for politics in sport neither understands politics nor sport. Not only do we have an opportunity to take a stand, we have an obligation as politicians and community leaders to make a stand because we are elected to act with morality. We cannot sit on the sidelines and watch sporting bodies act selectively according to politics favourable to their own interests. There is a history in this State and in world football of participating in boycotts of nations that violate international law and sporting statutes. We know from apartheid South Africa that the sports boycott was instrumental in bringing apartheid to an end. The international boycott of apartheid South Africa and the swift exclusion of Russia and Belarus by these sporting bodies sit in stark contrast to the current silence and inaction regarding Israel's egregious violations. It screams of double standards and hypocrisy and it legitimises occupation through football. It is abundantly clear that the Irish people do not want these matches to proceed while the Palestinian people are enduring genocide, occupation and apartheid.  The Sinn F\u00e9in motion calls on the Government to support the calls of the Irish footballing community to stop the games on legal and moral grounds and to pave a clear pathway forward for the FAI to do the moral thing and refuse to participate in the Nations League fixtures against Israel. These calls are supported by the Professional Footballers' Association of Ireland and the Irish Football Supporters Partnership, trade unions, the vast majority of Irish football fans and, crucially, by members and stakeholders of the FAI itself. In November, 93% of FAI members voted to instruct the association to call on UEFA to suspend Israel from international competitions. As recently as May, FAI general assembly members secured the numbers to call an emergency general meeting to vote on Ireland's participation in these fixtures.  The Government is all over the place on this issue. First, it supported the matches proceeding. Then it washed its hands of it and said it was a matter for the FAI. Then, embarrassingly for the Government, both the Minister and the Minister of State publicly declared that they will not attend the matches, not because they have any moral qualms or want to show respect for international law but because they have realised there is major discontent around the country and it will, inevitably, reflect poorly on them.  An Ireland Thinks poll commissioned by Irish Sport for Palestine released today shows that 56% of Irish people surveyed do not want this match to proceed. All of the Government's flip-flopping as to whether it will stand up and be counted heaps pressure on the boys in green - who just want to play football, might I add - to make a personal decision between right and wrong and whether their own moral conscience will allow them to participate in such a fixture. It leaves them exposed and vulnerable and no player should ever have to carry that burden.  We are offering the Government the opportunity tonight to show real leadership. We are also calling on it to uphold its own obligations under international law. This is bigger than sport or football matches. Sport has the power to send a very strong message of morality. Israel actively uses football to sportswash its image and to extend its territory, while also committing genocide and implementing apartheid. Its slaughter of footballers and bombing of football pitches cannot be accepted or normalised. Front-line Israeli soldiers with blood on their hands lining out against our national team cannot be accepted or normalised. We need to stand firm on the consensus that sportswashing cannot be accepted or normalised. Ireland playing Israel normalises a genocidal regime and gives cover for statute violations, apartheid and war crimes.  The narrative from the Government is around sanctions, implications and consequences for the FAI should it refuse to fulfil these fixtures but with the right support from the Government, the FAI could be empowered to take a moral stance. Rather than damaging the association, I guarantee it will enhance it and its standing. Sport will thrive, national confidence will grow and the Government could be on the right side of that. For a small country, we are a mighty force when we come together. Will the Government join us in ensuring that we stop the games or will it turn its back on Irish football and our national team and hide on the sidelines? Our call is quite clear. It is not to move the game but to simply stop it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joanna Byrne  The crux of the issue is not where the game should be played but who is participating in the fixture. As we debate this tonight, the people of Gaza endure starvation, bombardment, displacement and unimaginable human suffering. Does the Government's conscience allow it to continue with and encourage business as usual? I know that mine does not. I have stood proud and true to the courage of my own convictions on this issue from day one. These fixtures should not proceed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  This debate is about more than a football match. It is about who we are as a people. Ireland is a small nation but in our history we have sought to play a role in the world that is larger than our size. That role has not been built on military power or economic might but on our instinctive understanding of injustice, our own experience of colonisation, dispossession and partition and our belief that small nations have rights, people have the right to self-determination and international law matters. That tradition has shaped Ireland's place in the world for generations. It is why people took a stand against apartheid in South Africa and why Irish peacekeepers have served with distinction across the globe. It is why Irish neutrality enjoys great public support. It is also why, when people witness suffering, injustice and genocide in Palestine, their instinct is not to look away but to speak out. The people of Ireland expect their Government to reflect those values always, not only when there is no cost, but especially when difficult choices have to be made. The question before us is not really about sport but about whether there comes a point when a nation says that normal business cannot continue. History tells us that there are such moments, occasions when silence is wrong and when neutrality between oppression and injustice is impossible. That is the tradition we inherited and it is the one we should honour. It is the tradition that should guide us today. That is why we need to stop the game. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sorca Clarke  For almost three years, we have witnessed horrific destruction in Gaza and the suffering of the Palestinian people. Children have been killed, families buried under rubble, hospitals attacked and entire communities wiped from the map. We have seen starvation, displacement and collective punishment inflicted on a civilian population. When apartheid existed in South Africa and when war engulfed the former Yugoslavia, boycotts and sanctions followed. When Russia invaded Ukraine, FIFA and UEFA acted within days. Yet, despite all of this, there remains a dangerous and pervasive attitude that treats the Israeli state with kid gloves. If international law matters, it matters all of the time. If human rights matter, they matter for all people. If there are consequences for breaching international law, then there can be no exceptions. We are being asked to accept that a state accused of engaging in apartheid, whose actions are subject to an ICJ proceeding, can arrive on Irish soil, have its flag raised, its anthem played and be welcomed as if everything is normal. There is nothing normal about what is happening in Gaza. There is nothing normal about sportswashing or pretending that sport exists separate from international law and human rights. The suggestion to move these games to a neutral venue is not a solution. It is moral cowardice dressed up as compromise. The Irish people have already taken a position. They have stood up and spoken out loudly in solidarity with the Palestinian people. This game should not go ahead on legal and moral grounds. It is time to stop the games. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  T\u00e1im ag tac\u00fa leis an r\u00fan seo mar t\u00e1 dualgas orainn seasamh a ghlacadh nuair a fheicimid \u00e9ag\u00f3ir. T\u00e1 an domhan tar \u00e9is f\u00e9achaint ar an scrios at\u00e1 d\u00e9anta ag Iosrael ar mhuintir na Palaist\u00edne. T\u00e1 na m\u00edlte fir, mn\u00e1 agus p\u00e1ist\u00ed maraithe. T\u00e1 pobail leagtha go talamh agus t\u00e1 p\u00e1ist\u00ed ag f\u00e1s an\u00edos faoi bhuam\u00e1il, ocras agus eagla. T\u00e1 c\u00faiseamh ann faoi chinedh\u00edoth\u00fa, coireanna cogaidh agus apartheid. N\u00ed f\u00e9idir linn lean\u00faint ar aghaidh mar is gn\u00e1th agus na himeachta\u00ed seo ar si\u00fal. T\u00e1 rud simpl\u00ed \u00e1 lorg ag muintir na Palaist\u00edne; t\u00e1 siad ag iarraidh a bp\u00e1ist\u00ed a th\u00f3g\u00e1il i s\u00edoch\u00e1in. T\u00e1 siad ag iarraidh a gclann agus a dtodhcha\u00ed a th\u00f3g\u00e1il agus saoirse, d\u00ednit agus a gceart a gcinni\u00faint f\u00e9in a mh\u00fanl\u00fa ina dt\u00edr f\u00e9in. Sin an f\u00e1th go bhfuilim ag tac\u00fa leis an r\u00fan seo.  I support this motion because there are moments when people must choose whether to remain silent or to take a stand. The world has witnessed the devastation inflicted on the Palestinian people by Israel. Tens of thousands have been killed. Homes, schools and hospitals have been destroyed.  Children have endured bombardment, hunger, displacement and trauma on a vast scale. Israel is guilty of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of apartheid. These are not matters that can simply be ignored while business continues as usual. The Palestinian people seek what every people seeks: freedom dignity and peace. They want to raise their children safely, build a future, build homes and communities and play football on their own fields and determine their own future in their own homeland. Those aspirations deserve solidarity and support and for those reasons, I support this motion. Israel is not a normal State and it must not be treated as such. Stand up for Palestine, stand up for humanity and stop the game. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Donnelly  As we look at the history of sports, we see how politics has shaped football when it suits. The usual cry from those who do not want to stop the game is, \"It is a game and we should not politicise sports.\" Let us think back. In Ireland we stood proud as a country when we boycotted the South African apartheid regime. Did this have an impact? Of course it did. The Irish Government of Fianna F\u00e1il blocked the Serbians from playing here when there was a genocide going on in Bosnia. In a few weeks, we will commemorate the massacre in Srebrenica when 7,000 men and boys were murdered. When Russia invaded Ukraine the EU and UEFA could not move quickly enough to impose sporting sanctions on Russia. Tomorrow we will discuss sanctions in relation to Israel. Just today the EU announced a round of 21 sanctions against Russia, but God forbid that we mention sanctions against Israel.  The Taoiseach talks about the impact on Ireland, and as supporter,s that would be difficult. What about the impact the genocide is having on the people of Palestine, on the footballers of Palestine, on the children of Palestine and on the women of Palestine who are being slaughtered? The Taoiseach talks about money and the coefficient. There are two things that this Government can do: give the money that has been lost to the FAI and, more importantly, why not support the FAI at grassroots level for the future? That would certainly improve our coefficient. The Irish people have been clear in poll after poll that they want the game stopped. Let us show leadership across Europe and across the world. Let us stop this game and let us ensure that those people who are committing this genocide are held responsible. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  If the Minister of State was the manager of an under-16 team and the manager of the other team called or made a racist comment about one of his players, what would he do? He would take his team off the pitch and he would tell the other team to get their act together before he would recommence. If someone stole the land of another and dispossessed them in their thousands, deliberately starved another nation, rained artillery upon them, shot footballers in the foot, used pitches as detention centres, shot 114 children in the head with single bullets, and justified this with a concept of self-defence that is unknown to jurisprudence and that would be ridiculous if it was not so unjust and enraging, would the Minister of State compromise his players and himself by continuing to play against this team? I do not think so.  In January 2024, five-year-old Hind Rajab was trapped in a car alongside her aunt, uncle and four cousins who had all been shot and killed by the Israel Defense Forces, IDF. She spent five terrifying hours on the phone with rescue dispatchers pleading and begging for her life. Paramedics were killed when they tried to help. Eventually, of course, we know that she too was murdered by the IDF who later said that their troops were not within shooting range. No outcome of any investigation was ever published. Her body was recovered two weeks later. There is no accountability in Israel and there are no consequences for its enablers. We cannot continue business as usual with Israel. Suffering and trauma continues in Gaza and the West Bank. My town of Tralee is twinned with a town in the West Bank, Beit Sahour. People are killed queuing for food. Journalists are attacked and killed. Negotiators and peacemakers are killed. There is a hideous thing to be righted. We must show our detestation of the crime that is being committed. While a strike or a boycott might cost us much, what we might lose in points, penalties or fines, we will gain in self-respect and human dignity. The Minister of State must listen to the voices of supporters, read between the lines, listen to the players, listen to the voice of Hind Rajab and stop this game. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  I heard the Minister of State's comments and I am struggling genuinely to understand. He told us that he will not go to the game. He will take himself out of it but he expects the players to go. It will not be held, mark my words. It should not go ahead but the Minister of State expects those young men to shake hands with other men from Israel who potentially served in the IDF, men with blood on their hands. The Minister of State wants the players to stand there while they play the Israeli national anthem. He will not do it but he wants a group of young fellows in green to go and do it. The Minister of State expects that they will stand for the Israeli national anthem and shake hands with men that have blood on their hands, but he will not go. For the love and honour of Jesus, will he show some leadership please? There is a genocide. We have seen it. Nobody disputes it. The Minister of State's leader has used the word. There is a genocide. Children are being starved. They do not play sport on the pitches anymore in Palestine. Those pitches are used as detention centres. There are no players left to play sports because they have all either been murdered or shot in the foot, but the Minister of State will not go. That is okay for him but he expects those young men to go. I do not think that is right and I genuinely think that when he reflects on it, he knows it is not right.  He is as aware of our history as I am. In 1983, when Mary Manning refused to handle fruit from apartheid South Africa, she showed leadership. The other ten Dunnes Stores workers who stood with her on the picket line showed leadership. Where she led, the State followed. This is the Minister of State's turn. He can show leadership. He can withdraw his shameful amendment and he can send a clear message about where we stand. We stand with the people who have overwhelmingly told the Government that they do not want this game to go ahead. Show solidarity with the people experiencing genocide, solidarity with Palestine and stop this fucking game. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  This is a question of Ireland's obligations under international law, our commitment to human rights and our responsibility to act consistently when serious allegations of violations of international law are before us. The Irish football community, campaigners, trade unionists, community organisations and ordinary people rightly say that proceeding with this game risks normalising a situation that demands accountability. They point to the historic role that sporting boycotts played in challenging apartheid in South Africa, the Yugoslav invasion of Kosovo and Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine, to name just a few. They ask why quite similar principles should not apply today. The answer is that of course they should. Moving the game to Hungary or anywhere else is no better. If anything, it would be worse as it would deny people the right to protest, it would be an act of sportswashing and it would amount to hiding genocide. It cannot happen. This game cannot go ahead. Instead, the Government should support calls to cancel the game on legal and moral grounds. It should uphold their obligations under international law. It should deny entry to any Israeli football players, staff, fans and government officials who may have participated in violations of international law. It should cover any sanctions the FAI may incur and should sanctions be imposed, support any appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. It should sign and ratify the International Convention against Apartheid in Sports and support the calls to ban Israel from all sporting competitions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Miche\u00e1l Carrigy)  I thank the Deputies. I call on the Minister of State to move the Government's amendment to the motion. He has ten minutes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Could Members please have a copy of the Minister of State's remarks, as is customary? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Miche\u00e1l Carrigy)  Yes, copies are available now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport (Deputy Charlie McConalogue)  I move amendment No. 2:  To delete all words after \"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann\" and substitute the following:  \"notes:  \u2014 that the Irish people are deeply concerned about the conflict in the Middle East and Gulf region, particularly the situation in Palestine, and that the Government is committed to working with key partners to end the conflict;  \u2014 that Israeli actions in Palestine consistently contravene international law, and the Government continues to press for appropriate action, both at European Union (EU) and international level, in response to egregious Israeli breaches of human rights and democratic principles;  \u2014 Ireland's commitment to working with key partners to end the conflict in Gaza, and to advancing a sustainable peace plan and addressing the huge challenges facing Palestinians in Gaza;  \u2014 the Government's grave concerns about the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza, with intolerable conditions;  \u2014 that Israel must immediately remove restrictions on aid access and facilitate essential supplies and services to reach people across the Gaza Strip;  \u2014 the Government's condemnation of the law passed by the Israeli parliament to expand the scope of the death penalty and revive its implementation in Israel and occupied Palestine;  \u2014 the particular concerns about the discriminatory nature of the law as it relates to Palestinians, and that the implementation of this law would give rise to serious breaches of international human rights law and international humanitarian law;  \u2014 the approval and publication of the text of the Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2026, noting that the Bill fulfils the commitment set out in the Programme for Government, to progress legislation to prohibit the import of goods from Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, and further noting the proposed introduction of the Bill in D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann this week;  \u2014 that, in line with the Taoiseach's statement, Ireland will act to prevent those members of the Government of Israel who have been instrumental in fomenting the unfolding disaster in Gaza, and the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration has instructed immigration officers to refuse entry to Itamar Ben-Gvir, Minister of National Security of Israel, and Bezalel Smotrich, Minister of Finance of Israel, should they seek to enter Ireland;  \u2014 Ireland's support of an EU-wide prohibition on trade with Israeli settlements, and that at both the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) and the FAC Trade in May, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, requested that the European Commission bring forward proposals for a prohibition on EU trade with settlements, on the basis of the EU's Common Commercial Policy, and furthermore, that the Minister also reiterated Ireland's longstanding position that the EU-Israel Association Agreement should be suspended or, at a minimum, that the trade elements should be suspended;  \u2014 that a number of other member states supported Ireland's call for stronger collective EU action, and agreed that targeted sanctions alone cannot substitute for meaningful measures relating to trade with illegal settlements; and  \u2014 that the Taoiseach also wrote to European Council President, Ant\u00f3nio Costa, on 20th May, reiterating Ireland's position on EU trade with Israel, and requesting an urgent discussion of these issues among EU leaders at the next meeting of the European Council on 18-19 June;  in relation to sport, further notes that:  \u2014 the performance and integrity of our top athletes on the international stage have a very positive representational impact for Ireland, as Irish sport provides the world with a window into Ireland and the Irish people, both at home and abroad;  \u2014 international success for our top sports people enriches our country in a variety of ways, and Ireland's achievements on the global sporting stage have been a cause of both celebration and inspiration for the Irish public, and will continue to be so into the future; and  \u2014 the Government is committed to supporting Irish athletes competing at the highest level of international competition; and  recognises that:  \u2014 national governing bodies of sport, such as the Football Association of Ireland (FAI), are independent, autonomous bodies responsible for the governance of their own sports, including the organisation of sporting fixtures, whether in domestic or international competitions;  \u2014 it is the role of the FAI to decide to fulfil its UEFA Nations League fixtures against Israel in September (home) and October (away);  \u2014 the FAI has stated that it intends to fulfil both fixtures against Israel; and  \u2014 the Government acknowledges the FAI's independence and autonomy in arriving at this decision and any decisions it may make in the coming days.\".  I thank Sinn F\u00e9in for its motion this evening. I wish the Irish ladies' football team well, whose match coincides with this motion. They will start to play very shortly in Grenoble, France, on what could be a really historic occasion. Should they win, it will be the most historic occasion we will have had in Irish women's football, and indeed in Irish football in our history.  I am sure everyone in the Chamber will join me in wishing them really well this evening. Good luck to them.  It is unfortunate that the nature of what we are discussing is very different and grave and that is what we are focusing on, understandably. As we all recognise, people across this country are very deeply concerned about the conflict in the Middle East and the Gulf region, and particularly the situation in Palestine. The Government is committed to working with key partners to end the conflict and advance a sustainable peace plan.  Israeli actions in Palestine consistently contravene international law and the Government continues to press for appropriate action, both at EU and international level, in response to egregious Israeli breaches of human rights and democratic principles. The Government calls on Israel to immediately remove restrictions on aid access and facilitate essential supplies and services to reach people across the Gaza Strip.  There have been many calls for Irish sports organisations to boycott or exclude Israel from international sporting competitions, in the context of the conflict in Gaza. These include, of course, the issue we are discussing tonight, which is the Football Association of Ireland being asked not to fulfil its UEFA Nations League fixtures against Israel in the autumn. It is important to note however that national governing bodies, NGBs, of sport, such as the FAI, are independent, autonomous bodies responsible for the governance of their sports, including the organisation of sporting fixtures, whether in domestic or international competitions. The Government and Sport Ireland have no role in determining or supporting the organisation of such fixtures. At the end of the day, we in this Chamber do not decide who plays who in sport, whether at a domestic or international level. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  That is not what our motion asks of the Minister of State. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Miche\u00e1l Carrigy)  I ask the Deputy to please let the Minister of State speak. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  The Minister of State is raising extraneous matters that are not contained in our motion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  The FAI has stated that it intends to fulfil both fixtures against Israel in accordance with its obligations as a member of UEFA and the Government acknowledges the FAI\u2019s independence and autonomy in arriving at this decision and any decisions it may make in the coming days. The performance and integrity of our top athletes on the international stage have a very positive representational impact for Ireland, as Irish sport provides the world with a window into our country and the Irish people, both at home and abroad. International success for our top sports people enriches our country in a variety of ways. Many of our fondest memories are centred on Ireland\u2019s achievements on the global sporting stage. These achievements have been a cause of celebration and inspiration for the public and will continue to do so into the future. This is why the Government is fully supportive of our athletes competing at the highest level of international competition. However, it is ultimately international sporting federations who are responsible for deciding how to carry out their competitions and who may participate.  International federations, in this case UEFA, have a leadership role for their global games, and it is at this level that strategic decisions should be taken rather than by individual countries\u2019 NGBs. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Shame on you. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  The FAI has decided to play the fixtures against Israel in accordance with their obligations as members of UEFA. While there is speculation that the FAI may request that UEFA allow the game to be moved to a neutral venue abroad, this is ultimately a decision for the FAI to make.  While the decision to fulfil the fixtures, or not, is a matter for the FAI, it is important to note that not fulfilling the games could have serious sporting consequences for the Irish team, including losing points, relegation in Nations League standings, weaker seeding for Euro 2028 qualification and harm to its FIFA ranking. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Shame. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  At an operational level, I understand that the FAI is continuing to engage with An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na to ensure appropriate preparation for and policing of the home leg of the fixture. The FAI is also engaging with the Norwegian Football Association which hosted a match against Israel in November last year to see if any learnings from its experience can be applied to preparations for the upcoming game in Ireland. Norway played the away leg of its World Cup qualifiers against Israel in Debrecen, Hungary. The FAI is also engaging with the Palestinian Football Association to gather its views on how to prepare for the match. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  You are joking me. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  In addition, the FAI has engaged with the Israeli Football Association, which has confirmed that it does not expect a significant number of Israeli fans to travel to Ireland for the fixture. In accordance with UEFA rules, home legs of fixtures cannot be played in another jurisdiction unless concerns are raised about the capacity for the fixture to be held securely and safely. In this instance, An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na has confirmed that it is prepared to police the home game.  While there has been a wholesale exclusion of Russia from most international sporting events, this exclusion is built upon international consensus, driven by international sporting bodies and, within the EU, is linked to sanctions against Russia following its illegal invasion of Ukraine. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hypocrites. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  No such international consensus exists in relation to Israel.  The decision made by RTE in December 2025, to neither participate in nor broadcast the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest due to Israel\u2019s ongoing participation has been referred to in debates. This was an independent decision taken by the State broadcaster, which is legally and editorially independent of Government.  Sport Ireland, which is funded by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, is the statutory body with responsibility for the development of sport, including the allocation of funding across its various programmes. The Sport Ireland-recognised NGBs play a key role in helping to deliver on the strategic priorities identified in the national sports policy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  What about the genocide? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  The funding delivered via Sport Ireland to NGBs is not tied to the operational or administrative models used by NGBs, nationally or locally. All NGBs are independent, autonomous bodies and are responsible for their own governance and decision making, including regarding the organisation of and participation in, international sporting competitions. As Minister of State with responsibility for sport, I have no role in how NGBs organise their sports----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  No conscience either. You have a moral obligation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  -----or in their day-to-day operational functions and nor, indeed, does the Oireachtas or Government. It would not be appropriate for me to intervene----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Miche\u00e1l Carrigy)  The Deputies are on the speaking rota. They will get an opportunity to speak. I ask them to let the Minister of State speak. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  It is offensive that we have to listen to this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  I thank the Cathaoirleach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Miche\u00e1l Carrigy)  Deputies will have ample time to make their contributions on the speaking rota. I ask them to let the Minister of State finish what he is saying. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  The FAI is completely within its rights to fulfil its international fixtures, and the Government acknowledges its right to do so. For these reasons, the Government proposes to amend the wording of this motion, as submitted to the House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  The Minister of State has two minutes on the clock to address the genocide. He has yet to mention it at all or anything that is happening. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Miche\u00e1l Carrigy)  Sinn F\u00e9in has ten minutes. Deputies Ward, McGettigan, N\u00ed Raghallaigh agus Newsome Drennan have two and a half minutes each. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I raised the issue of stopping the game two weeks ago and I said at the time that the Minister of State\u2019s response was a cop-out. His response tonight is again an absolute cop-out. The amendment he tabled is another cop-out.  I am a season ticket holder for the Irish national team and for a League of Ireland team. I love football. My missus will tell the Minister of State I love it too much. However, I hate the idea of Israel using my sport, the sport I love, to sportswash its way out of genocide. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  That is what the Minister of State is standing over. He is complicit in this. The Minister of State can shake his head all he wants. Does he know what else is a cop-out? It is not having the balls to go to the Aviva or wherever the match is going to be on and backing the Irish players. The Minister of State is afraid to go to the match but he will send the young men out in the green to go and play it without any backup from the Irish Government. The Government needs to stand by its convictions if it is going to do it.  The Government has shown no leadership on this whatsoever. It can tell the FAI not to play, and support it in not playing the game. It can tell the FAI it has its back. The FAI is reliant on the Government for funding. That is where the problem lies. It is too terrified of its paymasters to make a decision. If the Minister of State stood up and said, \"I will back the FAI. If the FAI decides that it will not play this match, I will have its back\", I guarantee there would be a different response from the FAI. The association also needs to not have a cop-out. We are not calling for this match to be moved somewhere else; we are calling for it to be abandoned altogether and not to happen. We are calling for Israel to be put out of UEFA and FIFA competitions altogether. Israel has broken international law. It has also broken the laws of UEFA and FIFA by having ten football teams playing in occupied territories. That is against FIFA and UEFA laws. It should have been put out for that alone. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donna McGettigan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donna McGettigan  I support this motion. The Minister of State\u2019s amendment is shameful. He did not mention once in his speech the genocide going on in Gaza. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donna McGettigan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donna McGettigan  Across Ireland, a huge number of organisations, community groups, sporting bodies, trade unions, public representatives and ordinary citizens have spoken out. They are not doing so because this is easy; they are doing so because they believe there comes a time silence becomes complicity.  Genocide is genocide. Moving this match to another venue does not make us any less complicit; it simply makes it out of sight and out of mind. There is no hiding, however, from the reality facing the Palestinian people. We cannot look away from the killing of innocent civilians or the destruction of homes, schools, hospitals and sporting facilities, an infrastructure that should be nurturing the next generation of athletes.  Sport does not exist in a moral vacuum. It never has done. When faced with grave injustices, sporting bodies have acted before. UEFA and FIFA moved with remarkable speed when it came to Russia. Within days of the invasion, Russia was suspended from international competition and countries that refused to play Russia were not penalised. What is the difference? Why is it not the same in this case? The principle was clear then. There are moments when the values sport claims to uphold must be defended. Why should a different standard apply now? Penalties and sanctions that may or may not happen can be appealed, but the consequences facing Palestinian families cannot be appealed. The loss of life and destruction of communities cannot simply be set aside because they are politically inconvenient. There is a moral obligation here. A genocide is being played out before the eyes of the world, yet those responsible appear untouchable. We need to speak up and we need action to confront this suffering. We cannot allow a business-as-usual attitude. This is more than a football match. It is about whether we are prepared to act according to our values. If we believe that sport should not be used to normalise or distract from atrocities, then this match should not go ahead. Stop the game. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh  The Ireland-Israel match must not go ahead - not here, not anywhere. The point of this action is to send a message to Israel and the international sporting community that genocide will not be tolerated or normalised. Moving the fixture abroad is just turning a blind eye and prevents the Irish people from expressing their right to protest. The majority of the Irish public is supportive of the boycott. Fans, players and unions are all against the match going ahead. Some 93% of FAI members voted for Israel's suspension. UEFA ignored this and is now standing over an inexcusable double standard having banned Russia in 2022. There is no justification for our playing the terrorist state. Precedent exists. Ireland boycotted the 1936 Olympics due to partitionist rules being imposed on us. The Government opposed the IRFU's tour of South Africa in 1981. Yet now it is happy to accept apartheid and genocide.  We have an obligation under international law to oppose any engagement with occupation. The ICJ ruling provides a legal injunction on top of the moral one we hold as human beings bearing witness to the mass slaughter of Palestinians livestreamed before our very eyes. Under no circumstances should our flag be flown alongside the Israeli flag, or its national anthem sung with our \"Amhr\u00e1n na bhFiann\". The green jersey has to mean more than this. It has to stand for more than this.  Caithfidh muidne ar fad sa Teach seo gach cumhacht at\u00e1 againn a \u00fas\u00e1id chun a chinnti\u00fa nach rachaidh an cluiche seo ar aghaidh mar is \u00e9 an rud ceart le d\u00e9anamh. N\u00ed ceist chasta \u00ed seo. T\u00e1 f\u00edrinne an sc\u00e9il lom agus duairc, agus n\u00ed f\u00e9idir linn \u00e1r gc\u00fal a chasadh leis a thuilleadh. T\u00e1 deich bhfoireann sacair de chuid Iosrael ag imirt ar ph\u00e1irceanna a goideadh \u00f3 Phalaist\u00ednigh. T\u00e1 1,008 fir agus mn\u00e1 sp\u00f3irt maraithe ag St\u00e1t Iosrael. N\u00ed f\u00e9idir linn, mar sin, seasamh thart agus an dallamull\u00f3g a chur orainn f\u00e9in. T\u00e1 an sp\u00f3rt polaiti\u00fail. N\u00ed f\u00e9idir an sp\u00f3rt agus an pholait\u00edocht a dheighilt \u00f3na ch\u00e9ile, go h\u00e1irithe agus cinedh\u00edoth\u00fa ar bun. Cuir deireadh leis an gcluiche. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan  The call to stop the Ireland-Israel football match has overwhelming support from the Irish public, yet somehow some Government TDs are trying to paint it as a controversial move. I cannot understand why we need to even think about whether or not it is okay to welcome Israel here. It is an apartheid state that has inflicted mass genocide on the people of Palestine.  Let us remember the double standards. When Russia and Belarus invaded Ukraine, it took UEFA and FIFA just four days to ban them, but Israel? Complete inaction. On one hand, our Government tells us Israel is carrying out a genocide; on the other hand, it welcomes Israel's team into our capital city. We have a simple but powerful opportunity here to say no - no to apartheid, no to genocide. Has the Government just decided to throw the numerous UN conventions on genocide, the rights of children and apartheid in sport straight out the window? History shows that sporting boycotts work. Banning South Africa from sport helped dismantle apartheid. Just last year, cities refused to host Israel's cycling teams. That crippled Israel's sportswashing in cycling, effectively bringing it to a complete end.  Ireland now has a historic opportunity to tell the world we will not treat an apartheid state as an equal by welcoming it here to Dublin. Will we say, \"No, Ireland will not stand side by side with an apartheid state\"? Most importantly, we have a chance to say to the people of Palestine, \"We have not forgotten you and we will never be silent while Israel's brutal system of apartheid continues.\" Stop the match. Take a stand.  I have four boys at home who absolutely adore sport. What kind of a mother would I be to say, \"Yes, these folk are getting away with absolute murder, but the Government and we as people who are elected by the people of Ireland will not stand up and make a stand\"? There should be consequences. What are we teaching our children? That you can get away with murder. It is wrong. Stop the game. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Miche\u00e1l Carrigy)  Next we have the Social Democrats speaking slot. Deputy Gibney and Deputy Gannon are sharing time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  I thank and commend Sinn F\u00e9in on bringing forward this motion, which sets out very clearly the mechanisms available to the Government to assist the FAI in making the right decision and, basically, to stop the game. That is what it does. It gives the Government the clear tools that we know will work should it choose to act and should it choose to show leadership.  I will talk first about leadership because what we have not seen from this Government is leadership on this issue. Since February, when we knew this was an issue, when we were drawn against Israel and the FAI came out very quickly and said what its plans were, there has been nothing from the Government. There has been nothing to assure us that it is even looking into this, dealing with it or engaging with the issue at all. Quite recently, in committee, I asked the Minister of State about anything he and his colleague the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, had done regarding the broadcasting side of things and there was very little by way of satisfactory answer. The response basically seems to be, \"It is an FAI decision and we are not going to go near it.\"  Of course, the Government cites \"governance\" as the reason that it cannot do this and states that the FAI is a sports governing body and there is no place for politics in that. However, I have seen governance weaponised by Cabinet Ministers in this Government whereby, essentially, when it suits them to take action or engage appropriately with particular bodies, they will choose to do so, and when it does not suit them, they decide to leave their hands off. This is in stark contrast to the leadership shown by Deputy Joanna Byrne, who has taken on great personal sacrifice for her stance on this issue. She is to be commended. She is representative of a football community here in Ireland which has shown the same resolve and the same leadership in saying, \"We will not tolerate this and we do not want this game to go ahead.\"  It must be deafening for the Minister of State to hear the cacophony of support and the growing momentum that I told him two weeks ago would happen for the Stop the Game campaign. It must be deafening for him and his colleagues who have decided, instead of showing leadership, to say, \"We will not go to the match because\". They have not said why but presumably it is because the Minister of State does not support sportswashing, although he denied in that committee that he would even call this sportswashing. He has said he will not go to the match, will not engage with the FAI and will not do anything to influence it to change its decision, yet what he will do is support its position and, potentially, support the removal of this match to another location, which would mean that all of this would fall on the shoulders of the Irish national team. Those men would be asked to make a choice to step onto that pitch or not. From day one, this is the very thing I warned we needed to avoid. That pressure should not be placed on them.  They have worked their whole lives for a particular goal but are surrounded by a country telling them that this game should not go ahead and they have to make that decision. That is so unfair. It is a direct result of the lack of leadership that is being shown by the Government on this specific issue.  This genocide has been going on for two and a half years. It is being livestreamed onto all of our phones. Some 75,000 men, women and children are dead in Palestine, although we all know that is a conservative figure because of the formulation of those statistics, which require a various set of data to determine that. We know that these figures are not representative of the true atrocity that Israel is inflicting in Gaza and increasingly in the West Bank and in Lebanon. Eleven children a day now die or get injured in Lebanon because of Israeli strikes and 20% of the country is occupied. They are not stopping. They will not stop. The global order is not going to stop them. If you read Francesca Albanese's most recent book, When the World Sleeps , what she will tell you is what we have to do - the only thing that we can do - is sanction them and boycott them. We have to distance ourselves from Israel and say that we do not support this. This is a beautiful opportunity for the Government to do that.  The Minister of State said something in his speech about no such international consensus existing in relation to Israel. That was following the comments on why it is not the same as the Russian example. That comment really irks me because time and again his colleagues stand in this Chamber and tell me that we need to reach international or European level consensus to be effective against Israel. If that consensus does not exist, which the Minister of State has conceded in his speech, then how do we start it? We stand up and we are leaders. That is what we do. We say we are not going to play Israel and then all of a sudden other countries have to answer the same question and we start to see these things happen. It is exactly what happened with Mary Manning refusing to handle a grapefruit in Dunnes Stores decades ago, which we know now has been lauded as a key part in the drive towards dismantling the apartheid South African state.  The fragmentation that is being perpetrated on the Palestinian people, includes the tactic of dividing communities literally and physically on a map, but also within communities by taking children out of homes and detaining them for long enough that their communities are suspicious of them when they go back. These atrocities amount to an organised genocide. They have been practising and preparing for it for decades, and this is their final phase. We are standing complicit if we do not act. The thing that angers all of us the most is the impunity. Again, here is his opportunity to deal with that - to show them that this cannot happen.  I will talk about some of the specific ways in which football has been a feature of this genocide because Israel has at least ten football teams playing on illegally occupied Palestinian territory. Israel has killed over 1,000 Palestinian football players and sportspeople. Just last week, two members of the Palestinian women's team were detained. All sports facilities and infrastructure have been destroyed. Article 72.2 of FIFA statutes states: \"Member associations and their clubs may not play on the territory of another member association without the latter's approval.\" The ICJ ruling on occupied territories in 2024 was that the territories are illegal, ergo, it is illegal. There is ample evidence for why Israel should not be playing in these competitions. The Minister of State essentially threw up his hands and the way he put it in his speech was that the decision lies with UEFA and FIFA to decide against it. He said that \"it is at this level that strategic decisions should be taken rather than by individual countries' NGBs.\" If the Minister of State is waiting for UEFA or FIFA to do it, then he is going to be waiting a while, so what we have to do as a country is stand up and start the process. We must stand up in solidarity with the people who are being killed in Palestine, Gaza, the West Bank and now in Lebanon.  I will touch on some of those legal obligations because, obviously, we have the Genocide Convention and the ICJ ruling, of which the Government is the custodian. It is the one who has to carry out the responsibilities that we have as a State under those. We also have to ratify the UN's International Convention against Apartheid in Sports. I want to touch on the Court of Arbitration for Sport. One of the reasons that is put forward is the potential sanctions and financial implications of this. If we look at the case law from that particular jurisdiction, it seems to me quite clear that UEFA will not be able to impose any such sanctions. You need to grow a pair, as a Government, and do this and stop the game. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joanna Byrne  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  One of the most lamentable things I have heard over the last couple of weeks and months as we talk about whether Ireland should fulfil its fixture against a country we believe is enacting a genocide against another is when people say, \"But sure Ireland might lose six points\". Ireland might lose six points in a Nations League division 2 game and potentially be put down into division 3, but so what? What do we actually lose even more of if we do fulfil a fixture? A couple of years ago Ireland aligned itself to South Africa's case in the ICJ that Israel was committing genocide against the people of Palestine, yet now somehow we expect people adorned in green jerseys to go out onto a pitch, listen to \"Amhr\u00e1n na bhFiann\" and then watch the flag of the same nation that we believe is committing genocide against another people - we have aligned ourselves to a case in the ICJ in this regard. I imagine that if we do that we would lose a hell of a lot more than six points. We would lose a portion of ourselves that believes we can call out what is right and what is wrong.  One of the other sadder things people say is that we should not mix politics and sport. When did we become a people who believe that politics and sport should not mix? That appears to me to be a new phenomenon. We, rightly, did not raise objections in 1961 or again in 1976 when apartheid South Africa was suspended by FIFA and, rightly, expelled because of the apartheid it inflicted upon its people. We rightly did not object when the former Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, intervened and said that we should not fulfil a fixture against Yugoslavia. Again in 2022 and 2023, we rightly believed that Russia should not partake in sports at any level because of its horrific invasion of Ukraine. Now and only now do we say that politics and sport should not mix. It would seem a luxury on our part if we were to tell the athletes in Palestine and Gaza, who have been directly targeted precisely because of their profile by the State of Israel that politics and sport should not mix.  According to the Hind Rajab Foundation, soldiers in Gaza are planting Beitar, Hapoel and Maccabi Haifa flags in the ruins of Palestinian homes and dedicating killings to their clubs. They tag neighbourhood walls with ultras' slogans and they pose for selfies that are then celebrated by online supporter networks. Israeli soldiers are bringing stadium culture and battlefield atrocity and making it merge seamlessly in the ruins of destroyed homes where people have been killed. This is what we have rightly called a genocide and aligned ourselves to.  This is not about six points in a Nations League division 2 game. It is not about whether the FAI might lose a bit of its income. It is actually about who we are as a people - a people who have known oppression, who have learned lessons from the many horrors and atrocities of the past and who recognise that never again should mean precisely that. We willingly signed up to the prevention of genocide convention. In doing so, we did not say we will commit ourselves to doing all we can to prevent genocide with the exception of maybe sacrificing six points in a division 2 Nations League game.  The Minister of State, Deputy McConalogue, and the Minister in the Department of sport said that they are not going to attend the game. I say \"well done\" to the Minister, but I believe in leading from the front. If the Minister of State holds the position that he is not going to attend the game, he should not ask any other young Irish person to stand on a pitch, listen to the national anthem and watch the flag of a state being waved that we believe is committing genocide against another. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Miche\u00e1l Carrigy)  Just before I move on, I want to point out to Members that Deputy Gibney's comment at the end directed towards the Minister of State was unparliamentary. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Which one? What was unparliamentary? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  What was it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Miche\u00e1l Carrigy)  It was at the very end of the Deputy's comments. I am not going to repeat it. I just ask that she would not make such comments in this House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  I thought it was a most appropriate comment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Miche\u00e1l Carrigy)  No, not in this House. It was unparliamentary language to use in this House and it was directed personally towards a Member of this House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  I said \"the Government\" actually. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Miche\u00e1l Carrigy)  No, it was directed towards the Minister. It is unparliamentary to make that comment.  The Labour Party has 12 minutes. Deputy Smith will be followed by Deputies Lawlor, Wall and Sheehan. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  I thank and commend Sinn F\u00e9in and Deputy Byrne, in particular, on bringing this motion forward. There is another motion being brought forward tomorrow by the Social Democrats and I am thankful it is being brought forward as well.  Football is like no other sport. It is the world's game. It is the global game. It cuts through class, identity and borders like no other. It unites people. It has a long history of expression and political expression, whether it is the troops in the fields of Flanders in 1914 or the numerous examples of boycotting or expelling countries for gross violations of human rights or apartheid, such as South Africa. It is a part of who we are. When you tell someone which football team you support, it identifies you in a way that is outside of your friends, family and community. It adds a layer of understanding to the individual. When we combine that with patriotism and with our country, it is an expression of who we are.  Therefore, when people ask why we are so exercised about these two games against Israel going ahead, it is because it is an expression of who we are. We are not a country that in any way wants to endorse, celebrate or stand shoulder to shoulder and engage in regular sporting competition with a state that commits genocide. That is it. It is not easy, and it will have some consequences. What are the consequences? It is losing some points. There may be some financial consequences. We may have to answer to some people in UEFA. We should be leading the charge to UEFA in terms of garnering support for others to stand should to shoulder and say \"No, we do not accept this from the State of Israel\". It is not a normal state. It is obliterating the international rules and international law. It is committing genocide. It is carrying out illegal ongoing occupations in the West Bank. It is continuing to launch invasions and ethnic cleansing up through Lebanon. We saw today more killings taking place in the city of Tyre.  We do not bat an eyelid when there are sanctions against Russia in the sporting world, and rightly so. In times gone by, we did not bat an eyelid in terms of sanctioning South Africa, and rightly so, but why this exceptionalism? Why do we in Europe, in the global north, in the western world or whatever you want to call it continue to embrace Israel as a normal state in our neighbourhood when it is anything but? It is an abhorrent and criminal state that is carrying out the worst atrocities on a number of fronts at this moment, and has been at an intense rate for the last two and a half years at least. That is not going back any further but we can if we want because its crimes go back many decades.  The Taoiseach accuses us of moralising on this issue. Yes, it is the moral issue. It is a moral issue. It is immoral to play these games. It is immoral to welcome Israel and stand shoulder to shoulder and compete with Israel in international sporting competition. The higher that sporting competition is and the higher the profile and the more accepted it is, such as the global game of soccer, the more immoral it becomes and the stronger the stance we have to take.  I am proud of being Irish for many reasons but I am proud of the stances we as individuals, as communities and as governments over the years of different combinations and hues have taken against despotic regimes, international crimes and apartheid regimes. I am ashamed that we are not doing that the way we should right now.  If this all washes through our Parliament over the next number of months, all we may have to show is a couple of things - a recognition of the State of Palestine, which is not unimportant, and a watered down version of the occupied territories Bill. That is not good enough. That does not reflect what the Irish people believe and what the Irish people want.  More specifically, speaking about football, the majority of Irish football fans do not want this game to go ahead. The majority of Irish football players do not want this game to go ahead. The majority of the FAI general assembly do not want this game to go ahead. Together in this Chamber, we have an opportunity with these two matches to stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of Palestine, the West Bank and Gaza, and southern Lebanon and to say \"No\", that we will support our FAI and our footballers through whatever sanctions will be imposed on them and that we will look for support from other European nations and nations beyond Europe to stand up to Israel in football and in other sports.  The FAI's decision to move this to a neutral venue is an answer to a question nobody asked. This game should not take place in a neutral venue. It should just not take place. We need to stop the game. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy George Lawlor  Hand-wringing is complicity. We, as a nation, have always prided ourselves on standing on the side of justice, humanity and, indeed, international law but today, as the world watches the ongoing devastation in Gaza and the mounting civilian death toll of 73,000 to 75,000 - we do not fully know - men, women and children, our Government hesitates. This hesitation is absolutely unacceptable. It is time - indeed, it is past time - for us to show leadership worthy of our values and for us, as parliamentarians, to show absolute leadership and direction. We must demand that UEFA acts with moral clarity and expels Israel from international football. UEFA cannot preach respect, equality and, indeed, fair play while allowing a state engaged in relentless disproportionate violence against civilians to participate as though nothing is happening.  Sport does not exist in a vacuum. Football cannot be a sanctuary for cheerleaders of atrocity. Ireland must not hide behind process or, indeed, bureaucracy. We must be the country that says what others are afraid to say. We must insist unequivocally that the upcoming nations league fixture involving Israel does not go ahead - not in Dublin, not anywhere. To go ahead with these matches would be to normalise what is the abnormal and pretend that the suffering of thousands through state sponsored slaughter can be brushed aside for 90 minutes of football.  Our Government must use its voice and use its influence. We have done it before; we can do it again. The world remembers with Ireland stood against apartheid. The world remembers when Ireland championed peace and human rights. This is not about politics. It is about humanity. It is about refusing to look away. It is about demanding that UEFA lives up to its own principles. It is about Ireland leading both bravely and apologetically when leadership is most needed. The time for caution is over. The time for action is now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Wall  I thank Deputy Byrne and Sinn F\u00e9in and, indeed, the Social Democrats for the two motions before this House. In making any decision, it is important to consider the facts and why we are here tonight to discuss this game of football. The facts are that over 70,000 people have been killed during Israel\u2019s genocidal campaign against the people of Palestine. This number is growing every day of these months of a so-called ceasefire agreement.  The unbearable fact is that even during this ceasefire, at least two children per day have been killed. Let that sink into this debate tonight. These children, I am sure like many children around the world, were dreaming of playing football for some far-flung favourite team or just having a game with their friends among the rubble or the tents they now call home. Two in three children are now at risk of infection due to the plagues of rats, mice and insects. This ceasefire has delivered nothing but more pain and suffering for the people of Palestine. Only yesterday, Israel announced that it is closing the border crossings into the Gaza Strip. No aid will get into Gaza. There will be no access to food, water or vital medicines for a population that has had its healthcare system destroyed by Israel.  This is simply why this match cannot be played. Others have said tonight, and I totally agree with them, that we are a proud football nation and we cannot and should not subject our players to having to play against the State of Israel and the genocide it continues to carry out against the Palestinian people. Hiding this game in some other country is simply not dealing with the substantial issue and is a cop-out.  The facts are clear. The children of Palestine have suffered and are suffering death and injury on a daily basis. For their dreams and their safety, Ireland should not play this game. Stop this game. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  I thank Deputy Joanna Byrne for introducing this motion. She has shown real bravery and leadership on this issue. We have a proud history of standing up against injustice, whether it was the stance we took on apartheid in South Africa or the recognition of Palestinian statehood. In June 1999, the then Fianna F\u00e1il Government showed leadership in relation to this in refusing to grant entry visas to the Yugoslav national football team, which blocked the scheduled Euro 2000 match in Dublin. Moving the fixture is a complete cop-out. The State can and must step in. There is a precedent. This is forcing our young players into an impossible position where individual athletes must choose between their international careers and their conscience.  I am asking the Government to show some leadership because when I think of this genocide, I am particularly haunted by an interview with the British surgeon Nick Maynard, who was talking about Palestinian boys being shot by IDF soldiers. Each day, the soldiers would shoot a different limb, almost like target practice. One day, they were shooting them in the testicles; another day, they were shooting them in the arm; and another day, it was the legs. These are very young boys. Many of us have sons, nieces, nephews, cousins or godchildren. These are the people who should be able to go out and play football freely and not have to worry about being shot at aid posts.  We cannot stand by and watch the utter destruction of Palestinian life and the obliteration of Palestine. When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, UEFA and FIFA did not hesitate. I am conscious that Kaja Kallas is about 250 m from this Chamber today. We know the EU took a firm stance in relation to what was going on with Russia but, as usual with international bodies in this world, when is a war crime not a war crime? It is when Israel is doing it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  I thank Deputy Joanna Byrne and her colleagues in Sinn F\u00e9in for bringing forward this motion this evening. The Green Party will be supporting this motion and also the motion being brought forward by the Social Democrats tomorrow. In particular, I thank the leadership of the Stop The Game campaign that has operated across Ireland in recent weeks. It is a campaign made up of grassroots supporters, passionate supporters of football in Ireland. They are people who dedicate so much of their lives to supporting our national teams in all their shapes and sizes. They are also people who are not prepared to allow our national teams, our national jersey and our national flag to be used as tools of sportswashing the genocide that is taking place in Gaza. I salute their leadership.  I feel that leadership is lacking in Government and the FAI. It is simply not good enough to say that this match can be played abroad in a supposedly neutral venue, somewhere where Irish people will not be able to demonstrate our abhorrence of this game taking place. It is not enough for this game to be played behind closed doors without a crowd because out of sight is not out of mind and Irish football supporters are not prepared to see our national jersey used in this particular way. Nor is it good enough, as some have suggested, that it should be left up to the individual consciences of players - let them decide if they want to play or not. That is far too much pressure and far too great an obligation to put on young sportspeople at the beginning of their careers. What we need to see is leadership from the Government to give a very clear statement that Ireland should not play this match in any circumstances and let that be followed up by the FAI, recognising there are consequences to that. We see those consequences and we meet them with our eyes open.  In just four weeks' time, Ireland will take on the Presidency of the EU. The themes we have adopted for that Presidency are competitiveness, security and values and yet on this issue and on the issue of Palestinian statehood, too often, we allow our values to be trimmed due to fear. We are trimming our values on the issue of whether Ireland should play this match. Tomorrow, we will see our values trimmed when an occupied territories Bill lite, minus services, will be guillotined before this House. Ireland should not allow our values to be shaped by fear of the Trump administration. We should say \"No\" to this match and we should say \"Yes\" to an occupied territories Bill that includes services. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charles Ward  I thank Deputy Joanna Byrne for bringing forward this motion from Sinn F\u00e9in. I am proud to stand with my constituents in Donegal and countless people across the country and wholeheartedly support the Stop The Game campaign. After more than two years of watching Israel commit genocide against the Palestinian people in real time, we cannot allow Israel to use sport to normalise its crimes. This autumn's Nations League game between Ireland and Israel must be called off. Poll after poll shows the majority of people in Ireland do not want to see this game played. Instead they want sanctions against Israel for the horrific crimes it has continued to commit and the genocide that is still ongoing. Even players do not want to play this game. As Donegal man S\u00e9amus Coleman said, players have a heart, they know what is right and what is wrong. He said, \"It's awful, it is extremely sad and it's a very difficult position for the players to be in.\" It is ridiculous that the players have been put in this situation and have to come out and answer.  UEFA's Equal Game campaign states that everyone should be able to enjoy football regardless of who or where they are or how they play the game. The hypocrisy is staggering. The Palestinian people have not been given the freedom to enjoy football or any other sport. According to the Palestinian Football Association, Israel has killed 1,007 members of the Gaza sports community. Between October 2023 and February 2026, 184 sports facilities, stadiums, halls and headquarters were completely destroyed and a further 81 facilities were partially destroyed. Meanwhile stadiums have been turned into shelters for displaced people. Israel has stripped the Palestinian people of the opportunity to play, watch and enjoy football, yet there are no consequences for this. UEFA sits back and allows Israel to engage in sportswashing in an attempt to distract from its crimes against the Palestinian people. Israel is not a normal state and should not be treated as a normal state.  It is often said that there is no place for politics in sport but sport is inherently political. Sport reflects the shapes of wider social, economic and political realisation. Countries and sporting bodies use the likes of the Nations League and the World Cup to promote their national identities. Playing the Israeli team is a political act and it normalises the violation of international law. Israeli teams must be excluded from sporting events by the governing bodies UEFA and FIFA. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  I welcome this motion and will also support tomorrow's motion from the Social Democrats. Ireland must lead an international campaign to exclude Israel, a genocidal apartheid state, from all sporting fixtures and competitions and there must be no soccer games between Ireland and Israel at home in Ireland or on neutral grounds abroad. There is significant and growing opposition to these fixtures. In November 2025, 93% of FAI members voted to instruct the association to call on UEFA to suspend Israel. In May of this year, FAI general assembly members secured the numbers needed to call an emergency general meeting to vote on Ireland's participation in these soccer games. The call to refuse to play Israel is supported by the Irish football community, including the Professional Footballers' Association of Ireland and the Irish Football Supporters Partnership. Indeed, Irish Sport for Palestine has commenced judicial review proceedings.  There is precedent for stopping these fixtures. In 1999, the then Fianna F\u00e1il government prevented the Euro 2000 qualifier between Ireland and Yugoslavia because of Serbian atrocities in Kosovo and in 2022, FIFA and UEFA banned Russia from all club and international games after Poland and Sweden refused to play World Cup qualifiers.  Ireland as a nation and as a people must not be complicit in genocide. We have a particular link with the Palestinian people through our own long history of British imperialist domination and our own genocidal famine, an Gorta M\u00f3r.  Israel is still committing a genocide in Gaza and 75,000 Palestinians have died, including 20,000 children. Gaza itself is a wasteland. Water, energy, healthcare and educational infrastructure have been wiped out and 1,000 Palestinians have died since the ceasefire was announced. Under international law, Israeli settlements in the occupied territories are illegal. There are over 250 settlements with about 500,000 people there. These numbers are expanding on a daily basis. Settler violence is an ongoing threat to Palestinians in the West Bank and in East Jerusalem and campaigns of harassment continue on a daily basis.  This violence also targets Palestinian Christians. Their numbers have dropped tenfold. Seventy years ago Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus Christ, was 86% Christian. It is now 12% Christian. Israel's strategy against Christians is a combination of violence, economic hardship, permanent siege, apartheid and it is doing this to drive Palestinian Christians out of their homeland. Israel must be brought to book. Stopping the Irish-Israel fixtures would be a small but vital step in that direction. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  The Government response to public opinion, to the stop the game campaign and to the massive pressure it is now under is a continuation to its basic approach to the issue of Palestine. It is to have words. It is to hide. It is to engage in cowardice. In this case, it is to hide behind the FAI. The Minister for sport says he will personally not go to the game but then hides behind the FAI and refuses to take a clear position.  What is needed from the Government is absolutely clear and it is what is being called for. The Government needs to make a clear statement about its opposition to playing the genocidal team of Israel, call for its exclusion from international sport and then it needs to say it is going to back up the FAI in that and ensure that grassroots football will not pay any price as a result of taking a principled position. What the Government needs to do is very simple.  I find it astounding that there is an amendment from an opposition party tonight. Independent Ireland is calling for serious consideration to matches being played behind closed doors, thinking that somehow if we close the doors and play this genocidal team it somehow makes it okay. Let us be clear why there is mass support and calls for boycotting these games. It is because Israel has been committing a genocide for almost three years where it is likely that the death toll in reality is well over 100,000 people, where the vast majority of buildings in Gaza have been destroyed and where this is all continuing today. We know, in terms of the impact of sport, that 1,000 Palestinian athletes and over 560 footballers have been killed.  As for this idea that sport and politics have nothing to do with each other, look at what is happening in America right now where a Somalian referee has been refused access to referee the World Cup because of the racist policies of the US Government. An Iranian team are going to have to fly in and out to play games because of the murderous assault being rained down on them by the US and Israel. Football and sport are absolutely political.  Let us not act like the members of the Israeli national team are some innocent civilians. Many of them are former IDF terrorists. It is even more insidious than that because many of them qualify for an exception as athletes but chose to join the IDF in any case. I will give two examples. Number 10, Manor Solomon, stated that Palestinians were killing their own people and blaming Israel. His hatred for the people of Gaza is so well known that fans of his former club made up the chant of \"He looks good, he looks fine, he hates Palestine\". Shon Weissman is a forward who had a transfer to another club cancelled over his support for the genocide of Palestinians. He said that Israel should wipe Gaza off the map. Of course, we should not be playing these people. Ireland should be leading the way in isolating Israel on the world stage. That starts with stopping the game. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Miche\u00e1l Carrigy)  The Independent Technical Group has 12 minutes. Deputy Collins has three and a half minutes; Deputy O'Donoghue has three minutes; Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn has three and a half minutes; and Deputy Gogarty has two minutes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  Let me begin by saying something very clearly: the humanitarian situation in Gaza is heartbreaking. The loss of innocent civilian life, the suffering of families, the destruction of homes, schools and hospitals and the terrible impact of this conflict on ordinary people should concern every decent person. We in Independent Ireland condemn violence against civilians where it occurs and we support every effort to achieve a just peace and lasting resolution to this conflict. Nobody should mistake our amendment for indifference. It is not. However, we believe that we must also recognise another important principle: sport should not become a tool of political direction by Government or opposition.  The Sinn F\u00e9in motion seeks to place the Football Association of Ireland and Irish athletes at the centre of an international political dispute. We do not believe that is fair. Irish sports people have devoted years of their lives to representing their country. They have trained, sacrificed and worked tirelessly for the opportunity to compete at the highest level. They should not be asked to carry the burden of resolving conflicts that are far beyond their control.  If international sporting sanctions are to be imposed, those decisions should be made by the recognised international sporting authorities. UEFA and FIFA exist precisely to govern international football and to make decisions regarding participation, suspension and fixtures. Whether people agree with their decisions or not, those are the bodies charged with that responsibility. Governments should not be dictating who national teams play. Political parties should not be deciding which fixtures go ahead. Once we cross that line, sports risk becoming another battleground for political disputes rather than a space where people from different backgrounds can come together. Political parties are long enough in this D\u00e1il saying religion and politics should not go together. Now it is time there is a separation between sports and politics. We must also consider the wider consequences. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  That is absolute rubbish. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  Excuse me, I did not interrupt you when you were speaking. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  You are welcome to. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  I did not interrupt you. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Miche\u00e1l Carrigy)  Deputy, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  A unilateral refusal to participate in fixtures could have serious implications for Irish football. It could affect our players, our supporters, our future participation in competitions and even Ireland's reputation as a host nation for international sporting events. Those consequences would not fall on politicians. They would fall on athletes, fans and sporting organisations.  Our amendment takes a balanced approach. It acknowledges the genuine concerns expressed by many people regarding the conflict. It recognises the importance of international law and protection of civilians but it also recognises that responsibilities for resolving international political conflicts should not be placed on the shoulders of Irish footballers. Where there are concerns around public order or safety surrounding fixtures, those matters should be addressed properly. That is why our amendment calls for a comprehensive security assessment involving Government Departments, An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and the FAI, with consideration given to matches being played behind closed doors if necessary. Sport should unite people, not divide them. We can stand for peace, human rights and humanitarian principles while also respecting the independence of sporting organisations and protecting the interests of Irish athletes.  I welcome the fact the Government now appears to have adopted a position put forward by Independent Ireland's amendment. While there may be differences elsewhere in the motion, on the central question of sport, the Government has arrived on the same conclusion we did. We all recognise the terrible humanitarian situation in Gaza and the need to stand up for international law but we also recognise that Irish athletes should not be punished for events beyond their control. Decisions on international fixtures belong to the FAI, UEFA and FIFA. Sport should unite people and not become another battlefield for political disputes. That is why we are putting forward our amendment here this evening. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  Any life that is taken is wrong. I am coming in here as a broker of peace. Ireland should be a broker of peace. People can talk about what is happening in Gaza, which is 100% wrong. Where a life is taken and families are destroyed anywhere in the world is 100% wrong but look at Irish history. There are people in this House who have been involved in the taking of lives. They are sitting in this House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Where? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  When we look at traditional parties going back through the years and the wars that happened here in Ireland behind closed doors and everything else that happened, it was wrong.  I stand for peace. What I would not mind seeing with the match they are talking about is both sides coming out, sitting down in the middle of the field, saying they are not playing because of peace and linking arms together. That is what I would like to see and I would like to see unity shown that way, rather than this being a political football being played inside here for popularity.  I will say what I feel. I broker peace. I would like to see peace happening. I would like to see that across the world, and in Gaza. I would like to see it across football. Let them link arms together and say, \"Lads, this is wrong. We want peace\". That is what I would like to see. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Miche\u00e1l Carrigy)  I ask Deputy O'Donoghue to be very careful when making comments in the House. I do not think the comments he made were correct. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  I did not name any names. The rules of the House are that when you do not mention a name, you can mention what you like. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Miche\u00e1l Carrigy)  Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn is not here. I call Deputy Gogarty. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an gCathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach. If Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn comes in, I will cede to him.  I support this motion in principle and if gets to a vote, I will vote in favour of it, in some ways, symbolically. The message has to be sent out in any forum that Ireland stands in solidarity with the people of Palestine. We know we will ultimately vote on the Government's amendment, which I will not support.  In the context of what people are being asked, and I hope this will be the case after the debate, I agree that the Government should make it easy for the FAI to make a decision. If the FAI has to make a decision, it has to do so on the back of cowardice by FIFA and UEFA. They did not take the same approach to the genocidal Israeli regime as they did to Russia when it invaded Ukraine. By the same token, there are a couple of other countries I would add to that as regards being murderous and mistreating their own people. However, the Israelis take the biscuit. I say that while condemning Hamas wholeheartedly, acknowledging that innocent Israelis have been killed and condemning that. At the same time, Israel has killed multiples more Palestinian people. What it has done in Gaza is genocide. The Irish Government has gone to some lengths in regard to the International Court of Justice, the watered-down occupied territories Bill, which we should be pushing further, and the debates we have had on the financial situation and how far we should be pushing our European colleagues. I acknowledge that the Germans, the Danish and the Cypriots have different approaches to this and that is why it is very hard, in a Europe-wide context, to get absolute righteous condemnation of what the Israeli state has been doing.  Should the FAI decide to carry on with the matches, for whatever reason, I do not think anyone in this House or in the campaign should criticise it for not being as morally upright as someone else. We are in a particular situation in relation to this. We can make our own self-sacrifice and be potentially relegated in respect of our placings. We could lose out on automatic qualification. I hope things go well and we are in the European Football Championship anyway. Fundamentally, by handing six points to the Israeli team, we would give them a gilt-edged welcome to come to these islands for the championship. That would be a much bigger boon for the Israeli team than knocking them off the pitch. That is a fair argument. I am not going to vote that way but we should get into a situation where we say, \"I am more a supporter of Gaza than you\" or \"Your decision is morally corrupt or bankrupt\".  People are in a difficult situation. Maybe the Government should take the decision out of the FAI's hands and the FAI should maybe recognise what its members are saying and make the decision. If it does not do so, we should call for the match to be stopped all the way along but we should not criticise people for making a genuine and tough decision. In essence, we are going to lose one way or the other. I do not want to see the Israel team coming over here as competitors in Europe but, at the same time, I cannot stand over the match going ahead. That is why I support the motion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Carol Nolan  I will be supporting the measured and balanced amendment proposed by Deputies Collins, O'Donoghue, O'Flynn and Fitzmaurice. Let me make clear that I recognise the grave humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and the continuing heartbreaking loss of innocent civilian life. No one with a conscience can look at the suffering of families and children there and remained unmoved. I also unequivocally condemn all acts of terrorism, violence and attacks on citizens and civilians, wherever they occur, such as the barbaric attack by Hamas when innocent men and women were murdered at a music festival. That was particularly sickening and should not have happened either.  The recognition of suffering cannot justify turning Irish sport into a political battlefield. Sport must be depoliticised as much as possible. Irish sportspeople, men and women who have given years of dedication, sacrifice and discipline to represent this country, should not be punished or dragged into international disputes that are far beyond their control.  There is also a glaring moral contradiction at the heart of this debate. We are told that playing against Israel is somehow unconscionable. However, Ireland happily competes against Qatar, whose human rights record includes the exploitation of migrant workers, the denial of basic freedoms and appalling records on women's rights, religious freedoms and political repression, all of which are synonymous with that country.  The selective outrage directed as Israel, and only Israel, undermines the credibility of those demanding a boycott. This House has spent a disproportionate amount of time on this one international conflict, while urgent domestic issues - the housing emergency, the crippling cost of living, the chaos in our health service and the rise in crime on our streets - receive far less attention. Irish citizens watching these debates must wonder why Gaza dominates the agenda here, when families in their own communities cannot find a home. We owe it to the people who elected us to get our priorities straight and right. This amendment rightly states that decisions on fixtures and tournament participation are matters for UEFA and the international sporting bodies, not unilateral grandstanding by the Irish Government. We should respect those determinations.  Withdrawing or boycotting carries real consequences - sporting, economic and reputational - for our teams and supporters and our ability to host major events in the future. Sport should be a source of national unity and pride, not a vehicle for political activism. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  Bh\u00ed m\u00e9 ag \u00e9isteacht le gach duine \u00f3 m'oifig. Gabhaim m\u00edle bu\u00edochas leis an Teachta Byrne agus le Sinn F\u00e9in as an motion a chur isteach. Bh\u00ed go leor daoine ag caint faoin sp\u00f3rt agus saol na polait\u00edochta, saying that they do not mix. It has been said before but I want to say it again. We all know they have mixed before. In 1981, the then Taoiseach, Charles Haughey, who was born in Donnycarney in my constituency, summoned the Irish Rugby Football Union, IRFU, and said plainly that the tour to South Africa would cause serious damage. Maybe back then, taoisigh, Ministers and Governments could do more but I do not believe so. I think the Government can do more and we need to do more. I think Mr. Haughey understood the weight of the issue.  I was at the sport committee when the Minister of State said he was not going to the game. I welcome that and I understand his hands might be tied in a sense but we need to fast-forward from 1981 to November of last year when Bohemians brought forward a motion, backed by Shelbourne, Shamrock Rovers and Cork City, which was then followed by Norway, Spain, T\u00fcrkiye and then UEFA itself, to stop the killing of children and civilians, and to stop the genocide. Did the Geneva Convention fall out of the sky?  We have multiple independent UN reports that have said it is a genocide. We have to do everything we can. Hosting a match on a pitch with a country that is inflicting genocide is not neutral. It is a signal that the rules do not apply to that country, specifically when there is precedent for us doing it to other countries, particularly with how quickly sanctions were put on Russia.  I have had an Israeli gun pointed at my head, saying that I am an Irish terrorist. I have had meetings with Palestinians, now-paralympians, who were deliberately shot in the knee while trying to leave to enter the Jakarta Olympics. Alaa Aldali was in Sicily before I went on the flotilla. He was the first Palestinian ever to compete in the UCI World Championships. He said before the race, \"I dreamt of becoming a champion with both legs. After my amputation, I became determined to be a champion for Palestine with one.\" Despite being an amputee, he was helping to set up the ships and he was keeping guard. He is one of the most passionate and determined young men I have met. He founded the Gaza Sunbirds who were on one of the eight ships that was in my flotilla, which was painted with the Gaza Sunbirds symbol. They have visited this House. Another Deputy met them too.  When the bombing started in October 2023, they stopped training and they started using bikes to deliver bread through the rubble. Their bikes were later destroyed in an airstrike, killing one of the volunteers. We cannot say that sports and politics do not apply when clearly the current Israeli regime is doing so. This is not against Israelis. We had Israelis on flotillas and we have Israelis in Israel protesting against the current regime. This is about the current regime that is in place. We need to do everything to oppose it and we need to stop the game. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  I thank Sinn F\u00e9in and Deputy Michael Collins. Each and every one of us knows what harm the Israelis have done all over the world and continue to do. We do not support that. I am concerned about stopping our Irish team from playing a game and I wonder whether it may have far-reaching repercussions for them. The players have trained and come this far. Will it be just this game they forfeit? How many points will they lose? Will they be thrown out of the competition? I am worried about all those things. I would like to know what the players themselves think. It should be up to them and the FAI to decide what is right for our team. I do not blame Sinn F\u00e9in for being angry. The Social Democrats have tabled another motion on the same matter. In no way in the world do I blame them. We all know what harm Israel is doing, the loss of lives, the loss of little children and the murder that is going on. We are helpless. We cannot do a bit about it. We do not have an army. We are a neutral country. I know it would be a good message to send to the Israeli Government but it will take no notice of that.  It is our Irish team I am concerned about. Do the players want to play? Does the FAI want to proceed? It should be up to them. I do not want to see the Israelis coming here to play a game. Maybe it should be played in some neutral country. I have to know more about what implications this will have for the team. We remember the glory days of Jackie Charlton and we still appreciate, while the players and teams have not been doing as well in recent times, they are our team. They are the Irish team and we must stand by them. Whatever they want is what I want. They cannot be blamed for playing Israel. UEFA or whoever drew up the schedule and ordained that Israel was to play Ireland. Maybe it is UEFA have a right to kick Israel out of the competition but it is wrong to blame our players, our countrymen, for playing in this competition. Will it finish them for the whole of this tournament? Those are the questions we need to ask. Will it throw them back an awful lot? We need to know that. I am concerned.  I do not blame Sinn F\u00e9in for tabling the motion. It is on everyone's minds and everyone is concerned about the reckless harm Israel has done. Netanyahu and the others are criminals. I have no problem saying that because they have done terrible, terrible things. We are deciding the fate of Irish team here. I do not think the Government would be doing the right thing to stop them from playing unless we get direct confirmation from the team or the management about what they want to do. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel Grealish","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Noel Grealish)  It is obvious that this House, and indeed the people of Ireland, have significant concerns about Israeli actions in Palestine and the dire and worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza. I reiterate that Israeli actions in Palestine consistently contravene international law and the Government continues to press for appropriate action at EU and international level in response to Israeli breaches of human rights and democratic principles. The prevention by Israel of essential and sufficient humanitarian aid going into the people of Gaza, the continued facilitation of violent settlers in the West Bank, and the appalling displacement of so many people in Lebanon, is completely unacceptable.  Ireland had taken a strong stance in respect of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, including recognising the State of Palestine, and the Government stands ready to play our part in working towards a sustainable peace between Israel and Palestine, through the realisation of the two-state solution. The Government believes that the most effective and impactful way to deal with Israel's actions is at European Union level. We have a consistently strong record as a country in highlighting these issues but also in taking action on a number of fronts. It is clear that the European Union needs to do more on this issue, and the Taoiseach has written to the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, asking that it would be put on the table at the next European Council meeting. We will coninue to raise this at EU level.  We will also continue to use our influence to persuade the international community to take appropriate action and stop this conflict. However, we should not reduce this issue to one or two football games or events. For good reasons, governments should not interfere with international sports federations or NGBs, particularly by directing who should play whom in international sporting events. FIFA, the world football governing body, and UEFA, the European football governing body, are responsible for the system within which these fixtures are scheduled to take place and maintain a strong line against interference by governments in international football competitions. We do not want to see an Irish team penalised due to interference by an Irish government. We are in government to run the country. The FAI should be left to run football.  In this regard, the FAI has strongly represented the views of its membership that Israel should be excluded from international football competitions, including bringing a motion to UEFA to this effect last year. While we all may agree with the motion, the reality is that it was not passed by UEFA, and the FAI must conduct itself in line with UEFA rules. While deciding whether to fulfil these fixtures is ultimately a matter for the FAI, it must be acknowledged that refusing to play the games against Israel risks isolating Irish football from the international football community.  The FAI's role is to ensure that Irish football remains viable domestically and in good standing globally, without inflicting long-term damage on the sport. Punishing athletes for the actions of governments undermines the principles of international sportsmanship. Players have trained their entire lives to compete for their country at the highest level. Denying Irish footballers the opportunity to compete in the Nations League compromises their careers and development. The Irish players, who have brought us such joy in the past year and who have dedicated so much to representing their country, should not be denied the opportunity to compete at major international tournaments as a consequence of decisions beyond their control.  With regard to security around the home leg of the fixture in Dublin, the FAI is engaging with An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, which is confident in its ability to deliver a safe and secure environment to facilitate the fixture should it take place in Dublin. Should the first fixture take place in Dublin, which again is ultimately a matter for the FAI and UEFA, I am fully confident that An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na has the expertise and resources to police the game properly.  As has been pointed out during this debate, all NGBs, including the FAI, are independent, autonomous bodies responsible for the governance of their own sports, including the organisation of fixtures. The FAI is completely within its rights to fulfil its international fixtures, and the Government acknowledges its right to do so. The Government has no legal authority to interfere with sporting fixtures and our amendment to the motion reflects that position. The Government proposes to amend the wording of this motion, as submitted to the House.  I wish the ladies\u2019 football team well tonight. It is playing a very important game. We are in here discussing soccer and I am very disappointed in all the Members across the House. Not one wished the Irish ladies football team well bar one \u2013 the Minister of State here----- "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Wall  Did either of the Ministers of State between them mention genocide? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Miche\u00e1l Carrigy)  Members, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel Grealish","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Noel Grealish  -----but I wish the women well in their game tonight. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Miche\u00e1l Carrigy)  Members, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Guirke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Johnny Guirke  We are talking about genocide. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Miche\u00e1l Carrigy)  Members please. Sinn F\u00e9in has ten minutes to conclude. Deputies Guirke and McDonald have two and a half minutes, two and a half minutes and then five. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dessie Ellis","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dessie Ellis  The world witnessed in the Israeli offensive in Gaza some of the worst excesses and some of the most extreme cruel actions a nation can inflict on another group of people. The devastating toll on human life resulting the deaths of tens of thousands of men, women and children as a consequence of the Israeli military campaign in Gaza far exceeded any of the norms of a civilised society. The vastly disproportionate number of civilians and children killed in the Israeli offensive clearly shows that Israel has had nothing but total and absolute disregard for balancing military necessity with its obligations to protect non combatants. Israel did not just target what it would consider legitimate military objectives. It systematically and deliberately attacked not just civilians, but civilian infrastructure as well as using starvation and thirst as a weapon against the Palestinian population. The barren landscape of rubble across Gaza demonstrates that for Israel Palestinian homes, schools and hospitals were legitimate military targets.  Israel has also killed hundreds of Palestinian athletes and footballers and 300 sports facilities across Gaza and the West Bank have been destroyed. A comprehensive report from a United Nations commission concluded that Israel has committed genocide in the Gaza Strip. The horror stories coming out of Israeli prisons and detention centres are shocking beyond belief. Detainees are regularly beaten, electrocuted, sexually tortured and shockingly abused by military dogs. Detainees are denied adequate food, water and proper medical care. Settler violence has escalated and the illegal land grabs are continuing with the connivance of the Israeli military. If Palestinians intervene to protect their homes and farms, they are the ones attacked and killed by the settlers and the Israeli military. If Ireland competes against the Israeli national team, we are helping to legitimise the genocide and torture and the stealing of Palestinian lands. We would be saying that these human rights abuses and war crimes are acceptable and normal. Israel needs to be sent a clear message that we will never allow it to use sport to normalise its apartheid system, the genocide or systematic abuse and its torture of Palestinians. Israel needs to be suspended from UEFA and the FAI needs to cancel its game against this apartheid regime. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Guirke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Johnny Guirke  As of 6 May 2026, more than 72,600 Palestinian had been directly killed by the Israeli invasion of Gaza. Thousands of those were women and children. The United Nations and many humanitarian organisations believe the Gaza health ministry\u2019s figures to be a significant under count with thousands of Gazans still unaccounted for. In 2025, Israel bombed at least six countries \u2013 Palestine, Iran, Lebanon, Qatar, Syria and Yemen. It also carried out strikes in Tunisian, Maltese and Greek territorial waters on aid flotillas heading for Gaza with no consequences for it.  The decision by UEFA to allow Israel, a non-European country, to participate in the European Nations League despite the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank is disgraceful. UEFA defends its stance by claiming that politics should play no part in sport but, hypocritically, has no problem in banning Russia from the competition. FIFA, UEFA and the Irish Government should not have put the football association in the position in which it finds itself. The issue of whether the game gets played should never have reached this point but now that it has, the FAI needs to take a stand and refuse to participate.  The Minister of State and the Minister, Deputy O\u2019Donovan, have said they would not attend the game. The Minister of State said that because he knows it is wrong. Worst of all is the FAI talking about playing the game at a neutral venue, removing the people\u2019s right to protest. The issue is not where the game is played. The Israeli presence is the issue. We should not carry on as normal while Gaza is being devastated. Thousands of men, women and children have been killed with no regard for international law or human rights. Refusing to play South Africa in rugby played a major part in isolating the apartheid regime there. A similar stance should be taken in relation to soccer and Israel. If football authorities can act in one conflict but not another, people are entitled to ask why. All we are asking for is not to play the game \u2013 other countries will follow \u2013 and to not shake their hands or listen to their anthem. Ireland refusing to play Israel would not end the suffering in Gaza but it would be a statement heard far and wide. Let us show Israel the red card and stop this game. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  We teach life, sir.  We Palestinians teach life after they have occupied the last sky.  We teach life after they have built their settlements and apartheid walls, after the last skies.  We teach life, sir.  How many Palestinian lives can Israel steal? How many Hind Rajabs? How many mothers, fathers, doctors, nurses or farmers? Is there a point? Is there a red line or a bottom line? How many farms can be destroyed, olive groves ploughed through, homes destroyed or football infrastructure destroyed? Is there a bottom line? Is there a point at which Zionism is stopped? Is there a point at which Israeli impunity is not merely named but confronted? There are moments where a refusal to act, where excuses and distractions are exposed as complicity. There are moments when looking away and a determination to keep looking away becomes an obvious political choice. There are moments when people, governments, institutions and, yes, when sport will choose to either stand on the side of justice or accommodate and enable injustice and oppression. The world witnesses. We witness the devastation of Gaza with hospitals bombed, schools destroyed and refugee camps attacked. We witness starvation used as a weapon against civilian populations and children killed, maimed and orphaned in numbers that should shock the conscience of the world.  This is not merely a conflict. This is a genocide. As desperate families queue for food and aid, they face bombardment, displacement and fear. Yet, despite all of this, only two Government members have come into the Chamber. The rest of their benches are bare. They are benches of shame. They come in here to tell us that when it comes to a football match against Israel, sport should be treated as separate from the reality that unfolds before our eyes. We reject that proposition.  Sport does not exist in a vacuum, and it never has. Sport is the most powerful force for inclusion, equality and justice. It can be used to challenge rather than enable. Those who have ignorantly argued that sport and politics should never mix conveniently disregard the key role sporting boycotts played in isolating apartheid South Africa and conquering apartheid South Africa at that time. I want to read the names of four brave rugby players - Tony Ward, Moss Keane, Donal Spring and Hugo MacNeill. They knew in 1981 that sport could not be used to enable and prolong discriminatory and racist practices in apartheid South Africa. They were right then, and they are right now. I applaud them for that fact.  Thousands of athletes, players and sports officials have been killed in Palestine and Gaza. Our motion sets out the disgusting and deeply troubling facts of the International Court of Justice's findings on Israel's occupation and settlement policies. The court issued provisional measures warning of the risk of genocidal acts and requiring Israel to comply with its obligations. Hundreds of sporting facilities have been destroyed. Entire generations of Palestinians have seen not only their homes and schools targeted but their pitches and clubs. Places that ought to be their places of joy are stolen from them.  We come in here this evening and have this Pontius Pilate routine from the Government. This is deeply shocking. It is not enough to try to hide behind the spin. Of course, the FAI, UEFA and FIFA make the sporting decisions. Of course they govern their sporting codes. We recognise that in our motion. We ask merely that the Government stand on the right side of this and back the growing campaign to stop this game and gives the FAI the protection and cover to do the right thing and protect those who don the green jersey, so they know when they make the moral choice that their Government is on their side. That is what this motion is about and that is why we must stop this game. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Miche\u00e1l Carrigy)  In accordance with Standing Order 85(2), the division is postponed until the weekly division time on Wednesday, 10 June 2026. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Stop the Game Campaign and FAI Participation in Matches against Israel: Motion [Private Members]"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/dbsect_19","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Message from Select Committee","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_19","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Miche\u00e1l Carrigy)  The Select Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration has completed its consideration of the Guardianship of Infants (Amendment) Bill 2026, made amendments thereto and amended the Title to read as follows:  AN ACT TO AMEND THE GUARDIANSHIP OF INFANTS ACT 1964 TO PROVIDE FOR THE RESTRICTION OR REMOVAL OF GUARDIANSHIP OF A CHILD IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES BY ORDER OF A COURT IN PROCEEDINGS FOR THAT PURPOSE, IN THE RESOLUTION OF WHICH THE COURT SHALL REGARD THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CHILD AS THE PARAMOUNT CONSIDERATION; TO AMEND CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF PART VA OF THE CHILD CARE ACT 1991 IN RELATION TO THE APPOINTMENT OF, AND LEGAL REPRESENTATION FOR, GUARDIANS AD LITEM; AND TO PROVIDE OR RELATED MATTERS. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Message from Select Committee"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/dbsect_20","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_20","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/dbsect_21","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Military Neutrality","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/dbsect_20","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_20","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_21.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  I understand the Government's proposal to remove the triple lock neutrality protection was discussed at Cabinet today. I believe a Bill was brought forward. Will this Bill be published in the coming days? When will that come to Second Stage? When will it be debated and what are the plans in that regard? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Defence (Deputy Helen McEntee)  I thank the Deputy for the question. As he said, this was discussed at Cabinet today. Approval was sought by me, and it was agreed by Cabinet that this would be presented for Second Stage. This will happen in the coming weeks. While there is no date set, I intend that this will be presented to the D\u00e1il in coming weeks and published in the near future.  The purpose of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2026 is to consolidate, with amendments, the existing provisions of the defence Acts 1954 and 2015 concerning the despatch of members of the Defence Forces for service outside the State. There are other elements to the legislation proposed today, specifically where we can give a mechanism to the Defence Forces so that somebody who has been convicted or put forward on charges can be relinquished from their duty for that time. That does not currently exist. I outline that is also part of the legislation.  In effect, the requirement for a UN mandate will be removed. It will modify the existing requirement regarding what we know as the triple lock mechanism in relation to the despatch of the Defence Forces for service outside the State as part of an international United Nations force. There has been extensive engagement between my Department and the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel with regard to the drafting of the Bill and it is my intention to bring it to the House as soon as possible.  As this House is aware, the key proposed legislative change is that the requirement for a UN Security Council mandate will be removed. Current legislation allows members of the UN Security Council by means of a veto or threat of same to bind this country's hands in its international peacekeeping engagement. It is simply not acceptable to have a situation in which Ireland's decision making with regard to participation in peace operations can be impacted by the geopolitical interests of other states. I have provided many examples of this to the House, most recently the difficulties regarding extension of the UNIFIL mandate until the end of this year, and because of that the requirement for us to withdraw our personnel from south Lebanon at the conclusion of that mission. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  The defence Acts exist in Irish legislation and state clearly the circumstances this Legislature has decided is the threshold that should be met if we are to send Irish personnel - men and women - on peacekeeping missions. That is a decision that was made here and nowhere else. We need to be clear and honest about that. There were a number of key points in the pre-legislative scrutiny report, one of which was that it did not recommend the removal of the triple lock neutrality protection. It called for a number of safeguards. There was a considerable amount of discussion. I am surprised that there seemed to be a Whip on members to try to rush it. I am not sure what the need for it was. We could have gotten a bit more time to scrutinise it. I would like to know if the Minister has taken on board any of the points from that report. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  We are seeing the reason for moving on this now play out in real time. It is not just the decision taken not to continue the UN mandate in Lebanon where we have had members on the ground for decades.  In the last two weeks, I met members of the Defence Forces in Rome. On the very day I met them, they had to finish up with Operation Irini, which had a mandate to operate in the Mediterranean to prevent arms from getting to Libya. These members contributed significantly to that overall mission and are held in very high regard among members of the defence forces of other countries. They themselves told me personally that Ireland is the main one to lose out because of this mandate not being renewed. Irish troops, members of the Irish Defence Forces, and the people of this country will no longer benefit from the experience and knowledge those troops gain from being part of these missions. It is really important to take into consideration that we are not talking about some abstract concept. This is not about something that may or may not happen in the future or that happened in the past. As of now, we have troops in Lebanon whose mandate will not be renewed. The final troops went out on rotation in the last few weeks. That will finish next year. It will no longer continue. In the last two weeks, troops have had to finish up with a mission that will continue without us. The only people who will lose out are the Irish people and members of our Defence Forces, who have gained a wealth of experience from their participation in that mission. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  This is one of those pieces that come up in this debate. I deeply regret the end of UNIFIL. It is very worrying for the region. However, there is no UN mission afterwards. It is not that we are not participating in a UN mission. UNIFIL will end. It will be gone. There will be no more UNIFIL. That is a shame, but there is no UN mission to which other countries' troops will be deployed but that Ireland will be prevented from taking part in. There is a question I have been asking for a while now. There is a need for the UN to be reformed. We have brought forward propositions in that regard. There are 11 or 12 existing peacekeeping missions outside of UNIFIL. It is true that we need our peacekeepers to go on peacekeeping missions to ensure their experience is developed. It does not seem as if this Government has been actively seeking out alternative deployments with existing UN peacekeeping missions. I have seen no evidence of that. I have been asking that question and I ask the Minister the question again. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  We are part of various different peacekeeping missions, including those in the western Balkans and Common Security and Defence Policy missions, although I appreciate those are separate and mainly focus on training. There are civilian missions and there are also military missions. Just now, I gave the Deputy an example of a UN mission we have been part of and contributed to for the last number of years. Our members have been held in high regard because of the experience, knowledge and commitment they have brought to that mission, Operation Irini. Because that mandate was not renewed and expired in the last two weeks, we can no longer have troops as part of that mission. Because of the triple lock, other countries can decide where we keep our troops and whether they can continue to be deployed on missions that will continue without us, as Operation Irini will. We should not allow other states to take that decision. This Bill does not change our position on neutrality and does not prevent us from engaging in other missions outside of the UN mandate structure, as we already do. It makes sure that, where we are involved in operations like the one we saw end in the last two weeks, the rug is not pulled from under us because the mission is not continuing in its current format. The triple lock binds us in a way that it should not. It does not bind other countries. Even Austria, a neutral country, is not required to go through this extensive triple-lock process. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Military Neutrality"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/dbsect_22","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Military Neutrality","counts":{"speechCount":29,"speakerCount":5},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/dbsect_20","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_20","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_22.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  The Minister wants to scrap the triple lock. She wants to be able to send Irish troops abroad on international missions outside of the framework of international law. She wants to be able to send Irish troops on NATO-led or US-led missions. That is her political position. I believe that equates to getting rid of neutrality but that is a question for the Minister. My question is whether she will allow the people to decide. Opinion poll after opinion poll has shown public support for neutrality and the triple lock. Will the Minister allow the people to decide on this question rather than making the decision herself? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Defence (Deputy Thomas Byrne)  I am going to answer this question on behalf of the Minister. I propose to take Questions Nos. 120 and 122 together. As the Minister has already outlined, this legislation is a key priority for the Government. The commitment to undertake this necessary reform of the triple lock is set out in the programme for Government. The triple lock is a statutory mechanism. It is established under statute and is not a constitutional mechanism. Any change does not require a referendum.  The Deputy has criticised NATO leadership of missions. He completely ignores the fact that our troops have been under NATO command in Kosovo for the last 25 years where they are on a NATO-led mission that has a UN mandate. The Deputy says that we are going to participate in missions in breach of international law. The exact opposite is the case. Everything that we do has to be in accordance with international law, the United Nations principles and our Constitution, which sets our very clearly that this is a peaceful country and that we want friendly relations with people. We are a country that does this.  The truth is that if the triple lock continues, there will be no more peacekeeping. That is the reality because the UN has not mandated any new missions. The Minister has already given the example of Operation Irini. That is a really important mission. Irish troops left that mission on Monday of last week. That mission continues in accordance with UN law, international law and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Our people had to come home, however. The impact is not just on the mission. They had to come home. They did. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  It is not continuing under UN law. That is the whole point. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  It is continuing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  It is not continuing under UN or international law. It is outside the framework of international law. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  It is continuing and most of the member states are part of it. That is the reality. It is continuing to do really important work----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  Most of the members states were involved in the invasion of Iraq. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  -----to enforce a UN arms embargo in relation to Libya. By the way, it is also doing very important humanitarian work. That is really important but our people had to leave. We are losing the experience they were gaining on these missions with all of their European colleagues. Their European colleagues are all still out there doing that work today. We are not and that is all the triple lock is about.  There is no other country, in the EU or otherwise, that requires the same triple lock we have. This weekend, Dermot Ahern, who was the Minister when this was a big issue, said that was then and this is now and that times have changed. We believe the triple lock is no longer fit for purpose and that it must change. That is the reality because UNIFIL is ending this year. The Lebanese Government may well invite countries to participate in a peacekeeping mission there. That may well happen. I do not know whether it will. There may well be discussions about that. However, under the triple lock, we cannot be there. We cannot be there under the current legislation. All we are trying to do is to reform this so that we can continue to be involved in peacekeeping. That is really important.  We have had extensive public consultation in this area. The Consultative Forum on International Security Policy was convened. It was open to the public. The forum facilitated a broad national conversation on Ireland's foreign, defence and security policy. It brought together a wide range of stakeholders including civilian and military experts, academics, current and former members of the Defence Forces, representatives of international institutions and members of the public. It was held over four days in Cork, Galway and Dublin. Approximately 1,000 people attended in person and 10,000 people watched online. Some 850 written submissions were received.  When reforming the triple lock, we will do so in a manner that remains fully consistent with our legal principles and moral values as a nation. In fact, our Constitution specifies that. We will act in accordance with our obligations under international law. Ireland's continued commitment is to multilateralism, peacekeeping and the principles of the UN Charter, which are seen in the work UNIFIL will continue to do until the end of the mandate and the very work Operation Irini continues to do, although we can no longer take part. Our people came out that day. Nobody else was affected. The proposals to reform the triple lock are consistent with our policy of military neutrality. There are neutral countries participating in Operation Irini today. We are focused on ensuring that Ireland has the capacity to act responsibly and effectively in the service of international peace. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Conor Sheehan)  I will take Deputy Murphy's supplementary question and then Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  Do I not come in for the first 30 seconds? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  I do not think so. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Conor Sheehan)  No, I do not think so. The Deputies will have a minute each and then the Minister will get two. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  The idea that there has been any real public consultation here is a joke. Miche\u00e1l Martin said we were going to have a citizens' assembly on neutrality. That was scrapped and replaced with a consultative forum packed with warmongers, NATO heads and academics with links to the military industrial complex. That was the Government's public consultation. What a joke. Allow the people to decide. Give the people a referendum. If the Government is so confident in its arguments, let us have it out and allow the people to decide.  I will quote the Minister of State, Deputy Robert Troy. He said:  Ireland's position on the use of force where there is no UN mandate or authorisation is well established and known. For fear that anyone is in any doubt, let me be clear: it is wrong and it is illegal.  Does the Minister of State agree with Deputy Troy or does he not? All the triple lock does is ensure that any mission we go on has a UN mandate or authorisation. That is the whole point of it.  Why did Operation Irini not get extended by the UN? It is because it is no longer just about Libya. Let us be honest; it is about Russia. It is about chasing the Russian shadow fleet.  Why on earth should Irish troops be chasing the Russian shadow fleet in the Mediterranean? That would be a breach of neutrality. It is perfectly correct that we are not going to be participating in that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  The triple lock was created through the democratic decision of the Irish people. The triple lock was introduced in 2001 after the defeat of the first referendum on the Nice treaty. When that referendum was defeated, the Government noted that the main concern in the referendum was the issue of Irish neutrality and its erosion. The triple lock was an essential part of the passing of the second referendum on the Nice treaty. Every home in the country received a leaflet from the Government with the triple lock written into it, saying that if they voted for the Nice treaty in the second referendum, they would get the triple lock. While it is not written in the Constitution, it is morally and politically coupled with that democratic decision. The fact that the Government is looking to decouple it from that decision is profoundly antidemocratic.  I do not think the Minister of State understands the whole issue of Irish neutrality. When large military blocs, such as the USA, Russia and China, are in opposition to each other, taking sides with either group is by definition military alignment. The reason the Government is going down this route is because of the changes in the European Union. Ursula von der Leyen has stated very openly that she wants to create an EU defence union. In reality, the Government is doing this undercover. I ask the Government to at least put it to a referendum. Do not be afraid of the people in terms of a referendum. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  It is very clear to anybody who examines the reality of this situation that the triple lock is simply about maintaining our role as peacekeepers. The issue of neutrality is completely different. We are not taking sides with anybody. We enforce the shadow fleet ourselves, by the way, with other countries. Operation Irini continues to do excellent work in accordance with international law. It is enforcing international law in the Mediterranean and doing really important humanitarian work.  The circumstances have changed dramatically. The mandate that I feel I have is the Fianna F\u00e1il election manifesto. We had an election on that because things changed - all of this changed. There is no European Union defence union. There is no defence alliance at the European Union level. We cannot enter that. The people put that in the Constitution, and it cannot happen. It is very wrong to mix those things up. We cannot become part of a European common defence. There are no proposals for a European common defence. Our decision on the triple lock is simply about making our own decisions here in Ireland, in the D\u00e1il, as to where our troops go. We make these decisions in the best interests of peace, the best interests of international law and the best interests of our military and its members. That is what this is about.  The Members opposite seek to ascribe a conspiracy to the Government about wars. We have heard it all. In relation to Deputy Paul Murphy\u2019s comments, briseann an d\u00fachas tr\u00ed sh\u00faile an chait. Once Russia is mentioned, he gets all agitated. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  I mentioned Russia. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  The Deputy mentioned Russia, and he became very agitated because this is about Russia. It is about Russia and other countries vetoing proposals at the UN Security Council. Because of that veto power, it was not possible to get a mandate renewed for Operation Irini. In any event, all of the other countries that were enforcing international law and peace and security did not need this mandate. The decision of the Security Council stands. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  The Minister of State claims he has a mandate. What does the Fianna F\u00e1il manifesto say? It says it will continue to protect and promote Ireland's military neutrality, including sensible reform of the triple lock legislation. That is not what it is doing, is it? The triple lock is gone entirely. We look at the heads of Bill, which make it clear. The heads of Bill state that the Bill will provide for the removal of the triple lock. It is gone. Fianna F\u00e1il does not have a mandate for this. We look at the presidential election, and we look at opinion poll after opinion poll. People are attached to neutrality, and they are not stupid. They know, just as Deputy Miche\u00e1l Martin said, that the triple lock is at the core of our neutrality. Why? It is because it is the only thing that stops this Government or any future Government from sending Irish troops to participate in any sort of imperialist intervention anywhere in the world. It is the only legal thing that stops them. At the committee, it was said that without the triple lock, Irish troops could have been sent to participate in the invasion of Iraq. That was said at the committee by the top civil servant. The Government allowed them to use Shannon Airport. If it were not for the triple lock, the Government could have sent Irish troops abroad. That is what the triple lock is about. I ask again whether the Minister of State agrees with what the Minister of State, Deputy Robert Troy, said. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  What we are seeing here is choreography. It is not a conspiracy. Ursula von der Leyen did not hide the fact when she ran for the European Commission Presidency that she wanted an EU defence union. She said it very clearly. She has stated clearly that her objective in the EU parliamentary term is defence and security issues. We have had an EU Defence Commissioner since 2024 whose objective is the defence of the EU. This is not a conspiracy. These are actions that are taking place. Very soon after that discussion, Deputy Miche\u00e1l Martin said he welcomed the changes to the EU treaties that would reduce the power of nation states to determine decisions on issues such as defence, the military and security. Even the decision-making within the EU is to see a far more diluted influence over nation states.  Large nation states fight wars for their national interests. Small nation states will not have influence over those decisions, but will have to send their young people to fight those wars. All we are asking the Government to do is put it to the people. This is the reason the triple lock existed in the first place. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  The statements by Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn about fighting wars are outrageous and without any basis in fact. It is the timeworn theme from those in the opposition to the European Union, completely forgetting about and actually insulting those countries that, after the most devastating war, came together to make peace. This idea that big countries in Europe are going to be making war and we are going to join them----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  They are rearming, in case the Minister of State has not seen it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  It is not true, and the Deputy knows it is not true. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  They are being attacked by the very country----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  The Minister is contradicting Deputy Byrne. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  While it is nice to hear a socialist quoting the Fianna F\u00e1il manifesto, and I certainly appreciate the Deputy\u2019s examination of the manifesto----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  That is your mandate. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  The Deputy has not quoted the Constitution, which governs everything we do. The Constitution states at Article 29:  1. Ireland affirms its devotion to the ideal of peace and friendly co-operation amongst nations founded on international justice and morality.  2. Ireland affirms its adherence to the principle of the pacific settlement of international disputes by international arbitration or judicial determination.  That is what governs this Government, it governs the D\u00e1il and it governs our military. That is what we do. We do peace, we do friendly co-operation and we accord with the principles of international law. That is what we will do. If there are peace missions out there that are going to take place, perhaps at the invitation of countries affected, maybe Lebanon, we would like to be able to make a decision properly here in the D\u00e1il, maybe involving an Oireachtas committee to examine every aspect of it. We want to make the decision here. We cannot allow countries that some of the Members opposite castigate to have a veto over our foreign policy decisions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  It is called international law. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  We are governed by the Constitution. We are governed by this Parliament. That is all we are trying to do here. Operation Irini continues. That goes on, but our people came home. That is the reality of the triple lock, and it is a reality that is wrong for this country. It is a reality that is wrong for a sovereign country. If there are discussions with the Lebanese Government about future peacekeeping missions there, it is wrong that we would not be involved in them because of the triple lock. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Military Neutrality"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/dbsect_23","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Air Corps","counts":{"speechCount":11,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/dbsect_20","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_20","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_23","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_23.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  Our last exchange on this issue was one of the most frustrating exchanges I have had on this particular topic since I started raising it about a year and a half ago. Every attempt at diversion was sought. I am asking this question very clearly. There are concerns in relation to the State Claims Agency and so on, and perhaps we can get into that some other time. What I asked the Minister for the last time and am asking for again is an update on the approach the Government proposes to take in relation to the whole category of people affected by chemical exposure in the Air Corps in terms of an examination of health outcomes and medical supports. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I appreciate that the Deputy has raised this a number of times, and that he might not always like the answer I give him. However, I am reminded continuously that in the discussions we are having here, while the Deputy appreciates there are certain things I cannot say and certain areas I cannot talk about, that is because I am a main defendant, as Minister, in all of the cases that have been brought forward, cases that are being brought forward and cases that may come forward in the future. While the Deputy talks about the whole group of people that may be impacted by the issue we are talking about here, there are current live litigation cases that are potentially being brought forward in the weeks ahead that will have implications for any other person who might find themselves in a similar situation. I am not trying to be evasive or avoid questions.  It is clear to me that matters of health and safety in the Air Corps, particularly when we are talking about allegations of exposure to chemicals, are directly relevant to all of the cases before the courts which is why I cannot get into detail in terms of what is next. I know of the number of cases that are there. There were 23 cases. One has been settled through mediation, 12 are moving forward and ten have only come to the fore in the last number of years. There are a number of cases that have been presented. I cannot speak beyond that because there are limitations in that regard currently.  In respect of the current litigation cases, I can bring a recent development to the Deputy's attention, which he might not be aware of since we last spoke. The State Claims Agency has informed me that a number of cases have been taken under active case management by the courts. At the moment, nothing is moving. As I referenced previously, there have been attempts by the State Claims Agency to actively engage with a number of plaintiffs over the last number of months, with a particular view to mediating cases. However, these offers to progress the mediation have not been taken up. Neither has there been progress in relation to the courts. There has been an active case management taken on by the courts. As I am sure the Deputy knows, this means a judge can actively pursue, require engagement of the parties, push matters forward, seek papers and testimony, compel mediation and set specific deadlines. This may result in the development of these cases in the near future. There has been progress since we last spoke about this. Obviously, this means that this is now moving forward in the courts process. This is not a decision that we have taken ourselves; it is the decision that has been reached by the judge. It is important that I do not say anything here that would in any way impact that process. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  I have never asked the Minister or her predecessor to do that and I would not do so because it would be a waste of time. I would never ask about ongoing court cases because I know it would be completely pointless. I have never asked about that because I know the Minister cannot say that in this place. The equivalent of what the Minister is saying is that when more and more attention started being brought to bear on abuse in industrial schools or the treatment of women in the Magdalen laundries, the Minister for education or for children, or whoever was responsible for the issue at the time, would come forward and say that he or she could not do anything about that because people have a right to take a court case, that there were a number of court cases and the Minister could do nothing about that. That was not true then and it is not true now. In that instance, commissions of inquiry, redress schemes and things like Caranua were set up. None of those were prevented by the court cases. People continued to retain their entitlement to take court cases. That continued and people did take court cases but the Government was able, separate from the court process, to put in place measures for redress. The same thing should be happening here. The Government should be doing a health audit. None of that is prevented by the court cases. The Government should be looking at forms of redress and at health protections. None of that is prevented by court cases. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  What the Deputy is referring to are completely different scenarios, with potentially significantly different numbers----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  It is not procedurally different at all. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  What we know is the number of people who have come forward. I know the number of people who have presented, be it through the State Claims Agency or who are going through litigation processes and have only in recent times put themselves forward and highlighted their own situation. There is one case, as we know, that has gone through mediation and concluded that mediation process. There is a particular decision that has been taken by individuals as to which route they want to take here.  Beyond that, as I have said, a body of work was done in the Department to see if there was anything further that should be done. Subsequently, since that work was done, I have engaged with the Attorney General, the State Claims Agency and my own Department. Based on those conversations, I have determined that the process that is currently happening at the moment is the most appropriate course of action. There is no suggestion to me at this moment in time that we are talking about numbers that the Deputy has referenced in other types of cases or scenarios. What I do know is that we have active cases that are now going to be brought forward because of case management. Individuals have the option to engage in mediation as well. That is a process that is there and that has a legal structure to it as well and one that we have supported. I do not want to push people to the courts for any issue here. That is not something that we would do as a Department. There are options there and there are alternative options for people. Again, I would say those options are available to people if they do not wish to go through the courts process. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  What I am interpreting from what the Minister is saying - perhaps she can clarify it because she has not said it explicitly - is that she received advice from her officials, engaged with the Attorney General and the State Claims Agency and effectively, on foot of that, there is no policy solution to this. Ultimately, it is all through the courts. Contrary to what the Minister has said, her strategy or proposal is that the court is the only route here. She is not offering any policy solution. Of course, in terms of the substance of the issue, it is very different from any of the examples I just gave. However, in terms of the principle, the Minister does not have to step into the court cases or interfere with them in order to do right by the whole category. The Air Corps chemical abuse survivors have counted up to 130 deaths that they consider to be premature. I am not a clinician. I cannot go through each of those cases and identify that. What I am and have been asking for, and what Deputy Miche\u00e1l Martin asked for when he was in opposition, is an assessment of those people, with patterns identified. We need to make sure they are looked after and that there is an inquiry into it. None of that is prevented by the court cases. Not a bit of it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  What I am saying is that I have engaged with my team. A body of work had started when I came into the Department and I had asked for it to be completed. Since then, I have engaged with the Attorney General and the State Claims Agency. I have also assessed the current situation. What we know is that we have a number of cases that have gone through the State Claims Agency or that have engaged with the agency, as they were entitled to do. There is another process, and that is through the courts. What I am saying is that is not the route we are forcing people through. There is a separate process through the State Claims Agency that we have already seen an individual go through, where there has been a resolution following mediation----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  The Government is not doing anything outside of the courts. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Conor Sheehan)  It is not a back and forth. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  There has been a conclusion there but because this process is ongoing and because of the cases, there is not much more that I can say in this regard. It is important to stress that the State Claims Agency has reached out. I understand that it is very much the decision of individuals as to which route they decide to go or what they decide to do. On that basis and given the legal advice I have received, I cannot go into any more detail on this. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Air Corps"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/dbsect_24","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Defence Forces","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/dbsect_20","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_20","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_24.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  I raised this issue with the Minister a little over a month ago but unfortunately we have seen no progress. It is an issue of enormous concern for cadets and their representative organisation, RACO. It potentially creates problems for our ability to recruit and retain people of quality. We need to see this addressed. The Minister promised to address it. She is seven or eight months in her role now but, as yet, we have seen no progress. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I have been in office for a little bit less than that but I am absolutely determined that we make progress across all areas of pay when it comes to the Defence Forces, at every level. The Deputy will appreciate that much of that work will have to happen through the normal process of the public sector pay agreements. At the same time, I have been very clear that where we can make progress in other ways, I would like to do so.  I want to highlight the significant progress that the Government has made on pay and conditions for Defence Forces personnel, particularly over the last five years, including in the area of cadet pay. For context, in July 2021 the first entry-level point for a cadet joining the Defence Forces was \u20ac19,640 but as of 1 June 2026 the first point on the scale for a cadet joining the Defence Forces is \u20ac26,510, an increase of almost \u20ac7,000. I appreciate that for somebody who is coming in later in life who has financial commitments, that is not going to be at a level that he or she might achieve in other areas. However, we have different pay scales that apply during the cadetship period depending on qualification, with the current pay scale applicable to cadets ranging from \u20ac26,510 up to almost \u20ac40,000. Cadets are also provided with accommodation and meals free of charge which obviously adds significant value, on top of the overall pay package. Following the cadetship and on commissioning, officers' starting salaries range from \u20ac46,823 to \u20ac52,265, depending on whether they joined as school-leavers or graduates.  What is very clear is that there is still a high level of interest in joining the Defence Forces through cadetship. We received 2,878 applications for 80 cadetship places this year.  We want to make sure that when we fill those numbers we maintain people and keep people there. If we compare that even with last year, there were 1,819 and in 2024 there were 1,791, so the numbers have increased significantly. I believe the increase in the overall pay will help towards that but this is not to say I am not determined and committed to try to increase those numbers even further. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  The Minister is committed to trying to increase those numbers but is she committed to addressing this discrepancy? Is the Minister committed? That is what I want to know. Cadet pay is one of the lowest in the Defence Forces at \u20ac503 per week compared with \u20ac550 for a recruit, which rises to \u20ac627 after 12 weeks. In the first year they earn 40.7% less than their enlisted counterparts. I cannot speak for every category of cadet that is coming through but there have been issues in the past where groups have come out of training in the Defence Forces and a large number of them have ended up in the private sector because the terms and conditions are more attractive. If we are putting in the money and putting in the effort in respect of people who are dedicated and committed and who want to serve their country in the Defence Forces, we should be trying to keep them. Particularly with the current cost of living, this pay is nowhere near adequate. It is below the national minimum wage for the hours they work, which are quite considerable. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  The Deputy will be aware that anything we do in this regard has to be very much in line with the parameters of the public pay policy. I am not the Minister for public expenditure and reform. What I can do is look to see whether there are other mechanisms by which we can increase the overall figure. I have met RACO and I have spoken to its representatives about this. I know this is a real priority for it. While I gave a very clear commitment when I met them earlier this year that this is something I would pursue, I have to do it through the various different channels. The issue is on the agenda of the conciliation and arbitration scheme for members of the Permanent Defence Force. I have agreed to see if there is something further or another mechanism or way in which we can address this.  There also has been engagement with the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation on the issue of cadet pay. It has highlighted again the public service pay agreements and the need to work within those parameters. We also have the local bargaining process. I appreciate that this is taking longer than any of us would like but this allows parties to bring forward proposals up to a maximum value equivalent to 3% of basic pay, with 1% to be paid from the current agreement and then the balance addressed in any successor payment agreement. There are opportunities in the various different processes that I have mentioned to try to address pay and conditions. I may come back in on some of the other areas where we have tried to address what the Deputy said, namely, how, when we get people in, we actually maintain them and improve conditions more broadly; not just for cadets. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  I have said before that sometimes I get a bit worried in that while I am not against local bargaining per se , it worries me when the holy world and all is going to be fixed through local bargaining. It comes up time and again that it will fix this, that and the other. Ultimately, it comes down to 1% of the payroll in an individual pay deal. I believe what cadets want to hear is that the Minister is committed to doing this and that she will address this. The Minister has said that she will try to progress it but we need to see a clearer commitment in that regard.  In the time I have left I will briefly raise another issue on the welfare of Defence Forces personnel in the context of the tribunal process. The Women of Honour group has raised the issue of the absence of interim funding for representation. This will constrain them considerably in their ability to participate in the tribunal particularly given that the State obviously is well funded with resources for its representation. The Minister might consider that also. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I thank the Deputy. I repeat what I have said on the floor of the House here but also when engaging with RACO and other members. I am committed to working with them in trying to advance not just pay but overall working conditions for members of the Defence Forces. If we want to achieve higher numbers, if we want to achieve a greater workforce design and if we want to expand our overall priorities, objectives and our overall capabilities then we need to make sure that we are looking at every aspect here. I have to work within the processes that are there, however. I have to work within the public sector pay agreement. I have to work within the structures that are there. Local bargaining is there and it is within the remit and the gift of the different representative groups to decide what they want to prioritise within that. We will work closely with them to try to make progress on this matter. I have no doubt that we will and that very soon we will be talking about the next public sector pay agreement and how we can see a greater level of increase across the board,.  In terms of the tribunal, I have to work within the legal parameters of the tribunal and it is only for the chair of the tribunal to decide where and when costs would be awarded. It is not a decision that I can take. I have relayed this directly to the Women of Honour but obviously a decision has been taken in the last few days by the judge and it is a matter for the judge in the tribunal to address those matters specifically and to respond to the request. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Defence Forces"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/dbsect_25","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Defence Forces","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/dbsect_20","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_20","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_25","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tom Brabazon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_25.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tom Brabazon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tom Brabazon  We are the only country in the world to have a continuous presence on UN mandated peace operations since 1958. Our peacekeepers have served with distinction and pride, and in particular with their deployment in Lebanon as part of the UNIFIL mission there. It is very disappointing that this mission is to come to an end and especially in light of ongoing hostilities in south Lebanon. Will the Minister please advise the House on the engagement her Department has had with the UN and international partners in relation to the future of Irish peacekeepers serving with UNIFIL? What arrangements are being put in place to ensure their safe and orderly removal from the region at the end of their current mandate? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. We are all very conscious of the very complex and changing environment in Lebanon on a daily basis, and even today when there were supposed to be ceasefires we see continuous fire and conflict taking place. I assure the House that there has been ongoing and substantive engagement with the United Nations and with our international partners regarding the position and future role of Irish personnel serving with UNIFIL, and particularly in light of the continuing and deeply concerning hostilities in Lebanon. I have engaged extensively, and will continue to do so, with the United Nations, with our European partners and with other key stakeholders on this matter, as well as maintaining direct bilateral contact with the Lebanese authorities and with my Lebanese counterpart who I have spoken to on a regular basis. This engagement reflects our long-standing commitment to peacekeeping, to the UNIFIL mission and to the seriousness of the current security environment. I have also spoken directly at senior levels within the UN. Most recently I have spoken with UN under-secretary-general for peace operations, Mr. Jean-Pierre Lacroix, and I have written to him again reiterating our serious concerns regarding the safety and the security of peacekeepers in Lebanon. It is important to stress that I engage with our own Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces and our own personnel on a daily and weekly basis on the current situation and to ensure that our personnel are safe. In parallel, I have worked closely with European partners contributing to UNIFIL. We have had a broader discussion with the European troop contributing counterparts where, following that discussion, we engaged directly with Under-Secretary-General Lacroix calling for strengthened protection mechanisms for UNIFIL personnel and for thorough investigations into all incidents involving peacekeepers. We acknowledge that a number of peacekeepers across different countries have been killed in their duties in recent times and it is completely unacceptable that peacekeepers would be put in this type of danger. At a bilateral level I have also engaged directly with the Lebanese foreign minister, Mr. Raggi, and during this conversation I expressed our concern regarding the ongoing hostilities. It is important to stress that while he reaffirmed his absolute thanks and his appreciation for the role of the peacekeeping troops, I reaffirmed our absolute commitment and our presence on the ground and our desire to ensure that there is a continued mandate or a continued mission in some format once the UNIFIL mission comes to an end. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tom Brabazon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tom Brabazon  Our peacekeepers have been operating in very difficult circumstances in recent months, as the Minister has outlined, with air strikes, drone strikes and ground operations in the Irish area of operation. The escalating hostilities and recent deaths of peacekeepers is extremely concerning. We need to make sure that the Irish peacekeepers are given every necessary protection.  On top of that, the local Lebanese population has a great trust in our peacekeepers and respect for them. This is down to the peacekeepers' exemplary service and our own history of suffering oppression at the hands of colonial powers. The international community cannot let the end of the UNIFIL mandate create a vacuum in south Lebanon. For the local community who lives there the presence of UNIFIL has given them reassurance. I again urge the Minister to do everything in her power to have that mandate, in whatever way, extended so that there is not a vacuum left in south Lebanon. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I will refer to an earlier question around the orderly drawdowns. We have had in the last few weeks seen the last battalion travel to Lebanon where there was a crossover with the troops who had been there previously. That will be the final round of troops, essentially, that would carry out this mission.  What we will see later this year is a much smaller number who will travel over to help to wind down the mission and make sure the equipment and technology we have over there can be brought out, as well as to make sure we support what is an orderly draw-down in order that other troops and teams are protected. In the past few months in particular, we have seen a lot of how the Irish Defence Forces, our peacekeepers, have worked closely to protect and support their French, Italian, Spanish, Polish, Indonesian and many other colleagues. It is really important that as this mission comes to a conclusion, it does so in a safe and orderly way. That is absolutely at the forefront of our Defence Forces members' minds in everything they do. What is also important - and I can touch on this in my final contribution - is what we do next.  When I spoke to Kaja Kallas today, the High Representative who chairs the foreign affairs and defence Council and with whom we will be working closely during our Presidency, I confirmed that during our Presidency and at its outset, we will be steering the conversation as to what happens next. It is really important from Ireland\u2019s perspective that we find a way to be present and to be part of some form of the mission on the ground in Lebanon to carry on the work we have been doing for decades. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tom Brabazon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tom Brabazon  Our responsibility is essentially twofold in that we have to continue to support the people of south Lebanon, who are at real risk, and we must make sure that each Irish peacekeeper returns home safely to his or her family.  I will finish by thanking all those who served in UNIFIL and particularly those who made the ultimate sacrifice in support of peace in that area. They have worn the Tricolour and blue helmet with distinction, courage and honour. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I join with the Deputy in thanking all of our troops who, for the past number of decades, have contributed significantly to peace in Lebanon and to monitoring the situation and who continue to do so even in the most hostile of environments. I met many of those members who travelled out in the past few weeks with their families. For many of them this is their second, third, fourth or fifth mission. This is something we know our troops are absolutely committed to, for which they are held in high regard, not just by the Lebanese armed forces and Government but by the people on the ground. I have no doubt but that had our troops and other troops not been present in recent months, the situation could have been much worse for them, which is hard to imagine in what is already a very difficult situation.  We wish to reassure our colleagues in our discussions in the months ahead and I have already met our French, Italian, Spanish and Polish colleagues to discuss how we can ensure there is a continued presence on the ground but without the UN-mandated mission. We are talking about something much smaller that does not provide the same level of support or numbers of troops, which is a real regret for all of us. We will do everything we can to ensure there is still that presence on the ground. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Defence Forces"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/dbsect_26","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_26","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/dbsect_27","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Defence Forces","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/dbsect_26","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_26","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_27","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel McCarthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_27.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel McCarthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Noel McCarthy  This is to ask the Minister for Defence the current military radar capability of the Defence Forces or plans, if any, to increase such capability and whether she will make a statement on the matter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I thank the Deputy for this particular question. Developing the military radar capability of the Defence Forces is one of my key priorities and a key element of the move to level of ambition 2. The Commission on the Defence Forces advised that the absence of a capability to maintain a complete recognised air picture is something we need to address. We need to make sure we have the capacity to have a recognised air picture and it needs to be complete. This means we would be able to protect our national sovereignty and airspace and we would have the ability to detect any infringements for the purpose of civil aviation safety and maintenance of co-operative relations with neighbouring states, which are also impacted by this capability gap.  Among its recommendations on capability development, the commission recommended that we develop a primary radar system to ensure Ireland can maintain that complete air picture and that this should be an immediate priority. That is why when I came into the Department I insisted this was brought forward in terms of our capital spend and that we bring forward as much of it as possible. This is being progressed under the military radar programme. There are three elements to it, namely, the land-based, long-range radar primary radar; ground-based air defence systems to include the counter-unmanned aerial systems, that is, the counter-drone technology and our maritime radar. This programme of work is ongoing but good progress has been made.  Towards the end of last year, the preliminary business case for the military radar programme was approved. This concluded that a Government-level approach with one country was the preferred option. In line with this approach my Department immediately commenced negotiations with France on a potential agreement for the delivery of capability requirements under this programme. These are ongoing with the French authorities. However, while full delivery of the programme will be complex, it has been prioritised with a target date identified in the years ahead of 2028. I published recently the detailed implementation plan for the development of this complete, recognised air picture. That being said, elements of the overall programme will be rolled out in phases. It is going to take a number of years to do all of this; starting this year in particular with the counter-UAS capabilities. The Deputy will have heard this discussed many times around the counter-drone technology and making sure we have this in place for our Presidency and to support the work of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel McCarthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Noel McCarthy  I thank the Minister for her response. Although we are a neutral nation and plan to remain one, it is important our Defence Forces are provided with appropriate radar technology to help with their vitally important day-to-day operations. In an ever-changing world, the development of air and sea radar capability should be a cornerstone in ensuring our Defence Forces\u2019 protection of national security concerns. I understand that a business case for a national military radar programme was approved last year for a proposed delivery target of 2028. Is this still the timeline the Department is working towards? In addition, can the Minister provide any specifications as to what if any infrastructure is needed at land and sea level to progress radar capability? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I fully agree with the Deputy. The reason there is a need for this to be introduced as soon as possible is because we are seeing a changed landscape and changed types of threats. We are seeing more hybrid activity and use of drones not just here, but in other countries as well that is disrupting airspace, causing significant challenges, costing a lot of money and creating a real sense of unease. It is really important that we have the right capability to be able to detect what is in our skies, what is happening over our waters and importantly, under water. This is an area through the maritime security strategy that we will be able to ensure we can progress as quickly as possible.  The counter-UAS anti-drone technology is progressing this year. There were tenders agreed last year for the sonar programmes, that is, the radar programmes under water. That will be complemented by the sonobuoys, which will be worked from our helicopters. The longer-range equipment required on our ships will take a little bit longer. This is being done in stages. This is an absolute priority. We want to make sure we can move along the various stages as quickly as possible. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel McCarthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Noel McCarthy  I acknowledge that a Government-level approach with one country is favoured in the development of radar capability and that negotiations have begun with France on a potential agreement in this regard. As such, I ask the Minister what engagement she has had to date with her French counterpart on the matter? Can she give us an indication of the level of training necessary for the operation of radar and what is the estimated number of Defence Forces personnel who will be considered for radar duties?  Finally, is it the intention that radar specialists will be recruited, possibly from France, as part of the initial operations of the programme? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  I welcome the question from Deputy McCarthy. This is a vitally important area for us as an island nation. When will the counter-drone technology, the CUAS, be operational? The Minister spoke about the Presidency, which starts within a month. Realistically it is not going to be in place at the start of the Presidency. Is that not the case? What will be the first date on which the anti-drone technology will be in place? When will it be operational from the Defence Forces' point of view? It is far too late. This was meant to be delivered in quarter 3 of last year. That is down to the Minister\u2019s predecessor but it is not good enough. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  To answer the Deputy\u2019s question, the capability will be in place by 1 July for our Presidency. Training is under way.  I was with my French colleague just last week in Paris and we discussed not just the radar programme but other ways in which we are working more closely together. The French have been supporting and working closely with our Defence Forces personnel around the training on how to use this. This is just to assist. I stress that again because there is often a perception that it is the Defence Forces which are going to be carrying out all of these security measures. What they are putting in place will be to supplement and assist the work of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na already has significant levels of counter-drone technology in place and more that they will put in place during the Presidency. We will assist through the introduction of counter-drone technology through the Defence Forces and throughout the year there will be further technologies provided.  However, we will have what we need in place for the beginning of the Presidency. That training is under way. I assure the Deputy of that. What I spoke of with my colleague Ms Vautrin last week was other ways in which we could work more closely together. Are there other ways in which we can share our knowledge, experience and training? I think we underestimate the level of knowledge that our Defence Forces members and garda\u00ed have in using these types of equipment. It is important that we work together and share our experience and knowledge. Obviously, where we can work together on purchasing, perhaps jointly, different types of technology or capability, we should always look to do that as well. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 126 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Defence Forces"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/dbsect_28","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Defence Forces","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/dbsect_26","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_26","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_28","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_28.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  As Minister, I am committed to the ongoing work of ensuring that our Defence Forces are modern, agile and fit for the world we live in to defend the State and meet the challenges of today and the future. That obviously means investing not just in the Defence Forces as personnel but also in our infrastructure. That is a key commitment in our overall capital plan.  The Commission on the Defence Forces recommended in its 2022 report significant changes to the Defence Forces and defence provision in Ireland. It covers high-level Defence Forces structures, defence capabilities, organisation, culture and human resources, the Reserve Defence Force, and funding overall.  In February, I published the second detailed implementation plan for the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces. This plan sets out an ambitious programme of work to move to level of ambition 2 by 2028 and the significant and fundamental change for the Defence Forces that will be delivered across the commission's recommendations approved by the Government. The commission recommended:  The Chief of Defence to initiate an immediate force design process assisted by external experts with access to international military expertise, and to include a detailed force design process.  The Defence Forces have established three force design teams within the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps. An overarching strategic force design office has also been established. This work is ongoing, with all force design teams working collaboratively to develop a force design for the entire Defence Forces.  On completion of the force design work, the Chief of Staff will submit a report on force design to me for consideration. No decisions have been made on where the Army headquarters will be located, but it is important to say - and this is the reason I have outlined all of this in terms of the force design - that this process has to be gone through before any decision can be taken on the Army headquarters.  This is complicated and challenging work that we need to get right. We need to make sure that if we are looking at modernisation and restructuring of our Defence Forces, we take the time to do this correctly, and that is the work that is happening at the moment. What is important for me is that any force design process will include a transitional plan with incremental steps beyond current numbers to the 11,500 force recommended by the Commission on the Defence Forces.  As the Deputy will appreciate, because this is a significant body of work, there is a huge amount of effort by all involved. It is once all of these measures have been put in place that we will be able to identify where the location might be. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Daly  I thank the Minister for a comprehensive reply. This is in the context of the record \u20ac1.7 billion defence national development plan, which the Government will invest in capital infrastructure for the next five years. It is important that it is got right. We are living in a changed geopolitical situation since the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, and we will have to live up to our defence obligations not only within our own national context but also within the European Union context.  As regards the military history of Athlone, Custume Barracks goes back to 1691. It is geographically strategically located and is well served by railroad and river. I hope it will be considered. It also has access to third level education, namely, Technological University of the Shannon, TUS, so I hope that it will be given full consideration when a decision is made. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I will refer to what the Deputy has referred to as well, but there is also the significant increase in funding that has been agreed by this Government, specifically investment not just in the men and women, but also in our overall structures within our Defence Forces system. I have visited quite a number of barracks in the past few months. I have been in Aiken Barracks in Dundalk, the accommodation in Renmore, Galway, the Gormanstown campus and Haulbowline. All of these are areas where we are seeing significant investment in accommodation, dining facilities, gym equipment and the overall environment. Making sure that that investment continues will be a key priority for me. I think \u20ac170 million has been spent in the past five years alone, but this year close to \u20ac70 million has been spent. On top of that, there is \u20ac13.5 million for maintenance and running costs. There is an absolute commitment to make sure that our barracks and critical infrastructure for our Defence Forces members are up to scratch, modern and fit for purpose. Any new decisions for a new barracks or new accommodation will have to be taken once the overall process is done, but I will be determined to ensure that we have more money and that we invest in any of these new buildings or any new expansion that is required. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Daly  I welcome the investment in our defence capability. It has grown by 35% in the past three years and by 11% in the past year. We need to continue to invest to meet our international obligations but also to meet our own obligation as a sovereign nation and to protect our borders and the seas that surround this island. It is extremely important that we be strategic as a small country in the investment we make. It is true that we have lagged behind other countries of similar size in Europe, possibly through complacency because of our position on the edge of Europe, but that has changed now. I welcome the investment but I also hope that full consideration will be given to an Army headquarters in Athlone, which is at the centre of the country, geographically strategically located, with all the services that a headquarters would require. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I probably was not aware of it myself until coming into the Department, but there is a significant body of work happening, following on from the Commission on the Defence Forces, to look at what we need. The commission has set out how we reach level of ambition 2, how we increase our numbers and what type of capabilities we need. There is also other work being done to look at our overall footprint, where we need to invest in different barracks, how we need to expand and grow, and which areas we need to look at from a maritime perspective and from the perspective of our Naval Service, our Air Corps and our Defence Force personnel. Then, taking into account the reform of the triple lock, the question is how we make sure that an integral part of our Defence Forces work, namely, peacekeeping missions, can continue into the future. There is a huge amount of work, coupled with the cultural reform and change and the body doing that work. It is really important that all these aspects be progressed at the same time, supported and coupled with financing. That is why we have seen the 55% increase in our capital budget and the 40% increase in our current budget.  To come back to the Deputy's original question, once the process that is under way is concluded, a decision on the HQ will be taken. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Defence Forces"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/dbsect_29","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"EU Meetings","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/dbsect_26","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_26","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_29","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_29.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  I attended that meeting on behalf of the Minister, Deputy McEntee, in Brussels recently. There was also an informal meeting recently, but the meeting in Brussels was a formal one. It took place against the backdrop of an evolving and increasingly complex security environment. It was a key moment for EU member states to reaffirm their steadfast solidarity with, and support for, Ukraine. There were two main topics on the agenda: EU support to Ukraine and the repercussions of the situation in the Middle East on European defence and security, along with an update on the state of play of defence readiness, among other matters.  In the session on EU support to Ukraine, which was attended by video in part by Ukraine's newly appointed Minister of Defence, Mykhailo Fedorov, discussion was focused on the latest developments in EU-Ukraine defence industrial co-operation, including progress on implementing the Ukraine support loan, the European Peace Facility and other EU instruments, such as Security Action for Europe, SAFE.  Ireland has been resolute in our support for Ukraine in response to Russia's illegal, unjustifiable and morally reprehensible war against it. The Irish Government remains committed to working with our European and Ukrainian counterparts to maintain solidarity with Ukraine and to ensure that Ukraine gets the support it needs to defend itself against brutal Russian aggression.  Discussion on the ongoing situation in the Middle East at the Council was also very welcome. The Irish Government remains deeply concerned about the conflict in the Gulf and the wider Middle East, and the implications for Lebanon, in particular. The Government remains deeply conscious and appreciative of Irish Defence Forces personnel, and all peacekeepers, currently serving under the UNIFIL mandate in south Lebanon.  I again commend those members of \u00d3glaigh na h\u00c9ireann, past and present, on their service in the work of international peace and security, as I am sure all Members do.  In addition, yesterday I attended the informal meeting of EU defence ministers in Nicosia in Cyprus. I can certainly discuss the meeting, but I do not have a full written report of the meeting yet because I only got home last night. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Connolly  I welcome the Minister of State home. I also welcome the fact that, at the meeting of EU defence ministers, there was continued support and solidarity among all nations with the people of Ukraine, given the circumstances they currently endure. Was there any specific discussion at the meeting about a post-war scenario in Ukraine and the potential for a peace agreement between the countries? I note that, recently, Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Downing Street where he met with President Macron and the German President. Those nations again reiterated their support for Ukraine. At any point during the meeting did the talks come to the point where there may be a peace agreement, what that might look like, and what a post-war scenario might look like in Ukraine? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  That certainly was mentioned at the meeting of defence ministers, but the meeting was mainly focused on the defence response at the moment. The Minister, Deputy McEntee, at the Foreign Affairs Council and the Taoiseach at the European Council will be discussing that matter in considerable depth this month. There is certainly a lot of discussion about it, but what is important is that we continue to support Ukraine in the meantime. There needs to be peace, but it needs to be a just peace. It needs to be fair to Ukraine. We need to continue to support them in the meantime. For my part, solidarity will be very much in evidence at the General Affairs Council, where the whole issue of enlargement of the European Union will be very high up on the agenda during the Presidency. We will continue to support Ukraine, particularly on the mobilisation of the European Peace Facility support. We are going to continue to engage the Department of Defence. The Defence Forces have provided bilateral support to Ukraine, fully in accordance with our military neutrality and our commitment to providing non-lethal support. That support will continue. We are also contributing to the EU loan that is going to Ukraine, which will partly be used for defence purposes as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Connolly  I compliment the Government on its continued support, in particular for that loan measure.  The Minister of State mentioned the ending of the UNIFIL mission at the end of this year. Are there other European countries like us that are concerned they will not have the opportunity to provide peacekeeping missions in other parts of the world? Unfortunately, if troops from European countries are not keeping peace, more lives will be lost, more conflict will reign and there will be less stability and more volatility in the world. Are there other countries like us that have a similar measure whereby the participation of their forces in peacekeeping missions must be sanctioned by the UN Security Council? Are they thinking of how they might be able to operate in the future when it is clear that the Security Council will not provide an opportunity for peacekeeping missions? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  In relation to UNIFIL in particular, there are soldiers in it from all over the world. There were some deaths at the weekend. I pay tribute to them as well. That mission, which is a United Nations-run mission, will end. As far as I can tell, there is no other European Union country that needs a UN mandate to send their troops on peacekeeping missions. I have spoken to Switzerland and its troops can go on other missions, not just UN missions, for example. They deal with their neutrality in a different way from us. They do not need a UN mandate. If there were to be discussions in the future about a peacekeeping mission continuing in Lebanon, perhaps at the invitation of the Lebanese Government, most countries would be able to at least consider taking part, but we would not even be able to be part of the discussions. Last week, Operation Irini, which is an EU-led mission, lost its UN mandate. Our service members had to leave on that day, but the mission continues. Everyone else stayed but our people had to leave. That is what the triple lock has done. That is all we are trying to change in relation to that. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"EU Meetings"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/dbsect_30","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Naval Service","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/dbsect_26","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_26","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_30","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_30.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Connolly  Will the Minister outline the plans in place for an expanded unit of the Naval Reserve and an infrastructural presence in the form of a Naval Reserve base in Galway, as supported both by the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces and by the maritime security strategy, and will she make a statement on that matter? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I acknowledge the important role played by members of the Reserve Defence Force, RDF, and thank them for their continued commitment and the way in which they consistently support the members of the Permanent Defence Force. The strategic objective for the Reserve Defence Force is the development of a reserve force that can seamlessly train, operate and deploy on a voluntary basis with our Permanent Defence Force, both on the island and overseas. As the Deputy mentioned, this is strongly reflected in the report of the commission.  A key recommendation for the RDF was the establishment in 2022 of the Office of Reserve Affairs to oversee and support a more holistic approach to the revitalisation of the Reserve Defence Force. In July 2024, that office published the RDF regeneration and development plan. This in itself contains 27 individual actions designed to operationalise the recommendations contained in the Commission on the Defence Forces report for the Reserve Defence Force. The regeneration plan recognises that the transformation of the force structure is required for the development of the RDF. Action 22 of the plan relates specifically to the transformation of the Naval Service Reserve. As the Deputy is aware, another key recommendation from the plan is to increase the future RDF establishment strength to include a minimum Naval Service Reserve of 400 personnel. The military authorities have advised that, under this expansion, additional Naval Service Reserve units may be considered in suitable coastal centres where there is already port access. The current position is that options are being examined in the context of the wider transformation of the Defence Forces.  I mentioned earlier to our colleague the three force design teams, whereby we are looking at restructuring and modernising our Defence Forces. There is one each for the Army, the Air Corps and the Naval Service. They were established by the Defence Forces. An overarching strategic force design office has been established. These teams are working collaboratively to develop a force design for the entire Defence Forces. This will include members of the Reserve Defence Force and civilian members. Work is ongoing at the moment to try to complete this. The Chief of Staff will submit a report on force design to me for consideration. Based on that, the selection of locations can take place. There is a body of work happening. I hope it will conclude soon. Once that work is done, we will be able to identify where there might be options for what the Deputy outlined. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Connolly  I commend the frankness of the report by the Commission on the Defence Forces. It noted the serious area and scale of responsibility that we have in \"our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), the scale of fishing activity in our waters, the number of aircraft crossing Irish controlled airspace, our growing seabased energy infrastructure, and the number of subsea communications cables and sea lines passing close to our coastline\". There was a full and frank recognition:  ...that a more comprehensive patrol programme [is required for that area and that this could] be facilitated by the establishment of a naval support base or bases, making use of existing port facilities at locations in the west ... which would allow for faster deployment and would facilitate replenishment of fuel, fresh food and water, and the removal of waste. The location of a support base on the west ... coast ... combined with double crewing of vessels, would facilitate ships remaining at sea for longer periods as they would no longer have to return to Haulbowline for replenishment and crew changeover. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I concur with the Deputy's initial point, which is that we have 24-7 monitoring of Irish waters, of our exclusive economic zone. This is happening in the air and at sea, and it is supported on land mainly by our base in Haulbowline. We have increased and expanded our capacity, capabilities and ability to monitor what is happening above our seas, but also to monitor what is happening below our seas, in particular to protect our critical infrastructure, which comes across the Atlantic and goes through Ireland on to mainland Europe and beyond. It is an absolutely essential component of the work of our Defence Forces that we ensure we have the right numbers, that we grow our capacity within our Naval Service and that we continue to invest in our capabilities while working more closely with our European and international partners. Integral to that is the expansion and overall growth of our Reserve Defence Force members. We have seen that in other important structures of our State, notably An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, where our reserve members, coupled with the civilian forces, have helped to grow and expand and have really complemented the work. That is no different here for our Defence Forces. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Connolly  One of the things I have often found puzzling is that the very proud and historical tradition of maritime and naval participation that a location like Galway has among its citizens seems to have petered out in recent times.  The operation of a naval support base or naval infrastructure along the west coast in Galway would encourage more local people, potentially, to join the Naval Service or the Naval Reserve. That is noted by the Commission on the Defence Forces as well.  To bring it on then to our national maritime strategy, one of the initial action points for the first strategy is to \"Explore concept of a forward operating base on the West Coast base for the Naval Service\". Everything in these studies is pointing towards the need for the west coast to be serviced by a naval base. Galway would make great sense - eminent sense, in fact - for that because it would be complemented, obviously, by the Army base at Renmore and it also has the natural infrastructure to facilitate such a development. I ask, therefore, that we start to develop the maritime strategy and that point in particular. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  The Deputy is right: the Naval Service Reserve is organised across five different units. There are units in Cork, Dublin, Limerick and Waterford. The fifth unit is a technical support base, so it is not based in any specific location rather than the Naval Service HQ. If there were to be an expansion, we would be looking at other areas that currently are not covered. Again, the Deputy is right; the maritime security strategy was clear in outlining that we need to look to see if there is a need for another base from a maritime perspective. That work is already under way. I published the maritime security strategy only a few months ago. I am really ambitious that we move on as many of the actions as possible. One of those clear recommendations is that we would scope out the need or requirement for another potential naval base. As we have locations in Cork, Dublin, Limerick and Waterford, it stands to reason that we would look beyond those areas to see what we can do. While a decision has not been taken yet, I believe there is merit in the proposal the Deputy is suggesting. Obviously, we need to go through the various different processes to get to that point. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 130 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Conor Sheehan)  We are moving on to Question No. 131 in the name of Deputy Murphy, who is taking it for Deputy Boyd Barrett. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Naval Service"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/dbsect_31","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Military Neutrality","counts":{"speechCount":14,"speakerCount":4},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/dbsect_26","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_26","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_31","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_31.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  This goes back again to the triple lock, this time on the international implications. I ask the Minister whether the new Bill would have allowed Ireland to participate in Trump's illegal war on Iran. We heard from a top civil servant, despite seeming objections from the Minister and her junior Minister at the committee, that if the triple lock was not there, Ireland could have participated in the invasion of Iraq. If the triple lock is gone, and if the Minister gets through with her Bill, will there be anything stopping her making Ireland join Trump's war in Iran? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I thank the Deputy. I would say at the outset that times have changed. We should be allowed to debate the fact that we are in a different world now from when this was first introduced. At the time when the triple lock was introduced, those who opposed its introduction said that it was going to drag us into wars; that the US, Russia, China and the permanent member states of the UN were going to drag us, through the triple lock, into all these wars in which we were going to partake; and that we would lose our neutrality. These were debates that were actually put forward at the time. That did not happen. It did not transpire. We have had decades of peacekeeping troops on the ground that have contributed to peacekeeping missions and that has been it. What is now happening is that we have the bizarre situation whereby those very countries like Russia, which is waging a war, and the USA, which is obviously actively involved on the ground - I do not dispute that - are----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  Waging a war? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  -----now preventing us from continuing on these peacekeeping missions. Therefore, I do not understand or fathom how we could find ourselves in a position now where we would sit, do nothing and allow larger countries that have nothing to do with, and nor should they have anything to do with, how we deploy our troops to prevent us from continuing in missions and see us now having to come off missions that other member states are on. There are no other countries within the EU that have this position. There are no other countries that are neutral. Austria, for example, will not sign up to a military alliance in the same way that we will not, but if it is putting forward members for peacekeeping missions, it does not have to go through the same triple lock mechanism.  The Deputy asserted this evening that we are suddenly deciding out of nowhere, as a D\u00e1il, that we are going to put forward our troops for missions that do not align with international law and are completely outside of the UN Charter. The legislation that is being proposed is very clear and specific in providing that any mission we would propose our troops for would have to align with international law and the principles of the UN Charter and that it would be a decision for this House. We are all democratically elected Members. We represent the people who voted for us, so we have a duty to make sure we reflect their views and wishes. I believe we can have that debate here without allowing an outside force that has nothing to do with anybody and that has not been democratically elected by a single person in this country to decide what we do with our peacekeeping troops. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  There is something called international law. I will quote to the Minister what the Minister of State, Deputy Troy, said: \"Ireland's position on the use of force where there is no UN mandate or authorisation is well established and known. For fear that anyone is in any doubt, let me be clear: it is wrong and it is illegal.\" Does the Minister agree with the Minister of State, Deputy Troy? All the triple lock does is ensure that we can only send troops where there is a UN mandate or authorisation. That is all it does. The Minister getting rid of the triple lock is about enabling her to send troops outside of the framework of international law. That is 100% what it is about. What is interesting is that the Minister speaks about how the new Bill is going to talk about the principles of the United Nations Charter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  No. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  Will it say that we will only send troops abroad in accordance with the articles of the UN Charter? The articles of the UN Charter are very clear. The Minister can send troops abroad in self-defence, which is not covered by the triple lock, or she can do it with a UN-authorised mission, which is precisely what the triple lock states. The triple lock enshrines in Irish law international law. It states that we can only send troops in accordance with international law. The only reason to get rid of it is if the Minister wants to send troops outside of the framework of international law. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Conor Sheehan)  Deputy Daly wishes to come in on a supplementary. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  Whatever about what was said when the triple lock was introduced, it is clear that there is great concern about it and 40% of the questions tonight, including the next question, are in relation to the triple lock. I want the Minister to outline the proposals she has to remove it. When will we see the Bill? I know the Minister has abandoned the plans for a citizens' assembly but is there a timeline? I presume there is not going to be a referendum. The Minister has no plans, certainly, for a referendum. I look around my own town and see the statues and various monuments to Crimea, the Boer War, the western front and Gallipoli. The Minister would surely agree that the triple lock has served us well. It was backed by the Irish people because it was central to convincing the electorate in the Nice II and Lisbon II referendums in that it was mentioned that it was a guarantee of neutrality. Therefore, claims of frequently vetoing or that there will be no more peacekeeping do not stand up. How many times this century has there been a block put on as a result of the veto being there? Contrary to the Minister's partners in government's plans to reform, they clearly want to abolish the triple lock. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  In terms of what will be in the proposed legislation, we will have an opportunity to discuss and debate in this House on Committee Stage, as we should do, anything of significance. This is significant because it will allow us to continue a practice we have had in place for many decades. The absolute priority here is to make sure that any future deployments for operations are put forward and that they adhere not just to the principles of the UN Charter but also to international law. We are very clear. We are not going to start proposing sending troops on any other missions that do not adhere to international law and are not peacekeeping missions. There is a proposal in the legislation that would allow for UN troops and smaller numbers to be able to remove people safely from conflict zones. That is something that happens at the moment, but we need to make sure we have this included in the legislation as well. Where there will be a requirement to seek Government approval where the number of Defence Forces personnel is over a certain number, D\u00e1il approval will still be triggered. There will still be a mechanism here in the D\u00e1il to make sure. At the moment, the number is 12. The legislation proposes to increase this number to 50 but even at that, there will have to be engagement at the end of the year with a final report and there will be engagement with the committee through different stages. All of this can be discussed when this Bill comes to the fore.  Again, I will make a point on referendums. A referendum is to change the Constitution. What are we talking about putting in here? What we are actually talking about is amending legislation. We are not amending anything that is in our Constitution. We are talking about changing legislation that was agreed by this House many decades ago. I believe the onus is on us now, as Members of this House, to change the legislation in the same way so that we can continue doing what the legislation set out to allow us to do in the first instance and we are now being prevented from doing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  I think the Minister is deliberately being a bit disingenuous by saying that, okay, this is agreed by legislation. She does not recognise the European referendums that enshrined this. We have the Seville declaration. It is part of international law. The Minister does not recognise that the people voted on this. That is forgetting about the recent presidential election where neutrality dominated the campaign.  That is forgetting about all the opinion polls that show that people support neutrality and support the triple lock.  The Minister might enlighten us then about the circumstances where she thinks it is legal to deploy soldiers abroad that do not have UN authorisation nonetheless are in the framework of international law? What is it that she is talking about? I cannot understand because the UN Charter is very clear. It is very clear about the circumstances where you can deploy troops abroad. You can do it in self defence or you can do it when there has been a resolution by the UN Security Council or the UN General Assembly. It is clear. That is precisely what the triple lock says. What I think the Minister wants to do is say that we adhere to international law but we do what we want and then we just say that it is in line with international law. When the US engages in its imperialist adventures around the world, it always says it is in line with international law. I think Putin claims that his invasion of Ukraine is in line with international law but there is a big difference. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  The Deputy is being completely disingenuous by consistently and continuously linking the triple lock with our neutrality. We were a neutral country before the triple lock was introduced. Does he accept that? We were a neutral country before the triple lock was introduced. It was introduced at a time to make sure that we could send our troops across waters to peacekeeping missions. In many instances, that is not possible so, again, does the Deputy accept that in the past two weeks alone, we have had troops who have been active on a mission in the Mediterranean who have to come home because we now no longer have a mandate. The Deputy can say it has changed and the mandates changed. Our Naval Service monitors shadow fleets across the EEZ at the moment----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  I do not think they should be in the Mediterranean. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  Our Naval Service already monitors the shadow fleet so the very fact that this is now not being continued and the UN mandate is not continuing is because countries like Russia do not want us to. The Deputy is being disingenuous in saying that this is about our neutrality. There is nothing in this that impacts our neutrality. We were a neutral country before the triple lock was introduced and we will be a neutral country if and when this changes. I hope that we can change it as soon as possible. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Military Neutrality"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/dbsect_32","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Military Neutrality","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/dbsect_26","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_26","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_32","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_32.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  Could the Minister to provide an update on her plans to dismantle the triple lock neutrality protection? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I propose to take Questions Nos.132 and 133 together. I am pleased to discuss this issue and to expand on some of the areas that we have elaborated on. This key legislation is a priority for me and this Government but it is important that we have an opportunity in the House not just here during Parliamentary Questions but through the legislative process to debate certain elements of this Bill. There have been a number of calls for a public plebiscite or a referendum in relation to what is being proposed in the Bill with regards to the triple lock. Again, I highlight the fact that there has been a lot of conflation as to what is actually being proposed and what is actually being suggested. The triple lock is a statutory mechanism. It is set out in the Defence (Amendment) Act 1960. It is not a constitutional mechanism and is not enshrined in our Constitution. It was a political commitment during the Nice and Lisbon treaties process. It is clear, therefore, that as I and my predecessors have stated a number of times on the floor of the House and as I have stated a number of times this evening, amending the legislation that governs how we deploy our Defence Forces overseas does not require a referendum. It does not require a national plebiscite.  We are talking about a very different time when the legislation was developed. The world has changed. The UN structure itself has changed since. It is not working. We can accept that. We all know that it is not working in the way that it should. The geopolitical environment has changed as well. We now find ourselves in a situation where one in five of the permanent members of the Security Council can decide whether or not our Irish troops can travel to engage in peacekeeping missions, be it in Lebanon, the western Balkans, the Mediterranean or any other part of the world. It is simply not acceptable to have a situation where Ireland's sovereign decision-making with regards to the participation of our peacekeeping troops in peace operations can be impacted by the geopolitical interests of other states. That is exactly what is happening. I repeat that in the past two weeks alone, our troops have had to come home from a mission on which they have been working for a number of years now and where they have been held in such high regard by their fellow defence force members and the Mediterranean Operation Irini because the UN mandate has not been renewed. This is what we are talking about. We are not talking about going off to war anywhere. We are talking about peacekeeping missions.  We are very clear that our neutrality is to be protected. We are very clear as a Government that this is not what is being impacted here. As I mentioned earlier, it has been demonstrated in a real tangible way as well through the UN Security Council resolution that underpinned the EU mission Operation Irini, which has come to an end for Irish troops but for nobody else that has been involved in that overall. We also know that this clearly illustrates the extent to which Ireland's ability to contribute to international peace and security efforts can be affected by factors outside of our control. That situation is not sustainable if we are to retain a meaningful and credible capacity to participate in international peace support operations in line with our values and I think this is in line with our own interests and the democratic will of the people of Ireland who have entrusted us as their representative. There has been extensive engagement between my Department and the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel about the drafting of the Bill and it is my intention to bring this to the House. It was approved by Cabinet today that we would bring it forward for Second Stage to debate this even further and to have a wider debate with colleagues as soon as possible. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  There is no doubt that this is an erosion of our military neutrality. The triple lock is something that is deeply valued by the Irish people. Opinion poll after opinion poll has shown clearly that the Irish people want to retain this protection, yet Fianna F\u00e1il or Fine Gael are absolutely determined to get rid of it. These plans are going to endanger our neutrality, endanger our reputation on the world stage as peace builders and expose us to the rising moves towards militarisation across the EU. If the Government is so confident in its position, why will it not put it to a referendum? The Minister said that we do not have to put it to a referendum but that is not a justification in and of itself. Let the people have their say on this issue. We know why the Government is refusing to do that. It is because it knows the answer it will get from the people on this because the Irish people cherish our military neutrality and the triple lock as a core aspect of this. Removing it without putting it to the people through a referendum is an attack on our sovereignty and democracy and I just cannot understand how the Minister can justify that. How can she justify not letting the people have their say on such an important issue and a core aspect of our military neutrality? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  We are seeing this happen on a number of fronts at the moment where there is a claim that Government is eroding our sovereignty and that we are allowing other people to essentially make decisions for us with the migration pact or now the triple lock. Currently, other countries, like Russia, which has been waging a war on European soil in Ukraine for almost five years - longer than World War I - could actually prevent us from keeping peacekeeping troops on missions. That is what has happened in the past two weeks alone. The Deputy says that our reputation is being endangered. We have an excellent reputation. The men I met in Rome only a few weeks ago are highly regarded because of their contribution to operations like Operation Irini and now they will no longer be able to contribute, so what is actually being eroded is our ability to contribute and to continue to be held in such high regard and the only people who are losing out are us. We are losing out and our Defence Forces personnel are losing out. Regarding our military capabilities, knowledge and experience in working with other partners, we are going to lose out if we cannot continue in these types of missions. This suggestion that we are giving away our sovereignty is completely contradictory when it is other larger military powers that are able to dictate where we send peacekeeping troops. It makes no sense to me and I think the vast majority of people to whom I speak see what it is that we are trying to do here. We are trying to make sure that we have a mechanism in place to continue what is a long and proud tradition of our peacekeepers and to ensure that we are not impacted by the decisions of others that very clearly have ulterior motives and objectives at hand. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  If the triple lock protection is removed, it will be possible to deploy Irish troops to any situation at all that the Government sees fit. That is not what the Irish people want because that gives carte blanche to any future Irish Government and indeed will expose Irish Governments to significant outside pressure as well in future situations. It is a serious diminution of our neutrality. There is no doubt about that. The Minister should be working to strengthen our neutrality, ending the US use of Shannon Airport and actively opposing increased EU militarisation. Only a few years ago, Miche\u00e1l Martin said the triple lock was at the core of our neutrality. What has changed since then? It is clear that Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael just want to follow the EU's drum beat for increased militarisation. That is the reason for this. That is the reason for such a drastic change on the triple lock and it is shameful. Even Government TDs are opposed to this. One of the Minister's predecessors at the Department of Defence, Deputy Willie O'Dea, in response to the Taoiseach's call for a referendum on increasing the number of Ministers, said, \"How about a referendum people actually want, like on the triple lock?\"  Once again, the Minister is out of touch with the Irish people. She is failing to listen to people and has not been able to give any good reason this evening as to why she will not put this to the people in a referendum. That is what needs to happen in this case for such a significant decision. The Government is hiding from the people because it knows the answer it will get. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I am very happy to debate this with anybody. I am very happy to outline what is actually in the legislation. It will be published in due course. The legislation will be very clear. It will outline how we will deploy our troops for peacekeeping missions. It will outline how we will deploy them in line with UN principles and with international law. It will not allow for any other type of deployment that goes beyond those areas. It will allow for a smaller number of troops to be deployed to ensure that where our own citizens are at risk in conflict areas, they can be taken out, removed and brought home safely. Beyond that, to be very clear, nothing in this legislation will allow me, as Minister, this Government or anybody in it to decide we are going to send troops to a conflict zone to take part in a conflict. Let me be very clear that is not what this legislation is proposing. So, all of the misinformation and the attempts to suggest this is suddenly going to open us up to becoming a warmongering country is completely wrong, completely inaccurate and is trying to sow a level of misinformation that muddies the waters here.  The legislation is very clear. How do we make sure we can continue to deploy our troops in peacekeeping missions? How do we make sure that other countries - Russia, the US, China, France or the UK - do not have a say in how we deploy our troops? How do we make sure that we, as a sovereign nation, the people here, democratically elected to this Chamber, are the ones who decide, with the advice of the Defence Forces, on exactly how we deploy our troops to peacekeeping missions? That is what the focus of this legislation is. I look forward to debating it with colleagues in this House and progressing it in the weeks ahead. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Is f\u00e9idir teacht ar Cheisteanna Scr\u00edofa ar www.oireachtas.ie. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Written Answers are published on the Oireachtas website. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Military Neutrality"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/dbsect_33","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_33","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Barry Heneghan)  I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case:  Deputy Albert Dolan - To discuss the pricing of train tickets between Athenry and Galway.  Deputy Malcolm Byrne - To discuss the need for social and affordable housing in Arklow, County Wicklow.  Deputy Keira Keogh - To discuss the transparency of the CODA process for LGFA clubs and players.  Deputy Pat Buckley - To discuss the urgent need for a person (details supplied) to have treatment under the EU cross-border health directive.  Deputy Thomas Gould - To discuss the proposed new prisons in the Glen, Cork.  Deputy Tom Brabazon - To discuss the loss of a mainstream teacher at St. Francis Junior School, Clonshaugh, Dublin 17.  Deputy Eamon Scanlon - To discuss the exceptional staffing pressures at St. Patrick's National School, County Sligo.  Deputy Jen Cummins - To discuss the planned closure of Carlow College and transfer of the campus to SETU.  Deputy Ged Nash - To discuss the recent fish kill on the River Glyde, County Louth.  Deputy Michael Murphy - To discuss the closure of the South Tipperary Memory Clinic in Cashel.  Deputy Pa Daly - To discuss the need for an autism unit at Causeway Comprehensive School, or Scoil Chuimsitheach an T\u00f3chair.  Deputy Danny Healy-Rae - To discuss delays in the opening of the new Killarney community hospital.  Deputy Shane Moynihan - To discuss the reform of eye care services in line with emerging trends.  Deputies Conor McGuinness and David Cullinane - To discuss the need for extensions and improvements to school buildings in Waterford.  Deputy Paul Donnelly - To discuss the report by EnergyCloud Ireland titled Ireland's Wasted Renewable Energy Report for the 16 months to 30 April 2026.  Deputy Louise O'Reilly - To discuss the school summer programme.  Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher - To discuss the designation of Burtonport as an approved port for landings by fishing vessels on a Saturday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.  Deputies Rory Hearne and Gary Gannon - To discuss the proposed closure and disposal of the Griffith Avenue delivery office.  Deputy Matt Carthy - To discuss the EU pact on migration and asylum.  Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan - To discuss access to treatment for Friedreich's ataxia under the HSE reimbursement scheme.  The matters raised by Deputies Shane Moynihan, Michael Murphy, Paul Donnelly, Rory Hearne and Gary Gannon, and Conor D McGuinness and David Cullinane have been selected for discussion "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/dbsect_34","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_34","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/dbsect_35","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Health Services","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/dbsect_34","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_34","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_35","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shane Moynihan  Is m\u00f3r agam an deis seo a thap\u00fa labhairt ar cheist at\u00e1 tar \u00e9is teacht faoi mo bhr\u00e1id le c\u00fapla m\u00ed anuas. Baineann s\u00e9 le c\u00farsa\u00ed s\u00faile. Issues and concerns that have been raised with me by constituents about our eye care model in Ireland. We know, for example, that public eye care services are under significant pressure. National Treatment Purchase Fund, NTPF, data shows that over 42,000 people are waiting for eye care appointments, with approximately 33% of those waiting longer than one year.  While much attention is rightly focused on that side of the thing, what I want to talk about today relates to our community eye care model and whether it is equipped to identify and manage emerging eye health challenges, particularly among children and young people. The current paediatric eye care pathway is focused on early childhood screening and the identification of serious visual impairments, but I do not think this captures the changing nature of eye health among children and adolescents, particularly when we take account of the rapid rise in the incidents of myopia, or short-sightedness.  We know myopia typically develops between the ages of eight and 16, after school entry vision screening has taken place. This raises the question as to whether some children are developing vision problems without any structured follow-up or monitoring and, in fact, in many cases a diagnosis is reactive because a child will complain, for example, that they cannot see the blackboard or cannot engage properly with a lesson. By that stage, there would have been some lag in academic outcomes and the vision problem would have presented itself.  Emerging evidence from Ireland and abroad would suggest that myopia is becoming increasingly common, particularly in younger age groups, with clinic based data showing the highest rate of myopia now among people in their 20s. While long-sightedness remains more prevalent in clinical populations, adjusted population estimates indicate that myopia is now becoming more prevalent as an eye condition, which shows the changing nature of eye health.  We know that undetected vision problems can negatively affect educational attainment, classroom participation, confidence and social development. Also, myopia is associated with a lifelong increase in serious eye disease like retinal detachment, glaucoma or cataracts. This risk of myopia and the severity of it increases with age and we know that high myopia is much more associated with a high risk of vision loss compared with normal vision. This has significant public health implications. Individuals with high myopia face the greatest risk. The overall burden on services is likely driven by the growing number of people with moderate myopia as well. We estimate that 50% of the global population could be myopic by 2050.  This is something we need to be very aware of in terms of how we design our eye care model and whether we should have proactive monitoring in place. One immediate action we could take is to encourage and enable independent prescription of medicines for eye conditions by optometrists in Ireland, which is something that is not in place at the moment. International evidence would suggest that allowing those prescribing powers to be made available to optometrists can allow more patients to be treated safely in the community. This reduces unnecessary hospital referrals and eases pressures on ophthalmology services. Large-scale clinical data from a number of studies suggests that electronic medical records can enable this as a potential cost effective tool for monitoring trends in eye health.  Will the Minister of State give us a view on the current model of the eye care pathway, especially at a paediatric level? Given our educational system is becoming more reliant on screens and we know there is greater use of screens, that in itself is compounding the issues affecting myopia and increasing its prevalence, as evidenced by the data. Ultimately, can we build an early warning or early detection system into our paediatric eye care pathway? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Mary Butler)  I thank Deputy Moynihan for raising this really important issue of eye care services in line with emerging trends. I am taking this on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill.  There are measures either in place or being progressed to address the emerging trends in eye care services, such as those due to an ageing demographic or an increase in the prevalence of myopia. The Health Service Executive provides optical services free of charge to children referred from child health and school health service examinations who are discovered to have sight problems. These children are referred to the appropriate service for treatment. Under the community ophthalmic services scheme, COSS, medical card holders and their dependants aged over 12 can be seen by ophthalmologists, optometrists or dispensing opticians. They can receive an eye examination and be provided with prescribed optical appliances in accordance with a national schedule of approved optical appliances.  In 2017, the HSE published two important documents, the Primary Care Eye Services Review Group Report and the national clinical programme for ophthalmology. The review report set out how a significant proportion of eye services could be delivered in a primary care setting. A key recommendation was that children aged between eight and 12 with routine eye care needs should be transferred to the care of local optometrists. These would receive an annual eye exam under the COSS, irrespective of their medical card eligibility. This remains a priority and work is ongoing to implement this recommendation.  The clinical programme set out a model of care regarding how the realignment of eye services from an acute hospital setting to the community would be undertaken. The HSE has been developing multidisciplinary integrated eye care teams in accordance with this model of care. These teams facilitate assessment, diagnoses, management and treatment, enabling most patients to be seen in their own locality. Where necessary, patients can be referred onwards to acute ophthalmology services to receive the necessary specialist input.  Significant investment has been made in developing and strengthening these integrated eye care teams. There are ten across the six health regions. These teams are also facilitating the large-scale transfer of care from hospital outpatient departments to community settings, with a substantial proportion of referrals assessed, treated and discharged outside the acute system. This has reduced pressure on hospital ophthalmology clinics, enabling acute services to prioritise complex, surgical and high-risk patients, and has improved patient experience through earlier assessment, shorter waiting times and care delivered closer to home.  Work is also under way to ensure Ireland has enough trained eye care professionals to deal with increasing demand: The South East Technological University, SETU, is progressing work to establish a bachelor of science honours degree in optometry, with a first intake of students expected in September 2027. I have been working closely with Professor John Nolan and Dr. Fraser Horn, who have done phenomenal work in the last couple of years to embed this into the new technological university.  They were very supportive of this \"one health\" approach. You have to have the eye care professionals in place to deliver an awful lot of the services.  I am really struck by what the Deputy said as well about optometrists being able to take that step in regard to dealing with children especially. We have seen how the Minister and the previous Minister have moved in relation to pharmacists now being able to prescribe up to 12 different medications, which is really important.  The Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment also recently announced that the ophthalmic optician is now an eligible occupation for the critical skills employment permit. Finally, the Department is also considering ways to expend the scope of practice for optometrists to ensure that the eye care needs of people, especially children and older persons, can be met. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shane Moynihan  I thank the Minister of State for that very comprehensive response. Core to a lot of the emerging healthcare needs we have in Ireland are training and skills, so I am very pleased to see that one of the planks of the Minister of State's answer was making sure we have enough trained professionals. I think that needs to be at the core of how we future-proof our public services and make sure we are able to address demand in the future. I also welcome the steps that are being taken towards embedding this into a community care model, which I think is what these integrated eye care teams will deliver. They are contingent on the number of trained professionals.  I ask the Minister of State to take it up with the Minister for Health in a broader piece around the prescribing powers for optometrists to enable them to be a core pillar of how we engage directly with children in the community and to avoid them necessarily having to even go as far as the integrated eye care team, especially if medication or treatment can be prescribed in a low-cost setting.  While all the other developments the Minister of State described are very welcome, there is a piece around early detection. Even with the model that is laid out at the moment, it seems to be a referral or reactive, which is a very good and strong way to find this. Given that we know this is going to have increased protection, studies from the US and South Korea suggest that myopia affects 50% of the population towards the middle of their lives, and that that, as the Minister of State knows, brings added risk of eye disease later on in life, how do we build on that early detection piece, in the same way we would have done with dental care and on the back of public health nurse checks in the first years of a baby's life? How do we keep an eye on - pardon the pun - the development of eye health and eye care but also address and ensure we use the data to inform monitoring and planning and learn about the prevalence of myopia? One thing the increased use of screens has taught us is that nobody would have anticipated that it has had a very detrimental effect on the overall state of the eye health of children and adults in the country, which has led to this increased prevalence of myopia. I thank the Minister of State for the response, and she might respond to the other points too. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  It is great to have the opportunity to discuss the reform of eye care services in line with emerging trends across the country. Deputy Michael Murphy, who is sitting in front of Deputy Moynihan, has discussed with me several times the issue of getting the right clinicians into the job. We have been really challenged, for example, in south Tipperary in getting a consultant optometrist in there to fill that post. That is why it is really important we have the training skills across the country. We do not have enough positions at the moment. I am strongly of that opinion and we are trying to change that. That is really important.  The Deputy talked about eye care. Often when we think of eyes, we think about the glasses or the contact lenses but eye care is very important. There is a huge amount of work done with older people with dementia, macular degeneration and cataracts. It is very important that the quality of life of a person can be so much improved if they have the correct eye care.  Myopia - short-sightedness or nearsightedness - is increasing among children both globally and in Ireland. Research indicates that daily outdoor activities and managing children's screen time and sleep time may be beneficial for slowing the progress of myopia. Children discovered to have sight problems, including myopia, during HSE screenings get free treatment from their local HSE integrated eye care team, but I am conscious of waiting lists and where a young child is waiting. I am conscious again of the situation in south Tipperary, which has been raised. We failed over the past two years to get a consultant in post, and that ends up creating very long waiting lists for children. As we all know, regardless of what health issue it is, early intervention is key.  I will raise with the Minister again the prescribing element of it, because the more services we can move away from the acute hospital setting and into the community, the better. I thank the Deputy again for raising this. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Health Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/dbsect_36","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Health Services","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/dbsect_34","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_34","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_36","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Murphy  I raise the ongoing closure of the south Tipperary memory clinic in Cashel and the growing impact it is having on patients and families across the county. I thank the Minister of State for taking the question, as I know it is an area she is very familiar with, given her previous responsibility in this area.  Through a number of parliamentary questions I submitted recently, I received confirmation from the HSE that the memory clinic has been closed since January 2026. There is no reopening date, and while there is a review under way, families have no certainty as to when a fully functioning service will be restored. The figures provided to me by the HSE are deeply concerning. There are currently 450 patients awaiting an initial assessment and a further 168 waiting for follow-up appointments. That is a total of 618 people caught up in a system that is simply not functioning.  This matters, as the Minister of State well knows, because dementia diagnosis is not a luxury; it is a gateway to treatment, care planning, family support and future decision-making. While the HSE points to dementia advisers and other support services, those services are not a substitute for diagnosis itself. What families want and what patients deserve is timely assessment and diagnosis.  I know the Minister of State is very familiar with the dementia model of care. I think that sets out a pathway for timely access to assessment and intervention of six weeks, yet in south Tipperary, we have a situation where public memory clinics have ceased operating entirely. Patients are being left indefinitely, while GPs are being provided with information on private providers. I think that raises serious questions about equity of access.  Will the Minister of State address the stark contrast with services available in other parts of the south east? I know the tremendous work the Minister of State has done in Waterford and Wexford, both of which provide a structured multidisciplinary approach to dementia assessment and support. Why is a comparable service not available to the people of south Tipperary? My understanding is that there is currently no dedicated memory service in north Tipperary either, and if that is the case, large parts of the county are effectively without direct access to specialist memory assessment services.  We all know our population is ageing. We know that dementia referrals are increasing year on year. This cannot be dismissed simply as a temporary inconvenience or an administrative issue. This is a systemic failure, in my view.  We talked about ophthalmology a minute ago. We have a similar systems failure with ophthalmology provision in south Tipperary, and we have a similar systematic failure when it comes to orthodontic care in south Tipperary. However, this particular memory clinic service failure is leaving hundreds of patients waiting for a diagnosis and is leaving families in distress.  I plead with the Minister of State to engage directly with the Minister to address the specific issues. When will the review be completed and when will the memory clinic reopen? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  I thank Deputy Murphy for raising this very important issue. I am taking this Topical Issue on behalf of the Minister of State with responsibility for older people and housing, Deputy Kieran O'Donnell, who sends his apologies for not being able to be here tonight.  The Deputy is quite right. I was a Minister of State in the previous D\u00e1il for four and a half years, and one of the areas where we made a lot of progress was dementia. Every day in Ireland, there are 30 new cases of dementia. There were 30 yesterday, there are 30 today and there will be another 30 tomorrow. I was delighted to welcome the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, to Cappoquin in Waterford last Friday, where we opened a new dementia day service. It is something I worked on while I was in the role and it was great to get it over the line, because bringing services to people in the community, especially those with dementia, is really important. You can live well with dementia in your community with the correct wraparound supports of home care, day care, meals on wheels and the like of the memory clinics.  When I was asked to take this Topical Issue debate tonight, I was disappointed to hear that one of the 25 memory clinics that I worked so hard to open across the country after Covid had been \"paused\". I do not like seeing that word at all. Memory clinics are so important. They are a specialist service to support people with memory loss, changes in cognitive formation or dementia. As the Deputy knows, it is located in St. Patrick's Hospital in Cashel in south Tipperary. I appreciate the impact that this is having on people who are awaiting dementia services.  The HSE has advised me that the memory clinic in Cashel has been paused since January this year due to staffing and resourcing issues. I have spoken to the integrated healthcare area manager for south Tipperary this evening. I rang her and she assured me that the HSE was working both locally and nationally to resume the clinic as soon as possible. I am very conscious of the waiting list that the Deputy called out of 450 patients, 168 of whom have had the initial appointment. That is a significant waiting list. Currently, people are referred to the memory clinic either by their general practitioner or through acute hospitals or community specialist teams. Increasing service demand, combined with staffing challenges, has led to longer waiting lists in the memory clinic, as the Deputy alluded to.  The HSE has approved the appointment of a full-time administrative post to support the current clinical administrative systems and allow for their further development. In addition, the current clinic staff are exploring new ways of working to address the waiting lists and resume the provision of a memory clinic service in south Tipperary. As the Deputy quite rightly said, the programme for Government includes a commitment to roll out more memory assessment and support services. I had the honour of being able to write that into the programme for Government. I feel strongly about dementia supports, regardless of where people live. I am disappointed to see that this is the current situation.  I have been told that referrals can be made to the south Tipperary integrated care programme for older persons, ICPOP, team in Thurles, which provides specialist secondary care for people with cognitive decline, falls and frailty. I am conscious that the current situation in south Tipperary is difficult. I will give the Deputy a commitment tonight. I have already spoken to the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell's office this evening. We will follow this up rigorously because it is really important. We came from a situation where we did not have many dementia supports. We have 25 memory clinics open. They are vital, the length and breadth of the country. I will work with the Deputy and the Minister of State with responsibility for older people to make sure that we get this up and running again. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Murphy  I thank the Minister of State for her reply and acknowledge the extent to which she has been a positive force. I acknowledge the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, too, and the establishment of 25 memory clinics around the country. The central issue remains that we have no clear timeline for the restoration of service in south Tipperary. At the heart of my question lie the 450 people awaiting an initial assessment and the 168 awaiting a follow-up appointment. That waiting list will only grow as long as the clinic remains closed. As the Minister of State rightly pointed out, behind every one of those numbers is a person or a family living with uncertainty. Delayed diagnosis can mean delayed treatment, delayed supports and delayed planning for the future. I reference the national dementia model of care, which the Minister of State is familiar with, and the six-week optimal waiting list.  I appreciate the commitment that the Minister of State has given. We really need to push for a timeline for completion of the review and, more importantly, for the restoration of services in Cashel and the re-establishment of the memory clinic in south Tipperary so that we can set a clear plan to address what is a serious and growing waiting list. This is a systematic failure by the HSE. It needs to be corrected and I sincerely welcome the Minister of State's commitment tonight. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  I thank the Deputy. Many of the memory clinics evolved organically over many years. I am aware that there is a memory technology resource room in Clonmel, which supports people with technology when, for example, they are living well at home with dementia, but it is important that we get the memory clinic back up and running. These clinics are a vital cog in the wheel. There is an excellent dementia adviser in south Tipperary. I have met her many times. She is fantastic. There is a great partnership with the Alzheimer Society of Ireland. I commend it on the work it does. The opening of the new service in Cappoquin last Friday brought to 62 the number of dementia day services across the country. I commend the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, for following on and making sure that dementia in general remains a key part of the work that he does every day of the week.  We always talk about the prevalence of early onset dementia. We are seeing more and more younger people with it. As the Deputy knows, we had the two fantastic Adams brothers in Ireland only recently. They ran 33 marathons in 33 days. I had the honour of meeting them with the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, and others. We had a very good conversation. I am delighted to say that they will be coming back to Ireland early in July. We will have statements on dementia in the House and the brothers will be present.  I thank the Deputy for putting the spotlight on dementia today, specifically with regard to Cashel and the memory clinic. I will speak with the Minister of State in the next week or so and try to make sure that we get traction and get this service back open as quickly as possible. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Health Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/dbsect_37","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Energy Policy","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/dbsect_34","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_34","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_37","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel Grealish","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Donnelly  I appreciate the opportunity to raise this extremely important issue. It has been pointed out that last week alone, over \u20ac15 million of renewable wind energy was wasted. According to EirGrid, 18% of wind energy was wasted in 2026. For people who do not know, EnergyCloud is delivering free heated water to thousands of people over 120 nights a year and will be helping thousands of homes by the end of 2026. It is demonstrating the link between surplus renewable energy and energy poverty in a very practical way. It is making impacts on a day-to-day basis for people who are in energy poverty. The residents in question have spoken not only of the money, but also of the fact that they now have hot water to wash themselves, their children, their dishes, and their homes. It has a real impact. It removes having to make the choice between heating or eating, and shows what is possible.  Some of the statistics are quite shocking. The programme for Government has a commitment to use surplus renewable energy to help those in fuel energy poverty. Renewable energy wastage came to 2,137 GWh. Approximate retail value of the wasted energy was \u20ac756 million. That is an astonishing amount of wasted energy. It is equivalent to 692 million tanks of hot water heated. The average waste per day is \u20ac1.633 million. That is energy that is being created every single day that is going to waste.  EnergyCloud is trying to make the connection between the renewable energy that is being created, that cannot be used at a particular time that day, and people who are in energy poverty. When we talk about the cost-of-living crisis that we have at the moment, there are something like 320,000 people currently in energy poverty or energy debt. They are a number of months behind on their payments. The scale of this is absolutely huge. The scale of energy that is being created and wasted is astonishing.  A commitment is required from the Government to support EnergyCloud.  That is what it is asking for. It has sent this email to every single TD. The Minister of State may have received it himself. It is really important that we have that discussion on linking the energy we have here and people in energy poverty. This about enabling them to wash themselves, washing their dishes and heating their homes. It is quite incredible. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel Grealish","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Noel Grealish)  I am taking this on behalf of the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, who is out of the country. Ireland is fully committed to an ambitious and just green transition, which is essential not only from an environmental perspective, but is also required to reduce our reliance on expensive imported fossil fuels. This involves remaining abreast of new technologies in order to support the integration of increasing volumes of renewables and to further support the use of surplus energy to reduce the amount of wasted energy. Some major challenges exist for electricity systems like ours which are increasingly powered by renewables. These complex issues can only be addressed by taking a systematic approach requiring investment in grid, storage and demand flexibility.  The Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment has engaged widely with relevant stakeholders to identify areas for co-operation in relation to tackling energy poverty and renewable energy waste. A number of key measures are currently under way. First is grid enhancement and interconnection. We are investing \u20ac18.9 billion in network infrastructure. The Greenlink interconnector, completed in April 2025, and the forthcoming Celtic interconnector with France will allow us to export surplus energy to European markets during periods of high generation.  Second is the national energy affordability action plan. Through the national energy affordability task force, we are developing an action plan to be published in late 2026. A primary objective is to identify solutions that allow household, particularly those in energy poverty, to avail of low-cost surplus renewable energy.  Third is the electricity storage policy framework. Following the publication of our battery storage framework, we are accelerating the deployment of long-duration storage and batteries. In addition, we are increasing battery capacity to buffer the grid during peak production.  The fourth is the national hydrogen programme. Our new national hydrogen programme task force is overseeing a work programme to develop green hydrogen as a long-term storage solution for surplus wind and solar power.  Fifth is the smart grid and demand response. Through the CRU and ESB Networks, we are expanding \"Beat the Peak\" initiatives and smart meter incentives, encouraging consumers and large energy users to shift their demand to times of high renewable surplus. The national energy demand strategy aims to make 20% to 30% of electricity demand flexible by 2030. A key aspect of this strategy is preparing households and businesses to maximise their use of renewables.  The sixth is district heating. We are advancing the development of district heating systems to take excess heat from large energy users and other sources to power district heating solutions for both households and businesses.  Finally, the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment will also lead the development of an integrated strategy on the use of renewable surplus energy, which will co-ordinate technical grid limits, flexible demand, storage deployment and interconnector flows to maximise the use of renewable energy units.  These measures clearly demonstrate our commitment to a just and green transition while managing the current energy affordability strains on households in Ireland. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Donnelly  I welcome the report from the Minister. One of the key things is the national energy affordability task force report which is due to be published late this year. My concern and that of EnergyCloud is that it will come too late for the next budget because it will need investment. Although there is investment in the smart grid and all the things the Minister of State just outlined, I am unsure where it makes the connection between the 550,000 homes where people are living in energy poverty and how that connects with the seven items the Minister of State talked about in his reply.  I welcome the advancements but when one looks at the wasted renewable energy report from EnergyCloud for 16 months until 30 April, as I said, that is \u20ac756 million in retail wasted energy. This cannot come too soon for people in energy poverty who, as we speak, are probably not heating their homes. I know we are in June but we are not talking about warm weather today. I welcome the report but there needs to be more urgency about it. People are choosing between heating and eating need it now and they need that support now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel Grealish","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Noel Grealish  The Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment is acutely aware that, with the scale of renewable electricity generation sources coming onto the grid, the grid needs to be more flexible to account for the intermittent nature of renewables. Moreover, for the decarbonisation pathway to be efficient our energy systems must be smart. A smart and flexible energy system will reduce consumer energy bills by reducing the amount of generation and network assets that need to be built to meet peak demand. Consequently the deployment of energy smart appliances such as electric vehicle charge points, domestic battery storage, energy storage systems, heat pumps and hot water heating solutions is a crucial step for empowering households and businesses to play a central role in Ireland\u2019s energy transition. Some major challenges exist, however, that can only be addressed by taking a systematic approach requiring investment in grid storage and demand flexibility.  The Government remains fully committed to an ambitious and just green transition that is fair and leaves no one behind. The Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment has engaged widely with relevant stakeholders to identify areas for co-operation in relation to tackling energy poverty and renewable energy waste and a number of key measures are currently under way, some of which I referred to in detail earlier. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Energy Policy"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/dbsect_38","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Post Office Network","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/dbsect_34","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_34","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_38","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel Grealish","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  We want to raise an issue of deep concern to the community around Griffith Avenue, Glasnevin, in relation to a proposal \u2013 which seems to be going ahead \u2013 to sell the An Post depot on Griffith Avenue. This has been publicly advertised for sale. Will the Minister of State set out what is planned on this? We have a number of issues of concern to the residents. They really want to stop this happening. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  I want to talk about the erosion of a community service. I am conscious the Minister of State may be taking this on behalf a different Minister. I have to be honest - the Minister of State is an Independent who is not part of the same party as the Minister with responsibility for the matter and I am not sure what role the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has in relation to the loss of a postal service. I am quite frustrated. Myself and Deputy Hearne are both here at 11.10 p.m. on a Tuesday evening. We equally have families to be home to. I do not think this is an appropriate standard for parliamentary debate. There was no communication with our offices on the change of Ministers. I think it is really disrespectful not only to our role but to the people we represent in our respective constituencies.  I want to speak on the loss of a postal service in Drumcondra but I am also speaking about the erosion of community. Community happens in a multitude of different forms. That postal service parcel delivery office on Home Farm Road, off Griffith Avenue, is a place of congregation. It is a place where older residents in particular in an older part of Dublin city actually find their routine. They find their engagement. They go about their business. It is a source of community. We are about to lose a site from a semi-State entity. There will be a big hole in the ground that once was a State service and residents are angry about it. They are not just angry because of the loss of a particular entity; they are angry because of the loss of a service. There has been no consultation. The residents rightfully feel disrespected.  Further compounding that disrespect, when we strive to have a parliamentary debate about the loss of service, while I respect the Minister of State's role, I have no concept of what happens after this. He will read from a prepared script, but who will take this back to the Minister with responsibility, who seems to be able to give a soundbite to the media about some ridiculousness every once in a while? However, when we are here to engage on a substantive issue, we have nothing. I genuinely feel disrespected and the communities we represent are equally disrespected. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel Grealish","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Noel Grealish  I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I speak today on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy McConalogue, who could not be here. I am reading from a prepared script. I welcome the opportunity to outline the position on this matter. An Post is a commercial State company with a mandate to act commercially and as such, day-to-day operational matters including decisions in relation to the size, distribution and future of the network are matters for the board and the management of the company and are not ones in which either the Minister of State or the Minister, Deputy O\u2019Donovan, has a statutory function. The Ministers are aware of the impact that decisions relating to changes in An Post operations have on communities and individuals in both rural and urban areas.  This is a matter for the company. It would be inappropriate for the Government, as a shareholder, to comment on decisions that are for the board and management of An Post to consider. Notwithstanding that this is an operational matter, officials have engaged with the company. An Post has noted it is consolidating its national network of local sorting offices, also known as delivery service units, DSUs. It advises that it needs larger and purpose-fitted premises to manage increased parcel volumes. An Post has advised that as part of a citywide plan over this year and next, it is relocating a number of its delivery offices to new city delivery hubs. Among these will be the An Post delivery offices in Harmonstown, Dublin 5, and Griffith Avenue in Whitehall, Dublin 9, moving to a new north Dublin delivery hub. An Post states that the proposed move is scheduled for the second quarter of next year and there is much to be considered before then. It states that its delivery office in Finglas, Dublin 11, will also be sharing the new facility being completed and purpose-fitted at the North City Business Park in Dublin 11. An Post remains in consultation with staff and unions on the details of these moves.  An Post has further advised that it will facilitate the collection of missed mail locally in local post offices and PostPoint parcel collection pick-up outlets. It states the move will have also little day-to-day impact on local customers as the same postal workers will be delivering to the same local routes as before. An Post advises that it needs much larger premises or repurposed facilities, or both, to manage increased parcel volumes and to meet the future needs of the city and the changing needs of its customers. It notes these new buildings also represent an improvement in working conditions for staff and make huge inroads in terms of sustainability with regard to heating, lighting and the day-to-day operations of buildings like the new delivery hub.  In accordance with section 8.22 of the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies, all State bodies are required to seek the approval of the relevant Minister and the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Sector Reform and Digitalisation in advance of any material acquisition or disposal of land, buildings or other material assets proposed by a State body. Departmental officials engage with An Post on various consent requests and An Post is aware of the requirement for compliance with the code of practice. The Government is committed to a sustainable An Post and post office network as a key component of the economic and social infrastructure throughout Ireland. The programme for Government states that the Government will continue to provide the nationwide network of post offices with funding to ensure their sustainability and enhance the value they bring to local communities. The Department of Culture, Communications and Sport is working to deliver on this and an enhanced amount of \u20ac15 million per annum has been allocated for supporting the network subject to all legal requirements being satisfied.  In line with the programme for Government, the funding will support the stability and sustainability of the nationwide network of post offices, protecting and nurturing a commercially focused post office network. It will also support access for citizens to the key social benefits of the post office network and help citizens access services effectively. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  I again express the deep concern we have for our constituents in Glasnevin and Drumcondra. This service delivery office has been an important local service for the community, and this is happening in the context of the removal of a number of local services like local transport infrastructure, bus changes, the closure of Whitehall Garda station, the loss of parking, restriction on transport and ongoing disruptions. This area also has an older demographic. Residents are deeply concerned that changes being made to essential services like this are being made without any consideration of the combined impact on residents who depend on accessible local infrastructure and services. In particular, it will have a negative impact on the quality of life of older residents, those with mobility challenges and families seeking to remain connected to local services. We are asking if An Post has undertaken an assessment of such accessibility and mobility impacts of the change in services. We are not aware of that. We would like to see these assessments done. We are also asking if ComReg has been addressed about this. On the issue of the material disposal of land, has the Department consented to An Post for the disposal of this according to section 8.22 of the code of practice? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  I will speak to the Minister of State in his own capacity. He is an Independent who represents the constituency of Galway West. When he envisioned himself becoming a Minister of State, did he imagine he would be standing in the Chamber defending the closure of local postal services? I appreciate that my constituency and his are very different, but I imagine some of the community needs are the same. The older population in my community of Drumcondra and Glasnevin rely on their post office. When I am told that An Post is a commercial State entity, what does that actually mean? Some State entities do not need to be run for profit. They could also be run for community gain. What we are losing through this erosion of community infrastructure, not only in Dublin Central and Drumcondra, is that community itself. I ask Deputy Grealish to remember why he became an Independent, chose to get involved in politics and became a Minister of State and to stand up for genuine public services such as the post office. I do not for one second doubt he appreciates the need for this type of infrastructure as much as I do. Now that he is sitting in that chair, I ask him to become a custodian of the issue and stand up for this infrastructure. It does not have to be a massive post office. It can be a small postal collection service with other community infrastructure like childcare facilities or anything. Let us show a bit of innovation rather than selling the service off to a private fund, which will be a loss to the community. I would imagine the Minister of State's belief system would go against that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel Grealish","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Noel Grealish  I thank the Deputy for his comments. When I was on that side of the House, we brought in a lot of Private Members' business about An Post. We always emphasised the importance of the post office and the postman. In all fairness, the postman was the connection with a lot of elderly people living at home. He used to call and check on them to make sure they were there. There is always that fear you will lose the services in the area. I will not read out the script I have in front of me. However, I will get a transcript of what the Deputy said and bring it to the Minister. I will ask him to reply directly to him about the issues he raised. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Post Office Network"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/dbsect_39","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Schools Building Projects","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-06-09\/debate\/dbsect_34","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_34","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_39","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel Grealish","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  T\u00e1im chun caint anocht faoi Scoil Gharbh\u00e1in i nD\u00fan Garbh\u00e1in i gContae Phort L\u00e1irge. T\u00e1 s\u00e1ga - sc\u00e9al an-fhada - sa scoil seo i dtaobh s\u00edneadh a chur leis an bhfoirgneamh scoile. I raise the situation of Scoil Gharbh\u00e1in in Dungarvan, County Waterford and the long-running saga the school community, the children, teaching staff, management, board and parents have been dealing with over several years.  The Department of education has recently communicated the decision to the school that it is to scale back a long-approved nine-room extension. This decision has caused serious concern in the school community because it cuts across what was previously approved, communicated and planned for and what the school has been working towards in good faith over a number of years. In November 2024, after many years of delay and a lot of miscommunication and shifting goalposts, the Department issued a formal offer for a nine-room extension made up of four mainstream classrooms, two special education classrooms and three special education tuition rooms. That offer was made in response to an already recognised accommodation crisis in the school.  Today, the school has 13 classes but only nine permanent classrooms, meaning the school cannot operate within its own physical capacity. As a result, children are being taught across a fragmented mix of off-site accommodation, prefab buildings and repurposed spaces that were never designed for long-term use. One of the classes is based off-site in a nearby secondary school. That has been the case for three years. This requires daily movement away from the school campus and results in a loss of normal teaching continuity. The children educated off site also lose out on the community they might otherwise enjoy. Another class has been located in the halla for five years. The entirety of the funds to build that halla were raised by the parents and school community. However, for almost all of that five years, it has served as a classroom. That has removed any kind of proper PE and assembly space from the school. The schoolyard is also taken up with two prefabs, which means there is no outdoor paved area for play on those days when it is not lashing rain. Kids are effectively kept in their classrooms. Those in the prefabs are dealing with damp, deteriorating conditions and structural concerns.  The school, which was originally built for 100 pupils, now has 320 and demand is increasing. I should mention that this is a Gaelscoil in Dungarvan. Dungarvan has been recognised as a Gaeltacht service town for a number of years now. Government makes significant investment in promoting the use of Irish as a living community language in the town of Dungarvan. This is the sole Gaelscoil and it is intrinsically important to that project, to the school community, to the children who are educated there and to the promotion of Irish in west Waterford. There is no other Gaelscoil. There is no other option but demand increases. There is a na\u00edonra on site which acts as a feeder for the school. There are waiting lists. Not only is this making teaching very difficult and not only is it impacting the learning experience of the children attending the school but it is also preventing parents from accessing oideachas tr\u00ed Ghaelainn d\u00e1 bp\u00e1ist\u00ed, getting an education through the Irish language for their children.  Next to the school is a 155-home housing development that is to come on stream in the next year or year and half. That is much needed in Dungarvan. Demand is only going to increase. In the catchment area, there are two English-language schools but both are landlocked and do not have room to expand. I should also mention that, back when I was a councillor, the Department of education funded Waterford City and County Council to buy a site to build an extension for this school. The site is there. It has been paid for with public funds. Approval was granted but the goalposts are now being shifted. To say that the school community feels utterly dejected and let down would be a massive understatement. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel Grealish","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Noel Grealish  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Teachta. I am taking this on behalf of the Minister for Education and Youth, Deputy Hildegarde Naughton. I will outline to the D\u00e1il the current position on investments in school infrastructure in County Waterford. Waterford county is broken down into five school planning areas. An analysis of the primary school population in Waterford indicates that primary school enrolments will reduce in all areas over the next five years, with the exception of the school planning area of Ring, which may see a small increase in enrolments. Post-primary enrolments in all areas are projected to remain steady and to peak in the next few years.  There are currently four school projects under construction in County Waterford. These projects are in addition to \u20ac150 million in capital funding for County Waterford schools since 2020. During that period, over 30 schools in County Waterford were upgraded through the provision of a new school building, a large-scale extension or the provision of modular accommodation. In addition, approximately 120 small-scale improvement works were undertaken across the county's schools to address maintenance needs and enhance energy efficiency. Furthermore, since 2020, a total of 68 special classes have been sanctioned in County Waterford, of which 17 were sanctioned for September 2026.  As the Deputy will be aware, the Department published the \u20ac7.55 billion NDP sectoral investment plan for the education and youth sectors for the period from 2026 to 2030 earlier this year. Of the total \u20ac7.55 billion investment, it is envisaged that approximately \u20ac5 billion will be used for project roll-out to support the delivery and modernisation of school buildings across the large-scale, additional accommodation, modular and annual September accommodation needs programmes.  The Department continues to build on the progress made over recent years with the roll-out of projects on a prioritised basis to meet the most urgent needs in terms of provision of additional capacity and modernisation of existing facilities. In this regard, the Department also published a list of 105 school building projects in the first tranche to proceed to construction or tender over 2026 and 2027. This list included two projects in County Waterford, one of which is the now under construction. The second project has moved to tender stage.  As part of planning ahead for the next tranche of projects to progress to tender, a Department-led prioritisation process will continue over the course of 2026 and 2027. This will include engagement with key stakeholders, including meetings with patrons this month. The Department-led energy and condition survey of the school estate, which will be finalised later in 2026, will provide an additional evidence base for assessing priorities. A next tranche of projects to proceed to tender is expected to be announced in 2027.  Investment under the plan also involves the delivery of the first tranche of 297 projects under the climate action summer works scheme. This includes seven projects in County Waterford that are approved to undergo works this summer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas as sin ach n\u00edl s\u00e9 r\u00f3-\u00fas\u00e1ideach dom n\u00e1 do na daoine at\u00e1 bainteach leis an scoil seo. I thank the Minister of State for the response. I appreciate him being here to read it. However, similar to other speakers tonight, I will put on record that I would much prefer it if one of the two Ministers in the Department of education were here. Neither is. That in itself tells us something. We could have a more engaging and robust conversation. That is no criticism of the Minister of State. To be fair, he is here doing his job.  What we need here is real and meaningful engagement with the school. I had the school principal, the deputy principal and the chairperson of the board of management in Leinster House for some meetings this evening. I understand they are going to meet with the Minister tomorrow. However, that cannot just be a meeting to go through what the Minister of State has just said here. I hope the Minister has more to say to the school because this is holding back the ability of children to get an education, of educators to do their jobs safely and of parents to vindicate their children's right to an education through the medium of Irish.  No matter what way you cut it, this is an infringement of children's basic rights, such as the right of children with special educational needs attending this excellent school to be able to get the educational interventions they need and deserve in an adequate and appropriate place. It infringes the right of children who are learning to move around during their break times and not be stuck in a classroom, sometimes a prefab classroom, without access to a halla or cl\u00f3s to go outside and play. We need a can-do attitude from the Minister tomorrow. We do not need a litany of what has been achieved, what might be achieved and what is aspired to. It is about the nuts and bolts of remedying this situation. If it is a matter of pointing to a miscommunication or error on the Department's part that it is going to solve, that is fine. We will take that all day long but we need an approach that aims to fix this and sets out how, and that involves working with the school community. They are reasonable people but they have been trying to get this extension for years. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel Grealish","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Noel Grealish  The Department has a strong track record of delivering the Government's school building programme, with over \u20ac6.9 billion invested since 2020. This has delivered more than 1,400 completed school building projects along with over 4,000 small-scale improvement works to meet priority maintenance needs and advance energy efficiency and climate goals. A total capital ceiling of \u20ac7.55 billion for 2026 to 2030 was allocated to the Department of Education and Youth under the national development plan review. This is a record level of investment in school buildings. It will expand the number of school places, significantly increase provision for special education, and upgrade and modernise our school infrastructure. The impact of this will be felt in communities right around the country. This \u20ac7.55 billion investment will be prioritised to ensure every child has a school place and it will support the overall operation of the school system and youth sector in terms of capital infrastructure. The Department puts a very strong emphasis on achieving value for money. Its focus is on delivering good quality functional accommodation for schools based on its suite of standard designs and specifications.  That is the response I was given from officials in the Department of education. I wish the Deputy well in the meeting tomorrow. It is important that the school engages with the Minister. Perhaps, they will get some good news. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar athl\u00f3 ar 11.31 p.m. go dt\u00ed 9 a.m., D\u00e9 C\u00e9adaoin, an 10 Meitheamh 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The D\u00e1il adjourned at 11.31 p.m. until 9 a.m. on Wednesday, 10 June 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Schools Building Projects"}]}}]},"contextDate":"2026-06-09"},{"debateRecord":{"house":{"showAs":"34th D\u00e1il","committeeCode":"","houseCode":"dail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/house\/dail\/34","chamberType":"house","houseNo":"34"},"chamber":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/def\/house\/dail","showAs":"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann"},"lastUpdated":"2026-07-04T02:16:28+00:00","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/main","formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/mul@\/main.xml"},"pdf":null},"date":"2026-05-28","counts":{"contributorCount":128,"divisionCount":0,"debateSectionCount":44,"questionCount":31,"billCount":3},"debateType":"debate","debateSections":[{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_2","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_3","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Departmental Budgets","counts":{"speechCount":13,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_2","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_3.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell  Will the Minister give us an update on the projected overspends of the Department of education and how they will impact on the budgets of other Government Departments? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (Deputy Jack Chambers)  What I have is a question relating to overspends in my Department, which is the wording of the question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell  That was incorrect. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  I will respond to it as it is written, and I am happy to engage. I know what the Deputy is raising. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell  That mistake was not on my side. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  The latest fiscal monitor published on 6 May showed that the end of April gross voted expenditure amounted to \u20ac36 billion. This is a \u20ac2.9 billion or 8.9% increase compared with April 2025 and reflects the implementation of the priorities set out in budget 2026, and the significant uplift in expenditure to support programme for Government commitments. Compared with the profiles set out by Departments for their planned spending over the year, this was \u20ac0.6 billion or 1.8% below profile.  For my Department\u2019s Vote, end of April gross expenditure of \u20ac593 million was \u20ac39 million or 6.2% behind the profile set out. The public expenditure group comprises eight Votes, which are my Department, superannuation and retired allowances, the Office of Public Works, the State Laboratory, secret service, Public Appointments Service, shared services office and the Office of the Ombudsman. None of these were over profile at the end of April. Ensuring that public money is spent efficiently and that taxpayers see clear outputs and outcomes from public spending is a core priority for my Department and for Government. The Government agreed a medium-term fiscal structural plan in December last year. It sets out expenditure ceilings to 2030 and provides significant uplifts in expenditure over the coming years, with gross voted spending to reach \u20ac147.3 billion by 2030. In April, Government agreed that additional funding of \u20ac646 million will be provided to the Department of Education and Youth in 2026. To accommodate this reprioritisation and to deliver on the 2027 ceiling agreed under the medium-term fiscal plan, other Departments have been asked to deliver a levy focusing on efficiencies and reforms, which will total \u20ac446 million from 2027. This should be considered through the lens of an overall uplift of \u20ac7 billion for expenditure in 2027. It will not impact the 2026 allocations.  The delivery of reforms and efficiencies supports adherence----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy David Maxwell)  Deputy Farrell to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell  That was not the question I submitted, but I understand it is what the Minister has been told. I do not know if we should skip this question. I might just ask my question and if the Minister cannot answer it is not on him, which is totally fine. I accept that he was not aware. It is a bit of a mess, like this mess. My question relates to overspends in the Department of education and specifically how this will impact on other Government Departments, including Transport, justice and housing. My concern is that this will leave communities worse off in the long run, which is something we do not want to happen. My core question really concerns what looks likely to be cut. Of what those Departments felt was so important to get funding for on budget day, what is no longer deemed necessary? I am aware the Minister was not aware of the question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  The wording of the question is as it is printed on the question paper, which I have to respond to factually. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell  I know. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  I am happy to respond to the question on education that was raised at the budgetary oversight committee too. First, it is being done in the context of the Estimates process for budget 2027. Transport is at 1.4%. Housing is at 0.1% and justice is at 0.7%. We have specifically provided a carve-out for housing for obvious reasons and similarly for justice pay so we do not affect front-line areas. This is obviously in the context of a growing budget. I see this differently, through the lens of driving efficiencies, advancing reforms and enhancing productivity across these areas of public expenditure. I think we can improve outputs in the context of an efficiency and expenditure levy. New priorities emerge in the context of expenditure and that is why we were right to provide that additional funding to the Department of education. That is within a new and agreed fiscal framework. In the context of budget 2027 we will engage with the Departments through the Estimates process. However, each of them has an objective now to drive those efficiencies across these respective areas. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell  To be clear, the question the Minister received is not the question I was asking. I thank him for the answer, but the issue is that if you look at it in the context of what he is saying here and what is being done, things do not really add up. In January, the Minister said that the Government's massive expenditure on consultancy services was adding cost, delay and significant fragmentation to infrastructure delivery. However, we now hear he is spending \u20ac25,000 on a consultancy firm to try to garner public support for his infrastructure plan, all against the backdrop of cutting spending across other Departments. It seems like cuts for everybody except the Minister's Department. If the Minister wants to run an advertising campaign, he should use the policies he has. I do not understand spending \u20ac25,000 on a consultancy firm. Does the Minister think his Department should be spending \u20ac25,000 on a marketing campaign? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  The Deputy is misrepresenting what that is. It is independent research and analysis to advance the objectives set out in the accelerating infrastructure report where there are three or four recommendations or actions in respect of driving public acceptance of infrastructure in the country. It is important because that is an issue across communities where people have concerns. It is about how we build better public acceptance of that. They are doing a piece of work in that context. When you take a \u20ac275 billion infrastructure plan over ten years, it is important that we implement those recommendations and actions in the context of the evidence base being built out. In the context of the efficiency levy, it is important that all Government Departments, in as much as they are looking for more, also drive a greater focus on efficiencies and reforms. That is what we are seeking to do across government and that is why we are doing it in a context of the levy we have introduced. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Departmental Budgets"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_4","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Public Services Provision","counts":{"speechCount":10,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_2","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_4","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_4.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  My question is related and asks the Minister what he is doing to protect public service provision in light of the levies he has put on other Departments. We keep hearing about efficiencies and reform, and we are all for that, but it is quite vague. There has been strong criticism of his budgetary process from the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council. Has he taken on board its criticisms and what changes will he make in light of that? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  The Government agreed a medium-term fiscal structural plan in December last year. This sets out expenditure ceilings for the period to 2030. It provides significant uplifts in expenditure over the coming years, with gross voted spending to reach \u20ac147.3 billion in 2030. As set out in the plan, the ceiling for 2027 will increase to \u20ac125.5 billion. This is an uplift of \u20ac7 billion over the 2026 expenditure ceiling of \u20ac118.5 billion. Delivery of the plan over the medium-term horizon will require enhanced expenditure control, reducing and avoiding in-year decisions with carryover costs for subsequent years and robust oversight mechanisms. In April, Government agreed that additional funding of \u20ac646 million will be provided to the Department of Education and Youth in 2026. To accommodate this reprioritisation and deliver on the 2027 ceiling agreed under the plan, a levy has been introduced across other Departments, which have been asked to deliver efficiencies and reforms totalling \u20ac446 million from 2027. This should be considered through the lens of an overall uplift of \u20ac7 billion for expenditure in 2027 and will not impact 2026 allocations. The delivery of reforms and efficiencies supports adherence to the expenditure ceilings set out in our plan. It reflects the need to moderate the rate of expenditure growth across Departments to facilitate the decision to reprioritise and provide additional investment to the education sector within our wider fiscal framework out to 2030. The scale of the efficiencies to be found ranges from 0.02% to 1.4% on the 2026 current funding across all other Vote groups. The distribution of the levy has been designed to protect certain areas, which are the social protection Vote group non-pay allocation, Department of Health pay allocation, the specialist disability services subhead in the Department of Children, Disability and Equality, the Justice, Home affairs and Migration group pay, Housing, Local Government and Heritage group non-pay and pension funding across all Votes.  My Department wrote to Secretaries General following the Government decision, informing them of the need to identify efficiencies and reforms, and that this would form a key element of the Estimates engagement for budget 2027. Each Department will now have to determine how the levy will be applied across the Vote group and identify the efficiencies and reforms required to ensure this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  I appreciate that, but this is what the Minister has been saying publicly for the past number of weeks. What I am seeking to address with him is strong criticism of him and his Department in terms of their budget allocation process.  For example, the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council points out that the Minister's Department got the allocations and estimations in terms of what we would spend on doctors and nurses in the last three months of last year wrong and that every year his Department does not base its budget allocations on what was spent the year before and often reducing them back to an unrealistic level. The council said:  The budgetary allocation was too low from the start. Delivering planned services on budget becomes nearly impossible if funding was never sufficient. That responsibility lies with the Department of Public Expenditure.  It went on to accuse the Minister and his Department of \"bad budgeting\". The Irish Fiscal Advisory Council doing that is very serious, so what is the Minister doing to address this? The council made recommendations to him on what he should do. Are he and his Department listening to the council and taking what it says on board? Are he and his Department going to change their process or will they continue to just blame the Departments when the independent body is clearly saying the responsibility lies with them? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  We take everything the council says seriously in the context of its independent role. I am also conscious of what it says on the medium- to long-term horizon about how we manage overall expenditure to ensure it is on a safe and sustainable path. I do not think the council is arguing for a much bigger overall allocation. The Deputy is giving one side and reflecting one side in that context. On the Department of education, the allocation going into 2026 was a 10% allocation, which was far in excess of the overall expenditure growth rate, because of the need to respond to the specific necessities around education within our society, and Government prioritised that over other areas. When it comes to the Department of Health, it is on the back of exponential growth in health expenditure in recent years. There is a need in that Department, and indeed in other Departments, to focus on how we can improve the overall outputs, efficiencies and reforms in the context of the growth in spending in the last five years so we can achieve our overall ambition and objective, which is to moderate current expenditure so we can have the fiscal space to ramp up investment in infrastructure. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  I thank the Minister. What we are lacking here is any clear information from him or the other Ministers about what is actually going on, why this is happening, what he and his Department are going to do correct it in terms of their budgeting process and where these savings, efficiencies and reforms are going to come about. A senior economist at the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council said:  A better and more transparent approach would be to:  Estimate the cost of existing services based on actual year-to-date spending\u2014not original allocations, as is the current approach  Publish estimates of the change in cost of existing services, decomposed into its causes: demographics, pay, and price pressures [Then we would have transparency around this.]  Only then, set and publish estimates of savings targets (following negotiation) ...  The economist has given very specific advice on what the Minister and his Department need to do to correct this. We need that information and that transparency, so why are the Minister and his Department not providing it? Why is it just the same talk of how we are doing levies, efficiencies and reforms? We do not know what that means, what impact it is going to have and what the Minister and his Department are actually doing to get under the bonnet to fix this budgeting process. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  What we did very seriously in budget 2026 is ensure most Government Departments are within profile and that their allocation is successfully delivering across what was set out in the budgetary context. The issue with what the Deputy has presented is just taking ELS as it is today and saying you are going to add more avoids the need to drive efficiencies within the current base of spending and the need to drive reforms within the current base of spending so we improve the qualitative outputs that come from that. By just looking at----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  Nurses' and teachers' pay is fixed though. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  Looking for just additionality in the context of a current expenditure track for a particular policy area does not allow for an overall better evaluation of how we can get more for the current base of spend. That is how we have changed how we have approached overall expenditure policy. We are looking at the total expenditure rather than just looking at ELS and adding more. In the medium term that will improve the overall sustainability of our expenditure----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  It will not drive down wage growth. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  -----but also improve efficiencies and strengthen the focus on reform. That is my priority in the months ahead. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Public Services Provision"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_5","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"International Bodies","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_2","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_5","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_5.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  I thank Deputy Farrell. The annual Bilderberg conference is a forum to foster dialogue between Europe and North America on major issues facing the world, with attendees from industry, finance, government, academia and the media. The meeting was first held in 1954 and has been regularly attended by Irish Government Ministers on many occasions in recent years.  I was invited and attended this year\u2019s event, held in April 2026, in my capacity as Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation. This year\u2019s meeting was held in Washington DC and the agenda included a variety of topics such as AI, Arctic security, digital finance, energy diversification, Europe, global trade and the Middle East. While in Washington I also met the US Chamber of Commerce. Both engagements and events provide an important opportunity to engage with the international political and business community on Ireland\u2019s foreign direct investment potential. IDA Ireland reported that in 2025 a record 323 investments, which was a 38% increase over 2024, were achieved and this is expected to create over 15,300 new jobs. Total employment in IDA-supported firms reached a new high of over 312,400 people last year. This underscores the economic value of FDI and engagement with the international community.  There is additional information about the event on the official Bilderberg website, which includes information on the organisation\u2019s history, governance, steering committee, meetings, agendas, attendees and press releases. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell  The issue here is that in the spirit of the Bilderberg conference, which is a secretive conference, the Minister has not given me a full breakdown of exactly what he did and what he was discussing. It is only through a freedom of information request we have an insight into what he got up to. We also need to see it in the context of the time. When fuel protestors were out on the streets demanding the Minister's Government intervene just so they could make ends meet he was in Washington DC spending $760 a night of taxpayers' money on a luxury five-star hotel. While working families up and down the State were unable to afford to fill their tanks with fuel he was spending money on business class flights to the tune of thousands of euro and in total the trip cost the taxpayer \u20ac6,800. During a cost-of-living crisis why on Earth should taxpayers fund that type of trip while still not being aware of exactly what was being discussed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  The Deputy and her party fully understand, in the context of the party's participation in the Executive in the North, the importance of international engagement, foreign direct investment and engagement with the business community. As I said, the role in the context of the attendance at Bilderberg and meeting the US Chamber of Commerce is always to promote Ireland, to engage with many people who invest here and also political leaders in Europe and elsewhere. It is important, as an open, trading economy that we do that. I fully participated in the Cabinet meeting held on Sunday which obviously had advanced the discussions relating to our response and the important interventions we made. The Deputy's approach here, in undermining international engagement, is not fair. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell  I did not ask the Minister about his discussions with the US Chamber of Commerce. I asked him specifically about the Bilderberg conference. The focus on militarisation was absolutely clear from the agenda, which included discussions on the transatlantic defence industrial relationship, the Middle East and the future of warfare. As he is the Minister for public expenditure I find it concerning he would foster a close relationship with bosses of military companies, which is not in our national interest. I am concerned about the threat to our neutrality from this Government. The Minister will know there are no minutes or media coverage recording what was discussed in these sessions, so I would like to know what was discussed. The public paid nearly \u20ac7,000 for this trip and we have a right to know exactly what sessions the Minister attended, who he met and what he discussed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  All the attendees at the conference are published on the Bilderberg website, as is the specific agenda across many topics. As I have said it was AI, Arctic security, digital finance, energy diversification, Europe, global trade and the Middle East. It is attended by public representatives - members of government - from parts of Europe and the US, industry leaders and also by members of the media. The wider organisation's meeting agenda, respective press releases and what is discussed are set out. It has been attended by many members of Irish Governments in the past. As I said, it is important, as an open, trading economy that we engage with business leaders and members of government from across the world. It provides an important forum to do that. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"International Bodies"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_6","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Public Sector Pensions","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_2","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_6","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_6.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell  Have all former Ministers either paid any money owed or set up repayment plans with the NSSO with regard to the pensions overpayment issue? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  The National Shared Services Office, NSSO, a body under the aegis of the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, provides HR, pension, payroll and finance shared services to Government Departments and offices. As part of its remit, it transacts HR, payroll, pension and finance administration for public and civil servants on behalf of 54 client public service bodies.  In relation to pension and additional superannuation contribution, ASC, contributions for Ministers, Ministers of State, former Ministers and officeholders, a review into the application of the relevant pension schemes and additional superannuation contribution rates was carried out by the NSSO. The review identified 82 individuals where there was an under-deduction or over-deduction of pension and-or additional superannuation contribution. The NSSO has reached agreement with all current Ministers and Ministers of State in relation to payment of pension contributions due. Agreement has also been reached with the majority of former Ministers and other officeholders impacted by the review.  The NSSO is fully committed to ensuring that all moneys owed to the State are fully recouped, with 83% of the moneys owed now paid or in an agreed recoupment plan. It has informed me that there are a small number of outstanding cases where those impacted have yet to commit to a recoupment plan. Engagement is ongoing, with the latest correspondence issued from the NSSO this month.  These matters related to pension and ASC contributions and, in cases such as these, the NSSO adopts a consistent process of engagement to ensure the moneys owed are recovered. The NSSO works with each individual to address the error identified. An independent external audit of the NSSO retirement and pension processes is being overseen by the chair of the advisory board of the NSSO, and I have been told it is nearing completion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell  To be honest, I assumed the Minister was going to tell me that they had all engaged in a repayment plan. Am I correct that 17% have not engaged in a recoupment plan? I have raised this with the Minister numerous times, and I know he is in agreement with me. However, it is outrageous that 17% would not engage in a recoupment plan. This is a time when, as we were just discussing, people are struggling to make ends meet. Ordinary workers who go out and work every day of their lives cannot pay their bills or their rent. We now have a situation where former Ministers did not engage in a recoupment plan to pay money back into the State coffers, when they know this is the middle of a cost of living crisis and they know they were not due this money. We have been talking about this for months on end. I find it shocking. I genuinely thought the Minister was going to tell me they had all engaged in that recoupment plan. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  As the Deputy knows, given its remit, the wider work of the NSSO is done independently of me. I am not aware of who the current or former Ministers are. The NSSO is trying to progress the remaining number. They all should and must enter into a repayment plan. The NSSO said that the latest correspondence has issued this month. There needs to be full repayment, and I have said that consistently. All current Ministers and Ministers of State have entered into a repayment plan or have fully repaid it, or have been repaid themselves where there was an over-deduction in certain instances. It is important that the remaining number of former Ministers and Ministers of State enter into a repayment plan. I know the NSSO is determined to do that. I am not privy to the correspondence with specific individuals, except to say that the NSSO is progressing work to ensure that people enter specific plans. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell  Is the Minister aware of how many former Ministers are in that 17%? My God, this has to undermine public trust and public confidence. If anybody is overpaid anything, they are pursued with legal letters and threatening letters when these things happen through no fault of their own. They are pursued very quickly and in a very difficult way for many people who are not used to dealing with this. We are talking about people who were in a position of power, making decisions over other people\u2019s lives, who now feel they are a class to themselves, and who feel they do not need to engage in the recouping of this money. I understand that the Minister is not aware of each individual case, and that it is done in an independent way. However, can the Minister tell us how many people are involved? This means it is going to be difficult to maintain essential public confidence in public life. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  The total number of individuals was 82, which included current and former Ministers of State, officeholders and a small number of civil servants. Some 17% of that is what remains. We know that the cohort relating to current Ministers has been accounted for. I do not have the specifics. What I have been told is that the aggregate miscalculation was \u20ac359,000, and that 17%, or \u20ac62,000, remains. The vast majority of what was owed has been repaid or is in a recoupment plan. Of the 82 cases identified, 63 are now closed. The NSSO is repeatedly finalising this. Although I do not know, there may be individuals who are getting advice or getting it checked to see what is owed. I do not know the specific interactions that are ongoing because I am not familiar with the individuals, and it is confidential information for any individual. I know the policy and direction of the NSSO is to ensure that where anyone owes anything to the State where there has been an under-deduction, that is fully repaid. It is pursuing and engaging with all of the individuals with respect to that. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 5 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Public Sector Pensions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_7","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_8","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Ethics in Public Office","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_7","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_8.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  As the Minister knows, the ethics in public office legislation is very important in terms of public confidence in officeholders and public bodies. The review of the statutory framework was completed in 2022, almost four years ago. The heads of Bill should have followed quickly after that, yet here we are, in the middle of 2026, and there are no heads of Bill. What is causing the delay? When are we going to see the heads of Bill? We were promised two years ago by the then Minister, Paschal Donohoe, that it was almost ready. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  The programme for Government commits to updating the ethics in public office legislation. I assure the Deputy that this remains a priority. I have updated Government colleagues this week with a memorandum for information on the progress that is being made. However, as the Deputy is aware, this is a complex area and careful consideration is required across a range of issues before detailed proposals are progressed.  I want to advance the programme for Government commitment, which represents an opportunity to make real and meaningful long-term change and reform to our current system. I am determined that this should happen in a way that is coherent from a policy perspective, but also streamlined from an operational perspective. As the Deputy mentions, my Department has already prepared the ground through a comprehensive review of the legislative framework for ethics. Very broadly, this found that the legislative framework for ethics should be underpinned by a set of integrity principles; that disclosure requirements should be strengthened to improve transparency; that consideration should be given to whether the regime should encompass more officeholders; and that the Standards in Public Office Commission should be strengthened. A variety of significant operational and policy considerations flow from this review and its recommendations.  I brought a memorandum to Government this week, and my officials will undertake further engagement with affected end-users of the system. This includes, at the outset, both Committees on Members\u2019 Interests. The purpose of this exercise is to gain insight into the practicalities of how the ethics system works. This outreach is a limited, targeted exercise. It is not a re-opening of the broader consultation process, which is now complete. My officials are seeking to understand how the processes and procedures of making ethics returns could potentially be streamlined and modernised. I want to ensure that those procedures, under a reformed regime and new legislation, are efficient, user-friendly and future-proofed. Following this, I hope to conclude the process around the drafting of the general scheme, which will then progress in the context of the programme for Government commitment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  With respect, the Minister has talked a lot about the need to speed up the delivery of critical infrastructure, which I support. Yet here he is, giving an answer about how he is slowing down this process. The statutory review was completed almost four years ago, and the heads of Bill were promised by the Minister\u2019s predecessor, Paschal Donohoe, as almost ready in May two years ago.  These processes were substantially concluded four years ago but now the Minister is saying that we need to do more. Meanwhile, the Government is setting up more public bodies year after year and the number of such bodies that escape the SIPO requirements under legislation grows year after year. We now have 49 public bodies not covered by SIPO because of the inaction of the Minister and his predecessors. It is growing year by year and that is not acceptable. Every year SIPO publishes a report saying that it needs stronger powers. The substantive work on this was completed four years ago. When are we actually going to see the heads of a Bill? When is this going to come into force or is the Minister just going to slow this down and delay it further? That is what is happening now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  The purpose of bringing a memorandum to Government was to update colleagues on the progress being made around the policy context here. What we are seeking to do, rather than just adding additional legislative provisions, which obviously will be advanced through a general scheme, is to ensure that we digitalise and simplify the process of making a return and that has to be future proofed around particular legislation. It will make it a much better and more transparent system. What we are seeking to do in the context of ensuring we have a positive and strengthened general scheme is to do a direct engagement with all parties and members through the Committees on Member' Interests on the current end user interface and reflect that in a general scheme. That will help the progression of the work. My plan then would be to bring the general scheme to Government, having concluded that exercise, and then progress the legislation. It is not a reopening of the consultation process, to be clear. It is simply to ensure the legislative provisions reflect a streamlined and modernised system that actually makes it easier for people to use. We have a predominantly paper-based system today which can be improved when people are making submissions and returns. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  When the Minister issued a press release on it this week, I was genuinely delighted. I thought this was finally coming to fruition and completion but then I read the press release and saw that was not the case. The rationale the Minister is giving is that we are going to move from a paper-based system to an online system, which is absolutely correct but at the same time, we are not able to get on with what was completed four years ago. We are in 2026 now. How does it take so long to develop a digitised system? Meanwhile, year after year, more and more public bodies escape the provisions of the ethics legislation. Is the Minister not really concerned that we now have 49 public bodies not covered by the ethics legislation? Under his watch this is getting worse, as year after year more and more public bodies are set up but are not named as being covered. This is urgent. Surely the Minister agrees this is urgent. Every single public body should be covered by the ethics legislation. Surely there should be no more delays in that. If the Minister is not able to get his act together on the digitisation, he could always come back to it later and get it done through additional legislation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  It is important to ensure we future proof the legislative provisions or a general scheme. Even in the past year or two there has been a change of context. If we look back at the experience with the 2015 public sector standards Bill, it did not progress and it lapsed. It is important to ensure that any legislation or scheme we introduce is progressed and enacted. There is no reopening of it, to be clear. What we are trying to do is ensure that we draft the scheme in the context of future proofing it. It should be simplified and strengthened in terms of a digital interface. That has to be underpinned through a legislative context. We are getting direct feedback from members who make the current submissions on how that will be strengthened. In the aftermath of that, my plan is to conclude the work on a general scheme and progress it. I want to ensure we enact a Bill. The last time we actually had a Bill progressing was the 2015 Bill, which was not enacted. It was criticised for being overly complex and difficult to comprehend during debates in the Oireachtas. I want to ensure we have a system that is reformed and can work for those who are making submissions. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ethics in Public Office"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_9","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Capital Expenditure Programme","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_7","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_9.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  As Minister for public expenditure, I am responsible for setting the overall capital allocations across Departments and for monitoring monthly expenditure at Departmental level. As part of the budgetary process each year, my Department sets overall expenditure ceilings for each ministerial Vote group. These are laid out at Vote level in the budget day expenditure report published in October, with further detail provided in the Revised Estimates for public services published in December.  Following the allocation of each ministerial expenditure ceiling, it is a matter for Ministers to assign funding as appropriate at programme and subhead level for their Departments and for the agencies and bodies under their remit. They must account for the demands for services in different areas and regions, having regard to demographics and other relevant factors. Within this process, both current and capital expenditure are allocated on a departmental basis.  Balanced regional development is a key priority of this Government and is at the heart of the national planning framework, NPF, which sets out the overall spatial strategy for the next 20 years, along with the national development plan, NDP. Each Minister is responsible for deciding on the priority programmes and projects that will be delivered under his or her remit within the NDP and for setting out the timelines for delivery.  Since Project Ireland 2040 was first launched in 2018, the Government has overseen the delivery of many impactful NDP projects across the West. For example, in transport we have the N17-N18 Gort to Tuam project comprising 54 km of motorway and 3 km of dual carriageway; the N59 Moycullen bypass; the Salmon Weir Bridge in Galway; and the Killaloe Bypass in Clare. Other projects include the upgrade and rehabilitation of the Roscommon sewer network; the development of the Oweninny wind farm; the development of enterprise centres in Boyle and Tulsk in Roscommon and in Belmullet and Swinford in Mayo; as well as heritage and tourism projects in Portumna in Galway and Aghleam in Mayo. There have also been numerous projects delivered in the housing, education, health, and rural development sectors.  The programme for Government set out the clear prioritisation for the NDP review to ensure that investment can be maximised in the coming five years across strategic infrastructure. This includes the key energy, water and transport networks on which all future development relies. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  I want to focus on healthcare in the west because the masterplan for University Hospital Galway, UHG, and the redevelopment of the hospital is a critical project for our region to ensure that we have a modern, resilient, future proofed, model 4 hospital and to ensure that staff and patients get the facilities they deserve. It includes 300 new inpatient beds, a new emergency department, critical care, surgical theatres, a cancer centre, maternity and children services and much more. In recent weeks a design team was appointed for the 300 bed ward block at UHG. It is crucial that all of this is delivered in a timely manner but, unfortunately, people in Galway have little faith in the Government's ability to deliver on critical infrastructure. One just has to look at the ring road saga, which has dragged on for two decades, to understand why. They want assurances that the redevelopment of UHG will be progressed quickly and will not face delays. The Critical Infrastructure Bill has gone through this House. The Minister has indicated that certain projects will be fast tracked under that legislation. Will he give a commitment today that the UHG plans will be designated as critical infrastructure? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  I thank the Deputy for the question. I met with some of the management team for the development board with our by-election candidate, Councillor Cillian Keane, Deputy John Connolly and Senator Ollie Crowe in recent weeks. I fully appreciate the need for improved bed capacity for the west of Ireland and for Galway. It is absolutely required, which is why the Government and the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, have significantly strengthened the capital allocation to the Department of Health to ensure we build much-improved bed capacity for areas like Galway and the west of Ireland. I want to work with the hospital to ensure the design phase, which it is currently in, is progressed quickly. The Government wants to see some of that progress to construction. Similarly with the ring road, we want to see that built. Planning permission is now in place and we need to ensure it is built.  The Critical Infrastructure Bill is in the Seanad. We will stand up a process, following its enactment, on what projects are designated and when. Speaking generally, obviously if a project is in the early phase of design or development, it may not be ready for designation. We want to ensure that across the transport, water, and energy sectors and in certain instances, in health infrastructure, we designate and fast track projects. Part of that will be through the provisions of the Critical Infrastructure Bill and part of it through the wider reforms we are introducing to cut timelines. I share the Deputy's objectives for both of the projects he mentioned. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  This is very important. There are regional inequalities in the area of healthcare, and these are particularly stark when it comes to cancer care. We do not have any PET scanners in public hospitals in the west. In many cases, patients can wait weeks before starting treatment for cancer. It is right across the board. We have seen elective procedures postponed at UHG due to overcrowding, with patients on trolleys and long waits in the accident and emergency department. We need the best possible facilities for people in Galway and right across the west of Ireland. It is what they deserve. A person's post code should not determine the quality of care that he or she receives, but that is the reality at present.  If we are serious about addressing this, the redevelopment of UHG has to be fast-tracked, it has to be made a priority and the necessary investment has to be forthcoming. There are real concerns that the Government has not budgeted sufficiently for the infrastructure either . This cannot be another project that is held up indefinitely. I understand that it is at an early stage, but I still ask the Minister to give a commitment that this is going to be fast-tracked as a critical infrastructure project. It is so important for the west of Ireland. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  It absolutely needs to progress quickly. Part of that is to do with ensuring that the HSE is efficient in how it turns around the design proposals. We must also look at how we get it into the planning process and turned around quickly. In what we set out in the infrastructure reforms, part of the improvement to accelerate infrastructure may involve designation for any project. The other elements are about ensuring that we have better performance across the lifecycle of a project from the point at which someone has a concept in order that we save more time before the planning application is made. We must also standardise the overall construction aspect of particular projects in order that they will be built quicker.  I share with the Deputy the objective of improved bed capacity for the west of Ireland and Galway and in the next number of years. I had a very good meeting with the development board on their next steps. I have not set out any designation at this point because the Bill has not yet been enacted. The process will follow when that happens. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Capital Expenditure Programme"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_10","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Public Services Provision","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_7","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_10","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Frankie Feighan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_10.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aindrias Moynihan  In the move to increasingly digitalised services, it is hugely important that people are not left behind, including anybody who is not able to partake of such services. Digital by default cannot mean digital only. There are large numbers of people in different areas who are finding things more and more difficult. Will the Minister of State outline the efforts the Government is making to ensure that everybody is included? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Frankie Feighan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (Deputy Frankie Feighan)  I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 23 together.  The Government's better public services strategy commits to delivering inclusive, high-quality and integrated public services that meet people's needs and improve the delivery of services. The Digital Public Services Plan 2030 advances this ambition by embedding a life events methodology whereby services are designed around moments in people's lives, for example, the birth of a child and supporting the bereaved, rather than administrative structures.  With regard to the issues raised, there has been significant progress in digital infrastructure with the roll-out of the national broadband plan, which, I am sure they will agree, has been a huge success, and broadband for schools and related supporting programmes such as the public library strategy. National Broadband Ireland, NBI, has passed almost 460,000 homes, farms and businesses in rural Ireland, with 170,000 connected to high-speed broadband.  Our approach is very clear. We are digital by desire as opposed to digital by default. As part of the service design and delivery, we actively consider the needs of all people, including older people. Part of the dialogue in the Department is to consider the needs of people, including older people and those who are not confident using digital channels. To that end, we examine the use of blended and complementary channels and support, building on the work we are already doing to increase accessibility, for example, through our public libraries network, which is a nationwide service that continues to provide support for digital inclusion and literacy activities at its branches. We are in a much better place when we look at the roll-out of the national broadband service. Deputy Moynihan will see it in his constituency, even in the context of small houses or people working from home. This is the way forward, but we need to include everyone in order that no one will be left behind. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aindrias Moynihan  It is interesting that the Minister of State put a lot of focus on the NBI roll-out across the country. The NBI starts in one place and finishes in another. Guess where the last places are that are getting it? They are located in the area west of Macroom. Our three switches remain to be activated, along with some of the other communities across the country that have yet to get be given access to broadband by NBI. It would be helpful if we could put in an extra push to encourage NBI to finish it out. It is currently working on some of the switches in Dunmanway, Carriganima and Ballingeary. This would be a great example of how we could push to make sure that digital services are available to people. Is it possible to engage with NBI to ensure that we get delivery on the service locally this year? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Frankie Feighan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Frankie Feighan  We all have issues, and the Deputy has rightly articulated the issue relating to his area being included. If we look at it from a positive point of view, I understand that NBI is ahead of schedule. However, there are a few areas in respect of which we may need to contact NBI. We talk about public infrastructure. This is public infrastructure that is ahead of what was planned for.  Enabling access to public services is very important to the Government as we work together to accelerate transformational change in how we deliver public services. We are trying to digitalise public services and the Department is taking the life events approach, as outlined in the digital public services plan. We want to reorient the service around key moments in people's lives and ensure a more proactive approach by the Government in providing services. All of this is done with inclusion and accessibility as the guiding principles in order to ensure that no one is left behind. The better public services programme involves a clear and explicit commitment to redesigning public services around the needs of users in order to ensure that services work equally well for both people who engage digitally and those who do not. We want to bring in all the stakeholders and try to make things as easy as possible for people across the country, especially older people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aindrias Moynihan  Will the Minister of State outline the level of co-ordination with the larger stakeholders such as banks, financial services companies and the Department of Social Protection? Unfortunately, across my community, we have had bank branch closures in Dunmanway, Millstreet and Kanturk. In addition, the public counter in the PTSB branch in Macroom has been withdrawn. Just recently, the ATM in Newmarket was removed. This puts extra pressure on people. It pushes some individuals who are not entirely comfortable operating digitally and who would prefer to do their business with a person over the counter. It puts them in a more difficult position. Will the Minister of State outline the co-ordination taking place with banks and financial services companies to ensure that rural communities and people of all ages who may not be comfortable operating in this space, whether it is as a result of literacy issues or the fact that they may not be digital natives, are not left behind? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Frankie Feighan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Frankie Feighan  It is an interesting question. The Deputy has seen that the Government can consult with banks, but we have a very limited role in that regard. I would like to think that banks would consult with each other. Consider the position of towns where there clearly is no need for two bank branches and both are closed. Instead of talking to each other and saying \"Look, we will close our branch in this town and you close yours in the next town\", they close both branches. Bank of Ireland could keep its branch in one place and AIB could leave its branch open in another location. There does not seem to be any consultation. If consultation has taken place, it does not, as the Deputy outlined, seem to have taken the needs of the people in rural communities into account.  It is good to see that the credit unions, for which I have a great deal of time, have taken up the challenge and are providing a banking culture and ATMs. The banks were a little hasty. They have their own business models, but I do not think they considered the needs of the people or discussed the matter with each other. Again, I want to pay tribute to the credit unions for stepping up to the plate and providing the services to which I refer. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 9 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Public Services Provision"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_11","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Action Plan for Rural Development","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_7","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_11","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_11.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  Can the Minister report on the implementation of the accelerating infrastructure plan? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  I propose to take Question Nos. 10, 53, 55 and 61 together.  As Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitisation, I am responsible for setting the overall expenditure allocations and monitoring it at Departmental level. In the programme for Government, there is a clear prioritisation of the NDP review to ensure that investment for strategic infrastructure can be maximised in the coming five years. This includes the key areas of energy, water and transport on which all future development relies.  These sectors were further defined as critical infrastructure in the Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan published last December. This report sets out 30 targeted actions grouped under four areas, with each addressing a key area of reform, and legal reform noted as a core element for accelerating infrastructure across the country. Among other measures, this work will include increasing exemption thresholds for critical infrastructure and reform processes with agencies and regulators, advocating for a new approach to legislation at EU level and creating a duty for State bodies to co-operate in making land available and accessible for critical infrastructure. At the end of quarter 1, strong progress was recorded across the 30 actions in the report, with many legislative, regulatory and process changes delivered. All commitments for target delivery by end of quarter one have been completed, and all remaining commitments for quarter 2 and beyond are currently on track.  With regard to legislative reform, the Critical Infrastructure Bill has been approved by the Government. The Bill is before the Seanad. It passed Second Stage there on 20 May. It was passed by the D\u00e1il in recent weeks.  In the context of regulatory reform, certain revisions of existing licences through the Environmental Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2026 have been signed into law. This will mean that small scale water discharges can now be registered by means of a short online administrative process rather than requiring a certificate of authorisation, which could have taken up to 150 weeks to process. These changes are giving quicker decisions to licence-holders and more certainty on timelines.  The Maritime Area Regulatory Authority, MARA, has made progress with granting fit and proper designations to Uisce \u00c9ireann and local authorities. This move is estimated to have reduced the average time relating to the granting of new consents and licences by more than 30%. Changes that have been made to project delivery have seen an estimated average saving of 26 weeks on projects, such as the Waterford wastewater treatment plant, which is now at detailed design stage.  The Department continues to progress with planned actions for quarter 2 and beyond. We remain committed to the delivery of the plan. The Cabinet committee on infrastructure is updated regularly on progress, with the accelerating infrastructure task force, AIT, meeting monthly and continuing to support the delivery of the plan.  As regards our commitments across infrastructure delivery, we said we would prioritise an early review of the national development plan. This was completed and published in July 2025. We also said we would review and reform the prioritisation of capital projects in key agencies. This was completed through the publication of sectoral investment plans last year. We have established the Cabinet committee on infrastructure delivery and broadened the remit of the National Development Finance Agency, NDFA, to provide expert advice for major infrastructure.  As the Deputy will be aware, the infrastructure division of my Department has been stood up. The Department is working to drive multiple reforms across all of the areas to which I refer. We can have confidence that the cumulative impact of all 30 actions will make a significant difference in accelerating delivery across this year. To give an example, we have been informed by Uisce \u00c9ireann that we should have 12 months off the greater Dublin drainage project, a change made with confidence due to system changes and reforms we introduced. The timelines for marine area consents have also been reduced by 30% for fit and proper bodies. We want to simplify wider processes, which is why the Critical Infrastructure Bill is progressing at pace through the Houses. We also have the joint utilities and transport clearing house, which has started reducing co-ordination delays that are an issue across different areas of public administration.  We are working with the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, to simplify certain key licences, and we have got several major projects that should advance much quicker in that context. That is a broad overview of some of the areas involved. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  I welcome the fact that all of the targets relating to the infrastructure plan are being hit. The Minister and his staff are to be complimented on ensuring that this has happened. I also welcome the Government's continued focus on accelerating the delivery of crucial infrastructure projects, particularly in view of the importance of housing, transport and utilities to economic growth and regional development.  One issue that is occasionally raised by communities, businesses and local authorities is the need for greater co-ordination and faster decision-making across the agencies and Departments involved in major projects. Delays in infrastructure delivery can have very real consequences for housing supply, inward investment and regional growth.  Can the Minister outline what practical improvements are being seen on the ground as a result of the implementation of the accelerated infrastructure plan? Can he indicated whether measurable timelines for delivery are beginning to improve as a result of the reforms and co-ordination measures introduced? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  A practical example is the wastewater treatment plant in respect of which 26 weeks have been saved due to the removal of the external assurance process and reviews, as well as changes to the thresholds that I introduced in reforms to the infrastructure guidelines. The latter was an additional step that added time. Under the wider assessment carried out last year, we had to measure the time it had taken some of these processes against the cost of delay. That example of the wastewater treatment plant should be replicated across other projects Irish Water will be progressing through its project development lifecycle.  Similarly, the greater Dublin drainage project, is a multimillion megaproject being done by Irish Water. Due to some of the changes we have made, Irish Water has, with confidence, been able to bring the completion date forward by 12 months, which will give greater confidence in the context of construction and housing supply in the medium term. This is a critical project for the delivery of housing supply along the east coast. However, we also have multiple other areas across transport and energy. We have work ongoing by the joint utilities and transport clearing house, which has identified ten specific barriers or challenges to co-ordination across utilities or delivery bodies in Departments and agencies. These are being worked through by my Department in order to save time and improve co-ordination.  We are seeing improvements, but we have other changes we have to make. I have spoken about improved risk appetite in the public service, and I will be publishing risk appetite statements and bringing them to Government in the coming weeks. This will ensure that we increase the risk appetite to get things done and to deal with some of the risk aversion we have seen.  We have also made changes to environmental legal fees. The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and I signed the regulation in that regard to cap fees, which was one of the legal reforms referenced.  The Minister for justice, Deputy O'Callaghan, is advancing the placement of judicial reviews on a statutory footing with the civil reform Bill. Obviously, once we enact the Critical Infrastructure Bill, we will be able to commence a process of designation which will help to fast-track several projects.  I know from our engagement with utilities in the context of energy, transport and water sectors, that there is much greater confidence in the construction sector because of what we progressed under the national development plan. Planned projects in regions, towns and villages now have the headroom and pipeline from a sectoral investment perspective, which will help bring confidence to this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  I thank the Minister for that. It all sounds great. I appreciate the 26 weeks and the 12 months that have been saved by Uisce \u00c9ireann. However, one of the biggest concerns I hear from councillors, other public representatives and communities is not simply the level of investment going into Uisce \u00c9ireann - and very significant State funding was put in by the Minister in the budget - but, rather, whether the organisation has the operational capacity and responsiveness necessary to manage that investment effectively and to communicate clearly with communities.  For instance, in my county of Offaly, Edenderry, Birr, Banagher and other areas are already at capacity in the context of wastewater. This is directly impacting future housing and development potential, yet there remains a lack of clarity around timelines and planned upgrades. Similar concerns are arising in other places , including Tullamore and Tyrells Road. The improvement of water infrastructure in Tullamore was supposed to start in the final quarter of this year or the first quarter of next year, but it has now been pushed out to 2028.  Does the Minister accept there is a need for stronger accountability, engagement and transparency from Uisce \u00c9ireann with elected representatives from local communities in order that people can clearly understand what infrastructure projects are planned, what stage they are at and when delivery can realistically be expected? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  I know the matter of Irish Water and its engagement with public representatives has been raised a number of times. Irish Water is on the infrastructure task force, and I will take the Deputy's comments away as a need to strengthen engagement. The challenge last year was a funding one. There had been consistent issues and concerns within both the construction sector, which works in partnership with Irish Water, and Irish Water itself about the level of funding and its capital plans. We responded to that with a \u20ac12 billion allocation. Some \u20ac2 billion of the \u20ac12 billion is even additional headroom for housing supply. We want to ensure that Irish Water builds and advances many of these projects. I do not have a specific breakdown with respect to its wastewater treatment plants or some of its water supply plans at a local level with me but I have heard a number of times the challenge the Deputy has referred to. It has been raised with the Taoiseach and the T\u00e1naiste in other questions about the public engagement piece and the clarity of project delivery in certain towns and villages. I will engage directly with Irish Water on that because there should be clarity with respect to capital plans also across housing development. People need to know their ability to connect into a wastewater treatment plant and how that meets their objectives with respect to planning permissions they may want to commence. I will take that away. Now that we have responded to the question of funding, the question about reforming the delivery system to make it much quicker to deliver across many of the barriers and the areas which were identified in partnership with Irish Water, which has been very positive and constructive on the infrastructure task force, there is a need to ensure that communities and those in the construction sector have a sense of what is possible with particular projects. We will take that away and reflect the Deputy's feedback. I will come back to him directly on the matter. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Action Plan for Rural Development"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_12","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Public Expenditure Policy","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_7","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_12","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_12.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aindrias Moynihan  Since the beginning of the year, there have been significant spending shocks, including the likes of the Department of education and the war in West Asia, driving fuel prices and the need for a support package as a result for so many users. Will the Minister advise if overall expenditure is still on profile? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  The latest fiscal monitor, published on 6 May, showed that at the end of April gross voted expenditure amounted to \u20ac36 billion. This is a \u20ac2.9 billion, or 8.9%, increase compared with April 2025 and reflects the implementation of the priorities set out in budget 2026 and the significant uplift in expenditure to support programme for Government commitments. Compared with the profiles set out by Departments for their planned spending over the year, this was \u20ac600 million, or 1.8%, below profile.  Looking at the composition of spending, current expenditure at the end of April was \u20ac32.3 billion, which was \u20ac250 million, or 0.8%, below profile. Capital expenditure was \u20ac3.8 billion, which was \u20ac400 million, or 9.5%, below profile.  It is early in the year to say what spending levels seen to date might mean for the end-year position. My Department is in ongoing contact with all finance officers to monitor and review expenditure trends. While the overall expenditure position at the end of April is within profile, the end-of-April current expenditure year-on-year growth rate of 9.3% will need to moderate over the year.  Ensuring that public money is spent efficiently, and that taxpayers see clear outputs and outcomes from public spending, is a core priority for my Department and for the Government. The Government agreed a medium-term fiscal and structural plan last December, which set out ceilings for the period to 2030. It provides for significant uplifts in expenditure, with gross voted spending to reach \u20ac147.3 billion in 2030. To ensure we progress across this structural plan, there is a need for strengthened expenditure control and renewed fiscal discipline. It is the responsibility of the Accounting Officer in each Department to ensure that they manage their expenditure allocations sustainably and in accordance with the allocation approved by the D\u00e1il.  My Department recently issued Circular 21\/2026, Expenditure Control and Escalation Process, to all Government Departments. It reinforces other recent measures to strengthen expenditure control, provides a clear framework for managing expenditure and sets out phases for escalation if spending overruns emerge. Where expenditure pressures persist, the circular sets out a framework for when and how my Department will engage with respect to other Government----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy David Maxwell)  Thank you, Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  I will come back with a supplementary answer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aindrias Moynihan  A significant support package had to be put in place for fuel and transport earlier this year arising from that conflict in West Asia. I am conscious that the date for the agri scheme has been extended from Wednesday through to next Tuesday to ensure that the maximum number of farmers and contractors can get their applications in. I understand that a Supplementary Estimate on that is due in the weeks ahead. I am conscious that no matter how quickly that conflict in the Gulf were to be resolved - and it needs to be resolved sooner rather than later - elevated fuel prices would continue for some time and likely feed through into so many other costs for people. Does the Department have space to extend the schemes that are there if the conflict and the high pressure continue through the summer? Many of those schemes are due to end during the summer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  Obviously, that was and is an important fiscal intervention to respond to the energy spike we have seen, particularly with respect to the transport and the agriculture sectors. We are following the wider guidance we see from the IMF and others, that is, that schemes should be temporary, targeted and time bound in order that they do not involve permanent expenditure implications. We have said consistently that in July, when some of the interventions are due to lapse, we will assess that in the context of the energy position globally and make an informed decision in that context. I brought to the Government the two Supplementary Estimates relating to transport and agriculture on Tuesday of this week. We are conscious of continuing to review the overall position. Some of the schemes - for example, in the agriculture sector - have a five-month timeline as regards their wider implementation. We will assess that in July. We are not making any commitments until we can assess the position in July because some of the decisions run to that point. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aindrias Moynihan  Yes, it is right to focus on where the greatest need is. So many farmers and contractors were under phenomenal pressure. They are getting their applications in at the moment. It is a very busy time of year for them. We are also all watching that date in the summer when the schemes and the supports would be expected to finish out. The Minister is right that the Department will have to review the position at that point. The key question, then, is whether the Department has the fiscal space or the funding available or whether it will need further Supplementary Estimates at that point to return and to review those supports or any other supports that might be needed later in the summer. Is the funding there? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  As the Deputy knows, in the annual progress report that is published, we expect to run a general government surplus of about \u20ac9 billion this year. We are running a surplus, which makes the case for the importance of having fiscal buffers in a world which is so uncertain in the context of geopolitical conflict and when we have spending demands every day in this House across multiple areas. It is important that we review that in July and that we are careful in the context of further interventions. We know from the Covid pandemic and the cost-of-living period in 2022 that, notwithstanding the temporary nature of some of those schemes, they had permanent expenditure implications in certain areas, which then created trade-offs or constraints in future decisions that could be made. We will review that and take an informed decision in July. We are conscious of the dynamism of the global energy market and the need to respond with respect to particular sectors but it is important we implement the schemes being applied for presently, which may reflect more support here than in many other countries, and then take an informed position in July. We will know where the position is at that point. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Public Expenditure Policy"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_13","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Weather Events","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_7","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_13","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel McCarthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kevin Boxer Moran","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_13.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel McCarthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Noel McCarthy  What engagement has the Minister has had to date with the Willowbank residents' association, Willowbank, Midleton, County Cork, which spent \u20ac7,752 on repairing the estates wall in the immediate aftermath of flooding caused by Storm Babet? Is his Department in a position to provide funding for the reimbursement of repaired infrastructure damaged in the wake of Storm Babet? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kevin Boxer Moran","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran  I am aware of the devastating impact flooding had on homeowners, businesses and the communities of Midleton and across east Cork during Storm Babet. While the issue raised is a matter for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, my office in October 2025 corresponded directly with the Willowbank residents' association secretary, following contact between my office and Cork County Council. Cork County Council advised the OPW that funding had been made available to the council by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to assist with the repair of damaged infrastructure across east Cork following Storm Babet. Cork County Council further advised that the repair of the wall at Willowbank, which was commenced by the residents, was completed using this funding.  The strategic emergency management framework sets out the emergency management practice at national level and designates lead Departments for a range of emergency types. Under this framework, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage leads the response to severe weather events through the national directorate for fire and emergency management. Accordingly, there is no emergency response funding mechanism available in the OPW that would see emergency response actions such as those undertaken by citizens in Willowbank being refunded by my office. The Government is fully committed to providing support through the national development plan, providing \u20ac58 million for the Midleton flood relief scheme. A planning application is estimated to be submitted by Cork County Council to An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la in quarter 3 of 2026 and be completed by 2031, protecting up to 750 properties that flooded during Storm Babet. The scheme will protect Willowbank residents going forward. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel McCarthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Noel McCarthy  I thank the Minister of State for his response and acknowledge his impact and that he met the residents of Midleton. He was in Midleton and I acknowledge that and thank him for that. I understand he is familiar with the situation in Willowbank because they have been in touch with his office. The Willowbank housing estate was affected by flooding following Storm Babet in October 2023. Several houses were flooded when one of the walls in the estate gave way under pressure from the overflowing Owennacurra river. Willowbank residents carried out repairs to the collapsed sections of the wall in the days afterwards as they were fearful of a repeat flooding. Financing of the repairs of the wall was provided by the residents' association at a cost of \u20ac7,752 through the estate's fund. The association has yet to recoup any of this expenditure and this shortfall has severely impacted estate maintenance. I acknowledge the OPW does not have a funding emergency response but has the Minister has any engagement to date with Cork County Council or with his counterparts in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage on this matter? What is the situation going forward? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kevin Boxer Moran","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran  As I set out at the start, this falls under the Department of housing. That is not me passing the buck. There is no mechanism in the OPW to refund the residents. I respect the work the residents took it upon themselves to do, and I give great credit to them. I met them in Midleton. Somebody must have advised them when they did this work that they would recoup the money and that is the area they should be focused on, and whether it is through the local authority. In fairness to the local authorities, they are very much engaged with my office. They looked to see whether we could fund it and we said, \"No, there's no mechanism in our funding stream to allow us to do that.\" The job has been done. Funding was received from the Department with responsibility for the emergency response to support the local authorities going forward but there is no mechanism within my remit to support the residents. While I would love to, I am afraid I do not have the mechanism to do so. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel McCarthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Noel McCarthy  I acknowledge there has been some improvement in east Cork with the continued roll-out of flood barriers through the individual property protection scheme. I thank the Minister and his Department for that. However, every effort should be made to reimburse the residents' association for such a small amount in the grand scheme of the \u20ac50 million-plus Midleton relief scheme. That is where the residents are mixed up. There was so much money but they cannot recoup \u20ac7,700. The residents find that hard to understand.  I know my colleague, Councillor Rory Cocking, has raised the answer regularly at the quarterly Midleton flood committee meetings and has written directly to the Minister of State's office and the Minister for housing. However, the situation remains the same, as the Minister of State acknowledged.  We have seen other instances of extreme flooding across the country in recent times; surely similar flood protection works by residents have been undertaken elsewhere. Are any measures being considered by the Department that would see emergency response actions, such as those undertaken by the citizens in Willowbank, being refunded? Will the Minister of State or his Department officials consider meeting with residents to further discuss this matter? I thank the Minister of State for all his input so far. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kevin Boxer Moran","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran  The Deputy has put about seven questions in a couple of lines there. I give him credit for that. As I said at the outset, there is no mechanism. I am fully focused on protecting the people of Midleton and east Cork. I have put huge efforts in, as has my Department, in relation to working with the council to get our planning applications submitted quarterly. I am advancing on that and want to see it happen as fast as possible to protect people.  On the question the Deputy keeps raising, there is no mechanism. I am sorry to say that but there is no mechanism. I have no issue, when I go back down to Midleton, with meeting the people. I think the only option available to them is through the local authority and to see if the council has a discretionary fund that may be able to help them. I do not know if that is possible. It is something that has happened in my constituency over the years and we reached out to help. I give credit to every residents' association up and down the country that takes interim measures. Since coming back into the role involving the Office of Public Works, I have brought in many changes in recent months. I have been meeting people in all the areas flooded since Christmas and providing interim measures. That is a way forward. As those measures are being rolled out, it is open to Cork County Council to look at interim measures to support people in those areas. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Weather Events"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_14","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Departmental Contracts","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_7","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_14","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_14.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Albert Dolan  Will the Minister consider instructing Departments and bodies under his remit to include an additional column in their published purchase order reports to indicate the specific contract under which each payment is made? From a purchase order report, I can see who was paid, how much they were paid and when they were paid but I cannot see what they were paid for. The only way we can do that is by linking it back to the original contract. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  I thank Deputy Dolan. I am committed to ensuring transparency and accountability in public expenditure, including in relation to the publication of purchase orders over \u20ac20,000. In this context, my Department has an effective process in place to produce the quarterly purchase order report in a timely manner.  The publication of purchase order data over \u20ac20,000 stems from a commitment in the programme for Government and public service reform plan in 2011. Since then, my Department, in common with many other public bodies, has developed standardised reporting processes to enable timely and efficient publication of this information. In line with evolving best practice, my Department has enhanced the accessibility of these reports, including by making them machine readable, aligning with open data guidance and principles. Furthermore, my Department has recently written to Secretaries General of all Departments reiterating the statutory obligations of public bodies under the open data directive and the Freedom of Information Act 2014. In the context of continuing to enhance transparency, I am open to examining how additional information could be provided in a meaningful way.  In respect of the Deputy\u2019s proposal to include an additional column identifying the contract under which each payment is made, I acknowledge the potential benefits to transparency and expenditure reporting. However, I have been informed by officials the feasibility of implementing such a requirement across Departments and agencies is contingent on the configuration and capabilities of existing financial management systems. Any proposed change of this nature would require further detailed consideration, including clarification of the specific information requirements, assessment of system capabilities and evaluation of associated costs and administrative impacts.  My Department will continue to engage with stakeholders on opportunities to improve reporting in a manner that is practical, proportionate and sustainable and in line with the wider direction the Deputy has outlined. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Albert Dolan  I thank the Minister for his work in writing to all the State bodies to remind them of their obligation under the EU open data directive that they have to publish their purchase orders in machine-readable format. To give the Minister an example, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, the children's hospital and the Arts Council were not publishing but once he wrote to them, this ensured that they did start publishing. We had written to them as well. The Minister will be aware of my work with my team in collating all the information to get over \u20ac100 billion in procurement spend tracked over the past decade. It goes back to the fundamental point that the State can tell us that a payment was made but it is not easy to see which contract authorised it. Some entities and some suppliers have multiple contracts with multiple State entities and it is actually really difficult to see exactly what they were doing or what they provided. For Ministers and for everyone to be able to assess what value was actually provided, we need to know which contract underpinned that spend. That is where I am going with this and that is where that additional column needs to come in. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  I thank the Deputy. I commend all his work and policy proposals in this area. I think we can all agree that enhancing transparency is absolutely a desirable objective. I am open to examining how additional information can be provided in a meaningful way to achieve that. In terms of wider moves towards standardisation, part of what my officials are now examining is what the various systems and operational capacities are in particular Departments and agencies to achieve that. More broadly and in line with the focus of transparency, I am conscious of the critical role public procurement plays, particularly in maintaining and building public trust in Government. Billions of euro are spent on public contracts every year and, as the Deputy said, the public need to be confident that their money is being spent in a judicious and fair manner. Likewise, suppliers need to trust the integrity of the procurement system if we are to drive participation and increased competition. In that line, I am concluding a new national procurement strategy, which I hope to bring to Government before the summer recess. There are different elements, with transparency-related procurement processes and data and organisation planning being consolidated into a broader pillar, again, to strengthen trust and transparency. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Albert Dolan  The Office of Government Procurement stopped centrally collecting procurement spend data in 2019 citing general data protection regulation, GDPR, concerns and six years later, nothing has replaced it. The Department is estimating its procurement spend using estimated tender values on eTenders, not actual expenditure data. I believe this is a structural governance problem and a very practical step is adding one additional column to published purchase order reports identifying the relevant contract reference or contract award notice. It sounds small but it would be transformative. It would begin creating that golden thread from tender to contract award to payment because public money should be traceable from beginning to end. I will say this plainly: we cannot govern a system that we cannot see. I greatly appreciate anything the Minister can do in this regard. This is an opportunity to provide a greater level of transparency and I know the Minister is committed to that as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  Absolutely. As I said, it is something I have asked my own officials to strengthen in the context of particular procurement processes to see what the outputs and outturns are and the transparency connected right through that. Part of delivering across that objective will be set out in a new national procurement strategy on how we can strengthen transparency and trust but also then improve competition and the integrity of competition within the market, ultimately, to provide better value for money. These are critical priorities of mine. I am happy to continue to work with the Deputy in this area. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Departmental Contracts"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_15","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Wastewater Treatment","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_7","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Cooney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_15.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Cooney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Cooney  Many towns and villages lack adequate wastewater treatment, with a significant number discharging raw sewage every day. The planning process is one aspect where long delays can occur in the delivery of wastewater treatment plants. Given the huge issues we have with water quality and our failure to comply with EU legislation, will the Minister consider a national designation for all wastewater treatment plants across the country, regardless of their size, under the Critical Infrastructure Bill? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  I thank Deputy Cooney. Allowing the Government to designate certain projects or programmes as critical infrastructure is the core of the Critical Infrastructure Bill. By establishing a clear legal basis for prioritisation, the legislation will reduce ambiguity and ensure that critical projects and programmes receive focused and co-ordinated attention across Departments, regulators and agencies. It will address the unacceptable delays in our infrastructure approval processes by mandating whole-of-State co-operation and creating a fast-track pathway for critical projects and programmes without skipping any steps in the approval process or weakening safeguards. I have consistently stated in the Oireachtas that the designation process will not commence until after the Bill's enactment. However, I have also stressed the need for restraint in the designation process. If too many projects or programmes are afforded critical status, the impact of designation will consequently be limited. As I outlined in the Oireachtas, while the designation process has not commenced, when it does, my focus will be on recommending a small number of critical projects or programmes that will facilitate the acceleration of infrastructure across the energy, transport and water sectors, in particular, with a focus on infrastructure that will support housing. Section 1 of the Bill specifically identifies wastewater and waste management systems as being included within the definition of infrastructure. It is in that context that I will be assessing this when the Bill is enacted.  I recognise the importance of wastewater infrastructure but I also note that this Bill is just one of the vehicles being pushed to accelerate the delivery of infrastructure. In the report and action plan, 30 actions were identified to address the 12 barriers to infrastructure delivery and we are keen to advance all of them to ensure that we deliver the transformation and scale that is required. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Cooney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Cooney  I thank the Minister. I have to be direct with him. Wastewater treatment is named in the Government's own Bill as critical infrastructure. Logic dictates, then, that individual rural schemes should not have to make their own separate case for designation under the Bill. As far as I am concerned, they should all be included. The communities I represent in County Clare are not asking for special treatment. They are asking that a common application of this Bill will be applied to them. A programme-level designation for outstanding wastewater schemes, regardless of their scale, would cost the Exchequer nothing and could profoundly affect the delivery timeline. Can the Minister give this serious reconsideration? Will he reconsider that all these small schemes be included. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  First of all, we have not yet commenced the process of assessing what will or will not be designated, and when we designate a particular project, when it can be fast-tracked. For example, if something is at a very early stage, it does not necessarily benefit from particular designation.  Second, we are prioritising water and wastewater systems because they are critical to housing delivery in villages and towns and for economic development across the country. This is an enabler for ensuring that we reduce the time taken to build these in various parts of the country. However, there has not been a decision on a project-specific basis and on a regional basis except to say that the area the Deputy is speaking about is one of the areas we will be seeking to prioritise in the context of the Bill. We have yet to conclude that assessment, however. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Cooney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Cooney  I thank the Minister. Again, this question is not about Uisce \u00c9ireann\u2019s capital programme. It is about whether the Minister will look at the current status of wastewater treatment as a national scandal, one that has huge negative consequences for the environment and all our communities, whether rural, coastal or urban. The Minister accepts that wastewater is critical infrastructure. All that remains is for him to determine whether a large project in a city has more virtue than a smaller one in rural communities. I hope he will also give that consideration. It is about the Government using its own Bill to put the solution to this problem front and centre. It would be a significant statement of our commitment to finally take this problem seriously. If the Minister is not willing to give me a commitment to extend the programme-level designation to all wastewater projects regardless of scale or location today, maybe he would respond to me within three months with an update. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  To be factual about it, we have not decided designation on any project in any area up to now. We are going to conclude the legislation, which passed this House and will pass in the Seanad in June. I am familiar with parts of the Deputy's county and indeed across the west of Ireland, the midlands and elsewhere, where people have been waiting on wastewater treatment plants for far too long. There is huge environmental damage in some of the rivers and the water systems which is connected to the delays that we are seeing where that infrastructure has not been built. We will work with Uisce \u00c9ireann around designation when we conclude the Bill but also on other barriers to delivery. The legislative path is one path that will improve speed but there are other areas where we have to drive reform. The added capital allocation to Uisce \u00c9ireann should significantly improve the throughput and the scale of what is delivered but we will work with the Deputy constructively on that. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 15 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Wastewater Treatment"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_16","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Public Expenditure Policy","counts":{"speechCount":11,"speakerCount":4},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_7","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_16","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kevin Boxer Moran","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_16.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  The Minister has indicated that a levy of more than \u20ac446 million will be imposed on Departments to pay for an overspend in the Department of Education and Youth yet he suggests that this will not really have any impact because we are going to spend more next year anyway. In reality, will it not mean that there will be less money available than was projected for multiple Departments to undertake key infrastructure or projects or to provide services? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 69 together. We agreed a medium-term fiscal and structural plan in December of last year that provides for significant uplifts and expenditure over the coming years with gross voted spending to reach \u20ac147.3 billion by 2030. The key element of the expenditure strategy underpinning the gross voted expenditure ceilings included in the plan was the prioritisation of capital with ceilings agreed as part of the NDP plan review and an additional increase in capital from 2028 onwards. Over \u20ac65 billion in capital investment has been delivered in the past five years out to 2025 and \u20ac19.1 billion was allocated for capital investment in budget 2026, which was an increase of \u20ac2.6 billion or nearly 16% over 2025. The capital ceiling will grow by a further \u20ac1.2 billion or 6.3% in 2027 to \u20ac20.3 billion. In total, the Government has committed \u20ac275 billion under the NDP from 2026 to 2035. We have published sectoral investment plans to deliver infrastructure at scale year after year. This can be achieved. This will strengthen co-ordination and build capacity in the construction sector.  The significant investment made by Government to deliver housing and fundamental infrastructure has been complemented by a considered programme of reform to address challenges within the infrastructure delivery ecosystem. The Government has already made significant efforts to orient itself towards infrastructure co-ordination delivery. The NDP review and sectoral investment plans are providing multi-annual funding certainty and a strong pipeline of projects. My Department has been tasked with identifying and addressing the most significant barriers to delivery. The infrastructure division in my Department has taken a stronger oversight and monitoring role for this action plan with all commitments by quarter 1 of 2026 fully delivered. This is a proactive role that allows my own Department to take action where barriers arise in the delivery of critical infrastructure programmes. We have published and brought the Critical Infrastructure Bill through the D\u00e1il and it is now progressing in the Seanad. I can come back when I have further time but the figure of \u20ac446 million is all on current expenditure. We have completely protected capital expenditure lines so capital expenditure lines are not affected by the efficiency levy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy David Maxwell)  I welcome the students and teachers from Tonragee National School all the way from Achill in County Mayo. We hope they enjoy their day in the D\u00e1il. They are here with the Minister of State, Deputy Alan Dillon. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Is there enough then to deliver the critical infrastructure that we know we need? I will give one example where I cannot understand frankly why the money was not made available, namely, the case of The Complex. We need arts infrastructure. We had the Government bringing in stuff yesterday about drinking on the streets because we need greater vibrancy in our city centres and I agree that we do, so how could the Government let The Complex close down in Dublin's north inner city when all they were looking for was \u20ac6 million and they offered a win-win? It said that rather than sell it to a developer that was going to get rid of an art space, if the Government gave it \u20ac6 million on top of the \u20ac4 million it already had, we could retain a multidisciplinary art space and build social and affordable housing on top of it, so we would get a win-win. We would get a community, arts and cultural space, which we badly need, rather than allow it to be lost, and we would get social and affordable housing in the city centre for \u20ac6 million. Instead despite the promises of the Minister's predecessor to that community, it has been allowed to close down. By the way, it is not yet over, so it is something the Minister could reconsider. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  I welcome all the people from Achill who are here and I hope they have a very good day. Both my parents from County Mayo so I always welcome everyone from that great county. We will not talk about the All-Ireland but we are still waiting----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kevin Boxer Moran","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran  Not with Westmeath. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  We will see how it gets on at the weekend. I understand the issue around the arts complex. There was extensive engagement between Dublin City Council, the Arts Council and the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport. We have significantly increased the capital allocation to the Department in recent years, which has to manage its overall location in that context. Part of that relates to the extent to which the local authority would prioritise it, for example, in the engagement with those who run The Complex in particular. If the Deputy looks at our record, uplift of capital across the arts community has significantly increased in recent years and overall funding for arts has significantly increased in recent years. It is a decision of those who are prioritising within the Department, the Arts Council and Dublin City Council, which, obviously, has an important interface in running services. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  This is the game of pass the parcel that led to The Complex being closed down. If one goes to the Department, it says that it would love to leave The Complex open but it cannot buy properties, which is something I did not know, so what the Minister just said is complete nonsense. The Department is not allowed to buy properties. Dublin City Council said basically it did not have the money for it. The Minister is the Minister for infrastructure. We need housing, social and affordable housing in particular, and we need arts and cultural spaces, which are being closed down left, right and centre in the city centre. That building has not been sold. Apparently, the sale has not gone through so it is not over yet. That space could be saved and we could get a site for social and affordable housing for the small figure of \u20ac6 million. I suggest that the Minister, as Minister with responsibility for infrastructure, cracks the whip and says that it is madness to let this thing go and that we should save that site and save The Complex for all the artists and the local community and to deliver social and affordable housing on the site. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  I provide an overall allocation to different Departments, which have to prioritise within that, and that applies to the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  It cannot buy stuff. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  Similarly, Dublin City Council has a very significant annual budget and has to prioritise across its objectives in any given year. The overall increase in capital expenditure and day-to-day expenditure for arts has significantly increased in recent years, and rightly so. I support the objective to continue to improve that in the years ahead but it is an issue between Dublin City Council and the Department in the context of that particular proposal. We provide the overall funding. We have provided multi-annual certainty to the Department and it concerns how it prioritises that in the context of what is available. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Public Expenditure Policy"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_17","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_18","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Special Educational Needs","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_17","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_18.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Education and Youth (Deputy Michael Moynihan)  The Department of education and the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, continue to work closely with school patron bodies, school management bodies and schools to confirm new special classes for the next school year 2026-27. The NCSE began sanctioning new special classes in January of this year, which is several months earlier than was the case in 2025. The NCSE\u00a0advise\u00a0that 7,860 verified notifications were received by 1 October. The vast majority of\u00a0the notifications are for the 2026-27 school year,\u00a0but\u00a0some are for beyond that. In addition, we recently announced inclusive special classes as part of a new approach to supporting students with additional needs. This is one of the many ways the Department is actively engaging to meet the increased demand. As of 28 May 2026, 546 new special classes have been sanctioned, including 47 inclusive special classes, which is 32 at post-primary level and 15 at primary level.  I expect schools opening new special classes to move forward now with the admissions processes for these new classes. In addition to providing additional special class places, four new special schools are being established. These schools will be established in Balbriggan, CityWest, Bray and Monasterevin.  Data continues to be reviewed and analysed by the NCSE, which continues to engage with families. It is the experience of the NCSE that some families who contacted them may decide not to apply for a special education place. This may be where a place is not in a particular school of choice or where the student is already being supported appropriately in their existing placement. The Department and the NCSE will continue to closely monitor the need for further special class and special school places nationwide as part of forward planning for the 2027-28 school year. The NCSE continues to engage closely with schools and families to track the placement of children and young people and determine the current remaining level of need for specialist places at local level. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Aire St\u00e1it. It is reassuring to hear that the Department tracks the numbers and the placements. It would be more reassuring if it would make those public and provide them to Opposition politicians when they ask questions on them.  I will ask again in relation to the figures. The last time we were here the Minister of State indicated there were 7,860 notifications to the NCSE before 1 October, that about 75% of those children were already in school and that he was dealing with around 2,000 new applications. Based on 546 new classes sanctioned, the Minister of State has 3,276 places to address that need. How many children do not have an offer of a school place at this stage? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  We have the additional capacity that is being brought on between 2025 and 2026 and we have over 1,000 special classes opened across the country. We have new capacity and then there is additional capacity which is from the movement of students from primary into second level and from those leaving education. Just to reassure Deputy O'Rourke of the figure prior to 1 October, the NCSE and Department of education are continuing to liaise with families who being notified and contacted on an ongoing basis. We are ensuring we have places at primary, post-primary and special schools. That work has been intensifying right through the last number of months, into this week and beyond. We are working meticulously. I could not use any other word. There is engagement between the National Council for Special Education and the Department with families and with school communities to ensure we have appropriate school places for September 2026. That work is ongoing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  There are a couple of things there. We do not have the figure for the number of children who do not have an offer. We do not have the figure for the number of children who were notified to the NCSE after 1 October. I presume the Minister of State does have those figures but is not making them publicly available. That raises very significant concerns. Based on my estimation, we are talking about hundreds of children without an offer and thousands of children in inappropriate school placements - nearly 4,000 based on the applications prior to 1 October.  It is the Minister of State's formula of words that he \"encourages\" schools to go now and begin their admissions policy. Is he tracking that at all? Of the 546 classes that have been sanctioned, how many have their admissions completed or ongoing? Does the Minister of State know? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  I can assure Deputy O'Rourke that we are tracking. We are opening the special schools and we have engaged with the special classes. Yes, of course we are tracking the admissions policies because the admissions policy is the enabler from the sanction of the special class, the physical building, the teacher and the two SNAs, and also to ensure there are students in it. It is being tracked at all times.  We are constantly asked about numbers. The Minister and I are acutely aware of the need to make sure children have school places and we are working extremely hard on it. We are across this, day in, day out, right across the Department and the NCSE. I assure Deputy O'Rourke that the NCSE is meticulously working with families and with school communities. When sanctioning takes place, it is then on to the admissions policy to enable that class to be populated by students and to ensure they are in for the school year. The vast majority of those that have been sanctioned have the admissions policy up and running and most of them have it completed at this stage. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Special Educational Needs"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_19","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Special Educational Needs","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_17","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_19","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_19.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  I ask colleagues to excuse my voice. I must be spending too much time talking in here. I wish to ask about the update of the revised 2014 SNA circular, the workforce development plan and the SNA redeployment scheme. When will these be published along with all of the consultation that has taken place in creating these documents, if any has? Will they genuinely reflect the reality of the role of a special needs assistant in a modern educational environment and in a modern classroom? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Education and Youth (Deputy Hildegarde Naughton)  I thank Deputy Kenny for his question. My Department is in the final stages of work on the first special needs assistant workforce development plan and associated documents. The plan provides a comprehensive framework for understanding and supporting SNAs, children with special educational needs and school communities. It will, through a co-created series of policy developments, strengthen, clarify and offer clear direction and consistency to the SNA workforce.  Significant research and collaboration have been undertaken in preparation of the plan. This includes significant engagement with focus groups of SNAs, students, school leaders and teachers as well as a national survey of SNAs. Published reports on each are available on the Government website.  The plan is also supported by collaborative working groups established for each of the five pillars of the work. Membership of these working groups include school management bodies; F\u00f3rsa, the trade union representing SNAs; school staff; the National Parents Council; and the Children\u2019s Rights Alliance. The working groups examined every facet of the SNA role in 55 meetings with a view to enhancing support to children and young people with special educational needs.  The Minister of State, Deputy Michael Moynihan, and I recently met with stakeholder representative groups and SNAs in a day-long engagement to discuss this important work and look at any outstanding gaps that may be within these documents.  The key outputs from the plan will include a new circular on the role of the SNA, an SNA redeployment scheme and a review of the SNA employment contract. I very much value the contribution of SNAs and the role they play in schools across the country to make sure the overall well-being of students and pupils is at the forefront of everything we are doing. I am pleased to confirm that the drafting of the plan, the circulars on the SNA role and the SNA redeployment scheme are at an advanced stage. I intend to publish them in the coming weeks. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  That is very good. In the next couple of weeks before the D\u00e1il summer recess, we can expect that the redeployment scheme, the revised 2014 circular and the workforce development plan will all be published and available to be viewed by all SNAs, educational stakeholders and politicians right across the country, and of course parents as well.  Consultation has obviously been extremely positive, and that is to be welcomed, as is the fact we are now at the final stages. It is not before time at all in relation to the workforce development plan and the redeployment scheme. I do not want to go over again what happened to SNAs at the beginning of 2026. The significant issue remains. I completely understand, as do SNAs, that redeployment has to take place but it has to be given to SNAs before any sort of correspondence is sent out to schools to say that the SNAs within the schools have to be redeployed.  It is positive that these will be published. Can the Minister put it on the record that they will be published before the summer? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  I thank the Deputy. I want to publish these documents within the coming weeks. They are at an advanced stage and they were codesigned with SNAs, stakeholders and advocacy groups. The Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, and I met with them all again recently. We did a day-long session looking at all of these documents to make sure we get this right. The new circular to replace Circulars 30\/2014 and 71\/2011 on the role of the SNA will be published. There will be an amalgamated circular published and a guidance document will be published for that as well. The redeployment of SNAs will be delivered by the NCSE and it will, for the first time, allow SNAs in posts that may no longer be required for reasons such as falling enrolments, reduced care needs and changing demographics to be redeployed. This is something SNAs have asked for as well. There has been significant engagement and it will be published. There is also an SNA hub online. It will be published there as well as on Government websites. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  Very good. It is only positive that it will be published. It will give SNAs and school management right across the country greater clarity on how many SNAs they will be able to have in the school system. We also cannot lose clarity on the fact that we need to continue adding to our SNA workforce across the country. While I appreciate and fully accept that we have the highest number of SNAs we have ever had in our education system right now, needs are only growing right across our education system and the 4,000 schools we have nationwide. Needs are presenting far more than they previously were, which is only positive in one aspect because we are getting to the needs of children and providing them with the services. I am very hopeful - I am not asking the Minister to put it on the record but, rather, just to have it in the back of her head - that there will be a further allocation of SNAs in budget 2027. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  I should have said at the outset that we have more SNAs now than ever before. There were 24,896 SNAs in our schools. We will have over 26,000 this coming September. I absolutely know, as a former teacher, the value and the role of the SNA. I do not need to tell the Deputy, Members of this House or indeed parents or young children and students themselves who need the support of SNAs working with the class teacher, the special educational teacher and the school community. We intend to improve their conditions around training and we have been listening to SNAs themselves, who come from a wide variety of life experience and have a wide range of qualifications. We want to make sure that in the documents we are producing now, which are codesigned with them and the school communities, we are enabling them to get access to the training and giving them the redeployment benefits they wanted and have long sought, which is equivalent to teachers across the country. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Special Educational Needs"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_20","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"School Staff","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_17","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_20","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_20.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  I wish to ask the Minister to provide an update on the ongoing negotiations with school caretakers and secretaries. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  I thank the Deputy for his question. School secretaries and caretakers are at the heart of schools in this country and they are the key interface, as we all know, between students, parents, school leaders and other staff. Without them, our schools would be unsustainable, given the value of what they contribute, so supporting our school staff is an absolute priority.  My Department has been engaging with F\u00f3rsa and the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation over the past number of months under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court in relation to a number of claims, including a claim for a comparable pension entitlement. The matter of comparable pension entitlement was referred to the Labour Court. The parties remain in process, and my Department remains committed to reaching a resolution on this very important matter. As with any industrial relations matters, where engagement is sensitive and complex, the matters under discussion are confidential until the process concludes.  I want to reassure the Deputy, from my perspective and that of the Government, of the value we place on our school secretaries and caretakers. It is absolutely imperative that we get this matter resolved. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Aire. The reason I raised this issue is because we are coming towards the end of the school year. This will be our last opportunity at priority questions before the school year ends. At the start of the school year, school secretaries and caretakers reluctantly went on strike outside schools in pursuit of pension parity. We could all see - I hope Government could see it, and it surely knows it - the level of public support, particularly within school communities, that there is for school secretaries and caretakers. Their claim is a just one. It is for pension parity. The deep concern at this stage - and I take on board every word of the Minister's response - is that time is moving on and these individuals, in some circumstances, are making decisions about when they will retire and be able to move on. Time is of the essence. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  I concur with everything the Deputy has said there. I met with the school secretaries and caretakers in my own constituency at the time. I know many of them. They are very familiar to me. They do not take going out on protests lightly. They did not want to be there. I heard that loud and clear and I recognise that a comparable pension entitlement and enhanced terms and conditions are, understandably, important objectives for our secretaries and caretakers. That is why my Department has been engaging with F\u00f3rsa over the past number of months under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court with the support and input of the Department of public expenditure and reform. Parties remain in that process and my Department remains committed to reaching a resolution on all these matters. As with any industrial relations process, I cannot comment on it.  By way of background, the Deputy may be aware an agreement was reached in 2022 that provided for the assimilation of school secretaries to a payroll administered by my Department, which has provided significant benefits in respect of pay and access to leave. We are committed to ensuring that grant-funded school caretakers will be afforded the opportunity to avail of an agreement similar to that offered to grant-funded school secretaries. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  In this, I want to make the case for the Minister to play whatever helpful role she can with the parties involved to try to move things on and bring them to a successful resolution. We are aware of some of the issues at stake here: access, for example, to a public service pension scheme versus auto-enrolment versus a third, bespoke model. I will make a strong case, and I hope the Minister hears it and can pass it on to her ministerial colleagues.  There is a real concern that there will not be any recognition of years of dedicated contributions, and that, for example, those people who have longer service, fewer years left on their contracts and are closer retirement will be disadvantaged. It is important that any pension scheme recognises the years of dedicated service that people have given. This cannot be about a future scheme for new people coming into the job. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  Regarding secretaries and caretakers being given access to the single public service pension scheme, engagement, supported by the State's industrial relation bodies, has been ongoing. As with all industrial relations processes where engagement is sensitive and complex, discussions remain confidential.  My Department welcomed the commencement of the auto-enrolment retirement savings scheme, which is administered by the National Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings Authority, NAERSA, in January. Responsibility for employer compliance with the scheme lies with NAERSA. Revenue provides payroll data to NAERSA, which uses this to identify and enrol eligible employees. Employers were required to complete their profile on the My Future Fund employer portal using their Revenue online services credentials before January this year, to ensure that they are compliant with their obligations under the legislation. Employers are required to ensure that their payroll systems are capable of calculating and submitting contributions and that employee contributions are matched in accordance with the scheme's requirements. It is important to note that all employers, regardless of their status, are required to comply with the legislation underpinning My Future Fund. The Department has enrolled approximately 2,000 eligible secretaries since 1 January this year. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"School Staff"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_21","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"School Enrolments","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_17","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_21.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  I would like to have a conversation about the Minister's plans to publish information on the number of children awaiting appropriate school places on a regular basis. This would be similar to how the relevant Department issues the homeless figures every month. It is in order to show transparency as to where the Department of education is with regard to being able to tell everybody how many children throughout the country do not have appropriate school places. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  The National Council for Special Education, NCSE, has verified that 7,860 children and young people notified to it by 1 October 2025 meet the requirements for special classes or special school places for the 2026-27 school year. Further children came forward after that date, and this will continue right up to September. Approximately 7,000 of the 7,860 children in question and young people have a diagnosis of autism. There is generally an adequate number of available places for children and young people with other diagnoses. The focus, therefore, continues to be on providing new places for children and young people with autism. That data continues to be reviewed and analysed by the NCSE, which will continue to engage with families.  It is the experience of the NCSE that some families who contacted it may decide not to apply for a special education place. This may be where a place is not in a particular school of choice of where a student is already being supported appropriately in his or her existing school. Data available to the NCSE shows that approximately 75% of the children and young people who came forward by the 1 October deadline are already enrolled in school. As in previous years, the priority groups for access to specialist placements for the 2026-27 school year comprise those without school places, namely young children moving into primary school, children moving from primary to post-primary, children moving from one area to another or those who need to be accommodated where previous placements have broken down.  Budget 2026 initially provided for 3,000 new places. There are over 2,500 places available through the normal annual movement of students from primary to post-primary and finishing schools. The additional funding for which the Department received approval from the Government last month will allow us to provide further new specialised classes and special school places over and above the 3,000 new places already budgeted for. The NCSE can confirm that there are 546 new special classes for the next school year. I will come back to that point in my supplementary response. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  I am delighted that there is portal methodology and all of that. It will allow us to get a handle on what the picture is. In the context of children who have not yet got a placement, the question remains as whether the schools involved need new buildings. If they do, how long will that take? Where will the children involved be housed or educated while that is happening? Did the Minister of State have to use his powers under section 37 to ensure that schools open appropriate places? We still do not know what the number is. I could use the power of deduction. I am not great at maths, but it would be really helpful if we knew what that number was.  Why did the Minister of State refer to the number who applied as opposed to the number who do not have places? Anecdotally, there are children who do not have appropriate school places. Why are parents applying via the portal? I know they have to notify the Department, but is there a box on that portal that they can tick to indicate that they do not need a place and are fine or do they have to trawl through the whole thing, which creates a lot of difficulty? Would it be better to have a box for them to indicated that they do not need a place and are just letting the Department know their child has an additional need? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  Over 80% of the 546 new special classes that have been sanctioned to date are located in existing buildings. We are working extensively on this. We are acutely aware of where additional accommodation has to be made available. That is a factor in how fast we can put a class in place. We take a number of issues into account when we talk about new special classes. These include the need in an area to have the class as close to the children as possible. Since 1 October, the portal has given us great insight into the level of need that exists. When parents indicate on the portal that their children have special education requirements, it behoves the Department and the NCSE to reach out and understand the need of the families involved. The important piece is the fieldwork and groundwork that are taking place between the special educational needs organisers, SENOs, and families to understand the need that exists and parents' concerns.  We used one section 37A procedure last year. We are continuing to engage with schools and school communities to ensure that we use the minimum number necessary. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  It is good to hear that the Minister of State is using section 37A. It is important that all schools take their fair share of caring for children in their communities, particularly in areas where there might be a high number of fee-paying schools. If it is a fee-paying school that is located nearest to a child, the child also needs to be given a place. It is the same with every school. As we move towards a model where the local school is where the child goes, we still have a long way to go to get there. I am glad that the portal is creating options for parents to know what the situation is, because that was the whole plan the Department had. I am glad it is working out. I would obviously like more information, particularly as I am in opposition and am contacted by so many people. If the Department has a handle on this and is able to work with every family, it gives me great solace coming into the summer to know that every family will have a place for their child come September and that if a school building is not ready or there are glitches, there is a plan. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  The Minister and I are acutely aware of the issue. The Minister has experience of this because in the previous D\u00e1il, she held the position I currently occupy. When the numbers come through from the portal, we are acutely aware that we need to make sure that we have an appropriate number of places.  A total of 407 extra special classes were announced in 2025. We have 546 today. Between 2025 and 2026, we will have over 1,000 special classes across the country. We have inclusive special classes, with 15 at primary level and 32 at post-primary level, which are being welcomed in the community. It is important that the portal allows the parent or guardian to notify the Department of a child with additional needs. The NCSE has to work through that and engage with the families. We also have to engage with school communities. A huge volume of work is happening with in the Department and the NCSE at all times across the year. There are bodies in schools to make sure that we are doing the right thing. We have a lot of capacity this year. We are working through every family and every requirement. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"School Enrolments"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_22","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_23","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Schools Building Projects","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_22","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_23","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_23.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  First, I thank the Minister for visiting Scoil Mhuire Milford last Friday \u2013 it was really appreciated - and seeing for herself the serious challenges that they face with the existing site. As the Minister knows, they have a new site secured. There will not be any issues with planning. It is across the road from Loreto Community School in the existing school environment up there. I hope the Minister can continue the momentum the previous Minister, Helen McEntee, brought and work towards a new school site for Scoil Mhuire Milford. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  I had a wonderful visit to Scoil Mhuire Milford last week with Deputy Mac Lochlainn, Senator Manus Boyle and other Deputies. I want to commend the work of the school. You can see the fantastic ethos there, the learning and teaching and the warmth that is evident there. I always say it is very clear when you walk into a school the atmosphere that is there and that was very apparent in Scoil Mhuire Milford.  My Department has received an application for large-scale capital funding from the school. The officials have corresponded extensively with the school following that application. They met the patron and other school representatives. Discussions have been ongoing between the Department and the school around providing more information around enrolment patterns. From our discussion that day with the school, it will submit that.  As the Deputy will know, the Department provided additional capacity at the school through a significant modular accommodation project that was completed in November 2024. In terms of managing remaining capacity pressures at the school, the Department understands that around 20% of the school\u2019s current enrolment consists of pupils for whom it is not their nearest school. The school wants to come back with figures and evidence around that. We would really welcome that information.  My Department\u2019s NDP rollout places a very strong emphasis on maximising existing capacity and the prioritisation of school building projects to meet the most urgent needs. All applications from schools for major capital works, including Scoil Mhuire, must be considered in that context. My Department will continue to liaise with the patron and school authority within this context but we are also awaiting that information around the enrolment figures. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  It really was helpful for the Minister to be there and see for herself. She can see the location of the school in relation to the roads outside is entirely inappropriate. The school was built back in the day and does not reflect modern needs at all. The school site has no green area whatever for children to play. These are basic rights. The toilet areas are totally inadequate. The Minister will have seen the inadequate nature of the classrooms and the areas for children with special needs just are not there.  I am really glad the Minister said at the outset that it is a tremendous school. The Minister saw the culture that day. The teaching staff are really proud of their educational environment but they do not have the amenities they deserve. The standard of education they are providing and the support with the community is notable. The fact the school got the site tells the Minister about the support it has in the community. It is a remarkable thing to offer a greenfield site free of charge. They have done the work with the local councillors on planning. It is a really unique case. I cannot think of a stronger case in terms of national schools in Donegal. I ask the Minister to continue the good work of her predecessor. She was moved to another portfolio and now Deputy Naughton is the Minister. I am delighted she came to visit the school to see for herself. Let us keep the momentum going now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  As the Deputy knows, the school operates on a tight urban site which adjoins a relatively busy road than most rural schools. The school has identified various issues with accommodation, including traffic management, uneven and small internal floor areas and, as I could see for myself, a sloping site topography and a limited play space. The school also referenced expected future housing growth and the urgency of acting on the offer of a local landowner to swap a greenfield site for a new school in exchange for the current site. The Department will continue to liaise with the school.  Since 2020 we have invested \u20ac228.24 million in capital funding for schools in Donegal. Seventy-three schools have been upgraded either through a new building, a large-scale extension or modular accommodation and there are eight school projects under construction. I know the Deputy\u2019s question related to this school - I will continue to work with it in order to try to progress this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  I checked with the school last Friday. Deputy Naughton is the fourth Minister for education during this process. That says a lot. The public representatives in Donegal - cross party - have come together and appealed to Ministers to come and see the school: Joe McHugh from Donegal was there as were Deputy Norma Foley, Deputy Helen McEntee and now Deputy Naughton. I appreciate every one of them came to the school to visit but the reason we have impressed on the Minister about this is that we feel so strongly, as a cross-party group of TDs and Senators, that this school is a unique case. The school has waited a long time. They thought when they were posed with the challenge of getting a site that when they secured a site free of charge to State - it has all the amenities, is across the road from the existing secondary school, is the perfect location and planning will not be an issue \u2013 they could get momentum. I ask the Minister to continue the positive mindset she brought last Friday and get a new school for that town. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  I thank the Deputy. He will appreciate I cannot confirm anything there in the D\u00e1il Chamber. All I can say is it was great to see the school for myself. I know the great work happening there, the constraints the school is working within and the fantastic job it is doing in relation to teaching and learning. The enrolment figures are important. I understand the school says it has that work completed and will send it into the Department in relation to the review of enrolment patterns in the area and looking at the current enrolment coming from areas served by other schools. That is important in terms of trying to progress this. I thank the Deputy for his time. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Schools Building Projects"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_24","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Departmental Circulars","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_22","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_24.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  We are all aware how the failure of the 2014 circular and the Government to recognise the evolved role of the SNA and what the meaning of inclusion in education really means led to in the crisis we had earlier this year. When will the promised new circular be out? I think I heard the Minister say it will come before the summer recess. Will she confirm this? Will it reflect the needs and aspirations of SNAs, school communities, parents and children? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  My Department is in the final stages of work on the first special needs assistant workforce development plan and associated documents. The plan provides a comprehensive framework for understanding and supporting SNAs, children with special educational needs and school communities. It will, through a co-created series of policy developments strengthen, clarify and offer clear direction and consistency to the SNA workforce.  Significant research and collaboration have been undertaken in preparation of the plan. This includes significant engagement with focus groups of SNAs, students, school leaders and teachers as well as a national survey of SNAs. Published reports on each are available on the government website.  The plan is also supported by collaborative working groups established for each of the five pillars of the work. Membership of these working groups include school management bodies, F\u00f3rsa, the trade union representing SNAs, school staff, the National Parents Council and the Children\u2019s Rights Alliance.  The working groups examined every facet of the SNA role in 55 meetings with a view to enhancing support to children and young people with special educational needs. Recently, the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, and I held a full day-long engagement with SNAs and other education stakeholders on those documents, making sure there are no gaps and that we get this right. It was a very productive, positive meeting. The key outputs from the plan include a new circular on the role of the SNA, a SNA redeployment scheme which is long sought after by SNAs and a review of the SNA employment contract. I very much value the key contribution that SNAs. This was co-designed by them and by education stakeholders to make sure the educational experience and overall well-being of our students, which is what we are all here for, in our schools and to make sure our pupils are getting the resources they need. It will be published in the next couple of weeks. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  It is coming out over the coming number of weeks. That is good. It happened because the Government got it so badly wrong. There were massive protests and there was fear and anxiety but it is good that we have moved on. The question is really whether it will be maximalist in terms of the need to include children and genuinely recognise the role of the SNAs and how it has evolved, and genuinely recognise what inclusion means. It is not just physical presence in the school. It is emotional well-being, genuine support and communication. Just because a child is doing well does not necessarily mean an SNA has to be taken out and moved somewhere else because a child who might need that support to continue flourishing could regress because they do not have SNA support. All of this was reflected in the alternative proposed circular put forward by parents' groups. Obviously, teachers have to have input and have to teach. However, this has to be maximalist in terms of inclusion and genuinely recognise the importance and role of SNAs. Will it be? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  \"Yes\" is the short answer. This has been the result of a huge amount of collaboration and engagement and has been co-designed by SNAs and education stakeholders. The Deputy is right about the evolved role of the SNA. It goes beyond the primary care needs. There are the social, emotional and behavioural supports that young people and students require. We also want to make sure SNAs are getting adequate training. These are things they have looked for. SNAs come from a wide variety of life experiences. There are varying qualifications out there and they bring so much as things stand. It is to elevate their position and make sure we are getting this right. There has been a huge amount of co-design with them and with educators. We have also listened to the voices of students and young people. There has been huge collaboration with them as well. For example, almost 7,500 SNAs responded to the national survey. There are focus groups with more than 310 SNAs, over 200 teachers and 250 school leaders. We consulted with almost 150 children and young people about the role of the SNA and what they want to see to support them as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  That is all good and not a moment too soon. However, we know there is always a tension between budgetary constraints being imposed, the needs of the children and a genuine recognition of the importance and role of SNAs and what school communities really need. It is absolutely critical that the needs of children, a genuine recognition of the importance and role of the SNAs and what school communities need trump any budgetary pressures being imposed. The concern is that these delays and what happened the last time was ultimately driven by budgetary constraints, and it led to the sort of crisis we had. It is good we have had the conversations but let us hope people have genuinely been listened to and that there is no diluting happening for financial reasons, and that this does the job it needs to do for children, SNAs, teachers and schools. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  I am glad the Deputy raised this issue because we are increasing the number of SNAs. There are 24,896 SNAs in our schools. By next September we will have over 26,000 SNAs. Between this year and next year, we have funding for 3,000 SNAs. We will be continuing to invest in our special needs assistants. They value and provide support for our children and students, particularly children coming into primary school and those transitioning from primary to post-primary level. Making sure the resource, which is the SNA, is moving with the young person is absolutely key. The Deputy is correct that the class teacher and special education teacher are key here as well but the SNA plays a key role. When teachers do student support plans the SNA will feed into that. That is the important role they play in the social, emotional and behavioural, as well as the primary care needs of our young people. We want to make sure we are not only validating them but recognising the important role they play. That is why the new workforce development plan, and the circular will reflect that through co-design and engagement with the sector. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Departmental Circulars"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_25","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Schools Building Projects","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_22","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_25","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_25.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John McGuinness  I ask about schools in Kilkenny that are on the list waiting to be approved to move forward. I want to raise serious concerns in the school community regarding the Kilkenny City Vocational School, which is a DEIS school. Alongside that there is Col\u00e1iste Pobal Osra\u00ed. These will form the Kilkenny school campus. We spent \u20ac3.5 million on the grounds work. The planning permission expires in 2027 and the lease in 2028. The Minister visited recently, and I would like to hear that this will make progress. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  As the Deputy will be aware, I have recently published the \u20ac7.55 billion NDP sectoral investment plan for the education and youth sectors for the period 2026 to 2030. Of that \u20ac7.55 billion investment, \u20ac5 billion will be used for project rollout to support the delivery and modernisation of school buildings. In this regard, I published a list of the 105 school building projects in the first tranche to proceed to construction or tender over this year and next year, of which four are in Carlow and two are in Kilkenny. These projects were prioritised with a strong focus on maximising existing capacity and prioritising project rollout to meet the most urgent needs. These projects are in addition to the \u20ac253 million in capital funding for Carlow-Kilkenny schools between 2020 and 2025. Over that period, a total of 70 schools has been upgraded either through provision of a new school building, a large-scale extension or provision of modular accommodation. There are currently seven school projects in Carlow-Kilkenny under construction. My Department will continue to engage with patrons and schools in Carlow-Kilkenny and across the country to inform targeted and prioritised capital investment. That will include the identification of any urgently required works or capacity needs with stakeholders, and that consultation will commence in June.  With regard to Kilkenny City Vocational School and Col\u00e1iste Pobal Osra\u00ed, they form part of a single campus development. I had the pleasure of visiting them with Deputies McGuinness and Callaghan, and local representatives. I know there is a devolved delivery to the Kilkenny and Carlow Education and Training Board. The brief for Kilkenny City Vocational School provides for a new post-primary school building with a long-term projected enrolment of 550 pupils, including a two-room special education provision. The brief for Col\u00e1iste Pobal Osra\u00ed provides for a new post-primary school building with a long-term projected enrolment for 400 pupils. The project is at stage 2B. I will come back in and say more. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John McGuinness  It is extremely important that this project moves forward because it has a huge impact on the schools and their development. The lease expires in 2028, and the planning permission is due to expire in 2027. The Minister is right to say investment has been good in Carlow and Kilkenny but there is always a focus on the ones we are waiting for. The Minister met with the community school in Castlecomer when she was there. I also drew her attention to Church Hill National School and Scoil Mhuire in Mooncoin. Given the numbers and because they are ready to go and are trying to accommodate special needs and so on, it is important that these schools be given a clear indication through the course of this year as to their standing and the possibility for funding. I hope the Minister will engage directly with those schools I have mentioned to ensure they are moved to their next phase, and to keep focus on the Kilkenny school campus. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  There has been significant investment in Carlow and Kilkenny due to the demographic changes there. I am aware that across the country there are many schools. Some of them were happy they were on that list, and others were disappointed that there were not. There is work under way in my Department on a new prioritisation list of schools. There was a conditional energy survey carried out across all schools in the country. That will be completed this year and feed into our new prioritisation list. The Department of education will be contacting patrons shortly for their views on the new prioritisation list and that work will be ongoing.  Obviously, we have an NDP right out to 2030. I could not announce all the projects in one go. In an ideal world, we would have loved to do that. This has to be done on a phased basis. The first tranche was announced and the Department will be working with patrons and schools on the next prioritisation list. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John McGuinness  There are capacity issues in some of the schools I have mentioned, like Church Hill National School in Cuffesgrange and Scoil Mhuire in Mooncoin. Then there is the issue of Castlecomer's school, which has 634 students. That project is shovel-ready and the school wants to get on with that work. There has been such a long wait for the Kilkenny school campus. Planning permission is there. Some \u20ac3.5 million has already been spent on the groundworks and the planning permission will expire. I keep on emphasising that and will continue to because the school needs to know where it is going before the end of July. It cannot be left until next year for the school to be given some sort of indication, because that will force it back into the planning process. The school will also lose time and see site costs increase. The other interesting thing about schools is the renting of prefabs. This has cost Church Hill National School \u20ac480,000 to date. As such, there is a really urgent case for investment in all of those schools. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  I thank the Deputy. In general, the Department works with schools on planning permissions that may be due to expire. That work happens all the time. With the priority list, we look at a number of issues, including: demographic pressures; schools that may not have their own home, in that they may be working out of a sports facility; whether they are ready to proceed to stage 3; whether they are maximising the capacity within their existing school footprint; and, importantly, where there is a focus on special educational needs, SEN, classes. This is a top priority for the Minister of State and me and it feeds into our building projects as well. We want to ensure our children and students can attend their local school. That will require special education classes to be prioritised as part of our building projects. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy David Maxwell)  We will now go back to Parliamentary Question No. 86 from Deputy \u00d3 Muir\u00ed. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Schools Building Projects"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_26","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Special Educational Needs","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_22","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_26","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_26.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed  My question is on the provision of SNAs in a school in my community and the need for better communications from the Department of education. Will the Minister of State provide an update on the SNA review for Gaelscoil Ghr\u00e1inne Mhaol in Domhnach M\u00edde, Baile \u00c1tha Cliath, recognising the uncertainty families are facing, and will he make a statement on the matter? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  I thank the Deputy for the question. The Government is fully committed to supporting children with special educational needs to fulfil their full potential and the programme for Government makes a number of commitments to deliver on this objective. The National Council for Special Education has responsibility for co-ordinating and advising on care support for children and young people with special educational needs in our schools, including the allocation of special needs assistant support to schools. It has responsibility for managing and processing requests from schools for a review of their SNA allocations.  I fully understand and have seen the critical role special needs assistants play in the successful inclusion of students with additional and significant care needs in schools. The Department has been steadily building the level of SNA support in our education system. By the end of this year, there will be over 24,896 SNAs in our mainstream classes, special classes and special schools. That will grow to 26,000 or more over the next while.\u00a0 This represents a 46% increase since 2020. The Minister and I have been engaging intensively to ensure all the concerns raised are understood.  The Deputy raised an issue with a specific school. I will ask the NCSE to ensure that that review is taken out as soon as possible. If the Deputy has more details, we could follow up afterwards. I reassure the House that the value we place on the role of the special needs assistant in the school system is huge. SNAs have contributed enormously to the provision of specialised education. We are going to continue to grow those numbers into next year and beyond to ensure we are meeting the needs of children and school communities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Aire St\u00e1it. I spoke earlier this year about the importance of that trust between SNAs and students, which I know he understands, and how central that is to a child\u2019s school experience and their broader development. I welcome the commitment to engage specifically on this item and will follow up with him separately. I also welcome the target of 26,000-plus SNAs. Communication earlier in the year between the Department and the NCSE was very poor and we are heading for the same problem again. That is where Gaelscoil Ghr\u00e1inne Mhaol is struggling. It wants to plan for its SNA numbers and allocations for next year. I will pick up with the Minister of State separately on that. We need to address this for the future. I do not want Gaelscoil Ghr\u00e1inne Mhaol or any other school in the area heading for the June bank holiday still not clear on its allocation, so it is really important that we try to bottom out that process so schools can have certainty as soon as possible. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  On decisions that were made earlier this year, there will be no change. There will be no reduction in the number of SNAs who will be in school communities from 2025-26 to 2026-27. We are committed to growing the number of SNAs because we see the role of the SNA as a huge enabler in providing specialised education in school communities. They have contributed enormously to allow a child with special educational needs to reach their full potential within the education system and the work that is being done by the special needs assistants across the school communities, in collaboration with the teachers and school leaderships, is second to none. We understand that at ministerial level, across the Department and in the NCSE as well.  It is important that we are communicating our information and our story across the school communities because nothing can be more frustrating than not understanding the information. I take the point on that but we are communicating right across the system. A huge volume of work has been going on for a number of years and is being brought to a conclusion over the next number of weeks in terms of the workforce development plan, the redeployment plan and the circular. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Aire St\u00e1it. The same school has an issue with the summer programme as well. On the school's notification of the summer programme, the quantum has arrived three months later than last year and the school still does not know how many places it can offer. It has only been told that this information will be confirmed this very week. This is an issue that came up during the general election campaign. I remember talking to teachers who were really struggling to make their plans for the summer programme because they were hearing about their resources quite late in the cycle. Will the Minister of State give us any assurance or information? What can we do to make sure that that school can accommodate and plan the summer programme, given it is just around the corner, so that there is not that stress on families and they can make their summer plans as well? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  The summer programme is hugely valued within school communities and families. That just goes to show the huge number of families and students who have applied for the programme across the system. It came up again at the Oireachtas committee on education yesterday when the Minister and I were reflecting very carefully on the concerns that were raised about the summer programme into 2026 and the challenges there were for a number of schools and students. We are reflecting very carefully on that but of course we have to be very mindful also that we have a specific budget for it and we have those limits we have to work in. We are working with every school community to bring certainty over the next short while. We are acutely aware that it is only a number of weeks before the summer programme will kick in. I assure the Deputy we are reflecting very carefully on what he is saying and also what others said at the committee yesterday and will be giving it due consideration over the next day or two. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Special Educational Needs"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_27","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Special Educational Needs","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_22","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_27","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel McCarthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_27.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  My Department and the National Council for Special Education continue to work closely with school patron bodies, school management bodies and schools to confirm new special classes for the next school year, 2026-27. The NCSE began sanctioning new special classes in January of this year, which is several months earlier than last year. In addition, we recently announced inclusive special classes as part of a new approach to supporting students with additional needs. This is one of many ways my Department is actively engaging to meet the increased demand.  To date, 546 new special classes have been sanctioned, including 47 inclusive special classes. Of these, 63 are sanctioned in County Cork. Some further new special classes will be confirmed in the coming weeks. These new special classes will be in addition to the 617 already in operation across schools in County Cork. In the Cork East constituency specifically, there are 145 special classes in mainstream schools this school year. Some 87 of these have been newly established since 2020. In addition to providing additional special class places, four new special schools have been established in County Cork in recent years, including one in east Cork. The East Cork Community Special School continues to grow and expand to meet the increasing level of need.  My Department and the NCSE will continue to closely monitor the need for further special class and special school places in east Cork over the coming months, and as part of forward planning for the 2027-28 school year. The NCSE also continues to engage closely with schools and families to track the placement of children and young people and determine the current remaining level of need for specialist places at a local level. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel McCarthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Noel McCarthy  I wish to highlight the need for the provision of a special education placement in east Cork, where children and their parents are currently travelling long distances to secure a place. People are travelling daily from east Cork to special schools in Cork city, Dungarvan and further afield, often resulting in an almost 100 km round trip. Does the Minister of State agree that it is unfair that children with complex needs have to travel long distances, far from familiar surroundings, while their siblings attend school nearby? We have long had a lack of special education facilities in east Cork. This was somewhat addressed by the opening of a special school in Carrigtwohill in recent years. However, local demand for these places, unfortunately, far outstrips current supply, with waiting lists putting huge pressure on parents. These parents are already under enough stress in dealing with children with complex additional needs. There is, therefore, an acute need for the establishment of a special school between Carrigtwohill and Youghal in east Cork. Given the travel times for special students in towns like Youghal, does the Minister of State see Youghal as a viable option for the establishment of a new school? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  I am well aware of the campaign and discussions. I have met with the group and have committed to meeting with it again to discuss this further. In east Cork and the area the Deputy represents, there has been a huge growth in population, which increases the need for specialised education. One of the issues we have been looking at in the Department is people travelling long distances for specialised education. Between 2025 and 2026, almost 1,000 special classes have been opened across the country to try to meet the needs as locally as possible. In east Cork, the opening of the school at Carrigtwohill has met the needs within that community. We are acutely aware of the growing needs in this regard. We are continuing to monitor and study the figures to ensure we have specialised education as close as possible to the children, so we can eliminate the need to drive long distances. Those issues are getting careful consideration across the Department. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel McCarthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Noel McCarthy  The Minister of State is aware of the Bridging the Gap Youghal group set up by local parents, who are doing tremendous work in advocating strongly that local gaps in special education provision be addressed. These parents are concerned because there is currently only one special school place available for the 2026-27 school year in the only secondary school in the Youghal area. Does the Minister of State appreciate the serious and legitimate concerns raised by these parents? The need for places is evident and only seems to be increasing. With this in mind, I ask the Minister of State to outline the dialogue he has had to date with this group, and his plans and the plans of his departmental officials to further engage with Bridging the Gap, the NCSE and the education and training board, ETB. If the Minister could arrange a meeting with them, I would really appreciate it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  I can confirm that we met the group some time ago, and we are committed to meeting it again. We are monitoring this across the country, and Youghal and east Cork are no different. We are watching the number of children who have applied through the portal for specialised education, whether in special schools or special classes, to ensure we are meeting the needs in those communities. The data from the portal allowed us to have a lens into how we were tackling specialised education. The aim across the education system is to reduce the travel time. The special school has opened in east Cork. I offer my thanks to Cork ETB for the work it has done in collaboration with the National Council for Special Education and the Department. It has opened a number of schools and taken on a hugely valued role that other patrons would have had heretofore.  I am committed to meeting the groups. I understand the challenges. Entry into primary school or secondary school is a flashpoint for families. We will engage further. I assure the Deputy that we are aware of the concerns and the campaigns that are ongoing. We are reflecting very carefully on all of that. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Special Educational Needs"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_28","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Schools Building Projects","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_22","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_28","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_28.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  I ask for an update on the new build for Gaelscoil Chol\u00e1iste Mhuire in the city centre. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  The new build for Gaelscoil Chol\u00e1iste Mhuire is a large-scale capital project for the construction of a 16-classroom primary school in Dublin 1. The building project to complete the new build for Gaelscoil Chol\u00e1iste Mhuire, Dominick Street, is at stage 3 of the architectural planning process - tender action and award. The Department can confirm that following a confidential conciliation process concerning all matters in dispute between the Department and the original contractor, the conciliator has now issued a formal recommendation for the resolution of those disputes, and that recommendation has now been accepted by both parties. Following the conclusion of the conciliation process, my Department has instructed the design team to ready a tender for the completion contract for the school in Dominick Street. This process is expected to take four to six weeks to publish the tender, with a view to having a contractor on-site in early quarter 4 of 2026.  It remains the Department\u2019s priority to deliver a new school building for Gaelscoil Chol\u00e1iste Mhuire as quickly as possible. Departmental officials will continue to work closely with the school authority. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  I thank the Minister for that information. The status of Gaelscoil Chol\u00e1iste Mhuire was a very significant issue in the recent by-election. When I was out canvassing with my colleague, Councillor Janet Horner, it was coming up at many doors.  As the Minister knows, the works were suspended in May 2025 by the Department, which was in dispute with the contractor. There was a conciliation process and the school moved to its current temporary site in December 2025. The Minister has made the point that we now have the recommendation. The fact that a recommendation was made by the conciliator was conveyed to the board of management and, in turn, it went on to convey that to the parents. The Minister has provided some further useful information today. However, the fact is that the parents have not had a clear update since March of this year. It would be useful if the Department could write clearly to the board of management and ask it to convey the information it has just given to me. I will put this up on social media, which is fine, but they should hear officially what the status of this project is right now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  As the Deputy said, the design team has been instructed by the Department to ready the tender for the completed contract. It will take four to six weeks to publish the tender, with a view to having the contractor on-site in quarter 4 of this year. Each stage of the process is subject to due diligence by the Department within the context of the overall programme and budgetary parameters. However, it remains the Department's priority to deliver a new school building for Gaelscoil Chol\u00e1iste Mhuire as quickly as possible.  Departmental officials will continue to work closely with the school authorities and will meet with them on a regular basis.  As the Deputy said, a number of issues arose on site and the Department actively engaged with the design team and the contractor to discuss matters. Those unforeseen matters led to a delay in the project and, as a result, the Department entered into a conciliation hearing to try to reach agreement on a solution to ensure the earliest possible delivery of the school, while respecting its statutory obligations. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  I thank the Minister for the detailed information but I come back to the point about communication. That information needs to be communicated to the school management team and board of management, and it needs to be clear to them that they can share that information with parents. This has been a very difficult situation. In fairness to the Department, a lot of work has been done but there are no clear lines of communication for getting that information to the parents. I ask the Minister again to ask her officials to communicate with the board and the principal. Sometimes, principals in a difficult position like this are worried about sharing information when confidential discussions are going on. It is important that they know they can share this information with parents.  The students are in a temporary premises on Cathal Brugha Street at the moment. Obviously, the build is going to take longer now but it will, hopefully, recommence in quarter 4 of this year. Do the students have permission to stay in their current temporary accommodation until the build is finalised? Is that certain? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  We can contact the school in relation to this but it is important to say that, in accordance with standard practice and contractual requirements, the conciliation process is of a confidential nature and, therefore, it was not appropriate to comment on the process. The conciliator has issued a formal recommendation for the resolution of the disputes and that recommendation has now been accepted by both parties.  The Department is providing accommodation more suitable to the current needs of the school on Cathal Brugha Street. Some small-scale refurbishment works at the building were carried out to provide a good interim accommodation solution for the school. These include teaching and learning spaces for the classes, education supports and sensory spaces, adequate meeting and office spaces, a staff room, a communal area and access to a safe outdoor space for the students. The school moved into those premises in December of 2025.  I will ask departmental officials to engage directly with the Deputy on his last question. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Schools Building Projects"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_29","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Educational Disadvantage","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_22","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_29","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_29.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  I have raised the unsustainable situation at Roxboro National School in Ballinrobe with the Minister's office numerous times since last November. I have visited the school, spoken with the management there and seen the urgent need for additional resources. That is why I was extremely disappointed to hear that the school had been excluded from the DEIS programme. I ask the Minister to explain to the school community why Roxboro National School has been excluded from DEIS and DEIS plus despite the obvious resource pressures that this particular school is facing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  I thank the Deputy for her question. Ensuring that every child and young person can reach their full potential is a key priority for me as Minister and for my Department. The DEIS programme and the new DEIS plus scheme, which will begin this year as part of the DEIS strategy to 2035, are key initiatives in my Department\u2019s approach to addressing educational disadvantage.  Schools were identified for inclusion in the DEIS and DEIS plus programmes using refined, rules-based approaches built on nationally available pupil-level administrative data that was applied consistently across all schools in the country. The DEIS identification process is based on the principle of concentrated disadvantage and the proportion of students from disadvantaged backgrounds within a school. The DEIS identification process is based on the HP deprivation index assigned to the area where individual students reside, and on Traveller and Roma ethnicity.  It is important to stress that although a school is not included in DEIS or DEIS plus, this does not in any way imply that my Department is saying that disadvantage does not exist within that school community. I absolutely recognise the important role that schools like Roxboro National School in Ballinrobe, and the staff therein, play in supporting children who reside in international protection accommodation, for example. That is why, under the DEIS strategy to 2035, which is my Department\u2019s long-term vision to address educational disadvantage in all schools, I announced a pilot scheme to extend home school community liaison, HSCL, provision to schools outside of the DEIS programme that have significant cohorts of children that are at risk of educational disadvantage or who are from new communities. Roxboro National School in Ballinrobe is one of 130 schools that will be supported under this scheme. Any future allocation of resources to address educational disadvantage in schools will be considered over the lifetime of the DEIS strategy out to 2035 and in the context of available resources. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  I will outline to the Minister how Roxboro National School more than meets the criteria for DEIS status. It is a two-teacher rural primary school serving one of the most diverse and disadvantaged school populations in the country. The school currently has 35 pupils; 17 are from the Irish Traveller community and 18 are either in the International Protection Accommodation Service, IPAS, system, refugees, homeless or living in emergency accommodation. Three children have moderate learning difficulties and 31 to 35 require daily special education teaching supports. Due to the diverse and disadvantaged backgrounds of the families within the school community, parent contribution funding is non-existent. There is no functioning parents association and the school is really struggling to maintain a board of management. This all adds to the strain on the already stretched and struggling teaching staff there.  I acknowledge the Department's efforts thus far to assist the school. The school was told that it would be added to the HSCL scheme earlier this year. However, that will not even scratch the surface. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  The DEIS plus strategy was a commitment in the programme for Government, the aim of which is to target areas across the country where there are really high risks of educational disadvantage. The evidence from international assessments on literacy and numeracy finds that Ireland performs very highly compared to other OECD countries or EU averages. However, the assessments also find that there are gaps remaining in relation to outcomes for children from areas of high deprivation. That was reinforced by the 2024 review of resourcing schools to address educational disadvantage in Ireland, which recommended higher levels of support for a small cohort of schools supporting the highest concentrations of children and young people at risk of educational disadvantage. That was the purpose of the DEIS plus strategy, but I hear what the Deputy is saying about Roxboro and other schools across the country that are not DEIS schools but have children and young people who are at risk of educational disadvantage within them. That is why I set up that pilot scheme specifically for schools like Roxboro National School in Ballinrobe, to give them access to a home school liaison position.  We will be looking at the DEIS plus strategy and how it is being rolled out. I would like to make it more flexible. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  There is transition and integration funding that can be used for other purposes when we have extreme cases like this. The management feared that the inclusion on the scheme to which the Minister refers would lead to Roxboro's exclusion from DEIS. which has now come to pass despite every other school in its HSCL cluster having DEIS or DEIS plus status. The school management and I are really struggling to understand how a school like Roxboro, with such a significant and concentrated need, has been left out of the DEIS scheme.  In a letter from her office to the school on 21 May, the Minister acknowledged the level of disadvantage experienced at Roxboro, yet the school is still excluded from DEIS. This is an exceptional school that needs help. I ask the Minister to outline a clear pathway for Roxboro to achieve DEIS status in the short rather than long term. In the long term, all of these children will be gone and they will have been failed by the system because we are not targeting the investment where it is needed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  The commitment in the programme for Government was for the DEIS plus strategy aimed at those areas of most severe educational disadvantage. That is why I set up a pilot specifically for schools that are not in DEIS, understanding the needs that are out there. I will be looking at that into the future to see what more we can do and what more supports we can provide for schools across the country.  With regard to the data, this is nationally available data that is applied right across the country, and also the enrolment data coming from our schools from the primary online database, POD and the post-primary online database system, P-POD, from our post-primary schools. Priority and weighting was given to schools in areas where there was a high level of unemployment, a high level of Roma or Traveller children within those schools, and students with lone parents were part of that as well. We have to make sure that we are looking at nationally available data and at the HP deprivation index. We also work with the Central Statistics Office, CSO, in making sure that we are refining the data that is coming to us, specifically in relation to schools across the country, and the enrolment data that schools are providing. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Educational Disadvantage"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_30","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Special Educational Needs","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_22","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_30","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_30.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  T\u00e1 m\u00e9 ag iarraidh ceist a chur ar an Aire St\u00e1it faoin bhr\u00fa at\u00e1 ar scoileanna i dtuaisceart Bhaile \u00c1tha Cliath. Is the Department satisfied that the current special needs assistant allocations meet the needs of students? There are a lot of schools I could mention that have been on to me, but in the context of this main question I will mention the Stapolin Education Together National School. Also, Gaelscoil Ghr\u00e1inne Mhaol is operating with one special needs assistant. What is the DEIS status of St. Joseph's in Fairview? Parents have other children, brothers and sisters, in another school that has DEIS plus status and yet that school does not have it. What is the DEIS plus status of St. Francis Junior School in Dublin 17? I know there is a lot there so we can go back and forth. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  I thank Deputy Heneghan for the tour of the schools in his constituency. I do take his point on this serious issue. I welcome the engagement by all Deputies and political figures on education, which is hugely important. It is important that we engage as fully as possible with schools, school communities and families.  The Government is strongly committed to supporting children with special educational needs to achieve their full potential and the programme for Government makes a number of commitments to deliver this objective. In 2026 there will be 24,896 special needs assistants in our mainstream classes, special classes and special schools. This represents an almost 46% increase since the 2020 school year. The SNA plays a key role in the successful inclusion of students with additional and significant care needs in the schools. As part of the annual budgetary process I will continue to pursue the resources required to support the care needs for pupils with additional SNA resources when required.  In February we confirmed that there would be no reductions to the special needs assistants for the school year 2026-27. All schools were reviewed by the NCSE and schools allocated additional resources will receive them in the upcoming school year. The SNA redeployment scheme, the SNA workforce development plan, and changes to a 2014 circular outlining the role of the SNA will be advanced before any further decisions are taken.  The NCSE has responsibility for ensuring that all additional SNA posts funded through budget 2026 are allocated to mainstream, special classes and special schools to meet the care needs in these sectors. In all cases any school that believes it has insufficient special needs assistant resources to support the needs of the pupils should contact the NCSE for an SNA review. If on completion of the SNA review it identifies that additional resources are required, they will be provided. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  The Minister of State will be aware that I will always mention the schools in north Dublin to him. With regard to St. Francis Junior School, it had 165 registered instead of 166. In this school 40% of the current students are from the Traveller community. They cannot lose a mainstream teacher. It will put extreme pressure on them. The Minister of State will be aware, because I am always bringing it up, that the Stapolin Educate Together school needs to have that modular building sanctioned. It has the ability to do brilliant things. I thank the Minister for Education and Youth, Deputy Naughton, for her response to the parliamentary question today relating to Gaelchol\u00e1iste Reachrann. The addition of those two special educational needs classes is needed. It is great that the data has been shown in that area, and the parents are happy, but I would love to see that school moving forward. The response to the parliamentary question said that it would be moving and progressed.  The current SNA review for Gaelscoil Ghr\u00e1inne Mhaol took place more than five months ago yet the school has received no formal communication of the outcome. In the meantime, staff are being left to manage impossible circumstances with one SNA. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  Reviews are ongoing and we will have further engagement, along with the schools the Deputy mentioned. Over recent weeks we have announced a number of inclusive special classes as well, which is 47 in total. Of those, 32 are at post-primary and 15 are primary schools. These have been welcomed by the school communities where we are providing the resources. The school communities should look at what we have done in other schools as well because this is a hugely important and significant policy change which is being welcomed across the school communities.  The Government is continuing to invest hugely in SNAs and in ensuring we have SNAs right across the school communities, be they special schools, special classes or in mainstream classes. The value of the special needs assistant and the role they play in enabling students to reach their full potential, and in some cases to allow them to engage within the education system, is hugely important to the Minister, Deputy Naughton, and to me. We understand that. A lot of work has been done on the workforce development plan, the circular and the redeployment. If there are existing schools that the Deputy needs us to look at, we can certainly do so. I can assure the Deputy that we are growing the number of SNAs into the future. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Aire St\u00e1it. T\u00e1 m\u00e9 an-s\u00e1sta \u00e9 sin a chloiste\u00e1il. T\u00e1 na ceithre scoil sin an-t\u00e1bhachtach. B\u00edm i gc\u00f3na\u00ed ag cur ceisteanna parlaiminte agus r\u00edomhphost chuig oifig an Aire St\u00e1it, ach n\u00ed bh\u00edonn na freagra\u00ed s\u00e1s\u00fail. N\u00edl siad maith go leor. The parents are exhausted from having to battle continuously for assessments, classroom space and SNAs. I welcome the addition of many SNA posts and additional classrooms but these schools need to be looked at and their DEIS status needs to be examined. Every child in north Dublin deserves these schools. They need the support as it will affect their development and their future opportunities. I am calling on the Minister of State to urgently engage with all of the schools I mentioned today. The staffing and the infrastructure required needs to be delivered without further delay. The children of north Dublin and across Ireland deserve and are entitled to better. I appreciate the engagement that the Minister of State has given so far and I welcome that he has visited these schools, particularly St. Michael's House in Baldoyle. They were very grateful for the Minister of State's visit, and for the compassion and information he gave to them, along with the understanding of it. I really welcome the work the Minister of State will do with all of the Dublin Bay North TDs on that matter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  I thank the Deputy. As I say of all Deputies across the House, the engagement they have with the education system is crucially important. We are able to have very informed debates here in Leinster House with Deputies' contributions. Deputy Heneghan mentioned a number of schools. We will certainly follow up on them. We are acutely aware of the challenges in the context of the SNA role. We have invested. There are 46% more SNAs since 2020, which is only six years ago. We have grown the number of SNAs. We are committed to having more SNAs and we will have a considerable amount of SNAs, literally thousands more, over the next number of years. The Minister, Deputy Naughton, and I are acutely aware of and understand the role the SNA provides and we will fight at all levels to make sure we have funding for SNAs into the future. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 92 and 93 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Special Educational Needs"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_31","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Schools Building Projects","counts":{"speechCount":3,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_22","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_31","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brendan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","memberCode":"Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_31.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brendan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","memberCode":"Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brendan Smith  My question refers to Curravagh National School at Glangevlin in County Cavan. It is a small school and it has a 25-year-old prefab that needs to be replaced. It is 25 sq. m but the Department has offered a 19 sq. m replacement permanent building. On the advice of the Department the school partitioned that prefab some years ago so that it would have some accommodation for shared special education teacher, English language teacher, secretary and principal space. The school is requesting that the additional accommodation to be provided would equal the size of its existing prefab. It is a very basic ask. I ask the Minister to ask her officials to revisit the approval that has been issued by her Department. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  We are short of time so I ask for a single reply. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  Okay. I can come back to the Deputy with further information. I can confirm that my Department is in receipt of an application for accommodation under the additional school accommodation scheme for the school referred to by the Deputy.  The application relates to the replacement of a prefab which is used as a special education tuition room and ancillary accommodation. The Department's assessment of this application needs to reflect the fact this is a two-teacher school, with a current enrolment of 20 pupils. While the school has two classrooms, it has very limited ancillary accommodation and my Department previously indicated to the school authority that it is prepared to approve a small special education tuition room for the school. While a special education tuition room does not reflect the full scale of additional and ancillary accommodation sought by the school authority, my Department considers this is the most important aspect to be prioritised at this time. However, my Department will continue to engage with the school authority on the matter, and I can come back to the Deputy on that. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Is f\u00e9idir teacht ar Cheisteanna Scr\u00edofa ar www.oireachtas.ie. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Written Answers are published on the Oireachtas website. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Schools Building Projects"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_32","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Message from Select Committee","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_32","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  The Select Committee on Education and Youth has completed its consideration of the following Revised Estimate for Public Services for the service of the year ending 31 December 2026: Vote 26. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Message from Select Committee"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_33","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions","counts":{"speechCount":35,"speakerCount":8},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_33","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":" A Deputy","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I would like to extend a welcome to Aisling Dunne and her son Jack, on behalf of Deputy \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in. They are very welcome to the Public Gallery, and I hope they enjoy their visit to D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Cuireann an sc\u00e9im fhor\u00e1il I\u00fail taca\u00edocht r\u00edth\u00e1bhachtach samhraidh ar f\u00e1il do ph\u00e1ist\u00ed a bhfuil riachtanais bhreise acu. N\u00edl na taca\u00edochta\u00ed seo roghnach le haghaidh roinnt p\u00e1ist\u00ed; t\u00e1 siad riachtanach. Go f\u00f3ill ar fud an St\u00e1it, t\u00e1 an Rialtas ag insint le teaghlaigh go bhfuil na taca\u00edochta seo \u00e1 gcailli\u00faint acu. I mbliana, n\u00edor oscla\u00edodh an tr\u00e9imhse iarratais don sc\u00e9im fhor\u00e1il I\u00fail ach ar feadh seachtain amh\u00e1in. Sna blianta roimhe seo, bh\u00ed m\u00edonna ag na scoileanna leis an bpr\u00f3iseas a chur i gcr\u00edch. Beidh p\u00e1ist\u00ed a bhfuil riachtanais bhreise acu f\u00e1gtha ar leataobh anois gan na taca\u00edochta\u00ed r\u00edth\u00e1bhachtacha seo don samhradh. Is iad na p\u00e1ist\u00ed f\u00e9in a bheidh th\u00edos leis.  The July provision scheme provides vital summer educational supports for children with additional needs, and for many children, these supports are not optional; they are absolutely essential. They provide structure, routine, stability and continuity during the summer months. Yet, right across the State, families are now being told their children are going to be denied and will lose out on these vital supports because of a deeply unfair and badly handled decision by the Department of education.  I have been contacted by principals, teachers and parents who are deeply distressed. They are all telling me the same thing; they are angry, upset and desperate to be heard. Parents are lying awake at night, worrying about what will happen to their child now. How can a Government, which constantly proclaims to include and support children with additional needs, allow this to happen? Schools and families have been pleading with the Department to intervene but their appeals are falling on deaf ears over and over again.  This year, the application window for the July provision was open for just one week. In previous years, schools had months to complete this process. Many schools simply did not have sufficient time to process applications, gather the paperwork and complete the registration before the portal was closed. The real life consequences of all this is that children with additional needs are now locked out of vital education support this summer. It is absolutely appalling.  However, it is not an isolated problem. This is happening to families right across the State. Parents are facing enormous battles accessing services for their children. As we know, they are already struggling to secure assessments, therapies, tutors and SNAs, and many feel they are constantly being pushed from one waiting list to another - from one bureaucratic process to another. Meanwhile, supports remain under-resourced and out of reach for many of them, and now we have this on top of all that, with more stress, worry and upset.  These are children with additional needs. We have to think about that for a minute. These are children with additional needs, and their families are already carrying a huge emotional and financial burden. These are parents who spend every day fighting for supports and services, simply to ensure their child is treated with dignity. Now, Government is effectively telling them their child will lose out on support that they so desperately need and have relied on year after year because of an unreasonably tight deadline, bureaucracy and red tape. Families do not understand it, teachers do not understand it and, for the life of me, I do not understand it. This is mean spirited and penny pinching. It is penny pinching at the expense of vulnerable children, and it is not on.  We have raised this again and again. Teachers have raised this and parents have been pleading with Government to act but it refuses to do so. Yesterday, my party Leader, Deputy McDonald, raised it with the Taoiseach and he ignored her question. Is the T\u00e1naiste going to listen and do the right thing? Will he acknowledge the hurt, anxiety and anger at the decision Government has taken and will he listen to the pleas of the parents, teachers and principals? Will he immediately reopen and extend the application portal, so that no child with additional needs will be denied supports this summer? We need certainty right now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Yes, we will. I thank Deputy Doherty and Deputies across the House, including on the Government benches, for raising this issue. We will reopen the portal. The Deputy is right; on occasions we can agree in this House. This is a vital programme that plays a very important part in the lives of children with additional needs, be they special educational needs or children from areas of economic disadvantage. The summer programme is a vital support for families. It is specifically designed to support children with complex educational needs and those at risk of educational disadvantage. We are very much committed to continuing to expand and grow the programme, and the facts will show this is exactly what has happened, which I will get to in a moment.  The Minister for education has very much listened directly to the concerns of schools, principals, teachers and parents. I am pleased to confirm the portal will be reopened to allow further schools to apply. The Minister will announce details of the extension shortly because everyone in this House knows the summer programme is an absolutely crucial support for families over the holiday period. It has huge benefits for children in their social and emotional well-being. We are absolutely committed, as I believe everybody across this House is, to growing and supporting that summer programme.  You only have to look at the numbers to show the growth in the programme. In 2020, 545 schools and nearly 23,000 children took part in the programme, and just five years later, last year, more than 1,800 schools and almost 71,000 children participated. That is a 210% increase. This is a scheme that is rightly growing year-on-year. The intention and continued emphasis of that programme is to mitigate the impact of learning loss, if you like, on those children while the school is closed. All schools can participate in the programme, with a particular focus on increasing participation in special schools.  As the Deputy correctly said, the online portal for the summer programme, including the home-based summer programme which is another element of it, was open from 6 to 15 May. I am told all stakeholders were made aware of the timeframe for the portal but I am also very aware that it is a particularly busy time for schools and the community. There is a lot going on as you get towards the end of the school year. A reminder was sent to schools but that is somewhat missing the point. The point is there is a need for a longer period of time for schools to apply to get this up and running.  For the information of the House, I also understand the Department has received more applications this year across primary, post-primary and special schools compared to last year. In addition, the number of home-based applications has also significantly increased on last year. Perhaps because of that, we want to make sure the children who need this programme get it. That is why my colleague, the Minister for education, will announce that short extension shortly, so that schools that have missed the deadline for very genuine reasons - and the Deputy has highlighted some of those reasons, such as it being a shorter window than previous years - will have the opportunity to reapply. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I welcome the decision to reopen the portal, and I ask that clarity be given to schools and parents immediately. The T\u00e1naiste talked about a short extension but it needs to be long enough to deal with the process. As a result of the botched situation this year, there is now huge pressure to allocate tutors, so this cannot happen again.  I want to raise an additional issue relating to this year. My understanding is the scheme has also changed, in that there is now only one option, where all the pupils take either the school-based or home-based programme. That locks medically vulnerable children out of the system. If the school decides on a school-based programme, you cannot have a home-based programme for that medically vulnerable child. I spoke to a parent of a child who is 13 years of age and who has missed a lot of school because of their medical vulnerability. They have care every night from the HSE, which proves their medical vulnerability. As the portal only allows you to do one or the other, they cannot avail of the school-based programme.  They need a home-based programme. I ask the T\u00e1naiste, in examining this issue, to also examine that issue and make sure that medically vulnerable students are not denied the option, which until now was always the case, to avail of either-or. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I do not want to mislead the House. On the last issue, I need to talk to the Minister for education and ask that she comes back to the Deputy, as I am sure she will. I take the seriousness of the point he makes. Schools will be contacted today because the Deputy is right that they need that clarity. My understanding is that, while the schools will be contacted today, the portal will open next week.  This is a programme that is growing very significantly in terms of the numbers of children. We all know in our own constituencies and in our own communities the very significant difference it is making to children as well. Looking back, in 2016, 8,767 children benefited from that scheme. Like I said, last year it was over 70,000. That is a sign of a programme that is working, and I thank all those around the country who provide this programme. It is also a sign, though, of the need, the fact that there are now so many children with those complex additional needs. I share the Deputy's view that this is not a discretionary extra or a nice-to-have but a vital part of education provision and family support. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  It is important that the Opposition keeps the Government honest on public spending. It is important too that reliable figures are given to the Opposition ahead of the annual budget so we know exactly what it costs to fund education, health and other important services. That has not been the case in recent years. We need to know exactly what it costs to fund existing services, the extra money that is needed to keep the show on the road and what money is needed for new measures. We in Labour believe honest politics means keeping the Opposition honest too. Last year the Department of public expenditure and reform refused to give out these demographic costs or information as to what it would take to maintain existing levels of service. We were met with triangulation and obfuscation. We ask every year how much is needed to meet the growing needs in special education. In budget 2026 we were sold a pup but, more importantly, so were the very families and children who need that support. Weeks ago we were told of an astonishing \u20ac646 million black hole in the Department of education. How did the T\u00e1naiste and his colleagues get budget 2026 so badly wrong?  What is the Government's answer? A levy, effective cuts by another name, in 2027 to every Department's budget, even before pre-budget talks open. Getting direct answers from various Ministers over the past few weeks on how this will work has been like pulling teeth.  What do we know? We know that the Minister for Health, for example, has said in replies to me that she will have to find \u20ac175 million in savings to plug the hole in education. This is on top of the fact that the HSE has overspent to the tune of \u20ac250 million in the early part of this year alone. Taken in the round, then, as we speak, the Department of Health and the HSE are now on the hook for at least \u20ac425 million this year and next. The Government says that pay in health will remain untouched. That will be the case for the Department of justice as well. Which services, then, will be cut or scaled back? Which planned new services will be stalled? All of us who are health service users have a right to know. It is more money, not less, that our under-pressure health services need, and there is a limit to the efficiencies and reforms that can be extracted from a service that is already under very significant pressure. The problem is that the Minister, Deputy Chambers, has put a deadline of 17 July on Departments coming back to him with their cost-cutting proposals. I am no conspiracy theorist, but that is the day after the D\u00e1il rises - zero accountability from this Government over the summer on the kinds of cuts we will see next year.  Will the T\u00e1naiste commit to giving us honest figures on demographic costs and the cost of maintaining existing levels of service this year and next? Will he confirm that there will be no further asks through significant supplementary budgets being brought to the House this year for various Government Departments? I directly ask him the following question and I expect a response. What kinds of cuts does he feel need to take place in health to fund the costs in education? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I believe in honest politics as well, and I think everyone in this House engages in good faith on behalf of the people they represent, as the Deputy does too.  I reject the assertion that this is in any manner of means a cut because that would suggest that the budget of one Department will be lower than it currently is. The budgets of all Departments are growing. I do not need to remind the Labour Party, which served in government at a very difficult time, what cuts are like, when we had to make extraordinarily hard decisions to get this country out of the depths of an economic crisis. The level of public expenditure in Ireland has risen. Voted expenditure the year before Covid was \u20ac67.4 billion. Voted expenditure is now due to be \u20ac147.2 billion by 2030 and \u20ac125.5 billion next year, so the budget for every Department - he referred to the Department of Health - will be higher in 2027 than it is in 2026. It is higher in 2026 than it was in 2025. I do not believe there is anybody in Ireland watching in on these proceedings who does not believe that savings, efficiencies and reforms can be found in the public service. People do this in their own lives all the time. I think people remember the times when the Deputy and I were in government and we were asking people to find savings with less. We are now asking people to find savings with a hell of a lot more. Even if there were not a need for a levy, I think that is prudent, good management of the public purse. Every week, whether you go to the PAC or certain other committees, you can find examples of where the public service can do more and do better in terms of the expenditure of the public purse.  This will not impact 2026 allocations, and the Minister has been very clear about that. As to what Government colleagues are being asked, the Government is a collective. If we decide to do more here, it does not fall from a magic money tree; it has to be found somewhere. That is how the world works. That is how budgeting should work. That is how our medium-term fiscal plan works. Colleagues are being asked, though, in the context of 2027 budgets, where every Government Department's budget will increase, to find efficiencies and reforms. It is a very important moment of truth for the public service as well. This will not impact the 2026 allocations.  As the Deputy also rightly says, we have been very clear that the levy must not impact important areas. For example, the Minister, Deputy Calleary, is here. It must not impact the social protection Vote, people with a disability, carers or those weekly payments. It must not impact Department of Health pay allocations - in other words, staffing - or Department of justice staffing. It must not impact housing, disability services or a number of other carve-outs. This is a levy that ranges from about 0.02% to 1.4%. In the context of a budget this year of over \u20ac118 billion and a budget next year of over \u20ac125 billion, people are being asked to find that level of efficiency. We should and we will, of course, continue to engage honestly and transparently on all these matters. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  That commitment to engage honestly and transparently should extend to Government Ministers and the Departments being required to come back to the Minister for public expenditure and reform well before 17 July with their very clear plans as to how these levies will impact services in their respective Departments. The reality is that the D\u00e1il is rising on 16 July, and I do not believe that it is a coincidence that the deadline of 17 July was set. We do need accountability in this House. We know that, for example, the medium-term expenditure framework was published the day after the D\u00e1il rose last December. That is a very significant five-year plan from the point of view of the fiscal position of this country and how we sustain our economy going forward. This is very much on brand for this Government: make important decisions when the D\u00e1il is in recess, with no accountability and with Ministers not being available to be held to account by this House for their own budgets for 2027 and their own Estimates in advance of budget 2027. This is a very significant development from the Minister for public expenditure.  There are alternatives to the introduction of levies across Departments. We could look at, for example, reforming our taxation system and ensuring we introduce tax on wealth and assets in a more significant way to pay for the increased public services we all agree we need to introduce, but the Government has decided not to do that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Respectfully, Ministers not being held to account is baloney. We had a budget oversight committee meeting the other day. In fairness, the Deputy was at it, he contributed and he asked all his questions. Others did not bother turning up. The meeting ended 40 minutes early. The Minister, Deputy Chambers, and I were there looking for questions to take, and the Chairman----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  I had to leave to speak here, actually. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I just want to be clear. The budget oversight committee met. The Minister, Deputy Chambers, and I were there to answer every and any question anybody wanted to ask, and it ended with 40 minutes to spare, which the Chairman then filled. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  It is Government TDs who do not turn up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  It does not matter who did not turn up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" A Deputy","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" A Deputy  It does. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  People can come back in with further questions as well. There were 40 minutes of unallocated time there. We are very accountable to this Oireachtas, and I want people at home to know that.  I also want people to know that the rising of the D\u00e1il has nothing to do with this at all because these are figures that will affect 2027, when there will be a significant opportunity. We will have a summer economic statement, a national economic dialogue and plenty of opportunities.  I believe in good, honest politics. So does Deputy Nash. I fully accept that. It is important we are transparent in relation to all these things, but it is also important, in the spirit of honesty, that we make the following point, and people at home know this. Public spending is growing very fast in this country relative to pretty much any other European economy.  It is a prudent and sensible thing to say to those charged with expending that money, \"Can you do better? Can you reform? Can you get value for money?\" That is what households and small businesses do; it is about time the public service did it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  There is a brutal truth at the heart of our disability system. Families have been forced to say it out loud because the Government is not listening. The reality is the State is waiting for parents to die. Parents in their 70s, 80 and 90s must continue to act as full-time carers for sons or daughters with intellectual disabilities. Regardless of their age, health and ability to care for another adult, if they are still alive, the State looks the other way.  The system for housing adults with intellectual disabilities is both nonsensical and unusually cruel. When a parent passes away, only then will an emergency placement be found for their son or daughter. That placement is too often hundreds of miles away from their home. Within the space of a few weeks, a vulnerable person will lose their parent, their carer, their home, their friends, their community and any semblance of the life they once knew. No civilised society should treat its citizens like this.  There are more than 600 adults with intellectual disabilities in residential placements outside of their home county. Almost 200 are in placements that are over 100 km from their homes. There are people from Cork in Kildare, people from Waterford in Dublin and people from Kildare in Tipperary. Hundreds of vulnerable people are being ripped from their communities at the most difficult time of their lives. The Minister, Deputy Foley, recently announced that local authorities will be required to set disability housing targets, but people cannot live in targets and families cannot wait for to see if these homes will ever materialise.  The State's growing reliance on private operators is a symptom of a deeper disfunction. The Muir\u00edosa Foundation, a progressive section 38 provider, recently told the Joint Committee on Disability Matters that it is forced to rely on the private rental market. This means that it invests tens of thousands of euro to meet HIQA standards, only to face eviction if a landlord decides to sell. At the same time, commercial companies funded by the Government can buy up properties far from a resident's home and community. This privatisation of care is of serious concern to parents. They do not want their sons or daughters outsourced for profit; they want them to be housed and cared for in their communities.  Adults with intellectual disabilities deserve to live with dignity, security and independence. Targets alone are not enough. The Before We Die campaign wants a disability housing plan that includes delivery timelines, clear reporting and multi-annual ring-fenced funding. Will the T\u00e1naiste finally listen to these parents? Will he meet them? They have asked to meet with him but he has not arranged to meet with them yet. Will the Government introduce the ring-fenced funding that is clearly needed to provide homes for adults with intellectual disabilities? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. It is good to see his colleague Deputy Ennis settling in well beside him. I think I have been in touch to arrange to meet them. I will be meeting them in June. The Taoiseach has also met them, as have the Minister, Deputy Foley, and the Minister of State, Deputy Higgins. When I say \"them\", I mean the Before We Die group. I thank them for their work and advocacy and for shining a spotlight on this situation.  Sometimes you just have to stand up in this House and admit that where we are is not where we need to be. This is one of those occasions. I have a load of figures here and can tell the Deputy that we are going to do more residential placements this year, which we are. I can tell him we have increased the disability budget, and we have. None of that takes away from the point he has made, which is valid, accurate and reflects the lived experience of far too many people in this country.  We had a good meeting of the Cabinet committee on disability a couple of weeks ago in respect of housing specifically. This was motivated by the campaign of the Before We Die group. At that meeting, a number of things were agreed. I acknowledge the role the Ministers, Deputies Browne and Foley, and the Minister of State, Deputy Higgins, will play in respect of this matter. We need everybody to pull together on it. A number of principles were set out in the context of shifting away from a crisis response to commissioning specialist residential places and towards a planned approach. The Deputy is right. There are far too many emergency situations whereby if the State had planned earlier and better, would not have needed to arise. Second, we need a rebalancing towards more placements with non-profit providers and social housing and away from privately funded housing.  The Deputy's point is right. If it is a criticism, it is right. We are using quite a lot of private for-profit providers. It is better to use them than not to have any option available, but the direction of travel is to ensure that local authorities, as the housing authorities in communities, are stepping up to provide housing for persons with disabilities in the same way they would when it comes to broader social housing. We can and should be doing more to support non-profit providers to build homes. This used to happen. I can think of where in my community there is a small housing estate with a relatively small number of homes and specialist staff in place, and it works.  The points the Deputy makes are valid. We will need a plan. I take the point about targets. We want to house people, but at the same time we need targets. The Deputy stated that there needs to be specificity around them in the context of funding and timelines. That is a fair point. Whatever is the best way to do this, whether it is at an Oireachtas committee or in this House, I am happy to have debate on how we get this right. This group is putting it up to us as a country to do better, and we simply have to. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  I welcome that the T\u00e1naiste is being frank about how appalling the situation is and is acknowledging that it has to change and is not acceptable. If the Government is serious about not-for-profit providers being able to play a better role, it must provide ring-fenced multi-annual funding in order that they can plan for services.  I will provide an example. Before the T\u00e1naiste's party took office, St. Michael's House had five respite homes in 2008. It now has just one. There is a six-year waiting list for adults with intellectual disabilities to access respite. As parents are getting older and becoming exhausted, they cannot even access respite for their loved ones. That is an appalling situation. Is the Government going to address that? There is no need for this to be happening. The HSE has been aware of the needs of adults with an intellectual disabilities for years. It does not need to wait for crisis situations to occur. This could be fixed and it needs to be fixed. Targets are one thing ,but we need clear timelines and ring-fenced multi-annual funding. Will the T\u00e1naiste commit to that? When are we going to get information about that? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I am going to commit to meeting the group in June. I am happy to engage further with the Deputy on this matter after that. This is an interesting area in respect of which extra funding is 100% required but where monitoring the impact of that funding on the systems in place also matters. For example, we are increasing respite funding by \u20ac25 million this year. We are also increasing funding for home support and personal assistance hours this year. I can say that, and it is true, but then there are demographic and planning issues and the issue of how the money is deployed. If it is deployed in an emergency capacity, it ends up having less impact because it costs more than in a planned capacity, which, I think, at a high level, is the point the group is making.  We need a housing plan when it comes to people with disabilities. It will need to have targets and specific timelines and the Government will need to fund it, but I want a better shared understanding of what the direction of travel looks like. Not every person with a disability is the same, and no one is suggesting they are. Some might be able to continue to live in the community and the family home, some might need a specialist residential service and some might need local authority housing. For some individuals, none of these options might work at all. A plan that tries to address that breadth is important. We should facilitate detailed engagement in this House on that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  Today in Ireland, a pensioner living alone or a family pays almost twice as much for a unit of electricity than a data centre. This is despite the fact many data centres are parts of the wealthiest corporations in the world. The demand from data centres is driving up the cost of electricity. In 2024, data centres consumed 22% of electricity in Ireland. That was more than every household in urban Ireland. That is an incredible figure. A report released today by Friends of the Earth shows that, on our current trajectory, data centres will add \u20ac1.4 billion to the cost of household electricity in the coming years. That is a hidden data centre tax.  Every week at my constituency clinic, this is a major issue. Last week, an elderly pensioner came to my clinic and showed me her electricity bill.  She asked me if it could be real, such was the extortionate level of the amount listed. The cost of electricity is a major issue in the cost-of-living crisis. Over 300,000 people are in energy arrears. In many cases, these are hard-working people and pensioners. They are really struggling. The policy of the Government has essentially been to offer energy credits before an election and then abandon them afterwards.  Data centres are paying about 50% less per unit of electricity. Families cannot understand this and are really frustrated. This is by design, in many respects. The trajectory is going to add more costs to households. When will the Government introduce legislation to regulate the data centre sector in the context of electricity prices? When is it going to introduce a sustainable policy in this regard? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  What was definitely not on my bingo card for 2026 was Aont\u00fa quoting Friends of the Earth, but politics throws new things at you every day.  The issue relating to the cost of electricity and the energy crisis in Ireland is a serious one. That is why this Government, through the Minister, Deputy Calleary, is expanding the fuel allowance. We extended the allowance for a further month in order to help people like those the Deputy referenced. It is also why we have taken a number of decisions to reduce excise on diesel and petrol. The benefit of that from an inflationary point of view is worth about 0.5% in keeping general downward pressure on a rising inflation rate. It is also why we need to accelerate the move towards renewables. There have been some constructive suggestions from Opposition and Government Deputies around how we can do more in relation to making it easier for people to make that transition in terms of their homes or businesses. The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, has already introduced a range of measures that are helping make their homes warmer. Hundreds of thousands of homes have now benefited from direct Government grants to retrofit and replace windows and doors. Of course, there have also been changes regarding electric vehicles.  I am interested in the Deputy's position on data centres. It is easy to say that data centres are bad or to make them the bogeyman. I am the Minister for Finance, and the evidence available to the Government is that across the six sectors in Ireland that are identified as being most dependent on data centres, it is estimated that of the order of \u20ac100 billion in annual gross value added, 875,000 jobs and \u20ac14.6 million in annual employment-related taxes were enabled by data centre capacity located in Ireland. It has also been identified that the hyperscale data centres sit at the heart of Ireland's global digital competitiveness.  When I make all these changes the Deputy is calling on me to make in relation to data centres, what does he want to do when we do not have the benefit of the taxes? What does he want to cut? What does he not want to fund? It is so easy to come in here and ask us to spend more. It is easy to slice up the pie, but it is a hell of a lot harder to bake the pie and bake a bigger pie in terms of economic success for this country.  It is also important to say that in the context of the Commission for Regulation of Utilities' large energy user connection policy, we have been very clear that data centres above a certain threshold will be required to meet at least 80% of their annual demand with new additional renewable electricity generated in the Republic of Ireland. Government policy firmly aims to enable the twin transitions of digitalisation and decarbonisation. We cannot pick and choose; we have to address both of them. We are talking about AI. We are talking how about how we support AI jobs and how we deal with the fact that there is going to be a significant churn in the labour market. Data centres play a very important role in having a competitive digital economy. We cannot just dismiss that or ridicule it. If we are going to do so, we must at least be honest with the people about the economic and tax impacts that could have on Ireland. If the Deputy puts it out there that a data centre is about four or five lads sitting around with a dog or something and nothing else in terms of economic activity, that is an economically illiterate point to make in relation to data centres. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  If the Government is going to make Ireland the data centre capital of Europe, it better have a plan. A plan does not mean that ordinary households are subsidising data centres. That is currently what is happening. The report to which I refer estimates that the current trajectory in terms of data centres is 22%, and that this is on the rise and is driving up the cost of energy in this country. The truth is that this is going to mean an estimated \u20ac1.4 billion in additional costs to consumers over the next number of years. Some 300,000 people are already in energy arrears. Ireland has the most expensive electricity prices in Europe. The ESB is profiteering. It made \u20ac650 million last year. The CEO of the ESB earns over \u20ac300,000. Who is the ESB serving? Who is the Government's energy policy serving in a situation where data centres are driving up the energy costs for families and paying less per unit of electricity? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  The Deputy is ignoring the point I am making. It sounds very good in short clips and sound bites, but the reality is that he is ignoring the economic benefit of the data centres. He is ignoring the economic benefit in terms----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  It is a cost too in the context of electricity. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I am sorry. Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn is giving Deputy Lawless a chance today. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  It is a cost. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  He is giving him a chance today. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I did not think that the weekend went so badly for Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn that he has had a leadership heave against him. Anyway, he should give the man a chance. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  The T\u00e1naiste is ignoring the cost. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  I am talking about the energy crisis and families across Ireland. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Allow the T\u00e1naiste to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  The rules are that the Deputy asks the question and I get a chance to answer it.  For people sitting at home, I want to outline the reality of the situation. Aont\u00fa, on behalf of Friends of the Earth, is suggesting that data centres are costing all of this money. That ignores the fact that I put on the record of the House the economic analysis available to me, as Minister of Finance, in terms of the benefit to this country in terms of taxes and employment. The Government does not have the luxury of ignoring that. If we did ignore it, the Deputies would be the first to come into this House and condemn the loss of jobs. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  The T\u00e1naiste is ignoring the cost . "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I want to say this. The Friends of the Earth report will be considered. That report says things the Deputy did not mention. It concedes that under the high renewable growth scenario, we actually see a situation where accelerated renewables are presented as sufficient to displace significant reliance on gas. The message the Deputy should have taken from the report is that we need to accelerate the move to renewables. That is what this Government is committed to. If Aont\u00fa is willing to finally step up and accept that climate action is needed, I welcome that conversion. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_34","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 na Comhalta\u00ed Eile - Other Members\u2019 Questions","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_34","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  As the T\u00e1naiste is aware, many young people between the ages of 25 and 33 are leaving our shores. Many of them were in good, settled jobs. These are garda\u00ed, teachers, mechanics and people with different trades. They are valuable individuals, and they are leaving because they simply believe that they cannot buy or build a house for themselves. They say that if they were not working at all or working only part-time, they would qualify to get on the local authority list and, eventually, get a social housing unit. In other words, they are telling us that there is no incentive for them to continue working in Ireland. I hope that the new planning Bill - there has been a lot of talk about it coming shortly; it cannot come quickly enough - will go far enough to ensure that people can get permission to build houses near or in their own localities and that they will be allowed to build entrances adjacent to national primary and secondary roads where it is safe to do so and where access already exists. The Government is encouraging people - as I said, nurses and mechanics and those with good qualifications - to come home from Australia, Canada, the United Arab Emirates and everywhere else and aims to halt the flow of the present crop of boys and girls who are leaving in their droves in the first instance. Both things will be achieved if the Government gets the planning right. I and many others have been asking for the planning process to be made easier for many years.  The other problem relates to mortgages. In the context of getting a mortgage, people can borrow four times the combined gross annual income of up to 90% of the value of the property. That is a big problem for many. People need proof of steady employment for at least 12 months and a deposit of 10%. Most mortgages now, because of the massive costs involved, are taking 30 to 35 years to pay back. Many people will have reached pension age before they fully own their houses. In the UK, there is no VAT on building materials. What can Ireland not be the same? The cost of the building is increased by one third as a result of tax, VAT and other levies.  There should be an incentive to build smaller houses. In County Kerry, the cost of building a new house is \u20ac220 to \u20ac280 per square foot, which means that the type of houses being built at present are costing somewhere between \u20ac200,000 and \u20ac280,000. That is on top of the cost of the site.  One will face a cost of \u20ac400,000 before the house is completed. I am asking the Government to look at these things to see whether we can stop people from leaving our shores. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank the Deputy for the question on housing and how we give our young people hope in terms of the ability to own or indeed in some cases to build their own home. I do not say this in any way disrespectfully to the Deputy but taxes are an important part of funding the State and we cannot just reduce or abolish them all. We have taken a number of measures recently to reduce the cost of construction and to try to assist around viability but we have also taken a number of measures on the tax side, particularly the help-to-buy scheme, which has literally helped tens of thousands of people get some of their own tax back towards a deposit for their home. That is a scheme we are very committed to as a Government and we are committed to keeping it in place until the end of the mandate of this Government.  The Deputy made points regarding mortgages and the amount a person can borrow. These are issues that I genuinely hear from people but we also have to get the balance right because we do not want to arrive back at the place we were in the past with a very high level of mortgage indebtedness and the difficulty that arises from that. We, as a Government, have a number of schemes in place and have commitments in the programme for Government to keep them under review.  We have to do more on rural housing. We have to make sure that people have an ability to live in their own community. It is a really important part of balanced regional development and the regeneration of rural communities and we have got to get it right. It is not about a free-for-all and it is certainly not about people from one part of the country building a holiday home in the other. It is about people who have a social and economic connection with the community being able to live in their own community and build their own home. It is about people who are not asking the Government to do anything other than allow them to build their own home and if we are being honest, until now, the rules have been inconsistent. The rules depend on whether you live in this county or that county, which is not fair. This is a small country and it is a small island and we need to have a consistent approach to rural planning guidelines.  The intention now is to have a new national planning statement on rural housing prepared under section 25 of the Planning and Development Act, which will ultimately require Government approval and then will be issued by the Minister for housing. The new statement will refine, update and replace the existing guidelines as well as provide more clarity and more consistency across the planning authorities by defining where and how rural housing can be developed. I believe it will make it easier for people, including young people, to be able to build a home in their own community. The benefits of that socially and economically for rural Ireland, including parts of County Kerry, will be significant. We need to facilitate rural housing for those with a local housing need where they need to live or work in a rural area. Of course, we always have to balance that with protecting the rural character of countryside and preventing urban-generated sprawl as well. I am really looking forward to the new national planning statement coming to Government very shortly and I think it will be of significant benefit to rural communities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  The other thing is that the birth rate is falling yet our population is going up with a population increase of over 500,000 in recent years. This is putting pressure on house availability. With many vacant houses, there is no real incentive available to owners to rent them out but there is an incentive there that is working for the Ukrainian people, namely, a tax-free payment of \u20ac600 to the landlord. If we could do something like that for some of our own people, it would be great for them. People coming from other parts of the world are very welcome to come here if they are coming here to work but it should never be the case that they can come in here, get a payment right away, get on the social housing list and compete with our own people who were born and reared here. We must look after our own people first. I need to clarify something.  I said the cost of a house Kerry was \u20ac220,000 to \u20ac280,000. I meant it was \u20ac220 to \u20ac280 per square foot to build, so when we add that up, that comes to over \u20ac400,000. I am saying that too many people are having trouble getting the mortgage in the first place and we need to do something about it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I always believe in an honest debate around migration but the honest debate has to be grounded in facts. People who arrive in Ireland from abroad through a variety of circumstances do not have an automatic right to social housing. The Deputy knows that too and he knows that in Kerry as well. People from Ukraine contribute very significantly to our economy as well. Obviously, they do have the right to work and indeed many businesses around this country tell me how reliant----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  They are costing us as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Please do not heckle me on this because we have to be respectful when we debate these issues. The Government is making a number of changes in relation to Ukrainian accommodation and some of the issues highlighted by the Deputy because, in our view, we do need to make the model sustainable because we want to be able to stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes. The emergency approach that we have had to date does need to be replaced with a more sustainable approach and that is how we are going to do it. In saying that, I acknowledge the positive contribution that Ukrainian people are making. As the Deputy pointed out, many people are coming to Ireland and are working in this country.  Regarding vacant homes, we have already seen 20,000 homes come back into use via the vacant property grant, we are bringing in a new derelict property tax in the next budget and we have also expanded grants for shop conversions. The issue of vacancy and dereliction in the housing emergency is rightly identified by the Deputy as a key issue on which we want to make more progress. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 na Comhalta\u00ed Eile - Other Members\u2019 Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_35","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Reachta\u00edocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation","counts":{"speechCount":38,"speakerCount":20},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_35","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"S\u00e9amus McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Roche","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aisling Dempsey","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aisling-Dempsey.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aisling-Dempsey.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Clendennen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I congratulate Jordan and Cian Adams, who are going to complete their incredible superhuman challenge of running a marathon every day for the past 32 days across 32 counties to raise awareness of frontotemporal dementia. Fair play to the two lads.  The Irish football team should not be playing Israel as it continues its genocide in Gaza and its brutalisation of the Palestinian people. Yesterday, the Minister of Culture, Communications and Sport, Deputy O'Donovan, and the Minister of State, Deputy McConalogue, confirmed that they will not be attending the match in Dublin but does it not stink of hypocrisy that the T\u00e1naiste expects, on behalf of the Government, the Irish people to accept the match going ahead when his own Ministers are actually boycotting it? Meanwhile a letter has been sent to members of the FAI's general assembly demanding an extraordinary general meeting. The letter from the Professional Footballers Association of Ireland and others is very clear. It urges delegates to back a motion calling on the FAI not to participate. S\u00e9amus Coleman is right. This should not be landed at the feet of the players. Those with the power should take responsibility, so the Government must withdraw its support for the match going ahead against Israel. I am asking the T\u00e1naiste to take a stand for what is right and to stop the game because he knows that if the Government withdrew its support, this game will not go ahead. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I join with the Deputy in congratulating and commending Jordan and Cian Adams. They have inspired literally the entire country with 33 marathons across our island. I know many of us look forward to welcoming them to Leinster House later today but, more important or as important, is working with them on the issues around dementia, research and care pathways. I thank them for all they have done.  I agree with the Deputy on the point about S\u00e9amus Coleman. The Irish players who wear the jersey do so with pride and nobody should put any pressure on them at all. S\u00e9amus Coleman captured that very well in his comments yesterday. I would also make the point that the FAI gave its view on this. The FAI was very clear on this. UEFA as the governing body ultimately made that decision and that is the position. It is not a matter for the Government. It is a matter for the governing body, which in this case is UEFA. My views on the genocidal activities of the Government of Israel are very clear and I think this Oireachtas and the people of Ireland are utterly appalled by the genocidal behaviour being undertaken by the Israeli government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  A report published today by Friends of the Earth has found that energy demand from data centres has added three quarters of a billion euro to household bills in Ireland since 2015 and could add a further \u20ac1.5 billion over the next decade. This is the equivalent of adding a week's wages to bills for the poorest households. All of us here acknowledge that data centres are part of modern life but the circle the T\u00e1naiste and his Government need to square is that if it is their industrial policy to continue to roll out energy-intensive data centres around the country, it is becoming a cost-of-living issue. We have been going on for years about the climate impacts. The T\u00e1naiste's former colleague, Paschal Donohoe, talked about the water demands of data centres but this is now becoming a serious cost-of-living issue. If it is Government policy to allow unfettered growth in data centres, what is it going to do to ensure that it does not impose additional costs on households already struggling to pay their bills? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  The Friends of the Earth report needs to be read in the round. It does basically put it up to us, as a Government and an Oireachtas, that if we can do more to speed up the move to renewables, under what it calls high renewable growth scenarios, annual average residual demand, including data centres actually falls below zero in the years ahead.  In other words, accelerated renewable development is presented in this study as sufficient to displace significant reliance on gas as a dispatchable source of energy in the future. As the Deputy acknowledged, there is a genuine economic benefit to data centres but I would dispute the characterisation of the Government's position as an unfettered approach. The CRU's large energy user, LEU, connection policy very much shows how the Government intends to deliver on its renewable energy targets, with data centres above certain thresholds being required to meet at least 80% of their annual demand with new additional renewable electricity generated in the Republic of Ireland. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  At yesterday's health committee we learned something very concerning. Consultants on public-only contracts are continuing to do private work in the Rotunda Hospital. This is despite the fact that treating private patients in public hospitals is a breach of their contracts. It is worth mentioning that these consultants are very well paid for giving up private work, with salaries of up to \u20ac260,000, and that is just the basic pay.  This is not just about a breach of contract. It is completely at odds with our national healthcare policy, Sl\u00e1intecare, which is about creating universal healthcare based on need and not ability to pay and removing private healthcare from public hospitals. How can we ever have a well-functioning and quality public health service if private practice continues to leech resources from the system? Yesterday, we learned that the Minister for Health was told about this a year ago and she said she was not happy about it, but that appears to be it. No sanctions and no actions have been taken against the hospital. In how many other public hospitals is this happening and what is the T\u00e1naiste going to do about it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Rice for raising this. The Minister for Health and the wider Government expect the agreed terms of any contract to be applied fully and consistently across all hospitals. We expect everybody to comply with the terms of their contract of employment. That is a general basic thing, and just because somebody is a higher paid member of the public service does not mean they can deviate from their contract. If people have issues with their contract, that is a different matter, but actually signing up to a contract and then not adhering to its terms is not a small matter.  The Department of Health wrote to the HSE CEO on 18 March setting out concerns regarding the continuation of private practice and seeking full compliance with public-only consultant contracts, but I will ask the Minister to come back to Deputy Rice specifically in relation to her view on the implementation of the contract and how many other hospitals may have similar issues. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charles Ward  The State recommended an external wall remediation only in a home where an internal wall was already cracking and carrying specialist hoist equipment used every day to lift and move a paralysed woman. The family were then refused access to see the full technical report so as to understand whether it was a safe decision to only give an outer leaf remediation. My constituent's home was adapted in 2017. She was paralysed after a car accident and it is designed entirely around her needs. Where the hoist is system is used, inside the walls are cracking, not just the outside. Internal cracking has already been identified in parts of the structure holding the equipment that supports her getting out of the bed, to the bathroom and to the wheelchair. How can this be described as a safe decision when the family are being asked to accept the decision without actually seeing the technical evidence? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Ward for raising this issue. I send my sincere sympathy and solidarity to his constituent and their family for all they have endured. The point Deputy Ward makes about being able to see the detail is an important one. I understand why any homeowner may wish to see a report from an engineer in order to really understand the rationale behind the option being recommended or proposed. That is understandable and logical. My understanding is that the Housing Agency will, upon request, issue the report to homeowners. That would be an important step to take because that would inform the homeowner in question as to the query raised.  In addition, and as Deputy Ward will know, there is a requirement in the 2022 Act to undertake a review of the operation of the Act. That review is due to commence shortly and the matter he has raised can also be considered as part of that. On foot of the Deputy raising this today, I will ask that the Minister, Deputy James Browne's Department note it for that purpose, too. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  Just so the T\u00e1naiste knows, Aont\u00fa does support the roll-out of sustainable energy across the country in partnership with local communities.  There is a major demographic change happening in Ireland at the moment. We had the GAA in front of the infrastructure committee yesterday to discuss it. Unfortunately, the lopsided development of the country is continuing apace. Two thirds of the population of the country now live on a very narrow strip along the east coast of Ireland. Most university-type jobs are going into the Dublin area. Most university graduates are, therefore, forced to work in the Dublin area but, of course, cannot afford to live there, so they have to live 30 km, 40 km or 50 km away and live in a commuter hell to be able to get to work. It is emptying a lot of regional areas of their young people.  Another aspect is that, in 2009, there were 75,000 children born in this State. Last year, there were 55,000 children born. That is an incredible collapse in numbers. Young people are losing the confidence to be able to have families at the moment. Plunging birth rates are already leading to some school closures and amalgamations in some parts of the country, and if it continues, it will lead to radically increased pension rates and healthcare costs for the generation that is already struggling to pay rent at the moment. What will the Government do to give parents the confidence to be able to raise families in this country? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  There are a couple of aspects to that question. In respect of balanced regional development, the new national planning statement in relation to the ability to build a one-off home in rural Ireland will be a help. That is because there are many people finding themselves having to leave their communities due to a too-rigid planning system or at least an inconsistent application of the planning system across counties. That is one thing that can be done.  The Deputy will know I am going to continue to say that housing supply is really important, and we need to get 300,000 more homes built by the end of 2030. My Department has produced research in terms of Ireland 2040 and where Ireland will be demographically by 2040. It will be a very different place on the basis of a no-policy change. Therefore, I think of a number of policy changes. The Deputy mentioned the pensions issue. Auto-enrolment is a very important future-proofing step to take now.  I would also point out that there are many parts of this country well outside the Dublin area thriving. I spent a lot of time in Galway recently where there are key infrastructural projects we need to deliver, like the ring road and the BusConnects project. Down in Cork, there is the Luas project as well. I do not like the phrase \"commuter hell\". While there are very serious traffic congestion issues in this country, there are many parts of this country that are thriving and where people are proud of their communities, but they want to see us deliver infrastructure more quickly to help and we intend to do that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"S\u00e9amus McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy S\u00e9amus McGrath  I want to raise the issue of July provision. The summer programme is very important, providing additional educational supports to students during the summer months. Unfortunately, issues have arisen this year in relation to the application process. A very short window was open for schools to apply. Many received no notification and were not aware of the application process. Schools that have benefited from this provision in recent years have not had the opportunity to apply. This needs to be reviewed and schools need to be given the opportunity to apply. I ask that the T\u00e1naiste take this message back to the Department and try to open up the application process again. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I fully agree with Deputy McGrath in terms of the importance of reopening the application process. I am pleased to tell him that will happen. The Government will be in contact with schools today and the portal will reopen early next week. We have seen an increased number of primary schools, post-primary schools and special schools applying this year. I see that as a good thing in terms of trying to meet the need. The portal will reopen. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Roche","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Roche  I follow on the same subject. I thank the T\u00e1naiste for his continued engagement when I raised the issue of the summer programme, what was known as the July provision. In my constituency, I had one advocate who was representing ten families that were blocked out of the scheme. The stress, strain and torment that parents had to endure for the last few weeks were unbearable. A window of opportunity of six days was just unacceptable, to be brutally honest, because I, for one, appreciate the stress and strain that teaching staff are under in terms of managing all of this. I will continue to be a champion for children with disabilities and I want the Government to do likewise. We need to be mindful of giving them the best and first opportunity to thrive in life. Whether this is down to a financial issue or otherwise, we need to do whatever we can to resolve it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Roche. He did indeed speak with me on this issue yesterday. I am pleased that the Government has decided that the portal will reopen in the coming days to provide a better window for schools to apply. This Government's record on special education and children with additional needs is one of investment and growth. There were 8,767 children benefiting from the summer programme in 2016. Over 70,000 benefited last year. I would be surprised if that number was not higher again this year. When it comes to things like special classes, the roll-out of therapies in special schools and the size of the budget in special education, we have a lot of work to do but it is a priority area, as it should be. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  Givinostat is a potentially life-altering drug for children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The European Commission granted conditional marketing authorisation for givinostat almost a year ago, on 6 June 2025. There has been a frustrating delay, some of it on the company's behalf. I understand that the HSE's drugs group will review givinostat at its June meeting and make a recommendation to the senior leadership team to approve the medicine or not. There is a campaign, Time is Muscle. Every day counts for these children. I ask that a decision be made as early as possible. Children need access to this drug. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy O'Rourke for highlighting this issue. I also wish to acknowledge the point that he made the point that sometimes delays can be on the side of the company. That is an important point of balance to make.  I do not actually have the detail in relation to this but it is important that everybody in the process work in an efficient way so that we at least get a decision and clarity as early as possible. The drugs budget is growing in this country, and quite rightly. I am sure this is a very anxious time for the families impacted and I will certainly convey the Deputy's views to the Minister for Health. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  Ballyduff National School has been serving the community since 1839 and has been in the current building for the past 60 years. There are currently 96 pupils attending. It has had an autism class for the past few years with six pupils, and that is full, but there are five other children who are currently struggling to access the curriculum because they do not have the supports that would be there from an autism class. There are five qualified children and two awaiting assessment. There will be an ongoing need into the future. They have a room and the changing facilities. All the resources are in place to do this and all the children, I am sure the T\u00e1naiste will agree, should have the right to be educated locally in their own community. There is a want and a need. The school is ready, willing and able to provide it. It has the facilities but parents are very anxious that it has not been approved for a second class. I ask the T\u00e1naiste to look at this and see what he can do to facilitate it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank an Teachta Daly for raising this issue and I will certainly speak directly to the Minister of education on this. There was discussion earlier around the additional budget for education. One of the drivers behind that is the recognition that there will be a need for more special classes now than was even envisaged at budget time. If there is a school ready to assist in that and if there is a need in the community, I know that is something that the Minister will ask the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, to look at seriously. I will ask her to come back to the Deputy directly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aisling Dempsey","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aisling-Dempsey.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aisling-Dempsey.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aisling Dempsey  The village of Ballivor has been without water for over four days now, but Uisce \u00c9ireann does not appear to be accountable to me as a public representative nor to this House despite the billions of euro we are giving it to invest in upgrading our water infrastructure. There have been really poor communications, there is no end in sight and the school has been closed for the past two days.  In 2019, when I was first elected a councillor, the Ballivor reservoir project was a priority. By 2021, Uisce \u00c9ireann told me it was shovel-ready. In 2024, it told me it would be on site by 2025. Here we are in 2026 without a shovel in the ground. What am I supposed to tell the people of Ballivor and the wider Meath West area, where there are issues in Clonard, Trim, Rathmolyon and many other places with frequent outages? We need the reservoir built in Ballivor but we also need to hold Uisce \u00c9ireann to account. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Dempsey for raising this issue, as I know she has on a number of occasions. On foot of her raising this, I will speak with the Minister, Deputy James Browne. I think there is a broad issue in relation to this. I have spoken to the Minister on this and he shares that view. We need to look at better accountability structures for Uisce \u00c9ireann to elected Members of this House. It is not about us; it is about the people we represent and the Deputy is clearly vocalising, quite correctly, the frustration on behalf of her constituents.  I do not understand. I say it here regularly that Uisce \u00c9ireann should have to answer parliamentary questions. If you ask a question to the Minister for Health, she will say it is a matter for the HSE and refer it to the HSE, but you can ask a question and you will get a response. If you ask a question here under the rules of the House at the moment, it gets ruled out of order. There is no logic behind that. I have raised this in the Government and will continue to raise it. We should change it together. Uisce \u00c9ireann should be answerable to this House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  On the specific issue the Deputy has raised, I will ask the Minister, Deputy Browne, to come back to her. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Clendennen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Clendennen  I fully acknowledge the Government's commitment to education, with over \u20ac7 billion committed over the lifetime of this Government, including \u20ac1.6 billion in capital funding in 2026 alone. However, there are several schools across my constituency that have progressed to stage 2B in recent years and are now anxious to move forward to tender and construction but they seem to be stuck in a waiting area. Some examples of schools include Geashill National School, Scoil Charthaigh Naofa in Rahan, Scoil Mhuire Bainr\u00edoghan in Dunkerrin, Oxmantown National School in Birr, Scoil Naomh Seosamh in Gortnamona, St. Brendan's Community School in Birr and Oaklands Community College in Edenderry. These are important projects for the growing school communities, students, parents and teaching staff and they have already gone through significant planning work. Will the Government give consideration to bringing forward additional funding capacity so that these much-needed projects can proceed at the earliest possible opportunity? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Clendennen for raising this important issue and listing a number of the important school projects across Offaly that are in need of progression. Being blunt, quite a lot of schools are at stage 2B. We, collectively as a House, want to see as many of them move on as possible, and the Deputy has obviously advocated strongly for the schools in Offaly. The Minister for education has published what we can call the first tranche of a significant number of school building projects. I want to be very clear that this is not the final word on the matter and the Government will be making further allocations in regard to capital in the time ahead. Even in the medium-term fiscal plan we have published, there is unallocated capital during the lifetime of this Government. We will be considering that across the Government in the time ahead and I will keep in touch with the Deputy on those specific Offaly school projects, too. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Albert Dolan  An adult travelling daily from Athenry to Galway city currently pays approximately \u20ac5.10 each way by rail, despite the journey taking only around 20 minutes and the route increasingly functioning as a major commuter corridor for workers and students travelling into Galway. Meanwhile, a commuter travelling from Clonsilla to Connolly Station in Dublin, a journey of approximately 28 minutes, can travel for roughly \u20ac2.60 each way under the Dublin commuter fare structure and the Leap card system. This is wholly inequitable. It is not fair on the people of Galway and it is not fair that somebody commuting in from Athenry has to pay almost double the price just to access public transport. Is there any consideration that the Government can give to allowing people in Galway to use the Leap card structure and avail of lower fares? This situation is not fair. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Dolan for raising the issue and the analytical approach he always brings to issues in this House. It is a fair point he is raising. We are obviously increasing our investment in public transport, but the affordability and fairness of public transport across all parts of the country is, of course, a legitimate issue that the Government will consider. On foot of the Deputy raising it, I will speak with the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, in relation to this. I will also ask him to correspond with Irish Rail and ask it to give consideration to the matter, too. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  I have been contacted by special schools in my constituency that have said that they have not been given their staffing allocations for next year. It is 28 May. It is very late. My understanding is that mainstream schools got their allocations in March and, on that basis, are able to plan for things like classroom allocation and supports. However, special schools do not know at this late stage when it is coming into the trips and all those things that go on in June and they will be very busy. They have not had time to do staffing allocations, so they cannot do timetables or classroom allocations. They are wondering what the delay is. I am aware that one in school in particular did not get its allocation until September last year. That is wholly unacceptable. There is also a knock-on effect for staff. If people do not know whether they are going to have their jobs come September, that is really unfair. Relationships and building relationships with young people, particularly in special schools, is important and we need to make sure that if any staff are to be reallocated elsewhere, it happens in a timely manner so that that relationship can be brought to an end and new ones brought in for the next year. What is the delay and when will they know? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Cummins. On foot of her raising this, I will ask the Minister, Deputy Naughton, to come back to her directly. I take the point she made. It is a very busy time for schools, with lots going on in the school community. However, we have also provided funding certainty to the Department of education and made a decision, which we debated earlier, to quite rightly provide significant additional resources to education this year. From a Government point of view, there is funding certainty for the Department of education. Therefore, we need to make sure that is conveyed to schools, particularly special schools, as a matter of priority. I will ask the Minister, Deputy Naughton, to look at this and come back to the Deputy urgently. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  \"One-way ticket I'd give her back to the shithole she came from\". That is about the only thing I could repeat in this House among an awful lot of online abuse that was posted under the social media of our candidate in the Galway West by-election, Helen Ogbu.  I am asking the Government to take action against online hate. The T\u00e1naiste is no stranger to social media, both the positives and negatives, and I acknowledge that. Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n needs the power to independently order the immediate takedown of individual posts. There is so much abuse under all of Councillor Ogbu's social media, to the point that we had a staff member who spent 40% of her time taking it down. We need to take action on this. It is undermining our democracy. It will stop good people from running for election in this country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  The Deputy is so right. It is disgusting, despicable racism, and it is not who we are as a people. The people of Galway showed that with the very significant vote Labour's candidate received. I was pleased to meet Helen Ogbu over the weekend and to congratulate her on her campaign. The Deputy's point about the powers of Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n are valid. I will ask the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, to come back to the Deputy directly but my view on this is that we should take a much more robust legislative approach. We ask social media companies nicely if they would mind doing this or that. It has gone beyond that now. I see huge benefits to social media. I also see the sewer that it can become, with toxicity, division, misinformation and disinformation. I will ask the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, to reflect on the Deputy's points. I am disgusted to hear the abuse that a public representative received. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh  I would like to raise a proposal to reopen Kildangan train station, which has lain dormant since 1963. The population of Kildangan in south Kildare has doubled in the past ten years and is set to increase further on foot of recent rezoning. There is a huge rural hinterland and people would take the train from Kildangan if parking was available. Many of these people currently commute to Kildare town, and that car park is oversubscribed. We need more transport capacity to serve one of the fastest-growing population centres in the State and ease pressure on existing infrastructure. Reviving the old train station is a viable and constructive solution. Precedent exists. Adamstown train station was built before new developments. Dromod train station in Leitrim serves a population of just 500, with eight daily stops. A 2023 environs study examined reopening Killucan railway station. I ask the T\u00e1naiste to raise this issue with the Minister for Transport and Irish Rail. Will he commission a feasibility study for the station's reopening in the medium term? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy N\u00ed Raghallaigh for raising the issue. I truthfully do not know enough about that train station, other than that she makes a compelling case about how population growth needs to be met by improved public transport. Her suggestion that a train station that previously existed could be reopened certainly merits the Minister engaging with her on that. On foot of the Deputy raising it, I will engage with the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, and ask that he come back to the Deputy with an informed view on the suggestions she made. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Wall  I raise with the T\u00e1naiste one of a number of emails I have received in the past week or so. The school informed someone's son that as he would now be going into fifth year, students would require a Chromebook when returning in September, at a cost of \u20ac540. The school commented that this is the only practical way to manage coursework due to the changes in the leaving certificate course. The school said it cannot afford the potential \u20ac80,000 expenditure to buy Chromebooks for every student. The email went on to say that this is the first year in which families would benefit from free schoolbooks, which is a fantastic initiative, but this is being eroded by the cost of \u20ac550. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission wrote to all schools, reminding them to avoid restrictive and costly uniform policies. While we are serious about free education, we are eroding the good work that has been done by Government and the Department with what is happening on the ground. Can the T\u00e1naiste comment on that? I received a parliamentary question reply from the Minister for education, saying that she has written to all schools about the cost of Chromebooks, and it is not related to the leaving certificate. The T\u00e1naiste might confirm something similar. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Wall for engaging with the Minister for education on this. He is right that the general direction of travel that all of us in this House want to see is reducing the costs that families face when their children attend school. That is why we have had the hot school meals and the free schoolbooks. It is why we are genuinely trying to work with the CCPC and others on uniform costs. It would be extraordinarily disappointing and counterintuitive if we saw the cost of technology eroding some of that benefit to families. I share the Minister's view that there should not be a cause and effect between leaving certificate reform and the need for that technology. On foot of the Deputy raising this, I will speak directly to the Minister, Deputy Naughton. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  During the recent fuel protests, it became clear that we do not have enough oil reserve capacity. In the early days, there were mutterings that Europe could facilitate up to 12 months. There was no more about that then. What is the position regarding the massive storage tanks in Whiddy Island? We can all see them from the road from Kilgarvan to Bantry. What is inside those tanks now? Is it water, bird seed or what? Did the former Minister Eamon Ryan fill them with concrete? If he did, he should be given a lump hammer and a screwdriver to remove the concrete along with some of his supporters. He promised to do things like that. What are we going to do with the tanks on Whiddy Island? Are we making use of them? We need 12 months of a reserve. We would have no trouble in keeping down the prices while wars and other things are going on in other parts of the world. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  One sure way to run down supplies is to not allow them in and out when we only had one refinery in the country. I am glad that situation is resolved because at a time of global insecurity regarding energy supply, it is important that we continue to make sure that supply of energy to this country continues. I recently met NORA, not a female but the National Oil Reserve Agency, and was pleased to say that it gave a significant assurance to the Government about our supply of energy, even with the disruption of the Strait of Hormuz. On the third point, truthfully, I do not know the answer, although nothing was filled with concrete by former Minister, Eamon Ryan, who served this country. We can agree or disagree with him but he was a good public servant and an honourable man. I will ask the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, to come back to the Deputy about the specific issues he raised. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  Over the past number of years, I have raised Keelbeg Pier in Union Hall with the T\u00e1naiste, the Taoiseach and other Ministers on numerous occasions, and the urgency of commencing works on this pier. Several Ministers have come and gone after visiting the pier. Even the Taoiseach visited the pier recently. They all made promises to the local people but not a shovel has been turned in the many years that I have been involved. We have the Department pointing the finger at the council and the council pointing it back at the Department, and the local community is stuck in the middle. Keelbeg Pier is used by local fishermen and pleasure boats alike. It serves mainly the Union Hall and Glandore area and it is vital that action happens on the ground. Can the T\u00e1naiste update us on what exactly is happening with Keelbeg Pier? When will the shovels hit the ground? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  In fairness, it is not the first time Deputy Collins has raised the issue with me. It sounds to me like he wants fewer political visitors and more political action on the pier, which is not an unreasonable thing to say. On foot of the Deputy raising this, I will ask the relevant Minister to bring together the stakeholders. It sounds to me, from previous engagement we have had on this, that a number of different people are involved but somebody needs to take hold of this rather than saying that is a matter for this group or the other. I will talk to the relevant Minister and ask that he convene relevant stakeholders and come back to Deputy Collins with a plan. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar fionra\u00ed ar 1.18 p.m. agus cuireadh t\u00fas leis ar\u00eds ar 1.58 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Sitting suspended at 1.18 p.m. and resumed at 1.58 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Reachta\u00edocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_36","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/54","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/54\/dail\/2","houseCode":"dail","stage":"2","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2026: Second Stage (Resumed) (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2026: Second Stage","counts":{"speechCount":26,"speakerCount":11},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_36","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niamh Smyth","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niamh Smyth","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (Deputy Niamh Smyth)  I move: \"That the Bill be now read a Second Time\".  I am pleased to introduce the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2026 for the consideration of the House on behalf of the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan. This Bill is a comprehensive legislative proposal which aims to improve transparency, accountability and value-for-money in our public service media providers, RT\u00c9 and TG4, and to put in place a statutory framework to support the provision of quality programming and public interest journalism within a secure and sustainable media ecosystem.  The Bill implements the key legislative recommendations of two recent major expert-led independent reports: the report of the Future of Media Commission, published in July 2022, and the review of governance and culture in RT\u00c9 carried out by an expert advisory committee chaired by Professor Niamh Brennan, published in May 2024.  The Future of Media Commission was tasked with developing recommendations on sustainable public funding and other supports to ensure media in Ireland remains sustainable, independent and capable of delivering public service aims. Fourteen of its recommendations will be given effect through the Bill.  The expert advisory committee chaired by Professor Brennan was commissioned to examine the corporate governance failings in RT\u00c9 in July 2023, following the revelations regarding presenter payments and other governance failings. The expert advisory committee delivered a roadmap for the reform of corporate governance in RT\u00c9. While many of the 90 recommendations were for RT\u00c9 to introduce, eight required legislative change. They have been given effect in the Bill, including, most importantly, the assignment of the Comptroller and Auditor General as auditor of RT\u00c9.  The Bill also implements those elements of the European Media Freedom Act which relate to the safeguarding of our public service media providers, RT\u00c9 and TG4. The European Media Freedom Act is a landmark piece of EU legislation designed to protect the independence and plurality of media services across the Union. It is vital that we implement it fully as soon as possible, particularly in the context in which Ireland will take up the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.  Pre-legislative scrutiny has played an important role in the development of the Bill. I would like to acknowledge the work of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport, which demonstrated the vital role that pre-legislative scrutiny plays in our legislative process. The Bill takes account of over 30 of the recommendations made by the committee as part of its pre-legislative scrutiny.  The Bill provides for reforms in RT\u00c9 and TG4 across five key areas. First, the Bill will reform the statutory basis underpinning the corporate governance of RT\u00c9 and TG4. Second, the Bill will enhance the statutory framework through which Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n assesses the performance and funding of RT\u00c9 and TG4. The Bill provides for greater transparency on remuneration of staff and relevant contractors by RT\u00c9 and TG4 and reporting on the commissioning of independent producers, including information on the total cost of production in monetary bands and percentage of the Exchequer contribution. The Bill will strengthen the role and authority of the audience councils of RT\u00c9 and TG4. The Bill will also extend content regulation by Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n to all non-broadcast content made available by RT\u00c9 and TG4.  While our public service media providers are important, we also need to sustain an assortment of content provided by a diversity of providers on local, regional and national levels. To support this type of public service content, the new framework for public service content set out in the Bill will convert the existing broadcasting fund to a platform-neutral fund known as Ciste na Me\u00e1n. This expanded fund will support the production, distribution and archiving of public service content across all formats by the wider media sector. In addition to the new framework for supporting public service content, the Bill will also require RT\u00c9 to dedicate at least 25% of its annual public funding to the commissioning of programming from the independent production sector.  The Bill is composed of three Parts. Part 2 of the Bill provides the entirety of the substantive amendments to the Broadcasting Act 2009 while Part 3 provides for a necessary technical amendment to the Comptroller and Auditor General (Amendment) Act 1993 to allow for the assignment of that office as auditor of RT\u00c9.  I will outline the detailed provisions of the Bill focusing in particular on the key sections of the Bill. I turn first to the corporate governance of RT\u00c9 and TG4. Sections 35, 41 and 62 of the Bill provide for the assignment of the Comptroller and Auditor General as auditor of RT\u00c9 and for the accountability of the director general to the Committee of Public Accounts in respect of RT\u00c9's annual audited financial statements and value-for-money matters. Sections 32 and 33 of the Bill clarify and expand provisions relating to the functions, duties, accountability, appointment and dismissal of directors general of RT\u00c9 and TG4. Section 32 provides that a director general is expressly accountable to the board for the efficient and effective management of the provider and the performance of his or her functions and expressly prohibits them from taking part in any board deliberations regarding their own performance, removal or replacement. Section 33 clarifies a range of matters relating to the role of director general as editor-in-chief for their provider, following on from the principles set out in the European Media Freedom Act. Under the section, a director general will be vested with the editorial functions of a provider in terms of determining the providers' overall editorial policies, standards and priorities. In this context it is important to note that both RT\u00c9 and TG4 will continue to be accountable to Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n as regulator for their adherence to these duties and any media service codes made by Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n. This provision aims to balance editorial independence with accountability to an independent regulator.  Section 33 of the Bill also gives effect to Article 5 of the European Media Freedom Act by setting out in detail the requirements for an open and transparent process for the appointment and, in certain specified circumstances, removal of a director general. The Government will no longer have a role in consenting to the appointment of a director general. However, the approval of the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport and Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation will still be required to determine the remuneration and terms and conditions of employment of the DG. Given the seriousness of a decision to dismiss a DG, the section provides that a board must provide the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport with a statement of the decision and reasons for it, which must be laid before the Oireachtas.  In line with the recommendations of the expert advisory committee on governance and culture in RT\u00c9, sections 25 to 31 of the Bill clarify and expand provisions relating to the functions, duties, role and necessary expertise of the boards and board committees of RT\u00c9 and TG4. In particular, sections 25 and 30 clearly set out and separate the functions of the boards on one hand and the duties of board members on the other. The duties in section 30 now include duties equivalent to those of a company director under the Companies Act 2014, an additional duty to represent the interests of the people of the island of Ireland and of Irish communities outside the island of Ireland, and a duty of confidentiality.  Section 44 of the Bill provides for the enhanced mechanism for assessing the performance and appropriate funding of RT\u00c9 and TG4, which is based on the recommendations of the Future of Media Commission and requirements of the European Media Freedom Act. Under the framework, Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n will assess and appraise the funding needs of and determine detailed performance targets for RT\u00c9 and TG4 every three years. The first of these three-yearly appraisals is to be submitted to the Minister for onward submission to the Government by 30 June 2027 and cover the period 2028 to 2030. This replaces the current approach, under which Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n appraises funding needs every five years and the public service media providers set out their own performance commitments. Section 44 of the Bill provides that the three-year appraisal will be underpinned by a detailed methodology which will be published by Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n following a public consultation. This methodology is intended to provide clear guidance to RT\u00c9 and TG4 in making submissions to Coimisi\u00fan an Me\u00e1n as part of the three-yearly appraisal. The first three-year methodology will be published by the end of January 2027.  Section 44 also strengthens the yearly review process undertaken by Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n, which will now be required to carry out two annual reviews. The first, due on 30 June of each year, will focus on the degree to which RT\u00c9 and TG4 met their performance targets and received adequate funding for the previous year in line with the European Media Freedom Act. The second, due on 31 October of each year, will examine compliance with various State aid requirements, such as the separate accounting of public service and commercial revenues and expenditure.  In terms of enhanced transparency, the Bill provides for additional reporting obligations on RT\u00c9 and TG4 in respect of employee and contractor remuneration and commissioning activities. Section 43 of the Bill requires RT\u00c9 and TG4 to disclose information on the remuneration of staff and relevant contractors in monetary bands, which shall be determined by the Minister. As the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, has said, this is an area he will consider further and, if necessary, will bring forward proposals to strengthen obligations on transparency and reporting obligations in this area, which will require engagement with the Data Protection Commission. Section 43 provides that RT\u00c9 must disclose additional information in its annual report on the commissioning of independent productions.  This will include the total cost of each production in monetary bands which shall be determined by the Minister and the public contribution to the cost of production as a percentage of the total cost of production. Section 48 of the Bill will require TG4 to provide this information annually for the first time. Given the large sums of public moneys expended in this area, this transparency is both appropriate and necessary.  Sections 36 to 39, inclusive, of the Bill will strengthen the role and independence of the audience councils of RT\u00c9 and TG4, following the recommendations of the Future of Media Commission. The audience councils were introduced in the Broadcasting Act 2009 and are intended to represent the views of the people of the island of Ireland to the boards of RT\u00c9 and TG4. The Bill will expand the role of the audience councils by: providing for the statutory independence of the audience councils of RT\u00c9 and TG4; requiring the selection of diverse members of both councils by Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n following an open and transparent public competition; providing that an audience council may, in addition to the required annual report, prepare a special report; and requiring RT\u00c9 and TG4 to respond to both annual and special reports prepared by their audience councils.  Sections 15 to 19, inclusive, and 21 to 23, inclusive, of the Bill provide for the extension of the duties and codes which currently apply to broadcast and video-on-demand content to all public service content made available by RT\u00c9 and TG4, such as podcasts and written material. As public service media providers established in law, RT\u00c9 and TG4 have a particular duty to their audiences. This will bring all of RT\u00c9 and TG4's public service content under the regulation of Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n and enable audiences to make complaints to Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n regarding such content.  Sections 4, 5 and 54 of the Bill provide for the new framework to support public service content. Section 4 provides for a definition of \"public service content\" as any audiovisual or sound programme, anything published in a press publication and types of online content which inform, educate or entertain and which relates to an exhaustive list of categories of interest to Irish audiences. A key principle of public service content is that it can only be made available by public service content providers, as defined in section 3 of the Bill. Public service content providers may be either regulated entities, such as a broadcaster regulated by Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n, or an entity subject to a recognised self-regulatory regime, such as a newspaper regulated by the Press Council. This is intended to ensure any funded content is subject to regulation, with a clear avenue for the public to make complaints. Section 4 also provides for a definition of \"under-served audience\", which refers to audiences who may be under-served by virtue of a particular characteristic such as age, disability or geography.  Section 54 provides for the three main elements of the new framework. First, Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n will be required to carry out triennial reviews of public service content provision to assess gaps in such provision in the Irish and English languages and to recommend measures to address these gaps. The reviews must have particular regard to the needs of the under-served audiences. The first of these will be submitted to the Minister by 30 June 2027 and cover the period 2028 to 2030. Second, the broadcasting fund will be converted into a fund known as ciste na me\u00e1n, which will continue to be funded annually by 7% of net TV licence fee receipts and an Exchequer allocation. Third, out of the resources paid into ciste na me\u00e1n, Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n will prepare and operate public service content funding schemes to support the production of new public service content, measures to develop the capacity of public service content providers and measures to support the archiving of public service content. Over time it is expected that existing media funding schemes, such as the Sound and Vision scheme and the courts and local democracy reporting schemes, will be converted to schemes made under the Act.  Under existing legislation, RT\u00c9 is required to provide an inflation-adjusted fixed amount of funding for independent programming. In line with the recommendations of the Future of Media Commission, sections 45 and 46 of the Bill will require RT\u00c9 to allocate a minimum of 25% of its public funding to commission audiovisual and audio programming from the independent production sector. The 25% target will no longer be confined to broadcast material but will also cover podcasts and audiovisual programming to be made available via on-demand players.  In terms of regulatory powers, Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n already has extensive powers to require information from a provider following the opening of a formal investigation. Outside investigations and as part of its supervisory function, it also has the power to require, by notice in writing, a regulated provider to provide it with information relating to compliance with an online safety code. Sections 20 and 60 of the Bill will extend this information-gathering power to require regulated entities to provide information relating to compliance with other elements of the online safety framework and with media service codes and rules. As a Government, we are committed to ensuring Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n has all appropriate powers to carry out its functions in relation to online safety.  The Broadcasting Act 2009 currently provides Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n with the authority to impose a levy on audiovisual broadcasters, such as RT\u00c9 or VMTV, and video-on-demand providers, such as Netflix or the RT\u00c9 Player. The proceeds of what is often called the Netflix levy may be used by Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n or F\u00eds \u00c9ireann to fund new audiovisual programming. The Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, has set out his view that it is appropriate any charge which may increase the prices Irish consumers pay should be subject to democratic oversight. For that reason, section 56 of the Bill provides that a levy may only be imposed by Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n pursuant to a ministerial direction. The Minister has been very clear he does not intend to give such direction at this time. To ensure this position can be considered in light of up-to-date information and analysis, section 58 of the Bill provides for the ex-ante and ex-post assessments of the impact of a levy to be undertaken by Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n every three years. The first report will be due three years after the commencement of the relevant section, or earlier if directed by the Minister.  I am conscious the past three weeks have felt like Groundhog Day, which is a phrase used by both the Minister and the T\u00e1naiste. In all of this, we must not lose sight of the essential role RT\u00c9 and TG4 as public service media providers play in the social, cultural and democratic life of this country. They provide programming that informs, educates and entertains and ensure the public can have, and knows it can have, trustworthy and reliable information. However, to be truly effective our public service media providers must be trusted. To be trusted they must be open and transparent and demonstrate the very highest standards in corporate governance. This must be underpinned by robust legislation and that is why this Bill aims to fundamentally reform the governance and regulation of RT\u00c9 and TG4. I look forward to working with all Members of the House as we progress this Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joanna Byrne  I thank the Minister of State for being with us and for her presentation. I welcome the progression of the Bill, though many of the items in it could and should have been implemented a long time ago, had Government not voted down many of the same proposals when they were made by Sinn F\u00e9in. This includes bringing RT\u00c9 under the aegis of the Comptroller and Auditor General. Sinn F\u00e9in also proposed a significant number of amendments through the media committee, many of which were passed and are included in this Bill. We accept that on balance this is a positive Bill that makes long-overdue changes we have been advocating for years. Many of the items in this were necessitated by the multiple scandals in RT\u00c9 and long-term mismanagement of public funding.  After last week's media committee performance and revelations from RT\u00c9 I especially welcome the Bill will assign the Comptroller and Auditor General as auditor of RT\u00c9. The top ten earners' list we were presented with for the last eight years is wrong and 13 people at RT\u00c9 are earning more than the \u20ac250,000 salary cap when entitlements such as pension contributions and allowances are taken into account. There is nothing like an RT\u00c9 scandal to keep the focus off the Government's mismanagement of this State - Lord knows we have had enough of them by now - but I look forward to reading the Comptroller and Auditor General's report into RT\u00c9's accounts now he will finally have the power.  It is important to note the committee report on this Bill made 85 recommendations, thereby highlighting the Government's laissez-faire attitude to bringing forward such important legislation.  There are recommendations in the Bill that were previously included in the Future of Media Commission that have still not been progressed. The Government has dragged its feet in this regard, and by the look of this, it will continue to drag its feet as the Minister has refused to follow the recommendation to set targeted timelines for its implementation.  Of the 85 recommendations carefully considered and agreed by members of both the Opposition and the Government at committee, the Minister says that 68 can be or already have been implemented. He says there are seven more that are appropriate to legislation that has horizontal effect across many sectors, such as employment, tax, social insurance and copyright law, which I completely understand. In that regard, he says he has brought the recommendations relating to copyright legislation and policy to the attention of the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, who I hope has a plan of action for them. We do not want these recommendations to fall between two stools or to be sent back and forwards. It is something that I and, I am sure, many other members of the media committee will be watching closely because there was genuine intent and diligence offered in the drafting of these recommendations across the board.  I take particular issue with the Minister for choosing not to action recommendation 13, which seeks to end geoblocking on the island of Ireland. We in Sinn F\u00e9in have long called on the Irish Government to end the geoblocking of RT\u00c9 content from its viewers in the North. The Minister's conscious decision not to accept this recommendation goes to the heart of the southern establishment\u2019s disregard for and perception of Irish citizens in the North. As Ireland came to a standstill to cheer on the boys in green only weeks ago, it was wrong that so many people in the North were unable to watch our national football team play their World Cup qualifier free-to-air on RT\u00c9 because it is geoblocked. This was Ireland's biggest international soccer match in decades. It is equally unfair to block them from watching Irish athletes in the North competing for team Ireland in the Olympics, or Armagh potentially winning an all-Ireland final.  The committee agreed the cross-party recommendation to recognise all users in the North of Ireland as underserved audiences, and endorsed the incorporation of provisions. It cannot be understated that colleagues from across the Government and the Opposition have come together to recognise that the geoblocking of audiences, exclusion from competitions and erasure from maps of the Six Counties by RT\u00c9 need to be addressed. This recommendation to end geoblocking demonstrates a unity of purpose among TDs and Senators to ensure that national broadcasters serve the whole of our nation. The Irish Government has the ability and responsibility to address this issue, and it should be engaging further with the British Government, regulators, broadcasters and Internet service providers. Refusing to accept and implement this recommendation is a true reflection of intent when it comes to this Government's consideration of our fellow countrymen and women up North.  I would encourage the Minister, Deputy Patrick O'Donovan, to heed the call by his Government colleagues to implement the Sinn F\u00e9in proposal to end geoblocking and include audiences across the island. If he does not, Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh and I will pursue our Broadcasting (All-Ireland Service) (Amendment) Bill 2025 to ensure equal access to service across the whole island of Ireland. We have already introduced that Bill. If passed, this Bill would place an onus on national broadcasters to make every reasonable effort to end this exclusion. It would also require Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n and the Minister for communications to identify and work to overcome licensing barriers to all-Ireland service in broadcast media.  This is not just an issue of concern for this House, but also an issue of concern for Stormont. The economy Minister, Dr. Caoimhe Archibald, confirmed in recent days that she has engaged with both the Irish and British Governments to help to bring an end to the unacceptable practice of geoblocking. This issue is not going away. When I presented the committee's report to the House this day last week, the Minister, Deputy O\u2019Donovan, was not present then either. I raised this concern in my opening speech with the Minister of State, Deputy Frankie Feighan. I also raised it in my closing speech because it was not referenced in Deputy Feighan's response. Again, today, despite that, there is no mention of it in today's presentation. That is deeply disappointing.  I also take issue with the Minister choosing not to progress recommendation 3, where the committee recommends that the Bill include a specific timeframe of dates for the commencement of its provisions. That the response of ministerial discretion will be retained in commencing the Bill does not inspire confidence that this will be enacted. All we want is a timeframe for things to happen. Waiting for the Minister to hit the right frame of mind or mood is not an adequate, effective or transparent method of governance. It is par for the course for this Government, but it is not good governance.  Anyone who knows me knows that I want to work in collaboration with people around me for the greater good, and that has been the case since I first went onto Louth County Council in 2016 and right up to this very day. The work done in the pre-legislative scrutiny of this Bill at the committee was a fine example of people with quite different mindsets working in collaboration with each other and agreeing a common way forward. That should not be forgotten, and it should not be pushed aside at a whim. It is the Minister's choice, of course, but he needs to make that a considered choice. While I recognise and welcome the many positives in the Bill, I urge the Minister to reflect on the positives that he has omitted from inclusion in the Bill, positives that would not only have strengthened the Bill, but unified the House in its drafting, consideration and implementation for the good of all of our people, North and South. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  It is a pity the Minister is not present to hear this, although that is not a slight on the Minister of State, Deputy Niamh Smyth. We have had this engagement with the Minister, so he sometimes gets what I am talking about because I have had it out with him over a number of years, in particular over geoblocking. That is something that has not gone away and will not go away unless it is addressed. It needs to be addressed in legislative format at this stage because every other attempt by us to address it has been ignored. We had the ability to do this. We put forward the Broadcasting (All-Ireland Service) (Amendment) Bill last year, which was aimed at addressing it. The committee, in its pre-legislative scrutiny, looked at the challenges. The challenges are there, but they are not ones that cannot be overcome. There are simple solutions, and a simple approach is possible with the national broadcasters. The national authority of a Minister can overcome it, but if that is not the case, then we will have to ensure that our legislation comes in. That is where we are at currently.  Recommendation 13 from the scrutiny came on the back of a discussion that we had about programmes like \u201cBluey\u201d, \u201cDora the Explorer\u201d and so on. These are programmes that kids enjoy in this jurisdiction, perhaps during the summer months in Donegal. When they return home, they have no access to the RT\u00c9 Player and these programmes that they have grown to love, and the characters who are speaking as Gaeilge to them. Those are not the only issues. We have already mentioned Olympic coverage, all-Ireland finals and other issues.  There is a need for us to approach broadcasting on this island as an island. We need a single approach to these issues to ensure we have commonality, that we address the issues in advance of a united Ireland and that we create an all-Ireland market for broadcasting rights. They can all be tied in together. When RT\u00c9 or TG4 are making approaches to other broadcasters or making agreements, they can do so on the understanding that any agreement they get will allow broadcasts across the island. That goes for the Olympics and the all-Ireland finals, and there should be no differentiation of the different parts of this island. I am disappointed that the Minister has not addressed this. Hopefully, during Committee Stage of the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill, he will do so, and we can have an amendment to address this issue.  The other issue is one where I welcome the approach that, at long last, a Minister has taken. It is an issue that has come up over quite a number of years, and the Minister of State mentioned Groundhog Day. It is the fact that the Comptroller and Auditor General did not have the powers to investigate or have oversight of the RT\u00c9 accounts. The decision to address this is to be welcomed. It is a pity that, a year ago to this day, the Minister of State's party and the Government voted down a Bill that I had in the House which did exactly that. It was a very simple Bill. It was not party-political, as we can see from the fact that it is being brought in under this Bill. However, it is a year on, and by the time this is enacted, it will be longer than that.  Hopefully, this will address some of the scandals and the waste of money. This is public money, at the end of the day, that RT\u00c9 has overseen in the past and right up to recent days. One of the examples I have seen lately is the amount of money being spent on consultants to distribute \"The Late Late Toy Show\" funds.  For God's sake, can someone not just sit down and work it out? Why is RT\u00c9 paying consultants to distribute the charitable funds that are raised? The fact that consultants would even take the money to do that is an even bigger scandal, and it needs to be addressed. If RT\u00c9 needs consultants to look over it, there are consultant firms out there that should be able to offer this as a service as part of a donation to the \"The Late Late Toy Show\" fund. That is a scandal in itself because, ultimately, it is money being taken out of the public purse or out of the fund itself.  We learned this week of the amount of money being spent on limousines and the likes. Hopefully that era is at an end and we are now seeing the end of the wasting of money that was happening, week in and week out, in RT\u00c9 over the years, where some people thought they could spend public funds willy-nilly. We need a proper public service. That has to be paid for, and I have absolutely no problem with that. We need to ensure that workers are protected and paid correctly, that performers are paid properly, that their performances, writings and so on are properly protected under copyright. The era of bogus self-employment is well and truly at an end. There must be strict adherence to the Karshan decision which ensures that bogus self-employment will not happen again. In an era when RT\u00c9 is moving towards a lot more outsourcing, there is a danger that this could lead to bogus self-employment such that people would be employees but would be told that they are not.  Another issue I want to raise is the recommendations the committee made in relation to the Irish language. The committee sought to ensure that TG4 will have independent editorial control over its news service.  T\u00e1 an fhadhb seo lean\u00fanach agus t\u00e1 s\u00e9 ardaithe ag TG4, na coist\u00ed istigh anseo, agamsa leis an Aire don Ghaeltacht agus le Aire na me\u00e1n thar na blianta agus f\u00f3s n\u00edlimid tar \u00e9is d\u00e9ile\u00e1il leis an gceist. N\u00edl an Bhille seo tar \u00e9is d\u00e9ile\u00e1il leis. Bheadh s\u00e9 i bhfad \u00c9ireann n\u00edos \u00e9asca d\u00e1 mbeadh s\u00e9 seo d\u00e9anta gan \u00e9 a bheith sa reachta\u00edocht ach n\u00edl s\u00e9 sin ag tarl\u00faint. Sin an f\u00e1th go mba ch\u00f3ir go mbeadh an tAire ag teacht chugainn ag d\u00e9anamh cinnte de go bhfuil an neamhsple\u00e1chas seo ag TG4 maidir leis an nuacht agus gur f\u00e9idir leis a thaispe\u00e1int gur seirbh\u00eds nuachta ann f\u00e9in \u00e9, seachas a bheith ceangailte le RT\u00c9 mar at\u00e1 s\u00e9 faoi l\u00e1thair. T\u00e1 costas i gceist leis sin agus bheadh air caint le Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n chun d\u00e9anamh cinnte de gur f\u00e9idir leis \u00edocadh as seo. N\u00edl s\u00e9 sin ag tarl\u00faint faoi l\u00e1thair.  Recommendation No. 17 from the pre-legislative scrutiny process relates to the establishment, by means of the Bill, of a national Irish-language youth radio service. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 seo mar cheist le tamall fada de bhlianta. B\u00edonn taispe\u00e1ntas n\u00f3 sc\u00e9im ph\u00edol\u00f3tach ann nach m\u00f3r gach bliain i gcomhar le Raidi\u00f3 R\u00ed-R\u00e1 - t\u00e1 st\u00e1isi\u00fain eile ann, n\u00ed g\u00e1 go roghn\u00f3far an ceann sin \u2013 a l\u00e9ir\u00edonn go bhfuil sp\u00e9is ag daoine \u00f3ga \u00e9isteacht leis an raidi\u00f3 agus le cl\u00e1racha raidi\u00f3 d\u00edrithe orthu f\u00e9in seachas ar lucht na Gaeltachta amh\u00e1in. T\u00e1 Raidi\u00f3 na Gaeltachta tar \u00e9is s\u00e1r-obair a dh\u00e9anamh thar na blianta \u00f3 buna\u00edodh \u00e9. Caithfimid d\u00e9anamh cinnte de go leanann an cur chuige at\u00e1 aige agus an ceangal at\u00e1 aige leis an bpobal ar aghaidh. T\u00e1 a l\u00e1n daoine \u00f3ga nach mb\u00edonn ag \u00e9isteacht le gn\u00e1th-st\u00e1isi\u00fain raidi\u00f3, b\u00edonn siad ag \u00e9isteacht le cl\u00e1racha ar leith at\u00e1 d\u00edrithe orthu. Sa ch\u00e1s sin, t\u00e1 s\u00e9 l\u00e9irithe gur g\u00e1 d\u00fainn f\u00e9achaint ar an gcine\u00e1l sin st\u00e1isi\u00fan a bhun\u00fa. N\u00edl a fhios agam an g\u00e1 go mbeadh s\u00e9 i reachta\u00edocht go bhfuil s\u00e9 seo le bun\u00fa ach is g\u00e1 go mbeimid, na polaiteoir\u00ed, ag tac\u00fa go hioml\u00e1n leis agus ag imp\u00ed ar Choimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n agus ar an Aire d\u00e9anamh cinnte de go dtarla\u00edonn Raidi\u00f3 R\u00ed-R\u00e1 amach anseo.  Recommendation No. 51 proposes that funding for TG4 be increased and that Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n and the Government take account of the vital role of the media in intergenerational language transmission for our national and minoritised language when making decisions on funding. C\u00e9 go bhfuil ard\u00fa tar \u00e9is teacht thar na blianta ar an maoini\u00fa do TG4, t\u00e1 i bhfad \u00c9ireann n\u00edos m\u00f3 ag teast\u00e1il. Is l\u00e9iri\u00fa \u00e9 nuair a fheicimid ar Soci\u00e9t\u00e9 Radio-Canada, SRC, n\u00f3 ar st\u00e1isi\u00fain teilif\u00edse i dT\u00edr na mBascach go bhfuil g\u00e1 d\u00e9anamh cinnte de go bhfuil an t-airgead ann le gur f\u00e9idir le TG4 bheith san ioma\u00edocht ag an leibh\u00e9al ceart agus na cl\u00e1racha is fearr a chur amach m\u00e1 t\u00e1imid ag iarraidh n\u00edos m\u00f3 daoine a mhealladh chuig an teanga agus chun l\u00edofacht sa teanga a fhorbairt. Cuideoidh s\u00e9 chomh maith leis an gceangal idir an d\u00fashl\u00e1n at\u00e1 ag an St\u00e1t tar \u00e9is glacadh air f\u00e9in go mbeidh 20% d\u00f3ibh si\u00fad at\u00e1 earcaithe sa St\u00e1tseirbh\u00eds l\u00edofa sa Ghaeilge ag leibh\u00e9al B2. Chun go dtarl\u00f3idh s\u00e9 sin, caithfidh daoine \u00f3ga n\u00f3 iad si\u00fad at\u00e1 ag foghlaim na Gaeilge \u00ed a chloiste\u00e1il i bhfad n\u00edos minice n\u00e1 mar at\u00e1 siad faoi l\u00e1thair.  Thacaigh m\u00e9 agus taca\u00edm go f\u00f3ill leis an gcinneadh a ghlacadh maidir le f\u00f3gra\u00edocht agus mar sin. Feicimid agus cloisimid f\u00f3gra\u00ed tr\u00ed Ghaeilge anois n\u00edos m\u00f3 n\u00e1 mar a chualamar riamh roimhe seo. Is l\u00e9iri\u00fa \u00e9 sin go bhfuil tionchar aige nuair a dh\u00e9antar craolt\u00f3ireacht ar an nGaeilge - cloiseann agus feiceann daoine \u00ed. M\u00e1 chuirimid airgead i dtreo TG4, beidh toradh air. Feicimid an dea-thoradh at\u00e1 ar TG4 leis na duaiseanna at\u00e1 bainte amach aige go hidirn\u00e1isi\u00fanta mar gheall ar na cl\u00e1racha ar thacaigh s\u00e9 leo agus na cl\u00e1racha sp\u00f3irt at\u00e1 aige. N\u00ed hamh\u00e1in go gcuireann s\u00e9 an Ghaeilge chun cinn, ach t\u00e1 s\u00e9 ag cur sp\u00f3rt nach raibh ar f\u00e1il roimhe seo ar RT\u00c9 ar f\u00e1il. Is f\u00e9idir linn tac\u00fa leis an d\u00e1 rud ag an am c\u00e9anna m\u00e1 dh\u00e9anfaimid cinnte de go bhfuil breis airgid aige ionas gur f\u00e9idir leis an t-airgead sin a chaitheamh ar an earn\u00e1il seo. Is earn\u00e1il \u00ed a bhfuil airgead de dh\u00edth uirthi, go h\u00e1irithe nuair nach bhfuil an tAire s\u00e1sta d\u00edri\u00fa isteach ar an treoir a thabhairt \u201ccontent levy\u201d a chur chun cinn. Bheadh airgead breise ar f\u00e1il don earn\u00e1il ina ioml\u00e1n d\u00e1 mbeadh s\u00e9 sin d\u00e9anta.  Bh\u00ed c\u00fapla moladh eile. Ar mhaithe leis an Aire, breathn\u00f3imid orthu ar\u00eds agus d\u00e9anfaimid iad a chur chun cinn nuair a shroichfimid C\u00e9im an Choiste chun f\u00e9achaint an mbeidh athr\u00fa poirt ag an Aire amach anseo maidir leis an l\u00edofacht at\u00e1 acu si\u00fad at\u00e1 ar bhord RT\u00c9 \u00f3 thaobh an Ghaeilge de. Bh\u00edomar sa choiste ag iarraidh go mbeadh n\u00edos m\u00f3 f\u00f3cas ag na craolt\u00f3ir\u00ed n\u00e1isi\u00fanta ar na pleananna agus a leith\u00e9id timpeall na t\u00edre. N\u00edlim ag cur i gcoinne an Bhille seo; is Bille maith \u00e9. Is f\u00e9idir linn tac\u00fa leis ach caithfimid d\u00e9anamh cinnte de go bhfuil athruithe ag teacht chun cinn ar Ch\u00e9im an Choiste le cinnti\u00fa fad is at\u00e1imid ag gabh\u00e1il don chraolt\u00f3ireacht go bhfuilimid cinnte gurb \u00e9 an Bhille is fearr gur f\u00e9idir linn a chruth\u00fa agus go mbeidh s\u00e9 sin rite ag an D\u00e1il amach anseo. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert O'Donoghue  I welcome the Minister of State and am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this important Second Stage debate on the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2026. This is significant and necessary legislation that seeks to modernise Ireland\u2019s broadcasting and public service media framework for a digital age that has changed fundamentally since the Broadcasting Act 2009 was first enacted. This Bill has long been in the making. It puts into effect many of the recommendations of the Future of Media Commission and of the independent review of the governance and culture of RT\u00c9. It also complements the Media Regulation Bill that was debated recently in this House by implementing the remaining pieces of the European Media Freedom Act. The Bill is important because it brings together lots of different pieces of work that have been ongoing for a number of years.  We can all agree that the media landscape today is unrecognisable from what it was even 15 years ago. Public discourse increasingly happens online. Audiences consume content not only through traditional television and radio, but through streaming platforms, social media, podcasts, digital publications, and on-demand services. Alongside these changes, public trust in institutions, including media institutions, has been challenged. In that context, the place of public service media in our society can be fragile but that makes it all the more vital.  We in the Labour Party believe that an effective public service media is a central pillar of our democracy. Amid a fracturing media and information environment, we need to support our public service broadcasters all the more. However, public service media bodies rely on public trust and accountability. In recent years, we have seen worrying signs of that trust beginning to fray.  Against that backdrop, this Bill represents an attempt to address three core issues. First, it strengthens governance and accountability at RT\u00c9 and TG4. Second, it broadens and modernises the definition of public service media to include a framework for public service content. Third, it seeks to protect editorial independence and democratic discourse in accordance with emerging European standards. These are worthy objectives, and many aspects of the Bill deserve support across this House.  One of the strongest features of this legislation is its recognition that public service broadcasting must evolve into public service media. For too long, legislation focused narrowly on traditional broadcasting while public debate and cultural engagement migrated online. This Bill acknowledges that public service content now exists not only on television and radio but also through digital publications and platform-based services like podcasts. That is an important shift. The Bill recognises that Irish public service content should reflect the full diversity of life in this country, including our culture, language, history, sport, the arts, environment, science, education and communities at home and abroad. Importantly, it also introduces the concept of underserved audiences. That matters greatly. There are many communities in Ireland that do not see themselves adequately represented in media output, whether this is due to disability, geography, language, socio-economic background, ethnicity or other factors. Public service media cannot simply serve the majority. It must serve the public in all its diversity. In that regard, the Government is right to place inclusion and accessibility at the centre of broadcasting policy via the Bill.  I also welcome the stronger recognition of the Irish language and Gaeltacht communities that is contained in the legislation. The provisions relating to TG4 are particularly important. Requiring stronger Irish-language competency among board and audience council members reflects the unique cultural role TG4 plays in Irish society. TG4 was proudly launched by former Labour Party Minister for the arts and former President Michael D. Higgins. The latter played a fundamental role in the establishment of the station. It was originally launched in 1996 as Teilif\u00eds na Gaeilge, which is what I knew it as, so I am showing my age. TG4 has consistently delivered innovation and cultural value beyond its size and budget, and this legislation rightly recognises that.  Another welcome aspect of the Bill is the strengthening of transparency and governance standards. In recent years, including just last week, we have seen serious controversies surrounding governance and financial oversight within RT\u00c9. Public confidence has been badly damaged and eroded. Regardless of political perspective, I believe that everyone in this House accepts that reform has become unavoidable and is absolutely necessary. This Bill responds to that reality by strengthening board responsibilities, clarifying the role of directors general, increasing transparency around remuneration and allowing greater scrutiny. It puts into effect the recommendation of the independent review that the Comptroller and Auditor General be appointed as auditor of the station. These are reasonable and sensible reforms.  Publicly funded media organisations must be accountable for the use of public money. I do not think that is controversial. However, what is not in this Bill is a fix to the fundamental problem that faces public service media in this country, namely that of funding. In 2023, RT\u00c9 received some funding certainty via Government funds, but it becomes more clear year by year and month by month that in the long term a reformed funding model will have to be introduced. We need to begin to have the serious conversations about a sustainable funding settlement for RT\u00c9 and TG4. Those conversations must not only recognise how vital good public service broadcasting is to our democracy and society; they must also take cognisance of the responsibility to ensure public finances are used responsibly and ensure that consumers' interests are taken into account.  It is disappointing to see that the Bill puts the stamp on the Minister\u2019s move to stall a levy on streaming services. A European works levy will now require ministerial sign-off. In reality, this will mean less investment in Irish content, fewer opportunities for creators and continued advantage for global streaming giants. The Labour Party supports a content levy that would contain proper safeguards to protect consumers. We do not need to have a binary approach here. It is perfectly possible to invest in Irish creativity, support public service broadcasting, hold major streaming platforms to account and ensure that consumers rights are protected. This is becoming the norm across Europe, yet Ireland continues to lag behind. We have been blessed with success in our TV and film industries in recent years, which is a testament to good policymaking but we cannot afford to be complacent.  Today may not be the time to have a fulsome debate on the issue, but I would like to raise another aspect of the existing financial settlement for public service broadcasting. Under section 145(12) of the Broadcasting Act 2009, the Department of Social Protection pays a lump sum annually to the Department of communications in respect of free TV licences issued under the household benefits package. The amount that is paid over is fixed following consultation between the two Departments and the Department of public expenditure. In principle, providing free television licences to pensioners and older citizens is entirely right and proper. It is an important social support, particularly for people who are living alone or on fixed incomes. We need to be honest about how this arrangement has operated in practice, however. During the years of the financial crash, reducing the transfer became an easy Exchequer saving. Pensioners still received the benefit but the amount transferred did not necessarily reflect the cost of the licences issued. The consequence was that the shortfall was effectively absorbed by RT\u00c9, TG4, and, ultimately, the wider public service broadcasting sector. In other words, part of a social protection measure was effectively funded out of money intended for public service media and independent production.  As licence fee evasion increases and as Ireland\u2019s population ages, there is a risk that this funding gap will become more significant. That raises important questions that deserve scrutiny during the passage of this Bill. What exact amount is currently transferred annually by the Department of Social Protection? Does that amount fully reflect the value of all free licences issued? Do public service broadcasters effectively subsidise what is ultimately a social welfare support? I would respectfully argue that they should not. There is no reason why free television licences for pensioners should be paid for out of funding intended to sustain journalism, cultural programming, Irish-language broadcasting, children\u2019s content, regional reporting and independent production. If the State wishes to provide a universal social benefit, and I believe it should, then the State should fund that benefit transparently and in full. That conversation is central to the future sustainability of public service media. We cannot continually demand more from broadcasters while simultaneously allowing core funding streams to be eroded.  Equally important is the Bill\u2019s emphasis on editorial independence. In a time when media systems across Europe face pressures from political polarisation, disinformation, commercial concentration and foreign influence, protections for editorial independence are essential. The Bill explicitly requires boards to safeguard the independence of corporations from political, governmental, economic or private interests. That principle deserves strong support. Public service media must never become the voice of government, nor should it become captive to commercial interests or ideological pressure.  Its role is to inform, educate, scrutinise power and reflect society fairly and independently.  I also welcome the implementation of aspects of the European Media Freedom Act. Ireland does not operate in isolation. Our media environment is increasingly European and global. Aligning our framework with European democratic standards is both practical and desirable. While I support the broad direction of this Bill, however, it is also important that we scrutinise it carefully and acknowledge legitimate concerns. No legislation is beyond criticism. One concern relates to the expanded regulatory powers being granted to Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n. The latter will gain significant authority to demand information, oversee compliance and regulate digital public service content. While accountability is necessary, there is always a balance to be struck between oversight and overreach. We must ensure that regulatory powers are exercised proportionately, transparently and with proper safeguards relating to freedom of expression and journalistic independence in place.  There is also a question of bureaucracy. The Bill creates additional committees, review structures, reporting requirements, audience councils, disclosure systems and compliance obligations. Some of these measures are justified, but we should ask honestly whether the cumulative effect could become overly administrative and resource heavy, particularly for organisations already under financial pressure. Public service media organisations should spend their time creating quality journalism and programming, not becoming consumed by governance paperwork and compliance exercises. The balance in that regard is important.  There is also the issue of cost. This legislation expands functions, reporting obligations, oversight systems and regulatory activity. We must question whether adequate and sustainable funding will accompany these expectations. We cannot continually demand more from public service media while failing to provide long-term financial certainty. If we value independent journalism, Irish-language content, regional reporting, investigative reporting, children\u2019s programming, arts programming and accessible public service content, we must be willing to invest properly in them.  Another area deserving careful examination is the definition of \u201cunder-served audiences\u201d. The intention behind this provision is positive and commendable. However, there is a legitimate debate about how such categories will be interpreted and applied in practice. The public will rightly expect that editorial decisions remain grounded in journalistic judgment and public value rather than quota systems or political fashions. Representation matters, but editorial independence must remain paramount. Likewise, while audience councils could provide valuable public engagement, we should ensure that they enhance accountability without creating pressure groups that interfere improperly in editorial decisions.  There is also a broader philosophical debate that this Bill touches upon, namely that relating to the role of public service media in the modern era. Some argue that in an age of endless online content, publicly funded broadcasters are less necessary than before. I disagree. In fact, at a time of misinformation, algorithm-driven outrage, declining local journalism and growing distrust, the role of trusted public service media is arguably more important than ever. The answer to this is reform, accountability, transparency and renewal. This Bill attempts to provide that renewal. It is not perfect. It may require amendment and close scrutiny on Committee Stage. There are definitions that may need tightening, safeguards that may need strengthening and administrative burdens that may need reducing, but the central ambition of the Bill is correct. It recognises that democracy requires strong, independent and accountable public service media. It also recognises that Irish culture and identity deserve support in a crowded global media environment. It recognises citizens deserve transparency from publicly funded institutions, and it recognises that regulation must evolve alongside technology and changing patterns of media consumption.  As legislators, our task is not merely to criticise institutions when they fail; it is also to reform them responsibly. This Bill gives us an opportunity to do that. Therefore, while I believe careful scrutiny will be necessary, we in the Labour Party support the advancement of the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2026 and look forward to engaging constructively on its provisions as it proceeds through the Oireachtas. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  I will start by saying something relatively controversial. I do not think RT\u00c9 does a bad job; I think it does quite a good job. As a public service broadcaster, the difficulty it faces is that it is so often compared with international counterparts like the BBC, which is not perfect and which receives funding vastly beyond what RT\u00c9 could ever expect to get in a small jurisdiction like ours. On the whole, I think it does a good job.  RT\u00c9 does a good job in the public service broadcasting space. I agree with Deputy O'Donoghue regarding how public service broadcasting should never be the voice of the Government. I do not think it is. It is more critical of the Government than perhaps the Government would be happy with, but it should not be the voice of any particular sector. I would like to see much more reporting and less commentary in the context of public service broadcasting. Too often, opinions are reported and colour what is broadcast. RT\u00c9 does a good job in providing good news and current affairs coverage and a good overall spread of the broadcast content.  That said, I welcome this important Bill which amends the Broadcasting Act and implements many of the new EU media rules under the European Media Freedom Act. While it is important to recognise the elements of the independent review of the governance and culture of RT\u00c9 and the Report of the Future of Media Commission published in 2022, it is also important that this legislation has been brought forward. I acknowledge Shona Donnelly, who is in the Public Gallery and who is interning with me at present. She has done a lot of work analysing what this Bill does and where it succeeds.  The change in governance is one of the most important things proposed. In light of what happened recently in RT\u00c9, we have, to an extent, got carried away with examining individual pay rather than looking at the governance issues. I specifically welcome the provisions in this Bill that will change the governance of RT\u00c9, public service broadcasting and the safeguards for editorial independence, which will come through the official governing body. Describing the director general as the editor-in-chief and ensuring that his or her term of office shall only last five to seven years are good things. In that context, maybe we need to separate RT\u00c9 out as being different from other media organisations because it is in receipt of so much public funding.  I also recognise the changes in transparency in respect of the commissioners within Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n and the fact that RT\u00c9's accounts will be audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General. The difficulty with RT\u00c9 has been less about the manner in which money has been spent - and the criticism in that regard is valid - but, rather, the changes in the appearance that perhaps what has been said cannot be relied upon. That is a problem from the point of view of public confidence. Transparency is a hugely important part of that public confidence in public broadcasting and public service media. The notion, for example, that the director general would be available to give evidence before committees is hugely important. There should not be any resistance to that; they should be available to answer questions when called upon to do so. Reviews every three years and annual reviews of the organisation's funding and performance are also important to inform and reinstate that performance. Obviously, this goes hand in hand with the disclosure of employee pay. As I said, this is less about individuals and more about the organisation.  One thing that is very welcome is the scope for greater focus on the Irish language. One of the things we have seen emerging in recent years, not in the context of this legislation but with regard to the Official Languages Act, is advertising and the fact State agencies have to spend 20% of their advertising on f\u00f3gra\u00edocht tr\u00ed mhe\u00e1n na Gaeilge. That is extremely important. Whether we realise it or not, we do notice it. We now have a situation where, if you are listening to or watching media, you will see advertising completely through Irish. That is something we did not really see before. You might have previously seen an advert that is targeted at the Irish-speaking community or that relates to an Irish-speaking product, but now it is wholesale.  Irrespective of what Government programme it is or what a particular Government agency is doing, we will now hear that advertising to the tune of at least 20% as Gaeilge. That is hugely important because it normalises the existence of Irish within the media generally but, obviously, within our public service media as well. The make-up of the audience councils is really important in terms of including at least ten Irish-speaking members and at least five with Gaeltacht experience. That is progress, and we should actually be moving to increasing that 20% because I think it makes a big difference as to what we hear in media. Here is where it also makes a difference: now there is a funding stream for those involved in Irish language media production. People, particularly cainteoir\u00ed d\u00fachais - Irish speakers - who can do that advertising and companies that are capable of doing production through Irish now have a guaranteed stream that comes into them. That is really important because it funds those companies in the longer term. It makes their existence viable where perhaps previously it would not have been, notwithstanding the presence of TG4 and its predecessor, Teilif\u00eds na Gaeilge, and indeed Raidi\u00f3 na Gaeltachta, which does not have the same extent of advertising in real terms. It is something that I think is a burden on presenters on Raidi\u00f3 na Gaeltachta. If you are presenting on most mainstream media programmes, there is an ad break where you get to put yourself together for the next segment. If you are presenting a programme on RT\u00c9 Raidi\u00f3 na Gaeltachta, you do not have that chance; it just goes from one segment into the next. The professionalism then is also worth noting. The point I make about the importance of driving Irish language material, in terms of the presence of \u00e1r dteanga d\u00fachais, is really important, but the point about how it drives production and capacity within the Irish language production centre is also important.  That extends beyond the language to Irish producers in general. One of my real bugbears is the notion that you turn on RT\u00c9 radio, RT\u00c9 television or any Irish indigenous radio or television station and there is an ad being run on that station that is 100% exclusively produced for the English market - English accents, English parlance, English slang, English personalities, produced in London by people who have no concept of what the Irish market needs. When that ad is run on Irish media, it frustrates me because it is a signal that the company running the ad really sees us as being part of the English or British market. That is one thing, but worse than that, it means that the Irish voice-over artists based in Dublin, the people who do the copy, the people who put together the filming of these things in Dublin, and the jobs that are based here in Dublin providing media solutions for Irish companies, Irish people and Irish media consumers are being overlooked. If a big multinational - I will not name any companies but there are lots of them - makes its ad in London and then runs it in Irish media, it is saying not only that it thinks we are an extension of the British market but also that it does not care to give work to Irish media companies based here in Dublin and elsewhere around the country. That is a real shame, and there is an obvious responsibility on the company itself to indicate that it has enough respect to produce an ad that is dedicated to this jurisdiction. I also think there is a role for the media companies, the radio stations and the television stations to say to those companies that come to advertise with them that those ads are not made for this jurisdiction. I have raised this with media companies, and the response is understandably that they do not turn away business. The payment for those ads funds the activities of that radio station or television station. I get that. However, I do not get the sense that, at any point when an ad comes in, there is somebody in RT\u00c9 or, indeed, any other media outlet in the country who says they think the advertiser should amend or change that ad or remake it in Ireland using Irish staff, Irish teams and Irish companies because it will land better with the people here. The problem for us is that because we also consume so much international media, particularly British media, we sometimes do not notice. If you are watching British television and then you switch to an Irish channel, you might not notice that the ad is exactly the same as the one you saw on the British channel.  I just think there is a real shame within the media landscape that we cannot strike out better for Irish media companies to ensure that the content we see, hear and have to listen to is indigenous content generated here for us, by us. I do not mean that to sound in any way isolationist because the reality is that we live in a global environment, and I do not have a problem with that. However, I do have a problem with the notion that we are an extension of another media market. I think there is something being missed by media outlets here but also by the companies that are advertising, and I do not know if they are even aware of how much it can sometimes turn off an Irish consumer that the product being advertised is actually being geared towards and aimed at a different type of consumer entirely. I do not know to what extent that can be addressed within this legislation, but in the same way that the Official Languages Act prescribed the 20% allocation for f\u00f3gra\u00edocht tr\u00ed Ghaeilge, is there room, perhaps, for a portion or a requirement for a portion of advertising on any station to be made, for example, in this jurisdiction? That may interfere with competition rules within the European Union, but maybe if we just said that it had to be done within the European Union, that would specifically relate to the other major English language jurisdiction in this part of the world.  I started by saying that I thought RT\u00c9 did a good job. I stand by that. I think that our news can sometimes be a small bit parochial, and I want to give a shout-out to a programme that I think is genuinely excellent. Unfortunately, it occupies only a 20-minute slot on a Sunday morning on RT\u00c9 Radio One, and it is \"World Report\". \"World Report\" is a programme that goes around the world and uses reporters on the ground in places we do not hear very much from very often and it gives them an opportunity to set out a story that is happening in Kenya, India or Bolivia or somewhere like that that does not make the mainstream news - and, by the way, that includes print media. Particularly in an English language jurisdiction, where there is so much international media coming into our country through English, it is sometimes very difficult for consumers here to hear through that noise and see things that do not make their way into the headlines in our newspapers or notifications on our various media apps or whatever we look at online. Algorithms can sometimes kill your ability to see beyond what a particular platform thinks you should be reading. \"World Report\" cuts through that, and I really do not know why we could not do a \"World Report\" every day. On RT\u00c9 Radio, before \"Morning Ireland\" starts at 7 a.m., for example, there is room there even to do one or two stories. It is an excellent programme because it also lifts us out of the parochial nature that is sometimes associated with news in this jurisdiction. I would love to see that happening.  This Bill, which is concerned primarily with governance and transparency, is good legislation and I welcome it, but there is so much more we can do in terms of improving our national media landscape to ensure that it serves the people in this country but also serves them with a diet of information and media material that they will not get outside this country. Let us do better for them in that regard. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  I just have a few short points to make, so I will not use my full time, just for the benefit of other speakers. I thank the Minister of State for being here in the absence of the media Minister. I welcome the progress of this Bill and I look forward to getting stuck into it on Committee Stage at the media committee. We are at a crucial juncture as to where broadcasting is and where streaming is, all the disruption we have experienced as a society from the Internet, essentially, and the companies that dominate that world, what that has meant for revenues for traditional broadcasters, legacy media generally, and what it means now for how we govern that space. I recognise that this is on the back of not only the Future of Media Commission but also the more recent governance report. Of course, it is also on the back of the governance and financial scandal, if you like, recently experienced by RT\u00c9 and by this disruption I refer to.  I welcome the move to bring RT\u00c9 under the remit of the C and AG. I have been an Accounting Officer under the remit of the C and AG. It is a rigorous body that I believe will assist us in bringing to where it needs to be the transparency and oversight of RT\u00c9 as our national and State broadcaster.  I want to pick up on a couple of other specifics within this. Screen Producers Ireland has been in touch about the 25% funding minimum. Essentially, one of the issues it raises is that, within the legislation, we do not yet see a commencement date for that minimum. We need to look at that. This is a pivotal and fundamental measure for the commercial sector, which carries that public service broadcasting mandate through the commissioning process, and it is crucial that the sector be provided with as much information as possible as far in advance as possible in order that it can do the appropriate planning that it needs to respond to the call for public service broadcasting from our national broadcaster. That is very important.  I want to touch on the Irish language scope of this, as many others have. I have talked a lot with Irish language media providers recently, primarily on the campaign trail in the Galway West by-election, and it was an eye-opener to understand how difficult it had been for producers and professionals working in that space who were looking at dual or two-tier pay systems, essentially, often for twice the work. There is a feeling in some areas that professionals are paid less and asked to do more to meet not only the public service obligations in the Irish language sector, but also the ambition we have as a State to foster and promote our indigenous language.  It is a shame that the Minister has chosen not to place the levy entirely under the remit of Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n. This is exactly what I am saying about disruption. We are seeing a disproportionate amount of the cost of disruption borne by legacy media rather than by the streamers and new platforms. That is where it needs to go to. I get the concerns about passing the cost on to the consumer but we are an outlier now. In other European countries, the streaming levy is available to fund independent and creative sectors. They could product Irish media content. That is something I will be pushing hard on on Committee Stage. I have no doubt others in the Opposition will too.  Overall, I welcome the Bill and look forward to working on it further on Committee Stage. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Miche\u00e1l Carrigy  This Bill is a media governance and transparency reform package for public service media, designed to restore trust in RT\u00c9, strengthen oversight, support independent production and ensure public money delivers value. It heightens accountability and governance by assigning the Comptroller and Auditor General as auditor of RT\u00c9. Also contained in the Bill is an enhancement of the statutory framework from which Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n assesses the performance and funding of RT\u00c9 and TG4. It includes strengthened provisions relating to the duties, appointments and dismissal of the directors general of RT\u00c9 and TG4 and provides for greater transparency in the anonymised reporting on remuneration of employees and contractors. It extends media service duties and codes to all non-broadcast content published by RT\u00c9 and TG4 and strengthens the independence and authority of the audience councils. Given what we dealt with in the past week in the media committee, that is extremely important.  It is about strengthening transparency, accountability and governance while widening support for public service content across the media sector. It is about ensuring our public media provide accurate, factual news content on all platforms and provide high-quality media that is free and accessible to all of Ireland.  It is important to say that RT\u00c9 provides a fantastic service. It provides trustworthy content and news, and that is something that is not provided across all platforms. We need to address that.  The Bill is about ensuring publicly funded organisations provide content related to the democratic, social and cultural needs of our society that is free at the point of consumption. It is about ensuring that people who receive taxpayers' money are accountable and adhere to good governance, and that public organisations are transparent in how they handle taxpayers' money. In the case of RT\u00c9, that is \u20ac725 million over three years, as well as the TV licence, which amounts to over \u20ac100 million, paid by people throughout the country.  We have seen scandals arise and it is important that the correct legislation and structures are in place to prevent their recurrence. The Bill will give greater accountability by strengthening the audit and governance rules surrounding the board and director general. RT\u00c9 and TG4 will face strong reporting requirements, including anonymised pay reporting and annual reports on commissioning decisions and spending, heightening transparency and oversight.  The Bill goes even further than that. It outlines a new framework for RT\u00c9, TG4 and public service content in the wider media sector. There is also planned support for independent productions and provision for payment by RT\u00c9 of at least 25% of its annual public funding into the RT\u00c9 independent programmes account for the purpose of commissioning programmes from the independent sector.  The Minister has withheld a charging levy at this point but has not said it will not happen. We will wait and see. We want to see Netflix, etc., purchasing independent content in this country. If not, the Minister reserves the right to go to Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n to impose a levy. Ultimately, we do not want a levy put on consumers; they are paying enough as it is.  Rules and standards currently applied to broadcast content will apply to podcasts and written content on both stations. There will also be a complaints pathway through Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n. The Bill also clarifies the Netflix levy. That will only be introduced following a ministerial direction, with impact assessments required before and after implementation. That will happen unless the likes of Netflix purchase Irish content, keeping people in jobs in Ireland.  The Bill provides Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n with additional information-gathering powers for supervising Ireland's online safety framework. Online safety is a serious topic and we need to do everything in our power to make the online world as safe and beneficial to users, particularly vulnerable users and our children, as possible. This Bill will ensure we achieve that goal.  The Bill has been brought before the Government. The Joint Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport discussed it and made 85 recommendations. The Minister has replied and 65 recommendations can be and already have been addressed, including in existing legislation and by incorporation into this Bill.  The Bill accepted in principle recommendations, published by the Government, of the Future of Media Commission. The Government published the independent review of the governance and culture of RT\u00c9, prepared by an expert advisory committee. It has received lots of scrutiny, recommendations, attention and discussion. It is ready to be passed and to strengthen the transparency, accountability and governance of RT\u00c9, TG4 and public media organisations and platforms more generally.  Legislative measures supporting this Bill include the Media Regulation Bill 2026 and the European Media Freedom Act, which aims to strengthen the internal market for media services and protect media pluralism and independence throughout the EU.  In conclusion, this is about ensuring that our media are transparent and accountable and taxpayers receive high-quality journalism, Irish-made television and increased content through our native Irish language. I thank Members for their attention and commend the Bill to the House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  I am against the legislation and I am a little surprised others have not stated their opposition to it. I urge people to consider opposing it. There are some good aspirations and aspects to it, which I would support. I am for greater transparency when it comes to the governance of RT\u00c9. I am for better financial management of RT\u00c9 and of money put into public service broadcasting generally. I am also for more transparency - that is relevant to why I am against this Bill - and proper management of public funds going into the audiovisual sector, including the money to public service broadcasting but also the lots of money given to the audiovisual sector where there is no transparency. Some of us - me in particular - have been urging the Government to look at it and to have transparency, accountability and proper financial management, yet the Government does not do it. I do not believe this Bill is actually about achieving the things it says it is going to achieve.  I think it is going to do the opposite of that. That is why I am going to be opposing it, despite the aspirations. Do not get me wrong, I am happy to have the Comptroller and Auditor General look at and audit of the accounts of RT\u00c9. That is fine; no problem. If the Bill was just about that, I would be in favour of it. What I am not in favour of is an obligation of a minimum of 25% of all the money that RT\u00c9 is going to be given having to be outsourced to the private sector. It is a minimum, by the way. That is back-door privatisation. There is no transparency once we outsource to the independent sector. Therefore, we will not know what is done with that money. If we think about it, and my worst fears are being realised, the bad behaviour and obscene salaries of a small group of people at the top of RT\u00c9 means that the ordinary workers in RT\u00c9, who are in no way responsible for that bad behaviour, and public service broadcasting itself are going to be the collateral damage. That is what is actually happening here. The net result will be that more money will go into areas in broadcasting and in the audiovisual sector where there will be no oversight whatsoever, namely, the independent sector. What oversight is there going to be of the independent sector? What oversight is there when the State outsources stuff?  Let me give the Minister of State one example that is, in my opinion, kind of relevant. I will just set it out. I screamed about it at the time but, as usual with Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael, I was just wasting my time. I refer to the sale of Ardmore Studios, which was the national film studios, back in 2018. The Government had a 32% stake in Ardmore Studios when it was sold to Olcott, a private consortium that also owned Troy Studios. If we remember, a lot of money for Troy Studios had come from Limerick County Council, I think. It was owned, if I remember correctly, although I stand to be corrected, by Michael Noonan's brother. It became Troy Studios and Olcott then bought Ardmore Studios, the 32% remaining stake. Ms Si\u00fan N\u00ed Raghallaigh was the CEO. That name should ring a bell; she was in charge of RT\u00c9 later. Olcott got hold of what had been the national film studios and the remaining 32% Government stake. It gave commitments at the time, and some of us expressed concern about this, that it was committed to the people who were employed there and so on. I raised this at the time with the Comptroller and Auditor General, by the way. I went in and met him. In 2021, Olcott, headed up by Si\u00fan N\u00ed Raghallaigh and a guy called Joe Devine, sold Ardmore for \u20ac100 million to Hackman Capital Partners and Square Mile Capital Management, which were US-based consortiums. There still is not full clarity on how much the State actually got for the 32% because it was writing off debts and so on for Ardmore. A lot of money had gone into Ardmore through section 41 and so on. I think it was in the region of \u20ac6 million. The State got \u20ac6 million and three years later, the consortium sold it for \u20ac100 million. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Is this all on the public record? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Yes. That is something that was public and where we had some oversight of it. There was some accountability. It went to a private company and then ended up in the hands of vulture funds, and a huge fortune was made in the meantime. There was no transparency around any of that. We had no real control over it or no oversight. That is what is going to happen, in my opinion, slowly but surely to public service broadcasting. This is an example of the requirement to outsource to the independent sector.  Who is going to check what the salaries are for the producers in the independent sector? Who is going to ensure there is not bogus self-employment, something we know was an element of what was going on in RT\u00c9 with the disgraceful treatment of workers in there? By and large, however, most people have proper jobs. They paid tax, had pensions and so on. Some people were treated very badly and there was some route to try to resolve that and reclassify people who had been bogusly self-employed. What is happening in the independent sector in terms of employment for workers? What is going to happen is that proper paid jobs for crew in RT\u00c9 are going to be progressively replaced by people in the independent sector. My understanding from talking to people is that the producers, that is, the members of Screen Producers Ireland, SPI, are basically telling people that if they want to work on their productions, whether they are scripted or non-scripted - a lot of the new stuff is going to be in the non-scripted sector - but in either case, these individuals will be told they have to set themselves up as private companies. This is not PAYE employment, so they will not be paying PAYE tax anymore. If they were doing that job in RT\u00c9 and if those productions were being made in-house in RT\u00c9, they would be paying tax and they would have some job security. Now, once it is in the independent sector and privately owned, who is going to make sure it is not bogus self-employment? From what I hear, it is rampant. Basically, people will not get to work in that sector unless they agree to set themselves up as a private company. Therefore, individuals, whether they are plasterers, riggers or whatever it might be, have to set themselves up as individual private companies, so they are not employees.  By the way, as well as getting money it seems from RT\u00c9, there is another source of money, which is interesting in and of itself. I think it is still going on, and maybe the Minister of State can clarify it. Certainly, a few years ago, about \u20ac400,000 or more was being paid by RT\u00c9 to Screen Producers Ireland, which is the representative group of the private companies in the independent audiovisual sector, that is, the producer companies. Why is public money going to run a representative organisation of a series of private companies? I do not understand that. I do not think public money goes to IBEC, does it? I do not think so, unless I missed something. However, it is going to the screen producer equivalent of IBEC - I think that is been going on - which is very pleased about the commitment. I got its document. It is very pleased and very happy with the requirement in this legislation that 25% of all the money of RT\u00c9 is going to go to it as well as the money it gets paid to run its organisation in a situation where nobody has a job in that sector and where workers are fighting to get proper employment because it is gig to gig. We have gone from people having jobs in RT\u00c9 to this and just to reiterate, these are the workers who did not have obscene salaries whose jobs are being replaced. I am absolutely for capping the salaries of the top people in RT\u00c9; they were obscene. However, it is the jobs of the ordinary people - the crew, the camera operators and all these people - that are going to be replaced with people who will now work gig to gig. They will go from proper jobs into the gig economy. They will be totally vulnerable. Will they get on to the next gig? They not if they complain about the hours.  I mentioned a report to the Minister. Screen Guilds of Ireland did a survey, which it never published because the responses of the people who worked in the sector were so bad that it looked bad for the industry. It never published it because it was all about the long hours, poor pay, no career progression, how people were never listened to and how it was understaffed and under-resourced. It was absolutely damning, so it was never published. That was done a couple of years ago. Is this what is going to happen to people who are working in the independent sector where more money is going to go?  This is happening simultaneously when section 481, the film tax credit, which was previously for the scripted sector because it contributed to developing an industry and producing stuff in relation to Irish culture, is now going in the independent sector to stuff that does not necessarily do any of those things. I was reading an article a while ago about Gordon Ramsay's cooking show being produced in the independent sector.  What does Gordon Ramsay have to do with public service broadcasting? It is Gordon Ramsay or US quiz shows. Is that contributing to Irish culture? Are they going to benefit from tax breaks and money coming in that was supposed to go to public service broadcasting? Is that where this is going? It looks to me like the bits in RT\u00c9 that were making money are being asset-stripped out and decent jobs for ordinary people are now going to be thrown into this private sector where there is no oversight. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Sorry to interrupt but I think the Deputy needs to clarify that he is making his point by using an example rather than an insinuation against----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  No, I am asking questions about what I think may be happening. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  But that individual----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  I am entitled to ask whatever questions I like. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Yes, but the Deputy cannot bring somebody----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  What? Who did I mention? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Mr. Ramsay. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  I am simply making----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  That is what I am asking the Deputy to clarify. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  A Gordon Ramsay cooking show was made a couple of years ago down in Wicklow. Did it benefit from public money? Will the independent sector benefit - because that was made by the independent sector - now that 25% of RT\u00c9 money has to go to these people, the producers? An awful lot of the stuff that is made here is getting section 481 money or Screen Ireland money and now it is going to get RT\u00c9 money. Screen Producers Ireland, which is the representative group of the independent sector, has for quite a number of years been getting hundreds of thousands of euro from RT\u00c9 - private companies. This looks to me like the hollowing-out of public service broadcasting using the excuse of bad governance and bad behaviour by a small group of people at the top. I am against that. I am against throwing out the baby with the bathwater. I am against public service broadcasting, decent quality employment and training and indeed the wider public interest being thrown out because of the bad behaviour of a small group of people, which could have been dealt with by imposing a cap and everybody being placed on salary scales that are transparent. The salary scales and the pay, employment and training conditions of people in the private sector - that independent sector - will not be transparent. Who is going to be checking on them? It will not happen. All that money will just go out and we will have no control whatsoever. It is not benefiting the public, it is not generating public service broadcasting and it is not generating quality employment and training - very much the opposite - so I am very concerned. I believe hundreds of workers in RT\u00c9 are balloting for industrial action because of their concerns about this. Where will the RT\u00c9 orchestra going to live? I could say more. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  There are some good parts in this Bill but I have some serious concerns as well. The decision in the 1990s to remove the power of the Comptroller and Auditor General and indeed direct accountability of RT\u00c9 to the Committee of Public Accounts was a huge mistake by the Government at that time. During the four and a half years when I was Chair of the Committee of Public Accounts, when we started looking at RTE, it got worse. What we met at the first couple of hearings was every attempt to not answer questions. I am trying to be charitable when I say that what was clear by the end of those hearings and that four and a half year period of the D\u00e1il was that there was a cabal at the top of it that was run by the cabal for the cabal and anybody who agreed with it. That had to change. The Committee of Public Accounts produced over 20 recommendations. Central to them was something I proposed way back at the start. I was amazed to find that RT\u00c9 was not accountable to the Comptroller and Auditor General or directly accountable to the Committee of Public Accounts. Indeed there was reluctance to come before the committee and we had to go to extreme lengths to actually drag the previous management of RT\u00c9 in through the door initially, so I welcome that part of it. It is important that this second level of oversight is there and direct accountability to this House and the taxpayer in respect of public money. It is a key recommendation.  It is key for the Minister of State to make sure that the board is fully functioning and has its eyes on what is going on. It was clear that the connection between board and management was not great despite the fact that there were some good people on the board doing good work. It is the same with the audit committee. Appointments and decision-making are key. Pay for top earners is very important. All that was in the recommendations. I acknowledge that progress has been made on a lot of that. A lot has been done on presenters' pay but more has to be done. Regarding the issue of producers and presenters, if somebody is known as a presenter in the public mind and that is a huge part of his or her work then he or she should be counted as a presenter. The pay of at least the top 50 earners across the board in RT\u00c9 should be published annually regardless of what their role is.  The issue of agents came up a lot. The one thing that came to light fairly quickly as the Committee of Public Accounts started a deep dive into it was the fact that one agent could get themselves into a position of being able to let the whole lot spin in the palm of their hand. That must never be allowed to happen again. The rules of engagement with agents need to be very clear. It was literally a game of bluff. If they were poker players, they would be very good at winning. To allow somebody to get that excessive control is wrong so there has to be transparency with regard to that, there need to be very clear rules of engagement and that requires continuous examination by the Minister of State and the Department to make sure that never happens again.  Transparency is obviously important in terms of accounts, renumeration and performance. I welcome the provision about the monitoring role of Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n in the Bill. It involves assessing and appraising performance. Regarding spend on the overall media sector, including what is going to be independent sector, I am not going to argue against independent radio stations, etc., but that does need to be monitored. Regarding outsourcing production, one of the issues we came up with actually before we started diving into management was the issue of bogus self-employment. Regarding outsourcing the fat, make no mistake about it, it is the fat of RTE that is going to be privatised. There was bogus self-employment in RTE but this will not be counted as bogus self-employment when it is in the independent sector. As outlined already, there will be contractors and individual companies, they will not have union representation or terms and conditions and they will have \"if and when\" contracts. That is a very uncertain way to live when the cost of a house in Dublin is so high and when someone has to have a permanent job and income to get a mortgage.  Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n's broadcasting levy on independent radio stations increased by 29% this year. I know it is a bit detached from this Bill but I want the Minister of State to hear this. The figure is 69% on average over two years. The figure for the radio station in my area is 2.8% of turnover - not profit. We are talking about nearly 3% of turnover. That is a huge levy and that is on top of all the other overheads that have gone up, such as wages, although it is good that they have gone up, along with insurance and energy. They are competing with tech giants and other platforms and it is important that this is reined in. Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n says it is committed to ensuring value for money by maximising cost-effectiveness. The Minister of State has a responsibility to make sure of that and I would ask her to address that latest hike. Could she engage with Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n on that? The outsourcing is the main issue of concern in the Bill, however. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  It will not comes as a shock to Members that I have a particular problem with the legislation in that it does not deal with the issue of geoblocking, in respect of which Sinn F\u00e9in had proposed a measure, and how wrong it is that RT\u00c9 programmes and particular events, including sporting events, are not available to those in the North. We hear the Taoiseach talk about the shared island unit and we do not actually see the proper outworking.  This is a very simple thing that could have been provided and it would show an interest in the North from the Government here. It is just another let down in a long number of let downs. I would like to think that the Minister of State would understand that, and have conversations with the Government about the fact that it is something that really needs to be looked at.  The only thing there will be consensus on is the idea of RT\u00c9 coming under the Comptroller and Auditor General. We will all be happy when we are not dealing with further revelations around pay and whether someone is a presenter or a producer or not, and the ins and outs of sideways payments. That is all before we talk about those others who suffered under bogus self-employment. We know that is an issue that has been rife in many industries.  What did not come as a shock to me was the issue Deputy Boyd Barrett brought up not only in relation to RT\u00c9 but those in the independent sector, and the fact we do not have a decent framework for those working in it. There are many crew and whatever else who work across the audiovisual sector in general who will speak about how they have never had their rights as workers. Now we are talking about a greater number who will not even have an opportunity for that if they are going to be recorded as self-employed.  We have seen the issue around producers who pull down State money and who create designated activity companies, DACs, for running projects such as film production. Then when somebody wants to use the industrial relations framework to ensure they have their rights, it is not available to them because they are not really an employee. How could they be an employee of a DAC that disappears after every project? The fact is that it is the producers that pull down the money.  There is a need to deal with this issue and, unfortunately, it is another one of these cases where we end up being like a broken record because the issue is not dealt with. That is why there is a huge amount of unease around the fact that Screen Producers Ireland, SPI, as producers and the representative body for producers gets State money. The T\u00e1naiste and others have given promises in the Chamber to me, to Deputy \u00d3 Snodaigh, in particular, and to Deputies Joanna Byrne and Boyd Barrett but we need to see the outworking and the results because that is what those who work in the industry require.  I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the flexibility she showed me by allowing me to come in at this stage. Given the day that is in it, I want to commend the FTD brothers, Jordan and Cian Adams, who finished off their marathon in Merrion Square Park. It is absolutely fabulous that they have completed 33 marathons in 33 days. I barely clung along with them in Dundalk. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Broadcasting at its best. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I would like to think that RT\u00c9 and others would follow it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Public service. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  It was in remembrance of their mother, Geraldine, who had frontotemporal dementia. She was diagnosed in her 40s and died at 52 years of age. Unfortunately for the two boys, they have that particular gene. Today was obviously a great day for them and for the whole community. There was great support shown across Ireland. In fairness, they spoke about the good news that their sister does not have it. I commend them. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Debate adjourned."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2026: Second Stage"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_37","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Estimates for Public Services 2026: Message from Select Committee","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_37","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Select Committee on Education and Youth has completed its consideration of the following Revised Estimate for Public Services for the service of the year ending on 31 December 2026: Vote 26 - Education and Youth. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Estimates for Public Services 2026: Message from Select Committee"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_38","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_38","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case:  Deputy Joe Cooney - To discuss the need to provide funding to local authorities for the refurbishment costs of tenant in situ scheme houses.  Deputy Jen Cummins - To discuss the DEIS plus appeals process  Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan - To discuss engagement with the Before We Die Group, and plans for ramping up residential placements nationwide.  Deputy Pat Buckley - To discuss the urgent need for a person (details supplied) to have treatment under the EU cross-border healthcare directive.  Deputy Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl - To discuss the measures to put in place a new management system for the Curragh Plains;  Deputy Gary Gannon - To discuss the implementation of phase 3 of the bag-free streets programme, and the impact on households and businesses in the affected areas.  Deputy Maurice Quinlivan - To discuss the delay in funding BusConnects in Limerick.  Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa\u00b7 - To discuss supports for people with frontotemporal dementia, FTD.  The matters raised by Deputies Joe Cooney, Gary Gannon, Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl, P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan and Jen Cummins have been selected for discussion. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_39","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/54","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/54\/dail\/2","houseCode":"dail","stage":"2","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2026: Second Stage (Resumed) (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2026: Second Stage (Resumed)","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_39","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niamh Smyth","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question again proposed: \"That the Bill be now read a Second Time.\""},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niamh Smyth","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (Deputy Niamh Smyth)  I thank colleagues for their very heartfelt contributions today. Our officials present have taken copious notes on all the points raised. I have no doubt that they, along with myself, will relay them to the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan.  There are two colleagues who remain in the House. I take Deputy Boyd Barrett's point and his concerns on the 25% but it is important to acknowledge that a lot of that will go to independent Irish content creators too, and they are all creatives. I hear what the Deputy is saying. We are only on Second Stage of this Bill so hopefully there will be an opportunity to give the Deputy the reassurance that it will be used wisely and used in a way that helps our independent Irish creators flourish too. Not everybody wants to work in RT\u00c9. Deputy Boyd Barrett and I both know that being from the creative industries. It is not for everybody and there must be a funding source for those independent creators who want to work outside the bubble of RT\u00c9. We have to find a way to do that, to fund that and to find a way it can be done in a transparent way.  In respect of the geo-blocking raised by Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa, I concur with everything the Deputy has said. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  Would that be in general? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Please, Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niamh Smyth","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Niamh Smyth  I have some notes here in relation to the piece on geo-blocking. There is an existing legislative obligation on RT\u00c9 and TG4 to make their television and services free to air to the whole community of Ireland insofar that it is reasonably practical. However, cases can arise where public service broadcasters cannot broadcast certain content outside the State due to rights restrictions, noting that the rights to content are often provided on a geographic or territorial basis. There is further opportunity to engage with the Minister on this and I support Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa's views on that as a Border county colleague. I thank the officials who have sat here trying to feed information to me and, more importantly, who have been taking note of everything that is being raised and particularly the concerns. I have no doubt they will raise it with the Minister, Patrick O'Donovan.  I thank all the Deputies for their important contributions this afternoon. It is a little bit of d\u00e9j\u00e0 vu after the last term in the D\u00e1il. I am hopeful for RT\u00c9's sake, because we know how important our public service broadcaster is given we live in a time of so much misinformation, with loud, algorithmic-driven outrage. It is so important the Irish public has objective reporting and not commentating, as Deputy Ward quite rightly said, with reporting on current affairs and reporting as is, so our general public have that. That is so important to our culture, our society and to democracy. I hope we are coming to a new dawn within RT\u00c9 that everyone can have confidence around.  As has been raised by a number of contributors, those ideals are not limited to RT\u00c9 and TG4. Our local, regional and national commercial newspapers and broadcasters also produce public interest journalism that holds power to account and makes innovative Irish programming available to the public. That is why this Bill will put in place a statutory framework that seeks to ensure the Irish public has access to high-quality, accessible public service content supplied by RT\u00c9 and TG4. They will have a distinctive role and duties as public service media providers, and also to the wider Irish media sector.  The variety of the issues which have been raised on the floor highlight the breadth of the framework set out in the Bill. The Bill represents a key milestone in the evolution of the Broadcasting Act 2009 in terms of the regulation, governance and assessment of our public service media providers and the assessment and recognition of the role of the wider media sector in providing public service content to the public.  The Bill will provide Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n, as independent regulator, with enhanced powers to ensure that public service media providers are transparent, independent and provide value for money, which is what we all want to see. The Bill enables Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n to deal with the continuing changes in how we support and engage with public service media and public service content providers in Ireland.  The Bill has a critical EU law dimension as it will transpose provisions of the European Media Freedom Act. The Bill increases public service media\u2019s independence, strengthens the independent regulator, and provides for objective assessments of funding needs and appraisal, as required by the European Media Freedom Act.  Finally, I express my deep thanks for the contributions today and I look forward to working with Deputies into the future. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  In accordance with Standing Order 85(2), the division is deferred until the next weekly division time. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2026: Second Stage (Resumed)"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_40","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_40","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_41","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Rental Sector","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_40","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_40","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_41","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Cooney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niamh Smyth","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Cooney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Cooney  Changes to the tenant in situ scheme are of significant concern for some constituents who face the very real prospect of homelessness because a scheme that was working has been effectively dismantled. When a landlord decided to sell, the local authority could step in, buy the property and keep the family in their home. It was straightforward and cost-effective and it worked, but last year the Department made a critical change. Local authorities cannot reclaim the cost of refurbishing properties they buy under the scheme. That might sound like a minor detail, but it is not. It is a decision that is making the scheme unworkable. The result is that councils are walking away from these purchases. They are not walking away because the family does not need the home but because the scheme is financially unsustainable for them.  In County Clare, this matter is particularly serious. Our private rental stock is older than the national average. Properties in our more rural and coastal locations often need more refurbishment before they can be let as social housing. We can see the impact in the numbers. In 2023, this scheme delivered 1,830 acquisitions. In 2024, it was 1,501. Last year, 2025, there were only 775 houses delivered.  At its peak, the tenant in situ scheme accounted for 46% of all homelessness prevention activity nationally. By December of last year, that figure had fallen to 11%. According to a recent media report, Clare County Council has only spent \u20ac1.45 million out of its \u20ac4 million allocation, which is very disappointing. I personally know of several cases where the council would not purchase the house because of the cost of refurbishing it to modern rental standards.  This scheme was one of the State\u2019s most effective tools for preventing homelessness. There should be no difference to the public purse whether this is achieved through the purchase and renovation of a property a tenant already lives in or moving them into a new build and renovating it afterwards. People in houses should be the measure of success, not the number of houses built. Preventing homelessness is the goal, regardless of what we do. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niamh Smyth","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (Deputy Niamh Smyth)  I thank Deputy Cooney for raising this matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Browne. I am happy to do so. I will pass on Deputy Cooney's thoughts and concerns about the tenant in situ scheme to the Minister.  Tenancy sustainment, also known as tenancy in situ , is not a stand-alone programme or scheme. It is a priority category under the Department of housing's social housing second-hand acquisitions programme, which helps to prevent social housing supported households in the private rental sector from becoming homeless. Such acquisitions are an option for local authorities to support households in the most precarious housing situations. They will continue to be available to local authorities for use as a last resort when all other options have been exhausted. However, they will never be the sole or even the primary option. The default first options should almost always be securing the sustainment of the tenancy with the landlord, securing alternative accommodation through the tenancy sustainment and placefinder services, or allocating a local authority or approved housing body tenancy via a new build home or relet. Where acquisitions are deemed necessary, local authorities may pursue individual priority acquisitions without recourse to the Department, once they satisfy the broad parameters and criteria of the second-hand acquisitions programme.  Some \u20ac373 million is available to be drawn down by local authorities and approved housing bodies under this year's programme. With more than 17,000 persons in emergency homeless accommodation, including more than 5,000 children, the primary focus of this year's programme is to help households to exit emergency homeless accommodation into permanent housing. To this end, the largest share of funding available for draw-down, some \u20ac150 million, is ring-fenced for acquisitions supporting households and taking them out of homelessness. Thereafter, some \u20ac50 million is available to approved housing bodies for urgent acquisitions for older people, those with disabilities and caregivers. The remaining \u20ac173 million comprises \u20ac157 million for local authority priority acquisitions, including tenant in situ  purchases, and a contingency of \u20ac16 million for local authorities that have drawn down most of their allocation but can complete further acquisitions and draw down the funding from the Department before the end of the year.  Clare County Council has been allocated an initial \u20ac1.7 million, with \u20ac800,000 and \u20ac900,000 earmarked for approved housing body and local authority priority acquisitions respectively. Consistent with the eligibility criteria introduced last year, refurbishment or adaptation costs are no longer an eligible cost for tenant in situ acquisitions. Generally, extensive refurbishments of those properties should not be required. They already benefit from significant Exchequer-funded rent supports through the housing assistance payment or rental accommodation scheme and, critically, must comply fully with the housing regulations. If refurbishment is required, local authorities need only undertake works necessary to comply with the regulations, effectively ensuring that homes are immediately safe, secure and warm. In such cases, local authorities can draw on the significant rental funding available to them through their respective annual budgetary processes. Notably, Clare County Council's adopted budget for 2025 suggests only 77% of its rental income would be invested in social housing management and maintenance. Local authorities may also draw on their respective internal capital receipts, and the Department of housing's planned maintenance and voids programme. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Cooney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Cooney  As far as I can see, the scheme is not working as well as previously. I ask the Minister of State to consider a number of things to make it work better in the future. Reinstate the scheme to its original state. Failing that, reinstate it for properties where refurbishment costs are proportionate to a purchase which is often worse value. Provide county-level data on acquisitions that have been declined or not pursued since March 2005 due to the refurbishment cost barrier. Provide data from each local authority about the number of tenants who have presented as homeless, following the refusal to purchase the property under this scheme. Let us all see the scale of this problem. The tenant in situ scheme was built on a simple principle of keeping families in their homes. The refurbishment exclusion has undermined that principle. I ask the Minister of State to restore the old scheme. I think it would work better for people going forward. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niamh Smyth","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Niamh Smyth  I will absolutely relay the Deputy's suggestions to the Minister. I will now read the remainder of the reply from the Department.  Local authorities may also draw on their respective internal capital receipts, and the Department of housing's planned maintenance and voids programme, energy efficiency retrofit programme, and disabled persons grants scheme, to support non-essential works that can be carried out in the long term. In this regard, Clare County Council projected that some \u20ac600,000 or so would be on hand via its internal capital receipts at the end of 2025, while a further \u20ac3.4 million is available to the council this year through the Department's stock improvement programmes. Ultimately, the delivery of new build social housing at scale is the only strategic solution preventing and alleviating long-term homelessness. Accordingly, and noting record delivery of new build social housing last year, demand for acquisitions should start to taper off as a greater level of new stock is delivered year on year. As I said, I will certainly relay Deputy Cooney's suggestions and observations to the Minister for housing and ask him to respond to the Deputy directly. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Rental Sector"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_42","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Waste Management","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_40","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_40","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_42","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niamh Smyth","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  I thank the Minister of State for taking this matter. Dublin City Council's phase 3 bag-free streets programme will end plastic bag collection in Stoneybatter, Phibsborough, Broadstone, and other parts of the north-west inner city. It might feel like a good thing that we are removing plastic bags from rubbish collection. There have been incidents of seagulls opening bags which inevitably leads to rubbish being scattered and various related issues.  There is going to be a significant problem in that specific part of Dublin, however, on foot of this development because what is being proposed as an alternative involves a number of issues. The first of this is that there are going to be wheelie bins on streets that are in no way suitable for wheelie bins. The size of the bins that will be provided by the private operators involved means that take up half the footpath. If the Minister of State imagines streets like in Stoneybatter, there are rows upon rows of small terraced houses that either do not have back gardens or have gardens that are too small to house the wheelie bins on days when they are not being collected. That creates its own issues. On days when collections are taking place there will be wheelie bins taking up more than half the width of footpaths in communities where there are people with mobility issues. Wheelchair access is going to be prevented and anybody with a pram will simply have to move out onto the road.  I do not doubt the intention behind a plan like this, but the reality when it comes into place in a couple of weeks is going to be that will be rows of bins that will be an impediment to simply being able to get from their homes to their places of work and back. That is going be an issue. Councillors from all parties on Dublin City Council unanimously passed a motion several weeks ago in which they called for this initiative to be stopped. They advocated for that, but in the past couple of days, the private operators contacted residents in Broadstone, Phibsborough and Stoneybatter to let them know that this change will be coming into place. This is a change that will have ramifications for accessibility. The aesthetic is another thing, because having these bins on the streets will be a blight on the entire neighbourhood. However, that is not as important as the fact that people will have to go get off the footpath in order to walk up the street.  There are also cost implications. It costs \u20ac40 for the bag collection. The cost of the wheelie bin collection is \u20ac240. In a cost-of-living crisis, that is a substantial increase. This has been foisted upon residents to the point where they are lobbying for their TDs to come into this Chamber and advocate against a change in the method of waste management. That is not what I want to be doing. I want to be scrutinising legislation and proposing Bills, but this is going to have an impact on the city of Dublin, our capital city, and the communities in it.  I understand that the regulation of waste management comes under the Department of climate. I am asking for some form of intervention with Dublin City Council. This initiative has not been accessibility proofed. The residents will certainly not be able to store wheelie bins or anything like that in their homes.  What they are asking for is some form of intervention by the State that will oversee the regulatory approval of initiatives like this and ask for a pause in order that full accessibility proofing can be done and alternative suggestions can be proposed. There have been alternatives proposed in the context of compactors and other things. Everyone accepts that there is an issue but nobody accepts that this is the solution. The solution to one problem will create a host of new issues which will fall outside the remit of Dublin City Council into all sorts of other areas, and we will be back here again. That will not be fair on people with accessibility issues who will be forced to walk on the street, nor will it be fair for anyone with a pram. Then there are also the cost implications. I am interested in hearing the Minister of State's response. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niamh Smyth","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Niamh Smyth  I am here on behalf of the Minister, Deputy O\u2019Brien. Waste management is a statutory executive function of local authorities. The phase-out of bags for the collection of waste is an initiative being taken by Dublin City Council, as the Deputy outlined. Under section 60(3) of the Waste Management Act, the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment is precluded from exercising any power or control, in specific circumstances, over the statutory functions of a local authority. That is not to say I will not relay the concerns the Deputy has outlined and see if there is any possibility of an intervention.  The collection of waste in bags was prohibited nationally over ten years ago, except in areas designated by local authorities as only being suitable for collection of waste in bags for reasons such as streets being too narrow or where there is no space within a property for three bins. In recent years, this was amended to collection by means of atypical collection solutions. If a household is in an area with no bin collection service, it may be able to avail of atypical collection solutions such as non-reusable receptacles or bags from the nearest collection point. Local authorities are responsible for designating areas as being only suitable for the collection of such waste by means of atypical collection solutions. Households can check with their local authorities if such a designation applies to their address and can organise a service with an authorised waste collection company accordingly.  Private waste collectors operate under a waste collection permit issued by the National Waste Collection Permit Office, NWCPO. These permits are subject to a set of standard conditions which include a requirement that waste collection charging systems should incentivise customers to source segregate their waste. This means that the fees charged for the collection of the brown bin or mixed dry recyclables bin should be lower than the fees for the collection of the residual general waste bin. All permits can be viewed in full on the NWCPO website.  The waste management market is serviced by private companies, where the terms and conditions of contracts, including payment methods, are matters between those companies and their customers, subject to compliance with all applicable legislation, including contract and consumer legislation. The Minister has no role in relation to payment methods or setting prices in a competitive market.  The roll-out of this programme by Dublin City Council is an anti-litter and anti-dumping initiative. It will eliminate the presentation of domestic and commercial waste in bags, preventing the bags being ripped open by birds and vermin, thus making the streets cleaner. Affected households will need to switch to wheelie bins or use the new waste compactors. Any questions on the roll-out of the programme should be directed to Dublin City Council. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  The State does set the regulatory framework that underpins the transition here. It is important that the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, understands the consequences for people in my area in Stoneybatter, Broadstone and Phibsborough, who are being forced to enter into a free-for-all between different private operators on streets that are wholly unsuitable for the services they provide. Imagine the situation where two or three days a week where small residential streets where there will be bins preventing people from getting through footpaths. That is a substantial lacuna in the law and the policy.  Accessibility and public sector duty might even come into play here because how we provide for waste management services does have consequences for those. The Minister can potentially apply public sector duty to ensure there is accessibility proofing done of this decision. We are paying the consequences of this bad privatisation of waste management. The ideal scenario for most of us would be for waste management services to come back under the remit of local authorities.  As it stands, people in Stoneybatter, Phibsborough and Broadstone will have to choose between competing operators and providers. They do not have anywhere to store the large bins they will be expected to purchase at a cost that is substantially higher than they paid previously. For all that, they will not only have seagulls picking their bags but they will also will face impediments in the context of getting up and down their streets.  These decisions that will have consequences. I am asking that the Minister intervene simply by asking Dublin City Council if this is the best policy for this particular part of Dublin. It is a much-discussed area because it is in the central part of the capital city. The policy in this regard is nonsensical. Dublin City Council is trying to remove from itself the cost involved in picking up scattered rubbish, but the consequences will be felt by people who cannot get up and down their streets. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niamh Smyth","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Niamh Smyth  It is widely recognised there are difficulties with the collection of household waste in bags, including the littering caused as a result of bags being ripped, which we often see. There are health and safety issues for collectors whereby sharp objects are placed in bags, litter caused by fly-tipping on streets in areas where bag collections take place, little or no segregation of recyclables or food waste and the inability to gather data on waste collected for statistical and environmental reporting purposes.  The Department, in consultation with local authorities, set criteria to be applied nationally with a view to phasing out bags except for areas where it is not practical to use wheelie bins and have been designated by local authorities as suitable for the use of atypical collection solutions. The criteria for these designated areas are: no space within the boundary of the property, which is the argument the Deputy is making; physical features would make it difficult to move a bag to the front or edge of the property or nearest boundary for presentation, or that it would be unreasonably difficult; that the area is too narrow for a refuse collection vehicle to access properties and the nearest designated collection point or suitable presentation point is more than 100 m from the property; and where the local authority is notified of exceptional circumstances and certifies it as same.  While waste legislation and policy are a matter for the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, the bag-free streets programme is entirely an initiative for Dublin City Council. The council reports that illegal dumping has reduced by approximately 20 tonnes per month since the introduction of the programme and has contributed significantly to the very positive findings of the most recent Irish Business Against Litter survey, which noted a reduction in littering and an improved level of cleanliness. These improvements have delivered savings in terms of resources required - the Deputy acknowledged that argument \u2013 as well as collection and disposal costs for waste management services. I will relay Deputy Gannon\u2019s concerns to the Minister. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Waste Management"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_43","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"National Parks and Wildlife Service","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_40","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_40","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_43","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niamh Smyth","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl  I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this matter for discussion. It relates to something that I find myself returning to repeatedly. While housing continues to be the number one issue in County Kildare and in other parts of the country, there is huge public anger around the manner in which the Curragh Plains are managed or not managed as the case might be. What is the Curragh? It is a 5,000-acre stretch of land resting between the areas of Kilcullen, Kildare and Newbridge. It is a proglacial fluvial plain formed during the Ice Age. I did not witness its formation, but I accept what we are told.  The Curragh sits on a bedrock of limestone. Under that limestone, is a huge aquifer which, we are told, is one of the largest in the country. Interestingly, the aquifer in question feeds water into Pollardstown Fen. That is interesting because, quite recently, within a couple of kilometres of the Curragh, Guinness spent \u20ac300 million opening a new production plant and committed to spending another \u20ac400 million on the second phase of that plant. It is also interesting because the first Guinness was allegedly made with water from Pollardstown Fen. The Currragh is used for legitimate purposes. Sheep are grazed there, the bloodstock industry uses it and the Defence Forces has its headquarters there. It was also used during the British occupation. It is an amenity that is used for numerous recreational purposes.  It is a great place I am told on a good moonlit night to observe the skies. I have not been doing that myself for a long time but nonetheless I understand that is the case.  What is required now is a new management structure and that management structure is committed to in the programme for Government. Why is it needed? It is needed because of misuse of the plains, and unregulated use and overuse leading to the degradation of the national and local resource the Curragh Plains are. What is the problem? Bloodstock is using the plains. That is well managed by the racecourse and HRI, and it is well regulated. Sheep farming for the most part is controlled and well regulated. It is on a headage and lease basis, although some would argue there are far more sheep grazing now than perhaps there should be. There is certainly more than was obvious in the aftermath of the restrictions introduced during foot and mouth some decades ago. The leisure and amenity use is widespread and accepted but there is abuse of driving on the plains, indiscriminate parking, scrambling and other uses being made. Fly tipping is a huge problem.  However, one of the most acute difficulties in recent years has been the regular establishment over the past decade of illegal encampments on the plains. I pay tribute to the former Minister for Defence and the current T\u00e1naiste, Deputy Simon Harris. He was the first person to seriously tackle that matter. Once he got his teeth into it, the Department of Defence moved rapidly each year to clear these illegal encampments. I pay tribute to the Secretary General, Jackie McCrum, and to Jason Kearney, the property manager there. There is huge expense being incurred by the State each year going to court to get court orders and carrying out the clean ups. It is not sustainable that would continue. We need a new management system in place, and we need it urgently. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niamh Smyth","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Niamh Smyth  I thank the Deputy for raising this incredibly important matter. I am here to respond on behalf of the Minister for Defence, who unfortunately cannot be here, but she sends her apologies to the House. I welcome the opportunity to respond on this matter. I acknowledge Deputy \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl\u2019s long-standing interest in the protection, conservation and preservation of the Curragh Plains and his ongoing engagement with officials in that regard. The Curragh, as State land vested in the Minister for Defence, is recognised as a working environment for the State's Defence Forces as well as being a place of historical and cultural importance. The main occupiers are the Defence Forces in the Curragh Camp and the Curragh Racecourse, which leases a large tract of land. Additionally, the plains are used by sheep owners who avail of rights of pasture on the lands, and by both locals and visitors to Kildare as a major natural amenity. I concur about its scenic beauty any time you drive through County Kildare. The Curragh is approximately 4,870 acres and is one of the most open, accessible, and arguably beautiful areas in this country.  As the Deputy will be aware, for the past several years, the Department of Defence has been collaborating with Kildare County Council on the Curragh consultancy project, seeking to develop a suitable future management method and to highlight the importance and significance of the heritage associated with the Curragh Plains. The project came to completion in December 2024 when the Curragh Plains conservation management plan and the associated branding, interpretation and wayfinding strategy were published. The consultation process identified the need for a review of the Curragh by-laws and the Curragh of Kildare Act, with potential amendments to provide effective solutions to challenges faced. The report also identified the need to consider a dedicated agency responsible for the Curragh, or to assign responsibility for the site to an existing agency with the necessary expertise to maximise the potential of the plains. Throughout the project, both the Department of Defence and Kildare County Council remained cognisant of the need to have in place a means of ensuring conservation of this ancient landscape, while also enabling the area to receive the recognition it deserves. The plan has laid out opportunities through which the area can be uniquely identified and also scoped out the development potential of the area as a high-value visitor attraction. It also aims to balance the needs of the respective users of the Curragh Plains, while caring for its natural qualities and providing clear policies for its sustainable future use.  As called for in the programme for Government, it is intended to implement the recommendations of the conservation plan for the Curragh, particularly in relation to transferring the plains to the agency that is best suited to managing this historic landscape. To this end, Department officials will continue to engage with the National Parks and Wildlife Service, which has undertaken an initial scoping of its likely requirements. I understand further discussions are intended in the coming weeks. From this process it is intended to advise Government as to the appropriate way to manage the plains.  I again thank the Deputy for his question and assure him that the Minister\u2019s intention is to ensure that the Curragh Plains, as an important element of our shared heritage, is protected into the future while also ensuring maximum benefit to the local population and to those who come to visit the plains. This Government is fully committed to pursuing a modern and sustainable regulatory model in managing this historically important landscape in the Curragh. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl  I thank the Minister of State for a positive reply. We have known for some time that the Government favours the idea of the National Parks and Wildlife Service taking on the management of the plains. I am not so sure the National Parks and Wildlife Service itself is wildly enthusiastic about the prospect. It involves huge additional financial resources, and extra manpower will be needed. Kildare County Council conducted widespread consultation when it drafted its consultation and management plan for the Curragh. It attracted more than 3,600 public submissions. It was the largest number of submissions ever received in respect of any project in County Kildare. It is indicative of the level of interest there is in getting this right. I think the National Parks and Wildlife Service would be the right body but it will have to look at the Curragh differently to how it looks at the Phoenix Park or other areas of national importance. It will have to ensure it can guarantee that the legitimate regulated use of the plains by the bloodstock sector, the sheep sector and those involved in recreation and amenity can continue in an orderly and regulated manner that does not contribute to any degradation of the plains. However, this illegal encampment process going on year-in, year-out is a cause of incredible frustration. It is driving investment away from the area. Remember, huge crowds of people come to the Curragh for the major racing festivals. They are very often people with money to spend. They are not terribly attracted to a county where these unauthorised developments take place. It is not that everyone who comes treats the place with disdain. We had people from France last year who came with their caravans, mobile homes, toilets and bins. That is all grand but they would not be able to do it in the Phoenix Park, and they should not be able to do it in Kildare. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niamh Smyth","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Niamh Smyth  The Deputy's passion about this is obvious. The statement from the Minister, Deputy McEntee, acknowledges the contribution he has made over the years working with the Department of Defence and the National Wildlife and Parks Service as an entity that may take on the management of this beautiful, scenic, historic and important piece of landscape that we have on the island of Ireland. As I have already stated, the Minister remains committed to pursuing a modern and sustainable regulatory model to manage this historically important landscape in the Curragh. The Curragh Plains conservation management plan, finalised and published in 2024, is under consideration by officials in the Department of Defence. This will, however, provide the foundation for implementing the recommendations identified, including the progression of proposals for the future management of the plains. Any such proposals will be brought before Government to decide on a future management structure. I reiterate that it is the Government's intention to ensure the Curragh Plains are protected into future while ensuring and maximising the benefit to all stakeholders. I will relay the Deputy's point. The National Parks and Wildlife Service needs to act quickly to protect it, so we do not see caravans parking up, as they would not do in the Phoenix Park and should not do in the Curragh either. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"National Parks and Wildlife Service"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_44","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Disability Services","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_40","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_40","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_44","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niamh Smyth","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan  I want to talk to the Minister of State about the Before We Die campaign, a grassroots, family-led campaign across the country. It deals with an issue that we in this country have neglected for too long, that being, not finding appropriate residential places for people with intellectual disabilities. Unfortunately, it took a number of parents in Cork to raise this matter, albeit the main instigator, Tony Murray, was based in Dublin. He started this campaign a number of years ago. I pay tribute to Sin\u00e9ad, Janet, Linda and Esther, who are central to the Cork campaign.  I do not understand how we have got into this position. Frequently, the House is told that we have massive budget increases for various aspects of disability services. That is true on paper, with over \u20ac3 billion now being spent on disability services annually and \u20ac2.2 billion of that for residential services, but if you talk to the 350 or so people who were in the Silver Springs hotel this day last week with myself and Deputy S\u00e9amus McGrath, you will hear of very little residential support and virtually no respite support. Cork has always been a bit of a black spot in terms of lacking disability services. That was no more evident than when residential support was discussed that night. Three hundred and fifty people packed that room. Some of the people had intellectual disabilities themselves, but many were parents, particularly mothers.  The Before We Die campaign has done its own research. There are 1,500 adults in this country with intellectual disabilities who are living with carers who are aged 70 or older. Of those, 500 or so are living with carers aged 80 or over. I am sure that the Minister of State and Deputy \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl hear of people in their constituencies needing emergency care and intervention. A case came to me not so long ago where someone living in Cork was offered emergency residential care in Meath. That is what we are doing to these people, sending them hundreds of kilometres away from their families. Many of these parents do not want to make the decision to let their adult children leave them, but because of their ages, they just cannot cope any more. Unfortunately, the State offers the solution - the section 38 organisations in Cork offer it \u2013 of going hundreds of kilometres away from home. This is normally done to address an emergency or crisis situation.  We have done no forward planning in the last five or six years. The most recent figures made available to us show that 43 residential places were provided nationally in 2023. The waiting list speaks for itself. There are thousands of people in this situation and we are doing nothing to address it.  Since I became involved with the Before We Die campaign in Cork, we have been able to arrange a number of meetings with Cork City Council and Cork County Council and we are doing things locally that are going to help improve people\u2019s lives. The councils have each agreed to appoint a liaison officer to deal with families in these situations. Hopefully, the councils are now going to streamline the application process for social housing for these families.  We cannot forget that the section 38 and section 39 service providers have an obligation. Many have the capacity of housing bodies and can themselves deliver housing. We cannot let them shirk their responsibility.  What is the Department\u2019s view on the Before We Die campaign? What interaction is it having with the campaign? What does it intend to do to solve this residential crisis? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niamh Smyth","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Niamh Smyth  I thank the Deputy very much. I acknowledge the incredible work he does on rare diseases campaigning. The issue the Before We Die group campaigns on is another incredibly important one. The Minister of State, Deputy Higgins, had hoped to be here but unfortunately she was not able to be. She acknowledges the great work the Deputy is doing and his raising of this important issue.  The Minister, Deputy Foley, recently met the Before We Die group and it is her understanding that An Taoiseach and the Minister of State with responsibility for disabilities, Deputy Higgins, also met it, alongside HSE representatives. The Minister wishes to acknowledge the ongoing commitment and dedication of all involved with the Before We Die group. The Minister also wants to recognise their advocacy for increased residential service provision for people with disabilities and their efforts to shine a light on the very real challenges many of these parents and families continue to face.  The next piece of my speech is going to speak to what the Deputy addressed about the investment that is there. It is just so sad to hear that, when you meet those groups, their lived reality is something very different. The information from the Department tells us that, in 2026, \u20ac65 million has been allocated to disability residential services for new developments, which includes \u20ac40 million that will provide in the region of 199 residential responses, including 152 residential placements. The remaining \u20ac25 million will support in the region of 40 residential packages for children in care with complex needs, the enhancement of existing residential placements, decongregation transitions and the under-65s programme. The Department is working closely with the HSE to move from crisis-led residential placements towards a more planned and balanced approach, with HSE regions and voluntary providers identifying and prioritising individuals earlier to help prevent crisis situations.  The HSE National Service Plan 2026 places greater emphasis on longer term planning for residential placements, with stronger operational processes to respond to the high demand. HSE disability programme leads are developing a procurement framework for residential placements with for-profit agencies, which will focus on purchasing placements on a group basis with the aim of securing more cost-effective placements. The procurement framework is expected to be in place by quarter 2 of 2026. In addition, new HSE housing co-ordinators and residential planning and review teams will be in place this year to co-ordinate and oversee the delivery of the new residential placements and plan for future placements, many of which will be delivered in local authority homes.  The Ministers, Deputies Foley and James Browne, with their officials, have made significant progress through the implementation structures established under the national housing strategy for disabled people in improving co-ordination with the local authorities and disability service providers at local, regional and national levels. This includes establishing the levels of unmet need for specialist disability residential services in each county or local authority area. This will inform the setting of targets in the local authority housing development action plans for two cohorts of disabled people, namely, those living more independently in the community and those with greater support needs, who will receive specialist disability residential services. Some \u20ac25 million in new development funding for respite services in budget 2026 has afforded the HSE the opportunity to plan for the expansion of services, with a range of respite initiatives under way. The HSE national service plan targets the delivery of 10,000 additional respite overnight sessions and 25,000 additional respite day sessions this year.  I will come back with a little more information later. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan  I thank the Minister and welcome the initiatives. I spoke to the Ministers, Deputies Foley and Browne, in recent weeks and I knew that a plan was coming together. However, as many Deputies will know, I am a cynic in here. I do not understand how we are having this discussion in 2026 and how no one in the various Departments, but particularly the Department of disabilities, had a light bulb go off at some stage and realise that the Departments were not meeting the level of need. As the Minister of State read out from the speech she was given, there is an unmet need. We all know it. I will give the Minister of State an idea of the numbers. In June 2025, 1,389 people were awaiting residential placement. That was up from 776 in 2019, a 79% increase in five or six years. Did no one in the various Departments not realise there was a problem, given the nearly 100% increase in the demand for residential places? I do not even have time to discuss respite support.  It is welcome that the Ministers are getting together and that a plan is going to be in place, but it takes time to build these houses and deliver these units. If the plan started this year, it would be a couple of years before we saw those units being turned over. The budget allocation will provide for nearly 200 places, but in 2023, only 43 new residential places were provided in the entire country. It was a pitiful amount. What these people are asking for is their right, as they all have a right to housing. Some of them are well capable of living independently. Some require round-the-clock care. It is that diverse a cohort.  There are two matters I will mention that I would like the Minister of State to take back to the Minister, the first of which is decongregation.  I understand why we did it, but if you talk to the parents who have children with intellectual disabilities, including adult children, they will say that they want a setting where they feel their daughters or sons can be safe. Some of them want to live in a gated community, and some want to be surrounded by the elderly. Locking these people away in apartment blocks is not the right way, just for the sake of decongregation. We need to have a proper debate about this.  Cork city and county councils have delivered their targets of 20% for people with disabilities. However, it is important that we distinguish between people with physical disabilities and intellectual disabilities in counting those numbers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niamh Smyth","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Niamh Smyth  I again thank the Deputy for raising this important issue, which is a priority for the Ministers, Deputies Foley and Browne, and the wider Government. The Government recognises that there is more to do to improve the lived experience of those with disabilities. The increase in the disability budget for 2026 further demonstrates the multiple commitments made in the programme for Government to improve the lives of people with disabilities and make a difference. The Minister, Deputy Foley, would like to reiterate the importance of ensuring that we continue to support people with disabilities to live meaningful and fulfilling lives, with a person-centred approach across all the services provided. The ambition of the Government is to bring about a step change in services for people with disabilities in Ireland. It is committed to the expansion and reform of disability services to maximise people's independence and their health supports to help them to live ordinary lives in ordinary places.  The Minister wishes to reassure the Deputy that the Government is aware of the challenges presented across all regions. The Department is actively engaging with the Department of housing and the HSE to increase service provision, to support service providers to carry out their vital work and to explore various ways of responding to demand.  I have taken note of the specific issues the Deputy has raised and I will relay them to the Minister, Deputy Foley. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Disability Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-28\/debate\/dbsect_45","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2025\/56","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2025\/56\/dail\/2","houseCode":"dail","stage":"2","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Public Health (Alcohol) (Amendment) Bill 2025: Second Stage [Private Members] (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Public Health (Alcohol) (Amendment) Bill 2025: Second Stage [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":6},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_45","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niamh Smyth","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  I move: \u201cThat the Bill be now read a Second Time.\u201d  I am delighted to bring this Bill to Second Stage. It is pretty straightforward legislation, which would amend the Public Health (Alcohol) Act to ensure that the restrictions on alcohol advertising were fully enforced to the letter and spirit of the law, as intended. Members will remember that, back in 2018, the Oireachtas passed the Public Health (Alcohol) Act. It was landmark legislation that began to change the relationship that we in this State had with alcohol, and started many conversations around how we regulated and interacted with alcohol. A key part of that legislation was a restriction on alcohol advertising. It was fairly straightforward. It placed restrictions on advertising of alcohol near schools, near parks, on public transport, at sports events, on television before 9 p.m. and in supermarkets. These were modest provisions to regulate advertising. Unfortunately, the alcohol industry and the alcohol companies found a loophole in the law, and they are exploiting it. Our Bill closes that loophole. What we are asking for is enforcement of the original 2018 Act as intended, which would put a restriction on alcohol advertising. At its core, this is about protecting children. The areas that were picked were areas where there were children - near schools, on the bus, in public transport, at the cinema or watching television before 9 p.m. The Act was designed to ensure that children are not exposed to alcohol advertising.  It is clear to the dogs in the street that the alcohol industry is exploiting the law and that there is a clear loophole in the law. The industry is using the same branding, design and colours, and it is almost identical to the advertising for full-strength products. Anybody can see that. I would ask anybody looking in to take a look at the Social Democrats\u2019 Instagram. We have put forward a \u201cspot the difference\u201d test so that people can see how identical these ads are. There is no denying what the alcohol industry is doing here. It is circumventing the law.  Deputy Murnane O\u2019Connor, as the responsible Minister of State, needs to take a stand. She needs to stand up to the industry in the interests of public health and, in particular, in the interests of the children of Ireland. I urge her to reflect on the position the Government has put out on this. The right thing to do is to stand up in the interests of public health. That is her job as the Minister of State with responsibility for public health: to defend public health and to ensure that the laws passed by this House are enforced. We cannot allow those with vested interests to trample over the law and exploit loopholes in it.  This is a modest measure that we are putting forward. It is deeply disappointing that we have heard in advance that the Government is going to oppose it. I ask the Minister of State to reflect on that before she makes her opening address.  The evidence is clear. We have seen an increase in youth drinking. The Healthy Ireland study shows a 12% increase in youth drinking since 2018. That should concern the Minister of State, as the person responsible for public health. It should concern the officials in the Department as well. We know that, according to Alcohol Action, 50,000 children take up drinking each year, and this is a known risk factor for alcohol dependency in later life. What we are trying to do here is protect children and adults in later life by ensuring that they are not exposed to a large amount of alcohol advertising.  We have a growing awareness and understanding of the impact that alcohol is having on our society and on people. We know there are 1,000 alcohol-related cancers each year. We know that four people die every day in Ireland from alcohol-related harm. It is costing the health service a huge amount of money; according to the Government's own estimates, it is costing the health service \u20ac1.5 billion. We talk here all the time about cost savings, efficiencies and doing things better. We can do that by reducing alcohol-related harm and the cost it is having on our health service, our society and individuals. There is not a family in the country that has not been impacted by alcohol. What we are doing is trying to protect children to ensure there is not a greater impact on them in later life.  It is as clear as day what the alcohol industry is doing. The evidence shows us exactly that. The 0.0% alcohol projects make up 1% of the total alcohol market, yet those in the industry are spending 25% of their outdoor alcohol budget on 0.0% products. Why is that? It is because they know this will sell more of the main alcohol product. They are pumping money into 0.0% alcohol advertising to circumvent the law, get around it and advertise in areas where there are children. They are openly saying this. It is not just me saying it. Heineken has said this. In a submission to win a marketing award, a Heineken marketer said that 0.0% product ads increase sales of the full-strength product. If the Minister of State does not believe me, she should listen to what Heineken is saying. It is telling her that this is what it is doing.  It is indisputable what the industry is at here. What is deeply frustrating is the two-faced nature of those in the alcohol industry on this. They will talk in private about the increase in sales, but in public, they will say it is about moderation. They also talk about this as a tool for growth, not moderation. We need to believe them when they say that. We need to look at the evidence and, for me, the evidence is crystal clear.  One of the key issues that we need to look at is the link between alcohol and sport. It came up during the debates back in 2018. On Second Stage in 2018, the then Minister for Health, now T\u00e1naiste, Deputy Simon Harris, said:  Let us be honest. We all still remember sporting events by dint of the sport itself but we also recall the names of the companies that sponsored these events. Sponsorship has a powerful impact on people. This is all about normalising alcohol and healthy sports people in an arena. That is why the companies involved target sports and the big national sporting occasions we have in this country whereby they make the subtle link between physical prowess and alcohol. It is an approach that has to be challenged and addressed.  The T\u00e1naiste, when he was Minister for Health, said: \u201cIt is a nefarious form of advertising that companies would target sporting events primarily for that purpose.\u201d Deputy Simon Harris, in this House in 2018, called it \u201cnefarious\u201d that these companies would do that, yet we still have it. Every time we turn on a match, we have the Heineken Cup or the Guinness Six Nations. All of the big alcohol brands are linking it to sport, and they continue to do it.  The T\u00e1naiste also said that the industry had lobbied and hoped to stall and delay projects. That is what it has done. We have to put a stop to it. In the interests of this institution, of democracy and of the rule of law, we need to enforce the laws that are passed. I have read back through the record and I know what the intention of the law was. The intention was to break that link, but it has not been done. The Department has utterly failed to stand up to vested interests and people who put profit before public health. The Minister of State needs to take a stand within the Department and call that out.  The alcohol industry should not have a seat at the table. The industry has lobbied time and again and has succeeded. We were meant to have health warnings on products by now but that has been delayed until 2028 because of lobbying by vested interests that want to make money. This is having an impact on public health. Yesterday, I was debating this on radio with the president of the Vintners' Federation of Ireland, VFI, and the former president of same association who happens to be a Fine Gael TD, so even within government we have people lobbying on this, people with vested interests who are out to make money. That needs to be called out.  I am deeply disappointed by the statement from the Government on this earlier in the week. Frankly, it is disingenuous and misleading and the officials need to reflect on that. We were told that the Government was going to oppose this legislation because of the definition that was given for low-alcohol products, set at 0.5%, but that is the definition within the Government's own Finance Act 2003. We took that from there. The Government cannot use that as an excuse to defeat our legislation when that is its own definition. If the Government thinks we should go further now and set it at 1.5%, we can amend the legislation on Committee Stage. That is why we have a ten-step legislative process in this House. That is why we have Committee and Report Stages in here and why a Bill can go to the Seanad and be amended. The Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Butler, was here a couple of weeks ago telling us about how she accepted hundreds of amendments to the Mental Health Bill. If that is the case for Government Bills, why not take one or two amendments for an Opposition Bill? Why is there one rule for Government Bills and a different one for Opposition Bills? Why set the bar so high for an Opposition Bill that one cannot even put a jot out of place but when it comes to a Government Bill, we can accept hundreds of amendments? Bills can be amended to be something completely different by the time they get to the end of the process. It is hypocrisy, two-faced and unacceptable. The Government needs to stop doing it and be real with the people and honest about the process. I was on radio yesterday debating this with a backbencher who said that the reason the Government was going to oppose the Bill was because it wanted the level set at 1.2% instead of 0.5%. Honestly, it is laughable.  The other excuse given to us related to research. I agree that the more research we have, the better but we already have a stack of international evidence and I can quote some of it, if it is helpful. In 2026, a research paper was published in the International Journal of Drug Policy , entitled: \"'I just saw the alcohol brand, I never really thought of the zeros': young people's views of NoLo and alibi alcohol sponsorship\". Children as young as 14 were able to identify Guinness as the sponsor of the Six Nations rugby tournament, noting that Guinness was highly visible during matches and that they had seen advertising around the stadium and at matches. One child simply said, \"I just saw the alcohol brand, I never really thought of the zeros\". This is evidence was published in the International Journal of Drug Policy but the Government thinks we need more. In 2025, an Australian study on alcohol advertising in disguise showed that the exposure of teenagers to zero-alcohol products had a similar effect as exposure to alcohol products. That study concluded that regulatory approaches that sought to limit adolescents' exposure to alcohol should also extend to zero-alcohol products. This is the international evidence that the Government is looking for. It is published in study after study. A 2019 study from Asia on brand advertising and brand sharing of alcoholic and non-alcoholic products found that brand sharing increased brand familiarity and affected brand recognition and awareness. This research also revealed that young people who saw the logo of companies that sold both alcoholic and zero-alcoholic beverages were found to associate the logo primarily with the alcoholic version of the product, indicating that zero-alcohol beverages are working as advertising vehicles for the parent companies. This research concluded that early exposure to alcohol brands increased brand familiarity, which is one of the factors that affects drinking attitudes and purchasing intentions of young people. Another study from Stanford on zero-alcohol products and the guise of responsibility revealed a stark divergence between how zero-alcohol products were described publicly and privately by the industry. In public, the industry talks about it as a tool of moderation but in private it talks about it as a tool to drive market growth and increase main sales. There is a stack of international evidence.  We know what other countries are doing in this area, including Norway and France. Norway has banned brand sharing. Advertising that associates zero-alcohol products with their full-strength brands have been banned, which is similar to what we are looking for here. Non-alcoholic beverages must use completely distinctive branding to avoid any association with the parent alcoholic brand. Why can we not do what they have done in Norway? It is a simple solution. Zero-alcohol products use different branding so that there is not that association. It is very straightforward. We could pass our Bill and the companies could rebrand their products and not have that direct link between the two.  In 1991, France became one of the first countries to tackle alcohol advertising. The French public health code defines alcohol-free beverages as those that contain no more than 1.2% alcohol, technically allowing advertising of alcohol-free alternatives. In 2020, however, a court in France found that advertising zero-alcohol products with the same branding as the full-strength product was illegal because it constituted indirect advertising of the full-strength alcoholic version, which was prohibited in law. That is why when one watches the games in France, they are called the H Cup but in Ireland they are called the Heineken Cup. They have tackled this issue in other countries but the Government here has its head in the sand and will not even enforce its own law that it passed in 2018.  We would not give children a zero-alcohol beer, so why would we allow it to be advertised to them? It is as simple as that. If we can collectively say we are not giving zero-alcohol beers to children, then we should also collectively agree that they should not be seeing ad after ad for them. Any child who goes to the Aviva stadium with a parent at the weekend will be bombarded with advertisements for alcohol. They will see it on the centre pitch and on the sidelines. They will face ad after ad. When they go to the supermarket, where alcohol is meant to be separated, they will see the zero-alcohol ads outside the separation point, next to the meat counter aisle. They will be bombarded with ads. As I was walking around today, I was counting the ads. I saw alcohol ad after alcohol ad. This morning on my way into the Oireachtas, I saw a 0.0 ad for Heineken at a bus stop in Harold's Cross right beside a school. Is that acceptable? Will the Minister of State allow it or will she stand up to the industry like we on this side of the House would? These are vested interests and they are trampling all over public health measures in the pursuit of profit. Is it too much to ask of the alcohol industry to abide by the law?  Finally, I want to thank the members of Alcohol Action who have joined us today and who have been working extensively on this issue and have worked with me on this legislation. I also want to say a big thanks to Jake Ryan in my office for his work on this. I really hope the Government will change its approach from the one expressed earlier in the week. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor)  I want to acknowledge that the Deputy, in bringing this Bill before the House today, is motivated by public health concerns and reducing the impact of alcohol harms on our society. The Government shares that motivation. However, the Government is opposing this Private Members' Bill, which seeks to amend our Public Health (Alcohol) Act, because there is not enough evidence at this time to determine the impact of low- and no-alcohol products and their promotion through advertising. It is also being opposed on the grounds that the way the Bill has been drafted could lead to unintended consequences that may not be in the best interests of public health.  I will now outline the objectives of our Public Health (Alcohol) Act. It aims to: reduce alcohol consumption to 9.1 litres of pure alcohol per person per annum; delay the initiation of alcohol consumption by children and young people; reduce the harms caused by the misuse of alcohol; and regulate the supply and price of alcohol in order to minimise alcohol-related harm. These aims were developed because we recognise the harms to health that alcohol causes, as well as the significant costs to the public purse. Adults should be able to make informed choices about their drinking. Our children and young people must be protected, as they are particularly vulnerable to the harmful effects of alcohol. Since the enactment of our Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018, the trends in alcohol consumption show that we are having success with these aims. Alcohol consumption in Ireland in 2025 was an estimated 9.24 litres per capita . This reduced from 10.8 litres in 2019, which is significant and part of a larger decline in recent years. That said, we cannot be complacent because we have not yet reached the goal of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act, which is to reduce consumption to 9.1 litres per person, based on the OECD average.  We must also note that the Healthy Ireland Survey 2025 found that 29% of adults did not consume any alcohol in the previous 12 months. This means that our per capita estimate is likely to be underestimating the actual amount consumed by the 71% of the population that do drink alcohol. The 2025 Healthy Ireland survey also found that 26% of the population binge drink and 36% of our population drink alcohol at a harmful level. Harmful drinking rates are decreasing but remain high and are a concern.  When it comes to our children, our 2024 European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs found positive trends compared to their previous 2019 survey. According to the 2024 survey, 66% of 15- and 16-year-olds surveyed had consumed alcohol in their lifetime, which was a decrease from 73%. The numbers reported as having ever been drunk and those reporting consuming alcohol in the last 30 days had also reduced. Although these are positive trends, we must continue to work to decrease these numbers and the risks to our young people.  Research studies also show consistently that exposure to alcohol advertising is associated with an increased likelihood that children will start to drink or will drink greater quantities if they already do. This is why the Public Health (Alcohol) Act contains measures designed to reduce this effect. Advertisements for alcohol products are banned in certain places, including in local authority parks and playgrounds, on our buses and trains, and in or near schools and cr\u00e8ches. Advertisements for alcohol are also banned in a venue while a sports event is taking place and at events aimed particularly at children. Children\u2019s clothing that is branded with an alcohol product, or which promotes alcohol consumption, cannot be manufactured for sale, sold, or imported for sale in the State. A broadcast watershed for alcohol advertising was also introduced so they are not allowed on television between the hours of 3 a.m to 9 p.m. Similarly, on radio they are banned between 3 p.m. and the following 10 a.m. on weekdays. These timings were agreed in conjunction with the Department, and with the then Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, and they aim to capture the times when children watch television and listen to radio. The Act also provides for the separation and reduced visibility of alcohol products and advertising in shops.  Section 13 of the Act has not yet been commenced. It provides that advertising for alcohol products must include three health warnings informing the public of the risks associated with alcohol, along with details of the alcohol public health website established by the HSE. I am taking this debate under the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill's brief, and I am working with the Minister under health and well-being. Under section 13 of the Act the Minister for Health can make regulations prescribing the form of the warnings and the duration of the warnings in a broadcast advertisement. Those regulations are currently being developed. Section 18 of the Act provides for restrictions on alcohol advertising in publications. This section cannot be commenced until section 13 comes into operation. This section will restrict the advertising space permitted for advertising alcohol products in a publication and ban advertisements in publications aimed particularly at children.  This comprehensive range of measures was developed on the basis of the evidence of health harms from alcohol and on the basis of evidence that these measures would be effective in reducing that harm. This evidence was important and necessary to ensure that the Bill, and regulations under it, successfully exited the EU assessment process that applies to this law. The Bill before us today would amend the definition of advertising in the Public Health (Alcohol) Act to include advertisements for what it calls \"alcohol-free\" and \"low-alcohol\" products. This section also introduces a definition of these products, which includes that they have an alcohol by volume strength of 0.5% or lower.  The Government is opposing this Bill on a number of grounds. The first and most important is that the evidence is insufficient to determine the public health benefits or harms of advertisements for zero-alcohol and low-alcohol products. The Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018 was introduced to reduce the health harms caused by the consumption of alcohol in Ireland. The settled scientific consensus is that alcohol consumption causes harms, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and seven types of cancer, and that alcohol advertising serves to increase consumption and therefore harm. Zero-alcohol products do not have the health risks associated with alcohol products, and low-alcohol products have lower risk relative to standard alcohol products. If there is a widespread substitution of zero-alcohol or low-alcohol products for alcohol products this will be of benefit at a population health level and will reduce harm. The advertising of these products in promoting their consumption potentially supports or increases this potential benefit. However, the single risk in relation to the promotion of zero-alcohol or low-alcohol products is that this promotion may also serve to indirectly promote alcohol products. To facilitate evidence-based decision-making on the relative benefits and harms of no-alcohol and low-alcohol products and on their promotion, the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, has requested reviews of the evidence on two aspects of zero-alcohol products. This is to be carried out by a team in the University of Galway. The reviews will look at the marketing and branding exposure for zero-alcohol-labelled products in Ireland, and a rapid scoping review of advertising presence, regulatory context, and consumer perception. They will also look at the health effects of zero-alcohol-labelled beverage consumption with a rapid umbrella review of review-level evidence. These reviews will be completed in quarter 3 of this year. It is important. I do understand the Deputy's concern. This is why it is important that we get these. The reports will identify the available evidence in Ireland on zero-alcohol products. Once these reviews are completed, the Minister will then consider whether additional evidence is needed, for example, evidence from other jurisdictions and evidence in relation to low-alcohol products. The purpose will be to determine the next best steps, based on evidence, in relation to these products and their promotion from a public health point of view.  In addition, this Bill raises other concerns. As I previously mentioned, section 13 of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act, which is not yet commenced, requires that advertisements for alcohol products must contain health warnings. Under this Private Members' Bill, advertisements for zero-alcohol products, which have none of the health risks associated with alcohol, would be required to have such health warnings. This could potentially mislead consumers about the risks of zero-alcohol products, as well as introduce the possibility of a legal challenge to section 13 on the grounds that advertisements for products with zero-alcohol content are required to carry such warnings.  Finally, the Bill as drafted targets products with 0.5% alcohol by volume content or lower only. The definitions of various alcohol products in the Public Health (Alcohol) Act are based on those in the 2003 Finance Act. Under that law, some alcohol products are defined at a different level of alcohol by volume. In that context, it may be that the restriction in the Bill to 0.5% may exclude some products. For these reasons, this Bill is being opposed but I acknowledge the Deputy\u2019s concerns and look forward to the outcomes of the reviews. We are waiting on these and the Minister has requested the reviews. We are looking into it and I assure the Deputy that I will go back to the Minister with his concerns about the issues raised here today. I thank Deputy Rice for bringing the Bill to the House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Donnelly  I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill. It is our understanding of the Bill proposed by Deputy Rice that the intention is to restrict the advertising of low-alcohol and zero-alcohol products where the effect of such advertisements, regardless of intent, is to also promote alcohol drinks. The Bill seeks to do that by amending the definition of advertising to include low-alcohol and zero-alcohol drinks and by creating a distinct provision for trade descriptions, trademarks, emblems, logos and marketing images, which are associated with alcohol products. It will, essentially, force zero-alcohol and low-alcohol product branding to be distinct from the alcohol branding in a more comprehensive way than the current tacking of \"0.0\" onto existing alcohol branding.  The promotion and advertising of alcoholic beverages has been significantly curtailed since the commencement of the relevant provisions of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018. Alcohol advertising and promotion is strictly limited, with an evening and late-night ban on TV advertising, a ban on advertising on public transport, near schools, childcare facilities, playgrounds and sports venues, or any event or place meant primarily for children. Alcohol advertising in shops is strictly limited to the part of the shop designated for alcohol products, and cannot be placed or seen from other parts of the shop.  Those restrictions do not apply to zero-alcohol products and would not apply to zero-alcohol products under this proposed new definition for advertising if they have satisfactory and distinct branding, logos, emblems and marketing imagery. As we see it, the intention is not to ban the advertising of low- and zero-alcohol products or to treat them the exact same as alcohol products, but to prevent the indirect advertising of alcohol products by raising the bar for zero-alcohol advertising that currently exists. Sadly, we have seen cynical and dishonest abuse of the existing laws by some of the worst aspects of the industry. We are all familiar with one particular brand that uses 0.0 labelling to sponsor a prominent sporting event, despite not actually producing or selling such a product. There are also genuine concerns of inappropriate advertising of 0.0 products in places where alcohol branding should not be present because the current threshold is too low.  The growth in zero-alcohol product consumption is welcome. Market trends indicate rapidly growing demand but the market share of zero-alcohol products is still much lower than in other EU states. As somebody who primarily drinks 0.0 Guinness, I can attest that in pretty much every bar you go into now, you can get zero-alcohol products on tap, which is a huge plus for those of us who do not want to drink alcohol but do want to drink a beer, Guinness, stout or whatever it may be. It is very important that is happening because there are huge health benefits to that product.  We need to be sure that public policy encourages the growth in zero-alcohol sales at the expense of alcoholic drinks, and that there are no unintended consequences for the growth of the zero-alcohol market share in any change made to the advertising laws. At the same time, the law clearly needs to be updated to ensure limits on alcohol advertising are not being cynically undermined by bad faith actors. For those reasons, we could not support a total ban on zero-alcohol advertising, but we are willing to work with the practical proposal in this Bill to further separate alcohol and zero-alcohol marketing, imagery and branding to ensure it is fit for purpose and achieves the outcome we all want. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  I thank my colleague, Deputy Rice, for bringing forward this legislation. The angle the Government has taken in opposing this legislation is that there is a lack of evidence that 0.0 beer has any health implications. This is a misunderstanding of why advertising 0.0 beer is not appropriate near schools, cr\u00e8ches and in sporting facilities. It is the same as when it was banned for full alcohol or whatever the levels of alcohol were.  The difficulty for me, as someone who has worked with children and young people for close to 30 years, is we are trying to discourage young people from drinking beer and taking substances that harm their brain development. We do not want them drinking alcohol, for the reason that the brain is not fully formed. In fact, some people would say it is not fully formed until they are about 25, so even drinking at 18 has detrimental effects on brain development and other parts of the body. Of course, as we all know as adults in this building and everywhere else in this country, alcohol also makes you do mad things, if you drink to excess.  We know the harmful effects of alcohol on everybody and young people do too. As someone who has worked with young people for a very long time, I do not want to see any alcohol advertised to them, especially when they are in sporting facilities or outside a school, as Deputy Rice said. That is why those bans are in place. Even if it says 0.0 beside it, young people see through that; they know exactly what is going on. I have been told by many young people, \"Sure I can drink a 0.0 beer. There is no alcohol in it. What is the big deal?\" Years ago, we used to talk about gateway drugs. This is a gateway - this is saying 0.0 is fine, so you can drink it. We need to have a debate here because what we are doing is showing young people they can drink 0.0 because it is fine, but we do not want them drinking beer at all. How do we know they are not drinking 0.0 one minute and then drinking the full thing the next minute? At what age do we say that is too young? Is it at ten that they can drink 0.0 beer? Would you give your six-year-old a 0.0 beer?  The conversation here has slid a little. The reason we should not be advertising 0.0 is not because it is zero alcohol and it does not have the effects full alcohol has, it is because young people see it and go, \"Sure I can have one of them. Can I have one?\" For parents, it is a difficulty. I know people my age with children where this is a difficulty. You are at social events and your child wants to drink a 0.0 beer. It is about looking at that part of it and not sliding around the other part saying, \"Well, there is no evidence to say there are health implications with 0.0 beer.\"  I am little disappointed in the Government for taking that angle. Often when we come here to talk about health things, and it seems to always be on a Thursday, whether it is vapes or alcohol or whatever, there is massive lobbying going on about this. It is unacceptable. We should look at our conscience. This is also an ethical issue. Is it right to advertise beer, whether it is 0.0 or not? I agree with Deputy Rice that if you look at the adverts that are put up on our social media today, you would not know the difference. You would want to be looking very clearly because it is very smart marketing. That is what we are looking to address here. It is about not being outsmarted by that marketing for 0.0 because it is obviously not about that; it is about the full alcohol.  I commend Deputy Rice and his team on their work on this. I would like Government to reflect on what we have had to say here. I am not sure how that goes with removing amendments, but perhaps that might be something that would be considered. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I also thank Deputy Rice for bringing this forward. It is an opportunity to deal with the issue of advertising.  Over the years, if we go back long enough, within my lifetime, I can remember sports events being sponsored by alcohol, cigarettes and many things which have now become very much unacceptable. In Ireland, we have the particular issue of starting from a point where we have a very bad relationship with alcohol. We know the impact it has on families and individuals. We all talk now of the issues we have with cocaine but, unfortunately, we already had the foundations laid over a long period with the very bad relationship we have with alcohol.  Like Deputy Donnelly, I would like to see a scenario where we ensure we do not have bad faith actors who will advertise 0.0 from a point of view of ensuring they can up their sales of alcoholic drinks. It is making sure we have an absolute delineation of 0.0 offerings versus alcoholic offerings. I have seen a considerable amount of people drink 0.0. If we were all to state things clearly, there is an acceptance that frequently the reason 0.0 was created was so companies could get around advertising legislation. There is an absolute need for us to have whatever protections necessary in making sure it is very obvious that what is being advertised is something very different with the 0.0 offering.  I have a considerable number of friends, like Deputy Donnelly who spoke about this, who like the idea of being able to drink a 0.0 product. They do not have to go through the conversation I sometimes have of \"Are you not having a drink?\" or \"Why are you not having a drink?\" and then you go through this long piece. That is useful but, as I said, as regards the delineation, it has to be absolutely clearly stated. We have seen instances where companies have sponsored events and got around the advertising limits on alcohol by advertising a 0.0 offering that they did not even make. That is just absolutely wrong and absolutely ridiculous, and we need to make sure we have the facility to absolutely hammer them in those cases.  There is a need for a wider conversation about alcohol. From time to time, I think an awful lot of people get worried about the impact drugs have - whether we are talking about benzos, tablets of all forms, cocaine, crack cocaine or heroin - and the detrimental impact they have on whole communities. In most cases, when we talk about polydrug users, the big issue can be that one of those drugs is alcohol. We need to make sure we have the full wherewithal, as regards those who are young and impressionable and open to what is some of the best advertising money can buy, to ensure that there are limits and that it is absolutely clear when something is advertised that it is non-alcoholic. Then we have to have an ever greater level of protections in relation to advertising that would be open to younger minds. We have all seen the ads. Generally, it will be very healthy-looking people, in some cases very famous people, having a great time, but we all know what the idea is.  We would like to work alongside Deputy Rice on putting together legislation that can actually have an impact, and that is from a point of view that we do not allow these companies to curtail the existing laws on the advertising of alcohol. Then, as I said, we have to have a wider conversation about actually tackling the endemic levels of alcoholism and the misuse and abuse of alcohol. Many of us in younger years and at different times probably did abuse alcohol. On some level it can almost be, \"Ah, sure, he is only young\", or \"It is only this, that and the other\". There is an element of forgiveness sometimes, a forgiveness that does not exist when we see somebody abusing drugs. I agree with Deputy Cummins when she speaks about the fact that in an awful lot of cases, the gateway drug for many is alcohol. We know the damage it does. We need to work on legislation that we can get across the line such that we make sure that we have a delineation and that those who see this advertising can notice the difference and the acceptance that we have a huge issue with alcohol. Not only do I have worries about the national drugs strategy and where it is going and the fact that we have seen a hollowing out of the community element of that, but we also need to see a fully fledged strategy on dealing with alcohol.  I commend Deputy Rice on bringing this forward. Hopefully, as I said, we can work alongside him on getting a Bill that will be able to deal with some of the issues in relation to other products and the misadvertising we have seen. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niamh Smyth","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (Deputy Niamh Smyth)  I thank colleagues for their contributions. I am responding on behalf of the Minister for Health. I welcome the Deputies' intention with this Bill and thank those who have contributed to the debate this afternoon. What has been said here makes a lot of sense; however, the Government is opposing the Bill. This is primarily on the grounds that there is insufficient evidence at this time to determine the health impacts of low- and no-alcohol products and their promotion through advertising. Our Public Health (Alcohol) Act is recognised across the world as groundbreaking and progressive. It was painstakingly built on public health evidence on the harms of alcohol and the best interventions to reduce those harms. Consumption levels among our adults and children are decreasing; however, we continue to work to reduce those levels. The remaining measures in the Act will come into operation, and those measures already in operation are being evaluated to determine their effectiveness in reducing alcohol consumption and harm. The potential harms and benefits of the advertising of zero-alcohol and low-alcohol products remain unclear. The Minister for Health has taken steps to find the evidence in order to decide on the next steps. She has asked for initial reviews of the evidence on the marketing and branding and on the health effects in relation to zero-alcohol products. These initial reviews will be completed by quarter 3 of this year. When we have those reviews, we will know what more needs to be done and will be able to make evidence-based decisions on this important public health issue.  The Government intends to wait for the evidence, and for that reason the Bill is being opposed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  Deputy Cummins in her speech said she was disappointed; I am frankly furious. No disrespect to the Minister of State with responsibility for AI, but we have a senior Minister and three junior Ministers in the Department of Health and not one of them could stay for the debate. It shows the lack of interest the Government has in this issue. It shows a complete disrespect for the House and for the issues before us that not a single Minister in the Department of Health could stay here for what has been a debate of about an hour. They could not show that respect for the House. Not one Minister from the Department of Health could stay for a Bill on public health. The Government does not care about public health, and if anyone was in any doubt about that, tonight's evidence stands before us in that the Minister did not even stay to listen to the debate. I am furious. It is unacceptable and it is not good enough.  I honestly think we need to have real engagement on the issues. Frankly, it often feels in this House that you are shouting into a void. There was no engagement with the opening remarks we made about the evidence we set out or our argument because there was a different Minister here. The Government has just completely ignored what the Social Democrats put forward in our opening address and did not engage in any debate or any discussion. It is deeply frustrating. I say this as a new Member of the House: we need to run this Parliament better. It is not good enough. It is doing a disservice to the citizens of this State, to the people who elect us, that that is the quality of the debate we have in the House. It is utterly unacceptable, and I expect to engage with the Minister for Health and the junior Ministers on it. I ask the Minister of State, Deputy Smyth, to pass that message back to the Minister for Health.  I am also furious because the Minister of State's party leader, Miche\u00e1l Martin, my constituency colleague, time and again in this House stands up here and tells us the Social Democrats have no ideas, no solutions, no policies. Then we push forward constructive Bills seeking to address what are real public health issues and the Government dismisses them out of hand for no solid reason at all. It is infuriating, frustrating and deeply disappointing. Is it any wonder there are so many people in this country who have no faith in Irish politics? There are so many citizens who disengage from the democratic process when that is the quality of the debate and the engagement in this House. When the Opposition comes in with solid proposals, backed up by evidence, supported by external groups, there is no engagement, the proposal is dismissed out of hand, \"The Government is opposing this\".  There is no talk of maybe taking it to Committee Stage or taking amendments. If the Government wants to make improvements, I am absolutely open to working with the Government, making amendments and making changes. As I said at the start, there is a reason we have a ten-step legislative process. We have Committee Stage, Report Stage and Final Stage, a Bill goes to the Seanad and it can be amended and improved there. If the Government wants to make changes, if it wants to increase the level to 1.5% instead of 0.5%, if it wants to make those small textual changes to the Bill, we have a process for it. We need to be honest with the people of Ireland about this because, as I said at the start, every single Government Bill gets amended. Some of them get amended into completely different Bills altogether. The Minister for Health tells us all the time how she took 600 amendments to the Mental Health Bill, but for an Opposition Bill we cannot take even one, and that is so frustrating.  I ask the Government to take a different approach. In the interests of democracy, of the citizens and of how we run this Republic, we need to do better. We need to actively engage in policy debates and discussions. We need to engage with the issues and for that to happen, a responsible Minister needs to stay in the House and listen to the contributions from Members. Members have prepared contributions, done research and worked on these issues for months and the Minister of State responsible walks out after making her contribution. She does not engage with the issues I raised or respond to any of the points put forward by the Social Democrats. Is that the quality we have from this Government? Is that what we are to expect from this Government? I expect more from Ministers and the Government and I want that message to go back tonight.  We heard from the Minister of State, Deputy Murnane O'Connor, that we have got no evidence. I cited the international evidence in my opening address. I cited evidence from the International Journal of Drug Policy and the evidence published by Stanford University. I cited the Australian study and the Asian study. There is a stack of international evidence. There is research published by Alcohol Action Ireland which has a long reference list, with reports from the World Health Organization and universities around the world on this issue. This argument that there is not enough evidence is disingenuous. It is unacceptable and not good enough that the quality of decision-making by Cabinet is to say we do not have enough evidence.  I do not believe the Government really believes we do not have enough evidence, but if it does and it wants to get HIQA to look at this, all well and good. It would take a couple of months. The Government should put forward a timed amendment, as it does all the time, to say we will return to the issue in 12 months' time. If it is a question of evidence, why not introduce a timed amendment and have this debate in 12 months when the Government has the evidence from HIQA? It is not doing that. It is opposing the Bill for no good reason. It should have the honesty and decency to say that to the Irish people. There is not one good reason for the Government to oppose the Bill, other than the fact that it has been captured by the lobbyists and vested interests of the alcohol industry, who sit on the benches opposite as well. I debated with some of them on the radio yesterday - publicans and heads of the vintners' association inside and outside government who want to make money from selling alcohol. That is why they are opposing these public health alcohol Bills. The Government should have the honesty to say to people, \"Actually, no, we're on the side of the alcohol industry, the lobbyists and those who want to make profit, not public health.\"  These are modest measures. All I am asking is that the Government enforce the 2018 Act in full, as passed by this House. If we cannot even enforce the legislation we pass, we have a rule-of-law issue. We have a significant issue if this democracy, Parliament and Government cannot enforce its own legislation because of big business and the lobbyists and vested interests who want to make money. The Minister of State, Deputy Smyth, needs to stand up to them. She needs to take her job seriously as a Minister in the Irish Government and stand up to the vested interests and say that in this democracy, in this country, the Government puts public health first and does not care if the alcohol industry loses some money, that it is going to protect the children of Ireland by not exposing them to alcohol ads on their way to school, on the bus, in the playground, in the supermarket and on television before 9 p.m., and that it is going to enforce the law as passed.  For anybody who sees those ads for Heineken 0.0, it is almost identical to the main product. Heineken has admitted this. It said when it applied for an award that it used the 0.0 ads as a way to increase sales of its main product. The industry admits this, so why can the Government not admit it? Everybody knows these are alcohol ads in a very cheap disguise. On television, sometimes viewers cannot even see the 0.0 when it is on the field of play. I do not think a 12-, 13- or 14-year-old who goes to a match in the Aviva should be bombarded with alcohol advertising. There is enough pressure on our young people without us forcing stacks of advertising on them. We know the earlier people start to drink, the more impact it has on them in later life. It is a risk factor for dependency in later life. Despite what the Minister of State, Deputy Murnane O'Connor, said, there is an issue with youth drinking, which has increased. A Healthy Ireland study showed a 12% increase in youth drinking since 2018. That should concern the Minister of State, Deputy Smyth. We know from the Irish drug and alcohol survey that 37% of 15- to 24-year-olds had an alcohol use disorder. That should be a public health concern.  The officials in the Department of Health have let the Minister down. The speeches tonight should be reviewed. The debate we have had this evening is deeply disappointing. I ask the Minister of State and her colleagues to reflect on it. I ask her to bring that message back. Let us have honest, reasonable debates in this House. Let us engage in the issues. Let us try to work together in the interests of the people who elect us to improve public health and health outcomes. Is that too much to ask, instead of coming in here and opposing Bills for nonsensical reasons? They are a smokescreen.  Health warnings were the other excuse given. It is in the power of the Minister for Health to issue those regulations. She can draft them in any way she wants. If she wants to exclude 0.0 products, she can do that. That is her power as a Minister and I ask her to use it and draft those regulations in a way she sees fit. If the Minister of State wants her amendment, we can do it on Committee Stage. If she wants to wait for evidence, we can take a timed amendment. I am willing to compromise on that. In relation to health warnings, they should be done by regulation, as the Act set out. It was meant to be done by now but will not be done for another two years. I have doubts the Government will ever do it because it is captured by the vested interests of the alcohol industry and is not standing up for the interests of the young people of Ireland. It is deeply disappointing. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Jen Cummins)  The division is postponed until the next weekly division time. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar athl\u00f3 ar 5.46 p.m. go dt\u00ed 2 p.m., D\u00e9 M\u00e1irt, an 9 Meitheamh 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The D\u00e1il adjourned at 5.46 p.m. until 2 p.m. on Tuesday, 9 June 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Public Health (Alcohol) (Amendment) Bill 2025: Second Stage [Private Members]"}]}}]},"contextDate":"2026-05-28"},{"debateRecord":{"house":{"showAs":"34th D\u00e1il","committeeCode":"","houseCode":"dail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/house\/dail\/34","chamberType":"house","houseNo":"34"},"chamber":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/def\/house\/dail","showAs":"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann"},"lastUpdated":"2026-06-25T02:12:38+00:00","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-27\/debate\/main","formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-27\/debate\/mul@\/main.xml"},"pdf":null},"date":"2026-05-27","counts":{"contributorCount":167,"divisionCount":7,"debateSectionCount":26,"questionCount":0,"billCount":5},"debateType":"debate","debateSections":[{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-27\/debate\/dbsect_2","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case:  Deputy Ruth Coppinger - To discuss the loss of a mainstream teacher in a DEIS plus primary school in Dublin 17.  Deputy Jen Cummins - To discuss supports for children and students with dyslexia.  Deputy Joe Cooney - To discuss the need to provide funding to local authorities for the refurbishment costs of tenant in situ scheme houses.  Deputy Roderic O'Gorman - To discuss the recent fire in an apartment complex in Castleknock, Dublin 15 and what steps can be taken to assist the tenants that have been made homeless as a result.  Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan - To discuss a public awareness campaign on Lyme disease and the risks posed by ticks in the summer months.  Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan - To discuss the Minister's engagement with the Before We Die Group, and plans for ramping up residential placements nationwide.  Deputy Albert Dolan - To discuss introducing financial literacy to the school curriculum.  Deputy Pat Buckley - To discuss the urgent need for a person (details supplied) to have treatment under the EU cross-border health directive.  Deputy Malcolm Byrne - To discuss the need for social and affordable housing in Arklow, County Wicklow.  Deputy Michael Murphy - To discuss ongoing delays in the SEAI warmer homes scheme.  Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire - To discuss the humanitarian crisis in Cuba.  Deputy Colm Burke - To discuss establishing a national radiation therapy equipment replacement programme.  Deputies Maurice Quinlivan, Conor Sheehan - To discuss the delay in funding BusConnects in Limerick.  Deputy Brian Brennan - To discuss emergency roads funding to cover the cost of damage to roads in Wicklow and Wexford by Storm Chandra.  Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail - To discuss the establishment of a national AI workplace transition programme.  The matters raised by Deputies Ruth Coppinger, Jen Cummins, Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail, Roderic O'Gorman and Brian Brennan have been selected for discussion. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-27\/debate\/dbsect_3","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-27\/debate\/dbsect_4","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"School Staff","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-27\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_4","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  How can it be that a school that made it to DEIS plus status, St. Francis Junior School in Priorswood in Dublin 17, can lose a teacher at the same time, bringing the pupil-teacher ratio from 17:1 to 22:1? This cannot stand. The school was recently given DEIS plus status but the board of management, staff and parents are absolutely devastated to learn that they will lose a mainstream class teacher for the upcoming academic year. It is losing a teacher because the number of pupils on the roll book went from 166 to 165. One pupil being lost means that an entire teacher is lost. The school lodged an appeal with the primary staffing appeals board and, on 13 May, got the answer that the appeal was unsuccessful and that the decision was final. The school cannot accept that decision. That community just cannot lose a teacher for those students.  The impact of losing a teacher in that area will be extremely damaging to the school community and it completely undermines the purpose of DEIS plus support. What is the point in getting a wellness teacher if you lose a mainstream class teacher? This school is one of the most deprived and disadvantaged in the entire country. It endeavours to ensure that every student who walks through the door is loved, cared for and given every support that they can get in society. They are provided with a teaching and learning environment where they can flourish. The pupil-teacher ratio for DEIS plus is 17:1 but this would bring it up to 22:1 if that teacher is removed. Many schools might be able to cope but not in an area like this, serving a community like this, with such high levels of disadvantage. Last year, this school lost a teacher too. It had to amalgamate three junior infant classes into two senior infant classes. Those students will deal with the ramifications of that for five or six years, all the way through primary school. If the school loses this teacher, it will again have to amalgamate three junior infant classes into two senior infant classes and three first classes and into two second classes.  Many of the students who come to this school do not go to preschool or early years learning, unlike peers in other communities. Upon enrolling, they often do not know what learning and educational needs they have. It is vital that the pupil-teacher ratio is maintained so that those students can get the support that they need.  I have been informed by the school that it has the highest enrolment for junior infant classes in the Dublin 17 area. On Friday, 15 May, it had 16 junior infant enrolments for September 2026. On Monday, 18 May, it had two more. It currently has 168 enrolments in mainstream classes, plus six new enrolments in the ASD class. That is a total of 174 children. Its enrolment has gone way beyond what it would have been when it had the teacher taken away based on September figures.  I ask the Minister of State to intervene. Some 40% of the pupils in this school are from the Traveller community and the rest of the children are from extremely deprived socioeconomic backgrounds. All the staff work tirelessly but we all know the impact, as educational research shows, of adverse childhood experiences and trauma and how they affect pupils' ability to learn and flourish in society. This cannot stand and it has to be overturned. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Education and Youth (Deputy Michael Moynihan)  Addressing educational disadvantage and ensuring that every child and young person can reach their full potential is a key priority for both me, as Minister of State at the Department of Education and Youth, and for the entire Government. The DEIS plus programme represents a significant expansion of targeted educational supports. It is designed to provide enhanced, evidence-based supports to 121 schools with the highest concentrations of children and young people experiencing persistent and inter-generational disadvantage. Approximately 30,000 children and young people nationally will benefit from the scheme. Schools in the DEIS plus programme will receive strengthened, research-informed supports across well-being, attendance, engagement, guidance, leadership capacity, community partnerships and access to services, including the introduction of a new positive mental health and well-being initiative to support a whole-school approach to student well-being.  Teacher numbers at primary level have reached the highest ever level in the current school year. There are over 43,000 teaching posts across the primary school system. This represents an increase of just over 5,000 teachers when compared with the 2019-2020 school year. This has led to a steady improvement in the pupil-teacher ratio and average class sizes during the period. In recent budgets, priority was given to reducing the pupil-teacher ratios in primary schools, which has brought the teacher allocation ratio to an average of one classroom teacher for every 23 pupils in all primary schools, the most favourable ratio ever seen at primary level. More favourable ratios are implemented in DEIS urban band 1, including DEIS plus schools, at an average of 17:1, 21:1 and 19:1 for junior, senior and vertical schools respectively. A three-point reduction in the retention schedule, which was introduced in 2021, assists schools that would otherwise be at risk of losing teachers.  The latest figures for pupil-teacher ratio show an improved ratio of pupils to teachers from 15:1 to 12:1 at primary level when comparing the 2019-2020 school year to the 2024-2025 school year. In the same period, primary staffing schedules improved from 26:1 to 23:1, and average class sizes at primary school level have improved from 24:1 to 22.2:1. In the same period, St. Francis Junior School had a primary teacher ratio of one teacher for every 9.5 students and a class size of one teacher for every 19 students.  The key factor in determining the level of staffing resources provided to individual schools is the staffing schedule for relevant school years and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. The primary staffing schedule is a long-standing feature of our primary school allocation system which ensures fairness and transparency in allocating mainstream class teachers across our primary schools, regardless of location. The staffing arrangements include an appeals mechanism for schools to submit a staffing appeal under certain published criteria.  The school referred the Deputy referred to currently has ten mainstream teachers. As the school's enrolment fell below the required enrolment threshold, the mainstream staffing is due to be reduced by one in September. The school submitted an appeal to the primary staffing appeals board. This was unsuccessful. The primary staffing appeals board operates completely independently of the Department and its decision is final. We have to have a system where we have some metrics to ensure that we have staffing across the education system.  I take the points the Deputy has made but unfortunately the numbers dictate. It was the Department's decision and then the independent appeals body supported that decision. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  What the Minister of State said there was lovely but it does not deal with the problem. What is the point of giving a school DEIS plus status and taking away a teacher? It makes no sense. The Minister of State needs to intervene here. This is one of the most disadvantaged areas in terms of social problems and the different minorities represented. Some 40% are from the Traveller community. This is going to hit that community in particular. There are also issues like crime, drug abuse, etc., which we all know exist in very disadvantaged working class communities.  The decision does not represent the reality. That is the point. The numbers have now gone ahead for the next school year based on what was the case. I am asking the Minister of State to intervene and review the allocation for the school or to ask the Minister to do it. To show how much upset this has caused, parents in that community are going door to door. Parents in that community have enough on their plate without having to go do door to door petitioning on this. That is how much it has impacted. The parents know the importance of having that sort of supports in the school. I hope the TDs in the area will get behind this as well because it is not recognising the reality, which is that the school population has gone way over what is needed to maintain that teacher. There have to be ways in which the Minister for education can intervene to review the allocation of a school given the burning social problems the area has. It is not breaking a rule because rules and regulations that do not apply to the reality need to be challenged as well. I am asking the Minister to recognise what DEIS plus is meant to mean and to intervene here. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  In the first instance, the school has the DEIS plus status. That status provides extra resources to communities and schools like the ones the Deputy has mentioned. It is important we acknowledge the work that is being done and the amount of money the Government is putting behind the DEIS plus programme and understand the disadvantage in communities across the country and in the ones the Deputy outlined. The challenge is ensuring we have proper governance. We have to have a cut-off date and 30 September has long been that date. I take the points because having been a public representative for a number of years I see where the numbers go beyond it. Unfortunately, the Department made a decision based on the numbers that were provided on 30 September. That date has been engrained in the primary system for a long number of years. An appeal was submitted by the school authorities and that is completely independent of the Department and of the Minister. The appeals submitted have been looked at. The DEIS plus programme has been put out there to ensure disadvantaged schools and communities are supported in a meaningful way and that we are targeting scarce resources right across the Department to ensure they are going to the most vulnerable. We understand fully the more we invest in education at a disadvantaged level and right across the education system, the better it is for society, but unfortunately the appeals system came back to say it stood by the decision made by the Department. We will continue, through DEIS plus and other programmes, to support the school the Deputy mentioned and also disadvantaged schools right across the country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  Maybe the school should close the ASD class. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  Thank you. T\u00e1 an t-am caite. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"School Staff"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-27\/debate\/dbsect_5","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Special Educational Needs","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-27\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_5","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  I thank the Minister of State for taking my questions and facilitating the change. It did not suit both of us at the time so I appreciate him being here. We have discussed dyslexia quite a lot at the education committee over the last while and over the time since the committee started discussing it I have been contacted by so many parents, support teachers and students about dyslexia and the supports available in our schools at primary and secondary level. Today in The Irish Times there is an article about a mother whose child needs a reading school but there is no place available for them.  I want to discuss a number of things. I asked a parliamentary question about reading recovery because there is new research, though perhaps not that new, about the effectiveness of reading recovery. As I am sure the Minister of State is aware, it is a programme used for children early on to help them learn how to read. The mixed research is basically saying it is not as effective for the long term. It can be quite effective immediately but the meta-analysis has come back saying that over a long time reading recovery is not as effective as structured literacy programmes are. On that basis I asked how much money has been spent on reading recovery over the last five years. We are talking about figures of just over \u20ac248,000 to almost \u20ac370,000. That is a lot of money on a programme that is now being looked at by academics, especially in Australia, as not being an effective use of supports for children with dyslexia.  I am very interested in the Department's view on moving more to a structured literacy programme. That means teaching explicit skills. It is not asking a child what they think is going to happen in a particular sentence or what they think a given word is about. That is useless for a child in the long term. It is great for there and then if they are reading Ann and Barry . I am aware they do not read Ann and Barry any more. It was Ann and Barry in my day and that of the Minister of State but they read more interesting books than that now. Those pictures are relied on so much, whereas the explicit nature of teaching in structured literacy programmes leads to a longer-term understanding of words, structures, etc. It is systemic, sequential, cumulative and has a diagnostic way of looking at literacy. It is really important the Department starts to explore whether we are behind the curve here. We are not keeping on top of what the biggest research is saying, which is to move away from reading recovery and more towards structured literacy.  I also want to address the extra ten minutes in the exams. That debate was very heated in the education committee with the NCSE and the State Examinations Commission. They wanted extra time to decide whether they were going to give our students with dyslexia extra time. The irony was not lost on anybody. In other jurisdictions exam support far exceeds what we have. There is a lot more flexibility. We have an extra ten minutes coming in for the papers. In other countries candidates are allowed an extra 25% exam time. Other countries also allow access to word processing, computers and all that sort of stuff. It seems to be a lot easier. The process for getting reasonable accommodation here is an absolute nightmare.  There are two more things I would like to talk about. What students want when they go to school is proper support not just for reading, spelling and all that sort of stuff but also for how dyslexia affects every part of the body and brain. It is about how those supports can be understood by the students. I want to mention NCPD but I will come back to that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  I thank the Deputy very much for raising the question and also for the change in time, which I appreciate. We in the Department, and the entire Government, have invested heavily in ensuring that all recognised mainstream schools have been allocated additional special education teaching resources to support children with special educational needs, including students with literacy difficulties.  Guidelines for schools on the organisation, deployment and use of their special education teachers have been published on the Department's website. For the 2026-27 school year there will be, I think, 15,200 special education teachers allocated to primary and post-primary schools to enable them to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE has the responsibility for planning and co-ordinating school supports for children with special educational needs. The Department does not have a role in individual determinations. Funding is also made available to schools for the purchase of specialised equipment such as computers or software to assist children with special educational needs. This includes children with a specific learning disability, where relevant professionals recommend the equipment as being essential for the provision of education. Schools then apply to the NCSE.  A continuum of education provision is in place, covering a full range of needs spanning placement in mainstream classes, with support through more specialised placements either in the special class or special school setting.  The Deputy raised the issue of dyslexia in particular. If she looks at the funding that we are giving to special education in particular, she will see that it has grown hugely in recent years and, as I said, we now have over 15,000 teachers. The policy, including international policy, is for children with educational needs to be in mainstream, insofar as is possible, and to support them in mainstream. We are providing a huge amount of funding through the various resources in the Department and the NCSE to ensure that children with dyslexia, in particular, can be accommodated in mainstream education.  Much of the discussion that we have had in the House, with the NCSE, with the Department on a continuous basis and with the Oireachtas committee is to ensure that we are targeting children with dyslexia or other literacy difficulties in a meaningful way. We have put in the resources. A huge volume of work is being done by the special education teachers across the country. They are also doing a huge amount of work outside school time to make sure they are equipped to meet the needs of the children and give them the best possible education.  We are constantly monitoring this. While the Government and the Department are putting in the resources, the question is whether we are having the desired outcomes. We have evidence to show the support that is being given in mainstream classes, and the outcomes are very positive. We are continuing to monitor that. As we have seen over the decades since Independence, education is constantly evolving, and it is continuing to evolve at the moment. There is a greater understanding of the needs, but also a greater understanding of the need to ensure that the resources we are putting in are targeted in a meaningful way. We need to ensure that the outcomes for children and young people are meaningful, and that they are equipped to lead the best life.  To answer the specific question, we are constantly monitoring the resources that we are putting in to ensure we are targeting them in the proper way. I will come back to the Deputy on the other points in my concluding remarks. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  I appreciate that the Government is putting a lot of resources into this, and I know the Minister of State is working tirelessly on it. I accept that. However, we can always do things better. It is my job in opposition to always hold the guys on the other side of the House to account, and I like doing that.  There are challenges. We do not have enough reading schools. Dyslexia Ireland is saying exactly what the Minister of State is saying, which is that we want to mainstream everybody, but if we do not have the expertise in every single school, we cannot do that. That is why children need to go to specialist services, like reading schools, for a couple of years.  We need to rapidly upskill every single member of staff in primary and secondary school, particularly secondary school. In primary school, I think that we are doing excellently, and we are able to identify it. In secondary school, the initial teacher training education, the SNA training and the continuous professional development really need to focus on dyslexia and other disabilities. I do not think the expertise is there. They are subject teachers. I am not in any way being disparaging to any teacher. As the Minister of State knows, I love education, and I love the people who work in it because of all the passion they bring to it. However, we can do this better.  There needs to be an inspectorate for the services provided to students with dyslexia. The reason for that is to make sure that the standard is there and that every child is getting the resources they need. Many students come to me saying that they cannot read or write. We can see the number of students who leave mainstream education because they cannot cope in a system that does not work around them. We need to look at that to see where we are letting children fall through the gaps. It is through no fault of their own, or for want of learning. It is the way our system is. We need to make sure that we are able to fully support them in that way.  When it comes to computers and so on, we need more resources for every school. There are students who do not get that funding, and they are missing out. We need to make sure they do not miss out. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  Therein lies the point. We are continuing to invest hugely, but we have to ensure that we get the outcomes of that investment for children and young people in primary and post-primary schools. There are a lot of teachers and SNAs across the education system. They are working extremely hard, and they are desperately committed to what they are doing. They are constantly looking at new initiatives and trying to find the best way of doing this. We are bringing in teacher training for special education to make sure that it is part of this.  There is a constant discussion in relation to the reading schools. We know of the children and other individuals who have gone to the reading schools, and after a number of years, they are able to come back into mainstream school. We can see how that has benefited them. There is a huge volume. There are 15,000 extra special education teachers in the education system. We want to make sure that we can mainstream as much as possible. I take the Deputy\u2019s point on ensuring that we have those available in every school across the country. All of the assistive technology is being rolled out, which is important.  For students who have a particular challenge with dyslexia or other reading or literacy issues, it will affect them into later life. Like the Deputy, we all meet people in adulthood, and we would be filling out a form for them, or whatever, and we can see that it has impeded their lives. We understand that. The most important piece is that there is constant investment in all aspects of specialised education. The NCSE and the Department are continuing to monitor this. We will never arrive at a position in the education system where we say that everything is perfect now, because it is constantly evolving, and new information and research are constantly coming through. We are working on it. We will endeavour to make sure we are doing the right thing. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Special Educational Needs"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-27\/debate\/dbsect_6","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Artificial Intelligence","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-27\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_6","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail  Having worked in the artificial intelligence space prior to my election to this House, I have seen the amazing pros but also the cons that come with such technology, particularly as agentic technology develops. Basic administrative tasks in the workplace are being taken away from individuals, allowing them to do more strategic and focused work. That should be welcomed. On the other hand, there are roles that are being completely reshaped, and the entire workplace is being completely reshaped as well. Up to 40% of tasks are at risk of automation in the next five years. That is not all negative. As I said, if we can allow people the flexibility to focus on more strategic work, that type of automation is to be welcomed.  It is a difficulty because up to 40,000 jobs could be at risk because of automation. Some piece of automation within a job is to be welcomed because it helps people. However, if it risks taking someone's job or role, that is where there is a challenge. What we have seen internationally is that there has been a 15% to 40% reduction in customer service and compliance roles, and also in the financial services element.  I have written a national AI workplace replacement programme to essentially direct how we should help workers whose jobs are at risk or are impacted by AI. The Minister, Deputy James Lawless, has done a lot of work on a national skills observatory, and there are other elements, with the Minister of State, Deputy Niamh Smyth, having also taken many actions. However, we need to be proactive before roles are impacted, rather than after. We have seen 700 jobs recently lost at Covalen and another 300 at Meta, so over 1,000 jobs have been lost in recent weeks due to the rise of AI. What I am proposing in this policy is that we focus on small and medium enterprises or large enterprises.  As stated, we have seen job losses at the likes of Covalen and Meta hit the news headlines. However, there are many roles that have been replaced and that have not hit the headlines. It is a case of one job here and five jobs there. We know from the industry that this is happening quietly.  What I am setting out in my policy proposal is that when a company is going to reduce its workforce, it should notify the Government and the national AI workplace relations programme. The State could then assist in retraining thee workers involved to take up new roles within the business. If no roles are available within that particular business, then they should be retrained to take up positions outside of it. What that would do is protect jobs and reskill people within the workplace as opposed to those jobs being lost and the people who hold them having to go on social welfare. One example could be somebody working in an administrative or secretarial role who would move into overseeing the AI being used to replace their role. Another example could be around data integrity and ensuring that whatever is happening is GDPR compliant. I have already engaged with the unions, employer representatives, the Taoiseach and Minister of State, Deputy Smyth, in respect of this matter. It is important that we set out the foundation for establishing a programme and a pilot scheme. I will explain that latter in a moment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport (Deputy Charlie McConalogue)  I thank Deputy \u00d3 Cear\u00fail for raising this very important issue. I recognise his strong work on it and on developing a national AI workplace transition programme and leading out on it in the context of meeting with employers, unions and the relevant Ministers. The Deputy's work within the political system has been pioneering in relation to this matter. It is appropriate that we are discussing it here in the D\u00e1il this morning. This is something that will have to take up much more Government and Oireachtas time in the period ahead in the context of ensuring that we respond to this challenge and that we are at the forefront when it comes to making sure it is used positively and to the benefit of the public. We must also ensure that our policies reflect an approach that harnesses AI in this way.  As the Deputy will know, in the first instance, the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science is the appropriate lead for issues of skilling, reskilling and upskilling of the workforce to navigate the impacts of potential job displacement due to the adoption of Al technologies. I am taking this matter on his behalf this morning,. I know the Deputy has been liaising closely with him and his officials on this issue and on his policy proposal.  The digitalisation of the economy and society and the adoption of AI are among the largest structural forces shaping our country. The Government is committed to driving our digital agenda and to Ireland remaining a digital leader at the heart of Europe and globally. Accordingly, Digital Ireland was published on 18 February. The latter is the national digital and Al strategy. It sets an ambition for Ireland to be a global hub for applied Al innovation. It also renews the Government's commitments to inclusion and accessibility to ensure that no one is left behind in this digital and Al revolution.  Research published by the Departments of Finance and Enterprise, Tourism and Employment shows that Ireland is relatively more exposed than other advanced economies. In line with this finding, Digital Ireland seeks to support workers to navigate and mitigate the impacts of potential job displacement, including through agile, responsive and accessible skills supports. The Government recently held its first national skills round table, marking the beginning of a national programme of high-level engagements focused on ensuring Ireland has the right skills for a rapidly changing economy. This will include a series of sector-specific meetings with employers and industry representative bodies to gain deeper insight into priority skills needs.  Officials within the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science are currently developing a statement of ambition, which will focus on digital skills including Al skills, and a roadmap for technology skills for the future, which will be the successor to Technology Skills 2022. The Department is also developing a national skills observatory. It is intended to have the observatory in place by year end. The observatory will have several functions, including monitoring labour market trends and emerging skills needs, which will support Ireland's responsiveness to education and training systems.  Regarding recent developments, last month saw the launch of the AI Ready platform. The latter will support early inclusive skills development, an approach strongly reinforced by ESRI and Central Bank research on Al, skills and labour market disruption. SOLAS and the educational training boards, ETBs, have developed short flexible courses, including micro-qualifications focused on Al awareness, applied skills and career transition opportunities.  Higher education institutions continue to deliver a wide range of specialist and foundational digital skills programmes, including micro-credentials, through initiatives such as Springboard+. These are complemented by the work of Skillnet Ireland, which continues to deliver enterprise-led upskilling opportunities that are aligned with industry needs. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail  The roadmap for technology skills of the future, the statement of ambition on digital and AI skills, AI micro credentials and the online platform AI Ready, which was only launched two weeks ago, are all great, particularly in the context of skills. This is not a skill issue, however; this is a worker's issue. It is about stopping people losing their jobs or retaining the jobs they currently hold. Reskilling and retraining are needed within places of employment when a notification is given that there will be a reduction in the workforce. This is primarily to protect workers. There is no doubt about the fact that we are on the crest of a huge change regarding employment and workers' rights in this country. We have to do all that is possible in that regard. Retraining and reskilling will be a huge part of that, but there are many skills that cannot be trained, particularly as people have been working in roles that now no longer exist.  It is not just about the Department of further and higher education; this is primarily an issue for the Departments of enterprise and Social Protection. What I have laid out in the programme details how this can happen in the long term, but also, importantly, the programme sets out the terms for a pilot scheme for financial and customer services within the next three years involving 1,000 workers. That scheme would show that it can work, and it has been costed. Again, this is about protecting people. If it is a success in those sectors, which international examples have shown are the most vulnerable, then it should be expanded to the entire workforce.  I reiterate that this is about protecting workers. People are losing their jobs. Families across the country and in Kildare are worried. I am trying to be as proactive and future focused as possible. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  I acknowledge the relevance of the proposal and policy approach the Deputy has put forward. The Government has to focus on seeing how we can ensure workers are retained within companies. That is absolutely the Deputy's focus. The Government obviously takes the need to retrain and reskill people seriously. I have already outlined on behalf of the Minister for further and higher education the different steps being taken, whether it is the roadmap for technology skills for the future, the statement of ambition on digital and AI skills, the AI micro-qualifications developed by SOLAS or the online platform AI Ready, which is focused on trying to make sure the skills and retraining is provided from Government and all our agencies.  The approach Deputy \u00d3 Cear\u00fail is taking goes to the nub of where we need be in order to try to address this challenge. Certainly, he has been doing a lot of work on this with the officials, the Minister, Deputy Lawless, and the Minister of State, Deputy Smyth. I will engage with them in relation to this debate and on the importance of working with the Deputy on the policy proposal he has put forward. I again acknowledge the Deputy's advocacy and leadership within the political system with regard to the importance of addressing this matter and putting forward tangible proposals as to how that can be achieved. It is very important from a Government perspective that our Departments engage with him to take that on board and, collectively, to try to address something that is evolving rapidly.  I agree with the Deputy that our objective has to be how we protect workers during the transition. Obviously, AI has massive potential to be of benefit, but it has to be something that we ensure we harness for the good of wider society in a way that improves people's quality of life. To achieve that, we have to make sure that employment is maintained, that people have jobs to go to and that AI adds to productivity and the good things we, as a society, experience . Crucial to that is that jobs are protected in the process. The Deputy's policy proposal very much aims to address that. I will relay the points he made to the Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  I thank the Minister. We need to move on to the next Topical Issue in ainm an Teachta O\u2019Gorman. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Artificial Intelligence"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-27\/debate\/dbsect_7","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Emergency Accommodation","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-27\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  Last Friday, in the very early hours of the morning, a serious fire broke out in the Auburn Park apartments in Castleknock in my constituency. The Minister of State knows Castleknock and is probably aware of this apartment block. The fire was significant. Up to four fire engines were dispatched to bring it under control. At least one person was taken to hospital with smoke inhalation. Hundreds of people, all the residents of this block of apartments, had to be evacuated in order to control the fire. Significant damage was done to the roof of the complex. A number of the apartments on the top floors were directly exposed, and others suffered severe water damage as a result of the efforts to extinguish the fire.  All 45 apartments in the complex are currently vacant. Most of the residents were accommodated in a hotel on the night of the fire and have been in that local hotel since then. Locals in the area are working to assist those who were evacuated, particularly those whose apartments were severely damaged.  The key point for me this morning is what happens next. All bar nine of the 45 apartments are owned by a property group and are leased out by that group. Shockingly, earlier this week, many of the residents were told that they were having their tenancy terminated due to the units being uninhabitable. The Minister of State can imagine the shock that created, in that on top of a fire tenants were told their tenancy was gone, just like that. Thankfully, that notice of termination of tenancy has been withdrawn by the property group, and that is something I welcome. However, there is still real concern among these tenants. They have been told they have an hour-long slot to go into their apartments, gather up their stuff and take it out as if people could pack up their entire lives in just one hour. Right now, the residents have accommodation in a hotel but that ends tomorrow, and after that there is no clarity about how these residents are going to be supported.  I have a number of questions the residents need answered urgently to give them some guidance about what happens next. Can a landlord terminate a tenancy on the basis of a unit being uninhabitable, and is there any restriction on the landlord doing that? If a landlord terminates a tenancy on the basis of a unit being uninhabitable, does he or she owe the tenant any other duties after doing that? When a unit has been damaged but the tenancy has not been terminated, what duties does a landlord owe a tenant in that particular situation? For example, does the landlord have any duty to find alternative accommodation for the tenant? Does he or she have any responsibilities as regards assisting the tenant finding and paying for storage for their personal items? Finally, if a landlord does not provide alternative accommodation in circumstances where a unit is badly damaged, where else can the tenant get help? Does the local authority owe any of the obligations there? Do any other parts of the State owe obligations in that particular situation? These are detailed questions.  I recognise the Minister of State is not the line Minister here but these questions really need to be answered urgently because tenants in the vast majority of these homes are looking at a deadline where their accommodation in a hotel is paid until tomorrow and no further. They need to know what to do. I am working to support them, and Deputy Currie has engaged with them and has been giving a lot of help as well, but if we can get some key answers and clarity about the legal responsibilities here, it will at least help guide the tenants to a certain degree. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  I thank Deputy O'Gorman for raising this issue. I join with him in recognising the distress the tenants are experiencing as a result of this very traumatic event, and also recognise his advocacy on their behalf, as well as the very stressful situation they remain in as a result of no longer being in their apartments. I am taking this on behalf of the Minister for housing and the Department of housing. The Deputy raised a number of very pertinent and urgent questions in his contribution and I certainly will ask the Department to revert directly to him to have them answered.  The Minister was also concerned to learn of the fire at the Auburn Park apartments last week, and likewise he very much appreciates the distress experienced by the residents and the families affected by the fire. The role of the Department of housing is to ensure a framework of policy, legislation and funding is provided to ensure housing authorities are in a position to address homelessness at a local level. Statutory responsibility for the provision and co-ordination of emergency accommodation rests with the local authorities and in this instance it is the responsibility of Fingal County Council to assess individual needs and deliver supports on the ground, including housing needs assessments, the provision of emergency accommodation and any homelessness supports required for residents affected.  The local authority will work with other agencies such as the Dublin Fire Brigade, the Department of Social Protection, the HSE and approved housing bodies, where appropriate, to ensure all necessary supports are put in place. I assure the Deputy on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Browne and the Department of housing that they will continue to support Fingal County Council with the funding necessary to ensure that residents of Auburn Park are supported in accessing housing assistance where appropriate in the weeks ahead.  This year, more than \u20ac563 million has been allocated to homeless services, ensuring that local authorities such as Fingal County Council have the resources required to respond rapidly to situations like this. This includes more than \u20ac513 million in current funding to ensure local authorities can provide emergency accommodation, homelessness prevention and tenancy sustainment services to households experiencing or at risk of homelessness and that these households in emergency accommodation are supported to exit homelessness as quickly as possible. The focus is on ensuring rapid access to emergency accommodation, followed by wrap-around supports and pathways back into secure housing. Supporting individuals and families facing homelessness is a key priority for both the Minister and the Government and prevention of homelessness in the first instance is an absolute priority.  There are many prevention initiatives already under way in the Department and across Government, and this includes the provision of social affordable housing, housing assistance payments, HAP, and homeless HAP, and our strong tenancy protection legislation. Increased supply is key to addressing homelessness and the Government is investing significantly in that aspect.  I know Deputy O'Gorman\u2019s particular question is in relation to the need for urgent support for the residents of the Auburn Park apartments and the very distressing situation they find themselves in. Fingal County Council will be liaising closely with them along with the Department of housing, and its response today makes it clear that from a funding point of view it stands ready to work with Fingal County Council and other agencies in relation to trying to support residents and work through this particular challenging situation. The questions the Deputy has raised are very pertinent for residents in relation to the obligations from the owners of the apartments to them. On the legal questions he posed in relation to what those obligations are, I will ask the Department to revert directly to him with those answers.  Again I share concern regarding the really difficult situation these residents find themselves in, and recognise the importance of everyone within the State and all of our agencies working to support them through this difficult period. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  I thank the Minister of State for his response. In Topical Issue debates, we often hear a Minister or Minister of State saying, \"I will ask the Minister to get back to you.\" I really appeal to the Minister of State to ask his private secretary to get on to the Minister's private secretary and bring this to his attention. I know he will and I appreciate that. I put a lot of very specific questions to the Minister of State. The answer he has given me is more generalised, and that is fine. However, these specific questions need to be answered. The focus of the reply is very much on the question of homelessness, and let us be honest, these people are homeless right now. Some units are not usable at all while some probably will be usable after a bit of work.  The Minister of State talked about the Government being willing to support Fingal in terms of providing homeless services, and I know our local authority works well, but I am interested in the responsibility of the landlord here because we are not talking about a small landlord or someone who has two or three apartments he or she lets out. This is a significant property development and rental company that has a significant number of units around the city and around the country. I do not know what its responsibility is in a situation like this. Does it have a responsibility to have some degree of insurance if something happens in one of its properties to be able to support tenants if a disastrous situation like this occurs? I ask for clarity on the immediate obligations of this landlord company to its tenants. Does it have to support them in terms of providing alternative accommodation?  Do they have to support them in the context of providing alternative accommodation? How long will that last, or, as seems to be the case right now, are these tenants provided for up until tomorrow and then they have to fend for themselves? If that is the case, there is something significantly wrong with the legislative framework we have in place.  I thank the Minister of State for his answer. I appeal to him to raise this with the Minister for housing and ask him to revert to me and other Deputies, including Deputy Currie, as quickly as possible. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  I assure Deputy O'Gorman that I will immediately relay this back to the Minister for housing and his Department and ask them to respond directly to the Deputy in relation to the really important questions he has posed. I understand the real stress that affected residents are experiencing, where they are not clear on what the situation is or the obligations for support to them when the provision of hotel accommodation runs out tomorrow and the immediate challenge that will arise for them.  In regard to landlords, it is important that there is legal clarity in relation to what their obligations are. It would be important to see that accommodation be available again as quickly as possible when repairs have been carried out in the context of the different levels of damage there would be to each apartment. I have no doubt that for most of the residents, their objective is, if at all possible, to be back in their apartments as quickly as they possibly can. There is the short-term and interim piece in relation to how they are supported through this. The obligations of the apartment owner in relation to that, which are going to be important, require that clarity.  From the point of view of the State, Fingal County Council and State agencies working to support them in the interim period is also important. I will ask the Department and the Minister to revert directly to the Deputy on the questions he has raised. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Emergency Accommodation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-27\/debate\/dbsect_8","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Road Network","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-27\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Brennan  I wish the Minister of State a good morning. I want to speak about roads funding following Storm Chandra in counties Wexford and Wicklow, or, should I say, the lack of roads funding. It was literally this day four months ago, namely 27 January, that Storm Chandra arrived on our shores and caused absolute havoc for people, for their homes and for the roads of the south east. At the time, it was absolutely shocking. Here we are, and there is a sense of d\u00e9j\u00e0 vu for me because this is my fourth time to come to the House to ask for additional funds to facilitate repairs to the roads following that storm.  I am totally frustrated. I genuinely feel that I and Wicklow and Wexford county councils are being given the runaround. What is happening is simply unacceptable. When you drive from Hook Head to Bray or from Brittas Bray into Coolkenno, you will see first hand what is going on. We are dealing with dangerous roads. Some of these roads are blocked and some have massive potholes. The general consensus is that it is a serious health and safety risk at this stage.  Wexford County Council is looking for in excess of \u20ac20 million. Wicklow County Council is looking for \u20ac15 million. These sums are needed, because what we do not want is a sticking-plaster solution. We do not want someone coming around and filling potholes. We want these roads properly cleared off and a proper waterproof surface applied to them. We need this done now. Why are we being pushed around from one Department to another and still not getting a response?  I spoke directly with engineers in the counties regarding their frustration. Again, I stress that this is a huge health and safety issue. It does not matter where you go. I drove from Gorey to Tullow on Sunday. I came back at dusk. There are unmarked roads with potholes on them. Somebody has to stand up in this House and be accountable for the lack of action on this matter. It may not be Deputy Brian Brennan, but as sure as night follows day there will be a TD in some other constituency who will stand up here next January or February following another storm and looking for the exact same thing. Why is there not a policy in place? The CEOs of Wexford and Wicklow county councils were assured that they could go ahead, fix their roads and that the funding would follow. Four months have passed and not one cent of additional funding has been received.  This has to be treated as an emergency. If it is not, we will be dealing with a tragedy or a serious injury caused by the state of these roads. Barriers have been put up but these barriers have now been removed by locals because they need to get access to their homes and lands. It is simply unfair, and I just cannot understand why this is being pushed from the Department of finance to the Department that has responsibility for roads. It seems to be falling between two stools. I am ask for urgent action to be taken now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  I thank Deputy Brennan for raising this matter. I have been asked to respond to him on behalf of the Minister for Transport on the issues he has raised here.  Storm Chandra, as the Deputy outlined, brought severe winds, prolonged heavy rain and extensive flooding across multiple regions of the country. It caused significant disruption to our regional and local roads and communities, with the intense rainfall leading to several rivers bursting their banks and extensive surface flooding. More than 120 roads were rendered impassable and over 400 were reported to be significantly damaged. The local authorities in counties Wicklow and Wexford, among others, reported high levels of damage and the need for the provision of additional funding to remediate it.  The Government is committed to continuing to protect our regional and local roads network. This is known to be fundamental in connecting our people and communities and facilitates access to business, education and healthcare, as well as the provision of other critical services. Our regional and local road network spans over 96,000 km, and each local authority is statutorily responsible for the maintenance and improvement of the regional and local roads within their area of responsibility. All work undertaken is funded from their own resources and supplemented by the regional and local roads grant programme operated by the Department of Transport. It is also the role of local authorities to prioritise the investment in and work on their regional and local roads.  The funding provided via the regional and local roads grant programme is intended to supplement realistic contributions from each local authority. It is also advised that each local authority sets aside a contingency from its allocation from the Department of Transport and its own resources for severe weather events that might take place. Allocations from this grant programme were communicated to local authorities on 17 February. In total, \u20ac718 million was made available this year to eligible local authorities for their regional and local roads. This was an increase in funding on 2025 and facilitated an increase of \u20ac26 million for road protection and renewal works.  Because of the pressures on the regional and local road network, the primary focus for capital investment under the regional and local road grant programme is on the maintenance and renewal of the network, the implementation of the strategic regional and local road projects identified for development - subject to necessary approvals - in the national development plan and targeted minor safety schemes across the regional and local road network.  Wexford County Council was allocated over \u20ac23 million, with the majority of this amount determined to be spent on the protection and renewal of County Wexford\u2019s regional and local road network. Wicklow County Council was allocated almost \u20ac15 million, again for protection and renewal. In both cases, the allocation for 2026 was higher than that of 2025.  The Department of Transport's grant funding for regional and local roads is determined on as equitable a basis as possible to eligible local authorities. This is based on the length of the road network in the local authority area. The Department has liaised with those local authorities impacted by Storm Chandra to assess the damage and remediation needed. Means to address the additional costs to local authorities are under consideration.  The most pertinent part of the reply is the last couple of lines, which indicate that means to address the additional costs for local authorities are under consideration. The Deputy outlined very clearly the asks from Wicklow and Wexford County Councils and the specifics in relation to the damage done to both counties. I recall that, thankfully, my part of the country, for once, escaped the brunt of this but it was quite acute in those counties. I remember seeing the scenes at the time and the damage that still pertains from that can be very much seen, as the Deputy outlined.  Certainly, after the Deputy raising it here today, I will relay his frustration in relation to the fact that there is not an answer yet on the request for additional funding. The Department is indicating that it is under consideration.  Obviously, while it is under consideration, the roads remain to be fixed in some instances. That is something that the Deputy is very keen to have addressed. I will relay that back to the Department and ask it to follow up promptly with the Deputy and with the county councils in Wicklow and Wexford to bring this matter to a conclusion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Brennan  I welcome the Minister of State's reply. I note and respect it. As he stated clearly, they are getting substantial funding, but even prior to the storm, we felt that the funding was not enough, given that they are two quite rural counties. They are two beautiful counties but we have serious issues with roads. We felt we were underfunded before this, but what this is all about now is additional funding. That is the key. We did not feel we had enough of a budget before the storm, and that has now been exacerbated. We simply have a huge shortfall. Councillors are ringing me on a daily basis and telling me that they are getting it full on from their constituents - the people in their towns and villages - that their roads are simply impassable five months on from a storm. It is ironic that we are here on one of the hottest days of the year discussing storms, which is wrong. As sure as night follows day, some other county will be in this situation. There should be a clear strategy within Government, rather than it being pushed from the Departments of Finance and roads, to be able to deal with these issues immediately.  To be fair to the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, he came down and addressed the flooding in Aughrim and Enniscorthy. He dealt with it within weeks, if not months, but we are now standing here five months to the date it happened. I hope that no other TD will have to go through what the TDs in Wicklow and Wexford have gone through. I note that Carlow and Louth have similar issues as well. This should be addressed and there should be a clear strategy in place because this is going to happen again. It is wrong. We need to get this addressed and we also need to sit down and have a long-term solution because this will happen again in other counties. It is unfair to the people living in these areas. They have suffered enough stress due to the storm. Why should they be waiting months and months? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  I understand the challenging situation in which everyone in the Deputy's county finds themselves and, indeed, the challenge that presents for its Deputies as public representatives as well to seek to address and have this remedied. The reply that I have given on behalf of the Department of Transport and the Minister outlines the funding that was provided this year, namely, \u20ac23 million to Wexford County Council and \u20ac15 million to Wicklow County Council, which was up on the previous year. It is clear from the response provided to me that that funding was meant to address ongoing work. The figures that the Deputy has indicated to me in terms of the additional ask are very similar in scale to the level of funding provided to both counties this year for roads generally, so it is a very significant ask. Obviously, it reflects very significant damage.  The response from the Department also outlines that it is expected of local authorities that they hold a certain amount of the funds they receive in contingency for exceptional cases. I do not know how much that is in any particular county. I would imagine it is quite small and is nowhere near the scale of what is being discussed here, certainly not what the Deputy has outlined. The request to the Department is similar in scale to what the ongoing level of investment would be in terms of maintenance and development of roads, so it is very significant and would certainly speak to being a lot more than what could be managed within any ongoing contingency fund. There have been a number of instances over the last number of years of damage in both counties as a result of floods.  It is important that that the request to the Department from both local authorities in terms of the remediation be assessed. The Department of Transport has said in this response that it is under consideration. It is important that clarity be brought to that. The Deputy has expressed the frustration felt about how that has not happened yet. I will relay that back fairly clearly to the Department and ask it to engage further with both local authorities. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Road Network"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-27\/debate\/dbsect_9","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Fiscal Planning Framework for Economic Certainty: Motion [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":32,"speakerCount":25},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  I move:  That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann:  notes that:  \u2014 the sectors in the Irish economy such as farming, fisheries, construction and more generally small businesses and households have in recent years been repeatedly exposed to severe economic shocks arising from major international events outside the control of the State, including the Covid-19 Pandemic, the war in Ukraine, instability and conflict involving Iran and the wider Middle East, and ongoing international trade disputes and tariff wars;  \u2014 these events have contributed to sudden and dramatic increases in the cost of fuel, electricity, home heating oil, fertiliser, feed, transport, insurance, construction materials and essential consumer goods;  \u2014 the frequency and unpredictability of such global disruptions have created major uncertainty for family budgeting, business planning and investment decisions across the Irish economy;  \u2014 the current approach of Government has largely been reactive in nature, relying on ad hoc emergency interventions announced after price shocks have already inflicted financial damage on households and enterprises;  \u2014 while emergency supports introduced in recent years provided temporary relief, the absence of a clear and transparent framework has created uncertainty for workers, families and businesses attempting to plan ahead during periods of economic instability;  \u2014 sectors such as agriculture, haulage, fisheries, construction, hospitality and small retail are particularly vulnerable to sudden increases in fuel and operating costs, while ordinary households remain exposed to spikes in home heating, electricity and grocery prices;  \u2014 a proactive national framework for economic resilience and emergency fiscal planning would provide certainty, confidence and stability, by clearly setting out the measures that would automatically be considered or triggered during future crises; and  \u2014 such a framework should recognise that the State cannot prevent global crises from occurring, but can ensure that Irish citizens and businesses are not left without clarity as to how Government will respond when such events arise;  recognises that:  \u2014 certainty and predictability are essential for sustainable household budgeting, business continuity, employment retention and investment planning;  \u2014 businesses and industries require advance visibility regarding the potential activation of supports, reductions or temporary relief measures during periods of severe inflation or supply disruption;  \u2014 a transparent, trigger-based system would strengthen confidence in the Irish economy and reduce the uncertainty caused by improvised and delayed policy responses; and  \u2014 fiscal planning must move beyond crisis reaction and towards structured preparedness; and  calls on the Government to:  \u2014 develop and publish a \"Fiscal Planning for Economic Certainty Framework\", setting out predetermined economic support measures and response mechanisms, to be considered or activated during major international economic shocks;  \u2014 establish transparent trigger points, linked to measurable economic indicators including, but not limited to:  \u2014 fuel and energy price increases;  \u2014 inflation thresholds;  \u2014 supply chain disruptions;  \u2014 agricultural input cost spikes;  \u2014 international trade restrictions; and  \u2014 exceptional transport and logistics cost increases;  \u2014 outline, in advance, the range of temporary relief measures that may be introduced when such trigger points are reached, including:  \u2014 temporary reductions in excise duties on fuels;  \u2014 temporary reductions in Value Added Tax rates;  \u2014 targeted reliefs for the transport, farming, fisheries and small business sectors;  \u2014 temporary reductions or waivers in commercial rates;  \u2014 home heating oil and household energy supports;  \u2014 supports for low- and middle-income households facing exceptional cost-of-living pressures; and  \u2014 emergency liquidity and working capital supports for vulnerable industries;  \u2014 ensure that any framework introduced provides sector-specific certainty for strategic domestic industries, including agriculture, fisheries, haulage, tourism, retail and construction;  \u2014 provide for annual review and updating of the framework by the Department of Finance and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, in consultation with representative bodies, trade unions, SMEs, farming and fisheries organisations;  \u2014 prepare and publish annual stress-testing assessments, examining the resilience of the Irish economy to future international shocks and price surges; and  \u2014 report to D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann within six months, on the establishment and implementation of this framework.  This Private Members' motion is about the cost of doing business in Ireland. It involves sectors in the Irish economy such as farming, fisheries and construction, all general small businesses, every person working in this country, and the shocks arising from events outside of this country. What we are looking at here is a case of fail to prepare, prepare to fail. A definition of madness is doing the same thing over and over again when there is no change. It is a form of madness. We had Covid. After that, we had the Ukraine war. Now, we have the war in Iran. Every time something happens, the Government reacts but it is not proactive. We now know that, in the world in which we live, shocks are going to come all the time. It might be every three or four years. Previously, it was a cycle of ten years when different things happened, but now it is getting more frequent and this Government has learned nothing from this. It comes in with packages after people have had to protest because they are in desperate situations. Small businesses are closing their doors. The minimum wage is going up but the person on the minimum wage gets nothing extra because inflation has passed the minimum wage and the consumer ends up paying for the same thing over and over again. Who is the winner in this? It is the Government.  I attended a meeting of the Committee on Budget Oversight, of which I am Cathaoirleach, yesterday. It was a two-hour slot and the T\u00e1naiste, Simon Harris, and the Minister for public expenditure, Jack Chambers. The latter had all of his Department behind him. It worked out that I was left with 40 minutes in which to speak at the very end, although that did not work out for them. I asked them different questions and I wanted to see how the Department of public expenditure was working with regard to accountability. I wanted to know who was held accountable for doing something wrong. I mentioned the national children's hospital. The T\u00e1naiste was the person who signed off on the children's hospital, which is \u20ac1 billion over budget. Has anyone been held accountable for that? The answer is \"No\". Has anyone in the Department been held accountable for giving bad advice? The answer is \"No\", but if the Government goes to the electorate tomorrow morning, it will be held to account. When are Ministers in this Cabinet going to stand up to their Departments and make them accountable for bad advice?  What I see is this Government on a railway track. The problem is that it goes from A to B on the track, but if there is a difficulty in the middle, it cannot seem to negotiate that. We have to stop the train. We have to do something. It just goes from A to B. It is a case of tunnel vision with no change. Shocks happen to businesses every time something happens.  What could the Government learn? I asked questions yesterday of this Government. I asked whether it could try a cap on fuel costs? I asked whether it could try one sector to see whether we could introduce something, but I was told we could not because something would then have to do without, but the T\u00e1naiste and Minister did not realise why I was asking that. I wanted to see their mindset. They are following the same rhetoric all the time. If you follow the same thing all the time and it does not change, it is a sign of madness. The madness is that the people in Ireland suffer, yet there are people making bad decisions all the time and getting away with it. If I ran my business the way this Government is running the people's business, I would not be in business, but when you do something wrong in a Department or Government, you get rewarded. You get shoved to a different job if you do something wrong and we end up with failure after failure being rewarded within Departments. It is a proven fact. Look at Uisce \u00c9ireann. Look at the set-up of it. It has not delivered but it costs the country billions of euro.  I do not need all this paperwork in front of me because I understand the problems.  I asked the Minister, Deputy Chambers, yesterday about how we might go about introducing something. He told me a fund would have to be put away year after year to allow for shocks. Let me provide him with a little education. I look at the young people in the Gallery and it reminds me that if we want something in life, we must save for it. I guarantee that when the Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach wanted things throughout his life, he saved up to buy them. If something went wrong, he had a rainy day fund. Five years on, the Government has not learned that instead of panic when something happens, we need the rainy day fund to come out. We need capping systems whereby if something hits a level, measures are introduced without the big television announcements and Ministers fighting with each other trying to get money for their Department from another Department. In the end, when something is given to the public, most people do not get it and it is all held up in administration.  Construction costs have gone up from \u20ac120 to \u20ac200 per square foot in five years. That means the Government take from the VAT rate of 23% has increased. In addition, it is getting more from the 13.5% VAT on labour. I asked Department officials at the budgetary oversight committee yesterday for figures on the increase in VAT intake. I was initially told it had increased by 6% this year but before we had finished our slot, it had dropped to 3%. A huge panel of departmental officials were in front of me yesterday and they could not give me an answer. The figure went from 6% to 3% in the space of 40 minutes.  Shocks are going to happen and Ireland will be the first to feel them. The fund we have asked the Government to put away for a rainy day should be based on a capping system and should be ready to be rolled out to the public when something happens. The Government introduced a scheme for the agricultural sector that was to give people 12 cent, before then announcing it was based on the previous 12 months' figures. That meant the 12 cent came down to 8 cent. What the Government could have done was implement two half-yearly slots. There are people who do silage bales in one part of the year and tillage in the other part. There are two different sectors. Not everyone who does silage, baling, hay and so on does tillage. There are also a lot of companies doing plant hire operations and agricultural work that do not qualify under the scheme even though their staff are out cleaning dykes, stretching ditches and all of that type of work.  The Government then said it would introduce a scheme to give fuel costs to the transport sector and that it would only deal with the Irish Road Haulage Association. The latter represents 17% of the transport networks in this country. It does not reflect the position of 100% of operators. I agree with what the association got but it would not have secured it only for the people of Ireland standing up and telling the Government there was no other option.  What does the Government need to learn from the debate on this motion? It must learn that it needs to be proactive in putting the funds away now. Come the next election, it will pay for the billions of euro it has lost through bad management and the bad advice it received. The Department will not learn. Maybe it is time to introduce something to investigate how much bad management and bad advice to the Government costs the State. We need to see where accountability lies for bad advice given to the Government that makes every person in this country suffer, regardless of his or her business. That is what we are trying to achieve. When I said this yesterday, the response was that they do not know how to get off the railway track. We must look at this issue and the measures we are proposing must be implemented. Doing the same thing over and over again is a sign of madness. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  I thank John Campbell and Marc Nolan for their assistance in putting together our motion. We have brought it forward because people across the country have been pushed to the edge. The only reason we are now having serious conversations about costs is that ordinary people had to take to the streets to be heard. The recent fuel protests did not happen by accident. They happened because people felt ignored and because workers, families, farmers, fishermen and small business owners simply could not take any more. It took that level of anger and frustration for the Government finally to recognise how severe the situation had become. That is the hard truth.  When we talk about the cost-of-living crisis, let us talk about the real numbers people are dealing with every single day. Food is one of the basics. A sliced pan now costs \u20ac1.65 to \u20ac1.70. People are paying \u20ac2.40 to \u20ac2.50 for 2 litre of milk. A pound of butter is pushing \u20ac5 after rising by almost 50% in five years. A simple shopping basket of bread, milk, butter and another few basics has quietly but steadily increased week after week. Food prices have been rising by 4% to 6% every year, with groceries inflation running close to 7% recently. This means the weekly shopping that previously cost \u20ac100 now costs \u20ac130. For many families, there simply is no more room left in their budget.  However, the pressure does not stop at the supermarket. We have seen diesel and petrol hitting \u20ac2 per litre, crippling commuters, hauliers and anyone who depends on a car. Home heating oil costs between \u20ac1,200 and \u20ac1,500 for a standard fill, which is a bill many simply cannot afford. Some householders have seen their electricity and gas bills double, forcing them to ration heat and power. For the farmers and fishermen who produce our food, fertiliser costs double at times, feed prices are climbing sharply and input costs have become completely unpredictable.  This is not pressure; it is a pile-on, and we all know who feels it most. It is every person who has to drive. It is every householder depending on home heating oil. It is the farmer, the fisherman, the small tourism operator and the builder trying to stay afloat. It is the hard-working men and women of this country. They are the people for whom Independent Ireland stands. They are the backbone of this country and they are barely surviving. They are the very people who took to the streets for the fuel protests. They were not protesting for the sake of it but because filling their car, lorry, bus, tractor or fishing vessel had become unaffordable, heating their home had become a luxury and running a business had become a gamble. They protested because they felt they had no other option left.  The fundamental question is why it took protests for the Government to listen. Why does it take crisis after crisis fuelled by energy shortages and food inflation before action is taken? The system is reactive. Prices go up, people struggle, pressures build and protests happen before the Government responds. It is not good enough, it cannot continue and it is why this motion matters. We are proposing a fiscal planning framework for economic certainty. It is a system that finally would bring structure, planning and predictability into how we respond to shocks. We know those shocks are not going away. Fuel prices will rise again, energy costs will spike again and food prices will fluctuate again. It is a question of when, not if. People should not have to protest next time just to be heard. They should already know what will happen.  The framework we propose would set out a clear trigger point. When fuel costs reach a certain level, action will be taken. When inflation rises beyond a threshold, supports will be activated. When farming inputs spike, relief will be provided. The responses must be ready in advance. They include cuts to fuel excise to being down pump prices, VAT reductions to ease pressure on households, targeted supports for farmers, fishermen, hauliers and builders, help for small business owners struggling with overheads and direct supports for families facing impossible heating and electricity bills. Instead of delay, uncertainty and last-minute scrambling, we need certainty. Having certainty changes everything. It means a family facing a heating bill of \u20ac1,300 knows help is coming. It means workers filling their tank at \u20ac2 per litre know relief will kick in. It means a farmer planning a season is not gambling on the unknown. It means people in the building sector know exactly what the future holds. It means people are not left feeling ignored until they are forced out onto the streets.  That is what the fuel protests told us.  They told us people were struggling and were fed up and they told us that the current approach was not working. While we know we cannot prevent global crises, we can prevent people being left without a plan when those crises hit. This motion is about replacing reaction with preparation and making sure that no one in this country has to protest just to be listened to again. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  Aont\u00fa will be supporting the motion brought forward by my colleagues in Independent Ireland. As someone from a rural constituency, I know the hardships and difficulties that a high cost of fuel imposes on rural constituencies. We need economic controls and supports that trigger automatically when price inflation and fuel inflation soars. We cannot continue the current system where small businesses have to take to the streets to protest for their livelihoods during times of price hikes. Of course, it is not by accident that the Government is so slow to act and move. Inflation equals higher tax revenue, which suits the Government. Periods of high inflation where prices and energy costs soar are actually favourable to tax revenue because of the tax instrument in terms of fuel, percentages and VAT.  Through a parliamentary question, I have discovered that this Government is on track to take in \u20ac200 million more this year in carbon tax than last year. This will be the case even if the Government abandons the October increase in carbon tax. The carbon tax take is set to increase again. Every year, it is on an upward trajectory. According to figures released to Aont\u00fa, carbon tax is the second largest component of tax on fuel, second only to VAT, which is 23%.  The motion before us here today is not an expensive one. It is basic arithmetic. If the price of a product doubles, then one can cut the tax on that product by half and expect to take in the same revenue as the previous year. I want to make the point very clearly that, back when Russia invaded Ukraine and the Government took steps to reduce tax on fuel, the overall tax take on fuel did not reduce. In fact, it increased from the previous year. The rate of inflation was such that the public purse did not take a hit despite the excise reduction. In March 2022, as a result of the war, the Government reduced excise duty from 20 cent to 15 cent on diesel and it began restoring excise duty in June 2023, yet between the years 2022 and 2023, the amount of tax taken by this Government actually increased by about \u20ac60 million despite the excise reduction. This is what the impact of inflation is doing and what this motion tries to correct. The amount taken in carbon tax on petrol and diesel increased by 20% to 25% each year while the measures were in place. Despite the reductions in excise duty, the Government actually came out of the situation significantly better off in terms of tax revenue. In March of this year, because of the spike in fuel prices that so many families and businesses were suffering, the Government took in an additional \u20ac6 million in excise duty compared with the same month last year. That was just one month.  It is mind-boggling to think that the Government is still intent on increasing carbon taxes in October. Canada has reduced carbon tax to zero and Spain has reduced VAT on fuel to 10% while VAT in Ireland is still at 23%. The high taxation policy in relation to fuel is driving a rip-off republic. It is driving inflation in every single sector in this economy.  In response to Aont\u00fa's calls for cutting carbon tax, the Taoiseach constantly made the assertion that we needed the funds for other climate action measures. However, further research that I have undertaken shows that the Government is unable to spend much of the carbon tax and is unable to spend the National Oil Reserves Agency, NORA, levy.  We support this motion and I thank my colleagues in Independent Ireland for bringing it forward. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  Leanfaimid ar aghaidh. Iarraim ar an Aire St\u00e1it leas\u00fa an Rialtais a mholadh. I now invite the Minister of State to move the Government amendment to the motion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport (Deputy Charlie McConalogue)  I move:  To delete all words after \"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann\" and substitute the following:  \"notes that:  \u2014 the conflict in the Middle East has, once again, exposed the vulnerability of the Irish economy, and Irish society more generally, to imported fossil fuels;  \u2014 these strategic dependencies have major macroeconomic implications, the risks to macroeconomic and fiscal stability cannot be ignored;  \u2014 at a minimum, the large upward shift in energy prices is likely to impart a stagflationary impulse to the global economy, a combination of lower levels of economic activity alongside higher inflation;  \u2014 in response, the Government has taken appropriate and timely action to provide relief for households and businesses;  \u2014 the total budgetary cost of these support measures is of the order of \u20ac750 million this year, this is one the largest interventions of any country in the European Union, these measures reduce the annual rate of inflation in April, May, June and July by about 0.6 percentage points;  \u2014 these measures have cut Excise Duty on diesel by 32 cent per litre, and 27 cent on petrol, including the reduction in the National Oil Reserves Agency levy, reduced Excise Duty on green diesel by 7.4 cent per litre, increased repayments under the Diesel Rebate Scheme, and extended the Fuel Allowance to the end of April;  \u2014 the Government has also agreed to delay the increase in carbon tax to later in the year, and is introducing support schemes for the transportation and agricultural sectors, in total, these measures represent a significant investment of financial resources to support households and businesses, and will remain in place until 31st July, 2026; and  \u2014 the Government published its Medium-Term Fiscal and Structural Plan (MTP) in December 2025, setting out a medium-term fiscal strategy based on three core pillars, sustainability, resilience and readiness;  recognises that:  \u2014 a package worth \u20ac750 million of supports has been introduced by the Government within the framework of the Government's MTP;  \u2014 the MTP provides an appropriate fiscal framework that allows for the achievement of the Government's overarching aim to improve people's lives in a sustainable way;  \u2014 by setting an overall medium-term expenditure path, the design of this framework provides Government with the flexibility to respond to challenges, such as, the impact of the conflict in the Middle East on households and businesses, in a timely and proportionate manner, alongside the operation of automatic stabilisers;  \u2014 it sets out the Government's commitment to a balanced and sustainable approach to overall fiscal policy, ensuring we continue to target budget surpluses over the medium-term, and set aside some of the windfall to prepare for the future;  \u2014 the MTP supports progress on implementing the key social and economic priorities, while delivering on our commitment to sustainable public finances;  \u2014 it demonstrates the Government's commitment to using the resources of the State to improve people's lives in a sustainable way, it will act as the framework within which Government decisions will be taken during its term in office, it focuses on delivery, and allows for significant public resources to be directed at improving public services over a five-year period;  \u2014 it ensures that we have had the agility to respond, swiftly and forcefully, to help households, firms and sectors when necessary;  \u2014 consideration of any trigger points must be balanced in certain instances against the time lag inherent in economic data, which could delay timely Government responses;  \u2014 the Irish economy is facing its second fossil fuel shock in less than five years;  \u2014 fossil fuel dependence, especially imported fossil fuels, is a major economic vulnerability;  \u2014 analytical work will be undertaken by the Department of Finance to set out the key macroeconomic principles that should guide the medium-term transition to manage Ireland's strategic import dependencies; and  \u2014 the Government has also established the National Energy Affordability Taskforce to identify, assess and implement measures that will enhance energy affordability for households and businesses while delivering key renewable commitments and protecting security of supply and economic stability; and  acknowledges that:  \u2014 the geopolitical and economic outlook continues to be highly uncertain;  \u2014 in the Department of Finance's reference scenario, set out in the Annual Progress Report inflation is projected to average 3.3 per cent this year, 1.5 percentage points higher than assumed at budget time but still significantly lower than the 8.1 per cent rate recorded in 2022, after the last energy price shock;  \u2014 the economy is still expected to grow this year, albeit at a slower pace than previously forecast, and Government has committed to a range of temporary measures to mitigate the impact of increases in energy prices on households and businesses;  \u2014 the overall approach to budgetary policy must remain balanced and sustainable over the medium-term; and  \u2014 the Government will consider the continued impact of the energy shock on households, and make proportionate decisions in the forthcoming Budget within the parameters of the appropriate fiscal strategy set out in the MTP.\"  I thank Independent Ireland for putting this motion before the House today. I am glad to be able to take this matter and give the opening response on behalf of the Government.  At the outset, a lot of the opening contributions by Independent Ireland and Deputy Lawless put the proposition that the Government was cheering on inflation because Government benefited from it in some way. That is certainly not the case. Across the board, where we have inflation, it puts pressure on people's real living standards. It also puts pressure on Government expenditure. Overall, it puts significant pressure on the objective of the Government to try to improve people's incomes and capacity to spend. In fact, one of the key objectives of the Government is to try to take any steps we can that would actually see inflation addressed, not increased.  While there may have been an increased take in relation to fuel, the Government has taken two steps now with two packages to reduce the excise on fuel, thereby seeing a significant reduction in State income from that. Of course, as with every other sector of society, we see inflation impact on the expenditure of the Government. In relation to the economy and, in particular, families, it puts increased pressure on people. The objective of the Government is to try in every way possible to support people's real living standards. We do not want to see inflation. Indeed, the steps we have taken have been to try to address that challenge and the impact it has been having on people.  The Government opposes the motion tabled by Independent Ireland. The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has once again exposed the vulnerability of the Irish economy to imported fossil fuels. According to the International Energy Agency, IEA, we now face a global energy crisis greater than the 1970s oil crisis and the Ukraine war combined.  Like the rest of the world, energy price spikes and price volatility have directly impacted Irish businesses and consumers. This raises both short-term and long-term issues. In the immediate term, the Government recognises the pressures and uncertainty this has generated for Irish households and for key sectors of the economy. It is for this reason that we have introduced a package of supports worth \u20ac750 million, among the largest package of any EU member state. Longer term, our strategic dependency on fossil fuels has major macroeconomic and fiscal implications. The evidence from across Europe is clear. Moving towards domestic sources of renewable energy increases our energy security, boosts competitiveness and reduces the burden on ordinary people during shocks like this. This is why the Government is investing record levels of funding in domestic energy infrastructure.  Our ability to implement both short-term relief measures and the longer term investments needed to address this issue permanently is due to our careful management of the public finances over many years. However, the relatively good position of the public finances cannot be taken for granted. There are well-known vulnerabilities in our tax base, particularly surrounding corporation tax. The Government has been effectively managing these risks by continuing to invest in critical infrastructure while also saving for the future through the Future Ireland Fund and the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund. These investments will allow us to navigate the structural issues we face, such as ageing and the energy transition, by making our economy more resilient and competitive in the longer term.  As we look to the future, it is impossible to predict how external shocks will evolve or what new challenges will emerge. This extreme uncertainty highlights the critical importance of maintaining a sustainable budgetary strategy that allows for a rapid and flexible Government response in times of need. In December, the Government published the medium-term fiscal and structural plan, which sets out a medium-term strategy based on three core pillars of sustainability, resilience and readiness.  The medium-term plan provides a broad fiscal framework which allows the Government to achieve its aim of improving people's lives in a sustainable way. By setting out an overall medium-term expenditure path, this framework provides the Government with the flexibility to respond to challenges in a timely and proportionate manner. At the same time, it supports the Government's commitment to balanced and sustainable fiscal policy, ensuring we continue to target budget surpluses over the medium term while investing money in the two funds to pay for future costs.  The medium-term plan ensures that we have had the ability to respond swiftly and decisively to help households, firms and sectors whenever necessary. For example, the recent supports we introduced operate within the framework of the medium term plan. These supports include \u20ac750 million worth of measures focused on mitigating the impact of high energy costs on households and businesses. These measures reduced the annual rate of inflation in April, May, June and July by about 0.6%. We have cut excise duty on diesel by 32 cent per litre and 27 cent per litre for petrol, including the reduction in the NORA levy. We have also reduced excise duty on green diesel by 7.4 cent per litre. We increased repayments under the diesel rebate scheme and we extended the fuel allowance to the end of April.  The Government has also agreed to delay the increase in carbon tax to later in the year and is introducing support schemes for the transportation, agriculture and fisheries sectors. In total, these measures represent a significant investment of financial resources to support households and businesses. These interventions build on permanent, targeted supports we introduced as part of budgets 2025 and 2026, including a 9% VAT rate for gas and electricity, increases in core welfare rates, higher child support payments and increases and extensions to the fuel allowance. This targeted and practical support package ensures that those exposed to fuel increases will receive meaningful assistance.  In addition to the wide-ranging support already provided by the Government, we recognise that more needs to be done to improve energy affordability, sustainability, and security into the future. Ireland's vulnerability to external energy price shocks is in large part a consequence of our reliance on imported fossil fuels. Reducing this dependence will minimise our exposure to shifts in the international environment and strengthen energy security over the medium and longer term. As such, the Government is making significant investments in renewable energy and grid infrastructure, as well as implementing supports to improve the energy efficiency of our homes and workplaces. Ireland recently achieved 8 GW of installed onshore renewable electricity capacity, a clean energy milestone which marks a significant step towards energy efficiency and security.  Budget 2026 also allocated a record \u20ac640 million for Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, retrofit schemes, allowing us to target 73,000 home energy upgrades over the course of this year. This includes \u20ac340 million for the warmer homes scheme, which provides fully funded upgrades for those in energy poverty. These investments are making Irish homes more sustainable and energy-efficient, reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and lowering energy costs for households. We will continue to scale up that investment and accelerate delivery.  In June of last year we established the national energy affordability task force to identify and implement measures to enhance energy affordability for households and businesses. The task force provides a co-ordinated and coherent whole-of-government response to the energy crisis, aligned with programme for Government commitments as well as longer-term objectives on energy affordability and security. The task force is preparing an energy affordability plan as well as co-ordinating the national response to the energy shock arising from the conflict in the Middle East.  It is also worth acknowledging that the Irish economy has remained remarkably resilient in the face of a series of external shocks. Our unemployment rate has remained below 5% for four years, consistent with full employment. Economic growth is expected to continue this year, albeit at a slower pace than previously forecast. We cannot take this economic strength for granted. Risks remain and the outlook continues to be highly uncertain, shaped by factors outside of our control. Accordingly, the Government will continue to take a flexible approach to the current energy crisis, while remaining fiscally and economically responsible. Our fiscal strategy provides a framework for this approach. It ensures that we have had the ability to respond to challenges quickly and appropriately, while maintaining the sustainability of the public finances and investing in the long term. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Darren O'Rourke)  Before we move to the next speaker I welcome the children from Skerries Educate Together to the Visitors Gallery, along with their teachers, John and Mary. This is of special interest to Deputy Grace Boland as her two children - twins, Kaya and Millie - are with them. T\u00e1 f\u00e1ilte mh\u00f3r rompu uilig. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  The twins above in the Gallery can be very proud of their mother. She is a great parliamentarian.  There is a growing sense in this community and across Ireland that the ordinary working people are being pushed to their limits, not just by one single crisis, but by continuous pressure every single day and every single week. Nowhere is that pressure more visible than it is in commuter towns - in commuters, taxi drivers and working people across the cities and suburbs. They are the people who get up before dawn, who spend hours sitting in traffic. They are the people who are paying more and more simply to get to work and get home again.  The Government tells us that the economy is strong, but ordinary people do not experience the economy through statistics, they experience it at the petrol pump, the till and when the insurance renewal lands through the front door. They experience it when they pay another toll, parking charge, tax, electricity bill or gas bill. I will put the biggest fear in this country to the Minister and on the record of this House. It is the current postman's knock, and what bill will be dropped through the letterbox at any time.  People ask themselves very simple questions: what is the point and when is this going to stop? For many workers, life no longer feels like progress, it feels like survival. Today, I particularly want to mention taxi drivers because they see the real Ireland, which the Government is sometimes very removed from. They see the nurses coming home from night shifts. They see the elderly person abandoned by poor public transport. They see the young worker who cannot afford to live near their job. They see the family trying to stretch every euro at the end of every week. Taxi drivers themselves are under enormous strain as a result of fuel costs. Insurance is crippling them. Vehicle costs are increasing. There are also increasing licensing costs and regulations yet many are earning less in real terms than they were earning many years ago. Some of them are asking whether it is worth staying on the road or if it is financially viable any more.  The Government seems to have a tremendous disconnect from the reality facing these workers. Outside a few well-served urban areas, the private car is not a luxury. It is not a luxury for any family in this country. It is how people get to work. It is how parents bring their children to school. It is how carers look after their elderly relatives. It is how ordinary life functions in this State. Increasingly, commuters feel punished for simply trying to get their lives together and to live their lives. Commuters are stuck in traffic for hours in these cities and towns, watching infrastructure delayed again and again. They are paying more every year while getting less in return. People are exhausted - financially, mentally and from hearing that Ireland is doing wonderfully while their own standard of living has continued to decline. This frustration is no longer confined to one generation or class in this country. Younger people feel it. Middle-income people feel it. Older people feel it. Small business owners feel it. There is a widening gap between the political establishment and the messaging this Government is sending and the public reality. The public see it clearly. This debate is not just about transport. It is not just about getting our finances in order; it is about affordability, quality of life and whether ordinary working people still matter to this Republic. If somebody works hard in this State, contributes to society and obeys the rules and they still cannot get ahead, then something is fundamentally wrong in this Republic. The public know that and they are increasingly losing their patience with the Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  I welcome the opportunity to speak on preparation for any type of future impact on our State. The one we had recently was obviously the ongoing fuel crisis related to Trump's illogical and downright dumb actions in the Strait of Hormuz and the way the United States and Israel are attacking the Iranian regime. It is an admittedly corrupt and murderous regime but that is not how you topple dictators, and we are suffering the consequences. Five years before that, we had to deal with the Covid pandemic. Ten years before that, we had a massive economic downturn, which successive Governments were responsible for making worse before we had to take those necessary but harsh measures that hurt a lot of people at the time.  In general terms, we are in a period of boom again, although there have been warnings about the impact of AI on jobs and, as the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council says every year, our overdependence on a very small cohort of foreign multinationals. We have revenue right now that needs to be spent strategically but we do need to spend that money. There are several areas I wish to deal with in my brief amount of time to make a contribution.  A recent interaction of mine was with the Taoiseach during Leaders' Questions, when I mentioned the issue of food security. What if we had some form of naval blockade or another global pandemic that impacted the supply of food to this country? I laid out a scenario in which our shelves would be seriously impacted within a couple of weeks. Long term, even though we have enough beef and dairy to supply 32 million people with, that is not a runner in terms of sustainability. In addition, without the imported feed and without the nitrate, our production capacity in that unhealthy way would be damaged. I mentioned issues like having a strategic food reserve, including being able to increase our tillage for strategic purposes, diversification into the likes of fava beans, which can be used for all sorts of protein, and making sure that, like the Netherlands, which is way ahead of us, we can actually react.  The same thing relates to our oil reserves in the short to medium term. We should not let them go down or leave them in the hands of a private operator because we would be vastly stuck if the supply were to stop entirely. As regards the medium term, we heard the Minister, Darragh O'Brien, today try to wangle his way out of why we are not doing what we should be doing in terms of meeting our climate emissions targets. We have so much potential in the next two or three years to create that self-sufficiency. I note that the Minister did say the private wires legislation is coming. That will enable people who can have solar panels on their own houses to store the energy in batteries in those houses. It will also hopefully mean that when we are trying to encourage more people to go with EVs, and when they are in the newer housing estates operated by management companies, they can put a cable under the ground and get their domestic tariff. You can tackle climate change by still allowing people to drive. I am a firm believer in giving options for cycling and for public transport but in many areas in my constituency there are parking wars because people have no option but to drive. You give them somewhere to park and make it hard to get around in the immediate environment to encourage other modes of transport but you create sustainable communities by giving people different options.  The key to giving people options is having energy self-security. While we have some progress in offshore wind, there have not been any new contracts for many years. We have some movement on solar but we have absolutely nothing on tidal or wave. We are way behind, laggards, compared with the likes of Denmark. Those two technologies might be in their infancy but we should be at the forefront in developing them. We should be identifying deepwater ports for this type of technology in order that with battery storage and green hydrogen conversion - and the best rate of this is 60% of overall power production - we are self-sufficient in energy so we have capacity to make revenue from data companies and export to the grid through France and the UK.  There is a massive good news story as part of a global effort to reduce climate emissions but even if we are doing our bit and no one else is and things will get worse down the line, we need that food security and that energy self-sufficiency for whatever world faces us. We need to look at the money we have and spend it strategically now, borrowing if necessary, because we might not understand it right now but we are facing a wartime situation in terms of climate and future shocks around the globe. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I thank Independent Ireland for bringing forward this motion on a fiscal planning framework. The motion calls for a framework that would set out an economic policy response to external shocks in terms of financial supports and taxation. There is undoubtedly a need to provide certainty and confidence and to re-establish trust by clearly setting out the measures that would be considered during future crises. The energy shock we are still living through was met with a Government response that was and still is completely inadequate. It exposed a deep lack of preparation and an unwillingness to act on the part of the Government. We saw a dangerous inertia in the face of a crisis from Fianna F\u00e1il, Fine Gael and the Independents. Instead of action, they sat on their hands while people were literally crying out for help. There was an attitude across Government that it was nothing to do with it. It acted like responding to international prices was not a job of government. It through up its hands and blamed the markets. The primary duty of any government is to protect its people, to protect the economy and people's livelihoods but week after week, as people were crying out for help, this Government turned away.  It went further than that. Fianna F\u00e1il, Fine Gael and the Independents took an approach of talking down to people. They refused to listen to what people were telling them and what they were going through. People should never have to take to the streets to force this Government to act like we saw during the fuel protests. However, that does not just happen; it takes people feeling like they have no other option. The truth is that trust has been destroyed. That is why the proposals set out in this motion should be taken seriously. Sectors like the haulage sector, the agriculture sector and the fisheries sector were all treated as disposable by this Government, and that can never, ever happen again. Those sectors are still under massive pressure.  This is not solely about specific sectors, however, as we know. Just like the protests, this is about a broader issue of cost of living, a crisis that affects so many people the length and breadth of this State, a crisis that is still raging today. It was not caused just by Trump and Israel's reckless war in Iran. It was here before that. Obviously, the most recent energy spikes were brought on by that war but that came on the back of years of relentless price increases, a crisis the Government has failed to get under control and, indeed, a crisis it has added to.  Right now the cost-of-living crisis is worse than ever. Many households and small businesses are on the brink. The price of green diesel, for example, is at unsustainably high levels. Home heating oil has hit record prices and the Government still refuses to cut it by a single cent in excise. Record numbers cannot pay their electricity bills. Some 320,000 families, one in four, cannot pay their gas bills. Yet we have a Government that plans to increase taxes on gas, home eating oil and coal in the autumn, just a couple of months away, as people face into the winter. Most people, schools, organisations and businesses have been completely let down and left on their own. Every worker in this State was abandoned last year in the budget by this Government when it gave more than \u20ac1 billion in tax cuts to those at the top and left workers worse off. When people were drowning under the cost-of-living crisis, this Government chose not to give them a helping hand. People are working harder now than ever. They are doing longer hours. They are working every hour God sends them just trying to keep their heads above the water. They are paying more and more, yet somehow they are falling behind.  I welcome the constructive proposals in this motion but the only way to respond to the scale of the pressure is with an emergency budget and to take a fraction of the surpluses for this year and use it to take the pressure off people right now. We have had report after report, more and more evidence stacking up, all of it just telling us what people already know: that life is unaffordable, that it is a struggle and that something needs to give. Workers know their pay cheque does not stretch to the end of the week any more. Pensioners know the massive pressures and costs they are under, and the measly increase in last year's budget did not even keep up with food inflation. You can draw a straight line from that to the fact that the number of older people living in poverty has doubled under the Government's watch. These are our older people, the people who have lived their lives, paid their taxes and done everything right, yet the number of them in poverty has now doubled under the Government's watch.  We would not need an automatic framework if we had a Government in touch with what is going on up and down this country and if we had a Government that was in touch with the pressure that people are under.  We need to help people in the here-and-now but that has to be used just to buy time to make the actual long-term reforms. This Government has done none of that, however. It has done one-off measures that have never been combined with any meaningful change to make lasting difference to people's lives. We have remained trapped in a cost-of-living crisis because the Government has run out of ideas. It just outsources responsibility to the European Union or to the markets and that has failed and is continuing to fail people. I will continue to raise this over and over again because people really need it, right here and right now. We need an emergency cost-of-living package, we need an emergency budget and it cannot be held back any longer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  It is actually quite shocking that there are not already emergency plans in place that can respond more quickly and more effectively during periods of severe economic disruption. Businesses and workers need certainty. They need to know that when extraordinary circumstances arise, there is a clear and co-ordinated plan to support employment and cash flow. We need practical measures that can help businesses weather crises, including targeted energy supports and measures to ease excessive operating costs, such as spiralling fuel prices. However, any framework must be fair, transparent and focused on protecting workers, families and indigenous enterprise; not simply providing blanket supports without accountability or oversight. The Government should be more proactive and less reactive. Now is the time to do the planning and have the support mechanisms in place to contend with future shocks. We also need to recognise that long-term resilience cannot be built on temporary emergency measures alone. Businesses need affordable energy, functioning infrastructure, access to finance and certainty from Government all year round and not just during crises. The Government must move away from ad hoc crisis management and towards a more prepared and strategic approach that gives businesses and workers greater certainty during times of economic instability.  I want to talk about the schemes that are being introduced. I cannot understand why the end users of those schemes are not consulted at the design stage of the schemes. I will give an example relating to the fuel support scheme for farmers and farm contractors. It is due to close today. The level of uptake has been extremely poor. The reason for this poor return in payment making is because it is not worthwhile. The scheme is calculated from the total usage from the year 2025, with only five months counted as rebate for 20 cent per litre. A farmer who purchased 2,000 litres of fuel is entitled to a rebate of just \u20ac166. A farmer would have to qualify for a rebate of at least \u20ac100 to be eligible to apply. This is equivalent to purchasing approximately 1,400 litres for 2025. These figures would not be reached by most small-to-medium size farmers, meaning they are excluded completely from the scheme. This happens over and over again. With the increased costs of fuel and fertiliser, etc., this approach to compensating farmers is not nearly enough to alleviate the pressure from rising prices. I cannot understand why in the design of these schemes the Government does not take up the suggestions that are made from Opposition. A much better approach would have been a scheme like the fodder payment scheme paid a few years ago, which was a universal payment. That would have been the common sense approach to this to make sure that farmers in Mayo, Donegal and the more rural constituencies can avail of the schemes that are there. There is no point in having them otherwise.  For instance, there are 250 supports available under local enterprise and enterprise support schemes. When businesses go to look for them, as the Minister of State will know, time and time again the administrative burden and the cost of accessing these schemes is impossible. It is absolutely impossible for businesses. The Government needs to think and it needs to actually involve the end users of these schemes in the design so the Government's time, their time and our time is not being wasted. Just because the Opposition put up tangible, sensible ideas does not mean the egos of those in government should not allow them to avail of what is being given in terms of the design of schemes. Will they just cop-on in relation to all of these schemes and the planning that needs to be done? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  I commend Independent Ireland on the motion. It is an important debate we are having here and it is very clear that the Government has wasted opportunity after opportunity. The calls from the Opposition for an energy credit were supposed to alleviate the burden of homeowners but also to give breathing space to Government to take on the price-gouging of the energy companies. Every time the Government had that opportunity, it wasted it. I am of the view that the Government was cynical because the last time it brought these credits in was days before the last general election. I do not believe it was an attempt to deal with price-gouging. I believe it was a cynical political stunt because the Government has withdrawn them in the harder times that are here now.  The failure to deal with the energy companies is unforgivable because it was Fine Gael and Fianna F\u00e1il policy that gave away what was a proud electrification system built up by the Irish people. We built it up ourselves in hard times with the visionaries who were there at the time and we handed it away to private companies. We had the cheapest electricity in Europe. Today we have the most expensive electricity in Europe. We have a failure, not only in how the Government privatised what was a proud publicly owned amenity but then, if we look at wind energy on land, half the turbines are turned off because the electricity infrastructure is not there. If we look at offshore renewable energy, the Government has made a mess of it on the east coast. The Government did not consult with stakeholders like fishermen and now people are locked into legal battles and the whole process has stalled because of the arrogance and mess that was there. Again, that is because the Government was too close to industry and was not thinking about the best interests of our people.  My final comments today are going to be about fishermen. Where have the supports for fishermen been in recent years? Even after Brexit, the Government never once brought in fuel subsidies. Never once, through all the price shocks that were there as a result of Brexit and the war on Ukraine, were fuel subsidies introduced. Inshore fishermen got nothing, absolutely nothing. As somebody who represents a coastal constituency, I ask that the Minister of State engage with his colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Timmy Dooley, and his colleague and party leader, Deputy Simon Harris, on the request for financial subsidies for inshore fishermen. There are about 900 of them active across the State. It would not be hard to keep them on the water and to keep those communities flourishing but it needs subsidies. They have never asked for it before. They are there now. They are requesting it now. They have a really good proposal on the table. I am asking the Minister of State to engage with his colleagues and try to deliver a sustainable future for inshore fishermen all around the coast in County Mayo and all around the State. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  I thank Independent Ireland for putting this motion forward today. In recent years, ordinary workers and families have endured a number of economic shocks. Consistently, however, this Government has had to be dragged, kicking and screaming, in order to deploy countermeasures - kicking and screaming to support workers, families, farmers, hauliers and many more. Developers though, have got their tax breaks and, of course, bankers have had their bonuses increased. However, for people struggling to pay electricity bills, heat their homes and put fuel into their cars the Government's response has been half-baked half-measures, often deployed too late and withdrawn the moment the Government feels it is politically acceptable. I welcome this proposal, which would mandate the Government to outline an emergency response to such shocks.  One cohort of people who are no strangers to shocks are the farming families.  During the times they are receiving a fair price, which are too rare, the one certainty is that it will not last forever. That is part of why the CAP is so important. It is an important mechanism whereby farmers are paid largely for the environmental, biodiversity and animal health and welfare benefits that they deliver in spades. It is also a mechanism that helps many farms stay viable as it somewhat offsets the entirely unfair prices, which are below the cost of production, they receive for their produce. It is a crucial driver in rural economies, particularly when it is taken in tandem with the LEADER programme with which it is linked. It is therefore of deep concern that the CAP has been viewed by successive European Commissions as a soft touch and something to be raided to fund the pet project of the day. This has led to decreasing funds for Irish farmers in real terms at the very time Ireland became a net contributor to the European budget. The Government wants to spin the figures but I am not sure any farmer would say that the CAP today serves them better than the CAP of 20 years ago. Is anybody queuing up to tell the Minister of State that the new agri-climate rural environment scheme, ACRES, is a patch on the old rural environment protection scheme, REPS? It has also led to reduced LEADER funding for very important programmes in our rural communities. It is welcome to have a rare opportunity to discuss this with the Minister for Finance, whose own Department publishes a report each year confirming the dwindling CAP receipts the Government oversees.  I appeal to the Minister of State to seek to reverse previous cuts during the coming negotiations. However, he cannot seek to restore that funding as he denies it was every taken away. I suggest that he actually read his own Government's reports and recognise that his predecessors sold out our farmers in previous negotiations. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  It is really unfortunate that we have to have another one of these discussions. As we are all aware, the reality out there in the world is that people are under severe pressure. That severe pressure started long before Donald Trump, led by genocidal Israel, brought us into the madness we now find ourselves in. That madness also increases the absolute necessity for us to see delivery on the occupied territories Bill with regard to both goods and services while also pushing for movement on the trade element of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. We know that will be a difficult battle so we should do what we can ourselves. They created this madness but long before that, we had 317,000 people in arrears with their electricity and energy bills. One quarter of that number were in arrears with their gas bills. That is the reality. Every TD, elected representative and other person out there who engages with people will know that. I have no doubt the Minister of State has dealt with people who have been in even more difficult circumstances and who never believed they would be.  We can talk about the moves that are being made in relation to public transport but for a considerable number of people, the car is the only option. We have not delivered for workers and families. We need to see a further decrease in costs, particularly the 15 cent the Government can act on. While I am talking during one of the warmest periods of the year, this being Ireland, it is not going to last. Those who need home heating oil and kerosene and those who are most vulnerable will need fuel very soon, if they do not already. Many were waiting on Government to provide some sort of relief but that relief did not come. That is what we need to see. We need to see those sorts of actions.  It goes without saying that action should have been taken previously on energy company profiteering. We have not given the CRU the necessary powers to hold these companies to account. Sinn F\u00e9in and many others recently discussed such proposals but we have not seen action from Government. That is why there is a call for energy credits. These calls are made on the basis that it is something the Government can do now, despite its failure to take other actions.  We continue to see waste throughout the system. That is the difficult piece for people. I refer to the \u20ac50 million written off by Irish Rail in relation to its train management system, which is absolutely dead in the water. That is before we talk about bike sheds, security huts and the national children's hospital. People are absolutely fed up with this.  I have spoken with the Minister of State previously. It is absolutely necessary to provide a cost-of-living package and a cost-of-disability payment. We need a payment now and we need a properly constructed payment that works into the future and that recognises that the most vulnerable need these supports. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  I also thank Independent Ireland for tabling this motion this morning. It is a well-intentioned motion that is designed to put forward some solutions to the real challenges households and business are facing at present. It provides us with another opportunity to tease out the respective positions of parties in this House in that regard. It would be remiss of me not to remind Government that just two weeks ago, Fine Gael, Fianna F\u00e1il and Independent TDs who support the Government voted against a Labour Party motion to introduce a mini-budget targeted specifically at those who require support the most, and I refer to those who have been essentially left behind by the recent package introduced by Government, the PAYE workers who are, to use a hackneyed phrase, genuinely the backbone of this country and who produce the goods and services that have allowed us to generate significant wealth at Exchequer level, allowing us to invest in services and to have the resources we need to support our society as best we can.  Nobody is saying that any government can insulate every single household and business from the worst effects of this unprecedented crisis, which the International Energy Agency itself has said will have a worse impact than the 1970s oil crisis. We in Labour certainly are not saying that. In many respects, the inability of households to absorb this latest energy shock can be traced back to poor decisions made by Fine Gael and Fianna F\u00e1il in budget 2026, particularly in two areas. There was a failure to fully index core social welfare rates, which has exposed to an even greater level those who depend on the State for their income and who spend a disproportionate amount of their income on heating their homes and on food and groceries. There are also the issues the Government has created for PAYE workers, those very same working people who get up early in the morning, who work hard and who rightly feel the social contract is broken. They do everything properly and correctly. They play by the rules. They work hard and educate themselves and their families. They are paying high rents and mortgages. They feel they get little in return. Their PAYE tax bands, rates and credits are not indexed, which means that, in many cases, they have experienced an effective pay cut. Any small pay increase that has been received is swallowed up by the Revenue Commissioners and goes back into the general taxation pot.  We are living in unprecedented times and in an era of real uncertainty and insecurity. That post-Second World War settlement is not just fraying at the edges; it has collapsed. I would prefer if the motion considered why that is the case. It is because of a move to far-right politics and the election of populist and extremist leaders around the world, egged on by tech billionaires who have no interest in the travails of small businesses and ordinary households across the world.  Their only concern is to enrich themselves. It is the behaviour of these maniacs that has created the problems we are experiencing.  The problems here in Ireland are even greater because of our excessive reliance on fossil fuels. We cannot keep subsidising high fossil fuel prices or continue relying on fossil fuels for a couple of different reasons. The first is that we clearly need to decarbonise our economy. The second is we need to improve our energy security. By improving our energy security in terms of the move to renewables, which is not mentioned, from what I can see, in this motion, we can then make our energy bills cheaper for every household and business across the country. We need a renewed focus on that.  I am interested in the idea - and I accept that it is well-intentioned - of a national framework for economic resilience and emerging fiscal planning. Who could argue with that? However, the idea that businesses and industries will have some kind of visibility in the context of a potential activation of certain supports during another energy shock is intriguing. Why would we tell highly profitable fossil fuel energy companies that regardless of the increases they impose on consumers, we are going to subsidise that and every household anyway? That does not make sense. Certainly, I would have to look askance at any businessperson who thinks that it does make sense.  No one should have any difficulty with a move to more sound economic and fiscal planning. That is something we support. I would query some aspects of this motion, while, at the same time, respecting the intent, which is, in general, more positive. When we are looking at the question of economic and fiscal resilience, we also need to look at the structural changes we need to make to our economy and governance system in order to ensure that is the case and that we will not, in this era of permacrisis, be back in this situation again next year, the year after or the year after that.  How do you make an economy more resilient? You do it by ensuring the economy is managed properly and that we avoid the boom-and-bust scenarios that have bedevilled this State for much of its history. We have seen the fallout from that in recent years and the consequences for households, businesses and citizens. We do that by ensuring that housing is safe, secure and affordable. We create a resilient economy by investing in education at all levels, from early years right through to fourth level and lifelong learning. We do that by getting to grips with AI and the threat of mass displacement of jobs and businesses. We do it by closing the income inequality gap that is destroying both our society and the social contract. We do that by embedding collective bargaining systems into our economy, which is something the Government is resisting.  We create a more resilient economic framework by having a renewed focus on the development of highly productive, innovative, indigenous Irish enterprises. We are far too reliant on a small handful of American-based foreign direct investment firms for the bulk of our corporation tax receipts and for a significant proportion of our PAYE receipts from the good jobs they have to create. That is a risk that is always worth repeating. We create a more sound fiscal position and more secure economy by ensuring we tax wealth and assets better than we have managed to do to date. As I said earlier, we do it by focusing on renewables rather than relying on fossil fuels. This motion just deals with the symptoms of that problem as opposed to offering a solution. We also do that by ensuring that we continue to use excess corporation tax receipts and put them into the Future Ireland Fund and the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund, as well as being responsible about how we plan our economy.  We need to address the structural issues that are creating the cost-of-living permacrisis that has been ongoing for a number of years. Given the volatility in the world at present, we are likely to experience these kinds of shocks again and again. Rather than opting for sticking-plaster solutions that are well-intentioned, what we need to do is address the real fundamental imbalances in our economy and in how our society works. That is how we address those problems and that is what we need to focus on. However, that is not where the focus of this Government or the previous Government has been. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  Ar dt\u00fas, ba mhaith liom a r\u00e1 go bhfuil ruda\u00ed an-deacair do dhaoine anois. I thank Independent Ireland for bringing forward this motion and giving us the opportunity to talk about these very important issues regarding the cost-of-living pressures people are facing day in and day out. We would take a different approach to dealing with this crisis from the one outlined in the motion, because we believe it is fundamentally important that people have the emergency short-term supports that are needed and that we take action that is focused on the medium and long term in order that we do just not go from crisis to crisis. I want to talk about that more during my contribution.  An important part of our response has to be measures to help people who are struggling to keep food on the table today and who are worrying about when it gets cold again and how they are going to heat their homes. They are making difficult, impossible choices day in and day out. Coming into the summer, there are parents who know that they cannot afford to pay for activities for their kids. Their kids' friends are able to take part in activities that cost money but they are not. There are families who know they will not be able to take a holiday. There are also families who are already thinking about the start of school at the end of August or the beginning of September and how they are going to meet costs relating to iPads, technology, etc. All of these worries gnaw at people day in and day out. People will literally go to bed and wake up worrying about them. The Government response has been wholly inadequate. At the same time, we have to adopt a long-term approach which means that we are not just going from crisis to crisis. I will talk more about that.  The Minister referred to moving towards domestic sources of renewable energy to increase our energy security, boost competitiveness and reduce the burden on ordinary people during shocks like this. The key words there are \"moving towards.\" Fine Gael has been in office since 2011, and we still have no offshore wind at all. We had an offshore wind farm at that time, so we are actually going backwards in terms of offshore renewable energy. That is an incredible indictment of this Government. It is all the more incredible when you look at what Spain has achieved in recent years. Spain has broken its dependency on gas in the context of electricity generation. It has put more renewable wind and solar energy in place, which means it has some of the cheapest electricity bills for households and businesses in Europe. Contrastingly, in Ireland, we have the highest electricity bills for households and businesses in Europe. Not only that, our country is one of the most reliant in the EU on imported fossil fuels. We are incredibly exposed to what is happening in the Middle East at present and to any future shocks. We are on the way to paying out billions of euro in fines for not meeting our climate targets because of the failure of the Government to invest sufficiently in renewable energy.  The Social Democrats have put forward a practical proposal for something that could be done quickly by the Government to help with this. Our solar for all plan would increase the grants available to households, because availing of the grants available in order to invest in solar panels is currently out of reach for most households. This would bring down household electricity bills and help us to meet our renewable energy targets, which would mean we would be less exposed to current circumstances and to the future shocks which, unfortunately, are going to come.  I implore the Government to take on board our practical proposals. They could be implemented quickly. We need those on top of emergency measures, such as targeted energy credits of \u20ac400 to help households through the immediate crisis.  We need an emergency cost-of-disability payment for disabled people who, incredibly, had up to \u20ac1,400 taken off their annual incomes by the Government in the budget before this latest crisis even hit. It was an incredibly cruel move on the part of this Government to cut disabled people's incomes by up to \u20ac1,400. Having promised a cost-of-disability payment to help disabled people with the extra costs they face in both the general election campaign and the programme for Government, the Government took up to \u20ac1,400 off disabled people. That was a cruel, unnecessary decision in a country that has a lot of resources available to it.  We should also be working on the more long-term measures. We have the highest unemployment rate of disabled people in Europe. We would not need such high levels of income supports if the Government took the correct and necessary actions, like those taken by other European countries, to ensure that more disabled people could participate in the labour markets. It is incredible that the Government's targets for employment for disabled people in the public sector are below the current employment rate. That is an incredible indictment of the Government's record in respect of this matter, which came to light during the Estimates process in the documentation that the Government produced. It is indefensible.  A great deal needs to be done to address these issues. Other measures that are needed include affordable childcare, another matter in respect of which the Government broke all its promises. During the election campaign, Simon Harris promised that within 100 days of the new Government being formed, there would be a proper roadmap in place for affordable childcare in order to get the cost down to \u20ac200 a month. Of course, that was not produced. In the budget, there were no measures to reduce the cost of childcare for families. That is a massive block for families. That should have been done. There were promises, again by Simon Harris, to phase out third level fees. In the budget, the Government actually increased fees by \u20ac1,000, thereby putting families and students under even more pressure.  There has been promise after promise by the Government about helping people with the cost of living. What it actually did made matters worse. We really need the kinds of actions that we are talking about to get us out of these short-term crises. Sin\u00e9ad O'Sullivan has written extensively about the need to build up the State's ability to invest in public services, capacity and renewable energy in order that we are not just having to put more money into emergency measures time and again, which, of course, reduces our capacity to be able to invest in medium- and long-term measures. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  I thank Independent Ireland for tabling this motion. As my colleague said, we would not agree with all the proposals set out, but this is an important debate that needs to happen. When we look at what is going on right now across the country, we can see that people are really struggling. They are not just struggling financially; they are struggling to get around on public transport and they are struggling with the lack of basic infrastructure. This is the fundamental problem. Ireland is not working for people. It is not working for anyone. Our economic infrastructure and social infrastructure are completely inadequate.  The Social Democrats have set out a different approach. It is a social democratic approach which puts the State central to delivering and guaranteeing the social and economic infrastructure so that our economy functions. The reality, as I have stated previously, is that this Government is cruel - it stands over the highest level of evictions since the Famine and the highest level of homelessness on record - but that it is also incompetent. There are record budget surpluses, yet people cannot get around our capital city. They cannot access health services or housing, the most basic of infrastructure. Why is that the case? It is because the State, rather than building up its own capacity, is outsourcing.  We see this most clearly in the area of housing. Over \u20ac1 billion per year is going to for-profit providers of emergency accommodation and private landlords through the housing assistance payment, HAP. That is \u20ac1 billion every year that gives nothing by way of a permanent, public asset in return. Talk about poor value for money. In the area of childcare, there are similarly huge subsidies for the private sector. Why are we not building up public housing and public childcare models? These things would permanently bring down the cost of living. That is the structural change that is needed.  What is going on, as I said, is that there is still an issue with ideology and the belief that the market is the best way to deliver things. The Taoiseach gets up here and says that we have no substance in our proposals. That is spin. It is completely untrue and he knows it is untrue. We have set out detailed proposals, whether for a public childcare model, for a State construction company, and for solar for all. There are clear, detailed policies, but this Government is showing an absolute reluctance to take our proposal seriously, because it does not want to change and does not want to acknowledge the depth of this crisis and of the Government's failure. Communities need real investment. We believe that rather than cutting the tax of investor funds, we need a tax that in respect of the super-wealthy in this country to allow us to end child poverty. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  Families and businesses are now living through the second global fossil fuel crisis in five years. We are increasingly vulnerable as long as we depend on energy imports. Unless we take action to diversify away from fossil fuels, we will again be hit by the next crisis. When that hits, pensioners, the sick and families will again worry about the cost of home heating oil. Farmers, fishers, agricultural contractors and bus companies will again face devastation as a result of increased diesel prices. Electricity and gas prices will go through the roof once more . Arrears on people's electricity and gas bills will hit new heights and families will be put to the pin of their collar to make ends meet.  We have to generate our own clean, affordable power. That means we must generate power from our own huge offshore wind and wave energy resources. Wind Energy Ireland says this requires sustained support from the Government, Eirgrid, the regulator and others in order to ensure that every available resource is aligned behind a single overriding objective. That objective is the energy independence of the country.  In the context of this motion, I want to refer to the question of balanced regional development. Dublin is bulging at the seams, which is creating significant issues across society, including climate, transport, water and wastewater issues, antisocial behaviour and crime. The 2024 IDA Ireland annual report showed a breakdown of 57% of projects in the regions and 43% in Dublin. I believe that split should be significantly higher for the regions, with a target of 75% to 80% for the regions and 20% to 25% for Dublin. Within the regions, there must be a balance between counties, with an even spread across county boundaries.  The town of Clonmel is a significant regional hub for south Tipperary, west Waterford, east Limerick and west Kilkenny. In 2001, South Tipperary County Council, in a far-seeing development, purchased the 270 acres of the Ballingarrane estate. IDA Ireland has purchased 50 acres of that site, and planning permission has been secured for a manufacturing facility of 110,000 sq. ft. It has access to water and electrical services and is a prime site. There is already successful development at the site. Questum is an enterprise accelerator centre, operated by the Technical University of the Shannon, with a number of incubation units and some 200 people employed. We already have in the area a number of flagship industries, including Abbott Vascular, Boston Scientific, and MSD Ballydine. The success of these industries should assist IDA Ireland in securing an anchor tenant for this site. Twenty-five years is far too long to wait for an anchor tenant for the site and the future of the town of Clonmel and the surrounding areas is linked with the development. I urge the Minister and IDA Ireland to ramp up the marketing of this site urgently. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  I welcome the supports for ordinary people in this motion, but they do not go far enough. People are really suffering. They cannot afford food, rent, or childcare. There are 500,000 people who are in arrears on their electricity and gas bills.  We need more than once-off cost-of-living payments and temporary excise cuts.  We need a radical transformation of how this country is run. Instead of the Ireland for the rich we currently have, we need an Ireland where people come before profit. We are not going to get that from this Government or from right wing Independents. Noticeably missing from the motion is anything to do with rents. Rents are one of the biggest costs for very many people. They are going up at a record rate and the motion has nothing to say about it. Independent Ireland might come back at the end and explain why rents are missing. Is it because it is a party is made up of ex-Fianna F\u00e1ilers that represents the landlords, just like Fianna F\u00e1il does? Is it because Independent Ireland would prefer people to blame immigrants for the housing crisis, rather than the landlords who profit from the crisis?  People Before Profit want price caps on energy to give people certainty about costs. To do that we need to bring our energy system back into public ownership and run it on a not-for-profit basis to provide permanently low-cost, renewable electricity to every household in the country. We need massive public investment in offshore wind and solar. We need free retrofitting and solar panels for every household that needs it, including plug-in solar for renters and free, frequent and fast public transport.  We also need to stop building data centres. Again, there is nothing in the motion about the data centres that are currently using about a quarter of our electricity and driving up energy costs for everyone. The Government wants to build even more. It wants to pretend they will somehow save the tech jobs in Meta, Covalen and Oracle that are being decimated as we speak. One bit of the Government\u2019s countermotion that really stands out is the acknowledgement that \"fossil fuel dependence, especially imported fossil fuels, is a major economic vulnerability;\". I agree but this morning\u2019s EPA report shows the Government has no interest in cutting fossil fuel dependency to protect us from the climate and cost-of-living crises. It is going to miss the 2030 emissions target by more than half and possibly by three quarters. A pathetic 4% reduction in emissions from agriculture, which is our biggest-emitting sector, is projected with existing measures. Given Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael prioritise profits above all else, you would think they at least might take action on the economic risk of being faced with having to pay up to \u20ac26 billion as a consequence but no chance. The climate Minister is back to openly admitting he is going to break the Government\u2019s own climate law after claiming it was taken out of context when he first said it over Christmas. It is nearly June and there is still no climate action plan for 2026 and no date for when it is going to be published. Is that the vital political leadership the Taoiseach bloviated about at COP30 in Bel\u00e9m? People should be very angry about this. The Government\u2019s failure to get us out of fossil fuel dependency is costing us thousands of euro on our energy bills, destroying the climate and is going to cost us billions of euro in climate fines that could have been spent on transitioning to low-cost renewable energy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  The debate we are having is very welcome and I thank Independent Ireland's group for putting it forward. With the economy, we have to radically reset how we are doing things and the next budget has to be different. Over \u20ac9.5 billion extra was given out last year in measures but none of it went to the disabled, the self-employed or PAYE workers. They were left out. The disabled finished up \u20ac1,400 a year worse off. The upcoming budget has to change that. We need a democratic, left republican budget this year. Income tax thresholds and tax bands need to be adjusted to favour middle- and low-income workers. Any one-off winter energy credits must be targeted and go to households that are on below \u20ac75,000 gross. I understand everybody cannot get everything and we should not do that but we should favour middle- and low-income families.  Retrofitting of homes has to be accelerated. I welcome the progress that has been made but some of the grants need to be improved. Some 880 homes in Laois added solar in 2024 to 2025 and 1,100 homes in total got some energy works in that period. That is welcome but out of over 30,000 homes that needs to be accelerated. We need the rent credits to be improved but most importantly we need measures to calm rents, reduce them and cap them. Affordable childcare must be addressed. For businesses insurance costs continue to be high. VAT changes we had in the last budget are going to favour large hotels and the big fast food companies. The changes should be altered and I propose a graduated scale, so it is 9% on the first \u20ac5 million of turnover and after that 13%. Let us favour the smaller coffee shops, businesses and hotels. That would benefit them.  On agri supports, we must face that we need added value. Of course we need financial supports for farmers but there also has to be added value if we are going to keep modest-sized family farms going. That is the reality. We have not even got off the blocks with anaerobic digestion. Farmers need to be getting a second income from their produce. We have a huge farm waste problem and there is an opportunity for pelleted fertiliser, which has been done in other countries like Italy, but we have not even started doing it. I welcome the proposal from the Government on flour production. Some counties, including Laois, have a big tradition of growing wheat. One of those flour mills needs to be located there. We need to boost organic production.  On haulage, we have to recognise the reality that there is an absence of an alternative there but we have biofuels and for some reason we are charging very high VAT on HVO, which is being used in trucks. That should be looked at. I am aware there is a European directive there but we need to go back to Europe on that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Darren O'Rourke)  Go raibh maith agat. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  The last thing is that on government procurement, we need to get better value for money. We cannot keep spending \u20ac336,000 on bike sheds, \u20ac2.5 billion on the children\u2019s hospital and \u20ac1.4 million on a security hut. We need to spend money better. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Albert Dolan  It is really important to say that at any time a government needs to be both ready and able to respond to crises if and when they arise. We saw recently that when the Government was in a position where it could respond. It had the capital to deploy to help support people through the oil shock we are experiencing due to what is going on in the Middle East, and to the tune of \u20ac750 million. It is prudent financial management over the past few years that has got us into a position where we are able to respond should crisis arise.  However, there are people out there right now who are struggling. They are struggling to pay bills and to afford the cost of living in this country and they need to be supported in the upcoming budget. They need to be supported to see that hard work pays and that the work they are doing is valued both by society. They must be able to see that in their pockets as well. It is also important to recognise the ground is shifting. What used to be a career for life is no longer the same today and the jobs market is shifting rapidly and changing. It therefore becomes even more important the Government is prudent in how it manages its finances so we can help transition in the coming years to the newer economy we are going to experience. With that, we cannot leave people behind. We have to ensure people are upskilled, educated and given every opportunity to succeed, going forward. I firmly believe Ireland is best positioned in the European Union to be one of the most successful countries over the next five or ten years.  However, if we do not bring people with us and if everyone does not feel that success then what was it all for? As a Government, we have to ensure we have the financial power to be able to deliver serious public services. A lot of the work I have been doing on public spending and the management of that is so there is transparency for the public on how government is spending and how contract management is working. It is only when you get that transparency you can track what is happening and make a decision on how we could be more efficient, which is a problem the Government has at the moment. So much money has come in and one of the biggest frustrations I hear out there day in, day out is that the Government has all this money yet we are not seeing the boots on the ground and the projects being built, including large-scale infrastructure. That is where we need to see that acceleration. I welcome the work that is going on with the Critical Infrastructure Bill but we have to be able to show tangible results.  For me, priorities would be to see the double-tracking of the line from Athenry to Galway, and to see the 300-bed block get through the critical infrastructure pathway and be built. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mattie McGrath  I am delighted to speak on this Bill. It is a good and timely debate that is badly needed in our country. We think back to the pioneering days of Se\u00e1n Lemass and T. K. Whitaker, what they could do and what they did, and the vision, passion and integrity they had. To some extent, we have evolved from that. Of course, we joined the EU and we had loads of money, but we crashed the economy, not once, but twice, and we had the International Monetary Fund, IMF, here. There are soundings again this week that are terrifying people. It is said that property taxes should be increased, and that we have to rein in our spending and stop the reliance on data centres and those kinds of companies and outlets.  There is a social contract with the people, but it has been utterly shattered. We saw this recently with the protests about the cost of living and fuel. Ordinary people, hard-working mn\u00e1 agus fir na h\u00c9ireann, agus na buachaill\u00ed agus cail\u00edn\u00ed freisin, all came out because enough was enough and they could not cope. They see the waste. I will not even mention the items already mentioned that were news headlines here in the last year. Every day of the week, I mention spending, but there is no accountability whatsoever.  Take the Ukrainian housing, where one company, Sisk, had 11 contracts on 11 sites. Modular units worth a maximum of \u20ac80,000 have now cost \u20ac450,000 nationally. It is daylight robbery. In Clonmel, when I sat down with the company and the Office of Public Works, OPW, integration team, I was guaranteed that they would not cost a penny more than \u20ac200,000, with everything included, and I knew the site involved. We now find out that they cost \u20ac496,000, and that is not yet the final bill. It is an abomination, and that is only one area. This is widespread. With the children's hospital, my group and I argued that it should be put out on the M50. We knew the contract was written to rob the State. We have the Critical Infrastructure Bill but, unfortunately, the same people are writing that legislation, the people who have lost their way, who cannot seem to see outside the box and who are blinkered. Then we have the legions and battalions of NGOs running around Government Buildings in front of Ministers and behind Ministers. They have their ear, and they are dictating policy and legislation. It is a simple outrage that this is happening. We have completely lost our way.  With regard to education and skills, we have great, educated people here, but we need to reskill to have more trades and more practical work. With regard to wind energy and solar, why is it always big companies that are coming into communities to do these projects? CRH is trying to build a big biodigester near Thurles in Tipperary at the site of the old lime plant in Killough. It is antagonising people because it has money, and it sees nothing except the money and greed. It does not want to respect communities, and it will not engage with communities or try to work with them.  There is a lot of work to be done here. The sun is shining and the hay is to be made, but I do not know what hay is being made. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathal Crowe  The ground is still too damp in Clare to get the tractors in for the hay, but we are aiming for July, all things going well, and maybe we will get a bit of silage as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mattie McGrath  Clare still has the hurling, at least. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathal Crowe  Yes, we are still hurling.  I am glad to have the opportunity to speak in this debate. I support the Government amendment. I thank the Minister of State for his efforts. It is very important that we have fiscal prudence. I was elected on the same day as the Minister of State back in 2020. That whole five-year period felt quite different. There was relative global economic stability, whereas things have been anything but on the global scene since then, with several wars in the Middle East and the Russo-Ukrainian war now going beyond the four-year mark, and all the turbulence that has brought. Ireland, as a small island nation on the western periphery of Europe, very much feels those shocks when they happen.  That sets the whole budgetary context. It sets the need for prudence to be intrinsic in all of our plans as we make our way forward for budget 2027, which will be announced in October. Prudence has got us to a stable point. Our neighbours in the United Kingdom, with a much larger economy that for centuries had a dominant position over ours and that of most of continental Europe, have very much felt the shock in recent years. That is down to political instability. Brexit has come back to haunt them time and again, and it continues to destabilise them politically and economically.  In line with what others have said, I believe it is important that, as we begin to accelerate preparations for budget 2027, middle Ireland be thought of in this budget. All sorts of measures were brought in last October, some of them popular and some not so popularly received by the public, but the type of people I would like to see accommodated centrally in the next budget are those who get out and work. The Minister of State's former leader called them the people who got up early in the morning. We all get up early, or at some point in the morning. It is the low-to-middle-income earners paying taxes who are very much squeezed. The income tax has to be paid, but when they need a safety net, they find that the thresholds set by Departments, such as the Department of Social Protection, do not allow for them. People are better off in this country if they are extremely wealthy or extremely poor, because they have either the wealth to withstand the shocks that come into their household or they have an income sufficiently low that the safety nets protect them at times of difficulty. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (Deputy Alan Dillon)  I welcome the opportunity to close this debate. I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Charlie McConalogue, for his opening remarks, which I will expand on. As he outlined, the Government opposes the motion brought forward by the Independent Ireland Deputies. The Government is acutely aware of the pressures faced by many households and businesses across the country as a result of the increased energy and fuel prices on the back of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. In response, we have taken a flexible approach, helping in a meaningful way across a number of areas and making sure that ordinary people see the benefit of those interventions. Importantly, we are doing this in a way that does not jeopardise our long-term objectives, which are centred around permanent changes to our energy system so people do not have to face rapid price increases in the future.  To support those affected by the energy price spikes, we have introduced a \u20ac750 million package of supports, one of the largest packages across the European Union. The impact of the supports that we introduced has been significant, with 27 cent off a litre of petrol, 32 cent off a litre of diesel and 7.4 cent off a litre of green diesel. We have extended the fuel allowance, expanded the diesel rebate scheme and reduced the NORA levy. We have also opened the fuel support scheme for farmers, with a scheme for hauliers to follow in the coming weeks.  The Department of Finance estimates that, taken together, this package has reduced the annual rate of inflation from April to July by 0.6 percentage points. These measures are targeted to support the essential sectors that we depend on and those most vulnerable to price increases. While they are temporary in nature, time-bound and proportionate, they are in line with the longer term fiscal strategy.  Of course, these temporary supports are only one aspect of the Government\u2019s response. They build on measures introduced over the past two budgets that provide real benefits for households and businesses across the country. These include the 9% VAT rate for hospitality and hairdressing, taking effect from 1 July, that will support over 150,000 jobs. The reduced 9% VAT rate on electricity and gas will remain in place until the end of 2030. This is one of the lowest rates across the EU. The increases in core welfare rates benefit some 1.5 million people, including pensioners, people with disabilities, carers and lone parents. These measures have been carefully designed to be long-lasting and fiscally sustainable.  In the long term, our strategic dependence on fossil fuels has major economic implications. Moving towards domestic sources of renewable energy will reduce the impact of shocks like these and will also help to insulate people from dramatic increases in energy costs, such as we have seen in recent months and previously during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This is why we are investing record levels of funding in the energy infrastructure through the national development plan.  We know that money alone is not the answer to every problem. In order to achieve our long-term success, the institutions of the State and, crucially, the private sector need to be able to deliver more efficiently and achieve better value for money. The accelerating infrastructure action plan will do just that. This plan is on track to speed up the delivery and therefore lower costs for critical infrastructure such as energy transmission. We recently achieved 8 GW of installed onshore renewable energy capacity, a major clean energy milestone on the path toward green energy efficiency and security.  In addition to this, budget 2026 allocated record funding for home retrofitting, including fully funded upgrades to the warmer homes scheme for those in energy poverty. These investments generate real benefits for households by making Irish homes more sustainable and more energy efficient and by lowering energy costs. The national energy affordability task force, which was established in June 2025, will further accelerate on the implementation of measures to improve energy affordability and security. The energy affordable task force will provide a coherent cross-Government strategy for reducing energy costs for Irish businesses and consumers in the long term.  In all of this, it is vital to recognise that the Government's ability to respond to energy shocks and to invest in strategic energy infrastructure is made possible by sensible management of the public finances. As we take decisive action to support businesses and households in the short term, we also must maintain our ability to respond to future shocks and safeguard our economy into the long term. The medium-term fiscal and structural plan, published in December 2025, allows us to do that. It provides a framework for maintaining a sustainable budgetary strategy into the future and by setting out an overall medium-term expenditure path. The medium-term plan provides the Government with the flexibility to respond to challenges in a timely and appropriate manner. By focusing on the medium term, it safeguards overall fiscal sustainability. It is important to predict how external events will evolve and what new challenges will emerge into the future.  The broader global environment remains incredibly uncertain. As a small, open economy, Ireland is particularly vulnerable. As such, the best approach for the Government is to ensure that we remain flexible to the challenges that lie ahead. Over the long term, we must continue to reduce our exposure to international energy markets by investing in secure domestic energy supply. Our fiscal strategy, set out in the medium-term plan, allows us to achieve both these aims. It ensures that we have the ability to respond to the challenges quickly and appropriately while maintaining the sustainability of the public finances and investing in the long term. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  The contributions from the Government side and their colleagues show why we are in the position we are in. I spoke to some of those who contributed. They said they would like to see the people in the middle, the working class, looked after in this budget. One person told me he got elected the same day as the Minister of State, which was the same day I got elected. Since I got elected, they are the people I have been looking to have looked after. It has taken the Government six years to even come out and say that it wants the people who are working to be looked after. Six years later, this is what the Government comes out with.  I will give the Minister of State a small insight into the six years his party has been in government. We will go to the working, squeezed middle. We will take an average house as an example. If somebody wanted to buy or build a 2,000 sq. ft house, it would have cost of \u20ac240,000 plus VAT. That meant that five or six years ago, that house cost of \u20ac272,406. Let us travel forward. Today, five or six years later, that same house costs \u20ac454,000, including VAT. The VAT to the Government has gone from \u20ac32,400 to \u20ac54,000. That is a tax take on somebody trying to provide their own home. It is the working squeezed middle. This is two people who are working, trying to provide a roof over their head, probably trying to start a family and trying to secure their livelihoods. What the Government has done with the stroke of a pen is that has taken \u20ac22,000 extra in tax from people building or buying their own house.  That is not all the Government has done. I will use the model of 40% of a person's income to afford a mortgage. Five years ago, if a person had to get a mortgage of \u20ac270,000 to build a house, they would have to have earnings of \u20ac3,830 per month to afford a repayment of \u20ac1,532 per month. That is based on a 4.75% interest rate. A person would end up paying \u20ac189,650 in interest on a house worth \u20ac270,000. By the time everything was repaid, a person would repay \u20ac460,000. Today, that house would cost \u20ac450,000. A person would have to have earnings of \u20ac6,252.50 per month for repayments of \u20ac2,500 per month. In five years, the Government has almost doubled the cost of buying or building a house. The Government has increased its tax take not only on the building of the house but the person is now paying 40% in income tax. It is tax on top of tax. That is what the Government has done in five years.  Every one of the Government speakers said there was so much money and that was why the Government could give the targeted \u20ac750 million. They said it was due to the war in Ukraine, the war in Iran and Covid. These are all knee-jerk reactions. The Minister, Deputy Chambers, told us yesterday that if the Government had to do this, it would have to put X amount of money away every year to counteract this. The problem is the Government has gone \u20ac1 billion over budget on a hospital that has not been delivered yet. It has misspent on bike sheds and huts - \u20ac1.4 million. If you add up all the money the Government has misspent, that would be money that would there today to introduce measures when prices rise. When fuel hits a certain level, for example, it could be automatically added. All the money the Government has misspent would actually cover the people today. It would bring down inflationary costs.  Everything the Government has done has driven inflation. It has doubled the cost of buying and building a house. It has doubled the cost of buying a car. It has doubled the cost of running a vehicle and it has doubled its tax intake on the same thing. That is all the Government is doing.  Yesterday I spoke to officials from the Department. I asked what the VAT intake was up by this year. The first thing they said was that it was up by 6%. Some 40 minutes later, they said it was only up by 3%. The officials do not even know what they are doing in their own Department. That is how clued in they are. These are the people advising the Minister. These are the people the Minister and the Government is defending every single day. The problem we have here is that Ministers are just fronts for Departments that are making mistakes and the Ministers are not holding them to account. The Ministers are just fronts and they are told what to do every day. When are Ministers going to take responsibility and take on their own Departments and tell them they are wrong? Tell people they are not the right people for the job, to get out and to get people who can actually manage the purse and finances and get us accountability. When are Ministers going to stand up for that? What is wrong is that Ministers are deciding to put their careers over the people of this country. It is all down to career politicians. The day people do not want me in this House, I will be quite happy to go. The day I cannot contribute to try to help the vulnerable people in this country, I will be quite happy to go.  The only reason I am here is to help those vulnerable people. It is not to get a job in Cabinet or a promotion like most of the Cabinet. They will do and say anything to get a better job. I do not mind if the Government delivers something. I do not mind if anyone in the House delivers something. My job in the House is to make sure that delivery is done. The Government can have all of the praise in the world for delivering once the job is done. That is a person who does not mind about careers. I have my career. I have family. I have dependents. They are crippled week in and week out with over-taxation by the Government. The Government has said it will deliver and provide a scheme here and there. The only scheme is the scheme the Government is doing for itself.  The Government introduced a retrofit grant. I have explained the cost of building over the past five years. The retrofit grant for oil-based properties to insulate houses requires silicone and PVC which are oil-based products, the cost of which have increased. The grants are worth nothing. The Government puts pressure on something that is inflated. The Government has put pressure on an oil-based product and is talking about the environment.  The Government is investing taxpayers' money and driving inflation. The Government has decided that when something is under pressure, it will put more pressure on it. We are one-tenth of 1% of global emissions. People in the country are going hungry. The Government thinks more about targeting something and trying to put fossil fuel vehicles off the road when they are the only thing that vulnerable people can afford in order to go to work. That is what the Government is doing. It is punishing everyone.  The Government has a big wad of money which it misspent. There should be a full inquiry into Departments regarding the misuse of funding. That is what should be done. We could then see how many people that misspent money could have helped. There are many career politicians in government who give an old spatter now and then but are not seen in their own areas. They are only seen there for a picture. They run in and out. They give all the promises to get themselves elected, but do not want to do any delivery. That is the issue with Government. Until the Government takes on its Departments and makes them accountable, it is only a front. That is what it is.  Minister are backing up something they are told before they walk into the House. They are handed a paper. I do my own. I do not need a Department to tell me it is wrong because I can see it in all of the paperwork we get and the misspent money in this country is all down to Departments giving the Government bad advice. Members of Government say, \"Yes sir\", \"No sir\" and \"I want a promotion for that\". That is what they do. The Government encourages and promotes people for doing wrong and every Irish person in this country is suffering. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Timmy Dooley  This is the lad who is going to have a Luas in every county in Ireland. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  Timmy do-little is at it again, is he? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Timmy Dooley  A Luas in every county in Ireland. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  In accordance with Standing Order 85(2), the division is postponed until the weekly division time on Wednesday, 27 May 2026. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Fiscal Planning Framework for Economic Certainty: Motion [Private Members]"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-27\/debate\/dbsect_10","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions","counts":{"speechCount":70,"speakerCount":11},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_10","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel Grealish","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  In last October's budget of \u20ac9.4 billion, the Government made the very cruel decision to leave disabled people worse off by \u20ac1,400. Since then, life has become so much harder for everybody, but all the more so if one is a disabled person who has fallen further and further behind. Our D\u00e1il motion yesterday called on the Government to do two things. First, to deliver an emergency \u20ac500 cost of disability payment now and, second, to introduce a new permanent cost of disability scheme. Instead of listening, the Government pushed back. It rejected our motion and the amendment it brought forward is an insult to disabled people.  It is consultation after consultation and report after report for the Government, when it knows exactly what needs to be done and what the issues are. Yet, the Government tells disabled people to wait. It is the same for carers. At the rate the Government is going, it will take 30 years to abolish the means test for carers. There is no urgency at all.  Yesterday, the Government announced a new autism assessment protocol, but one of the first things from the mouth of the Minister for Health was that the Government will not have enough staff for the new assessment centres. Good God. Who announces new centres knowing that we do not have the staff to make them work? This is happening when more than 20,000 children are waiting for an assessment of needs, thousands of children with disabilities are waiting for therapies, supports and services, hundreds of children with additional needs are waiting for a school place and thousands of children are in inappropriate school placements.  Every single summer, parents face a battle to find an appropriate school place for their child the following September. Despite all of the big promises made by the Government, this summer is no different. Tonight in Cabra, in my community, parents will hold a meeting on this issue again. We will hear more stories of pressure and rejection letters piled high on the kitchen table. I know one mother who has received 17 rejection letters for her child. We will hear stories of children being offered school places that do not exist in classrooms that have not been opened or even built. Does the Government know what that does to a parent and child?  We will also hear anger that the window for July provision applications for summer educational support for children with additional needs was open for only one week this year. What is that all about? In previous years, the window was open for months. This unreasonable timeframe means that many children will miss out on vital educational support this summer. Why is the Government making life so difficult for these families? It needs to immediately reopen the application window to allow schools to get their applications in.  T\u00e1 Fianna F\u00e1il agus Fine Gael ag teip ar dhaoine faoi mh\u00edchumas agus p\u00e1ist\u00ed le riachtanais bhreise le blianta fada. Caithfear deireadh a chur leis. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 in am don Rialtas meas a l\u00e9iri\u00fa agus seirbh\u00eds\u00ed agus taca\u00edocht cheart a chur ar f\u00e1il.  The failure of people and children with additional needs is immense. I have raised several issues with the Taoiseach today, but I could go on and on. I appeal to the Taoiseach to deliver the cost of disability scheme, resource the new autism assessment centres, guarantee an appropriate school place for every child in September and, for goodness sake, immediately reopen the application window for July provision. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Ar dt\u00fas b\u00e1ire, n\u00ed aonta\u00edm leis an Teachta. T\u00e1 an-chuid d\u00e9anta againn. Gan amhras, t\u00e1 i bhfad n\u00edos m\u00f3 le d\u00e9anamh againn maidir le daoine le m\u00edchumas. Tagra\u00edm don infheist\u00edocht at\u00e1 curtha isteach againn, go h\u00e1irithe sa ch\u00e1inaisn\u00e9is anuraidh. Ba \u00e9 an m\u00e9ad\u00fa is m\u00f3 riamh in aon ch\u00e1inaisn\u00e9is.  The investment in disability has been very strong. The last budget saw one of the largest ever increases in disability services, up to 20% of an increase, which is significant and is having an impact, in particular in terms of service providers who are providing services to people with disabilities.  In respect of the cost of disability, the Deputy is being somewhat disingenuous by pretending it is one consultation after another, the process is simple and the Government should just go and do it. It is not that simple. There could be over 1 million people who identify with a disability in the census, about 22% of the population. One can go through all of the various age categories. It is not that simple. The Minister, Deputy Calleary, as the Deputy knows, organised a significant public consultation which has received a significant number of responses.  I attended the strategic focus network summit on the cost of disability on 13 May. It brought together all of the key stakeholders to share perspectives and inform our approach. This is a significant and complex initiative. It is better that we do this in a structured and targeted way so that those most in need will avail of and benefit from it.  It is not just a once-off payment. That will not work on a sustainable basis  Work is under way now to bring together all of the views and evidence. The Minister, Deputy Calleary, will bring forward a paper in July in respect of the cost of disability payment arising out of all of that consultation. We will then assess that in the context of the Estimates for decisions in the next budget. As I said, the previous budget deliberately prioritised permanent structural supports that will endure in five and ten years' time. The core rates went up significantly. Child support payments went up dramatically again. For any child over 12, it went up by \u20ac16, to \u20ac78 a week, and for anybody under 12, it went up by \u20ac8, to \u20ac58 a week. There has been a sustained increase in child support payments over the last number of years.  On education, Deputy McDonald is deliberately ignoring the dramatic increases in resources in education in terms of special needs assistants, special education teachers and also classes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  The Government tried to cut them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We will have places for children next September. As Deputy McDonald knows, with the decision of the early entry portal, many more applied than was anticipated and 6,000 children who are within existing mainstream schools applied for special class status, which will be provided for and very substantial additional resources have been allocated to meet that need. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  Is that a guarantee? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  No one can deny the extraordinary and very significant investment that has been made - rightly so - in special education. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Is the Government reopening the July provision? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It is quite significant. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Is the Government reopening the July provision? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy has an awful habit of interrupting. I have never interrupted her once in anything she says. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  The Taoiseach mumbles. He does not enunciate clearly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I beg your pardon? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  You do not enunciate clearly. You mumbled. I did not hear what you said. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Okay, we will leave it. We will leave it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  That is shocking. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel Grealish","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Noel Grealish  That is an appalling comment to make. A disgrace. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  That is a new low. It is a new low. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I ask everybody to be respectful. There are a lot of people in the Gallery. I call Deputy McDonald. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  These are important issues and it is important when the Head of Government addresses them that he is audible, clear and I can hear him. It is not a case of whether the Taoiseach agrees with me or not. He seems singularly unable to acknowledge the real experience of disabled people who are telling him, and have told him for quite some time, that they are struggling financially. At times, they have told stories of making choices between heating and eating. Even in scenarios that are not that extreme, they are under huge pressure. The Taoiseach is right. A one-off payment is not the be all and end all but they need that now. They also need a cost of disability scheme.  For all of the Taoiseach's palaver about what the Government has done and his clapping himself on his back, I have a letter here from one mother who is explaining what she is living through now because her child does not have the guarantee of a school place in September. She talks about watching time run out while everybody else's child moves forward and her frustration at having to repeatedly prove her child's need to the system. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank the Deputy. I call the Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  She talks about the uncertainty, the exhaustion, the guilt and the anger. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy's time is up. I call the Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Can the Taoiseach please tell everybody that he is guaranteeing a school place for every child? Is he reopening the July provision? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy McDonald's time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I recognise the issues facing people with disabilities. The first thing I did in government was to set up a special disability unit within my Department to prioritise and drive delivery of services and to improve them in every single Government Department and in a whole-of-government approach. We have established a Cabinet subcommittee on disability to deal with all aspects of public services and departmental responses and we have launched a human rights strategy in respect of disabled people. The prioritisation is clear and the investments have followed that prioritisation, especially in special education. There have been many more new special schools established in the past 12 months. There have been hundreds and hundreds of additional special classes added. Staff numbers are up 27% since 2020 in special education. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Will every child have a school place? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel Grealish","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Noel Grealish  Stop interrupting. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We will have 26,000 special needs assistants by the beginning of the next school year. There will be 26,000 of them and I could go on. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach's time is up. I call Deputy Bacik. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We need to do more and we will do more, as we have with the school therapy services. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  Today's Environmental Protection Agency report confirms Ireland is nowhere near on-track to meet our climate targets. In fact, we are projected to achieve barely half of the emissions reductions required by law. In that context, the climate Minister\u2019s interview earlier today with David McCullagh on RT\u00c9 was extraordinary. The Minister urged us to look on the bright side throughout but, however he tries to spin it - he is good at spinning - there is no silver lining. The Green Party\u2019s exit from Government marked the death knell of Fianna F\u00e1il\u2019s ambition on climate. Take this year\u2019s climate action plan. The Minister, Deputy O\u2019Brien, has confirmed it will not arrive until quarter 3. A climate plan for 2026 published with just three months left in the year is laughable.  We know why it has not arrived. It is because the Government has no plan and the numbers are getting worse. This is also why the Government sat on the land use review for months on end. Emissions from that sector are projected to soar by more than 70%. Michael Healy-Rae may have resigned as Minister of State but we now know he is far from the most sizeable thing being emitted from the forestry sector. While emissions rise, the Government is dismantling crucial protections for our environment. Take the Critical Infrastructure Bill. It fundamentally undermines the climate Act, allowing major infrastructure projects to bypass climate considerations entirely. This was a sly move by the Government and, appallingly, it was supported by almost all Opposition parties, except for the Labour Party and the Green Party. A false choice has been cynically presented: Ireland must either build infrastructure or decarbonise. That is nonsense.  We know we can build homes, transport and energy infrastructure while also cutting emissions. As our Labour Party climate spokesperson, Ciar\u00e1n Ahern TD, has pointed out, other countries are doing this. The Government is doing neither at the scale required. Ireland\u2019s infrastructure deficit is our single biggest economic challenge. Offshore wind is delayed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It is not delayed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  Upgrades to the grid crawl at a snail\u2019s pace. The Government is missing emissions targets and ripping up climate protections. It is a famine of ambition. Let us take transport. The Taoiseach's rhetoric increasingly tries to manufacture an urban-rural divide on climate and transport. Of course, we know some people will always need cars in both rural and urban areas. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That is great. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  However, children are breathing polluted air, our roads are choked with traffic, we have some of the highest asthma rates in Europe and in a cost of living crisis, households are spending a fortune on fuel and car costs because they have no other choice. There is endless outrage in this House expressed about bike sheds, particularly from the largest Opposition party, but we know a single car parking space costs up to \u20ac70,000 and the OPW spends more than \u20ac1 million a year leasing parking spaces for civil servants. Cycling saves money and reduces emissions. The Government is failing on active travel, failing on climate targets and failing to deliver infrastructure at scale. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy's time is up. She should have asked her question in the time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  Where is the progress? Why can the Government not take climate seriously? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I reject very strongly the Deputy's assertion that we are not taking climate seriously. Her reference to the Green Party not being in government is false. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  The Green Party is not in government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We are doing things differently because there is a problem, which the Deputy referenced in terms of the Critical Infrastructure Bill. One of the issues is the fundamentalist, purist and perfect is always the enemy of the good. We will achieve far more on climate than perhaps the Labour Party approach or, at times, the Green Party approach because we need to bring people with us. That consensus has broken down. I can see it in the D\u00e1il in the past few years. The Government's commitment has not lessened on climate.  We will get there in a more practical and effective way. To be frank, the Deputy is saying we can build infrastructure - we cannot, in many instances, because environmental law has been weaponised at every turn. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  Oh, no. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It has been. The Deputy needs to face up to it and not be naive. At every turn, significant infrastructure and even infrastructure that will improve the climate has faced challenges because environmental considerations have been weaponised. That is a problem and a challenge. It is a problem all over Europe, by the way. It is all over Europe. That is why some of the renewable energy directives, REDs, were brought in at European level to make sure the overall good is prioritised, as with offshore wind farms. These will benefit climate but because of some aspects related to nature they can be delayed interminably. Choices always have to be made with development. It is not apple pie in every single scenario.  The bottom line is that Ireland now has the lowest level of greenhouse gas emissions in 35 years. The Deputy said it is rising. Our emissions are decreasing. One of the successful things we have been able to do is decouple economic growth from emissions. The EPA's latest projections predict we are likely to either achieve our first carbon budget or marginally exceed it, as well as showing significant emissions reductions across major sectors of the economy.  Emissions in agriculture are set to decrease by between 4% and 19%, and those in transport are set to decrease by between 16% and 28%. These reductions in our largest sectors are significant and should not be dismissed.  Emissions from electricity generation are estimated to reduce by between 53% and 60% by 2030. With additional measures, we are projected to meet our overall Carbon Budget 1 programme target, with only three sectors set to miss their 2025 sectoral emissions ceilings: transport, industry and public and commercial buildings. The Deputy did not refer to any of that in her opening remarks. The projected reduction now has increased to 25%, as opposed to 23%, which was the previous assessment of the EPA. Therefore, we are making progress. The issue is how we can make progress faster. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  That is exactly it. We acknowledge where there has been progress but it is the scale of the progress that is the problem. It is the pace of change that is the problem. There is no sense from the Government of the necessary ambition or urgency to take the further measures required to achieve the emissions reductions we have signed up to. The figures speak for themselves. The Taoiseach may seek to scapegoat climate for delays in infrastructure. The children's hospital has seen chronic delays. This was not due to climate or environmental concerns. There are failings in the Government on delivering infrastructure projects. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy George Lawlor  The children's hospital. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  I reference the children's hospital because the Taoiseach is saying the environment is being weaponised to delay infrastructure provision but there are plenty of delays in the Government's infrastructure projects which have no basis in climate considerations. The figures in the EPA report speak for themselves. The Taoiseach's climate Minister may spin a good spin and he sought to blag on housing figures as housing Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank the Deputy. Her time is up. The Taoiseach will respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  He was doing the same this morning on climate. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, the time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  The figures speak for themselves. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  The Taoiseach cannot get away with this on climate. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Bacik, there is no point in us talking over each other. Your time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  We need to deliver reductions at a greater pace. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We need an honest debate. Let us deal with the facts. Ireland now has the lowest level of greenhouse gas emissions in 35 years. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  Yes but from a high----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  No. Hold on. Look at what else has happened in the 35 years. That is in the context of an increase in population of 1.5 million, more than 1 million new homes and over 1 million more vehicles on the road. Those are dramatic statistics. We are growing as a population. We were relatively under-populated historically but our population is now growing dramatically. With 1.5 million more people, 1 million additional homes and 1 million additional vehicles, we have the lowest level of emissions in 35 years. We have decoupled economic growth from this issue, which is key.  I set up a clearing house in my Department to drive offshore wind energy development. We are not delaying it. We brought industry in to obtain a systemic assessment of the issues that could be a factor in developing offshore wind energy generation. The Deputy knows what has happened in the US, where there is a public policy against offshore wind. That is impacting on the economics. We are driving forward----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  We must move on. The Taoiseach's time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----and we have offshore wind proposals in planning. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call Deputy Charles Ward. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charles Ward  I want to raise the matter of how the State is communicating life-changing decisions to people in the defective concrete blocks scheme. A constituent of mine applied in 2022. Her home was assessed by an IS 465 engineer on the Housing Agency's list. The conclusion was clear: scientific and engineering principles dictated that full demolition and rebuilding was the only safe option to restore this unsafe home. The Housing Agency did not accept that, however, and it downgraded the remediation option to option 2, which retains defective material within the structure, despite extremely low compressive strength levels and readings, and clear evidence of ongoing deterioration inside and outside the house. My constituent appealed that decision and that appeal took years. On 18 May at 9 o'clock in the morning, she received an email from the appeals board stating her appeal had been upheld, the Housing Agency's decision had been annulled and option 1, demolition and rebuild, was directed. That was presented as the outcome of her appeal. For those living in structurally unsafe homes, it is about something as simple as being able to move on. My constituent thought she could move on and that there was finally an answer. Hours later, however, she received a second email that stated the first communication was sent in error and did not reflect the decision of the board. It apologised for the confusion caused.  This is not a minor administrative correction; this is a life-changing communication issued by the State, through the body that withdrew its decision on the same day it made it known. The woman affected followed every single rule of the process and compiled everything in the right order for years, knowing her home had deteriorated and praying and hoping she would get through the process, only to have a decision made and reversed on the same day.  I am not questioning the independence of the appeals panel. That is definitely not the issue here. The issue is that those running a State-administrated scheme dealing with unsafe homes confirmed, in an official written communication, a full demolition and rebuild outcome and retracted that communication hours later. That should never happen in a system dealing with people in a vulnerable situation like those we are dealing with in Donegal and throughout the country.  My question is simple: what safeguards are in place to ensure no other person in the scheme will be told they have secured full remediation only for the decision to be withdrawn the next day as an administrative error? That level of failure is simply unacceptable. This is meant to be the biggest scheme in the history of the State but the failures are starting to show up day after day. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I have made inquiries. The issue he raised did happen. It is unacceptable from my perspective, particularly given the enormity of the issue for the individual householder concerned, that she should have received two emails with completely opposite positions on the one day. My understanding is that the chair of the board accepts that an error was made and that it should not have occurred, and is immediately instituting a change in the process by which communications are issued to ensure it will not be made again. The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage has asked that the chair immediately meet officials in his Department to ensure the process is robust and that errors of this nature do not occur again.  The Department itself does not process the appeals, as the Deputy knows. He is not questioning that. The Department passes them on to the Housing Agency. The appeals board is separate from the Housing Agency and the Department and is chaired by a senior counsel. The error should not have happened, particularly in the context of about 3,500 applications having been made to the scheme to date. Good progress has been made to date, with approximately 500 homes already fully remediated and approximately 750 having works done right now. It is a large scheme but that in itself does not excuse what occurred. The authorities concerned need to focus on how decisions are communicated to applicants, particularly where there is a question mark or appeal process under way, given that it will be a question of whether full demolition or remediation is required and whether better forms of communication, other than email, should be part of how things are done.  The Deputy is correct in saying the scheme is one of the biggest in the State. About \u20ac300 million has already been provided to assist homeowners, with an average grant of approximately \u20ac350,000. This has been communicated. The Deputy's point is well made. Everybody must now ensure that the error is not made again. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charles Ward  I thank the Taoiseach for that. I have another issue regarding IS 465. We were told the revised IS 465 was due in April or May but now we are heading towards June. The scheme is meant to be the biggest in the history of the State. It has been delayed and delayed. Will the revised version of IS 465 be published in June? The T\u00e1naiste could tell me on the last occasion that publication would be within weeks and now I am asking the Taoiseach, some five or six weeks later, whether he can tell me whether the revised IS 465 will be published in June. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I have to defer to the Minister. I will ask him to communicate with the Deputy directly in respect of the matter. I am always loath to give precise timelines on behalf of other Ministers but I will make sure that this is followed up because commitments have been given on it. We will make sure that it gets done. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  There was a meeting of the Joint Committee on Health this morning. Members of the hospital group, including Sandra Broderick, and Mr. Mike Ahearne of the HSE are in the Gallery.  I acknowledge the work they have been doing within the hospital sector in Limerick. They will be looking forward to the new hospital and the new wing. Is there a timeline for that?. Will it be a design-build project? Patient safety is a huge thing. One of the cases in UHL, which I have brought up in the House on many occasions, was that of Jessica Sheedy. That case has gone to the High Court. I would not like to see any other family going through something like that. Her case has been brought up on many occasions. The inquiry is ongoing.  When are we getting a new hospital in Limerick? When are we getting the new extension in Limerick? When are we going to have a hospital of excellence that will be located at the side of a motorway and accessible not only for people in Limerick but also those in Tipperary, Clare and all the other areas. We need access, which we do not have to children's hospital at the moment. It is hard to get to. At least there was a small bit of forward thinking about where the new hospital will go in Limerick. I welcome that from the point of view of patient safety for the people in all the counties who will be going to the hospital. I want to make sure that happens. I do not want it delayed for years and find that we are talking about it again in five or ten years' time. I hope the lessons have been learnt from the last hospital and that it will be a design-build project that will be delivered on budget and on time. That is what a design-build does. It means that it is factored in by whatever contractor takes it on that they take the risk. The Government has control of the risk and the contractor takes the risk. Design-build means delivery on budget and on time. Otherwise, we do not have it and the contractor does not make money. I am okay with that, once it is built on time. That means we have patient safety. We can then have the people who have left these shores back home to Ireland. We can tell them they are going to be a part of a good news story for the Munster region because we will have a hospital in which they can excel and provide patient safety across this country. That is the goal here. I want to ensure that we have it. Is there a timeline for this project? When will the diggers be on site? When will the hospital be delivered? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising what is an important issue for people in the mid-west more generally. I acknowledge that the Deputy has acknowledged some progress in respect of developments in health services in the mid-west. He paid tribute to the chief executive officer and the team there at UHL regarding that progress, which was needed. We need to continue to work to enhance services, particularly the quality of services, and best outcomes, and, in particular, to ensure that patient safety will always be at the centre of everything that is done. The first principle of medicine is not to do any harm. That is something clinicians, and indeed everybody else involved in the administration of a hospital, must always have uppermost in their minds.  The 90-bed block that was built recently was delivered on time and within budget. We need to acknowledge that. A lot of infrastructure is, by the way, but, understandably in the context of accountability, it is the ones that are not that get the headlines. We are confident that the next 90-bed block will also come in on budget and on time. The contract has already been awarded for that. That is crucial and critical.  The Minister will shortly be establishing a project board to deal with health services not just in the context of a new hospital in Limerick but the broader health services for the mid-west. Ennis and Nenagh hospitals will need more services. One has to look at the entirety of the hospital campuses in the mid-west in order to get the optimal outcome. We have seen that in the north east. We have seen that in terms of some of the hospital groups whereby the utilisation of other hospitals, apart from the tertiary centre, has been advantageous to patients, with access to outpatient clinics or endoscopy, or a variety of diagnostic facilities and so on. That complements the work that takes place in the acute hospitals or tertiary hospitals. The objective of the project board that the Minister will establish is to get the complete picture for the entirety of the mid-west. Deputies from Clare and Tipperary are very focused on that aspect, as well as on developing a new hospital. The good news is that a site has been secured. As we all, including the Deputy, know, if you are building anything, a school or anything else, securing a site is key and can help us to accelerate the deliberations in respect of it. The objective is to have the best, state-of-the-art services to cater for a population in the mid-west that is going to continue to grow, "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  I have already acknowledged the Minister in the context of the work that is being done in Limerick. We went through a very bad spell. The initial hospital of excellence was brought up in 2009. The people involved are no longer in the HSE, but they downsized Nenagh, Ennis and St. John's Hospital. It is great that the Taoiseach has acknowledged that the reverse needs to happen. That was one of the first things I said when I was elected six years ago. We need to ensure investment in health services. The Taoiseach has acknowledged that investment needs to go in there again.  I acknowledge the work that has been done to date. It is refreshing to have the Minister in place. We have that now. We have good people in good places who want to get good things done, so let us get them done. Let us work together and get it done. I do not mind who does the job once it is done. At the moment, it is being done but I need to make sure that we have the timelines, that there is delivery and that we ensure patient safety. I acknowledge that the Taoiseach has said that Nenagh, Ennis and those areas need investment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I have always been a strong advocate for investment in Nenagh, Ennis and Clonmel----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  Good man. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----which has benefited from significant investment, but that is in a different area from Nenagh and Ennis, which is part of the mid-west provision of services.  The most recent 90-bed block was delivered on time. Along with the investment, we need constant reform as to how we provide services. There has been a lot of investment in health services in the past five years, which needs to be acknowledged. There has to be a relentless focus on outcomes from that investment and quality of patient care. Things have changed. Clinicians are changing practices all the time and advancing technologies, mechanisms, methodologies and so on to improve efficiency all round. The Deputy can be assured that we are focused, and the Minister is, in particular, on timely delivery of the next commitments, particularly the 90-bed block that we want delivered on time and within budget. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-27\/debate\/dbsect_11","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 na Comhalta\u00ed Eile - Other Members\u2019 Questions","counts":{"speechCount":12,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_11","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  I was great to hear the Taoiseach mentioning No Mow May. If he would like a beehive, I will give him one. I have 17. I know the Department of justice has them on the roof; it would be great to see them on Government Buildings as well.  Constantly in this House I have raised the issue of private wires and the current system of energy. I was elected to this House seven months after I finished my master's degree in DCU, which focused on data centres and waste heat utilisation. One of the main things we learned about was the current system of EirGrid and ESB, and its failures. When I found myself involved in Government formation, one of the priorities for me was private wires. My Bill is ready. I have submitted it to the Bills Office. I see the frustration across the country about our energy costs. EirGrid has had nine months to put a code index into the grid to fix an issue. Because data centres need a constant stream of energy, we need to reduce curtailment and the dispatch down. This code index can help renewable projects. The Irish public is currently paying fossil fuel prices for energy when we have tens if not hundreds of renewable projects waiting for grid connections.  Yesterday, I raised the issue of CI\u00c9 charging a solar farm that is ready and built. Over \u20ac450,000 has been allocated in respect of a job that will take one day. Why are semi-State companies allowed to charge such an extortionate amount that will eventually end up with the Irish public? The families paying energy bill every month deserve nothing less than action. I will again mention plug-in solar. We are at a point where renewable energy generation is being reduced. We are wasting clean energy while households are paying the price.  The concept of a private wire is simple. It is a direct cable from a renewable source such as a solar farm, a wind turbine or a battery energy storage system. There is no grid queue and no six-year wait. My Bill would give more powers to the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, to have a six-month timeline. In view of people's worries about job losses and the global situation at the moment, we need to increase Irish jobs. We can do so with my Bill. I spent 18 months developing the Bill. I now see why things take time, but it is done and has the Office of Parliamentary Legal Advisers, OPLA, stamp. It will help SMEs, community energy projects and battery storage. It contains a line that would make any project being used by a private company give a proportionate amount to a community benefit fund.  The Government's current proposal for the private wires system limits it to four specific circumstances. My proposal does not. It would help community energy and SMEs, and the CRU confirmed to me at the committee of which I am a member last week - I should be at this week's meeting now - that private wires could facilitate more renewables than might be the case at present. We are losing foreign direct investment to countries with cheaper, cleaner and more certain energy. I was at the wind energy conference yesterday. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  Does the Taoiseach agree that it is time to cut the red tape----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  ------and back the CRU with more funding in order to enable it to act? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy and commend him on the work he is doing on this issue. It is a particular focus for him. He identified it as a key priority for him, on his election to D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann, and for inclusion in the programme for Government. The private wires Bill for which the Minister has received sanction from the Government is priority legislation. The intention is to publish a draft Bill in the coming months - I think prior to the summer recess - with a target that the Bill will complete its passage through the Oireachtas later this year. An detailed, expedited delivery plan will also be published. That will detail targeted, time-bound actions to swiftly operationalise the regulatory regime.  The Deputy is about to publish his Bill. The Department and Minister will engage with him and examine it in detail. I believe the Minister has met the Deputy about it already. I have spoken to the Minister on a number of occasions putting the pressure on to get this Bill through because private wires will provide greater opportunities for electricity consumers and generators and will lead to increased competitiveness and sustainability. As the Deputy will be aware, the Government approved the general scheme last December.  It is interesting that April was the third month in a row where more than 50% of our electricity was generated from renewables. The Deputy's point about renewables and dispatch down is significant. We are conscious of it, although battery storage is improving all the time and is increasing significantly across the country.  The joint committee has undertaken pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme of the private wires Bill. Its report was published at the end of April. The Department is now looking at the recommendations which, perhaps, the Deputy, and others made at that committee. It is also looking at and developing the expedited delivery plan, which will set out the key actions to take forward to swiftly operationalise the regime from a regulatory perspective. The Bill, once enacted, will give the CRU powers to create the necessary regulations to oversee private wire developments, including in respect of safety and technical standards and a licensing framework.  Ultimately, we want to make sure that this can contribute to customers and to the broader story in the context of complementarity with the national grid. There are issues that have to be worked out in terms of the potential interaction between private wires and the national grid. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  I welcome the progress on the Government's Bill. I hope it will absorb the proposal I am putting forward. The cost to Irish households is already runs into hundreds of millions if not billions of euro because of these delays. I welcome the Government's general scheme. It contains 47 recommendations. I answered as to how my Bill would tackle those 47 recommendations, and I will submit my answers to the Minister. The technology is available. The Taoiseach mentioned battery storage, and I welcome that the Taoiseach met those involved in that regard. We need to make sure that both the eventual Bill and everything that we do in this House prioritise the Irish people. I welcome that CRU oversight has been examined but I would love there to be more engagement on my Bill as a basis for faster delivery and for there to be confirmation that private wires will officially serve SMEs, community energy and the Irish consumers more than large-scale generation. There is a role for large-scale generation. I am not living in the clouds, because I understand that 50,000 jobs are directly or indirectly linked. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy. Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  There are more jobs to be created. We could get hundreds of thousands of jobs----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Time is up, Deputy, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  -----for welders, all types of technician and engineers and this is why it needs to be done. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Private wires will allow for direct connection between generation and the customer where it is more efficient to do so than connecting to the national grid. Private wires will also provide an alternative connection mechanism from renewable projects to customers. As far as I am concerned, large-scale generation can be positive as well for SMEs. I will talk to the Minister about the aspects the Deputy feels are not covered the general scheme. That is the whole purpose of his engaging with the Minister about his legislative proposals. It is also the purpose of the work of the committee in its pre-legislative consideration process, which has been completed.  Private wires will create options for renewable energy developers. The development of the regime has been supported by the renewable energy sector since the public consultation in 2023. Obviously, it will also serve national climate objectives. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 na Comhalta\u00ed Eile - Other Members\u2019 Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-27\/debate\/dbsect_12","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Teachtaireacht \u00f3n Seanad - Message from Seanad","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_12","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Seanad \u00c9ireann has passed the International Co-operation (Omagh Bombing Inquiry) Bill 2026, without amendment. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Teachtaireacht \u00f3n Seanad - Message from Seanad"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-27\/debate\/dbsect_13","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Pholasa\u00ed n\u00f3 ar Reachta\u00edocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation","counts":{"speechCount":59,"speakerCount":20},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_13","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brendan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","memberCode":"Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Edward Timmins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  It seems that there is no end to RT\u00c9's sense of entitlement in its attitude to the spending of public money or to the lack of oversight in that regard by the Government. This morning, I read that since 2021, the State broadcaster has splashed out - get this - \u20ac230,000 on limousine rides for celebrities, dignitaries and presenters. These are not to be confused with common or garden taxis. It spends hundreds of thousands of additional money on those. What is going on? How is it in any way appropriate for this type of money to be blown on luxury limousines, including Mercedes V class, BMW 7 series, etc. We see that kind of expenditure at a time when everyone is struggling and after RT\u00c9 was bailed out. The promise of that bailout was that there would be prudent, appropriate, moderate investment----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy. The Taoiseach to respond "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  -----of taxpayers' money. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  In the first instance, the Government has sanctioned legislation to ensure RT\u00c9 comes under the aegis of the Committee of Public Accounts and the Comptroller and Auditor General. That will give the Oireachtas a specific mechanism to hold RT\u00c9 to account regarding the types of expenditure the Deputy has just described. It is for RT\u00c9 to account for that. The Government does not run RT\u00c9. We allocate funding, principally for balanced public service broadcasting, because it is the national State broadcaster, but the Government does not in any shape or form defend any excessive or unnecessary expenditure of the type the Deputy outlined. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  On \"Prime Time\" last night, Sharon Clarken spoke with extraordinary dignity about the life-long impact of thalidomide on survivors and their families. More than 64 years since the drug thalidomide was withdrawn, survivors are still waiting for justice from the State. Many are now in their 60s and 70s and are living with complex medical needs. Parents, in particular mothers who took thalidomide, have died waiting for closure. I think of survivors like the late Jacqui Browne, who died just last year. Still, there has been no formal State apology.  The Taoiseach is aware of the issues and has expressed strong words of sympathy for survivors, but that is not enough. There is no legal barrier preventing a formal State apology, a proper compensation and support scheme reflecting care needs of survivors and a clear timeline in order that no one else dies waiting for justice. After last night's \"Prime Time\" programme, how much longer must thalidomide survivors wait for justice? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The T\u00e1naiste and I have met the Irish Thalidomide Association four times over the past eight months. All of the meetings were cordial and positive. We are anxious to get things moving. We have provided comprehensively and substantively in respect of issues relating to health needs for the entirety of the lives of people impacted by thalidomide and in terms of independent living and any supports that are required in that respect. There have been ongoing issues in terms of how we deal with the Contergan situation. There are other aspects that have been positively progressed. We are anxious, on the Government side, to progress this as speedily as possible. I can assure the Deputy of that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  Yet another damning report from the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, today that shows the Government is utterly failing to reduce emissions by the amount it committed to. For something that Taoiseach claims is an existential crisis, it is incredible how poorly his Government is at dealing with it. The EPA report makes clear that, at absolute best, the Government is on track to make 50% of the emissions reductions to which it has committed. That could cost us hugely. It is estimated that it could cost us up to \u20ac28 billion in European fines. I know the Taoiseach firmly does not believe that Europe is going to fine us that amount of money. In the absence of any information from Europe or any evidence to support his claim, however, that is a really high-risk strategy he is taking. In actual fact, he is playing chicken with the EU and that could cost us dearly environmentally, socially and other in other ways. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I outlined earlier in my comments to Deputy Bacik that the Government and Irish society have made significant progress. The target of 51% is very challenging, but we have made a hell of a lot of progress in onshore wind, which has been quite dramatic. In April, the third month in a row, onshore wind represented 50% of electricity generation here. Solar is really moving at pace now and, from all we can see, will continue to do so. It went from zero to replace coal as the third highest source of indigenous generation in less than a decade. I could go on. I mentioned the 1 million extra homes. It is important that we are all honest. Every day in the House - I am not referring to Deputy Whitmore because she is committed and consistent----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  It is the EPA saying this, not me. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Let us understand and acknowledge the challenges. Wind farms are objected to and are a source of huge issues across the length and breadth of the country. Solar farms are now becoming a significant issue that people are not happy with. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you Taoiseach. Time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  People are against gas generation stations as well----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I ask all Members to respect each other's time. Time is up Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----and the bottom line is we cannot switch on lights if we do not have more and more renewables. The consensus is not out there in relation to that in society more generally. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  Should hundreds of people lose their peace and quiet in order for a cup of coffee to be flown over them and delivered to a particular person? This week has seen major setbacks for commercial fast-food drone delivery in Dublin West and Cork. In Dublin West, Fingal County Council refused retention of operation for Manna at its base in Coolmine. Many submissions were made by residents. This was the second base from which Manna had no permission to operate. In the Taoiseach's city, where a hub was established without permission, the council has sent an enforcement letter to the same company. A unanimous motion has been passed by Councillor Brian McCarthy of Solidarity Party-People Before Profit in Cork, calling for a review of the impact of drones on the environment. The Irish Aviation Authority has dropped some of the restrictions it had on drones. Is it not time to outlaw the delivery of fast food by commercial drones in residential areas? The nuisance that they cause and the impact they have is way beyond the necessity for them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  There is a challenge and a problem here in terms of the regulatory frameworks governing what is a new phenomenon of drones providing services like delivering coffee or whatever else to people in residential areas. I do not understand why people cannot just go to a caf\u00e9, socialise and so on or why people think a drone is necessary to deliver a cup of coffee or whatever. It is something I do not comprehend, and I do not think needs to happen.  There is a big issue here. Residents are concerned about residential amenity in terms of noise and about potential privacy concerns. On the other hand, drone technology has probably been one of the fastest growing technologies, which we cannot ignore either. Companies are developing the technology for all sorts of applications. We want to see that develop, but we do need to protect our neighbourhoods. The planning authorities----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Taoiseach. Time is up and we have to stick to it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----and the Irish Aviation Authority need to come together on this. I have asked Ministers to work on it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  We need to respect the time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  Under the previous Minister for Health, third-party insourcing was introduced and used by the HSE to reduce waiting lists and carry out additional procedures in public hospitals outside normal hours. Now, providers are being told the system will come to an end in June, despite no alternative plans being published. At the same time, the numbers on waiting lists have surged to 155,000 since December 2024. More than 126,000 people are now waiting for treatments and diagnosis. What is difficult for patients in my constituency to understand is that over the past 27 months, insourcing delivered more than 500,000 episodes of care for around \u20ac90 million while outsourcing has cost \u20ac500 million for 157,000 episodes of care. As a former Minister of Health, does the Taoiseach accept that the Government is moving away from the more cost-effective tools available to it in the context of reducing waiting lists? Will he intervene with the Minister? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  There are fundamental issues with the insourcing model as it evolved. We are talking about people working in tertiary public hospitals who are being paid already. There are issues of which we have to be very conscious in terms of making sure that we are not paying twice for the same procedures or services. There have to be clear lines of demarcation. We are always open to engaging with perspectives people may have on this, but certainly there was a significant hue and cry about this when the scale of it was revealed. It has caused concerns. Then the HSE investigated some aspects of it and some of what it came up with was not ideal at all or optimal in terms of how we should deploy public resources. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  I am sure the Taoiseach will join with me in wishing the tens of thousands who are going to sitting State exams next week well. As we come towards the end of the school year, we must express our gratitude to school communities for all the work they do. School caretakers and secretaries are an essential part of those school communities. In September of last year, that they were forced to take to the picket lines. None of them wanted to be there. I would be grateful if the Taoiseach could provide an update regarding progress on resolving the dispute with school caretakers and secretaries and to convey our thanks to them for the work they do within our schools. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I was almost wishing the leaving certificate upon us given the very tough, wet winter we had. I said that surely when the leaving certificate comes around we would get good weather. Lo and behold, we have scorching weather, which is unfortunate for the students involved. It seems to be the case every year that there is a burst of sunshine at this time. I hope it will create a good backdrop to what is a very significant exam for the students. We wish them well. The good news is that there are many routes to help them get to their desired qualifications and careers.  On the school caretakers and secretaries, that matter is being dealt with by the labour relations machinery at the moment. I have been discussing it with the Minister, Deputy Chambers. I pay tribute to school secretaries and caretakers. They are an indispensable cog in the wheel of how schools operate. I accept what the Deputy is saying. The objective is to have this resolved before the commencement of the next school year. Hopefully, it will be resolved long before then. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Neville  The issue I want raise is the need for sporting infrastructure. Last week, I met with GAA members who were working on the No One Shouted Stop Until Now report, which focuses on Ireland's demographic shift in the past few decades and the response to it. Key findings in the report included that just 50 clubs out of the 2,200 clubs in the island of Ireland account for 25% of all zero to five-year-olds. That is startling. Just six counties are home to more than half of all zero to five-year-olds on the island of Ireland; my county of Kildare is one. The majority of GAA clubs remain rural, with 78% in areas where populations are shrinking. Like me, the Taoiseach is a keen follower of the GAA, but this also impacts hugely on other sports such as rugby and football, which face similar statistical and demographic shifts.  My ask today is that we work through planning and infrastructure to secure zoning, development levies and funding for multisport facilities such as Kerdiffstown in north Kildare, in order to address demographic shifts and allow for more sporting facilities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I would be a very enthusiastic supporter of what the Deputy has articulated in respect of more facilities. Local authorities have a key role in the zoning of land and the designation of lands. We were fortunate in Cork city over the years that successive city councils and city CEOs saw the value of land for playing pitches.  I have always contrasted that with the Dublin experience, which I find, frankly, poor in terms of the length of lease it gives clubs and the capacity of clubs to develop their facilities, and State agencies likewise. I will not go too far but the bottom line is we were fortunate in the sense that, outside of Dublin, many clubs had 100-year leases or own the land. I would be in favour of making sure that more councils look after clubs of all codes and community facilities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Maurice Quinlivan  I have raised a number of times over the years the capacity issues faced by University Hospital Limerick. The huge number of people on trolleys remains unacceptably high. One of the impacts of that is the number of outpatients waiting excessive amounts of time for appointments: 3,244 people have been on outpatient waiting lists for more than 12 months, with 981 of those waiting over 18 months for an appointment.  Something that could be done to reduce these numbers is the opening of the new surgical hub at the site of the old Scoil Carmel. That was scheduled to open this month but has now been delayed until the end of the year. Not only is it being delayed, but it will now receive only 50% of the funding it requires to operate properly, making it difficult to complete the 20,000 annual procedures that had been planned for. I welcome the new surgical hub regardless of whether it is delayed, but why is the funding being cut when the Government is fully aware of the crisis in emergency care at University Hospital Limerick? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Overall, funding is increasing in health and continues to increase dramatically and exponentially, certainly for the past five years. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Maurice Quinlivan  The Government has cut it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Limerick surgical hub is expected to be operational in quarter 4 of this year. Medical assessment units are extending services. Opening hours have been extended from 8 a.m. until midnight in Ennis and Nenagh hospitals. Overall, significant progress is being made in the HSE Mid West region on both waiting lists and waiting times. Compared to December 2021, the April 2026 total waiting list in HSE Mid West has reduced by 12%. The average length of time that patients on lists have been waiting has also reduced from 15 months to 6.3 months in the same period. There are challenges but increased capacity will help. As we discussed earlier, the contract has been signed for the next 90-bed block. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Maurice Quinlivan  Yes, but the Government is opening a new hub that----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call Deputy Cathal Crowe. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathal Crowe  There was a recent landmark An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la ruling relating to the Ballycar wind farm in County Clare. The argument centred on whether building the wind farm proximate to a radar installation would make the radar unsafe. It was argued that the flicker - the turning of the turbine blades - would distort the radar and make aviation unsafe. Key to that case were the Irish Aviation Authority, AirNav Ireland and Shannon Airport. They all weighed in objecting to this and it was ultimately proven that it would be unsafe. That was the decision of An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la. There is now a health and safety onus and a moral obligation to ensure that land proximate to wind turbines is dezoned from wind energy to safeguard key national radar infrastructure. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I am not aware of the specifics of that case. It seems a fairly unusual one in terms of the interaction of a potential wind farm with radar. Normally, the aviation authority has a role in housing, for example, close to an airport, which I would be familiar with. It is difficult to understand how things got to the stage they got to. An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la has made its decision but I am not sure it would have as wide an impact across the country as it has had in the specific circumstance the Deputy raised. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  This morning, the EPA stated that Ireland was going to dramatically fail to meet its 2030 legally binding climate targets. This failure by the Government will have major financial consequences for Ireland, with fines running into billions of euro to be imposed by the European Union. Listening to the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, on the radio and listening to the Taoiseach in response to Deputy Bacik, you would swear this morning's announcement was actually good news - the Government patting itself on the back because it is only going to fail the first carbon budget by a small amount; delighted with itself that the link between emissions and growth is broken, even though plenty of European countries did that ages ago; listing past growth in renewable energy, even though that was led by Green Party policies; and entirely ignoring the fact that its climate action plan is five months behind schedule. I have a serious question: does this morning's announcement that we are so far off target cause the Taoiseach any concern whatsoever? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy should not be condemning himself so much. It is only 16 months that this Government has been in place. The idea that we are not getting to 50% because of the past 16 months is nonsense. The Deputy must know that. Policies take a lot of time to bed in and deliver. The last Government did a lot, including Fianna F\u00e1il, Fine Gael and the Greens. The Green Party does not have a monopoly on climate. What is the Deputy saying? Is it that what happened when he was in government was not sufficient? He cannot blame the last 16 months for where we are. We have made progress. The targets are significantly challenging. The Deputy knows that - he always knew it. His former leader always knew it as well, so let us have a bit of realism here. The Deputy cannot just say that because his party lost the election, suddenly everything has gone south in terms of environmental and climate policy. It has not. One of the challenges is you need to work with people, not browbeat them, lecture them and hector them into climate change. That is one of the challenges. It is a concerning issue but we have made progress. Our population has grown dramatically. The Deputy should acknowledge that, too. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brendan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","memberCode":"Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brendan Smith  The assessment of need system has not been working. That system has not served children with additional needs or their families. I sincerely hope that the new autism assessment system works. Much faster access to assessment is essential, and follow-up therapies if needed. Time and again I have highlighted in this Chamber, through parliamentary questions and written representations, the unacceptable delays in children with additional needs in Cavan and Monaghan accessing therapies. Parents waiting for therapies for their children are justifiably angry and frustrated at the lack of timely supports and interventions. Enable Ireland provides the children's disability network team in County Cavan. Historically, there have been staff shortages there, impacting severely on children who need supports. Parents on limited incomes are paying for private provision, another source of pressure on them. Staff shortages in therapists across Cavan and Monaghan need to be prioritised by the HSE for urgent attention. Those families cannot continue to wait and wait. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. I know he has been advocating strongly on behalf of children and families in Cavan-Monaghan. Those counties have been facing some of the longest waits in the country for children's therapies. The root cause of that has been a chronic staffing deficit. At the Deputy's instigation, the Minister, Deputy Foley, visited the region recently and acknowledged directly that the system was not serving children and families as it should. However, there is a national recruitment campaign. Since 2020, about 40 therapists have been recruited in Cavan and Monaghan, bringing the total to 117. The national children's disability network team, CDNT, recruitment campaign attracted over 500 applications. Appointments are actively being progressed and staffing has increased by 28% nationally. That is about 448 additional whole-time equivalents. Waiting lists are coming down. The Minister is also changing the modus operandi in terms of how things will be done. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  It is three months since the Social Democrats' GP plan was unanimously passed by the D\u00e1il, yet we are still waiting on the Government to progress any real reform of GP services. The strategic review of general practice was to conclude within nine months but it has now taken over three years. The minimal changes introduced in recent years fall far short. Take for example the social deprivation practice grant, which was reformed earlier this year. Under the new grant, none of the Dublin inner city practices in the Deep End Ireland group, which represents GPs working in the most disadvantaged communities, received the social deprivation grant. That includes Summerhill Family Practice. How can ending their grant funding be justified? Clearly, the new system is not working, yet the Minister for Health does not plan on doing anything about it until the end of the year, when there will be a look-back exercise. Why is the Minister waiting to look back when she knows there is a problem right now? Will the Taoiseach urgently ensure that all practices in socially deprived areas receive the grant that was designed to support them? Will he tell us exactly when the never-ending strategic review of general practice will be finished? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  First of all, there has been very significant investment in GP services, significant increases in recruitment and additional placements and positions in our third level colleges.  Parallel with that, there has also been the expansion of pharmacy in its role in primary care, which should not be dismissed either. I would argue that a lot of investment under the various negotiations have occurred in respect of primary care and particularly in terms of GP care. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  The social deprivation issue, Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I am going to come back to the Deputy on that. I will talk to the Minister in respect of that specific issue but the idea that there has not been investment or significant resources allocated to GPs needs to be questioned. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  The strategic review of GP----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Please, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It is happening. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  It has been happening for years. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Edward Timmins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Edward Timmins  I want to raise the issue of the residential zoned land tax and how it applies to county councils. Councils were originally led to believe that they would not have to pay this tax. In Wicklow in the past year, the council paid \u20ac1 million in residential zoned land tax, which impacts on reducing services in County Wicklow. This does not work correctly because it penalises forward-looking councils like Wicklow that purchased land and had lands zoned. They are now being penalised for doing that. I ask that this be reviewed. Councils were originally told that it would not apply to them. I ask that the residential zoned land tax be abolished for county councils because it is encouraging them not to purchase land and not to hit their housing targets. It contradicts everything we are trying to do to improve housing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I will ask the T\u00e1naiste and Minister for Finance to have a look at that issue and to give some background information to the Deputy in respect of it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  Family resource centres are a lifeline for many families and individuals and right now they are helping people to bear the brunt of the multiple crises we are facing such as fuel, housing, cost of living, childcare and mental health. They are at the coalface. They provide vital supports, and they also contribute to the public good through social cohesion. They ensure that childhood continues, needs are met and communities remain connected, resilient and thriving.  Dundrum, Hillview and Balally family resource centres, FRCs, do the most incredible work in my constituency of Dublin Rathdown, but it is so disheartening to hear of the pressure they are put under in delivering what they do. We have to increase core funding because, at the moment, core funding for FRCs is at \u20ac180,000 per annum and that is intended to support three staff and overheads. It is not enough and will not prove sustainable for many centres. Some 70% of FRCs have reported that running costs have increased by at least 10% over the past two years. Will the Taoiseach commit to an appropriate increase in FRC core funding so that the wonderful FRCs around our country, like Hillview, Balally and Rosemount, can continue to deliver? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I have been a lifetime advocate for family resource centres and, in government, Fianna F\u00e1il has always been very supportive of them. That is why we approved in the last budget ten new family resource centres. The Minister also levelled up certain family resource centres because there were different levels of core funding to different centres. I will talk to the Minister to see what we can do in the forthcoming Estimate in the context of the core grant to such resource centres because I do believe that they provide a very strong, multidisciplinary and holistic facility and service to communities and families. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Miche\u00e1l Carrigy  I want to raise the issue of the lack of services for rail commuters from Longford travelling to Dublin. In the evening time in particular, there are only three trains - 4.50 p.m., 5.50 p.m. and 6.57 p.m. - that service Longford and beyond. There is no rail service from Longford to Sligo after 7 p.m. We have a growing number of commuters travelling to Dublin. We want to take cars off the road, but that means we need to put services place. However, when I contact Irish Rail, it acknowledges that it is purchasing 285 new carriages for the greater Dublin area. We need to look at investment across the entire network. If we are going to look for more people to use public transport, we need to put those services in place. On that route in particular, there is no service beyond Mullingar for the rest of the north west of Ireland after 7 p.m. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I will engage with Iarnr\u00f3d \u00c9ireann on this. A lot of expansion is happening and there are a lot of costs attached to it, investment required and so on like that. On the specifics of what the Deputy has raised, I will communicate to Iarnr\u00f3d \u00c9ireann his concerns in terms of the lack of frequency of such services. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan  I know that the Taoiseach is familiar with those who suffer from Friedreich's ataxia, as it has been raised with him in recent weeks. It is now nearly 700 days and the HSE has still not made a decision on the reimbursement for the drug Skyclarys. Other EU citizens are receiving this transformational drug thanks to support from their governments. Why are the HSE and Irish Government not supporting Irish citizens who urgently need it?  At the start of the year, a group of young adults came to the D\u00e1il to tell Members about their ordeal and what they were going through. Emily Felix was one of those people. At the time, she only needed one person to help her. Now, she needs two. I spoke to Emily's mother last night. She and her family feel helpless. The Minister will not meet with them and they are receiving only generic replies. I ask the Taoiseach to intervene and request that the Minister meet with these families and those who are suffering. I cannot stress enough how time sensitive this is. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I fully accept the urgency and seriousness of this for those who require Skyclarys. The engagement between the HSE and the company has perhaps at times been problematic. When I saw \"problematic\", delays have taken place, but meetings did happen. I will talk to the Minister again to see if we can get an outcome to this as quickly as we possibly can for all concerned. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan  They cannot wait any longer. They need it. It is criminal. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  I want to raise with the Taoiseach the urgent need for approval for Newtown School in Waterford to proceed with tender and construction for a new school building. The school has served Waterford for over two centuries. It entered the free education scheme in 2014 when it agreed to expand to accommodate 600 students funded by the Department. The old building, Wyse house, on the site is in urgent need of emergency works and a new development is needed to accommodate the growing student numbers.  To be fair, the school contacted all TDs asking us to raise this issue. It asks that the Government prioritises the development project, which includes moving this to tender and construction, but it also asks for emergency funding to deal with the state of the building at the moment where it needs to be improved. I know it is something that the Taoiseach can raise with the Minister for education. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I think I was at the site some time back, albeit not when the school was operational. It was a private school for many years and came over to the public system in 2012. It is an historic listed building. It is my understanding that modular provision has been made. I am getting a lot of prompts from behind me from the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, who is very familiar with the issue as well. It is an historic building and in fairness to the community there, it provides a significant contribution to education. The modular buildings will hopefully deal with the interim requirements, but I take the Deputy's overall point in terms of a new school building. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Murphy  Does the Taoiseach agree that the racing of the horse-drawn vehicles called sulkies on public roads is completely unacceptable? It is incredible to think that, under existing road traffic legislation, in particular section 74 of the Roads Act 1993, it is allowed for under certain circumstances. I am engaging with the Department of Transport in my role as Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Transport on the heads of the road traffic Bill, which are due to be presented to the Government before the summer recess. There is an opportunity to address that and to amend section 74 of the 1993 Act. I have also written to the Ministers for justice, agriculture and Transport for the establishment of a working group that would also look at issues around minimum age, licensing and the regulatory framework. There is no minimum age for driving a horse-drawn vehicle, so I would appreciate the Taoiseach's support in terms of amending section 74 of the Act and the establishment of the working group. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Broadly speaking, I favour what the Deputy says in terms of a proper regulatory framework. In many instances, established practices and existing laws have not been comprehensive enough to deal with all of the issues relating to road safety, including the general safety of people, and there are also the issues of equine welfare and animal welfare concerns. The welfare of equines is protected by legislation. There is a commitment in the programme for Government to build on existing inspectorate supports across the country, ensuring a consistent approach to dealing with horse welfare. I understand that correspondence has been exchanged this week between the Ministers for agriculture, Transport and justice with a view to arranging an initial scoping meeting at official level. That is the first positive step in this, and we will bring the three Ministers and their Departments together to get moving on this. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar fionra\u00ed ar 1.20 p.m. agus cuireadh t\u00fas leis ar\u00eds ar 2.21 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Sitting suspended at 1.20 p.m. and resumed at 2.21 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Pholasa\u00ed n\u00f3 ar Reachta\u00edocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-27\/debate\/dbsect_14","debateType":"statement","bill":null,"showAs":"Ensuring our Skills, Training and Innovation Systems Keep Pace in a Changing World: Statements","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_14","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Deputy James Lawless)  I will start the debate by reflecting back on 100 years ago. The 1926 census digitisation recently emerged and it showed a very different Ireland. It is worth reflecting on the journey that we have travelled in that 100 years.  Before I get into that, though, I hope the House will indulge me a brief personal note. Had I not been performing parliamentary duties today, I would have been attending my grand-aunt, auntie Alice's 100th birthday this afternoon where she is celebrating her party in a nursing home in Mallow with friends and family. She featured in that 1926 census as a very young infant. It is worth reflecting of that. I wish her a happy birthday and to family members who are joining her for that celebration today. She is a proud daughter of Dunmore East and now a resident in Mallow.  That century of life and the journey that we have all taken in that time in my own family and Ireland as a nation - the journey of our societal progress and economic growth - very much mirrors the topic of today's conversation, which is about skills, training, talent and research.  If we look back at the census, it tells us that, in 2026, when my grand-aunt Alice was born, it was a country of 3 million people. It was overwhelmingly rural. At the time, more than half the workforce was employed in agriculture or manual labour. Only a very small proportion - less than 3% or 4% - worked in what would be considered today as professional or technical occupations. Higher education was out of the reach of most families and emigration shaped the horizon of too many young people. Yet within the span of that single lifetime, Ireland has transformed itself. Through education, economic modernisation and openness to new ideas, we moved from the margins of Europe to being one of not only Europe's but the world's leading knowledge economies.  Today, we face another major transition. The forces shaping this century are different in form but similar in magnitude to those of the previous century. Once again, our success will depend on how effectively we prepare our people for our skills systems and prepare our economy for change that will continue to come at us. Change is the only constant in life. We cannot shy away or shield from it, but what we can do is embrace change, prepare for it and roll with it in being agile, versatile and responsive across our skill and training systems. I very much welcome today's discussion as an opportunity to set out some of the objectives and achievements of my Department to date, some of the challenges that Ireland faces at this time of change and how we can respond. I look forward to listening to colleagues around the House on their contributions on the same theme.  I will start by raising what we often refer as the four Ds that summarise the challenges facing Ireland and much of world today. The four Ds are demographics, digitalisation, decarbonisation and deglobalisation. Ireland has benefited enormously from foreign direct investment, FDI, and globalisation for decades, going back to Lemass and Whitaker's embrace of FDI and opening up of Ireland as a global trading economy, which had huge dividends and continues to do so on a large scale. However, resilience and indigenous growth require deeper capability domestically, including companies that are capable of scaling, innovating and competing internationally. Skills, research and innovation policy are central to building that capacity. Although our employment levels remain high and our unemployment levels remain low, we can never be complacent about the increasing challenges that are undoubtedly coming at us.  As everyone in the Chamber is aware, Ireland has entered a period of profound transition, driven by four independent but interdependent global disrupters, namely, the four Ds. Population growth, combined with ageing, will fundamentally reshape Ireland's labour supply and workforce composition going forward with several implications for skills needs over the coming decades. I was at an event this morning, which was a skills roundtable that my Department held with the construction sector. One of the presentations referred to how today we had four working aged people for every one person in retirement. By 2050, we will have two working aged people for every person in retirement. That is a celebration of our health service and longer lifespan, but it also shows the scale of the challenge in supporting people living longer and healthier lives, the healthcare needs that go with that and the demographics of a changing population.  In tandem, the economy is having to constantly evolve to accommodate the rapid pace of the second D, digitalisation. That includes AI, quantum, the Internet, social media, smartphones and all the technologies that pervade our lives and we have come to take for granted but that continue to change at scale. They are also pivotal to the Irish economy and technology sector in Ireland, employing roughly 150,000 to 200,000 people directly. We are home to many of the major global giants that drive on those technologies. The reality is that the impact of AI is becoming more visible with each passing day, even if we still do not understand its full implications. Only last week, we saw job losses being announced by Meta and Covalen, reminding us just how quickly the landscape can shift and bringing darker clouds onto the horizon. While these changes are driven by many factors, there is a growing recognition that technological change, including AI, will play an increasingly important role in shaping the future of work over the decade ahead.  Artificial intelligence will undoubtedly and unfortunately displace some tasks and reshape parts of the labour market. Equally, though, it will create new industries, professions and opportunities. The question for Ireland is whether we can position ourselves as passive consumers of these technologies and watch them come at us or we want to be active participants in shaping and building the future and embracing and leading the adoption of technology. Responding to AI cannot simply mean reacting to disruption after the fact. Ireland must aim to become one of the most AI-capable workforces in Europe. To support this, I recently launched a platform called aiready.ie, which is a new national initiative with the mission to upskill 1 million people to develop practical AI skills and learning over the years ahead. The objective of the initial phase, which is now live, is to ensure that everybody, including workers, consumers and pensioners, can confidently use and benefit from AI technologies in their daily working lives. I encourage all Deputies to log on and complete the training.  All of this is happening at a time of extraordinary geopolitical uncertainty sparked by a series of wars, supply chain disruptions and protectionist policies. Many of these factors are further shaped by ongoing efforts within the European Union to move to climate neutrality, which is a necessary transition that is bringing significant change to economies and labour markets. Our decarbonisation agenda demands our energy supply, energy grid and our entire renewable energy sources to be fully explored and utilised, which itself brings its own demands in terms of skill sets, renewable energy skills, planning, construction and the entire infrastructure agenda that the Government has set out. Everything from our metros, DART+, energy grids and housing supply that we want to radically ramp up is all dependent on a skilled workforce with the relevant training and skills available to build it all out.  When we look at these four Ds together, they will result in considerable structural change across the economy. Each of these megatrends has the potential to impact on the key components of economic growth, such as productivity, labour and capital. Ireland has navigated periods of profound economic transition before. A century ago, the majority of our workforce was employed in agricultural and manual labour.  By the 1960s, free secondary education had transformed opportunity for an entire generation. Today, we face another transition, one driven by technology, demographics and global competition, and once again education and skills policy will determine how successfully Ireland adapts. They are accelerating the pace at which skills requirements evolve and place unprecedented pressure on education and training systems to respond with speed, scale and precision. They are accelerating the demand for digital, green, healthcare, engineering and adaptive workforce skills. They are making lifelong learning, reskilling and flexible education systems even more critical to ensuring that we can keep pace with the changing and evolving demands of our workforce needs. It is, therefore, an opportune time to pause and reflect on the current state of play of our skills and innovation systems to determine both where we stand and where we must go next.  My Department was established less than six years ago to ensure that Ireland's economy and society were enabled to adapt to the challenges and uncertainty we now face. I see our role in that way as responding to both the immediate needs of today but also looking ahead to anticipate future needs. My Department increasingly operates at the intersection of education policy and enterprise policy and in many respects it might be termed a ministry for the future, ensuring that our people, our research system and our skills base remain Ireland's greatest competitive advantage.  As Minister, I am guided by four clear priorities. First, to foster research and innovation as an economic enabler. Second, to provide high quality, highly accessible tertiary education. Third, to expand and develop pathways to skills, reskilling and apprenticeships to match Ireland's evolving workforce and societal needs. Fourth, to promote curiosity and the pursuit of knowledge and education as a public good in its own right. I am expanding pathways to skills, reskilling and apprenticeship capacity through targeted investments across that sector. Our further and higher education system has expanded rapidly in recent years through this increased funding, with more course places, apprenticeships and alternative entry routes beyond the traditional CAO pathway being made available. Higher education enrolments reached nearly 279,000 students in 2025. This was a 5% increase on 2024, with CAO applications rising by more than 7% in 2025. To cope with this demand and to accommodate more students taking their choices, we expanded places in high-demand areas, with more than 300 additional healthcare training places added in 2025 alone, summing to 1,100 new places created across the healthcare and related therapy professions in recent years.  The future will require higher levels of targeted upskilling. Microcredentials are firmly establishing Ireland as a European pioneer in accredited flexible learning. There are now over 600 short, enterprise-aligned courses available to allow professionals to upskill and reskill in high-demand fields. We have also been busy building out the tertiary degree programmes initiative where students begin in further education and training colleges and later progress into higher education institutions. I have now almost quadrupled the number of programmes from 19 in 2024, when it commenced, to 78 now in 2026, with programmes expanding into areas like occupational therapy, nursing, social care and the creative arts. I have just come from a graduation ceremony at Dunboyne College of Further Education, which now has a feeder school into Maynooth University school of nursing. Dunboyne College has many other occupations and qualifications on its list. It, along with many other FET colleges around the country, is now providing local and regional access to high standards of education, which can lead on to a tertiary degree or to further qualifications in universities elsewhere.  We have also significantly expanded the apprenticeship system to address shortages in construction, engineering, ICT, healthcare and trades. There are now over 80 different programmes of apprentices and the total number of apprentices exceeded 31,000 at the end of 2025, which is an increase of almost 60% since 2020. Construction and construction-related apprentices accounted for almost 23,000 of these, up 57% from the same period. Our target is to increase annual apprenticeship registrations to 12,500 per annum by 2030. My officials are currently developing an action plan to achieve this target and it will be published by the end of the year. This additional apprenticeship capacity is funded through the National Training Fund, a cornerstone of our education skills framework which also supports a range of other skills programmes, including Springboard+ through our higher education institutions and the skills to advance scheme through our education and training boards. The common denominator is that the programmes are aimed at increasing the skills of our population, particularly in areas of key importance to our economy such as engineering, IT and construction.  In 2025 I allocated \u20ac489 million to workforce training, which represented an 85% increase over 2020 expenditure. In January, I signed the commencement order for the National Training Fund (Amendment) Act 2025, which enables the drawdown of \u20ac1.5 billion from the National Training Fund surplus over the six years to 2030. This comprises \u20ac885 million in current funding and a \u20ac650 million capital uplift. This funding will deliver increased investment in further education apprenticeships, research support, modern infrastructure to deliver world-class skills, as well as expanded healthcare and veterinary training facilities. As a Government, we want to be sure that the National Training Fund continues to future-proof Ireland's workforce and ensure that it is equipped with the skills needed to thrive in an increasingly unpredictable global landscape. I am engaging with the T\u00e1naiste in his role as Minister for Finance regarding the treatment of the National Training Fund within expenditure ceilings and working collaboratively across the board to ensure the National Training Fund can be deployed strategically, responsibly and at scale to meet Ireland's long-term skills and competitiveness needs.  The National Training Fund also supports the work of Skillnet Ireland, the workforce development agency. Investment in the agency has grown substantially year on year. Since my Department was established in 2020, investment in Skillnet Ireland's core funding has grown significantly, rising by 43% from approximately \u20ac36 million to \u20ac51 million in 2025. Through 17 enterprise-led networks, Skillnet delivers training that is demand-driven and tailored specifically to the needs of industry. This partnership approach underpins our approach to skills development. All of these developments highlight the multiple pathways for people to begin their journey in the workforce and to expand their knowledge, skills and experience over time. Everyone needs to evolve their skills given the pace of change and my Department's work is critical in enabling this lifelong learning, agile response to skill sets and taking bite-sized chunks of an educational journey through things like microcredits and flexible credentials. We also know that success must be predicated on strong collaboration with industry and education, and my Department plays a key role in ensuring that key stakeholders are working together to keep pace with the demands of the modern world. It does this by bringing together further and higher education, enterprise and Government to ensure skills provision is aligned with the needs of the economy. We take a whole-of-government approach, working closely with key Departments to ensure alignment.  Skills policy now cuts across every major national mission. Housing delivery depends on construction skills. Climate transition depends on engineering capability. Digital transformation depends on advanced technical talent. Meeting our disability and healthcare needs requires a team of healthcare professionals. All of these demand co-ordination across the Departments of housing, education, enterprise and, of course, infrastructure through the Department of public expenditure and infrastructure. Of course, we must also ensure our policies are grounded in reality and responsive to the shifts and the needs of business to meet the increasing challenges and unpredictability of the workplace today.  I have convened a set of national skills round-table discussions to bring together leading employers, industry bodies, trade unions, education partners and others to identify skills gaps and ensure that training pipelines match real-world employment needs. Just this morning I jointly hosted an event with the Minister, Deputy James Browne, in UCD with the main construction players, as I just mentioned and the different agencies and representative associations. The event focused on construction skills and infrastructure needs, with over 50 delegates attending and participating in the task of shaping our skills landscape together in order that we can meet our national ambition in construction and infrastructure growth. This series marks the beginning of a national programme of structured, sectoral-focused, high-level engagements ensuring that Ireland has the right skills for a rapidly changing economy. The series will examine how AI, digital transformation, new technologies and evolving work practices are reshaping the skills required across every sector and identifying and taking actions now to future-proof our workforce. Through the series, round-table members participate in targeted, deep-dive sessions. Insights gathered will drive national skills policy, investment priorities and support long-term workforce planning.  Another way we are preparing for the future is through the reformed National Skills Council. This was fundamentally reformed and re-launched last year to provide strategic foresight and bridge the gap between education, enterprise and Government to meet modern workforce demands. The restructuring, following a recommendation of the OECD, focuses on transforming the Irish skills ecosystem to prioritise the employer's voice in workforce development and address structural changes, such as the digital transformation and the transition to a net-zero economy.  The council has published its inaugural strategic advice to Government, Skills Matter: Priorities to Shape Our Future Capabilities. Key recommendations of this advice include establishing a national skills observatory, effectively a database of real-time information on our skills needs, vacancies, gaps and the requirements of society and the economy to meet the ongoing needs through our skills and talent provision. It also proposed leveraging the National Training Fund more effectively so investments can be better aligned with the upskilling needs of enterprise and workers; and shifting the education and training system to support flexible, lifelong learning opportunities.  The national skills observatory is currently in development, and this will transform our skills and intelligence landscape. It will help us to map out Ireland's future skills pipeline and provide the best education and training responses for identified needs with greater precision and foresight. It will strengthen our skills response, so that it is agile and able to pivot, enabling us to address emerging and pressing needs. I am looking forward to receiving the National Skills Council\u2019s second set of advice which is anticipated next month.  Ireland has strongly succeeded when we concentrated on excellence, in institutions like Tyndall, the original regional technical colleges now technological universities, and our apprenticeships. However, the existing system was built for a slower moving economy and perhaps a slower moving State. The economy now moves faster. I am resetting the systems we have in place to drive the development of skills, investing in programmes that ensure we have systems that are agile, responsive and closely aligned with industry needs.  My Department is exploring the concept of national skills academies that will build on our tradition of excellence by creating recognised national centres with deep industry integration and strong regional impact. Put simply, these academies would be centres of excellence, focused high-quality hubs that bring together education providers and industry in key areas of strategic need. These centres can act as anchors within our skills system, driving innovation curricula, accelerating the adoption of new technologies and providing clear, high-quality pathways into critical occupations.  Whether in areas such as digital technologies, advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, construction, retrofitting, the green economy and much more, centres of excellence can help ensure that our training provision is not only keeping pace with change but actively shaping and leading it. They can concentrate and bring together expertise, support regional development, and act as beacons that attract both learners and investment.  This would ensure alignment with jobs, working closely with employers in the design of training so people gain skills that lead to real opportunities. It would ensure that businesses, particularly SMEs, are supported to access the talent and training they need to grow, innovate and adopt new technologies.  Just as importantly and critically, national skills academies are about people. They would open up flexible, accessible learning opportunities, supporting lifelong learning, helping people adapt in their careers and creating new pathways into employment for anyone who might have been left behind. They would help us to build a more inclusive labour market, where everyone has the opportunity to contribute and succeed, ensuring that we have the skills, talent and systems to shape change and to lead it. Investing in skills means investing in our people. When we invest in our people, we invest in Ireland\u2019s future.  On the innovation front, the programme for Government sets out an ambitious set of commitments for research. I am very much focused on research and innovation as an economic enabler and a creator of societal resilience. I have increased investment in research with over half of the \u20ac4.55 billion that I secured under the national development plan dedicated to this crucial economic tool. This includes \u20ac750 million of new money for a landmark INSPIRE research infrastructure programme, focusing on research equipment across the higher education sector; and in parallel an increased budget for Research Ireland to support the implementation of its inaugural five-year strategy, Curiosity, Capability and Competitiveness. The three pillars of the Research Ireland strategy of talent, economy and society speak to the same goals I set out earlier.  We are also expanding our role in European and global research systems, for example, through membership of CERN which I did in my first 100 days serving in this role; signing the European Quantum Pact; and securing to date over \u20ac1 billion in Horizon Europe funding.  While INSPIRE is funding research equipment, it is a strategic investment in Ireland\u2019s talent and innovation ambitions. Research infrastructure is not a niche academic concern; it is national infrastructure and a public good in the same way that transport, energy and digital networks are national infrastructure.  Strengthening Ireland's research workforce is a cornerstone of national research and innovation policy. I am progressing multiple routes to nurture our existing research community such as through a range of Research Ireland's programmes and attracting international research through the Global Talent Ireland initiative that I launched last summer along with a new and expanded scholarship programme, called Global Gaels.  I am also very keen to strengthen the links between PhD provision and industry so that PhD graduates enter the labour market with the best possible, employer-ready skill set. In this regard, I am examining the industrial PhD model used in other countries and also looking at other ways we can align the needs of industry with our emerging research talent.  I welcome the opportunity to reflect on these issues in today\u2019s debate because the scale and speed of change we are now experiencing demand constant attention and resources. The reality is that there is no single, simple response to the challenges posed by the 4 Ds I set out at the start. We are dealing with overlapping pressures on our labour market, our public finances, our infrastructure and our capacity to deliver. It is clear that in the years ahead, we will face difficult choices about how we prioritise resources and where we focus our efforts. Investment in education, research and innovation is always money well spent. We are already seeing the fruits. We are already beginning to see the needs for these areas. Whether it is expanding our construction workforce to meet housing and climate targets or to grow our healthcare workforce in response to demographic change, the competition for talent and skills will only intensify. It is important that we try to meet these demands and try to scale up as rapidly and sustainably as possible.  The return on skills investment and research investment is not immediate but it plants a seed which will flourish over time. The results will not come overnight but they will come tomorrow and in the generation to come. That creates a responsibility to act early, to stay the course, and to resist the temptation to be short term or reactive in our thinking.  There is a great deal under way already and a lot more to come. When my grand aunt Alice was born a century ago, the newly released census captured a country still finding its feet economically, educationally and societally. The decisions taken by successive generations transformed Ireland in the course of her lifetime. The responsibility on our generation is no different: to ensure that the Ireland taking shape over the next century is equally prepared, equally ambitions and equally capable of adapting to the world ahead. I look forward to the rest of the debate and listening to the views of colleagues on this important discussion. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ensuring our Skills, Training and Innovation Systems Keep Pace in a Changing World: Statements"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-27\/debate\/dbsect_15","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Message from Select Committee","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  The Select Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport has completed its consideration of the Media Regulation Bill 2026 and has made no amendments thereto. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Message from Select Committee"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-27\/debate\/dbsect_16","debateType":"statement","bill":null,"showAs":"Ensuring our Skills, Training and Innovation Systems Keep Pace in a Changing World: Statements (Resumed)","counts":{"speechCount":39,"speakerCount":32},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_16","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donna McGettigan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cormac 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Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Geoghegan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Cahill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maeve O'Connell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maeve-O'Connell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Maeve-O'Connell.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donna McGettigan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donna McGettigan  I wish the Minister\u2019s grand aunt a happy 100th birthday. It is a great achievement to have.  I welcome this debate on ensuring our skills, training and innovation systems are kept up to date in a rapidly advancing world. Technology continues to evolve at a pace that means if, as a country, we are not investing enough in skills, research and innovation, we will be left behind very quickly. The world of work is changing before our eyes. Artificial intelligence, automation, green technologies and digital transformation are already reshaping entire industries and Ireland cannot afford to stand still while other countries race ahead. That is why we need proper investment in these sectors to provide opportunities into the future. Harnessing these opportunities will help create well-paid sustainable jobs, further develop Ireland\u2019s capacity to attract foreign direct investment and strengthen indigenous enterprise while contributing significantly to the economy across the island. However, investment cannot simply be talked about; it must be delivered.  An OECD Ireland skills strategy report released in 2023 raised urgent concerns about the readiness of Irish adults to adapt to changes in the world of work. Despite a high proportion of adults holding third level qualifications, the report highlighted a serious lack of essential upskilling and lifelong learning participation placing many Irish workers at risk falling behind. The figures speak for themselves. Only 14% of the adult population engaged in education and training in 2021. In comparison, countries such as Sweden and Finland reported rates of 35% and 31%, respectively. That is a stark warning signal and emphasises the urgent need for increased investment in lifelong learning initiatives. Workers should not have to choose between paying bills an improving their qualifications. Education and training must be accessible throughout a person\u2019s life and not just at the beginning of it. Sinn F\u00e9in believes in building a fairer economy where workers are supported to adapt and thrive in changing circumstances.  Just this week the IMF warned that Ireland is more exposed to AI than many advanced economies because of our concentration of information and communication technologies, financial services and other knowledge-intensive industries. The IMF made clear that we need to better prepare our labour market for the impact of AI. That preparation starts with Government taking skills training and lifelong learning seriously.  We recognise the enormous benefits and potential AI can bring by improving public services, increasing productivity and driving innovation, but we do not naively look upon AI as an intrinsic force for good. There is also significant potential for harm, from job displacement and misinformation to abuses of privacy. For that reason, AI must be robustly regulated, with workers and communities protected as technology advances.  Alongside investment in digital skills, we need to remove barriers to apprenticeships and trades. Apprenticeships are critical to delivering the homes, schools, hospitals and infrastructure that our country desperately needs.  If we are serious about future-proofing our economy, we must also address the crisis in higher education and research. Third level institutions and their ability to carry out world-class research and development are at a crucial juncture. There has been massive under-investment in research and higher education over the past decade. Targeted all-island intervention is needed to ensure that research facilities are fully equipped to deliver the knowledge skills needed for both multinational employers and indigenous Irish firms. Failure to invest now will have negative consequences for future growth, innovation and job creation.  Irish unity would create significant opportunities for greater co-operation between third level institutions across the island. Linking research facilities on an all-island basis would provide greater co-ordination, stronger collaboration and the potential to accelerate Irish scientific and technological advances for the benefit of everyone who lives on this island.  We also need to listen carefully to what industry is telling us. IBEC\u2019s Open for Business campaign has highlighted the urgent need to accelerate infrastructure projects across the State. Concerningly, IBEC\u2019s skills survey revealed that 82% of Irish firms are reporting significant skills gaps in their workforce, and this damages our competitiveness. We cannot build a resilient economy while failing to invest in the workforce needed to sustain it.  To prevent talent gaps and keep pace with rapid change, we need ambitious investment in renewable energy, offshore wind, grid connectivity and innovation capacity. The green transition presents enormous opportunities for skilled employment and regional development, if properly planned. Success in this evolving landscape requires us to forecast future shifts, build adaptable skill sets and actively shape the future instead of reacting to it after the fact. Navigating an increasingly unpredictable global market means our top priority must be future-proofing Ireland and continuously upskilling our talent base. That requires long-term thinking and sustained investment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  I will set my script down and instead talk to the Minister about my biggest concern at the moment, namely, youth unemployment. It is at approximately 12% and could grow further. Graduates and their parents and families have invested in education to the point where they are coming out with four or maybe six years of education, but they do not have employment opportunities in their own country. Obviously, whatever strategies we have are not working when we take that as a measure of what is happening today. It is a huge concern. I want the Minister to specifically put actions in place to ensure those people can work in their own country.  There are also too many barriers. I spoke with a physiotherapist the other day. In the first instance, we did not have enough college places for people like her and, as a result, they had to train in the Netherlands. As part of their registration, they had to come back to do a placement in an acute hospital. They found out, however, that because they were forced to get their education abroad, no placement was available for them in an acute hospital. They find themselves being forced to emigrate and work in another country when we are desperate for physiotherapists here. There are too many blockages and I want the Minister to examine and remove them.  I also want the Minister to work, as my colleague said, on an all-island basis. We need a labour force that covers the whole of the island. There are too many impediments to having that workforce right across the island.  The other concern is that we may find ourselves in a situation, just like with Covalen, Meta and others, where people are suddenly without jobs. Imagine a young couple or individual working for such a company. They may have debts, but they will also have huge obligations, such as rent or a mortgage and all of those things. Those people may suddenly find they do not have a job any more. The Minister must speak to the Minister, Deputy Burke, about this. I have been trying to get through to him for months now about the need to have a plan in place so that when there is an announcement made about job losses, there is one point of contact for those workers. That point of contact would be able to advise them about opportunities for their start-up enterprises, the immediate supports that are available and securing new employment.  I also see an opportunity in this regard. We have lost so much expertise within government. We need much more expertise inside Departments. Where we have young, qualified people coming out of college or people who have been unfortunate enough to lose their jobs, we need to be taking those skills inside government to build up the necessary expertise so that we are not continuously outsourcing and taking consultants on. We should be building that capacity in Departments, whatever Department it might be, right across government. This outsourcing that has been done for years has left us vulnerable to outside influences. Many things need to be done in this regard, rather than mere written strategies. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell  One of my constituents is an apprentice heavy vehicle mechanic. When he signed up for the course, it was advertised as a four-year apprenticeship. While it was a big commitment, it was an investment in himself that he wanted to make. It is, however, a commitment that he would likely not have made had he known how his training would pan out. In January 2025, he should have started the off-the-job training aspect of his course, but he was told that he would have to wait for an indefinite period of time because SOLAS did not have the capacity to deliver it. Months passed in this vein. He contacted me in the hope that some way to end this wait could be found in order that he could continue his course. All he wanted was to roll up his sleeves and start work, but he was left out in the cold waiting to hear whether he could continue his course.  More than one year has passed since, and he is still waiting. This month, SOLAS contacted him to inform him that he will be waiting until January 2027 at the earliest. That is a full two years after he should have started this training. I spoke to him today and he told me is considering dropping out of the course. He is considering looking at something else. This is not the first time he has said this to me. It is a continuous thought. He feels he cannot continue to wait and is utterly disappointed.  This young man has been failed by the State. His ambition has been crushed by a broken skills and training system that is not working for apprentices. He is not alone in this regard. In a response to a parliamentary question I received in December, the Minister confirmed that over 1,7000 apprentices were waiting in limbo for off-the-job training. Meanwhile, there are chronic shortages of tradespeople across our economy. The Department\u2019s forecast shows that we need 80,000 construction workers to deliver its plans for 300,000 new homes, plus the retrofitting of over 400,000 homes. Yet, apprentices of all types are waiting to progress but they cannot do so. These people want to be qualified. They want to help their communities and sort out the housing crisis but the Government is letting them fall through the cracks and asking them to put their lives on hold. The Government is simply not delivering for them.  If a law degree \u2013 I have said this before in this Chamber - took six instead of four years, there would be outcry across the Chamber. Think about this young man and his two friends who are considering dropping out of their apprenticeship programme because they simply cannot wait any longer. I have followed this matter up with SOLAS and I have raised it in this Chamber, but to no avail. We need a fundamental shift in how we deliver apprenticeships. Instead of putting up barriers to entry, letting courses spiral in length and charging apprenticeship fees, the Government should be doing everything in its power to encourage young people into these jobs and boost the number of workers in trade and construction. It should increase the funding for the training bodies, provide targeted financial supports to SMEs during off-the-training blocks and abolish apprenticeship fees once and for all. We need to take these things seriously. We need to allow young people to have a future. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  I admire the Minister\u2019s suit. I recall it was a tradition for a while that the summer properly started in Leinster House when former Member Bernard Durkan broke out his cream and grey suit. Perhaps the Minister \u2013 another Kildare TD - is now taking up that mantle and is the tribune of summer in Leinster House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  I hope to be in this House as long as him. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  That would be a fine record.  On the research side of things, I back the calls by IFUT. We are talking about taking research seriously, and rightly so, but people undertaking PhDs in crucial areas of research in many instances still receive a stipend that is very low. It needs to be acknowledged that this is not some form of payment towards maintenance; it is their full-time job. They are not meant to be doing anything else. They are meant to be full time at the PhD, whatever discipline it is, whether science, health or whatever. It is meant to be a full-time occupation. Ultimately, the PhD stipend is not sustainable in particular in Dublin and Cork and probably in the other cities as well. That needs to be addressed.  On the skills side and apprenticeships, I remain concerned. We have a housing crisis and it continues to escalate. We are not going to resolve that without ensuring there is adequate throughput of apprentices on the craft apprenticeship side. There are serious backlogs. Like my colleague, Teachta Mair\u00e9ad Farrell, I have heard of people who have gone through the different stages of the apprenticeship and waiting for the final stage for a year or two years. What is meant to be a four-year qualification takes six years. That is unacceptable. If we are encouraging people to take up apprenticeships, it should not just be school-leavers. It should be people switching careers. Unfortunately, it is not realistic for somebody in their thirties who might have a mortgage or childcare costs and is leaving a different career. They are not able to survive on first-year and second-year apprentice payments. It is just not sustainable. That needs to be looked at. How do we support people who decide at 33, 34 or 35 years of age or whatever age or maybe later that they want to become an electrician when there is clearly a need in that discipline. There are blockages in most of the trades, particularly instructors for electricians and electrical instrumentation. There is a particularly slow take-up of wet trades. When you talk to contractors, that is a big concern for them. We need to look at how to bring more people into apprenticeships and into the wet trades, which are badly needed during this housing crisis. That needs particular examination. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  We meet at a moment of enormous change in our economy, workplaces and society. Across every sector from manufacturing to medicine, construction to finance, agriculture to creative industries, technology is transforming how we work, learn and live. Artificial intelligence, automation, digitalisation and the green transition are not future challenges, they are present realities. While these changes bring enormous opportunity, they also bring understandable anxiety for many workers, families and communities. The question before us is quite simple: will Ireland shape this transformation in the interests of people or will we allow people to be left behind by it?  When we talk about skills, training and innovating, we are not simply talking about economics, we are talking about dignity, opportunity and whether a young person in Longford, a parent returning to work in Cork or a worker displaced in Donegal can look to the future with confidence rather than fear. That is why our skills and innovation systems must not merely react to change, they must anticipate it and prepare people for it. They must ensure the benefits of innovation are broadly shared across society. Ireland has many strengths to build upon. We have a highly educated workforce, world-class universities and technological universities, strong enterprise sectors and a global reputation as a centre for investment and innovation. There are also serious weaknesses we can no longer ignore. Too many workers cannot access flexible retraining opportunities, too many apprentices struggle with costs, accommodation and insecure pathways, too many schools still lack adequate digital infrastructure and guidance supports, too many adults feel lifelong learning is designed for other people and not for them and too often our education and training systems remain fragmented, difficult to navigate and slow to adapt. The pace of technological change is accelerating but public policy has not kept pace.  The Labour Party vision for skills and innovation begins with a simple principle - education does not end at 18 or 22 years of age or with a degree certification. In a changing world, learning must become lifelong, flexible and genuinely accessible to everybody. That means we need major expansion of lifelong learning opportunities not as a slogan or pilot programme but as a central pillar of our economic and social policy. Workers should be able to upskill or retrain without risking poverty, losing housing security or sacrificing family responsibilities. That requires flexible evening courses, hybrid learning, modular qualifications and proper financial supports. It also requires partnership between Government, employers, unions and education providers because workers themselves often know best where skills gaps are emerging and where training is urgently needed.  We must be honest that many people currently locked out of training are those who need it most - low-paid workers, workers in insecure employment, people with disabilities, carers, workers in rural communities and older workers who fear technological change because nobody has invested in supporting them through it. A just transition, whether digital or green, cannot simply mean telling people to adapt. It means giving them the tools, time and support to adapt successfully. If we are serious about future skills, we must also be serious about apprenticeships. For too long in Ireland apprenticeships have been treated as secondary options rather than equal pathways to success. I know from the Minister's perspective since he has taken over this role apprenticeships are no longer a secondary opportunity for people. That mentality is outdated and damaging. I believe that is changing during this D\u00e1il term.  We urgently need more apprenticeships in construction, retrofitting, healthcare technologies, cybersecurity, advanced manufacturing and renewable energy. We need stronger links between apprenticeships and further progression routes into higher education and to tackle financial barriers that continue to discourage participation. At a time when we face housing shortages, infrastructure deficits and climate obligations, investing in apprenticeships is not optional; it is essential national planning. Future skills are not only technical skills. Creativity, critical thinking, communicating and adaptability matter.  In an era of artificial intelligence, uniquely human skills will become even more valuable. That has profound implications for schools and the higher education system. We cannot prepare young people for a changing world through an education model built entirely around high-stake exams and rote learning. Students need digital literacy but they also need media literacy, civic education, creativity, teamwork and problem solving. Teachers need support too because no innovation agenda can succeed if educators are overwhelmed, under-resourced and exhausted. Teachers are already managing extraordinary pressures in classrooms. If we want our education system to evolve, Government must seriously invest in teacher recruitment, continuous professional development and classroom supports. Innovation cannot simply be downloaded onto schools with the resources.  While we rightly discuss technology, we must also discuss inequality. Technological change can deepen inequality if governments fail to intervene. We already see worrying divides in access to digital infrastructure, devices and educational opportunity. We know children from disadvantaged backgrounds continue to face barriers their wealthier peers do not. Educational disadvantage still maps too closely onto income, geography and disability. If innovation only benefits those already advantaged, it will fail socially and politically. That is why the Labour Party believes investment in education and skills is not merely economic spending but also social investment. It is nation-building and one of the most effective ways to strengthen democracy. Societies where people feel secure, valued and included are better able to navigate change.  We should also recognise the importance of research in public innovation. Ireland's future competitiveness cannot rely indefinitely on low corporate tax or external investment alone. We need indigenous innovation, stronger research ecosystems, sustained public investment in science, research and development and stronger collaboration between universities, technological universities, enterprise agencies and local communities. Innovation policy must not become detached from public purpose. It should help us to solve real societal challenges such as sustainable housing, delivering cleaner energy, improving healthcare access, supporting inclusive education, strengthening public transport and addressing climate change.  Technology is not neutral. Public policy shapes whose interests it serves.  We must also confront the implications of AI honestly and responsibly. AI has enormous potential to improve productivity, healthcare, research and public services, but it also raises serious concerns around employment rights, misinformation, bias, surveillance and concentration of economic power. Workers cannot simply be treated as collateral damage when it comes to technological disruption. We need strong labour protections, ethical regulation and social dialogue as these technologies evolve. Crucially, workers must have a voice in shaping how technology is introduced in workplaces, because innovation imposed without consultation breeds distrust. Innovation developed democratically builds confidence.  There is another issue we must address, namely regional imbalance. Too often, opportunity remains concentrated in Dublin and a handful of urban centres. A modern skills strategy must include regional development. That means investing in further education colleges, technological universities, research hubs, transport links and broadband right across the country. Talent exists everywhere in this country; opportunity does not. It is the responsibility of the Government to close the gap in this regard.  The green transition also presents one of the greatest opportunities of our generation. Retrofitting homes, developing renewable energy, expanding public transport and restoring biodiversity will all require huge numbers of skilled workers. If we fail to train people now, however, we will face bottlenecks, labour shortages and missed climate targets later. Climate policies and skill policies must therefore be developed together rather than separately. The same is true for housing policy, industrial policy and regional policy. Joined-up government cannot remain as an aspiration; it must become a reality.  We must remember that the purpose of economic progress is not simply higher GDP figures; it is improving people's lives. A successful skills and innovation system is not only measured by productivity statistics or investment rankings; it is also measured by whether people feel secure about the future, whether workers feel valued, whether young people believe they can build a decent life here and whether communities feel included in national progress. That is the test we should apply to every policy decision in this area.  Ireland has the talent. We have the creativity. We have the potential, but potential alone is not enough. We need political choices that match the scale of change before us - choices to invest in lifelong learning, to support workers through transition, to strengthen apprenticeships and further education, to tackle inequality and to place fairness and inclusion at the heart of our innovation policy. The future of work should not be something that happens to people; it should be something that we shape together. If we get this right, Ireland can become not only a leader in innovation but also a leader in ensuring that innovation works for everybody. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Albert Dolan  Something that we have to be cognisant of is that over the past few years many people have said that it is our corporate tax rate that has attracted so much investment. That is not the case any more. It is our people who are driving that investment. It is also down to our knowledge base, our skills base, our highly-educated workforce, our work ethic and, I guess, to a desire for better and to do more. That does not just happen, however. That will only happen with continuous investment, continuous learning, continuous education and a continuous drive to see people upskill and be better prepared to take on the challenges that are coming at us. It also is a reflection of the fact that nobody will do one job for 30 or 40 years any more. Such jobs will be highly unlikely. People will constantly have to re-educate, reskill and better equip themselves for the opportunities that are going to come their way.  On the advance of AI and the opportunities and threats that come with it, what I want to say is that there could be massive economic benefits to Ireland from AI. What will it all be for, however, if the benefit is not felt by everyone? The key lies in ensuring that our workforce is skilled and educated and moves with AI and that we leverage our country as being one of the best countries in the world in which to do business through AI. We must also facilitate it and see that Ireland garners disproportionate benefits over other countries in terms of our speed of implementation. That is where the biggest wins will be achieved.  The other point I want to make is around innovation and people taking a chance on themselves in the context of starting their own companies. It is so important that we continue to invest in innovation and in people who want to see something that is a game-changer take place in our country. Companies and individuals struggle to scale across Europe and do not make it big. That comes down to capital access as well. However, we have an opportunity to invest in innovation over the coming years and to see to it that there are huge success stories which generate massive employment and excitement across the country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cormac Devlin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cormac Devlin  Skills, training and innovation are the foundation of Ireland's competitiveness and of every young person's opportunity in life. The investment of \u20ac1.5 billion in the National Training Fund, including \u20ac37 million to SOLAS for construction, manufacturing, healthcare and the green transition, is the single most consequential reskilling investment of this Government. Apprenticeship registrations in construction and related fields have grown by 57% since 2020. I see this on the ground in my constituency, in Dublin College, Loughlinstown, where craft apprentices from across south County Dublin and beyond do their phase 2 training.  I raised in the House previously the phase 2 backlogs that existed post-Covid, and it is great to see progress in that area, with the numbers down from 5,300 in October 2023 to 1,800 or thereabouts today. This shows that the system is working, but, of course, there is more to be done. Further investment will expand the number of places and ensure that they are relevant in the context of a changing Ireland.  The next big challenge is AI and the impact it is going to have on society and the labour market. AI will not replace skilled workers but it will reshape every job they do. As a result, we must prepare young people not only to use AI but also to develop it, interrogate it and think critically alongside it. Foundational digital literacy, AI literacy and critical analytical skills must be embedded as the core of every further and higher education programme, not merely bolted on. I welcome t he establishment of AI Ready  and the advent of the Springboard+ AI places.  The harder task will be reforming the curriculum right across the system. The educators at Dublin College and those in Blackrock, Sallynoggin and, of course, D\u00fan Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology, IADT, which the Minister visited recently, are up to that challenge.  Speaking of recent visits, the Minister also visited the community training college on York Road in D\u00fan Laoghaire, where educators such as Ms Catherine Bell and her colleagues do fantastic work upskilling students and preparing them for their next stage of life in the exciting decade ahead. I thank the Minister for his commitment to his role and for the visits he has made across the D\u00fan Laoghaire area. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Clendennen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Clendennen  It is broadly agreed that 65% of children who start primary school this year will start work when they finish their education in jobs that do not currently exist. That shows the level of change we are seeing. The OECD and the World Economic Forum have outlined that the average person will have ten to 15 different jobs during their working life. On foot of that, we need to be more dynamic and more adaptable than ever before in what we do in the area of training, skills and innovation systems.  Eurostat figures show that in relation to tertiary education attainment, we are well above the European average and our target currently of 65% of youth between 25 and 34 years have attained educational qualifications compares to the European average of roughly 40%. That shows that there is an ability and a desire on the part of our young people to improve themselves, but what we need to do is ensure that they have the flexibility to provide that in other areas. When we look at the likes of trades and apprenticeships, we need to continue on our trajectory in making it more appealing and encouraging people to get into that area.  The Minister visited the Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board in Offaly on Monday. The progress that has been made there in terms of diversification and the number of different courses that have been invested in has been exceptional. It has truly made a difference to my local community.  I will give the Minister one example of just transition whereby funding was made available in order to address the void left by the ESB and Bord na M\u00f3na for science, technology, engineering and mathematics, STEM, officers. The latter have done an exceptional job. Every primary school and every secondary school in Offaly now has VEX Robotics. This has created a whole new culture of STEM, led by Mr. Ray Bell and Mr. Dean Hodge. At the end of this year, however, just transition is due to conclude and the jobs of those STEM officers could potentially be in jeopardy.  We cannot have that situation when we are working to innovate and looking to be dynamic and adaptable when it comes to new sectors. We need to get them up and running. We have schools that are enjoying success in competitions in the US on an annual basis. Countries are looking to us with regard to what we have done in respect of STEM education at a time when we are putting funding in jeopardy. That cannot happen. If I could ask the Minister one thing it would be to find funding for opportunities like that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  I agree with much, if not everything, that has been said in the course of the debate by those on all sides. Balancing our skills need and development is important. I want to come at this from a slightly different angle, however. I am chair of the European affairs committee, and a delegation from the committee recently visited Luxembourg and met some of the people involved in the European institutions there. We know they exist throughout the European Union, including with Eurofound, which celebrates its 50th year in Loughlinstown in my constituency this year. There are a range of positions and good jobs in those institutions that are available to Irish people.  We have done very well in the European civil service, if I can call it that, over the years, whereby Irish people have attained very high positions, in particular the likes of Catherine Day, who was head of the European civil service before she retired. In a meeting with the European Court of Auditors in Luxembourg, we found there were six high level in Ireland there due to retire the coming years. There are not the people at the middle level ready to take over for them at the higher level.  In terms of readiness and preparedness from a national point of view, one of the opportunities we have is to push much harder that door into European institutions. The European Movement Ireland has a green book to advertise and inform people of the vacancies arising. Those vacancies can relate to the Commission, the Council, the Parliament or other institutions right across the Union. We need to do better at convincing Irish people to apply for these jobs. We are lagging behind other countries in terms of applications. Italy is one of the front-runners. It has an institution dedicated to preparing people to apply for those jobs, not just telling them about what a job involves and the remuneration package but also about how to apply for a job and how to prepare an application. When people get interviews, that institution gives them the skill set and information they need to be successful. That is important, not just because it is good for the people involved to get those jobs and get into an institution that can be a lifelong place of growth and opportunity but also, and more importantly, it means, from a national perspective, that when decisions are made all over Europe, if there is an Irish person sitting at the table, our perspective is ventilated. Of course, the institutions do not represent any state, and I am not saying they should, but it cannot be a bad thing for Ireland to have a person in the room when decisions are being made. The best way to do that is to reinforce the need for Irish people to apply for jobs in Europe. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan  I welcome this opportunity to speak about the high standard of skilled workers we have in Ireland and to those students who are coming through our education system right now. This is something we should be very proud of, but it is also an area in respect of which we must be far more ambitious. When it comes to educating our citizens, the sky should be the limit.  We need to recognise the achievements of our institutions. We are fortunate to have the South East Technological University, SETU, which has campuses across Waterford, Carlow, Wexford, Wicklow and Kilkenny. We also have Carlow College, Ireland's second oldest third level institution, which recently announced that it will wind down operations and that no new students sill be accepted this September. As one can imagine, this is a massive blow for Carlow. Over 600 students attend the college, but, critically, 87 staff members now face redundancy over the coming two years. There has been talk of redeployment, but the staff must be central to those talks. They have a wealth of knowledge and expertise that we cannot afford to lose.  There has been engagement between Carlow College and SETU. I ask the Department to work alongside the institutions to support a positive outcome for staff and to put supports in place for those who cannot transition to SETU. I would also like to know when the Government became aware of the plan to close Carlow College and whether any attempts were made to keep it open. This is a substantial site and an historic building that cannot be left idle to just rot away. The immense uncertainty hanging over staff and students right now cannot be overstated. I have heard from staff who do not know whether to stay in the hope of redeployment or to start looking elsewhere. I have also heard from students who are worried about whether their courses can be completed if the staff begin to leave. They deserve clarity, not vague assurances. We should strive to offer a wide range of third level courses in the south east.  I have four sons in primary and secondary school. I know from speaking to other parents the worry and anxiety they feel at the thought of their children having to go to Dublin or Cork for a course. The cost is crippling for so many families. The silent sacrifices parents make so often I go unnoticed, but we make them just to give our children opportunities. That is why having a strong range of courses on offer and giving young people the chance to study near their own communities would be a positive development. It would be great for families and communities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  I was late for the Minister's speech because I had to be somewhere else. I have read it and I like the fact that reference was made to the four Ds. I am sure some people in this building will remember the three Cs or whatever the other letters were years ago in education. The three Rs----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  Reading, writing and arithmetic. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  That is exactly it. We now have the four Ds. I agree with many of the points the Minister made. We are educating our children and young people leaving secondary school. In terms of where they go on, the starting point is what level people are at when they do the leaving certificate or leaving certificate applied. Many do not know how to open a bank account, change a tyre on a bike or car or do many practical things because we have put them into a system from which they almost have to be deprogrammed. They have to develop critical thinking skills in first year in college. My daughter had to do that in order to start to think about real-life things as opposed to what is taught by means of the leaving certificate syllabus. That is for a different Department and another day.  When it comes to learning at third level, we have to examine a number of things. The Minister spoke about broadening first year post-leaving certificate and post leaving certificate applied courses and making them more general. I would love to see that. I often speak about the love of learning, which is something I am very passionate about. The rest of this contribution will probably be about where we are, the skills we need for an economy and so on, but my fundamental starting point on education is the love of learning and passion because that is what will drive us forward. When somebody works in a job they love, they will do really well. It is the same when they are studying.  We need to examine what we are offering. I agree with what a previous speaker said. The Minister's focus on apprenticeships is most welcome. The easier we can make the transfer from second level to third level and into apprenticeships the better. At a meeting of the further and higher education committee when young apprentices explained the process of applying to be an apprentice I was struck by how complex the process is. Everybody else fills out a CAO form, which is not easy and which is quite complex. For a parent it can be quite daunting, in particular a parent who may never have applied through the CAO. We need to make the apprenticeship process more streamlined.  As another Deputy stated, we need to take account of young people not in employment, education or training. I talk about community training centres quite a lot. I will speak about one I visited during the week, namely Cherry Orchard Community Training Centre. It has tied-in equine services. People can learn to work with horses, including equine therapy and working in stable management. That is the sort of practical skills that CTCs have. It is the same with Youthreach and local training initiatives, LTIs. I could not come in here and not say that we need to sort out the contracts for CTCs and LTIs. Organisations are working to assist young people who found mainstream education did not fit how they learned, which is ultimately what the difficulty is.  I refer to adult and further education. Community education is important to make sure that anybody who has not had the opportunity to go to third level straight after school has an opportunity to go back and learn.  In this country, we have a massive issue with people who still do not have appropriate numeracy and literacy abilities. Adult education services and organisations like the National Adult Literacy Agency, NALA, are there to make sure people are at the appropriate level because they cannot be left behind, yet they have been for a long time. On that basis, some of the skills we need to be looking at come under one of the Ds the Minister mentioned, namely, digital and AI skills. Whether we like it or not, the reality is AI is here and we need to find a mechanism to be able to use it to our advantage and make sure that everybody is using it in all different sectors but in an appropriate and ethical way. With that comes cybersecurity and data analysis training. What does that mean in all of the different sectors we will be working with? There is also software engineering, cloud computing and digital skills for all sectors - small- and medium-sized enterprises, but also for the public sector. We are in here. How are people dealing with it in the Civil Service? How are we dealing with all of these things?  The Minister mentioned industry and education collaboration, which is really important because we need those partnerships. One cannot exist without the other. We cannot be training and running loads of programmes at third level that have no relevance whatsoever. In a way, we have that in second level. There is stuff that is not relevant to anything. It is outdated, outmoded and we have done it for years. We need to change that, and that is what is good about the leaving cert reform. We need to make sure that industry and education are connected, not only in the technical universities or the further education training centres, but also at apprenticeship level.  Coming back to lifelong learning for a second, we need a modular basis for learning that is also stackable. I had the pleasure of opening the exhibition for the students in the Royal Hibernian Academy of Arts, RHA, the other day. They can do modules or they can do a two-year course. I will come back to the Minister at a later stage because the RHA does not have Higher Education Authority, HEA, status and there is something amiss there. It was fantastic to meet those students because they told me that they could come in and do one module and, later, they could do another. It fits into their lifestyle, which is important. We need to ask if it can be online or hybrid.  There is the mid-career change issue. There are several of us sitting in this Chamber who have changed jobs mid-career to become politicians. That is the same for everybody. People change careers. It is not like years ago when you started, went into a job and stayed in it for 45 or 50 years.  The other things I want to talk about are research and innovation ecosystems. How do we do that? How do we have start-up incubators? Where do they fit within that? Somebody mentioned the regions earlier. We need to move out of Dublin; we do not all live in Dublin. We need stronger technological transfer supports within that ecosystem.  We have talked about green skills and the climate a lot and the fact that we might miss those targets now. If we are not using now as the catalyst for moving into all areas of climate, we will really fall behind. Part of that is looking at what technologies we need and where we are with regard to renewables, sustainable construction, the circular economy and all of that sort of stuff.  There is a student who has been on work experience with me for the last little while. She will be heading off to do a master's degree next year in an institution in this country. It will cost \u20ac9,000. If we want to have things like that, master's programmes cannot be that expensive. That is prohibitive for many people.  We are very strong on pharmaceuticals in this country. We need to look at biotech and the capacity there with regard to life sciences, automation and robotics. Since I have come into this role, I have met a number of people who are working in that industry. We need to support them much more but there needs to be link, not just between people who are working in that industry and third level, but also back to second level. It starts in second level. In fact, I would say it starts in primary school.  There are two final points I want to make. All of that said, there are two areas that are really important. None of this will be of any use to anyone if we are not making sure it is inclusive and there is social mobility within it. We cannot leave behind anybody because they live in a socio-economically disadvantaged or rural area, they are a mature student or they have been displaced by AI or automation. We need to make sure we are focusing on that.  Regarding disability and other support services, as education spokesperson, I daily hear about the number of children who are identified as having additional needs. We are far behind where we need to be with support services for children and adults who have disabilities. We need to make sure that we are training occupational therapists, OTs, speech and language therapists, SLTs, therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists and all of those people who can make sure that the disabled person is getting the supports they need.  We have a huge issue in this country with mental health and we do not have the support services we need. There are huge waiting lists.  In terms of skills, we need not only everything on the technological side, but also a human perspective. We need to have people who are trained, have the capacity and passion to work with people of all ages who have mental health problems or disabilities, and are supported to reach their best potential. I could not leave this conversation without saying that. While a lot of what I have said is about the pharmaceutical industry or technical aspects, but at the end of this, we need to make sure that every person in this country has the capacity to learn and work to the best of their ability. We need to ensure there are all the supports around that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Murphy  I will take this opportunity to not only highlight, but shine a light on the proposed college of the future on the former Kickham Barracks site in Clonmel and acknowledge the progress of the project in the context of the SOLAS major project process. It would be remiss of me not to acknowledge the Minister's steadfast support for the project as well. As the Minister knows, I wrote to him in March inviting him to come to Clonmel to see the site first hand. He is due to visit the site in the next number of weeks. I look forward to welcoming him to Clonmel.  It should not be seen as just another major project. It is transformative in nature and involves the creation of Ireland's fully integrated further and higher education campus. I acknowledge the significance of this project for Clonmel, south Tipperary and the wider region. It presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to deliver a modern tertiary educational campus. I acknowledge all of the stakeholders involved at the local level, particularly Tipperary ETB, but also the local authority, local industry, the public representatives and the wider community. Importantly, this project reflects the ambitions set out by the Government on balanced regional development, skills provision and parity of esteem between further and higher education.  I look forward to welcoming the Minister to Clonmel in early June. Seeing the scale and potential of the project first hand will underline its continued momentum and Government support. That is important as the project moves to the next phase. I acknowledge the work of Tipperary ETB, SOLAS and all of those involved to date as well as the Minister's steadfast support in particular. I look forward to seeing this flagship project continue to the next phase. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Geoghegan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Geoghegan  I thank the Minister for giving us the opportunity to talk about such an important area of our society and economy. The area I am particularly focused on as Leas-Chathaoirleach of the AI Oireachtas committee is the impact of AI, the disruption and making sure that Ireland is ready and prepared. We need to make sure that the students of the future are adapting and developing the necessary skills they will need for the jobs of the future. An IMF report released on Monday or yesterday indicated that up to 40% of current jobs in Ireland would be impacted by AI in one way or another. That potentially underestimates the impact of AI in Ireland but what is really being highlighted there is the strong services element of our economy and the impact that AI can have on that.  For a lot of young people out there, one of their biggest fears is that their jobs will effectively be taken away and they will not have jobs. These are graduates who have done all of the right things, worked hard and their parents have saved to support them through college. They want to see them getting good jobs and staying and working here. They are really fearful that the introduction and pace of AI will not be good for them. The only way to respond is to ensure that we have the right skill set and that our third level institutions, our further and higher education institutions and the State are walking, as much as they can, in lockstep with the changes that are taking place in the private sector and the changes that are being adapted in the public sector when it comes to AI.  The Minister will be familiar with the interim report the AI committee published in December. One of the key recommendations was the establishment of a critical skills observatory. I was delighted to see that recommendation form part of the national AI strategy published by the Taoiseach. I am aware that the Minister is working on this observatory and that it is soon to be completed, based on replies to parliamentary questions I saw.  We need to set up the critical skills observatory as soon as possible. It is important \u2013 maybe this is already happening \u2013 to have a good degree of collaboration between the Minister\u2019s Department and the Department of education, given that the Minister for education, Deputy Hildegarde Naughton, has established an AI task force. This is really responding to the needs of the moment. I am sure I am no different from any other TD in this room in the sense that when I talk to teachers and students, I note they are saying the same thing. Teachers just want some level of direction in terms of how the children use AI. The children want direction on how they can use AI in a way that effectively does not stupefy them and does not reduce their capacity and learning skills in education.  Many countries are already moving at pace in this area. One of the countries I visited with the Chair of the AI committee, Deputy Malcolm Byrne, was Estonia, a country well known for its digitalised society. At secondary level, it is already sandboxing education to some extent. It is introducing AI into the classroom but monitoring and assessing it at a very high level. Academic institutions are supporting its introduction into the classroom. They are appraising it as it is introduced. Having retrained many of the teachers who have voluntarily signed up for some of the pilot projects, they are assessing the learning in the classroom. Ireland has, perhaps, the opportunity to learn from the mistakes being made in some countries when they introduce AI into education.  I urgently ask that the critical skills observatory be established and that we ensure we have the jobs for the future. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call Deputy Joe Neville. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Neville  First off, I just----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Cahill has just arrived and I believe Deputy Neville was to share his time with him. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Neville  Yes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Therefore, I think we will have to cut Deputy Neville\u2019s time a little. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Neville  Perfect.  I welcome Ms Clodagh Hanna, chair of the politics society in Trinity. It is good to have someone who is beginning the journey from a schools perspective. Over the past 25 or 30 years, or indeed since I have been observing, we have been very good at sending children to university and then into the workforce. Ireland\u2019s having a highly educated workforce has worked very well for it internationally, but that is beginning to change. We know of the impact of AI and that we need to consistently renew critical skills, not only in university, but also after university. The days of going to university and then getting a job had already changed, but we now have a situation where the skill sets required will probably change considerably.  As somebody who has worked in businesses, especially where electricians and plumbers were required, I have seen where there have been deficits. As a country, we probably pushed everybody to university. That has worked for us, but we have lost the skills that would be required for the building of the likes of Intel, which I was thinking about when thinking about this topic. Intel is a huge multinational based in my constituency, and I can walk to it, but it should be remembered that the people required to build it are the electricians and plumbers. We need to ensure we have the skill sets for those apprenticeships while also having critical skills in the likes of AI, which will really change how we do things. As a country, we need to have a two-pronged approach. It is not just about going one way. Last year, the Minister said that we had \u20ac79 million secured for apprenticeships. I would like this increased significantly if it can be. We have to keep a focus on this and not have everything going one way, having regard to how the workforce is changing. Sitting behind a desk is not for everyone and, as a country, we need both skill sets.  I thank the Chair for the opportunity to speak on this today. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Cahill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Cahill  I want to raise again two hugely important education and economic development projects for County Kerry and ask that every effort be made to expedite both.  The first is the proposed hospitality education college at the former Pretty Polly site in Killarney. It is a transformative project not just for Killarney but also for the wider south-west region. Hospitality and tourism, as the Minister is well aware, are the backbone of our local economy, and this project would create a state-of-the-art training campus focused on hospitality and skills development. I welcome the progress already made. I thank the Minister especially for the \u20ac2.375 million he made available to Kerry ETB to acquire the site from Kerry County Council and the approval given to Kerry ETB to engage with the vendor and proceed with the due diligence on the preferred site. However, I urge that SOLAS continue driving this project forward at pace. The demand for skilled workers in hospitality, tourism and food services is enormous, and the college will help secure the future workforce for one of Ireland\u2019s most important industries while also bringing more educational investment into Kerry.  The second project I want to highlight is the proposed commercial diving and underwater welding training course, to be based in Cahersiveen and to be provided through Kerry ETB. This is an exciting and innovative project with huge potential for south Kerry and Ireland\u2019s marine sector. There are excellent careers and well-paid jobs available in underwater welding and commercial diving but we need to ensure Irish people have access to the training required to enter those professions. Cahersiveen is ideally placed to become a national centre of excellence for this type of marine training and skills development.  I acknowledge the constructive engagement already taking place involving Kerry ETB, Bord Iascaigh Mhara and the relevant Minister of State, Deputy Timmy Dooley, but I ask that the project be prioritised and progressed urgently. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  In a rapidly changing world, it is very difficult to follow from one headline to another, whether it relates to domestic matters or geopolitics, which are in constant flux. Somebody said that we seemed, unfortunately, to be almost returning to the 1700s, just with better weaponry. It is a necessity that we deal with the realities of the world we live in and ensure we have the appropriate skill sets.  I welcome certain things when we are talking about ensuring a greater level of access for those who may need another path, whether that is in medicine or teaching. I am talking about two very particular skill sets that we need in society. A considerable number of people, particularly young people, may want to enter medicine or teaching. It is necessary to ensure we allow the free flow because, at times, we may open pathways but not to all. This must be taken into account.  We know the issues that exist regarding the whole sphere of disability, particularly children\u2019s disability, even if we are talking specifically about autism. No matter what issues I may have with how children\u2019s disability network teams, CDNTs, and primary care are put together, I know that whether we are talking about in-school therapies, CDNTs, primary care or something else, there will be a need for a greater number of therapists. It is about ensuring the best modes of training. We have all seen apprenticeship types change. We must have an increased number of pathways that suit people from the point of view of garnering the skills necessary to deliver.  It goes without saying that Queen\u2019s University Belfast and Dundalk Institute of Technology, DkIT, have a partnership that many of us welcome. Hopefully, it can be a win for both and ensure more of the work that has already been done by the likes of the Regional Development Centre in DkIT, and also a greater level of research work and output.  The Louth and Meath Education and Training Board has done considerable work with the Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre of Excellence, which is operating directly with employers. I cannot but talk about the \u00d3 Fiaich Institute of Further Education, the Drogheda Institute of Further Education, DIFE, and the various pathways that are available, but I still feel we need much earlier intervention to ensure we can get people into work.  We are aware of the ongoing fear of displacement through AI, with whatever benefits there will be. We have seen it in Meta contractor Covalen and possibly PayPal. However, we do need to deal with the issue of personal assistants in the further education colleges and the need for proper contracts. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  An Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI, report in April predicted that approximately 7% of Irish jobs could be lost to AI in the short to medium term. That equates to approximately 200,000 jobs. The Central Bank estimated earlier this year that almost 900,000 jobs are at risk of being replaced by AI. That is just direct job losses. In reality, the impact will be a lot worse than that because many of the jobs that are lost will be higher paid roles in ICT and finance. Over 20,000 tech jobs have been lost in the past year alone and the rate of job loss is accelerating. Meta is cutting 20% of jobs. Covalen Solutions is trying to make 700 workers redundant. Oracle is cutting 150 jobs. Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael have turned the economy into a corporate tax haven where income and wealth are distributed like an upside down pyramid but jobs go the other way around. A small number of mega rich US multinationals are booking billions in profits and paying a sliver of the workforce very high salaries and bonuses. In turn, this is supporting over 500,000 low-paid service workers in hospitality, retail, cleaning and childcare. That is why Ireland has the highest level of market income inequality in Europe. If 200,000 higher paid jobs are lost, or even more, when the AI bubble bursts and the global economy crashes, the wider impact on jobs and workers could be truly catastrophic.  AI still is not profitable, despite all the trillions being speculated on it, and nobody has proven yet that it will lead to widespread productivity gains. An economics paper published earlier in the year, called \"The AI Layoff Trap\", shows how even if it does, the economic impact will still be dire because the more capitalists replace workers with AI, the fewer workers there will be to buy good and services, and consumer markets will collapse.  What is the Government doing to plan for this? Not nothing but worse than nothing. It is cheering on the AI lemmings as they race over the cliff. The Taoiseach and the rest of the Cabinet are constantly banging on about adopting more AI and doing it faster even though they know it is going to decimate jobs and worsen inequality. They are sacrificing more and more of our electricity and water supply for vast, empty data centres that do not create tech jobs or protect them from being cut. In fact, they are speeding up tech job losses by creating the infrastructure that the big tech bosses need to replace more tech workers with AI. Every data centre is like a giant Pac-Man gobbling up energy, water and jobs. The ESRI predicts significant declines in household income and increases in inequality as a result of AI, including a 30% increase in capital income to the richest 10%. It is so extreme that even the ESRI is now recommending expanding taxes on wealth and capital. In other words, a wealth tax and an increase in corporation tax and inheritance taxes on the rich. That is precisely what we have been calling for. However, there is no chance of the Government doing any of that. In fact, it is doing the opposite. It is living in the last century and must get its head out of the clouds. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  This is an important debate. A high proportion, in excess of 60%, of our young people go to third level. It is good that people are becoming highly qualified and are able to get quality jobs. However, there is a skills shortage and an imbalance. There is a shortage of people with construction skills and a shortage of people undertaking those apprenticeships. That was not addressed during the Celtic tiger, even though there was a building boom, and it was certainly not done during the crash. There is a shortage of electricians, plumbers, plasterers, carpenters and technicians for retrofitting and heat pumps, etc. Laois County Council has difficulty even getting people to service heat pumps and finding people to repair them because the skills are not there.  We also need apprenticeships in the motor trade. There is, in Laois, a chronic shortage of mechanics, technicians and crash repair panel beaters, along with the shortages across the county in the building trades. We need apprenticeships. There need to be apprenticeships across a wide range of areas.  I welcome the fact that the Government has expanded the programme. There are over 80 apprenticeships at the moment. We need to be promoting that in accounting, IT, manufacturing, logistics and so on. Apprenticeships offer an alternative route. We need to further develop apprenticeships through the Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board. It is doing excellent work in Mount Lucas. Other training centres in Laois and Offaly need to be used for that. Apprentices have an advantage because they are earning and training. That is better than being in a third level college in a lot of ways. They have on-the-job and real-life experience, which is hugely important. They also have progression to secure employment and the exceptionally high rate of employment after apprenticeships shows that. They also have freedom in later life because they have a transferable a skill. They can progress to greater things. For example, carpenters can move on to become clerks of works.  I acknowledge the expansion in the range of apprenticeships. We should be actively promoting that. An idea was put forward over the weekend by an economist who suggested that when we are building an extension to a school, the pupils of the school should be able to visit it and interact with the workers and the project to give them a taste of what it is like and encourage them.  There is exploitation of apprentices by a small number of employers. They use them as a means of cheap labour by paying less than the minimum wage. Instead of apprenticeships being used as an opportunity for learning and training, they are being used for that. The apprentices are being let go in their third or fourth years. It is important that apprentices have the right to be represented, like all other workers, by a trade union. We do not have the right to collective bargaining here and we need it, particularly for apprentices. They need to be within the minimum wage framework and the Redundancy Payments Act. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  One aspect of a changing world is a population that is getting older. That means we need more people caring for the people who get older and who are less mobile and have higher levels of disability and so on. That means the people who provide that care need to be treated properly if we are going to get the people to do the work, the need for which is expanding and is going to expand as the population of this country gets older. However, we do not, to a very large extent, treat them well. I have met quite a lot of people over the past couple of weeks. The workers at North Side Home Care Services are on strike. Once upon a time, they had parity with those who were directly employed by the HSE. They were at the same level as healthcare assistants. That parity was broken and has never been restored for considerable numbers of people, despite an impression being conveyed that a deal was done when some people, those in section 39 organisations, got restoration. There was a whole group of people - and I am only getting my head around this - who were considered out of scope, whatever that means. It meant they did not get pay restoration. They are getting paid poverty wages while doing the same work as people who are employed directly by the HSE and get relatively decent wages compared to them.  It is not just North Side Home Care Services workers who are in this situation and are on strike. I met a load of others. There are thousands of people doing this work. They are doing very difficulty work and are asking themselves why on earth they would continue to do the job when they are getting paid such a miserable level of pay and did not get pay restoration. They think it is because a lot of these so-called not-for-profit care companies are a stepping stone towards the privatisation of these services. You start at the same level as directly employed healthcare assistants, with parity and so on, and end up on poverty pay working for a company where there is no accountability and the work is outsourced and privatised. That is a big part of a changing world. It is not as high flying as digital and all that stuff but is an important part of our future, given our ageing population. We need to start to treat those workers properly. It begins with them being returned to the pay parity they enjoyed before austerity, which, let us not forget, was imposed after Fianna F\u00e1il drove us over a cliff. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John McGuinness  I agree with Deputy Newsome Drennan about the transparency that is needed around the Carlow College decision and the 600 students and staff. We need clarity as soon as possible and I ask the Minister to give that issue his attention.  I welcome the fact that we have a South East Technological University. I want to see the campuses developed properly and fully, and funded. I refer particularly to Kildalton College and the veterinary courses there. We need to see a future where more students are attracted into that area and the funding is clearly available for the expansion of those courses.  Likewise, millions of euro have now been invested in the further education college of the future in Kilkenny and I would like to see it expand and develop again.  Earlier in the debate, Lemass and Whitaker were mentioned. If they were here, they would probably say the development of everyone in the Civil Service sector needs as much attention to ensure they keep pace with the policies we are putting forward. Much of the expenditure we approve in the House is poorly spent. There are often big issues with it but it is a large amount of money. It is time now that we modernise the Civil Service, equip the staff for what we want them to do with the policies we are outlining and encourage them to reform Government Departments in a meaningful way so they are at pace with political decisions and the changing world we now live in. Will the Minister of State address that in the context of education? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  Lamp lighter, town crier, water carrier, horse-drawn cart driver, washerwoman - these were all careers highlighted in the 1926 census, which was published recently. I am sure many here looked at the national archives and saw those roles. They were all skilled roles. What happened was that technology came along and replaced them over time. It is critical for any society when technology comes along that people do not stand like Luddites, as we heard some colleagues speak previously, but embrace the technology, avail of the opportunities and, most important, ensure citizens are upskilled to avail of the new opportunities. AI is without doubt the most transformative technology we have seen in quite some time. The World Economic Forum reckons that in the next five years, while 92 millions jobs will be displaced globally, 170 million new jobs will be created in new areas, in exciting areas like healthcare and so on.  I commend the Minister, Deputy Lawless, on the aiready.ie initiative and the proactive approach being taken by many universities and training agencies to upskill and reskill all our citizens. However, it will require a whole of society approach and we need to be ambitious because this will have an impact on every area. How are we embedding the use of AI skills - the value that can be added by their use - into every area of work from agriculture to transport?  I will briefly mention another critical issue. We all know about the great work done by Youthreach and local training initiative programmes. I am familiar, for instance, with Youthreach in Gorey. The Gorey and Courtown local training initiatives, LTI, offered through Gorey Youth Needs Group do incredible, good work on the ground. Many young people have been able to avail of training and have gone on to pursue incredible careers. However, there remains a differential in the pay structures between staff who operate on Youthreach programmes and staff who operate on LTI programmes. Those inequities need to be addressed. The people providing young people with real opportunities need equity and I ask the Minister of State to prioritise that matter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail  Thinking of a changing world, many of us this afternoon are speaking about AI, and rightly so. However, in Ireland the changing world also means an increase in population and an ageing population. Thankfully, we have the National Training Fund and \u20ac650 million of that is for healthcare training. In my hometown, Maynooth, for example, there is now a school of nursing helping to tackle the issue of not having enough healthcare staff across the country and particularly in the eastern region. That is extremely welcome.  On artificial intelligence, many colleagues have spoken about the initiatives taken by the Government thus far, particularly by the Minister, Deputy James Lawless, my constituency colleague, including the launch of aiready.ie two weeks ago and how that is improving and helping people. Some 45 micro qualifications are ready. Springboard courses and Skillnet courses are available. These are all courses happening, particularly for people looking to learn more about AI.  Where we fall short is in workers in situ . I spoke about this as a Topical Issue matter this morning. The Minister of State, Deputy McConalogue, was here when I spoke about it. I have developed a policy and programme and a pilot for that programme under which people would be retrained and reskilled within their roles if their jobs are at risk, if there is a risk of that job being removed. That ensures we protect workers in the jobs they are in, rather than them losing them. It is not just a higher education and skills issue. It is a Department of enterprise issue and a Department of Social Protection issue because it goes across all of society. Most important, it is a workers' issue, to protect workers in society.  Deputy Malcolm Byrne spoke about the various historical jobs that no longer exist. Some administrative jobs will no longer exist but people who work in administration in a law firm, for example, could manage the AI software or become a data analyst. It is reskilling in the job and the State has, and should have, a role to contribute, but so should employers. That is critical for the future of workers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maeve O'Connell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maeve-O'Connell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Maeve-O'Connell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Maeve O'Connell  Today, I will speak about AI in higher education and specifically the impact it is having on staff in higher education. AI is often talked about as a double-edged sword in education. There are benefits for students with personalised learning, continuous feedback and delivery of education through multi-media. Students have different learning styles and now we can deliver education in different ways to suit them. However, this is putting increased pressure on staff. The staff are not getting the same benefits from AI. It is putting increased workloads on them and we are not focused enough on this and do not talk enough about it. These are the very people on whom we depend to deliver all the wonderful things we are hearing about today to upskill our workforce for the future. It is the staff we expect to do that upskilling.  Why are they facing these additional pressures? They are all being asked to redesign assessments. We are in a post-plagiarism world, as it is called. Our traditional form of assessment, the final written exam, guarantees academic integrity but is also vulnerable to issues around the use of AI. Staff are having to learn new systems and to do things differently through AI. Even if AI is used for assessment purposes, it still needs human verification. One study found that 75% of students were failed by the AI grader so all of those had to be verified. Lecturers are conducting mini viva  voces on written assignments to ensure academic integrity is maintained, that the students are learning what they were taught, what it was intended for them to learn and that they have embedded that learning. AI grading is also generating more student queries than forms of traditional assessment. One study found that 88% of students queried their AI generated grade.  This is in a context where we are facing an ever increasing arms race with AI technology. There is a race between the detection tools to check whether an assignment submitted used AI and students' evasion tactics. In the short term, I do not see that the extra workload on staff in higher education institutions will reduce. In fact, we could be facing a number of years of constant pressure to try to maintain the standards and integrity.  I welcome the Higher Education Authority's new framework on AI. It creates a groundwork around it but we also need to support it more with openness to change. We need to look at ways to support our staff. One in five staff in higher education is on a temporary contract. They need support to manage these changes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in  Many may be fixated on upskilling in AI but Ireland is at crisis in another way, with the lack of practical skills. There are shortages in a whole range of craft areas, with a lack of builders, the lack of upskilling and training in building or construction, including plastering, plumbing, retrofitting, electrical services, carpentry and I could go on. These are all practical skills we desperately need.  Unfortunately, Ireland moved away from this as a society. We started to look down our noses at training and apprenticeships in these vocational areas. There was an overprioritisation, with all young people having to have a university degree. That happened over the last couple of decades and Ireland is very much paying the price for it now. It was a very short-sighted approach. It is grand talking about AI and upskilling in this area but if you do not have plasterers, builders, plumbers, carpenters or retrofitters - areas in which young people can make a great amount of money - Ireland is going to be paralysed. We can see that in the delivery of our infrastructure at the moment.  I am on the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, as is Deputy McGettigan who is sitting here in front of me. We produced a 59-page document recently following eight meetings with a vast range of groups, basically to come up with practical recommendations for the next apprenticeship strategy for 2026-30. It examined how the system is working or, should I say, how it is not working. We looked at areas like the shortage of skills in areas such as housing delivery, infrastructure and climate transition. We need to put a great focus on resourcing Youthreach programmes and the ETBs. We identified many barriers to these apprenticeships in Ireland. There were financial barriers due to low pay, insufficient allowances and high up-front costs for tools; barriers for those with disabilities and low incomes; travel and accommodation issues in terms of long commutes and accommodation support if people have to live away from home. There were also employer-related barriers, especially for SMEs, with difficulties in having apprenticeships, training blocks for apprentices, the administrative burden and a lack of financial support for small businesses to employ apprentices. Other barriers identified were the lack of awareness and poor promotion in our secondary schools; a cultural bias in favour of the university pathway; the complexity of the system, with multiple bodies such as SOLAS and the ETBs; and the lack of a centralised system like the CAO, which we need to have. As regards access and inclusion, there were barriers for those in minority groups, childcare responsibilities and a difficulty in matching up employers with apprentices. There are 48 recommendations and I encourage the Minister of State to look through them. I could go on all evening on it, but it is a key area we need to look at because otherwise we are going to be lost as a country. We can talk all we like about AI but if we do not have the practical skills we will be lost. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  It is really important to have a debate on the issue of AI and the impact it is going to have on society, training and education but we have not really had one in this country for a long time. We are at the edge of a significant economic transformation in Ireland. We are probably one of the most exposed countries in the whole of the European Union in terms of the AI revolution. It is not something that will happen in the distant future; it is happening at the moment. It is already leading to unemployment in this country. Incredibly, 20,000 jobs have been lost in the IT sector in just the first three months of this year. That is an incredible figure. It is hidden by the fact that we have good job figures in general, but there is an underlying fault line which is starting to create major difficulties. I shudder for any parent who is sending a child into university at the moment and has to try to select the right jobs and the right courses for their children, given the fact that AI is coming after some of the most well-paid jobs in the country. Many of the jobs and the further education courses that were highly sought-after by children and parents are now the types of jobs that are going to be swallowed up by AI.  I have listened to other TDs talk about this. There has not been an equivalent to the revolution we are seeing at the moment. The Industrial Revolution is probably going to be the closest equivalent to it. AI is equivalent to nuclear power in relation to its impact on society. It can, like nuclear power, be a force for good but it can also be a force for great harm. I do not think the attitude of the Government, which says, \"Ah sure it will be fine; there will be bumps along the way but we will get over it and in the end we will all work out a little bit better,\" is the right attitude to it. It is going to have a severe effect on the economy. It is going to affect top-paying jobs the most. According to the ESRI, 7% of all jobs in this State, in the short to medium term, are in danger as a result of AI and its development. The closest thing I can think of in recent times, in terms of jobs being lost in this revolution, is potentially the bank crash.  US tech companies are investing heavily in AI. They are slashing jobs in staggering numbers. Microsoft cut 15,000 workers last year. Amazon laid off 30,000. Block estimated 4,000 jobs, or 40% of its workforce, were gone. Oracle laid off thousands of jobs. Pinterest has laid off 14% of its workers in recent times. Google is saying that AI accounts for 51% of all code that has been written in that organisation in the last while. Block's head of engineering said 90% of the company's code submissions were authored partially or fully by AI in the last while. All of these areas are in big trouble.  There are a number of things falling out of this as well. Staff are being forced to use tools that are designed to replace their jobs. On that key element of human oversight of decisions that are being made by AI, staff whistleblowers are indicating that this is not happening in many situations. Many of the entry-level roles for finance or law graduates are being replaced with AI at the moment.  Like nuclear power, we really need to regulate AI in an international fashion. No individual company, or even a bloc such as the European Union, can regulate it by itself. As countries such as China and the US are going to look to further gain competitive advantages in terms of AI over the next while, there needs to be an international agreement on how we deal with AI and its development in future. That is the first issue.  The other issue relates to training and education. There are 7,000 Irish nurses registered in Australia at the moment. We are educating Irish nurses to go abroad to work. That is bonkers. Spending significant sums of money to educate medical experts and healthcare workers to work in another jurisdiction is one of the stupidest things a State can do. An individual business would be out of its mind to do that, yet that is what we are doing at the moment. In 2023, the majority of doctors who graduated left the country. Right now, 51% of all students in medical schools in this State are from outside the EU. The medical schools are dependent on money to function. They are not getting enough from the State. They get far more from students from outside the EU because those students have to pay tens of thousands of euro for their degree. Therefore, currently the majority of medical students in Irish universities are from outside the EU. These individuals will naturally want to go home and work in their home countries. Again, our infrastructure is being used to educate staff for other locations. As a result, the majority of staff we are putting into our hospitals are themselves from other countries such as India, Sudan and elsewhere. It is not like people are not getting sick in these other countries. They are. This idea that states are educating people for other states and then filling their hospitals with graduates from other countries needs to be looked at. The idea that the Government is presiding over medical schools where the majority of students are from outside the European Union is wrong. I have raised this for the past few years and nothing has happened on it at all.  I agree with Deputy Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in that there is currently a massive gap in the whole trades area in Irish society. It is one of the significant gaps that exists in the construction industry. The Government has indicated that there are quite a few large infrastructural projects coming down the line. We are hopeful of a Navan to Dublin rail line, etc., being built in the next number of years. We do not currently have the workers to fill those gaps. Right now, any domestic person looking for a plumber or an electrician is having great difficulties.  The project to get solar panels onto our roofs is being slowed down by difficulties in getting electricians. There is a massive pool of Irish people working abroad who were working in the State in these trades. Aont\u00fa has a policy called \"Operation Shamrock\", the objective of which is to provide funding for these individuals to come home, to provide funding for them to work for four years in the sectors we need them to work in and to provide accommodation quickly so they have somewhere to live. The Government was able to provide accommodation quickly for IPAS and should be able to do the same to get workers back from the likes of Australia and Canada to work in this country in the trades where they are badly needed.  As a country, we are at a precipice of enormous, radical change, change that most of us cannot imagine or plan for. There is very little effort by the Government to seek international regulation to control that change in a manner that does not disrupt people's lives. It will disrupt people's lives and reduce significantly many people's incomes, which will have knock-on effects on mortgages and people's ability to raise their families. That controlled transition is not happening, which will create great difficulties for the training and education sector. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Daly  When we speak about ensuring our skills, training and innovation systems keep pace with the changing world, we often focus on technology, artificial intelligence - which will be revolutionary - automation and digital transformation, but for constituencies like Roscommon-Galway, the real question is much simpler: will people have the opportunity to build a future where they are from? Change is already happening. Employers are struggling to recruit. Our health services need skilled professionals. Construction needs apprenticeships and tradespeople. Agriculture is becoming more technologically advanced and more specialised. Small businesses are expected to digitise and compete globally. The risk is not simply falling behind technologically; the risk is that rural communities fall behind economically.  We need a skills system that recognises learning does not end at 21 years of age. People should be able to engage in lifelong learning when they are returning to work or changing careers. Many people will be changing careers with the advent of artificial intelligence - farming, running a business or adapting to new industries. We also need to elevate apprenticeships, practical training and further education to the same status as traditional academic routes. Success should not depend on leaving your county. Innovation must not stop at the gates of our cities. If Government is serious about balanced regional development, investment in skills, enterprise supports and training opportunities, it must reach towns across Roscommon-Galway and the wider west.  I welcome the commitment to the veterinary college in Mountbellew, east Galway, as a demonstration of the Government's commitment to decentralise higher education. Talent, ambition and potential are not scarce in rural Ireland; what is scarce, too often, is access. Our responsibility is to ensure that, in a rapidly changing world, a person's place of birth never determines whether they can adapt, succeed or contribute. The pace of change is not slowing down and rural Ireland cannot be expected to simply catch up afterwards. We need to anticipate where jobs are going, where shortages are emerging and where opportunities will come from, and we need to prepare people before those gaps appear. If training and innovation systems move too slowly, communities like ours risk losing people, investment and opportunity. Getting this right is not only about economic growth; it is about keeping towns viable and services functioning, and giving people a genuine reason to build their futures at home. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Connolly  The Irish workforce's strong foundation has been referenced frequently throughout this debate. We have one of the youngest and most educated workforces in Europe and continue to attract significant investment because of that, particularly in high-value sectors such as med tech and ICT.  Galway has become a global leader in medical technology, employing thousands in companies that export worldwide. Within the city, we are conscious of its importance and we want to develop it further and to create a workforce in the city and the region that can facilitate that growing sector. I do not think that success in the med tech sector - we are also enjoying some development in the whole tech sector - in Galway emerged in isolation. It is deep-rooted in Galway in that the city has a strong creative and cultural identity and a strong tradition in the creative arts going back some time. We are well known for the traditional Irish arts but, even in more recent years, the range and spectrum of artistic endeavour in Galway city is ever growing. That is one of the things that has created this innovation in science and technology in the city. It is fuelled by that creativity. For that reason, it is important our approach to research and education be balanced. While investment in STEM is hugely important and will ensure we have the workforce to fill the jobs I speak of, we must also support other areas of research and academic endeavour, such as humanities, the arts, history and sociology. These disciplines develop creativity, critical thinking and cultural confidence, and that is vital to a functioning and creative society and economy.  Is mian liom ceist a ard\u00fa faoi na deiseanna at\u00e1 ar f\u00e1il \u2013 n\u00f3 easpa deiseanna at\u00e1 ann faoi l\u00e1thair \u2013 chun staid\u00e9ar a dh\u00e9anamh tr\u00ed mhe\u00e1n na Gaeilge ag an tr\u00ed\u00fa leibh\u00e9al. Labhra\u00edonn muid go rialta ag an gcoiste Gaeilge agus ag an gcoiste ardoideachais agus breisoideachais agus deirimid nach bhfuil go leor deiseanna faoi l\u00e1thair do dhaoine a bhfuil an Ghaeilge acu mar ch\u00e9adtheanga staid\u00e9ar a dh\u00e9anamh tr\u00ed mhe\u00e1n na Gaeilge ag an tr\u00ed\u00fa leibh\u00e9al. Caithfidh muid breathn\u00fa air seo. N\u00ed hamh\u00e1in gur rud teanga \u00e9 seo, ach is \u00e9 an rud ceart \u00e9.  D\u00e1 dt\u00f3gfa\u00ed m\u00e9 le Gaeilge, ba cheart go mbeadh na deiseanna agam staid\u00e9ar a dh\u00e9anamh tr\u00ed mhe\u00e1n na Gaeilge ag gach leibh\u00e9al oideachais \u2013 ag leibh\u00e9il na bunscoile agus me\u00e1nscoile agus ag an tr\u00ed\u00fa leibh\u00e9al chomh maith. N\u00edl na deiseanna sin ann faoi l\u00e1thair. Ba cheart d\u00fainn breathn\u00fa air sin, go h\u00e1irithe m\u00e1 t\u00e1 muid d\u00e1ir\u00edre faoin sprioc at\u00e1 againn go mbeidh 20% den earn\u00e1il phoibl\u00ed in ann Gaeilge a labhairt go l\u00edofa faoi 2030. Caithfidh muid a bheith cinnte go bhfuil an c\u00f3ras oideachais agus an c\u00f3ras oili\u00fana in ann an sprioc sin a bhaint amach.  Another local development that is crucial to the advancement of the education sector and the realisation of the skill development we want to see in the country, particularly in Galway, is the college of further education that is being proposed by the Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board. We met recently with the board and the Minister, Deputy Lawless, met with the executive of the GRETB. There are very exciting plans there. The further education sector has become a real option for young people on their conclusion of secondary school. We need to provide the facilities to match those opportunities. The Galway college of further education is an exciting development. The proposed building is based on the Tuam Road in Galway. It would expand access to training and skill development, support regional economic development and strengthen the links between education and enterprise. I will not say there are barriers or impediments. It is progressing but the pace of progress from concept to reality is slower than we would like. We would like to think development could be quicker. I know the members of the executive of the GRETB are anxious to progress it. I do not think they would be offended by my saying they are becoming a little bit frustrated by the assessment process it must go through before they are given the green light to develop the facility. Will the Minister of State discuss that with the Minister, Deputy Lawless, and the Department of further and higher education, so that the project comes to fruition at the earliest opportunity?  There is another thing that, in a general sense, it is important to raise during this debate.  Participation in lifelong learning in Ireland lags behind other EU countries. We still have this sense that education is solely for young people and while it is most advantageous for young people to avail of it as early as they can in life, we still need to turn the dial somewhat to give people the opportunities throughout their lives for educational enhancement, skill development and personal enhancement because one core aspect of the education system at every level - primary, secondary and third - should be the development of the person. Whatever skills they learn will be their vocation in life. We need to teach young people, and all people, that all those cross-curricular, or transversal skills as they are called in the third level and further education sectors, such as personal skills, personal well-being, critical thinking and how to work together as part of a team, are hugely important. They create good employees and good members of society as well.  One of the debates we had at the higher education committee recently was about the area of assistive technology in the third level sector. It was interesting to hear from some of those working in the sector and the discussion around how they feel that young people may not have the level of digital literacy skills that we may have taken for granted that they do have and how they find that it is necessary to train young people in that area. That is hugely important. One of the things they spoke about was how different operating systems and platforms demand different skills and young people who are able to manage one platform or operating system are challenged by others. Examining that issue is important too. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Carol Nolan  We are told constantly that Ireland must prepare for a changing world: automation, the green transition, AI and new labour market demands. Yet, when we examine how this Government is actually managing the National Training Fund \u2013 the very tool meant to deliver those skills \u2013 an interesting picture emerges. Through a series of recent parliamentary questions, I have exposed the reality. In 2025, the National Training Fund ran a surplus of \u20ac283 million. Levy income reached \u20ac1.297 billion while spending was just \u20ac1.014 billion. Projections show surpluses of \u20ac172 million in 2026 rising to \u20ac365 million annually by 2030 while actual training expenditure flatlines.  Employers pay the full 1% levy in good faith, yet this money sits unused rather than reaching the front line. IBEC recommended a targeted, time-limited rebate in 2022 to help businesses cope with rising costs. The Government refused it outright as the Minister reconfirmed to me recently in a response to a parliamentary question. I ask for that to be looked at again because businesses are really struggling and it is a sensible, common sense and practical proposal put forward by IBEC.  Instead, we are told that any change is a matter for the Estimates process. Meanwhile, rural and domestic SMEs, battered by auto-enrolment, the living wage, and pension hikes get no relief.  The neglect of practical, sector-specific training is particularly stark. For example, look at Farm Business Skillnet, the exact type of close to the labour market programme IBEC called for. Funding has crawled from \u20ac152,124 in 2023 to just \u20ac160,000 in 2025. I ask for this to be addressed. In terms of apprenticeships I also ask that the funding for phase two apprenticeships be allocated to Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board Excellence, LOETB. I visited its skills centre on Monday and the Minister, Deputy Lawless, was also there and it was very much appreciated. We need the STEM officer to continue in their role in Offaly County Council. It is important that is also funded. I make those calls on behalf of my constituency. I hope the funding for those positions will be continued because they have been highly effective. I saw the apprentices in action in the skills centre in Tullamore and they were very impressive. We need to become more ambitious and more like Germany in terms of the range of apprenticeships and in terms of making sure that apprenticeships are on the same level as degree programmes.  In fairness, I can see that progress has been made. We have the skills centre in Mount Lucas, and I commend LOETB on all its fantastic work. It was great to get the opportunity to meet some of the apprentices who were there on Monday. More women are going into apprenticeships as well and that was clear to be seen in Tullamore. I want to reiterate the calls for funding for phase two of the apprenticeship programme and for the STEM officer for Offaly County Council.  I referred to the Farm Business Skillnet initiative earlier. However, the number of farm businesses supported has collapsed and this has to be taken on board. It has collapsed from 2,112 farm businesses to 1,199 and the total funding for all agriculture-focused Skillnet networks has fallen from \u20ac2.94 million to \u20ac2.61 million. That is not keeping pace. We need real skills and not paper skills.  The just transition, for example, is not an abstract concept. Older workers face real disruption from climate policy, technology change and market shifts. They need targeted, practical upskilling delivered through employer-led networks like Skillnet and not just box ticking.  The National Training Fund belongs to the employers and workers who pay into it. It should not be a slush fund for pet projects. I call on the Minister to immediately increase core funding to Farm Business Skillnet and other rural Skillnet programmes in addition to the other funding that I mentioned was needed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport (Deputy Charlie McConalogue)  I thank all Deputies for their contributions today. This has been a thoughtful and wide-ranging discussion, and it also reflects the shared understanding across the House that the pace of change we are experiencing is both significant and accelerating.  Ireland has transformed profoundly over recent decades. We have built a strong, dynamic and outward-looking economy, supported by a workforce that is skilled, adaptable and ambitious. That resilience remains evident today, even as we navigate a period marked by geopolitical uncertainty, economic pressures and shifting global dynamics.  As has been reflected in the debate, we are now moving into a new phase - one where the scale, speed and interaction of change are unlike anything we have experienced before. The forces we have discussed, the so-called \"4 Ds\" of demographic change, digitalisation, decarbonisation and deglobalisation, are not abstract trends. They are already reshaping our economy, labour market and society. They are influencing where jobs are created, how work is organised and what skills are required to participate fully in that changing world.  In response, there is a significant amount of work already under way. Across further and higher education, we have seen a sustained expansion of capacity and a diversification of pathways. There is now a much stronger emphasis on flexibility and on creating opportunities for people throughout their working lives. Initiatives such as the growth of apprenticeships, the development of new tertiary pathways and the expansion of flexible and modular learning are helping to open up access and meet evolving needs.  We also need to think carefully about how students enter education. Ireland has traditionally channelled young people into narrow specialisations at an increasingly early stage. There is merit in broader entry pathways that allow students develop strong transversal skills such as critical thinking, adaptability, communication and problem solving before specialising later.  There has also been a clear focus on strengthening the link between education and enterprise. That partnership is essential. Whether through direct industry engagement, targeted initiatives or structured dialogue such as the national skills round tables, we are seeing a more responsive and aligned approach to identifying and addressing skills needs as they emerge.  At the same time, investment has increased significantly supporting not only skills development but also research and innovation capacity. That investment is about more than numbers; it is about building a system that can adapt, anticipate and continue to evolve in line with economic and societal change.  There is important work under way to strengthen our understanding of those changes through improved data, better foresight and a more strategic approach to planning for future skills needs.  All of that represents real and meaningful progress, but it is important to recognise that this progress does not remove the challenges ahead. If anything, it underlines their scale. We will face increasing competition for skills across critical areas of our economy, from construction and infrastructure to healthcare, digital technologies and the green transition. We will have to balance competing demands, manage constraints and make choices about where to focus our efforts. That is the reality of a tighter labour market and a more complex global environment. Perhaps most importantly, we must remain conscious of the time dimension. Investment in skills is essential, but it is often not immediate in its impact. The decisions we take today in education, training and workforce development will often take years to fully translate into outcomes. That requires a long-term perspective and a willingness to maintain focus and investment even as pressures evolve.  While there is much to point to in terms of progress, there can be no complacency. If anything, the uncertainty of the current moment reinforces the need for sustained effort. Technological change will continue apace, demographic pressures will intensify over time and global conditions will remain unpredictable. The demand for skills will continue to shift as a result. Our collective task is to ensure that we remain responsive to that change while also being grounded in a clear understanding of our priorities and constraints. Our approach is to continue to invest in people. This means maintaining strong partnerships between the Government, enterprise and education. It also means being willing to adapt our approaches as new challenges emerge and recognising that this is not a once-off response, but an ongoing process.  Every major phase of Irish progress has ultimately depended on education, skills and knowledge. The decisions we take now on apprenticeships, research, infrastructure, lifelong learning and workforce development will shape Ireland long after current pressures and headlines have passed. Our responsibility is to ensure the next generation inherits a country equipped not merely to compete but also to thrive. Debates such as this form part of that process with acknowledgement of the importance of continued engagement across this House and the value of bringing different perspectives to bear on a shared set of challenges. I look forward to continuing that engagement in the time ahead and to working with colleagues to ensure that Ireland remains well-positioned to navigate the changes that lie before us. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Erin McGreehan)  Before I move to the next item, I want to warmly welcome Emma Harte, Aidan Harte, Susan O'Reilly, Lynn Carr and Joanne Lynch to the House. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ensuring our Skills, Training and Innovation Systems Keep Pace in a Changing World: Statements (Resumed)"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-27\/debate\/dbsect_17","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Extension of Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2021: Motion","counts":{"speechCount":15,"speakerCount":10},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niall Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niall Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Niall Collins)  I move:  That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann resolves that the period of operation of sections 1 to 7 and 9 of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2021 (No. 14 of 2021) be extended for a further period of six months, beginning on the 1st day of June, 2026 and ending on the 30th day of November, 2026.  I am here to introduce a resolution to extend the sunset clause in the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2021. Deputies will be aware that the Act was introduced in July 2021 and this allowed the hospitality sector to continue to provide the sale and supply of intoxicating liquor in outdoor seating areas. This Act was introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic. Much of the legislation enacted at that time was introduced in response to the real challenges faced, in particular by local businesses, because of the pandemic. Those in the hospitality sector faced enormous challenges, and the State intervened and provided significant and worthwhile supports that kept many of those businesses going. The provisions of the 2021 Act were in place until 30 November 2021 and have been further extended nine times by resolutions of each House of the Oireachtas in November 2021, May 2022, November 2022, May 2023, November 2023, May 2024, October 2024, May 2025 and November 2025. The relevant provisions regularising the position in respect of outdoor seating areas on a permanent basis have been included in the Criminal Law, Civil Law and Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026, which was published on 9 January 2026, completed Second Stage in the D\u00e1il on 22 January and completed Committee Stage on 19 May. As the progression of the Bill through the Houses is ongoing, it will not be possible to bring these provisions into operation prior to 31 May next.  The extension of provisions in the 2021 Act today will allow the hospitality sector, local businesses and patrons to continue to enjoy the benefits of outdoor hospitality while the measures to place matters on a permanent footing are going through the Houses. Earlier this month, the Government agreed to extend the provisions of the 2021 Act for a further six months. The measures provided for in the Act also ensure that An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na know that those premises engaged in the sale and supply of intoxicating liquor in outdoor seating areas are doing so lawfully, providing An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na with the power to direct licence holders to comply with this legislation as it relates to outdoor seating areas, facilitates the enforcement of the Act and is an important safeguard. The House will agree that it is essential that An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na continue to have clarity in relation to its powers for public order purposes, and equally, that licensed premises owners understand their obligations to maintain order in outside public areas where they are selling alcohol.  The Government considers it to be in the public interest to provide for the sale or supply of intoxicating liquor in certain circumstances in seating areas located outside licensed premises. This allows licensees of such premises to conduct business and to operate in these outdoor seating areas. It is important to extend this operational period for another six months to give clarity to licensed premises, local authorities and An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. The increased availability and popularity of outdoor dining and socialising has been welcomed by many. Its innovation is reflective of the demand for more variety and choice in the ways in which we socialise and in the types of venues and social spaces that are available. It is also crucial to the viability of many local businesses across our towns and cities. Accordingly, it is proposed to extend the operation of the Act for a further period of six months until 30 November next to allow for ongoing certainty for all those operating in the hospitality sector, their patrons, local authorities and An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na.  In summary, I am here to ask for the support of the House to extend the provisions of outdoor seating which have proven to be popular in the industry, local businesses and patrons. As previously stated, these provisions have been included in the Criminal Law, Civil Law and Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026. I commend the motion to the House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  The 2021 Act introduced a change in the law to allow for the sale and consumption of alcohol in relevant outdoor seating areas where the use of those areas has been permitted by local authorities on public land or private land next to a licensed premise. This was emergency legislation that was brought in during Covid. Five years later, we are still dealing with six-month extensions of that legislation. I am a member of the justice committee and am aware that there is legislation pending in this area. Hopefully, that legislation will get through the Houses of the Oireachtas sometime this year because it is important that we get the regularisation of outdoor seating areas on a permanent footing. It is important that we do that instead of coming in here and doing this every six months as we have done for the past number of years.  It is apt that we are talking about this today. I went for a walk on my lunch break. It is gorgeous out. The weather is beautiful. I walked down streets that previously would not have had outdoor seating areas and saw people sitting out and enjoying a coffee or an alcoholic drink, having a bit of food and socialising. That brings the city to life. It brings a new vibrancy to our city. It is the same in villages and towns across the country. It is important that we support this.  We also need to look at the broader supports that are given to our villages, towns and city centres to make them safer and more welcoming spaces and at how we invest in public amenities and help small local businesses to get started and to thrive.  Unfortunately, the policies of successive Governments have hollowed out our villages, rural towns and city centres. Organisations like Clondalkin Tidy Towns need to be better supported. The latter is a voluntary group of community activists. It was established in 2012 and it seeks to restore pride to Clondalkin village. It does sterling work for the community and is unselfish in its aim to make Clondalkin a better place for us all to enjoy. It gets good support from South Dublin County Council, but the latter is often hamstrung by budgetary and bureaucratic issues. One recent example was when the Tidy Towns group tried to get some storage space in the village area. This was met with resistance from South Dublin County Council. To me, providing a storage space to a vital organisation that volunteers in our village to make it a better place is a no-brainer. Even today, Clondalkin Tidy Towns had to resort to a Facebook post calling on South Dublin County Council to power-wash the streets of our village. This would not happen if the local authority was given an adequate budget by central government.  I want to take this opportunity to thank all the volunteers in the Clondalkin Tidy Towns group for the unselfish work they do for us all to enjoy and benefit from. The Government would be much better off trying to revitalise our villages. It must ensure that there are proper public services, including access to GP services, good public transport and enough garda\u00ed. It must ensure that our towns have proper amenities for our young people. Unfortunately, what we have seen in villages in Dublin Mid-West such as Clondalkin and Lucan and others is the proliferation of unregulated vape shops. These brightly lit shops entice young people with their colours, lights and advertising. The packaging is aimed at children, and it is not uncommon for children in school uniforms to be seen going into these shops and coming out with vapes. I am aware that the Government is bringing forward legislation to tackle this scourge in our communities. However, it is too late for a generation of young people who are already hooked on nicotine.  The Government has set aside one hour today to extend the provisions of the 2021 Act to make our cities more vibrant and user friendly. If it had dealt with this previously, we could now be dealing with issues that are directly impacting our cities at the moment. I want to talk about the horse-drawn carriages in Dublin city centre that are to be found just around the corner from where we are sitting. Dublin has a rich cultural history of proper urban horsemanship. Horse carriage rides are synonymous with the south inner city. It is very sad to see this being eroded as a result of a lack of regulation. We have a situation where have responsible carriage operators who are fully licensed by Dublin City Council are working alongside rogue operators who do not have proper certification. Whenever there is no regulation, there is a disregard for animal welfare and the welfare and cleanliness of our city. Steps need to be taken to ensure that this industry is regulated and that our city is properly looked after.  While the purpose of this motion is to deal with street furniture to make our city a better city for all, Dublin City Council has put in place planters along St. Stephen's Green to impede the horse-drawn carriages from parking there safely. I have asked the council to remove them. Perhaps the Minister for justice can do the same, because this is an area that is in his constituency. We need to respect the culture and history of responsible horse-drawn carriage operators who look after their animals and who are also endorsed by animal welfare groups like My Lovely Horse.  Discarded nitrous oxide canisters are another blight on our towns and villages. The Government has delayed my legislation to tackle this issue by nine months. In that time, we have seen more reports on the health impacts on young people of nitrous oxide misuse. Earlier today I received information from Fingal County Council to the effect that it disposed of 4,900 canisters in 2024 and a further 4,000 in 2025. The council also reports that it costs \u20ac11 to dispose of a single canister. Walk around any area and discarded nitrous oxide canisters can be seen lying in our parks and on the sides of our roads. Every one of them costs the local authority \u20ac11 to dispose of, which is bonkers. In the past two years, Fingal County Council has spent nearly \u20ac100,000 disposing of these canisters.  I previously mentioned how Dublin City Council is on course for a 490% increase in the number of canisters collected. The Government has also committed \u20ac3 million this year for waste management for all the nitrous oxide seized by customs. The Government knows that this is an issue. It is allocating millions of euro to dispose of canisters but it is doing nothing to regulate the use of nitrous oxide. My legislation, which the Government has delayed, would not only lead to cost savings, it could also save lives. I have written to the Minister for an update on the proposed national working group that is to be established to tackle the issue of nitrous oxide. I want to know why it has taken six years to get this matter on the agenda. The Government needs to get serious about this. The Government often accuses those of us on this side of the House of not bringing forward any solutions. I brought this forward as a solution. I gave it to the Government gift wrapped and it kicked it down the road for nine months. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  The Labour Party will be supporting this motion, as it has supported similar motions at six-month intervals going back to 2021, to allow continued outdoor seating and socialising in our towns and cities. It was born out of a necessity during the Covid period but it has ushered in and accelerated a positive culture of dining and drinking in this country. I have seen at first hand the impacts of good policy when it comes to outside dining in my constituency. In Malahide, the pedestrianisation of New Street, where I have a clinic every week, has allowed businesses to thrive. It is a vibrant space for people to socialise and consume food and drink outdoors. However, we have also seen the frustration when bad policy decisions are made about outside dining, such as what we saw with Drury Street a number of weeks ago. There is still a lack of clarity and direction in relation to this matter. That is why we need to put it on a firm footing. We need to recognise and accept this positive cultural shift that we have seen around our country.  We need to look at the positives of pedestrianisation and converting units from shops into apartments and improving public transport so that people living farther out from cities do not see the lack of public transport options as a barrier to travelling and enjoying these options, either in our cities or towns. In capital cities across Europe, there are places and spaces that have been built for communities. I refer, for example, to Las Ramblas in Barcelona. These are spaces designed for people to simply spend time with each other, have a drink, have a bite to eat or to just be. In Dublin, we have seen some small steps being taken, but that feeling is not yet there. We have seen some good positives in relation to the pedestrianisation of Capel Street but we have also seen the closure of really important and distinctive shops there such as Mr. Middleton's gardening shop just off Capel Street and Mr. Brenfer's darts shop. These were important shops that added to the character and characteristics of the city. In Dublin, my city, we are seeing small shops being squeezed out because Government policy seems to drive the provision and development of hotels, short-term lets, and is reefing the heart out of the city and removing communities and people who live there and replacing them with a transient tourist population and that is having an impact on businesses.  In the wonderful weather we are having today, I cycled down to the Oliver Bond flat complex and spent a number of hours there with residents. The complex is very close to my heart. My father and his brother and sister were raised there by my nana and granddad. This is the largest flat complex in the country and is in need of positive regeneration. There are an awful lot of discussions about the mould, the damp and the conditions of the apartments but what is lost in the discussion is the fact that this is a community of people who live in the centre of our city. We need to ensure that these communities continue to thrive and continue to raise families in these flat complexes. These families have kept that flat complex and many others like it going, on both sides of the river, between the canals, for more than 90 years. When we talk about communities and the cherry on top of outdoor dining it is all wonderful, but it means nothing if we do not have the people to actually live, work and thrive in these areas.  What I see with the motion on the 2021 legislation is an example of how the Government does not have joined-up policy in relation to thriving communities in our large towns and cities. We knew this instantly. Deputy Gannon would have also spoken on similar motions at six-month intervals. We have seen this as a positive over the past number of years, yet the Government has failed to put it on a permanent footing.  It also speaks to the fact that this Government does not understand how to deliver and sustain thriving communities in our city centres or indeed in our large town centres. It goes right down to the very basics of urban regeneration and investment. It is more than what is at the bottom of an excel spreadsheet in terms of the number of units. It is not about units; it is about homes and communities. It is about communities that have sustained this city through good times and bad so that all of us who either originally come from the inner city who are now living in the suburbs but feel the call and the pull of home into the city can come here, be around our people and enjoy outdoor dining. It is about being able to go into individual distinct shops and not being surrounded by betting shops, fast-food outlets and vape shops but by shops that represent our city. Workers who live in our city, whether they were born in our city or have come here to work, should be able live and thrive in Dublin city centre.  This Government does not get it. I know this is away from the point of simply looking at extending outdoor dining, which we all accept is a good thing, but it means nothing if the Government does not put on a permanent footing real regeneration and real investment in our communities.  We will be supporting this motion. We cannot come in here every six months and have the same conversations. The weather outside is good today and people are outside dining, but they also dine outside in overcast weather and even rainy weather. It is where we are now. It is the modern culture of our cities and large towns, but we need much more to sustain that and for it to thrive. We need to ensure that we have policies that allow people to live and raise families for the next 90 years in the Oliver Bond flats and other complexes in other areas of the city because without that, there is no Dublin. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  Of course, we will support this motion as we supported the extension the numerous times it was brought to us before. I again say what many Members, including Deputy Smith, just said, namely, that we cannot keep coming here repeatedly as we have done over the last number years, doing the same thing and being told this will be the last time. Everybody agrees this should be permanent. Why are we still extending it every six months? We all agree that outdoor dining works. Those in opposition, in government, councillors in our local authorities, the businesses and the people of Dublin agree that it works. We should not have to come back here again in six months\u2019 time.  Outdoor dining and outdoor social spaces are no longer a Covid-era response. They have become part of how people experience Dublin and cities across Ireland. I acknowledge that legislation is progressing to put these arrangements on a permanent footing. That is welcome but it is long overdue. In the meantime, uncertainty remains. Businesses remain unsure and temporary arrangements keep temporary thinking in place.  In my previous speeches on this matter, I have spoken about Drury Street. I mentioned walking through it on summer evenings and seeing something Dublin 2 rarely gives itself, that being, permission to relax, to be social, to be alive in our own city - not people rushing through a city but people actually just sitting there inhabiting it. In recent weeks, Ciss Maddens had its outdoor seating licence revoked and then within in a matter of weeks the outdoor area was back again after the licence was renewed. I am not speaking to the merits of that individual decision because there may be valid concerns around access, pedestrianised flow or public space management potentially. Of course, those concerns matter, but what struck me was something bigger. One week a popular outdoor space that contributed to the atmosphere of the area was removed, then two weeks later after public pressure, it was put back in. What does that say to businesses? What does that say to the people trying to invest in our streets? What does that say to anyone trying to imagine a longer term future for Dublin city centre? It just speaks of uncertainty and that nobody is really in charge. It says we have still not decided whether we actually believe in this model or whether we are merely just tolerating it. If we believe outdoor social spaces are part of a modern capital city, policy needs to reflect that belief consistently. Joined-up thinking matters. We cannot on one hand praise vibrancy, the night-time economy, footfall and city centre renewal, and then on the other hand leave the framework around all of that feeling temporary and feeling fragile. This goes well beyond one pub or one street.  The first time I spoke on these extensions, I mentioned Talbot Street, Henry Street and other areas north of the river that deserve exactly the same imagination and confidence that is shown elsewhere. I asked people then to imagine Talbot Street on a warm evening with outdoor seating, better public realm, colour, activity and life spilling onto the street, and to imagine Henry Street as somewhere people stayed rather than simply passed through. What always strikes me when I walk down Henry Street is that everybody is moving; there is no place to simply sit. That is an anomaly on a main street in a capital city. People should be able to just sit and relax. I am not saying the same thing again today because they are just as relevant, not because it is difficult, not because it is impossible, but because nothing meaningful has actually happened.  After enough years pass, some things stop looking like failures and just start looking like choices. A city centre does not become vibrant by accident. Streets do not redesign themselves. Public spaces do not improve through aspiration alone. Government chooses where urgency goes. Government chooses where funding goes. Government chooses whether reports like the report of the Dublin city task force just gather dust or whether recommendations become reality.  The frustrating thing about all this is that Dublin is already showing what works. Capel Street has shown what works, parts of Drury Street have shown it works and the people themselves have shown what works. Young people especially have shown something important. Every summer we hear concerns that there are not enough places to gather, not enough affordable ways to simply exist socially in the city. When people find those spaces organically, the State seems surprised about it.  Outdoor dining and seating were never only about hospitality. They are about civic life, about allowing people to enjoy cities rather than merely moving through them, about creating places that feel welcoming and about recognising that a successful city is not measured only by commercial activity but by what people want to spend their time doing there. That is the bigger opportunity here.  We will support the extension today but I genuinely hope it is the last time we have to discuss another six-month continuation of something everyone already accepts should be permanent. In November, we were told it would be the last time. Eventually, repeating temporary measures stops looking like being cautious and just starts looking like indecision. Even more, it looks like nobody is in charge.  Dublin in particular, although I am sure the same can be said of everywhere else around the country, cannot afford more indecision. It cannot afford more Ministers going to the GPO announcing task forces whose reports just sit on shelves. We need ambition and that ambition can and should extend beyond simple outdoor dining. That ambition should extend to over-the-shop living, for example. How can we get people living more in the city centre above the shops on Henry Street, Grafton Street and O'Connell Street? These suggestions have been made for 20 years in various different reports and every time the suggestion is made, somebody says it seems like a good idea, but all the factors needed to implement that good idea just get left on the shelf because there may be some legislative difficulties or some resourcing required. That is all fine but where we fall down is in imagination, leadership and a genuine passion for Dublin.  We can talk about outdoor dining and over-the-shop living but that cannot be separated from simple things like waste collection. In my area of Stoneybatter, outdoor dining took hold from places like Ray\u2019s and Slice, with people sitting out there enjoying the community. In the last couple of weeks, I have got notifications that the waste management service is to be changed and bins are to be placed along every single house on the road. That speaks of an absence of joined-up thinking and an absence of a genuine vision not only for city centres but for the communities that inhabit them.  The Dublin task force actually had some good recommendations. One of the more frustrating aspects of my time here is that good intention falls down when there is actually no follow-through, with nobody to take charge and be in control of these things. The city is the lesser for it because Dublin and, I am sure, all the other cities in Ireland have enormous potential, but when there are so many different agencies, so many people saying it is not their job and so many people saying that it is the responsibility of X, all of these things start to look shabby and lacking imagination.  We will support this extension today as we did six months ago and six months before that. What I would like to support in the future is not just a genuine vision for Dublin but the capacity to deliver upon it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  I am happy to support this extension insofar as it is contributing to enabling and supporting street life in cities, towns and villages.  It will allow people to socialise and interact on the streets. People will be able to enjoy the lovely weather we are having at the moment and make the very best of it. Generally, it brings vibrancy and energy to our cities, towns and villages. This is a good move by the Government but I wish enabling bars and restaurants to seat people on the streets was matched by a greater commitment from the Government to enliven our city and town centres and create the spaces people need, both for socialising and arts and culture more generally.  Of the many protests I have attended and been involved with over the years, the Izakaya protest was one of the most enjoyable. It centred around an alternative music venue for young people, DJs and so on that is threatened with closure because of a decision by the new owners of what used to be the Central Hotel \u2013 now the Hoxton Hotel - to try to take an injunction against a club that had been operating there for years. It is a great venue for grassroots music and DJs. Think about these people who took over the hotel. The club was there when they bought it. If they did not like the fact that the club was there, they should not have bought it. They should not have tried to close down an important venue for young people and music and culture in the inner city.  There was fantastic energy on the protest. I met a lot of people whom I have never seen at protests before. While I knew some people at the protest, I did not know they had any stake in this. A lot of young people were present. What drove their involvement in the protest was a sense of anger about a lack of cultural spaces where people can pursue things like developing grassroots music and different cultural pursuits and endeavours. They feel such spaces do not exist or are under constant pressure and that there is not enough support from the authorities and the State in providing those spaces for the community and society and for people involved in music and arts. People, therefore, felt the need to protest. The protest was about more than Izakaya, however; it was about a much wider issue about the spaces available.  Of course, Drury Street is just around the corner from where that protest took place. Over the past while, a vibrant scene of young people sitting outside, enjoying themselves and eating and drinking has developed. There is a pleasant atmosphere. That is being shut down now because of a decision by the council, which is very regrettable. A good, new and organic development in the city centre is being taken away. It is a mistake. It is not helping the vibrance of the city.  I will provide another example that was highlighted to me during the recent by-election, a matter in which we had been involved beforehand. Eoghan \u00d3 Ceannabh\u00e1in, who was our candidate, is also a musician. He was involved in the campaign around The Complex. While this matter was raised repeatedly in this Chamber, it came up again during the recent by-election in Dublin Central. During the course of the by-election campaign, I met the person who ran The Complex. She reiterated and reminded me how disgraceful it was that the Government allowed The Complex to close. A lot of artists lost their studios and a lot of people who practised, rehearsed, performed or used the venue in some shape or form, as well as those were who employed in it, lost this wonderful, multidisciplinary arts, cultural and musical venue due to the lack of \u20ac6 million. The former Minister for Finance and TD for the area, Paschal Donohoe, more or less indicated that the money would be forthcoming to save the venue because it was being put up for sale but it did not materialise, despite the begging and pleading with the Government to save the venue.  I had forgotten what the people running The Complex, which has since closed, proposed to the Government. I do not know if this was made clear to the Government, but it was certainly made to clear to the Department and the local authority at the time. The Complex had approximately \u20ac4 million but it needed an additional \u20ac6 million to buy the venue in order to save The Complex, all the artists' and cultural space. They proposed that the venue could be redeveloped to have social and affordable housing on top of it. It would have been a win-win for the north inner city. The Government had the chance to save a cultural space, including all the artists\u2019 studios and rehearsal and performance spaces. It could have done all of that, as well as getting social and affordable housing on top of it, for a small amount of money, relatively speaking, in the greater scheme of things. It did not do it, however. It just refused point blank to intervene and the place has since closed down.  Apparently, it is not over yet because the sale has not gone through. I once again ask the Government to look at this. If it is committed to having vibrant, cultural spaces in our cities for social interaction and all that kind of stuff, for a few million euro, it could save The Complex, along with social and affordable housing on top of it. It is a win-win for the city and for culture, arts, music and everyone. Why would the Government not do it? I appeal to it to reconsider. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  I welcome the continued support for outdoor seating and dining, which has proven to be one of the most practical and successful measures for our hospitality sector in recent years. This is not just about tables and chairs on a footpath. It is about breathing life back into our towns and village across Ireland, particularly in rural and coastal communities. Outdoor dining has created a vibrant atmosphere that attracts visitors, supports local jobs and keeps small businesses viable.  When the 9% VAT rate was introduced, there was a lot of negativity, shamefully, in this Chamber about big fast food companies gaining. Obviously, those speaking like that do not realise that small businesses relied on the reduction of the VAT rate. We in Independent Ireland fully supported it.  When it comes to outdoor seating, it has given small, family-run business a fighting chance in the face of rising costs. Many of them invested in these spaces in good faith. They now form a core part of how these businesses operate. Take Schull, where I live, as an example. There is Townhouse O D\u2019s, which has two beautiful outdoor areas, one on the back and one on the street. We have Jim\u2019s caf\u00e9 where people love to sit out and look at the ocean. Below that is the Harbour Hotel as well as Hackett\u2019s Bar. It is great for the locality. It gives off a great vibe. Both tourists and locals love it. Sure, I would not mind being there today. I suppose anyone else would not mind being there today, especially in this weather. On the main street in Bantry, there are great caf\u00e9s and restaurants with outdoor seating. There is also the Quay\u2019s Bar and many others. The street is nearly full of umbrellas, tables and chairs. It is fantastic for the town. I could go on about all the beautiful places in west Cork, but what I am saying is that this is great for the whole country. We should be building on that success.  I cannot understand why this is treated temporarily. This is a success story. No one in this Chamber objects to this measure. Good God, if we were in here objecting, it would never be brought up so often. I cannot understand why we keep having to come back in here to talk about it. Why can we not make it permanent and be done with it? This is a common-sense policy that works for businesses, visitors and local economies right across Ireland.  We need to go further. We need to look at night-time buses in communities. There are pilot projects in Kerry and \u2013 I might be wrong \u2013 Sligo. They are great projects. Local Link buses are travelling around and dropping and picking people up during the night. For obvious reasons, people cannot socialise properly if they do not have transport. It is hard to get a taxi or a hackney. We should be looking at rolling out those schemes in a bigger way.  I hear a lot of criticism in this Chamber about the 9% VAT rate and short-term lets. The Social Democrats and the Labour Party in particular have a real target of hitting tourism. For some reason, they are anti-tourism in this country, but they should not be.  The 9% VAT rate was to help local communities survive the crisis they were going through, and the same with short-term lets. I was up in Galway for many weeks recently, where short-term lets are necessary for the very survival of local communities there, as in my constituency. They love people coming in mainly from our own country. They like to holiday around, find some place to stay, enjoy going out at night, have something to eat and spend money in the local economy. We have parties in here that are against that. I am scratching my head wondering what the hell they are at? They do not understand the benefit. Do not attack the tourism sector to try to fix the housing sector. Are we to ruin the tourism sector to fix the housing sector? That is where the Social Democrats and Labour have been for quite a long time.  Other things like country markets and fair days benefit communities, bring people into communities and help people stay in them. We need to properly promote that. We need to look into areas we can force more business. Given the number of pubs and clubs that have been closed in recent times and clubs, that is important.  I have been fighting a long time for people to come back to towns like Dunmanway to live in local communities. Its wastewater treatment plant needs to be upgraded. It is a sad thing to find out that after public representatives from the Government side stated it would get 50 houses with a recent do-up of the wastewater treatment plant, it would only get 15. Who is codding who while trying to get a big headline? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  How fitting it is that we are here today in the heatwave of summer 2026 discussing outdoor dining and socialising on this beautiful day and a beautiful week? Right across Ireland, people are enjoying a beverage outside in the sunshine. Good luck to them and God bless them. We had a long winter. I hope that every person enjoys the beautiful weather we are having.  I supported this legislation last year, I will support it today and I will support it again in the future because outdoor seating and socialising is a good thing. We should support it. We should put it on a permanent footing and encourage every person to get out and enjoy a drink outside if possible. It is good for your health - vitamin D and so on. We should not roll over this legislation every six months or a year. It should put it on a permanent footing and ensure that publicans and the wider hospitality sector have the confidence to invest in these facilities.  The pub trade is struggling massively. Over the last 20 years, thousands of pubs have closed. Last year, 360 pubs closed. Many of those were in rural Ireland. In many villages, the last remaining public building was a pub - there was no community centre or shop. We need to refocus. We should support rural pubs to stay alive to make sure every community has a hub. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  Here we are again with yet another extension. Nobody in this House disputes the value of the legislation but we have been bringing this Covid-era legislation on for five years to allow outdoor dining. At this stage, we have to get to the real legislation. My understanding is it has been tied up at committee with other stuff added on. We should have stand-alone legislation and get it through quickly to give permanent security to the many businesses that are feeling the pressure, especially with fuel price hikes. We need to move beyond this and get to the actual legislation.  I am conscious that my time has been cut into, so I will use my last few seconds to wish Sarah in the Public Gallery a very happy birthday. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  That is very important. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  I, too, would like to wish Sarah a very happy birthday. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Happy birthday, Sarah, from everyone in the House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niall Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Niall Collins  I would like to be associated with those remarks. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  We all do. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  I agree with the majority of what people have said. This was brought in during Covid. It was definitely a crutch for the hospitality industry.  I represent north Dublin. Outdoor seating was recently closed on Drury Street and there is a constant attack on amenities in outdoor areas. At a time when pubs and people are under enormous pressure and we constantly sit at desks, getting out, sitting in the sun with your friends and having a meal, a drink or a pint should be encouraged. I, too, am worried about the number of pubs closing across Ireland, in particular rural Ireland.  In Dublin city, people complain and use the excuse of litter. Well, then install more bins, create more jobs and have people take those bins. If there is a bin, people will not throw litter on the ground. They will put it in the bin. We love this city and we want to encourage people to love it.  I have been to Barcelona and went across European inter-railing. I saw vibrant, outdoor, liveable cities. We have seen it in small parts of Dublin but it needs to be encouraged across Ireland. We do not need more empty streets. We need energy, culture and community. The recommendations of the report show this. Outdoor dining and socialising brings people into the city and makes it safer with passerby surveillance, more welcoming and more alive.  In some pubs and businesses across north Dublin, accessibility for those with disabilities is easier with outdoor dining, as there can be difficulties inside the building. That is why this extension matters. I welcome it.  I was out yesterday cycling on a sunny evening through Dublin. The streets are full of life but people are sitting on the ground. Restaurants and pubs have some outdoor areas but when someone finishes work in the city, they should be able to meet up with friends and spend time in the city instead of rushing home.  Like Deputy Lawless, I welcome the very good weather. Everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy it and take a break. When this legislation was first introduced, I was working in a pub. We got our outdoor area and that has now become a hub for the community. There are community groups in the area, and they meet outside and sit in the sun. It should be continuously encouraged not only because of the pressure pubs are under but also the pressure people are under. For many publicans, outdoor seating is part of staying financially viable. These pubs are not just businesses. As the Minister of State knows, a good chunk of rural and urban pubs are family owned for three, four or five generations with the name still outside. They are community spaces and they are also where some political careers can start.  I do not mention rural Ireland much. The local pub is one of the last remaining public buildings in a lot of towns. The Minister of State knows that it is not just a pub. It is where someone goes to find out the news or where someone who has lost a family member goes to have a chat. We should encourage those places to survive.  Regarding Dublin and the excuse of litter being an issue, install more bins. It cannot be used an excuse. Where stronger enforcement is concerned, I thank the Minister for justice, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan, for the increase in the number of garda\u00ed on the beat. If footpath access is a concern, I called for an extension in respect of pubs if we had qualified for the World Cup, which sadly we did not.  We cannot respond to everything by restricting. We need to be proactive and preventative. That needs to be across Departments, not just with this matter. European cities embrace outdoor life and create atmosphere. I welcome that the Department has introduced legislation to extend this provision, but it should be happening across the board. It would also provide clarity for businesses if it was brought into legislation fully, not just an extension, because businesses could then plan financially on the understanding that the income they get from these areas could be used as a collateral for expansion and for more staff to take on permanent roles. We constantly talk about reviving Dublin city. This is a practical way. If it is brought in and made permanent there would be a more vibrant, safer city. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niall Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Niall Collins)  I thank all of the speakers for their contributions and pledges of support for the motion.  Hopefully, it will be the last occasion that we will be here renewing this on a twice-annual basis. As we indicated, it will be legislated for on a permanent basis.  We listened to what the speakers had to say. Some of the issues raised were on topic and some of them were off topic.  A lot of them had to do with the local authority realm as well. Obviously, Government does not run local authorities. It shows the importance of the local authorities that they have such an impact on the vibrancy of the hospitality sector and also on the town and village centres. They play a very important role. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar fionra\u00ed ar 5.31 p.m. agus cuireadh t\u00fas leis ar\u00eds ar 5.36 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Sitting suspended at 5.31 p.m. and resumed at 5.36 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Extension of Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2021: Motion"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-27\/debate\/dbsect_18","debateType":"billCommittee","bill":null,"showAs":"Gas Safety (Amendment) Bill 2026: Instruction to Committee","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment (Deputy Timmy Dooley)  I move:  That Standing Order 194 is modified in accordance with Standing Order 241(2) to provide that it be an instruction to the Committee in relation to the Gas Safety (Amendment) Bill 2026, that the Committee has power to make amendments to the Bill which are outside the scope of the existing subject matter of the Bill in order to amend the Turf Development Act 1998, in order to increase the statutory borrowing limit of Bord na M\u00f3na , and to change the title of the Bill and make other consequential amendments required to take account of the change above.  I commend this motion to enable the introduction of the amendments to the Gas Safety (Amendment) Bill 2026 which are outside the scope of the Bill's original subject matter. The amendments address an outstanding issue for Bord na M\u00f3na with implications for the green transition. The purpose of this motion is to enable the committee to make certain amendments to the Gas Safety (Amendment) Bill 2026 which are beyond the scope of the Bill's original subject matter, as I said. The Bill, which completed Second Stage in the House in January of this year, addresses long-standing safety issues with regard to liquified petroleum gas and natural gas and I wish to ask the House for leave to attach amendments addressing another outstanding issue in the energy sector.  New sections, which have necessitated this motion, will amend section 22(1) of the Turf Development Act 1998 which sets the statutory borrowing limit of Bord na M\u00f3na. This is currently set at \u20ac650 million. The amendment will raise this limit to \u20ac1.5 billion. The increase was requested by Bord na M\u00f3na to enable the delivery of its ten-year plan and to contribute to the achievement of targets under the national climate action plan.  A higher borrowing limit will provide flexibility in how Bord na M\u00f3na funds future projects integral to the company's brown-to-green strategy which has seen it conclude all peat operations and emerge as a leading provider of renewable energy and climate solutions. It will avoid the need for large-scale asset disposal, including operational wind farms and development projects.  Following the request of Bord na M\u00f3na, the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation consented to a statutory increase in the borrowing limit. The advice of the New Economy and Recovery Authority, NewERA, was sought. The authority issued a report recommending the increase. The process for consent to this change was in compliance with the requirements of section 8.23 of the code of practice for the governance of State bodies and Bord na M\u00f3na's shareholder expectation letter.  Deputies may be assured that, following the increase to the statutory limit, any new borrowings on the part of Bord na M\u00f3na will require the consent of the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment and the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation. There will be an opportunity to discuss these amendments further on Committee Stage and I thank the Deputies for their support in enabling these important amendments to be debated as part of the Bill. I commend this motion to the House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  We will be supporting the Bill. Notwithstanding that, however, there is the issue of funding with the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU. There are some concerns on a broader level. This is more, as they say, upstream. Regulation is to be in place, I understand, for 1 September for non-domestic gas, and roll-out plans, preparation and training, making sure that people who are qualified will be in place. There is a suspicion that pre-Creeslough we knew that the installation practices for third-party meters, who meter the State's LPG, needed to be revised.  These new proposals are, of course, necessary. I have spoken to some of the Creeslough families. The DPP will take a decision. There is a suspicion, subject to any further investigation, that it may have been the result of a gas explosion. I renew the calls on that issue. The Minister of State might have a word with his colleague, the Minister for justice, about a public inquiry into what happened, pending, of course, what is coming from the DPP.  For a decade we have had promises from the CRU for non-domestic gas regulation. Deadlines were missed and now this Bill is going through. As I said, it is not perfect. The installer representative panels have advocated for gas installers. They have to engage with the CRU and the gas safety supervisory body, GSSB, to resolve any challenges around the State. The panel opposed proposals on non-domestic gas installation in 2023 and 2024 and, as I said, deadlines were missed. The CRU then revised the criteria document. Some installers have a question about the consultation process and the level of public consultation with catering companies, the restaurant sector and hotels. I understand the public consultation has not been published. They feel the criteria document should have included changes to the registration process procedures and new entrant categories and established a dedicated body to manage updates. There is also a question about electronic gas certification. Again, that is not necessarily relevant to the Bill. We would welcome any progress on electronic gas certification when the system is up and running.  Many thousands of households depend on gas. Of course, a lot of them are in arrears due to the cost of living crisis and supports have been ripped away. We need legislation that is complete, but there must be enough resourcing and sufficient numbers of people employed to ensure that the proposals in the Bill take effect and the system can run as well as it ought. The bottom line is public safety. People need to have confidence.  The 12,000 households dependent on LNG and the 600,000 households using natural gas are finding it difficult to transition to any other sources of heat. We need to make sure their lives are not put at risk because if these systems fail or are unsafe, unfortunately, as we have seen, lives can be put at risk. We need strong legislation and robust regulation. We have to get it right. We support the Bill because, while it is not the perfect solution, it is a step in the right direction.  We can deal with the amendments later. We were not expecting the Bord na M\u00f3na regulations until they came in. We can talk about that on that Stage. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  We will support the Bill on Committee Stage. I echo a lot of the comments made by Deputy Daly. The Bill is not perfect, but it is an important step in strengthening the regulatory landscape here. The motion to instruct the committee relates to the amendment to increase Bord na M\u00f3na's borrowing limit, and I have no principled objection to that. I understand that borrowing limits require updating due to inflation or increases in corporate activity, etc., and from the perspective of the Department it might not be worth creating a whole new Act in that regard.  I want to take this opportunity to make some broader points about Bord na M\u00f3na. Most pertinently, I want to make the point that it is probably time it received a statutory overhaul of its mandate. It is no longer a turf development company. Clearly, it has ended all peat harvesting on its lands. The commercial sale of peat in Ireland was banned in 2022, or at least it was supposed to have been. Any turf left in Ireland is not for exploitation for commercial purposes. In fact, Bord na M\u00f3na is now involved in pretty much the exact opposite activity, in that it is remediating and re-wetting bogs. It is in the climate solutions business now and has taken on an important role as a renewable energy provider, which is great to see, with equally important responsibilities as a major landowner and environmental custodian. We know the difficulties the Government is having regarding land use, land use change, emissions coming from that sector and how much work needs to be done in that area. Bord na M\u00f3na will play a critical role in some of that.  There has been substantial change in what Bord na M\u00f3na actually does, but it has made this change without any structural overhaul of the legislation underpinning it. The primary objectives of the company, as set out in the Turf Development Act, no longer apply. It has instead relied on ancillary objectives and powers throughout its so-called brown to green transition. I suggest that now that the transition period is more or less complete, it would be appropriate to bring forward new legislation to underpin the company's new role and clarify its mandate.  The second point I would like to raise is the proposal to co-locate renewable infrastructure with massive data centres on Bord na M\u00f3na land, so-called energy parks. I am deeply uncomfortable with a semi-State body tasked with renewable infrastructure development having a strategic partnership with a tech giant like Amazon in the first place. As a matter of principle, I do not like that we are depending on it for funding. The energy transition must, first and foremost, be about people, just transition and nature restoration, and not satisfying the needs and wants of the world tech oligarchs.  We already have a situation whereby data centres are sucking up virtually all of the renewable energy we are generating in this country, meaning that it is not going towards helping households move to cleaner sources or decarbonising our energy sector. These energy park proposals betray the Government's thinking. I generally fear that we are witnessing a corporate capture of clean energy in Ireland. We have to ask ourselves if plonking a 500 MW data centre on former bog land owned by a semi-State company is really the best use of our resources. That is as much electricity as is consumed by 325,000 homes. Where do we want our renewable energy to go? Do we want it to go to help households up and down the country which are still dependent on fossil fuels and currently being pilloried by their bills? Do we want to help them transition to cleaner renewable energy or do we want to help the tech giants?  We have serious questions about the environmental biodiversity impacts these projects will have on lands that we need to re-wild or bogs that we may need to re-wet. The Labour Party has a view on that. The Department of enterprise seems to have taken its view. I would like to hear the views of the Minister of State's Department. I am sure he will say we need to consider our industrial strategy and so on, but the wind only seems to be blowing one direction, pardon the pun.  Virtually everything we have seen from this Government so far with regard to renewable energy and energy more broadly seems to be to the overwhelming benefit of corporate interests. The private wires legislation, of which data centres will be the primary beneficiary, is another example. I echo the calls of other Members of the Opposition that the Minister, Deputy Burke, his officials and representatives from Bord na M\u00f3na and Amazon come before the climate committee to discuss these proposals. We need to get our priorities straight. We should not be building massive privately owned and operated data centres on what is, in effect, State land. We should not be building renewable infrastructure just to satisfy their insatiable demands. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment (Deputy Timmy Dooley)  I thank Deputies for their contributions. I appreciate the assistance of Members of the House in enabling this minor but important legislative change to be discussed as part of the Gas Safety (Amendment) Bill 2026. This will enable the Government to expedite a measure which ensures Bord na M\u00f3na's future as a vital contributor to our green transition.  Deputy Daly raised the issue - we may get to it as part of the second debate on the Bill - about the relationship of the Bill to the tragic incident that occurred in Creeslough. As I understand it, the Bill was not prompted at all by the Creeslough tragedy and at the time of that incident, the CRU had already published its final decision on the regulation of LPG networks and work on this legislation had actually begun. The safety amendments will bring all operators of LPG distribution networks within the scope of safety licensing by the CRU and will strengthen the commission's existing powers in regard to gas and LPG safety generally. In 2022, the memorandum of understanding was agreed upon and signed by An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, the Health and Safety Authority and the CRU to facilitate the sharing of information and resources between agencies.  On the issues Deputy Ahern raised, there is a fundamental misunderstanding by some of the role played by data centres. I am not at all suggesting that is the case in Deputy Ahern's situation but in the minds of some of the public, data centres are part of an infrastructure that is necessary to provide entertainment to a modern generation and that somehow, the nice to have things like Netflix, TikTok or YouTube are effectively stored in these repositories. However, nothing could be further from the truth. Data centres are now what advanced factories were in the 1980s. Ultimately, they are a sharing of filing cabinets that were a feature of Georgian offices dotted around this city and elsewhere around the world. In fact, very significant reductions in energy use are a result of bringing that data management together. It is never discussed but if you had individual racks in offices rather than as part of the cloud, there would be a much greater drain on the electricity network.  From an Irish perspective, the Deputy rightly identified something when he asked is this the industrial strategy or is this the direction the Government is going and where does our Department sit in it? He raised the point in a careful and balanced way and to some extent, he asked is it data centres or is it cheaper electricity for households? A fundamental part of the capacity of a household to pay for electricity is the requirement they have work. Data centres, whether we like it or not, are part of the direction of travel from the tech sector. More and more people are working from home. That is a good thing and one of the positives that came out of the pandemic, if any did. Cloud computing and cloud access provide the infrastructure to do that. Data centres are part of that. I do not see data centres as bad things at all. Yes, they are a challenge to us because we have seen underinvestment in our key infrastructure for decades, particularly in the grid and the generation of electricity.  We are going through that transition so there are two things happening at the same time. We are trying to transition our immediate demand for energy from fossil fuels to renewable electricity as we are repowering the economy but we are also getting that exponential growth right at the same time as we need that clean energy, with demand driven by artificial intelligence and other advances in the tech sector. It is a particular challenge for us. We have been behind the curve but between now and 2030, over \u20ac18 billion will be invested by EirGrid into the grid. We are doing with EirGrid something like what we are doing with Bord na M\u00f3na as part of this. We are putting in core capital of \u20ac3 billion to allow EirGrid to borrow more. We are raising the borrowing limit for Bord na M\u00f3na to allow it to become an enabler.  I take the Deputy's point about being careful about our relationship with oligarchs in the tech sector. What is on offer is a positive in terms of future economic growth and support for the tech sector, more generally. This morning, I spoke at a Digital Infrastructure Ireland conference. It is a body that speaks for the data centres and there was a report prepared by Jim Power. It was saying that if we do not get our act together here and do not figure out a way to allow growth in data centres, other countries will attract that. I was in Alberta, Canada, as part of the St. Patrick's Day discussions and we saw they are trying to attract data centres. By their nature, data centres are not big employers but they attract other enterprises around them. If we do not succeed in anchoring the data here, others will and they will benefit in terms of the tech jobs of the future. There is a job of work to be done. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Gas Safety (Amendment) Bill 2026: Instruction to Committee"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-27\/debate\/dbsect_19","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Gn\u00f3 na D\u00e1la - Business of D\u00e1il","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_19","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I understand the Government Whip intends to move a proposal in relation to arrangements for the motion regarding the report of the Committee on Standing Orders and D\u00e1il Reform in respect of D\u00e1il sittings from 9 to 11 June. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Mary Butler)  It is proposed, notwithstanding yesterday's Order of Business, that the motion regarding the report of the Committee on Standing Orders and D\u00e1il Reform entitled arrangements for Leaders' Questions, Questions Nominated for Priority and Private Members' time in respect of D\u00e1il sittings from 9 to 11 June 2026 shall be taken on the conclusion of the motion regarding leave to introduce Supplementary Estimates for Public Services 2026, without debate, and any division demanded thereon shall be taken immediately.  All of the party whips are in agreement. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Is the proposal agreed? Agreed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Timmy Dooley  We will get the translation later and find out what we have agreed to. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Gn\u00f3 na D\u00e1la - Business of D\u00e1il"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-27\/debate\/dbsect_20","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/2","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/2\/dail\/3_sub","houseCode":"dail","stage":"3_sub","isBillStage":false,"showAs":"Gas Safety (Amendment) Bill 2026: Committee and Remaining Stages (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Gas Safety (Amendment) Bill 2026: Committee and Remaining Stages","counts":{"speechCount":12,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_20","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Sections 1 to 3, inclusive, agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"NEW SECTIONS"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Amendment Nos. 1, 2 and 7 are related and will be discussed together. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment (Deputy Timmy Dooley)  I move amendment No. 1:  In page 9, between lines 2 and 3, to insert the following:   \u201cAmendment of section 9D of Principal Act   4. Section 9D of the Principal Act is amended\u2014  (a) in subsection (2)(c), by the insertion of \u201c, notwithstanding subsection (10)(b),\u201d after \u201cand\u201d, and  (b) in subsection (10)(b), by the substitution of \u201cSubject to subsection (2)(b), all\u201d for \u201cAll\u201d.\u201d.  These amendments enable the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities to provide funding to enable the continued operation of the safe electric scheme and the registered gas installer scheme in the interest of safety for electricity and gas operators and the public. These statutory schemes were established by the CRU in 2009 to regulate the activities respectively of gas installers and electrical contractors with respect to safety under the energy Act 2006. In 2022, the CRU appointed an operator for both schemes following a competitive tender process. Schemes are funded through annual membership fees and certain charges paid by members. In recent years, the CRU has attempted to limit fee increases to reflect a difficult trading environment and cost-of-living pressures. However, the current contract requires scheme operators to recover a certain amount of revenue to support its operations.  Amendments Nos. 1 and 2 remove the restrictions in the principal Act which prevent the CRU from providing funds directly. This will ensure that the schemes, which serve vital safety functions in the public interest, can continue to operate in the case of unexpected cost increases or decreased revenues due to declining membership. Amendment No. 7 is a technical amendment reflecting this purpose in the Bill's Long Title. I assure the House these changes will not result in any additional charges on the Exchequer. The Electricity Regulation Act 1999 enables the statutory functions of the CRU to be funded through a levy to be paid each year by the industry. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Timmy Dooley  I move amendment No. 2:  In page 9, between lines 2 and 3, to insert the following:   \u201cAmendment of section 9F of Principal Act   5. Section 9F of the Principal Act is amended\u2014  (a) in subsection (2)(c), by the insertion of \u201c, notwithstanding subsection (10)(c),\u201d after \u201cand\u201d, and  (b) in subsection (10)(c), by the substitution of \u201cSubject to subsection (2)(b), all\u201d for \u201cAll\u201d.\u201d. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 4 agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Sections 5 to 22, inclusive, agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"NEW SECTION"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Amendments Nos. 3 to 6, inclusive, and No. 8 are related and may be discussed together, by agreement. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Timmy Dooley  I move amendment No. 3:  In page 40, between lines 10 and 11, to insert the following:   \"Amendment of section 22 of Turf Development Act 1998   23. Section 22(1)(b) of the Turf Development Act 1998 is amended by the substitution of \"\u20ac1,500,000,000\" for \"\u20ac650,000,000\".\".  Amendment No. 3 inserts into the principal Act a provision amending section 22(1)(b) of the Turf Development Act 1998. I have already outlined the reasons for this change when introducing the motion to instruct the committee. I thank Members for allowing this important amendment to be dealt with as part of the Bill currently before the House.  Amendments Nos. 4 to 6, inclusive, and No. 8 are technical amendments consequent to the amendment of the Turf Development Act 1998 to reflect the Bill's expanded purpose. Its Short Title is changed to the Gas Safety and Miscellaneous Amendments Bill 2026. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"SECTION 23"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Timmy Dooley  I move amendment No. 4:  In page 40, line 12, to delete \"(Amendment)\" and substitute \"and Miscellaneous Amendments\". "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Timmy Dooley  I move amendment No. 5:  In page 40, between lines 12 and 13, to insert the following:  \"(2) The Turf Development Acts 1946 to 1998 and section 23 may be cited together as the Turf Development Acts 1946 to 2026.\". "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Timmy Dooley  I move amendment No. 6:  In page 40, lines 13 and 14, to delete \" and 19\" and substitute \", 19 and 23 \". "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 23, as amended, agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"TITLE"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Timmy Dooley  I move amendment No. 7:  In page 3, line 5, after \"1999\" to insert the following:  \"to provide for the funding of functions of an Electrical Safety Supervisory Body or Gas Safety Supervisory Body appointed under that Act by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities;\". "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Timmy Dooley  I move amendment No. 8:  In page 3, line 19, after \"2014;\" to insert \"to amend the Turf Development Act 1998;\". "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Title, as amended, agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Pursuant to Standing Order 194(3), I report specially to the D\u00e1il that the committee has amended the Title. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Bill reported with amendments, received for final consideration and passed."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  The Bill will now be sent to the Seanad. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar fionra\u00ed ar 6.07 p.m. agus cuireadh t\u00fas leis ar\u00eds ar 6.12 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Sitting suspended at 6.07 p.m. and resumed at 6.12 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Gas Safety (Amendment) Bill 2026: Committee and Remaining Stages"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-27\/debate\/dbsect_21","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Message from Select Committee","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa)  The Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach, has completed its consideration of the National Treasury Management Agency (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026, and has made no amendments thereto. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Message from Select Committee"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-27\/debate\/dbsect_22","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2024\/56","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2024\/56\/dail\/3_sub","houseCode":"dail","stage":"3_sub","isBillStage":false,"showAs":"\u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta (Amendment) Bill 2024: An Tuarasc\u00e1il agus an Ch\u00e9im Dheiridh (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"\u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta (Amendment) Bill 2024: An Tuarasc\u00e1il agus an Ch\u00e9im Dheiridh","counts":{"speechCount":71,"speakerCount":9},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Kyne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Kyne.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Kyne.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa)  T\u00e1 baint ag leasuithe Uimh. 1, 2, 27 agus 32 le ch\u00e9ile agus pl\u00e9ifear le ch\u00e9ile iad. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (Deputy Dara Calleary)  Tairgim leas\u00fa Uimh. 1:  Ar leathanach 7, l\u00edne 11, \u201cagus\u201d a scriosadh agus \u201cdo leas\u00fa an Achta Rialtais \u00c1iti\u00fail, 2001; agus\u201d a chur ina ionad.  Is leas\u00fa teicni\u00fail \u00e9 leas\u00fa Uimh. 1 at\u00e1 \u00e1 mholadh agam mar aon le leas\u00fa Uimh. 32, rud a leas\u00f3idh an tAcht Rialtais \u00c1iti\u00fail tr\u00edd an mBille seo freisin. N\u00ed m\u00f3r \u00e9 seo a l\u00e9iri\u00fa ag t\u00fas an Bhille, \u00e1it a leagtar amach cusp\u00f3ir an Bhille. Deimhn\u00edonn an leas\u00fa sin mar at\u00e1 leagtha amach i leas\u00fa Uimh. 32 gur aidhm de chuid an Aire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail, agus Gaeltachta \u00ed an aidhm maidir le logainm a athr\u00fa a bhaineann le h\u00e1it i limist\u00e9ar Gaeltachta. I leas\u00fa Uimh. 32, sonra\u00edtear ach deimhn\u00edtear gurb \u00e9 an tAire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail, agus Gaeltachta an tAire at\u00e1 freagrach as logainm i limist\u00e9ar Gaeltachta a athr\u00fa.  Baineann alt 192 den Acht Rialtais \u00c1iti\u00fail, 2001, a cuireadh isteach le halt 48 den Acht comhshaoil - for\u00e1il a leagadh amach in 2011 - le haidhm de chuid an Aire at\u00e1 freagrach as an nGaeltacht. Is \u00e9 an aidhm at\u00e1 i gceist n\u00e1 athr\u00fa a chur ar logainm i gc\u00e1s \u00e1it at\u00e1 i limist\u00e9ar Gaeltachta. Anuraidh, nuair a bh\u00ed an obair ullmh\u00fach\u00e1in ar si\u00fal chun aidhmeanna na Gaeltachta agus na Gaeilge a aistri\u00fa \u00f3n Aire Turas\u00f3ireachta, Cult\u00fair, Eala\u00edon, Gaeltachta, Sp\u00f3irt agus Me\u00e1n chuig an Aire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail, agus Gaeltachta, tugadh faoi deara go raibh bot\u00fan i dteideal an Aire in alt 192 den Acht Rialtais \u00c1iti\u00fail, 2001. Rinneadh cinneadh d\u00e1 bhr\u00ed sin nach bhf\u00e9adfa\u00ed an aidhm \u00e1irithe sin a chur san \u00e1ireamh san ord\u00fa lena nd\u00e9anfa\u00ed feidhmeanna na Gaeltachta agus na Gaeilge a aistri\u00fa agus go gcaithf\u00ed soil\u00e9iri\u00fa a dh\u00e9anamh ar an Aire at\u00e1 freagrach as an bhfeidhm at\u00e1 i gceist le reachta\u00edocht phr\u00edomha. Leis an leas\u00fa at\u00e1 \u00e1 mholadh agam anseo, cuirfear an m\u00e9id sin i gcr\u00edch.  Teasta\u00edonn uaim leasuithe Uimh. 2 agus 27 a dh\u00e9anamh mar gur aistr\u00edodh aidhmeanna na Gaeltachta agus na Gaeilge \u00f3n Aire Turas\u00f3ireachta, Cult\u00fair, Eala\u00edon, Gaeltachta, Sp\u00f3irt agus Me\u00e1n chuig an Aire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail, agus Gaeltachta ar tionscn\u00fa an Bhille seo.  Maidir le leas\u00fa Uimh. 32, toisc go bhfuil an aidhm at\u00e1 i gceist le haistri\u00fa go d\u00edreach chuig an Aire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail, agus Gaeltachta le reachta\u00edocht phr\u00edomha, sin an reachta\u00edocht at\u00e1 \u00e1 moladh anseo, n\u00edl ord\u00fa aistrithe aidhme breise de dh\u00edth. N\u00edl aon impleachta\u00ed ag an leas\u00fa seo i dtaobh various ordaithe logainmneacha at\u00e1 d\u00e9anta cheana f\u00e9in. Molaim na leasuithe seo don Teach agus gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis na Teachta\u00ed as an tuiscint. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  N\u00edlimid ag cur i gcoinne na leasuithe. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa)  An bhfuil duine ar bith ag iarraidh aon rud eile a r\u00e1? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  T\u00e1im s\u00e1sta lean\u00faint ar aghaidh. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Aonta\u00edodh an leas\u00fa."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  Tairgim leas\u00fa Uimh. 2:  Ar leathanach 7, l\u00edne 19, \u201ctAire Turas\u00f3ireachta, Cult\u00fair, Eala\u00edon, Gaeltachta, Sp\u00f3irt agus Me\u00e1n\u201d a scriosadh agus \u201ctAire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta\u201d a chur ina ionad. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Aonta\u00edodh an leas\u00fa."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  Tairgim leas\u00fa Uimh. 3:  Ar leathanach 9, l\u00edne 13, \u201c(b)\u201d a scriosadh.  Tuigim go bhfuil leasuithe Uimh. 3, 5 agus 22 \u00e1 bpl\u00e9 le ch\u00e9ile. An bhfuil s\u00e9 sin ceart? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa)  T\u00e1. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  An sprioc at\u00e1 ag na leasuithe seo n\u00e1 le cinnti\u00fa go mbeidh an bord ioml\u00e1n ag \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta tofa agus go mbeidh guth ag na ceantair Ghaeltachta n\u00edos l\u00fa at\u00e1 scartha amach \u00f3 mh\u00f3rchuid na Gaeltachta ina gcontaetha f\u00e9in. T\u00e1im ag tagairt ar cheantair Ghaeltachta i gContae na M\u00ed agus i gContae Phort L\u00e1irge mar shampla\u00ed.  Faoin mBille mar at\u00e1, bheadh seisear as 16 comhalta boird roghnaithe ag an Aire, agus n\u00ed thoghfa\u00ed ach deichni\u00far go daonlathach. Sa seanch\u00f3ras n\u00ed raibh ach tr\u00ed cheapach\u00e1n \u00f3n Aire agus 17 tofa \u00f3n bpobal. Anois beidh d\u00fabailt ar an l\u00edon ceaptha ag an Aire agus laghd\u00fa ar an l\u00edon tofa. I gcompar\u00e1id leis an \u00fadar\u00e1s mar a bh\u00ed sular scriosadh na toghch\u00e1in, is cos\u00fail go bhfuil power grab i dtreo an Aire \u00f3n bpobal le feice\u00e1il. Bh\u00ed an t-\u00fadar\u00e1s in ainm is a bheith mar ghuth daonlathach an phobail in \u00e1it ghuth an Aire sa Ghaeltacht.  D\u00fairt an tAire nach mbeadh saineolas ar an mbord d\u00e1 dtoghfa\u00ed an bord go hioml\u00e1n, ach t\u00e1 an D\u00e1il seo tofa go hioml\u00e1n agus is f\u00e9idir linn saineolas a fh\u00e1il chun cabhr\u00fa linn. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 mar an gc\u00e9anna le comhairl\u00ed contae n\u00f3 comhairl\u00ed cathrach. N\u00ed ghlacfadh an D\u00e1il le haon trian de na Teachta\u00ed D\u00e1la a bheith roghnaithe ag an Aire. N\u00ed ghlacfaimis leis d\u00e1 mbeadh aon trian de chomhairle contae n\u00f3 cathrach tofa n\u00f3 ainmnithe ag Aire. N\u00ed aon leithsc\u00e9al \u00e9 an g\u00e1 le saineolas ar f\u00e9idir a choimisi\u00fan\u00fa i bhfeidhmeannas an \u00fadar\u00e1is. Bh\u00ed modh n\u00edos cuimsith\u00ed ag Sinn F\u00e9in i gcomhair bord n\u00edos m\u00f3 le guth n\u00edos l\u00e1idre agus n\u00edos ionada\u00edche don phobal na Gaeltachta, leas\u00fa Uimh. 4, bunaithe ar pholasaithe cuimsitheacha Shinn F\u00e9in ag lorg d\u00ednit, dea-chleachtas agus daonlathas don Ghaeltacht, ach d\u00faradh go mbeadh costas i gceist toisc n\u00edos m\u00f3 comhalta\u00ed boird a bheith ann. Mar sin riala\u00edodh as ord \u00e9.  N\u00ed Sinn F\u00e9in amh\u00e1in a lorg bord ioml\u00e1n tofa agus ionada\u00edocht do na ceantair bheaga. Ba iad sin molta\u00ed trasph\u00e1irt\u00ed an choiste Gaeilge sa D\u00e1il dheireanach.  D\u00fairt moladh 1:  Molann an Comhchoiste go nd\u00e9anfaidh an tAire athbhreithni\u00fa ar l\u00edon na mball ar Bhord \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta lena chinnti\u00fa go mbeidh ionada\u00edocht ag gach ceantar Gaeltachta ar leith, na ceantair beaga cos\u00fail le U\u00edbh R\u00e1thaigh i gContae Chiarra\u00ed agus na hoile\u00e1in Ghaeltachta ina measc. Molann an Comhchoiste \u00e9 seo lena chinnti\u00fa go mbeidh ionada\u00edocht ar Bhord \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta \u00f3 gach pobal Gaeltachta, rud at\u00e1 an-t\u00e1bhacht ag baint leis i meon na bpobal sin.  Ba mholadh 2 \u00f3n gcomhchoiste n\u00e1:  ... go gcuirfear an tAire c\u00f3ras i bhfeidhm tr\u00edna dtoghfar baill uile Bhord \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta, seachas c\u00f3ras ina dtoghfar roinnt ball agus ina n-ainmn\u00edtear roinnt ball eile  Mar sin, t\u00e1 comhr\u00e9iteach molta sna leasuithe seo ionas go mbeidh an 16 go l\u00e9ir tofa ag pobail Ghaeltachta le breis su\u00edoch\u00e1n i nGaillimh, i dT\u00edr Chonaill, i Maigh Eo agus i gCiarra\u00ed. Chinnteodh na leasuithe ionada\u00edocht ar leith d\u2019U\u00edbh R\u00e1thach, Acaill agus na hoile\u00e1in. N\u00edl costas breise ag baint leis an gcur chuige seo. De bharr na bhf\u00e1thanna sin at\u00e1 l\u00e9irithe agam, t\u00e1im ag br\u00fa leasuithe Uimh. 3, 5 agus 22. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa)  T\u00e1 leasuithe Uimh. 3, 5 agus 22 bainteach lena ch\u00e9ile. Leanann leas\u00fa Uimh. 22 as leas\u00fa Uimh. 5. D\u00e9anfar leasuithe Uimh. 3, 5 agus 22 a phl\u00e9 le ch\u00e9ile. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas le mo chomhghleacaithe as na leasuithe sin a chur s\u00edos. Aonta\u00edm leis an m\u00e9id a bh\u00ed \u00e1 r\u00e1 ag an Teachta McGuinness. I dtuairim Ph\u00e1irt\u00ed an Lucht Oibre agus i mo thuairim f\u00e9in, t\u00e1 g\u00e1 le bord n\u00edos m\u00f3 agus caithfidh an bord ioml\u00e1n a bheith tofa. Taca\u00edm le leasuithe Uimh. 3, 5 agus 22. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell  Is rud \u00e9 seo a bhfuilimid ag pl\u00e9 le fada an l\u00e1. T\u00e1imid soil\u00e9ir go gcaithfidh an bord ioml\u00e1n a bheith tofa agus go gcaithfear ionada\u00edocht \u00f3 gach ceantar Gaeltachta a bheith ann. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 sin f\u00edorth\u00e1bhachtach. T\u00e1 muintir na Gaeltachta ag fanacht le fada an l\u00e1 i gcomhair bord tofa agus teacht ar ais na dtoghch\u00e1n. Ar nd\u00f3igh, t\u00e1 s\u00e9 f\u00edorth\u00e1bhachtach go mbeadh s\u00e9 seo d\u00e9anta agus go mbeadh an bord ioml\u00e1n tofa. Is \u00e9 sin an f\u00e1th go bhfuil na leasuithe seo \u00e1 gcur chun tosaigh. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis na Teachta\u00ed. T\u00e1 scileanna \u00e1irithe riachtanach ar bhoird St\u00e1it agus, go deimhin, ar bhord \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta. Tugann measc\u00e1n do bhaill thofa agus baill cheaptha deis chun a chinnti\u00fa go bhfuil measc\u00e1n \u00e1irithe de scileanna, taith\u00ed, saineolas agus ionada\u00edocht ag an mbord. An uair dheireanach a re\u00e1cht\u00e1ladh com\u00f3rtas le haghaidh bhord an \u00fadar\u00e1is, bh\u00ed scileanna \u00e1irithe san \u00e1ireamh nach m\u00f3r d'iarrth\u00f3ir\u00ed taith\u00ed a l\u00e9iri\u00fa iontu. Is iad na scileanna a bh\u00ed san \u00e1ireamh n\u00e1 cur chun cinn na Gaeilge agus plean\u00e1il teanga; forbairt fiontra\u00edochta agus cruth\u00fa fosta\u00edochta; forbairt pobail n\u00f3 cur chun cinn na n-eala\u00edon; agus rialachas corpar\u00e1ideach. Bh\u00ed c\u00e1il\u00edochta\u00ed i r\u00e9ims\u00ed at\u00e1 bainteach le boird St\u00e1it - mar shampla, c\u00e1il\u00edochta\u00ed i mbainist\u00edocht gn\u00f3, bainist\u00edocht airgeadais n\u00f3 cuntasa\u00edocht, plean\u00e1il teanga n\u00f3 forbairt pobail - san \u00e1ireamh chomh maith mar ruda\u00ed inmhianaithe. N\u00edl bealach ann inar f\u00e9idir na scileanna sin a chinnti\u00fa gan comhalta\u00ed a bheith ceaptha ag cib\u00e9 c\u00e9n tAire a bheidh ann. Ar an mbonn sin, n\u00ed f\u00e9idir liom glacadh leis an leas\u00fa seo. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  Seasann an arg\u00f3int a dhein m\u00e9 n\u00edos luaithe. M\u00e1 t\u00e1imid ag caint mar gheall ar dhaonlathas agus guth na bpobal a bheith cloiste, ba cheart go mbeadh v\u00f3t\u00e1il i gceist chun baill den bhord a roghn\u00fa in ionad iad a bheith ainmnithe. Laistigh d\u00e1r leasuithe, Uimh. 3, 5 agus 22, bheadh ionadaithe cinnte i go leor de na Gaeltachta\u00ed at\u00e1 r\u00f3bheag le guth a fh\u00e1il agus iad caite isteach le ceantair mh\u00f3r th\u00edre. N\u00edl ach idir 2% agus 4% den daonra Gaeltachta i nGaillimh, D\u00fan na nGall agus Corcaigh lonnaithe ar na hoile\u00e1in. Ag an am c\u00e9anna, t\u00e1 daonra na n-oile\u00e1n Gaeltachta n\u00edos m\u00f3 n\u00e1 daonra na nGaeltachta\u00ed i bPort L\u00e1irge agus sa Mh\u00ed agus beidh su\u00edoch\u00e1in ag an d\u00e1 cheantar sin. T\u00e1imid ag iarraidh bunleibh\u00e9al a thabhairt do gach ceantar Gaeltachta, n\u00ed hamh\u00e1in sna toghch\u00e1in, ionas go mbeidh aitheantas ann. Faoin\u00e1r leasuithe, bheadh ionadaithe cinnte i nGaeltacht U\u00edbh R\u00e1thach i gCiarra\u00ed agus i nGaeltacht Acla i Maigh Eo, mar a bh\u00ed pl\u00e9ite agus molta ag an gcoiste. Faoin mBille mar at\u00e1 s\u00e9, n\u00ed bheidh d\u00f3thain daonra ag na ceantair seo difear a dh\u00e9anamh i dtoghch\u00e1in at\u00e1 d\u00edrithe ar Ghaeltachta\u00ed Chiarra\u00ed thiar agus tuaisceart Mhaigh Eo. Ag an am c\u00e9anna, t\u00e1 daonra ag U\u00edbh R\u00e1thach agus Acaill at\u00e1 cos\u00fail le daonra Ghaeltachta\u00ed Phort L\u00e1irge agus na M\u00ed. Baineann s\u00e9 sin le cothrom na F\u00e9inne a bheith ag na ceantair \u00e9ags\u00fala. Nuair at\u00e1imid ag caint mar gheall ar ch\u00farsa\u00ed Gaeltachta, cult\u00fartha agus ionada\u00edochta, t\u00e1imid ag caint mar gheall ar phobail cois c\u00f3sta ach go h\u00e1irithe. Is pobail imeallacha iad a bhfuil cult\u00far agus aitheantas \u00e9ags\u00fail acu fi\u00fa laistigh de cheantar Gaeltachta an chontae. Caithfimid glacadh leis sin agus caithfimid an m\u00e9id sin a thuiscint.  Bheadh an Ghaillimh roinnte go t\u00edreola\u00edoch freisin. Bheadh ceithre shu\u00edoch\u00e1n ag Conamara agus su\u00edoch\u00e1n amh\u00e1in ag an Eachr\u00e9idh agus bruach thoir na Gaillimhe. Leis seo, aithn\u00edtear go bhfuil g\u00e1 le scoilt ionas nach mbeadh an iomarca cumhachta ag v\u00f3ta\u00ed na cathrach i gc\u00f3ras at\u00e1 in ainm chun guth a thabhairt don phobal teanga at\u00e1 lonnaithe i gConamara ach tugtar deis don cheantar Gaeltachta soir \u00f3 abhainn na Gaillimhe pl\u00e9 a dh\u00e9anamh ar cad a theasta\u00edonn uathu freisin. T\u00e1 na tr\u00ed leasuithe an-t\u00e1bhachtach. Imp\u00edm ar an Aire glacadh leo mar t\u00e1 s\u00e9 seo ag eascairt \u00f3n gcomhchoiste agus \u00f3n \u00e9ileamh pobail at\u00e1 ann sna ceantair Ghaeltachta. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  Chuala m\u00e9 an m\u00e9id a bh\u00ed le r\u00e1 ag an Aire. T\u00e1 a l\u00e1n cumhacht f\u00f3s ag an Aire. Imp\u00edm air glacadh leis na leasuithe seo. Bheadh s\u00e9 n\u00edos daonlatha\u00ed. T\u00e1 iarrtha sna leasuithe na toghch\u00e1in seo a athr\u00fa ionas go mbeidh siad n\u00edos l\u00e1idre. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell  M\u00e1 t\u00e1 an tAire d\u00e1ir\u00edre faoi bhord daonlathach agus guth a chinnti\u00fa san \u00fadar\u00e1s do phobail Ghaeltachta at\u00e1 n\u00edos l\u00fa n\u00f3 at\u00e1 lonnaithe ar na hoile\u00e1in, ba ch\u00f3ir d\u00f3 glacadh leis na leasuithe seo. M\u00e1 t\u00e1 s\u00e9 ag di\u00falt\u00fa do na leasuithe seo, n\u00ed m\u00f3r d\u00f3 a mh\u00edni\u00fa c\u00e9n f\u00e1th go bhfuil s\u00e9 n\u00edos t\u00e1bhachta\u00ed go mbeidh seisear ionadaithe aige f\u00e9in ar an mbord in \u00e1it ionadaithe at\u00e1 roghnaithe ag Gaeltacht na bpobal oile\u00e1nda n\u00f3 Gaeltacht U\u00edbh R\u00e1thach. Mar a d\u00faradh n\u00edos luaithe, is d\u00fabailt at\u00e1 ann \u00f3 mar a bh\u00ed, \u00f3 thri\u00far go seisear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  Is bord St\u00e1it \u00e9 sin freisin. Ba cheart go mbeadh gach duine at\u00e1 ar an mbord freagrach n\u00ed hamh\u00e1in do cheantar \u00e1irithe, ach don St\u00e1t. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 t\u00e1bhachtach go mbeidh guth ag na ceantair air ach is bord St\u00e1it \u00e9 a bhfuil dl\u00edthe ag baint leis. T\u00e1 an Teachta Farrell ar an gCoiste um Chuntais Phoibl\u00ed n\u00f3 bh\u00ed s\u00ed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell  T\u00e1im ar an gcoiste airgeadais. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  Tuigeann s\u00ed an fhreagracht at\u00e1 ar bhoird St\u00e1it. Tuigeann s\u00ed freisin go dtarla\u00edonn timpist\u00ed nuair at\u00e1 an fhreagracht sin lag. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 t\u00e1bhachtach go bhfuil an t\u00edreola\u00edocht tugtha san \u00e1ireamh, gan dabht, ach t\u00e1 s\u00e9 t\u00e1bhachtach freisin go bhfuil an measc\u00e1n seo ann agus go mbeidh na scileanna ar leag m\u00e9 amach ann. Ba iad: cur chun cinn na Gaeilge agus plean\u00e1il teanga; forbairt fiontra\u00edochta; cruth\u00fa fosta\u00edochta; forbairt pobail; cur chun cinn na n-eala\u00edon; agus rialachas corpar\u00e1ideach. T\u00e1 seans ann nach mbeidh daoine le toghadh ina gc\u00f3na\u00ed sna ceantair a bhfuil na scileanna sin acu. Beidh ar cib\u00e9 c\u00e9n tAire a bheidh ann seans a thabhairt do dhaoine. Is bord St\u00e1it \u00e9 sin. T\u00e1 an t\u00edreola\u00edocht agus na toghch\u00e1in t\u00e1bhachtach ach t\u00e1 an measc\u00e1n idir baill thofa agus baill cheaptha t\u00e1bhachtach freisin. Leis na ceapach\u00e1in sin, beidh an tAire in ann a chinnti\u00fa go bhfuil na scileanna at\u00e1 riachtanach do bhord St\u00e1it timpeall an bhoird. Leis an measc\u00e1n idir baill thofa agus baill cheaptha, beidh deis ag cib\u00e9 c\u00e9n Aire a bheidh ann na scileanna sin a chur i seirbh\u00eds \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta. Is \u00e9 sin an rud is t\u00e1bhachta\u00ed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  T\u00e1 ardmheas agam ar an Aire, mar is eol d\u00f3, ach n\u00ed f\u00e9idir liom glacadh leis an arg\u00f3int sin i dtaobh na gceapach\u00e1n. M\u00e1s eisean at\u00e1 mar Aire n\u00f3 duine a thagann ina dhiaidh mar Aire, conas a mbeadh a fhios againn go mbeadh na scileanna agus na tuiscint\u00ed cu\u00ed ag an Aire \u00fad sin na daoine cearta a cheapadh? Conas a mbeadh a fhios againn? An freagra n\u00e1 go bhfuil an tAire freagrach don Teach seo. Conas a mbeadh a fhios againn go mbeadh na scileanna cu\u00ed ag na Teachta\u00ed D\u00e1la istigh sa Teach? N\u00edl a fhios againn. M\u00e1 t\u00e1 c\u00e1il\u00edochta\u00ed \u00e1 leagan s\u00edos in ionad toghch\u00e1in, t\u00e1thar ag cur isteach ar an bpr\u00f3iseas daonlathach. T\u00e1 deis ag pobal na h\u00c9ireann agus ag gach saor\u00e1nach sa St\u00e1it seo a v\u00f3ta a chaitheamh p\u00e9 sl\u00ed gur mhian leis n\u00f3 l\u00e9i gan treoir \u00f3n Aire n\u00f3 \u00f3n Rialtas. Ba cheart go mbeadh an deis ch\u00e9anna ag saor\u00e1naigh at\u00e1 ina gc\u00f3na\u00ed sa Ghaeltacht na daoine at\u00e1 ag d\u00e9anamh ionada\u00edocht orthu a cheapadh gan an tAire a bheith ag ainmni\u00fa daoine. Is d\u00f3cha go bhfuil pr\u00edomhoifigeach c\u00fanta in \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta - an pr\u00edomhfheidhmeannach, t\u00e1im cinnte. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 mar an gc\u00e9anna le haon \u00fadar\u00e1s St\u00e1t eile. Is f\u00e9idir le haon \u00fadar\u00e1s St\u00e1t \u2013 agus d\u00e9anann siad an-chuid de \u2013 comhairleoir\u00ed a fh\u00e1il isteach chun tac\u00fa le saineolas. D\u00e9anann gach Roinn agus nach m\u00f3r gach comhlacht agus eagras St\u00e1t \u00e9 sin go rialta. Is f\u00e9idir \u00e9 sin a dh\u00e9anamh. Mar sin, n\u00ed ghlacaim leis an arg\u00f3int go bhfuil s\u00e9 seo faoin Aire a bheith in ann cinnte a dh\u00e9anamh de go bhfuil an taith\u00ed agus na c\u00e1il\u00edochta\u00ed cu\u00ed ag na baill boird. S\u00edlim go bhfuil s\u00e9 faoi chumhacht a choime\u00e1d ar an \u00fadar\u00e1s in ionad daonlathas a thabhairt do na pobail Ghaeltachta. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Cuireadh leas\u00fa Uimh. 3."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Faisn\u00e9iseadh go rabhthas tar \u00e9is di\u00falt\u00fa don leas\u00fa."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Riala\u00edodh leas\u00fa Uimh. 4 as ord. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"N\u00edor tairgeadh leas\u00fa Uimh. 4."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  Tairgim leas\u00fa Uimh 5:  [ Ar leathanach ][ 11, l\u00edne 16 agus l\u00edne 17 a scriosadh agus an m\u00e9id seo a leanas a chur ina n-ionad: ]  [ 16 chomhalta thofa a cheapfar de r\u00e9ir Chuid IVA.\u201d; ] "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Faisn\u00e9iseadh go rabhthas tar \u00e9is di\u00falt\u00fa don leas\u00fa."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Riala\u00edodh leas\u00fa Uimh. 6 as ord. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"N\u00edor tairgeadh leas\u00fa Uimh. 6."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  Tairgim leas\u00fa Uimh. 7:  Ar leathanach 11, l\u00edne 19 a scriosadh agus an m\u00e9id seo a leanas a chur ina hionad:  \u201c(2AA) Ceapfaidh comhalta\u00ed an \u00dadar\u00e1is cathaoirleach agus leas-chathaoirleach \u00f3na measc f\u00e9in uair sa bhliain, ag d\u00e9anamh malart\u00fa chun a chinnti\u00fa nach mbeidh n\u00edos m\u00f3 n\u00e1 tr\u00e9imhse amh\u00e1in mar chathaoirleach n\u00f3 mar leas-chathaoirleach le linn t\u00e9arma amh\u00e1in ag duine n\u00f3 daoine a dh\u00e9anann ionada\u00edocht thar ceann an chontae ch\u00e9anna, agus ag cinnti\u00fa gur as contaetha \u00e9ags\u00fala iad an cathaoirleach agus an leas-chathaoirleach.\u201d,\u201d.  Ag C\u00e9im an Choiste, d\u00fairt an tAire, an Teachta Calleary, \"T\u00e1 s\u00e9 t\u00e1bhachtach go mbeadh an cathaoirleach agus an t-\u00fadar\u00e1s neamhsple\u00e1ch agus go mbeadh an neamhsple\u00e1chas sin ann\" agus \"T\u00e1 s\u00e9 t\u00e1bhachtach go mbeadh an t-\u00fadar\u00e1s neamhsple\u00e1ch \u00f3n Rialtas agus go mbeadh s\u00e9 in ann teacht amach le c\u00farsa\u00ed a bhaineann leis an nGaeilge agus an Ghaeltacht.\" Dhi\u00faltaigh an tAire glacadh le cathaoirleach a bheith tofa ag comhalta\u00ed an \u00fadar\u00e1is f\u00e9in, \u00e1fach. Ba mholadh 7 a th\u00e1inig \u00f3 ghrinnscr\u00fad\u00fa r\u00e9amhreachtach an chomhchoiste Gaeilge n\u00e1 \"molann an Comhchoiste gur faoi Bhord \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta a bheidh s\u00e9 an Cathaoirleach agus an Leaschathaoirleach a thoghadh.\" Is moladh \u00f3 chomhchoiste tras-ph\u00e1irt\u00ed \u00e9 sin. C\u00e9n f\u00e1th go bhfuil an tAire anois ag iarraidh go mbeidh cathaoirleach roghnaithe ag an Aire f\u00e9in faoin mBille seo? Conas is f\u00e9idir le cathaoirleach at\u00e1 bu\u00edoch den Aire n\u00f3 d'aon Aire sa todhcha\u00ed as a r\u00f3l a bheith ioml\u00e1n neamhsple\u00e1ch \u00f3n Aire sin?  T\u00e1 Sinn F\u00e9in ag moladh go mbeadh cathaoirleach agus leas-chathaoirleach tofa ag an mbord f\u00e9in, go mbeadh srianta ann ionas nach mbeadh an bheirt as an gcontae amh\u00e1in, go mbeadh malart\u00fa gach bliain, mar at\u00e1 d\u00e9anta ag cathaoirligh in \u00fadar\u00e1is \u00e1iti\u00fala, agus go gcinnteofa\u00ed nach i gcontae amh\u00e1in a bheadh an r\u00f3l \u00f3 bhliain amh\u00e1in go bliain eile.  Le linn an phl\u00e9 ag C\u00e9im an Choiste c\u00fapla m\u00ed \u00f3 shin, d\u00fairt an tAire freisin go mbeadh s\u00e9 s\u00e1sta breathn\u00fa ar ch\u00e1il\u00edochta\u00ed riachtanacha don chathaoirleach a leagan amach ag an gc\u00e9ad ch\u00e9im eile. C\u00e1 bhfuil na c\u00e1il\u00edochta\u00ed sin leagtha s\u00edos? Ag an am c\u00e9anna, d\u00fairt s\u00e9 go mbeidh s\u00e9 s\u00e1sta pl\u00e9 a dh\u00e9anamh ar roinnt de na leasuithe a bh\u00ed curtha chun cinn againn ar an taobh seo den Teach ag C\u00e9im an Choiste, machnamh a dh\u00e9anamh orthu agus b'fh\u00e9idir cuid d\u00f3ibh a chur san \u00e1ireamh. C\u00e1 bhfuil siad? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell  D\u00e9anann an leas\u00fa seo ciall. D\u00e9anann s\u00e9 ciall go mbeadh an cinneadh seo d\u00e9anta ag an mbord f\u00e9in. Ar aon bhord ar a raibh m\u00e9 f\u00e9in, agus fi\u00fa sa Seomra seo, roghna\u00edonn na baill an cathaoirleach. Ba ch\u00f3ir d\u00f3 a bheith mar sin ar an mbord seo freisin. N\u00ed rud f\u00edoreisceacht\u00fail \u00e9 go mbeadh s\u00e9 seo i gceist. Mar gheall air sin, taca\u00edm leis an leas\u00fa. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  T\u00e1im s\u00e1sta tac\u00fa leis an leas\u00fa seo chomh maith. Aonta\u00edm leis. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 f\u00edorth\u00e1bhachtach \u00f3 thaobh daonlathas agus tr\u00e9dhearcacht an bhoird agus na cathaoirleachta. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  Ar dt\u00fas, n\u00ed bh\u00edonn leas-chathaoirleach i gceist le boird rialachais n\u00f3 comhlachta\u00ed St\u00e1it ar n\u00f3s \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta. T\u00e1 for\u00e1il san Acht um \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta, 1979, a dh\u00e9ile\u00e1lann le hasl\u00e1ithreacht an chathaoirligh, ina bhfuil s\u00e9 r\u00e1ite:  mura mbeidh agus fad nach mbeidh cathaoirleach an \u00dadar\u00e1is i l\u00e1thair n\u00f3 m\u00e1 bh\u00edonn oifig an chathaoirligh folamh, roghn\u00f3idh na comhalta\u00ed den \u00dadar\u00e1s a bheidh i l\u00e1thair duine d\u00e1 l\u00edon chun bheith ina chathaoirleach ar an gcruinni\u00fa.  T\u00e1 an socr\u00fa seo f\u00f3s i bhfeidhm. N\u00ed l\u00e9ir go bhfuil g\u00e1 an cur chuige seo a leas\u00fa.  N\u00ed bheidh s\u00e9 ag teacht le dea-chleachtas go mbeadh an bord ag ainmni\u00fa cathaoirleach \u00f3na bhallra\u00edocht f\u00e9in. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 i gceist go mbeidh cumhacht ag an Aire an cathaoirleach a ainmni\u00fa. T\u00e1 scileanna ar leith ag teast\u00e1il \u00f3n gcathaoirleach a bh\u00edonn \u00e1 lorg tr\u00edd an bpr\u00f3iseas earca\u00edochta a re\u00e1cht\u00e1lann an tSeirbh\u00eds um Cheapach\u00e1in Phoibl\u00ed. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 sin t\u00e1bhachtach. Beidh com\u00f3rtas eagraithe ag an Seirbh\u00eds um Cheapach\u00e1in Phoibl\u00ed. N\u00ed m\u00f3r go l\u00e9ireoidh iarrth\u00f3ir\u00ed ar r\u00f3l an chathaoirligh fianaise ar thaith\u00ed cheannaireachta ag leibh\u00e9al s\u00e1ch sinsearach, lena n-air\u00edtear cumas cathaoirleacht a dh\u00e9anamh ar bhord, agus taith\u00ed chu\u00ed i r\u00e9imse amh\u00e1in, ar a laghad, de na r\u00e9ims\u00ed seo a leanas: cur chun cinn na Gaeilge agus plean\u00e1il teanga, forbairt fiontra\u00edochta, cruth\u00fa fosta\u00edochta, forbairt phobail, cur chun na n-eala\u00edon, agus rialachas corpar\u00e1ideach. Freisin, beidh s\u00e9 ar chumas an cathaoirligh r\u00f3l l\u00e1rnach a chomhl\u00edonadh i dtaca le sti\u00faradh, ceannaireacht agus rialachas corpar\u00e1ideach na heagra\u00edochta agus caidreamh dearfach a choth\u00fa le pr\u00edomhfheidhmeannach na heagra\u00edochta chun dea-rialtas a \u00e9asc\u00fa.  T\u00e1 traidisi\u00fan de chathaoirligh neamhsple\u00e1cha den \u00fadar\u00e1s. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 maslach a r\u00e1 go mbeidh aon chathaoirleach a cheapfaidh an Aire ar son an Rialtais. N\u00ed h\u00e9 sin an traidisi\u00fan san \u00fadar\u00e1s n\u00e1 ina l\u00e1n comhlachta\u00ed St\u00e1it eile. Mar a d\u00fairt m\u00e9, beidh na hainmneacha ag teacht \u00f3 chom\u00f3rtas PAS. Beidh a l\u00e1n daoine a bhfuil an taith\u00ed agus scileanna at\u00e1 leagtha amach in ann cur isteach ar an gcom\u00f3rtas sin tr\u00edd an PAS.  Phl\u00e9igh m\u00e9 na tuairim\u00ed \u00f3n d\u00edosp\u00f3ireacht a bh\u00ed againn an o\u00edche dheireanach. Tagann s\u00e9 ar ais go dt\u00ed an pointe c\u00e9anna. T\u00e1 an t-\u00fadar\u00e1s difri\u00fail. Is bord St\u00e1it \u00e9. Mar gheall gur bord St\u00e1it \u00e9, t\u00e1 freagrachta\u00ed air. Mar a d\u00fairt m\u00e9 sa d\u00edosp\u00f3ireacht dheireanach a bh\u00ed againn, t\u00e1 freagrachta\u00ed ag bord an \u00fadar\u00e1is nach bhfuil againn mar Theachta\u00ed D\u00e1la. T\u00e1 freagrachta\u00ed dl\u00edthi\u00fala agus comhlachta ag an mbord nach bhfuil againn. N\u00ed f\u00e9idir compar\u00e1id a dh\u00e9anamh idir an tOireachtas agus an t-\u00fadar\u00e1s. Mar sin, n\u00ed f\u00e9idir liom glacadh leis an leas\u00fa seo. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  T\u00e1 muin\u00edn againn in\u00e1r bpobail Ghaeltachta n\u00f3 n\u00edl. T\u00e1 muin\u00edn againn sna daoine a dtoghfar n\u00f3 n\u00edl an mhuin\u00edn sin againn. Caithfidh an Rialtas muin\u00edn a l\u00e9iri\u00fa. M\u00e1 t\u00e1imid d\u00e1ir\u00edre mar gheall ar thoghch\u00e1in don \u00fadar\u00e1s a thabhairt ar ais, caithfimid a thuiscint go bhfuil saoirse ag an Aire agus ag an Rialtas an rud ceart a dh\u00e9anamh. In ionad a r\u00e1 ar\u00eds agus ar\u00eds eile gur bord St\u00e1it \u00e9 seo, go gcaithfidh na rialacha a bheith daingean agus go gcaithfimid c\u00fal\u00fa \u00f3n daonlathas chomh fada agus is f\u00e9idir, b\u00edodh f\u00eds ag an Aire. Conas is f\u00e9idir linn d\u00e9ile\u00e1il leis an \u00fadar\u00e1s seo? T\u00e1 an-chuid eagrais St\u00e1it ann. T\u00e1 strucht\u00fair \u00e9ags\u00fala ag an-chuid d\u00f3ibh. Is comhlachta\u00ed iad cuid d\u00f3ibh agus is forais tras-Teorainn, institi\u00faid\u00ed n\u00f3 Ranna St\u00e1it iad cinn eile. T\u00e1 slite timpeall ar ruda\u00ed. T\u00e1imid ag iarraidh rud \u00e9igin a chruth\u00fa anseo leis an mBille agus len\u00e1r leasuithe at\u00e1 \u00e9ags\u00fail chun dul i ngleic leis na ceantair \u00e9ags\u00fala seo, na ceantair Ghaeltachta, at\u00e1 ag iarraidh daonlathas a bheith acu ar\u00eds. Is \u00fadar\u00e1s \u00e9 seo. T\u00e1 \u00fadar\u00e1s ag baint le h\u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta. T\u00e1 g\u00e1 le f\u00eds dhifri\u00fail \u00f3n Aire agus \u00f3n Rialtas mar gheall air seo. T\u00e1 d\u00edom\u00e1 orm \u00e9 a chloiste\u00e1il ar\u00eds agus ar\u00eds eile go gcaithfear leath-thoghch\u00e1in a bheith ann, go gcaithfidh an Rialtas daoine agus an gcathaoirleach a ainmni\u00fa agus nach bhfuil s\u00e9 chun a dh\u00e9anamh cinnte go bhfuil cothrom na F\u00e9inne ag na ceantair bheaga, na ceantair imeallacha agus na ceantair \u00e9ags\u00fala \u00f3 thaobh na hionada\u00edochta de. T\u00e1 d\u00edom\u00e1 orm nach bhfuil an Rialtas s\u00e1sta glacadh leis an leas\u00fa seo. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  T\u00e1 muin\u00edn agam i bpobal na Gaeltachta freisin. T\u00e1 muin\u00edn agam go mbeidh daoine in ann cur isteach ar an gcom\u00f3rtas PAS. T\u00e1 muin\u00edn agam freisin go bhfuil tuiscint ann gur \u00fadar\u00e1s \u00e9 \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta, rud at\u00e1 t\u00e1bhachtach, ach gur bord St\u00e1it \u00e9 freisin. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 sin t\u00e1bhachtach. Mar gheall gur bord St\u00e1it \u00e9, t\u00e1 s\u00e9 t\u00e1bhachtach go mbeidh measc\u00e1n de bhaill thofa agus baill cheaptha ann. N\u00ed bheidh na ceapach\u00e1in ag teacht \u00f3 ph\u00f3ca an Aire ach \u00f3 chom\u00f3rtas PAS. Is daoine leis na scileanna a cheapfar. Beidh a l\u00e1n daoine \u00f3n nGaeltachta agus \u00f3 phobal na Gaeilge a bhfuil na scileanna sin acu in ann dul os comhair PAS chun agallamh a dh\u00e9anamh agus dul tr\u00edd an bpr\u00f3iseas chun seirbh\u00eds a dh\u00e9anamh ar bhord an \u00fadar\u00e1is.  T\u00e1 muin\u00edn mh\u00f3r agam go mbeidh muintir agus pobal na Gaeltachta in ann \u00e9 sin a dh\u00e9anamh. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Cuireadh an leas\u00fa agus faisn\u00e9iseadh go rabhthas tar \u00e9is di\u00falt\u00fa d\u00f3."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa)  T\u00e1 leas\u00fa Uimh. 8 as ord. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"N\u00edor tairgeadh leas\u00fa Uimh. 8."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  Tairgim leas\u00fa Uimh. 9:  Ar leathanach 11, an m\u00e9id seo a leanas a chur isteach i ndiaidh l\u00edne 34:  \u201c(2G) N\u00ed bheidh s\u00e9 n\u00f3 s\u00ed intofa m\u00e1s comhalta den D\u00e1il, den Seanad, de Pharlaimint na hEorpa n\u00f3 d\u2019\u00fadar\u00e1s \u00e1iti\u00fail \u00e9 n\u00f3 \u00ed. I gc\u00e1s go dtoghfar an duine chun na D\u00e1la, chun an tSeanaid, chun Parlaimint na hEorpa n\u00f3 chun \u00fadar\u00e1is \u00e1iti\u00fail fad is at\u00e1 s\u00e9 n\u00f3 s\u00ed ina chomhalta n\u00f3 ina comhalta den \u00dadar\u00e1s, d\u00e9anfaidh an tAire an liosta c\u00faltaca at\u00e1 luaite i bhfo-alt (2F) a \u00fas\u00e1id chun comhalta nua a roghn\u00fa le teacht i gcomharbacht air n\u00f3 uirthi tr\u00e1th nach d\u00e9ana\u00ed n\u00e1 seachtain tar \u00e9is a thofa n\u00f3 a tofa chun an eagrais eile.\u201d.\u201d  Mhol Sinn F\u00e9in an leas\u00fa seo ar Ch\u00e9im an Choiste go mbeadh cosc ar dhuine a bheith mar chomhairleoir contae agus comhalta ar bhord an \u00fadar\u00e1is ag an am c\u00e9anna toisc go bhfuil Sinn F\u00e9in i gcoinne double-jobbing agus ag iarraidh go mbeadh comhalta\u00ed tofa an \u00fadar\u00e1is d\u00edrithe go hioml\u00e1n ar a bheith ag freastal ar riachtanais na Gaeltachta. L\u00e9irigh an tAire nach raibh s\u00e9 s\u00e1sta glacadh leis c\u00e9 gur aithin s\u00e9 c\u00e9 chomh gn\u00f3thach is at\u00e1 obair an chomhairleora cheana f\u00e9in agus gur theastaigh acmhainn\u00ed breise uathu chun a gcuid oibre ar an \u00fadar\u00e1s \u00e1iti\u00fail a dh\u00e9anamh, gan tr\u00e1cht ar obair sa bhreis a dh\u00e9anamh san \u00fadar\u00e1s seo. T\u00e1imid f\u00f3s den tuairim go dteasta\u00edonn idirdheal\u00fa idir an d\u00e1 r\u00f3l. Bh\u00ed moladh trasph\u00e1irt\u00ed \u00f3n choiste Gaeltachta sa ghrinnscr\u00fad\u00fa r\u00e9amhreachta\u00edochta \"nach mbeidh cead ag aon ... [duine] a bheith ina mbaill de Bhord \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta, m\u00e1s Comhalta de Thithe an Oireachtais, de Pharlaimint an Aontais Eorpaigh, de Thion\u00f3l Thuaisceart \u00c9ireann n\u00f3 d\u2019aon \u00fadar\u00e1s \u00e1iti\u00fail ar oile\u00e1n na h\u00c9ireann iad ag an am\". Bh\u00ed an tAire s\u00e1sta glacadh leis an moladh sin maidir le Tithe an Oireachtais agus Parlaimint na hEorpa ach is cos\u00fail nach bhfuil s\u00e9 ag glacadh leis an moladh i dtaobh daoine a bheith ina mbaill d\u2019\u00fadar\u00e1is \u00e1iti\u00fala agus d\u2019\u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  T\u00e1 m\u00e9 an-s\u00e1sta taca\u00edocht a thabhairt don leas\u00fa seo mar gheall ar an m\u00e9id a bh\u00ed le r\u00e1 ag an Aire faoin \u00fadar\u00e1s mar bhord St\u00e1t agus mar gheall ar an gcom\u00f3rtas PAS. Bh\u00ed a fhios agam cheana f\u00e9in go raibh daoine ann a bh\u00ed agus at\u00e1 mar Bhaill den D\u00e1il agus go raibh orthu \u00e9ir\u00ed as bord St\u00e1t roimh d\u00f3ibh a bheith tofa mar Theachta D\u00e1la n\u00f3 mar Sheanad\u00f3ir. Aonta\u00edm go m\u00f3r leis an leas\u00fa seo mar gheall ar na ruda\u00ed c\u00e9anna a bh\u00ed \u00e1 r\u00e1 ag mo chomhghleaca\u00ed, an Teachta McGuinness. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis na Teachta\u00ed. Mar is eol d\u00f3ibh, n\u00edl an for\u00e1il seo ag teast\u00e1il mar t\u00e1 s\u00e9 cl\u00fadaithe sa phr\u00edomh-Acht cheana f\u00e9in \u00f3 thaobh Comhalta\u00ed don D\u00e1il, don Seanad agus baill foirne na hEorpa. Maidir le comhalta\u00ed d\u2019\u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta, i gc\u00e1s go n-ainmneofar \u00e9 n\u00f3 \u00ed mar Chomhalta de Seanad \u00c9ireann n\u00f3 go dtoghfar \u00e9 n\u00f3 \u00ed mar Chomhalta de cheachtar Theacht an Oireachtais, n\u00f3 chun a bheith ina ionada\u00ed n\u00f3 ina hionada\u00ed i bParlaimint na hEorpa, n\u00f3 \u00e9 n\u00f3 \u00ed a bheith tofa chun Parlaimint na hEorpa, stadfaidh s\u00e9 n\u00f3 s\u00ed de bheith ina chomhalta don \u00fadar\u00e1s.  Maidir le comhalta\u00ed na h\u00fadar\u00e1is \u00e1iti\u00fala, s\u00edlim gur cheart go mbeadh baill na gcomhairl\u00ed contae san \u00e1ireamh le haghaidh ballra\u00edocht ar bhord an \u00fadar\u00e1is. T\u00e1 siad san \u00e1ireamh ar an mbord reatha mar at\u00e1, agus bh\u00ed roimhe seo. Chomh maith leis sin, s\u00edlim nach mbeidh s\u00e9 ind\u00e9anta comhalta nua a bheith roghnaithe laistigh de sheachtain. N\u00ed d\u00f3igh liom go mbeidh d\u00f3thain ama i gceist ansin chun comhalta nua at\u00e1 inch\u00e1ilithe a roghn\u00fa. Teasta\u00edonn sol\u00fabthacht \u00e1irithe le haghaidh ruda\u00ed mar sin. Agus \u00e9 sin san \u00e1ireamh, n\u00ed f\u00e9idir liom glacadh leis an leas\u00fa seo. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Cuireadh an leas\u00fa agus faisn\u00e9iseadh go rabhthas tar \u00e9is di\u00falt\u00fa d\u00f3."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa)  Bogaimid ar aghaidh go dt\u00ed leas\u00fa Uimh. 10. T\u00e1imid ag pl\u00e9 Uimh. 10 go 15, go huile, agus leasaithe Uimh. 30 agus 31. T\u00e1 baint acu le ch\u00e9ile agus pl\u00e9ifear le ch\u00e9ile iad. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  Tairgim leas\u00fa Uimh. 10:  [ Ar leathanach ][ 13, idir l\u00edne 3 agus l\u00edne 4, an m\u00e9id seo a leanas a chur isteach: ]  [ \u201c \u201c(7A) F\u00e9adfaidh an t\u00dadar\u00e1s leas i maoin agus r\u00e9admhaoin a cheannach n\u00f3 a fh\u00e1il ar mhaithe le tith\u00edocht, seirbh\u00eds\u00ed, n\u00f3 \u00e1iseanna s\u00f3isialta n\u00f3 cult\u00fair a chur ar f\u00e1il ar cib\u00e9 t\u00e9arma\u00ed agus faoi r\u00e9ir cib\u00e9 coinn\u00edollacha is cu\u00ed leis.\u201d. ]  Baineann na leasuithe seo leis an \u00e1bhar is pr\u00e1inn\u00ed sa Ghaeltacht, is \u00e9 sin, c\u00farsa\u00ed tith\u00edochta, agus muid ag triail r\u00f3l a chruth\u00fa don \u00fadar\u00e1s i dtreo r\u00e9iteach na faidhbe. Tr\u00e9asla\u00edm le B\u00c1N\u00da, Tinte\u00e1n, agus Conradh na Gaeilge as labhairt linn anseo sa D\u00e1il agus ag\u00f3id a eagr\u00fa lasmuigh de Theach Laighean c\u00fapla m\u00ed \u00f3 shin ar an \u00e1bhar seo. Ar an l\u00e1 c\u00e9anna leis an ag\u00f3id tith\u00edochta don Ghaeltacht taobh amuigh, d\u2019aontaigh Teachta\u00ed D\u00e1la d\u2019aon ghuth le r\u00fan \u00f3 Shinn F\u00e9in ag moladh maoini\u00fa d\u2019\u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta a ard\u00fa go suntasach, mar at\u00e1 leagtha amach i gc\u00e1inaisn\u00e9is mhalartach Shinn F\u00e9in do 2026, agus na cumhachta\u00ed riachtanacha a chur ar f\u00e1il d\u00f3 chomh maith le toghch\u00e1in dhaonlathacha athuair chun deis a thabhairt do phobal na Gaeltachta sol\u00e1thar cu\u00ed ar thith\u00edocht \u00e1iti\u00fail a mh\u00fanl\u00fa. Ba \u00e9 sin toil na D\u00e1la seo. Bunaithe ar an gcur chuige sin, t\u00e1 na leasuithe Uimh. 10, 14, agus 15 in ainm Shinn F\u00e9in, agus taca\u00edmid leis na leasuithe eile at\u00e1 molta ag na Daonlathaithe Sh\u00f3isialta ar an \u00e1bhar c\u00e9anna.  D\u00fairt an tAire ar Ch\u00e9im an Choiste faoi na leasuithe a bh\u00ed againn ansin, \"N\u00edl m\u00e9 in ann glacadh leis na leasuithe ag an bpointe seo, ach t\u00e1 m\u00e9 ag r\u00e1 go bhfuil muid chun leasuithe a dh\u00e9anamh ar an gc\u00e9ad Ch\u00e9im eile, C\u00e9im na Tuarasc\u00e1la.\u201d Ach n\u00ed fheictear na leasuithe sin anois. N\u00edl siad leagtha s\u00edos. N\u00edl dul chun cinn d\u00e9anta agus n\u00edl freagra na ceiste faighte againn \u00f3 shin.  Go sonrach, baineann leas\u00fa Uimh. 10 le moladh \u00f3 Chonradh na Gaeilge. I bhfocal Conradh na Gaeilge f\u00e9in, t\u00e1 \u00e9igeand\u00e1il tith\u00edochta sa Ghaeltacht agus caithfear feidhmi\u00fa go pr\u00e1inneach le dul i ngleic leis. Mura gcuirtear le feidhmeanna an \u00fadar\u00e1is sa Bhille seo anois le tith\u00edocht a chur san \u00e1ireamh, t\u00e1 gach seans nach mbeidh deis eile ann roimh dheireadh thr\u00e9imhse an Rialtais reatha agus cuirfidh s\u00e9 seo moill mh\u00f3r ar chumas an \u00fadar\u00e1is feidhmi\u00fa i gceart ar an \u00e1bhar seo. D\u00fairt an tAire St\u00e1it, an Teachta Thomas Byrne, a bh\u00ed mar Aire St\u00e1it na Gaeltachta ag an am, c\u00fapla uair gur mhaith leis go mbeadh breis feidhmeanna ag an \u00fadar\u00e1s. Seo \u00ed an deis mar sin na feidhmeanna tith\u00edochta sin a thabhairt don \u00fadar\u00e1s.  T\u00e1 13 comharchumann Gaeltachta agus 12 coiste plean\u00e1la teanga ag aont\u00fa le polasa\u00ed tith\u00edochta at\u00e1 curtha le ch\u00e9ile ag an gconradh at\u00e1 ag lorg breis feidhmeanna tith\u00edochta don \u00fadar\u00e1s. Chomh maith leo si\u00fad, t\u00e1 gr\u00fapa\u00ed pobal eile ag aont\u00fa go bhfuil g\u00e1 feidhmeanna breise tith\u00edochta a thabhairt d\u2019\u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta, le B\u00c1N\u00da, an mheitheal n\u00e1isi\u00fanta plean\u00e1la teanga agus gr\u00fapa\u00ed eile san \u00e1ireamh. De r\u00e9ir ceannteidil an Bhille, t\u00e1 an Bille ag pl\u00e9 le c\u00fapla rud eile nach mbaineann go d\u00edreach le toghch\u00e1n \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta. C\u00e9n f\u00e1th nach mbeadh feidhmeanna tith\u00edochta don \u00fadar\u00e1s san \u00e1ireamh sa phl\u00e9 ar an mBille seo mar sin? Bheadh s\u00e9 seo i bhfad n\u00edos \u00e1bhartha don Bhille n\u00e1 an d\u00e1 leas\u00fa at\u00e1 curtha san \u00e1ireamh sa Bhille le d\u00e9ana\u00ed maidir le hAcht na dTeangacha Oifigi\u00fala agus Acht na Gaeltachta. Feictear domsa go bhfuil easpa agus ganntanas sa Bhille seo agus n\u00edl an tAire n\u00e1 an Rialtas seo ag tap\u00fa an deis leis an reachta\u00edocht seo na cumhachta\u00ed sa bhreis a thabhairt don \u00fadar\u00e1s chun dul i ngleic leis an ng\u00e9arch\u00e9im tith\u00edochta Gaeltachta at\u00e1 ag cur todhcha\u00ed na Gaeltachta i mbaol. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell  Mar is eol don Aire, is \u00ed ceist na tith\u00edochta ceann do na pr\u00edomhcheisteanna at\u00e1 sa Ghaeltacht. Is \u00e9 tith\u00edocht Gaeltachta ceann de na ruda\u00ed is m\u00f3 ar a bhfuil feachtasa\u00edocht \u00e1 d\u00e9anamh sa Ghaeltacht faoi l\u00e1thair. T\u00e1 m\u00e9 ag caint ar leith\u00e9id\u00ed B\u00c1N\u00da, Tinte\u00e1n agus daoine eile, ar nd\u00f3igh, at\u00e1 ag cur leis an bhfeachtas sin. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 soil\u00e9ir nach bhfuil daoine in ann teach a th\u00f3g\u00e1il, a cheannach n\u00f3 a fh\u00e1il ar c\u00edos sa nGaeltacht agus is \u00e9 sin an bhunfhadhb at\u00e1 anseo. \u00d3n m\u00e9id at\u00e1imid ag pl\u00e9 anseo agus ansin t\u00e1 na leasuithe ann, an \u00e9 go bhfuil an tAire ag r\u00e1 go bhfuil cumhachta\u00ed breise agus reachta\u00edocht bhreise ag teast\u00e1il \u00f3n \u00fadar\u00e1s le talamh a dh\u00edol go AHB n\u00f3 le h\u00fadar\u00e1s tith\u00edochta?  M\u00e1s rud \u00e9 go dtugtar an chumhacht sin do chomhairle chontae n\u00f3 do AHB, ar an gc\u00e9ad dul s\u00edos an bhfuil a fhios againn go d\u00edreach go mbeidh s\u00e9 sin i gcomhair tith\u00edocht sh\u00f3isialta, tith\u00edocht inacmhainne n\u00f3 tith\u00edocht ar phraghas r\u00e9as\u00fanta ionas go mbeadh daoine in ann iad a cheannach? C\u00e9n cinnteacht a bheadh ann i dt\u00e9arma\u00ed c\u00farsa\u00ed teanga? C\u00e9ard a chiall\u00f3dh s\u00e9 do dhaoine le Gaeilge agus do dhaoine gan Ghaeilge? C\u00e9ard go d\u00edreach a bheadh ann? C\u00e9n smacht a bheadh ag an \u00fadar\u00e1s ar an sc\u00e9al le cinnti\u00fa go mbeadh an Ghaeilge mar chuid l\u00e1rnach dh\u00f3 sin? \u00d3n m\u00e9id a thuigim, d\u00fairt an tAire go mbeadh s\u00e9 ag neart\u00fa an leas\u00fa faoin tith\u00edocht ach \u00f3n m\u00e9id at\u00e1 feicthe againn, n\u00edl s\u00e9 sin go hioml\u00e1n soil\u00e9ir. Is iad sin na ch\u00e9ad ceisteanna at\u00e1 agam. Tiocfaidh m\u00e9 ar ais le n\u00edos m\u00f3. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Kyne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Kyne.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Kyne.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Kyne  Cuirim f\u00e1ilte roimh an Aire agus aonta\u00edm gurb \u00e9 tith\u00edocht an rud is t\u00e1bhachta\u00ed trasna na t\u00edre, an Ghaeltacht ina measc. Cuirim f\u00e1ilte roimh an m\u00e9id at\u00e1 leagtha amach sa chl\u00e1r Rialtas maidir leis an r\u00f3l l\u00e1rnach a bheidh ag \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta. T\u00e1 a fhios agam go bhfuil s\u00e9 s\u00e1sta an comhoibri\u00fa sin a dh\u00e9anamh leis an rialtas \u00e1iti\u00fail. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 sin f\u00edorth\u00e1bhachtach, agus leis sin go mbeidh r\u00f3l l\u00e1rnach idir an t-\u00fadar\u00e1s, na comhairl\u00ed contae agus Uisce \u00c9ireann chun lean\u00faint ar aghaidh le tithe s\u00f3isialta agus tithe ar phraghas r\u00e9as\u00fanta a th\u00f3g\u00e1il. Is ceist amh\u00e1in \u00e9 c\u00e9n chaoi a n-oibr\u00edonn s\u00e9 sin ach t\u00e1 comhoibri\u00fa f\u00edorth\u00e1bhachtach. \u00d3 na cainteanna a bh\u00ed agam leis an t-\u00fadar\u00e1s, tuigim go mb\u2019fh\u00e9idir go mbeadh s\u00e9 ag obair mar chomhlacht tith\u00edochta sa r\u00f3l seo, ach ag an am c\u00e9anna t\u00e1 s\u00ed f\u00edorth\u00e1bhachtach go mbeadh r\u00f3l ar leith aige ag obair leis an gcomhairle contae. T\u00e1 an talamh agus an taith\u00ed innealt\u00f3ireachta aige. B'fh\u00e9idir nach bhfuil an taith\u00ed aige tithe a th\u00f3g\u00e1il ach t\u00e1 an taith\u00ed aige \u00f3 thaobh innealt\u00f3ireacht de, agus t\u00e1 an taith\u00ed chu\u00ed ag an gcomhairle contae. Idir an d\u00e1 eagra\u00edocht agus Uisce \u00c9ireann, beidh siad in ann lean\u00faint ar aghaidh.  Teasta\u00edonn an dara sc\u00e9im ph\u00edol\u00f3tach idir an tr\u00ed eagra\u00edocht St\u00e1it chun talamh a fh\u00e1il agus sc\u00e9im a th\u00f3g\u00e1il. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 r\u00e1ite ag an Rialtas go bhfuil s\u00e9 s\u00e1sta go mbeidh t\u00f3g\u00e1laithe in ann sc\u00e9imeanna a th\u00f3g\u00e1il le hionaid s\u00e9arachais sealadacha freisin. Cabhr\u00f3idh s\u00e9 sin sna h\u00e1iteanna nach bhfuil sc\u00e9im s\u00e9arachais amh\u00e1in ann. Aonta\u00edm go bhfuil s\u00e9 f\u00edorth\u00e1bhachtach go mbeadh r\u00f3l ar leith ag an t-\u00fadar\u00e1s maidir le tith\u00edocht. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  I am not sure whether we are speaking on all the leasuithe now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa)  We are taking amendments Nos. 10 to 15, inclusive, and amendments Nos. 30 and 31. They are all related. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  Ceart go leor. T\u00e1 an gh\u00e9arch\u00e9im tith\u00edochta sna Gaeltachta\u00ed uaf\u00e1sach ar fad. It is time to give a direct role to \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta to deliver affordable housing in the Gaeltacht areas. T\u00e1im ag tac\u00fa le Conradh na Gaeilge agus gr\u00fapa\u00ed pobail eile, ar n\u00f3s Tint\u00e9an agus B\u00c1N\u00da, agus iad ag lorg cumhachta\u00ed breise don \u00fadaras ionas go bhf\u00e9adfadh s\u00e9 talamh a cheannach ar mhaithe le tith\u00edocht a shol\u00e1thar.  It is very clear that the future of the Gaeltacht as an Irish-speaking community and the future of the language itself is in jeopardy as a result of the housing crisis, which is a housing disaster, in the Gaeltacht. What we want to see in proposing these amendments is a shift and a change to give \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta a direct role. T\u00e1 todhcha\u00ed na Gaeltachta mar phobal Gaeilge \u00e1 cur i mbaol de bharr an intinn dhi\u00faltach at\u00e1 ag an Aire agus an Roinn maidir le ceisteanna tith\u00edochta sa Ghaeltacht. N\u00edl an tAire s\u00e1sta \u00fasaid a bhaint as an gcumhacht at\u00e1 aige faoi mh\u00edr 9 d'Acht na dTithe (Gaeltacht) (Leas\u00fa), 2001. T\u00e1 an cuma ar an sc\u00e9al nach bhfuil s\u00e9 s\u00e1sta ach an oiread ligean don \u00fadar\u00e1s rann\u00f3g tith\u00edochta a bhun\u00fa.  The authority - \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta - has land in the Gaeltacht, for example in Baile na hAbhann, close to the sewage treatment plant, which could provide a mixture of social and affordable housing and where serviced sites could be developed if the Minister gave sufficient resources and the authority to \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta to develop this land. There seems to be a reason - I do not understand it - that the Department appears to be reluctant to give these powers to \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta. It is time to change that and it is time to give \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta a direct role in delivering housing. T\u00e1 talamh ag \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta i mBaile na hAbhann, mar shampla, in aice leis an ionad c\u00f3ire\u00e1la s\u00e9arachais, \u00e1it a bhf\u00e9adfadh s\u00e9 measc\u00e1n de thith\u00edocht sh\u00f3isialta, tith\u00edocht inacmhainne agus su\u00edomhanna le seirbh\u00eds\u00ed a fhorbairt. Ba ch\u00f3ir don Aire acmhainn\u00ed a chur ar f\u00e1il don \u00fadar\u00e1s idir airgead caipitil agus airgead reatha.  T\u00e1 talamh ag an \u00fadar\u00e1s sa Rinn i gContae Port L\u00e1irge, i nGaoth Dobhair agus i R\u00e1th Chairn a bhf\u00e9adfa\u00ed a fhorbairt le cainteoir\u00ed Gaeilge a choinne\u00e1il sna pobail Ghaeltachta d\u00e1 mbeadh an tAire agus an Roinn s\u00e1sta cead agus maoini\u00fa a thabhairt le rann\u00f3g tith\u00edochta a bhun\u00fa le go bhf\u00e9adfadh an t-\u00fadar\u00e1s daoine a fhost\u00fa leis an obair a dh\u00e9anamh chun pleananna a r\u00e9iteach, cead plean\u00e1la a fh\u00e1il agus \u00fas\u00e1id a bhaint as na sc\u00e9imeanna at\u00e1 ag an Roinn tith\u00edochta le tith\u00edocht a shol\u00e1thar do chainteoir\u00ed Gaeilge sna ceantair Ghaeltachta ina bhfuil an Ghaeilge in \u00fas\u00e1id i measc an phobail. In this amendment we are calling on the Minister to give permission to \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta to develop housing and to have a direct role so that people in the Gaeltacht can have a guaranteed delivery of housing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  Ar dt\u00fas b\u00e1ire, ba mhaith liom comhghairdeas a dh\u00e9anamh leis an Teachta Kyne as ucht bheith tofa ar\u00eds ina Teachta D\u00e1la. Ba mhaith liom chomh maith mo chuid taca\u00edochta a thabhairt don leas\u00fa seo. Aonta\u00edm leis an m\u00e9id a bh\u00ed le r\u00e1 ag na Teachta\u00ed Conor McGuinness, Hearne agus Kyne. T\u00e1 an saineolas agus an eolas ag an t-\u00fadar\u00e1s chun \u00e9 seo a dh\u00e9anamh go h\u00e9ifeachtach. Caithfidh an Rialtas r\u00f3l reacht\u00fail l\u00e1rnach a thabhairt don \u00fadar\u00e1s maidir le t\u00f3g\u00e1il tithe sa Ghaeltacht. Caithfidh an t-\u00fadar\u00e1s a bheith in ann maoin a cheannach ar mhaithe le tith\u00edocht. D\u2019fh\u00e9adfadh s\u00e9 talamh a cheannach ar mhaithe le tith\u00edocht a shol\u00e1thar. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 riachtanach go mbeidh cead agus cumhacht ag \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta maoin n\u00f3 talamh a cheannach chun pobail Ghaeltachta a choth\u00fa agus forbairt eacnama\u00edoch agus sh\u00f3isialta a dh\u00e9anamh sna ceantair sin.  Roimh dom teacht isteach anseo anocht, bh\u00ed m\u00e9 ag dul tr\u00ed shuirbh\u00e9 tith\u00edochta \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta. L\u00e9ir\u00edonn an suirbh\u00e9 sin go bhfuil g\u00e9arch\u00e9im thar a bheith dian ann do chainteoir\u00ed Gaeilge agus do dhaoine \u00f3ga ar mian leo fanacht sa Ghaeltacht, go h\u00e1irithe daoine \u00f3ga. Nuair a bh\u00ed m\u00e9 ag dul tr\u00edd an suirbh\u00e9, chonaic m\u00e9 go bhfuil 56% d\u00f3ibh si\u00fad at\u00e1 faoi l\u00e1thair ag lorg tith\u00edocht sa Ghaeltacht faoi 44 bliain d\u2019aois. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 cos\u00fail le seanfhocal anois ach mar a deirtear, Gaeltacht gan tith\u00edocht is ea Gaeltacht gan todhcha\u00ed. T\u00e1 a fhios agam go bhfuil an tAire chun an rud c\u00e9anna a r\u00e1 - nach bhfuil seisean amh\u00e1in freagrach as c\u00farsa\u00ed tith\u00edochta; is \u00e9 an tAire tith\u00edochta at\u00e1 freagrach as - ach ba ch\u00f3ir go mbeadh Aire na Gaeltachta freagrach maidir le c\u00farsa\u00ed tith\u00edochta sa Ghaeltacht.  Ba ch\u00f3ir go mbeadh \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta freagrach astu chomh maith. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis na Teachta\u00ed. Cuirim f\u00e1ilte ar ais go dt\u00ed an Teach roimh an Teachta Kyne. D\u00e9anaim comhghairdeas leis as a bheith tofa ar\u00eds chuig an Seomra seo den Oireachtas. N\u00edlim in ann glacadh leis na leasuithe. Leagann siad amach go bhfuil cumhacht agus taith\u00ed ag an \u00fadar\u00e1s i leith c\u00farsa\u00ed tith\u00edochta. N\u00edl aon taith\u00ed ag an \u00fadar\u00e1s ar ch\u00farsa\u00ed tith\u00edochta ag an bpointe seo. N\u00edl scileanna aige chun d\u00e9ile\u00e1il le c\u00farsa\u00ed tith\u00edochta. T\u00e1 r\u00e1ite go bhfuil sites agus togra\u00ed ann go mbeadh s\u00e9 in ann \u00edoc astu. B'fh\u00e9idir go bhfuil r\u00f3il eile i gceist do na sites sin, mar shampla, r\u00f3il a bhaineann le fiontar n\u00e1 fosta\u00edocht.  T\u00e1 rud eile sna leasuithe nach bhfuilim in ann glacadh leis. T\u00e1 na h\u00fadar\u00e1is \u00e1iti\u00fala i gceannas ar ch\u00farsa\u00ed plean\u00e1la. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 t\u00e1bhachtach go bhfuil mar t\u00e1 c\u00farsa\u00ed plean\u00e1la bunaithe ar phleananna forbartha contae agus cathrach. T\u00e1 na cumhachta\u00ed sin agus cumhachta\u00ed plean\u00e1la ag na h\u00fadar\u00e1is \u00e1iti\u00fala. N\u00edl cumhachta\u00ed plean\u00e1la ag an \u00fadar\u00e1s ag an bpointe seo.  Agus \u00e9 sin r\u00e1ite, mar Aire, t\u00e1 ceist na tith\u00edochta sa Ghaeltacht an-t\u00e1bhachtach dom. Bh\u00ed roinnt cruinnithe agam leis an Aire Tith\u00edochta, Rialtais \u00c1iti\u00fail agus Oidhreachta, an Teachta James Browne, chun \u00e9 seo a phl\u00e9. T\u00e1imid ag obair ar r\u00e1iteas plean\u00e1la le haghaidh na Gaeltachta. T\u00e1imid ag obair ar na ceisteanna at\u00e1 leagtha amach ag an Teachta Farrell agus muid ag iarraidh d\u00e9ile\u00e1il leo. N\u00edl s\u00e9 \u00e9asca teacht ar na freagra\u00ed. T\u00e1im oscailte do thuairim\u00ed n\u00f3 proposals \u00f3 na Teachta\u00ed as na Gaeltachta\u00ed at\u00e1 anseo faoi na ceisteanna sin. Chuir an Teachta Farrell c\u00fapla ceist faoi na roghanna go gcaithfimid a dh\u00e9anamh maidir leis an nGaeilge, caighde\u00e1in Ghaeilge agus ruda\u00ed mar sin. M\u00e1 t\u00e1 aon tuairim\u00ed aici, t\u00e1im s\u00e1sta comhr\u00e1 agus d\u00edosp\u00f3ireacht a bheith agam l\u00e9i f\u00fathu sula bhfoils\u00edmid an r\u00e1iteas plean\u00e1la.  Labhair an Teachta Sheehan faoin suirbh\u00e9 a rinne an t-\u00fadar\u00e1s. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 seo t\u00e1bhachtach freisin. T\u00e1 r\u00f3l ag an \u00fadar\u00e1s. Glacaim leis go bhfuil r\u00f3l t\u00e1bhachtach ag an \u00fadar\u00e1s ina leith seo. Bh\u00ed a l\u00e1n cruinnithe agam leis an bpr\u00edomhfheidhmeannach faoin r\u00f3l sin agus faoi na scileanna at\u00e1 chun a bheith \u00fas\u00e1idte. De bharr ceann de na cruinnithe sin, cuireadh an post le ch\u00e9ile. T\u00e1 post san \u00fadar\u00e1s anois maidir le c\u00farsa\u00ed tith\u00edochta, go h\u00e1irithe tithe folmha. T\u00e1 an t-\u00fadar\u00e1s ag d\u00e9anamh an tsuirbh\u00e9 sin mar gheall ar an bpost sin. T\u00e1 c\u00fapla sc\u00e9im ann. T\u00e1im s\u00e1sta obair le haon Teachta chun sc\u00e9im ph\u00edol\u00f3tach a dh\u00e9anamh. Bh\u00ed sc\u00e9im ann i nGaeltacht Chiarra\u00ed. Bh\u00ed tith\u00edocht t\u00f3gtha ag an gcomharchumann, le taca\u00edocht airgeadais, chun \u00e1ras\u00e1in a chur ar f\u00e1il do na col\u00e1ist\u00ed samhraidh. Ba sc\u00e9im shuimi\u00fail \u00e9 sin. Thug s\u00e9 c\u00fapla idea dom.  N\u00edl s\u00e9 ceart a r\u00e1 go bhfuil freagracht ag an \u00fadar\u00e1s amh\u00e1in as na d\u00fashl\u00e1in tith\u00edochta. N\u00edl s\u00e9 f\u00e9ar\u00e1ilte don \u00fadar\u00e1s n\u00e1 do na daoine at\u00e1 ag lorg tith\u00edochta sa Ghaeltacht. T\u00e1 an freagra sna h\u00fadar\u00e1is \u00e1iti\u00fala, sa r\u00e1iteas plean\u00e1la don Ghaeltacht a bheidh \u00e1 fhoilsi\u00fa againn agus b'fh\u00e9idir sna comharchumainn tr\u00ed AHBs a chur le ch\u00e9ile. T\u00e1 an ceart ag an Teachta Hearne. T\u00e1 talamh ag an \u00fadar\u00e1s nach mbeidh s\u00e9 in ann a \u00fas\u00e1id le haghaidh c\u00farsa\u00ed fiontair agus tionscail. T\u00e1imid ag scr\u00fad\u00fa an talaimh sin chun a fh\u00e1il amach an bhfuil s\u00e9arachas agus uisce ann. Is d\u00fashl\u00e1n d\u00fainn \u00e9 sin. T\u00e1 an ceart ag an Teachta Kyne. T\u00e1 obair le d\u00e9anamh againn le hUisce \u00c9ireann ar an d\u00fashl\u00e1n sin chun go mbeidh seirbh\u00eds\u00ed ann. Nuair at\u00e1 na seirbh\u00eds\u00ed sin ann - t\u00e1imid ag pl\u00e9 seirbh\u00eds\u00ed s\u00e9arachais agus uisce leis an Aire, an Teachta Browne - beimid in ann d\u00edri\u00fa isteach ar an talamh sin agus ansin sc\u00e9im ph\u00edol\u00f3tach a dh\u00e9anamh ach n\u00ed bheidh an t-\u00fadar\u00e1s ag t\u00f3g\u00e1il tithe. Ag an bpointe seo, t\u00e1 an chumhacht aige tithe a dh\u00edol ach n\u00ed bheidh aon r\u00f3l aige i dt\u00f3g\u00e1il tithe. Beidh s\u00e9 an-t\u00e1bhachtach. Beidh r\u00f3l t\u00e1naisteach aige. Is le haghaidh na h\u00fadar\u00e1is \u00e1iti\u00fala c\u00farsa\u00ed plean\u00e1la. T\u00e1imid go l\u00e9ir ag teacht le ch\u00e9ile. T\u00e1 a l\u00e1n ruda\u00ed ag teacht le ch\u00e9ile anseo. T\u00e1imid \u00e1 mbaili\u00fa le ch\u00e9ile. Beidh s\u00e9 sin leagtha amach sa r\u00e1iteas plean\u00e1la.  T\u00e1im ag tabhairt cuiridh. I am inviting people to give their proposals on what a planning statement for the Gaeltacht should look like. There are tough decisions and tough calls to be made on it. However, to say that \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta would have the entire role for housing in the Gaeltacht is wrong because it does not have the skills at the moment in terms of housing development. It has a role, an absolutely central role, in housing. Deputy Kyne\u2019s proposal for pilot schemes is something we will pursue. However, the local authorities have the planning authority based on their development plans and based on the law. The \u00fadar\u00e1s definitely has a role. The difficulty in giving it other roles is that its prime role in terms of enterprise, language planning and the work that it does well would be diluted. At a time when we have good employment in the Gaeltacht, we need to maintain its focus on that.  As we will be discussing later, it needs to retain its focus on other opportunities for Gaeltacht employment. We need to grow Gaeltacht employment. We need to grow its role in language planning and strengthen that role. We need to grow its role in supporting the local co-ops. We need it to focus on that role along with an important advisory role in housing as a role t\u00e1naisteach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  T\u00e1 s\u00e9 r\u00e1ite agam agus ag roinnt Teachta\u00ed eile anseo cheana f\u00e9in gurb \u00ed an gh\u00e9arch\u00e9im tith\u00edochta an riosca is m\u00f3 d\u00e1r gceantair Ghaeltachta. T\u00e1 \u00e1r gceantair Ghaeltachta i mbaol de dheasca easpa tith\u00edocht inacmhainne, tithe s\u00f3isialta agus cead plean\u00e1la do dhaoine gur mhaith leo cur f\u00fathu ina gceantair dh\u00fachais Ghaeltachta. Gan daoine a bheith in ann tithe a th\u00f3g\u00e1il, n\u00edl siad in ann clanna a thos\u00fa n\u00e1 a th\u00f3g\u00e1il sna ceantair Ghaeltachta agus caillimid gl\u00fain. Nuair at\u00e1 gl\u00fain caillte ag ceantar Gaeltachta, mar at\u00e1 ag tarl\u00fa i mo cheantar f\u00e9in, Gaeltacht na nD\u00e9ise, beidh deireadh le r\u00e9 na Gaeltachta ann. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 seo an-t\u00e1bhachtach. T\u00e1 a fhios agam go dtuigeann an tAire an cheist. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 go bre\u00e1 a r\u00e1 go bhfuil s\u00e9 oscailte d\u00e1r dtuairim\u00ed agus molta\u00ed ach t\u00e1 leasuithe curtha s\u00edos againn ar an gC\u00e9im seo agus ar Ch\u00e9im an Choiste agus n\u00edor ghlac s\u00e9 le hoiread is ceann amh\u00e1in d\u00f3ibh. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 go bre\u00e1 a r\u00e1 go bhfuil s\u00e9 oscailte ach an l\u00e9ireoidh s\u00e9 d\u00fainn go bhfuil? N\u00edor ghlac s\u00e9 le hoiread is ceann amh\u00e1in d\u00e1r molta\u00ed, molta\u00ed at\u00e1 ag teacht \u00f3 pholaiteoir\u00ed san Fhreas\u00fara.  Agus an tAire sa Rialtas, ritheann s\u00e9 le r\u00e9as\u00fan nach nglacfadh s\u00e9 le leasuithe \u00f3n taobh seo. Tuigim \u00e9 sin go l\u00e9ir. Ag C\u00e9im an Choiste, bh\u00ed leasuithe i m'ainm f\u00e9in, in ainm mo chomhghleaca\u00ed, an Teachta \u00d3 Snodaigh, in ainm an Teachta Quaide agus in ainm Catherine Connolly, a bh\u00ed ina Teachta ag an am sin agus at\u00e1 ina hUachtar\u00e1n anois. Bh\u00edomar oscailte go raibh an-chuid de na molta\u00ed sin ag teacht \u00f3 Chonradh na Gaeilge, B\u00c1N\u00da agus Tinte\u00e1n, daoine a bhfuil saineolas acu. Bh\u00ed siad ag r\u00e1 gur ch\u00f3ir na cumhachta\u00ed sin a thabhairt don \u00fadar\u00e1s. D\u00fairt an tAire nach bhfuil na freagra\u00ed go l\u00e9ir ag an \u00fadar\u00e1s agus aonta\u00edm leis. T\u00e1 an ceart aige. T\u00e1 freagracht ar na h\u00fadar\u00e1is \u00e1iti\u00fala dul i ngleic leis an ng\u00e9arch\u00e9im tith\u00edochta. T\u00e1 freagracht ar an Aire, ar a chomhghleaca\u00ed, an tAire tith\u00edochta, agus ar an Rialtas dul i ngleic l\u00e9i. N\u00ed c\u00f3ir dearmad a dh\u00e9anamh air sin. T\u00e1 an oiread sin ceisteanna ann mar gheall ar ch\u00farsa\u00ed tith\u00edochta sa Ghaeltacht, lena n-\u00e1ir\u00edtear tith\u00edocht inacmhainne, tith\u00edocht s\u00f3isialta, c\u00farsa\u00ed bonneagar - leanfaidh m\u00e9 ar aghaidh nuair nach bhfuil aon duine ag f\u00e9achaint orm - agus, ar nd\u00f3igh, cead plean\u00e1la, gur f\u00e9idir linn dul chuig an \u00fadar\u00e1s i gcomhair cuid de na freagra\u00ed. Is \u00e9 sin an f\u00e1th go bhfuil na leasuithe seo \u00e1 gcur chun cinn. T\u00e1imid ag iarraidh tuilleadh cumhachta\u00ed a thabhairt d'\u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  I want to come back in on this. Fianna F\u00e1il has had a history of developing housing in a very progressive way in the past. This is a time for new initiatives, a time for vision and a time for radical action on the housing crisis, nowhere more so than in the Gaeltachta\u00ed. It is absolutely central that we listen to the organisations on the ground. T\u00e1 na heagra\u00edochta\u00ed Conradh na Gaeilge, Tinte\u00e1n agus B\u00c1N\u00da ag lorg an r\u00f3il sin don \u00fadar\u00e1s. T\u00e1 r\u00f3l l\u00e1idir \u00e1 lorg acu a thabharfadh cumhacht tith\u00edochta don \u00fadar\u00e1s. These organisations, Conradh na Gaeilge, B\u00c1N\u00da and Tinte\u00e1n, are looking for \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta to have this role to actually deliver housing. I am in complete agreement with them. We put forward this proposal in our housing plan for the Gaeltachta\u00ed because, at the moment, it is clearly not working and I do not see how the way forward that has been set out can work.  As we said, an t-\u00fadar\u00e1s has a huge amount of land and development skills. The Minister talked about skills. The question is why it cannot develop further skills. It has skills in development and can develop further skills in housing. If we are really visionary, why could it not, for example, be developing modular home factories and developing skills in the areas that would give people employment and build housing? Why do we have to limit what it can do when people are looking for this? It seems to me that there is a conservatism here, a reluctance to actually allow an t-\u00fadar\u00e1s to do what it could be doing, which would actually offer the Gaeltachta\u00ed a future in terms of developing housing themselves and having that power.  The Gaeltacht Act 2012 states that \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta may implement initiatives in the Gaeltacht. I will come back on that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  T\u00e1 m\u00e9 bu\u00edoch den Aire as an m\u00e9id a bh\u00ed le r\u00e1 aige mar gheall ar an sc\u00e9im ph\u00edol\u00f3tach agus mar gheall ar an m\u00e9id a bh\u00ed curtha i l\u00e1thair ag an Teachta Kyne. Caithfidh muid bogadh ar aghaidh leis sin. Ag an am c\u00e9anna, \u00e1fach, b\u00edonn an t-\u00fadar\u00e1s ag obair maidir le c\u00farsa\u00ed tith\u00edochta sa Ghaeltacht p\u00e9 sc\u00e9al. N\u00ed aonta\u00edm leis an Aire nach bhfuil na scileanna ag an \u00fadar\u00e1s. T\u00e1 roinnt scileanna aige agus t\u00e1 daoine fostaithe ann. Caithfidh muid glacadh leis an leas\u00fa seo chun an chumhacht a thabhairt d\u2019\u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta ionas go mbeidh r\u00f3l l\u00e1rnach aige maidir le c\u00farsa\u00ed tith\u00edochta sa Ghaeltacht. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa)  Glaoim ar an Teachta Kyne. D\u00e9anaim comhghairdeas leis agus cuirim f\u00e1ilte ar ais roimhe. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Kyne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Kyne.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Kyne.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Kyne  Cuirim f\u00e1ilte roimh r\u00e1iteas an Aire go bhfuil s\u00e9 s\u00e1sta breathn\u00fa ar sc\u00e9im ph\u00edol\u00f3tach maidir leis sin. T\u00e1 a l\u00e1n \u00e1iteanna ina bhf\u00e9adfa\u00ed lean\u00faint ar aghaidh n\u00f3 breathn\u00fa isteach ar sc\u00e9im ph\u00edol\u00f3tach cos\u00fail leis An Fhairche i gConamara, \u00e1it ina bhfuil sc\u00e9im s\u00e9arachais faoi l\u00e1thair. \u00c1it eile is ea Baile na hAbhann, a bhfuil a l\u00e1n ruda\u00ed eile \u00f3 thaobh fosta\u00edochta de ann. T\u00e1 scoileanna, s\u00e9ip\u00e9il agus tithe do dhaoine aosta sa bhaile sin freisin. Mar sin, t\u00e1 \u00e1iteanna a bhf\u00e9adfa\u00ed breathn\u00fa orthu sa chomhth\u00e9acs seo. Leanaimis ar aghaidh idir an tr\u00ed eagra\u00edocht sin \u2013 an chomhairle contae, an t-\u00fadar\u00e1s agus Uisce \u00c9ireann \u2013 chun sc\u00e9imeanna a th\u00f3g\u00e1il sna h\u00e1iteanna sin. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis na Teachta\u00ed. Is t\u00e1bhachtach comhth\u00e9acs a chur leis an d\u00edosp\u00f3ireacht seo. Bunaithe ar na figi\u00fair\u00ed \u00f3 na h\u00fadar\u00e1is \u00e1iti\u00fala, ceada\u00edodh, ar an me\u00e1n, 90% d\u2019iarratais phlean\u00e1la le haghaidh tith\u00edochta sa Ghaeltacht in 2025, rud a l\u00e9ir\u00edonn go bhfuil a l\u00e1n ruda\u00ed ag tarl\u00fa sa Ghaeltacht i r\u00e9imse na tith\u00edochta. Ina theannta sin, bronnadh os cionn \u20ac3 milli\u00fan ar iarratais i limist\u00e9ir Ghaeltachta faoin deontas athch\u00f3irithe do r\u00e9admhaoin fholamh, is \u00e9 sin, the vacant houses grant. More than \u20ac3 million was given to the empty houses grant in Gaeltacht areas le linn 2024 agus 2025, between 2024 and 2025. L\u00e9ir\u00edonn s\u00e9 sin go mb\u00edonn pobail na Gaeltachta ag baint leas as an sc\u00e9im seo. L\u00e9ir\u00edonn s\u00e9 go bhfuil ruda\u00ed ag tarl\u00fa.  Aonta\u00edm leis an Teachta McGuinness; t\u00e1 s\u00e9 seo ar cheann de na d\u00fashl\u00e1in is m\u00f3 at\u00e1 romhainn. Is \u00e9 sin an f\u00e1th nach mbeidh m\u00e9 in ann a r\u00e1 go bhfuil freagra \u00e9asca air seo n\u00e1 a mholadh go gcuirf\u00ed an freagracht go l\u00e9ir ar an \u00fadar\u00e1s. T\u00e1 a l\u00e1n scileanna san \u00fadar\u00e1s. The \u00fadar\u00e1s has fantastic skills but, in terms of developing housing and planning responsibilities for housing, there are other, quicker ways to do it to get the kind of supply of housing we need for Irish-speaking families in the Gaeltacht areas. Is \u00e9 sin an f\u00e1th a mb\u00edonn muid ag obair go dl\u00fath leis an Aire, an Teachta Browne. B\u00edonn oifigigh mo Roinne ag obair go dl\u00fath leis na hoifigigh sa Roinn tith\u00edochta ar an r\u00e1iteas plean\u00e1la. Agus an r\u00e1iteas plean\u00e1la sin \u00e1 chur le ch\u00e9ile, \u00e1fach, t\u00e1 a l\u00e1n ceisteanna deacra le freagairt, go h\u00e1irithe maidir leis na cine\u00e1lacha c\u00e1il\u00edochta\u00ed agus conditions a bheidh i gceist le haghaidh c\u00farsa\u00ed plean\u00e1la. T\u00e1 m\u00e9 d\u00edrithe ar ch\u00farsa\u00ed plean\u00e1la agus tith\u00edochta. T\u00e1 suim agam i bhfad n\u00edos m\u00f3 deiseanna a thabhairt do dhaoine chun tithe a chruth\u00fa sa Ghaeltacht, agus t\u00e1 m\u00e9 ag obair ar sc\u00e9imeanna lena dh\u00e9anamh. L\u00e9ir\u00edonn na figi\u00fair\u00ed go bhfuil ruda\u00ed ag tarl\u00fa sa Ghaeltacht. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 t\u00e1bhachtach go leagann muid na figi\u00fair\u00ed seo amach freisin. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  D\u00fairt an tAire ansin, \u201cThere are other quicker ways to do it\u201d, ach n\u00ed fheictear d\u00fainn iad. N\u00edl aon dul chun cinn d\u00e9anta le linn r\u00e9 an Aire, le linn r\u00e9 a ph\u00e1irt\u00ed n\u00f3 le linn r\u00e9 a chomhghleacaithe Rialtais, Fine Gael. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 seo ag cur isteach ar na ceantair Ghaeltachta. T\u00e1 muid ag iarraidh go mbeadh na cumhachta\u00ed breise seo ag an \u00fadar\u00e1s ionas gur f\u00e9idir leis r\u00f3l a imirt i r\u00e9iteach na g\u00e9arch\u00e9ime tith\u00edochta sa Ghaeltacht. N\u00ed d\u00f3igh liom go bhfuil aon duine sa Seomra seo ag r\u00e1 gurb \u00e9 an t-\u00fadar\u00e1s an t-aon dream a bheidh l\u00e1rnach i r\u00e9iteach na faidhbe seo. T\u00e1 g\u00e9argh\u00e1 le gach \u00fadar\u00e1s agus Roinn Rialtais a bheith ag oibri\u00fa as l\u00e1mha a cheile chun dul i ngleic leis seo.  Ag f\u00e9achaint ar na h\u00fadar\u00e1is \u00e1iti\u00fala, mar a luaigh m\u00e9 cheana f\u00e9in, aonta\u00edm leis an Aire go bhfuil r\u00f3l le himirt acu, ach b\u00edonn siad ag d\u00e9ile\u00e1il leis an ng\u00e9arch\u00e9im tith\u00edochta ina limist\u00e9ir ina ioml\u00e1ine. Mar shampla, b\u00edonn Comhairle Cathrach agus Contae Phort L\u00e1irge ag d\u00e9ile\u00e1il leis an ng\u00e9arch\u00e9im tith\u00edochta sa chathair agus i nD\u00fan Garbh\u00e1in, Port L\u00e1ch agus in \u00e1iteanna eile. B\u00edonn s\u00e9 freagrach as forbairt tith\u00edochta go ginear\u00e1lta.  T\u00e1 taith\u00ed agus r\u00f3l ag \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta chun an Ghaeltacht a choinne\u00e1il beo. Nuair a bh\u00ed easpa fosta\u00edochta ag cur le b\u00e1n\u00fa na Gaeltachta, bh\u00ed an r\u00f3l sin d\u00edrithe ar ch\u00farsa\u00ed fiontra\u00edochta agus cruth\u00fa post. Is c\u00farsa\u00ed tith\u00edochta at\u00e1 anois ag cur le b\u00e1n\u00fa na Gaeltachta. Mar sin, caithfidh \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta r\u00f3l n\u00edos l\u00e1rna\u00ed a bheith aige i dtaobh tith\u00edochta. N\u00edl aon duine ag arg\u00f3int go mbeadh gach freagracht ar an \u00fadar\u00e1s le d\u00e9ile\u00e1il leis seo, ach t\u00e1 freagra ar chuid de na ceisteanna ag an \u00fadar\u00e1s. T\u00e1 muid ag iarraidh go mbeidh na cumhachta\u00ed sin aige chun dul i ngleic leis an ng\u00e9arch\u00e9im seo agus a r\u00f3l a imirt ina leith. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  An f\u00e9idir liom teacht isteach? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa)  T\u00e1 muid cr\u00edochnaithe leis. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  C\u00e9n f\u00e1th? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa)  T\u00e1 a fhios agam go bhfuil ainm an Teachta ar an leas\u00fa, ach is \u00e9 an duine a bhogann an leas\u00fa a bhfuil seans aige labhairt ag an deireadh. N\u00ed raibh s\u00e9 sin ar eolas agam ach oiread. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  I will not get caught with that one again. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  That is why I was waiting on Deputy Hearne to hop in. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa)  D\u00e9anfaidh s\u00e9 sin c\u00fais. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Cuireadh leas\u00fa Uimh. 10."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Faisn\u00e9iseadh go rabhthas tar \u00e9is di\u00falt\u00fa don leas\u00fa."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  Tairgim leas\u00fa Uimh. 11:  Ar leathanach 13, idir l\u00edne 3 agus l\u00edne 4, an m\u00e9id seo a leanas a chur isteach:  \" \"(7A) F\u00e9adfaidh an t\u00dadar\u00e1s talamh a cheannach, tith\u00edocht a fhorbairt agus l\u00e1ithre\u00e1in sheirbh\u00edsithe a dh\u00edol chun tith\u00edocht a shol\u00e1thar sa Ghaeltacht.\". "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Cuireadh leas\u00fa Uimh. 11."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Faisn\u00e9iseadh go rabhthas tar \u00e9is di\u00falt\u00fa don leas\u00fa."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  Tairgim leas\u00fa Uimh. 12:  Ar leathanach 13, idir l\u00edne 3 agus l\u00edne 4, an m\u00e9id seo a leanas a chur isteach:  \u201c \u201c(7A) Tabharfaidh an t\u00dadar\u00e1s tosa\u00edocht do thithe inacmhainne a sheachadadh \u00e9 f\u00e9in sa Ghaeltacht.\u201d. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Cuireadh an leas\u00fa agus faisn\u00e9iseadh go rabhthas tar \u00e9is di\u00falt\u00fa d\u00f3."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  Tairgim leas\u00fa Uimh. 13:  Ar leathanach 13, idir l\u00edne 3 agus l\u00edne 4, an m\u00e9id seo a leanas a chur isteach:  \u201c \u201c(7A) Cead\u00f3far don \u00dadar\u00e1s tithe folmha agus tr\u00e9igthe a cheannach go h\u00e9igeantach sa Ghaeltacht ar mhaithe lena n-\u00fas\u00e1id chun tith\u00edocht inacmhainne a shol\u00e1thar.\u201d. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Cuireadh an leas\u00fa agus faisn\u00e9iseadh go rabhthas tar \u00e9is di\u00falt\u00fa d\u00f3."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  Tairgim leas\u00fa Uimh. 14:  Ar leathanach 13, l\u00edne 4, \u201cn\u00f3 teach\u201d a chur isteach i ndiaidh \u201ctalamh\u201d. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Cuireadh an leas\u00fa agus faisn\u00e9iseadh go rabhthas tar \u00e9is di\u00falt\u00fa d\u00f3."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  Tairgim leas\u00fa Uimh. 15:  Ar leathanach 13, l\u00edne 4, \u201c, a l\u00e9as\u00fa n\u00f3 a ligean\u201d a chur isteach i ndiaidh \u201ca dh\u00edol\u201d. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Cuireadh an leas\u00fa agus faisn\u00e9iseadh go rabhthas tar \u00e9is di\u00falt\u00fa d\u00f3."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Amendments Nos. 16 and 17 are as ord. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  Can I speak to those amendments, even briefly? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  No, not to amendments that are out of order. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"N\u00edor tairgeadh leas\u00fa Uimh. 16."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"N\u00edor tairgeadh leas\u00fa Uimh. 17."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Amendments Nos. 18 to 20, inclusive, are as ord. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"N\u00edor tairgeadh leas\u00fa Uimh. 18."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"N\u00edor tairgeadh leas\u00fa Uimh. 19."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"N\u00edor tairgeadh leas\u00fa Uimh. 20."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  Tairgim leas\u00fa Uimh. 21:  Ar leathanach 13, idir l\u00edne 27 agus l\u00edne 28, an m\u00e9id seo a leanas a chur isteach:  \u201c(c) Oifigeach Plean\u00e1la Teanga a bheidh ag obair sa limist\u00e9ar arb ina leith a bhun\u00f3far an coiste r\u00e9igi\u00fanach.\u201d.  T\u00e1 an leas\u00fa seo an-simpl\u00ed. An sprioc at\u00e1 againn n\u00e1 a chinnti\u00fa go mbeadh oifigigh plean\u00e1la teanga \u00e1iti\u00fail i measc na mball ar na coist\u00ed r\u00e9igi\u00fanacha at\u00e1 luaite sa Bhille. Is \u00e9 sin le r\u00e1 go mbeadh na daoine at\u00e1 fostaithe ag na comharchumainn agus at\u00e1 faoi sti\u00fair \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta chun pleananna pobalbhunaithe teangeola\u00edochta agus pleananna teanga a chur i gcr\u00edch ar na coist\u00ed r\u00e9igi\u00fanacha chun an saineolas sin agus an taith\u00ed at\u00e1 acu mar shaineolaithe plean\u00e1il teanga a thabhairt chuig na coist\u00ed sin. Freisin, ar nd\u00f3igh, bheadh daoine at\u00e1 ag pl\u00e9 go laeth\u00fail leis na d\u00fashl\u00e1in, na constaic\u00ed agus leis na f\u00e9idearthachta\u00ed agus na tosa\u00edochta\u00ed at\u00e1 ag an bpobal i dtaobh an Ghaelainn a chur chun cinn ina gceantair \u00e9ags\u00fala ag an mbord mar chuid de na comhr\u00e1it\u00ed agus mar chuid de na coist\u00ed r\u00e9igi\u00fanacha. Imp\u00edm ar an Aire glacadh leis an moladh seo. N\u00edl costas i gceist. N\u00edlimid ach ag r\u00e1 go mbeadh daoine eile le saineolas ag an mbord agus ruda\u00ed sna r\u00e9igi\u00fain \u00e1 phl\u00e9. Ritheann s\u00e9 le ciall. Mar a d\u00fairt an tAire cheana f\u00e9in c\u00fapla babhta, t\u00e1 s\u00e9 oscailte d\u00e1r molta\u00ed agus don aiseolas at\u00e1 ag teacht \u00f3 na ceantair Ghaeltachta. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 seo ag teacht \u00f3n aiseolas \u00f3 na hoifigigh plean\u00e1la teanga, \u00f3 na comharchumainn \u00e1iti\u00fala, \u00f3 na heagrais at\u00e1 ag pl\u00e9 le c\u00farsa\u00ed teanga go laeth\u00fail, agus ar nd\u00f3igh \u00f3 na daoine at\u00e1 ag d\u00e9anamh ionada\u00edochta ar na ceantair Ghaeltachta ar an dtaobh seo den Teach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Teachta. Rachaidh na coist\u00ed r\u00e9igi\u00fanacha i gcomhairle le gr\u00fapa plean\u00e1la teanga sa limist\u00e9ar faoi leith ina bhun\u00f3far an choiste chun comhairle a thabhairt don \u00fadar\u00e1s agus chun cuidi\u00fa leis an \u00fadar\u00e1s i gcomhl\u00edonadh a aidhmeanna sa limist\u00e9ar sin. L\u00e9ir\u00edonn s\u00e9 seo an r\u00f3l at\u00e1 ag na coist\u00ed r\u00e9igi\u00fanacha \u00f3 thaobh na hionada\u00edochta de. Is fi\u00fa a r\u00e1 chomh maith go bhfuil oifigeach plean\u00e1la teanga ar bhord reatha de chuid \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gealtachta agus iar-oifigeach plean\u00e1la teanga chomh maith. Mar a sheasann ruda\u00ed, n\u00ed cheapaim go bhfuil g\u00e1 ar leith go mbeadh sp\u00e1s oscailte d\u2019oifigigh plean\u00e1la teanga ar na coist\u00ed. T\u00e1 m\u00e9 an-chinnte go mbeidh comhr\u00e1it\u00ed fi\u00fantacha idir na coist\u00ed agus na gr\u00fapa\u00ed plean\u00e1la teanga. D\u00e1 bhr\u00ed sin n\u00ed f\u00e9idir liom glacadh le leas\u00fa Uimh. 21. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  Is c\u00fais d\u00edom\u00e1 \u00e9 nach bhfuil an tAire s\u00e1sta glacadh leis seo. Mar a d\u00fairt m\u00e9, s\u00edlim go ritheann s\u00e9 le ciall. T\u00e1 r\u00e9as\u00fan ag baint leis an gceist \u00e1irithe seo. In an-chuid boird St\u00e1t agus an-chuid coist\u00ed deonacha agus coist\u00ed reacht\u00fala, tuigimid m\u00e1 t\u00e1 ceisteanna ag teacht an\u00edos le linn cruinnithe coiste n\u00f3 cruinnithe boird agus m\u00e1 t\u00e1 coimhlint leasa ann n\u00f3 faoi baol go mbeadh, gur f\u00e9idir le daoine seasamh amach.  D\u00e1 mba rud \u00e9 go raibh rud \u00e9igin le pl\u00e9 ag na coist\u00ed r\u00e9igi\u00fanacha a bhaineann le tuarastal na n-oifigeach plean\u00e1la teanga, mar shampla, seans nach mbeadh g\u00e1 d\u00f3 a bheith istigh sa chruinni\u00fa \u00e1irithe sin. T\u00e1imid ag r\u00e1 le dream at\u00e1 ag obair go dl\u00fath agus go crua chun an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn, chun na Gaeltachta\u00ed a choime\u00e1d sl\u00e1n agus chun dul i ngleic le b\u00e1n\u00fa na Gaeltachta go bhfuil an doras oscailte agus b\u2019fh\u00e9idir, tr\u00ed sheans \u00e9igin, go mbeidh siad ar na coist\u00ed seo.  Aithn\u00edonn \u00e1r leas\u00fa gur cheart go mbeadh siad ann mar cheart agus mar chuid den trosc\u00e1n. Seo teist i nd\u00e1ir\u00edre maidir le m\u00e1 t\u00e1 an tAire oscailte do na tuairim\u00ed seo agus m\u00e1 t\u00e1 s\u00e9 toilteanach glacadh le cuid den aiseolas agus cuid de na h\u00e9ilimh at\u00e1 ag teacht \u00f3 na ceantair Ghaeltachta agus na hoifigigh phlean\u00e1la teanga chun a chinnti\u00fa go bhfuil siad iniata sna comhr\u00e1ite at\u00e1 ag dul ar aghaidh agus ar na coist\u00ed r\u00e9igi\u00fanacha seo. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  Tuigim agus aonta\u00edm leis an Teachta go bhfuil na hoifigigh phlean\u00e1la teanga ag d\u00e9anamh s\u00e1rjab sna ceantair ina bhfuil siad. T\u00e1 muin\u00edn agam freisin go mbeidh siad l\u00e1nph\u00e1irteach sna strucht\u00fair seo agus i gcoiste r\u00e9igi\u00fanach an \u00fadar\u00e1is agus go mbeidh siad in ann obair leis an gcoiste sin. N\u00ed bheidh an coiste in ann obair cheart a dh\u00e9anamh gan obair na n-oifigeach plean\u00e1la teanga. T\u00e1im s\u00e1sta nach gcaithfimid \u00e9 a leagan amach sa dl\u00ed agus go n-oibr\u00edonn s\u00e9. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  N\u00ed ghlacaim leis sin i sl\u00ed amh\u00e1in. N\u00f3im\u00e9ad amh\u00e1in t\u00e1 an tAire ag r\u00e1 nach f\u00e9idir leis na coist\u00ed r\u00e9igi\u00fanacha seo a gcuid gn\u00f3 a dh\u00e9anamh i gceart gan ionchur \u00f3 na hoifigigh phlean\u00e1la teanga, agus aonta\u00edm leis sin. An n\u00f3im\u00e9ad eile, \u00e1fach, t\u00e1 an tAire ag r\u00e1 nach g\u00e1 d\u00fainn \u00e9 sin a chur s\u00edos sa reachta\u00edocht. Sin an jab at\u00e1 \u00e1 dh\u00e9anamh againn faoi l\u00e1thair. Seo an jab at\u00e1 os \u00e1r gcomhair anois, chun an p\u00edosa reachta\u00edochta seo a chur i gcr\u00edch.  T\u00e1imid ar an taobh seo den Teach ag r\u00e1 gur cheart go mbeadh cinnteacht ann go mbeadh an r\u00f3l agus an sp\u00e1s sin do na hoifigigh phlean\u00e1la teanga daingnithe sa reachta\u00edocht agus go mbeadh an chathaoir curtha amach d\u00f3ibh chun a chinnti\u00fa go bhfuil siad ag an mbord agus go mbeidh an guth, an t-ionchur, an taith\u00ed agus an saineolas at\u00e1 acu - rud nach bhfuil ag go leor daoine eile - ar na coist\u00ed sin. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 an-simpl\u00ed. L\u00edne amh\u00e1in t\u00e9acs at\u00e1 ann. N\u00edlimid ag cur ceiste ar an Aire rud \u00e9igin tromch\u00faiseach n\u00f3 deacair a dh\u00e9anamh, ach t\u00e1imid ag tabhairt an deis d\u00f3 a thaispe\u00e1int agus a l\u00e9iri\u00fa an m\u00e9id a d\u00fairt s\u00e9 \u2013 go bhfuil s\u00e9 s\u00e1sta \u00e9isteacht agus glacadh len\u00e1r molta\u00ed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  As the time permitted for the debate has expired, I am required to put the following question, in accordance with an order of the D\u00e1il of 26 May: \"That the amendments set down by the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht and not disposed of are hereby made to the Bill; Fourth Stage is hereby completed; and the Bill is hereby passed.\" "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Cuireadh agus aonta\u00edodh an cheist."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"\u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta (Amendment) Bill 2024: An Tuarasc\u00e1il agus an Ch\u00e9im Dheiridh"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-27\/debate\/dbsect_35","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Supplementary Estimates for Public Services 2026: Leave to Introduce","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_35","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Dara Calleary)  I move:  That leave be given by the D\u00e1il to introduce the following Supplementary Estimates for the service of the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2026:  Vote 30\u2014 Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Supplementary Estimate).  Vote 31 \u2014 Transport (Supplementary Estimate). "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Supplementary Estimates for Public Services 2026: Leave to Introduce"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-27\/debate\/dbsect_36","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Report of Committee on Standing Orders and D\u00e1il Reform: Motion","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_36","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Mary Butler)  I move:  That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann adopts the Report of the Committee on Standing Orders and D\u00e1il Reform entitled \"Rotas and arrangements for Leaders' Questions, Questions nominated for priority and Private Members' Time in respect of D\u00e1il sittings from 9 to 11 June 2026\", copies of which were laid before D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann on 27th May, 2026. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Report of Committee on Standing Orders and D\u00e1il Reform: Motion"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-27\/debate\/dbsect_37","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Message from Select Committee","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_37","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach has completed its consideration of the Insurance (Disregard of Certain Medical History and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025 and has made amendments thereto. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Message from Select Committee"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-27\/debate\/dbsect_38","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Cost of Disability: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_38","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The following motion was moved by Deputy Louise O'Reilly on Tuesday, 26 May 2026:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"notes that there have been four major reviews and reports on the cost of disability, i.e., the additional costs to which disabilities give rise for individuals and their families, beginning with The Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities in 1996, the Indecon Report entitled \"The Cost of Disability in Ireland\" in 2021, the Government's failed Green Paper on the Cost of Disability in 2023, and the recent joint research project by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) and the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) \"Adjusting Estimates of Poverty for the Cost of Disability\" in 2025;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"further notes that the Government launched yet another consultation on the matter in February of this year;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"recognises that households in which a member has a disability undergo significant additional costs, compared to households in which no member has a disability, with the ESRI\/IHREC estimating a weekly cost of \u20ac488 - \u20ac555 on average;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"affirms that no one in the State should be worse off socially, politically, or economically, because of their disability;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"condemns the choice made by the Government in Budget 2026 to withdraw emergency supports from workers and families, including, in particular, the \u20ac1,400 worth of cost-of-living supports withdrawn from disabled people this year;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"recognises that workers and families, including and especially those with disabilities, cannot wait until next year and Budget 2027 for supports, and that on the basis of their Budget 2026 experience they cannot trust the Government to deliver what is needed; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"calls on the Government to:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 immediately introduce an Emergency Budget with supports for workers and families, including a \u20ac500 lump sum for people with disabilities; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 introduce, no later than Budget 2027, a new permanent cost of disability scheme, involving weekly payments for people with disabilities, whether they are in employment or not in employment, that recognises the additional costs to which their disabilities give rise."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Debate resumed on amendment No. 1:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"To delete all words after \"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann\" and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\"acknowledges that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the State provides a broad range of income, education, health and other supports for disabled people, has increased investment in these supports and under the leadership of the Cabinet Committee of Disability Matters chaired by the Taoiseach, will continue to prioritise further improvements over the lifetime of this Government, including with respect to the introduction of a cost of disability payment;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Budget 2026 provided for a \u20ac1.15 billion package of new social protection measures, bringing expenditure in respect of disabled people and their carers to just under \u20ac6 billion per annum, this contained significant targeted measures to support disabled people and carers, including:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 a \u20ac10, or 4.1 per cent increase in the weekly rates of disability payments, bringing personal rates to \u20ac254 per week from January, this represents an additional payment of \u20ac520 in 2026 and a \u20ac51 increase in weekly disability income support payments since Budget 2021;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the highest ever increase in the weekly Child Support Payment, an increase of \u20ac16 to \u20ac78 for children aged 12 or over (an additional \u20ac832 per child in 2026), and \u20ac8 to \u20ac58 for children aged under 12 (an additional \u20ac416 per child in 2026), these payments have increased by \u20ac48.20 and \u20ac28.20 per week respectively since 2017, approximately, 53,000 recipients of the Disability Allowance (DA), the Blind Pension and the Invalidity Pension are in receipt of a Child Support Payment;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 a \u20ac5, or 15 per cent increase in the Fuel Allowance, bring it to \u20ac38 per week from January 2026, providing recipients with an additional \u20ac140 during the annual Fuel Allowance season;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 a \u20ac20 per month increase in the monthly rate of Domiciliary Care Allowance, bringing it to \u20ac380 per month from January 2026, this represents an additional payment of \u20ac240 per year in 2026, and an increase of over \u20ac70 or 23 per cent since 2022;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 an increase in the weekly Carer's Allowance income disregard to \u20ac1,000 for a single person (up from \u20ac625) and \u20ac2,000 for a couple (up from \u20ac1,250), while the weekly income limit for Carer's Benefit will rise by \u20ac375 to \u20ac1,000, all from July 2026;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the extension of fuel allowance eligibility to enable people on DA or the Blind Pension payments to retain their Fuel Allowance payment for five years if they take up employment;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the extension of eligibility for Back to Work Family Dividend payment to the DA or Blind Pension recipients when taking up employment;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 expansion of eligibility for the Wage Subsidy Scheme (WSS) to people who acquire a disability while in employment, and to those who transfer from Invalidity Pension to Partial Capacity Benefit; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 increased payment rates under the WSS, to encourage employers to employ disabled people;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Budget 2026, also included an increased allocation of \u20ac3.88 billion for disability services funded through the Department of Children, Disability and Equality in 2026, providing \u20ac2.21 billion to deliver residential services for over 9,000 disabled people, enabling them to live as independently as possible in their local communities, including:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 day and night respite care of over 10,000 extra nights and 15,000 further day sessions;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 \u20ac10 million extra to support the transition of people under the age of 65 currently residing in nursing homes;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 \u20ac3 million extra for the development and continued expansion of Community Neuro-Rehabilitation Teams;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 \u20ac24.5 million providing approximately 1,400 new places for disabled students leaving school;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 \u20ac5.5 million for 100,000 additional home support hours and 50,000 additional personal assistance hours;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 \u20ac8 million for the recruitment of 150 additional staff for Children's Disability Network Teams;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 \u20ac20 million extra for the Assessment of Need Targeted Waitlist Initiative, through the provision of up to 6,000 clinical assessments; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 \u20ac65 million for new developments in disability residential services, including \u20ac40 million that will provide in the region of 199 residential responses, including 152 newly created residential placements;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Budget 2026, also provided for further improvements for disabled people in education, including an allocation of \u20ac3 billion to special education, will provide:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 an additional 860 teachers for special education;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 up to a further 3,000 special class and special school places for the 2026\/2027 school year; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 1,717 additional Special Needs Assistants bringing the total number to almost 24,900;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 in addition, Budget 2026 provided:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 \u20ac130 million under the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with Disabilities;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 a \u20ac25 million allocation to the Public Transport Accessibility Retrofit Programme, to deliver bus and train accessibility improvements to increase the numbers of wheelchair accessible small public service vehicles (taxis), and to expand the Independent Travel Support scheme;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 approximately an allocation increase of \u20ac2 million to \u20ac13 million, to the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme Fuel Grant;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 investment of \u20ac69 million in the School Transport Scheme, which will benefit 26,700 students with disabilities; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 an increase of \u20ac3 million for the Fund for Students with Disabilities in further and higher education to \u20ac18.2 million, which supports over 24,500 students;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"notes that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the \u20ac250 million energy relief package introduced in March included a four-week extension to the Fuel Allowance season, this directly benefits over 96,000 families where the recipient is in receipt of either the DA, the Blind Pension, or the Invalidity Pension;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, a special Heating Supplement may be paid to assist people in certain circumstances that have special heating needs, for example, in the case of ill health, infirmity or a medical condition; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Additional Needs Payment may also be made to help meet an essential, once-off cost which an applicant is unable to meet out of their own resources;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"further acknowledges that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 a dedicated Disability Unit has been established in the Department of the Taoiseach, to drive progress in enhancing supports for disabled people;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 progress will be monitored by the Cabinet Committee on Children, Disability and Education chaired by the Taoiseach;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 in addition to the measures already taken, the Government is determined to deliver on its Programme for Government commitment to introduce a permanent Annual Cost of Disability Support Payment;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 this commitment was reiterated as a core objective of the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030, which the Government published in September 2025;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 under this strategy, the Minister for Social Protection hosted a Cost of Disability Strategic Focus Network Summit (the Summit) on 13th May, 2026, this summit brought together over 300 people (in-person and on-line), including disabled people, representatives from Disabled Person's Organisations (DPOs), key stakeholder groups, Members of the Oireachtas and officials from a number of Government Departments; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 reflecting the requirement for a whole-of-Government approach to addressing costs of disability the Summit was addressed by the Taoiseach, the T\u00e1naiste, the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, and the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, and also attended by the Minister of State with responsibility for Disability at the Department of Children, Disability and Equality;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the approach to and content of the Summit was informed by:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 responses to a public consultation to which over 1,100 submissions received;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 direct input from DPOs who helped to develop the agenda, and played a key role at the event including, leading sessions; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 all relevant research, including the Indecon Report entitled 'The Cost of Disability in Ireland' in 2021, which was commissioned by the Department of Social Protection and represents the largest and most comprehensive analysis of the cost of disability;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the discussions at the Summit highlighted:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 how the costs of disability are not uniform, but vary significantly depending on the type and nature of a person's disability, and their personal circumstances;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 not all costs can be addressed through a cost of disability payment as many costs relate to services and require measures across other sectors, including health, education and transport; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the preference by disabled people, for a basic universal payment made to all disabled people supplemented by additional amounts for disabled people facing the highest costs; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"further notes that the Department of Social Protection will continue to engage with disabled people and their advocates, with respect to a cost of disability payment, including at the Department's Pre-Budget Forum on 1st July.\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Minister for Social Protection)"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I must now deal with a postponed division relating to the cost of living. On Tuesday, 26 May 2026, on the question, \"That the amendment to the motion be agreed to\", a division was claimed and in accordance with Standing Order 85(2), that division must be taken now. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Cost of Disability: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members]"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-27\/debate\/dbsect_47","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Fiscal Planning Framework for Economic Certainty: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_47","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The following motion was moved by Deputy Richard O'Donoghue on Wednesday, 27 May 2026:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"notes that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the sectors in the Irish economy such as farming, fisheries, construction and more generally small businesses and households have in recent years been repeatedly exposed to severe economic shocks arising from major international events outside the control of the State, including the Covid-19 Pandemic, the war in Ukraine, instability and conflict involving Iran and the wider Middle East, and ongoing international trade disputes and tariff wars;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 these events have contributed to sudden and dramatic increases in the cost of fuel, electricity, home heating oil, fertiliser, feed, transport, insurance, construction materials and essential consumer goods;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the frequency and unpredictability of such global disruptions have created major uncertainty for family budgeting, business planning and investment decisions across the Irish economy;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the current approach of Government has largely been reactive in nature, relying on ad hoc emergency interventions announced after price shocks have already inflicted financial damage on households and enterprises;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 while emergency supports introduced in recent years provided temporary relief, the absence of a clear and transparent framework has created uncertainty for workers, families and businesses attempting to plan ahead during periods of economic instability;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 sectors such as agriculture, haulage, fisheries, construction, hospitality and small retail are particularly vulnerable to sudden increases in fuel and operating costs, while ordinary households remain exposed to spikes in home heating, electricity and grocery prices;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 a proactive national framework for economic resilience and emergency fiscal planning would provide certainty, confidence and stability, by clearly setting out the measures that would automatically be considered or triggered during future crises; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 such a framework should recognise that the State cannot prevent global crises from occurring, but can ensure that Irish citizens and businesses are not left without clarity as to how Government will respond when such events arise;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"recognises that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 certainty and predictability are essential for sustainable household budgeting, business continuity, employment retention and investment planning;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 businesses and industries require advance visibility regarding the potential activation of supports, reductions or temporary relief measures during periods of severe inflation or supply disruption;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 a transparent, trigger-based system would strengthen confidence in the Irish economy and reduce the uncertainty caused by improvised and delayed policy responses; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 fiscal planning must move beyond crisis reaction and towards structured preparedness; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"calls on the Government to:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 develop and publish a \"Fiscal Planning for Economic Certainty Framework\", setting out predetermined economic support measures and response mechanisms, to be considered or activated during major international economic shocks;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 establish transparent trigger points, linked to measurable economic indicators including, but not limited to:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 fuel and energy price increases;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 inflation thresholds;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 supply chain disruptions;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 agricultural input cost spikes;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 international trade restrictions; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 exceptional transport and logistics cost increases;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 outline, in advance, the range of temporary relief measures that may be introduced when such trigger points are reached, including:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 temporary reductions in excise duties on fuels;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 temporary reductions in Value Added Tax rates;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 targeted reliefs for the transport, farming, fisheries and small business sectors;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 temporary reductions or waivers in commercial rates;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 home heating oil and household energy supports;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 supports for low- and middle-income households facing exceptional cost-of-living pressures; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 emergency liquidity and working capital supports for vulnerable industries;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 ensure that any framework introduced provides sector-specific certainty for strategic domestic industries, including agriculture, fisheries, haulage, tourism, retail and construction;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 provide for annual review and updating of the framework by the Department of Finance and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, in consultation with representative bodies, trade unions, SMEs, farming and fisheries organisations;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 prepare and publish annual stress-testing assessments, examining the resilience of the Irish economy to future international shocks and price surges; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 report to D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann within six months, on the establishment and implementation of this framework."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Debate resumed on amendment No. 1:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"To delete all words after \"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann\" and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\"notes that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the conflict in the Middle East has, once again, exposed the vulnerability of the Irish economy, and Irish society more generally, to imported fossil fuels;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 these strategic dependencies have major macroeconomic implications, the risks to macroeconomic and fiscal stability cannot be ignored;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 at a minimum, the large upward shift in energy prices is likely to impart a stagflationary impulse to the global economy, a combination of lower levels of economic activity alongside higher inflation;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 in response, the Government has taken appropriate and timely action to provide relief for households and businesses;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the total budgetary cost of these support measures is of the order of \u20ac750 million this year, this is one the largest interventions of any country in the European Union, these measures reduce the annual rate of inflation in April, May, June and July by about 0.6 percentage points;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 these measures have cut Excise Duty on diesel by 32 cent per litre, and 27 cent on petrol, including the reduction in the National Oil Reserves Agency levy, reduced Excise Duty on green diesel by 7.4 cent per litre, increased repayments under the Diesel Rebate Scheme, and extended the Fuel Allowance to the end of April;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government has also agreed to delay the increase in carbon tax to later in the year, and is introducing support schemes for the transportation and agricultural sectors, in total, these measures represent a significant investment of financial resources to support households and businesses, and will remain in place until 31st July, 2026; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government published its Medium-Term Fiscal and Structural Plan (MTP) in December 2025, setting out a medium-term fiscal strategy based on three core pillars, sustainability, resilience and readiness;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"recognises that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 a package worth \u20ac750 million of supports has been introduced by the Government within the framework of the Government's MTP;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the MTP provides an appropriate fiscal framework that allows for the achievement of the Government's overarching aim to improve people's lives in a sustainable way;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 by setting an overall medium-term expenditure path, the design of this framework provides Government with the flexibility to respond to challenges, such as, the impact of the conflict in the Middle East on households and businesses, in a timely and proportionate manner, alongside the operation of automatic stabilisers;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 it sets out the Government's commitment to a balanced and sustainable approach to overall fiscal policy, ensuring we continue to target budget surpluses over the medium-term, and set aside some of the windfall to prepare for the future;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the MTP supports progress on implementing the key social and economic priorities, while delivering on our commitment to sustainable public finances;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 it demonstrates the Government's commitment to using the resources of the State to improve people's lives in a sustainable way, it will act as the framework within which Government decisions will be taken during its term in office, it focuses on delivery, and allows for significant public resources to be directed at improving public services over a five-year period;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 it ensures that we have had the agility to respond, swiftly and forcefully, to help households, firms and sectors when necessary;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 consideration of any trigger points must be balanced in certain instances against the time lag inherent in economic data, which could delay timely Government responses;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Irish economy is facing its second fossil fuel shock in less than five years;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 fossil fuel dependence, especially imported fossil fuels, is a major economic vulnerability;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 analytical work will be undertaken by the Department of Finance to set out the key macroeconomic principles that should guide the medium-term transition to manage Ireland's strategic import dependencies; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government has also established the National Energy Affordability Taskforce to identify, assess and implement measures that will enhance energy affordability for households and businesses while delivering key renewable commitments and protecting security of supply and economic stability; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"acknowledges that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the geopolitical and economic outlook continues to be highly uncertain;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 in the Department of Finance's reference scenario, set out in the Annual Progress Report inflation is projected to average 3.3 per cent this year, 1.5 percentage points higher than assumed at budget time but still significantly lower than the 8.1 per cent rate recorded in 2022, after the last energy price shock;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the economy is still expected to grow this year, albeit at a slower pace than previously forecast, and Government has committed to a range of temporary measures to mitigate the impact of increases in energy prices on households and businesses;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the overall approach to budgetary policy must remain balanced and sustainable over the medium-term; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government will consider the continued impact of the energy shock on households, and make proportionate decisions in the forthcoming Budget within the parameters of the appropriate fiscal strategy set out in the MTP.\""},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Minister of State at the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, Deputy McConalogue)"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I must now deal with a postponed division relating to the fiscal planning framework for economic certainty. On Wednesday, 27 May 2026, on the question, \"That the amendment to the motion be agreed to\", a division was claimed and in accordance with Standing Order 85(2), that division must be taken now. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar athl\u00f3 ar 8.46 p.m. go dt\u00ed 8.47 a.m., D\u00e9ardaoin, an 28 Bealtaine 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The D\u00e1il adjourned at 8.46 p.m. until 8.47 a.m. on Thursday, 28 May 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":""},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Fiscal Planning Framework for Economic Certainty: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members]"}]}}]},"contextDate":"2026-05-27"},{"debateRecord":{"house":{"showAs":"34th D\u00e1il","committeeCode":"","houseCode":"dail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/house\/dail\/34","chamberType":"house","houseNo":"34"},"chamber":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/def\/house\/dail","showAs":"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann"},"lastUpdated":"2026-07-04T02:16:25+00:00","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/main","formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/mul@\/main.xml"},"pdf":null},"date":"2026-05-26","counts":{"contributorCount":172,"divisionCount":1,"debateSectionCount":36,"questionCount":50,"billCount":2},"debateType":"debate","debateSections":[{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/dbsect_2","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Freagra ar na Eascair\u00ed Corrthoghch\u00e1in do Dh\u00e1ilcheantair Baile \u00c1tha Cliath L\u00e1ir agus Gaillimh Thiar","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Freagra ar na Eascair\u00ed Corrthoghch\u00e1in do Dh\u00e1ilcheantair Baile \u00c1tha Cliath L\u00e1ir agus Gaillimh Thiar"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/dbsect_3","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Return to Writs: Dublin Central and Galway West","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Return to Writs: Dublin Central and Galway West"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/dbsect_4","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Comhalta\u00ed Nua a Chur in Aithne","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_4","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Comhalta\u00ed Nua a Chur in Aithne"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/dbsect_5","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Introduction of New Members","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_5","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The Clerk of the D\u00e1il made the following announcement:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"I gcomhl\u00edonadh Bhuan-Ord\u00fa 239 de na Buan-Orduithe i dtaobh Gn\u00f3 Phoibl\u00ed, t\u00e1 orm a chraoladh go ndearnadh, sa Chorrthoghch\u00e1n a bh\u00ed ann an 22\u00fa Bealtaine 2026, de chionn an Teachta Pascal \u00d3 Donnch\u00fa d'\u00e9ir\u00ed as, agus toghch\u00e1n an Teachta Caitr\u00edona N\u00ed Chonghaile mar Uachtar\u00e1n, na Comhalta\u00ed seo a leanas a thoghadh don D\u00e1il:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"D\u00e1ilcheantar Bhaile \u00c1tha Cliath L\u00e1ir: Domhnall \u00d3 hAonguis"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"D\u00e1ilcheantar Gaillimh Thiar: Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Cadhain"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"T\u00e1 Rolla na gComhalta\u00ed s\u00ednithe ag an d\u00e1 Theachta de r\u00e9ir Bhuan-Ordaithe 1."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"In compliance with Standing Order 239 of the Standing Orders relative to Public Business I have to announce that at the By-Elections held on 22 May 2026, consequent on the resignation of Deputy Paschal Donohoe and the election as President of Deputy Catherine Connolly, the following Members have been elected to the D\u00e1il:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Constituency of Dublin Central: Daniel Ennis"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Constituency of Galway West: Se\u00e1n Kyne"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The Deputies have signed the Roll of Members in accordance with Standing Order 1."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call on the new Members to take their seats.  The new Members have taken their seats. I think I speak on behalf of all Members in congratulating them on their election. We recognise it is a special day for them, their families and their supporters. I wish them every success and happiness in their new roles. I am sure they will both make a major contribution to the work of the House and the 34th D\u00e1il. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Introduction of New Members"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/dbsect_6","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Visit of Swiss Delegation","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_6","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Before we move on, I welcome the Swiss ambassador, H. E. Jenny Piaget. It is nice to see her again. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Visit of Swiss Delegation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/dbsect_7","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions","counts":{"speechCount":120,"speakerCount":20},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Denise Mitchell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Daniel Ennis","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Daniel-Ennis.D.2026-05-25","memberCode":"Daniel-Ennis.D.2026-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donna McGettigan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Cuirimid f\u00e1ilte roimh an Teachta Ennis agus an Teachta Kyne sa Teach.  The Minister for foreign affairs has brought draft legislation to the Cabinet which will ban trade in goods from the occupied Palestinian territories. On the Taoiseach's way into the Cabinet this morning, he made it clear that services are to be excluded, so the Government has taken a wrecking ball to the original occupied territories Bill. The Taoiseach is aware that 70% of trade between Ireland and the occupied territories is in services and that the Bill was designed to end the shameful economic support provided to Israel's illegal settlements. Yet, the Government has hollowed out the legislation, rendering it ineffective.  The Taoiseach's argument, that including services is impossible to implement, simply does not stack up. The occupied territories Bill is in line with the ruling of the International Court of Justice, a ruling that makes no distinction between goods and services. In fact, banning services is required under international law. Spain has included services in its legislation, so it can be done.  The occupied territories Bill has a long history. It was passed in the Seanad in 2018 and in the D\u00e1il in 2019 and it continues to enjoy overwhelming public support. The Government has paid it plenty of lip service. For eight years, it has said it will support the occupied territories Bill, but it has stalled, delayed and blocked it, and now it has gutted the Bill. This is the Government's response, its approach, after 14 Irish citizens on a humanitarian flotilla to Gaza were kidnapped, detained and brutalised by Israeli forces. This is the Government's response and approach to the slaughter and genocide in Gaza, as Palestinian men, women and children are wiped out every single day.  It is the Government's response to mass displacement, enforced starvation and the obliteration of civilian infrastructure, all at the hands of a ruthless apartheid regime - a regime gifted impunity by world leaders, including the Taoiseach. Caithfidh seirbh\u00eds\u00ed a bheith san \u00e1ireamh sa reachta\u00edocht ionas go mbeidh s\u00e9 \u00e9ifeachtach. Caithfidh an D\u00e1il an bunleagan den Bhille ina ioml\u00e1ine a rith. Ireland should and must be leading on this question. The Taoiseach must make clear that the theft of Palestinian land will not be rewarded with economic support; that Ireland will stand up for human rights and international law; and that Ireland stands with Palestine. Excluding services and pushing forward with hollowed out legislation is a cop-out and a dangerous one. It cannot happen. The people of Palestine, of Gaza, slaughtered, besieged, brutalised and starved look to Ireland for support and we simply cannot turn our backs. Services along with goods must be banned. The sanction must be effective. Either the Taoiseach accepts international law or he does not. Ireland must be on the right side of history. Last week, I wrote to the Taoiseach and I urged him to work constructively with the Opposition to pass the original occupied territories Bill in full. That is what must happen. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  N\u00ed aonta\u00edm leis an m\u00e9id at\u00e1 r\u00e1ite ag an Teachta mar t\u00e1 \u00c9ire agus a Rialtas chun tosaigh agus muid ag seasamh suas do na Palaist\u00ednigh. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 sin r\u00e1ite ag na Palaist\u00ednigh. Deir \u00dadar\u00e1s N\u00e1isi\u00fanta na Palaist\u00ednigh i gc\u00f3na\u00ed go bhfuil \u00e1r dt\u00edr chun tosaigh maidir le taca\u00edocht a thabhairt do na Palaist\u00ednigh. I do not accept the Deputy's proposition in terms of how she has distorted the Irish Government\u2019s position in relation to the cause of Palestinian self-determination. From the outset, we have taken a series of measures that have been at the leading edge in terms of any Europe Union's member state's response to the genocide in Gaza, the continued violent behaviour of the settlers in the West Bank, and the continuing war in Lebanon, which is completely unjustified. We recognised the State of Palestine, along with Spain, for example, and Slovenia did so after us, in a broader move to try to get a peace accord going within the Middle East in terms of a Palestinian State. We intervened in the South African case before the----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Eventually. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----International Court of Justice in terms of the case there in respect of genocide. We have provided very significant support to Palestinians, up to \u20ac146 million up to this year. In terms of UNRWA in particular, we took a leading role in Europe to stem the momentum at the time of taking aid away from UNRWA after Israeli allegations against UNRWA personnel. We held back that momentum and then we doubled down in terms of doubling our own provision of finance to UNRWA itself. We did this consistently in all international forums. The Attorney General has argued before the ICJ in respect of the impacts of the illegal occupation of Palestine. At the United Nations General Assembly, we, of course, sponsored resolutions in terms of seeking to implement the court's advisory opinion.  There is no justification for the assertions Deputy McDonald has made. I know her objective is to sort of attack the Government, sometimes even more than the Israeli Government. That is the objective. In terms of the occupied territories Bill, we need a bit of honesty across the House. We need absolute honesty here. Let us not overstate the impact of this either way. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Crowe  Let us water it down. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  My experience has been that as soon as we do something, like we did with the recognition or whatever else, Sinn F\u00e9in moves on very quickly and dismisses it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Denise Mitchell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Denise Mitchell  It is 35 years. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That has been the standard practice. First of all, the original Bill could not go through the House because it would not have been legal in terms of how it was framed. In terms of services----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  It is illegal to trade with occupied territories. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  On goods, by whatever yardstick is used, about \u20ac200,000 worth of goods - fruit and vegetables - come in from the settlements. That is what comes in.  Services are intangible, as someone described them. It is impossible to implement. Could we have some honesty about that? There is an issue in terms of what will happen if services were included in terms of jobs in this country and potential attacks on multinationals that are based here. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Donnelly  You just said it. Now you have said it. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Please, the leader of the Deputies' party will respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That is the reality. People can dismiss that all they want; I do not dismiss it. I have to protect about 250,000 jobs in this country too, and there is a real issue----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in  Scaremongering. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----that people are turning a blind eye to in terms of this being something we can do casually to which nobody is going to pay a blind bit of notice. There have been a lot of attacks on Ireland because of the leadership stance we have taken as a Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  So defend against the attacks. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We have been out there with Spain more than anybody else in terms of these issues. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  The Irish people have always taken a principled and morally ethical stance on the question of Palestine. Of that there is no doubt. Unfortunately, the Irish Government has not followed suit. The truth and the honest position are that the Government has had to be dragged into taking any kind of positive stance, facing down the impunity of Israel and accepting that until there are consequences for Israel and the Netanyahu regime, they will continue to slaughter Palestinians, they will continue to occupy land and they will continue with their apartheid regime. The only answer is sanctions. That is why the occupied territories Bill matters. It has to include both goods and services. Spain included services, so why on earth can Ireland not? Sanctions are the only thing that will work with Israel - economic, cultural and sporting. The Irish football team should not be playing Israel under any circumstances. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Spain has not included services. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  It has. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Please allow the response. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It included the advertisement of services. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  Same thing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Different thing completely. We need accuracy here. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  It is the same for EU law. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, the rules are that leaders speak. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Very few countries have gone down this route. Spain and Ireland are going down this route in terms of the banning of goods. We hope Belgium and the Netherlands will follow suit. It looks like Slovenia will not be in a position now because the Government has changed in Slovenia. The Government that has been elected has a completely different issue. It must be at European level if we are to have any impact on Israel. Even at European level, I am trying to be honest with people here, how does one have impact on the Israeli Government, Netanyahu and these people? The bottom line is----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Donnelly  Stop the bombs. Stop allowing Shannon to be used. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That is all rubbish about Shannon and all that nonsense. It has no impact on Netanyahu. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Donnelly  Really, how do you know? You do not check. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It is just sloganeering. All that is happening is sloganeering and shallow rhetoric that is devoid of any substance. There are two major powers that could influence Israel. Fundamentally, the US can. Second, maybe, a unanimous European Union position on the EU-Israel Association Agreement. Those are potentially the two ways to get---- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Taoiseach. I call Deputy Bacik. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  Before I begin, I want to congratulate new the Deputies, Daniel Ennis and Sean Kyne. As a by-election veteran myself, I wish them the very best, although I was elected during Covid so I missed out on the handshakes, hugs and lovely warmth they got.  Recent lay-offs in the tech sector are causing huge stress and anxiety for those receiving redundancy notices, those seeing their colleagues being laid off and the communities affected. My constituency, Dublin Bay South, is home to many tech companies and to the workers who keep them running. Entire communities have been built on the promise of secure, well-paid tech jobs, but this news reminds us of the vulnerability of that model and of our national economy. Meta is cutting 350 jobs here. That proportion of the workforce vastly exceeds global averages. The IT sector here has shed more than 20,000 jobs in the past year alone. How are the tech oligarchs dressing this up? They refer to it as modernisation and flattening teams. That is awful language when they are talking about people's livelihoods and lives. Flattening companies really means throwing staff to the wolves to satisfy shareholders and inflate share prices. Multibillion euro corporations led by Trumpian cheerleaders in Silicon Valley are using AI as cover for years of over-hiring and ruthless cost-cutting. This is AI washing and these companies are showing contempt for the industrial relations mechanisms of the State.  We are seeing this with Covalen, which snubbed an invitation to the Workplace Relations Commission even as it looks to sack 700 people. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"They can do so with impunity it seems because our labour laws are too weak."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"These corporations know something else too. They know how vulnerable Ireland is. Our economy is dangerously dependent on a handful of tech giants, and they know that the Government is frightened of them and is afraid they will pull investment and move jobs elsewhere, so we are in permanent game of chicken, and the biggest losers are the people now fearing for their futures. As our enterprise spokesperson, Deputy George Lawlor, has said, we have a pool of highly skilled talent who are now being made redundant and so somebody must call the bluff of the tech giants."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"What we need, and what Labour has been calling for, is a serious industrial strategy to ensure that Ireland is more than just a host for multinational profits. We need to start cultivating indigenous Irish enterprise and innovation to develop a domestic start-up boom in the AI and tech sectors. We also need stronger collective bargaining rights, stronger protections for workers facing redundancy and serious investment in education, retraining and upskilling. Above all, we need a government that will stand up to the tech billionaires. What we in the Labour Party are asking is: what is the Government's strategy in the face of these job losses to protect tech jobs and to ensure that we diversify our economy and reduce our over-reliance on multinationals?"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  First of all, I want to take the opportunity to welcome Deputies Daniel Ennis and S\u00e9an Kyne. I congratulate them on their election and have no doubt they are looking forward to being effective and productive legislators and, of course, diligent representatives of the people who elected them to D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann. It is a great day for them and for their families. We hope their families, in particular, enjoy this historic day for the Deputies and for them.  In respect of employment more generally and the impact of AI and the decisions of certain tech companies, overall, we should not lose sight of the fact that our economy is continuing to grow significantly using GNI as our figure. Modified domestic demand is expected to grow by about 2.1% in 2026. It increased by 4.95% last year. Employment has been fairly consistent year on year. The payroll employee index is up 2.2% year on year, and we are close to 2.8 million workers. We have a very robust and resilient employment story made up of the SME sector as well as the multinationals but we can never look at them as an either-or. They are both inextricably bound together.  I was in Dexcom in Galway recently where a factory has been built that will accommodate 1,000 workers by 2028. At the moment, there are 300 workers there. What was interesting is that in an investment of about \u20ac300 million, Dexcom procured about \u20ac180 million of that locally through the local supply chain, although the figures might vary. In other words, there are lots of smaller companies that are able to plug into the Dexcom investment. I was at a Japanese pharmaceutical facility in Kerry recently and again it was the same story in terms of the clean room technology and laboratories. We now have companies at a calibre that can actually supply into very sophisticated operations.  While we do need to develop our SME sector, work with Enterprise Ireland on high potential start-ups and do better at scaling up companies, quite a lot of Irish companies have scaled up on the backs of having originally won contracts with a big multinational. Take, for example, all the companies that have supplied into Intel in Kildare. I visited the Intel site about two or three years ago in the midst of the next Fab being built. Nearly every Irish construction company was in there, with different companies doing incredible frontier-type solutions for Intel in terms of clean room technology and so on. We do have a healthy ecosystem but we need to invest more on the skills side as it is key to the AI issue. The skills round table, aiready.ie and the national skills observatory the Ministers, Deputies Lawless and Peter Burke, are putting together are a good solid response to what is happening. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  I agree with the Taoiseach that it is not either-or. SMEs are certainly the backbone of our economy but what we have seen is an over-dependence on a handful of small tech companies and that is the concern. Yes, of course, there are many SMEs that are working with them and are in the supply chain but the problem, as the Taoiseach said, is the lack of scaling up of SMEs and the lack of investment in indigenous start-ups.  That is a real concern. We need to diversify the economy. It is not just the Labour Party saying this; we have heard it from every expert who has looked at our economy.  There is a particular concern about workers' rights in tech companies. Let us look at the issue of performance improvement programmes, PIPs. These spurious programmes are being used by tech companies to justify redundancies. They are squeezing those PIPs until they squeak. This is what we are seeing. They are using legal loopholes to justify making redundancies. There is an issue about workers' rights in tech companies. At a minimum, what we have called for in the Labour Party, is the introduction of stronger workers' rights protections to force big tech to play fair amid these plans to lay off workers and to expose this issue of AI washing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy. Your time is up. The Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  Tech companies are making huge profits while saying that they need to cut costs. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  There are two dimensions to this. In itself, AI will change the world of work. We should not be blind to that. We need to prepare for it. There is investment in skills, in particular, and thankfully, the International Monetary Fund, IMF, has identified Ireland as one of the top countries in terms of an AI-skilled population and workforce. Equally though, I accept that because of the extraordinary investments some of the global players are making in AI , they are cutting costs in terms of human resources. It may not necessarily all be AI driven. There are certain investment decisions being taken. One of the negative consequences of that is a cutting of labour forces globally, not just in Ireland. We have to prepare for that. We have strong labour protection laws in this country and frameworks that govern any redundancies or situations pertaining to workers' rights. I would not understate the protections that are there. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  On the small business front, regulations are a big feedback from the SME sector. They are saying to us that they are over-regulated and need simplification. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Taoiseach. We will move to Deputy Cairns. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  I congratulate our new Social Democrats TD, Daniel Ennis, and Fine Gael\u2019s new Deputy, Se\u00e1n Kyne. I warmly welcome them to this Chamber. Dan is going to be a fantastic addition to our parliamentary party team. We are all so excited to work with him. This is a huge day for Dan, Se\u00e1n and their families. I welcome their families and supporters to the Gallery. I especially welcome Dan\u2019s mother, Jacqueline, his brother Geoff and his fianc\u00e9, Chloe. None of us would be in this Chamber today if we did not have the support of family, friends and party members. These are the people who knock on doors for us and keep us going through the hard times and families who are willing to make enormous sacrifices in order that we can be here. This essential support does not get enough recognition, so I wish to acknowledge it today. I thank our excellent candidate in Galway West, M\u00edde Nic Fhionnlaoich, and everyone who voted for the Social Democrats on Friday.  The front page of the Irish Daily Mail today reveals a shocking figure. The cost of emergency homeless accommodation reached nearly \u20ac500 million last year. That is a 570% increase in spending in just ten years. While we can measure the financial cost of soaring homelessness, we cannot measure the human cost. How many babies are struggling to learn to crawl right now because of a lack of space? How many toddlers are experiencing delayed speech development? How many children have become withdrawn or have fallen behind in school? How many of their parents have developed insomnia and depression? How many relationships have broken down because of the constant stress caused by their living conditions? The full extent of the trauma being created by homelessness is something we will never truly know, but we know the negative impact can be lifelong. It affects children\u2019s development, education, mental and physical health, job prospects and relationships.  A stable, secure home is the foundation for a happy life. That basic building block is missing for 17,500 people. This is especially an issue in Dublin Central, where a disproportionate amount of emergency accommodation is located. One tenth of the homeless population of Ireland \u2013 1,700 people \u2013 are living on just one street, namely Gardiner Street. Across the constituency, it has been estimated that there are 7,000 people living in homeless accommodation. Has any small area in the country ever had to cope with such a disproportionate level of trauma, unmet need and State failure?  These are people and an area that have been abandoned by successive Governments. They have been left to pick up the pieces of years of Government failure on housing. The response of this Government is not to help or reduce homelessness but to make the situation even worse and introduce new rent rules that have led to record rent increases. We need the Government to recognise that and change course, starting as a matter of urgency with a temporary ban on no-fault evictions and a ban on rent increases. Will the Taoiseach do that? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The population increase in the last ten years has been quite phenomenal as well and is having an impact on the housing situation. Migration - and I mean this in a general sense, not casting any aspersions - has had an impact on housing also. One only has to look at the figures now of the people who are non-European or non-Irish in emergency accommodation. It is well over 50%. That is where we are in the modern era. We have to deal with that. We have to help people who find themselves homeless. Of that there is no doubt, but we also need to understand what the drivers of homelessness have been in the past five to ten years. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Daniel Ennis","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Daniel-Ennis.D.2026-05-25","memberCode":"Daniel-Ennis.D.2026-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Daniel Ennis  Evictions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Without question, when you analyse the figures and talk to people, population growth is a key area, but we also need to respond in terms of social housing, for example. We are building more houses in direct builds per annum now than since the foundation of the State. Last year, over 9,000 social houses alone were built. Ultimately, the provision of increased social housing is the best route to dealing with homelessness. No other way will sustainably deal with it.  In addition to that, we are building a lot of affordable homes and giving a lot of support to people in terms of starter homes. Across the board, in terms of housing assistant payment, HAP, and other things, we are giving assistance to people who need to access housing. Without question, the momentum is towards increased house provision. Some 36,000 homes were built last year. We hope to increase that figure for 2026 and probably will. What is interesting is that commencements are up by 176% this year, with about 11,000 commencement notices in the first four months. Real dwelling investment is up by 19% and construction employment is up by 33% since 2020, 10% year on year. That is because of the increased house building that is taking place. There has been a 55% year-on-year increase in terms of land for housing and deals to facilitate housing. The Home Building Finance Ireland, HBFI, loan book is up by 25%.  Whatever metric one is looking at, there are increases happening. The issue is the speed and how we can exit people from homelessness as quickly as possible, and from emergency accommodation in particular. If we do a temporary eviction ban, we will depress supply again. We have been through this. The Housing Commission said that the existing renting situation could not continue and that we had to create a more permanent framework for the rental market to give certainty to all concerned. What the Deputy suggested towards the end of her contribution would actually make the situation worse because supply would be depressed. We need more supply and we need it as quickly as possible. It is interesting that any form of supply we have proposed in the past three months has been opposed by the Social Democrats and by others in the Opposition. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  The Taoiseach needs to stop and listen to himself when he comes into this Chamber week after week and tries to spin a positive message on housing when there are 17,000 people homeless, including more than 5,000 children. This is at a time when there are record budget surpluses. The only thing the Taoiseach has changed in his approach is to start blaming migrants for that failure. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  It is shameful. The Taoiseach talks about every metric and fails to mention the most important metric, which is the increase, month on month, and the records being broken in the number of people becoming homeless. Instead of acknowledging that the approach has failed and changing it, the Government introduced legislation that we all knew would increase evictions and rents, which is exactly what happened. Will the Taoiseach at least acknowledge the staggering increase? The only success the Government has had in terms of homelessness is to normalise it. I do not have any faith in Fianna F\u00e1il to address this crisis and I do not think any of the electorate in either constituency where there was recently a by-election do either. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Cairns's time is up. The Taoiseach will respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I do not have any faith in the Deputy\u2019s capacity or her party\u2019s capacity to deal with housing and homelessness----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" A Deputy","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" A Deputy  The electorate----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----based on what it has produced so far, in terms of the substance of what it has put forward. Soundbites will not build houses. It is good play but it will not build houses. I do not mind having an honest debate on housing but the Deputy consistently fails to acknowledge any progress at all in terms of the social housing issue, for example. There have been 58,000 social houses built in the last five years. That is dramatically better than anything built in the previous ten years, but the Deputy cannot acknowledge that. She cannot acknowledge anything at all. I acknowledge there is a homeless crisis out there. I have said from day one that housing is the number one crisis, but we are doing something about it with concrete policies. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  The Government is making it worse. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I have genuinely seen nothing. All I see that the Social Democrats have produced is a savings and investment scheme. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" A Deputy","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" A Deputy  Not true. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Allow the Taoiseach to continue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That is all it has really come up with. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That is not going to not solve homelessness today, next year or the year after. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  Ban evictions and----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, please. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  There is a lot of rhetoric but very little substance on the Deputies' side. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  Where are the 40,000 homes the Government promised two years ago? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  The Government is speaking out of both sides of its mouth on the question of sanctioning Israel. It is trying to convey to the public, who want to see sanctions imposed on this genocidal murderous regime, that it is imposing sanctions but in actuality it is doing everything to ensure that no serious sanctions are imposed on the regime. On the same day that 14 Irish people were being kidnapped on the high seas, tortured and abused last week and the Taoiseach was saying publicly that there should be no business as usual with the Israeli regime, he instructed Government TDs to go in and vote against our sanctions Bill, which would actually have imposed comprehensive sanctions on the State of Israel because of its crimes of genocide and apartheid and its systematic violation of international law, the very thing the flotilla activists had asked the Government to do.  We have headlines today saying that the Minister is going to bring forward the occupied territories Bill, something the Government has been promising for a very long time. At the same time, however, that Bill in actuality will gut the original Bill drafted by Frances Black by not including services. So, it will only prevent trade in goods, and maybe not even all goods. Reports in The Ditch in the last week suggest that exports from this country to the occupied territories may actually be 40 times more than are being officially acknowledged by Irish authorities because the Israeli authorities are giving much higher figures for the imports from this country.  In any event, the exclusion of services is 70% of the trade between Ireland and the occupied territories. Of course, the Bill the Government is bringing forward will not impose any sanctions whatsoever on the Israeli state itself. That is providing the support and the means for the Israeli settlers to grab Palestinian territory and annex territory. Israel was orchestrating the genocide in Gaza and is orchestrating the brutal regime of apartheid but the Government is not imposing any sanctions at all on the state that is doing it. Actually, our trade with Israel has dramatically increased over the last number of years, making Ireland the second biggest trading partner with Israel in the world. Will the Government stop the hypocrisy and actually bring forward a Bill that imposes serious sanctions on Israel for its criminal violation of international law, for genocide and for apartheid? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I again thank the Deputy for raising it and maybe to some degree with a bit more honesty than others. First of all, let us accept the distinction he has made compared with others. He is not really interested in the occupied territories Bill on its own because it just deals with the illegal settlements. He knows that. All along, he has been shouting about the occupied territories Bill but all along he wanted an Israeli boycott. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  We all do. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  It is not Deputy Coppinger\u2019s question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  What is wrong with that? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Let us be honest about what has happened here. We recognise Palestine and the Deputy moves on quickly. We intervene in the legal case by South Africa and he moves on quickly. We double down on UNRWA and he moves on quickly.  We go to the ICJ and he moves on quickly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Yes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We do the occupied territories Bill and he moves on quickly and calls for us to boycott Israel. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Yes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  The Government has not done it yet. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  Does the Taoiseach want a medal? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Follow my rules. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  What is after that and after that? There has been no deep analysis,----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy M\u00e1ire Devine  The Taoiseach is a great lad. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----and that is the problem. The Deputy has now moved on very quickly.  By the way, we do not have the power, even if we wanted to, to stop trade with Israel right now. That is a European competency and Deputy Boyd Barrett knows that, but he is not interested in that because, as far as he is concerned, the EU can go to pot as well. He is not particularly interested one way or the other. It is about campaigning. It is about attacking this Government. It is not really about trying to explain to people the impacts and implications of all of this. Does the Deputy want to ban trade with Israel? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Yes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Does he want Intel to stop dealing with its sister company in Israel? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Yes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Fine. Talk to the thousands of workers in Ireland working with Intel. What happens there? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  It would not----- "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Through the Chair, has Deputy Boyd Barrett worked through the implications of it? Has anyone in the Opposition done an assessment of what it would mean economically? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  No. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy M\u00e1ire Devine  The Yanks----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Does Deputy Boyd Barrett give a continental if the US goes south because of what we might do there? It is great to be virtuous, Deputy,----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donna McGettigan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donna McGettigan  People's lives----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----but for the workers\u2019 representative, he lacks all virtuosity when it comes to protecting Irish workers. We have to take everything on board and be sensible about it.  At the same time, we have been principled. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy M\u00e1ire Devine  Moral. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We are one of the few European member states that has stood out there. If you talk to the Palestinian Authority, Jordan, Egypt or anyone in the Gulf and the wider Middle East, the first thing they say is, \u201cThank you to the Irish Government for leading on this\u201d. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  But no, the Deputy cannot ever say anything like that because that does not suit the campaign. The campaign for him is an end in itself. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy M\u00e1ire Devine  This is so virtuous. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The campaign is a means to cause further undermining of the Irish Government. He has never campaigned on the same basis against Russia or Iran. He never has despite all that has happened in Iran. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Please, one voice. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The campaign here is a deeper issue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy M\u00e1ire Devine  No, it is not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  For me, I am very clear. We have tried----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy M\u00e1ire Devine  It is moral. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We all have a moral framework by the way. The Deputies do not have a monopoly on that. We have taken a lead on this. The easiest thing for politicians to do is put the chin up and be great people in sloganeering and rhetoric, but we have a deeper responsibility. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy M\u00e1ire Devine  Oh my God, give over. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We have to protect our national interests and people at the same time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  And do what Trump says. Is that the moral thing? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy M\u00e1ire Devine  Give over. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Time is up, Taoiseach. Deputy Boyd Barrett to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That is the problem. As far as I am concerned, and I said it the last time, it is about finding the most effective way to do this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy M\u00e1ire Devine  The Taoiseach is a great lad altogether. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Taoiseach, your time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We either do it in unanimity with the European Union----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call Deputy Boyd Barrett. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----or we get the United States to change tack in terms of its relationship with Israel. Those are the fundamental ways we can change tack. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Boyd Barrett will now respond. One voice, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  As it was so obvious to the world that a genocidal slaughter was taking place in Gaza and that Israel was inflicting genocide, the Taoiseach was eventually forced to say that he thought a genocide was taking place. I ask the Taoiseach a simple question: do we continue to trade with regimes that are doing genocide and treat them as normal states? Do we just treat them like any other trading or business partner? Do we continue to increase the amount of trade we do with states that are doing genocide and apartheid? Do we, in 2024 in the middle of a genocide, approve \u20ac20 million of licences to the IDF, the military force that is committing the genocide in Gaza? That is what the Government did. I say that we do not treat states guilty of genocide as normal states and that we impose sanctions on them.  The Taoiseach is absolutely right; what I want is a complete boycott, divestment and sanctions. At the least, the Government should pass Frances Black\u2019s occupied territories Bill as he promised he would do in the programme for Government. The Government even passed a motion in the D\u00e1il in November last year to that effect. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy's time is up. The Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We are implementing what we said in the programme for Government. Read the programme for Government. That is exactly what we are now doing. The way to deal with Israel effectively is through the European Union. There is no other way. We have not been able to get agreement across Europe because some countries historically have a position of supporting Israel come what may. The Deputy and I know that.  The Commission is the competent authority in terms of trade with Israel. We have sought to get a suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. Ireland and Spain have been the two countries for well over two years now----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  The Taoiseach is saying the Government is going to do it unilaterally. What is he talking about? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I am sorry, but the Deputy is interrupting again. For over two and a half years, we have been seeking to suspend that association agreement, but we have not been able to get any support. Only last week, because of Hungary\u2019s change of government, we were able to get sanctions on violent Israeli settlers at a European level. We are now trying to get at least a common European position on the occupied territories, but it is still difficult because the Slovenian Government has now changed with a completely different approach and response. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Before I move on, I welcome Mary Fitzgerald from the Woodlands House Hotel in Adare and her cousin Shaunna Flynn Black who is back from Texas. They are here as guests of Deputy Richard O'Donoghue. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/dbsect_8","debateType":"orderofBusiness","bill":null,"showAs":"An tOrd Gn\u00f3 - Order of Business","counts":{"speechCount":78,"speakerCount":23},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donna McGettigan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"William Aird","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Mary Butler)  I move:  Tuesday's business shall be:  - Motion re Appointment of Ordinary Members of An Coimisi\u00fan Toghch\u00e1in ( without debate and any division claimed to be taken immediately )  - Motion re Twelfth Report of the Standing Committee of Selection ( without debate )  - Dublin Transport Authority (Amendment) Bill 2026 (Second Stage) ( if not previously concluded, to adjourn at the end of the first speaking round )  Tuesday's private members' business shall be the Motion re Cost of Disability, selected by Sinn F\u00e9in.  Wednesday's business shall be:  - Statements on Ensuring our Skills, Training and Innovation systems keep pace in a changing world ( not to exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes )  - Motion re Extension of Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2021 ( to conclude within 1 hour )  - Motion to Instruct the Committee on the Gas Safety (Amendment) Bill 2026 ( to commence no earlier than 5 p.m. and to conclude within 1 hour; any division claimed to be taken immediately )  - Gas Safety (Amendment) Bill 2026 (Committee and remaining Stages) ( to conclude within 2 hours )  - \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta (Amendment) Bill 2024 (Report and Final Stages) ( to conclude within 2 hours )  - Motion re Leave to Introduce Supplementary Estimates for Public Services 2026 [Votes 30 and 31] ( without debate and any division claimed to be taken immediately )  Wednesday's private members' business shall be the Motion re Fiscal Planning Framework for Economic Certainty, selected by Independent Technical Group).  Thursday's business shall be:  - Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2026 (Second Stage) ( if not previously concluded, to adjourn at the end of the first speaking round )  Thursday evening business shall be the Public Health (Alcohol) (Amendment) Bill 2025 (Second Stage), sponsored by Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice.    Proposed Arrangements for this week\u2019s business:    In relation to Tuesday\u2019s business, it is proposed that:  1. notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders:  (a) the D\u00e1il shall waive its instruction that not more than two Select Committees shall meet to consider a Bill on any given day in the case of the proposed meetings of the Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Sector Reform, Digitalisation, and Taoiseach, and the Select Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport, to consider the following three Bills, respectively: National Treasury Management (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 and the Central Bank (Amendment) Bill 2025; and the Media Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2026;  (b) the time allocated to Government business shall be extended in accordance with the arrangements for that business and the D\u00e1il may sit later than 10.48 p.m.; and  (c) private members\u2019 business shall be taken following proceedings on the Second Stage of the Dublin Transport Authority (Amendment) Bill 2026 with consequential effect on the commencement times for the items following in the ordinary routine of business;  2. the proceedings on the Motion re Appointment of Ordinary members of An Coimisi\u00fan Toghch\u00e1in shall be taken without debate and any division claimed thereon shall be taken immediately;  3. the proceedings on the Motion re Twelfth Report of the Committee of Selection shall be taken without debate; and  4. the proceedings on the Second Stage of the Dublin Transport Authority (Amendment) Bill 2026 shall, if not previously concluded, be interrupted and stand adjourned at the end of the first speaking round and the following arrangements shall apply:  (a) the first-round speeches shall be in accordance with the table below (to be read across);  (b) where speeches conclude before the 3 hours and 24 minutes have elapsed and no other member is offering, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a speech in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes, whereupon proceedings shall be brought to a conclusion; and  (c) members may share time.          Gov      SF      Lab      Gov      SF       Mins    20    20    20    12    4           SD      Gov      SF      IPTG      Gov       Mins    20    12    4    20    12           SF      ITG      Gov      SF      OM       Mins    4    20    12    4    20       Total: 3 hours 24 mins                             In relation to Wednesday's business, it is proposed that:  1. notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders:  (a) the time allotted for Government Business shall be extended in accordance with the arrangements for that business and the D\u00e1il may sit later than 9.30 p.m.;  (b) in the event proceedings on the Motion re Extension of Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2021 concludes before 5 p.m., the sitting shall stand suspended until 5 p.m., when the order of business shall resume with the Motion to Instruct the Committee on the Gas Safety (Amendment) Bill 2026;  (c) the Order of the D\u00e1il of 14th January 2026 referring the Gas Safety (Amendment) Bill 2026 to the Select Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy is hereby discharged and Third Stage of the Bill shall be taken in Committee of the whole D\u00e1il;  (d) any motions to be taken without debate shall be taken on the conclusion of proceedings on the \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta (Amendment) Bill 2024; and  (e) the weekly division time shall be taken on the conclusion of proceedings on any motions without debate;  2. the Statements on Ensuring our Skills, Training and Innovation systems keep pace in a changing world shall not exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply:  (a) the statements, not including the Ministerial response, shall be in accordance with the sequence contained in the table immediately below (to be read across);  (b) following the statements, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes; and  (c) members may share time;          Gov      SF      Lab      Gov      SF       Mins    25    15    10    10    3           SD      Gov      SF      IPTG      Gov       Mins    10    10    3    9    10           SF      ITG      Gov      SF      OM       Mins    3    9    10    3    5       Total: 2 hours 15 mins                           3. the proceedings on the Motion re Extension of Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2021 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 60 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply thereto:  (a) the order of speaking and allocation of time shall be as follows:-  \u2014 opening speech by a Minister or Minister of State \u2013 10 minutes;  \u2014 speeches by representatives of Sinn F\u00e9in, the Labour Party, Social Democrats, Independent and Parties Technical Group, and Independent Technical Group \u2013 7.5 minutes per party or group;  \u2014 speeches by non-party\/group members \u2013 7.5 minutes in total; and  \u2014 a speech in response by the Minister \u2013 5 minutes; and  (b) members may share time  4. the proceedings on the Motion to Instruct the Committee on the Gas Safety (Amendment) Bill 2026 shall commence no earlier than 5 p.m. and shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 60 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply thereto:  (a) the order of speaking and allocation of time shall be as follows:-  \u2014 opening speech by a Minister or Minister of State \u2013 10 minutes;  \u2014 speeches by representatives of Sinn F\u00e9in, the Labour Party, Social Democrats, Independent and Parties Technical Group, and Independent Technical Group \u2013 7.5 minutes per party or group;  \u2014 speeches by Other Members \u2013 7.5 minutes in total; and  \u2014 a speech in response by the Minister \u2013 5 minutes;  (b) members may share time; and  (c) any division claimed thereon shall be taken immediately  5. the proceedings on Committee and Remaining Stages of the Gas Safety (Amendment) Bill 2026 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 2 hours by one question, which shall be put from the Chair, and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment;  6. the proceedings on Report and Final Stages of the \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta (Amendment) Bill 2024 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 2 hours by one question, which shall be put from the Chair, and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht; and  7. The proceedings on the Motion re Leave to Introduce Supplementary Estimates for Public Services 2026 [Votes 30 and 31] shall be taken without debate and any division claimed thereon shall be taken immediately.  In relation to Thursday's business, it is proposed that:  1. notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders:  (a) topical issues may be taken earlier than 7.24 p.m. with consequential effect on the commencement time for Second Stage of the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2025, and on the time for the adjournment of the D\u00e1il; and  (b) the D\u00e1il on its rising shall adjourn until 2 p.m. on Tuesday 9th June, 2026; and  2. the proceedings on the Second Stage of the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2026 shall, if not previously concluded, be interrupted and stand adjourned at the end of the first speaking round and the following arrangements shall apply:  (a) the first-round speeches, not including the Ministerial response, shall be in accordance with the table below (to be read across);  (b) where speeches conclude before the 3 hours and 24 minutes have elapsed and no other member is offering, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a speech in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes; and  (c) members may share time.          Gov      SF      Lab      Gov      SF       Mins    20    20    20    12    4           SD      Gov      SF      IPTG      Gov       Mins    20    12    4    20    12           SF      ITG      Gov      SF      OM       Mins    4    20    12    4    20       Total: 3 hours 24 mins                          "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Are those arrangements agreed? Not agreed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  I remember when Niall Collins and Billy Kelleher toured the country with Senator Black around the occupied territories Bill. Does the Taoiseach remember that? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I do. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  It was back in 2019. Fianna F\u00e1il then went into government with Fine Gael and that Bill was scrapped. Here we are now and the Government has gutted the Bill. Will it publish the Attorney General's advice? Will the Minister come urgently before the D\u00e1il and take questions from the Opposition about why the Government has gutted this Bill after years of abandonment? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  The Taoiseach is making a charge of some kind of economic illiteracy in opposition in terms of the implications of the occupied territories Bill when he knows that during pre-legislative scrutiny last summer we had a number of chapters interrogating the economic impact of the occupied territories Bill. Still, there was cross-party Government and Opposition consensus on that committee to bring forward the occupied territories Bill with goods and services yet the Government is bringing forward this watered-down, unacceptable Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  It is absolutely not shallow rhetoric or sloganeering to say the Irish State should adhere to our obligations under the prevention of genocide Act, which we signed willingly. If you recognise a genocide is happening to the people of Gaza inflicted by the State of Israel, why are we still debating whether it is just services or goods? It should be everything in our power to prevent that but if this is what we have in our possession, let us do it to the maximum. We need a debate on that in this House this week. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Not only is the Taoiseach gutting the occupied territories Bill but, according to The Currency, which put in an FOI about the investigation into overflights as to whether weapons are going across our airspace to help Israel commit its crimes, that investigation has effectively ground to a halt. The Government is not serious about ending the potential complicity of this country with the genocidal horror being imposed on the Palestinians. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  The summer programme or July provision is essential for children with special educational needs. This year, schools were given just one week to apply with late notice from the Department. Many schools missed the deadline through no fault of their own. I call for a debate on this issue and for an extension to ensure no child loses out. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  The occupied territories Bill passed Cabinet this morning. It will be published this week. It will be included in the next Order of Business, which will be finalised on Thursday. There will be a full debate on the Bill with the Minister present. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  What about the Attorney General's advice? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  The Attorney General's advice. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  In relation to the Deputy's issue, we can discuss that on Thursday. The Order of Business stands. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Are the proposed arrangements agreed to? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  Not agreed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  I am struck by the Taoiseach's boastful approach regarding the so-called metrics on housing. Those metrics are record and skyrocketing rents, record evictions and record homelessness. Last year, the State spent almost \u20ac500 million on emergency accommodation. Over the past decade, almost \u20ac5 billion has been spent on managing homelessness. All the while, homelessness continues to rise. Families are in hotel rooms, single people have nowhere to go, pensioners are facing homelessness, children are growing up without homes and taxpayers are footing an extraordinary bill for the Government's failure. When is the Taoiseach going to be honest? Where is this honesty he is bragging about? When will he honestly accept that his approach to housing is driving crisis after crisis? When will he have the honesty and integrity to accept that and change course? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The solution to the housing issue is supply. We need far more supply than we are getting, notwithstanding the fact we are building more social houses than we ever have per annum. We will continue to build social houses over the next ten years because the investment is being made. There is massive State investment in housing, and there is additional, discrete ring-fenced funding for emergency housing but also to deal with those on the emergency housing lists and provide them with homes. In the budget, the Minister secured ring-fenced funding to enable him to do that. We will continue our work on supply. We will not be out there objecting, as the Deputy is doing in respect of apartment after apartment in her constituency. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  The Taoiseach is so glib about people who have no homes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  She talks about being honest but she is objecting left, right and centre. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  The Taoiseach is so glib. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  Just an hour ago, the special advocate for survivors of institutional abuse, Ms Patricia Carey, strongly condemned what she describes as State failures in providing redress to victims of institutional abuse. She has recounted the negative experiences of survivors engaging with the Government's statutory schemes, including retraumatisation and exclusionary terms of reference. Survivors have spoken of a pattern of exclusion. I urge the Taoiseach to engage with Ms Carey at the earliest opportunity to see that survivors are treated right by the State.  I also ask the Taoiseach to engage on another matter, namely the treatment of survivors by the religious orders, which even now are evading justice by moving their assets to lay-run trusts. Clearly, we cannot appeal to religious orders to ensure, on the basis of their moral duty, that survivors receive justice and redress. I have spoken to the Taoiseach before about the need to have a statutory scheme or some provision in law to enable survivors to access redress from religious orders. On 25 June, the D\u00e1il will debate my Private Member's Bill to provide a clear pathway to justice for survivors. I ask the Taoiseach to engage with me on that also. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Over the past 25 years, or from any historical perspective, the State has done more on redress than has ever been done before. That needs to be acknowledged. Very substantial funds have been allocated for redress. It is taxpayers' money. It is not our money; it belongs to the people, but I would not be as dismissive of what the State has done so far. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  I am not, but----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Sorry, but I did not interrupt the Deputy. Redress is more than just financial. Many supports, from those of the National Counselling Service to educational supports, have been provided for survivors.  Trauma brought about by abuse is lifelong, and there has to be continuous and consistent engagement with survivors in respect of both that trauma and the most effective way of responding to it on a continuing basis. The Government has engaged substantially right across the board and has allocated very substantial resources to address it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  It is not often I find myself aligned with the Pope. Yesterday, the leader of the Catholic Church released an encyclical, his first, called Magnifica Humanitas , calling for greater guardrails on the use of AI and greater ethical consideration and dialogue around its implementation. One of his key points relates to the culture of power, which means the control of the AI tools, which are having such a far-reaching impact on each of our lives, is in the hands of a few private actors. The way to resolve this is through dialogue, but, mostly, it is through regulation. The Government has proved that it supports a very light-touch response to regulation. We have seen that through the failure to regulate online social media platforms. Will the Government please commit to supporting the AI Act in full and not the digital omnibus package that is currently being pushed through, which essentially guts the approach and brings it back to self-regulation? Will it support a greater regulatory framework and the enforcement of the existing framework in order that we can feel safer about the implementation of these tools? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I commend the Pope on the publication of his encyclical, which is a very important document in the context of how he sees the dehumanisation of people as one of the significant potential consequences of AI. We have not engaged in any light-touch regulation. We have adopted the AI Act. We have also adopted the Single Market Act and the Digital Markets Act. Why is the Deputy talking about light-touch regulation? European legislation has been strong. We have strong domestic and European legislation in respect of online platforms. In fact, a big criticism of Europe, including Ireland, is that it has over-regulated. That is a debate in terms of technology more generally. I do not accept the criticism that we have a light touch. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  I have asked the Taoiseach repeatedly about the social housing income thresholds, which have not been increased since 2023. Every year - indeed every month and every week - working people who have got a pay increase and who in some cases just get the working family payment are pushed over the limit. They might have been five, ten or 15 years on a housing list, and it is all gone. They are left in limbo. Most of the time when they go just over the threshold, their income is not sufficient to qualify for cost rental accommodation, so they are left nowhere.  It is completely unfair. It is a stealth cut by the Government when there is real housing need in this country. It is massaging the figures. The situation is perverse because if you actually get a social home, or indeed if you are in a housing assistance payment, HAP, tenancy, when your income goes up, you do not get evicted, you just pay more rent. People who are homeless are now getting thrown off----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach to respond. I ask the Deputy to be fair to his colleagues. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I said to the Deputy last week that the Minister for housing was considering this and would be coming back to the Government with proposals to increase the threshold. Three years ago, we did it. In 2023, it went up by approximately \u20ac5,000. I would support the increase in the threshold at which people would be entitled to social housing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  The run-up to the Residential Tenancies Act 2026 was overshadowed, as we debated, by a massive increase in evictions. We will see if the Act delivers stronger protections going forward. In the meantime, I will highlight again a loophole that becomes more attractive now. It concerns overcrowding and refurbishment. Overcrowding complaints still fall under the Housing Act 1966 and the 2019 housing standard regulations, and not the new legislation. The definition of \"unsuitable for habitation\" is quite broad. In a tight rental market, tenants currently stay silent about poor conditions. With landlords able to reset rents after refurbishment, there is a real risk that some will seek out inspections and use any issue as grounds for substantial renovation, such as extra rooms, and then hike the rents once the original tenants have moved on. I know those tenants have first refusal but the landlord can offset the cost of the works by resetting the rent and refilling the property. Will the Government enact legislation to defeat this loophole? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising a potential loophole. I will talk to the Minister for housing in respect of it. There are significant protections in the legislation the Minister introduced, particularly the six-year rule, which have probably had some short-term consequences but in the overall provide good protection. The legislation provides probably the strongest protection yet given in terms of security of tenure. I will follow up with the Minister in respect of the issue raised by the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul McAuliffe  Paddy Fagan is a gentleman who came to my clinic yesterday evening. He is a retired Dublin Airport Authority, DAA, worker. He has been coming to my clinic for many years. Those retired workers have not received an increase since 2007 because the scheme has effectively been frozen. It was worth 82% of the minimum wage in 2007. They are now on only half of the minimum wage as retired people. The real value of their pensions has decreased. They hoped that the Bill introduced by former Deputy Br\u00edd Smith, the Industrial Relations (Provisions in Respect of Pension Entitlements of Retired Workers) Bill, might have helped. There were valid reasons the Government moved a money message on that legislation. Will the Taoiseach ask the Minister for Social Protection, who has responsibility for the Pensions Authority, to meet those retired workers? The money message indicated that was the Department with responsibility for the Pensions Authority and for representing retired workers in pension schemes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising an important issue for the DAA pension scheme and workers. I hear what he is saying and will ask the Minister for Social Protection if he will meet the workers. Perhaps the Deputy could liaise with the Minister, too, but I will raise the issue. I understand the negative impact on the workers concerned if its value has gone down to 50% of what the wage was. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Maxwell  \"This Budget builds up our resilience and will help us to adapt at a time of historic challenge for our economy.\" That was what the then Minister for Finance, Pascal Donohoe, told the House last October. That budget still raised day-to-day spending in 2026 by over 6%. That is lower than the 8% to 9% increase in the past few years, with a slower increase intended to protect the foreign investment-focused economy from US trade policies. Last year's budget, with its business and job focus, was needed. What we have heard since, however, is that it does relatively little for low-income earners and other workers, including those who earn too much to qualify for welfare payments but too little to significantly benefit from the higher 40% tax bracket. These workers feel that these adjustments fail to help with them housing and living costs. Can we argue for wider tax credits and perhaps the creation of a middle tax band, rather than just pushing up the 40% entry point, year on year? These people who get up every day to go out and better their lives and those of their families need to feel they are getting reward for their work and not feel that staying at home and claiming benefits is worth more. Can we work over the summer months to bring forward a progressive budget for workers in 2027? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Last year's budget was one of five budgets and people need to realise that. We were strong on infrastructure in the first year, which was the right thing to do because if we do not invest in infrastructure now, it does not get completed any time soon. That was why we had to do that. Of course, disability featured strongly, as did supports for children and housing, which is the number one priority. We will be examining the full range of supports we can give to families in what is a very pressurised environment in terms of the cost-of-living pressures. Obviously, part of that is the tax framework and I have no doubt but that the various Deputies and political parties that make up the three pillars of the Government will bring forward proposals following consultation with their members and consider the most effective way of giving workers a break. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Claire Kerrane  I have just attended a press conference held by my colleague, Kathleen Funchion MEP, Patricia Carey, the special advocate for survivors, and two survivors who spoke at the conference and who are excluded from the mother and baby institutions payment scheme. It is hard to look at a survivor in his 70s who recounted the abuse that he faced when bordered out and that he lived with for so many years of his childhood. The other survivor was from Temple Hill, one of the institutions excluded and an institution that I have referenced in this House many times. We have a pot of \u20ac800 million for this institutional payment scheme. Some \u20ac78 million has been spent and we are two and a half years into a five-year scheme. Can the scheme now be expanded, as the special advocate has looked for, to include those survivors who have been excluded? One of the survivors said today they feel that from the State, it is a case of, \"We're sorry, but not that sorry.\" There are so many survivors excluded from the scheme. Can we please look to expand it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I was not at the press conference, which the Deputy said was attended by Kathleen Funchion and Patricia Carey. As I said earlier, it is not that there is a pot. There is no pot anywhere. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Claire Kerrane  Some \u20ac800 million was set aside. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  A scheme was outlined and there were estimates as to what it would cost. It is not as if there is a pot of money over there. We have, over the years, supported different categories of people in terms of redress relating to specific areas. Industrial schools were the most significant and over \u20ac1 billion was allocated at that time. That was just the financial support but there was much more to it, including counselling, educational support and housing support. We continue to keep issues under review. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Claire Kerrane  These people got nothing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donna McGettigan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donna McGettigan  Trolley figures at University Hospital Limerick, UHL, to this point of the year in 2025 were 9,446. To date in 2026, the figure is 9,341, including today's figures. The figures are down 1% on last year, and with the new bed block having little impact. We and the Taoiseach know that more must be done in the mid-west, and in Clare, in particular.  Talking of the new block, I will bring up the Johnston family. As the Taoiseach knows, Aoife Johnston lost her life in UHL after waiting for 13 hours for sepsis treatment. There was a proposal that the new 96-bed block at UHL would be memorialised in Aoife's memory. Letters were exchanged with Aoife's family and the family had selected photos and poems to be incorporated in the memorial. There was then radio silence. Much to the hurt and distress of the family, the new block was then opened without consultation with the family. This was even more distressing for Aoife's dad, James, who was in the final months of his life. The family has been disrespected in every way, and they want to know when or if there will be a statutory inquiry into Aoife's death, as requested by the family. Unfortunately, that will come too late for Aoife's dad. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I met the Johnston family. What happened to Aoife was extremely and profoundly difficult and traumatic for the family. It should not have happened and the HSE has apologised. The Minister has met the family. There was an investigation and examination of it, which yielded a lot in terms of what went wrong. I will speak to the Minister. I did not realise there were issues around the naming of that new block. I will talk to the Minister about that to see if we can get that rectified. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  I acknowledge the devastating tragedy on Burrow Beach in north Dublin at the weekend when a 15-year-old teenager sadly lost her life. My thoughts are with her parents, family and friends and the wider community. I want to respect the family's wish for privacy as they grieve their daughter. Ar dheis D\u00e9 go raibh a h-anam d\u00edlis.  This tragedy raises a serious public concern that we cannot ignore which is affecting areas in north Dublin and across Ireland. Summer is arriving earlier and lasting longer each year. In that context, the current seasonal pattern on the basis of which lifeguards are provided by councils is not acceptable. The reality is that weather patterns are changing. Beaches are now packed as early as March and as late as October during hot spells. Will the Government examine a national protocol for weather-triggered beach safety responses in conjunction with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, the Coast Guard and all the hardworking men and women of our emergency services? If a proactive approach can save even one life, surely we have a responsibility to act. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising what is a very sad situation. It is devastating for the family to lose such a beautiful young daughter in circumstances that no one can comprehend. It was a wonderful day. Everyone headed to the beach and the unthinkable happened.  In terms of the emergency preparedness group, risk assessments and the idea of a national protocol that could be triggered in anticipation of a change in weather of the kind we have experienced this week, which has been relatively sudden and quite dramatic in its impact. The Deputy makes a fair point. I will ask the emergency group to consider it. I will come back to the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  The Government introduced the Re-Turn scheme. Since 2024, that scheme has made \u20ac103 million on unredeemed deposits. That is \u20ac103 million of citizens' money resting in the scheme's account, most of it permanently. The operator of the Re-Turn scheme also made money through the sale of aluminium cans that we collected for it. It also gets money from the producers of the drinks, but still refuses to pay the shops that handle those cans in the first instance. This is like a tax, except that it does not go towards paying for hospitals, education and housing. Instead, the money goes to the company involved and to its CEO's salary, details of which that company refuses to publish.  The Government's scheme has given rise to another mess and a new phenomenon, namely bin-raiding or bin-scavenging. In the name of cleaning up the country, the Government has incentivised people to dump the contents of bins onto the streets. This is costing Dublin City Council \u20ac500,000 per year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  That is incredible. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  Will the Government look to reform or end this shambolic scheme? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  In many respects, the scheme, which was introduced by the then Minister, Eamon Ryan, has had a strong impact in the context of recycling and so on. There have been positives to the scheme. There is no doubt about that. We keep all schemes under review. Bin-scavenging needs to be examined more in terms of scale, prevalence and how we deal with it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Erin McGreehan  We have a problem. I am deeply concerned that our health service is falling behind when it comes to access to advanced cancer treatments, modern medicine and orphan drugs. Science innovation, as the Taoiseach knows, is moving at an extraordinary pace. New oncology medicines are helping people to live longer and survive cancer. In the context of diseases that once involved devastating outcomes, people now retain a far better quality of life after treatment. However, in Ireland, access depends far too often on whether people have private health insurance. This is not the health system we want. It is not the health system Sl\u00e1intecare envisioned either. We are increasingly seeing a two-tier system in cancer care. If people have private cover, they can often access new treatments earlier. On the other hand, those who rely on the public system may face delays and fewer options. I accept that more money is going into access to drugs than ever before. However, the next cancer strategy has to keep pace with science. The reimbursement schemes have to improve. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising what is a pertinent and important issue. There is no question but that medicines are advancing at a rapid pace. In the context of therapeutics and more generally in the area of oncology, there are new drugs, perhaps every five years in some instances. Health systems all over the world are struggling to keep pace with the rapidity of change. Thankfully, survival rates relating to cancer are increasing all round because of the advances that have been made.  I have engaged in discussions with the Minister on this matter. Working with the national cancer control programme, we need to look at how we can deal with the rapidity and volume of new drugs coming on stream. Orphan drugs, which may not relate to cancer alone and which may be used to treat a range of other conditions, are going through similar technology assessments. The process is taking a long time. We need the co-operation of the companies involved in terms of dealing sensibly and practically with this, but there is no doubt that it is a growing issue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Sherlock. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Our public cancer centres are good. The Deputy is making a point about private access to medicine and new drugs. That is where the differential happens. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marie Sherlock  What exactly did the Taoiseach mean when he said migration has hugely impacted homelessness? When people hear that, they think the Taoiseach is in some way trying to minimise or dismiss the problem that is affecting more than 12,500 people in Dublin and thousands more who are couch-surfing, who are suffering and who do not have homes at this time. The people coming to my clinic are both Irish born and individuals who have made their lives here. Their stories are harrowing. The family of a Dublin Bus driver are being forced to live in emergency accommodation. A customs officer - someone who came here from another country many years ago and who wants to get citizenship - has received a notice to quit. These are real people with real jobs. We need to hear that the Taoiseach's sympathy and understanding are as much with Irish people who are homeless as it is with those who come to this country to make their lives here, and that action will be taken accordingly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That is a fair point except, but we all need to be honest about it. We need to understand the problem and the challenge. When I refer to migration, I am not blaming anyone. I am simply stating the fact that more than 50% - it is even higher in the Dublin area - are non-Irish citizens. That is just the reality. The composition of homelessness has changed. That is all I am saying. That realisation then informs different responses. When, for example, we came forward with the exemptions for developments in gardens and so on, our proposal was lampooned. However, that proposal could provide a solution for a certain group of people. Everything that increases supply will help us to deal with this matter. Some Europeans who have come here have an entitlement to emergency homes without being entitled to local authority houses or social housing. There are issues here.  The Deputy can attack us for even mentioning what I referred to. She cannot attack us just for mentioning the unmentionable. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We need to understand the composition of homelessness. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Aird. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It is much different from what it was ten years ago----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Time is up, Taoiseach "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----but we still have to support those in emergency accommodation. That is what I am saying. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"William Aird","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy William Aird  The fuel allowance scheme is a critical support for many pensioners who are on limited incomes. I acknowledge that must be clear eligibility criteria in respect of payments of this nature. However, an inconsistency in the current system has been brought to my attention. In the case of a pensioner whose adult child has moved back into the family home, if that child is not dependent and is working, the pensioner is deemed ineligible for the fuel allowance under the current rules. At the same time, an eligible person can rent a room to a stranger and earn up to \u20ac14,000 per year under the rent-a-room scheme without it affecting their eligibility for the fuel allowance. In the context of the housing crisis, the Taoiseach and I know of many cases where adult children have had to move back in with their elderly parents. It is unfair that these families are being penalised. I ask that this matter be reviewed in order to ensure pensioners will not be disadvantaged because they are providing accommodation to their children. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  This is a complex matter, particular as it relates to those who are dependent. Where would the Deputy draw the line in devising a scheme for fuel allowance? It could be broadened exponentially. We have already expanded it to those on the working family payment. Approximately 470,000 people are now entitled to the fuel allowance. We have expanded it significantly from where it was.  I will raise the point the Deputy made with the Minister for Social Protection, but it is not easy. The Deputy is introducing the idea that people working in a house would be entitled to the fuel allowance. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"William Aird","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy William Aird  No, I am talking about a person who had to come home. The individual involved is a nurse. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I know, but that person would be working. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, we do not allow back and forth. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  How can we differentiate between----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  We do not allow it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"William Aird","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy William Aird  Two thousand euro a month for a house in Portlaoise. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I hear the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, the rules are the rules. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  I again with to raise the issue of the shortage of GPs again, particularly in the context of Laois. There is a shortage of GPs in the main towns across the county. There is a problem for medical card and non-medical card patients, including families with children.  In the past few days two families tried to get a GP in Portlaoise, Portarlington and Mountmellick. One parent had to take time off work to go to a practice in Dublin. People are going to the accident and emergency unit with common illnesses for treatment. That is what is happening. There is a public health issue here. We have had a huge population increase. A HSE reply of one sentence stated that the HSE was not in a position to advise on the number of private GP practices providing primary care in County Laois. I am not blaming the HSE but because of the system, we rely solely on the private ones and that kind of an answer does not suffice. It cannot be a hands-off approach.  I am aware a strategic review is under way. That review is supposed to be considering directly employed GPs. Where there are areas of serious population growth such as County Laois, I ask that the Government employ a few directly employed GPs to provide care. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  The Minister was down last week. We had the opening of the accident and emergency unit but it is getting clogged with people who should be getting treated in primary care. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Basically, we are spending about \u20ac1 billion annually in general practice to support patients. Some 43% of the population now has access to free GP care and Government investment has significantly increased. There is a strategic review of general practice currently under way, and I presume it will take on board some of the issues the Deputy has raised in terms of growth areas in population and the need for greater access to GPs more generally. There has also been increased access to pharmacy capacities in respect of some conditions. There are about eight conditions pharmacists can now diagnose and prescribe treatment for. We have to become more flexible in how we enable people to access primary care services. We have invested significantly in general practice. Under the 2019 GP agreement, an extra \u20ac211 million was put in and a further \u20ac130 million under the 2023 GP agreement. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"An tOrd Gn\u00f3 - Order of Business"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/dbsect_13","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Appointment of Ordinary Members of An Coimisi\u00fan Toghch\u00e1in: Motion","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_13","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy James Browne)  I move:  That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann, noting that on 21st April, 2026, the Government nominated Mr. Lee Komito and Mr. Ross Frenett for appointment by the President to be Ordinary members of An Coimisi\u00fan Toghch\u00e1in , recommends that, pursuant to section 9(9) of the Electoral Reform Act 2022, Mr. Lee Komito and Mr. Ross Frenett be appointed by the President to be Ordinary members of An Coimi\u00fan Toghch\u00e1in . "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Appointment of Ordinary Members of An Coimisi\u00fan Toghch\u00e1in: Motion"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/dbsect_14","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Twelfth Report of the Standing Committee of Selection: Motion","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_14","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Mary Butler)  I move:  That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann, pursuant to Standing Order 33, and with effect from 27th May, 2026, approves the Twelfth Report of the Standing Committee of Selection, copies of which were laid before D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann on 22nd May, 2026. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Twelfth Report of the Standing Committee of Selection: Motion"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/dbsect_15","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna - Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna - Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/dbsect_16","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Cabinet Committees","counts":{"speechCount":54,"speakerCount":20},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/dbsect_15","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","showAs":"Ceisteanna - Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_16","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"S\u00e9amus McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Geoghegan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_16.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I propose to take Question Nos. 1 to 24, inclusive, together.  The Cabinet committee on infrastructure met last week on Monday, 18 May. The Cabinet committee works to drive infrastructure delivery and implementation of the national development plan. From the start, we have set out our ambition to deliver a step change in Ireland\u2019s infrastructure. The revised national development plan sets out unprecedented investment of over \u20ac275 billion for critical infrastructure across the country to 2035, including an overall investment of \u20ac112 billion up to 2030. This includes funding for major infrastructural projects in transport, water and energy, which will support our continued development, notably in enabling the delivery of much needed housing at scale, but also to improve competitiveness and sustainability. In the coming years, we will see over \u20ac24 billion NDP funding invested in key transport programmes across our country, along with \u20ac12.2 billion for the water sector to support water quality, rural water services, unlock housing and upgrade water and wastewater infrastructure. In energy, the landmark investment of up to \u20ac18.9 billion approved by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities in its price review 6, supported by Government investment of \u20ac3.5 billion equity, will allow us to upgrade Ireland\u2019s existing electricity infrastructure and deliver critical new infrastructure to meet future demand. This is the largest single investment in the country\u2019s electricity network in its history.  Large, once-in-a-generation projects, such as MetroLink and the greater Dublin drainage scheme, are advancing at pace having secured planning, and they are now moving with momentum to enable construction to commence in the next few years. To ensure we get maximum value out of the investment we are making, we are reforming our delivery mechanisms so that these critical programmes are brought to fruition as efficiently and as quickly as possible.  The Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan sets out 30 high-impact reforms to speed and scale up delivery of homes, roads, public transport, water and wastewater plants and energy infrastructure. It includes legislative reforms to balance individual rights with the public interest, measures to simplify regulation and consenting systems, and to cut administrative burdens and red tape. Strong progress is being made and impacts are becoming clear. Twenty-six weeks were saved on the Waterford wastewater treatment plant due to measures implemented to accelerate projects through consenting processes. System changes have also resulted in Uisce \u00c9ireann changing the project commissioning of the greater Dublin drainage scheme, resulting in a saving of 12 months. Timelines for marine area consents are now reduced by 30% for bodies classified as \"fit and proper\". Further progress will be made over the current quarter.  The Critical Infrastructure Bill will fast-track the approval processes for strategically important projects and the scale of fees for environmental judicial reviews will give a clearer cost framework for applicants and the taxpayer. A large number of measures are being implemented to continue our reform agenda. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Our economy is strong and our population is growing, and we are building a robust infrastructural backbone to support this. We are seizing the opportunity now to invest for the benefit of current and future generations. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"S\u00e9amus McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy S\u00e9amus McGrath  I thank the Taoiseach. I raise the issue of Cork BusConnects project. As the Taoiseach knows, Cork is a growing city but every day people are facing long commutes, unreliable journey times, whether that is in a private car or on public transport, and we have roads that simply cannot take additional capacity. BusConnects offers a real choice but unfortunately it is almost stagnant in terms of its delivery and implementation. If it is moving, it is at a glacial pace. It was first mooted in July 2021 with the first concept consultation. It is now almost five years later and the process has been extremely frustrating. I seriously question the use of the \u20ac75 million the NTA has spent on BusConnects to date. It needs to be driven towards delivery and I ask the Taoiseach to please take this matter up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  From my work on the infrastructure committee, it is clear that Government is putting major investment and the right frameworks in place, particularly through the work the Minister, Deputy Chambers, has done on infrastructure legislation; the work the Minister, Deputy Browne, is doing in housing delivery; and that of the Taoiseach himself and his Department. The Government is now providing a huge amount of money to the likes of Uisce \u00c9ireann over the next five years, which is a very significant level of investment. However, concerns continue to arise around whether the organisation currently has the operational capacity, technical expertise and the management structures needed to deliver these projects. Will the Taoiseach outline what further steps are being taken to strengthen delivery? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shane Moynihan  We have raised on the floor of the House previously the importance attached to DART+ South West for my constituency. I am pleased that in the interactions I have had with the Minister for Transport on the floor of the D\u00e1il that he has indicated a willingness to try to bring this forward for delivery ahead of the expected timeframe. I ask again for the Taoiseach's support in ensuring that does happen. It is pivotal that it happens for my constituency and the rapidly growing communities in Lucan, Clondalkin, Adamstown and Clonburris, and that in the interim sufficient bus services are put in place to make sure we give people the option so they do not have to rely on the private car. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I brought up the issue before of Scoil Bhr\u00edde in Shelagh. It is a national school that needs further accommodation. Many parents have been on to me and I have spoken to the school principal and many staff members. The Taoiseach has corresponded but we still do not have the timelines that are necessary and the promises from the planning and building unit, so I request that that would happen. It is a school that would have had to close today. I am requesting that the Taoiseach would add to my voice on the need for Uisce \u00c9ireann to deal with the issue of water supply outages in that area and the significant issues that exist. A meeting is needed with Uisce \u00c9ireann. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  On 13 May, the Irish Independent reported that DLR Properties Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of D\u00fan Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, but which, incredibly, councillors have no control over and no say in whatsoever, put up for sale on the private market land in Cherrywood, which is zoned for more than 1,000 units of housing. It is shocking that the State - the only political representation on it is Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael - is selling off land that could be used for housing in the midst of a housing crisis. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  It is hard to think of community infrastructure more important than our postal services. It, therefore, makes no sense whatsoever that the sorting office for Dublin 16 is being moved out of Dublin 16, from Edmondstown to Lucan. It will be a disaster for workers who have built their lives around the fact that they live near where they work, and it will result in massively worsened postal services because the letters and packets will get stuck on the M50.  The routes will not get finished and, potentially, people will have to go all the way to Lucan to pick up their packages. Will the Taoiseach join me in urging An Post to sit down and meet representatives of the community and reverse this disastrous decision? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  A short drive from here is the Poolbeg area. The Irish Glass Bottle site is expected to have about 10,000 residents at peak when it is completed but there is a major traffic congestion problem. If the Taoiseach tried to go there this afternoon, he would experience it. We are waiting on the Poolbeg Luas. There was a report saying it could be delivered by 2030 and I want to understand why it will not be. Why is it not in the national development plan? What will the Government do to accelerate infrastructure in this area, which badly needs it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Geoghegan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Geoghegan  That is two for Poolbeg because I will also raise the extension of the Luas to Poolbeg. I can tell Deputy Hayes that I have had engagement with the NTA and the project is progressing at pace. Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, hopes to go to public consultation early in the new year. I re-emphasise the need for that project. It is not a very large project - a couple of kilometres - but it would make a difference to an area where there will be 10,000 people living and potentially an additional 10,000 people working. TII has confirmed that there is a demand for the extension. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Deputy Geoghegan might communicate with Deputy Hayes on that one. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Geoghegan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Geoghegan  I did. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  A woman attended a public meeting I held last week and she spoke about her son being out of school for two years. He is at home and is smashing things up. She has had to give up her job, as is often the case with people whose children have additional needs. We need a second special school in Dublin 15 and in Dublin West. Cork, Limerick and Blanchardstown have comparable populations, yet we have one special school whereas Limerick and Cork have numerous. This is a recommendation of the task force. How will this infrastructure be provided? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  DART+ South West will bring DART services through Clondalkin, Lucan and Adamstown. Construction was expected to start in 2025, but it has been delayed to 2030 at the earliest. This project would enable 20,000 passengers from Clondalkin, Lucan and Adamstown to go each way every hour. The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, said the delay was interlinked with another project. I do not believe that is the case. It is ultimately down to funding from central government to the NTA. Will the Taoiseach confirm this? Will the Government prioritise the construction of DART+ South West? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  The Government is spending \u20ac5 million on building a temporary platform at Adare for the Ryder Cup, yet there is a \u20ac35 million missing link between that temporary platform and Limerick Colbert Station. As a result, the Government is spending \u20ac5 million on a temporary platform that will only be able to go from Adare to Limerick Junction, bypassing Limerick city, which is a 15-minute drive away. Should the link not be funded - the \u20ac35 million Kerry curve - to allow services into Limerick city? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  This week, Knock airport will celebrate its 40th anniversary. It is a huge milestone for Mayo and the wider western region. I congratulate Joe Gilmore and all the staff and board of Knock airport. At a time when many thought it was impossible, Monsignor James Horan showed extraordinary vision and determination to make Knock airport a reality. He took the \"Build it and they will come\" approach and history has proven him right. Thousands of jobs, tourism opportunities and vital international connectivity have come to the region. Will the Government improve connectivity around the airport? The western rail corridor---- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy left out the main supporters, the people who made it happen. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Taoiseach, we do not have time. I call Deputy O'Rourke. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  I raise the unscheduled water outages in Ashbourne, County Meath. They are hugely frustrating and increasingly common. People who have lived in the area for decades say it has never been worse. There is a variety of issues: interruptions at the treatment plant, reduced levels in the reservoirs and problems with pumps. However, the main issue is the large and ageing network that has not been invested in. To add insult to injury, Uisce \u00c9ireann's communication is a disgrace. What is the Taoiseach doing to address these outages in Ashbourne? Will he advance Sinn F\u00e9in's Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2025 to hold Uisce \u00c9ireann to account? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere  Will the Government establish new designated parking bays at motorway junctions to support car-pooling and curtail rising costs for commuters? The basic infrastructure to support car-pooling does not exist in many parts of the country. Motorists are already using motorway junctions as informal meeting points. They pull in on hard shoulders in Paulstown, Mullinavat, Castledermot, Knocktopher and Danesfort. Provision of spaces with safe access, lighting and basic security would immediately reduce dangerous stopping practices and lower commuting costs and congestion. The solution would play into existing Government policy aimed at reducing emissions, tackling congestion and supporting more sustainable travel. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  Iarnr\u00f3d \u00c9ireann cannot organise a cup of tea to be sold on its commuter trains from Galway or Sligo but it can incinerate \u20ac50 million on a failed IT system. This is another disgusting waste of money in our country. You might as well have loaded that \u20ac50 million onto a bonfire and set it alight. Does the Taoiseach understand the time it took for those workers to earn the income to pay the tax that has been frittered away? This would not be tolerated in any other walk of life. Will the Taoiseach make sure that the individual responsible for this is removed from their job? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  The new battery electric DART to Wicklow town was first promised in 2019 by then Minister, Shane Ross. His expectation was that Wicklow would see that electric DART by 2023. In 2021, a local Government backbencher stated that the carriages would be operational by 2025. In 2022, the former Minister, Stephen Donnelly, announced that the electric DART would be operational by 2026. In February 2025, the date was pushed back to 2028. Last year, it was pushed back again to 2029. It was announced last month that Irish Rail had gone out to tender for this battery electric DART extension. Will the Taoiseach confirm that it is still the case that the DART will be operational by 2029? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  I raise Carrabane National School in County Galway. Two weeks ago, I visited the school. The conditions are shocking. There are prefab buildings quite literally falling apart. People have been waiting 20 years for their new school building but it has been delayed again and again by the Department. It is on the priority list but people still do not have clarity as to when it will go to construction. Local families and children should not have to put up with this. They deserve an awful lot better. Will the Taoiseach ensure that this project gets the go-ahead and is prioritised? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  It is no surprise that I am discussing energy costs again. The frustration I have today is that the Climate Change Advisory Council again warned the climate and energy committee that Ireland remained exposed to global fossil fuel shocks because of renewable roll-out. At the same time, I have been contacted regarding a proposed infrastructure crossing charge from an already built solar farm being applied by a semi-State body - an unpublished charging structure of \u20ac20,000 per megawatt. It is a ridiculous amount to be giving to a renewable project that goes up to \u20ac465,000. That end cost will go to the Irish public. CI\u00c9 needs to be investigated. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach has 21 Members to respond to, please. He has 21 answers to give, believe it or not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Did 21 speak? I thank them all.  Deputy McGrath began on Cork BusConnects. I am familiar with it and may have been responsible for some of the delays in terms of the consultation required with residents and communities. The initial preferred routes that the NTA produced created huge anxiety and stress for many families across the board and we all had to intervene to try to get common sense. Then, lo and behold, there were changed routes. There is an issue with how BusConnects does that. I have had that issue with BusConnects. Very often in the beginning of the process, you get the worst case scenario put out there. People get really stressed and then, lo and behold, a new solution is arrived at. One wonders whether the new solution was in the bottom drawer all along. I do not want to be too unreasonable but as public representatives, I think we have all experienced that. Sometimes, there is no need to create all that stress.  Legislative capacity has now been given to the NTA to be the body with overall responsibility for the roll-out of BusConnects in Cork. It is making progress, at long last. To be fair, there was a lot of consultation and many residents' organisations and communities had issues with residential amenities, potential CPOs, all of that. There is an evaluation to be done and lessons to be learned from how that happened. However, I take the Deputy's point. It was 2021 and it is now 2026.  Deputy McCormack spoke of Uisce \u00c9ireann, accountability and so on. There is an issue there and many public representatives are not happy with the level of accountability of Uisce \u00c9ireann.  It is neither a semi-State in terms of D\u00e1il questions and so on, but there needs to be a quicker response to public representatives, particularly Members of D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann, who are elected by the people, vote money in respect of Uisce \u00c9ireann and need a more simplified and straightforward avenue of communication on various projects and issues, and also on the acceleration of projects. The Minister, Deputy Chambers, has spoken to the Deputy. There has been a lot of progress made on some of the big projects, but we need to get more on the towns-based ones in terms of wastewater treatment solutions, and even more than that.  In response to Deputy Shane Moynihan, I am fully behind DART+ South West. I have spoken to the Minister, Deputy Chambers, and to the Minister, Deputy O'Brien. I got very positive feedback that it would be accelerated beyond what was originally given, and I am confident that funding will be found. My view is that the funding will be there to enable DART+ South West to happen because a lot of housing will depend on it as well. All of the development plans along that route envisage very substantial housing projects but they cannot happen if DART+ South West does not happen, so I think it will happen. In the interim, I hear what the Deputy is saying in respect of bus services being advanced.  In response to Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa on Scoil Bhr\u00edde, he is persistent. I will talk to the Minister for education. There is a broader issue around capital, but I will raise specific schools with the Minister. The Deputy has raised that school with me and I will talk to the Minister for education in respect of that.  The Deputy said there was an Uisce \u00c9ireann connection to it----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  The water is out. There are a huge number of issues, including with pumps. If the Taoiseach could follow up on this, a meeting is needed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  We do not have time for these things. We have to be fair to other Members. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  In response to Deputy Boyd Barrett, I presume that the 1,000 housing units are being sold on with a view to development for housing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Why sell it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Sorry, Taoiseach. This is Taoiseach's Questions; there is no back and forth. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  It is publicly owned. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  It was a rhetorical question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I asked that rhetorically. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I know, but rhetorical or not, will the Taoiseach get on with it, please? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I cannot help the----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Well, I can, so keep going. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  ----- energetic responses from Deputy Boyd Barrett. He is engaged anyway. He is on every word I am saying, which is important, too. I am not being facetious about the matter, but I presume and hope that is the case and I will engage with D\u00fan Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council to make sure that it will go for housing and that the 1,000 houses will be built because we need those 1,000 houses as well.  In response to Deputy Paul Murphy, there are various reforms in An Post. I have talked to An Post. The Deputy has raised the issue. It probably has its reasons it is doing what it is doing, and it remains to be seen whether that will be as disastrous as the Deputy suggests, but I will engage with An Post on the issue.  Deputy Hayes raised the issue of 10,000 homes in Poolbeg and that he needed a Poolbeg Luas. That was followed quickly by Deputy Geoghegan, who said that it was happening. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  That would be an update. It is not in the national development plan, NDP. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It is happening anyway, but Deputy Hayes said that it was not happening at all and the Deputy Geoghegan said it was. The Taoiseach now believes that it may be happening. It is important. It is a huge housing development, and we obviously need public transport to service it and the Luas would be an outstanding facilitation of that.  In response to Deputy Coppinger, I will talk to the Minister. If it is recommended by the task force that we need a second special school in the area, I would support of that. I will see whether the Minister can advance that or not.  In response to Deputy Ward, I think I have dealt comprehensively with DART+ South West. I am supportive of it and we are making good progress on it. The funding is there and will be there for it.  In response to Deputy Sheehan, he should acknowledge the extraordinary funding that is going into Adare on all fronts because of the Ryder Cup. There is a lot of investment across the board in lots of services, roads----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  We need the train to connect to Limerick. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----transport, rail. I do not know if the Deputy would be playing golf there, but Adare is doing well, and that is no harm for that region either.  In response to the Deputy Conway-Walsh, I was very disappointed that she never mentioned Fianna F\u00e1il. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  I just could not bring myself to do it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Fianna F\u00e1il built Knock airport - everybody knows that - with Monsignor Horan, and she could not mention Fianna F\u00e1il. She could not mention Charles Haughey. Monsignor Horan embraced him when he went there to dig the old sod. Everyone said we were stupid, all of the media and the Opposition. They all said that it was nonsense and asked how bad and stupid could we get. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  The Taoiseach is turning into Bertie with these answers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Lo and behold, 40 years later, it is still doing very well and the Deputy could not mention Fianna F\u00e1il. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  I only had 30 seconds. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Deputy O'Rourke asked about Ashbourne and the treatment plant. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  It was water. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We have put huge investment into Uisce \u00c9ireann. It is up to Uisce \u00c9ireann to get on with it and start delivering. It has no issue with funding now and that is clear.  In response to Deputy Cleere, it is an interesting proposal and idea. I will talk to TII. It would be responsible for that, but I hear what he is saying. Car-pooling is something that we are encouraging. We need to give capacity to enable that to happen.  In response to Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  Some \u20ac50 million was wasted. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Yes. I will talk to the Minister to get behind that to get the full details around that IT system and what the issue has been, as well for full accountability in respect of that project.  Deputy Whitmore asked about the DART to Wicklow town. She gave a long timeline and then she said at the end that it had gone out for tender. If it has gone out for tender, we are in business, and I think it will progress. The precise timeline depends on the tender process and so on, but I think it is going to happen, notwithstanding the long lead-in time that the Deputy outlined there.  In response to Deputy O'Hara, I will raise the national school in Carrabane with the Minister.  In response to Deputy Heneghan, I need the background to the issue from him, but I hear what he is saying. We should not be exacerbating the costs for what are practical and important solutions to our energy crisis. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  It is amazing what you can do when you put your mind to it. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Cabinet Committees"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/dbsect_17","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Northern Ireland","counts":{"speechCount":18,"speakerCount":11},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/dbsect_15","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","showAs":"Ceisteanna - Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brendan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","memberCode":"Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cormac Devlin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_17.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  We will cut the Taoiseach's reply to a minute and a half to stay on time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I have so much to say. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The remainder will be read into the record. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I propose to take Questions Nos. 25 to 37, inclusive, together.  Our programme for Government sets out an ambitious agenda for building our shared island backed by our \u20ac2 billion commitment to the shared island fund out to 2035. We are forging ahead with the investment and co-operation agenda across all sectors.  In November, the Government made a funding commitment of over \u20ac50 million from the shared island fund to resource ten new island-wide programmes over the next five years, including on media, heritage, emergency management, greenways and air transport.  In December, the Minister for enterprise and employment and I announced six projects under the \u20ac20 million shared island sustainability capital grant scheme, supporting six firms across the island and leveraging over \u20ac60 million in private capital investment for decarbonisation.  Some \u20ac2 million was announced by the Minister for foreign affairs under the shared island civic society fund for 64 cross-Border community projects and a further call for applications opened in April.  In January, the Minister for Education and Youth and her Northern Ireland counterpart announced the shared island teachers research exchange, providing educators with a digital community platform for professional learning and collaboration, and in April announced the expansion of the shared island creative connections programme to additional schools.  In February, we announced over \u20ac2.5 million for 13 projects that enhance visitor experiences along the Wild Atlantic Way and Causeway Coastal Route as part of the shared island tourism brand project.  Also in February, the Minister for agriculture, food, fisheries and the marine and his Northern Ireland counterpart launched the shared island cross-Border co-operation programme on tackling bovine TB on a regional basis.  In March, the Minister for justice convened a conference in Drogheda, with policing, education and social care representatives from North and South, in co-operation with Northern Ireland partners, on tackling domestic and gender-based violence.  Also in March, the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht announced capital funding of \u20ac6.2 million for shared island projects to support the Irish language and Ulster Scots culture, heritage and language.  In addition, five new shared island funding calls have opened since the start of the year: the Shared Home Place: Diaspora Voices initiative to bring together Irish people abroad, from all traditions, to explore shared heritage and place-based connections; Culture Ireland\u2019s new shared island touring, production and platforms fund to support showcasing, international touring and co-productions by artists from across the island; the Arts Council\u2019s shared island touring scheme to support cross-Border productions and island-wide creative partnerships; a fourth programme on female entrepreneurship under the shared island enterprise scheme; and a new call as part of the creative climate action fund.  Additionally, the shared island research programme continues to provide high-quality evidence and analysis. In December, the T\u00e1naiste and Minister for Finance launched a new annual ESRI report series, entitled \"Assessing economic trends in Ireland and Northern Ireland\". On 2 April, an ESRI shared island report was published on disability rates across the island of Ireland, the first such analysis. ESRI shared island reports on health inequalities, gender-based violence, regional productivity and regional income disparities are in preparation for publication in the second half of the year.  Through the shared island initiative, the Government is investing in strategic all-island co-operation, developing our partnerships with the Executive, including through the North-South Ministerial Council, and with the UK Government.   Additional information not given on the floor of the House   We are fostering deeper connections and mutual understanding across all communities and traditions of this island. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brendan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","memberCode":"Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brendan Smith  I thank the Taoiseach for his reply. The progressive shared island initiative is bringing to fruition many cross-Border and all-Ireland projects that many of us thought would never be realised. The National Economic and Social Council, the ESRI and some universities have been enabled to carry out very substantial comprehensive studies through shared island funding. Through the office of An Taoiseach and in various parliamentary questions, I have asked if the National Economic and Social Council will undertake a study of the challenges facing the central Border region, North and South, and also identify the opportunities for further economic development. I have been a representative in the southern Ulster counties for some time. I saw the challenges with the currency fluctuations and the movement of trade that devastated our local economy over many years. We should be prepared for turbulence in the economy that may arise but that nobody can readily predict. The current geopolitical uncertainty clearly shows the economic challenges that can arise from such turbulence.  As the Taoiseach will know, I see at first hand the value and importance of the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement as a representative of southern Ulster counties. Thankfully, we have one economy now - the all-Ireland economy. However, the central Border region of Cavan, Monaghan, Fermanagh, Tyrone and Armagh is vulnerable because it is highly dependent on a small number of particular sectors, such as food, farming, construction products and tourism. We should undertake comprehensive studies to identify the challenges but also the opportunities to ensure our central Border region is not disadvantaged. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cormac Devlin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cormac Devlin  Funding for the shared island initiative - an initiative brought in by the Taoiseach in 2020 - increased by \u20ac1 billion in the last budget, which is very welcome. It has supported a wide range of projects, cultural and community groups and infrastructural projects, which the Taoiseach outlined his reply. As Chair of the Good Friday Agreement committee, I have seen first hand the benefit and improvements it has made and, indeed, the popularity of the funding itself. Some \u20ac100 million of the shared island fund is for a new multi-annual programmes that deepen co-operation and connections across the island. The Taoiseach mentioned sustainable tourism, nature restoration, the important Dublin-Derry airlink service and the shared island media fund. Thirteen new tourism projects were approved under the shared island coast to coast capital investment scheme worth \u20ac2.7 million. In sport, about which I have spoken to the Taoiseach previously, there is \u20ac1.9 million in funding under the shared island civic society fund. The sport element is so important to communities, reconciliation and a greater understanding across the island. It is something that we should be looking to fund further. Hopefully, in the Taoiseach's response, he might outline how best it can be done under the shared island funding. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathal Crowe  The shared island unit has been a major success under the Taoiseach's stewardship. A lot of money, co-operation and good initiatives have taken place. I wish to raise an issue that I hope the Taoiseach will discuss with his counterparts at some point. At the moment, there are 6,445 Irish artefacts held in the British Museum. I know the Taoiseach is very interested in history, as am I. I would not have a major problem if those items were on display. History is a global commodity. I would like to think if I was in London with my kids that they could go into the British Museum and see Irish artefacts. Likewise, we should be able to see arteacts from all over the world. However, most of these are held in archive boxes never to be seen. Some of them at least could be repatriated to Ireland. There could be maybe some dialogue on that. Some of them could be brought to local museums. Some of them have been bought, acquired or looted over the years. It would be good to have dialogue at this point. The Egyptian Government has ongoing dialogue with the British Museum about the Rosetta Stone. I would love to see some dialogue about some of these artefacts. We cannot paint them all with the one brush. From an Irish perspective, I would like some artefacts to be seen globably. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I wish to raise the murder of Seamus Ludlow on 2 May 1976. We are beyond 50 years. We are talking about a family that has been failed. The initial Garda investigation shut up shop within three weeks. The Royal Ulster Constabulary, RUC, provided the names of those believed to be involved back in 1979. We are talking about loyalists and some of them were members of the British Army. They were questioned in 1998 by the RUC. Admissions were made in relation to a number of them being there when the murder happened. We have seen no action over the years. The family have had to go to court. They have been to Europe. The family have not been sufficiently supported. They had a moment of hope with a new investigation but what they discovered was a new witness, who was not even questioned during that investigation, had seen suspicious activity in a car the morning Seamus was found that turned out to be connected to SAS incursion that happened soon after in Omeath. This is not acceptable in any way, shape or form. There is a need for the Minister for justice and Garda Commissioner to meet the family who have been failed for far too long. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  The moniker for the Fianna F\u00e1il Party is the Republican Party. What is the Taoiseach's plan to end partition? There is a huge set of tricky issues here. How do we integrate a health service? How do we think about housing? Property prices are about a half or third in Northern Ireland. How do we think about public transport? How do we think about constitutional changes? It does not seem like there is any planning happening in the Taoiseach's Department. That is a real challenge for many people who believe that should be something that we aim towards. In fact, it is an aim in the Good Friday Agreement with the consent of the communities, North and South. Without a plan, it is almost impossible to convince anyone that will happen, either North or South. How is the Government going to plan for all these public bodies and public services to be integrated in a future united Ireland? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  Nine days ago, hundreds of people marched to Lough Neagh to protest the ecocide of our largest lake. Last year, the EPA published research on 35 lakes in the South. Two thirds are classed as at risk under the water framework directive. Seven important Irish lakes are found to be at high risk of Lough Neagh-type toxic algae blooms, including loughs Derg, Ramor, Sheelin, Sillan, Muckno and Naglack. Lady's Island in Wexford where toxic blue-green algae have all but killed the lake was not included in the research. The EPA said that agricultural diffused population is the most important pressure on most Irish water bodies. It said that phosphorus run-off from pasture-based farming is the most important land-based factor behind algae blooms significantly impacting three quarters of our lakes. The EPA report mentions limiting phosphorus application by farmers, controlling livestock access and safely storing slurry and manure. It recommended creating a harmful algae bloom action plan for Irish lakes. Where is the plan? What is the Government going to do to stop pollution from agriculture devastating more of our lakes like what has happened in Lough Neagh and Lady's Island? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  Stormont is in big trouble. Stormont is in a mess. It is limping on day to day currently. In most of the human indicators in terms of quality of life, the people in the North of Ireland are falling currently. In terms of investment in education, hospital services, children's services and disabilities, money is being reduced on an annual basis. Public services are starting to grind to a halt. There is no doubt that the Sinn F\u00e9in, DUP and Alliance Executive is not delivering for the people but Stormont cannot even agree on budget at the moment it is in such trouble. A large part of this problem is because Stormont cannot raise its own funds. It can only raise about 5% of its own income. Wales can raise 10% and Scotland can raise 20%. I asked the Taoiseach a question a number of years ago in relation to the reform of Stormont. At that stage, the Taoiseach agreed with me that it needs to be reformed but he said it was too close to the next Stormont election to do so. Here we are, one year out from the next Stormont election and no work has been done on reform. This is serious. What can we do to reform so that Stormont functions properly and that it can raise its own funds like the other devolved administrations? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  The North-South interconnector is now delayed until 2031. By Government estimates, it will cost up to \u20ac100 million. To tie back into what I was saying earlier, the semi-State company's own decarbonising strategy is dependent on 80% of renewables. The Taoiseach is aware of CI\u00c9. I did not get to the end of my contribution. On the North-South interconnector and private wires, these two were complementary to each other. The main thing is about taking the stress and strain off the grid while these interconnectors are waiting for connection. I welcome the developments in the Celtic interconnector. There have been some hurdles but there always are going to be with infrastructure. It is moving a lot quicker than the North-South interconnector.  I heard the Taoiseach mention in the House that we need to stop using infrastructure as a political football, worrying about election cycle thinking. If we are going to reduce the entire project cost by using a different method, politicians need to give the real impact of that to their communities. At the end of the day, it is the public and those local households that are going to be paying higher energy costs by these projects being delayed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank all the Deputies for their commentary. Deputy Brendan Smith raised the studies that have been under way by the National Economic and Social Council, NESC, and the ESRI under shared island. There is a range of studies. Never before in the history of the State have we had such a body of research commissioned and completed on the differences between systems in Northern Ireland, be it the health service, education and right across the board, and those in the Republic. There is a very good body of research. The Deputy made a very good suggestion that we would task the NESC with doing a more fundamental economic and social study around the central Border economic corridor. I will bring that idea to the shared island unit and NESC and I will come back to the Deputy on it. It is a positive and constructive idea. There are specific challenges in the area in respect of the regional economic make-up, in terms of farming, food, construction and other areas. We could perhaps design a study for NESC to do on that issue and in that area.  I thank Deputy Cormac Devlin for his role as Chair of the Good Friday committee. He is very much engaged in all of these issues and very much informed about them. It is interesting that, if you take those tourism projects, we have increased passenger traffic on the Dublin-Belfast rail line by 40%. The shops and retailers in the North are doing much better now than they would have been doing if the shared island initiative had not invested in the rail service. This investment has made it an hourly service and, vice versa , people are coming to the Republic more and there are greater connections between people, which is very important. Recently, under the shared island initiative I met people from the west of Ireland involved in knitting and other crafts and there were also people from loyalist east Belfast. Some people from both groups had never been to the other part of the island. For some, it was their first time being in Belfast and for others it was their first time being in Dublin. People talk about unity and all of that, but if we do not increase that level of interaction between people so that they can get to know each other a bit better and understand each other, then we are at nothing.  The Dublin-Derry PSO air service will be funded by the shared island initiative. The Minister of Transport will bring in that public service obligation air service in October of this year. This will be of great value to Derry in particular because the north west has lacked connectivity. The A5 has been snarled in planning and so on. We will have some more announcements under the shared island initiative for a rail service to the north west but it is not as comprehensive as the Dublin-Belfast line, for example. We have done a lot on tourism. The Narrow Water Bridge will transform Carlingford Lough and the Mourne Mountains. That will be completed late next year and it will be a major, iconic manifestation of the investment from the shared island project and initiative.  Deputy Crowe proposed a very interesting idea. He articulated it in a very measured way, unlike other times, but I think he is on to something. I was in France last week and we agreed a project with the French authorities to digitise some Irish archives in France. For example, in Vincennes, there are original letters from Wolfe Tone, including his last letter to the French authorities, asking them to look after his wife and family because he had served the French army in the cause of Ireland. There are also documents relating to Samuel Beckett's role in the French resistance. All of that is in documentation, in French, and sometimes our historians and other interested people do not get access to it. We are going to digitise it and make it available to the public more generally. In terms of Britain, I will follow up on what the Deputy said because he made a very good point. Some of it is artefacts and some of it is archival material. Some of it is online and a lot of people can access it but we could do better in terms of an east-west relationship. Under the UK-Ireland annual summits we now have agreed cultural exchanges. There will be theatrical performances by the Abbey Theatre and others in the UK and vice versa . I take the Deputy's point that there is a lot of stuff buried in archives or storerooms that has not seen the light of day. The real issue is that the Deputy wants access to these artefacts and materials for everybody on the island of Ireland if they are held in Britain. That would be a good first step and then material could be exchanged and sent on loan to various museums and libraries. It is a very good idea and I will pursue it.  I assure Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa that again I will talk to the authorities about the murder of Seamus Ludlow. I do not have the latest details the Deputy has regarding new witnesses and so forth. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I will send them on. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Whether it falls within the legacy framework or not, that is perhaps the best avenue to pursue it. If we can get the legislation completed in Westminster and here, we will. That is an important aspect of it. Even though it happened in 1976 the trauma goes on for the second generation - the grandchildren, cousins and nieces - and the need for closure continues with each succeeding generation.  To Deputy Hayes I would say that the most fundamental prerequisite for the unity of the Irish people is reconciliation. We need to build on relationships and really develop them. We also need reform of the Good Friday Agreement in respect of strand 1, which is about how Stormont works. I said this about three years ago at the Alliance Party's annual dinner. The SDLP announced reform plans. Sinn F\u00e9in is saying it will announce reform plans. The one party that is opposed to reform plans at the moment or does not believe in the need for it is the DUP. That is an important evolution that we would make politics a bit more normal in terms of where we are now in the configuration of parties and a wider spectrum of views at the moment than may have been there at the time of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, so there has been a significant degree of evolution. Fianna F\u00e1il was very much involved in the Good Friday Agreement and the Downing Street Declaration. It is a passion for the party and something we are deeply committed to. We have left our mark, along with others, in respect of the major milestones. The shared island initiative is probably one of the most significant initiatives since the Good Friday Agreement that is dealing with the practical connections between people North and South. It is having an impact on people but we do need reconciliation in the Wolfe Tone tradition.  Deputy Murphy raised the issue of Lough Neagh and the destruction of many lakes. The nitrates directive will deal with regional plans for water quality across the country. Through the shared island initiative we have supported projects that are trying to deal with Lough Neagh. We have met with the Ministers in the North. They are very frustrated and worried about their capacity to deal with it because of how far the destruction of the habitat and the water quality of the lake has gone. We contributed to trying to help them to deal with the issue. More broadly in terms of lakes across the country and the EPA's work, the Minister for agriculture and the Minister for housing, in the context of the derogation, over the next three years will be implementing significant action plans on water quality throughout the country. There is an agricultural dimension to it, of that there is no doubt.  I think I half answered Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn's question with my response to Deputy Hayes. I do believe we need to reform strand 1. The British Government was reluctant to do so for quite some time. However, the Northern Ireland Secretary has now invited parties to make submissions. I have outlined which parties are prepared to make submissions. They can raise some funding themselves but choose not to, as the Deputy knows. There was a recent report in that regard. They are, perhaps, politically unpalatable but they do have that capacity. It does need reform and I hope some reforms will emerge in the next year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  The Taoiseach left me out. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy Heneghan feels left out. The Taoiseach did not answer him. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I apologise. The response to the Deputy\u2019s question was on the next page and the Leas-Cheann Comhairle was looking at me intently.  I could not agree more with the Deputy on the North-South interconnector but there have been a lot of political challenges with it. As I said last week, we all need to pause a bit and say what our priorities are. We need the North-South interconnector in terms of the energy needs of those regions and the country at large. The relevant Minister is present now. On the Deputy\u2019s private wires legislation, he has been consistent in his advocacy for private wires. I appreciate that we should not turn infrastructure into political football. We will continue to engage with the Deputy. I think we are making progress on some of these issues and I hope we can bring people along with us. The agencies have some responsibility in that regard as well. I thank the Deputy and I apologise again. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 1 to 37, inclusive, taken orally. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 38 to 43, inclusive, resubmitted. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 44 to 46, inclusive, taken with Writtens. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 47 to 58, inclusive, resubmitted. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 59 taken with Writtens. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 60 to 78, inclusive, resubmitted. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 79 taken with Writtens. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 80 to 93, inclusive, resubmitted. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 94 taken with Writtens. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 95 to 124, inclusive, resubmitted. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 125 taken with Writtens. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 126 to 135, inclusive, resubmitted. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Northern Ireland"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/dbsect_18","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/52","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/52\/dail\/2","houseCode":"dail","stage":"2","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Dublin Transport Authority (Amendment) Bill 2026: Second Stage (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Dublin Transport Authority (Amendment) Bill 2026: Second Stage","counts":{"speechCount":55,"speakerCount":36},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ann Graves","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cormac Devlin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Geoghegan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maeve O'Connell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maeve-O'Connell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Maeve-O'Connell.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Lahart","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Lahart.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Lahart.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gillian Toole","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gillian-Toole.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Gillian-Toole.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Transport (Deputy Darragh O'Brien)  I move: \"That the Bill be now read a Second Time.\"  I am pleased to introduce the Dublin Transport Authority (Amendment) Bill 2026 for the consideration of the House. As Deputies will be aware, the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008, as originally enacted, provided for the establishment of the Dublin Transport Authority, DTA, and set out its role and functions to ensure the provision of an integrated transport system in the greater Dublin area, GDA, including the procurement of public transport infrastructure and services.  The Public Transport Regulation Act 2009 expanded the powers of the authority nationally in a number of areas and renamed it as the National Transport Authority, NTA, to reflect its expanded role. A number of the NTA's other powers under the Act were also extended nationally by the Public Transport Regulation Act 2009, the Taxi Regulation Act 2013 and the Public Transport Act 2016.  The Bill I am introducing today is a further amendment to that legislation. The purpose of it is to provide a clear legislative framework to enable the National Transport Authority to undertake the construction of public transport infrastructure projects, such as BusConnects, in the State, as it currently does in the greater Dublin area.  This is in alignment with the national planning framework, the national sustainable mobility policy and the climate action plan which all commit to extend the statutory transport planning remit of the NTA to the metropolitan areas of Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford. The national sustainable mobility policy, which was published in 2022, noted that national planning framework commitment. Action 75 of the policy also commits to extend the statutory transport planning remit of the NTA to the metropolitan areas I mentioned to strengthen the levels of integration between spatial planning and transport planning. The moving together strategy of 2026, which Cabinet approved recently, also notes and reiterates these commitments.  Project Ireland 2040's revised national planning framework published in April 2025, supports ambitious growth targets to enable the four cities of Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford to each grow by at least 50% over 2016 levels by 2040. The national development plan review 2025 outlines Ireland\u2019s largest-ever public investment plan to transform infrastructure, housing, transport, energy and public services through to 2035. As committed to in the programme for Government, this national development plan provides extra funding for the improvement of transport networks across the country.  The sectoral plan for transport under the NDP review, which was approved by Government in November 2025 commits \u20ac22.3 billion to a diverse range of transport options, including public transport, active travel, roads, maritime and aviation, over the next five years. An additional allocation of \u20ac2 billion from the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund will support the development of MetroLink, which will start next August, bringing the total NDP Exchequer investment in transport to \u20ac24.3 billion between up to 2030. That is about \u20ac1 in every \u20ac4 we will be investing between now and the end of the decade. In tandem with this commitment, the appropriate legislation needs to be in place and hence this Bill.  The programme for Government commits to expand bus services in cities and to ensure BusConnects delivers promised benefits for public transport users. BusConnects is a transformative programme of investment in the bus system, with the aim to provide better bus services across five cities. It is the largest investment in the bus system ever and is managed by the NTA. It will connect people and places through an enhanced bus system together with improved cycling and pedestrian infrastructure. It is a key part of the Government's approach to improve public transport, address climate change and reduce congestion in our cities.  Currently for BusConnects Dublin, the NTA uses a provision under section 44 of the DTA Act which enables the NTA to assume responsibility for the delivery of public transport infrastructure where it considers it more convenient, expeditious, effective or economical to do so. However, this legislative provision is currently limited to the greater Dublin area only. A legislative amendment to section 44 is required to the DTA Act to enable the NTA to undertake the construction of public transport projects such as BusConnects and similar projects in the other cities outside the GDA.  I am pleased to say that the first two BusConnects contracts have been signed. Liffey Valley to the city centre is under construction. Ballymun-Finglas to the city centre will enter into construction later this year.  The NTA launched its new design for the Cork metropolitan bus network in June 2022. The new network, part of BusConnects Cork, is intended to transform the public transport network across the Cork metropolitan area. The new network will involve the creation of new bus routes and improved bus frequencies to help transform the public transport network to meet anticipated growth and future demand in the region.  The amendment to section 44 of the Dublin Transport Authority Act in this Bill is timely. Subject to the enactment of the legislation, the NTA intends to submit planning applications to An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la this year in respect of the infrastructure elements of BusConnects Cork.  On 29 October 2025 the Government issued gate 1 approval in line with the infrastructure guidelines, allowing the sustainable transport corridors of the BusConnects Cork programme to enter the planning system.  It is important to note that under section 44(2)(c) of the DTA Act 2008, the NTA is required to \"consult with and consider the views of the relevant public transport authority or other statutory body\", being local authorities, before providing public transport infrastructure. Again, subject to the enactment of the legislation, the NTA will have to do this before submitting any application to An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la.  The Bill is a technical one. Amending the provisions of section 44(1) of the DTA Act by the substitution of \"in the State\" for \"GDA\" and amending the definition of \"road authority\" in section 2 is needed if BusConnects is to be progressed by the NTA, outside of the greater Dublin area, specifically into the metropolitan areas of Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford in collaboration with the local authorities. This will provide the NTA with the same statutory powers it currently exercises in the greater Dublin area.  The NTA has the capacity and experience in progressing megaprojects having successfully secured planning consents for all 12 of its core bus corridor schemes in Dublin. As I mentioned, two of those have either begun or will enter into construction shortly. This Bill will ensure that the delivery of vital infrastructure is underpinned by a robust and appropriate legislative framework. I commend the Bill to the House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Before I call on Deputy Daly, I extend a warm welcome to the Japanese ambassador and his officials, who are guests of the Minister of State, Deputy Christopher O\u2019Sullivan. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  The ambassador is very welcome. I welcome the opportunity to speak on this legislation but I do so with a clear warning. Expanding the remit of the NTA cannot mean exporting the same mistakes we have seen in Dublin to the rest of the country. BusConnects promised badly needed transformation, better routes, more frequent services and a modern system but in many cases, this is a far cry from what was actually delivered. Like most projects delivered by Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael, it was marked by delays, spiralling costs and community frustration. Originally envisaged at about \u20ac1 billion, costs ballooned to as much as \u20ac4.2 billion. Time deadlines slipped, often local communities felt ignored and in some cases people were left facing longer journey times with fewer services and some uncertainty.  The transformation of Ireland\u2019s public transport infrastructure is badly needed. There is no doubt about that, but what occurred during parts of the roll-out of BusConnects does not reflect how to build public confidence in public transport. What happened is part of a wider pattern of announcements without delivery, ambition without execution and spending without control. We have seen massive overruns across project after project. Nearly \u20ac500 million has been spent on MetroLink before a shovel has gone into the ground and \u20ac50 million was written off in the context of a failed rail IT system. The cost for contactless payments has already spiralled to \u20ac269 million. There are 130 electric buses worth over \u20ac40 million that have been sitting idle for years because they were purchased before the necessary charging infrastructure was put in place. That is bad planning. The Government has consistently been unable to deliver.  These failures are not just in Dublin; they are felt all over the country. I asked some of our local councillors in rural Ireland about the deficits in public transport infrastructure. I discovered that there are still no bus shelters in Lixnaw or near the old Tralee town council building on Princes Quay. There is still no bus stop on the Bracker O\u2019Regan Road either. There seems to be an inconsistency of delivery across various local authorities. For some reason, it appears that some areas are able to erect bus stops without an awful lot of bureaucracy, but that is not the case in every area.  The OECD agrees that some systems were structurally designed primarily to accommodate cars. A total of 76% of people rely primarily on cars, which is one of the highest rates in the EU. Some 58% of short journeys of less than 2 km are still made by car because there is no viable alternative. The OECD said that Ireland\u2019s transport system is structurally designed to primarily accommodate cars. Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael have treated public transport as an afterthought. Throughout the country, there are patchy and infrequent services, limited rail connectivity and entire communities effectively cut off from reliable public transport. None of this is a coincidence.  I listened earlier to the debate about the temporary rail platform being constructed in Adare. Nothing permanent is being put in place in Adare in order to expand the rail system on the newly completed track to Foynes.  There have been decades of underinvestment and neglect. Rail accounts for less than 3% of Ireland\u2019s transport infrastructure, far below the European average of 8%. Only 3% of the rail lines are electrified compared with the majority in EU systems, and no high-speed rail infrastructure exists. A total of 77% of lines are single track, limiting frequency and capacity. Despite all of the money spent \u2013 including sums of \u20ac269 million, \u20ac40 million and \u20ac50 million - people still cannot get a cup of coffee on the Tralee to Dublin train on the direct line.  While the Government talks about balanced regional development, the reality is that the situation regarding infrastructure has left places in certain areas of the country, including Kerry, at serious disadvantage when it comes to jobs, infrastructure and quality of life. This Bill matters, but it also involves risk. We need more public transport infrastructure, but expanding into Cork, Limerick and Galway must not mean repeating the same errors on a wider scale. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  Decades of underinvestment in our transport infrastructure have resulted in this State being a laggard when it comes to public transport. Too many people face delays and a lack of services, especially when it comes to bus and rail. Many areas across the State, particularly in the west of Ireland, simply do not have the infrastructure in place to deal with the level of demand that exists. This Bill will expand the remit of the NTA to allow it to construct public transport infrastructure across the entire State. In order to do this, the NTA must be properly resourced.  On the issue of funding for the NTA, I have raised with the Minister on a number of times the current public transport issues that people in Athenry are facing. Today, I am presenting the Minister with a petition signed by 1,665 people in Athenry to save the 6.50 a.m. train and to fund a bus service for Athenry. People in Athenry are sick and tired of their transport needs being neglected. We have trains that are literally overflowing. It has been two years since we had the cancellation of the bus service. Despite repeated promises, we still do not have a bus service and, to make matters worse, we are now being told we are going to lose the 6.50 a.m. at the end of July due to a lack of funding. It is not good enough. It is not going to be accepted by people in Athenry. The NTA has requested the funding for these services from the Department, and the Minister must provide it. He needs to get the bus service up and running, save the 6.50 a.m. train and listen to the people of Athenry who signed this petition. They want to be able to rely on public transport but they cannot do so at the moment because of this lack of action. I will be sending that petition to the Minister today.  The Bill before us has the aim of expanding the NTA\u2019s remit in providing public transport infrastructure beyond the greater Dublin area. I refer to the Gluas project in this regard. We have been waiting years for an emerging route for this much-needed project. This is critical to address the traffic issues for people commuting in and out of Galway city. At the same time, we see a lack of basic infrastructure, such as shelters at bus stops. If the Government wants to encourage people to use public transport, it must ensure that it gets these basic things right.  While this Bill is welcome, the NTA must be adequately resourced and funded in order to allow it to meet its expanded role. There is a significant amount of work that must be done to address the decades of underinvestment in Ireland\u2019s transport infrastructure. I call on the Minister to step up to the plate and address the deficits that exist. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  I am glad that the Minister is here for this debate. I want to bring to him a message from my constituents in north County Dublin with regard to the BusConnects north coastal project. As the Minister will know - I understand he has engaged with the local group - the 33 bus is the main bus serving the towns of Rush, Lusk, Skerries and Loughshinny. The bus is frequently overcrowded. We have all heard many times about people left standing on the side of the road while the bus goes past because it is a single-decker when it should be a double-decker, or the double-decker is already full. There is a desperate need for a functioning public transport system for north County Dublin. Not everyone lives near the train station. While it is great for those who do, there are people who do not live near the train and are dependent on the bus. The proposals for BusConnects are causing a lot of angst among my constituents because they see that those proposals are not responsive to the needs of the community. In many instances, they represent a backwards step.  We are not just giving out about it, however. A well-thought-out proposal has been made to the NTA. The NTA responded and we have sent a response back to it. My understanding is that the Minister was due to meet with this group in April. I am hopeful that meeting will be reinstated because it wants a chance to show the Minister the work it has put in to ensure that whatever changes are made work. We all want BusConnects to work, but it will not work unless the people who are going to use the service are listened to. These people are not making observations for the sake of it. They have made them and have put forward a well-thought-out proposal because they desperately want it to work. We need it to work. The bus service we depend on in north County Dublin is not sufficient for the needs of the population. BusConnects will only deliver if it is done in consultation with the people who will ultimately use the service. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I am going to keep this local as well. I want to talk about the 13 bus route. It is planned to be replaced with the D3 route under BusConnects. After Watery Lane, the D3 route will now go down the New Nangor Road and up the Long Mile Road towards Cork Street. Clondalkin, and Bawnoges in particular, will now lose a valuable connection to Bluebell, Inchicore, St. James\u2019s Hospital and the Liberties. There is a strong historical, cultural and familial connection between Clondalkin, Inchicore and Bluebell. Many families moved from Inchicore and Bluebell up to Clondalkin over the years. They still go back to visit families and friends on a regular basis. The 13 bus route is vital in this regard.  I also want to put on my St. Patrick\u2019s Athletic FC hat and say that many people who use the 13 bus route go to Inchicore to cheer on St. Pat\u2019s. I use the bus to go to matches. I see the same people on the bus going to and from matches. It is vital that this cultural link is kept in place for people who cheer on St. Pat\u2019s in Richmond Park. There is also the vital link to St. James\u2019s Hospital that has to be taken into consideration, as well as the many people who still travel to the Liberties to socialise and do their shopping.  Another issue with the D3 route is that it will not serve Woodford or the Monastery Road. People living along Woodford and Monastery Road will lose a bus to town and to Clondalkin village. I am asking the NTA to take all these factors into consideration before it makes any decision to replace the 13 bus with the D3.  A particular issue we have in my area relates to the provision of car parking spaces. We have a number of developments in the area that do not have the appropriate number of car parking spaces. I get the idea behind this whereby the Government wants to see people out of cars and onto public transport.  That is all well and good in theory but in practice it is a different story. An infrequent and often unreliable bus service means the car is still a necessity. We have seen tensions rising in the likes of Kilcarbery, Seven Mills, Citywest and Adamstown because of a lack of parking in these new builds. The Government needs to get its act together and provide proper parking and also reliable public transport. Earlier, I raised DART+ South West with the Taoiseach. The Minister relayed to me before that the delay to DART+ South West is because of an interconnection with another project. My understanding is it is lack of money going to the NTA. Will the Minister confirm that? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  It is not. I answered the Deputy in a parliamentary question recently. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Wall  I am asking again. I have had more information since. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  That is not the case. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ann Graves","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ann Graves  Public transport is vital for families and communities. A decent, reliable and sustainable transport system connects people with each other, work, education and recreation. The Minister will know that Fingal east faces systematic and long-standing deficits in public transport. The lack of infrastructure is now constraining economic growth and worsening climate outcomes and residential development. This has led to a dependency on car use. The OECD concluded that Ireland's transport system is structurally designed to accommodate cars. This is down to consecutive governments not prioritising public transport. Some 76% of people rely on cars. It is one of the highest rates in the EU. This has been the story in Fingal east for many years - huge residential developments with no proper infrastructure, schools, healthcare or transport and no building of communities. Some 58% of short journeys are still made by car. This is a major issue in our area where transport is not factored into planning. There are huge housing developments with no reliable or accessible transport so estates in the Minister's constituency in Knocksedan and Kinsealy are left without footpaths much less public transport. This has to be central to any future developments in Fingal east. When I first moved to Swords the MetroLink was soon to follow. It was a selling point for me in buying my home but 35 years later, almost \u20ac500 million being spent and basically nothing has happened. It is yet another staggering failure of public spending oversight by Government. The current works on the R132 to facilitate delivery of MetroLink have caused chaos with traffic coming in and out of Swords at a standstill. It is having a huge impact on commuters. Carers are finding it impossible to get to vulnerable clients, all caused by the works on the R132 and other mismanaged works being done at the same time. There is no management in place. We need MetroLink and I support MetroLink but it has to be delivered in a planned, connected and cost-effective way. The Minister recently promised that MetroLink would not become a children's hospital mark 2, yet \u20ac103 million has been spent in the first few months of this year alone with predicted costs skyrocketing from \u20ac2.5 billion to \u20ac15.8 billion, all out of the public purse. We need a radical shift in transport policy. We need proper planning for transport to meet the needs of our growing population. I welcome the Bill and I hope it addresses the issues I have raised. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  The Labour Party welcomes this Bill. A genuine success story of the previous Government was the expansion of public transport services outside of Dublin, the Local Link network in particular. It is important we build upon that progress. This Bill is largely technical but it is important in enabling us to do so. I acknowledge the progress being made but too many people are still forced to rely on their cars to get around because of inadequate public transport options in particular outside the capital. There is a real cost to that from a climate and emissions perspective but also as we have seen recently in terms of our dependence on fossil fuels, the financial impact of the skyrocketing petrol and diesel prices and the huge impact on people's quality of life that comes from sitting for hours every day on congested motorways. It is important we give people other options - cheaper, more sustainable and frankly more enjoyable, more efficient and more productive options to get around. The best way to protect people from the high cost of petrol and diesel is by reducing their dependence on private cars and making public transport a viable alternative for them. That is one reason we in the Labour Party proposed a free public transport pilot for the duration of the present fossil fuel crisis. Our public transport networks need massive upgrades and expansions to build on the good work of the previous Government.  My colleagues, Deputies Sheehan, Nash and Eoghan Kenny, will touch on the particulars of their own areas. I hope when BusConnects networks are rolled out in other cities that lessons are learned from our experience in Dublin. It has not exactly been a smooth a smooth ride so far. The roll-out is delayed in places currently due to the Department of Transport holding back funding. The scattered roll-out of the various spines has not helped public buy-in. So many parts of the new network are still missing that what we have at present is just a patchwork of routes that do not always make sense on their own. These new routes are being commenced without the reallocation of road space needed for bus lanes, bus corridors and bus gates which means buses are getting stuck in ever more congestion, journey times are increasing for many people and the core concept of BusConnects, that you hop on and hop off buses in a timely manner to traverse the city, is just not working out yet in reality. I believe it can be done but the slow roll-out and persistent delays undermine public confidence in the project and, indeed, my own confidence. The Department of Transport needs to put its money where its mouth is.  MetroLink also urgently needs to be developed. I call again on the Government to honour its commitment in the programme for Government to conduct a new feasibility study on extending the MetroLink out to Dublin south west. In many ways, what BusConnects is trying to achieve is an underground model where people can connect to different lines but just above ground. That model crucially means that buses are given priority on our roads. We hear from the NTA and service operators all the time that congestion is the number one issue affecting reliability for buses. I welcome the work under way putting in new bus lanes and other measures I mentioned but perhaps the cart was put before the horse in rolling out a lot of the new routes before the necessary infrastructure was in place.  I see this most obviously with the new F1 route in my constituency, Dublin South-West. I have raised this with the Minister previously and with the NTA. The F1 replaced the 49 bus. It takes a slightly different route down residential roads with no priority bus lanes so it gets stuck in morning and evening traffic. The consequence is a journey into the city centre which previously might have taken 45 minutes during peak hours can now take around one hour and 15 minutes. That has a significant impact on commuters from Tallaght, Firhouse and Knocklyon who rely on the bus to get to work. When I raised this with the Minister previously, he pointed to the Kimmage corridor as a solution. That corridor has planning permission but it will be a few years before it is in operation. In any case, the environmental impact assessment says the corridor will save around seven minutes on the inbound journey in the mornings and three minutes in the evenings. Without further intervention, none of us can really argue that this new route represents an improvement for my constituents. The new route also cuts off direct public transport links with Firhouse, Templeogue and Terenure villages. My constituents do not benefit from the high frequency element because that begins and ends in Kimmage. The fact that it is a cross-city route is causing issues too with the bus frequently packed and standing room only within a couple of stops in the city centre. Deputy Sherlock tells me her constituents in Dublin Central are suffering from similar issues with this new route.  I cannot understate the strength of feeling towards the changes in this new route in much of my area. I hosted a packed and impassioned public meeting on this back in March. We have a petition to reinstate the old 49 route to run alongside the F1 to restore these vital community links and improve journey times to the city centre. We have seen really good support for that. I would appreciate if the Minister and the NTA could engage with us further on this. The demand is there.  I want to raise an issue that is seemingly becoming more and more common, which is a bit of a scandal - buses skipping stops along particular routes and the reasons this is happening. A number of people have gotten in touch with me about this over the past few months, including someone who used to work for Dublin Bus and has asked drivers about this. It would seem that when buses run behind schedule, central command instructs drivers to skip stops to get back on time and avoid paying penalties, regardless of whether anyone is waiting at the stop or not. That is egregious. I would appreciate if the Minister would respond specifically in relation to this. We all want buses to turn up on time but I think we would also agree that a bus that shows up slightly late is better than one that does not show up at all. People tell me they are frequently left stranded by buses driving past them and ignoring them at bus stops as they wait. Public transport is a public service first and foremost. Of course, bus services need to be commercially viable to some degree but the operator's primary consideration must be serving the people and not just watching its own wallet.  We have a situation now where the penalties that the NTA performance metrics - it is important that performance metrics are put in place but it is also important that they do not have adverse impacts - are applying to operators are having the opposite effect. They are supposed to improve reliability but they are making the situation worse.  We want to see people using public transport. It is encouraging that we are seeing a greater level of provision outside of Dublin. It is important that we build on that and I reiterate my support for that. We want public transport to be people's preferred mode to the greatest extent possible but one of the biggest barriers to that in Dublin is a perception that our bus services are becoming increasingly unreliable, and we have to nip that in the bud. People need confidence in our public transport to bring about the modal shift that we need to see from an emissions reduction perspective and from a quality of life perspective and we have still plenty of work to do in that regard. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill because it affords me the chance to put on the record some concerns I have, which I believe can be addressed through amendments to the Bill in relation to sustainable transport planning in the Drogheda area, an area that the Minister is very familiar with. In his remarks, the Minister referred to the fact that this particular legislation aligned with the overall objective to ensure that the NTA managed transport initiatives into the future in Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford, and that is commendable. However, there is one area missing from that ambition, and that is Drogheda. Drogheda is, as the Minister will be aware, one of the fastest growing parts of the country. It is Ireland's next city. The population of the \"metropolitan\", if I can describe it as such, Drogheda area is the same, if not more, than the population of Waterford at this moment in time and it is being left behind.  I will be proposing an amendment to include Louth in the greater Dublin area, GDA, for the purposes of transport planning to ensure that transport can be planned in a much more sustainable fashion than has hitherto been the case in the area that I represent. The Minister might ask what the point of that is. The point is as follows. The Minister will know that, last week, a welcome announcement was made about the establishment of two new train stations in Navan. That is required. We need to get people out of cars, onto train lines and into the city for work, and vice versa as well in getting people from Dublin to Navan to work. Nobody can quibble with that. However, the Minister will be aware that Drogheda has only one train station and the north side of Drogheda is one of the most rapidly growing areas of this country. The Minister will be aware that several thousand new homes are being built there as we speak, a couple of thousand have been built already, and there is a strong argument for a north Drogheda train station on the main Belfast-to-Dublin line but the Minister, the NTA and Irish Rail are playing a game of pass the parcel. The National Transport Authority says it has no responsibility for this because Drogheda is not in the greater Dublin area for the purposes of transportation strategy. The NTA has regard to the GDA plans and Drogheda's connection with Dublin from a commuter point of view but it does nothing about it that really matters. The NTA says it is the Minister's responsibility to develop a train station on the north side of Drogheda. I merely asked the National Transport Authority whether it would develop a business case because I believed in evidence-based planning for initiatives such as this, but the NTA refused to do it because it said that the area was not in the GDA and it was a matter for the Minister. As for Irish Rail, I met the CEO a couple of weeks ago. She said that she would like to see something like this happen but it was matter, of course, of funding and prioritisation in terms of Irish Rail's strategy.  We have a game of pass the parcel. Nobody is taking responsibility. The Minister is not taking responsibility for it, the NTA is not taking responsibility for it, and Irish Rail says it would like to do something about it but nobody is directing the company. This project, which is absolutely necessary for the area, is an orphan project. It is nobody's child, and a situation where we have one of the fastest growing urban areas in the country poorly serviced by rail services is not the way we should be managing the sustainable development of our transport infrastructure in this country. I have been listening to this excuse for years now from the National Transport Authority, really since the agency was set up and the Dublin Transportation Office changed, etc. It seems that, from the point of view of planning such as this, the NTA really is just the Dublin Transportation Office with a different label. The Minister knows the relationship of Louth and Dublin in terms of commuters. He knows how important that is. We need to plan that sustainably and we need to deliver the new train station. We need to find a way to do that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  I want to talk about the delays in the roll-out of BusConnects in Limerick, a city the Minister knows well and that he has said a lot of positive things about previously. We were promised this in 2025, and 2025 became 2026, then 2027, and is now 2028. From what the departmental officials have said, we know that the NTA does not have enough funding when it comes to the roll-out of new services and that is why we are seeing a deprioritisation of public transport by the Government, particularly compared with the previous Government, which had the 2:1 ratio in favour of spending on public transport, which I support.  If it is rolled out by 2028, then by that time we will have had a nine-year horizon since BusConnects was first mooted as part of the Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy. This is something that could really affect us in terms of housing, balanced regional development and attracting in foreign direct investment, FDI, because our unreliable bus network in Limerick undermines confidence and the modal shift that we all know we need in order to meet our climate targets. For example, King's Island is one of the most deprived communities in the country. King's Island has no bus service after 6 p.m. It has one of the lowest rates of car ownership in the country. It has no bus service on a Sunday. It has no bus service on a bank holiday Monday. It is waiting on BusConnects for this to be delivered. Condell Road is the only major primary road in Limerick with a bus lane but no bus service. It, too, is waiting on BusConnects. It is a 45-minute walk to the local secondary school. It is a 30-minute walk to the local primary school. We have had hundreds of houses built out there in the past couple of years, which I welcome, but there is no bloody bus. Delaying this further means that this will come in after the transport strategy and after the regional spatial and economic strategy, RSES, review and it will not be able to leverage these. Limerick Chamber has written to the Minister on this and I echo what it has said. We need to get a hell of a lot more people in Limerick out of their cars and onto public transport, and the way we do that is by implementing the entirety of BusConnects in a timely manner and making sure the funding is there for the physical interventions because the bus needs priority over private cars.  We need to pass legislation to allow Bus \u00c9ireann and other operators to use the CCTV on their buses to penalise private motorists illegally driving in bus lanes and introduce traffic cameras on every single bus lane to make sure that, if you are caught driving on a bus lane, you automatically get penalty points and a fine. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Wall  I welcome the opportunity to speak on what is important legislation. The Minister will be aware of some of the issues I will raise.  The first one is, as the Minister himself said, that this Bill is to provide a clear legislative framework for the NTA to undertake the construction of public transport infrastructure projects, such as BusConnects. Will the Minister confirm if this legislation before us will cover the legislation that is needed to allow the opening of the M4 eastbound bus priority lane, which, as he will be aware, is a project spanning from Maynooth junction 7 to Leixlip junction 5 in County Kildare? The Minister will be aware that this would allow buses to use the dedicated hard shoulder to bypass congestion. The physical infrastructure is constructed, as we all know, but it awaits legislation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  It is done. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Wall  What is done? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  The secondary legislation was signed last week. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Wall  That is the best news I have got from the Minister today. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  Just read my press releases. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Wall  I thank the Minister. He and I will pose for a photograph. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  The Deputy could have saved himself three and a half minutes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Wall  The Minister and I will pose for a photograph after that.  I will also mention that the Minister is also - I have spoken to him and the powers that be after he mentioned the need for more buses to get me into Leinster House early in the morning - looking at the N7.  I spoke to the NTA last week about this and it is examining the issue. Perhaps the Minister can give us some more good news on the N7 project because it would make a difference to the car park it is. I appreciate what the Minister said and the legislation having been signed is very good news.  In the short time I have left, I know the Leas-Cheann Comhairle will agree with me about the lack of train services from Kilkenny, Waterford and my home town of Athy to Dublin. The first train service from my home town of Athy is at 6.40 a.m. Unfortunately, a lot of people who come to Athy, and are very welcome to make their homes and families there, cannot get into work for 8 a.m., which is when they need to be there. That needs to change. We have spoken about how public transport can be a game changer for so many.  Before I came to the Chamber I received phone calls from two people who were on a train heading to Athy and Carlow and were standing because all six carriages were full. I am sure the Leas-Cheann Comhairle would agree on the need to address this, given that the train is heading to Kilkenny as well. We need to improve train services. We need an hourly train service, something I have raised on previous occasions with the Minister. I thank the Minister for the good news he has brought to the House today. It is to be hoped the people of Athy will hear more good news in the coming weeks on hourly train services. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  A significant number of people across my county of Cork are growing increasingly frustrated by the slow progress on public transport delivery, in particular when it comes to BusConnects and next generation ticketing. I commend the Minister's Department, Irish Rail and Bus \u00c9ireann on the improvements have been made because they must be recognised. My job as a Deputy for Cork is to try to progress that even more, in particular regarding BusConnects and next generation ticketing.  BusConnects was presented as a major transformation of our bus system, promising reliable services, better connectivity, more frequent routes and infrastructure that would finally make public transport a realistic option for more and more people. Many years after these commitments were first announced, many communities right across Cork still feel they are waiting for meaningful progress on the ground. Commuters continue to experience, as my colleague has said, overcrowding, delays, unreliable timetables and long journey times. This is having an impact on workers, students and families who are spending far too much time stuck in traffic because public transport alternatives are simply not improving quickly enough.  Regarding next generation ticketing, in 2026 it should be absolutely acceptable to ask that passengers can get on a train or bus and seamlessly tap a bank card or their phone across the public transport network in a way that has become standard practice across many European cities. This technology is not revolutionary in any way; it is basic modern transport infrastructure. This is not simply about convenience. Faster boarding reduces delays, improves journey times and makes bus services more efficient overall. It also makes public transport easier and more attractive to use, in particular for occasional passengers and tourists. As I said, progress has been made in public transport right across Cork city and county, but we have a long way to go, in particular regarding next generation ticketing and BusConnects. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cormac Devlin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cormac Devlin  I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Bill. It is a short and technical, but necessary, Bill. The purpose is straightforward, namely, to extend the powers the NTA exercises in the greater Dublin area to cities such as Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford. It enables the NTA to deliver the infrastructural elements of BusConnects Cork and removes the statutory gap that has held up a major project for far too long. I thank the Minister and his officials for bringing the Bill forward.  We are committed to the development of a strong, modern and integrated public transport system across the State. The programme for Government commits to expanding bus services in our cities and the Bill is part of delivering on that commitment. Expanding the NTA\u2019s power is one thing; how those powers are used is another. I want to use my time to make three points about that.  First, on balance, the NTA must prioritise sensible solutions. Public transport investment is welcome. Road safety investment is welcome and necessary. However, schemes must be designed in a way that does not create excessive congestion, does not push traffic onto residential streets and does not undermine access for older residents, people with disabilities or local businesses. In my constituency of D\u00fan Laoghaire, communities have raised legitimate concerns about the design of specific schemes. Those concerns deserve to be heard. The NTA delivers better outcomes when it engages early, listens properly and adjusts where the evidence supports it. The same goes for local authorities.  Second, on bus reliability, while looking to expand the network we must not lose sight of reliability on existing routes. The so-called ghost bus problem in Dublin, in particular, is one I have raised on multiple occasions in the House. It impedes and undermines public confidence in public transport as buses disappear. Passengers see them on the app and screen and then they simply disappear.  In recent months, cancellation rates on some routes have reached 8%. Fines for PSOs are one thing, but the public simply require dependability. To be fair, the ghost bus phenomenon originated under a previous Minister and this Minister has said that is unacceptable, and I agree. The new Trapeze automatic vehicle location system is being rolled out, and that is welcome. The underlying causes, that is, driver and mechanic shortages and the congestion that delays buses across the city, must be addressed. The NTA\u2019s contracts with operators must be tightened. Reliability must come before expansion. We also need increased frequency on Sundays, which I have raised on previous occasions in the House, and integrated ticketing.  Third, there must be far greater urgency on rail and on Luas. The greater Dublin area transport strategy provides for the extension of the Luas green line from Bride\u2019s Glen to Bray. That extension was identified as a priority more than a decade ago. The Bray Luas would serve Cherrywood, Old Connaught, Fassaroe and Bray DART station and it would transform travel along the N11 corridor. It would relieve pressure on a road network that is at breaking point and capacity on the green line needs to increase. Yet, the most recent projections push delivery of the expansion of the green line into the 2031-36 window and that is simply not good enough. The people of north Wicklow and the area south of D\u00fan Laoghaire have been waiting too long. The DART+ Coastal South to Wicklow, the Luas Finglas extension and the planned extension of the green line to Bray must all be advanced with urgency. We need the same focus and the same statutory drive on rail, including heavy rail, that this Bill provides for BusConnects.  I support this Bill. I ask the Minister to bring forward, as soon as possible, a clear delivery timetable for the Luas extension to Bray and a published plan to address the ghost bus problem on the Dublin bus network. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  I welcome the Bill. The expansion of the terms in the legislation is welcome. We have to recognise that those who seek to access Dublin are not just necessarily from the county of Dublin or the immediate area, but come from further away. I am not sure about the wisdom of placing two D\u00fan Laoghaire constituency Deputies one after the other because I listened to Deputy Devlin's speech and he hit on many of the issues that are important for our area. I, too, feel very strongly about them.  One would think a place like D\u00fan Laoghaire benefits from a fine public transport system and, in many respects, that is true. Yet, as we replace the 46A with the E spine, E2 to D\u00fan Laoghaire and the E1 to Bray, we have not had the reliable service we would expect. I welcome the 24-hour nature of the service and it has hugely improved access to the city centre for people in my area, but unfortunately people do not have confidence that the bus stated on the timetable will actually arrive. In fact, this morning, Conor, an intern working in my office, was on a bus that overheated at 9.30 a.m. The weather is lovely and it is great to have the sun shining, but we cannot have a situation where that is causing buses to overheat. He had to wait a long time for a replacement bus to come along.  I receive emails over and over again from people in the local area who tell me about ghost buses, something I know the Minister is aware of. We cannot have a situation whereby people try to get a bus to work, but the bus which is supposed to bring them there does not come. When a bus is on the timetable and the real-time information at the bus stop but does not arrive, that is a disaster in many respects. First, it contributes to a lack of faith in the reliability of the system. It causes people to be late. The next bus that comes is already full. The route is one bus short and it means that the capacity of the route is diminished because at rush hour in the mornings buses are full and can barely cope with what is there. If one bus does not turn up, that creates huge stress on the line as a whole and a difficulty for people getting on the next bus that comes. It is the same at the next stop and the stop after that.  You end up with lots of people being late for work, which is very unfair and also compromises their faith in the system. The DART is fantastic and is a wonderful service but it is not frequent enough. I know this is a complex problem and is not something that is easily solved. The frequency of the DART is hugely important.  Last week, I was in Paris with Granada Football Club in Blackrock as we were playing a tournament there. Getting around Paris is incredibly easy. There is an underground metro system there but it is coupled with a bus system that is much more local. It means you can reliably get to anywhere within Paris within half an hour. The same cannot be said of Dublin. I have been a long time champion of a proper underground metro system for Dublin. That has to be not just part of the plan but part of the implementation. If we had started the metro for Dublin when we started talking about it, it would be built now and we would not be relying on buses, many of which do not operate on an electric basis and are still using diesel, clogging up traffic lanes and contributing to environmental pollution. We need to move to a phase where we accept that underground metro transport is part and parcel of being a modern, European city. I know that sometimes there is an allergy in Irish public policy terms to these massive public infrastructure projects. We have had our fingers burned on some projects, although we also fail to recognise those projects that go ahead, are finished on time or ahead of time and on budget or for less than the initial budget. It happens but that does not get coverage in the newspapers. In reality, there is a fear around large infrastructure projects but the building of a metro does not have to be a massive infrastructure project.  Again, look at the example of Paris. I lived in Paris over 20 years ago and when I was there, they were building Line 14, which is known locally as the Meteor. It had a driverless train, which meant there were not the same difficulties if somebody was not available to come to work for whatever personal reason and that the system could still function. They started off with four stops in central Paris. It ran along a relatively limited area. They built four stops and that was the original infrastructural project. After that, they added a stop at either end, followed by another stop and another stop. That same Line 14 now runs from Saint-Lazare, a major train station in Paris, right the way through the centre of Paris and all the way out to A\u00e9roport d'Orly. We have nothing comparable to that in Dublin. We are really lacking in terms of the infrastructure that needs to be provided in that regard and it is time we got going on that, even if it is only to build a small part of it that can then be added to. In my respectful view, that is the way we have to do it. Instead of deciding we will build a 100-stop metro, let us build one line and we can then add to it. It is something that needs to be given huge priority.  BusConnects is something that made huge progress for us. I am not yet convinced by the renaming of all the routes. A cultural icon, the 46A, is gone but that is another issue entirely. The replacement of certain routes will take time for people to get used to. The bigger difficulty I have with BusConnects is the consultation with local communities. In Shankill in particular, we had a massive problem. There were 3,500-odd signatures on a petition against it or, specifically, against what it would do to Shankill village. That cannot be allowed to happen. If we are going to build large, effective public transport systems, we must couple with that a respect for the people they are supposed to serve. They cannot destroy small villages in County Dublin if they are meant to serve that community. We need to listen to people. A public consultation has to be real and informed but also something that listens to people and does not impose upon them the decision of a bureaucrat or somebody who is may be an excellent public transport designer but not somebody who has to live with the consequences of the design that ultimately comes from that.  The extension of the Luas is hugely important. The Luas does amazing work. It has been a lifeline for many communities, particularly in the south Dublin area, that were just that bit far away from the DART or might not have add access to corridors like the N11. It has worked really well but it can do so much more. I am happy to say that in Dun Laoghaire, we have very advanced cycling infrastructure that is developing all of the time. It is not without its problems. It is not without its huge inconvenience for people in the local community and I think there is a problem with the way it is being built in the same area, at the same time. A road gets done and then a road around the corner gets done, which creates consecutive inconveniencies for the same community but that is for another debate.  When the Luas was built, we had this rail corridor that was created. There was an opportunity to put in a really effective cycle corridor that would run in parallel to the Luas. That was not done. As a result, a cyclist cannot cycle along the same corridor as the Luas. What is perhaps more frustrating is that you cannot bring your bicycle onto the Luas. You are prevented from doing that. It is a real missed opportunity. For that microtransport element, the idea is you cannot get on the Luas with your bike at Cherrywood, get the Luas to Ranelagh and then cycle to somewhere that might be adjacent to the Luas but is too far away to walk. We need to do more to allow people to carry bikes on public transport. The Luas has done really good work but it could do so much more.  Public transport has to be the backbone of the function of any city. If we are not delivering a public transport system that people can have confidence in, that they can rely on and that is cost effective, we are then failing those commuters. The more people we can persuade to get on the DART, Luas or the bus, the more who are not getting into cars, often on their own, clogging up the roads, creating environmental hazards, making it more difficult for cyclists and pedestrians and generally creating more problems. Let us put in place a system that we can not just be proud of but that we want to use, we can use and we can rely on to get us to work, school or college on time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Donnelly  I live in Dublin 15. It has a population of over 120,000 and it is predicted to go to 140,000 in 2029. Yet, we do not have the long promised direct bus to the airport. I can get a direct bus pretty much from anywhere in the Thirty-two Counties but if I want to head to the airport, I have to pay \u20ac50 for a taxi or get two buses. This is not an option for the hundreds who work in the airport. Can the Minister get onto the NTA and ask about it? It has been promised for every single year since 2024 but has not turned up. In Tyrrelstown, a complete review of the public transport system is needed. It is not working for the people and there is no plan to go into Kilmartin, which is a huge new estate. I ask the Minister to please ask the NTA to have a look at forward planning and get its act together.  We have the new active travel plan on the N3-M50. That is brilliant. It is a bus lane that will make it faster for residents in Littlepace to get into town. What does the NTA do? It removes the number 70 bus that will bring people directly onto the new bus lane and leaves a pointless cycle lane that goes across the N3 to a garage. Once again, the NTA needs to start listening to the people.  Metro west has been cancelled until 2042. I am pleading with the Minister to please put this back on the agenda because how long has it taken for Metro north to get to this stage? We will all be retired - actually we will probably all have shuffled off this mortal coil - by the time it is done. It will connect the DART+ to Maynooth and the newly proposed Navan rail line at metro north. We know the M50 is at capacity. If that is not a reason to get it started now, I do not know what is. It is really time for the public transport network system to be a network system that works for all. We see it in every major European country.  The DART+ will be brilliant when it comes into play but it is very disjointed. We need metro west connecting with DART+. We need BusConnects and the NTA listening to the people who are on the ground - they are the bus users and know what works. I urge the Minister to have a chat with the NTA and ask it to listen to us. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  The news on the Navan rail corridor was very welcome and I encourage people to engage with the public consultation that is ongoing. I will engage with it and it is very welcome news. Until Navan rail is delivered, the vast majority of public transport in Meath is by bus and on road. There are major weaknesses with the existing services there. The 103, 105 and 109 routes are servicing busy commuter routes in Ashbourne, Rathoath, Dunshaughlin and Kells. It is not a case of whether there will be cancellations on a daily basis, there are cancellations on a daily basis. Today, ten services have been cancelled on the 103 route between 2.30 p.m. and 11.30 p.m. Six services have been cancelled on route 109 during the same time. We have to improve the buses, the fleet, drivers and mechanics. I ask the Minister to please address those issues.  There are areas that have no services at all. I raise the case of Bellewstown, County Meath. I am very supportive of the Connecting Ireland rural transport plan but there is underinvestment and it is slow in its roll-out. A 13-year-old boy, James, launched a petition which has over 450 people. He is calling for a local bus service for Bellewstown. There was a bus service in the 1930s in Bellewstown. He is a really good young lad who has taken an interest in this. He is passionate in pursuing it. The Minister might facilitate a meeting with him at some stage if he is in Meath or maybe in Leinster House, so he can raise the issues with him. I appreciate the Minister is nodding. We can arrange that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  The NTA in its current form is too distant, too rigid and too centralised. Simply put, it is not local enough. This Bill will go some way to help in this regard. The authority is not embedded in the communities it serves and it is increasingly seen as a large, unresponsive bureaucracy. Decisions are being made about towns and villages by an organisation that does not understand how they work. This is a major issue. I see it every day in my constituency of Wicklow.  In Greystones, four school principals are representing over 4,000 students and families. I asked the NTA to sit down and meet them because Greystones is very much a growing town and the needs of many of the schoolchildren who use the buses are not being met by the current bus service. We were trying to resolve that issue. The NTA said it could not meet the principals because, if it did that, it would have to meet everyone. Maybe that is the point. Maybe it should be meeting them. The principals I have referred to represent 4,000 people. It would have been worthwhile for the NTA to sit down and hear exactly what gaps were in the service and potentially what it could do. I realise it cannot address this overnight but it is important for it to hear what the gaps are.  When we have a system that is made so centrally and rigidly, it causes a lot of difficulties. I will give some examples. I have spoken many times in here about the 199 bus, a Local Link bus that was to go from Glendalough through Laragh and Roundwood to Bray. It was announced in April 2025. In May, I was told it was fully funded and that it was a priority service. In July, it went out to tender. In August, Nolan Coaches won the tender. The company hired four drivers and got a bus but that bus is now sitting in a depot in Clonshaugh and has not yet been put into operation. The service was meant to start in September but still has not started. It is now May 2026, a year since the NTA told me the bus route was a priority and had funding. It would now appear that the funding is no longer available, and the service is certainly not operating.  Let me look to west Wicklow. I had a group of students in today, some of whom were from Blessington and some of whom were from Baltinglass. The Blessington group had to get the 65 bus from Blessington to the D\u00e1il. It took them two and a half hours although it is a 50-minute journey by car. They were telling me about the problems. They could not get the 9.30 a.m. service because it is always late, so they had to get the 8 a.m. service. All of these small issues cause enormous problems for people.  The Baltinglass crowd just did not have transport available to them and they had to hire a minibus. There are four services on the 132 bus route every day that connect Baltinglass to Dublin via Tallaght. People tell me that at least once a day one of those services is cancelled. This is a Bus \u00c9ireann service. Many times, people are left stranded in work in Tallaght with no way of getting home. People have to be able to trust the bus service in place for them. Unfortunately, there is no reliability. Where there are problems with reliability, frequency and trust, it is important that the NTA act as a go-between. It needs to understand and hear what the problems are. Unfortunately, that is not happening.  As I have raised previously, the issues go beyond the bus services as they also affect the DART service. I want to raise again with the Minister that there have not been replacement buses or additional Luas services put in place, but there are going to be 30,000 women taking part in the VHI Women's Mini Marathon. It is the world's largest all-women 10 km race and raises \u20ac10 million for charities every year. For the second year in a row, there is going to be no DART between Wicklow and Dublin city for the marathon. Last year, people told me there were no additional Luas or bus services and people were late to the race. I understand that sometimes the long weekends are a good opportunity for staff to carry out works, but there needs to be some recognition that there are just some weekends where the service is so needed that it should be running.  When we talk about extending the NTA's powers, we also have to talk about accountability because, at the moment, there are serious questions about the NTA's oversight. Just last week, we learned that Irish Rail effectively had to write off \u20ac50 million on a failed IT project, a traffic management system that was meant to modernise the rail network. That is \u20ac50 million down the drain. It was not a minor project. It was described as central to how the railway network would be managed but it failed. This is an Irish Rail project but the NTA is the approving and overseeing authority for Irish Rail, so we need some oversight. Why was there no intervention in this instance?  Before we extend the remit of the NTA any further, it is vital that it fix what is already broken. We need to start seeing genuine local engagement, not just tick-box consultation. We need to see clear, timely communication with communities and public representatives. We need to see faster, transparent responses to parliamentary questions. We need to see stronger oversight of project delivery and spending. Above all, we need to see accountability when things go wrong. Without those reforms, we are not expanding a service; we are expanding a system that people unfortunately do not trust despite its importance. Trust, once lost, is difficult to rebuild, but it can be rebuilt through engagement, accountability and willingness to listen to the people who rely on the services every day.  I hope the Minister takes all these suggestions on board. It is important that the NTA work with communities. That is how we put a really good public transport system in place. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Liam Quaide  In the context of today's discussion, I want to focus on bus services and their discontents, and in some cases their near-total absence, across east Cork. We hear a great deal about BusConnects, strategic corridors and the future of public transport in Cork. It is vital that the ambition extend beyond the city and the immediate suburbs. In east Cork, the current standard of bus service is utterly abysmal. I strongly believe that the Midleton-Youghal rail link is an essential part of the long-term public transport future of east Cork and that commuting misery between Youghal and the city is only going to get increasingly worse until it is restored. Rail development has to be supplemented with a quality bus service that reaches all of our settlements. What east Cork urgently needs is a frequent, reliable and efficient bus network connecting our villages, towns, schools, workplaces, healthcare services, train stations and tourism destinations.  At present, people living in villages such as Cloyne, Ballycotton, Whitegate, Aghada and Saleen are effectively stranded if they do not have access to a car. That is the reality. For many people, this is about whether they can get to college, attend a medical appointment, visit family or take part in ordinary community life. The impact is particularly severe for disabled people, older people, young people, those on low incomes and anyone who cannot drive or afford to run a car. It affects the wider public as well because, when bus services are inadequate, everyone is pushed into car dependency, even for short journeys that should be possible by public transport. That means more cars on already overburdened roads. It means more congestion around Midleton, Lakeview, Castleredmond and Ballinacurra. It means more pressure on families and reduced independence for people who should not have to rely on lifts from relatives or neighbours to get around. This is also an embarrassment from the perspective of tourism. East Cork has extraordinary towns and villages and also an extraordinary coastline, heritage and food culture. We are inviting tourists to come here, many from countries where high-quality public transport is standard. When they arrive, they find that getting around without a car is extremely difficult. That is not acceptable in a wealthy country.  This is where the Department of public expenditure has to be challenged. The public wants better services and local communities are crying out for them. The Department of Transport understands that need. Local operators are willing to provide services but too often the cold, dead hand of the Department strangles any prospect of new services developing, as if we were living in an impoverished nation that could not afford basic regional transport. This is short-sighted in terms of our economy, social needs, tourism potential, disability considerations and, of course, carbon emissions.  A functioning bus network is a basic need. If the Government is serious about sustainable development in east Cork, it must invest in the bus services that allow people to live, work, study, visit others and age with dignity and purpose in their communities without being completely dependent on cars. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  I welcome this Bill and the debate we are having because we urgently need reform when it comes to public transport. Cork needs better public transport. We currently have no Luas, too many ghost buses, and towns that are not connected. This is having a huge impact on people's day-to-day lives and their ability to get around the city and county.  It is leading to an increased car dependency and increased reliance on fossil fuels. It is constraining development and is leading to increased traffic. It urgently needs to change.  For buses in Cork, we are way behind what people have in other cities. There are currently no Leap card validaters on buses in Cork, which slows down bus journeys. It also means that people in Cork cannot avail of the 90-minute flat fare that they can get in Dublin. It is not acceptable that the people in Cork pay more for public transport than those in Dublin. That needs to change fast.  Across the country, we need contactless, tap-on buses. We need to get people on and off public transport quicker to improve journey times and make it a more reliable service. There has not been urgency around this issue and that needs to change.  There are also no e-buses in Cork because the depot has not been upgraded. That has been delayed again and again. As a result, we have an older bus stock and get more breakdowns and delays. I was at the bus stop outside my house recently and of the five buses due, four were cancelled. That happens because of a lack of drivers, breakdowns and delays of buses in Cork. It needs investment and support. There needs to be prioritisation of Cork because it is so far behind. Even when it comes to the information on a bus stop, there is a lack of real-time information. There is a lack of bus shelters. Some of the basic infrastructure that you would expect for a modern public transport system is lacking across Cork city and county. It is not acceptable any more.  We also need more park-and-ride facilities. We need improvement across the system. As was mentioned earlier, we also need more local decision-making and input, and more transparency and accountability. Over two months ago, I submitted parliamentary questions around the funding of bus routes in Cork. Two months later, I still do not have a reply from the Minister of the Department. I have written to the Minister and the NTA but we have not got the substantial answers we are looking for to those parliamentary questions. There is a real lack of transparency and accountability, and it needs to change. We need better information and better engagement with local communities and public representatives to ensure that we have a better public transport system that works for everybody. It has an impact on everybody's day-to-day life. If it were serious about climate action, which I do not think the Government is, we would be radically investing in public transport. We would be improving the bus network, delivering a Luas for Cork and enhancing our bus network. What we have instead is delay after delay, one of the oldest bus fleets in the country, people waiting for ghost buses and, as I said, towns that are not connected. It is not good enough. We need urgent change and reform. Cork deserves a better public transport system and needs it now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  I welcome the roll-out of any public transport across the country. A fully functioning republic needs bus and rail services that are reliable and affordable. To reach our climate targets, we need to be moving a little quicker. However, people are not going to get out of their cars if buses do not arrive. They are not going to get out of their cars if it is dangerous to cycle. They are not going to take the bicycle. They are not going to go on public transport if it does not arrive. That is a huge difficulty in my constituency of Dublin South-Central. The Minister of State and I have spoken a lot about buses in Dublin South-Central. He probably knows quite a lot about the public transport in my constituency. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  I could drive the bus nearly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  The Minister of State could nearly drive the bus. Would he turn up on time? That would be fantastic. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  I would try my best. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  The difficulty is that since I was elected, I have held eight public meetings and a number of them were solely about public transport. Our constituency is close to the city. The focus for Bus Connects is getting people from the commuter belts into the city. That seems to have failed is when you live close to the city and the system is not functioning fully.  The community of Bluebell-Inchicore has been protesting very well since before I was elected. I pay tribute to former Deputy Joan Collins, her friends and neighbours, and the people she supports for all the work they have done on that bus route. The problem is that the new bus routes the NTA wants to bring in will not bring those people to Thomas Street, Meath Street or Francis Street, or all the surrounding areas where they go shopping and where their religious services, doctors, dentists and opticians are. This is a difficulty. Only approximately 40% of the people in that part of the constituency own cars. Very few people are driving. They are an older population. They are not all on bikes. If you have your weekly shopping, you are not going to be bringing it on your bicycle unless you have a cargo bike. The bus service there is a disaster for those people. They are protesting all the time.  A second group of people are from Drimnagh. I had a public meeting there recently. The difficulty there is that the bus service now follows a different route, which nobody wants. This is not the only place in my constituency where this is an issue. The NTA dreams up where people want to go when, in fact, it is not where they want to go. They are cut off from coming into town. They are cut off from their doctors and all the medical things that are there. There is also the fact that there are ghost buses. The buses do not turn up on time and are not reliable.  In Chapelizod, the NTA has admitted it did not get it right for the 80 bus. It is going the wrong route. It does not turn up. It is a disaster in terms of ghosting. The ramp that was to be built by the end of the year seems to have disappeared, like half the buses.  The NTA is admitting to not getting it right. People are contacting public representatives on a regular basis. This is the challenge when the service moves to other parts of the country. My advice to any communities to which the NTA or Bus Connects is coming is to go to every single consultation, make sure they are there, make an effort and have their voices heard. I urge them to ensure they keep a record. Plenty of people who have been to those consultations are told that something did not happen and they feel they were not listened to. They feel they were absolutely ignored. For anyone thinking about going to consultations, I suggest they take a record, write down who was there and the names of the representatives. It is important for them to liaise with their public representatives, TDs and councillors, to ensure they know what they want so that we can advocate for them. I have spent so much time advocating for bus services. As a cyclist, I must say that I have never learned as much about buses as I have in the time since I was elected. The reality is that we need to do better.  It is vital that the Minister for Transport is responsible for the NTA. I cannot understand why it does not report to him. I am sure it is not called a \"quango\" but whatever it is called and whatever the relationship is, it must fall under the remit of the Minister for Transport. It must report to him because if it does not, I do not know who it will report to. The Minister needs to get a grip of what is going on in the NTA, particularly in Dublin South-Central and any other place it is going to. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  I am broadly in agreement with the Bill. The expansion of the NTA is not necessarily a bad thing. However, the NTA has serious issues. If you speak to residents of my constituency in Finglas and Glasnevin, you know there are significant issues. It is one of the biggest issues I have had to deal with since I was elected. Complaints come into my office about the NTA and bus services. There is a real issue with the lack of accountability and engagement. There is a real issue about the connection between the NTA and the Minister.  There is also the issue of privatisation and outsourcing within the bus services. The broad issue is that our public transport infrastructure is not up to scratch. It is not delivering the services that people need. In my constituency, in particular, the replacements for routes such as the 9, 83 and 13 have not provided an improved bus service for many people. People's experience is that it is now harder to use buses and public transport as a result of the changes. People say they have had to go back to the car because the new routes do not go through their communities and do not bring them where they need to go. There is a fundamental problem here. I, along with residents from Glasnevin and Finglas and other Deputies, have protested at the NTA. I have organised public meetings on the issue. We gave a clear message to the NTA about the need for changes to address frequency, the issue of ghost buses and to replace service routes that were taken away, particularly the number 24 bus, which ran down Beneavin Road. The NTA promised that service would be brought back but there is still no clear timeline for that. It is not acceptable.  People rely on these buses. They plan their lives around them. There is a real disconnect between the Minister, the NTA and what people are experiencing on the ground in communities, whether it is children going to school, elderly people getting to hospital appointments or people getting into town. They cannot get around their communities or this city. Public transport is absolutely central to providing people with quality of life and access to the services they need.  The F spine routes are still not operating to the extent that would make them adequate replacements for the old routes. As I said, people regularly get in touch with my office about cancellations, delays and ghost buses. This service is neither suitable nor up to standard. We need action on this to ensure that people have quality public transport. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul McAuliffe  I looked at the D\u00e1il's business for this week with interest and saw that we would be taking the Dublin Transport Authority (Amendment) Bill. It is somewhat ironic that the Bill will be of far more benefit to the Minister of State's constituents than it will to mine, because many of the amendments being brought forward relate to BusConnects in Cork. This shows the development of the NTA, which was originally the Dublin Transport Authority before being renamed, and the fact that it was not initially given the clear powers now being granted to it. Like other Deputies, I welcome the standardisation of the powers the NTA will have to act as a developer of both public infrastructure and public transport across the country. The development of BusConnects in Cork, which has been long promised, will be aided by the delivery of this project.  The introduction of BusConnects in Dublin was fairly rocky. Many Deputies campaigned against what the NTA proposed because, in many cases, it went against what local communities wanted. There was not enough of an understanding at the beginning on the part of the NTA as to how people use the bus services. Clusters of people's children might attend a particular school that is some distance away, but they picked that school because there was a bus route to it from their area. It might not make logical sense on a map, but when people see that there is a bus route from A to B, they can see the logic of why families chose that particular school. Therefore, there needs to be far more engagement in Cork, at an earlier point. Many of the lessons relating to what happened in Dublin need to be taken on board.  There is no doubt that the NTA listened when it came to some services. It made significant changes and restored services because it saw the logic in doing so. This often happened in places where communities came together and where the passenger experience was outlined in documented form. I have never been a fan of signing petitions. A petition just shows how many people are against something, but showing the NTA why a service was being used in the way it was had an impact. The NTA listened. In other areas, it pushed ahead with the introduction of BusConnects. As my colleague said earlier in the context of the 23, 24, F1, F2 and F3 in Finglas, the idea is to remove a direct connection to the traditional shopping area comprising O'Connell Street and Henry Street for people from Finglas and Glasnevin and to reduce the frequency of the old 40 buses by introducing the new F1, F2 and F3. Deputies cannot walk through this House without an usher stopping them to tell them that the F1 or F2 did not turn up on a particular morning. The ushers and people who work in the self-service and Members' restaurants, many of whom live in my constituency, will say that they go to the bus stop and sometimes wait 30, 40 or 50 minutes, whereas previously they waited 10, 15 or 20 minutes. Those lessons have to be learnt.  The NTA has a big job to do. I am concerned about extending its power and remit, but I want to see it deliver the Finglas Luas and metro projects. I also want the new designated activity company, DAC, to be established in order that those projects can proceed. I want to see work begin on one of the first core bus corridors that is being developed, namely that between Finglas and Ballymun. It was due to start in March or April, but I have not yet seen the shovel in the ground. We want to see the core bus corridors in place and logic being applied in the context of how they operate.  There will be disagreement, but it is all about communicating. We have to make sure that we have forums for local people to engage. Local people are not a nuisance. They provide information on ways to improve services and their engaging with the process represents an opportunity to communicate change.  We have to make sure that these big infrastructure projects are delivered. The Critical Infrastructure Bill is an important part of that. I will continue to make the case for Finglas Luas. It is a no-brainer. It will cost \u20ac600 million for 4 km of track, and the project will have a massive impact in the context of bringing improvement to our area. It will open up the possibility of new opportunities for people who work and live in our area. We must ensure that the railway order that was granted earlier this year is followed through on quickly with the approval gates for the business case, a procurement policy, enabling works, advance works, construction and then, \"Ding, ding\", the opening of the Luas line into Finglas. That is what we want to see. There are good signs that this is happening with great speed. I want to make sure that there is no slippage. I will do everything in my power in this House to make sure that project is delivered. I ask the Minister of State to support it in the way his colleague the Minister, Deputy O'Brien does. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Geoghegan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Geoghegan  I welcome this Bill. It underpins the investment the Government is making in public transport. There is a false narrative which seeks to divide urban and rural Ireland and which states that this Government is all about roads and that the previous Government was all about public transport. That is absolute rubbish. There is investment in MetroLink, which will be a critical project. Deputy McAuliffe mentioned the extension of the Luas to Finglas, which former Fine Gael Deputy Noel Roc, advocated for even as a councillor. It will be transformative for Dublin.  In addition to the other Luas extensions that are proposed, I want to advocate for a Luas extension to Poolbeg. The Minister of State will recall that I raised this as a Topical issue. He was here when I raised it. That was almost a year ago, and I am delighted to say that there has been a lot of progress on and support for the project thanks to the work of the Minister for Transport, the two Ministers of State in the Department, the NTA and the TII. When I raised it earlier with the Taoiseach, he acknowledged the importance of the project proceeding for the enormous village that is being built on the Glass Bottle site in Poolbeg. More than 10,000 people are due to live there and, potentially, an additional 10,000 people will work there. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, when a study was done in 2016 about that project, the demand was not sufficient, but that all changed. Since I was elected as a TD, I have used every vehicle available to me to advocate for the project. I have met the NTA and TII. I have engaged with the Minister of State and the Minister on this issue.  A new demand survey was taken out, which proved that, with the development of the Glass Bottle site and other adjacent development in the area, there is absolutely a need for an extension to Poolbeg. We were informed as recently as a few weeks ago that the project has moved from phase 1 to phase 2 and that it is hoped that a statutory public consultation relating to the project will begin in 2027. That is a tangible example of how we are making progress in public transport, and in a different form of public transport.  It is fair to say that where we have seen major investment in the past five years is in the area of high-frequency bus routes. I heard many Deputies speak about the challenges they have had in the engagement relating to BusConnects corridors. However, in areas where high-frequency bus routes exist, they are hugely popular and successful. The only frustration people have is when buses do not show up. In other words, when there are ghost buses. That is a big issue with certain bus routes. I have had it in my constituency. In some areas, it is caused by the private operator, Go-Ahead, and, in other cases, it is Dublin Bus that operates the services. When we deliver more high-frequency bus routes, we have to ensure that they are exactly what it says on the tin, namely high-frequency routes, because that is what increases use of public transport. If people know they have to be in college at a certain hour, the bus must pass their door at a particular time. If they know they have to be at work at a certain hour, the bus must arrive to get them there.  Full or packed buses are another problem we have faced with the introduction of high-frequency bus routes. Lots of people want to use them but there is not enough space. That is where Luas and extending light rail comes in. It is blindingly obvious. Many more people can be transported on a Luas, particularly from this area, than on a high-frequency bus route. I should say that it is intended to have a high-frequency bus route to serve the area as well.  What I hope is that there will no let up in the context of the progression of this light rail project.  I hosted a public meeting not so long ago to engage with the community on where this project is at and where it is going, and to listen to people. I was genuinely overwhelmed, both by the attendance at the meeting and the level of interest among people in the issue. The Minister of State would be familiar with what happens when one holds public meetings. I did one a number of years ago on BusConnects where there was huge anguish and real fury about the proposed route through Terenure. There were hundreds of people at the door. What I was trying to do there was ensure that we got people to engage with the process. Unfortunately, that particular bus corridor is currently the subject of a judicial review in the High Court.  We need to learn from this. The way to deal with public transport projects is not to march everyone up a hill and then try to go with the least offensive option at the very end. We need to work with communities right from the beginning. That is what I have tried to do with this Luas to Poolbeg project. I have tried to take the initiative, deliver leaflets, inform people about what is going on, knock on doors and encourage people to come along to public meetings in order to hear their views. There is no question that when you put yourself out there like that as a politician, particularly as a Government TD, people will ask why the Luas is not there already. They can see the apartments under construction. What I am focused on as a new TD in this D\u00e1il is progress and getting this project over the line.  We know that if you start to deliver a pipeline of projects for light rail, there is no end to what you can do. We have the capital available to continue to invest in public transport. We have not extended the Luas since the cross-city project in 2017. We have to keep extending it in order to meet the demand and make provision in respect of the population growth that is taking place. I hope the Minister of State would support me in the Department in supporting the NTA and the TII as they progress their way through the project. I certainly look forward to working with all local TDs and councillors to get this project over the line. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  The Dublin Transport Authority (Amendment) Bill 2026 is a bit of a misnomer because in lots of ways the legislation is more consequential for Cork and the three regional cities. It extends significant powers of planning. It is important that those powers are used with considerable care and judiciously. It is also important that the powers being given to the NTA, which is a matter that deserves careful consideration, ensures that public consultation is still a strong feature and that points are still taken on board. I will come back to that.  An opportunity is being missed. The Minister of State might consider this and communicate it to the Department. We know that Cork cannot continue to grow in the way that it does while reliant only on cars. We need 21th century public transport. That means a Luas system delivered more quickly than is currently planned and that links north to south in order to bring in areas like Carrigaline and Douglas. There must also be a connection to the airport.  We need to ensure that BusConnects is a success. For it to be a success, we need the bus gates to work. For them to work, we have to have remote enforcement. It is a huge missed opportunity that we have a piece of transport legislation before us that does not contemplate doing that, given that it is absolutely central to the success of BusConnects. It can be a success ,but it will not work if people feel there is no advantage to getting the bus and that bus gates are being abused. Unfortunately, at times, the ban on buses and cars on Patrick's Street, or \"Pana\", is not entirely as effective as it could be.  The other issue I want to raise is something in respect of which I am sure the Minister of State will agree. The Cork Luas has tremendous potential to be a huge success, but the NTA has to listen to the public and ensure that the right route is chosen. What it is proposing in relation to Bishopstown is a huge mistake. The Bishopstown GAA club is potentially going to lose a playing pitch on account of what is planned, and there are all the safety issues that exist. The Luas should absolutely serve Bishopstown but the NTA should return to the first option it looked at. There is no reason that it should not go on Wilton Road. In lots of ways, it will serve more people if it goes along Wilton Road and down from there as opposed to through Bishopstown GAA club and Highfield RFC. I do not agree with that. The NTA should go back to plan A. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I concur with Deputy \u00d3 Laoghaire in the sense that all of us want to see NTA deliver transport systems that actually work for our people, but an absolutely necessary piece is public consultation, which is absolutely lacking at times. We all welcomed the signing of the new Enterprise fleet. The Dublin to Belfast line is a brilliant service that facilitates the likes of Dundalk. There is a need for a new fleet, but I do not think we will have it until 2028. At the moment, we get complaints about the number of people who want to use the service but who cannot get seats. There is a huge issue regarding Dundalk Clarke Railway Station, where we need to see parking spaces provided. Some spaces were removed previously. I have been over and back with Iarnr\u00f3d \u00c9ireann on this matter, but we need to see that. Joanna Byrne would not be too happy if I did not mention the need for a north Drogheda train station but it is about organising this in a proper way.  We all know that we have huge issues in relation to infrastructure. I have asked many questions recently with regard to the N53, not very far from my house, and the particular issues in seeing delivery. However, before when some minor works were happening, they caused a number of leaks in that particular area and so I am afraid when the considerable works start about us being able to deliver it. I am seeing this on a day when people in the likes of Sheelagh and Kilkerley do not have water because of an issue with Dunbin reservoir. I do not think this is acceptable. I accept that it relates to an Uisce \u00c9ireann deficit, but I need to put it on record. The telemetry monitor failed and the water ran out as a result. The problem was only discovered when the people of Sheelagh rang me. I rang others. They went out to check the pumps at Hackballscross. This is not the first time this has happened this week. It is a huge issue. I have brought it up with the Taoiseach but I need to draw attention to the infrastructural deficits. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  Many people are, understandably, using this debate as an opportunity to raise a lot of transport issues. I will do that in a second, but I would like to raise serious questions about supporting this Bill. I have a few reasons for doing so.  The NTA is requesting an expansion of its power out of Dublin to the rest of the country, but there are serious questions. People hope that there will be good public consultation. What we have seen with the NTA is great public consultation, but it does not take any of the things on board and there is no accountability. I served on a local authority for 11 years. In fairness to the local authorities, there is public consultation, councillors are held accountable by the local community and public meetings are held. Local knowledge of those councillors and TDs becomes a factor in the whole situation, but that goes out the window with the NTA, TII and all the others.  I will provide an example. A huge public meeting was held in my area a couple of weeks ago in respect of a proposal for TII, in conjunction with Fingal County Council and Meath County Council, to build a footbridge. There must have been 150 people in attendance. The footbridge was going to be erected from an open space in a quiet housing estate over the N3 dual carriageway to a service station in an industrial area. No one asked for this. There was no demonstrable need for it. There was no survey about how many people who live in the location in question work in the industrial estate. Obviously, residents were going to raise issues for safety reasons about e-scooters, e-bikes and all these things that can use a footbridge in order to get onto their estate. There was also the question of providing access to the estate that was not there before and the likelihood of antisocial behaviour. The visual and intrusive impact were also raised, as was spending millions of euro of public money on the project that could instead be spent on much-needed community projects. The irony is that the transport authorities are proposing \u2013 I have raised it with the Minister of State on many occasions \u2013 to take away a direct bus route from that area into Dublin city. They will spend a few million euro building a bridge to get residents to go where the new bus routes are.  This is absolute madness. I do not know whether there is just a rake of money in a budget and it is a case of let us see where we can spend it or what but it is nothing to do with active travel. The best active travel would be getting people into the city centre who work there, which is probably an awful lot of people, and to their schools, etc.  I am raising this genuinely because eight years ago there was a consultation on that bus route and hundreds of people wrote in. The Minister of State will have heard TDs from all parties raising this. It was just ignored. Will I vote to give more powers to an unaccountable body when local authorities should have much more of these powers, like they always used to? At least there is some accountability from local councillors answerable to their community. That needs to be considered much more.  I will raise some of the other transport things that have been ignored continually. On BusConnects, there have been public meetings all over the place, including in Chapelizod and in Dublin Bay North. Does anyone in the NTA actually listen and respond to these concerns? The big plan for BusConnects in my area is to put everybody through the busiest shopping centre in the country, Blanchardstown Centre - it is also trying to introduce car-parking charges - to route all the buses through there and make it a hub. As has been said, people do not want to have to get off one bus to get onto another. Also, not everybody has that mobility and this is incredibly ableist. Nobody has listened. That is felt across the community. I am not happy to give more powers to the NTA to go around the country taking consultation and voting out of the hands of local councillors.  I could go on all day about transport needs in Dublin West. The greater Blanchardstown area is not all of Dublin West but it is a lot of it. It is the third biggest urban area, after Cork and Limerick, but it does not have the transport we need. We do not have a Luas or a metro. There is a rail line but it is out of reach for people not in Castleknock, Clonsilla and Ashtown, which is a lot of the population. We have a huge number of multinational companies and people driving into the area every day. There should have been a Luas extension from Broombridge to Blanchardstown Centre. It is a greenfield site and would not cost as much as if it was diverted through a whole load of areas. It is needed for Blanchardstown, given the amount of industry we have as well.  I want to mention an issue that is not in my constituency but that does relate to accountability and transport projects. I did not know about this until I came across it today. It concerns the proposal for the Navan rail line. Obviously, Navan is quite near Blanchardstown. The Dunsany Nature Reserve has informed us it would be split in two under the proposed route. It would be a loss of irreplaceable ancient woodland and mature trees. There are noise issues. It would disrupt a huge number of habitats. It has eight of the nine bat species found in Ireland, for example. It is an internationally renowned rewilding project. Books have been written about it. It would also have an impact on the rivers Slane and Boyne.  People are asking if an alternative route will be considered. Everybody will write the letters but it feels like the power is more and more being taken from ordinary people. We write letters and get everybody to feed into the public consultation. Hundreds of letters go in and then the NTA, TII or whoever it is continues with the plan. Rarely do they take these matters into account.  I would caution about this Bill being passed. I first became a councillor in 2003 and was elected in 2004. The council used to run the bins and control the water. What does it do now? All these quangos and ad hoc third party bodies are being created - the HSE, the NTA, etc. It takes political decisions out of the hands of elected people and hands them over to national bodies and the Government can say, \"Ah look, you know, NTA took this decision independently. We have to respect it.\" Do not get me wrong. I am not saying that just because people oppose something, it is not the right thing. I am saying local communities and councillors who know their areas are being sidelined by the likes of this Bill, which is giving more powers to a national body to build infrastructure which, often, the councils used to propose. Then it would be a statutory public consultation, after which a vote would come back to the local council. I do not agree that we should be moving more and more in the current direction. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  The central purpose of the Bill is to allow the NTA use its expertise to expand our regional cities' transport services and bring them up to a more uniform standard. The Green Party supports streamlining of services but the purpose of streamlining needs to be to make things more effective. The Government seems to be doing everything in its power to counter any such efficiency effects.  I questioned the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, about this Bill in February and was told it was on the priority publication list for the spring session. Then it was moved to the priority publication list for the summer legislative programme and it was only published in mid May. I am confused as to why this was the case, particularly because at the joint Oireachtas committee I sit on, we decided to waive pre-legislative scrutiny for this legislation in October of last year. That was a decision of Opposition and Government TDs on the committee to move the Bill along in order to support the roll-out of the Cork BusConnects as quickly as possible. When you compare the published Bill to the draft available last year, it seems only 13 words have changed. The Government talks extensively about the \u20ac24.3 billion allocated to public transport as part of the national development plan. We have been told this will result in the delivery of, for example, MetroLink by 2035. How does the Government expect the public to believe it can deliver on promises like that when simply altering two sections of this Bill to help the NTA run regional bus services in Cork has taken almost a year? Managing existing public transport services is probably the least ambitious part of the list of public transport plans. If this is any indication of how the Government will proceed, things are looking pretty bleak.  During our time in government, the Green Party introduced or enhanced 180 bus routes for rural areas in just four years. At one stage, a new or enhanced bus route was being launched every single week. That progress has been stalled, the planned routes are being left unfunded and promises to communities all over this country are being broken.  The most immediate impact of this Bill will be felt in the Minister of State's city, Cork, in terms of the delivery of BusConnects. The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, said in April of this year that he was acutely aware of public transport concerns in Cork. The Minister of State will know from national newspaper headlines earlier this year that there were nearly 3,000 complaints made about Cork bus services in the year prior to that particular statement. Yet it somehow took a full month for the final approval of this legislation to be provided. That had been sitting on the Minister's desk since August. Some 10% of complaints made about bus services in Cork were made about one route, namely the route serving University College Cork, MTU and Cork University Hospital. That means students, doctors, nurses, patients and family members have been impacted by inaction and by the slowness of the Government's delivery of this legislation.  I do not think that is acceptable. I am sure that as a TD for that area, the Minister of State does not think it is acceptable either. The people deserve an answer about why this particular legislation, which is essential before any of that work on Cork BusConnects can take place, has taken so long.  While I welcome the fact the Bill has finally been published, that question about why so much time has been lost is really important. The Government's Project Ireland 2040 strategy was published in 2018, and it set out that the Cork BusConnects project would be completed by 2027. The phased implementation of the different bus routes was meant to begin by 2023, so we are now three years behind that particular schedule.  In February of this year, the NTA said that if this Bill was enacted, it hoped to submit the first of three packages of strategic transport corridors in Cork - the corridor based in the north of the city - by the end of quarter 2. So, because of the delay in enacting this particular legislation, there is now less than one month left if that particular timeline is going to be met and it is not going to be met. We all know that.  The failure to meet those particular targets does not just impact the delivery of that first package, the corridor in the north of the city, it will have a knock-on impact on the implementation of the other two based in the south of Cork as the NTA's timeframe has these packages placed a further six months after the submission of the first.  I have discussed this matter with my Green Party colleague, Councillor Oliver Moran. He has told me that local representatives are simply not willing to go out and speak to the public in Cork about the timelines that the NTA is giving them because they no longer have confidence in those timelines. They say that they do not trust the NTA to deliver on schedule anymore. Those local representatives have been burned too many times. They have gone out with a timeline, and it has been completely undermined by the lack of action.  There is a lack of clarity on the funding for BusConnects Cork and that is creating a sense that the whole project is in stasis despite the fact there is palpable demand for these services among commuters and there is backing for these services among local representatives as well.  I urge that the Government stops adding to those delays in this area and allows the necessary work to be undertaken for the delivery of BusConnects. It should allow the people who are waiting for these services, those students, nurses, doctors, patients, people from all walks of life who rely on public transport to at least see the potential, a horizon within which a better bus service will be delivered across Cork. Very significant political commitments were made. Timelines were set out. It essential that those timelines are delivered on. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maeve O'Connell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maeve-O'Connell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Maeve-O'Connell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Maeve O'Connell  I welcome this Bill. While it is a short and technical Bill which we are talking about today, it is also quite significant because it indicates the seriousness with which this Government is treating the need to overhaul our transport infrastructure.  I represent Dublin Rathdown and from Stepaside to Stillorgan and all the various townlands throughout my constituency, including Ballinteer, Cabinteely and Dundrum, I regularly hear from commuters struggling with cramped Luas carriages, ghost buses, disappearing cycle lanes and congested roads. I acknowledge, however, that public transport is improving. For example, more than 55 million passenger journeys were taken on Luas services alone in 2025. I also welcome the consideration of extending the green Luas line along the eastern bypass route and I look forward to seeing how that is developed.  We are on the right track, forgive the pun, but more needs to be done. For example, we need faster delivery. I appreciate that the Government's Critical Infrastructure Bill will make a real difference to these delivery times but we also need to look at other areas of transport to see how we can make a difference. For example, one of the most common issues my constituents contact me about is who they should approach when a transport problem has arisen. When I follow up with them, I also get a similar response from the various State agencies and local authorities, saying that it is not their area of responsibility.  While this Bill is trying to address a key issue of connectivity, responsibility and accountability, we also have existing issues. I ask the Minister to look at how greater administrative and organisational clarity can be provided across the various State agencies.  I hope that by expanding the remit of the NTA in this Bill, it will be a first step in providing that level of clarity because it recognises that we need that greater level of co-ordination. I ask that the Minister looks at reviewing the various transport bodies operating in the greater Dublin area. They have overlapping responsibilities, and they have challenges around co-ordination. Would the Minister consider a single authority for the greater Dublin area?  The NTA certainly partly fulfils its function but many aspects that I have encountered continue to be retained or delegated to various transport providers, oversight bodies and the local authorities. Thus, with so many bodies, co-ordinating and planning becomes harder, and I fear it ultimately risks a poor return for the taxpayer.  Other European cities, for example, operate a single or two-authority approach. In Amsterdam, which is similar-sized city to Dublin in terms of population, the GBB runs the trams, the metros, the ferry and the bus services with cycle paths and open spaces under the authority of a single city local authority. In Dublin, we have four local authorities through which investment in the development of the cycle network via active travel funding is delegated.  Since 2022, nearly \u20ac600 million has been invested in these active travel schemes across the four Dublin local authorities and this could reach \u20ac1 billion by 2030. However, these schemes have not had the impact that was hoped. The lack of co-ordination may be part of the reason because these schemes were designed to encourage a modal shift that would encourage people to leave the car at home and instead cycle to work, school, shops, friends and family. This would result in two benefits: to reduce the use of motor vehicles to free up the road; and to reduce emissions.  However, there is a distinct lack of evidence that after six years of investment this spend has resulted in either of these objectives being achieved. There are two key reasons for this. I have spoken previously in the Chamber about the complex social and economic barriers to many taking up cycling and making the shift to cycling, and in particular the barriers for women. Women account for just one in four cyclists in Ireland. Only one in five people cycling to work are women. While these challenges can be overcome, and we can certainly encourage our girls and women to enjoy the benefits that cycling provides, as other countries that have a more equal balance between the genders have proven, it is certainly a generational change that will be required, and this will require changes in many areas of society. A recently published paper on why young girls in Ireland do not cycle is titled, It is a Boy's Thing, so we have a significant challenge from a very young age among our young women.  The second reason the active travel scheme has not been as successful as hoped is relevant to this legislation. There has not been an overall strategic and co-ordinated approach to the implementation of these routes. We have had a role out of closed roads, the removal of filter lanes, changed traffic lights sequences and the removal of motor vehicle lanes but never any real consideration what these changes will have on the wider transport network because the traffic does not just disappear. It is diverted, and where is it diverted to is one of the key issues.  Throughout the roll out of these schemes, there has been limited if any engagement with transport providers about how they are going to manage this additional transport. There has been limited, if any, attempt to measure the outcomes on traffic movements and patterns - the actual change in cycle, pedestrian and motor vehicle journeys.  Funding for these schemes is provided to local authorities to implement them but this is resulting in what is effectively a patchwork of cycle improvements with few, if any, connected journeys and a lack of a comprehensive cycling infrastructure within a geographic or townland locality. This results in frustrations being felt by everybody. The cyclists who continue to have broken journeys, with a mixture of safe and unsafe routes, and other road users who can visibly see underutilised cycle lanes while they sit in traffic. The congestion is increasing and, of course, from an emissions point of view, the longer a motorist sits in traffic, the greater the emissions which, again, might explain why we are not seeing a difference in those outcomes.  All of this may explain why the NTA's canal cordon survey, which measures the journeys taken by people on a daily basis, shows that the number of cycle journeys since 2019 are 3,000 fewer. In other words, there are fewer people cycling across the canals than six years ago. All other forms of transport increased. So, again, we do not have an understanding of what is actually going on because we are not really doing the in-depth research around that. Trying to make the right decisions and taking the learnings from all of the spending in the past number of years is important if we are going to ensure that we make these transitions.  We need real data. We need meaningful engagement, and we need effective co-ordination on transport planning. This is essential in order to keep the city moving and to enable people to make the journeys they need to make in our city. This Bill is a small but important step in that overall journey, and I ask the Minister to continue that journey and take on board some of the issues I have highlighted. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  This is a short Bill on paper, but one that carries significant consequences for how transport is planned and delivered across the country. Nobody on this side of the House is against better public transport. Far from it. For far too long, rural Ireland and regions like west Cork have been left behind when it comes to investment in transport infrastructure. People in our communities have been crying out for reliable bus services, safer networks and real connectivity for decades. In principle, any effort to improve delivery and bring investment into the regions is to be welcomed, but - and it is a very big but - we need to be absolutely clear about what the Bill is doing. This legislation hands significant powers to a centralised body, the National Transport Authority, allowing it to step beyond the greater Dublin area and effectively act as a national infrastructure delivery agency. Up until now, the NTA has had these powers primarily in Dublin. This Bill expands that model nationwide. This means that decisions about transport infrastructure in Cork, Kerry, Donegal or anywhere else could increasingly be taken in Dublin offices rather than the local authorities in local communities. That raises serious questions. Infrastructure is not just about roads and bus corridors. It is about people, communities, businesses and local realities. One size does not fit all. What works in central Dublin with a dense population, short travel distances and existing public transport networks does not translate neatly into rural Ireland or regional towns. Will this Bill genuinely deliver balanced regional development or will it simply extend a Dublin-centric model across the country?  We are told that this about efficiency, speeding up delivery and cutting red tape. However, my experience of the NTA is completely the opposite. As a Cork man, it is something that the Minister of State needs to understand. My experience of the NTA is poor. The NTA is poor on delivery. It is poor on communication. It kind of reminds of Uisce \u00c9ireann, although I do not think it was like that at one time. It is like it is untouchable. We cannot communicate with it. We cannot make sense.  It is about small things, small improvements and common-sense improvements. I have been on the board of Local Link for 20 years. I never took a brown cent. When people hear the word \"board\", they think we are all on the coin. I never took a brown cent from it because it delivered. In the past two years, we are delivering nothing to the people. We are looking for a loop in Castletownshend. There is a bus service going down to Castletownshend. People are very happy with that. It is the same with the Mizen one. For the past year and a half, they have been pleading for a loop so that the service could go in one way and out another. It is as simple as that. A child could put it together for the NTA. Will it make a move, though? Will it sit down and talk to people? Not at all. It is above everybody. If we go down to Mizen Head, we are looking for another loop. The bus goes in one way and takes the bus out the same road. We are asking about going in one way and out the other. It is not one foot extra. It takes in about an extra 15 to 20 houses along the route, which would be fantastic, especially for elderly people who do not have a transport service. There was no answer and no movement.  Now, the Government wants to give that same body powers, pat it on the back and tell it to take over more responsibilities so that it can shut the people out. That is not good enough. I do not want to stand here being critical because we did get new services, and we are very glad to have them. It was more than just one or two. There is the one from the Beara. There is the one going down into Kilcrohane and Bantry. They are brilliant services. However, there needs to be a little bit of a door opened where people can talk and resolve issues.  Let us move to the next situation. When I talk about Castletownshend, I am talking about people like Councillor Daniel Sexton, who is getting it in the ear. He is our councillor down there. People are telling him that he cannot deliver, is useless or whatever. All the other councillors are hearing the same thing. It is the same with Councillor Danny Collins down in Kealkill. I cannot understand how the NTA does this. It put forward a tender for Dunmanway, Clonakilty, Grange and Timoleague. Tenders were put out and got back. Prices were got, but it was a case of saying \"Sorry\" because there was no money. In the name of God, it is like going to the shop to buy a bag of spuds and having no money in your pocket. You would not go to the shop. You would stay at home. It is the very same situation in Kealkill, Bantry and Macroom. Tenders were sought and got, but then there was no money. It was like a farce. That is not the way to treat people. The people of Kealkill have no bus service. The people of Grange have no bus service. The people of Timoleague are begging for a service. The people of Castlestownshend and the Mizen want to change the service and make slight changes.  The NTA needs to sit down with the local board. It cannot sit down with everybody, and I accept that. At the very least, it could sit down with a local politician - good God Almighty, we are elected to do something for our people - and give answers. If it does not have the money now, I do not know why it put out a tender for something, but it can say that it will in two or three months. God Almighty, it a closed door because every time it does that, it will have to retender because of the way things are going with fuel and everything. Things have become much more expensive.  It comes down to the Bantry, Kealkill and Macroom councillor, Danny Collins, getting it in the neck, and myself as a public representative. Our job is to reply and to fight for those services because these people have not got an existing transport service. That is because the Government made promises beyond its reach. It should not have done that. It has to come back, and somebody has to sit down and say that a mistake was made but that they will rectify that in a month's time. At this present time, though, it is not being rectified.  I have talked to people in Mayo. I talked to Councillor Chris Maxwell. He told me that the Killeen-Killadoon section needs to be reinstated on the Westport-Louisburgh-Killeen-Killadoon bus route. That section has been discontinued. Again, it is a huge inconvenience to people. It is like giving a dog a bone and pulling it away from them. It is going to agitate people, so why does the Government do these things?  My concern is that, reading the Bill, the Government wants to give the NTA more powers. More powers to do what? To tell people that they cannot have a service? We have to look beyond the usual \"No, no, no\" to \"Maybe\". We can look at places like Drinagh, Caheragh and Kealkill. They have no service. However, there is a service coming very close to them. I said to the NTA that instead of creating a new service, it could maybe extend the service a little here and a little there and cut out costs. I can see costs. I hate to say the word \"shot\", but I could be for saying this. The Killarney to Skibbereen service is being used during the summer, but I sometimes wonder whether its frequency is as necessary in the winter. There can be cuts. I would not be one bit ashamed to sit down and say we should look at the numbers. However, let us deliver a proper service to people who do need it because Kealkill's is a desperate service. It has nothing. I met the residents there. People in Drinagh and Caheragh have no service. It is a terrible situation to be in that they cannot see a bus pass their doors. I have lived in that situation for long enough on the Mizen Peninsula. There were little or no services. Now, there are great services. I commend the people who delivered that. The bottom line is that more can be done, though. Unfortunately, nobody wants to sit down and talk to us. I have my councillors pleading with me to try to deliver. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  I would meet the Deputy any time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  I am not blaming the Minister of State. He is not the NTA. I will sit down with him, though. God Almighty, I would be delighted to do that. I appreciate his offer. I take----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  The Deputy never came to me once. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  I am onto the NTA. I am on the board. I should not have to come to the Minister of State. I am there as a volunteer to deliver for people through the right channels, not to be running to the Minister of State's door every five minutes. I will go to the Minister of State, though. I appreciate that and anyone who offers an open door. I am not coming here to criticise. I am coming here to create solutions. There are solutions there. There is not a need to be blowing a budget here and there because we cannot get every little corner in the country serviced. I respect that. However, the corners that can be serviced with the service that is already there need to be looked into. The Minister of State said his door was open, but the problem is that the door of the NTA is rammed shut. There is something up against it because we cannot open it and cannot get a discussion open on little loops to further enhance a service that is already in existence or answers to the questions about why it tendered for Dunmanway, Clonakilty, Grange and Timoleague and could not deliver. Why did it tender for Bantry, Kealkill and Macroom if it could not deliver? That is wrong. That has to be overturned and looked at.  I plead with the Minister of State to look at the Castlestownhend loop and the Mizen loop because, while I will not say I have given up, I have banged so much on that door that my knuckles are worn. The NTA is not listening and will not open that door. I want to meet with it. As I am a member, I want to bring it before the transport committee to answer questions. However, that is not the way it should happen. There should be dialogue between the public representatives and the system that we have, which is the NTA. Now, the Government wants to give it more powers. I am very concerned about giving it more liberty and power when it cannot cope with the power that it has at the moment. I ask the Minister of State to look at those areas that I spoke about. I am not trying to throw a spanner in the works and say that everything is negative, but there is certainty a lot of frustration out there about services that were promised and not delivered and others that could be issued or extended. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  There is the issue in the legislation itself, there is the bigger picture nationally and then of course there are the more parochial local issues. I am not quite sure, but I know I have been shifted around in the speaking rota so I will deal with the local issues first in case I have to cede the time later on in the discussion and, if not, I will use it to elaborate on the bigger issues. The Government is talking about widening the NTA's remit across the country. I have an issue with the NTA's remit here in Dublin that I have mentioned before. One of the questions on my Bus Correct survey of two years ago was whether or not the NTA should be managed more directly and, in a Dublin context, that would be from a directly elected mayor. This is casting no aspersions on the staff working in the NTA, who I acknowledge are dedicated, but as an institution and organisation the NTA is not fit for purpose. It is not fit for reflecting the views expressed to it by individuals collating all that information. So far with BusConnects I have found that it is discriminating against people with disabilities and older people with bus passes. They are the ones who are least able to hop on, hop off and use the apps. Maybe the hope is that by the time the whole thing rolls out they will have died out, which I think would be quite a cynical approach. If we look at people with disabilities for example, at the moment usually only one wheelchair can fit on a bus. It is hugely discommoding for someone to have to get off a bus and try to get another wheelchair-accessible bus to get from A to B, when they were able to do that in one go originally.  Similarly with older people, I have used the app and in some cases it is faster to get from A to B by timing stuff and looking at maps and when it works, it works well. As I have said before as well, when BusConnects rolls out and if it is properly staffed, people in my survey expressed confidence that it would work quite well and when it was rolled out and properly staffed, it would be like the London Underground, but overground. However, it is not working like that at all. That is because of buses not turning up and staff shortages. Every time a new route is put on an existing route has to be robbed from. People have not faith in the process or that the spine routes will have enough capacity. On the one hand, I have people involved in Dublin Bus telling me that the company could put an auxiliary route on halfway along to catch up where buses are already full. Then the NTA comes back and says that it will allow that but if it happens two or three days on an ongoing basis, a full route will have to be provided. That is not necessarily workable because those auxiliary buses are there for specific instances, particularly with all the hybrid working right now, and when we add in concerts, school events, weekend events, etc. There needs to be the flexibility of an auxiliary service whereby if people are waiting too long, an auxiliary bus can be started halfway along a route. At the same time, there are L buses that are not turning up, so what is supposed to be a half-hourly service turns into an hourly service. In Lucan we have a number of GAA clubs, one of which is Garda Westmanstown Gaels, located between Lucan and Clonsilla. If the L52 does not turn up and people are trying to go to training, for example, they are stuck. The traffic along that route between Clonsilla and Lucan is a nightmare at the best of times, but particularly at peak time in the evenings when people are trying to get somewhere.  With another GAA club, Lucan Sarsfields, it is different in that there is not a bus route in the first place. People have no choice but to drive there. I do not want to get into mentioning specific routes that have problems but I could list some, such as the 13, about which people have expressed views. The 80 is a temporary solution and we will be back arguing what is going to happen with the 80 in a couple of months time. There are issues with the L51 and L52 not turning up. We have issues with the C spines. We have an issue in Adamstown where, because of delays, the NTA ran a route down Adamstown Boulevard for two years as a temporary route, pending finding another temporary route that is going closer to the long-term route. Meanwhile, they have built another 5,000 houses and people are wondering why they cannot have that route along the boulevard. From Adamstown Station, along Adamstown Boulevard there could be a reconstituted 25 route through the village and into town.  In essence, there is no response to the needs of users when they express their frustration at the bus service. That is what I mean when I say the NTA is not fit for purpose. A directly elected mayor for the greater Dublin area or for Dublin could look at these issues, take on board what people are saying, respond and, if a mistake is made, adjust it again. The NTA seems to be coming from a position of it knowing what is best. It does not, because if it did people would not be cheesed off constantly.  That brings me to the bigger national issue in terms of what we need to be doing for routes. I am not from a rural constituency, but in the lifetime of the previous Government we had a massive roll-out of rural Local Link services, which seems to have slowed down a little bit now. I am all for people being able to live in the rural communities they grew up in. I am also supportive of bringing some of the population from hard-pressed areas like Dublin to rural areas. I have mentioned before that in terms of policy for the software and pharmaceutical industries we could have a golden triangle between Tullamore, Mullingar and Athlone. There are lots of small towns and villages around there that could do with a few extra students for schools. West of the Shannon the same thing could apply with hybrid working or community working hubs where people should be able to get a local bus along a route and work from home some of the time and repopulate the areas where the schools are losing teachers. While the population nationally and in major urban centres is going up, it is falling in rural areas. We need to support rural Ireland with a transport system that works. In one of my first speeches during my first term as a TD I remarked on how the train network in the 1950s was massively bigger than it is now. There is no reason in the world why we should not be building that rail gauge as well and focusing on that type of investment.  I want to refer to our planning laws. In south Dublin, the Government wants to be seen to be doing something about the housing crisis. In an area of south Dublin there is zoning for 56,000 housing units, with 12,000 with planning applications in situ . The Government is now proposing another 9,000 units in areas such as Lucan, where we have a massive number of houses yet to be built in areas like Clonburris and Adamstown, where people cannot get basic amenities like parking spaces and where there is no solution for putting in a cable to charge an EV. People are told not to worry about it because they are right beside a train station. It is not utopia. Deputy Shane Moynihan had a go at me on \"The Late Debate\" for saying that in 20 years these are going to be ghettos. I did not say that because they are badly built but because if there are not amenities and infrastructure and a proper 15-minute city where people can walk and have all the facilities beside each other, it is going to create social unrest. In Adamstown we have a related policy where my proposal for a department store was turned down by South Dublin County Council because it would upset the retail hierarchy of Liffey Valley and Tallaght. Therefore, people have to get the bus to Liffey Valley to do their shopping, or a lot of the time they have to drive because they cannot rely on the bus turning up. Transport and planning are absolutely interlinked.  I have not got absolute clarity on it but I know there is a plan to upgrade the grid for the DART+ South West but I am not absolutely sure. I have put in a few parliamentary questions about when that grid capacity will be guaranteed as well as the funding for the DART+ South West. Until the Government provides that service to cater for the existing planned extra 10,000 houses between Lucan and Clondalkin it cannot talk about rezoning more land and creating more unsustainable areas. Similarly, the Luas for Lucan was originally supposed to be completed by now. Now, however, looking at the renewed emerging preferred route it will not be completed until 2036. We are living in a public transport desert where people do not have sufficient access to get around the greater Dublin area in the way that is required. People can go in and out of town and I acknowledge there have been improvements between Blanchardstown, Lucan, Clondalkin and Tallaght, but we do not have enough of the critical short-term routes that are reliable so that people will say, \"You know what, I will put the kids on the bus and we will go to the cr\u00e8che that way,\" or, \"I know I can get to work reliably, I will drop them off en route and get back on within the 90-minute plan.\"  It has not worked and we need more direct political control along with independent analysis of the services to make sure we have something that is fit for purpose. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Lahart","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Lahart.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Lahart.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Lahart  I welcome the opportunity to speak on this. I had been a county councillor for 11 years back in 2010 when Government expanded the DTA to become the NTA. I may have the dates wrong but I am roughly right. This Bill provides a big opportunity. I agree with a lot of what the previous speaker said. There is a real democratic deficit when it comes to the NTA. I suspect the public view of the NTA is not hugely positive. I want to defend it by saying that very often when its schemes are completed the furore calms down and people say actually that is a good piece of work. I was at Parnell Park on Sunday to watch the Dubs in the hurling match. I went out the cycleway, the Fairview one. That road has sufficient width and there is room for everybody. It has a cycle track, a dedicated bus lane and traffic lanes with the same on the other side of the road. It is an excellent piece of work. There were a lot of eggs broken making that omelette, but it is a bespoke piece of infrastructure.  Back in 2010 the Dublin transportation office was all about bus rapid transit. Those are the bendy buses as the Dubs called them. They are to be seen everywhere in Europe. They are in Belfast and Derry. I remember putting around a leaflet in the 2009 local election campaign, proud as punch that this was the next piece of infrastructure that was going to come in. Then the DTA became the NTA. God knows how much money was spent on the bus rapid transit. Bendy buses disappeared because people would be standing too long in them. The people in the NTA then came back to the double decker buses without the central door - they previously had the double decker buses with the centre door. Then they bought a fleet of buses without the centre door. A few years later they decided they liked the centre door and they did away with the buses without the centre door. Then they had the bus pull-ins at bus stops. Then they decided they did not want the bus pull-ins at bus stops and did away with the bus pull-ins. They cannot make up their minds. It leads to an impression that they do not know what they are doing sometimes. That is terribly disparaging for the really good engineers who work there, men and women, and there are some fine people.  They also engage in a lot of desktop stuff which wastes a colossal amount of public money. What Deputy Gogarty said is right. They come before a transport committee. Time is limited to five or six minutes for those on the committee - I am not on the transport committee. Then they come to do a public session in Buswells and we get to have a few minutes from an official. A senior official in the NTA said to me with a wry smile, \u201cYou\u2019re the Deputy who writes all the letters.\u201d I was really taken aback and said, \u201cActually it\u2019s my job to do it. Let it pass.\u201d There is not an adequate mechanism for public representatives to liaise with the NTA. Whose fault is that? It is Fianna F\u00e1il\u2019s and Fine Gael\u2019s fault because we created the legislation. It was also the fault of the Green Party the last time. The Minister has an opportunity to do something to rectify this now and build in something really democratic.  We have all experienced what happens. When a scheme comes in, county councillors on the ground say it is not down to them because it is Government policy. TDs say that actually the council designed it. Everybody is fobbing off responsibility. The public wake up and the first they hear about a scheme is when they see the diggers in the road and they want to know who decided it, who voted for it, who is responsible for it and who they can talk to about it. Everybody is running a mile from it because there is not an identifiable structure. I do not know who is responsible for the schemes. I know the council designed it. When I was a councillor, I know they all had to go out to full Part 8. There is this section 156 which seems to replace that so there is only minor consultation about it. The public consultation of local authorities is just not comprehensive enough. There need to be genuine public meetings properly set up and properly advertised.  I will give one example. I have said this to the NTA. I could speak for an hour on this, as most of my colleagues could. The active travel scheme involves walking and cycling. My area has a number of active travel schemes that are really good but they have resulted in impeding the movement of public transport. I remember having a conversation with an engineer and asked what side of the NTA they were talking to and they said it was active travel. I asked if they had spoken to the BusConnects side. They said they had not because their budget was coming from active travel. It is still the same road space.  I will finish with this. Way back in the day there was a road that we, as councillors, called the green route because it was drawn in green on a map. It connected the N81, which is the Tallaght bypass, all the way out parallel to the M50 to Leopardstown. There was sufficient road width and public realm space for 95% of that route to actually create a connection between the red Luas line and the green Luas line. In the absence of funding for that, there was still sufficient road width to put cycle lanes on either side of the road, proper bus corridors and actually landscape them really nicely. The bus corridor could have been behind trees and not just purely on the road. On some stretches of it there is a double cycle track, then it meets a cycle track on one side of the road and a cycle track on the other side of the road. All I know is this: they have gobbled up the space that could be used for a dedicated bus corridor from the Tallaght bypass to Leopardstown at a time when the M50 is saturated with traffic - a parallel public transport route. It makes no sense to me and I do not understand it.  Here is probably our one opportunity in this term to give public representatives and the public a real voice in how the NTA does its business. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Connolly  I cannot say that I did not have concerns about this Bill when I noted it on the summer legislative agenda. Perhaps it was a misunderstanding of its intention. As I had read it, my concept was that this was a further centralising of the decision-making process on transport policy by the NTA at the expense of local authority members. The Minister, Deputy O\u2019Brien, has assured me that is not the intention of the change and that will not be its impact, which I welcome. However, I have to speak from a regional perspective. In Galway when we debate transport policy and transport infrastructure projects, I cannot help feeling at times that Galway is an afterthought for the NTA. Maybe people from other regional cities think similarly. Maybe people from Dublin think that too much of the NTA time focuses on the regional cities. I have often thought that it might be an idea to have two separate authorities, one transport authority for the greater Dublin region and one for the regional cities.  I share some of the concerns that I have heard expressed by other Members, including Deputy Lahart before me. We only have this opportunity to get this right and we should use it to make sure that we do that. One of the things that is notable about the existing 2008 legislation creating the Dublin Transport Authority, subsequently the National Transport Authority, is that one of the members of the NTA board is the CEO of Dublin City Council. While that is probably appropriate, the same opportunity is not presented to the CEO of Cork City Council, Galway City Council or Limerick City and County Council. While that may not have any significant meaning, the inference could be that Dublin gets greater priority from the NTA than the regional cities. We should do everything we can to ensure that is not the case and that it is not even inferred by the operation of the NTA.  I got some good news yesterday regarding transport planning in Galway, that the NTA has commenced the development of the Galway metropolitan area transport strategy. It is the only city that has not had its transport strategy reviewed since 2016. That decision was made based on the fact that a central part of the transport strategy, the Galway city ring road, had not been decided upon - the planning process had not been completed. That was completed last night and now we are moving on to develop a transport strategy in Galway with that as a focus or a central part of it.  I think it will start with a review of the existing Galway transport strategy. Unfortunately, the reality is that review will show that much of what was planned in the 2016 strategy has been unfulfilled. Other than the redevelopment of Ceannt Station with the development of the five platforms there and a number of active travel measures across the city, we have not seen significant development of transport or public transport infrastructure in Galway city.  I will provide an example of how frustrating this can be for members of a local authority when feel they have some input into the transport policy of the local authority. In October 2022, which is coming up on four years ago, when I was as a member of the local authority, I first received a presentation from the Galway park and ride strategy team. It was done via Zoom because the team was based in Dublin. It presented us with what the park and ride strategy for Galway city would be. It included the development of park and ride facilities on the N83, north of Claregalway; on the N6, which is the Galway-Dublin road; and at Oranmore train station. They were seen as the sites that would be prioritised. Four years later, however, we have yet to see land purchased for the facilities on the N83 or the N6. We are also yet to see the planning application being made to extend the car parking provision at Oranmore train station. It is deeply frustrating.  We have since seen the policy changed somewhat, which I welcome. There is now a proposal to develop a park and ride facility on the western side of the city on the end of the Western Distributor Road. That is welcome. However, to highlight something Deputy Lahart spoke about, there is a lack of co-ordination with regard to the relationship between the NTA and the local authority, and even within the NTA itself. There is no bus priority measure from that park and ride site on the west of the city. The bus will leave the park and ride facility and join regular traffic. I cannot see the public accepting or using that. The most bizarre part of the story is that the NTA brought forward and completed a Part 8 planning process for active travel cycle lanes on that same road. It should and could have developed bus priority measures along the same road to ensure that the park and ride facility would be used by the public. I cannot understand how the Part 8 was brought forward for cycle lanes but not for bus priority. It is not that I oppose the cycles lanes - I welcome them - but, as Deputy Lahart said, there seems to be a lack of co-ordination between active travel and public transport within the NTA.  There is one part of the city I must mention in the context of Galway\u2019s bus strategy, namely, the Upper Ballymoneen Road.  It needs a bus turning bay, which is a simple provision. I ask the Minister of State to look at that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Maurice Quinlivan  The Government has failed consistently in the delivery of transport infrastructure. Projects experience delays, costs mount and progress occurs at a snail\u2019s pace. I am proud to have been representing the people of Limerick in this House for over a decade. It has been the honour of my life. I tend to travel to Dublin by public transport, most regularly by train. Upon arriving in Dublin, I mostly use public transport to get to Leinster House. What I notice most \u2013 I am sure other Deputies will concur - is the contrast in provision of public transport in Dublin compared to Limerick. In Limerick, like many other counties, public transport provision is inadequate and forces people to depend on their car to commute. In Limerick, one will find buses serving roads with no bus infrastructure or no buses serving an area with bus infrastructure. One such area of Limerick is the Condell Road. There are approximately 400 houses and apartments and all the infrastructure for bus services along this road. The bus lane was put in when I was on the council, which is over ten years ago. It has bus lanes and bus shelters, but there is still no local bus service in the area, which is a farcical situation for those living there. Many of those people do not have cars. Not everyone has the luxury of having their own personal vehicle. Hundreds of people live in this urban area with no functioning public transport route.  The Limerick-Shannon metropolitan area transport strategy, LSMATS, was published in December 2022, an ambitious 20-year strategy to deliver sustainable public transport infrastructure for the region. It had great promise. Initial drafts included a commitment to the delivery of the long sought-after northern distributor road, which has been acknowledged as being crucial for the development of the entire region. Indeed, the Minister of State, Deputy O\u2019Donnell, a Fine Gael party colleague of the Minister of State and my constituency colleague, said in 2021:  The Northern Distributor Road is a key piece of road infrastructure for Limerick and is vital for balanced connectivity and development across our city, including the provision of public bus transportation links.  Yet, when the strategy was published, the northern distributor road was a glaring omission from the document, as it was from the national development plan.  Recently, the Coonagh to Knockalisheen Distributor Road, which some consider the first section of a northern distributor road, was opened. It is only partially built. The first two sections are done and they have had a huge positive impact already on the traffic on the north side of Limerick city. I was on that road yesterday, as was Deputy Toole, whom I see sitting in the Chamber. It allowed us to get from Moyross to Dooradoyle in under ten minutes, which would have been inconceivable years ago. It is ridiculous, however, that some who live on the north side of such a small city must get two buses if they are studying at the University of Limerick or working in the adjacent technology park. If this Bill is passed, I hope this project can be considered and implemented.  That is only one of a list of problems with public transport in Limerick, however. Perhaps the next most important issue is the delivery of BusConnects. We are already seeing a four-year delay in the delivery of BusConnects. It is impacting the economic development and liveability of Limerick. Every time we look for an improvement in bus services, we are told we have to wait for BusConnects to be done. Many times in this Chamber I have raised issues about University Hospital Limerick and the growing population in Limerick and the wider mid-west region. The growth in population also makes the delivery of a functional, affordable and reliable public transport system critical. Limerick BusConnects has the potential to transform connectivity within the city and its suburbs, improving access to employment and education while reducing congestion and delivering on commitments to sustainability. Yet, we see no desire to provide the urgently needed funding for BusConnects in Limerick. If we have to wait for BusConnects, I ask the Minister of State and others to intervene to ensure that we have a bus on the Condell Road. People living there must have some sort of access to public transport because, at the moment, their nearest public transport option is approximately 30 minutes walk away. Many of them have small children and do not own cars. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gillian Toole","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gillian-Toole.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Gillian-Toole.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gillian Toole  I preface my remarks about public transport in Meath East and my reservations about the extension of the remit of the National Transport Authority by commending the individual staff members across all ranks within the National Transport Authority, Bus \u00c9ireann and Irish Rail, as applicable to County Meath. However, I will list off the following reservations. I could probably echo everything that Deputies Gogarty and Lahart said.  As County Meath is a rural county, albeit one under strong urban influence, I will provide some rural context to the debate. Last week, Oireachtas Members received a briefing from the senior management team of Meath County Council. Our population, as per the 2022 census, stood at 220,000 people. A total of 60,834 drove to work, while 4,959 went to work by bus and a further 1,241 travelled to work by train. I do not have the exact figures for 2026 but we know that the county\u2019s growth was 13%. In my municipal district of Ratoath, coupled with Ashbourne, the population growth has been closer to 30%, hence why I said the area is under strong urban influence. If we also take into account decarbonisation zones, of which there are nine in Meath, the top contributor to carbon emissions across the board is transport. It would, therefore, strike one as being a no-brainer to optimise our public transport offering in County Meath, particularly in the areas of increasing population and those closest to the city.  I welcome the announcement last week of the preferred option route for the Navan rail line. There are plenty of opportunities in that regard, even through the public consultation. I know, having met some of the currently impacted landowners, that there will be some constructive solutions coming forward in that regard. We absolutely have to aim for the best offering to reach the widest number of residents in the county, particularly for those who commute out of the county and, more importantly, for that increasing number of people commuting into our relatively new FDI companies that have located in the county.  I will provide some context as to where I am going with this. Primarily, I have a major concern about the expansion of the remit of the NTA because we have some legacy issues where the public transport offering is not keeping pace with the growth of the county and the needs of residents. Even on social media as it stands, we have residents raising their concerns about their commute and whether they will relocate. I try to be solution-focused. Since 2016, I started the process of meetings with Bus \u00c9ireann.  In 2018, we added the NTA to those meetings. Everybody was courteous, lots of solutions were put forward and there was listening and hearing to some degree, but what need now in County Meath is action.  We are very aware of Bus \u00c9ireann and the recruitment issues that beleaguered the organisation up to quite recently. It informed me a couple of months ago that drivers and mechanics have been recruited but that a fleet is now required. I am concerned that the NTA focus tends to be myopic. I get off the bus on O'Connell Street and walk up to Leinster House at the beginning of the day and do the reverse in the evening. I have to say that I seriously envy this city in the context of the fleet of very young vehicles that traverse it. I might get on to a groaning, creaking 171 or 161 to get back home to County Meath. There is definitely room for improvement in that regard.  We welcome the extension of the bus corridor to the M3 Parkway and the announcement of the increase in rail services. That will be a game-changer. On the bus in the morning, I might take a photo of the traffic backed up along by Kepak. At that stage, I am usually sitting on the bridge in Clonee wondering if I will make the disability matters committee meeting at 9.30 a.m. on a Wednesday morning. I might frantically send a text ahead, run a bit and walk a bit along O'Connell Street in order to get in here on time. The reason is the traffic jams and the fact that certain buses do not show up. A simple example is USB faults on some buses, some of which were off the road for two days as a result of the turnaround time and the knock-on effects.  My concerns are well founded. Before going out to the other urban conurbations, can we please get County Meath up to scratch? About three years ago, I carried out a survey. We are looking for a link bus to the M3 Parkway. We received 1,200 signatures of known persons within 36 hours, so there is massive need for that service. Park-and-ride facilities fall under the remit of the NTA. A great deal of work is being done in that regard, but I caution as to whether we could have park-and-ride facilities to the north of Ashbourne, Ratoath and Dunshaughlin in particular, because the traffic through Meath is funnelled from Cavan, south Monaghan and parts of Louth.  It is no longer the spoke effect of travel directly to the city centre. We have travel east and west to workplaces in D\u00fan Laoghaire-Rathdown and Fingal. Transport options need to reflect that movement of people. The 109A service to Dublin Airport and, very importantly, Dublin City University has been seriously curtailed. Students under pressure to make exams or lectures are having to get off buses in Phibsborough and switch over if the 109 or the 103 are running late, as they invariably are through no fault of the drivers involved. The delays are caused by traffic congestion. It is a chicken-and-egg situation. If the service is provided to and from Meath, commuters will use it. It will take more vehicles off the road and the congestion, air quality and all of the other issues will be alleviated.  In the area of complaints and customer feedback, Liz who works with me suggested to the NTA something which we see in other jurisdictions, namely a simple QR code at a bus stop that can be scanned. Otherwise, people have to log on to the TFI website, which is cumbersome. People are worried at that point as to whether they should run for the train at the M3 Parkway or hitch a lift. I have often gone with two or three people when we have been left behind, put them into my car and told them to text their parents to say they were with me and that we were heading for the train. If there was a QR code at the bus stop and on the buses, that would seriously improve the real time situation and feed into the app we all use.  On tap on, tap off, are we seriously talking about tit being three years away? If you visit the UK or France and do not have an Oyster card or a Lignes d'Azur card, you can take out your bank card and tap on. I know there are limitations to importing Leap information but all of these simple things will encourage customer buy-in.  As a member of the Joint Committee on Disability Matters, it would be completely remiss of me not to flag the most serious issue. I refer here, and I stand to be corrected, to the breach of Article 9 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to live well within their communities. That is not really feasible if they have to give 24 hours of advanced notice to order their seat on the bus. A bus may come along that does not have the dropped floor or the bus stop - which I know is the remit of the local authority - is not sufficient to equalise the levels for them to alight the bus. There are simple solutions on offer in this regard.  For active and sustainable travel, funding is required for Ratoath and Dunshaughlin to ensure pedestrian safety and to slow vehicles. Walkability audits were carried out two or three years ago. Funding for that would be very welcome. I implore the Ministers of State, Deputies Buttimer and Canney, and the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, to ensure that Meath's public transport options are expanded and optimised before the remit of the NTA is expanded. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  Aonta\u00edm le go leor ruda\u00ed is a bh\u00ed an Teachta Toole ag r\u00e1, go h\u00e1irithe maidir le daoine faoi mh\u00edchumas. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 an-t\u00e1bhachtach go mb\u00edonn muid ag smaoineamh faoi na daoine sin. The Minister of State is aware of the work of Ciar\u00e1n Delaney in Cork. In Dublin, b\u00edonn go leor daoine faoi mh\u00edchumas ag cur glaoch ar m\u2019oifig. Is \u00e9 an rud is uaf\u00e1sa\u00ed n\u00e1 a bheith ag \u00e9isteacht leis na sc\u00e9alta sin, go h\u00e1irithe nuair a mh\u00edn\u00edonn siad go raibh siad ag iarraidh dul chun na hoibre an l\u00e1 sin, but the bus came and there was already someone on it with a pram. As a result, I could not get on. They are working. There are times people should move or when there is already one person on board. I welcome the announcement that there will be two or three spots for people with disabilities. As my colleague mentioned, it is very important.  I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill. Before I begin criticising the NTA, I want to compliment a member of Dublin Bus. I recently submitted a query. I had response back within 12 hours that I was able to give it to a very happy constituent. I compliment the CEO of Dublin Bus for that response and for coming out to the area behind Clontarf bus depot. It has been the site of absolute destruction for the past number of years. There was an issue as to whether Dublin City Council or Bus \u00c9ireann owned the land. It is now confirmed Dublin City Council owns it, so I look forward to getting the area dealt with.  On the Bill, BusConnects has been changing a lot of parts of this city and other cities. I support the extension of the NTA but there are limitations to how much I support it in the sense of how many imperfections there are currently. We need to deliver for those people.  To go back to what I said at the start, it is not acceptable that we do not have a transport system that is fully accessible. A lot of great work has been done but to give people with disabilities complete support, we have to have a public transport system they can trust. I was in Switzerland recently and I saw how accessible public transport can and should be. On the broader issue of accessibility, if the Bill is going to mean anything, it has to not only be for people who are able bodied but also for people who cannot access every single aspect of our society that is private. We should provide them with a public service they can access; a public transport system for everyone.  Another issue I find with the NTA, which has been mentioned by multiple Deputies, is the Leap card system. I know money has been invested in the current plan, but I urge the Minister of State to re-examine it. I am a mechanical engineer, not an electronic engineer, but I have asked my friends if a system could be used for the phone to mimic the ETF from the Leap card. Such a system would be much quicker. The officials from the Department are looking at me. They probably have a good answer in respect of that matter. I tabled a few parliamentary questions in respect of it.  I asked if the National Transport Authority determined that the existing Leap card validator and ticketing infrastructure could not support direct contactless payment by bank card or mobile phone simulations, if any technical or operational assessment had been carried out in this regard, and if the Minister would make a statement on the matter. I received a response but it did not really address the question that I asked, so I have submitted another one.  What is most frustrating for members of the public - it happens to me when I am going to get the bus home - is that none of us has cash anymore. If you do not have one, or if you forget your Leap card, you have to go and get cash out. I do not carry a wallet. Where are you going to go? You are nearly forced to go into the put to get cash back. It is not good for the Irish people. We need to look into this, especially because of where the 130 stop is.  We need to look at making it accessible not only for those with disabilities but also for everyone to encourage them to use public transport. People are like water. They go the fastest route. If you are on the way home, and you see that you can get on the bus, use your phone, tap it and get on, why would you not do it? It would be a lot simpler.  The Leap card system needs to be examined. When I was starting school, it was revolutionary, that is, you did not have to have 65 cent for the bus. The fare has gone up a good bit since then. What is the timeline for the full contactless integration across the network and what is the plan to ensure that every bus stop and every route will enable contactless payment because if we are to extend this NTA framework to Cork, Galway, Limerick, Waterford, Meath, Westmeath and all those places outside the M50 the free travel scheme is another area that we need to examine? People are constantly asking me this on the doorstep so I would like if the Department could issue a statement on it. I understand that there has been money invested in another alternative but I would ask that we stop and re-examine alternatives that other countries have done. The Minister of State will be aware I always want to be constructive and to offer solutions so I would like that to be examined.  I want to highlight the BusConnects issues that have been brought to my attention by residents in Marino whose bus route was recently changed, particularly by the elderly, children and young adults with disabilities who have a set routine. They have learnt that set routine and without any consultation with them, their bus route terminal changed. If a person has learned that set routine of getting into town every day and does not like changes in their routine, that specific small change could really affect that person. Also, the elderly people are now going down an unfamiliar route. Anyone is vulnerable and is not used to the end and I would like that to be examined. I understand there are huge changes on St. Stephen's Green and the NTA will have to reroute some of these routes, but I would like it to be examined.  Another issue I would like to highlight is the recent maritime festival in Howth in north Dublin. We knew there would be thousands of people there. Every year there are thousands of people there but it was like people were going for a meet and greet in the DART - going to see Santa outside. There were four lines of people waiting to get the only DART out of Binn \u00c9adair. If we have a causation and clear data that people will be in the area, can we not make the DART more frequent or offer a more frequent shuttle bus out?  The Bill has the potential - I am a cautious optimist - to be a step forward for the whole country but I also believe we need to hold the NTA and all of the transport authorities to account to ensure that was is promised is delivered. I welcome the recent statements. The response back from the Oireachtas NTA-line has definitely got faster but public representatives, councillors and TDs need to have more of a say on the changes to their constituency.  On transport, I would appreciate an update on the toll bridge crossing between the northside and the southside. Can it be made contactless? Are there plans for that? It is one of the biggest bottlenecks in the city, particularly for my constituents in north Dublin who are trying to cross the Liffey. They still have to wait and pay a toll that has paid the bridge off multiple times. I know I am starting to sound like a man who normally sits here but it makes sense. We need to look into contactless payments. Clearly there is a bottleneck over the Liffey, from the northside to the southside. If we could remove that toll on that bridge, it would really speed up things in the city. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Transport (Deputy Jerry Buttimer)  I thank all the Members for their contributions. It is incumbent on all of us that we would encourage people to use public transport. Based on the debate tonight, some of the suggestions and solutions from the contributions are ways in which we can enhance our public transport offering but also attract more people to partake in public transport. I found the debate interesting and invigorating. A bit like the coffee, it was frank and honest, and we got the good and the bad. It was without the milk and without the sugar at times but it was important to hear it. Those of us who have been on public transport will understand the frustrations of many, and the articulation of the frustrations of the travelling public by many in the Chamber tonight, based on their experiences. It is something we must reflect upon. I am sure the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and I, and others in the Department, will parse through the contributions.  I reassure Members that Government is committed to investing in public transport outside of Dublin. As somebody who lives outside Dublin, like the Ceann Comhairle, there is life beyond the M50, as Deputy Pa Daly will know well. It is important that we have, under the national transport development plan, balanced investment in the regions but also in a variety of modes of transport. We saw the report today about jobs and AI. If we are to be serious about economic competitiveness and our population growth, we need to have investment in public transport. To remind Members in the House, because sometimes they might not hear this articulated, the national development plan and the sectoral investment plan for transport has \u20ac24 billion in funding of projects nationwide.  I reiterate that I accept the frustrations articulated and spoken about in the Chamber tonight. We have a four-year plan for transport investment. It is an ambitious programme of investment in infrastructure and services that reflects Government's determination to build a transport system which is efficient and low-carbon but also responsive to the evolving needs of the travelling public, and also based on our economic needs.  In listening to some of the contributions, I take the point in terms of accountability. There is a real need for accountability around the NTA, which does very good work. Deputy Lahart made a very good point that when you take away the beginning, the middle and the end of the schemes we all refer to, some of the outcomes are quite good and we see a huge improvement. What we all, as politicians and public representatives, share is that democratic deficit that perhaps sometimes we feel we are not being listened to by the NTA. That is why the communication piece is so important. That is why the clear and cogent articulation of the plan, where we are going and how we are going to get there is important. I cannot remember who said that the good engineers with the desktop and modelling sometimes drive us all to the point of distraction. All of us, who have been members of local authorities, recognise the importance of the Part 8 - that transparent piece. With the NTA, that public consultation cannot just be a box-ticking exercise. It has to be meaningful and real. The overarching theme I got tonight was the importance of listening.  There is another point I would make as a practising politician. I was smiling at Deputy \u00d3 Laoghaire, who made reference to Bishopstown and Highfield. As a former chairman of Bishopstown GAA club, I will come back to that. Deputy Pa Daly is smiling at me. The first iteration of the plan for the Luas for Cork did not go through public open space in terms of green areas or the much-cherished sporting recreation grounds of Bishopstown, Highfield and our local schools. Those of us who are long-time politicians will ask why there was a change in the first iteration when to all of us there was no demonstrative need to change it at all. That is why public consultation is important. Notwithstanding the events in Killarney at the weekend, Government is committed.  Part of the Bill deals with Cork, the fastest growing urban area. Population growth of between 50% and 60% is envisaged there by 2040. This is not just about funding being allocated for transport projects; it is also about real delivery in the context of the national development plan for transport, including projects such as the Cork to Limerick motorway, the Castlemartyr and Killeagh bypasses, the M28 to Ringaskiddy and Great Island connectivity. It will also require the Luas and BusConnects for Cork to be developed. The Bill will help to deliver better bus services and improved public transport for Cork.  I say genuinely that Bus \u00c9ireann must improve in terms of its provision of public transport in the city and the suburbs of Cork. People want BusConnects to succeed. The people of Cork want a bus system that delivers in terms of frequency of service and better reliability, safer walking and cycling routes and improved connectivity with the airport and the suburbs. We are entering a critical phase of delivery. That is why the next four years will be transformative.  I hear the frustration of many people who speak to me every week, including Members of the House, regarding BusConnects and other issues relating to Dublin. We heard about that from various Deputies during the debate, and is understandable and fair in the context of the Bill. People want to use public transport and are seeking reliability. Investment by the Government is one part of that. Cork commuter rail is an example of something being used when it is provided. The Cork to Mallow, Midleton or Cobh line shows people voting with their feet. That is an example of the management of A.J. Cronin and others. It is also shows that if a plan is put together and backed up by resources people will use a service.  One of the comments I constantly hear, including last Sunday at the Douglas Young at Heart event for the late Phil Goodman, is about bus services. People tell me they want to use buses, but they want to know what happens if a bus does not come and they are left waiting.  Members mentioned change during the debate. Older people in particular do not like change or do not necessarily want their route numbers or timetables to change. Punctuality and reliability are important.  Accountability was also mentioned. It was stated that the NTA not accountable. It is accountable to the Minister. Fines to the tune of \u20ac735,000 last year were levied on Bus \u00c9ireann due to a lack of reliability. I am not immune to what is going on. There needs to be accountability. Deputies Daly and Quinlivan made reference to that in their contributions. They are correct. People on smaller routes need to be looked after.  Given that I am from Bishopstown, it would be remiss of me not to mention the Bishopstown section of BusConnects not coming into play. That is short-sighted on the part of the NTA. In the case of Cork, let us plan for BusConnects to operate in tandem with and to complement the Luas. At its core, BusConnects is about transforming public transport and the strategic corridor F makes no sense to me. The Bill underpins investment in public transport around sustainable transport corridors, in particular the Bishopstown to Cork city route.  It would also be remiss of me if I did not make reference to the plan for the Luas for Cork going through Bishopstown GAA club and Highfield RFC. I have made my position quite clear as somebody who is in favour of the Luas but does in any way see any merit in the us going through Bishopstown and Highfield in any shape or form or affecting the residents of Wilton Avenue when a vast amount of land owned by the HSE in Cork University Hospital can be used.  This is a very important Bill. As the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, said, it is vital to provide a clear legislative framework to extend the national transport authorities remit and enable it to undertake the construction of public transport infrastructure. I remind Members that, with regard to the NTA, section 44(2) of the Act includes an accountability element. I thank Members for their contributions and look forward to the passage of the Bill through the Houses. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Dublin Transport Authority (Amendment) Bill 2026: Second Stage"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/dbsect_19","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/52","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/52\/dail\/motion\/referral","houseCode":"dail","stage":"motion","isBillStage":false,"showAs":"Dublin Transport Authority (Amendment) Bill 2026: Referral to Select Committee (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Dublin Transport Authority (Amendment) Bill 2026: Referral to Select Committee","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_19","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Transport (Deputy Jerry Buttimer)  I move:  That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Transport, pursuant to Standing Orders 103 and 188. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Dublin Transport Authority (Amendment) Bill 2026: Referral to Select Committee"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/dbsect_20","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Cost of Disability: Motion [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":32,"speakerCount":29},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_20","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Guirke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donna McGettigan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  I move:  That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann:  notes that there have been four major reviews and reports on the cost of disability, i.e., the additional costs to which disabilities give rise for individuals and their families, beginning with The Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities in 1996, the Indecon Report entitled \"The Cost of Disability in Ireland\" in 2021, the Government's failed Green Paper on the Cost of Disability in 2023, and the recent joint research project by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) and the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) \"Adjusting Estimates of Poverty for the Cost of Disability\" in 2025;  further notes that the Government launched yet another consultation on the matter in February of this year;  recognises that households in which a member has a disability undergo significant additional costs, compared to households in which no member has a disability, with the ESRI\/IHREC estimating a weekly cost of \u20ac488 - \u20ac555 on average;  affirms that no one in the State should be worse off socially, politically, or economically, because of their disability;  condemns the choice made by the Government in Budget 2026 to withdraw emergency supports from workers and families, including, in particular, the \u20ac1,400 worth of cost-of-living supports withdrawn from disabled people this year;  recognises that workers and families, including and especially those with disabilities, cannot wait until next year and Budget 2027 for supports, and that on the basis of their Budget 2026 experience they cannot trust the Government to deliver what is needed; and  calls on the Government to:  \u2014 immediately introduce an Emergency Budget with supports for workers and families, including a \u20ac500 lump sum for people with disabilities; and  \u2014 introduce, no later than Budget 2027, a new permanent cost of disability scheme, involving weekly payments for people with disabilities, whether they are in employment or not in employment, that recognises the additional costs to which their disabilities give rise.  I will be sharing my time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Just to be aware, there is an amendment proposed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  I have seen that. I will get to that in a moment. The Minister should withdraw his shameful amendment, if for no other reason than because it is an insult to people with disabilities. Their voices are ignored and are entirely absent from the amendment. I have said it before and will say it again, people with disabilities are not disabled by their own bodies or their intellectual capacity. Rather, they are disabled by a society that is ablest and a society and Government that talks down to them. They are disabled by infrastructure that is hostile to their mobility. They are disabled by Government policy failing them time and time again. They are disabled because they are not listened to and the lived reality of their lives and needs is not responded to.  The amendment references consultation. I want to give the Minister a bit of feedback from a person who was at his most recent summit. Gillian Sherratt, who the Minister will know, had a son Harvey who, for his short life, was one of the many children with scoliosis utterly failed by the State. She wrote that at the Minister's summit the journalists got a chance to ask questions of the Ministers but people with disabilities, disabled persons' organisation representatives, carers and advocates did not get the same opportunity. That is not fair. It is not on. Government has deployed all of its delay and deflect tactics and that is why we had to bring forward this motion.  This motion calls for immediate intervention because the crisis is now. The motion takes into account the lived reality of people with disabilities and the real need for a cost of living emergency payment. The motion is about listening to people. The Minister's tone deaf amendment makes no reference to the fact that the budget left people with disabilities \u20ac1,400 worse off. He should acknowledge and face up to this and respond to the urgent pleas of disabled people who are making stark choices, whether the Minister chooses to acknowledge that. They have to use their immersions and electricity and charge their vital mobility devices. Some people need to maintain a constant temperature in the house, but cannot afford to do so.  A constituent of mine in Balrothery spoke about the statement from the Taoiseach that an emergency payment is not fiscally sustainable and that people with disabilities must wait for a permanent cost of disability payment in budget 2027. She said she is writing to tell the Minister that asking disabled people to wait is what is truly unsustainable. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Claire Kerrane  There are two very straightforward asks in the motion. They are asks that deal with the reality that disabled people the length and breadth of our State are living. It is a reality that was shared with us by them when they came to the gates of Leinster House. It is difficult for people to come to the gates of Leinster House to tell strangers that they are rationing fuel or struggling to put food on the table, and to feel that they have to say it. That is a great shame on one of the richest countries in the world.  It is an amendment that very much ignores the lived reality. The amendment the Government has brought forward is extremely long. It does not once mention the words \"poverty\" or \"deprivation\". It ignores that lived reality.  When the SILC data is published annually, I always look at enforced deprivation because they are the people who cannot afford a decent pair of shoes, who are struggling to keep the heat on in their homes or are struggling to have a meal with meat once a week. On the figure for 2025, it is unfortunate that the CSO does not actually speak to and label various household compositions and who is in those households in terms of disabled people. They are classed as people out of work. A total of 39.2% of those people had lived and experienced enforced deprivation in 2025. That figure is up from the year before. That is stark. It represents people who are really struggling, day-to-day, to heat their homes and have a warm meal. It is really regrettable that the Government's very long amendment fails to acknowledge those people who are living in poverty and who are experiencing deprivation. The rest of the amendment speaks to all of the budget measures from last year, all of which remain ineffective while people continue to live and experience poverty.  The second part of our motion is a commitment to introduce a cost of disability payment. The Government should commit to doing that in the next budget. The Minister should commit to a cost-of-disability payment in the next budget. There is an opportunity to do that this evening. The Minister did not commit to it in the amendment but I hope he will here this evening because people need to know that is coming. Unless we acknowledge that deprivation and those levels of poverty and those at risk of poverty, we are very much failing those people who experience it and live it, day in, day out. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  The Government amendment is nothing short of a disgrace. What is being proposed by Sinn F\u00e9in? We call for the immediate introduction of an emergency budget with supports for workers and families, including a \u20ac500 lump sum for people with disabilities. I know the Minister accepts there is a huge cost of disability. There would not be much point in having the consultation he had - with all of the deficiencies that were in it - if not for the fact the Government accepts there is a cost of disability. On the basis of the payments that have been made in previous budgets, I also know there was an acceptance there is a cost of disability that must be looked after. The only thing that lets all of this down is that this year, we, like many others in this Chamber, have been inundated by people talking about the cost of disability that is impacting on them now.  There are plenty of disability reports. We can go back to the Cost of Disability in Ireland, the Indecon report in 2021 and the Minister's own failed Green Paper on the cost of disability in 2023. The big one is from the ESRI and IHREC called Adjusting Estimates of Poverty for the Cost of Disability. What do they average the cost out at? They say it is \u20ac488 to \u20ac555. If you are talking about more challenging needs, it is \u20ac786 per week to \u20ac875 per week. That is the reality. I thank Physical Impairment Ireland. It provided me with a document called the list of shame. I can see why the consultation did not allow for those with disabilities to ask questions. Many physically impaired people exist in State-sanctioned poverty. Those unable to work live in physical impairment poverty in Ireland. It is now the case of deciding whether to eat or turn on the heating during the day and this is not acceptable. We have all heard the stories of those who cannot afford to charge wheelchairs. Heating may be less of a worry this week than it is most weeks but this is Ireland and the weather we are having is a particular outlier.  I also commend the Disability Federation of Ireland, Access for All and the Irish Wheelchair Association, which have been to the fore in relation to this. We have all read - or many of us should have read - the lived reality piece. People with disabilities should not have to fight for everything. If a person gets a job, they would lose their PA hours. The system makes no sense. They cannot afford medication the doctor says they need. They drag out blood tests as long as they can. It is a disgrace. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Maurice Quinlivan  People living with a disability face a double disadvantage. They face lower employment rates combined with a higher cost of living, as the Minister knows. Those living with a disability are entitled to an adequate standard of living, like the rest of us. That standard includes safe, accessible housing, nutritious food, quality healthcare, rehabilitation services, education and access to meaningful employment opportunities. Yet, this Government took the entitlements from them in last year's budget. It did so by withdrawing critical emergency supports for workers and families and through the withdrawal of \u20ac1,400 worth of cost-of-living supports for people with a disability. These actions have directly impacted the quality of life of those living with a disability. These actions have been done and maintained despite the pleas of disability rights and campaigning groups and service users. Many of us have met them, whether in here or outside of the D\u00e1il, where they had to protest themselves. Those living with a disability use the maxim \"Nothing about us without us\". However, when it comes to this Government, it presses ahead with a \"Nothing for you regardless\" approach.  Our motion today is to support those living with a disability. It is supports their families. It is a response to the crippling costs that have been imposed on these families. While the costs remain and increase, the supports disappear. A 2024 Disability Federation of Ireland submission to the Department of Social Protection noted that 44.7% of people unable to work due to a disability experienced deprivation and 27% of them were at risk of poverty. What amazes me is that we know this and this was known to the Government, prior to last year's budget, and yet it still cruelly opted to cut necessary supports. It was a shameful decision that should be reversed by the introduction of an emergency budget with a \u20ac500 lump sum for disabled people. When the ESRI appeared before the disability matters committee, which I chair, in November 2025, it referenced a research programme it conducted with the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission that estimated the cost of disability is between 52% and 59% of disposable income of disabled households. For those households where a member has severe limitations, this cost increases to 93% of their disposable income, leaving them with absolutely nothing.  When we call for a lump sum payment and the introduction of the cost-of-disability scheme, this is not a call for charity. It is a call for justice. It is a call to ensure that every person, regardless of disability, has the right to participate fully in society. It is a demand that the State and the Government recognises the additional financial costs a person with a disability faces. It is a recognition of the cost of medication, the cost of assistive technology and the cost of home modifications. These are all expenses that should not push a family into poverty.  It is past time for the Government to reverse these disgraceful cuts. It is past time for reviews and reports. It is now a time for action. It is time to recognise those with a disability for who they are; people who bring great value to our island. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan  This evening I want to make it very clear what is at stake. As someone who has spent a significant portion of my adult life working with adults with disabilities, I witnessed the pressures they face. It is not just about heating a home or buying food. It is about the endless hidden costs that the vast majority of people never see. It is about those extra expenses able-bodied people never have to think about; the cost of transport, the need for specialist equipment or how restricted they are, even with transport options. It all adds up to constant, grinding reality. There is a heightened risk of poverty for those living with a disability in this country.  Tonight we stand here again speaking on the hidden cost of disability, just as we did a few months ago. Those with a disability and their families cannot afford a repeat of what happened then. They were left disappointed, angered and feeling abandoned by Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael TDs as they voted down a motion on an emergency \u20ac400 cost-of-living payment for people with disabilities. The Government listened to the personal stories of relentless financial pressure crushing our disabled community and then turned its back. Week after week, we raise these cases. We bring the Government the pleas of people being left behind and yet, it falls on deaf ears. I have to ask the Minister directly; who is this Government championing? Is it the person with a disability who is struggling to survive? Is it a family struggling to find a home or affordable childcare? Is it the large property developers and multinationals, like Starbucks and McDonalds, which want to pay less tax?  When we look at the measures the Minister's party has put in place, the answer is clear: corporate giants receive generous tax breaks while our most vulnerable citizens do not even receive enough to keep up with inflation. The welfare and treatment of our most vulnerable citizens is the mark of the society we want to achieve. That is not my opinion; that is a measure of our humanity.  We need to see this Government act. We need to see it stand with the tens of thousands of people with disabilities and their families who are at the highest risk of poverty and deprivation. I have heard from far too many people in Carlow and Kilkenny who are experiencing a level of hardship they have never known before, hardship caused by the Government's failure to act. Deputy Kerrane summed things up quite well in what she said about the Minister's amendment. It seems to me that the Government is just not listening. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  The one clear message the Government is sending out today to people with disabilities, because of the long-winded amendment the Minister is tabling, is that people with disabilities have to wait, wait and wait again. His message to them is that they should accept second best. It is the same for carers, the people who look after them. However, it is particularly the case for people with disabilities, who everybody in this House accepts have additional needs and additional costs because of those disabilities.  People with disabilities want to be treated and respected on the basis of their individual abilities. At each and every step of the way, from when they are born through childhood and into adulthood, they face battles. We have moved countless motions in this House on children with disabilities who must wait for assessments of need, who must wait for access to a therapist, who cannot get a special school place and whose parents are battling for them. If they have a mental health issue, they must wait for access to mental health services. As they enter their teens and adulthood, they find it difficult to get employment. When they get older, they have unique issues, difficulties and challenges as well. They expect that the State will have their backs.  Despite the many billions of euro that the Government has every year in surpluses, which people hear a lot about, we cannot look after the most vulnerable in society. The Government turns its back on people with disabilities, who simply ask that exceptional needs payments and emergency payments be provided to deal with the reality of the cost-of-living crisis right now, today, tomorrow, next week and next month. The Minister, reflecting the usual position of the Government, is saying it will kick the can down the road and might do something in 2027. I do not see too many people holding their breath that it is going to happen.  I am afraid that for far too long when it comes to disability, we have not treated children or adults with the respect they deserve. We are not treating them on the basis of equality and we are certainly not doing everything possible to ensure they can live full lives in the same way as everybody else. That is the least they deserve. I am extremely disappointed that the motion moved by Teachta O'Reilly and all of the measures we have outlined \u2013 practical, deliverable and realistic proposals that would make a real difference right now for people with disabilities \u2013 are not being accepted. It is a slap in the face. There is no other way to characterise it, and it is deeply upsetting and disappointing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  I welcome the opportunity to speak on this motion and thank Teachta O'Reilly and colleagues for moving it. I am sorry that they have had to move such a motion again. The Minister will have seen similar motions from other Opposition groups.  The motion calls clearly on the Government to stop turning a blind eye and to finally deliver an emergency cost-of-disability payment, not next month and not in the next budget, but now. In last year's budget, Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael made a cold, cruel choice. They left people with disabilities \u20ac1,400 worse off. Just think about that. It is not a figure on a spreadsheet; it is the difference between heating a home and powering a wheelchair. It is the difference between a hot meal and an impossible choice. We have heard testimonies from the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Barnardos, the Disability Federation of Ireland, other disabled persons' organisations, and advocacy groups, but more importantly, in our constituency clinics and communities, at kitchen tables and sitting beside people.  Households with a disabled member are being forced to choose between food, warmth and equipment essential to their lives. The average energy arrears of a household are nearly \u20ac500, but for families with a disabled member it is far higher. The Government should not hide behind the seasons or the weather. Just because we are moving into warmer months does not mean the additional costs disappear. Energy bills, including for heating, and bills for water, medical devices, transport and care do not take a summer break.  Sinn F\u00e9in is demanding an emergency cost-of-living budget, a lump sum payment for people with disabilities now and a permanent cost-of-disability scheme to end this neglect for good. People with disabilities should not have to beg for a decent standard of living. The Minister should withdraw his insulting amendment. People with disabilities are entitled to live with dignity, independence and security. This Government has a responsibility to act. It is time it fulfilled it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Dara Calleary)  I move amendment No. 1:  To delete all words after \"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann\" and substitute the following:  \"acknowledges that:  \u2014 the State provides a broad range of income, education, health and other supports for disabled people, has increased investment in these supports and under the leadership of the Cabinet Committee of Disability Matters chaired by the Taoiseach, will continue to prioritise further improvements over the lifetime of this Government, including with respect to the introduction of a cost of disability payment;  \u2014 Budget 2026 provided for a \u20ac1.15 billion package of new social protection measures, bringing expenditure in respect of disabled people and their carers to just under \u20ac6 billion per annum, this contained significant targeted measures to support disabled people and carers, including:  \u2014 a \u20ac10, or 4.1 per cent increase in the weekly rates of disability payments, bringing personal rates to \u20ac254 per week from January, this represents an additional payment of \u20ac520 in 2026 and a \u20ac51 increase in weekly disability income support payments since Budget 2021;  \u2014 the highest ever increase in the weekly Child Support Payment, an increase of \u20ac16 to \u20ac78 for children aged 12 or over (an additional \u20ac832 per child in 2026), and \u20ac8 to \u20ac58 for children aged under 12 (an additional \u20ac416 per child in 2026), these payments have increased by \u20ac48.20 and \u20ac28.20 per week respectively since 2017, approximately, 53,000 recipients of the Disability Allowance (DA), the Blind Pension and the Invalidity Pension are in receipt of a Child Support Payment;  \u2014 a \u20ac5, or 15 per cent increase in the Fuel Allowance, bring it to \u20ac38 per week from January 2026, providing recipients with an additional \u20ac140 during the annual Fuel Allowance season;  \u2014 a \u20ac20 per month increase in the monthly rate of Domiciliary Care Allowance, bringing it to \u20ac380 per month from January 2026, this represents an additional payment of \u20ac240 per year in 2026, and an increase of over \u20ac70 or 23 per cent since 2022;  \u2014 an increase in the weekly Carer's Allowance income disregard to \u20ac1,000 for a single person (up from \u20ac625) and \u20ac2,000 for a couple (up from \u20ac1,250), while the weekly income limit for Carer's Benefit will rise by \u20ac375 to \u20ac1,000, all from July 2026;  \u2014 the extension of fuel allowance eligibility to enable people on DA or the Blind Pension payments to retain their Fuel Allowance payment for five years if they take up employment;  \u2014 the extension of eligibility for Back to Work Family Dividend payment to the DA or Blind Pension recipients when taking up employment;  \u2014 expansion of eligibility for the Wage Subsidy Scheme (WSS) to people who acquire a disability while in employment, and to those who transfer from Invalidity Pension to Partial Capacity Benefit; and  \u2014 increased payment rates under the WSS, to encourage employers to employ disabled people;  \u2014 Budget 2026, also included an increased allocation of \u20ac3.88 billion for disability services funded through the Department of Children, Disability and Equality in 2026, providing \u20ac2.21 billion to deliver residential services for over 9,000 disabled people, enabling them to live as independently as possible in their local communities, including:  \u2014 day and night respite care of over 10,000 extra nights and 15,000 further day sessions;  \u2014 \u20ac10 million extra to support the transition of people under the age of 65 currently residing in nursing homes;  \u2014 \u20ac3 million extra for the development and continued expansion of Community Neuro-Rehabilitation Teams;  \u2014 \u20ac24.5 million providing approximately 1,400 new places for disabled students leaving school;  \u2014 \u20ac5.5 million for 100,000 additional home support hours and 50,000 additional personal assistance hours;  \u2014 \u20ac8 million for the recruitment of 150 additional staff for Children's Disability Network Teams;  \u2014 \u20ac20 million extra for the Assessment of Need Targeted Waitlist Initiative, through the provision of up to 6,000 clinical assessments; and  \u2014 \u20ac65 million for new developments in disability residential services, including \u20ac40 million that will provide in the region of 199 residential responses, including 152 newly created residential placements;  \u2014 Budget 2026, also provided for further improvements for disabled people in education, including an allocation of \u20ac3 billion to special education, will provide:  \u2014 an additional 860 teachers for special education;  \u2014 up to a further 3,000 special class and special school places for the 2026\/2027 school year; and  \u2014 1,717 additional Special Needs Assistants bringing the total number to almost 24,900;  \u2014 in addition, Budget 2026 provided:  \u2014 \u20ac130 million under the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with Disabilities;  \u2014 a \u20ac25 million allocation to the Public Transport Accessibility Retrofit Programme, to deliver bus and train accessibility improvements to increase the numbers of wheelchair accessible small public service vehicles (taxis), and to expand the Independent Travel Support scheme;  \u2014 approximately an allocation increase of \u20ac2 million to \u20ac13 million, to the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme Fuel Grant;  \u2014 investment of \u20ac69 million in the School Transport Scheme, which will benefit 26,700 students with disabilities; and  \u2014 an increase of \u20ac3 million for the Fund for Students with Disabilities in further and higher education to \u20ac18.2 million, which supports over 24,500 students;  notes that:  \u2014 the \u20ac250 million energy relief package introduced in March included a four-week extension to the Fuel Allowance season, this directly benefits over 96,000 families where the recipient is in receipt of either the DA, the Blind Pension, or the Invalidity Pension;  \u2014 under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, a special Heating Supplement may be paid to assist people in certain circumstances that have special heating needs, for example, in the case of ill health, infirmity or a medical condition; and  \u2014 the Additional Needs Payment may also be made to help meet an essential, once-off cost which an applicant is unable to meet out of their own resources;  further acknowledges that:  \u2014 a dedicated Disability Unit has been established in the Department of the Taoiseach, to drive progress in enhancing supports for disabled people;  \u2014 progress will be monitored by the Cabinet Committee on Children, Disability and Education chaired by the Taoiseach;  \u2014 in addition to the measures already taken, the Government is determined to deliver on its Programme for Government commitment to introduce a permanent Annual Cost of Disability Support Payment;  \u2014 this commitment was reiterated as a core objective of the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030, which the Government published in September 2025;  \u2014 under this strategy, the Minister for Social Protection hosted a Cost of Disability Strategic Focus Network Summit (the Summit) on 13th May, 2026, this summit brought together over 300 people (in-person and on-line), including disabled people, representatives from Disabled Person's Organisations (DPOs), key stakeholder groups, Members of the Oireachtas and officials from a number of Government Departments; and  \u2014 reflecting the requirement for a whole-of-Government approach to addressing costs of disability the Summit was addressed by the Taoiseach, the T\u00e1naiste, the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, and the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, and also attended by the Minister of State with responsibility for Disability at the Department of Children, Disability and Equality;  \u2014 the approach to and content of the Summit was informed by:  \u2014 responses to a public consultation to which over 1,100 submissions received;  \u2014 direct input from DPOs who helped to develop the agenda, and played a key role at the event including, leading sessions; and  \u2014 all relevant research, including the Indecon Report entitled 'The Cost of Disability in Ireland' in 2021, which was commissioned by the Department of Social Protection and represents the largest and most comprehensive analysis of the cost of disability;  \u2014 the discussions at the Summit highlighted:  \u2014 how the costs of disability are not uniform, but vary significantly depending on the type and nature of a person's disability, and their personal circumstances;  \u2014 not all costs can be addressed through a cost of disability payment as many costs relate to services and require measures across other sectors, including health, education and transport; and  \u2014 the preference by disabled people, for a basic universal payment made to all disabled people supplemented by additional amounts for disabled people facing the highest costs; and  further notes that the Department of Social Protection will continue to engage with disabled people and their advocates, with respect to a cost of disability payment, including at the Department's Pre-Budget Forum on 1st July.\".  The Government's amendments sets out our current and future work in respect of the costs of disability. The Government fully recognises that disabled people face unavoidable and ongoing additional costs in their daily lives. The concerns of disabled people and their family members have come through very clearly in the many personal contributions we have received in response to the very recent public consultation process and at the summit two weeks ago.  Improving outcomes for disabled people is a major priority for the Government. Our determination to achieve this is reflected in the programme for Government commitment to introduce a permanent annual cost-of-disability payment. This is also the core objective of the national human rights strategy for disabled people for the period 2025 to 2030, which was developed with the involvement of disability advocates and representative groups. The Taoiseach has set up a dedicated disability unit in his Department to drive progress.  We know that addressing the cost of disability is not a question of income support alone. The delivery of and access to services are also key, and that is acknowledged in the research. All Departments and agencies must work together to address the issue in a comprehensive way. That is why the dedicated unit in the Taoiseach's office is crucial.  The strategic focus network on the cost of disability was a key commitment under the national human rights strategy for disabled people. The public consultation was a key action that was taken before we held the summit. It ran for just over six weeks until Tuesday, 7 April. There was an exceptional response, with over 1,100 submissions received. Eighty-seven submissions were from groups and organisations and 12 from disabled persons' organisations and disabled persons' representative organisations. Accessible ways to participate were widely used, with 60 submissions made over the phone, 20 by post and seven by video.  I hosted the strategic focus network on the cost of disability on 13 May. It was attended by 150 people in person, with the same number joining online. Given its cross-government nature, it included other Departments as well as disabled people and their advocates. Representatives from disabled persons' organisations, key stakeholder groups and Members of the Oireachtas attended. The summit was addressed by the Taoiseach, the T\u00e1naiste, the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Deputy Foley, her Minister of State, Deputy Higgins, and the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Deputy Canney. I spent the entire day at the summit engaging with and speaking to those who attended, formally and informally, and I am very much aware of their personal experiences.  The approach and content of the summit were informed by the responses to the public consultation process, direct input from disabled persons' organisations that helped to develop the agenda and played a key role throughout the event, bilateral meetings with stakeholder groups, and the relevant research, including the Indecon and ESRI reports. We heard directly, informally and formally, about the lived experience of disabled people, the unavoidable costs they incurred and the impact these costs had on their lives.  The discussions highlighted that the costs of disability were not uniform but varied significantly depending on the type and nature of a person's disability and his or her personal circumstances. Many costs relate to services that require measures across all sectors, including health, education and transport.  There was also a preference among disabled people for a basic universal payment made to all disabled people, supplemented by additional amounts for disabled people facing the highest costs. The summit and the submissions made through the consultation process will inform the approach to designing a payment and to identifying other cross-government ways to address the cost of disability in a meaningful and sustainable way.  Sinn F\u00e9in made a submission. However, unlike other parties that nailed their colours to the mast in relation to the amount of that submission, Sinn F\u00e9in said about rates of payment that the amounts must sufficiently cover additional costs of disability, reflective of the rise in costs of essential consumer goods, medicines, rent, transport and energy at the time of implementation. It had nothing more specific to highlight than that. There was also a chance to engage in the consultation process around eligibility. We in the Government are doing that job. We are engaging in the design of and eligibility for the payment. We are engaging with all the relevant organisations to do that. We are currently assessing all of the submissions in that regard. The report of the summit and the submissions will be presented to the implementation and monitoring committee, chaired by the Taoiseach, and will feed into the budget 2027 process.  After budget 2026, there are currently over 232,000 recipients of disability income support payments and over 174,600 recipients of carer's payments. Expenditure across illness, disability and carer's schemes in 2026 will be in the region of \u20ac6 billion, which represents an increase in expenditure of 38% since 2020. Budget 2026 provided for a \u20ac1.15 billion package of new social protection measures. We increased the weekly personal rates of payments such as disability allowance by \u20ac10, or 4.1%. This brings the personal rates of payment to \u20ac254 per week. It represents a \u20ac51 increase in weekly disability income support payments, and equates to an additional \u20ac520 in the full year 2026.  Weekly rates of child support payment have increased by \u20ac16 to \u20ac78 for children aged 12 or over, and by \u20ac8 to \u20ac58 for children under 12. These are the largest ever increases in these payments. Approximately 53,000 recipients of disability allowance, blind pension and invalidity pension are in receipt of a child support payment. They will receive an additional \u20ac832 per child aged 12 or over and an additional \u20ac416 per child aged under 12 per year. The domiciliary care allowance increased by \u20ac20, which represents an additional payment of \u20ac240 per year in 2026.  We also made significant changes to the carer\u2019s allowance means test. The weekly income disregard has increased by 60% to \u20ac1,000 for a single person and to \u20ac2,000 for carers with a spouse or partner. Since June 2022, this amounts to cumulative increases to the disregard of just over 200%. These are the largest ever increases in the carer\u2019s allowance income disregard. We have extended eligibility for the fuel allowance to enable those on disability allowance or blind pension to retain the payment for five years if they take up employment. We have provided a \u20ac5 increase in the fuel allowance, which brings it to \u20ac38 per week. We have provided an additional \u20ac140 in the regular annual fuel season. The extension of the fuel allowance to 1 May ensured that an additional \u20ac38 per week, which totalled an additional \u20ac152 per month, was paid. For an additional 96,000 families, the recipient is in receipt of either disability allowance, blind pension or invalidity pension in relation to the fuel allowance.  I am focused on those in employment and supporting people to take up and remain in employment. We have reduced the number of bands in the wage subsidy scheme from five to three and all rates were increased. Since April, the base right is \u20ac7.50 per hour, up from \u20ac6.30. Employers of between seven and 16 employees under the scheme will receive a new rate of \u20ac8.50 per hour. The scheme has been extended to certain people already at work who acquire a disability or whose ability to work is reduced such that their job, task or role must be adapted significantly. We have a lot more to do in the area of employment of people with disabilities. It will be a key focus during the EU Presidency.  In budget 2026, the Minister, Deputy Foley, secured an increased allocation of \u20ac3.8 billion for disability services, an allocation of \u20ac3 billion to special education and other supports that go directly to improving the lives of those with disabilities, including through the opportunities and supports available. I again highlight that there is a range of supports available for people who are struggling with heating and energy costs. We will continue to make information available in relation to those supports.  I welcome the opportunity to discuss these important issues and to outline the supports available. We are committed to introducing a cost-of-disability payment. It is my priority for budget 2027. The contributions to the consultation process and the discussions at the summit are informing the design of that payment. I thank Deputies for the opportunity to discuss the issue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  The Minister and his Government are failing children with disabilities. It is not just children but adults, too. That is clear. We saw it earlier this year, when people gathered outside the gates of Leinster House to protest the decisions that the Government has taken. It is not just the lack of services and supports. The fact that the Government sat around the Cabinet table and decided to leave people with disabilities \u20ac1,400 worse off is shocking. It is an indictment. This motion relates to the cost of disability and Sinn F\u00e9in's call is to start to reverse that, to immediately make \u20ac500 available to people with disabilities and to bring forward a meaningful cost-of-disability payment that would meet the needs of people with disabilities.  The cost of disability is not just measured in euro and cent. It is also measured in the delays and dithering of the Government. When I say that, I am thinking clearly of two young children, and they are two of 150, in my constituency of Donegal, namely, young Aaron Langan from Laghy and young Diarmuid O'Sullivan from the Finn Valley. I had the pleasure of spending Sunday with young Aaron. He has Duchenne muscular dystrophy, DMD. He was here last year, demanding that the Government allow him access to a drug that was approved by the European Commission. It was approved one year ago next Saturday. He was demanding early access. He was walking around when that was happening. Today, he is in a wheelchair. Without access to that drug, people such as Aaron and the 150 others will not have quality of life. I am asking the Minister to deal with the cost of disability with no more delays in terms of euro and access to crucial medication. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh  Disabled people and their advocates made their requests clear well in advance of the budget. They were simple and reasonable, and called for the Government to address the additional costs of disability. This was not a new demand or an unknown issue. The Government itself had commissioned research into the cost of disability. In the context of a \u20ac9 billion budget surplus, you would think that acting on its own findings would not have been a difficult decision. Instead, the Government chose to do nothing. In fact, as we all know but it bears repeating, disabled people were left \u20ac1,400 worse off following the most recent budget.  Over the past seven months, people from across Kildare have contacted my office looking for help and answers. Why does this Government continue to ignore our needs? No one should be pushed into financial hardship because they have a disability. The State has a responsibility to ensure that disabled people can participate in society equally and live with dignity. They should not have to fight for the basic supports they need to get though everyday life. Disabled people are still being forced to make impossible choices between charging essential equipment and putting food on the table. Families continue to feel the pressure of the cost-of-living crisis despite Government claims that the worst is behind us.  We already know what is needed because disabled people have been telling us for months. Research estimates that the cost of disability is approximately \u20ac500 per week. People with chronic illnesses are forgotten. People living with conditions such as Crohn's disease and colitis face significant, ongoing medical expenses, yet these conditions remain excluded from the long-term illness scheme. People who require lifelong medication, regular hospital appointments and specialist treatment are still expected to shoulder additional costs and it is simply not fair. People do not need support next year or after another consultation process. They need support now. That is why Sinn F\u00e9in is calling for a mini-budget and an emergency \u20ac500 payment for disabled people, alongside the introduction of a permanent cost-of-disability payment. The needs of disabled people and their families have not disappeared since the last time the House debated this issue.  Caithfidh an Rialtas seo beart a dh\u00e9anamh de r\u00e9ir a briathair agus an costas breise a bhaineann le maireacht\u00e1il le m\u00edchumas a aithint. T\u00e1 \u00edoca\u00edocht \u00e9igeand\u00e1la \u20ac500 ag teast\u00e1il \u00f3 theaghlaigh le m\u00edchumas anois agus is c\u00f3ir sc\u00e9im bhuan a tabhairt isteach gan a thuilleadh moille. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  The simple reality, the simple fact we all know, is that people who have a disability are much more likely to be poor, much more likely to be under incredible pressure at the end of the month and much more likely to have to make decisions about whether to pay a bill or do the shopping or whether they can afford a piece of equipment or to pay for insurance. These are the decisions people with disabilities face on a monthly basis and the reality is that situation has got worse.  After the last budget, people with disabilities were \u20ac1,400 worse off, according to independent analysis. They were worse off at a time the Government produced a budget with the biggest tax giveaway in the history of the State. It did not benefit ordinary workers, but went to developers, funds and so on. Ultimately, people with disabilities were right at the back of the queue, which is completely unacceptable and it needs to be redressed now. That is why we are calling for an emergency budget. It needs to be addressed.  I cannot believe the Government moved an amendment to our motion, withdrawing the call for an emergency budget and emergency payment. We have to return to the cost-of-disability payment. Under the last Government, the then Minister, Heather Humphreys, tried to bring in a system that seemed to be trying to coax and force people into work that would not have been suitable for them, almost on pain of losing their payments. It was completely rejected by disabled people's organisations and people with disabilities generally, but that is not a reason not to deal with the issue. The Government should not do it like that. It should not use a stick to deprive people of payments. Let us figure out what are the additional costs people have and how to meet them, because they can vary depending on whether people are living in urban or rural areas, the nature of the disability and so on. I know it is complex, that it is not necessarily simple, but it has to be addressed and it does not seem as if the Department is pursuing it with enough vigour.  Other people have made the point that people with disabilities and their families face struggles all their lives. One of the biggest ones being faced at the moment is that there is no plan for children with intellectual disabilities towards the end of their parents' or carers' lives, when they are in their 70s and 80s. The Before We Die campaign is highlighting this, that there is no plan for when people are no longer able to care and that is not acceptable. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Guirke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Johnny Guirke  Every day, people with disabilities and their families are forced to pay more just to live an ordinary life. They pay more for transport, heating, medical equipment, care and simply getting through the week. Yet, the Government expects people to survive on a \u20ac10 increase to the disability allowance that does not even keep pace with inflation. The Government's Indecon report confirmed the cost of having a disability can range from \u20ac9,500 to almost \u20ac12,000 per year. The Disability Federation of Ireland found that households with a disabled member require up to 59% more disposable income just to achieve the same standard of living as others. For those with severe disabilities, that figure can rise to 93%. These are not abstract figures. They mean families skipping meals, cutting back on heating, struggling with rent and falling deeper into poverty. Figures from 2024 showed that, even when cost-of-disability supports were in place, one in four people with disabilities remained at risk of poverty. Yet, instead of strengthening supports, the Government has ripped them away. The energy credits, lump-sum supports and cost-of-living measures are gone. People with disabilities are now effectively facing a loss in supports of more than \u20ac1,400 per year compared with previous budgets. This is because the budget of last year was not in an election year.  The motion calls for basic fairness. Sinn F\u00e9in is calling for a permanent and immediate cost-of-disability payment to help people to cope with rising costs. The Government's amendment is disappointing.  We also need to address the poverty trap the Government has engineered. Ireland has one of the worst disability employment rates in Europe. People want opportunities but low income disregards and poor support actively discourage participation. The Government's approach is detached from reality and deeply unfair. People with disabilities cannot be treated as an afterthought every budget season. They deserve dignity, respect and meaningful support, not empty promises.  The Government is holding off for as long as it can with supports for disabilities, hoping the most vulnerable in society will go silent. The recent cost-of-disability public consultation is a delay tactic. The Government knows the vulnerable are suffering and finding it hard to cope with the cost-of-living, yet every individual with a disability must fight for supports. Residential places are getting scarce. Respite care is at times impossible to get and independent living is being encouraged by HIQA, yet supports are not available for people living with a disability to be able to live independently. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Wall  I thank Sinn F\u00e9in for bringing forward this important motion on the cost of disability. It is important that the Minister is here to hear what the Opposition has to say about it. The Labour Party has continually raised the ongoing cost-of-living crisis that is affecting many households across Ireland and having a particularly profound impact on those with disabilities and their families who are dealing with the added difficulty of the cost of disability, day in, day out.  As we all know in this House - it has already been mentioned tonight - The Cost of Disability in Ireland report by Indecon showed that people with a disability face additional costs of between almost \u20ac9,000 and more than \u20ac12,000 per year. People living on disability allowance cannot be expected to absorb such massive costs alone. Budget 2026 should have been the budget in which the Government finally implemented the cost-of-disability payment, but it was pushed out again for another year. Given the public consultation on the matter, I sincerely hope the upcoming budget will at least make some progress towards getting this payment into the pockets of those who deserve it most. After the choices the Government made in that budget, disabled people are \u20ac1,400 worse off and I have no doubt those costs have increased massively due to the ongoing price rises in fuel, food and rent.  In my constituency office, I continue to see the consequences of Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael's poor decisions. Disabled people and their families are struggling to put food on the table and pay bills. Like many households in Ireland, they are just surviving. Instead of supporting disabled people, Fianna F\u00e1il, Fine Gael and the Independents who support them decided to cut the VAT rate for fast-food chains that are already making millions in profits. This VAT could have funded a new cost-of-disability payment starting at \u20ac25 per week, with money left over to do more for disabled people and their families. These are the choices the Government made and they are hurting many in this community.  Only a few weeks ago, the Labour Party brought forward a motion for a mini-budget that would undo the terrible budget decisions the Government made, but again, the Government sided with big business, while disabled people, workers and families were left worse off. I counted at least eight commitments to address the cost of disability in the programme for Government, not one of which has been addressed. They include a commitment to extending free travel to children who receive domiciliary care allowance, DCA. Disabled people and their families need to see action from the Government on the ongoing costs they continue to face. The Minister will be familiar with my continued calls to raise the DCA from 16 to 18 years. This because more than 800 parents said in a survey I recently carried out that it is the right thing to do. I could recount many of the reasons people stated that in response to the survey.  This is becoming a massive issue for many families. Information I received from the Minister's Department shows that between 2022 and 2025 almost 16% of children were unsuccessful in their applications to move from DCA to disability allowance. That amounts to more than 1,300 children. We must remember that the DCA payment is a payment designed specifically for children who have a severe disability. Yet, I am currently supporting many families of 16-year-olds who are trying to prove they have a disability despite already receiving DCA. This is completely wrong and places emotional strain on families with the constant battle for what they are entitled to. As many of those who have contacted me said, their child's disability did not go away when they turned 16. This is the part they cannot understand.  I am currently dealing with a number of cases of people with a disability trying to get to hospital appointments, turning to Alone and other such organisations to see whether they can help. A woman who has spent her lifetime in a wheelchair came to my office recently because she is unable to afford the high cost of a special taxi to attend a regular hospital appointment that is necessary for her quality of life.  That is just one example of many I could give here as to why we need a cost of disability payment now and not a promise on a piece of paper. The ongoing cost of disability is placing an immense pressure on disabled people and their families. Government cannot continue to ignore the reality that people are facing. We need to see action from Government to bring down the costs so many households are dealing with, including those for disabled people. The Minister mentioned in his speech that the Government had increased the disability allowance by \u20ac10. Is he aware that a number of approved housing bodies where many of those living with a disability are living - and thankfully living - have recently increased their rents? In a surprise move, the AHBs have increased their rents by \u20ac10; exactly what the Government gave them in the budget. It is being given with one hand and the approved housing bodies are taking away with the other hand, and those with disabilities are simply no better off.  I will finish with an email. I previously highlighted a case of a constituent of mine who has a disability and the ongoing cost of living is putting immense pressure on her and her family. It perfectly sums up the consequence of a Fianna Fail and Fine Gael Government and what it has done to so many people living with a disability. She says:  I am not looking for money to go and buy treats. It is just for physio and acupuncture which helps with my pain, diesel money and car parking for regular medical appointments. Tallaght Hospital costs \u20ac10 for parking. [The \u20ac10 again] Good quality shoes to help me with walking. The daily cost of living is crazy. What can I do so the Government can hear my voice?  This is what is happening on the ground. I sincerely hope the Minister will listen to the motion being brought forward by Sinn F\u00e9in and that he will withdraw the Government countermotion. These are the people who need our help and they need it now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  I thank Sinn F\u00e9in for bringing forward this motion on the cost of disability. It is something that has been raised on a consistent basis since I entered this D\u00e1il Chamber over 18 months ago and it has been brought to my attention on a number of occasions in that time by many people, including parents, those living with disabilities themselves, schools and grandparents who have come into the constituency office who are obviously fearing for their grandchildren who may have a disability or their adult grandchildren who cannot get access to further education and employment. For a long time in this country we have had slogans about it. We have had protests and then we have had short-term responses to what the particular protests are about. However, for many disabled people and their families these are not occasional pressures. They are becoming permanent pressures and a permanent financial reality.  Living with a disability often brings unavoidable additional costs. I know this acutely, even from a personal perspective. People have higher energy bills, increased transport expenses, medical and therapeutic supports, specialised equipment, housing adaptations and, in many cases, reduced opportunities to participate fully in education or employment, as I said. These are not optional costs; they are essential costs. We can speak about grants, say, for home adaptations and things like that. It is the case a majority of the time that those grants for housing adaptations do not necessarily fit for these very people. Research commissioned by the Government has demonstrated that the additional cost of disability can amount to many thousands of euro every year. Yet, despite growing recognition of the issue, too many people continue to struggle to meet those costs on inadequate incomes. Advocacy organisations such as the Disability Federation of Ireland and Inclusion Ireland have consistently highlighted the financial strain being experienced by disabled people, carers and families right across the country. Behind every statistic is a lived experience. There are parents who are forced to absorb enormous additional household costs simply to ensure their child can access basic services, people on disability allowance who are trying to manage rising energy and transport bills while living on a fixed income, and young disabled people who want independence and participation in society but face financial barriers at every stage of life. These are serious issues that require serious policy responses.  There have been important steps taken in recent years, and it is right to acknowledge that awareness of the cost of disability has grown significantly across the political system. However, awareness alone is not enough. What is needed now is a sustained commitment to reducing disability poverty and recognising the real and recurring costs that disabled people face every single day. The Labour Party is practical about this. In our 2026 alternative budget we placed an extremely strong emphasis on protecting living standards and supporting those under the greatest pressure. Our alternative budget including proposals to increase core social welfare rates, strengthen energy and household supports, deliver broader cost-of-living measures designed to support vulnerable households, and scrap the means test of the carer's allowance at a cost of \u20ac330 million. That is a costed real-life solution for many families right across this country. It is often the case that people come in here with populist slogans and do not have the costed proposals with them or often do not have the right answer for the people who are there. The solution, however, has been given to the Minister about getting rid of the means test for carer's allowance. Disability policy cannot be treated in isolation from housing, healthcare, transport or energy policy. All of these issues are connected. At its core, this debate is about equality and dignity. A fair republic should not ask disabled people to carry a disproportionate financial burden simply because the supports around them are inadequate. The objective should not merely be helping people to cope. It should be ensuring that disabled people can participate fully in society, live independently and enjoy the same opportunities and quality of life as every other citizen. That should be the ambition of every public policy and that is the standard we should set for ourselves as legislators.  As the Minister is here, it is important to point out that applications for any social welfare payment, but particularly for those who have disabilities, are not seamless. At times they are extremely difficult. The Minister will know this himself because I am absolutely sure his constituency office is as busy, if not busier, than my own. I have no issue with it and neither does my secretary, who has done it for 30 years, but as these applications are not seamless what we find is that people who are living with disabilities have to come to the office, sometimes in very difficult circumstances, and ask us to fill out the application form with them. That is a difficult process for those people to go through and it is really something the Department should look into trying to resolve. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  I start by thanking Sinn F\u00e9in for bringing forward this motion. It is very important and I am very glad that it did.  Here we go again. We are back here again, several months after I introduced a motion calling for an emergency winter payment for people with disabilities. I am a new TD. I like to listen to what is happening around here. One of the first debates I saw was a three-hour debate on disabilities. It came from all sides of the House. Everybody was talking about how it was very difficult for families who had a disabled person in their home. We all agreed with it. What was the point of that conversation if the Government is not willing to put its money where its mouth is and if it is not willing to support motions like this to make sure people get the kinds of payments they need? In January, I called for an emergency winter payment for people with disabilities. In that debate, the Minister refused to acknowledge the lived experience of people with disabilities. He refused to acknowledge that people were choosing between heating and eating. He called it alarmist language and said that it was dangerous. I have asked him since to withdraw those remarks. He still has not done so, which, quite frankly, is shocking and despicable. There was a protest just before that debate and Michael from Clare, a fairly young fella, told me how he had to choose how many heating rungs on his electric heater he could afford to turn on. That is the reality that people are living with. We have heard these experiences over and over.  I will read into the record some other lived experiences because the Minister seems not to be familiar with them. He seems to be ignoring them completely, month after month, year after year in this Government.  These are all from the Disability Federation of Ireland. On unemployment:  It's financially irresponsible of me to go full-time at work [...] it's better for me to stay part-time than it is to go full-time, which makes no sense.  When I reach 66, I lose all my disability payments, but the extra costs don't go away.  On healthcare:  Because I don't have a medical card, I'm only allowed six physiotherapy sessions a year.  I can't afford medication the doctor says I need ... I drag out blood tests as long as I can.  On financial hardship:  Some weeks its a toss between food or bills as there's nothing left. The disability allowance I receive falls so short in covering my financial needs. I feel penalised and knowing I will continue to deteriorate with no hope for a better future for myself and my children can be unbearable.  I have to attend a food bank weekly ... apart from it being demoralising, it's a necessity to survive. I know the cold, long winter nights are only around the corner, and it scares me.  Simply, the word saving does not apply to me, as I simply have nothing left over.  I'm not looking to be a millionaire. I'm looking for security, home, heat, food, family and not to fight for every basic thing.  We are more reliant than ever on our families and our independence is being eroded. This is not because of our disability. This is because we need to address the cost of [that disability].  You get tired of being the one who says 'sorry, I can't go'... people think you don't care, but you just can't afford it.  The ministers making decisions don't have a clue what it's like to have a disability.  People with disabilities shouldn't have to fight for everything.  We in the Opposition are fighting for people with disabilities. We have been fighting for months. We will be fighting for years, it seems like. Last week I was speaking to a constituent who has a disability. She is being evicted from her home. One thing she said to me that was frustrating was she was worried about gaining employment. I was at the summit the Minister of State was at and somebody told me it took them seven months after they lost their job to get their disability allowance back. This just is not working. While the summit was well organised and well done and I congratulate all the participants, it showed the Minister of State is failing at this and needs to act more quickly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  I thank Sinn F\u00e9in for tabling the motion. The Social Democrats have been vocal about disability rights for a long time. Before the last general election, one of our red-line issues was having a Minister for disability. That was because in this country people with disabilities are failed so badly and we want to protect their rights and deliver what they have identified that they need.  The Disability Federation of Ireland is made up of several organisations and its report sets out a stark situation for anyone with a disability. One of the organisations involved is the Irish Wheelchair Association. When I came back from London to Dublin, I worked in that organisation as a personal assistant for a number of people. I had worked as a support worker for people with disabilities in London for a short time and there was a difference in how people with disabilities were treated in the two places.  This Private Members' motion is on costs but I want to highlight the human cost of ignoring and sidelining people who are disabled. The Government's amendment highlights what has been spent by the Department of Education and Youth on disabled people and the additional 860 people for special education. What it fails to say is the allocation for special education teachers was made for mainstream schools in March but, unfortunately, special schools like the mild general learning disabilities schools have not been given their allocation yet, on 26 May. Why is that?  The Government amendment refers to additional SNAs bringing the total to 24,900 which is welcome but that is thanks to the uproar that happened when there was a threat of cuts to SNAs. We have all these SNAs but they still do not have proper contracts, they do not know about redeployment and the workforce planning has not been published yet either. We can throw all the money we want at disabilities and stand up here and say all sorts of things but the reality on the ground is a different situation altogether, one where disabled people are ignored and failed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Liam Quaide  I commend Sinn F\u00e9in on this motion. This issue goes to the heart of whether we are serious about disability rights or content to keep repeating the language of disability rights while leaving disabled people to absorb costs that are neither optional, marginal nor of their own making.  The cost of disability means higher expenses associated with transport, equipment, therapies, healthcare, communication supports and personal assistance, among other things. It means the cost of navigating a society that is still far too inaccessible and being expected to pay personally for that inaccessibility. It has been long established that disabled people face major additional financial burdens as a direct result of living with a disability in a society not properly adapted to their needs. The figures are stark: one in five people unable to work due to long-standing illness or disability lives in consistent poverty; around two in five experience enforced deprivation, meaning they cannot afford basics such as heating or new clothes.  The ESRI and the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission have shown that when the additional cost of disability is properly factored in, poverty among disabled people is drastically underestimated. Even those figures do not capture the daily reality. At a protest outside Leinster House before Christmas, one person spoke about having to decide whether to turn on one or two bars of an electric heater because energy costs have risen so sharply. At a later session on the Leinster House campus, we heard a harrowing account of a disabled person who had to stop home dialysis because of energy costs and rely instead on hospital dialysis, a change that put her health at greater risk. That example should stop us in our tracks. Home dialysis services a serious medical need. It means a modicum of increased independence in extremely challenging circumstances. It can mean fewer exhausting journeys, a little bit more control over one's life and less pressure on hospital services. Essentially, we have here somebody pushed into greater medical dependency and, ultimately, at greater cost to the State. It is a complete absurdity. Because of the cost of powering essential medical care at home, that person was forced away from the safer and more independent option. That is what the cost of disability can mean in real life. It means people making impossible decisions between heat, health and independence.  This is happening, unforgivably, in a country with a flourishing economy, large budgetary surpluses and repeated Government statements about inclusion, participation and rights. There is a clear commitment in the programme for Government to introduce an annual cost-of-disability payment. There has been a consultation and a summit. There may be further papers, processes and interdepartmental work. Some of that will be necessary but disabled people cannot pay bills with consultations or heat their homes with strategy documents. They cannot run medical equipment on future commitments. The Government needs to move from acknowledgement to serious action.  There must be a permanent annual cost-of-disability payment. There must be immediate relief for people under pressure right now. Disability allowance and related payments must be brought to a level that reflects the reality of poverty, deprivation and additional costs. Too often, our system treats disability support as though it is only about whether someone can or cannot work. However, many disabled people want to work, want to build careers, want to start businesses and want to contribute socially and economically. What they face is a system full of cliff edges, maddening complexity and risk.  Disability campaigner Eddie Hennessy from County Cork has described this powerfully. After a major stroke, Eddie built a photography business and became an award-winning photographer. He has gone to major lengths to highlight the infuriating barriers faced by disabled entrepreneurs: higher costs, the need for personal assistance, the risk of losing essential supports and a lack of joined-up responsibility across Departments and agencies. One reality he has captured is that supports exist, to some extent, for businesses to employ disabled people but not for disabled people to employ themselves. That is exactly the kind of structural barrier we need to confront. For disabled people, self-employment may be the best path to self-actualisation and the best way to work flexibly, yet instead of supporting that ambition, the State often turns it into a bureaucratic nightmare. People are then forced to ask: if I try to work, will I lose my supports? If I take on a contract, will I be punished? If my business has a good month and then a bad month, will the system understand that? If I need assistance to do the parts of the job my disability makes difficult, will that be recognised as a legitimate cost of participation? This is where cost-of-disability policy must connect with policies on employment, enterprise, transport, housing and health.  Otherwise, we trap people in poverty and then congratulate ourselves for speaking about inclusion. The Government cannot continue to describe disability rights as a priority while refusing to resource the basic conditions that make those rights real. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charles Ward  I thank Deputy O'Reilly and Sinn F\u00e9in for bringing forward this motion on the cost of disability. I reiterate what Deputy Doherty said about the situation that Aaron Langan and Diarmuid O'Sullivan are in. The situation is that a year ago we were in the audiovisual room along with Diarmuid and his parents. Diarmuid's story is that he has DMD. His brother also has it and is on a trial which means that he has the medication while Diarmuid does not. That is serious issue. Diarmuid is up against it in the context of time. Aaron Langan is also up against it. Aaron lives in Laghy, which is ten minutes from Belleek in County Fermanagh where the relevant drug is readily available. I plead with the Minister to get something done about this. A year has passed. These children are losing time, and time is muscle. I will move on.  More than 20% of the population are living with a disability. Despite making up a fifth of our population, however, those with disabilities are often left behind. In the context of accessing services, these people are three times more likely to be at risk of entering poverty. That is an absolute disgrace in this day and age. Those to whom I refer have twice the risk of developing conditions such as depression, asthma, stroke, obesity or poor oral health. According to Social Justice Ireland, two in five people with disabilities are unable to afford essentials such as heating and clothing. One in five people with disabilities lives in constant poverty. The ESRI has found that households with disabled members have a lower standard of living than those that do not have disabled members. The cost of disability is between 52% to 59% of disposable income. The average weekly household disposable income for a disabled household is around \u20ac944, which means disability costs between \u20ac488 and \u20ac550 per week. That is another mortgage for people. The Government has to take responsibility and help these people, because as people in every constituency office will confirm, we are constantly inundated.  People with disabilities are \u20ac1,400 a year worse off because of the removal of essential supports in budget 2026. That is a fact. It is not surprising that the risk-of-poverty rate is much higher for disabled people compared with their able-bodied counterparts. The risk-of-poverty rate has risen to 24% for disabled people. This compares with a rate of 10% for non-disabled people. The situation is ridiculous. They are not getting equality and households with disabled members require 41% to 93% extra disposable income to meet their standard of living.  When it comes to it, the significant additional costs faced by disabled people are not being met by existing social welfare programmes. We can see that through our constituency offices when we are applying for stuff and trying to help people. Numerous studies have shown that costs are continuing to rise significantly. We need to step up as a State. We need to promote equality and help people. In particular, we need to step up to support disabled people who have been impacted by living houses built using defective concrete. Can the Members imagine having a disability and living in such a home? The costs to run the home are already astronomical because of the structural failures involved. People may have equipment that they need to bolt to the wall but they cannot do so. I deal with these people every day of the week and am trying my best to help them. We tell them that help is coming and that the has said that it is going to help. However, they have been left waiting time and again. It is significant that they feel desperate in their circumstances and in extremely poor conditions in which they live.  As we move forward, the Government needs to start engaging with people who have disabilities and who live in defective concrete homes. Those people need to be heard. They need to feel that they have a voice. They feel that they do not have a voice and that they are not being listened to. It is bad enough having a disability, but imagine having a disability and being stuck in a home that is crumbling around you. These people are not going to be able to afford to move. Their mental health is down the drain, and we are not talking about one, two or three people. I have had five, six, seven or eight people come into my office since the day I was elected, and I am representing them.  The Government needs to take this seriously. It needs to do a study on people with disabilities who are living in defective concrete homes, because they are not being treated properly. Their human rights are being violated. They have been violated for far too long. They have not been given the opportunity to be listened to. I plead with the Minister to start engaging with the families of people with disabilities who are living in defective concrete homes over the next few months. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  We are exhausted by the number of reports, reviews and investigations into the cost of disabilities for individuals. We had the Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities in 1996. We had Indecon's Report on the Cost of Disability in Ireland, which was published in 2021. We had a Green Paper on the cost of disability in 2023. We had an ESRI joint report with the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission in 2025, and we had another consultation in February of this year. We have been waiting over 30 years for a decision. I wonder whether a decision will ever be made or whether there will ever be a cost-of-disability payment for persons with disabilities. This extraordinary delay has left disabled persons with a totally inadequate standard of living.  The at-risk-of-poverty rate for persons with disabilities is 24%, more than two and half times the rate for the rest of the population. As the Minister knows well, the cost of disability is between 52% and 57% of a household's disposable income. The additional cost is estimated to be anything from \u20ac488 to \u20ac555 per week. On top of that, Ireland has one of the lowest rates of disability employment in Europe. There are huge barriers to employment for people with disabilities, including a lack of personal assistants, a lack of equipment such as electric wheelchairs and a lack of personalised budgets. The fear of the loss of benefits is another huge barrier to employment. Those losses could include the loss of a medical card, the loss of the fuel allowance, the complete loss of or a reduction in a person's disability payment or the loss of the free travel card.  In other EU countries, disabled people do not lose disability entitlements when they work. The biggest fear about and barrier to working is the loss of the medical card. Medical need should decide an entitlement to a medical card as opposed to someone's income. Because of the limited nature of income disregards, people with disabilities, if they work at all, tend to do so in low-paid or part-time employment.  In relation to approval for disability allowance, the strict means testing and cliff-edge nature of the limits exclude many persons who would otherwise qualify for payment. Persons applying for allowance are often means-tested against their spouse's or partner's income, which is very problematic. Thousands of applicants are refused on initial application, with 43% of cases, or almost one in every two, overturned on appeal. The cost of means testing should be assessed, and consideration must be given to a move to universal payments.  Housing is another cause of huge difficulty for people with disabilities. Many continue to live at home with their parents. Parents often are carers and care into their 70s, 80s and 90s. There are 2,065 adults with disabilities who are living with parents who are over the age of 70. Five hundred of these people live with parents who are over 80 years of age.  Of course, the cost-of-living crisis has severely impacted people with disabilities. It is literally a case of heating or eating or charging an electric wheelchair or eating. The cost of home heating oil has gone through the roof, with no reduction whatsoever on offer. A significant number of people with disabilities are among the 317,000 families who in arrears on their electricity bills and the 185,000 families who are in arrears on their gas bills.  The cost of food has spiralled out of control in recent years. Over the past five years, milk is up 43%, butter is up 42%, cheese is up 28%, diced beef is up 48%, chicken is up 33%, beef is up 32% and lamb is up 52%. On top of all that, the Government withdrew all cost-of-living supports in budget 2026, hitting workers, families and people with disabilities very hard. Families are being put to the pin of their collar to make ends meet. They cannot wait for next year's budget. They are in trouble now and they need help now. We need an emergency budget and a range of supports for families and people with disabilities. That must include a lump sum of at least \u20ac500. The money is available. The Minister knows that. The budget surplus this year will be \u20ac9.2 billion. Two or three weeks ago, the Government stated that the surplus will increase from \u20ac5 billion to \u20ac9.2 billion. I ask the Government to bring in an emergency budget and to do the right thing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  There is a significant cost to having a disability. We all know that. We do not need any more reports, consultations or reviews. This is very clear. The cost involved is in the region of an additional \u20ac1,500 per year. The Indecon report of 2021 clearly outlined the cost of disability. That report was commissioned by the Government. In light of inflation, we know that the cost has risen significantly. The cost of energy, for example, for people with disabilities is significant. Many people with disabilities are immobile and feel the cold. The cost-of-living and cost-of-fuel crises have hit people with disabilities in a significant way in the context of the cost of assistive technologies, healthcare, medicine, housing adaption supports, mobility and transport. I know many people in Mayo whose main mode of transport is specialised taxis. In rural Ireland, it is an extraordinarily expensive endeavour to get around, socialise and engage with services. We all know people with disabilities. I recently spoke to a wonderful mother whose child has a disability. That mother is afraid to die. She is afraid to die because of the lack of supports for her adult child. It would break your heart to hear a woman in her senior years coming to my clinic and saying that she is afraid to die and asking what supports, including in the context of housing, are available. It is quite devastating.  Let us look at Government policy, campaigning, rhetoric and the promises made to people with disabilities most recent general election campaign. It must be stated that, to date, those promises have been broken. The programme for Government contains a commitment in respect of the introduction of a permanent payment for disability supports. We do not need to issue more reports or commence any new consultations. We all know that the cost of disability is significant and that it must be prioritised. The Government cannot wait until the next general election and then campaign on the same basis that it did in the most recent one. Promises must mean something. They must be delivered upon. The truth is that budget 2026 was described by the Disability Federation of Ireland as a \"devastating setback\". You would not have thought that would be the case in the context of a budget produced by the politicians who campaigned very hard on this topic. The Disability Federation of Ireland said that because people with disabilities were in the region of \u20ac1,200 less well off after the budget than they were beforehand. The Government removed all the one-off supports and did not replace them with any significant supports. I ask the Minister to ensure that the Government comes good on its promises this time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  People with disabilities face additional rising costs and are struggling in light of reduced supports. The Government provided one-off cost-of-disability supports in the aftermath of Covid-19. In budget 2026, all of those were removed and nothing else was put in place. At least one in four people with disabilities is at risk of poverty. That is a terrible statistic. Previously, I have referenced that the cost of living with a disability might average up to \u20ac15,000 per year in the current economic climate. That is way beyond what the current supports cover. While the overall increase of the \u20ac10 was welcome, many people have seen their income fall in real terms since the budget. Removing the living alone allowance, the disability support grants, electricity credits and the October double payment has hit hard. We then have all the additional energy and fuel-related cost-of-living increases that people are having to cope with thanks to international events. Rents have also increased.  The cost of disability is reflected in the unavoidable extra spending that disabled people face every day, including in respect of mobility aids, transport, communication supports, care medicines, equipment and adapted appliances. As stated on previous occasions, many disabled passengers rely on taxis because they cannot drive or afford an adapted car or cannot depend on public transport that is either inaccessible or unreliable. Even the BusConnects changes can make journeys harder. Two wheelchair users often cannot travel together because older buses lack adequate space to accommodate them. That is a whole load of extra costs and hidden discrimination.  The Government's commitment to a permanent cost-of-disability payment is set out in the programme for Government. According to the Minister, the Government is looking at that this year. I hope it will be substantial rather than a case of kicking the can down the road. In that context, I support a once-off payment in light of the ongoing pressures relating to fuel, energy and inflation. The cost of living hits disabled people the hardest. Long-term supports are urgently needed. What sort of society are we if we do not protect our most vulnerable? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  The cost of living for people with disabilities has been highlighted across the Chamber. If we start off with disabilities and things we could have done even before we reached this point and which were asked for, Maurice Noonan, who is from Granagh, and his partner were here last year. They are both wheelchair users. They were here in the Chamber. Mr. Noonan told me about simple things that he lost out on in childhood. He is 25 years old; the same age as my son. He missed 18th and 21st birthdays as a result of the fact that he could not get into any of the places in which they were being held because they did not have wheelchair-accessible toilets. That is still the case in pubs and other places that people go to in order to socialise. It is still the case because there was no incentive or grant aid offered by the Government to make sure that businesses installed disabled toilets. No matter how small or big a business is, it should have the facilities for everyone. Simple things like that prevented Mr. Noonan from going to 18th and 21st birthdays or even from going out with his friends.  Something that struck me is the fact that people who have outgrown their equipment have to hand it back. It is then kept in a warehouse and those responsible for it are not allowed to give it back out. Individuals have offered to look at, for example, a wheelchair or whatever to check that it is okay. People have outgrown their wheelchairs, which have been left sitting in warehouses. There are children who are looking for bigger wheelchairs but who cannot be given the ones to which I refer. Under the system that is in place, people have to wait two years for equipment that is sitting in warehouses. That equipment is perfect, but they are not allowed to have it.  That does not make sense, and now we have the cost-of-living crisis on top of it.  Everything has become so expensive. People with disabilities should be treated as equals but they are not. Everything comes second and third. If people were put in that situation, they would have a different outlook on life. If a person could not see or hear, would they not have a different outlook? Because we do not have that, we do not see it. The Government should look at simplifying different things for people with different disabilities, to make things easier in the interim for them until they get what they need. The one thing that struck me was Maurice stating that he could not go to an ATM or to a 21st birthday party. He would often go into places and be told that the disabled toilets were up three steps. People simply do not think of the basics. If we cannot get the basics right, and now we have a cost-of-living crisis to get right, what hope does anyone have if we cannot see that? I ask the Minister of State to take a common-sense approach and simplify things. It is not actually that hard. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  Let us stop pretending that we do not understand the problem. The Government has had evidence for decades now, but what has changed for people with disabilities? The answer is very little, and the proof of the failure in this regard lies in the figures. Disabled people are far more likely to be living in poverty, not slightly more but multiple times more. We are talking about poverty rates of over 30% in some cases when disability costs are taken into account. We are talking about consistent poverty rates four times the national average. We are talking about people spending over half their income, and in some cases, up to 93%, just on the cost of disability. After all of that, there is no proper system in place to address it. That is not a gap; it is a failure.  Failure number one is delay. Instead of acting on the evidence, the Government has launched yet another consultation process. People do not need to be consulted again about whether they are struggling. They are telling the Government that they are.  Failure number two was cutting supports in budget 2026. The Government removed cost-of-living payments which are worth around \u20ac1,400 a year to disabled people. While costs remain constant and unavoidable, supports are taken away. That is not reform; it is regression.  Failure number three is relying on once-off measures. Disabled people are saying clearly that this is not a temporary crisis. There is permanent pressure from a cost-of-living perspective, so why is the Government still treating it like a once-off emergency? A once-off payment might help for a week, but it does not fix a lifelong cost.  It is the Government's whole approach to people with disabilities that I would like to talk about. It is not just this issue alone. The Government has been talking about the means test for a long time, but it is still means testing carers. These are people who are giving their whole lives over to minding loved ones in their homes.  Another matter, which I raised earlier today and which affects many people with disabilities is the summer programme or the July provision for children with special needs. For this year's programme, schools were given just one week's notice. Usually, they are given three to four months notice in order that they can be prepared and get their applications for funding in, which they will hopefully get. This year, they were only given one week to apply, which was extremely late on the part of the Department. As a result, many schools missed the deadline through no fault their own. Earlier, I called for a debate on the matter of providing an extension in order to ensure that no child will be left out.  I was at the Silver Springs Hotel in Cork the other night where about 500 people from the Before We Die group attended a meeting. People spoke about those with intellectual disabilities. Those at the meeting are extremely frustrated with the inability of successive Governments to understand the crisis people are in. Some 78% have no formal housing, which means that parents do not know where their children are going to go when they die. Some 48% of carers are over 60, 14% are aged over 70 and 2% are aged over 80. Some 92% of adults with an intellectual disability still rely on their parents. There is a major crisis out there, and these parents need to know what is going to happen. By God, as I say the other night, they have massive backing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Carol Nolan  Beidh m\u00e9 ag tabhairt taca\u00edochta don r\u00fan seo agus t\u00e1 \u00e1thas orm an deis a fh\u00e1il labhairt ar an topaic fh\u00edorth\u00e1bhachtach seo.\u00a0 Beidh m\u00e9 ag tac\u00fa leis an r\u00fan seo mar cuireann s\u00e9 na deacrachta\u00ed at\u00e1 ag daoine at\u00e1 faoi mh\u00edchumas os \u00e1r gcomhair go soil\u00e9ir.\u00a0 T\u00e1 s\u00e9 r\u00edth\u00e1bhachtach go bhfuil r\u00fan mar seo againn ar\u00eds mar bh\u00ed topaic\u00ed mar seo os \u00e1r gcomhair cheana.  I am happy to get the opportunity again to speak on this very important issue. When it comes to disabilities, we keep saying the same thing over and over again. I taught many children with special needs during the ten or 12 years I taught in schools. I observed at first hand the level of frustration and of desperation at times that exists among parents and even among class teachers who are trying to access adequate supports for children in terms of ensuring that they reach their full potential, which was laid out as a vision in the Education Act 1988. Every child must be enabled to reach their potential. How can they do so if they are not supported?  I am very concerned about this matter. I would go as far as saying at this point that children with special needs in Offaly and Laois are being neglected because of the lack of access to therapy. This has gone on and on. When I was elected in 2016, one of the first issues I raised here was the lack of speech therapists, occupational therapists, dieticians and psychologists. It is becoming a major issue. Lately, this was confirmed to me very clearly when I dealt with a case where a young child had been referred at a primary care team meeting in December 2023 to a dietician and an occupational therapist. Because those vacancies have not been filled, there is a problem and that child still has not had access. That was nearly three years ago, and there is no doubt but that the child has regressed. If that is not a prime example of neglect, I do not know what is. There has to be a change of direction. I have stated time and again that Offaly and Laois are among the worst counties in the State in terms of there being no therapists and vacancies not being filled. I cannot for the life of me understand why therapists from the other CHO areas where there is not a backlog cannot be brought in, along with private therapists, to clear the backlog in Offaly and Laois.  We are hearing about recruitment all the time from the HSE, but this sorry saga has gone on too long. I know of children who have not received speech therapy and who have regressed considerably. How are such children going to reach their educational potential? It is not fair, and it is leading to a lot of distress for children and parents. It is causing huge stress for them because they are frustrated, and rightly so. School principals and teachers are frustrated, and we are all seeing it time and again. The mess in Offaly and Laois needs to be sorted out. I call here once again for emergency action solutions, which I have outlined, to be put in place. Therapists should be brought in from CHO areas where the list is not as long and private therapists also to clear the backlog. I would hope that those solutions in the short term could be taken on board, because children are being failed and are being left behind by the ordeal in Offaly and Laois.  I want to given another example of failure and a lack of planning and efficiency. Last week, it was brought to my attention that the portal that deals with SNA applications was not open for one particular school in Offaly to allow it to make its application for September. Bearing in mind that the schools will be all closing in June, it is grossly unfair on the school in question and on the particular child with special needs. That child and their parents do not know if they are going to have an SNA for September, which is very unfair. It is not giving anyone a chance really. I hope that this can be resolved. I have written to the Department of education and I await its response. I do hope that timely action will be taken to sort that out. That is a basic thing; a portal not being open for a school to make an application for an SNA should not be happening in this day and age. If there is a shortage of staff in the Department, people should be taken from some other Department. Practical actions need to be taken with a common-sense approach that goes back to basics and clears the problems. That is what I am recommending we do here tonight.  We have debated other issues such shortages in respite care, inadequate home supports, therapy waiting lists and the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities time and again.  In February and March last year and in contributions before that, the same pleas were made. Families are worn out from fighting for basic but vital services that really should be automatic. They tell me all the time in my constituency office that they really are battling. Every day is a battle for them. It could be trying to access basic supports for school transport and then trying to make sure that their child is catered for. Our Education Act talks about the importance of collaboration, working with people and making sure that inclusion is a top priority, but we are not seeing it. We are not seeing joined-up thinking; it is very disjointed. The services all need to work in tandem together, particularly with schools. Children are definitely regressing without timely occupational therapy or speech and language support.  It is important that we mention carers because they save the State billions of euro every year. They do not get fair play because when it comes to respite, it can be very difficult for them to take time off. That issue also needs to be looked at. We also need to look at the home helps who support our elderly people in their homes. If a home help takes time off, as they are entitled to, there needs to be a replacement person immediately. We have to make sure that people with disabilities, our most vulnerable in society, are being looked after. No doubt the Government will point to its National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030. It states:  At all stages, the views and opinions of disabled persons, their organisations, and other relevant stakeholders will be central to delivery, and we are committed to building their capacity where needed to support them in providing this strong voice.  However, to the families on the ground, this reads as little more than hollow rhetoric because they are not seeing that in their lives every day when they have to cope with things they should not have to deal with, when they have to battle and fight for access to basic therapies or when they have to battle for SNAs with the school principal. It is just not happening.  Where is the real meaningful action? Where is the urgency? Where is the accountability when respite places remain chronically underfunded in rural counties like Offaly? The strategy speaks of central involvement yet families tell me that they feel sidelined and that their experience is reduced to consultation checkboxes rather than driving real and meaningful change. People have had enough of tokenism and box ticking, which people use for self-preservation or whatever it is for. We need to see meaningful and genuine change. We need to go back to basics and put short-term solutions in place until we can devise more long-term sustainable solutions. We cannot keep kicking the issues concerning disabled people down the road with strategies and plans while people, particularly children, suffer.  We need to move from the d\u00e9j\u00e0 vu debates that we have had here over and over again - it is like Groundhog Day at times here - to actual delivery. People need to have confidence that the Government is delivering for people with disabilities but we are not seeing it. Unfortunately, it is not there. Obviously, we need adequate funding to be delivered, if necessary through an emergency funding package such as the motion suggests. However, I suggest that we take short-term actions and put therapists in place in Offaly and Laois as soon as possible. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kieran O'Donnell)  I thank Deputies for their contributions to this important debate. The Government is well aware of the additional costs faced by disabled people. The Government has opposed this motion and tabled an amendment, but that does not mean that we do not recognise the difficulties and additional costs that disabled people face. We are very aware of those costs. Our determination to assist people with those costs is reflected in the improvements we have made to disability support schemes in recent years and our commitment to further improvements.  As the Minister, Deputy Calleary, explained earlier and as outlined in the programme for Government, we are committed to introducing a permanent annual cost-of-disability-support payment and we will do that. The huge response to the public consultation process, the discussions at the recent strategic focus network summit on the cost of disability and the relevant research will all feed into the development of that payment.  Regarding heating and energy costs, I stress that the community welfare service is available to provide financial support for these essentials when people need it. The additional needs payment and the heat supplement exist for precisely this purpose.  Our commitment to introducing an annual cost-of-disability-support payment is incredibly important, but it is just one piece of the jigsaw. We know that payment cannot solve everything. The availability and accessibility of services and other supports are also key. That is why the cross-departmental nature of the national human rights strategy for disabled people and the summit in particular are so important.  We have committed to reforming the disability allowance payment and removing anomalies in the current means test for the payment. As I am sure Deputies know, the Department of Social Protection is conducting a review of means testing across its schemes. Any future changes will be guided by the outcome of that review. We are committed to progressively increasing weekly disability payments. We have been doing this, including in the most recent budget where we have increased the personal rates, as well as the rates for qualified adults, and the child support payment.  The issues facing disabled people cut across Government and that is why the national human rights strategy for disabled people is a key focus. It adopts a whole-of-government approach with individual Departments and State agencies responsible for planning and delivering the commitments that come under their remit across five key pillars, including employment. The Department of Social Protection is the joint lead on the employment pillar together with the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment.  We all know that many disabled people face barriers in the workplace and when looking for employment. The Government wants to address those barriers. The Department of Social Protection, through its nationwide network of Intreo centres, provides employment services for jobseekers. In line with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, these mainstream services are available to disabled people. The Department also offers tailored supports. EmployAbility offers specialist employment services to people with disabilities. It can help people find work through its job-matching service and offer ongoing in-work support to employees and employers.  There is now a designated disability employment personal adviser in each of the 62 Intreo offices. Training initiatives are being promoted to raise awareness and understanding of disabilities among Intreo staff.  In July 2022, the Department of Social Protection launched early engagement. This scheme proactively invites people to talk about their employment ambitions with Intreo and then helps them achieve their goals through the Department\u2019s employment and training supports. Taking part is completely voluntary.  In December 2023, a new employment programme under the new European Social Fund Plus funding was announced. WorkAbility: Inclusive Pathways to Employment Programme aims to support up to 13,000 disabled people in progressing their training and employment ambitions through 57 local, regional and national organisations. The programme runs from January 2024 to December 2028. The experience to date has been very positive. The Department of Social Protection also provides funding for AHEAD\u2019s GetAHEAD and Willing Able Mentoring programmes to help people with disabilities transition from education to work. GetAHEAD works to upskill graduates with disabilities with information sessions and training events. Willing Able Mentoring provides mentored and paid work placements for graduates with disabilities. The Government has committed to expanding and building on successful programmes like WorkAbility, EmployAbility and the new work and access programme to support people with disabilities into employment.  Budget 2026 provided for an expansion of the wage subsidy scheme and an increase in the payment rates. These positive measures build on other recent improvements to the schemes such as the reduction in the number of hours from 21 to 15.  There are already arrangements in place whereby when a former disability allowance customer\u2019s employment ceases or their hours significantly reduce within 12 months of the termination of their disability allowance, it is open to that person to contact the Department to have their disability allowance payment reinstated without the need to make a new application. These requests are read within 48 hours of receipt and fast-tracked back into payment from there.  We are committed to further improving the position in this regard.  We are also extending the back to work family dividend to people with children who are moving off disability allowance or blind pension into employment. This will help ease that transition over a two-year period. We will also work with employers and across government to improve employment of disabled people. Employment is hugely beneficial for people, but we know that there are costs associated with going to work. This was one of the clear messages at the recent summit.  Secondary benefits are of great support in assisting people with additional costs. Fear of losing secondary benefits can be a significant concern for people when they are considering taking up or increasing their employment. That is why it was important for us to introduce measures whereby recipients of disability allowance or blind pension would be able retain their fuel allowance payments for up to five years on moving into employment. There are already arrangements in place for the retention of certain secondary benefits when a person moves off a disability payment into employment.  A person can retain their eligibility for the free travel pass for five years if they move from one of the following disability payments into work: disability allowance; invalidity pension; partial capacity benefit from invalidity pension; or disablement benefit, when paid along with an incapacity supplement. In addition, a person who had been in receipt of certain social welfare payments, such as disability allowance, for 12 consecutive months may retain their medical card for three years on moving into employment.  In the work we are doing now on the cost of disability, it is important to remember that we are building on the supports already available and the improvements that have been made to same, particularly in recent years. The Government is also committed to introducing a permanent cost-of-disability support payment. We will do that. It is important to emphasise that the Government remains fully committed to continuing its consultation and close engagement with disabled people, disability representative groups and other stakeholders.  I thank the Deputies who tabled this motion and all the Deputies who have contributed on it. While we are tabling an amendment, it does not mean that we do not recognise the difficulties and additional costs that disabled people face. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  No person should be left socially, politically or economically worse off because of a disability. I think all of us in this House would agree on that in principle. Where the problem lies, however, is that Fine Gael and Fianna F\u00e1il have their heads in the clouds. The estimated additional cost to a household in which a person with a disability lives stands at \u20ac555 per week. Worse again is that, rather than improving the situation, the Government\u2019s budget last October actually made the situation worse. Despite a cost-of-living crisis continuing unabated, the Government chose to withdraw supports for people with disabilities to the tune of \u20ac1,400. It is simply not good enough to tell people that they have to wait for budget 2027 or beyond. It is a failure to recognise the current pressures that people are facing. What are people with disabilities to do?  It was an error of judgment when the Government pulled supports last year. This motion recognises the lived reality of people with disabilities. It mandates urgent intervention through a lump sum of \u20ac500 for people with disabilities and a permanent intervention through a new cost-of-disability payment to be introduced immediately, rather than at the next budget or later. It is a disgrace for the Government to say that.  Fine Gael, Fianna F\u00e1il and their Independent supporters have a choice now. Do they agree that these interventions are necessary or do they think that people with disabilities should wait until budget 2027 or beyond before the Government responds and actually does something? The previous Government carried out a report on this five years ago. Surely, it has had enough time to decide what to do. We cannot listen to any more excuses, nor can people with disabilities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donna McGettigan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donna McGettigan  This motion goes to the heart of dignity, equality and basic fairness because the reality is that disabled people in Ireland are carrying a cost that is relentless and deeply unjust. As the Clare Leader Forum said:  Disabled People are under sustained financial pressure. These pressures are not confined to one area of life. They arise across transport, housing, employment, independent living, energy, communications, social participation and personal assistance. The Cost of Disability is not marginal, occasional or discretionary. It is structural, ongoing and unavoidable.  That is why the Government\u2019s amendment misses the point entirely. It means that the Government is not listening. The cost of disability is not about extras, luxuries or optional spending. It is about what it simply costs to be able to live and participate in society and have independence and dignity.  According to the Disability Federation of Ireland, 39% of people unable to work due to disability face enforced deprivation. Think about that. That is nearly four in ten people, yet the Government\u2019s amendment does not even mention deprivation or poverty. By refusing to name these realities, it is enforcing what so many disabled people already feel, that is, that they are not listened to, their struggles are invisible and they do not matter. They do matter, however, and the lived realities behind these statistics are stark. People with disabilities are reporting having to visit food banks. Families are forced into impossible choices between whether to run essential life-saving equipment, keep the heating on or eat. It is always about choosing one essential over the other. No one should be forced to continuously make those decisions. No one should have to ration their independence because the Government refuses to recognise the true cost of disability.  Disabilities do not wait for people to afford them. The wheelchair battery still needs charging. Transport costs still need to be paid. The personal assistance hours are still needed. Extra heating, therapies, equipment, rent and food are not optional costs that can be parked for better times. People with disabilities need help now. They deserve to be heard, respected and given the means not just to survive, but to live with dignity. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  Last year\u2019s budget was an opportunity to ease cost pressures on people with disabilities, but instead of providing them with support, the Government chose to abandon them and withdraw payments, which meant that they were worse off by \u20ac1,400. The Government has ignored the pleas from people with disabilities who told it they were having to make the most difficult of decisions, such as having to choose between heating and eating. Once again, people with disabilities have been told to wait. Altogether, there have been four major reviews and reports on the cost of disability, and another consultation was launched in February.  Disabled people face significant additional and unavoidable costs every single day. It is estimated that they face weekly additional costs of between \u20ac488 and \u20ac555 on average. These costs include higher electricity and heating bills as well as the cost of equipment, transport, personal assistance, assistive technology and everyday adaptions that they need to simply live, work, study and participate in our communities. They have not been supported and they have suffered as a result of rising costs in energy, housing and transport in addition to the increased costs associated with their disabilities. In the words of one person who contacted me:  These extra costs are not lifestyle choices. They are not luxuries. They are the price of survival and participation in a society that is still not fully accessible for me.  This reality is why we have brought this motion forward tonight. The Government\u2019s amendment to our motion demonstrates just how out of touch it is with the lived realities that people with disabilities face. It is telling people with disabilities to try to hold on until the next budget and next year when a cost-of-disability payment might be introduced. How is that going to give any person with a disability any comfort when their bills keep coming in? People need support now. Supporting people with disabilities is one of the most fundamental things that we must do as a society. I urge the Government to finally recognise the cost of disability and provide adequate financial support. No more reports and delays. There must be an emergency payment in advance of a permanent cost-of-disability payment being introduced in the next budget to help meet the real additional costs faced every day by people with disabilities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  The Minister of State said in his contribution that one payment would not resolve anything but if you have not got any money to pay for a taxi and you need to get to an appointment, a payment makes all the difference. What we have spoken about this evening is the money people with disabilities need to live. One payment makes a difference. A more permanent payment would absolutely make a difference but if he was listening to people with disabilities, the Minister of State would understand they were struggling right now. When you are in an emergency - these are people who face an emergency every single day - one payment makes a difference. That is what people are asking for. They have an emergency now. They do not have enough money to live now. They need an emergency payment now.  Nobody has said there is not a cost to disability. The Minister of State knows that there is, that the Government took \u20ac1,400 a year from people with disabilities last year, that the cost of living is rising and that this is impacting people with disabilities disproportionately. All of this he knows, and even if he did not, there is report after report that would tell him. This consultation process is dragging it out, people are being made to wait and they are being told that it is not sustainable to give them an in-cash payment now, but it is not sustainable to ask people to make those horrible choices between heating, eating and charging mobility devices. People with disabilities are used to being fobbed off and ignored but, by Jesus, they were gaslit this evening. The Minister of State should reflect on that. Do not come in here and tell people that there is not an emergency or that he thinks they can wait. They cannot wait. We do not get endless hours of speaking time in this Chamber. We use our time really carefully because we only get one chance a week. We are standing up for people with disabilities. The Minister of State is not listening and the Government is not listening. People with disabilities cannot wait. It is cruel that the Government is ignoring them. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Jen Cummins)  In accordance with Standing Order 85(2), the division is postponed until the weekly division time on Wednesday, 27 May 2026. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Cost of Disability: Motion [Private Members]"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/dbsect_21","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/dbsect_22","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Cost of Living Issues","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/dbsect_21","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_22.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I ask the T\u00e1naiste again to review the decision not to have an emergency budget. It is absolutely crucial. What was announced last October in the budget left people worse off. It is not just Sinn F\u00e9in saying this - we saw in the Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI, analysis of the budget that families were left worse off and those on lower incomes were worse off. Added to that, inflation is running at nearly double what was projected on budget day. People cannot wait until next year until the Government brings forward the budget. They need support right now with the cost-of-living crisis. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Finance (Deputy Simon Harris)  As the Deputy will be aware, the Government has already intervened to help absorb the impact of rising energy prices for households and businesses with two packages of measures worth over \u20ac750 million. The first package of measures introduced in March reduced excise on fuel, cut the National Oil Reserves Agency, NORA, levy to a nominal amount and enhanced the diesel rebate scheme. We also extended the fuel allowance season by an additional four weeks. This meant that 470,000 households received additional financial support, an extra \u20ac152 in total. A further package of measures was introduced in April. Excise on fuel was cut further, bringing the total reduction in diesel to 32 cent per litre, 27 cent per litre for petrol and 7.4 cent per litre for green diesel. We are also delaying the scheduled increase in carbon tax and introducing a support subsidy schemes aimed at key productive sectors of our economy, both haulage and agriculture. We have shown we are not afraid to act when the circumstances demand action but we have also been clear that the best way to manage the State's finances is as part of a carefully considered annual budget process. I emphasise that the Government\u2019s response has been made possible because of the resources we have thanks to the careful management of our public finances. We have run surpluses for consecutive years. Running surpluses has not always been popular, but it has given us the flexibility and agility to respond swiftly and forcefully to this shock.  The resources of the State are not infinite. There are still vulnerabilities in our public finances. Around \u20ac1 in every \u20ac6 paid in tax comes from about ten firms in the country. The vulnerability around what we refer to as windfall tax receipts is real. We are highly exposed to any deterioration in the global economy and there are structural changes on the horizon that must be prepared for. That is why it is important that we get into that annual budget cycle.  I accept the Deputy\u2019s point. People are feeling the pressure and, as a result of the war in Iran, inflation is higher this year than it was expected to be. The focus in the budget will be to see what measures we can take in a rounded way to try to assist people, including in a structural way, with the charges that families and businesses face. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Many people would love to be in the Minister's shoes and have the luxury to wait this out until next year until budget 2027 but they are not in that position. We have 320,000 families across this State who cannot pay their electricity bills. One in four households cannot pay their gas bills. Tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of other families are paying those bills but are really struggling, finding it difficult to make ends meet at the end of the week, working every hour God sends them and doing everything right, yet still they find it tough because groceries, insurance and rent have gone up. All the pressures of life are bearing down on them and they are looking at a Minister who has a surplus that is now twice what was projected just a couple of weeks ago but who tells them to hang in there, to tighten their belts, to hold tight and that the Government will come to them maybe in October or might have something for them in January. People need support right here, right now. The Minister needs to understand that there is serious pressure on families at this point in time and they are looking for a Government that will listen and respond to them. The way the Minister needs to respond is to bring forward measures that recognise the pressures families are under right now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I am not sure that the Deputy's take on the Irish people is where they are at. The Irish people get the fact that this Government responded with one of the largest packages of support in the European Union, so nobody has been asked to wait at all. We reduced excise on diesel and petrol and put in place measures for key sectors. All of that benefits every citizen in this State in terms of trying to put some downward pressure on what the Deputy rightly said was rising inflation. The Department of Finance estimates that the overall package will reduce inflation by about 0.5% on what it otherwise would have been. We are taking proactive measures but I have to be honest with the Irish people - the winter could be very challenging. We have to try to make sure we can have a well-considered package for how we assist people, families and business not in a temporary way, but in a way that looks at structural change. I am open to positive and constructive engagement. We had a discussion about this in the budgetary oversight committee today.  What can we do structurally on energy? What can we do to make it easier for people to make their own homes warmer? Are there measures we can take there? However, getting into that annual budget cycle is to the benefit of citizens in this country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  There the Minister goes again saying the winter could be very challenging. People are telling me that it is very challenging right now. How more challenging does it need to be when you cannot pay to keep the lights on in your home? That is the pressure that people are under. The Minister is saying that we need to keep the power dry until the winter and budget 2027 and I am telling him that there are large numbers of people who are really under pressure. They are under pressure because of the budget that the Government brought forward.  The Government brought forward a budget of \u20ac9.4 billion last year and the Government left workers and families worse off. That is what the ESRI says. The ESRI is very clear on what the Government has done. They are worse off this year than they were last year. That is the Government's conscious decision. On top of that now, we have inflation. We have so much pressure bearing down on people.  Can the Minister not understand that people's lives are really challenging now? What they are seeing is a Government that thought it would have a surplus of over \u20ac4 billion, now it is twice that amount and the Minister is still not willing to alleviate the pressures on those families right now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  The Deputy is doing it again. The Deputy is speaking for the people of Ireland. We both went to Galway and we put our cases to the people. The Deputy said, \"Send a message to the Government on the cost-of-living crisis - vote Sinn F\u00e9in\", and the people of Galway West said, \"Now, hang on a second here. We can see through this.\" The Deputy should have a little humility in terms of coming in here speaking for the people of Ireland and that the Deputy is in touch with everyone and I am out of touch. We just had an election. That is the first point.  The second point is, we need to be very careful we do not chase inflation. The Deputy's budget proposals last year would have put up inflation. The Deputy knows that too. We have to get this balance right. We had a good conversation of Government and Opposition at the oversight committee on this today. We have to be very careful that anything we do does not chase inflation because things that we do that could in the temporary moment seem like we are trying to assist people could end up pushing up prices for them and nobody in this House, I presume, wants to achieve that situation too.  We have taken measures. The people of Ireland get this. It is one of the largest packages of support in the European Union to help people. We will work in the annual budget cycle but if we get into this situation of mini-budget here and mini-budget there, it is a dangerous spiral that will not serve the people of this country well. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Cost of Living Issues"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/dbsect_23","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Regeneration Projects","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/dbsect_21","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_23","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_23.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  I am seeking an update on the number of applications or inquiries that have been made with the Revenue Commissioners in relation to the living cities scheme since its expansion to cover Drogheda and Dundalk. I appreciate that it was only a month ago that this happened but this is a critical scheme for the area to address vacancy and dereliction. If the Minister has an update, I would it if he put it on the record of the House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I appreciate the Deputy's support for the initiative.  The living city initiative is provided for in Chapter 13 of Part 10 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997. It offers income or corporation tax relief for qualifying expenditure incurred in the refurbishment and conversion of qualifying residential and commercial buildings located within special regeneration areas. Often these are inner city or central town areas where there is above-average unemployment and which demonstrate clear evidence of dereliction, perhaps neglect and under-use.  There are four types of relief available under the initiative: owner-occupier residential relief, rented residential relief, commercial relief and living-over-the-shop relief.  As the Deputy will be aware, we introduced this in 2015. We took a decision in the last budget to expand that as well and the Deputy was eager that that would happen. Indeed, it was expanded to five more areas, namely, Athlone, Drogheda, Dundalk, Letterkenny and Sligo.  I appreciate the speed at which the local authorities worked. I acknowledge Louth County Council in getting in the maps that my Department was then able to get independently assessed.  The scheme, as the Deputy says, now has opened. I am advised by Revenue that it has recently received information from Louth County Council in respect of the number of requests for letters of certification received by the local authority. Revenue understands that Louth County Council has received fewer than ten requests between 8 April 2026, when the scheme was opened, and 20 May 2026. As the Deputy says, it is a short window. For reasons of taxpayer confidentiality, Revenue will never give the exact number but just under ten is an indication. In only a month of the scheme, I see that as somewhat encouraging.  I will continue to monitor this. I am happy to provide the Deputy with further updates as they become available. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  Vacancy and dereliction is an absolute scourge that is affecting every town, city and village across this country. For many years, I have sought the expansion of the scheme to areas such as Drogheda and Dundalk.  Drogheda, especially, as the Minister will understand, is a very ancient area with sensitive architecture. That being said, one of the main aspects of this scheme now is that it applies, at least from the point of view of commercial premises, to properties that were developed before 1975. It previously pertained to buildings built prior to 1915. The change to 1975 should capture quite a significant number of buildings that could be brought back on stream.  One thing I propose would be that the Revenue Commissioners proactively market this. If it is the case that in previous iterations of the scheme, the Revenue Commissioners went out and conducted workshops in communities trying to promote the scheme, can they be encouraged to do so? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  That is a fair point. Truthfully, I do not know whether Revenue went out and marketed the scheme previously. From my recollection, it is generally the local authorities that promote the scheme and obviously the Revenue Commissioners that administer the scheme.  On the Deputy's broader point as to whether we should have roadshows or workshops, absolutely we should. On foot of the Deputy raising this here this evening, I will talk to the Minister, Deputy Browne, from the local authority perspective, and my own officials and Revenue, and see what can be organised here.  We set up these schemes because we want them to succeed. We set them up because we accept that the issue of dereliction is real. Dundalk and Drogheda won the argument in terms of the need for that scheme to be expanded and now we want it to be a success.  In the first instance, I would encourage at a local level the local authority and other stakeholders, who I am sure will, to get the word out there. Should that be happening, if we can supplement that with Revenue or the likes, I will certainly engage with the Deputy positively on that to try to make that happen. I will talk to the Minister, Deputy Browne, and we will both revert to the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  One important aspect is that this is user-friendly and accessible. The Revenue Commissioners and the Department have taken on board some of the critiques of the scheme over the past few years. Certainly, the enhancement of the scheme will make it more attractive. Clearly, it will become more attractive to enterprises that are engaging in redevelopment given the expansion of the value of the relief from \u20ac200,000 to \u20ac300,000. In reality, with some of the sensitive and large-scale buildings we are talking about in areas such as Drogheda and Dundalk, it may be only commercial enterprises that will have the deep pockets, ambition and wherewithal to undertake the work that would be needed on architecturally sensitive buildings to put them back into use.  I know from the maps - I acknowledge the Minister stated quite correctly that Louth County Council were quick out of the traps in terms of developing the proposed special area of regeneration - that close to 60 buildings in that area are considered to be derelict and this could be a game-changer, if it is taken up.  It is important that Revenue promotes it. I myself will contact them and make that case that they may very well need to conduct some workshops with the local authority and local businesses. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  As I say, I am positively disposed to that. We passed a law in this House to make this living city initiative available to five more regional towns, including places such as Drogheda and Dundalk. We all want to see it succeed now.  We have tried to show flexibility as a Department and as a Government in terms of enhancing the scheme. In the previous Finance Act, there were a number of enhancements. First, the scheme was extended to the end of 2030. Second, it is now available to residential properties built before 1975 instead of 1915, as the Deputy said. Furthermore, if the work is carried out by an enterprise, the maximum relief has been increased from \u20ac200,000 to \u20ac300,000. Of course, the big announcement, from the Deputy's perspective, was it was extended to five regional centres, including Dundalk and Drogheda.  The new living-over-the-shop relief is an important step in terms of trying to bring life back onto our main streets, tackle dereliction, but also the whole safety and security issue that can create in a positive sense as well. Having no building age rule for the conversion of commercial into residential will facilitate greater access to the relief for living-over-the-shop or mixed-use developments.  I will follow up with the Deputy in relation to that workshop concept. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Regeneration Projects"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/dbsect_24","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Insurance Industry","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/dbsect_21","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_24.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  The Minister finally published his motor insurance transparency code, which was promised in the so-called insurance action plan. The action is completely powerless with no powers to sanction companies. Worse still, I understand it is voluntary. That was never mentioned in the original action plan. Why is the Government afraid to stand up to the insurance companies and hold them to account? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Deputy Robert Troy)  The motor insurance transparency code was launched as a priority measure under the Government action plan for insurance reform from 2025 to 2029 to enhance transparency, clarity and consumer understanding in the motor insurance market. The code was developed by a working group comprising insurers and intermediaries with the support of the Department of Finance and the Central Bank.  The code is designed to complement, rather than duplicate, existing regulatory requirements. It sits under the legislative umbrella of the Central Bank of Ireland's consumer protection code, CPC, and aligns with relevant disclosure requirements and requirements to inform customers effectively. The revised CPC came into effect on 24 March this year and is legally binding on insurance companies and intermediaries. The Central Bank's administrative sanctions procedure will be applicable in respect of non-compliance with the revised CPC.  The voluntary nature of the code allows for an appropriate balance between transparency and the protection of commercially sensitive information. The code has been carefully designed to provide meaningful insight to consumers into how premiums are calculated, while ensuring that firms are not required to disclose information that could undermine competition or market functioning. While the code is not subject to the administrative sanctions procedure, there remains a clear framework for oversight and monitoring. The Central Bank will provide a report to the Minister for Finance in advance of the first review of the code, which will take place within 18 months of implementation. This report will be on the Central Bank's observations on firms' adherence to the code and the effect the code is having in achieving its objectives. If it fails to achieve the objectives, we are, of course, open to putting it on a legislative footing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  The cost of car insurance is going up and up. This is the fourth consecutive year of price rises and every motorist knows it. Irish people already pay almost double what the European motorist pays for car insurance. When one adds soaring fuel costs, too many people are being pushed to the brink in trying to keep a car on the road. We know from the Central Bank that the cost of car insurance is going up while costs for insurance companies are going down. The simple fact is that companies are pocketing the difference with the tacit support of Government. The answer of the Government is a voluntary code designed by the insurance industry. It is difficult to overstate how weak an approach this is. How is the public supposed to have any faith this will work when it is optional and completely toothless? We need a Government that is standing up to insurance companies and ensuring that the benefits of the reforms that have been passed in this House over the past number of years are not going into the pockets of the companies but, rather, are passed on to consumers in the form of reduced premiums. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  As the Deputy will be aware, we are implementing the second action plan on insurance reform. Reforms are working. The latest CSO data of April 2026 shows that in the year to date insurance premiums are 2.2% lower this year than in April 2025. The Deputy may want to dispute that figure. Premiums are still 35.8% lower than they were at the peak of 2016. I acknowledge that we need to keep a close focus on this to ensure we continue to see a downward move. This transparency code will help to achieve that. Some 2.2 million policyholders will see the benefit of this code in their quotations and renewal documents from quarter 3 of this year. Despite the fact that it is a voluntary code, 97.5% of insurers and intermediaries selling insurance in this State have already signed up to it. This will enable consumers to see exactly how their policy is charged and to shop around to ensure they get the best value for money in their policy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Does the Minister of State not accept the average cost for motor insurance in this State is now \u20ac655? Does he accept that insurance companies are paying out less than half of that in claims? Does he accept that insurance companies are taking more in profits and inflated costs that they are paying out? They are all facts. Insurance companies are squeezing people dry to appease their shareholders. The Government wants to blame drivers. This Government is going along with that. The transparency code refers to risk mitigation and driver behaviour more than profit or inflated costs.  I tabled proposed legislation four years ago in the House to set out how a Government could mandate insurance companies to show how they are actually passing on the benefits of these reforms to customers and not profiteering from those same reforms. Instead, we get a voluntary code with no audits or enforcement. Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael and the Independents that support them are blocking my Bill. The public deserves to have full transparency. They deserve not just transparency and accountability, but also reduced premiums, as was promised by these reforms. Unfortunately, if we do not have a Government that stands up to the industry, the industry will of course deepen its pockets with profits. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  Insurance premiums have fallen in the past couple of months, according to the CSO. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Not according to the Central Bank. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  That is a welcome development. There were a couple of years where there were increases. We are still 35% lower than we were at the peak. That is a success. The reason we re-established the action plan on insurance reform was that we acknowledged there was more work to be done. We are doing that. The transparency code has been published in a timely and efficient manner. Consumers will see the benefit of that code in their renewals come quarter 3 of this year. The last time the Deputy raised the question with me regarding his insurance premium he spoke about how it has increased, but when he shopped around he got a lower one. The simple fact of the matter is that not enough people are shopping around. We now have ten insurance companies providing insurance cover in the motor insurance sector in Ireland. There have been three new players in the past number of years. That is success. There is more competition in the market. Only one in four people shops around and of those, 76% achieve savings. This will enable people to get better premiums on their insurance policies. We will keep the matter under review. It is a success. The Deputy can never acknowledge any progress. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Insurance Industry"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/dbsect_25","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Tax Code","counts":{"speechCount":23,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/dbsect_21","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_25","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_25.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Will the Minister reconsider his position and introduce a windfall tax on energy companies in order to fund support for workers and families in the cost-of-living crisis? The Minister has stated he will not introduce a windfall energy tax on energy companies unless his hand is effectively forced by action at the European level. His performance during the last energy shock was abysmal. He allowed companies to enrich themselves. I urge him not to repeat the same mistakes, reconsider his position and prepare windfall tax measures in the State. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  The European Union does not work in the manner in which the Deputy described. It is not about forcing anybody's hand. We are members of the European Union. The Deputy's party did not support joining the European Union, but we are members of it and sit round the table and make decisions together. It clearly makes sense in a single market that if you are introducing a taxation system around energy, you would endeavour to examine the measures available at European level and try to move in concert. That is the position of the Government. We certainly have not ruled out acting on a windfall tax. We have said it would make sense that we do that at a European level.  As the Deputy is aware, the European Commission's AccelerateEU communication addresses the EU's rising energy costs and volatile fossil fuel markets and aims to accelerate the clean energy transition and strengthen EU energy resilience. While the communication notes member states may take domestic measures, no EU-wide approach has yet been agreed. The temporary solidarity contribution, TSC, was introduced in line with Council Regulation 2022\/1854 of 6 October 2022 to tackle windfall gains being made in the energy sector at the time, following the commencement of war in Ukraine. The TSC formed part of a co-ordinated European response, reflecting the highly interconnected nature of EU energy markets - when we acted, we did so at an EU level - and a view that an emergency intervention to mitigate the effects of high energy prices at the time could not be sufficiently achieved by member states individually.  It continues to be the Government's view that tackling the energy crisis in a co-ordinated way between EU member states is preferable, given the interconnectedness of EU energy markets. We will continue to engage constructively with EU partners on these matters and aim to ensure that any joint European response to these challenges is co-ordinated and effective. In this context, potential solidarity measures and broader energy market developments continue to be a central focus and Ireland continues to engage with our EU partners, in colluding during our forthcoming EU Presidency.  The Government is conscious of the increased financial pressures on households and businesses, which we have discussed in terms of the temporary and targeted measures we have introduced, one of the largest packages in the European Union. Alongside this, work is ongoing through the national energy affordability task force to identify further measures to enhance energy affordability. The ongoing conflict shows the need to accelerate the deployment of renewables at domestic and EU level. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  It is the same old playbook. We see the same playbook being used by the Government on the occupied territories Bill. When it does not want to do something, it reaches for the EU and uses it as an excuse. The EU has given member states the green light to act on this. The ball is in the Government's court, yet it is still finding excuses as to why it will not or cannot act. It is trying not to rewrite history. The Government opposed action at EU level during the last energy shock. Electricity companies were never hit with a windfall tax in the State. The TSC the Minister mentioned did not apply to electricity companies, but the European Commission has been crystal-clear this time that member states can act. The Minister can act. Does he accept that he is choosing not to act on a windfall tax on energy companies?  Does the Minister accept he is choosing not to act in relation to windfall tax on energy companies now? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Finance (Deputy Simon Harris)  I fully accept that it is the very clear position of the Government that if we were to act on windfall taxation, we would do it at an EU level because of the interconnectedness of the EU market. That is the position of the Government. This week, Deputy Doherty wants to fund the new measures he would like to do outside of a budget with a windfall tax. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Who said that? Why are you making that up? Did I say that? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aidan Farrelly)  Speak through the Chair, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  With respect, did I say that? Is the Minister just going to make up lies? Is he just going to do that? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  The transcript of the D\u00e1il will show----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I did not say it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  Let me speak, Pearse. Come on. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I did not say it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Finance (Deputy Simon Harris)  The angry routine is not working. Just let me speak. I thank the Deputy. I thank the Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach. The transcript will show that Deputy Doherty talked about bringing in a windfall tax measure that could help to provide supports families and businesses. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I did not say that. I actually did not say that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aidan Farrelly)  Deputy Doherty can do this outside. This is not a conversation. There is no back and forth. The T\u00e1naiste can finish. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Finance (Deputy Simon Harris)  This is my time. I am allowed to speak. I might be allowed to suggest the Deputy might tell me what the purpose of it is if he does not believe it is for that. Last week, he wanted us to use the surplus. The point is we have put in place one of the largest energy support packages in the European Union. We are working at an EU level because a co-ordinated approach matters. Being isolated and not working at a European level does not work for this country's economy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aidan Farrelly)  Deputy Doherty has one minute. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Finance (Deputy Simon Harris)  He just used all of my time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I know the Minister wanted me to say that and that is fine. I have no problem saying that but I did not say it. I did not work with the narrative of the Minister's script. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Finance (Deputy Simon Harris)  I do not have a script. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Let us be clear. The Minister has the power to do this now. He has the power to introduce a windfall tax on energy companies. He is refusing to do so. These companies are ripping off Irish customers left, right and centre. There is a decision the Minister has to take about which side he is on. He talks about the EU energy market but it does not stack up. The Irish energy market is not as integrated as that of other member states because we are an island nation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Finance (Deputy Simon Harris)  That is the problem. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  There is a difference there in the first instance. That is a bit of a smokescreen in relation to an action. The reality is that the Minister does not want to do this. The European Commission has given him the power to do it and, of course, he should do it. Let us look at the last time we saw money collected. We know that \u20ac178 million is still sitting there. That was money that was supposed to directly support workers and families with the cost of electricity. I told the Minister earlier on. There are 320,000 families who cannot pay their electricity bill and the Minister has sat on a fund of \u20ac178 million for the past three years that is just sitting there. It is ridiculous. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Finance (Deputy Simon Harris)  It is also important to note, as the Deputy referenced the last time, that when the temporary solidarity contribution was brought in, and this is already facing multiple legal challenges in the Court of Justice of the European Union, the actors questioned the legality of the measures and the actors questioned the retroactive elements of the measure. Claimants are arguing that the EU incorrectly adopted the levy under Article 122 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, TFEU, as emergency measures rather than requiring unanimous agreement. The last time this was done, it was subject to legal challenge.  The Government is working at a European level because we believe in a single market for energy. That is where we are all working to get to. There is an interconnectedness to this. We have provided significant financial assistance to families and businesses. We will be doing more in the budget to help people with the structural costs they face in their lives. We will continue to keep all matters under review. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 140 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Tax Code"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/dbsect_26","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Tax Code","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/dbsect_21","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_26","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"James O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_26.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"James O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James O'Connor  Will the Government consider any new measures in the forthcoming budget to support the growth of the indigenous sectors in Ireland and to encourage more retail investment? I do not need to tell the T\u00e1naiste the importance of small and medium-sized companies in this country. When we see the enormous exposure Ireland has regarding our corporation tax receipts, although it is a huge benefit to the economy, there is also a risk if we ignore Irish businesses and do not do enough to support them, foster them and help more businesses to grow, expand and be founded in our country. Does the T\u00e1naiste have anything to say? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Finance (Deputy Simon Harris)  I thank the Deputy for this important question. A number of tax incentives that are in place are intended to encourage investment in indigenous businesses, particularly in our small and medium enterprises. These measures include the employment investment incentive, the research and development tax credit, the start-up capital investment and the relief for investment in innovative enterprises, also known as angel investor relief. The research and development tax credit is another tax relief that is now making a significant contribution to Ireland's competitiveness.  Ireland still does not have a sufficiently diversified savings and investment culture. This is a real issue in our country. Deposit accounts are appropriate for many people and for many needs but as inflation can erode their value over time, they should not be the only practical option. Investment in capital markets by retail investors can offer another path to long-term financial well-being while also supporting growth and competitiveness in the wider economy, as has been identified in the EU\u2019s focus on the savings and investment union, SIU. I acknowledge the work the Minister of State, Deputy Troy, is doing with me in this key area.  An important aspect of the SIU is the European Commission\u2019s recommendation on increasing the availability of savings and investment accounts in member states. At the recent savings and investment forum, I announced our intention to introduce a legislative framework for an investment account in Ireland in the next budget. We want to make investing simpler, clearer and more accessible for ordinary people. In designing the model that best fits the Irish economy and the needs of Irish households, the views of relevant experts are being considered and we are learning from international best practice. That is not about picking up something from another country and saying that we will take exactly that. We will learn from best practice and find what is the best model for our country too. Many countries have implemented similar schemes and they have reported that investors tend to have a home bias in their investment choices.  Budget 2026 included a commitment to publish a roadmap for the taxation of retail investment in 2026. The development of the investment account is a key part of that roadmap, as is consideration of the existing taxation regimes for investment. I expect to be in a position with the Minister of State, Deputy Troy, to publish that roadmap this summer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James O'Connor  I thank the T\u00e1naiste and appreciate his response. Yesterday, we saw some very important information come from the International Monetary Fund that effectively warned Ireland about a level of exposure our economy has when it comes to bloated expenditure and wastage of public money and the risks in our economy, such as the advances in artificial intelligence. They are things the Government cannot afford to ignore. I fear that we are not quite at 2008 levels yet, but we are back in 2005, 2006 and 2007, when the Celtic tiger reached its peak and it all came to a miserable end. I wanted to say that on the record of this House and I hope I am proved wrong in four or five years' time. We need to ensure that indigenous businesses, our SMEs and our entrepreneurs are supported, that our economy gives them the best possible chance of success and that we are able to derisk Ireland from what the IMF has stated is a particular concern.  We know that multinational companies are moving five times faster than the SME sector when it comes to the application of artificial intelligence. We have a bloated number of employees in Ireland working in multinationals. The risk is clear and obvious. It is a serious risk to the State. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Finance (Deputy Simon Harris)  I thank the Deputy. He said he wanted to put something on the record of the D\u00e1il so let me do that as well. While the Deputy is right that we should always be cautious about our economy and never take economic stability or growth for granted - sometimes that seems to be the case in our discourse - I contend that the country has structurally learned a lot of lessons in terms of plans and actions from the crash. That ranges from the fiscal rules we have in place to our level of indebtedness, both at a national level but also at a business level, being a lot lower too.  The Deputy's point about the indigenous sector is right. It is still a statement of fact that the greatest number of people in employment in Ireland are in Irish-owned SMEs. This is a sector we have to really support. The research and development tax credit is now being used by more and more SMEs, but making this as simple as possible for smaller companies to access is important too. On AI, the approach of the Government and country has to be to maximise the opportunities and minimise the challenges. I know both Ministers, Deputy Burke and Deputy Lawless, are working on how we can address the skills deficit that interacts with those two Departments. The Industrial Development Agency, IDA, and Enterprise Ireland, EI, are supporting companies as well. The Minister, Deputy Lawless, is looking at how we can train more people in these areas. There are also huge opportunities for the Irish economy, for both indigenous and FDI-supported companies, in terms of productivity if we can get AI right. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James O'Connor  I appreciate the T\u00e1naiste's response. Undoubtedly, the agencies he mentioned, including the IDA and Enterprise Ireland, have done great work. As Chairman of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, I commend them on the huge body of work they have done over many decades. Beyond politics and beyond what happens in this House, they are working diligently on behalf of the State across the world and that has to be commended. We have to come to terms with the fact that AI will change the world. It will change how people work. It will reduce the number of people in our workforce and we know that. We see it happening. We saw it with Meta recently and other companies that are starting to downsize their workforce.  Informally, some governments are already talking about a future, amazing to say it, without the income from PAYE workers. That is the level of change. If we look at the pioneering companies in respect of this, such as Anthropic and others, they have discussed the possibility that from 40% to 60% of the current workforce in the United States of America could be finding themselves in some way redundant over the next ten to 15 years. We need to take this seriously and look at the key risks to the economy in Ireland. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Finance (Deputy Simon Harris)  That is right; we need to take it deadly seriously. I do not mean this about Deputy O'Connor but about me. I always think that speaking with great authority on something that is fast evolving is challenging because we are all learning about this in real time. That is not an excuse or a reason not to take it extremely seriously because the countries that work out how best to respond to this are the countries that will do the best. We have only to look at the Future Forty report, which my Department published.  It refers to the huge demographic challenges this country is going to face. One of the great ones is that everyone is going to live to be much older, on average, and the population is going to age. The question of whether we can transform healthcare through the use of AI, for example, points to one area where I believe we could see real productivity gains. At the moment, all of the conversation seems to be about productivity gains in the private sector and just being aware of the risk in the public sector. We have got to do a bit better than that.  The other point is that, up until now, every technological revolution has resulted in more jobs at the end of it than at the start. That merits close monitoring. What we do know is that training and upskilling comprise an immediate issue, and we have to take that very seriously. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Tax Code"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/dbsect_27","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Fiscal Policy","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/dbsect_21","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_27","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_27.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  Israel is still issuing war bonds across the EU and using this money to fund a genocide. While our role in approving these bonds has been moved to Luxembourg, Ireland remains the home member state for Israeli bonds. We have a legal and moral obligation to do everything we can to stop genocide when it is taking place. What action is the Minister taking to ensure we are not complicit in the sale of these bonds and in implementing the recommendations from the committee's report? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I thank an Teachta O\u2019Callaghan very much for the question. I have read the report of the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform, and Digitalisation and it has also been reviewed by my officials. It was published last August. It sets out 15 recommendations, some directed to the Central Bank of Ireland and others to the Government.  Chief among the recommendations made is that the Government engage at EU level with a view to amending the prospectus regulation. I directed that senior officials in my Department engage with the Commission on this matter. Department officials subsequently liaised with their counterparts in the European Commission, drawing attention to the work of the Oireachtas committee in its report and, in particular, the committee's recommendation that the prospectus regulation be amended. We formally conveyed that as the view of the Oireachtas to the European Commission. This engagement reflected my view that the European Commission should have regard to the report, its findings and recommendations. Officials outlined, in their engagement, recent developments in Ireland and sought the views of the Commission on the possibility of a legislative initiative by the European Commission to address the Oireachtas committee's recommendation. In its response, disappointingly, the EU Commission indicated it currently has no plans for a review of the prospectus regulation.  My officials have also engaged with the Central Bank since the report was published. The Central Bank has also reviewed the report's recommendations. It has on a number of occasions, both before the committee and elsewhere, set out its position on the matter. I do not need to remind the Deputy, because he said it, that the Central Bank has no role in the review and approval of the 2025 prospectus for the State of Israel.  Ireland is continuing to press for appropriate action at EU level. I support the proposal of the committee, and also the suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement in response to the egregious Israeli breaches of human rights, international law and democratic principles. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy McEntee, indicated in the D\u00e1il last week that she will advance the Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory Bill in the coming weeks, and she secured Cabinet approval on that today.  Our Taoiseach also wrote to European Council President Costa on 20 May reiterating Ireland's position on EU trade with Israel and requesting an urgent discussion of these issues among EU leaders at the next meeting of the European Council. Perhaps on foot of this question, I will brief the Taoiseach on the committee recommendation before that Council meeting. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  I thank the T\u00e1naiste for his response and for the work that has been done on this. What he said earlier, in response to a different question from a different Deputy, was that while we are part of the EU, we do not simply do what it tells us. Rather, we are part of shaping what it does. Clearly, therefore, the response from the European Commission is not satisfactory and is not in line with what we want as a country. What is the T\u00e1naiste going to do to follow up with the European Commission on this? It saying it has no plans to do anything about this simply is not acceptable. We need to do as much as possible in Ireland and more broadly in the EU to address this. We cannot have a situation where bonds are being sold in Europe that have been marketed by Israel to fund its war and genocide. What follow-up action is the Minister taking with the European Commission to push it into acting on this, because its response simply is not acceptable? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I agree with that. What I will do is raise it at a political level as well. We have been raising it at an official level. I have directed my officials on a number of occasions on back-and-forth engagement with the Commission on this. I will speak to the Taoiseach as well because I know he has rightly sought a conversation at the European Council on foot of Israel's egregious breaches of international law. That is due to be scheduled for 18 and 19 June.  I have examined whether Ireland can do something domestically because I know we have had debates in this House on the matter, but the clear, solid view is that national measures could not allow for the Central Bank to refuse a prospectus because the requirements of the EU prospectus regulation have to be met, including the standards of completeness, consistency and comprehensibility. We need to respect EU law, but I take the point that we also have a role in shaping it. There are different views across the EU on this matter, although I really hope it can be addressed, particularly after the horrors we saw in relation to the flotilla. It should not have taken that at all, nor should it have happened. If that is how Israel treats European citizens, it gives a real insight into how it must treat Palestinians. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  I thank the T\u00e1naiste. Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, clearly stated, \u201cInternational law says that all financial actors have to abstain from being directly linked to human rights crimes\u201d. That applies to the financial actors and authorities in Ireland, Luxembourg and across the European Union.  I welcome the Minister saying he is going to raise this at a political level. What does that mean? I welcome that he is going to raise it with the Taoiseach. Who is the Minister going to talk to and when? Will he give us details of the timeline for his plans to raise this at a political level? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  That is a fair point. I will correspond directly with the relevant European Commissioner in the first instance, following up on the official engagement and reflecting the view of the Oireachtas committee on the prospectus regulation. I also do not rule out having further political engagement with EU counterparts on this.  What is clear, and I know there are strong views on this issue in this House and in this country, is that sometimes there can be a grey area and we can debate how much is in compliance with EU law and how much we can do domestically. On this matter, solidly, the EU treaties and the obligations of member states seem to necessitate any change happening at an EU regulatory level. In the first instance, I will personally correspond with the European Commissioner and will update the Deputy when I receive a response. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Fiscal Policy"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/dbsect_28","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Tax Reliefs","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/dbsect_21","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_28","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_28.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aidan Farrelly)  We will revert to Question No. 142 in the name of Deputy Cathal Crowe. It will be taken now by Deputy Tony McCormack. I apologise to the Deputy for having skipped it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I thank the Deputy very much for the question. The rate at which capital gains tax, CGT, is charged has varied both upwards and downwards since its introduction in 1975. The current standard rate of 33%, which applies to most gains, has been in place since 2012. However, a number of reliefs are already provided for business assets, including retirement relief on the transfer of business or farming assets, revised entrepreneur relief and participation exemption relief. For example, the revised entrepreneur relief provides a reduced rate of CGT for qualifying business assets. The lifetime limit of \u20ac1 million of gains on which the relief can be claimed was increased to \u20ac1.5 million with effect from 1 January this year. The increased lifetime limit should significantly assist entrepreneurs to grow and scale their businesses or to begin new ventures building on their previous entrepreneurial experience.  As with all taxes, there are options for amending the scope of the tax, including changing the rate of the tax, amending or abolishing existing reliefs or exemptions or considering the introduction of new reliefs and exemptions. However, a narrower base of a tax regime with significant exemptions often requires a higher rate to generate an appropriate yield. A wider base may facilitate a lower headline rate of tax as it applies to a wider set of economic and commercial activities, reduces reliance on any one activity and potentially maintains a more sustainable yield.  On the cost of changing the standard rate of CGT, and this is a legitimate issue people highlight, each 1% reduction or increase is estimated to amount to around \u20ac87 million in a full year, assuming no behavioural change. We always have to assume that, although it is harder to factor in. Therefore, a 5% reduction in the standard CGT rate in a single budget would have an Exchequer impact, at least in that budget, of \u20ac436 million, assuming no behavioural change. There are also costs to the Exchequer associated with extending the level of relief, as suggested in the question. I put that out to be helpful as people consider budget options.  The programme for Government commits to maintaining a broad tax base to guard against the need for countercyclical fiscal policy in the event of a downturn and to prepare for future budgetary challenges. CGT is an important part of the system to ensure taxation is not focused solely on income tax and that those who benefit from gains in the value of assets are included. As with all taxation measures, it will be kept under review as part of the budget. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  I thank the T\u00e1naiste for his response. I welcome the Government's continuing focus on competitiveness and supporting indigenous enterprise. As we all know, investment is vital in enabling companies to grow and expand and for start-up companies to get off the ground. However, Ireland's 33% CGT rate remains among the highest in Europe and there are growing concerns that it can discourage reinvestment, entrepreneurship and business scaling.  The Taoiseach himself recently acknowledged concerns that Ireland may be losing some investment and capital when people sell businesses and relocate elsewhere.  He also made the important point that what matters is ensuring that capital is recycled back into smaller companies, innovation and new technologies. In that context, would the T\u00e1naiste agree that there is merit in examining a more competitive and targeted capital gains tax approach for active business assets, particularly where proceeds are reinvested into Irish enterprise, regional employment and productive economic activity? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I heard the Taoiseach's comments. I hear regularly from stakeholders and business groups about the importance of making sure that our taxation system is pro-enterprise. What I would say in response is that while that is important, everything is a balance. There will be a finite amount of things we can do in the budget on tax. I am eager that there will be a personal tax package. There was not one last year. I am very eager there will be one in the next budget and I know that is a view shared across the Government. It is probably shared by people beyond the Government. That is one of the options I want seriously considered and acted upon as part of the budget. We will obviously consider and review through our tax strategy group papers. We will have a national economic dialogue in June, the summer economic statement in July and the budget in October. We will keep all these matters under review.  As all Ministers for Finance are meant to say, all taxation matters are for budget day. We will give consideration to all matters. This evening, I wanted to usefully put the cost on the record of the House so that we can all be informed as we consider those suggestions. That cost would be approximately \u20ac87 million in a full year for each 1% reduction. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  Another issue that has been raised consistently is the failure to index capital gains tax, CGT, thresholds and exemptions over time. When CGT was introduced in 1974, the annual exemption was \u00a3500 and if indexed properly would be a lot more than \u00a3500 today. That would have been 10% of the average value of a house at the time. Instead, the exemption currently stands at \u20ac1,270 and has not been adjusted since 1992, when it was set at \u00a31,000. There is a legitimate concern that taxpayers can end up paying increased tax simply due to inflationary growth in their asset value over time rather than any real gain. Would the T\u00e1naiste consider asking the Department to examine both indexation measures and a targeted reinvestment relief model ahead of the next budget, particularly where proceeds are reinvested into SMEs, innovation and job creation here in Ireland? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I thank the Deputy and will reflect on what he has said. I would point out that there are already a number of exemptions. If I am being bluntly honest with the House, I do not believe that existing levels of CGT are acting as a disincentive to investment because when they are looked at beyond the headline rate, we already have a range of exemptions and reliefs on CGT, which are designed to try to foster certain activities and avoid taxing people in situations that would be seen as unreasonable, such as retirements or the sale of a principal private residence. These reliefs reduce the level of CGT actually paid by many individuals, and include an annual exemption for the first \u20ac1,270 of gains arising from the disposal of assets. In addition, there are targeted reliefs for entrepreneurs and angel investors.  CGT, as with all taxes, is subject to ongoing review, which involves consideration and assessment of the rate of CGT and relevant reliefs and exemptions from CGT, and the policy and legislation around it will be reviewed as part of the annual budget and finance process. I will certainly reflect on what the Deputy has raised. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Tax Reliefs"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/dbsect_29","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Banking Sector","counts":{"speechCount":11,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/dbsect_21","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_29","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_29.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  It has come to light that the proceeds of selling off the State's assets in the form of the shareholding in AIB is still sitting with the ISIF and is losing value. How has this been allowed to happen under the watch of the T\u00e1naiste and his predecessor as Minister for Finance? What action is he going to take to address it? This is a significant amount of money that is losing value at a time when the T\u00e1naiste has been running around and telling people that they need to get a return on their own investments. We have millions of euro losing value under his watch. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I would be interested to one day tease through the Deputy's view on the investment accounts. I hope that is something he might consider supporting.  As the Deputy is aware, ISIF is composed of the discretionary portfolio and the directed portfolio. ISIF holds the directed portfolio under direction from the Minister for Finance, comprising receipts of bank share sales. The National Treasury Management Agency, NTMA, has advised that at the end of 2024, the directed portfolio had a value of \u20ac7.7 billion, composed of ordinary shares in AIB, valued at the market price of \u20ac5.31 per share; \u20ac5 billion in cash and cash equivalents, including commitments of \u20ac165 million to the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland, SBCI; and a \u20ac305 million loan to Home Building Finance Ireland, HBFI.  Of the cash and cash equivalents, \u20ac4.838 billion was invested in Irish Exchequer notes. Exchequer notes help to ensure capital preservation and are relatively liquid, which is an important consideration to meet the timing and quantum of transfers out of the directed portfolio. The majority of the portfolio is now in Exchequer notes. The resources are actively being drawn down to support major infrastructure investment priorities.  The end of 2025 position will be disclosed in the 2025 financial statements, which will be published in the coming months. The unaudited end of 2025 value of the directed portfolio was \u20ac6.4 billion and since the end of 2025, the value of the portfolio has been further reduced due to drawdowns to the Exchequer on foot of directions. The figure of \u20ac7.7 billion was at the end of 2024 and the unaudited end of 2025 value was \u20ac6.4 billion.  As part of budget 2025, the Government decided to use \u20ac3 billion of the proceeds from bank share disposals to provide funding for infrastructure, including water, housing and the electricity grid, and in the case of housing and water is additional to ongoing Exchequer expenditure. In 2025, \u20ac514 million of the \u20ac1 billion allocated for Uisce \u00c9ireann was paid over. The remaining balance will be paid over the period out to 2028. In late 2025, a further \u20ac750 million was drawn from the directed portfolio to provide funding for investment in the electricity grid. The balance of \u20ac1.25 billion is for the Land Development Agency. The remainder of the directed portfolio is intended to be used in support of the national development plan. These are one-off receipts to support infrastructure development. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I have always been of the view that the State should have retained ownership of AIB. It was a mistake to sell off the shares. Fine Gael has a different ideological point of view and wanted the bank back in private ownership and is entitled to hold that opinion. However, the ideological position has come at a real financial cost. I think we can accept that now with the benefit of hindsight. The public AIB share was sold off at one of the worst times. When the Government started selling shares, they cost \u20ac2.32. They are now worth over \u20ac10. That shareholding would today be worth \u20ac16 billion before we even talk about the massive dividends that we no longer get from the bank. What we have instead is less than half of that sum. Worse still is that the Government sold off the public shares at that time and just left large portions of the proceeds sitting there. It did not use the money to build the necessary infrastructure. The money is losing value. That is the issue. The T\u00e1naiste talked about Exchequer returns, but it is circular. It is in the State and getting a very low return. There is no actual return. It is a net zero return.  Does the T\u00e1naiste accept that if we held those shares, they would be worth twice what we have now? That money should at least be getting some return as it sits in the ISIF account. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I appreciate the different political, ideological or policy positions on bank ownership. It is legitimate for people to hold different views on these subjects. The stated intention of the Government, and I think successive Governments, was to seek to return those banks to private ownership and to seek to recoup the money that the taxpayer had put into those banks, namely, AIB, Bank of Ireland and PTSB. That objective was largely fulfilled. I do not think the State should be in the business of owning banks. We all know how we ended up in that position as a State and it certainly was not by some sort of design. It was because of the financial crash and the chaos that ensued.  I am conscious that I am reading out a lot of figures and I am happy to send the Deputy a detailed note on the issue. I would just point out that the assertion around \u20ac7.7 billion was at a point in time at the end of 2024. What I have tried to do this evening is to update the Deputy on the current position because we have seen that number reduce as the result of investment decisions we have made, including for infrastructure projects. I will send the Deputy a note. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I appreciate what the T\u00e1naiste has put on the record, that there was a reduction from \u20ac7.7 billion to a figure over \u20ac6 billion in the period of a year. However, it does not matter if the total is \u20ac7.7 billion or \u20ac6 billion. The money is sitting there and not making any return. It is in Exchequer notes, which means that the State is paying another organ of the State the 1%. It is making no return. It is financial mismanagement, on top of the fact that the Government sold the shares at one of the worst times. These shares would have been worth twice what we got for them if the Government held them today. We would be getting hundreds of millions of euro in dividends. This is serious financial mismanagement that the Comptroller and Auditor General should be exploring. We are not talking about hundreds of millions, or hundreds of thousands wasted on a bike shed or the \u20ac50 million wasted on the Irish Rail IT project. We are talking about billions of euro that has gone amiss as a result of selling the shares in AIB at the wrong time and then putting the proceeds from the sale of those shares in a fund that gets absolutely no return when inflation is running at 3.7%. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  The Comptroller and Auditor General is welcome to look at anything he wishes to look at. Indeed, it was the Comptroller and Auditor General who put that figure on the record of the Committee of Public Accounts on 14 May and it was a figure for the end of 2024. It was a moment in time and the Government has thankfully been in a position to make a number of decisions about what to do with that resource, including investing in infrastructure such as water, housing and the electricity grid. There is no question of waste. There is a question of correct deployment of a one-off resource to try to improve critical infrastructure, particularly around water, housing and electricity.  I am looking at the end of the ISIF's 2024 financial statements. The ISIF discloses its direct portfolio total interest income in its financial statements and the end of the 2024 financial statements states the interest income earned in 2024 was \u20ac126 million. The position at the end of 2025 will be disclosed in the 2025 financial statements. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aidan Farrelly)  Thank you, T\u00e1naiste. We move to Question No. 145 "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Who paid the interest? Was it the other organ of the State? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  The ISIF does not disclose the terms of individual investments. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  It is an Exchequer note, which means it is the other organ of the State. It makes a mockery of it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aidan Farrelly)  Thank you, Deputy Doherty. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Banking Sector"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/dbsect_30","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Middle East","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/dbsect_21","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_30","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_30.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  The ISIF remains invested in companies that are profiting from illegally held Palestinian territories. More than \u20ac6 million of public money remained invested in six companies identified on the UN database at the end of 2024. Irish people do not want this. Will the T\u00e1naiste ensure that the ISIF, which is public money, is divested fully from companies operating in illegally occupied Palestinian territories? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I restate the Government's clear opposition to illegal Israeli settlements, which are contrary to international law and damaging to the pursuit of peace in the Middle East.  Ireland has demonstrated its support of the Palestinian people and taken practical steps at national, EU and international levels. On 13 January, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy McEntee, announced that Ireland will provide \u20ac42 million in assistance to the people of Palestine in 2026, including \u20ac20 million in core funding to support the work of the United Nations Relief Works Agency, UNRWA, in providing vital services to refugees in Gaza and the West Bank. Ireland has provided more than \u20ac122 million in support to the people of Palestine since January 2023. This includes \u20ac68 million to UNRWA, of which \u20ac10 million was provided this January.  The Deputy is referring to the UN Human Rights Council database, known as the UN database, which identifies businesses involved in specific activities. It was first issued in 2020, updated in June 2023 and most recently updated to include 158 companies in September 2025 as mandated by the UN Human Rights Council. It is important to state that the ISIF has complete independence in implementing its investment strategy under the law of the land, the NTMA Acts, through an investment committee that reports to the NTMA's board.  I met the NTMA earlier this year and was assured that the ISIF will continue to monitor its holdings to ensure that investments remain aligned with its risk profile and investment parameters. Legislation underpinning the ISIF reflects a commitment to be a responsible investor, as a steward of public assets, by protecting and enhancing the long-term value of the ISIF and the reputation of the NTMA in how it delivers its mandate. The ISIF has taken an investment decision to divest from six companies, all of which remain in the UN database, with a total value at the time of the divestment decision of approximately \u20ac2.95 million. The six companies - I think I have read the names to the Deputy previously - were a variety of banks and a chain store. It is important to state that the type of companies on the UN database in which the ISIF still has holdings are ones that operate all over the world and that the ISIF's investment in them represents a very small proportion of its overall investments. This is part of the challenge. Unfortunately, divestment from these companies does not mean that they would stop deriving income from activities in the occupied Palestinian territories, OPT. The NTMA also divested from directly held sovereign bond holdings within the global portfolio across Egypt, Israel, and Jordan in July 2025. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  I thank the T\u00e1naiste. I acknowledge the huge importance of the Irish support of UNRWA, the funding that is in place and the real difference it makes. I also acknowledge the Government's complete opposition to illegal occupation of Palestinian territories. However, when we are talking about the ISIF - and it has complete independence - this is public money the Government hands over the NTMA to manage on its behalf. It is fine to say the NTMA monitors this and that it is meant to be a responsible investor and is meant to worry about its reputation and so forth, but this is public money. I do not think there is any support in this House or in this country for public funds to be invested in companies profiting and operating illegally, against international law, in the occupied Palestinian territories. This requires action from the Minister as the shareholder, on behalf of the public, to ensure our money is not used in this way. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I fully accept the Deputy's sincerity on the issue and share much of his sentiment. I pointed out the NTMA Acts and the Deputy acknowledged that. I also acknowledge that the ISIF has taken the investment decision to divest from six companies, all of which remain on the updated UN database, with a value of more than \u20ac2.95 million at the time of divestment.  While these are decisions for the ISIF to make, some of the companies that operate are large global companies and they may have a very small presence in the occupied Palestinian territories. It is not perhaps obvious, or possible to work out, the level of benefit individual companies gain from being active in the OPT. It is a somewhat pedantic point, but it is somewhat important. There is no external indication of the level of revenue that arises from these activities and no indication it is significant in their overall worldwide activities. Therefore, it is difficult to know whether these companies have economically significant activities in the OPT.  However, I take the broader point the Deputy made and I stress the views of this House to the NTMA on a frequent basis. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  The T\u00e1naiste expresses the views of the House to the NTMA on a frequent basis. That is welcome but, at the same time, he is equivocating a bit. He is asking how much they profit, how much they are involved and saying that is not clear, so he is kind of sending a signal, that perhaps, as the person responsible - the Minister for Finance, the shareholder - for funds, the Government is against it, but maybe it is okay. He is equivocating so I ask him not to do that. I want him to be really clear - and I think these are the views across the House and country - that we do not want a single cent of our public money to be used in this way. Will he be clear about that and clear with the NTMA? That is the kind of support that is needed on this, not equivocations saying that maybe it is okay in some circumstances. Will he be clear that we do not want a single cent to be used? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I am not trying to equivocate, though I take the criticism. However, I have a particular legal role as Minister for Finance and I am not in a position to direct the NTMA or the ISIF about this. That is why I am perhaps somewhat precluded, more than other Deputies, from expressing my personal view because the law of the land is clear that these investment decisions must be independent of the views of the Minister for Finance of the day.  The NTMA operates a commitment to be a responsible investor as a steward of public assets, by protecting and enhancing the long-term value of the ISIF and the reputation of the NTMA and how it delivers its mandate as manager and controller of the ISIF. In this context, the ISIF operates an exclusion policy that is consistent with its statutory mandate, as amended from time to time. Exclusion is used on a limited basis. It reflects exclusions mandated by legislation. The investment strategies for the Future Ireland Fund, FIF, and the Infrastructure Climate and Nature Fund, which are also to be extended to the ISIF, include certain companies listed on the UN database of business enterprises involved in specified activities in the occupied Palestinian territories. Certain Israel-based companies that are on the UN database and derive a significant element of turnover from Israel and the OPT will be excluded from investment by the ISIF, FIF and the Infrastructure Climate and Nature Fund. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Middle East"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/dbsect_31","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Credit Unions","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/dbsect_21","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_31","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_31.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aidan Farrelly)  Question No. 146 will now be taken by Deputy McCormack "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  We all know about the great work done in our communities by credit unions. In some cases, they are the lender of last resort for some people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  The Government is committed to supporting the continued development and expansion of the credit union sector, recognising, as the Deputy does, its important role in providing community-based financial services. A range of legislative and regulatory measures have been delivered and the focus now is on the development of a new five-year strategy for the credit union sector. On 19 April, I formally announced the commencement of the credit union strategy project. This programme for Government commitment will, for the first time, deliver a sector-wide approach to future-proof the credit union movement and allow the sector to address challenges and capitalise on emerging opportunities.  This strategy will build on the foundations of the Credit Union (Amendment) Act and the Central Bank\u2019s lending reforms, and will focus on establishing a shared vision and a clear strategic direction for the sector, primarily within the existing legislative and regulatory framework. The Credit Union (Amendment) Act 2023 introduced significant reforms aimed at strengthening and modernising the sector and broadening the range of services available to members. Key measures include loan referrals, loan participation and provisions relating to the establishment of a corporate credit union. Amended lending regulations, which commenced on 30 September 2025, significantly enhanced the lending capacity of credit unions. The regulations increased the lending limits to 30% of total assets for mortgages and 15% for business loans, thereby enabling credit unions to expand their offerings and compete more effectively in these markets. Based on sector assets of \u20ac22.5 billion at the end of 2025, these changes permit up to \u20ac6.8 billion in mortgage lending and up to \u20ac3.4 billion in business lending. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  I thank the Minister of State for his response. As I said earlier, credit unions already play an enormously important role in communities, with millions of account holders across Ireland and a very high level of public trust. Following the departure of a number of retail banks from the Irish market, there is clear need for greater competition within the banking sector. One of the most significant opportunities for expansion is in mortgage lending. While credit unions currently account for only 1% of the mortgage market, the sector has ambitious plans to expand substantially in this area, potentially up to \u20ac10 billion in mortgage lending over time. Greater competition in that space would be hugely positive for consumers and could help place downward pressure on mortgage rates. Does the Minister of State agree that supporting the responsible expansion of credit union mortgage lending represents a significant opportunity within the Irish banking market? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  I could not agree more. Certainly, since my appointment, I have been struck, as I go around the country visiting different credit unions, just how in tune they are with their members' needs and how ambitious they are to meet the enhanced needs of the communities they represent. That is why the amended lending regulations, which came in on 30 September last year, offer a huge opportunity to the credit union movement to really compete in the mortgage sector and in the SME lending sector. As I work with the sector to develop a five-year strategy, I am engaging in a series of consultation events with the credit union movement to see what more we can do to ensure we put this critical financial institution on a long-term sustainable footing for the next five years. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  I thank the Minister of State. Credit unions have also been given greater capacity to grow, as he said, including the ability to lend over 30% of their assets in long-term lending. However, business lending still remains a relatively small part of the overall market, with approximately \u20ac190 million currently in SME and business lending. There is clearly potential for further growth in this area, as the Minister of State said, particularly for small businesses and local enterprise seeking relationship-based finance. At the same time, one of the real strengths of the credit union movement is that while credit unions continues to modernise and adopt new technologies, people can still walk into a local branch, sit down face to face and discuss financial matters with someone who understands their circumstances but also, most important, understands the community they come from. Does the Minister of State believe there is scope for further support, collaboration and shared service models within the credit union movement in order that the sector can continue expanding responsible while maintaining that trusted local presence? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  The credit union is an extremely trusted financial institution. In fact, for ten years in a row the credit union movement has have been awarded the ranking of the most reputable brand. There are huge opportunities based on the very trust its members have in its service. We have already seen that the amended lending regulations has given credit unions opportunities in both the mortgage space and the SME lending space, and there is an appetite there to exploit the opportunities that exist. I have been very strong in requesting the participation of the local enterprise offices and the chamber of commerce representative bodies, as I go around engaging with various regional workshops, to ensure we hear from business representatives to see what type of products they require so that the credit union can fill that gap. There are great opportunities there. There is an ambition by the credit union movement to exploit those opportunities and I want to help it to make sure it does just that. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Credit Unions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/dbsect_32","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Tax Reliefs","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/dbsect_21","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_32","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Edward Timmins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_32.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Edward Timmins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Edward Timmins  Indexation for capital gains tax relief was abolished in 2003. Will the Minister of State consider reintroducing this indexation, something that, at the moment, is effectively an annual stealth tax because there is no indexation? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I thank Deputy Timmins for raising the matter. Ireland's capital gains tax rate is 33% and is paid on the chargeable capital gain made when a person disposes of an asset. The chargeable gain is usually the difference between the price paid for the asset and the price it is disposed of and is payable by the person making the disposal. Section 556 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 provides a measure of relief for capital gains, which are attributable purely to inflation, commonly known as indexation relief. The Finance Act 2003 amended section 556 such that indexation relief does not apply from the 2003 tax year onwards. Indexation relief, does, however, continue to be available in computing a chargeable gain arising on the disposal of an asset where the deductible expenditure on that asset was incurred prior to the tax year of 2003, with the relevant indexation multiplier being determined by reference to the year in which the expenditure was incurred. Indexation relief was ended as a means of gradually broadening the tax base, and my officials would contend it has been proved to effective in that regard.  It is the case that when indexation was introduced in the 1970s, inflation was extraordinarily high. Since then, inflation, while somewhat high now, has been consistently much lower, even taking into consideration spikes we have had around the Covid pandemic and recent geopolitical events. It is also important to bear in mind that there is no indexation of other taxes. We do not currently have an indexation of income tax, corporation tax or capital acquisitions tax.  The programme for Government does commit to maintaining a broad tax base to guard against the need for counter-cyclical fiscal policy in the event of a downturn and to prepare for future budgetary challenges relating to an ageing population. CGT is an important part of our system to ensure that taxation is not focused solely on income tax and that those who benefit from gains in the values of their assets are included within the tax net on an equitable basis. As with all taxes, CGT is obviously subject to ongoing review, which does involve consideration and assessment of the rate of CGT, the relevant reliefs and exemptions, and wider tax policy considerations. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Edward Timmins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Edward Timmins  I will give a simple example to illustrate this better. If you had \u20ac10,000 in savings, you bought shares today and they gained by 20% over the next five years, say, 4% per annum, that would mean they would be worth \u20ac12,000 in five years' time. If inflation is a similar rate, which may well happen - 20% over the next five years - your \u20ac12,000 in five years is worth the same as \u20ac10,000 today because the 20% inflation has wiped out that 20% gain. You have no real gain, in effect, but if you go to sell those shares in five years' time, you are deemed to have made a gain of \u20ac2,000 because you bought the shares for \u20ac10,000 and sold them for \u20ac12,000. However, you are actually no better off because the \u20ac12,000 in five years' time is worth the same as the \u20ac10,000 today. Yet, you have to pay a tax on that \u20ac2,000. That is my whole point. It is effectively an annual stealth tax. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I hear the Deputy and I never like to disagree with my constituency colleague, but the point I would make is that we consider all taxation measures as part of the annual budgetary process through the tax strategy group papers and the likes. Being honest with the House, I would be concerned with an indexation for the CGT space when one could make similar arguments or cases for indexation of other taxes that we do not currently do that with either. My biggest priority in terms of a taxation package this year will be around personal income tax because there is a real need for that, and I know the Deputy and I share a view on that. There is a compelling case around CGT, how it operates, how it works and the rate, the relief and the exemptions.  Ireland often gets told we have a high rate compared to other European countries. At a headline level, we probably do, but when the reliefs and exemptions are factored in, does that alter the picture somewhat? It does. All these things are kept under review. As of now, there is no plan to reintroduce indexation, but I will ask my officials to reflect on what the Deputy has said and will come back to him with further views. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Edward Timmins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Edward Timmins  I understand this is a tall order because the position has not changed since 2002. That is 24 years. It has been an issue every year since then but various finance Ministers have chosen not to act. I would also argue that capital gains tax is different from income tax, gift tax and inheritance tax. In fact, tax credits and bands have increased considerably over the past 20 years. The exception has been capital gains tax, where there has been no indexation whatsoever, unlike all other taxes. When indexation was abolished, one of the reasons was capital gains tax was 20% at the end of 2002 and for a few years prior to that. That was given as a reason - we did not need taxation because it was being taxed so little. Since then, it has steadily increased, as the T\u00e1naiste said in reply to an earlier question, and is now up at 33%. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  There is an argument to be had around CGT - on the rates, the reliefs, the exemptions and how it acts as an incentive or otherwise to entrepreneurial activity. I have given views on that, as has the Taoiseach. As is always the case in a budget, all this will come down to balance and priorities as part of the overall tax package.  We will have the national economic dialogue in Dublin Castle in June. The Minister, Deputy Chambers, and I will publish the summer economic statement in July. That will give an indication of how the Government intends to divide between spending and tax. I have no doubt there will be an opportunity to have intense engagement between then and the budget in October as to the best menu of options to deploy. There are always trade-offs. CGT will, as with all taxes, be reviewed as part of that. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Tax Reliefs"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/dbsect_33","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Budget 2027","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/dbsect_21","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_33","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_33.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Currie  Working families are under pressure. They feel like they are often chasing their tails and that there is not enough at the end of the month to show for all their hard work. It is what I have always described as the struggle to juggle. We have consistently supported working families over the years. The T\u00e1naiste and others have said this budget will include income tax changes, which I welcome because those families deserve to get more back based on what they are putting in. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I thank the Deputy for the question and for her consistent raising of this issue around working families. Programme for Government 2025: Securing Ireland's Future contains specific undertakings with regard to personal taxation. It commits to \"implement[ing] progressive changes in taxation if the economy remains strong, including indexing credits and bands to prevent an increase in the real burden of income tax\". It also states that \"in the event of an economic downturn and unexpected deterioration in the public finances ... [w]e would also postpone changes to income tax credits or bands, as we did in Budget 2021\". As we plan for budget 2027, it is my intention to have a personal income tax package as part of that budget.  As the Deputy will be aware, to ease the burden facing average and middle-income earners, over successive budgets the previous Government substantially increased the entry point to the higher rate of income tax for all earners by \u20ac8,700, or around 25%. The main tax credits increased by \u20ac350, or around 21%. In line with the Government's policy of ensuring full-time workers on the minimum wage remain outside the top rate of USC, the ceiling of the 2% USC rate band was increased. Budgets 2024 and 2025 also cumulatively reduced the 4.5% rate of USC to 3%. Broadly, the income tax measures implemented over the period of the previous Government are expected to be in line with wage growth. We used a formula in the previous Government to allow people to earn more before they paid the high rate of tax and to make changes to the USC. That formula was an interesting and potentially desirable one.  Budget 2026 was the first of five budgets to be delivered by this Government. There was not a personal income tax package in the first one. I think there needs to be one in the next four, all things being equal.  On the exact levers we will pull and the exact menu to use around personal tax, I am not an ideologue when it comes to that. I want to see what is in the best interests of families and how people benefit the most. I would like, if possible, to anchor tax policy for the next four budgets. In other words, if we pick an option for the next budget, could that be a roadmap for the following three to provide certainty? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Currie  I welcome the principles of what the T\u00e1naiste is setting out. I know he cannot get into the details. I can see the Government, in an extremely difficult geopolitical situation, is trying to future-proof our country with the infrastructure and the foundations it needs as a growing modern state, and to deliver on our promise to move away from cycles of boom and bust to something far more consistent, stable and sustainable, planning ahead with the Future Ireland Fund and the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund. However, workers need to feel more of the benefits of that strategy now, especially considering what has happened in the last six months. A quick look at other countries in the EU will show we are pushing average workers into the higher tax band at one of the lowest entry points. This is having an impact on people's decision-making, livelihoods and home lives. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I fully agree. We want work to always pay and we want people who work hard to be able to get ahead, not just get by. The tax system is an important part of that. That is why we are committed to delivering a personal income tax package.  I will make a point to somewhat balance my comments. While it is absolutely correct that Irish people pay the higher rate of tax at a lower entry point than many other European countries, when you look at the social insurance contributions other countries make, that somewhat adjusts for that. The broader point the Deputy makes is entirely correct. We have taken people from paying the higher rate of tax at around \u20ac33,000 in 2015 up to \u20ac44,000 now. I would like to see more progress on that.  I do not need to tell the Deputy this as she champions issues like this, but when these families we are talking about are looking for a break and a chance to get ahead and not just get by, tax is a part of it. Other costs, like childcare, are part of it. Also, how can we structurally try to reduce energy costs? The budget will need to look at all of this in the round. Tax is a part of it, but so too is whether we can make permanent structural cost reductions in key areas like childcare. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Currie  The T\u00e1naiste is right that it is difficult to compare like for like and that we have to look at working families and their budgets in the round. He has consistently referenced childcare as an area where he wants to support working families. Every week, I speak, as I know the T\u00e1naiste does, to families, women and services about the cost of childcare and about provision.  Today, with Deputy Carrigy, I met with Longford Women's Link. I know the T\u00e1naiste is completely committed to reducing childcare fees to \u20ac200 per month over the next four years but the wider reform I spoke of earlier is critical too. That means putting systems in place that last and that people have confidence in. State-led childcare is a major opportunity in the short and long term and should be allowed to evolve. The not-for-profit services that are due to provide it, at least in the short term as it evolves, need a system around them so they can scale up. That is achievable. Core funding requires reform but it is fixable as the State continues to play a greater role. I could go on but my point is this: these are not just problems to fix; they are opportunities for genuine reform and innovation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I did not realise the Deputy met members of Longford Women's Link today. They are amazing. I visited them in the not-too-distant past and am grateful for the work they do and the opportunities and accessibility they provide to people in a range of areas. I met them in the context of higher education.  The commitment in the programme for Government is clear. We want to get childcare to \u20ac200 per child per month in the lifetime of the Government. The Deputy is right that fees and the cost to families make up a part of it, but there is also building the system and reform. I would like in the next budget to make progress on childcare costs but also make progress in the roadmap. In fairness to our colleague, the Minister, Deputy Foley, some important steps have been taken in the recent past around capital being for the first time available to invest in public facilities.  We need to be conscious - and we are - that one size does not fit all when it comes to childcare. We have to empower parents to make the decisions that make sense for them. Sometimes it is someone coming into your house to mind the children, sometimes it is your children going to someone's house, sometimes it is your child going to a cr\u00e8che and sometimes it is a voluntary provider. There are many options.  That is why to get the best return for the taxpayer, the parent and the child, we need to see the roadmap of reform alongside the fee reduction. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 149 to 163, inclusive, taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Budget 2027"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/dbsect_34","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Banking Sector","counts":{"speechCount":12,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/dbsect_21","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_34","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_34.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  This question is in relation to the sale of the State's shares in the banking sector. Will the Minister outline to the House the rationale he had for selling the shares? I acknowledge that parties are entitled to different ideological positions. Permanent TSB was never a strategic bank. I would rather have held the ownership of AIB within the State, but Permanent TSB has the potential to be a third force in banking in the State. Will the Minister outline the rationale and also the safeguards that are in place to protect jobs in branches? Will he also expand on the new ownership of the bank? How long is it involved in retail banking with branches?  It is Question No. 164. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I thank the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I did not think we would reach it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I did not either. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I apologise, but I am glad that we have. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I appreciate that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I thank Deputy Doherty. The State's investment in Permanent TSB, PTSB, was made during the financial crisis to safeguard the stability of the banking system and protect depositors. The State has been and continues to be very supportive of PTSB. The Government believes that it is in the long-term interests of PTSB and citizens in general that the bank be returned to full private ownership. I accept that we have differing political views on that. This transaction would mark a successful conclusion after a period of stabilisation. A sale reflects the Department\u2019s confidence in PTSB\u2019s strength and ability to succeed without State support. A sale of the State\u2019s investment would be consistent with the objectives of recovering taxpayer funds that were used to rescue the Irish banks and deploying these to more productive purposes.  The board of PTSB announced a formal sale process on 30 October 2025. This process was conducted under the Irish takeover rules and resulted in the board unanimously recommending a cash offer from a subsidiary of BAWAG Group AG. BAWAG has set out a long-term ownership approach, including maintaining a strong and resilient PTSB, investing in the business, retaining the headquarters in Dublin, keeping a meaningful branch footprint and safeguarding existing employment rights and pension arrangements in line with applicable law. BAWAG noted that in its view, the PTSB branch network is a real asset. I met BAWAG and its representatives reiterated that point to me as well. It genuinely sees the branch network as an asset. It does not intend to make any material changes with respect to the fixed asset bases. Instead, it notes that branches could shift from being transactions-based based to advisory-based, as it adds new products to the bank\u2019s offering. This is probably something that we would see PTSB and others doing anyway, in terms of the role of a bank branch changing rather than the branch not being there. BAWAG has also indicated its intention to leverage its broader European expertise to strengthen the bank\u2019s competitiveness, including in areas such as SME banking, which would be very welcome, energy-efficiency finance and operational integration. These stated intentions formed part of the overall assessment to support BAWAG\u2019s recommended cash offer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  The Minister mentioned the policy objective to return the banks to private ownership. I mentioned earlier that the State should have retained its position as a majority shareholder in AIB. It is not unique, as I am sure the Minister knows, for countries across Europe to be the majority shareholder or a significant shareholder in significant banks. It happens right across Europe, including in France and Germany. Many western European countries have that model, so the idea of the State having a share or a majority share in a bank is not something alien in terms of other European countries and in some cases competitors. The issue in this country is that we have a very small retail banking sector. I have always believed that despite some of the activities of AIB, the fact that the State was a shareholder forced it to be first movers in a lot of issues where it brought Bank of Ireland along with it. Will the Minister expand on whether he has received any guarantees from BAWAG during this sale process in relation to staffing and the branch network? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I accept that we have legitimate points of difference in relation to bank ownership and there is a legitimate debate to be had there. The position that we have always taken and the position that the programme for Government takes is to move the State out of the ownership of the banks and to restore them to private ownership.  I want to make the point that the circumstances in which Ireland ended up being in the position of bank ownership certainly was not strategic. We did not sit down to plan it out. It was an emergency rescue response to the financial crash.  The Deputy's point in relation to the lack of competition in retail banking is an important one. We have seen some potentially positive moves lately with Monzo getting a banking licence, along with Avant Money and others. I look forward to the banking competitiveness report at an EU level that will be published during our European Presidency because competitiveness in the banking sector is important.  In relation to BAWAG, in the interest of accuracy, I will come back to the Deputy with a note on this. I am very happy to write to the Deputy on this, but I did meet BAWAG and it made it clear that it is committed to the branch network. It made it clear on quite a number of occasions that it sees PTSB's branch network as a real asset and that it does not intend to make any material changes with respect to the fixed asset base. It has also met with the trade unions and others and has talked about safeguarding existing employment rights and pension arrangements in line with the applicable law. It is also a company that does not particularly like outsourcing, so there may be insourcing opportunities too. I am happy to correspond with the Deputy on the engagements I have had with BAWAG and any commitments it has given. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  The Minister is aware that a number of taxation and levy measures flowed from the fact that the State rescued these banks at a time when they were literally bankrupt and bankrupted the State with their activities. The Government has already overturned some of those, for example, the salary caps within banks. There is a prohibition on bonuses or at least there is an excess charge that applies in terms of a 45% additional USC charge on any bonuses that are paid out above a certain limit. There are other restrictions as well, including the levy. Where does the Minister now stand in relation to those issues with the State divesting its shareholdings in these three banks that were bailed out? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Finance (Deputy Simon Harris)  That is a fair question. The Government makes a decision annually on the banking levy, as the Deputy knows, as part of the budgetary process. We will do that again because we find it desirable to do it as part of the annual budgetary process, but I do not see a case for not having a bank levy.  In relation to the super charge on what are referred to as bankers' bonuses, while every bank in Ireland and anybody doing business in Ireland might have a view, I do not see a case for changing the policy position in relation to that either. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aidan Farrelly)  That ends the session on questions. I am not sure if we have a Minister for the Topical Issues yet. We will suspend until 11 p.m.   Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar fionra\u00ed ag 10.57 p.m. agus cuireadh t\u00fas leis ar\u00eds ar 11.01 p.m.    Sitting suspended at 10.57 p.m. and resumed at 11.01 p.m.  "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Banking Sector"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/dbsect_35","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_35","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aidan Farrelly)  I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case:  Deputy Barry Ward - To discuss allowing for the inclusion of parental details on children's passports in cases where they do not share the same surname to allow for easier international travel.  Deputy Michael Cahill - To discuss discrepancies in inheritance tax and capital gains tax.  Deputy Albert Dolan - To discuss introducing financial literacy to the school curriculum.  Deputy Jen Cummins - To discuss Labre Park regeneration.  Deputy Colm Burke - To discuss establishment of a national radiation therapy equipment replacement programme.  Deputy Conor Sheehan - To discuss the delay in funding BusConnects in Limerick.  Deputy Pat Buckley - To discuss the urgent need for a person to have treatment under the EU cross-border health directive.  Deputy Carol Nolan - To discuss implementation of the EU CPC driver training directive.  Deputy Malcolm Byrne - To discuss the need for social and affordable housing in Arklow, County Wicklow.  Deputy Michael Murphy - To discuss ongoing delays in the SEAI warmer homes scheme.  Deputy Louis O'Hara - To discuss recognition of long Covid as an occupational illness for healthcare workers.  Deputy Aidan Farrelly - To discuss the development of a public multisport recreational facility in Sallins, County Kildare.  Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett - To discuss the employment conditions and protections available to staff providing broadcasting services to the Houses of the Oireachtas.  Deputies Barry Heneghan and Johnny Guirke - To discuss working conditions and employment protections for Oireachtas broadcasting staff.  Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire - To discuss the humanitarian crisis in Cuba.  The matters raised by Deputies Ward, Nolan, Cahill, Farrelly and O'Hara have been selected for discussion "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/dbsect_36","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_36","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/dbsect_37","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Passport Services","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/dbsect_36","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_36","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_37","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  This is an issue that I have raised previously relating to a gap in the provision of the passport services. We are very lucky with the Passport Office. It does amazing work. I know from the work that my office does that the response that we get from the Passport Office is consistently excellent, co-operative and helpful. The Passport Office does not decide what goes into the passports insofar as a statutory regime provided for under the Passports Act 2008 dictates what should be in a passport. That is also in line with guidelines from the International Civil Aviation Organisation, ICAO. An Irish passport is a very valuable document. We occupy a space in the top ten of the international Henley passport index. It is one of the most coveted passports in the world. In no way do I want to interfere with the security or the value of that document. However, there is a situation that primarily affects women. Parents do not necessarily have the same name as their children. When they are travelling internationally with their children, they face difficulties crossing borders because the surname on their passport is different from surname of their children. Therefore, they have to demonstrate in a different way that child is their child, and they are entitled to cross that international frontier with that child.  Most parents present a birth certificate of the child that has their name on it and carry it with them. That will solve the problem most of the time. They should not have to do that. We live in an age now where I do not know what proportion of women who get married do not take their husband's name but it has to be substantial. We no longer live in a world where we expect women to take their husband's names. Yet we live in a world where we expect them to carry extra documentation so they can travel internationally with their children. The solution I am suggesting is that opposite the passport picture page where there is a blank page at the moment, there would simply be either on the parent's passport a list of their children's names or a list of their parents' names on the child's passport. It is something that could allow us to circumvent this unnecessary difficulty crossing international borders.  I raised this in the Seanad on 7 March 2023. The answers I recieved did not engage with the issue. I was told, for example, that there is a GDPR issue. There is not. Parents can consent to that data being shared. They can also consent on behalf of their children. It is not something that I am saying has to be done. It is something that should be created as an option for parents because it makes lives easier. I was told that it is not the norm, and it is not the norm. Diplomatic passports are issued to members of the diplomatic service. On the passport page opposite the photo page will be the description of why holders have that diplomatic passport. It will state ambassador, ambassador's spouse or whatever it is. There is a precedent for doing this in a certain way. I have been told that it is not in accordance with the guidelines issued by the ICAO. If that is the case, those guidelines need to change because they compromise the ability of the passport to do its job. Of course, first of foremost, the job of the passport is to establish identity and nationally. We could argue that the information in relation to parentage is part of the identity of that child because it helps them to cross an international border. The guidelines of the ICAO are fine and important. The security aspects of them are particularly important. However, we are also a sovereign country and get to decide what goes in our passports. More importantly, we have to remember that the passport is a service that is extended to our citizens. We are not bound by other rules. We passed the Passports Act. We could easily pass a passports (amendment) Act to change this.  I ask the Minister of State for a practical accommodation for parents who are currently having difficulty crossing international borders with their children simply because they have a different surname from their children. There is a practical and easy solution to this. I ask that we implement it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kieran O'Donnell)  I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy McEntee.  A passport is an internationally recognised travel document which attests to the identity and nationality of the bearer. The passport service follows recommendations from the ICAO, which the Deputy referenced, in relation to data that is held on a passport. The ICAO is an international body that develops policies and standards for aviation safety and security. Internationally, the Irish passport has a strong reputation. The passport service takes seriously its responsibility to protect the integrity of the Irish passport and the issuing process. Our passport ranks fourth on the Henley global passport index as it provides citizens visa-free access to 185 countries. All passport applications are subject to the terms of the Passports Act 2008, as amended. The Act provides a legal basis for the various policies and procedures that are applied by the passport service in the issuing of passports. Section 10 provides that a passport will issue the name of a citizen as it appears on their birth certificate or naturalisation certificate.  The function of the data held on a passport is to confirm the passport holder's identity and nationality. The passport service does not include guardians' names on children's passports, nor is this required by the provisions of the Act. A passport for a minor under the age of 18 is valid for five years. It is important to note that it is possible that the guardianship circumstances of a child can change. The child may also become an adult during the validity period of their passport. A child travelling abroad must have their own passport and cannot be included on their guardian's passport. The practice of allowing children to be included on a guardian's passport is being phased out internationally. This is intended to make international travel more secure for children. The previous practice of including a child on a guardian's passport meant that the child was not identified via photograph prior to travel.  The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade understands that situations arise where a guardian is travelling with their child who does not share their surname, and the guardian may be requested to produce further documents confirming the guardianship link. Border control authorities may also request extra documentation when children travel either unaccompanied or with an accompanying person who is not their guardian. The purpose of border control authorities requesting further information is to safeguard the rights of children and their guardians. The Department's website contains information for adults travelling with children and outlines additional documentation they may be required to carry, depending on the country to which they are travelling. The passport service does not have any plans to expand the purpose of a passport to indicate a guardianship relationship between a child and their guardians but continues to consider ways in which to enhance their essential citizen service. That is the update from the Minister and the Department. I wait for the Deputy's further contribution, and I will respond accordingly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  I thank the Minister of State very much. I know he is providing the House with a response that has been prepared on behalf of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. He has described it as an \"update\". It is far from an update. I read through the transcript of what was said in the Seanad on 7 March 2023. There are so many similarities as there to be no update whatever so ever. It is exactly the same issue about what is required. The Minister of State said in his response is that it is not required by the Act. So what? It is required by common sense and we can change the Act to reflect common sense.  The Minister of State then told us guardianship can change during the currency of a passport. Of course it can. It is not beyond our systems to have a situation whereby a passport can be amended or whereby, in a change of guardianship, a notification to the Passport Office be required to change or cancel a passport. The Minister of State has also told us that the child may become an adult during the currency of the passport. Of course that is also true, but exactly the same provisions apply.  It is totally clear in the question I asked that I am not suggesting that a child would be included on a parent's or guardian's passport. That is clearly outside the parameters of what happens now. It may have happened in the past but it does not happen any more, and that is not the question I am asking. What I am talking about is not about interfering with the identity page of a passport, but on the page opposite that, providing additional details that will help parents to cross international borders with their children who happen to have different names.  Here is the most extraordinary thing. Almost exactly the same sentence was stated in the Seanad three years ago as when the Minister of State stated here, \"The passport service does not have any plans to expand the purpose of a passport to indicate a guardianship relationship between a child and their guardians but continues to consider ways in which to enhance this essential citizen service.\" That is exactly the same line that was given three years ago, so here is my final question. What has actually been considered to enhance this service? What has actually changed between now and then to enhance the service we are providing to our citizens, notwithstanding the fact that I have clearly identified a lacuna and a failing of that service to certain citizens who happen not to share their surname with their children? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Carol Nolan  I again thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. As I said earlier, I am taking the matter on behalf of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. As the Deputy is aware, passports, in particular children's passports for family holidays, are an important topic for Members as we approach the busy summer travel period. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade wishes to assure Members that the passport service is in an excellent position to deliver on the demand forecast for the rest of the year. Last week alone, 21,000 passports were issued.  In relation to the data held in a passport, it is only possible for the passport services to follow the recommendations from the International Civil Aviation Organisation. The function of the data held in a passport is to confirm the passport holder's identity and nationality. A child travelling abroad must have their own passport and cannot be included on their guardian's passport. The Department strongly urges anyone who is considering travelling overseas, particularly families with young children, to check the validity of their passports before booking their tickets and to apply online for their passports in plenty of time.  I have no doubt that Deputy Ward will be following up with the Minister directly on foot of the questions he has posed. With his legal background he will be able to outline precisely the changes he feels could be made on a practical level to reflect the argument he is espousing on behalf of his constituents. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Passport Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/dbsect_38","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"EU Directives","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/dbsect_36","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_36","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_38","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Carol Nolan  I wish to raise the Road Safety Authority's, RSA, defective implementation of the EU certificate of professional competence, CPC, driver training directive and, in particular, its latest flawed initiative, namely, a biased heavy goods vehicle, HGV, driver safety survey that is deeply concerning for road safety and the future of the haulage industry. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kieran O'Donnell  I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Transport, Deputy Darragh O'Brien.  EU Directive 2022\/2561, on the initial qualification and periodic training of drivers of certain road vehicles for the carriage of goods or passengers, is transposed into Irish law by the European Communities (Vehicle Drivers Certificate of Professional Competence) (No. 2) Regulations 2008 (SI 359 of 2008), as amended.  Under the directive, transposed via the 2008 regulation, to drive a truck or bus professionally in the EU, drivers must have a valid CPC qualification. This involves passing four exams, a theory test, a case study, a driving test and a walk around. This qualification is maintained by completing CPC periodic training of 35 hours in each five-year training cycle. Each module consists of seven hours of periodic training and drivers must do seven hours of periodic training every year, adding up to 35 hours and five modules over the five years. Drivers with both a bus and truck CPC must complete 42 hours of training over each five-year period. The duration of training is defined in the directive and the training is obligatory for professional drivers in the EU.  Annex 1 of the directive outlines the minimum CPC training requirements. It establishes the knowledge to be taken into account by member states when establishing the driver\u2019s initial qualification, and periodic training must include at least the subjects specified in the directive. Trainee drivers must reach the level of knowledge and practical competence necessary to professionally drive, in all safety, vehicles of the relevant driving licence category.  In Ireland, training modules are developed by the RSA in line with the directive. The RSA reviews CPC modules and is responsible for selecting the content in each module, based on the objectives outlined in the directive. The RSA works with CPC trainers and a panel of subject matter experts from the industry to ensure relevant input into module content. The RSA recently completed a review of Module 1: Control of Vehicle and Eco Driving Techniques, which is due to be issued to all CPC training providers shortly. The next module to be reviewed is Module 3: Health and Safety for the Professional Driver. Work on this will start as soon as module 1 has issued.  Following the RSA-CPC survey, some drivers expressed an interest in online training. However, the directive makes provision for only a small portion of the syllabus to be conducted online, so drivers could only do part of a module online and would have to complete it in person. Accordingly, the RSA has decided not to pursue this option at this time.  In keeping with the Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030 action to review the accessibility of driver CPC, the RSA has introduced a pilot programme for drivers with a valid ADR dangerous goods certificate. Qualified drivers can apply for an exemption from CPC module 2 provided their ADR certificate is valid on the expiry date of their current CPC card. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Carol Nolan  I thank the Minister of State for taking this question and for his response. It is very disappointing to see that neither the Minister for Transport nor the Minister of State with responsibility for transport is here because there are serious issues around the RSA. Last month, the RSA commissioned Leeds Beckett University to carry out research on HGV driver safety. There are a number of issues with that survey, which I will highlight now. They planned to interview only 40 Irish HGV drivers, but the extraordinary thing was that they wanted a sample of 20 drivers who had experienced issues such as speeding, drink driving, phone use or careless driving. It was like they were trying to engineer a particular sample for a predetermined headline, such as 50% of HGV drivers breaking the law. It really was biased.  I have been in contact with the Irish Road Haulage Association, IRHA, which has called this out and labelled it as fundamentally flawed and inherently biased. The survey ignored real-world problems and factors such as dangerous road infrastructure, the behaviour of other road users, levels of enforcement and indeed the performance of the RSA itself. Instead it focused on the negative and it was really like they wanted a particular outcome - no doubt about that.  The sham survey, unfortunately, is not an isolated mistake by the RSA. It is a symptom of the RSA's wider failure to properly implement the EU CPC driver training directive. It is all down to the way this is being implemented. I have been provided with detailed correspondence from an experienced CPC trainer and member of the IRU expert panel in Brussels. He highlights the stark contrast with other EU member states. For example, in the Czech Republic, approved training centres have real flexibility and can deliver practical, relevant content, including first aid, emergency response, cargo security and company-specific training, even on the operator's own premises. Belgium offers 28 certified CPC courses, while the Netherlands offers 22. Drivers and operators have genuine choice and relevant training but it is not so in Ireland. There are issues with the RSA's implementation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kieran O'Donnell  I again thank the Deputy for raising this matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Transport, Deputy O'Brien. The legal basis for the certificate of professional competence for professional drivers is contained in EU Directive 2022\/2561 on the initial qualification and periodic training of drivers of certain road vehicles for the carriage of goods or passengers. Under this directive it is a legal requirement that all new category C and D professional drivers complete and pass their driver CPC qualification and undertake periodic training.  CPC is mutually recognised across all EU member states allowing drivers to work in different EU member states without gaining additional certification. Periodic training further ensures that professional drivers remain informed of developments in road safety legislation, including in technology, regulatory obligations and best practice within the transport sector. The continued professional development model underpinning driver CPC recognises the importance of professional driver safety, requiring ongoing complex regulatory oversight. Both the duration of the training and the subjects to be covered are specified under the directive on mandatory professional drivers operating in EU member states.  The RSA is responsible for creating a curriculum in line with the directive in Ireland. The RSA undertakes periodic review of the training modules to ensure that they fully meet the requirements of the directive and represent best practice in terms of training requirements. The overarching purpose of qualification and periodic training process required by the directive is to ensure road safety and the safety of drivers. It ensures drivers can navigate adverse conditions, operate complex equipment and ensure passenger safety and cargo collection. It allows harmonisation of professional driver standards across the EU, enhancing road safety and professional mobility.  I know Deputy Nolan raised a specific point in her contribution. Obviously, it will be brought to the Minister's attention. I expect she may have already done so or will be doing it but the specific point she raised could be taken up directly with the Minister, Deputy O\u2019Brien. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Carol Nolan  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Aire St\u00e1it. May I come back? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aidan Farrelly)  No, the Deputy cannot come back. I apologise. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Carol Nolan  Okay. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"EU Directives"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/dbsect_39","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Tax Code","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/dbsect_36","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_36","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_39","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Cahill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Cahill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Cahill  I again raise the issue of inheritance tax and the anomalies that exist for parents and their children on the one hand, and childless adults, their brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews on the other hand. Currently children inheriting a family home from their parents are exempted from tax on inheritances of up to \u20ac400,000, which, considering the price of homes currently, is undoubtedly far too low. However, a major anomaly exists when it comes to childless couples and individuals who often decide to leave their home and assets to their nieces, nephews, brothers and sisters. Unlike children inheriting from parents, nieces, nephews, brothers and sisters are only entitled to \u20ac40,000 tax free leaving them with a significant tax bill, which often precludes these individuals from affording the property.  At a time when this country is in the midst of a housing crisis, should we not be doing everything possible to ensure families are able to afford to keep homes instead of penalising those who do not have children and those who are left assets by their uncles and aunts? Tonight I am calling on the T\u00e1naiste and Minister for Finance to reduce inheritance tax which is charged at a flat rate of 33% on the value of assets exceeding specific relationship-based tax-free thresholds and to significantly increase these thresholds of \u20ac400,000 to \u20ac800,000 in the case of a son or daughter and furthermore, to separate the limit on the house that I proposed, the \u20ac800,000, from any other inheritance.  The \u20ac40,000 cap in the case of a niece, nephew, brother or sister is absolutely ridiculous and discriminatory. In the upcoming budget I propose that the Minister for Finance increase the \u20ac40,000 cap up to \u20ac250,000 on a house and again separate it from any other inheritance. These bands are less today than there were 15 or 16 years ago when they were reduced during the recession. If the value of the house and any other assets is \u20ac600,000, a son or daughter is liable for \u20ac66,000 in capital acquisition tax, or inheritance tax as it is known. On the very same inheritance a niece, nephew, brother or sister is liable for \u20ac184,800. Our parents, our grandparents and their parents before them worked extremely hard to provide for their families and build a family home. The same applies to our uncles and aunts and their people before them. They too worked extremely hard to build a family home and paid all their taxes I may add.  Sadly, today in certain cases individuals are turning down inheritance as they simply cannot afford to pay the taxes. This issue needs to be addressed in the coming budget and successive budgets. It is obvious families and individuals are being taxed on the double.  I call on the Government again tonight to urgently address another anomaly that exists with the current taxation system in respect of capital acquisition tax when applied to partners as opposed to married couples. Current legislation means a partner, even a lifetime partner, is regarded as a stranger for capital acquisition tax purposes and therefore the current threshold limit of \u20ac20,000 applies, with anything over that amount taxed at 33%, whereas married couples are exempted from that tax. Current legislation discriminates against partners. Partners are now entitled to a survivor's pension if they have been living together for at least five years or two years if they have children. This arose from a court case where it was found that to deny them survivor\u2019s pension would be unconstitutional. In another recent case, a civil servant passed away and his partner was refused the widow\u2019s portion of his Civil Service pension as they were not married and this was also found to be unconstitutional. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Deputy Robert Troy)  I thank Deputy Cahill for raising this matter in the House today. I also acknowledge his advocacy on this issue since his election to D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann. Capital acquisitions tax, CAT, is a beneficiary-orientated tax that is payable by the recipient of a gift or inheritance as opposed to the person providing that gift or inheritance. CAT plays an important role in ensuring that we maintain a broad tax base. It raised \u20ac854 million in 2024 and approximately \u20ac1.1 billion in 2025.  For CAT purposes, the relationship between the person giving a gift or inheritance, the disponer, and the person who receives it, the beneficiary, determines the maximum amount, known as the group threshold, below which CAT does not arise. The Finance Act 2024 increased each threshold, and the estimated cost was \u20ac88 million annually. The group A threshold, which in general applies where the beneficiary is a child of the disponer, increased to \u20ac400,000 from \u20ac335,000.  It is useful to note that the definition for children for CAT purposes includes any stepchildren, adopted children or certain foster children. All can avail of the group A threshold in respect of gifts and inheritances received from that disponer.  The Group B threshold increased to \u20ac40,000 from \u20ac32,500. This threshold applies where the beneficiary is a brother, sister, niece, nephew, lineal ancestor or lineal descendant such as a grandchild of the disponer. The group C threshold increased to \u20ac20,000 from \u20ac16,250, with this threshold applying in all other cases.  It should also be borne in mind that where a person receives gifts or inheritances that are in excess of the relevant tax-free threshold, CAT at a rate of 33% applies on the excess benefit.  It is important to be aware that there are significant costs associated with increasing the existing thresholds. For instance, a \u20ac100,000 increase in threshold A to \u20ac500,000 would cost in the region of \u20ac86.6 million, while an increase in threshold B to \u20ac60,000 would cost approximately \u20ac70.1 million.  Last year in the CAT tax strategy group, TSG, paper, Department of Finance officials reviewed idea of combining thresholds A and B to bring relatives such as nephews, nieces, brothers and sisters within the scope of the higher threshold. As part of this exercise Revenue estimated the cost of merging group B with group A to be \u20ac305 million. These costs have been updated recently and it is estimated that such a change could now cost in the region of \u20ac349 million.  The tax strategy group paper was published in advance of the budget and is the best means of considering issues such as inheritance tax in an analytical and transparent way. The tax strategy group is not a decision-making body and the papers produced by the Department of Finance are simply a list of options and issues to be considered in the budgetary process. Officials intend to include a further update of this matter in the tax strategy group papers later this year.  I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and assure him that the T\u00e1naiste is conscious of the burden of capital taxation and continues to engage with his officials on these matters. The capital acquisition tax group thresholds are kept under review annually by officials throughout the Finance Bill cycle. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Cahill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Cahill  I thank the Minister of State for his detailed response. I mentioned the case of the civil servant who passed away. His partner was refused the widow's portion of his civil servant pension as they were not married. This was also found to be unconstitutional. Contrast this with the current taxation system where partners are treated as strangers for capital acquisition tax purposes. This is wide open to a constitutional challenge to the current legislation. Obviously, I am aware that during the past week, the State secured a Supreme Court appeal against the judge's ruling that it breached the Constitution when it refused a spouse's pension to a man who had lived with his late partner.  There are anomalies in the current taxation system. Where a partner makes a gift to his or her partner, this will give rise to both capital gains tax and a gift tax. If they were married, however, there would be no tax. The tax rate bands for married couples differ from those for partners living together. This needs to be urgently addressed, and it is a matter for the Minister for Finance, Deputy Harris, to do so. The current legislation must be amended as soon as possible.  I referenced and made a couple of proposals in this regard. The current cap of \u20ac400,000 should be increased to \u20ac800,000 on the home and separated from any other inheritance. Equally, the \u20ac40,000 cap for a niece or nephew or brother or sister should be increased to \u20ac250,000. We should also be looking at the 33% tax on the value of assets exceeding the specific, relationship-based tax-free thresholds. Those thresholds should be significantly increased, as I have already stated. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  I thank the Deputy. I listened carefully to the points he raised. I am aware that this is an area of concern for many people. Indeed, James Sexton, whom we mentioned earlier, has led a well-documented campaign, End Discrimination in Inheritance Tax. He will be presenting to our parliamentary party tomorrow evening on it, and he has been presenting in the audiovisual room at Leinster House as well. This issue has been raised by many people in this House.  As I mentioned before, the Government increased the thresholds in the Finance Act 2024. These increases amount to an increase of approximately 19.4% on group A, while the thresholds for groups B and C increased by 23%. The T\u00e1naiste met with the End Discrimination in Inheritance Tax group, which, as I have said, is an advocacy group in relation to this matter. He told me the meeting was a productive conversation and he understands the concerns raised along with the burden of capital taxation. He is committed to having ongoing engagement with this group.  The tax strategy group paper is looking at CAT this year across a number of areas, including thresholds levels. That paper is expected to be published in late June or early July. It will provide assistance to the T\u00e1naiste and the wider Government as they prepare for whatever budgetary decisions will be taken later this year.  It is worth noting that any increase or widening of the CAT thresholds will have costs and will be part of the annual budgetary considerations and process. Obviously, it will be competing with other budgetary demands. This is a matter that has been raised by the Taoiseach and T\u00e1naiste, as well as by Deputy Cahill this evening. Indeed, I have heard both members of the Opposition and Government raise this matter on a number of occasions. It is about striking the right balance and taking into account how far we can afford to go in any particular year, while acknowledging the perceived inequities that are there currently. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Tax Code"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/dbsect_40","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Sport and Recreational Development","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/dbsect_36","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_36","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_40","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Louis O'Hara)  We move onto the next Topical Issue in the name of Deputy Aidan Farrelly. It is to ask the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Deputy O'Donovan, to discuss the development of a public, multi-sport recreational facility in Sallins, County Kildare. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aidan Farrelly  I thank the Minister of State for taking this Topical Issue this evening. I am not sure if he has been to Sallins, County Kildare. I know he has had many a nice day in Kildare previously. Sallins is a growing town with a population of over 6,000 according to the most recent census. The Minister of State can imagine the news in 2024 when the community was awarded \u20ac3 million as part of the large-scale sport infrastructure fund, LSSIF. It promised to be a very exciting time for the community. The town is served well by Sallins GAA and Sallins Celtic, along with many other clubs. These amenity lands will include a number of multi-use pitches for the likes of GAA, soccer and cricket. There will be many uses. What the community cannot comprehend, however, is how, two years on from that announcement, there has not been an iota of movement in expenditure with regard to the project.  We know the project is being led by the local authority. It has recently finished a wonderful project in Kerdiffstown where the old refuse site has been transformed into a recreational amenity space. To see it is to believe it. It is marvellous. The council has the authority and competency to be able to deliver this project but the Department has asked for more information over and over again and another business case. It talks about gateways 1, 2 and 3 and it has tied the project in a level of bureaucracy that I have never seen before. A number of projects were part of that tranche, totalling nearly \u20ac170 million. Out of that \u20ac170 million, I wonder how many other communities have struggled to even press the start button on their project because of this level of bureaucracy and the Department's mistrust of local authorities or bodies that have managed to secure the funding in the first place by going through such a rigorous application process.  The issue was the budget. The cost of the project in the first instance was far in excess of \u20ac3 million. When the \u20ac3 million was allocated, it was bit of a case of going back to the drawing board. The council stepped in and matched that funding with another \u20ac3 million, but it still required a rethink of the project. What it boils down to now is a need for leadership. We need to see the money coming from the Department to Sallins, County Kildare. It is a simple and straightforward thing. Two years later, that is not too much to ask. It needs the Minister of State with responsibility for this area, Deputy McConalogue, to act. I ask the Minister of State to take this back to his colleague this evening. The Minister of State, Deputy McConalogue, needs to show a bit of leadership, convene a meeting between all the stakeholders to determine where the problems lie and ensure we deliver this project for the community.  This is happening in a context where the variation of the county development plan is open for public consultation this week. Sallins Celtic is facing the prospect of the land it plays on being rezoned for residential use. It is potentially looking at a situation where it will be homeless in the near future. There is, therefore, an urgency about this matter. I ask the Minister of State to consider that in his communications with the Minister of State with responsibility for this area. I thank the Minister of State for being here to take this Topical Issue this evening. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kieran O'Donnell  I thank Deputy Farrelly for raising this matter on behalf of his constituents, which I am taking on behalf of Minister of State, Deputy Charlie McConalogue. Under the 2024 round of the large-scale sports infrastructure Fund, LSSIF, Kildare County Council applied for funding for the development of Sallins Park Community Sports Centre, which the Deputy referenced. The project was allocated \u20ac3 million for phase 1 of the development. Phase 1 consists of the development of five pitches and all associated works. Two pitches for Gaelic games and soccer will be completed, with the remaining pitches to be developed into grass training pitches. It is envisaged that the training pitches will be developed into soccer, GAA and cricket pitches in phase 2. The project will also include access roads, paths and a car park.  As with all large-scale capital expenditure, each project must undergo assessments, as required by the infrastructure guidelines set out by the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation. This project is currently being assessed at approval gate 1. The required documentation has been examined by the Department, which has sought updated information in relation to some aspects. The Department anticipates the project will pass approval gate 1 in the coming weeks. The Department and Kildare County Council are in regular contact regarding the project. I note the Deputy's advocacy on behalf of his constituents about how important this particular piece of infrastructure is.  Kildare County Council was also allocated \u20ac500,000 under the community sports facilities fund, CSFF, in 2024 for the development of pitches at Sallins Park Community Sports Centre. However, as it was subsequently allocated \u20ac3 million under the LSSIF scheme, it now plans to apply to repurpose the CSFF grant for an alternative project.  Looking at the wider picture regarding capital investment in sport, the Department operates two capital programmes for sport, namely, the CSFF and the large scale sport infrastructure fund, LSSIF. Over \u20ac250 million was allocated to 3,048 community sports clubs and facilities in 2024 from the 2023 round of the CSFF, representing the largest ever investment in sports facilities in communities across Ireland. Details of these allocations are available on the Department's website. In line with previous rounds of the fund, a review of the previous funding round has been undertaken and will be finalised shortly. It is anticipated that the next CSFF round will particularly target areas and sports that have been underinvested in over the years. The Minister, Deputy O\u2019Donovan, and the Minister of State, Deputy McConalogue, hope to open a new round in the coming months.  The large scale sport infrastructure fund was established to provide Exchequer support for larger sports facility projects, typically those requiring investments greater than the maximum available under the community sport facilities fund. A total of \u20ac86.4 million was awarded to 35 different projects under the first round of LSSIF in 2018. Additional funding of \u20ac37.6 million was allocated to 27 of these projects in December 2023 bringing the total awarded under LSSIF 2018 to \u20ac124 million. Grants totalling \u20ac173 million benefitting 35 individual projects were allocated under the second round of the large scale sport infrastructure fund in November 2024. With this announcement, the cumulative investment from the large scale sport infrastructure fund since 2020 now stands at \u20ac297 million. I will bring back the point the Deputy raised in respect of the development of the Sallins Park community sports centre to the Minister and the Department. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aidan Farrelly  You can see it in the response - \"The Department anticipates the project will pass approval gate 1 in the coming weeks\" - but it is two years since the funding was secured. I will emphasise a couple of points. From the Sallins perspective, it is Kildare County Council running this. It is not a community group that may or may not have the time. It is the local authority running this project. How can the local authority not be trusted, having to put it through so many hoops or what you might want to call \"gateways\"? I think four or five times the Department came back to the council looking for more information. It is borderline ridiculous at this point. People in Kildare always seem to be on the suffering end whereby the housing is coming but so are the congestion, lack of services and slow pace with which important social infrastructure is delivered.  From a public accounts perspective, I really query whether Sallins is alone in this. The Minister of State said there may be another round in the coming months. The allocation is brilliant. This type of money and investment in our communities is brilliant but when you get past the headline and look at the ability to draw down that money, I am really concerned Sallins is not alone and there will be many other projects that have gone through a similar gateway fiasco, where they have the funds but cannot access them. That is a problem we need to consider collectively. I will bring the matter to the Committee of Public Accounts. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kieran O'Donnell  I again thank Deputy Farrelly for the opportunity to discuss the development of Sallins Park community sports centre. I am taking this Topical Issue debate on behalf of the Minister of State with responsibility for sport, Deputy McConalogue.  County Kildare received significant capital funding for sports infrastructure over the past number of years. Specifically on Sallins Park community sports centre, this project is currently being assessed at approval gate 1. Required documentation has been examined by the Department, which sought updated information on some aspects. The Department expects the project will pass approval gate 1 in the coming weeks. The Department and Kildare County Council are in regular contact regarding the project. It is clear the Government is committed to the success of Irish sport with record investment in our sport facilities, supporting the ambition of high-performance athletes as never before and fundamentally ensuring everyone enjoys the right to participate in sport and physical activity. I look forward to the development of Sallins Park community sports centre. It will provide much needed sporting facilities for the growing population.  The Department, the Minister and Minister of State will look back on this debate. I have no doubt, if he has not already, that Deputy Farrelly will follow up with the Department, the Minister and the Minister of State specifically on Sallins Park community sports centre in terms of expediting that project on behalf of his constituents. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Sport and Recreational Development"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/dbsect_41","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Covid-19 Pandemic Supports","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-26\/debate\/dbsect_36","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_36","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_41","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  This is an issue which has been debated a number of times. Healthcare workers went above and beyond during the pandemic and put themselves in harm\u2019s way to protect others. Well over 100 healthcare workers who have not returned to work due to long Covid have lost the special scheme since the beginning of the year and are due to lose further entitlements. I will read out part of a letter from a constituent who is a former front-line nurse with over 30 years\u2019 experience. She said:  Since my initial Covid-19 infection in January 2022, I have not recovered. If anything, my condition has worsened over time. I am living with debilitating symptoms that have profoundly impacted my ability to carry out even basic activities of daily living. My predominant symptoms include severe and persistent pain and stiffness affecting my shoulders, mid and lower back, buttocks, hips, thighs and extending into my legs, feet, hands and fingers. I experience constant pins and needles and burning sensations in my feet along with clearly altered sensation in both lower legs below the knee. These symptoms significantly impair my mobility and independence. I struggle to walk even short distances, have great difficulty dressing and showering and can only manage minimal household tasks due to severe pain when standing or bending. In addition, I suffer from shortness of breath, hypertension, tinnitus, brain fog, weakness in my hands and arms, dizziness, debilitating fatigue and severely disrupted sleep.  Before my illness, I was a highly experienced nurse working at a senior level and fully committed to patient care. I remained in work throughout challenging periods in healthcare including the pandemic where many of us continued our duties despite personal risk. Like many healthcare workers, I contracted Covid-19 in the workplace while caring for others. I did so willingly as part of my professional responsibility. However, the long-term consequences of that exposure have been life changing. Since attending occupational health in early 2022, I have been deemed unfit for all duties. I have had to come to terms with the reality that this is now my life - one I would not have chosen, but one I continue to face with as much resilience as I can. On 24 March of this year, I underwent an occupational health assessment for early retirement on ill health grounds. My application was declined on the basis that there was insufficient medical evidence to confirm that I am likely to remain permanently unfit for work until my normal retirement age. This was despite submitting detailed medical reports.  The loss of my career has had profound financial consequences but it has also deeply affected my sense of identity, purpose and independence. I am asking you to urgently consider the formal recognition of long Covid as an occupational illness for healthcare workers particularly nurses who contracted Covid-19 in the workplace. Such recognition would acknowledge the risks taken by front-line staff and provide a fair and structured pathway to appropriate supports and protections. If the Government is not prepared to recognise long Covid as an occupational illness, then I ask that you consider an alternative - allowing affected healthcare workers to access early retirement on the grounds of ill health without being subjected to prolonged and adversarial processes. Many of us are being forced to fight for recommendations from occupational health while already severely unwell. We are not physically or mentally able for this battle. After decades of service, we should not have to struggle to prove the impact of an illness acquired while caring for others. We should be allowed to retire on ill health grounds with dignity without having to fight tooth and nail for recognition or support. At present, the process itself can feel as burdensome as the illness.  That letter speaks for itself. In his response, I ask the Minister of State to speak to the experience of that woman and the well over 100 of her colleagues who are suffering from really severe effects of this illness but are not getting the protection and supports they need and deserve. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kieran O'Donnell  I thank Deputy O'Hara for raising this important matter which I am taking on behalf of Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Calleary. In responding to the question, I will first provide an overview of the occupational injuries benefit scheme and the supports available from the Department of Social Protection to people with long Covid.  The occupational injuries benefit scheme is a group of benefits for insured workers if they are unfit for work either due to an accident arising out of and in the course of employment - at work or an accident while travelling, on a continuous journey, to or from work - or due to the contraction of a prescribed disease, due to the type of work they do and in the course of insurable employment. The two main payments under the scheme are injury benefit and disablement benefit. The scheme is financed from the Social Insurance Fund, which, in turn, is funded by PRSI contributions. Persons insured at PRSI classes A, B - limited coverage -, D, J and M - limited coverage - are covered. Claims for injury benefit are made by persons in a variety of employments and for a range of reasons, including injuries from falls, car accidents and the contraction of a prescribed disease. Injury benefit is paid at a weekly personal rate of \u20ac254 for a maximum period of six months. Disablement benefit may be paid where an insured employee suffers a loss of physical or mental faculty because of a work-related accident or disease. Payment is made where the level of disablement following the accident or disease is assessed at 15% or more. Payment may be in the form of a gratuity - a non-taxable lump sum - or by way of a weekly pension. The Department also has a range of income supports, including illness benefit and invalidity pension, at the same or higher rates of payment as payments under the occupational injuries benefit scheme, which are available to people who cannot work due to the effects of long Covid.  I recognise the testimony the Deputy has given on behalf of, I presume, one of his constituents. In November 2022, the European Commission made a non-binding recommendation on the recognition of Covid-19 as an occupational disease. The Commission did not make a recommendation in relation to long Covid. The decision regarding recognition is a member state competence. Recognition of Covid-19 as an occupational disease confers different entitlements in different member states, with employers paying the compensation in some countries and social insurance systems paying in others. In November 2023, the Department of Social Protection published a report on the inclusion of long Covid in the occupational injuries benefit regulations. The report concluded that Covid-19 does not satisfy the statutory criteria for recognition as an occupational illness or accident at work. Specifically, it found that presumptions about workplace transmission would not be sustainable as it is not possible to establish with confidence that the disease has been contracted through a person's occupation and not through community transmission. This is because data shows that community transmission was the primary means of transmission. It is important to note that even if Ireland did recognise Covid-19 as an occupational disease, this would not encompass long Covid and would only apply to new claims for new cases of Covid-19. As such, it would not benefit those who contracted Covid-19 during the pandemic.  As mentioned earlier, the Department's range of income supports, including illness benefit and invalidity pension, at the same or higher rates of payment as occupational injuries benefit, are available to people who cannot work due to the effects of long Covid. It is important to note that entitlement to these supports is generally not dependent on the nature of the illness or disability but on the extent to which a particular illness or disability impairs or restricts a working age person's capacity to work. With regard to additional supports, the Department also provides an additional needs payment under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme to help to meet essential expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. This includes certain supplements to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from a person's own resources and are deemed to be necessary.  With specific reference to workers in the health services, the report found that the temporary scheme of paid leave for public health service employees was the appropriate channel through which a targeted sectoral support should be considered. This temporary scheme was a matter for the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, who extended it a number of times. The scheme ended on 31 December 2025. Any employee of the public health service remaining unwell after that date may utilise the full provisions of the public service sick leave scheme which will provide further support. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Aire St\u00e1it. The people who are affected by this have had an absolutely horrendous experience with long Covid. The Minister of State heard about the impact it is having on my constituent. Her life has totally changed. Many people have had to give up the job they love. They stepped up during the pandemic at a time that was very dangerous. When there was huge uncertainty, they put themselves in harm's way to protect others. They are heroes and they deserve recognition and acknowledgement.  According to the Minister of State's response - it has been said previously - the Department's view is that Covid-19 does not fulfil the definition of an occupational illness because the main area of transmission was in the community. That is a cruel approach because, as I said, these people put themselves into a really dangerous situation where their chances of contracting the disease were very high, and much higher than any other member of the public. That is a poor excuse and a little bit insulting to those workers. There has to be acknowledgement of the unique circumstances here and some arrangement put in place because the workers in this position are finding it difficult to access supports. They are finding it difficult. The woman I outlined earlier is finding it difficult in terms of having to battle to get the supports that she is entitled to. Recognising long Covid as an occupational illness would allow for them to receive ongoing financial supports without a specified expiry period. We are an outlier in Europe in this regard. As far as I know, it is just Ireland and Greece that do not recognise Covid. There has to be some arrangement put in place here, perhaps comprising the alternatives that were outlined earlier. I ask Government to reflect on its position in relation to this. It is not a very large group of people. It will not cost an absolute fortune but it is the right thing to do, as I say, for healthcare workers who went above and beyond to protect us all. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kieran O'Donnell  Once again, I thank Deputy O'Hara for raising this important matter. As I said, I am taking this matter on behalf of Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Calleary. The Government and I recognise the great work of healthcare workers during Covid and, in fact, the continual great work of healthcare workers.  As referenced in my opening statement on behalf of Deputy Calleary, the Minister for Social Protection, in November 2022 the European Commission made a non-binding recommendation on the recognition of Covid-19 as an occupational disease. The Commission did not make a recommendation in relation to long Covid. Recognition as an occupational disease confers different entitlements in different member states, with employers paying the compensation in some countries and social insurance systems paying in others. It is important to note that, even if Ireland did recognise Covid-19 as an occupational disease, this would not encompass long Covid and would only apply to new claims for new cases of Covid-19. As such, it would not benefit those who contracted Covid-19 during the pandemic. The Government acted early and without hesitation to support all workers who contracted Covid-19 during the pandemic. Workers outside the public sector could avail of an enhanced illness benefit payment and eligibility criteria were set to include the largest cohort of workers possible, including the self-employed. This scheme paid some 578,000 claims at a cost of \u20ac350 million. Special leave with pay for Covid-19 was also introduced for public sector workers. As mentioned earlier, the Department's range of income supports, including illness benefit and invalidity pension, at the same or higher rates of payment as payments under the occupational injuries benefit scheme, are available to people who cannot work due to the effects of long Covid. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar athl\u00f3 ar 11.59 p.m. go dt\u00ed 9 a.m., D\u00e9 C\u00e9adaoin, an 27 Bealtaine 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The D\u00e1il adjourned at 11.59 p.m. until 9 a.m. on Wednesday, 27 May 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Covid-19 Pandemic Supports"}]}}]},"contextDate":"2026-05-26"},{"debateRecord":{"house":{"showAs":"34th D\u00e1il","committeeCode":"","houseCode":"dail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/house\/dail\/34","chamberType":"house","houseNo":"34"},"chamber":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/def\/house\/dail","showAs":"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann"},"lastUpdated":"2026-07-03T02:14:22+00:00","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/main","formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/mul@\/main.xml"},"pdf":null},"date":"2026-05-21","counts":{"contributorCount":125,"divisionCount":0,"debateSectionCount":39,"questionCount":31,"billCount":3},"debateType":"debate","debateSections":[{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/dbsect_2","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Message from Select Committee","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh)  The Select Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy has completed its consideration of the Air Pollution (Amendment) Bill 2025 and has made no amendments thereto. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Message from Select Committee"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/dbsect_3","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/dbsect_4","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Trade Agreements","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_4","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_4.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Thomas Byrne)  I will answer this question on behalf of the Minister.  The ratification of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, CETA, between Canada and the EU is an absolute priority for the Government. The 2025 programme for Government contains a specific commitment to ratify this important free trade agreement and the Government is committed to delivering on it. The ratification of the Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement is an important part of Ireland\u2019s diversification strategy in reducing concentration risk among our trading partners. The ratification of CETA is also a key priority for Canada, which has been repeatedly raised with Ireland by Canadian partners, including with me last weekend.  CETA took seven years to negotiate and the deal that was agreed at the Council of the European Union followed extensive engagement and debate among EU member states. It is now close to ten years since the agreement was signed, with the European Parliament giving its consent a number of months later. The EU's new approach to investment protection includes the investor court system, which will replace the old, long-standing investor state dispute settlement, or ISDS, mechanism. The EU and all of us are keenly aware of the criticisms of the old system. To overcome those shortcomings, the EU and its member states have put forward new reforms which address the concerns head-on. The new, progressive system contains investment protection provisions that are very much balanced against the State's right to regulate in the public interest.  In relation to the termination clause the Deputy referred to, we have collectively agreed, through the democratic process at EU level, to have a trade and investment agreement with our ally, Canada. It makes absolute sense that it would involve a collective decision of the EU to terminate it. I cannot envisage circumstances in which the EU and Canada would want to end this agreement. In the case of Ireland alone, we have seen bilateral trade in goods and services increase from \u20ac3.2 billion in 2016 to more than \u20ac12 billion in 2024. This significant increase in bilateral trade between Ireland and Canada supports thousands of Irish jobs and benefits large and small Irish businesses throughout our country.  The Government is currently progressing the Arbitration (Amendment) Bill 2025 through the Oireachtas as part of ongoing efforts to take forward ratification of CETA. The Bill, which amends the Arbitration Act 2010 to deal with concerns addressed in the Costello case, is currently before the Seanad. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  Farmers, workers and consumers have been left totally confused by the CETA deal. Although the Minister of State describes the extensive debate at EU level, that debate has not been reflected here in the Oireachtas, where the Bill is being rushed through and pre-legislative scrutiny has been essentially suspended on it. The EU is not rushing us to ratify and given that France has shown extreme reluctance, I do not understand why we are pushing this through. We have all of the benefits of the trade we want with Canada without the investor court system. Essentially, we are selling out to this system by forcing through this Bill. It is such a threat to our sovereignty as a country. It is a threat to future legislative powers of this D\u00e1il that we are choosing to go with investors courts and not just settle for and work with what we have, which is a positive trade agreement. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  In relation to farmers, citizens and consumers, they are the ultimate beneficiaries of the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement. They benefit. We are not selling out; we are buying and selling goods and services. This is mutually beneficial. CETA is not a threat to our sovereignty. Every time an agreement is reached with another entity or country within the EU, there is a sharing of sovereignty in order to get bigger benefits for all of our citizens. I do not accept that the legislation is being rushed through. The Bill is just over two pages long. There has been extensive debate and there continues to be extensive debate about it.  I absolutely reject this notion we are selling out the country. This type of language about a trade agreement is damaging to politics. It is not the case. There is no imposition on the State's right to regulate, as I have extensively explained to the House during this legislative process. If we do not ratify this or make a decision not to ratify this, as the Government's regulatory impact analysis says, it would collapse the entire agreement. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  The Bill is two pages long but it will have an immeasurable impact on this country. As I said, we can continue our current arrangements with Canada without the investor court mechanism which undermines our regulatory ability. I will focus on the real dangers these investor courts present to us. They would hear cases from X against Ireland if we were to ban their undressing AI software. We have seen the prioritisation of big polluters' profits in Mexican investor courts and it is explicit that companies will be able to sue for loss of future profits because of regulation. That is not just in the area of climate; it is in areas like workers' rights as well. It is possible that the State would have to pay off X for the privilege of protecting the children of this country. Will the Minister of State accept that the introduction of investor courts is a serious danger to people's well-being and their rights under the European Charter of Human Rights? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  The idea that we would have to pay off X to protect the children of this country is simply the latest scare story about CETA. It is unbecoming of the debate to start going into this. By stating that, Deputy Gibney has completely ignored the terms of CETA, the joint interpretative instrument and the fact that there are no precedents for this investor court system she can rely on because it is not in existence yet. The safeguards are in place. The agreement is there to enhance our economies, and it has done that.  If we take the route the Deputy is suggesting, the entire agreement between the EU, its member states and Canada would collapse. That is simply a fact. The Deputy cannot say we can retain the benefits without having the overall agreement because that is not factually correct. These examples that keep getting thrown out here in the D\u00e1il are getting more and more extreme. The facts do not bear out what the Deputy is saying. The Deputy and the opponents of this treaty simply refuse to read the actual text of the agreement and the interpretative instrument. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  That is not true. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Trade Agreements"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/dbsect_5","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Irish Prisoners Abroad","counts":{"speechCount":10,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_5","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_5.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Today, the world is rightly expressing disgust at the treatment of Irish and other activists trying to bring aid to the besieged people of Gaza at the hands of the Israeli regime.  However, Germany, a European country, is treating another Irish citizen, another pro-Palestinian activist, in an equally outrageous way. There is a show trial going on and the basic rights of an Irish citizen are being absolutely flouted as he and the other detainees are being prosecuted as criminals and terrorists for protesting against Germany's complicity with Israel's genocide in Gaza. Will the Government send observers to the trial to protect the rights of an Irish citizen, Daniel Tatlow-Devally? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Helen McEntee)  I thank the Deputy. I am obviously aware of the case he has mentioned. It is important to stress that my Department, and in particular my team, have been providing consular assistance to Daniel since September 2025. We have a dedicated consular office in the consulate general in Munich which has been assigned to provide consular assistance to support Daniel but also his family, because I appreciate this is a difficult time for them. Staff in the consulate, including the consul general but also the deputy consul general, have undertaken four consular visits, the most recent on 10 April, and another visit is to be carried out next month.  It is important to stress that the very clear readout I have received on this states Daniel did not raise any complaints about his treatment. He reported that he has been treated relatively well, both physically and mentally, and that he is able to avail of the facilities and activities in the prison. His visiting conditions have been relaxed. He is able to have video calls and in-person visits with family members, and I understand that other visits may be possible as well.  It is also important to stress that in the prison Daniel is in, he is the same as any other person. It is a normal or regular pre-trial detention facility. The reports I have directly from our ambassador, who is dealing directly with him and engaging with him and will have a further visit later this month, are that he is being treated well and has access to the facilities he needs. Again, it is the same for any other person in his situation.  I assure the Deputy, because I appreciate this is very difficult for Daniel and his family, that my Department will continue to provide all appropriate consular assistance. We have to do this in line with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations 1963, which specifies the functions of our consular officials. It is obviously subject to limits permitted by international law, so we cannot interfere in the domestic affairs of the receiving state. While consular officials have a role in assisting citizens, including by helping them to find lawyers and visiting them in detention, consular officials cannot give legal advice or intervene in the judicial process or internal affairs in the receiving state. Throughout the trial, when it happens, we will of course continue to engage directly with Daniel and his family and make sure the assistance continues. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  I actually cannot believe my ears. Daniel's family are appealing for the Government to send observers because they fear a show trial situation. The detainees are being prosecuted under anti-organised crime legislation. They are being tried in a high-security court, not a normal court. They are being denied access during the trial to their own legal team. They are brought in handcuffed and put behind high-security glass. They have been kept in more or less solitary confinement \u2013 since last September in Daniel's case, or eight months. It is completely unprecedented.  Daniel's legal team has called for the judge to be recused, such is the level of bias that has been directed against those on trial, the \"Ulm five\". To remind the Minister, they were protesting. It was an act of civil disobedience but there was no threat of violence. They videoed themselves. They handed themselves up for arrest peacefully because they were protesting about Elbit Systems or Germany providing arms to Israel for the commission of genocide. Their families are saying the trial is a show trial and that they should be released, and that the Irish Government should send observers to watch the trial to ensure that their rights are upheld at it, given the manner in which it is being conducted. Is the Minister going to do that? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  First, it is essential that any Irish citizen who finds himself in this situation be provided immediately with consular assistance, and that has been the case. I have said very clearly that our consular team on the ground cannot provide legal assistance. That is not the position it has. However, it is our role----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  I did not ask for legal assistance; observers are what I asked for. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  Absolutely. It is our role and duty to make sure the detainees are treated in the appropriate way. Daniel is in a pre-trial facility. He is being treated the same as others. I appreciate how difficult this is. The most important thing is that the facts of the trial are borne out. The Deputy has outlined some of what has happened. It is for the trial judge and the system itself to make sure all the facts are borne out. While the Deputy might not agree with the particular legislation under which Daniel has been charged, it is for the trial to ensure the facts of what happened are borne out and for a decision to be taken in that regard.  We will ensure that there is fair oversight of this trial. I can assure the Deputy of that. I will be meeting my German colleague this week and I will reiterate that point when I meet him. We will ensure that we continue to have direct engagement and provide consular support to Daniel. We will make sure the trial, which I hope happens soon because I agree this should not be drawn out any further, is subject to direct oversight and that we have full sight of what is happening in it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  This points to the duplicity of the Government. It says it is appalled at the treatment of flotilla activists at the hands of the Israeli regime. The flotilla activists, before they were detained, or kidnapped, urged for a vote in favour of the sanctions Bill to sanction Israel but the Government condemned it, said there should not be business as usual and came in here and voted against sanctions. We are getting the same duplicity in the case of Daniel.  Will the Minister send observers to the trial, which is what the family are asking for, because it is a show trial? It is absolutely outrageous. Why are the detainees even in custody? They are not a threat to anybody. They are being kept in solitary confinement before their trial in a high-security courthouse behind a glass cage, having been brought in handcuffs. The judge is speaking about them as if they are terrorists when they are actually peace activists opposing German complicity with the genocide in Israel via Elbit Systems, which provides Israel with weapons.  Is the Minister going to send observers? I am going to try to get an all-party group to go across to the trial. We will see whether all the parties will send someone. I know the Opposition will, but will the Government do so? Even German MPs are being refused access to the courtroom by the judge. That is how much of a show trial it is. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I cannot be any clearer in what I am saying here. It is our role and responsibility to make sure that citizens, when they have been arrested and detained, have access to consular assistance. I am saying very clearly to the Deputy that this has been happening. There has been direct engagement with Daniel with a view to making sure he is in good health and is being treated well. That is exactly what he has conveyed and relayed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  This is the duplicity of the Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  He is in a pre-trial detention facility. I fully agree with the Deputy that this should not go on indefinitely. However, as the Deputy and every other Deputy in this House well knows, it is not for me to determine when a trial in another country should take place. What I have said to the Deputy is that I will raise this directly with my German colleague when I meet him on Friday, but I cannot, nor can any Deputy here, intervene in respect of when a trial is set and how its outcome is presided over. What I can be clear on, however, is that we will make sure we have sight of what is happening in the trial and that we are in direct communication with Daniel and ensuring his welfare at every stage. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Irish Prisoners Abroad"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/dbsect_6","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Middle East","counts":{"speechCount":11,"speakerCount":4},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_6","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_6.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh)  Le cead \u00f3n D\u00e1il, bogfaimid siar anois go dt\u00ed Ceisteanna Uimh. 1 agus 2, at\u00e1 \u00e1 dt\u00f3g\u00e1il le ch\u00e9ile. Glaoim ar an Teachta \u00d3 Laoghaire ar dt\u00fas. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  Ba mhaith liom leithsc\u00e9al a ghabh\u00e1il leis an gCathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach agus an Aire mar go raibh m\u00e9 d\u00e9anach. Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an gCathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach as teacht ar ais go dt\u00ed mo cheist. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  The scenes in the last few days \u2013 I have a further question on the Global Sumud Flotilla, so we can perhaps discuss that further \u2013 underline the fact that the international community has allowed Israel to behave with absolute impunity. It continues to act accordingly. It continues to breach all the international laws dictating what is right and wrong. There have to be consequences. The occupied territories Bill needs to be a part of that, as far as I am concerned. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marie Sherlock  I am asking this question on behalf of Deputy Duncan Smith. The world is rightly outraged at what we saw yesterday but none of us should be surprised. The Government made a solemn commitment at the time of the election and published legislation last year but has done nothing since. It has rebuffed every single legislative effort brought before the D\u00e1il and Seanad. Will the Minister level with the Irish public now? Is she abandoning the Israeli settlements Bill she introduced? If not, she should please set out a timeline for it, because the Irish public and indeed Palestinians and everyone across the world deserve nothing less. We need to have clarity from this Government as to what its position is. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I thank both Deputies for raising this matter. I do not believe there is a single person who saw the footage yesterday who could not but be appalled by what they saw. The Deputy is right that this is just another act by the Israeli Government among a string of acts we have seen over recent weeks, months and, indeed, years.  The Irish Government has been consistent in its approach, and I, as Minister in recent months, have been consistent in mine. I have said very clearly that I will commit to bringing forward the occupied territories Bill. The Government approved the general scheme of the Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory (prohibition of importation of goods) Bill last June. The main purpose, obviously, is to prohibit the importation of goods into the State from the Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory.  I have been clear with this House that since it was published, a number of questions needed to be asked of the Attorney General and that information has come back and forth to me. What I can say is that I will bring forth legislation in the coming weeks. We, as a Government, and I, as a Minister, have said that we will fulfil our commitment. That has not changed just because of this week. I have been clear that I believe the best way to bring forward legislation is to do so with our colleagues. I have been engaged with my Dutch and Belgian colleagues and, more recently, my Slovenian colleague, whose Government is going through a particular change process at the moment. While introducing this is the right thing to do, and I will, as I have said clearly, bring forward legislation in a matter of weeks, I also firmly believe that bringing forward changes at a European level will have a much greater impact. I have been working on that, too. For the past number of months, I have been engaging directly with my colleagues. I have been engaging directly with the High Representative to ensure that we can put this back on the agenda at a European level. It has not been on the agenda since last summer before a ceasefire was agreed.  What we agreed last week at the Foreign Affairs Council was, for the first time, a Commission proposal that has been on the table since last year to impose sanctions on violent settlers, and for it to be agreed. It had been prevented because of the position that Hungary had taken. Thankfully with a new government in place, Hungary lifted that ban. Last week, there was an agreement from the EU that we would impose sanctions on violent settlers, members of Hamas and anybody who supported these types of actions in the West Bank. What I have subsequently done, and did clearly at the most recent meeting, is to advocate for a further vote at the next Council meeting.  A second Commission motion has been on the table since last year to ban or suspend the trade element of the EU-Israel association agreement. Israel as a whole gets preferential treatment through that trade agreement. It is worth billions to the Israeli economy. It is not a blanket ban like the ban that was being voted on last night. The reason we voted against that is that it is a sanction on every single person in Israel. That is not an approach we have taken in any sanction placed on Russia or any other part of the world where sanctions have been imposed by the EU. I believe that the European Union should agree to the proposal that we suspend the Israeli association agreement and, in particular. its trade elements.  I have also advocated for a second proposal to ban trade within the West Bank and with the settlers. That is the most appropriate approach to take. It is in line with what has been said internationally. This is what we have been advocating for. It would be in tandem with our occupied territories legislation. This is the principle and the right thing to do. At home in Ireland, we have always taken that approach, from recognising Palestine to the humanitarian aid we have provided and raising the issue at every Foreign Affairs Council, and every single Council that we can. I will also, for the first time, ensure the matter is raised this week at the trade Council. The only way we can pass this at European level is where there is qualified majority voting, QMV. That is why we have focused on trade. It is why we have focused on the suspension of the trade agreement. Instead of needing unanimity, QMV is needed. I will be raising this directly with colleagues at the trade Council on Friday this week. I will be pushing for this to be put to a vote at the Foreign Affairs Council. I spent an hour and a half with my Jordanian colleague yesterday. That is somebody who is on the ground and sees what is happening. His view is that Europe needs to respond collectively in this kind of way and I have been advocating for that for months.  Separate from that, I say clearly that we will fulfil our commitment in the programme for Government. We will bring forward legislation because it is the right thing to do. However, I also want to make sure that the actions we take have a knock-on impact and change the actions of the Israeli Government. That is what has to happen here. The actions we saw this week were despicable. We all agree that this is just one action in a string of actions that we have seen over recent years. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  I will use the phrase \"the occupied territories Bill\" as shorthand. I appreciate the Government's Bill has a different title, but that is what it is commonly understood as. The Minister's statements are difficult to reconcile. She has come here and said we will have something in a couple of weeks. What I interpreted from her interview with Virgin Media during the week was that we will see what happens at a European level and then might act. There have been contradictory statements over the course of the past couple of years. If you look at it in terms of a timeline, there were commitments in parties' manifestos before the general election to pass the occupied territories Bill. There was no qualification or equivocation about trade or services. The programme for Government and the Department of foreign affairs strategy to 2028 include references to the enactment of the occupied Palestinian territories legislation by 2028. This year's strategy talks about progressing the occupied territories Bill by 2029. The Government is putting it back by a year and talking about progressing rather than enacting. There seems to be constant watering down. The Minister is talking about a couple of weeks, but I am not sure she would have said that at the start of this week if we had not seen those scenes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marie Sherlock  It was February 2024 when the Irish Government first brought the EU-Israel trade agreement to the European Council. It is now two and a half years later and there has been zero action. What I am hearing today is a strategy of crossing the fingers and toes and hoping other countries keep up with us with regard to the plan to outlaw trade from illegal settlements. What I am hearing today, which is more worrying, is that the Government is now narrowing its intent. It is going after violent settlers. It is not going after all trade from the illegal settlements but violent settlers. I would like to hear the clarification on that point. Ireland has a proud tradition of diplomacy and using our voices and words. The time for voices and words is over. It is a time for economic action and sanction against a government that is acting with impunity. There is no point continuing to talk and hoping that the rest of the world will catch up. We need to take a lead here and ensure that we send a clear signal that the disgraceful acts we saw yesterday are not tolerated. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  That is exactly what we are doing. We are taking a little time to build a consensus. At a European level, I have been sitting around the table for the past few months. Months ago, there was no discussion of how we would move or impose sanctions. There was nothing. Sanctions have been on the table at the Commission since last year. I have, with colleagues from Slovenia and Spain, over recent weeks and months, pushed for this issue to be put back on the agenda. Because of that, what we agreed last week was sanctions on violent settlers in the West Bank. That was one sanction that was on the table, and not before time, but there are more. The next sanction on the table is that we would suspend the trade element of the EU-Israel association agreement. That is for all of Israel and not just the West Bank. It would have a significant economic impact on Israel. That is something we should have done before now, but Ireland has called for it. We have been at the table and calling for this, but others have not agreed. What I have been trying to do is to build a consensus.  I have also asked for a proposal that would ban trade with the illegal settlements, separate from the ban on violent settlers that we have already agreed. That is in place, has been agreed and will be followed through on. I want action at a European level because that is how we have the greatest impact. Yes, Spain has already imposed its legislation, but I want to ensure that we move collectively and have legislation individually.  In response to Deputy \u00d3 Laoghaire, I am not confused at all in what I have said this week. I have said we should move both. I have said that if this does not happen at a European level, it is all the more reason we should have this other legislation. We have lots of legislation in our programme for Government and not all of it gets implemented in the first couple of months or the first year. We have to work through it. I have worked with the Attorney General because we need to make sure that we have legislation that can be implemented and can take effect. That is what everybody here wants. There is an element of making sure that we do what is principled, and I believe that Ireland has always taken that approach when it comes to Palestine, Gaza and what is happening in the West Bank. However, as Minister, I also want to make sure that our actions have a positive impact on the people on the ground and the best way I believe we can do that is by Europe taking a strong stance. I believe we are in a much better place in that regard than we were a couple of weeks ago and that is because I and other people in other countries have been working to build consensus. We are not sitting on our hands and saying nothing. We have been trying to get people to this point within Europe so that we will have a vote at the next meeting. I reiterated that point to High Representative Kaja Kallas again this morning and said that we need to have a vote at the next meeting because we have discussed it long enough. This week's actions show us exactly why we need this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  I agree with that last point. However, my interpretation of the Minister's interview was different from what she is saying. I do not think we were going to hear anything about legislation in the next couple of weeks. It seems to me that what we have seen may have lit a fire under the Government, as has often been the case and as was the case in the first place when manifesto commitments were given for the occupied territories Bill. If that is the case, it entirely justifies the actions of people who are taking up initiatives such as the Global Sumud Flotilla. They highlight these issues and make it clear that governments have to act. Activists out there are having to take initiatives such as that to force governments to act.  I absolutely recognise that if the European Union could act in concert in a way that delivers actual results and puts pressure on the Israeli Government, I would welcome it, but clearly it has taken three or four years for the Union to move an inch. There is legislation there and no reason not to enact it. The arguments in relation to services are paper thin. It is clear that the Spanish have been able to move on this. Will the Minister give a commitment that we will be debating the legislation on Second Stage before the recess? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marie Sherlock  If the Dutch and other governments the Minister called out do not move, will Ireland still move ahead? I am hearing two things here: I am hearing \"the next few weeks\" and I am hearing that the Government wants to move in concert. Frankly, that is not clear enough. The reality is that 70,000 people are dead. Over 900 people have died since the October ceasefire. We saw the scenes yesterday. God only knows what is happening to the countless nameless Palestinians who are behind bars at this point in time and who are facing the death penalty. I am still not clear about the intentions of this Government. The reality is that if the Israel-EU trade agreement is suspended, it still does not fully deal with illegal trade. Yes, it puts a prohibitive set of tariffs on it but it still does not fully ban that trade. We need a crystal-clear message from this Government as to its intentions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I cannot be any clearer in saying that what I am advocating for and what I have been advocating for is that there would be a full ban on trade with the illegal settlements. That is not a proposal that has been put on the table by the Commission before now. The proposal on the table is that we would suspend the trade element of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. That did not have full support last year but that is now what we are discussing and it is very much what we discussed last week at the Council. However, I want a further proposal on the table specific to the West Bank and to the illegal settlements because we very clearly set out that this is illegal occupation. It has been agreed by all of us; therefore, we need to follow through. This has not just come about because of this week; Ireland has been saying this consistently. However, we cannot move on this on our own. Even with QMV, it is 55% of the Council or 65% of the overall population but that is manageable and something I believe we could achieve. Certainly, looking at the different kinds of comments we have seen in the past few weeks around the table, there are countries that are moving and countries that perhaps would have had a different position only a few weeks ago.  As to where we are now and in terms of our own work, again, I cannot be any clearer in saying that as regards the work I am doing with European colleagues - say, my Dutch colleagues and others - they have made it very clear. My Dutch colleague at the last meeting said that they were bringing forward legislation, and I have been engaging with them as to the timeline in order that when we do introduce this, we can have a stronger voice around this. If, however, they decide not to do this, we will still continue with ours. I am being very clear about that and very clear in what I say. The approach here has always been to make sure that everything we do has an impact. Yesterday, when I saw our citizens and other people with their hands tied behind their backs, I thought, if this is how they are treating Irish citizens and other people, how are they treating Palestinians, people we cannot see? I think we all think that and we can all imagine exactly what has been happening. That is why we need to do everything we can over the next while, in the coming weeks, myself at the Trade Council this week and then in the coming weeks, to make sure that Europe moves. I am pleased to say that the statements and much of the actions we have seen across Europe and internationally have been to condemn these actions and to call for some form of accountability from Israel. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Middle East"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/dbsect_7","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Foreign Policy","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_7.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  From one occupied territory to another, albeit one that probably has received less attention, maybe one of the least discussed occupations in the world. It certainly does not get enough attention. I refer to the issue of Western Sahara, or the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. It is considered to be a non-self-governing territory but it is largely occupied by the Kingdom of Morocco. The Irish Government needs to continue to take a firm position in defence of international law on this. Unfortunately, many other countries are moving away from that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Neale Richmond)  On 31 October 2025, the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 2797, extending the mandate of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara, MINURSO, for one year until 31 October 2026. Ireland is not currently a member of the United Nations Security Council but has taken note of Resolution 2797. Ireland's position on Western Sahara has been and continues to be guided by the aim of achieving a just and lasting political solution that will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.  Ireland's engagement on this issue will also continue to take account of the role of, and the insights provided by, the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Western Sahara, Staffan de Mistura. Any outcome should be consistent with the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations, including the fundamental principle in international law of the right of peoples to self-determination. It is in this spirit that Ireland will continue to support UN-led efforts to achieve a solution to this long-standing dispute.  Officials at the headquarters of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and in the mission network continue to be in contact with relevant parties to the dispute in this regard. Ireland shares the concerns expressed by the Personal Envoy of the Secretary General for Western Sahara, Staffan De Mistura, and MINURSO, the UN Peacekeeping Mission in Western Sahara, concerning the recent attacks by the Frente Polisario near Smara. The Personal Envoy, Staffan De Mistura, has emphasised that this is a time for dialogue and negotiations, not a time for military escalation.  Any relevant developments will continue to be kept under close review, including in the context of EU and UN discussions. The United Nations recognises Western Sahara as a non-self-governing territory under international law, specifically Chapter XI of the United Nations Charter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic is 50 years old now. To put on record the context here, it is currently occupied by the Kingdom of Morocco. MINURSO was set up in order to safeguard and facilitate a referendum. That was in 1991. There has been no referendum. Discussions in the early and late 2000s about a referendum delivered no referendum. The fundamental principle here is that of self-determination but the Sahrawi people, the vast bulk of whom are in exile, with the bulk of the population living in refugee camps in southern Algeria, have been denied that right to self-determination for decades, for generations. I appreciate that the Irish Government has taken the right position on many resolutions but it may need to take a more robust position because the positions of other governments are beginning to slide away from that principle of self-determination. That needs to be challenged by the Irish Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  I would like to pick the Deputy up on that last point because I think in all our discussions we always try to find areas of agreement, even when there are certain areas of disagreement on technical matters. This is one area that is really concerning for us. We have a very clear process in place. I appreciate the Deputy's thoughts that it is going far too slow and that in some persons' opinions it is not fully engaged with the Sahrawi people in the broadest sense, be they resident or non-resident, or, as he rightly says, in refugee camps. However, the position is consistent with international law and has been respectfully pushed at a UN level. Ireland absolutely stands by that position and will absolutely make sure that support for the UN resolution and, crucially, the implementation of international law will be updated. I would be more than happy to work directly with the Deputy to see where we can push back against any backsliding in that regard. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  I appreciate that and appreciate the sentiment, and I believe that where we can work together we should do so. As regards people feeling that progress is not fast enough, there is no progress. There is no process, in truth. The only process that exists is the peacekeeping mission that, in theory, is to facilitate a referendum but there is no sign of that. Ultimately, the Moroccan Government believes that it has got away with this, that it has ultimately succeeded in its objective, that it has occupied the territory and that that will not be in any way affected. I believe, therefore, that the Irish Government and like-minded governments need to begin to escalate this issue. The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic is a full member of the African Union. It is recognised by dozens of countries around the world. I ask the Irish Government whether it considers that the national council, the legislative council, of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic is considered the legitimate representatives of the Sahrawi people. Does the Government recognise that? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  Yes, the progress towards a referendum or any process of self-determination has been painfully slow but it is not straightforward simply to engage with the people because there are very clearly conflicting opinions here and, as a country outside that seeks to be supportive crucially of what this really is, it is a peace process. What went before 1991 was a brutal conflict that cost many lives, and what has come after may be frustrating and may not be the true fulfilment of what certain people want, but I would argue it is better than what went before. The process is sadly at risk based on isolated and sporadic incidences of violence in the region. Certainly, from an Irish Government point of view, the most important thing is not making binary choices and not making declarations; it is upholding the very real process, particularly in a wider context. We are at a time when international law and the rule of law are under threat.  We have a UN process, we support the UN process and we will continue to support that and make sure that process leads to an outcome that continues and maintains what is, to some extent, a relatively fragile peace. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Foreign Policy"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/dbsect_8","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Foreign Conflicts","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_8.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Callaghan  Listening to the debate today it is very clear, even in the modern world, the one thing that remains is that man's inhumanity to man is quite staggering sometimes. I ask the Minister of State for an update on the level of support that is being delivered by his Department in response to the humanitarian crisis that is currently unfolding in Sudan. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  I am very grateful to the Deputy for raising this. I acknowledge the consistent effort by both Deputies \u00d3 Laoghaire and Smith to raise this in a constructive manner. The conflict in Sudan, which has continued for over three years, is causing devastating levels of hunger and displacement. This year, two out of every three people in Sudan are in need of humanitarian assistance. We are seriously concerned by the escalation of violence in the Kordofan and Blue Nile states, and the expected intensification of conflict in North Darfur. I attended the third international Sudan Conference in Berlin on 15 April. The EU and its member states, including Ireland, pledged over \u20ac812 million in humanitarian assistance to support people in Sudan and to respond to the regional refugee crisis. Ireland will significantly increase our humanitarian assistance this year, from over \u20ac14.3 million provided in 2025 to somewhere in the region of \u20ac21 million this year. Our assistance is channelled through trusted partners, including the UN, international organisations, Irish aid organisations and, crucially, their local partners. Findings from a visit by Department officials to the Chadian-Sudanese border in January will help shape our response in addressing the complex humanitarian needs of those affected. This includes a continued focus on providing assistance to vulnerable people who are hardest to reach, including women and girls, who are seriously affected by sexual and gender-based violence.  \"Sexual and gender-based violence\" is a term we use in these discussions but we rarely go into the detail. Having sat and met a number of survivors from the region on a visit not so long ago to the Horn of Africa, it is the most devastating conversation when you have to listen to someone who bore witness to seeing their 13-year-old niece raped by 15 men at one time in the face of their family being used as a tool of war. This is what sexual and gender-based violence is. We have a proud record in this country, led by the Minister, Deputy McEntee, in her time in the Department of justice, of clamping down on domestic violence, but we are seeing it harrowingly used as a tool of war in the most depraved manner in the most vulnerable situations. That is why, in addition to addressing the humanitarian crisis and ensuring the protection of civilians and humanitarian workers, it is vital to explore all avenues towards an urgent, credible and inclusive Sudanese-led political situation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Callaghan  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Aire St\u00e1it for that response. It is harrowing to hear that level of violence towards women and girls. I commend the principled and robust measures Ireland has undertaken in this conflict. The increasing used of armed drones in Sudan and the targeting of civilian infrastructure such as the health facilities and Khartoum's international airport, are indicative of a conflict that is widening at an alarming rate. While the fighting rages, it is becoming more and more difficult to tend to the dire humanitarian needs of the Sudanese people. Just under half of the entire Sudanese people, as the Minister of State said, or some 21 million people, are facing crisis levels of hunger because of this conflict. That is why it is imperative that we, as members of the EU, use every lever at our disposal to not only advocate for financial and humanitarian supports to be made available, but to call for a negotiated and enduring ceasefire. How does the Department intend to utilise its position as Chair of the EU Foreign Affairs Council during Ireland's Presidency to ensure peace in Sudan remains firmly on the agenda? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  Over the past three years, Ireland has been consistent at a Foreign Affairs Council level, be it the full Council, the development formation in which I sit, or the defence formation, in making sure Sudan is on the agenda and that does not slip from the focus of European partners. What is happening in Sudan will end up on our doorstep in due course, when we see mass movement of people, the real impact on the wider political situation and the fragility in the area, but also when we see the spread of energy and food insecurity and how that feeds in. Ireland will ensure going forward, as we take over the Presidency on 1 July, that this remains a key issue for Europe and that Europe stands by the political pressure to bring peace to the area, to ensure the blockage embargo of weapons going into the region is upheld - something that is undermined greatly, including by EU member states, I regret to say - but also, crucially, to ensure the finance from the European Union, as well as bilaterally from member states, is maintained. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Callaghan  That is very welcome news. Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Aire St\u00e1it. Latest figures show that almost 7 million people have been displaced by fighting in Sudan; the largest number of internally displaced people globally. Neighbouring countries impacted by this emergency such as Chad, Egypt and South Sudan, are hosting large numbers of refugees and internally displaced people on insufficient levels of humanitarian funding. To compound the problem, there is the downturn in aid funding from other countries. I acknowledge that Ireland has continued to increase funding, and the Minister of State mentioned contributed \u20ac21 million towards Sudan and towards aid this year but the overall downturn we are seeing in the international community means that dealing with displaced refugees will only become more difficult for these countries in the region. At at time some of the most developed countries in the world are slashing aid budgets, I am heartened, as we have mentioned, by the principle role Ireland continues to play in funding humanitarian causes. Is this something the Minister of State intends to build on going forward? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  The short answer is \"Yes\" but I will give a little more detail to the context of how we do that. In recent years, Ireland's humanitarian support has included funding to the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, OCHA, country-based pooled fund, the UN population fund and the International Rescue Committee to target people most in need, particularly women and girls for aforementioned reasons. OCHA's Sudan pool is our largest partner in humanitarian response. This fund is a rapid and flexible funding mechanism, which supports national and international aid organisations and UN agencies to work in co-ordination with local partners to respond to chronic and emerging needs. The fund has received a major injection of funding from the US Government of \u20ac200 million. Our support to Irish Aid partner organisations including GOAL, Tr\u00f3caire and Concern has enabled life-saving assistance to reach the most vulnerable communities, and we work consistently with the UN Refugee Agency, the International Committee of the Red Cross in Chad, Sudan and South Sudan. Ireland will continue to be a trusted partner. When we see development budgets being slashed by other member states it has a very real consequence. We have famine in Sudan due to the conflict there, but due to the cuts in aid and development it is harder to get a humanitarian response to starving children. We see an ebola outbreak in the DRC that is spreading in a virulent manner that is being affected by health systems that have been absolutely destroyed due to aid cuts. Our actions, or the inaction of our partners, have very real consequences that we will be dealing with for years to come. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Foreign Conflicts"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/dbsect_9","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/dbsect_10","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Cybersecurity Policy","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/dbsect_9","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_10","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_10.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  I ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade for a report of the discussions and efforts to tackle hybrid threats and disinformation at the EU General Affairs Council on 11 May 2026. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  I attended the informal General Affairs Council in Lefkosi, Nicosia, in Cyprus on 11 May. Hybrid threats, of course, including foreign information manipulation and interference, FIMI, represent a serious political and security challenge for the EU and our partners. Ireland continues to work together with our EU counterparts to counter such activities. The work includes implementation of the EU\u2019s hybrid, cyber and foreign information manipulation and interference toolboxes. Together, these provide a range of measures, which enable us to identify, deter, mitigate and respond to disinformation and interference campaigns, including through the imposition of restrictive measures where appropriate. Disinformation, more broadly, is a serious challenge, which must be met with a whole-of-society response. Our national counter disinformation strategy sets out commitments and actions to help counter this complex problem.  At the EU General Affairs Council informal meeting in Cyrus on 11 May we discussed all these issues. At the meeting, EU ministers were joined by the UK Minister for the Constitution and EU Relations, Nick Thomas-Symonds, MP, which I welcome, for an exchange on efforts to tackle foreign information manipulation and interference. The participation of the UK minister is a recognition of the importance of engaging with close partners on the issue. At the discussions in the informal meeting we focused on EU-UK co-operation on countering FIMI, and we reaffirmed that this is a shared and evolving threat, which requires a coordinated European response. In that context, we welcomed the UK minister, noting the common challenges we face across Europe in tackling threats against the stability, social cohesion and democratic nature of our countries.  We exchange best practice. We focus on how to strengthen co-operation, co-ordinate international efforts and build resilience, including through the European Democracy Shield and the European Centre for Democratic Resilience. We underlined the need to strengthen co-ordination in multilateral forums and to enhance resilience in the digital space.  Responding to hybrid threats and activity is a priority for the Government and for EU partners. During our Presidency, we will work to help the EU in navigating our complex and evolving threat environment and we will work to progress the EU agenda on countering hybrid threats. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  I thank the Minister for his response. We frequently underestimate the extent to which as a country we face hybrid threats and cyber threats. There are two areas I want to focus on. One is during our EU Presidency, when we hold events here in Ireland but also when we hold meetings of the European political community. There are also challenges and responsibilities for us, as TDs and Senators. We are at risk of hybrid attacks during the EU Presidency. We have heard at the AI committee the extent to which we are ready. I question whether we are ready for AI-enabled drone attacks during that period. Because of hybrid warfare, there are going to be efforts by malign actors to influence TDs and Senators and it is crucial that we are also aware of efforts to destabilise our political institutions and to influence political opinion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  The Government is committed to delivering a successful Presidency. We continue to engage closely with EU partners and An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na as the preparations accelerate. The scale and significance of Presidency events that are planned to take place in Ireland mean that unprecedented security considerations arise, certainly for the European political community meeting. That will be the largest ever meeting of its type in Ireland. The security arrangements that will be put in place will reflect the wider backdrop of a changed EU security landscape and a more complex threat environment.  When we look back to the Presidency of 2004, while I will not say there was a level of informality, the security considerations were nowhere near what they are now. We will see a difference. Work is under way, led by the Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration in planning the security and policing requirements. That includes liaising continuously with policing and security partners across the European Union. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  I welcome the co-operation between ourselves and our European partners but the Minister of State will be aware that during the Danish Presidency in the second half of last year, we saw a number of efforts by drones to interfere in and disrupt an EU Council meeting. I have no doubt we will see that again by malign actors during our Presidency.  I would also ask - I am really serious about this - about efforts by malign states to influence Oireachtas Members, which will in various ways and through various inducements try to persuade Members of these Houses of the merits or demerits of particular policy proposals. When we talk about neutrality and security, we do not sufficiently engage in issues around what is happening with regard to cyber threats and hybrid threats. I genuinely believe there needs to be a programme of education for Members of these Houses about the potential threats that we individually face. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  The Deputy is certainly not wrong. I agree with him. There is huge potential for people to be influenced in an unwitting way in most cases. The test that I always try and put forward is what is in the best interest of this country, not what is in the best interest of a particular ideology.  Counter-drone capability will be very important for events during the Presidency. As the Deputy said, the airport was closed in Denmark during some of their major meetings because of drone activity. Lithuania takes the Presidency after us. Its airports have been closed on occasion because of balloons coming in from Belarus. The question is not whether this would happen, but how we deal with it when something does happen, whether that is drones or hybrid activity.  We are committed to ensuring the State is equipped to counter-threats posed by drones, through a combination of investment in domestic capability and through international partnerships if it is appropriate. An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na is responsible for this. It has counter-drone capacity in place in terms of both detection and mitigation. The Garda continues to build capacity. Additional funding has been given by the Government for this as well. The Defence Forces have an important role to play and they are also making significant investments in this. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Cybersecurity Policy"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/dbsect_11","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Passport Services","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/dbsect_9","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_11","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_11.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  It is a busy time of the year for the Passport Office. We had a very good briefing from its officials yesterday. It was very useful. I thank the team for that. They offer an excellent service. There was a lot in the presentation about their ambition for the future with some positive aspects. Given the increased workload they face and the significant percentage of passport applications that come from the Six Counties, it makes sense to have a passport office in Belfast. That is something we have been continually looking for. The logic for it is very clear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I thank those who attended the briefing yesterday. It was a good discussion and an opportunity to make sure that every Deputy is able to support their constituents, in particular where people need passports quickly for various reasons. I thank all of the team in the Passport Office. Every year the demand increases and there is huge pressure on the staff, so I thank them for the work that they do.  Demand for passports from citizens in Northern Ireland has continued to increase and remain steady. To date in 2026, 12% of all passports that have been issued have been to residents of Northern Ireland. The passport online service offers citizens the ability to apply for passports online 24 hours a day, seven days a week. That applies to absolutely everybody, and it is available to 100% of applicants globally, not just on the island. Currently, 96% of all applicants use the passport online service. It is worth noting that just 1% of all passports issue through the public counters. This is a really good statistic because over the years we have been advocating that people apply online. A lot of money and investment has gone into the online system. It is actually quicker and easier to turn around and it is a much more efficient system for everybody no matter where they are applying from.  Last year, 91% of citizens resident in Northern Ireland applied through passport online. I did not have the figure the other evening in committee but since then I have been informed that it has increased to 97% this year. In the first four months of this year, 97% of passport applications from citizens in Northern Ireland were through the online portal.  In December, a new passport assist service launched to support citizens who do not wish to use passport online because we do have a cohort who still perhaps might find it difficult. They might not have somebody to support them or they might not have access to an online system. This is to assist them in making that paper passport application. Citizens can call the dedicated passport assist number as well to receive personalised paper forms along with a bespoke list of documents required that they post back to the passport service through their local post office. This is an all-island service that enhances the paper application route by offering direct assistance to citizens.  There are no plans to open an office in the North. We closed the office that we had in London for the reason that I have outlined: we are moving to a situation where the vast majority of people who apply do so online. Of course we still need to make sure that we offer a counter service for people and that is why the offices in Dublin and Cork will remain open. There are no plans to go beyond that at the moment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  That gives the logic itself, if the Minister is making the case for having physical offices at all, then the same case could be made in terms of the North whether Belfast or somewhere else.  Since the Good Friday Agreement, one of the primary and practical ways in which people who identify as Irish in the North vindicate that right and identity is to apply for an Irish passport. It is the case that increasing numbers of people apply for an Irish passport. It makes sense for people to be able to access this. It is welcome that a huge percentage of applications are online. It is efficient and it is an excellent service. I pay tribute to the staff in the office. We hear excellent reports about people applying and their passport nearly appearing the next day but it would make sense to have an office in the North. It does not necessarily have to be the case that they are only dealing with the counter stuff. If we have an office and the staff are in a position to deal with the counter stuff, that does not mean they could not do some of the back office stuff as well. We talk about the increase in foreign birth registration cases. Perhaps a team in Belfast could take some of that workload. Could some of that work be redistributed to a different office? There are various other aspects of renewing and advancing the service. I ask the Minister to give it further consideration. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I appreciate the points the Deputy made but we have to balance things as well. We have a really efficient office at the moment where we know that so far this year 97% of citizens in the North are applying through the online system. When we look at the overall figures, if 1% is using the counter service, it amounts to 496 - just under 500 citizens - that are using the urgent appointment service and the in-person service.  The argument that the Deputy makes is not around distance because if a person is in Galway and they have to travel to Dublin or Cork, they probably have a longer distance to travel than if they were in the North. However, we also have to look at what we are investing in terms of the overall costs. We have had many discussions on this floor around making sure that anything we invest in is sufficient. For example, if we put up an office, the operational costs for 100 staff or so is estimated to cost approximately \u20ac6.8 million per annum. That is potentially for the 469 customers who would be applying and availing of this appointment service in person, so we have to balance all of this out.  We have an Oireachtas line, as I told the Deputy's colleague when I engaged with them this week. We have a line where Deputies and colleagues can deal directly with the service if there are queries that our constituents raise. I am happy to look at whether it or something similar could be made available to colleagues in the North and to see if we can have that direct line. However, this is about making sure that our focus is on prioritising how we can do things more quickly and efficiently, and that there are efficiencies in terms of cost overall, but most importantly that everybody has access to the same type of service on an all-island basis. That is what I am determined and committed to do. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  I welcome that last suggestion. It would be very welcome because it can be a challenge for MLAs and MPs in dealing with this. Sometimes they seek assistance through us and sometimes they try to come at it through general inquiries. It makes sense. These are elected representatives who are working on behalf of Irish citizens who have an entitlement to a passport, so it makes sense for them to be able to access that direct line, particularly for challenging cases.  Just as in the Twenty-six Counties in the South, most people in the North will be able to apply online and so on and get it without any difficulties, but there will always be emergency and complicated cases. I welcome the statement the Minister made and perhaps we can explore it further by correspondence because it would be very beneficial. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I am happy to follow up on that. I want to use my time to encourage people, particularly given the time of the year, to check their passports, look at the date and make sure that it is submitted in time. If they are travelling somewhere where they need more than six months, even if it is out by a day, it obviously causes difficulties, so the earlier they can check and apply for a passport, the better. While it has become a really efficient service, if someone is applying for a child for the first time, there are often difficulties and challenges with photos and making sure they can be followed up with An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na or the person who signed it. I encourage anyone who is listening and colleagues to let their constituents and those in their counties know that it is really important to apply on time, but we are obviously here to assist and support where that is not possible as well. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Passport Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/dbsect_12","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Trade Agreements","counts":{"speechCount":34,"speakerCount":7},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/dbsect_9","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_12","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_12.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  I ask the Minister to report on the political agreement at the recent meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council to move forward with targeted sanctions vis-\u00e0-vis extremist settlers and entities supporting settlements in the West Bank. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I propose to take Questions Nos. 9, 35, 36, 44, 55 and 83.  As was the case with my previous answer, there are quite a number of different things happening and I want to set things out clearly. From a European perspective and context, I will take the House back to last year. Prior to me coming into this Department and at a time when there was continuing escalating violence in Gaza and there was no end in sight, the T\u00e1naiste, Deputy Harris, advocated for sanctions to be put on the table by the Commission that would suspend the EU-Israel association agreement, with a particular focus on the trade elements of it. We also advocated for sanctions against violent settlers in the West Bank because we have seen over time how violent settlers and the actions they are taking have increased significantly in recent years. They were not voted on at the time. There was a ceasefire even though we know that the ceasefire is not being held and that there are significant issues with it, not least the lack of humanitarian aid that is getting in, but also the fact that hundreds of people have been killed since it started.  We have continued to advocate for sanctions at a European level since then as we are conscious of what continues to happen and what has been happening specifically in the West Bank where cities of literally hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced. It is not towns and villages. Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced.  Since taking up this role in recent months, I have advocated that these sanctions and the proposals by the Commission would be put back on the table. At last week's meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council, we did just that. The Commission's proposal from last year was to sanction violent settlers in the West Bank and those who support them, including Ministers within the Israeli Government. The leaders in Hamas who carried out the atrocities that started so much of what we are talking about would also be sanctioned. That was voted on and agreed. It was agreed because of the pressure that we put on but also the fact that Hungary has changed its position. I welcome that, and I hope to see it continue in any future vote. What we have advocated for since then, and what I advocated for at the last Council meeting, is that we would have further votes at the next meeting that will take place in early June.  We also have a second Commission proposal that is still on the table from last year. This is to suspend the trade elements of the EU-Israel association agreement. This is where there is essentially preferential treatment across of all our agreements, including trade agreements, with Israel. If this was suspended, it would be at a cost of billions of euro for the Israeli economy. We have not only clearly asked for this to be put on the table but have also said that we would vote for it.  Along with other colleagues, I have also been advocating for a further proposal by the Commission that would essentially ban trade in the occupied territories in the West Bank. This is in line with what we know should be implemented. We know that these settlements are illegal and that trade with these settlements is illegal, so we want to make sure that Europe responds to this and does so collectively because I believe, and I think we all believe in this House, that this is the strongest way in which we can send a very clear message.  It will also impact the Israeli Government and the actions it has taken. Since we have had these discussions over the past number of months, Israel has not only continued to increase its settlement policy and done so very publicly in the West Bank, but it has also reintroduced the death penalty, which is taking a step hundreds of years back. It has now said that it will have public prosecutions as well as executions. We have all been talking about what has happened in the last few days and seen the way in which Irish citizens and many other countries' citizens have been treated after being illegally detained in international waters. We need to act in unison, and we need Europe to respond, and that is what I have been advocating for.  I want to clarify again that the reason we have advocated for the trade side of things is because this requires qualified majority voting, QMV, in the Parliament. It requires the vote of 55% of member states whereas if we were to propose other possible sanctions, they may require unanimity. We just know - I am sitting around those tables - that there are countries that will not support them. I have been trying to build a consensus so that we will have this vote at the next European Council and Foreign Affairs Council meetings. I have written again and engaged with Kaja Kallas, who is the chair of the Council, to advocate that this will happen, and I hope that member states will support this. We saw the condemnation right across the EU yesterday. There were public comments not just in the EU but also internationally, and I hope that this is a turning point for people, and we can respond collectively.  Separate to that at home, the Government made a clear commitment that it would enact the occupied territories Bill. This Bill was published last summer. The Department and I have been engaging directly with the Attorney General on this. I am saying clearly this morning that I will bring forward the occupied territories Bill. I will publish legislation in the coming weeks, and we will enact this separate to and in parallel with what is happening at a European level. It is important that we agree at a European level to do this, but it is also important that we progress the legislation that we have said we are committed to and we have been working on. We will work collectively with colleagues because that is something that everybody in this House will support. The last few days have shown us that we need to change the behaviour of the Israeli Government.  I want to reassure colleagues that we continue to engage with the Israeli authorities in relation to our citizens. We have 14 citizens who are detained on land in Israel. They, along with the other countries' citizens, are now in a convoy of buses to the airport and they will be deported to Istanbul from there. Our embassy team is on the way to the airport as well to make sure we have direct engagement with them. We have raised in no uncertain terms, as have other member states, the horror and dissatisfaction at the way in which our citizens have been treated. That is why we now need to make sure that these are not just words we are saying. We need to make sure we follow them through with actions at the next European Council and Foreign Affairs Council meetings.  I will also be raising this at the Trade Council this week. It will be the first time that it will be raised at the Trade Council and the vote will then take place at the later Council meetings. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  I thank the Minister. I appreciate her comprehensive answer in this regard. I believe that she reflects the views of everybody in this House when she expresses the concerns of Irish people over what has been happening in the West Bank.  I was struck when listening this week to the Catholic Bishop William Shomali, who I understand the Minister met with. He spoke on it and referred to \"really nasty\" actions on the part of some of the settlers. Their behaviour is, frankly, appalling. He asked where we need to go beyond this. Ultimately it is about how we can secure a lasting peace in Gaza but also in the West Bank, and what we need to do. He spoke very clearly about our peace process here. For individuals like that we must continue to engage with him and support him. I agree with the Minister that the more action we can take at a European level collectively, the more impact it will have. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul McAuliffe  I welcome the Minister's comment. I listened very carefully to her interview on Monday with Gavan Reilly. It has outlined a process of the Minister's intention regarding where we go in respect of the occupied territories Bill and also at an EU level. This week on Tuesday, a constituent of mine, Mikey Cullen, rang me from the flotilla. Incidentally, he is the third constituent of mine on different flotillas. We agreed and disagreed on different things as he was floating off in the Mediterranean. What is utterly unacceptable is that in what is effectively international waters, Israel can take constituents of mine from a boat, forcibly put them through a process to say that they illegally entered either Israel or Gaza, then humiliate them on video and send them back to Istanbul. I know the Minister rejects that. I know the Government rejects that. The three constituents would tell me that it is nothing in comparison to what the people of Gaza and other people in the West Bank have been through. I ask the Minister to continue to take strong action on this issue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Just a few days ago every single one of the Irish Global Sumud aid flotilla activists put out a video while they were on the boats, before they were kidnapped, asking the Government to support a sanctions Bill last night. The Government, after issuing statements condemning their kidnapping and abuse at the hands of the violent settler, Itamar Ben-Gvir, trooped in here and voted against a Bill proposing sanctions against the State of Israel, having said just before that there should be no business-as-usual with the Israeli regime. That regime is guilty not just of the abuse of the flotilla activists, which is disgusting and has given us a glimpse of its barbarism, but also the brutality that is inflicted on the Palestinian prisoners who are tortured and abused. There is a genocide in Gaza, there is ethnic cleansing happening, there is apartheid and there is brutal suppression of rights, and the Government voted against imposing sanctions on them when the activists on the flotilla appealed to the Government to vote for it. The Government is gaslighting the Irish public. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I commend those on the Global Sumud flotilla. It is a deep shame that people still have to do that to highlight the absolute criminality, that has not been brought to book, of the Israeli regime. We have all been disgusted by the video of Ben-Gvir, who is obviously a thug, a genocidal criminal and an idiot. When most people commit crimes, they do not actually put them on video. This is a guy who has been accused of being a draft-dodger by brothers in arms and his defence was that he was not allowed in the IDF because of his views. That just tells you. He is only one element of Netanyahu's regime. What are we talking about? The death penalty for Palestinians; genocide in Gaza; ethnic cleansing in Lebanon, which many of our peacekeepers have seen; and the attempt to create enough settlements to destroy any chance of a Palestinian state.  The Ministers said that this is not a time for words alone, so we need to see action. We all want to see consensus, we all want to see co-operation across Europe, but we need to see the occupied territories Bill passed, including goods and services. It is an absolute disgrace that the EU-Israel association agreement is still in operation. What interaction has the Minister had regarding ensuring that there will be delivery, even if only on the trade element? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I thank the Deputies. It is important that it was asked what our longer term objective is. We cannot lose sight of that even though it seems impossible in some ways that a two-state solution would still be a focus and a priority. It has to be. That is why Ireland continues to be actively involved in the global alliance on the two-state solution. That is why I hosted, with others, a conference in Croke Park at the beginning of this year where we explained and set out our own experience of what has happened in the North and how, at times, when it seemed a peace process would be impossible, we worked at it and it is something we are still working on. I discussed with Bishop William Shomali how we are focused on a two-state solution and what that looks like despite all of the complications and difficulties we are in at the moment.  Whether people agree or disagree with the approach taken by the flotilla, I certainly understand why people have taken that approach. People in Ireland feel they want to do something. Many feel they cannot and these types of actions have been taken. I am very clear, whether you agree or disagree with it, that they were illegally detained in international waters. It is completely against the law and that is why I and other countries have, in the strongest terms possible, objected to this. I have raised this at the highest level and I will continue to push for change and response at an EU level. I have been doing that this week and for the last number of weeks.  In terms of the sanctions Bill, an outright blanket ban has no legal basis. Trade is an EU competency. We all know that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  No, we do not. No, we do not. No, we do not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  Trade is an EU competency; we all know this. However, when it comes to the issue----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh)  The Deputy will have a chance to speak in a minute. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  The genocide convention. Read it. Read it. Read the genocide convention. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh)  Deputy Boyd Barrett will have his opportunity in a minute. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  If the Deputy does not want to hear the answer, that is fine. Even in the situation in Russia, we do not have the blanket ban that was being proposed on this. Let us be clear on that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  It is rubbish, rubbish, rubbish. Read the genocide convention. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  There are unintended consequences for citizens. There are citizens in Israel who do not----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Read the genocide convention. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  We have. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh)  The Minister without interruption, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  There are citizens in Israel who do not agree with what the Israeli Government is doing. Imposing a blanket ban in the way the Deputy is suggesting, in a way we have not imposed with Russia or any other country, is imposing a blanket ban. It is also an EU competency and that is why we are advocating for the suspension of the EU-Israel trade association agreement at an EU level.  Separately, the occupied territories Bill is specific to the occupied territories. This has already been made very clear in international law and the EU agrees. They are illegally occupied territories. That is why we are pursuing the occupied territories Bill and that is why I will publish legislation in the coming weeks. In tandem with that, we will pursue action at an EU level when it comes to the overall trade association agreement.  We must make sure we do not lose sight of the fact that in Gaza there are still millions of people who are not getting access to appropriate humanitarian aid, food and water. They are not getting the assistance they need. We must focus on the fact that Palestinian authorities still have billions of euro owed to them by the Israeli Government that they are not being given. We have to remain focused on the fact----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  No sanctions. No sanctions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  -----that the second stage of the peace agreement is not progressing because our efforts are focused on all the other conflicts that are happening. I and this Government are, at every step of the way, making sure our focus remains on this while trying to build a consensus as I have just outlined. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  I thank the Minister for her response and I think it is the correct approach. We need to start to think about what the ultimate goal is regarding what we are achieving. We all want to achieve peace. There is no disagreement in this House about achieving peace and getting away from the horrors we are facing right now. I was really struck when I listened to some of the interviews with Bishop Shomali where he said it is going to be about bringing the people together including, as the Minister said, many of the people within Israel who object to what the Netanyahu Government is doing. Given our own experience on this island, we can provide very valuable lessons. It is about where we want to see west Asia in the next five years. What is the goal we want to achieve? It is not always about the short-term solution; it is about how we can provide a sustainable peace whereby the peoples who live within that region can work co-operatively. I commend the Minister's approach and believe that co-operating at European level is also essential. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul McAuliffe  I raised the case of Mikey Cullen and, as I said, there are two other constituents of mine, Robert Murphy and Dougie Douglas, both of whom are out. The wider issue here has been well aired in the House. I agree with many of the points. I want to return to the issue of three constituents of mine who have been taken from a boat in the Mediterranean. There must be a more rigorous process other than us issuing a press release to condemn what has happened to those three constituents and Irish citizens. Each of them would say it is nothing in comparison to what the people of Gaza have been through.  There must be a process where innocent Irish citizens who are going about their business in the world cannot be taken by a third-party state and be detained without any process or be forced to participate in a process to say they illegally entered Israel. Many will say that that is the intention of the flotilla but the point is - and where Israel continuously makes errors - they did not enter into an Israeli-controlled area. They should not have been taken from that boat. The Irish Government must take very strong action against Israel on this and on a whole host of other issues. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Deputy McAuliffe's constituents asked him to vote for the sanctions Bill and he walked in here and voted against it. All of the Irish participants specifically asked their constituency TDs, Government and Opposition, to vote for the sanctions Bill but the Government TDs voted against it. Then they come in here saying there should be sanctions against Israel. That is gaslighting and duplicity which is designed to convey the impression that the Government is going to do something when it has done nothing. It is the impunity that Israel has been extended by our Government and by the EU that emboldens it. They say they can do anything. They can torture people, commit genocide, kidnap people on the high seas, do apartheid, invade Lebanon and bomb Iran and that nobody is going to do anything. So far, they have been proven right because nobody in this Government has done anything. We continue the complicity. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  When we talk about the Global Sumud Flotilla and what the Israelis are doing, what is it? It is kidnapping on international waters. This is absolutely illegal but they do not care. They do not care about anything and that is a fact. We always talk about apartheid South Africa and how it took many factors but one of the major ones was that they were taken to task, they were sanctioned and individual South Africans were made to feel like the pariahs of the world. That put pressure on their government and then they could not trade with anybody, so big business said it needed to get out of that circumstance. That is what brought them to the book, so that is why we need to see action, not words. On the EU-Israel Association Agreement and the trade element, what interaction has the Minister had from a point of view of ensuring even that can be delivered? The Minister has given a promise now of a couple of weeks in relation to the occupied territories Bill. We really need to see it. I get that it is not the be-all and the end-all but it is a decent first step and we will be followed by others because they are an absolute disgrace, they are genocidal maniacs and they have to be brought to book, and we have to do whatever we can. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  On the EU-Israel Association Agreement, before the last meeting I wrote directly to the High Representative, Kaja Kallas, to ask that this issue be put on the agenda. I engaged with other colleagues who also signed that letter, Spain and Slovenia in particular. While the vote was specifically was on the sanction of violent settlers. I advocated again in the Council meeting with all our colleagues that this would be put to a vote. It was not put to a vote at the last meeting. I have advocated that it be put to a vote as soon as possible, preferably at the next Council meeting, which is in early June. My team has been engaging with other countries to try to build the consensus that there would be a vote and that we would be voting on this but potentially - and it is my preference - that we would also vote on a new proposal that would ban trade in the illegally occupied territories. There are two options here but in relation to this, I have written to the High Representative. This has been shared with all the member states. We discussed it at the last meeting and I am pushing for it to be voted on.  In the conversation I had with Bishop Shomali, he spoke about the increasing violence. As someone who has lived in the region all his life, he spoke about the change he has seen. Actually what struck me was the fact that he spoke about how he works with people from both sides, from Israel and Palestine, and how he sees a hopeful future and how he still sees an opportunity for Israel and Palestine and for the Israelis and Palestinians to live side by side. This gave me a sense that people on the ground still have that hope and that we need to continue to focus on that overall objective and that goal, as difficult as it might seem.  In terms of the flotilla, again, I cannot condemn in any stronger way possible the actions by the Israeli Government in illegally detaining Irish and other citizens in international waters. It is completely against international law. We have stressed this but at this stage the only way we can take firm action is that the EU collectively responds by suspending the trade element of the association agreement and that we move to ban trade in the illegal settlements as well. At home, I have given that clear commitment again. I will bring forward legislation in the coming weeks. There are many people who do not agree with the sanctions Bill that was put forward because it is a blanket ban. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  All the Palestinians do----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I am sorry but----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  -----and all the flotilla activists do. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I have spoken to many people. We do not impose it in any other sanctions regime because----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  We did it with South Africa. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  -----there will be unintended consequences for citizens who do not agree with the actions being taken by Israel, Netanyahu or any of those members of the IDF who have breached international law. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Name a single Palestinian against it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I will work to build that consensus at a European level. I assure Deputies that those who were on the flotilla and who are on their way to the airport will be met by our officials to make sure they are safe and supported. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Trade Agreements"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/dbsect_13","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Trade Promotion","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/dbsect_9","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_13","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_13.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  I ask the Minister for an update on the Government trade forum. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I propose to take Questions Nos. 10, 31 and 51 together.  I thank the Deputy for this question. The trade forum has become a vital form of engagement between Government, Departments and Ministers but also important key trading stakeholders during a very uncertain and challenging time for international trade. The information and, importantly, the real-time feedback received from the members is extremely valuable. The T\u00e1naiste established this last year during his time in this role. The intention was to make sure that there was that two-way flow of information, particularly in light of what was happening with the US, and that there was an ability for Government to outline the actions it was taking and for individual Ministers in specific sectors to outline the actions they are taking and for sectors and industry to provide feedback to us. The make up of the committee is reflective of some of our most important sectors and some of our most important relationships, including with the US and the UK chambers. We also have representatives from chambers across Europe.  This is part of a more comprehensive and deliberative approach taken by the Government to make sure that Ireland's continued economic growth is resilient, so that despite all the uncertainty that we continue to focus on economic growth. This approach also includes the national development plan, which was published in recent months. We are moving to implement budget 2026 and we are now starting to talk about budget 2027 and the mutually supportive action plan and market diversification which was a real focus and priority for us, in particular during our visits for St. Patrick's Day this year, where that market diversification focus came through.  Regarding the action plan on competitiveness and productivity, the Deputy will be aware that competitiveness is one of the key overarching themes of our Presidency in the six months ahead. We want to make sure that not just Ireland but the EU as a whole remains competitive and open and are investing in research and innovation. To do that effectively, we need to always be listening to business. That is why this forum is invaluable because we are hearing directly back from those in business and getting their ideas as well as giving them an opportunity to highlight where there are challenges.  Agendas and minutes of the Government trade forum are published on digitalhouseireland.ie . Deputies can see that there is an approved work plan for 2026. We have tried to set out that we have an actual plan and that we are focused on various priorities at the different trade meetings. This year, I have convened three meetings of the forum and the minutes are available on digitalhouseireland.ie . My intention is to maintain that intensity of meetings. While a date has not yet been set, there will be another forum in June. This will give us an opportunity to focus on more key areas.  At the last forum, I was joined by the T\u00e1naiste and Minister for Finance; the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, Deputy Chambers; the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Heydon; the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Deputy Lawless, and the Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs, Deputy Byrne. Other Government officials and CEOs from State agencies also attended. This was the 12th meeting we have had. In particular, we reflected on the recent St. Patrick's Day programme, which was the largest in the history of the State. It was welcomed by all of those at the meeting. When we look at the overall figures - not just the number of diaspora we managed to reach, which was really quite substantial but also at the number in the business community - about 6,500 people across the world attended different business events we hosted not just stateside but in South America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Australia and Africa. There has been a huge focus on how we can identify more ways to open up trade, to support business to grow and to open up new markets as well.  We also focused on our engagement on our relationship with Canada. Unfortunately, a trade mission had to be postponed but that is a relationship that has grown from strength to strength. As we celebrate ten years of CETA and hope to ratify CETA this year, we can see that investment increasing significantly into the billions every year. There is a real opportunity to do more. In the coming weeks we will welcome further visitors from Canada, which will provide an opportunity to strengthen that relationship.  The EU-US trade relationship is certainly on the agenda of every meeting. I am pleased this week that the EU has agreed the pathway forward for our side of the Turnberry agreement. Before the summer and before we take over the EU Presidency, I hope that we can see significant progress on more areas and the priorities that we want to work closely with the US on. We are working closely with the Commission on issues relating to the agrifood sector, the aviation industry, medtech and other areas to make sure that we can support our industries here. The relationship with the US is strong. Zero tariffs benefit everybody and that is where we would like to get to. Tariffs are not good for business or consumers. We want to work closely with the US to make sure we can reduce tariffs where possible.  The ongoing conflict in the Gulf was a key focus point for the trade forum. It is safe to say that every business, large or small, I have met in the last number of weeks is experiencing the impact of the knock-on implications of what is happening in the Gulf, not least because of the cost of fuel. Of course, the price of commodities has continued to increase because of the conflict in Ukraine and now because of this ongoing conflict in the Gulf. It is important that we understand exactly how these conflicts are impacting sectors and how we can respond and provide supports and services. As the Deputy knows, in the last few weeks the Government has provided \u20ac750 million directly to individuals in their homes, but also to businesses to make sure that they continue to be viable and a part of a growing economy in what has been a very challenging and difficult time.  The one thing that comes through from the forum is the demand and need for certainty in a time of uncertainty. That is what we have been striving to achieve, as well as supporting businesses. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  I am delighted that the Minister has all the stakeholders involved in the forum and commend the work that has been done. I thank her for her comprehensive response.  In light of what has happened the last 24 hours, I hope she will forgive me for deviating a little from the question. I welcome her and the Taoiseach\u2019s remarks yesterday and again today on the Government's clear and principled position regarding the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, what happened last night and the importance of international law. People from all over the world are disgusted, including Israelis living in Israel and other parts of the world. Ireland has consistently shown leadership internationally on these issues. At a time when many people across Europe are calling for stronger action, it is important that Ireland continues to speak with clarity and moral authority at both EU and international level.  I ask the Minister to provide an update on the Government's current engagement with EU partners on the situation in Gaza and the efforts under way to build a stronger and more united European response. In particular, what role is Ireland playing in advocating for a collective European position, grounded in international law, humanitarianism, protection and accountability? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  My focus and priority this week have been ensuring the safety of our citizens who have been on board the flotilla. I am pleased to say that they are now on buses on the way to the airport and that our officials are on their way to the airport, if they are not already there, to assist and support them. We have been strong in condemning the actions of the Israeli Government. As I said earlier, the way in which we can respond effectively and send a very clear message to the Israeli Government that this is not acceptable, and that not just Ireland but the EU as a whole will not accept this kind of behaviour, is by collectively agreeing to suspend the trade elements of the EU-Israel association agreement or indeed the association agreement itself. We should also propose new sanctions that would prohibit trade with Israel in the occupied territories or with settlers in the occupied territories. I have been working on this for some time to try to build a consensus. We need to make sure that this comes to a vote as soon as possible to allow us to respond in that strong collective way.  Like others, I have been looking at the response on the international stage as well. There has been global condemnation of the actions by the individual minister. Again this is symptomatic of a government that continues to take these types of actions, whether it is the reintroduction of the death penalty, public prosecutions and subsequently executions that they are discussing or the consistent blocking of humanitarian aid getting to innocent civilians in Gaza who are really suffering and see no end in sight.  To that effect, at every Foreign Affairs Council meeting I have been at, I have specifically raised the need for more humanitarian aid to be let in. When I travelled to Egypt and to the Gaza crossing in January of this year, my main focus was to meet with those who are delivering the aid to talk to them about the challenges they are facing. It is very clear that blockages have been put in their way every day. The truck heights allowed on one day change the next day and then they have to offload. The types of products allowed in one day changes and they then have to change the truck again. The food that they are allowed to bring in is being left to sit in a warehouse going out of date and then when it is out of date it is not let in. It is unbelievable to think that the actions being taken are being done to prevent food and life-saving treatment from getting in. At the same time, the figures will show that hundreds of trucks are coming in. What it does not say is that it might be a truck full of Nutella or a truck full of goods that are going to be sold that people cannot actually afford. These are the types of actions that we need to continue to highlight and which I am highlighting at the Foreign Affairs Council.  My colleague, the Minister of State, has responsibility for development aid. During our Presidency, one of our core priorities will be values. That means making sure that the values that underpin the European Union and the actions that we take are upheld. That means supporting life-saving organisations like UNRWA and the World Food Programme that are supporting people in Gaza, not pulling back our funding as other countries have done, but actually advocating and building a consensus to make sure the funding is reinstated and increased at a time when it is needed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  I welcome that the Government is continuing to work closely with our European partners to strengthen and unify the European response. We cannot simply stand by and watch what is happening in Gaza. Ireland has led internationally on this issue and was first out of the blocks to condemn it at the start. We should continue to lead within Europe in pushing for a clear and principled response.  I thank the Minister for her strong remarks over the last period in response to what has happened to the people on the peace flotilla. What has happened is disgusting and beyond belief. We must act in unison with our European colleagues and impose trade sanctions on Israel. What discussions are now taking place at EU level regarding possible collective measures, including the examination of sanctions linked to illegal settlements? Is Ireland advocating for stronger co-ordinated action among member states? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh)  I can give the Minister 30 seconds to answer that one. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I engaged directly with colleagues at the most recent Council meeting. We have raised this matter directly with the chair of the Foreign Affairs Council. Since then, I have been advocating and working with colleagues to try to make sure this comes to a vote at the next Council meeting. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Trade Promotion"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/dbsect_14","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_14","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/dbsect_15","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Rural Schemes","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/dbsect_14","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_14","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_15.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  More than 2,200 pubs have closed across the State since 2005, with closures now accelerating to around 128 per year. In rural areas, the pub is often far more than a business. It is a meeting place, a social hub and a venue for music, sport and local culture. It is sometimes the last remaining indoor public gathering space in a village or rural community. Does the Minister share my concern at the scale of rural pub closures? What engagement has he had with the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment on protecting their long-term viability? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (Deputy Dara Calleary)  I am aware of the recent figures from the Vintners Federation of Ireland, which highlight the challenges faced by rural pubs and their importance as hubs for social connection and cultural life. I agree with the Deputy's analysis in that regard. I also acknowledge that the VFI made a written submission to the consultation process which the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, and I opened last year to inform the development of the next iteration of Our Rural Future.  While specific supports for the sector would fall under the remit of my colleagues, the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, the new Our Rural Future policy will take a whole-of-government approach to rural development, with actions to support the rural economy and rural communities, including addressing rural isolation.  The policy is underpinned by funding through my Department's rural investment and community development programmes, as well as an array of funding streams across government.  As Deputy McGuinness set out, rural pubs play an important social role in rural communities in particular. I am conscious of the challenge of rural isolation. With this in mind, the Department has a range of funding streams to help address the issue. These supports include the local enhancement programme, the community services programme, the social inclusion community activation programme and the seniors alert programme. There is no doubt that our significant investment in the community centre investment fund in recent years has helped to ensure our rural areas have high-quality facilities that serve as focal points for communities.  The development of the new Our Rural Future policy will continue to provide a framework for continued investment in our rural communities in the coming years. The policy and its associated action plan are nearing completion. I am continuing to engage with all of my ministerial colleagues to ensure that our ambition for rural Ireland is underpinned by a series of ambitious and practical actions. That ambition includes addressing the challenges faced by rural communities, rural isolation in particular. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  The Minister is correct that the supports are matters primarily for the Ministers with responsibility for enterprise, finance and taxation and that they fall under enterprise, taxation, tourism and hospitality policy. However, as he acknowledged, rural pubs also sit squarely under rural development. When a rural pub closes, the impact is not just limited to the licence holder or business. It is not just the loss of enterprise, economic activity and employment. The community loses its social anchor in many respects. In rural areas, older people, single men, farmers, musicians, local sports clubs, tourists and community groups all lose a space.  This is particularly serious given that Ireland has been identified as having the highest prevalence of loneliness in a recent European survey. Rural isolation is already one of the great hidden social crises in this State. We cannot say that we are serious about tackling loneliness while allowing rural social infrastructure to disappear. I am not asking the Minister or the Government to take responsibility for every tax or cost-cutting measure affecting pubs or for everything that is happening, but the Minister's Department and the Government must recognise rural pubs as part of the social and community fabric of rural Ireland. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I assure the Deputy that we are very committed to investing in rural social infrastructure. That is why we will be opening the community centre investment fund for investment of \u20ac25 million in the coming week. That will assist community centres right across the country.  When it comes to rural isolation, the Deputy is correct to identify rural men in particular. We have just invested up to \u20ac3,000 per shed for 369 men's sheds across the country. The rural pub is important. I welcome and thank VFI for its submission. While it highlighted excise duty and cost, it also highlighted the need for a rural transport plan, capital supports for rural pubs and support for pubs as community venues. In the context of the transport plan, we are having engagement with the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien. Pilot schemes are running in both Killarney and Achill with the TFI Anseo app, which is effectively providing a bus-on-demand service to a certain extent. We will look at that pilot and, ideally, we will expand it around the country, specifically to rural areas. That will assist the viability of rural hospitality venues. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  I am glad to hear the Minister mention rural transport because that is often a key factor in accessing pubs in rural Ireland. It speaks to the need to see this not just as a matter of taxation, licensing or enterprise support but, rather, as a matter of safeguarding and maintaining rural community infrastructure. Has the Minister raised this directly with the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Deputy Burke? Has he had a specific conversation about this issue? Will he seek targeted measures or a package for rural pub viability in next year's budget? Has the Minister and his Department, or the Cabinet, given any consideration to rural development schemes that could be tailored or used to support local pubs, be they under current ownership and management or under the management or control of a social enterprise or community organisation? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  We are very focused on rural transport. Deputy Buttimer is a Minister of State in the Department of Transport as well as being a Minister of State in my Department. The work being done by Local Link to expand its services and, more importantly, expand the flexibility of its services in recent years will continue. We will engage with the Minister, Deputy Burke, and the Department of enterprise and tourism in the context of Our Rural Future policy to determine what can be done to sustain rural enterprises and economies.  Obviously, as the Deputy knows, due to state aid rules, we have to be careful in how we intervene in private business. That is why we are investing in the social hub of communities, such as community centres, sports clubs and men's sheds. Through the local enhancement programme, we are supporting local community groups. I am certainly open to ideas and proposals, however. As I said, the Vintners Federation of Ireland has made a good and round submission to the consultation on Our Rural Future. I will engage with the Minister, Deputy Burke, on some of its proposals in the context of Our Rural Future. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Rural Schemes"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/dbsect_16","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Seirbh\u00eds\u00ed tr\u00ed Ghaeilge","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/dbsect_14","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_14","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_16","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_16.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  Fiafra\u00edm den Aire faoin uair a bheidh na seirbh\u00eds\u00ed ar fad de chuid an St\u00e1it, n\u00f3 roinnt acu fi\u00fa, ar f\u00e1il go huile is go hioml\u00e1n tr\u00ed Ghaeilge do phobal na Gaeltachta. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Teachta as an gceist seo a ard\u00fa. Baineann an cheist seo le halt 18E(b) d'Acht na dTeangacha Oifigi\u00fala a cheangla\u00edonn ar an Aire, le hord\u00fa, an d\u00e1ta n\u00f3 na d\u00e1ta\u00ed a shonr\u00fa faoina gcuirfear gach seirbh\u00eds a shol\u00e1thra\u00edonn comhlacht poibl\u00ed i limist\u00e9ar plean\u00e1la teanga Gaeltachta, n\u00f3 don limist\u00e9ar sin, ar f\u00e1il tr\u00ed mhe\u00e1n na Gaeilge.  Mar at\u00e1 luaite agam cheana maidir leis an gceist seo, is beart suntasach agus fairsing \u00e9, a bhfuil go leor le cur sa mhe\u00e1 faoi. D\u00e1 bhr\u00ed sin, tugadh faoi chomhairli\u00fach\u00e1n cuimsitheach agus fi\u00fantach leis na comhlachta\u00ed poibl\u00ed \u00e1bhartha chun na cr\u00edche seo tr\u00edd an taighde don phlean n\u00e1isi\u00fanta um sheirbh\u00eds\u00ed poibl\u00ed Gaeilge, agus ar\u00eds i ndiaidh fhoilsi\u00fa an phlean n\u00e1isi\u00fanta c\u00e9anna. Bh\u00ed na pr\u00f3isis \u00fad an-t\u00e1bhachtach ar mhaithe leis an leibh\u00e9al is airde tuisceana agus feasachta maidir leis an bhfor\u00e1il a choth\u00fa i measc na gcomhlachta\u00ed poibl\u00ed, go h\u00e1irithe d\u00f3ibh si\u00fad a bhfuil an leibh\u00e9al is airde idirghn\u00edomha\u00edochta acu leis an bpobal.  Is fi\u00fa a aithint freisin nach beart ioml\u00e1n neamhsple\u00e1ch \u00e9 seo at\u00e1 le feidhmi\u00fa i bhfol\u00fas. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 mar chuid den \u00e9iceach\u00f3ras forioml\u00e1n a bhfuiltear ag iarraidh a fhorbairt faoin Acht. Chuige sin, beifear ag tac\u00fa lena cur i bhfeidhm tr\u00edd an obair at\u00e1 ar bun faoin phlean n\u00e1isi\u00fanta agus, go deimhin, an plean gn\u00edomha\u00edochta tr\u00ed bliana a foils\u00edodh n\u00edos luaithe i mbliana, mar aon leis na caighde\u00e1in teanga agus for\u00e1lacha eile an Achta i gcoitinne.  T\u00e1im muin\u00edneach, mar thoradh ar an gcomhairli\u00fach\u00e1n breise seo agus ar an obair at\u00e1 ar si\u00fal ag mo Roinn idir an d\u00e1 linn tr\u00ed fhorbairt na strucht\u00far seo, go gcuirfear na taca\u00edochta\u00ed cu\u00ed ar f\u00e1il do chomhlachta\u00ed poibl\u00ed chun tabhairt faoi aon athruithe is g\u00e1 sa sp\u00e1s seo. Bunaithe air seo, beidh m\u00e9 ag leagan s\u00edos d\u00e1ta n\u00f3 d\u00e1ta\u00ed r\u00e9ala\u00edocha agus insroichte a choth\u00f3idh muin\u00edn phobal na Gaeltachta in \u00fas\u00e1id na seirbh\u00eds\u00ed poibl\u00ed sin tr\u00ed Ghaeilge de r\u00e9ir a ch\u00e9ile, sa ch\u00e1s nach bhfuiltear \u00e1 n-\u00fas\u00e1id cheana f\u00e9in. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  Glacaim leis an nd\u00fashl\u00e1n at\u00e1 ann anois toisc gur theip ar an St\u00e1t le breis is 100 bliain na seirbh\u00eds\u00ed i gceantair Ghaeltachta a shol\u00e1thar don phobal. N\u00edorbh fh\u00e9idir roimhe seo agus n\u00ed f\u00e9idir le gn\u00e1thshaor\u00e1nach a bhfuil c\u00f3na\u00ed orthu sa Ghaeltacht a labhra\u00edonn an Ghaeilge mar phr\u00edomhtheanga \u2013 b\u2019fh\u00e9idir gurbh \u00ed an Ghaeilge an t-aon teanga a bh\u00ed acu roimhe seo - a gcuid gn\u00f3 a dh\u00e9anamh tr\u00ed Ghaeilge leis an St\u00e1t, lena n-air\u00edtear comhlachta\u00ed poibl\u00ed, Ranna St\u00e1it agus daoine a bh\u00edonn ag obair thar ceann an St\u00e1it. T\u00e1 23 bliain imithe \u00f3 ritheadh Acht na dTeangacha Oifigi\u00fala 2003 ar dt\u00fas. T\u00e1 muid anois c\u00faig bliana \u00f3 ritheadh Acht na dTeangacha Oifigi\u00fala (Leas\u00fa), 2021. T\u00e1 muid anois ag fanacht leis na caighde\u00e1in. Is \u00e9 sin at\u00e1 an tAire tar \u00e9is a r\u00e1. T\u00e1 an plean gn\u00edomha\u00edochta ann, ach n\u00edl aon spriocanna ann. C\u00e9n uair go d\u00edreach a bheidh pobal na Gaeltachta in ann na seirbh\u00eds\u00ed sin a fh\u00e1il tr\u00ed Ghaeilge? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  Tuigim an m\u00edfhoighne ach n\u00ed m\u00f3r na d\u00fashl\u00e1in a thuiscint freisin. T\u00e1 muid ag obair ar na d\u00fashl\u00e1in sin le cinnti\u00fa go mbeidh daoine in ann na seirbh\u00eds\u00ed a shol\u00e1thar, n\u00ed hamh\u00e1in do mhuintir na Gaeltachta ach d\u00f3ibh si\u00fad a labhra\u00edonn Gaeilge freisin. Is g\u00e1 go mbeidh taith\u00ed agus muin\u00edn ag na daoine a bh\u00edonn ag obair sa St\u00e1tseirbh\u00eds chun \u00e9 sin a dh\u00e9anamh. T\u00e1 muid ag obair air sin.  Agus mo hata eile orm mar Aire Coimirce S\u00f3isiala\u00ed, t\u00e1 s\u00e9 sin t\u00e1bhachtach d\u00fainn. T\u00e1 muid ag obair go mbeidh daoine sa Roinn sin in ann seirbh\u00eds\u00ed a shol\u00e1thar do mhuintir na Gaeltachta agus do dhaoine a bhfuil Gaeilge acu. L\u00e9ir\u00edonn mo thaith\u00ed sa Roinn sin na d\u00fashl\u00e1in at\u00e1 sa Roinn chun an tseirbh\u00eds seo a thabhairt amach. T\u00e1 muid ag obair air agus t\u00e1 muid d\u00edrithe air. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 t\u00e1bhachtach freisin - tuigim go dtuigeann an Teachta \u00e9 seo - go mbeidh seirbh\u00eds le daoine i gceist agus go mbeidh muin\u00edn ag muintir na Gaeltachta agus muintir na Gaeilge as an tseirbh\u00eds at\u00e1 le teacht. T\u00e1 muid ag iarraidh go mbeidh muin\u00edn ag muintir na Gaeltachta go mbeidh an tseirbh\u00eds ag feidhmi\u00fa ag an gcaighde\u00e1n is airde. T\u00e1 muid ag obair ar na caighde\u00e1in sin. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  Glacaim leis nach dtarl\u00f3idh s\u00e9 seo thar o\u00edche, ach n\u00edl athr\u00fa thar o\u00edche i gceist againn. Mar a d\u00fairt m\u00e9, buna\u00edodh an St\u00e1t breis is 100 bliain \u00f3 sh\u00edn. T\u00f3gadh Acht na dTeangacha Oifigi\u00fala isteach ar dt\u00fas 23 bliain \u00f3 sh\u00edn. Leis an Acht sin, cuireadh sc\u00e9imeanna ar bun i ngach uile chuid den St\u00e1tch\u00f3ras chun cuidi\u00fa linn na seirbh\u00eds\u00ed sin a chur ar f\u00e1il, n\u00ed hamh\u00e1in do phobal na Gaeltachta ach don phobal i gcoitinne. Is \u00e9 an d\u00fashl\u00e1n n\u00e1 conas is f\u00e9idir, ar a laghad, na seirbh\u00eds\u00ed a shol\u00e1thar d\u00f3ibh si\u00fad a bhfuil c\u00f3na\u00ed orthu i gceantair at\u00e1 aitheanta gurb \u00ed an Ghaeilge pr\u00edomhtheanga an cheantair sin, \u00e1it ar mian linn an Ghaeilge a chaomhn\u00fa. Ina dhiaidh sin, ba ch\u00f3ir na seirbh\u00eds\u00ed a leathn\u00fa amach lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht chomh maith c\u00e9anna. Th\u00e1inig Acht na dTeangacha Oifigi\u00fala (Leas\u00fa), 2021 isteach ina dhiaidh sin. D\u00faradh linn go mbeadh na caighde\u00e1in ar f\u00e1il laistigh de mh\u00edonna tar \u00e9is don reachta\u00edocht sin a bheith foilsithe. N\u00edl siad sin le feice\u00e1il go f\u00f3ill. T\u00e1 plean gn\u00edomha\u00edochta ann ach n\u00edl aon spriocdh\u00e1ta\u00ed ann. T\u00e1 fadhb bhun\u00fasach ansin. C\u00e9n uair a fhoilseofar na caighde\u00e1in? Ar a laghad, tabharfaidh s\u00e9 sin treoir n\u00f3 sprioc d\u00fainn. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  T\u00e1 muid ag obair ar na caighde\u00e1in sin. T\u00e1 m\u00e9 muin\u00edneach go mbeidh muid in ann iad a fhoilsi\u00fa roimh i bhfad. T\u00e1 m\u00e9 ag obair freisin leis na comhlachta\u00ed poibl\u00ed chun go mbeidh tuiscint ag gach comhlacht ar na caighde\u00e1in seo. Caithfidh siad iad a thuiscint agus a chinnti\u00fa go mbeidh na resources acu chun tabhairt faoi seo. N\u00ed m\u00f3r do na comhlachta\u00ed sin freisin tuiscint a bheith acu ar c\u00e9 chomh t\u00e1bhachtach is at\u00e1 s\u00e9 seo do mhuintir na Gaeltachta agus don Rialtas araon. Mar Aire, t\u00e1 s\u00e9 thar a bheith t\u00e1bhachtach go mbeidh na caighde\u00e1in sin ard agus go dtuigeann na comhlachta\u00ed poibl\u00ed agus eagrais St\u00e1it go gcaithfidh siad \u00e9 seo a dh\u00e9anamh agus go gcaithfear na resources a chur i bhfeidhm lena dh\u00e9anamh ar ardchaighde\u00e1n. N\u00edl aon phointe caighde\u00e1in a fhoilsi\u00fa agus a r\u00e1 go bhfuil an tseirbh\u00eds ar f\u00e1il ach nuair a th\u00e9ann daoine chuig aon oifig St\u00e1it, n\u00edl an tseirbh\u00eds sin ar f\u00e1il toisc easpa cainteoir\u00ed chun an tseirbh\u00eds a shol\u00e1thar. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 t\u00e1bhachtach dom, nuair a fhoilseofar gach rud, go mbeidh muid agus gach comhlacht ar an talamh r\u00e9idh le dul. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Seirbh\u00eds\u00ed tr\u00ed Ghaeilge"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/dbsect_17","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Road Projects","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/dbsect_14","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_14","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_17.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  The local improvement scheme is very important for local roads. The local community makes a contribution of between 10% and 15%. The level of funding this year in the case of Laois dropped by \u20ac1,000. I was hoping it would be a bit more. I ask that the funding for this year be reviewed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I acknowledge the Deputy's ongoing interest in this area. The local improvement scheme, LIS, provides for the upgrading of non-public rural roads and laneways typically not maintained by local authorities. It was reintroduced in 2017. Since 2017, funding of over \u20ac200 million has been allocated to local authorities and over 5,500 roads have been improved. In February this year, I was pleased along with the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, to launch the 2026 scheme. We confirmed base funding for 2026 of \u20ac17.5 million which represents an increase on the initial base funding made available in 2025. Laois County Council received a 2026 allocation of almost \u20ac470,000. The total allocated to Laois since 2017 is over \u20ac6.6 million. My officials are engaging with local authorities which have submitted their priority road lists for 2026. They have now received approval to proceed with the works. I have directed that scheme spend be monitored closely to ensure that funding is fully utilised and not returned to the Department and that as many road improvements as possible are completed under the scheme this year. Parallel to that process, I will be monitoring spending within my Department over the coming months to identify any potential savings that can be reallocated to the LIS programme. I am very aware of the importance of the scheme to councils and rural communities. It is a priority for the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, and me. We continue to monitor expenditure within the Department. We are also asking local authorities to consider their level of expenditure on each road. There are considerable disparities in expenditure on the scheme from local authority to local authority. We are zeroing-in on that to ensure there is a common spend around the country. In that way, we will also achieve more roads being completed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  I think the Minister will find that with Laois not too much money comes back to the Department. It tends to get used. I agree with him about using it well. It is a 10% contribution where there are five residents or landowners or fewer and 15% where there are more than six. The funding for Laois is actually \u20ac469,000. It was \u20ac470,000 last year and nine schemes are approved locally for this year but there are more than 80 on the waiting list. Some are more urgent than others. The Minister will appreciate that, as will anyone who is local councillor or constituency TD. I highlight to the Minister the western Slieve Bloom area - he was in Mountrath recently and saw how money was spent very well in the wonderful Cafe Donate and the river walk, etc. With the topography, a lot of those roads are over peat and bad land. At this rate, it will take nearly ten years to complete what is on the scheme. That is if the scheme is closed. The Minister knows more will come on next year and the year after. It is a matter of trying to keep ahead. It requires more funding. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  Laois completed 18 roads in 2025 and 81 are outstanding on the list we have. We had a really successful visit to Laois with Deputy Stanley and with Deputies Fleming and Aird some weeks back. I saw the fantastic work Laois County Council is doing. I pay tribute to that work. I could literally throw the entire budget of the Department at LIS and still have waiting lists. Other Departments also have responsibilities in terms of regional and public roads funding in rural areas. It cannot just be this Department that takes on that burden. We are working closely with other Departments on that. We are looking at our expenditure as we are nearly six months through the year. I reiterate the necessity for every local authority to complete and spend the money allocated to them in a given year. If money is returned by local authorities, it makes my job in the Department of putting extra resources into this programme even more difficult. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  In his reply the Minister said some local authorities may not use it. There may be indications throughout the year that some local authorities are not going to use it. I understand there is not an endless pot of funding and it is not down to the Department of community and rural affairs solely but in relation to this scheme, it is. I ask that where there is a surplus of funding or unused funding that the funding be reviewed. I am with the Minister in relation to spending it well and getting a good return for it. The county council is very good at making sure the local contribution is made by local residents and landowners. It is important that happens. We are in a standstill situation. The cost of roadworks has gone up 15% with contractors. It is between 10% and 15% extra this year, so it is not even a standstill situation. Only about 80% of the work that was done last year will be done this year with the level of funding we have, which is \u20ac1,000 less at \u20ac469,000. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  We are very aware in the Department of the increase in costs, in particular over the past three months since the outbreak of the war in the Middle East. That directly impacts road costs in particular.  That is why the Department will be flexible. If I can see underspends, LIS will be a priority. Our capital delivery teams are engaging with local authorities that are serial offenders as regards sending money back. We tried to get notification of the approval of schemes out to councils earlier this year so that they could get work under way in the so-called summer period and get most of that work done. Looking around, I see that nearly everybody here is a rural Deputy. I encourage every Deputy to engage with the management of their local authorities in respect of LIS to ensure they are spending the allocation they are getting because, as I have said, it is not good for local authorities to be sending back money. I want money spent, particularly where it is capital money. I encourage engagement at local management level around LIS budgets. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Road Projects"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/dbsect_18","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"C\u00farsa\u00ed Tith\u00edochta","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/dbsect_14","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_14","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_18.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  Cuirfidh m\u00e9 ceist ar an Aire faoi mholta\u00ed an Rialtais maidir le tith\u00edocht sa Ghaeltacht agus faoin r\u00e1iteas n\u00f3 strait\u00e9is plean\u00e1la Gaeltachta at\u00e1 geallta le fada. T\u00e1 g\u00e9arch\u00e9im thith\u00edochta ag br\u00fa daoine \u00f3ga agus teaghlaigh \u00f3ga amach \u00f3 mo cheantar f\u00e9in. Gan tith\u00edocht, n\u00ed bheidh pobal inmharthana againn. Gan pobal inmharthana, n\u00ed bheidh todhcha\u00ed ag an nGaeilge mar theanga bheo phobail. Cathain go d\u00edreach a fhoilseofar na molta\u00ed agus an r\u00e1iteas plean\u00e1la? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  Mar is eol don Teachta, is fi\u00fa a thabhairt faoi deara go dtiteann an fhreagracht maidir le c\u00farsa\u00ed tith\u00edochta ar bhonn ginear\u00e1lta ar an Roinn Tith\u00edochta, Rialtais \u00c1iti\u00fail agus Oidhreachta. Agus \u00e9 sin r\u00e1ite, t\u00e1 sol\u00e1thar tith\u00edochta d\u00f3ibh si\u00fad at\u00e1 ina gc\u00f3na\u00ed agus ag obair sa Ghaeltacht thar a bheith t\u00e1bhachtach dom go pearsanta agus do mo Roinn. Go deimhin, t\u00e1 tith\u00edocht riachtanach chun an teanga, seirbh\u00eds\u00ed, fosta\u00edocht, fiontra\u00edocht agus deiseanna eile sa Ghaeltacht a fhorbairt. Agus \u00e9 sin san \u00e1ireamh, t\u00e1 c\u00e9imeanna taca\u00edochta \u00e1 dt\u00f3g\u00e1il chun na cr\u00edche seo.  Beidh an Bille um \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta (Leas\u00fa), 2024 le t\u00f3g\u00e1il ag C\u00e9im na Tuarasc\u00e1la an tseachtain seo chugainn. C\u00e9 gurb \u00e9 athbhun\u00fa toghch\u00e1in chuig bord an \u00fadar\u00e1is pr\u00edomhchusp\u00f3ir an Bhille seo, ar mhaithe le tac\u00fa le sol\u00e1thar tith\u00edochta sa Ghaeltacht, d\u00e9anfar leas\u00fa sa Bhille ar alt 8 den Acht um \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta chun cead a thabhairt don \u00fadar\u00e1s talamh a dh\u00edol le comhlacht tith\u00edochta ceadaithe n\u00f3 le h\u00fadar\u00e1s tith\u00edochta, n\u00f3 a dhi\u00fascairt ar shl\u00ed eile chuig an gcusp\u00f3ir c\u00e9anna, chun tith\u00edocht a shol\u00e1thar sa Ghaeltacht.  T\u00e1 m\u00e9 f\u00e9in agus mo chomhghleaca\u00ed, an tAire, an Teachta James Browne, ag obair go dl\u00fath lena ch\u00e9ile ar an gceist seo len\u00e1r n-oifigigh, a bhfuil obair shuntasach d\u00e9anta acu ar fhorbairt r\u00e1iteas n\u00e1isi\u00fanta plean\u00e1la don Ghaeltacht. Sa phlean tith\u00edochta a foils\u00edodh le d\u00e9ana\u00ed, Tithe a Sheachadadh, Pobail a Th\u00f3g\u00e1il, gealltar an r\u00e1iteas n\u00e1isi\u00fanta plean\u00e1la a fhoilsi\u00fa agus moltar scr\u00fad\u00fa a dh\u00e9anamh ar an bhf\u00e9idearthacht go n-oibreodh \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta le hUisce \u00c9ireann agus \u00fadar\u00e1is \u00e1iti\u00fala chun tac\u00fa le tith\u00edocht a th\u00f3g\u00e1il do phobail labhartha na Gaeilge. Re\u00e1cht\u00e1il m\u00e9 cruinni\u00fa le gairid idir \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta agus Uisce \u00c9ireann chun a chinnti\u00fa go nd\u00e9anfar dul chun cinn gan dua maidir leis an fh\u00e9idearthacht seo a scr\u00fad\u00fa.  Bunaithe ar fhigi\u00fair\u00ed \u00f3 na h\u00fadar\u00e1is \u00e1iti\u00fala, ceada\u00edodh me\u00e1n de 90% d'iarratais phlean\u00e1la le haghaidh tith\u00edochta sa Ghaeltacht in 2025, rud a l\u00e9ir\u00edonn nach bhfuil fadhb ag daoine cead plean\u00e1la a fh\u00e1il sa Ghaeltacht. Ina theannta sin, bronnadh os cionn \u20ac3 mhilli\u00fan ar iarratas\u00f3ir\u00ed sa Ghaeltacht faoin deontas athch\u00f3irithe do r\u00e9admhaoin fholamh le linn 2024 agus 2025. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  T\u00e1 s\u00e9 r\u00e1ite ag an Aire go bhfuil obair idir-rannach ar si\u00fal agus is l\u00e9ir go bhfuil. T\u00e1 c\u00farsa\u00ed plean\u00e1la, \u00fadar\u00e1is \u00e1iti\u00fala agus an Roinn tith\u00edochta luaite aige. I dtaobh na fianaise ar an talamh, t\u00e1 pobal na Gaeltachta tar \u00e9is fanacht r\u00f3fhada cheana f\u00e9in. C\u00e9 go raibh s\u00e9 geallta ar\u00eds ag deireadh na bliana seo caite sa phlean tith\u00edochta, n\u00edl t\u00e1sc n\u00e1 tuairisc ar an strait\u00e9is n\u00f3 r\u00e1iteas sin. N\u00edl s\u00e9 feicthe againn. Tugaim faoi deara n\u00e1r thug an tAire aon d\u00e1ta daingean d\u00fainn faoina mbeidh s\u00e9 foilsithe. Glacaim leis go mbaineann s\u00e9 seo leis an Aire tith\u00edochta chomh maith ach t\u00e1 freagracht ar an Aire agus ar a Roinn as an gceist seo freisin.  I dtaobh c\u00farsa\u00ed plean\u00e1la agus cead plean\u00e1la a fh\u00e1il, t\u00e1 an ceart ag an Aire i sl\u00ed amh\u00e1in. N\u00ed h\u00e9 an fhadhb nach bhfuil na h\u00fadar\u00e1is \u00e1iti\u00fala ag tabhairt cead d'iarratais phlean\u00e1la. N\u00ed f\u00e9idir le daoine \u00e1iti\u00fala sna ceantair seo su\u00edmh a fh\u00e1il ar phraghas inacmhainne. Is ceann de na fadhbanna \u00e9 sin chomh maith. Caithfimid dul i ngleic leis an gceist ioml\u00e1n seo, ag tabhairt san \u00e1ireamh tith\u00edocht sh\u00f3isialta, na h\u00fadar\u00e1is \u00e1iti\u00fala, an t-infreastrucht\u00far n\u00f3 bonneagar, agus an c\u00f3ras plean\u00e1la. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  Mar a d\u00fairt m\u00e9, t\u00e1 m\u00e9 f\u00e9in agus an tAire, an Teachta Browne, ag obair go crua air seo. N\u00edlim in ann d\u00e1ta a thabhairt don Teachta ag an bpointe seo. Caithfidh mo Roinn agus an Roinn tith\u00edochta teacht ar aont\u00fa faoin mbealach le dul. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 t\u00e1bhachtach go mbeidh sc\u00e9im agus r\u00e1iteas plean\u00e1la againn a oibr\u00edonn ar an talamh. T\u00e1 a l\u00e1n d\u00fashl\u00e1n ann. Caithfimid obair ar na d\u00fashl\u00e1in seo. T\u00e1imid ag obair air sin ach n\u00edl aont\u00fa ann go f\u00f3ill idir m\u00e9 f\u00e9in agus an Aire, an Teachta Browne. Nuair at\u00e1 an plean r\u00e9idh, beimid in ann \u00e9 a fhoilsi\u00fa. T\u00e1 an obair ar si\u00fal. B\u00edonn cruinnithe ag na hoifigigh. Bh\u00ed cruinni\u00fa ag na hoifigigh sa d\u00e1 Roinn an tseachtain seo caite. T\u00e1imid d\u00edrithe isteach air ach n\u00ed bheidh s\u00e9 \u00e9asca. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 sin an-t\u00e1bhachtach le r\u00e1. T\u00e1 d\u00fashl\u00e1in againn freisin le hUisce \u00c9ireann. T\u00e1imid ag obair ar na d\u00fashl\u00e1in sin chun go mbeidh talamh seirbh\u00edsithe \u00f3 thaobh uisce agus s\u00e9arachais. Is ceann de na d\u00fashl\u00e1in eile at\u00e1 againn \u00e9 sin. T\u00e1imid ag obair le h\u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta chun a chuid tal\u00fan a cheangal le c\u00f3ras Uisce \u00c9ireann chun go mbeidh deiseanna ansin. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  Is c\u00fais le frustrachas sna pobail Ghaeltachta seo an mhoill ar an strait\u00e9is n\u00f3 an r\u00e1iteas, mar a dtugtar air anois. Ba cheart go mbeidh roinnt mhaith oibre d\u00e9anta idir an d\u00e1 Roinn le blianta anuas mar bh\u00ed s\u00e9 seo geallta blianta \u00f3 shin. Athghealladh \u00e9 anuraidh. T\u00e1 an tAire ag r\u00e1 nach bhfuil s\u00e9 \u00e9asca agus tuigim \u00e9 sin ach cad iad na point\u00ed easaontaithe? Muna bhfuil s\u00e9 aontaithe idir an Aire agus an Aire tith\u00edochta, cad iad na point\u00ed nach raibh siad in ann aont\u00fa orthu go f\u00f3ill? Cad iad na coimhlint\u00ed at\u00e1 ann idir an d\u00e1 Roinn? Cad at\u00e1 ag cur bac n\u00f3 srian ar an strait\u00e9is a bheith foilsithe? T\u00e1 dh\u00e1 Ranna Rialtais anseo. T\u00e1 na blianta caite air seo. Glacaim leis nach bhfuil ruda\u00ed den saghas seo \u00e9asca ach it is not beyond the realms of human endeavour \u00e9 seo a chur i gcr\u00edch leis na hacmhainn\u00ed at\u00e1 ag an d\u00e1 Roinn agus na hacmhainn\u00ed ama at\u00e1 caite air seo go f\u00f3ill\u00edn. Cad iad na point\u00ed easaontais idir an Aire agus an Aire tith\u00edochta? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  N\u00edl m\u00e9 chun iad seo a leagan amach ar url\u00e1r na D\u00e1la. T\u00e1imid ag obair air. Tuigeann an tAire, an Teachta Browne, agus m\u00e9 f\u00e9in c\u00e9 chomh t\u00e1bhachtach is at\u00e1 an r\u00e1iteas seo chun d\u00edri\u00fa ar an nGaeltacht agus go h\u00e1irithe ar na daoine \u00f3ga at\u00e1 ag iarraidh tithe a chruth\u00fa inti. T\u00e1imid ag obair ar gach ceann de na d\u00fashl\u00e1in at\u00e1 ann. T\u00e1 a l\u00e1n oibre ar si\u00fal ar a l\u00e1n d\u00fashl\u00e1n sa Roinn. T\u00e1 na hoifigigh sa Roinn tith\u00edochta at\u00e1 ag obair liom ag obair ar roinnt de na d\u00fashl\u00e1in eile. T\u00e1imid ag obair ar ch\u00farsa\u00ed taobh amuigh den r\u00e1iteas freisin. Mar a d\u00fairt m\u00e9, t\u00e1 san \u00e1ireamh ansin sol\u00e1thar s\u00e9arachais agus uisce. T\u00e1imid ag obair le pr\u00edomhfheidhmeannaigh na n-\u00fadar\u00e1s \u00e1iti\u00fail a bhfuil freagracht as plean\u00e1il sna Gaeltachta\u00ed orthu. T\u00e1 a l\u00e1n p\u00edosa\u00ed ag baint leis an d\u00fashl\u00e1n n\u00f3 jigsaw seo. T\u00e1imid ag obair air. Creidim go n-aonta\u00edonn an Teachta liom gurb \u00e9 an rud is t\u00e1bhachta\u00ed n\u00e1 go mbeidh r\u00e1iteas plean\u00e1la againn a oibr\u00edonn agus a thugann deis do dhaoine tithe a chruth\u00fa sa Ghaeltacht. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 t\u00e1bhachtach go mbeidh siad in ann \u00edoc as na tithe sin agus go mbeidh siad affordable. T\u00e1imid d\u00edrithe air seo agus ar thithe s\u00f3isialta freisin. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"C\u00farsa\u00ed Tith\u00edochta"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/dbsect_19","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_19","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/dbsect_20","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Rural Schemes","counts":{"speechCount":10,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/dbsect_19","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_19","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_20","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_20.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  Will an tAire outline the role the Department plays in tackling dereliction, vacancy and the underuse of buildings in rural towns and villages and the plans he has in that regard? In particular, will he outline the way in which the Department is co-ordinating with local authorities and Departments to ensure that funding is linked to housing, transport and community services?  Is fadhb an-mh\u00f3r ar fad \u00ed seo. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  The town centre first policy, for which I and the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage hold joint responsibility, is the major cross-government policy. It aims to tackle vacancy, combat dereliction and breathe new life into our town centres. It does so by setting out a framework to facilitate and resource the regeneration of our towns and villages to ensure they are vibrant, viable, visible and happy places to live, work, invest in and visit. Town centre first complements other national policies, including our rural future, the national housing strategy and the national planning framework.  Significant progress has been made. For example, town regeneration officers funded by my Department are based in 26 local authorities. They are a key conduit between the Department, each local authority and towns and villages and the communities that live in them. They work as part of a multidisciplinary team in local authorities to support town regeneration and combat vacancy and dereliction. As was discussed with Deputy Stanley, I encourage Deputy Hearne to visit Laois where he will see a very good model in operation.  A range of capital schemes funded by my Department are crucial to this. The town and village renewal scheme and the rural regeneration development fund have provided growing levels of funding to rural communities in recent years. Our local authorities are working closely with local communities to deliver projects. Funding under these schemes is generally by way of a competitive call for applications. Funding is allocated to successful projects on a multi-annual basis. This is an approach that has worked well in recent years. It ensures high quality and impactful projects are funded in a targeted and strategic manner. We continue to ensure that the funding the Government is investing in rural towns and villages will deliver. I met the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, yesterday regarding the future iteration of our town centre first policy and other investments that we can make. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  Is fadhb an-mh\u00f3r iad na tithe folmha agus tr\u00e9igthe, agus na foirgnimh thr\u00e9igthe freisin, i mbailte agus sr\u00e1idbhailte ar fud na t\u00edre. The State has failed, from Spiddal to Fermoy to Carrick-on-Suir and Loughrea. When driving around the country, I see so many derelict buildings. It is scandalous. It is such a shame for these towns, many of which I have visited. I visit relatives down the country and see this. Dereliction is still visible. The town centre first policy is clearly not working. The policies are not working to address this at the scale needed and to deal with the extent of it. It is just not enough. We still see massive levels of dereliction in villages and towns. This affects many commercial buildings. We in the Social Democrats believe that there needs to be things like compulsory sales orders. These buildings cannot be left for decades. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I disagree with the Deputy. This is another social media statement without any basis. He mentioned Fermoy. We are currently investing \u20ac2.2 million in Fermoy to renew the town centre and the Blackwater experience and are working with the local community and development companies. The Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, and I are involved. The Deputy has to see for himself, or else does not want to see, the level of progress in many rural areas. In Athy, the Shackleton experience is led by the local community, in partnership with Kildare County Council. Old buildings have been renewed and repurposed. I could provide any number of examples under RRDF and the town and village renewal scheme.  We need to examine how can we can expand the town and village renewal scheme. Deputy Currie is in the Chamber. We need to consider how communities and villages in Dublin can be tackled.. The Deputy suggested that there be CPOs, as if that could happen very easily. Many councils are trying to do that. The Deputy understands more than most the property rights in our Constitution, ownership rights and the difficulty of getting access to CPOs. Many councils are doing that through the town regeneration officer. The person is doing the legwork on that necessary work and research. That town regeneration officer is funded by my Department. We cannot just wave a magic wand. Town regeneration officers are doing very hard work on the ground. It is unseen, but is making a difference in towns and villages around the country if one chooses to see it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  I want to respond to the claim about social media clips. That is disingenuous. I do not know whether a memo went around Cabinet to try to suggest calling out the Social Democrats for just doing this for social media. It is very demeaning to an elected Member of the D\u00e1il----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  The Deputy is very touchy about it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  -----to turn around and say he is just doing this for social media. That is very demeaning and disregards the people who have voted for me and us. I am doing this because it is what I know and see. The Minister has pointed to areas that are working and where something has been done. I can point to just as many areas and towns where policy is not working and there are still derelict buildings. Is he denying that there are derelict buildings in towns and villages across the country? Derelict houses and buildings are falling down. What the Government has done is not enough. It is factually correct that there are tens of thousands of derelict buildings, even above shops, that could be homes. The Government will point to where it is doing something, but it is not enough. That is my point. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  Over \u20ac440 million has been invested in 160 projects through the RRDF since 2020. Many of those projects are now coming to fruition. Some \u20ac140 million has been invested in the town and village renewal scheme, which has dealt with 1,000 projects since 2020, owned and driven by local communities and local authorities. Under the outdoor recreation infrastructure scheme, \u20ac110 million has been invested in dereliction, to a lesser extent.  The Deputy has suggested nothing is happening. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  I did not say \"nothing\". I said \"not enough\". "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  He has seen tens of thousands of buildings, but he will also see, should he choose to see it, much progress and that things are happening on the ground. We are providing that level of investment through the RRDF and town and village renewal and we want to provide more. We will provide more investment and the Department is focused on that through Our Rural Future. That is why we have invested in our town regeneration officers across the country, who work in partnership with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. We have people on the ground identifying properties and their ownership and, ideally, working in the first place with local communities to upgrade and repurpose them.  The Minister, Deputy Browne, and Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, are working on guidelines on spaces over shops because that will lead to the ultimate regeneration of towns, namely getting people back living in them and having life in towns after 6 p.m. That is happening on the ground if the Deputy chooses to see it. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Rural Schemes"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/dbsect_21","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Road Network","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/dbsect_19","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_19","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_21.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  I want to ask the Minister about the LIS funding scheme, in particular relating to County Kerry. A significant number of roads are on the list. While I appreciate Kerry County Council is doing the best it can, it is only able to address a limited number per year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I thank the Deputy for his interest in this. As I said in reply to Deputy Stanley, since we introduced the LIS in 2017, over \u20ac200 million has been allocated to local authorities. The Minister of State and I confirmed the 2026 scheme will have an additional initial funding application of \u20ac17.5 million, representing an increase. Kerry County Council was allocated \u20ac1.13 million in initial funding for LIS in 2026, representing an increase in the initial allocation of over \u20ac1 million in 2025. Following our announcement of a supplementary budget of \u20ac14 million in August last year, Kerry received additional funding of over \u20ac1.2 million in 2025. The total Kerry allocation for 2025 represents a 44% increase on the 2024 allocation.  We are committed to ensuring that the LIS scheme in Kerry and, indeed, nationally remains well-funded. We are engaging with local authorities. We have given the go-ahead for the initial 2026 programme to proceed. We are closely monitoring our spend in the capital area across the Department to ensure any savings that emerge in the Department can be redistributed to LIS. I am very much aware of the challenge in Kerry regarding outstanding roads. Some 37 roads were completed in 2025.  Kerry County Council did not send any money back to my Department in terms of underspend, which I welcome. I am also conscious of the outstanding roads to be addressed in the county. As I said, I could invest the entire budget of my Department in LIS and still have outstanding roads. I am focused on addressing this. We are focused on introducing uniformity across the country in the spend on LIS. With that uniformity, we can get more roads done. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  I thank the Minister. The difficulty and the reason Kerry should be treated as more of an exception than other counties, such as the midland counties, is that there are 580 roads in the scheme for the county.  I appreciate 37 were done last year but if we do the maths on that, we are talking the best part of 20 years. A lot of the people who are contacting me from places like Ballinglanna near Causeway, Tiershanaghan, Ballyheigue, Kilgulbin, Ardfert, Ballyconry near Ballyduff and Dromid in south Kerry will be drawing their pension, if they are lucky, by the time these roads are addressed. I appreciate there has been funding since 2017 but the problem with that is the list was closed in 2018 because there were so many roads in Kerry on it and it has not been opened for the past eight years. That is the scale of the problem we are dealing with in the county. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I agree. Looking at the figures, it is a particularly long list in Kerry. The Deputy is not the only Kerry Deputy who has made a special case for the county; there is also the Minister for Education and Youth, Deputy Foley, and other colleagues. We have put over \u20ac200 million into the LIS in less than ten years. It has made a difference around the country. I am aware of the length of the waiting lists and I am aware of the scheme. I make a very special case indeed for County Mayo, given its size, but I have other competing capital priorities. What the Minister of State and I have done last year is that where we can identify capital savings in the Department, we have targeted them towards LIS. It may not always be possible to do that but LIS will be a priority project as long as the Minister of State and I are in the Department.  I also say this to other Departments: the role of rural roads is not just for our Department. Other Departments have to step up. They are doing that but collectively, we could do a lot more. Our per km spend is an issue we are looking at as well. All local authorities need to have a certain band within which they spend on LIS. We do not need gold-plated roads; we need roads. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  I thank the Minister for the reply. I will give some background and context on this. I am glad he mentioned local and regional roads because there were many announcements from certain Deputies in County Kerry that there was increased roads funding for the county but the local and regional roads funding was actually slashed by \u20ac2 million. Villages like Ballyduff, Fenit, Abbeydorney and Glenbeigh have no wastewater infrastructure. There is basically an Imhoff tank, or a hole in the ground, where the sewage is going into and they cannot develop in those areas.  Inflation has surged costs for the materials, labour and fuel, in addition to all of the heavy rainfall from climate change, which is digging into roads and making the roads that have been repaired in need of patching. I am talking about local and regional roads, such as Knocknacaska outside Kilflynn, where there has been a solar farm proposed. Despite all the great work it is doing, the council is playing catch-up. It is galling for people in Kerry to look at the nearly \u20ac500 million spent on MetroLink without a sod being turned and they cannot get to school, work or their businesses without going over potholed roads. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  As well as giving us a tour of Kerry, the Deputy has raised a very important issue. I share the Deputy's concern about the severity of rain and the damage it is doing, as well as the severity of hard winters that are damaging roads. The Minister of State and I will be looking within the Department at some sort of uniformity. Some councils are spending a lot more per km than others. The disparity is quite significant. I do not want to be in a situation where we dictate to councils how they spend their money. That would be wrong.  Equally, we want to make sure the money we invest in LIS is spent on tar and roads and not on administration or positions. That is not the position in Kerry. We are very aware and conscious of the pressure on capital budgets, especially keeping in mind cost increases over the past three months. We will engage with our colleagues in the Department on spending and looking at LIS. The Minister of State assures me there has not been a cut in the Department of Transport for regional roads but I will certainly engage with the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, on that one. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  The Deputy heard from the Minister for Transport, Deputy O'Brien, the last day. He is pressing the recurring button the whole time. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Road Network"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/dbsect_22","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Urban Development","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/dbsect_19","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_19","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_22.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Currie  I thank the Minister and the Minister of State for their work on the town and village renewal scheme, the town centre first scheme and their engagement with me on these issues. I want to keep them on the agenda. Town centre first and town and village renewal are excellent schemes delivering tangible results for rural towns and villages. Suburban villages, like ours in Dublin 15, are not technically eligible. Will the Minister widen the schemes so more communities can benefit and could he do this for budget 2027? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I thank the Deputy for her ongoing interest in this with the Minister of State and I. As she knows, the town centre first policy is a key Government initiative. Within this Department, we share the town centre first policy with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and I met with the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, so that we can continue to ensure town centre first is relevant and delivering a real impact across rural towns and villages into the future. Significant progress has been made since the launch of the policy. This includes the establishment of town teams nationally, which is an important initiative, and setting up a national town centre first office within the Local Government Management Agency. In relation to our Department, I can confirm that 26 town regeneration officers have been appointed in local authorities across the country, including in Fingal County Council. These officers are the central drivers of the town centre first approach are the key link between the local authorities, towns and villages and their communities. As we discussed earlier, they do a lot of work that is unseen on identifying properties within town centres and identifying the opportunities in town centres.  As well as that, they support town teams, help towns to access available funding and they have a national network to support knowledge development and sharing best practice. Town regeneration officers also work closely across multidisciplinary regeneration teams in local authorities. Those teams include the capital delivery teams that are funded by my Department, as well as vacant homes officers, broadband officers and night time economy officers. As I said earlier this morning, on a recent visit to County Laois, I witnessed first hand how Laois County Council's strategic approach is leading to the effective delivery of a wide range of projects across the county.  The Minister of State and I continue to engage with officials on the Deputy's proposal for suburban towns. We also continue to engage with the Deputy on that. I very much believe and share her idea, which has also been expressed to me by other Deputies, that suburban villages and towns, which were the heart of communities, deserve support to retain their individual identities as cities continue to grow. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Currie  I thank the Minister. I appreciate how positive and successful the town centre first and town and village renewal schemes have been for my rural colleagues, which is why I want to access them for Dublin 15. There is a distinction between Dublin city or major population centres and then suburban villages that have been subsumed into the wider metropolitan area. Despite suburban growth, which we need, these communities still have village hearts, with residents eager to nurture, support and develop their village centres. During Covid, there was a new-found appreciation for local, suburban villages and supporting businesses and amenities in local communities within a short distance of people's homes. Building sustainable communities has never been more important.  In places like Castleknock village, we would be looking at upgrading the public realm, strengthening walking and cycling access and addressing chronic traffic issues because that would drive more footfall to the village. It would bring more life to the village and would support the businesses. There are wider funding streams such as active travel, business supports, playgrounds and other community centre investment funds but town centre first is unique because it devises plans for the village, by the village, and it tackles specific issues within a village. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I like the concept of the village heart. We have worked and models in Fingal, St. Margaret's, Rush and Ballyboughal. We ensured funding under town and village renewal. They are more rural villages and meet the population criteria. I have asked my officials to examine those examples with a view to a pilot. I cannot comment on budget 2027. It is far too early to actually comment on it but regardless of budget, we have to look at the schemes and protect those suburban villages and protect their heart. It is also a good time to ensure that the Deputy's communities know the community centre investment fund is open to them for the refurbishment part, which offers up to \u20ac100,000. That opens in the next week  The community recognition fund has invested in community projects across Dublin, within the inner city but also within communities. I had a good visit with the Deputy to Castleknock Community Centre and saw the amazing work being done there through community employment and other schemes. We are very much working on this. The town centre first policy should do what it says on the tin, and it is for towns and villages regardless of where they are. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Currie  I thank the Minister. He is absolutely right. There is a lot of interest in this. Interest is growing. I am just going to talk about Castleknock. The population directly around and including the village is about 15,000, whereas the wider area has about 30,000 people. That is why we are not eligible. We would not be eligible either under the urban regeneration and development fund. I have said before that we are falling between two stools.  Just over a year ago, Fingal County Council agreed that under the town centre first initiative, it would actually do a health check for Castleknock and Blanchardstown villages. That work is going to start in September, led by a town team that includes Castleknock Tidy Towns and the Castleknock business forum that was set up about a year ago. That is really positive. They are working on diagnosing the problems in the community and seeking funding to activate the associated plans. There is potential in this regard under the town and village renewal scheme. It would work for other villages in my area, such as Clonsilla, Blanchardstown and Ongar. We want to replicate in suburban areas the Government's success in rural areas. My colleagues are interested in doing this in other parts of the country as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  Absolutely. The Deputy is very much pushing an open door here. The Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, Deputy Chambers, has had similar discussions with me on this issue. The Minister of State in my Department, Deputy Buttimer, has mentioned Bishopstown, Douglas and other villages in Cork.  We need to keep the focus on the actual scheme, however. The scheme has been successful. It has been tightly defined in terms of projects and what can be achieved. We have to be realistic about what can be done in a rural area versus a city area in terms of budgets and the availability of space on the ground.  The most important thing the Deputy mentioned is how various organisations within her hometown, Castleknock, are being asked for their opinions first. The initiative is not just coming from city hall or county hall in Fingal; the community is running it. We had the privilege of meeting the Tidy Towns group and various other groups with the Deputy. Pride in the area is evident but we need to protect it, invest in it and, as the Deputy said at the outset, invest in the heart of the village. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 94 and 95 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Urban Development"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/dbsect_23","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Departmental Policies","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/dbsect_19","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_19","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_23","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_23.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy O'Sullivan is not here but, with the permission of the House, his question may be asked by Deputy O'Shea. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Paul O'Shea  Will the Minister give an update on the publication of Our Rural Future 2026\u20132030 and make a statement on the matter? As he knows, rural Ireland is at the heart of our country. It is where people live, work, raise families, run businesses and contribute enormously to our economy and society. Rural communities also face unique challenges, from access to housing and healthcare to transport, connectivity and sustaining local services. I am very hopeful that the new strategy will focus on balanced regional development, supporting rural jobs, revitalising our towns and villages, improving infrastructure and ensuring that people can continue to live and thrive in their own communities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I propose to take Questions Nos. 96, 125 and 137 together.  I thank Deputy O'Shea for his question. The Our Rural Future policy is delivering vital investment and supports to rural areas, strengthening local economies and improving quality of life across rural Ireland. Our programme for Government includes a commitment to publish and implement a new Our Rural Future policy. The development of this policy has been informed by very extensive public and stakeholder consultation, which took place throughout 2025. It gathered the views of over 2,000 participants.  The engagement included an online survey, a series of eight public and stakeholder events, including one in Charleville, and a public written consultation, which received more than 270 responses. The Rural Youth Assembly was directly consulted to ensure the voices of young people are being fully considered in this process. The Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, and I, along with our officials, have held bilateral meetings with key stakeholders and representative groups, including the GAA demographics group, Departments and public bodies.  The key themes emerging include supporting local economies and strengthening the resilience and sustainability of rural towns, villages and communities, all with a view to promoting balanced regional development. The development of the new policy has also been informed by an independent review of rural policy in Ireland, which was carried out by a panel of international experts from the OECD. The new policy will continue our whole-of-government approach, building on the progress and investment that have been delivered to date and setting out a renewed and refreshed vision for the years ahead.  With this in mind, I recently brought an update to a Cabinet meeting in relation to the development of a new policy and our shared approach to delivering ambitious and measurable actions across government. Informed by the results of the consultations and the OECD review, the new Our Rural Future policy will be based around five interconnected policy pillars, focusing on rural places, rural services, rural communities, the rural economy and the rural environment.  In addition to the policy setting out the key priorities in each pillar, a series of ambitious, clear, practical and measurable actions will be developed and outlined in the accompanying action plan, which will cover the initial period, until the end of 2028. The policy and the associated action plan are nearing completion. We are continuing to work with ministerial colleagues to finalise this process. We are beginning a series of bilateral meetings with a view to bringing a draft of the policy to the Government over the summer.  On the issue of depopulation, recent figures from the Central Statistics Office show the population of highly rural and remote areas increased by 6.4% between 2016 and 2022. These findings align with the analysis of the OECD, which, in its review, found that rural and remote regions in Ireland recorded the highest population growth of all OECD countries between 2001 and 2021.  Of course, there are significant variations within these figures, and I very much recognise that there are rural areas that face particular challenges. Ensuring the sustainability and attractiveness of all rural areas remains a key focus of the Government. The development of our new Our Rural Future policy and the full range of schemes being delivered by the Department focus on this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Paul O'Shea  I welcome the Minister's commitment to the publication of the Our Rural Future strategy for the period 2026 to 2030. It is vital that we continue to deliver for rural Ireland through sustained investment and practical schemes that make a real difference in people's lives. We have seen the positive impact of investment in rural regeneration, town and village renewal, rural transport, broadband and community development projects right across the country. However, there is still more work to do. Rural communities want to see continued support for housing delivery, improved local services, stronger infrastructure and greater opportunities for young people to live and work in their own areas. Schemes that support rural businesses, farmers, tourism and community organisations must remain a priority if we are to keep our towns and villages vibrant and sustainable. The strategy now provides an opportunity to build on the progress that has already been achieved and to ensure no rural community is left behind over the coming years. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I am very much focused on and in alignment with the Deputy's vision. We have made significant progress. Through budget 2026, we are investing \u20ac600 million in communities across the country, particularly through the rural development investment programme, which will see a total of \u20ac192 million invested this year. The various initiatives have been developed in capital programmes in a targeted way, but also, as I have said consistently this morning, they are directed and owned by communities, either through local authorities or local development companies. It is important that this is not coming from the Department but from communities across the country.  I was particularly delighted to announce the community centre investment programme, which is not just for rural areas but is very much focused on them. It will open next week. We recently announced a partnership with Coillte to invest further in a programme that, since 2020, has delivered \u20ac16 million to develop rural trails and services to open up enterprise initiatives. I thank Coillte for its work on this. My officials are engaging with Coillte to develop a further programme.  We have already mentioned the RRDF programme, the town and village renewal programme and the outdoor recreation investment scheme. Those schemes are bringing economic opportunities that are sustainable and job-creating. They are brining infrastructure investment into rural areas, which will allow for long-term development. We have looked at the reawakening of rural communities, such as the Shackleton Experience in Athy and the projects in Laois and Kerry that I had the pleasure of visiting some weeks back. All of the projects we visit give us a drive to keep doing this work and to ensure the new Our Rural Future document will be different. It will build on previous work but it must be different and relevant to Ireland between 2026 and 2030. Many of the submissions we have got reflect that ambition. They reflect the challenges but also reflect a new ambition and outside-the-box thinking.  As I said in my initial response, the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, and I met the GAA demographics committee to get under the bonnet of those population figures. While the OECD report was very positive, the GAA demographics committee gives us much more of the reality on the ground and, most importantly, of the disparity on the ground in rural population figures. That is something we will be targeting under the RRDF. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Paul O'Shea  I thank the Minister, the Minister of State and the Department for the significant level of grant funding that has been delivered to Cork North-West in recent years for projects and community initiatives. I know that both the Minister and the Minister of State have been to Cork North-West in recent months, celebrating those projects, so I thank them.  Across our towns and villages, we have seen the real benefits of investment through schemes such as the town and village renewal scheme, the CL\u00c1R scheme, the outdoor recreation supports and the RRDF. These investments are helping communities to improve facilities, support local enterprise, enhance public spaces and make rural areas more attractive places to live and work. I acknowledge in particular the work of the local community groups in the area, Cork County Council, the local development companies and the volunteers who continue to drive forward these projects on the ground.  Importantly, we have many more worthwhile projects in the pipeline across Cork North-West. The community has ambition and eagerness to continue improving those local areas. I look forward to working with the Minister, the Minister of State and the Department to secure continued support for these projects into the future. Continued investment in rural Ireland is essential to ensuring balanced regional development and strong, thriving communities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I thank the Deputy. We were delighted to be with him in Baile Bhuirne in April, which is a good example of Departments working together under the RRDF, Roinn na Gaeltachta agus \u00dadaras na Gaeltachta to reimagine Col\u00e1iste \u00cdosag\u00e1in into the hub that it is now. That was a good example of Departments coming together. We have invested \u20ac440 million in 160 RRDF projects since 2020. We have invested \u20ac140 million in over 1,000 town and village renewal projects since 2020 and \u20ac110 million in over 1,200 projects under the outdoor recreation investment scheme since 2020. We have invested \u20ac65 million in 1,500 projects through CL\u00c1R since 2020. Through the community centres investment fund, CCIF, we have invested \u20ac112 million across new builds, including one in Rylane in the Deputy's constituency, since its launch in 2020. The Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, and I are opening CCIF again.  Separate from our Department, there is also the ongoing progress of the national broadband plan, a \u20ac3 billion investment in the communications infrastructure of rural Ireland. That will be finished next year. There is also the rural mobility plan, which the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, leads out at the Department of Transport, and will include the delivery of more than 180 new or enhanced public transport services. There is also work ongoing in my old Department with the regional enterprise plans and various initiatives that are regionally targeted, focusing on the different strengths of our regions. As we have already discussed this morning, there is also the town centre first initiative across the country. We continue to invest our island communities. I will be visiting island in the coming weeks around enhanced communications infrastructure.  All of that must happen under scaffolding and requires a policy document. That is why we are engaging in bilateral meetings at ministerial level around Our Rural Future. We must ensure that every Department understands it has responsibilities for the future of rural Ireland and cannot delegate all of those responsibilities to my Department. Our Rural Future in an all-of-government document. The action plan that comes with it will be an all-of-government document. It will assign responsibility, actions and targets to the various Departments and I will monitor their delivery. We will ensure they are delivered between now and 2028 in the first iteration of the programme. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Departmental Policies"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/dbsect_24","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Departmental Programmes","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/dbsect_19","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_19","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_24.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul McAuliffe  I ask the Minister to outline to the House his plans to roll out a successor to the revitalising areas by planning, investment and development, RAPID, programme. The Minister will know that was a previous programme that was closed in 2011. It brought together funding from different Departments to invest in some of our most disadvantaged communities to try to improve design and invest in those communities' infrastructure. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I thank the Deputy for his ongoing interest in this issue. As he knows, the current programme for Government commits to the establishment of a new communities initiative, similar in style to the previous RAPID programme, whereby all State agencies work together to implement community development and town centre rejuvenation. The Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, and I prioritised the development of this programme in 2026. We are in a position to announce \u20ac5 million in capital funding. We are currently finalising the details of what that scheme may look like, and hope to be able to launch it ahead of the summer.  Considerations that are informing our work in the development of the programme include the changed demographic and socioeconomic landscape in Ireland. According to the revised Pobal HP deprivation index, post-census 2022, the gap between Ireland's most disadvantaged areas and the national average has increased. Furthermore, the number of people living in areas classed as very or extremely disadvantaged has also increased. The purpose of this new initiative is to focus on these areas to provide support for the development of much-needed infrastructure identified by the communities themselves. We need to ensure that the scheme is robust, evidence-based and fit for purpose, and directly targets the areas most in need of support.  We have conducted extensive research in the development of the new scheme. We have had discussions with experts from the ESRI, the Central Statistics Office and Pobal to inform the evidence base. The County and City Management Association, CCMA, the Local Development Companies Network and other Government Departments have also been consulted.  The level of information we now have about disadvantage in Ireland has increased enormously since the original RAPID programme was launched. Building on that evidence, the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, and I are determined that the new programme will become a solid foundation for ongoing targeted investment in our urban areas of greatest need. We have also been clear that a \u20ac5 million budget is not going to change things overnight. We want to ensure that this programme is back in place, grows in the years to come and is seen to make a difference on the ground in our most disadvantaged urban communities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul McAuliffe  I welcome the efforts of the Minister and the Minister of State. The Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, has responsibility for SICAP, which does fantastic work in disadvantaged areas. However, funding for infrastructure is also incredibly important. Often, by changing the physical landscape of an environment, you can bring real change to those communities. We should be working in partnership with, for example, the local community safety partnerships, the SICAP partners, the local community development committees, LCDCs, and the providers of the range of other grants that are coming into the communities for which people can apply. There needs to be a degree of co-ordination.  I also welcome the fact that there will be an evidence base for this. That will ensure the communities that are really in need get these supports. It will mean we will be advocating for other communities that are on the edge to also be included. I say with some certainty that some of the communities in my constituency that are in that category will be on that list. Both the Minister and the Minister of State are welcome to my constituency to launch the scheme when it is done. That is an open invitation. I say that in the expectation that there may be communities nearby or elsewhere that will not be included. We have to go further than \u20ac5 million. We must go to \u20ac10 million and \u20ac15 million over successive budgets. I wish the Minister and the Minister of State the best of luck. They are both great champions of this project. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I thank the Deputy for the invitation. We will bear it in mind. There will be relevant areas in the Deputy's constituency, which is not something we should be proud about. There has not been an urban disadvantage programme that includes capital investment. The Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, is doing huge work with SICAP but this programme needs to make a difference and we need to ensure it is not wasted and the money goes directly to projects and communities.  What I do not want is for it to go into administration or stuff that will not deliver to the communities we want to target it at.  Second, it will be evidence based and massive work. I thank the officials in the Department, who are putting in massive work to try to ensure we have a solid evidence base.  Third, as soon as we get a launch, we will engage in terms of budget negotiations for 2027 and 2028 and to the end of the lifetime of this Government to ensure we can begin to build this up. Whereas \u20ac5 million is a small investment, I think it is one that will make a difference in many of these communities if it is targeted appropriately and correctly into facilities that have been identified from within the community. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul McAuliffe  Absolutely. The other thing is that it is sustainable and has certainty. Local authorities, for example, depend on funding over time. Often with sports capital funding, for example, they are able to identify a project and then over time they are certain of funding. RAPID has to be the same. We have to have this on a permanent basis for people who are planning in these communities. In places like Ballymun or Finglas, the problem often is that people are exhausted with initiatives. There is initiative after initiative and there is a new approach and what we need is certainty of funding over time and a strategic approach. The Minister saw that when he came to Ballymun while in opposition, and I know he committed to investing in those communities. I welcome what he is doing in terms of RAPID and I call on the Minister for Finance and the Minister for public expenditure to ensure there is sufficient funding. I also credit Joe O'Brien in the previous Government, who had the enhancing communities programme. It builds on this but we have to learn the lessons from that programme too as to where things did not go right. Enhancing infrastructure has to be co-ordinated and sustainable. The local authority has to have confidence over time, and we need to make sure that over time, it increases in its scale. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I know, and the Deputy has touched on something there about initiative exhaustion. That is important because we are often asking the same people in communities to lead out on these on the ground. We are generally always asking the same people in local authorities and in local development companies to drive these on the ground. That is something both the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, and I will reflect on. It is important that we get the scheme back, that we have it on the books of the Department, that it grows in the years to come and that it will make a difference. I think the difference will be measured over a number of years. When I was with the Deputy in his constituency in the winter, I saw a couple of areas where small capital investments would make a big difference. They do not have to be trophy projects or massive projects. Small investments will deliver security to a community. I hear the Deputy 100%. We will engage with the Department of justice around community safety partnerships as well. Definitely, we will reflect on his point about initiative exhaustion. That is very real. For this to be successful, we have to ensure that people have faith in it. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Departmental Programmes"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/dbsect_25","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Plean\u00e1il Teanga","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/dbsect_19","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_19","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_25","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_25.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  If invitations to the Minister and the Minister of State are what gets things done and gets investment happening, they are both very much invited to Dungarvan, hopefully with----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  I was there last week. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  -----a load of funding to build a community centre. If it is big enough, we might even name it after the pair of them.  An cheist ba mhaith liom a chur ar an Aire n\u00e1 mar gheall ar phobal l\u00e1idir Gaeilge taobh amuigh den Ghaeltacht. T\u00e1 pobail nua ag f\u00e1s ar fud na t\u00edre, mar is eol d\u00f3, go minic bunaithe ar Ghaelscoileanna agus ar eagra\u00edochta\u00ed pobail. An bhfeiceann an tAire acmhainn i sc\u00e9imeanna nua taca\u00edochta agus in aitheantas foirmi\u00fail do phobail den chine\u00e1l sin, \u00e1it a bhfuil an Ghaeilge \u00e1 h\u00fas\u00e1id mar theanga phobail agus oideachais? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Teachta as an invitation go dt\u00ed Port L\u00e1irge. Beimid ann i gceann c\u00fapla seachtain. T\u00e1im ag s\u00fail leis an gcuairt sin. Mar a d\u00fairt m\u00e9, t\u00e1 sc\u00e9im le haghaidh \u00e1rais phobail. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 ag oscailt. T\u00e1 sc\u00e9im le haghaidh \u00e1rais phobail nua ag oscailt an bhliain seo chugainn. Beimid in ann \u00e9 sin a re\u00e1cht\u00e1il.  Faoi Acht na Gaeltachta, 2012, tugtar aitheantas do l\u00edonra Gaeilge nuair a bh\u00edonn pleananna teanga aontaithe acu lena bpobal. N\u00ed m\u00f3r do na pleananna sin na crit\u00e9ir plean\u00e1la teanga a chomhl\u00edonadh le go dtabharfar an t-aitheantas cu\u00ed d\u00f3ibh. T\u00e1 Foras na Gaeilge freagrach as tac\u00fa le heagra\u00edochta\u00ed maidir le hullmh\u00fach\u00e1n agus feidhmi\u00fa pleananna teanga sna l\u00edonra\u00ed Gaeilge.  In 2015, fuair c\u00faig cheantar aitheantas mar l\u00edonra\u00ed Gaeilge, is \u00e9 sin go n-aithn\u00edtear iad mar cheantar taobh amuigh den Ghaeltacht ina bhfuil mais chritici\u00fail de chainteoir\u00ed Gaeilge agus taca\u00edocht St\u00e1it agus seirbh\u00eds\u00ed ar f\u00e1il don phobal sa teanga. Is iad na l\u00edonra\u00ed a fuair aitheantas n\u00e1 Cluain Dolc\u00e1in, Baile Locha Riach agus Inis faoi Acht na Gaeltachta agus iarthar Bh\u00e9al Feirste agus Carn T\u00f3chair faoin sc\u00e9im neamhreacht\u00fail at\u00e1 \u00e1 riar ag Foras na Gaeilge sa Tuaisceart. Feidhm\u00edonn pobail na Gaeilge sna l\u00edonra\u00ed seo tr\u00ed ghr\u00e9as\u00e1in sh\u00f3isialta agus b\u00edonn ceanneagra\u00edocht \u00e1iti\u00fail i mbun forbartha ar na pobail ghr\u00e9as\u00e1in sin.  Is \u00e9 an aidhm at\u00e1 leis an sc\u00e9im forbartha l\u00edonra\u00ed Gaeilge - sc\u00e9im eile de chuid Fhoras na Gaeilge - n\u00e1 an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn, a choth\u00fa agus a bhuan\u00fa ar bhonn ceantair le b\u00e9im faoi leith ar fhorbairt agus ar fheidhmi\u00fa pleananna teanga cuimsitheacha do na ceantair sin rannph\u00e1irteach sa sc\u00e9im. T\u00e1 an bh\u00e9im sa sc\u00e9im seo ar phlean\u00e1il n\u00edos fadt\u00e9arma\u00ed agus n\u00edos strait\u00e9is\u00ed, de r\u00e9ir phrionsabail na plean\u00e1la teanga. B\u00edtear ag s\u00fail go mbeadh s\u00e9 mar chusp\u00f3ir ag an iarratas\u00f3ir aitheantas mar l\u00edonra Gaeilge a ghn\u00f3th\u00fa amach anseo don cheantar at\u00e1 rannph\u00e1irteach sa sc\u00e9im. Cur chuige c\u00e9imnitheach at\u00e1 beartaithe sa sc\u00e9im seo; d\u00e1 r\u00e9ir sin, aithn\u00edtear tr\u00ed ch\u00e9im forbartha - ardch\u00e9im, me\u00e1nch\u00e9im agus bunch\u00e9im. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  Aonta\u00edm leis an Aire go bhfuil an Ghaeltacht l\u00e1rnach agus go bhfuil pobail Ghaeilge bre\u00e1 br\u00edomhar fud fad na t\u00edre seo \u00f3 Thuaidh agus \u00f3 Dheas. Caithfimid an Ghaeltacht a chosaint, a choth\u00fa agus a neart\u00fa. N\u00edor cheart go mbeadh cosaint agus f\u00e1s curtha i gcoinne a ch\u00e9ile. T\u00e1 g\u00e1 le seasamh cosanta cinnte mar gheall ar an 100 bliain d\u2019fhaill\u00ed an St\u00e1it seo i dtaobh na Gaeilge agus na bpobal Gaeltachta. T\u00e1 g\u00e1 freisin le f\u00eds fh\u00e1is - f\u00eds at\u00e1 uaillmhianach. N\u00ed leor a r\u00e1 go gcaithfimid an m\u00e9id at\u00e1 f\u00e1gtha a sh\u00e1bh\u00e1il. Caithfimid oibri\u00fa i dtreo pobal nua, l\u00edonra\u00ed nua, sp\u00e1sanna nua agus todhcha\u00ed n\u00edos leithne don Ghaeilge. N\u00edlim ag d\u00e9anamh glaoch inniu mar gheall ar theorainneacha na Gaeltachta a athr\u00fa n\u00f3 a leathn\u00fa l\u00e1ithreach, ach t\u00e1im ag iarraidh go mbeidh an tAire ag glacadh leis an bprionsabal go bhfuil pobail l\u00e1idre Ghaelacha taobh amuigh den Ghaeltacht ar fi\u00fa iad a aithint agus tac\u00fa leo. Baineann s\u00e9 sin le st\u00e1das chomh maith, b\u2019fh\u00e9idir st\u00e1das Gaeltachta n\u00f3 st\u00e1das ar leith taobh leis an nGaeltacht. T\u00e1im ag smaoineamh ar na bailte seirbh\u00edse Gaeltachta at\u00e1 taobh leis an nGaeltacht, agus, i gceantair \u00e1irithe, laistigh den Ghaeltacht, agus na l\u00edonra\u00ed \u00f3 Thuaidh agus \u00f3 Dheas. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  Aonta\u00edm go m\u00f3r leis an Teachta. Beidh s\u00e9 suimi\u00fail \u00e9 sin a phl\u00e9 l\u00e1 eile. Faoi sc\u00e9imeanna taca\u00edochta Gaeilge i mo Roinn, cuirtear maoini\u00fa suntasach ar f\u00e1il do thionscnaimh \u00e9ags\u00fala chun an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn taobh amuigh den Ghaeltacht. D\u00e9antar sin tr\u00ed eagra\u00edochta\u00ed, lena n-\u00e1ir\u00edtear Conradh na Gaeilge, Gl\u00f3r na nGael, Gaeloideachas, Gael Linn agus Oireachtas na Gaeilge. Faigheann na heagra\u00edochta\u00ed sin a mbunmhaoini\u00fa \u00f3 Fhoras na Gaeilge.  Tugann mo Roinn maoini\u00fa breise d\u00f3ibh le haghaidh tionscnaimh strait\u00e9iseacha chun \u00fas\u00e1id na teanga a chur chun cinn. I nGael Linn t\u00e1 an sc\u00e9im Gaelbhratach do scoileanna. I nGl\u00f3r na nGael, t\u00e1 sc\u00e9im teanga t\u00ed ag cur \u00fas\u00e1id na Gaeilge sa bhaile chun cinn. \u00das\u00e1ideann Conradh na Gaeilge an ciste spreagtha a chotha\u00edonn \u00fas\u00e1id na teanga ag imeachta\u00ed pobail thart ar sheachtain na Gaeilge. T\u00e1 maoini\u00fa ag Gaeloideachas chun earn\u00e1il na luathblianta Gaeilge a fhorbairt. T\u00e1 maoini\u00fa suntasach ag Oireachtas na Gaeilge chun na heala\u00edona teangabhunaithe agus l\u00edonra Gaeilge sna seirbh\u00eds\u00ed poibl\u00ed a fhorbairt.  T\u00e1 a l\u00e1n slite ina bhfuilimid ag cuidi\u00fa leis an nGaeilge taobh amuigh den Ghaeltacht. Aonta\u00edm leis an Teachta go bhfuil deiseanna agus fuinneamh ag c\u00farsa\u00ed Gaeilge ag an bpointe seo. Caithfimid cuidi\u00fa leis sin agus \u00e9 a spreagadh. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 i ngach cuid den t\u00edr. Is \u00e9 sin an rud is t\u00e1bhachta\u00ed dom. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  C\u00e9 go bhfuil an dualgas orainn an Ghaeltacht a chosaint agus t\u00e1 an Ghaeilge r\u00f3fhada faoi chosaint ar ph\u00e1ip\u00e9ar agus faoi bhr\u00fa sa saol f\u00edor amach ansin, t\u00e1 g\u00e1 anois an ch\u00e9im uaillmhianach chun tosaigh a ghlacadh. T\u00e1 an-taith\u00ed agam ar na sc\u00e9imeanna, na tionscadail agus na heagrais ar leith at\u00e1 ag obair ar an talamh agus at\u00e1 ag f\u00e1s an phobail sin agus ag tac\u00fa leis an bpobal leis an nGaeilge a bheith mar theanga chumars\u00e1ide in\u00e1r dteaghlaigh i mbailte, i sr\u00e1idbhailte, i scoileanna agus sa phobal i gcoitinne. Caithfimid an st\u00e1das agus an t-infreastrucht\u00far a chur timpeall air sin ionas gur f\u00e9idir linn a r\u00e1 go bhfuilimid ag cosaint \u00e1r gceantair Ghaeltachta agus an f\u00e1s nua seo chomh maith don todhcha\u00ed ionas gur f\u00e9idir linn an Ghaeltacht - pobal m\u00f3r lucht labhartha teanga na t\u00edre seo - n\u00ed hamh\u00e1in a chosaint ach a mh\u00e9ad\u00fa amach anseo agus an fh\u00eds uaillmhianach sin a bheith ann.  Is cinnte go mbaineann s\u00e9 sin le hacmhainn\u00ed, agus acmhainn\u00ed sa bhreis ar an m\u00e9id at\u00e1 d\u00e1ilte amach ag an Rialtas go dt\u00ed seo. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 bainteach le c\u00farsa\u00ed st\u00e1dais agus aitheantais chomh maith. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  Tuigim an dualgas an Ghaeilge n\u00f3 an Ghaeltacht a chosaint. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 sin l\u00e1rnach i mo chuid oibre. B\u2019fh\u00e9idir go mbeidh seans againn an tsuirbh\u00e9 shuimi\u00fail \u00f3 Fhoras na Gaeilge, a foils\u00edodh an tseachtain seo, a phl\u00e9 sa Teach. Leagann s\u00e9 amach figi\u00fair\u00ed an-\u00fas\u00e1ideacha don chomhr\u00e1 seo. Leagann s\u00e9 d\u00fashl\u00e1n amach agus cuireann s\u00e9 na figi\u00fair\u00ed ar f\u00e1il. Is \u00e9 seo an ch\u00e9ad uair go bhfuil an t-eolas againn ar na dearctha\u00ed sin agus beimid in ann cuidi\u00fa leis seo.  Mar a d\u00fairt m\u00e9, t\u00e1 na sc\u00e9imeanna ann. T\u00e1imid ag cuidi\u00fa le daoine Gaeilge a \u00fas\u00e1id taobh amuigh den Ghaeltacht. Labhair m\u00e9 faoi na sc\u00e9imeanna sin freisin. T\u00e1 gradaim ghn\u00f3 Ghl\u00f3r na nGael ann do dhaoine at\u00e1 in ann Gaeilge a \u00fas\u00e1id gach l\u00e1 agus iad i mbun gn\u00f3 \u2013 i ngn\u00f3tha\u00ed beaga agus iad ag siopad\u00f3ireacht. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 sin t\u00e1bhachtach freisin. Beidh m\u00e9 i gcathair na Gaillimhe an tseachtain seo chugainn le haghaidh Ghradam Sheosaimh U\u00ed \u00d3gartaigh, sc\u00e9im iontach a thugann aitheantas agus cuidi\u00fa do chomhlachta\u00ed at\u00e1 i nGaillimh ach taobh amuigh den Ghaeltacht chun an Ghaeilge a \u00fas\u00e1id i pr\u00edomhchathair na Gaeilge. T\u00e1 an sc\u00e9im sin t\u00e1bhachtach. Beimid in ann an Ghaeilge a cheili\u00faradh taobh amuigh den Ghaeltacht anseo. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 99 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Plean\u00e1il Teanga"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/dbsect_26","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Departmental Funding","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/dbsect_19","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_19","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_26","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel McCarthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_26.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel McCarthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Noel McCarthy  Before I ask my question, I welcome to the Gallery pupils from St. Joseph's National School in Fermoy in my constituency and their teachers, Mr. Barry and Mr. Flynn. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  They are all very welcome. I hope they enjoy their day in D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel McCarthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Noel McCarthy  What measures is the Department taking to alleviate the burden of community services programme funding recipients being required to provide fully audited accounts on an annual basis? I ask the Minister to make a statement on the matter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  I welcome the students from Fermoy and their teachers. The summer holidays are ag teacht. Go n-\u00e9ir\u00ed leo.  I thank Deputy McCarthy for this very important question. The Minister, Deputy Calleary, and I are working together in the context of the community services programme, which supports 453 services nationally through 434 community organisations to provide local social, economic and environmental services through a social enterprise model, with a budget of around \u20ac59.4 million. The requirement placed on organisations to provide audited annual financial statements comes from the Department of public expenditure and reform, through Circular 13\/2014 on the management of and accountability for grants from Exchequer funds. Certain qualifying small-sized companies, including social enterprises, may be exempted from the full extent of the provision of annual financial statements to the Companies Registration Office, CRO. They are, however, required to provide audited financial accounts to their funding bodies if they are in receipt of Exchequer funding, in line with the Department of public expenditure's circular.  The detailed financial information contained in audited annual financial statements enables Pobal, which administers the programme on behalf of my Department, to monitor the financial performance of supported organisations, to review the notes to the audited accounts and to rely on the independent audit assurances provided. The abridged accounts acceptable under the CRO exemption would not contain this detailed information. In addition, the funding model introduced for the community services programme, CSP, in 2023 includes the level of retained income as one of the criteria used in determining the appropriate funding category to meet the funding needs of organisations. The abridged accounts that are permissible under the CRO exemption would not contain such necessary details.  On foot of the Deputy's question and ongoing conversations with him, I am aware of the additional costs being incurred by organisations in fulfilling this requirement. I fully understand, given my previous role as a member of a GAA club, that the cost incurred has increased over recent years. The Minister and I have asked officials in our Department to consider whether there are options available to support small-sized organisations. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel McCarthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Noel McCarthy  I thank the Minister of State for his response. The reason I tabled a question in the first instance is that it was recently brought to my attention by members of a local community group that has long received CSP funding that a significant portion of this funding is taken up with providing the fully audited accounts. There is a requirement on this group to provide fully audited accounts on an annual basis. This is a local community group with, to my knowledge, no financial issues or irregularities, yet it is being requested to spend thousands each year on ensuring its financial accounts are fully audited. In the particular case I am familiar with, the costs are between \u20ac6,000 and \u20ac7,000 out of a funding allocation of \u20ac27,000. This is excessive and runs counter to the spirit of the community services programme and the important work local community groups do for communities up and down the country. I ask the Minister of State if such a requirement exists and whether it applies to all successful CSP funding applicants. Listening to his statement, I agree that we should find something else to help this group, rather than them having to face an annual burden of spending between \u20ac6,000 and \u20ac7,000 of its allocation on this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  The Deputy is absolutely right. All of us, in particular, the Minister and I, accept there is a responsibility, in terms of accountability and transparency, on organisations in receipt of public money. In saying that, if putting an onus and a financial burden on small community groups and organisations that get grants to be compliant with accounting procedures results in them spending a significant proportion of their grant on meeting that requirement, it defies the purpose of the grant scheme and the funding support to these organisations. However, none of us want to see the wild west when it comes to irregularities. We will have people coming into the House today who will question us on financial responsibility and the roles and functions of directors of companies. I know there is a burden and we will come back to that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel McCarthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Noel McCarthy  I thank the Minister of State for his very positive response. I understand the reasons for audited accounts but if he could speak to the Department, I am sure we could find a system which would not place a burden on community groups that do great work. If it costs them \u20ac6,000 or \u20ac7,000 out of \u20ac27,000 of a grant to do this, the Minister of State will see that they are under financial pressure. I welcome the positive response. I thank the Minister and Minister of State for their co-operation and help and I look forward to a positive reply on the matter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  The Deputy may have heard the Minister and me speak this morning about the amount of money we are spending on community development and the importance of community. We are very much aware of the auditing requirement for moneys that are allocated and given and the need for transparency and accountability. In saying that, the Deputy has outlined, and we know from our own experiences, that some of the costs being incurred by organisations in fulfilling their duties and requirements do not make sense. The Minister and I have asked officials in the Department to examine options whereby we could support smaller CSP-funded organisations in this regard. We fully accept the responsibility and duties but we hope Pobal and our Department will engage with CSP-supported organisations, which have raised concerns in recent weeks. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Departmental Funding"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/dbsect_27","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Social Isolation","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/dbsect_19","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_19","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_27","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_27.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  I ask the Minister of State about the farmers' yard initiative developed - in this country in any case - by Dr. Shane Conway and Dr. Maura Farrell, and piloted successfully in Mountbellew mart. I met recently with Dr. Shane Conway to discuss the model. It uses marts as trusted social spaces for older farmers, combining peer-to-peer support, information sharing, social contact and discussion around issues such as succession, ageing, isolation and farm life. As we discussed earlier, social isolation, particularly in rural Ireland, is reaching crisis levels, so this is a timely initiative. Is the Minister of State familiar with the initiative and does he see its potential as part of rural regeneration and rural enterprise development? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  I thank Deputy McGuinness for this very important question. He is right that Dr. Shane Conway in the University of Galway is taking a future-looking approach. I am aware of the initiative and know there is a similar synergy and relationship in the State of Pennsylvania. I certainly hope to explore that further.  I will happily talk further to the Deputy away from what is happening in the Chamber because this is a social initiative for older farmers. As the Deputy well knows, farmers do not just retire. They have a lifelong love and gr\u00e1 for the land, farming and agriculture.  The Government recognises the importance of this scheme, but also the well-being aspect and the issue of addressing socialisation. I met the Deputy in Waterford. He mentioned the great work being done by community organisations to combat deprivation and social isolation. This is something the Government should look at further. It is the responsibility of the Minister for agriculture in the main, but it is about the farming community and working across the Government. For example, the Minister, Deputy Calleary, referred earlier to Our Rural Future. I am happy to converse further with the Deputy because what we are trying to do is to keep people on the land. It is about succession planning and ensuring we have regeneration and a new uptake of farming. In Pennsylvania, a similar conversation is taking place.  The On Feirm Ground initiative provides training for agricultural advisers and service providers. It helps them to recognise the importance of health and well-being. It works also with women's sheds and men's sheds initiatives. We have had conversations during questions previously about the seniors alert scheme. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I thank the Minister of State. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  I will conclude on this point. We need to continue this conversation. Perhaps the Department and the committee could do further work on it as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  I would welcome that engagement. The strength of this initiative is that it is not asking anybody to go where they would not ordinarily go or to go outside their comfort zone. It is meeting people where they are at, where they feel comfortable and where they are turning up anyway. It is not just about isolation among older farmers; it is also about connecting younger farmers and giving people who are still farming but would love to retire a way to find somebody who might take on the enterprise. They can share skills that they have learned throughout their life. It is a critically important initiative. I welcome the Minister of State's engagement. It would be good to discuss this to see how the State and society can support it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I ask the Minister of State to be very brief as the time is limited. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  As the Minister outlined earlier, the approach being taken by the Government in Our Rural Future is one that we are looking to develop in terms of taking action to support further rural development and initiatives such as those we discussed this morning to combat social isolation. I will happily chat further with the Deputy on the matter. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Is f\u00e9idir teacht ar Cheisteanna Scr\u00edofa ar www.oireachtas.ie. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Written Answers are published on the Oireachtas website. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Social Isolation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/dbsect_28","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions","counts":{"speechCount":36,"speakerCount":8},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_28","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Before I turn to energy costs, I welcome the release this morning of Irish citizens who were illegally detained on the Gaza aid flotilla. Their illegal detention and treatment by Israeli forces was disgraceful, as were the actions and rhetoric of Israeli Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir. They were utterly unacceptable and completely sickening.  If the Minister's comments this morning, that the time for words has passed and now it is time for action, are to mean anything, what we need is more than progress on the occupied territories Bill. I hope she will join our call for the decks to be cleared next week and that we pass the legislation and sanction Israel. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Ag buaic na gh\u00e9arch\u00e9ime costais fuinnimh, t\u00e1 \u20ac178 milli\u00fan \u00e1 choinne\u00e1il ag an Rialtas ar leataobh. Bail\u00edodh an t-airgead seo \u00f3 chomhlachta\u00ed fuinnimh agus bh\u00ed s\u00e9 i gceist \u00e9 seo a thabhairt do ghn\u00e1thdhaoine le linn na g\u00e9arch\u00e9ime costais maireacht\u00e1la. Ba \u00e9 sin an cusp\u00f3ir ioml\u00e1n leis an sc\u00e9im seo agus bh\u00ed s\u00e9 i gceist cuidi\u00fa \u00e9igeand\u00e1la tapa a chur ar f\u00e1il do theaghlaigh a bh\u00ed faoi bhr\u00fa ollmh\u00f3r de bharr praghsanna leictreachais a bh\u00ed ag dul i m\u00e9id go g\u00e9ar agus do dhaoine a bh\u00ed ag titim i riar\u00e1ist\u00ed agus i bhfiacha. Ach n\u00ed mar sin a tharla.  At the very height of a cost-of-energy crisis, the Government is hoarding \u20ac178 million of taxpayers' money that was specifically intended to help struggling households pay their electricity bills. This money was collected under an EU emergency intervention designed to claw back excess profits from energy companies and return that money to ordinary people during the cost-of-living crisis. That was the entire purpose of the scheme. It was supposed to provide rapid emergency relief for families who were being hammered over and over again by soaring electricity costs and were falling into arrears and debt. Yet, almost three years on, \u20ac178 million remains untouched in that fund. While the Government sits on the money, families are being absolutely crushed. Workers who never previously struggled are now under unrelenting pressure and they are being stretched too far. Workers and pensioners need direct relief. Families trapped in arrears need immediate support. Households facing disconnection need help to keep the lights on.  Almost 320,000 families right across the State cannot pay their electricity bill, right here, right now, at this moment. It is the second highest level ever recorded in the history of the State, and it has gone up by 58,000 families in one year alone. In the first two months of this year, electricity disconnections went up by a shocking 64% when compared to the same period last year. That is what is happening under the Government's watch, yet the \u20ac178 million goes untouched.  Ireland has some of the most expensive electricity prices in Europe. Families are rationing heat and electricity because they simply cannot afford the bills. While all this is happening, the Government continues to refuse point-blank to introduce energy credits for struggling households. Families across the State will conclude that the Government moved faster to protect the money than to protect the people the money was intended for. This is not an administrative delay. That is not what we are talking about here. This is a cold, hard political choice by Fine Gael and Fianna F\u00e1il.  I am going to ask the Minister directly, on behalf of all of the people out there who are finding it really tough to pay these sky-high bills, why, under God, does the Government not use the fund for what it was intended, namely, to help these families pay the bills? How can it possibly justify hoarding this money when workers, families and pensioners are sinking deeper and deeper into energy poverty? Will the Government finally commit to using this fund for the purpose for which it was intended, that is, direct emergency energy credits and a cost-of-living support for struggling households? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Helen McEntee)  I thank Deputy Doherty. If I can, I will take the opportunity to inform the House exactly what the current situation is with the 14 Irish citizens who have been detained. The Government has been very clear in condemning the actions of the Israeli Government and the illegal detention and detainment of our citizens and many others in international waters. The behaviour this week by an Israeli Minister has been completely appalling. My priority and that of the Government has been to make sure that our citizens are safe, that they are accounted for and that they can get home as quickly as possible.  I can now confirm that the 14 Irish citizens who were being detained in Israel have arrived at the airport in Ramon. They are all being transported by air to Istanbul. We will have an ambassador there on the ground to meet with them directly. We have consistently called for access and the ability to engage directly with them by our teams, and that has been denied to us. I utterly condemn these actions. Whether it is the Irish Government or any other government, it is not acceptable that we have been prevented from engaging and speaking directly to citizens.  I am also aware that there are reports that two citizens have been hospitalised. They are not Irish citizens. Again, this information has been brought to my attention. We are aware of reports that others have been injured. As soon as I can, I will provide an update to the House as to whether that includes any Irish citizens.  Again, let me be very clear about these actions. The illegal detention, the way in which our citizens have been detained - we all saw the footage and are horrified by it - and also the fact that we have not had direct contact with our citizens are completely unacceptable. Not only have I condemned this and engaged and written directly to the Israeli authorities, but I am working to build a consensus within the EU to make sure that this is not just words and condemnation, but that we respond appropriately. The most appropriate way in which we can respond to this is by making sure the proposal that has been on the table since last year, by the Commission, to suspend the trade element of the EU-Israel association agreement is voted on and that Europe sends a very strong message that we do not accept this kind of behaviour, but also that there is movement when it comes to the banning of trade with the illegal settlements.  From my perspective, I can confirm that I will bring forward the occupied territories Bill in the coming weeks, irrespective of whether we reach a consensus at a European level, and we will enact that legislation, as I have committed to do as Minister for foreign affairs and as the Government has committed to do in our programme for Government.  In relation to the overall crisis and the scenario that many people find themselves in, we all want to do everything we can to ensure we reduce the cost price and reduce energy prices for people, but also that we make energy more affordable in the long term. We all know that a number of different factors have impacted on the cost of energy, fuel and electricity, not least the conflict in the Middle East and the escalating conflict in Iran in recent weeks.  This is on top of the conflict that has been happening in Ukraine.  In my role as Minister for foreign affairs, my priority at a European level is to engage with our partners in the Middle East, the US and beyond to bring this conflict to an end because that is the first point in making sure that we can de-escalate the situation and see costs reducing overall for people in the immediate term. In the immediate term, we have introduced measures to support homeowners. The \u20ac750 million that we are providing directly to homeowners is on top of measures that have been introduced since last year. Excise is already zero rated on home heating oil. It is not possible to reduce it further----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  That is not true. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  -----but we made a decision last year that we needed to respond directly and that is what we have done.  The fuel allowance, which supports over 400,000 people who are directly and most impacted by the increases in the cost of fuel, has been extended so a further 50,000 households have benefitted from that payment, and it has been extended by four weeks to take into consideration the situation that people are in. That is not to say that we will not do more. We have another budget coming up and acknowledge the stress the people are under, and we will continue to provide direct supports as well as trying to adjust the overall long-term costs that people are facing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  We will be writing to the Taoiseach and the T\u00e1naiste. Next week the decks should be cleared and we should pass the occupied territories Bill. We should not be talking about progress. There should be no more delays. We need action. This has been going on for years.  In terms of the cost of energy, the Minister is missing the point and is trying to dress it up in a way that supports the Government's narrative but the fundamental facts remained unchanged. While families are struggling to keep the lights on, the Government is sitting on a fund of \u20ac178 million that was specifically designed to help these very same families to pay their electricity bills. Almost 325,000 households cannot pay their electricity right here, right now. Electricity disconnections are rising sharply, up 64% compared to this time last year, and many working families are now falling into debt by simply trying to pay basic electricity bills.  The resources are there. The fund is there but the Government has chosen not to use it in the way that it is supposed to be used. Instead of putting money back into the pockets of workers who are struggling, the Government has allowed this fund to go largely untouched while energy poverty is increasing.  Why under God is the Government not using the \u20ac178 million that has been sitting there for the past three years and was specifically designed to be put back into pockets of ordinary people to help them pay their electricity bills? Does the Government not understand what is happening out there in the real world? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  Does the Deputy not understand that in the past month and a half alone, the Government has provided \u20ac750 million directly to homeowners, to people who get into their cars every day and go to work and to businesses that transport food and all of the commodities around the country and bring our children to school? That \u20ac750 million has not come nowhere. That is from our taxpayers, our Exchequer and this Government. That decision was taken, and it is not on its own. It is on top of the direct supports that we have provided. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  What about this fund? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  The Deputy is talking about \u20ac178 million. Some \u20ac750 million has been provided in the past month and a half alone. That is on top of the additional fuel allowance that we have provided, and on top of the retrofitting----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  What about the fund? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  The Deputy should allow the Minister to answer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  -----that is taking place because the best thing we can do for people is to make sure that their overall energy bills come down----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  When is the Government going to use the fund? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  -----and we have a target of 74,000 homes that we want to retrofit this year. That is on top of the hundreds of thousands of people who have had their homes retrofitted and who are now seeing an overall and long-term reduction in the costs of their energy bills.  If we look at the ESRI report published in April, it said that the most effective supports----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Does the Minister know that there is money in the fund? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I thank the Deputy. Will he allow the Minister to conclude? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Does the Minister's Government know? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  -----are those targeting the least well off and that is exactly what we are doing. We are targeting those who need our help the most with----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Does the Government know that the money is sitting in the fund? Does it actually know that millions of euro is sitting there that should be in the pockets of workers? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I call Deputy Ged Nash. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  -----with \u20ac750 million in the past month and a half. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Will the Minister please conclude? Order, Deputy Doherty.  I call Deputy Nash. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  Fifteen brave Irish people took part in the Global Sumud Flotilla, putting their own safety at risk to once again bring the eyes of the world back to Gaza. I commend the courage of the activists, and in particular Caitriona Graham. Her inspiring peaceful resistance, chanting \"Free, Free Palestine\" resulted in her being violently forced to the ground. We always knew those detained were treated despicably but this video that has emerged has shocked the world. It shows clearly the disgraceful actions of Israel and its far-right ministers. There are reports of sexual harassment, broken ribs, hospitalisations and more. However, this is nothing new. It is a deliberate policy by Israel to degrade and dehumanise those opposed to its crimes against Palestinians. The difference this time is that the victims are Europeans.  It is eight years since the occupied territories Bill was first introduced in the Seanad, and 18 months since the general election when both the Minister\u2019s party and Fianna F\u00e1il promised to pass the occupied territories Bill. Since then, we have had vacillation, dilution and backtracking on services. I do note the Minister\u2019s update that was put on the record of the House earlier this morning and again a few moments ago.  In that time, nearly 30,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza and almost 70,000 injured. Seven months into a so-called ceasefire, aid is still restricted into Gaza resulting in an ongoing humanitarian disaster, and Israel has introduced the death penalty for Palestinians. When it comes to this regime of apartheid, when is enough, enough?  Let us be clear that the actions of Ben-Gvir are the actions of a fascist; no more, no less. The actions of a man who did and said the quiet thing, out loud. This should come as no surprise to any of us. This behaviour is enabled by a sick regime that knows it can commit genocide with no consequences, and Netanyahu\u2019s empty condemnation means nothing. This is political expediency. There is no sign of Ben-Gvir being sacked or tried.  It seems the Taoiseach has finally found his voice. It is high time he turned his anger into action but letters and words are no longer enough. The EU\u2019s approach to the systematic crimes of Israel has been contemptible; an abrogation of both our legal and moral responsibilities. If European values are to mean anything again and if we are to recover some moral authority on the world stage, the EU-Israeli Association Agreement must be suspended now, not in a month's time. This is a real test for Ireland, especially over the next few months. Will the Minister officially commit to this objective and set this as a test for the success of our EU Presidency? Ireland has given some hope to the Palestinian people by our actions but we need to do more.  My colleague, Deputy Smith, accused the Government of mothballing the occupied territories Bill and I note the Minister\u2019s comments earlier on. We have been told that we can expect the Bill soon. Why not pass the occupied territories Bill next week? Let us clear the decks and pass the Bill next week. Will the Minister also prioritise the suspension of EU-Israel trade agreement during Ireland\u2019s EU Presidency? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I thank the Deputy. I fully agree with him and everybody in this House, in that I am equally appalled by the actions of the Israeli Government in the detention of our citizens and many others in international waters but in particular the footage we saw yesterday that clearly shows that people were not treated with basic human dignity or respect. As I said to the Deputy's colleague earlier, if this is the way that European citizens are being treated, we can only imagine the way in which many other citizens have been treated. I also agree with the Deputy that this is not just the first action by any one minister. The comments by Prime Minister Netanyahu really are hollow because this is just another action to add to a series of actions.  We see ongoing conflict in Gaza. Even though there is supposed to be a ceasefire, hundreds of innocent civilians have been killed. We are seeing a continued lack of aid and a blockading of aid getting to innocent civilians who are starving and who need this humanitarian aid. We are seeing a significant expansion in settler violence. Hundreds of thousands of people - not small villages or towns - are being displaced. We are seeing the death penalty being reintroduced and very public celebration of public trials and executions, all of which are completely against international law and completely intolerable for each and every one of us in this Chamber.  Over the past few months, I have been building on the work that was done last year to try to build a consensus on how we can respond effectively at an EU level because I agree with the Deputy. Our words are not enough. I condemn the actions but that is not enough. We now need to show what we mean by our actions. I have been building a consensus and working to put more actions on the table that we can vote on and show that we are serious at an EU level. That came to pass last week when a proposal from the Commission that had been on the table last year was reintroduced at the request of myself and my Spanish and Slovenian colleagues. It proposed to impose sanctions on violent settlers in the West Bank and those in the Israeli Government who support them as well as the leaders of Hamas who have carried out atrocities in recent years. That proposal was agreed, passed and will come into effect.  I am now asking and pushing for a vote at the next Foreign Affairs Council, specifically on the suspension of the trade elements of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. This is an agreement that gives preferential treatment to Israel. If this element was suspended, it would impact the Israeli economy by billions of euro. It would send a very strong signal that we are serious, not just in our words but in pushing back on the atrocious actions that have been taken by the Israeli Government, many of which are in breach of international law.  On the occupied territories Bill, I have given a very clear commitment today that I will bring forward the legislation. I will not just bring it forward but will enact it. I look forward to working with colleagues across the House to make sure we can enact it as soon as possible. That is in tandem with the work I will continue to do at an EU level to try to build that consensus and make sure the EU is stronger in its response because, to date, it has not been and I think we all accept that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  If the vote at EU level does not go the way of Ireland, Slovenia and others - I am assuming our colleagues in Spain will support that initiative as well - what will the Minister do? Will she take action to work unilaterally towards the aim she has expressed, namely, the suspension of the trade element of the EU-Israel agreement? We are at the point now that the mere suspension of the trade element simply does not go far enough. This is an apartheid state that does not share the same liberal, democratic values as the European Union. We use trade to promote the values of the European Union but make exceptions in this case.  I also note the Minister's commitment to finally bringing in draft legislation in respect of the occupied territories Bill. Can she commit on the floor of the House today to ensure that services are included in that Bill as she has committed to previously in the context of her party's manifesto and the commitments that were made in the programme for Government? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I thank Deputy Nash. The commitments I have made here do not depend on each other. If we do not reach a consensus on a European level, that will not prevent me and the Government from brining forward the occupied territories Bill legislation and enacting it. Any legislation needs to be brought to Government beforehand, so I am not going to get into the details of it but I have been very clear. I have had engagement with the Attorney General to look at the overall legalities of what is being proposed and what is being asked by Deputies and what is within our legal remit, based on the fact that, as Deputy Nash knows, trade is an EU competency. However, we are talking about the occupied territories and it has been made very clear through international law, and the EU has agreed with this, that the occupied territories are illegal and so trade with them is illegal. That is why we are bringing forward this legislation and that is why we have not supported other legislation because trade, as a whole, is an EU competency. However, I am determined, working with other countries, to try to build that consensus, so we will reach an agreement and we will be strong in our response to what we have seen, not just today, but the myriad of decisions we have seen taken by the Israeli Government that, essentially, have led to the suffering of hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  I want to raise the treatment of the 14 Irish citizens and hundreds of other civilians illegally held by the State of Israel. After the genocidal campaign of violence mounted by the IDF in Gaza, much of it documented by Palestinian victims on the ground, we felt we could not be shocked any further. Yet, the images and videos of Israel's national security minister, Ben-Gvir, haranguing prisoners who were bound and kneeling before him reveals a new element of performative cruelty. It brings to mind the pictures of detainees in Guantanamo Bay or in Iraq that leaked online following the invasion of that country. Even the then American Administration had the sense of shame to try to conceal the images of abuse undertaken in their name but here, we see no shame. Instead we see an Israeli Government minister in a state that claims to be democratic and claims to uphold the rule of law brazenly parading his power over captives.  If we look at the current political situation in Israel, the reason becomes more clear. There is a debate going on in the Knesset about a Bill that could dissolve the Israeli Parliament early and force a snap election. This is while the current Israeli Government is behind in the opinion polls, so Irish citizens are being used as props by the minister, Ben-Gvir, in his pre-election campaign. This is a new low from the far-right parties that prop up Netanyahu's regime. While our immediate focus is on the treatment of these civilians, we must not forget why they are imprisoned in an Israeli port. While sailing in international waters, these civilians had their boats boarded and were captured and taken away at gunpoint. In any other circumstance, we would describe it like it is - an act of piracy by the Government of Israel which is again showing why that country has become a pariah in the international community.  Earlier this morning, the Minister clarified that the 14 Irish citizens are among those being deported to Turkey. Does she and her officials know if any of the Irish citizens have been physically harmed in any way while they were imprisoned? What meaningful steps will Ireland take against the Israeli Government for its brazen breeches of international humanitarian law? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I thank the Deputy. The footage we saw yesterday speaks to the Deputy's point. One thinks one cannot be shocked further when it comes to the actions of the Israeli Government but then we see further footage that shocks again and again. While we do not have a direct report as to whether or not any of our Irish citizens have been physically harmed, because the Israeli Government has not let us to have direct contact with them, the very fact we saw an Irish woman in that video being forcibly shoved to the ground and all of the citizens being detained with their hands bound behind their back and faces on the ground in itself is treatment which is absolutely appalling. Of course, my priority is to understand as soon as possible whether or not there has been any further serious harm done to our citizens and, indeed, any other citizens. When they arrive in the airport, they will be met by our ambassador in Istanbul. I hope before then we will have direct contact but, if not, we will have direct contact with our citizens then. I hope to get more information to the Houses beyond that.  The only way in which we can respond to this effectively is by making sure Europe uses its voice and takes action in response to what we have seen today, what we have seen in recent weeks and what we have seen in recent months. I stress again that the approach from Ireland has always been to try to build a consensus. I am not just saying it now because of what has happened this week. We have, for many months, been very clear in ensuring this remains on the agenda for the Foreign Affairs Council and advocating for a consensus, a joined up approach and response to what has been happening in Gaza, in the West Bank and more recently the actions we have seen around the death penalty, the public executions and prosecutions as well as the interception this week.  The best way we can show we are serious is by voting to suspend the trade elements of the EU-Israeli Association Agreement. It is by putting a new proposal on the table that would ban trade with the illegal occupied territories. We know it is illegal. Europe has accepted the international ruling in this regard. We need to be strong and we need to collectively respond to this ruling and then move on our own legislation as well.  I have always said that I believe moving on our legislation would be better if done in tandem, and I have not changed that position. That is why I am working with colleagues from the Netherlands, Belgium, Slovenia and other countries who are also progressing their own legislation, so we do this collectively and send a very strong message. The way in which we show not just dissatisfaction with the way in which the Israeli Government has been acting, but that it is something Europe will not tolerate is by imposing greater sanctions that will impact their economy overall. If we suspend the trade elements of the EU-Israeli Association Agreement it will, essentially, impact Israel's overall economy by billions of euro. I believe that is the strongest response we can take at this time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  I want to broaden this discussion to the future of the State of Palestine. In less than five weeks' time Ireland takes on the Presidency of the European Union. The Minister will personally chair meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council and the General Affairs Council. It is a unique privilege and it is a unique responsibility. Does the Minister intend to put the question of EU support for Palestinian statehood on the agenda of those meetings? Our recognition of Palestinian statehood in 2024 was an important moment but the Minister's Government cannot keep referring back to that as if our responsibilities are fulfilled.  To be clear, I am not talking about humanitarian funding or agreements on tax revenue withholding, I am asking if the Minister intends to put that existential question of Palestinian statehood at the centre of the EU meetings she will chair, where she will set the agenda over the next six months. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I will work closely with Kaja Kallas, who is the High Representative and who chairs the meeting but who I will be working closely with throughout the Presidency, to ensure that the situation in the Middle East, in Gaza and in the West Bank, is firmly on the agenda and that a number of actions will be taken. Ireland will have to be a neutral arbiter as we are for any of the files or Councils that we chair and that happen throughout our Presidency. I assure Deputy O'Gorman, as has been the case in my discussions with Kaja Kallas, that we will have this particular issue firmly on the agenda. There are a number of things I believe we need to do more on.  We need to press not just the votes that I have spoken about on the EU-Israel association agreement, the banning of trade, the sanctions we approved last week, but also the need for greater levels of humanitarian access. At every single Council meeting I attend we get an update from the Commission saying that not enough aid is getting in. We are seeing figures being put out that do not reflect the fact that half of the trucks going in do not have food but only products that can be sold that people cannot afford. There is so much we need to do at a European level to keep this on the agenda. I am absolutely determined to do so and I assure the Deputy that this matter will be kept on the agenda during Ireland's Presidency. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  I concur with my colleagues about the ongoing Israeli atrocities in Gaza and their mistreatment of 14 Irish citizens. I would like to see the Minister do as much as she can on this.  The issue I want to raise is that in Ireland right now, a worker can give 20 or 30 years of service, pay full PRSI, pay the higher rate of tax, contribute to the economy every single day and then the moment they face a serious illness, they are hit hard. After a handful of statutory sick pay days, they are pushed onto a flat-rate payment. That bears no connection to their original income or contributions or the financial responsibilities they have based on those ongoing contributions. It is a social protection system that is not fit for purpose. It is a bit of a patchwork that sees people who are contributing to the tax take hit hard at the very moment they are most vulnerable. I welcome statutory sick leave. It was a great first step but we need a new model, a bit like the pensions plan that was introduced. It has its critics but it is a model that could be replicated in this regard with a hybrid system where employers, employees and the State all contribute to a fair and sustainable sick pay structure that is to an extent based on income and replaces a realistic percentage of that income and protect affected low-, middle- and higher-income workers and recognise the decades of contributions they have made.  I recently got a message from a constituent who is battling hard against breast cancer, which, as the Minister knows, affects one in seven women. She is someone with a well-paid job. She studied and worked hard to get to the level she is at and she raises the valid point about helping those who have contributed over many years. She states:  I'm currently off work, My employer paid me a percentage of my salary for eight months. I got back to work for six months and then I had to go out again. I have had five surgical procedures in four months, including one major surgery. I am getting \u20ac250 a week. My medicine costs \u20ac170 month, as one of my meds is high tech and not covered. I have a mortgage, car, etc. I paid the higher rate of tax, I would say, for over 20 years, if not more. I worked very hard throughout my career. I made significant contributions along the way. Unfortunately, my recovery hasn't been straightforward. Work is an important part of my DNA and I miss all the social interaction. I was brought up to be independent. I've been fortunate enough that I did get some sick pay from my employer and I did have some insurance cover in place, savings for college fees. etc. However, I've been sick for over two years, I have been impacted financially and there are many, many people in the same boat I've met through my illness, some without any supports and it's not right. People who, like me, paid taxes at the higher rate throughout. I think the State should provide, when needed, appropriate illness support, based on taxes paid and cancer should absolutely be seen as a long-term illness with appropriate supports, especially in this case, breast cancer.  I would like the Minister's thoughts on this and whether such a hybrid model could be looked at. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. While I know he is specifically talking about somebody with cancer or a long-term illness and the implications for them and their families long term, this could apply to a number of different scenarios for people. As a country, how we treat those who are at their most vulnerable is a testament to who we are. It is a sign of who we are as a Government, as a society and as a community. The Government that I have been a part of - not just now but in previous years - has always strived and focused on looking at how we can support those who need our help most, how we can support those who are not in a position to work first and foremost perhaps because of illness, a disability or other factors in their lives and how we can ensure that those who work for most of their lives and contribute at the higher or lower rate of tax but through no fault of their own find themselves in a situation where they cannot work and provide for themselves or their family are provided with the support they are entitled to. As the Deputy said, we have, I believe, made good progress in recent years. We have made good progress when it comes to supporting people who are self-employed, where before there was no ability to support them if they were suddenly not able to work. That is through a new contributory process introduced in recent years. We now have extended statutory sick leave in a number of formats. It is an area in which we always need to strive to do more. From the situation the Deputy has outlined, I am thinking in particular of somebody I knew myself, who sadly, has passed away. For this person, even things like getting home insurance because of a long-term illness became such a challenge, even with a partner working. The Government is moving to try to address this. We want to make sure that if people are in remission or on the mend, they are able to get on with their lives, because that is what people want to do. They do not want to be seen with a heading or a bracket over them for the rest of their lives.  The Deputy has made a proposal with potential changes that we could put in place to support people who cannot work, who are in long-term unemployment and where it does not look like returning to work is a possible avenue for them, where we seek to align the supports they get more in line with where they were in their previous career. Again, I think of an example in my own constituency, albeit not the same in terms of an illness. Workers in Tara Mines were on a particular salary and were laid off for an indefinite period. The Government came together to support them to try to put in place a mechanism that filled much of the gap between their previous salary and what they were getting from the State. The point the Deputy has made is one we all support and I have not doubt the Minister for Social Protection will do so in the upcoming budget. More generally, when it comes to our overall taxation measures, we should look at how we can support people who are at their most vulnerable and not in a position to go back to work because of health or other reasons but who want to be able to get on with the rest of their lives. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  I am flagging the issue. I am not expecting overnight action but in the context of the budget, it could be a process moving on. I am a firm believer in developing an entrepreneurial and creative society and giving people the opportunity to move forward. However, we have to protect the most vulnerable, as I and others have said all the time. The old Marx quote is probably the only bit of Marxism that is still relevant today: \"From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.\" There are people who have contributed over many years who then get into a position of need. The reason I mentioned people with long-term illnesses and particularly the lady recovering from breast cancer, is as well as being out of work, they have additional costs and they do not have that support base at a time they have contributed and they need that little bit of extra help. It is a valid point to make and I take on board what the Minister has said. I hope that there may be some sort of a process that could help people in the short to medium term. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  What we need to do is build on what we have and always try to improve the system. When we live in a country where our economy is growing strong because of the people the Deputy mentioned who have contributed to it for many years, we need to ensure that we are reinvesting in those people, our communities and our economy and, in particular, targeting those who need our help the most. I have no doubt that the proposal the Deputy has put forward could be the first step of a process. Everything starts with a process and it is about engaging with the right people and making sure that anything we provide is targeted. It is also about making sure that where there are opportunities for people to work perhaps in different fields or in a different area that might be less pressurised and might still provide them with some form of income, we do that. This has been a priority over the past number of years, particularly post the economic crash from 2011 or so. We need to continue to look at ways in which we can support people back into the workplace, into different types of work while recognising and acknowledging that there are some people who simply cannot and how do we support them at a time when they need it. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/dbsect_29","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 na Comhalta\u00ed Eile - Other Members\u2019 Questions","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_29","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Geoghegan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Geoghegan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Geoghegan  This week we remember Garret FitzGerald, 15 years on from his death, and 2026 marks 100 years since his birth. I think we can all agree that the leadership he showed has shaped our national identity. We are a more tolerant, inclusive and open society because of him. We are also a country that embraces our European identity because of him. He was central to our own European integration story, which laid the foundations for our success. I am glad that the ambition Garret had for this country in Europe is still evident in our approach today. An Irish Times headline following Ireland's previous EU Presidency under Taoiseach Enda Kenny said that the EU Presidency displayed the best of what Ireland can offer. This time we have been tasked with advancing a transformative EU agenda and we can again display the best we have to offer.  Many of our priorities are worthy in themselves but can seem distant to many people on the ground. It is important to highlight the practical benefits of what Ireland can do during the Presidency. For example, the digital omnibus package is due to be finalised during our EU Presidency. This simplification agenda will be felt by employers and employees across the country. It should have knock-on economic effects that will ultimately see more and better jobs created in this country. Initiatives like the savings and investments union will have similarly practical benefits. Businesses will have more capital available and over time as a result, we will see more companies scale up and stay in Ireland with more jobs created here.  Working towards the ratification of trade deals will also be an important element of the Minister\u2019s work during the Presidency. Everyone in Ireland, a small open economy that has been transformed by foreign direct investment, FDI, knows that these trade deals provide tangible benefits, more employment, more tax revenue to fund public services and a more diverse country.  Making this work relevant to people's daily lives is difficult but worthwhile. People need to know why the European project is so important to them and to Ireland. The EU Presidency presents an opportunity for renewal in our EU membership. To maintain the practical impact of the Presidency, I would like to ask the Minister about her engagements with stakeholders in Dublin city. As we know, 30,000 delegates are expected to travel to Ireland over a six-month period. For example, the AI summit will take place in November which I am particularly interested in, as the vice chair of the AI committee. In the preparations for the EU Presidency, has there been engagement with Dublin City Council, business representative groups and other stakeholders on the logistical challenges and the opportunity that hosting the Presidency brings to Dublin?  It would be remiss of me not to mention the Silk Road Caf\u00e9, which is facing potential closure as a result of the Presidency. I know that is not a message that we would like to send out from the Presidency. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  The Presidency offers three key opportunities and three key priorities for me. I also acknowledge the role Garret FitzGerald played not only in this country, but also when it comes to our position and the benefits that we have seen from the European Union over many years. This Presidency offers an opportunity to restate that. I grew up in a time where I have only known the European Union with the ability to live, to work, to study and to travel across the EU. We sometimes take that for granted. We have an opportunity to engage with students in our schools and universities to highlight the benefits we have seen from the European Union, including everything from the significant investment in our infrastructure to CAP funding to the fact that we now have plugs that everybody can use in the same way in all countries. All of this matters for people.  This is also about showing that we can share and steer the really big matters that Europe is facing and the opportunities that come with. We set out three priority areas that we want to focus on: competitiveness, security and values. The Deputy homed in on many of the areas under competitiveness. We want to make sure that not just Ireland but Europe as a whole remains competitive because it is good for business, good for consumers and good for the economy. It means we can reinvest in our society in all the areas we want to invest in.  The Deputy mentioned various different measures and it is really important to make it relevant to people. What are we talking about when we say competitiveness? We are introducing measures that will quite literally make it easier for businesses to set up in Ireland, which can then set up in France and do the same kind of business there without having to jump through hoops. We want to make it easier for more finance to be available to business and industry. We want to make sure that we have a strategic plan for the really important sectors, such as pharma, medical devices and life sciences in particular, which is crucial to our economy. We are looking to see how we can have a more strategic plan for the sector in the time ahead where we remove what is sometimes arduous regulation without reducing our standards. We need to make sure that innovation is not stifled and that we allow it to grow.  Importantly we will be negotiating the overall figure for the next budget. A key priority for us is to ensure our farmers and those in our agriculture community get a strong CAP budget and that we have money for many other areas as well, including Northern Ireland and the peace process.  We will also be focused on ways in which we can support young people through Horizon funding and the Erasmus programme. The Minister, Deputy Patrick O\u2019Donovan, is bringing forward ideas on how we can provide a safer space online for young people. At the beginning of our Presidency, Commissioner Von der Leyen will set out a number of options that Europe will move on to try to make the online space safer for young people. These are some of the practical things we will be doing during the Presidency and much more.  Beyond that, as the Deputy said, thousands of people will come to Ireland. We will have 22 informal ministerial meetings and about 370 associated and official events that are linked to that. All of this means people coming to Dublin and rest of Ireland, investing in our cities and seeing what we have to offer. Through these meetings there is a chance to show them culturally who we are and what we stand for. The engagement the Deputy mentioned is happening with Dublin City Council and with businesses around the city. I appreciate we need to do more in that regard. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Geoghegan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Geoghegan  It is good that the Government has set values as a key priority in this Presidency because we often take our membership in the European Union for granted. To some extent, we actually might take for granted the population\u2019s support of our membership of the European Union. In countries where governments withdraw their support for the EU, we see the relief that is felt from the population when another government comes in that is closer to the EU. We saw this most recently in Hungary with people waving European flags on the streets.  We need to remind people that European values are our values. A rules-based environment is better for all of us, particularly in the world we currently live in. The AI Act is a very good reflection of that. No other global power, including China and the United States, is trying to regulate the introduction of AI to the same extent that Europe is to protect people against the risks that AI poses but also to ensure we get the benefits of the innovation that AI can bring. I am very heartened to hear the priorities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  The Deputy is right that it is about trying to get that balance. In every decision we take we have to think of our core European values, our fundamental principles and why we do what we do. It is to make life better for all of the people that we represent, our citizens in Ireland and across the EU. We have seen a lot of backsliding in certain countries. Elections are taking place at the moment and I am concerned about some of the outcomes of the elections where we have heard very clear not just rhetoric but pronouncements from potential incoming governments, as happened previously in Hungary over the years. We are lucky that in Ireland the overall support for the EU has remained strong but there are many reasons not to be complacent.  We just talked about what is happening in Gaza and the Middle East and the fact that Europe needs to do more and be stronger. We need to make sure that those types of decisions and that type of focus remain on the agenda during our Presidency. I can assure the Deputy of that.  Coming to the final priority area of security, we also need to make sure that we are working together to respond to what are new and emerging challenges we have not seen in the many decades of our membership of the European Union. It is about our physical security and protecting citizens but also our economic security, which is essential if we want to do all the other things I have outlined. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 na Comhalta\u00ed Eile - Other Members\u2019 Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/dbsect_30","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Pholasa\u00ed n\u00f3 ar Reachta\u00edocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation","counts":{"speechCount":74,"speakerCount":20},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_30","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  At a time ordinary workers and families are counting every euro, the Government continues to be a serial waster of public money. There is the \u20ac127,000 designer bike shed at the Kerry hospital, a bike shed that is actually letting water in - you could not make it up. Hot on the heels of that, we now discover that \u20ac50 million of taxpayers\u2019 money has effectively been torched on a failed IT system for Irish Rail. That is \u20ac50 million gone. While the Government burns through public money, ordinary people are being stretched like never before and it expects them to pick up the tab for this incompetence. It treats public money as if it were Monopoly money. The Minister knows it is not an isolated incident. It is one scandal after the other. It is one grotesque waste of taxpayers\u2019 money after another and the public are sick of it. Ministers come in here, shrug their shoulders and expect the people to pick up the tab, but it is not on. Who will be held accountable for any of this? This is \u20ac50 million of taxpayers\u2019 money being wasted again under the Government\u2019s watch. What is it going to do to end the culture of waste, incompetence and contempt for taxpayers and workers who are paying the price for what we are seeing over and over again? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I was also concerned by the reports that I saw on the front of newspapers today. I have spoken to the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, who has informed me that the Department received the accounts for the CI\u00c9 group only just this week and he has not had a copy at this stage. He will obviously read it and will have to take action or respond to what is in the report. I have spoken to the Deputy about this many times. The Government is absolutely determined to make sure that every penny that we spend is spent appropriately. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  It is \u20ac50 million. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I have been asked twice this week to open a Passport Office in Northern Ireland, which could cost up to \u20ac6 million. We know that fewer than 500 citizens----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Come on. There was \u20ac50 million of waste. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Order, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  -----are using a front desk at the moment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Do not justify that with giving Irish citizens the right to have their passport. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  We now move to the next question, which is in the name of Deputy Robert O'Donoghue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  That is ridiculous stuff from a Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy Doherty, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  The Government burnt through \u20ac50 million and it blames citizens----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy Doherty----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  It is disgraceful for the Minister to blame citizens in the North for the Government's complete and utter incompetence. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert O'Donoghue  Sit down, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Resume your seat, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  There was \u20ac50 million of waste and it was a cheap shot. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I call Deputy O'Donoghue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I did not blame anybody. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sorca Clarke  You did. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert O'Donoghue  Too often, we speak about domestic abuse as if leaving is a simple choice when for many, it is not. Coercive control and financial abuse mean survivors may have no safe access to money, even if they are in employment themselves. The safe fund policy launched recently by the Labour Party and Labour Women would provide a once-off, non-means-tested and rapid payment delivered in times of emergency and to help people to leave or to help with essential needs for those who have to stay. We already know this model works because front-line services have been delivering it through donations.  The existing supports in situ are vital but, at times, they are too slow and complex in emergencies. This is a practical, life-saving measure. I am calling on the Government to urgently bring forward the proposed \u20ac3 million safe fund put forward by Labour Women for victims and survivors of domestic violence. This must be prioritised in the next budget cycle. I acknowledge the Minister's work with Willow Meath refuge. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. In the past week or two, we have seen the Go Purple Day but, more broadly, we should be talking all the time about how the number of women in particular coming forward who are victims of domestic and sexual violence is increasing year on year. In one way, I see it as a good thing because women are coming forward but the figures we are seeing are completely alarming. They highlight the fact that this is an epidemic and that we need to do everything we can to support women to get out of this situation. We need to be open to all proposals, including the one the Deputy outlined.  The Government has introduced different kinds of supports, such as safe houses, the investment in Cuan and the different funding available through different mechanisms, be it from social protection or housing. At the same time, as the Deputy said, this type of money is being allocated through many organisations and associations. If there is a way to put this on a more formal setting, we should absolutely look at this more broadly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  The Social Democrats and I welcome the release of the 14 Irish citizens who were illegally detained by Israel from the Global Sumud Flotilla. I appreciate the updates the Minister provided in today\u2019s proceedings. I listened to closely to them. I asked last week what Israel has to do or what atrocities it has to commit for us to see action from European leaders. Honestly, I have seen in the past 48 hours my answer to that because, apparently, when a fraction of the demonic modus operandi of this Israeli State is inflicted upon European citizens, we see strong responses but this is compared to the ongoing torture of thousands of Palestinian detainees when we see an absolutely muted response. Will the Minister acknowledge the two-tier response we have seen from European leaders? Will she go beyond what she said earlier is a strong message, which the suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement would be, to actual sanctioning of Israel and finally holding it to account for the constant breaking of international law that we see? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I cannot be any clearer in my view that Europe has not been strong enough. We have not responded effectively, and that is why we are where we are now. Ireland has not just woken up to this. At an EU level, we have consistently been advocating for the EU to step up and take a stronger stance. That is why we have been advocating - I have been doing so in the past few weeks - for the EU-Israel Association Agreement to be on the table and that we would ban on trade with the illegal settlements. We have finally agreed to sanction violent settlers but we need to do more. Europe has not been strong enough. I welcome the fact that there has been global condemnation of what we have seen this week but we now need to follow it through with action. That is exactly what I am trying to do. That is what I am prioritising. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  Vulnerable people and families are now being charged up to \u20ac15 for blister packs. Medical cardholders, people on fixed incomes, sick people and people with disabilities must now pay this additional charge. As the Minister knows, there is a cost-of-living crisis and these groups are already under severe financial pressure, being hammered by increases across the board. Food costs over the past five years have spiralled out of control. Butter is up 42%, milk 43%, cheese 28%, chicken 33% and diced beef 48%, not to mention huge increases in gas and electricity prices as well as petrol, diesel and home heating oil. For low- and middle-income families, this charge is the straw that breaks the camel\u2019s back. This service should and must be State-funded. It is a small ask in the bigger scheme of things. I ask the Minister to make sure the blister pack service will be State-funded. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  This is an issue that my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, has been actively pursuing. She is engaging in particular with the pharmacy associations. It has been the case that there were different charges being applied in terms of dispensing and the overall blister packs themselves. An unequal approach was being taken, depending on the pharmacy and its approach. The work the Minister is doing is to make sure there is parity and that people are not being charged on the double or triple or beyond what they should be because we know that is not the case through certain pharmacies. I will relay the Deputy's concerns directly to the Minister and ask her to give him a direct update as to where things are at now. I am not sure it is fully resolved but I know she is working to resolve this issue more broadly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  We have seen from the Daft report that there have been brutal increases in the cost of rent. The average in Cork is \u20ac2,000 per month for a two-bedroom home. Behind those statistics are human lives. This week in my constituency office, I met a 79-year-old lady from the Mallow area who worked for decades, raised a family and contributed to the community and the State. She never asked the State for anything. Through no fault of her own, she had to sell her family home and has spent the past five years in private rental accommodation without HAP support. She has depleted and exhausted her savings, and her landlord is now selling. She has to vacate the property by 30 May. The State has offered this woman, who will be 80 by the end of the month, a place in a homeless hub in Cork city, which is a 20-minute drive from Mallow and from family supports and everything else are. This does not take into account her age, her mobility needs or the dignity of this octogenarian. I am asking the Minister today to directly intervene in cases like this across the nation, of which there are quite a few. People are ending up in homeless hubs at the age of 80. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  No one wants to hear of somebody of any age, let alone an 80-year-old person, having to go into homeless accommodation. It is important to stress that we have cost rental in place, which we did not have a few years ago. That is helping a lot of people. Without knowing the exact details of this case, perhaps there is an opportunity for the local authority to step in with the tenant in situ scheme. I am not sure but I am happy to take the details of the case and relay them back to the Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James O'Connor  I ask the Minister about the needs of the east Cork area. East Cork is one of the fastest growing regions in the country. It is expected to deliver 40% of Cork County Council's future housing target growth. We have a population of 50,000 people. There is a new town being constructed in Water-rock, while \u20ac1.4 billion is being invested in the new Cork metropolitan area rail corridor. The problem we have, unfortunately, is with capacity for recreational facilities in the east Cork area. We are competing with developers for access to lands for critical community infrastructure. We are lacking a community pool and an athletics facility outside of the Midleton-Carrigtwohill corridor. Will the Government support myself and groups looking for support from it in respect of acquiring land for future needs? This is very much-needed for recreational facilities and future population growth. We know from current figures that the need is acute for this facility. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  We all know as local representatives, because first and foremost, we are local representatives, how important it is that when we build new homes, we build new communities as well. It is not just about houses but about shops, community centres, recreational facilities, playing pitches, schools and all of the things we need to build a new community. It is important to get that right when we are developing our county development plans and that the local authorities look at all of these different options. In my county, we are working on a variation of our current county development plan. There will be a process in place for every county to develop a new county development plan. That is the time, working with our local councillors and local authorities, to ensure that any new planning is supported with these facilities the Deputy mentioned, or the space and zoning for these facilities.  Beyond that, we have a national development plan, which does not just focus on our critical infrastructure alone. Within that plan, funding can be announced by different Departments, whether for sporting agencies, community centres, active travel programmes and various other initiatives that we all we want to see advocated for. Working with the local authorities, it is important that work is put in place first. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed  There are 139 special schools in Ireland today. They support students with highly complex needs. They need hoists, medical devices, outdoor regulation areas and access to nurses, therapists and clinicians. Their buildings, staffing and day-to-day operations all require essential additional resources to safely and effectively support their students who are just as deserving of an education as everybody else. We know from DEIS that targeted funding can help to make a difference when allocated where it is needed most. I ask for a special school designation in the education funding budget for 2027 as a fundamental acknowledgment that special schools have greater needs. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I concur with everything the Deputy has said. When I spent almost a year in the Department of education last year, special education was one area on which I really wanted to work and make greater progress. There is a greater level of need in special schools but there has also been an increase in need across mainstream schools, if you want to call them that, including special classes within those schools. We need to make sure every penny we spend in current or capital is targeted towards those who need it most. Perhaps there is more we need to do, for example by designating special schools specifically as requiring more and increasing what they receive. They already get greater levels of support in teaching and resources. In the same way that we have adjusted DEIS over the years when the environment, the population and the needs have changed, perhaps we need to take a further look at what is needed now - what further resources are required - and how to incorporate that into current and capital budgets which is important. Twenty new special schools have been opened since 2019----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Thank you, Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  -----and four more will open later this year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I call Deputy Conor McGuinness. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  This is a priority for us and we need to enhance it in every way we can. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  I raise the mobile maternity unit fundraised for by Gaeil ar son Gaza in west Waterford. It is now stuck in Egypt, prevented from entering Gaza by the Israeli occupation forces. I understand Irish diplomats in Egypt are seeking a resolution but will the Minister urgently intervene with Egypt, the UN and all relevant agencies to get this Irish-funded and much-needed mobile maternity unit into Gaza? In the same week that we saw the Global Sumud Flotilla illegally interdicted and humanitarian volunteers including 14 Irish citizens - who have since been released - detained, mistreated and denied proper consular access, it is clear that this is part of a wider pattern. I refer to Israel's genocide in Gaza, its destruction of hospitals, its murder of medics and its attacks on ambulances. This attack on medical and humanitarian facilities is part and parcel of the genocide. This punitive and exterminationist regime has to be called to heel. Ireland must act decisively. Will the Government make time next week to pass the occupied territories Bill, goods and services included? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  As Israel continues to thumb its nose at the international community, bask in its impunity and gloat in the face of the deepening humanitarian crisis it has created----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  -----will the Government finally concede that it is time for us to take unilateral action? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  The Minister, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  Our so-called European partners are continuing to enable and protect Israel in its colossal crimes against humanity. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  My experience and what I saw when I was on the ground in Rafah at the beginning of the year was not inaction by the Egyptian Government or our own officials. It was a preventing of aid or these types of supports by the Israeli Government. I am happy to engage directly with my team on the ground to see what the current situation is. I am happy to engage with the Minister, Mr. Abdelatty, my counterpart in Egypt whom I met there, to see if there is any possibility. My experience is that this decision is taken solely by the Israeli authorities. As we have seen and as I have said a number of times today, they are prohibiting and preventing this type of life-saving treatment from getting in, which is completely unacceptable. I have also been very clear that I will bring forward legislation on the occupied territories Bill in the coming weeks. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Carol Nolan  Parkinson's disease is the fastest-growing neurological condition in Ireland. Unfortunately, people are without supports in many counties. In my own county of Offaly, there is no neurologist, specialist nurse or team and people have to travel. It really shocked me that the HSE responded to a recent parliamentary question by telling me it has no idea of the number of people living with Parkinson's disease in County Offaly. I find that very concerning because if it does not know the level of need, how can it measure the level of need or put services in place? This greatly concerns me. I ask the Government to urgently intervene with the HSE in terms of the data blindness - it is just unbelievable that no data is collected per county - and the lack of neurological services in county Offaly. We really should have a neurologist in our hospital in Tullamore along with a specialist nursing team. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  While I am not aware of how information is gathered or whether it is held at a national level as opposed to a county level, I will ask the Minister to come back directly to Deputy Nolan to relay whether this is a practice that happens or does not happen at the county level, in particular, or at national level, or if there are plans to do this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  On 29 April during the debate on my Private Members' motion, we had a very good debate on the need to reform the in camera rule in the family law system. Equally, the issue of court-appointed experts was also brought up. If someone wants to make a complaint about a social worker, for example, and they are trying to be in line with the in camera rule, they can do that by making a complaint to CORU. I am aware of a situation where people allege that they were gaslit and sometimes lied about during reports as children, when they were under age. Now that they have reached adulthood, they want to make a complaint. Unfortunately, CORU's fitness to practice powers did not come in until December 2014. Is there a mechanism whereby these individuals can make a complaint? If not, will the Government facilitate such complaints through the line Minister, for example? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I thank the Deputy for raising this. For the first time, the most recent family law strategy - which I published two years ago, I think - places a greater emphasis on children, on the impact separation can have on them and, most important, on how we provide supports to young people as they go through the court process with their parents or outside of it where there are experts who engage with them. I have heard a lot of stories, as I am sure the Deputy has, about where engagement with families has not been done appropriately. The family court strategy was always to be a living, breathing document and if changes or adjustments were needed as issues arose, they could be included. I will ask the issue the Deputy has raised to be brought directly to the Minister for justice, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan, to see if something can be done within the family justice strategy. Perhaps something is already in train that he can engage with the Deputy on. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Neville  I raise the lack of childcare in north Kildare, where there is a growing population. Will the Minister provide an update on State-led childcare, which is desperately needed to address the shortages in towns like Kilcock, Maynooth and Naas? I get multiple emails each week from people who are struggling to get childcare in their areas and want to get back into the workforce. Many of them are mothers who are sacrificing their own careers. Often, both parents are struggling in this situation. I welcome that the State is for the first time pushing towards introducing State-led childcare frameworks. I ask for a timeline on delivery and that a town like Kilcock could be set out as a pilot. I know Kilcock is very dear to the Minister's heart. It is close to her own area. She will know at first hand the issues and the experience in a town like it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  We have towns and villages that have seen significant growth in recent years, but where the provision of services has not matched it. The Deputy mentioned Kilcock in particular. There are a lot of young families where both parents are working. We need to make sure we provide support for them through childcare so they can continue in their work. As he said, some of Kilcock is in my constituency so I am very aware of the challenges and concerns that parents have. He mentioned that we as a Government and our party, Fine Gael, advocated strongly before coming into government for a State-led childcare scheme that would fill the gaps where we do not have services, where it is not possible for private providers to expand or grow, and where we need to see investment in particular areas with strong growth. The building blocks extension grant scheme is currently operating to try to support extension of existing premises and, in the case of community operators, the purchase or construction of new buildings. In addition, earlier this year the Minister launched a new programme of investment in State-led early learning and childcare. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Thank, you Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  Under the early learning and childcare capital programme, the Government and Department will select up to eight facilities a year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I call Deputy O'Rourke. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I will ask in my engagement with the Minister for these areas to be identified as there is large population and family growth----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Thank you, Minister. I call Deputy O'Rourke. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  -----in the areas the Deputy mentioned, such as Kilcock. However, I do not have a specific timeline for that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  St. Joseph's co-ed primary school in East Wall in Dublin has been told it will lose two teaching posts from September. The school appealed the decision but was told last week that the appeal was unsuccessful.  The Department says it will cut one teaching post due to enrolment numbers. The school is one pupil short to retain the teacher - just one pupil. The other post to be cut is a legacy post that has been there for decades and covers the school's reception class programme. This programme does incredible work and plays an important role in supporting children's early language development, school readiness and transition into junior infants. This is a success story. It is a model for DEIS schools but it will be cut. These cuts are simply unconscionable. Will the Minister intervene to ensure they are reversed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  While the Deputy has outlined some of the details, I obviously do not know all of the facts of the case. I know that when it comes to teacher allocation, it is very much based on pupil numbers. Where you have such a small gap between what would allow the second teacher, there are always appeals that can take place. I know from experience that sometimes it is not fully understood how to put in the appeal because if your numbers are going to go up in the following year, if it is within a certain figure, you can retain the teacher. I ask the Deputy to engage with the school directly and to encourage it to look at the appeal process more broadly. I will bring to the attention of the Minister the other specific legacy post. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Callaghan  This week, in Carlow, we received the news that Carlow College will wind down operation as a third level institution over the course of the next two years. This came as a tremendous shock to the 87 members of staff who went into work on Tuesday only to find out that they are losing their jobs. While consultation is under way, staff need clarity and they need it now. One staff member said to me that this is not just a job to us; it is their life's work. They have given years and, for some of them, decades to this college and now they are being asked to walk away without knowing how they will support their families or what comes next.  I would like it placed on the record of the D\u00e1il that it is my strong view that statutory redundancy alone is not enough in the case of Carlow College. These staff members are dedicated, skilled people who deserve more than the minimum. They deserve a fair, enhanced package that reflects their contribution and supports them through this transition.  I am relieved that the campus and buildings are to be transferred to South East Technological University, SETU, so we will see lots of life in those lovely buildings for years to come. That is a positive in the long term. However, for now, my focus remains with the staff of Carlow College. I thank them for all their service and dedication to third level education in Ireland. Could the Minister support these workers who are losing their jobs? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  The over-riding priority needs to be two things, and I know the Deputy will agree with this. First, we need to ensure the students currently in the college can complete their studies. I have been given assurances that that will continue. The agreed approach is to support Carlow College in delivering the existing programmes through to their completion to August 2028. Second, as the Deputy rightly said, we have excellent people who have been working there for many years and we need to make sure they are supported. I know the Minister has been engaging directly with the college because of the fact that it is a private, autonomous institution outside of the publicly funded higher education system. While there is a need to respect its autonomy, we need to make sure we support such highly skilled, educated and trained people and professionals, who have been imparting their knowledge to students for years, to apply for competitions to fill vacancies in situ that they will be working closely with, or to examine what other opportunities may be available to them. I can relay the concerns the Deputy has raised directly to the Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Murphy  I want to shine a light on the claim of our school secretaries and caretakers for access to the public sector pension scheme and other entitlements. I welcome the intervention of the Labour Court but for reasons unknown to me and ten months after their August 2025 strike action, we still await a recommendation. What I do know - I am sure the Minister will agree - is the extent to which they are such a positive force in our schools and centres of educational excellence. In recent weeks, many secretaries and caretakers have been in touch with me and my office to say they are deeply frustrated by this delay. Can the Minister provide any update as to when we might receive a recommendation from the Labour Court? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I will start by fully agreeing with the Deputy. We all know that our secretaries and caretakers are at the very heart of our schools. They are the first people you meet on the grounds as you are walking in. The first person to welcome you is generally the secretary. They are absolutely invaluable in our schools. For me, and I think all of us, it is really important that a resolution is found to the ongoing dispute. The Department of Education and Youth has been engaging with F\u00f3rsa and the Department of public expenditure and reform for a number of months now. That was under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission. As the Deputy said, more recently, this has been referred to the Labour Court. My understanding is that the parties remain in this process. There is information that had to be provided but we should, hopefully, see a resolution and a recommendation from the Labour Court soon. While I do not have an exact date, I know there is a huge amount of effort being made to try and bring this to a conclusion as soon as possible. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  Over the past number of weeks, Meta and Covalen have announced redundancies totalling over 1,000 job losses here in Dublin. This comes on the back of a severe stalling in graduate hiring in Ireland, leaving many young people without an economic future, as if it was not hard enough under this Government. I have been speaking with many young tech workers in my constituency who are deeply afraid that the artificial intelligence, AI, bubble is bursting and they will be left with nowhere to go. I have to say that as the party with the Ministries in finance and enterprise, Fine Gael is asleep at the wheel on this. It has no plan for the jobs fallout from the AI revolution. It has doubled down on an economic model that exposes our people to the decisions of foreign boardrooms and it has no vision for the future of the Irish economy. What is this Government going to do to actually provide a robust jobs future for people in this country beyond mere words of sympathy? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  First, I acknowledge that a number of hundred people have lost their jobs this week. I have no doubt that it is a very difficult time for them and many of their families. I stress that our enterprise agencies, first and foremost, are trying to assist in whatever way they possibly can those who are impacted to help them to find alternative employment. This includes sharing the skills profiles of the employees who have been impacted to companies who may be hiring with multinationals in IDA client-based or indigenous companies throughout Enterprise Ireland. On top of that, IDA Ireland is in regular contact with the leadership, as is the Minister, to offer any support we can in this regard. We all know that this something that has been coming down the track for some time. The introduction of AI means there is going to be a restructuring in companies like this. What we are trying to do - I mentioned this earlier - is focus on how we as a country and the EU as a whole can be more competitive. This means not only looking at other markets, but also embracing AI to see how new forms of jobs can come out of this as well. It is quite competitive and is one of our priorities; it is why we will be hosting an AI strategy summit in October of this year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  Mere words, Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  I wish to briefly acknowledge the passing this morning of Liz Howard, a former president of the Camogie Association. She was a formidable - and I mean formidable - and passionate Tipperary woman. Ar dheis D\u00e9 go raibh a hanam d\u00edlis.  I want to raise an issue in relation to elderly care. A man I have known all my life, who has dementia and other issues, has ended up in a midlands hospital. He has been there for months because I cannot find him a nursing home. This is going on around the country. We need a plan for people with dementia. Trust me when I say I know what I am talking about here because I deal with it every day in my own life. We need a plan. It is embarrassing. I am embarrassed that I cannot help this man. The HSE is embarrassed. It cannot find a place for him. I am talking to it daily; I will be talking to it after I leave this Chamber. We, collectively here, need to put a plan in place because people are living longer. Dementia is growing because people are living longer as well. We need a plan. This gentleman paid his taxes, worked hard and raised a fantastic family and he deserves the dignity of being placed in a proper home to live out the rest of his days. Financially, this is bad for the taxpayer. He is taking up a bed in an acute ward at \u20ac2,000 a day. Can we please look together, collectively, to build for the future the proper facilities for people like this gentleman? Can we find solutions for people who are left in this unfortunate scenario, which is totally and utterly unacceptable? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  The one thing we can all hope for when we get older is that we have the supports we need and that we are treated with dignity and respect. To the Deputy's point, what this gentleman needs is to ensure he has a place outside of a hospital, in a home where he is cared for and supported. I have no doubt he is being cared for in the hospital and in the setting he is in now by the fantastic staff we have in our hospitals but I agree with the Deputy that we need to make sure we are investing more in our nursing homes that are dementia-specific and dementia-friendly. I have many of them in my own constituency and where it is specific to that particular need, it is transformative for the individuals who are there. We also need to invest further in our dementia-specific hubs and carers within our communities so that we can support people in the community.  If the Deputy wants to pass on the specific details of the gentleman, I will be happy to pass them on to the Minister and ask her to contact the Deputy directly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sorca Clarke  I want to raise the case of a 54-year-old man in Athlone, a constituent of mine who has now spent six and a half months in Tullamore hospital without access to the treatment he requires. He was told he would be transferred to St. James's Hospital for specialist care but it has since transpired that there is no pathway or any arrangement in place for that to happen. His treatment in Tullamore is complete. He is simply getting his wounds dressed. That is the only reason he is in the hospital six and a half months after first going in, despite repeated representations and efforts from the medical staff in Tullamore. My office contacted the HSE, the Minister and the hospitals but has received no response. It is grossly unfair on the man. He is sitting in a hospital where somebody else is waiting for the bed he is in. I implore the Minister to address this. Nobody should be left in this situation. There is a solution. The medical professionals in St. James's Hospital are aware of the man's situation. Tullamore hospital is aware of his situation. Things need to line up at this point because he cannot continue. It is having a profound impact on his mental health. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  The Deputy will appreciate that without knowing the details of the case as to why the man is not being released or sent home or another care facility I cannot comment. I am happy to take the details and pass them directly to the Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sorca Clarke  The Minister has the details. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I will flag it with her. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  I want to address a tragic event that underscores the crisis in our prison system. On 1 April, 45-year-old Colm Connolly died in a padded close observation cell in Midlands Prison. Mr. Connolly was a vulnerable prisoner, diagnosed with severe psychiatric conditions, including bipolar disorder. His family, who were denied the opportunity to formally identify his body prior to a post mortem, are seeking transparency regarding his care and subsequent restraint. They received little help other than from Wexford Aont\u00fa Councillor Jim Codd. There are currently three separate investigations under way by the Garda, Prison Service and Inspector of Prisons. This fatal incident occurred against the backdrop of a prison system operating severely over capacity. The prison population reached 5,747, a thousand prisoners over capacity. The Office of the Inspector of Prisons has warned that the chronic overcrowding and deteriorating infrastructure is escalating risks for vulnerable prisoners and staff. How can we have prisoners in this overcrowding with acute psychiatric needs? When will the three investigations into the death of Mr. Connolly be complete? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I am very to sorry to hear of this case and offer my condolences to his family. As the Deputy outlined, the Office of the Inspector of Prisons makes sure these types of cases and challenges in our prisons are highlighted and, most importantly, addressed. I can certainly raise the case directly with the Minister.  The wider point is that we have too many people in our prison system with mental health problems who should not be in prison. I know from my time in the Department of justice, and having visited prisons and engaged with prisoners, those working in prisons, including prison officers, feel the same. Investment in our new facility in Portrane will open new spaces so that we have fewer people in our prisons. More broadly, it is about making sure that when people leave prison, there is step-down support in the community, so that they do not become like a revolving door, and that mental health supports are provided outside the prison, which includes the wider piece of work the prison task force has been doing on mental health in prisons over the past number of years. While it will take time, it is something we need to continue to focus on and prioritise. I can certainly raise this specific case directly with the Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  The Minister will raise it with the relevant Minister. I thank her for that. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar fionra\u00ed ar 1.24 p.m. agus cuireadh t\u00fas leis ar\u00eds ar 2.04 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Sitting suspended at 1.24 p.m. and resumed at 2.04 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Pholasa\u00ed n\u00f3 ar Reachta\u00edocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/dbsect_31","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/53","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/53\/dail\/2","houseCode":"dail","stage":"2","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Guardianship of Infants (Amendment) Bill 2026: Second Stage (Resumed) (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Guardianship of Infants (Amendment) Bill 2026: Second Stage","counts":{"speechCount":14,"speakerCount":11},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_31","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cormac Devlin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Jim O'Callaghan)  I move: \"That the Bill be now read a Second Time.\"  I am very pleased to introduce the Guardianship of Infants (Amendment) Bill 2026. This Bill upholds a fundamental principle that those convicted of the most serious crimes should not retain automatic legal authority over the children left behind. This Bill delivers on the programme for Government commitment to \"examine proposals to remove guardianship rights from those convicted of killing their partners or a parent of their child\".  This Bill is not about additional punishment for a crime, rather it is about the welfare and protection of children. It is intended to protect vulnerable children from further trauma, to provide clarity for surviving family members and to prevent perpetrators from maintaining control over the lives of their children. I welcome David French and his sisters, Suzette and Hilary, to the Visitors Gallery and acknowledge his other sister, Veronica, who is watching in Australia. The reason this law is being brought forward today is because of the campaign David and his siblings launched, arising from the murder of his other sister, Valerie French. David French and his family have campaigned tirelessly for a change to the law in memory of his sister, Valerie, who was murdered by her husband seven years ago. Valerie\u2019s husband still retains all guardianship rights over their three children. I supported David in his campaign and since becoming Minister for justice, I have worked to change the law. There are other families in the same terrible situation and this Bill acknowledges their circumstances and I hope, in some way, ameliorates their difficulties.  This important Bill will give the State the necessary power to ensure that the safety and welfare of the children left behind by such horrendous crimes are protected. It will do so in a manner that ensures that their voices are heard and ensures that their best interests are the paramount consideration at all times. The State must play a role here. Guardianship, when one guardian kills another, should not be regarded as a matter of private law to be determined between the families concerned but must be regarded as a child protection and welfare issue. As I said earlier, this Bill delivers on the programme for Government commitment to \"examine proposals to remove guardianship rights from those convicted of killing their partners or a parent of their child\". It is part of the ongoing work to implement appropriate recommendations from the independent Study on Familicide and Domestic and Family Violence Death Reviews, published in May 2023. This study was commissioned by my Department to analyse and present recommendations on how the State's response could be more effective, both in terms of response after an incident occurs but also how systems could be put in place to learn lessons with a view to reducing future incidence of domestic homicides, insofar as this may be possible.  The Bill ensures that following the conviction of a parent or guardian of a child for the murder or manslaughter of another parent or guardian of that child, Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, will make an application to the court. Tusla will be required to make that application as soon as is practicable for an order which may remove or restrict the guardianship rights of the convicted guardian. My Department has worked with the Department of Children, Disability and Equality to ensure that the Bill is focused on child welfare, ensure that the voice of the child can be heard in proceedings and that Tusla will be best placed to make the applications provided for in the Bill. I thank and commend my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Norma Foley, the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, who has been centrally involved in this legislation and has been completely supportive of its introduction.  The role of Tusla in making these applications recognises its important role as the State agency with primary responsibility to promote the safety and well-being of children. Given the tragic and serious circumstances addressed by this Bill, Tusla will, in many cases, already be involved in providing support to the children and their caregivers. In some cases, Tusla may be making use of its powers under the Child Care Act 1991 to safeguard the safety and welfare of the child in the immediate aftermath of the crime. This is in keeping with Tusla\u2019s functions to promote the welfare of children, to identify children who are not receiving adequate care and protection and co-ordinate information, as well as to have regard to the rights and duties of parents, whether under the Constitution or otherwise.  This Bill is a short one but it deals with fundamental rights under our Constitution, including Article 42A, which provides that the State recognises and affirms the natural and imprescriptible rights of all children and shall by its laws, as far as practicable, protect and vindicate those rights. The Bill will apply to both married and unmarried guardians. Children will have a voice in proceedings and the courts will ensure that the child's best interests are balanced against the rights of a guardian who has failed in their duty towards their child by their horrific crime of killing that child's parent. Importantly, the provisions of this Bill will apply also to cases where one guardian killed another before the commencement of the legislation.  This is an essential element to ensure that Tusla has the power, where it considers it necessary in the best interests of the child, to make an application to restrict or remove guardianship in the circumstances.  The Bill provides for a mechanism to remove or restrict the rights of a guardian who has been convicted of the killing of, or a serious offence causing harm to, the other guardian of a child. It amends the Guardianship of Infants Act 1964 by the insertion of a new Part IIA to that Act.  The Guardianship of Infants (Amendment) Bill contains four sections.  Section 1 is a provision defining \"Principal Act\" as the Guardianship of Infants Act 1964, which is the Act to be amended by this Bill.  Section 2 inserts a new Part IIA into the Guardianship of Infants Act 1964. Part IIA is the Part that gives effect to the programme for Government commitment to remove guardianship rights from those convicted of killing their partners or a parent of their child. This is in implementation of the recommendations in Study on Familicide and Domestic and Family Violence Death Reviews.  This new Part IIA contains nine sections. The first of these, section 12B, defines terms that are used throughout the new Part.  Section 12C is the principal operative provision of the Bill. Tusla must apply to the District Court within six months of the conviction of a guardian for the murder or manslaughter of another guardian of the child. This application must be made where the agency has reasonable cause to believe that the convicted guardian has failed in his or her parental duty to such an extent that the child's safety or welfare is likely to be prejudicially affected. An order may be made by the court that will be suspended and take effect once an alternative arrangement is in place, either where a care order under the Child Care Act 1991 has been made or where another guardian of the child is already in place. The court must consider both the failure of duty and the best interests of the child before making such an order. An order may either restrict the convicted guardian's powers and duties or remove the convicted guardian from office as a guardian. The court may impose such conditions as it considers necessary in the best interests of the child relating to the review of the order.  It is important to emphasise that Tusla is required in these circumstances to make an application. However, it will be a matter for the court to determine the form of the order to be made, considering the best interests of the child, whether that order is one to restrict or to remove entirely the convicted guardian from office as a guardian.  The court has the power to consider the totality of the circumstances in relation to any case before it may determine that it is not in the best interests of the child to make an order. The requirement is that this application be made as soon as practicable after the conviction, but in any case within six months of the conviction. This requires swift action, but the circumstances that give rise to such an application are thankfully rare.  Section 12D provides for the same procedure and powers on the part of Tusla and the court in circumstances where the other guardian of the child has been a victim of a serious offence but has not been killed. A serious offence is defined as an offence causing serious harm that carries a sentence of at least ten years' imprisonment. In these circumstances, Tusla may apply to the court for an order removing or restricting guardianship of the guardian who has been convicted of a serious offence. Tusla may make such an application where there has been a failure of parental duty, as in section 12C, and there has been a change in the care arrangements or guardianship of the child as a result of the serious offence, for example, where a new guardian has had to be appointed or care arrangements under the Child Care Act 1991 are being put in place in respect of the child.  Unlike section 12C, regarding murder and manslaughter, the provision here will be a discretionary power for Tusla. This is to ensure that guardianship of the convicted guardian can still be removed or restricted only in situations where the victim guardian has not been killed but is not in a position to exercise his or her guardianship.  Section 12E provides for the procedures for a review of court orders under the Part. Applications may be made by Tusla, the convicted guardian, another guardian of the child or the child concerned where there has been a significant change to the circumstances of the child that is capable of affecting his or her welfare. Tusla must, and the convicted guardian may, make an application for such a review by the court where the conviction of the convicted guardian has been quashed or set aside. The court may determine that the order made under section 12C or section 12D should remain in place, having regard to the best interests of the child, and must provide its reasons for doing so in writing.  Section 12F provides for the appointment of a guardian ad litem to represent the voice of the child in proceedings under this Part. This section applies the relevant provisions of the 1991 Act, as amended by the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2022. This will ensure that the practices for appointment of guardians ad litem under this Part, once the relevant sections of the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2022 are commenced, are in keeping with best practice. This includes a requirement for the court to appoint a guardian ad litem unless it is satisfied that the best interests of the child can be determined without such an appointment and that it has determined that there are other means to facilitate the expression by the child of those views. Where a court has decided not to appoint a guardian ad litem , it will be required to give reasons for its decision in writing.  Best practice also includes powers to procure reports, allowing a guardian ad litem to make an application for procurement of a report on any question affecting the welfare of the child where there is no such report, or where it is out of date, after consultation with the parties in the proceedings. It should be noted that the Minister for Children, Equality and Disability will pay the costs or expenses incurred by a guardian ad litem .  Section 12G provides for jurisdiction and the conduct of proceedings. Proceedings under this Part will be heard in the District Court, and in the Family District Court on commencement of the relevant sections of the Family Courts Act 2024. This will serve to reduce costs and timelines, along with ensuring that proceedings are heard before the court that is most experienced in dealing with such matters. Proceedings will be heard otherwise than in public, as is standard for guardianship and care proceedings.  Section 12H provides for the necessary safeguards in relation to data protection and data sharing under this Part.  Consultation has been undertaken with the Data Protection Commission in developing these provisions. They will provide for the necessary legal basis to permit Tusla to share and receive data with relevant bodies to enable it to perform its functions under this Part. I will, in consultation with the Minister for Children, Equality and Disability, be able to make regulations under this section to specify the nature of and manner in which personal data may be shared and the measures to be taken to ensure that such personal data is shared only where necessary and proportionate.  Section 12I provides for individuals to be made notice parties to proceedings. Any guardian of the child must be made a notice party to proceedings. Any relative of the child may seek leave to be joined as a notice party to proceedings, and this is broadly defined. This section implements a request of stakeholders and a recommendation of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration that family members be in a position to be made notice parties to proceedings.  Section 12J provides for the retrospective application of this Part to cases in which a conviction predates the commencement of the provisions of this Bill. In such circumstances, where a convicted guardian was convicted of the murder or manslaughter of another guardian of the child, Tusla will be able to apply for an order, as set out in the provisions of section 12C, where there is reasonable cause to believe that there has been a failure of duty on the part of the convicted guardian and Tusla considers it appropriate to apply for such an order.  Section 3 is a technical amendment to section 8A of the principal Act to acknowledge the new Part IIA inserted by section 2 of the Bill.  Section 4 is a standard provision relating to the Short Title of the Bill and its commencement. The Bill will come into operation on a day to be appointed by me after consultation with the Minister for Children, Equality and Disability.  I will speak briefly about the amendments I intend to make on Committee Stage. At the request of the Minister for Children, Equality and Disability, I intend to provide for the inclusion of a short set of technical amendments to the Child Care Act 1991. While further detail will be provided on Committee Stage, these amendments will ensure that the policy intent in respect of the appointment of guardians ad litem and the provision to them of legal advice and legal representation under the guardian ad litem national service are further elaborated in the legislation. These amendments are necessary for the proper operation of this Bill.  Many details will merit debate and I look forward to working constructively with Members as the Bill progresses. I am aware that there is general acceptance across the House that measures are needed to ensure the welfare and safety of children are protected in the wake of what are, thankfully, rare but incredibly serious and tragic circumstances. This Bill has a narrow scope. It seeks to deliver on a well-defined and much-needed recommendation in Study on Familicide and Domestic and Family Violence Death Reviews.  The Bill has been carefully calibrated to make sure that it reaches the appropriate balance between the constitutional protection of the family and the constitutional imperative that the best interests of children are the paramount consideration when it comes to their guardianship.  This Bill is a significant and important development in giving the State the tools that it needs to ensure it is the child's best interests, welfare and safety that are prioritised in the aftermath of these horrific crimes. Everyone in the House will agree that this is a worthy purpose and that is why I commend this legislation to the House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy M\u00e1ire Devine  I thank the Minister. I send a c\u00e9ad m\u00edle f\u00e1ilte to the people in the Gallery, including Valerie's brother and sisters, and to SiSi, which is a collective of women survivors of intimate partner violence. I thank them for their unceasing work. Sincere thanks resonate from this Chamber for its protection of women and children as a priority.  Sinn F\u00e9in welcomes the progression of legislation to restrict guardianship rights in situations where a person has murdered a child's other guardian. I commend Mr. David French, brother of Valerie, who was murdered by her spouse. His love for his sister and nephews, his tenacity and relentless campaigning are largely why we are having this debate today. D\u00e9anaim comhghairdeas le David agus a chlann.  Mr. French was an integral witness before the Oireachtas justice committee when it conducted pre-legislative scrutiny of the Minister's general scheme. My party colleague and Cathaoirleach of the Oireachtas justice committee, Deputy Carthy, highlighted that it was essential that the committee should hear directly from those ordinary people with real-life experience of the matters being discussed, rather than just from the statutory agencies, NGOs, academics and Government Departments. The insights that Mr. French gave to the committee in respect of the impact that this legislation would have had for his family and the welfare of his nephews were invaluable. The testimony, alongside the written submissions received by the committee, provided for a report on pre-legislative scrutiny that identified a number of areas in need of consideration but which can serve as the basis of a strong and robust piece of legislation.  I also commend my party colleague and Sinn F\u00e9in finance minister in the Executive in the North, John O'Dowd, who has committed to progressing similar legislation known as \"Jade's law\". I hope we will have tied-up all-Ireland legislation to enact.  What this law will do is to recognise, as David French told the committee, that to murder a parent is to grievously abuse a child. It would facilitate the restriction of guardianship rights from those who kill their partners or the parents of their children.  I welcome the Bill that now reflects the concerns of recommendation 2 of the committee's report and provides for a review process in case of a later acquittal of the guardian. That makes sense. However, a number of other areas were touched on in the report and I do not see them reflected in the Bill. Recommendation 3 suggested that parties beyond Tusla, such as relatives, should be able to submit applications to the court. It would be useful if the Minister were to outline his rationale for limiting this to only Tusla. While recommendation 8 does allow for relatives to seek leave to be joined as a notice party, it falls short of the committee's report recommendation that they would be a notice party.  Some concern was expressed by the committee regarding the resourcing of Tusla, in particular in relation to the terms of applications generally being time-bound to six months. As such, I think that recommendation 6, which was that a specialist unit be established within Tusla that would have the responsibility of submitting any applications, could bring multiple reassurances in terms of the successful operation of this Bill.  It is widely known and accepted that Tusla is under enormous and severe pressure from unprecedented child protection referrals, severe social work shortages and a crisis in emergency placements. Reassurance is needed that it will be competent. At times, it has been found not to be competent. We need reassurance that it will be competent in this instance to act on this legislation as laid out without delay and to act in a fair and equitable manner, given its remit and terms of reference as the Child and Family Agency.  Recommendation 4 advocates that a register of guardians be established to aid State bodies. I know that in recent weeks campaigners have been highlighting an issue whereby widowed parents must provide death certificates to the passport service every time the child's passport is renewed. I ask the Minister if this is a matter he may be willing to review, in conjunction with his colleagues, as something that could bring greater benefit. To bring a death certificate every time is a painful and reminiscent requirement. It does not make sense to do it for the length of a child's life until he or she turns 18.  I will ask the Minister about his position on recommendation 7, which sought to safeguard that this legislation could not be applied in cases where a person is convicted of manslaughter when acting in self-defence or where there has been a history of domestic abuse towards the alleged perpetrator. I would appreciate if he would address these matters in his closing remarks.  Sinn F\u00e9in welcomes the progression of this legislation and stands ready to work with the Minister to ensure it is as robust as possible. We hope it will see a swift but detailed passage through committee. I pay tribute to Valerie, a woman, mother, caregiver and professional therapist dedicated to affirming life and love. Cuimhneoimid uirthi. To Valerie. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  It probably does not happen often, but this is a matter that we, collectively, as a Legislature and a body politic, are glad to see happening. I welcome Valerie's family. They are very welcome. I commend Valerie's brother, David, to whom I listened on multiple media appearances over recent years and during pre-legislative scrutiny in committee. His testimony was compelling. His steadfast determination and resilience are completely admirable. I say \"Well done\" for the fight. He has ensured that legislation that is absolutely necessary is coming forward because of his advocacy and strength, and the way in which he has pushed for it.  I also commend the Minister, which does not happen every day, as we know. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I thank the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  We have to acknowledge when legislation is necessary and we all agree that this legislation is necessary, and the Minister has brought it forward. We will tease it out. In the main, I support it. I will obviously be supporting it, but we will tease out a few things. The Minister and his Department are to be commended on bringing it forward in a pretty quick manner. I hope we will bring it through the Houses relatively quickly.  I have a few issues. The Minister went through section 12D, which relates to the issue of being able to take away guardianship where there is a situation in relation to the second guardian as well. He outlined that comprehensively in his few words, but we might look to see how we can tighten it up on Committee Stage.  There has been some commentary from Tusla, probably not on the record, relating to resources and so on. It is not something that I believe we need to get overly concerned about because in truth, it must be the agency to deal with this. That is the way it should go.  There are issues with the constitutionality of the legislation. My concern when this legislation was being drafted was whether there would be a constitutional test.  Article 42A was inserted by the referendum on the rights of the child. Article 42A.2.1\u00b0 states:  In exceptional cases, where the parents, regardless of their marital status, fail in their duty towards their children to such extent that the safety or welfare of any of their children is likely to be prejudicially affected, the State as guardian of the common good shall, by proportionate means as provided by law, endeavour to supply the place of the parents, but always with due regard for the natural and imprescriptible rights of the child.  This test, that a parent has failed in his or her duty towards the child concerned to such an extent that the safety of welfare of the child is likely to be prejudicially affected, is recited throughout the Bill. That is necessary just in case of constitutional challenges, which we know can happen quite frequently. From a Labour Party perspective, we are watching out for that but we do feel that it is covered as part of the Bill. As Professor Louise Crowley argues, in the event of a challenge, the court will very likely have very strong grounds to say that it was in the best interests of the children to have someone else acting as their guardian or custodian. That is in relation to interaction with Article 41. That puts that to bed and I expect that we will be covered.  Having gone through the pre-legislative recommendations, I am glad that a review mechanism is in place whereby there is an acquittal. We cannot foresee all circumstances as to what will happen in this country in years to come, so where there is an acquittal, we need to make sure the legislation is safeguarded for such scenarios. I am glad that is there.  There were some other recommendations, which the Minister might discuss. When we went through this, there was a specific kind of onus put in on the voice of the child. We might discuss that on Committee Stage as well. I might bring forward an amendment relating to how children can be better involved, how they can be better brought through and how there can be a mechanism to hear the voice of the child or children through the Bill. That was something we specifically went through when we discussed this previously. There was consideration also of a register of guardians to aid State bodies implementing the legislation. I do not know whether the Minister has considered that. There was also the issue discussed earlier of the consideration of explicitly excluding victims of domestic violence convicted of manslaughter when found to be acting in self-defence from having guardianship rights removed. That is quite a delicate area but that needs to be teased through.  In relation to the timeframes, currently, the Bill's only time limit is a six-month deadline after conviction, during which Tusla can apply for restriction or removal of guardianship rights. This takes no account of the time it takes to charge and convict or the time for the application to be decided. This means the child would likely remain under the guardianship of their parents' killer for many months. Can we tease that out? Can there be a period when there is something else in place, or can we define even what that is? I do not have all the answers to this but it is certainly that six-month period. Are there any guardianship issues that will still remain with the person who will have the guardianship rights removed? I acknowledge we have to have a time period, but does the Minister see what I am getting at? I do not know if, from a legislative basis, we can even provide an answer because there has to be some sort of timeframe. This is something that cropped up when I was discussing this with some people. Maybe there could be a suspension of guardianship once a guardian is charged rather than convicted, and then there would be the overlap of the six months. Maybe something like that could be considered. That might be appropriate.  Maybe child impact assessments should be completed ahead of an application to court as well. That is something else we might discuss.  By and large, however, I and the Labour Party are one hundred per cent supportive of this. There are some issues that I have just raised and that I will tease out on Committee Stage. We will look at amendments. I would rather work with the Minister on amendments than table amendments myself. We could maybe discuss that and get to the right wording, but I wanted to put out those issues, which are the ones we should consider. In particular, I have a concern about the issue of the six-month period. Maybe there should be a way in which that is covered. Furthermore, the voice of the child, as part of this process, is the second most important issue, which we may need to look into again. I thank the Minister again. I thank David and the family of Valerie. It is appropriate that this Bill is named after her. I hope it will be put through in a very speedy manner. The Minister will get the full co-operation of the House. I expect and hope we can do this in a short time. I commend the Minister and his officials. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aidan Farrelly  I am grateful for the opportunity to speak on this important legislation. I join colleagues in welcoming Mr. French and his family and colleagues to the Gallery. We are here to honour Valerie and her family for their enduring commitment and to honour Valerie's children. This is a very rare occasion, certainly in my short spell as a TD, to see such overwhelming support across the House for legislation. I commend the Minister and his officials on the short time it has taken from the publication of the programme for Government to bringing such detailed legislation before us today. Having been a youth worker and taught child protection to many volunteers for so many years, it is really welcome to see this type of terminology and language in legislation in Ireland today whereby the welfare of the children of this State is of paramount importance to us. We have come an awful long way and we still have a long way to go in that regard, but when we hold the welfare of children at the core of the decisions we make as legislators, we will never go too far wrong. That is why, notwithstanding I am sure the many constructive amendments that might be tabled on Committee and Report Stages, the Social Democrats are very much behind and look forward to supporting the basis of this legislation.  With regard to child and youth participation, since becoming the Social Democrats' spokesperson for children and young people, I have heard from many organisations and many young people about their ability to be informed participants in legal proceedings. That is not for today but it is something we might consider in the ways in which we can ensure that young people are given the capacity to participate and to share their experiences and their feelings in a way that is safe, ethical and heard. That is certainly something we will consider.  Similarly, today we have heard from the Ombudsman for Children that one in five complaints that it received to its office last year related to Tusla. While we acknowledge and agree that Tusla should be the body in this legislation that is the primary actor, we cannot ignore what is a significant concern about resourcing. When we put in a timeframe like six months from conviction, I just think we need to all be assured that the agency has the resources and the competencies to be able to act from day one of that conviction at least. Again, that is something we will consider and discuss, I am sure, in future.  Many others want to speak. I just want to take the opportunity to offer our party's full support. Deputies Gannon and Cairns tabled similar legislation in the past. It does not matter how we get there as long as we get there, and that is why we will support this Bill and we look forward to supporting it and working in earnest with the Minister and others. I commend the French family and all who have campaigned on this for so long at this point. It is a position that no one should be in, but today marks a very important day in that journey, and I commend them all for that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Although we are in a different order now, Deputy Devlin is next. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cormac Devlin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cormac Devlin  I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate. While it is a short Bill, it is a very significant one. I thank the Minister and his officials for bringing it forward. It delivers on a clear programme for Government commitment. It implements a key recommendation of the independent Study on Familicide and Domestic and Family Violence Death Reviews. It does so under a name, Valerie's Law, in honour of Valerie French, killed in June 2019 by her husband, James Kilroy.  I welcome David French and the wider French family to the Gallery and I offer my deep condolences to them. I commend them on their commitment, courage and persistence in relation to this legislative change. Valerie's brother David, whose advocacy has carried this issue through years when it could easily have slipped down the agenda, has spoken with dignity and persistence. The State owes him a debt of gratitude and we remember Valerie and her loved ones today.  Fianna F\u00e1il supports this Bill. The principle at its heart is straightforward. A person convicted of killing the other parent of their child should not automatically retain guardianship rights over that child. A person convicted of a serious offence causing serious harm against the other parent should not by default continue to hold those rights either. Until now, the law has been almost silent on this. Families have been left to navigate it themselves. That is not acceptable and this Bill ends that practice.  The legislation is built on three sound foundations. First, the best interests of the child are the paramount consideration, and rightly so. Section 12C and Section 12D both require the court to weigh both the failure of duty and the welfare of the child before any order is made. The court can restrict a guardian\u2019s powers or remove the guardian entirely. It can impose conditions, which can be reviewed over time. Second, the voice of the child is heard. Section 12F provides for the appointment of a guardian ad litem in line with the Child Care Act 2022. The child is not a footnote in proceedings about their own future; he or she is a party to them. Third, Tusla is placed at the centre. Section 12C requires the agency to apply to the District Court within six months of a conviction where there is reasonable cause to believe parental duty has failed. This is appropriate. Tusla is the body with the expertise, the statutory remit and the institutional memory to make these applications properly. The data-sharing provisions in section 12H, developed in consultation with the Data Protection Commission, will allow it to do that work on a sound legal footing. I welcome too the retrospective application provided for in section 12I. There are families already living with the consequences of these convictions. They should not be excluded from this protection because their cases predate commencement.  Taking a step back for a moment, guardianship is defined by the Courts Service as the rights and duties of parents in respect of the upbringing of their children. Rights and duties are the two halves of the same legal status. The Bill addresses the most extreme end of the spectrum, where the duty has been violated in the gravest way imaginable, but the principle that guardianship carries responsibilities as well as rights is one this House should be willing to examine across the spectrum, not only at the extremes. There is a real concern in communities across the country, including in my constituency of D\u00fan Laoghaire, about a small but persistent cohort of young people who are engaged in serious antisocial and criminal behaviour. We all know the pattern. It is the same names, the same addresses and the same incidents. In too many of these cases, the guardians of those children have effectively disengaged from any role in steering their behaviour. Will the Minister to examine, as part of the ongoing implementation of the Youth Justice Strategy 2021\u20132027, what further measures can be brought forward to hold guardians meaningfully responsible for their children who continue to engage in serious antisocial and criminal behaviour? Section 111 of the Children Act 2001 provides for a parental supervision order where the court is satisfied that a wilful failure of a parent to control the child contributed to the child\u2019s offending. The principle is on the Statute Book. The question is whether it is being used, whether it is being resourced and whether it can be strengthened.  The vast majority of parents of children in difficulty are doing their best in circumstances none of us would want to face. The answer for them is support, not sanction, but that is why this conversation cannot be separated from continued investment versus intervention. I welcome the record \u20ac43 million allocation for youth justice services in budget 2026, which is a 22% increase on the previous year. I welcome the achievement of full nationwide coverage of youth diversion projects, with 94 in operation. I also welcome the continued funding of the Greentown programme, which targets children subject to coercive control by criminal gangs. These are the right investments. They must continue and they must reach communities such as those in D\u00fan Laoghaire and across the country. However, intervention works best when responsibility is shared by the State, the community and the guardians of the children concerned. The aside I am asking the Minister to consider is the third leg of that stool.  To return to the Bill before us, this is good legislation. It is carefully drafted. It has been developed in consultation with the families who lived through events it addresses, with civil society and with the Data Protection Commissioner. It places child welfare where it belongs, in the public law arena, not in the private negotiations of grieving families. It honours Valerie French. It honours every child who has been left in legal limbo while the State worked out what to do. That is welcome in this legislation, and I am pleased to support it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  I welcome the opportunity to speak on this important legislation. I acknowledge the work the Minister has done in bringing forward this necessary change to the laws around guardianship. Guardianship currently refers to the set of legal rights and responsibilities to make major decisions about the upbringing of a child or a young person. This includes everything from what school they attend, what religion they are raised in, major medical decisions, whether they are allowed leave the country for a holiday or for other reasons and all that set of significant decisions in a child or young person's life. We separate out the power to make those big decisions from the day-to-day decisions about a child, which are governed by the rules surrounding custody. The Bill provides that new power at law, namely, that a court can make an order suspending the guardianship held by a parent who has been convicted of killing the child's other parent. It is a very significant interference and significant restriction with guardianship rights but one which is necessary and for which there is a basis. The Bill would give that power to Tusla within six months of a conviction for the killing of a child's parent to bring forward an application to the court seeking such an order and that application could be made within a further six months if there were particular circumstances for that. Ultimately, the Bill recognises that the killing of a child's parent by the other child's parent represents an abuse of that child and it is for that incredibly severe reason that this significant restriction is being proposed.  On behalf of the Green Party, I will support this Bill. I will make points. First, has the Minister considered the possibility of providing for an interim order? A former colleague of mine, Dr. Brian Tobin, in the University of Galway has made the case that there should be provision for an interim order, particularly if there is a lengthy trial or a length of time between conviction and sentencing. Any additional time period in which a parent who has undertaken this grievous crime has guardianship over a child represents a longer period within which the potential abuse that we are recognising in this Bill and are legislating to restrict could take place, and in which additional traumatisation of that child and additional damage to their welfare could take place. I am sure the Minister has given this some thought but I ask him, particularly as he brings this Bill through Committee and Report Stages, to give some consideration to that particular point of an interim order. There are other jurisdictions which implement it and perhaps we can look at that model there.  Second, I step back to a slightly wider point. The Minister's predecessor commissioned research and a wider analysis of guardianship in infancy. This legislation has been with us for some time, since 1964. My understanding is that this report, which has not been published yet, contains some recommendations, particularly around the acquisition of guardianship duties. It is probably a good time to consider that. Recognising the different ways across which families are formed these days, it is fair that we look at how guardianship duties are acquired. I have tabled a number of parliamentary questions to the Minister over the past 18 months about where this report is, whether he will publish it and whether he will implement all, or, indeed, some of its recommendations.  To date, his replies have not been hugely illuminating. It would be valuable to publish that report. It is my understanding that it is completed and it is on the Minister's desk. It was even on his predecessor's desk as well. It may be that he does not wish to follow some or all of the recommendations in it. If so, it is legitimate for him to make that decision. I do not propose that we delay the Bill in any way on foot of that. This Bill has merit to work on its own. Perhaps in his wrap-up or in the near future, he would set out his proposals regarding the potential publication of the draft report on the wider question of guardianship. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paula Butterly  First, I thank the Minister for the work he has done on this Bill. I acknowledge the relentless work and advocacy of David French and his family in regard to the work behind the Bill. When we talk about laws like Valerie's Law, we are ultimately asking a difficult but essential question. What does justice mean for a child whose parent has committed the most serious harm imaginable, killing the other parent? There is often an instinct in law to preserve parental rights wherever possible. This is right because the Constitution recognises the importance of family. The bond between parent and child is one that should never be lightly broken but we must be clear about one thing: parental rights are not absolute. They exist alongside and must sometimes give way to the rights and well-being of the child. In situations of domestic homicide, it is simply not acceptable to assume that a perpetrator should always have access to their child.  First, we must consider the psychological reality for the child. A child who has lost one parent at the hands of the other is not just grieving, they are dealing with a profound trauma. Forcing or even allowing contact in all cases risks reopening that trauma, creating fear, confusion and emotional harm that will be felt not just today or tomorrow but well into the future. Access in these circumstances is not always a benefit. It can be a source of significant psychological damage.  Second, we must look at the nature of the crime itself. The act of killing the child's other parent represents a fundamental breach of trust, responsibility and care. It is not just a crime against an individual but it is a violation that directly affects the child's sense of safety and stability. In many ways, a person who has committed such an act compromises their role as a caregiver.  Third, there is an issue of power and control. Even limited access can allow a perpetrator to continue exerting influence over a child or even over the wider family. In cases of domestic violence, control does not always end with the criminal act. It can continue through legal processes and claims of parental involvement. The law must be careful not to become a tool that extends that control.  Fourth, we must prioritise the best interests of the child as the overriding principle. While this is the fourth point, it is the most fundamental and important one. This is not a moral claim: it is a legal standard. The child's welfare must always come first, ahead of any entitlement the parent may claim. In many cases of domestic homicide, maintaining contact simply will not meet that standard. There is nothing to argue that access should never be allowed, there may be rare, exceptional circumstances where carefully managed contact is appropriate but the key point is that access should never be assumed or automatic. Instead, it must be carefully assessed, strictly controlled and only permitted where it clearly benefits the child. Valerie's Law reflects this shift in thinking. It moves us away from a system that prioritises parental status and towards one that centres the child's safety, dignity and emotional well-being.  In conclusion, we must recognise that in extreme cases the question is not what the parent is entitled to but what the child needs in order to heal, feel safe and move forward. Sometimes that means recognising that no access at all is the most favourable outcome in these scenarios. I again thank the Minister. I also again acknowledge the French family for all their efforts. It is quite extraordinary. I reiterate the point that the child's interests has to always be at the centre of argument we make. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Carol Nolan  I welcome the core intention of the Guardianship of Infants (Amendment) Bill. Any measure that seeks to strengthen the legal framework for protecting our most vulnerable children from those who would do them harm deserves full support. The provisions aimed at safeguarding children from the influence of individuals guilty of major crimes, enhancing care orders, and promoting better interagency co-operation are, on paper, positive steps. We must always strive to put the welfare of the child first in our laws. However, I must speak plainly. Many people across this country will find it profoundly galling that Tusla, the agency entrusted with child protection, is being further empowered and charged with making these orders, when it stands accused of being institutionally unfit for the task it already has. There are many serious questions about Tusla. As a public representative, I certainly have no confidence in it. Time and again we have seen failures that should shake the confidence of every parent, child and citizen in this country.  Just last year there was an horrific alleged rape of a ten-year old child in the care of the State at Citywest - a young girl who was under Tusla's guardianship. That is the fact of the matter. She absconded and was allegedly assaulted in circumstances that raise the most serious questions about supervision, placement safety and basic duty of care. How does a child in State care end up in such danger? This was not an isolated tragedy. It is in fact symptomatic of a deeper systemic problem within the system.  Let us not forget the ongoing scandal that I have consistently highlighted in this House, which to my mind has not been effectively addressed. The findings of the sexual exploitation research programme, SERP, report were very disturbing. The report was carried out by academics from UCD and it was entitled Protecting Against Predators. The report raises serious questions for Tusla that have not been adequately addressed. The State should hang its head in shame that it has not adequately dealt with this report, when the facts and evidence are laid bare in the SERP report. The report clearly laid out how predatory gangs, often organised groups of men, are targeting and sexually exploiting vulnerable children, particularly girls, while they are under the care of Tusla. That is under the State's watch. Children are coerced into sexual acts in exchange for gifts. They are preyed upon because of their vulnerability, instability and the gaps in the system that is meant to protect them. This is grooming and exploitation on a scale that should urgently demand a full public inquiry. It should demand decisive action because the report is very disturbing, yet the response has been nothing short of criminally inadequate.  This Bill is about protecting children from the influence of those guilty of major crimes. That is certainly right and necessary but even as we debate these measures here today, unknown numbers of vulnerable children remain in the care of the State - in the care of Tusla, acting as the State guardian, and they are being failed day in, day out. Young girls are being raped and exploited day in, day out, under the State's watch. Children are going missing from placements and are exposed to exploitation. The basic safety of these children cannot be guaranteed, yet the Minister wants to give Tusla more power, even though there are serious questions hanging over it already. It does not make sense to me. The State has taken on the role of parent for these boys and girls, yet too often it fails in that most fundamental duty. We cannot pass legislation that expands Tusla's role without simultaneously demanding radical reform, accountability, transparency and a proper inquiry.  We need independent oversight, proper resourcing of front-line staff, rigorous vetting of placements and a zero-tolerance approach to failures that put children at risk. The public rightly expects that when the State removes a child from their family, it provides something better, something more stable and not a new set of dangers.  I support the Bill's protective aims, but I urge the Minister to address these uncomfortable truths about Tusla. Our children deserve far more than fine words and amended legislation. They deserve a child protection system that adequately protects them. Anything less is a betrayal of the most vulnerable in our society, and it is neglect.  I ask once again for the disturbing findings in the Sexual Exploitation Research Programme, SERP, report, which was compiled by UCD academics, to be looked at and for Tusla to be brought to an inquiry as soon as possible because it has to be. It is going to be a big scandal in years to come. There is no doubt about that. By ignoring it, it is making it worse, and it is certainly making the suffering more unbearable for all of those victims who are mainly girls. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy R\u00e9ada Cronin  I am happy that Sinn F\u00e9in is supporting this Bill on its way through the Houses. I also want to remember Valerie. I have an older brother, and I am sure that Valerie's three sisters are very proud of the fact that their big brother has led on this. I am sure that it means a lot to Valerie, wherever she is, and to her children as well knowing that they have an uncle who went out to bat for them like this.  Regarding the legislation to protect children, it is going to take ongoing efforts from the Members in these Houses and from our communities. Lifting the lid on the scourge of femicide uncovers layers and layers of needed legislation. I know that my colleague an Teachta Devine will continue to work with SiSi and others in drafting legislation for femicide given that every ten minutes across the world a woman is killed by her partner. We have to work towards zero tolerance in this House.  In addition, could the Minister detail how Tusla will operate robustly given its overburdened workload? It is a fact that mishaps occur from time to time and \"mishaps\" is a word that puts it lightly. I welcome this legislation but we need to know that Tusla will be resourced and held accountable when it is needed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  I welcome the Bill. It has been a long time coming. Two things were very striking when women in particular were murdered in the past. One was the fact that the partner who may have killed them could inherit the family home and other wealth, and the other was that they could be the immediate first guardian. This Bill deals with the latter.  I commend the relatives and in particular David, the brother of Valerie French Kilroy who was murdered by her husband. David has battled to get this Bill passed. It is that type of activism that leads to legal changes because for many years this has been demanded and called for. The idea that the birth father has a divine right to the custody of their children and access to their children has to be challenged.  We heard a while ago from Deputy who talked about Tusla. She talked about rape and child sexual abuse without any care for the impact it has on people who are listening as well. She also spoke about the child sexual abuse of people in State care. Let us be clear: most child sexual abuse takes place within families. Let us nail this one on of the head because it is a constant mantra from a few parties and Deputies in this House. It is just a common refrain. For all the faults and issues relating to Tusla - and there are many - the idea that it should not be able to remove a child or take a child away from the natural father is something that we should challenge. We have all read about and seen sisters and so on coming out onto the court steps and talking about how abuse continued for many years. It is very relevant because it is the mindset that led to this law talking so long to come about.  We need Tusla to be properly resourced. We need all of the child State agencies to have the ability and staffing, which is a huge problem because of burnout as well, to be able to intervene to protect children, no matter where it is coming from.  We see the same phenomenon in the family courts. This is something that more women are coming out and talking about. Children are being forced to stay with abusive fathers in cases of separation because the patriarchal family has such a huge power and status in our society and in our legal systems. The claims regarding parental alienation are all related to the philosophy that has led to this law taking so long.  As has been mentioned, femicide is a huge problem. It is a global epidemic related to gender-based violence. The UN says that every ten minutes a girl or woman is killed by a relative somewhere in the world. That is a shocking and stark statistic. It is more commonplace in some societies and cultures than in others but we are far from immune. Northern Ireland is the most dangerous place for women and historically the Republic of Ireland has been a very patriarchal and sexist culture as well.  I welcome this Bill. I give huge credibility to David French and others who have campaigned for it. It has been a long time coming but we need much more legal change in the area of gender-based violence.  While I welcome this Bill and also welcome the fact that other Bills such as Jennie's Law are being looked at, we also need huge change in the area of the misogyny in the court system. It is something that has come up, and I know that the Minister is dealing with the counselling notes issue, and we had a debate only the other day on this. Survivors and therapists were hugely upset and disappointed after that committee meeting. In fact, rather than seeing progress, they feel that it is going backwards, and I feel that too. Deputies Simon Harris, Miche\u00e1l Martin, Helen McEntee and others talked about the need to remove counselling notes from the courts system, but the Minister seemed to defend the practice the other day. That was hugely disappointing for so many people, and I just have to relay that.  It is good that this is happening but we need a lot more innovation in our courts system as well because if we keep gender-based violence silent and secret, people will not report and will not come forward if these really traumatising practices are maintained in our system. I welcome the Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Before the Minister stands to conclude, I must outline the Topical Issue Matters as we are way ahead of time and Deputies should be on notice. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Debate adjourned."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Guardianship of Infants (Amendment) Bill 2026: Second Stage"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/dbsect_32","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_32","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case:  Deputy Michael Collins - To discuss the proposed autism centre in west Cork.  Deputy Robert O'Donoghue - To discuss funding for family resource centre buildings.  Deputy Malcolm Byrne - To discuss reforming the method of funding of local government through commercial rates.  Deputy William Aird - To discuss vacant properties.  Deputy Pat Buckley - To discuss the urgent need for a person (details supplied) to have treatment under the EU cross-border health directive.  Deputy Tom Brabazon - To discuss the relocation of the An Post sorting office in Harmonstown, Dublin 5.  Deputies Richard Boyd Barrett and Paul Murphy - To discuss the rights and treatment of Oireachtas TV workers and their evolving situation.  Deputy Barry Ward - To discuss allowing for the inclusion of parental details on children's passports in cases where they do not share the same surname to allow for easier international travel.  Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa - To discuss supports for people with frontotemporal dementia, FTD.  The matters raised by Deputies Michael Collins, Robert O'Donoghue, Aird, Malcolm Byrne and Brabazon have been selected for discussion. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/dbsect_33","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/53","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/53\/dail\/2","houseCode":"dail","stage":"2","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Guardianship of Infants (Amendment) Bill 2026: Second Stage (Resumed) (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Guardianship of Infants (Amendment) Bill 2026: Second Stage (Resumed)","counts":{"speechCount":2,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_33","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question again proposed: \"That the Bill be read a Second Time.\""},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I welcome the French family.  I would like the French family to understand that even though the Chamber does not have a lot of Deputies present, that is not because of a lack of interest. It is because they are busy at other committees and Stages of legislation that operate throughout the House. I commend the French family on being here. It is very difficult to sit through this but it is a good day. I call the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to make his closing remarks. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Jim O'Callaghan)  I thank colleagues who have spoken and contributed to the debate. It is notable that everyone who spoke and every political party represented in this House - indeed, every Independent TD - is supportive of this legislation. That is unusual. The reason there is such support for it is significantly because of the memory of Valerie French. The campaigning of David French and his sisters is something at the forefront of the minds of legislators when we are considering this issue. It is generally the case that when there is a human story behind a piece of legislation or when somebody is prepared to advocate from a personal point of view, it can have a very significant impact on the Houses of the Oireachtas. That has certainly happened in the case of Valerie French and the campaign put forward by David and Valerie's sisters.  I want to deal with some of the points raised by colleagues. There were some very worthwhile points made that I would like to reply to. I welcome Deputy Devine and Sinn F\u00e9in welcoming the legislation. Deputy Devine referred to the Oireachtas justice committee. I want to thank the members of the Oireachtas justice committee for the work they did and the recommendations they made. Very many of those recommendations have been implemented and all were considered by me. Deputy Devine questioned whether a family member should be permitted to bring the application as well as Tusla being able to do so. I think that would be unwise because it would put a lot of pressure on family members and there could be disputes within families as to whether such applications should be made. The legislation as it is drafted at present means that Tusla must bring an application. In many respects, Tusla's function is to get the issue before the District Court. It is then the court that will determine the matter. There is a logic to have a mandatory requirement imposed on a statutory body to bring the issue of removal or restriction of guardianship rights before the District Court.  Another issue Deputy Devine raised was whether there should be a specialist unit within Tusla. Fortunately, these applications will not be very large in number. They will still be very significant and very important but it will be the case, I think, that the resourcing within Tusla will be well able to deal with it.  Deputy Devine also asked whether there should be a special exemption in the legislation, say, for somebody convicted of manslaughter but it was in self-defence because they had been subjected to domestic abuse. That point was also raised by Deputy Kelly. The reason there is no mandatory requirement on a court to remove the guardianship rights is because there is a recognition that circumstances in these cases will differ and, as everyone has said, we need to hear the voice of the child as well in terms of these applications. Obviously, if there was a situation that arose as suggested by Deputy Devine, that would be given consideration by the District Court.  Deputy Kelly raised some issues about section 12D. I will have a look at that. He raised the issues of Tusla and talked about the constitutionality of the legislation. If there had been a mandatory requirement in this legislation that said that if somebody is convicted of murder or manslaughter, they automatically lose guardianship rights, that would have been constitutionally questionable. That is why it was so important to give discretionary power to the court so it could take into consideration all of the individual circumstances.  Deputy Kelly also raised the issue of a register of guardians. That is a recommendation which was given serious consideration but, while not trying to disown the necessity for it, it is something beyond the responsibility of this Bill and that would require a considerable body of work as well.  Another issue raised by Deputy Kelly was around the timing. Under the legislation an application must be made within six months of conviction. Obviously, that is going to take a period of time. There is going to be a period of time from the date of the murder or manslaughter until a person is convicted. However, in truth, what happens on an immediate basis, if there is a terrible event that happens - a murder or a manslaughter - measures are immediately put in place in order to put a childcare plan in place for the children. Obviously, the guardianship issue can be dealt with at a later stage but there is literally an immediate requirement to find out who is going to care for the children on the night or for the following number of weeks. That is an issue where the Childcare Act already operates.  Deputy Farrelly made points in relation to the Ombudsman for Children and Tusla. There was criticism of Tusla by a number of Deputies. I must say I do not think there is a statutory agency in the State that has a more difficult task than Tusla. It is also important to point out that abuse of children and the need for the State to intervene happens not just within areas where the State has responsibility for children but it happens within families as well.  I thank Deputy Devlin for his contribution. Obviously, guardianship is about making decisions as to how a child should be brought up. In many ways it is different from access and custody. Custody is about with whom or where a child should be brought up but guardianship really relates to some of the most fundamental decisions to be made about a child.  Deputy O'Gorman also recognised that there needed to be change here. He spoke about consideration being given to an interim order. As I said a few moments ago, it is the certainly the case that once a terrible event happens when a guardian kills another guardian, in advance of the determination of criminal liability measures will have to be put in place immediately from that night onwards and that sometimes happens as a result of applications made under the Childcare Act. That is what happens. I will get back to Deputy O'Gorman in respect of the report he mentioned about guardianship.  Deputy Butterly also spoke about recognising that it is, in effect, a form of child abuse for one parent to kill another parent. That has an extraordinarily damaging impact on the children left behind. That is why I keep emphasising that this legislation is not about imposing a further punishment on a person who has been convicted of murder or manslaughter. It is about ensuring the best interests of the child are protected.  Deputy Nolan is in favour of the legislation but was very critical of Tusla and made some allegations in respect of events happening to young girls in the area. Obviously, if anyone has any information on this it needs to be brought to the attention of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. However, I do think that Tusla is the appropriate statutory body to bring this application before the District Court. The alternative was to go out of our way to set up a new statutory agency that would simply have responsibility for this and I do not think that was feasible.  Deputy Cronin was happy to support the Bill. She spoke about femicide. We do have a problem throughout the world in respect of femicide. We have to confront the problems that this Legislature is responsible for in Ireland. Regrettably, it is the case that violence against women is a problem that needs to be confronted and responded to, not just though legislation but also through education, information and ensuring that domestic violence is recognised as the scourge it is and is not tolerated.  Deputy Coppinger spoke about violence within homes and familicide, and referred to Northern Ireland. It is the case that Northern Ireland is the most violent place in the United Kingdom for a woman. If we look at the statistics in respect of the killing of women in Northern Ireland, they are significantly higher than they are here in Ireland and they are significantly higher than in Scotland, Wales and England. There is obviously a reason for that. We need to do research into this because we are never going to be able to resolve the problem by simply punishing people after the terrible events occur. We need to investigate and research why it is that men, and predominantly it is men, engage in violence against women. That is something that requires further research and we should not shy away from it.  Deputy Coppinger also mentioned issues about the miscellaneous provisions Bill, but we will have an opportunity to discuss that even further when we are back here for Report Stage. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Guardianship of Infants (Amendment) Bill 2026: Second Stage (Resumed)"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/dbsect_34","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/53","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/53\/dail\/motion\/referral","houseCode":"dail","stage":"motion","isBillStage":false,"showAs":"Guardianship of Infants (Amendment) Bill 2026: Referral to Select Committee (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Guardianship of Infants (Amendment) Bill 2026: Referral to Select Committee","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_34","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Jim O'Callaghan)  I move:  That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration pursuant to Standing Orders 103(2)( b ) and 188(1). "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Guardianship of Infants (Amendment) Bill 2026: Referral to Select Committee"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/dbsect_35","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_35","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/dbsect_36","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Family Resource Centres","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/dbsect_35","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_35","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_36","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Frankie Feighan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert O'Donoghue  I would like to highlight the vital role family resource centres play in communities across the country, particularly at a time when more and more families are struggling and looking for support close to home. Family resource centres are often the first place people turn to when they are facing difficulties. They provide practical help, emotional support, family services, youth programmes, counselling, and community connections. Most importantly, they offer early intervention and prevention supports that help stop problems from snowballing into crisis situations.  In recent years, centres have seen a significant increase in demand. Families are dealing with rising living costs, housing insecurity, mental health challenges, social isolation, and increasing financial pressure. Many parents and young people are now presenting with more complex needs, and communities are relying heavily on family resource centres to respond.  Despite their importance, many centres are operating under severe strain. Staff are working tirelessly, but waiting lists for counselling, therapeutic supports, family programmes, and youth services continue to grow. Rising operational costs, staffing shortages, and limited space are restricting the ability of centres to meet the growing demand. These centres save the State money in the long term by providing support early, before problems become more serious and require costly statutory interventions. They strengthen communities, support vulnerable families, and create safe, inclusive spaces for people of all ages.  In my constituency of Dublin Fingal West, Aster family resource centre in Balbriggan is a vital pillar of the community\u2019s social infrastructure. However, as demand continues to grow, it urgently needs sustained investment in both its premises and front-line services. Every day, it is supporting a record number of families facing housing insecurity, poverty, domestic violence, caring pressures, and serious mental health challenges. Its work is indispensable. While funding has increased, much of this progress has been wiped out by soaring rents, rising utility bills, and escalating operating costs. Without meaningful and sustained support, centres like Aster family resource centre will struggle to keep pace with the growing needs of the communities they serve.  If we are serious about supporting families, tackling inequality, and improving community well-being, then sustained investment in family resource centres must be a priority in budget 2027. The reality is simply that when communities are supported, families are stronger and when families are stronger, society as a whole benefits. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Frankie Feighan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (Deputy Frankie Feighan)  I thank Deputy O'Donoghue for raising this important issue and for offering the Minister the opportunity to respond. As the Deputy outlined, when families are stronger, they works very well. I have full confidence in and great time for the family resource centres. When I started out in politics many years ago, they were known as family life centres. I remember as a councillor, before I became a Senator in 2002, issues came to my attention in my office that maybe I did not have the skills to deal with. It was wonderful to be able to ring the family resource centre and ask for assistance. At all times that assistance was brilliant. It was confidential and it was very helpful. I am one who believes in the family resource centres.  Budget 2027 negotiations have not yet commenced and it is expected that, as in previous years, the Department will work to secure a level of funding that will ensure the continuation of established services, with potentially some scope also to develop services that respond to emerging needs and increased demands, as the Deputy referenced. The family resource centre network is an increasingly important component in how issues that arise across the entire age spectrum - from early years to old age - are responded to. The Minister is very committed to the programme, and cognisant of the benefits that family resource centres bring to their communities.  Following on from core funding increases and the expansion of the family resource centre programme in 2026, made possible through budget 2026 funding, the Minister has indicated that she will continue to pursue the expansion of the family resource centre programme through the budgetary process and in line with the programme for Government commitment to work to increase funding and expand the capacity and network of family resource centres. Improvements to core funding for family resource centres will also remain under consideration.  Any positive developments for the family resource centre programme that come out of the budget 2027 negotiations will build on achievements in the programme over the past number of years. This includes the expansion of the family resource centre programme in 2026, from 126 to 136 members. This followed expansion of the programme in 2025, from 121 members to 126 members. There was an increase in the minimum core funding level for family resource centres from \u20ac160,000 to \u20ac180,000 from January 2026, also secured as part of budget 2026. The core funding increase benefitted approximately 100 family resource centres around the country. Funding was secured for counselling providers, many of which are family resource centres, offering counselling and therapeutic services at no to low-cost for the communities they serve.  In addition to Tusla\u2019s family support services counselling funding, in 2025 30 family resource centres were allocated \u20ac292,500 from a total allocation of \u20ac1.5 million in additional funding. That benefitted a total of 73 community and voluntary organisations delivering essential counselling and therapeutic supports to children and families. This funding, which was formerly allocated under the Dormant Accounts Fund was provided to family resource centres to allow them to continue their important work of providing counselling and therapeutic services to children and young people in the community. The funding helps to address unmet need and reduce waiting lists for community-based counselling services.  In relation to capital funding for refurbishment, extension or construction of family resource centre buildings, I wish to inform the Deputy that neither the Department nor Tusla currently has capital funding to support the purchase or building of new facilities, or the refurbishment or extension of existing family resource centres.  Tusla does not have a dedicated budget for capital or building works for third party organisations, such as family resource centres. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert O'Donoghue  I want to take a moment to appeal directly to the Minister of State to recognise the importance of this. Some of that funding is greatly welcomed for centres like the Aster resource centre in Balbriggan, the only family support service based in north County Dublin. It serves mainly Balbriggan, but also covers Rush, Lusk and Skerries. Those are smaller towns but there is no similar service there. It is not just a service provider; it is a lifeline to countless people across Balbriggan and the wider community. Every day, staff and volunteers support people facing housing insecurity, poverty, domestic violence, mental health challenges and pressure for caring responsibilities.  The demands for these supports have never been greater. It is a rapidly growing area and yet the reality is that rising rents, old buildings, utility costs and operational pressures are eating away at their already stretched resources. Increasing funding on paper means little if organisations are spending more on rent and upkeep.  I welcome some of what the Minister of State said. I urge him to champion sustained and long-term investment in family resource centres like Aster so they can continue to provide essential care, support and stability for the many families who rely on them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Frankie Feighan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Frankie Feighan  The Minister and I thank the Deputy for engaging in this important issue. He outlined how important the family resource centre is for Balbriggan and north County Dublin. It is quite obvious that more is probably needed. The Minister is very pleased with the range of recent developments across the family resource centre programme. Core funding increases and expansion over 2025 and 2026 have been very welcome for the programme, its members and the communities served by the centres.  The Minister fully supports the family resource centre programme. She has first-hand experience of the positive impacts that family resource centres have had around her own county and nationally. The centres are a great endorsement of what can be achieved locally and the associated goodwill that permeates among communities. Family resource centres foster cohesion and collaboration and ultimately enhance the communities they serve. Many family resource centres become indispensable with clients engaging with the centres across all stages of life.  The Minister is aware of the funding challenges being faced by community organisations to sustain and expand their services. She is also aware of the strong level of interest in communities around the country in establishing local family resource centres. She encourages family resource centres to engage with Departments and Government agencies where funding mechanisms exist for local service delivery. The programme for Government commits to increase funding across this term of Government. I have been pleased to outline the positive measures being taken in this respect.  The family resource centre is a community development programme and it is financially supported by many State agencies in a partnership approach. Centres may draw on various sources of funding provided by other Departments, Government agencies and private sources. In relation to any immediate urgent issues, I suggest that the local authority be considered as a starting point regarding capital funding requests. Tusla also recommends that family resource centres look to any Government schemes available, such as rural integrated development schemes operated by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht. I again thank the Deputy for his comments. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Family Resource Centres"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/dbsect_37","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Postal Services","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/dbsect_35","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_35","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_37","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tom Brabazon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Frankie Feighan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tom Brabazon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tom Brabazon  I am absolutely sick and tired of coming into this Chamber to complain about basic services not being delivered correctly or being removed to satisfy a corporate need rather than a public service. It seems to be a constant. I am in here every other week giving out about various emanations of the State. I am fed up with it and my constituents are fed up with it. Here we are once again and I am back to give out.  This time it is about An Post threatening to close its sorting office in Harmonstown and relocate it to Finglas. This sorting office services parts of Coolock, Artane, Raheny and other areas covering a very significant population. Reports of its moving to Finglas are particularly concerning because there is no direct public transport link from Raheny, Coolock and Artane to Finglas. This proposal makes absolutely no sense. The local community relies on having accessible postal services and moving this service to Finglas would place an unnecessary burden on local residents, especially on older people who already struggle with accessing public transport and their own mobility. Finglas is simply not well connected to our community. There is no straightforward public transport link that would allow people to travel there easily and independently. If this daft proposal proceeds, people will have to travel by car which will just add traffic to the M50 carpark at a time when the country is trying to reduce our carbon footprint.  My constituents are very worried about how they will collect parcels, deal with registered post, deal with missed deliveries and access postal services if this goes ahead. These are very basic services that people should be able to access within their own local community. Indeed, the EU proximity principle that is applied in many instances should be applied in respect of these services. Reducing accessibility is the wrong approach entirely. This idea has to be scrapped and I am asking the Minister to intervene on this and impress on An Post the value placed on the sorting office in Harmonstown and the damage that will be caused if it is to be relocated.  An Post claims it requires bigger premises. There is a site owned by Dublin City Council right next-door to the sorting office. If An Post purchased a small piece of that site and a delicately planned planning application was made, I am sure it could be the solution. However, not having considered an extension and moving everything over to Finglas is daft.  People are sick and tired of services being pulled from their communities and this will be another valuable amenity lost in the area I represent. This is an awful proposal and it needs to be stopped. The Minister, as shareholder on behalf of the people, needs to intervene. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Frankie Feighan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Frankie Feighan  I welcome the opportunity to outline the position on this matter today. As An Post is a commercial State company with a mandate to act commercially, day-to-day operational matters, including decisions on the size, distribution and future of the network, are matters for the board and the management of the company and not ones in which either the Minister of State, Deputy McConalogue, or the Minister, Deputy O\u2019Donovan, has a statutory function. The Ministers are very aware of the impact that decisions relating to changes in An Post operations have on communities and individuals in both rural and urban areas. As this is a matter for the company, it would be inappropriate for the Government, as shareholder, to comment on or prejudice decisions which are for the board and management of An Post to consider.  Notwithstanding this is an operational matter, officials have engaged with the company. An Post has advised in the case of Harmonstown, the move is very much in the future and there is much to be considered before then. This includes which facilities in the local area will be utilised for undelivered mail. An Post has advised it is in consultation with its staff and unions on the details of the move.  An Post has noted it is consolidating its national network of local sorting offices, also known as delivery service units. An Post advises it needs larger and purpose-fitted premises to manage increased parcel volumes. An Post further advises it is hiring 300 additional postmen and postwomen across the country, some of whom will be working in this area, to manage the massive growth in volumes.  The Government is committed to a sustainable An Post and post office network as a key component of the economic and social infrastructure throughout Ireland. The programme for Government states that the Government will continue to provide a nationwide network of post offices with funding to ensure their sustainability and enhance the value they bring to local communities. The Department of Culture, Communications and Sport is working to deliver on this and an enhanced amount of \u20ac15 million per annum has been allocated for supporting the network, subject to all legal requirements being satisfied.  In line with the programme for Government, the funding will support the stability and sustainability of the nationwide network of post offices, protecting and nurturing a commercially focused post office network. It will also support access for citizens to the key social benefits of the post office network and help citizens to access services effectively and equitably.  The Government also agreed the principles on which the funding model will operate, which include: maintaining access to the network across urban and rural Ireland, ensuring no community is left behind; aligning individual funding with criteria, including the degree of isolation and the sustainability of each post office; ensuring a minimum revenue threshold for post offices; and recognising offices of cultural or geographic significance, such as those on inhabited islands or in Gaeltacht areas. Over the past couple of years, An Post has been transforming its business by delivering new products and new formats in the way it operates. This includes, among other things, diversifying and growing the financial services products it provides for individuals and SMEs. An Post is also providing agency banking services.  The Deputy has outlined his concerns and wants the Minister to intervene. I will bring those concerns back to the Minister. I thank him for his contribution. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tom Brabazon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tom Brabazon  I am not happy with this hand-wringing exercise to say there is no statutory function. As a shareholder in the company, the Minister has some influence over decisions that are being made. If a State-owned body or a semi-State body in which a Minister has a shareholding is not influenceable, there is a serious issue. I welcome, however, the Minister of State's remarks that he will bring the concerns to the attention of the line Minister. I look forward to hearing further in that regard. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Frankie Feighan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Frankie Feighan  I have listened with interest to the points the Deputy raised. Decisions on post offices, as we have indicated, are operational matters for An Post and are not a matter over which the Minister has statutory function. The Deputy outlined clearly that the Minister and the Government have a shareholding. He has asked them to use that leverage to make his views known. As I said, however, he cannot intervene. An Post has an independent board with a clear mandate but both the board and management are doing all they can to maintain the company\u2019s sustainability and relevance to customers in the future. The Minister, his officials and Cabinet colleagues are working to support the company to that end.  The Government is committed to a sustainable An Post and post office network as a key component of the economic and social infrastructure throughout Ireland. The Deputy has raised a social issue in this regard, and it should be heard by the board of An Post.  The programme for Government states that the Government will continue to provide the nationwide services. We need to continue to fund them to ensure their sustainability and enhance the value they bring to local communities. The Department of culture and communications is working to deliver on this. We will work closely in this regard. The Deputy's views are known and they will be raised with the Minister. I will ask the Minister to at least discuss these things with An Post management to alleviate these issues in the Deputy\u2019s area. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Postal Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/dbsect_38","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Commercial Rates","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/dbsect_35","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_35","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_38","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Frankie Feighan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  In 1826, 200 years ago, King George IV decided to sign into the law the government valuation of Ireland Act. That set in train the process of commercial rates. This was the way in which local government was funded. A decision was taken to levy rates on all properties. Those rates were determined based on the floor space of properties. In 1979, commercial rates were removed from domestic properties and, following a court challenge in 1984, they were also removed from agricultural properties. We are still in a situation whereby one of the main ways in which local government in Ireland is funded, to the tune of some \u20ac1.5 billion per year, is through commercial rates. This is a system that has existed for 200 years, in spite of all the changes that have happened in business since.  The Minister of State knows how enterprise has transformed in that time, particularly with new technology. For example, in my home town of Gorey, there is an Eason and a Bookstation shop, which are both good book shops. They pay commercial rates to Wexford County Council but they compete against the likes of Amazon, the world\u2019s biggest book seller, which does not pay any commercial rates because it does not have a main street presence. Those same main street retailers - it applies to every other sector as well - are also expected to contribute to our communities and sponsor local events, which they all do. Similarly, caf\u00e9s and restaurants in the hospitality sector rely on large amounts of floor space. The bigger the restaurant, however, the higher the commercial rates. It is not based on turnover.  Many forms of taxation work on the basis of income levels or turnover. I know the Minister has looked for a review around the functioning of local government more generally but this issue relates specifically to how we fund local government. I totally accept this is a political hot potato but in the modern world in which we live, we continue to decide a sizeable junk of local government funding on the basis of the floor size of a particular premise. We should also bear in mind that constituencies offices of TDs are exempt from commercial rates.  From talking to businesses, I know they view this as exceptionally unfair. During Covid, we rightly took the decision to help businesses by suspending the payment of commercial rates. In order to support our main street businesses that we all enjoy and to make it a level playing field with the online world, can we move to a situation where we either access local taxation based on turnover or find a more appropriate way of funding local government? It is bizarre that a system that is nearly 200 years old stills underpins the funding system we use. I have raised this issue on a number of occasions. In order to give businesses a break, I urge the Minister of State to move away from the current commercial rates system. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Frankie Feighan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Frankie Feighan  I thank the Deputy for raising this matter and giving me the opportunity to clarify the position regarding the basis for the assessment of rateable property for commercial rates purposes and the role of Tailte \u00c9ireann in that regard. I am taking this Topical Issue on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy James Browne.  Tailte \u00c9ireann is an independent Government agency that provides a property registration system, property valuation service and national mapping and surveying infrastructure for the State. Tailte \u00c9ireann is independent in the exercise of its valuation functions under the Valuation Act 2001, as amended. The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Browne, and the Department do not have any function in decisions in this regard. Tailte \u00c9ireann has overall responsibility under the Act for the maintenance of all valuation lists used by local authorities in the calculation of rates liability.  I thank Deputy Byrne for the information he provided. I did not realise that it was King George. Am I correct that he said it was King George? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  Yes. It was King George IV. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Frankie Feighan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Frankie Feighan  It was King George IV who introduced the valuations in Ireland 200 years ago. There has been a lot of change on the island of Ireland. Maybe we need to look at the rateable valuation of all property a bit more closely.  A valuation for commercial rates purposes is arrived at by estimating the net annual valuation, NAV, of a property, at a specified valuation date during the revaluation of a local authority area. The term \"net annual value\" has a legal definition and is set out in section 48 of the Act:  The rent for which, one year with another, the property might, in its actual state, be reasonably expected to let from year to year, on the assumption that the probable average annual cost of repairs, insurance and other expenses (if any) that would be necessary to maintain the property in that state, and all rates and other taxes payable in respect of the property, are borne by the tenant.  This definition of NAV is applied to all rateable properties across the State. The assessment of the NAV of any property is grounded in analysis of the available market evidence at the valuation date and relative to other properties on the list in the relevant rating authority area.  Estimating the NAV of a rateable property, including determining the appropriate valuation methodology, is an evidence-based exercise. The floor area of a property is only one of many factors considered when arriving at a net annual value. During a revaluation, Tailte \u00c9ireann analyses relevant market rental transactions for all rateable properties in accordance with the legislation and well-established valuation principles as well as case law arising from the independent valuation tribunal and the higher courts.  Various methodologies may be used in estimating the NAV, which is the rental value of a property. The most common methodology used is direct comparison with other similar properties which, by necessity, includes consideration of the floor areas. In some instances, the receipts and expenditure method of valuation, which relates to the turnover - or potential turnover - generated by a trading property, is particularly relevant in the assessment of NAV.  In other cases particularly for highly specialised properties, a construction cost-based approach in accordance with the provisions of section 50 of the Act may be employed. For the majority of properties such as retail units, offices and industrial units, rental evidence at or close to the valuation date is collected and analysed to establish the appropriate valuation levels to be applied on a rate per square metre basis to similarly circumstanced properties. The rates have been evaluated since 2001. I have heard it myself on the ground that a lot of businesses are quite unsatisfied and that it should perhaps be on turnover. It is a system that perhaps need to be looked at again. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  The response provided by the Department sets out the process by which it is carried out. I have no question about the professionalism of the public servants who carry it out but it is the principle. The Minister of State made the point about similarly sized businesses with regard to floor space. A bookshop in Gorey, Arklow, Wexford or Sligo is likely to be assessed in broadly the same way but the problem is their competition is the likes of Amazon and online sellers which are not subject to commercial rates. If we want to protect our main street business, which we all do, we have to have a level playing field. When it comes to infrastructure, for example, telecoms towers, rates are often based on turnover of the companies. I ask the Minister of State to take it back to the Minister. I feel passionately about this. The Minister of State knows how important main street shops and businesses are. This is an unfair cost on them. It is not that they are opposed to contributing but why are they put at a disadvantage when it comes to an online space? I could operate a multi-million euro businesses just from my phone and I would not need any floor space but if someone operates in our communities, providing vital services in many cases, it is ridiculous that the tax they have to pay is based on floor space. That was fine 200 years ago; it is certainly not in the case of a modern economy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Frankie Feighan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Frankie Feighan  To clarify the position, regarding the basis for assessment of property for commercial rates, I am taking this Topical Issue on behalf of the Minister, Deputy James Browne, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. While it is not my area, there are areas on which I agree with the Deputy. A lot has been done in updating but perhaps a lot more needs to be done because we are online now with Amazon, etc. The main street needs every support it can get. I was a retailer once. I had two or three retail businesses. Rates were always an issue along with many others. The assessment of NAV is grounded in analysis of the available market evidence at the valuation date. For the majority of properties such as retail units, offices and industrial units, rental evidence at or close to the valuation date is collected and analysed. While it is the Minister's Department, there is a case to have a look at how we rate properties. I was canvassing for the by-election in Connemara in the Gaeltacht area. It came up in a shop and we discussed it. They felt turnover might be better. I speak as an ex-retailer not a politician or Minister of State. I value the Deputy's views. Perhaps it is time to have that discussion again. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I welcome some Polish friends who are in the Gallery with the charg\u00e9 d'affaires, Mr. Artur Michalski. You are most welcome. It is lovely to have you here. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Commercial Rates"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/dbsect_39","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Vacant Properties","counts":{"speechCount":9,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/dbsect_35","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_35","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_39","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"William Aird","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Frankie Feighan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"William Aird","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy William Aird  The housing crisis continues to affect every town and village across Ireland. It remains one of the biggest challenges facing families, young people, older people and workers. As a TD, I hear every week from people struggling to find a home, buy a home or to cope with raising rents. The message is clear - more houses and more needs to be done. There is no single solution to the housing crisis and no silver bullet. We need a mix of actions. We must increase supply, support first-time buyers, improve infrastructure, speed up planning and make better use of homes we already have. One of the most urgent issues is the number of vacant and derelict properties. CSO figures - not my figures - show there are almost 70,000 vacant homes nationwide. This is a shocking figure at a time when homelessness is rising and families are in desperate need of housing. In Laois alone, there are almost 963 vacant properties. These homes are sitting empty in our towns and villages while people are struggling to find somewhere to live. Many are tied up in probate or legal issues and others need major renovation that owners just cannot afford.  At the same time, more than 17,000 people are living in emergency accommodation, including 5,000 children. If even a portion of these vacant homes were brought back into use, it would make a real difference. It would provide homes for families, ease pressure on emergency accommodation and help bring back life to the towns and villages not alone throughout my county of Laois, which I represent but every county in Ireland. This is a problem that can be seen in all towns and villages.  I welcome the grants for vacant properties and over-shop conversions. I also want to be very positive about the steps already helping to bring them back into use. I thank the Ministers and the Government agencies working on this. We must accept that land will not always be available for the development of houses. This is why we must focus more on the homes we already have which are lying idle. We need stronger supports for that and less bureaucracy, faster planning and probate processes and more incentives to bring vacant properties back into use. At a time when so many people are looking for a home, we cannot allow thousands of properties to sit empty and fall further into decline. Vacancy and dereliction must be a central part of the national response to the housing crisis.  I would like to take this opportunity to advise everybody to reflect on their nearest town or village, take a walk through it and see how many vacant properties there are. Putting aside probate and all the difficulties as regards ownership, there must be something that can be done with a short timeline of 12 or 24 months to see work carried out on them. I do not mean taking them from people but what was done all my life on the council - a valuer values the property at its value on the day. That money is put aside and when the owner comes forward, they are paid the money. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Frankie Feighan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Frankie Feighan  I thank the Deputy for the opportunity to update the Chamber on what is being done to address vacancy and dereliction. I am taking this Topical Issue on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy James Browne. The Deputy rightly said we want less bureaucracy and more assistance. Working to end dereliction and vacancy is a key priority of the Government's new housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities. The plan will ensure the activities and resources used to address vacancy and dereliction are co-ordinated and that legislative powers are used to make a serious impact on the level of dereliction and vacancy while also being a catalyst to revitalising communities. It is a blight on our cities, towns and villages and especially galling when we are under so much pressure to deliver housing for our people. A range of measures have been introduced, as the Deputy outlined, by the Government to address vacancy and dereliction.  These include the vacant property refurbishment grant and the newly launched vacant above the shop grant and expert advice grant. These grants, coupled with the repair and leasing scheme, planning exemptions for the conversion of vacant commercial properties and the compulsory purchase order, CPO, activation programme, are all working to get as many vacant properties back into use as possible.  A number of national structures have been established, including the dedicated vacant homes unit in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, a property optimisation unit in the Housing Agency and full-time vacant homes officers in each local authority. In addition, the Government's town centre first policy, introduced in 2022, provides a whole-of-government framework to address the decline in the health of towns and support measures to revitalise them. To drive the delivery of town centre first, dedicated town regeneration officers are now established within local authorities, working with vacant homes officers and other local authority staff, to tackle dereliction and develop regeneration initiatives.  The vacant property refurbishment grant, introduced in July 2022, is making a huge difference across the country. The grant provides up to \u20ac50,000 for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence and for properties which will be made available for rent. A top-up grant of up to \u20ac20,000 is available where the property is confirmed to be derelict, bringing the total grant available for a derelict property up to a maximum of \u20ac70,000. At the end of quarter 1 of 2026, 17,400 applications had been received for the grant, more than 13,000 approved and over 5,300 grants paid to date as refurbishment works have been completed, with a value of over \u20ac284 million.  Another important programme changing how local authorities tackle this issue is the CPO activation programme. The programme requires local authorities to take a proactive and systematic approach to tackling vacancy and dereliction, identifying properties and engaging with their owners. Local authorities are encouraged to use their compulsory purchase powers if engagement is not successful, with funding available for them to do so. Support and guidance are provided to all local authorities in implementing the programme by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Housing Agency. These measures are proving effective in reducing vacancy levels and there is real momentum developing right across the country in bringing empty properties back into use as homes.  The Deputy also talked about buildings being in probate. This is another issue we need to tackle but, again, a lot is being done by the local authorities, the Department of housing and all the agencies. I wish it had been done 15 or 20 years ago but a lot is happening. I thank Deputy Aird for his comments. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"William Aird","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy William Aird  As I said, I welcome the introduction of the new grant supports aimed at turning vacant buildings and above-the-shop spaces into liveable spaces. I also welcome the \u20ac70,000 grant. However, if the Minister of State goes to any town and village in his local area, he will see, given the cost of building and everything else, that despite the \u20ac70,000 grant to do up a house, where the individual owns it, it is still very difficult to do. I could cost anything from \u20ac270,000 to \u20ac300,000 to do up any of these buildings.  We talked about acquisition payments. On the CPO, I thank everybody in Laois County Council who is involved in this. It is a tremendous concept and the council has done an awful lot of work but we need money from the Department. We can have headings and the Ministers, in fairness to them, can do their level best to bring out schemes but the bottom line is this is taking far too long, from the announcement of the scheme to the time a local authority can take it up, get the money and get blocks and boots on the ground. That is not the Minister of State's problem; it is problem in the Department of housing. In regard to the acquisition payments, I guarantee the Minister of State that when a house is subject to a compulsory purchase order, it has to be perfect for living in because you get no money to do up the house. That is a fact and the Minister of State needs to know that. People accuse local authorities of not acting fast enough but if the house is not in turnkey condition, they get no money from the Department to do it up.  On the buy and renew scheme, where a council can CPO houses, while I agree with it 100%, I will give the Minister of State an example. In the case of the County Hotel in Portlaoise, this has been going on for over 12 years and we still do not have confirmation to do it. That is what is really killing people in my area. Why is it taking so long?  It is a no-brainer to do up houses. I remember the main street in Portlaoise. I can remember the main streets in Mountrath, Mountmellick, Portarlington, Abbeyleix and all these places. If we are serious about bringing people back into the heart of a town----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy David Maxwell)  Thank you, Deputy. The Minister of State has two minutes to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"William Aird","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy William Aird  The Minister of State only said it himself a minute ago. We knew everybody who was there----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy David Maxwell)  You are way over time, Deputy. I am sorry. The Minister of State has two minutes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Frankie Feighan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Frankie Feighan  I again thank Deputy Aird for the passion he has shown on this very important issue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"William Aird","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy William Aird  There is no need for the Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach to shout and roar at me. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Frankie Feighan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Frankie Feighan  The Deputy rightly raised the issues and the range of measures being taken by the Government to address vacancy and dereliction, which are a huge success. Vacancy levels are declining. An historical level of funding has been made available and this significant investment, through schemes such as the urban regeneration development fund and the vacant property refurbishment grant, is having a serious impact, bringing vacant and derelict properties back to use and revitalising towns and villages across the country.  The Government's new housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030, reinforces and expands the range of existing measures being implemented by Government to tackle the issue of vacancy and dereliction. The Deputy is absolutely right. I grew up over a shop, a newsagent on a corner in Boyle, County Roscommon. Three of us lived over the shop. There was no back door and there were 100 people on the street and 100 people on the other street. It was the same in every town and village in the country. It is galling to see that a lot of properties have fallen into disrepair. From a planning point of view, people did not want to live over a shop. The new \u20ac95,000 grant for over-the-shop living is going to be a major benefit and will help bring those town and village centres into play. People will also get \u20ac5,000 for architect's fees. The measure has only started but I think it will make a big difference.  I would love to see the towns and villages coming back into play, as has happened around Europe. Much of this housing is of a good quality and we need to do an awful lot more. I thank the Deputy for raising an issue that is close to my heart as well. A lot is being done and these new grants will certainly help bring over-the-shop houses back into play. The other grants for refurbishing older buildings have certainly helped. As I said, there have been 17,400 grants paid in the past six or seven years. We are in a better place but we need to do a lot more. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Vacant Properties"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-21\/debate\/dbsect_40","debateType":"billReport","bill":null,"showAs":"Report on Pre-Legislative Scrutiny of the Revised General Scheme of the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill: Motion","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_40","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Frankie Feighan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joanna Byrne  I move:  That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann shall take note of the Report of the Joint Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport entitled \"Report on Pre-Legislative Scrutiny of the revised General Scheme of the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill\", copies of which were laid before D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann on 17th September, 2025.  I am delighted to have the opportunity to discuss in the D\u00e1il the report on pre-legislative scrutiny of the revised general scheme of the broadcasting (amendment) Bill, which was published in September of last year. The revised Bill was referred to the Joint Committee on Arts, Media, Culture, Communications and Sport by the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Deputy Patrick O\u2019Donovan, at the committee's first meeting, on 14 May 2025.  This report represents an opportunity for a once-in-a-generation step-change to the governance and support model of public service media in Ireland. The far-reaching significance of the report is reflected in the volume of work that has informed the committee and the volume of recommendations made by the committee.  Some of the major themes and provisions of the Bill addressed in the committee's recommendations include: the reform of corporate governance and performance measurement of public service media providers; meeting the needs of under-serviced audiences; a transition to multi-annual funding settlements; the new platform-neutral media fund; protection of employment standards; the role of public service media in investing in independent media; and the need for strong protections relating to copyright and intellectual property.  The committee engaged with 19 key stakeholders at four pre-legislative scrutiny meetings in public session. Written submissions were received from these stakeholders and a further nine stakeholders to assist the committee with its pre-legislative scrutiny. The stakeholders were invaluable in the scrutiny of this Bill and I will provide an overview of what was brought to light following their engagement.  The first was the inclusion of geography as a key criterion for supporting under-served audiences. Trusted media organisations must be sustained to guarantee meeting the needs of under-served regions and calls for the provision of schemes supporting local publishers, a fair share of State advertising, fair remuneration from big tech platforms for use of news content, and defamation reform.  There is a need for inclusion of human resources, trade union affairs and governance and risk as relevant areas of expertise on boards, noting that the tradition of appointing persons with industrial relations backgrounds has been diminished.  RT\u00c9 welcomed the transition to multi-annual funding, which it states has enabled it to plan its transformation and give clarity to independent producers. Multi-annual funding gives certainty to public service broadcasters and independent production companies on the funding likely to be available, allowing for investment and development.  There are long-standing concerns about the regulatory gap relating to online forms of content. The proposal to extend Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n regulations to all forms of content published by broadcasters was welcomed as it will prevent duplication and the risk of diverging regulatory decisions. Many stakeholders noted the benefits of increased spending on independent commissions and that, accounting for inflation, RT\u00c9 investment in the independent sector is lower than in 2008. Screen Ireland noted that creating further opportunities for the independent sector will increase the sustainability of Ireland's screen sector.  The engagement allowed stakeholders to bring a number of important issues to the attention of the committee. These included the Community Television Association, CTA, and Community Radio Ireland, CRAOL. They stated concerns about the lack of specific recognition afforded to the community media sector in the revised general scheme. CTA and CRAOL stated that community media has a distinct legal status and that references to local and regional media in the Bill may be understood in a way that excludes community media from supports.  The National Union of Journalists, NUJ, raised a further issue of terminology, stating a preference for the term \"private commercial sector\" rather than \"independent sector\". NUJ stated that the term \"independent sector\" implies that in-house content produced by RT\u00c9 and TG4 is not independent. Screen Producers Ireland noted the definitions applied in determining what constitutes an independent production company for funding purposes can have a significant impact on the ecosystem of the sector and called for any debate on definitions to take place with careful considerations of the current national and European debates on this issue.  The DCU Institute for Media, Democracy and Society questioned the definition of \"public service user generated content\". It welcomed the intent to permit public funding of content intended for online distribution but noted that the popular understanding of the term \"user generated\" may imply that funding could be afforded to non-professionals working outside of the appropriate regulatory structures.  Dr. Harry Browne stated that the definition of \"public service content provider\" is more limited than it appears as many producers of content are not regulated by Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n or subject to a self-regulatory mechanism such as the Press Council of Ireland. He proposed that amending this restriction would be in keeping with the spirit of pluralism.  The written submissions and evidence presented to the committee resulted in a number of recommendations. I will briefly outline a number for the information of the House. Our report calls for a recognition of community media. This recommendation is born out of community engagement with CRAOL and CTA, which highlighted concerns to the committee regarding the lack of specific recognition afforded to the community media sector and stated references to local and regional media in the Bill will be understood in a way that excludes community media from supports. We agree that this needs to be addressed in recognition of the immense service community media provides in our communities throughout the State.  The committee recommends that Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n be empowered to establish a dedicated media funds scheme to support existing public interest current affairs content at risk of becoming commercially unsustainable and that such a scheme should be assessed for state aid compliance on a stand-alone basis. Stakeholders expressed much concern and, indeed, confusion regarding the interpretation and implication of additionality rules. The committee believes ways must be examined to support public interest current affairs content that may be at risk.  Furthermore, our report calls for the introduction of a content levy in line with the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022, which will be used to assist in the funding of the production of Irish content. This issue deserves serious consideration. It builds on a recommendation made by our predecessor committee, which also called for the expedition of such a levy being introduced. It was a common call from the wide-ranging stakeholders with whom we engaged.  The committee recommended that the protection and promotion of sustainable employment and the principle of equal pay for equal work should be included as a duty with the boards RT\u00c9 and TG4. The committee also recommended that the Bill require RT\u00c9 and TG4 to publish the objective criteria it uses to determine employment status and for using contracts of service and to ensure these criteria abide by the Karshan decision of the Supreme Court and the code of practice. The committee requested that the Minister, Deputy Patrick O'Donovan, considers the content of the report before the Bill commences the formal legislative process. The committee can speak with one voice in welcoming many of the broad principles of the Bill and share the commitment of the Minister to enhancing trust and support of our public service media. We present these recommendations in the hope that our report will be a constructive contribution to the drafting of the Bill and the reform of public service media in Ireland.  I welcome that colleagues across government and opposition have come together to recognise that the geoblocking of audiences, exclusion from competitions and erasure from maps of the Six Counties by RT\u00c9 needs to be addressed. This recommendation was one of a number of Sinn F\u00e9in proposals accepted on a cross-party basis at committee and demonstrates a unity of purpose among Deputies and Senators to make sure national broadcasters serves the whole of the nation.  The committee also agreed with a Sinn F\u00e9in proposal that regional public meetings be held across Ireland, including in the Six Counties, as part of nationwide consultations by the audience councils of RT\u00c9 and TG4 to ensure the input of audiences when providing feedback. I encourage the Minister to heed the call from Government colleagues to implement these proposals to end geoblocking and include audiences from across the island when he drafts the final Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Frankie Feighan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (Deputy Frankie Feighan)  Cuirim f\u00e1ilte roimh an deis an tuarasc\u00e1il ghrinnscr\u00fadaithe r\u00e9amhreachtach ar sc\u00e9im ghinear\u00e1lta athbhreithnithe an Bhille craolach\u00e1in (leas\u00fa) a phl\u00e9 tr\u00e1thn\u00f3na. Ar an gc\u00e9ad dul s\u00edos, tugaim aitheantas don m\u00e9id oibre at\u00e1 d\u00e9anta ag an gcoiste agus an tuarasc\u00e1il seo \u00e1 hullmh\u00fa. Ba mhaith liom aitheantas a thabhairt freisin don rannph\u00e1irt\u00edocht fhairsing agus chuiditheach a bh\u00ed ag an gcoiste le p\u00e1irtithe leasmhara.  I welcome the opportunity to discuss the pre-legislative scrutiny report of the revised general scheme of the broadcasting (amendment) Bill. I would like to acknowledge the amount of work the committee has done in preparing the report. I would also like to recognise the extensive and constructive engagement the committee had with key stakeholders. I thank Deputy Byrne for her submission and informative contribution.  The Minister, Deputy O\u2019Donovan, obtained Government approval to publish the Bill on Tuesday. The Bill meets a key programme for Government commitment to enact new legislation to reform the corporate governance model of RT\u00c9. The Bill also implements the key legislative recommendations of the report of the Future of Media Commission, transposes those elements of the European Media Freedom Act that relate to safeguarding of the independence of public service media and implements the legislative recommendations of the expert advisory committee on governance and culture in RT\u00c9, chaired by Professor Niamh Brennan.  Taken as a whole, the Bill will enhance transparency, accountability and value for money in RT\u00c9 and TG4 across five different areas. First, it will reform the statutory basis underpinning the corporate governance of RT\u00c9. A key element of this will be the assignment of the Comptroller and Auditor General as auditor of RT\u00c9 to carry out annual audits of their financial statements and, where the Comptroller and Auditor General considers it appropriate, a value for money examination. The Bill will also make the director general of RT\u00c9 directly accountable to the Committee of Public Accounts for RT\u00c9\u2019s annual finance statements and value for money matters.  Second, the Bill will enhance the framework for assessing the performance and funding of RT\u00c9 and TG4 by providing Coimisi\u00fan na Mean with greater authority to identify performance targets and hold RT\u00c9 and TG4 to account for their performance.  Third, the Bill will provide a legislative basis for greater transparency in respect of the anonymised reporting of remuneration by RT\u00c9 and TG4.  Fourth, the Bill will strengthen the role and independence of the audience councils of RT\u00c9 and TG4.  Fifth, media service duties and codes that currently apply to broadcast content, such as those which apply to fairness, impartiality and objectivity in news and current affairs, will be applied to non-broadcast content.  The Bill is not only about public service media providers. We need diverse journalism and programming to be provided by diverse providers locally, regionally and nationally.  In our digital age and to reach the widest audiences, public service content cannot be confined to any single medium. For that reason, the Bill will convert the existing broadcasting fund to a platform-neutral fund known as Ciste na Me\u00e1n, which will support the production, distribution and archiving of public service content across all formats by the wider media sector. This will ensure an enduring legislative basis for the continuing provision of high-quality programming and print journalism across our country. The Bill will also require RT\u00c9 to allocate 25% of its public funding to commission audiovisual and audio programming from the independent sector. This target will no longer be confined to broadcast material but will also cover podcasts and audiovisual programming to be made available on the on-demand player.  In terms of regulatory powers, Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n already has extensive powers to require information from a provider following the opening of a formal investigation. Outside of investigations and as part of its supervisory function, it also has the power to require, by notice in writing, a regulated provider to provide Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n with information relating to compliance with the online safety code. The Bill will extend this information-gathering power to require regulated entities to provide information related to compliance with other elements of the online safety framework and media service codes and rules.  Following its establishment in May 2025, the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, submitted the revised general scheme of the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill to the Joint Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport for pre-legislative scrutiny. As I said, I recognise the extensive consultation undertaken by the committee in its work. Each of the 85 recommendations in the pre-legislative scrutiny report reflects the serious approach adopted by the committee in carrying out its task. On receipt of the report of the committee, the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport carried out an analysis of each recommendation to assess whether it could be provided for in the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill in the course of detailed drafting. The Minister provided a summary of this analysis to the Cathaoirleach in February and set out his intentions regarding the recommendations at that time. Following the publication of the Bill on Tuesday, the Minister wrote to the Cathaoirleach to provide an update.  In summary, the Minister considered that 68 of the recommendations made by the committee can be or already have been implemented. Of these, 34 have been incorporated in the Bill, with one recommendation to be addressed on Committee Stage and a further recommendation to be considered at that point following further analysis. Eleven recommendations can be implemented administratively by the Department, RT\u00c9, TG4 or Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n, as appropriate, and 21 recommendations are already implemented in broadcasting legislation or were covered in the general scheme of the Bill. In terms of the remaining 17 recommendations, seven were considered more appropriate to legislation which has horizontal effect across many sectors, such as employment, tax, social insurance and copyright law. It was decided not to accept ten of the recommendations. On the media funding schemes and the assessment of the performance and funding of RT\u00c9 and TG4, in terms of the specifics of the committee's recommendations, 17 related to the funding of the wider media sector and 11 related to the assessment of RT\u00c9 and TG4 by Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n. Thirteen of these have been addressed through the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill.  In particular, I highlight that the Bill will now align the triennial appraisal of the performance and funding of RT\u00c9 and TG4 by Coimisi\u00fan na Mean with the triennial review of public service content, so that the reviews will cover the years 2028 to 2030. Coimisi\u00fan na Mean will now submit both reports on 30 June 2027. The triennial appraisal of RT\u00c9 and TG4 will identify the performance commitments, outputs, associated financial inputs, performance indicators and metrics which shall apply to RT\u00c9 and TG4 for each three-year period and include a funding recommendation to Government on that basis. The triennial review of public service content will assess the position regarding the supply of such content on a national, regional and local basis by the wider sector. In line with the committee's recommendation, this review will now specifically include a review of public service content provision in the Irish language. It will also contain recommendations to Government on measures which could increase the supply of public service content.  Receiving both reports together will facilitate a coherent response that takes into consideration the funding needs of RT\u00c9 and TG4 and the support needed to ensure the commercial sector provides sufficient public service content and, in particular, public interest journalism. The Bill further takes into account the committee's recommendations by requiring that both triennial reviews are submitted to Government no latter than six weeks after the annual budget and Estimates.  One of the key objectives of the Bill is to ensure and enable the support of a diversity of providers. To that end, and in line with the committee's recommendations, the Bill now specifies that Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n may introduce funding schemes to promote the development of community broadcasters. Funding has already been secured for specific supports for community media, with an Exchequer allocation of \u20ac1 million in budget 2026.  I am conscious that there was an extensive discussion during the pre-legislative scrutiny of the requirement for additionality in media funding schemes and whether State support could be provided to fund existing activities undertaken by commercial media. This requirement stems from state aid rules and domestic guidance on the appraisal and implementation of public expenditure set out in the public spending code. The European Commission typically describes the additionality principle as requiring any state aid to change the behaviour of recipients in such a way that they carry out an activity that they would not carry out without the aid. Departmental officials set out the current technical position in a note to the committee in July 2025. There are very limited circumstances in which a scheme which supports the existing activities of the commercial sector would be compliant with state aid rules. Notwithstanding the complexities of designing such a scheme and difficulties of securing approval at EU level, we do not want to rule out the possibility in our domestic legislation. For that reason, the Bill now provides that schemes which support existing content may be funded from Ciste na Me\u00e1n, in line with the recommendation of the committee.  The reform of the legislative underpinning for the governance of RT\u00c9 and TG4 is at the core of the Bill. The functions and duties of the boards of RT\u00c9 and TG4 will be strengthened in accordance with recommendations of Professor Niamh Brennan's expert advisory committee. This will include a specific function to put in place arrangements for the management and accountability of the directors general in their capacity as chief executive officers of the public service media providers. The Bill also provides for expanded functions and duties of, and accountability provisions for, the directors general of RT\u00c9 and TG4. It also sets out the process for their appointment and dismissal in detail. In accordance with the European Media Freedom Act, the Government will no longer have a role in consenting to the appointment of a director general. However, the approval of the Minister and Minister for public expenditure will still be required to determine the remuneration and terms and conditions of employment of a director general.  The committee made nine recommendations in respect of corporate governance. A number of these related to matters already covered by employment law or the code of practice on determining employment status are not appropriate for media legislation. However, I emphasise that RT\u00c9 must comply with all applicable employment, tax and social protection law. We have strong protections in law in this country and the Revenue Commissioners, the Department of Social Protection and the Workplace Relations Commission have issued clear guidelines in their respective areas. It is particularly important that RT\u00c9, as a State body, adheres fully to these laws and guidelines.  I will address the recommendation that the Bill provide explicit clarity that the restriction on directors general to comment on policy matters at the public accounts committee. It is without prejudice to their editorial independence as directors general. In response to this recommendation and as a general approach, the editorial independence of the directors general as editor-in-chief has been significantly expanded and clarified in the Bill.  At the same time, their accountability as chief executive officers for the administration of the providers to their board and to the Committee of Public Accounts has been strengthened. The Bill also provides for the responsibility of the director general, as editor in chief, to put in place a statement of principles and procedures to ensure high standards in its content and for compliance with the media services duties set out in law, such as fairness, impartiality and objectivity in news and current affairs. Both RT\u00c9 and TG4 will continue to be accountable to Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n, as regulator, for their adherence to these duties and any media service codes made by Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n.  As public service media providers, RT\u00c9 and TG4 are an essential part of the democratic, social and cultural life of our country. They play a vital role in providing programming that informs, educates and entertains, and in acting as sources of trustworthy and reliable information for the public. As we have been reminded this past week, to be effective our public service media providers must be trusted. This requires that they, in particular RT\u00c9, be open and transparent and demonstrate the very highest standards in corporate governance. The broadcasting (amendment) Bill will fundamentally reform the governance and regulation of RT\u00c9 and provide a legislative foundation for RT\u00c9 to rebuild the trust of the public.  Once again, I pay tribute to the work of the committee, which is demonstrated by the incorporation of many of its recommendations into the Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy David Maxwell)  As we have no other Members present for the debate, I call the Minister of State to make his closing remarks. He has ten minutes. I will then give Deputy Byrne ten minutes for her final remarks. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Frankie Feighan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (Deputy Frankie Feighan)  I thank Deputy Byrne for her contribution this evening. It reflects the level of scrutiny already undertaken of the provisions of the broadcasting (amendment) Bill. In my opening statement, I did not have the opportunity to discuss some of the areas raised by the committee in the pre-legislative scrutiny report, so I will turn to those first.  The committee made 12 recommendations relating to the audience councils of RT\u00c9 and TG4. The audience councils play an important role in representing the views of the people of the island of Ireland to the boards of RT\u00c9 and TG4 in respect of the activities of the providers. The Bill will expand the role of the audience councils by providing for the independence of the audience councils of RT\u00c9 and TG4 and the selection of members of both councils by Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n following a public competition.  Eight of the committee's recommendations have been addressed through the broadcasting (amendment) Bill. In particular, the Bill now requires that RT\u00c9 and TG4 must respond to every annual report prepared by an audience council, in addition to any special report. An audience council plays a role structurally distinct from that of Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n as regulator, adding an additional and different level of accountability. The Bill clearly provides for those three separate and distinct roles.  In addition to strengthening the independence of the audience councils, the Bill seeks to ensure they are representative of the people of the island of Ireland, including certain under-served audiences, such as those who may be under-served by virtue of their age or where they live. In that context and in line with the recommendations of the committee, the Bill now provides for specific reference to ensuring membership of the councils of those who are under-served by virtue of a disability.  The Bill is intended to provide a robust legislative foundation for the growth in Irish-language programming and journalism. Central to this is a requirement that a minimum of 25% of funding disbursed through media schemes must be made available for Irish-language content. The committee made six recommendations aimed at further promoting the Irish language in the media sector, five of which the Minister has addressed directly in the Bill. In particular, the review of public service content undertaken by Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n will now specifically include a review of public service content provision in the Irish language.  The Bill also provides that the Broadcasting Fund will remain Ciste na Me\u00e1n rather than the media fund, as recommended by the committee.  Given that the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act was enacted only three and a half years ago, the Bill includes limited provisions for media regulation, focusing instead on ensuring that Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n has sufficient powers to ensure the online safety framework and sufficient powers in bringing RT\u00c9's and TG4's non-broadcast content under the ambit of media service duties and codes.  However, there is one area I would like to take the opportunity to highlight. The committee recommended that provision be made in the Bill for the monitoring, reporting and setting of targets relating to airplay for Irish musicians on radio, including diversity of musical forms, artists and experience. As Deputies are aware, airplay quotas based on the nationality of a musician are contrary to European law. As an alternative, the Bill provides express authority to Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n to make media services codes to promote a diversity of music composed or performed by persons with a connection with the island of Ireland on radio. It also provides that the codes include provisions to measure the level of diversity, which will enable us all to assess how radio broadcasters are performing in showcasing Irish musicians.  The main focus of the national reaction to the broadcasting (amendment) Bill has been on the appointment of the Comptroller and Auditor General as auditor of RT\u00c9. This is understandable given the events of the past week. The reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General on the annual financial statements of RT\u00c9 and the direct accountability of the director general to the Committee of Public Accounts are central to the reform of RT\u00c9. The Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, is therefore hoping to progress the Bill and commence the relevant sections as quickly as possible to provide the necessary authority to the Comptroller and Auditor General to audit RT\u00c9's 2026 financial statements. However, as the extensive pre-legislative scrutiny report of the committee attests, this legislation is far-reaching and intended to comprehensively address transparency, accountability and value for money in our public service media providers and support for public interest journalism and quality programming more generally.  The provisions of the Bill are intended to be complementary and reinforcing. With regard to value for money, while the Comptroller and Auditor General will be auditing RT\u00c9's accounts on an annual basis, we are also strengthening the role of Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n in assessing the annual performance of RT\u00c9 and TG4 against the statutory public service remit.  On transparency, RT\u00c9 will be required to publish information not only on the remuneration of staff and contractors but also on the cost of commissioning from the independent sector, including information on the contribution made to commissioning costs across the public sector.  On accountability, Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n, rather than RT\u00c9 and TG4 themselves, will now ultimately determine the performance commitments of our public service providers and will hold them to account for that performance.  The Bill, First Stage of which will commence shortly, reflects the vital role of pre-legislative scrutiny in our legislative process. The Bill takes account of many of the committee's recommendations and is stronger and more robust for it. I know that the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, looks forward to working with the committee to bring the Bill through the legislative process to enactment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joanna Byrne  I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, for being here this evening, for his contribution and for his acknowledgement of the work of the committee over an extensive period in recent months. I also thank the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, for acknowledging that work.  Given the controversies around RT\u00c9 and the fact that it is back in the headlines this week, I very much welcome the decision that it will finally come under the remit of the Comptroller and Auditor General. It is just a shame that the Government voted down Sinn F\u00e9in's Broadcasting (Oversight of RT\u00c9 Accounts) (Amendment) Bill only last year. We could have moved on this prior to this latest controversy in the headlines.  Regarding the response to the committee's report, given that the committee members are not here this afternoon, I am not going to speak for them. However, it should be noted that the Minister has acted on only 68 of the 85 recommendations of the committee. That leaves 20% of them not included in the Bill, which I believe we will debate on Second Stage next Thursday. Some of them are relevant to different sectors, including employment, tax, social insurance and copyright law, as outlined by the Minister of State. I understand that, but my understanding is that it has been decided not to accept ten of the recommendations. I am sure committee members will want to make their own contributions on this on Second Stage.  I will not hold everybody up too late. Suffice it to say it is disappointing that geo-blocking was not mentioned in either the opening contribution or closing comments of the Minister of State.  I understand they are not coming directly from the Minister of State himself but I sincerely hope that is not a reflection of the Government's intent with regard to this Bill. If it is, Deputy \u00d3 Snodaigh and I have introduced the Broadcasting (All Ireland Service) (Amendment) Bill at First Stage and will have to pursue that if this is not included in the Bill next week. I put that on the record. I thank the Minister of State for his time. I know it is a busy week and there are other things going on. I appreciate his contribution. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar athl\u00f3 ar 4.41 p.m. go dt\u00ed 2 p.m., D\u00e9 M\u00e1irt, an 26 Bealtaine 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The D\u00e1il adjourned at 4.41 p.m. until 2 p.m. on Tuesday, 26 May 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Report on Pre-Legislative Scrutiny of the Revised General Scheme of the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill: Motion"}]}}]},"contextDate":"2026-05-21"},{"debateRecord":{"house":{"showAs":"34th D\u00e1il","committeeCode":"","houseCode":"dail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/house\/dail\/34","chamberType":"house","houseNo":"34"},"chamber":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/def\/house\/dail","showAs":"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann"},"lastUpdated":"2026-07-03T02:14:20+00:00","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-20\/debate\/main","formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-20\/debate\/mul@\/main.xml"},"pdf":null},"date":"2026-05-20","counts":{"contributorCount":166,"divisionCount":9,"debateSectionCount":20,"questionCount":0,"billCount":8},"debateType":"debate","debateSections":[{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-20\/debate\/dbsect_2","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case:  Deputy Robert O'Donoghue - To discuss funding for family resource centre buildings.  Deputies Sorca Clarke, Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh and M\u00e1ire Devine - To discuss the proposal to close a ten-bed child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS, unit in St. Vincent\u2019s Hospital, Fairview, Dublin.  Deputy Michael Collins - To discuss the proposed autism centre in west Cork.  Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere - To discuss the VFI-proposed on-trade sustainability scheme as a means of helping rural pubs.  Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail - To discuss social infrastructure provision in Kildare North.  Deputy Michael Healy-Rae - To discuss the incoming regulations on short-term letting.  Deputy Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in - To discuss the case of a young woman requiring life-saving treatment in the US.  Deputies Cian O'Callaghan and Barry Heneghan - To discuss safeguarding, governance and resourcing at Belmayne Community Special School.  Deputy Joanna Byrne - To discuss the need for the Drogheda north train station.  Deputy Malcolm Byrne - To discuss reforming the method of funding of local government through commercial rates.  Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher - To discuss the designation of Burtonport as an approved port for landings by fishing vessels on a Saturday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.  Deputy Eamon Scanlon - To discuss the exceptional staffing pressures at a school in County Sligo.  Deputy Louis O'Hara - To discuss the ban on turf cutting in Barroughter, Clonmoylan and Ardraigue bogs in County Galway.  Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire - To discuss the interception of the Global Sumud aid flotilla and detention of Irish citizens onboard by Israeli forces.  Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa - To discuss facilitation of a marathon run by two brothers in order to raise money to fight dementia.  Deputy Thomas Gould - To discuss legacy maintenance issues in Cork housing estates.  Deputies Richard Boyd Barrett and Paul Murphy - To discuss the rights and treatment of Oireachtas TV workers.  Deputies Ciar\u00e1n Ahern, John Lahart, Se\u00e1n Crowe and Colm Brophy - To discuss the proposed move of the An Post sorting office in Edmondstown to Lucan.  The matters raised by Deputies Ciar\u00e1n Ahern, John Lahart, Se\u00e1n Crowe and Colm Brophy, Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in, Sorca Clarke, Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh and M\u00e1ire Devine, Michael Healy-Rae, and Peter 'Chap' Cleere have been selected for discussion. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-20\/debate\/dbsect_3","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-20\/debate\/dbsect_4","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Postal Services","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":4},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-20\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_4","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Lahart","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Lahart.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Lahart.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  We are here today to register our strong disapproval of the proposed move of an An Post sorting office from Edmondstown to Lucan across the city. This is an issue of serious concern across parties. As the Minister of State can see, there are three Deputies here from the constituency but I know the two other Deputies will have similar feelings about this. This sorting office serves people in Dublin South-West as well as Dublin Rathdown and there are Deputies and councillors in both constituencies who have serious concerns about this.  This sorting office has been a prized local asset for decades. It is an issue as it is a public service in the area. People locally see this as a degradation of services in our area. In practical terms, it would be asking people from Rathfarnham, essentially, and that area to travel across the already congested M50 to pick up parcels in Lucan rather than being able to do it locally. The staff and the local people are really concerned about it. We have heard rumours. We have not heard anything formally from An Post about this yet. The Minister of State has written to me about it and said that this is still a proposal but we would like to get some facts and we would like a meeting with An Post. That is what I am asking for today. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Lahart","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Lahart.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Lahart.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Lahart  I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this Topical Issue matter, which should have included our colleague, Deputy Paul Murphy, as well. I ought to say that. The four non-officeholders in Dublin South West come together when there is an issue of serious concern to all of us, and this is one such issue of concern. It is to raise the reported proposal by An Post to close the sorting office at Edmondstown in my own parish and relocate its operations to a centralised hub in Grange Castle in Lucan. As the Minister of State knows, the proposal has caused significant concern across a wide area of south Dublin, including Rathfarnham, Knocklyon, Ballycullen, Ballyroan, Ballyboden, Butterfield and those areas. The Edmondstown facility currently provides reliable, accessible and community-focused services. It allows residents to easily collect missed deliveries and engage with a local service that is clearly valued and has employed a lot of local people historically.  As was mentioned, the proposed location would require residents to travel across the M50 to Lucan simply to collect a parcel and for many, this is a significant and unreasonable burden. We have been contacted by constituents with no access to private transport or who may have significant needs and are not able to use public transport. Postal workers are also concerned about significantly longer commutes for them. Is the Minister of State aware of the plans? Has any impact assessment been carried out? What engagement has been taking place? Will he intervene to protect local services? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Crowe  We know that An Post has a plan to relocate these sorting offices. It is not only Edmondstown. It is also talking about closing one in Tallaght and relocating the one in Churchtown, which is in Dublin 14, to Edmondstown. There is a demand in relation to the levels of parcels. It is at Christmas levels at the moment, and it is growing all the time. We accept that there needs to be efficiencies in relation to that but the distance involved is considerable. Travelling from Rathfarnham to Lucan is not straightforward, particularly given chronic traffic congestion across south and west Dublin. Second, public transport options in Rathfarnham and Lucan are limited and indirect for many residents, particularly older people and those with disabilities or those without access to a car. Collecting missed deliveries would become extremely difficult. Many of the people who are impacted by this would have to go the M50 route with all the challenges in relation to that. Part of the challenge is that we have not got the information from An Post of exactly what it is going to do and staff or local customers have not been informed either. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport (Deputy Charlie McConalogue)  I thank Deputies Ahern, Lahart and Crowe, and Deputy Murphy as well, for bringing this matter to the Chamber and raising it with me. The Deputies will already be aware of the statutory structure of An Post. It is an independent commercial State body and makes its decisions in this regard. These decisions are operational in nature. I know Deputies are aware of that. As they have outlined, it is an important issue in their area and they are bringing it to the floor of the D\u00e1il. They are seeking particular engagement with An Post. Coming out of this debate today, I will engage with An Post informing it of the concerns Deputies have raised on the floor of the D\u00e1il as public representatives in the area and ask that the relevant management of An Post meet with them to discuss the matter. Obviously, whenever there is change such as this, it is really important there is engagement with the staff and the unions, which An Post has informed me is ongoing. It is really important that is the case but it is also appropriate in this case that it should meet with the Deputies, who have expressed concerns, to discuss the plan and where it is at and how everyone can be consulted and engaged with and that change is managed in a way that works for everyone.  An Post has advised me that it is considering moving the An Post delivery office - not the post office but the delivery office - from Edmondstown, Dublin 16, to a new Dublin west delivery hub later this year. It has noted as well that it is in consultation with its union and staff and that the company will be working hard to ensure local customers are not disadvantaged. This work includes securing local post offices to enable customers to pick up missed mail. As noted, it is a matter for the company directly as opposed to the Government. Neither I nor the Minister, Deputy O\u2019Donovan, as the shareholders, are in a position to make these decisions. It is an operational matter for it. An Post has noted that it is consolidating its national network of local sorting offices, also known as delivery service units, DSUs, on the basis that it needs larger and purpose fitted premises to manage increased parcel volumes. It is also in the process of hiring and will be hiring 300 additional postmen and women across the country, some of whom will be working in this area to manage the massive growth that we are seeing in volumes.  We are seeing a transformation in relation to postal services. Obviously, the number of letters and how people conduct their lives is changing. It is really important that An Post is in a position to be able to adapt and be at the forefront of that change, particularly being able to accommodate the demand in terms of parcels, online sales and business that is happening, and it has been. It is very much at the forefront of that and is doing a really good job. For it to be able to continue to be a strong company, serving the public of this country into the future, it is really important that we work with it in enabling it to be able to deal with that demand and work with all of its staff in a way that serves the public well.  That does mean, I know, that in many parts of the country - I have the same in my county - they are having to change their sorting offices and to consolidate them into delivery and sorting offices which are capable of meeting that increased demand and the increased demand that will be there in the future.  There has been a lot of change already in relation to this. I note the issues the Deputies have raised. I will facilitate and ask for a meeting with them. From the point of view of the Government, we want An Post to be strong and, in particular, we want its services to the public, whether in relation to letters or parcels, to be effective. We also want the post office network to be maintained. That is why the Government has increased funding to the post office network from \u20ac10 million to \u20ac15 million this year to make sure we can maintain a strong post office network in the midst of that change. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  We all want to see a strong An Post, but it is important that I also recognise that it is not an entirely commercial body and that it does have a public service mandate as well. There is a lot of uncertainty around the area, whether it is staff or locals, about the future and we are getting a lot of our information second-hand. We would like to see the plan, to the extent that there is one. There are concerns about what we have heard, that collection points might be in local post offices from now on. They are located in SuperValu stores and so on, but they do not have the same opening hours as the sorting office would have. They would not be open before or after work. We would like an end to the uncertainty and to see the plan. We would like to meet with An Post, if the Minister of State can arrange that, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Lahart","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Lahart.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Lahart.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Lahart  I welcome the fact that the Minister of State will do his best to facilitate engagement directly between An Post and the public representatives who have raised this matter. I also welcome the news about 300 additional postmen and postwomen, some of whom will be employed in the local area. That is really good news. As regards the talk about dispersing what Edmondstown sorting office does to other local post offices, we have lost Templeogue post office and we lost Rathfarnham post office. They were never replaced despite great efforts by local public representatives. As for the last remaining local post office in this area, in Ballyroan, I do not want to comment on it because I do not own or run it, but just from going in and out and engaging, I just wonder about its capacity to store material. I acknowledge that An Post is growing in terms of deliveries, but this is local, it is a service issue, it is about local people and it is about workers now potentially having to engage in much longer commutes and, certainly, older people and people with disabilities having to engage in cruel commutes just to collect parcels. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Crowe  My only experience is going into the Tallaght sorting office, and I have never gone in without other people being there. There are always queues there, which highlights the fact that it is being used. We are told that there is a plan in place. We do not know what the plan is so we are looking for information about that plan. At the end of the day, we need to know where the parcels will go, if they are not delivered to households. A lot of people living in apartments cannot get access to their parcels and so on. Where do they have to go? What is proposed in relation to the location in Lucan is unsuitable. We are looking for a compromise on that. There is also the issue of staff. Most of the staff live locally and are from the locality, whether it is Edmondstown, Tallaght or some of the other areas. Again, this will move people, create extra traffic and so on. What is being talked about is unsuitable. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  The most important engagement here will be between An Post and its staff in relation to the proposal and the management of that, and taking on board any concerns that are there. It is important that that continues and is detailed and respectful of everyone. The Deputies, as public representatives, are raising how this issue will impact on the wider public and the importance of staff engagement. I will request that a meeting be organised with them to discuss these issues further.  We all know and accept, I think, that significant change is happening. It is important that An Post is in a position to respond to that, has the capacity to deal with it and is at the forefront of that change to ensure our commercial semi-State body is at the heart of the postal service and commercial delivery in the future, also because it has a public service remit. Considering how the public is served and considering letter delivering capacity, we need to continue to have a good postal letter service in the future. With An Post at the forefront of the online commercial side, it can also make sure that it will be in a position to provide the best possible letter delivery service because of the financial strength of the company.  I thank the Deputies for raising this matter. I will certainly take it up and have that meeting facilitated. I hope, in terms of their input and particularly the ongoing appropriate engagement between An Post and the staff, that this is stepped out in a way that works for the staff and particularly for the public, whom we all want to see properly served in their local communities. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Postal Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-20\/debate\/dbsect_5","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Rare Diseases","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-20\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_5","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  Since this relates to an individual, I am conscious that we should be mindful of their privacy and their family. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in  I once more raise the case of a young Arklow Gaelscoil teacher, E\u00edmear Byrne, with the Minister of State and the Government. As the Minister of State knows, E\u00edmear urgently needs life-saving treatment in the US that costs \u20ac600,000. Recently, E\u00edmear received devastating news. Doctors discovered three more aneurysms and she now needs a third open-heart surgery procedure. This one is even more complex and urgent, so time is critical and the family and the community of south Wicklow need and want the Government to intervene to get E\u00edmear to the USA as soon as possible. Life-saving treatment can be done there immediately if the money is available. I plead with the Government again to make an intervention under the exceptional circumstances clause, which does exist.  Considering the complexity of E\u00edmear's condition and the risks involved, the surgery needs to be carried out urgently in a specialised clinic such as Johns Hopkins in the US, which has the necessary medical experience and the facilities to treat patients like E\u00edmear. Surgery in this hospital will reduce the rate of mortality during the procedure and reduce potentially life-altering complications such as a second stroke. The operation and rehabilitation in America will give E\u00edmear the best chance of survival so she can live a long, happy and fulfilling life and continue educating the children of Arklow in their native language, as she loves to do.  In terms of fund-raising, E\u00edmear states:  I have been looking for help with the Government for funding since October 2025 and to no avail. This is why my family have had to look for community support by setting up a GoFundMe page.  There is a GoFundMe page for E\u00edmear Byrne in Arklow. Dozens of fund-raising events around the town over recent months have so far raised \u20ac230,000 of the required \u20ac600,000. People had to dig deep because the Government just was not doing anything. Last Friday, I attended an event in Pearse Park, Arklow. It made the Guinness Book of Records. There were 254 people patting each other on the back as a reference to the community having E\u00edmear's back because the Government has not had her back to date but the community has. Local people have been tremendous, absolutely inspiring. However, they can only be expected to do so much. They have done their bit.  Will the Department of Health and the Government now do their part and make up the shortfall for an Irish citizen in her time of need for life-saving surgery? We got answers about the treatment abroad scheme. I realise that the treatment abroad scheme covers only the European Union and the European Economic Area. I know that. However, there is the facility for the Department to fund treatment in the US under exceptional circumstances if it cannot be done in the EU, which is on guidance from E\u00edmear's consultants. The Government already funds patients to travel to the US for specialised medical treatment but on an exceptional basis. An exceptional basis, as the Minister of State knows, can be made under three specific conditions. There is the high-cost drugs treatment protocol. Second, there is the out-of-State policy application. Third, is the exceptional circumstances clause, which is what I am asking about. Patients have historically received and secured funding to go to US-based medical centres for rare conditions and for extremely complex procedures when an Irish public consultant provides strong clinical justification that this care is essential and proven. E\u00edmear's case fits the criteria. I have gone through it with HSE personnel.  It fits the criteria. All I want to know is whether the Government will step in. It is small money in the greater scheme of things in terms of expenditure. This has to be done as a matter of urgency. I hope the Minister of State and the Department will have a positive answer for us, the people of Arklow and the family. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Mary Butler)  I thank Deputy \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in for raising this matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. The Minister is aware of the case the Deputy referred to and acknowledges the very difficult circumstances outlined by him and how difficult the situation described is for this young teacher and her family.  In relation to the EU treatment abroad scheme, the HSE operates the scheme for people entitled under EU Regulation No. 883\/2004. The Minister for Health has no role in directing treatment. Section 6 of the Health Service Executive (Governance) Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.  The treatment abroad scheme is a consultant-led scheme and allows for a public consultant based in Ireland to refer a public patient who is normally resident in Ireland for treatment in the public healthcare system of another European Union or European Economic Area member state, the UK or Switzerland. Under the EU regulations and guidelines, the EU treatment abroad scheme provides for the cost of approved public treatments in another EU-EEA member state, the UK or Switzerland, through the issue of form S2, where the treatment is among the benefits provided by the Irish legislation and where it is not available in Ireland, or not available within the time normally necessary for obtaining it in Ireland, taking account of the patient's current state of health and the probable course of the disease. It is important to note that there is no statutory framework for referral of public patients outside the EU-EEA member states, the UK or Switzerland, or for the funding of any such treatment.  The HSE has informed officials in the Department of Health that it received an application under the treatment abroad scheme, seeking funding of treatment in the USA, in this case on 1 April 2026 and that it has engaged with the applicant and her family regarding this matter. The HSE has advised that at this time the applicant did not meet the criteria of the treatment abroad scheme, which the Deputy mentioned, on two different grounds, namely, that the treatment sought was not to be provided within the EU-EEA, the UK or Switzerland, and she was not a public patient. The applicant is attending a consultant in a private capacity. The HSE treatment abroad scheme has advised that it suggested to the applicant's referring consultant that he engage with the relevant European reference network, ERN, the European reference network on rare multisystemic vascular diseases. The ERN enables specialists in Europe to discuss cases of patients affected by rare, low-prevalence and complex diseases, providing advice on the most appropriate diagnosis and the best treatment available. Ireland is an active participant in ERNs, with 18 recognised centres involved across a range of networks. Engagement with ERNs is an important step in ensuring that all appropriate EU-based expertise and treatment options have been explored.  I assure the Deputy that officials in the Department of Health will continue to engage with the HSE to seek further updates that all avenues within Ireland and the EU that may be open to the young woman in question and her family have been fully explored in response to the very difficult circumstances outlined by him. I will also take on board and discuss with the Minister the clause the Deputy raised in relation to exceptional circumstances which fall outside the scope of the current support that can be provided and to see whether that can be looked at as a matter of urgency. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in  With respect, that is very similar to a stock answer the family has been given over the past few months. I will not accept the answer and I know E\u00edmear, her family and the community in south Wicklow will not accept this answer from the Government or the Department. It is a stock answer and it is simply not good enough. This involves tiny money. The Minister of State said I referenced the EU and the EEA. I did not. I know that the treatment abroad scheme has certain confinement. What I am talking about is the exceptional clause circumstances for going to the USA. That clause exists, and it is within the power of the Minister to implement it. That can happen if the will is there. I am just not sure the will is there and I want to know if it is on the part of the Department.  I am somewhat reassured that the Minister of State indicated that it was at a particular time that the applicant did not meet the criteria and that she will continue to engage with the HSE. I would hate to think the door is closed on this because it is very much not closed. This is time sensitive and I am pleading with the Minister to act on it. The family and community are also pleading with her to do so. They cannot waste more time waiting. Who knows when they are next, if they wake up the following morning. I will not embarrass the Government by going through a list of projects in the country, or even in County Wicklow, where State money has been wasted. This is most definitely pin money to the Government, which could save someone's life and make a massive difference. I plead with the Minister to use the power she has to see that this can be done as soon as possible. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  I reiterate that the HSE has advised that it suggested that the applicant's referring consultant engage with the relevant ERN, the European reference network on rare multisystemic vascular diseases. The ERN enables specialists in Europe to discuss cases of patients affected by rare, low-prevalence and complex diseases, providing advice on the most appropriate diagnosis and the best treatment available. Ireland is an active participant in ERN, with 18 recognised centres involved across a range of networks. Engagement with ERNs is an important step in ensuring that all appropriate EU-based expertise and treatment options have been explored.  That said, the Department recognises, and I recognise, having listened to the Deputy, how difficult this individual case is for the applicant and her family. I assure the Deputy that officials in the Department of Health will continue to engage with the HSE and seek updates to ensure that every possible avenue within Ireland and the EU that may be open to the applicant and her family has been fully explored. As I said, I will bring to the attention of the Minister the exceptional of circumstances clause. I have no doubt she is well aware of it, but I will take that to her today and see if any further supports can be provided. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Rare Diseases"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-20\/debate\/dbsect_6","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Mental Health Services","counts":{"speechCount":10,"speakerCount":4},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-20\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_6","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sorca Clarke  There is a deeply concerning and worrying direction of travel here. We have around 50% of the recommended beds nationally for CAMHS. That recommendation is contained in the Department's own mental health strategy. We know that CAMHS is already operating at half the capacity that experts said was needed almost 20 years ago. Against that backdrop, the proposed closure of the CAMHS unit in St. Vincent's Hospital in Fairview makes absolutely no sense. Quite frankly, it is alarming. That the CAMHS unit in Linn Dara is due to reopen after four years being closed due to staff shortages is of course welcome. The problem, however, is that the proposed closure of the function of CAMHS in St. Vincent's Hospital in Fairview is being done to staff Linn Dara. Instead of genuinely expanding services, the Department is effectively robbing Peter to pay Paul. I know the Minister of State will tell me about the new children's hospital but there is no timeframe for that, and nor have the 20 beds been budgeted for. The Fairview unit is operational, staffed and delivering care. The families know it and they trust the service there. Yet, there seems to be an intention to redeploy staff from Fairview to Linn Dara. I am informed that so far only two members of staff have agreed to this. We must also remember that St Vincent's Hospital is a section 38 hospital, while Linn Dara is directly managed by the HSE, and those workers cannot be compelled to move. At a time when recruitment and retention is already at crisis point, this approach is reckless. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  Linn Dara closed in 2022 for what was supposed to be four months. It has still not reopened with the beds that are due to open again. That was a crisis at the time and it has been a crisis since. It is welcome that the facility is to reopen but will it reopen with a full complement of staff? When Linn Dara opened, the problem from day 1 was that there was never a full complement of staff. Then there were staff changes because of the pressures that were put on staff. The unit eventually closed because it was no longer safe as there was not a full complement of staff. Linn Dara is needed, St. Vincent's Hospital is needed and the children's hospital, which is also in the area, is needed. Nobody is saying that they should not all be open.  We know we have a crisis in this country and in this city. We need all of those services. The fact that one service is closing to facilitate the opening of another is absolutely ridiculous. We need to know about the planning and where the funding for the CAMHS services in the children's hospital is going to come from because in two years' time we do not want Linn Dara to close again to facilitate the children's hospital. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy M\u00e1ire Devine  This decision is inconceivable. As a long-time member of the Psychiatric Nurses Association - I stopped nursing at the last election - I am well aware of the shortages on the ground and of the crisis management we are forced to do - dissipating some of the therapeutics and trying to keep patients safe. It is inexplicable that it has been decided to shut the section 38 and to transfer everybody to Linn Dara and that it will be happy days. That is not going to happen and it will not be as smooth as people think it will be. From talking to nurses on the ground, who are my colleagues, two are in favour moving while the other 20 fear they will be lost to the adult services because they are desperate. We are short 6,000 nurses across the Twenty-six Counties. They will be lost to the adult services as will their expertise with young people. There is also the waiting list. We know we have failed in terms of CAMHS. We also know we have failed our children in the past. Look at Kerry and at lots of issues. Linn Dara closed in 2018. I was on the Joint Committee on the Future of Mental Health Care with former Senator, Joan Freeman, and we visited it. It opened again and then it closed again. I would like clarification. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  I thank all three Deputies for raising this really important issue. First, I want to make absolutely clear that neither my Department nor the HSE is closing any beds. In fact, this year, in budget 2026, I have provided over \u20ac4 million to open 18 HSE CAMHS beds. I have allocated \u20ac2.7 million to open the first phase of the new acute CAMHS wing of the national children's hospital and I have also allocated over \u20ac1.3 million to hire the staff to reopen 11 CAMHS beds in the state-of-the-art Linn Dara campus. As a result of this funding, the HSE has made the sensible decision to discontinue the purchase of ten CAMHS beds from a voluntary provider, St. Vincent\u2019s Hospital, Fairview. These are not HSE beds but these are beds within the HSE that the HSE has been buying as additional capacity while the Linn Dara beds have been out of operation due to safe staffing.  In 2025, the HSE child and youth mental health office completed a national review of HSE-funded CAMHS inpatient services focused on referrals, admissions, diagnoses, staffing and bed capacity. The review recommended the development of a national commissioning model and service specification in line with, and complementary to, the new CAMHS operational guidelines to ensure consistent access, service delivery and care standards across all inpatient units.  The report made specific findings, which none of the Deputies referred to, regarding the current inpatient unit at St. Vincent\u2019s Hospital, Fairview: first, the unit's restricted age cohort as it only accepts 15 to 17-year olds for admissions; second, the lack of an appropriate eating disorder pathway and no out-of-hours or weekend admissions; third, concerns raised by the Mental Health Commission regarding governance; fourth, staffing constraints, including reliance on a single full-time consultant dedicated to the unit; and, very importantly, unsuitable physical infrastructure where the current building is no longer fit for purpose. I understand the two floors above the CAMHS unit in St. Vincent\u2019s Hospital, Fairview, are derelict or uninhabited.  As these limitations result in inequitable access and service inconsistency when compared to other CAMHS inpatient units nationally, the HSE decided to discontinue the use of the beds at St. Vincent\u2019s Hospital, Fairview, and to streamline the provision of HSE CAMHS inpatient beds across the Dublin region in line with the recommendations from the review report. Consequently, CAMHS inpatient beds will be provided through an expanded service at Linn Dara in Cherry Orchard and the newly commissioned beds in the Children's Hospital Ireland, CHI, campus to best meet the future needs of the HSE Dublin North East, HSE Dublin Midlands and HSE Dublin South East health regions.  The HSE aims to reopen the 11 beds in Linn Dara by the end of September and has therefore advised St. Vincent\u2019s Hospital, Fairview, it will no longer need the ten beds from the date it was paying for privately. There will be, of course, flexibility on both sides in relation to this timeline to ensure no reductions in overall capacity. Importantly, this approach will place all CAMHS inpatient units under a single, standardised HSE clinical governance framework and address current service limitations.  There will be no staff redundancies arising from this decision. The HSE expects the transition to create opportunities for the experienced and dedicated staff working in St. Vincent\u2019s within the newly commissioned CAMHS inpatient services at Linn Dara and CHI. I want to acknowledge the work done by the Psychiatric Nurses Association working in St. Vincent\u2019s. It is of course a personal decision for staff whether or not they wish to transfer to either the new hospital or to Linn Dara.  I was surprised to find the reconfiguration of beds was the main theme at this year's PNA annual conference. We face many challenges in our public mental health services and I did not expect keeping ten voluntary non-HSE CAMHS beds with the limitations I have described to be the key concern of the body for a profession for which I have the upmost admiration and respect. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sorca Clarke  I have read some statements on this issue which are quite frankly very concerning such as \"It will reopen if staff can be recruited\". That is literally the job of the Minister of State and her senior Minister. I do not think it is reasonable to expect anybody whose child needs a CAMHS bed to accept that the Ministers may have woken up and suddenly realised they are in government. This is actually their job. Families across the State have endured scandal after scandal when it comes to CAMHS. The Psychiatric Nurses Association described the proposal as inconceivable and I agree. I ask the Minister of State to please to look at this. There is something fundamentally wrong when the State is reliant on beds in a hospital that is not even completed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  As a TD in Dublin South-Central where Linn Dara is based I welcome the fact it is going to open but it is not additionality. This is something that was closed in 2018 and 2022. It was supposed to be for three or four months. Here we are how many years later? It is four years later and the Minister of State says it is an expanded service. It is not expanded - it is a reinstatement of service. If it was expanded, the Minister of State would be announcing 20 extra beds in Linn Dara or she would announce the capacity would increase based on St. Vincent\u2019s. That is not the case. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy M\u00e1ire Devine  Respectfully, this is not a sensible decision being made by the HSE. The Minister of State's response will be used in the WRC. The PNA is to meet and to discuss this with the HSE on 24 or 25 May to try to get a resolution. Keep the ten Fairview beds open and keep Linn Dara and the 20 beds in the National Children's Hospital. She should engage. There has been no engagement with the PNA or its members who are the experts on the ground. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  There has been. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy M\u00e1ire Devine  There has been very minimal engagement. The section 38 thing is bit muddying the waters a little bit. We are looking at the number of beds and services available in totality. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  My team spoke to the PNA in advance of the conference and indeed spoke to some of the nurses in St. Vincent\u2019s about this change. If anything the nurses' main concern was the way in which the decision was communicated to the staff at St. Vincent's by their CEO, by email on a Friday evening with no detail about the opportunities to transfer. That was completely wrong. This is no way to treat hard-working and dedicated staff who deserve our respect and to be communicated with properly about such a significant change.  By way of background context, CAMHS inpatient bed capacity is 72 beds nationally but due to a range of issues, there are 45 beds in operation. As of 12 May 2026, the waiting list nationally to access CAMHS inpatient units was one. Of the available 45 inpatient beds, 36 were occupied on 12 May, leaving nine beds available to accommodate an admission. It is important to stress that there has not been an occasion since the reduction in operational beds nationally to 45 when all available beds have been occupied.  I am really concerned, especially about Deputy Clarke\u2019s narrative. There is a reason this has been looked at and she did not refer to that at all, that is, the unit's restricted age cohort of 15 to 17 years; the fact a child can only be referred to the unit on a Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; the lack of an appropriate eating disorder pathway; the concerns raised by the Mental Health Commission; staffing constraints, including reliance on a single full-time consultant; and, most importantly, unsuitable physical infrastructure where the current building is no longer fit for purpose.  I am trying to open public beds here. I am trying to stop spending money on private beds. I look forward to staff being hired. I hope some of the staff will move across to the excellent Linn Dara site. Please God, we will get the beds open as soon as possible. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Mental Health Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-20\/debate\/dbsect_7","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Proposed Legislation","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-20\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Healy-Rae  We should all recognise the value of short-term letting to rural economies. Of course, the Government should also recognise this. I appreciate the work that has been done in this regard by the Ministers involved. There are 1,800 short-term lets in Kerry worth over \u20ac17 million to the county's economy. On the Wild Atlantic Way between Kerry and Donegal, there are over 6,800 short-term lets all in rural counties across the west coast, which is worth \u20ac256 million to our economy.  Over the weekend, the Minister, Deputy James Browne, stated that regulations around short-term letting will be among the most stringent in the EU. I have worries about exactly what that means. I do not want it to seem or to be that this Government is attacking people involved in short-term lettings because that is not what we should be doing. Of course, we should be doing everything we can to provide housing but in doing that, we have to recognise that people who have been involved in short-term lets for years and years are providing a service in the local economy. They are keeping the local shop, the local pub and the local restaurant going.  The register is very welcome. The industry welcomes it but the delays and the lack of details and clarity are not helpful. There is nobody involved in short-term letting who says they do not want a register; that is not the case. The whole issue of planning is terrifying business people who operate in the sector and it should not be so. Of course, for people who are established and have been there for a number of years there should be a grandfather clause in place. Their planning permission should be the fact that they have been at it for a certain number of years. That is the answer to that and it would tick the box on that issue.  I have no sympathy for a person who comes along now and wants to buy a house here in Dublin, in Kerry or anywhere and they want to change that house and make it into a short-term let. Of course, they should have the opportunity. They can apply for planning permission. They can go through all the rigours that we put in place and I have no problem with that because we want to stop accommodation going out of long-term residential into short-term letting. However, the poor person who has been at it all along should really be left alone.  My main questions for the Minister would be as follows: what does he mean by the most stringent regulations in Europe? I see that as an upset and, being mild about it, a worry to the people involved in that business. Will the Department of housing commit to publishing a national planning statement, NPs, for short-term letting as soon as possible to be helpful to the sector? Will the Minister ensure that planning exemptions will be in place for those who have been operating for seven years or more? Most importantly, will those properties be deemed planning compliant by having a grandfather clause? We have to do something like that to protect the people. What about someone with a property at the back of their house, farm or wherever who was never going to change that from short-term letting to long-term letting? Instead of helping we would actually be hurting because we would be taking a viable business out of a community. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor)  I thank the Deputy for highlighting this important issue. I am taking this on behalf the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.  The Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment has drafted the general scheme of the short-term letting and tourism, STLT, Bill in full alignment with the EU short-term rental regulation, which is what the Deputy is talking about. We have a collaborative approach between enterprise and tourism. The introduction of the STLT Bill will provide a more effective legal and administrative basis to regulate short-term lettings.  The Bill, when enacted, will provide a statutory basis for the introduction of a register for all short-term lettings in Ireland, which will be implemented and managed by F\u00e1ilte Ireland. All short-term letting accommodation providers will be required to register with F\u00e1ilte Ireland. As part of the registration process, accommodation providers will need to confirm that they are planning compliant, one of the issues the Deputy mentioned.  The Government has approved a threshold-based approach to generally preclude new planning permissions for short-term lets in larger towns and cities where, often, long-term residential housing need is significant. Further to this, the Cabinet committee on housing has proposed that the threshold be set at towns and cities with a population of more than 20,000, amounting to 25 towns based on the most recent census of population. It is intended that accommodation providers in all other locations outside the largest towns and cities will be able to avail of an extended period to meet planning compliance requirements.  To ensure that there is a clear view, at national level and local authority level, as to the overall policy approach to determining planning applications for short-term lets, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is currently finalising a national planning statement on short-term letting to supplement and support the introduction of the STLT Bill. The NPS will ensure a transparent, consistent overall policy approach, both nationally and at local authority level, to determining planning applications for short-term letting that will complement and support the introduction of the STLT Bill. It considers various factors such as existing planning legislation, the location and potential benefits of the proposed short-term letting property and the overarching aim to balance housing need with the potential impact on tourism and economic development. The NPS is being finalised as a priority and a draft will be brought to Cabinet shortly. That was one of the Deputy's questions. I will go back to the Minister today to find out when this will be brought to Cabinet and signed off.  Tourism is important to the economy and the Government is mindful of concerns in both rural areas and in major tourism regions where short-term lettings provide much-needed accommodation for visitors. However, meeting local housing need across Ireland is a critical consideration and Government must use every lever available to assist in providing homes for our people, including returning properties to the long-term residential market. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Healy-Rae  I acknowledge that the minimum figure of 20,000 for towns was a put in place. I had lobbied strongly for that because we want to protect the tourism capital of the western world, which, as everybody knows, is Killarney, County Kerry and there is no doubt about that. However, I am worried about people in towns and areas with a population of less than 20,000 where the planning guidelines will be put in place for short-term letting who have not been operating for more than seven years. The people need to see as soon as possible what will be put in place. The can has been kicked down the road a number of times and I do not want to be fighting about that. All I am saying is that people need clarity.  We are very clear on what we are going to be saying to people: we do not want to hound or persecute fine respectable people who are operating very nice businesses, who are paying tax and who have invested heavily in their homes, in their accommodations, specifically for short-term lets. Even where they are located would not blend in with long-term letting because it could literally be putting two families up on top of each other in the same yard. An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach has them in his constituency, as do the Minister of State and other Deputies.  They know what I am talking about. At the same time, there is the whole question for the Government of whether it wants to stop places from having any long-term residential accommodation because everything would be short-term. Of course, we want balance. However, we should not throw the baby out with the bathwater. We need to make sure we are protecting established businesses and try to give clarity as soon as possible, rather than upsetting people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor  This is an important matter. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has worked closely with the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, and is committed to developing a fair and balanced approach to the short-term letting question, which is crucial. As the Deputy said, as a proud Kerryman, he has always highlighted the needs in this area. I absolutely agree. It is about all of the different Departments working together. I believe this will have a good outcome.  With the approach outlined earlier, the need for rental housing stock is being balanced with the need to protect rural and regional tourism and jobs, which are important. The long-term development of tourism requires that an appropriate equilibrium is achieved in the short-term and long-term rental sector. Tourism is very important to the economy. The Government is mindful of concerns in both rural regions and major tourism regions, where short-term lettings provide much-needed accommodation for visitors, as the Deputy mentioned. However, addressing Ireland's housing needs is a priority, and the Government must use every lever available, including returning some short-term letting properties to the housing market, which may include longer-term rentals. The approach to be taken in the STLT Bill, as well as in the national planning statement, will balance greater housing supply with the need to protect rural and regional tourism jobs.  I again thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue. I am glad to provide him with as much information as I can. He is right that we need to get this finalised. We need to have the draft brought to Cabinet as soon as possible. I will go back to the Minister for housing. Clarification is crucial to provide information on what is happening for everyone. I will do that. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Proposed Legislation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-20\/debate\/dbsect_8","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Budget 2027","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-20\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere  The Vintners\u2019 Federation of Ireland, VFI, AGM took place last week at Mount Wolseley in my constituency. The message coming directly from publicans is that rural pubs are under enormous pressure. Closures are accelerating year after year. Since 2005, more than 2,200 pubs have closed across the country. More worrying again is that the rate of closure is increasing, with approximately 128 pubs closing every year.  We have to be honest about what that means for rural Ireland. When a pub closes in a village or small town, we are not simply losing a business premises or a commercial enterprise; we are losing a meeting place and a venue for traditional music, fundraisers, sports clubs and community gatherings. In many communities, we are losing the last remaining social space where people can come together. For older people in particular, the local pub often acts as an important defence against loneliness and isolation. In many areas, it is one of the last functioning community hubs left standing. Rural pubs are not just businesses. They are part of the social infrastructure of rural Ireland.  Despite that role, many publicans face what the VFI describes as an existential threat to their survival. The cost pressures they are dealing with are extraordinary. Electricity costs have risen by 70% in the past five years, alongside insurance and every other operational cost facing small businesses. It is important to note that the restoration of the 9% VAT rate for food service is very welcome and will undoubtedly provide essential support for many hospitality businesses. However, the reality is that many smaller rural pubs do not serve food and, therefore, cannot meaningfully benefit from that measure. In fact, the VFI estimates that two thirds of smaller rural pubs are excluded from the benefit of the reduced VAT because they are traditional drinks-only establishments.  That is why the VFI proposal for the on-trade sustainability scheme deserves serious consideration ahead of budget 2027. It is a targeted, capped and structured tax credit proposal that is aimed specifically at supporting smaller pubs that are struggling with rising costs and declining viability. The proposal will provide support linked to verified draught product supply costs, with a cap of \u20ac20,000 per premises, ensuring the support is proportionate and targeted towards smaller operators. Importantly, there is a precedent for this type of support within Government policy. We already provide tax credits to support film and television production, digital gaming and unscripted television production.  This is about rural sustainability, protecting local employment, supporting tourism and maintaining social cohesion in communities that are already feeling under pressure from depopulation and loss of services. The OECD recently highlighted the importance of community infrastructure and social spaces in sustaining rural communities and local economies. The GAA has warned about the erosion of rural social infrastructure and specifically identified the loss of pubs as contributing to declining community vibrancy. This issue goes well beyond one sector. It is fundamentally about whether we are serious about protecting rural Ireland and the communities that sustain it. Will the Government seriously examine the VFI\u2019s proposed on-trade sustainability scheme ahead of budget 2027 and recognise that protecting rural pubs is ultimately about protecting rural communities? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor  I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue and highlighting the role that pubs play in Irish life and culture by providing a central hub and meeting place in towns and villages across the country. The Government\u2019s commitment to the sector was most recently demonstrated by the reduction in the VAT rate to 9%, recognising that the sector is highly labour-intensive. It forms a key part of the domestic economy and is expected to support over 150,000 jobs across the country. We can help to keep the doors open and the jobs going by providing clarity and certainty for these hospitality businesses.  I assure the Deputy that while the Department of Finance receives pre-budget submissions from a wide range of stakeholders in advance of each budget, all are given consideration as part of the annual policy cycle. I am aware that the Department has received and acknowledged a submission from the VFI outlining a proposal for a payable tax credit for pubs. The proposed payable credit would be linked to the number of draught product kegs purchased by a business, and it would be subject to a per-premises cap of \u20ac20,000.  Proposals for new tax expenditures are examined by reference to the Department\u2019s tax expenditure guidelines, which outline the Government\u2019s approach to how tax expenditures are best used, noting that these narrow the tax base and how they should be evaluated. A number of issues at a European level will need to be taken into account during these deliberations, including state aid requirements. Measures that confer a selective advantage on a specific sector have the potential to constitute state aid and, therefore, could not be introduced unless compliant with an existing framework or by undertaking a full notification process.  It should be noted that the tax credits available for film and digital games are all approved state aids, largely under the terms set out in the EU\u2019s Communication from the Commission on State aid for films and other audiovisual works, which would not have relevance to the on-trade sector. This is what the Minister for Finance has highlighted. Additionally, any tax credit given to rural pubs, or, indeed, to all pubs, and which is based on the supplies of alcohol products to those pubs, would have to be considered in the context of the alcohol structures directive if its effect, in practice, were to give relief from the rate of alcohol excise paid on alcohol products. This directive lays down a harmonised approach to excise duties on alcohol in the EU. It defines alcoholic beverages and sets out the basis on which excise duties on such products are to be established by member states, as well as the conditions for the application of reduced rates and special regimes. These are the issues Ministers are looking at.  It is worth noting that there has been no general increase in excise duty rates for alcohol since 2014. While the retail price of beer has risen over that period, the excise duty has remained unchanged and, therefore, the total tax as a percentage of the retail price of each pint is lower than it was more than a decade ago.  I assure the Deputy that the Government is conscious of the challenges facing all businesses in the current economic climate. The Cost of Business Advisory Forum is working to look at the structural issues that are driving up costs and the steps that could be taken to mitigate them. It is important to note that we understand the overheads and the way costs have risen for businesses.  It is also important to highlight that a number of existing tax supports are available to all business, including the on-trade environment, to encourage investment in the economy, particularly in indigenous SMEs. These supports include the employment investment incentive, the start-up relief for entrepreneurs and the start-up capital investment. A range of direct expenditure supports are available to business and details can be found online at the national enterprise hub. Notwithstanding what I have said, the matters raised in the Deputy's submission will continue to inform ongoing policy consideration in the context of the budget. It is with the Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere  I appreciate the response but this issue requires a stronger sense of urgency from the Government because the trend lines are moving in the wrong direction. We are seeing more than 120 pubs close every year in this country. Once these businesses disappear from rural communities, they very rarely come back. What concerns many publicans is that although Government policy increasingly recognises the cultural and economic importance of pubs in theory, that recognition is not translated into practical support measures that reflect the realities they face on the ground.  The VFI proposal is a measured and targeted one. It is capped and linked to verified supply costs. It is focused on the on-trade sector and particularly on smaller rural pubs. Importantly, it seeks to support those traditional pubs that do not benefit from the reduced 9% VAT rate because they are not food businesses.  There is a broader point here about parity of esteem. The State rightly supports sectors viewed as culturally or economically valuable through targeted tax credits and incentives. It is done for film, gaming and television production. Surely there is a strong argument for supporting one of the most recognisable parts of Irish social and cultural life, particularly when it plays such an important role in sustaining rural communities. Ultimately, this is not just about pubs; it is about whether rural Ireland continues to have a place where people can gather, connect and maintain community life. Once those spaces are gone, the social consequences are very difficult to reverse. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor  What the Deputy has spoken about is really concerning. He can be assured I will go back to the Minister for Finance. I am aware of the importance of local pubs to Irish culture and the Irish economy, particularly in local and rural areas, which we are both from.  Recent years have been challenging to the hospitality sector as a whole, particularly through the period of Covid restrictions. We saw huge changes then. However, those years also demonstrated the resilience and adaptability of businesses. Premises enhanced their outdoor areas and introduced food offerings. It was a big thing to see all the new outdoor areas. Premises adapted to changes in socialising behaviour by introducing new ranges of non-alcoholic drinks, for example, embracing coffee culture.  Like all businesses, trade is facing challenges from increased costs. The Government is taking steps to alleviate these challenges, primarily through work co-ordinated by the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment on the cost of business and an action plan for competitiveness and productivity. It is important that the Government support businesses, particularly indigenous SMEs, in all sectors of the economy. Actions have already been taken to support the hospitality sector, for example, through the VAT reduction to 9%, which will come into effect from July and will be of huge benefit to pubs selling food and hot drinks. The Government is also prioritising measures to help businesses and households with increased energy costs arising from the conflict in the Middle East. This has included reductions in the price of diesel and petrol, extension of the fuel allowance season and measures to support hauliers, bus passengers, operators, farmers, agricultural contractors and fisheries. The Government will continue this focus on supporting businesses across Ireland, including pubs, as we develop options for budget 2027.  The Department has received and acknowledged the submission from the Vintners Federation of Ireland outlining a proposal for an on-trade sustainability scheme in budget 2027. I thank the Deputy for highlighting this. He can be assured I will go back to the Minister for Finance to highlight his concerns. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Budget 2027"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-20\/debate\/dbsect_9","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Defence and Neutrality: Motion [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":46,"speakerCount":30},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  I move:  That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann:  notes that:  \u2014\u00a0Irish Neutrality has been central to the sovereignty and independence of the State, that it was first enunciated by Theobald Wolfe Tone and upheld by successive generations;  \u2014\u00a0despite being a small country, our neutrality has enabled Ireland to play a positive role in international affairs;  \u2014 the Defence (Amendment) (No. 2) Act, 1960 encompassed neutrality and the requirement known as the \"Triple Lock\" which means that deployment of Defence Force overseas requires the authorisation of the United Nations (UN), Government and the D\u00e1il;  \u2014 the Triple Lock is central to the policy of neutrality;  \u2014 the failure of the first referendums to have the Nice and Lisbon Treaties passed was due to concerns by the electorate on neutrality;  \u2014 to assuage those concerns, the Triple Lock and Neutrality were enshrined in solemn National Declarations that were attached to both treaties;  \u2014 the two treaties were only endorsed by the electorate in second referendums due to these solemn national declarations and guarantees included in them;  \u2014 any move by Government to overturn these commitments without a referendum would be a denial of democracy;  \u2014 successive opinion polls have demonstrated that the majority of the electorate want our policy of neutrality retained;  \u2014 being neutral does not in any way inhibit increasing the capacity and capabilities of the Defence Forces; and  \u2014 currently there is no upper limit on the number of Defence Force personnel that can be deployed for the purpose of overseas humanitarian issues;  calls on the Government to:  \u2014 uphold the policy of Neutrality and the Triple Lock as set out in the Defence (Amendment) (No. 2) Act, 1960 and the solemn national declarations attached to the Nice and Lisbon Treaties;  \u2014 recognise that these commitments regarding the Triple Lock and Neutrality can only be changed or amended by a majority of the electorate in a referendum;  \u2014 recognise that the triple lock and neutrality are intrinsically linked;  \u2014 strengthen the States policy of Neutrality by bringing forward a referendum to enshrine neutrality in the constitution;  \u2014 work with other neutral and non-aligned countries to reform and re-establish the primacy of the UN as the forum to uphold international law and for resolving international disputes and conflicts;  \u2014\u00a0abide by the principal of multilateralism and not allow the State to be become part of any regional military alliance; and  \u2014 halt plans to progress the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025 and the provisions in it to abolish the Triple Lock and Neutrality.  Where is the Minister for Defence? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor  I am taking this today. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  No disrespect to you----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor  I know. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  -----but the Minister for Defence should be here. There is legislation planned to go before the D\u00e1il to abolish the triple lock and, we contend, to abolish neutrality. The fact the Minister is not here is an absolute disgrace. It shows total disrespect for the Parliament. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor  The Minister is coming. I am taking the first slot and then the Minister will be in later. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  That is okay.  The whole issue of Irish neutrality has been central to our sovereignty as a State. As a member of the national defence and security committee, I am more concerned about what is happening now then I was in the past.  Despite being a small country, our neutrality has enabled Ireland to play a positive role in international affairs from the 1950s and 1960s to the present day. The Defence (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1960 encompassed neutrality and the requirement known as the triple lock, which means the Defence Forces cannot be deployed overseas without the authorisation of the UN, the Government and the D\u00e1il. The triple lock has been central to neutrality, despite denials from the Government. The failure of the first referendums on the Nice and Lisbon treaties showed how important it is to the Irish people. Initially, they were not passed due to concerns about neutrality. To assuage those concerns, the triple lock and neutrality were enshrined in solemn national declarations that were attached to both treaties and they were only successful on the second occasion because of that.  Any move by the Government to abolish or undermine those commitments is a denial of democracy and, I believe, is open to a legal challenge. On top of that, I say to Deputy Murnane O'Connor as a Fianna F\u00e1il Minister of State that successive opinion polls have demonstrated that the vast majority of Irish people, despite all the propaganda that is being shoved down their necks, support retaining the policy of neutrality. The policy of neutrality does not inhibit or stop the Government or State from increasing the capacity and capabilities of the Defence Forces, or from modernising them. The triple lock does not restrict the number of Defence Forces personnel that can be deployed overseas, despite propaganda to the contrary, for the purposes of rescue and humanitarian or emergency missions without a UN mandate. The Minister confirmed that publicly in the committee to me recently.  I turn to the issue of the United Nations. There has been a lot of misinformation suggesting that only the Security Council can veto peacekeeping missions. Of course, the General Assembly can do it as well and there is precedent here. Ireland would not have got a rotating seat on the Security Council six or seven years ago but for the fact we are neutral. One of the lobbying points to convince developing countries to support us at the General Assembly was exactly the fact we were neutral. I remember being told that when going to Geneva with a Fianna F\u00e1il TD and a Fine Gael TD.  A false impression has been created by the militarists in the media and the Government parties about the Security Council deadlock. It is not permanently deadlocked. Between 2020 and 2024, 264 resolutions out of a total of 284 were passed with no veto being exercised.  In relation to the restrictions on more than 12 members, they do not apply in the cases of humanitarian disaster, rescue or emergency mission, etc. There are 11 active peacekeeping missions - including one in Kosovo, which members of the committee will be visiting in a few weeks' time - where Irish peacekeepers are. Only one has been vetoed by the UN Security Council. That was proposed in 1999 for Macedonia and was vetoed by China over a dispute to do with Taiwan. Ireland has been participating since 1958 in peacekeeping missions and Irish troops and peacekeepers have been held in high regard.  It is appropriate that I raise the issue of the Fianna F\u00e1il position. It is not my primary concern. The main reason I am concerned about neutrality is that, as a left republican, I find what is happening scandalous. Grassroots people in Fianna F\u00e1il are saying this to me. The Minister of State lives in Laois, the same as I do, and I am sure she is hearing it. \u00c9amon \u00d3 Cu\u00edv, former Fianna F\u00e1il Minister, said at the weekend it is interesting we have a President, Catherine Connolly, who got elected on her positions on neutrality, the triple lock, the North and an teanga Gaeilge.  He said they used to be Fianna F\u00e1il's core policies. That is what he said. Deputy Willie O'Dea, no lesser a figure than a former Minister for Defence, has been writing about the possibility of scraping the triple lock on neutrality. He said that Fianna F\u00e1il abandoning its support for the United Nations is a Fine Gael doctrine, not a Fianna F\u00e1il one. That is not Brian Stanley saying it but it is Deputy Willie O'Dea.  I want go back to the Lisbon and Nice treaties. Successive commitments were given by government at the time. Solemn national commitments were given. Solemn national declarations were enshrined and attached to both treaties. On the first occasion, those two treaties failed to get past the electorate in this State because of concerns over neutrality. They were rejected on the first occasion. Neutrality, the triple lock and UN approval for peacekeeping missions were central to that.  It is worthwhile quoting those declarations again. The following declaration was attached to the Nice treaty. It states that Ireland was not bound by any mutual defence commitment and that \"The Government of Ireland have made a firm commitment to the people of Ireland, solemnized in this Declaration, that a referendum will be held in Ireland on the adoption of any such decision and on any future Treaty which would involve Ireland departing from its traditional policy of military neutrality. It also states that deployment of Irish Defence Forces overseas requires the authorisation of the operation by the Security Council or the General Assembly of the United Nations, the agreement of the Government and the approval of D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann, in accordance with Irish law. That is what the Fianna F\u00e1il Government put into it at the time.  The Treaty of Lisbon states that in line with its traditional policy of military neutrality, Ireland is not bound by any mutual defence commitment but, of course, we are abolishing the triple lock to be part of a regional military alliance. It also refers to the adoption of any such decision applicable to Ireland and states that this requirement will not be affected should Ireland ratify the Treaty of Lisbon. It goes on the reiterate, as in the case of the Nice treaty, that the authorisation of the UN Security Council and General Assembly, the D\u00e1il and the Government are required in accordance with Irish law. They are two solemn national declarations. They were not just made by government but by the Irish people and on behalf of the Irish people.  Are we going to uphold them? We hear the word \"sovereignty\" being bandied about and that we need to get rid of the triple lock because it will make us more sovereign but they were sovereign decisions of the people. Are Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael going to trample over that? The Government talks about it but these were sovereign decisions. Were Miche\u00e1l Martin and his fellow Fianna F\u00e1il Ministers just kidding us on two occasions in the noughties? Were they just codding the electorate?  I remember campaigning during those referendums on both treaties. Successive opinion polls have clearly demonstrated that the majority of people support neutrality. Is the Government going to turn democracy and the will of the people on its head? That is the question for Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael.  The Government will deny that a referendum is needed to abolish the triple lock. I am asking it to respect the will of the people and to put its proposal to the people if it is going to abolish the triple lock. The Government's proposal will shred the triple lock and shred neutrality. If it has any respect for the electorate, it will do that.  There is also the denial of the fact that the triple lock and neutrality are linked. The Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael spokespersons continue to deny this but I remind them that if Irish troops were deployed on a mission as part of a regional force under the command of other countries, particularly larger countries like Germany, without UN Security Council or General Assembly approval, then they could find themselves in a combat situation possibly in eastern Ukraine against Russia and so on. Of course, if they become embroiled in military combat, they are exposed to attack. Those people who have served overseas and have been involved in some of this will always say that after the first military engagement, no one can predict what is going to happen when a battalion or regiment of troops are deployed. It is unpredictable.  The key message here is that the Government is getting ready to abandon multilateralism and resolving disputes under the UN through dialogue and diplomacy. The argument about the changed world order is another great one that is pulled out. This has been trotted out by Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael as justification for getting rid of the triple lock as not being fit for purpose. What does this mean? Does it mean that the Government does not believe in the UN? Is the UN not fit for purpose and should we just get rid of it?  Of course, the UN needs to be upgraded and reformed. There are also scare stories about Russian advances. The Russians have not got as far as Kharkiv yet. We have not seen any evidence of them wanting to invade Dublin just yet, and I do not foresee it any time in the near future. Four drones were flown near Howth Head on the flight path to Dublin Airport as part of the conditioning process to excite people and worry people, so we would abandon neutrality.  There is talk that due to the level of international conflict, we should ditch the UN and join with the militarists in Europe headed by Germany. It is nonsense. We should instead be adding to efforts to enhance the UN and work with other non-aligned states to reform it. We should work with others to re-establish the primacy of multilateralism for resolving disputes.  The triple lock was central to the Defence (Amendment) Act 1960, which was brought in by a Fianna F\u00e1il Minister. That was at the height of the Cold War, so it is important that neutrality and the triple lock are maintained. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Teachta Stanley as an r\u00fan seo a mholadh inniu. Neutrality has served this country well for generations. It keeps us focused on peace, diplomacy and humanitarian leadership, not on military alliances. Neutrality is not about standing aside. It about standing firmly for peace, international law and human rights. Our military neutrality gives Ireland credibility on the global stage as a voice for dialogue, conflict resolution and humanitarian action. With this in mind, we should be investing in peacebuilding, climate action and public services, not drifting towards the increase militarisation we are seeing in Europe and across the globe.  Neutrality reflects the values of many Irish people: independence, solidarity and a commitment to peaceful international engagement. The Government has now proposed the removal of the triple lock authorisation for foreign military activities which has a direct implication on that core ideal of impartiality in military deployments. The Government's proposals risk changing the way that we, as a State, engage with peacekeeping efforts and it will erode our credibility as a neutral voice in conflict scenarios.  Ireland has a positive and, in many ways, a unique voice in international peacekeeping efforts as a post-colonial nation within the EU and one that has avoided being tied to military blocs or to great-power politics. That unique perspective is one that is worth defending.  We must also try to avoid any effort to elide the difference between peacekeeping and peace enforcement. Peacekeeping means the deployment of the minimal multilateral force necessary with the agreement of all sides to a dispute with a mandate to provide a security presence to protect civilian life, to prevent a conflict from escalating further and to create space to build the peace through humanitarian aid and peacebuilding programmes.  Peace enforcement, on the other hand, is the deployment of a force without the specific consent of the parties to a conflict and which uses a coercive military force to impose a cessation in fighting between two or more parties. We should not allow Government proposals around neutrality to confuse these two types of intervention. Ireland's commitment to peacekeeping is in line with the values of the UN Charter and it gives us credibility on issues of peace.  This does not mean being ignorant to the reality of the current geopolitical dynamic which has led to a paralysed UN Security Council. We must enunciate a visible alternative as a State. The solution is not to engage in partisan or ad hoc efforts to administer the UN framework as that way lies the Trump Administration's Board of Peace which is little more than an authoritarian vanity project. We should instead work with like-minded neutral states within the UN framework. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charles Ward  I thank Deputy Stanley and his staff for bringing forward this motion in defence of neutrality. Maintaining our neutrality has never been more important. From Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan to the escalating tensions in Iran and the wider Middle East conflict, we are facing an era of overlapping conflict, instability, displacement and humanitarian crisis. Millions of people are being affected by war, famine, instability and devastating consequences that extend far beyond borders. Rather than becoming desensitised, now more than ever we must stand in solidarity with the communities impacted by conflict and support all efforts towards peace and resolution. At a time of growing instability, our voice is more important than ever. Our longstanding experience of conflict resolution can play a vital role. As a country we have the experience and skills to offer peace building, diplomacy and dialogue. At a time of deep division, these are the qualities that are most needed. However, we can only play this role from a position of neutrality where our voices remain credible, independent and focused on peace. Neutrality fosters trust. The importance of this cannot be underestimated. I cannot understand why Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael are so keen to undermine our neutrality, particularly in recent years. What do they think can be achieved by this? Nothing, as it will not help us in any way.  A military approach has repeatedly failed to deliver lasting peace in many of the world's conflict zones. It has done nothing but deepen divisions and cause further suffering. We can honestly say that increased military intervention and increased defence spending in the EU and on an international level has brought no closure to conflicts - absolutely nothing. It is clear that many interventions have contributed to further escalations of human suffering, prolonged conflict and diverted focus away from the most important issues of diplomatic solutions and productive dialogue. I am not convinced that the countries staging such interventions are motivated by peace or humanitarian concerns. Strategic interests, economic priorities or outrageous displays of power often shape international responses in conflict. Why would we want to play a part in this? We would threaten our reputation as a neutral country by being involved in this. It is much better to be a peace builder. We have nothing to offer in terms of military power but we can offer much more than other countries can. Our strengths have always been peacekeeping and speaking out against injustice and oppression, not military might. This is something we should be proud of.  Maintaining our neutrality does not mean that we remain silent or condone the atrocities occurring across the world. Neutrality should not be mistaken for indifference. We must continue to stand firmly for human rights, international law and protection of innocent people while doing everything within our power to sanction the countries that are against human rights. The Minister of State has the opportunity to do the right thing tonight by voting in favour of Deputy Boyd Barrett's Sanctions against the State of Israel Bill 2025. Sanctions are important measures in holding these perpetrators accountable. They have a far more meaningful impact than abandoning our neutrality would have. If we keep on going the way we are going, we are heading for an almighty dark era in our country. Abandoning our neutrality only serves to facilitate wars. It does nothing to support victims.  We always have been and always will be outspoken on international matters. As a country, we have always cared deeply for colonised and displaced people across the world. People in Ireland have always been most vocal, particularly when we are supporting Gaza. We absolutely can hold our neutrality while also standing for human rights and dignity. The Government likes to tell us that this is not the case in one way or another. The Irish people have long valued and supported policies of neutrality. Recent polls show that 71% of people think Irish neutrality should be added to the Constitution. We should start to listen to people. We can start listening to people tonight by supporting the Sanctions against the State of Israel Bill 2025 tonight. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  T\u00e1 leas\u00fa le cur chun cinn. I call on the Minister of State to move the Government's amendment. T\u00e1 deich n\u00f3im\u00e9ad aici. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor)  I move amendment No. 1:  To delete all words after \"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann\" and substitute the following:  \"notes that:  \u2014 the Government reiterates Ireland's longstanding policy of military neutrality;  \u2014 Ireland's policy of military neutrality is characterised by non-membership of military alliances, or common or mutual defence arrangements and this policy choice has been practised by successive Governments since the Second World War;  \u2014 the Government reaffirms its commitment to this policy and reiterates that it has no plans to either join a military alliance or enter into a mutual defence arrangement;  \u2014 in light of the above commitment, the Government does not believe a national referendum on enshrining neutrality into the Irish Constitution is necessary; and  \u2014 amending the Triple Lock legislation in relation to the deployment of our Defence Forces to peacekeeping missions will have no impact on this policy of military neutrality, and that no other European Union Member State, including other neutral Member States, allow permanent Security Council members to bind their hands in the way that the Triple Lock effectively does for Ireland;  recognises:  \u2014 Ireland's long-standing policy of military neutrality, and our strong tradition of participation in international peace support and crisis management operations over many decades;  \u2014 that members of Ireland's Defence Forces continue to contribute bravely to peacekeeping and crisis management efforts, particularly in the Middle East, as well as elsewhere in the world;  \u2014 that the multilateral system remains our strongest protection and the State's most important security asset;  \u2014 that Ireland's contributions to conflict resolution and peacebuilding, and work for human rights and development, and our efforts to promote disarmament and the elimination of weapons of mass destruction, are internationally renowned;  \u2014 nevertheless, as a highly globalised country, Ireland cannot rely on our geographic isolation for our security, nor isolate ourselves from world events; and  \u2014 the importance of parliamentary safeguards and national oversight in ensuring Irish military deployments are in line with our policy of military neutrality, and that they are decided solely by the elected sovereign representatives of the people of Ireland; and  acknowledges that:  \u2014 the Government is committed to supporting the global multilateral system, to vocally defend international law, particularly international humanitarian law, and human rights;  \u2014 in common with other partners in Europe, Ireland finds itself in an increasingly contested, dynamic and volatile international security environment, marked by violence and conflict in our immediate neighbourhood, including Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine, and conflicts in the Middle East and Africa;  \u2014 Ireland, therefore, should not find itself unable to respond to peace support and crisis management operations that align with the United Nations (UN) Charter and International Law, due to a veto by permanent member(s) of the UN Security Council; and  \u2014 this legislation will remove the power of UN Security Council permanent members to veto our national sovereign decisions regarding our participation in an International Force and will also allow for the deployment of Defence Forces personnel overseas in other overseas roles such as the crisis management evacuation of Irish citizens.\".  - Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade; and Defence.  I thank everyone for raising this issue today. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister, Deputy McEntee. I welcome the opportunity to discuss the important matters raised in this motion. At a time when excellence and the longstanding work of our Defence Forces in UNIFIL has been at the forefront of the public's mind, given the deterioration of the security landscape in the Middle East region and particularly in Lebanon, it is appreciated that we debate how we deploy our Defence Forces overseas.  I acknowledge all our Defence Forces personnel who are currently serving overseas. I am mindful of the sacrifices they and their families make in serving their country and the interests of peace. Members may be aware that the rotation of our Defence Forces battalion in Lebanon is currently ongoing and expected to be completed by next week. I fully recognise the strong public interest and the deep attachment to Ireland's military neutrality as well as the strength of feeling around this issue. I acknowledge that there are concerns and in some cases misunderstandings about the impact that proposed amendments to the Defence Acts may have on that policy of military neutrality. This includes changes to the provision commonly referred to as the triple lock. However, the Private Members' motion today misrepresents both by linking the proposed reform of the triple lock with Ireland's policy of neutrality and the amendment of domestic legislation with the need for a referendum on the issue.  I would like to outline what we mean when we talk about Ireland's policy of military neutrality. Ireland does not participate in military alliances or common or mutual defence arrangements. This policy choice has been practised by successive Governments since the Second World War. The Government has clarified this on many occasions in the past. I am happy to put it on the record again today that we have no plans to alter this policy. Indeed, the Government made this explicitly clear by including a commitment to preserving and protecting Ireland's policy of military neutrality in the programme for Government, as published last year. We did this because we know that Ireland's policy of military neutrality has long been an important strand of our independent foreign policy. This does not mean we can isolate ourselves from the international security environment we find ourselves in today. The changing global security context means we have to take our own security and our responsibility towards our like-minded partners more seriously than ever. For this reason, the Government is committed to broadening and deepening Ireland's international security engagement as well as our domestic efforts to ensure the security of our country.  We all have to acknowledge that the world as we know it has changed considerably. The international rules-based order is under significant strain and Ireland needs to adapt to this new reality. In a mature democracy like ours, it is important that we have a responsive and considered foreign policy, as we have had since the foundation of the State. This is solely the sovereign responsibility of the Irish people. For this reason, the Government does not support the proposal to hold a referendum enshrining neutrality in the Constitution. The policy of military neutrality has been a deliberate policy choice on the part of successive Governments since the Second World War. If passed, this motion would significantly restrict the Government's ability to exercise its policy-making authority with regard to the conduct of external relations as set out under Article 29 of the Constitution. Accordingly, the Government has no plans to bring forward legislation to hold a constitutional referendum on neutrality.  We all recognise that the UN Security Council is not effectively fulfilling its primary role of maintaining global peace and security. The five permanent members of the UN Security Council have a veto power which can prevent the adoption of resolutions by the Security Council, including those authorising peacekeeping mandates. In practice, even the threat of veto is often enough to halt Council action. Ireland has consistently opposed the use of the veto, as demonstrated during our most recent term on the Security Council from 2021 to 2022, when we witnessed its use on several critical issues. As evidenced by challenges encountered last summer in relation to the renewal of the UNIFIL mandate in southern Lebanon, the threat or use of the UN Security Council veto is a significant complicating factor in sustaining international peacekeeping operations. With particular regard to UNIFIL, the uncertainty caused by the possibility of a veto over negotiations of an extension to that mission's mandate last summer created a situation in which Ireland had to prepare a contingency plan for immediate withdrawal of Defence Forces personnel in the event that the mandate was not extended.  While the renewal of the UNIFIL mandate until the end of this year has allowed for the continued deployment of Irish personnel, the vulnerability remains.  Recent years have seen a trend towards an increase in the use of the veto. The veto was exercised eight times in 2024 and four times in 2025. Indeed, 2024 saw the largest number of vetoed resolutions since 1986. The impact of the threat of the veto on the work of the Security Council is more difficult to quantity but its influence on the council's deliberations is clear to any informed observer. The Government believes, therefore, that the legislation underpinning the overseas deployments of our Defence Forces needs to be amended to reflect the current realities in which we are living. This Government, as well as the previous Government, have been clear that we need a new process to replace the current system, which effectively allows permanent members of the Security Council to bind Ireland's hands in its international engagement.  Conflict and insecurity are clearly evident and they are having a harrowing impact on communities across the world. Yet, no new UN peacekeeping or peace enforcement mission has been mandated since 2014. We need a mechanism where our elected representatives in the Government and the D\u00e1il have the power to direct the dispatch of our Defence Forces overseas. The proposed changes to the legislation will continue to require Government and D\u00e1il approval for the dispatch of the Defence Forces as part of an international force, such as the UN. If anything, a removal of the influence of an external organisation on Ireland's decision-making processes for dispatching military assets and personnel enhances our ability to make national and sovereign decisions on these key issues. Why would we wish to curtail our independent decision-making? Whose interests does that serve?  This is not in any shape or form an attempt to disengage from the UN. Ireland remains firmly committed to the UN, the UN Charter and UN peacekeeping operations. It is important to note that, under these legislative proposals, Ireland will make national decisions but, importantly, they will be in line with the principles of the UN Charter and international law. Ireland has always taken an active approach to global challenges and made significant contributions to international peace and security. Partnership has always been at the heart of all our international engagement. We have always engaged constructively with our international partners in the UN and EU, and we are committed to continue to work closely with our fellow EU member states, through the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy, CSDP, to address the common challenges we face.  With regard to the next steps for proposed changes to the despatch of Defence Forces personnel overseas, a memorandum for Government seeking approval for the Bill will be brought to the Government shortly. Subject to that approval, the Bill will then be published and progressed through the Oireachtas.  The Government's countermotion reiterates our support for Ireland\u2019s long-standing policy of military neutrality and our commitment to multilateralism. It reaffirms that the Government does not believe a referendum on the matter is either necessary or appropriate. At the same time, it reflects our desire for a modern, fit-for-purpose foreign, security and defence policy, in keeping with the challenges we face today. It underscores the importance of ensuring Irish military deployments are to missions that uphold the principles of the UN Charter and international law, in line with our policy of military neutrality, and that they are decided solely by the elected sovereign representatives of the people of Ireland. Ireland's security and defence policy will remain firmly grounded in military neutrality, complemented by our active and principled engagement within the European Union, the United Nations and other international forums.  Our values and commitment to multilateralism, the rules-based international order and peace have not changed, but the global landscape has. We must be capable of adapting foreign and defence policy to meet these new realities. The Government's countermotion reflects that balance. It reaffirms our commitment to neutrality and multilateralism, makes clear that a referendum is neither necessary nor appropriate and underscores our determination to ensure that Ireland's foreign, security and defence policy is modern, effective and fit for purpose. In light of that, I call on the House to support the Government\u2019s countermotion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  I thank Deputy Stanley for bringing forward this important motion on protecting our neutrality. As the Deputy's motion alludes to, the origin of Irish neutrality lies with Theobald Wolfe Tone, one of Ireland\u2019s greatest revolutionaries. He developed the concept of Irish neutrality in 1790 in the context of a debate in the Irish Parliament about whether Ireland should, essentially, back Britain. It was obliged to back Britain in an impending war with Spain. Wolfe Tone argued that it was, essentially, a betrayal of our struggle for autonomy and against empire to be in any way a staging ground for empires in wars. That is where neutrality came from. That radical, anti-imperialist notion of neutrality was then taken forward by James Connolly, P\u00e1draig Pearse and Constance Markievicz when they set up the Irish Neutrality League in 1914 when the First World War broke out. That was another war between empires in which people tried to argue that Ireland was obliged to support the British empire in an inter-imperialist slaughter that claimed the lives of 14 million people. Tens of thousands of working-class Irish people, who were economically conscripted, were slaughtered in that war. This proud, anti-imperialist tradition is integrally tied up with who we are as a country in opposing empires.  Do I trust the Irish Government with our neutrality? No, because it has already shredded it in doing exactly what Connolly, Markievicz, Pearse and Wolfe Tone did not want us to do, namely, become a staging ground for empires engaged in wars, most notably Shannon Airport. Millions of US troops transited through Shannon Airport while they prosecuted a criminal war in Iraq that claimed the lives of 1 million people. That was a war for oil, led by the US and the UK, that destabilised the whole Middle East. There would be no Al-Qaeda or half of these other groups were it not for that disastrous, criminal war based on lies about weapons of mass destruction. We allowed millions of US troops to go through Shannon Airport because the Irish Government and the political establishment wanted to align themselves with the American empire.  That same American empire today, led by Donald Trump, is telling Europe that it must spend more on weapons. Donald Trump is goading. Should we listen to his goading that Europe has to militarise, play its part in NATO and spend more on weapons rather than health, housing and education? I say \"No\". Defending our neutrality means not listening to his goading or involving ourselves in a project of militarisation in Europe, which is alarmingly reminiscent of the build-up to previous world wars, with geopolitical jockeying and a militarisation of big powers across the globe as they try to carve out spheres of influence. We should not be involved in that.  The triple lock is precisely about ensuring that we do not get involved in wars where empires are clashing and that we do not take sides with empires. We oppose empire. Do I trust our Government when we look at current events? I want to speak up for the 14 Irish people upholding our tradition of neutrality on the Global Sumud Flotilla who have been kidnapped by Israel in international waters. Europe does nothing about this rogue state that is guilty of genocide, apartheid and flouting every bit of international law. It is now kidnapping Irish people and imprisoning them because they are trying to uphold international law. What does the Irish Government do with the Israeli state that is doing all of this? We have increased our trade with it. We approved \u20ac20 million in licences to export dual-use goods to the Israeli military that is carrying out genocide and kidnapping Irish citizens. I, therefore, do not trust the Government. The agenda is to get involved in a European militarisation project and align Ireland with the western empire that arms Israel and is up to its teeth in warmongering. After the disasters of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, we should not trust the Government. We should hold onto the triple lock and retain that tradition of neutrality that goes back to our revolutionary, anti-imperialist roots. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  I thank Deputy Stanley for this excellent and important motion. I will start with a quote from the Fianna F\u00e1il Minister of State, Deputy Troy:  Ireland's position on the use of force where there is no UN mandate or authorisation is well established and known. For fear that anyone is in any doubt, let me be clear: it is wrong and it is illegal.  Does the Minister of State, Deputy Murnane O'Connor, agree with the Minister of State, Deputy Troy, on that? I will repeat the quote, if the Minister of State wants:  Ireland's position on the use of force where there is no UN mandate or authorisation is well established and known. For fear that anyone is in any doubt, let me be clear: it is wrong and it is illegal.  Does the Minister of State, Deputy Murnane O'Connor, agree with that? Is that the Government position? I will try again. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Darren O'Rourke)  It is not a debate. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  This is from 5 March. Is this the Government's position or not? The Minister of State, Deputy Troy, said:  Ireland's position on the use of force where there is no UN mandate or authorisation is well established and known. For fear that anyone is in any doubt, let me be clear: it is wrong and it is illegal.  He was summing up a debate on the Middle East on 5 March. There is a problem with the Government, if that is its position. What does the triple lock do? It means that we cannot send troops except where there is a UN mandate or authorisation. That is precisely what the triple lock does. The Minister of State, Deputy Troy, was correct in what he said. The deployment of forces outside the framework of a UN mandate or authorisation is against international law. That is the truth. The reason the Minister of State, Deputy Murnane O'Connor, does not want to answer whether that is the Government's position is revealing. The Government wants to get rid of the triple lock because it wants to send troops abroad outside the framework of international law. There is all this talk of vetoing this, that and the other. The triple lock means we can only send troops within the framework of international law. That is all it does. The Government wants to get rid of the triple lock because it wants to send troops outside the framework of international law. That is the reality.  Another Fianna F\u00e1iler said that for decades, Fianna F\u00e1il was clear that the triple lock, which makes military deployments contingent on a UN mandate plus D\u00e1il and Cabinet decisions, was critical to our neutrality. He said that was the unambiguous position under every party leader since Se\u00e1n Lemass. He said that suddenly, and without discussion, the triple lock was anathema. Those were the words of former defence Minister, Deputy Willie O'Dea.  Why is this happening now? Why is the Government trying to get rid of the triple lock while pretending to the rest of us that this has nothing to do with reality? It is not telling the truth to people. It is redefining neutrality, as has happened again in the Minister's speech today, as simply being that Ireland does not participate in military alliances or common or mutual defence arrangements. In other words, the Government says that we could have sent troops to participate in the invasion of Iraq, which would have been possible if not for the triple lock, but can still say Ireland is neutral as long as it does not join NATO. It can join the joint expeditionary force, send weapons to Ukraine, train Ukrainian soldiers, participate in the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, which meets at NATO headquarters, and buy billions of euro of weapons from French arms manufacturers. It can do all that, while saying it is neutral because neutrality has been redefined by the Government to simply mean not signing on the dotted line to become a member of NATO.  Why is this happening now? The Government's answer is to point to Ukraine and Russia, and more vaguely to other conflicts internationally, and to say that the triple lock, for which one should read \"the UN system as a whole\", because the triple lock means UN approval by either the General Assembly or the Security Council, is no longer fit for purpose. We look around the world and know where that attitude leads. Look at Gaza and Lebanon. Look at attacks on UN peacekeeping troops by Israel, including our own troops. There has been mass murder of UN and humanitarian workers on a scale unprecedented in history and genocide carried out openly and unpunished before the eyes of the entire world. The reason the Government and large sections of the media want to get rid of Irish neutrality is not because people here are more unsafe. We are a small, geographically isolated country that would never conceivably be able to defend itself militarily. It has no colonial past or history of military aggression. Neutrality is our best defence. That argument makes no sense.  What this is about is that the ruling classes have been fattened up by decades of US foreign direct investment and corporate tax haven bonanzas, and now think of themselves not as a part of a post-colonial periphery but instead want to be a part of the western imperialist core. They want to get in on the act of the intervening in weaker countries and profiting from the military industrial complex. They want to be big boys in the big boys' club in the European Union and NATO, not down in the General Assembly with other post-colonial countries. That is why we have the development of a military industrial complex in this country. It is why the Minister of State repeatedly used the phrase \"a referendum is neither necessary nor appropriate\". Why is it not necessary or appropriate? Of course it is not necessary for the Government. It just wants to get rid of the triple lock. Why is not appropriate? The people do not believe the Government. They do not agree with the Government and it knows that. The Government should allow the people to decide. If it is so confident on this issue, it should allow the people to have a plebiscite on its proposal to get rid of the triple lock. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  There were a couple of lines in the Minister of State's speech that jumped out, but there was one in particular. The Minister of State said \"the Private Members' motion today misrepresents both as it links the proposed reform of the triple lock with Ireland's policy of neutrality\". I have heard that previously. The Minister of State is saying that it is unreasonable to link changes to the Defence Acts, which govern the deployment of Irish personnel as part of an international force, with neutrality. The suggestion is that it is somehow an unreasonable connection. The Government is amending the Defence Acts to allow a greater set of circumstances in which Irish personnel could be deployed as part of an international force and suggests somehow that this has nothing to do with neutrality. We get some daft talking points in this place, but that is right up there. I encourage the civil servants to drop that point. It makes absolutely no sense.  The fact is that the triple lock is central to neutrality. The Taoiseach has said so numerous times. It is a cornerstone of our foreign policy. Those are his words. The Government sometimes in this debate likes to cast itself as far-seeing and wise, and suggests that those of us on this side of the House do not see the bigger picture. As far as I am concerned, what the Government is doing is reckless, foolish, careless and short-sighted. Ultimately, it will significantly diminish Ireland's place in the world.  I hear the Taoiseach talking about the importance of multilateralism, international law and so on, at the very same time that he is undermining the UN. He and the Minister of State and their Government are the ones talking about deploying Irish personnel. We hope they will be deployed on peacekeeping missions, but it is very likely that they will go on other kinds of deployments outside international law and without a UN mandate. That is what this is about.  People talk about the Security Council. There is an awful lot of talk of vetoes and so on. The reality is more complex. At the end of the day, it is not the case that there is going to be some high-minded UN-led missions that we are not going to be on. The mission would not proceed otherwise. There is no UN peacekeeping mission without a UN mandate.  There are a lot of other myths. People talk about Irish citizens at risk, humanitarian evacuations, drug interdictions and different things. The reality is that the triple lock does not prevent any of those things. It does not prevent the Defence Forces participating in humanitarian evacuation, the rescue of civilians, training, drug interdictions or any of those things, nor does it prevent us from investing in our Defence Forces. As far as I am concerned, Ireland should be strong on defence and neutrality. This Government is neither. Allowances agreed with the Defence Forces have been unpaid. Several personnel are down by thousands of euro. Overtime is not being recorded properly, and, therefore, personnel are not getting the overtime they ought to be getting. That is the reality of the Government's relationship with the Defence Forces. They have been neglected and more people have left than joined in recent years.  The triple lock does not prevent us from showing adequate respect to the men and women in our Defence Forces. It does mean that when Irishmen and Irishwomen serve as a part of a peacekeeping mission, they do so under a UN flag. They have done so with pride and distinction for generations. We ought to be proud of them. In recent weeks and months, they have faced enormous risks as they hold their position in Lebanon, which is being attacked by an Israeli Government that is hell-bent on occupying south Lebanon and expanding into more of it. This is an Israeli Government backed to the hilt by the United States. For a generation now, the Government has facilitated the US military's expansion, attacks and illegal wars. There was an under-reporting of 250 flights over Ireland last year. Some \u20ac20 million in dual-use licences have been handed out. At the same time that the Government is saying that the triple lock has nothing to do with our neutrality, it is riding roughshod over neutrality by facilitating flights over Ireland and through Shannon Airport with weaponry, personnel and so on.  The reality is that the Irish people take a lot of pride in neutrality but they also see that it makes sense for Ireland. Ireland is never going to be a major military power. The people know the best way we can exert influence is through standing up for international law and calling out breaches, whether by friend or foe, and whether we have a good relationship or a bad relationship with the country in question. The Government is failing on that count and it should stop itself from going further down this road by getting rid of the triple lock neutrality protection. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Crowe  Clearly, we are living through a dangerous moment in Irish politics. Piece by piece, step by step, there is a growing effort by the Government parties to weaken Irish neutrality and dismantle the triple lock. Neutrality is not weakness; it is a positive expression of Irish independence. It is the belief that Ireland should decide its own path in the world, free from the influence of military blocs, imperial powers or the interests of bigger states.  For decades, neutrality has allowed Ireland to speak with some moral authority on the world stage. It has allowed Irish peacekeepers to serve with pride in UN missions. It has allowed us to support diplomacy over war, and peace over profit. That tradition is needed now more than ever. It reflects the lived experience of past generations of Irish people who experienced colonisation, occupation and conflict. That is why the triple lock matters so much. It ensures that Irish soldiers are sent abroad only for peacekeeping and humanitarian purposes, not dragged into foreign wars because of pressure from NATO, the EU military agenda or powerful allies. Yet, what we are hearing now from Fine Gael and Fianna F\u00e1il is that the triple lock is somehow outdated. We are hearing that it limits Ireland's flexibility and we are hearing calls to remove UN approval altogether.  The agenda of Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael is blatantly obvious. They want the power, as parties in a Government with a D\u00e1il majority, to deploy Irish troops abroad with far fewer restrictions. That would represent a fundamental change in Irish foreign policy, and the Irish people have not consented to it.  Let us be clear that advocating for neutrality does not mean neglecting defence. Ireland absolutely needs properly funded defence forces. Our Naval Service, Air Corps and Army have been neglected for years. Recruitment and retention crises have been ignored. Investment is needed to protect Irish waters, ensure cybersecurity and retain emergency response capacity. However, strengthening defence is not the same as abandoning neutrality. A genuinely independent Ireland should be strong on both neutrality and defence. We can defend our people and sovereignty without becoming part of military alliances or surrendering democratic safeguards like the triple lock.  At its core, this debate is about what kind of Ireland we want to have. Do we want an Ireland that follows larger powers into military conflicts or an Ireland that stands for diplomacy, peacekeeping, humanitarianism and international law? Do we want decisions about war and peace made by political elites? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  I thank Deputy Stanley for this very important motion.  Our neutrality is not an accident of history. It is a conscious expression of our independence, sovereignty and belief that small nations can be a force for peace in the world. Our non-participation in foreign conflicts or military alliances has earned Ireland respect across the globe, but this reputation has been steadily undermined by Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael, which seem hell-bent on dismantling the triple lock and sending Irish men and women overseas to fight foreign wars.  For years now, Shannon Airport has been used as a hub for the US military, facilitating the transport of armed troops and munitions to active war zones, including in the Middle East. This completely compromises our position of neutrality in the eyes of the world. We find ourselves in a staggering situation in which our own peacekeeping personnel are being sent from Baldonnel to serve with UNIFIL in Lebanon while, hot on their tails, US warplanes, permitted to use Shannon, are carrying the bombs that will be dropped by Israel around their base.  That this is still being allowed shows complete disregard for our sovereignty and military neutrality. How can Ireland claim to stand for peace, diplomacy and international law, or speak with any moral authority to countries suffering the consequences of war, if we allow our neutrality to be hollowed out piece by piece? The triple lock is central to protecting that neutrality. It is a democratic safeguard and a guarantee to the Irish people. Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael want to dismantle that protection without the consent of the people. Sinn F\u00e9in rejects that approach completely. We support strengthening our Defence Forces, but our defence policy must be rooted in independence, multilateralism and peacekeeping, not closer alignment with military alliances. If Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael truly believe the Irish people want to abandon neutrality, it should be put to the people in a referendum. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  Sometimes when I am in this Chamber, with its busts and statues of the 1916 leaders all around, I find what I listen to from the Government astonishing. I think of the famous banner that stated, \"We serve neither King nor Kaiser, but Ireland\". That is a really proud declaration and it is burned into the hearts of the Irish people because they were colonised for long enough and fought empire for long enough. It is a proud stand that we have taken for all of these years, and it has given us real credibility to engage on the international stage in peacekeeping, the defence of human rights and the resolution of conflicts. That has been our proud position for so many years. It is cherished by the Irish people.  I find the Government's current position disgusting when I think that, at the first ask, the Irish people rejected the Nice and Lisbon treaty propositions. The propositions were put back to the Irish people with clear, solemn promises around our neutrality and the triple lock. Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael made those promises to the Irish people and now they want to break them. This will not stand. If the Government believes it is right in removing the triple lock, it has to be put to the Irish people. It has to be put to them because they were given promises when they voted for the Nice and Lisbon treaties at the second ask. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  The Government proposal to cut the triple lock neutrality protections stands among the most significant foreign affairs and defence policy departures in decades, so it is important that it be properly considered and understood. It is concerning that the Taoiseach's own position is consistent only in its shifting nature.  Initially, the Taoiseach proposed a citizens' assembly on neutrality. Then it became a so-called consultative forum on international security policy, providing minimal interaction for the public or the Opposition, in favour of voices hand-picked by Government. When the report from that stroke reported no public appetite for change to our position on neutrality, the Taoiseach announced his plans to get rid of the triple lock neutrality protection altogether. He tells us that it will have no impact on our neutrality, despite his having told this House in 2013 that it was the core of our neutrality, and despite the Department of foreign affairs website clearly stating our European partners understand our policy of military neutrality with reference to the triple lock.  The Taoiseach needs to be upfront as to why his public statements on neutrality today differ from those of the past and from those of his Government's contemporary publications. He should consider what it means to him to hold something as solemn, because he was part of the Government that made a solemn national declaration to the Irish people on the triple lock in advance of the second Nice and Lisbon treaty referendums. I invite him, and in fact all members of Fianna F\u00e1il, to reflect on what value they believe members of the public should place on their word. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  In 2013, the current Taoiseach, Deputy Miche\u00e1l Martin, described the triple lock as being at the core of our neutrality. At the time, there were protests in Kyiv, and the following year the annexation of Crimea took place. There was a war in Afghanistan and there was a civil war in Syria, with the Russians and the Americans involved in it.  Now he is saying times have drastically changed but that is not true. Things were as bad then as they are now on the world stage when it comes to wars. For as long as I have been alive, leaders of powerful imperialist countries have waged wars and Ireland has remained neutral. During the Lisbon and Nice treaty campaigns, a solemn commitment was given to the people of Ireland that the triple lock would protect our neutrality and now the Government is trying to get rid of it. It is wrong. What the Government is doing is against the people's will. We want a referendum. Let the people have their say and let them decide, not our Taoiseach and our T\u00e1naiste who are trying to be the good boys for the EU. What is their point? I cannot understand what their point is when they know the Irish people do not want this. It just goes to prove how lost this Government is, when it goes off to Europe and forgets about the people of Ireland and what they want. Our neutrality is at the core. There is a bigger picture here. This is not just about what Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael want but what the people of Ireland want. That should be sacred. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Donnelly  I welcome the appointment of Lynn Boylan, Sinn F\u00e9in's Dublin MEP, to the security and defence committee. She will be a powerful voice in the EU for Irish neutrality and against a militarised Europe.  Irish Army personnel are renowned for peacekeeping missions around the world in war-torn countries, not for going off to fight other people's wars. They are renowned for bringing peace to areas where truces and ceasefires are brittle. We have a proud history of peace and conflict resolution but the Government is asking us to get into bed with countries that are not only defending, but arming a genocide. The lack of meaningful action in the defence of international law is weakening the foundations of multilateralism. Indeed, by abandoning the protection of the triple lock that grounds our neutrality, the Government is signalling to the world that it does not believe in the UN. While the UN has its flaws, it still represents the best opportunity to engage in dialogue rather than conflict and loss of life.  Reference was made to the programme for Government but one thing included in that programme that the Government has not brought forward is the occupied territories Bill. The Government brings an amendment to the motion to the House but not the occupied territories Bill. It was said earlier that there is a reason for the Government not supporting the proposal to hold a referendum to enshrine neutrality. What is the Government so afraid of? It is afraid of the voice of the people of Ireland because they have said in the Nice and Lisbon treaty referenda that they do not support the ending of our neutrality. They do not support Irish soldiers going to fight other wars on behalf of the people who colonised this country and the people who are arming and participating in genocide. We want nothing to do with those people. If the Government is really serious about the Irish people and democracy, it should hold a referendum. It is in its hands. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  We have a long history in Ireland of resistance to colonial oppression and of liberation struggle, albeit unfinished. What is this Government promising? It is promising the removal of the triple lock because it does not really matter. The only logic behind removing the triple lock is to move away from our long history of non-alignment and of having clean hands, which there is definitely space for in this modern world. What have we been stopped from doing on the basis of the triple lock? That is what I want to know. My fear is not about what we have been stopped from doing but what this Government is willing to do and who it is willing to align itself with. We have seen the absolute failure to deal with Shannon Airport facilitating the American military through many of its failures and escapades that have led to nothing but death and destruction, including in Iraq and Afghanistan, long before Donald Trump came to power. We are dealing now with the reality and the madness of the attacks on Iran by the US, led by the nose by genocidal Israel. What about Israel? We have a great history of peacekeeping but what have our peacekeepers been dealing with lately? They have been dealing with genocidal, ethnic cleansing acts of an Israeli regime, supported by the US, that is out of control. We are talking about removing one of the protections we have in relation to neutrality and non-alignment. We need independent foreign policy. There is an absolute fear of the Irish people on the part of this Government. If it is serious about this, it will put it to the people. It will not do so because it is afraid of the people's view, which is that we cannot remove neutrality or the triple lock. I have yet to see any courage from the Government. It will just follow whoever it needs to follow on the basis of being the best boys in the eyes of the US or the European Union. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  I thank Deputy Stanley for bringing this important motion forward. The Labour Party will support it and I would like to take the opportunity to restate our firm commitment to the principle of military neutrality, the retention of the triple lock and our country\u2019s continued promotion of peace and an end to war. We know the immense human cost of war. We see it on our screens every day from Gaza to Ukraine to Sudan. Aside from the profound human suffering, as our party\u2019s environment spokesperson and this being National Biodiversity Week, it would be remiss of me not to mention the massive environmental, climate and ecological impacts of war that are not spoken about enough.  Militaries contribute 5.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. We know that war is driving deforestation, agricultural decline, industrial pollution and the collapse of health and sanitation systems. We see the destruction of the basic facilities and systems that make human life possible, including water networks, sewage treatment plants, farmland, ports, fuel depots and electricity infrastructure, often leaving polluted air, contaminated soil and unsafe water long after the fighting ends. We see fires, oil spills, toxic debris, damaged sanitation, collapsing public health systems and ecosystems pushed beyond recovery. We all have a human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment and the promotion of peace internationally, via our neutrality, should be at least one method for our State to pursue this vital right.  Neutrality has been central to our foreign policy since the Second World War and it has been an active neutrality. It is an expression of our sovereignty, independent judgement and a belief that small nations such as ours can contribute to peace not through military alliances, but through diplomacy, humanitarianism, peacekeeping and international law. For decades, it has allowed us to carve out a respected position on the world stage precisely because we have refused to become an appendage to a large military power. Our neutrality has stood us in good stead. It is widely supported among the public who have consistently and repeatedly expressed their support for neutrality and continue to do so in every opinion poll on the matter. However, our neutrality is not secure. It does not have constitutional status. The Labour Party has long-supported enshrining neutrality in our Constitution and published a proposed wording for an amendment to this effect as far back as 2002.  Our neutrality is a large part of the reason our peacekeepers, of whom we are all immensely proud, are so well-respected and trusted in conflict zones. Members of our Defence Forces have served as peacekeepers with distinction the world over, protecting civilians, monitoring ceasefires, delivering aid and so on. Our reputation for peacekeeping has flourished because of our position as a neutral county. The removal of the triple lock risks undermining that reputation precisely because it risks undermining our neutrality. As the Taoiseach once said, in what I guess was a previous life, it is \"the core of our neutrality\". The triple lock ensures not only that any overseas engagement is safeguarded against the whims of the Executive or geopolitical pressures, but that its grounded in international law, which itself brings legitimacy, respect and an additional level of confidence in the safety of our Defence Forces personnel who are being deployed. We do not need to look too far to see the disastrous effects of unilateral wars and illegal invasions that bypass international institutions and can start on a whim. This is all playing out in the Middle East right now with Trump and Netanyahu\u2019s illegal attacks on Iran.  The Government, in its argument for removing the triple lock, often points to the dysfunction of the UN Security Council and there is some truth to that argument.  However, the answer is not just to abandon multilateralism. Right now, international institutions, multilateral co-operation and international law are all under sustained attack and probably have never been more in need of advocates, at least since the Cold War. We should seek to strengthen the credibility of the UN, not weaken our commitment to it. If the Government believes the Security Council requires reform, that is fine; I largely agree. Let us advocate for that reform. What we must not do is retreat from the institution and potentially jeopardise our neutrality in the process.  The Government's proposal is that deployments be authorised by the approval of the Government and the passing of a resolution of the D\u00e1il. Assuming that Whips would operate as normal for Government parties and there would not be a free vote on such a resolution, the proposal would mean, in essence, that our Defence Forces could be deployed on the whim of whichever government is in power. No international assent would be required and there would be no further safeguards. It is a deeply concerning prospect and the Government should know that. Ministers can deny it all they want but it leaves the door open to our Defence Forces getting involved in NATO missions, an EU common defence arrangement or some other military composition that would, in effect, spell an end to our neutrality.  On the Defence Forces and our defence capabilities more broadly, the Labour Party is a staunch defender of our military neutrality and the triple lock, and always will be. However, we also acknowledge that, politically speaking, when we debate our neutrality, the substance of the debate rarely moves past the triple lock. Its removal would erode our neutrality and risk damaging the unique voice we have in international affairs, whereby we have historically punched well above our weight. What often gets lost, however, is that neutrality is not the same as passivity in terms of the Defence Forces and our defence capabilities. We should not accept that there is a contradiction between our policy of neutrality and investing in our defence.  On the contrary, our position of neutrality means it is incumbent on us to ensure we invest in defence. That is how we ensure our sovereignty when it comes to these matters. At present, we rely on the UK, a NATO member, for our air defences. I fear that our neutrality, and an assumption that if worst came to worst, the UK would come to our rescue, has led to a certain level of complacency in building up our own capacity to defend ourselves. We hope we will never have to do so but the reality is we exist in an increasingly unstable and unpredictable geopolitical arena. While we cannot and will not under any circumstances accept a role in a common defence pact or any offensive actions involving Irish troops, we have a responsibility to get our own house in order.  The best insurance policy against any external threats to our neutrality is to ensure we have some reasonable defence capabilities. We cannot continue outsourcing our defence. Irish people are realistic about what is possible but we do not want to feel we are defenceless and unable, for example, to monitor our territorial waters and respond to perceived threats. Those threats, to name but a few, might take the form of large-scale drug smuggling operations or potential interference by bad actors in our vital undersea cables or electricity and gas interconnectors. Our neutrality will become more and more fragile if we do not act on those threats.  An over-reliance on our political allies for monitoring and protection leaves us vulnerable to being politically pressured into scenarios that legitimately threaten our neutrality. We need to take corrective actions in terms of our own defence capabilities. Our Defence Forces have nowhere near the levels of personnel they need, with fewer than 7,500 members at present. That shortfall is not surprising when we look at the pay and conditions on offer. For instance, cadets get \u20ac503 per week for their first year, compared with starting pay of \u20ac550 per week for recruits, who move to \u20ac814 after six months. Cadets earn 47% less than their enlisted counterparts in their first year. It is no wonder we have struggled with recruitment for so long. As my colleague Deputy Smith said in the D\u00e1il a couple of weeks ago, it may be financially illogical to become a cadet in view of the long-term impact on pension entitlements. In addition, the supplementary pension scheme issue, which is a problem across our uniformed services, is playing into our difficulties with recruitment and retention.  These issues need be addressed. Our investment in building up our defence capabilities should be focused first and foremost on our people. The failure to get on top of our low level of Defence Forces membership is having knock-on effects elsewhere. There is a recommended acceleration programme of naval vessel replacement, for example, to ensure a balanced fleet of nine modern ships by the early 2030s. However, the problem in the Naval Service is not that there are no vessels; it is that we have no one to staff them. Throwing money at more vessels will not work. The investment must be in our people.  We in the Labour Party have always maintained that Ireland is a militarily neutral country, and proudly so, but we are not politically neutral. We cannot compromise on our values. We cannot be politically neutral in the face of Israel's genocide in Gaza or Russia's imperialist invasion of Ukraine. Ireland's political voice should continue to be one that speaks for peace, diplomacy and multilateralism. The reason we can do that, and do it sincerely, is our military neutrality. I commend Deputy Stanley on his motion. Neutrality is the only path forward and any attempt by the Government to undermine it will be met with the utmost opposition by the Labour Party and by all of us across the left. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  I move amendment No. 1 to amendment No. 1:  To delete all words after \"notes that:\" and substitute the following:  \u2014 Ireland's policy of military neutrality, our strong reputation of international diplomacy, and our tradition of peacekeeping and humanitarian assistance abroad;  \u2014 the importance of public, democratic consultation in shaping Ireland's future defence policy;  \u2014 the importance of safeguards, protections and oversight in ensuring Irish military deployments are in line with our policy of military neutrality; and  \u2014 the Government plans to remove the current Triple Lock mechanism and raise the number of troops that can be deployed without D\u00e1il oversight to 50;  acknowledges:  \u2014 that the Triple Lock mechanism requires (i) Government approval, (ii) D\u00e1il approval, and (iii) a United Nations (UN) mandate through the General Assembly or Security Council for the deployment of more than 12 Irish Defence Forces personnel overseas;  \u2014 that the Triple Lock mechanism was introduced to protect our military neutrality during the adoption of the Nice and Lisbon Treaties; and  \u2014 that the UN mandate has played a significant role in shaping Ireland's approach to international military engagement and cooperation;  calls on the Government to:  \u2014 recognise that the Triple Lock and neutrality are intrinsically linked;  \u2014 uphold the policy of neutrality and the Triple Lock as set out in the Defence (Amendment) (No. 2) Act, 1960 and the solemn national declarations attached to the Nice and Lisbon Treaties;  \u2014 abide by the principal of multilateralism and not allow the State to become part of any regional military alliance;  \u2014 hold a national plebiscite, to take place before any legislation to amend the Triple Lock mechanism is brought before the D\u00e1il, to allow the Irish people to express their view on whether a United Nations mandate should remain a requirement for Ireland to deploy peacekeeping troops overseas;  \u2014 ensure that the plebiscite presents a balanced and informed choice, reflecting the role of the Triple Lock mechanism in Ireland's approach to international deployments to date, the considerations around its impact on peacekeeping operations in the future, and any scope for the removal of the Triple Lock mechanism to result in potential non-neutral military deployment; and  \u2014 commit to respecting the outcome of the plebiscite and ensuring that any subsequent policy decisions reflect the will of the people while upholding Ireland's commitment to military neutrality, multilateralism, and international cooperation.\".  I thank Deputy Stanley, his colleagues and his team for bringing forward this motion. It is long overdue that we have an opportunity to speak about neutrality and the triple lock in the Chamber.  I acknowledge the efforts of the many volunteers in the Irish Neutrality League and other organisations who work so hard on this issue. Uplift is doing amazing work to mobilise communities across Ireland. I am very proud to be a member of the parliamentary wing of the Irish Neutrality League. As Deputy Boyd Barrett mentioned, when it was originally formed, the league included as members heroes of mine such as Countess Markievicz. It is an area in which we are working really well across the Opposition. We do not all hold the exact same position but it is approximately the same. We certainly oppose the defence (amendment) Bill being put forward by the Government.  This is an area on which not just left-wing Opposition parties but the full range of Opposition Members are in unison. I appreciate the Minister of State's attendance in the Chamber and acknowledge her indication that the Minister for Defence will be here presently. However, at this stage, I expect the Minister will not arrive until 11.45 a.m., when she will make a closing statement. That means she will not have the benefit of hearing the unity of voices across the Opposition benches in defence of our neutrality and in opposition to the Government's attempt to dismantle it.  That is why I tabled my amendment. It is not in any way intended to compete with the work of Deputy Stanley. Since I have been in D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann, one of the most cynical practices I have witnessed is the Government's response to Private Members' motions. People outside the Chamber do not really understand what goes on. I find it offensive that the Government tables an amendment whereby it takes the entire text of a motion put forward by the Opposition in a spirit of genuine debate and replaces it with a self-praising, self-aggrandising and totally contradictory statement. That is what the Government does every time. Of course, it does so because it does not want to have to vote against what is proposed, which, in this case, is support for neutrality. The Government wants instead to vote for its own hollow position. I tabled this amendment because I want the Government TDs, including Fine Gael, Fianna F\u00e1il and Independent Members, to say to us that they do not support neutrality because that is the position they hold. I will go into that in more detail.  I will use my remaining time to talk about the narrative the Government is putting forth in this area, which is comprised of myths. I propose to bust a few of those myths with the aim of countering some of what I am hearing from that side of the House. The word I want to use is one my late dad was really fond of and that is \"bolloxology\". I hope the Chair will pardon my language. The rationale for the Government's stance does not make any sense. It is important to pick apart some of the myths it tries to hold. When we do so, we see they mean nothing. There is nothing in them.  The first myth is that the Government is only trying to reform the triple lock. The Fianna F\u00e1il manifesto spoke about seeking sensible reform. The Fine Gael manifesto did not even mention reform of the triple lock. Since then, the Government has said it is putting forward a defence (amendment) Bill to enable a shift from having a mechanism that does not work towards an approach based on the principles of the UN Charter. Of course, there is no legal comparison between adhering to the principles of the UN Charter versus the actual legal mechanism of the triple lock. It is like going before a judge and acknowledging guilt of a crime but proposing to interpret the law as one sees fit. It is just meaningless. The principles of the UN Charter are important but they do not serve the purpose served by the triple lock. That is why it was baked into legislation. The claim that the Government is only trying to reform the triple lock is the first myth we need to bust. In fact, it is trying to completely remove it, as is clear from its proposed Bill and the debates that have happened to date.  The second myth is that the triple lock is not central to our neutrality. We have heard from multiple members of the Government on this point.  I see that great quote from the Taoiseach has aged as well as a Trump tweet does in saying the triple lock is core to our neutrality. I will read some of the similar things he said from around that time. He said, \"It appears Fine Gael is arguing Ireland is failing in its European responsibilities and is allowing Russia and China to have a vote over our peacekeeping activities.\" This is the very same argument the Taoiseach still holds. He said, \"This is nothing more than an out of touch ideological obsession on the part of Fine Gael which ignores the fact of Ireland\u2019s international standing.\" That captures what a lot of us are trying to get across. We punch above our weight in diplomacy, human rights and the values we hold around solidarity and social justice. That is where we are good. We cannot compete with the military might of other European and global powers. We never have been, and never will be, able to.  The triple lock is what serves us in allowing ourselves to be militarily active, to have \u00d3glaigh na h\u00c9ireann and to allow them to engage in peacekeeping. We have the longest-standing unbroken peacekeeping record of any country in the world. All of it has been done under the Blue Helmet and Blue Beret. That is what the Government is trying to take away. That is what it is saying is militarily neutral.  The third myth I want to bust is that Europe is not on a path to militarisation. One of the Minister\u2019s colleagues, the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, went apoplectic a couple of weeks ago when I suggested that in another debate and said I was scaremongering, fearmongering and causing concern among people. I cannot understand how the Minister can stand here and say we are not on the path towards militarisation. We have appointed a European Defence Commissioner who talks about a European defence union, and not covertly but completely openly. We have completely diverted European funding towards military spending and away from social cohesion. We made changes to the multi-annual financial framework which means those countries that have an arms industry will benefit the most from the future of European Union finance. That means the bigger countries, the ones which do not need it as much, are now going to be getting, and benefitting from, European funding. This also means those businesses which are not contributing to the defence space are also going to find it harder. On the idea that Europe is not on a path towards militarisation, the Government cannot hold these positions. They are nonsense. We can all see it with our own eyes. To suggest the Government is only trying to reform the triple lock, it is not central to our neutrality anyway and Europe is not on a path towards militarisation, if we start to cut those pillars out from underneath the Minister's argument, we get to the final one which is that the Minister says the Government continues to support Irish neutrality. That is the guts of this statement and I suspect what we were going to hear from the Minister, Deputy McEntee. I cannot think of enough examples to say why that does not hold water anymore besides the Defence Act and what the Minister is putting forward as the abolition of the triple lock.  We have seen the Government cosy up to NATO and the former Minister for Defence talk about the purchase of weapons above what many have talked about are the absolutely urgent issues of reforming and improving terms and conditions for our military personnel. The Government has absolutely trounced any neutrality in terms of our airspace and airports in allowing the use our airspace and Shannon Airport to transport arms and personnel for other military powers. The Government cannot hold that it stands for military neutrality when all it has done since it has been in government and during previous terms is chip away at that neutrality. What this Defence Act and the removal of the triple lock will do is put a final nail in the coffin of Irish neutrality. We on the Opposition benches will not let that happen. We are going to fight tooth and nail for this along with the Irish people.  All of this brings me to one of the things that irks me most about this argument is the Minister talks about sovereignty and says our sovereignty is under threat because of the veto of the UN Security Council. I know the UN Security Council and the UN more broadly needs reform. I totally accept that; we all do. However, when the Minister talks about that sovereignty, it absolutely undermines the meaning of the word, which is under threat in Gaza and Ukraine, and which can be protected by the upholding of the international global order which is what the Government is trying to walk away from by removing the triple lock. Removing the triple lock is not just signing a piece of paper; it is saying to the UN and smaller nations across the globe that we are done with multilateralism and we are going retreat to our regional bloc and work with Europe because we are into the whole militarisation game it is pushing and we do not believe anymore that our benefit to the world is in the space of human rights, solidarity and social justice. For me, the question around sovereignty is another myth that we need to bust.  Finally, the triple lock is emblematic of that sovereignty because it is what the Irish people said they wanted in the Nice and Lisbon treaties when they knew that this day would come when we would be pulled towards a European defence union. I ask the Minister to put it to the people, just as this motion sets out. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  Neutrality and our triple lock is a serious element of our defence and foreign policy. Indeed, Irish people widely support our neutrality and are proud of it. I want to clearly say to the Minister that if she and the Government want to remove the triple lock, put it to the people by means of a referendum.  Promises may not mean much to many Government politicians and, indeed, promises mean very little it seems to Fianna F\u00e1il but to the rest of the country, promises matter. Fianna F\u00e1il assured the public in 2009 that the triple lock would be maintained in order to pass the Nice treaty. Assurances were given to the Irish people. The triple lock was, therefore, essentially passed indirectly through a referendum. Now Fianna F\u00e1il and, indeed, Fine Gael want to remove it. The triple lock will remove the UN Security Council veto, meaning the deployment of our Defence Forces will be effectively in the hands of two political parties. Increasingly in those two political parties, backbenchers are not listened to, particularly in Fianna F\u00e1il. We are essentially giving control of our Defence Forces to two political leaders. That is what this is ultimately going to lead to.  The context of this is very significant. Europe is on a path to militarisation and is rearming. European funding has been and is being directed away from social funding, agriculture and other areas and into rearming. It is increasingly going to be spent on guns and bombs. That is the truth.  The ironically named \"safe regulation\" under the \"ReArm Europe\" plan offers Ireland incredible financial flexibility in terms of purchasing missiles. It is money for bombs. Where is the money and flexibility to address the housing crisis in the country? The Common Agricultural Policy, CAP, budget is going to see a significant cut as a result of this. If the Minister wants to see the triple lock gone and is so confident the Government has the support of the Irish people, put it to them by means of a referendum. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  There is a lot of emotive debate over this issue. The Irish people have consistently spoken out in terms of wanting to preserve our neutrality. In terms of Ukraine, for example, we have been keen to emphasise we are militarily neutral. As my Labour Party colleagues mentioned earlier, what we do not have is the military capacity to defend ourselves in any way, shape or form, or to patrol our coastlines. I note the Government is talking about investing in remote control-type of weaponry. We should be paying our Defence Forces more. They do a great job, and we should be trying to get more personnel on board.  As a neutral country - and I wholeheartedly support Ireland's neutrality policy - we should have the capabilities to at least create a strong deterrent. Equally, from a geopolitical perspective, there is a huge risk from the likes of Russia in our economic zone in terms of undersea cables. The UN Security Council is not fit for purpose.  I agree with the Government about that. I also note that the defence (amendment) Bill will require that any overseas operations would still be grounded in the principles of the UN Charter and international humanitarian law, even without a formal UN resolution. However, we cannot just have a double lock. We still need a triple lock. If the Government gets rid of the UN Security Council element because it is not fit for purpose, we will need an 80% D\u00e1il resolution and-or the ability to hold a referendum in some situations. There is scope for having up to 60 military personnel without any kind of requirement to go to the D\u00e1il, but for larger scale operations we need a triple lock of sorts and it should be an 80% D\u00e1il majority, a referendum or both. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  Independent Ireland supports Deputy Stanley's motion. Some people in politics today are trying to paint neutrality as old-fashioned, outdated or somehow weak. The people of Ireland do not see it that way at all. The people understand neutrality because it is about independence. It is about Ireland making its own decisions, not taking orders from Brussels or NATO and not being dragged into conflicts that are not ours.  For generations, neutrality has served this country well. We are a small nation, but we have earned respect across the world because Irish soldiers went abroad as peacekeepers, not as occupiers. Irish troops have worn the blue helmet of the UN with honour. Families across Ireland are proud of that service. Now the Government wants to tamper with the triple lock. It can dress it up whatever way it likes, but ordinary people see through it.  The triple lock is there to stop the Government of the day sending Irish troops overseas without proper checks and balances. It requires the approval of the United Nations, the Government and the D\u00e1il. This is not some inconvenience; it is democracy. Let us not rewrite history either. When the people rejected the Nice treaty, and later the Lisbon treaty, neutrality was one of the biggest concerns raised. The Government of the day came back to the people with solemn guarantees that neutrality and the triple lock would be respected. Now years later, the Government wants to quietly row back on those commitments again, without ever asking the people. That is wrong. If the Government truly believes the Irish people wants to abandon neutrality, it should have the courage to put the removal of the triple lock to a referendum. Let the Irish people decide our future, not the rest of the world.  Independent Ireland strongly believes we can support and strengthen our Defence Forces while remaining proudly neutral. Those two things are not contradictory. Our Naval Service needs ships, our airspace needs protection, our soldiers deserve proper pay and conditions and our Defence Forces need investment after years of neglect, but strengthening our Defence Forces' capability is a very different thing from dragging Ireland closer and closer to European military structures. People in Ireland understand this clearly. They do not want Irish neutrality chipped away bit by bit while politicians in Dublin pretend nothing is changing. Neutrality is not a weakness. It has kept Ireland independent and allowed Ireland to speak with credibility on the world stage and to act as peacekeepers and humanitarians. Once this independence is surrendered, it will not be easy to get it back. Independent Ireland stands firmly with the Irish people on this issue. We should protect the triple lock and neutrality and, above all else, trust the people enough to let them have their say. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  Independent Ireland was set up for one reason: to give a platform for Independents to work together. What is the difference between Independent Ireland and Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael? We have a vote of conscience. Whether to remove the triple lock is a vote of conscience. It is a vote for the people of Ireland. It should not be up to the Government party leaders. Anything such as removing the triple lock should be an open vote in this House for Government parties at a minimum. The Government no longer fully represents of Ireland. It should look at its numbers. At the recent protests when people came out what happened? The Government talked down to the real people of Ireland and ignored them. It no longer represents the people of Ireland as a whole.  Neutrality is not a weakness. It is independence. Do we need to invest in the Defence Forces? 100%. Do we need to ensure our Defence Forces can protect the country? 100%. However, we also need to hear the voice of every person in the country on any removal of the triple lock. It is not something the Government should have control of. That is why Independent Ireland put a vote of conscience into its constitution. While we in Independent Ireland might agree on 90% of issues, we will never agree on 10%. It allows members of the party to make individual choices because they represent different parts of the country and different people in their areas. That is the difference between Independent Ireland and Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael. The Government parties are told what to do. Yes sir, no sir, three bags full sir. That is what they go with. Why not recognise the people of Ireland and let them make the decision on whether there is to be any alteration of our neutrality? Any alteration to the triple lock is a choice for the people to make, not for the Government. Why not recognise the people of Ireland and let them make a decision about whether there will be any alteration? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  First, I thank Deputy Stanley for bringing forward this timely and important motion to allow us to say what we want in D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann regarding neutrality. It is most important that we retain our neutrality and the triple lock. If the Government wants to change it, by all means it should put it to the people of Ireland. It should put it to the country. There is nothing to be afraid of. At all times, the people of Ireland have given their opinions on the different referendums put before them and we in this Chamber duly had to recognise the voice of the people. That is what we have waited for here.  Back in 2013, then Deputy Miche\u00e1l Martin - he is now our Taoiseach - suggested we could not or would not get rid of the triple lock. The only difference between Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael at that time was that Fine Gael was apparently in favour of getting rid of the triple lock and Fianna F\u00e1il was not. If Fianna F\u00e1il wants to change that, it means the two parties will more or less unite and be one party because there will be no difference between them, in my eyes anyway.  De Valera stood up to Churchill in during the Second World War. As a young fella I listened to his speech. England had oppressed us for more than 800 years and he told Churchill where to go. De Valera was not taking his dictation when he was asked to forgo neutrality and get involved in the war and open the ports for England. I and many people will forever thank de Valera for that stance, for standing up to the powers of the world at the time and holding our neutrality.  I thank our peacekeeping forces for all the work they have done in different conflicts across----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Darren O'Rourke)  Go raibh maith agat. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  -----the world. I certainly do not want to see a European army we are part of. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mattie McGrath  I too thank Deputy Stanley for bringing forward this motion this morning. My position is clear: the triple lock is sacrosanct. Ireland's policy on neutrality is equally sacrosanct and remains a vital cornerstone of our approach to defence and international engagement. I too compliment our peacekeepers who have worked all over the world in very dangerous situations over the decades.  Following the initial rejection of the Nice treaty, the Government gave explicit assurances to the Irish people ahead of the second referendum. These assurances included the Seville Declarations on the Treaty of Nice which safeguarded Irish neutrality and incorporated a requirement for UN authorisation in the triple lock. That was a promise made to the people. Do we have any respect for what the people were promised? We seem not to. To remove this requirement now would represent the reversal of a commitment made to the Irish people in 2002. Therefore, any proposal to replace it with a broader or alternative international mandate should most definitely be put to the Irish people. The people are sacrosanct and sovereign here, and they should make the decision.  It is often portrayed in media coverage that there is strong public support for maintaining the triple lock.  The majority of the Irish people believe in preserving this safeguard. As a sovereign nation, it is the Irish people who should decide whether such a fundamental change is made. The Government argues that a referendum is neither required nor necessary because it is afraid of a referendum and the people. The Taoiseach, Deputy Martin, went on a roadshow some years ago to Cork, Donegal and God knows where else \u2013 it was a nice ready-up with a hand-picked chairperson - to try to ready the people for change. It is a democratic decision of the people and nothing else.  Failure to recognise or act on principles suggests two things. The first is that the Government may lack confidence that the electorate would support its position and the second is that it is unwilling to allow people to have their say on an issue of such great importance to the Irish people. I listened to much of the debate. The Opposition is in unison as regards the position. The Government should listen to that and take heed of democratic accountability to this House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Callaghan  I stand in this Chamber today as the only person in the Thirty-fourth D\u00e1il who has served in \u00d3glaigh na h\u00c9ireann and the only current Deputy who has signed the oath of allegiance, the same oath of allegiance that all members of the Defence Forces sign. When we sign, we say we will only obey lawful orders. Lawful orders are orders that are fully and wholly in alignment and accordance with international law. I have also served as a UN peacekeeper in southern Lebanon, protecting the citizens of southern Lebanon, the very same citizens who will still need protection once the UNIFIL operation ceases at the end of this year and Ireland's involvement with peacekeeping in the region ends due to the lack of a UN mandate.  There has not been a single UN mandate sanctioned by the UN Security Council since 2014. The system is broken. Before I go any further, it is important to be clear about something fundamental. Neutrality and the triple lock are not the same thing. Sinn F\u00e9in seems to constantly roll words like \"triple lock\", \"neutrality\" and \"protection\" off its tongue as if they are the same thing. This is false and misleading. The triple lock does not guarantee our neutrality. We are neutral as a country because we choose to be neutral. There is no desire, discussion or intention of changing our neutrality and any assertion to the contrary from the Opposition benches is unfounded.  Neutrality is a long-standing policy of independence about how Ireland chooses to conduct itself in the world. The triple lock describes the three-step process we use to come to a decision as to where we deploy our peacekeeping troops, but the real truth lies in the fact that the decision as to which UN missions are suitable for our troops is decided in the first part of the triple lock. It is decided in line with our policy of neutrality and the commitment to obeying international laws.  When deployments are being considered, the first step for the Government is to seek the advice of senior and experienced members of the Defence Forces, the men and women I mentioned at the beginning of my contribution, who are beholden to obeying international law, alongside the Departments of Defence and Foreign Affairs and Trade. It is at this stage that a peacekeeping mission's suitability is established. Missions will not be approved unless they are in line with Ireland's values, including our policy of neutrality. There has never been an incident where a Government has gone against military advice about the suitability of a mission for Irish personnel. This is our autonomy and sovereign decision of the State. Ireland was neutral long before the triple lock. We will be neutral after the triple lock is amended. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas le gach Ball a labhair ar an r\u00fan seo. Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Teachta Gibney as an leas\u00fa a chuir s\u00ed chun tosaigh. Nuair at\u00e1 muid ag \u00e9isteacht leis an bpobal, t\u00e1 s\u00e9 sin thar a bheith important. Successive polls have shown a consistent majority in favour of neutrality. When we are discussing the triple lock, we need to be clear what it entails. I agree with an Teachta Callaghan about listening to the Defence Forces, but from my own research \u2013 the Minister can correct me if I am wrong \u2013 I understand one cannot survey current Defence Forces personnel on their opinion on removing legislation. Perhaps their spouses and children could be surveyed to see what they think.  If there is a specific peacekeeping mission and genuine humanitarian emergency where the Defence Forces are needed, and the UN Security Council is being vetoed - it has vetoed multiple peacekeeping missions for many reasons under P5 - then we should introduce emergency legislation, make a case and bring a Bill to the House. We have introduced emergency legislation on previous occasions. Right now, there is no clear reason to do this. It is as if we are trying to create a deterrent. That is what we should be doing. It is not acceptable. If we are going to do this and are confident that the Irish people want this, we should have a referendum.  The Minister will give me lenience to bring her attention to the Global Sumud Flotilla. Michael Cullen, a good friend of mine, was on the flotilla yesterday while his peaceful humanitarian boat was shot at. I was on a flotilla and have seen the brutal way the IOF treats people. I ask for an update from the Minister's Department. Michael's sister was watching the live stream when she heard shots being fired and the feed went dark. She did not know where he was. Having seen the treatment of our ambassador when I was in prison, we need to do everything we can and stand up to people who are committing war crimes and genocide. We have an obligation. I welcome the acknowledgement last week on the work that is being done in the Department on the Occupied Territories Bill and I would love an update. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Defence (Deputy Helen McEntee)  At the outset, I want to join many colleagues in acknowledging the exceptional service of the men and women of the Defence Forces currently deployed overseas. As we know, their work in peacekeeping missions often takes place in challenging and dangerous environments, as demonstrated most particularly in south Lebanon, and continues to reflect our enduring commitment to international peace and security. I am deeply conscious, not least because I met many of those members and their families in recent weeks, of the sacrifice they and their families make in serving their country and advancing the cause of peace.  I fully recognise the strong public interest in and deep attachment to Ireland's neutrality, as well as the strength of feeling it continues to generate. I also acknowledge that there are genuine concerns and, in some cases, misunderstandings regarding the impact the proposed amendments to the Defence Acts, including changes to the provision commonly referred to as the triple lock, may have on Ireland's policy of military neutrality. Just a few seconds ago, we heard from a Deputy who said Ireland should not be dictated to by other countries while at the same time saying that we do not need to amend the triple lock, the very thing that allows other countries like the US, China and Russia to dictate exactly what we do.  Let me be absolutely clear. Ireland's long-standing policy in regard to our neutrality remains unchanged. We do not participate in military alliances or mutual defence arrangements and I am being very clear when I say there are no plans by the Government to alter the position. That commitment has been made repeatedly on the floor of the House and I again explicitly reaffirm it today.  I want to again address a fundamental misconception at the heart of the motion before the House. The triple lock is not a defining feature of our neutrality. It is not set out in Bunreacht na h\u00c9ireann and it is not a constitutional requirement. Rather, it is a legislative mechanism grounded in the Defence Act. It governs the dispatch of Defence Forces personnel overseas, primarily in the context of UN-mandated missions. The triple lock evolved from political commitments during the Nice and Lisbon treaties process and we all accept that. I disagree with the idea that we would not have a discussion many years later in a space where we have elected representatives who represent all of our constituencies and are living in a changed global environment. It is not a constitutional principle. This is an opportunity for all of us, as elected representatives, to discuss the situation we find ourselves in. It is quite simple. We cannot operate in certain missions or certain missions that are due to end because of our triple lock. Amending the legislation underpinning this does not require a referendum. I am fully of the view that such a proposal would be neither necessary nor proportionate in terms of what we are discussing.  The Government is committed to progressing the defence (amendment) Bill, the general scheme of which was approved on 4 March. This legislation will consolidate and update existing provisions relating to overseas deployments and will modernise the framework in which such decisions are made. It will be reflective of the current global security environment, an environment in which no new peacekeeping mission has been proposed since 2014. Due to the veto of other countries, since 2014 we and UN peacekeeping missions have been blocked from progressing. The core objective of the legislative reforms proposed is to strengthen our ability to pursue an independent foreign policy and to allow us to make our own decisions in terms of deploying our own troops.  Crucially, it will ensure that decisions regarding the deployment of Defence Forces personnel overseas to peacekeeping missions are determined solely by the Government and D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann, the sovereign representatives of the Irish people, rather than being subject to the veto of the permanent members of the UN, countries like the US, China and Russia, countries that are actually involved in conflicts----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  The US. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  -----we are trying to keep peacekeeping troops on the ground for. The practical reality is that the veto power exercised or indeed threatened by permanent members of the Security Council can and does prevent action, including in circumstances where there is broad international support. For Ireland, this can create and in fact does create real and immediate consequences. In the absence of a UN mandate, deployments cannot proceed. They must cease, regardless of our position or of the will of this House.  Deputy Heneghan asked why we are doing this now. I will give examples. We know very clearly that the troops I met in Limerick a few weeks ago will be the last operational mandate or battalion sent out to southern Lebanon for a peacekeeping mission that has been in situ for decades. We have a very proud tradition of sending thousands of members overseas over those years to protect people and keep them safe. The dynamic has changed and it is a very difficult situation now for civilians and our troops with that mission ending by next year. We will have no mandate to be able to support the people on the ground. We heard Deputy Callaghan speak and, like her, every peacekeeping troop or member of the Defence Forces I have met wants to continue that operation on the ground. That will not be possible.  I will mention as another example Operation IRINI, which is an EU-led mission in the Mediterranean. We have our own troops on that mission. That is coming to an end on Sunday. It is not being renewed. We will not be able to keep our troops there as part of any new mission that is being progressed. This is what we are trying to do. We have members of the Defence Forces who train, are highly skilled and are highly experienced. As missions are not being renewed because the UN Security Council is not operating in the way it should - we all know that - we are having to take back our troops and we are not able to continue the fantastic work we are so proud they have been doing for so many years.  The legislative changes I am proposing will address this issue directly. It will remove the requirement for the UN mandate as part of the decision-making framework while retaining robust safeguards. People want to know that there will be robust safeguards; that there will be Government approval and D\u00e1il approval, where appropriate; and that this will continue to be required. All deployments will remain fully consistent with international law and with the principles of the UN Charter. Under these reforms we can continue to participate in missions such as Operation IRINI, which I have just mentioned. It is coming to an end and we will no longer be able to be part of it.  On the question of any further potential missions in south Lebanon - I know our troops want to continue their work there - if the EU or any other regional organisation proposes such a mission, the House can decide to be part of that. I think that is a role the House should take on.  I emphasise that even though the reforms to the triple lock legislation are often portrayed as altering our neutrality, they will not change our neutrality. I will repeat what Deputy Callaghan said: we were a neutral country before the triple lock was introduced. Amending it does not change the fact that we are a neutral country. The reforms do not signal any move towards participation in military alliances, nor would they do anything to expeditionary operations or diminish our commitment to the UN or to multilateralism. On the contrary, we will continue to regard the principles of the UN Charter as the foundation of our international engagement and we will actively support efforts to strengthen and reform the multilateral system. I have briefed and engaged directly with Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, on our intended approach. Our position and our ongoing commitment to the UN are well understood within the UN system, just as our peacekeepers are highly valued and appreciated. The UN does not see this as Ireland pulling away from the UN. This does not come across, nor does the UN believe that this is Ireland pulling away. The UN understands the need for us to be able to deploy our troops and to support the many missions they feel they cannot support because of the veto. Ireland's reputation as a peace-builder and as a contributor to conflict resolution, peacekeeping, human rights and disarmament is well established and will continue to guide our approach.  We have all touched on the security environment. We can see that it is different from previous decades. We are witnessing increased geopolitical tensions, a weakening of established multilateral mechanisms in certain instances and the emergence of new and complex threats that do not respect national borders. Against that backdrop, it is both prudent and necessary that we ensure our legislative and policy frameworks remain fit for purpose. This includes ensuring the State has the capacity to respond in a timely and effective manner to emerging crises, whether they arise from conflict situations, humanitarian emergencies or risks to Irish citizens abroad. The ability to act when required and in line with our values is an essential component of a credible and responsible foreign and defence policy. Our participation in overseas missions, whether it is under the auspices of the United Nations, the European Union or other regional arrangements, has always been grounded in clear legal authority and a principled commitment to peacekeeping and conflict resolution. Nothing in the legislative proposals alters that fundamental position. Rather, what is being proposed is a pragmatic adjustment to ensure Ireland is not unduly constrained in circumstances where international consensus may be blocked for reasons completely unrelated to the merits of a particular mission. They may be completely unrelated, and we have seen that happen. In such situations it is reasonable that we retain our sovereign capacity to determine our own course of action, subject to the appropriate democratic oversight.  Our international reputation, as we all agree, has been built over many decades and it is one of consistency, independence and willingness to contribute constructively in support of peace and stability. Our Defence Forces personnel are widely respected for their professionalism, their integrity and their dedication in challenging environments. Ensuring we can continue to deploy such personnel, where justified and where appropriate, is in keeping with that proud tradition. By next year, there will be hundreds of troops who will not be able to participate in a UN peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon in a way we have done for decades. This is because of the triple lock. What we are proposing here is to make sure we can continue to deploy our troops.  I will touch on one other point. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Darren O'Rourke)  Go raibh maith agat. The time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  Some commentary has been made on our investment in defence and in security. Being a neutral country does not mean that we should not invest in our capabilities to defend ourselves or that we should not be able to engage with other countries so that we are working collectively together. That does not in any way impact on our military neutrality. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  I welcome and support this motion and thank Deputy Stanley for bringing it forward. I want to address some remarks to Fianna F\u00e1il TDs, Fianna F\u00e1il Senators and the wider Fianna F\u00e1il membership. Is Fianna F\u00e1il going to abandon its history? Is Fianna F\u00e1il going to abandon Bunreacht na h\u00c9ireann, \u00c9amon de Valera's Constitution? Is Fianna F\u00e1il going to abandon \u00c9amon de Valera's declaration of neutrality? Is Fianna F\u00e1il going to abandon the solemn national declaration given by a Taoiseach from that party, Bertie Ahern, during the second referendum on the Nice treaty? Is it going to abandon the solemn national declaration given by another Fianna F\u00e1il Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, during the second referendum on the Lisbon treaty? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul McAuliffe  No. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  Is it going to abandon people like \u00c9amon \u00d3 Cu\u00edv and Willie O'Dea who are on record as opposing the abolition of the triple lock? The Minister has said that there is no connection between the triple lock and Irish neutrality but as we very well know, the current Taoiseach told us previously that the triple lock is the core of Irish neutrality. These are huge questions for Fianna F\u00e1il, and for its future. Will they abandon their history?  Irish neutrality goes back hundreds of years. It is part of what we are as a nation and as a people. It goes back to Wolfe Tone. It goes back to James Connolly when he erected the banner on Liberty Hall which said \"We serve neither king nor kaiser, but Ireland!\". It goes back to huge protests against conscription during the First World War. It goes back to Article 29.2 of Bunreacht na h\u00c9ireann - \u00c9amon de Valera's Constitution - in which \"Ireland affirms its adherence to the principle of the pacific settlement of international disputes by international arbitration or judicial determination.\"  The triple lock itself was endorsed by the sovereign Irish people in two referendums: the second Nice treaty referendum and the second Lisbon treaty referendum. The triple lock was included in solemn national declarations in those treaties. Any question of changing the triple lock will require a referendum of the Irish people. What is the Government afraid of in putting this to a referendum? The Irish people have spoken twice on this issue and have supported the triple lock. Any change will require a referendum, so this should be put to the people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  I acknowledge the work of Irish peacekeepers in Lebanon and in other missions overseas, particularly those serving in Lebanon currently given the actions of the terrorist Israeli State. I also acknowledge the work of volunteers who have campaigned and continue to campaign to uphold neutrality. I thank all those from the Opposition benches who spoke on it this morning. I note that not one Fianna F\u00e1il Deputy has darkened the door to come in and to defend what is being proposed here. That is interesting and speaks for itself.  The motion calls on the Government to uphold the policy of neutrality and the triple lock as set out in the Defence (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1960 and the solemn national declarations attached to the Nice and Lisbon treaties; to recognise that these commitments regarding the triple lock and neutrality can only be changed or amended by a majority of the electorate in a referendum; to recognise that the triple lock and neutrality are intrinsically linked, as set out by Miche\u00e1l Martin; to strengthen the State's policy of neutrality by bringing forward a referendum to enshrine it in the Constitution. If the Minister really believes in it, which she said a number of times, enshrine it in the Constitution; to work with other neutral and non-aligned countries to reform and re-establish the primacy of the UN as the forum to uphold international law and for resolving international disputes and conflicts; to abide by the principal of multilateralism and not allow the State to be become part of any regional force; and to halt plans to progress the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025, which is about abandoning neutrality, and respect the will of the people.  Being neutral does not inhibit us in any way from having a level of co-operation with other states. Being neutral does not stop us from enhancing and modernising our Defence Forces and the protecting the likes of undersea cables. It does not stop us from increasing the numbers in the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service or having modern equipment. It is the Government parties that have presided over the running down of the Defence Forces. I welcome the fact that some money is being invested in them and there have been some improvements but there is a lot more to do. Poor pay and conditions and lack of investment have been at the core of the problem. Next Tuesday night at 8 p.m., there will be a meeting on neutrality in the parish centre in Portlaoise. I am just getting in that plug with the indulgence of the Ceann Comhairle.  Who are the people sent to war? They are not the sons and daughters of the militarists. It is the working class that is sent to the front line. The arms industry in Europe, led by Germany, is banging the war drums but, of course, we have cohorts banging the war drums at home. There have been over 50 articles in the media calling for the abandonment of the triple lock, with hardly any articles putting forward the counter position. Week after week, we hear from people like Brigid Laffan, Dan O'Brien, Dan Mulhall, John O'Brien and Ben Tonra banging the war drum and churning out the propaganda that we must abolish the triple lock and abandon our policy of neutrality. A conditioning process is happening to convince people to transfer money away from spending on agriculture, social cohesion and important matters like health, education and housing and use that money to buy guns. Brigid Laffan was very clear about it. When she was asked what she meant by Brendan O'Connor recently, she said that it is about guns.  The Minister said here a number of times, and told me and a number of members at the defence committee, that we are not going to join NATO but we do not have to join it. The boys and girls at the top of NATO know this. Why do they know this? It is because the Government is already joining in and signing up to joint missions and partnerships with all sorts of names and terms used as a cover for participating and being aligned with NATO. That is the reality. That is the conditioning process.  We are supposed to be neutral. I remember being at Shannon Airport. The one and only time I was there was in 2008 and I was horrified to see the number of American troops in American Army uniforms going through the airport and the military overflights. The Government at the time signed up to allow this. We cannot allow that to continue in light of the slaughter that happened in Iraq and Iran. We facilitated flights into and out of Shannon and flights over Ireland on military missions. That has to stop.  We recently gave \u20ac90 million in aid to Ukraine. I support the \u20ac60 million for humanitarian purposes but I do not support the \u20ac30 million that was given to buy guns and bombs. You are firing guns and bombs into what is already an industrial war. That is the only way you could describe it. It is like trying to put out a fire by throwing petrol on it. A neutral country cannot do that. The boys and girls at the top of NATO are not worried because they already have the Government.  Wolfe Tone was the first to enunciate Irish neutrality. Some 110 years ago, James Connolly hung a banner over Liberty Hall that read \"We Serve Neither King Nor Kaiser But Ireland!\" This is not about being isolationist. It is about us being a peaceful country, using our voice as an independent neutral country to stand up for what is right in a world run by bullies such as Trump and Putin and the terrorist State of Israel. I express my solidarity with the people who have been kidnapped by Israel and I urge the Government to take the strongest possible action. If it sees the Israeli ambassador, tell them to go home as soon as possible. It should expel the ambassador. They should be expelled and we should pass the sanctions Bill today to stop any trade with Israel. It is a disgrace that we co-operate in any way with it. We should continue our role as a peace-keeping country. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment No. 1 to amendment No. 1 put."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  In accordance with Standing Order 85(2), the division is deferred until tonight's voting bloc. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Defence and Neutrality: Motion [Private Members]"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-20\/debate\/dbsect_10","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Message from Select Committee","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_10","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Select Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration has completed its consideration of the Criminal Law, Civil Law and Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026, changed from the Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026, and has made amendments thereto and has amended the Title to read as follows:  AN ACT TO AMEND THE FIREARMS ACT 1925 AND THE PRISONS ACT 2007 IN RELATION TO THE POSSESSION, USE OR CARRIAGE OF INCAPACITANT SPRAY BY PRISON OFFICERS AND TO AMEND THE FIREARMS ACT 1925 IN RELATION TO THE SEIZURE AND DETENTION OF FIREARMS OR AMMUNITION BY AN GARDA S\u00cdOCH\u00c1NA IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC SAFETY, SECURITY OR PEACE; TO AMEND THE COURTS OF JUSTICE ACT 1936, THE COURTS SERVICE ACT 1998 AND THE JUDICIAL COUNCIL ACT 2019 IN RELATION TO CERTAIN NONJUDICIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE CHIEF JUSTICE; TO AMEND THE DEFENCE ACT 1954 TO PROVIDE FOR CERTAIN POWERS OF THE DEFENCE FORCES IN RELATION TO SAFEGUARDING, PROTECTING AND DEFENDING THE SECURITY OF THE STATE, THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE DEFENCE FORCES IN AID OF THE CIVIL POWER, AND THE PROTECTION OF MILITARY INSTALLATIONS BY THE DEFENCE FORCES; TO PROVIDE FOR A POWER OF PROVISIONAL ARREST WITHOUT WARRANT IN RELATION TO EXTRADITION REQUESTS IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES AND FOR THAT AND OTHER PURPOSES TO AMEND THE EXTRADITION ACT 1965; TO MAKE FURTHER PROVISION IN RELATION TO COMMUNITY SERVICE ORDERS AND FOR THAT PURPOSE TO AMEND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE (COMMUNITY SERVICE) ACT 1983; TO AMEND THE CRIMINAL EVIDENCE ACT 1992 AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACT 1999 IN RELATION TO EVIDENCE IN CERTAIN PROCEEDINGS; TO MAKE FURTHER PROVISION IN RELATION TO CERTIFICATION OF CITIZENSHIP IN CERTAIN PROCEEDINGS AND FOR THAT PURPOSE TO AMEND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE (THEFT AND FRAUD OFFENCES) ACT 2001, THE MARITIME SECURITY ACT 2004, THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT ACT 2006, THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE (MONEY LAUNDERING AND TERRORIST FINANCING) ACT 2010 AND THE EUROPEAN UNION (MARKET ABUSE) REGULATIONS 2016; TO AMEND THE EUROPEAN ARREST WARRANT ACT 2003 TO GIVE FURTHER EFFECT TO COUNCIL FRAMEWORK DECISION OF 13 JUNE 2002 ON THE EUROPEAN ARREST WARRANT AND THE SURRENDER PROCEDURES BETWEEN MEMBER STATES, AS AMENDED BY COUNCIL FRAMEWORK DECISION OF 26 FEBRUARY 2009 AMENDING FRAMEWORK DECISIONS 2002\/584\/JHA, 2005\/214\/JHA, 2006\/783\/JHA, 2008\/909\/JHA AND 2008\/947\/JHA THEREBY ENHANCING THE PROCEDURAL RIGHTS OF PERSONS AND FOSTERING THE APPLICATION OF THE PRINCIPLE OF MUTUAL RECOGNITION TO DECISIONS RENDERED IN THE ABSENCE OF THE PERSON CONCERNED AT THE TRIAL; TO MAKE FURTHER PROVISION IN RELATION TO DNA PROFILES AND FOR THAT PURPOSE TO AMEND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE (FORENSIC EVIDENCE AND DNA DATABASE SYSTEM) ACT 2014; TO MAKE PROVISION FOR OFFENCES RELATING TO ACCOMMODATION OFFERED IN EXCHANGE FOR SEXUAL ACTIVITY AND FOR THAT PURPOSE TO AMEND THE CRIMINAL LAW (SEXUAL OFFENCES) ACT 2017; TO MAKE PROVISION FOR THE LICENSING OF OUTDOOR SEATING AREAS OF LICENSED PREMISES IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES AND FOR TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR CERTAIN OUTDOOR SEATING AREAS TEMPORARILY LICENSED UNDER THE CIVIL LAW (MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS) ACT 2021; TO MAKE FURTHER PROVISION IN RESPECT OF ORDERS RELATING TO ANTI SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR AND FOR THAT AND OTHER PURPOSES TO AMEND THE CHILDREN ACT 2001 AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACT 2006; TO AMEND THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 1967, THE CIVIL LEGAL AID ACT 1995, THE BAIL ACT 1997, THE MULTI-UNIT DEVELOPMENTS ACT 2011, THE PRISONS ACT 2015, THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE (MUTUAL RECOGNITION OF CUSTODIAL SENTENCES) ACT 2023 AND THE JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS COMMISSION ACT 2023; AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Message from Select Committee"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-20\/debate\/dbsect_11","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions","counts":{"speechCount":164,"speakerCount":18},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_11","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Brady","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel Grealish","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  The latest daft.ie rent report was published this morning. The consequences of the Fine Gael-Fianna F\u00e1il rent hike Bill are now laid bare. Rents have hit their highest level in 25 years and are increasing at the fastest rate since records began and evictions are at their highest level since the Famine. This is devastating for renters. The rent rule changes announced by the Government last summer and introduced on 1 March are a disaster. What these massive rent hikes mean in real terms is that in Dublin, renting a two-bed apartment will cost you an eye-watering \u20ac30,000 per year. In Galway city, where rents have shot up by 18%, a two-bed will set you back \u20ac27,000 in rent per year.  Is it any wonder that there is so much anger and despair among young families in Galway - people who are desperately trying to put an affordable roof over their heads? Who in God's name can afford these rents? Can ordinary workers, families or young people afford them? They do not have a hope. They do not stand a chance. How does the Government expect people to live? How does it expect young people to save for their own home? The Government has knowingly caused this nightmare with its rent hike bill. The daft.ie report calls it out in black and white. It states that \"the ability to reset rents between tenancies appears to have led to a step-change in rents, with the largest quarterly increase in rents on record.\" This report includes only the first month of the Government's disastrous legislation, so renters will now be terrified that there is much worse to come.  I warned the Taoiseach that the Government's Bill would open the floodgates to massive rent increases but he refused to listen. In fact, he told me that I was wrong. The biggest corporate landlord in the country also told the Government.  They boasted brazenly to investors that the Government's legislation allowed them to jack up their rents by extortionate amounts but the Government pushed ahead, intent on lining the pockets of the corporate landlords, big developers and vulture funds and utterly indifferent to the consequences for renters, families and ordinary people. Today, however, the Taoiseach has nowhere to hide. We now see the consequences of his actions as plain as day, with record rents, record evictions, families with nowhere to go, young people forced to choose between paying crippling rent, moving back in with their families or emigrating, and stress, worry and panic. That is what the Government has done to an entire generation and it has done it deliberately, with its eyes wide open.  Tubaiste amach is amach is ea an Bille sin a bhfuil de thoradh air go bhfuil n\u00edos m\u00f3 daoine \u00e1 gcur amach as a dtithe agus c\u00edosanna n\u00edos airde n\u00e1 mar a bh\u00ed riamh. Thr\u00e9ig an Rialtas tion\u00f3nta\u00ed chun p\u00f3ca\u00ed na dtiarna\u00ed tal\u00fan m\u00f3ire agus na gcreach-chist\u00ed a l\u00edonadh.  The Government has chosen to back big landlords and punish renters. It could have cut rents, banned rent increases and put a stop to no-fault evictions, but no. With its rent hike Bill, it chose to make life better for the corporate landlords and property funds, so they laugh all their way to the bank, while the lives of families, workers, students and young people are turned upside down. What has the Taoiseach to say today to those renters who were thrown to the wolves? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Rents have been too high for a long time. Why? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  Because of your Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It is because there is a shortage of supply. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Allow the Taoiseach to answer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputies have had their chance. With respect, they should allow democracy to take place. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Donnelly  The Taoiseach had his chance. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Manners, please. The Deputy's leader will respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The one thing I observed in the presentation by Deputy McDonald was the absence of any solution, the absence of any idea except to ban rent hikes----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  Get rid of this Government "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----which will destroy supply. Any international organisation analysing the rental market or any property market has said time and again that rent controls or the freezing of rents just reduces supply, kills the market for the long term and will keep prices at too high a level. The Housing Commission recommended that we had to change the rental situation in terms of the rent pressure zones. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  It did not recommend that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Again, Sinn F\u00e9in Members are interrupting and again they do not have either the manners or the cop-on to listen to some rational arguments on this question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  At least I do not misrepresent the Housing Commission's report, as the Taoiseach has done. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  With the greatest of respect, Deputy, you went off to Davy Stockbrokers. You went off to all that gang before the election and we saw the incoherence of your response. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  Be honest about the commission's report. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I am not going to ask again. Respect the discourse of the House, on both sides. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Again, recommendations for reform came from the Housing Commission, the ESRI, and the Housing Agency. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  Not for this reform. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The bottom line was this. What was in place could not be sustained. Equally, it is about supply----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  Can we sustain the current evictions and homelessness figures? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  In terms of our proposals and what is happening, we had 36,000 additional houses last year. Supply ultimately will moderate rent increases. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  When? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy \u00d3 Broin, your party leader asked the question. You are not special. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  Will it be in three years, four years or six years? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy \u00d3 Broin, do you have a special dispensation that I am unaware of? Please allow the answer to the question your Leader has asked. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Daft.ie data is asking prices. It is not the complete data set for the entire rental market in the country. Deputies should know that. That is the bottom line. The asking prices are usually greater than usual. The Central Statistics Office, in its monthly change analysis, showed a figure of 0.3% in quarter 1 of 2026. The Residential Tenancies Board covers the entire population of tenancies, which is about 246,000. With daft.ie , it could be as low as 2,300 tenancies. We have to treat the daft.ie data with care in terms of any proper, comprehensive analysis of the rental market. The latest RTB data shows continued growth in quarter 1 of 2026, with 246,000 tenancies. That is the highest on record. There are more tenancies and properties available. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  No, there are not. That is not true. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy's party leader will respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  There is no doubt that, with the change, there was going to be an impact on the market. There was no question about that. It was actually said at the time by various agencies. The bottom line is that there had to be certainty given to the landscape because we are spending about \u20ac9 billion of State money. The direct State intervention in the housing market is around \u20ac9 billion. The Central Bank says we need about \u20ac20 billion. We need a combination of public sector and private sector investment in housing. That means a long-term certainty in terms of the rental market. I looked at all the Opposition parties' proposals before the election and all their manifestos. They are very poor in terms of analysis. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  They are very poor. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  There is not much point in this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  They are shocking. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Allow the answer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Brady","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Brady  The Taoiseach says that with a straight face. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  All Sinn F\u00e9in offered the last time was a house without the land. Actually, Deputies may feign a laugh----- "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  ----- but I would challenge anybody----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  We have rising rents, rising house prices and rising homelessness. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  It is now up to Deputy McDonald to respond. Deputies have been very disruptive. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  What has been unacceptable is that there has been a deliberate attempt to interrupt and heckle. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  What is unacceptable is 7,000 children in emergency accommodation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I did not interrupt Deputy McDonald. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  It is deliberate but it has been handled. The Taoiseach's time is up. I ask Deputy McDonald to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  We have record rents and record house prices. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Will Deputy \u00d3 Broin allow his leader to respond, unless it has changed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  The Taoiseach has nowhere to hide today because the consequences of his actions are very clear. The Fine Gael-Fianna F\u00e1il rent hike Bill has meant the highest rent hikes on record and evictions at the highest levels since the Famine. The Government has chosen deliberately to side with corporate landlords and vulture funds. Those are the Taoiseach's choices. It takes a very particular type of sl\u00edbh\u00edn to stand----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel Grealish","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Noel Grealish  A Cheann Comhairle----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul McAuliffe  That is out of order. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  -----in this House and suggest that it is okay for families to face a rent bill of \u20ac30,000 a year in Dublin and \u20ac27,000 in Galway. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy McDonald. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  It is a very special kind of sl\u00edbh\u00edn politics from Fine Gael and Fianna F\u00e1il. Shame on you. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy McDonald, your time is now up but I ask you, on behalf of the House, to withdraw the name you have just used. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  It is true. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Will you withdraw that remark? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  A sl\u00edbh\u00edn is a sl\u00edbh\u00edn. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  You will not. That is fine. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  A rose by any other name and a sl\u00edbh\u00edn by any other name. Shame on you, Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I have asked. Deputy McDonald, your time is up. Now you are taking advantage. Resume your seat. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  That is your record, Taoiseach. Do not dare lecture the rest of us on the Opposition benches. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach to respond, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  He has no response. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  With the greatest respect, it is just plain stupid to go on about the greatest evictions since the Famine. That is not being serious about our housing problems. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  It is statistically correct. It is a fact. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We have a housing crisis here but all I see from the Opposition----- "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Allow the answer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  All I see from the Opposition, Sinn F\u00e9in in particular, is empty rhetoric, no solutions and the usual sloganeering. That will not build houses. I have a document here with all the objections of those parties' representatives. They objected to housing project after housing project. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  As a party, it is not----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I understand this is about politics and electoral politics. What I am determined to do----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  This is about homelessness. This is about renters. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy \u00d3 Broin. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  No, it is not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  This is about an entire generation locked out because of your policies. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I suggest we move on. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Deputy \u00d3 Broin is empty in terms of policy formulation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  It is about the 7,000 children you made homeless. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  You are empty on substance, Deputy \u00d3 Broin. You have no substance when it comes to housing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you. This is absolute, total and utter disrespect. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  You have no substance whatsoever and the proof of the pudding was in the last election when people did not buy your pig in a poke. You got it wrong and your party knows you got it wrong. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  That is it. I call Deputy Ivana Bacik. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  It is an absolute disgrace. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Before the Deputy starts, it is incomprehensible that, as either side of the House is incapable of respecting one another's time----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul McAuliffe  That is not true, a Cheann Comhairle. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I said \"one another's\" in terms of respectful discourse. I am asking for co-operation to get through the business of the day. I call Deputy Ivana Bacik. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  Yesterday, I raised the plight of renters with the Taoiseach in this Chamber. I hate to say I told you so, but today's daft.ie report confirms the recent record surge in rents and a particularly sharp rise in Galway, proving again just how badly the Government is failing renters.  Today, I wish to raise a different matter with the Taoiseach, a serious matter, namely, the epidemic of violence against women in our country. Yesterday, former garda Paul Moody was sentenced to prison for a terrible prolonged campaign of coercive control against his partner. He has already served a three-year sentence for coercive control in respect of another woman, Nicola Hanney.  It is four months since I raised with the Taoiseach the treatment of former garda Margaret Loftus and praised her courage in telling her story of coercive control. Yet, as reported in last week's Irish Examiner , her former husband remains a member of the Garda. In Paul Moody's case, we read of serious failures by the Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na Ombudsman Commission, GSOC, to take effective action when alerted to his conduct.  Yesterday, the CEO of Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, Rachel Morrogh, stated that record numbers had contacted its helpline last year. At almost 24,000, it was the highest ever. There were over 7,000 first-time contacts.  Garda figures show that more than 1,000 domestic abuse reports are being made a week and official statistics represent only a fraction of the true number. Nearly 40% of victims surveyed by the Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na Inspectorate said they did not report the abuse they suffered and approximately half who did report abuse said they were dissatisfied with how they were treated.  This should stop us in our tracks. Far too many women and children across Ireland are experiencing home as not a place of safety, but a place of danger. We have made progress on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence in recent years - legislating for the offence of coercive control, Coco's Law, the O'Malley report, and the establishment of Cuan and protective services units in Garda divisions - but we must do more.  I have a constructive policy call for the Taoiseach today. Front-line organisations, such as Women's Aid, tell us that financial insecurity and the housing crisis are trapping women and children in violent homes. Many victims simply cannot afford to leave and their abusers know this. That is why the Labour Party and Labour Women are proposing a \u20ac3 million safe fund for victim survivors of domestic abuse. This is a practical measure to provide fast financial support for those who desperately need an escape route. It would not be means tested and would provide help when needed, recognising that victims often have only a small window of opportunity to escape. Freedom from violence should not be a luxury and nobody should have to remain in danger because they cannot afford to leave, just as no victim should lose faith in the justice system because their cries for help are dismissed or delayed. Will the Taoiseach commit to establishing a safe fund to help victims of domestic abuse? What will he do to ensure abusers are not accommodated within the ranks of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and to see that complaints of abuse are taken seriously by Fiosr\u00fa? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Teachta as an gceist phr\u00e1inneach seo a ard\u00fa. Aonta\u00edm l\u00e9i go bhfuil an m\u00e9id for\u00e9igean i gcoinne ban sa t\u00edr seo uaf\u00e1sach. I thank the Deputy for raising this extremely important issue.  What we witnessed yesterday in terms of the revelations in the court case involving Paul Moody was quite shocking and horrendous and the level of abuse evident in that case made for extremely difficult hearing and reading. Equally shocking are the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre's reports on the use of its national helpline. It was contacted 24,000 times, a 5.5% increase on the previous year, and its annual report outlines unprecedented levels of demand.  As the Deputy, in fairness, acknowledged, over the past three or four years, there has been a sea-change in how the Government has approached this issue in terms of the establishment of Cuan, for which funding now is approximately \u20ac80 million, sustaining support for front-line services and accelerating delivery of safe accommodation, with a commitment to provide 280 safe spaces by the end of 2026. Legislatively, the Minister is continuing to introduce various legislation, for example, Jennie's law for a domestic violence register; Valerie's law for the removal of guardianship rights of those convicted of killing partners; and laws to restrict the disclosure of counselling notes in sexual assault court cases. The Minister is pushing the outer limits of legislation to give protection to women and to deal with this. That is real, tangible progress across funding, legislation, prevention and victim support, but we will continue to strengthen those supports for victims and survivors.  The domestic violence travel supplement will, I understand, be introduced by the Minister for Social Protection this month, providing free travel when referred by a Cuan-registered agency.  I will ask both Ministers to work with the Deputy in terms of any additional funding or ring-fencing funding for any specific purposes. We are open to any constructive proposals on that.  We have modernised the legal framework to better protect victims. The engagement of the Family Courts Act 2024, the Criminal Justice Act 2020----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank the Taoiseach. He will come back in. I call Deputy Bacik. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  These have all been significant, and then there is the implementation of the O'Malley report----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----on the journey of the victims. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  I thank the Taoiseach for his response and his commitment to strengthening supports further. The reality is the institutions of the State, in too many ways, are still not supporting victims of abuse. I will give two examples. First, hours were spent at the justice committee yesterday debating laws on the disclosure of counselling notes in rape trials when we all know that simply should not happen. Deputy Kelly has been working with the Minister and putting amendments on that, and indeed working with the Rape Crisis Ireland on it. Second, perpetrators of domestic violence in far too many cases are using the courts by way of abusing victims further.  Last week, I attended the launch of the Right to Transparency campaign at which we heard harrowing testimonies from women and their families who have been through the family court system. One grandfather described how his daughter had fled an abusive relationship barefoot in her pyjamas with a broken jaw. Her abuser received a sentence, but a suspended one, in the criminal courts. His daughter was imprisoned because her traumatised child had refused overnight access visits. That is just one example.  The in camera rule is an important facet of family law proceedings but we need to acknowledge reform of family court procedures is needed----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank the Deputy and call the Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  -----to support victims and survivors. We are very happy to work with the Government on this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That reform is under way and is continuing. We have been fairly open to any constructive amendments in respect of the various legislative mechanisms that have been introduced. The Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 will restrict the disclosure of counselling records in sexual offence trials and criminalise the exploitative practice of sex in lieu of rent. The criminal justice Bill of this year will set up a domestic violence register of judgments, which will ensure that convictions for serious domestic violence offences are made public as part of the conviction process. Each Garda division now has a protective services unit focused on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. Early intervention is key.  There is a broader issue of education and awareness and there are some good programmes, with the GAA and Ruhama, for example, in respect of aspects of this. Operation Encompass, which is a police-led, school-based early intervention approach designed to support children and young people who experience domestic abuse, is in development for Drogheda, County Louth. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank the Taoiseach and call Deputy Cairns. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  On all fronts----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----we are going to proceed with this agenda. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  Today we got news that we all knew was coming. The Government's new rent rules have already driven rents to a record high. They are rising at the highest rate in a quarter of a century. Year on year, rents are up 7% in Dublin, 13% in Cork and a whopping 18% in Galway. We told the Taoiseach this would happen and these measures would undermine renters and he said it was \"a ridiculous assertion\". Now it is renters who are paying the price.  Lauren Keena worked hard, sat her leaving certificate in 2025 and got her dream course in Galway. Because she knew she could not afford to live in the city, she put her life on hold for a year and worked full time to save up. I spoke to Lauren yesterday after seeing a video she posted online in tears at the heart-breaking struggle to find a place to live in Galway. She has tried everything - hundreds of emails, viewing after viewing, applying on rent.ie , daft.ie and through agencies, private student accommodation, digs and every avenue possible, but has found nothing. After nearly a year on a waiting list for private student accommodation, she was finally offered a studio, but the condition was \u20ac12,000 upfront for nine months, with no monthly instalments allowed. How is anyone supposed to afford that, let alone somebody fresh out of secondary school?  Lauren said something else which stuck with me. She said she feels embarrassed. No young person should feel embarrassed to be in this situation. The Government should be embarrassed for failing them. Right now, this feels like a country with no vision for young people, no place for them and no future they can afford. What are they supposed to do? Are they supposed to work harder and save more? They are already doing that but it is not working because the housing system is fundamentally broken.  We have all been knocking on doors in Galway, so I am sure the Taoiseach has seen the same thing I have. Everywhere you look, there are lock-boxes hanging from houses turned into short-term lets, houses that could be homes for students, workers or young families. Instead they are Airbnbs going for extortionate rates while young people like Lauren are left crying into their phones, wondering what they are supposed to do. At what point is the Taoiseach going to admit that Ireland is becoming a country that young people simply cannot afford to live in? Will he now admit that his rent rules have been a disaster? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  First of all, again, rents have been too high for far too long. Any economist will say there is only one way to deal with this and it is supply. We need more supply and we need it more rapidly. The Government is taking decisions that will ensure over time we get more supply. It is going to take time and that was said at the time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  When? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  With respect, I did not interrupt. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Do not interrupt again, Deputy Hearne. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I have not interrupted anybody here.  I am going to make this point, and it is a fair point. I have looked at the Deputy's proposals. There is nothing in her proposals that would increase supply over the next three years anything over and above what the Government is doing. In fact, it would be less. I have looked at her State construction company idea. It would be three or four years down the line before anything would come out of that. We already have a Land Development Agency, which has 14,000 in the pipeline. It is time people got real here. It is all very well doing the sloganeering. We all know the crisis out there in housing. The Government is taking decisions in respect of it that have substance behind them. We need to get to 50,000 per annum. I have seen nothing from anywhere across the House outlining how people propose to get there in terms of alternative proposals to what the Government is proposing. We have activated the local authorities, approved housing bodies, the Land Development Agency and, yes, the private sector. The Deputy is totally opposed to the private sector having any role in housing. That is her party's position. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  That is totally untrue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Are you not happy with your leader posing the question? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  False. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That is the Deputy's party's position.  You have said it a lot of times, Deputy Hearne. You have been saying it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Excuse me. The rules are the rules. This is Leaders' Questions. If you are not happy with the leader you have asking the question, maybe you would consider changing that but respect the answer to the question that has been asked. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  We are not happy with that leader. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  You cannot say mistruths. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  We will continue now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The RTB data shows we have about 246,000 tenancies, the highest on record. In terms of daft.ie data, it indicates asking prices but it is not comprehensive. The RTB does a more comprehensive dataset in terms of the entirety of the market. One has to take these figures with some degree of care, as the author himself acknowledges that the report has to be examined with care. That has to be said. The bottom line here is we want rents to moderate. We want to get them down. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  When? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The bottom line is what was happening over the past four to five years prior to the change was not sustainable. The Deputy knows that. The Housing Commission said it was not sustainable. The ESRI said it was not sustainable. Everybody accepted it was not sustainable. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  How is \u20ac3,500 a month sustainable? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, I am not going to ask again. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Therefore certainty had to be given to the market, and also additional protections. In terms of existing tenancies, they have not been impacted in any shape or form by this to the same extent. Again----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  Ask the I-RES REIT tenants. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, I am not going to tell you again. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  No, they have not been impacted and the Deputy knows that too but that will not get said. We are talking in terms of the newer tenancies here. We need more supply. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  They have been evicted in record numbers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Hearne, you are free to leave if you cannot comply with the rules. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Sin an rud is t\u00e1bhachta\u00ed.\u00a0 Caithfimid i bhfad n\u00edos m\u00f3 tithe a chur ar f\u00e1il chomh tapaigh agus is f\u00e9idir linn agus sin at\u00e1 faoi chaibidil ag an Rialtas. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  The confidence with which the Taoiseach tries to slate the Social Democrats' policies on housing is honestly astounding, when we consider that he is coming in here on a day when there is news that rents have gone up more than they ever have since records began. That is in the context of a housing crisis that has turned into a housing disaster and then into a catastrophe, where there are record levels of homelessness, where rent prices, house prices and homelessness are all going in one direction under this Government. Then the Taoiseach stands up in here and says our plans would do damage. The Taoiseach's response and his rhetoric on housing are now ringing about as hollow as his election promises. Time after time, piece of legislation after piece of legislation, the same thing happens. The Opposition warns him. We tell him this will bring up rent prices. He does this big how dare my doubt my bona fides thing, and then rents go up. Then he comes in here and spouts out these lines about how the Opposition's plans will not work. It is not credible. This Government has no credibility left on housing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I do not think the Social Democrats' proposals are credible. They are so sparse. They are so lacking in detail. They are not fleshed out. I genuinely do not think the Social Democrats' policies on housing are credible. They talk about a savings and investment scheme. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  It has worked in France for a hundred years. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It would take years to implement. They know that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  If the Government had started a year and a half ago----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The issue here is not funding. The State has put up \u20ac9 billion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  How long has the Government been standing over housing policy? It will be a decade of the housing needs review. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy knows. Let us talk about the savings and investment scheme that they put forward. How would that bring rents down next year? How would it bring rents down the year after? It would not add one additional supply of housing----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  Of course it would. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  ----until about four or five years' time, even if they got the additional funding. That is the point I am making. Their housing construction company is so poorly fleshed out----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  Why did the Government not do it four or five years ago? Better late than never. It is not too late. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I do not mind having a debate about housing. Let us debate it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputies, if you do not listen to the answer----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  The Government made decisions for the institutional investor funds. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  No, we absolutely did not. We did not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  Yes, it has. That is why it increased the rents. It absolutely is. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Taoiseach, excuse me. This is not a back and forth. I suggest Deputy Hearne go away and learn the rules of the House. The Standing Order for Leaders' Questions is a back and forth between the leaders. Do you have a difficulty with that? At any stage, if you cannot comply with the rules or the Chair's direction, you are free to leave, as is any Member. We have a lot of business to do today and I intend to get on with it. Do you wish to finish, Taoiseach? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Just to make the point about research from the RTB. If you compare like with like and apples with apples in respect of the other data reviews that have taken place, it is a far different story in terms of the impact on existing tenancies in particular. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Time is up, thank you. Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn is next. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  The average rent of a two-bedroom flat is now \u20ac2,176 a month. That is the highest on record. It is equal to \u20ac26,000 a year. Incredibly, a PAYE worker has to earn \u20ac32,000 just to be able to pay for that rent currently. The average rent in Dublin city is now heading towards \u20ac3,000 a month. That is eye-watering. It is incredible that now Dublin is the highest in the whole of the EU for one- and two-bedroom apartments. Rent in Dublin is now for the rich. The number of evictions increased by 50% in the first three months last year. The Government's policies have led to 7,062 evictions in just one quarter. It is incredible. The equivalent to the population of a full Irish town was evicted just in the first quarter of this year. It has enormous human consequences.  Ciaran and Jessie Redmond are from County Wicklow. They worked all their lives. Their daughter has now got leukaemia. Ciaran has had to leave his job to look after his daughter and help in her treatment. Jessie works and the family income is just above the threshold for supports. They are now facing eviction and going into emergency accommodation because of the Government's policies.  I have listened to the Taoiseach. His Government has been in power in one form or another for the past ten years. In that time, rents have increased by 80%. Rents have increased in 13 of the past 14 years. Each year, we hear him declare that we have turned a corner and each year those rents keep coming up. It is not by accident. We in Aont\u00fa warned that his policies would actively push up rents but he knew this. This was actually meant to happen.  The Taoiseach admitted it in his answer to the Social Democrats that this is actually a market activation tool. The Taoiseach believes that if rents go up, viability will increase, more builders will come into the market and house supply will increase. The Government could have achieved that viability without hitting hard-pressed renters. It could have cut VAT on house building. It could have cut connection fees on house building. VAT and connection fees work up about \u20ac50,000 in each housing unit. That would have reduced the price on families and increased viability, bringing more builders into the market and increasing supply.  Viability is not the only problem in this. Planning and infrastructure are so dysfunctional that even if we get more builders in, it is not going to make a difference. Uisce \u00c9ireann said to us in the committee that it will take until 2050 before all the gaps in the water infrastructure, which are blocking the building of homes, will be filled.  Planning, permitting, licensing, procurement, tendering and judicial reviews, all the tools the Government has in the sector, are all glacial in this country. Will the Government reverse this rent policy? Will it reform the dysfunction in planning and infrastructure? Will it ease the tax pressure on the building of new homes? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The budget has eased the tax pressure in terms of apartments----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  Just apartments. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Do not dare. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----through the reduction of VAT to 9%. That was a significant measure, which was attacked by large elements of the Opposition at the time. We put huge equity into EirGrid and we have put substantial equity into Irish Water, all designed to accelerate infrastructural development. We did that at the very beginning of the Government through the national development plan and through budget allocations. The investment in water is significant.  We have also put significant investment into the Land Development Agency, which has up to \u20ac10 billion in available capital for the construction and development of housing. We use every lever and mechanism we can use to get more supply, and it is about more supply. We brought in a rental tax credit to try to ease the pressure on renters because rents are too high and we acknowledge that. The only way to deal with it is to get more houses built and to get more apartments built. We have worked on all aspects of this, from the Critical Infrastructure Bill going through the House now, through the housing activation office, which has been allocated \u20ac1 billion to deal with housing enabling infrastructure on the ground to remove barriers and delays to housing, and through the reform of the rental market which simply had to happen and was advised by all concerned. Anybody who examined the market in detail, from the ESRI to the Housing Commission, all said this could not be sustained the way we had it and that we had to change it and create certainty for the long term. It will take time for some of that to yield. The State has already put \u20ac9 billion into housing this year alone, which is huge. If we want to get to 50,000 or 60,000 units per annum we need an investment of about \u20ac20 billion. This is the challenge facing the country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  Planning and procurement. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We have resourced An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la quite substantially and the feedback now is that far more timely decisions are being taken by An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la in respect of planning permissions. There is a much more positive feel about the changes we brought about some years ago to An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la. The Planning and Development Act is having an impact. Reform to judicial review will also have an impact. This is a multifaceted approach to housing. We are focusing on it and prioritising it. We are not interested in slogans or cheap politics. We are interested in a proper analysis of the housing market and what it will take to get a volume of supply into the future. Yes, infrastructure is a key part of this and water infrastructure in particular. We will continue to work with Irish Water in respect of wastewater treatment plants in smaller developments. There has been some progress on this in terms of nature-based solutions throughout the country, which have approval and which will enable smaller projects in towns and villages to get off the ground. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  There is another aspect to this debate that is completely missing from the Chamber and that is the issue of demand. Leaving certificate economics will tell us demand is also a large aspect of this crisis. The population of the country has increased by 382,000 in the past five years. This is the same as the population of Galway, Mayo and Leitrim. These counties have seven hospitals, three universities, 400 schools and 170,000 homes. The Government is simply not building this level of infrastructure at the moment. One of the most basic rules of economics is that if demand increases without increasing supply, rents and house prices will rise and availability will reduce. There is a lot of talk in the Chamber about sustainability. It is unsustainable to allow demand for housing to exceed supply every year and that is what is happening. Will the Government reduce tax on homes and increase connections? Will it reform the planning system? Will it invest properly in infrastructure? Will it decrease the number of people coming to Ireland during this crisis? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  There is no doubt that population growth is a factor. It went up 8.5% between 2020 and 2025. If we go back to 1995, the population has increased by 52%. There are positives in this because we had been declining up to the 1960s and 1970s as a population down to 3 million. I am not clear on what the Deputy is suggesting. It is not easy to unwind that. There is no question a significant proportion of it is migration into the country. If we look at our health sector and the analysis by CSO recently in terms of employment growth----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  It is a minority of people coming in the health sector. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, do not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I am interested in the Deputy's debate. I am trying to have a sensible debate about it and not one that gets me attacked because we are having the debate. Please allow me to respond. The bottom line is our health and care sectors are significantly dependent on migration. Look at the financial sector and the technology sector. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The time is up now Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We cannot unwind an economy simply by saying no one else is allowed in. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Taoiseach. That concludes Leaders' Questions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  The Taoiseach admits it is a factor. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Of course it is a factor. There is no question it is a factor. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  Then it has to be dealt with "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  That concludes Leaders' Questions and the Taoiseach's time is up as well.  I have two welcomes with regard to the Gallery. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue would like to welcome a ladies group from Bulgaden, County Limerick who are in the Gallery. We also have group called It Takes A Village from Greystones, which has campaigned on social media protections for children, and includes children from St. Patrick's national school. They are all very welcome and I hope they are enjoying the robustness of politics. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-20\/debate\/dbsect_12","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 na Comhalta\u00ed Eile - Other Members\u2019 Questions","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_12","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Currie  I warmly welcome the latest Garda recruitment campaign. It is encouraging that we are on track to surpass 15,000 garda\u00ed by the end of this year. As the State recruits more garda\u00ed, I want to raise how and where the State trains garda\u00ed. The town of Templemore has served the State well, hosting the Garda College that has trained men and women who have proudly served the people of this country as our garda\u00ed. I hope the Garda College in Templemore has a long future as the primary Garda training college. I wish to ask the question: why only Templemore? The demands of modern policing are more complex than ever while, at the same time, Ireland's population is growing rapidly and becoming more diverse. The nature of society, crime, urbanisation and the communities we live in have all changed utterly. The policing needs of the country have transformed just as our country has transformed.  The time has come for a second training college, one that should be based in Dublin and that leverages the potential for greater linkages with the State's recently expanded network of technological universities. There is a compelling case for that second training college to be located in Blanchardstown. Blanchardstown represents one of the fastest growing population centres in the State, of which I am proud. It has diverse and dynamic communities, one of the country's largest retail centres, a university, the national sports campus and an expanding technological and economic corridor. We also have a campus of TU Dublin, an ideal site with ideal synergy. It would offer major recruitment advantages across Leinster and align Garda education with the future needs of policing, digital capability and emerging technology rooted in community engagement and modern urban policing skills.  As I have raised with the Taoiseach previously many times in the Chamber, Blanchardstown and west Dublin face significant policing pressures. The K district is one of the busiest policing districts in the country. Blanchardstown is comparable in size and scale to a regional city but there is just one Garda station serving more than 100,000 people, compared to three stations in Limerick city. Since 2012, over 8,300 homes have been built in Dublin 15. Entirely new communities have been developed but no new Garda station has opened. Locating a new Garda college in Blanchardstown would send a signal that the policing challenges in Dublin and, in particular, in the growing communities around the M50 belt, are being taken seriously. If we are serious about delivering the Garda numbers our communities need by 2030, we must be equally serious about where, when and how we train them. Dublin 15 is ready to play that role. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach to respond now, Deputy, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. We should say the first priority of the Government and the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, is to get more garda\u00ed on our streets. This is manifesting itself, particularly in our larger cities.  There has been positive feedback to the numbers coming out of Templemore and there has been greater visibility, particularly last winter, but we need to spread that out across the country. By the end of this year, we should have the highest number of sworn garda\u00ed in the history of the State. We made commitments to continue to support and expand the capacity of the Garda training college in Templemore as part of the programme for Government. We have also committed to considering the establishment of a second Garda training college. We also said we would consider allowing Garda trainees to undergo parts of their training course in regional or technological universities, using existing resources and capacities, particularly in specialist modules in certain areas.  A Garda training review group was established to identify delivery options to increase the scale and capacity of high-quality education and training and continuing professional development in An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. That will report to the Minister by the summer. Clearly, given the month of May, summer has not arrived yet. The group will consider specifically the case for a second training college and the role the tertiary system could play in the delivery of Garda training. It does not all have to be in Dublin. I will make that point. I know the Deputy has a fondness for Blanchardstown and she referenced TUD. I was responsible for getting that campus built in Blanchardstown in double-quick time with the late Brian Lenihan. There was a particular story behind it. I was also in a later life as the Minister for Health involved in expanding the role of the hospital in Blanchardstown. I am already hearing around the country advocacy for any potential additionality to the Garda training centres and we have to be fair to everybody. The overall point, however, is that Templemore will always be the core training college. There are no Tipperary Deputies in the audience, but it is just to keep things straight on that front. It has given great service, and the town and people of Templemore have given great support through the years to the Garda training college. However, additionality may be required, even though we are breaking record numbers at the moment. There is a high volume going through Templemore and there are 200 more going in. The overall workforce has gone from 15,980 to approximately 18,500 in the past ten years. Covid interrupted what happened in the college. We are committed to recruiting about 5,000 garda\u00ed over the lifetime of the Government and so far it is going positively. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Currie  I was careful to state that Templemore should be retained as the primary Garda college but a second located in Dublin would be regionally advantageous for recruitment. It would broaden appeal. Progress is being made in capacity. The Minister has spoken about increasing capacity at Templemore to 250. We need more investment in roads policing, community policing and community safety strategies. Where better to do that than among the fast growing and most diverse population in the country? It is not just about numbers; it is about the types of policing challenges we now face like digital capability and cybercrime. Where better to train than in a modern and dynamic university? TUD Blanchardstown has the space, sports and exercise facilities and land zoned for educational purposes. The infrastructure exists for a pilot programme. We are a microcosm of modern urban Ireland, and we would be a great location for a second training college. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for her advocacy for Blanchardstown and TU Dublin. I have identified a group that has been established. I think former Secretary General Jim Breslin chairs that group with senior officials representing the Department of justice, An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, the Department of further and higher education, the Office of Public Works and the Higher Education Authority. It first met in January and is continuing its work with a schedule of meetings, including engagement with CEPOL, the European Union police service training agency on international best practice. It will report by the summer. Overall funding to An Garda Siochana has increased by \u20ac500 million over the past five years. Total funding now is approximately \u20ac2.74 billion. Recruitment is gathering momentum. Just under 800 new recruits entered Templemore in 2025. Groups of over 200 trainees are regularly entering Templemore, which is positive news. Some 201 entered on 4 May, which is good news. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 na Comhalta\u00ed Eile - Other Members\u2019 Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-20\/debate\/dbsect_13","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Pholasa\u00ed n\u00f3 ar Reachta\u00edocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation","counts":{"speechCount":106,"speakerCount":21},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_13","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"William Aird","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cormac Devlin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  The budget last October left disabled people \u20ac1,400 per annum worse off in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis. For months, disabled people and their advocates have painstakingly and painfully told their stories. They tell us the choices they make daily. They are forced to choose between heating, eating and charging their vital mobility devices. Their appeals to the Government to deliver a cost-of-disability payment immediately have fallen on deaf ears. The Government says it needs to figure out what a cost-of-disability payment should be. The previous Government did a report five years ago. The Government's own report tells it exactly what is needed. Disabled people cannot wait. They need a permanent payment, and they need that now. Telling them repeatedly to wait is unfair. It is cruel. Will the Taoiseach listen to the voices of disabled people? Will he hear their call and give them that payment now? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  In the most recent budget, we gave the largest ever single year increase in disability services. It went up 20%, which was \u20ac628 million. That is what happened with disability services in that budget. In addition to that, there have been significant increases to core payments and domiciliary care increases,. One-off payments for all were removed because they could not continue forever. We cannot do \u20ac3 billion in one-off payments on a continuing basis. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  I asked about a permanent payment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  It is rhetorical, Deputy. It is not a back and forth. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  He misunderstood, deliberately so I suspect. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I do not care. It is not a back and forth. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Work is ongoing on the cost-of-disability payment. There was a good summit recently. We have to engage with the sector before it is designed. The Deputy should not pretend it can be done at the stroke of a pen. It cannot, and she knows that well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  The Taoiseach has had the report for five years. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  The Government says its VAT cut will save the hospitality sector and protect small restaurants and cafes from closure. The reality is that the big winners will be the burger chains. McDonald's alone will make \u20ac20 million as a result. The irony is that in my constituency, it is apparently a Government decision bringing about the closure or a successful independent cafe, which is the wonderful Silk Road Cafe in the Chester Beatty Library at Dublin Castle. On Monday, I met the cafe proprietor, Ibrahim Phelan. He and his staff are very distressed. They only learned some weeks ago that the Chester Beatty Library and the cafe will have to close from 15 June until the end of the year in the context of Ireland's EU Presidency. I have submitted a parliamentary question to the Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW, Deputy Moran, to clarify why this drastic closure is necessary. However, I am asking the Taoiseach and his Government colleagues why the decision was only communicated so late in the day with little notice to the 14 staff due to lose their jobs on 15 June. I am also engaging with the Chester Beatty. There is a real concern that this is drastic action only communicated late in the day. There is then the closure of a wonderful cafe that has been in operation there for over two decades and is such a great amenity in the constituency. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I heard about that last week, and I am making inquiries on that and organising a series of meetings. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  I thank the Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I am not clear as to why the cafe has to close for six months, to be frank. I will pursue that with security and so on. I will do that.  On the hospitality sector more generally, thousands of people work in the hospitality sector. A lot of young people and students work in the sector and so on. It is a cynical Opposition play to talk about McDonald's. They are all owned by franchisees. The Deputy knows that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  And the very cafes she would advocate for. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Why does she keep on talking about the big boys? It is individual franchisees in any of these chains. She knows that. The bottom line is we have to sustain employment in domestic services sectors as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Hearne, do your best. It is your time now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  I take note of the Ceann Comhairle's earlier comment, and I thank her. I am back to the rents. Who can afford these outrageous rents? Does the Taoiseach know how much of a nurse's take-home pay is needed to pay the average Dublin rent of \u20ac2,600 per month? It is every last cent of it. This is the most cruel and callous Government since the foundation of this State. The Government parties knew their new rental measures would cause even higher rents and evictions, but they did it anyway. We have the highest rate of evictions since the Famine. Has the Taoiseach no sense of shame about the human misery being caused right now across this country by the Government's policies?  I met a woman in Cabra yesterday who broke down in tears. She has cancer. She is being evicted. She has a colostomy bag. She cannot go into emergency accommodation. Where is she to go? Fianna F\u00e1il has abandoned ordinary people. Why is the Government not putting in place a ban on evictions and freezing the rents? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you. The Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Fianna F\u00e1il has not abandoned ordinary people. The highest number of social houses built on record was built last year - 9,000 new social houses. That is the way to deal with the housing crisis which has led to the rent increases. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  Where are these people to go? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We are about building more homes but you are not. You are just thinking about savings schemes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  That is ridiculous. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  You are not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  That is ridiculous. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  You have a challenge. It is not good enough to come in and attack the Government all the time and come up with nothing yourself. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  You are putting words in my mouth. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  And that has been the subject----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  That is not true. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I have looked online and looked at your proposals. They are empty. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  That is your view. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Empty. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  This is not a back and forth. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That is not my view. Anybody could go and look at it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  It is your view. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call Deputy Stanley. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We will do our housing construction agency when we get around to it. For God's sake, come on. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call Deputy Stanley. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  The report yesterday on rents shocked a lot of people. I predicted, as did others, that this would happen but the scale of it has really shocked me. In County Laois a four-bedroom house has gone up 12.5% year on year, a three-bedroom one by 10% and a two-bedroom house, which is the type most in demand in the county, has gone up by 34%. That is in one year. Notices to quit are up and house prices are up. It is now \u20ac530,000 for a bog-standard house in Portlaoise in one estate. I am telling the Taoiseach that the Government cannot leave it totally to the market. We have seen where a laissez-faire approach that the market will sort it out has got us in the past. I hope the Taoiseach has not forgotten the crash and the noughties. What happened then was we had a laissez-faire approach and it led us into a black hole. The Taoiseach was there for that; he was a Minister then. I am asking him in a fair-minded way----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  In two seconds. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  -----to please revisit this. There need to be some controls put in to protect tenants. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you. The time is up----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  The fact that it takes a nurse's pay to pay a month's rent----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  -----the Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  -----shows there is something wrong. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, your time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  I appeal to the Taoiseach to do something. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Rents are too high overall. No-one is arguing about that. There is a lot of pressure on people. Supply is the only way to deal with it. What I would say on the reforms that came in is that the six-year tenancy rule is a very significant enhanced protection for existing tenants. Nothing like it was in place before. We are dealing with new tenancies here in terms of the Daft.ie index, but the vast majority of existing tenancies are not impacted in the same way at all. We need a long-term certain landscape in respect of the rental market. With housing, we are not leaving it to the market. The State is involved in every aspect of housing. Some \u20ac9 billion is being invested by the Government - taxpayers' money - to try to get housing going. We are at 36,000 houses and that is not enough. We are going to invest. You also need some degree of private sector money in as well----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  And more affordable housing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----to get to the \u20ac20 billion the Central Bank says is required to deal with the demand that is out there in respect of housing supply. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Taoiseach. I call Deputy Richard O'Donoghue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  On the scheme the Government brought out for the agri sector for the fuel, some of the sectors are saying that unless you are under an agricultural contractor you do not qualify for this scheme. We have an awful lot of plant hire people who do agricultural work but they do not qualify for the scheme. We have people who might be registered as being a plant hire company but do agri work, and they do not qualify for this scheme. Why is that? If you are doing agricultural work, you should qualify for the scheme. Also, from the point of view of all the construction sector, there should be something for plant hire within the construction side as it helps to bring down the cost. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Martin Heydon)  I thank Deputy O'Donoghue. I am delighted to see thousands of farmers and farm contractors applying for our fuel support scheme for them. That has a very clear definition. Under EU state aid rules, we have to define the activity and in this case it is agricultural production. The Government has committed to and is working on separate lines of support for those in the plant industry. Where agricultural contractors are using green diesel or marked gas oil and it is directly linked to the production of agricultural produce, that is covered under this scheme. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shane Moynihan  Ba mhaith liom ceist a chur maidir leis na deontais tith\u00edochta athch\u00f3irithe. The housing adaptation grants are a game-changer for many people who are older or who have a disability and need to get alterations done to their houses. However, many constituents have raised with me the delays they have in accessing the public occupational therapy lists to get the sort of reports and certifications for the modifications they need. I am asking whether guidelines can be put in place. We know that in many cases the report from the private occupational therapist is reimbursed as part of the overall grant package. However, even that cost can be prohibitive for a lot of older people in particular. Is there any guidance that can be given to local authorities to pay the grant in instalments so that the reimbursement may be made immediately? Perhaps a voucher system could be put in place for a private occupational therapist to make their report. Alternatively, the local authority could be allowed to directly fund or recompense the occupational therapist for the report they might provide. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising this. I will talk to the Minister for housing in respect of this. We should be trying to streamline the whole system, which we are doing. People are waiting for OT reports and so on and the idea of paying in instalments pending the receipt of the report is a valid option. We would like to see greater simplification of the requirements overall to speed up the whole application process. I will talk to the Minister about that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"William Aird","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy William Aird  The Taoiseach mentioned earlier all the money that has been spent on Blanchardstown. He might just keep me in mind for the courthouse in Portlaoise.  The programme for Government commits to reducing childcare costs by \u20ac200 per month per child. I understand work is planned in phase 2 of the affordability measures. Will the Taoiseach confirm these measures will include the long-term goal of delivering that \u20ac200 monthly cost reduction? I acknowledge the \u20ac135 million allocated for State-led childcare, the acquisition of buildings this year and the Building Blocks exchange scheme. However, capacity and affordability remains a crisis in my constituency of Laois. A parent who contacted me is paying over \u20ac1,500 per month for a single child. Another has been hit with an immediate \u20ac200 per child fee increase. For many people, the \u20ac200 commitment is a lifeline and I am asking that it be implemented without delay. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  In the last budget we increased the level of State investment in early learning by about 12%. We cannot do everything in one budget. This is a five-budget Government. Childcare is a key issue; it is in the programme for Government. All three parties in the Government are committed to it. Decisions were taken on the last occasion about disability, for example, which went up dramatically. The income thresholds are increasing from September 2026, which will allow more low- and middle-income families to qualify. We will have the budget in October to see how much further we can progress the commitment in the programme for Government to reduce the costs of childcare to people in line with the objective of the programme for Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"William Aird","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy William Aird  The Taoiseach will keep me in mind for the courthouse, will he not? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I will keep him in mind for the courthouse. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cormac Devlin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cormac Devlin  I raise again the status of the long-promised primary care centre for Loughlinstown on the existing health centre site. The HSE confirmed last year that the operational lease process for the new Loughlinstown primary centre, along with full planning, collapsed when the preferred operator withdrew for viability reasons. The HSE advised that it was carrying out a service-led review before deciding on the next steps. However, the process seems to be stalled as there has been no consultation with public representatives. This is an area with one of the oldest populations in D\u00fan Laoghaire. These are precisely the communities that most depend on an accessible, local primary care centre. Will the Taoiseach provide an update and will he ask the HSE to urgently engage with the local representatives? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  First of all, it is as the Deputy has outlined in terms of the Ballybrack-Loughlinstown primary care centre, which was through the operational lease model. Then the preferred operator encountered difficulties with the economic viability of the proposed project. A service-led review is being conducted. The Department of Health is awaiting an update from HSE primary care in Dublin south on the status of this review. In parallel to this, HSE capital and estates is trying to identify the best location for this primary care centre and the most appropriate of method of delivery for expedience and value for money. The Department is continuing to engage with the HSE on this one in particular and I will come back to the Deputy on it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Apologies, I missed Deputy Mac Lochlainn. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  We have an extraordinary situation at Elm Park, Buncrana in County Donegal where nine families are living in defective concrete block homes which must be demolished, but these homes are also on a dangerous flood-plain. The Minister, Deputy Browne, and the Ministers of State, Deputies Moran and O'Sullivan, were working before Christmas on a scheme to relocate the families. That was announced by the Minister, Deputy Browne, before Christmas.  We are now nearly in June and the families are absolutely traumatised. They are very concerned at responses to parliamentary questions that are very mealy-mouthed. The officials in the Department of housing need to wake up to this humanitarian crisis and present a reasonable scheme in co-operation with the families in those homes. They have waited for far too long. They have waited for years for a solution, so I am appealing to the Taoiseach to speak to the Minister and the Ministers of State and to get this sorted out urgently. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  To be fair to the Minister, Deputy Browne, I think he has been very responsive to these issues. The fact is that the Minister and the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, and the Minister of State, Deputy O\u2019Sullivan, went to visit and saw the situation at first hand. I will talk to the Minister and the Ministers of State in respect of the progression of such a scheme, if that has been committed to, to see what the up-to-date position is. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail  I want to highlight a situation facing families in County Kildare following a suspension of the paediatric community assessment tool service in CHO 7. Parents have been told that there are no clinicians available, and ten families have directly contacted me. As a result, children who have already been accepted for an assessment have no clear pathway forward. It is obviously creating worry and uncertainty for families. These parents want to know what interim supports can be put in place, how they will be kept informed, and, more importantly, when we can expect the service to resume. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That is very worrying indeed. I will talk to the Minister for Health in respect of this issue in terms of whether interim measures can be introduced to provide a service to the parents and children involved, and then on what the longer term solution will be in terms of recruitment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  The square in Kenmare town has been flooded many times over the years. To that end, I thank the Minister of State with responsibility for public works, Deputy Moran, for going down there and taking stock. A scheme is promised to deal with the situation. However, a sewerage pipe is crossing the eye of the courthouse bridge which collects debris and trees and practically blocks the river. This is what causes most of the flooding. I am asking if that sewerage pipe could be removed in the interim. To facilitate this happening, a small pumping station would have to be put in to pump the sewage over the bridge rather than it going through the pipe crossing the eye of the bridge. It is a simple project that could be done. I am asking if the Taoiseach will talk to the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, to expedite this matter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank the Deputy. I call the Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  It would save people\u2019s businesses from being destroyed and ruined as has happened many different times before. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. The Minister of State has been down there, so he is very well aware of the situation. I cannot get into the specifics of the engineering resolution of the problem, but I will talk to the Minister of State and ask him what can be done in the interim. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Brennan  I wish to speak again about Arklow\u2019s E\u00edmear Byrne, who is awaiting life-saving surgery that is not available in Ireland. Only last week, Ms Byrne was made aware that she is not a suitable candidate for the treatment abroad scheme. Her only option, therefore, is to travel, at enormous expense, to the Johns Hopkins clinic in Baltimore, USA. As the treatment abroad scheme does not cover the USA, the people of Arklow and the surrounding area have stood up and set up a fundraising campaign. There has been an absolutely incredible response.  I am aware that we currently do not provide financial assistance for treatments in the USA, but I am asking if we can look at the policy again, as cases such as that of Ms Byrne, who cannot get treatment in Europe, simply cannot be ignored. I spoke directly with Ms Byrne\u2019s mother this morning, and, in her words, we are dealing with a life-and-death scenario. We are here as TDs and our main focus is to look after and support our constituents and their communities. If ever there was a case that needed support, it would be that of E\u00edmear Byrne. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising this case and I commend the people for rallying behind E\u00edmear Byrne, a young teacher, and her family. I will talk to the Minister for Health in respect of this case. I am aware of the treatment abroad scheme being confined to the European area. There is some talk of engaging with the European reference network on rare multisystemic vascular diseases, ERN, and similar conditions. I am not clear as to whether this treatment can be done in Europe, but, equally, I take the Deputy\u2019s point. We have had a good relationship with the Johns Hopkins clinic over the decades in respect of other matters. I will talk to the Minister in respect of this case to see if we can get an opportunity here to be of help and assistance to young E\u00edmear and her family. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  The pensioners of CI\u00c9 have been left waiting 18 years for any increase at all in their pensions. This is causing huge hardship during the middle of a cost-of-living crisis. The increase was agreed between CI\u00c9 and the unions last May, which is one year ago now. When I raised this issue with the Taoiseach in February, he said it would be done imminently. When I raised it with him last week, he said he would talk to the Ministers. Has the Taoiseach talked to the Ministers and when will this long overdue increase for the pensioners who have been waiting 18 years finally be signed off on? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I am sorry, Deputy, but the ballot was last year and not 18 years ago. There were a lot of discussions and a lot of negotiations and a proposal came to the Government. I have spoken to both Ministers, and my understanding is that NewERA was examining, as a final step, the entirety of the scheme and that the board was going to give it consideration. I hope we can get this issue resolved very quickly now. I have, though, been talking to the Ministers about it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan  I am not sure if the Taoiseach saw the \"Prime Time\" special recently in relation to rare diseases and patients' inability to access much-needed drugs. I know the Taoiseach is very familiar with the topic as he previously served as the Minister for Health. I want to bring up this issue again because we have given a commitment in the programme for Government that we will reform the reimbursement process. We really need to start that body of work now.  If the Taoiseach had watched the programme, he would have seen Emily Felix and other people with Friedreich\u2019s ataxia. Craig Coady from Cork, whose child suffers from the same condition, has lost a child already and his wife is seriously ill. On that programme, Professor Michael Barry indicated that the reason pharmaceutical companies do not want to come here to reimburse drugs is because they do not make enough money. That might be true in some cases, but it belies the fact that the majority of them do not come here because it is too much hassle to go through a health technology assessment. The review I am asking for would at least review that process and, hopefully, streamline it so we can get more effective and efficient decisions in future. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank the Deputy. I call the Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan  We have a budget process that we are all heading into at the moment, and we need funding for rare diseases and new drugs to be included as part of this budget. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call the Taoiseach to respond. I thank the Deputy. The time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. He has been a strong advocate for reform of the reimbursement scheme, particularly insofar as it applies to what we might term orphan drugs. There is a growing issue here in terms of how some of these drugs are coming onto the market, the level of engagement between some companies and the State and, yes, our own system as well. Some companies are more accessible in terms of engaging with than others, but that is of no value to those who need the medicines quickly. I am aware of the cases the Deputy mentioned and the urgency attached to them. I have spoken to the Minister for Health about this issue. There is engagement with the company involved in the case of Friedreich\u2019s ataxia. The Department had been awaiting responses, but that engagement is vital to trying to get this resolved for Friedreich's ataxia cases. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank the Taoiseach. I call Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I accept the need for a review. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  Mikey Henry Benson, who has scoliosis, as the Taoiseach will know, recently turned 18. I visited his home on Saturday, where he is in the loving care of his mum, Penny, his dad, Michael, and his sisters. He is a bright and happy young man despite the torture he has been through. Mikey Henry has been utterly failed by Children's Health Ireland, CHI, while his spinal curvature has regressed to 130\u00b0, crushing his vital organs. His parents will never give up. They continue to fight for his life.  With the help of the Mater Private Hospital, they have now found a pathway to get the necessary surgery to save Mikey. I ask the Taoiseach to do three things: to appoint a designated person in the Department of Health to help Mikey\u2019s parents to work through the logistics of getting Mikey to the appropriate hospital and the expert surgeons who are willing to operate; to allocate the necessary funding to save Mikey\u2019s life; and to approve the use of the Air Corps for transportation. We have a chance to save Mikey and other young people neglected by CHI and failed by this Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Again, I do not have the specifics of that. The Deputy said it is going to the Mater Private. Can she send me a note on the case so that I can see the different stages? It seems unusual and I do not know what the relationship with Temple Street is, with the system there or with CHI more generally. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  I will do that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  Yesterday the Government announced new rules and legislation regarding puppy farming. This is very welcome because for far too long, this and previous Governments have ignored animal welfare issues. However, there is a glaring omission in the legislation and that is the mention of a cap. Is it still the case that puppy farms will be able to have 300 female dogs breeding on site and potentially thousands of pups? If it is, then that is a huge flaw in the legislation. Last December the Social Democrats brought forward a Bill that had a cap included. The Taoiseach has been talking about cheap politics here today and he is constantly talking about how the Opposition does not offer positive solutions. In December we brought forward a Bill and Government Ministers, on the floor of this D\u00e1il, asked us not to bring that Bill to a vote because they wanted to work with us on it. I have had no communication regarding the Bill in the last five or six months. That is not good enough. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  It says an awful lot about the Government and about the Ministers in Government that----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, be fair to other Deputies. You are now way over time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  -----what was stated here and the promises and commitments made to us that night were not upheld. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  Nobody has a monopoly on passion or care for animals, including horses and dogs, or any other elements of animal welfare. As Minister with responsibility for animal welfare, I am determined to drive an agenda of change in a whole host of areas. I was part of the negotiations on the programme for Government when we transferred the control of dogs back to my Department, which is the right place for it. This is a clear outworking of that. What was agreed yesterday by the Cabinet was the heads of a Bill on dog control and how we approach dog breeding establishments. This is a key element of that. It is something in which Deputy Whitmore has a keen interest. I look forward to working with her and all Members of the House as that Bill progresses through all Stages in the D\u00e1il, the Seanad and at committee, as we put in place dog breeding establishment legislation that will take away some of the bad practices that happened in the past. That is something that I know Deputy Whitmore wants to do, as do I and my colleagues in government. I look forward to working with the Deputy and all Members of the House on that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Claire Kerrane  Everyone in this House should be extremely concerned at the ongoing situation within the National Ambulance Service. Paramedics save lives. We need them and we need more of them. I was very proud to stand with paramedics and others on the front line on strike in Loughglynn in Roscommon town last week. During that first strike action there was a lot of commentary on deals that had been on the table previously that were rejected. Of course, what was not said was the fact that those deals gave with one hand but took away with the other in terms of allowances. The main finding of the 2020 independent report was that salary scales needed to be updated to match the major upskilling we have seen over the last two decades. Paramedics have waited six years since that report. We need to see that finding delivered. That recommendation needs to be implemented. Only the Department of public expenditure can implement it. While I respect the ongoing talks and it is important they conclude, as they go on and as strike action is due again next week, we need the Department and the Minister to acknowledge that the recommendation will be implemented. I believe that can do this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  First, I welcome the fact that talks are in progress right now through the labour relations machinery. I do not want to prejudice the outcome of those talks or say anything that might harm them. Dialogue is key to resolving this. We have modernised the service very significantly over the years. Everybody has been involved in that, including workers and all concerned. It is important that these discussions can get a resolution to this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  Yesterday I visited the proposed site of the national children's science centre at Earlsfort Terrace. I walked through the derelict north wing of that building with members of the board. It is a space that is full of potential but today it lies idle in the heart of our capital city. The Taoiseach stood on the site in December 2022 and announced, to be fair, the great redevelopment of the National Concert Hall. The fear now is that unless both projects proceed in parallel, the new concert hall will face closure for a prolonged period when, and if, construction eventually begins on the national children's science centre. We know now, following arbitration last December, that the OPW is legally obliged to deliver this project by the end of 2029, with annual work commitments already falling behind schedule. Will the Government unequivocally commit to delivering the national children's science centre? Which Department will lead the delivery of this? Will ring-fenced funding finally be put in place for this vital national project? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Is the Deputy referring to when I was at the site of the National Concert Hall? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  Yes, on the same site. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That was for the concert hall. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  Yes, absolutely. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Why is the Deputy saying it will not go ahead? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  I am not saying----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Perhaps further engagement is required. It is not a back and forth----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  The National Concert Hall might have to close if construction was to begin again on the science centre. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That is a separate matter completely. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  It is on the same site. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy knows there are huge issues with that. Come on. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  That is not----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Further engagement, as I said. Thank you. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar fionra\u00ed ar 1.25 p.m. agus cuireadh t\u00fas leis ar\u00eds ar 2.25 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Sitting suspended at 1.25 p.m. and resumed at 2.25 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Pholasa\u00ed n\u00f3 ar Reachta\u00edocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-20\/debate\/dbsect_14","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/48","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/48\/dail\/2","houseCode":"dail","stage":"2","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"National Treasury Management Agency (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026: Second Stage (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"National Treasury Management Agency (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026: Second Stage","counts":{"speechCount":50,"speakerCount":18},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_14","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cormac Devlin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shay Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Deputy Robert Troy)  I move: \"That the Bill be now read a Second Time.\"  I am pleased to introduce, on behalf of the T\u00e1naiste, Second Stage of the National Treasury Management Agency (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026. The legislation marks an important step in bringing the National Asset Management Agency, NAMA, and the special liquidation of the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation, IBRC, to a close. It provides for the transfer and consolidation of the remaining activities of both NAMA and the special liquidation of the IBRC within the National Treasury Management Agency, NTMA, thereby ensuring continuity and legal certainty for all parties and enabling the orderly wind-down and dissolution of both entities.  To give effect to this, the Bill provides for the dissolution of NAMA on an appointed dissolution day. On that day, any remaining NAMA activities will transfer to the NTMA. The Bill also provides for the transfer of residual matters from the IBRC in special liquidation to the NTMA. This will take place by way of a ministerial direction and a transfer agreement to be entered into by the special liquidators of the IBRC and the NTMA. Once that transfer has taken place, the special liquidators will finalise the liquidation of the IBRC in line with their obligations under company law, including the dissolution of remaining IBRC subsidiaries and the resolution of any outstanding administrative and tax matters. In order to ensure the NTMA can manage this combined residual activity effectively, the Bill also confers on the NTMA the necessary functions and powers to undertake that work.  Taken together, these measures mark an important milestone in bringing to a conclusion two interventions that were central to stabilising the financial system and protecting the wider economy following the global financial crisis. Since then, both NAMA and the IBRC special liquidators have worked through complex portfolios and litigation. The Bill reflects that the very substantial work of both is now largely complete. While recognising the challenges of the period that led to these interventions, it is also important to acknowledge the substantial and diligent work carried out by NAMA and the special liquidators in the interests of the State. Therefore, before turning to the detail of the legislation, I will outline the extensive work undertaken over many years by both NAMA and the IBRC special liquidators.  NAMA was established in 2009 as part of the State's response to the financial crisis. It acquired loans with a par value of \u20ac74 billion for a consideration of \u20ac31.8 billion, including \u20ac5.6 billion of State aid to the five participating financial institutions. The value of the residual portfolio to transfer to the NTMA is projected to be less than \u20ac25 million. That demonstrates the progress of NAMA in resolving its acquired portfolio.  Over its lifetime, NAMA has delivered significant outcomes for the State. They include the redemption of \u20ac30.2 billion in senior debt in 2017, three years ahead of schedule, thereby eliminating a major contingent liability for the State; the full repayment of its \u20ac1.6 billion in subordinated debt by 2020, leaving the agency fully debt free; a lifetime contribution of \u20ac5.6 billion to the Exchequer, comprising \u20ac4.7 billion in cash, more than \u20ac450 million in corporation tax and the transfer of assets valued at \u20ac425 million to the Land Development Agency, LDA, for retention in State ownership; facilitating the delivery of more than 44,500 homes, including approximately 3,000 social homes; the regeneration of the Dublin Docklands strategic development zone, SDZ, supporting the delivery of over 4.2 million sq. ft of commercial space and more than 2,000 homes; and the transfer to the LDA of the National Asset Residential Property Service, NARPS, portfolio of social homes, as well as two large development sites, which the LDA believes can deliver more than 7,000 homes.  Throughout its life, NAMA has operated within a strong statutory, governance and accountability framework. From a peak of 369 staff, it is now expected that just eight staff members will be required within the NTMA to manage the remaining residual activity to completion. NAMA is widely recognised internationally as one of the most successful State-backed asset management agencies established in response to the global financial crisis. It played a key role in restoring confidence in the Irish economy.  The Irish Bank Resolution Corporation was placed into special liquidation on 7 February 2013. At inception, the special liquidators were tasked with realising a loan portfolio valued at \u20ac21 billion, comprising more than 15,000 borrower groups and collateral spread across 22 jurisdictions. The scale and complexity of this liquidation were unprecedented in the State's history. Since then, the special liquidators have disposed of all assets; resolved the overwhelming majority of borrower relationships, asset disposals and cross-border legal issues; paid all unsecured creditors in full, including interest, in respect of amounts owed at the date of liquidation; returned approximately \u20ac1.7 billion to the State in respect of its claims and related holdings; delivered \u20ac470 million in distributions to the Exchequer, with further distributions expected prior to its final dissolution; and progressed the liquidation to its final stage, with only residual litigation and associated loan matters remaining.  As with any liquidation of this scale, it is normal and expected that certain matters, particularly litigation, continue for some time beyond the active disposal phase. The NTMA is now ready to assume responsibility for this final phase. The agency has engaged closely with NAMA, the special liquidators and the Department of Finance as it prepares for the transfer of responsibilities. I acknowledge the contribution of NAMA, the NTMA and the special liquidators of IBRC in reaching this point. In particular, I recognise the leadership team in NAMA and the special liquidators. I also thank the Office of the Attorney General, the Office of the Revenue Commissioners, the Data Protection Commission, the European Commission and officials across government for the detailed work undertaken throughout the drafting process.  I will now move to the text of the Bill. As already set out, this Bill has three objectives, namely, to dissolve the National Asset Management Agency and transfer all of its remaining assets, liabilities, rights, obligations, records and causes of action to the NTMA; to enable the transfer of residual matters of the IBRC special liquidation to the NTMA, or a subsidiary of it, by way of a ministerial direction and transfer agreement; and to confer upon the NTMA the functions necessary to manage these combined residual matters to completion. The Bill also repeals the NAMA Act 2009, amends the NTMA Act 2014 and the IBRC Act 2013, and makes consequential amendments across multiple enactments and statutory instruments.  The Bill is divided into four Parts with 54 sections in total, and includes three Schedules. Part 1, preliminary and general, is comprised of sections 1 to 5, inclusive. These sections provide for standard legislative matters, including the Short Title, commencement provisions, interpretation, expenses, repeals and revocations.  Part 2 is comprised of sections 6 to 16, inclusive, and provides for the dissolution of NAMA and the transfer of residual matters to the NTMA. Section 6 defines key terms for the purposes of this Part. Section 7 provides that the Minister for Finance will appoint a day to be the dissolution day of NAMA. Section 8 provides that NAMA shall stand dissolved on the dissolution day. Sections 9 to 12, inclusive, provide that all lands, property, rights and liabilities of NAMA shall be vested in the NTMA, the continuation of contracts and that all records held by NAMA are transferred to the NTMA. Section 13 provides that any claim arising from NAMA's performance of its functions prior to the dissolution day will lie against the NTMA and that the NTMA is substituted for NAMA in any legal proceedings. Section 14 provides that anything commenced and not completed by NAMA can be carried on by the NTMA. Section 15 provides for the preservation of any indemnity previously granted under section 34 of the NAMA Act 2009. Section 16 provides for the final accounts and final annual report of NAMA to be completed by the NTMA.  Part 3 covers sections 17 to 20, inclusive, of the Bill. It amends the IBRC Act 2013 by inserting new sections 11A to 11D into that Act. Taken together, these sections provide for the Minister to direct the special liquidators and the NTMA to enter into a transfer agreement to transfer residual matters from the IBRC special liquidation to the NTMA. They also provide for the substitution of the NTMA in any proceedings transferred from the IBRC special liquidation to the NTMA. Where proceedings outside of the State are transferred, the transfer takes effect from the date that the relevant legal requirements in the jurisdiction concerned have been satisfied. These provisions also ensure the continuity of contracts relating to the residual matters transferred.  Following the transfer of residual matters, the special liquidators will finalise the winding up of any remaining IBRC subsidiaries, complete any remaining administrative matters and take the steps required to complete the winding up of the IBRC and have it dissolved under company law.  Turning now to Part 4, this Part amends the NTMA Act 2014 and provides the National Treasury Management Agency with the powers and functions it will need to manage the limited residual matters that will transfer from NAMA and the IBRC special liquidation. It does so by inserting a new Part 6A into the NTMA Act 2014. This Part is divided into 12 Chapters covering sections 49C to 49AD, inclusive, and I will briefly take the House through the purpose of these provisions.  Chapter 1 relates to the functions of the NTMA in relation to the residual matters transferred from NAMA and from the IBRC special liquidation. This includes key definitions which were relied upon in the NAMA Act 2009 and are to be preserved, such as associated debtor, bank asset, credit facility and participating institution.  Section 49C sets out the NTMA's functions in relation to managing the residual activity transferred. These functions mirror NAMA's former functions and powers only to the extent necessary to complete remaining tasks. This includes that the NTMA shall take all steps necessary to protect, enhance or realise the value of the bank assets transferred. This section also provides that the NTMA may have the powers necessary for the performance of its functions under this Part of the NTMA Act. This means that the additional functions and powers provided to the NTMA to manage residual activity apply only to the management of the activity transferred from NAMA and the IBRC special liquidation and cannot be used by the NTMA for the performance of the functions of the agency more broadly. The remaining provisions in Part 4 also address a number of key matters necessary to support the effective management of these residual activities.  Section 49D provides that the NTMA may return surplus funds to the Central Fund or transfer assets to the Minister. Section 49E clarifies that the Minister, directors, the chief executive, staff and agents of the NTMA will not be considered shadow or de facto directors of any participating institution, debtor, associated debtor or guarantor when performing functions under this Part.  In relation to participating institutions, sections 49F to 49I, inclusive, provide that the NTMA may require the provision of books, records and information relating to transferred bank assets, including recourse to the High Court where necessary.  These provisions also ensure that the NTMA assumes the rights and obligations of participating institutions in relation to those assets, subject to certain limitations, and is not liable for any wrongs committed prior to their acquisition by NAMA.  Sections 49J to 49M, inclusive, provide for the preservation of existing rights and obligations attaching to bank assets, ensuring that contractual terms remain unchanged following transfer, while facilitating practical measures such as exempting the registration requirements in respect of security and certification of ownership of assets.  Sections 49N to 49P, inclusive, confer the necessary powers on the NTMA to manage and dispose of relevant assets, including the ability to offset amounts owed against debts arising in connection with NAMA bank assets.  Section 49Q provides that no cause of action arises solely by reason of the transfer of these residual matters to the NTMA.  Sections 49R to 49T, inclusive, deal with legal proceedings, including the continuation of proceedings involving transferred assets, the provision of assistance by participating institutions and provisions to support the enforcement of debts.  Sections 49U to 49Y, inclusive, provide for the appropriate use and disclosure of information necessary for the management of these assets, ensuring that such disclosures do not breach confidentiality obligations and remain subject to data protection law.  Finally, sections 49Z to 49AD, inclusive, include a number of important supporting provisions, including those relating to payments to relevant persons; clarification that the NTMA is not deemed to be carrying on regulated banking business; powers of access to Land Registry documentation; interpretative provisions in respect of the Companies Act 2014; and offence provisions in respect of the provision of false or misleading information.  The Bill also comprises three Schedules. Schedule 1 provides for a list of instruments to be repealed and revoked, as required, to update the Irish Statute Book following the dissolution of NAMA and amendment of the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Act 2013. Schedule 2 provides for a list of instruments to be amended to remove redundant provisions and to update instruments where required. Schedule 3 provides for the amendment of statutory instruments.  NAMA and the IBRC special liquidator have now substantially completed their mandates and are reaching the final stages of their life cycle. In that context, it is appropriate that any remaining matters, particularly litigation, are managed within a streamlined structure. This Bill provides a practical approach to achieving this, while ensuring continuity and legal certainty for all parties and preserving existing rights and obligations. The NTMA is well placed to take on this role. It has the governance, experience and expertise required to manage complex financial and legal matters to completion while avoiding the cost and duplication of maintaining separate structures that are no longer required given the reduced scale of the remaining activity.  This Bill represents a significant step in the State's post-crisis normalisation. It acknowledges the substantial work carried out by NAMA and the special liquidators of the IBRC and provides a clear and efficient structure to bring the remaining matters to completion. I commend the Bill to the House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  Sinn F\u00e9in will not oppose this legislation progressing to the next Stage. We support the orderly winding down of NAMA and the completion of the IBRC process, but we have serious concerns about accountability, governance and the extraordinary salaries that will be paid, which are utterly out of kilter with public sector norms. Sinn F\u00e9in will bring forward amendments on Committee Stage to address those concerns.  Before we close the book on NAMA as a State, a people and a Government, serious questions have to be answered. Under the Government's plans, the CEO of NAMA, Brendan McDonagh, appears set to transfer into the NTMA on the same terms and conditions he currently enjoys. We are talking about a salary of approximately \u20ac430,000 per year. That places him among the top 0.1% of earners in the State. It is more than \u20ac100,000 higher than the salary of the Governor of the Central Bank. Last year, the Government even attempted to appoint this same individual as a so-called housing tsar, effectively sidelining the Minister for housing, before backing down under sustained pressure from this side of the House. Therefore, the public is entitled to ask whether there are any lengths to which the Government will not go to protect Mr. McDonagh's extraordinary salary package. The Government continues to bend over backwards to protect the NAMA CEO's salary of \u20ac430,000 per year. Last year----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I hate to interrupt, but the Deputy cannot bring something like that up with regard to a Civil Service salary. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  This is an extraordinary salary that is part and parcel of the winding up of a State agency. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  That may be, but the Deputy has to have consideration for the fact that the individual in question is not here to defend himself. I ask the Deputy to be cautious. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  I will continue with that noted.  Last year, the so-called housing tsar plan collapsed under pressure and now the Government wants to fold an individual back into the NTMA while preserving the same extraordinary pay package. Contrast that for a moment with the National Ambulance Service workers who have been forced onto picket lines simply to secure modest improvements in pay and conditions and address chronic recruitment and retention problems. Front-line workers are told there is no flexibility, no urgency and no money, but when it comes to protecting a senior executive associated with NAMA, or any senior executive, suddenly the State can move mountains and seems very motivated to do so.  We also need to be honest about what NAMA represents and the political choices that followed the collapse. The Government will try to present this Bill as the final chapter in a successful rescue story, but the story of NAMA is inseparable from one of the darkest economic periods in the history of the State. Following the crash in 2008, the State undertook extraordinary measures to stabilise the banking system. Banks were recapitalised at massive public expense. Blanket guarantees were introduced and NAMA was established to acquire toxic property loans from the banks. The stated purpose of NAMA was to protect the interests of the State and manage distressed assets in a way that maximised public value, but when we examine the legacy of NAMA honestly, serious questions remain. NAMA paid \u20ac31.8 billion to acquire loans with a face value of more than \u20ac74 billion. The banks incurred losses of more than \u20ac42 billion on those loans, losses that were ultimately borne by ordinary people through austerity, including cuts to services, higher taxes, emigration and lost opportunity. The Comptroller and Auditor General estimated in 2022 that the net cost of the bank stabilisation measures amounted to \u20ac45.7 billion.  Nowhere is the failure of the post-crash political and economic model clearer than in housing. While NAMA was established to manage distressed property assets, what followed was the large-scale transfer of Irish property into the hands of international vulture funds and institutional landlords. Entire developments of apartment blocks and offices and land banks were sold off at rock bottom prices. These were assets that could have been strategically retained for long-term public housing, instead of becoming investment vehicles for global finance. The legacy of NAMA and austerity and the economic ideology of Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael are still visible across every community in the State. Following the crash, Irish property and land banks were sold at rock bottom prices to vulture funds and institutional investors while ordinary people carried the burden. Today we are living with the consequences, including record numbers of evictions, the highest homelessness figures in the history of the State, eye-watering rents, families trapped in insecure accommodation, workers commuting impossible distances and an entire generation effectively locked out of home ownership. Coincidentally, the same generation in many cases bore the brunt of the economic crisis and the decisions taken by Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael in its aftermath.  When we examine the financial returns achieved by NAMA, the picture becomes even harder to justify. NAMA was handed billions in property assets at the absolute bottom of the market following the crash. Property values subsequently recovered dramatically, yet NAMA's projected surplus to the State amounts to approximately \u20ac5.2 billion, including corporation tax paid. Against the backdrop of a bailout that cost the State tens of billions, those returns are remarkably modest. The reality is that many assets were sold too cheaply and too quickly. Rather than retaining strategic assets for public development or managing them over the longer term for the benefit of the State, vast quantities were transferred into private hands. Similar mistakes have been repeated elsewhere. AIB shares were sold at prices that deprived the State of billions in potential value. Now we see the same approach with Permanent TSB. Time and again, the State socialises losses and privatises gains.  The Bill closes an institutional chapter, but it does not close the political and economic questions arising from that period.  The central lesson of the crash is that the Government made political choices about who would bear the cost of economic failure. The people who paid the price for the banking collapse were not the speculators, banks or international investors. Ordinary workers paid the price. Communities paid the price. Young people paid the price through emigration, unemployment, unaffordable housing and lost opportunities. Nearly 20 years later, many are still paying through huge rents, underfunded public services and deep inequality. As we debate the winding up of NAMA, we should not allow anyone to sanitise or rewrite what happened during that period or minimise the hardship imposed on so many people across the State.  For our part, Sinn F\u00e9in will engage constructively on the Bill. We support the orderly winding down of NAMA and the completion of the IBRC process, but we will continue to demand accountability for the failure of the banking collapse and the deeply damaging and flawed political choices that followed it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I want to be clear. I am not interrupting speeches. It is just that when there is an allegation made against someone who is not a Member of the House but a private citizen, we must be cautious and understand that they are not here to defend themselves. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  I welcome the Bill to facilitate the orderly wind-up of NAMA and the IBRC, an end of sorts, in part, to the contemptible chapter of history, which saw Irish taxpayers bail out the banks in a process that was quite poor in terms of the return for the Irish people. In many cases, these assets were captured by vulture funds at rock bottom prices. The full truth of Project Eagle and other projects may never be known. Given that NAMA was handed a portfolio of property assets at the bottom of the market and against a backdrop of having seen complete market recovery and a deepening housing crisis, it sticks in the back of people's throats. It is difficult to understand and hard to dismiss how a cynical person might view the outworkings of NAMA.  As I have said, this is an end of sorts but only in part. The conclusion of the work of NAMA and the IBRC is not the end for the taxpayer or many Irish generations to come. The Government may try to portray this as a success, but the fact of the matter is that this was a core component of the Government's overall bank bailout, a bailout for which the Comptroller and Auditor General put the net cost at \u20ac45.7 billion. NAMA achieved a meagre \u20ac5.2 billion return on \u20ac32 billion in assets when the market was at its very bottom. The same principle holds for the State sale of AIB and PTSB shares, which were sold on the cheap and cost the State billions. The Government is not just failing in terms of public services; its management of State assets is woeful.  In terms of the practicalities of the wind-up, one that was recently considered by the Committee of Public Accounts, of which I am a part, relates to the former CEO of NAMA who returns to the NTMA on the same terms and conditions he is currently on. We were told last week in a committee meeting that he will return with a salary of \u20ac430,000. That does not seem right. There is no vacancy for a CEO, as far as I am concerned, in the NTMA. Perhaps the Minister of State could fill in the blanks. Why is a job in the NTMA being offered to the former CEO of NAMA? We would like clarity on that. NTMA officials are among the most highly paid in the Civil Service. We are told this is necessitated by their expertise and that they receive bonuses when most in the Civil Service or public service do not. We know that only a few years ago the NTMA spent \u20ac51,000 on two parties for staff. As I said last week in the Committee of Public Accounts, it is a great place to work. It seems the jobs in NTMA are among the best in the country, with the remuneration of the private sector and all of the benefits of the Civil Service. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  The Bill involves the winding up and dissolution of NAMA and bringing the sad story of the IBRC to an end. Nobody will be particularly unhappy about ending this part of Irish history. Nobody can look back to the circumstances that led to this in a positive manner. It is very difficult to look at NAMA, the bank bailout and the entire sorry story without seeing it as being open business for institutional investors and vulture funds and the people who had to pay were the Irish people.  I remember the onset of the financial crisis when we went from day to day, week to week and month to month. It was a time and place when people made a detailed study of budgets and how every austerity move would have an impact on them, their lives, their family and their wider community. Nobody knew how we would get out of that set of circumstances. Unfortunately, as always happens, the normal, regular people of Ireland did the heavy lifting. In general, those who caused the problem got off scot-free.  What are we talking about? We are talking about a bank bailout and all of the stabilisation measures, which resulted in a net cost of \u20ac45.7 billion. Over \u20ac5.2 billion was the return on the assets sold by NAMA. Let us be clear. Everything was sold quickly and in a dirty manner. Those outside forces with the money and resources were welcomed in by Governments and able to make an absolute killing. The unfortunate thing was that the people of Ireland had to pay the price and continue to do so.  There have been impacts, and not only on individuals, such as those on certain disability payments or whatever else that were cut. Anybody involved in the community sector knows it was hollowed out. Funding for mental health addiction and drug addiction services have never returned to where it was before 2008. That is the reality.  The Government wants to say this was a well executed operation, that it is all over and there is nothing to see here, but the fact is that the people were absolutely screwed and the impact is still being felt. That is why we try to keep the pressure on. It is all well and good talking about services of \u20ac9 billion and all of the rest, but people out there feel they are being absolutely hammered. The resources of the State, which could be used to provide some element of mitigation, are not coming through.  Land, assets and infrastructure were sold off at a pittance. Action was taken by government that reinforced, through austerity, the circumstances that created a detrimental economic impact across the board. We had no building of houses or plan by government.  We went from a situation where the market would sort everything, where all was going well and where we had the Celtic tiger situation, when the Government had moved away from building houses, to a situation where all the moneys dried up. The only people who were facilitated were the vulture funds. We have ended up in a scenario where we have the most dysfunctional housing market in the world. We saw the Daft report and what we expected to happen in relation to the Government's removal of whatever protections were provided. What have we ended up with now? We have ended up with rents that are absolutely through the roof and where people cannot afford to buy or to rent houses. If people are on a social housing list, they are waiting for years.  This is the circumstance we have been dealing with in real terms from that period of 2008. The Government's attempts to solve this problem was literally to sell off the family goods at rock bottom prices. As I said, we facilitated a huge number of people in making a huge amount of money and, to a greater degree, we facilitated the Irish people in taking all the pain. We are not in a better circumstance now. Government members will talk about the wonders of FDI, and that is not taking into account the present issues and global instability. They will talk about how they maintain the economy but the fact is the economy is not working for a large number of people. We can talk about surpluses and full employment but we have a huge number of people who may be employed in a job that previously would have given them and their families security and it does not at this point. It does not give them any element of security.  The Minister of State knows better than others the huge impact it had on politics. It was a breach of trust, particularly for the Minister of State's party, with a huge section of the Irish people. Unfortunately, that has had an impact across the board, in that at times people do not see any solution that politics can provide. At times, because people cannot see a solution, they look in places they never would have considered before. We need to ensure we can offer them something much better and some element of hope of a better life - a life where they can afford the rent and a world where they can buy a house and work one job and not have to work three or four jobs. People used to give out about in the American system. The American dream does not work for most American people. We have almost created an Irish nightmare that is very similar.  In terms of the bank bailout, NAMA, IBRC, the history of Anglo Irish Bank and all of it, we are still paying for it now. I will reiterate what my colleagues said. It is good enough that a position, with a salary of \u20ac430,000, can literally be found for the chief executive officer of NAMA in the NTMA. I and many others would need some element of explanation for that. I do not think any of this is good enough.  The only thing I am happy about is that we are bringing this to an end. We are bringing what was a huge crime carried out against the Irish people to an end but we cannot forget the fact there was a huge----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank the Deputy. You are over time. You know you were sharing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  There was a huge cost. Just let----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Please, Deputy. Deputy Nash is next. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  Okay. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  I thank the Ceann Comhairle. At least I am keeping it in the county. It is a seamless transition.  I am pleased to speak on this Bill. While the Bill's provisions are mostly technical and procedural in nature, the import of NAMA and the IBRC, the history attached to these institutions, and their purpose, certainly were not and are not. Seventeen years on from its controversial establishment, NAMA is today being given a decent burial. Thirteen years on from the effect of tearing up the IBRC promissory notes, this zombie bank is being liquidated. On balance, this is a milestone; this is a good thing.  It is important today that we reflect on why these institutions were set up in the first place and on how they were managed. We also need to reflect on the lessons that need to be learned to ensure the citizens of this country are never again saddled with the debts and long-term consequences of the actions of a class of developers who flew too close to the sun egged on by a political elite of enablers, out of control bankers who funded the developers' misadventures and, indeed, the actions of unquestioning regulators who got far too close to them all.  Irresponsible frenzies of tax cutting coupled with over-spending, allied with an over-reliance on one or two unreliable tax heads to fund the madness that commenced at the start of the 2000s led directly to the economic collapse and an impact on our society and political system that is still spinning out. We still cannot say with any certainty that the outworkings of that catastrophe have in any way concluded.  There are lessons here for the way in which our economy is managed today and into the future. While I do not want to exaggerate, there are worrying signs that all the lessons of the disaster that kicked off in earnest only 18 to 19 years ago have not been fully understood. The shadow of the crash still looms; most notably in a dysfunctional housing and construction sector that still has not fully recovered. We see the impact of this every single day. There are more than 17,000 people homeless in what is now, objectively, a rich country. Annual housing targets are routinely unmet. Housing is out of the reach of far too many working class people. There is the smashing of the social contract that urgently needs to be pieced back together.  NAMA, in terms of the legislation governing its work and the priorities laid down by successive Governments, has one would argue done a good job on what it was asked and required to do. On its own terms, that is what it would say. It has handed more than \u20ac5.6 billion in terms of a lifetime contribution to the State. I recall only too well when NAMA was set up in 2009 the fear the taxpayer would ultimately have to keep bailing out the agency, an agency that it is worth recalling took over, as the Minister of State stated, \u20ac74 billion of distressed assets at less than half that initial valuation. That was a genuine fear. That was an insight into the fairly legitimate sense of catastrophe and fatalism that abounded at the time as the country crept towards the bailout signed up to in 2010.  I will not go into the details here but we were all critical at the time of the risk of fire sales of assets that, in effect, belonged to the taxpayer. I remember a lot of the NAMA exposure originally was in the UK and that market recovered more quickly than property values and the market in Ireland. It was there that NAMA did much of its early substantial transactions and later as the property market improved in Ireland, as property values rose, more of NAMA's work was focused here in the domestic market.  At the pre-legislative scrutiny of this Bill, NAMA defended itself and pointed to independent assessments of its work, and I accept that. To a degree, one's position on whether or not greater value might have been achieved by selling portfolios and properties later than they were sold is a subjective position. I absolutely understand that. Positions tend to be taken on these kinds of matters with the benefit of hindsight. I do acknowledge the independent assessments that have taken place of the performance of NAMA.  Would the Minister of State take it on board the following in the context of the Committee and Report Stages of the Bill? One of the recommendations made by the committee in the context of our assessment at pre-legislative scrutiny stage was that a further independent assessment of the performance of NAMA would take place, with the benefit of hindsight and as the dust is settling on that era, if I can use that term.  That is something the Minister might consider whether by way of inserting a provision into the primary legislation or, indeed, by the way of regulation requiring NAMA, or the NTMA as it will be responsible for NAMA. That is something that should be considered.  It is good to see, and the Minister put it on the record, that there are residuals of around \u20ac25 million only that would be transferred from NAMA to the NTMA. That is a good thing. Regarding the IBRC, while the story of that tumultuous time is yet to be written and fully comprehended, we should remember the significance of the bank bailout and the path it led us on as a country. The IBRC was the zombie bank that was managing the remnants of Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Nationwide Building Society - institutions that will go down in infamy in this country and, indeed, internationally. It was just 13 years ago when the promissory notes were torn up and significant steps were made to get the proverbial monkey off the backs of the Irish people and their economy. That in itself was a not insignificant landmark on our road to recovery.  Turning to the Bill and the recommendations made by the committee in terms of pre-legislative scrutiny, I made the point about that independent assessment of NAMA. That would be very important from the point of view of accountability and transparency and that is something that should be considered. The committee also recommends that Minister for Finance seek quarterly reports from the liquidators of the residual assets following the dissolution of NAMA that would detail the outstanding liabilities and expected timeframes for recovery and that the committee would be provided with same. Again, I am not necessarily persuaded that this needs to be placed in primary legislation but if the Minister by way of regulation or through other means would make a commitment that this would happen, that would attract the support of committee members and all members of the Opposition. It is also worth noting that the committee did recommend that the NTMA should publish a note in its final accounts to detail NAMA's specific liabilities once NAMA is dissolved. That will enable us to keep track of progress in that regard and ensure that those liabilities simply do not get consumed into the overall NTMA analysis and annual reports.  The point was also made as well that the specialist expertise that has been built up and that will transfer to the NTMA should not to be lost. Considerable expertise has been built up in that agency over many years and it is the kind of commercial and housing expertise that is required for the State to meet its own albeit modest objectives in terms of housing development and the raising of finance to support housing development. Some other recommendations were made as well that I will not go into but the Minister of State will be familiar with them. I would ask the Minister of State and his officials to scrutinise the committee's report on pre-legislative scrutiny and consider some, if not all, of those recommendations for Committee and Report Stages.  My last point harks back to the banking situation at the time NAMA was established when the country was in the throes of recession and when all hope appeared to be lost. A significant decision was taken in this House that taxpayers would essentially bail out the main financial institutions. We, in the Labour Party, decided that it was best that we did not support that decision but others did. That we did not is immaterial; it was passed that evening and we made the case as to why that initiative should not have been taken and the implications of that. It brought us closer to the bailout and the loss of our economic sovereignty in late 2010, the outworkings of which have yet to conclude.  One of the implications of that was the bailing out of Permanent TSB. The State still owns a majority stake in Permanent TSB. An offer was made by BAWAG P.S.K. recently to purchase the State's remaining share in Permanent TSB. The Minister of State will argue that this is another milestone but it appears to me that the only policy this Government, its previous iteration and the one before that had with regard to banking policy was to rid themselves of what they see as a burden, namely, majority State ownership in banks that the taxpayers of this country bailed out. Our position in the Labour Party is clear. For many years, we were of the view and made the case that PTSB could remain in majority State ownership and that State ownership should be used to try to expand that bank, create a third banking force in this country, break that Bank of Ireland-AIB duopoly and try to introduce more significant competition for householders and small businesses in a market that where competition is very badly needed.  It is quite extraordinary given the decision taken almost 20 years ago now to bail out the banks that there has not been a debate in this House on the future of PTSB. That is quite extraordinary. The Government might laud itself and say that this is an expression of the normalisation of the economy now, if I can describe it as such, and the fact that we no longer have any concerns about how our banking system is functioning. However, that is hardly the point given the significant decision made a number of years ago. We requested it at Business Committee meetings over the last period of time. It is quite extraordinary we have not had an informed debate on what we are doing in PTSB, why we are doing it, the nature of the offer, potential implications for banking staff employed in PTSB and implications for account holders and crucially the branch network because from what I can read, there are no guarantees from the prospective new owner and majority owner of PTSB. I have lots of different questions about the Government's decision, why the decision was taken and when PTSB was made aware by the Department of Finance that prior to BAWAG coming forward, another interested party appeared to express an interest in making a pitch to buy the State's share. Lots of different questions have not been ventilated at all in this House. It is quite extraordinary given the burden carried by the taxpayer over many years, the implications of the bank bailout, the burden carried by the taxpayer over many years and the implications of the bank bailout for the Irish taxpayer, our economy and our society more generally. I ask the Minister of State to reflect on that and that he and the T\u00e1naiste and Minister for Finance, Deputy Harris, agree to a debate on the implications of the future of PTSB in this House without any further delay. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cormac Devlin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cormac Devlin  I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the Second Stage debate on the National Treasury Management Agency (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026. This is, in effect, the Bill that closes the book on NAMA. It dissolves the agency, concludes the special liquidation of IBRC and transfers the small amount of residual activity to a new resolution unit within the NTMA. It is a technical Bill but it deserves a serious debate because behind it sits one of the most consequential interventions in the history of the State.  NAMA was established in 2009 in the worst economic circumstances the State faced since the 1980s. It acquired 11,500 loans from five Irish banks. The par value of that loan book was \u20ac74 billion. The acquisition value was \u20ac31.8 billion. It involved over 800 debtor connections and 60,000 properties spread across multiple jurisdictions. Those are not ordinary numbers. They are the numbers of Ireland\u2019s exposure to the international financial crisis and the result deserves to be noted. NAMA fully repaid the \u20ac32 billion in debt it issued to acquire those loans. It was self-financing throughout its lifetime. It has returned a lifetime surplus of \u20ac5.6 billion to the Exchequer. Not one cent of taxpayers' money was lost in the operation of the agency itself.  Professor John FitzGerald in his independent review last year described that surplus as appropriate and reasonable. He concluded that NAMA was \"broadly successful\". International studies place it among the best examples of a State-backed asset management vehicle anywhere in the world.  That is the legacy of the former Minister, Brian Lenihan. It worked in the end and it did more than balance the books. Of course, it did not get everything right. NAMA facilitated the delivery of over 44,500 new homes, though. It delivered nearly 3,000 social housing units directly. It transferred the National Asset Residential Property Service, NARPS, social housing portfolio and two major development sites with capacity for around 4,000 additional homes to the Land Development Agency last year, keeping those State assets in public ownership, which is important. In my constituency of D\u00fan Laoghaire, NAMA-secured sites at Cherrywood and elsewhere played a real part in the housing that has been delivered in recent years.  The regeneration of the Dublin docklands for example, a strategic development zone that was a wasteland a decade ago and is now one of the most successful urban quarters in Europe, would not have happened without NAMA. However, we should not allow the orderly end of the agency to become a story that flatters us into forgetting how we got here in the first place. NAMA existed because this country experienced a catastrophic failure of banking, regulation and political oversight in the years before 2008. Hundreds of thousands of jobs were lost. A generation emigrated and the \u20ac5.6 billion surplus is a fraction of what the wider banking collapse cost the public.  NAMA succeeded in the task it was given but the task should never have been necessary. The question for this House, as we close out NAMA, is whether the lessons have been learned. I want to flag three. First, light-touch regulation does not work. The Central Bank has powers and independence today that it did not have in 2007. That must be protected, not eroded, and this should be remembered the next time the industry argues that rules are too tight. Second, concentration risk in our banking system remains real. The exit of Ulster Bank and KBC reduces competition further. I have highlighted this point in the House many times previously. I also note what Deputy Nash has just said in terms of PTSB and the recent developments there. The Department of Finance and the Central Bank must keep a careful eye on this particular aspect. Third, when the State takes on a complex tasks, clear statutory objectives matter. Professor FitzGerald again was very clear on this. The clarity of NAMA's statutory mandate and the way it was implemented made a major contribution to minimising the cost of the crisis. That is a lesson worth carrying into every State body we establish from hereon in.  On the Bill itself, the provisions are sensible. The full repeal of the NAMA Act 2009, and the insertion of a new Part 6A into the National Treasury Management Agency Act 2014, gives NAMA a clean, consolidated statutory framework to bring the residual matters to completion. The scale is small. NAMA officials told the joint committee on finance last month that the resolution unit will begin with assets of less than \u20ac30 million, manage roughly eight outstanding litigation cases, and operate with eight staff for an estimated two years. That is the right scale for the job.  NAMA is ending the way it should: quietly, in profit and on time. That is unusual for any State intervention and it deserves to be acknowledged. I want to express my thanks to the majority of the hard-working staff and management that delivered this result for Ireland. We need to ensure the lessons learned are remembered and that a NAMA-type bad bank is never required or needed again. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  This Bill provides us with an opportunity to reflect on what NAMA was, why it existed, what it could have been, and what lessons we should learn. The word \"NAMA\" immediately brings to mind one of the darkest periods in recent Irish history and reminds us that when the rich and greedy gamble at the casino, it is ordinary people who pick up the bill. It also reminds us of an era when brutal austerity was inflicted on people by Fine Gael as a direct result of the actions of dodgy bankers and cowboy developers.  We should also not forget that NAMA represented a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reshape our housing system for the benefit of ordinary people; an opportunity that was shamefully wasted. Cailleadh an deis seo. Bunchloch dh\u00ednit an duine is ea an tith\u00edocht.  When the Anglo Tapes came out in 2013, the public got a glimpse behind the curtain of those at the top. Anglo Irish Bank executives were in stitches laughing as they discussed their collapsing bank. They joked about running rings around an incompetent regulator and straddling the Irish public with generational debt. John Bowe, Anglo's head of capital markets, spoke about never paying back the taxpayer and in his words, \"pulling made up figures out of his arse\". It was all fun and games for those at the top but it was no laughing matter for ordinary people. Jobs were lost, homes were repossessed and emigration returned. Hundreds of people lost their lives to suicide as a result of the economic downturn. The consequence of the recession for these families who lost loved ones could not have been more severe.  Houses and apartments should be looked at as homes and not as assets. Treating housing as an investment opportunity is what got us into the mess of the most recent recession. NAMA was the Government's plan to tidy up the mess to sell off thousands of homes and land-banks for knock-down prices to the highest bidder, taking lands and homes off the bankers and handing them over to vulture funds. It was a Fine Gael solution to a Fianna F\u00e1il problem.  The civil servants in NAMA achieved what was set out in their statutory remit. I commend their hard work and competence in a time of immense pressure. The problem is the politicians in charge of coming up with what this remit was and their lack of any foresight or imagination. NAMA will have delivered over \u20ac5 billion back to the Exchequer by the time it is wound up. Ireland is not currently suffering from a lack of money. There is nearly \u20ac39 billion in cash sitting under the management of the NTMA. What we are suffering from is a chronic lack of affordable housing. There are a record 17,517 people living in homeless emergency accommodation. Shamefully, 5,571 of them are children. The median price for a house in Dublin is now \u20ac500,000. The average rent for a two-bed apartment in Ireland is over \u20ac2,000 a month. Home ownership is becoming a pipe dream for most workers on normal wages. People are struggling just to keep a roof over their head.  NAMA took on 60,000 individual assets. Included in this were huge land-banks capable of delivering thousands of affordable homes. While the economic crisis subsided the housing crisis accelerated. In the midst of this housing crisis, NAMA continued its fire sale of desperately needed land and homes. It could, and should, have changed tack but the Government sat on its hands. Homes should have been turned into social and affordable housing. Land should have been developed as housing that people can afford. A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to shift housing away from speculators was not taken. Speculation was doubled down on and the vulture funds made billions of euro.  In 2014, the vulture funds began to make their move. Project Sand saw a pool of residential loans worth \u20ac1.1 billion bought by Lone Star and Oaktree Capital. The Project Stone loan portfolio, worth \u20ac6.85 billion, was acquired by CarVal, Lone Star and Deutsche Bank. Project Eagle sold \u20ac5.6 billion-worth of commercial loans to Cerberus. The vulture funds were here to stay, buying up loans, buying up homes and pumping up prices. Cerberus alone has seen the value of its assets in Ireland increase by \u20ac1.63 billion. Tens of thousands of homes are owned by these funds. People who have had their mortgage sold from underneath them know what a nightmare this can be with exorbitant interest rates, faceless companies and endless debt that they often cannot get out of. There are real people suffering very real consequences because of these political decisions. I recently met a renter in Galway city being evicted from her home of 20 years by one of these vulture funds.  Can you imagine being evicted from your home of 20 years by some faceless vulture fund?  The former Fine Gael finance Minister, Michael Noonan, defended these vulture funds in 2016 when, talking about the funds that effectively were brought in and welcomed into Ireland in this context, he said that \"vultures provide a very good service in the ecology through cleaning up dead animals that are littered across the landscape\". This sums up the entire NAMA episode. Ordinary hard-working people were treated like fools by Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael and like cash cows by developers, bankers and vultures.  As what is left of NAMA is folded into the National Treasury Management Agency, we should also look at the operating practices of the NTMA. Section 40 of the National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Act 2014 provides that the National Treasury Management Agency \"shall determine, monitor and keep under review an investment strategy for the assets\" of the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, ISIF. ISIF still has investments in companies operating in the illegally occupied Palestinian territories. This is part of the investment strategy decided by the NTMA. It flies in the face of our obligations under international law and the Genocide Convention. The illegal occupation in Palestine is intensifying. A few weeks ago, Aws al-Naasan, a 14-year-old boy, was murdered while he stood at the gate of his secondary school in the West Bank. He was shot in the head by an Israeli settler. This was part of a wave of settler violence in the Occupied West Bank primarily targeted at schools and children. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Unless I have missed something, what is the relevance? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  This is relevant. This is absolutely relevant. The Bill is transferring NAMA into the NTMA. I am questioning the record of the NTMA in terms of how it is managing public funds through ISIF. The NTMA is using public money----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Is it related to the Bill? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  Yes, it is absolutely related to the Bill. I raised it at pre-legislative scrutiny. I am putting in an amendment on Committee Stage of the Bill. The NTMA is managing ISIF funds. It has some of our public money in companies that are operating illegally in the occupied territories in the West Bank. I am referring here in the D\u00e1il to some of the repercussions of that. A 14-year-old boy was killed at the school gates by Israeli settlers and yet our public money, managed by the NTMA with Government approval, is being used to fund companies operating illegally in contravention of international law in the West Bank. It is absolutely relevant to this Bill and the NTMA. I raised it previously in pre-legislative scrutiny. I am giving the Minister of State notice that I will be raising it on Committee Stage and tabling an amendment on this. It is absolutely unacceptable that Ireland is still investing in companies that are taking part in this illegal occupation, and doing that through the NTMA. This Bill is about transferring NAMA into the NTMA. The Irish taxpayers do not want their money invested in companies profiting from stolen Palestinian land. The NTMA must take immediate action to fully divest from all these companies without delay.  It appears that Fine Gael and Fianna F\u00e1il seem hell-bent on repeating the mistakes of the past. The handouts for property developers are back, the tax cuts for vulture funds are not going anywhere and property prices have gone far beyond their Celtic tiger peak. Lessons must be learned from NAMA. The market will not come to the rescue of the housing crisis. The State must take a leading role in affordable home building. Finally, apartments and houses should never be treated as speculative assets; they are homes.  Before I conclude, I want to talk about the pre-legislative scrutiny report that was done by the committee. It is relevant. Why was pre-legislative scrutiny brought in to the Oireachtas? It was brought in post the crash. It was one of the learnings from the crash to make our legislative process stronger. It is regrettable, in his opening remarks, that the Minister of State did not address the committee's recommendations. It is regrettable that six recommendations in the all-party report were not taken on board. In fact, the analysis done by the library and research service, in its excellent Bills digest, shows that the six recommendations were not properly taken on board and, in fact, four of them were not taken on board at all. Deputy Nash referenced them, but I will refer particularly to recommendations 5 and 6 of the committee. Recommendation 5 is that the Minister for Finance provides a table outlining the value of NAMA-managed properties at time of their sale, compared to their current or most recent valuation. That would provide important information in terms of the learnings from NAMA. The committee and the Oireachtas, but also the public, should be provided with that information. Recommendation 6, which is key, is that a report be commissioned detailing a constructive and critical examination of learnings from NAMA and how to best reflect those learnings in the future operations of the NTMA, the Land Development Agency and any other relevant bodies. These are good recommendations from the all-party committee. I urge the Minister of State to take them on board, either through amendments to the legislation or, as I would welcome, if there are other ways that he can provide that information without requiring amendments to the legislation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John McGuinness  During the time when NAMA was dealing with the various property portfolios and issues arising from the work-out of those properties, many questions were asked, many queries were put before NAMA, and many people who had been in business and who found themselves in difficulty after the crash were treated very badly. That is a fact. That is held up by the number of people who appeared before the finance committee and, indeed, by the work of the Committee of Public Accounts. All of those people are being ignored. I am deeply concerned by the way that they were treated and I raised it continuously during the course of that time. I will give one example. This information is in the public domain. Annette De Vere Hunt was one such person. In the case of another individual, a young child in a family who was ill was approached by those who called to the home. It was unacceptable practice. Nothing has ever come out from that organisation to apologise publicly for what went on. Nor has there been any acknowledgement of the wrongdoing of that agency in terms of how it approached its work. Likewise, at the time when some of the bigger property portfolios, particularly in Northern Ireland, were being discussed, very little help and information were given to the committees of this House to enable them to pursue matters in the interests of the citizens of this country. Particular cases were mentioned.  What concerns me about this legislation is the fact that when the officials of the Department came before the finance committee, they were outlining their approach to the legislation. It was pointed out to them that they would have to come back to the committee to give details on a case the committee was dealing with, which involved the Butler family. Again, it is in the public domain. I am not breaching anyone's confidence here. They raised many questions not only about their treatment as a family but also about the treatment of their investment going right back to the original loan from the bank. It caused the committee to ask all of these questions and to let the committee hear from the Butler family directly, which we did at that time. I was Chairman of the committee. I would say that most of the members who took on board what was being said were absolutely shocked that the circumstances of their case were not examined.  They were also shocked that an agency of the State would not present the facts or deal with the facts that the Butlers were presenting at that time. It was decided that the committee would be briefed from the liquidators' side and that the case would be answered in the context of the facts versus what NAMA or the liquidator had to say. That never happened. In fact, they were to arrange a meeting between some committee members and NAMA relative to how all of this was being exposed publicly, how the facts were being dealt with, if there were facts, and what the case from the other side, which was NAMA, was. That never happened, even though it was promised to an Oireachtas committee representing these Houses. That was before the election. I really thought they would meet with the Butlers and deal with each of the specific accusations or allegations being made, and that each of those allegations would be answered comprehensively. That did not happen.  Now we are at a point where the Bill has gone through pre-legislative scrutiny and the specific cases that were of concern, particularly that family from Tipperary, have not been dealt with. This legislation is simply going to be railroaded through this House. Those who have been individually affected by the decisions of NAMA are not going to have the opportunity to be heard. Those who have been heard through the finance committee are not going to be given the opportunity to have all of their questions answered. If their allegations stand up, and there is lots of paperwork around it, that would bring up further questions on other transactions within NAMA that are questionable. The House has been short-changed here in terms of the legislation being rushed through as have the people who have raised queries not being engaged with. Certainly the committee members who showed an interest in the Butler case do not know the outcome. The Minister should at least fulfil the promise of the officials and ensure the details of that meeting as given to the officials are examined. That is the least we should do in the context of this legislation.  If that does not happen and we plough ahead with this, we are simply adding further injustice to an injustice to this family. Farms were lost. Investments were lost. The proof is there to be seen. Will the Minister of State make contact with the officials concerned? Will he invite in the Butlers to hear what they have said, or will he read the transcripts from the finance committee meeting? Will he deal with the questions that were raised and the commitments that were given by the officials to the committee members at that time? If he does not do that, the whole process is just meaningless and lacks any form of democracy or compassion as far as I am concerned. That family and others were invited to give their story to the finance committee because it was felt it was that important.  During the crash, I saw many things happening to families that were questionable. Many of those queries were raised in various committees of this House. Enough of those queries were raised to give concern to the Government and that concern is not being reflected here. At least one of those families I know of is not being treated properly. That is not the way it should be. The vulture funds and so on entered this country, bought properties and treated people badly and we just took it as being the way it was after the crash. Their behaviour here has been utterly despicable and it continues to this day because of the manner in which those staff were trained. Some of those staff have now moved to mainstream banking with the same culture and attitude they experienced when they were with the vulture funds, dealing with NAMA, closing down operations, closing down families and so on. We do not seem to be concerned about that. It is leading a culture that is a legacy of a different time altogether in Ireland. People are still paying that price.  Only this morning I met with families dealing with the vulture funds and whose loans have been transferred. You cannot get information. You cannot get a reasonable person to discuss the issue with you. Everyone is hiding behind GDPR and people are afraid to ask questions. The questions that have been asked should be answered. They will throw light on how other people were treated.  We saw this in relation to the tracker mortgage issue. First there were hundreds. The then Governor of the Central Bank, who is now in the European Central Bank, said there were around 5,000 but it was over 50,000. Had it not been for the members of the finance committee pushing and probing on behalf of individual cases, we would not know the extent of that problem. It is a mark on this State that this is the way citizens were treated. It is a mark on the European Union and the European Central Bank that they would have allowed that to happen. Here we are now doing exactly the same thing, short-changing the people we represent, people who have come to us in good faith, asking for support and help. It is not right that they would be ignored. If they are ignored in the context of this Bill and how it is being pushed through the House, then it is a sorry day for Ireland and for the people concerned.  I do not raise this lightly or say these things lightly. I say it out of experience on that committee, dealing directly with the people concerned. I am giving the Minister of State the example of the tracker mortgage issue to show him how wrong the Central Bank or officials can be - 5,000 versus 50,000. My God, you could not make it up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Where Deputy John McGuinness ended is a good place for me to start. You could not make it up and that is the truth about NAMA. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John McGuinness  My socialist colleague over there. There are only two of us left. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Absolutely. If only you had taken the left turn at the right point. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John McGuinness  I would probably regret that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  You would be in a different place. We might all be.  When the history books are written, NAMA will go down as one of the greatest scandals ever. I find it pretty amazing, shocking really but maybe not totally surprising, that the Government tries to present it as some sort of success story. The State paid out \u20ac31 billion initially to take over the assets of the developers, who had bankrupted the country, leading to a decade of austerity and huge hardship for the country. We paid \u20ac31 billion and the Government's argument is that we got it back and we made \u20ac5.6 billion on top of it, so everything is fine and we could even put it down as a success.  It was entirely predictable, and some of us predicted it and said it was absolutely clear at the time. The plan for the decision to sell off all those assets to investment funds and vulture funds was hatched when NAMA was originally set up with its mandate in 2009. Most of the sales, and the big push to sell off to the investment funds, happened under the Fine Gael and Labour Party Government that came into power in 2011. I came into the House in 2011 and I remember so well Michael Noonan saying it was necessary to restabilise the Irish property market. At the time some of us said this was a big mistake.  We had the biggest property company in the world. I have been reading over some of the stuff and a huge amount of the property was in the Dublin area where the housing crisis is now concentrated. NAMA had the potential to build about 86,000 housing units. Some of us proposed at that time that all of these should be public and affordable housing. Against this, we can look at what the delivery of public and affordable housing has been in the years intervening. For most of the years of the fire sale to the vulture funds that Michael Noonan invited in, a lot of this was being co-ordinated by a group called the Clearing House Group, which had organised special access to the big companies, the Department of Finance and the Department of Taoiseach at the time. It was essentially writing the budgets. If I remember correctly, in 2013 Michael Noonan met 60 of these investment funds where they planned a massive sell-off of this enormous property portfolio, the biggest property portfolio in the world, to these investment funds.  There was all this potential to deliver housing that could have been public and affordable housing but instead it was given to these investment funds and now we are buying it back. This is what is happening. The local authorities are buying it back and approved housing bodies are buying it back to provide social housing but at the prices set by these developers who got it from us at knockdown prices. The real maths and arithmetic of this is that we paid \u20ac31.8 billion and got \u20ac5.6 billion in profit, which amounts to \u20ac36.4 billion, but in the intervening period between 2010 and 2025 house prices went up 150%. If we take the figure of \u20ac31.8 billion as the bottom of the market for the portfolio - the par value was \u20ac70 billion but that is what we paid for it - a 150% increase brings it up to \u20ac79.1 billion. We got back \u20ac36.4 billion but it went up to at least \u20ac79.1 billion and probably more in reality. This is a back of the envelope calculation; it is probably an underestimation of what its actual value was when it was being built out and sold off. The investment funds, the property speculators and the developers walked off with about \u20ac42 billion. This is probably a conservative figure but I would say it is the minimum that they walked off with.  This is all maths but I will translate it to Cherrywood, one of the big sites that NAMA took over from developers who helped bankrupt the country. It is the biggest residential development in the country and it is in my area. If we include the really expensive houses, the average price there is \u20ac1 million. If we take out the really expensive ones, the average price is \u20ac600,000 to \u20ac700,000. This is what people have to pay to buy them. This rules out the ability of 80% or 90% of ordinary people to buy them. I would say that roughly 80% to 90% of people could not possibly afford them. This is what they sell for. If we look at houses being sold in Cherrywood at that moment we see they are this price. They were all in our hands.  Not only this but to take Cherrywood as an example, we put \u20ac15 million of taxpayers' money into infrastructural funding for that development. The parks and the roads were paid for by the public but the developer walks off with the profits, selling the houses at \u20ac600,000 and \u20ac700,000. Insofar as we get 10% social housing, we have to pay developers for it at prices they set. We sold for a song. In this case Hines, one of the big investors invited in at the time, sat on it for about ten years. It was in no hurry to build. It was flipping sites. Mel Reynolds reckons that Hines had made profit before a single brick was laid in Cherrywood because it had already started to flip parcels.  TASC has done reports on the wider NAMA portfolio. A lot of the investors who bought had no intention of building; they were just going to hang on until the housing crisis got bad enough that their property investment had increased in value and then they would sell it on. They would sit on it. They wanted to wait and create a housing crisis before they would even consider building or, more likely, flipping it on to somebody else who would then build it out but at massively inflated prices and then we buy it back from them. The Mafia could not have made this one up. We sell it to them at a song, they make massive profit and we buy it back from them.  We paid for the infrastructure. We provided LIHAF funding of \u20ac15 million with regard to Cherrywood, to give one example. In the original proposal around LIHAF funding, there was supposed to be a 40% give-back of the development in terms of affordable housing. That was dropped within about four weeks. It was taken off the original LIHAF proposal. We thought it was happy days and that we would get 40% social housing and a big chunk of affordable housing because the State had put in this LIHAF funding. That was then dropped and there was no 40%. We were going to get \u20ac15 million worth of affordable housing - in other words, we were going to get back what we put in. This would have been a disgrace but we did not even get that.  Does the Minister of State know how much affordable housing we got in Cherrywood? None, zero, not a single affordable house. It is unbelievable. Developers just do not do it. Not only this but Cherrywood was supposed to be a flagship development and it was not going to repeat the mistakes of the past. It was to be a new town, the biggest residential development in the country and one of the biggest in Europe. It was going to be a ten-minute town. People would not need a car, and we need to get people out of their cars, because they could walk to everything. There would be parks and infrastructure paid for by the people. There are \u20ac600,000 or \u20ac700,000 houses, which only a small group of people can afford, and all of the stuff we buy back but at least people would be able to walk to the town centre. There was going to be a town centre.  Does the Minister of State know what the town centre is? It is a massive hole in the ground that the developers refuse to build. It is not profitable for them. They do not want to build a town centre. They have no interest in a town centre. Now they have variations on the strategic development zone in order to increase the density so they can make more profit by building more units on the site, or so it becomes more valuable after it gets the planning permission for it or the change in zoning for it. Their investment increases in value again but the people do not have a town centre.  I will give an example of how ridiculous it is. There is a bridge that carries the Luas from one side to the other.  There is supposed to be a pedestrian bridge as well because there are people living on the other side. However, the developer does not want to build the pedestrian bridge either because it is connected to the town centre. They just do not want to build it. Young kids are running along the Luas line from one side to the other in what is a serious safety hazard because the only shop is a Spar Express across the road from where the town centre is supposed to be. There is supposed to be a town centre with doctors, cinemas and supermarkets but there is just a big, massive hole in the ground and they are allowed away with it. Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael councillors are voting in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown to give them increased densities, so their investments are worth more. You could not make it up.  That is replicated all over the country with the NAMA portfolio. Mel Reynolds estimated that NAMA had 70% of the zoned building land around the greater Dublin area at one point. It was the whole land bank. It dictated what we are seeing now, which is house prices nobody can afford. Who can afford that stuff? The big investment funds can buy it up or the State pays massively over the odds to buy back what it originally sold at a knockdown price. That could all have been social and affordable housing, and we could have solved the housing crisis. Now they have gone through all that and largely made their profits from the NAMA portfolio and we are going to do it again.  We have not learned the lesson of the massive mistake of allowing these guys to run off with all the profits, control the housing sector, drip-feed the housing and profiteer from it and end up selling it back to us at extortionate prices that nobody can afford. They are fuelling the housing and homelessness crisis. We are now going to do it all over again by rezoning a big pile of agricultural land that is currently worth little. We are going to rezone it, so overnight it will be worth a fortune for its private owners, who are all the same people again - the land bankers and the speculators. This is happening as we speak, and I am amazed that nobody is ringing the alarm bells. To my mind, the scandal is beyond belief. This varies but roughly speaking in the Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown area zoned agricultural or green space is \u20ac80,000 per hectare. If it is zoned as residential that value goes from \u20ac80,000 per hectare to \u20ac5 million per hectare. That is a 625% increase overnight to the owners of that land. That has just been voted through in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown. It goes without saying that we voted against it. The Fianna F\u00e1ilers and Fine Gaelers voted in favour of this. Overnight, the owners get a 625% increase in their investment for doing nothing. They are made multimillionaires but this is not a victimless crime.  Where does the money come from? It is just like what happened with NAMA. Somebody is going to pay for this. The person who is going to pay is the end purchaser of the home or the renter. When the houses are finally built, if they ever are by the way, they will do exactly the same. They have over zoned. This proposal from central government is that the national framework is looking for land for 528,000 new homes and for 15,000 ha to be rezoned. However, the required council land is for 300,000. We are massively over zoning by 50% but the people who own this will be made multimillionaires overnight. As I said, it is a 625% increase.  When and if they build, they will be selling for \u20ac600,000, \u20ac700,000, \u20ac800,000 or \u20ac1 million, which is what some of the stuff is now going for in Cherrywood. The ordinary person trying to buy a home pays for this or, because not many working people can afford that, the big investment funds will buy it and rent it out, and they will rent it at \u20ac3,000 or \u20ac3,500 per month. That is what it is going for in Dun Laoghaire at the moment. They are making an absolute fortune from unaffordable rents and fuelling all the homelessness and despair over extortionate rents that nobody can afford.  That is the increased value that land has now been given because of a vote by a group of councillors in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown. They are going to do the same in South Dublin, Dublin city and in Fingal. That is where that money comes from. It ends up in houses that cost between \u20ac600,000 and \u20ac800,000 or rents that are \u20ac3,000 or \u20ac4,000 per month. Ordinary people pay. Maybe, as we did the last time, the State will end up buying it back, instead of us just bringing the agricultural land into public ownership and rezoning what we need to build public and affordable housing. That is what they do in places like Finland where they have actually tackled the housing crisis and reduced homelessness, and where most of the land bank is in the control of the public authorities. It does not mean there is no private housing. I often hear the Government say that we do not want any private housing. That is not true. In Helsinki, the public authorities decide what is built and whether it is going to contribute to providing housing that is needed, is affordable and so on. Here, we just hand it over to the speculators, the hoarders and the profiteers in the property sector. We make people multimillionaires overnight and screw the vast majority of ordinary people who are just looking for an affordable roof over their head.  It is a scandal this is happening when some of us argued way back when that the NAMA mandate should have been changed. We should have developed it as a State construction company and we should have taken the zoned land and the land we are planning to rezone into public ownership to build public and affordable housing. Even now, that is what needs to happen if we are to have any hope of solving the dire housing crisis. That is all history, arithmetic and all the rest of it. However, at the end of the day what it all comes down to is more than 17,000 families in emergency accommodation and thousands of people paying rents they cannot possibly afford. They are paying between 50% and 70% of their income on unaffordable rents, or people are mortgaged up to their necks. If anything goes wrong with the economy, we will find ourselves right back where we were after the crash in 2008 or 2009. If there is any wobble in the Irish economy and people are landed with these massive debts they cannot afford, we will be right back where we were in the previous crash that sent the entire country over a cliff. Will they ever stop? I do not think so. Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael are not going to stop. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathal Crowe  He is opposing student housing in his constituency at Baker's Corner. He is a hypocrite. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  I wanted it for the students. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Excuse me. We have rules, abide on both sides. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathal Crowe  He is talking out of both sides of his mouth. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  We wanted it for students. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathal Crowe  Hypocrite. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  We wanted it in public ownership for the students. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Crowe, leave the House if you cannot abide by the rules. I call Deputy Shay Brennan. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  He is just a profiteer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Boyd Barrett, Deputy Brennan is on his feet and so am I. Rules are rules. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  He is the one who started it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shay Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shay Brennan  I welcome this Bill and am glad to have the opportunity to speak on it today. The dissolution of the National Asset Management Agency is not just an administrative tidying up exercise. I would very much argue that it is a significant milestone in Ireland's post-crisis economic journey. It is a moment that deserves to be acknowledged and understood and not just processed quietly through this House. NAMA was born in crisis. It is ending in recovery. That arc from emergency to resolution is a demonstration of this State's capacity to make hard decisions, to see them through and come out the other side. I will use my time today to review that journey clearly, to acknowledge the scale of what was achieved, to be honest about the controversy that surrounded it and to say something about why the transfer of remaining functions to the NTMA is the right and appropriate conclusion.  To understand NAMA's achievement we have to go back to where we were in 2009 and 2010. The global economy was in free-fall. The property market had collapsed with catastrophic force. Our financial system was sitting on tens of billions of euro in loans that were worth a fraction of what they had been written at. The guarantee of 2008 had bought some time but that time alone was not going to fix the fundamental problem of a banking system paralysed by bad debt, unable to function, unable to lend and unable to support the real economy. The question facing the Government of the day was stark. Should it let the banks collapse, should it nationalise everything outright or should it create a mechanism to extract the toxic assets from the balance sheets, allow the banks to stabilise and manage the recovery of those assets over time in a way that maximised returns to the taxpayer? The decision was to create NAMA. It was not a popular one. It was deeply controversial from the moment it was announced. There were legitimate questions raised in D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann and across the country about the haircuts applied to the loans, transparency, who was benefiting and who was bearing the cost. I do not dismiss those questions. Many of them were asked in good faith and deserved serious answers, but the judgment of time has been clear that the decision to establish NAMA was the correct one.  Let us review what NAMA achieved, because the numbers are remarkable and deserve to be stated clearly. NAMA acquired loans with the nominal value of approximately \u20ac74 billion. It paid about \u20ac32 billion for those loans, which was a discount reflecting their distressed nature. Over its lifetime, it generated a surplus income for the State of over \u20ac4 billion. An agency created in the depths of a financial crisis to manage what were essentially the worst excesses of the Irish property and banking sectors turned a profit of over \u20ac4 billion for the taxpayer. That was not the expectation of many commentators in 2010. It was not even the central expectation of many supporters of the agency. It is an extraordinary outcome.  NAMA's contribution was not only financial. It played a crucial role in stabilising the property market. By managing the disposal of assets in an orderly, phased way rather than dumping them on the market simultaneously, NAMA helped prevent the kind of catastrophic price collapse a disorderly liquidation would have caused. That discipline and patience protected the value of assets held not just by NAMA but across the entire economy. NAMA also became, perhaps unexpectedly, one of the most significant funders of residential construction in Ireland during the recovery period. It funded the delivery of tens of thousands of homes, contributed directly to social and affordable housing through local authorities and approved housing bodies and helped unlock development on key strategic sites around the country. This is a substantial part of NAMA's legacy that deserves recognition, particularly in the context of the ongoing housing challenges. I should note that NAMA managed a geographically complex portfolio, with assets in Britain, across continental Europe and in the United States, and did so with commercial discipline and without the fire sale disposal many feared. It was studied internationally as a model for how a state asset management vehicle can be structured and governed effectively. NAMA staff and management should be commended on that.  There is an aspect of NAMA's legacy that rarely gets the credit it deserves, namely, what it did for Ireland's reputation internationally. In 2010, we were a country the international markets had effectively written off. The interest rates being demanded on our sovereign debt were excessive. The establishment of NAMA and, critically, its credible and professional operation over subsequent years were part of the signal to international investors that Ireland was serious, we had a plan and we intended to honour our obligations. Neither the return to the bond markets, nor the exit from the Troika programme, nor the restoration of our sovereign credit rating happened in isolation. NAMA was part of the scaffolding that made that possible.  I want to be fair-minded and not simply eulogise without acknowledgement of the real concerns that were raised over the years. In the interest of balance it would not be right to speak about NAMA without noting that it was not without its difficulties along the way. Questions were raised at various points in this House and before the public accounts committee, and that scrutiny was appropriate and right. No agency operating at this scale under this kind of pressure and over this length of time could expect to do so entirely without controversy and NAMA was no different. The fair reflection with the benefit of hindsight is simply that transparency and public accountability are always worth strengthening in bodies of this kind and that there is always room for a better balancing of commercial sensitivity with public oversight. That is a lesson worth keeping in mind for the future. Those questions, fairly asked and properly pursued, do not diminish the overall record. They are part of how democratic oversight is supposed to function. The agency's fundamental achievements stand on their own terms.  The overall verdict on NAMA must be judged on outcomes and the outcomes it delivered. This brings me to where we are today and the specific provisions of the Bill. NAMA has substantially completed its work. The vast majority of its loan portfolio has been disposed of. Its active commercial function is at an end and what remains are a small number of residual assets, ongoing commitments in relation to certain legacy matters and a staff complement that has reduced dramatically from the agency's peak. The Bill provides for the dissolution of NAMA and the transfer of its remaining functions, assets and staff to the National Treasury Management Agency. This is entirely sensible. The NTMA is the appropriate home for these residual functions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Is the Deputy sharing with Deputy Crowe? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathal Crowe  Yes. I only need a little more time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  All right. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shay Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shay Brennan  It has the governance structures, the financial expertise and the institutional capacity to manage what remains in a cost-effective and accountable way. Keeping a separate statutory agency alive with its own board, overheads and administrative infrastructure when the substantive work is done would be a waste of public resources. The model of a time-limited, purpose-specific vehicle has been vindicated. NAMA was designed to do a job and then to go. It is now going and that is exactly as it should be.  The transfer of staff deserves a specific mention. The men and women who worked in NAMA, particularly those who joined at the height of the crisis, took on a difficult and sometimes thankless task in a highly charged public environment. Many of them were working on complex financial, legal and property matters under significant public scrutiny and, at times, criticism. They served the State well. The transition to the NTMA should be managed with full respect for their rights and their service. I ask the Minister of State to confirm appropriate protections and continuity of terms are in place for all staff affected.  I will say a final word about what the passing of this Bill means because it is worth slowing down to reflect on. In 2010 when NAMA was being established, there were serious commentators \u2013 serious, informed people \u2013 who doubted Ireland could manage its way out of the crisis without a decade of depression, a sovereign default and a managed restructuring of the State's obligations. The scale of what we were facing was overwhelming but we did not default or collapse and we stabilised our banks, managed our debt, returned to the markets, exited the Troika programme and rebuilt.  I support the Bill. I commend the work of those who designed and managed NAMA over its lifetime. I welcome the transfer to the NTMA as a logical, efficient and appropriate conclusion to the agency's existence. I take this moment to note for the record of the House that Ireland's response to one of the gravest financial crises in our history was not perfect, as nothing ever is, but it was, by any fair measure, a success. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathal Crowe  I thank my colleague for sharing time with me. This is a very important Bill and I welcome the opportunity to speak on it. As Deputy Brennan said, nothing in this time was perfect but the State had to very quickly step in and decide how we could manage assets at a time of global financial crisis. Since then, NAMA has been lauded internationally as one of the best structures put in place during the economic crash of those years to manage state assets. I can only think of one comparable initiative. A few years prior to the economic crash, I was an Erasmus student in the Czech Republic, which only seven or eight years previously had emerged from communism to stand on its own two feet as a democratic country. It was also a fledgling EU nation at the time following the passing of the Nice treaty. The country had to bring in mechanisms to stop people from overseas purchasing properties at knockdown prices as it wanted its own people to have the properties. It seemed a very sensible approach and it too has since been wound back.  It makes sense to wind back NAMA. It was a solid way to manage State assets at that time. It is worth noting the agency took on a loan book with a par value of \u20ac74 billion. This comprised 60,000 properties and 5,000 borrowers. Over its lifetime, it repaid all \u20ac32 billion in debt issued to acquire loans and has been fully financially sustainable throughout that time.  This is good legislation. NAMA may not have been popular initially, but it has certainly proved its worth. It has been shown to be a good, solid and stable basis on which to manage assets during a time of crisis.  Charges were made moments ago about how developments happen in south Dublin. I was a school teacher. Many of my past pupils are gearing up for their leaving certificate examinations and they will make choices over the coming weeks about what college they will go to. God help them if they are going to college in Dublin. A development called Baker's Corner, with 300 student accommodation beds, was planned in south Dublin. The lead objector to that development, which took it through the wringer and all the way to An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la, or An Bord Plean\u00e1la as it was then known, was Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett. I will quote from his appeal. It stated: \"It is much too large and will be very much out of character with ... the 2 storey houses and Ashbury Nursing Home\". When students from County Clare are looking for accommodation this year, they should remember that this project has been held up for five years, and it may never see the light of day, because of the hypocrisy of one of the Members of this House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  We are talking about NAMA and its winding up. It is easy to wind up something when people would not talk to you. I will give a small bit of history, without mentioning names, of a case to do with the likes of NAMA and it not interacting with people in their times of trouble. I am talking about people who were in trouble in 2016, like a lot of other people in the country, and there was a judgment against them. The judgment was for \u20ac55,000, which was the sum owed. The order for interest was \u20ac9,000. In 2016, these people entered into a payment plan to get back on their feet. About a year into it, when they got back on their feet, they tried to get through to NAMA and the financial institution to do a deal on how they could finish their loan book. I have the file in front of me. The dates are from early 2016, and these people still have their payment plan in place today. They still cannot get a meeting with NAMA to finish up their accounts. We are talking about 2016, so we are ten years on, and the balance on their account is now just under \u20ac55,000. This is the amount for which the first judgment was brought against these people in 2016.  We are winding up something that we said was a great thing at the time and that took on all the different purchases. How many cases have been in the Supreme Court concerning loan books that were sold off by NAMA and the likes of Pepper that were brought in? They were working in this country illegally during the first 12 months because they did not have 12 months of accounts done. How many High Court battles were lost over that? How many people's properties were taken because of the likes of NAMA? People wanted to enter into agreements to save their businesses and houses. How many of those people were there? What is going to be done now? NAMA is going to be dissolved and the buck is going to be passed to somebody else. Nobody else will talk to these people and somebody else will get paid again to deal with something that was not dealt with in the first place.  Last year, we had a case where the Supreme Court overruled some of the financial institutions that got their loan books through NAMA. They were found guilty of taking properties during the first 12 months of their existence. What is going to happen with those properties? What is going to happen with the livelihoods that were lost because people in NAMA would not talk to these people? What are we going to do with those people? Who is going to reimburse them now? Who is going to deal with the portfolio involving those people who were never talked to? It is another thing that we will sweep under the carpet. We will get rid of it and we will now put something else in its place to take on the last of the loan books and assets NAMA has. There is no accountability.  Are the people who were involved in this institution going to get promoted? Will they get Government jobs in different Departments? Will they get promotions in which they can excel in their careers after NAMA? That is where we see problems arising from this. An awful lot of people in NAMA have to account for things they have done wrong. They may have got a couple of bits and pieces right and may have dealt with different people in different ways, but they also left behind the good, hard-working people who wanted to fix up their books. They will not be forgiven for it and nor will the Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  I will start where Deputy O'Donoghue left off in his excellent speech. I will just give an overview of where people stand in relation to NAMA. This Bill marks what the Government will present as a final chapter in the State's response to the banking collapse. We are being asked to wind up NAMA and transfer what remains of the IBRC into the NTMA to close the emergency structures created during one of the darkest periods in our financial history. In principle, that is the right thing to do. These bodies were always meant to be temporary.  We need to be clear that while the Government is closing the institutions of the crisis, the people are still paying for it. Nowhere is this more obvious or more unjust than in the ongoing existence of the universal social charge. The USC was introduced as a temporary emergency tax. The public were told it was temporary and necessary in a time of crisis and it would be removed when the crisis passed. The Government is telling us today that the crisis is over, NAMA is being shut down and the IBRC is being wrapped up. We are being told the clean-up is complete. Here is the simple question. If the crisis is over, why is the USC still being taken out of workers' wages every week? We have to be honest about it. The USC has become a permanent tax by stealth. It is no longer an emergency measure and no longer temporary. It is now baked into the system, quietly taking from pay packets across the country. The people who are paying it are the very same people who had no role whatsoever in causing the banking collapse. They are ordinary workers and families trying to make ends meet, people in communities all over Ireland who were already stretched and are stretched even further now with the cost of living. They did their part, carried the burdens and paid what they were asked to pay, and now, when the State is closing the very institution that justified that USC charge, these same people are being told that nothing changes for them.  This is not fairness or honesty, and the public can see straight through it. If NAMA can be wound up and the IBRC can be consigned to history, the Government needs to explain why one of the most visible symbols of that crisis, the USC, remains firmly in place. Otherwise, people will rightly conclude that while the crisis may be over for the State, it is not over for them.  That brings us back to the Bill, which transfers enormous powers to the NTMA, including litigation, asset management and broad confidentiality provisions. As we do that, we must not allow transparency to disappear along with NAMA. We need firm guarantees that the Oireachtas will retain real oversight, reporting will be full and accessible and every remaining asset, liability and legal matter is fully accounted for. The taxpayers paid for this system and the taxpayers deserve the full truth at the end.  We should complete the wind-down of NAMA and close these bodies, but the public should not be asked to accept closure when they are still footing the bill. The end of the banking crisis must mean something real for people who paid for it. That means not just shutting down institutions but finally addressing the unfair, so-called temporary burdens that were supposed to go with those institutions.  Deputy O'Donoghue raised the issue of the good, honest business people and householders who tried their level best to communicate with NAMA and get out of a crisis. Not everybody wants to screw the State, to use an unsavoury word, and not everybody has that in mind, but people do fall into difficulties. Like the Minister of State and many other Deputies, I have dealt with numerous people in that situation who wanted to pay their way out, and sit down and do a deal, but who were refused by NAMA and the vulture funds. It was all one big happy connection. It was a case of grabbing people's property, putting them out of business and destroying their lives. How many people have died because of this? It is an astonishing question to ask, but I guarantee the Government has no understanding. How many people died in despair? How many people went home and ended their lives? The Government is afraid to answer that question because it is a true fact.  It is a fact. They lost their lives because they lost their businesses and homes. They begged for help but they got nothing in return from a State that cost them their lives. It cost people their businesses but, more importantly, it cost people their lives. It is astonishing that it will never, ever be known. It is the hidden secret and crisis of this country, where people would not sit down with those who were facing difficult times because they borrowed. They over-borrowed. I accept that but they wanted to negotiate their way out. That was true of so many of them I met and on whose behalf I pleaded but we were met with deaf ears. It is an awful situation for people to find themselves in, about to lose the home their children are living in or their business that provides food for their families, be they man or woman. I represented so many of them. I saw them and I know where they ended up because of it and that is a shocking indictment of a Government that does not care.  The USC is a pittance for the Government to hand back to the State after what it has taken from people and what it has cost this country. That was under the leadership of Fianna F\u00e1il. The bodies in place, whether vulture funds or NAMA, should have sat down with the people who wanted to sit down and found a way forward, rather than just grabbing. Let us call them what they were - vultures. That is what they turned out to be. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  First, I want to acknowledge, given the headline topic we are discussing, that NAMA played an important stabilising role at a moment of national crisis. I was there at the time and was involved in the Government that made the decisions. I saw the logic and supported its establishment at the time under the circumstances that were forced on people. However, it is also clear that NAMA's record is mixed, due to what were largely Government decisions. I acknowledge that NAMA had an independent mandate but it was given a mandate and terms of reference and because of that, there were opportunities that were not fully realised.  Those broader questions deserve a fuller debate in their own right. I would love to talk for an hour on it and maybe we will get that chance some time. I will use some of my time to focus on that but first I acknowledge that we are dealing with the final narrow phase of NAMA's existence and the transfer of its remaining functions to other bodies. What is left are residual loans and I hope that where small people are impacted, they get a good shout. There is a whole load of outstanding legal cases and other stuff which, one could argue, does not require a stand-alone agency any more and all of the bureaucratic costs associated with it. On that point and purely on the specifics, the Bill before us makes sense. Transferring the remaining functions to the NTMA allows for a streamlined transition.  However, it is important that we assess the NAMA legacy honestly. While it did make a paper return of \u20ac4 billion, it did not realise the full potential of the assets it was entrusted with managing. It also did not necessarily help people who could have been dug out of a hole, individuals and small businesses, rather than the big entities which some of my colleagues have referenced. The fact that NAMA did not realise its potential is not just my opinion as a TD but is borne out by the market evidence and assessments of independent observers. Between 2013 and 2015, NAMA sold some of the largest loan portfolios in the history of the State. According to the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council, commercial property values in Dublin rose by over 70% between 2013 and 2018, while development land values in some areas more than doubled. Many of the assets that later benefited from that recovery had already been sold off by NAMA. While I acknowledge that everything is better in hindsight, we should be able to look at the bigger picture. In hindsight, they were sold at massively discounted prices. The Irish Times reported in 2016 that several major portfolios sold to international investment funds were subsequently resold at profits ranging from 30%, which is not half-bad when one thinks about it, to over 100% in some cases, often within a few years. The public accounts committee in its 2017 review noted that significant value uplift accrued to purchasers rather to the State. Basically, the State exited too early.  We know that NAMA's mandate pushed it towards rapid de-leveraging rather than long-term value creation. The agency itself stated in its 2014 annual report that it was accelerating disposals to meet debt repayment targets. Those targets, to be clear, were shaped largely by the political and institutional environment of the time which rewarded early repayment and visible progress.  I would argue that it was more on the political side because the Government of the day wanted to be able to say that it had made progress in advance of the 2016 election, even if that meant forgoing future gains. If one was looking at it from the perspective of what is in the best interests of the country rather than in the best interests of those going into the next election, one might have said we should wait a little bit longer. It is a fair question to ask whether the State could have earned more by holding assets for longer or by retaining the income-producing properties for rental yield. Experts who know a lot more than I do would argue that was the case and the evidence also suggests so. The ESRI, for example, in its 2019 analysis of post-crisis asset management said that a longer-term hold strategy would likely have produced higher net returns for the State, particularly in the residential and office sectors.  None of this is to deny the challenges we faced, the pressure from Europe and the ECB or the constraints that NAMA operated under but we must learn from this. How far back do we go? If one wanted to be fair minded, one could argue that successive Fianna F\u00e1il administrations made the boom boomier. The larger political parties at the time had a very close relationship with developers. Some of those relationships were examined in tribunals and even if we did not get to the levels of outright corruption, there was a cosy consensus with developers and Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael in particular. That kind of consensus led to decisions that massively increased the value of land for certain developers and led to speculation. It got to the stage that by 2006, most of the State's revenues were coming through services. In the 2008 and 2009 period, we absolutely had global pressures and a global collapse. It was not, obviously, endemic to Ireland per se but the crash was made crashier because of previous Fianna F\u00e1il policies in particular.  I was in one of the Government parties at the time. We had some very serious decisions to make and we made them. I remember having a meeting two years before the 2011 general election and saying that it looked like we were all going to lose our seats. I asked what we were going to do and suggested that we should try to do what was best for the country, one way or the other. I know that every grouping in government at that time - and I pay tribute to the late Brian Lenihan - was trying to doing its best in the circumstances. The bank guarantee scheme, in hindsight, may not have been absolutely necessary. We do not know if some of the banks were systemic banks or not. All we know is that we could not have taken that risk. The former Deputy, Eamon Gilmore, said it was either Frankfurt's way or Labour's way but it turned out to be Frankfurt's way. The Troika came in and told us precisely what to do. We could not afford to do what the Greeks did and, indeed, they lost out down the line in any event. The European Central Bank and our European Union partners were prepared to give us a dig out but not in a way that would put themselves into discomfort. We were forced into a situation in 2009 and 2010 where, if we did not make decisions that hurt people, it was going to hurt people a lot more. That is not a great position to be in. We still have the legacy of that, with nurses, garda\u00ed and teachers on starting incomes that are a lot less than they should be. I have called for that pay restoration several times.  That has not happened and then we wonder why there are recruitment issues.  Coming back to the present, we could have had additional funds for the State if NAMA had been handled in a more assessable way. We should have looked at the situation in 2013, 2014 and 2015 and, noting the trend was upwards, we should have said, \"Let us hang on and let us realise more for the State, rather than trying to make a political point in advance of the election\". If we are to learn from this experience, we must acknowledge that the agency's potential was not fully realised and that was because of politics rather than best practice. I hope we never again get into a scenario in which we are put under global pressure. If we have to create another NAMA in the future, we must look at it in a more strategic way and consider what outcomes to seek and whether we can change the system as we go along to realise the best outcome for the people of the country. We were sold short. NAMA made an extra \u20ac4 billion in terms of the paper assessment of the value of its assets at the time but a lot of income was left behind that could have been gained for the people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  When NAMA came into being, the State was in a really dark place. The economy had collapsed, there were no jobs and people were really struggling. We had ghost estates and sites that were half developed. Fianna F\u00e1il destroyed the economy. I remember it as clear as day. I remember friends of mine losing their jobs. To add insult to injury, when Fine Gael came into government in 2011, all it gave a damn about was austerity. The ordinary working men and women of this country were thrown under a bus. The most vulnerable, including pensioners and people with disabilities, suffered the most. I remember that.  Now the economy is going well and there are jobs, but a lot of people are struggling more than ever. There are empty houses on a huge scale but there still are ghost estates, including in Carrignavar and right across the State. There is a site not far from here in Dublin Central that has been empty for ten years. It could be used to build public homes for the families and workers in Dublin who need them. Empty NAMA sites were sold off across the State and they are being sat on by speculators and vulture funds as they laugh all the way to the bank.  I was elected to Cork City Council in 2009. I remember clearly the devastation caused by austerity at that time. Then Michael Noonan rolled out the red carpet for the vulture funds to come in and operate tax free. To this day, they still operate on a tax-free basis. The Government lets them off. The ordinary working men and women, however, are not free of tax. They still have to pay the USC. We are here today to talk about the winding down of NAMA. Why is there no winding down of the USC? Why is it always ordinary hard-working people who must foot the bill while the bankers, developers, speculators and vulture funds laugh all the way to the bank?  The CEO of NAMA is moving to the NTMA on a salary of \u20ac430,000. All the NAMA staff will keep their terms and conditions of employment. I do not know what the CEO will be doing in his new role. He could be over there making tea. How can his appointment be justified? People are being laid off this week at Meta. Ambulance drivers are out fighting for their rights, and have been fighting for years, but the Government will not give them the terms and conditions to which they are entitled. However, there are jobs for the NAMA lads. They can be given anything they want. Where is the fairness?  I recall standing on the picket lines with the Debenhams workers. When the Vita Cortex workers lost their jobs years ago, Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael said they would make changes to legislation to protect workers. They still have not done it. Instead, they gave sweetheart deals to big business and vulture funds that picked NAMA dry. \"Vulture funds\" is the perfect name because they cleaned out NAMA. Deputy Doherty will soon table amendments, which we believe are fair and right, to protect workers. I know people who lost their jobs and houses and whose marriage or relationship ended. They lost everything. I know people who died by suicide as a result of the banking and financial crisis. We should never forget that Europe threw us under the bus. We were the only country that took on all our debt, while others were given a way out. NAMA might be gone but the USC is still here. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mattie McGrath  My colleague Deputy Toole cannot make it to the Chamber as she is stuck in traffic. She asked me to convey her hope that some of the extra funds that become available as a result of the wind-down of NAMA will be ring-fenced for projects in her constituency. She hopes the Navan rail project, for which a preferred route was announced today, is one of the projects for which the funding now arising out of this sorry saga is ring-fenced.  I am glad to have an opportunity to speak on this Bill, which brings about the final winding down of NAMA and the transfer of all remaining matters to the NTMA. As I have said many times in this House, the legacy of NAMA is a trail of destruction left behind for families, villages and towns across the country. Under the guise of a workout vehicle, it has been the most economically destructive agency in Ireland's history. It has been the catalyst for the disastrous housing crisis that has plagued us. I said that last night and have been saying it for the past year. I pay tribute to the late Brian Lenihan for the efforts he made. I said to him here late one night that NAMA was like a wild animal being released in the woods and no one knew where it would end up.  There are very many human stories arising out of NAMA, many of which are still unresolved. There have been many claims of corruption and fraudulent activity, which has gone on without anybody being held to account. NAMA has a very poor history. No State-sponsored and State-staff vehicle should be able to perform fraudulent activities without being held accountable or punished. I want to put on the record again one of those human stories, as I have many times before. I refer to the story of John Fraher, an excellent businessman from Clonmel, County Tipperary. I have raised his case directly with the Taoiseach, the T\u00e1naiste, the finance committee and the head of Revenue. The issue continues to be ignored and swept under the carpet. The fear with NAMA being dissolved is that issues like this will remain firmly under the carpet and there will be no accountability for anyone.  John Fraher has received a letter from Revenue that is quite alarming. I have to hand a document from which I will quote the following paragraph:  I have raised the matter of fraudulent transactions involving NAMA in the past and the matter is so serious that it brings into focus the reason that NAMA was staffed by NTMA employees. It is a perfect case of a Department of Finance-sponsored system that could perform transactions and would never be prosecuted or held to account as the gatekeeper and enforcement agency of the State was compromised from the start.  I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for his excellent work in this area. I also must mention the Butler family in Clonmel, who were blackguarded. Many families have been destroyed. There have been marriage separations and families split. Many people have taken their own lives. I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for his work at the finance committee and for being brave in trying to get answers.  The document in my hand further states: \"The Department of Finance could control each element of the system and ensure that each transaction was rubber-stamped by Revenue, regardless of whether it was legal or not\". That is hard to understand. I now refer to a Revenue Commissioners' Collector General receipt, dated 21 February 2015, notice No. 0973138\/001310. This receipt was provided to National Asset Loan Management Limited. The receipt was based on a ROS payment dated 16 February 2015 made by National Asset Loan Management Limited. NAMA attached a letter to Revenue to explain the payment made.  The letter was signed by a Ms Teresa Talbot, head of tax. In regard to the letter dated 16 February 2015, the details provided to Revenue are not true. They are downright false. The Chairman of Revenue is fully aware of the 2015 transaction I am referring to. The fraudulent scheme began with a false transaction that allowed a sequence of transactions to occur which involved, among other things, VAT fraud. I raised this here countless times. An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na told me it cannot investigate it. The EU Commissioner, the Minister of State's former colleague, raised this question here on several occasions as finance spokesman before he left to go to his European post.  Another example of a Revenue-generated document that arises from the original fraud by the National Asset Loan Management Limited is a stamp duty certificate dated 13 April 2015, stamp certificate ID150441576\/81B3090415\/J. The Department of Finance is attempting to destroy any trace of fraudulent activities by removing NAMA and its various entities and providing cover for all State employees who carried out or assisted in that fraud.  This is a shocking situation that we are passing Second Stage of this Bill today. There are families who are traumatised. As others have said, we are paying the USC, which was a temporary measure to pay for all of this. There was fraud, money was made and illegal transactions were carried out and a blind eye was turned to this. It is just a shocking vendetta.  The Bill dissolves NAMA and transfers everything, including unresolved litigation which will extend beyond the formal wind down of the agency but it will not take into account the fraudulent activities which happened under its watch. I ask the Minister of State to answer those questions.  There are many Johnny Frahers in this country, as I said. I could name dozens of them. We had the Clonmel Arms project. I called it project jackdaw. There was scurrilous interference with properties of NAMA. We got the information when there was a buyer trying to buy it. The Butler family was mentioned. I know countless families from all over the country as the Minister of State must too. Michael Noonan would not talk to anyone at the time and said the vulture funds were necessary. Anyone who rears sheep or knows anything about country living knows the vulture is the most despicable bird or creature given its very name. He told his own backbenchers to ignore any families that came to them. We had the case of a wonderful auctioneer in Cashel, Mr. De Vere Hunt, who ended up in his grave as a result of NAMA. His wife came in to testify in front of the Leas-Cheann Comhairle, who was Chair of a committee, but it was blocked. It was thanks to the Leas-Cheann Comhairle that she came in for a private session and had her say. People were brought to tears listening to her story. There are hundreds of those stories up and down the country. These are lives wrecked and ruined.  When the Government tells us the NTMA will now take over all remaining matters, what guarantees do people like Mr. Fraher and the other families have that their cases will finally be treated fairly and people will be held to account for any wrongdoing? What assurances are there that the mistakes of NAMA will not simply be inherited and quietly buried? I think that is what is going to happen. I am very concerned about it.  The Bill states that the NTMA will be substituted for NAMA in all proceedings and that no cause of action will be taken against the NTMA solely by reason of the transfer. That is a nice way of getting out of all of this and leaving it behind. That may protect the State but who protects the citizens who have been destroyed by this? Who protects the people who pay the USC every week? Nobody does. This is a shocking vista.  We are now going to have it all buried and we are going to pay the CEO even though there is no job for him in the NTMA. We are going to give him more than \u20ac400,000 a year. In God's name, are the lunatics running the asylum? Are we so badly off and unaccountable that we allow this to happen? Who ensures that the unresolved grievances - and there are thousands of them - the very ones I have raised for years are not lost in the reshuffle? There is a deliberate ploy that we will be lost.  I want to be very clear I am not opposing the idea of winding down NAMA. I opposed it being set up. I am worried that proper transparency and accountability will not transfer with it. I am opposing the attempt to use this dissolution as a way of dissolving responsibility. The people affected by NAMA and the citizens deserve closure, support, counselling and to have some modicum of their lives back.  Transparency is essential but it is a very scarce item in this House with this Government and with successive governments. Too much of NAMA\u2019s work was hidden behind confidentiality. If we are closing this chapter, the truth must be allowed to come out. Some media outlets have shown interest here but editorials will not allow them to publish it. The fear of the big hand, the might of money and the threats is there.  I will continue to raise this case and others like it until the State acknowledges the human cost of decisions made by NAMA and IRBC. I will support any measure that brings fairness, accountability and closure but I will not support a process that simply dissolves the entity while dissolving responsibility along with it.  We have to be very careful here. This is a nice, glossy Bill. I heard the Minister of State\u2019s speech and other speeches as well. I know of so many cases. I raise the case of the Poppyfield Retail Park in Clonmel. That scheme was the brainchild of Mr. Fraher. I refer to what went on there and the transfer of lands and yet hotels are operating without planning permission and no fire certificate. I do not want to damage a hotel that provides a great service and has great employees but I refer to the sheer corruption with the transfer of that land, money changing hands and it being all hush hush. You cannot get answers. An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na is refusing to investigate this. I was told by the Taoiseach, the T\u00e1naiste and others to go to the garda\u00ed. Revenue has refused to meet Mr. Fraher, me or anyone. It is hoping this will all go away like snow off a ditch. There will be a long summer, and thank God the weather is picking up today. However, this is not going to go away. It was wrong from the start but it is even more wrong now that we would push this aside and place it into this new agency that we do not have faith in either and give the employees there carte blanche and good jobs. It is shocking.  Again, I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle, who was one of the Government TDs who tried to assist families. He and I met with some of them. We have Professor Honohan's report and what he brought to light and the total unfairness in the courts. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  I am glad to get the opportunity to say a few words. As many others have said, those ten years were an awful time in the lives of many people in our country. Many people lost their homes and lands and, worse than that, they lost their marriages and some of them lost their children. They lost everything. Some even lost their lives. It was a terrible time and NAMA was a word many people regretted and resented. I refer to the liquidators, vulture funds and the things that happened. As I said, homes were taken. The thing I worried about most was that there was no court order in many cases. Liquidators and receivers took it upon themselves to close the book on people and sell their properties. There are many instances where the former owners attempted to buy back their property from the receiver but they were not allowed to do so because the receiver had favourites to whom to sell it to - maybe to their own families. That needs to be followed up. Where a property or a home was sold and there was no court order, that needs to be investigated because that was totally wrong.  They should have been engaged with and it should have gone through the courts to ensure it was proper. I cannot understand how a deed could be taken from someone and passed on to someone else. Were new deeds written or what happened that new people could take over a person's land while that person still had the deed and the courts never took them? I cannot understand that.  Like many others have said, the universal social charge was brought in at the time of financial difficulty to try to keep the country running. There is no need for it now and many working-class people are still suffering. I do not understand why the Government is closing the book on NAMA. I am worried that there are still people who may not have been dealt with properly and that we will be closing some legal gap for them to come back and fight their cases and maybe get their property, or the value of it, back. I am worried about it. I am not sure about it.  Like Deputy Mattie McGrath, I thank Deputy John McGuinness for the fearless way he dealt with many people as Chair of the Committee of Public Accounts and the tough questions that had to be asked and answered. I appreciate him for being straightforward and as honest as he could, regardless of where it left him.  I have a special hatred for vulture funds. There should be no place for them. If people had engaged or dealt with the banks to get loans or mortgages, the banks should still be looking for the repayments and not vulture funds because the vulture funds did desperate things to people. They forced and blackguarded people and did everything in the world to people. I regret and resent that. I will always remember it as a desperate, undemocratic time in the lives of people all over the country.  I hope that the fact there was no court order in many instances will be dealt with because many people will not be dealt with fairly until that has been tested. Many people were left behind and dealt with wrongly where there was no court order. Their places were put up for sale with a certain auction date, perhaps not even advertised publicly enough. Their places were sold behind their backs in many instances, without going through any court or any judge making an order that their properties, houses or land could be sold. I hope some day those people will get fairness and retribution for what happened to them. I am sorry for the people who lost their lives and marriages. Losing property is one thing, but families and lives are much more precious than anything material. So much happened that I am not sure why the Government is doing this.  There is another aspect. Who decided that this chairman, CEO or whatever he will be, will get more than \u20ac400,000? Why does it have to be that amount of money? No man or woman in the State is worth that kind of money. When I think of all the people who suffered financially, it might have been for small sums of money when we look back on it. This is a massive sum of money to be giving to one man and making a job for him. The Government will not get much praise for this because it is another big job for one of the boys and I could not stand over that. I could not vote for that and I will not be voting for it either. I cannot see that it is fair on the people who suffered over the years, especially in the past ten or 15 years. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Deputy Robert Troy)  I thank all the Members for their contributions. I will endeavour to reply to all the points that were raised. I will do it just to myself and the Leas-Cheann Comhairle by the looks of things, but the Leas-Cheann Comhairle did contribute. I say that somewhat in jest because I acknowledge that many Deputies are tuned in in their offices and that not everyone can sit in the D\u00e1il for hours at a time.  The question \"why now?\" has been asked a number of times. The reason is that NAMA and the IBRC special liquidators have now substantially completed their mandates and are reaching the final stage of their life cycle. That is why the Bill is being proposed at this stage. I acknowledge that although many people have been critical in some of their commentary today, no one has indicated outright that they will vote against the legislation. Certainly, the three main Opposition parties have indicated their support for it.  As I mentioned earlier, it is appropriate that any remaining matters - particularly litigation - are managed within a streamlined structure. The Bill provides a practical approach to achieving this, while ensuring continuity and legal certainty for all parties and preserving existing rights and obligations. The NTMA is well placed to take on this role. The residual activity it is taking on will be ring-fenced within the NTMA. It has the governance, expertise and experience required to manage complex financial and legal matters to completion, while avoiding the cost and duplication of maintaining separate structures which are no longer required, given the reduced scale of the remaining activity.  It is worth going back to look at the mandate that was set for NAMA, which was to get the best return achievable for the State. NAMA began by de-leveraging its overseas portfolio in 2012, where the recovery was stronger. Then, in Ireland, as recovery began to take hold, it de-leveraged more domestically and debtors were in a position to refinance. It is worth noting, as was referenced by a number of contributors, that an independent report by Professor FitzGerald found that NAMA was broadly successful and the Comptroller and Auditor General last week reported that NAMA achieved higher returns than originally projected. Had NAMA sat on assets indefinitely, other charges would have been made, with people asking why NAMA was not trying to realise and pay back the money the State had invested.  NAMA was established with a specific mandate. It made a significant social and economic contribution. It achieved a \u20ac5.6 billion surplus. It supported the delivery of more than 45,500 houses, contributed to Dublin Docklands regeneration and a number of houses and lands were transferred to the Land Development Agency, which will contribute to the delivery of further houses in the years ahead.  Some contributors asked about pre-legislative scrutiny. I understand the T\u00e1naiste has written to the Chair of the joint committee on finance to respond comprehensively. If any of the Deputies on that committee did not get the response, we will be happy to ensure they do. The Department of Finance will continue the oversight and governance throughout the final drawdown and completion.  A number of people mentioned the number of staff. Eight staff will work in the resolution unit to work through the remaining matters. This will not include the current CEO, who is an NTMA employee. He was always an NTMA employee and will return to the NTMA on an individual contract.  Deputy O'Callaghan mentioned ISIF investments. The residual activity from NAMA and the IBRC is ringfenced in the NTMA and will not be part of the broader NTMA portfolio. Deputy Healy-Rae will be pleased to note that the Bill does not contain any provisions relating to staff, including terms and conditions. Staff who were assigned to NAMA were originally employed by the NTMA and, therefore, there is no legislative transfer of staff.  PTSB was raised. One of the Government's objectives in regard to PTSB was to maximise the value achieved from the sale to recover taxpayer funds and deploy these to more productive purposes. The BAWAG has confirmed it will operate PTSB as a bank with long-term and clear objectives and this is an opportunity to present a credible challenger to AIB and Bank of Ireland. Its plan is to maintain a meaningful branch footprint. A number of Deputies referred to the importance of having competition in the banking sector, which is a consideration for the Minister for Finance.  I cannot comment on individual cases as that would not be right or proper. I do not have knowledge of individual cases Deputies have raised but I can confirm that there will be full continuity. Nobody will be prejudiced by the transfer of activities. The NTMA is simply stepping into the role of NAMA. Everybody's rights will be preserved, and equally everybody's obligations will also be preserved.  On the query from Deputy McGuinness, I will undertake to follow up with officials and respond to him directly. A number of Deputies spoke about funds and the funds industry, and portrayed funds as something negative to be investing in in this country. As Minister with responsibility for financial services, I know first hand the importance of the funds industry to this country. The funds industry is very much a pillar of the financial services sector of our economy through funds administration, asset management, risk and compliance and legal and financial advisories. It provides 19,500 and 35,500 direct and indirect jobs. It is contributing approximately a billion euro per annum in taxation to our economy. Of those jobs, 46% are outside the capital. When people speak about funds, they portray them in a very negative way which is not a true or fair reflection of the facts.  In terms of the need for housing, we know we need to spend, on average, \u20ac20 billion per annum to ensure that we construct the number of houses that are needed on an annual basis to ensure we bring house prices down to an affordable level, we increase supply to meet demand and we ensure rents fall to a more affordable level. One of the critical components of that is to ensure that international and private funds provide investment. It may sound as if we are playing to a certain audience but that is an appropriate way to characterise funds.  The Bill represents a significant step in the State's post-crisis normalisation. It acknowledges the substantial work carried out by NAMA and the special liquidators of the IBRC and provides a clear and efficient structure to bring remaining matters to a conclusion and completion. I commend the Bill to the House. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"National Treasury Management Agency (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026: Second Stage"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-20\/debate\/dbsect_15","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/48","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/48\/dail\/motion\/referral","houseCode":"dail","stage":"motion","isBillStage":false,"showAs":"National Treasury Management Agency (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026: Referral to Select Committee (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"National Treasury Management Agency (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026: Referral to Select Committee","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Deputy Robert Troy)  I move:  That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach pursuant to Standing Orders 103 and 188. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"National Treasury Management Agency (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026: Referral to Select Committee"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-20\/debate\/dbsect_16","debateType":"billReport","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2025\/34","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2025\/34\/dail\/4_sub","houseCode":"dail","stage":"4_sub","isBillStage":false,"showAs":"Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2025: Report and Final Stages (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2025: Report and Final Stages","counts":{"speechCount":45,"speakerCount":4},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_16","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Jim O'Callaghan)  Before we go through the amendments, I want to acknowledge and thank Deputies for their engagement on the Bill on Committee Stage and now on Report Stage. I have noted and considered the issues raised by Deputies on Committee Stage and I look forward to working constructively with the Leas-Cheann Comhairle and Members of the House to ensure this important Bill can be passed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Amendments Nos. 1 to 6, inclusive, and 11 to 14, inclusive, are related and will be discussed together. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I move amendment No. 1:  In page 3, between lines 13 and 14, to insert the following:   \u201cAmendment of section 3 of Principal Act   2. Section 3 of the Principal Act is amended by the insertion of the following new definitions:  \u201c \u2018crime against humanity\u2019 means any of the acts specified in Article 7 of the Statute of the International Criminal Court;  \u2018genocide\u2019 means any of the acts specified in Article 6 of the Statute of the International Criminal Court;  \u2018war crime\u2019 means any of the acts specified in Article 8.2 of the Statute of the International Criminal Court.\u201d.\u201d.  This amendment is necessary as a foundation for later amendments defining the circumstances in which it would be an offence to join, train or recruit for an armed force when that armed force is engaged in a crime against humanity and war crimes. This group of amendments and existing legislation in this area ignores the pressing terrorism crisis of our time, namely the actions of the IDF in Palestine.  Current laws do not prevent people from joining a military organisation engaged in genocide and gross human rights violations. While this now arises in regard to the actions of the IDF, it may in future arise in regard to the armed forces of other states engaged in war crimes which recruit what are in fact mercenaries. The IDF recruits foreign fighters, just as others who are targets of this legislation do. The EU directive dates from a period when ISIS was at its peak and there was a significant problem with the people travelling from Europe to join ISIS.  Sinn F\u00e9in's amendments are designed to address citizens of the State travelling or training to participate in genocide and war crimes. They also outlaw recruitment by the armed forces of such a state. Our amendments would also have the effect of preventing the IDF or other armed forces engaged in genocide or war crimes from training with the Irish Defence Forces. It was revealed that IDF military personnel have trained in the Military College for a period of six years. This is something that would not be permitted under Sinn F\u00e9in's amendments. Is this something that the Minister would stand over? Would the Government allow this to happen now? I suspect the Minister would not allow this to happen at this moment in time but the Bill is not just about today. It is about the future and future-proofing legislation so that future Governments and whoever sits in the Minister's seat will not be allowed to permit the IDF or any other organisations involved in genocide to train with our military on Irish soil.  Even today, there is footage of the IDF mocking peaceful activists kidnapped in international waters. Today, the IDF is breaking international law. It is being led by Israel's National Security Minister Ben-Gvir, who happily had a birthday last week where his birthday cake had a noose to symbolise that he hopes to be able to hang Palestinian people.  This is absolutely inhumane. He can be seen walking around in the footage waving a flag and mocking detained citizens. Some of them are our citizens who are being put into a corner with their heads bowed to the ground and not allowed to look up. It is absolutely horrific. Last year, my colleague Chris Andrews was in a similar situation and he has testified how he and other detainees were treated by the IDF.  What is the crime these people are accused of? All they are looking to do is break Israel's horrific blockade and deliver vital aid to Gazans, who desperately need help. I call on the Irish Government to demand the immediate release of all the citizens who are detained and to seek urgent clarification of their whereabouts. We do not know where they are. There are 15 Irish participants, as well as hundreds of other civilians, who have been taken off these boats. What we saw on that footage today is what is happening right now. This adds to what we know the IDF has already engaged in. It has engaged in the arbitrary killing of civilians. Members of the IDF are on record admitting to this. They have shot unarmed and starving civilians who were queueing for food. They were queueing for food because of a man-made famine created by Israel. Members of the IDF have killed many innocent children. Last year, UNICEF estimated that at least 50,000 children have been killed or injured in Gaza. In total, 75,000 Palestinians have been slaughtered by Israel since the bombardment of Gaza began.  Why does Israel continue to break international law? Why does it continue to commit genocide? It is because there are no sanctions and Israel is allowed to get away with it. I do not see the amendments we are tabling today as being any less important than enacting the occupied territories Bill. It is time for the Irish to take decisive action. It is time for the Irish to hold Israel to account because of the daily horror inflicted on the Palestinian people. I ask the Government to support the amendments we have tabled, which basically seek to stop the IDF from being allowed to train on Irish soil and to stop Irish civilians from going abroad and training with the IDF. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I thank Deputy Ward for moving his amendment. As he indicated at the outset, we are dealing with group 1, which comprises amendments Nos. 1 to 6, inclusive, and amendments Nos. 11 to 14, inclusive. As Deputy Ward indicated, they are all in respect of issues associated with crimes against humanity, genocide and war crimes. Deputy Ward is being specific about saying these amendments are focused on the IDF. I have to point out, as I did on Committee Stage, that this legislation is about transposing the 2017 terrorist offences directive from the EU into Irish law and the way we are doing that is by updating and amending the (Criminal Justice) Terrorist Offences Act 2005 that has been in place for the past 20 years or so.  Very many of the legitimate concerns Deputy Ward has identified in moving his amendment are dealt with in Irish law and legislation under the International Criminal Court Act 2006. In that legislation, we set out that in Ireland crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide are criminal offences. It is important that the world is aware that in Ireland you can be prosecuted for those crimes. It is also the case in Ireland, because of the Criminal Law Act 1997, that if you aid or abet crimes against humanity, genocide, or war crimes you are committing a criminal offence in Ireland. It is important to emphasise for anyone listening in that in Ireland we have a body of laws that deal with crimes against humanity, genocide and war crimes and they are dealt with in our International Criminal Court legislation.  What Deputy Ward is seeking to do, through his amendment, is move into this terrorist offences legislation with similar types of prohibitions. However, I think it is important that we keep a distinction between the crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes and, separately, the crime of terrorist activity. It may be from the point of view of presentation that Deputy Ward wishes, and he is entitled to say this, that war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide are forms of terrorism but legally, in our criminal justice system, it is important we distinguish between both of them.  Looking at the amendments that have been tabled by Deputy Ward, amendment No. 1 provides an interpretation of the three matters: crimes against humanity, genocide and war crimes. That is already provided for in the International Criminal Court Act 2006.  Amendments Nos. 2 to 6, inclusive, and amendment No. 8 provide for new terms to be included as part of the definition of \"terrorist-linked activity\" in the definitions section of the principal Act. These new terms are further defined in expanded definitions to be inserted as proposed amendments Nos. 11 to 14, inclusive. It is appropriate that we are debating all of the amendments together and that I respond to them all together because, combined, they create new terrorist offences within the engaging in terrorist-linked activity offence. The effect is to criminalise as terrorism travel, organising travel, providing training, receiving training and recruitment for the purposes of serving in the armed forces of a state engaged in war crimes and crimes against humanity or genocide. As I explained on Committee Stage, I understand the intention behind these amendments. I know what their purpose is. The principal Act does exclude, however, the activities of armed forces during an armed conflict and in the exercise of their official duties from being categorised as being terrorist offences. That was a requirement of the underlying original EU measure underpinning the legislation. That same requirement remains within the 2017 EU directive we are transposing here.  I want to emphasise, as I did at the outset, that a commitment to the rule of international law is enshrined in our Constitution and is enshrined in the International Criminal Court Act 2006, where we have expressly stated that genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes are very serious criminal offences. We know that if you are aiding and abetting them, that is a criminal offence as well. This is one of the core principles of Irish law and foreign policy and includes both customary international law and international agreements. The Genocide Convention and the Geneva Convention are international agreements to which Ireland is party and to which we have given effect in our legislation. When we look at the specific offences of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, they derive from the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and from being transposed in the 2006 Act. It enables punishment by the Irish courts for breaches of international law that fall within the jurisdiction of that court. Aiding and abetting under the 1997 Act is also a criminal offence and that similarly can be prosecuted.  I note the sincerity with which Deputy Ward puts forward his concern about what is happening in Gaza. I share very many of his concerns. In Ireland, we have repeatedly stated that the behaviour of the IDF is reprehensible and is criminal, and they are committing crimes against humanity. I have to say, however, in terms of the criticism of the Irish Government, no government in Europe has done as much as the Irish Government when it comes to standing up for the Palestinian people. You can see that in terms of the anger that is directed towards the Irish Government by the Israeli Government. There is a reason for that and the reason is because the Irish Government has very much stood against the heinous activities that have been going on within Gaza.  I also want to deal with a final point that Deputy Ward raised, which was the Irish citizens who have been detained in Israel. I, along with the Taoiseach and T\u00e1naiste call for those Irish citizens to be released immediately. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  The Minister was right in saying at the very start that, right now, I was speaking about the IDF but I also did say that these amendments would stop future situations arising where another country could be inflicting genocide and war crimes on other people. They would stop people from Ireland being recruited into such organisations and training on these lands so it is not just about now with the IDF.  It is about future situations that may arise. If the Minister accepts that Israel is committing genocide, then he must accept that the IDF is the instrument Israel is using to bring about the horrific situation we see in Palestine at the moment. The Minister said that the IDF has committed war crimes. All these amendments are looking for is for the Bill to say that it would be an offence to join, train in or recruit for an armed force when that force is engaged in crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide. That is all these amendments are calling for. I do not think that is too much to ask. I accept that it may be something the Minister would not agree with at this time, but I do not know who is going to be sitting in his seat in five, ten or 15 years' time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  As I said, it is already an offence. If individuals involved in armed forces are engaged in war crimes or crimes against humanity, there is a consequence to that down the road. In terms of the enforcement of this, all we in Ireland can do is set out in our legislation what we believe should be the appropriate standard of international law applied domestically. We have done that. We criminalised genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. Interestingly and importantly, we will also criminalise the crime of aggression. Let us look at what is happening in Ukraine. The purpose of that could be that it could apply in situations like that. When it comes to our status as a country that complies with our international obligations when it comes to wrongdoing, crimes against humanity and war crimes by other states, we comply with that but this is not the instrument in which to insert the Deputy's amendments. For that reason, I must oppose amendment No. 1. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared lost."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I move amendment No. 2:  In page 3, between lines 21 and 22, to insert the following:  \" 'organising or facilitating travel for the purpose of serving in the armed forces of a state engaged in war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide' shall be construed in accordance with section 4F;\". "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared lost."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I move amendment No. 3:  In page 3, between lines 25 and 26, to insert the following:  \" 'providing training in the armed forces of a state engaged in war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide' shall be construed in accordance with section 4F;\". "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared lost."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I move amendment No. 4:  In page 3, between lines 27 and 28, to insert the following:  \" 'receiving training in the armed forces of a state engaged in war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide' shall be construed in accordance with section 4F;\". "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared lost."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I move amendment No. 5:  In page 3, between lines 27 and 28, to insert the following:  \" 'recruitment for purpose of serving in the armed forces of a state engaged in war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide' shall be construed in accordance with section 4F;\" "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared lost."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I move amendment No. 6:  In page 3, between lines 27 and 28, to insert the following:  \" 'travel for purpose of serving in the armed forces of a state engaged in war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide' shall be construed in accordance with section 4F;\". "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared lost."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Amendment No. 7 arises out of Committee Stage proceedings. Amendments Nos. 7 and 8 are related and will be discussed together. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I move amendment No. 7:  In page 4, to delete lines 3 to 11 and substitute the following:  \"(d) by the substitution of\u2014  (i) the following definition for the definition of \"terrorist activity\":  \" 'terrorist activity' means\u2014  (a) an offence specified in Part 1 of Schedule 2 committed with the intention of\u2014  (i) seriously intimidating a population,  (ii) unduly compelling a government or an international organisation to perform or abstain from performing an act, or  (iii) seriously destabilising or destroying the fundamental political, constitutional, economic or social structures of a state or an international organisation,  (b) an act committed outside the State that, if committed in the State, would constitute an offence specified in Part 1 of Schedule 2, done with the intention of\u2014  (i) seriously intimidating a population,  (ii) unduly compelling a government or an international organisation to perform or abstain from performing an act, or  (iii) seriously destabilising or destroying the fundamental political, constitutional, economic or social structures of a state or an international organisation,  or  (c) a threat to commit such an offence, or such an act, made with such an intention;\u201d,  and  (ii) the following definition for the definition of \u201cterrorist-linked activity\u201d:  \" 'terrorist-linked activity' means\u2014  (a) an offence specified in Part 2 of Schedule 2 committed with a view to engaging in a terrorist activity,  (b) an act committed\u2014  (i) outside the State that, if committed in the State, would constitute an offence specified in Part 2 of Schedule 2, and  (ii) with a view to engaging in a terrorist activity,  (c) an offence specified in Part 3 of Schedule 2 committed with a view to\u2014  (i) engaging in a terrorist activity (other than a threat to which paragraph (c) of the definition of 'terrorist activity' applies),  (ii) committing an offence under section 21 or 21A of the Act of 1939 or committing an act outside the State that, if committed in the State, would constitute an offence under either such section, or  (iii) travelling for the purpose of terrorism,  (d) an act committed\u2014  (i) outside the State that if committed in the State, would constitute an offence specified in Part 3 of Schedule 2, and  (ii) with a view to\u2014  (I) engaging in a terrorist activity (other than a threat to which paragraph (c) of the definition of 'terrorist activity' applies),  (II) committing an offence under section 21 or 21A of the Act of 1939 or committing an act outside the State that, if committed in the State, would constitute an offence under either such section, or  (III) travelling for the purpose of terrorism,  (e) public provocation to commit a terrorist offence,  (f) recruitment for terrorism,  (g) providing training for terrorism or receiving training for terrorism,  (h) travelling for the purpose of terrorism, or  (i) organising or facilitating travel for the purpose of terrorism;\",\".  This is a technical amendment that alters the wording of the definition of terrorist activity and terrorist-linked activity in section 4 of the principal Act. It expands on the definition of these as currently proposed by section 2 of the Bill. The amendment does not substantially change the substance of these definitions in the principal Act or from what was proposed in section 2 but, rather, enhances them in the interest of legal clarity and ensures compliance with the 2017 directive on combating terrorism in respect of the acts required to be codified as terrorist offences.  The key changes to the current proposed section 2, as provided for in this amendment, are, first, the definitions of terrorist activity and terrorist-linked activity now have separate subsections when referring to certain acts committed outside the State. They make clear that the definition is referring to the same act that would constitute offences in the State, notwithstanding that the act occurred outside the State. While the definitions as they currently stand in section 4 of the principal Act provide for this, it was advised by parliamentary counsel that rewording was needed in the interests of clarity and precision.  The amendment also expands the definition of terrorist activity to include making a threat to carry out terrorist acts. This is demonstrated in paragraph (c) of the proposed new definition. Again, this is not a new offence being introduced at this point but, rather, is a drafting technique, moving the reference to threat from where it is currently criminalised in section 6 of the principal Act, which is the general terrorist offence provision. This amendment incorporates it into the definition of terrorist activity in the definitions section of the principal Act. When terrorist activity is then codified as a terrorist offence in section 6(1)(a), the offence of threatening terrorist acts will be covered as part of this same offence provision without having to be referred to separately.  There are technical requirements of paragraph (c) of Article 12 of the 2017 directive on combating terrorism that will be given effect to in this amendment. Paragraph (c) of Article 12 refers to forgery offences required to be codified as terrorism when committed with a view to carrying out certain other terrorist acts. The definition of terrorist-linked activity in the amendment gives effect to this, at paragraph (c), when referring to offences classified in Part 3 of Schedule 2 carried out in certain specified circumstances. Those circumstances needed to be expanded, however, from the current iteration of this definition in the principal Act to cover committing forgery with a view to travelling for the purpose of terrorism and also to exclude committing forgery with a view to threatening terrorism, as this exclusion was required by the directive.  The remainder of the amendment contains the same elements as were included in section 2 of the Bill as it currently stands and in section 4 of the principal Act, giving partial effect to the requirements of the directive with regard to criminalising as terrorist offences public provocation to commit a terrorist offence, recruitment to terrorism, receiving and providing training for the purpose of terrorism, travel for the purpose of terrorism and organising travel for the purpose of terrorism, all of which are expanded on further in the Act or Bill.  That is what I want to say in respect of amendment No. 7 but since we are discussing amendments Nos. 7 and 8 together, I understand that amendment No. 8 proposed by Deputy Mark Ward is a consequential amendment related to the first group of amendments discussed under group one. For procedural reasons, it was included as part of the second group of amendments but the substantive nature of amendment No. 8 is the same as that of the Deputy's earlier amendments. My comments regarding to the latter are the same. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I accept that amendment Nos. 7 and 8 are connected to the amendments I spoke about previously but I will speak on amendment No. 8 and possibly come back in on amendment No. 7. We have to remind ourselves of what we are dealing with and why we cannot allow citizens of our State to serve in the IDF or any other armed force engaged in war crimes. In addition to the destruction of Gaza and the killing of tens of thousands through indiscriminate bombing, members of the IDF have engaged in the shooting of pregnant women and the burning alive of children as they slept in tents. The IDF has blocked aid, food and medicine from getting to a starving population. Its members have raped and sexually assaulted Palestinians, including teens, who have died as a result. This is not disputed. This is documented and justified in Israel. The IDF has targeted healthcare staff, attacked hospitals and ordered healthcare staff to leave patients, including newborn babies, to die in incubators. It has targeted journalists. Nearly 200 journalists have been killed according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. Israel will not let international news teams into Gaza.  We have to send a message that Ireland will not tolerate this. Evil triumphs when good men do nothing. We simply cannot do nothing. We cannot be bystanders to genocide and we cannot allow citizens of this State to facilitate genocide. Does the Minister know what we will be doing very soon because good men have done nothing? We will be welcoming former members of the IDF to play a game of football against the Irish team. This is absurd. Can the Minister guarantee that those players who take to the pitch have not taken part in or supported the genocide of the Palestinian people? Can he guarantee that those who travel to Ireland to support Israel have not taken part or supported the genocide of the Palestinian people?  I said to the Minister earlier that if he accepts that Israel has committed genocide, he must accept that the IDF is the instrument Israel is using to commit that genocide.  If this is the case, I do not see how the Minister cannot accept our amendments. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  The Bill we are dealing with is terrorist offences legislation, the primary purpose of which is to protect people in Ireland from terrorist attacks. It is for the purpose of transposing the 2017 EU directive on updating the laws in respect of terrorism. That arose predominantly because of the attack on the Bataclan theatre and other very significant terrorist attacks that took place in Europe from 2015 onwards. The primary purpose of the legislation, and the reason I am bringing it forward, is to ensure Irish people can be protected from terrorist attacks and that there is co-operation between EU member states to ensure there are not terrorist attacks on the territory of the EU. That is the primary purpose of it.  The Deputy spoke very eloquently about what is happening in Israel but as I said to him on the earlier amendments, we already have in place in Ireland legislation that criminalises crimes against humanity, genocide and war crimes. It is provided for in the International Criminal Court Act 2006. We also have crimes for people who are aiding and abetting that. If somebody is aiding and abetting genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes, they also are committing a very serious criminal offence. However, for the purpose of this legislation, I must emphasise that it is about the type of terrorist activity that, regrettably, we have seen on this island in the past and we have seen in Europe in the past. The primary focus is trying to protect people in Ireland from such terrorism. By stating that, I am not trying to take away from the points the Deputy has made about what is happening in Gaza or the West Bank. There are legal instruments that can deal with the issue he spoke about, but we are talking about terrorist offences perpetrated and carried out in Ireland and the European Union and the measures that can be put in place to try to ensure they do not occur and that we can combat them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I have some concerns that the definitions in the Minister's amendment are overly expansive. They risk capturing non-terrorist activity and blur distinctions between intent and action, potentially granting disproportionate State power without sufficient safeguarding or clarity. Does the Minister have any concerns that the amendment's vague definitions could risk capturing lawful protest, activism, research or humanitarian work as terrorism by relying on expansive intent tests and extraterritorial reach that exceeds genuine security needs? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  I support the Sinn F\u00e9in amendment and I have concerns about the Government amendment. I have concerns about the whole Bill, to be honest. I will start on the Sinn F\u00e9in stuff, to which the Minister responded by saying this is about real terrorism, it is about brown people or republicans. That is the type of terrorism he is dealing with here, not any of that fine state terrorism we see carried out by the US and Israel. Today, we have video of an Irish citizen being terrorised by Itamar Ben-Gvir, the security minister in Israel. It shows an Irish citizen, a peaceful activist trying to bring humanitarian aid and break the illegal blockade of Gaza, being physically mistreated while Itamar Ben-Gvir gloats about it. However, we are expected to accept that we are not dealing with any of that kind of terrorism here, and we will deal with it somewhere else. Why are there double standards? Why must we accept that the genocide of the Palestinian people and the complete mistreatment of anyone who attempts to stand up for the Palestinian people do not count as terrorism and we do not want to cover that here?  My second point relates to Government amendment No. 7, which seeks the redrafting of the definition of \"terrorist activity\" to include \"an offence specified in Part 1 of Schedule 2 committed with the intention of ... [among other things] unduly compelling a government or an international organisation to perform or abstain from performing an act\". The offences specified include a lot of serious stuff that people would recognise as terrorism but also include criminal damage and endangering traffic. Could the fuel protests have been defined as terrorist activity? They were potentially endangering traffic under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. The definition of endangering traffic states \"intentionally places or throws any dangerous obstruction upon a railway, road, street, waterway or public place\". Would placing a tractor on O'Connell Street or in front of a refinery be counted as endangering traffic? I suspect it would. If we combine endangering traffic, as so defined in the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, with \"unduly compelling a government or an international organisation to perform or abstain from performing an act\", when obviously these protests were designed to call for a cap on fuel prices among other things, can these people be defined as terrorists?  Regarding criminal damage, attempting to get into Shannon Airport and break the US war machine, which is being used to encourage and collaborate with the genocide, is criminal damage, yes, but it is absolutely morally correct to do so. Does that become a terrorist act? That is the problem with this whole Bill in reality.  I know the Government has amendment No. 16, which states the engagement by a person via protest, advocacy or dissent, or strike, lockout or industrial action, shall not, in and of itself, constitute grounds for saying that it is terrorism, but it also leaves open the possibility that a protest can be defined as terrorism. As for non-violent civil disobedience, which includes \"endangering traffic\" or \"criminal damage\" that has the purpose of \"compelling a government or an international organisation to perform or abstain from performing an act\", I have been on plenty of protests in my life and all of them have had the purpose of compelling a government or international organisation to do or not do something. That is the whole purpose of a protest. Whether it is unduly compelling, I do not know, but it is certainly trying to compel them to do something. It is very dangerous that people could be defined as terrorists in this way.  I am interested in the Minister's response. I assume he will say the fuel protestors would not be defined as terrorists under this legislation. I am interested in how he will say they are not because, on my reading, it seems they can be. That is what is so worrying about this proposal. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I thank Deputy Ward and Deputy Murphy for their contributions. Deputy Ward wondered whether I had any concern that the definition of terrorist activity or terrorist-linked activity could, in some respect, interfere with and criminalise legitimate protest as we know it. No, we are not in a situation where we have a similar type of laws here, nor would I or the Government ever propose similar type of laws here as those which operate under the terrorist Act in the UK. I think it is section 13 of that Act which makes it a criminal offence to wear an emblem or to display an object which would lead to an reasonable apprehension that the person is a member of or supporter of a proscribed organisation. Nothing near that level is contained within this legislation. I am satisfied that the definitions set out here are appropriate and will not cover what we regard as ordinary, legitimate protest.  Deputy Murphy started his contribution by indicating that terrorist activity refers to republicans and the type of terrorism we have in Ireland, and that it does not refer to what is happening in Gaza. Obviously, the Deputy was not here earlier when I emphasised that crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide are already criminal acts under the Irish legal system. They are criminal acts under the International Criminal Court Act 2006 and, more importantly, anyone aiding or abetting those criminal acts is criminalised by the Criminal Justice Act 1997.  I am entitled to say there is a distinction between the hierarchy of criminal activity. My view is that the top of criminal activity is genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. That is what I would have at the top of the pyramid of criminal activity, but terrorism is separate from that.  The Deputy may want, and is perfectly entitled, to define for the purpose of political narrative what is happening in Gaza as terrorism but for the purpose of our legal system, it is important that we distinguish between terrorist activity and, separately, genocide, war crimes or crimes against humanity. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Thank you, Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  Deputy Murphy also raised a question as to whether, under the definition that is put forward here in amendment No. 7, the fuel protestors would come within terrorist activity or terrorist-linked activity. The answer to the Deputy's question is \"No\". If you look at the definition, you obviously have to recognise the serious offences contained within Part 1 of Schedule 2----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Thank you, Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  -----and there is an understanding as to what it, in fact, means. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared carried."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I move amendment No. 8:  In page 4, between lines 6 and 7, to insert the following:  \"(f) organising or facilitating travel for the purpose of serving in the armed forces of a state engaged in war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide,  (g) providing training in the armed forces of a state engaged in war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide,  (h) receiving training in the armed forces of a state engaged in war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide,  (i) recruitment for purpose of serving in the armed forces of a state engaged in war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide,  (j) travel for purpose of serving in the armed forces of a state engaged in war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide,\". "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I move amendment No. 9:  In page 4, to delete lines 14 to 29.  There is a need for robust legislation to tackle terrorism and terrorist activity. I know everybody can agree on this. I will hang on for a minute, if that is alright, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, if people want to leave while we are discussing Palestine and the genocide that goes on there. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Hold on for a moment, Deputy. You can proceed now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  This is needed, particularly given the current global climate. However, the vagueness in this Bill is more likely to lead to abuse by the Government to stamp out political protest, political activism and free speech. Intention and the glorification of terrorism are open to interpretation.  We cannot have a vague Bill and I will outline why. A clause in the Bill could criminalise those of us who wish to commemorate past Irish revolutionaries. Will the Minister commemorate the members of the good old IRA, such as De Valera, Lemass and Collins? Were they not considered terrorists of their time by the British establishment and the British Government? The language of glorifying terrorism contained in the Bill is open to interpretation. This is the language of the DUP, which has sought to criminalise anyone who attends commemorations of loved ones killed in the conflict in the North. I make no apology whatsoever when I attend, and I will continue to attend, commemorations of our patriot dead. It could be equally used against those commemorating the 1916 Rising or even wearing an Easter lily as I am at this moment.  As I said previously when the Bill was being discussed, such laws existed in the 1980s. It is probable that putting up in public a poster of Bobby Sands or Nelson Mandela would be construed as glorifying terrorism. In the recent past, we have seen how Mo Chara from the rap group Kneecap was charged with a terrorism offence for waving a flag while performing on stage. There is no greater oxymoron then British Government. Kneecap has been a thorn in the side of the British Government because it represents everything the British establishment hates.  The debate on the Bill takes place against a background where there has been across Europe, Britain and America an increase in the use of similar legislation against legitimate political protest, including in relation to Palestine. We cannot ignore this context. The problem is when we insert this kind of provision in law we do not know how it will be used in future. The Minister's assurances that the provision will not be misused does not give any sense of assurance. When I spoke earlier I said that while he may not use this law against Irish people, a future Minister could do so. We do not know who will be sitting in that chair in five, ten or 20 years down the line. There is clearly an attempt to crack down on freedom of speech rather than terrorist activity. Given the direction that Europe is going, we should not allow a diktat from the EU on this or any other issue that impacts on freedom of speech. The section must be opposed because its provisions are authoritarian, uncalled for and open to abuse. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I thank the Deputy for the amendment. I assure him he can continue to commemorate whatever patriot dead he wishes, now or in years to come, and if this provision is enacted, it will have no impact on what he seeks to do. It is important to point out the type of terrorist activity that is going to be covered by this legislation. Earlier I gave the example of what happened in the Bataclan in 2015. I am sure the Deputy will agree that if somebody had sought to encourage and incite the individuals who carried out that atrocity to do so, those atrocities and the act of the person seeking to incite people to get involved in them should be criminalised.  If we look at the provision contained in this section he is seeking to remove, it only applies in certain circumstances. It has to be with the intention of inciting persons to commit terrorist activity. Nobody is suggesting that by going to a commemoration or remembering patriot dead that someone is seeking to incite others to commit terrorist activity. As well as this, someone has to distribute or publish messages to the public that incite them, or could reasonably be construed as inciting persons, to commit terrorist activity or glorifies terrorist activity, and it has to give rise to the reasonable apprehension that the commission of terrorist activity could thereby result.  The section as set out is markedly different to the example the Deputy gave a few moments ago. He highlighted how Kneecap was prosecuted in the United Kingdom because of the fact they were wearing emblems that were suggestive of them being supportive of a prescribed organisation. The first thing to point out is that they were acquitted. There is also absolutely no provision in Irish law at present, or that will be introduced by this legislation, that would come anywhere close to what is section 13 of the UK Terrorism Act 2000. That Act, as I said, makes it an offence for somebody to display a logo or to wear an emblem that gives rise to a reasonable apprehension that they are member of, or a supporter of, a prescribed organisation. It is astonishing legislation that certainly does not in any way exist in this jurisdiction nor would any Government seek to put it forward. We are dealing with a completely different situation to what has arisen in the past. I give the Deputy an assurance that the types of issues he is concerned about are not issues that will be covered by the legislation.  As I said earlier, the purpose of the legislation is to give full effect to the 2017 directive. Article 5 of the directive requires that public provocation to commit terrorism be criminalised. As mentioned on previous Stages, the amendment of section 4A of the Act does not create new or separate offence of public provocation by way of glorification nor does it make it unduly vague and expensive. Rather, the amendment clarifies that the scope of the public provocation offence is such that it can include public provocation by way of glorification of terrorism. This clarification stems from the requirement of Article 5 of the directive. The clarification does not change a substantive offence, and provocation by way of glorification is encompassed in the offence as it currently stands. Its explicit reference now in the amendment is an exercise clarity and compliance.  The amendment also reformulates the wording of the offence provision more generally to give clarity to the elements necessary for a prosecution of public provocation. This, in fact, safeguards the offence from abuse and misuse. I will not read section 4A as set out in the principal Act but the revised section 4A, as proposed by the Bill, states:  For the purposes of this Part, a person publicly provokes the commission of a terrorist offence if\u2014  (a) he or she, with the intention of inciting persons to commit a terrorist activity, distributes or publishes, or causes to be distributed or published, by any means (including via the internet) to the public or a section of the public a message\u2014  (i) inciting, or that could reasonably be construed as inciting, persons to commit a terrorist activity, or  (ii) that glorifies (including by praise or celebration) a terrorist activity,  and  (b) such distribution or publication gives rise to the reasonable apprehension that the commission of a terrorist activity could thereby result.  The Office of the Parliamentary Counsel has confirmed the revised text affords greater protection to someone exercising their right to freedom of expression than the current section 4A, which simply refers to the publication of a message. It does not see anything about the nature or content of the message. The only thing that makes the publication of the message criminal under the current section 4A is the intent of the publisher. Proof of this on its own will not be sufficient to secure a conviction under the reframed section 4A.  The proposed section 4A contains two new safeguards that are not in the current version of section 4A. First, the message itself must reasonably constitute an incitement to commit a terrorist act and, second, the publication of the message must give rise to a reasonable apprehension that someone might as a result of such publication commit a terrorist act. The use of a reasonableness test is an objective legal standard used in law to prevent against arbitrary or irrational interpretation, assessing circumstances against a hypothetical reasonable person's response or action.  I assure the Deputy that the concern he has about section 3, which he is seeking to remove, is unfounded. He will not find a situation arising where people who are commemorating patriot dead or attending protests will find themselves being prosecuted on the basis they are trying to incite a terrorist act. However, if there are people who are trying to incite naive impressionable young people to commit terrorist activity and that subsequently happens, as we have seen previously, those people should be held liable for it, as was the case in the Bataclan. We have seen elsewhere in Europe examples of where serious terrorist actions have taken place and the people who have incited them and are behind them deserve to be prosecuted and convicted as much as the individuals who carried out the acts. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I will sleep well tonight knowing the Minister will not be coming after me for wearing my Easter lily. I also appreciate his assurance that my future attendance at any commemoration of our patriot dead will not be seen as a terrorist offence. However, he has not given me any assurance that future Ministers sitting in his seat will take the same stance. There is vagueness in the Bill that is open to interpretation. It does not give me any confidence whatsoever that this vagueness will not be interpreted by a different Minister, maybe from a different party, and used in a different way.  We are asking the Minister to delete the section on public provocation to commit terrorist offences because the definition is too vague. It is also subjective and open to abuse by future Ministers. I will continue to wear my lily and commemorate our patriot dead, and I accept the Minister's assurances of that. However, I want to know that future generations of Irish people will be able to do the same thing, and this Bill will not come after them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  It will not be a function of a future Minister to interpret this section if it becomes part of the law. It will be a matter for An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na in the first instance to consider whether or not there has been a breach of this section. It will then be a matter for the DPP to decide whether or not a person deserves to be prosecuted for public provocation to commit a terrorist offence. It will finally be a matter for the court and the jury, if it is on indictment, to interpret and decide whether or not an offence has been committed. The likelihood is that this is a type of offence that will apply in the aftermath of a terrorist offence that has been committed, and where individuals can be identified as having incited individuals to participate in the offence. Similarly, it could be used in circumstances where an offence has not occurred but where somebody is clearly trying to incite somebody else to commit a terrorist act. It is important to know that if it is in our Statute Book, a whole series of hurdles need to be overcome. It will not be a matter for a Minister for Justice in the future to say he or she thinks a political opponent has breached section 4A of the terrorist Act. It will be a matter for garda\u00ed to investigate, the DPP to make a decision on whether to prosecute, and for the court to determine it. The types of examples the Deputy is concerned about are not of concern to me. I do not see any circumstance in which any form of legitimate commemoration will be subject to this section. What it will cover are circumstances where people have sought to incite impressionable people to commit terrorist activity. If that has happened, as I am sure the Deputy will agree, the people behind it should be held equally liable. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I move amendment No. 10:  In page 7, to delete line 7 and substitute the following:  \u201c(II) an offence under subparagraph (i) of paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section 6,\u201d.  This is a technical amendment that refers to the offence of travel for the purpose of terrorism. The precise requirement this amendment is dealing with is the provision for the offence of travelling from the State to another state for the purpose of participating in the activities of a terrorist group. In the Bill as it stands, when providing for this requirement section 4D refers to travelling from the State for the purposes of committing an offence under section 21 or section 21A of the 1939 Act. This is because participation in the activities of a terrorist group is criminalised under Irish law via section 21 or section 21A of the Offences Against the State Act 1939. These make it an offence to be a member of, or provide assistance to, an unlawful organisation. Section 5 of the principal Act designates terrorist groups as unlawful organisations. However, the 1939 Act criminalises those acts only when committed in the State. When they are committed outside the State they are criminalised via section 6(1)(b)(i) of the principal Act. Given the specific requirement to make it an offence to travel outside the State for the purposes of carrying out those acts and, as such, those acts would be committed outside the State, the reference should be travelling for the purposes of committing an offence under section 6(1)(b)(i) of the principal Act, so it is a very technical amendment. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I move amendment No. 11:  In page 7, between lines 32 and 33, to insert the following:   \u201cTraining for purpose of serving in the armed forces of a state engaged in war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide   4F. (1) For the purposes of this Part, training in the armed forces of a state engaged in the commission of war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide means intentionally providing instruction or training in the skills of\u2014  (a) making or using, for the purpose of committing, or contributing to, the commission of war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide\u2014  (i) firearms or explosives,  (ii) nuclear material,  (iii) biological weapons, chemical weapons or prohibited weapons, or  (iv) such other weapons, or noxious or hazardous substances, that may be used in the commission of war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide as the Minister may prescribe,  or  (b) such other techniques or methods for the purpose of committing, or contributing to the commission of, war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide as the Minister may prescribe, knowing or believing that it is likely that the skills provided are intended to be used by a person receiving the instruction or training for the purpose of committing, or contributing to the commission of, war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide.  (2) The Minister may, if he or she considers it appropriate to do so, make regulations for the purposes of subsection (1) and he or she shall\u2014  (a) before making such regulations, consult with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Minister for Defence, the Commissioner of An Garda Si\u00ecocha\u00ecna, and such other Minister of the Government as the Minister considers appropriate having regard to the weapons, substances, techniques or methods concerned, and  (b) in making such regulations, have regard to the following:  (i) the capability of the weapon, substance, technique or method concerned to cause the death of or serious bodily injury to persons or substantial material damage to property;  (ii) the capacity of the weapon, substance, technique or method concerned to be used for the purposes of committing war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide and the likelihood of it being so used;  (iii) the extent to which instruction or training\u2014  (I) in the making or use of the weapon or substance concerned, or  (II) in the use of the technique or method concerned,  is required for the making or use, as the case may be, of that weapon, substance, technique or method for the purpose of committing, or contributing to the commission of, a war crime, a crime against humanity or genocide.\u201d.\u201d. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared lost."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I move amendment No. 12:  In page 7, between lines 32 and 33, to insert the following:   \u201cRecruitment for purpose of serving in the armed forces of a state engaged in war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide   4F. For the purposes of this Part, recruitment for purpose of serving in the armed forces of a state engaged in war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide means the intentional recruitment of \tanother person to serve in the armed forces of a state which is engaged in, or is reasonably suspected of having engaged in, a war crime, a crime against humanity or genocide.\u201d.\u201d. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared lost."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I move amendment No. 13:  In page 7, between lines 32 and 33, to insert the following:   \u201cTravel for purpose of serving in the armed forces of a state engaged in war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide   4F. For the purposes of this Part, a person travels for the purpose of serving in the armed forces of a state engaged in war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide if he or she travels from the \tState to a place other than the State for the purpose of participation in the armed forces of another state which is engaged in, or is reasonably suspected of having engaged in, genocide, \tcrimes against humanity or war crimes.\u201d.\u201d. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared lost."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I move amendment No. 14:  In page 7, between lines 32 and 33, to insert the following:   \u201cOrganising or facilitating travel for purpose of participation in the armed forces of another state which is engaged in genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes   4F. For the purposes of this Part, a person organises or facilitates travel for the purpose of participation in the armed forces of another state which is engaged in genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes\u2014  (a) if he or she\u2014  (i) does any act\u2014  (I) consisting of the making of an arrangement for the travel by any person to the State from a place other than the State, or  (II) that would facilitate the travel by any person to the State from a place other than the State,  or  (ii) causes any person to do such an act,  knowing that such travel is for a purpose referred to in section 4F,  or  (b) if he or she\u2014  (i) does any act\u2014  (I) consisting of the making of an arrangement for the travel by any person from the State to a place other than the State, or  (II) that would facilitate the travel by any person from the State to a place other than the State,  or  (ii) causes any person to do such an act,  knowing that such travel is for a purpose referred to in section 4F.\u201d.\u201d. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared lost."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I move amendment No. 15:  In page 7, between lines 32 and 33, to insert the following:   \u201cAmendment of section 5 of Principal Act   6. Section 5 of the Principal Act is amended by\u2014  (a) the insertion of the following subsection:  \u201c(2A) A body corporate that directs the activities of a terrorist group (at any level of its organisational structure) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction on \tindictment to a fine.\u201d,  and  (b) the substitution, in subsection (4), of \u201cSubsections (1), (2) and (2A)\u201d for \u201cSubsections (1) and (2)\u201d.\u201d.  This amendment relates to a requirement of Article 18 of the directive and concerns sanctions for legal persons. The term \"legal persons\" denotes a body corporate such as registered and statutory organisations. Article 17 of the directive requires that legal persons can be found liable for offences under the directive and Article 18 requires that they can be punished by fines. A body corporate is a person under Irish law and thus can be found liable for the same offences as a so-called natural person can. This applies to all the offences provided for in the principal Act and the Bill. One offence that does not currently carry a fine is that of directing a terrorist group, which is criminalised via section 6 of the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act 1998.  This section makes it an offence to direct an unlawful organisation and section 5 of the principal Act designates terrorist groups as unlawful organisations. However, the 1998 Act only provides for sanction for this offence via imprisonment. It does not provide for fines. An amendment, therefore, was required to provide for this. The amendment provides for the specific offence of directing a terrorist group by a body corporate and provides for a corresponding penalty of a fine to comply with Article 18. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Amendment No. 16 arises out of Committee Stage proceedings. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I move amendment No. 16:  In page 7, between lines 32 and 33, to insert the following:   \u201cAmendment of section 6 of Principal Act   7. Section 6 of the Principal Act is amended\u2014  (a) in subsection (1), by\u2014  (i) the substitution of the following subparagraphs for subparagraph (ii) of paragraph (a):  \u201c(ii) attempts to engage in a terrorist activity, other than a terrorist activity consisting of\u2014  (I) a threat referred to in paragraph (c) of the definition of \u2018terrorist activity\u2019,  (II) an act that is an offence under section 3 of the Explosive Substances Act 1883 consisting of the unlawful or malicious possession or control of an explosive substance \t with the intent referred to in paragraph (b) of that section,  (III) an act that is an offence under\u2014  (A) subsection (1) of section 4 of the Explosive Substances Act 1883 consisting of the possession or control of an explosive substance other than for a lawful object,  (B) section 15 of the Firearms Act 1925,  (C) section 26 or 27A of the Firearms Act 1964, or  (D) section 4 of the Chemical Weapons Act 1997,  or  (IV) an act committed outside the State that, if committed in the State, would constitute a terrorist activity to which clause (I), (II) or (III) applies,  or  (iia) attempts to engage in a terrorist-linked activity other than\u2014  (I) public provocation to commit a terrorist offence,  (II) receiving training for terrorism, or  (III) organising or facilitating travel for the purpose of terrorism, or\u201d,  and  (ii) the deletion of subparagraph (iii) of paragraph (a),  (b) the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (5):  \u201c(5) For the purposes of this Act, the engagement by a person in any protest, advocacy or dissent, or in any strike, lockout or other industrial action, shall not of itself constitute grounds \t for inferring that the person is doing an act with the intention of\u2014  (a) seriously intimidating a population,  (b) unduly compelling a government or an international organisation to perform or abstain from performing an act, or  (c) seriously destabilising or destroying the fundamental political, constitutional, economic or social structures of a state or an international organisation.\u201d,  and  (c) the insertion of the following subsection:  \u201c(10) The Director of Public Prosecutions shall, when considering in which Member State it would be most appropriate for criminal proceedings to be brought against a person to whom \t subsection (9) applies, take account of the following:  (a) the Member State where the offence was committed,  (b) the nationality or Member State of residence of the person,  (c) the country of origin of the victim of the offence, and  (d) the Member State in which the person was first arrested for the offence.\u201d.\u201d.  This amendment relates to section 6 of the principal Act, which is the main terrorist offence provision. The first group of amendments to this section aims to insert in section 6(1)(a) two new subparagraphs, which will be sections 6(1)(a)(ii) and 6(1)(a)(iia). These amendments stem from the requirements of paragraph 3 of Article 14 of the directive. This makes it an offence to attempt terrorist acts. There are certain terrorist acts that while considered offences themselves, the attempt at such is excluded from being an offence under the directive. Thus, attempting to threaten terrorism, attempting to possess explosive substances or firearms for terrorism, attempting to provoke terrorist activity and attempting to organise or receive training for terrorism are not offences under the directive. Technical legal reasons can preclude the attempt of these actions from being charged as an offence in and of itself. This is down to the fact that in these cases the substantive action that is being attempted can be considered an attempt itself or an otherwise unfinished action in the pursuit of criminal harm. It would be illogical to criminalise attempting to attempt terrorism and a prosecution would, invariably, fail where the action being charged is too far removed from the actual criminal harm.  The amendments, thus, exclude the attempt of these acts from the ambit of the offence of attempting terrorism, as required by the directive. This amendment also deletes section 6(1)(a)(iii) of the principal Act. This relates to the offence of threatening terrorist activity. This does not, however, remove this offence from the principal Act. Rather, the offence will now be provided for via the definition of \"terrorist activity\" in section 4 of the Act, which was discussed previously. This expands the definition to include the threatening of terrorist acts and with engaging in terrorist activity, then codified as an offence in section 6(1)(a)(i). This is a structural change to how the offence is drafted.  This amendment also reworks section 6(5) of the principal Act, which clarifies that the engagement by a person \"in any protest, advocacy or dissent, or in any strike, lockout or other industrial action\" is not alone a sufficient basis for inferring the person is committing an act with terrorist intention. That terrorist intention is defined in the Act as aimed at \"seriously intimidating a population\", \"unduly compelling a Government or an international organisation to perform or abstain from performing an act\" or \"seriously destabilising or destroying the fundamental political, constitutional, economic or social structures of a state or an international organisation\". The amendment does not make any fundamental change to this subsection, but simply reformulates the wording to make it clearer.  It is important to point out that I brought forward the amendment in question on foot of what was stated here in the concerns that individuals expressed. It now expressly provides that for the purposes of this Act, \"the engagement by a person in any protest, advocacy or dissent, or in any strike, lockout or other industrial action, shall not of itself constitute grounds for inferring that the person is doing an act with the intention of seriously intimidating a population\" or the other tests or definitions for terrorist activity.  The last aspect of this amendment inserts section 6(10) into the principal Act. This stems from the requirement in paragraph 3 of Article 14 of the directive for co-operation between member states when both may have jurisdiction to bring proceedings against an individual. The directive lays down factors that must be considered when arriving at a conclusion as to where the proceedings will take place. This amendment lays down those considerations. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Amendments Nos. 17 and 18 are related and will be discussed together. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I move amendment No. 17:  In page 7, to delete lines 35 and 36, and in page 8, to delete lines 1 to 6 and substitute the following:  \u201c(a) in subsection (1), by\u2014  (i) the substitution of \u201cSubject to subsections (2C), (2D), (2E), (2F) and (2G), a person guilty\u201d for \u201cA person guilty\u201d,  (ii) the substitution, in paragraph (d), of \u201csubject to paragraph (f), to imprisonment\u201d for \u201cto imprisonment\u201d,  (iii) the substitution, in paragraph (e), of\u2014  (I) \u201cparagraph (e)\u201d for \u201cparagraph (c)\u201d in subparagraph (i),  (II) \u201cparagraph (f)\u201d for \u201cparagraph (d)\u201d in subparagraph (ii), and  (III) \u201cparagraph (g)\u201d for \u201cparagraph (e)\u201d in subparagraph (iii),\u201d,  (iv) the insertion, in paragraph (e), of the following subparagraph:  \u201c(iv) in paragraph (h) or (i) of that definition, on conviction on indictment to a fine or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years or both.\u201d,  (v) the insertion of the following paragraph:  \u201c(f) in the case of an offence consisting of an act referred to in paragraph (c) of the definition of \u2018terrorist activity\u2019 committed by a person who\u2014  (i) when committing that offence, was also committing an offence under section 6 of the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act 1998, and  (ii) by virtue of the said paragraph (d) would, but for this paragraph, be liable to a maximum term of imprisonment of less than 8 years,  to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 8 years.\u201d,\u201d.  These amendments relate to section 7 of the principal Act, which provides for penalties for terrorist offences. Section 6 of the Bill, as it currently stands, amends section 7 of the principal Act to include penalties for the new offences the Bill introduces. The amendments I am proposing will reframe section 6, with the changes largely driven by technical requirements on foot of the 2017 directive and the cross-referencing of sections the penalty provisions need to link to.  Amendment No. 17 deletes and replaces subsection (a) of section 6 of the Bill. Subparagraphs (i) and (ii) of subsection (a) amend section 7(1) of the principal Act, and their purpose is to signpost later penalty subsections that the earlier provisions in subsection (1) are to now be subject to. Subparagraphs (iii) and (iv) of subsection (a) address numbering changes resulting from prior amendments which change the format and numbering of subcategories within the definition of \"terrorist activity\" and \"terrorist linked activity\", as discussed under amendment No. 7. Changes are thus necessitated in section 7 of the principal Act to signpost accurately the updated definition sections that are to be linked to the penalties that section 7 provides for.  The amendment that subparagraph (v) of subsection (a) addresses relates to a requirement in paragraph 3 of Article 15 of the directive that where the offence of threatening terrorism is committed by a person directing a terrorist group, the maximum sentence for the threat offence shall not be less than eight years. This amendment ensures that this requirement is adhered to.  Amendment No. 18 carries on with amendments to section 6 of the Bill. It inserts a subsection (c), which again amends section 7 of the principal Act relating to penalty provision. Subsection (c) results in, first, the insertion of a subsection (2C) into section 7 of the principal Act, which relates to the requirement of Article 18 of the directive, discussed previously under amendment No. 16, that requires that fines be imposed on companies convicted of terrorist offences. Second, it results in the insertion of subsections (2D), (2E), (2F) and (2G) into section 7 of the principal Act to clarify that penalties for the \"attempt\" and \"threat\" offences are linked to the same penalty provisions for the substantive offences being attempted or threatened. Third, it replaces the definition of \u201ccorresponding offence\u201d, currently in section 7(3) of the principal Act, with a new definition. The change does not substantially alter the meaning, however. The term \u201ccorresponding offence\u201d, when referenced in section 7, remains as referring to those offences listed in Schedule 2 that are linked to the terrorist offence being penalised, with the penalties for those Schedule 2 offences providing the first step to establishing the penalty for the terrorist offence at issue. The updated definition is intended to provide clarity, with more robust language. It is broken down into two categories, one in respect of the \"terrorist activity\" offence and one respect of the \"terrorist linked activity\" offence. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I move amendment No. 18:   In page 8, line 21, to delete \u201coffence.\u201d.\u201d and substitute the following:  \u201coffence.\u201d,  (c) by the insertion of the following subsections:  \u201c(2C) A body corporate guilty of an offence under section 6 shall be liable on conviction on indictment to a fine of such amount as, having regard to the gravity of the offence, the court considers appropriate.  (2D) A person guilty of an offence under subparagraph (ii) of paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section 6 of attempting to commit the offence under subparagraph (i) of the said paragraph (a) of engaging in a terrorist activity shall be liable on conviction to the penalty to which he or she would be liable if he or she were convicted of the second-mentioned offence.  (2E) A person guilty of an offence under subparagraph (iia) of paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section 6 of attempting to commit the offence under subparagraph (i) of the said paragraph (a) of engaging in a terrorist-linked activity shall be liable on conviction to the penalty to which he or she would be liable if he or she were convicted of the second-mentioned offence.  (2F) A person guilty of an offence\u2014  (a) under subparagraph (i) of paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section 6, and  (b) that consists of a threat to commit an offence (in this subsection referred to as the \u2018threatened offence\u2019) referred to in paragraph (c) of the definition of \u2018terrorist activity\u2019 with the intention referred to in that paragraph,  shall be liable on conviction to the penalty to which he or she would be liable if he or she were convicted under the said subparagraph (i) of the threatened offence.  (2G) A person guilty of an offence\u2014  (a) under subparagraph (i) of paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section 6, and  (b) that consists of a threat to commit an act (in this subsection referred to as the \u2018threatened act\u2019) referred to in paragraph (c) of the definition of \u2018terrorist activity\u2019 with the intention referred to in that paragraph, shall be liable on conviction to the penalty to which he or she would be liable if he or she were convicted under the said subparagraph (i) of the offence consisting of the threatened act.\u201d,  and  (d) the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (3):  \u201c(3) In this section \u2018corresponding offence\u2019 means\u2014  (a) in relation to an offence (in this paragraph referred to as the \u2018first-mentioned offence\u2019) under subparagraph (i) of paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section 6 consisting of engaging in a terrorist activity, the offence (in this paragraph referred to as the \u2018second-mentioned offence\u2019) specified in Part 1 of Schedule 2 that consists of the act of which the first-mentioned offence consists, notwithstanding that it is not a component element of the second-mentioned offence that that act be done with the intention specified in the definition of \u2018terrorist activity\u2019, and  (b) in relation to an offence (in this paragraph referred to as the \u2018first-mentioned offence\u2019) under subparagraph (i) of paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section 6 consisting of engaging in a terrorist-linked activity, the offence (in this paragraph referred to as the \u2018second-mentioned offence\u2019) specified in Part 2 or 3 of Schedule 2 that consists of the act of which the first-mentioned offence consists, notwithstanding that it is not a component element of the second-mentioned offence that that act be done with a view to engaging in a terrorist activity or committing any other offence.\u201d.\u201d. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Amendments Nos. 19 and 20 are related and may be discussed together, by agreement. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I move amendment No. 19:  In page 8, between lines 21 and 22, to insert the following:   \u201cAmendment of section 13 of Principal Act   7. Section 13 of the Principal Act is amended by\u2014  (a) the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (5):  \u201c(5) (a) In proceedings for an offence under subsection (1), it shall not be necessary to prove that\u2014  (i) the funds concerned were wholly or partly used for the purpose of carrying out an act referred to in that subsection (1), or  (ii) the accused was aware of the specific act for which the funds concerned were, or were to be, wholly or partly used.  (b) In proceedings for an offence under subsection (3) to which paragraph (a) of that subsection applies, it shall not be necessary to prove that the funds concerned were wholly or partly used for the benefit or purposes of a terrorist group within the meaning of Part 2.  (c) In proceedings for an offence under subsection (3) to which paragraph (b) of that subsection applies, it shall not be necessary to prove that\u2014  (i) the funds concerned were wholly or partly used for the purpose of carrying out an act referred to in the said paragraph (b), or  (ii) the accused was aware of the specific act for which the funds concerned were, or were to be, wholly or partly used.\u201d,  (b) the substitution, in subsection (6), of \u201cSubsections (1), (2), (3) and (4)\u201d for \u201cSubsections (1) and (2)\u201d,  (c) the substitution, in subsection (7), of \u201cSubsections (1), (2), (3) and (4)\u201d for \u201cSubsections (1) and (2)\u201d,  (d) the insertion of the following subsection:  \u201c(9) Subsections (9) and (10) of section 6 shall apply for the purposes of this section as they apply for the purposes of that section subject to the modification that the reference in the said subsection (9) to an offence under that section shall be construed as a reference to an offence under this section.\u201d.\u201d.  Amendment No. 19 relates to section 13 of the Principal Act and is intended to give effect to requirements of the 2017 directive. Section 13 of the Act relates to the offence of financing terrorism, which is linked to Article 11 of the directive. Paragraph (2) of Article 11 stipulates that in respect of the offence of financing terrorism, it shall not be necessary that the funds in fact be used to commit terrorist offences nor that the offender know for which specific terrorist offence the funds are to be used. Currently section 13(5) of the principal Act only partially covers these requirements. Paragraphs (a) to (c) of section 13(5), as proposed to be inserted by this amendment, are more comprehensive, ensuring full compliance. The amendments to section 13(6) are compliance provisions in respect of jurisdictional requirements of the directive in Article 19. Paragraph (1) of Article 19 of the directive requires that member states establish jurisdiction where certain conditions are met; for instance, where the act is committed by an Irish citizen. The amendments to section 13(6) of the principal Act provide for these in respect of the offence of financing terrorism. The amendment to section 13(7) is, again, linked to jurisdictional requirements of the directive and serves to extend jurisdiction in respect of the terrorist financing offence when committed outside the State, beyond those listed in section 13(6), under another set of conditions which are referred to in section 43 of the principal Act. This is to meet the requirements of paragraph (4) of Article 19 of the directive.  Amendment No. 20, which is the final amendment, builds on amendment No. 19 in relation to extraterritorial jurisdiction of the terrorist financing offence. It amends section 43 of the principal Act, which relates to proceedings for offences committed outside the State. The amendment requires that the terrorist financing offences, when committed outside the State, be only proceeded against with the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions, DPP, as is required for other terrorist offences in the Act. It also gives further effect to paragraph (4) of Article 19 of the directive mentioned previously. That paragraph requires that member states take measures to establish jurisdiction over terrorism offences where the member state refuses to surrender or extradite a person suspected or convicted of such an offence to another member state or to a third country. Section 43 of the principal Act already does this for a range of terrorist offences where the DPP consents. However, the terrorist financing offence was not fully encompassed by this, so this technical amendment No. 20 rectifies that gap. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  My understanding is that amendment No. 19 aims to make terrorism financing offences easier to prosecute by removing the requirement to prove that funds were actually used for a specific terrorist act or that the accused knew the precise purpose. It broadens liability across subsections and aligns evidential rules with section 6 so that prosecutors need only show that funds were provided in circumstances linked to terrorism, not that they directly financed a particular operation. Does the Minister have any concerns that the amendment lowers evidential thresholds so far that it risks criminalising individuals without proof of intent or use of funds, or that it weakens safeguards against terrorism financing prosecutions? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I thank Deputy Ward for his question. He accurately sets out the purpose of amendment No. 19 in respect of the offence of financing terrorism. One of the requirements would be that the prosecution would have to show that the funds were used to commit specific terrorist offences. That was something that was too specific. If somebody gives money for the purpose of terrorist activity, it should not be a requirement on the prosecutor or the State to establish that he or she had knowledge that it was going to be used for a specific terrorist act. Somebody could be acquitted of the offence by saying that he or she did not realise it would be used in, to take the earlier example, the Bataclan, and that the funding he or she provided was for another terrorist offence. It is appropriate that we criminalise the funds being used to commit terrorist offences and that there is not a requirement in the legislation for the offender to know that it is for a specific terrorist offence. The amendment is not going to weaken the laws in respect of trying to combat terrorist financing. In fact, it will probably make it easier to prosecute individuals whose objective has been to finance terrorism. Previously they may have been able to seek to use the defence that they did not seek to fund that specific act and argue that the prosecution must prove that they knew that the funding was for that act. It is important that liability should rest on individuals who know that they are funding terrorist activities, even if they cannot be specifically aware of which terrorist activity is going to be covered by their funding. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I move amendment No. 20:  In page 8, between lines 21 and 22, to insert the following:   \u201cAmendment of section 43 of Principal Act   8. Section 43 of the Principal Act is amended\u2014  (a) in subsection (1), by the substitution of \u201csubsection (1), (2), (3) or (4) of section 13\u201d for \u201c13(1) or (2)\u201d, and  (b) in subsection (3), by\u2014  (i) the substitution of \u201csubsection (1), (2), (3) or (4) of section 13\u201d for \u201c13(1) or (2)\u201d where it first occurs,  (ii) the insertion, in clause (I) of subparagraph (i) of paragraph (a), of \u201cor subsection (3) or (4) of section 13\u201d after \u201csection 6(1)\u201d, and  (iii) the insertion, in subparagraph (ii) of paragraph (b), of \u201cor subsection (3) or (4) of section 13\u201d after \u201csection 6 (1)\u201d.\u201d. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Bill, as amended, received for final consideration."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2025: Report and Final Stages"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-20\/debate\/dbsect_29","debateType":"billReport","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2025\/84","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2025\/84\/dail\/4_sub","houseCode":"dail","stage":"4_sub","isBillStage":false,"showAs":"Health (Amendment) (Home Support Providers) Bill 2025: Report and Final Stages (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Health (Amendment) (Home Support Providers) Bill 2025: Report and Final Stages","counts":{"speechCount":15,"speakerCount":5},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_29","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  I move amendment No. 1:  In page 7, between lines 25 and 26, to insert the following:   \u201cInsertion of section 12B in Principal Act   8. The Principal Act is amended by the insertion of the following section after section 12A:   \u201cExchange of public service data   12B. (1) A person specified in subsection (2)\u2014  (a) may, where he or she considers that it is necessary and proportionate for the performance of his or her functions pursuant to this Act, request any other such person to supply him or her with such information as the first-mentioned person may reasonably require for the purposes of those functions,  (b) shall, if her or she receives a request under paragraph (a), as soon as practicable thereafter comply with the request in so far as the information requested is in his or her possession  (c) may, of his or her own volition, disclose to any other such person information the disclosure of which appears to the first-mentioned person to be necessary and proportionate for the performance by the other person of his or her functions pursuant to this Act.  (2) The persons referred to in subsection (1) are:  (a) the Authority;  (b) the Health and Safety Authority;  (c) an inspector for the purposes of the Workplace Relations Act 2015.\u201d.\u201d.  The point of the amendment is essentially that it would provide a basis for the exchange of information between HIQA, the Health and Safety Authority and the Workplace Relation Commission, WRC, inspectors. If, for example, HIQA found that workers employed by a home-support provider were working unlawful hours or perhaps not being paid correctly, or if there were other breaches of their employment rights and other matters that would be outside of HIQA\u2019s remit, it would be allowed to and there would be a basis on which it could provide that information to the WRC inspectorate. The Minister of State knows that State agencies across the spectrum routinely share information in relation to compliance on a range of matters, whether they be taxation or social protection matters and so on. We believe this particular proposition merits the Minister of State's consideration. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kieran O'Donnell)  I thank Deputy Nash for taking this amendment, which was tabled by Deputy Sherlock. The proposed amendment from Deputy Sherlock seeks to provide HIQA and the Health and Safety Authority inspectorates under the Workplace Relations Act 2015 with the powers to request information relevant to the performance of their functions, as set out under the Health Act 2007, and allows each organisation to share such information where it appears to it to be required for the other body to carry out its functions as set out under the Act. Neither the Health and Safety Authority nor the Workplace Relations Commission have any functions assigned to them under the Act, rendering the proposed provisions----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  A Cheann Comhairle, I am finding it difficult to hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  It is a Public Gallery, and we love to have visitors, but the noise comes through and we have to concentrate on what is being said. I ask the Minister of State to continue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kieran O'Donnell  I will go back over my contribution for the sake of clarity. I thank the visitors for their patience and welcome them.  Neither the Health and Safety Authority nor the Workplace Relations Commission have many functions assigned to them under the Act, rendering the proposed provision inoperable for either body.  Additionally, the established legislation for the Workplace Relations Commission, under section 27 of the Workplace Relations Act 2015 and section 72 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, includes powers to request information in respect to their functions. Chief inspectors are provided with similar powers under section 69W inserted in the Bill we are discussing today. It is important that public bodies are able to share information with each other. The Data Sharing and Governance Act 2019 provides a framework for how public bodies can share data and the necessary requirements for doing so. The framework helps to ensure personal data is shared in a consistent manner with full transparency in the way in which data is shared. Consequently, on the basis of what I have just outlined, I will not be accepting the amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Does Deputy Nash wish to respond? No. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared lost."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  I move amendment No. 2:  In page 9, to delete line 21 and substitute the following:  \u201c(a) the person provides a home support service to fewer than 2 persons,  (ab) the person has been granted an exemption by the chief inspector from the requirements or conditions imposed by or under this Act,\u201d.  On Committee Stage we discussed the piece in relation to the number of clients. The current Bill exempts home support providers with fewer than four clients from regulation. The Minister said on Committee Stage it was decided on a proportional basis that people who do one-to-one sessions and might be personal assistants - a profile distinct from those doing just home support - would not be governed by the legislation. We agree with this in principle but the Social Democrats have concerns with the approach taken as unscrupulous employers could create a series of small providers to shirk their regulations. There is also the possibility for the Uberisation of home care providers with introductory agencies matching clients with home carers who are not subject to the regulations and will not be required to have the same standard of training or experience. Our amendment would still allow for single operators to continue working on a one-to-one basis, including personal assistants, and protect the right of an individual wishing to employ their own carer directly. However, if support is provided to more than one client, the amendment would require them to seek an exemption from HIQA. The purpose of this is to ensure the exemption is not taken advantage of by some companies and to prevent a black market of unregulated home care developing. It would also ensure HIQA has a record of the existence of single operators and is alert to any suspicious activity. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  In fairness to Deputy Rice, this comes from a point of view of ensuring there is not any workaround. We have spoken previously in relation to this legislation and the whole point is ensuring we have governance, regulation, fair play and a system that works for those who work as home carers but also for those who employ them. That is absolutely necessary.  I will also put on the record that, while we welcome that we are dealing with the issue of homecare providers, we need to ensure there is not a long delay in dealing with the issue of personal assistance, PA. I understand that the issue is that it falls between the Department of Health and the Department of Children, Disability and Equality. We need to ensure there is no loophole and that we see movement because we also need to make sure we do not have huge disparity between those who work in homecare and personal assistants. We must ensure we look after them, whether they work with older people or those with disabilities who need extra support. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kieran O'Donnell  I thank Deputy Rice for tabling this amendment. Section 69B(2) sets out the circumstances where a homecare support provider can seek an exemption to the requirement to register under the Bill. This ensures there is suitable clarity and transparency about when a person will be exempt from the requirement to register. Section 69B(2)(a) provides that where a person provides a homecare support service to fewer than four people, that person will be exempt from the requirement to register. This exclusion was carefully considered as part of the original general scheme to ensure the regulatory burden placed on providers was proportionate to the size of the service being provided. These small services are typically single operators working on a one-to-one basis with service users. These operators can be considered especially valuable in rural areas. This exemption also seeks to exempt PA services where a service user directly employs a personal assistant. These arrangements allow service users to direct the way in which their services are provided, which upholds the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.  International comparisons were also looked at when drafting the exemptions. Wales includes a similar exemption in its version of homecare, which is called domiciliary support services. When I visited Wales, and particularly Cardiff, on St. Patrick's Day, I met the Welsh minister responsible and her officials to discuss this aspect. The Welsh scheme exempts providers who provide support to four or fewer people at any time. The Bill exempts providers who provide support to fewer than four people, which is three or fewer. Northern Ireland, Scotland and England all exempt services where the care and support is provided by a single individual. Based on this proportionality, I cannot accept the amendment.  I know the intent behind it. The legislation will be reviewed two years after it fully comes into operation and we will look at it. However, it was carefully thought about and we looked at international comparisons and at making it proportionate. I am not accepting the amendment, but I note its intent. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  I ask the Minister that this issue be given due consideration in the review because it is important. We need to ensure there are no loopholes, no operators are getting around the regulations and that they are enforced in full. We have a concern about that, so I ask for a commitment that it will be included in the review. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I accept what the Minister said. It is about making sure we do not end up with an anomaly that allows for people to work in an unregulated system. There is also an absolute requirement to deal with the issue of personal assistants. It is about making sure that happens. All we want is a framework that works so the correct level of homecare and personal assistance can be provided to those who require it. I put a particular emphasis on those with disabilities, because it is sometimes forgotten about. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kieran O'Donnell  I thank Deputy Rice for his support for the legislation and assure him that all aspects will be covered in the review.  In response to Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa, PA services are under the remit of the Department of children and disability. Our Department has been very open. The other Department has a review ongoing so PA is not included in the legislation at the moment, but we are open going forward in the process, once the other Department has concluded its deliberations.  I thank the Deputies for their contributions. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared lost."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Bill received for final consideration."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question proposed: \"That the Bill do now pass.\""},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kieran O'Donnell  Will the Ceann Comhairle permit me to make a final comment? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Yes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kieran O'Donnell  I thank all the contributors to Second Stage, Committee Stage and Report Stage. This is an important Bill and I thank them all for their contributions. The development of this regulatory framework has been a key priority for the Government and represents an integral part of the ongoing development of the statutory homecare scheme as committed to in the programme for Government. I acknowledge the work of my predecessor in this role, the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, who is in the Chamber with us, and more particularly the great work completed by the officials in the Chamber and their colleagues.  Officials from my Department, together with colleagues in the Department of Children, Disability and Equality, are considering the most appropriate approach to giving effect to the regulations needed to support this legislation. Should amendments be required to deal with this matter, I will bring them forward as the Bill moves through the Houses of the Oireachtas.  I thank Deputies for their contributions. I look forward to working with them in the future on the area of home support and progressing statutory homecare, which was committed to in the programme for Government. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Health (Amendment) (Home Support Providers) Bill 2025: Report and Final Stages"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-20\/debate\/dbsect_30","debateType":"billCommittee","bill":null,"showAs":"Central Bank (Amendment) Bill 2025: Instruction to Committee","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":6},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_30","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Deputy Robert Troy)  I move:  That Standing Order 194 is modified in accordance with Standing Order 241(2) to provide that it be an instruction to the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach in relation to the Central Bank (Amendment) Bill 2025, that the Committee has power to make amendments to the Bill which are outside the scope of the existing subject matter of the Bill in order to make provision for:  (a) the establishment of a statutory obligation on insurers to disregard a person's medical history, in respect of a diagnosis of cancer, for the purposes of applications for mortgage protection insurance relating to a principal private residence;  (b) the definition and regulation of the conditions under which such medical history shall be disregarded, including the completion of active cancer treatment and specified periods of remission;  (c) the provision by applicants of information necessary to demonstrate compliance with such conditions, where requested;  (d) the specification of a maximum amount of mortgage protection insurance cover to which such disregard shall apply;  (e) the conferral of functions on the Minister for Finance to review and prescribe such maximum amount, including the making of orders subject to approval by D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann and Seanad \u00c9ireann;  (f) the amendment of the Insurance Act 1936, including the extension of provisions relating to the winding-up of insurers and reinsurers, and the powers of the Central Bank of Ireland in that regard; and  (g) the amendment of the Insurance Act 1964, including provision in relation to the Insurance Compensation Fund;  and to change the title of the Bill and make other consequential amendments required to take account of the changes above.  I thank the House for the opportunity to discuss the motion to introduce amendments to the Central Bank (Amendment) Bill 2025 on Committee Stage which will ensure that the Bill delivers, in a practical and legally robust manner, the policy objective of providing protections for cancer survivors in accessing mortgage protection insurance cover for their principal private residence. A cancer diagnosis should not define a person's future or stand in the way of owning a home. It should not stand in the way of providing security for oneself or one's family and should not cast a shadow over someone who has already gone through so much.  As Members will be aware, the Central Bank (Amendment) Bill 2025 was originally introduced as a Private Members\u2019 Bill by my colleague, Deputy Catherine Ardagh, before I took it on as a Government Bill and sought to provide for a broad statutory right to be forgotten, as it is known, for cancer survivors for certain financial products. That objective has strong support across Government and Opposition benches and is reflected in the programme for Government commitment to legislate in this area.  Following detailed analysis and extensive engagement with stakeholders, including the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel, the Central Bank, the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman, Insurance Ireland, the Irish Cancer Society, the Irish Society of Medical Oncologists and the Society of Actuaries in Ireland and engagement with EU counterparts, it became clear that certain aspects of the Bill as published required refinement in order to ensure that the measures are proportionate, operationally effective and compatible with EU law.  It is important to recognise that the Bill builds on the voluntary code of practice introduced by Insurance Ireland in December 2023. An independent review found that the code was broadly effective but also highlighted the limitations of a voluntary approach. These amendments will bring that voluntary model to a framework that provides legal certainty. They will give statutory effect to protections that were previously voluntary, making them enforceable in law and ensuring consistent application across the market.  The amendments will provide for a revised structure to the Bill, including: a new Title, namely the Insurance (Disregard of Certain Medical History and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026, which more accurately reflects the purpose of the Bill, as well as essential definitional provisions clarifying key terms such as insurer, mortgage protection insurance, applicant and principal private residence and introducing a definition of active cancer treatment to ensure consistency in application.  A significant change is the removal of the proposed amendment to the Central Bank Act 1942. This reflects policy that the Central Bank\u2019s role remains focused on prudential supervision and conduct regulation, and that individual consumer complaints in this area are more appropriately addressed by the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman, a body already established to resolve disputes between consumers and financial service providers. While the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman is not mentioned explicitly in the Bill, compliance with the framework is a requirement for insurers.  The amendments also clearly define the scope of the Bill to apply specifically to mortgage protection insurance rather than across all financial services. This targeted approach aligns the Bill with the existing voluntary framework and avoids unintended impacts across the wider insurance and financial services market.  At the core of the amendments is the statutory obligation on insurers to disregard a person\u2019s cancer related medical history once the specified conditions are met. These conditions reflect the operation of the voluntary code currently in place, requiring that an individual has completed active cancer treatment and has been in complete remission for a period of five years. This five-year threshold is shorter than the seven-year threshold currently in the voluntary code, reflecting established medical standards and the point at which the risk of recurrence is significantly reduced. I thought it prudent to shorten this timeframe based on the evidence presented to me and the need to give certainty to survivors.  While the measure is often described as a right to be forgotten, the legislative approach is in fact a right to disregard. The amendments will introduce a clear operational framework for insurers to verify, if requested, information necessary to determine eligibility, including confirmation of diagnosis, treatment completion and remission. Insurers can then assess and determine applications accordingly. That history must be disregarded and cannot be used to refuse cover or to increase premiums within the statutory threshold. The original Bill\u2019s sponsor, Deputy Ardagh, is aware of and supports this approach.  The Bill also specifies that the disregard obligation will apply up to a defined level of mortgage protection insurance cover, set at \u20ac650,000. This represents an increase on the existing voluntary code\u2019s threshold of \u20ac500,000, which I sought during consultation, and expands access to protection while allowing normal underwriting practices to apply to any portion of cover above that threshold. To ensure the framework remains responsive to market developments over time, the amendments provide for periodic upward review of the threshold. The Minister for Finance will be required to review the threshold in five-year periods, having regard to factors such as residential property prices, and may increase the amount by order, subject to approval by both Houses of the Oireachtas.  The amendments also include standard provisions on the administration of the scheme, including the payment of expenses in accordance with public financial procedures. In addition, and to deliver on action 24 of the Action Plan for Insurance Reform, amendments to the Insurance Act 1936 are also included. These amendments will give the Central Bank of Ireland the power to petition the High Court for the winding up of reinsurance companies.  This will address a gap in the current framework and bring reinsurers into line with other financial services sectors, such as banks, credit unions and investment firms, where the regulator already has appropriate insolvency powers. The proposal also responds directly to the IMF\u2019s financial sector assessment program recommendation that weaknesses in the insurer insolvency regime be remedied through legislative change. Also included are amendments to the Insurance Act 1964 to fully implement changes to the Insurance Compensation Fund framework arising from the sixth motor insurance directive. These amendments ensure that captive insurance undertakings, which insure only the risks of their own corporate group, remain outside the scope of new levy requirements relating to crossBorder motor insurance business. This approach is consistent with the existing Insurance Compensation Fund framework, under which captives are excluded from levy requirements for domestic insurance businesses.  Together, these measures ensure that the legislation is both effective in protecting consumers and fully integrated within the broader regulatory framework governing the insurance sector. On 27 April, the Government approved these amendments, and a decision was taken to progress the legislation as a priority measure in order to deliver on a programme for Government commitment. These changes will deliver a balanced, proportionate and effective framework that will provide real benefit to cancer survivors.  I will take the opportunity to thank, in particular, Deputy Catherine Ardagh, who initiated this Bill in the first instance in the Seanad, re-initiated it in the D\u00e1il and enabled me to capture or overtake it to allow me to prioritise it as a Government Bill. We have gone further than what was originally envisaged under the voluntary code. This is good news for cancer survivors. As I said, I want to thank Deputy Ardagh in particular, but all Members of the House who have been very supportive as we have worked our way through this legislation. I look forward to addressing any questions and engaging in further detail on Committee Stage of the Bill, which I understand will be taken next week, should we get approval of the Bill here tonight. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy M\u00e1ire Devine  Sinn F\u00e9in welcomes this Bill. Ensuring the right to be forgotten is essential for people who have overcome cancer. For people who face a diagnosis of that kind, and we all know somebody who has, purchasing a home will not be the first thing on their minds but shelter and owning your home is so important to recovery and the quicker we realise the difficulties people are facing - the battle with cancer, even when they are on the far side of it, it is an battle to simply be treated like everybody else by the banks and insurance companies, which are the modern gatekeepers of home ownership.  The Government can be assured of Sinn F\u00e9in's support for this Bill. In many ways, it is long overdue. In Ireland we saw a voluntary code recently adopted by the insurance industry. Insurance companies can choose whether they adhere to a code in each individual case. The longstanding default of self-regulation has not served us well. That voluntary code only applies to mortgage protection insurance and not to other types of insurance.  That said, the fact we are looking at this policy area raises many more questions. Is after five years of being cancer free a fair threshold to be set for the right to be forgotten? We have to add the difficult years of battling cancer. Only when people are finally cancer-free does the clock start and then they have to wait for five years to apply for mortgages. I do not think that seems right. We need to look hard at that and perhaps the Minister of State will do so on Committee Stage.  I hope the Government will be sincerely open to looking at how we could go further than what is set out in the Bill. Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael have a long track record of siding with the banks, including allowing them to send up to 100,000 mortgages to vulture funds, many for no reason, and without consent. The families deserve justice there. The banks are allowed to enjoy corporation tax relief while boasting a combined profit of \u20ac5 billion last year alone and despite never fully repaying the Irish people for bailing them out. This is an opportunity for the Government to show is it on the side of ordinary people and not the banks. Ordinary people deserve so much more.  Make no mistake, banks and insurance companies do not want this even if they would not say it publicly. If this is to pass, they want it to be as narrow as possible, with the wait time for a fresh start as long as possible. A year after the first all-clear from a doctor should be more than enough. We need to understand that very recently, in the past decade, healthcare treatment and options have been revolutionised, as has the treatment of serious illnesses with the rapid positive results that were always promised. This needs to be taken into account. Survival rates from cancer have quadrupled and it is no longer necessarily the big C scary stuff we thought it was perhaps a decade or so ago. Healthcare has moved on and has been revolutionised so I do think a year being clear from a doctor should be enough.  People need to be able to move on with their lives, especially with lives they felt had been threatened. We have to think about why we are only talking about cancer. There are many serious medical conditions that mean people cannot access mortgages either because the banks will not lend or the insurance companies will not provide the insurance banks require to issue a mortgage. My party colleague Deputy Conway-Walsh was dealing with a case a couple of years ago where a woman who had previously suffered from an eating disorder was denied insurance. She was denied precisely because she was continuing therapy to ensure she did not relapse. She was effectively being punished for doing the right thing, for seeking help and staying healthy and investing in her own health. I believe that eventually, due to the woman bravely speaking out and to political pressure, she was offered cover but nobody should have to go down that route and that is all on an individual, desperate basis, putting your life story out there and begging and pleading for somebody to listen so they will act and give cover.  This leads me to another area. It is not often that lending is the greatest barrier. As I mentioned in the story about the women with the difficulties with an eating disorder, the issue is often accessing the mortgage protection insurance. This is where we need to be careful to ensure the legislation has the intended effect. Not only must people not be denied cover but we also need to ensure they are offered fair and affordable premiums. If someone gets an offer but the monthly cost is extortionate, then the barrier to accessing a mortgage will remain. It is a kind of catch-22. This issue is sometimes kicked around between the banks and the insurance companies; hands off, Mexican stand-off and it is somebody else's problem. The insurance company will say that where they will not insure, there are exemptions under section 126 of the Consumer Credit Act. While banks will say that insurance companies should be providing insurance, people are denied mortgages for not having mortgage protection insurance and are quoted extortionate premiums. Many people do not know that they can argue their case with the bank.  I welcome this legislation and commend my Dublin South Central colleague and former Seanad mate, Deputy Catherine Ardagh, and well done to her for bringing this forward. I commend her on progressing this and ask the Minister of State to have a think about what I have just said. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  I too direct my plaudits at Deputy Ardagh. This is very much her initiative and something that was well supported along the way by the Irish Cancer Society and other Deputies and Senators across these Houses. It is one of those evenings when we can all say a job has been well done. It shows the utility of this House as well. We try to do it all of the time but it is more explicit on occasions like this when we are reflecting the real, everyday needs of the people who elect us. We do not know ourselves the day on which a diagnosis of cancer will knock on our doors. It does not discriminate. There is not a family in this country that have not been affected. I know that Deputy Ardagh's own family have been affected as well. I have no doubt that experience influenced her commitment to bringing this legislation forward. We always try to be the messengers of the people in this House and time and again in my nigh on 30 years as a public representative - almost 16 years in the Oireachtas and as a member of local authorities before that - I have come across these cases.  I have worked with insurance brokers in my own constituency of Louth time and again to try to address the issues that are brought to their attention by clients or indeed people who would be more appropriately described as potential clients because until now, there was very little they could do for a client seeking mortgage protection insurance on his or her way to purchasing her or her home. We have all dealt with those cases and they are heart-breaking. This is a very real human issue that is being addressed in this legislation.  I am glad that the Minister of State has more appropriately framed this initiative and his intention in terms of the legislation as a right of disregard rather than a right to be forgotten. That is the appropriate way to describe this. It is fantastic that when this legislation is passed, cancer survivors will no longer be discriminated against in terms of accessing mortgage protection insurance.  We know and the Minister of State referenced the fact that a voluntary code has been in place since 2023. Voluntary codes are all well and good but they often do not always cut it. We often see voluntary codes that are developed on a positive basis through the bona fides of a regulatory body or a well-established agency but they can often fail those they are designed to support and protect. It is positive that we are inserting this requirement into the primary legislation.  The scope of the intended legislation involves only mortgage protection insurance but could I ask that this matter be looked at in terms of the right to access additional financial products and services, that we keep an open mind on this and that this is regularly reviewed and interrogated because cancer survivors like everybody else are entitled to live a full life and participate fully in the economy of this country and our society? If it is the case that someone cannot access all of the financial services that are available to the broad range of citizens then he or she is not by definition a full actor in every aspect of economic and social life so I ask that this be kept under review. I think it is inevitable that we will be looking to review this. In legislation, more often than not there is at least an in-built review after two to three years in terms of the operation of an element of an Act and we need to be very clear that it has to happen in this case.  Financial service providers are only too capable of undertaking actuarial reviews on services and their client base and so on and I have every confidence that the financial services industry, in its broadest definition, is well capable of ensuring there is extensive access to all financial services for those who have come through cancer diagnosis, who are survivors of cancer and are living healthy lives. The Minister of State knows very well that we need to keep a very clear-eyed view when we come to the operation of the insurance industry and how it operates in this country. It needs to be put on notice that there is a very clear expectation of it that it act in accordance with this legislation. There should be no requirement for the insurance industry to be asking any more of cancer survivors in terms of the information it needs to make a determination on access to mortgage protection product than what is outlined here. We know only too well from our experience that the insurance industry can often go further in its interrogation, if I could describe it as such, of clients and prospective clients. I would ask the Minister of State and the regulator - the Central Bank - to keep a very close eye on how the insurance industry manages this.  Unfortunately, there was a very tight timeframe for us to introduce our proposed amendments on Committee Stage, which we hope and expect will happen next week. This is an important debate but we may not have the opportunity to bring forward the kind of amendments ideally that we would like to on Committee Stage. Given its importance, I ask that we give this legislation sufficient time as well on Report Stage and that the use of the guillotine or at least the excessive use of the guillotine is avoided because we will have views on the kinds of amendments we wish to bring forward and we will need time to do that. In doing so, that would give the people who are targeted by this legislation their full due and the respect they deserve and give this legislation the respect it merits. We need time to fully consider this and propose amendments. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  I want to speak on behalf of ordinary decent people out there who did the right thing all their lives. They worked hard, saved carefully and tried to put some money aside for their retirement. The problem is what happens when they are struck down with cancer, which is a very serious ailment that can in some cases lead to life-threatening situations. In more cases, it does not and they make a good recovery. There has to be some leverage there for these people who have gone back to normal life and deserve that understanding of the situation they are in.  There is not much understanding in the financial sector for such people because I have heard from people who were not wealthy investors but rather were farmers, small business owners or working families. They went to financial advisers in good faith and like anyone else, they took reassurance from seeing that these advisers were registered with the Central Bank of Ireland. They believed that meant something. They believed it meant oversight, protection and accountability but when things go wrong, and I have seen this at first hand in my own constituency, the reassurance counts for little. People have lost hundreds of thousands or even millions of euro of their life savings and what are they told? They are told the Central Bank does not deal with the individual complaints and are sent down a long road of process and paperwork while their futures hang in the balance. Meanwhile the very individuals who are responsible can shut down one company, walk away and set up again under a different name still operating, still authorised and still dealing with people's money. This is simply not good enough. What message does that send? It sends the message that there are no real consequences for those who mislead or fail their clients.  We are told compensation schemes exist but they are limited and do not cover the reality of what many people have lost. For someone who has lost his or her pension or savings, \u20ac20,000 is not protection; it is an insult. What is the point of Central Bank registration if it offers no real protection when it is needed most? I raised this issue before and people out there listening today will be asking what has changed because from where they stand, nothing has changed. It is time to strengthen accountability, to ensure that individuals and not just companies are held responsible and to fix a system where people can walk away from the damage they have caused and simply start again because at the end of the day, this is not about regulation on paper. It is about real people, real losses, real health issues and real consequences. It is about people I have sat down with and listened to - people who are left devastated and even suicidal. Right now, far too many people are being left to carry the cost alone. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Ardagh  I thank the Minister for introducing this legislation. I welcome the opportunity to speak on what will be called the Insurance (Disregard of Certain Medical History and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026, which many people across Ireland know simply as the \"right to be forgotten\" legislation. Tonight is a very important night for cancer survivors and their families. This legislation is about fairness, dignity and recognising that somebody who has survived cancer, completed treatment and rebuilt his or her life should not continue to face financial discrimination years later when trying to buy a home and protect his or her family. For too long, cancer survivors faced what many described as a second battle after their treatment has ended. They have already gone through surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, uncertainty and fear. They have fought the hardest battle of their lives yet years later, when they apply for mortgage protection insurance, many are still being treated differently because of their historic cancer diagnosis. It is simply not fair. A cancer diagnosis should not be a lifelong sentence and this legislation remedies that. I am very proud to say that I first introduced this legislation in the Seanad in 2022 alongside the then Senators, Deputy Jerry Buttimer and Paul Gavan of Sinn F\u00e9in, with broad cross-party support through the Oireachtas cross-party group on cancer.  Later in the D\u00e1il, Deputy Erin McGreehan and I introduced the Central Bank (Amendment) Bill during one of the first terms of this D\u00e1il. That is the basis of the legislation that is before us this evening. I want to say very clearly that this Bill does not belong to one individual or one political party; it belongs to a community. There is an old saying that it takes a village. In this case it took a community of survivors, advocates, doctors, lawyers, insurers, civil servants and politicians like the Minister of State to bring this legislation to where it is tonight. Every single person involved played a role in getting it here and many people spent countless hours over several years advocating for this legislation because they genuinely believed cancer survivors deserved better.  I want to acknowledge Professor Mark Lawler and Ciar\u00e1n Briscoe for their work at the All-Island Cancer Research Institute. I want to acknowledge Adrian O'Higgins BL, who drafted the original legislation and gave enormously of his time and expertise in this process. I particularly want to acknowledge Rachel Morrogh, CEO of the Rape Crisis Centre, who at the time was head of advocacy and public affairs with the Irish Cancer Society and was one of the driving forces behind this legislation.  I also want to acknowledge Steve Dempsey, Nikki Gallagher and former CEO Averil Power, together with the wider Irish Cancer Society team, for their continued engagement and leadership throughout this process. Research from the Irish Cancer Society showed that almost a one quarter of people affected by cancer had difficulty even getting financial quotes after their cancer diagnosis. That research really mattered. It helped expose the scale of the problem and helped drive political momentum behind this legislation.  I also want to thank Commissioner Michael McGrath, the former Minister for Finance, who was supportive in the early years in constructive engagement very early on with the insurance industry.  I want to thank Michael J. McGrath in the Department of Finance, the civil servant who worked extensively on this legislation. I also want to thank Paschal Donohoe, Simon Harris and all the officials in the Department of Finance who worked carefully and diligently on this legislation over a long period of time.  I particularly want to thank the Minister of State, Deputy Robert Troy. Sometimes in politics people begin ideas and sustain ideas, and sometimes you need somebody to bring legislation decisively over the line. To use a sporting analogy, you need somebody to put the ball in the back of the net.  The Minister of State played that role impeccably and I thank him. He engaged seriously with stakeholders, insurers, patient advocates and officials, and he has worked tirelessly and constructively to ensure this legislation progressed to this stage. Hopefully we will see it at committee next week and see it progress before the term ends.  I think it is also important to acknowledge the stakeholder engagement process because it genuinely improved the legislation. At the beginning, stakeholders like Insurance Ireland were understandably very concerned, especially around underwriting, sustainability and risk, but one of the key moments in this process was the review of the voluntary code introduced by Insurance Ireland in late 2023 after our initial Bill in the Seanad. That review demonstrated something very important. It showed that many of the fears surrounding the right to be forgotten were not borne out by the evidence. The independent review found that approximately 1,300 applications had been made under the voluntary code and approximately 650 people received cover amounting to \u20ac96 million in insured loans. Most important, the review found no evidence that anybody who met the code criteria had been refused cover because of their cancer diagnosis.  This evidence changed the conversation. It moved the debate from fear to facts. It demonstrated that fairness for cancer survivors and a sustainable insurance market could co-exist. I think Insurance Ireland, despite negative press, deserves credit for engaging constructively with the Department and the Minister of State throughout that process.  The provisions of the Bill are extremely important and we cannot take our eye off the insurance industry. They have to follow this Bill to the letter of the law. The legislation will place the right to be forgotten on a statutory footing for the first time in Ireland. That is hugely significant because voluntary arrangements do not have the same rights and legal status.  Cancer survivors deserve certainty and the legislation reduces the remission period from seven years to five years. This is important because cancer outcomes and survivorship rates have improved enormously over the years, and our laws must reflect modern medicine and modern realities. The legislation also increases the mortgage protection threshold. This matters enormously given the reality of today\u2019s housing market. The legislation also provides for a periodic review linked to CSO residential property price data and stakeholder engagement.  Above the threshold, normal underwriting provisions can still apply but ultimately, this legislation is not about actuarial tables or underwriting models. It is about dignity. It is about recognising that people who survive cancer deserve the opportunity to fully move forward with their lives.  As somebody who has worked extensively on cancer advocacy and healthcare issues, I have spoken to many survivors who felt deeply upset that despite being medically well and discharged from treatment, they still felt financially excluded. Many felt forgotten. Tonight, through this legislation, we are saying clearly that they are not forgotten, that we recognise their recovery, that we support their future and that surviving cancer should not prevent somebody from buying a home, raising a family or planning for the future.  Politics is often criticised, but legislation like this reminds us, as others have said, what politics can achieve when people work together constructively and collaboratively. This Bill is not about ownership. It is about collective effort. It is about survivors, advocates, doctors, lawyers, civil servants, insurers and politicians all coming together in a meaningful way to improve people\u2019s lives.  I am proud to have played a small role in initiating this legislation. I am proud of everybody who stayed with it and helped shape it. Most important, I am proud that Ireland is taking this step for cancer survivors and their families. I commend the Minister of State, Deputy Troy, and I commend the Bill to the House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank Deputy Ardagh. That is a modest statement, I am sure. I invite the Minister of State, who has five minutes, to conclude. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Deputy Robert Troy)  I thank all Deputies who contributed to the debate this evening. I acknowledge patients, survivors and families for whom cancer has impacted their lives. There is not a family in this country that have not been impacted by cancer, my own included. I think of my two siblings who I lost to cancer many years ago. Perhaps that was one of the driving forces that meant I wanted to do something positive when I was in a role to do something that can make a difference to cancer survivors.  Deputy Ardagh has been very generous with her praise of me but I think of everybody who has worked together to bring us to where we are today. It just goes to show that when we do work collectively with key stakeholders and advocacy groups as a collective of people within the D\u00e1il, we can make a very positive difference to people's lives. That is what this Bill is about, making a very positive difference to the lives of cancer survivors, ensuring fairness and ensuring dignity, as Deputy Ardagh has said.  I ask Members of the Opposition not to put in amendments just for the sake of it to say they are trying to do better than what the Government is doing. We arrived at this position after really intensive negotiations and after looking at international best practice. In Italy the term is ten years. In Portugal and Italy the term is ten years, as it is in the Netherlands, Greece, Cyprus, Luxembourg. In Slovenia, Romania and Czechia the term is seven years. The three other countries with terms of five years are France, Belgium and Spain. There is a reason why we are here. Many other countries do not have this at all. We have arrived at this position because it is proportionate and because it will not have unintended consequences for everybody else's policy. Of course we could put it at one year, but what impact would that have on the cost of mortgage protection for every other policy that has been taken out?  Let us keep working in the spirit of what we have arrived at with this Bill today. Many people spoke about the insurance industry, maybe in derogatory terms, and sometimes they deserve the criticism they get in this House but, to their credit and in fairness, they did introduce a voluntary code on the back of the work that then Senators Ardagh, Gavan and Buttimer introduced in the Seanad. The industry did introduce a voluntary code that worked. We are now going further than the voluntary code from seven years to five years. Deputy Ardagh said a sum of \u20ac96 million was insured under the voluntary code and that 100% of the people who met the criteria were offered cover at the standard rates. So, credit where credit is due, the insurance companies introduced a voluntary code and it was working. We are going further, with the reduction in the term from seven years to five years and increasing the cost cover from \u20ac500,000 to \u20ac650,000.  We have worked well together collectively. This is a very positive day, as Deputy Ardagh has said, for cancer survivors.  Sometimes you get up here and you talk about legislation and you wonder what the tangible benefits are for the people whom we are so honoured to represent in this House. There is very tangible benefit for cancer survivors.  I thank Deputy Ardagh for her advocacy and for pushing this to the fore at every opportunity she could. As the Deputy said, one of her first times to speak in the D\u00e1il having been elected was introducing the Private Members' business. The Deputy enabling me to adopt that Bill has enabled us bring it forward to where it is today. I would have liked to have done it faster. Certainly, there are things we can learn from that. It is a positive news day for cancer survivors. With the support of the House, we will introduce it on Committee Stage next week.  I would ask members of the Opposition to not submit amendments for the sake of it. We have arrived at this. All the key stakeholders welcome this. The Irish Cancer Society welcomes this. I spoke at the All-Island Cancer Research Institute's summit in Croke Park on Tuesday. It welcomes this. Its members asked me to go and speak on this in Brussels to advocate the Irish position internationally. It is the right position. Let us stay united on this when it comes to Committee Stage next week. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Central Bank (Amendment) Bill 2025: Instruction to Committee"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-20\/debate\/dbsect_31","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2025\/73","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2025\/73\/dail\/2","houseCode":"dail","stage":"2","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Sanctions against the State of Israel Bill 2025: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members] (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Sanctions against the State of Israel Bill 2025: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_31","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I must now deal with a deferred division relating to the Second Reading motion on the Sanctions against the State of Israel Bill 2025. Last Thursday, on the question, \"That the Bill be now read a Second Time\", a division was claimed and in accordance with Standing Order 85(2), that division will now be taken. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Sanctions against the State of Israel Bill 2025: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members]"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-20\/debate\/dbsect_36","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Evictions and Rent Hikes: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_36","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The following motion was moved by Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin on Tuesday, 19 May 2026:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"notes with extreme concern that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 7,062 eviction notices were issued to tenants from January to March this year, up 51 per cent on the same period in 2025;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 at the end of 2025 new rents were up statewide 5 per cent and 4.4 per cent for existing rents; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 six counties had double digit rent inflation last year including Limerick (12.6 per cent), Monaghan (12.4 per cent), Westmeath (11.5 per cent), Offaly (10.8 per cent), Cavan (10.6 per cent) and Galway (9.9 per cent);"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"further notes that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Statewide new rents were \u20ac1,744 per month and existing rents were \u20ac1,503 per month at the end of 2025;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 new rents in Dublin were \u20ac2,232 per month and existing rents were \u20ac1,931 per month at the end of last year;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Residential Tenancies Board's dispute caseload increased by 17.6 per cent in the first quarter of this year compared to the same time last year;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 all of this was prior to the Governments new rent regulations which came into effect which will see rents, evictions and disputes increase over the coming year;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 these trends are the direct result of Government policy and will lead to increased displacement of tenants, increased rents and increased homelessness; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Government continues to miss their social and affordable housing targets, targets that were too low to begin with, too few private for purchase homes are being built or coming to the market;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"resolves that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael's housing policy continues to make the housing crisis worse and in particular is failing renters;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"calls on Government to:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 introduce an emergency ban on rent increases and no-fault evictions;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 cut private rents by putting a full month's rent back into every private renter's pockets;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 oppose rent increases for Council tenants, those in receipt of Housing Assistance Payment and Rental Accommodation Scheme and cost rental tenants; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 introduce a radical reset of housing policy as set out by the Housing Commission and to increase and accelerate the delivery of social, affordable and private for purchase homes."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Debate resumed on amendment No. 1:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"To delete all words after \"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann\" and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\"notes that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government is fully committed to tackling high rents and ensuring an increase in the supply of affordable high-quality rental accommodation through continued significant capital investment including cost rental and other means and in a manner that respects the security of tenure for renters by ensuring equity and fairness for landlords and tenants;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 comprehensive reviews of the private rental market and of the Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs) rent control system were undertaken in 2024 and 2025, which assessed the rental market generally, the operation of RPZs since their introduction, their impact on the market and relevant stakeholders, the retention of landlords and attracting new investment;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the review of RPZs by the Housing Agency involved comprehensive engagement with a wide range of stakeholders, including investors, representatives of landlord and tenant advocacy groups, academics and the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB);"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2026 came into effect on 1st of March, 2026, introducing a new national rent control for all tenancies, which limits rent increases to inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) up to a maximum of 2 per cent, for new build apartments and student-specific accommodation, however, rent increases are capped at the level of inflation CPI only, these changes were introduced to promote greater investment in the rental market and to increase the supply of rental properties, the Act also provides significant improvements in security of tenure for renters;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 while February saw a sharp increase in Notices of Terminations (NoTs), the RTB confirmed that the trend is moderating, with an 18 per cent increase for March compared to March 2025 but a 39 per cent decrease from February 2026;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 to offer greater protection to tenants, rolling six-year tenancies of minimum duration (TMD) apply for new tenancies created for the first time between parties on or after 1st of March, 2026, this means a new tenancy that continues for six months becomes a tenancy of unlimited duration, with rolling six year TMDs, providing real security of tenure for tenants;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 nationally, registered private tenancies rose by 2.44 per cent annually to 246,477 in Q1 2026;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the number of private landlords rose by 1.3 per cent annually to 105,847, indicating increased participation in the rental market, there is no exodus of landlords from the market, and the rental sector continues to show resilience;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030, recognises that the rental market is an important element of a well-functioning housing system, it contains a suite of measures to support domestic and international investment in the delivery of new rental properties, in particular the supply of new apartments;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Ireland is facing a shortage of rental homes, especially apartments, recent reforms to the rental market aim to encourage investment and development, which will encourage the building of new rental apartments, help slow down rent increases and moderate rent levels over time;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Government has significantly increased resources allocated to the RTB to meet the demands of a modern rental sector;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 further Government measures introduced to support renters include the increase in the tax credit for renters under Budget 2025 to a maximum of \u20ac1,000 for each renter in a household, Budget 2026 extends the Rent Tax Credit, which was due to expire at the end of 2025, for a further three years, to the end of 2028; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the increase in the thresholds for access to Cost Rental homes, which was increased from \u20ac53k net to \u20ac66k net in Dublin and \u20ac59k outside Dublin, in July 2023;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"acknowledges that increased supply is key to meeting demand and moderating the pent-up pressures in the private rental sector and welcomes that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 there has been an unprecedented level of delivery of new-build social homes, with 2025 representing the largest number of new build social homes constructed since the foundation of the State;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the new housing plan Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030, is focussed on putting in place the conditions to enable delivery of a minimum of 300,000 new homes;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the plan includes a commitment to deliver 72,000 social homes and provide 90,000 affordable supports to help people secure a home of their own;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 it seeks to significantly accelerate delivery of new homes by focusing on activating land and creating the optimal environment to encourage housing activity, including regulatory reform, tax incentives and the largest ever capital investment in the history of the State, with \u20ac275 billion invested in infrastructure over ten years through the National Development Plan;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 to accelerate future supply, Budget 2026 included a suite of taxation measures aimed at stimulating the supply of new apartments including a reduced Value-Added Tax rate and an enhanced Corporation Tax deduction for apartment construction costs;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the revised National Planning Framework, published in April 2025, is a major step forward in this regard, and will help increase capacity and accelerate home building across the country; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the delivery of 300,000 homes by 2030 will however require an estimated \u20ac20 billion in development finance each year, a significant portion of which will need to come from investment by the private sector to support home ownership and a well-functioning private rental market;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"recognises that considerable progress has been made, including:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 almost 149,000 new homes have been delivered over the past five years, this compares with 83,267 in the previous five-year period and just 29,217 in the five years before that;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 a total of 36,284 new dwellings were completed in 2025, an increase of 20 per cent year on year;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the unprecedented level of investment Government has committed will bring about a very significant scale up in the delivery of housing over the coming years, address the needs of the most vulnerable in our communities, making buying and renting homes more affordable and support the development of villages, town and cities across the country; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the delivery of 300,000 homes by 2030 will however require an estimated \u20ac20 billion in development finance each year, a significant portion of which will need to come from investment by the private sector to support home ownership and a well-functioning private rental market; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"agrees that continued implementation of Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030, represents the most appropriate response to deal with the housing challenges which Ireland is now facing.\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"- (Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy John Cummins)"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I will now deal with the deferred division relating to the ministerial amendment to the motion regarding evictions and rent hikes. Yesterday, on the question, \"That the amendment to the motion be agreed to\", a division was claimed and in accordance with Standing Order 85(2), that division must now be taken. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Evictions and Rent Hikes: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members]"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-20\/debate\/dbsect_45","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Defence and Neutrality: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_45","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The following motion was moved by Deputy Brian Stanley on Wednesday, 20 May 2026:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"notes that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014\u00a0Irish Neutrality has been central to the sovereignty and independence of the State, that it was first enunciated by Theobald Wolfe Tone and upheld by successive generations;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014\u00a0despite being a small country, our neutrality has enabled Ireland to play a positive role in international affairs;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Defence (Amendment) (No. 2) Act, 1960 encompassed neutrality and the requirement known as the \"Triple Lock\" which means that deployment of Defence Force overseas requires the authorisation of the United Nations (UN), Government and the D\u00e1il;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Triple Lock is central to the policy of neutrality;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the failure of the first referendums to have the Nice and Lisbon Treaties passed was due to concerns by the electorate on neutrality;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 to assuage those concerns, the Triple Lock and Neutrality were enshrined in solemn National Declarations that were attached to both treaties;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the two treaties were only endorsed by the electorate in second referendums due to these solemn national declarations and guarantees included in them;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 any move by Government to overturn these commitments without a referendum would be a denial of democracy;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 successive opinion polls have demonstrated that the majority of the electorate want our policy of neutrality retained;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 being neutral does not in any way inhibit increasing the capacity and capabilities of the Defence Forces; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 currently there is no upper limit on the number of Defence Force personnel that can be deployed for the purpose of overseas humanitarian issues;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"calls on the Government to:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 uphold the policy of Neutrality and the Triple Lock as set out in the Defence (Amendment) (No. 2) Act, 1960 and the solemn national declarations attached to the Nice and Lisbon Treaties;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 recognise that these commitments regarding the Triple Lock and Neutrality can only be changed or amended by a majority of the electorate in a referendum;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 recognise that the triple lock and neutrality are intrinsically linked;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 strengthen the States policy of Neutrality by bringing forward a referendum to enshrine neutrality in the constitution;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 work with other neutral and non-aligned countries to reform and re-establish the primacy of the UN as the forum to uphold international law and for resolving international disputes and conflicts;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014\u00a0abide by the principal of multilateralism and not allow the State to be become part of any regional military alliance; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 halt plans to progress the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025 and the provisions in it to abolish the Triple Lock and Neutrality."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The following amendment No. 1 was moved by the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"To delete all words after \"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann\" and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\"notes that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government reiterates Ireland's longstanding policy of military neutrality;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Ireland's policy of military neutrality is characterised by non-membership of military alliances, or common or mutual defence arrangements and this policy choice has been practised by successive Governments since the Second World War;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government reaffirms its commitment to this policy and reiterates that it has no plans to either join a military alliance or enter into a mutual defence arrangement;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 in light of the above commitment, the Government does not believe a national referendum on enshrining neutrality into the Irish Constitution is necessary; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 amending the Triple Lock legislation in relation to the deployment of our Defence Forces to peacekeeping missions will have no impact on this policy of military neutrality, and that no other European Union Member State, including other neutral Member States, allow permanent Security Council members to bind their hands in the way that the Triple Lock effectively does for Ireland;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"recognises:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Ireland's long-standing policy of military neutrality, and our strong tradition of participation in international peace support and crisis management operations over many decades;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 that members of Ireland's Defence Forces continue to contribute bravely to peacekeeping and crisis management efforts, particularly in the Middle East, as well as elsewhere in the world;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 that the multilateral system remains our strongest protection and the State's most important security asset;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 that Ireland's contributions to conflict resolution and peacebuilding, and work for human rights and development, and our efforts to promote disarmament and the elimination of weapons of mass destruction, are internationally renowned;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 nevertheless, as a highly globalised country, Ireland cannot rely on our geographic isolation for our security, nor isolate ourselves from world events; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the importance of parliamentary safeguards and national oversight in ensuring Irish military deployments are in line with our policy of military neutrality, and that they are decided solely by the elected sovereign representatives of the people of Ireland; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"acknowledges that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government is committed to supporting the global multilateral system, to vocally defend international law, particularly international humanitarian law, and human rights;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 in common with other partners in Europe, Ireland finds itself in an increasingly contested, dynamic and volatile international security environment, marked by violence and conflict in our immediate neighbourhood, including Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine, and conflicts in the Middle East and Africa;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Ireland, therefore, should not find itself unable to respond to peace support and crisis management operations that align with the United Nations (UN) Charter and International Law, due to a veto by permanent member(s) of the UN Security Council; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 this legislation will remove the power of UN Security Council permanent members to veto our national sovereign decisions regarding our participation in an International Force and will also allow for the deployment of Defence Forces personnel overseas in other overseas roles such as the crisis management evacuation of Irish citizens.\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Debate resumed on amendment No. 1 to amendment No. 1:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"To delete all words after \"notes that:\" and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Ireland's policy of military neutrality, our strong reputation of international diplomacy, and our tradition of peacekeeping and humanitarian assistance abroad;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the importance of public, democratic consultation in shaping Ireland's future defence policy;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the importance of safeguards, protections and oversight in ensuring Irish military deployments are in line with our policy of military neutrality; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government plans to remove the current Triple Lock mechanism and raise the number of troops that can be deployed without D\u00e1il oversight to 50;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"acknowledges:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 that the Triple Lock mechanism requires (i) Government approval, (ii) D\u00e1il approval, and (iii) a United Nations (UN) mandate through the General Assembly or Security Council for the deployment of more than 12 Irish Defence Forces personnel overseas;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 that the Triple Lock mechanism was introduced to protect our military neutrality during the adoption of the Nice and Lisbon Treaties; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 that the UN mandate has played a significant role in shaping Ireland's approach to international military engagement and cooperation;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"calls on the Government to:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 recognise that the Triple Lock and neutrality are intrinsically linked;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 uphold the policy of neutrality and the Triple Lock as set out in the Defence (Amendment) (No. 2) Act, 1960 and the solemn national declarations attached to the Nice and Lisbon Treaties;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 abide by the principal of multilateralism and not allow the State to become part of any regional military alliance;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 hold a national plebiscite, to take place before any legislation to amend the Triple Lock mechanism is brought before the D\u00e1il, to allow the Irish people to express their view on whether a United Nations mandate should remain a requirement for Ireland to deploy peacekeeping troops overseas;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 ensure that the plebiscite presents a balanced and informed choice, reflecting the role of the Triple Lock mechanism in Ireland's approach to international deployments to date, the considerations around its impact on peacekeeping operations in the future, and any scope for the removal of the Triple Lock mechanism to result in potential non-neutral military deployment; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 commit to respecting the outcome of the plebiscite and ensuring that any subsequent policy decisions reflect the will of the people while upholding Ireland's commitment to military neutrality, multilateralism, and international cooperation.\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"- (Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney)"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I must now deal with the deferred division on Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney's amendment to the Government amendment to the motion regarding defence and neutrality. On Wednesday, 20 May 2026, on the question, \"That the amendment to the amendment be made\", a division was claimed and in accordance with Standing Order 85(2), that division must be taken now. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The D\u00e1il adjourned at 8.53 p.m. until 8.47 a.m. on Thursday, 21 May 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar athl\u00f3 ar 8.53 p.m. go dt\u00ed 8.47 a.m., D\u00e9ardaoin, an 21 Bealtaine 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Defence and Neutrality: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members]"}]}}]},"contextDate":"2026-05-20"},{"debateRecord":{"house":{"showAs":"34th D\u00e1il","committeeCode":"","houseCode":"dail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/house\/dail\/34","chamberType":"house","houseNo":"34"},"chamber":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/def\/house\/dail","showAs":"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann"},"lastUpdated":"2026-07-03T02:14:17+00:00","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-19\/debate\/main","formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-19\/debate\/mul@\/main.xml"},"pdf":null},"date":"2026-05-19","counts":{"contributorCount":171,"divisionCount":1,"debateSectionCount":30,"questionCount":48,"billCount":0},"debateType":"debate","debateSections":[{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-19\/debate\/dbsect_2","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions","counts":{"speechCount":70,"speakerCount":12},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":" A Deputy","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I hope colleagues will assist when I break with the normal rules of not welcoming anyone during Leaders' Questions. Today we have a very special welcome in giving a big, warm c\u00e9ad m\u00edle f\u00e1ilte to an incredible young man, Mr. Austin Appelbee, age 13. Deputies may have heard Austin's story from February this year, when he undertook an incredible act of bravery in Western Australia. In order to save the lives of his mother Joanne, his brother Beau and his sister Grace, Austin undertook a four-hour, 4 km swim followed by a 2 km run to contact emergency services, which ultimately led to everyone being rescued by emergency services. What an incredible feat. We are delighted to have Austin and his family here today in the Public Gallery. You are most welcome. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  F\u00e1ilte, Austin. Deputy Carthy is telling me that Austin is a Monaghan man. The Ceann Comhairle missed the most important element of the story. Comhghairdeas agus f\u00e1ilte.  Three years on from the financial scandals that rocked RT\u00c9, the State broadcaster is once again embroiled in controversy. The latest debacle centres on RT\u00c9 revising the list of its top ten highest earning presenters to include Mr. Derek Mooney. It transpires that Mr. Mooney should have been on the list for the last five years, but his salary of almost \u20ac200,000 was kept a secret by the top brass at RT\u00c9. Strangely, in 2020, Mr. Mooney's role was reclassified as a producer rather than a presenter, although the dogs in the street know that Derek Mooney is a presenter. RT\u00c9's top earners' list was incorrect eight years in a row - transparency out the window again.  People will remember the secret payments and the slush fund controversies, scandals which revealed a shocking absence of oversight and governance, exposing a culture of arrogance and entitlement, RT\u00c9 top brass flaithi\u00falach with the use of public money. Despite a massive bailout and big promises from the Government and from RT\u00c9, what really has changed? Once again, the Minister in charge of all of this, Deputy O'Donovan, knows nothing. All of this latest debacle is news to him. This morning he brought legislation to Cabinet to put the broadcaster under the remit of the Comptroller and Auditor General. This is years after the Committee of Public Accounts said that should happen; it is Government in slow motion. The Irish public bailed out RT\u00c9 to the tune of \u20ac725 million, almost three quarters of a billion euro.  That is a lot of taxpayers' money. However, there is little evidence of the change that people expected. Top management still plays fast and loose, not reporting accurately the big salaries of the high-flyers. Why is this? It is because the Government has failed to take on the prevailing culture of arrogance and privilege. The privileges gifted by the Government to RT\u00c9 stands in stark contrast to how it treats working people and families. The budget of \u20ac9.4 billion last October left working people worse off, forced to watch every euro they spend, with their backs to the wall trying to keep up with rising prices, and doing all of the right things but still struggling to just get by. There is no bailout for them and no help from the Government but RT\u00c9 top management is handed \u20ac750 million in public money and continues to take the taxpayers for fools.  We have here a tale of two Irelands, with working people playing by the rules abandoned by the Government and told to tighten their belts, and top brass executives at RT\u00c9 who believe the rules do not apply to them and believe they can do what they want without consequence. This needs to be nipped in the bud. The Government needs to sort this out, and fast. Rinne muintir na h\u00c9ireann RT\u00c9 a tharrth\u00e1il le \u20ac725 milli\u00fan. Masla amach is amach is ea an chonsp\u00f3id is d\u00e9ana\u00ed d\u2019oibrithe at\u00e1 ag streachailt is ag comhaireamh gach uile phingin. Bringing RT\u00c9 under the remit of the Comptroller and Auditor General is long overdue but it cannot stop there. People want accountability and consequences. Does the Taoiseach accept that the Government's failure to act decisively has allowed this bad behaviour at RT\u00c9 and this culture of entitlement to continue? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I do not agree with Deputy McDonald's assertions once again. No matter what any State agency does, or what anybody out there does, she will blame the Government. That is her standard practice. The Government is at fault for everything. Her latest assertion is that the Government must now run RT\u00c9. Just think about that and reflect on it. Is that what Deputy McDonald is actually saying, that politicians should go in there and run the national public service broadcaster? That is what she is saying. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  You give them money and then run away. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I know she has to do this for electoral reasons and politics and to play the game but there is a serious undercurrent here, and coming from the Sinn F\u00e9in Party it will create its own challenges in good time and I want to put that on the record.  I would say what has happened is unacceptable. The Minister has had a meeting, or will meet, the director general today. Deputy McDonald made a comment on the legislation. The Minister brought it before Cabinet today. Again, she implied that he was at fault for the delay in bringing the legislation. That is not true. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  Whose job is it to bring legislation? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Could you afford the Taoiseach the respect that your leader got? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Oireachtas pre-legislative scrutiny took a considerable length of time. Deputy McDonald's party and members were involved in this legitimately. Please do not come in here, after taking time on pre-legislative scrutiny, and then say the Minister is acting in slow motion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  We brought forward the legislation a few years ago. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That is the kind of dishonesty that characterises every one of her presentations here in recent times on Leaders' Questions. She does not really care about the truth any more. Whenever something breaks out, let us have a go at the Government and let us blame the Government and that is it. It is a simple formula and that is what Deputy McDonald is about.  I do not believe the current management is laissez-faire . I do think it wants to get to grips with this. That is my assessment, and I think the board does as well. Yes, everybody knew Derek Mooney was a presenter and not a producer. Deputy McDonald said the dogs on the street knew it but I would say that the dogs in the wild knew it----- "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputies, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----in terms of his role. There may be others. What this speaks to is a lack of structure in terms of how people are recruited, designated and treated from a human resource point of view in RT\u00c9. The wider issue that the bonnet needs to be lifted on is whether there is consistency across the organisation in respect of the treatment of people and the treatment of employees of the company. There is a real disparity in terms of how some are treated compared to how others have been treated, and this is a problem for RT\u00c9 that needs to be sorted out. There needs to be far more transparency than we have experienced in recent years in terms of this issue.  In terms of the funding issue, collectively, as an Oireachtas, we need to make up our mind on whether or not we want public service broadcasting and a national broadcaster. These are options that politics can take. We can decide to abandon public service broadcasting altogether and just have a free for all. I do not agree with that but just saying that when Deputy McDonald has a go at the \u20ac700 million, there are choices facing the Government.  You either cut it down, undermine it, let it go to waste or let it go private. What is the Deputy saying? Is she saying the \u20ac700 million should not have gone into it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  There should be accountability. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  That is rhetorical, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I fully agree with that, and that is what the Minister is doing. It is going to the C and AG, and it will be before the public accounts committee. It took some time to get through the Houses, but the Minister is doing that. It took some time because of you guys, rightly. I have no issue with pre-legislative scrutiny, but you cannot blame the Minister for delays with pre-legislative scrutiny. They cannot do that. They cannot get away with that kind of stuff and I am not going to let them get away with it. An rud is t\u00e1bhachta\u00ed n\u00e1 go mbeidh soil\u00e9iri\u00fa ann maidir le RT\u00c9 ar ch\u00farsa\u00ed p\u00e1, costais, caighde\u00e1in, agus coinn\u00edollacha a bhaineann leis sin, agus go bhfuil cothrom na F\u00e9inne \u00e1 tabhairt do gach \u00e9inne at\u00e1 ag obair laistigh de RT\u00c9. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 sin r\u00edth\u00e1bhachtach. T\u00e1imid den tuairim go gcaithfidh RT\u00c9 sin a dh\u00e9anamh agus t\u00e1im muin\u00edneach as an Aire go bhfuil seisean go l\u00e1idir den tuairim sin chomh maith. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Unfortunately, the Taoiseach is very touchy about the idea that he might be expected to do his job and do it competently. A key function of the Government is to ensure that State agencies, including RT\u00c9, are accountable and that an agency such as RT\u00c9, which has been bailed out to the tune of almost three quarters of a billion euro, behaves in a manner that is transparent and appropriate, so we do not see a rerun of the scandals that rocked RT\u00c9 a short time ago. All of us were led to believe that the bargain with RT\u00c9 was that it would be bailed out and funded and that public broadcasting would be supported and, by way of return, that there would be a change in behaviour and culture, appropriate standards and accurate and transparent reporting. We now know that is not the case and----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Time is up, Deputy. I ask the Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  -----that is on the Taoiseach and the \"I don't know what's going on\" Minister, Deputy Patrick Donovan----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy's time is up and the Taoiseach will respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  -----who apparently shrugged his shoulders and did a Manuel on it. He knows nothing apparently. He needs to start finding out. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Minister has brought through the legislation that will bring RT\u00c9 under the remit of the Comptroller and Auditor General, which is a stronger regime of public accountability for RT\u00c9 than has been the case hitherto. There has always been sensitivity in the relationship between the political system and RT\u00c9. In the midst of all the turmoil and noise, we need to keep an eye on that too. It will go before the public accounts committee. Deputy Carthy can laugh away because it would be of no concern to him. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy M\u00e1ire Devine  Stop it, would you? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  If he could run RT\u00c9, he would run it in the interests of his party. That is how you guys operate and would operate. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  Wise up. What sort of child are you? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The point I am making is that the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, is meeting with the director general and the chairman of RT\u00c9 today. I believe they are making a sincere effort to try to get this reorganised. There has been some progress made but what has happened is unacceptable. What is more important is that there is consistency across the board in RT\u00c9 in terms of how people are treated from a human resources point of view and that rights and conditions apply to everybody in RT\u00c9 and not just some. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  It sounds like you want to run RT\u00c9, not Matt Carthy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Before I call Deputy Bacik, I remind Members to respect everybody's contributions. They are of equal importance. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  I welcome Austin Appelbee and his family. Austin, you inspired us all with your immense courage. Well done.  In March, reports emerged of mass evictions across the country as a result of the new Fianna F\u00e1il rent law. When I raised this with the Taoiseach at the time he told me that the facts did not bear out any connection. However, the latest figures from the Residential Tenancies Board, RTB, confirm exactly what we previously warned him about. The botched so-called rental reforms have indeed triggered what has now become a wave of evictions. In the first three months of this year alone, more than 7,000 eviction notices were issued, which is a 50% increase from last year. These figures should not come as a shock. They are the inevitable consequence of the Government's policies. It gave private landlords a year's notice that they could jack up rents, but only if they got rid of existing tenants before the end of March. Families and children are suffering as a result. Threshold has supported more than 10,000 households in the first three months of this year alone. That is 3% of all households in the private rented sector in just 12 weeks. Behind every notice to quit is a person or family living in utter fear.  Out in Galway and Dublin over recent weeks I have met renters in tears as they wonder where they will go next, like the family I met in Cabra of two parents, both working, and two teenage children. They have spent the past 18 months in cramped conditions in a homeless hub because they simply cannot find anywhere to rent or buy. I have spoken before about our Labour representatives' experience of meeting renters contemplating suicide because their situation is so utterly desperate. People need hope and they need Government action to resolve the housing crisis.  What action has the Government taken? It rushed deeply flawed legislation through, guillotined the debate, ignored multiple amendments from Labour's Deputy Conor Sheehan and other Opposition parties and the Taoiseach literally scoffed at us in the Chamber when we warned this measure was effectively an incentive to evict and an amnesty on rent hikes. The T\u00e1naiste even told me the measure, in his words, actually \"protects renters\"? However, what kind of protections are these for renters who have already endured more than a decade of failure from Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael, where rents have more than doubled in ten years? This is before the full impact of the Government's market reset and rent hikes to come. The Taoiseach said last weekend that the defining challenge of our time is to give hope to young people that they can find an affordable home, but his policies are leading to thousands of young people being evicted from their homes. He has achieved the highest level of evictions since the Famine, the highest level of child homelessness ever and he has nothing to offer renters. Unlike him, we have put forward constructive proposals. We have published legislation for an emergency three-year eviction ban. Will the Taoiseach support Labour's Bill and will he intervene to stop the tsunami of evictions and keep children out of homelessness? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I again do not accept the full presentation because the Deputy is being somewhat disingenuous. She attacked the rent reforms. By the way the whole reform of that was advised in the first instance by the Housing Commission and she urged us to implement its recommendations. That is the first point, and it did need to be reformed and the reforms have added protection for tenants. One of the outcomes of that is, in terms of those who are objecting to the six years, that some landlords opted out but there is always a churn in terms of tenancies, landlords and so on and there is a higher number, over 13,000----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  People being evicted onto the street is not \"churn\". "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----who have actually entered the market. As some people exit the market, more enter the market and it needed to be sorted and to be solidified as well, and the Deputy knows that. Her objection was she tried to portray it as an incentive to developers and landlords but it is the protection elements of the reforms that have caused some smaller landlords, perhaps, to exit. She cannot have it both ways. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  The Taoiseach cannot have it both ways. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  No, I am sorry; the Deputy cannot have it both ways. We need to have a settled landscape out to the next decade or so in terms of the investment side of the equation to get more in. The bottom line is 36,000 homes were delivered last year, which is the highest since records began and up 20% on 2024. A total of 38,000 new dwellings were completed in the 12 months ending quarter 1 of 2026, which is an increase of 26 year on year. Since 2020, about 177,000 units have been built. Planning momentum is very strong, with 8,000 permission in quarter 4 of 2025, which is up by close to 20%. Some 20,000 houses were granted permission in 2025, which is the highest number since 2009, and there were 8,400 commencement notices in quarter 1 of 2026, which is up 184% year on year. Real dwelling investment is up 19.4% in the first three quarters of 2025. Construction employment was at 191,900 at the end of 2025. That is up 30% since 2019 and 12% year on year. The HBFI loan book grew 25% in 2025. We allocated \u20ac1 billion to the housing infrastructure investment fund. Residential planning permissions in Dublin exceed 78,000 units. Some 24,246 apartments are under construction or on active sites across Dublin. There were 50 new schemes active during quarter 1 of this year alone. In total, 31,936 homes were either built or under construction across 202 active sites in quarter 1 of 2026. That is evidence of very significant momentum within the housing area and supply is the key. On social, affordable----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Taoiseach. Deputy Bacik to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----and cost rental, the increases are happening across the board. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  With respect, what I have heard from the Taoiseach just now is Alice in Wonderland logic or Miche\u00e1l in Wonderland logic.  The Taoiseach is telling me the Government has introduced protections for renters and that these have, somehow, generated evictions, so which is it? He made claims about construction figures that he needs to go back and look at again. He used the word \u201cchurn\u201d. That is deeply hurtful to those families, like the family I described, like the family I met in Oranmore, and like families we are all meeting all the time.  I hear that the Taoiseach is telling members of his own parliamentary party that there is a wonderful response on the doors in the by-election, but he must know this is not the case. That is more Alice in Wonderland thinking. All across the country, all of us who are constituency TDs are hearing from people who are desperately hurt, who are in fear and who are getting notices to quit and have nowhere to go. The figures speak for themselves and the stories behind the figures speak for themselves, no matter how much the Taoiseach tries to spin it and no matter how much he lectures me about \"churn\" in this House. He said it in March. He is saying it again now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank the Deputy. I call the Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  It is not the case for people living the reality----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The time is up, Deputy. I call the Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  People enter the market and people leave the market continuously, and have done so. The Deputy knows that. It is just a fact. The bottom line is that she cannot spin away either and pretend that nothing is happening in terms of housing supply. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  No. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Over 9,000 social houses were built last year. Those were direct builds that the State funded. Housing is the number one issue facing the people of the country. Our population has grown exponentially, and if we dig deep under the demographics and the population figures, we can see the impact on the pressures on the housing situation because of the different parts of that demographics story. I can deal with that at a later time.  We need to increase housing supply, and this is what the Government is focused on in a whole range of initiatives that we have introduced, from social housing to cost-rental to affordable housing. There are a significant number of drawdowns for first-time buyers, for example. It is much higher than it was back in 2015, when the percentage of first-time buyers was 26% of all household buyers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank the Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It is now 40% in 2026. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The time is up. I call Deputy Holly Cairns. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We need it to happen faster----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Time is up. I call Deputy Holly Cairns. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  I express my condolences to the family and friends of Yves Sakila. A video circulating online of an incident before his death is deeply disturbing. There must be a full, comprehensive and transparent investigation into what happened.  Yesterday, Israel committed yet another blatant breach of international law. The Israel Defense Forces, IDF, boarded a flotilla in international waters and again kidnapped humanitarian activists, including 12 Irish citizens. They took this action not because the flotilla posed any kind of threat, but to stop humanitarian aid reaching a starving population in Gaza. The activists on the flotilla were kidnapped for simply trying to bring them food, medicine and baby formula.  Among those kidnapped was one of my constituents, Tom Deasy from Clonakilty, as well as the President's sister, Dr. Margaret Connolly, a Sligo GP. Twelve Irish citizens, including the sister of our Head of State, have been illegally detained. It is completely unprecedented, not that we would have known this from the Government\u2019s response, because it took it 12 hours to issue a four-line statement about it. This is not just deeply disappointing; this is utterly pathetic.  For more than two years, we have heard daily reports of Palestinian people being killed, injured and illegally detained. Meanwhile, settler violence in the West Bank is at record levels, with Palestinian villages and homes being razed to the ground. Yet, there have still been no sanctions against Israel and, crucially, no enactment of the occupied territories Bill, despite the Government's big commitments when it was electioneering. I believe that lack of action from this Government is what has driven the Irish citizens on the flotilla to take action themselves and leave their families to board boats in the full awareness that they will likely be illegally captured by the IDF, with their safety not guaranteed.  I spoke to Tom Deasy\u2019s sister, Ciara, this morning. Her family believe he will be forcibly transferred to a port in Palestinian territories in the next two hours. They have got no word on his safety and they will not until Israel decides to share that information. Israel holds all the power because it knows there are no consequences for its actions. The past two years have shown us all that.  Ciara told me how worried sick she is but, more than that, how proud she is of her brother. She said:  The people on the flotilla have been shouting for Palestine for a long time now and that. Now it's time to shout for them in order to get people in power to act.  The Taoiseach is one of those people. He has the power to stop munitions going through our airspace, to stop the trade of dual-use goods and to enact the occupied territories Bill. He has the power to act so why will he not? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Miche\u00e1l Martin  First, I extend my deepest sympathies to the family of Mr. Sakila. The full circumstances of what happened there need to be examined and investigated fully and thoroughly. I understand that Fiosr\u00fa has been notified and is involved in that as an independent statutory body. The situation is deeply concerning and very concerning to many people who witnessed it. I just want to make that point but obviously we cannot pre-empt the outcome of any investigation.  In respect of the Israeli action against the Sumud flotilla in international waters and the detention of those onboard, I strongly condemn what the Israeli Government has done and I condemn the action of the Israeli military forces, as I have done previously and as we did very early on. The Deputy's picky attitude to timing is just wrong and unnecessary. We will engage and are engaging with the Israeli Government on the release of all Irish citizens who have been wrongfully detained by the Israeli military in international waters. It is unacceptable behaviour.  Let me be clear: the humanitarian situation in Gaza is equally unacceptable and has been for quite some time. Very often what tends to happen is people very quickly pivot away from attacking the Israeli Government and want to attack the Irish Government more than attacking the Israeli Government. That seems to be the standard course of action here which I do not think adds a whole lot to trying to help the overall situation in Palestine. Most Palestinians I meet and when I meet the Palestinian Authority or people in the area, they are very appreciative of successive actions the Irish Government has taken on this question. We have given a lot of support to the Palestinian people and rightly so. We will have allocated about \u20ac144 million by the end of 2026 in support of the Palestinian people. That is not insignificant. We have consistently supported UNRWA and have given \u20ac68 million since 2023. We intervened in South Africa's International Court of Justice, ICJ, case against Israel under the Genocide Convention. We made a submission to the ICJ on the legal consequences of Israel's actions in the occupied territories. We subsequently co-sponsored a resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly back in 2024, which sought to implement the court's advisory opinion. We recognise Palestine as a sovereign and independent state. We have organised medical evacuations of sick children from Gaza, along with their family members, for treatment, and plans are ongoing for further missions. We have supported over 300 people to leave Gaza and travel to Ireland since the crisis began. We will now work to get those people released and safely home "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  Asking the Taoiseach to live up to his election promises is not attacking him. That should be the bare minimum. He said that he would enact the occupied territories Bill and all this Government has done for 16 months is find excuses to delay it. Back and forth to the Attorney General, over and over again, looking for advice that we know is the same as that from the Attorney General to the previous Government. We know the advice was to go ahead. Now the Government has run out of steam with that excuse so it is going for the need for all of Europe to act. It is excuse after excuse. Words of condemnation are welcome but what I am asking about is action on the occupied territories Bill and on the divestment Bill. There are so many actions that this Government could take and the brave point that the people on board the flotilla are making is that there needs to be action, not just words. Like Tom's sister said, it is time for the Taoiseach to use his voice and power to do something about this instead of people continuing to feel that they need to put their own lives at risk to try to get aid into Gaza. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I disagree with the Deputy's fundamental premise on this issue. People know my voice on Gaza and the Middle East. They know it in the European Union, both on the Foreign Affairs Council, when I was Minister for Foreign Affairs, and back in 2007, when I went to Gaza. I do not really need lectures from the Deputy in terms of my sincerity about Gaza. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  Where is the occupied territories Bill? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I appreciate what those on the flotilla are doing. If we passed the occupied territories Bill in the morning, there would still be a flotilla, and I understand why there would be. Earlier, I listed all that has been done. If we look back at the debate before we did the recognition and before we intervened in the South African case, all the Deputies opposite were saying, \"If only you would do this, it will achieve a fundamental change in Israel's position\". We did all of that. We did so for the right reasons, because we think it is the right thing to do. Has it impacted on Israeli behaviour? Let us be honest: it has not. The Minister will progress the occupied territories Bill----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" A Deputy","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" A Deputy  We have been waiting years for that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----but will it change Israel's position? That is the key issue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  There have been no sanctions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The time is up, a Thaoisigh. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Globally, there must be an international alliance of countries to really put pressure on Israel. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I respectfully suggest that is the way to proceed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Stanley might indulge me, before I call him, in saying that although we welcomed Austin Appelbee earlier, he has just arrived into the Chamber. I ask that we give him a round of applause. He has been highly commended by Members and he and his family are most welcome. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Members applauded. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  I raise again with the Taoiseach the three public dental schemes. He will recall me raising them with him on Leaders' Questions last year. The three schemes - the dental treatment services scheme, the dental treatment benefit scheme and the school dental scheme - are in chaos and are not functioning. The situation with the school dental scheme in County Laois, for example, is worse now than it was last year when I raised it with the Taoiseach. It is like the Dark Ages. Current figures from the HSE show that there are 6,618 children on the school dental scheme waiting list for a first examination. That is an increase of 175 since I raised the issue last year. Of that number, 818 are seven years overdue an examination. Some are not getting their first examination until they are in fifth year in secondary school. There is huge harm done in the meantime, with serious tooth decay and other problems arising. Those 818 children should be seen in fourth class. The HSE is now changing its tune and marking them for examination from sixth year, but it accepts they should be seen in third or fourth class. Those 818 pupils are seven full years overdue for examination. A total of 1,504 children are six years overdue for examination and 1,520 are five years overdue. They are adults before they are seen for their first examination, which should happen in fourth class. The Government is failing the children of Laois. It is failing those in other counties as well but Laois is a particular black spot.  The dental treatment services scheme is for medical card patients. I told the Taoiseach last year that the scheme has collapsed in Laois. It is still flat on the floor, being non-existent in almost all of the county. There still is just one dentist from Carlow providing a service in the community centre in Killeshin on the border of Laois and Carlow. No other practice in the county is taking medical card patients under the dental treatment services scheme. It is an absolute scandal that medical cardholders are without a service in Laois. Meanwhile, eight dentists are doing it in Offaly and a further eight are being recruited. I welcome that fact - if there are 16 there, that is good - having raised the situation in Offaly with the Taoiseach previously when the county was part of my constituency. What is the Government doing to address the situation in Laois?  The dental treatment benefit scheme, which is PRSI-based, has little or no substance. All people get is an examination and polish. Low- and middle-income workers and their families are being failed. Despite paying thousands of euro in tax, PRSI and USC every year, they cannot even get an extraction or a filling. Those workers and their families deserve better.  We are way behind other countries when it comes to public dental services. We have failed people. As I said, we are in the Dark Ages. There are other health problems caused by lack of dental care, such as stomach ulcers, gum disease and even a greater risk of blood poisoning. Will the Taoiseach and the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, take action now to address this? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I acknowledge that there are very significant difficulties and challenges with the dental treatment medical scheme and dental healthcare more generally in terms of the poor capacity in the public sector side of dental treatment.  The preponderance of people has been towards the private sector and the difficulty in terms of recruitment and establishing a comprehensive structure within the dental public health service has proven problematic for quite some time. There have been negotiations with the IDA and the Department of Health and there has been additional funding allocated. The Deputy is aware of the impact of that in County Offaly. I do not have the specifics of County Laois per se , but it seems to me, and I will speak to the Minister about this, that we need a more fundamental re-examination of how we provide dental services in the future in the most efficient and effective way that meets the needs of those who require such treatment, and what is the best mechanism for doing that. The existing approaches and more traditional approaches of the past have not borne fruit in terms of where dentists choose to operate or tend to do their practise and so on. That is a difficulty. I will ask the Minister to engage with the Deputy in respect of the situation in County Laois more specifically because he raised that.  Overall, dental health has improved fairly significantly. The public health side of dental health has been positive in terms of the basics people need to adhere to, but for those requiring treatment, many are waiting too long, particularly for orthodontics. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  The Taoiseach does not have the specifics for County Laois, but I have given them to him. Most of the statistics I gave him are only a week old. The three public schemes are in crisis.  I did not get to raise the boy with special needs I mentioned to the Taoiseach, the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, and previous Ministers. After six years of waiting in severe pain with periodontal disease, severe inflammation and bone loss, he has to be treated under anaesthetic in hospitals. I have raised this a number of times. Only now is he getting an appointment for a consultation. That gives the Taoiseach the scale of this. Three dental schemes need to be fixed; that is key. Will the Taoiseach now step up recruitment in Laois?  There is a particular problem in County Laois. The number of people in training places in dentistry has to be increased. We have to ensure there is active engagement between HSE management and dentists in County Laois to ascertain why private dentists are not taking them on. There are eight doing this in Offaly, which is good, but----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach to respond, the Deputy\u2019s time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  Will the Taoiseach now employ more HSE dentists to fill the gaps? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call the Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  There has to be more public dentists to fill those gaps. That is the message I want to get out. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The preponderence of people are moving more into the private sector. That is the reality. However, I take the Deputy\u2019s point. There are ongoing reviews and discussions on this between the Minister and representative organisations. Recruitment has been ongoing and additional funding has been allocated over the past two to three years. I do not have the specifics on County Laois; I know the Deputy does. I will ask the Minister to engage with him in respect of County Laois specifically.  In terms of prioritisation, those with special needs should get first priority in terms of interventions. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-19\/debate\/dbsect_3","debateType":"orderofBusiness","bill":null,"showAs":"An tOrd Gn\u00f3 - Order of Business","counts":{"speechCount":21,"speakerCount":10},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Mary Butler)  I move:  Tuesday's business shall be:  - Motion re Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions (1) (without debate and any division claimed to be taken immediately)  - Motion re Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions (2) (without debate and any division claimed to be taken immediately)  - Statements on National Biodiversity Week (not to exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes)  Tuesday's private members' business shall be the Motion re Evictions and Rent Hikes, selected by Sinn F\u00e9in.  Wednesday's business shall be:  - National Asset Management Agency (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 (Second Stage) (to conclude within 3 hours and 34 minutes)  - Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2025 (Report and Final Stages) (to commence no earlier than 4.45 p.m. and to conclude within 2 hours)  - Health (Amendment) (Home Support Providers) Bill 2025 (Report and Final Stages) (to conclude within 1 hour)  - Motion to Instruct the Committee on the Central Bank (Amendment) Bill 2025 (to conclude within 1 hour and any division claimed to be taken immediately)  Wednesday's private members' business shall be the Motion re Defence and Neutrality, selected by Independent and Parties Technical Group.  Thursday's business shall be:  - Guardianship of Infants (Amendment) Bill 2026 (Second Stage) (to conclude within 3 hours and 34 minutes)  Thursday evening business shall be the Motion re Report entitled \u2018Report on Pre-Legislative Scrutiny of the revised General Scheme of the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill\u2019, sponsored by the Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport.  Proposed Arrangements for this week\u2019s business:  In relation to Tuesday\u2019s business, it is proposed that:  1. notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders:  (a) the time allocated to Government business shall be extended in accordance with the arrangements for that business and the D\u00e1il may sit later than 10.48 p.m.; and  (b) private members business shall be taken on conclusion of the Statements on National Biodiversity Week, with consequential effect on the commencement times for the items following in the ordinary routine of business;  2. the proceedings on the Motion re Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions (1) shall be taken without debate and any division claimed thereon shall be taken immediately;  3. the proceedings on the Motion re Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions (2) shall be taken without debate and any division claimed thereon shall be taken immediately; and  4. the Statements on National Biodiversity Week shall not exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply:  (a) the statements, not including the Ministerial response, shall be in accordance with the sequence contained in the table immediately below (to be read across);  (b) following the statements, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes; and  (c) members may share time.          Gov      SF      Lab      Gov      SF       Mins    25    15    10    10    3           SD      Gov      SF      IPTG      Gov       Mins    10    10    3    9    10           SF      ITG      Gov      SF      OM       Mins    3    9    10    3    5      Total: 2 hours 15 mins    In relation to Wednesday's business, it is proposed that:  1. notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders:  (a) the time allotted for Government Business shall be extended in accordance with the arrangements for that business and the D\u00e1il may sit later than 9.30 p.m.;  (b) in the event proceedings on the National Asset Management Agency (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 concludes before 4.45 p.m., the sitting shall stand suspended until 4.45 p.m., when the order of business shall resume with the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2025; and  (c) the weekly division time shall be taken on the conclusion of the Motion to Instruct the Committee on the Central Bank (Amendment) Bill 2025, and the D\u00e1il shall adjourn on the conclusion of the weekly division time;  2. the proceedings on the National Asset Management Agency (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 3 hours and 34 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply thereto:  (a) the first-round speeches, not including the Ministerial response, shall be in accordance with the table below (to be read across);  (b) on the conclusion of the first speaking round or where speeches conclude before the 3 hours and 24 minutes have elapsed and no other member is offering, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a speech in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes; and  (c) members may share time          Gov      SF      Lab      Gov      SF       Mins    20    20    20    12    4           SD      Gov      SF      IPTG      Gov       Mins    20    12    4    20    12           SF      ITG      Gov      SF      OM       Mins    4    20    12    4    20      Total: 3 hours 24 mins      3. the proceedings on the Report and Final Stages of the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2025 shall commence no earlier than 4.45 p.m., and shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 2 hours by one question which shall be put from the Chair, and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration;  4. the proceedings on the Report and Final Stages of the Health (Amendment) (Home Support Providers) Bill 2025 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 60 minutes by one question which shall be put from the Chair, and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Health; and  5. (i) the proceedings on the Motion to Instruct the Committee on the Central Bank (Amendment) Bill 2025 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 60 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply thereto:  (a) the order of speaking and allocation of time shall be as follows:-  \u2014 opening speech by a Minister or Minister of State \u2013 10 minutes;  \u2014 speeches by representatives of Sinn F\u00e9in, the Labour Party, Social Democrats, Independent and Parties Technical Group, and Independent Technical Group \u2013 7.5 minutes per party or group;  \u2014 speeches by Other Members \u2013 7.5 minutes in total; and  \u2014 a speech in response by the Minister \u2013 5 minutes;  (b) members may share time; and  (c) any division claimed thereon shall be taken immediately; and  (ii) that Deputy Robert Troy, Minister of State at the Department of Finance be designated the member in charge of the Central Bank (Amendment) Bill 2025.  In relation to Thursday's business, it is proposed that:  1. notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, topical issues may be taken earlier than 7.24 p.m. with consequential effect on the commencement time for Motion re Report entitled \u2018Report on Pre-Legislative Scrutiny of the revised General Scheme of the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill\u2019, and on the time for the adjournment of the D\u00e1il; and  2. the proceedings on the Guardianship of Infants (Amendment) Bill 2026 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 3 hours and 34 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply thereto:  (a) the first-round speeches, not including the Ministerial response, shall be in accordance with the table below (to be read across);  (b) on the conclusion of the first speaking round or where speeches conclude before the 3 hours and 24 minutes have elapsed and no other member is offering, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a speech in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes; and  (c) members may share time.          Gov      SF      Lab      Gov      SF       Mins    20    20    20    12    4           SD      Gov      SF      IPTG      Gov       Mins    20    12    4    20    12           SF      ITG      Gov      SF      OM       Mins    4    20    12    4    20      Total: 3 hours 24 mins  "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Is the Order of Business agreed? Not agreed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  The reason Israel feels it can kidnap 12 Irish citizens in international waters and act with impunity with no price to pay, is that the occupied territories Bill has been delayed by years. The Taoiseach knows that. He gave commitment after commitment as leader of his party that he would introduce that Bill and it has been held back again and again. That is why Israel can kidnap hundreds of citizens, including 12 Irish citizens; it pays no price or sanctions whatsoever. Why has it been delayed so long? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  I ask for the Government to follow what it did in the Autumn in relation to the flotilla. We have 12 Irish citizens kidnapped, including the President's sister and Luke McMenamin, from my own constituency. This Government provided time in the past to have a debate on the flotilla. We need to do it again. Some 12 citizens and maybe three more, have been kidnapped by the Israeli state. That is not acceptable. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  As we speak, flotilla organisers are reporting that the Israeli military is shooting rubber bullets at one of the last boats that has not yet been kidnapped by Israel, which has an Irish citizen on it. The Government has indicated that it will vote tomorrow against the Bill we have put forward calling for sanctions against the state that is doing this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  What crime do the Israelis have to commit----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you. Deputy Michael Collins. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  -----against Irish citizens or Palestinians before the Government will support sanctions? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  I have been looking for a debate about short-term lets in the D\u00e1il for the past two or three months. Yes, the can has been kicked down the road, and that is different from what the Government was saying for long enough, but the public needs to know what the future for them is in relation to short-term lets. A debate is warranted immediately. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Jen Cummins, who I missed. I apologise. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  No problem.  The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre today said in its annual report that it had 24,000 contacts last year. That is up 5% from 2024 and up 29% from 2023. Almost 31% of them were first-time contacts. There was a huge fear among people who were at risk of becoming homeless. They then stay in their accommodation, whether it is live-in landlords or housemates abusing them. A large number of young people also spoke about image-based sexual violence and cyber abuse. We need an urgent debate----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  ------in this House about that issue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  I note all the comments made, but we have a serious amount of business to get through this week, including the National Treasury Management Agency (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) (Amendment) Bill, the Health (Amendment) (Home Support Providers) Bill and the Guardianship of Infants (Amendment) Bill. For that reason, and because in the morning there is a Private Members' motion on defence and neutrality, during which there will be ample opportunity to raise some of the concerns already raised under Leaders' Questions, the Order of Business stands. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Are the proposed arrangements agreed to? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Not agreed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  We have all heard in recent weeks about the scandal on Connaught Street in Dublin. Dublin City Council has finally agreed to meet with the residents today but this is not the only such site in the heart of Dublin city centre. No. 6 Terrace Place sits at the end of a row of beautifully maintained homes off Se\u00e1n McDermott Street. It was added to the derelict sites register in 2008 and was subject to a compulsory purchase order in 2023. I have pictures here just to give the Taoiseach an idea of what it is like. It was falling down in 2009 and was worsen again in 2014 and then 2018. This picture is from 2022. The building was left to rot and collapse. Will there be real penalties for speculators and landholders who let buildings that could be homes for families become derelict because this is happening across the country? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  There is an obligation on Dublin City Council to act on derelict sites and it should have acted in respect of such derelict sites and buildings. That is first and foremost the responsibility of local authorities. Some have managed it reasonably well while others have not. That is why the Government took a decision last year to bring Revenue in on derelict sites so that Revenue will make sure that dereliction will be penalised. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  I express my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Yves Sakila and express my concern at the incident last Friday evening on Henry Street in Dublin city centre that resulted in his death and the injury of an older man. I also express condolences to the Congolese community here. It has been reported that Mr. Sakila was an IT professional originally from Congo who had been living in Ireland for some 20 years. A video has been circulating of the minutes leading up to Mr. Sakila's death. I viewed this and for anyone who has viewed it, it contains very distressing and disturbing footage. I echo the words of the Irish Network Against Racism, INAR, which said it was very concerned that excessive force may have been used against Mr. Sakila, and indeed that appears to be evident from the video. I also support calls by INAR for a thorough investigation of all the circumstances leading to the death of Mr. Sakila. Deputy Marie Sherlock, our local TD in the area, has also issued that call and attended today the vigil in Mr. Sakila's memory on Henry Street. We need to ensure all the circumstances of this incident are thoroughly examined. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I spoke about this earlier. Again, my sympathies go to the family of Yves Sakila. It is an issue of the deepest concern and needs to be thoroughly and fully investigated. Obviously, there will be a post mortem to establish the cause of death, which will inform the Garda investigation. Fiosr\u00fa, the independent Office of the Police Ombudsman, was notified, as required under the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024. It is fully independent in terms of its investigative and operational functions.  There are very serious concerns and I do not want to prejudice any subsequent investigation, other than to say that everybody is deeply saddened. A person has lost his life in such circumstances, and the manner in which that has occurred has caused huge concern across society. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"An tOrd Gn\u00f3 - Order of Business"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-19\/debate\/dbsect_8","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Visit of Austrian Delegation","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Before I move to the next Deputy, I ask Members to join me in extending a warm c\u00e9ad m\u00edle f\u00e1ilte to Mr. Markus Stotter, president of the Austrian Federal Council, here in the Distinguished Visitors' Gallery. The president's delegation is accompanied by H.E., Ms Melitta Schubert, ambassador of Austria to Ireland, along with Senator Tom Clonan, convenor of the Irish Austrian parliamentary friendship group. They are most welcome.  I call Deputy Gannon. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Visit of Austrian Delegation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-19\/debate\/dbsect_9","debateType":"orderofBusiness","bill":null,"showAs":"An tOrd Gn\u00f3 (At\u00f3g\u00e1il) - Order of Business (Resumed)","counts":{"speechCount":46,"speakerCount":16},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ryan O'Meara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Roche","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  I would not expect the Taoiseach to be aware of every incident of vandalism that takes place in a particular playground or play facility across the country but the north inner city task force is run by his Department. Diamond Park is a playground right in the heart of the community and it is well used. If you go into it, most days you will see what happens in any other playground - families sitting together and children playing. That playground was burned over the weekend. It was torched and set alight. It is not the first act of vandalism that has happened there. It has happened in the dark of the night on many occasions.  This is all while the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, tells us there is high visibility policing happening around the city centre. Those two things do not meet. The community of the inner city are telling us they are not being policed to the same levels you will see in the commercial city centre where you will see a visible policing presence. What occurred over the weekend with another loss of an amenity is not acceptable. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I agree fully with Deputy Gannon that this is an appalling incident and we must condemn those who did it because they are impacting, presumably, on their own community. Young children now cannot avail of that play facility because of the burning that has taken place. I cannot comprehend why people would do that.  I will alert the Minister for justice to the Deputy's comments. There has been increased visibility but garda\u00ed are not going to be everywhere 24 hours a day. That has to be acknowledged as well. Nonetheless, this is a very serious incident. It is shocking in terms of the damage and the prevention of opportunities for children to play. I will certainly alert the Minister to this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  The Green Party has highlighted the pollution and damage to nature at Lady's Island Lake in Wexford with the Taoiseach in the past. Last Friday, the climate and environment committee visited Lady's Island Lake, and met with the strategic oversight group and the save Our Lady's Island Lake community group. What has been done to date is encouraging, and I welcome the initial tranche of funding provided to begin the baseline and scoping work. However, more State support is needed. My colleague, Senator Noonan, stated that the restoration of the ecological status of Lady's Island Lake could take up to 20 years, and with a huge collective effort.  On National Biodiversity Week, will the Taoiseach give a commitment to more investment to fund the work of the strategic oversight group to deliver long-term restoration of the lake through supporting local farmers? Lady's Island Lake could become a beacon of restoring nature across this island but it requires the State to step up and support actions on the ground that will ultimately turn this situation around. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  First, I appreciate the comments the Deputy has made and that he has acknowledged the encouraging signs the committee witnessed when it visited Lady's Island Lake recently. I have been engaged with the Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan, on the biodiversity plan and national funding over a period, to enable implementation of the broader national strategy and plan. Obviously, we are committed to continuing the work at Lady's Island Lake to see how speedily or timely we can get that work done. I will speak to the Minister of State again on that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  It is now taking anything from four to six weeks for Garda vetting to be returned by the national vetting bureau. This is having a very real and immediate impact on the early years sector, a sector that, frankly, should be an absolute priority. Services are operating strict staff-to-child ratios and because of these delays, some are being forced to close rooms. That, in turn, is creating a huge knock-on effect for working parents who rely on these services every single day. We clearly need a more efficient, portable vetting system. What action can the Government take to fix this? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The additional resources have been allocated and the Garda and others are working flat out to make it as timely and efficient as possible. Legislation is there, so people are either constrained by it or have to operate under the legislative frameworks that govern vetting. It should be kept under constant review to make sure it is practical and pragmatic while at all times ensuring proper safeguarding and protection of people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ryan O'Meara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ryan O'Meara  I have been contacted by farmers across north Tipperary and north-west Kilkenny, who are currently finding it difficult to access funding under the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme, TAMS, for the installation of solar panels on their farm buildings. A recent parliamentary question reply stated that the solar capital investment scheme has been hugely popular with farmers wishing to invest in renewable energy, thereby reducing their dependence on fossil fuels. That same reply from the Minister, Deputy Heydon, stated that between 2023 and 2025 over \u20ac4.5 million was paid to farmers to get solar panels on their farms, which is really good news. However, in the current climate of rising costs for diesel and electricity, falling prices for farmers and the need to reduce carbon emissions, the installation of solar panels on farm buildings really is low-hanging fruit. Therefore, my two questions to Government are: first, will we see an increase in the percentage in TAMS funding in the next tranche for the installation of solar panels on farm buildings? Second, can farmers who have been refused recently----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy. The Taoiseach to respond, or the Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ryan O'Meara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ryan O'Meara  -----be prioritised in the next round for funding? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I know the Minister for agriculture is here but I will take it on the basis that this morning, the Cabinet had a discussion on this issue, acknowledging, first of all, the significant take-up of TAMS by farmers in respect of solar. More than 20% of the expenditure overall, out of \u20ac160 million, has been on the solar capital investment scheme. That shows there is a real hunger there among farmers.  The Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, is engaging with the Minister for agriculture. They will try to work it out together and then we will go to the Minister for public expenditure. In any event, we are onto this and I think there is an issue here. It is an issue for everybody. The more renewables we can install, we can reduce costs for users of energy and that is something we have to do at pace. TAMS is a good potential vehicle for solar but, that said, there are limits under the existing scheme because of the fact that 64,000 applications have been received to date. Three times the number was received. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Burke  I was in Croke Park this morning for the All-Island Cancer Summit 2026. It had organisations from the Irish Cancer Society and medical consultants to researchers, people from the hospitals and everyone involved in cancer care in the country. The big concern they all have is about the future ten-year cancer plan. The strategy is a ten-year plan from 2016 to 2026. Has a team been established to plan for cancer care and treatment in the country for the next ten years? How can we deal with the new therapies being delivered and made available? How we can keep up to date with those new therapies? When is a plan going to be put in place? Is a team in place? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We have benefited enormously from a strategic approach to cancer over the past three decades, going back to the late nineties. That has resulted in significant survival rate improvements and increases in technology and so on. Survival rates for patients have improved greatly. OECD data show that cancer mortality rates in Ireland are falling faster than the EU 27 average and faster than that of our economic peers.  The first strategy was 1996. My understanding is that there is a successor to the current ten-year strategy in planning and on the way. There has to be.  I will talk to the Minister in terms of the Deputy's raising this issue today. We need to continue with that strategic approach, looking ahead at trends, therapies and how best to deploy them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy R\u00e9ada Cronin  Colm Byrne, my Sallins constituent, has just been kidnapped an hour ago on a flotilla in international waters on a peaceful mission to deliver aid, medical supplies and food to the Palestinian people. It is a non-violent humanitarian expedition yet the IDF is treating them savagely and illegally. Amidst his mistreatment, in a voice message he sent to me, all Colm can think about is not what the IDF is going to do to them, but imagining what they do to Palestinians - the cruelty, torture and sexual abuse that Palestinians, including children, suffer. He wants me to give a clear message to the Government to stop being so spineless when it comes to Israel. Colm is urging every single Teachta to remember what the State of Israel is doing when they vote for the sanctions against Israel Bill tomorrow night.  Irish citizens are sailing into danger carrying aid, abiding by international law, because the Government has failed in his moral duty by allowing this horror to continue. What is the Taoiseach to protect these Irish citizens and to make sure that we finally act against this genocide? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  As we have always done, we work to help and support Irish citizens in any difficult situation. In this case it is absolutely unacceptable. I have condemned what the Israeli military and Israeli Government have done in international waters. We will work extremely hard through our ambassadors to make sure that all Irish citizens are looked after and that they are released immediately. Those are the advocacy and representations we will make to the Israeli Government.  I do not accept the Deputy's assertion that it is the Irish Government's fault that the flotilla has been intercepted by Israel. They have been doing that for over two decades. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy R\u00e9ada Cronin  I did not say that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I do not think it is fair. I will just make the point---- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy R\u00e9ada Cronin  I said the Government is forcing Irish citizens into direct action because it is not doing enough. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That is not the reason. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy R\u00e9ada Cronin  It is the reason. They would not have to do that if the Government were acting. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That is not the reason. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John McGuinness  Duiske College located in Kilkenny has DEIS status. It was ranked third in terms of progression to university throughout the country in a national poll. The school site is made up of prefabs. They are dated and full of mould. There are holes in the floor and electrical issues of all kinds. Recently it been refused a second ASD class, even though there is a waiting list at the school. I tabled a parliamentary question recently and to say that I got a partial answer does not even describe it. I ask the Taoiseach to intervene to make sure that the second ASD class for Duiske College is delivered, that the prefabs are examined and updated without delay, and possibly that they be given a new site close to that school. It is not acceptable. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I take it that it is a post-primary school. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John McGuinness  Yes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I will talk to the Minister in respect of this. In addition to the physically established special classes, a new inclusive class is being advanced by the Department. It is open to schools. If they have children and young students with special needs, the same principle of one teacher and two SNAs will apply. In advance of a class being established physically, a new innovation has come into being. I will check with the Minister whether Duiske College can be accommodated within that. We are trying to create more classes as well across the length and breadth of the country because the numbers are increasing and we have to meet the need. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  As I said to the Taoiseach earlier on, I am getting reports from the flotilla organisers that Israel is shooting rubber bullets at boats that have Irish citizens on them, who have not yet been kidnapped by this rogue regime. There would be uproar if Russia kidnapped people on the open seas, for example. There were sanctions immediately when it invaded Ukraine. There would be outrage. The Government has not imposed a single sanction on the State of Israel despite, genocide, apartheid and now the seizure, again, of Irish citizens. This is a regime that tortures people, according to the UN special rapporteur and widespread reports. There are grave concerns for our citizens.  What crime does Israel have to commit before we will impose sanctions? Why is the Government going to vote against the sanctions Bill tomorrow night when the flotilla organisers, and I would say the majority of people in this country, are saying we should impose sanctions on this state for the crimes it has committed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy knows that the European sanctions against Russia are European, not individual member states'. The same applies to Israel. We have not been able to get unanimity at European Union level in respect of Israel. The Deputy knows that yet he just presents a false picture. By the way, Russia did kidnap thousands and thousands of children. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Has the Government put sanctions on it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy has never brought a Bill in about that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  I did. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Or about anything. I agree what has happened is unacceptable. Everybody does. We are seeking to try to get the Israeli-EU trade association agreement suspended. More states are becoming supportive of the Spanish and Irish position. The Deputy knows damn well we advanced it two--- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  The Spanish imposed sanctions; the Government has not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy keeps interrupting. We advanced it two and a half years ago. He knows we did, yet he just keeps on making false assertions about the Government's approach to this. I do not think that is fair either. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Not false. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  The current income limits for council housing are completely outdated. They are too low and must be increased urgently. These low income limits have the effect of locking large numbers of low- and middle-income families out of public housing and indeed private home ownership as well. The families do not qualify for council housing or the housing assistance payment, nor will they qualify for a mortgage. They are condemned to private renting at enormous rents for ever more. They cannot save for a deposit. Some of these families have been on council lists for years, only to be removed when the list is removed. I know the Taoiseach will tell me about schemes like help to buy, affordable housing and rent to buy. Large numbers of these families simply cannot avail of these schemes. They live from week to week and cannot save for a deposit. These limits need to be urgently increased. They are unacceptably low at present. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I appreciate the point the Deputy is making and I have a lot of empathy with what he is saying. They were last revised about three years ago, maybe a bit longer, and I think the threshold for qualification for social housing went up about \u20ac5,000. I know the Minister for housing is reviewing this. I have spoken to the Minister about this. There are quite a number of working people who are on incomes that would not enable them to get mortgages and so on and who are above the threshold for social housing. I believe it needs to be reviewed upwards. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere  I acknowledge the hard work and commitment of our garda\u00ed across the country. Day in and day out they serve communities with professionalism and dedication, often under significant pressure and with limited resources. The increase in Garda recruitment and investment in recent years is welcome and appreciated. However, rural communities still feel they are not seeing the benefit of the investment on the ground. The issue is not simply Garda numbers; it is the geographical spread of resources. Too many rural towns and villages are left without a visible Garda presence. People in rural Ireland deserve to feel safe in their homes, farms and communities. Farmers continue to face theft and trespassing. Elderly residents are worried about isolation and long response times. Many communities feel disconnected from local policing. We need to ensure that recruitment and resources are distributed more fairly so that rural Ireland is not left behind. Will the Government commit to improving the geographical spread of Garda resources and increasing the visible Garda presence in rural communities, particularly in Carlow-Kilkenny but also around the country? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising this. He has a particular focus on this issue. I will speak to the Minister for justice. Generally speaking, we support what the Deputy said. The numbers are increasing of those coming through Templemore recruitment centre and college, which is good. There was an initial focus on Dublin and cities but that will change. There is now an increasing allocation to rural areas. In terms of a recruitment and dispersal strategy, I take fully on board what the Deputy is saying.  I will also pick up on his point that perhaps we need to look at the policing model for rural Ireland and work with local community safety partnerships and local stakeholders in rural Ireland to see what is the best way to deploy resources to enable people to feel safe. I have witnessed recently that where we had greater Garda visibility on streets, the psychological impact was amazing. People felt safer because of that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Roche","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Roche  I want to raise once again the question of wind energy guidelines. Last year when I entered this Chamber, I was anxious to understand when the planning guidelines would be updated both for wind energy, the towering tall 185 m high turbines and of course for solar energy.  There was a promise or commitment given that the planning guidelines would be updated and published in the spring of this year. Spring has just slipped away and I am anxious to know when they will be published. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Work is under way between the Department of energy and climate and the Department of housing in terms of a planning statement, which has replaced the format for guidelines. Remember this same Department had to work on the planning on exempted developments, which was quite a significant piece of work, on the rural housing guidelines, which are imminent, and on short-term lets. There is a lot of work going on there. I do think we need somewhat of a conversation or debate about energy. I make this point generally. We had to allocate \u20ac750 million a couple of weeks ago to help people pay for their energy costs because of the importation of fossil fuels and the incredible rise in prices, which is impacting people. Renewables give us a pathway to reduce costs for everybody. We need to make sure we get the balance right in terms of the different energy sources, so that we can get costs down permanently for people. That might involve trade-offs but we can discuss that when the planning statement comes along. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  I want to raise with the Taoiseach the issue of the flotilla. As he knows, Dr. Margaret Connolly is a constituent of mine from County Sligo. She and 11 others have been detained by Israel on the open seas in international waters. Their boats were invaded and taken over by military force and people were taken by military force back to Israel. We do not know who they are, where they are, where they are being held or what is happening to them. These families are in distress. I acknowledge the Irish consulate is working with them and the work it has been doing there. Politically, the reaction of Ireland needs to be strong, determined and forceful. We need to say clearly to the world that it is not appropriate that Irish citizens can be treated in this way. They were bringing aid to an area in Gaza which is under siege, where people are hungry, do not have medical provisions and have been tortured and destroyed by war for the past 18 months. Yet we see this international action happening, which is totally inappropriate. I appeal to the Taoiseach to be firm and clear as to what Ireland is going to do in respect of this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach will now respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I agree in terms of the appalling nature of this act. Worse is the fact that Israel is not allowing appropriate and sufficient aid into Gaza. Notwithstanding the Board of Peace and the first phase of the agreement being implemented early on, and aid was getting in----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  A trickle. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That has choked up again and has been restricted. This is a grievous thing to be doing. It is an appalling thing for the Israeli Government to be doing because people are still starving and do not have proper shelter in Gaza. There are quite a number of international citizens, including Irish citizens, on board the flotilla raising awareness about the injustices of what is happening in Gaza and in the West Bank itself. Ireland has been very clear on this. It is at European Union level that the greatest impact can be made, and with the United States Government, to have pressure and leverage on Israel to stop doing what it is doing. It is acting with reckless abandon and, in my view, is consistently in breach of international humanitarian law. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  I want to highlight some difficulties that Irish healthcare students face in accessing clinical placements. A constituent of mine is studying physiotherapy in the Netherlands and needs to complete specific clinical practical placements in hospitals to register with CORU to practice as a physiotherapist in Ireland. She has been trying to line up a placement since February of last year but to no avail. Tallaght hospital has told me it has received 34 placement requests since January 2025 and so far it has only been able to accommodate five of these. In fairness, this is in addition to the placements it gives as a training hospital to Trinity College Dublin. At a time when we are trying to encourage people to join our health service it seems there is a lack of capacity in the training hospital system to cater for demand. What will the Government do to improve capacity to provide clinical practice for healthcare students who are either studying outside the State or at private colleges here that do not have official links? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Deputy James Lawless)  We are trying to increase the number of healthcare places in the system and we have added 1,100 across therapies, medicine, nursing, midwifery, etc. Placement opportunities are essential for these courses to go full term. I have been working very closely with the Minister for Health on this. The Minister for Health has appointed HSE regional co-ordinators for placements, specifically for this issue, to ensure that each hospital and healthcare facility is supported and makes these places available. Deputy Ahern mentioned that Trinity College has a relationship with Tallaght hospital. One of the issues is that there has to be more flexibility in the system. A hospital may have always had a relationship with a particular institute but it will not always have it and will have to look beyond it. I will pick this up with Deputy Ahern off-line and will engage with the Minister for Health on it as well to see what can be done for this particular student. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"An tOrd Gn\u00f3 (At\u00f3g\u00e1il) - Order of Business (Resumed)"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-19\/debate\/dbsect_10","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions: Motion","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_10","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Neale Richmond)  I move:  That, notwithstanding anything in the Order of the D\u00e1il of 5th February, 2025, or in the Order of the D\u00e1il of 28th April, 2026, setting out the rota in which Questions to members of the Government are to be asked, Questions for oral answer following those next set down to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage shall be set down to Ministers in the following temporary sequence, without any change to the allocation of Priority Questions:  Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade  Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht  whereupon the sequence established by the Order of 5th February, 2025, shall continue with Questions to the Tanaiste and Minister for Finance. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions: Motion"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-19\/debate\/dbsect_11","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions: Motion","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_11","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Children, Disability and Equality (Deputy Emer Higgins)  I move:  That, notwithstanding anything in the Order of the D\u00e1il of 5th February, 2025, setting out the rota in which Questions to members of the Government are to be asked, Questions for oral answer following those next set down to the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment shall be set down to Ministers in the following temporary sequence:  Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport  Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment  Minister for Social Protection  Minister for Transport  Minister for Children, Disability and Equality  whereupon the sequence established by the Order of 5th February, 2025, shall continue with Questions to the Minister for Health. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions: Motion"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-19\/debate\/dbsect_12","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Cabinet Committees","counts":{"speechCount":21,"speakerCount":12},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-19\/debate\/dbsect_11","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_11","showAs":"Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions: Motion"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_12","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brendan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","memberCode":"Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cormac Devlin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-19\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_12.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 15, inclusive, together.  The Cabinet committee on Northern Ireland oversees implementation of relevant programme for Government commitments and ongoing developments in relation to Northern Ireland, Irish-British relations, and the shared island initiative. It considers issues relevant to the Government\u2019s position as a co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, including our role in Good Friday Agreement institutions such as the North-South Ministerial Council, the British-Irish Council and the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference. Topics for discussion also include the annual UK-Ireland summits and their agreed programme of work and the continued roll-out and development of the investment, research and dialogue strands of the shared island initiative.  On 12 and 13 March, the UK-Ireland summit took place in Cork. The summit plenary saw a wide-ranging discussion on achievements to date under the UK-Ireland 2030 programme of strategic co-operation and on shared ambitions to see co-operation deepen and deliver across a range of areas, including energy security and the transition to clean energy, security, the protection of subsea infrastructure, cybersecurity and competitiveness, as well as our people-to-people ties. We also discussed wider international issues, including the situation in the Middle East, the Gulf region and Ukraine. Prime Minister Starmer and I agreed a statement reflecting the overall theme of the summit, Shared Prosperity, Shared Seas, Shared Ties, which set out achievements over the past year and looked ahead to future work together of mutual benefit to Ireland and the United Kingdom.  On 7 May, I was pleased to return to Belfast. My visit included opportunities to hear directly from political, business and civic leaders and to discuss ongoing and evolving all-island priorities. While in Belfast, I was delighted to participate in a joint event at Grand Central Station to mark the signing of a \u20ac700 million contract for a new fleet of Enterprise trains and related rail infrastructure. I was also pleased to deliver the Lord David Trimble lecture in Queen's University. David played a critical role in the achievement of the Good Friday Agreement. The principles and purpose of the Agreement remain central to what my Government does and how we foster relationships across these islands, including through the shared island initiative.  Also on 7 May, the shared island initiative report on 2025 was published. During 2025, the Government made funding commitments of over \u20ac100 million from the shared island fund for new multi-annual programmes that deepen co-operation and connections across the island, including on sustainable tourism, nature restoration, civic society co-operation, emergency response, a new Dublin-Derry airlink service and a shared island media fund as well as significant investment in arts and cultural programmes.  On 8 May, along with Government colleagues, I attended the 31st plenary meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council, hosted by the Northern Ireland Executive in Armagh. This was the fifth such meeting since the restoration of the Good Friday Agreement institutions in 2024. The agenda included discussions on shared challenges and opportunities relevant to both jurisdictions, including tackling gender-based violence and the potential areas where we can work together to eliminate this shockingly prevalent problem North and South. In November last year, we agreed \u20ac5.9 million in shared island funding to strengthen the existing co-operation between our emergency and fire services. The next meeting will be 15 June. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shane Moynihan  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Taoiseach as an uasdat\u00fa sin. T\u00e1 dh\u00e1 cheist agam. I dtosach b\u00e1ire, will the Taoiseach update the House on the intention to reform the Good Friday Agreement institutions? This has been flagged a number of times by the Government and the Taoiseach and I would be grateful for an update on the thinking of ourselves, the British Government and the Northern Irish parties on this. The Taoiseach rightly pointed to the success of the shared island initiative, which has been transformative in bringing people together. Will he elaborate on whether or not consideration could be given to using the shared island fund to promote initiatives to combat loneliness? It is a blight in societies North and South and I would be grateful for an update in this regard. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brendan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","memberCode":"Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brendan Smith  The publication last September of the joint framework between the British and Irish Governments relating to legacy issues arising from the Troubles was a welcome development. The legislation enacted by the previous British Government whereby murderers, be they from state forces or paramilitary organisations, could give themselves immunity was reprehensible. Will An Taoiseach update us on the progress in advancing the measures provided for in that framework? Last Sunday marked the 52nd anniversary of the Dublin-Monaghan bombings where 34 innocent people were killed and more than 300 injured. It is essential that at every meeting with members of the British Government the Irish side highlights in no uncertain terms that the Oireachtas needs a positive response to our unanimous request, made on four occasions, that an independent, eminent, international legal person be given access to all files and papers pertaining to the Dublin-Monaghan bombings and ensure full co-operation and a comprehensive investigation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Erin McGreehan  There are a huge number of opportunities for all-island co-operation. This Government has led on the first all-island university in the partnership between DkIT and Queen's. We work together, study together and live together and all along the border it is seamless. However, when it comes to healthcare there are a lot of barriers. There are examples of where you can get dialysis in the North if you are a southern patient. Increased co-operation can only be good for Border communities. If we are looking at furthering the health and well-being of all our people on the island, increased capacity in our healthcare North and South can only be better if we work together. I would love an update on that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cormac Devlin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cormac Devlin  I thank the Taoiseach for the update. As Cathaoirleach of the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement committee I have seen first hand the value of the shared island initiative from my visit last June with the Taoiseach to Narrow Water Bridge in County Louth, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2027, to the ongoing restoration of the Ulster Canal. Closer to home, D\u00fan Laoghaire-Rathdown chamber and Bangor chamber signed the shared island economic partnership memorandum of understanding in April and presented jointly to the committee on the cross-Border economic corridor. Will the Taoiseach indicate how the Cabinet committee on Northern Ireland will support business-led partnerships of this kind? Will he confirm when phase 3 of the Ulster Canal is expected to be completed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  Has there been any engagement with the British Government to deal with the issue of the road user levy? This was introduced on all HGVs over 12,000 kg. Southern hauliers have to pay \u20ac10 per day to cross the Border. We know there are many Border crossings and how many times that can happen. There is also an administration issue. If you fail to do that, you could have a \u00a3300 fine. It is an issue that needs to be dealt with. I have dealt with my colleagues in the North who have brought it up, but it needs agreement with the British Government, which has full control of this issue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  The Friends of Irish Athletics group presented to a packed audiovisual room earlier today. It highlighted the longstanding discrepancy, injustice and discrimination related to the World Athletics 1934 political boundary rule. This means that when an Irish runner competes for Ireland in the Olympics they are specifically representing the island of Ireland, but when an Irish runner competes in the World Athletics Championships they are specifically representing the Twenty-six Counties. The Friends of Irish Athletics group is campaigning for Athletics Ireland to bring forward a motion to the 2027 World Athletics Congress to seek a derogation from the 1934 political boundary rule. Athletics Ireland has indicated some willingness to do this. Will the Taoiseach contact Athletics Ireland on behalf of the Government to encourage it to engage with stakeholders to advance that motion? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  The Taoiseach knows there are over 600,000 Irish citizens or people who hold Irish passports in the North. Obviously, there has been a significant surge in Irish passport applications from citizens living in the North since Brexit. Over 120,000 applications were received in 2024 and almost 85,000 last year. Given this sustained demand, does the Taoiseach agree that Irish citizens in the North deserve a dedicated passport office? When is this going to happen? If the State can run a passport office in London, as it should, surely it is reasonable and necessary to establish a permanent passport office in Belfast and Derry to provide this basic public service closer to home for hundreds of thousands of Irish citizens in the North. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  On Sunday in Ardboe, thousands of people marched to save Lough Neagh from environmental disaster due to the extreme eutrophication of the waters of Lough Neagh. The protest saw fishermen, swimmers, trade union activists, environmentalists and many more squarely put the blame on all of the major parties in Stormont for failing to prevent the greenlighting of factory farms that are polluting Lough Neagh. They also point to the private ownership of Lough Neagh by Lord Shaftesbury and the failure to protect the precious biodiversity of Lough Neagh. Does the Taoiseach have any comment on that? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  I know the Taoiseach recently met with the SDLP leader, Claire Hanna, about reform of the Stormont institutions. It is something we in the Labour Party have long called for. The SDLP is calling on the UK and Irish Governments to engage in a short process of talks with parties to deliver change before the next Assembly elections. Will the Taoiseach confirm if he is considering that and if he will convene talks? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  The Springhill massacre saw the killing by the British army of three children, a father of six and a priest. The inquests concluded three weeks ago and there has been silence from the British since. There has been not a dicky bird and no apology at all from the British for these killings. Does the Taoiseach think there should be an apology from the British Government for these killings? On the legacy Bill, the British Secretary of State will still hold the power to determine whether there will be an investigation. He will be advised by the security forces, often the very people who are the subject of those investigations, about whether there should be an investigation. Is it not wrong that a politician, especially a British politician, is being advised by the security forces that there should not be an investigation into themselves? Should the Government not make sure that does not remain part of the new legacy Bill? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank all Deputies for the issues they raised. Bh\u00ed an Teachta Moynihan ag caint faoi Chonradh Aoine an Ch\u00e9asta agus go h\u00e1irithe an cinneadh a rinneamar maidir leis an oile\u00e1n comhroinnte. He spoke about the shared island initiative and the decision in respect of it. He asked if loneliness could come under that umbrella. It certainly could. We have had discussions with the Minister of Health in the North about public health interventions under shared island. We can try to get the right organisations together North and South, as we have in the area of domestic violence where the National Women's Council Ireland is working with Women's Aid in the North. We have already funded joint projects between the two in respect of that issue. Likewise, if we can get the right bodies to focus on the issue of loneliness, which is a significant socialisation issue and has an impact on health, we will be willing to work on that.  We have made a lot of progress on the legacy agreement, which was raised by Deputy Smith. I say to all concerned that this is the opportunity to get this Bill through. He is correct to say that the previous Bill was deficient and the previous British Government did not consult as widely as it should have initially. It had measures in that Bill that were completely unacceptable. There has been a complete change in approach by the current British Government compared with what occurred prior to that. We need to acknowledge that. It is still going through Westminster. We are keeping an eye on it insofar as we want it to be true to the joint framework agreement. I am clear in my head that this is the opportunity to get a legacy Bill through that can sustain, and this current Government is the government in Britain that can deliver that. We have no guarantee that any future government, whatever configuration that might be, will be as disposed to the kind of legacy Bill we have in front of us. That needs to be said, and I say it straight. That is the reality of it, and we are continuing to work with the British Government to make sure it stays faithful to what was agreed.  I think Queen's and Dundalk is an exciting proposal. I was up there giving the annual David Trimble lecture, and I met the heads of Queen's and Dundalk Institute of Technology.  That is a very exciting potential partnership and again we stand ready to support that. They are working on it.  Deputy McGreehan made a point on the health service. There has been progress under CAWT, which she is probably familiar with, and on cancer and on heart at Altnagelvin, along with dialysis to some degree. More and more, particularly in the north west, we should be looking at really making it a whole health area. That would be my view. Instead of expecting people to travel all the way to Galway from Donegal, Sligo or all along the north east, it makes sense that we would synergise and use up the capacities. We can resource some of that and we are prepared to resource that through shared island funding because everybody benefits - citizens North and South benefit. I was in Altnagelvin some years ago and met a Donegal man who literally had about a 15-minute drive to Altnagelvin. He had to get a stent in because he had a cardiac event. Under our strategies here, that person could have had to go to Galway, in theory, whereas this makes so much more sense. The cancer centre in Altnagelvin that we helped fund some years ago is a superb opportunity and a service for people.  Deputy Devlin mentioned, I think, D\u00fan Laoghaire and Bangor. Again, that cross-Border corridor is extremely important. The Enterprise service has been superb. There has been a 40% increase in the number of people because the shared island initiative funded the hourly service. We want to continue to fund those economic corridors. I do not have an exact timeline for phase 3 but it is going to happen and we will be funding that right to the end as well. It is great that through the shared island initiative, the county councils, about 25 of them, are looking at feasibility studies and how best we can have joint projects between the councils.  Moving to Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa, the road user levy did not come up at the last North-South Ministerial Council. I met all the Northern parties last week but I will pursue it. How we can intervene in that is an open question but I hear what the Deputy is saying in respect of it and the additional costs it entails.  I think Deputy O'Rourke was saying Athletics Ireland was negative in terms of what he was suggesting about the same rules that apply to the Olympics applying to the world championships and the 1934 rule. I would have to examine that in greater detail but we should be careful of overly intervening in the sporting world. It has worked out its frameworks over a long number of years and we should respect the sporting bodies in that regard. I would like to see what it has to say about the issues involved.  Deputy Conway-Walsh raised a dedicated Passport Office. This has been a hardy annual for some years. It is all online now. That is the direction of travel. If you look at the statistics, they are overwhelming. The Department of foreign affairs has been of the view for quite some time and has moved away from the establishment of any new physical offices for symbolic reasons because the bulk of applications come in online. That is the Department's view and I have a lot of sympathy with it. The Department has concentrated a lot on getting a very quick turnover of passport applications if everything is in order and so on. The speed of response is quite significant and that is positive.  Deputy Boyd Barrett raised Lough Neagh and again shared island funding has been made available to help with the pollution there. The Minister, Deputy Heydon, and the shared island unit have had good engagement with the Minister of agriculture in the North, Andrew Muir. He is certainly doing everything he possibly can to deal with what is a chronic situation with the lough. Again, we have sought to pool our resources and bring experts together to try to identify what is the best way to try to deal with this pollution, which is shocking and chronic and really undermining what the lough has to offer.  On the reform of politics in Northern Ireland, I raised the issue with all the political parties last week when I was in Belfast. I spoke about this a number of years ago at the Alliance Party's annual dinner but I favour reform of strand 1 of the Good Friday Agreement in respect of enabling politics to work better. I think there is greater confidence in some parties. Sinn F\u00e9in is saying it is going to produce proposals in respect of that and people are awaiting those. That is a new position but it is important. The DUP is saying it is not as enthusiastic about this, to put it mildly. The Alliance, the SDLP and other parties are. Again, the parties themselves need to get together to discuss this. For example, the Assembly should meet immediately after an election and a speaker should be elected. That is a very basic reform that should not bring the whole house down. Then there would not be a vacuum in terms of the Parliament meeting after an election. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  What about Deputies Ahern and T\u00f3ib\u00edn? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That was on Deputy Ahern's point. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Excuse me. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn raised the Springhill massacre. I have not seen the full outcome of the inquest but timely and proper apologies should be given in respect of the Springhill massacre and other events of a similar kind. On the legacy Bill, I have made my point to the Deputy that huge progress has been made compared with where we were in terms of the previous legacy Bill. I have confidence that if it gets through the legislature in Britain and is implemented in good faith, it will make for a defining moment in dealing once and for all with legacy on the island of Ireland. If the Deputy does not mind me saying, some people want to have a campaign forever. I remember the Eames-Bradley report. I would say that was nearly 20-odd years ago, or 25 maybe. I do not know. Maybe it was not that long ago. It was talking about legacy. Every initiative has failed. It is start-stop, start-stop. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  But should a politician be in charge of a criminal conviction? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Here is an opportunity to try to get it over the line. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, everybody. We can add the time to the next question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Ultimately there has to be political accountability in respect of all these matters. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  There are 18 Deputies in the next grouping. Most Deputies are present, so we will work with 45 seconds each. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Cabinet Committees"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-19\/debate\/dbsect_13","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Cabinet Committees","counts":{"speechCount":25,"speakerCount":13},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-19\/debate\/dbsect_11","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_11","showAs":"Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions: Motion"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_13","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-19\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_13.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I propose Parliamentary Questions Nos. 16 to 34, inclusive, together.  The Cabinet committee on climate action, environment and energy oversees implementation of the programme for Government commitments in relation to the environment, climate action, energy and emergency planning. It considers the wide range of issues that require action in Ireland\u2019s transition to a low-carbon, climate resilient and sustainable future - a future in which we take full advantage of the renewable energy potential we possess, while ensuring energy policies contribute to energy security, affordability and competitiveness.  Much of Government's attention is currently focused on addressing the immediate cost pressures facing households and businesses arising from the conflict in the Middle East. The measures that have been put in place are helping to alleviate some of the dramatic cost increases experienced in recent months. These measures are necessary and the Government continues to develop further options so we will be in a position to respond as the situation develops.  At the same time, we must acknowledge our reliance on fossil fuels is a vulnerability for us all and makes Ireland susceptible to price and supply shocks from geopolitical events beyond our control. Our diminishing but still significant reliance on gas-powered generation also contributes to higher electricity costs. We are very conscious of the increased financial pressure on households and businesses arising from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The Ministers, Deputies Burke and O\u2019Brien, have and will continue to actively engage with industry representatives, suppliers, and relevant regulators on this matter. To date, over \u20ac750 million has been committed to measures to support households and business with increased fuel costs. On 24 March, the Government introduced temporary and targeted measures to reduce fuel costs, including a reduction in excise on petrol by 15 cent and diesel by 20 cent, an increase in the diesel rebate scheme for haulage and bus passenger operators from 7.5 cent up to 12 cent per litre of diesel, a temporary reduction of the NORA levy and the extension of the fuel allowance season by four weeks. This builds on the recent expansion of the fuel allowance to working family payment recipients, which was backdated to 1 January, and an increase in the allowance to \u20ac38 per week from 1 January.  Government further agreed on 12 April to new measures targeting fuel costs, amounting to over \u20ac500 million, to support the transport, farming and fisheries sectors. These include a reduction in excise on diesel and petrol by a further 10 cent - VAT inclusive - which brings the total reduction on diesel to 32 cent and on petrol to 27 cent, a reduction in excise on marked gas oil by a further 2.4 cent which brings the total reduction on green diesel to 7.4 cent and a deferral of the planned increase in carbon tax scheduled for May 1 until the budget, which will impact green diesel and non-propellant fuels such as kerosene heating oil, natural gas and solid fuels.  A new \u20ac100 million fuel subsidy support scheme is being introduced to assist farmers, agricultural contractors and fishers facing unprecedented increases in fuel costs, providing \u20ac20 million per month in supports.  Our ultimate goal, through the promotion of renewable energy on land and at sea, through the development of battery storage, through investing in an electricity grid fit for our current and future needs, and through the electrification of transport and heating, is to free ourselves from fossil fuels. This will be good for our energy security, good for our pockets and good for our economic future. It will also help us to dramatically lower Ireland's emissions of greenhouse gases.  This Government\u2019s priority remains the delivery of a secure, affordable and sustainable energy system built around renewable energy. As an island nation, we possess some of the best wind resources in Europe, and that potential must remain at the centre of our energy policy. Over 40% of electricity generation is now from renewable sources. Ireland\u2019s emissions have been falling for the last three years, and we now have lower overall emissions than at any point in the last 35 years, despite our population growing by 50% over that period. The latest EPA quarterly indicator report shows a continuation in that downward trend.  The Cabinet committee meets quarterly. It last met on 26 February and is scheduled to meet again later this month. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  We know that Ireland will face around eight climate events every year that will have an impact on different parts of the country. The Taoiseach will recall that after Storm Chandra he was with me in Aughrim in County Wicklow. One of the requests made by the local authority, and it has been submitted, is for funding to repair many of the roads washed away as a result of that event. This is still a priority for Wexford County Council and Wicklow County Council. Can the Taoiseach give any indication, given the damage caused by Storm Chandra, of when funding to repair the roads that were damaged will be made available to those local authorities? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  There is growing concern about the proposed approach to the new renewable energy targets to be set by the Office of the Planning Regulator, which, in turn, has passed this job to the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly, EMRA. These concerns extend to the possibility that the counties that have done the most could, effectively, be reset to zero, regardless of the progress already made. Offaly County Council was brave in 2009 to create a renewable energy policy in its development plan. Groups that have met with EMRA have raised concerns with me that existing renewable energy production may not be properly recognised. In the interests of fairness, counties like Offaly, which despite its small size, is already one of the leading producers of renewable energy in Ireland, should have their contributions to date fully taken into account. We will take more developments, but we cannot be treated in the same way as counties that have done very little or nothing up to this point. I am asking for the Taoiseach\u2019s support with this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail  Ireland now has the highest household electricity prices in the EU. They are approximately 40% above the EU average. Households in Ireland are now paying roughly \u20ac480 more per year in light of this. When will the updated national energy modelling be considered by the Government, and will nuclear be considered as a part of it? We need to look at all options here to reduce energy prices for families the length and breadth of this country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I will say this straight out. Given the state of the roads in County Louth, an insufficient amount of money has been put forward for these budgets. The fact is that Louth County Council initially, following Storm Chandra, looked for \u20ac1.2 million and then for \u20ac2.9 million extra that was necessary due to the huge damage done by the storm. This was done on the basis of works that had not been done over many years and that need to be done and an insufficient amount of resourcing from central government. The fact is that the county council was refused this amount last week. I am not entirely sure how this is going to work out, other than that the roads in the county, particularly in my town of Dundalk, will be particularly bad for the forthcoming period of time. I ask that this be revisited by the Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  The fossil-fuel crisis is a time when we need to have a catalyst to move more towards renewables. I am regularly contacted by households that would really love to move to renewables and deeply retrofit their homes, but, unfortunately, they just cannot afford to do so. Even though they are able to apply for grants and all those things, which are very welcome, there is a shortfall in the grants by comparison with what is needed. For terraced houses moving from E1 to H2, somebody would still need to find \u20ac37,000. It is \u20ac39,000 for a semi-detached house and \u20ac45,000 for a detached house. It is a huge amount of money. What can households do? The cost of living is so expensive, but it can be reduced if we go to renewables. It is like a cycle that people are stuck in. They do not have the money upfront to change and, therefore, their bills are going to be higher. As previous contributors said, our electricity prices are the highest in Europe. I thank the Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  Is ait an rud \u00e9 seo dom mar gurb \u00e9 seo an pr\u00edomhrud toisc gur innealt\u00f3ir m\u00e9. We have made huge progress in renewable energy generation, but there is growing concern that parts of our grid infrastructure and regulatory frameworks are struggling to keep up with that pace. Since August 2025, renewable generators have been reportedly dispatched down and curtailed, with some operators saying they are receiving no compensation despite supplying clean energy. At the same time, there are delays in implementing grid code reforms by EirGrid, and this is creating uncertainty for Irish-owned renewable developers. Will the Government work with EirGrid and industry regulators to accelerate the required grid upgrades and code changes, ensure fair treatment for renewable generators and provide confidence to foreign companies and the Irish market so we can continue expanding renewable generation while maintaining grid stability, along with enacting the private wires Bill and facilitating plug-in solar? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  The liberalisation of the energy markets across Europe was supposed to benefit consumers. The removal of the ESB\u2019s not-for-profit mandate and the introduction of competition into the market actually resulted across Europe in a 40% increase in energy costs. In Ireland, however, the increase was 267%. What we actually got was competition that led to rampant profiteering by private energy companies. Prices for the consumer did not go down, but up. Is there a recognition that actually having the energy sector driven by profiteering companies has failed and that we need to bring the energy sector back into proper public ownership and run on a not-for-profit basis? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Liam Quaide  One of the most important climate measures that could be taken in my constituency of Cork East is the restoration of the Youghal train link. The Taoiseach is well aware of the rail advances under way in the region. We look forward to new stations between Midleton and the city, and ten-minute frequencies of service. Youghal and its hinterland, though, are being entirely left out of that revolution in public transport. This is about carbon emissions, but also about fairness in regional development and Youghal\u2019s potential for prosperity. Residents of Youghal face gruelling commutes to work, college or special schools outside the region. At the same time, the residential and economic development taking off in Midleton and Carrigtwohill is not happening in Youghal at the same pace or on the same scale. This has consequences for housing, jobs, tourism, town centre renewal and the ability of people to live and work locally. Upgrading the N25 is important, but we need a decisive modal shift to rail and light rail in the city to address gridlock, reduce emissions and give Youghal a fair chance to grow sustainably. Will the Taoiseach commit to having more ambition for Youghal in respect of public transport? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  County Meath is the fastest-growing county in the country and Navan is the largest town in the country without a rail line. Some 90,000 people are commuting from Meath daily and 60,000 of those are commuting by car because of the lack of a public transport option. It is taking between three and four hours to get back and forth to work every day. People are living in commuter hell. It is costing them in terms of family time and in their pocket, and it is also impacting the environment. The rail line was first proposed by Fianna F\u00e1il in 1994. Its earliest delivery date is 2036. People who started working when it was announced will be on the pension by the time it is completed. It is glacially slow. The proposed railway order for that rail line has been delayed from 2026 to 2027 and now to 2028. Why can we not get planning right in this country? The Meath on Track campaign has done a terrific job in pushing this project forward and there will be a public consultation tomorrow in relation to the routes, and it will be announced. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  Given that this has been disastrously slow, will the Government now designate the Navan-Dublin railway line as a critical infrastructure project under the critical infrastructure Bill? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  Many of the Taoiseach\u2019s Government\u2019s policies seem to be ignoring the fact that we are failing to meet our climate targets. We see ever-increasing fossil fuel use due to there being more data centres, more cars on our roads and more planes in our skies. We need to see the Government\u2019s plan for how it is going to square this circle. If it is the Government's proposition that we can, basically, keep doing what we are doing and still cut our emissions as we are obliged to do, then let us see the homework. We keep asking for a climate action plan for this year. We are being told it is on the way. When will it be delivered? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  Go raibh maith agat.  I welcome the women from Mayo to the Public Gallery.  As we have been going door to door and speaking directly with families ahead of the by elections this Friday, the one issue that is raised more than any other is the unaffordability of energy and electricity. People are afraid to turn on their heating. Others are rationing, cutting back on essentials and living in constant anxiety about the next bill arriving through the door. Does the Taoiseach accept that this situation is unsustainable for working families, pensioners, carers and vulnerable people? Will he introduce energy credits to reduce energy costs and provide meaningful relief? We tabled legislation last week to show how we could permanently reduce energy prices. Something has to be done. People just cannot afford it. One woman answered the door to me yesterday. She had layers of clothing on her and said that she cannot turn the heat on. It was pouring rain and it was freezing outside. We have to do something to help people here and now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank everybody for raising a range of issues. Deputy Malcolm Byrne was first off in raising Storm Chandra. He made the very good point that there are about eight storm events a year now and that speaks to the need for greater adaptation in our broader policies across the board. We need to adapt and invest in adaptation so that we are ready for these storms. Each storm is different. Storm \u00c9owyn was different from Storm Chandra and had different impacts. I have spoken to the Minister with responsibility for roads and also to the Minister for public expenditure in relation to that. Submissions have been made across the country in respect of Storm Chandra and the needs there. I will come back to the Deputy in respect of that because it has to happen. More broadly, when I visited the Deputy, we saw a different manifestation of the storm. The flooding during that particular storm was a different event from what I witnessed in Carlow and in different parts of the country that I visited.  I would be strongly supportive of what Deputy McCormack said. Offaly has been very progressive in terms of renewables in general. As I have said to him previously, Offaly is on the cusp of something significant. Given the work of Bord na M\u00f3na, the battery storage developments that we have witnessed in Shannonbridge recently, investment in renewable farms and other investors coming on stream, renewable energy will attract other investments. Offaly has to get acknowledgement for what it has achieved already. It does not make any sense if there is not recognition. What has happened so far needs to be measured in terms of what one plans for the next instalment or degree of provision.  As I said earlier in response to another question, we need to have an honest conversation in the House about energy. People have looked for supports, quite rightly, and we have allocated about \u20ac750 million to alleviate the pressures on families, but the most effective pathway is to have more renewables. That will reduce the costs but we need to communicate that better to the public. More wind and more solar means cheaper energy costs in the long term and then we will not have to be putting together \u20ac750 million packages or providing energy credits for ever more. There is an over-reliance on the gas side and all of that is imported. If one looks at all of the graphs, we are still not at the right level. Around 40% of our energy is from renewables, or rather, around 40% of our electricity generation is from renewables. There has been an onshore wind revolution over the last 30 years. It has caused pressures and challenges, of that there is no doubt, but, equally, fossil fuel is damaging as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Wind has not brought down the price of electricity. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  No, because there are other factors. The war in Ukraine was a huge factor. The problem with fossil fuels is that it they are coming from areas where there is conflict. We had a huge problem with Russia invading Ukraine. There was a huge energy crisis because Europe decided, correctly, to eliminate its dependency on Russian oil and gas. There is a war in the Middle East now, with a 20% reduction in world supplies. That has pushed up the price and caused huge problems for us. We need reinvestment in the grid. We have supported and given equity to EirGrid and we are now at the stage where up to \u20ac13 billion will be spent over the next five to six years on the grid itself.  Deputy \u00d3 Cear\u00fail raised the issue of nuclear power. I have dealt with that previously. I have no issue with examining nuclear power. It needs to be examined as an option into the future. At the moment, it is gas and renewables and there is a vulnerability on gas importation if anything was to happen to the gas connectors. We know the ships of a third country actor, Russia, have passed over the gas connectors and we have had to go down and check, as have the British. That is a huge vulnerability. That is why we are doing the strategic LNG energy reserve that we are providing in the mid-west.  Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa raised the same issue with roads that Deputy Malcolm Byrne raised. Again, that is under consideration between the Departments and we will come back to that.  Deputy Cummins raised fossil fuels and I have said what she said herself, namely, that it has to be a catalyst to more renewables. When I say we need a political debate, the point is that people object to solar, wind energy and gas generation stations. I keep asking myself how we will turn the lights on if we object to all of it. We need to work out, as a country, where we are heading. In terms of AI and data centres, they are a part of the modern digital world. There is no point in saying otherwise. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  We have more than our fair share. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We have our fair share of them - I will acknowledge that - but they are important catalysts for investment too. The point is, though, that they will use up a lot of energy so we really need the offshore wind to happen. That has faced challenges because of what has happened in the United States and the undermining of the companies in the US in the wind space. We have quite a number of offshore wind projects in planning at the moment. We need to get those over the line by 2030 onwards and get a number of offshore wind farms up and running. That is key to the future energy sustainability of the country. There are about 2.5 GW of onshore wind in planning at the moment, with An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la. That gives an illustration of where we are in terms of the energy debate.  We had a debate earlier about TAMS. Farmers are very positive about the utilisation of solar on rooftops, farm sheds and so on. That is an area we can unlock and do more on.  Deputy Cummins also made a point about retrofitting. We have been working on that. About \u20ac500 million is being spent on retrofitting now but there is validity in the Deputy's point insofar as it is still a significant up-front cost for people to do deep retrofitting, notwithstanding the significant grants that are now available. However, the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, changed the grant scheme last February for windows and doors and a whole range of other items. He brought down the thresholds and has made it easier. The result has been a quite dramatic upsurge in applications, in terms of the numbers of people now applying for different types of retrofitting and for windows and doors as well, so that is working.  Is innealt\u00f3ir den scoth \u00e9 Barry Heneghan gan amhras. Admha\u00edm go bhfuil suim faoi leith aige i gc\u00farsa\u00ed fuinnimh. Tagann s\u00e9 isteach anseo go minic le molta\u00ed agus t\u00e1 an Rialtas ag \u00e9isteacht leis, particularly in the context of the legislation pertaining to private wires. I discussed plug-in solar with the Minister, arising from the Deputy raising it the last day. There are issues with the capacity of houses to absorb plug-in solar. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  Not with apartments----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  There is a review under way and work is being done by EirGrid, the Department and the ESB to work that out and understand the challenges. It is being actively pursued. As I said earlier, up to \u20ac13 billion will now be invested in the grid itself. We have given the equity to EirGrid for grid upgrades. We met with EirGrid and ESB Networks yesterday at a Cabinet subcommittee meeting, with a view to those companies presenting to us the full map of Ireland with all the various upgrades and projects. We are talking about a couple of hundred projects here and that will need political support. What will happen is that in different localities, some Deputies will come under pressure because people will say they do not want kV lines but at some stage we have to get real as a country. We cannot have each-way bets every time. These are debates that we need to have sensibly. We need to engage with communities and put the facts on the table in terms of the implications if we do not go ahead.  It will mean less economic growth, fewer houses and less development of rural land if we do not get the upgrades to the grid over the line.  Deputy Quaide is probably too young to ever have been on the Youghal train but I had great experiences on it as a child. We all, multiple families, went on it from Turners Cross to Youghal. It was a fantastic service at the time. There is a fantastic greenway there now but I hear what the Deputy is saying. There is huge investment in the commuter rail project in Cork. It is fantastic. All the stations are being built and that development is, and will be, phenomenal. The Midleton rail line was the first part of that and it was Fianna F\u00e1il that put it back into use. The late S\u00e9amus Brennan made the point that it was the first railway sanctioned in approximately 50 years. He did that, we have progressed it and the Kent Station reforms have happened. However, I hear Deputy Quaide loud and clear in respect of Youghal. CI\u00c9 is constantly reviewing the situation but it has to get done what it has planned to do in the next number of years.  The upgrade of the N25 is vital and Deputy O'Connor has done a lot of good work on that. It must be acknowledged that it has to happen.  Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn spoke about Navan. I think he is being a bit unfair to Deputy Dempsey, Shane Cassells, the Minister of State, Deputy Thomas Byrne, and others who have done a lot of work in terms of where we are now. We have a national development plan that has the resources that are needed. The Critical Infrastructure Bill will be coming through the House. I hope Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn will support it to ensure we are able to get projects through more quickly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  Will the Taoiseach designate the Navan line as another critical infrastructure project? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  In response to Deputy Ahern, I think people still need aeroplanes. The issue is fuel efficiency and the type of fuels used, but people want to fly around the world. That is the reality. However, I take the Deputy's overall point. It is about balance. Our population has increased by 52% since 1995 and we have had record economic growth over that period, yet emissions are going down. Ireland is a very good example of an island that basically has decoupled economic growth from environmental degradation and rising emissions. In other words, we have achieved economic growth while also reducing emissions. We need to reduce them more but I think the direction of travel is very positive. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  The Taoiseach did not respond to my question about privatisation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I did respond. I do not think it is a privatisation issue alone. I get frustrated with the regulatory frameworks at times but the more important issue is that being overly dependent on imported fossil fuels is driving up prices in Ireland and across Europe.  The Minister is looking afresh at the climate action plan in terms of having a more objective-based approach. Instead of an annual 40, 50 or 100 actions, we will be asking what are the big-ticket items that can deliver emissions reduction in this country. His approach is a better one and it will be published soon.  I have dealt with the affordability issue raised by Deputy Conway-Walsh. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 35 to 39, inclusive, resubmitted. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 40 to 44, inclusive, taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 45 to 57, inclusive, resubmitted. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 58 and 59 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 60 to 75, inclusive, resubmitted. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 76 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 77 to 88, inclusive, resubmitted. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 89 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 90 to 95, inclusive, resubmitted. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 96 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 97 to 122, inclusive, resubmitted. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 123 taken with Written Answers "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 124 to 126, inclusive, resubmitted. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 127 and 128 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 129 to 138, inclusive, resubmitted. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Cabinet Committees"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-19\/debate\/dbsect_14","debateType":"statement","bill":null,"showAs":"National Biodiversity Week: Statements","counts":{"speechCount":34,"speakerCount":28},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_14","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cormac Devlin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"William Aird","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ryan O'Meara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan)  I appreciate time being allocated to statements on National Biodiversity Week. I sincerely thank its organisers, the Irish Environmental Network, for putting on so many incredible events the length and breadth of the country. It really puts biodiversity at the forefront and gives it a platform, which is something we do not do often enough. Considering the crisis we are in, we need to do more of it. I commend the Irish Environmental Network on doing that, supported by my Department. I urge everybody, right across Ireland, to go to a national park or nature reserve or attend one of the fantastic events taking place to learn about and appreciate nature. I guarantee that nobody who does so will regret it.  National Biodiversity Week is an opportunity to showcase actions being taken to engage with some of the brilliant projects that are being delivered by groups large and small to promote biodiversity. Each of them has a positive impact. The breadth and scope of the activities is always breathtaking and it is heartening to see the list of events grow year on year. While my role as Minister of State has given me an increased insight into, and appreciation of, the challenges that have yet to be overcome, I have also been honoured to see at first hand much of the fantastic work that is being done all across the country. I have great hope for what can be achieved. I have had the opportunity to visit towns, villages and groups and see the projects and programmes being undertaken. I have been humbled and inspired by what I have seen, heard and learned from them.  That work can only be achieved with support and I am proud the Government has backed and continues to back environmental ambitions. The work delivered by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS, is key to supporting biodiversity in Ireland. Through successive budgets, Government investment in the NPWS has increased year on year, with the core budget allocation for 2026 rising, for the first time, to more than \u20ac100 million. That increased investment has enabled substantial recruitment across all levels of the NPWS. Its staff are part of the community across the country. They are a visible team working tirelessly to achieve the mandate of the NPWS, which is to protect nature. It is a simple statement but a complex ambition to achieve. The NPWS can achieve practical results through front-line engagement on restoring habitats, raising public awareness, tackling wildlife crime, improving the condition of protected sites, tackling invasive species - the NPWS tackles invasive species on approximately 750 ha in the national parks annually - and building the capacity we need to meet the EU nature restoration law.  Government funding has allowed the continuation of work at a large and small scale. I will now offer a quick summary of just some of what has been delivered. Our national parks and nature reserves are perhaps what people think of most when considering nature. They are invaluable resources for biodiversity but also for a myriad of other reasons, including well-being, employment, health, community and tourism, as well as nature. Work continues apace across all of our sites.  In Glenveagh National Park, success in the delivery of the park woodland strategy is becoming evident as the natural regeneration of oak, birch and other woodland species gives life to woodland layers, which is a clear indication of habitat response to our efforts.  Last year, I released a number of white-tailed eagle chicks back into the wild at Killarney National Park, marking the end of the current phase of the successful reintroduction project. These magnificent birds, once a striking element of Ireland's natural landscape, were driven to extinction on the island in the 19th century as a result of human persecution. Restoring this lost species to our skies is a significant step in restoring Ireland's natural heritage and will bring great benefit to Irish biodiversity.  In P\u00e1irc N\u00e1isi\u00fanta na Mara, Ciarra\u00ed, lreland's newest national park and our first marine park, the NPWS has already undertaken a biodiversity review and various ecological studies, including a review of seal population dynamics within the park, as well as surveys of various taxa, including fungi, lichen and seabirds such as puffins.  In Wicklow Mountains National Park, our long-term biodiversity project, focused on the Glenasmole Valley, is using a suite of land management techniques, including extensive native woodland planting in deep gullies, blanket bog rehabilitation to restore heather and vegetation management, to increase biodiversity while also providing measurable benefits such as increased carbon storage, reduction in soil erosion, improved water quality and reduced flooding risk along the River Dodder.  In the Burren National Park, we launched the NPWS discovery van, bringing nature, education and information directly to the heart of communities, schools and protected areas. It will be used as a year-round outreach tool, enabling NPWS guides to visit primary and secondary schools, offering environmental education linked to habitats, species and conservation. It will also attend festivals, community events and national fairs, raising awareness of NPWS's mission and supporting national campaigns and educational programmes around the country.  In Wild Nephin National Park, we completed 220 ha of bog restoration at the Bangor Erris natural heritage area. This was completed in collaboration with an adjacent private bog restoration project, making it the largest blanket bog restoration project in Ireland to date.  In Connemara National Park, the NPWS revealed a new and unique cultural and visitor experience - the Connemara Pony Heritage Centre. For generations, the much-loved Connemara pony has been recognised as Ireland\u2019s native breed, and this exciting new experience will pay tribute to the Connemara pony\u2019s valuable contribution to Ireland and Connemara\u2019s heritage.  In Br\u00fa na B\u00f3inne National Park, work on the preparation of a masterplan for the new national park in Dowth is almost complete. The plan will enable strategic development of the park over the coming years and will adopt a holistic approach to developing a sustainable and innovative visitor experience and community resource while recognising the key remit of the NPWS to protect nature and promote and enhance biodiversity. In Glengarriff nature reserve we are working on a 100-year strategy for the Glengarriff woodlands to ensure its protection into the future.  In the Glen of the Downs nature reserve the recent strategic purchase of more than 100 acres will see the conversion of commercial timber forestry into native woodland over time, utilising local seed sources, invasive species controls and techniques such as continuous cover forestry to enable a sensitive transition that protects vulnerable soils. The project will serve as a valuable example of best practice to support the delivery of key objectives under the nature restoration law to expand rare old sessile oak woodland - a priority habitat under the EU Habitats Directive - on public land.  In Coole Park, the recent opening of a new bat roost on the grounds of the park, to protect the lesser horseshoe bat, involved the renovation of an old apple store on the grounds of the nature reserve. The renovation allowed for original features of the house to be retained, including its unique stonework and beautiful limestone slab floor.  Alongside these conservation works, through funding approved by Government, my Department has also worked to maintain and upgrade a range of visitor services and trails across the national parks and reserves. These included the completion of a sensory trail in Connemara National Park; trail upgrades in Wicklow Mountains National Park, including at the hugely popular Spinc trail; footbridge upgrade works at Knocksink nature reserve; the redevelopment of the car park at Ballykeeffe nature reserve in Kilkenny; trail maintenance works at Diamond Hill and Ellis Wood nature trail; upgrade works at the education centre in Connemara National Park; funding towards the redevelopment of the car park and replacement of the roof at Coole park visitor centre; improvement works at T\u00f3char Daith\u00ed B\u00e1n trail in wild Nephin; reroofing of the visitor centre and a complete refit of the auditorium at Glenveagh National Park; and works at Dinis Cottage and Lord Brandon\u2019s Cottage in Killarney, as well as fencing and trail maintenance works. The list goes on. That is a small sample of what National Parks and Wildlife Service does.  The NPWS engages in strategic land acquisition both to support the continued growth and expansion of the network of national parks and nature reserves, as well as for conservation purposes. In 2025, the NPWS acquired more than 800 ha of land, including the acquisition I mentioned earlier of land in Wicklow, which will support the expansion of the Glen of the Downs nature reserve and the purchase of an additional 249 ha at Tievebaun, adjacent to Connemara National Park.  I have spoken before about the publication in January 2024 of Ireland\u2019s fourth national biodiversity action plan, NBAP. This plan represents a whole-of-government, whole-of-society approach to the governance and conservation of biodiversity. Reporting outputs have been significantly modernised through the launch by the NPWS and the National Biodiversity Data Centre of a biodiversity action plan progress tracker. This public-facing tracker dashboard provides transparency and data-driven insights into delivery of actions for biodiversity. The 2025 implementation report on the national biodiversity action plan shows that almost 80% of actions are either in progress or completed, with clear pathways for further action.  In 2026, the peatlands and Natura community engagement scheme is continuing to expand and offer support to communities by providing funding of over \u20ac1.1 million to 53 community-led projects.  The NPWS conservation measures programme continues to support projects on special areas of conservation and special protection areas in the Natura 2000 network, addressing threats and pressures to the qualifying interest habitats and species in these sites. One example being the Le Ch\u00e9ile don D\u00falra - Together for Nature - biodiversity week festival in Glenveagh.  The NPWS farm plan scheme continues to grow, engaging with farmers and landowners to support nature on the land, through encouragement, advice, and financial supports, with a goal of more than 500 farm plans in progress by the end of 2025. The local biodiversity action fund, LBAF, operated by the NPWS, continues to deliver funding fora wide range of projects across all 31 local authority areas.  Many local authorities now have a biodiversity officer, thanks to the Heritage Council\u2019s rollout of the biodiversity officer programme, and these officers are making a huge difference. Biodiversity is not just a topic for those directly involved in nature; it is interwoven with everyday life and decisions. It impacts people's lives. Getting this right means a positive impact for everyone, with green spaces for us all to enjoy, sustainable and healthy food systems, healthy ecosystems for flora, fauna, invertebrates, and cleaner air. I am glad to have the opportunity to publicly reaffirm my commitment, that of my Department and of Government, to continue working with colleagues across this House to ensure that due consideration and supports are given to biodiversity.  Scientific monitoring and data analysis is required to inform national priorities, statutory functions and lreland\u2019s engagement with EU nature policy and legislation. The NPWS continues to strengthen the scientific evidence base that underpins policy advice, regulatory decision-making and conservation delivery. We will obviously have the Biodiversity Conference of the Parties, COP, which will be a very important part of Ireland\u2019s European Council Presidency, and we hope that the theme of our Presidency from that point of view will be nature restoration.  Biodiversity Week is a celebration but also an opportunity to recognise the importance of strong ecosystems and biodiversity protections. The NPWS plays a vital role in conserving the country\u2019s natural heritage, biodiversity and protected landscapes. A key aspect of the work of NPWS in its mission to protect nature is combatting wildlife crime, including illegal hunting, habitat destruction, and the disturbance of protected species. Wildlife crime undermines decades of conservation work. These are not victimless crimes; they directly harm our shared natural environment. The NPWS plays a lead role in addressing this threat, working alongside other enforcement partners, and is committed to working with relevant stakeholders and enforcement partners in bringing those responsible for wildlife crime before the courts. Total financial sanctions for 2020-2025 amounted to almost \u20ac600,000, and this very important work will continue to have a positive impact on our wildlife conservation.  The NPWS also monitors compliance with wildlife laws, investigates reports of offences, and works closely with An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na which is authorised under law to enforce wildlife legislation and with other State agencies, enforce protections. Public engagement and use of reporting mechanisms helps tackle issues such as illegal poaching, disturbance of nesting birds, and destruction of vegetation during the breeding and nesting period. Through these collective efforts with agencies such an An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, we ensure Ireland\u2019s rich natural environment is preserved for future generations. The NPWS is progressing with an accelerated programme of restoration on protected raised and blanket bog special areas of conservation, SACs, and natural heritage areas, NHAs. Restoring these bogs will provide multiple ecosystem services such as reducing emissions, water and air quality improvements, flood mitigation and enhancing biodiversity.  Since 2018, restoration works have been undertaken or are ongoing on 30 raised bog SACs and nine NHAs, with preparatory actions under way across a further 12 sites. To date, restoration works have been delivered on approximately 7,000 ha of protected raised bog across the SAC and NHA networks.  In 2025, active raised bog national extent was reported as increased by approximately 122 ha, that is, 7% since 2018. This is the first time increases in extent have been reported since Ireland commenced assessing the conservation status of this habitat in 2007. The NPWS raised bog restoration programme has been fundamental to this achievement. These rehabilitation and restoration efforts will assist Ireland in reaching its national conservation target, to restore raised and blanket bogs within the SAC and NHA networks to a favourable conservation status.  To finish, I wish to talk about the way forward. I have highlighted what we have done and it is extensive across the board. I am very proud of the team at National Parks and Wildlife Service in particular for how it has delivered at such scale. We need to learn from our successes in order to find a pathway forward. We know that in Ireland, habitats, species and nature in general are not in good condition and we need to reverse that. We need to learn from the Programme for the Environment and Climate Action, LIFE, and European Initiative Projects, EIP, which have been so important in paving the way for restoration and saving species - things such as the breeding waders EIP. Waders, such as the curlew which breed, across Ireland are in peril. However, in the midlands in particular, through European funding and funding from my Department, they have discovered ways of protecting these nesting birds, whether through predator control or headstarting, in collaboration with Fota Wildlife Park, and we are seeing it work. Now what we need to do is scale that up and do it on a nationwide basis.  The reason we talk about it a lot is that it has been an extraordinary success. In the five or six years of Corncrake LIFE, we have seen the population of corncrakes increase by 55%, which is down to the hard work of the conservationists, ecologists and amazing farmers, including well over 200 in Belmullet, County Mayo, in Donegal and Galway who have participated in this. They have taken on board new ways of farming. They have seen a massive increase in corncrake numbers, but they have been incentivised to do it and rewarded for it. We need to replicate that model across Ireland.  It is the same with LIFE on Machair, which is on a stunning, unique Irish habitat. In restoring it, there has been an added benefit for many other species. There is also the T\u00f3char project, which is a bog restoration project and I will talk about the Wild Atlantic Nature LIFE Integrated Project for a few minutes because I see it as key to nature restoration on private land being done in a voluntary way. Any nature restoration on private land will be voluntary. The Wild Atlantic Nature LIFE IP has utilised development companies and LEADER companies in regional Ireland to administer farm plan schemes. For example, in County Galway there is the D\u00falra Project. Farmers in the D\u00falra Project might be in the agri-climate rural environment scheme, ACRES, or a farm scheme under which they are getting paid to restore peatland or help a species. On top of that, the same farmers and fishermen may be getting an additional payment by participating in the D\u00falra Project. The same sheep or beef farmers in the area are being paid to remove invasive species like rhododendron or restore peat in national parks or on private land. That is a key model because everyone wins. Farmers might be getting paid under ACRES and might also be getting paid directly by the LEADER company to participate in the removal of invasive species or in peatland restoration. It is money going to the local economy and being spent in the local shops and the biggest winners are wildlife and habitats. That model needs to be replicated across Ireland. It is the future of Ireland's nature restoration plan and informs it.  I fully support and am aligned with the recommendations of the independent advisory committee on nature restoration. We must start on our land first in our national parks and on Coillte and Bord na M\u00f3na land. We must support farmers, fishermen and foresters across the board to ensure that, if they volunteer to participate in nature restoration, they are paid. Fundamentally we must fund nature restoration. I have always committed to doing that and we will do it.  Education is probably the most important tool we have for the future of Ireland's wildlife. I visited Knocksink in the Wicklow Mountains recently and the education facility there. I also met some of the NPWS team who go to schools to teach children about nature. It is extraordinary to see the response. Children are the best hope for the future of nature in Ireland. David Attenborough said that if children do not grow up learning and knowing about nature, they will not care about it. If they do not care about nature, they will not want to protect it and if they do not protect nature, who will? Our children are key. They are hungry to learn. I go to schools and visit classrooms. They soak up information, especially at primary school age. They know the length of a fin whale or the national distribution of curlews. They are hungry to learn and we need to tap into that because, if future generations care about nature, genuinely, the future of Ireland's wildlife and nature could be bright.  I thank those who will contribute to the debate. I will not be here for the end of it, but I look forward to listening to views from across the House about what we can do this National Biodiversity Week to protect nature in Ireland. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy R\u00e9ada Cronin  Another biodiversity week is coming and after all the accolades we gave the Minister of State last year on his appointment, there is a lot his Department still has to address in the twin crises of climate and biodiversity we face. The longer we wait to finally move on this biodiversity crisis, the worse it will get. The biodiversity emergency declared in 2019 was recognition by the State of our rivers, natural habitats and the ongoing extinction of many different species. Little action has been taken to seriously address the twin crises.  In the 1980s, about 500 Irish rivers were classed as the very best of quality. Today, there are only around 20, which is a 96% collapse in the space of 40 years. The Environmental Protection Agency\u2019s, EPA's, Water Quality in Ireland 2019-2024 report found that just 52% of our surface waters meet minimum legal standards, meaning that 48% are failing. Those figures were in a piece written by Ella McSweeney in The Irish Times a few weeks ago in which she rightly claimed: \"It is a shameful failure of governance and policy and a collective acceptance of shockingly low standards.\" She also highlighted some of the language that is used when discussing water quality and how it can alienate people from understanding just how poor the standard of water is in our country. Terms like \"achieving water framework directive objectives\u201d and \"river basin management plan\u201d can be off-putting for ordinary people. What does a river with a moderate status mean?  McSweeney offers an alternative measurement. Can we drink from our rivers without vomiting? Can we swim in them without getting diarrhoea? These are simple things we should be able to do to judge whether a river is healthy. The truth is our rivers are becoming less drinkable every year. One need only look at last year\u2019s EPA report on the state of Lady\u2019s Island Lake in Wexford, which the climate committee visited last week. It is designated as both a special protection area and a special area of conservation, but an ecological disaster is unfolding there, according to experts. The deterioration is due to an excessive growth of algae blocking the sun from reaching the lake bed, which has been attributed to agricultural run-off entering the lagoon. This lagoon is a place of pilgrimage for many and is one of the crown jewels of tourism in the area, but it cannot be swum in, and certainly not drunk from. These issues were first identified as far back as 1983. What have successive Fianna F\u00e1il- and Fine Gael-led Governments done to address the issue? Nothing is the long and short of it.  They have left much of the important work to keep our local areas clean to the likes of local authorities and Tidy Towns committees. The committees do huge work nationwide, incredible work in promoting biodiversity and keeping our towns clean. They help to bring the importance of biodiversity down into communities. It can be seen in how areas are now left to go wild. There is the No Mow May campaign. People do not pull up dandelions the moment they see them any more and it is making a difference, but they alone cannot fully tackle this crisis.  Recently, the British Government published a national security assessment of the risks of biodiversity loss to water, food, clean air and critical resources. The impacts of biodiversity loss will range from crop failures, intensified natural disasters and infectious disease outbreaks to conflict within and between states, political instability and erosion of global economic prosperity, the report said. Increasingly scarce natural resources will become the focus of greater competition between state and non-state actors, exacerbating existing conflicts, starting new ones and threatening global security and prosperity. Critically, it claims that ecosystem degradation or collapse will challenge England\u2019s food security. We share a climate with England so it is something this State has to get serious about as well. Some 40% of our food comes from overseas too, meaning we are currently unable to be food self-sufficient at present. Collapse of production in two or more breadbasket regions would have detrimental impacts. I have written twice to the Minister about this security assessment asking if it has been seen by his Department and whether any action has been taken in acknowledgement of its findings. Can the Minister of State confirm whether his Department is across it?  Finally, ahead of World Bee Day tomorrow, it is important to mention their importance to biodiversity and our quality of life. As pollinators, they contribute significantly to producing fruit, vegetables and crops. The Native Irish Honey Bee Society is urging the Government to pass the Protection of the Native Irish Honey Bee Bill 2021, which would drastically help their dire situation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  Biodiversity may sound like a buzz word but the reality is that it means all life on Earth - from the smallest micro-organism to the largest mammal and the tallest tree. It covers all ecosystems and habitats which shows how all life is connected and dependent on each other for survival, including us humans. Humans are the biggest threat to biodiversity. It is said that over 30% of habitats in Ireland are in decline. We know that agriculture is a significant contributory factor but all the blame cannot be put on farmers. Farmers are doing their bit to help biodiversity and have shown that they will adapt their farming practices to help protect ecosystems and habitats. I and others have been critical of the ACRES, for instance, but my criticism is of the Minister and how the Department has made a shambles of implementing the scheme. The basis of the scheme is good and there is a lot of good work being done by farmers to improve biodiversity through the scheme, which is building on the work of previous schemes like GLAS and REPS.  I also want to mention another project that is taking place in my constituency in County Leitrim - the EU Horizon wetlands conservation project is taking place on Cuilcagh-Anierin mountain range known local as Sliabh Anierin and Bencroy. Until the 1990s coal was mined in Bencroy. I know some old men in my community who still talk about the coal mines there. The coal was used to run the Arigna ESB power station, which was nearby. It is fitting that we are now giving something back to the mountain by helping to restore the peatlands on top of the mountain, which were devastated throughout that time, and the forestry since then as well. Thousands of acres of bog on top of the mountain were planted with Sitka spruce.  The Cuilcagh-Anierin is a special area of conservation, SAC, and one of Ireland's largest upland blanket bogs. Pressure stemming from erosion and drainage have damaged the SAC site that encompasses more than 9,700 ha, 11 habitats and seven protected species. The restoration project includes three main actions - erosion control, drain management and invasive species removal. The main invasive species is Sitka spruce trees. The aim is to help vegetation to grow on the bare peat, helping to reduce carbon loss and restore the natural habitat. This mountain is grazed by sheep. It should be noted that sheep are part of the habitat. They help to keep the vegetation in check so that one species does not take over, thereby contributing to the biodiversity in the area. I commend the work that has been done by the farmers in this area and I wish them well as the project continues.  I want to mention two other issues that have a big impact on biodiversity. The first is flooding. I speak to farmers all the time who are in areas that get flooded. When flooding happens, every septic tank and town and village water treatment system is washed out across the land and into the rivers. I have also spoken to farmers who told me they were in conservation projects to conserve rare birds in the Shannon Callows and when the floods happen the nests are just washed down the river. All the work that has been done to preserve biodiversity is destroyed when we have flooding. That is a major problem.  The second issue relates to landslides. We had a major landslide in County Leitrim on Shass Mountain. It washed thousands of acres of peat down the mountain, flooded farmland and destroyed the whole area. All of that was because of the wrong type of forestry on the top of the mountain. The bog land on the top of the mountain was drained and it created a mess. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I thank the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  That mess continues to this day. The actions of the Government on the one side can often damage biodiversity on the other side. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan  As someone who comes from a rural community, the biodiversity crisis facing Ireland is not some abstract concern, it is a visible reality, one that I have watched worsen decade by decade. It is now seven years since a biodiversity emergency was declared in Ireland, yet we are still not acting with the urgency that declaration demands. All stakeholders across the sector - especially in rural communities - need to come together and work collectively on it. The Government must accept that rural Ireland is not just part of the solution. Rural Ireland must be the driving force in combating this crisis and pulling our habitats back from the brink of destruction.  The findings make for grim reading. Some 90% of Ireland's habitats are now in an inadequate or poor state. When it comes to forestry coverage, we are far below the EU average, which sits at around 35%, while Ireland is barely over 10%. The Government has a duty to enhance the standing of our special protection areas. Let us take the Wicklow Mountains special area of conservation - in particular, Lugnaquilla. Despite being a hugely popular location, its conservation status is rated as unfavourable to bad. The Government had a prime opportunity to buy over 1,500 acres of land, including Lugnaquilla, for just \u20ac2 million. We can imagine what a national project that would have been. It would have been an opportunity to show ambition, restore biodiversity and show people what is truly possible.  Calendar farming does not always work. In fact, it can be very risky. Farmers having to spread slurry in heavy rain just because of the date does not help our water quality. Dates need to be flexible. Slurry spreading should be set by weather conditions only. ACRES has, overall, been a positive step. It supports farmers to restore and strengthen biodiversity in their local area. However, issues relating to payment with long, unacceptable delays that left farmers out of pocket have damaged the willingness of farmers to sign up to the scheme. We cannot afford to lose their trust.  The penny-pinching mindset of the Government when it comes to our natural environment needs to be called out. Ireland invests less than half the EU average of its GDP in nature. That is truly shocking for an island of such natural beauty. How we view the environment and biodiversity cannot be confined by political boundaries. Climate does not respect borders. We need to act collectively, North and South. We must ensure that those we engage with internationally, through trade agreements, are not doing untold damage to our shared environment. Everyone was shocked and horrified by the scenes of complete and utter devastation of the rainforest, which was cleared to create more agricultural land to produce more beef and food products for the EU, China, and the United States. The EU cannot turn a blind eye to destructive acts on the international stage----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I thank the Deputy. She should conclude. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan  -----not when the cost is our collective well-being. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Donnelly  There is a crisis in biodiversity. We have seen a deterioration over decades, with bad planning and destruction on a huge scale during the Celtic tiger era and before it. Ironically, Ireland is known across the world as a green place, where trees, lakes, seas, beaches and countryside is pristine in terms of biodiversity but the facts do not bear that out. A substantial proportion of our EU-protected habitats and species are deemed to be in an unfavourable state. There is a 40% drop in the number of water birds since the 1990s and a 45% drop in the number of kestrels. Some 23 out of 24 species of nesting seabirds are listed as red or amber in terms of conservation concerns. Some 18% of native Irish butterfly fauna is under threat of extinction. A total of 56% of Ireland's native plants species are in decline, with native grasslands suffering.  I commend residents of Porterstown village who called me and the NPWS when a developer went in with bulldozers to allegedly try to destroy two badger sets and rare grasslands on a site that was subject to planning conditions. This is a regular occurrence because the sanctions are such that it is a basic slap on the wrist but when they are gone, they are gone forever.  I came from East Wall, an area in the north inner city that had zero public green spaces. There were no trees, no open spaces and no green spaces. I moved to Clonsilla 30 years ago and I was blown away by the biodiversity. There were fields, open spaces and parks everywhere. In every local area plan, county development plan, and planning application on greenfield sites, we fought hard for the protection of trees, hedgerows, canals and waterways such as the Tolka river. In this Chamber we are seen as dinosaurs and blockers of housing developments. We have been derided by the Taoiseach, the T\u00e1naiste and others in Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael. We are not anti-development but we are for developments that protect our biodiversity as much as we can because as the advertisement says, when it is gone, it is gone forever.  I pay tribute to all our Tidy Towns groups. Many are not just litter pickers or flower planters but have developed into community-led biodiversity champions. They turn patches of land into places for bees, small animals, nesting birds and planting for all kinds of insects that help sustain a living environment in an urban area like Dublin 15. I refer to groups like Castleknock, Blanchardstown and Clonsilla Tidy Towns groups. I give a shout-out to the groups in Tyrrelstown and Hollystown, which are newly organised, and are meeting this Sunday for a big clean-up.  I am also part of the Royal Canal clean-up group. The place is teeming with life but it is constantly under threat from development, which is getting closer and closer to the banks. All we ask is that consideration is given to biodiversity.  Many people are doing their best and showing that our biodiversity is a strength for those of us who live on this island for those who wish to visit as tourists. The Government needs to do better to support our nature, forests, rivers, lakes, parks and green belts. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  I am glad to have the opportunity to speak on the issue of biodiversity and to mark National Biodiversity Week today. This week should be not just a celebration of one of this country\u2019s prized assets, including our natural environment, landscapes, coasts, wildlife and waterways, but also a call to action because while we market ourselves on the aesthetically rich, green environment that we have been blessed with, we do not do the best job of looking after it and nurturing it, at least at State level. Forty shades of green increasingly refers to the colour of the algae in our lakes.  Often when we discuss the climate crisis in this House or elsewhere, we omit the fact that we have a corresponding and related biodiversity crisis. The evidence and the figures are pretty stark. As per the NPWS and EPA, more than 85% of Ireland\u2019s EU-protected habitats are now in \"unfavourable condition\". Nearly half of our native species are experiencing declines. Likewise, the EPA found that almost half of our waterways are in unhealthy conditions. We heard last week that our newest designated bathing area in D\u00fan Laoghaire will be off-limits to swimmers this summer because of water pollution.  Pollinators are disappearing from our countryside, peatlands continue to degrade and species that were once commonplace in Ireland are becoming rarer and rarer. These are not just abstract environmental concerns. There are tangible economic and industrial effects to this sort of degradation. Pollinators, for example, are vital in food production. When they decline, that sector suffers. If marine ecosystems collapse, coastal communities will be the ones paying the price. Yet, despite the scale of this emergency, the Government continues to treat biodiversity and our environment as secondary concerns.  Just last week, the Critical Infrastructure Bill 2026 proceeded to the next Stage in this House. Ministers presented it as a practical measure to speed up infrastructure delivery. Nobody denies that we need to speed up delivery of infrastructure in this country. We have been held back for too long by our apparent inability to get important projects over the line in a timely and cost-effective way. However, the remedies contained in the Bill are not only misguided; they are deeply troubling in the context of the climate and biodiversity crises. The ability of Ministers to effectively decide when environmental and climate protections apply and when they do not undermines the very foundation of environmental law. Environmental and biodiversity protections cannot exist only when it is convenient.  The Bill completely misdiagnoses the issue. The delays in getting critical infrastructure over the line are not because of judicial reviews, JRs, being taken on environmental grounds. They are because of the consistent under-resourcing of our public bodies, planning authorities and courts and a lack of strategic development across our national infrastructure. As I pointed to last week, even if offshore wind projects make it through the planning process in the next couple of years, we are still way off actually building them because our ports are not ready for them, nor is our grid ready to take the energy being generated offshore. That has nothing to do with JRs or environmental or biodiversity concerns; it is an issue with the level of resources and expertise being made available to public bodies. The Government is simply looking for somewhere or someone to point the finger at for its own failings.  Environmental safeguards are not bureaucratic obstacles. They are democratic protections for communities, ecosystems, and future generations. The Government has argued that these powers are necessary to accelerate projects of national importance but once a mechanism is created that allows Ministers to sidestep environmental scrutiny in the name of urgency, a precedent is established that can be expanded again and again. Today it might be one project; tomorrow it could be many.  Let us be absolutely honest about the contradiction at the heart of this Government\u2019s approach. On the one hand, Ministers speak passionately about climate action and restoring nature while, on the other, they pass legislation that weakens the enforceability of the very laws designed to protect our climate and ecosystems that are in crisis. One cannot claim to defend biodiversity while simultaneously hollowing out the legal protections that safeguard it.  I was really surprised and disappointed that the Social Democrats, in particular, supported the Government on this Bill. Only 15 Labour Party, Green Party and People Before Profit, PBP, TDs voted against it. It is easy to say we want to protect and promote our biodiversity but we also have to vote for it when we have the opportunity.  I have not even touched on the question of whether Ministers being able to selectively decide when a law applies or not to their favourite projects is constitutional. This Bill will likely end up increasing the delays in our planning processes.  Nowhere is the failure of Government policy in terms of biodiversity and the environment more visible than in the condition of lreland\u2019s waterways. We are a water-rich country. Our rivers, lakes, estuaries and coastal waters are central to our sense of self. They support habitats, the tourism sector, farming, recreation and fisheries yet too many of our waterways are deteriorating before our eyes. The EPA has repeatedly warned about declining water quality in rivers and estuaries, particularly due to nutrient pollution associated with intensive agriculture and wastewater failures. Excess nitrogen and phosphorus are fuelling eutrophication, algal blooms and oxygen depletion in aquatic ecosystems. That is why the EU nitrates directive exists. It was introduced to protect waters from agricultural pollution and to improve water quality across Europe. lreland\u2019s nitrates action programme is supposed to reduce the run-off of slurry and fertilisers into rivers and groundwater. However, year after year, we have seen the same pattern emerge. Warnings are ignored, water quality deteriorates further and political cowardice means nothing is done about it.  The debate around nitrates has often become polarised but it really should not be. Farmers are not the enemy of biodiversity. Many farmers are among the strongest defenders of our landscapes and ecosystems. They understand the land better than anyone. The real failure lies in successive Governments that have forced farmers into a model of intensification without adequately supporting sustainable alternatives. We need a different path. We need a just transition for farming communities that rewards environmental stewardship, supports family farms, protects water quality and ensures farmers can earn a decent living while restoring biodiversity because the current trajectory is failing both our natural environment and farmers alike.  The consequences are becoming more and more apparent. My colleagues on the climate committee witnessed the situation in Lady's Island Lake in County Wexford, one of Ireland's most significant coastal lagoons. I had the pleasure of visiting it last Friday with the committee delegation. It is internationally important for birdlife and protected under European conservation law. Every year, it supports migratory species and delicate ecological balances that have developed over centuries but like so many of our waterways, there has been a pattern of neglect for decades that is putting all of that at risk. Do not get me wrong; this is a really complex problem to solve. Nutrient enrichment, changing water conditions, agricultural run-off and climate impacts have all impacted on the ecological integrity of Lady's Island Lake. Conservationists and local communities have repeatedly raised concerns about the vulnerability of the site and the need for stronger protections. I commend the Save Lady\u2019s Island Lake campaign and the EPA on their advocacy in this area. Lady\u2019s Island Lake tells us something very important about biodiversity loss in Ireland; destruction rarely arrives dramatically. It happens gradually. Lady\u2019s Island Lake has declined over the past 40 year, and because it has happened slowly, Governments and local authorities have not necessarily kept their eye on the ball. Because so many agencies and State bodies have had partial responsibility over the area, no one had taken overall responsibility for it until now That is perhaps the greatest danger of all - not active destruction, but complacency. That cannot be allowed to continue, but in fairness, I am pleased that Wexford County Council, alongside other relevant bodies, is taking responsibility and leading a strategic oversight group to ensure this vital habitat is restored urgently. The Oireachtas climate committee will work closely with the council to ensure this happens. This type of multi-agency approach could be a template to use in other lakes on the island suffering from similar issues such as Lough Neagh.  More importantly and more generally, if we believe in biodiversity protection, nature restoration and ecological health, they can no longer sit at the margins of public policy. They have to be central considerations. That means properly funding the NPWS, investing in river restoration and wetland recovery, strengthening the enforcement capacity within the EPA, supporting farmers through sustainable agriculture schemes that genuinely reward biodiversity protection and restoring peatlands not only as carbon sinks, but as living ecosystems. That also means expanding native woodland cover, protecting marine biodiversity through stronger conservation measures and, crucially, recognising that climate action and biodiversity protection must go hand in hand.  We have increasingly seen this framing from the Government that somehow environmental protections are barriers to progress. I cannot stress how much I disagree with that assertion. Nature restoration, clean water, healthy soils and resilient ecosystems are all economic policies. Biodiversity loss carries enormous financial costs through flooding, water treatment, agricultural decline, tourism impacts and public health pressures. Protecting nature is not anti-development; it is responsible development.  If we are serious about building a resilient Ireland, then environmental law must be strengthened not weakened. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  I very much welcome this debate. It is quite apt that this month is the centenary of the birth of David Attenborough and the founding of Fianna F\u00e1il. In many ways, the Minister of State encapsulates the best of both in his approach to this office. He has been very committed to this work and his advocacy is something that deserves to be commended.  I echo Deputy Ahern's remarks with regard to Our Lady's Island and commend Wexford County Council on the work being done there. That multi-agency approach is certainly something that does work. As part of National Biodiversity Week, tomorrow is World Bee Day. We need to move very quickly towards protecting the native Irish honey bee and legislation in that regard should be expedited. The threat to the bee population should not be underestimated and I would encourage the Minister of State to visit Ireland's wild bee sanctuary, which was set up by Paul Handrick and Clare-Louise Donelan on the Wicklow-Wexford border where they set aside 20 acres deliberately with the purpose of trying to protect the world bee population. They would argue that if we can convert and incentivise lands to be used as meadows, that will do a lot for biodiversity. It has always been my view that farmers are our front-line workers in the battle against climate change and the biodiversity crisis and the more we can equip farmers and ensure that farmland is used effectively for that purpose, the better.  This week one year ago, we had a gorse fire on Tara Hill, which obviously caused a lot of problems for people who live there but also damaged much of the ecosystem there. The Tara Hill Community Development Association has been doing enormous work to try to restore the uplands there so that flora and fauna can thrive again. Support for small groups like that makes a huge difference in terms of protecting the very important ecology in the area.  I know the Minister of State visited the Blackstairs Mountains. He mentioned the importance of the national parks. We would love to see a Blackstairs Mountains national park on the Wexford-Carlow border. The Minister will be aware that Councillor Barbara-Anne Murphy in Bunclody has been a champion of this. We have a lot of people and habitats there, farmers are very committed and it is a special area of conservation but looking to move it to a national park would be very much welcomed by the community and would be a fitting legacy of the Minister of State's time as Minister of State.  I certainly agree that it is important that we work with nature. In the Wicklow-Wexford constituency, floods were caused by a number of different factors, including heavy rainfall. It is critical that we work with nature to try to ensure that those issues are resolved and again, it is important that the Government works with community groups in places like Bunclody, Aughrim and Shillelagh to be able to address that.  Like the Minister of State, I am fortunate enough to represent a coastal constituency with many of the finest beaches in the country - in the case of my constituency, beaches stretching from Brittas Bay down to Morris Castle - but we have huge problems with coastal erosion, which obviously has an impact on people's homes and where they reside. There is also a really serious problem concerning the impact of that on habitats and in our discussion around biodiversity, we should not forget about issues relating to coastal erosion.  The importance of the role and potential of artificial intelligence in biodiversity should not be underestimated. We can use it to gather all of the ecological data that can be gathered, make assessments and use it to inform what measurable action should be taken in the community, for example, the use of drones, the intelligence gathered from that and using big data and AI to be able to inform it. I know some research is being carried out by some of our universities and I know Research Ireland has funded a lot of this but the role of AI in sustainable development is underestimated and I would encourage the Minister of State and the Department to explore it further. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cormac Devlin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cormac Devlin  I welcome the opportunity to contribute to statements on National Biodiversity Week. Across the country this week, hundreds of free events are bringing people into contact with nature on their doorstep. These events include guided walks, photography competitions, scavenger hunts and farm visits. It is a chance to learn, enjoy and be reminded that nature is not a backdrop to our lives but the foundation.  Fianna F\u00e1il has an enduring legacy in this area. It was a Fianna F\u00e1il-led Government with Charles Haughey as Taoiseach that introduced the Environmental Protection Agency Act, which established the EPA. Protecting the natural environment, air quality and wildlife was an issue that Charles Haughey championed in this House as far back as 1972 and we continue to take that legacy seriously. In budget 2026, the Minister of State secured a 20% increase in funding for the NPWS bringing its core funding above the \u20ac100-million threshold for the first time. Staffing at the NPWS has grown by 68% since 2020 and last December, the Minister of State published the Article 17 report on Ireland's protected habitats and species.  Three weeks ago, he received 46 policy recommendations from the independent advisory committee on Ireland's natural restoration plan. That draft plan is due to go to the European Commission by 1 September. This is the most significant single act of restoration planning ever undertaken in this country and the work is being done from the bottom up. Farmers, fishers, foresters and local communities are all engaged and I welcome this progress but the Article 17 report is honest about where we stand. A total of 90% of Ireland's protected habitats are in unfavourable status while 51% are deteriorating. The Minister of State was right to say we cannot lose hope because where we act, we see results such as peatlands recovering, the otter and pinemartin thriving and hay meadows expanding through the all-Ireland pollinator plan but the gap between what nature needs and what nature is getting remains very wide and closing that gap is the test for all of us.  In my constituency of D\u00fan Laoghaire, that work is happening close to home. The council's second county biodiversity action plan is being delivered in partnership with BirdWatch Ireland, Coastwatch Ireland and others. As chair of the strategic policy committee many moons ago, I brought in the county's first pollinating plan so this is a very welcome new plan by the council. The tern project on Dalkey Island also helped protect breeding sea birds on one of the most important coast line sites in our constituency. The eco grazing project at Fern Hill is restoring a working wildflower meadow through which local children walk every weekend. Beekeepers are doing great work to support pollinating across the county and indeed the country. In Cherrywood, an orchid-rich grassland was translocated ahead of the development in that area and is now flowering again with over 200 stems of orchid recorded since then. Booterstown Marsh in my constituency continues to be studied and the county's invasive alien species action plan is treating giant hogweed, Japanese knotweed and the American skunk cabbage on roadsides and in our parklands.  Our coast is also home to something that belongs to the whole country. Dublin Bay is a UNESCO biosphere - the only biosphere reserve in the world that contains a national capital city. Through the Dublin Bay biosphere conservation and research strategy, D\u00fan Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Fingal County Council and Dublin City Council are working as one to protect the bays' salt marshes, the dune systems, Brent geese and the harbour porpoises and terns. Last week, D\u00fan Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council launched a new project at D\u00fan Laoghaire Baths called UrbanDip, which is a partnership with DCU that is fully funded by the European Regional Development Fund. UrbanDip combines low sensors with an AI model that forecasts bathing water quality in near real time. Traditional sampling takes between 24 to 48 hours as many sea swimmers would know but UrbanDip is trying to close the information gap and is one of only three pilot sites across Europe. When I welcomed the reopening of the baths in this House in 2022, I called for such real-time information for swimmers so UrbanDip is exactly the kind of innovation we need and I commend the council and DCU on getting it off the ground.  Nature is not a problem to be managed. It is a system to which we belong. National Biodiversity Week is a reminder of that and the work happening in D\u00fan Laoghaire is a reminder that responsibility is local as much as it is national. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh  Biodiversity is a key aspect in ensuring a sustainable future for all citizens of this country. Our continued prosperity and that of future generations depends on a vibrant natural environment. Our built infrastructure and the economy rely on a happy and healthy natural infrastructure supporting it underneath. This is by no means the reality in Ireland today. We are in the grips of a full-fledged crisis when it comes to Ireland\u2019s biodiversity. Our unique habitats are diminishing left and right, our landscape is less green, our waters are polluted and native species are becoming extinct. A report published today by the EPA highlights a widespread issue with household septic tanks, with 60% State-wide failing inspections. As well as being a public health risk, human waste and chemicals spur algae growth in streams and rivers, killing other plant, fish and insect life. We need stricter enforcement of compliance regulation.  Just last week, the newest swimming area in the capital failed a pollution test and will remain off-limits for swimmers this summer. Half of the popular spots in the State have had warnings because of pollution, with the number of warnings issued doubling over the past year. The destruction of our natural resources is having real-life effects in the here and now. This is a direct result of the State\u2019s ongoing failure to recognise the core importance of natural infrastructure to national well-being. For years now, we have neglected to protect our resources, failing to value them as life-sustaining and essential for our own health and the health of the planet we live on. We have pursued economic development with zero regard for the implications for wildlife preservation. We need to think seriously, on a policy level, about alternatives to our current model of business and agriculture, and putting just transition mechanisms in place today, not later.  We need commitment and ambition from the Government so that life remains liveable for my children and their children. We cannot simply keep reporting on ongoing and continued devastation; we need action and investment. We are nowhere near reaching our targets under the EU\u2019s nature restoration regulation, which is coming into effect now. We need an all-island approach. Partition means we have an inefficient and incoherent way of managing wildlife on our island. Planning for unity must prioritise co-ordination in this policy area. We need innovative solutions, such as rejuvenation of healthy hedgerows, forest regeneration projects and permaculture initiatives. There are inspiring grassroots and evidence-based ideas out there and these must be supported by the State. B\u00edmis uaillmhianach chun \u00e1r dtimpeallacht a chosaint do na gl\u00fanta at\u00e1 le teacht. Cuirimis an bhith\u00e9ags\u00falacht chun tosaigh sa phlean\u00e1il n\u00e1isi\u00fanta. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  I welcome the opportunity to mark National Biodiversity Week. I want to first set the baseline. Where we are at present when it comes to nature and biodiversity in Ireland is not a good place. A total of 90% of Ireland's EU-protected habitats are in unfavourable conditions, and 51% are deteriorating. Ireland has one of the lowest levels of protected land in the EU, with only 6% being designated as SPAs and 10% as SACs. Some 14.7% of Irish species are threatened with extinction, and 2.7% are already regionally extinct. One third of bee species are threatened and two thirds of our bird species are of conservation concern, with curlews being down by 98% since the 1980s and corncrakes down by 96% since the 1970s. Just 53% of our water bodies are in satisfactory condition, and 56% of our native plant species are in decline. We are in a bad place, but I recognise that some measures being put in place at present are seeing positive results. The Minister of State spoke about the corncrake and curlew projects that are in place. There are certainly good signs and positive movement coming from that. I acknowledge the Minister of State's passion in this area, in which he has worked for a long time. Certainly, a huge part of his life is spent enjoying and appreciating nature.  Considering where we are and the difficulties we face, I think there is considerable work ahead. When the Minister of State spoke earlier, he referred to the national parks and the NPWS. I recognise the incredible work done by the NPWS. The people in there are very passionate about the environment, and that is why they are in that job. It struck me as I listened to the Minister of State's speech, in which he outlined and listed all the national parks we have in Ireland - indeed, we have seen some very welcome increases in the national parks - that I am not sure we have really defined or identified what role our national parks should play. That is a key problem. When people hear about a \"national park\", they think of nature, protection and a safe place for nature to grow and be enhanced, but I do not believe we have got to that place with our national parks yet. That our national parks do not have management plans is a major concern of mine, and I have been raising it for several years now. Our national parks need to be areas where biodiversity and nature protection are the top priority, but unfortunately, that is not the case. Many of our national parks are farms with no additional protections within them. They are just lines drawn on a map, given a title and a place on a very lovely website. I am not sure whether, from a nature perspective, they are actually helping things.  We should be having a discussion not only about what role the national parks play, but also about the balance within the national parks and their role. Many of them have become and are designed as recreational areas for communities and people to enjoy, and that is very important. We need these educational facilities and places where people can go and connect with nature to understand and enjoy it, but they also need to be places where protection is involved. We need to have a discussion about whether we need highly protected areas within our national parks that do not have walking tracks, car parks or coffee shops, and are not purely for recreation. That discussion absolutely has to happen. I do not believe we have even begun to consider that. Many of the things the Minister of State has talked about when it comes to funding are looking at footbridge upgrades, trail upgrades and maintenance, and redevelopment of carparks. As I have said, these are important, but at present we are not getting the protection piece right. We are getting the recreation piece right, but the protection piece has not been considered sufficiently. I ask that this be brought to the Minister of State, because he has had to leave the Chamber.  Much of this stuff is long-term and very complex. You have different landowners, competing agendas and competing needs. It is difficult, but there are some quick wins that the Minister of State could make in relation to protecting biodiversity that are within his remit. I know the Minister of State is a birder, and he is essentially responsible for them, so I am surprised that we still have red- and amber-listed birds that are hunted every year. The Minister of State signs the open hunting season order on those, but I ask that he consider not allowing any endangered birds to be hunted, because that is counterintuitive. The Minister of State also allows for the capture and coursing of protected species. Again, that should not be allowed. I heard him talk this morning about an invasive species bureau, which is a very good idea, but there are some very simple things that need to happen immediately. We cannot allow the sale of invasive species in this country, on the one hand, and then at the same time have these invasive species causing huge destruction in certain areas with the State spending millions trying to get rid of them. It does not make sense. Rhododendron ponticum should not be sold in this country, and anyone selling it should face sanction.  Cherry laurel is another species that is causing incredible problems and difficulties and yet you can still buy it. It should not be for sale. I know there are a number of species that are actually illegal for sale in Ireland but which are still being sold. For any distributor or garden centre that is caught or found to be selling these, there needs to be sanctions. We have to protect what we have here. Identifying that a species is problematic and seeing the absolute havoc a species like that can cause down in Killarney National Park and still allowing for it to be sold does not make any sense to me at all.  I have a couple of minutes left. I know Derek Mooney has been in the media a lot for not-so-positive reasons but I wish to acknowledge and mention his documentary, which I have been looking at this week, about urban nature. This is an area we tend to forget as well. I think we see nature as something that is separate from us, out in the country and is only a rural thing but nature is all around us. His programme was very interesting in looking at how we can incorporate and facilitate nature to be a part of our cities and towns. Over the past number of years, we have cemented it out and got rid of it. We have created homes and communities where nature is not welcome or it cannot find a place.  The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, on one hand, is doing fantastic work with retrofitting homes but, at the same time, that retrofitting seals a home so species like swifts can no longer find their little nooks and crannies. I brought that to the SEAI's attention previously and it said it would look into that. We have become very good at the engineering aspects of our lives to the detriment of nature and there are ways we can make our homes, schools, villages and towns a lot more nature-friendly - I refer to bee bricks and swift bricks - to ensure that when there are new developments, it is native hedgerows that go in there and not species that just do not belong there.  There is so much we can do because I think we have become very isolated from nature, particularly in urban communities. If we see ants, our first instinct is to get rid of them. We go straight for the pesticides we can get down in the local supermarket. All that kind of stuff has to stop. We need to learn to live with these species. I go out into my garden and I see midges everywhere and I love it, because I know all those midges in my garden are feeding the bats and the birds. We need to have that understanding of the food web and the ecological cycle but we need to make our villages and towns open to nature. I ask the Minister of State to pass that on to the Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"William Aird","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy William Aird  I welcome the opportunity to speak during National Biodiversity Week and to recognise the incredible work being done by communities, volunteers, schools, farmers and local organisations across County Laois and throughout Ireland to protect our natural environment.  Biodiversity is not an abstract idea. It is the hedgerow beside the road, the bees in your garden, the rivers and boglands that shape our countryside, and the birds and wildlife that are part of everyday life in rural Ireland. Protecting biodiversity is not just about nature; it is about healthier communities, cleaner water, stronger farming and the birds and leaving our country in a better state, which is very important for the next generation.  National Biodiversity Week reminds us that real environmental progress happens on the ground and in local communities. In my own County Laois, we are seeing that leadership every day. One initiative that deserves huge credit is Portlaoise: A Town in a Garden. This initiative has completely changed how people look at public spaces and biodiversity in the town. Through pollinator-friendly planting, greener spaces and strong community involvement, it has shown that towns can grow and develop while supporting nature. This is about far more than appearance. It is about creating habitats, improving well-being and building pride in our communities.  I want to acknowledge the excellent work done by Portlaoise Tidy Towns and all Tidy Towns committees throughout the whole of County Laois in driving this project. Across Laois, volunteers give up their time every week to improve their local areas. Tidy Towns groups today are doing far more than just picking up litter. They are planting native species, protecting habitats, creating pollinator corridors and, most of all, educating communities about sustainability. They are environmental leaders in every sense of the word.  I recognise the work of the Laois Federation of Tidy Towns and the growing support for the \u201cspace for nature\u201d approach. Sometimes the best thing we can do for nature is simply give it space. A wildflower patch, a native hedge, reduced mowing or restoring wetlands can make a real difference.  We should also acknowledge the very important role farmers are playing. Farmers are the custodians of much of our landscape and many are leading by example when it comes to biodiversity protection. Across Laois, farmers are protecting hedgerows, restoring habitats and safeguarding waterways while continuing to produce high-quality food. They understand better than anyone that healthy land and healthy ecosystems go hand in hand.  As legislators, we must back practical action. That means supporting local groups, supporting farmers and making biodiversity protection part of everyday life in every town, village and parish. People want cleaner rivers, greener communities and healthier environments for their families. People want to play their part. National Biodiversity Week is not just a celebration. It is a call to action. I thank every volunteer, community group, local authority worker, farmer and citizen who is helping to protect Ireland\u2019s biodiversity. Their work matters, and County Laois can be proud of the example being set right across our communities.  This is a good time for young people in our country. When I was a young person, there was very little about biodiversity. All we ever knew about was tadpoles and pinkeens. Today, there is huge education in all our towns and villages about the importance of keeping what we have and, for instance, the work that is being done now with our native bees, the corncrakes and the hen harriers. It was a pity that could not have been done maybe 15 years ago and there would be a lot more of those species. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I thank the Deputy. I call Deputy Ward. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"William Aird","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy William Aird  I wish to take this opportunity to thank everybody who is doing it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  You are eating into Deputy Ward's time. I call Deputy Ward. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I join Deputy Aird in acknowledging the work that is being done by people. He mentioned a number of different projects; bees were one of them. That kind of apiculture is really important. We know how much danger there is associated with the native Irish bee. There is an organisation in my own locality called Open Hive, which not only locates hives in places where they might not otherwise be - on private land, on top of apartment buildings and other places like that to allow bees to thrive - but is also engaged in education with the local community to ensure that people interested in keeping bees will get the opportunity to do that. They are some of the many unknown heroes of biodiversity across Ireland.  I think of Monkstown Tidy Districts as well, a local organisation. It does not just do the pick-ups on Saturday mornings that we all associate with Tidy Districts and Tidy Towns organisations. Monkstown Tidy Districts organises many biodiversity events to show people how they can foster biodiversity in their own gardens or on their own balconies if they do not have a garden, and to help them to sow different types of plants that give variety and foster the growth of various fauna in a biodiverse way.  I am fortunate to live on the edge of Dublin Bay, which is a UNESCO biosphere. It is a hugely important place and part of that would be places like the Booterstown marsh, administered by An Taisce, which does enormously important work in providing spaces for birds and plants of all different types, both saltwater and freshwater, because it is tidal and the water comes in and out according to the tide. It fosters an environment where all those plants can grow. People who drive down Booterstown might sometimes complain about the smell when the tide is out but the people of the area have a close association with and attachment to the valuable asset the Booterstown marsh is.  The archipelago of Dalkey Island is also an area where biodiversity and the restoration of habitats for animals that do not have other places to go have been fostered. I acknowledge the work done by D\u00fan Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council in the context of the Dalkey Island archipelago. The council, in fairness to it, is constantly working on its biodiversity space, working with local organisations such as the Irish National Sailing School, which has been equipped by the council with things that help it clean up the water in D\u00fan Laoghaire Harbour and the adjacent areas. We have organisations like Flossie and the Beach Cleaners - Flossie Donnelly is a young girl who has pioneered the cleaning up of our coasts and beaches with groups of volunteers - which collect tonnes of rubbish over a period of years, picking up all kinds of things off the coast and beaches. They are organising pick-ups all the time, not just in our area of D\u00fan Laoghaire but all the way up and down Dublin and the east coast. The work they do is hugely important. They do it in the face of the fact that there are other complicating factors. Even in Kilbogget park, for example, where we have a lovely attenuation pond, a family of swans had to be removed because of an oil spill. Even though we have all these local heroes constantly working to put in place facilities to assist with biodiversity, working against them we have litter and pollution.  In the context of Dublin Bay biosphere, at the West Pier at the back of D\u00fan Laoghaire Harbour, there is an overflow pipe from the West Pier pumping station. The sewerage collected in the south Dublin area is mostly pumped through the West Pier pumping station, through an under-seabed pipe to Poolbeg, where the sewerage is treated before being released into the sea. However, when there is a lot of rainfall there is a greater demand on the pumping station than it can cope with. When there is too much material going into it, it flows into an overflow tank or attenuation tank at the West Pier, which holds 70,000 litres. Even then, when that is full, for example when there is a lot of run-off from rain, there is nowhere for the waste to go but into the sea. All the work that is being done by the various groups I have mentioned is being counteracted by the regular pollution of Dublin Bay in incidents like that. There is an easy solution insofar as we could build a second attenuation tank that would prevent those overflows. It is an easy solution in the medium term and something we should be looking at if we are serious about biodiversity. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  Ireland is facing a national biodiversity crisis that is entirely entwined with the climate crisis. We are a country that is known internationally for our landscapes, nature and lakes. These are threats that pose a risk to our own environment and well-being, as well as our local economies, especially in areas that rely on tourism. It requires a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach.  In my county, Monaghan, the local council has been to the fore, leading on many initiatives such as the first county hedgerow survey in 2010, which has been replicated by a number of other councils over the years. Recently other projects, such as the Sliabh Beagh PEACEPLUS nature peatland recovery and the hen harrier management programme, have been great initiatives coming out of Monaghan.  Farmers across this island have been to the fore in responding to the climate and biodiversity crises. They are doing so in a context where they are consistently being asked to do more, while getting paid less, because that is how it works. Newly mandated regulations are usually either production reduction measures or measures that increase production costs. The problem is this. While there can be good money to be made in food production, farmers' margins are already simply too tight to absorb the ever-rising standards. I am not disputing that measures are necessary. The question is how we fund them. Bringing more transparency to processors' and retailers' margins is needed, as is enforcement of unfair trading practices. So too is paying our farmers for the services they provide as a part of the Common Agricultural Policy. I hope all Members will recognise the scale of the challenge we face and row in behind our farmers in the months ahead as the EU budget is agreed and, in particular, that we will be united in demanding a larger CAP budget and more funding for our farming families.  I will touch on an issue related to the use of lead gunshot and the REACH committee. This goes back to the previous D\u00e1il term. I am aware that at that time, there was an issue in terms of engagement between the Department and stakeholders. I do not want to dwell on that, and we have a new Minister. Is the Minister of State willing to give a commitment to engage with representative countryside, conservation and rural stakeholder organisations on this matter? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  I am sharing time with Deputy O'Gorman. I welcome the opportunity to discuss the issue of biodiversity. There are a lot of aspects to it. One that is directly relevant to my own area is the issue of marine protected areas. I have raised this point many times. The Government has failed to adequately protect sensitive marine environments. The EU biodiversity strategy 2030 and the UN biodiversity framework require that 30% of our marine area should be protected. Currently, we are at less than 10%. In the meantime, there is another imperative, namely, the development of offshore wind, which is an absolute priority. There is a need to synchronise these two things in a way that doing one does not undermine the other. This has not happened. The private developers of offshore renewable wind have got to select sites. They have chosen sites that are likely the most ecologically sensitive from a biodiversity point of view, but that are cheaper and more profitable sites for the developers to develop offshore wind. Off the east coast, we have development at very close proximity to the shore, on sandbanks which are ecologically very sensitive as they are the spawning ground for shellfish and many species of fish. They also provide livelihoods for fishers off the east coast. The fishers estimate this involves, directly and indirectly, about 800 jobs. The developers have decided which sites should be selected, rather than us deciding which are the marine areas that need to be protected. This is a problem.  Groups like the South East Coastal Protection Alliance say there has been significant damage to the marine environment and marine biodiversity off Arklow from the wind farm off the Arklow bank. Now there has to be decommissioning after 20 years, another important factor. The turbines have to be decommissioned after 20 years and then built again on a bigger scale, when there is already significant evidence of damage to marine biodiversity. Ultimately, this can undermine the climate imperative for which renewable energy is being developed in the first place, namely, to prevent damage to the wider climate, as these environments are particularly important for carbon capture.  They are potentially being seriously damaged. The point is that we should have the legislation on marine protected areas, we should have the 30% necessary, and we should ensure that the most ecologically sensitive marine areas are protected before we let developers decide where they want, for profit reasons, to develop the offshore renewable energy which we absolutely need.  I note that most of the rest of Europe does not put offshore wind at anything like the proximity being proposed on the east coast. They put it 20 km, 30 km and up to 60 km off the coast in these sensitive areas, not 10 km as is proposed here. We need to understand that biodiversity is critical, as is the protection of sensitive marine protected areas, and it should not be the poor relation when we talk about protecting our environment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  I am sure that, like me, the Minister of State has been out knocking on doors in Dublin Central and Galway West over the past number of weeks. One of the things I have been struck with in the many conversations I have had with voters is the deep connection that people in our country feel with nature. This connection applies irrespective of where people live, be it in urban or rural communities. Whether they are planting trees along streets in Stoneybatter or growing on the land area protected by Connemara National Park, people across Ireland want to see action taken to protect the nature around them. Many Irish people are taking this action themselves. We can look at how communities around the country have embraced the all-Ireland pollinator plan. Everywhere we see signs on roadsides and in parks stating areas have been left aside and allowed to go wild. This scheme is very much driven forward by the Tidy Towns groups around the country. The Tidy Towns movement itself has changed and evolved in many ways over recent years. There was once a time when the local clean-up involved a war on weeds but now local Tidy Towns groups are very much making space for nature, wildness and a bit of messiness in towns and villages.  Community gardens, local authority allotments, the slow food movement and seed savers are manifestations of communities' desire to get closer to nature. This passion has to be matched with Government action and funding. In 2019, the D\u00e1il declared a biodiversity crisis in Ireland alongside the climate crisis. The D\u00e1il recognised that the two were deeply interlinked. Right now Ireland sits 13th from the bottom of countries worldwide in a biodiversity intactness index. Maybe this is unsurprising when we consider that Ireland spent the lowest share of GDP on nature of all EU member states.  My colleague, Senator Noonan, has said a reframe is needed when it comes to nature and that it should be treated as critical infrastructure in its own right. What the Government fails to see is the link between our future financial sustainability and our environmental sustainability. It needs to shift its thinking towards one of investment in flood prevention, resilience in our farming system, community well-being, restoring our rivers, abundant seas and cooling our urban centres. This reframe should mean this and future Governments do not view nature restoration as a financial burden.  Since last year, I have raised in the D\u00e1il the status of Lady's Island Lake in Wexford on a number of occasions. Last weekend, members of the Oireachtas climate committee travelled to Wexford to see the condition of the lake. I acknowledged in the D\u00e1il earlier this afternoon that an initial tranche of funding provided has allowed baseline and scoping work to begin there. Lady's Island Lake could become a beacon for nature restoration across this island but it will require the State to step up with more funding and support actions on the ground that will turn the story there around.  It is worth reflecting that the biggest potential source of funding for restoring nature, and particularly for paying farmers for actions they agree to undertake on their own land, is gone with the raiding of the Climate and Nature Fund last year by the Government to plug holes in existing infrastructure funding. Hundreds of millions of euro had been put aside in the Climate and Nature Fund, money taken from the annual surpluses that were available to create new revenue streams, particularly for smaller farmers on marginal land. From where will we replace this money that the Government took from the Climate and Nature Fund, which would have financed nature restoration? So much of the rest of what the Minister of State and the Government say about nature protection hangs on this question of where the money will come from. Unfortunately, until the Government can demonstrate a clear funding source for the scale of the nature protection we need to address the interlinked nature and biodiversity crisis, pretty much everything the Government representatives say today will ring hollow. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ryan O'Meara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ryan O'Meara  I welcome the opportunity to contribute during national biodiversity week and I thank the Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan, who I appreciate had to step out, for his continued commitment to biodiversity projects, nature restoration and engagement with rural communities. I say this to acknowledge a visit he made with me to Cloughjordan in my constituency last November. This visit involved a number of stops, one of which was Scohaboy Bog, which is a rewetting project in north Tipperary. It is extremely successful and it is Tipperary's leading peatland restoration project. It involves a lot of community work and engagement with the Cloughjordan Community Development Association, which engaged with keen stakeholders to make it happen.  It is on the topic of engagement that I will speak. An issue I will raise is stakeholder engagement structures in the wildlife and conservation sectors. As the Minister of State knows, this is an issue I have raised previously in the House because I believe meaningful stakeholder engagement is crucial if we are serious about delivering biodiversity objectives. The most recent NPWS strategic action plan committed to establishing a stakeholder forum. Subsequently, there was a further commitment to establishing a countryside forum for nature. I understand this is now not to proceed. At the same time, a separate forum for sustainable hunting of wild birds was also recently suspended. Stakeholders involved in this process have expressed frustration at the lack of clarity around the decision and uncertainty as to when any forum may resume its work. I raise this simply in the spirit of ensuring constructive engagement between the Department and rural stakeholders. I would appreciate if the Minister of State would speak to officials in the Department to better understand whether there is a timeline for the reinstatement of the forum.  Another issue I want to raise relates to the review of the memorandum of understanding agreed with the National Association of Regional Game Councils, NARGC. I last raised this issue in the House in October. It was announced that a review of the memorandum of understanding with the Department would take place at that time. It is my understanding that to date the NARGC has not yet been contacted by officials in relation to this review process. From my point of view, when I raised it in the House at the time I was quite surprised to hear the review was taking place to begin with, considering a memorandum of understanding had been undertaken. My understanding is that the NARGC was not informed in advance that a review was taking place and has not received clarification from the NPWS as to what the process will involve.  I fully appreciate that reviews have to take place. They make sense in terms of spending public funding. However, where organisations have engaged with the Department, it is important that there is open communication and ongoing engagement throughout the entire process. At a time when we are all asking more of rural communities in terms of biodiversity delivery, conservation and nature restoration - I know these communities will step up to the plate because they are already doing so - it is important these same communities are included in national policy discussions. Collaboration with stakeholders will be essential in ensuring consensus on major measures, such as the nature restoration law, in the years ahead.  Earlier, I mentioned a very successful nature restoration project in a bog close to me. This was possible because of strong engagement and clear communication, and getting a group of people together who, it would have been assumed at one time, would not have pulled in the right direction. They proved it is possible with engagement and constructive work. I would appreciate if the Minister of State engaged with officials and the Department to ensure communication with all parties remains constructive and transparent as these processes move forward and that the original ambition behind these engagement structures can still be meaningfully progressed.  Rural Ireland wants to engage constructively on these issues. I believe it is important that this continues in a spirit of partnership and good faith. I know this because I live in rural Ireland. I represent rural Ireland and I know these communities will engage if there is a positive benefit for them and if they are brought along the process. In order for this to happen I believe the two forums I mentioned earlier are absolutely essential. There are groups that want to be part of the conversation. These groups are interested in rural Ireland, rural pursuits and rural ways of life, and this includes conservation as part of their work. If we have engagement and meaningful conversation, I believe this can happen. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Erin McGreehan  It is great to be here to acknowledge and mark National Biodiversity Week. It is clear in this House that there is huge interest in this as an environmental issue. It is all around us, in our hedgerows, boglands, rivers, coastlines and the native trees that have shaped the story of this island for centuries. Biodiversity is our national heritage, particularly our native Irish trees. That is not just for their environmental value, but for the history, folklore and identity attached to them. That interest has led me to start M\u00edle Crainn Na h\u00c9ireann. That was an initiative encouraging communities, schools and families to plant native Irish trees and reconnect with their ecological heritage, spreading the knowledge and the importance of our native flora. Growing up I always loved the stories attached to our trees. One that stayed with me was that of the holly tree. Associated with strength, sportsmanship and champions, in ancient Ireland the holly symbolised endurance and leadership. It could symbolise the Fianna F\u00e1il party as well. C\u00fa Chulainn carries a sprig of holly and L\u00fa the warrior god, after whom County Louth is named, made his spears from holly. It is not only attached to Fianna F\u00e1il but to County Louth. There is something Irish about the idea that true strength is steady, protective and deeply rooted.  I also think of the lone hawthorn trees standing in fields across rural Ireland. Many farmers would sooner move a road than interfere with one. Some people dismiss these traditions as superstition but there is wisdom in them. The hawthorn is one of the richest native trees we have for biodiversity. Hundreds of insect species depend on it for food and shelter, while its blossoms feed pollinators and its berries sustain the birds through winter. Long before biodiversity reports existed, communities understood that protecting those trees meant protecting life itself. Under Brehon Law, native trees were protected because they were understood to be a central part of society. Today, modern science is confirming what our ancestors already knew. Healthy ecosystems protect communities, agriculture, climate resilience and human well-being. We cannot speak honestly about biodiversity without speaking directly to our pollinators. Our native honey bee and wild pollinators are under enormous pressure of habitat loss, pesticide disease and invasive species. Without pollinators we do not have functioning ecosystems, secure food production and healthy biodiversity. That is why I call for the Protection of the Native Irish Honey Bee Bill to be progressed and passed through the D\u00e1il. This legislation is necessary. It is about protecting Ireland's native honey bee population from further decline and safeguarding biodiversity before irreversible damage is done. If we are serious about it, we need to protect pollinators.  We must also recognise the importance of supporting farmers and local communities who are custodians of landscapes like the Cooley Mountains. They cannot be expected to protect biodiversity without being given the proper tools, training and financial support to do so. In places across the Cooleys, bracken is growing out of control, choking the natural growth of our native heathers and slowly changing the character of the mountains. Anyone who knows the Cooleys knows they should carry a distinctive purple plume across the hillsides in late summer. The beautiful bell heathers are unique to these uplands and so important to pollinators, wildlife and the identity of the area. If we lose that habitat through neglect or lack of support, we lose something culturally and environmentally irreplaceable.  We also need to be far more serious about how we deal with invasive species. I welcome the establishment of the new invasive species bureau, but it cannot become another strategy to sit on a shelf. It has to come with proper enforcement. We need tougher inspections, stronger regulation and meaningful fines for those who continue to sell invasive plant species that damage our ecosystems and waterways. Prevention, as we all know, is cheaper than restoration and once invasive species take hold, communities are left fighting the consequences. County councils and governments are caught paying the bill.  National Biodiversity Week should remind us that nature is not separate from us. It is part of who we are as a people. If we fail to protect it now, future generations will not forgive us. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I thank Deputy McGreehan for mentioning C\u00fa Chulainn, obviously Louth's finest hurler. Hopefully we will see his type again in the near future. It is much needed.  I agree with much of what previous speakers have said. We are in an absolute nightmare with regard to biodiversity and the crossover point with climate change. A huge amount of work is being done by communities. Many have mentioned Tidy Towns. The danger with naming one group is that you offend those you do not mention. I will mention Dundalk, Blackrock and Dromiskin and the huge body of work done in those areas. I have to mention Muirhevnamor Community Gardens where there are allotments and community gardens in the middle of a major estate in Dundalk. The connection with community and nature is fundamentally a brilliant thing. A huge amount of work is done and sometimes people underestimate the clean-up. From that comes a connection with what needs to be done in relation to management of biodiversity, combined with ensuring we live in clean communities. I welcome the work done in Bay Estate where I live. Occasionally, I have shown up. In the past number of weeks, I have used the excuse of canvassing and other things not to be at it. I will not bother mentioning any candidates or anything. I am very good like that. I commend the work they do.  The Cooley Peninsula Marine Litter Project is a fabulous project. It is quite like Ronseal. I do not think I need to get into what it does. I have been lucky enough to be alongside many of my Sinn F\u00e9in councillor colleagues on clean-ups. Even our Toirleach showed up at the last one and probably did a bit more work than I did, but that can happen from time to time. I also welcome the work done by the Bee Kind Project, which engaged Louth Council and Newry, Mourne and Down District Council from the point of view of planting native fruit trees, and engaged with community groups on that.  As I am nearly out of time I was going to get into the ins and outs of the impact on our habitats of those species that are facing extinction and the fact that we need to work alongside farmers. We need to make sure funding is derived from outside of the CAP to make the moves that need to be made. A huge amount also needs to be done from the point of view of energy, whether we are talking about biogas or wind energy. We also need to deal with the infrastructural disaster in the area of wastewater, which has a huge impact in Louth. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  Earlier this year, the Minister launched an important report in Clonakilty on wintering waterbirds. It highlighted the important good data habitat protection and the work being done by local communities. However, we also need to deal with the gaps. We still do not have a national bag data collection system. That has been an issue for years. The National Association of Regional Game Councils, which represents thousands of people in rural Ireland, has repeatedly offered to work with the Department to provide that data. It is willing to help and be part of the solution but there has been no real progress. I raised this with the Department through parliamentary questions last week, including the review of the memorandum of understanding and the suspension of the stakeholders forum. The responses I received did little to ease the concern. There is still too much uncertainty and not enough clear communication. That is not how to build trust or encourage people to engage.  When we talk about biodiversity we have to look at what is happening on the ground. These are the facts. In parts of west Cork, we still have raw sewage leaking into beautiful rivers that were clean at one time, and coastal waters. That is the reality for the people of Rosscarbery, Shannonvale, Dunmanway, Ballydehob, Goleen and all these communities. I have raised this issue time and again, but it has still not been properly addressed. We cannot talk about protecting biodiversity while allowing that kind of damage to continue. Clean water is the most basic requirement for protecting habitats, wildlife and local ecosystems. People in west Cork are frustrated. They feel left behind while these issues drag on. If we are serious about biodiversity, we need to get the basics right. That means proper wastewater infrastructure, real engagement with the stakeholders and delivery on the ground. Rural communities have the knowledge and the willingness to play their part, but they should not be left on the sidelines. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  The debate is on biodiversity and nature restoration but there is nothing here about the protection of human life. I am from a farming background and live in rural Ireland. I talk about people trying to get safely to school or the bus network or trucks trying to get to the shops with goods from the farmers, people trying to get to work and people trying to walk the roads. All the roads in Ireland are closing in. There is talk about the protection of wildlife, which pulls the mirrors off trucks, buses and cars and puts people in danger. A solution has not been put forward to getting wildlife off the sides of the roads and safe passage for humans on the roads. It is not only safe passage for people on the roads but it is also saving nature. However, this is ignored and it is decided we must let all the roads in Ireland close in and put people's lives at risk. I love wildlife and I want to protect wildlife but I also love humans and want to protect human life. Unfortunately, there is no joined-up thinking when it comes to governance. You can only cut the hedges at certain times of the year but if the hedges were cut properly once - 1 m up and straight up - you would protect everyone. You would protect wildlife and you would protect human life but it is not looked at in that way. How many people when driving come around the bend and are met by a vehicle in the middle of the road because it cannot keep to the side of the road as everything growing out from there? This is all due to policies by government rather than joined-up thinking which would allow the hedges to be cut back properly once and then be maintained from then on to protect wildlife and human life. However, it looks like human life comes last when it comes to this Government. We want to protect nature and we want biodiversity but we also want to protect human life. That might be something for the Government to think about. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  The Government has a habit of signing up to laws and targets, making announcements and slapping itself on the back before walking away. It walks away without a plan, without any ring-fenced funding for the targets it has set out to achieve and really without any plan to deliver what is proposed. The EU Nature Restoration Law is a perfect example of this. We are now legally obliged to restore at least 20% of our land and sea by 2030. That is not just a target or an aspiration but a legally-binding obligation with fines attached. My questions for the Minister of State is how we achieve this without any ring-fenced funding or plan and ultimately who will pay the fines that are attached. On the one hand the legal obligations are intensifying while on the other the funding is being pulled away. The committee drafting Ireland\u2019s nature restoration plan has already raised concerns about the absence of the nature funding within the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund. The principal investment framework for this State, which runs up to 2035, does not even adequately support the objectives the Government has signed us up to. Instead, and quite incredibly, the bulk of the funding is actually being diverted to the Dublin MetroLink. To be clear, we signed up to the Nature Restoration Law and then the Government diverted the money away from nature restoration into MetroLink.  This is not the only area where we are basically sleepwalking into European fines. Ireland is already falling significantly short of our EU emissions targets and the gap between what we have committed to and what is happening on the ground is widening. It is farmers, rural communities and ultimately ordinary people who will pay these fines. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  Things have got worse since I spoke about this last year. I had a few more minutes then, so I have to rush. The 2025 Article 17 habitats report has come out since last year\u2019s debate and it shows we are sliding backwards. There have been improvements in a small number of habitats and targeted conservation work by volunteers has helped some species but overall we are neglecting our country and basically spitting in the face of our many volunteers. The report shows 90% of Ireland\u2019s EU protected habitats remain in poor condition and more than half are still deteriorating. This Government and its predecessor has allowed the majority of our most precious ecosystems to continue deteriorating. It is not rocket science. What is causing the problem is unsustainable land use, drainage, pollution, overgrazing, improper development and especially the shameful way we reneged on our responsibilities to sustain biodiversity. We still allow raw sewage into our rivers and seas, which is absolutely absurd. Putting animal excrement on our land and allowing it to pollute our waterways is plain wrong. We have nitrogen-fixing alternatives like fava beans, and a policy promoting more organic farming rather than over-intensification could help massively but instead we trumpet our achievement with the derogation on the nitrates directive. I believe in our farmers. I believe they will do more if their incomes are protected and they are given guarantees and incentives, along with the communities they live in. There is surely a way to adhere to the nitrates directive while protecting farm incomes. In dealing with our problem nationally we need meaningful incentives and enforcement where incentives do not work. Above all, we need political will as opposed to pl\u00e1m\u00e1s. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Murphy  This being National Biodiversity Week it is really important we acknowledge the enormous positive work at the local level within our communities by schools, farmers, environmental organisations and especially volunteers and Tidy Towns groups. They do extraordinary work to protect and enhance biodiversity.  If we are serious about protecting biodiversity we also need to be serious about confronting invasive species and this is what I will focus on in my contribution. In towns and villages in County Tipperary and across the country communities are increasingly dealing with invasive plants such as Japanese knotweed and giant hogweed. These are no longer isolated environmental concerns but public safety issues, infrastructure issues and indeed major financial liabilities for local authorities, landowners and communities. In recent weeks I have been dealing with a particularly concerning case involving the reported presence of giant hogweed in a public park in South Tipperary. This is a busy public amenity used daily by families, walkers, sports clubs, schools and children. This issue was reported many months ago yet there appears to have been uncertainty about who is responsible for co-ordination. Questions arose about who exactly is responsible for responding on the ground. Is it the council district office, the environmental section, the biodiversity officer, the National Parks and Wildlife Service or the Department of agriculture? While these questions remain unanswered the people continue to use these public spaces every day.  That points to a much wider national issue. We do not have a sufficiently clear, consistent and co-ordinated approach across local authorities when it comes to invasive species management. Who takes operational control? Who co-ordinates the response? What happens when the infestation is on public land? What happens when it is on private land beside public infrastructure? How quickly are public safety measures implemented and what guidance exists for local authorities to ensure a uniform response nationwide? In the case of giant hogweed the dangers are very real. Contact with the plant can cause severe burns, blistering, long-term skin damage and eye injuries yet in some instances areas remain accessible to the public and without barriers or warning signage. Japanese knotweed presents another enormous challenge. It damages roads, footpaths, walls, drainage systems and property.  It can severely impact development land and places huge costs on homeowners, councils and taxpayers alike. Communities often feel powerless when infestations spread across boundaries between public and private land, with no clear framework for enforcement or co-ordinated treatment. We need a national strategy that provides clarity and consistency. That means clear lines of responsibility within every local authority, proper co-ordination between biodiversity, environmental and district operations staff, national guidelines for treatment and containment, public awareness campaigns and, most importantly, adequate funding for early intervention because early action is far cheaper than long-term remediation. Biodiversity protection is not only about preserving what is native and thriving but also about managing what threatens it. If we truly value biodiversity, we must equip our local authorities and communities with the structures, resources and accountability needed to deal effectively with invasive species before these problems escalate even further. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in  Across Ireland, we can see the absence of a lot of wildlife, nature and biodiversity that was commonplace when we were all growing up or even 20 years ago. Rivers that were teeming with fish are now polluted and butterflies are a rare occurrence. We are witnessing the destruction of natural habitats. The warning signs are there and clear for everybody to see.  One third of Ireland\u2019s 99 bee species, the main pollinators of all plant life, are now threatened with extinction. I pay a particular tribute to the Irish beekeeper and writer, Bruce Copeland, who lives in Tinahely. He is publicly advocating for the enactment of the Protection of the Native Irish Honey Bee Bill in this Oireachtas. We need to pass this Bill during this term.  The World Bee Sanctuary is near Coolafancy, which is close to the Wicklow-Wexford border, run by Paul Handrick and his wife Clare-Louise Donelan. It is particularly commendable. I am also proud that Wexford and Wicklow were the first two counties to declare a biodiversity emergency, recognising that urgent action is required to protect wildlife and natural habitats for future generations. I also commend Wexford County Council on its efforts to clean up the heavily polluted Our Lady\u2019s Island lake.  In both counties, we are very fortunate to live beside some of the most beautiful landscapes in Ireland, from forests and mountains to our beaches, from Brittas Bay down to Morriscastle, Curracloe and beyond. We are also home to some of the truly special national and natural treasures in Ireland, such as the last remaining oak forest at Tomnafinnoge near Tinahely, close to where I live. There are also two wonderful deciduous forests in Courtown and Ballyfad, which are vital rich habitats for birds, insects, fungi and wildlife found nowhere else. These ancient woodlands remind us of what Gaelic Ireland once looked like before it was plundered and pillaged and why protecting our natural environment matters so much in terms of reclaiming the Irish nation. I commend voluntary groups such as those behind the 100 Million Trees Project, the Mulcahys, who live close to where I live. The aim is to have 110 million trees planted throughout the ancient island of Ireland, including at Kilmichael Point, Kilpatrick, Castletown, Moneygarrow, near Arklow, Servier Industries in Arklow, Clogga, and Gorey district park.  Unfortunately, our Government has the worst record in Europe for developing deciduous forest cover and this has to change. We have the beautiful Blackstairs Mountains overlooking Bunclody, with unique biodiversity. We should take the opportunity to develop this as a national park. I would like to see that happening during this term. We have a beautiful gem in Tara Hill, close to the coast near Gorey. The local development association, which is encouraging biodiversity on the hill, needs to be given every support possible. The Government missed a huge opportunity with the recent auction of Lugnaquilla, the highest mountain in Leinster and County Wicklow. The State could have bought the mountain and developed it as a national park with real benefits for biodiversity. It is still not too late. Hopefully, the declaration of an emergency will focus our minds on enacting policies locally, which will help to tackle the crisis in our midst. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  Bh\u00ed m\u00e9 ag \u00e9isteacht le gach duine agus aonta\u00edm le go leor rud a d\u00faradh. I will start with the area I represent, Dublin Bay North. I have mentioned previously that Bull Island, in my constituency and a part of the Dublin Bay UNESCO Biosphere, is one of the best places to go to clear the head. Sadly, we have lost the native Irish hare on the island. The last time it was seen was in 2016. The golf club on the island, St. Annes, still has the hare on its crest. I was talking to the club's greenskeeper recently. The Irish hare should be returned there and I am asking for a funded reintroduction programme. I have spoken in the climate and energy committee about this issue. It would be brilliant. Even when we look at the etymology of the Irish word for the hare, giorria, from gearrfhia, it means a small deer. The Irish language and the Irish hare have been hand in hand since we have been growing on this island, and it is sad to see the hares gone from Bull Island. I remember seeing the hares when I was growing up. Hares are actually good for golf clubs because they do not burrow. They do not mess up the courses and loads of golf clubs actually love them.  I also want to talk about the red squirrels. I have only seen two in my entire life, in the Dublin Mountains. We need to look at the example of other countries. Research from the University of Galway has shown that the recovery of pine marten populations can cause grey squirrel populations to collapse. Just as the Irish native hare population grew on the island, so too did the red squirrels. Red squirrels can get to branches that the grey squirrel cannot, and red squirrels have grown up with the pine martens. This is something that should be looked at as a nature-based solution.  As a beekeeper, I also want to speak about the Protection of the Native Irish Honey Bee Bill. I welcome the contribution from the previous Deputy. My parliamentary assistant, Tracy, was working when the legislation was introduced in the Seanad. She did a lot of work on it. I actually spoke at the agriculture committee, possibly the first time ever for a Dub, supporting the Bill. I love being a beekeeper. I have been stung worse in politics. It was mentioned that there are 98 or 99 species of bee; it depends on who you asg. The honey bee is being well looked after but it is a solo bee. It is the bumblebee that we need to protect. No Mow May needs to be used and the Irish public needs to get out and reintroduce those bees. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  I just want to inform Deputy Heneghan that I welcomed four young hares into my field the other morning. They were grand specimens.  I thank the local community groups, the Tidy Towns committees and the rural development companies for the great work they do enhancing our environment around all our towns and villages in the county of Kerry.  We are facing a massive challenge with our wastewater treatment plants. Our local authorities and Irish Water have been starved of funding to deal with these plants. We have towns in Kerry that are over capacity. Castleisland has been looking for an extension to its treatment plant for 40 years. I found documents belonging to my father in the garage, where he was working on it. One third of the town is dealt with using septic tanks. The Minister of State knows this is not the way to go. Villages like Scartaglin and Currow are all very close to each other and they have no treatment plants. Scartaglin has none and Currow just has a holding tank, which is drawn out of constantly to the treatment plant in Killarney. Moyvane is a satellite village of Tralee, and not another house can be built there because the sewerage system will not take an extra house as it is over capacity.  Many of our towns and villages need improvements in this regard. There are 32 or 33 now on a list to be dealt with. That will not happen without funding, and Irish Water will not have access to funding unless the Government gives it to the company. I am appealing to the Government now. It must start on the ground, and maybe people do not like talking about sewage, but we cannot build houses if we do not have waste treatment plants and if places like Kenmare are still waiting for water. These are the things that have to be dealt with and have to be funded. I appeal to the Government again from this seat here, and I have been directing my requests across the Chamber since I came up here in 2016. I am asking for this funding.  The other thing I am asking for is to clear out our rivers. Our rivers are overshadowed by trees, and salmon or trout will not thrive in them. I am asking that the rivers be cleaned out like was always done.  That is why the fish numbers are depleting. We need to start doing those things. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy John Cummins)  It is good to get an opportunity to mark National Biodiversity Week in the D\u00e1il and to reaffirm the Government\u2019s commitment to the protection and restoration of Ireland's natural heritage. A wide range of issues were raised and highlighted by Members. I acknowledge the great work being done in communities across the country but also that some areas need more attention and focus. Just this morning, I joined the Minister of State, Deputy O\u2019Sullivan, at the National Biodiversity Data Centre in Carriganore in my constituency of Waterford where a memorandum of understanding was signed between the NPWS and the National Biodiversity Data Centre to strengthen our approach to dealing with invasive species.  There is no doubt that there is a growing recognition of the importance of biodiversity across the country. Threats to biodiversity are not something that can be addressed by any one person or organisation and I am heartened to acknowledge the cross-party interest and support displayed in numerous statements. National Biodiversity Week gives us a snapshot of the sheer variety of ways we can interact with nature and biodiversity. I congratulate the Irish Environmental Network and the NPWS for their great work in co-ordinating this year\u2019s programme. I also want to acknowledge and pay tribute to the individuals, community groups, and organisations who have organised and participated in events across the country because without their passion and energy, these events simply would not happen. There were some lovely events in my constituency last weekend, including a walking tour of Waterford Harbour with experts on hand to help participants identify flowers, birds and insects. These everyday things are all around us and we do not ordinarily notice them but they are building blocks of our environment.  The National Biodiversity Week programme is evolving year on year, reflecting the growing awareness across all sectors of the importance of biodiversity but this is not just about one week in the year. The work being carried out by all participants day in, day out throughout the year shows what can be achieved when local knowledge, State support and citizen interest come together. These are the kinds of efforts that make a difference and are driving real change and I commend everyone on their efforts. These events have helped to shine a light on the everyday places that matter from small local initiatives right up to our national parks and nature reserves as well as everything in between, including green spaces in our towns, villages and cities, our rivers, hedgerows, harbours, back gardens, and boglands. These are not just habitats; they are homes for wildlife and places of well-being for us all.  The Government has made a clear statement of intent with record levels of investment in nature and heritage. A sum of \u20ac100 million in core funding was provided to the NPWS in 2026. This funding enables collaborative, locally-led projects through initiatives such as the local biodiversity action fund. It also supports the protection and restoration of vital habitats, conservation of threatened species and enhances monitoring and research. It also strengthens enforcement capacity, which is crucial to protecting our habitats. It is a whole-of-society, whole-of-government approach and one to which we are strongly committed.  Our young people are key to the future. Through initiatives like the green schools programme and youth biodiversity networks, we are supporting the development of an informed and engaged generation, passionate about biodiversity and we owe it to them to keep investing in these projects. As a Minister of State in the Department and someone from Waterford, it would be remiss of me not to mention a few planned events in my home county that everyone is welcome to participate in, ranging from walks in the Comeragh Mountains and Gracedieu Wood to whale watching off Heilbhic Head. There will also be a cycle along the fantastic Waterford-Dungarvan greenway on Saturday. These events are suitable for the whole family and are an opportunity to get out into nature and to learn about it. With just a few days remaining in National Biodiversity Week, I encourage everyone to check out the website, find events that are of interest or that are local, join in and get a new appreciation of what is right on their doorstep but to do so in a safe and responsible manner which leaves no trace on our landscape.  The daily efforts made by farmers, public servants, conservationists, environmentalists, volunteers and members of the public all combine to make a hugely positive impact and we should celebrate that during this National Biodiversity Week. I thank all Members for their contributions. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"National Biodiversity Week: Statements"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-19\/debate\/dbsect_15","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Evictions and Rent Hikes: Motion [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":45,"speakerCount":32},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donna McGettigan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Denise Mitchell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  I move:  That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann:  notes with extreme concern that:  \u2014 7,062 eviction notices were issued to tenants from January to March this year, up 51 per cent on the same period in 2025;  \u2014 at the end of 2025 new rents were up statewide 5 per cent and 4.4 per cent for existing rents; and  \u2014 six counties had double digit rent inflation last year including Limerick (12.6 per cent), Monaghan (12.4 per cent), Westmeath (11.5 per cent), Offaly (10.8 per cent), Cavan (10.6 per cent) and Galway (9.9 per cent);  further notes that:  \u2014 Statewide new rents were \u20ac1,744 per month and existing rents were \u20ac1,503 per month at the end of 2025;  \u2014 new rents in Dublin were \u20ac2,232 per month and existing rents were \u20ac1,931 per month at the end of last year;  \u2014 the Residential Tenancies Board's dispute caseload increased by 17.6 per cent in the first quarter of this year compared to the same time last year;  \u2014 all of this was prior to the Governments new rent regulations which came into effect which will see rents, evictions and disputes increase over the coming year;  \u2014 these trends are the direct result of Government policy and will lead to increased displacement of tenants, increased rents and increased homelessness; and  \u2014 Government continues to miss their social and affordable housing targets, targets that were too low to begin with, too few private for purchase homes are being built or coming to the market;  resolves that:  \u2014 Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael's housing policy continues to make the housing crisis worse and in particular is failing renters;  calls on Government to:  \u2014 introduce an emergency ban on rent increases and no-fault evictions;  \u2014 cut private rents by putting a full month's rent back into every private renter's pockets;  \u2014 oppose rent increases for Council tenants, those in receipt of Housing Assistance Payment and Rental Accommodation Scheme and cost rental tenants; and  \u2014 introduce a radical reset of housing policy as set out by the Housing Commission and to increase and accelerate the delivery of social, affordable and private for purchase homes.  I acknowledge the fact that the Minister is in a meeting with the Oliver Bond Regeneration Forum and I hope he listens carefully to what he hears from the residents.  Ten months ago, the Government announced what can only be described as the most controversial restructuring of the private rental sector in a decade. The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage unilaterally changed apartment standards, and not in a good way. He outlined changes to rent regulation that were introduced earlier this year and made it clear that it was the Government's intention to give massive tax breaks to apartment developers. When the Minister outlined this, both at the time and subsequently, he said that he was doing it because he believed it would increase the supply of much-needed homes and that over time, rents would reduce. We said then and we are saying now that, in fact, the only thing that this cocktail of policy changes would do was make renters pay for the failed policies of Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael over a decade. We warned the Government that it would not work and that it would lead, at the very best, to a modest increase in apartment supply in parts of Dublin and possibly in Cork city, but that supply would be poorer quality, smaller, darker and more expensive and the rest of the country would get completely left behind.  What we also made clear was that the introduction of the controversial market rent reset would see a dramatic increase in new rents for new tenancies from March of this year and that the incredibly confusing and poorly thought-through changes to tenure arrangements would lead to widespread confusion and an undermining of tenant security. It gives me no pleasure to say this but last week's Residential Tenancies Board, RTB, director's report confirms our worst fears. The Government did such a bad job of explaining what were incredibly complex tenure rules that it has led to an acceleration of the exit of single-property landlords from the market. More than 7,000 eviction notices were issued in the first three months of this year, the highest on record and up 51% on the previous quarter. In fact, according to one academic, this is the highest number of evictions since the Famine. That is truly astonishing.  Contrary to the Government's attempts to explain this away, it is the third straight quarter in which we have seen a dramatic increase in eviction notices since the Minister announced his foolhardy changes. The RTB report also announced rents increasing significantly up to the end of last year. It now costs more than \u20ac20,000 minimum, on average, to rent across the State while in Dublin at the end of last year, the minimum was \u20ac26,000. It is going to be very interesting when we get to see the first set of  Daft.ie figures, which are imminent, on the market rent reset. We will comment on them when they are published.  The Minister's proposals will have a limited impact on supply but they will have a huge impact on renters. What does that mean? Right now, thousands of renters, single people, couples, families with children and pensioners do not know where they are going to live in six months. They are now desperately searching for an alternative rental, just at the time when Government allows landlords to jack up the rent for new rentals. What will the consequences be? Some renters will be able to find a new home but they will pay thousands of euro more than what they would otherwise have been paying in rent.  Many others will not be able to secure a rental, particularly in the big cities of Waterford, Galway, Limerick and Cork. The daft.ie figures, whenever they are published, will be very revealing.  What will people do? In many cases, working people, including single people, couples and families with children, will be forced into the indignity of moving back in with their parents because they have nowhere else to go. Others will see it as the straw that broke the camel's back and that they have no option but to emigrate to Canada, Australia, New Zealand or elsewhere. Worst of all, we will see an acceleration in the number of single people, couples and adults with children presenting as homeless and entering into emergency accommodation at a time when the numbers in such accommodation are higher than at any other time since records began. Those are the consequences of the Government's policy. It has done this knowingly and deliberately and it has done so for no good reason.  The motion we have tabled tonight is not just to highlight all of those Government failures but to tell the Government loud and clear that renters need a different approach. It is an approach that recognises that rents are already too high and must be cut. It recognises that rent increases cannot be allowed to continue indefinitely and that we need an emergency ban on such increases for three years. Crucially, at a time when homeless services are completely overwhelmed, we need an emergency ban on no-fault evictions where the tenant has done nothing wrong. Of course, what we really need is not larger volumes of smaller, darker and more expensive apartments but, rather, the right kind of supply in the right place at the right price. That requires the Government to introduce the kinds of reforms set out by Sinn F\u00e9in, the Housing Commission and others to see the supply of social, genuinely affordable and private for-purchase homes increase and accelerate way beyond where the Government is currently at.  How bad do things have to get before the Government accepts it has done something wrong? How much more hardship will it foist on renters? Our motion sets out the alternative. It is time the Government stopped looking after the interests of big investors and developers and started standing up for renters. It is on this basis that I commend the motion to the House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  The Government amendment to the motion is an insult to the more than 7,000 families who received notices to quit in the first three months of the year and the thousands of families who received such notices at the end of last year. Those people are facing eviction and do not know where they will be in four, five, six, seven or eight months' time. They are asking where they are going to live and where their children will play and go to school. The Government claims the figures in March were not as bad as previously. It pats itself on the back in relation to tax breaks for developers and speculators who have apartments that already were profitable. Can the Minister of State imagine how those families feel hearing that? Where is the justice and fairness? I can imagine how those 7,000 families felt when they read at the weekend that the CEOs of some of these development companies earn and take bonuses of \u20ac41 million. Where is the fairness in that?  A mother contacted me to say, \"Every day, I search for somewhere for us to live and, every night, I lie awake and wonder what will happen to my little boy if I cannot find a home in time\". How must she feel hearing about that \u20ac41 million? I have heard from a pensioner who has worked all his life and is now facing eviction. How can we live in a country where people work all their life and are made homeless when they come to pension age? How can that be right? Another man who contacted me is working two jobs but cannot keep a roof over his head and does not know where he will go when his eviction notice expires.  There might be a gravy train for developers, speculators and investment funds but where is the gravy train for ordinary people? In fact, they do not even want that. They are just looking for a roof over their head. We want to put people first. If Sinn F\u00e9in were in government, we would stop homelessness and stop this craziness. We put families and people before investors. It is as simple as that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  I thank Deputy \u00d3 Broin for putting forward this motion and for all the work he does in this area. It at least gives people hope to know somebody listens, cares, is paying attention and has a solution. Time and again, we see Government policy making the housing crisis it has created even worse. We warned it that its legislation would result in a surge in evictions. We warned it would contribute to the rising numbers of homelessness. The Government did not listen. It pressed ahead and, as it does, did the bidding of big developers and those people who seem to have its ear.  The people in my constituency have my ear. I understand the Minister of State's colleague turns a deaf ear to them. She has no office, does not do clinics and is not available. That is fine. It is her thing. Last week, I sat in my office with a woman who had a notice to quit in her hand. She was told by her landlord that she must be out in June. She received a letter from the council stating, \"We cannot advise whether Fingal County Council will be in a position to accept tenant in situ applications in 2026 as funding is determined by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage\". She sobbed her heart out as she asked me to put a very simple question to the Government: How many people have to become homeless before it recognises that there needs to be a change of course? How many people must find themselves sitting in their TD's office clutching a notice to quit and sobbing their heart out before the Government takes meaningful action? There are 17,500 people homeless, 5,500 of whom are children. Will the Government care when 6,000 children are homeless? Will reality penetrate when the number goes to 7,000?  We have offered solutions this evening. The only thing that will help the woman who came to my office in the short term is a ban on evictions. I urge the Minister of State to think about the people, including the children, behind the statistics. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  Since the Government was formed, nearly 2,000 eviction notices have been issued to renters in County Galway. Every week, people come to my constituency office who have received a notice to quit and have no idea where they will go because the rental market they face is totally unaffordable. Rents across the State have risen by 80% compared with ten years ago. Within the past year alone, the rent for an average home in County Galway has risen by more than 10%. Lack of supply and unaffordable prices have not happened by accident. They are the direct consequence of failed Government policy. The legislation brought forward in March has allowed rents to be hiked even further and has led to a surge in evictions. The Government knew that would be the consequence. It is shameful.  Our motion sets out the real solution we need, which is the provision of actually affordable housing. Unfortunately, this stands in direct contrast to the Government's approach. After years of waiting, the first affordable housing scheme in Galway East was finally announced for Athenry in recent weeks. However, to own one of those affordable homes, first-time buyers must pay out between \u20ac425,000 and \u20ac475,000. How on earth can the Government call that affordable housing for first-time buyers? What planet is the Minister of State living on? It is an absolute insult to people. When I went to the information evening on the scheme in Athenry last week, people there were absolutely disgusted when the prices were outlined to them. The scheme will be of no benefit to anybody currently locked out of home ownership, even with the equity stake taken out of the price.  We have rising numbers of eviction notices, rip-off rents and unaffordable house prices. The Government's record is clear and it shows complete failure. If it cannot or will not implement the solutions outlined in this motion to deliver homes that ordinary families can afford, it is time for it to go. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donna McGettigan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donna McGettigan  I thank my colleague, Teachta \u00d3 Broin, for bringing forward the motion. The Government's housing record is not just a failure; it is a disgrace. In County Clare alone, 125 notices of termination were received by the RTB in quarter 1 of 2026, compared with 79 in the same period last year. That number is not just a statistic.  These are 125 people and families having their lives turned upside down \u2013 families living in fear, stress and uncertainty about where they will sleep next week or next month. At the very same time, the average rent in County Clare has risen to \u20ac1,249 per month. That is up from \u20ac1,089 this time last year. That is a staggering 14% increase on top of soaring energy bills, childcare costs and rising costs of living.  Many renters are paying far more than the average. In our constituency offices we are meeting young couples who are both working full-time but are forced to move back in with their parents because they simply cannot afford these sky-high rents. There are retired people couch surfing. We are even dealing with a couple living in a car who are expecting a baby any day now. This is the brutal reality of this Government's housing policy. Instead of standing up for ordinary workers, families, renters and students, this Government continues to side with institutional investors and big, corporate landlords. It is willingly pursuing policies which drive up rents and facilitate evictions, throwing renters to the wolves while protecting the profits of vulture funds. The Government should be standing up for these renters, banning rent increases and no-fault evictions, and closing loopholes which allow excessive service charges to rise out of control and out of affordability. It needs to oppose rent increases for council tenants, for those in receipt of housing assistance payment, HAP, and the rental accommodation scheme, RAS, and for cost-rental tenants. People cannot take any more; they need a Government that is on their side. They have become numb to the fact that we have more than 5,570 children who are homeless. How can the Government stand over that? How can it say it is doing everything when the numbers on the homeless lists are just going up and up? The Government has failed renters and communities like those in County Clare are paying the price. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in  I ask the Minister of State to address the shocking case of a self-employed couple in Coolboy near the Wicklow-Wexford border, Ciar\u00e1n and Jessie Redmond, and their two daughters Kendall and Chanelle. Chanelle has recently been diagnosed with leukaemia. Her father, Ciar\u00e1n, a Gorey man, has been forced to give up his work as a painter and decorator to care for her. As they battle one unimaginable crisis, another has now emerged: homelessness. Their landlord is selling the house, as is their right. However, the Government classes Ciar\u00e1n and Jessie as too rich for social housing - they are above the low threshold - but too poor to get mortgage approval. They were told that there is not a chance and that they might get \u20ac40,000, which is probably enough for a hen house. Jessie has a barber\u2019s business in Arklow. These are two self-employed people who have not been looking for anything from the State. They work hard and pay taxes and VAT at the end of every month. Now, in their hour of need, all doors are being slammed in their faces. They were even told they do not qualify for emergency accommodation. Can the Minister of State believe that? The family say they have fallen through a cruel gap in our totally broken system. They are considered too well-off on paper for help, but in reality they are struggling to survive under impossible pressure. This pressure has also affected their other daughter, Kendall, who is suffering from depression due to all of the stress.  Ireland\u2019s rigid means-test system is failing ordinary working families who suddenly find themselves in crisis through no fault of their own. These people are the new working poor; the proverbial squeezed middle or, should we say, the screwed middle. The State has completely lost its way and its priorities. Its housing policies prioritise institutional investors and big developers rather than renters and hard-working families. I ask the Minister of State to support Sinn F\u00e9in's Bill, which would cut rents, ban rent increases and no-fault evictions, and accelerate the provision of social, affordable and private for-purchase homes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  The prolonged Government-sponsored housing crisis is affecting every community in this State, none more so than County Mayo, where there are 2,664 people on the council waiting list, 924 people on the HAP waiting list and 744 people on the RAS list. As a result of the Government\u2019s housing policies, working people, pensioners and vulnerable tenants are being forced out of their homes with nowhere for them to go while private rents continue to spiral out of control. Recent figures from the Residential Tenancies Board, RTB, revealed a 51% increase in evictions, the highest level since the Famine. Thousands of people are now desperately searching for a place to live. If they find one, they will be paying thousands more in rent each year. If they do not, they face moving back in with family, if they can do that, or alternatively emigrating or homelessness.  Michael Davitt was one of County Mayo's greatest people. He fought for land, for dignity and for justice for ordinary people. He believed no person should live at the mercy of insecurity and exploitation, but that is exactly what is happening right now. Today, Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael have ensured that ordinary families have literally been left out in the cold.  I am dealing with a case in County Mayo of a man in his 70s. He is a RAS tenant who is facing eviction after 21 years in his home. He lives with serious health conditions, uses a walker and is on 22 different daily medications. After 30 years on the council waiting list, he has effectively been told to fend for himself in a rental market that is completely out of reach. I ask the Minister of State what I should tell this man. I only want one answer from him today. Where should he go and where should the thousands more like him go? I ask the Minister of State to look at me. Where do they go? I am not being political; I am asking him to tell me where I can tell them to go. The council staff cannot tell them where to go, except to Charlestown in emergencies and there is limited space there. There is no place for people to go when they are being made homeless in County Mayo and across other counties. Can the Minister of State give us a solution right here, right now? We have given the Government solutions in terms of cutting rent, banning no-fault evictions, accelerating delivery of social and genuinely affordable homes, or even expanding tenant in situ so we can deal with emergency situations like this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy John Cummins)  I move:  To delete all words after \"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann\" and substitute the following:  \"notes that:  \u2014 the Government is fully committed to tackling high rents and ensuring an increase in the supply of affordable high-quality rental accommodation through continued significant capital investment including cost rental and other means and in a manner that respects the security of tenure for renters by ensuring equity and fairness for landlords and tenants;  \u2014 comprehensive reviews of the private rental market and of the Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs) rent control system were undertaken in 2024 and 2025, which assessed the rental market generally, the operation of RPZs since their introduction, their impact on the market and relevant stakeholders, the retention of landlords and attracting new investment;  \u2014 the review of RPZs by the Housing Agency involved comprehensive engagement with a wide range of stakeholders, including investors, representatives of landlord and tenant advocacy groups, academics and the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB);  \u2014 the Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2026 came into effect on 1st of March, 2026, introducing a new national rent control for all tenancies, which limits rent increases to inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) up to a maximum of 2 per cent, for new build apartments and student-specific accommodation, however, rent increases are capped at the level of inflation CPI only, these changes were introduced to promote greater investment in the rental market and to increase the supply of rental properties, the Act also provides significant improvements in security of tenure for renters;  \u2014 while February saw a sharp increase in Notices of Terminations (NoTs), the RTB confirmed that the trend is moderating, with an 18 per cent increase for March compared to March 2025 but a 39 per cent decrease from February 2026;  \u2014 to offer greater protection to tenants, rolling six-year tenancies of minimum duration (TMD) apply for new tenancies created for the first time between parties on or after 1st of March, 2026, this means a new tenancy that continues for six months becomes a tenancy of unlimited duration, with rolling six year TMDs, providing real security of tenure for tenants;  \u2014 nationally, registered private tenancies rose by 2.44 per cent annually to 246,477 in Q1 2026;  \u2014 the number of private landlords rose by 1.3 per cent annually to 105,847, indicating increased participation in the rental market, there is no exodus of landlords from the market, and the rental sector continues to show resilience;  \u2014 Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030, recognises that the rental market is an important element of a well-functioning housing system, it contains a suite of measures to support domestic and international investment in the delivery of new rental properties, in particular the supply of new apartments;  \u2014 Ireland is facing a shortage of rental homes, especially apartments, recent reforms to the rental market aim to encourage investment and development, which will encourage the building of new rental apartments, help slow down rent increases and moderate rent levels over time;  \u2014 Government has significantly increased resources allocated to the RTB to meet the demands of a modern rental sector;  \u2014 further Government measures introduced to support renters include the increase in the tax credit for renters under Budget 2025 to a maximum of \u20ac1,000 for each renter in a household, Budget 2026 extends the Rent Tax Credit, which was due to expire at the end of 2025, for a further three years, to the end of 2028; and  \u2014 the increase in the thresholds for access to Cost Rental homes, which was increased from \u20ac53k net to \u20ac66k net in Dublin and \u20ac59k outside Dublin, in July 2023;  acknowledges that increased supply is key to meeting demand and moderating the pent-up pressures in the private rental sector and welcomes that:  \u2014 there has been an unprecedented level of delivery of new-build social homes, with 2025 representing the largest number of new build social homes constructed since the foundation of the State;  \u2014 the new housing plan Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030, is focussed on putting in place the conditions to enable delivery of a minimum of 300,000 new homes;  \u2014 the plan includes a commitment to deliver 72,000 social homes and provide 90,000 affordable supports to help people secure a home of their own;  \u2014 it seeks to significantly accelerate delivery of new homes by focusing on activating land and creating the optimal environment to encourage housing activity, including regulatory reform, tax incentives and the largest ever capital investment in the history of the State, with \u20ac275 billion invested in infrastructure over ten years through the National Development Plan;  \u2014 to accelerate future supply, Budget 2026 included a suite of taxation measures aimed at stimulating the supply of new apartments including a reduced Value-Added Tax rate and an enhanced Corporation Tax deduction for apartment construction costs;  \u2014 the revised National Planning Framework, published in April 2025, is a major step forward in this regard, and will help increase capacity and accelerate home building across the country; and  \u2014 the delivery of 300,000 homes by 2030 will however require an estimated \u20ac20 billion in development finance each year, a significant portion of which will need to come from investment by the private sector to support home ownership and a well-functioning private rental market;  recognises that considerable progress has been made, including:  \u2014 almost 149,000 new homes have been delivered over the past five years, this compares with 83,267 in the previous five-year period and just 29,217 in the five years before that;  \u2014 a total of 36,284 new dwellings were completed in 2025, an increase of 20 per cent year on year;  \u2014 the unprecedented level of investment Government has committed will bring about a very significant scale up in the delivery of housing over the coming years, address the needs of the most vulnerable in our communities, making buying and renting homes more affordable and support the development of villages, town and cities across the country; and  \u2014 the delivery of 300,000 homes by 2030 will however require an estimated \u20ac20 billion in development finance each year, a significant portion of which will need to come from investment by the private sector to support home ownership and a well-functioning private rental market; and  agrees that continued implementation of Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030, represents the most appropriate response to deal with the housing challenges which Ireland is now facing.\".  I welcome the opportunity to respond to the motion before us this evening, which the Government does not support. Our position is set out in the amendment I have moved. I am thankful to have the opportunity to highlight how Sinn F\u00e9in\u2019s policy suggestions would exacerbate the challenges we face when it comes to housing delivery in this country. It is simply not credible to suggest that this Government is in any way lacking in its commitment to housing. The proof of that is in the figures. Over \u20ac9 billion will be spent by the State this year across all delivery streams. Over 36,000 homes were delivered last year, up 20% on the previous year. Over 9,000 new-build social homes were delivered in 2025, the highest output on record. There have been more than 86,000 housing commencements over the past two years. In the first three months of this year alone, there have been 8,400 commencements; that is up 184% year on year. Planning momentum is also strong with 8,000 permissions granted in the past three months of 2025; up 20%.  Sinn F\u00e9in is calling in this motion for a no-fault eviction ban. That is exactly what this Government has done. No-fault evictions are banned for tenancies created after 1 March 2026 in the case of large landlords. In this motion Sinn F\u00e9in is also calling for a rent freeze, which sounds great for a soundbite on social media. However, we do not have to look too far from Ireland to see the negative impact such a measure has had. When such a rent freeze was introduced in Berlin, within 12 months rental supply dropped by 50% before it was ruled unconstitutional by the supreme court there. When we debate these topics, it is important that we do not mislead and present measures which have been proven to be a failure in other jurisdictions as some sort on panacea in the Irish context. The very last thing we need in this country is to see a 50% reduction in rental supply.  What the Government has sought to so with the rental reform changes which were introduced earlier this year is to strike a balance between improving security of tenure for tenants while encouraging private investment in the rental market. The fundamental cause of rising rents is insufficient supply. One sure thing is that Sinn F\u00e9in\u2019s policies would see supply of homes drop significantly. Its half-baked suggestions would only worsen the situation, not to mention its attempts to hoodwink the public when it says that it would boost housing figures despite the fact that some of its TDs, including its party leader, have objected to thousands of homes across Dublin.  It is important to remember how the rent reform changes came about. The Housing Commission, the recommendations of which were supported by Sinn F\u00e9in, said that the Government needed to reform the rental market. It said that reform was needed to balance the rights and responsibilities of tenants and landlords through a programme of legislative and regulatory reforms to make the private rental sector more attractive to both parties and to regulate market rents fairly and effectively by reforming the current system of rent regulation. The Government has done this. The Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2026, which came into effect on 1 March last, introduced a new national rent control for all tenancies. Before that, we brought the whole country under a nationwide rent pressure zone with rent increases capped at 2% to protect tenants in areas which were not covered by an RPZ from significant rent increases prior to the upcoming changes.  Tenancies in place prior to 1 March were unaffected by the new changes and, importantly, a significant safeguard was placed on such tenancies that stated a landlord cannot reset to market rent if a notice to quit is issued. This specific provision was inserted to stop economic evictions.  New tenancies created from 1 March 2026 are subject to tenancies of minimum duration, TMDs. These will be rolling six-year tenancies, offering tenants greater stability. During the six-year period, landlords will only be able to end a tenancy in specific circumstances, such as tenants not meeting their obligations. Smaller landlords - those with three tenancies or fewer - will be allowed to terminate a tenancy if the landlord or a close family member needs to live in the property or if there is financial hardship that requires the sale of the property. Larger landlords - those with four tenancies or more - will only be able to end a tenancy in very limited circumstances such as tenants not paying their rent.  We need to see supply with security. The Government decision delivers that balance by introducing critical measures to attract investment in new apartment construction. These measures are essential to increasing supply and will ultimately lead to more available accommodation and more affordable rents. Sinn F\u00e9in turns a blind eye to the Housing Agency review of the rent control system, which said that the inability to reset rents was a particularly harsh aspect of the system and a fundamental barrier to investment to drive more supply. The Government is fully committed to tackling high rents and ensuring an increase in the supply of high-quality rental accommodation. We are doing this through significant capital investment and through housing measures, such as providing cost rental homes, of which we have delivered more than 6,200 so far.  It is quite clear that this motion was prompted by the recently published RTB-ESRI rent index for the fourth quarter of 2025 and the RTB director\u2019s report for the first quarter of 2026. It is important to note in the context of this debate that we cannot just focus on one set of facts. We have to look at the whole picture, rather than cherry-pick statistics. While all of the focus is on certain statistics within the report, we have to focus on the overall report. While 7,062 notices of termination is undoubtedly high, it is also worth noting that there were also 16,548 new tenancy registrations confirmed in the first quarter. Nationally, registered private tenancies rose by 2.44% annually to 246,477 in the first quarter of 2026. Of these, 5,226 were cost-rental tenancies, which increased by 87% year on year. The number of private landlords also rose by 1.3% annually to 105,847, indicating increased participation in the rental market. The RTB data therefore shows continued resilience in the Irish rental sector, with ongoing growth in tenancies and landlords in the market.  Our housing plan is building on the strongest period of delivery in a generation. In the past five years, almost 149,000 new homes have been delivered. Our plan is ambitious. It commits to the delivery of 300,000 new homes over its lifetime, including 72,000 social homes and 90,000 affordable housing supports to help people to buy or rent at a cost they can sustain. Increasing supply is the single most important lever we have to moderate prices, improve affordability, reduce homelessness and increase home ownership for families and ordinary workers. The plan rests on two core pillars. The first, activating supply, is about removing the structural barriers to housing output. It is about unlocking land, reforming and accelerating planning, investing in water, energy and transport infrastructure and addressing viability challenges so homes can be built where they are needed. At the same time, we are expanding construction capacity through apprenticeships and modern methods of construction, MMC, and bringing vacant and derelict homes back into use through grants and a derelict property tax. The second pillar, supporting people, recognises that supply alone is not enough. We must ensure that those most impacted by the housing crisis are supported directly and effectively. Over the lifetime of this plan, we will deliver an average of 12,000 new social homes each year. That is an unprecedented commitment.  A stable and predictable rental framework is essential. Without it, supply will contract further and renters will suffer the consequences. Progress is being made. Completions are rising. Social and affordable output is at record levels. Planning reforms are accelerating delivery. Infrastructure investment is being aligned with housing growth. However, we are honest about the scale of the task at hand. There is no single measure, no simple ban or freeze that will solve the challenges we face. The Government\u2019s approach is clear. We need to increase supply at scale; protect and prioritise home ownership; deliver record levels of social and affordable housing; strengthen tenant protections; and mobilise public and private investment to build the homes our growing population requires.  Delivering Homes, Building Communities is a funded, actionable plan which recognises that solving the housing crisis demands persistence, partnership and pragmatism. We will continue to act as a Government to ensure we drive delivery, because that is the only sustainable answer to the challenges we face. It is the supply of more homes and that is what our plan will achieve. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Denise Mitchell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Denise Mitchell  Here we go again. The Government comes in here and pats itself on the back for everything it is doing on housing while families face evictions and rent hikes and we have record homelessness. When Fianna F\u00e1il, Fine Gael and the Independents introduced the rent hike Bill last summer, we warned that all it would do was push more families into homelessness and - surprise, surprise - that is precisely what has happened. The Minister of State and the Government sided with institutional investors and big landlords and threw renters under the bus. Behind every one of the 7,000 eviction notices - the highest number ever recorded - are real people and families. Think of a family who have just secured a place in the local school for this September and are now scrambling to find a home in the same area, when there is nothing available. What will the Minister of State say to them? What will he say to those who have worked all their lives and are now wondering whether they will ever have a secure roof over their heads? There is nowhere for these people to go. We need an emergency ban on rent increases and no-fault evictions and that includes council tenants. The Government needs to ramp up social housing and truly affordable private homes. Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael have had 15 years to get this right and again and again, they have let families down. All they seem to do is make the situation worse and this has to change. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  I commend Deputy \u00d3 Broin on bringing forward this motion. We clearly have a situation where rents and evictions are out of control in every part of the country and it is spiralling at an alarming rate. At the moment, I am dealing with a group of houses in my constituency in Enniscrone, Sonas. It is elder care accommodation beside a nursing home. Older people who live there have received eviction notices telling them they have to move out. They have nowhere to go. Some of them are on the council tenancy list, waiting to get into local authority houses. There are no local authority houses in that area or anywhere in Sligo for them to go to. Others are above the threshold because their pensions are slightly higher, with a couple living in a house and they also have nowhere to go. We are in a situation where the Government seems to have its eyes closed to the reality of ordinary people on the ground.  In his speech, the Minister of State mentioned that there are no easy solutions, that the Government has a long-term plan to deal with this and that caps and trying to freeze rents will not solve anything. It would solve problems for the people who cannot afford their rent at the moment and for those facing eviction. There are thousands of them across the country. I am sure the Minister of State deals with them in his constituency in the same way as the rest of us do. Yet, for some reason, the only thing the Government is prepared to listen to on the housing situation are the corporate interests of the big landlord companies. They are the only ones who get any deal, who are sorted out in any way when it comes to all of this.  The ordinary people who are trying their best to survive and manage are making no progress whatsoever with this Government when it comes to delivering housing. What we are calling for here is very clear: we need the Government to bring in a strategy whereby it caps rents, freezes rents and bans evictions so that people can have the security of knowing they will not be leaving their homes. If we do not do that, the 51% increase we see will be double that this time next year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  Many people are at risk of homelessness. People expect their Government to have their back. That is why they are so frustrated, especially renters, when it seems that every intervention from Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael actually makes their situation worse.  In my constituency of Cavan-Monaghan, both counties were among the six in the State which saw double-digit rent inflation last year. We saw rents increase by 10.6% in Cavan and by a staggering 12.4% in Monaghan. What was the Government's response to these rent increases? It was new rent regulations, which will see rents and evictions increase. The RTB has already seen a 17% increase in its caseload in the first quarter of this year. The first three months of this year also saw 118 people evicted from their homes in the Cavan-Monaghan constituency. Across the State, there has been a 50% rise in evictions since the new rules came into force. Once again, Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael are making the housing crisis worse.  What is needed now is a response from the Government that for the first time prioritises renters, not vulture funds, landlords or speculators. Sinn F\u00e9in's motion includes provisions mandating the Government to introduce an emergency ban on rent increases and no-fault evictions and to cut private rents by putting a full month's rent back in every private renter's pocket. These measures should be agreeable to every Member of this House who is concerned about the well-being of their constituents. I urge Deputies to give this motion their full support. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Donnelly  My blood is boiling after listening to that speech. Fine Gael has been in power for 15 years and Fianna F\u00e1il supported the party for 11 of those years. It has been the same absolute waffle. Who has done great out of this in all of that time? It has been the bankers, bondholders, developers and vultures - the corporate interests. They have all been paid. They have all got their deals.  This Government will go down in history, and in shame. Multiple Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael housing Ministers presided over the worst housing evictions since the Famine. Is that why we fought for our freedom and independence? Is that what de Valera had in his head when he established Fianna F\u00e1il - to outdo the British occupiers in evicting people on this island?  Sinn F\u00e9in again calls for an emergency ban on no-fault evictions and a freeze on rent hikes. These are the only measures that will protect the thousands who face eviction. I spoke to Ciara this evening, a young mother born and reared in Dublin 15, who is in a hub in a hotel in Tallaght. Spiralling rent has made it impossible for her. Another couple are being evicted this Friday. The mother has severe medical needs and needs daily medical care. The family is not on the housing list. They are new to the system and are terrified. They cannot afford \u20ac2,000 in rent. A couple of apartments are owned by the vulture groups in Dublin 15. It costs \u20ac2,100 to rent a one-bedroom apartment and \u20ac2,500 to rent a two-bedroom apartment in the Windmill development.  I met two other families in my office last week, both of which have four children and have spent four years in homeless accommodation in one room. The last time I heard of entire families living in one room was in a tenement museum in Henrietta Street that I visited last year. Can the Minister of State imagine that a hotel or a building housing homeless people might become a museum? Historians will show future generations that in 2026 thousands of children were housed in these buildings for years and the housing Minister of the day chose to do nothing to end it, despite this being one of the wealthiest countries in Europe, with billions in surplus budgets. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Donnelly  The Government can choose that legacy today. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh  The housing situation in Kildare has reached a point of crisis. The overwhelming majority of cases raised by constituents who come into my office looking for help relates to housing. New figures show that in the first quarter of 2026 alone, the RTB received 250 notices of termination in Kildare, an increase of almost 100 compared to the same period last year. Nationally, evictions rose by 50%. These figures are a damning indictment of the Government's recent housing policy. Renters are being squeezed to breaking point \u2013 forced back into their parent's homes, driven abroad and, in far too many cases, pushed into homelessness.  Kildare County Council's homelessness team confirmed to me just last week that it is currently overwhelmed with cases. There are no emergency accommodation vacancies available in the county, while the family hubs are operating waiting lists. As a result, large numbers of people in Kildare are now relying on the homelessness freephone services and families can be allocated a different hotel every night, in many cases outside the county. This is unacceptable for anyone but it is especially traumatic for young families trying to maintain some sense of normality in their lives.  I am currently dealing with several cases involving single mothers who have either been evicted or are facing eviction imminently. No child should have to endure this level of instability and disruption in a State running a budget surplus of almost \u20ac10 billion. Many other vulnerable groups, including older people, are affected by the Government-sanctioned wave of evictions across my constituency. Even those who can somehow afford the astronomical rents being charged in Kildare have difficulty finding accommodation. For families depending on HAP, securing a tenancy has become virtually impossible. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  Ba mhaith liom ar dt\u00fas mo bhu\u00edochas a ghabh\u00e1il leis an bP\u00e1irt\u00ed Sinn F\u00e9in as ucht an r\u00fan seo a thabhairt faoi bhr\u00e1id na D\u00e1la anocht. Molaim agus molann P\u00e1irt\u00ed an Lucht Oibre an r\u00fan seo. The most basic test of any housing system is really quite simple; it is whether ordinary people can access secure and decent housing. In this country, we have arrived at a situation whereby the country is divided between haves and have-nots. The haves have property and secure housing and the have-nots do not.  When the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, was sitting opposite me, he spoke about 762 eviction notices. He said that we were not to consider the figure in the round but in light of other RTB data. I get all that, but at the same time 762 people got notices of termination in the first couple of months of this year. They are people who have children in school. They work hard and contribute to their communities. They are involved in their GAA clubs and in other activities. They pay their rent on time. They do everything right, yet they received the dreaded notice of termination at the start of this year.  The most depressing thing about being having this debate tonight is that it is all fairly predictable. I worry and wonder how bad things must get before the Government takes its head out of the sand and acts. It was repeatedly warned that weakening protections for renters, failing to control rents and relying on an overheated market in the way it has done would make this crisis worse. The consequence of the Government's rental reforms is that eviction notices are up by 51% and disputes with the RTB are up by nearly 18%. New rents average \u20ac1,755 a month. Rent is more than \u20ac2,200 a month for new renters in Dublin and more than \u20ac2,100 in Galway and Limerick. In loads of counties we have had double-digit rent inflation. We have had 12.6% in Limerick and 9.9%, just under 10%, in Galway.  The Government can repeat ad nauseam the talking points it has in its countermotion in respect of supply, but the fact of the matter is that homelessness has risen in this country to a level that we have never seen in the history of the State.  House prices continue to rise, and all around the country we see young people postponing key life milestones because they cannot secure a stable home. We have couples in their 30s who are back in their childhood bedrooms and families going from homeless hub to homeless hub.  Last week, while canvassing in the by-elections, as many Deputies across the House were, I met an individual in the north inner city of Dublin who told me he has been homeless for nearly six years and has moved 78 times during that period. That level of displacement, poverty and insecurity has stuck with me ever since. It is not just that man I met last week, however. People with decent jobs, decent salaries and decent lives are living completely precarious lives because being renters means their lives are built on quicksand.  What really depresses me is the way the Government treats skyrocketing rents as necessary but unfortunate, or unfortunate but inevitable. The fact of the matter is, we now accept things that would have been politically unimaginable a decade ago. Time and again, we hear the same mantra about the need to incentivise supply and the need for private sector investment. The Government repeatedly uses this as its reasoning for the rental reforms introduced as part of the rent pressure zones amendment Bill. The type of supply the Government talks about incentivising is a small number of high-yield, expensive, build-to-rent luxury developments. What this means in practice is a small number of expensive apartment developments, maybe in the docklands, Sandyford or Cork, but certainly not in Limerick where there was a 12.6% rent increase, and not in Galway either, where there was a 9.9% increase.  The Government is doing nothing to address this. There is no acknowledgment of it in the countermotion. I was enraged when I read the countermotion because it states that \"the Government is fully committed to tackling high rents\". When I saw that statement, I nearly fell out of my chair. How can the Government put that into a countermotion when it has legislated to allow landlords to put rents in this country through the roof under the market reset element of the legislation, which I begged the Minister to remove during the Committee and Second Stage debates on the rent pressure zones amendment Bill. I even tabled a sensible middle-ground compromise amendment providing for a rent break to moderate the worst of the Bill and to protect renters. On every Stage, I was completely ignored and the legislation was guillotined. For the Government to put into a countermotion that it is \"fully committed to tackling high rents\" is simply factually incorrect. It is untrue and misleading. The countermotion is not grounded in reality. Elsewhere, it states that \"recent reforms to the rental market aim to encourage investment and development, which will encourage the building of new rental apartments, help slow down rent increases and moderate rent levels over time\".  The rent levels for new build luxury apartments and luxury student accommodation are tied directly to the consumer price index, CPI, and are exempt from the 2% rent cap. That means these newly built apartments enter the market at already over-inflated rents and because they are exempt from the cap, they drive rents even higher. In Dublin, rent consumes about 50% of a worker's after-tax income. In Galway and Limerick, the figures are 45% and 35%, respectively. This Government, through the policy interventions it has taken, is subsidising and sponsoring what I can only describe as a build-to-rent cartel. The Government is either not being honest with people or it genuinely does not understand the cause and effect of what it is doing. I do not know which is more worrying. The policy framework the Government has assumes that lifting rent controls on new properties will fast-track investment into these high-density apartment blocks and enough of them will be built to level off rents and start to bring them down. This is notwithstanding the fact that the apartments can take years to materialise or that they will not materialise in most locations in the country. In addition, while all of this is going on, renters will continue to be crushed by these astronomical rent increases. The Government has gutted the rent pressure zones regime in order to feed this system. It will never be able to feed it enough to satiate it properly and, in the meantime, renters have been thrown to the wolves and the housing and homelessness crisis, the worst in the history of the State, is continuing to break its own records.  What depresses me most is that there is a lack of constructive engagement with anyone in opposition on any of these issues. The countermotion, in my view, embodies that because when legislation is tabled, it is voted down on Second Stage if it is Opposition legislation or, if it is a Government Bill, the guillotine is used and it is rammed through. I thought it was interesting that there was no mention of homelessness in the countermotion. The Government has no new measures in relation to homelessness, which is worsening every month, quarter and year.  While the countermotion speaks of 2025 and the largest number of new-build social homes constructed since the foundation of the State, it fails to mention that the Government never met its targets under Housing for All, that the in-built housing deficit continues to grow, and that the Government continues to rely on a baseline that is disconnected form the reality of the housing crisis due to the housing deficit. This Government is completely in hock to institutional investors. The institutional investors wanted the market reset rent mechanism, and they got it. They wanted the apartment design changes, and they got them. They wanted subsidies, and they got the VAT cut. Meanwhile, it is renters, young people, homeless people and people in precarious situations who are paying for all of this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  I thank Sinn F\u00e9in for bringing forward this motion. I completely support what is set out in it. It is deeply frustrating and disappointing to engage in this debate again and see the absolute lack of concern on the Government's part. I will come back to this. I remember, when I was engaged in campaigning against the lifting of the eviction ban after Covid, describing the Government at the time as being one of the cruellest Governments we have had since the foundation of the State. Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael today have managed to outdo that. The level of acceptance of evictions is mind-blowing for me. It is just batted away that 7,000 households have been evicted during the first quarter of this year. The Taoiseach earlier today referred to it as \"churn\", which revealed what Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael think of these households. They are just \"churn\"; they do not really matter.  I think that what we are seeing today in our housing crisis will actually be the end of Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael. We are looking at the point at which Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael completely abandoned any pretence at standing up for ordinary people. Fine Gael was always clear about who it stood for but Fianna F\u00e1il in particular has completely abandoned working people - ordinary people in this country. When people look back and study this period of time, the comparison with the Famine will be made. I have said for quite a while that we have now reached the point where evictions are as high as they were during the Famine. The Minister of State can shake his head but it is the truth. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan)  The Deputy is comparing today to the Famine. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  I am. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan  Unbelievable. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  What is unbelievable is 7,000 households being evicted in the first quarter of this year and not an eyelid batted or an intervention made on the part of the Government. I have looked at it historically. The figures are there. A total of 100,000 households were evicted between 1846 and 1852. This equates to between 15,000 to 16,000 households a year. How many households were evicted last year? The answer is 20,000 households. Not only are we at the highest rate of evictions since the Famine, we have surpassed it. The rate of evictions today is higher than during the Famine and that was when we were under a colonial government. This is our own Government. Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael are standing over evictions that are greater than those that took place during the Famine. These are families and children. I knocked on the doors of two houses that were side by side in Cabra today. One woman was in tears because she is being evicted with nowhere to go. She is an elderly woman who has cancer and says there is nowhere she can go. The house next door is overcrowded. It is absolutely disgraceful and shameful. This Government is one of the cruellest and most callous Governments we have had since the foundation of the State. It is incredible that Miche\u00e1l Martin and the T\u00e1naiste get up here and talk about churn and evictions as if real human beings are not behind them. It is disgraceful.  The other side of this is the reason house prices and rents are so high. House prices and rents are so high because what is going on in the midst of this housing disaster is massive profiteering by developers and investor funds facilitated by Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael. Last year, the head of Glenveigh, one of Ireland's biggest developers, made \u20ac3.5 million in his pay plus bonuses. The head of IRES REIT made over \u20ac1 million. If we look at IRES REIT, we can see that up to half of all rent that is being paid is going directly into profit. What is very clear is that while people are suffering as a result of this housing crisis, there are others - the ones the Government is facilitating and funding - who are actually profiting from it at unprecedented levels. Tens of millions are being made by these companies and this is what we need to reveal. It is the price gouging and profit gouging by the developers and investor funds facilitated by Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael that is the reason people are literally being screwed on to the streets of this country because they cannot afford a home and it is utterly disgraceful. We brought forward a developer transparency profits Bill but, of course, the Government would not put it through because it does not actually want accountability for the developers and investor funds it is throwing hundreds of millions at.  In Galway city, rents were \u20ac800 a month in November 2019. They are now \u20ac2,500 a month. Rents have gone through the roof. It is similar in Dublin. I can see it in my constituency. What does this Government do? It allowed rents to rise even further, breaking commitments. One of the commitments the T\u00e1naiste and the Taoiseach made very clear was that no existing tenants would be affected by the new rules. Talk to the tenants of IRES REIT, which is our biggest landlord. They are being told in rent share situations that they cannot replace the tenant who leaves, leaving the existing tenant paying the full rent and that tenant, of course, is facing a situation where they will not be able to stay. That tenant will leave and it will be recorded as voluntary when it is not and IRES REIT can charge market rent to the new tenants bypassing the Government's rules, which said that with no-fault eviction, the landlord cannot increase the rent to market rent. What is the Minister doing? I wrote to the Minister about it last week but nothing has been done about it and nobody has said anything. IRES REIT is literally forcing tenants out, so it can get higher rents and bypass the Government's rules and there is silence from the Government. The Government has no problem with that. It is incredible.  I return to the issue of evictions, the Famine and homelessness, and I will repeat it again and again. For us in the Social Democrats and for me, it is absolutely disgraceful and shameful that we are allowing higher levels of evictions than took place during the Famine and not only are we standing over it, we are facilitating it with new rental rules that incentivise landlords to evict. The Minister of State has been around and understands what is going on. How does he accept families and children being torn away from their communities and literally crying themselves to sleep? That is what people are telling us. Mothers and fathers are literally crying themselves to sleep because they do not know where they are going to go. I cannot get my head around why the Government does not put in place a ban on no-fault evictions. The T\u00e1naiste and Taoiseach stand up here and say they care about this country and that there is no monopoly on who has compassion in this D\u00e1il but there is a complete absence of compassion from Fianna F\u00e1il, Fine Gael, the T\u00e1naiste and the Taoiseach, and I will name it. It is absolutely shameful. It is shameful that the Taoiseach of this country comes in here and says higher evictions than the Famine are just churn but it gets even worse.  What have the Taoiseach and the T\u00e1naiste done in the past few months? They have started to turn the attention onto immigrants and blame immigrants for the housing crisis but it is not really surprising when we look at the Taoiseach's mentor, Bertie Ahern, and what he said at the doors - that nasty comment. It just revealed how politically callous Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael are. The shift involves the most privileged people in this country turning around and because of their failures, blaming the most vulnerable people in this country who have fled here seeking refuge and who are working in our nursing homes and care homes. It is really disgusting to see the Taoiseach stand up here when homelessness is raised with him and say homelessness is complicated and is not the same as it was. What is it Miche\u00e1l? What is different about it? What is different about the families in emergency accommodation now compared to five years ago? Of course, what he is saying is that it is because there are immigrants here. They are not Irish citizens. Would he say the same to the Irish people in England who cannot afford to pay their rent or who are evicted? Should they not be entitled to emergency accommodation? The people who are in homelessness and in emergency accommodation in this country are homeless. They are without homes. They have been evicted - predominantly from the private rental sector - but instead what do we see from Fianna F\u00e1il? It does everything to take attention and blame off itself. It is deeply saddening and frustrating that we have a Government that stands over the highest level of evictions since the Famine and acts as if this is okay and tolerable. I heard the Taoiseach say again today, and the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins also said it, that while 7,000 households were evicted, new tenancies were created.  There is no acknowledgement in those 7,000 evictions of the stress, the anxiety, the upset and the trauma those people and children are left with. I hope the Minister of State and his family never face eviction. I hope the T\u00e1naiste and the Taoiseach never face it, but when do they ever have any sense of what it is to be forced out of their home and to lose it?  It is one of the things that motivates me because I had to leave my home when I was a private renter as a child, and it has stayed with me for life. I will stand up for those people; they should not be evicted. The Government is a disgrace. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  It is difficult to escape the conclusion that the Government does not want to solve the housing crisis, and that it is serving the interests of people who profit from it. The worse it gets, the more those people profit. Why do I say that? The consequence of the changes around the rents in resetting them and allowing rent increases up to market levels has been an absolute disaster.  For example, in my experience, one thing that was allowed and has started to happen, which I warned would happen when the legislation came in, is that as well as people being evicted on the ground of sale, which of course has been happening on a massive scale - it is the major reason people get evicted - they are being evicted on the ground that they are overcrowded. It is a very sick development in an already disastrous housing crisis with record levels of homelessness and eviction that landlords are evicting people in order to get up to the market level, on the ground that their tenants are overcrowded because those tenants may have another child or there are too many kids in a bedroom or whatever. That is now a ground to evict people. Landlords are evicting people on that basis, and I am having to deal with them. It is disgraceful, but it was an entirely predictable consequence of what the Government did.  The Government could not but know that the consequence of what it did by allowing the reset of rents on the basis of market levels was going to make an already dire situation worse. However, there are beneficiaries from this, and they are precisely the 50,000 or so people who own between three and ten properties, another few thousand who own between ten and 20 and a few hundred who own hundreds of properties. These people are making an absolute fortune. The worse the housing crisis is, the more homeless people there are. The more desperate people are, the more valuable their property assets are. The more they can charge, the more profit they make.  It is difficult not to conclude that this is the interest the Government is serving. It is absolutely shameful that this is the case but I cannot see any other explanation for what it is doing when we are seeing the acceleration of the number of people who are homeless and the children and families being traumatised by it. Serious, lasting damage is being done to children and families who are particularly badly hit by this homelessness and eviction crisis. The Government should be ashamed of itself. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  In support of the motion, I have to say the laissez-faire policies the Government is pursuing has led to this. If the Minister of State has read history, which I am sure he has, in the 1840s, mass evictions and mass starvation was pioneered by Sir Charles Trevelyan, a British autocrat. This time, it is being pioneered by the Minister of State's party, Fianna F\u00e1il---- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan  Mass starvation is being pioneered by who?. What is the Deputy saying? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  ----- with hands-off rent and people charging whatever they can get. The more who are evicted, the more homelessness and the bigger the demand, the higher the rents landlords can charge. It is happening, and the situation continues to get worse. In Laois, rents are sky high. Notices to quit are up, homelessness is up, house purchase prices are up, and what the Government has done is given a charter to landlords and developers. The Government's changes in rent rules have made the situation worse, screwing workers and families.  I have an increasing number of constituents coming to me, as I am sure others have had, traumatised and at their wit's end. It is worse for renters, the homeless and house buyers. On top of the sharp rent increases in the past decade in Laois, of course, we have another huge jump now. The rent for a four-bedroom house has gone up by 12.5% in the past 12 months to \u20ac2,500 per month. That is what they are being advertised for. A three-bed is up 10% in the past year, with tenants now being charged almost \u20ac2,000 on average, and wait for this one: rent for a two-bedroom house has gone up a whopping 34% in one year. The Government's laissez-faire policies have allowed this to happen.  Low- and middle-income workers simply cannot afford that. House prices are completely out of control and have literally gone through the roof. A standard house in Portlaoise being advertised on one estate is now \u20ac530,000. That is not the centre of London, but the centre of Portlaoise. Lack of availability of affordable homes is one of the factors driving that.  Homelessness continues to increase. A shortage of homes and accommodation means that in Laois, families are being sent to Tipperary and other counties away from vital services and schools. We need urgent solutions for low- and middle-income families. We need an immediate ban on evictions of tenants who are complying with their tenancy agreements. What is wrong with that? We need an emergency ban on rent increases that are already sky high, an increase in the delivery of cost-rental homes by local authorities and not for-profit approved housing bodies so that people have secure lifetime tenancies, and reform the affordable purchase housing scheme. That needs to be reformed, along with increasing the supply of social housing.  Respectfully, the Government cannot continue like this. This is getting worse. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  The homeless figures for the end of March 2026 are a damning indictment of this Government and the previous Government's effort to address of the housing emergency. A record 17,517 people were living in homeless emergency accommodation, including 5,571 children, which is another shocking record. The record shows that evictions result in direct, immediate increases in homelessness figures. Quarter 4 of 2025 showed an increase of 41% in evictions, while quarter 1 of 2026 showed 7,062 eviction notices, up 51% from 6,693 in the same quarter last year. This suggests a tsunami of homelessness figures in the coming months.  Eviction notices throw tenants into a highly competitive rental market, where they cannot afford to compete. The rental market is defined by enormous rents and little or no supply. The rents are huge now, with average rents in new properties being \u20ac1,744 per month nationally, while existing rents are \u20ac1,503 per month nationally. Of course, in Dublin, the figures are much higher, with \u20ac2,232 per month for newer rents. Families with children and on lower incomes will experience lifelong negative effects. As family life is impacted, schooling and health are disrupted.  These homelessness figures, eviction notices and rent increases are a direct result of Government policies, including the newer rent regulations introduced by the Minister. We need emergency legislation to ban evictions and introduce a rent freeze to reduce rents, stop local authority rent increases and exclude carer's benefits from rent determination. We also need to legislate for the right of tenants to remain in situ during house sales. Emergency legislation, as the Minister of State will know, is provided for in Bunreacht na h\u00c9ireann and by precedent, which was in the Financial Emergency measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009 enacted by Fianna F\u00e1il when it crashed the economy. Such an emergency act must also provide for a massive construction programme for affordable and social housing on public land by local authorities, and local authorities must be funded to carry out this programme. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charles Ward  The fact that 7,000 households across the country have been given an eviction notice in the first three months of this year is terrifying, and we do not know where they are going to go.  Behind every eviction is a person or a family who is seriously at risk of homelessness because there are simply not enough houses out there for them. There is already a severe shortage and the more pressure that is put landlords to leave the market, they are leaving the market, and it is going to become unbearable. We should not be surprised because the Minister of State has been told time and time again. Instead of protecting tenants, the new rental laws introduced in March have ultimately hurt them in the long run.  People are already stretched to breaking point. Every young person I talk to says ownership feels alien to them. They are not going to be able to own homes. An entire generation is reliant on rentals and now they are facing the situation where eviction will become reality. The situation in Donegal has gone beyond desperate. We already have a defective concrete crisis in Donegal, where we are trying to help tens of thousands of people to rebuild their homes. There are 35 properties in Donegal for rent today at, on average, \u20ac1,600. If we get 100 people going tomorrow and their families moving forward in the defective concrete crisis, where are they going to rent, on top of what is coming ahead? There is nowhere; the scheme grinds to a halt. Homelessness becomes normalised and that is what has happened. We are facing homelessness on an unprecedented scale and it has to be addressed and looked at as an emergency. We need to stop playing political games with it and realise that in the next year or so, 7,000 will become 10,000. That is the reality. My constituents in Donegal are facing this every day. While you are looking at filling in for a scheme and going forward with your family and 100 or 200 people go forward, where are they going to go? There is nowhere for them to rent and there is nowhere for them to go so they have to stay in their houses that are crumbling. We have been saying this time and time again and it has to be listened to. The Government needs to put emergency legislation in place. It is clear that it needs to be introduced because if it is not introduced now, the Government is going to be introducing it within the next year or two anyway. It should take control of the situation. The Minister of State is in the Government. He is in charge. We need him to stand up and be counted. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  As other Deputies have referred, when the RTB published data, it confirmed a huge upsurge in evictions in the first three months of this year alone. A figure of roughly 7,000 was mentioned but in Dublin, which includes my constituency, 2,500 householders were handed notice during this period.  During the debates last year and at the very start of this year, the Government's argument was that allowing landlords to reset the vacant properties to the new full market rates was necessary, especially to try and attract institutional investors and, to a lesser extent, keep smaller landlords in the market. I agree with keeping smaller landlords in the market but there has been an over-reliance on institutional investors. Ultimately, the crisis will be solved by increasing the overall supply of rental accommodation. I disagreed at the time with this argument and now we have this glaring loophole because landlords can reset the rent for vacant properties to the full market rates using this overcrowding clause to bypass tenant protections.  Ordinary families across Dublin and the country have done nothing except have a family member return or have a child and they are being legally forced out. Average rents have surpassed \u20ac2,300 a month and emergency accommodation has also been maxed out. The Minister has to support legislative amendments to close this loophole and we need to focus on helping hard-pressed people by introducing a rent freeze immediately. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  I have been in the House for over ten years and in that ten years, the Government has got it wrong. That is the bottom line. It does not matter where it is; whether it is urban or rural, the Government has got it all wrong in relation to housing and the crisis has gone from bad to worse. I hear a lot of Opposition Members shouting and attacking developers. I would not be in that attacking mode at all about the people who build the houses in the first place because we would not have the houses without them. There is no point in attacking the developers.  We have to look at where we can put it right. I look at different things like county development plans. A lot of Members said they have been canvassing. I have certainly been canvassing over the past few weeks down in Galway West. We are talking to the people there. The biggest issue on the door is the cost of living. That is coming up quite a lot but so is housing. People are upset, with a mother or father telling me their children had to go, not because they wanted to go but they had no choice. They would never get a home no matter how long they lived here. Even buying one is out of their reach, as is building a house. That is the thing that hurts most. For a lot of those people, it hurts them to think that their children were forced out of a country that has not really equipped itself or that has not got a real grip or understanding of the real crisis that is here.  The Minister of State knows as well as I do that, down in west Cork, people come to him the same as myself who do not have a house. They are being evicted. They are upset and have concerns. It does not matter if it is a single mother or father or a couple. It affects everybody and it hurts deep. The difficulty is to try to find a home for those people. These difficulties are exacerbated because our bigger cities are bursting at the seams whereas some of our towns could take a lot of those pressures. County development plans, as they come before the people, are no longer councillor-led. They are dictated from the top. People end up getting very little chance of coming to live in areas such as mine in west Cork. Wastewater treatment plants are bursting at the seams and water systems are inadequate and cannot feed homes.  People look for planning permission, whether it is one or two houses or whatever. If a developer looks for five or six, he cannot get it and he may be willing to move them on. If local people are looking for planning permission, they are being refused. From the day I was elected, there has always been a difficulty for somebody in getting planning permission. It was an absolute crisis for many people. One person in my own constituency even spent \u20ac10,000 and was refused. They spent that astonishing amount. I recall about 30 years ago, for \u20ac22,000, I had a house built with a garage next to it. Now I would hardly get off the ground with that.  The bottom line is that it is difficult but it is not been made any easier. We are not concentrating on solutions. There are solutions out there and they need to be looked at going forward. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  How many people are living at home with their parents? That gives the Minister of State the answer, does it not? How many people today, with their families, are living at home with their parents? I know my children and their partners are. They are living with me. I am a building contractor. For them to be able to afford to build their own house is not viable because of inflation. They are saving hard but as hard as they can save, inflation is passing out what they can save. Those are the people who want to build their own houses.  We came on to the modular houses and we said to allow people to put in a modular unit at the back of their own house. It would allow the parents, if they wanted to, to downsize, or a couple to come in behind their own house. The Government still has not finished that legislation. It is now waiting for the Department of the environment to fix it. It still is not done. We were talking about it last year and the Government still has not got it sorted this year for people who are trying to help their own children.  How many people in local authority houses have their children and partner staying with them? What happens when people move into a local authority house and they are paying rent? It is based on the income coming into the house. The Government cannot provide a house for them but it will charge them rent in an overcrowding situation. That is what it has done.  What could the Government do to relieve the? Why are there so many landlords leaving the market? How can we stop this in the interim to help the next generation? What the Government could do is the same thing it did for the Ukrainians, which is to drop the rents to a certain price where there would be no tax, halving the rent. That is what it could do, and let people provide houses. Anyone who is charging rent in a household - a landlord or whatever - and they are raising their prices, 40% to 50% of it is tax. Why are we giving the tax when the Government cannot provide a home? The Government has no solutions; its only solution is tax, and that tax is added on for every renter in this country. That is the Minister of State's fault and the Government's fault. That is why we have the situation we have today.  They have no business mind for how to tackle situations. All they know is about inflation because when something goes up they get extra tax. What do they do with it? They squander it. There is no accountability for the taxpayers' money in this country because they do not know what to do with it. If you make a bags of it in the Department and you spend millions of euro in an overspend, what do they do? They reward you. Who suffers? Every person in this country that works. That is who suffers. The Government wants to learn. Listen to people that know. The Government's advisers do not know and that is what is putting this country in the situation it is in today. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  This week I spoke to a family from County Wicklow. The parents are Ciaran and Jessie Redmond. Their daughter was recently diagnosed with leukaemia. They are facing eviction. They were both self-employed, hard-working parents doing the best they can for their family. Unfortunately, Ciaran has been forced into taking some leave from his work to care for his daughter. They do not qualify for any support. They were offered emergency accommodation. Imagine caring for your child with leukaemia and living in emergency accommodation. A hard-working family who did everything right, a family with both self-employed parents, and they have been told by the Government to go to homeless accommodation. That is what is happening right across the country. This is Ireland in 2026 - too rich for social housing and too poor to survive in the private rental sector. That is what the Government's housing policies have done. In County Mayo, where evictions are spiralling out of control, the social housing support threshold is \u20ac30,000. Let us imagine trying to run a household, pay bills, pay rent and run a car on \u20ac30,000.  Once upon a time, homelessness was associated with complex problems like addiction and so on. We are facing a new wave of homelessness and a new face of homelessness. That face is hard-working people. That face is the working poor. That is what the Government's policies have done. I see it every week in my constituency. The frightening thing is that most of the people who I have spoken to in my clinics across Mayo have never availed of any social supports in their lives. They are almost embarrassed to outline the situation. It is not those people who should be embarrassed; it is the Government. It has utterly failed housing. We could build housing in the 1930s and 1940s. Today we cannot because it is a cost crisis. The Government has allowed building inflation to spiral out of control. It has done almost nothing to alleviate this major difficulty.  The legislation introduced last March made it even worse. I stood here in the D\u00e1il before the vote and warned and urged the Minister to reconsider. I actually warned the Minister that this legislation would become known as the flight of the small landlord. It would lead to an avalanche of evictions. As night follows day, that is what has happened. Eviction notices have increased by 50%, reaching 7,000 evictions in the first three months of 2026. The reality when we break into those numbers is that 60% of all those are exiting the market. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Carol Nolan  This Government's housing policy is not just a failure; it is outright betrayal of the Irish people. While Irish families are sleeping in their cars, or if they are lucky enough, in emergency accommodation, this Government has spent \u20ac9.2 million of taxpayers' money on accommodation for asylum seekers. Dozens and dozens of properties bought, no problem at all. That is real homes, real apartments and real three-bed houses being handed over to people who arrive here, often with no valid ID, no legitimate claim to asylum and many coming from safe countries. They are the facts. Meanwhile our own citizens, Irish families, are left begging for emergency accommodation that simply that does not exist. I have seen this first hand in my own constituency of Offaly. I have exposed this scandal through my parliamentary questions. The State is deliberately prioritising non-nationals over its own people, many of them who should not be here at all. This is madness. This is discrimination against Irish citizens in their own country.  It gets worse. The Government's new rules on tenancy rights, the residential tenancies (amendment) legislation, is driving small property landlords out of the market in droves. I warned about this in the Chamber before and I called for a review. It is State control of private assets. These punitive measures attack property rights, punish responsible property owners and drastically reduce the supply of rental homes. The result is more Irish families displaced, more pressure on a broken system and more emergency accommodation that this Government then fills with asylum seekers instead of our own homeless citizens. This is not just a housing crisis; this is a crisis of priorities and disconnect.  We cannot continue down this path. The Irish people will not tolerate it any longer. It is time to put Irish citizens first in housing, welfare and every single policy of this State. We have had enough. Rehouse our own people before anyone else. That is basic decency and, more importantly, that is common sense. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  I thank Sinn F\u00e9in for this very important motion. I was against the rule the Minister brought in a number of months ago from 1 March that people would have to rent their houses out for six years. The news that was coming drove many people out of the market. Since some time early last year, many people have come to me who were after getting their notice to quit and their hearts were broken because they did not know where to go. It was hurtful. That was the reason. I voted against that because I feel very strongly about democratic rights. I always believed that if someone owns a house, if they bought it, if they got it or if their name was on the deed of it, they were entitled to do what they wanted to do with it.  There is a pile of vacant houses there and I asked the Government to incentivise people to rent them rather than forcing people to do things. Incentivisation was the way to go. The Minister realises that the landlord pays 50% tax on the rent he gets. If people are renting out their houses for less than \u20ac1,000 a month, they are paying half of that back in tax. It becomes not worth their while to rent the house in situations like that. So much could be done to incentivise people to rent their houses and there are so many houses vacant. I will say it again because I do not know whether the Minister and the Minister of State are listening to me or not. If they do not, it is their own business. They do not seem to listen to this story anyway because I have asked many times before and they did not.  Then there is the situation where people would build a house for themselves if they could get planning permission for it. In Kerry, many people will not get planning permission because of a rule that the planning authority goes by, this urban-generated rule that prevents them getting planning permission to put a roof over their heads. They are asking for no funding, no nothing only permission to be allowed build their houses.  That is another thing that is happening. All along our national routes, the secondary routes and the national primary routes, people cannot access if they are coming out of even a public right of way that is not in the charge of Kerry County Council.  They are not allowed to come out. We have asked about this several times. The former Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, put that rule in place in 2012 when he was Minister. We have asked the Government several times to rescind it and change it. We hope that it will do so with the new planning rules but I am worried because when the Government is going to do something, there are rumours that it is going to happen. These people are asking for nothing from the Government only permission to be allowed to build a house for themselves. They have their own funding and they will do it themselves. They will borrow and they are prepared to do whatever they need to do but we have been giving them no hearing for the past number of years. It is a very simple thing.  To go back to renting houses, it was no bother in the world for the Government of the day to pay \u20ac600 or \u20ac800 to Ukrainians who came here. There was no problem with this. The Government had no problem paying for this but it will not do the same for its own here. I am not saying they should not have got it but the Irish people should get the very same as whoever comes here from wherever they are coming and they deserve that. In a democracy, this is what we would expect. I ask the Government to look at something like this to see if it would release some of the vacant houses all across our towns, villages and in the countryside. The Government is doing nothing to incentivise people to get into the rental market.  I do not think the Minister and the Minister of State are listening but that is the way with them. They did not listen before and they will pay a higher price if they do not listen again. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mattie McGrath  The Government has lost focus completely and it is allowing itself to be led by the nose by the NGOs and whoever else makes up these nice policies. We all advised the Government not to bring in the recent legislation on private landlords, as if landlords were a dangerous club. There are some horrible landlords and I have no time for the bigger ones especially. The policy in this area is very strange too. I know of cases with regard to Waterford County Council and An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la. In large groups of housing estates, a stipulation was put in that the first owners would have to remain in them and they could not be bought up by REITs and others. The Government laid out the red carpet for them but it did not support its own.  Then it laid out the red carpet totally for the Ukrainians and for God knows who else who came from all over the world. We were called all kinds of names when we mentioned it and pointed out the mistake and foolish policy which was unsustainable. To think in Clonmel alone, 40 modular homes were built. I sat down with the OPW and the builders Sisk and the Department's integration team. I was guaranteed these modular homes, which are probably worth \u20ac80,000 at best, would be finished for \u20ac200,000 and not a penny more. We discussed everything, including site, topography, water and electricity. They have now ended up costing almost \u20ac500,000 per unit. In fact, it is \u20ac496,000. Nationally they have cost \u20ac450,000. This is an absolute travesty and a waste of money. How could any company - it was Sisk in this case - get all 11 sites in the country and get \u20ac450,000 per unit? We could build the finest house in Tipperary or any other county for \u20ac450,000.  Another issue is the problem with the blocks and cement. Instead of making the big companies pay, and I will not name them but we all know who they are, including an international company which I believe has moved its headquarters and funding from the Stock Exchange here and has gone to Holland, a levy was put on every cubic metre of cement. Cement has increased by 30% this year. Oil has caused a lot of this but the Government has increased it by putting on this charge to do repairs. Rogue suppliers and bad supervision allowed this. It is an unbelievable situation.  The Government now thinks there is a golden egg in the short-term lets of people who have gone into holiday homes and Airbnb. Farmers beside me did up an old house in a farmyard which they could never rent to anyone long-term because it is in an active living farmyard. A woman in Dundrum in February has the same story. She has been at it for 30 years and the property is in the middle of her farm. The Minister thinks he can force them to give these as local authority rents or for people to rent long term. It is a folly. The Minister thinks he will get back 10,000 or 20,000 of these but he is going to destroy another industry. It grew up as a cottage industry and the Minister is going to wipe it out. All of the Minister's policies seem to be trying to wipe out industries and we are being left with nothing only brus because that is the policy the Minister is bringing in.  The parties on the left are clamouring to attack landlords. There are many incidental and accidental landlords who are good people. They educated their children and put them through college from having a second house they were left or inherited in some make, shape or form. They are all being classed as rogues.  The RTB is useless and not fair. A bad landlord who does not repair should be brought to book but there are also tenants who wreck a house, destroy a house or do not pay rent. Somebody in my office told me the tenants forgot to pay the rent for the past four months. The RTB would normally come down on their side, or it is slow, feeble and ineffective as with most of the other regulatory bodies. They have a stamp on the wall, big seats in plush offices and board members being paid but they are not effective. They are toothless, useless and fruitless.  I wished the Minister well when he took up the role. I thought he would do something pretty good. I asked the Minister to look at something that happened last week. Tipperary County Council passed a motion last Friday evening to knock 52 perfectly strong well-built houses. It is an absolute travesty in this day and age. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  On a point of order, I want to register a complaint about the Minister and the Minister of State. We spoke for eight or nine minutes and they did not listen to one word that we said. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Sorca Clarke)  That is not a point of order. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  They were talking. They are ignorant and arrogant and they will not listen but they will get their answer when they go to the doors. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Sorca Clarke)  That is not a point of order. If Deputy Healy-Rae has a complaint, there is a format for making it. This is not it and that is not a point of order. Please respect the Chair. If Deputy Healy-Rae has an issue with the Minister, there is a pathway for him to take it up. This is not it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy James Browne)  I thank the Sinn F\u00e9in Deputies for initiating the motion and I thank colleagues for their contributions to this very important debate. I acknowledge that I could not be here earlier but I was meeting Oliver Bond House residents at the Custom House, which had been arranged before this Private Members' debate. Of course I will get the transcript and read back over everything to have full knowledge of everything that has been said.  I have previously acknowledged to the House that housing is the defining social and economic challenge of our time, which affects almost every family throughout the country. It has been my absolute focus since I became Minister for housing to address this crisis. It is the single greatest issue facing so many families and working people who aspire to a secure home of their own, be it to own or to rent or a social home.  I recognise the strain that can be caused by the scarcity of rental accommodation and the rent pressures that accompany this. It is for this reason that the Government is laser-focused on increasing the supply of all types of homes, including social homes, rental homes and homes to purchase. Only a sustained increase in the supply of homes of all tenures can solve this problem. However, in the meantime we have to do everything we can while supply is being driven to ensure those who find themselves in a very difficult situation, whether it is paying high rent, not being able to find somewhere to rent, facing a notice to quit or finding themselves in a homeless situation, that we can help them as much as possible.  I reassert the Government's commitment and determination to tackle the challenges in the housing sector. The Government's goal remains a housing system that meets the needs of everybody on the housing spectrum, whether it is with regard to a social house, affordable purchase, cost-rental, to be able to rent or to be able to purchase their own home with or without Government support. No one in government underestimates the scale of the housing challenge. We must ensure that we enhance supply as much as possible. Supply is a means to an end so that people have the home they need in their own local community.  An eviction ban and a rent freeze would have a significant impact in deterring medium- and longer-term supply of rental accommodation. It would act as a disincentive to landlords who are considering entering the rental market and as a spur for existing landlords to leave.  As previously stated, the latest data published by the RTB shows continued resilience in the Irish rental sector with ongoing growth in tenancies and the number of landlords. We need a supply of homes of all types and tenures in every place. We are working tirelessly to address these challenges and to implement policies that make a positive difference. While there is still much to do, the motion initiated by Sinn F\u00e9in Deputies does not fairly represent the efforts or progress made to date. It is important that I reiterate the real progress we have made in recent years, including that relating to social and affordable housing delivery, and to set out the key changes introduced and our plans ahead to scale up the supply of homes across all tenures. The record level of investment for the delivery of housing continues into 2026 with \u20ac5.2 billion in Exchequer capital funding complemented by investment through the LDA and lending from the Housing Finance Agency, bringing the total capital funding for housing in 2026 to over \u20ac9 billion. This record level of funding is supporting the delivery of social, affordable and cost-rental homes. The 2026 capital funding will be supplemented by over \u20ac2 billion in current funding to address housing needs.  Between July 2020 and the end of 2025, 58,816 social homes were added to the social housing stock and more than 15,271 homes were brought back into use under the voids programme. Local authorities are delivering affordable homes, with funding approved of almost \u20ac691 million from the Affordable Housing Fund to support the delivery of over 7,650 affordable purchase and cost-rental homes by 25 local authorities. Over the past five years, almost 149,000 new homes have been delivered. This is significant progress and that needs to be recognised, but we have an awful lot more to do. The Government has implemented a range of measures in recent years to ensure a balanced housing market across all tenures, including home ownership, social and affordable housing and private rental. The recently enacted Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2026 introduced a new national rent control for the first time across all tenancies, which limits rent increases to inflation as measured by the consumer price index up to a maximum of 2%. These changes were introduced to promote greater investment in the rental market and to increase the supply of rental properties, but also to give greater protection to tenants.  Ireland is facing a shortage of rental homes, especially apartments. The reforms aim to encourage investment and development. It will take time for a new supply to materialise, given the nature of investment decisions and large-scale residential development. Affordability is also at the heart of Government's housing policy as embodied within our housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities, with the Government targeting delivery of over 300,000 homes by 2030, including 72,000 social homes and 90,000 affordable supports. The plan reinforces the range of existing measures implemented by the Government to tackle the issues of supply and affordability, thereby supporting the increased provision of new homes to purchase and to rent. Record levels of social and affordable housing delivery have been achieved in recent years. In 2025, a total of 9,089 new-build social homes were constructed. This is the highest delivery on record since the foundation of the State and is an increase of 1,256, or 16%, compared with 2024. Over 42,000 new-build social homes were delivered between 2022 and 2025. I am also providing substantial funding to local authorities, the Land Development Agency and approved housing bodies to support increased delivery. The national development plan has committed record levels of funding for new social and affordable homes. A record level of investment is being provided for the delivery of housing in 2026. Since the launch of cost rental in 2021, approximately \u20ac2.25 billion in Exchequer funding has been approved for cost-rental projects. Beyond my Department, significant funding is also being provided from the State's Housing Finance Agency. The lowering of VAT on new apartments to 9% in budget 2026 will also assist in delivering new homes into the cost-rental sector at lower costs, meaning lower rents.  Of course, we know the people suffering most are those who have found themselves in homelessness as a result of not being able to get homes to live in, or as a result of facing that notice to quit and being evicted. We have record levels of preventions, but where someone does become homeless we want to make sure they exit it as quickly as possible and, while they are homeless, they are provided with the supports they need. They need more supports than just of a roof over their heads. We know about the distressing impacts of homelessness; for example, it impacts on people's social lives and on their mental health. One person homeless is one too many. The numbers we have in homelessness are unacceptable to me. Housing delivery at the scale and pace we require is not something the Government can achieve alone. Nor is it something that any one sector, agency or profession can deliver in isolation. It depends on partnership between central and local government; between the public and private sectors; and between planners, developers, infrastructure providers, financers and communities themselves so we can deliver the homes we need right across this country.  Achieving the delivery of 300,000 new homes under Delivering Homes, Building Communities requires an estimated \u20ac20 billion of development finance per year. As we all recognise, that level of investment is being sought in a highly competitive international market. While the Government is providing record funding, we cannot provide every piece of funding required to deliver every home. We have to deliver schools, hospitals and roads. We have to create that investment as well in other parts of the public sector that need that support for our local communities.  One of the key challenges identified is apartment viability. As part of Delivering Homes, Building Communities, the Government has introduced a suite of complementary measures, including the introduction of a 9% VAT rate on the sale of apartments that could reduce the delivery cost of those apartments. A fourth call for expressions of interest under the Cro\u00ed C\u00f3naithe cities scheme, which provides affordable purchase apartments, was issued in July of last year and the scheme is helping to activate the thousands of planning permissions for apartments in our cities. The Housing Activation Office was established last year to accelerate home building by unblocking infrastructure delays and by co-ordinating investment in servicing zoned land. This office supports public infrastructure planning and investment for the delivery of new sustainable communities and transport-orientated development. The office, which is headed by a new deputy secretary general for housing activation, has undertaken both formal and informal engagement with various stakeholders, local authorities, agencies and the private sector to ensure we are all co-ordinated in maximising the delivery of homes across this country.  I apologise for not being here earlier, but it was due to a pre-existing engagement with those residents from Oliver Bond House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan  I thank Deputy \u00d3 Broin for his work on this Private Members' business. The figures published by the RTB last week are beyond staggering. They are grim and show the highest level of eviction notices since the Famine. I do not know if the Minister fully realises the gravity of the housing crisis. A 51% rise in eviction notices means thousands of people across Ireland find themselves in the horrible position of trying to find a new home. If they are lucky enough to find a place, they will undoubtedly be paying far higher rents than they did before. If they do not, they will be forced to move back in with parents, to emigrate or, worse still, into homelessness. The impact this is having on Irish society cannot be understated. There is a whole generation out there being forced to put their lives on hold, couples who want to start a family and three or four generations living under one roof. Let me be clear. This crisis has happened on the Minister's watch. Not only that, but it has radically worsened on his watch. His blind faith that the market will provide has ensured one thing and one thing only - sky-high profits for developers and shareholders. Rent in Kilkenny and Carlow for new tenancies has hit \u20ac1,500 per month. I mentioned the Famine. It is a famine situation in a lot of houses because they cannot afford the rents, and they definitely cannot afford to eat. We have St. Vincent de Paul and others in our communities helping them out. Enough is enough. When will working families finally get a break? We need an end to empty rhetoric from this Government and a genuine commitment to accelerate the delivery of social homes, genuine affordable homes and private homes for purchase. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Maurice Quinlivan  I listened carefully to what the Minister said in his speech. One of the saddest things is that he actually believes what he read out. The figures announced recently of 7,062 eviction notices across the State show a 51% increase on the same time last year. This will come as no surprise to many of us because we predicted this was going to happen. In Limerick we have had 354 evictions in quarter 1 of 2026, and 269 were issued in quarter 4 of 2025.  That is 623 in a six-month period. These are not just numbers but families. These are people who were renting for years and thought they had some kind of security. Some of these eviction notices are spurious because the landlords will be offering the places for rent on daft.ie in a couple of months. I have no doubt about that whatsoever. Anybody who runs a constituency office dreads opening their clinics at the moment because coming in the door are people with the dreaded notices to quit in their hands. What do we do in Limerick? We refer them to the homeless action team. What does the homeless action team do? It tells people there is nothing it can do for them until about a week before they are going to be homeless and probably nothing it can do at the end of that week.  The Minister's Government has caused this crisis and it has no plans to get us out of this mess. It has abandoned working families, because the bulk of people I have dealt with who have lost their accommodation and been evicted from their homes are working families with nowhere to go. We told the Minister that was going to happen when he brought in his new Bill. The copies of the Minister's speech we were given finish with \"We will continue to listen to feedback and seek ways to improve\". We have been giving the Government ideas, solutions and stuff over the years but none of it has been accepted. I will mention one thing quickly. There are always 200 voids in Limerick city. The Government will not change the way it is done and there will always be 200 voids on the Minister's watch, so the sooner his Government is gone, the better. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sorca Clarke  I am going to call this out for what it is, which is an abject failure of renters the length and breadth of this State. The Government's amendment is absolutely tone-deaf. It is the most layered piece of political spin I have ever seen put on paper. There have been 7,000 eviction notices in just three months, which is the highest number ever recorded. Thousands of families are living in fear and panic as they wonder where exactly they are going to go. What does the Minister do? He comes in with an amendment that reads like it was written by the investment funds rather than a Government presiding over record rents, record evictions and record homelessness and an entire generation locked out of the hope of ever owning their own home. The Government congratulates itself on rent controls while rent in Westmeath has soared by over 11%. Perhaps the most disgraceful part of it is the attempt to downplay the soaring evictions by claiming the trend is moderating. I ask the Minister to come to my constituency and talk to the 84-year-old man, talk to the new mother with a two-week-old baby who is in emergency accommodation and talk to the woman who is effectively overholding in a domestic violence refuge with her two kids with additional needs. They were meant to be out yesterday but there is nowhere for her to go. Literally nothing is available to her.  The Minister is completely detached from the reality facing ordinary people. He measures success as investor confidence and market activity but ordinary people measure success by having a roof over their heads and food on the table. That is the level of pressure families are under. Forget about the holiday. Forget about the car. They just want a roof. They just want to be able to afford the rent and put food on the table for their families, and lord knows they work hard enough to be able to afford those very basic things. Then the Minister has the audacity to tell people his housing policy is working. He should stand in any local authority building and look at the people presenting as homeless. They are countless and they come from all sectors of society. This Government has failed each and every one of them and the Minister should be ashamed for standing in here and trying to tell us his broken policy is working and he should be ashamed for every person who is standing in a homeless queue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  When the Minister made his announcement last summer about the intended changes to the regulation of the rental sector two things happened. The first is that every quarter since July there has been a dramatic increase in eviction notices. In July, August and September it was a 38% increase. In October, November and December it was 41%. In the most recent figures it was 51%. That is the direct consequence of the policy decisions the Minister and his colleagues in the Government have made. During that whole period rents continued to rise so the Minister knows what is going to happen when we get both the Daft and RTB data from 1 March. He knows we are going to be moving back into double-digit rental inflation, first in some cities and then State-wide. That means there will be thousands of additional people looking for rental accommodation at a time when the rate of rental inflation is going through the roof. We are back to 2014, 2015 and 2016. That is what the Minister has done. He is telling people he is doing that so at some distant point in future there may be supply they may be able to afford, but what we are trying to highlight to him, and what the RTB data and soon-to-be-published Daft.ie data will tell him is right now there are real-world consequences to the decisions he has made impacting upon thousands upon thousands of people. No doubt some of those people will get new tenancies but they will be pushed into ever-greater financial hardship. The ones who cannot get tenancies will be forced to move back home with their parents, forced to emigrate or forced to present for emergency homeless accommodation.  It is likely that the consequence of this will be that homeless presentations will continue to trend steadily upwards. The Minister is doing all that on a promise that we might get increased rental accommodation in the form of high-density, high-cost rental developments in very specific parts of the State. They will not be in the Minister\u2019s county or in the counties of the majority of TDs. That strategy is not going to work. In the meantime, the decisions he is making are in real time punishing renters for his housing policy failures. All the while the Minister is not meeting his social housing targets. He can make all the comparisons he wants with the 1970s but we have twice the population now we had then and the level of social housing need is far greater. The State would need to double social housing output on its current level to come anywhere close to meeting the level of need. The housing targets the Minister is meeting the least are his affordable housing targets. He is so far off and the vast majority of the units still are not affordable and the private sector still is not delivering enough private homes for working people to buy, again because the Minister\u2019s activation measures are not working or are not the right choices.  We have set out a set of alternatives. We did not expect the Minister to support it but if these trends continue and the number of people who are being harmed because of the policies he is implementing continues to grow, at what point will he say enough is enough? Will it be after six months, 12 months or two years? Until he accepts that, we will continue to highlight his errors and to put forward alternatives. That is why I commend this motion to the House. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Sorca Clarke)  In accordance with Standing Order 85(2), the division is postponed until the weekly division time on Wednesday, 20 May 2026. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Evictions and Rent Hikes: Motion [Private Members]"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-19\/debate\/dbsect_16","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_16","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-19\/debate\/dbsect_17","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Regeneration Projects","counts":{"speechCount":10,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-19\/debate\/dbsect_16","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_16","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-19\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_17.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  I understand the Minister had a very frank and potentially positive meeting with the Oliver Bond regeneration forum, so I am hoping he can update the House on the progress that was made and also listen to some of the concerns some of us continue to have with the approach being taken by the Department, not just with respect to the Oliver Bond complex but also concerning the other inner-city flat complex regeneration projects across Dublin. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy James Browne)  I thank the Deputy for raising what is a very important matter, namely, the urban regeneration of Oliver Bond House. I did meet in the last couple of hours with the residents of Oliver Bond House and the Oliver Bond regeneration forum. The meeting was very much an opportunity for a meaningful discussion with the residents, to listen to them and to see where we can go from here in a very productive manner. It emphasises the Government\u2019s commitment to carry out the regeneration and to fund it. The funding, in excess of \u20ac20 million, is still there, of course. Obviously, people are frustrated. They want to hear that the funding is still there, but, more importantly, they want to see progress and action to carry out the regeneration work there, because people are living in a completely unacceptable situation. The conditions in Oliver Bond House are, in terms of the residents\u2019 health and the environment, totally unacceptable, as I said, in respect of how people are living there.  It is for those reasons that the regeneration of the estate remains a priority. We have been working with Dublin City Council. The importance of the meeting today was to get an opportunity to listen to the residents. The piece being discussed at the moment concerns blocks L, M and N within the complex, but there are other aspects there that we can start to do in parallel and actually accelerate the overall regeneration project. I reaffirm the \u20ac2.5 million that is there for public realm works. I have asked Dublin City Council to clarify how much of that has been drawn down. I think it is very little at this stage. I have asked it to clarify how much of the works have been carried out, because that funding is there. There is also \u20ac1.37 million for a community centre. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  I thank the Minister. This may be one of those rare occasions where we might have more in common than we have to disagree about. I do think the letter sent by the Minister\u2019s officials to Dublin City Council in April was a mistake. The Department\u2019s position had shifted significantly from the stage 1 approval in 2023 or 2024. The amalgamation of blocks L, M and N from 74 units to 46 units had already been approved in principle two years ago. In fact, the revised scheme from Dublin City Council includes a significant improvement with the addition of a community centre.  Likewise, I refer to the explanation given by the Minister\u2019s officials to us in the housing committee last week that it was possible to build 13 units inside the existing development but that the Bridgefoot Street development could not be considered, in which case it would be possible to get 43 units as part of the overall scheme. That is a mistake. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Sorca Clarke)  I thank the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  I am hoping to hear that there is some flexibility to return to the good elements of the Dublin City Council scheme so we can get the resolution that the residents of the Oliver Bond complex, in particular, desperately need. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  There is a pathway to resolving this issue. We do need an appropriate mix. The position is not to say that there can be no amalgamation or even a reasonable amalgamation. The Bridgefoot Street development part is essential for the residents of Oliver Bond House as well, and that is a part that can be quite accelerated. There is an element where too much of this is happening sequentially. I am very struck by the fact that the actual process here started five years ago now. Whatever decision was made and whoever made it, and I do not want to go into the history of why we are here, it should not have taken five years to get to this point.  We also addressed other issues. There are some important ongoing works that I would call far more than maintenance. Water is dripping through roofs and there is mould. That work should not be put on hold either while the regeneration is happening. There is probably a sense that some works that need to be happening are not happening in the interim either to ensure that people can, at least, address some of those issues. These are ongoing maintenance problems, although far more than maintenance. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  The hardening attitude of the Department to the issue of amalgamations is a problem. The issue here, in the first instance, should be to ensure that these homes are brought up to modern standards and, exactly as the Minister said, for good estate management, that there is an appropriate mix in each block, as well as across the development. I disagree with the Minister slightly in that I think Dublin City Council had actually put forward not just the proposals for the three blocks in question and Bridgefoot Street, but had also set out to the Department its intentions for the remainder of the complex.  There needs to be a clear understanding that the priority has to be to bring these homes up to standard. Where it is possible to get additional units on site or near the site, we absolutely should do that, but it should not be a condition. I would hate to see that we will have the same problems every time a new proposal goes in for each of the subsequent phases or other developments. The sooner that issue is clarified, the better. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Sorca Clarke)  I thank the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  Again, I am not hearing anything from the Minister that I disagree with. The quicker all of us can move on right across the inner-city flat complexes, the better. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  Absolutely. These people are living in appalling conditions. We can accelerate the entire process here. It is about having the right mix and people being able to stay in their own local communities. The Bridgefoot Street development is an essential part of that, and, as the Deputy rightly said, there are another ten blocks for regeneration. Three blocks are part of a demolition proposal, with replacement as well. It is about how all of that happens. Every time there has been a proposal in this regard, it has simply taken too long. We have agreed to stay engaged with the Oliver Bond regeneration forum, accelerate this process and engage with Dublin City Council too. The forum is ably chaired by Frank Clarke. It is the residents\u2019 voices, though, that are so important here, and they deserve to have decent, habitable homes that they can live in with dignity. I am determined to see that happen and I am keeping a very close ongoing involvement with this from here. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Regeneration Projects"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-19\/debate\/dbsect_18","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Housing Provision","counts":{"speechCount":26,"speakerCount":5},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-19\/debate\/dbsect_16","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_16","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-19\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_18.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  I want to ask the Minister what actions he proposes to take in light of the monthly rise in homelessness and the record number of evictions that we have seen detailed in the release of the Residential Tenancies Board, RTB, data last week, and if he will make a statement on the matter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  I propose to take Questions Nos. 140 and 142 together.  Supporting individuals and families experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness is an absolute priority for me, my Department and the Government. The Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2026, which came into effect on 1 March 2026, provides the strongest tenancy protections in the history of the State. The new Act introduced a new national rent control for all tenancies which limits rent increases to inflation as measured by the consumer price index, CPI, up to a maximum of 2%. For new-build apartments and student-specific accommodation, however, rent increases are capped at the level of inflation only. These changes were introduced to promote greater investment in the rental market and to increase the supply of rental properties. while strengthening the protection of tenants. The Act also provides significant improvements in security of tenure for renters. The latest data published by the Residential Tenancies Board, RTB, on 14 May shows that the number of registered landlords and tenancies have increased on a quarterly and a yearly basis.  Increased supply is key to addressing homelessness, meeting need and addressing the challenges in the housing market. Therefore, we are building more than ever in recent times. A record level of investment is being provided for the delivery of housing in 2026, with \u20ac5.2 billion in Exchequer capital funding complemented by investment through the Land Development Agency, LDA, and lending from the Housing Finance Agency, HFA, bringing the total capital funding for housing in 2026 to over \u20ac9 billion. Delivering Homes, Building Communities aims to deliver 300,000 new homes in the period to 2030, including 72,000 social homes and 90,000 starter home supports. The Government is targeting the delivery of more than 300,000 new homes over the next six years, an average of 50,000 per annum, with annual targets increasing incrementally to exceed 60,000 by the end of 2030 or 2031. This means 12,000 new social homes will be delivered on average each year to the end of 2030.  Delivering Homes, Building Communities recognises that homelessness is the single most pressing social issue that we face and introduces a number of key measures to address homelessness.  Ensuring the implementation of these measures will be a priority for me this year. Meeting the Government commitment to eradicate homelessness requires a whole-of-government response. The national homeless action committee, NHAC, which I chair, supports the co-ordination of the response by Government, local authorities and their service delivery partners. The most recent meeting of NHAC took place on Wednesday 4 March 2026. I will continue to work with the committee to ensure that a renewed emphasis is brought to collaborating across government to implement actions in the new housing plan.  Prevention of homelessness in the first instance is an absolute priority. There are many prevention initiatives already underway in my own Department and across government. This includes the provision of social and affordable housing, HAP and homeless HAP, and our strong tenancy protection legislation. In order to ensure a fully aligned all-of-government approach under the plan, the programme for Government includes a commitment to a holistic, cross-departmental approach to homelessness prevention. Work has commenced on developing a national homelessness prevention framework to ensure all possible measures are being taken across government to prevent homelessness. It is intended that this framework will be in place later this year.  Addressing family homelessness is another key priority for me, my Department and the Government. Under the new housing plan, we will develop a dedicated child and family homelessness action plan. This will bring together key stakeholders to drive the continued focus on preventing children and families entering emergency accommodation, providing enhanced supports for children experiencing homelessness, as well as measures to accelerate exits and reduce the time spent by children and their families in homeless emergency accommodation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  The RTB data shows that 7,062 eviction notices were issued in the first three months of this year. While there is an increased number of landlords, some of that is down to the regularisation of tenancies. Will the Minister's homeless prevention framework, which he said is coming, have clear targets and timelines, year on year and quarter on quarter? If it does not, then it will effectively become redundant very quickly . What legislative measures similiar to, for example, the homeless families Bill or the Simon Community's homelessness prevention Bill will the Minister introduce to in order to bring the homeless figures down? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  I said earlier that this Government is the cruellest since the foundation of the State. The Minister waffles on about homelessness prevention but he will not do the one thing that could actually prevent people being made homeless, which is to put in place a ban on evictions. He has become and will be known as the Minister for evictions. We have record evictions and record homelessness, and the Minister will not do the thing that he can do to prevent families and children being made homeless, which is to put in place a ban on evictions. Every month the figures come out, the Minister is in hiding and never has to answer. In here is the one time that he does have to answer, and it is a disgrace. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  In the context of the actual questions put forward by Deputy Sheehan, I would say that we are putting in a number of measures to target homelessness, not just preventing people from becoming homeless, and particular measures where we are aware that people might be going into homelessness. There are also measures relating to exits and how we get people out of homelessness as quickly as possible. The implementation of those prevention measures by every local authority across the country is absolutely crucial. We also have a series of specialised interventions. We have the national homeless action committee, which meets on a regular basis and in the context of which I engage with all of the NGOs. The latter are engaging with all of our action plans to address homelessness, including the child and family homelessness action plan and the youth action plan.  Homelessness is complex. The more than 17,000 people who are homeless are not all in the same situation and do not require the same solutions. Obviously, each of them needs a roof over their heads, but many also need different supports put in place. Many need different types of accommodation, so we are putting a multitude of different measures in place.  When Deputy Hearne talks about the Famine, he does a real disservice to all of those people who died during the Famine. That was a shocking period in our history. To come in here and start throwing that word around in respect of the housing crisis we are in is wrong. There is no comparison with what happened back then. It shows the low level of hyperbole the Deputy is prepared to go to just to get his little social media clip, as I have said before, but this is about policies. While I do not agree with their policies, at least the other two Deputies from the Labour Party and Sinn F\u00e9in are putting forward policies. Deputy Hearne just comes in here with his usual personalised rant. It achieves absolutely nothing, and it certainly does not help the people who need help. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  The Minister spoke about prevention measures but the fact of the matter is that the most effective prevention measure that we had in recent times was the one that he severely restricted, namely the tenant in situ scheme or the ability of local authorities to acquire homes through second-hand acquisitions. The number acquired halved between 2024 and 2025. Will the Minister prioritise homeless prevention by allowing local authorities to use second-hand acquisitions for homeless prevention where it is not practically possible to offer an allocation? Local authorities are really severely restricted at the moment. Will the Minister support my Bill to ban no-fault evictions? I ask everybody in this House to support that legislation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  I absolutely stand over the comparison with the Famine. What the Minister is doing is refusing to acknowledge the trauma that is caused to every household that is evicted. Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael have stood over, year after year, evictions and homelessness rising. Deputy Browne is just another Minister who is standing over record homelessness and evictions. He said that I have no solutions. I set out my solution very clearly for him, namely a ban on no-fault evictions applying to existing tenants. The Minister is getting up in here and lying. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  The Deputy cannot say that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Cummins  He cannot say that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  The Minister is spinning mistruths that he has put in place the biggest protections for tenants----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  The Deputy should withdraw that remark. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  -----when he has not protected existing tenants. He should correct the record. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  I want that remark withdrawn. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Acting Chairman (Deputy Sorca Clarke)  Deputy Hearne----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  The Minister has not give any protection to existing tenants. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Acting Chairman (Deputy Sorca Clarke)  Deputy----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  They are all still as exposed to being evicted onto the streets in the same way they were before the Minister's new measures. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Acting Chairman (Deputy Sorca Clarke)  Has the Deputy finished? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  Yes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Acting Chairman (Deputy Sorca Clarke)  I am going to ask him to withdraw that comment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  I will withdraw that it was a lie; it was a mistruth. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  I hope people at home can see exactly the kind of behaviour we get from the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  I hope people at home can see the Minister's behaviour, which is being visited on them in the streets. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  This House must be about finding solutions to address the housing crisis. We have put our policies forward to address that crisis and we stand behind them. That is why we saw a 20% increase in housing delivery last year and the highest number of social houses built in the history of the State. We are going to build more houses, including an increase in affordable provision.  An eviction ban does not and will not work. It has already been tried in the State and all it does is kill supply. I want to help not just the people already renting but also those living at home who need somewhere to rent. I bring in policies to do that, while the Deputy has the luxury of putting forward an eviction ban, which is fine. However, the consistently personalised nature of his contributions in this House does a disservice to every public representative in the country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  The Minister never acknowledges the human impact. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  I cannot imagine what people at home who are interested in policy think when they hear the kind of personalising of politics in which the Deputy engages. It epitomises how little he actually has to say about policy in this area.  Deputy Sheehan spoke about no-fault evictions. Of course, what he proposes would protect people in the short term but, as I said, it would kill supply. I need to see greater supply in order that people have places to rent. Our population has increased by more than 800,000 since 2014. Off the top of my head, that requires approximately 250,000 homes. As well as delivering the homes for those people, we must deal with the undersupply that was there before that, which requires delivering even more homes. It has to be about driving that supply. I think we will see fewer notices to quit as we move forward with that. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Housing Provision"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-19\/debate\/dbsect_19","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Vacant Properties","counts":{"speechCount":14,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-19\/debate\/dbsect_16","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_16","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_19","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-19\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_19.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  On page 76 of the Government's housing plan, there is a commitment to develop a new voids funding programme that would \"incentivise lower vacancy rates and faster turnaround times for vacant local authority stock\". The plan was launched 187 days ago on 13 November 2025. In that time, only one action has been taken on the voids scheme. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  I thank the Deputy for his question. The management and maintenance of local authority social homes, including pre-letting repairs and the retenanting of homes, is entirely a matter for each individual local authority, as set out in section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. Local authorities must also ensure tenanted homes comply with the provisions of the rental standards regulations. To that end, local authority elected members and officials must make adequate budgetary provision for housing repairs and cyclical maintenance utilising the significant housing rental income available to them as part of the annual budgetary process.  That said, my Department is providing \u20ac260 million as a contribution towards the remediation and maintenance of local authority homes in 2026. This includes \u20ac40 million under the planned maintenance and voids programme, which is an increase of some 30% on the 2025 allocation. A total of \u20ac24 million of that sum is available for essential works to ensure vacant homes meet minimum standards, with the remaining \u20ac16 million available to support planned maintenance work programmes that are informed by stock condition surveys and delivered on a structured cycle of inspection, maintenance and repair.  A revised funding approach, notified to local authorities earlier this year, will be introduced from 2027. It will effectively link funding available through the programme to more efficient stock management by local authorities. With unacceptable levels of homelessness and a growing demand for social housing, it is imperative we increase availability within the existing stock while new-build social housing reaches the levels required in the coming years. That can be achieved by local authorities. The most recent National Oversight and Audit Commission, NOAC, report on stock vacancy levels and turnaround times shows the current national average vacancy rate is 2.75%, with an average turnaround time of 35.56 weeks. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  The Minister talked to colleagues earlier about policy. I launched a policy to return vacant, boarded-up homes to use in housing families. This is the low-hanging fruit and I still cannot understand why the Minister, his Department and the other Ministers in the Government do not tackle it. The voids programme for 2026 will allow for the return of 2,200 homes, with local authorities receiving only \u20ac11,000 per unit when there are more than 4,500 houses boarded up and vacant. Why is the Minister not being more ambitious? This is a fundamental disagreement. He will not fund local authorities to return those homes to use. This could be a success story. We could house 4,500 families if he were willing to put up the money. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  Two local authorities have vacancy levels of less than 1%, with five having vacancy rates of less than 2%. There is no reason that every local authority cannot reach those targets. The data also shows that four local authorities have turnaround times of less than 18 weeks, compared with the average of 36 weeks. The average vacancy rate is nearly 3% but some local authorities are well above it. I want to see those voids brought back into use. They are empty local authority homes that were paid for by the State. There should be people living in them. Some local authorities are taking various approaches to them rather than getting them turned around as quickly as possible. We are now incentivising councils to complete those turnarounds. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  The Minister mentioned the NOAC report. I will refer to some of the figures in that report. In 2024, there were 4,251 empty council houses, which was an increase from the previous year. One in four of those homes was empty longer than a year. I know of houses in my constituency that have been empty and boarded up for years. The problem is a lot of local authorities do not have the excess funding to bring the long-term, older, more complicated and more expensive homes back into use. If the Minister is only giving \u20ac11,000 per unit and the average cost, according to NOAC, is \u20ac31,000, from where will the local authorities get the funding shortfall? Many councils are struggling and do not have the money. Will the Minister commit to funding local authorities to do that work? Will he stop blaming them for not doing so when he has the ability to make the funds available to enable it? This is an easy win. I cannot understand why he will not do it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  It is not a question of ability; it is a question of duty. Under section 58 of the Housing Act 1966, it is the duty of the local authorities to keep those properties maintained. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  They do not have the money to do it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  The previous Government gave significant money. There should not be any home in long-term disuse. Significant money was given by the previous Government for every home that was empty long term to be brought up to standard. How is it then, only a few years later, that there are more properties no longer up to standard and, in fact, in very poor condition? That should not be the case. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  Some of them are up to 100 years old. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  The figure of \u20ac11,000 is only an average. Each home should not take \u20ac11,000 to fix. The duty is on local authorities to maintain their stock. The Government is stepping in to help and support them but it should not really have to do so. The local authorities should be able to look after their own stock, as is their duty. The key point is that a lot of local authorities, if not almost every one of them, are not putting 100% of their rental income into maintaining their properties. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  They cannot do so. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  People in social housing homes are paying rent. They have a right to have that money put back into maintaining the properties, but the local authorities are not doing that, which they should be. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  They cannot do it because the Government cut their funding. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  Those renters need to know their money is going where it should be going. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 142 answered with Question No. 140. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Vacant Properties"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-19\/debate\/dbsect_20","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Defective Building Materials","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-19\/debate\/dbsect_16","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_16","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_20","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-19\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_20.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  The Minister previously informed us that it was his intention to have the legislation to underpin the Celtic tiger-era defects redress scheme not just introduced but passed by the Houses of the Oireachtas by the summer, with the objective that homeowners and owners' management companies could apply for inclusion in the scheme before the end of the year. Obviously, that legislation has not been published. Can he give an update on when it will be published and when he expects to have it passed by the Oireachtas and open to applicants? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  Government approval was received on 18 September 2024 for the priority drafting of the apartment and duplex defects remediation Bill. The purpose of the legislation is to place the defects remediation scheme on a statutory footing, further to commitments contained in the programme for Government. The Bill will provide supports for the remediation of relevant fire safety, structural safety and water ingress defects in purpose-built apartment buildings, including duplexes, constructed between 1991 and 2013.  It is envisaged that 100% of eligible remediation costs will be funded in the relevant apartments and duplexes.  An interim remediation scheme has been in place since December 2023 to provide an acceptable level of fire safety in buildings, pending the introduction of the statutory scheme and completion of the full remedial works. As of the end of April 2026, 264 applications for the interim remediation scheme had been validated, having met the eligibility criteria. These applications represent 22,607 residential units, with circa 75% in the Dublin region.  As part of the interim scheme process, a number of pathfinder projects were identified to help inform the development of the legislation. I have just recently approved the final pathfinder project and all four projects across Dublin city centre, Portmarnock, west Dublin and Kilcock are now approved for funding from my Department in the amount of \u20ac24 million. Remediation works have commenced or will be commencing shortly in each case.  In February 2026, the Government announced some significant amendments to the interim scheme in order to simplify procurement and cut through administrative hurdles, allowing works relating to fire detection and alarm systems to be completed more quickly, while ensuring residents can remain safely in their homes until full building remediation is finished.  I am very conscious that a large number of homeowners in affected apartment developments have, on their own initiative----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Sorca Clarke)  I thank the Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  I appreciate the answer, although none of that is new information. The specific question I asked was when this legislation will be published. When does the Minister expect it to complete its passage through the Oireachtas? When does he hope owners\u2019 management companies will be able to apply? With respect to the interim scheme, I appreciate that finally four pathfinder projects have been approved, but that relates to over 200 schemes that desperately need this funding and it has been two years or more since the scheme was originally agreed in principle by the Government. Will the Minister give us some clarity on when the legislation will be published, when it will be passed and when it will be open to applications, and some indication of the extent to which he will be able to accelerate funding approval for more of the 22,000 homes that urgently need interim fire safety funding? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  In terms of the timeline, all I can say is we will move this as quickly as possible. I wanted to get those interim schemes in place, and in particular the supports around fire safety. I also brought a memorandum to Government on 21 April 2026 on retrospection. Approval was received on a number of policy recommendations around retrospective grant payments. These recommendations will inform the ongoing drafting of the legislation. I can confirm works have been completed at 50 eligible perimeters of the scheme and these costs will be reimbursed. The general scheme of the Bill completed pre-legislative scrutiny in January. As the Deputy will know, drafting of the Bill has been progressed and I very much hope to be in a position to publish the Bill before the summer recess. Beyond that, I intend to move as quickly as I possibly can. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  I thank the Minister for that clarity. One assumes that while the Minister may publish before the summer recess, it is likely the Bill will only come before the Oireachtas in the autumn. It is fair to say, to give some clarity to owners' management companies, that that means it is highly unlikely a scheme will open for applications this year, and it will more likely be next year.  With respect to the memo the Minister spoke about regarding retrospective pathfinders, there was some media commentary that there might have been some consideration of the issue of caps. Can the Minister give us some assurance that no caps will be included in the overall scheme and that where the issue of caps is being discussed with respect to procurement challenges for retrospective payments, he is hoping to find a solution so nobody is out of pocket and they get the full cost remediation, whether retrospectively or into the future? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  The aim here is that people will not be out of pocket. There will not be caps. We are trying to do it in such a way that we can move as quickly as possible. There are some challenges around tender limits and how we can address that in a way that allows people to move far more quickly, but there are no overall caps on it.  In terms of any submissions on what the costs will be, the Department will look at that to ensure it meets what needs to be done to help these people. The Deputy is correct; if we publish the Bill before the summer, it will be debated in the autumn. I will aim to have it passed by Christmas. Obviously, that will be a challenge in terms of timelines but we will try to drive it as quickly as possible. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Defective Building Materials"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-19\/debate\/dbsect_21","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Rental Sector","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-19\/debate\/dbsect_16","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_16","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-19\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_21.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  Has the Department commissioned an analysis of trends in landlord exits, reductions in rental listings or changes in small landlord participation following the introduction of rent regulation measures? I am cautiously optimistic that this will be a blip. Will the Minister provide details of available findings or regional trends where available? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  I thank Deputy Heneghan for what is clearly an important question on an issue he has raised on a number of occasions, namely, protections for renters. The Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2026 came into effect on 1 March 2026, introducing a new national rent control for all tenancies, which limits rent increases to inflation as measured by the consumer price index, CPI, up to a maximum of 2%. For new-build apartments and student-specific accommodation, however, rent increases are capped at the level of inflation as measured by the CPI. These changes were introduced to promote greater investment in the rental market but also to ensure significant improvements in the security of tenure for renters.  Multiple expert reports, including those from my Department, the Housing Agency, the Department of Finance, the Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI, the OECD and the International Monetary Foundation, IMF, agree that the former rent pressure zone, RPZ, system was a major obstacle to increasing rental supply. The changes were introduced in order to attract increased investment in the rental market and thereby increase the supply of properties available for renters.  Delivering Homes, Building Communities recognises that the rental market is an important element of a well-functioning housing system. It contains a suite of measures to support domestic and international investment in the delivery of new rental properties, in particular the supply of new apartments. The Residential Tenancies Board, RTB, reports on the profile of the register and on the number of new tenancy registrations it has received on a quarterly basis. The latest data shows that the number of registered landlords and tenancies have increased. Obviously, for people facing notices to quit, it is an extremely distressing situation. Our aim is to increase the overall supply. That is cold comfort to people facing notices to quit but we can increase the supply and ease overall the regrettable situation people are facing in this country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  It would be fantastic if we could and I hope we can. The housing crisis needs this. The RTB\u2019s own data is telling us about the small landlords, those with one or two properties, who are leaving the market at an accelerating rate.  To touch on the [ vacant above the shop grant ], I welcome the scheme and the work that has been done but I wish to ask a question about it because it does need to be re-examined. I know from speaking to the Department that it is currently being introduced and there may be amendments to it. The provision of \u20ac95,000 for one unit, \u20ac115,000 for two units and \u20ac135,000 for three or more units is meaningful, but I would love it to be re-examined for more than three units. It needs to be raised. If we are trying to increase supply, the jump should not be so small. If we are trying to bring back Dublin city, we need to enable people to build above shops. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  The over the shop grant is just one of many to help tackle vacancy and dereliction and create additional homes in the centres in our towns and cities and within the hearts of communities. It is win-win. All the facilities are there - water, wastewater, electricity, footpaths and streets. It helps to revitalise the community and acts as an antisocial behaviour measure as well for people to be living in town and city centres and in communities within cities as well. We are giving significant grants but, of course, we keep all grants under continuous review. We encourage people to use them to make these properties available. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  If we are trying to increase supply, the grant should be more beneficial when more units are being built. I was a councillor in Dublin city. I understand that the vacant and derelict register need to be updated. I am asking for an urgent review.  Regarding the company ownership restriction on the vacant above the shop grant, the Minister acknowledged, which I welcome, that passive surveillance by people living above shops reduces antisocial behaviour. That would be very beneficial.  People I represent are waiting for these homes. They are my generation. It would be especially good if we could put in, in conjunction with the regulations, encouragements for people in critical jobs such as those working in Beaumont Hospital, garda\u00ed and nurses because those places above the shops across my constituency could house them. The policy needs to catch up to that reality and I am asking for that to happen.  I swayed away from the original question, so I appreciate the leniency. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  I welcome Deputy Heneghan's genuine interest in housing solutions. There is no one fix for solving our housing crisis. Supports for people to reuse existing properties to be able to get the homes they need in their local communities are important, and this is something the Deputy is passionate about as well.  We will continue to engage right across the House. I will always listen to any proposals to see where we can make changes and continue to evolve our policies. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Rental Sector"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-19\/debate\/dbsect_22","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Derelict Sites","counts":{"speechCount":23,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-19\/debate\/dbsect_16","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_16","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-19\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_22.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  The first quarter of this year saw the lowest number of first quarter reconnections and it was the second lowest number for any quarter since the CSO began collecting data in 2011. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  I thank the Deputy. Unlike connections in the delivery of new housing, reconnections are not a measure of tackling vacancy and dereliction, as many vacant properties never lost their connections.  The vacant property refurbishment grant, funded under the cro\u00ed c\u00f3naithe towns fund, has been a key measure in addressing vacancy and dereliction. At the end of the first quarter of 2026, more than 17,400 applications had been made to local authorities, with more than 13,100 of those applications approved and more than 5,300 grants paid, amounting to almost \u20ac285 million of grant funding paid out. That is an important success of that scheme.  The grant provides up to \u20ac50,000 for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as principal private residences and for properties that will be made available for rent. A top-up grant of up to \u20ac20,000 is available where the property is derelict, bringing the total grant available for a derelict property up to a maximum of \u20ac70,000. In addition, the Government approved the introduction of a vacant above the shop grant, with a package of up to \u20ac140,000 to be made available in cases where vacant above the shop space is being converted or refurbished for residential use and the commercial element is there as well. The additional grant amount for these properties recognises the complexities involved in bringing this space into use. The package includes an expert advice grant of up to \u20ac5,000. The new vacant above the shop grant and expert advice grant were launched on 1 April 2026, with applications and information on the grants available online. In the housing plan, a commitment was also given to explore an extension of the vacant above the shop grant for properties owned by small or micro companies. This work is being undertaken and will be completed by the end of the year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  I find it astounding and unbelievable that the Minister would say this is not a measure. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  It is not a measure. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  This is a CSO figure that shows the lowest number for any first quarter in 15 years. That is a measurement. Regardless of whether the Minister agrees with it or wants to accept it is his issue, but these are the facts. I printed them off. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  I did not question the facts. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  We have the lowest number for any first quarter and the Minister says it is not a measure. The Minister can disagree with me, but he should not say these figures are not right because they are right. The Government is not delivering. This proves the Government is not delivering on dereliction because the vast majority of these derelict sites are not connected to an electrical supply, so if there were no reconnections or the number of reconnections was low,----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Sorca Clarke)  Thank you, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  -----that shows that the Government's policy on dereliction has failed. These are the facts. I am not making them up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Sorca Clarke)  The Minister to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  I am sure the Minister can recognise that these figures are accurate. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  The Deputy seems to be under a basic misapprehension about how the grant works. A property does not have to be disconnected from electricity to get the grant. Therefore, the CSO statistics might be correct, but they do not reflect the argument or opinion the Deputy is putting forward. The conclusion he is drawing from them is incorrect. No one is disputing CSO statistics, but the Deputy's conclusion is incorrect because the connections do not reflect how many vacant properties have been refurbished.  The facts are that 13,100 applications for the vacant property refurbishment grant have been approved and 5,300 to the value of almost \u20ac285 million have been paid out. If that is not a measure of the success of the scheme, I do not know what is. This has been an extremely popular----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Sorca Clarke)  Thank you, Minister "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  -----and successful scheme and the above the shop grant is now adding to it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  It is unbelievable that the Minister would say my conclusions are wrong. I am using CSO figures. The Minister does not have any figures to contradict mine, so I am right. They prove the Government's policy on dereliction is failing.  I will give another figure to prove how the Government is failing. Some 2,361 homes were self-assessed as liable for the vacant homes tax in 2025. According to CSO figures - the CSO is probably making all this up, if we go with what the Minister believes - in the fourth quarter of 2024, there were 70,000 vacant homes. Under the Government's vacant homes policy, 2,361 homes were liable out of 70,000. If those 70,000 were delivered----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Sorca Clarke)  Thank you, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  -----it would help to solve the housing crisis. The Minister said he was looking at staged payments. Where are the staged payments? People want to turn these vacant homes around. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Sorca Clarke)  Deputy, your time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  They do not have the money and they do not have the support from the Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  As the Deputy will know and understand, in relation to the number of vacant properties, properties become vacant and not vacant. They are not all the same properties. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  Some of them have been vacant for 20 years. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  We have significant schemes to tackle vacancy and dereliction. They are being availed of by the public. They are bringing a significant number of properties back into use. I want to see them used even more and see even more properties being brought back into use to tackle vacancy and dereliction, and that is what we will continue to do. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  Is the vacant homes tax working? "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 146 and 147 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Derelict Sites"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-19\/debate\/dbsect_23","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Parking Provision","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-19\/debate\/dbsect_16","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_16","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_23","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Lahart","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Lahart.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Lahart.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-19\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_23.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy John Cummins)  Maximum parking rates for new residential developments are addressed at a national level in the sustainable residential development and compact settlement guidelines issued in 2024 under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000. The specific planning policy requirement, SPPR 3, of the settlement guidelines sets out graduated maximum car parking rates based on proximity to urban centres and sustainable transport options. These range from one space per dwelling in central or accessible locations to two spaces per dwelling in more peripheral or intermediate locations with higher rates of car dependency.  While the settlement guidelines set out the general policy approach, where planning permission is sought for particular residential development proposals, planning authorities and An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la will need to be satisfied that the necessary and appropriate provision of parking is provided in accordance with the requirements of the settlement guidelines. For developments of 100 residential units or more, the settlement guidelines recommend that a mobility management plan or travel plan is prepared in support of the proposed parking arrangements. These guidelines are designed to strike the balance between the need for residents to have access to parking and the need to encourage the use of other transport networks. In areas with strong public transport links, lower parking ratios may be appropriate. However, planning authorities must also ensure that parking provision is sufficient to meet the specific needs of future residents of a proposed development, taking into account the local context.  That being said, the provision of car parking can add significant cost to developments, particular the high-density schemes the Deputy referenced, such as apartments, where higher ratios of parking necessitate a podium or basement car park.  I will follow up further. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Lahart","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Lahart.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Lahart.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Lahart  It did not take the \"Prime Time\" documentary on this to educate me about it.  It started in my constituency with Citywest where there was out-of-proportion development in relation to the capacity for parking that was provided by either the local authority or An Bord Plean\u00e1la, now An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la. Why was that density allowed? I presume proximity to the Luas red line was one of the reasons. However, not everybody living in that area takes the Luas red line. There were appeals on social media a number of years ago from people in Citywest asking to rent a space in the driveway of adjoining residential estates and to pay for it over a period of a year. That has stopped now. Cars are parked overnight on major artery roads significant distances from where people are actually living. They return to their cars in the morning hoping they will still be there. This is completely unsatisfactory. There is one line in the reply to which I want to come back in my second bite of the cherry. This is not working and the Government needs to come up with some response. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Cummins  I thank Deputy Lahart. I and the Department are aware that this is an issue. At the same time it is important to point to the fact that there is a graduated approach to parking, as set out in the Planning and Development Act and the guidelines associated with it. It ranges from one space per dwelling in a central or accessible location to two per dwelling in a more peripheral or intermediate location with higher rates of car dependency. Obviously in terms of the mobility plan and transport demand management strategies that have to be created in the context of 100 units or more, these are designed to try to address that flexibility of approach and to give local authorities and planning authorities flexibility over the approach that is appropriate in each individual circumstance. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Lahart","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Lahart.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Lahart.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Lahart  If we go from Citywest to Knocklyon where I live myself, it was mentioned in the documentary that 600 units overspill into adjoining estates, causing a lot of aggravation. Representatives of residents' associations in adjoining estates look for double yellow lines or parking measures to mitigate antisocial forms of parking. Then we have the people who do not have parking spaces because a sufficient number of car parking spaces were not provided in the apartment complexes. I get it that underground car parking is more expensive. However, in the answer it said that the approach provides planning authorities with a degree of flexibility so they can operate a plan-led approach and take the circumstances of the planned area or an individual site into account. It is not working, and it is going to get worse. We, on this side of the House, are going to have to design a solution - simple as. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Cummins  I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. I know it is an issue for his constituents and the constituents of other Members across the House. I am more than happy to engage with him in a proactive manner in relation to it. If he has some suggestions that he can bring forward I am more than happy to hear them. It is important in the context to note the cost of providing basement and underground car parking is exceptionally high. We hear Deputies opposite criticising the cost of delivering apartments and high density developments, but we do have to take all these factors into consideration. We also have to take into consideration that when we adjust and adapt policy in this area we do not want developments that already have planning permission going back to the start of the planning process. There are trade-offs in all of this, but that is not to dismiss the genuine concerns the Deputy has raised. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Lahart","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Lahart.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Lahart.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Lahart  I thank the Minister of State for his answer. I will take him up on his offer to engage further. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 149 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Parking Provision"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-19\/debate\/dbsect_24","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Housing Schemes","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-19\/debate\/dbsect_16","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_16","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-19\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_24.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  I have raised this with the Minister before. It is really to try to understand where this particular policy originated. As he knows, OMV is calculated prior to any discounts being applied for the purposes of affordable purchase schemes. That open market valuation does not necessarily have to be based on the all-in cost of development and in some developments is coming in significantly above that. It is not in the legislation or in any of the statutory instruments. When I discussed the matter with local authorities they told us that they do not know the origin of it. I am looking for the origin and an explanation of why this is the policy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  The new housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030, reinforces and expands the range of existing affordable housing measures being implemented by the Government. In particular, the plan provides for an unprecedented level of State funding in order to deliver an average of 15,000 starter home supports annually between now and 2030. Last year represented a record year in terms of delivery of affordable homes. Through the various affordable supports now available under the Government's new housing plan, more than 17,000 financial supports were provided to help people secure their first home during 2025.  Under the affordable housing fund, which the Deputy is asking about specifically, we hit a record number of new affordable homes completed last year - at more than 900 - right across the country. Even more affordable purchase homes are currently being advertised in Kilbeggan in County Westmeath, Carrickmacross in Monaghan, Kilmacow in Kilkenny, Clonburris in Dublin, and Rathmoylan in County Meath. These are homes made available for middle income families who up to now may have been priced out of the housing market. We need to do more. That is very much acknowledged. We are doing more to get affordable housing built where it is needed and onto the market at prices people can afford.  On the Deputy's question about open market value and how the scheme works at a technical level, the OMV is the reference price used to calculate the value of the affordable home, which in turn determines the level of equity share. The OMV is the best estimate of the price for which the affordable home might reasonably be expected to be sold on the open market. This reflects the value of the asset to the purchaser at any given time. The pricing always reflects the open market value of the home at the time, whether the cost of developing the home is greater or less than the open market value.  In my view, this is the best way to ensure fairness from one scheme to the next. As the Deputy is aware, development costs can vary for the exact same house in the same area for reasons such as the cost of developing a site; one site being more complex and challenging to build on than the other. If under this scheme we used the development cost of the house as the reference point for setting the purchase price, it is more than conceivable that two families under the scheme might end up paying very different prices for the exact same house around the corner from each other. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  I thank the Minister for that explanation. The difficulty is that part of the problem is that not only is he not meeting his formal purchase targets, but in many instances the full cost of those properties is exceptionally high. In fact, in some developments it is as much as \u20ac500,000 and others, including the ones he referenced in my constituency, it is \u20ac440,000 to own the property outright. The difficulty is that by using open market value rather than all-in cost of development, we are increasing the cost to the purchaser and making the homes even less affordable. For example, we do not get any benefits if the land is provided by the local authority, or indeed if there is a significant gap between the development costs and the OMV. Let us take, for example, Glenveagh in Oscar Traynor Road. Those homes probably cost - what Glenveagh was probably paid for those - about \u20ac50,000 less than the open market value, so people end up paying far more. There are better ways to deal with the challenges of future sale under the scheme. I just do not understand why the Minister would use a valuation that significantly increases the cost of development when the price of those homes is already too high for far too many working people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  It is an important and indeed an interesting question, and depending on what approach had been taken it would affect prices. With an all-in cost approach we would have had very significant variation in prices depending on input costs. That could lead to dramatically different prices even for apartments in developments side by side. In my view the open market value approach is the correct one as it provides a consistency of fairness. We would have to go through each scheme to find out which side of the costs it would arrive on in terms of the costs to those who would be availing of the scheme. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  This is probably the only product in the world where the price you pay for it is not the price that it cost to deliver it, plus profits, but a fictional valuation of an open market value.  As for the only additional question I will ask, the Minister may not be able to answer it because it predates him taking up his current role. At any stage was the consideration of using open market value a concern about the potential impact of an affordable housing scheme on surrounding private market houses? Unlike cost rental where there is a deliberate Government policy - which I support - for cost rental to moderate private sector rents over time as that grows, was that a policy that was deliberately avoided with affordable purchase so as not to have any impact or to moderate rising private market home prices in neighbouring housing estates? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  I am not aware but I will certainly enquire. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 151 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Housing Schemes"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-19\/debate\/dbsect_25","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Housing Policy","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-19\/debate\/dbsect_16","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_16","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_25","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ryan O'Meara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-19\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_25.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ryan O'Meara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ryan O'Meara  Does the Minister, his Department or the Government have any plans to reintroduce the waiver for development levies, particularly in this case on one-off rural homes; to incentivise drive-on but also to make the building of a one-off home in rural Ireland more affordable, particularly for young people? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  I thank Deputy O'Meara for this important question about levies on one-off housing. I thank the Deputy for his ongoing engagement with me and the Department in terms of how we can deliver more homes in County Tipperary and at an affordable price. Development contributions allow local authorities to recoup some of the public costs of servicing land for private development. They provide a mechanism for contributions to the cost of providing public infrastructure and facilities that benefit development in the area and are expended on public infrastructure defined under the Planning Acts, as well. These include the provision of open spaces, recreational and community facilities, roads, sewers, wastewater and water treatment facilities, drains and water mains, public transport, schools, school sites, broadband and flood relief works.  The adoption of the development contribution schemes is a reserved function of the locally-elected members of each planning authority. It is a matter for the members to determine first the level of contribution and the types of development to which they will apply and second, the expenditure of contributions within the confines of their scheme conditions.  The legal basis for development contributions are sections 48 and 49 of the Planning and Development Act 2000. Under section 48, planning authorities must draw up a development contribution scheme in respect of certain public infrastructure and facilities provided by, or on behalf of, the local authority that generally benefit development in the area. All planning permissions granted are subject to the conditions of the development contribution as set by the local planning authority.  Section 48(2)(b) of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, provides that a development contribution scheme applied by a planning authority in respect of its functional area may make provision for payment of different contributions in respect of different classes or descriptions of development. In other words, they get to distinguish between one-off houses and larger developments. The level of contribution and the types of development to which development contributions should apply are determined at local authority level, in accordance with the powers vested in local elected members in relation to the adoption of local authority development contribution schemes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ryan O'Meara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ryan O'Meara  If I consider a young person or couple building a home for the first time in a rural part of my constituency outside of the villages or towns - for example someone building a house outside Toomyvara village, in a rural part of the parish, or outside Cloghjordan, Ballynahinch or Ardcrony - they will not get a footpath or public water most probably. They certainly will not be connected into any form of sewage system or wastewater mains system and they will not get any public lighting. As far as I am concerned, the development levy, particularly on one-off rural homes, is essentially a tax for the privilege of building on one's own land. I fully appreciate the importance of funding local authorities and I actually believe we need greater levels of funding for local authorities through central Government but I believe the current levy on one-off rural homes is making it more expensive at a time when costs are already so high for those young couples to build their own homes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  I again thank the Deputy for raising the important question about development fees on rural one-off homes and the cost they put on those families who are building those homes and who often do not get the same benefits as one might in a town, for example, or within the confines of a village. Nonetheless, the contribution that is charged to those families who are building those homes is set by the local authorities within their own development contribution schemes and is not set by the Government. It is a matter for the local authority if it wants to charge those development fees, how much it charges and what kind of variation it charges between the various schemes where there would be one-off houses, housing schemes or apartments for that matter, and who is paying those. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ryan O'Meara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ryan O'Meara  In relation to the potential of a waiver, it would be important that central government step in and continue to fund the local authorities to the same level they would have been funded if the individual was paying this. I am conscious, however, of those houses that are already there. Some people might be paying for sites, if they do not have one they can get from a family member. There is the cost of building at the moment and the shortage of labour increases the costs further. This is one way in which we could help those people, many of whom I am representing.  While we are talking about rural housing and one-off houses, I would also like to acknowledge the work the Department is currently doing and the constant engagement the Minister is having with us, as members of the Fianna F\u00e1il parliamentary party to try to liberalise the rural planning process. That work is very important because we need to see more of those rural homes, particularly for those young couples and those people abroad who I represent and went to school with, who want to come home, build in a rural parish, start their family there and start a life for themselves there. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  I again thank the Deputy for his contribution. There is significant work being done around the rural housing guidelines and I thank my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, also. We are very much working together to ensure we can have liberalisation of rural housing that works for people in rural Ireland. We will bring forward those proposals in the very near future. In the meantime, we want to help people in rural Ireland to be able to build homes in their own communities and whether that is rural one-off housing or providing people with the opportunity to buy their homes through affordable purchase or through being able to buy with the supports the Government provides, what is essential to us is that people have the option to be able to live in their own local communities in a house that meets their needs. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 153 to 155, inclusive, taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Housing Policy"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-19\/debate\/dbsect_26","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Turf Cutting","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-19\/debate\/dbsect_16","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_16","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_26","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-19\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_26.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  Will the Minister of State issue an order to allow the cutting of turf at Ardgraigue, Clonmoylan and Barroughter bogs in County Galway? Many representations have been made by other elected representatives and me on this so I imagine the Minister of State will be aware of the situation there. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan)  I thank Deputy O'Hara and am aware of the representations that have been made by him and other Oireachtas Members from that area about these three particular bogs. The EU directive on the conservation of habitats, flora and fauna, commonly known as the habitats directive, requires all member states to select sites for the protection of habitats and species considered threatened in EU territory. Annex I of the habitats directive lists active raised bogs as priority habitats in danger of disappearing from the EU. Under the habitats directive, member states shall designate selected sites as special areas of conservation and shall take appropriate steps to avoid the deterioration of natural habitats within them.  The bogs referred to are special areas of conservation and wetland ecosystems of high ecological value. The main threats to their conservation arise from any actions that remove the vegetation, drain water or cause them to dry out. In the case of active raised bogs, average water levels need to be close to the surface for most of the year to survive. Turf cutting involves the direct removal of peat and the vegetation on top and associated drainage compromises the hydrological integrity of these protected bogs by lowering the water table. These changes to the bog structure do not only result in the loss of the unique raised bog ecology but under certain conditions can influence the hydrology of the bog and its surrounding landscape.  Arising from this legal obligation on the State to ensure these sites are adequately protected, and due to the damaging effect of turn cutting and associated drainage on these protected bogs, as Minister of State, I am legally prohibited from granting consent for activities which will have an adverse effect on the integrity of these sites. Under a compensation scheme introduced by the Government in 2011, \u20ac8.9 million has been paid to date to eligible applicants in the three SAC bogs in question. On average, each eligible turf cutter across these bogs has received a payment of \u20ac24,085, which is exempt from capital gains tax. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  In early 2025, a local turf cutting contractor was served with a High Court injunction to cease the harvesting of turf. As a result of this action, many local people who rely on turf to heat their homes were left without a supply for last winter. As we are currently in the turf cutting season, these families are facing the same issue due to the fact that there is no contractor to cut their turf because the injunction remains in place. Approximately 40 families are affected. What is happening is causing significant distress. Many of them are elderly. They have cut turf in these bogs for years, rely on this fuel to heat their homes, are watching their supplies dwindle and have no affordable alternative. Under the existing legislation, the families could be allowed to harvest the turf if the Minister of State signed an order. On behalf of the affected families, I ask him to do that or, at the very least, to meet with them, discuss the issue and try to find a resolution to it. I cannot emphasise enough the distress that this is causing and the anger that is felt by these families, who have not signed up to the scheme the Minister of State mentioned earlier. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan  I reiterate that, as Minister of State, I am legally prohibited from granting consent for these activities for the reasons I outlined. These are special areas of conservation. They were designated so for a reason. Any cutting and removal of turf or any drainage or removal of top soil from this site would completely compromise its integrity and affect the species there and the habitat. I cannot comment on any court injunctions or proceedings, as the Deputy will understand, but I will say - and I have already relayed this to Senator Rabbitte and Deputy Dolan, who also made representations - that the NPWS does have a facility. We do not want anybody to be cold or to not get access to heating. There are procedures whereby the NPWS can help people in terms of getting support, but I cannot permit cutting on the bog. It is as simple as that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  No help has been provided to the families in this case. I understand that the bogs been designated as SACs. There are significant concerns around how these bogs were designated that I have outlined here before and have written to the Minister of State about, but I still have not received any real explanation. It is important to say that the people who are affected have not accepted payment through the scheme to allow rewetting and so on because they want to continue cutting turf on their bogs. The Government has said that these schemes are voluntary, but the families involved are being forcibly prevented from cutting turf by the Government. I cannot understand how the Government can justify a situation where predominantly elderly people are being left without fuel to heat their homes, especially during an international fuel crisis, not just last winter but also, as seems likely, next winter. That is the consequence of this. I am simply asking the Minister of State to meet with the affected landowners in order to find a solution to this matter. Will he give a commitment that he will facilitate that request and meet with the families affected? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan  By law, I am not permitted to allow cutting on the bog in question. It has been designated. A process was undergone. The Deputy can question how that process was conducted, but this is now a designated SAC, By law, I have to make sure that the integrity of the site and the habitat remains intact. As a result, I am not allowed to permit cutting there. A total of \u20ac8.9 million was paid out in respect of the three bogs referred to by the Deputy. In total, \u20ac97 million has been paid out under the cessation of turf cutting scheme, which has worked for the vast majority of communities and led to those with turf cutting rights receiving payments but also to the integrity of these bogs and habitats being maintained. I reiterate that I cannot permit cutting on these bogs. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 157 to 163, inclusive, taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Turf Cutting"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-19\/debate\/dbsect_27","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Energy Policy","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-19\/debate\/dbsect_16","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_16","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_27","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-19\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_27.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  Can the Minister provide an updated timeline for the delivery of the retrofit scheme to all social housing units in County Louth? Louth County Council has been very good at delivering on retrofitting and has at times gone beyond its targets. I would like to think that it would be given the facility to get through the entire cohort of social housing units that require to be retrofitted. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  I thank the Deputy for his very important question about retrofitting in County Louth. We have put substantial funding into retrofitting and we encourage local authorities to move as quickly as possible with retrofitting schemes. Where retrofitting works are carried out, it brings extraordinary comfort to families. It also helps to tackle fuel poverty, which is really important as part of our retrofitting schemes, the building of A-rated buildings and nearly zero energy buildings houses and now moving to zero-emission houses as well. We will continue to engage with Louth County Council to look at how we can accelerate the delivery of retrofitting to improve the quality of lives of people living in social homes in Louth. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  Louth County Council has one of the longest lists for social housing. It must deal with the issue impacting on every local authority at this point , namely an insufficient amount of money to deal with maintenance needs. I constantly deal with those who work for the council and deal with maintenance. The reality is that from time to time you are robbing Peter to pay Paul and cannot always deliver to meet actual needs. People who have been tenants for many years and who may not have looked for anything from the local authority previously will come to you with issues, particularly in relation to windows and doors. In a perfect situation, if you can get them on the list for retrofitting, it means that at least you can ensure that they are in a house that is properly insulated and warm and that they will not be facing astronomical costs during the cost-of-living and cost-of-fuel crises with which we are dealing. It is about ensuring that we can deliver in respect of the need that is out there. I am of the view that the timeline is never going to be met. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  I acknowledge the Deputy's concern for people who live in social housing. I visited County Louth recently. I acknowledge the fantastic progress of Louth County Council in terms of delivering social homes, but I also recognise that it has a very large social housing list and faces a particular challenge with regard to the high level of homelessness within the county and the wider region. I have met with the Simon regional homelessness group. I have also met the directors for housing in Counties Monaghan and Louth to see how we can start to target specific supports to County Louth. The two major towns in the county, Drogheda and Dundalk, are looking for city status, an issue that was raised with me on a number of occasions when I visited. I very much acknowledge the work that is being done by Louth County Council with support from all politicians. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  The Minister will always be welcome when we are talking about the opening of social housing in County Louth. The problem is that we need to see a lot more of it, The issue relating to Fulacht Fia or any of the other schemes is the huge numbers of people on the waiting list and of people who believe they may have a chance of getting a house. Unfortunately, the hopes of many will be dashed.  To return to the issue of retrofitting, Louth County Council has at times showed a capacity to be able to retrofit more houses than the targets it was given, particularly in the early stages of the programme. It was able to get moneys that were not initially being used by other councils.  Even at some stages, they had produced more one year than the target and funding they were provided for again. It is about ensuring we get a timeline that is achievable within the near future, because we want to see the whole issue of retrofitting and the issue of the insufficient maintenance budget dealt with for those who are not in appropriate places. We just need to deliver for all of them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  I again thank the Deputy for raising the important issue of retrofitting of social homes in County Louth. We very much recognise the importance of it for people's quality of life. Louth County Council has an excellent record on all the targets in providing supports, whether it is retrofitting, building social homes or other supports. It is a council that other councils could look up to in terms of how it delivers and maintains properties. However, I acknowledge there are particular challenges Louth faces as a rapidly growing county with two rapidly growing towns as well. When you grow that quickly, you face challenges, so it is incumbent on the Department of housing to keep focus and to support local authorities. I will certainly keep the Deputy's comments under consideration. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question Nos. 165 and 166 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Energy Policy"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-19\/debate\/dbsect_28","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Housing Policy","counts":{"speechCount":10,"speakerCount":4},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-19\/debate\/dbsect_16","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_16","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_28","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"S\u00e9amus McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Keira Keogh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-19\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_28.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  I thank Deputy McGrath for raising this very important issue of the upward revision of social housing qualifying limits. As the Deputy will know, the then Minister for housing, Deputy O'Brien, increased the limits in 2023, as I recall, by about \u20ac5,000 for each of the various limits. That was to catch up with inflation and increases in social welfare payments, but time has moved on since then.  We are now carrying out a review of social housing limits, what they should look like and whether we need more reform of them, other than simply increasing the limits for those who can avail of them. Last year, we delivered the most social housing in a single year in the history of the State, but we need to ensure those limits keep pace and ensure people can actually get onto those lists. Increasing the amount, which in turn will increase the numbers on the list, is not something that bothers me or has ever bothered me. We want to ensure that everyone can get a house in their local community on that spectrum, whether it is social housing, affordable housing, affordable housing supports to purchase, cost rental or people who are able to purchase without supports.  We have to keep all these schemes under constant review and consideration to ensure there is not a gap appearing between various schemes. I am conscious that with affordable schemes, some local authorities are struggling, and that while we have the help to buy and shared equity schemes, if there is not a significant amount of private building going on in those local councils, it is difficult to benefit when you cannot purchase under one of those schemes. We are keeping all those schemes under constant review. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"S\u00e9amus McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy S\u00e9amus McGrath  I thank the Minister and welcome his reply. As he said, the limits were last revised over three years ago, and as I understand it, they went up by \u20ac5,000 in the basic change. Unfortunately, that was not sufficient at the time, but it was a welcome increase. We certainly need to look at that group who find themselves outside the social housing qualifying limit but do not find themselves within reach of any other support scheme, whether that is cost rental, affordable purchase or any other scheme. We need to try to address the needs of that particular cohort of people - those individuals, couples and families.  I also ask that this be more than just keeping in line with inflation, general growth or the need for an adjustment. This needs to be a fairly significant reform of the system. We need to try to capture as many as possible of that group who have been left behind . The Minister alluded to that in his reply, so I encourage him to be bold and brave with this, and to try to do something that will capture as many of that group who have been left behind as possible. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Keira Keogh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Keira Keogh)  Given we have the time, we will go to Deputy \u00d3 Broin for a supplementary contribution. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  First, I fully agree with my committee colleague. In the Minister's consideration of this, it should not just be a question of the limit. When the Minister spoke about this at committee before, he was also looking at possibly linking the eligibility thresholds to some metric, and I have given that some thought since the committee meeting. Given that social housing is typically for a set percentage of households depending on their income, EU-SILC data, which is updated every year, could provide a useful link.  In addition, I urge the Minister to look at the income disregard. We have a situation where, for example, the State awards the working family payment because it recognises that the working income of families is too low to meet an adequate standard of living, but that can then push them above the threshold. It is the same with disability allowance. We also have a larger number of working adult children forced to live at home because of the housing crisis, which can also result in families losing their position on the list. I am talking to colleagues in my own parliamentary party, and I am sure the Minister is doing likewise, who are having constituents removed off the list and they have no other option. This is something we would be keen to work with the Minister on, but it is quite urgent. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  I thank both Deputies for their contributions. Deputy \u00d3 Broin is correct; I said we were going to look at whether there were any other mechanisms. I agree that while there is a call for increasing the limits, and understandably so as welfare payments increase, inflation increases or society changes, it ends up with this question as to when the Minister will increase the limits and it is up to the Minister to do so. That is not the ideal way to do these things at all. It is not reflective and it needs to be more agile. There need to be more reflective, year-on-year changes.  It is something I am looking at. The review is going to go a little bit deeper than simply the limits, and the Deputy is correct in that it needs to go beyond this. I assure both Deputies that I am very carefully examining these limits. It may be a question of increasing them in the short term while we look at a wider assessment of how we get to those limits and when they would be increased. We are carrying out that review and it will be completed this year. We will try to do it as quickly as possible. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"S\u00e9amus McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy S\u00e9amus McGrath  I again thank the Minister for that. I am encouraged by his words. I ask that this happen as quickly as possible. If a broader review is required, the Minister might increase the limits initially while that review is undertaken, because as public representatives we are all dealing with people who are on very low incomes but find themselves outside the limits. It is a disincentive to work; that is the reality of the situation. If people find themselves pulling back on their working hours, their working week and so on so that they stay within the limits, that is not good enough at a time when we need everybody engaging in employment to the best of their ability. This is currently a disincentive for people to work or to gain additional employment and so on. People do not want to find themselves in that position; that is my experience. They want to be able to fully engage in employment while also qualifying for social housing. As a State, that is what we should be doing, and it is what we did decades ago. People were working and still qualified for social housing. We need to go back to that model.  I welcome the Minister's words here this evening but I emphasise the urgency of this. It needs to happen. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  I will carry out this review as quickly as possible, or certainly the initial one on the limits, and then we can look at a deeper review.  On the disregards, one of the agencies did an assessment of these and they were quite inconsistent across the various local authorities as to what is or is not allowed as a disregard, which can lead to significant variations in who can or cannot get onto a list. The Deputy is 100% right; we do not want anybody having to give up work or to cut back on hours. Unfortunately, this can happen when people try to stay on a housing list because that is their housing solution, and the quality of social homes being provided is very high.  As I said, we are keeping an open mind, but I am actively working on this. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 168 to 186, inclusive, taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Keira Keogh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Keira Keogh)  We have time for one more question. Given that Deputy Sheehan turned up to chair the Chamber, he is now getting Question No. 187. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  I am well off script at this point. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Keira Keogh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Keira Keogh)  I think so, as is Deputy Sheehan. We will be all right. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Housing Policy"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-19\/debate\/dbsect_29","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Rental Sector","counts":{"speechCount":11,"speakerCount":4},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-19\/debate\/dbsect_16","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_16","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_29","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Keira Keogh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-19\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_29.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  I thank the Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach. I wish to ask the Minister if the Government will carry out a review of the licensee system in relation to the plan to allow landlords to rent out modular units adjacent to the principal private residence under the revised proposed exempted development guidelines. The reason I ask is because there are a number of loopholes with the licensee system and the protections that are there for tenants are non-existent. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  A principal private residence is somebody's own home. We have a rent-a-room scheme at the moment where people can rent a room out within their own property. The modular units that would be on principal private residences, those being, people's homes, are being deemed an extension of their homes in that respect. Landlords cannot use this scheme. If you want to call people renting out a room in their own home \"landlords\", so be it, but this is about people who, in one respect, are able to supplement their income in their own private residence. It is also provides people with somewhere they can live and if a rent is being charged, there is a tax credit on those principal private residences, or people's homes, when they rent out a room. That acknowledges the very different nature of those situations. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  I raise this issue particularly in light of a very good report that Threshold did last October looking at the licensee system and the category of people in the licensee system who were, when it came to renters' rights, effectively invisible. The rent-a-room scheme does not come under the RTB Act, so there is no security of tenure there and no real renter's rights. That might be fine when you are talking about a room in someone's house but if you are talking about a modular unit, it is a separate physical entity. What we do not want to do is create a situation where we inadvertently create another shadow rental market. I know when this was first mooted the intention was not to allow landlords to rent these out. Then that was changed. I am looking for a quick review of the licensee system in order to make sure that if landlords are allowed to rent these out, tenants at least have some basic sense of protection. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  People are obviously renting out a room or modular unit in their homes. It is a very different scenario than a landlord renting out a property. However, it is acknowledged that people are renting out those rooms, albeit in people's homes, which are protected under the Constitution. It is a balancing act and a difficult situation. We want to ensure that anybody who is renting is being protected while recognising that these are people's own homes and that, if someone wants to rent out a room in their home, they are not constrained in the event they need that room back or whatever the case may be. This is obviously quite a balancing act and can be quite a difficult situation but ultimately it has to be recognised that, in regard to these people who are renting out these rooms, those are their own homes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  My concern here in relation to the licensee system is that in the arrangement they have with the person from whom they are renting the room, most people do not even realise it is a licensee agreement until there is a dispute. Then when there is a dispute and they go to the RTB, they find out that they, in effect, do not have very many rights. There is a real need for clearer regulations that safeguard licensees, who are very much in a grey area. There are very limited grounds on which a licensee can challenge a sudden eviction or rent increase. If the Government is going to go ahead and allow landlords to rent out modular units adjacent to the principle private residence, then that needs to be done in tandem with a review of the licensing system to safeguard renters. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  I will certainly keep the Deputy's concerns in mind. He comes from a position of genuine concern on this issue and for those who are renting out rooms. We know that the vast majority of people renting out rooms in their own homes and who will be renting out modular units under licence are good, local people. There will always be, of course, a certain number who will abuse a situation and we want to see those people facing the most stringent of punishments, if you like, or the responsibility that would be expected of anyone who would behave in an unacceptable manner. As I said, however, these are people's own homes, and that is why there is a distinction made between someone renting out a room in their home and landlords. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Keira Keogh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Keira Keogh)  Given that we have two minutes and we are gone well past prepared questions, I am going to finish oral questions with the Minister there and move to Topical Issues, or else we are going to Deputy Conor Sheehan on Question No. 197. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I would give it to Deputy Sheehan. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Keira Keogh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Keira Keogh)  I think we will conclude oral questions there. We are gone very far off piste----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  See, I was magnanimous. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Keira Keogh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Keira Keogh)  -----which is all right, but we will move to Topical Issues. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Is f\u00e9idir teacht ar Cheisteanna Scr\u00edofa ar www.oireachtas.ie. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Written Answers are published on the Oireachtas website. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Rental Sector"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-19\/debate\/dbsect_30","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_30","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Keira Keogh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Keira Keogh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Keira Keogh)  I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case:  Deputy Albert Dolan - To discuss the pricing of train tickets between Athenry and Galway.  Deputy Joanna Byrne - To discuss the need for the Drogheda north train station.  Deputy Michael Cahill - To discuss the rising costs of living for households.  Deputy Malcolm Byrne - To discuss reforming the method of funding of local government through commercial rates.  Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher - To discuss the designation of Burtonport as an approved port for landings by fishing vessels on a Saturday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.  Deputy Eamon Scanlon - To discuss the exceptional staffing pressures at a school in County Sligo.  Deputy Barry Ward - To discuss support mechanisms for families when their childcare centre withdraws from the core funding model.  Deputy Michael Murphy - To discuss growing road safety risks associated with horse-drawn vehicles on public roads.  Deputy Keira Keogh - To discuss the transparency of the complaints, objections, disciplinary and appeals, CODA, process for Ladies Gaelic Football Association, LGFA, clubs and players.  Deputies Natasha Newsome Drennan and Martin Kenny - To discuss the planned ban on importing Brazilian beef and other products into the EU.  Deputy Louis O'Hara - To discuss the ban on turf cutting on Barroughter, Clonmoylan and Ardgraigue bogs in County Galway.  Deputy Thomas Gould - To discuss legacy maintenance issues in Cork housing estates like Glentrasna.  Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan - To discuss loss of medical card access due to age-based insurance restrictions on general practitioners.  Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire - To discuss the interception of the Global Sumud aid flotilla and detention of Irish citizens onboard by Israeli forces.  Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa - To discuss facilitation of a marathon run by two brothers in order to raise money to fight dementia.  The matters raised by Deputies P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan, Michael Murphy, Natasha Newsome Drennan, Martin Kenny and Barry Ward have been selected for discussion. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-19\/debate\/dbsect_31","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_31","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-19\/debate\/dbsect_32","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"General Practitioner Services","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-19\/debate\/dbsect_31","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_31","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_32","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Keira Keogh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Keira Keogh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Keira Keogh)  Is the Minister of State taking the first Topical Issue? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan)  I am taking all four. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Keira Keogh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Keira Keogh)  Okay. I call Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan  I thank the Minister of State for coming in and taking the Topical Issue. As I mentioned to him a while ago, I might start by reading a letter I received from a constituent, who is a patient of one of the GPs affected by the issue I am highlighting this evening. He is a deeply respected GP:  who has dedicated over four decades of his life to serving the people of ... [his] community ... [and he is now being] compelled, against his own wishes, to cease accepting Medical Card holders. The reason is not a lack of compassion, nor a change in his values - it is solely due to age-based restrictions imposed by indemnity insurance providers, which effectively penalise experienced doctors for the very attribute that makes them invaluable: their years of service.  He is a physician of extraordinary dedication and record:  At 72 years of age, this doctor brings with him a wealth of knowledge, clinical expertise, and human understanding that cannot be taught in a lecture hall or replicated overnight. He has served not just individuals, but entire families across multiple generations - delivering care with consistency, compassion, and a personal touch that has become increasingly rare in an overstretched modern health system.  [...]  His record speaks for itself - decades of service marked by trust, clinical excellence, and an unbroken commitment to those most vulnerable in our society. He knows his patients by name, by history, by circumstance. That depth of continuity of care is not merely a comfort; it is medically significant, reducing misdiagnoses, unnecessary referrals, and costly emergency interventions.  What we are saying here tonight is that the system is essentially punishing this man's patients:  Medical Card holders are, by definition, among the most economically vulnerable members of our society. They depend on access to free GP care as a lifeline. When a trusted, long-established doctor is forced out of their reach by an insurance policy that discriminates on the basis of age - not competence, not patient complaints, not clinical record - the consequences fall hardest on those least able to absorb them.  Many of these patients are elderly themselves, or suffer from chronic conditions that require ongoing, familiar care. Being told to find a new doctor - often in a climate where GP lists are closed and waiting times are lengthy - is not a minor inconvenience. For some, it represents a genuine health risk.  [...]  The loss of Medical Card access through this doctor does not simply affect individual patients - it damages the social fabric of ... [the community involved]. A trusted local GP is more than a medical professional; he is a cornerstone of community health and wellbeing.  His absence from the Medical Card system will place increased pressure on already overburdened emergency departments, out-of-hours services, and neighbouring practices, many of which are themselves at capacity.  What the constituent is asking for here tonight is engagement \"with the HSE, the Irish Medical Council, and indemnity insurance providers to explore immediate interim solutions that would allow this doctor to continue accepting medical card patients without undue personal or professional risk\". We are also asking that a further review would be commissioned \"of how current insurance and regulatory frameworks may be inadvertently excluding experienced GPs from public health participation\". We are also asking to publicly \"acknowledge the invaluable contribution of long-serving GPs and commit to policy that supports, rather than sidelines, their continued service to communities that rely on them\".  That is the correspondence I received from a constituent. It is happening in an area where we are already overstretched with GP services. There are two main things I would to point out. First, we are not confident that we can actually source alternative GP cover for those patients affected. Second, this man is still at the top of his game albeit he might be 72 years of age. As is outlined in the letter I received, he is well got in the community, well renowned, and I think his service would be lost to those medical card patients if this service were to be withdrawn from them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan)  I thank the Deputy. The letter from the constituent clearly describes a man who is absolutely dedicated to his profession, well respected in his community and has for decades provided healthcare for the people of that community. The Deputy has explained well how restrictions, especially in terms of indemnity being provided from private insurers but also the HSE policy he referenced, can impact his wanting to provide further healthcare for the community.  I have been asked by the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, to outline the current policy and I hope we can have a further discussion after that. GPs are private practitioners, most of whom hold contracts with the HSE for the provision of public health services. Currently, 3,243 GPs hold at least one contract with the HSE, including 2,608 GPs who hold a General Medical Services, GMS, contract for the provision of GP services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders.  As private practitioners, GPs themselves are responsible for obtaining professional indemnity insurance from private medical insurance providers. Although the HSE contributes to GMS GPs' medical indemnity costs, neither the Department of Health nor the HSE has a role in the provision of medical indemnity to GPs. In that aspect, there is very little we can do in terms of intervention. Under the GMS scheme, GPs may hold their GMS contract until 72 years of age. This was recently extended from the age of 70 in 2015. That speaks to the point the Deputy makes about the case of the GP he has outlined, who is 72. The HSE can grant an extension on a case-by-case basis, where considered necessary and appropriate, to allow a GP to continue to see their GMS patients after reaching 72 years. After the age of 72, GPs can continue to provide services other than to medical card and GP visit card holders under the GMS.  The HSE is actively involved in recruiting a replacement GP where a GMS vacancy arises. The HSE advertises GMS positions in advance of known upcoming vacancies, and every effort is then made to fill the GMS vacancy. Locum GP cover is provided in the interim for most cases, while in a small number of cases, the retiring GP is requested to remain in practice temporarily until the vacancy is filled or an alternative option is finalised. As of the beginning of April, there are only 20 GMS vacancies, with no GMS vacancies in County Cork. This equates to less than 1% of the total number of GMS panels.  The Government is committed to increasing the number of GPs working across the country, and several measures have been undertaken in recent years to increase GP capacity and improve access to services for all patients. Investment in general practice has been increased by over \u20ac340 million under the 2019 and 2023 GP GMS agreements. The agreements provide for increased fees for participating GPs, improved and additional supports for practices, and new services for patients such as the GP chronic disease management programme.  There is further text in the response but, just to summarise in terms of the Deputy's specific ask, the indemnity that a GP gets is very much between them and the indemnity provider. In the GMS contract, that age limit of 72 is clearly an issue. Certainly it is something on which I am willing to go back to the Minister for Health, give the Deputy's feedback and relay his concerns. That is the current state of affairs. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan  Like all good answers, maybe the door is slightly ajar there in the reply, \"The HSE can grant an extension on a case-by-case basis, where considered necessary and appropriate, to allow a GP to continue to see their GMS patients after reaching 72 years.\" That begs the question as to what is deemed necessary and appropriate. I do not expect the Minister of State to have an answer to that given he is not in the Department of Health. Perhaps somebody could provide clarity on what is considered necessary and appropriate. Is it a cognitive assessment or some kind of medical assessment? I am not sure. Maybe clarity could be sought from the Department afterwards.  I get why we have a cut-off in age. The various studies I have looked at in relation to this show that, cognitively, in terms of practice and so on, once people reach the age of 65, there is a reduced adaptability. Tests have proven and evidence suggests that older doctors may be less likely to adapt to new clinical standards, and I get that. Definitely in the case of this doctor at 72, it is not a case of not being able to teach an old dog new tricks. This guy is well renowned, quite able and ready to adapt. What he is asking for is fair play. Referring back to the Minister of State's answer, if it does require some kind of assessment to get him back into that bracket of his case being considered necessary and appropriate, I would like to tease that out. I do not expect the Minister of State to have the answer here, but that clarity would be sought, especially in a climate where we are extending the number of patients eligible for medical cards with every budget. The system is already under considerable pressure. If it is truly a case-by-case assessment that is allowable, I would ask that it be teased out to its fullest. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan  I picked out the same sentence the Deputy highlighted there, that the HSE can grant an extension on a case-by-case basis where considered necessary and appropriate. I guess the first part is where it is considered necessary. Does that come back to demand and vacancy in an area or lack of or challenges with GP cover? Certainly if it comes down to cognitive ability, of course surely that can be done on a case-by-case basis. It would seem like a simple thing to undertake. There is a saying down in west Cork that 80 is the new 60. Certainly we are living older and there are many 73-, 74- and 75-year-olds who are sharp as a razor, much sharper than I am in that regard. I guess that is the chink of light the Deputy is seeing in the answer there. Maybe this is a case where we can tease that out further. Is this a situation where the HSE might allow the GMS contract to go past the age of 72?  Going back to the issue of indemnity, that is very much between the GP and the provider. Fair play to the Deputy for raising this, and to the constituent who so eloquently outlined why this particular GP should still have a GMS contract. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"General Practitioner Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-19\/debate\/dbsect_33","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Legislative Measures","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-19\/debate\/dbsect_31","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_31","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_33","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Murphy  The racing of horse-drawn vehicles on public roads is totally unacceptable and represents a clear and present danger, not just to the operator of the horse-drawn vehicle but also to motorists, pedestrians and the horse itself. A recent incident in Clonmel shocked not just the citizens of Clonmel but also citizens around the country and resulted in a significant public and road safety issue and loss of life, as a horse died on that occasion.  It intersects with multiple Departments. It involves the Department of justice from an enforcement perspective, and God knows we need enforcement of existing legislation. It also intersects with the Department of agriculture from the point of view of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 and the Control of Horses Act 1996. I support any measure taken by local authorities around the country that follow Kilkenny County Council's lead to create exclusion zones not only in terms of the racing of horse-drawn vehicles but also the leisurely use of horse-drawn vehicles in town centre areas. It also involves the Department of Transport in the context of existing road traffic legislation.  Existing legislation bans the leisurely use and the racing of horse-drawn vehicles on motorways but, incredibly, it allows for the racing of horse-drawn vehicles on all other roads in certain circumstances. I refer to section 74 of the Roads Act 1993 and I am calling for the complete abolition of this section. On 24 April, in my role as Chair of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport, I wrote to the Ministers with responsibility for transport, agriculture and justice requesting an interdepartmental group on this very issue. The purpose of this working group would be to conduct a comprehensive review of the current legislative and regulatory framework, examine road safety risks associated with such horse-drawn vehicles on public roads, strengthen animal welfare protections, assess enforcement powers, consider the introduction of national standards, explore the potential of a licensing and regulatory framework - and I believe they should also be insured - and look at the minimum age in existing legislation. There is no minimum age for driving a horse-drawn vehicle which can travel at up to 50 km an hour with a horse that might weigh up to 400 kg.  What I have said reflects the seriousness and the need for urgency in terms of this work. We need co-ordinated action. The committee on transport is available and ready to facilitate this work. This is so serious. I do not say this lightly but if we do not act, we will see loss of life. I ask the Minister of State, if he can, to bring back what I have said to the Minister for Transport and I appreciate him taking this issue tonight. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan  I thank Deputy Murphy from the bottom of my heart for raising this issue. It is such an important one to raise in D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann. The behaviour and the actions of some of the people driving these sulkies is deplorable. It is disgusting. We have all seen the videos. We have seen the sad footage of horses losing their lives in the cruellest of ways. We can imagine the pain those animals go through. That is the worst we have seen but excessive use of the whip is always common. A lot of these animals appear undernourished as it is. There are big animal welfare issues. Of course, there is also the whole issue of road safety, where people's lives are put at risk. This has to be clamped down and I completely agree with Deputy Murphy.  It is very important that we do not confuse this with legal harness racing which is licensed. It happens on tracks and is done in a professional way where animal welfare is paramount and the animals are looked after in the best way. I can tell Deputy Murphy that sector is disgusted with what it sees on some of the roads in Ireland. I thank Deputy Murphy for raising this.  It is important to note that the drivers of all vehicles used on public roads, including horse-drawn carriages, are required to comply with road traffic legislation and to behave in a safe manner paying due care to other road users. The enforcement of such road traffic legislation is first and foremost a matter for An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. The Deputy will be aware that the Roads Act 1993 includes provisions for road races involving persons, vehicles or animals, and the temporary closure of public roads to facilitate a road race. Under section 74 of the Act, any person intending to hold, organise, or promote a road race on a public road must notify and obtain the approval of the local authority and the superintendent of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na within whose district the race is to be held. A race which is not licensed is illegal, with penalties for the organiser. However, the offence applies only to the organiser and I understand that in many cases of sulky races there is no identifiable organiser.  Enforcing the Roads Act where a road race takes place unlawfully without the permission of the local authority, as the roads authority, is a matter of enforcement for An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. In a situation where there is an illegal race, with no notice given, it is a matter for garda\u00ed to enforce section 74(4) of the Roads Act 1993. Participants in sulky racing are liable for any road traffic offence they may commit during the races. In many cases of sulky racing there is also considerable danger caused by vehicles following the race and, in some cases, driving alongside on the other side of the road. In these cases too, the drivers can be held liable under the Road Traffic Acts.  Other legislation is in place in relation to animal welfare matters, which are a matter for the Minister for agriculture. I understand that the Control of Horses Act 1996 includes provisions in relation to An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na's powers of seizure and detention, the minimum age to obtain a horse licence and the selling of a horse to a person under the age of 16 years. The Act also provides that An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na may compel individuals in control of horses to obtain necessary attention from a vet if the horse is in pain, distress, neglect or is severely injured, diseased or in need of attention. Failure to comply is an offence.  In addition, under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, people in possession of a protected animal, including horses, must ensure the animal is kept and treated in a manner that safeguards their health and welfare. Failure to do this is considered an offence under that Act. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Murphy  I thank the Minister of State. The response confirms that under section 74 of the 1993 Act, with the permission of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and the local authority, a race can be held. Section 74 should be removed from the 1993 Act. It is so difficult to enforce because the legislation allows only for the organiser of the particular race to be prosecuted and it is impossible to identify the organiser. These are matters the committee on transport will follow up.  As I mentioned, we have no clear national licensing system. I am really concerned about the minimum age and I will explore with the Minister for agriculture whether it can be dealt with under the Control of Horses Act 1996. There is no equivalence in terms of insurance requirements. The incident in Clonmel resulted in two third-party cars being significantly damaged and those individuals had no comeback.  What we have at the moment is a patchwork of old legislation. In the context of Dublin, it goes back to legislation prior to the foundation of the State, which covers the Dublin metropolitan area. It is legislation from the 1850s. We have local by-laws and limited enforcement powers. There is no coherent modern national framework governing the use of horse-drawn vehicles. This is why we need an interdepartmental working group, where we can get officials from the Departments of justice, Transport and agriculture into a room. If somebody gets behind the wheel there are clear rules around age, competency, insurance and enforcement. Unfortunately, similar clarity does not apply to horse-drawn vehicles. As I said, I am sorry to have to say I am convinced, as Chair of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport, that with a failure to act we will see the loss of human life and the continuing loss of equine life. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan  Deputy Murphy has highlighted some very important aspects of this. The law is old and it probably has not been reviewed in a while. The legislative programme is jam packed and very busy but his suggestion of an interdepartmental group, certainly with the Departments of agriculture, Transport and justice in particular, to review the legislation would be very important. Clearly, and I can say this not being in any of those Departments but as a TD, that it does not seem fit for purpose, especially if only the organiser can be prosecuted under the legislation.  It is certainly something we need to look at. In the meantime, I appeal to the better nature of anyone involved in this first of all not to do it. There are legal organised events out there on field tracks and purpose-built race tracks. They are done legally and run professionally. What is happening and what I have seen happen on the roads is nothing short of a disgrace and it needs to be clamped down on. I urge those involved to think of people and the potential road traffic accidents, but also to think of the shocking pain. It is heartbreaking to hear these animals scream in their final breath. It is something I think has touched the hearts of the entire nation when I see it. The hunger and appetite from the general public for this to be addressed is very strong. I say well done again for raising it. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Legislative Measures"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-19\/debate\/dbsect_34","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Beef Sector","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-19\/debate\/dbsect_31","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_31","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_34","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan  I believe I speak for many across Ireland when I say how welcome the European Commission's decision to ban Brazilian beef and other food products is. This is a welcome step. It vindicates the serious concerns we in Sinn F\u00e9in have raised along with countless others like the IFA, the Irish Farmers' Journal , the ICMSA, the ICSA and many more regarding public health risks posed by Brazilian beef. However, it is deeply disappointing that when I and other Members of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food raised these concerns directly with the Commission, we were flatly ignored. When I raised with the Minister the shocking low levels of testing at 1.7% on Brazilian beef coming into Ireland, my concerns over inadequate testing were dismissed. Let me be clear. If a farm in Kilkenny were found to be using banned antibiotics in its herd, the entire herd would be sealed off and put down due to the risk to public health. However, when Brazilian farms are clearly shown to be using banned drugs they are allowed to continue business as usual for another three months. How is this double standard acceptable? Antimicrobial resistance is projected to directly cause over 1.2 million deaths in 2026, with studies suggesting it contributes to nearly 5 million deaths annually. AMR infections are increasing by up to 15% yearly. The World Health Organization, WHO, classifies antimicrobial resistance as one of the top global public health threats. How can the Minister of State and the Government stand over the sale of Brazilian beef for three more months knowing it poses a risk to public health? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  It is welcome that the Commission has decided it wants to ban Brazilian beef and other food products coming into Europe in spite of the Mercosur trade agreement. It has come to this late in the day. Many of us have been calling out Mercosur and the situation we have with the trade agreement for decades. Deputy Carthy, as an MEP, led the charge in the European Union. At one stage Phil Hogan accepted that they hoped to see foodstuffs taken off the table with regard to the Mercosur trade agreement because of concerns about Brazilian beef. However, it was not taken off. In 2019 we had a motion in the D\u00e1il, one of the few motions the Opposition got through before the most recent election, and all of the D\u00e1il supported ensuring we would mandate the Government to stand firm and put pressure on to ensure the Mercosur trade agreement did not go through because of the concerns outlined with regard to Brazilian beef in particular, but other food products from Brazil as well because of the very low standards. We also had a motion this year about this and there was a battle between farmers, consumers and environmentalists across Europe to ensure people in the European Commission would sit up and listen to the realities on the ground with regard to Brazilian beef and other food products coming from Brazil. We are now at a situation where they have recognised the reality so many of us have been pointing out for so long. They say they will ban this product coming into Europe. However, they are not going to do it for another three months. It makes no sense whatsoever. We want an assurance from Government that it will put maximum pressure on the Commission to ensure any ban going to happen with regard to Brazilian beef happens now, and they do not wait any longer for it. If this food product is dangerous, as has been proven, and is not meeting European standards it should not be given a three-month reprieve before we ensure it stops coming into the European Union. We have to stand firm and ensure consumers are protected and that the farming community meets the same standards everywhere for food coming into anywhere in Europe but particularly in Ireland. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan  I thank both Deputies for raising this issue, and I share their concerns with regards to antimicrobial medicinal products being used and the impact that would have. Deputy Newsome Drennan highlighted well the potential health impacts in that regard. As Minister of State with responsibility for nature, I know the level of deforestation in Brazil. The production of beef is the biggest cause of deforestation in Brazil. That is something that does not sit well with me. That is just to add my personal view.  On 12 May, the standing committee on plants, animals, food and feed voted in favour of a draft Commission implementing regulation amending implementing Regulation (EU) 2021\/405 as regards the restrictions of the prohibition on the use of certain antimicrobial medicinal products and repealing implementing Regulation (EU) 2024\/2598. The annex of the draft implementing the regulation includes an updated list of countries that have demonstrated compliance with EU restrictions on the use of antimicrobials in animals. Under EU rules, such substances cannot be used to promote growth or increase production in livestock and other food-producing animals. Brazil has been excluded from the list, meaning that it can no longer export to the EU commodities such as bovine, equine, poultry, eggs, aquaculture, honey and casings, with effect from 3 September 2026. This includes both food producing live animals and derived products. This is a clear example of the importance of maintaining the EU's sanitary and phytosanitary standards.  The Government will continue to advocate for the strict monitoring of imports in order to reflect the concerns of our farmers and consumers. The Deputies also referenced the EU-Mercosur trade deal. As Government, we have raised concerns in relation to the EU-Mercosur agreement over a number of years, particularly its potential impact on the beef sector, the strength of its climate and sustainability commitments and the food safety and environmental standards enforced by Mercosur countries. Our focus is on ensuring rigorous monitoring by the Commission of the agreement\u2019s market impacts and the robust enforcement by the Commission, where necessary, of the provisions of the recently agreed safeguards regulation. The Government will also continue to engage closely with the Commission to ensure that it follows through on its additional commitments. This includes those in relation to food safety and environmental standards, as well as its stated intention to better align the production standards of imported products with EU production standards particularly with regard to pesticides and animal welfare. All of this work is crucial to fully addressing the concerns of our farmers and our consumers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan  I understand the Commission has said the three month delay is to give Brazilian farmers an opportunity to get their house in order. I do not know if the Minister saw the joint report by the IFA and the Irish Farmers' Journal on how brazen and widespread drugs are in Brazilian beef farming. For someone like me from a farming background it is shocking. How the Commission could think the use of banned drugs could be brought under control in a matter of months is beyond me. Once these drugs have been injected into a herd that is it. They are not simply going to fade out of the animals' system. The damage is done and let us not forget that there is no proper tagging or traceability of the herds. I hope we do not see the Commission trying to row back on this decision. It has taken Irish and EU farming decades to reach the standards we have today. Three months will not cut it for Brazil. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  We appreciate that there has been some progress made but we still have a situation where there is no traceability whatsoever with animals, particularly in Brazil. When a calf is born in Ireland it has to be tagged almost immediately. There have to be full checks and records of any medicine or antibiotics it receives. Everything has to be written down and accounted for. They have to meet all the standards. In fact, even the foodstuffs have to be recorded. A farmer told me recently that more records are kept on your calf than on your child in this country to ensure their safety. We recognise that European farmers are meeting a high standard.  The farms in Brazil do not meet those standards. Tagging is practically unknown and in some cases, if one of the small number of animals that are tagged dies, the tag is removed from its ear and put on another's. That is the way the system works. It is a complete wild west, as far as anyone can see. To suggest that somehow or other Brazilian farmers are going to meet the standard in the short term is ridiculous. It is not going to happen. I ask again that the Government commit that the date in September is brought forward and that we ban this substance now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan  I come from a farming background and I know all about it. The Deputies mentioned the paperwork, the bureaucracy and the headaches those give. Farmers just want to farm. They want to get on with doing what they are good at instead of filling out forms, but it means they reach incredibly high standards and that is why our produce is famous worldwide. I commend the investigative work of the IFA and the Irish Farmers Journal because there is no doubt it was one of the highlighting factors that really brought this to attention and put it to the fore in terms of highlighting the issue in Brazil. They must be commended on that. I get the Deputies' anxiety and call for urgency in bringing the date forward. I cannot, obviously, give any guarantee the date of 3 September will be brought forward but as I said in the initial response, all pressure will be put on by the Department and the Minister to ensure that is upheld and the best standards are upheld. It is really up to Brazil to sort out its own affairs. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan  That is not going to happen. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan  I do not expect that will happen. That is just my own feeling on it. I agree with the Deputies we need to keep our standards high. If there is any hint of a possibility that people's health will be impacted, as outlined by Deputy Newsome Drennan, then that is something we cannot stand for. Getting back to my original point about the deforestation rates, it just does not sit well with me and that is something I am proud of here in Ireland in terms of our produce. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Beef Sector"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-19\/debate\/dbsect_35","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Childcare Services","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-19\/debate\/dbsect_31","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_31","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_35","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Aire St\u00e1it as teacht isteach chun d\u00e9ile\u00e1il leis an gceist seo. In the election in 2024 his party and mine made a commitment to reduce the cost of childcare. This is an important tenet and in the D\u00fan Laoghaire constituency childcare was one of the major issues people were talking to me about. They were essentially paying a second mortgage to put their children into childcare. It is an enormous cost and an enormous burden on households. The proposed reduction we promised in the election was therefore welcome. It was proportionate and also doable. I recognise the work that has gone into putting this scheme in place to reduce the cost to \u20ac200 in line with that commitment. I recognise progress has been made in that area, yet we still see a situation where many schools are exciting the scheme. It is not working for them. The childcare providers are telling us they cannot operate the service they want to operate in line with the subsidies the Government is giving them.  I want to draw particular attention to a school called Sharavogue in Glenageary in my constituency. It is a really good school that has been built up over a number of years by the owner, Betty Allen. A letter was sent out by her and Gillian Dawson, who is the manager of the school, to parents saying the school was exiting the scheme. This is a massive blow to the parents who have children in that facility. It is a cr\u00e8che and a Montessori and provides a number of different levels of care to children. These are people who are dedicating to providing childcare. It is a facility that is based on quality and the team wants to provide a quality service to parents. They also want to be part of the scheme and to make the service as affordable as they possibly can. However, they have written to parents saying that on 28 August, Sharavogue will have to exit the scheme. It cannot survive with the scheme the Government is putting together. It is not that the management team have not engaged with the Department, as they have. They have brought their problems and their issues to the Government but for whatever reason those have not been addressed. We now have a situation where the children who are in Sharavogue, and more importantly their families and households, will not be able to avail of the scheme. To give an example of that what means, for Montessori from 7:45 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. the current fee per month is \u20ac1,332 and when the school leaves the scheme that will go up to \u20ac1,725. That is just one fee I have picked but it is a massive increase for a household and that is for one child, so where a family has more children in Sharavogue it will go up more. The school provides discounts and help where someone has multiple children in the facility but the point is these are people who are committed to providing childcare and providing quality.  The management team have talked about the reasons they have to leave. Salaries is a big one. I have raised it with the Minister, Deputy Foley, in here before that running a childcare facility in D\u00fan Laoghaire is more expensive than it is in much of the rest of the country because the living costs there are higher. She said there was no way to establish that but I totally disagree. Rents and property prices are higher and therefore the cost of living in the area is higher for staff. The school also talked about the cost of insurance, which has gone up and up. The cost of utilities was also raised. The cost of heating and of running the kitchen that provides food for the kids have gone up, as has the cost of cleaning and maintenance, the cost of food itself, the administrative cost and transport costs. All of these have gone up and the problem the management faces \u2013 and I can understand where they are coming from \u2013 is the scheme the Government has put in place is not reflecting that. They are not alone in thinking that as I could name four other facilities in the D\u00fan Laoghaire constituency that are leaving the scheme for the same reasons.  If we are serious about delivering on that commitment what are we going to do to keep them in this scheme? What provisions are we putting in place for childcare providers in D\u00fan Laoghaire and the rest of the country to ensure they stay within the scheme \u2013 which they want to do \u2013 and deliver childcare at affordable prices for households and families across the country? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan  I thank Deputy Ward for raising this. I will try to answer to best of my ability on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Foley. It was a pre-election commitment by both our parties but massive inroads have been made into reducing the cost of childcare. I remember hearing debates in here where it was frequently described as a second mortgage. We have significantly reduced the cost of childcare in most instances. Clearly the Deputy is describing anomalies and outliers there but certainly the feedback we received was this intervention worked. In my constituency, with the changes in core funding, there were some issues and some providers left but that seems to have cooled off a bit in my part of Ireland. Obviously the Deputy is describing a genuine situation that clearly needs to be looked at but I will just outline the inroads that have been made.  When first introduced in 2022, core funding had an annual allocation of \u20ac259 million, of which \u20ac210.8 million was entirely new funding to the sector. That annual allocation has increased each year since and exceeds \u20ac390 million for year 4 of the scheme, which started in September. This represents an increase of over 50% in core funding in three years. The allocation for core funding for year 5 of the scheme will increase again by 23% to over \u20ac480 million. This will support a range of important priorities, including maintaining fees at 2021 levels in year 5, supporting further improvements in pay to staff and supporting services in adhering to fee management conditions, which will ensure affordability for families and sustainability and stability for staff.  Uptake of core funding remains strong. As of 4 May 2026, there were 4,633 services signed up to the fourth year of core funding, which represents a 93% uptake by eligible services. This is the highest number of partner services in core funding at any point since the scheme was launched in 2022. The Minister, Deputy Foley, is encouraged by this rate of participation. It shows the vast majority of families will continue to benefit from the scheme\u2019s fee management conditions. The Minister is aware a small number of services have regrettably chosen to withdraw from core funding. The Department, through the local childcare committees, CCCs, engages directly with any such service to highlight the benefits of staying in core funding, not only for their service but also for the families who avail of them. The Minister remains hopeful these providers may reconsider their decision, as many have previously.  Core funding is a supply-side grant to early learning and childcare providers towards their operating costs. It is designed to promote affordability for parents and sustainability for providers through increased funding to the sector, paid on a consistent and equitable basis. As core funding is an optional scheme, providers have the autonomy to withdraw from or choose not to participate in the scheme. It is a matter for providers to decide whether they wish to sign up to core funding and benefit from the significant financial supports it offers to providers and the certainty it gives to parents through the associated fee management measures. The Department has a list of all core funding partner services which is updated regularly on the Department\u2019s website.  Regardless of whether the early learning and childcare service which a child attends is participating in core funding, both the early childhood care and education, ECCE, programme and the national childcare scheme, NCS, are currently available to parents. The local childcare committee can provide contact information for parents should they need help to secure alternative places. Parents and guardians can also use the dedicated NCS website to find core funding partner services in their area.  Those statistics highlight that the year-on-year increase in core funding has been a success. We have a 93% participation rate. This is not to take away from the example the Deputy has given, where clearly this has not worked. Clearly, in the area where the Deputy is, costs remain high and viability remains difficult for some of the providers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  I thank the Minister of State. I do not doubt his bona fides on this topic. I started by acknowledging the work that has been done. I believe the commitment to reduce the cost of childcare was a serious and sincere one. Insofar as I have had any dealings with the people who fund the programme for Government, I believe that. I recognise the progress, the increased funding and all the rest.  However, I will say two things. First, the Minister of State said a small number of facilities have exited the scheme. I would be very interested in seeing an analysis as to where those facilities are. Are they predominantly in urban areas? I suspect they are, because as I said, I feel the costs in urban areas are higher because of the costs of property, rent, insurance, etc., and there is a greater demand on those providers. I previously asked for a situation where the level of subsidies paid to facilities would reflect the real cost for them of doing business, but it seems the Department is unwilling to engage on that level.  The second thing is that remaining hopeful they will join is not enough. They actually have to be given an incentive. By the same token, there is no need to show Betty Allen and Gillian Dawson the merits of being in the scheme. They understand the merits. They want to be in the scheme. They were in the scheme and they want to continue in the scheme, but they cannot do so. There is no point in remaining hopeful that they might rejoin if nothing is being done to facilitate their rejoining. They do not want to leave the scheme but they are looking at a situation where it is unsustainable for them to stay in it. This is why, while I acknowledge the work that has been done, it is useless if there are facilities providing a quality service in an area where they are serving lots of households and people in communities and all the rest but they cannot sustain it. We need to look at the scheme again to make sure that exactly this kind of facility, like Sharavogue, is facilitated in continuing. We do not need to show this facility the merits of the scheme. We need to meet the problems this childcare centre has and address the legitimate, identifiable and verifiable concerns raised about the cost of doing business. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan  I was going to repeat the point about engagement with the city and county childcare committees to show facilities the merits of being in the scheme, but obviously the people the Deputy is talking about are, first of all, educators. This is 100% why they are in this area. They have a passion for it and they want to educate young kids. Second, they are also businesspeople. Obviously, they have gone through this, have gone up and down and in and out and decided - probably a very tough decision to make - that this was not for them.  Clearly, however, considering the 93% uptake and the year-on-year increase, the scheme has been a success. As I said to the Deputy, while there were similar issues in my area and providers were dropping out of the scheme, that is no longer the case. It is an interesting question about urban areas that the Deputy is talking about. Perhaps this is a question on which we could go back to the Minister, Deputy Foley, in respect of where the 7% of facilities are that we are missing out on. That is a very valid question to ask.  I totally agree with the Deputy that we need to plough on and continue this momentum in reducing childcare fees. It is a commitment we gave and we need to continue with this work. I thank the Deputy again for raising this issue on behalf of his constituents. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar athl\u00f3 ar 10.53 p.m. go dt\u00ed 9 a.m., D\u00e9 C\u00e9adaoin, an 20 Bealtaine 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The D\u00e1il adjourned at 10.53 p.m. until 9 a.m. on Wednesday, 20 May 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Childcare Services"}]}}]},"contextDate":"2026-05-19"},{"debateRecord":{"house":{"showAs":"34th D\u00e1il","committeeCode":"","houseCode":"dail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/house\/dail\/34","chamberType":"house","houseNo":"34"},"chamber":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/def\/house\/dail","showAs":"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann"},"lastUpdated":"2026-07-03T02:14:12+00:00","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/main","formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/mul@\/main.xml"},"pdf":null},"date":"2026-05-14","counts":{"contributorCount":128,"divisionCount":0,"debateSectionCount":42,"questionCount":29,"billCount":3},"debateType":"debate","debateSections":[{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_2","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_3","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"International Protection","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_2","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_3.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  The Government has been verging on the negligent in failing to plan in an orderly way for the winding down of the temporary protection directive. Since it announced that all measures relating to the directive will come to an end next year, there has been confusion heaped upon confusion. Will the Minister outline the preparations that have been made for the ending of the temporary protection directive? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Jim O'Callaghan)  Deputy Carthy has raised the issue of temporary protection. At the outset of all these debates, it is important that we understand and emphasise the reason temporary protection was initiated in 2022. The reason, of course, was the unlawful and illegal invasion of Ukraine by Russia. It was because of this that is was agreed across the board in the European Union that temporary protection would be initiated. It was the first it was initiated. Temporary protection is designed to provide protection which is temporary, while an issue such as an invasion or human rights violation is happening in a country.  Unfortunately, I am not in a position to tell Deputy Carthy when the war in Ukraine will come to an end. Obviously, a decision has to be made at European level in terms of what is going to happen from March 2027 onwards. Certainly, at domestic level, the Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, and I are making significant progress with it. We put forward a proposal to the Cabinet committee on justice, migration and social affairs in respect of what we say should happen in respect of proposals dealing with temporary protection. I am pleased to say that on Tuesday week I will be bringing that proposal to Cabinet. The Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, and I will be elaborating on the detail of it afterwards.  What is clear from the results of the subcommittee is that we will be ending the State accommodation that has been provided since 2024.  However, it will remain in place for vulnerable groups of people. It is also the case that we will be reducing the accommodation recognition payment, ARP, from \u20ac600 to \u20ac400. It is important to emphasise that we have to ensure we do not have any cliff-edge ending of these supports. We have been exceptionally generous in terms of temporary protection. I welcome the fact that Sinn F\u00e9in was very supportive of the measures that were introduced in 2022. We are now going to have to taper them off in a measured and considered way. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I recall that the House was virtually unanimous in support of the emergency measures that were brought in at the outset of Russia's war against Ukraine. The temporary protection directive was an emergency measure, as the Minister quite rightly said. I do not think anybody envisaged that it would be in place for five years.  As the Minister knows, I have been arguing very strongly that we need a roadmap, not only for policy areas and to be able to plan in an appropriate way in the interests of this State but also to provide certainty for beneficiaries of temporary protection. I have argued that the outline of such a roadmap should have been made clear long before now. The approach of the Government has been shambolic and chaotic. Even at this point, there is no clarity about what will happen to Ukrainians in Ireland or what the impact on public policy here will be come the end of temporary protection. Whatever about the accommodation, which I will come to in a minute, can the Minister outline what the ending of the temporary protection directive is going to mean? People deserve to know. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  As the Deputy knows, temporary protection will continue until March 2027. A decision will have to be made by the European Council in respect of what will happen after that. My view is that it will likely be extended, but on a restricted basis. In terms of what the Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, and I are doing, the proposals which we have outlined and which will hopefully be confirmed by Cabinet on Tuesday week will provide an opportunity for people to transition to other legal statuses before the end of temporary protection. We are also recognising that, in fact, very many of the Ukrainian people here will want to go back to Ukraine. We want to facilitate their reintegration. That is something that is being sought by the Ukrainian Government as well. We will also ensure that information is provided to displaced people and that there is co-ordination, monitoring and exchange of information between member states and with the Ukrainian authorities. Nothing is going to be done on a cliff-edge basis. There will be adequate notice provided to individuals. The very generous response from Ireland to date in terms of people availing of temporary protection will continue, but we need to taper off measures and support provided. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I find some of those responses incredibly interesting. When Sinn F\u00e9in suggested that ending the temporary protection directive should include provision for a voluntary return scheme, members of the Government absolutely pilloried both my party and me personally for even suggesting that. It now appears that this is going to be part of the Minister's plan. Likewise, when it comes to the ARP and the various accommodation schemes, when Sinn F\u00e9in raised the impact that these were having on the private rental sector, for example, we were lambasted, not only by Government but also by other members of the Opposition. It is now virtually taken as read that the ARP in particular has had an impact on the rental accommodation sector. What engagements is the Minister having with the Department of housing and State agencies in respect of ending the accommodation supports and ensuring that we do not end up with unforeseen or unplanned for impacts on a housing system that is already dysfunctional and under huge pressure? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  The Minister for housing, Deputy James Browne, was very much part of the deliberations of the Cabinet subcommittee on migration when the Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, and I presented the proposals. That is an issue that has been carefully considered. I think Sinn F\u00e9in is supportive of the measures I have announced. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  You have not announced them; you have leaked them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I am giving you an answer here and now. I am very pleased to note that he described my reply as \"incredibly interesting\". That is the first time anyone has described a response of mine as incredibly interesting. It is important to note that there will be measures put in place and there will be engagement with the beneficiaries of temporary protection to ensure there is no cliff-edge. When we look at the level of supports that have been provided to date by the Irish Government, we can see that they have been extraordinarily generous. The amount of money that was spent in 2024 was \u20ac1.2 billion. This year, we will be spending \u20ac600 million. We have reduced expenditure by 50%. Even Deputy Carthy must welcome that. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"International Protection"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_4","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Local Community Safety Partnerships","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_2","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_4","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_4.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  The number one issue that comes across for me in my constituency of Dublin Central is community safety. Large portions of the constituency are not represented on the community safety partnership. Cabra, Drumcondra and Glasnevin do not have a Garda superintendent. The purpose of my question is to ask the Minister about the structure of the community safety partnerships. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  The local community safety partnerships are extremely important in terms of what the Government and I are trying to do within local communities. I commenced the operation of these partnerships in April of last year. Throughout the country there have been a number of meetings of the local community safety partnerships. I think they will be a major improvement on what was there before, namely the joint policing committees.  I am very pleased to note that the Dublin Central local community safety partnership had its first meeting on 26 January. Councillor Cieran Perry was elected as chair and Gerry Breen was elected as vice chair. I worked with both of them on Dublin City Council. They are two fine public representatives. Gerry Breen is no longer a public representative, but I certainly have great confidence in Cieran Perry and, indeed, Gerry Breen. There are currently 26 members appointed to it. The purpose is to try to ensure that we get across-the-board representation of youth services, the business community, older persons, and addiction and substance misuse support services, which are very important in Dublin Central. The constituency encompasses Cabra, Glasnevin and the north inner city.  The issue the Deputy is concerned about is in respect of the superintendents. It is my understanding that there are superintendents from Mountjoy, Store Street and the Bridewell on it. The Deputy's concern is that Cabra and Glasnevin superintendents may not be on it. I want to emphasise that there is flexibility in terms of the attendance of superintendents. My information from An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na is that if information is required in respect of Glasnevin or Cabra, that can be provided. There is good Garda representation there. What we want to do is to try to change the local community safety partnerships from joint policing committees, which sometimes just had a phalanx of senior garda\u00ed sitting there listening to councillors. We need a broader representation and that is what I think this committee will provide. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  It was not just councillors; TDs were also eligible to go to the joint policing committee structure. I was a regular attender at meetings of my local joint policing committee. Here is my issue. We constantly hear about a large Garda presence in the city centre. This is something the Minister has championed. I will possibly discuss that again later. However, I will give the example of communities like Cabra or even Drumcondra, which is actually covered by Ballymun Garda station. In Cabra last week, a constituent of mine was going around the Bogies roundabout. A load of lads wearing balaclavas came past on scooters. The man in question tried to ring the local Garda station in Cabra but he got no answer, so he had this innovative solution. He rang the Garda station in Rathmines. The call was answered but, obviously, the garda\u00ed there could not process the complaint. The man's action was born of frustration. We are not getting garda\u00ed in Cabra. We are not getting garda\u00ed to respond to burglaries in Drumcondra. I am sure the Minister is hearing this on the same doors in the same way I am. They do not have representation on the community forum structures set up to address these issues. We are in a bit of a quagmire here in the sense that Garda numbers are not reflective of what we are being told in the communities outside the commercial city centre. The prospect for representation on the structures does not exist because the superintendents are not there. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  In terms of the narrative the Deputy outlined in respect of his constituent, I repeatedly attend meetings of residents' associations at which, very appropriately, members of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na turn up. The message I consistently hear is that if you want to get the assistance of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, the most appropriate thing to do is to phone 999. I know that we sometimes think we should only phone 999 if it is an emergency. In fact, the most effective way of having a complaint processed expeditiously and efficiently is to phone 999. I urge people such as the Deputy's constituent to do that.  On the previous occasion I was in the D\u00e1il speaking about Garda numbers, one of Deputy Gannon's Opposition colleagues - not someone from the Social Democrats - said that he cannot leave Leinster House without tripping over garda\u00ed. There are a lot of garda\u00ed in Dublin Central at present. As Deputy Gannon knows, we have initiated a high-visibility policing campaign. That is still operating, and there are very many garda\u00ed in the city centre. I want to see more garda\u00ed deployed in suburban areas such as Glasnevin and Cabra, and I think that will happen as numbers increase. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  No more than the Minister, I cannot speak for a member of a party that is not my own. I do not doubt for a second that when I walk outside Leinster House, I will see a number of garda\u00ed. When I leave RT\u00c9 if I am doing an interview in the morning, I see a lot of garda\u00ed in the Donnybrook area. I cannot escape the fact that when I am walking around my constituency, certainly the parts of it outside the O'Connell Street area, it is very difficult to find garda\u00ed. This comes up constantly. I attended a residents' association meeting in Drumcondra recently at which there was a discussion on the increasing number of burglaries and the fact that garda\u00ed are not arriving until two or three days later to investigate. The issue in Cabra is that people are being directed to call 999 - I have issues with that - but they still want to have a sense that they can call their local Garda station if something is happening in the immediate vicinity. The problem is that because of the level of high-visibility policing in the commercial city centre, the residential communities surrounding it feel they are being left behind. This is a matter I would like the Minister to address, perhaps through the structures of community safety partnerships. Maybe he will make a comment on it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  Residential areas are not being left behind. What is happening is that increased Garda resources are being placed in areas that require high-visibility policing. We are starting in the inner city. As stated, this will be rolled out to more residential areas and throughout the country. The recorded crime statistics released on 26 March 2026 are quite revealing. They report a reduction in recorded crime in nine categories for 2025 in the Dublin metropolitan region, DMR, north central and north Garda divisions. These categories include damage to property, the environment and burglary-related offences. I am informed the Central Statistics Office, CSO, reported a reduction in recorded crime in eight categories for 2025 in the DMR west Garda division. High-visibility policing is having an impact in reducing crime. The only basis I can go on to assess whether crime numbers are going up or down is that of the recorded figures coming from the CSO. Based on these, high-visibility policing and the work of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na are proving effective. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Local Community Safety Partnerships"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_5","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Victim Support Services","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_2","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_5","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_5.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  Section 8 of the Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Act includes provisions for information to be shared with victims of crime. It is ten years since the legislation was enacted. Does the Minister have plans to review the operation of this section to ensure that the provisions it contains are being applied on a consistent basis? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I thank Deputy Carthy for raising this matter. This provision was very novel when the legislation was enacted nearly ten years ago in terms of that fact that it set out statutorily the information that victims of crime are entitled to. Deputy Carthy's question refers to section 8. In effect, the 2017 Act transposed Article 6 of the EU victims directive into domestic law. It established minimum standards on the rights, support and protection of victims. Section 8 relates to a victim's right to receive information about their case.  I am pleased to tell Deputy Carthy that political agreement has been reached between the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament on an amending victims' rights directive. The text in this regard is being finalised for formal adoption. This is expected to happen shortly. Ireland has actively engaged in the negotiations. In many respects, the enhanced provisions reflect practices that are already in place nationally under existing legislation. The aim behind the revised directive is to address existing gaps in protection and support by introducing higher and more consistent standards for victims of crime throughout the EU, including in relation to access to information and support services, reporting mechanisms, data protection, individual assessment of victims' needs, enhanced support during court proceedings, access to legal aid and compensation.  The direct answer to the question is that there will be a review of the rights to which victims are entitled. As Deputy Carthy knows, however, the 2017 victims Act was a transposition of an EU directive. That directive is being amended. Once the directive is agreed by us and our European partners, I will introduce proposals not too long afterwards, hopefully. As a matter of standard practice, officials in the Department review victims' rights legislation. It is anticipated that this process will include consideration of whether additional guidelines or protocols are required. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  To be clear, there is no requirement whatsoever to wait for an EU legislative process to conclude before we change measures in domestic law, particularly in terms of enhancing support for the victims of crime. The justice committee met in recent days to discuss the victims of crime civil protection orders Bill that I am trying to progress through the House. We heard moving testimony from Sonya Stokes, who the Minister is aware of. Sonya was the victim of horrendous crimes committed by a man who had previously committed several other horrendous crimes. Following his release, Sonya highlighted how traumatised she was and how fearful she was that some form of retribution would be sought. She found out on 30 April that her attacker had deceased in a nursing home on 5 December 2025. She was not informed of the fact. This is one anomaly that we could look at changing. It would only take a technical amendment to the legislation. Would the Minister be open to that? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I thank Deputy Carthy for referring to the committee's hearing. I was aware of that the civil protection orders Bill was being considered. I am also aware of the case of Sonya Stokes. This is an area I will look at. Providing information to victims about a person convicted of an attack upon them is something that is understandably useful to victims of crime. There is also the issue of exclusion orders. One thing people find very traumatic is the prospect that they could bump into their attacker after he is released from prison. It is certainly the position that in the case of people who have life sentences imposed upon them, the Parole Board, because of legislation that has been introduced, can restrict their movements or develop exclusion zones in order that they are prevented from going into certain areas and have to stay away from their victims.  This is something I will consider. I must also take into account the need to allow people coming out of prison who have served their sentences to get on with their lives. There is a mechanism in that regard. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I might not have been clear. I specifically asked about victims being informed that their attackers have deceased subsequent to release. In relation to section 8, the difficulty is that many of the testimonies we hear are inconsistent. Many victims have told me that they are incredibly happy with their engagement with the Garda or the Prison Service. Others are unhappy because they do not believe section 8 has been applied to the standard they would have expected in terms of their being informed of developments. I was told in one case by somebody who lost their partner, who was unlawfully killed, that the person responsible was to be released. They got a simple one-line email from the Prison Service informing them of the fact. We can imagine how disruptive it is if the person who killed the father of your children is going to be released and all you get is a cold email. The onus should not be on victims to pursue these things, and we all agree on that. The review of section 8 is crucial. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I am looking through section 8. There is a lot of information that must be provided to the victim in terms of an appeal, a parole application and the release of the individual. This is information that should be provided. Deputy Carthy's specific question is whether a victim should be told when their abuser or attacker who has been convicted dies. I need to consider that. Obviously, we could have a situation where somebody committed an offence in their early 20s and gets out in their early to mid 30s. If we were to impose this obligation, it could mean that 40 years later there would be an obligation on the State to inform a victim that the person who attacked them some 50 or 60 years previously has died.  I need to make sure that could operate effectively. I would have thought that if the person convicted dies in prison that should be provided. However, I am worried about putting it into law. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Victim Support Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_6","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_2","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_6","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_6.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  I am seeking an update on the recruitment of an additional 1,000 garda\u00ed for Dublin city centre. This was one of the ten big moves recommended in the Dublin city task force. Is it still Government policy to recruit these additional 1,000 garda\u00ed and what is the timeline for delivery? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I thank the Deputy for his question. It certainly is the Government's objective in the programme for Government to recruit 5,000 more garda\u00ed during its term. We certainly want to achieve the objectives set out in David McRedmond's report that there would be 1,000 more garda\u00ed for Dublin. This is very much dependent on resources and the numbers that come into An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. I also have to be conscious that although we are both Dublin Deputies, other Deputies are understandably insistent that whenever new recruits come out some go to their areas as well. I do not get involved in directing the Garda Commissioner as to where recruits should go but I tell him that I want to see high-visibility policing. In order to achieve the objective Deputy O'Gorman and virtually every other Member of this House wants in their constituencies resourcing and numbers need to increase but they are looking good. Two weeks ago, the Minister of State, Deputy Collins, and I were at a passing out in Templemore and 193 new recruits passed out. More importantly, the following Tuesday 200 went in. We are consistently seeing 200 go in and come out for each intake. I need to see that continue. I was pleased the other day to launch the latest recruitment campaign for An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. Since September 2024, 728 probationary garda\u00ed have been assigned to the Dublin metropolitan region, and I believe recruitment is gathering momentum. People are now realising that being a member of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na is an interesting job. There is a whole variety of units available. Today, there are approximately 14,661 sworn members. We are getting close to the highest ever. In fact, this year I believe we will beat the highest ever and I hope to come back to the House on that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  The Dublin city task force report was published in October 2024 and there was a lot of fanfare about it at the time. It was presented as a definitive blueprint to reclaim the capital's streets after the events of the Dublin riots and a wider visible decline in public safety across the inner city. Big move number four of that report was the deployment of a minimum additional 1,000 garda\u00ed within the city centre on a phased basis. That number was not pulled out of thin air. It was seen as the minimum required to meet average European policing standards for a city of this size. We are now well into 2022 and for the people living, working and commuting across Dublin the reality on the ground tells a different story. The net increase in garda numbers across the city centre district is 40 in the year and a half since the report was published. Will the Minister give me a timeline as to when he believes the additional 1,000 garda\u00ed will be provided? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  We are committed to following what is set out in the task force report. I cannot give a date as to when there will be 1,000 extra garda\u00ed in the city. What I can give is assurance from being around the city centre that we now have high-visibility policing in Dublin city centre. That has had a transformative effect. We are getting garda\u00ed out on the streets patrolling who were previously in stations. It is providing a great sense of confidence and safety to people who come into Dublin. My view is that it has had a significant impact, and I commend the Commissioner in that respect.  Obviously, in order to keep that going and ensure that other aspects of Garda services are continued we need to get more recruits in. It is about getting the numbers up but it is a positive outlook at present. Not only is recruitment going well and we have had a new recruitment campaign but retention within An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na is high. Less than 1% resign from An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na annually, which is extremely low. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  To put the numbers in perspective we have seen approximately a 4% increase in city centre garda numbers. On the current trajectory, to meet the figure of 1,000 additional garda\u00ed, it looks like we will meet that sometime around 2063. I hope the Minister understands the frustration people feel when governments announce big headline figures. The then Taoiseach and current T\u00e1naiste wrote a big editorial in the Irish Independent after that report was published. I remember he used the line, \"I'm up for it, are you?\" It does not sound like the Minister and his Department are up for achieving recommendation number four of 1,000 extra garda\u00ed. This is central to creating a sense of safety and security across the inner city and in the communities in the inner city. This is not just about, as the Minister said to Deputy Gannon, garda\u00ed outside Leinster House. This is garda\u00ed located in communities creating a sense of safety. Will the Minister give us some indication of when those 1,000 garda\u00ed will be available? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I remain committed to recommendation number four. I want to see an extra 1,000 garda\u00ed in Dublin. However, the Deputy was in government as well. He knows that things do not just happen with a click of the fingers or overnight. In order to get 1,000 new garda\u00ed into the force in Dublin, I need to recruit them nationally. That cannot happen overnight. I am sure the Deputy can appreciate the challenges associated with that. The point I was making to Deputy Gannon is one I made about something said by a previous opposition spokesperson, that when you walk around Dublin and not just Leinster House, high visibility of garda\u00ed is evident. That is the case. People say it to me and to lots of people in this House. It is apparent and it is making a dramatic improving impact on the city and people's sense of safety. I remain committed to recommendation number four but the most important priority is to get garda\u00ed out on the streets, so people feel a sense of safety, not just in the city centre but in residential areas throughout the country. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_7","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Sentencing Policy","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_2","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_7.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  Does the Minister intend to extend the provisions of section 14 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Act that requires character references to be given under oath, to criminal offences other than those included in the original legislation? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  It is important, and I commend the Deputy for mentioning section 14 of that legislation because sometimes it is forgotten about. It was commenced in August 2024, so it is only beginning to operate in the past year or so. In effect, it means that if somebody wants to give character evidence in respect of a person being convicted of a serious sexual offence, or of rape, which is the most serious, in order to give that character evidence, they have to do it on oath or affidavit. The former means giving evidence in the court. I think that is the most appropriate way for character evidence to be given in serious offences. Obviously, if people are convicted in the District Court for minor offences I do not think it a tenable requirement that anyone wanting to give character evidence has to give it in a District Court. Certainly, when it comes to serious offences, if you wish to give character evidence in respect of an individual, then the preferable way to do it is in the witness box or on affidavit. Sentencing is a complicated issue and a difficult part of a judge's function. Not only are you sentencing the offence but you are sentencing the offender. You need to have information, if you are a judge, about the offender in order to determine what level of sentence should be imposed. If somebody has a series of previous convictions and there are other issues, a court will take that into account when imposing a sentence. Similarly, if it were a first offence or out of character that is something the court needs to take into account. The appropriate way to do it is not by writing a letter or doing an informal character note. The appropriate way to do it is to ensure you get into the witness box and stand over it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  In many respects the Minister has made the first half of the argument. My point is whether you move to the second logical part of the argument and expand the provisions of this section to include other serious crimes. I am thinking particularly of homicide. It has been seen in the courts that the distinction between somebody just writing a letter saying a particular man or woman is a sound person or whatever and knowing that is something that needs to be done on affidavit or potentially in the witness box is an important one. It sets out the importance of a character reference in any case but especially for serious crimes. Is there any examination in the Department of expanding the section even further? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  The Deputy mentioned homicide. Obviously it does not really arise in, say, a murder conviction because somebody is going to automatically face a mandatory life sentence. In terms of manslaughter, it does not apply at present. In general what happens in a case like that is the counsel representing the convicted person at the sentencing hearing will set out what he or she believes are mitigating factors the court should take into account. My view, which I spoke about even before the 2024 legislation commenced, is that it would be preferable if somebody wants to give character evidence in a serious offence - and I emphasise serious, as this cannot be happening the District Court or we would just clog it up - the most appropriate way to do it is on affidavit or by giving evidence in the witness box. That will also remove the informality of it. Sometimes people think they will just write a letter. Generally they are pointless and inappropriate but if you want to assert something about somebody's character you should do it formally. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  Clearly when I talk about homicide I am not talking about murder but I have spoken to some victims who were in court for the sentencing of perpetrators who were convicted of actions resulting in the killing of their loved one and the introduction to the sentencing stage of unverified testimony not given under oath or by way of an affidavit really traumatised the family even further. This is often the case where somebody has pleaded guilty to an action that has resulted in the death of somebody else, so there is no trial as such. In many ways, the victims' families feel that perhaps the full truth has not come out about the actions of the person who is responsible and then ultimately, prior to sentencing, a number of testimonies are provided about how great a person this was. In that type of scenario I think the Minister is saying he recognises that type of testimony should be given on affidavit or in the witness box. Will he legislate to ensure that is the case? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  It is a complicated issue. Sentencing is complicated. When we discuss it here the emphasis is hugely on the situation of the victim, as it should be. For too long in Ireland the victim did not get the recognition in the criminal justice process. However, a court also has to take into account the individual circumstances of the convicted person. That can be complicated and sometimes evidence of that convicted person - the offender - is necessary. How should that evidence be given? I certainly do not think it is appropriate for that evidence to be just a handwritten note or somebody who does not know the person that well providing that evidence. That is evidentially useless. If somebody wanted to give evidence and say this conviction was out of character, that they have known this person for 20 years and that there were circumstances behind it, then that should be done under oath.  I do not want to give the Deputy a commitment today about introducing legislation to that effect but it is something I will give consideration to. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Sentencing Policy"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_8","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Peace Commissioners","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_2","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niall Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_8.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Murphy  I understand that under the Minister's predecessor, the Minister, Deputy McEntee, a review group was established to examine the provision of official identity cards for peace commissioners. Will the Minister provide an update on what work has been carried out, whether any recommendations have been made and whether the Department intends to move towards the implementation of an official identification system for our peace commissioners? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niall Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Niall Collins)  I thank the Deputy for his question. In line with the provisions of section 88 of the Courts of Justice Act 1924, peace commissioners are appointed, and may be removed from that appointment, by the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration and each newly-appointed peace commissioner is issued with a warrant of appointment. The Department informs An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na of all newly-appointed peace commissioners in relevant areas and indeed the Garda has a role to play in vetting all applicants for the position of peace commissioner.  The warrant of appointment is an important document which should be retained at all times by an individual while they are in the office of peace commissioner. Where an individual or a body requires further confirmation that a person has been appointed as a peace commissioner, it is open to them to contact the peace commissioner unit in the Department. The warrant of appointment for a peace commissioner is a unique document and as such replacement or duplicate warrants are not issued. If a peace commissioner misplaces their warrant they may write to the Department requesting a letter confirming their inclusion in the roll of peace commissioners.  I can advise the Deputy that a review of the role and functions of peace commissioners, as well as of the appointment process, is currently under way in the Department and will include consideration of matters regarding identification of peace commissioners. Other areas of focus in the review include a review of the existing functions and powers of peace commissioners, appointments, removal and complaints procedures for peace commissioners, as well as the updating and maintenance of the roll or register of peace commissioners and consideration of making the roll available online. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Murphy  I thank the Minister of State. For transparency, I put on record I am a peace commissioner and a commissioner for oaths. I think we have approximately 4,500 peace commissioners appointed nationwide. As the Minister of State said, they carry out vital functions on a voluntary basis, including witnessing signatures, verifying documents and assisting citizens who may otherwise have limited access to such services locally. However, in carrying out these duties many peace commissioners are increasingly finding themselves in situations where they are required to provide their own identity and official status despite not having formal photographic identification issued by the State.  I welcome that the review is ongoing. When identity fraud is growing all the time, I ask the Minister of State to give serious consideration to such an identity card. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niall Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Niall Collins  I thank the Deputy. I agree with him on this. Part of the work of reviewing the roll of peace commissioners is with a view to making it as accurate as possible. Obviously there is a legacy of records and retained data. Given the roll of peace commissioners goes back nearly to the foundation of the State it is quite a complex and lengthy undertaking but good progress has been made. Once that work has been completed, consideration will be given to making the roll of peace commissioners available online and accessible to the public. That will give them the assurance they can search online to verify a person is a peace commissioner.  On identification, the issue is complex and involves a number of legal and technical considerations, including data protection and also appropriate confidentiality and personal safety. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Murphy  I thank the Minister of State. This is a practical and sensible solution. It would provide reassurance not only to peace commissioners but also to members of the public engaging with them. A member of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na can produce an official warrant card yet a peace commissioner, despite exercising a very important statutory function, has nothing comparable to confirm their position.  I accept what the Minister of State is saying in terms of the initial letter of warrant, but I am talking about photographic identification. Given the relatively modest scale of such a measure, I again ask that the Minister of State give serious consideration to progressing it and commit the Department to a timeline for the next steps following this ongoing review process. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niall Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Niall Collins  I agree with the Deputy. It is my view that it should be progressed and it is also the view within the Department. I think the overall review that we are conducting will come to that conclusion also. I flag to the Deputy, though, that it is not provided for within the legislation at the moment, so we will have to come up with some kind of a system or an administrative fix to be able to manage that appropriately. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Peace Commissioners"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_9","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_10","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Legal Aid","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_9","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_10","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_10.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I thank Deputy Butterly for her question. I fully recognise the crucial role played by legal practitioners in the effective administration of justice and, equally, that the criminal legal aid scheme is fundamental to upholding the constitutional and human right to a legal defence. The whole purpose of the reform of the criminal legal aid fee structure in the District Court is aimed primarily at improving efficiencies, speeding up case resolution and reducing unnecessary adjournments, while also ensuring fair remuneration for legal practitioners.  It is proposed to replace the current appearance-based sliding scale with a flat fee model. For cases in the District Court, regardless of the number of appearances, a generous set fee will be payable to solicitors. The proposed reform is intended to make the system work better for all concerned by making it more efficient, reducing unnecessary adjournments and speeding up case resolution. The new flat fee will be set at a rate that provides for full restoration of the so-called financial emergency measures in the public interest, FEMPI, cuts in line with the programme for Government commitment. I will, obviously, be reversing those cuts and restoring fees from 1 July as well.  My Department carried out a review of more than 350,000 District Court cases that took place during 2022 and 2023. A number of issues were identified during that review that I simply had to address. I am engaging extensively with relevant stakeholders, including legal professionals. Officials from my Department met with the Bar Council and the Law Society in May, July and October 2025, and again in March 2026. I offered further meetings and I will continue to engage with them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paula Butterly  I welcome the Minister\u2019s comments. I want to frame this as an opportunity to get reform right, to strengthen our justice system and to ensure, as the Minister said, that it works fairly for everybody. Nobody disagrees that change is needed and we all recognise that there are inefficiencies in the current system. Reform, though, must be done carefully and in a way that protects the core principles of justice. I know the Minister agrees with this point.  The move towards a flat fee model in the District Court may appear at first glance to be a practical and streamlined solution. It does promise efficiency and simplicity. If we look at it a little closer, though, we begin to see the risks that come with oversimplifying something as complex as criminal justice. Not all cases are the same. Some are straightforward and can be resolved quickly, while others are complex, sensitive and require significant preparation, repeated engagements and time in court. Treating those different cases as though they are identical does not create efficiency but an imbalance. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I also have to take into account that the number of criminal cases in the District Court has decreased. Notwithstanding that, however, expenditure on criminal legal aid in the District Court has nearly doubled, from \u20ac19 million in 2015 to \u20ac37 million in 2024, despite the number of cases having decreased.  The review I looked at identified a series of structural issues in the administration of justice in the criminal legal aid scheme. For example, payment per appearance incentivises additional adjournments. I think this is just clearly the case. If we compare cases in the District Court that are not funded by criminal legal aid to those that are, we can see that there are many more adjournments in the latter context. Additionally, multiple certificates granted for related cases increase costs and complexity, multiple solicitors are assigned in the same firm for related charges and a highly complex payment processing system creates a significant administrative burden. I would not introduce this scheme if I thought it was going to undermine the rights of individuals to a fair defence. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paula Butterly  I repeat that all of us recognise the inefficiencies that do exist and that there is scope there for reform. However, let me guide the Minister toward a practical example. In County Louth, my constituency, we have the drug treatment court, which has proved to be a very effective and successful operation for those people appearing before the judges. It involves statutory and non-statutory stakeholders, and the model of flat fee-only appearances could have a detrimental effect on the drug treatment court because it is very complex. It is about reforming and giving a person another opportunity to live a very successful life, and the flat fee-only appearance rule would possibly jeopardise the situation. If we get the balance wrong, there will be consequences for the person before the courts and the hard-fought outcome hoped for may not materialise. We also risk discouraging solicitors from taking on legal aid work and creating gaps in access representation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy David Maxwell)  I thank the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paula Butterly  Will the Minister have further engagement with the key stakeholders and take on board their concerns before he brings forward these proposals? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I have had engagement with the representative associations. In fact, I wrote to them previously saying I was available to meet again if they wished to do so. I have no doubt that I will hear back from them.  In terms of what the Deputy said about the provision of legal aid, it is a very competitive business among solicitors. I believe we are not going to lose that level of competition because of the reform I am proposing.  The Deputy gave an example of what happens in the drug treatment court, but the report I considered from the Department identified that the weighted average of the number of appearances for cases with criminal legal aid is five, while the weighted average of the number of appearances for cases without criminal legal aid is just over three. Something is happening, therefore, when cases with criminal legal aid are having many more adjournments than is the case with those that do not. I think this proposal will make the system much more efficient and help the administration of justice. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Legal Aid"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_11","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Court Procedures","counts":{"speechCount":12,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_9","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_11","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_11.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  As the Minister knows, the issue of counselling notes being used in gender-based violence trials has been a massive issue for survivors. Even the Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, GREVIO, has talked about this being an instrument of secondary victimisation. The Minister was forced to amend his own amendments to legislation in this regard because he came back with something that just was not satisfactory. I have only caught sight of the amendments he is proposing, which will be a hearing on a real risk of an unfair trial in the interests of justice or where it is relevant to an issue in a trial. There will still be the chilling effect for survivors and raw records being passed on to judges and defence teams. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I thank the Deputy very much for her question. I am committed to trying to ensure that the situation that operates at present, where counselling notes are routinely provided to the legal team of an accused, comes to an end. I brought forward proposals to the version of the miscellaneous provisions Bill on Second Stage and I am going to come forward with even further amendments in terms of that legislation. I have listened to what people in this House and some of the important stakeholders have said, and I am going to introduce a statutory form of non-disclosure for counselling notes.  The Deputy\u2019s question asks that I should ban them completely.  In listening to people, be they in this House or stakeholders, I also have to listen to the Attorney General and the advice I have received. The unambiguous advice I have received from the Attorney General and the advice that important stakeholders in this area have received is that a total ban on counselling notes would be unconstitutional. It would be very detrimental to the interests of survivors of sexual abuse if I was to introduce legislation that got me some plaudits here but was struck down by the courts within a year as being unconstitutional, so I will not do that. However, the proposals I am bringing forward will create a statutory form of privilege that will ensure that the only time information or documentation evidencing a counselling note is provided is if that note evidences something that is in the interests of justice and without it, there would be an unfair trial. I cannot categorise a group of evidence and say we can never look at that, which is what a total ban would effectively do. That would be unconstitutional. What I am introducing is that there will have to be a hearing and a judge will have to look at it. The only time that information will be disclosed is if a judge, having looked at it, says that is relevant to the guilt or innocence of the accused. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  I appreciate that the Minister had to go further than he was originally intending. He says he listened but he did not listen, for example, to the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre. I spoke to its representatives yesterday and cannot believe that the Minister had not even met them before tabling his amendments. This is the front-line organisation dealing with survivors and it did a huge amount of work and put forward a very detailed proposal. In that context, I cannot accept the suggestion that the Minister listened.  The Minister says that it would be unconstitutional but we could argue that point because there are other constitutional rights that do not seem to be taken into consideration here, such as the right to privacy, to healthcare and so on. If our Constitution allows the damaging and harming of survivors, then there is something wrong and the Minister should come forward with a proposal for a referendum. In Tasmania, for example, they have managed to outlaw this practice and notes can only be handed over with the person's consent. This takes into account the fact that some people may want to use their counselling notes. It can be done if there is a will. What the Minister is bringing in is similar to what is in Canada and it has not really reduced requests for access to counselling notes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  What I have to do here and what the House has to do, ultimately, is weigh up an area where there are conflicting rights. On the one hand, there is the right to privacy, which is an absolutely essential right, and on the other hand there is the right to a fair trial, which is also an essential right. Neither right is absolute but I have to ensure that I balance both of them. The legislation I am bringing forward and the amendments I have tabled will significantly tilt in favour of the right to privacy but it cannot make it absolute.  I hear what the Deputy is saying with regard to the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre. It sent a submission to me, which I did consider. I have engaged with people across the board but, ultimately, I have to do what I believe is in the best interests of the public and survivors while also recognising that there has to be protection for a fair trial. The proposals I am bringing forward will achieve that and, if this legislation is enacted, we will be in a position a year or two later where it will be much more seldom that counselling notes are disclosed in criminal trials. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  The right to a fair trial includes the complainant as well. Does the Minister agree? I am assuming he does but that is never factored in. Gender-based violence is becoming a completely unpunished offence in this and other countries. That is the reality. Only 5% of people disclose to anyone or report it to garda\u00ed. Why does the Minister think that is the case? It is because things like this remain on the books and are routinely used in our courts.  The Minister said he listened but one would think he would at least meet the group to discuss its proposal, into which it put a lot of work. Has he listened, for example, to the therapist who had her front door knocked on by four garda\u00ed looking for counselling notes? How is this in any way just? The Minister used the phrase \"best interests\" of survivors. He could have laid down a much higher bar than he did. For example, it is very broad to say \"interests of justice\" or \"an issue in a trial\". That can be interpreted in so many ways and it is not dealing with the central issue, which is that people are having to choose between therapy and a trial. Nothing is going to change with this proposal. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I disagree with the Deputy when she says that sexual offences are unpunished offences. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  They are. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  That is not correct. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  Only 5% report. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  Every day of the week we read in our newspapers about people - men - being convicted of rape and serious sexual offences. That is happening consistently within the criminal justice system. Part of the consequence of that is that it should provide, and I hope it does, strength to other survivors and victims of sexual offences to know that if they come forward, they will get justice. I also know that An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na is much more effective now in dealing with these complaints than it was ten or 15 years ago.  My job is to ensure that I provide as much support as possible for individuals to travel through the criminal justice process. I also have to take into account, however, the requirements of a fair trial. I agree that a trial requires consideration of interests. Of course, the interests of survivors, victims or complainants in a trial must be prioritised but I cannot completely negate somebody who is being accused. If there was a person whose political views Deputy Coppinger agreed with----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  The Minister obviously does not understand the importance of this issue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  -----who was being prosecuted, she would be the first to criticise conditions that made a fair trial not possible. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Court Procedures"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_12","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Gender Recognition","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_9","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_12","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_12.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  I want to raise a flaw or a gap in the naturalisation process in the context of the Gender Recognition Act. I have been contacted by a constituent who last year changed their gender and name through the Gender Recognition Act. That process allows a person not just to register a change of gender but also to alter their name. They are a citizen of another EU state, working and living in Ireland. They applied for naturalisation but cannot progress that application because of the rule that people must be using a name for two years. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I thank the Deputy for her question and would appreciate it if she would send on the details of the case because I was not able to identify the issues on the basis of the question. It is a complicated issue and I just want to give the Deputy the following reply.  Under the Irish legal system, a person\u2019s name is the name by which they are known or which they commonly use. For most people, evidence of their name is most commonly provided and accepted in the form of a birth certificate, which, for example, may be supported by a marriage certificate in the case of a change of name on marriage. The name by which a person is known by is acquired through use and repute. Where a person seeks to use a different name acquired through use and repute in the naturalisation process, my Department requires evidence that they have been using that new name for a period of at least two years. I am sure the Deputy can appreciate that establishing a person's identity is a critical part of the immigration and naturalisation process.  I want to stress that this two-year requirement is not contained in, and does not arise from, the Gender Recognition Act 2015. Rather, it reflects a broader administrative practice. It is important that a person seeking naturalisation is properly identified so that, among other things, appropriate checks can be undertaken. It is also important in establishing their new status as a naturalised citizen that it is done in a name that they are known as. Use and repute is a critical, non-statutory method for proving identity, particularly when a person changes their name outside of marriage or civil partnership. It acts as a bridge between social identity - who people know a person as - and legal identity - who a person\u2019s documents say they are. When proving identity at any stage of the naturalisation process, the citizenship division in my Department requires evidence that a name has been used consistently. This is the bedrock of proving a person\u2019s identity while also helping to protect against identity fraud. I understand that some other Departments are currently reviewing their requirements for use and repute for two years where a person is in possession of a gender recognition certificate.  Again, if the Deputy sends on the details to me, at least I will be able to consider the matter in the context of what has actually happened. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  The problem is that the use and repute clause is not applied for a marriage certificate, for example. If somebody submits a marriage certificate saying they have now changed their name, it is recognised immediately. So, it can be done but it is not being done in the case of a gender recognition certificate. When people obtain a gender recognition certificate, it is assumed that it can be used straight away. There is nothing said about a period of time that must elapse first. This needs to be looked at in the naturalisation process because my constituent has been forced to cancel their application for citizenship and has lost their fee. They do not want to carry on with obtaining an important State document with their old or so-called dead name. It will be another year before they can have a passport in their new name. This has serious implications for transgender people who are constantly having to explain their gender when they interact with the State, services and so on.  It causes difficulty as well when travelling. This is something the Minister needs to look at. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  If the Deputy sends me the details, I will be able to look at the issue. The naturalisation process is different from the process, say, for obtaining a marriage certificate. At the heart of naturalisation is the need for the Department to be able to identify the person who is seeking Irish citizenship. It is an essential part of the naturalisation process that people in my Department go back and examine the past of the individual seeking Irish citizenship to ensure that what he or she is saying is correct. There are factors that could preclude a person from achieving Irish citizenship. Let us remember Irish citizenship is not a right but a privilege we give to individuals based upon an application process.  On the issue the Deputy raised, it is important to emphasise there is nothing in the Gender Recognition Act that undermines or affects her constituent. The issue is the necessity for identification. If she sends me the application details, I will have them considered. Ultimately, even if the matter cannot be resolved, her constituent will be able to apply in a year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  I accept what the Minister is saying about needing to check out a person's past. I have helped many people with their naturalisation applications. However, if a person has been investigated and has demonstrated a change in gender and name under the Gender Recognition Act, surely the process is simple enough. It should not take two years. There is an anomaly and it should be reviewed. The Gender Recognition Act was meant to be reviewed in any case to also allow for recognition of non-binary status. That change was recommended and indicated. This is something that will impinge on many people's lives. As far as I know, we still recognise trans people in this country. We should allow them, if they are naturalised, to move to their new name as quickly as possible. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  The use and repute test is used across the board in the Department. It is not targeting any particular group of individuals. It is not too much to expect, when it comes to assessing identification, that people are able to satisfy the Department that their name is the name they have used for two years and how they have been known by repute for the same period. As I said, I will have a look at this case if the Deputy sends me the information in respect of it. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Gender Recognition"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_13","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Court Accommodation","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_9","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_13","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_13.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paula Butterly  I apologise for the confusion I caused earlier. Will the Minister outline the current status of funding allocated for essential repairs and remedial works at Drogheda Courthouse following the flooding that resulted in the transfer of District Court sittings to Dundalk Courthouse in January 2025? Will he also indicate the timeframe for the completion of those works, as well as the total amount of capital funding allocated for courthouse repair, maintenance and works nationally in 2025? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I acknowledge this is an issue of concern to the Deputy. I understand the flooding that occurred at Drogheda Courthouse on 13 January 2025 resulted from burst pipes.\u00a0 Following the completion of initial repair works, a walk-through inspection of the facility was carried out during the week commencing 20 January 2025. It was agreed at the time that the facility could reopen to the public on 28\u00a0January, noting that certain areas, including courtroom 1, would remain unavailable.\u00a0 Further works to courtroom 1 were completed in April 2025 and it became fully operational on 2 May 2025. That marked the completion of all repair works.  As the Deputy is aware, Drogheda Courthouse is part of a seven-courthouse public private partnership, PPP, bundle, which was delivered under a 25-year concession period.\u00a0 Drogheda Courthouse was the first of the projects to be handed over in June 2017 on a landmark town centre site beside the River Boyne. The total cost of the PPP contract covers the design, construction, financing and, importantly, maintenance and repair of the facility. Those costs are met through a single annual unitary charge, which represents a composite payment for all services provided under the contract.\u00a0 It should be noted that the risk and costs of the repairs fell under the ownership of the PPP company, not the Courts Service. The entity that paid for the repair works was not the State but the PPP company.  The total capital funding allocated for courthouse capital works in 2025 amounted to \u20ac9.74 million. The total cost of the PPP contract is quite significant but, as I said, the State did not have to pay for it. I cannot give the Deputy an exact detailed breakdown of the charge because it is commercially sensitive and is protected under the terms of the PPP contract. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paula Butterly  I thank the Minister for that update. I was aware that courtroom 1 had opened. As the Minister noted, Drogheda Courthouse is a modern building that opened in 2017 as part of a \u20ac9 million investment designed to serve the growing and busy county of Louth. Yet, in the space of 12 months, we have seen repeated problems, most recently with courtroom 1 as a result of burst pipes in the roof. However, that is not the only issue. Anyone going into Drogheda Courthouse today or tomorrow will still see buckets around the place and on the stairs. For this to be happening in such a modern building, the question must be asked whether we are investing in and building these structures properly. The investment in our courts is really important. How can we avoid having buckets lying around a modern facility? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I am disappointed to hear buckets are being used in Drogheda Courthouse. As already noted, it was built in 2017 on a landmark town centre site. If there are defects in the building, the owner or the constructor is liable for those defects. There is a recognition that any defects in the building must be fixed by the PPP company. It has done that and has paid for those works. If there are ongoing difficulties in respect of the courthouse, the company will have to meet that liability as well.  It is essential we have courthouses that are adequate and appropriate. That is necessary not for the benefit of judges or lawyers but for the benefit of people who are going through the administration of justice and seeking access to justice. I will ask my officials and the Courts Service about Drogheda Courthouse. Any issues with it need to be resolved immediately and the entity responsible for paying for that is the company that built it and from which the State is contracting it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paula Butterly  In County Louth, we have the good fortune of also having Dundalk Courthouse, which is an amazing facility that is potentially underused at times. Many of my former colleagues tell me the courthouses at a regional level across the country are in dire need of repair. Will the Minister outline the programme of repair and maintenance at a national level and how quickly those works can be facilitated? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  The courthouses of Ireland are very interesting buildings. Last Friday, I was in the courthouse in Armagh, which is very similar to the other courthouses we inherited from the British around the country. Some of them, because of their antiquity, are in need of significant work, but their antiquity means most are protected structures. I know Dundalk Courthouse well. It is a very fine building in the centre of the town. It has a wonderful location in terms of generating business for the surrounding community.  I have funding within the national development plan for the construction of new courthouses. It is an important part of my programme to ensure Courts Service facilities around the country are suitable. We have built many fine new courthouses over the years. I think particularly of Castlebar, which has a very fine new courthouse. Many of those buildings around the country were designed very effectively. There is money there to build them but when it comes to ancient buildings, there are issues in terms of what can arise. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 11 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Court Accommodation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_14","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Legal Aid","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_9","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_14","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_14.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  Will the Minister outline his or his Department's engagement with the Law Society of Ireland and other stakeholders in advance of the changes to the legal aid system operating in the District Court?  I am told by many there is unease in relation to the possibility of an exodus of those who engage in the system. We want to see it streamlined and efficient and getting the best bang for our buck but we do not want to see backlogged courts and it causing more hassle than it needs to. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I thank Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa for his question. I certainly do not believe that there will be an exodus of our criminal law practitioners from the legal aid sphere as a result of the reforms I am introducing. As I said earlier, it is a very competitive sector. There are highly efficient and professional solicitors providing services to persons accused of criminal offences. I believe that will continue. I would not propose the reforms if I thought it would not.  I looked at the criminal legal aid scheme and I am fully aware of the importance of the scheme in terms of protecting the right to a fair trial and ensuring individuals accused of serious offences have adequate protection. My proposed reform in the District Court is not intended to reduce the cost to the State in providing criminal legal aid. Instead, it is about improving efficiencies and reducing unnecessary adjournments while still ensuring fair and sustainable remuneration for legal practitioners. As the Deputy knows, it is proposed to replace the current appearance-based sliding scale with a flat fee model for cases in the District Court, regardless of the number of appearances. A set generous fee higher than the fee at present will be payable to solicitors. The new flat fee will be set at a rate that provides for full restoration of the FEMPI cuts in line with the programme for Government commitment.  I have to point out that part of the reason for my reform is because of a review conducted by my Department in respect of cases conducted in the District Court. On foot of that review, it was apparent to me that reform was required. It is also apparent that if we pay somebody per appearance, it is going to incentivise additional adjournments. Research was done that established that in cases where there was criminal legal aid, there would be five appearances where there was criminal legal aid and three where there was not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Aire. I understand the argument the Minister is making. It is my understanding there are a considerable number of adjournments on the basis of the garda\u00ed and the State itself. The fear is that we will have a number of solicitors who are not willing to engage with this system. We will obviously have those who need representation but beyond that, I am told that in many cases involving legal aid, and when the solicitor is given a sufficient amount of time, due diligence is done and this facilitates, when it makes best sense, guilty pleas or whatever, so we are not necessarily clogging up the courts more than they need to be. The Law Society and others will accept there should be nothing that gives an incentive in relation to solicitors demanding more adjournments on the basis of pay but I am told it generally happens on the basis of the State, whether that is due diligence not being done beforehand, issues in relation to evidence, etc. I ask the Minister about his engagement with the Law Society and the other stakeholders who need this to work. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  There are obviously a variety of reasons for adjournments of a criminal trial in the District Court. What is concerning me is the fact that if we have short adjournments, they have a very negative impact on the efficiency of the system because cases are listed every two weeks, every three weeks or however long it is on a continuing basis. If we are paying a person per the number of appearances, that is going to incentivise the adjournment. These reforms will have a positive impact because when it comes to applications for adjournments, practitioners will take into account whether or not they are going to be ready for the hearing or the next stage of the trial at the adjourned date proposed. People will be much more careful about agreeing to an adjourned date in circumstances where they do not think they will be ready on that date. There is a benefit to it.  In terms of engagement, I have had very good engagement with the Bar Council and the Law Society. I have received submissions from them and offered to meet them again. I will happily meet them again. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I welcome that the Minister will meet them again, particularly as the Law Society and many of its members, some of whom have contacted me, have stated they are incredibly worried about this. I agree with the Minister that we all want to see our courts system work as efficiently as possible. We have all seen that for too long justice has been denied. We have all seen cases which have taken an extraordinary length of time to make their way through the District and Circuit Courts. However, in a previous answer, the Minister said his Department reviewed more than 350,000 District Court cases, which took place between 2022 and 2023. I would like to know the detail and how that was done because that would seem like a significant amount of work to do. I call on the Minister to meet again with the Law Society. We all want a system that works. We do not want to see courts more backlogged than they are. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  That is correct. There was a detailed review carried out by my Department and what it established was that there were a number of structural issues which needed to be addressed: first, payment per appearance incentives adjournments; second, multiple certificates were granted for related cases which will increase costs and complexity; third, multiple solicitors assigned in the same firm for related charges; and, fourth, a highly-complex payment processing system creating a significant administrative burden. The review found that cases with criminal legal aid take an average of 313 calendar days to complete compared to 133 days for cases without. The weighted average appearances for cases with criminal legal aid is five, while the weighted average appearances for cases without criminal legal aid is just three. While cases with criminal legal aid take significantly longer than those without, the outcomes are similar. This is a system that needs to be reformed. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 13 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Legal Aid"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_15","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Policing of Events","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_9","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Cooney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niall Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_15.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Cooney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Cooney  I raise the issue of resourcing garda\u00ed in County Clare for the Irish Open in September. This is a huge event coming to County Clare and it will bring tens of thousands of visitors to our county. I ask the Minister what additional resources both human and financial will be made available by his department to Clare Garda division for this event. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niall Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Niall Collins  I thank the Deputy for his question. The organisation and deployment of policing resources for major sporting events is an operational matter for the Garda Commissioner and, indeed, local Garda management. As Ministers, we have no role as such in operational decisions, however, I am assured that the resourcing of policing requirements for high-profile sporting events is fully considered within the overall context of the needs of the relevant Garda division. The Garda Commissioner keeps the distribution of resources under continual review and we engage regularly with him to ensure An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na has the resources it needs to keep our communities safe. The Commissioner is committed to ensuring the policing needs of the Clare-Tipperary division are fully attended to, notwithstanding the obvious demands the hosting of the event referred to by the Deputy will place on An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na.  As the Deputy knows, An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na has extensive expertise in policing major sporting events, including previous large-scale sporting tournaments. I am sure he recalls the Irish Open was played in Lahinch in County Clare in 2019. There was a significant Garda presence and operation which helped the tournament run quite successfully and smoothly.  An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na has a proven track record of successfully policing multiple large events on the same day. We see that particularly with GAA events, which take place in multiple locations around our country on the same day and, indeed, at the same time. Garda management will, as always, undertake a thorough risk assessment and put in place an appropriate policing plan tailored to the specific event, ensuring public safety and the security of all attendees.  I am satisfied An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na has the necessary expertise, training and resources to discharge its duties in relation to the event the Deputy referred to, which is to be held in the Doonbeg golf resort in September of this year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Cooney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Cooney  I thank the Minister of State. I congratulate everyone who has helped to bring this event to County Clare. It will provide a major boost to the local economy, particularly during the shoulder season of the year, but it will also place additional pressure on Garda resources, especially in west Clare. Garda\u00ed will have to be reassigned from other duties, including community policing, to deal with crowd management, traffic and public safety. That will have an impact on communities across Clare that would normally rely on those Garda resources. Can the Minister of State assure me that this event will not affect Garda resources allocated to County Clare in 2026? Will the organisers make a financial contribution towards policing and public services? Will the overall cost to the State for this event be fully covered? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niall Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Niall Collins  I previously mentioned that the previous Irish open which was staged in Lahinch, County Clare, in 2019 was a successful event. I also put on the record that in 2019, President Trump visited Clare, in 2023, President Biden visited Clare and President Zelenskyy visited there last December. Those visits were all successfully policed and properly and appropriately resourced by An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na at the time. The expertise and knowledge are in the organisation.  The Deputy asked about the recovery of charges relating to the policing of non-public duty events. The recent report of the Committee of Public Accounts on the 2023 appropriation accounts for Vote 20 - An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na examined the cost of non-policing events. Ensuring value for money is a priority for the Department and the agencies under its remit. The Garda Commissioner is the Accounting Officer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Cooney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Cooney  There is also a possibility of a visit this time by President Trump who owns Doonbeg golf club. We saw in previous visits the scale of the operation required for a presidential visit, including road closures, major security arrangements, co-ordination with the US Secret Service and the redeployment of Garda personnel from across the region. An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na in Clare simply cannot do this with existing resources without causing serious disruption to normal policing services across the county. Rural communities in Clare, where there are already concerns about response times and Garda visibility, would feel the impact sharply. Can the Minister of State give an assurance that if President Trump were to visit Clare, none of the cost of the resource burden would fall on the existing Garda allocation for the county? Does the State carry the full cost of such a visit, even where it involves a privately owned business such as Doonbeg golf club? Communities across west Clare should not lose out on day-to-day Garda services because of a high-profile international visit. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niall Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Niall Collins  I reiterate that President Trump, in 2019, and President Biden both visited County Clare and the visits were policed accordingly. In the Clare-Tipperary division, which the Deputy knows well, 661 garda\u00ed were assigned to that division as of March 2026, which is a significant body of people. Every Garda division wants more and has its hand up for more garda\u00ed to be allocated to it.  The Deputy is concerned about the resourcing of the Clare-Tipperary division being left exposed while the policing of this event takes place. When major events are policed, garda\u00ed from neighbouring districts are asked to attend and are pulled into the adjoining district to police them. It will not be the case that everyone in the Clare-Tipperary division will be sucked over to Doonbeg to police that event. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Policing of Events"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_16","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Court Procedures","counts":{"speechCount":10,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_9","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_16","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_16.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  My question relates to character references. We have seen a spate of them recently from former TDs, many of whom seem to be hanging around the Fianna F\u00e1il party. They do not have any understanding of how damaging this is to the victims of these crimes. Why are we still allowing character references from people who have absolutely no expertise in anything to do with any of these crimes? It is an outrage. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I thank Deputy Coppinger for her question. As she will be aware, the law was recently changed in this area in respect of sexual offences. Under section 14 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Trafficking) Act 2024, it is now the case that people who want to give character evidence about a person convicted of a sexual offence have to do so either by affidavit or in the witness box. It has to be done on oath or affirmation. That is a positive change in the law.  Deputy Coppinger's question seems to ask why this is ever necessary. As I said previously, sentencing is one of the most complex aspects of a judge's function. The judge has to deal with the nature of the offence and its impact on the victim when determining the sentence. However, the judge is also sentencing the offender. It will be the case that the judge needs to know something about the offender for the purpose of imposing a sentence. For instance, I am sure if a person were convicted of causing criminal damage to an American plane in Shannon, Deputy Coppinger would believe that person should be entitled to have some character evidence adduced for them at the trial. We can never say we should rule out any form of character evidence because it is essential for a judge to understand the offender in order to impose a sentence.  However, certainly in respect of sexual offences, including rape, people who want to give character evidence have to do so by going into the witness box or by affidavit. There is a lot to be said for extending that to other serious offences. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  We are not talking about writing a reference for a mother who took a packet of nappies because she is living in poverty. In most cases, these references are from relatives or former school principals who knew the offender 20 years ago, or from a GAA football manager or whoever. In the case of child sexual abuse and gender-based violence, they should be banned entirely because the people who carry out such offences are absolute master manipulators. They have groomed people, including adults and children, and fooled relatives. We have seen cases of femicide where the perpetrator fooled the entire family of the victim. No solitary thing can be believed about these people. No one knows what they have done in private, behind closed doors, in such a personal crime as child sexual abuse or gender-based violence. In a trial relating to two sisters, the last word was given to references for their brother who had already been found guilty of abusing them from relatives of the brother who knew nothing about him. The references need to go. They are very confusing and damaging. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I agree with Deputy Coppinger when she says abusers and people responsible for gender-based violence are manipulative. I met Naomi Long last Friday. She is the justice minister for Northern Ireland. She asked me to read the report about Katie Simpson's murder. I read it. It is a harrowing example of someone - the person responsible for her murder - who fooled the PSNI. It showed the level of manipulation that can exist.  Deputy Coppinger suggested we simply ban any form of evidence being given in respect of an offender. That would be problematic. As I said, an important part of a judge's function is to understand an offender. There will be varying degrees of manipulative or malign offenders. There will be people who deserve much longer sentences than others and for there to be some graded assessment by a court, it needs to know something about the offender. The alternative is to have mandatory sentences, as we do for murder, so the judge does not exercise any discretion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  I was particularly talking about sexual and gender-based violence because it is a particular type of personal crime. These people fool judges as well. Let us be frank. Judges are not exactly top of the class.  These references are designed to get people off. In the case of the two women I spoke to - and I know them - there were suspended sentences after character references were submitted.  I want to ask about this oath of affirmation. Where was the oath of affirmation for the person standing in the witness box when Jim Glennon, a former TD and a personal friend of the Minister, wrote a character reference for a person who had images of child sexual abuse? We all had to wait a week or so to find out who the former TD was. He did not stand up in the witness box, so it does not seem like the oath is being applied. Former Deputy Marc MacSharry wrote a reference for a property developer who terrorised children. This seems to be a plague within Fianna F\u00e1il. A former Ceann Comhairle wrote a horrific reference as well and has never apologised to the victims, despite being asked to do so. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  The Deputy may want to live in a country where guilt by association operates, but, fortunately, we do not live in such a country. If somebody the Deputy knew did something inappropriate or improper----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  They have. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  -----I would not hold her responsible for it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  I am not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  We do not live in a country where there is guilt by association. To answer the question, the reason persons did not get into the witness box in the past is because the law has now been changed. If you want to give character evidence in respect of a person convicted of a sexual offence, you now have to do it by going into the witness box or on affidavit. The benefit of doing it that way is you can be subject to cross-examination, which means that the counsel for the DPP will be able to question you on the content of your evidence. My view is people should be entitled to give character evidence in respect of an accused but that they have to be prepared to stand over it. That is why sending in letters which are informally written or without substance is improper and inappropriate. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 16 to 33, inclusive, taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Court Procedures"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_17","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Law Reform Commission","counts":{"speechCount":2,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_9","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_17.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  The Law Reform Commission published its report on compensating victims of crime. Does the Minister intend to apply the recommendations in that report, particularly the one relating to establishing a new statutory victims compensation scheme? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I have read the report from the Law Reform Commission and the Deputy will be pleased to note I have already changed the criminal injuries compensation scheme. The change I have introduced is to remove the prohibition on damages being paid in respect of pain and suffering. That was recommended within the report of Mr. Justice Clarke but also in the ruling of the Blanco judgment from the Court of Justice of the European Union that came out last year. We will have to reform the criminal injuries compensation tribunal. It is on an informal, non-statutory basis but I would like to see it put on a statutory basis. I would like to see it called the victims tribunal and I would like to see it apply compensation to victims of criminal acts, certainly covering pain and suffering, as it does now, but other factors will have to be discussed and considered. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Law Reform Commission"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_18","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_19","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Common Agricultural Policy","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_18","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_19","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_19.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  I want to get an update on CAP negotiations in relation to the proposals from the Commission, which are very concerning for many farmers and people in the food industry. The Commission is talking about a major cut in the funding. We need to do everything to ensure that this does not happen for agriculture in Ireland and across the European Union. We also need to see a big push-back on the notion farmers receiving a pension, off-farm income or whatever else will suffer as a consequence of that. That would be totally inappropriate. I would like to get the Minister's views and an update on that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Martin Heydon)  I thank the Deputy for raising a really important point. When I reflect on the key things throughout my term in this position, different issues will come up to be dealt with from day to day but I have always been clear there are a number of big things I will ultimately be judged on. Last year, nitrates was the key headline figure that you could never take your eye off. Throughout that time, I was building relationships with colleagues across the AGRIFISH Council in preparation for our Presidency at a time when CAP reform will be coming. It was a key part of preparing for CAP as well. Generational renewal is in that mix too; it is central to everything we are doing and a key part of this CAP.  In July 2025, the European Commission published its legislative proposals for the post-2027 CAP as a chapter of the proposed national and regional partnership plan framework. Negotiations on the CAP regulation are ongoing at EU level through Council working parties, the Special Committee on Agriculture, and the Agriculture and Fisheries Council of Ministers. I have been engaged actively throughout these negotiations and we are preparing for Ireland's role during our Presidency in the second half of 2026. We continue to carefully examine the Commission\u2019s proposals relating to the future structure of direct payments and income supports, including the proposals on pensions. The proposals suggest that member states should exclude farmers in receipt of a pension from direct payments by 2032. This proposal has caused significant worry and concern among older farmers, understandably. I assure farmers that I share their concerns, and I, along with some other member state counterparts, have raised those concerns at the Council of Ministers. My focus in negotiations will be to ensure that Ireland retains sufficient flexibility to design a CAP programme that reflects the realities of Irish farming and supports family farms. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  I appreciate that and understand that a great deal of work has to be done. Central to all this will be that period when Ireland holds the Presidency. We need to ensure CAP is properly funded. For many of these situations regarding off-farm income, whether a pension or whatever else, there needs to be a recognition that the vast majority of farmers need an off-farm income to make the farm viable. That is the reality of it. To suggest they would somehow be punished would mean they are punishing agriculture. They are doing the direct opposite of what the CAP is supposed to be about - enhancing the possibility of agriculture being prosperous, doing well and having a future. If they go down that road, it will be very difficult. We often come across farmers in our constituencies who are getting elderly. They come in and may be heading for 80 years of age but they have not applied for the pension yet because they prefer to farm. If they are punished from the point of view of CAP payments, it will be a very difficult situation to resolve. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  I take those points of view on board. It is important to bear in mind and to explain to the public the process this goes through. There are three legs to the stool in terms of CAP and overall EU policy. The Commission puts forward the proposals around the CAP. The Council of agri ministers, of which I am a member and which I will chair when we have the Presidency from July to the end of the year, involves each of the 27 Ministers for agriculture and fisheries. In that AGRIFISH Council, we will agree our position, which will not be exactly the same and will be counter to some of the Commission's proposals. The Parliament is finalising its position with MEPs. When those three come together in trilogues next year, we will thrash this out. The Commission has proposed this measure around retirement. I have a different view and am building alliances with the other Ministers for agriculture that have a different view as well. It is the same with part-time farming. The approach to the active farmer proposed by the Commission is not one I agree with. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  I appreciate that. We need to develop a strategy around generational renewal which recognises that the older farmer is part of the farm. The previous situations where farmers felt they had an exclusion order and could not go near the place any more if they went into any of these schemes is totally inappropriate. We need to find a way to do this in partnership so we have generational renewal to make farming more profitable and therefore bring more young people into it, while keeping the experience and the sense of being part of it among older farmers and the people who want to stay with it.  In regard to the CAP, there are a number of things that arise. Simplification has to happen. There has to be an allocation of funds for active farmers. We have to see the restoration of the two pillars. One of the things many farmers are finding very difficulty to come to terms with is that the two pillars that served us so well for so long are being discarded. We need to look at that. However, the ring-fenced budget lies at the core of it. The budget we have in place for the CAP has to be maintained. In fact, it should really be extended. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  The Deputy's points around generational renewal are very valid. We need to make sure that we have fairness and a balanced distribution of supports across the board. We want to learn from the mistakes of the past. The old retirement scheme was a mistake. It banished older experienced farmers from farms completely and replaced them with newer farmers. There needs to be a partnership approach. I know from my family circumstances at home down through the years that , the corporate knowledge the older farmer had was really important as was the value they had to bring to the farming enterprise.  In regard to part-time farming, approximately 43% of farmers in Ireland are classified as part time. Part-time farmers are central to the structure and sustainability of Irish agriculture. No final decisions have been made on the future definition of \"farmer\" in the next CAP. We need to make sure that our approach involves fairness and balance and that any future model is workable in practice and will not disproportionately impact productive farms or undermine food production capacity and farm viability. At the heart of this, what I will be able to do is fight for maximum flexibility and for the maximum budget as well. If we do not have the latter, it will really curtail what we can do. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Common Agricultural Policy"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_20","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Horticulture Sector","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_18","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_20","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_20.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert O'Donoghue  Supports have been provided to farmers in the main budget already. I have addressed this issue before but want to highlight again that the commercial growers have largely been left out of this. Unlike farmers who benefit for supports for green diesel, growers are facing significant increases in gas and energy prices, particularly those in horticulture sector. Given the rising cost pressures on growers and the vital role they play in our food supply chain, will the Minister consider introducing a targeted support package to assist them with escalating gas and energy prices? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  I thank the Deputy for asking this question. I reassure him that specialist horticulture has not been forgotten. The Minister of State, Deputy Dooley, and I have mentioned it when we talked about fuel support and securing the \u20ac100 million package. We talked about farmers, farm contractors, fishers, forestry and specialist horticulture. That will form a part of this support package. It is different because the producers do not use marked gas oil as the Deputy outlined in his question. After what has been a tumultuous couple of months, I reflect on the fact that this is the only question on the fuel support schemes during the hour and a half we have this morning, which I will take as an indication that the interventions we have made have been significant and impactful.  The Irish horticulture industry is an important economic sector in Ireland, with a farm-gate value of over \u20ac600 million. It contains a diverse range of sectors, including mushrooms, potatoes, field vegetables, protected fruit, protected vegetables, outdoor fruit and amenity crops. I fully recognise the impact of the Middle East crisis on the sector and, in particular, certain subsectors within it. Indeed, the announcement on 12 of April of a fuel support scheme made specific reference to the horticulture sector, as I have outlined. This fuel support scheme will provide supports equivalent to 20 cent per litre to farmers and contractors to offset increased costs in marked gas oil. Payments will be made through a single application process with funding allocated based on green diesel usage in 2025. The main fuel used by growers of field vegetables, field salad crops, field-grown fruit and top fruit is marked gas oil, or green diesel, and these growers are eligible to apply.  Unlike other horticulture subsectors, the protected crop sector is dependent on natural gas and liquified petroleum gas, LPG, the cost of which has also increased significantly since March. Recognising this, my Department has engaged with relevant stakeholders to develop supports for this specialist sector within horticulture, within the framework of the Middle East crisis state aid framework and within the total budget of \u20ac100 million that I secured for agriculture and fisheries supports in April. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert O'Donoghue  As the Minister knows, commercial growers across the country are under enormous and sustained pressure. I am specifically talking about a very small subset of those growers who use gas to heat their greenhouses in order to grow certain vegetables. The soaring energy bills, higher fertiliser prices and transport costs they are facing due to the Middle East crisis are pushing them to the brink.  We are not talking here about abstract figures on a spreadsheet. These are family-run businesses that employ local people, produce Irish food and sustain our food security. Even as energy costs continue to spiral, we need supports that reflect the reality on the ground. Growers simply cannot continue if they are forced to operate on a month-to-month survival basis, constantly exposed to cash-flow pressures and squeezed further by supermarket pricing dynamics. It is a small sector, but it is certainly an important sector in north County Dublin. It is specifically those using gas to power their glasshouses. I see an ethical dilemma for some people, but there are not many growers left. We would like to keep them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  I agree with the Deputy that it is a very important sector. It is more important than just for the Deputy's constituency in north County Dublin. It is really important to the overall ecosystem of how our food is produced. It is a sector that is feeling real pressure, and I recognise that. It is a sector that has become quite marginalised and narrowed down and pressure from very large retailers has made it a very difficult space for people in the horticulture sector to be in. I and my Department are absolutely determined to support it, protect it and make sure it is thriving and viable into the future.  In the context of the changes I made around the Agri-Food Regulator and so forth, what was in my mind throughout all that time was that horticulturists are the most vulnerable in the sector. The extra powers and increased funding I was able to give the Agri-Food Regulator last year were to support those sectors that are the most vulnerable and the likes of that. I will also be meeting with representatives of the sector later this month to go through what is possible in terms of that element of the fuel support scheme, to support them in light of the small few who are dependent on natural gas and LPG. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert O'Donoghue  I appreciate that response. To recap, Irish growers are expected to compete with those in other countries in which gas costs are significantly lower. That creates an uneven playing field, as the Minister knows. Our growers have been asked to meet the highest environmental, quality and labour yet they are not always receiving the supports they might need. If this trajectory continues we will see a loss of more grower's jobs and family-run businesses. Officially, we have 73 growers left in the country. If you speak to some of the growers, it is questionable as to whether the figure of 73 is accurate. Once those growers are gone, they are gone. I appreciate what the Minister has told me already and I believe what we need is a targeted intervention and clear financial package, and policies that genuinely support and sustain Irish horticulture. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  Because of the importance of the horticulture sector, and specialist horticulture in particular, my Department already provides significant support measures to the Irish horticulture industry through a range of initiatives. We provided \u20ac15.7 million in supports to the sector in 2025, excluding supports under basic income support for sustainability, BISS, targeted agricultural modernisation scheme, TAMs, and organics. In addition, the protected crop sector can benefit from carbon tax relief for natural gas and LPG usage.  These measures recognise the continued Government support for the development of this important sector. I am committed to seeing this sector grow and flourish in the years ahead for the reasons outlined. I look forward to meeting the representatives later this month on those specific supports. It is not always just about money; it is about the structural support as well and that is why the extra powers we gave to the Agri-Food Regulator were very much with the likes of this vulnerable sector in mind. That we protect that position of the primary producer in that relationship between the producer, the processor and the retailer. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Horticulture Sector"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_21","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Fishing Industry","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_18","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_21.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  This is an opportunity for the Ministers to do something really important for fishing communities all around our coast. They have visited quite a few piers and harbours already around the coast where, until recent times, fishermen would have said they just want to fish and do not need financial supports. They are now telling us very clearly that they need those supports. This is a chance to do something radical and game-changing for those communities around the country, and for a not huge amount of money. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Timmy Dooley)  I thank the Deputy for his question. I know of his significant interest in this issue.  I have met with representatives of the National Inshore Fishermen's Association and other representatives of the inshore sector and am very much aware of the challenges facing the inshore sector. I am also very much aware of the challenges facing the inshore fishery sector as a result of more recent quota drops, changes to their lives and livelihoods and the impact that climate change is having.  Ireland's \u20ac258 million seafood development programme for the period 2021 to 2027, which is co-funded by the Government and the European Commission under the European Maritime, Aquaculture and Fisheries Fund, EMFAF, is the primary source of funding for the Irish commercial seafood sector, including the inshore sector. Our Department has reviewed all funding mechanisms available, either through the seafood development programme or through other state aid routes, to ascertain if there is a possibility of introducing a financial stabilisation scheme for inshore fishermen. It is clear from this review that the EMFAF regulation under the seafood development programme, which is aligned with the objectives of the Common Fisheries Policy, does not make provision for income supports to primary producers in the seafood sector. There is also little scope to implement funding supports of the type being sought by inshore fishers under other existing EU state aid regulations in the fisheries and agriculture sector as matters currently stand.  As regards to the basic income for the arts sector, the EU state aid basis for this scheme is what is referred to as the general de minimis regulation. This regulation may not be used as the basis for aid to primary producers in the fisheries and agriculture sector, with the specific fisheries de minimis regulation applying to these producers. Income supports to fishers are available from the Department of Social Protection through the specific category of jobseeker's allowance for them known as fish assist. Any inshore fishers who require such financial assistance are advised to contact their local Intreo centre. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  I just cannot accept that the only source of funding we have has to come with the consent of the European Commission. We we can talk about how, under the CAP, long-standing financial supports have been provided to primary producers who work on the land. We need an imaginative measure here. This could be a game-changer, and anything that is ever a game-changer requires somebody to take on the system. We spoke yesterday about Thomas McLaughlin, who pushed through the Ardnacrusha project. He was an engineer who pushed for that to happen. Look at what that changed in Ireland. He was resisted when he first did it. What I am talking about is crucial to keeping the fishermen on the water. We have to reflect the reality of their lives in terms of everything that has changed. In light of that, I am asking the Minister of State to push back against the guidance that tells him this cannot be done. I cannot accept that it cannot be done, particularly in the context of financial supports to fishermen. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Timmy Dooley  There are additional supports available through Bord Iascaigh Mhara. These are aimed at supporting both the commercial offshore and inshore sectors by means of the various schemes that have helped fishers to survive through difficult times. Shortly after my appointment, I tasked independent consultant Kieran Mulvey to engage with the entire fishing sector to look to see what potential supports could be put in place. I am awaiting his report, which I expect to have shortly. I expect there will be some recommendations.  In light of the significant quota cuts that came about as a result of last December's Council meeting, we brought in independent consultant Michael Berkery to look at how supports could be addressed in that regard. There are significant state aid rules involved. It is not so much the source of the funding that is the issue. Rather, it is about the capacity to spend State funds - our own funds - in a way that is not anti-competitive or that runs contrary to the activities of other states. It has to be done in a fair and balanced manner, and those are what are referred to as the state aid rules. I am certainly prepared to look at all potential measures. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  Our inshore fishermen are a precious part of the heritage of coastal communities and are central to the piers and harbours that we have. There is a great love for them, not just in coastal communities but also right across Ireland. It is about keeping that going by means of what would not be a huge amount of money to subsidise and support them to stay on the water. The factors involved include energy costs, weather and climate change.  As I said to the Minister of State previously, five years ago, fisherman said they just wanted to fish. They have never asked for financial supports before. This is the first time they have come to the State. I have looked at their latest updated plan and I think it is really impressive. It is really thoughtful. They are looking to work in partnership with others around how we manage the precious resource of our waters beyond fishing. I plead with the Minister of State to seek an exemption from the European Commission. Are there grounds and special circumstances to protect this special heritage? With a will, this can be done. I appeal to the Minister of State to keep that will and desire to do it and to push back on anybody within the Department or permanent government that says it cannot be done because they have failed fishermen for long enough. I know the Minister of State is trying to change, so I ask him stay on his current course. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Timmy Dooley  I am very conscious of the positive impact that small-scale inshore fishers have on their coastal communities. It is about maintaining, protecting and preserving that from a cultural and historical perspective. I know they are not looking for money. They just want to survive and they would much prefer to do that through fishing and the processing of fish. I am prepared to work with them, and I am conscious of the document. In the context of the work that Michael Berkery is doing and the report from Kieran Mulvey that will be published soon, there is an opportunity for us to work with them over the coming months and years to try to put in place a programme of supports that comply with state aid rules and EU directives and, insofar as we can, retain fishers until such time as fish stocks recover. There are also other opportunities emerging in relation to ecotourism and marine ecotourism and to act in support of the offshore renewable activity that is certainly coming into play and that will be there in the next three to five years. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 85 and 86 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Fishing Industry"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_22","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Animal Diseases","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_18","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Cooney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_22.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Cooney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Cooney  As the Minister is well aware, TB is an issue that is hitting farm families very hard across the county, including my county of Clare. Could he provide information on where we are with the eradication strategy? Does he think eradication is a realistic goal? What are his plans to evaluate the current compensation cap? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  I thank Deputy Cooney for raising what is a significant issue, not just for farmers in County Clare but also for their counterparts across the country. The straight answer to a straight question is that I do believe eradication of TB is possible and is something that can be delivered. However, there was no way it was going to be delivered by means of the trajectory we were on up until last year, when we were seeing an exponential growth in numbers of reactors and herds impacted. The definition of madness is doing the same thing and expecting a different result. I was not willing to do that, which is why I spent all of last year engaging with farm stakeholders, representative bodies, vets, professionals throughout the industry and my officials to draw up a new plan based on science and to have that clear intervention that would give a very clear roadmap for those farmers in a perpetual cycle of bovine TB outbreaks and reactors who see no light at the end of the tunnel. A total of 94% or 95% of farmers who were free of bovine TB were petrified before the annual test every year and were hoping to avoid the disease. The new TB plan gives us the opportunity to move the dial, turn the tide, stop this significant increase and get it on that trajectory where we can get back to talking about eradication with real credibility. That is what I have sought to do here.  Regarding the TB herd incidents in County Clare, on a 12-month rolling basis as of 3 May this year, it has reduced by 4.2% in County Clare compared with 4.34% at the same time last year. This compares well with the national TB herd incidence, which has also shown a reduction on a 12-month rolling basis. As of 3 May, it stood at 5.4% nationally. Obviously, Clare is 1.2% lower than that. The 5.4% nationally compares with 6.29% at the same time the last year. Bovine TB is an ongoing challenge for Irish farmers. I am acutely aware of the emotional and financial stress it causes farmers, farm families and rural Ireland, which is why we are imposing the various measures. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Cooney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Cooney  I compliment the Minister on his great work on this issue, but, unfortunately, I hear from farmers in Clare every week who are losing thousands of euro in comparison with what they would get on the open market. Independent valuers assigned by the Department are valuing animals well above the Department ceiling of \u20ac3,000. With the high costs at the moment, this means that farmers, through no fault of their own, are losing real money out of their pockets.  The gap between compensation and value is causing serious financial stress and anxiety. Thousands of farm families across the country are affected by this. When will they get a compensation scheme that reflects the market value of the animals they are losing? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  Budget 2026 provided an increased budget for the TB programme, with a record \u20ac157 million allocated for this reason in 2026. This will allow the TB programme to focus on driving down the disease through the implementation of measures laid out in my new bovine TB action plan. It will support and enable farm families who are currently dealing with the stress of a TB outbreak to navigate a way out of a TB restriction and protect those herds currently free from bovine TB to remain free. The objective of the new measures in the bovine TB action plan is to reduce the number of farms affected and decrease the costs for all stakeholders.  My Department provides a range of financial supports that focus on compensating farmers for both direct and indirect losses incurred as a result of a TB breakdown on the farm. The primary support scheme is the on-farm market valuation scheme, where animals removed as reactors are subject to compensation, subject to scheme ceilings equivalent to their market value in the event they were not disclosed as TB reactors. In 2025, of the 40,583 animals valued under the on-farm market valuation scheme, just under 90% of animals were valued below the scheme ceilings. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Cooney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Cooney  Compensation values are totally outdated and do not reflect the true value of animals in 2026. It appears that increased costs and values are being accommodated across many sectors except for farmers with TB. The defective concrete blocks scheme is one example, where we have rightly gone back to affected homeowners and increased compensation values for rebuilding their homes.  I appreciate the work the Minister is doing on TB eradication. The increase in the budget is very welcome and clearly shows a commitment to that goal. However, the compensation ceiling for farmers must be reviewed urgently and indexed to reflect current market prices. Anything less is asking farmers to subsidise a disease control programme through their own losses. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  I understand the points the Deputy has made and the frustration he has expressed on behalf of his constituents. I would love not to have that ceiling in place; I would love the freedom to be able to operate outside of that.  Market prices of animals continue to be monitored. However, the focus at present is on reducing the levels of disease, which will reduce the impact of bovine TB on Irish farm families and reduce the cost of the programme, which rose to over \u20ac121 million in 2025. The only reason I got sanction for the extra money in my budget negotiations was because that money was to drive down the incidence rate and the disease. I did not get extra money for extra compensation. That is beyond the ceilings that are there. However, we continue to monitor this. It is something I would like to be able to move on in time, but I do not have the ability to do that right now.  In addition to the compensation package for eligible reactor animals that are removed during a TB breakdown, my Department operates three supplementary schemes that assist farmers with the indirect losses incurred as a result of a breakdown on the farm. These include an income supplement scheme, a depopulation grant scheme and the hardship grant scheme. We also have a financial working group, through which we have seen over the past two years rate enhancements to the income supplement scheme, the hardship grant and the depopulation grant, as well as enhanced ceilings for select animals being removed as part of the on-farm market valuation. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Animal Diseases"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_23","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_23","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_24","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Agriculture Schemes","counts":{"speechCount":12,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_23","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_23","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"William Aird","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_24.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"William Aird","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy William Aird  I welcome the significant investment that this Government has made through TAMS in supporting farm modernisation, improving environmental sustainability and assisting farmers to meet regulations. However, I want to raise a practical case that is happening on the ground and causing real frustration for young farmers and new farm partnerships. A qualified young farmer operating a newly established family farm partnership recently looked for a TAMS grant to upgrade slurry storage and bring the holding into compliance. However, the application was ineligible because the holding was non-compliant. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  The Deputy has gone past his time. The Minister to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"William Aird","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy William Aird  This means a farmer is being asked to meet a standard before being allowed to access the support needed to reach it. Those willing to invest to comply are unable to access supports required to do so. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  I thank Deputy Aird for raising the important matter of TAMS and the specific case of a constituent he has come across.  TAMS provides grants to farmers to build and improve a specified range of farm buildings and equipment on their holdings. All investments supported by TAMS 3 must be linked to climate, environment or animal welfare. To date, almost 2,500 applications for nutrient storage investments with a proposed grant aid value of \u20ac55 million have been approved. The investments made under this measure are an important tool to support the sector in improving water quality and underline the Government's commitment on this issue.  For these investments relating to farm nutrient storage, applicants must provide details of their compliance with nutrient storage requirements as laid down in SI 588 of 2025, the European Union (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations 2025. Accordingly, applicants who do not have sufficient storage capacity to comply with these requirements are not eligible under TAMS 3 for slurry storage related investments.  In respect of applicants who have not had livestock previously, I confirm that they are eligible to apply under TAMS for storage facilities. I also confirm that new entrants to farming who, as a consequence, did not have any livestock over the winter prior to applying are eligible to apply for slurry storage, as they are currently compliant with the required minimum storage amounts. In addition, farmers who currently out-winter all of their stock, assuming they are compliant with out-wintering requirements, would be considered compliant and be eligible to apply for slurry storage.  It should be noted that, from 1 October 2028, the slurry storage capacity requirement for dairy cows of 0.33 cu. m per week will be amended upwards to 0.4 cu. m per week. Farmers who currently have sufficient storage capacity on their holdings will continue to be eligible to apply under TAMS for farm nutrient storage facilities to bring their holdings into compliance with the amended regulations for a maximum of two years after 1 October 2028. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"William Aird","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy William Aird  The Minister knows that the farming community accepts the importance of improving storage capacity, and the farmers understand the need to protect water quality, reduce emissions and ensure holdings are compliant. I accept that significant progress in this area has been made through TAMS, especially with enhanced supports for young, trained farmers and new entrants.  However, situations like the one I have outlined to the Minister highlight a gap in the practical application of the scheme. This is especially the case for smaller family farms, holdings in transition to the next generation and newly formed partnerships, who can find themselves in a position where the old infrastructure means they are below compliance but the capital cost of reaching compliance is next to impossible, as the Minister knows, without the support of TAMS. What is needed is a workable pathway to achieve these standards.  Is there scope within TAMS for future schemes to consider targeted measures specifically aimed at bringing storage compliance standards, phased approaches for farms actively working towards compliance, and clear eligibility routes for young, qualified farmers and newly established partnerships in these circumstances? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  The Deputy must conclude. The Minister to respond, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"William Aird","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy William Aird  These measures are needed, and match environmental ambition and political delivery. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  To answer the Deputy's question, and as I outlined in my original answer, there is provision for many of those new entrant farmers to be able to avail of TAMS in such circumstances. It is important to note that, at a high level, EU funds cannot assist in bringing a farm into legal compliance. It has to be legally compliant before it can access the funds. Where that deviates is where we have the agreed change around the increased ambition from 2028 onwards. As part of our negotiation on that, where the storage capacity for dairy cows is to increase from 1 October 2028, farmers who currently have sufficient storage capacity but will be ineligible because of that increased threshold will have two years where they will be able to avail of TAMS to support them in that space.  There are plenty of caveats there to try to get around the issue. The particular issue the Deputy has highlighted is probably because it is a farm partnership, so it is not a new entrant farmer as such, which the Deputy described it as, but an entering into of a farm partnership. It is one I will discuss with the Deputy maybe offline afterwards. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"William Aird","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy William Aird  The objective should be to bring farmers into compliance through investment and engagement. It should not be to exclude those who are trying to do the right thing but are limited by financing conditions. I welcome the update from the Department that it is considering additional flexibility on targeted measures, but the Minister knows quite well that there are thousands of people out there from an older generation of farmer who would buy hundreds of cattle but would not buy a load of concrete. The next person in line for succession wants to upgrade that farm and be compliant, but they are being told that they are not getting anything because of the sins of the previous person who was running the farm.  A Leas-Cheann Comhairle, that is wrong. The Minister and everyone else will be getting that throughout their constituencies. I ask the Minister, if he can at all, to please revisit this and look at it again. We are trying to encourage young farmers to farm the land and they want to do it. The Minister is correct, in that if you had no stock or anything like that previously, you would qualify. I know people who are doing it. I ask the Minister to please look at the person that is taking over from his father or whoever it may be. As the Minister knows, down through the years, you had great farming fathers and the son would come along and might not be as good but they would want to improve the farm. I ask the Minister to please have a look at it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  I will talk to the Deputy about the specifics of this case afterwards because it may be the farm partnership that is the impediment here. New entrants to farming who did not have any livestock the previous winter are eligible to apply for the slurry scheme on that basis. That is probably an anomaly in one way. We have no shortage of farmers applying for TAMS. We had 8,000 applications in the last tranche. I got an increase in my capital budget for TAMS of \u20ac88 million for this year, but demand is off the charts. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"William Aird","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy William Aird  That is no good to the farmer who cannot get it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  From that perspective, it is there for the many who do and can avail of it. On a general level, you cannot have a situation where you are applying for TAMS to make yourself legally compliant when you are not compliant. That is the challenge of it, but new entrants can do it. If it is a partnership, maybe that is the challenge on this one. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 89 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Agriculture Schemes"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_25","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Animal Diseases","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_23","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_23","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_25","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_25.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Question No. 90, in the name of Deputy Newsome Drennan, will be taken by Deputy Martin Kenny. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  This question relates to the TB action plan. I would like to get an update on it. The new rules came in last month. A lot of farmers and farm organisations have been critical of the level of communication they have received from the Department in regard to the new rules, how it is set out, the new categories and all of that. We need to see very clear communications to ensure that farmers know they are going to be able to fit into this programme. Everybody in the country, particularly everyone in the farming community, wants to see TB eradicated. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  I thank the Deputy. I am aware of the financial and emotional impacts and challenges for Irish farmers, their families and rural communities presented by a bovine TB breakdown. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in bovine TB levels nationally. To address these high disease levels, I have undertaken extensive engagement with stakeholders and farm organisations to agree measures to tackle them.  I launched the Bovine TB Action Plan: Addressing Bovine TB in Ireland in September. It includes five measures and 30 actions underpinned by scientific research, evidence and veterinary expertise. Those five pillars are: to support herds free of bovine TB to remain free; to reduce the impact of wildlife on the spread of bovine TB; to detect and eliminate bovine TB infection as early as possible in herds with a bovine TB outbreak and avoid a future outbreak; to help farmers improve all areas of on-farm biosecurity, and only this week I opened and launched a \u20ac6 million scheme whereby farmers would be available to avail of practical supports around fencing off badger setts on their holdings and raising water troughs as well; and to reduce the impact of known high-risk animals in spreading bovine TB.  The aim of the action plan is to reset the TB programme by putting in place measures necessary to tackle the current disease situation. On 13 April, a number of changes were introduced to animal testing and animal movement requirements under the bovine TB programme to reduce the transmission of bovine TB from cattle to cattle. I recognise that this is a big change farmers and is the first real manifestation they are seeing of the new plan in action. I thank in particular the marts, which have tried to help in communicating this new understanding. Those changes on 13 April include: the removal of the post-movement test option for all cows and for males over 36 months of age; all dairy cows moved into a breeding herd now requiring a 30-day pre-movement test; a 30-day pre-movement test for contract-reared heifers; the gamma interferon, GIF, test in large breakdowns of breeding herds; and a restriction on the sale of exposed cohorts where GIF testing is carried out in larger breeding herds for a period of time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  I thank the Minister. I appreciate all of that and that there is work being done. The marts have been central to this because that is where a lot of farmers are coming into the situation. They are unaware of what category their cattle fall into when they are going to the mart, and that is a big issue because then they do not know who can buy them. A lot of farmers are finding it very difficult to navigate this whole process. Farm organisations have been very critical of it. The Department was supposed to set up a dedicated helpline that farmers could contact. My understanding is that they are getting no answer to any of the calls they make to that helpline. There is an issue in respect of that and I think it needs to be addressed as quickly as possible.  Farmers selling cattle are unaware of who can buy them and what category they fall into, and it makes them very reticent and concerned about the whole scheme and how it is going to work out for them. The risk of TB is a serious problem for a lot of farmers, particularly when they are in an area where there may have been a number of reactors on farms around them and they are very concerned about it. Of course they want to work with a system that will eradicate TB but they cannot do so if they do not understand it and if it is not clear and concise. That needs to change. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  Being clear and concise is important. Change is a challenge for everybody but we had to change our approach. The approach needs to be targeted, and that is what this is. We have to recognise where the key challenge is. A reduction in bovine TB levels in breeding herds, especially in dairy herds, is a key element in driving down bovine TB levels nationally. I think of the constituency and the region that the Deputy represents, where it would be predominantly sucklers and not as much dairy. The purchase of breeding heifers from high-risk dairy herds and bringing them up to the Deputy's area, where there might be low-risk herds, has been a contributor in the past to the spread of this disease in a significant way. These changes are all based on science and are targeted.  The Deputy is right, in that there was much criticism of some parts of the plan last year. I met a lot of resistance here to tackling the area of risk categorisation, but risk categorisation of the high-risk animal is the right thing to do. The simple fact that we started talking about that all last summer is indicative of the reduction of numbers we had, which I will outline in supplementary. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  I am not disagreeing with the Minister in that regard but the difficulty we have is that farmers who want to play ball and work with the system are finding it very difficult to do so because they do not understand it. It is not clear. The Minister said that being \"clear and concise\" was vital. It has not been made clear to farmers and they are very concerned that they do not know what impact this is going to have on them. That special line that was supposed to be set up needs to be working properly and farmers need to be communicated with. The Department has all the information. It knows every farmer and what their herds are. It knows what categories they fall into. It needs to communicate that across the board to everybody so that, similar to the marts, everybody is clear on where they stand. I know that the marts are vital to this but we should not be in a situation where the Department of agriculture is implementing a strategy and depending on what are private entities - the marts around the country - to communicate what that strategy is. We need to have another way of doing that. That is the difficulty people have. Everybody wants to co-operate and work with this. We just need a bit of clarity around it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  The helpline is up and running and has been since the middle of April. Communication has been a key part of everything I have done here. I will counter somewhat the Deputy's point that the message is not getting through. I refer to the encouraging progress of recent months in reducing bovine TB levels. Over the 12 months to 3 May, the herd incidence was 5.42%, down from 6.29%, the number of herds restricted was down by just over 5,400, or 14.8%, and the number of reactors was over 35,400, down 15.71%. We have seen significant reductions in herd incidence and reactor numbers in the past year. I believe that this reduction nationally is due to the combined efforts of all stakeholders in supporting farmers in reducing risk of bovine TB in their herds.  I am confident that the changes I have introduced will help drive the disease down further but I have no doubt that the discussions we had last summer, notwithstanding all of the reaction I got to them, made farmers in low-risk areas ask questions about what the risk category of the animal they were buying was. That is a conversation that needed to happen and it has definitely fed into these numbers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Animal Diseases"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_26","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Beef Sector","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_23","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_23","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_26","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_26.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  I want to ask the Minister about the declining volume of beef exports, particularly to the UK and the EU, over the past 12 to 18 months and the impact it is having on the sector. It is very clear that many farmers out there are not producing to the same level they had been.  We also have the situation in regard to the Mercosur countries when it comes to beef, particularly. There is talk of banning beef from Brazil coming into the European Union as of September. That should happen now, not in September. I would like to get the Minister's remarks on that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  Ireland exported almost 458,000 metric tonnes of beef in 2025. It is an absolutely colossal figure when we think of the scale of the industry and what it is worth to our overall economy. Although the volume of exports was lower than in recent years, the total value of primary beef exports increased by \u20ac542 million, or 17%, to reach a record \u20ac3.6 billion, according to the Central Statistics Office, CSO. Whereas volumes to the UK were 6% lower in 2025 compared to 2024, the value of those shipments grew by more than \u20ac274 million, or 19%. Similarly, the value of consignments to other EU markets increased substantially by almost \u20ac313 million or 21% in 2025, while volumes recorded a modest 2% decline relative to 2024. The UK accounted for 46% of Irish beef exports by value and 42% by volume. Other international markets accounted for 11% of export volume but 5% of total value.  Food Vision 2030, the industry-led strategy for the agrifood sector, aims to increase the value of agrifood products, including beef. The ambition is to build on sustainable value growth by supporting agrifood exports and continuing to develop market opportunities at home and abroad. The figures clearly indicate the success of Food Vision 2030 in achieving that.  I have ensured that farmers can continue to improve the competitiveness and productivity of their suckler, dairy beef and mixed enterprises through a record level of national and EU co-funded supports. I am providing over \u20ac83 million in direct targeted supports for the suckler sector in 2026. In addition to the ongoing suckler carbon efficiency programme, which is worth over \u20ac51 annually to participants, the national dairy beef weighing scheme is currently open for applications and the 2026 beef welfare scheme will open in mid-August. The dairy weighing scheme, which supported 18,300 farmers last year, has a budget of \u20ac4 million in 2026. The beef welfare scheme, which supported 24,500 farmers last year, has a budget of \u20ac28 million in 2026. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  I appreciate that the value of products has gone up because prices have gone up. The price that is returned for beef internationally, particularly for higher quality product, has increased over the past number of years. That is because of a reduction in the number of cattle across Europe and many other parts of the world. It is creating that buoyancy in the market. The reality from an Irish perspective is that the amount of beef we produce has actually gone down. We need to look at that. I am not saying why that is. I do not know what the situation is or where we are at here. In the lamb market, we see a similar thing. I have met with people and I know the Minister has met them as well, namely, young farmers who want to get into lamb. Even the factories are asking what the future is going to be because production is going down. We need to be looking at how we are going to maintain that level of production.  The other point I want to get a view from the Minister on is in regard to the beef that is coming into the European Union from Brazil. Some 100,000 tonnes of product was imported, most of it beef, in the last year from Brazil. If the European Union is saying there is a problem with it, why are we waiting until September to do something about it? When it came to implementing the Mercosur trade agreement, they were able to do it provisionally immediately rather than wait. Why do we have to wait for this? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  I welcome the removal of Brazil from the list of approved countries. It is a result of the pressure that my colleagues on the Council of Ministers and I have been bringing to bear. In January, we had a meeting with Commissioner \u0160ef\u010dovi\u010d, the Commissioner for trade, Commissioner Hansen, the Commissioner for agriculture, and Commissioner V\u00e1rhelyi, who is responsible for animal health and welfare. We made it very clear to them, and we have always said, that the sanitary and phytosanitary, SPS, food safety standards of beef coming into Europe are non-negotiable. The challenges around Mercosur were environmental in terms of our difficulties with the agreement. From the perspective of food safety, antimicrobial resistance and so on, that is non-negotiable in Europe. We saw products being found and recalled. We now see this move being made, which is very important and I strongly support. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  Why wait until September? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  The removal from the list has been done straight away. That is how that process works. It is a clear indication to the Brazilians that the standards of they have been bringing in, and that we have highlighted in terms of our concern with them, are not acceptable here. Product being found here that has traces of antibiotics and beyond is not acceptable to us and will not be into the future. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  I thank the Minister. I understand that and appreciate there is work being done by an awful lot of people across the European Union from the Government here and other governments in Europe, as well as farm and consumer organisations, to look at all of this and to recognise that the product that has been coming in from Brazil is way below standard. The big problem with it all is traceability. There is no traceability whatsoever in Brazil when it comes to the production of beef. A person can buy antibiotics or hormones across the counter and administer them to the animals and there is no traceability as to what they have had. It is open season. I know there have been suggestions that beef is going to come in from particular factories or farms that comply with European standards. The problem is that there is no way of judging or guaranteeing it. I welcome the European Union accepting that point and removing Brazil from the list.  However, I understand that product is still going to come in from Brazil until September. That is a problem that needs to be dealt with. We really need to accept that Irish farming is under pressure and beef production is absolutely vital to the Irish rural economy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  On the Deputy's question regarding the decline in the volume of beef exports to the EU and the UK, there are a few parts to this. It is a dynamic situation. Farmers vote with their feet in terms of the workload and the return they are getting for that work. Some of them change enterprises because they will get a better return for that. The increase in beef prices last year will make some farmers who had stepped back look at beef production again. I am determined to ensure that the good beef price, which increased last year, remains high for them so that they can continue to do that.  The UK will always be a really important market to us. Almost 50% of our beef goes to the UK. Europe, our nearest neighbours after that, is obviously a key market as well. We have worked really hard in my Department to open new markets in third countries, with a particular focus on south-east Asia and beyond. The Deputy dismissed somewhat the early figures I highlighted showing the increase in the value of the return on that, but that is real for farmers because we have pursued the higher value markets. We do not want to be fighting with Brazilian beef on commodity markets around the world, and 90% of our beef that is exported is not. We go for the higher value markets because of our traceability and our Origin Green quality assurance scheme, which farmers and food processors have bought into. That is delivering the real return here and will continue to do so into the future. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Beef Sector"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_27","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Animal Welfare","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_23","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_23","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_27","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_27.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  With the permission of the House, we will go back to Question No. 91 in the name of Deputy \u00d3 Muir\u00ed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed  Thank you for your forbearance, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. My question relates to the review of legislation for dog-breeding establishments that is currently under way in the Department. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  I thank the Deputy for raising a really important issue which we all take really seriously. Animal welfare is a key priority for me as Minister and for the Government. My Department has lead policy responsibility within Government for animal welfare and we take it really seriously. I am committed to the policy that animal welfare standards are vigorously applied in a fair and even-handed manner and remain committed to the continued robust enforcement of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, which provides a modern framework for regulating and applying standards in the area of animal health and welfare. My Department keeps the Act under review in light of key developments in the areas of animal welfare, the law and having regard to the practical lessons learned from operating the Act.  Responsibility for all policy and legislation in relation to the Control of Dogs Acts and the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010 transferred to my Department on 1 June 2025 and 1 August 2025, respectively. This fulfilled a programme for Government commitment, on which I was part of the negotiating team. I was keen that we would get a more consolidated approach to this area. It was to bring a coherent approach to dog control issues by ensuring all legislation and policy in relation to the control of dogs, dog welfare and dog breeding establishments rested with my Department.  Local authorities retain responsibility for operational and enforcement matters. Inspections of dog breeding establishments are carried out by dog wardens and by my Department.  With the transfer of functions, I took over responsibility for the dog control stakeholder group, which Deputy \u00d3 Muir\u00ed highlighted. It was established by the then Minister for Rural and Community Development in March 2024 to review the Control of Dogs Acts and the Dog Breeding Establishments Act. Its remit is to consider policy and legislative matters in relation to those Acts, including any need for legislative change. The stakeholder group comprises members with a broad range of expertise, including academics, veterinary surgeons, local authorities, farming interests, charities working in the field and animal welfare experts. I expect to receive the report from the group shortly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed  I thank the Minister for the update. Ireland is a nation of dog lovers and dogs hold a cherished place in our homes, well ahead of cats. However, it is clear we are playing catch-up on legislation on dog breeding. Dog breeding in Ireland is a growing industry. It is important to say that responsible small breeders do maintain very high standards, but as the sector is growing so too are animal welfare concerns. The Oireachtas agriculture committee heard last month that the number of dogs being put to sleep grew by 10% from 2023 to 2024. Even more alarmingly, this figure increased by 93% compared to 2022. This is a huge growth in the number of animals being put to sleep. The scale of abusive treatment is very concerning and we need to recognise it. This is a lucrative industry. We cannot leave it to look after itself, to self-regulate and to undertake its own enforcement. We have to get ahead of the issue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  I thank the Deputy. I will not fall into the trap of pitting the dog against the cat and which is more popular. I have Sammy, my collie, at home who keeps any cat away. The general public absolutely expects and demands of us the highest animal welfare standards. It is something I am passionate about. Coming from a farming background, I was raised, and I am raising my children, with the approach that if we treat animals well we will treat humans well. A society can be judged on how it deals with issues such as this. There are many different ways to do so. There is policy and enforcement, and the need to change policy as well. I look forward to receiving the stakeholder group's report. I am reviewing all legislation on dogs and I will be guided by the recommendations. At the same time, I am also due to bring the heads of a Bill on dog breeding establishments to Cabinet imminently. This is another area of work I am determined to progress. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed  It is good to hear the Minister and the Department are taking the issue seriously and I look forward to hearing the recommendations of the stakeholder group. The set-up is a bit unwieldy though. The Department is responsible for annual inspections of breeding establishments but local authorities, such as Dublin City Council, are effectively responsible for enforcement. This creates a bit of a disconnect and a risk of issues falling between the Department and the local authorities. Local authorities may not perform their responsibilities to the same standard across the country. Has the Department considered merging responsibility for inspection and enforcement centrally, either under the Department itself or another agency that would take overall responsibility for inspection and enforcement as required? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  A big change that happened with this Government, which was laid out in the programme for Government, is that all of the various elements of dog control have been centralised from previously being across three Departments, including in the former Department of Rural and Community Development. The programme for Government committed to taking this element from that Department and bringing it back to the Department of agriculture because we have responsibility for animal welfare. Local authorities are the employers of dog wardens and have the system in place. We work really closely together with them. I do not see an impediment to how we move forward and improve things further with the current structure.  The dog stakeholder group was set up under the previous Government by the previous Minister at the Department of rural affairs. It has a body of work to do, which it has almost completed. There will be legislative change coming out of its proposals and I look forward to receiving its report. I am not waiting for that in the meantime. I will bring the heads of a Bill to Cabinet imminently to improve welfare standards and strengthen enforcement in relation to dog breeding establishments. I am continuing this work because animal welfare and the protection of our dogs are so important. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 92 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Animal Welfare"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_28","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Animal Diseases","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_23","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_23","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_28","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Roche","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_28.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Roche","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Roche  I thank the Minister for this debate on TB eradication, which I welcome. In an earlier response, he mentioned that new TB measures came into place in April. I am anxious to understand the status of the new rules and their implementation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  I thank Deputy Roche for raising this important matter. The bovine TB programme has been a key priority for me since I took office. I am very aware of the financial and emotional challenges for Irish farmers, their families and the communities in which they live when there is a bovine TB breakdown. It is a difficult disease to control and eradicate, as we know, but it can be done and has been done in other countries.  I launched the\u00a0Bovine TB Action Plan:\u00a0Addressing Bovine TB in Ireland\u00a0in September 2025, following extensive engagement with stakeholders. It includes five key pillars and 30 actions underpinned by scientific research and veterinary expertise. On 13 April, a number of changes were introduced to animal testing and animal movement requirements. These include the removal of the post-movement test option for all cows and for males over 36 months of age; all dairy cows moving into a breeding herd requiring a 30-day pre-movement test; 30-day pre-movement testing for contract-reared heifers; the introduction of mandatory gamma interferon test, known as GIF testing, in large breakdowns of breeding herds, which will apply to herds with a restriction on or after 13 April 2026; and a restriction on sale of exposed cohorts where a GIF test is carried out in larger breeding herds for a period of time, and this will apply to herds in restriction on or after 13 April 2026. These changes were introduced to reduce the transmission of bovine TB from cattle to cattle. A reduction in bovine TB levels in breeding herds, especially dairy herds, is a key element in driving down bovine TB levels nationally. In simple terms, every measure in this is there for a reason. It is backed by science and it is targeting where the spread of disease has been the biggest contributor.  I also established a new bovine TB helpline for farmers who enter a new TB breakdown. This helpline will provide practical support and advice to farmers on the bovine TB breakdown process. This week a new on-farm badger biosecurity scheme has been opened for applications. I have put \u20ac6 million towards it to support farmers with simple practical on-farm interventions, such as fencing off badger setts and raising water troughs. These will have a significant impact and I am financially supporting farmers to make these interventions. It will put a bit of power back in their hands as well because farmers regularly feel pretty powerless when it comes to a potential bovine TB outbreak. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Roche","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Roche  I get it and I absolutely understand the compassion the Minister has for the emotion, distress and anxiety an outbreak brings to farmers. Sometimes it could be dairy herd. In particular I would like to understand vaccination schemes and programmes. I know we have a vaccination programme for the badger. Are we looking at, or are we anywhere near, a vaccination programme for herds, particularly dairy herds? If there is an outbreak in a dairy herd it is financially crippling and the consequence might be that the farmer might not return to dairy. I am anxious to understand whether this is a plan going forward and how it might impact farmers themselves. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  The difficulty is with identifying whether a vaccinated animal tests positive; animals that test positive and vaccinated animals cannot be differentiated. Some research has been done and we have collaborated with research projects on vaccination in the UK and beyond. Vaccination masks the presence of the disease and we need to find it to eradicate it. All of my measures are about identifying it and seeding it out. When I speak about the focus on breeding stock, it is because 6%, give or take, of our herds in the country have it. A lot of these young maiden heifers were sold to low-risk farms, so unbeknownst to those farmers they had brought in a high-risk animal, which was then seeding the disease. We need to identify these animals earlier in the initial herd and get them removed so they do not spread the disease. This is happening because we do not have one test that is 100% foolproof. The annual herd skin test that farmers are familiar with only has 80% efficacy.  One out of every five that goes through that tests negative but is positive, and that has been a key contributor to the disease. When we layer on the blood testing it increases our efficacy to over 90% but we do not have something that is 100%. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Roche","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Roche  The \u20ac6 million fund for preventative measures is most welcome. The compensation ceiling for someone with a pedigree in-calf cow, which we know the value of, is \u20ac3,000. Are we revisiting that because they are taking a huge financial loss, as well as the emotional loss and the upset caused as a consequence of the outbreak on that prize animal? I would like to understand whether that is something the Department will consider revisiting. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  I thank the Deputy for his comment on biosecurity measures. It is fencing off a sett and keeping cattle back. It is not about keeping the badger back in from the cattle. The cattle nose in around the latrine where the sett is and that has been a considerable cause of the spread of disease. Having that practical measure where farmers identify the sett and fence it off will make a difference as will new water troughs. It was important to support farmers in those efforts.  We just finalised the tender process to increase staffing in the area of wildlife control. Most farmers affected by bovine TB only want to talk about wildlife. They are convinced that is it. This planned approach is identifying all elements of the cause and spread of infection. There is residual infection in herds as I referenced earlier. There is cattle and wildlife transmission, and we are addressing all parts of it. I received a record amount of money in the budget last year of \u20ac157 million for my new bovine TB plan. That was based on working towards eradication and turning the dial on the increased numbers and bringing them back. All of the focus of that money was to be on reducing the instances. It was not open to me under the conditions of that to open up compensation and ceiling caps. I would like to revisit it. I understand the challenge, but I have to focus the money I have on reducing that disease. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 94 and 95 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Animal Diseases"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_29","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Agriculture Schemes","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_23","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_23","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_29","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_29.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed  My question is about the removal of domestic dwellings from the TAMS solar grant process. What is the rationale for the exclusion of domestic dwellings from that solar scheme and will the Minister make a statement on the matter? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  The targeted agricultural modernisation scheme, TAMS 3, provides grants to farmers to build, improve, or both, a specified range of farm buildings and equipment on their holdings. The solar capital investment scheme, SCIS, is one of 11 schemes within TAMS 3. The number of applications and the level of funding provided to date under a number of TAMS 3 schemes, including the solar capital investment scheme, have far exceeded expectations. To date, a substantial proportion of the total TAMS budget, more than 20%, has been spent on SCIS alone. In order to ensure that the available budget for TAMS is distributed fairly over the remainder of the CAP strategic plan programme period, it is necessary to limit the number of approved applications in recent tranches by applying ranking and selection criteria. In addition, in respect of SCIS, it is also necessary to concentrate the funding on on-farm consumption only. However, it is important to highlight that farmers can seek support through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, for the installation of solar systems in respect of their domestic dwelling. The SEAI business grant is also available to the agricultural sector, including farmers, which is a further option for those keen to explore renewable energy generation.  In simple terms, I negotiated an increase in my capital budget last year and got \u20ac88 million for TAMS this year and next year. It is for the entire CAP strategic plan, so I have to manage the budget available to the end of 2027. I could accept every application that comes in now and not have any TAMS available in 2027. I cannot do that to farmers who need increased slurry storage or who want to invest under farm safety measures. There is a lot more than just the solar element to it. You see the significant drain on resources. I would love to be able to change that percentage and make it bigger if it were there, but this is about policy priorities and trying to design them. The SEAI is there from that perspective as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed  It is positive that there is such demand for TAMS 3 and all the measures in it. It shows farmers are doing their bit in terms of energy and the future. Uptake of renewable energy programmes and mechanisms is hugely positive. Putting them through the SEAI for domestic is an opportunity lost. Maybe the solution is for the Minister to get his hands on some of that budget from the SEAI and move it to TAMS. Farmers are busy men and women. They have a lot to do. One application to cover all of this is still probably the most efficient way to do it. I go back to the fact that there is huge demand. It is positive that farmers are engaging and taking up the scheme. I ask it to be considered that a bit of that budget be moved across to fulfil that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  People will think I put the Deputy up to that question because he is singing my tune. The Department of agriculture and farmers have proved there is a demand to try to make their farms less dependent on fossil fuel energy. We have proved that if I have more money, I can spend it on that. This is in the context of an increased capital budget. The reason more people are disappointed now is that more people have applied. The average number of applications under TAMS 2 was approximately 3,000 per tranche. In the most recent application it was over 8,000, which was a massive increase in demand. You can see how resource heavy it has been on the overall TAMS budget. A total of 6,000 applications were received under SCIS and 3,425 approvals were issued allowing farmers to proceed with their investments. A total of \u20ac31.5 million was issued to farmers since payments commenced in June 2024. It is attractive and that is what made it very popular. There is no doubt that if we had more money we would spend it. If the SEAI wants to give me a slice of that budget or any other, we would spend it in that area. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed  That would be positive. I have heard from farmers that the farm home can account for nearly 70% of electricity used, particularly those who are farming dry stock. Removing their homes from the process effectively means the TAMS system does not fulfil their needs. Another way to do it might be to get the SEAI to earmark some of its own budget or have a clear heading for solar PV for farmers or a little more than the \u20ac1,900. In reality it is probably more for a farm building. I ask that we encourage ongoing uptake of TAMS and try to make sure domestic is covered in it, so it is efficient for farmers to get their entire job of work done at once rather than having to go through two processes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  The challenge is that if everything is a priority then nothing is a priority. I have 11 headings under TAMS and I have to try to manage that. It is the targeted agricultural measures scheme. When demand far outstrips supply something has to give. On that basis it felt fair to me that a residential house be taken out as opposed to farming activity. The intensive energy user on a farm benefited most from being able to apply for TAMS. It is a targeted agricultural measure. There are other ways for residential houses to get in there. I take the point that it would be better to have one central application process. I like that we were able to support farmers in reducing their energy requirements. TAMS is aligned to our climate and sustainability targets. That is renewable energy, but it is also low-emission slurry spreading, support for organic farmers, farm safety, increased slurry storage and improved water quality. All of those things are in the mix with TAMS, so it makes it competitive when demand is high. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Agriculture Schemes"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_30","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Wild Fires","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_23","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_23","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_30","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_30.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paula Butterly  Will the Minister underline the actions being taken to prevent wildfires and encourage preventative measures by landowners as we enter the summer months? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  I propose to take Questions Nos. 93 and 143 together.  My Department implements a number of measures annually to raise awareness of fire risks among forest owners, managers, farmers and other land managers.  My Department monitors fire risk throughout the fire season in conjunction with Met \u00c9ireann and communicates high-risk fire weather phases in advance to the forest sector and other relevant stakeholders, including local authorities via fire danger notices. This enables preparedness and readiness of key equipment and personnel ahead of fire outbreaks. In the year to date my Department has issued two such notices. In 2025 my Department issued nine fire danger notices. Fire danger notices may be viewed on my Department's website.  My Department maintains a website with relevant information on fire risks, prevention and specific guidance on responsible use of fire by landowners. My Department also provides specific wildfire safety advice to the general public via the whole-of-government Be Summer Ready campaign. My Department also co-ordinates on fire management with the European Union and other member states via the European forest fire expert group and also via the FORRISK forest risk facility coordinated by the European Forest Institute.  It is an offence to cut, grub, burn or otherwise destroy any vegetation growing on any land not cultivated between 1 March and 31 August in any year. Landowners found burning illegally could face fines, imprisonment and single farm payment penalties, where applicable. My Department monitors for activity closely and fires on agricultural land are investigated in relation to basic payments, or BISS, eligibility. My Department has no role in prosecutions under the Wildlife Act 1976.  That clearly outlines the work that comes under and the responsibility of my Department regarding wildfires and the challenges in that space. As I said, it is one of those issues that crosses more than just my Department. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paula Butterly  We are always asking responsible landowners to act as custodians of the land and to act responsibly by following the regulations as set out by the Minister in regard to burning and taking those preventative steps. However, at the same time they are also exposed to the risks created by the actions of others with limited protection or recourse. In places like the Cooley Mountains we can see how quickly fires can take hold. There have been incidents where multiple gorse fires have broken out in a matter of hours. They have stretched the local fire services and threatened homes, farmland and forestry. These are not isolated risks. It is something the communities in north Louth have experienced directly. That is especially concerning and it is why I wanted to highlight there is a pattern in some of these fires. Too often they are not accidental but started deliberately and it is the landowner who tends to have to bear the burden of the financial cost. Very often when these fires are started, whether accidentally or intentionally, we have issues where people come on to land and set fire to bales of hay during the year and then disappear. If the fire brigade is called out its staff do their job and I recognise the services of the Louth fire brigade, which is absolutely exceptional in dealing with these fires. However, then the bill comes to the landowner and they are pursued by the fire services to pay a bill for something they were not responsible for in the first place. There is a perception in Louth that the financial and emotional burden can be unfair on landowners even when they have no role in causing the fire. That sense of injustice is deeply felt and landowners are doing their very best, as the Minister knows, day in, day out. We clearly need a more balanced approach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  I do not disagree. The Deputy articulated very clearly how her constituents in the Cooleys, and people in many mountainous areas countrywide, are deeply affected by wildfires that happen for a variety of reasons. Obviously some of what she described is criminal activity with very serious consequences for our wildlife, habitats and countryside and needs to be dealt with. It is important to recognise landowners may carry out controlled fires on uncultivated land from 1 September each year to the last day of February. This is only allowed if it is done in a controlled manner and provided the landowner follows the correct safety procedures. Uncultivated land is land that is not normally farmed or managed. That controlled burning is probably something that happens less now, for a variety of reasons. Farmers are older, there is less generational renewal on our hill farms and it is work for younger farmers but if that scrub and uncultivated land is not cleared it can be a tinder box at a dry time of the year. There was an official fire danger notice issued only a few weeks ago and I was struck this had been necessary after the wettest winter we have had, a very wet early spring and before we are even really in the summer. It goes to show how quickly, with climate change, our land can dry with a very drying wind and the risk that creates for the high-risk period we are in. It is about enforcement of very clear rules where there is bad practice but also about supporting people so they are aware of the rules and what they can do in that important period. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paula Butterly  I thank the Minister. The irony is not lost on me that the rain is bucketing down outside yet we are talking about fire notices but it is an important conversation to have. We have to be summer ready, as he rightly said. This is about protecting our farmers, our communities and our landscape. It is about ensuring those who act responsibly are not left to carry the consequences of those who do not. In Louth, even a small number of fires can have a disproportionate impact. We have a landscape that is very close to our communities and our communities are very close to their landscape and their nature. It is actively farmed and widely used for recreation. That is why taking preventative actions, getting the message out and educating people who come into our areas to enjoy the landscape so they are very well aware of the damage they may cause, whether accidentally or intentionally. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  I again thank the Deputy for raising what is a really important issue. Sometimes we do not talk about these facts until after an incident when it is too late and the damage has affected our landscape, wildlife and farmers. It comes back a little to the relationship between landowners in the area and members of the public who maybe live in a more urban setting and love to share that amenity. That is where the Be Summer Ready campaign is really important. Obviously farmers are well aware, as custodians of the land, of what needs to be done, what their responsibilities are and what the penalties are if they are acting on the wrong side of the law but the public have to be acutely aware their actions have very real consequences. A lot of this is about communication and ensuring we communicate very clearly the risks and hazards people might not be as aware of, how quickly these fires can take off and, as the Deputy said, how they have a disproportionate effect on an area. I again thank her for raising those points. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Wild Fires"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_31","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Agriculture Supports","counts":{"speechCount":16,"speakerCount":6},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_23","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_23","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_31","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"William Aird","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_31.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aindrias Moynihan  Farmers and horticulturists are being hammered by the price of fertiliser and supply uncertainty yet again. The conflict in west Asia has driven up fuel and fertiliser prices and disrupted key shipping routes. Fertiliser bills have shot up and vital deliveries are in doubt for so many. Farmers feel little has been done since the last fertiliser crisis and are getting more and more frustrated. They are very reasonably asking what long-term measures the Minister is delivering to shield farmers from supply shocks like this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  I propose to take Questions Nos. 98, 125 and 126 together.  Ireland is a relatively small market in respect of fertiliser sales and usage compared with many of our EU neighbours. No fertilisers are manufactured in Ireland, as the Deputy knows, and this results in indigenous fertiliser companies being price-takers. Those prices are dependent on global supply and demand. An estimated 35% of global urea trade passes through the Strait of Hormuz, plus 45% of sulphur exports and a significant volume of the ammonia used in nitrogen fertilisers. Overall it has been estimated 25% to 30% of global nitrogen fertiliser exports pass through the strait. The wider region is estimated to account for 45% of global urea exports, 27% of ammonia exports and 47% of sulphur exports. My Department continues to engage with fertiliser importers to monitor supply issues and concerns. Fertiliser product continues to arrive although challenges in supply exist, especially in the case of urea.  It should be noted that many farmers and other fertiliser users forward-bought fertiliser earlier in the year.  In addition, the Irish fertiliser industry purchased significant volumes of product in advance of the full introduction of the carbon border adjustment mechanism, CBAM. The national fertiliser database import figures show that fertiliser stocks increased significantly during the fourth quarter of 2025 with calcium ammonium nitrate, CAN, imports increasing by 55% and urea by 260%. Teagasc has a comprehensive information pack for farmers and their advisors, through a compendium of 20 fact sheets, to optimise the use of plant nutrients and to help farmers address the challenge of maintaining their farm outputs in the face of rising fertiliser costs and reduced availability.  One of the answers to this question is that we are reducing our dependency on artificial fertiliser because that is what we need to do in order to make our farming and food production system more robust on this island, particularly as we do not have domestic production of artificial fertiliser. The fact sheets supplied by Teagasc cover issues of soil testing, lime application, nitrogen usage, organic manures, fertiliser spreading and many other topics that will be incredibly useful for farmers. It is not just about what we spread on our land but also about the phosphorus and potassium, P and K, levels, acidity and composition of our land such that it can best take up those nutrients and be in the best condition to do so. This is where soil testing and lime application can, in the right circumstances and on the basis of those soil test results, make a significant difference. Depending on the type of fertiliser, increases in prices have varied. The price of CAN is estimated to have risen by about 20% since the beginning of March, while the price of urea has increased by as much as 60%.  My Department has no function in terms of fertiliser prices beyond the regulatory function of ensuring products placed on the market are in keeping with the fertiliser regulatory framework and that standards such as nutrient content are as described. However, I have continued to monitor the market situation given the negative impact that high fertiliser prices have had on farmers\u2019 expenditure and profitability. I will continue to engage with my EU counterparts regarding the impact of the Middle East crisis on the supply and price of fertilisers.  I have raised this issue on a number of occasions. The question was very much formulated on the basis of what we are doing to build our resilience and address the vulnerability we have in this space, but as a short-term measure, I raised the need to invoke Article 27a of the CBAM at successive AGRIFISH Council meetings. This allows for the suspension of certain elements under certain set criteria. I believe we are in this crisis period now where fertiliser should be set aside as part of CBAM. I had the support of a number of other member states on this request. We pushed for it but the Commission, to date, has not been minded to avail of it. What Commissioner Hansen has pointed to very clearly is the introduction by the Commission of a fertiliser action plan, and that is due to be published next week, on 19 May. I expect that fertiliser action plan to have a very significant series of proposals around the cost and availability of fertiliser and how that will impact us. That is something we await. The Commission is very clear on my views about the impact the conflict in the Middle East is having on the supply and price of fertiliser for our farmers and the knock-on impact that can have on food production into the future. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aindrias Moynihan  It is hugely important to look beyond the immediate crisis and to set out a strategy for a more resilient supply. As the Minister said, the European Commission is about to launch its fertiliser security plan aiming at cutting dependency, boosting production and promoting alternatives. That is good and vital, but those solutions are going to take time to implement and farmers are under pressure in the short term. That will especially be the case next year. We are hearing that Russia, India and China, the main suppliers, will be looking to focus their supplies on their own farming sectors ahead of exporting fertiliser. That will really put pressure on next year. Is there a plan for possibly bulk-buying fertiliser? I note and welcome what the Minister said about CBAM. Possibly, at this stage, it is not really the time to be introducing CBAM, and I ask the Minister to press this issue further. Are there efforts to bulk-buy fertiliser to ensure there will be a supply for next year? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  The Minister spoke about price increases, including the price of CAN having risen by 20% and that of urea by as much as 60%. In the context of his engagement with importers and sellers of fertiliser, has any work been done with regard to ensuring that these price increases are based on a lack of supply rather than someone trying to make a profit on the back of fears that are out there? How has the Minister\u2019s engagement with the European Commission gone? It sounds as if it has not been utterly fruitful in relation to CBAM. What replies has he received?  In the previous question I posed to the Minister, he spoke in response about mid-April being crux time. We are well beyond that now. When is it believed that there will be a real issue? I agree with what was said earlier regarding our need to develop resilience. The Minister spoke about farmers engaging with their advisers. Where are we in relation to having a real alternative to fertiliser? I accept that the Strait of Hormuz issue has been caused by others and has little to do with us, but we have to ensure that we build resilience. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  The fertiliser issue is having a huge impact globally. Even the WHO has said that it is going to have an impact on food production and could lead to global food shortages. This is a real issue that we need to deal with here in Ireland with regard to resilience and to finding alternatives. The Minister mentioned that work has been done on this aspect and I welcome that.  One of the alternatives I would like the Minister to note is that there is an awful lot of poultry production in the North at the moment. As he knows, poultry litter is a very good fertiliser, particularly in the context of the tillage sector. I spoke to a poultry farmer yesterday in the North at the Balmoral Show. He told me he is applying for planning permission, but to get it, he has to show that he can get a licence to export the poultry litter to the South to be spread. He has been doing this for the past five years from his poultry farm, but he is having difficulties getting those things sorted out. It is not just him. There are several others as well. It is quite a problem because they need to get co-operation North and South in this regard. I ask the Minister to consider sorting out this problem because it is a very good source of nitrogen, especially for the tillage industry but also for other sectors. It is very clearly available and something I would like the Minister to deal with. On the broader issue, we really need to get to grips with putting supports in place for farmers to be able to get the adequate amounts of fertilisers they need to be able to develop their industry. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  The geopolitical uncertainty in the Middle East is the key driver of this problem. It has put pressure on fertiliser prices and affected the likely availability of fertiliser over the course of the year. As I said, the EU Commission is bringing forward a fertiliser action plan next week. It is anticipated that this plan will focus not only on short-term crisis support but also on structural measures to reduce EU dependency on imported synthetic fossil fuel-based fertilisers.  Turning to Deputy Aindrias Moynihan\u2019s point, there definitely is not just a short-term reaction here. We need to learn from what is happening to ensure we are not back in this situation every couple of years whenever there is a conflict. In addition, there are proposals to provide a means of financially supporting farmers through targeted exceptional supports, which we also look forward to seeing the details of. It is expected that these proposals will contain measures to boost domestic production, promote sustainable practices and encourage the increased use of organic fertilisers and enhanced soil health to reduce dependency on synthetic products.  In the context of the blockages Deputy Kenny outlined, I am happy to talk to him afterwards about them. I am in Armagh tomorrow morning for a sectoral meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council, where I will be meeting my counterpart, Minister Muir. If the Deputy gives me further details, I will be happy to raise this with him tomorrow to see what the issue might be. I am not aware of impediments, they have not been raised with me, but perhaps the issue is on the Northern side. We can see what the situation is.  Deputy Moynihan referred to CBAM and that it is not the time to bring it in. Actually, inadvertently, CBAM has kind of been our friend in that because it was coming in on 1 January this year, importers front-loaded and this meant there was an extra stock of fertiliser in the country. The national fertiliser database gives us very clear information around where we are. Imports of CAN have increased by 55% and urea by 260%, so we are definitely aided by the fact that there is a lot more product in the country and the fertiliser industry continues to import more stocks. My Department is in very regular contact with the fertiliser importer to assess supply issues and address them. Obviously, we have made a point around Article 27a, which we will continue to articulate to the Commission as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aindrias Moynihan  Has the Minister looked at the possibility of moving towards green sources of energy? We do not have a supply of fertiliser manufactured here at home because we do not have the gas, but we do have wind. Has the Minister looked at the possibility of using that type of energy in the context of developing green ammonia plants here?  Second, there is a great opportunity in relation to recovered nitrogen from manure, RENURE, fertilisers, which have recently been approved. Europe should be looking at the possibility of becoming more resilient and self-sufficient, rather than having to reach out elsewhere, using those alternatives and moving away, as much as we can, from chemical options. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I ask the Minister to outline any progress made in relation to alternatives, be it supply or organics. When does he think we will have a crux in relation to fertiliser supply? Has there been any monitoring of prices and whether there is any price gouging going on? That would be utterly unacceptable. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  The fertiliser database gives us good data in relation to where we are at. Fertiliser continues to be imported into the country and the database indicates that is sufficient fertiliser in the country at present. However, products such as urea may come into short supply. We continue to monitor the price as well.  To the broader point made by Deputy Moynihan about wind generation, one would not look at that in the context of Ireland alone. We will see what is in the European Commission's proposals in the action plan on fertiliser next week when it is published by Commissioner Hansen. We will see what the medium-term elements and supports are, but it is definitely a vulnerability for Europe that we are so dependent across Europe for this key component.  The Deputy made a point about RENURE. We supported the introduction of the RENURE measure, but it is not really of major benefit to us in its current form because of the lack of anaerobic digestion here. When the Deputy talks about us building our resilience, countries that have a lot of anaerobic digestion have digestate to go back out onto the land. From a water quality perspective, as well as our efforts to maintain the nitrates derogation, that would be greatly assisted if we had more anaerobic digestion in that space. That is where RENURE kicks in. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"William Aird","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy William Aird  I presume the Leas-Cheann Comhairle is not going to let me back in. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Unfortunately not. I was looking forward to the Deputy's intervention. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"William Aird","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy William Aird  Deputy Kenny, who does not even have a herd number spoke five times, and the Leas-Cheann Comhairle will not let me in. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  Well said. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  Will the Deputy give me his herd number? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"William Aird","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy William Aird  Will the Deputy come home and milk my cows this evening? "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Order, please. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Is f\u00e9idir teacht ar Cheisteanna Scr\u00edofa ar www.oireachtas.ie. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Written Answers are published on the Oireachtas website. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Agriculture Supports"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_32","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions","counts":{"speechCount":24,"speakerCount":7},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_32","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Is l\u00e9iri\u00fa uaf\u00e1sach na figi\u00fair\u00ed a foils\u00edodh inniu maidir le polasa\u00ed tith\u00edochta an Rialtais. Sa ch\u00e9ad tr\u00ed mh\u00ed don bhliain seo, tugadh 7,062 f\u00f3gra d\u00edshealbhaithe do thion\u00f3nta\u00ed, an figi\u00far is airde a taifeadadh riamh. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 seo suas n\u00edos m\u00f3 n\u00e1 50% ar an tr\u00e9imhse c\u00e9anna an bhliain roimhe seo. N\u00ed tr\u00ed thimpiste at\u00e1 s\u00e9 seo ag tarl\u00fa. T\u00e1 na r\u00e1ta\u00ed d\u00edshealbhaithe ag ard\u00fa as cuimse \u00f3 d\u2019fh\u00f3gair an Rialtas a chuid athruithe tubaisteacha ar rialach\u00e1n c\u00edosa an samhradh seo caite. D\u2019oscail s\u00e9 na geata\u00ed tuile agus d\u00fairt muid caid\u00e9 go d\u00edreach a tharl\u00f3dh. An nglacann an Rialtas anois go bhfuil a chuid athruithe c\u00edosa anois tar \u00e9is an gh\u00e9arch\u00e9im seo a dh\u00e9anamh i bhfad n\u00edos measa?  Figures published today are a devastating indictment of the Government's housing policies. Eviction notices are up by over 50%. Mmore than 7,000 eviction notices have been issued to renters, the highest number ever recorded. These are real people, real lives and real families. They are workers, renters, young couples and older renters. Their lives have been thrown into turmoil as a result of the Government's policies. I am told of one couple in Galway who are in their 60s. They have worked all of their lives and have just been served with an eviction notice. The man told us that he has a pain in the pit of his stomach because they have literally nowhere to go. It is unconscionable what is happening to families like that at this stage of their lives. This did not happen by accident. The rate of evictions has skyrocketed since the Government announced its rent hike Bill last summer. The Government opened the floodgates. It was warned about what would happen. It was warned that weakening rent protections would drive up rents and that landlords would use these changes to force tenants out. It was also warned that renters would pay the price. Now, the evidence is in.  The figures to which I refer confirm that rents are continuing to rise. Rents went up again last year. At the very height of an emergency in housing, the Government decided to let landlords charge full market rents from 1 March in respect of new tenancies. The result was predictable, and now we are going to see rent hikes of between 20% and 25%. Thousands of extra euros must be found by renters every year. That means more pressure on workers, families and people who are already at breaking point in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis.  What makes people so angry is the fact that the Government knew exactly what it was doing. It made a deliberate political choice to side with institutional investors, vulture funds and landlords over ordinary Irish renters in the context of what was a charter for rent hikes and evictions. The reality that people are facing now is brutal. Rents are off the scale because of the decisions that Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael have made. Even when people can afford to rent, there is literally nothing available. Young workers are locked out of ever owning their own home. Couples have been forced back into their parents' box rooms. Families are lying awake at night, terrified about getting an eviction notice. Workers in their 40s and 50s are wondering if they will ever have security and stability in their lives.  While all of this is happening, the Government continues to miss its inadequate social and affordable housing targets. Supply remains nowhere near the level of demand. What exactly are people supposed to do? For many, there is nowhere to go. Everybody knows what comes next, namely more homelessness, more families in emergency accommodation, more young people forced to emigrate and leave our shores and another generation locked out of the possibility of secure and affordable homes.  Today's figures expose the reality of the Government's housing policies, which is more evictions, more rent, more insecurity and more homelessness. It is not an accident. Will the T\u00e1naiste admit that the Government's rent changes have made this crisis dramatically worse? Will the Government reverse its disastrous rent hike legislation that continues to drive renters out of their homes? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I am grateful to the Residential Tenancies Board, RTB, directors for the publication of their update today. When any report is published, it is very important not just to just cherry-pick one figure in isolation and present it as the reality or, indeed, the totality of the analysis that has been carried out by the RTB because, of course, that is not the case at all. In fact, the report that was published a very short time ago shows that there was a 39% decrease in the number of termination notices issued in the month of March compared with the month of February. While the Deputy might be right and while he may wish to scoff, the reality also shows that there was a downward trend from February to March in terms of termination notices. That is also in the report, but perhaps it was overlooked.  The report also shows that there are clear signs of continued resilience in the Irish rental sector. We see more tenancies and landlords in the market than we did at the same time last year. That is a statement of fact. There are more tenancies, more tenants, more landlords and more homes. In many ways, this also tallies with the information we have seen from a recent market report on daft.ie which showed a modest rebound in the availability of rental properties. We have seen 16,548 new tenancies registrations in the first three months of this year. We have also seen 246,477 registered private tenancies in quarter one of this year, an increase on last year. A total of 105,847 private landlords registered in the first quarter of this year compared to the same quarter last year. This report shows there are more tenants, tenancies, landlords and homes than there were this time last year. That is not to say that there is not a very significant housing challenge or that we are not still in the midst of a housing emergency, but it is to provide some fair and balanced analysis of the actual report that has just been published.  The Deputy referred to protection for renters. He knows, because he voted against them, that we took measures in this House to strengthen the rights of tenants. He knows that there are people in his constituency in Donegal who are now covered by rent pressure zones who were not covered before this Government brought in that legislative measure. He knows that since 1 March last, there is a rent increase restriction in place nationwide on all tenancies and that rent increases are capped at the level of inflation to a maximum of 2% for existing tenancies. He also knows that we strengthened tenancy protections, improved security of tenure, introduced tenancies of minimum duration involving rolling six-year tenancies and effectively ended no-fault evictions by larger landlords.  A point I would agree with the Deputy on is that it is about supply. We need to continue to build and provide more homes.  We are doing just that. We have built 241,000 homes since 2016, 36,000 of them last year alone. The Deputy talked about first-time buyers and people having the right to buy their own home. More than 27,500 people bought their own home in 2025, which was the highest number since 2007. More than 500 first-time buyers buy a first home every single week. When it comes to helping people in need of social housing, we have added over 85,000 new homes to the active social housing stock since 2016. We are building more social housing, with an additional 55,600 new-build social homes since 2016. Alongside that, we continue to keep supports in place, including the help-to-buy scheme, which the Deputy would get rid of, and the first home scheme, which he would get rid of as well.  We have serious issues when it comes to housing but we are now seeing more homes being built. We see more people being able to access tenancies. We are seeing more landlords in the market. We see encouraging figures when it comes to commencement of planning. We will continue to drive that agenda forward and get 300,000 homes delivered by the end of 2030. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  The T\u00e1naiste can spin this whatever way he wants but it is black and white. The truth is that he is deepening the crisis because of the political choices the Government has made. The T\u00e1naiste can shake his head all he wants. Does he know what is happening out there? His Government, his party, the Fianna F\u00e1il Party and the Independent Members who support them have opened the floodgates. We warned them about what was going to happen. The Government is allowing landlords to drive up rent. We said they would use the legislation to evict tenants and that is what is happening now.  The Government is presiding over the highest rate of evictions since the Famine. In one of the wealthiest countries in Europe, families are being driven from their homes in their thousands. That is what the T\u00e1naiste is overseeing. We have told the Government time and again that its policies are failing people. That is why so many are giving up. They do not believe they have a future in this country and they are losing hope because of the Government's failures. The T\u00e1naiste talks about affordable housing that costs between \u20ac2,500 and \u20ac3000 to rent every single month. It is simply unaffordable. Does he accept that the Government's legislation has allowed a situation whereby we now have more evictions than was the case during the Famine and that Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael are presiding over that? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  No, I do not accept it. Of course, Deputy Doherty wants people to give up hope and to give up on this country because his politics thrives on that negativity and divisiveness. However, the people are much more reasonable than him. They know we are building more homes than the EU average. They know that Ireland delivered the strongest rate of new housing completions across 19 countries in the EU in 2024. They can see the homes and the cranes. They can see the figures. They know there are more first-time buyers than at any time since 2007. They know there are more tenancies and that we are making progress.  The reality is that all Deputy Doherty does each and every week is hop on the latest headline. While we are making serious policy decisions across a spectrum of housing challenges, he has no sense of direction. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  What about evictions? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Whatever way the wind blows, Pearse goes. The problem is it does not add up. He wants to get rid of all the taxes and he wants more spending. He wants a mini-budget every week. Sinn F\u00e9in says it wants more affordable and available rental supply, yet Deputies opposite vote against every measure we bring forward. They are not even capable of responsible Opposition, which is why the people have never put them in government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  The comments of former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern are deeply disturbing. Particularly alarming was the way in which he singled out specific ethnic, religious and national identities. More than being just offensive and irresponsible, his language was dangerous and inflammatory. For a politician who devoted so much of his career to finding a resolution to the Troubles - a conflict based on religious division - it was shameful to hear him refer to a child's religion, Islam, when he said he is worried about the next generation of Muslims.  In the context of the Dublin Central by-election, it was profoundly wrong to use language that could direct public anger towards migrants and minorities. We have already heard a candidate in that constituency make an outrageous call for internment of refugees. In the other by-election in Galway West, a torrent of despicable online racist abuse has been directed at the Labour Party candidate, Councillor Helen Ogbu. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  The Deputy should not refer to by-elections. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  Meta has failed to take responsibility for the hate speech it is facilitating.  The former Taoiseach, Mr. Ahern, remains a member of the Council of State. He is more than just a private person making ignorant remarks at a doorstep. As he should know, discourse around migration must be rooted in facts, humanity and respect. That is why the Labour Party, just last month, launched the Together We Thrive campaign. Our promotes the urgent need for a fair, fact-based national conversation on migration that highlights the enormously positive contribution made by those with migrant backgrounds to our society and our economy, and this is clear from the figures.  We know the health and social care sectors, in particular, rely heavily on migrant workers. The T\u00e1naiste knows that nearly one in four nurses and midwives employed by the HSE comes from abroad. I met this morning with representatives of Nursing Homes Ireland, who confirmed that the nursing home sector simply could not function without the migrant workers who make up a huge proportion of its workforce. However, we are failing many of those migrant workers. I met yesterday with members of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, INMO. They told me about the enormous delays in the system for nurses working here who seek to have spouses and children join them from abroad. I heard directly from those affected heartbreaking stories of family separation due to the delays in processing visas for family reunification. I spoke to a mother who works in cancer care in Rathgar, in my constituency, whose two daughters aged 4 and 7 have been living in Ghana with their grandmother for the past two years while they wait for permission to come here.  We are failing the people whose work is building our communities. We need to change our rhetoric and improve their reality. We must improve the family reunification process. Moreover, we need to be careful about our language. Does the T\u00e1naiste condemn Bertie Ahern's comments? Will he call on him to apologise? Will he support my party's Together We Thrive campaign for a fair, fact-based and positive conversation about migration? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  At the outset, while respecting the rules of the House in relation to by-elections, let me say that I absolutely deplore, condemn and abhor any racism directed towards any candidate in this democracy. I want to be very clear in relation to the comments of the former Taoiseach: they were not appropriate and they were wrong. It absolutely is perfectly legitimate in this country - in fact, I would even go so far as to say it is essential - that we debate migration policy. No one has an issue with that. It is important to debate it. We might have different views and perspectives on it, and that is okay. It is important that we debate the laws and systems around migration. No one has an issue with that.  The policy of the Government has been clear. Anyone who comes to Ireland seeking asylum from outside the EU or outside the EEA should be treated humanely and in accordance with international law. They have a right to be here and their application should be processed quickly. We have been trying to do our bit to ensure faster processing times. Of course, as per the point the Deputy is making, most people who come to Ireland do not come through the international protection system. They come through a whole variety of other ways, legitimately and legally, to play a positive role in our country. I take up the opportunity the Deputy has afforded, as I hope will everyone in the House, to recognise the very positive contribution those people make to Irish society and the Irish economy. Having people come here to work or study contributes to our country and makes our republic better and more complete.  Of course, as I said, we can have sensible and rational discussions on migration policy. The same is happening in every country in the world. That is different. However, it is never acceptable to single out an entire group of people based on their race, ethnicity or religion. That only serves to demonise or stigmatise a group of people and it is not a helpful contribution; in fact, it is hurtful. I was struck by the comments by the chief imam of the Islamic Centre of Ireland, Shaykh Dr. Umar Al-Qadri, that Mr. Ahern's remarks were offensive to all immigrants. He said it is important to discuss the challenges facing the country openly and honestly, that it is important to do so in a democracy and that we should always be willing to do it but that we should avoid the kind of rhetoric that would seek to scapegoat an entire community.  We benefit hugely from people who come here and make Ireland their home. They are working in our public services, including, as Deputy Bacik mentioned, as nurses, doctors and healthcare assistants. Hospitals would not function without people coming here. We are a better country as a result of people coming here. As I said, it is perfectly legitimate to debate migration policy and the systems we have. However, we should never group people based on religion, nationality or race. The former Taoiseach's comments have caused hurt and harm. I am sure that was not the intention. I certainly hope it was not the intention. I am sure it was not. It is important that everyone in this House, of all parties and none, is united in terms of being very clear on our views in this regard. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  I thank the T\u00e1naiste for his comment that Bertie Ahern's remarks were not appropriate and were wrong. Will he go further by calling them out and calling on Mr. Ahern to apologise? It is ironic, as the T\u00e1naiste will appreciate as Fine Gael leader, that Bertie Ahern should have the temerity to fuel rhetoric that blames immigrants for systemic problems in Ireland. This is the man whose policies brought about the worst financial crash in the history of the State. Since that crash, migrants have played a pivotal role in rebuilding our economy. Let us acknowledge that.  We should look around this Chamber. We are dealing today with an outrageous slur made by a former Taoiseach against people of African heritage and descent. Yet, in this Chamber, there is no one of colour. There is no African voice to testify to the hurt those comments caused or to testify at first hand about the direct experience of racism.  My Labour colleagues and I very much hope that will change after the Galway West by-election. We know we have a candidate who exemplifies the new Ireland. I am not going to speak any further----- "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  -----but we hope that will change. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy Bacik should not make reference to the candidates or the by-elections. That was agreed by the House. She is showing poor example in what she is doing this morning. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Are there by-elections on, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle? Sorry - I will certainly respect the rules of the House and take that point, but I also take the serious point the Deputy made because it is a serious issue. There are people feeling hurt today and we have to acknowledge that. I feel very strongly that we have to facilitate \u2013 the Deputy suggested ways we could do this and it is worth exploring those \u2013 ways of being able to debate migration in this country. That is a legitimate and important part of our democracy. We will all have different views, for example, on whether we should opt into the EU asylum pact. We believe we should, some people do not. We have different views and that is fine. That is politics and policy. It is evidence and debates that we will follow and work our way through. That is what we should be doing in this House. However, that is different to making comments grouping people based on race, religion or ethnicity. I am quite sure it was unintentional but those comments have caused significant hurt to a significant number of people who make a very fine contribution to our public services and society. It is up to individuals what they wish to do, but I am quite sure, knowing Bertie Ahern, that he did not intend that harm and, therefore, he should reflect on it further. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  N\u00edl ganntanas gaoithe againn in \u00c9irinn; t\u00e1 neart gaoth againn. A windy island on the edge of the Atlantic, our potential for clean, cheap energy is immense. We could and should be a green energy superpower, exporting electricity to the rest of Europe. Instead, we are laggards. People are stuck paying the highest electricity bills in Europe. There are now more than 300,000 households in arrears. People are unable to pay for the basics in a country that is supposedly rich. Some \u20ac523 million worth of wind energy was wasted last year because of our crumbling grid infrastructure. That was 10% of all the wind energy produced. Meanwhile, the Government's insatiable appetite for data centres is cannibalising any increase in renewable capacity. The red carpet is rolled out for data centres while people freeze in their homes. It does not need to be like this and should not be.  Fine Gael has been in power for 15 years and there has not been one single offshore wind farm built in this country. We have had 15 years without proper investment in the grid and 15 years of being chained to volatile gas prices in a time of global uncertainty. Wholesale electricity prices in Ireland are nearly four times higher than in Spain. Spain is now producing enough solar and wind energy that electricity prices are no longer tied to gas. While the Irish Government has dithered and delayed, Spain has delivered. We can act quickly by rolling out solar panels. They are relatively cheap, easy to install and immediately bring down people's electricity bills. However, according to the Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI, the Government\u2019s grants are out of reach for people struggling to pay their bills. This failure to deliver is not abstract. It is felt by ordinary people every time they are hit with a bill. This is the legacy of the T\u00e1naiste\u2019s party\u2019s decade and a half in government.  The Government has the resources to help people now while investing in our future energy security. We should have wind farms in our seas and solar panels on every home in the country. Our bills should be some of the cheapest in Europe, not the most expensive. Will the T\u00e1naiste support the Social Democrats\u2019 solar for all plan to break our dependence on fossil fuels and give struggling households the clean and cheap electricity they need? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy O\u2019Callaghan. I will come back at a time when we have longer than three minutes to debate my party\u2019s record in government, but I will debate it anywhere, with anybody, at any time in terms of the state we inherited this country in in 2011, the progress we have collectively made with our coalition colleagues since then, and the progress this country has seen across a whole variety of economic and social issues. Perhaps that is for another day, but I am not going to have a widespread, snide slur made on the record of my party.  The Deputy is right on the need to do more when it comes to renewable energy. I have already said in this House that, to be fair, the Deputy\u2019s party has put forward ideas that definitely merit consideration. Some of the Social Democrats\u2019 ideas around solar - I think I said this last week - merit further consideration. We as a Government will be looking at what more can be done in the budget in October to assist with what is an energy crisis for the world and an energy affordability crisis for many people. We have taken a number of measures in the here and now to try to assist people with fuel prices. The Minister, Deputy Heydon\u2019s fuel support scheme for farmers is an example, with more than 3,000 people applying so far. There is the scheme for hauliers and the reduction in the cost of fuel at the pump. There have also been the changes made by the Minister, Deputy O\u2019Brien, in terms of retrofitting grants, which we are seeing good responses to. There has been a very significant increase this year and last year in the number of people looking to get windows or doors replaced or to get solar panels. That is going in the right direction.  I am not suggesting that the Deputy is, but we can sometimes be fatalistic about climate, climate action and our ability to make progress. We saw the most recent emissions report of the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, in recent days confirming progress for this country. Ireland's recorded overall greenhouse gas emissions have reduced for a third consecutive year. We have managed to grow the economy and reduce our carbon emissions, proving that it is not a choice between economic growth and climate sustainability. We saw a decrease of 6.8% in 2023 and a further decrease of 2% in 2024. Ireland now has its lowest level of greenhouse gas emissions in 35 years, which is notable, given the fact that our population has increased by 1.5 million people in that time, there are 1 million new homes and there are 1 million extra vehicles on our roads. We are making progress. We have seen electricity generation from renewables increase fivefold since 2005. In February, which was only a couple of months ago, wind energy provided a record 50% of our electricity and Ireland has reached a record circa 8 GW of renewable generation capacity, up from only 4.8 GW in 2020. We are objectively making real progress in terms of our switch to renewables. That is true.  The Deputy is not saying it, but all too often, it is a question of do we want this or that. We have to continue to grow our economy and not suggest it is a choice between being on the side of the planet or of economic growth. It is possible to do both. This country is proof of that. The Social Democrats have put forward constructive ideas on what more we could be doing around solar power, and we will give consideration to them in the time ahead. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  Fine Gael is 15 years in government. It does not have a single offshore wind farm to show for that entire time. Has the T\u00e1naiste nothing to say for himself?  We should be a net exporter of clean electricity to Europe. Instead, we are one of its biggest importers of fossil fuels. We have the highest electricity bills in Europe because of the Government\u2019s failure to deliver in terms of renewable energy. It is fine for the T\u00e1naiste to say repeatedly that the Social Democrats are putting forward good ideas, the Government will look at them and they have merit, but we need it to act. People in arrears on their electricity bills need it to act. Why is the T\u00e1naiste just saying that our proposals merit consideration? Why does the Government not actually take our proposals on rolling out solar on the scale we need and bring down people\u2019s electricity bills by approximately 40%, break our dependence on fossil fuels and take the kind of action we need to be a world leader in renewable energy, not a laggard? Why is it taking the Government so long to act in these areas? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I have loads to say for myself, I can assure the Deputy. I am in a Government and leading a party in a Government that is managing to see emissions fall in this country for three years in a row while growing the economy, creating more jobs, seeing wages rise and seeing more homes built. It is entirely possible to do more than one thing at a time in government. It is not fair to say that we are not making progress when it comes to climate. We objectively are. We are proving that despite the ideology of some, it is possible to grow the economy in a sustainable way. I have never bought into the view that it is a choice between one or the other. Yes, we need to protect the planet but we also need to make sure that people have jobs.  These data centres are not the bogeyman the Deputy likes to paint them as. They are a very important part of our economic model, literally fuelling jobs, economic growth and taxation across the country, and the Deputy will come in next week with an idea for how I should spend the taxes. Before we spend money in Ireland, we have to generate it. The National Treasury Management Agency, NTMA, gave a very significant warning to the Oireachtas today. When was the last time anyone came into the House with an idea as to how to grow the economy rather than just spend more money?  We will look at more ideas around solar in the time ahead. We have already taken action. There are more people qualifying for fuel allowance and household benefits than ever before. We are reducing the excise on diesel and petrol and there are support schemes for farmers and hauliers. We are not having a mini-budget every Thursday. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  Those ideas----- "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  County Tipperary has more than 5,900 km of road and, based on the current pavement surface condition index ratings, it would cost more than \u20ac300 million to bring all the road network to a good standard, that is to the Department's rating of at least seven. According to Department of Transport guidelines, Tipperary County Council should treat 5% of the road network or 295 km under the road improvement programme annually and another 5% under the road maintenance programme. That is a total of 590 km. In the past five years, the council has only been able to treat an average of 300 km each year, or 5.1%, only 50% of the Department's target. To achieve the 10% target, a doubling of the Government allocation from \u20ac23 million to \u20ac46 million would be required.  The Department of Transport discretionary road grant has remained static since 2020 and the Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, grant has also plateaued. In the same period, from 2020 to 2025, costs have increased dramatically with road construction and road maintenance inflation of more 30%. The result is that the roads output has reduced by more than 20%. It also means that in a county with limited public transport where people need cars to go to school and work, roads have potholes and are substandard, with many stretches bordering on being unsafe.  On top of this bad situation, things have become significantly worse due to the illegal US war on Iran. As the T\u00e1naiste will be aware, fuel prices have gone through the roof and this will cost Tipperary County Council roads department a further \u20ac400,000 in 2026. Bitumen prices have similarly soared, costing the roads department an additional \u20ac410,000 in 2026. The price of stone, concrete and Macadam have also soared sharply. A further significant cost has arisen from the damage done to the road network during the severe winter, which cost the council more than \u20ac600,000.  The council has lodged a submission with the Department of Transport seeking funding to cover this. Tipperary County Council roads department is urgently seeking funds to cover these unexpected costs of close to \u20ac1 million arising from the war in Iran and \u20ac600,000 for costs related to the severe winter weather. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Healy for raising the issue of roads, road maintenance, the quality of roads and, quite rightly, the implications that can have on road safety. The Government has increased the level of funding provided for roads. I will follow up specifically with the Minister on what the Deputy said about Tipperary and the council's submission to the Department.  The budget for regional roads is around \u20ac718 million, which is higher than in previous budgets, and I think we allocated to Tipperary County Council just over \u20ac49 million as part of that. Quite a lot of it is for the renewal and protection of regional and local roads.  However, the Deputy is not wrong to highlight two challenges that councils are facing through no fault of their own. The first is the significant periods of adverse weather we had. Some parts of the country were more impacted by that than others. On top of that, there is the absolute truth that when commodity prices rise, inflation rises and the cost of doing something increases. We have seen figures out today that show the consumer price index rising again. The war on Iran, apart from to the horrific humanitarian consequences of war and conflict, is not consequence free in terms of economics and costs. I accept that local authorities through no fault of their own are having to deal with this as well.  As a Government, we will continue to keep these issues under review. At the moment we are working with local authorities specifically on the issue of storm damage and have asked for submissions to be sent in by local authorities. They will be assessed as speedily as possible. In my county, significant damage was done to roads as well. There is often a churn, if I can describe it as that, in capital spending, where there is often an ability to allocate and reallocate capital spending to these areas.  We will have to have an honest conversation. I do not mean this to be critical of councils at all but unfortunately rare weather events are not very rare any more. Therefore, as we set out our budgets each year for roads, we will need to be conscious of the proportion set aside or ring-fended for the inevitability of some adverse weather. We need to get a bit better at doing that so we do not find ourselves somewhat surprised by the sadly more frequent adverse weather events. More broadly, on the issue of the impact of the war on costs, this is something the Government is having to review right across the system. We cannot chase inflation. We need to be careful that we do not do anything to worsen the situation but we will continue to do all we can to support State agencies and local authorities in the delivery of projects. On foot of the Deputy raising this, I will specifically ask that the Minister for Transport consider the submissions made by Tipperary County Council and come back to the Deputy directly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  I thank the T\u00e1naiste. Good road conditions are vital for County Tipperary. It has limited public transport and is largely a rural county. People who work in any of our towns such as Clonmel, Tipperary town, Cashel, Cahir, Carrick-on-Suir, Thurles, Roscrea or Nenagh must drive to work and people who go to third level institutions in Clonmel or Thurles must drive. People who shop in any of those towns or go there for entertainment must drive. Poor quality road surfaces contribute to road traffic accidents causing injury and death. As I already said, road conditions have deteriorated in the past five years because of static Government grants and inflation. The war in Iran has increased costs significantly. Will the T\u00e1naiste confirm whether Tipperary County Council will be compensated for those unexpected costs, which it has no control over? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I can confirm this morning that we are working our way through the various impacts of the storm damage and we will continue to engage on that. I also acknowledge that the Government has been increasing public funding. I am not directing this at the Deputy but I hear public bodies speaking as though they are speaking at a time of reduction, while public spending has only gone in one direction and that is up. I absolutely assure the Deputy that Tipperary County Council has received more support across a variety of funding heads from this Government than it did in previous years. I also acknowledge the funding we provided for the main street in Tipperary town and the ongoing works on the N24 from Cahir to Limerick. I think \u20ac2.7 million was allocated to that.  However, the Deputy referenced specific issues, including storm damage and the impact of the war. We need to work our way through these in a methodical fashion. However, I have to make the point - and it is not specific to Tipperary - that we cannot have a situation where local authorities find themselves surprised by adverse weather, climate change and storms. Sometimes things can be worse than we expect but we need to get better at planning and factoring into our roads budget and other budgets that damage can happen to infrastructure due to adverse weather. I will ask the Minister to come back to the Deputy. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_33","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 na Comhalta\u00ed Eile - Other Members\u2019 Questions","counts":{"speechCount":14,"speakerCount":7},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_33","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"James O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"James O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James O'Connor  I raise the possibility of having nuclear energy in Ireland. As people across both sides of the House will be aware, I am bringing forward legislation to remove the prohibition on generation of power by nuclear fission. I would like to get an idea from the T\u00e1naiste, the leader of our coalition partners in government, of his views on whether this is possible.  As we are in the House and it is being discussed by Members on both sides, Ireland now has the most expensive energy market in the European Union. We need to ask ourselves how we got here. Other parties on this side of the House have been in government over the course of the past 15 years. I just heard the leader of the Labour Party describe my proposal as a hare-brained notion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  Correct. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  Hear, hear "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  Exactly "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James O'Connor  Sometimes I wonder whether R\u00f3is\u00edn Shortall had a point but I will say this. We have the possibility to follow what other countries in the 27 EU countries have done already by implementing nuclear power. We can look at Finland. The grand committee of the Finish Parliament was in Leinster House two weeks ago. Finland has the same population as Ireland and 40% of its energy comes from nuclear power. As a consequence, its citizens, small businesses and the economy of Finland have the cheapest energy in the European Union. We have had lots of discussion about renewables. Looking at the potential of nuclear energy and understanding the strategic aims and objectives of decarbonising our economy, common sense will tell us from what other countries have done successfully, that nuclear energy is the way to go.  The technology is changing. It is safer in the era of AI and with what it can do for engineering it is now easier than ever to do this successfully. Is it time we looked at this as an option, as other countries have done successfully?  People here will always pick the worst examples of where nuclear has gone wrong. I understand that is for reasons of safety and because of debates we have had in times gone by, but can we not acknowledge 30, 40 or 50 years later that things have changed, it is safer and, as a consequence of our inaction and the mistake of putting that prohibition in place, we have put ourselves in a vulnerable position when it comes to energy security and energy sovereignty. We have the opportunity to become, as other countries have, a cheaper place for people to get energy and to bring down bills in this country once and for all. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank the Deputy for the question and I genuinely thank him for the positive contribution he is making to this debate. This is what politics is about. He made the point about the different views the Labour Party might have. It is a good thing to have debate on policy. We do not do enough of it in this House. Politics has become far too performative, shouty and headline-grabbing. The fact that the Deputy is coming forward with a Bill, has engaged with us on it and is asking people for their views on it is a good and positive thing that we should be doing as legislators. Comhghairdeas and gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Teachta on that.  Energy security is an important point because we have found ourselves, particularly in Ireland but more broadly across the European Union, very exposed to what happens very far away from our country. We can all commentate on what leaders of other countries do - that is not inconsequential - but we cannot necessarily change that. A conversation about energy security is extraordinarily important. We have a tendency - I am sure none of us is innocent of this - to list everything we are against: we are against this interconnector, that or the other. There is an onus on all of us to stop saying what we are against in terms of energy security and start saying what we are in favour of. Different people will have different views on that but I take that point, too.  My gut feeling on this is I do not understand why we have a legislative prohibition on nuclear energy. There might be policy reasons why people do not wish to pursue it and practical reasons why it is not efficient. We can debate that, but I am not sure primary legislation in the 21st century needs to prohibit nuclear energy. Why can we not assess, consider and debate rather than having that legislative prohibition? That is my position. I do not believe we should have a legislative prohibition on nuclear technology and I do not think that serves policy debate well. In fact, it shuts down policy debate. Different people will have different views. That is my view and I am entitled to it.  The programme for Government is clear on renewables. That has been the path we have been pursuing as a country. We are making good progress on that and need to make more progress. Here is where we get to the evidence piece. I am not an expert on energy. In fact, I think we could do with more expert voices on energy in the debate. However, I am told that the development of traditional nuclear power plants can take many years and require the creation of an entire new regulatory system that does not exist in Ireland, and that there can be issues around construction, procurement, safe demolition and disposal of waste. I am not saying that I have fully bought into this idea but debating and considering ideas around energy security is not a bad thing.  I am told by the Department of communications and energy that nuclear power might not practically be part of our national electricity production in this decade or, indeed, the next decade. I say that just to put these opinions on the table. I believe the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, is leading on developing an evidence base - that is helpful - for a pathway to decarbonise the Irish electricity system after 2030 and reach net-zero emissions by 2050. The SEAI is considering a number of technologies, including small modular nuclear reactors, as part of that consideration of an evidence base. We need all the evidence and information. The first question is whether we want a primary legislative prohibition of that. There is some merit in debating that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James O'Connor  The T\u00e1naiste's comments are welcome and the fact that we are having this debate is a healthy thing. Input from all sides of the House would be welcome, and that is why I am proud to bring this forward. We need to discuss dealing with our future demand. We know we are looking at a 45% increase in energy need in Ireland up to 2034. That cannot be delivered by renewables alone. We will be heavily depending on carbon energy to do that. We need to face the fact that Ireland could be fined \u20ac3.5 billion to \u20ac8 billion of public money annually by the European Commission if we fail to meet our decarbonisation targets.  This is the great conundrum. We have a population that has grown by 1 million since 2006 and is expected to grow another 1 million in the same period of time in the future. We will have a 45% increase in energy demand. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  From data centres. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James O'Connor  We have a strong economy at full employment. We need to grab the bull by the horns and plan ahead because if you fail to plan ahead, it is much like politics, in that you could end up like the Labour Party - out of government for over a decade and irrelevant. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Wall  Good man, James. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I was trying to pay tribute to Deputy O'Connor for being constructive but---- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert O'Donoghue  Did we get under Deputy O'Connor's skin? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  What did the T\u00e1naiste say about debates in this Chamber? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Nobody in this House is irrelevant and we should all play a constructive role in debating. There are different views on this issue. Everyone brings their view. I said we did not have enough experts. My constituency colleague, Deputy Whitmore, may be much more expert on this, given her professional background, than I am. We should be hearing one another's ideas. That is the point I am making. We do not serve the people well when we shut down debates around issues as crucial as energy security and reduce those debates just to what we can do in the short term and the here and now. It is important to help people in the here and now, but people also want to know where we will get to. I have given my view on the primary prohibition in legislation. I do not think that serves the debate well. I welcome the Deputy's legislation on facilitating that discussion on why that prohibition is there and if it needs to change.  I note that the International Energy Agency, IEA, looked at some of this and published in December 2025 an independent expert assessment of our energy system with a specific focus on the role of the power sector to 2035. It is called Powering Ireland's Energy Future. It said Ireland had an opportunity to be a global leader in integrating variable renewable energies, particularly wind, into our energy system. It did not consider nuclear technology as feasible for inclusion in the Irish energy system in the timeframe out to 2035. However, let us have the debate. The Deputy's legislation is a constructive part of that. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 na Comhalta\u00ed Eile - Other Members\u2019 Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_34","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Pholasa\u00ed n\u00f3 ar Reachta\u00edocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation","counts":{"speechCount":57,"speakerCount":21},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_34","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tom Brabazon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Roche","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ann Graves","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Another day, another story of shocking waste on the watch of Fine Gael and Fine Gael. A public accounts committee investigation has uncovered that the Government has overspent to the tune of \u20ac40 million on IT projects in the past two years. This is crazy stuff, again and again. A DNA information system was supposed to cost \u20ac760,000; the final cost was \u20ac2.7 million. A childcare IT project was supposed to cost \u20ac7.1 million; its final cost was over \u20ac10 million. A new Garda case management system collapsed with \u20ac500,000 already spent - money wasted, down the drain. What in God's name is happening? What is going on here? Nobody in charge, no oversight, no accountability. From bike sheds to IT projects, Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael are serial wasters of the public's money. It is easy come, easy go, and people have had their fill of it. What is the T\u00e1naiste going to do to put a stop to the serial wastage we are seeing under this Government? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  The Deputy says \"no oversight, no accountability\", but is that not exactly the role of the public accounts committee and is that not exactly why that information is in the public domain? It is because we have oversight. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  To tell us it is wasted. We are trying to make sure it does not get wasted. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  We have accountability. We have oversight as well. When the Deputy quotes selectively, it leads us to one view. When you look at the thing in the round, we see that many projects come in on time and on budget. Many come in under budget as well. We must continue to call out and highlight those areas where they do not and continue to ensure that they do better. The Deputy likes to create the view that every bit of investment in cycling or somewhere to park a bike is waste. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Who said that? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  It is a little bit more complicated than that. It might not work for the old TikTok videos but it deserves a more considered response than Deputy Doherty ever gives here in this House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Will the T\u00e1naiste address the issue? Will he address the fact that the Government is wasting millions of euro while asking ordinary people to tighten their belts? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  If the Deputy wants to talk about wastage, he should get a mirror. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  We move on to Deputy Wall. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Wall  Speaking on behalf of the still very relevant Labour Party,------ "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Wall  -----childcare is a major cost of living for many working families across this country. In too many cases, parents are paying a second mortgage in childcare fees while others are struggling to even find a place for their children. Many community and small providers are barely getting by while educators are leaving the sector day by day. At the same time, we hear that a major childcare chain is being sold to a UK investment firm for \u20ac75 million, a chain that has come to Leinster House with its begging bowl and lobbied hard for an increase in fees and for funding increases. Ireland is sleepwalking into a corporate takeover of childcare. The Labour Party was the first party to propose \u20ac200 childcare fees, something that all parties seem to agree on. When will the Government get serious about delivering a fully public system of early childhood education and care that delivers affordability for parents, quality for children and fairness for small and medium providers, who are the backbone of this sector? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank the Deputy. I believe that a proper publicly supported childcare system that works and has enough places, access and affordability is key, not just as an equality issue or a social issue - though it is both - but as an economic issue. It is an important issue.  There is a consensus in this House, at least on the destination we want to get to. We have made progress. Any parent who uses the national childcare subsidy scheme knows that scheme provides more funding and support now than it used to. People know that core funding has increased. People know we are now investing more. For the first time, the State is now investing directly in publicly funded State facilities as well. I believe that with four budget left to go for this Government, the next budget needs to deliver a roadmap to get us from A to B and show how we will make that progress. I want childcare to be a major priority in the forthcoming budget. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  More than 7,000 notices to quit were issued during the first three months of this year, which is an increase of 51%. The T\u00e1naiste's response to being challenged on the highest levels of evictions since the Famine was quite shocking and revealing in its lack of concern for the real-life trauma, stress and anxiety of thousands of households, many of them children, families and workers, who were evicted in the first three months of this year. The Government's new rental measures were brought in to benefit the vulture funds and vulture landlords. The Government caused this and allowed them to hike the rents, but refused to give the existing quarter of a million renters any new protections from evictions. Does the T\u00e1naiste accept the Government's policies have caused this and that what we need is an emergency ban on no-fault evictions? How can the T\u00e1naiste stand over it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Time is up, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  He did not even respond in terms of this being trauma and people's lives being thrown upside down - thousands of them. Yet, the T\u00e1naiste says, \"Oh well, we will see what we can do.\" Why will the Government not put a ban on evictions in place? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy Hearne. The T\u00e1naiste to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  The T\u00e1naiste says he cares. He says he has compassion. This is what is needed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I do not accept that at all. What I accept is that we are seeing more tenancies in this country now than we did last year. We are seeing more landlords in the market now than we did last year. Yes, we did see a spike in notices of termination. That is a statement of fact. There are other statements of fact in the report the Deputy has not mentioned, including the very significant----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  Does the T\u00e1naiste accept the trauma? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I absolutely accept that when we live in a housing emergency people experience trauma. I also accept that we need to get private investment in to build houses and that not every house will be built by the taxpayer in this country. Private investment is a really important part of any sustainable housing market. We have a difference of view on that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  I have just received notice of what will be proposed for a massive increase in council rent in South Dublin County Council. It is looking to increase the basic rate of council rent by 25%. It will mean thousands of euro extra per year for many families at a time of a cost-of-living crisis that people simply will not be able to afford. It is not just South Dublin County Council. We have seen this in Dublin City Council where rents have been increased by almost 30% - there is huge resistance and opposition to that - and it has happened in other councils across the country. This is not happening just accidentally in multiple places across the country; it is coming from the Government. Looking at the programme for Government and the Housing Commission report, there are references to merging social and cost-rental housing over time, and this new report from the Department of housing talks about changes to facilitate closer alignment with market rent. In other words, get rid of social housing, effectively, and have people paying these completely unaffordable rates. How are people meant to be able to afford massive increases in their rents at a time of a cost-of-living crisis? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  As the Deputy knows, the setting of rents is a matter for each local authority, quite rightly. We either believe in local democracy or we do not. We fund it well enough. We have set it up well enough. We have councillors elected right across the country and there are chief executives. It is up to each local authority to decide their situation.  There is also a need for fairness in relation to rent. We provide a lot of social housing in this country and there is a need to make sure people are paying a fair rent as well. That is an important part of the social contract. There are many people looking for a home and trying to buy a home. There are many people in private rental accommodation. There are many people who have scraped and saved to buy their own home too. There is a need for fairness and if there are some rents local authorities do not believe meet that fairness test, there is a case to make sure they are set at an appropriate rate. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  This coming Monday, the European Parliament will vote on a framework that will allow gene-edited foods onto Irish supermarket shelves with zero consumer labelling and no safety screening. While we have our own ban on the cultivation of traditional genetically modified organisms, GMOs, we cannot, under this legislation, ban the import and transport of EU-approved genetic material for food and animal feed. There is a real risk that Irish organic farmers, whose livelihoods depend on keeping their crops entirely new genomic techniques, NGT, free will actually be contaminated because trace amounts of wind-blown NGT can lose them their organic certification. My understanding is also that under this final law, because it allows for an earlier law to be brought in, it is making GMOs, in this context anyway, fully patentable. Therefore, corporations will have control over some of the material. In this context, given the Government allowed this to proceed to this stage, will the T\u00e1naiste now instruct Government MEPs to vote against the legislation so we can have further scrutiny because this will pose a risk to Irish organic farming? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I have been at this long enough to know I never instruct my MEPs. They will each consider and scrutinise these issues well, but the Deputy highlights an important issue I will not pretend to be across all the details of. I will make myself familiar with it now on foot of the Deputy raising this and will engage with my own party MEPs in advance of that vote on Monday. I am happy to come back to the Deputy on this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tom Brabazon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tom Brabazon  I raised with the T\u00e1naiste a few weeks ago the issue of the Irish Water works on James Larkin Road. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Yes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tom Brabazon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tom Brabazon  Those works continue at a snail's pace. I will raise today, in the context of the bank holiday weekend just gone, that DART services were suspended for maintenance works. At the same time, we also had the Dublin City Half Marathon take place in which 13,000 athletes were running. This caused transport chaos, particularly across the northside. I witnessed up to 30 people standing at several bus stops when the buses were caught up in traffic, we had no DARTs and the roads were chock-a-block. There was no alternative way for people to get around. I ask that something be done in relation to long bank holiday weekend works on the DART. The DART is absolutely necessary on those particular weekends. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Brabazon. I am a bit frustrated to hear they have not made progress more speedily on those Uisce \u00c9ireann works. I really appeal to Uisce \u00c9ireann, when Members of the Oireachtas, Government or Opposition, raise issues in this House to please take them seriously. Please, just take them seriously. Uisce \u00c9ireann is a State body and TDs raise issues here in good faith. When they raise them on the floor of the national Parliament, if Deputies could receive a comprehensive and meaningful response I would appreciate that.  In regard to DART works more generally, it is a statement of the obvious that upgrade works and the likes cause a level of inconvenience. I accept and acknowledge that. I know that traditionally Iarnr\u00f3d \u00c9ireann has chosen bank holiday weekends to undertake projects of significant scale because the extra weekend day allows it to achieve more progress more efficiently, rather than doing it over multiple weekends or inconveniencing weekday passengers and people who are going to work. Iarnr\u00f3d \u00c9ireann tells me it is standard international railway practice for bank holiday weekends to be used for works. I will ask the National Transport Agency, NTA, to work closely with Iarnr\u00f3d \u00c9ireann and Dublin Bus to see if any measures could be put in place to help mitigate that, including maybe increased capacity on bus routes. I will follow up with the Minister for Transport on that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Roche","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Roche  I will raise the issue of the provision of public footpaths, and their maintenance, repair and infill. There is no dedicated funding for such within the local authorities. There is active travel funding, roads funding and all of the other streams, which are very often criteria-driven. For example, any engineer who is requested to have a look at the provision of new footpaths, maintenance or repair, the answer received is that there is no funding. I am looking for separate footpath funding to be dedicated to each council so they will be able to repair and maintain what they have. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Roche for raising this issue. It is an interesting point. The primary focus of investments in the regional local road network is on the protection and renewal of them, which obviously plays a crucial role for communities, local economies and the likes. We have very significantly increased our funding on that. There is a discretionary grant under the regional and local road grant that can be used by councils for a wide range of works, including footpaths. Local authorities have that discretion from that grant allocation. I know some local authorities decide to do footpath programmes from that grant. The broader point the Deputy is making, when we are trying to encourage people to be active and the safety issues in rural Ireland in particular, is a valid one. I will certainly work with our colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and others on this to see if there is more we can pursue. I will come back to the Deputy on it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ann Graves","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ann Graves  The much-needed additional garda\u00ed announced for Swords and Malahide are very welcome. However it does not address the need for a fit-for-purpose station in Swords. The station we currently have was built when Swords was a village. We now have a population of over 41,000 and growing. It services the areas around it, including Portmarnock, Donabate and further afield.  The garda\u00ed are doing the best they can with limited services, including working overtime to deal with antisocial behaviour, etc. An upgrade has been planned since 2005 and nothing has happened. We really need a fully functioning Garda station. I met the Minister for justice in October. He promised to visit the station. I raised it again on the floor of the D\u00e1il and he promised to look at it again. Can we do something about it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank the Deputy for her contribution and for acknowledging the additional garda\u00ed, who are badly needed. We need to continue to increase the number of garda\u00ed through Templemore. The Deputy is right that as we increase the number of garda\u00ed, we need to make sure we have modern fit-for-purpose stations. The population of Swords is now much closer to the population of a city than that of a village. I welcome the fact that the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, said that he will visit. I certainly follow up with him on that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Currie  Fine Gael has always believed in rewarding hard work, encouraging initiative and aspiration and supporting people who try to build a better life for themselves and their families, but increasingly our tax system is sending the opposite message. Workers today are pushed into the 40% tax band at income levels that are no longer considered high by any reasonable standard. We now have one of the lowest entry points to the top rate of income tax anywhere in Europe. That means people who take on extra hours, who go for promotion, who build a career or try to earn a little more are seeing more and more of that effort taxed away. A tax system should reward ambition and not penalise it, making work pay and not making people question whether it is worth it. Does the T\u00e1naiste agree the next four budgets provide an opportunity to take a more ambitious approach to widening the standard rate and strengthening the principle that work should pay? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I fully do and I thank Deputy Currie for raising this issue. People who work hard should be able to get ahead and not just get by. Work must always pay. There are far too many people in this country who feel they play by the rules, do everything they possibly can, spend long times commuting, have childcare costs and the like and at the end of the month, they say \"Is that it?\" when they look at their payslip. We need to do better on that. We have a proud record on this. In 2015, you paid the higher rate of tax at just over \u20ac33,000. It is now \u20ac44,000. I want to see a personal income tax package in the next budget and in the next four budgets. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James O'Connor  I will raise an issue of the utmost importance in Youghal, County Cork. Under the HSE capital plan, we were promised that there would be an exploratory look into Youghal in respect of a new ambulance training college by the National Ambulance Service. We need this in our community for the economic investment, the jobs coming from the State and because of how much work was put into this under the previous Government. I am asking the T\u00e1naiste for his support in respect of that. What we also need in Youghal is a better and faster ambulance service and a full-time base that is funded and staffed, which is under that same capital plan. There have been some deeply sensitive cases in Youghal recently where people have been waiting too long for ambulances with tragic consequences. Will the T\u00e1naiste speak to the Minister for Health to see if we can get this moved on as quickly as possible? I have done my utmost on behalf of the people in east Cork and Youghal to see that this issue gets the attention that it needs and deserves. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I certainly will. It is a very important issue. The National Ambulance Service plays a literally life-saving role right across our communities. I am proud of the work that we have done together in Government where we increased overall funding for the National Ambulance Service by 41% between 2022 and 2025. We increased staff, with 588 more staff to a total number of 2,655, and we invested \u20ac126 million in the ambulance fleet in those years as well. I will raise the ambulance service in Youghal and the commitment to the new ambulance training college there with the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, and ask that she come back to the Deputy directly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  As the T\u00e1naiste is aware, Saggart is the location of a State-owned IPAS centre. This was purchased by the State without any meaningful consultation with residents or Opposition TDs. Sinn F\u00e9in submitted an amendment to the recent International Protection Act for community consultation but the Government opposed this. Any area that has seen an increase in population like Saggart will see pressure on existing facilities. One of the measures that people in Saggart have been calling for is high-visibility policing. I welcome the recent announcement of the high-visibility programme in parts of Dublin and across the country, but residents of Saggart were extremely disappointed that they were not included in this programme. I submitted parliamentary questions to the Minister for justice that were ruled out of order, stating that the Minister has no responsibility for these actions, which I find a bit bizarre. What the residents of Saggart are looking for is a safe well-managed village environment for everybody in Saggart to enjoy and they are calling for high-visibility policing for Saggart and the surrounding areas. Is this something that Government can support? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  The Minister for justice is not accountable in terms of where garda\u00ed are deployed, which is only my best guess as to why that question would have been ruled out of order but, of course, the Government has an active interest in policing, Garda numbers and working with communities. I am very conscious that the community in Saggart - good decent people in Saggart - have asked Government for a number of investments in differences in their community, with high-visibility policing being just one. I will certainly follow that up with the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, and ask him to come back directly to the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  In October 2024, the T\u00e1naiste launched the report of the Dublin city task force. One of its key recommendations was to recruit an additional 1,000 garda\u00ed for the city centre. He strongly endorsed the report. I am sure he will remember he wrote in the Irish Independent , \"I am up for it. I hope you are too.\" Eighteen months later, only an additional net 40 garda\u00ed have been recruited across the city centre divisions. I asked the Minister for justice about it this morning. He said that it is still Government policy but was unable to give me a timeline for when this would be delivered. He went on to say it was very much dependent on recruitment and retention in Templemore. He mentioned the fact that communities all over the country are calling for extra garda\u00ed as well so he did not sound particularly up for it, to be honest. Can we take it that the policy of an additional 1,000 garda\u00ed in the city centre is being moved to the aspiration column? Is there a clear set of measures that the T\u00e1naiste can point to that this commitment the Government made for an additional 1,000 garda\u00ed in the city centre will actually be delivered within a timeline? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I remember that day well. I think the Deputy was at the launch with me. It might be the day the Deputy suggested the date of the general election. I remember it was a busy day but I am very pleased we launched that report and that we have taken a number of decisions recently in terms of resourcing the Dublin city centre task force, including the appointment of Robert Watt to oversee the office to deliver that as part of Dublin City Council. He is a very experienced public and civil servant. The plan has been fully endorsed by the Government and by Dublin City Council. We are seeing Garda numbers increasing in Dublin. We are not allowed to mention the \"B\" word but I am sure as he is out and about in Dublin, the Deputy is seeing recognition from the community in Dublin around high-visibility policing and more Garda numbers. We need to continue to drive that forward. It is factually true that Garda numbers in Dublin city are increasing again and we remain committed to the target of 1,000 garda\u00ed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy George Lawlor  There are four children's disability network teams, CDNTs, in County Wexford and none of them have a full team. Some are missing psychologists, some are missing occupational therapists and some do not have nurses or social workers available and it is not possible to cross cover. In other words, someone on the CDNT team in Wexford cannot provide the service to somebody who has a requirement in New Ross. It has been said to me that the CDNTs in Wexford are in chaos as a result of the lack of staff and full teams available to them. Children and their families are really suffering. Will the T\u00e1naiste advise on the Government plan to ensure that the CDNTs across County Wexford and across the country have a full complement of the services required? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I can quote a lot of statistics but that is not going to fix the challenge. We are increasing the number of people working in CDNTs. We are funding more posts and training more people but there are clearly real challenges in terms of fully staffing some of these teams. The Deputy mentioned specific issues with regard to the four teams in County Wexford and the inability - perhaps for very good reasons, I do not know - to cross cover. On foot of the Deputy raising this issue, I will ask the Minister of State, Deputy Emer Higgins, to take a look at that to get an update from the HSE and to come back to the Deputy directly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  This week, I went to Clonshaugh in Dublin to see what was supposed to be the 199 bus, which was meant to go from Glendalough through Roundwood to Bray. The 199 service was announced in April 2025. In May, I was told by the NTA that it was fully funded. In June, it went out for tender and in August, Nolan Coaches won that tender. It bought a bus and hired four drivers for that service. It was meant to start in September. September came and went - no bus. January came and went - no bus. March came and went - no bus. The T\u00e1naiste can see where I am going here. There is no 199 bus, certainly none that is operating on that route. The funding would appear to have been pulled from this bus service.  Many people are making very big life decisions on the basis that they need that service, whether it is to go to college or work. They need to know when this bus is going to be up and running. Will the T\u00e1naiste ensure the funding will be there? It needs to happen immediately. This has gone on way too long, with no answers from the NTA. The T\u00e1naiste spoke earlier about how agencies should be responsive. I, and the community in Roundwood, have had very little information from the NTA. Could the T\u00e1naiste please give an update on that? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Whitmore for raising the issue. I have heard the annoyance, to put it mildly, of our constituents regarding this issue. On foot of the Deputy raising it today, perhaps we could convene all the Wicklow TDs with the Department and the NTA to try to get some facts on this. I will certainly play any supportive role I can, and I will link in with the Deputy's office to set that up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed  We had no rail service on the northside the last bank holiday weekend, from Connolly to Howth and Drogheda. I get Iarnr\u00f3d \u00c9ireann's needs around the ability to do 76 hours of work across a bank holiday weekend and the benefits of that but, equally, we had 12,000 or 13,000 runners coming to the north city centre to run the Dublin city half marathon, and absolutely no rail service to carry them in or out of the north city centre.  I understand Irish Rail's position but if we are going to do that, the NTA and Dublin Bus need to be working twice as hard to ensure there is a bus service to cover that hole. I went past Bus \u00c1ras on Saturday morning where there were huge queues of people waiting to leave, and in Howth in the evening time, there were lines of people waiting to leave. The bus service was clearly not at capacity.  I endorse Deputy Whitmore's comment. I am trying to get information from the NTA on a whole range of issues but it is difficult to get information, data, clarity and answers from it. Can we get answers and work with the NTA and Dublin Bus to make sure these services are provided? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Again, I am annoyed and irked to hear about this. I am not annoyed with the Deputy or Deputy Whitmore. State bodies have to be accountable to the Oireachtas and the democratically elected people. That does not mean they are always going to give us all the answers - I get that - but you have to at least feel as an Oireachtas Member of the Government or the Opposition that you are getting a proper flow of information. I will certainly take that away.  Uisce \u00c9ireann was raised a few minutes ago, and we have the NTA now. I do not work for the NTA or Uisce \u00c9ireann and I do my very best to answer questions but the fact people are having to come into this House and raise these issues because they cannot get those answers from a State body is not acceptable. I will personally pursue this at every opportunity.  I thank Deputy \u00d3 Muir\u00ed for raising the issue. He is right; there are good, international railway practices as to why they bank holiday upgrades. He gets that, as do I, but there is also that important thing called joined-up thinking and the NTA, Dublin Bus and others need to work together to make sure that if one service is going to be down, another service is ramped up. It is not rocket science. It is not splitting the atom but it needs to happen. I will follow up directly with the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, on foot of the Deputy raising this today. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Burke  The South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital presented a proposal for the opening of theatre 5, which is vacant because the two new ophthalmology theatres opened were for orthopaedic treatment. There are currently 11 orthopaedic consultant whole-time-equivalents in the hospital, with two more coming in January. The proposal was that this theatre would open and work 12 hours a day and up to 10.30 p.m. for recovery of patients there, and that would include additional staff. The proposal was made, the hospital understood it was accepted and it was acknowledged that it was accepted. The recruitment has occurred but the hospital has now been told the money is not going to be provided for the additional staff.  At present, there are 7,382 patients waiting for outpatient appointments, 363 waiting for treatment and 233 waiting for day care. That has all been put on hold now because the funding has been withdrawn and the hospital is concerned about it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Burke for raising the matter. I know the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, is committed to working with him on this issue, as am I.  Significant investment has been made at the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital in recent years. The annual budget has increased significantly and staffing has grown significantly, with the former by more than a third and the budget by more than 64%. We have seen several significant capital projects completed with the relocation of the ophthalmology outpatient department from CUH to South Infirmary in 2022. However, there is clearly a need for those new developments and projects that were expected. On foot of Deputy Burke raising this today, I will engage with the Minister who will work with him closely on this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  On 15 April, I raised with the Taoiseach this issue about patients of the highly respected Dr. Fiona O'Reilly in the greater Clonakilty surrounds, who are not being seen by SouthDoc after-hours services, due to Dr. O'Reilly discontinuing her membership with SouthDoc. On 23 April, I received what I would call an angry reply from SouthDoc management, telling me that I failed to seek clarification on the issue from the SouthDoc regarding the facts. What South Doc management does not realise is I am a TD and a servant of the people. It is my duty to ask questions in this D\u00e1il on behalf of my constituents, and I will quote facts which are in this letter from SouthDoc management, sent to patients of Dr. O'Reilly stating that this doctor is no longer a member of SouthDoc and it is, therefore, unable to provide out-of-hours consultations or appointments to her patients. It goes on to say that if you have a medical emergency, ring 112 or 999.  The people who got these letters, and I got a number of them again today, in the greater Clonakilty area, some were over 80 years of age and more with small children, are extremely upset and worried to think that if they are ill overnight, they are not to contact SouthDoc. We need to find a solution here and it needs to be 100% patient-focused, as I am. The patient should not be caught up in any disagreement between parties. Can the T\u00e1naiste help Dr. O'Reilly's patients resolve this matter with the HSE? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Collins. We are now on the third example of an elected Member of the Oireachtas being frustrated by their inability to get answers from those who are accountable to the democratically elected Members of the Oireachtas. I thank him for raising the issue. The staff in SouthDoc in Clonakilty do fantastic work but I am aware of the issues the Deputy has raised in this House. I will speak directly with the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, and ask that she inquire with the HSE and come back to the Deputy directly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shane Moynihan  We all recognise the scale of the challenge facing the transport sector as we work to meet our climate obligations and, obviously, heavy goods vehicles are among the most difficult parts of that sector to decarbonise. Electrification is progressing but it is not yet a realistic option for the majority of those long-haul operators. It is in that spirit that I ask the T\u00e1naiste to clarify what can be done from the Government's point of view with regard to support for hydrotreated vegetable oil, HVO, as a transition fuel for the haulage sector.  It can reduce emissions by up to 65% when it is sustainably sourced. It works in existing diesel engines with no modifications needed and is blended with diesel and used in heavy transport in the Netherlands, Finland, Italy and the UK. Major manufacturers like Volvo, Scania, MAN and Mercedes Benz use HVO in their engines. Hauliers especially face increased climate compliance costs, and HVO offers an immediate and practical pathway to lower their emissions without any new vehicles or infrastructure. Could the T\u00e1naiste indicate what steps might be taken to encourage the use of HVO and to assist this sector in its decarbonisation goals? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Moynihan for raising this issue. First, as the Deputy knows, we have worked hard to try to support the haulage section and I praise the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, for his leadership on that and the engagement we have had with the Irish Road Haulage Association and others, which is right and proper. However, the Deputy's question is also quite important because it is harder for some industry sectors to transition, and what they do not need from us in this House is a lecture and attitude they get sometimes from the left and far left who are not here to hear this.  They are a crucial part of our supply chain and economy. We need them to work and we need them to function. Our policies need to get more sophisticated in recognising that, whether that is incentivising people to be able to make that transition or better support. People are good and decent; they want to work with us. We need to challenge ourselves as to how we can help them make that transition, and HVO is an important part of that conversation. The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, is familiar with that, and we have had some conversations with the sector on that too. On foot of the Deputy raising it, I will ask the Minister to come back to the Deputy directly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Before we finish, as Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I often have the task of going through parliamentary questions and refusing them, or asking that they be referred to the appropriate agency. I want to follow up on the complaints I have received, and a letter from Deputy Carol Nolan, to inform the T\u00e1naiste again that the replies are inadequate, and there is little or no response from the agencies. As Leas-Cheann Comhairle, dealing with these parliamentary questions and having to sign-off on some refusals or lack of information, I believe the T\u00e1naiste is correct in saying they are responsible to the House and I agree with the approach he is taking. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I hope the agencies have looked in on today's proceedings. He does his very best to chair these proceedings, and I do my very best to answer as best I can the questions put. It is fair to say there is clear concern across this House about the lack of responsiveness of several unelected heads of agencies, which needs to be reflected on. Both this Oireachtas and the Government should consider how to ensure that because this is not about us; it is about the people we serve. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar fionra\u00ed ar 1.20 p.m. agus cuireadh t\u00fas leis ar\u00eds ar 2 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Sitting suspended at 1.20 p.m. and resumed at 2 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Pholasa\u00ed n\u00f3 ar Reachta\u00edocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_35","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/42","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/42\/dail\/2","houseCode":"dail","stage":"2","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Industrial Development (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2026: Second Stage (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Industrial Development (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2026: Second Stage","counts":{"speechCount":26,"speakerCount":11},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_35","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cormac Devlin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Clendennen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (Deputy Peter Burke)  I move: \"That the Bill be now read a Second Time.\"  I am pleased to bring the Industrial Development (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill before the D\u00e1il. This is a short but important Bill which further empowers IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland to accelerate investment, employment and regional development. My Department keeps the statutory framework of the enterprise agencies under review as the Government's enterprise policy objectives evolve. The purpose of this Bill is to ensure the enterprise agencies have the legislative tools they need to incentivise investments that underpin Ireland's strategic goals.  The Bill strongly supports a number of objectives outlined in the programme for Government and the action plan on competitiveness and productivity, namely job creation, regional development and reducing carbon emissions. The Government continues to support Irish-owned companies to grow and scale, along with providing direct investment towards each step of their decarbonisation journey. At the same time, as global competition for foreign direct investment, FDI, intensifies, Ireland need to say agile and ambitious to win investment.  This Bill introduces a dedicated environmental aid grant, allowing the agencies for the first time to assess projects on solely carbon emissions criteria under the grant powers of the Industrial Development Act 1986, streamlining the approval process and cutting red tape. The Bill also provides for agencies to support their clients in accessing external consultancy services, enabling them to obtain professional advice and guidance on the green and digital transitions. This support will help businesses to grow on a sustainable and competitive footing over the long term and will be particularly valuable for SMEs, which often do not have in-house expertise in areas such as digitalisation or decarbonisation. It also amends the Industrial Development Act 1995 to allow IDA Ireland to enhance its property and infrastructure offering by co-investing in projects with third parties. This amendment will allow IDA Ireland to leverage its property budget, expanding its ability to provide property solutions in regional locations.  Currently, IDA Ireland can only invest by itself, although it collaborates with others, including local authorities. Once this new legislation is enacted, it will be able to partner with other organisations to deliver enterprise property solutions, once the terms have been approved by the Ministers for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment and Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation.  In relation to opportunities in defence, security and resilience, DSR, the Bill deletes section 8(5) of the Science and Technology Act 1987, which requires the enterprise development agencies to secure formal Government approval before they engage in, or promote, any activity of a primarily military relevance. The rationale for this is that Ireland\u2019s enterprise landscape is evolving in a rapidly changing European and global context. Increasingly, the Irish enterprise base needs to respond to DSR-aligned technology opportunities which are emerging. As the Department of Defence has noted to me, this area has developed to include fields such as cyber defence, space domain awareness, maritime security tasks and hybrid threat monitoring.  The European Competitiveness Fund, expected to begin operating in 2028, will consolidate and build on existing EU-level investment instruments designed to strengthen European industrial capability, including in defence and space. A key enabler to maximising our engagement in EU funding initiatives is the capacity to utilise the competence and capability of both Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland.  The section 8(5) provision is broad, open to varying interpretations, and creates ongoing practical difficulties in determining when - and to what extent - teams in Enterprise Ireland or IDA Ireland may engage with existing or prospective clients that might be considering opportunities in DSR technologies. It is outdated, given the comprehensive, multilayered regulatory environment that now exists in this sphere. The proposed amendment allows the agencies to support, financially or non-financially, enterprises in the DSR sphere as with other parts of the economy, subject to compliance with all existing controls and legal obligations governing the sector, including rigorous project appraisal, the export controls regime, ministerial powers and Government oversight and the defence procurement safeguards. It does not affect existing Government policy on military neutrality.  Furthermore, this Bill provides a vehicle for other unrelated legislation from my Department. First, it includes amendments to the Dangerous Substances Act 1972 related to flammable liquids to ensure that Ireland\u2019s dangerous substances legislation and licensing regime is fit for purpose and ensures a safe working and retail environment. The Bill will amend and bring the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 up to date with the code of practice for the governance of State bodies, which recommends that board appointments be for a period of three to five years. The Bill amends the Chemicals Act 2008 to ensure, in the transposition of related EU legislation, that Ireland is not considered in default of its obligations under EU law due to the penalties being insufficient. The Bill also includes an amendment clarifying Enterprise Ireland's Freedom of Information Act responsibilities.  I will briefly outline the main provisions of the Bill, which comprises 11 sections in three parts. Part 1 is technical in nature. Section 1 contains standard provisions relating to the Short Title, construction and commencement of the Bill, while section 2 is a definition of the Dangerous Substances Act 1972 and section 3 is a repeal and saver related to that Act.  Part 2 amends the Industrial Development Act of 1986, 1995 and 1998, beginning with section 4. Section 4 provides for the addition of a section 21A to the Act of 1986 which provides for the enterprise agencies, IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland, to make grants for environmental protection initiatives on terms and conditions at their discretion, including solely environmental conditions such as carbon abatement, once initial approval criteria have been met. In addition, this section provides for a new section 21B of the 1986 Act, allowing the agencies to support their clients in accessing external consultancy services for advice or studies in respect of technological innovation, environmental protection, or business development.  Section 4 also updates the technology acquisition grant thresholds to align with the individual and aggregate grant thresholds of other grant categories in the legislation. These are the thresholds which apply before specific Government approval must be secured. The threshold for individual grants will be amended to \u20ac7.5 million and the aggregate threshold will be amended to \u20ac15 million.  Section 5 amends the Industrial Development Act 1995 by the addition of a section 6A which allows IDA Ireland, either itself or jointly with Enterprise Ireland, to co-invest with third parties, such as other State agencies which make strategic investments, to develop property solutions for industrial or commercial activities, through the creation of jointly owned designated activity companies.  Section 6 amends the wording of Section 7C of the Industrial Development (Enterprise Ireland) Act 1998 to clarify that grants given by IDA Ireland under section 21A and 21B of the 1986 Act are not to be counted towards Enterprise lreland\u2019s aggregate threshold in section 7C. This is the threshold which applies before specific Government approval must be sought.  Part 3, the final Part of the Bill, includes a number of miscellaneous amendments. Section 7 removes the definition of \"petroleum-spirit\" and consequential references to the latter from the Dangerous Substances Act 1972 and replaces this definition and references to petroleum-spirit with a definition of \"fuel\" that includes flammable liquid, as outlined in the EU classification, labelling and packaging regulation. The purpose of this amendment is to extend the scope of the requirements under the Act for anyone storing certain quantities of petroleum or other flammable liquids to hold a licence issued by the Minister or an appropriate local or harbour authority. This amendment also enables the summary prosecution by local or harbour authorities of a person who, in contravention of the provisions of section 21 of the Act, has in their possession or control fuel under the meaning of the Act without having a licence to do so issued by the appropriate local or harbour authority.  Section 8 provides for the deletion of section 8(5) of the Science and Technology Act 1987, which requires the enterprise development agencies to secure formal Government approval before they engage in, or promote, any activity of a primarily military relevance. The proposed amendment will allow the agencies to engage with and support enterprises in the defence, security and resilience sphere in the same way as with enterprises in other sectors, subject to compliance with all existing controls and legal obligations governing the sector. Section 9 provides for bringing the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 up to date with the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies published in 2016, which recommends that board appointments be for a period of three to five years. Currently, appointments to the board of the Health and Safety Authority are for a period of three years in line with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005.  Section 10 provides that in the transposition of EU legislation on detergents, the Minister is not considered to be in default of obligations under EU law due to the penalties being insufficient. Section 5 of the Chemicals Act 2008 is amended to facilitate the making of regulations for the purpose of giving effect to obligations arising under the treaties governing the European Communities or under Acts adopted by institutions of the European Communities. In addition, section 29 of the 2008 Act is amended in relation to offences.  Section 11 amends Schedule 3, Part 1, of the Freedom of Information Act 2014 to ensure that Enterprise Ireland\u2019s disclosure obligations under the Freedom of Information Act are not overridden by the statutory confidentiality obligations contained in the Industrial Development (Enterprise Ireland) Act 1998.  I commend the Bill to the House and look forward to engaging with Deputies on the matters to which it relates on the floor of the House today and on Committee and Report Stages. I have a medical appointment in about half an hour, so I may have to leave early. I just wanted to make people are aware of that. I will be listening to everything that is raised during the debate. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I appreciate the Minister telling us that. Deputy Bennett is next. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  Sinn F\u00e9in welcomes the overall intention of this Bill. We have been calling for the streamlining of enterprise supports for a long time now. Sinn F\u00e9in and I are glad to see the progress in this space. Measures that improve access to supports, modernise industrial development legislation and help businesses transition towards a lower carbon and digital economy are long overdue. There is no question that many businesses are facing enormous pressures. Rising energy and fuel costs, increasing operational expenses, insurance costs and the demands of digitalisation and decarbonisation are all placing huge strain on businesses across the State. Where this legislation seeks to simplify access to supports, reduce unnecessary administrative burdens, and improve the delivery of grants and consultancy supports, Sinn F\u00e9in supports these objectives.  The success or failure of this Bill will depend on one thing, namely whether SMEs are genuinely prioritised. SMEs are the backbone of our economy. They account for 99% of business and employ the majority of workers across the State, particularly in rural towns and villages and regional economies. Too often, enterprise policy in the State has focused heavily on attracting and supporting large multinational investment while indigenous Irish businesses struggle to access the same level of support and strategic attention. That must change. Environmental protection grants and digitalisation supports all sound wonderful on paper but they must not become schemes that are easily navigated by large corporations, while smaller businesses are left behind due to complex bureaucracy or lack of resources. For many SMEs, particularly family-run and locally owned businesses, the challenge is not willingness. Businesses want to invest in energy efficiency. They want to modernise, reduce emissions and lower energy costs. The problem is affordability and accessibility. Many small enterprises simply do not have the upfront capital or dedicated administration staff to navigate lengthy applications, consultancy processes or complicated terms and conditions. Supports must be practical, accessible and responsive to the realities facing smaller firms. If a small manufacturer in Monaghan, a tourism business in Cavan or a family-run enterprise in rural Ireland cannot realistically access these supports, then they are not worth the paper they are printed on.  Sinn F\u00e9in particularly welcomes efforts to widen environmental protection grants, consultancy supports for sustainability and digital transition. Businesses need support to adopt greener technology, improve competitiveness and reduce long-term costs. This is not only important for climate targets, it is critical for future resilience in the indigenous sector. However, simplification must still go hand in had with accountability and transparency. Public money must always be subject to proper oversight and deliver clear economic and social value.  On the provisions relating to strategic investment and designated activity company, DAC, structures, Sinn F\u00e9in believes there is merit in strengthening the State's capacity to deliver industrial sites and strategic infrastructure, but, again, regional balance matters. Enterprise investment cannot continue to be concentrated in Dublin and a handful of urban centres while other places struggle to attract jobs and investment.  This legislation must support balanced regional development and sustainable local employment across the State.  I will briefly touch on my constituency of Cavan-Monaghan. Last week, I visited Silver Hill Duck, which is marking the beginning of construction of a new processing facility in Emyvale in County Monaghan. It is a great Irish company that provides good employment locally. Enterprise Ireland was there, as was the Minister of State, as they should be. Silver Hill Duck is an example of tremendous success; a company that started with six ducks in 1962, now provides more than 6 million ducks worldwide.  Sometimes in the past we had issues with IDA Ireland and Ministers when things did not go to plan and with factories or sites where projects were not developed or where there were business closures or job losses. I ask the Minister to reflect on this and, in practice, to engage and be on the ground, even more so when challenges arise. That is even more important in communities in Cavan and Monaghan, which have seen not only a dearth of inward investment under successive Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael Governments but sometimes a dearth of interest. In one case, IDA Ireland completed an advanced technology building in Monaghan business and technology park in 2021 but it still remained vacant last year. I would appreciate it if the Minister could provide an explanation for this as well as outline future plans for the site.  To address the proposed removal of section 8(5) of the Science and Technology Act 1987, while the amendment is intended to modernise access to EU defence and security-related funding opportunities, Ireland's military neutrality must remain fully protected.  Overall, Sinn F\u00e9in welcomes the intent of the Bill. We support measures that make enterprise supports more efficient, more accessible and better suited to the challenges businesses now face but we will continue to work to ensure SMEs, indigenous enterprise and regional communities are not treated as secondary considerations. This must be a priority. If our small businesses succeed, local communities succeed, regional economies grow and jobs are protected. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  As my colleague stated, we support anything that improves the lot of business from the point of view of streamlining systems, services and grant application schemes. There are concerns about this legislation that I will deal with. The intent can be fine but unless we have the resourcing and capacity, we will have particular issues.  At a meeting of the Good Friday Agreement committee recently, representatives from various chambers of commerce, including those in Dundalk and Newry, contributed. They were almost singing from the same hymn sheet about the work that needs to be done regarding cross-Border co-operation. I have raised this issue many times with Ministers and taoisigh in the context of the necessity of dealing with the taxation issues that exist across the Border. A particular issue exists whereby those who live near the Border cannot work remotely in the other jurisdiction. This creates a difficulty for them and, in particular, for the companies that employ them. I put on the record once again the necessity for this to happen. Their big issue is industrial development and enterprise in the area, and they spoke about the M1 Border corridor and the real benefits we have in the area, including the new relationship between Queen's University Belfast and Dundalk Institute of Technology to develop what will hopefully become Dundalk university college in the very near future.  What we really need is infrastructure. The first issue the representatives to whom I refer spoke about was wastewater infrastructure. We know about the need for this in the context of both future industrial development in the Dundalk area and housing. Decisions were made regarding a new development of 502 houses. The latter could not proceed because of insufficient infrastructure. This is an issue that cannot be dropped. In my area, there is a local enterprise office which is linked with Enterprise Ireland. There is also InterTradeIreland, and IDA Ireland has a huge footprint in the area. We need to see new industrial sites to allow for the possibility of having a new WuXi, medtech, pharma or tech of any sort.  When the development of housing is refused, industrial development will also be refused. I thought it was utterly shocking that, whatever about me, other elected representatives are bringing up the issue of Uisce \u00c9ireann and the need to upgrade the infrastructure. Everyone in Dundalk heard 2027 being give as one date for the upgrading of the pumping station on Coes Road in Dundalk, but now we hear it could be in 2029. The date for the completion of the treatment plant on Point Road in Dundalk has been put back from 2030 to 2033. None of that is good enough. Not only do we need to make sure we have serviced sites available for industrial development, we also need to make sure that we have the basic infrastructure required. We can have all the legislation the Minister brings forward, but it will not make any difference if we cannot get rid of wastewater. The latter is causing particular issues with regard to housing and flooding, particularly in the part of Dundalk where I live.  Sinn F\u00e9in has always had a great interest in supporting indigenous enterprise. When we see the measures in the Bill to strengthen this and help businesses transition successfully to a low-carbon economy, we all accept that it is the only way to go. Therefore, anything that facilitates it is to be welcomed. When we speak about local economies, we sometimes become fixated on the large operators and foreign direct investment. This is not to take away from their importance but we know that an awful lot of Irish-owned SMEs provide the backbone of local economies. We have all seen the issues with the economy being overly exposed and overly reliant on some of these big operators. We need to make sure we have State supports and investment opportunities and that we see facilitation in relation to this. I do not think anyone would complain about any of this.  We need to see an expansion of enterprise grants. This means having clear pathways for SMEs to access funding. When we talk about funding schemes or grant schemes, the biggest issue we generally have is the difficulty in accessing them and a complexity that does not necessarily help. We are generally talking about people who run very successful businesses and have capacity. We need to look at this from the point of view of not only having the schemes available but ensuring they are streamlined as much as they can be. This is accepting that due diligence needs to be carried out.  What are we speaking about when we refer to SMEs? The latter are 99% of the businesses in the country, and they employ the majority of workers at in or around 68%. As much as I speak about the M1 Dublin to Belfast corridor and its importance for the economy in that part of the world, it is a part of the world where we need to see more seamless interoperability, which I spoke about earlier.  We need to see a greater level of balance. We know that this has impacted not only on industrialisation in particular parts of the country, but also on employment and other matters, for example, how we have not facilitated infrastructure like roads, wastewater, clean water, etc.  We cannot have a conversation with somebody who runs a small business without talking about the issues that exist for them. Some of those relate to the complexity of filling out grant applications and so on and navigating that system. We have an inability to accept that we are dealing with the most expensive electrical costs in Europe. It is all well and good having task forces and talking about taking action. I was disappointed when Deputy Pa Daly brought forward Sinn F\u00e9in legislation to give further powers to the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, to tackle this, as we had an element of Government support but not a sufficient amount to support the legislation. The Government said it was too early to deal with this and that it was looking at it. We were a long way into high energy costs long before the madness in the Middle East.  We need to make sure that we look after people as best we can. We cannot mitigate all the pain, but this Government could have gone further. I reiterate the need for a cost-of-living mini-budget. It is a necessity. While I welcome that there was a cost-of-disability forum and consultation and that they will affect next year, we are failing those with disabilities at this moment in time.  We all know the benefits we could be seeing with artificial intelligence. However, we have already seen issues. We can talk about Meta. While I was told that the recent job losses at PayPal were different, there has been huge displacement, particularly in the tech sector, as regards artificial intelligence. We need to have a considerable interest in job retention and getting the benefits of artificial intelligence. We also have to look at delivering further jobs even if they are different from the ones being displaced. The Government has to keep an eye on this.  It does not make sense that we are not reducing the administrative burden. The Minister of State, like many here, has spoken to businesses about the complexity and burden placed on those businesses by some of these schemes. We have to look at that.  I spoke about energy. We want to see that transition to sustainability, so we will need to see grant schemes that can deliver on same and reduce the long-term costs for businesses.  I turn to the amendment of the Science and Technology Act 1987 to remove the requirement of formal Government approval before enterprise agencies engage in activities of primarily military relevance. There is nobody who will not be worried about that, given the interoperability and close relationships of many companies, particularly with those engaged in illegal war. We can talk about the US regime but there is also what we have seen over many years from the genocidal Israeli regime. I am incredibly worried by these moves, which fit into the move away from our independent foreign policy of non-alignment and neutrality. I do not think anyone has an issue with making sure that we are sufficiently resilient as regards protections in terms of cyber and subsea cables, but I do not think that can be correlated. We know that there are companies we should not be dealing with, namely, ones dealing with those engaged in killing civilians by the thousands. That is in no way good enough.  When we talk about businesses, we also need to make sure that our services run well. I commend Debbie McCole, my colleague from the ambulance service, who is a Sinn F\u00e9in councillor in Drogheda. We should have seen the Government act quicker. We are glad that things are in the Labour Court. We need to see movement on that.  I will have a particular issue to take up with the Minister of State later. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy George Lawlor  I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill. It is substantial and wide-ranging legislation touching on everything from environmental grants to consultancy supports, from technology acquisition thresholds to the establishment of new joint venture property vehicles. There are even amendments to the Science and Technology Act, freedom of information, FOI, provisions and the governance of the Health and Safety Authority. It is, in effect, a legislative omnibus, and as with all omnibus Bills, it demands careful scrutiny.  At first glance, the Bill appears technical and administrative, even benign. However, beneath the surface lie important questions about transparency, accountability, strategic direction and the balance of power between the Oireachtas, the Government and our enterprise agencies. Our purpose is not to oppose for opposition's sake, but to interrogate thoroughly and constructively as to whether this Bill is fit for purpose and aligns with our national priorities or safeguards the public interest.  Before turning to the specific provisions, we must position this Bill in its broader context. Ireland's industrial and enterprise landscape is undergoing major change. The twin transitions of green and digital are no longer aspirations. They are urgent imperatives. Our commitments under the climate action plan require rapid decarbonisation across all sectors. Our competitiveness challenges, highlighted repeatedly in the Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity, demand innovation and technological adoption at a pace we have not previously achieved. At the same time, global industrial policy is shifting. The United States has embraced a muscular interventionist policy through the inflation reduction Act. The European Union has responded with a green deal industrial plan and revisions to the general block exemption regulation. International competition for investment, talent and technological leadership is intensifying. Against this backdrop, it is right that we examine if our legislative framework for enterprise support is modern, flexible and aligned with EU state aid rules. It is right that we ask if IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland have the tools they need, but it is equally right to ensure that these tools are used responsibly and strategically.  One of the central features of this Bill is the creation of a new environmental protection aid grant category. On the face of it, this is a positive development. The Industrial Development Act 1986 does not provide a dedicated mechanism for environmental grants, forcing agencies to shoehorn decarbonisation projects into categories designed for employment creation or output expansion. This is clearly outdated. However, several questions arise. First, what safeguards will ensure that environmental grants deliver genuine emissions reductions? We have seen in other jurisdictions and in some EU programmes that environmental funding can be captured by projects that are marginal or already commercially viable without State support. The Bill allows the IDA and Enterprise Ireland to assess applications solely on environmental criteria, but it does not define those criteria. Will the Minister publish detailed guidelines? Will there be independent verification of emissions savings? Will grants be contingent on measurable outcomes?  Second, how will the Government ensure that environmental grants do not become a substitute for regulatory action? There is a risk that companies may receive public funding to meet standards that they should be required to meet anyway.  The Bill refers to supporting projects beyond mandatory EU requirements, but again, the definition of \"beyond\" is left to administrative discretion. We need clarity to avoid subsidising compliance. What is the scale of the funding envisaged? The Bill creates the legal basis for environmental grants but it does not commit resources. Without adequate funding, this provision risks being symbolic rather than transformative. The Minister of State should outline the expected annual allocation, the anticipated demands and the criteria for prioritisation. How will regional balance be ensured? Decarbonisation challenges differ across regions and sectors. Heavy industry in one region, manufacturing clusters in the west and data centres in Dublin all face distinct pressures. The Bill is silent on regional equity. We need assurance that environmental grants will not disproportionately favour large multinationals at the expense of SMEs or regions outside the main urban centres.  The Bill introduces a new provision allowing the IDA and Enterprise Ireland to fund consultancy services to support green and digital transitions. This intention is sound. Maybe SMEs lack the expertise to begin their decarbonisation or digital transformation journeys. Consultancy support can be a catalyst in this. However, we must interrogate the implications. For instance, what control would prevent the creation of a consultancy gravy train? God knows we have seen enough of that to date. We have a long history of over-reliance on consultants, and without strict procurement rules, transparency requirements and value-for-money assessments, this provision could become a lucrative pipeline for private firms with limited accountability. Will the Minister of State commit to publishing annual reports on consultancy spending, including the names of providers and the outcomes achieved? Why is this being done through the Industrial Development Acts rather than a dedicated transition support programme? The Bill frames consultancy support as an enterprise grant, but consultancy is a service, not an investment in fixed assets or technology. Should we not consider a more holistic cross-departmental approach to transition planning rather than embedding consultancy grants within industrial development legislation? Also, how will conflicts of interest be managed? Consultants who advise companies on transition strategies may also have commercial interests in selling technologies or services. This Bill does not address that. We need clear, ethical guidelines. What is the expected duration and scale of consultancy support? Is this intended as a short-term intervention to kick-start transitions or a long-term structural feature of enterprise policy? The Minister of State must clarify all of these things.  The Bill proposes raising the thresholds for technology acquisition grants requiring Government approval from the outdated punt amounts of \u00a3400,000 and \u00a3800,000 to \u20ac7.5 million and \u20ac15 million, respectively. On one level, this is common sense because inflation, technological costs and the scale of modern industrial projects make the old thresholds obsolete. However, the question is not whether the thresholds should be raised but whether they should be raised to this level. What analysis underpins the new thresholds? The Bill aligns technology acquisition grants with other grant categories but alignment is not a justification in itself. Has the Department conducted a review of grant sizes over the past decade? How many grants would have required Government approval under the old thresholds versus the new ones? Without this data, we cannot assess the impact on oversight. Does this change reduce democratic accountability? Government approval is not a mere formality but a safeguard. Effectively raising thresholds shifts decision-making power from the Cabinet to agencies. That may improve speed but it will also reduce scrutiny. We need to ensure large-scale technology acquisitions, which often involve sensitive intellectual property, are subject to appropriate oversight. What mechanisms will ensure transparency? Will all grants above a certain level be published? Will the Oireachtas receive annual reports detailing the number, size and purpose of technology acquisition grants?  Perhaps the most consequential part of this Bill is the amendment to the Industrial Development Act 1995 allowing IDA Ireland or the IDA jointly with Enterprise Ireland to establish DACs with third parties, including the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, ISIF, for the development of industrial and commercial property. This is a major shift in how the State develops strategic property infrastructure and certainly deserves close examination. Why is this change necessary? The Minister argued that joint ventures would allow the IDA to leverage its budget but \"leverage\" can mean many things. Does this reflect a shortfall in capital funding for the IDA? Is the Government moving towards a model where the State becomes a minority partner in strategic property development? If so, what are the implications for control, risk and long-term planning? What risks does this create? Joint ventures can expose the State to financial, legal and reputational risks. DACs in particular are designed to limit liability and restrict transparency. They are not subject to the same reporting obligations as public bodies. Will these subsidiaries be subject to freedom of information legislation? Will they publish audited accounts? Will the Oireachtas have any insight into their operations? How will the public interest be protected? If the IDA enters a joint venture with ISIF or any other partner, who determines the strategic priorities? What happens if the commercial interests of the partner diverge from the national interest? Will the Minister commit to issuing a public policy framework governing the establishment and operation of such DACs? What is the long-term vision for industrial property development here? Ireland faces significant challenges in providing serviced sites, advanced manufacturing facilities and green energy infrastructure. Are joint ventures a temporary measure or a permanent restructuring of the State\u2019s role? The Bill does not say.  The Bill will also amend the Science and Technology Act 1987, freedom of information provisions relating to Enterprise Ireland, the Health and Safety Authority\u2019s board appointment rules, the Dangerous Substances Act 1972 and the Chemicals Act 2008. Each instance may be justified and worthwhile individually but their inclusion in an industrial development Bill raises questions. The first is why these amendments are bundled together. Omnibus Bills can and have obscured matters from scrutiny. The Minister of State should explain why these changes could not be introduced through separate, focused legislation. The second question is on what the rationale is for deleting section 8(5) of the Science and Technology Act. We are told this would modernise and streamline engagement with enterprises in the defence, security and resilience sphere but defence-related industrial activity is sensitive and removing statutory constraints without a clear explanation for that is extremely concerning. What safeguards will remain in this area? The third question is on what the implications of the freedom of information amendments are for Enterprise Ireland. As we all know in these Houses, transparency is essential in enterprise policy, so any narrowing of freedom of information coverage certainly must be justified. Why are technical amendments to dangerous substances and chemicals legislation included in this Bill? Are the amendments urgent? Are they related to industrial development? Again, the Minister of State must clarify this.  Beyond the specifics, the Bill raises broader questions about the direction of our industrial policy. Environmental grants, consultancy supports, technology acquisition funding and joint venture property vehicles all point towards a more active State role. That may be appropriate but it requires an absolute and clear strategy. Will the Government publish KPIs for decarbonisation, digitalisation and property development? Without metrics, we cannot evaluate impact. Much of the Bill appears orientated towards large enterprises, yet SMEs make up 99% of Irish businesses. As my colleague from the Louth constituency, Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa, stated, they must not be left behind. Industrial development must also support balanced regional growth. The Bill does not address this explicitly. As agencies gain more autonomy, the Oireachtas must have stronger reporting and accountability structures.  This Bill contains many sensible and overdue reforms. It modernises outdated legislation and aligns this country with EU state aid rules. It equips our enterprise agencies with tools to support the green and digital transitions. It seeks to accelerate decarbonisation and enhance competitiveness. Good intentions, though, are not enough. Legislation has to be robust and transparent. It must protect the public interest and ensure accountability, and it certainly has to be clear.  I urge the Minister of State address the questions raised today. How will environmental grants be safeguarded against misuse? How will consultancy supports avoid becoming a costly dependency, as we have seen so many times in this country? Why are technology acquisition thresholds being raised so dramatically? What transparency will apply to the new joint venture DACs? Why are unrelated legislative amendments bundled into this Bill? How will SMEs and regions be supported? What oversight will the Oireachtas retain, a topic so very important to all of us here?  If the Minister can provide satisfactory answers, then this Bill can be strengthened. If not, we risk creating yet another framework that is flexible for agencies but opaque for the public. Ireland needs a modern industrial policy. There is no argument against that. We need one that is green, innovative, regionally balanced and democratically accountable. This Bill can contribute to that vision, but only if we scrutinise it rigorously. I look forward to further debate on Committee Stage. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cormac Devlin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cormac Devlin  I welcome the opportunity to speak on this legislation. I thank the Minister and his officials for bringing it forward.  This is a largely technical Bill. It updates the Industrial Development Acts and modernises the powers of the IDA and Enterprise Ireland. It removes an outdated restriction in the Science and Technology Act 1987 and introduces a number of sensible miscellaneous provisions on consultancy grants, property co-investment and the Health and Safety Authority, HSA. Fianna F\u00e1il supports this Bill.  I will come to the detail in a moment, but this is a week in which we must step back and look at the longer arc of Irish industrial development. This is the centenary week of my own party, Fianna F\u00e1il. It is also the week when, 55 years ago, former Taoiseach Se\u00e1n Lemass died. While we debate a Bill to modernise the agencies he helped to establish and build, it might be appropriate to reflect for a moment on his contribution. Lemass was the architect of the modern Irish economy. He was the Minister who, in the 1930s, set up the Industrial Credit Corporation, supported the establishment of Aer Lingus, Bord na M\u00f3na and Irish Shipping, and built the spine of the semi-State sector. He was the Taoiseach who, in 1959, working with T. K. Whitaker, brought forward the First Programme for Economic Expansion 1958-1963, the document that opened our economy, ended the years of stagnation and laid the foundations for everything that followed. That decision was not a popular one at the time. It was against the orthodoxy of the previous generation. It required Lemass to argue patiently within our own party for the best part of a decade. He believed an open, outward-looking Ireland would be a more prosperous Ireland, and he was right.  Like Lemass, we live in turbulent times. Economic and social systems are being tested. The international order is shifting beneath our feet. Trade tensions, geopolitical uncertainty and the pace of technological change are reshaping the landscape for every open economy, and few are as open as ours. The challenges Lemass faced in the 1950s - a stagnant economy, a closed society and a country in danger of falling behind - were of a different kind to ours, but the test is the same. When states and societies are tested, those who rely on hope decline, those who adapt just survive, but those who are willing to transform lead. Lemass was a leader who believed in the power of transformative policies to improve the nation. Where clear direction is given, the public service can and will deliver. It worked with Lemass to establish the likes of Aer Lingus, Irish Shipping and, critically, the First Programme for Economic Expansion 1958-1963, which laid the foundations for the transformation of Ireland into a modern, open European economy.  We debate this Bill at a turbulent moment internationally, yet Ireland enters this period from a position of real strength. More people are at work in this country than at any other point in our history, the public finances are in surplus and Irish enterprise continues to compete and win on the world stage. This did not just happen by accident. It was the product of steady, serious Government policy that has guided this country through a pandemic, a war in Europe and now a more uncertain global outlook, with the calm and conviction the moment demands.  This Bill before us is part of that work. It does three substantial things. First, it gives the IDA and Enterprise Ireland a new power to award environmental protection aid grants assessed on environmental criteria. For the first time, our agencies will be able to support projects on carbon abatement grounds alone without having to force them through criteria designed for a different purpose. That is a sensible and overdue reform. The IDA has described the current arrangements, quite bluntly, as an onerous constraint. The Bill removes that constraint.  Second, it allows the IDA, with ministerial consent, to co-invest in property and infrastructure with third parties, including ISIF. The availability of serviced industrial property is one of the deciding factors in major investment decisions. If we want to keep winning the competition on a global stage, our agencies need the tools to deliver.  Third, it removes section 8(5) of the Science and Technology Act 1987, which I mentioned previously, a provision written for an agency that no longer exists and that has had a chilling effect on the work of our agencies in defence, security and resilience. In a Europe investing heavily in cyber, satellites, maritime security and hybrid threat monitoring, Ireland cannot afford to have one hand tied behind its back. The substantive safeguards, export controls, ministerial oversight and Government approval of overall policy all remain in place.  The deeper point of this Bill, though, is in the first of those three reforms. It is in the recognition that the next phase of Irish industrial development is going to be defined by transformation in solar, wind, public transport, energy and the digital transition. That is where the investment and jobs are going. That is why Ireland needs to position itself to lead or it will find itself being left behind. Societies that transform do best, those that rely on hope decline and those that adapt just survive. If we want our children and grandchildren to inherit a country that is prosperous and secure, then we need to be the country that transforms. That means decisive investment in renewable energy - onshore and offshore wind and solar - and grid infrastructure. It means a public transport system worthy of a European capital and of every town in this country. It means honest investment in the housing and water and energy infrastructure that our economy and society need.  It also means giving clear direction to the public service, because when clear direction is given, our public service can and will deliver. It did it for Lemass in 1959. It implemented structural reforms in concert with social partners from 1987. It also delivered during the pandemic. The public service will do it again if we in this House are clear about what we are asking it to do.  Lemass once said that a rising tide lifted all boats. He meant it as a description of what economic growth, properly directed, could do for Irish people. A century on from the founding of Fianna F\u00e1il, that ambition remains. This Bill is a modest and technical step, but it is a step in the right direction. It strengthens our agencies, modernises our framework and gives us better tools for the work of transformation that lies ahead. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  I welcome the opportunity to speak on this legislation. Broadly, we in the Social Democrats welcome the Bill and its efforts to modernise, align and work towards just transitions in the environmental and digital spaces.  I will touch on some of the positive aspects before I share some of my major concerns regarding the Bill. These positives include the increased grant thresholds, as well as easier approval and a stronger focus on the development of environmentally friendly initiatives. Sections of this Bill also give clarity to the IDA and Enterprise Ireland, allowing them to complete their goals with greater efficiency. Those measures are certainly welcome.  The farming land solar panel scheme had excellent take-up and demand but only enough funding for roughly 10% of the requests. We need to scale up the investment available in renewable energies, and this Bill works towards that goal. Further budgetary funding, though, is required to get to the green transition that Ireland needs.  Other provisions in the Bill are also welcome but I want to focus my remaining time on a big issue that my party has with this legislation. Section 8 of this Bill is a disgraceful attempt to allow the IDA and Enterprise Ireland to invest in and promote military investments, despite our national policy of military neutrality. It would allow this investment to take place without governmental approval. It peels back checks and balances on the choices made by these agencies which use taxpayers' money. The Bill states that Enterprise Ireland and the IDA would be able to make investments and engage in partnerships without that oversight. The Bill does not make any regulations to replace the currently-required Government approval. In addition, it is important to mention that military applications of AI are not governed by the incoming EU AI Act. This is something that we have discussed in the past number of weeks at the Oireachtas AI committee. What that does is create a gaping hole in the regulations here as the IDA and Enterprise Ireland are facing no controls and no accountability. It is clear that when this goes wrong and an unconscionable investment is made, we will see the Government acting as if it had no role in legislation that allowed shame and scandal to come to our nation. This is a rapidly evolving space in so many different areas and the response from the Government is one of hands-off.  This decision to allow the IDA and Enterprise Ireland to make these investments is only explicable in the context of wider trends internationally. The Government seeks to allow this investment because at a time of war and uncertainty, it wants State agencies to essentially cash in. It is wrong to invest in weapons of war when Ireland could be a beacon of hope and peace. These agencies are not in need of those new markets to sell to. It is an ideological decision and a serious disservice to the workers in the IDA and Enterprise Ireland.  As I mentioned, we have been discussing this in the AI committee in recent weeks because much of the defence and arms industry is looking towards AI and the tools that are deployed in war. We have discussed how that governance happens and I want to read from the contribution of one of our witnesses, Ms Rosanna Fanni, a Belgian academic who is an expert in this space. She said, \"The EU AI Act excludes any uses of AI for defence and security purposes, mainly because of the treaties and the non-responsibility of the EU to act upon these things. This also comes to the point I made about the importance of national approaches.\". Commenting on the use of non-kinetic AI systems in defence, she went on to say that it \"relies heavily on non-state actors, namely private companies. Those private companies may sometimes also have different interests or may not be 100% aligned with the national values, so to speak, especially with regard to Ireland's principle of neutrality.\".  In his opening comments the senior Minister, Deputy Peter Burke, explained the change in regard to section 8 and said that it \"does not affect existing Government policy on military neutrality\". I want to see more detail on that. I have to be assured that this does not compromise Ireland's neutrality but I just do not believe that is the case. I appreciate that this fits into the broader European move towards a European defence union. Those are not hyperbolic words from me. That is the specific language that is used by the European Commission. Indeed, I asked the European Commissioner for Budget, Anti-Fraud, and Public Administration, Mr. Serafin, about this at the Oireachtas European affairs committee and it is clear that the multi-annual financial framework is pivoting towards military spending. It will favour companies that spend money developing arms across Europe. As a result, it will favour the larger countries and member states in the European Union. For me, this is a move away from social cohesion, democracy and all of the values that we hold dear in the European Union. There is no reason for Ireland to play into that. We can resist it. We can hold true to our neutrality and to our values of human rights, solidarity and compassion and push back against this draw towards militarism in every way, in terms of our neutrality and defence policy but also when it comes to industrial development and enterprise. I will be tabling amendments on Committee Stage in relation to this. That said, I reiterate that we welcome the Bill overall and will be working closely to make sure we get those points in. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy Gibney. You are not next, Deputy Boyd Barrett. You are ahead of yourself. We have Deputy Clendennen----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  He just appeared. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Yes and with your indulgence, we have a crowd of ladies from Wexford in the Public Gallery, the rural Wexford ladies. You are most welcome. You are in for a thrill when Deputy Boyd Barrett starts to speak but before that, we are going to have Deputy John Clendennen. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Clendennen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Clendennen  I thank the Chair for giving me the opportunity to speak in advance of Deputy Boyd Barrett. I hope I will be as entertaining. I want to welcome members of Daingean Development Association who are in the House for a tour and who may be in the Public Gallery at some stage today. I acknowledge the work they do consistently in the town. They have a festival scheduled for 14 June and anyone who might want to attend----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Do you mind me asking, for the benefit of the Deputies following, will you be using all of your time? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Clendennen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Clendennen  Yes, I will be there or thereabouts. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Okay, thank you, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Clendennen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Clendennen  To get to the nub of the matter in relation to the Industrial Development (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2026, I will begin by acknowledging the work of the Government in relation to enterprise, tourism and employment in recent times. I welcome the constant references to simple, lighter and faster in terms of how we do business. We need to reflect that more and more in terms of what we see and in being competitive, not just in our domestic market but on the international stage and in how Ireland reflects itself right around the world.  I listened to various contributions in recent days in this Chamber and heard Deputies comparing Ireland to the 1980s, a time of high interest rates and unemployment when people did not see a future on this island. We have moved on considerably from that. We now have more people in employment today than we had living here 50 years ago. We are an island that is at the heart of Europe and the centre of the world. If we look at our trading and relations with America alone, over 200,000 people wake up every day and go to work in Irish companies that have invested in the US. Where once that was one-way traffic into Ireland, with investment on these shores, we are now seen globally as a serious player in relation to investment, innovation and development. Long may that continue.  As a TD for Offaly and someone who has spent a lifetime involved in small businesses and international businesses, I have seen the variance in what it takes at the smallest of business levels, where it can be very difficult to know where the next cheque is going to come from, in terms of payment, or whether there is going to be enough turnover at the end of the day to actually make things work tomorrow. That is a severe stress. There are small, microbusinesses that still deal with those issues and concerns today. One of the issues I have highlighted in recent times is that businesses today have to close for two days a week in order to be viable for seven days. We have to get to a stage where there adequate supports for them from an environmental and digital perspective, or whatever the case may be.  This week the Minister, Deputy Burke, and I attended the AGM of the Vintners' Federation of Ireland. Whether they are butchers, bakers, candlestick makers or publicans, people are under real pressure in relation to energy, insurance, the cost of labour and making ends meet. There are proposals in relation to excise on kegs of beer that should be considered in advance of the budget. We have seen the benefits of enterprise supports, particularly green energy supports which are really helping business to transition at every level. It is important that we continue them and have a level of dynamism in our engagement with businesses. We need to make supports available without bureaucracy or a cumbersome approach.  When we talk about the IDA and Enterprise Ireland, it is important to also recognise the essential involvement of the local enterprise offices, LEOs, and the county councils. There is a shared ownership of our LEOs between Enterprise Ireland and our county councils. The work they have been doing has been commendable but we cannot take it for granted. This Bill in particular sets the scene in relation to legislative changes that are necessary in the context of the rapidly changing and evolving global economy to ensure that foreign direct investment continues on a balanced regional development basis.  This morning I attended the Bord na M\u00f3na energy conference in Tullamore in County Offaly in my constituency. It was great to hear about a level of innovation that has seen the company go from brown to green in less than a decade.  Ten years ago, we were talking about redundancies in that company and facing a cul-de-sac and an end of the line in terms of where it was going. Today, we are seeing innovation, progress in the whole area of renewables, digital technology advancements and the ecosystem all of that creates. We are seeing large multinational companies, but also start-ups that were former employees of the likes of Bord na M\u00f3na, taking advantage of this green opportunity. It is exciting but we need to be ready for it. I see this Bill playing an important role in that regard.  Historically, grants were really about a company's turnover, how many more employees it was going to bring to the table and how much more activity would be seen in the village, town or area. We need to change the dashboard slightly in that regard. That is what the Bill does in its focus on sustainability, efficiency and emissions and also recognising the whole area of artificial intelligence and how it is playing such an important role in businesses today. Another area of action is accelerating decarbonisation. Looking at the grants that have been introduced in recent times, we can see an effort to ensure productivity and climate actions. It is important not just that we have the dashboard but that we report on this on a regular basis. Taking the example of local enterprise office grants, we can consider whether there are particular sectors that are ahead of others in the take-up of those grants and whether there is something we need to do to address a situation where there may be sectors lagging behind. That is something we need to monitor.  External consultants are very much necessary. We cannot expect every business to have all the expertise under its own roof. External consultants are essential in giving advice. Sometimes, however, when consultants come to the table, they give all the advice in the world but they do not actually push the business on one inch. We need to figure out how we can integrate them more into the fabric of a business rather than just have them come in for half an hour or two hours of mentoring or whatever it is. There should be a responsibility or onus on them to come back six or 12 months later to see how the measures they put forward have been introduced to the business and whether they have resulted in effective change.  Establishing and investing in jointly owned subsidiary companies with third parties such as the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, ISIF, would allow Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland to work together to deliver critical industry and commercial property infrastructure. That is vitally important and it needs to be done on a balanced regional development basis. We cannot be all things to all counties or regions but we definitely need to establish key priorities for each region and each county. In my county of Offaly, we have a very ambitious plan for where we want to go with specific sectors. We want to ensure not only that we deliver for the county in that regard but, on the back of that, we see enterprise parks established in each municipal district. It is not just about generating commercial rates for the county; it is also about generating employment. It is important that we get the mix right. Enterprise Ireland, the LEOs and the county councils are integral stakeholders in leading this. Fundamentally, many businesses want to expand and diversify but the capital outlay involved in such an expansion plan makes the whole thing unfeasible. We need to see the likes of ISIF coming in as a financial pillar to support that type of growth.  Measures to modernise and streamline our engagement with enterprise projects in defence, security and resilience would be welcome. This is a reality of the world we live in today. Twenty, ten or even five years ago, there was hardly a debate in this Chamber around defence. The reality now is it is front and centre in all our minds. We live in a period of significant geopolitical risk and we cannot take defence for granted any longer. Action in this regard is very much welcome.  Whether it is a small or larger business, LEADER funding has been critical to the development of many micro-businesses, particularly in rural areas, over recent decades. If EU funding is lost as part of CAP negotiations, we need to find a new home in which LEADER funding can sit. It can give the impetus to ensure that where there are opportunities, particularly in rural areas, they can be followed up, materialised and go on to make a real, tangible and material difference in communities. Foreign direct investment companies and the jobs they bring to Ireland make the front-page news. Sometimes, we overlook and almost take for granted the level of employment provided by small businesses. Incrementally, every year, such companies might add two or three more jobs until, within a decade, they are providing 50, 60 or 70 jobs. Such companies are key pillars of local economies. They are built up over time, have sponsored sports clubs and cultural events and are supporting their communities in many different ways.  This is an important Bill. It cuts to where we need to be in terms of the objective of doing things in a simpler, lighter and faster way. It ensures efficiencies and that we can push on with our competitiveness. Every business owner wants a commitment from the Government that we will try to reduce red tape, bureaucracy and the cumbersome aspect of many online grant application forms. We need to ensure the supports are readily available in a manner that supports businesses rather than putting an additional burden on them. That must be the fundamental approach. I welcome and support the Bill. I acknowledge the ongoing work in this area by the Ministers of State, Deputies Dillon and Smyth, and the Minister, Deputy Burke. The legislation is progressive and it is badly needed. It will be very much welcomed by the enterprise sector from the perspective of looking to remaining agile, competitive and fit for purpose both on the global stage and in every village, town and city across the country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  I want to ring the alarm bell in respect of this legislation. Its introduction represents a sleight of hand whereby an apparently benign and innocuous Bill that is supposedly about supporting enterprise and industry is, in fact, a Bill that is being used to smuggle in something much more sinister. That is what is happening with the Bill. If I am right about that, it proves the Government absolutely cannot be trusted with Irish neutrality, cannot be trusted not to engage in war profiteering and, even worse, cannot be trusted not to actively be complicit with genocidal crimes being committed by the likes of the Israeli state.  In making that fairly strong charge, I refer to section 8 of the Bill, which deletes the current requirement for companies engaged in defence and security technology to notify the Government and seek its approval to engage in such activity. That provision was not included in the draft scheme and nobody know it was there before it appeared, all of a sudden, in the Bill. To be clear on why that should worry us, I refer to the following in the briefing document from the Oireachtas Library and Research Service: \"There is a notable implication of the proposed Section 8 of the Bill which, if enacted, would allow the enterprise development agencies [that is, State agencies] to engage with and support industries primarily associated with defence, without Government approval.\"  We are debating this legislation in the same week that The Currency website published an article after 12 months of battling with the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to get information about Government approvals for dual-use technology going to the Israeli military. Following that fight, we discover in Niall Sargent's article in The Currency this week, which people can read for themselves, that between 2020 and 2024, approximately \u20ac35 million worth of export licences to the Israeli military were granted by the Department because it had to get a licence and approval and so on.  Most of that happened in 2024, the year of the genocide committed by the Israeli military. In 2020, the export licences to the IDF were worth \u20ac1.5 million. In 2021, they were worth \u20ac84,000. These are not meaningless sums. In 2022, they were worth \u20ac1.8 million and in 2023, the year the genocide began, they jumped to \u20ac12 million. In 2024, they jumped to \u20ac20 million.  Why is it that The Currency has had such a hard time eliciting that information from the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment? It is of course because it is absolutely damning. The end user for dual-use technology is the Israeli military machine, engaged in a genocidal slaughter of the people of Gaza. In January of the year it is doing this - slaughtering tens of thousands of people in the most horrific way, levelling Gaza, some of its leaders, such as the deputy speaker of the Knesset, saying it is okay to kill everybody in Gaza and describing the Palestinians as human animals and everybody knowing what is going on - the International Court of Justice, ICJ, gave a preliminary ruling saying it believed there was a plausible case of genocide taking place. In that year, the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment approved a surge in exports to the Israeli military from this country. The Irish Government now wants to reduce the obligation on companies which might be engaged in the production of that kind of technology from having to seek Government authorisation. To me, that stinks to high heaven, particularly given the fact that this was not in the original draft scheme of the Bill.  When the Minister spoke he said the proposed amendment allows the agencies to support financially and non-financially enterprises in the DSR sphere. DSR sounds totally innocuous. It was not even spelled out in the Minister\u2019s speech, so we will just pass by it. What does it mean? Sure nobody is watching this debate and nobody is asking what that might mean. It was described in the most innocuous terms, although there was a giveaway line at the very end, which states \"it does not affect existing Government policy on military neutrality.\" I wonder why the Government felt the need to say that. There is a connection between these two things.  In the wider context, Ireland does about \u20ac3 billion worth of trade with the State of Israel and is one of its biggest trading partners in Europe against the background where Israel is in the dock for genocide and the most horrific crimes. There are arrest warrants out for Netanyahu and Gallant. Israel is in the dock for apartheid, the annexation of Palestinian territory, and ethnic cleansing. It is not stopping; it is escalating what it is doing.  All of this happened in 2024 and then a Bill all of a sudden pops up with a section that was not included in the original draft scheme of the Bill, saying that from now on, the Industrial Development Agency, IDA, and Enterprise Ireland do not have to notify the Government if they are supporting companies doing business in this area. That absolutely stinks and it looks like a cover up of Government facilitation, although sort of hiding it, of industries profiteering from selling technology to people like the Israeli military and God knows who else. If it was just the Israeli military, which is committing the most heinous crimes, that would be bad enough. This is outrageous.  Deputy Devlin was quoting Se\u00e1n Lemass and waxing lyrical about him, his development policy and so on. It would be very rare that I would favourably quote \u00c9amon de Valera but I am going to quote something he did favourably. It may be of interest to people in this House and the wider public to know that possibly the first ever instance of this State sanctioning another state for war crimes was initiated by \u00c9amon de Valera in 1935 because of what, at the time, were viewed to be the genocidal crimes of the Italian regime in Abyssinia, today called Ethiopia. The Italians used, in one of the first instances of chemical warfare, mustard gas and other chemical agents on Abyssinian combatants and civilians in violation of the Geneva protocol; bombed Red Cross hospitals, tents and ambulances; massacred approximately 30,000 people in Addis Ababa; targeted clergy and intellectuals; burnt villages; slaughtered livestock; and destroyed thousands of churches. This happened in 1935 but it sounds familiar, does it not? It sounds very familiar.  What did \u00c9amon de Valera do? I am not a fan of \u00c9amon de Valera but he instigated sanctions and they were passed by the D\u00e1il. He enforced financial, commercial and other sanctions against Italy because as a country that had come into existence in a struggle against imperialism, \u00c9amon de Valera and it seems the Oireachtas of the time knew it was a duty of a State born of a struggle against colonialism, ourselves victims of colonial genocidal policies which lead to things like the Great Hunger and all of the horrors colonialism visited on us, to impose sanctions. They were not worried about whether there was going to be economic blowback, and we were a poor country then. \u00c9amon de Valera and the Oireachtas of the time said we had to act against this. It was deemed at the time to be genocidal, with Africans, by the way. Take note, Bertie Ahern. African people were being slaughtered by Europeans and fair play to \u00c9amon de Valera and the Oireachtas of the time, they imposed sanctions. What is this Government doing? It is approving licences for a state engaged in genocidal slaughter.  It cannot have been the case that the people who approved those licences were not aware at the time that it represented a massive surge to go from \u20ac1 million in one year, \u20ac85,000 in another year to \u20ac12 million and then \u20ac20 million. That is a massive increase in the exporting of that technology to the Israeli military. I debated with Deputy Barry Ward on the radio this morning and he was trying to make some sort of separation between technology that would go to the Israeli military that is complicit in the genocide, and technology that would go to the Israeli military that is not complicit in the genocide, in the midst of a genocide. Fair play to David McCullough who made the point that even they were contributing to the technology that helped them to pay the soldiers, they were complicit. If we were sending the Russian Government biros, it would considered be unacceptable complicity with what Russia is doing in Ukraine but we have a surge in exports from this country approved by the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to the Israeli military while it is carrying out a genocide. That is absolutely shameful. In the same week, we have a Bill doing this.  Fair play to Niall Sargent from The Currency for chasing this story. It should be read. He says it took 12 months of battling to get this information. Why did he have to battle to get it? Because it is shameful. That is why.  The Government should explain this stuff. Here is the lesson I draw from it, as if we did not have enough evidence with the US military going through Shannon Airport, overflights potentially carrying weapons, etc., to the State of Israel and the refusal of the State to impose even the most minimal sanctions on the Israel. The Government simultaneously pays lip service to its solidarity with the Palestinian people and approves licences for the Israeli military while the Israeli military slaughters men, women and, most horrendously of all, children, babies and infants.  The defence minister who is presiding over the Israeli military, the so-called IDF - in reality, the occupation force - actually said that Israel was going to starve people and deny them the means to exist. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I did not interrupt the Deputy previously and I am loathe to do so now, but I must ask him to qualify, for the purposes of the Official Report, whether he is paraphrasing or quoting directly from speeches that have been made in the Knesset. He has made a few remarks. Will he qualify whether he is paraphrasing or quoting? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  I am paraphrasing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  That is all I ask. We just have to be careful. Thank you. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Since the Ceann Comhairle mentioned that, it might be worth quoting them directly. For example, Yoav Gallant, the defence minister, that is, the minister in charge of the IDF, described the Palestinians in the context of the assault on Gaza as \"human animals\". "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Does the Deputy have a document? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Yes, that was in front of the ICJ. It was part of the evidence submitted to the ICJ. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Okay. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  This is very much in the public domain.  Members of the ruling party, Likud, made public statements calling for - I am now reading from Sadaka's document on the genocidal intent - a Nakba against the Palestinian people and talked about \"erasing the Gaza Strip from the face of the Earth\". The Prime Minister, Netanyahu, referred to the Palestinians as \"Amalek\". This is a well known biblical reference which refers to the Hebrew Bible. The reference is to a certain part of the latter, which states:  Now go attack the Amalekites and totally destroy all that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.  That is what Netanyahu was referring to when he used the term \"Amalek\". There is a lot more evidence. I do not have it all in front of me. All has been submitted to the ICJ. This is what they were doing. They were saying they were going to do it and our Government approved a surge in licences for the military machine that was carrying out these atrocities against the Palestinian people. It is absolutely shameful.  I will conclude on this. I have made the point, but I feel the need to sound the alarm bells about this. In the context of all that, we now have a Bill, not flagged in advance, with a section in it that seeks to reduce the obligations on State agencies to notify the Government when they are supporting companies that are engaged in the production of technology in this area. That is very bad. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  I welcome the chance to speak on this Bill because I can see the logic in the State being prepared for the way industry, technology, national security and environmental concerns are changing. I take on board what the Government said about this Bill giving our enterprise agencies the flexibility to operate in a globalised system that is more competitive, more AI enhanced and more security sensitive than ever before. The Industrial Development Acts of the 1980s and 1990s - when I grew up - were not designed for an era of AI quantum computing, cyber resilience, cyberattacks or climate-driven industrial focus. Just like Ireland evolved, as was referenced by a previous speaker, from the 1950s policies of Lemass - and many tributes should go to T.K. Whitaker for those - the situation has again taken a massive leap forward. The pace is increasing all the time. However, when we modernise the machinery of the State, which is laudable, we have to make sure that checks and balances remain. We have to have that ambitious side, similar to the 1950s pioneering spirit, but we also have to make sure that we spend wisely in terms of how we invest.  I broadly support the direction in which the Bill will take us, but I wish to raise a number of concerns, in a constructive way, which I hope will be reflected in the strengthening of the Bill as it goes through the different Stages. The first has been referred to by a number of Deputies already, including Deputies Gibney and Boyd Barrett. It is the most headline-grabbing one from a lot of perspectives. I refer to the removal of the requirement for the Government to give approval before agencies engage in activities of primarily military relevance. The Government argued that the provisions in place up to now are outdated, that dual use technologies blur the line between civil and military and that Ireland needs to be able to participate in emerging European frameworks and so on. This is all true.  Across the EU, dual use research and development spending increased by 40% between 2018 and 2023, according to the European Commission's 2023 defence industrial strategy report. The European Defence Fund has been allocated \u20ac7.95 billion for the 2021 to 2027 period under the European Defence Fund Regulation (EU) 2021\/697. That is a massive amount of money. It reflects a continent that, for its own reasons - we can see why the Poles and Germans would like this - is rearming technologically and militarily. Even if we are constrained in certain aspects due to our military neutrality, our membership of the EU is being pushed in that direction. We cannot pretend we exist in a bubble.  We are neutral, however, and as long as the population wishes it to be so, we cannot remove what is, in effect, a safeguard without replacing it with something, perhaps more modern, but at least of equal standing or better. This is where I have the concerns. Deputy Boyd Barrett referred to it quite eloquently a few minutes ago. Section 8 of the Bill being added at a later stage is worrying because, once the requirement for explicit approval is removed, the moment is also moved forward when someone in a position of power can ask what exactly we are supporting and whether it fits in with our military neutrality. Are we not, lads and lassies, actually supporting genocide? Where does the buck stop? It may not stop at the Minister any more. Who is accountable?  Cynics might say that is the reason, to get rid of that accountability, to give us - to borrow an American term, a weasel word - strategic flexibility. Basically, if it is a deliberate attempt to do something like that, it is an abomination. If it is an oversight, it needs to be fixed through the parliamentary process. If we are stepping into the defence security and resilience space - whether we say it explicitly or not - we have to have structures that reflect our neutrality. That means we still need a statutory reporting requirement to the Oireachtas, whether it is to the Committee on Defence and National Security, with regular updates by the Minister in the D\u00e1il or Seanad, or something similar with the same level of agreed scrutiny that Opposition parties and Independents would be happy with. It means having a clear definition of what the phrase \"primarily military relevance\" means in the current age. The meaning might change in five years' time, so we have to have good definitions.  We do not know whether this refers to funding that would create jobs while also facilitating the guarding of undersea cables. Does it have anything to do with Russian submarines or security equipment for EU Presidency events? Does it mean giving the Israeli armed forces a leg up, even if only to help them with their HR systems? We need an independent oversight mechanism.  I listened to the discussion on the radio this morning between Deputies Richard Boyd Barrett and Barry Ward. It was quite interesting. I want to put this on the record because I will not be here this evening for the debate on Deputy Boyd Barrett's Private Members' Bill. I acknowledge that the Government has valid points to raise on what the proposed legislation can do unilaterally in terms of whether or not we can override the European Union element. If, however, we are serious about being signatories in the context of calling out Israel for genocide, then we should bring this type of legislation as far as possible in order that the EU will be obliged to say, \"Well, actually, you can't do this. It is illegal.\" At least symbolically, we will have shown we are serious about what we purport to care about as a country. We need transparency at all stages.  Another aspect of this legislation involves environmental protection and carbon abatement. The Bill allows projects to be assessed solely on environmental criteria; given my Green background, I fully support that. We have to accelerate the decarbonisation process. The Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, has made it clear that Ireland must reduce emissions by 51% by 2030 in the context of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021. Unfortunately, we are projected to fall short by a wide margin in that regard. That is on the basis of an EPA report from 2024. I have consistently called in the D\u00e1il for these targets not just to be met but also to be exceeded, especially in terms of energy security, self-sufficiency and the related urgent requirements to upgrade our electricity grid. Again, we need financial transparency. Even if the goal is a good one and we are trying to do the decent thing in a world with lunatics like Trump and others denying that climate change is an increasingly dangerous reality, we need clear reporting on the types, number and scale of grants and on the expected outcomes and measured outcomes. We need to know that the money being spent is changing behaviour, whether individual consumer behaviour, industrial behaviour or through Government agencies, so that we are achieving our objectives, rather than just rewarding stuff we were going to have to do anyway, and that we are going back to the visionary idea of T.K. Whitaker in the 1950s. If this Bill is being brought in to create something more modern and to help us better achieve our aims, that is very welcome, but it should go above and beyond our existing targets.  Another angle I want to look at is the expansion of IDA Ireland's co-investment powers. I am not concerned about some of those relating to the more pro-business side of things. I am definitely pro business but I am not pro giving business a licence to print money at the expense of the consumer. Co-investment is a good idea, even if it crowds out some private developers. If a strategically important project requires to be pushed forward and if it strengthens things from a regional or decarbonisation perspective or provides more jobs, then the State should not be afraid to take the lead. We have seen too many cases where we have waited for the so-called market to solve a problem and let the companies come in and do it. That sometimes means the problem either never gets solved or is not solved fast enough, or else it generates massive profits for private companies and little community dividend. Many onshore wind farms, for example, go into communities but very few in the communities would say they got a good share of the profits or the projects have enhanced their quality of life in return for the inconvenience. I am a huge supporter of wind energy, but we have to ensure that there is a community dividend.  This would also apply from a national perspective to offshore wind and stuff we have not pushed because we are depending on private companies, like wave, tidal, solar, to some extent hydrogen, battery storage investment and deep sea harbour development. All are areas where the State could lead the way off its own bat, or at least through co-investment, with the caveat that the State be the lead investor. Any State investment, including co-investment, carries a financial risk. Commercial property values and land values have experienced big swings over the years - 10% to 15% in recent years in the office and industrial segments according to the CBRE Ireland market outlook 2024. Construction cost inflation has averaged 7% to 9% annually since 2021, as we know from a number of reports like the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland tender price index for the period 2021 to 2024. That has only got worse since the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the more recent war in the Strait of Hormuz and related fuel price hikes, which also push up the price of doing business. We would want to be careful, especially in the scenario of these conflicts and the risk of a related global recession. We do not want to be holding property purchased at a peak price or paying over the odds in a bidding war unless we can guarantee we will get a return.  I am digressing slightly because I have a little bit of time available. The whole process of NAMA was a good idea, particularly in the context of buying all the property, securing it and then trying to get a return on the investment. We got billions back. If you index day-to-day prices, however, you will see we undersold things from the point of view of what we got for the State. That was in the context of a global economic crisis with the troika putting pressure on us. If the likes of IDA Ireland will take on more risk by getting involved, hopefully as the lead, in these co-investment projects, the Oireachtas has to have scrutiny, not to the level of micromanagement that will actually stop stuff happening, but definitely pre-notification of major co-investments above a reasonable defined threshold. It means annual reporting on the performance of assets and published risk management frameworks so we know the basis on which decisions are made in advance. We have had too many overspends and too few returns in the past. I wholeheartedly agree with empowering the agencies, but we need to ensure oversight.  That brings me to a broader point in the context of the Bill and possibly beyond it. The governance structures overseeing our enterprise agencies have not necessarily kept pace with the expansion of their mandates over the years. They are asked to do more than in T.K. Whitaker and Lemass's time, or the seventies, eighties or nineties. We now have the green transition, the digital transition, the so-called defence, security and resilience technology, growth and infrastructure. While co-investment is not new, it is new in this context, especially with the lead agency model I have been suggesting.  In 2020, the OECD published the principles of good governance for independent public bodies and set out international best practice standards for how semi-automonous agencies like IDA Ireland, the HSE, ComReg, the EPA and Enterprise Ireland should be structured and held accountable. This model is widely used by governments to benchmark whether agencies with significant operational independence can still operate in a transparent, accountable and democratic framework. Looking at this from the OECD's perspective, when agencies expand their mandates, as this Bill, to a degree, proposes, without parallel reform of how they are governed, there is a risk the accountability gap increases and the scrutiny decreases. We need, in every case above a certain amount, risk-weighted assessment aligned with best practice internationally, particularly at EU level and maybe looking at the UK specifically. It means a stronger as opposed to a weaker role for the public accounts committee in reviewing the activities of agencies and for the enterprise committee of which I am a member.  On the flammable liquid provisions, updating safety standards is necessary, but we also have to be mindful of the compliance burden on small operators, particularly those in rural areas. Industry estimates suggest it could cost up to \u20ac15,000 per site for upgrades and inspections, depending on the scale of the equipment involved. Those who came up with those estimates would say that because the information comes from an Irish petroleum industry association compliance costs survey from 2023. However, they do have a fair point to make to the effect that if you want to manage safety, you should try to do it in a way that does not potentially put companies out of business. I hope that clarification can be given as this Bill progresses as to how standards will be phased in, what sort of supports will be available and how we can ensure they do not undermine local businesses.  They are not related to the Bill specifically, but there are a couple of other matters I would like to talk about briefly, purely because they are relevant to where industrial policy goes. I have mentioned these matters previously, both at the committee of which I am a member and in other debates in the House. I am of the view that we should create something similar to Silicon Valley in the midlands, in the triangle comprising the lands between Tullamore, Athlone and Mullingar. My constituency has a high concentration of pharma and software industries. Some 20% of those who work in these industries come from overseas. They are all living in my area, which they are entitled to do, but they have very high-income jobs, which means that houses prices locally are being pushed up. Equally, because all of the companies they work for want to locate in the Dublin area, the increase in traffic does tend to add to the gridlock. It would make a lot of sense from an industrial perspective that an area the size of Silicon Valley would be covered by that triangle, a 20 km space in the middle of the country, where future policy would encourage or even specify that the companies have to go to those type of hubs. That is where they would be located. We would possibly need to build a new city to accommodate them and plan it properly in order that it would be a 15-minute city where all of the facilities and amenities would be within walking distance and where people could work in a much more modern way. That would also mean that if people living in places like Dublin Mid-West are going to be commuting for 50 minutes in order to get to work, it would make much more sense for them to westwards rather than adding to the gridlock eastwards and along the M50.  The other matter I want to reference is that of our ports, particularly in the context of co-investment funding. We need deep-sea ports on the west coast. We need battery storage and maybe hydroelectric, a Turlough Hill-type project, that would be capable of holding onto the energy generated by using offshore wind, the waves on the west coast and the tides in the Shannon Estuary and off the coast of Dublin. We have wave energy potential in the context of which we are way behind both Scotland and Denmark. All of this could contribute to massive export potential in terms of electricity. I listened to a debate earlier today about the potential for bringing nuclear power to Ireland. I am not opposed this ideologically, but there would be a need to ramp things up and spend money on imported uranium or thorium, cheap as they might be in the current context. We could do that, but we have the potential, using battery and hydro storage, to be self-sufficient in electricity terms , to provide the energy for data centres and get an income from them and to export energy to the UK and France. If we do need a nuclear element, we could take some nuclear energy from France, if we ever the need to do so, during an off-peak period. With wave, wind, solar and tidal power, and also if we ramp up the grid and the private wires element, I cannot see why we would ever be short of energy at any time of the year, particularly as we have enough capacity to cater for our own needs, although our export capacity might slow down at different times. We need to look at strategic investment and partnership with companies in the context of that element of industrial policy, because it would be a win-win situation for everyone. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (Deputy Alan Dillon)  I thank the Deputies for their contributions and for their constructive and useful feedback, which I certainly welcome. Many supported the broad thrust of the Bill and its underlying objectives.  The Bill will further enhance the ability of the enterprise development agencies, IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland, to drive investment and employment across the country. It will also ensure the enterprise agencies have the legislative tools they will need to incentivise companies to accelerate their green and digital transitions. It will allow IDA Ireland to further enhance its property and infrastructure offerings. A key element of that will be supporting regional, balanced development. That is very much evident in its strategic plans and we can see that magnified in every corner of this country with some property banks, but also with advanced building solutions being developed and have been developed to meet client demand and support regional needs.  The Bill streamlines the ability of the agencies to support defence, security and resilience. In summary, it is designed to drive investment and support innovation in areas that are strategically critical for Ireland. Many Deputies raised concerns about the general scheme of the Bill that was published and approved in February of 2025. Over the past year, we have witnessed the growing challenges but also the opportunities in areas of our economy that are related to defence, security and resilience. They have become increasingly clear, given the extraordinary budget allocations for security, at national and European level. Looking at the challenges we face with regard to moving the level of ambition within our Defence Forces to the next level, significant investment will be required and it is against this backdrop that it is time to replace that blanket constraint.  What we are focused on doing is providing this amendment, which solely relates to the functions of enterprise agencies and their capacity to support Ireland's strategic objectives. It will allow the agencies to support, financially or non-financially, enterprises in the defence, security and resilience sphere, like other parts of our economy, but importantly it is subject to compliance with all existing controls and legal obligations governing these sectors.  For this Government, it is about ensuring that we can maximise funds from European programmes, such as the forthcoming European competitiveness fund. It is about ensuring Ireland benefits from this. Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland must be able to engage confidently with potential partners, with companies and consortia operating in this sphere. If we do not do that, someone else will. These amendments in the Bill provide the clarity that is required for agencies to participate fully and appropriately in these programmes, supporting Irish researchers, supporting small to medium enterprises right throughout our country, and also ensuring the multinational firms that want to collaborate with the innovation, defence, security and resilience fields can actually do so. That is a good thing and one that would be welcomed. It does not impact the activities of enterprises themselves as activities in this sphere are controlled by a comprehensive, multilayered framework involving primary and secondary legislation under the Control of Exports Act 2023 and Ireland's obligations under international treaties, including in relation to human rights.  Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland are subject to overarching Government policy, ministerial policy direction and strict internal governance and compliance standards. It is very important to emphasise this because I have heard Deputies, including Deputy Boyd Barrett, make assertions regarding \"sinisterism\" and the charge that we tried to smuggle this into the Bill.  This could not be further from the truth. The Government has a regulatory and compliance framework for enterprises operating in the State and that is not affected by the deletion of this section. All existing checks and controls remain fully intact, including the EU regulation around the Control of Exports Act, the provisions of which are unaffected. We operate export licence applications. These are considered by our officials in accordance with criteria set out within the relevant dual use and military EU and national regulations and in line with Ireland's international obligations and responsibilities as a member of non-proliferation regimes and export controls remit. That is an important point with regard to Deputy Boyd Barrett's accusation that we are in some way complicit in the ongoing genocide in Palestine. This Government has been very strong in upholding international law but we also ensure that each application is assessed individually, with detailed consideration of the nature of the items, the destination country, the identity of the end user, the intended end use and the potential misuse, using all reliable information available at the time from a range of different sources. That has to be factored in. All of this presents complex factors, which are considered in every application. If there are any concerns that goods exported will not be used for the specified end use or by specific end users, they will be detailed in the application. If the exporter does not provide enough information regarding the intended end use, our officials make an informed decision.  The bulk of dual-use items exported from Ireland, including those to Israel, are mainstream business ICT products such as software, hardware, networking, data storage and cybersecurity and have been categorised as so. We want to continue to support indigenous Irish companies. We see this Bill as an important vehicle for multinationals that are based here and IDA client companies to continue the good work they do and we look forward to progressing it through the House. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Industrial Development (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2026: Second Stage"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_36","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/42","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/42\/dail\/motion\/referral","houseCode":"dail","stage":"motion","isBillStage":false,"showAs":"Industrial Development (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2026: Referral to Select Committee (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Industrial Development (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2026: Referral to Select Committee","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_36","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (Deputy Alan Dillon)  I move:  That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment pursuant to Standing Orders 103 and 188. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Industrial Development (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2026: Referral to Select Committee"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_37","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_37","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa)  I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case:  Deputy Maeve O'Connell - To discuss urban broadband provision.  Deputy Michael Cahill - To discuss discrepancies in inheritance tax and capital gains tax.  Deputy Emer Currie - To discuss the regulation of loot boxes and chance-based microtransactions in video games.  Deputy Jen Cummins - To discuss supports for children and students with dyslexia.  Deputy Malcolm Byrne - To discuss an update on the planned new Courtown Coast Guard building.  Deputy Barry Ward - To discuss support mechanisms for families when their childcare centre withdraws from the core funding model.  Deputy Colm Burke - To discuss the establishment of a national radiation therapy equipment replacement programme.  Deputy Tom Brabazon - To discuss the disruption to DART services in north Dublin.  Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa - To discuss supports for those with frontotemporal dementia.  Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan - To discuss the loss of medical card access due to age-based insurance restrictions on general practitioners.  Deputies Paul Murphy and Ciar\u00e1n Ahern - To discuss the proposed move of the An Post sorting office in Edmondstown to Lucan.  Deputies Cian O'Callaghan, Barry Heneghan, Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed and Denise Mitchell - To discuss safeguarding, governance and resourcing at Belmayne Community Special School.  Deputy Paula Butterly - To discuss increasing the mandatory retirement age for retained firefighters from 62 to 65.  Deputy James O'Connor - To discuss the lack of playing facilities on Carrigtwohill school campus.  The matters raised by Deputies Paula Butterly, Maeve O'Connell, James O'Connor and Malcolm Byrne have been selected for discussion. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_38","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_38","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_39","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Fire Service","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_38","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_38","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_39","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paula Butterly  I raise this matter on behalf of retained firefighters of County Louth and all the regions of Ireland, particularly those who are approaching mandatory retirement at the age of 62 and who are not in a financial position to retire. Retained firefighters make up around two thirds of Ireland\u2019s fire services and are particularly critical in rural areas like County Louth and regional communities. For many retained firefighters, this is not an abstract policy issue. It is a very real and immediate financial one. These are people with mortgages still to pay, families to support and limited pension provision reflecting the parttime and oncall nature of retained service.  As it stands, approximately 300 retained firefighters are due to retire at 62 over the next year. When they leave the service, many fall into a gap where they are too young to access the State pension at 66 yet are no longer allowed to work in the role they are trained, willing and medically fit to perform. The outcome is deeply problematic. Experienced firefighters are effectively pushed onto social welfare for up to four years, not because they are incapable of work but because policy gives them no other option. That is difficult to justify socially, financially or ethically. These are people who have served their communities for decades, who have responded to emergencies at all hours and who continue to meet medical and fitness requirements, yet the system tells them \"No\". The system tells them that they must stop working at 62, with the State carrying the cost.  This discussion is not about lowering standards or overlooking safety. Firefighting is a physically demanding role and that must always be respected but we already acknowledge this reality through ongoing fitness, medical and capability assessments. Fitness and competence and not age alone are what determine safe service. I am, therefore, asking whether we should allow retained firefighters to continue working up to 65 years of age on a voluntary basis subject to strict and ongoing medical and occupational fitness criteria.  Importantly, I also want to raise the issue of timing. Even if there is agreement in principle, legislation takes time but these retirements are happening now. Without action, we stand to lose hundreds of trained, experienced retained firefighters in the coming months - people our communities depend on. Summertime is coming and, in Waterford, they will be out fighting all the wildfires. Look at times of flooding. These are the people we rely on. For that reason, I believe we should examine the possibility of an interim or shortterm measure to retain these firefighters while any permanent legislative solution is being developed. This could include a temporary administrative or regulatory mechanism allowing service beyond 62 on a yeartoyear basis, strict conditional extensions subject to enhanced medical and fitness assessments, and a clearly defined timeframe to act as a bridge to legislative reform, not a substitute for it. Such an interim approach would allow us to hold onto valuable, experienced personnel, avoid unnecessary reliance on social welfare, and ensure continuity of fire cover, particularly in areas already under pressure.  Above all, it is about fairness and dignity. It is about recognising that imposing forced retirement at 62 on retained firefighters - many of whom cannot afford to retire and remain fit to serve - creates real human and financial costs. I believe we owe it to these workers to at least examine whether a better, more proportionate approach is possible both in the short term and for the future. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (Deputy Alan Dillon)  I thank the Deputy for raising the issue and providing me with the opportunity to address it on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy John Cummins.  The current mandatory retirement age of firefighters is 62, which was raised from 58 in 2024. It is the same for all uniformed services, including the Irish Prison Service, An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and the Defence Forces. A firefighter may retire upon attaining the minimum age of 55 years. If a firefighter wishes to serve beyond that age, the fire authority that employs them must satisfy themselves as to their medical fitness, having undergone the appropriate medical assessment. The firefighter may continue to serve while undergoing annual fitness tests but must retire on or before turning 62.  In 2024, the Courts, Civil Law, Criminal Law and Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act amended the law in relation to the age at which certain public servants were required to retire. Part 11 of the Act provided that the then Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform could make orders enabling line Ministers - justice, defence and housing - to make regulations regarding the retirement age of uniformed services.  Regulations were made in August 2024, with the consent of then Minister for public expenditure, raising the mandatory retirement age to 62. The provision of fire services in a local authority's functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needed and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage supports fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a central training programme, issuing guidance on operational and other related matters, and providing capital funding support for equipment and priority infrastructural projects.  Engagement with staff-side associations, including on the mandatory retirement age and medical assessments, is a matter for each local authority as employer. The Local Government Management Agency, LGMA, will act on the local authority's behalf in industrial relations matters in the normal way. Following a Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, agreement with retained firefighters in September 2023, approximately 630 new recruits have entered service as fire authorities implement the mandated minimum crew number of 12 in each fire station. This is in support of the revised model of service provision rostering week on, week flexibility and four weeks paid annual leave.  I note that the recently enacted but not yet commenced Employment (Contractual Retirement Ages) Act 2025 does not apply to an employee whose employment is subject to the maximum retirement age required by law, at which the employee is obliged to retire or be retired. Therefore, this Act excludes firefighters and other uniformed services.  Given that this matter was addressed less than two years ago in consultation with staff representative bodies, the Department of housing has no plans to revisit this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paula Butterly  I thank the Minister of State for his answer, but it does not go to the heart of the issue, which is that these retained firefighters have to retire at 62. I am going to repeat much of what I said in my four minutes. These people have bills to pay and families to support. They are fighting fit and able to work. They want to work, and there is dignity in the fact that they want to work. They want to be of service to their communities, so the very fact that we have over 300 retained firefighters who are going to have to retire within the next year, a large portion of whom are in my constituency of County Louth, and are saying that they do not want to do so means that we cannot just shut the door and say that we reviewed this matter two years ago and, therefore, we are going to stop there and wait another few years. These are people's lives. This is people's work. This is their dignity. The gap is four years. Four years of having to rely on social welfare is not enough. It is not the right answer to give to people who go out there day in and day out to fight on our behalf.  When there is a flood, who do we call? When there is a fire, who do we call? This is not \"Ghostbusters\". These are valuable members of our community. We cannot just sit back and say \"No\" to somebody because of their age. I could go further and say that we could consider this to be age discrimination. Why is it 62? If you are medically fit and want to work, we should not be putting those barriers up. Think of the loss of knowledge and experience. We are constantly trying to employ and attract new talent into the fire services. If we continue to have this gap of knowledge and experience, who is going to pass that down to the new recruits? Who is going to be there?  I thank the Minister of State for his answer, but it is just not good enough. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I agree with the sentiment and point she has raised. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister of State with responsibility for local government, whose remit it is to engage with local authorities as those acting as employers for firefighters. In other uniformed services, a request is sometimes made to, for example, the Garda Commissioner as regards garda\u00ed who want to work for an extended period above the normal retirement age. I feel that this is something that could be looked at for the firefighters. It could be utilised, reflecting on the level of knowledge, skill and expertise many firefighters have and the need to hold that in their respective fire stations so as to train those who are new entrants or need years to build up that capacity.  Notwithstanding that, the fire services had a significant campaign just two years ago. The issues at that time were very much focused on recruitment. There is an opportunity for further engagement on the extension of the retirement age that the Deputy is appealing for. How that can be supported, along with the adequate resourcing, is something that local authorities need to continue to review, ensuring that we have essential services delivered by firefighters, we have the infrastructure, training and equipment they need, and we have continuous investment into the sector.  I will certainly take all of this back to the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, and I will ensure that the Deputy gets the relevant information following the discussion here today. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Fire Service"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_40","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Broadband Infrastructure","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_38","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_38","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_40","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maeve O'Connell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maeve-O'Connell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Maeve-O'Connell.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maeve O'Connell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maeve-O'Connell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Maeve-O'Connell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Maeve O'Connell  I wish to raise with the Minister of State today the issue of urban broadband. The national broadband plan has been hugely successful. It committed to connecting more than 1 million people to fibre broadband. When it was being proposed and introduced, it received a lot of criticism for its level of ambition and cost. Several years later, though, we can see how successful it has actually been, with more than 450,000 premises connected and another 492,000 premises available for preorder already on order. However, it has not covered all of the country, as the name \"national broadband\" implies. We have pockets of gaps. We have black spots or, as I prefer to call them, broadband islands. These are in our urban areas where you are surrounded by wonderful connectivity but your road or area has very limited connectivity. These have been bypassed by the traditional commercial providers, yet it was quite reasonable to expect that, as part of the national broadband plan, they would somehow be picked up.  My Fine Gael colleague, Councillor John Kennedy, and I have been repeatedly raising this issue in recent years on behalf of our residents in Kerrymount Rise, the Thicket, Stillorgan Wood, Torquay Wood, Westminster Lawns and other areas throughout my constituency of Dublin Rathdown. It is not just my constituency, but also other areas of Dublin. Deputy Grace Boland of Dublin Fingal West, one of the fastest growing constituencies in Dublin, has also had similar issues in her area, with her residents in Skerries, Lusk and Balbriggan also reporting connectivity and poor broadband issues.  This is not a trivial issue. I have had residents say to me repeatedly that they have jobs where they can work from home but they cannot do so because they do not have the broadband connectivity to enable it. A report published recently by D\u00fan Laoghaire-Rathdown County Chamber of Commerce, developed by Sunstone, found that almost 20% of workers in D\u00fan Laoghaire-Rathdown worked from home - one of the highest percentages. However, it would probably be higher if more people had connectivity.  This does not just affect workers. It also affects our students, who cannot connect to their online resources when they go home, and businesses. That same report from D\u00fan Laoghaire-Rathdown chamber also found that about 20% of businesses in the county did not even have an online presence. I wonder how much of that is due to the fact they do not have the connectivity where their businesses or homes are to keep an eye on their websites or online presence.  We have an issue here and I want to see how it is going to be addressed. We understand that there are legacy issues. For example, one of the issues is direct buried leads, which are difficult to get at and are not attractive for the commercial operators to prioritise right now. They will eventually get around to them.  Just as we have committed to fibre to the home for people around the country as part of the national broadband plan, the residents in my constituency of Dublin Rathdown are also entitled to that, and they should not just be expected to settle for fibre to the cabinet. Could the Minister of State please consider the issues my constituents and those in multiple other constituencies in Dublin are facing, and how will he work with the various Departments to try to address these broadband islands or black spots in our urban areas? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I would like to thank Deputy O'Connell for providing a debate on this important Topical Issue. I welcome the opportunity to outline the position on behalf of the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport.  As the Deputy has outlined, the national broadband plan, NBP, is the Government\u2019s initiative to deliver high-speed broadband to every household, business and farm in Ireland, ensuring all premises in the country are covered by a gigabit network no later than 2028. It is the largest infrastructural project in rural Ireland since rural electrification, spanning 96% of Ireland's landmass. The NBP is delivering high-speed broadband to over 1.1 million people in more than 23% of premises in the State. This includes over 64,410 farms, 26,350 non-farm businesses, 693 schools and 27 islands and it is fast transforming those communities.  As one of the largest public investments in the State\u2019s history, the national broadband plan is designed to address market failure, ensuring universal high-speed connectivity and supporting balanced economic growth, competitiveness and social inclusion across all regions. We are delivering strong progress on these challenging targets. Deployment momentum is strong and the main infrastructure build is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2026, bringing the project in ahead of schedule and running under budget. In addition, commercial deployments have also advanced strongly, with the latest figures released from the regulator showing that 90% of premises now have access to gigabit connectivity, which is a significant increase of 32% since 2020.  As part of the roll-out, the Government identified a need to deliver broadband services where commercial operators would not operate. National Broadband Ireland was appointed to deliver the wholesale broadband service to those parts of the country located in the intervention areas.  Already, over 1.5 million homes have been passed across the State, and this will complement the Government's priority around the digital connectivity strategy, ensuring Ireland has a multitude of connectivity in regard to fixed-line operators while also delivering the plan for high-speed broadband services in the non-intervention areas.  Actually, I want to correct that. In support of the national broadband plan, Eir has already passed over 1.5 million homes across the State. SIRO has reached a milestone of having passed over 700,000 premises for full broadband. Virgin Media has advised the Department that it has upgraded its services to over 700,000 premises with full broadband.  The Department is continuing to monitor upgrades by commercial operators to ensure that any unnecessary barriers to the availability of high-speed fibre broadband are addressed and the risk of any gigabit service-challenged areas is managed. Information gathering and detailed analysis is ongoing with the operators and it is understood that a full-scale risk assessment will ensure that any potential gigabit challenges are addressed. These data will complement the initial analysis already conducted by the Department. The Department is working closely with the commercial operators in reviewing all of the scenarios that the Deputy has raised in regards to direct buried leads. Analysis by the Department will continue to provide avenues to address and optimise policy in regard to other areas where black spots need connections. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maeve O'Connell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maeve-O'Connell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Maeve-O'Connell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Maeve O'Connell  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Aire St\u00e1it for his reply. He mentioned a couple of things in his response about market failures, which is what the national broadband plan sought to address. I would argue that what we are dealing with here in all of the areas I highlighted in Stillorgan, Foxrock and Cabinteely are market failures. They are, to use the Minister of State's own terminology, \"gigabit service-challenged areas\". People cannot work from home in these areas. The current service is completely insufficient.  I welcome that the Department is working very closely with the commercial operators. I would be interested to know what information is being gathered in that regard. Are all of these areas being identified and listed? Are they being measured and assessed?  On identifying all of those black spots, what is the plan around that? Is there a plan? The Minister of State said that the NBP was going to come in under budget. Will that budget be transferred to address the remaining black spots or will we be looking for a new plan, working with the commercial operators, or a sort of mini-national broadband plan or national broadband plan phase 2 to try to address these gaps?  These things are very important. The timeline is important to my residents. They have been listening to this story about roll-outs and the success stories, with towns and villages across the country being celebrated as great successes, yet they continue to have no service and they have no timeline as to when they are going to get a service.  The Minister of State works in the Department of enterprise. I refer him to my earlier comments about the percentage of people working from home in my constituency and the percentage of businesses there that are not online. Thus, there are opportunities that we are missing simply because we do not have sufficient urban broadband throughout Dublin Rathdown. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  Regarding the Deputy's constituents and residents who have raised concerns with her, and anyone living in non-intervention areas or areas that are served by commercial operators - the likes of Open Eir, SIRO and Virgin Media - if they cannot get access to greater than 30 Mbps of broadband service after contacting their retail service providers, they should raise queries with the Department through its website under \"Contact Us\". There is a section within the national broadband plan. It is important that we escalate this issue to commercial operators. It is important that people have a service, that issues be investigated and that their services be upgraded to meet their level of need. Indeed, the Commission for Communications Regulation provides an online broadband checker on its website. This shows availability, allowing people, especially those with an eircode, to check. We want to ensure that the information checker reflects the lived reality in the network operator areas. If you cannot work from home because you do not have adequate connectivity, that is a problem and something we want to fix. We want to work with private operators to do that. We want to hold them to account, especially those that are currently providing services, and ensure that they are upgrading those services.  We are working on measures to make the process of accessing existing infrastructure easier, ensuring that new housing developments are designed and facilitated with telecommunications connectivity to address any potential gigabit service challenges. We need to continue to hold private operators to account in regard to their current licences. The Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, and I will work with the Deputy on the specific black spot areas she has raised here today. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Broadband Infrastructure"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_41","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"School Facilities","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_38","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_38","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_41","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"James O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"James O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James O'Connor  I wish to raise the issue of the Carrigtwohill Community College and the school campus in Carrigtwohill.  To give the D\u00e1il a bit of insight in respect of this, this was the largest single school project ever undertaken by the State. It involved the construction of three schools on the one campus, a large secondary school in addition to two primary schools that went in together. There are approximately 1,500 students there at this moment in the town of Carrigtwohill, which was at one point the fastest growing urban area in the country. It also has plans potentially to host up to 2,000 pupils on the school campus itself. We fought very hard in the last D\u00e1il term, alongside the then Minister for education, Deputy Norma Foley. After a very difficult two-year battle, we finally secured funding to advance the project, which was a long-running, difficult challenge. There is excellent school management and a fantastic principal in situ. I am very lucky to have a good working relationship and to be able to assist as the local TD for the area.  However, there is a problem. With that number of students in place, they do not have a proper playing area. I have asked about this for some time in parliamentary questions going back to November, trying to identify possible solutions so that the schools would have a suitable facility or play area for the students. To be fair, some analysis has been done. There are two sites adjacent to the school. Unfortunately one of them is an attenuation area to prevent flooding. Carrigtwohill is quite low lying and surface flooding is an issue there. With Storm Babet and so on, we have had serious flooding in the east Cork area in recent years. We need to see a workable solution being put forward. Through my parliamentary question to the Minister and the Department of education back in November, we identified a site of 1.09 acres sitting idle to the north of the site that is owned by the Department of education. There is an opportunity to solve the problem for these schools, the community in Carrigtwohill and the students from all over east Cork who attend the schools in the area and to put a solution in place. To their credit, the schools have been working very hard to get AstroTurf facilities. We have been able to assist in many cases in the constituency when it has come to getting grant aid. I really want to be in a position to provide assistance.  The question I want to put to the Department through the Minister of State, Deputy Dillon, who is representing the Minister for education today, is: can we finally get an answer? Will the Department devolve this land to Cork ETB to enable it to provide what is needed for the community and the school? I am really proud of the work they are doing in Carrigtwohill. In a relatively small number of years they have established a fantastic school. The students, pupils teachers and staff of the school all deserve this. It is required. We need to provide the facilities children need in order to go outside, get fresh air and exercise. We must try to provide them with the very best opportunity they can have in life to grow and develop. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I thank the Deputy for raising this matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Naughton, regarding the provision of sports facilities at the Carrigtwohill school campus in east Cork. Indeed, it is not the first time Deputy O'Connor has raised this matter in the D\u00e1il. The Minister, Deputy Naughton, is aware of this issue and she recently met with Scoil Mhuire Naofa and local representatives on the matter. I am sure the Deputy is aware of that.  As the Deputy said, the Carrigtwohill school campus project is the largest single school building project ever undertaken by the Department, to serve some 2,400 pupils. The project was completed in Q4 of 2023 under the Department\u2019s design and build programme. It includes two 24-classroom primary schools for Carrigtwohill Community National School and Scoil Mhuire Naofa and accommodation, including 14 classrooms across the three projects, for children with special education needs. The project also delivered three general purpose areas, a PE hall in the post-primary school and 13 ball courts in total.  The schools on the campus have sought to use a green area, which forms part of the site, for recreation purposes. As someone with a sporting background, I can see how important the provision of green playing areas is for school activities and to ensure children get the best experience at the earliest stage possible. Being a keen sporting supporter, the Deputy will really work with the local public representatives but also with the Department in trying to formulate a solution to the problem. As the Deputy outlined, the area in question is not suitable for use as a formal playing pitch, as it is required as an attenuation basin for flood management. However, the Department is pleased to support the schools' access to the green area as an informal recreation space.  Planning permission was granted by Cork County Council for an entrance and access way to this green area, as a stand-alone planning application. The scope of works and associated costs to provide the entrance and access way has recently been reviewed by the Department. The Department's programme manager has been requested to carry out a further due diligence review to establish a more cost-effective option to deliver the access way to the green area south of the campus buildings. Once received, Department officials will further review the proposed scope of work and costs, along with the programme timeline for completion of the access and entrance way to the southern green area. Department officials will update the schools and patron bodies upon completion of that review.  In addition, the Department has agreed that the area of 1.9 acres to the north of the campus in the Department's ownership, to which the Deputy referred, can be used as a recreation area by the schools on a licence basis. Officials from the Department are in contact with the relevant stakeholders to progress this. Should the land be required to support school place expansion in the future, its use as a recreation area will cease. The Department of Education and Youth has had positive and productive engagement with the three schools and their patrons throughout all stages of this project and will continue to support the schools on the new school campus. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James O'Connor  I thank the Minister for the response. I want to highlight the Department has agreed the area of circa 1.9 acres to the north of the campus in the Department's ownership can be used as a recreation area by the school on a licence basis. Following on from those comments, I would like to get an insight into how long that is going to take. I welcome it; I really do. I wish we did not have to wait so long to get a reply in respect of that query. I am glad to hear it is progressing. I appreciate that processes sometimes take significant time but the ultimate goal here is to provide the 1,500 pupils in the school complex with the green area they need. This also recognises the fact that Carrigtwohill remains one of the fastest growing areas in the country. Cork County Council is expecting 40% of the county's population growth to happen on the Carrigtwohill to Midleton corridor in the next decade. We heard that recently at the briefing by the chief executive of the county council.  I welcome this response. All I would ask is that we would get insight into this as a matter of urgency. The schools are adamant that they would like to try to get an AstroTurf or all-weather facility onsite. There is obviously the need to ensure the Department of sport is happy to provide the grant aid required for these types of projects. We know complications arise when it comes to the conditions of ownership. The Department should not create any difficulty there if they come to a satisfactory arrangement with Cork ETB to allow this to proceed. Again, I want to express my gratitude. It is nice to see there is a way to resolve this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I thank the Deputy. It is positive to give some good news when we are taking Topical Issues. This is important for the 2,400 pupils attending the school without access to green space. It is positive that they have identified and agreed the availability of the green areas both the 1.9 acres to the north and the attenuation area to the south that will become now an informal recreation area. To the Deputy's point, it is important that the lease agreements are agreed, that the licences are put in place and he can work with the schools patronage and management on any sports capital projects that might accelerate the development of these playing pitches and, indeed, future-proof the campus at Carrigtwohill for the students and the staff and ensure further enhancement of the external playing space available on the campus.  It is really important that nothing is delayed. The steps agreed to date need to be worked through in the period ahead, and things put in place in the summer period leading into the next academic year, because without certainty people build up frustration and anxiety. Deputy O'Connor has worked very collaboratively with the patron, the Department of education and school management. The overall community will benefit from this. It is an investment in the community and not only in the campus itself. Having additional playing pitches and space for an area that has seen a rapid increase in population is very beneficial. I thank Deputy O'Connor for his work on this. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"School Facilities"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_42","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Coast Guard Service","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_38","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_38","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_42","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  I thank the Minister of State for taking this on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Canney. I have no doubt the response from the Department will outline the rich history of the old rocket house station and the importance of the Coast Card to our coastal communities in north Wexford and south Wicklow. As the Minister of State comes from a coastal county, he is very appreciative of the work of the Coast Guard.  I will not go into the rich history of the Coast Guard but I will speak about the recent history. For over a decade there has been a demand for a much-needed coastal facility. When I was in the Seanad on 24 February 2022 I had a Commencement debate with the then Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, during which she informed us that six sites for a new Coast Guard facility had been identified by the OPW and that Courtown was on the priority list. On 23 November 2022, the Minister, Deputy Harris, came to the Seanad for a Commencement debate and told me Courtown was one of the key priorities for the OPW and that the OPW officials were giving the project every priority possible at the time. In the summer of 2023, the Minister, Deputy Chambers, met Wexford County Council and the Coast Guard in Courtown so there would be no issue with any potential site and it was resolved. On 10 October 2023, in a Commencement debate taken by the then Minister of State, Senator Rabbitte, I was told that Courtown was one of the key priorities for the OPW.  On 24 April 2024 when I raised it as a Commencement matter with the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, he told me he could see it was matter I had been raising for quite a significant period. He said that new accommodation for the Courtown Coast Guard unit was included in the Coast Guard building programme. He said it was worth repeating that it was one of the key priorities of the delivery programme. He said a preferred site had been identified, the OPW was in discussions, that it would then move to appointing a project team and, following this, planned and detailed design. This was in April 2024. I thought that was great and that we would see progress.  The general election happened and I ended up in this House. On 15 May 2025 I raised a Topical Issue debate taken by the Minister of State, Deputy Troy. He told me the OPW had identified a preferred site that was now awaiting approval of funding but the draft heads of terms, including the price, had been agreed on the new site. On 20 November 2025, in a written response, the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, told me a potential site had been identified after the 2024 appraisal process but the Department had requested there would be a further market trawl. He assured me it was still a priority for the Department. Come 14 April of this year, in a written response, the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, reassured me the provision of a new station for the unit remains a priority for the Department, and he pointed out a further market trawl had been carried out in Courtown.  We have known for a long time it has been a priority. We went from six sites to five sites to heads of terms to a further market trawl. A temporary solution has been found which is not acceptable. There has been no consultation with the local Coast Guard. Will the Minister of State tell us when the new Coast Guard facility will be constructed in Courtown? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I thank Deputy Byrne for continuing his advocacy in regard to the delivery of the Courtown Coast Guard station. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Canney. The Courtown Coast Guard unit provides an important and valued service along a busy section of coastline, supporting maritime safety and search and rescue operations in the area. The unit is staffed by a dedicated group of volunteers who continue to deliver a coastal response and unmanned aerial system capability. Their contribution to the local community and maritime users is widely recognised. The Courtown unit operates from a parish-owned premises under a license agreement. This facility provides suitable welfare for operational accommodation and support, supporting the unit effectively in carrying out its duties. It represents a practical and functional solution which ensures continuity of service.  The Irish Coast Guard building strategy, developed by the Department of Transport in collaboration with the Office of Public Works, was launched by the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, in November 2025. This provides a structured and consistent framework for the delivery of Coast Guard infrastructure nationally. The strategy sets out a clear approach to ensuring that all Coast Guard units operate from a safe, modern and fit-for-purpose facility, while also ensuring the public investment is managed in a responsible and proportional manner.  Progress continues to be made across the wider Coast Guard building programme. A new Coast Guard station was delivered in Westport and officially opened by the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, earlier this year, while construction of the new facility at Greystones has commenced and is on track for substantial completion in early 2027. A number of additional projects are also progressing nationally and are at various stages, including feasibility, site identification, design and delivery.  In the case of Courtown, the current premises aligns with the strategic approach set out in the building strategy. The facility is meeting operational requirements and providing sustainable suitable accommodation for volunteers. In this context it is appropriate that consideration be given to whether the existing premises can be secured but also enhanced on a longer-term basis rather than proceeding immediately to a more capital-intensive solution. The objective remains, which is to ensure that any solution delivered is sustainable, supports operational need and represents value for money for the Exchequer. This requires a balanced and evidence-based approach, taking account of local circumstances, available options and the wider Coast Guard infrastructure programme. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  I thank the Minister of State but it is very clear the Department has not been listening or engaging with the local Coast Guard unit. The Minister of State said it himself. It is operating under licence, not even under a lease, in a local parochial house. By the way, in order for the vehicles to come out of that parochial house they have to go through the churchyard. When there is a wedding or a funeral or, at this time of the year, a confirmation or communion, you can imagine the difficulty. I cannot believe the Minister of State is saying to the House that it is suitable. He referenced the facility built in Westport and he is very familiar with it. Why are people in Courtown and across the coast of south Wicklow and north Wexford being denied a proper facility that was promised? We had been told by several Ministers that it was priority for the Department. It is not viewed as suitable. The case made by the Minister of State about a modern fit-for-purpose premises. There was no consultation with the local Coast Guard. Does the Minister of State really believe that a parochial house under licence represents a suitable building for a modern fit-for-purpose Coast Guard? I do not accept this is the case.  As a matter of urgency will the Minister of State ask the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, to meet with the local Coast Guard to talk to them about their needs as volunteers in the community? That is so we finally see the commitment that has been given by several Ministers, including the identification of a preferred site, to see a proper Coast Guard facility provided in Courtown. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I agree with the sentiment of the challenges the Deputy has outlined with regard to progressing this important critical infrastructure for the community in Courtown and the volunteers who go above and beyond every day. I will take that back to the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and his officials in the Department to further engage with the OPW with regard to the realisation of the existing premises. They can continue to future proof the needs of the local community. I will mention what the Deputy has referenced with regard to intensive engagement with the local community on its needs and the focus of progressing a sustainable solution into the long term that continues to meet the operational requirements and needs of the locality and complies with the current Coast Guard building strategy. That needs to be reflected on an individual basis. I know the response I have been provided with today does not meet the needs of the people the Deputy represents, and the area that requires investment in its critical infrastructure. I will relay that back to the Minister of State. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Coast Guard Service"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-14\/debate\/dbsect_43","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2025\/73","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2025\/73\/dail\/2","houseCode":"dail","stage":"2","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Sanctions against the State of Israel Bill 2025: Second Stage [Private Members] (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Sanctions against the State of Israel Bill 2025: Second Stage [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":22,"speakerCount":12},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_43","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  I move: \"That the Bill be now read a Second Time.\"  I start by welcoming the many people who have come into the Gallery this evening to observe this debate. They are people who have been marching and protesting in some cases for decades or many years. Members of the Palestinian community are here to observe this and see how the Government is going to respond to it. I commend the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign and other groups like Sadaka, which are here and have been campaigning for many years on the issue of solidarity with Palestine against the crimes being committed against the people of Palestine by the Israeli regime.  Although this Bill was proposed by People Before Profit, I thank Sinn F\u00e9in, the Labour Party, the Social Democrats and, hopefully, others, who have already pledged support for this Bill. I give special thanks to Senator Frances Black who is also here and of course has been campaigning to get her Bill passed, looking for sanctions on trade with the illegally occupied Palestinian territories. The Government promised in the programme for Government it would be implemented but it still has not implemented it. We will probably talk about it more. However, despite the commitments given by the Government, there is a clear statement that it is now diluting that Bill. Many of us frankly have doubts that it has any intention of passing it at all despite the promise in the programme for Government that it would do so.  Our Bill is saying that under the Genocide Convention, the Rome Statute against apartheid, international law generally and our commitment to international law and human rights we have an obligation to impose sanctions on the State of Israel because it is in violation of those legal commitments. We are asking, if this Bill is passed, which we hope the Government will agreed to, is that we should all break off all economic, trade and financial relations with the State of Israel because of the crimes we believe it is guilty of. They are genocide, apartheid, ethnic cleansing, collective punishment of Palestinian people and the systematic, ongoing, decades long violation of the most basic human and civil rights of the Palestinian people. We are morally and legally obliged to impose sanctions and we need to end the treatment of Israel as a normal state and recognise that it is a rogue pariah state.  If that were not clear before the events of the past three years, it is surely obvious now. The Israeli regime is not a normal regime. It has revealed itself in the past three years as a depraved murder machine hell-bent on a genocidal campaign of annihilation and mass murder against the Palestinian people. That is what it is. Such a regime in our view has no place in the community of civilised nations and in the international community and should be isolated economically and in every other way as happened with apartheid South Africa. Because of the resistance of black South Africans and the solidarity of people across the world, it was finally acknowledged that an apartheid regime like South Africa had no right to exist and be treated as a normal state, and that regime had to be dismantled.  Surely, we are beyond the point now where that is clear about the Israeli regime. We have seen in the past three years the genocidal slaughter of more than 75,000 people in Gaza, the levelling of Gaza, the destruction of all the schools, most of the housing, the infrastructure, the hospitals and the mass murder of men, women and children. That continues despite the claim that there is a ceasefire. While all of that is going on, we see the ongoing ethnic cleansing of the West Bank. We see again the assaults and reoccupation of parts of Lebanon and the mass murder of Lebanese people. We see the attacks on Iran.  This is a death machine. It is obvious that is the case, and that the people presiding over it are criminals. Netanyahu, Gallant, Smotrich, Ben-Gvir are sick, sick people. When the minister of a government gets a present of a noose for his birthday to celebrate their plan to execute Palestinians, and they celebrate that for their birthday, you understand you are dealing with sick, depraved people. This is the mentality that is driving the Israeli State. Of course, all of this predates the current events. What we have seen in the past three years is the logical conclusion of the genocidal character of the Israeli State but its crimes predate the events of October 2023. I want to quote something written in 2021. I could quote many human rights organisations but I will just quote one because the impunity granted to Israel is what has led us to the genocidal horror we have seen.  This was documented by many organisations, but I will cite one, namely Human Rights Watch, and a report it produced in 2021. The report in question states that for over seven decades, the international community has stood by as Israel has been given free rein to dispossess, segregate, control, oppress and dominate Palestinians. It also states that the international community has contributed to undermining the international legal order and has emboldened Israel to continue to perpetrating crimes with impunity. Human Rights Watch accuses some states of actively supporting Israel's violations by supplying it with arms, equipment and other tools to perpetrate crimes under international law and providing diplomatic cover, including at the United Nations Security Council, to shield it from accountability. It states that by doing so, these states have completely failed the Palestinian people and only exacerbated Palestinians' lived experience as people with lesser rights and inferior status to Jewish Israelis. That was just one human rights organisation in 2021. How prophetic are its words.  Decades of impunity have been granted by the international community, by the UN Security Council and by this country. That impunity has now led to the horror we have seen over the past three years. There was the failure to pass Senator Black\u2019s Bill, which was instigated in 2018. How many times did we stand up in this House and how many times did people take to the streets - long before 2023 - to plead with successive Governments to impose sanctions? How many times did we plead with those in government to raise the EU-Israel association agreement? This grants favoured trade status and is effectively associate membership of the European Union. Israel still enjoys this after the genocide and horror that has been imposed on the people of Gaza and there has been not a single, solitary sanction.  I will be interested to hear what the Minister is going to say about the next matter I am about to raise. I do not know if people are aware of it, but it is absolutely shocking. This week, because of a fight by The Currency , which, according to the journalist Niall Sargent took 12 months, we discovered that in 2024 the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment approved licences to the value of \u20ac20 million for exports from this country to the Israeli military. That was a surge in the value of such exports in the previous year, \u20ac12 million, when the genocidal assault on Gaza began. In the years before that, it was only \u20ac1 million, although that is too much, or \u20ac85,000 in another year. In 2023, however, when the genocidal assault on Gaza began, the figure jumped. In 2024, it went up to \u20ac20 million. This is the Government signing off on licences to allow exports of goods to the Israeli military while it was committing these crimes. In the case of 2024, this was after South Africa had already initiated the case before the ICJ in respect of the genocide, which the Government later joined, although it had to be pushed to do so. We already had a ruling from the ICJ in January 2024 to the effect there was a plausible case of genocide being committed against the Palestinian people. Following that, the Government granted licences to export dual-use technology to the Israeli military that is carrying out the genocidal massacre. That is absolutely appalling.  I will conclude by reminding the Government what our obligations are under the Genocide Convention. I want to quote the ICJ ruling on the Bosnian genocide. It states:  ...a State\u2019s obligation to prevent, and the corresponding duty to act, arise at the instant that the State learns of, or should normally have learned of, the existence of a serious risk that genocide will be committed. From that moment onwards, if the State has available to it means likely to have a deterrent effect on those suspected of preparing genocide, or reasonably suspected of harbouring specific intent ... [to commit genocide] it is under a duty to make such use of these means as the circumstances permit.  Thus, even if there is a suspicion of genocide the signatories to the Genocide Convention are supposed to act. I will not have time to quote it but the judgment goes on to state that even if a state does not think it will have a massive impact, it should do anything in its power to try to deter, prevent or impact on the capacity of the state committing the genocide. It also states that such action should be taken. Despite that, this State has not imposed a single sanction. Not one. Spain and Slovenia have. Other European states are still sending the Israelis arms and weapons and it is just deplorable. These are signatories to the Genocide Convention, which was put together, let us remind ourselves, after the Holocaust on the basis that \"Never again\" meant not just that we would punish a genocide after the fact but that we would try to ensure it never happens again.  Despite this, we have allowed three and a half years of this genocide, although, as we all know, there have been decades of ethnic cleansing. The entire Israeli state has been based from the beginning on the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians. There have been decades of ethnic cleansing and decades of illegal occupation and annexation of Palestinian territory. For 20 years now, there has been a siege of Gaza, which is a collective punishment of its people and which, according to the UN had, even before October 2023, reduced it to a state of permanent humanitarian crisis. And then there is what has happened since. There have been no sanctions despite our obligations. It is criminal.  I will finish with something I said earlier. I never, ever quote \u00c9amon de Valera because I have nothing good to say about him. Now, however, I will because in 1935, \u00c9amon de Valera instigated sanctions against Italy because it was engaged in a genocidal assault that claimed the lives of tens of thousands of Ethiopians. His Government imposed sanctions because it felt it was Ireland's duty as a former colony to impose sanctions on Italy for committing genocide against people in Africa. Surely this Government can do as well as Eamon de Valera and impose sanctions on the genocidal State of Israel. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Helen McEntee)  Across Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon, civilians are living through devastation, fear and displacement on a scale that should shock the conscience of the world. Families are burying children. Communities are being destroyed. Humanitarian conditions are catastrophic. We know this and I think we all agree on this. While international attention has shifted in recent weeks towards the broader regional crisis involving Iran, I want to say clearly that Palestine will not be pushed aside and will not be forgotten. The suffering of the Palestinian people is not secondary to other geopolitical events. It must remain at the centre of international attention and international action. I have advocated for this at every Council meeting I have attended since being appointed in November. We know there is no meaningful peace in Gaza and no real ceasefire in Lebanon while civilians continue to live under threat and violence continues. We urgently need de-escalation, diplomacy and a path towards a lasting political solution, not temporary pauses that leave civilians trapped in fear and insecurity.  Ireland remains deeply concerned about the conflicts across the Middle East and Gulf region. I continue to follow developments closely, but importantly I remain in close contact with EU and regional partners in responding to this crisis. I raised these issues directly again this week at the foreign affairs Council in Brussels. I spoke at length about the situation in Palestine and the urgent need for Europe to act with greater resolve. Ireland\u2019s position has been consistent and clear. I believe, as we all do, that Palestinians have the right to live in dignity, freedom and security in their own state. I believe Israelis and Palestinians both deserve peace and safety and I believe international law must apply equally to all states, in all circumstances. That principle guides my approach and that of the Government to this conflict and to the measures I will outline.  Ireland\u2019s position since the beginning of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been steadfast. We remain committed to working with key partners to end the conflict in Gaza, advance a sustainable peace plan and, most importantly, address the immense challenges facing Palestinians in Gaza and the wider implications for regional stability and security.  I remain committed to supporting a unitary Palestinian state consisting of Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. I remain committed as well to achieving a just and lasting peace where Israelis and Palestinians live side by side in two states, Israel and Palestine, in peace, security and dignity within the agreed borders. I have spoken directly with my Palestinian counterpart many times in recent weeks again and assured her of Ireland\u2019s full support for the Palestinian people and for the implementation of the two-state solution.  Since taking office, I have also taken a number of concrete actions which I will outline today. Although the ceasefire agreement reached in October 2025 offered a moment of hope and relief, the reality for civilians in Gaza remains unbearable. Since that agreement began, 834 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed and more than 2,300 injured in ongoing Israeli military operations. Those are not just numbers. We know they are children, parents, families and entire communities whose lives have been shattered. The humanitarian situation in Gaza has deteriorated even further since the outbreak of the conflict involving Iran. Border closures have intensified these already desperate conditions. One crossing remains the sole operational entry point for aid and commercial supplies, creating severe bottlenecks that continue to limit deliveries and deepen shortages. I saw this in my visit to the region at the beginning of the year.  Today, the people of Gaza continue to endure unimaginable suffering. Access to water, healthcare and shelter remains wholly inadequate. Diseases linked to overcrowding and poor living conditions are rife. None of us who hear these stories of parents trying to shield their children from rats and infestation can remain untouched by the horror of what is unfolding. We are all feeling this and want to do everything we can to support them. Behind every statistic are human beings trying to survive and get through another day. I do not believe anybody can look at the humanitarian situation and conclude that the international response has been adequate. It has not. This is why I and the Government have consistently called for unrestricted humanitarian access into and throughout Gaza. Israel must immediately remove restrictions on aid access and facilitate the delivery of essential supplies and services throughout Gaza, notwithstanding the wider regional security situation. All crossings must be reopened.  When I travelled to Rafah earlier this year, my first bilateral visit in this role, I saw first-hand the scale of the suffering and the urgency of the need. Most importantly, I spoke to those engaging on the ground, doing a job there and who have lost colleagues in this conflict who were simply trying to help and protect those who need our help the most. That visit and those conversations and engagement that I had have stayed with me and reinforced my belief that we need to do everything we can collectively. We need a more unified and stronger response from Europe. It has reinforced my determination that we must speak clearly and act concretely but we need more happening at a European level. During that visit, I announced the Government will provide \u20ac42 million in assistance to the people of Palestine who urgently need that support. In particular, it will be ensured that funding is provided to organisations like UNRWA, the Palestinian Authority and many important organisations on the ground.  I have also remained focused on the extremely serious situation in the West Bank. We all know that this continues to deteriorate rapidly. Israeli military operations have caused widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure and homes. At least 40,000 people have been displaced since January 2025. The scale, speed and severity of displacement and demolitions are unprecedented and continues in an atmosphere of impunity. Settlement expansion, forced displacement and settler violence have accelerated dramatically. Entire Palestinian communities are being pushed from their homes while extremist violence continues with impunity.  In recent weeks, the Israeli security cabinet approved 34 new settlements in the West Bank, the largest number approved at one time by any Israeli Government. This represents a vast 78% increase in the total number of settlements. These are not isolated developments. They form part of an established pattern designed to create a new status quo in the occupied Palestinian territory. Let us call this what it is: these actions consistently contravene international law. I agree with the Deputy on this. We are not disagreeing on any of this. These actions threaten the viability of the two-state solution altogether, a solution that we absolutely support.  The Israeli Parliament also passed a Bill on 30 March mandating death by hanging as the default punishment for West Bank residents convicted of terrorist acts by military courts. I utterly condemn this law passed by the Israeli Parliament expanding the scope of the death penalty and reviving its implementation in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. We oppose the death penalty in all cases and in all circumstances. The right to life is absolutely fundamental and universal. We are all particularly concerned by the discriminatory nature of this legislation as it relates to Palestinians.  I fully understand, and I share, the depth of feeling of many people in Ireland, in this House and in the Gallery about the ongoing suffering in Palestine. People want to see action. They want to see accountability. They want to know that international law still matters and that civilian lives matter equally. This is why I want to explain clearly, despite sharing many of the concerns that motivate this Bill, that I do not believe this legislation is the most effective or legally sustainable path forward. The Bill before the House would, in practice, amount to a blanket prohibition on trade in all goods, and certain services, between Ireland and Israel. In effect, it amounts to a boycott, divestment and sanctions approach with respect to Israel. The Government does not support that approach, although we fully recognise the right of individuals and organisations to make their own decisions in this regard. We do not operate a unilateral domestic sanctions regime. Instead, Ireland implements EU sanctions and UN sanctions through the EU framework. This Bill would amount to a blanket ban without any exemptions or derogations. It is well understood that EU sanctions regimes are designed carefully to avoid and mitigate unintended consequences, including consequences for civilian populations and access to essential goods such as food, medicines and emergency supplies. Again, this Bill would amount to a blanket ban without exemptions for any of these elements. There are important reasons, therefore, that this approach has not generally been taken in modern sanctions regimes relating to other conflicts, and the Government does not believe that it is the right approach here. I and this Government believe that the strongest and most impactful route remains co-ordination at EU level, particularly in relation to the Israeli settlements and trade connected to the occupied Palestinian territories.  This is an area where Ireland has shown leadership. I have repeatedly argued for stronger action, including sanctions on extremist settlers, restrictions relating to illegal settlements and the suspension of trade provisions under the EU-Israel Association Agreement. Earlier this week, EU member states reached political agreement at our Foreign Affairs Council to sanction Israeli extremist settlers, entities and those enabling violence in the West Bank. I appreciate that step was overdue but it matters. On 18 April, Ireland, alongside Spain and Slovenia, wrote to the High Representative, Kaja Kallas, again expressing deep concern regarding Israeli Government actions and calling for urgent discussion of the association agreement. Ahead of that discussion, I was clear in calling for the suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. The EU\u2019s review of the agreement in 2025 found Israel to be in clear breach of its obligations. That situation continues, and that is why, with my colleagues from Spain and Slovenia, we wrote to ensure that this matter was raised at the Council and that we would make progress and take action on it. At the Foreign Affairs Council this week, I again called on EU partners to suspend the trade-related provisions of the agreement. Europe still needs to go further, however, and we will continue to press for further action, because if the international community continues to issue statements without consequences, the credibility of international law for all of us is weakened.  The House will recall that on 19 July 2024, the International Court of Justice, ICJ, delivered its advisory opinion on the legal consequences of Israeli policies and practices in the occupied Palestinian territory - a case in which Ireland, alongside more than 50 other states, made written and oral submissions. Since then, Ireland has continued to push for meaningful action at EU level, including restrictions on trade connected to illegal settlements. At this week\u2019s Foreign Affairs Council, I and others again called on the European Commission to bring forward proposals ahead of the June Council meeting, with a view to taking a vote on this issue. It would not just be a vote to ban or suspend the trade element of the EU-Israel Association Agreement but a vote with a view to banning trade with the occupied territories. In Brussels this week, a growing number of member states either joined this call, sought a vote or expressed a readiness to consider such a proposal. This is the first time I have seen this in the number of Councils that I have attended. Again, I appreciate that it is far beyond time for this to happen but it matters and it is progress. We need to continue, and I will continue to progress and to press for this approach.  Ireland has also consistently underlined the important distinction between the State of Israel and Israeli settlements, which are illegal under international law and are not recognised as part of Israel by the European Union, its member states and the overwhelming majority of UN member states. This distinction, again, is important.  At the same time, Ireland will continue to take action domestically. Here at home, work is continuing on the commitment in the programme for Government to progress legislation prohibiting the importation of goods from occupied Palestinian territories following the ICJ advisory opinion. In June 2025, last summer, the Government approved the general scheme of the Israeli Settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory (prohibition of importation of goods) Bill 2025.  The Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade subsequently held hearings, received submissions and represented a broad range of perspectives, all of which were then fed to me and my Department and Government. The primary purpose of that legislation is to prohibit the importation into Ireland of goods originating in illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory. I thank Senator Black for her work in this regard and for her continued engagement with the Government.  Legally, the regulation of services is significantly more complex at an EU level than the regulation of goods. That is why I have been engaging with the Attorney General who has provided detailed and extensive advice on whether the inclusion of services would be permissible but also on how we would progress this legislation more broadly. We have sought clarification on a number of different elements of this legislation. We need to make sure that anything we introduce is legally robust and capable of withstanding challenge but also that we can advance our broader policy objectives effectively. What I and the Government have always said is that where we work with member states, with colleagues together, we are stronger. I am engaging closely with my Dutch, Spanish, Slovenian and Belgian Government colleagues regarding their own approaches. Other governments are now moving on legislation. I remain absolutely committed to taking meaningful action in response to breaches of international law, international humanitarian law and human rights. I remain convinced that action at EU level will ultimately have the greatest impact. We need to make sure that what we are going has an impact, that it changes the behaviour of the Israeli Government and above all, that it brings peace and solutions for those in Gaza and the West Bank and for Palestine more broadly.  I want to be clear that I distinguish between the actions of the current Israeli Government and the Israeli people. Ireland's goal has always been to focus on peace, security and dignity for both Palestinians and Israelis. This is a goal shared by many Israeli citizens themselves. Our own history on this island teaches us of the danger of division, dehumanisation and endless cycles of violence. It also teaches us the importance of political courage and international support in building peace.  This month marks two years since Ireland recognised the State of Palestine alongside Spain and Norway and later joined by Slovenia. I remain convinced that recognition was the right decision. It was taken against the backdrop of an intolerable humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, the shrinking space for Palestinian life in the West Bank and the urgent need for injecting fresh momentum into efforts towards a just and lasting peace. At the time some argued it would make no difference but I disagreed then and continue to disagree now. Since that decision, international momentum behind Palestinian recognition has grown significantly, including across Europe. We have tried consistently to show leadership, not just in words but in action and to that effect, in January, following my visit to the region, I hosted a meeting of the global alliance for the implementation of the two-state solution, where Ireland shared lessons from our own peace process with regional partners and other states committed to peace. We will continue in that regard.  Finally, we must make sure our measures are effective, legally sound and capable of building broader international support. Nobody should mistake my opposition or the Government's opposition to this Bill for silence or indifference. I will continue to press for stronger international action and to advocate for accountability. I am committed to progressing the occupied territories Bill and will continue to speak clearly about the unbearable suffering being endured by civilians in Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon because Palestine is being overlooked. The world cannot allow this suffering to become normalised. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  I am sorry but I do not believe that the Minister is committed to progressing the occupied territories Bill; I just do not. She said, quite rightly, that it was June 2025 when it went through pre-legislative scrutiny. It is now May 2026 and there is no sign of it. Deputy Boyd Barrett, Deputy Gibney and I, and others, ask every Thursday at the Oireachtas Business Committee about the occupied territories Bill but there is no answer. We get silence or \"we do not know\". We know where the Government's emphasis lies because the Minister betrayed it in her speech, copies of which were sent around. It actually states where the \"clip starts\", which presumably is an instruction to her social media team, and where the \"clip ends\". The emphasis from this speech, which will go out, is on co-ordination at EU level. Co-ordination at an EU level is important but we have an opportunity to do things domestically on our own. The Bill, introduced by Senator Black eight years ago is that measure but the Government is not supporting it. I have no doubt that the Minister has mothballed that legislation. I am enraged that we are in this situation. I recall the honeyed words of the T\u00e1naiste when he was Minister for foreign affairs and sitting in that very seat. He took to his feet in the debate over the flotilla and said that not only would he progress the occupied territories Bill, but he would do so by November 2025. That is what he said on the D\u00e1il record. He made a promise, a promise that has been broken. That promise was in the programme for Government and was made to the people of Ireland before the last election. It carried across the water and across the continent to the Palestinian people. They knew that this Bill, if it was passed, would probably not save one life but it was a tangible symbol. Other states in Europe have gone ahead of us and actually delivered, including Spain and Slovenia. We are becoming a laggard in our support for Palestine.  What is the threshold for action against Israel? More than 75,000 people have died in Gaza in the past three years, 2,800 have died in Lebanon since March and more than 1,000 have died in the West Bank with the continued expansion of the illegal settlements. What is the threshold? Is it because Israel is a white, western economy that it is getting away with this exceptionalism? If it was any other ethnicity or any other place in the world, it would be sanctioned beyond existence at this point. There is no other state that is as roguish, illegal or horrific as the Israeli state has been over the past number of years, if not decades. A new law was brought in by the Knesset in March, which the Minister referenced in her speech, permitting hanging and the death penalty. Israel has not carried out a judicial death sentence since 1962. It has carried out many killings, as we know, but it has not carried out a judicial death sentence since 1962. The United Nations is absolutely appalled by this law. I have not seen such strong language in a UN document. It states:  ...the Knesset approved a bill ... Israel has not carried out executions nor imposed death sentences since 1962. This new legislation not only marks a significant regression: it also does so by imposing capital punishment on de facto ethnic or national grounds and by diluting basic legal safeguards.  It is the worst of the worst. This is where the State is at.  Where are we this week? We have boycotted the Eurovision. That is the right thing to do but it is a very, very small measure. That competition is still going ahead. Tens, if not hundreds, of millions of people are going to watch it and the vast majority of European nations are still taking part. We have a football match coming up in the autumn. That cannot happen. That has to stop. We have to go belt and braces on sanctioning Israel. There is no other state in my lifetime or in any of our lifetimes that has acted with such impunity, so illegally or so grotesquely in carrying out genocide. There are measures that we can take.  Sadaka launched a document this week, \"Beyond Words\", the most aptly named document because words is all that we have given from this Chamber and from this Government to the people of Palestine. We have not delivered any action. Sadaka sets out, in a fantastic document, well-referenced actions that we can take without having to go through collective EU sanctions because that, in essence, is a cop-out. We know the veto powers of the EU. EU states will not support any actions against Israel but we can do things here in terms of sanctions, visas, military and civilian flights, and dual-use technologies. We can do that now. We can support this Bill. This is a strong, robust Bill. It is the kind of Bill that meets, in so far as we can, the devastation that has been caused by Israel. We must support it. I am beyond frustrated. I am enraged and angered and so let down. The one thing that we could have done in the short lifetime of this Government was to bring Senator Black's Bill, or at least the spirit of that Bill, into some form of legislation. This Government has abandoned it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I have said we will progress it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  No, I am sorry. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  We will---- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  I am sorry but until I see the Minister standing there delivering a Second Stage speech on that Bill, I will believe in my heart that it has been abandoned because that is how it feels. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  The Minister's speech really encapsulates the cynicism of the Government on the issue of Palestine. The written copies of her speech include, in two places, references to the start and end of media clips. It is the first time I have seen that. It encapsulates the Government's approach. One of the clips includes the Minister talking about all the good stuff the Government is going to do at a European level and how hopeful she is about the things happening at EU level. The clip ends with a statement that the Government cannot support this Bill in its current form. However, there is no need to worry: nobody should mistake opposition to this Bill for silence or indifference. I do not think the Government is going to be silent in any case. It is part of its approach that we will keep getting lots of words. Ministers have no problem giving us words. What the Government has a problem with is action, and any action at that.  The Government is in a difficult political position. On the one hand are people like those in the Gallery and the tens of thousands who have come out again and again to protest for Palestine. That massive public support for Palestine is one side of it. On the other side is the Government's increasing integration into US imperialism, its connection with and reliance on US multinationals and, therefore, the massive pressure on it not to do anything to upset Donald Trump and US capitalism. The Government has tried to untie that Gordian knot by deciding on a strategy of rhetoric without action. It will call what is happening genocide, which is very good and very important, and it will condemn and speak out about it. In effect, however, it will refuse to do anything.  That is why eight years have passed without any progress on Senator Black's occupied territories Bill. The Minister tells us she is committed to progressing the Bill. That is a joke and everyone knows it is a joke. She cannot stand there and ensure us the Bill will come through when she has devoted her energies to watering it down, slowing it down and, in my view, trying to block it. That is being done entirely against the wishes of the all-party foreign affairs committee, which has said it needs to be enacted quickly and to include both trade and services. It is being done against the vote of the D\u00e1il. Last year, the motion we brought forward on the occupied territories Bill was passed unanimously by the House. The D\u00e1il voted for the Bill to be enacted by last Christmas and to include provision for goods and services. The Minister has used her position not to progress the Bill but to delay it.  The Government has supposedly been conducting an examination for two years into illegal flights through our airspace conveying weapons to be used by the Israel Defense Forces. I put down a parliamentary question about the progress of that examination every few months. It is apparently still ongoing and the Minister cannot tell me when it might end. The strategy of the Government is words without actions.  Before us this evening is a proposal for meaningful action but the Minister says it would amount to boycott, divestment and sanctions on the State of Israel. To this I say, \"Yes, that is precisely what we need\". How can anyone say that a state that is committing genocide, a state that is built on apartheid, forcible ethnic cleansing and throwing people out of their land, should not be boycotted, divested from and sanctioned?  I return to a point Deputy Boyd Barrett made. This strategy of words without actions is getting the Government into a very significant legal problem. It has a problem because it chose to use a particular, strong word, which we pushed it for a long time to use and which we welcomed. I refer to the Government's formal statement that Israel is committing genocide. The Taoiseach first formally stated that in May 2025. The Minister cannot say she does not know Israel is committing genocide, because the Government has declared that Israel is committing genocide. We do not live in a world in which, legally, noticing that someone is committing genocide does not mean anything. It is meant to mean something and the Government is meant to do something about it. The International Court of Justice in the Bosnian genocide case stated, \"A State's obligation to prevent, and the corresponding duty to act [not just to say words but to act], arise at the instant that the State learns of, or should normally have learned of, the existence of a serious risk that genocide will be committed.\"  We were well beyond that point by May 2025 because the Government had stated not just that it suspected genocide was happening or may be happening but that genocide was happening. Article I of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide states, \"[G]enocide, whether committed in time of peace or in time of war, is a crime under international law, which they [states that are party to the convention, which includes Ireland] undertake to prevent and to punish.\" Article V states, \"The Contracting Parties undertake to enact, in accordance with their respective Constitutions, the necessary legislation to give effect to the provisions of the present Convention.\" Why did the State recognise genocide and do precisely nothing to prevent and punish that crime?  Worse than that, it acted to delay and vote against legislation designed to prevent and punish that crime. If the Minister knows Israel is committing genocide and she opposes Bills that are proposed to try to pressure on Israel to stop the genocide that is ongoing, what does that make her and the other members of the Government? It makes them complicit in genocide. A former Minister, Paschal Donohoe, was deeply offended by anyone saying that. He thought it was a very bad thing to say someone is complicit in genocide, but how else does the Government want it to be spun? If Ministers know a genocide is happening but are against taking action to try to stop it, then what else are they other than complicit?  The other argument the Government makes is that it is, in effect, illegal for us to act unilaterally against Israel and that every action must be taken collectively by the EU. That is simply not true. Last October, the Parliament of the Spanish state passed into law a total arms embargo against Israel. It permanently banned the sale to Israel of all weapons, military equipment and, crucially, dual-use technology in response to the genocide in Gaza. That law formalises a de facto ban that had been in operation since Israel's genocidal war against the Palestinian people began in October 2023.  We can contrast that with the position of the Government and all its fine words. Yesterday, The Currency website revealed that the Department of enterprise approved \u20ac20 million in dual-use exports, that is, exports that could be used for military purposes, not just to Israel but specifically to the IDF and the Israeli Ministry of Defense. This was happening in 2024 at the height of Israel's genocidal slaughter of the Palestinians. That was revealed in heavily redacted freedom of information documents that cover up what the dual-use items were for. I heard Deputy Barry Ward on the radio earlier trying to suggest that this was perhaps some sort of HR software for the IDF. All the redactions mean we have no idea whether that is accurate. Perhaps the Minister can tell us what the goods were and which companies were exporting them to the IDF.  Even if we grant that Deputy Ward is correct that this was HR software and not any product that would be used in weaponry and so on, why would the IDF be buying extra HR software during the slaughter of Palestinians in 2024? Maybe it was because it needed to expand its payroll because it was paying many more soldiers to shoot innocent children in the head, blow up whole families in apartment blocks, bomb hospitals and ambulances in double-tap attacks, leave babies to die in ICUs, and rape and torture political prisoners. That is what the IDF does. Any goods being sent to the IDF are used for those purposes. That is what it was doing on a daily basis in 2024 and it is still what it is doing today despite the so-called ceasefire.  The FOI documents show a belated development of conscience in 2025, with the start of the blocking of dual-use exports to the IDF. That inexcusable hesitation in taking action to prevent genocide as it was happening in front of our eyes shows we cannot trust the Government to comply with complicated trade rules and regulations. We need to take away all discretion from this cowardly, double-speaking Government and put into law a clear ban on all trade with Israel, just like the Government was forced to do when it banned trade with apartheid South Africa. There can be no more room for equivocation or delay.  I have a question for the Minister. The Government allowed a conscience vote yesterday on the Social Democrats' Bill on abortion rights. Why can it not allow a conscience vote on the question of genocide? Of all the issues of conscience in the world, surely it should allow its own backbench TDs to decide whether they want to do something to stop this genocide or to go along with the Government's complicity in genocide. Surely they should be allowed that choice. I ask Government TDs and those who support the Government not to hide behind any of the misleading waffle Ministers like to use about legal technicalities and so on but instead to examine their conscience. They know there is a genocide happening. Do they think we should be trading with this genocidal apartheid state or that it is time for Ireland to do whatever we can to try to stop it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy M\u00e1ire Devine  We heard fine words from the Minister but Ireland's involvement and support for Palestine, on which she and the Government self-congratulate themselves, are but an embarrassing drop in the ocean of what is needed. The Government has been kicking around the occupied territories Bill and looking concerned for eight years. The silent tuts and concerned frown lines which come up when atrocities happen will not cut it; sanctions will. I thank the bold Deputy Boyd Barrett for introducing this Bill.  Tomorrow will mark the 78th anniversary of the Nakba catastrophe, 78 years of forced displacement that is continuous and ongoing. Some 66% of the Palestinian people are refugees following three years of genocide, multiple crimes and blatant breaches of international law. Israel has never been held accountable for its historical crimes or its more recent crimes against humanity. Indeed, the genocidal slaughter of more than 75,000 people, with hundreds of thousands seriously injured, and the levelling of Gaza, seem to be a natural progression of Israel's war crimes, as the world looks on and allows the Israeli regime to work faster towards its ultimate goal of stealing the maximum amount of Palestinian land without the Palestinians. It is doing the same now in Lebanon and beyond. The machine is operating at full throttle.  I will make a few points about more recent occurrences. A couple of days ago, in The New York Times , a journalist wrote about the sexual violence and rape of men, women and children in Israeli prisons. The world remains silent on this, allowing impunity to the bully, the murderous Netanyahu, who has taken a leaf out of the book of his friend, the other bully, Trump, by suing The New York Times . The columnist in question is the respected and renowned Nicholas Kristoff. Our solidarity goes to him.  Regarding the soft influence of the Eurovision, how the hell did Israel get into the Eurovision? It confounds me. Maybe I do not understand it. Israelis are not Europeans. Eurovision is a musical whitewash. I do not often praise RT\u00c9 but fair play to it for doing its public service and acting in accordance with the public's intuition that this is not on. The AI Israel is using to influence votes costs hundreds of thousands of euro and is skewing the vote. What is Israel doing in Europe in the first place? I guess Zionists are delighted with Europe's inaction, grovelling and meekness, which is further damaging the strength of the European Union.  On sportswashing, UEFA and football, the majority of Irish people do not want the games in September, either home or away in Israel, to take place. Imagine playing alongside soldiers when some of them have murdered your teammates. Some 500 Palestinian footballers have been murdered, as have some of their families. Imagine the atmosphere on the ground. Sport is supposedly not political; it is political. We need to stop these games and act on what the majority of the Irish people feel. I cannot imagine standing beside someone who is guilty of genocide against my people, my family, and my teammates.  Ireland will have the EU Presidency. I wonder if we could use it to influence sanctions and stand firm for humanity, as otherwise we are all lost. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Aire, who happens to be the target today. This is not aimed at the Minister personally, but the fine, well-meaning words she read out are hollow. Genocide is happening as we speak and has been happening for a long time. There has been no proper action which the Israeli state will pay heed to. It has ignored every supposed protestation by the Irish Government and other European Governments. We need to take action, which is one reason the Bill is before the House today. It is not the only reason, however. This Government and previous Governments have failed miserably to take action over the years as the Israeli state flouted international law. In 2004, I asked a simple question of then Minister for Foreign Affairs, Brian Cowen. I asked whether he would use the EU Presidency to propose a suspension of preferential trade with Israel on the basis of persistent and systematic human rights violations. Here we are, 22 years later, and I am still appealing to the Government to ensure the EU does exactly what it says in the tin.  Any preferential trade agreement or neighbourhood agreement with Israel, or, for that matter, any other country that is abusing international norms and human rights or engaged in slaughter and genocide, should be suspended immediately. Sanctions then need to be imposed where that continues. We have not done that. The EU was very quick to jump through hoops to impose sanctions on Russia. Israel's slaughter has been a lot worse than what Russia has done in Ukraine. That is not to say the Russians are right in any way. We were right to impose sanctions on Russia but we would be right to impose sanctions on Israel. It should have been done a long time ago. If this Government and other European Governments had paid heed to the calls made 20 years ago, maybe, God willing, Israel's ongoing slaughter in Gaza and Palestine, Lebanon and Iran would not have happened. Governments did not do so, however. By ignoring the rules in place in those trade agreements, rather than imposing those rules and suspending the agreements, we sent out a message to Israel that it is okay to carry on as it is not going to be punished. Israel was not punished and is still not being punished. There is still nobody in the EU, other than those countries that have had the strength to stand up and impose sanctions, punishing Israel for what it is doing in Palestine.  We need to look at what we can do here in Ireland. We need to have cultural, university and sporting boycotts of Israel. I will come back to some of those in a minute. The University of Galway needs to cut its links to the Technion Institute of Technology, the university that refers to itself as a research and development wing of the IDF. What in God's name is any Irish university doing having any types of links with an Israeli university in this day and age, especially given that university's links with the IDF? Let us not forget the University of Galway is a public body. It needs to cut all ties with Israel. The message should go out, not just from the Opposition benches but from the Government, that all universities should cut ties with those involved in genocide. It is pure and simple.  This week, I published a Bill, titled the Comptroller and Auditor General (Due Diligence Complicity Audit) (Amendment) Bill 2026, to give effect to our obligations under international law to audit all of our cultural, diplomatic, economic, financial, political and military relations with Israel to ensure we are not contributing or otherwise assisting Israel's serious violations of international law. That Bill needs to be passed. I should not need to come in here to move it; this should have been a given. The Government should have immediately acted on that. This is not a call by me; it is a call by international lawyers and the International Criminal Court.  They are the duties we have when we know a genocide is happening, yet it is the likes of me, Deputy Boyd Barrett or Senator Black and others who are continually trying to appeal to the Government through legislation, questions and other debates to do the right thing, to stand up and be counted.  The Government has not even joined the Hague Group which is also taking action. Ireland has not stood up, as Spain has stood up, yet it goes around the world saying how great we are in terms of Palestine. Yes, we are better than some other countries but we are a lot worse than others because we have identified the issues and the stances we can take, yet the Government has failed to take them and that is on the Minister. That is why we need to take the actions in this Bill and other Bills. We need to be seen to act, not just talk, because by the time the European Union will act, the Palestinian people will be flung to the far corners of the world. That is the intention of the Israelis. They intend the clearances, as happened in Scotland and parts of Ireland. They want to ensure there is no Palestinian population left in Palestine. That is the intention. We have seen and heard it. We have seen the maps and the actions of the Israeli Government and we need to stand up and stand on the right side of this. We need to stand up and be counted and stand against the genocide that is happening in Palestine, and of late in Lebanon. We need to ensure those involved in those actions are punished correctly.  It is appropriate that this is the eve of the anniversary of the Nakba. We need to ensure we will not stand by and allow Israel to slaughter all around it and exile and displace hundreds of thousands or millions more Palestinians. We should stand proud. There are brilliant people in civil society in Ireland who have taken action, who are marching day in and day out, picketing and organising events and meetings, but they have been let down by the Government, which has made promises and has not lived up to those promises. I hope people will join us again this Saturday in Dublin at 1 p.m. at another march to mark Nakba day and stand in solidarity with those who have endured the slaughter by the Israelis, not only in recent years, but for generations at this stage. I support this Bill. I support the intentions of the BDS movement. We need to act and there should be no prevarication on this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy R\u00e9ada Cronin  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Teachta Boyd Barrett as ucht an Bhille seo a chur os comhair na D\u00e1la.  We are here on the 78th anniversary of the Nakba. I have just come from the audiovisual room where I met Lubnah Shomali, who reminded those on the left in these Houses that our demands are far too moderate and that we should be looking for the world.  In May 2024, Ireland finally formally recognised the State of Palestine. Then Taoiseach, Deputy Harris, said then that a two-state solution was the only way for Israel and Palestine to live side by side in peace and security. The Minister said the same earlier in her lovely flowery speech, but the killing and maiming of innocent Palestinians has not stopped since then. Men, women and children are still being murdered and families are still being wiped out. The so-called peace deal ultimately has become political cover for the State of Israel as it continues with its genocidal campaign in Gaza and the West Bank.  According to ACLED, which tracks Israeli attacks in Gaza, Israel has escalated its attacks in Gaza since it stopped its bombing campaign in Iran. A total of 120 people have been killed since 8 April, 13 of whom were children. Still the international community responds with statements, hand wringing or silence. Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael love to tell us all about what they are doing for the people of Palestine and how deeply they care. Certainly, the recognition of Palestine two years ago was welcome. It was overdue, but it was welcome. However, it came far too late. I had a Palestinian family with me who said they felt some kind of healing, and after they had escaped the war in Gaza, I felt it was not my place to take any of that healing away from them.  What has the Government done since then? Recognition without action is meaningless. While Israel has continued to do what it pleases, acting with complete impunity in Gaza, Ireland, along with the rest of the international community, has stood by and allowed it to continue. It is precisely that silence that has emboldened the Israelis. Our silence has consequences. Silence lets them know they can get away with their most evil deeds. Our silence tells them that international law is optional for them, that no consequences will come from their actions, that they can bomb refugee camps, starve civilians, flatten hospitals and schools and still maintain normal diplomatic and economic relationships with Europe. When there are no consequences for their war crimes in Gaza, why would they fear consequences for bombing Iran or invading Lebanon, levelling villages in south Lebanon to resemble Gaza, or attacking UN peacekeepers, including our own?  The passing of this Bill would be a strong stance for Ireland to take on the international stage to tell the world Ireland will not be complicit. It would be a demonstration to other nations that individual countries in the EU can and must stand with the people of Palestine. It would impose a series of comprehensive and lawful sanctions on Israel for its continued flagrant violations of international law. International law is clear. It places clear obligations on third states not to aid, assist or maintain economic relations that sustain serious violations of international law, including genocide, apartheid and illegal occupation. Ireland and other states have legal and moral obligations to act. When will we finally stand up and meaningfully punish this sort of behaviour?  The Opposition has repeatedly put forward measures of real substance. Every week we see on our email of D\u00e1il business for the following week that Sinn F\u00e9in and the Opposition are opposed to the absence of the occupied territories Bill. It still has not been enacted. Deputy Brady's Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill has still not been enacted. Today we have People Before Profit's Sanctions against the State of Israel Bill 2025. These are not just symbolic actions, they are Bills with real teeth. The Irish public overwhelmingly supports sanctions on Israel and meaningful action in solidarity with Palestine, yet the Government continues to stall, delay and hide behind pathetic excuses. I do not care if there is an issue with the Bill. I really do not care if we end up upsetting trading partners. I really do not care about the Government's pathetic excuses.  This is the Government's legacy. It will forever be known as the Irish Government that sat on its hands during an on-screen genocide. It will go down in the history books - history books our grandchildren will read - as a Government that chose cowardice over courage, a Government that mastered the word salad of sympathy while refusing to take the action real sympathy would demand. The Minister gave us another helping of the word salad today. It is spineless. The Government cannot stand up to its colleagues in Europe and speak up for what is right. It has failed the Palestinian people, and the Irish people because the Irish people do not like this. I take absolutely no pleasure in telling the Minister that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  I welcome, on behalf of Solidarity, this Bill. It is the first Bill to advocate for sanctions against Israel. What has happened to Palestine and what is now happening to Lebanon and other countries Israel is attacking is an absolute shame on the EU and world leaders. What an indictment of the EU that, almost three years into a horrific genocide, not only does it not sanction Israel, it continues to give Israel a favoured trade status. What an indictment of capitalism generally that household name companies we all know and were brought up on are directly complicit in the killing and genocide of the Palestinian people.  I always wondered as a child when I read about Nazi Germany how Braun and all these companies managed to operate, but I am seeing it now writ large.  People say, \"What would you do if you were in Nazi Germany?\" It is whatever you are doing right now - that is the answer. What the Minister is doing on behalf of the Irish Government is absolutely nothing for the Palestinian people.  I take issue with stating it is just words - there are funds as well. Every time we stand up here and ask the Taoiseach or the Minister, or whoever is the foreign affairs Minister, about our stance and our inaction for Palestine, we get a mantra of all the different funds the Government is delivering. They would not need the funds if the genocide was not happening. It is just pathetic. It is guilt money at this point. The Minister says she thinks action at EU level is best, so can we not do anything until we get overall action by the EU? If that is what she is saying, it is extremely unlikely that will ever happen because of big powers like Germany, France, Italy and other countries who will veto that. It is a recipe for inaction. There is nothing stopping the Government acting alone. Slovenia and Spain, the countries Ireland was working with to get the resolution recently, have brought in similar occupied territories legislation. What is so special about Ireland? I think we all know what is special about Ireland. Ireland is now the second biggest trader with Israel. The US is number one, China is number three and Ireland is number two.  What is the reason for that? Intel - one major company that the IDA bent over backwards to get into this country in the 1990s. The Government does not want to upset Intel; that is why it is not taking on this Bill. Some \u20ac3 billion of the \u20ac3.2 billion seem to be directly related to the electronic components, circuits and assemblies for the Intel operation with Israel - another company directly complicit in the genocide. The Government has a very difficult job because it has to walk a tightrope of publicly supporting Palestine but taking absolutely no action to upset the multinational companies it is in thrall to.  As was said earlier, Ireland's only action is the Eurovision, which was taken by RT\u00c9 and not by the Government, by the way. Even a football match - get a grip here. A football match is not at all important. Even then the Government does not have the moral backbone to say it should not happen. Three thousand fans will come here from Israel, a team directly complicit and involved with the IDF. The women's team wear IDF jerseys for publicity stunts - absolutely dripping in blood, racism against Arabs and violence and they have breached all the rules of UEFA and FIFA but that is fine, business as usual. And the Minister tells us she cares about the genocide.  Bertie Ahern has been in the news this week for despicable racism. He has a rotten record and has been named in tribunals. Is it not gas that we are citing Bertie Ahern for taking action to prevent the Yugoslav team coming here during the Balkan wars in the 1990s? Because the Serbs attacked the Bosnians, he did not issue visas. Charlie Haughey was a similar character. He told the IRFU the game was up, literally, in terms of going to apartheid South Africa. The political leadership now has not even got the gumption to do that; they represent nothing when you break it down. We have to cite these people, not because they are good, but because the present leadership is so bad. The fact Ireland looks good internationally is because the rest are so rotten.  I want to mention the occupied territories Bill. I spoke on this already. It must be exhausting for the Minister to come up with all these reasons it cannot be passed, especially since Slovenia and Spain have done it. She said initially it was her political priority, then had to walk it back. In February, she said it should be okay. Here we are in May and we all know it will not be passed before the summer and we will go into another delaying tactic. It must be exhausting for her.  On Shannon and flights - and this is since the Minister came into the role - there was a 56% surge in US and military overflights last month as the US launched its attacks on Iraq. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Iran. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  Iran, sorry. Iraq could be next; anyone could be next. The Minister sees no connection between the two events, of course.  Academic links have been mentioned. I absolutely agree. The Minister came out and criticised people for trying to break academic links; however, they are not academic links. Tecnium is a laboratory for weapons for the Israeli genocide in the aerospace and engineering arena. The Minister said she does not believe in BDS and clearly she does not. How else does she propose Israel is to be isolated? She certainly supported it in the case of Russia.  People from the Palestine Solidarity Movement are in the Gallery. Ordinary people from all around the country, all genders, all nationalities, all races, all generations. It has been the most powerful and inspiring movement in the world over the past three years because it is an antidote to the rotten racism, militarism and hate that is being peddled. If it did not exist, the Palestinian people would be in an even worse situation than they are now. Unfortunately, it has not stopped the genocide. We have lacked workers' action to do that.  We have two focal points now. The national march on Sunday should be huge. I appeal to everybody to attend it. We also have the potential to shut down the Ireland-Israel football match in October. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy M\u00e1ire Devine  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  Just to make it clear, there are actually two matches. Many of us are saying \"Stop the game\" but it should be \"Stop the games\". I got an email back from Brian Kerr when I contacted him in relation to this and he made the point, which a lot of us are not emphasising, that we should not be playing Israel anywhere. We should not have anything to do with them. How can the Minister not see that? That was one solitary thing she could have done. We have to rely yet again on the ordinary people of this country to mobilise and stop that match. If it is not stopped beforehand, we have to gather and prevent it happening that day. I am confident we can do that because there are public meetings taking place around the country. We have launched a campaign which many people have signed up to - sports personalities, political figures and so on. Momentum is building around that. Every ordinary person in the country knows this should not happen. It is just not right.  It is a really poor reflection on the sports Minister and the Taoiseach who pushed the team to go ahead with that. Many of them are people of colour, from racialised communities and so on. I am sure they do not want to but the Government is nearly putting them in that situation. I appeal to the team to take a stand. It will have the support, I believe, of the vast majority of people in this country.  This Bill should be supported and should be campaigned for in the next week. I agree with Deputy Boyd Barrett that there should be a free vote. The Government allowed a free vote on women's rights and bodily autonomy last night in here and it should allow it on this as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  I thank Deputy Boyd Barrett and his colleagues for working on this and I thank Senator Black, who is here in the Chamber, for her continued work on legislation in this area, which is what we are here to discuss.  The Minister's speech is, as others have said, hollow words compared to the lack of action of the Government. She talks about raising issues, she remains committed and she continues to have grave concerns. Some of the language is, \"I condemn the law ... Ireland opposes... I am particularly concerned.\" These are all things that are not doing anything. They express a sentiment and I want to believe it. When she speaks these words, I want to believe the Minister and sometimes I do. Then I look at the actions or, specifically, the lack of actions and I cannot believe what she is saying.  The people of Ireland who have campaigned so hard on this issue do not believe it either.  I want to take two examples of actions the Government has taken - one of them was one of the very first actions it took and one of them is the most recent action. I do not think a lot of people remember this but on 16 January 2025 the Government announced it was endorsing the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, IHRA, definition of antisemitism. It was one of the first things the Government did, as a Government, from its programme for Government. We do not talk about it much because I think people want to forget the fact this Government adopted it. What we have seen since then, 15 or 18 months later, is how that has been distanced from the people who drafted it in the first place and used in multiple jurisdictions to tackle activism, essentially, and criminalise activism in the name of the Palestinian people. That is what it has been used for. That was one of the Government's first actions. The Minister will appreciate, immediately, why we start to see distrust among everybody else in this House when the Government says it cares but that was its very first action as a Government.  The most recent action, which multiple people have spoken about, is in regard to the Technion issue and the University of Galway links. Since taking office, this was one of the first times she had to deal with something that was pressing and had to be dealt with. Her response was to say that it is a university and, therefore, not a part of the state. She said she had legal advice, which we believe relates to contract law, which says action cannot be taken. Contract law is superseded, as the Minister will know, by international humanitarian law. That, to me, is a clear cut action.  These are actions the Government has taken in the absence of taking what we should all be doing here, which is legislative action. The occupied territories Bill was sitting waiting for the Government. It promised an entire electorate it would deliver the occupied territories Bill immediately. When the T\u00e1naiste was the Minister for foreign affairs about six months ago, he said it would be on Second Stage by November 2025 but I, and others, have been asking week after week: where oh where is the occupies territories Bill? The Minister will understand why trust on this issue is shredded and is on the floor because the Government has failed to do that and all we get are more and more messages about legal advice from the Attorney General and dropping services from the Bill, which no trade lawyer in the world thinks makes any sense. We do not have legislation to sanction Israel and that is what we need.  There is one reference in the Minister's printed speech, on page 7, to which I want to refer. It reads: \"In effect, this amounts to a boycott, divestment and sanctions approach with respect to Israel.\" I think there is a typo in the next line because it reads: \"The Government does support that approach [I think the Minister means the Government does not support that approach] although we fully recognise the right of individuals and organisations to make their own decisions in this regard.\" My question to the Minister in response is: what does Israel have to do for this Government to support a boycott, divestment, sanctions, BDS, approach? What does it have to do? What atrocities has it not yet done to the people of Gaza and now of Lebanon? What? I just cannot think of any more atrocities that Israel must commit for this Government to actually sanction it.  I will go back to the point I made again and again that this Government has squandered the will of this people. The Government talks about the European approach being the best way forward. I agree. It would be amazing if all of Europe agreed to this but we all know that is not happening today or tomorrow. I welcome the details the Minister gave about the progress she is making and I welcome the work she is doing in this space but we all know that is a horizon compared to what we can actually do here and now. There is no reason the Minister cannot pursue a twintrack programme on this. Look at what you can do with your European colleagues while you implement legislation here to sanction Israel. That is what we should be doing and what the Government should have been doing all along - it should have been goods and services all along. That is what this legislation offers the chance to do now.  Other European countries have much more divided populations and much more complex legacies and histories regarding this issue. We do not have that because we know what it was like to be occupied by an imperialist force hundreds of years ago and for that reason, since the beginning of this genocide and for decades past, the solidarity we have had with the Palestinian cause is palpable and the Government has squandered it. Ireland should have been the first to recognise the State of Palestine. We should have been the first to introduce an occupied territories Bill. We should have been the first to comply with the ICJ ruling but we did none of those things. We were not the first in any of them. To me, this is a tradition and a piece of our people and I just cannot understand why the Government cannot see it.  I want to quote from a recent book written by Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Palestinian occupied territories. I reviewed this recently for The Irish Times and recommend everybody reads it. When I read this passage I honestly got goosebumps. She wrote: \"It began in Ireland in 1984, when Mary Manning, a twenty-one-year-old supermarket cashier, in accordance with the directives of her union, refused to handle grapefruit from South Africa.\" When Manning, and her union representative, Karen Guerin, continued to refuse to handle any South African products, calling on the other workers to do the same, they were suspended and started a strike that was joined by eight other colleagues. The strike lasted almost three years until April 1987 and set off a chain reaction that led Ireland to become the first western country to impose a total ban on the import of South African goods, thanks to public pressure aroused by the courageous gesture of Mary and her colleagues. The ban remained in place until the end of the apartheid regime in 1994.  Nelson Mandela himself recognised the value of their gesture in 1990 when he was awarded honorary citizenship of Dublin. On that occasion, Mandela declared that the strikers had shown South Africans that ordinary people, far from the scene, had played a pioneering role in their struggle against apartheid. This thought, he said, had also helped him to resist in prison but that is not all. When Archbishop Desmond Tutu was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 and invited the Irish protesters to attend the ceremony, the anti-apartheid movement that was born in Ireland was hit by a wave of support that fuelled growing opposition to apartheid making a decisive contribution to bringing down this system.  I will read from one further paragraph from the next section. It read that to make them collapse, oppressive regimes must be struck at their hearts - that is, in their pockets, which is where they receive the proceeds of exploitation. This is the philosophy underpinning BDS, which undertakes to publicly expose international complicity, not only political but also economic, with the apartheid regime imposed by the State of Israel on the Palestinians. The apartheid analysis of the Palestinian situation, which Ingrid Jaradat Gassner helped to develop, has also been taken up and strengthened by various human rights associations.  The reason I read this is that it cuts through the Minister's whole argument around waiting for Europe, not being the first, and that we cannot do it alone. That is exactly what this is. If we chose to boycott that FAI fixture, the Government would start to see that not only the people in the group that are selected with Israel, but the people who might be in the group that Israel would advance to, will start. It is the same domino effect. That is what leadership is. That is what Pedro S\u00e1nchez is demonstrating, by talking further action and by pushing this as far as he can.  The Government hides behind sweet words. When I started in this Chamber, the then Deputy Catherine Connolly, now President of the State, used to say that all of the time. She talked about the Government's \"sweet words\" and it really struck me as a new TD. Eighteen months in, I know exactly what she means because I am drowned in the Government's sweet words. Every single week when we ask about the occupied territories Bill and the Government's lack of action on Gaza, on Palestine and on Lebanon, I am so sick of these sweet words. We need action and I echo everybody else in saying that we should have a vote of conscience on this next week where the Government TDs are allowed to vote on this according to their conscience.  I have been tackled by a Government Minister, in fact, who once said to me how we are fanning online hatred against the Government because of our championing of the Palestinian cause. That is not us doing it. That is the people of Ireland seeing the inaction on these benches and coming at the Government online, so allow the Government TDs to vote. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Donnelly  I commend the Palestine solidarity movement. Over the past number of years, it has marched probably a couple of hundred of kilometres at this stage. It is a testament to the Irish people and their solidarity with the Palestinian people. I would like to thank Deputy Boyd Barrett and Senator Black. The occupied territories Bill has been ongoing for eight years. I remember it took 24 hours to bail out the bankers and the bondholders. When they needed the money, the Government was there. It was right there right beside them supporting them.  I am sorry the Minister has gone because last week, she spoke proudly on Europe Day about what the EU have done with regard to Russia. Within days of the illegal Russian invasion of Ukraine, the EU acted decisively and collectively. They were all together in this sanctioning of Russia but every time an occupied territory Bill comes before this Chamber, the Government says we are working together with the countries to build a coalition in terms of bringing sanctions against Israel. Let us call it what it is - a genocidal apartheid regime. It has been attacking Gaza for the last two and a half years while murdering in the region of 80,000 people. In Lebanon, it is currently ethnically cleansing entire villages and wiping them off the map in a tactic it learned in Gaza. A total of 80% of those in Gaza who have been displaced multiple times are actually refugees from the Nakba in 1948. There has been illegal and criminal use of food, water and sewage to spread disease and electricity has been cut. These are basic needs for human existence that are controlled by the Zionist regime. It has attacked and invaded Syria again murdering people and destroying their homes and villages. It has attacked Qatar, a US ally, killing the Hamas negotiating team while it was trying to negotiate peace. It recently kicked off another war with Iran. How did it start? It killed many the Iranian leaders who were actually negotiating with the US on a peace deal to prevent war. The terrorist wing, Mossad, kills and maims people across the world whenever it suits it. In 2010, Ireland expelled an Israeli diplomat because the Zionist terror regime was using the passports of innocent Irish people in Dubai. The Israeli terrorist regime operates an apartheid regime while stealing land from Palestinians every day, bulldozing their homes and businesses and moving mostly foreign settlers paid for by the economic support the European Union has given it. The Minister of State may look away. I hope he is ashamed that he will not even look while I am speaking.  Palestinians have to use separate roads if they are even allowed on the roads following hours being held at checkpoints. Israelis have separate Jewish-only roads. Churches and mosques are closed at the whim of the Israeli murder machine to give Zionists the ability to walk through Palestinian communities. We see it every week on our social media. It is actually very similar to how our own citizens in the North were treated by the unionist regime during the marching season by being forced into their own homes and communities to facilitate triumphalist marches. I cannot even begin to describe the treatment of Palestinian women and children in Zionist jails. The reports of rape, torture, starvation and utter horror would make even the Nazis hold their heads in shame. This is only the tip of the iceberg of the abuse of the Palestinian and Lebanese people. Why? Because they do not let the media in. They have killed all of the journalists who were there and do not allow any journalists in.  To be honest, the Minister's words mean absolutely nothing. She states \"It is well understood that EU sanctions regimes are designed carefully to avoid and mitigate unintended consequences, including consequences for civilian populations and access to essential goods\" and so on. What does that actually mean for the people who are being murdered today or the villages that are being ethnically cleansed today? What does that mean for the homes, schools, churches and hospitals or to the ambulances driving to somebody when they have just blown a family up? They deliberately target the ambulances and the paramedics. What sort of society and people can do that but what sort of people can stand by and see it happening?  This is not the Germany of the 1940s and the Second World War where people opened up the concentration camps and saw the horrors of what was going on. We know this is happening now. We have seen it happen on a daily basis. We get it through our phones, media and newspapers. We see it every day and yet the EU can laud itself on how wonderful it is and the Minister of State as part of this Government can laud himself about how wonderful the Government is with regard to Russia. I tell the Minister of State that the Government can hang its head in shame when it comes to the people of Palestine, Lebanon and Syria; the people who are being murdered on a daily basis by that murderous regime.  There is one thing the Government can do. None of those Deputies, unfortunately, turned up today to listen to this but I hope they are listening and I hope that over the next few days, when the emails come flying through and the lobbying comes through, they examine their consciences. I hope they look at themselves, their own families, the homes they built, the communities in which they live, the churches, schools and hospitals they go to and everything that has been built up in their community and I hope they say \"my God, am I lucky. I have this but the Palestinian people do not\". I hope they look at their consciences next week, dig deep and say they are going to support this Bill because it is the right thing to do. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas le gach duine a bh\u00ed ag caint inniu ar son an Bhille seo, agus i gcompar\u00e1id leis sin, gach duine a bh\u00ed ag labhairt faoi na ruda\u00ed at\u00e1imid tar \u00e9is a dh\u00e9anamh ar son na Palaist\u00ednigh. T\u00e1 mise ag iarraidh labhairt chun a bheith cinnte go dtuigeann an tAire nach bhfuil an m\u00e9id ama at\u00e1 caite againn ag d\u00e9anamh athruithe don Bhille at\u00e1 an Seanad\u00f3ir Black tar \u00e9is obair na gcapall a dh\u00e9anamh air maith go leor.  I am supporting this Government as an independent. I said multiple times that it is how I believe I can be as effective as possible. The programme for Government that I signed up to stated that it would:  Progress legislation prohibiting goods from Occupied Palestinian Territories following the July 2024 International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion.  Continue to oppose and condemn Hamas and other groups which bring terror [...].  Support UNRWA and advocate within Europe for increased support.  Work with partners in the EU to introduce further sanctions against [Israeli] settler activity in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.  That is what we signed up to but that is not the case and I do believe that there is clearly a delay. We need to pass the occupied territories Bill in respect of goods and services on which Senator Frances Black has been working with her team. I have met her team and got the legal advice that it would withstand a challenge. When this Bill is being pushed down, we are constantly told that it would not. People, including lawyers and other professionals, came into our audiovisual room and said that it would withstand scrutiny. Even if it does not, do we not have that guts to show it and send it because the point is that we are doing everything we can?  I wish that the Minister had not left. There is a Palestinian in my constituency named Amir whose family is still in Gaza. I met him here. I have met him multiple times. How could I look him in the eye and say that I am not doing everything that I can? He is gorgeous man and his family are gorgeous. I have spoken to them. I have spoken to those in the foster house in which he lives. As for the Palestinian groups across Ireland, we have a clear mandate. I want to thank all the Palestinian advocacy groups and everyone who has relentlessly pushed and pushed but we have to give them something. I recognise the investments in care and State aid that we have given but we need to do this now.  A friend of mine named Mikey Cullen is currently on the flotilla bringing aid and food and trying to break that illegal siege on Gaza. I have spoken on FaceTime while on one of those flotillas to young children who were delighted to see that the West is listening to them, only for us to be illegally abducted and brutalised. I saw one of my colleagues on the boat getting rammed, thrown on the ground and spat at by Israelis.  This Bill is not anti-Israel. It not anti-Jewish. We had Israelis on the flotilla with us who were not happy with what the regime was doing.  This Bill is anti-genocide and anti-bombing of children. It is showing them that we are standing up to them and doing everything we can. Ireland's power has not been its size or great military. I welcome the work that has been done at an EU level in getting the coalition of like-minded countries, but looking at Spain, Slovenia and the countries that have brought in legislative changes that we were talking to in those negotiations in the EU, why can we not take a leaf out of their books?  While I was on the flotilla, Eleanor Lanigan, who was there because she was working for me as my PA, came to the initial call when she had stage 4 cancer. She wanted to get on the flotilla and said, \"Feck it, I am dying anyway\". I said that, no, she had to go back. These men and women who are constantly campaigning, of all ages, genders and walks of life, are showing us up in here. We have seen the reports and the International Court of Justice. It is clear that we cannot pretend we do not have a role here. That is why I support this Bill. It does not break ties or shut down dialogue or diplomacy. What it does is very simple: it says that Ireland will not allow our money, our trade or what our country generates to fuel something the world knows is wrong. How many UN reports and independent reports have shown that this has been happening? We have been here before. I welcome the contribution by Deputy Gibney about what we did on apartheid in South Africa. We were ahead then. We are behind now, but it is not too late for us to catch up and run with the other people who are taking a stand.  I spoke to Farid, a Palestinian refugee, on the phone last night and asked him about it. I told him to watch this tonight, and he said I should come in here and tell the Government to do it. Now, he does not understand. He is a lot more eager than I would be. He is an amazing man. With everything he has been through, he still has a smile on his face and is still proud of his country in the way he speaks and the photos he has shown me, but they are clinging to rubble now.  To the people who say sanctions will not make a difference, doing nothing will not make a difference but sanctions will. Ireland's voice matters. When a group of small nations take a stand, history has shown that the big ones will follow.  Regarding the Bill and the emails I have been getting saying it is antisemitic and that I am antisemitic, I am not antisemitic. I am anti-starvation and anti using famine as a war tool. I am anti breaking every international law, and I am anti illegally abducting Irish citizens off the coast of an EU country and beating them. To the Israeli families who want peace and who have reached out to me, we hear you; the people of Ireland hear you and we want peace. To the Palestinian families, to Milad's mother, we are watching. I hope Milad is watching now.  Ireland's strength has never been its size, but our courage. The Minister of State has heard this a thousand times, but the same people who brutally abused our ancestors went over and did the same there. That regime is still in place. We have an international obligation to act when we know what is happening. The Geneva Convention did not fall out of the sky. It is time to be brave. It is time to do something and allow a free vote on this Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (Deputy Alan Dillon)  I thank all the Deputies for their very sincere and heartfelt contributions to the debate on this very important and extremely complex issue. The strength of opinion and depth of feeling held across the House on the situation in Palestine is very clear and the Government fully acknowledges the desire to take action in response to persistent Israeli breaches of human rights and international law. The Government also understands the urge to do more, to move the dial and to bring an end to the terrible suffering of the people of Palestine, particularly those in Gaza.  Respect for international law is at the core of Ireland's foreign policy. Ireland has been consistently vocal in calling for Israel to comply with its obligations under international law, and Ireland continues to pursue action through the international courts to address breaches of international law and international human rights in Palestine. We condemn Israel's illegal occupation of the occupied Palestinian territories. As Deputies are aware, in July 2024, the International Court of Justice delivered an advisory opinion on the legal consequences arising from the policies and practices of Israel in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem; a case in which Ireland made written and oral submissions.  Ireland subsequently co-sponsored a resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly in September 2024 seeking to implement the court's advisory opinion. We have also welcomed the ICJ advisory opinion in October 2025, which automatically affirmed Israel's obligation under international law regarding the presence and activities of the UN under international organisations and third states in occupied Palestinian territories. We continue to urge Israel to immediately remove its restrictions on aid access and facilitate essential supplies and services into and throughout Gaza.  We are seeing long-overdue momentum at European level following co-ordinated pressure by Ireland and other like-minded states. Ireland strongly welcomes political agreement at the Foreign Affairs Council meeting last Monday to proceed with sanctions against volitant settlers in the West Bank and organisations that enable them. This is a crucial step in response to the accelerating expansion of settlement activities and settler violence in the West Bank in an atmosphere of impunity. There is clear, growing support for additional measures at an EU level in response to Israel's persistent breaches of international law, and Ireland has called on the EU to suspend the EU-Israel associated agreements or, at the very least, to suspend the trade element of the agreement, as previously proposed by the Commission President in September 2025.  The Government will continue to press for appropriate EU-level action in response to the egregious Israeli breaches of human rights and domestic principles. The viability of the two-state solution and the credibility of the EU is at stake if we do not act. At the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on Monday, the Minister, Deputy McEntee, called on the Commission to bring forward proposals to prohibit trade with Israeli settlements, with a view to agreeing a decision at the next meeting of the council in June. At EU level, a ban on trade with settlements would have had a significant impact and been necessary to ensure that the EU was compliant with its obligations under international law, as clarified by the advisory opinion of the ICJ. The Government will continue to press for this step, working with like-minded partners in the EU.  In parallel, the Government remains committed to progressing the Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories Bill of 2025. The Minister, Deputy McEntee, has set out the approach that the Government has taken in this regard. We believe the position we take and the actions for which we advocate must be grounded in law and capable of being effectively implemented. Regrettably, for the reasons set out by the Minister, this has not been the case for this Private Members' Bill. While we have fundamental policy differences with the present Government of Israel and with the actions it is taking, we must be very clear that Ireland does not have, nor does it support, a policy of boycotting Israel or any sovereign state with which we have diplomatic relations. This Private Members' Bill would amount to a full economic boycott of Israel. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  I thank the people in the Gallery for sitting through all of that, particularly the comments of those in government. One thing I think they should know is that the senior Minister does not normally come in to take these Thursday debates. The reason she did is because the people in the Gallery are here and because there will, I hope, be tens of thousands of people on the streets again on Saturday, as there have been month in, month out for the past three years as a result of the slaughter being visited on the Palestinian people. After what they have heard today, I hope people will also mobilise next Wednesday outside the gates of the D\u00e1il when the vote on this Bill is due to take place. We should not give up on exerting the kind of pressure that brought the Minister in here. Normally, as stated, senior Ministers do not come in for these Thursday debates. The Minister came in because of the pressure that people are exerting on the Government.  This Government is under pressure. I want to again thank Senator Frances Black, who also sat through all of this debate, and she has sat through a lot over the past ten years or so listening to promises about how the Government was going to progress her Bill, and it never happens. I do not know. Deputy Paul Murphy and I were debating whether the Government is ever going to pass it or whether it will just pass it and then dilute it to such a point that it will have no impact. That is the space we are in. The Government's tactic does seem to be to speak out of both sides of its mouth. There was a bit of the Minister's speech that was designed to make it look as if the Government is concerned and cares, but the bottom line, as has already been said, is that the Government will \"not be supporting the Bill in its current form\". It is not too late; if the Government is saying that the Bill needs a few amendments, the Minister of State should not call the vote now. The senior Minister has left because, at the end of this, the Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach will ask if this Bill to impose economic sanctions and break off economic, trade and finance relations with the State of Israel because of its involvement in genocide, apartheid and multiple breaches of international law and human rights is agreed. Second Stage will be agreed unless the Minister of State says \"Not agreed\". That is what is going to happen. Despite all the 15 or 20 pages of the Minister's speech, and all the crocodile tears, the Minister of State is, I assume, going to say \"Not agreed\". If the Government does not say that, we moved forward towards the imposition of sanctions.  We have set out that we believe it is clear, from the ICJ rulings in previous cases and from the case law around genocide, that all signatories of the Genocide Convention have an obligation to act to prevent and punish the crime of genocide, the worst crime a state or anybody can commit. It has been committed, and the Irish Government has said - it took a while, but eventually - that it believes it has been committed and yet, it is refusing its obligations to do what is in its power to impose those sanctions.  Let us be absolutely clear. Israel will not stop killing Palestinians. It will not stop its genocidal campaign against them, its illegal occupation of their land and the brutal siege of Gaza. Millions of Palestinians live in refugee camps in Lebanon, Syria and all across the Middle East, whose forebears were driven out in the act of ethnic cleansing in 1948 known as the Nakba, the 78th anniversary of which is this year. The State of Israel will not stop committing the crimes it has been committing since 1948 unless it is stopped. That is clear. Surely, it is clear. It will not stop unless it is stopped. If we continue to treat it as a normal state, why would it stop? All the evidence suggests the opposite. All the evidence is that if you allow it to act with impunity, it becomes emboldened. It goes further, and what it does gets worse. The genocidal horror does not improve, and being nice to Israel does not make it a little better. It gets worse and is emboldened by the impunity it enjoys. We are now at a point where there is no crime, horror, obscenity or atrocity that the Israeli regime is not willing to commit blatantly and flagrantly and to crow about the commission of these crimes.  Some of the stuff is just beyond belief. I refer to some of the statements these people have made. To give the Minister of State some examples, in February 2025, the deputy speaker of the Knesset said that all adults in Gaza should be killed. He described all Palestinians as scum. Imagine if the Leas-Cheann Comhairle said that about any group. What would we think? That is what the Leas-Cheann Comhairle of the Knesset said about Palestinians. This is not a normal regime.  The Government draws a distinction between the occupied territories and says, \"Oh, we accept that is wrong\". To trade with an occupied territory most certainly is wrong. It is prohibited under international law. Who directs the brutal, illegal occupation of the West Bank and Gaza, however? The State of Israel directs it. Who directed the illegal siege of Gaza that has gone on for 17 years, which leads them to even kidnap people bringing humanitarian aid from this country and around the world on the high seas and in international waters? Who directs that? The Israeli state directs it. Who directs the bombardment of Lebanon and the reoccupation of southern Lebanon? The Israeli state does it and successive Israeli governments - not just this one - have done it. They have been doing it since 1948. Every single Israeli Government has done it. I am not saying there is not a minority of people in Israel who are opposed but the opinion polls are clear. The vast majority of people in the Israeli state support what the Israeli regime is doing, and it always has.  I lived there. The reason the Minister of State has to put up with me in this House is because I went there. I was not political; I went there when I was 18 years of age and I stumbled into the first Palestinian intifada. I was horrified. When I was there, there was no armed resistance by Palestinians. They were young people protesting against the apartheid regime and against the fact that they had been living in refugee camps all of their lives. Their families had been driven out in 1948, and they were protesting on the streets. The worst act of violence they committed was to throw stones at the Israeli military, the fourth most powerful military in the world, and they were brutally shot down and beaten down. As for armed resistance, the development of Hamas even as an armed wing did not happen until years after that. It was the brutality of the regime. It was not willing to give an inch on the brutal system of apartheid. The Israeli regime had made it clear; it wanted to further expand the borders of Israel. It wants to drive the Palestinians out. The intent of the regime is genocidal. Are we going to do anything about that? If we do not, it is not going to stop.  What the Government is saying is that we cannot do it unless the European Union says it is okay. We know Germany, as we speak, is a major provider of arms to the regime committing this genocidal horror. I have not mentioned Daniel Tatlow-Devally, an Irish citizen who has been imprisoned since, I think, last September and treated as if he is a terrorist because he took direct action against Elbit Systems, the main provider of weapons from Germany to Israel to allow it to commit the crimes we have seen in Gaza and elsewhere. He is being treated like a terrorist, and his family are begging the Irish Government to send observers to the trial, which is a show trial, a travesty and a disgrace. The doublespeak is clear. The Government will not send an observer. It will not call for a boycott of the football match, and we discovered this week that \u20ac20 million worth of technology licences have been approved by the Irish Government and are going to the Israeli military, which is carrying out all these atrocities. Then there is Shannon Airport and the US military, which is up to its neck in complicity with Israel, providing it with all the weapons - weapons allowed to go through Irish airspace by the Irish Government. We are up to our necks in complicity. That is why we are doing nothing.  I ask the Government to pull back. We have an obligation, as a former colony, to stand with people suffering this sort of genocidal horror and colonial oppression. I ask the Minister of State to end the complicity and not to stand up and say \"Not agreed\". Do the right thing. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh)  T\u00e1 an v\u00f3t\u00e1il curtha siar go dt\u00ed an tseachtain seo chugainn i gcomhr\u00e9ir le Buan-Ord\u00fa 85(2). "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar athl\u00f3 ar 6.50 p.m. go dt\u00ed 2 p.m., D\u00e9 M\u00e1irt, an 19 Bealtaine 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The D\u00e1il adjourned at 6.50 p.m. until 2 p.m. on Tuesday, 19 May 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Sanctions against the State of Israel Bill 2025: Second Stage [Private Members]"}]}}]},"contextDate":"2026-05-14"},{"debateRecord":{"house":{"showAs":"34th D\u00e1il","committeeCode":"","houseCode":"dail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/house\/dail\/34","chamberType":"house","houseNo":"34"},"chamber":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/def\/house\/dail","showAs":"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann"},"lastUpdated":"2026-07-03T02:14:09+00:00","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-13\/debate\/main","formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-13\/debate\/mul@\/main.xml"},"pdf":null},"date":"2026-05-13","counts":{"contributorCount":166,"divisionCount":12,"debateSectionCount":21,"questionCount":0,"billCount":11},"debateType":"debate","debateSections":[{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-13\/debate\/dbsect_2","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case:  Deputy Joe Cooney - To discuss the need for a statutory community engagement standard.  Deputy Emer Currie - To discuss the need for regulation of loot boxes and chance-based microtransactions in video games in view of their similarities to gambling and the potential risks posed to minors.  Deputy Michael Cahill - To discuss the rising costs of living across housing, energy, insurance, childcare and essential services and long-term affordability for households in Ireland.  Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail - To discuss social infrastructure provision in Kildare North.  Deputy Robert O'Donoghue - To discuss funding for family resource centre buildings in light of increasing demand for services.  Deputy Albert Dolan - To discuss the pricing of train tickets for services between Athenry and Galway.  Deputy Conor D. McGuinness - To discuss patient transport and other challenges to accessing health services in Waterford.  Deputy Louis O'Hara - To discuss recognition of long Covid as an occupational illness for healthcare workers.  Deputy Mattie McGrath - To discuss the Shannon pipeline project and the cost and environmental implications for and impact on the Shannon region.  Deputies Paul Murphy and Se\u00e1n Crowe - To discuss the proposed move of the An Post sorting office in Edmondstown to Lucan.  Deputy Jen Cummins - To discuss supports for children and students with dyslexia.  Deputy Malcolm Byrne - To discuss an update on the planned new Courtown coastguard building.  Deputy S\u00e9amus McGrath - To discuss the recruitment process for the Defence Forces.  Deputy Barry Ward - To discuss support mechanisms for families when their childcare centre withdraws from the core funding model.  Deputy Colm Burke - To discuss the establishment of a national radiation therapy equipment replacement programme.  Deputy Tom Brabazon - To discuss the disruption to DART services in north Dublin.  Deputy Michael Murphy - To discuss actions to address growing road safety risks associated with horse-drawn vehicles on public roads.  Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa - To discuss supports for those with frontotemporal dementia.  Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan - To discuss the loss of medical card access due to age-based insurance restrictions on general practitioners.  Deputy Pa Daly - To discuss provision of an additional special needs class in Ballyduff.  Deputy Thomas Gould - To discuss the promised review of the voids return programme.  Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern - To discuss the proposed move of the An Post sorting office in Edmondstown to Lucan.  Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire - To discuss the working time directive and Defence Forces staff.  Deputies Pearse Doherty and Pat the Cope Gallagher - To discuss the urgent need for the drug givinostat to be made available for children suffering from Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and to discuss access to approved treatments for people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.  The matters raised by Deputies Pearse Doherty, Pat the Cope Gallagher, Mattie McGrath, Joe Cooney, S\u00e9amus McGrath and Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire have been selected for discussion. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-13\/debate\/dbsect_3","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-13\/debate\/dbsect_4","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Medicinal Products","counts":{"speechCount":12,"speakerCount":4},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-13\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_4","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pat the Cope Gallagher","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pat-the-Cope-Gallagher.D.1981-06-30","memberCode":"Pat-the-Cope-Gallagher.D.1981-06-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Teachta as a chuid ama a roinnt liom. T\u00e1 dh\u00e1 n\u00f3im\u00e9ad agam. I raise the urgent access to the drug givinostat for children----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  Dh\u00e1 n\u00f3im\u00e9ad. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Yes. I want to raise the urgent issue of access to the drug givinostat for children living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, or DMD, as it is commonly known. Givinostat was approved by the European Medicines Agency last June. Nearly a year has passed, the HSE is still reviewing whether it is going to cover the cost of this drug for children and adults across the State. What makes the delays around givinostat's availability particularly distressing - and I am sure the Minister of State knows this - is that it is only available to children who still have mobility. These children are in a race against time, and their parents are looking on as the HSE and the Government drags their feet while their children are seriously at risk of not being able to have the life-changing support offered by this drug.  Matters are particularly urgent for young Aaron Langan. Aaron is a nine-year-old from Laghey in my county, Donegal. His family are fearful that if Aaron's mobility is further impacted by this condition that he will not be able to have this life-changing drug, even if the HSE approves its reimbursement. Aaron's mother and father were here in the D\u00e1il last year campaigning and pleading with Government to get its act together to allow them access to this lifesaving drug. At that time, Aaron was walking. Today, he is in a wheelchair. As a result, the issue of mobility is absolutely crucial.  This drug is not just a life game-changer for Aaron. Young Diarmuid O'Sullivan from Donegal is another example. Diarmuid is ten years of age. His older brother Nathan was on a trial in Britain. Nathan is now an adult who is able to avail of this drug and have a fulfilled life, yet Diarmuid, who is ten, is not able to have it. Imagine the distress of a parent knowing that one child has the drug that changes your life and the other child is denied it because the HSE and the Government have not got their act together. I ask the Government for a compassionate intervention to allow these drugs be made available to children who are in a race against time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pat the Cope Gallagher","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pat-the-Cope-Gallagher.D.1981-06-30","memberCode":"Pat-the-Cope-Gallagher.D.1981-06-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher  I am pleased to have the opportunity to raise this important issue. My colleague Deputy Doherty has outlined how it is affecting two families in Donegal. The European Medicines Agency has approved this drug for DMD last year. Now, together with, I am sure, all colleagues in the House, I am anxious that the Department would exert pressure on the HSE to make this drug available to these children. An example of the success of this drug is that Nathan O'Sullivan, who Deputy Doherty mentioned, has been on this drug for a number of years. His mother took him to the UK. He took part in the trial relating to the drug. The trial was extremely successful, and his life has been prolonged. He leads a full life. He works with the local GAA club as a statistician and has his own car. We would like to think that his brother Diarmuid and the Langan family would have the opportunity of obtaining this drug as well.  We know the cost of it can seem rather high but we cannot put a cost on the life of a child. They are suffering and the families are suffering. The mental torture for families with this condition is 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year as they care for their children. There are about 100 or so in the country. It is incumbent on the Minister, the HSE and the Department to ensure that this drug is made available as soon as possible. There is a question of being ambulatory. They have to be able to move when they start the drug so the clock is ticking. It is vitally important that a positive decision is taken as soon as possible and that the drugs are made available.  I would also say to the drug company involved, which is making exorbitant profits, that it should reduce the prices and work with the Department and the HSE to make the drug available sooner rather than later. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Mary Butler)  I thank Deputies Gallagher and Doherty for raising this matter. I will be answering on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill.  As stated, Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a rare and progressive disease affecting the muscle strength and function of boys almost exclusively, with approximately ten children diagnosed with the condition each year. The Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, has engaged with representative groups and the parents of children suffering from this condition several times over the past year. The Minister has followed progress closely and will be meeting with patient groups again this week. The Government is committed to providing timely access to new and innovative medicines and has made considerable investments in recent years, with annual expenditure on medicines now approaching \u20ac4 billion.  To move completely to givinostat, it is sold under the brand name Duzyvat, for the treatment of DMD in ambulant patients aged six years or older. It has recently undergone assessment by the European Medicines Agency, EMA. The European Commission granted conditional marketing authorisation for use of givinostat in this indication on 6 June 2025. The Health Service Executive has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. In line with the Act, a company must submit an application to the HSE to have a new medicine added to the formal reimbursement list. Reimbursement is for licensed indications that have been granted marketing authorisation by the EMA or Ireland\u2019s Health Products Regulatory Authority.  This is the importance piece. The Minister met with her Italian counterpart at the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council, EPSCO, meeting in June 2025 in Luxembourg to ask him to encourage the company, Italfarmaco, to submit a timely pricing and reimbursement application to Ireland. On 6 August 2025, an application for reimbursement was received by the HSE and underwent a rapid review by the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics.  Following the conclusion of a rapid review on 14 August 2025, a full health technology assessment, HTA, was commissioned by the HSE on 26 August. The assessment of the pricing and reimbursement application for givinostat could not proceed until the NCPE received the HTA from the company almost four months later, on the 15 January 2026. I need to set out the timelines clearly. The HTA has been completed and confidential commercial negotiations between the HSE\u2019s corporate pharmaceutical unit and Italfarmaco have begun, with the receipt of a commercial offer from Italfarmaco on Friday, 8 May, which was last Friday. The HSE continues to engage with the applicant to progress this application in a timely manner. To be clear, the conclusion of the rapid of review was on 14 August. A full health technology assessment was commissioned by the HSE. The assessment of the pricing and reimbursement application for givinostat could not proceed until the NCPE received a full HTA from the company. That arrived on 15 January this year. The HTA has been completed now and confidential commercial negotiations are under way. A commercial offer was received from the company last Friday.  I thank the Deputy for sharing the stories of the two families who will want to understand exactly where the hold-ups are. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  With respect, that does not cut it for these families. These parents are looking at their children in a race against time. The case of Diarmuid is an example. His mother said that Diarmuid's brother, Nathan, has the same condition. Nathan has had access to the drug through a UK trial for more than ten years but Diarmuid is approaching the age where he is likely to lose mobility. She asked me to imagine being a mother opening the fridge every day to give her eldest boy this life-changing medicine and not giving it to her other little boy. She asked me to imagine the turmoil that causes her day after day. She said she met the Minister for Health and a promise was made to allow compassionate access that would be fast-tracked for her child. She says time is not on her side. The case of Aaron, a young boy of nine years of age, is the same. He was walking when people were pleading with the Government last year and now he is in a wheelchair, not knowing, even if the drug is approved, whether he will be able to access it. This is not good enough. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  Go raibh maith agat, a Theachta. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I am a parent of four young boys. I would go through a wall for them. The Government has to allow compassionate access to these drugs immediately. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pat the Cope Gallagher","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pat-the-Cope-Gallagher.D.1981-06-30","memberCode":"Pat-the-Cope-Gallagher.D.1981-06-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher  What is difficult to understand is that givinostat is available in most EU countries. Whatever is going to be decided now must be fast-tracked. The Minister of State referred to the receipt of a commercial offer on Friday, 8 May. In the next few weeks, a decision must be taken. The ironic thing about this is that Aaron's family lives in Laghy, close to the Border and the O'Sullivan family lives in Ballybofey, close to the Border. The children on the other side of the Border, in Fermanagh, Tyrone or wherever are availing of this. It is vital that there is no discrimination as far as these children are concerned. We are pleading with the Minister of State and with the Minister, who is pragmatic - we have had dealings with her about issues in Donegal. I hope a decision can be taken soon. The question of finance should not be an issue. I am calling on all concerned, including the drug company, the HSE and the Department, to ensure these children can avail of this treatment as soon as possible. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  Go raibh maith agat, a Theachta. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pat the Cope Gallagher","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pat-the-Cope-Gallagher.D.1981-06-30","memberCode":"Pat-the-Cope-Gallagher.D.1981-06-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher  Sorry Chair, time is ticking. It is an important issue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  I thank the two Deputies. It is important we understand that negotiations are under way. There is a system and process in place and simply saying that does not cut it from a political perspective is not at all logical.  There are children all over Ireland who need this drug. The Minister recognises that. There is a process in place. Italfarmaco, the pharmaceutical company, came with a proposal last Friday and the confidential commercial negotiations are under way. Today is Wednesday. The reason there was a delay between January and now is that the NCPE did not received the full HTA from the company until 15 January. It took four months. I do not know why these delays have happened but there are children who need this drug and I agree with the Deputies that it should not be the situation that a child living in Donegal does not have access and a child living five miles down the road does. We understand that but it could not be clearer. The application relating to the commercial negotiations was received last Friday and it is currently getting the best attention. I will speak to the Minister again later today about this. She knows the two Deputies are raising it. She was not in a position to be here today.  The HSE cannot comment on the possible outcomes of the ongoing process, as the Deputies will understand, because of the confidential nature of it. I understand what they said about compassion but I also agree with Deputy Gallagher that the pharmaceutical companies need to come to the table as well. I answered a similar question here last week about Friedreich's Ataxia. It is important now that the negotiations are under way and that we get a positive result. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Medicinal Products"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-13\/debate\/dbsect_5","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Water Services","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-13\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_5","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niall Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mattie McGrath  Ar an gc\u00e9ad dul s\u00edos, gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Cheann Comhairle as cabhr\u00fa leis an Topical seo. I also thank the people who travelled here last week and who have been fighting this campaign in the interest of the community and common sense for more than a decade now. I thank Councillors Seamus Morris and Phyll Bugler, Emma Kennedy who has done massive work on this, anglers and others who came here last week, and the community activists and ordinary concerned citizens who are exposing the madness of this project. The proposed eastern and midlands water supply project seeks to abstract 300 million to 330 million litres per day from the River Shannon at Parteen Basin and transfer it to the Dublin eastern region. While securing a resilient water supply for Dublin is a legitimate national objective, the current proposal raises serious legal, environmental, financial and governance issues. None of us are anti-Dublin but we want common sense.  The project may breach international environmental laws, especially the water framework directive and habitats directive. Environmental impacts have been misrepresented through reliance on average flow statistics. This will lead to severe impacts during drought conditions. Better alternatives, including addressing leakage in Dublin - which everyone talks about - and groundwater development, have not been properly evaluated. The project externalises environmental risk to the Shannon catchment, while primarily benefiting Dublin. That is totally discriminatory. The environmental assessment does not exclude adverse impacts on protected habitats and species under EU law. The EU forbids those. In its current form, the project exposes the State to significant legal risk, ecological damage and long-term policy inconsistency and that must be looked at as well.  The 2% claim is misleading. The project documentation repeatedly states that the abstraction represents approximately 2% of the Shannon's average flow. This statistic is misleading and scientifically untrue. Ecological impacts are determined by flow conditions, not long-term averages. Evidence presented in submissions shows that during dry summer flows, extraction could remove 25% to 30% of available flow and during extreme drought conditions, which we experience pretty often in Ireland, it could remove up to 38% to 40% of available flow. This is not a marginal intervention by any measure. The wool is being pulled over people's eyes. It is not acceptable to say the abstraction is 2%. The environmental law it will breach is the water framework directive. The EU law provides that member states prevent deterioration of water bodies. The Shannon system is already classified with a below good status in several stretches. The application does not demonstrate with certainty that a deterioration will not occur. If deterioration cannot be excluded, the project must pass the strict Article 4(7) derogation test by showing overriding public interest, no better environmental alternatives and all mitigation measures implemented. It is failing in all those important areas.  Regarding the habitats directive, we have been told about how it affects anybody who looks for planning permission at home for anything. We have to look at all those issues. Why would we allow Uisce \u00c9ireann do what it likes? It has a blank cheque. We are going to have the national children's hospital No. 2? It used to be a small amount of money but now we are talking about between \u20ac3 billion and \u20ac10 billion to put two big pipes up through the middle of the country when it is totally unnecessary. Fix the leaks in Dublin, use common sense and save the water. This is treated water and up to 40% of it is being leaked on a daily basis. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niall Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Niall Collins)  I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. There is a critical need for a new water source for Dublin, the east and the midlands. Currently, the River Liffey supplies 85% of the water requirements for 1.7 million people in Dublin, Meath, Kildare and Wicklow. By relying so heavily on one river, there is no alternative if there is a contamination or weather event and no backup if equipment failure affects supply.  The project will provide Dublin, Meath, Kildare and Wicklow with a resilient, safe and secure water supply. It will also provide infrastructure with the capacity for future offtakes to serve communities along the route in Tipperary, Offaly and Westmeath. The current cost estimate is \u20ac4.6 billion to \u20ac6 billion and construction of the project is scheduled to commence in 2028, with Uisce \u00c9ireann aiming to complete the project by 2032, subject to planning and other statutory approvals.  It is important to note that the project will abstract a maximum of 2% of the average flow of the River Shannon at the Parteen Basin downstream of Lough Derg. The water levels at Lough Derg and the Parteen Basin will remain in the control of the ESB and the abstraction will not affect the normal operating water levels.  Uisce \u00c9ireann\u2019s modelling shows that the abstraction is sustainable, will have a neutral effect on water quality and will make no visible day-to-day difference for any water users. Extensive preparation and studies have been undertaken and Uisce \u00c9ireann will continue to monitor the project during and after its construction. The potential environmental impacts of the project are being considered as part of the statutory planning process and will ultimately form part of the determination to be made by An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la. This includes an extensive public consultation. As part of the planning application for the project submitted last December, a 30,000-page environmental impact assessment report, EIAR, was submitted by Uisce \u00c9ireann. The EIAR includes details of any likely significant environmental effects that may arise and the proposed mitigation measures that are being put in place. All of this is being considered as part of the planning application process for the project and I would also note that the EIAR and other planning documents have been published by Uisce \u00c9ireann.  On the lands required for the project, Uisce \u00c9ireann has engaged extensively with the main farming organisations - the Irish Farmers' Association, IFA, and the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association, ICMSA - and an agreement has been reached on a standard agricultural wayleave package with both landowner representative organisations. I am pleased to note that around 81% of landowners have already signed up to this compensation package and Uisce \u00c9ireann is continuing its community engagement efforts.  Uisce \u00c9ireann\u2019s community engagement clinics are continuing throughout 2026 and a dedicated community liaison officer is working with the local communities along the route. The Government is committed to getting this vital infrastructure built as quickly as possible and will continue to support Uisce \u00c9ireann to deliver it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mattie McGrath  The same thing is happening. I think it was Albert Einstein who said that doing same thing over and over again and expecting a different result was a form of insanity. Uisce \u00c9ireann is obviously out of control. We all know that from dealing with it on a regular basis. The Minister of State believes this. Its arrogance is typified by the statement that 81% of farmers have signed up to a project that does not have planning permission or an abstraction licence. Imagine that. Hundreds of millions of euro paid out, along with a 25% payment, to those landowners. I criticised the IFA and ICMSA for doing those kinds of seedy deal before the planning permission for the project had even been granted. This is what goes on in this country. What about the hundreds of landowners who have not signed up and do not want this going through their lands? Many others might not want it either but they are being forced to by so-called representative bodies. We are leaving the people behind. Have we learned nothing from the protests in recent weeks?  I could go into a lot of stuff here. The habitats directive has been totally overridden. The Shannon system is already ecologically stressed. There are alternatives that have not been examined. It is insane to pump treated water from Parteen Basin into Dublin just to leak up to 40% of it into the ground. We ought to remember what leaks back in when the pressure goes down or there are bursts - the filth and dirt that seeps back in to the people of Dublin in the water they are getting. We are told that we are going to store the water in the pipe for a month during different drought periods. What kind of water are we going to have? This is insane but it is just a typical example of Uisce \u00c9ireann's arrogance. It will not deal with anybody properly. It just throws money at the problem and the Government throws money at Uisce \u00c9ireann. Councillors S\u00e9amie Morrison and Phyll Bugler, Ms Emma Kennedy, the team here last week and all the others who are opposed to this - not for any selfish reasons, but for the sake of the ecology, the River Shannon, the region and sanity - are not going to go away easily because it is riddled with mistakes. There will be judicial reviews and God knows what else, and it will fall down all over the place because it is based on a tissue of false information instead of proper statistics. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niall Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Niall Collins  It is important to restate why we need the project. Currently, the water supply in the eastern and midlands region faces a number of serious challenges. A single source - the River Liffey - supplies 85% of the water requirements for 1.7 million people in the greater Dublin area. This dependency on the Liffey results in a serious vulnerability to risks such as prolonged drought and-or contamination, not just for Dublin, but for the whole of the eastern and midlands region. With forecasts showing that the region will need 34% more water by the year 2044 than is available today, this situation is not sustainable.  The project will address these challenges and provide a secure water supply for housing development and economic growth across eastern and midlands region. The project works in tandem with ongoing leakage reduction efforts. Uisce \u00c9ireann is investing over \u20ac2 billion in leakage reduction under the revised national development plan. Fixing leaks is, of course, essential but it is only part of the solution. Fixing leaks alone will not meet the needs of the region nor will it address the issue of over-reliance on the River Liffey. A new sustainable source of water is required alongside continued leakage reduction.  The project went for planning permission in December last year and construction is hoped to commence in 2028, subject to planning permission being granted and not challenged via litigation, so Uisce \u00c9ireann is hoping to complete the project by 2032. The project will work in tandem with Uisce \u00c9ireann's other major project, namely, the greater Dublin drainage project. Uisce \u00c9ireann will continue to work to accelerate the delivery of this vital infrastructure and this process has already been greatly aided by reforms that the Government has made as part of implementing the accelerating infrastructure report. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Water Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-13\/debate\/dbsect_6","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Public Consultation Process","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-13\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_6","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Cooney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niall Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Cooney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Cooney  I raise an issue that communities all over the country can relate to, namely, proper community engagement. These are three very important words. We hear the phrase all the time. It is in development plans, policy documents and Government reports. Developers talk about it while councils and other State bodies say they are doing it. It even came up in two Oireachtas reports that I worked on this week. However, what does \"community engagement\" really mean and does it actually make any difference? Many communities feel that the answer is \"No\" because there are no proper standards to judge whether engagement was real and meaningful or whether it was just a public meeting followed by a report that backed a decision that was already made. This is not real community engagement. It just looks like community engagement, and people can see through that.  There are already some good examples of how proper engagement can be delivered. They involve people being generally included, consultations happening early enough to influence decisions and public feedback actually being listened to. These are not radical ideas. They are basic common sense, but the problem is they are voluntary.  As we all know, in planning voluntary rules mean nothing. When a community in east or west Clare is being consulted about a wind turbine project that will affect its area for years to come, it deserves to know the process meets a proper recognised standard, not whatever the developer decides is good enough for the area.  My ask is simple. Will the Government consider introducing a national legal standard for community engagement in planning, policy decisions and grant funding? Will projects have to show that engagement was meaningful before planning permission or final approval is granted? Right now, we are spending public money on consultation that communities do not trust, reports they do not believe in and decisions they feel they have no real say in. That is not good planning and it damages trust between people and the State. We do not need to start from the beginning. There are already good examples that could help create an Irish standard but we need the political will to make it a requirement instead of just a nice idea. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niall Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Niall Collins  I thank Deputy Cooney for raising what is a very important matter and giving us the opportunity to update the House.  Stakeholder public engagement is one of the most important principles underlining the planning system, with the need for engagement with local communities being of particular importance to enable every citizen to have their say in how their area grows and develops over time. Under the Planning and Development Act 2024, planning authorities are required to consult State agencies, prescribed authorities and members of the public when preparing development plans and determining planning applications. These legal requirements ensure that planning decisions are transparent, sustainable and consistent with national and regional policy objectives. The Planning and Development Act 2024 strengthens the emphasis on a plan-led approach to development, with co-ordinated planning and collaboration between public bodies to identify future requirements for schools, healthcare facilities, transport systems and utilities before major developments are approved.  Importantly, the planning process is not limited to institutional consultation alone. Public and community engagement is a core principle underpinning the 2024 Act. Members of the public, community organisations, environmental groups, business interests and other stakeholders have an important role in shaping the future development of their areas.  Public participation requirements ensure that communities are given opportunities to engage during the preparation of development plans, local area plans and planning schemes, including in relation to the zoning of land for different purposes. Statutory public consultation periods and engagement initiatives undertaken by planning authorities in developing these plans help to promote accountability and democratic transparency within the planning system, recognising that such plans ultimately guide and inform decision-making on planning applications.  The reforms introduced by the Planning and Development Act 2024 seek to create a more coherent, efficient and accessible planning system while preserving strong safeguards for democratic participation and inter-agency co-ordination. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Cooney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Cooney  I thank the Minister of State. Every one of us in this House knows of a local project, very often an energy project, in respect of which communities were angry about how developers engaged with them, or about whether they engaged with them at all. Instead of constantly dealing with these disputes, should we not create a clear set of standards that every public and private body must follow, whether it involves a major infrastructure project, a Department policy, the allocation of public funding or a county development plan? This is not about giving communities a veto; it is about making sure that when a project is to have a major impact on people's lives, engagement happens early enough to shape it before all the important decisions are made.  If we want climate projects, roads and housing developments to proceed more quickly and with less public opposition, we need proper national standards that every developer must follow before applying for planning permission. At present, too many communities feel that consultation begins only after the real decisions have already been taken. That damages trust from the very start and can cause much avoidable concern in communities. It is my intention to bring forward a Private Members' Bill to create national statutory standards for community engagement that all public bodies and private developers will have to follow. I hope the Minister of State will support it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niall Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Niall Collins  Again, I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue.  The Planning and Development Act 2024 recognises that strong and sustainable communities are best supported through meaningful public participation in local development planning and decision-making. Effective planning is not solely about technical assessments or infrastructure co-ordination; it is also about ensuring communities have a genuine opportunity to shape the future of the places in which they live, work and raise their families.  The Act strengthens the importance of engagement at all stages of the planning process, from the preparation of development plans and local area plans to consultation on individual planning applications and broader regeneration initiatives. Early and constructive consultation with residents, community groups, voluntary groups and local stakeholders, including local businesses, helps to improve transparency and build public awareness. As the provisions of the 2024 Act are commenced, meaningful community participation will remain a central element of a modern, democratic and plan-led system that seeks to deliver sustainable development and an improved quality of life for communities across Ireland. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Public Consultation Process"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-13\/debate\/dbsect_7","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Defence Forces","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-13\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"S\u00e9amus McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niall Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"S\u00e9amus McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy S\u00e9amus McGrath  I thank the Minister of State for being here this morning. The Government, including the Minister for Defence, has clearly stated its intention to increase the strength of the Defence Forces, which is badly needed and very welcome. At the end of 2025, there were 7,756 personnel in our Defence Forces, an increase of 200 on the previous 12 months. It is great to see that trajectory. In response to a recent parliamentary question I submitted, the Minister stated her intention to increase the strength of the Defence Forces by 850 in 2026. Again, that is very welcome.  We all know the importance of the Defence Forces and of ensuring they are fully resourced. They play a critical role in our national security. We are renowned internationally for our peacekeeping role. Every branch of the Defence Forces, such as the Air Corps, plays a critical role in many operations, such as humanitarian operations. In this regard, I want to particularly mention the essential role of the Naval Service, whose headquarters are based close to my own constituency in Cork, in our maritime security, which is receiving increasing attention given the importance of protecting our sub-sea utilities and infrastructure. We all agree we need to increase the strength of our Defence Forces.  I want to outline this morning a troubling communication I received from an individual who applied to join the Defence Forces and the difficulties they encountered in that regard over the past nine months or so. They applied initially in July of 2025, took an aptitude test in August and a fitness test in November but nine months on that individual has still not heard whether they will be allowed to join. This is not consistent with the thinking of a Government that says it is a top priority to increase the strength of our Defence Forces. We need an efficient and fair recruitment process that encourages individuals to apply and ensures they are communicated with and updated on their application status.  This is very concerning and we need to show our genuine commitment to strengthening the Defence Forces. Hearing about situations like this where individuals are facing these kinds of difficulties in the application process, this needs to be reviewed urgently. Why would somebody put themselves through that? We have individuals in this country who are absolutely determined to have a career in the Defence Forces and, of course, they will stay the course, but there are others who may be marginally considering a career and if we have a recruitment process that does not stand up to scrutiny, is not transparent or efficient, does not keep them informed and is not user-friendly, we will not achieve the numbers we should for recruitment to the Defence Forces.  I put it to the Minister of State that this needs to be reviewed. It has taken far too long from the date of application to the point of induction into the Defence Forces. As I said, if this is a genuine commitment of this Government, which I believe it is, we need to review this system urgently so that we put a recruitment process in place that will genuinely achieve the kind of numbers we want and which our Defence Forces and citizens deserve as regards the strength of the overall force. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niall Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Niall Collins  I thank Senator McGrath for raising this important matter and for giving me the opportunity to reply. I begin by reiterating the Government's strong commitment to boosting recruitment to and supporting the retention of personnel in the Defence Forces. Military authorities have advised that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force stood at 7,778 as of 31 March, the latest date for which this figure is available. Last year saw an increase in the overall strength of the Permanent Defence Force by almost 200 personnel, which was facilitated by the achievement of a total of 790 inductions during 2025, the highest figure in 20 years. We want to build on the growth achieved in 2025 and have set a target of 850 inductions to the Permanent Defence Force for 2026. The total number of applications for careers in the Permanent Defence Force exceeded 16,500, and more than 7,000 were received by the end of March of this year. Increases in application numbers and the overall strength of the Permanent Defence Force demonstrate that the key enabling measures which the Government has introduced to support and drive Defence Forces recruitment and retention are yielding positive results.  On the specific matter of the recruitment process for the Defence Forces, the military authorities have advised that the process of candidates being recruited to the Permanent Defence Force comprises several stages, which include shortlisting, psychometric assessments, fitness and interview, medical, Garda vetting and security clearance, offer and attestation. It should be noted that some candidates may be subject to fewer or additional stages of the process, depending on the specific competition for which they have applied, but the majority of candidates follow the process as outlined.  A new candidate management system, Resumo, was introduced in December, making the process easier for applicants. Candidates now receive automated correspondence at all stages of the process to maximize engagement and ensure they are kept informed of the status of their application. My written reply contains a list of overall average times of progression by stage for all general service recruitment candidates who applied in quarter 1 of 2026. The Deputy has it there in the reply, so I do not need to go through the table. It gives the average number of days for each stage of the process.  The military authorities have informed me that the security clearance process can take anything from six weeks to nine months for candidates, depending on a variety of factors, such as their previous country or countries of residence, how many addresses they have lived at, prior interactions with police or security services and the speed at which foreign authorities respond to requests, to name just some of the complexities.  Recruitment to the Defence Forces remains open and ongoing via a wide range of pathways, including general service recruitment, re-entry schemes and multiple direct entry competitions for specialist roles. A range of new recruitment competition streams have successfully launched in recent years and include new competitions for air traffic controller cadetships, aircraft maintenance technicians, grooms in the Equitation School and dental nurses. Additional new competitions for chefs, communications and information services or cyber roles, medical officers and aircraft maintenance technicians have all launched in recent weeks. The 2026 cadetship competitions closed in March, with over 2,800 applications received.  The key enabling measures include increases in the maximum ages of recruitment and retirement respectively, the extension of private and secondary healthcare to all personnel, and the application of the provisions of the working time directive across the Defence Forces, subject to certain exemptions. I can come back and finish that later. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"S\u00e9amus McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy S\u00e9amus McGrath  I thank the Minister of State for outlining the facts. To reiterate, the increase in personnel in the Defence Forces is very welcome, with 780 inductions in 2025. That brought an overall net increase of 200 in the Defence Forces complement, which is welcome. The intention to have 850 inductions this year is also very welcome.  However, I repeat what I said earlier about the importance of having a fair and user-friendly application process in place. When you look at the stages of that process outlined in the reply, from the shortlisting to the psychometric testing and so on, it appears as if it is reasonable up to the point of the vetting. It takes maybe three months to get to the point of vetting and, from there on, there can be a delay of anything up to nine months. That is the area on which I ask for some focus. Of course, I understand the importance of vetting, but I do not see why it should take nine months to carry out that vetting process. I accept that nine months is at the upper end but, at the same time, that is probably the period where people feel the process is letting them down and where they are not receiving any communication, updates or contact.  People have alternatives in life. Thankfully, we are a country with high standards of education and people have alternative careers; we have a strong economy. If we genuinely want to encourage people into our Defence Forces, we have to have a system in place that works for them, is user-friendly and efficient and brings them from the point of application to the point of induction as quickly as possible. We all know the importance of ensuring we meet our targets, as a Government, in increasing the number personnel.  The issue of vetting in particular is one that needs to be reviewed, and I ask the Minister of State to convey that message back to the Minister for Defence, Deputy McEntee. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niall Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Niall Collins  To conclude on some of the key enabling measures that we have introduced for recruitment and retention, we have also increased the patrol duty allowance payable to Naval Service personnel at sea, which has been doubled after ten days at sea in a calendar year. We have seen the extension of the Naval Service tax credit for a further five years, the extension of the service commitment scheme for pilots in the Air Corps and air traffic control personnel, and we have seen engagement of external expertise to support recruitment in the Naval Service. To support recruitment and the implementation of related measures, budget 2026 has provided a record allocation of \u20ac1.49 billion to the defence sector, an increase of \u20ac145 million over 2025.  I hear what the Deputy is saying about vetting but, whether it is with the Defence Forces, people who are applying to An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na or those applying for citizenship, the timelines for some parts of vetting are outside of our control. As I said, if people have lived at multiple addresses or in multiple countries, awaiting replies and clearance on vetting from other jurisdictions outside our control can sometimes lead to delays which, unfortunately, we cannot control. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Defence Forces"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-13\/debate\/dbsect_8","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Defence Forces","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-13\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niall Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  There is a lot of talk at the minute and a shared desire across all sides of this House to ensure we invest in our Defence Forces. The Defence Forces have been profoundly neglected and that needs to be addressed. As far as I am concerned, Ireland should be strong in neutrality and strong in defence; both things go together.  We hear a lot of big announcements from the Minister but, unfortunately, the reality is that big talk is not going to put feet inside the barracks door. Referring back to the last debate the Minister of State had on the various targets being set and Government's desire to hit those targets, the reality is there is not a hope in the wide earthly world that the Defence Forces will meet the target of 11,000 permanent personnel by 2028. That is under level of ambition 2. It is not going to be reached. At the minute, we are almost 4,000 personnel short of that. There is not a hope that this gap will be made up. We will be lucky to reach the established strength of 9,400. We will be extremely lucky to hit that target.  There is not a hope we are reaching 11,000. The reality is that for all the big announcements and so on, the ultimate test of whether we are going to be able to recruit and retain enough personnel is whether we are showing enough respect for the greatest asset of the Defence Forces, that is, the men and women of the Defence Forces. Against the backdrop of these big announcements, the European Committee on Social Rights has found that the Irish Government is in breach of the European Social Charter because of failing to implement the working time directive. The central point of that is that the Irish Government is refusing still to define what the working day is and what it means in terms of hours and duties. It keeps telling us this is complex but it has been dealing with it for years. If you refuse to define what the working day is, that has obvious implications for ensuring that overtime is counted, recorded and paid. We can go through the findings of the European social committee in relation to this, which found against the Irish Government. There are serious issues in respect of rest periods, ensuring that men and women in the Defence Forces get the daily rest period they are entitled to, that the average working time including overtime is not meant to exceed 48 hours, as well as various other issues. This is ultimately leading to Defence Forces personnel not getting enough payment for the work they are doing. They are being underpaid for their overtime.  There are also very simple things that could be resolved in respect of when people are in barracks and on rest periods. Basic things such as gym equipment, TV subscriptions and Wi-Fi are meant to be in place in all of these 24-hour duty locations. They are simple things that the Government could easily resolve at very limited cost. These items need to be addressed. There has been some progress on the implementation of the working time directive, but until the working day is defined, until we get to grips with that, and the Government has been dealing with it for over three years, we are still going to have issues of people being underpaid and their overtime not being recognised. This is leading to Defence Forces personnel not feeling valued. They are working in challenging circumstances, with very lengthy periods of work and lengthy and onerous periods of duty. If they are not shown the respect they ought to be in ensuring this is properly compensated, this will contribute to the recruitment and retention crisis that continues in the Defence Forces. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niall Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Niall Collins  I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. The Minister for Defence is at the annual PDFORRA delegate conference today.  Bringing the Defence Forces within the remit of the Organisation of Working Time Act has been a key issue for the Defence Forces representative associations for a number of years. The inclusion of the Defence Forces under the Organisation of Working Time Act required careful consideration and extensive consultation in getting here and recognises the unique nature of the work carried out by our Defence Forces members. A particular consideration was of course those military activities which, due to their nature, continue to be exempt from the Act. As the Deputy will be aware, it is over 12 months now since the blanket exemption from the Organisation of Working Time Act for Defence Forces personnel was removed in January 2025, and the majority of Defence Forces personnel now enjoy the protections of the Act, including daily and weekly rest and maximum weekly working time over a 17-week period.  I have mentioned that, due to their specific nature, a number of military activities continue to be exempted from the provisions of the working time directive. However, it is important to point out that a number of health and safety protections for those involved in such tasks have been agreed, including prescribed compensatory rest periods, which are now incorporated into Defence Forces regulation. This body of work is rightly seen as a significant step forward in the extensive transformational journey already well under way in the Defence Forces. A range of additional health and safety measures were also agreed, with a number of them already implemented, including the provision of one return commercial home-reunion flight to Ireland in respect of an operational tour of duty of six months, where the security assessment by the military authorities determines that the individual cannot avail of leave in-theatre. In addition, enhanced Wi-Fi services in UNIFIL have been put in place.  Upon the removal of the blanket exemption last year, the Chief of Staff was clear in communicating the responsibilities of Defence Forces management on the implementation of all aspects of the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 across the entire Defence Forces. This included ensuring that commanding officers are fully aware of their management responsibilities with regard to both activities coming within the scope of the directive, and for those activities which are exempt. Military management is continuing to progress the implementation of a number of remaining health and safety protections and a Defence Forces working group has been convened for this purpose. Some of those measures requiring additional funding beyond existing resources are to be addressed in line with the normal Estimates process.  The military authorities have advised that in the intervening months, numerous briefings have been undertaken across the Defence Forces in addition to the availability of an instructional video. In addition, an instruction document from the Chief of Staff providing guidance to commanders and their personnel on all aspects of the implementation process, coupled with the Defence Forces' non-financial labour budget system, which is now in place, both provide important management tools in ensuring that the provisions of the directive are correctly applied. The Defence Forces are also leading on the development and implementation of a permanent electronic time and attendance system which is expected to be in place later this year. In the meantime, an interim time and attendance system has been put in place.  I am assured that all necessary measures are being taken to ensure the protections of the working time directive are implemented fully on the ground. In that context, the working time directive subcommittee through the conciliation and arbitration scheme continues to meet on a regular basis. Using this forum, any issues which have arisen which pertain to the practical implementation on the ground of the protections set out in the directive have been brought to the attention of the Defence Forces management. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  The Minister of State will be aware that the Defences Forces are a significant part of the life of Cork city. I believe it is similar in his own county. Many personnel are stationed in Haulbowline, Collins Barracks and even in Kilworth in Liam Lynch camp. When I talk to people in the Defence Forces, they see a huge discrepancy and a gap between the kind of ambition that the Minister talks about and the manner in which the Defence Forces operate. They say the same that I have said, that the men and women of the Defence Forces are the greatest asset the Defence Forces have. They see a huge gap between that rhetoric and the reality on the ground. There are some positive elements in the Minister of State's response but it still does not really nail down that key issue. When are we going to get a clear definition of the working day? How are we going to ensure that overtime is properly paid? If people are going to leave their families and their responsibilities at home, and be on campus for 24 hours or more, they deserve to properly compensated. They deserve that respect. That is what they would get in other jobs. They recognise that this is not the same as any other job. Of course there will be extenuating circumstances. However, there has to be a definition for what is appropriate overtime and how that is paid. Those issues in terms of on-campus are easy fixes. None of them are very expensive.  I also want to briefly raise an issue that has come out of the PDFORRA conference. We wish the delegates the best in their deliberations and I am looking forward to attending later this evening. More than 6,000 personnel are waiting to be paid \u20ac3.7 million under claims under local bargaining agreements. Those are agreements already made, reached and owed. The Department of Defence and the Defence Forces are backing the personnel in relation to this. Some senior technicians are owed up to \u20ac5,000 each. About 6,000 personnel are down money because the Department of public expenditure has refused to honour agreements that are already made. In the same vein and out of respect for the Defence Forces, will the Minister of State raise the need to release those funds with the Department of public expenditure? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niall Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Niall Collins  I thank the Deputy for raising the issues he has raised. I am sure the Minister, Chief of Staff and management of the Defence Forces are following this discussion very closely. Any of the outstanding issues which the Deputy has raised and indeed any of the issues which will be raised at today's delegate conference will receive maximum attention over the coming weeks and months. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  Will you bring it back to the Department of public expenditure? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niall Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Niall Collins  I will. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Defence Forces"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-13\/debate\/dbsect_9","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/40","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/40\/dail\/2","houseCode":"dail","stage":"2","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Reproductive Rights (Amendment) Bill 2026: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members] (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Reproductive Rights (Amendment) Bill 2026: Second Stage [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":54,"speakerCount":34},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ann Graves","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niall Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  I move: \u201cThat the Bill be now read a Second Time.\u201d  Eight years ago, Ireland voted overwhelmingly to repeal the eighth amendment. People voted for compassion and to end the cruelty of forcing women onto planes and ferries. They voted because we believe women should be able to access abortion here at home, with their families, doctors and support systems around them. While enormous progress has been made since then, the promise of repeal has not been fully realised. Many women who receive devastating diagnoses of fatal foetal conditions, often after the 20-week scan, are still forced to make that long, lonely journey to the UK. The mandatory three-day waiting period continues to create unnecessary distress and delay despite having absolutely no medical basis. The continued criminalisation of abortion creates fear among clinicians and stigma for patients.  These issues were all identified in the Government's expert review of the law three years ago. Three years later, women are still waiting. This is why the Social Democrats are bringing forward this Bill which is based on a very simple principle, namely that women deserve compassionate, timely and evidence-based healthcare not stigma, shame and barriers but healthcare. A few weeks ago on Leaders' Questions, I raised the case of Denise Whitmore who nearly died travelling to England for a termination after receiving a fatal foetal diagnosis. After everything they had already endured, Denise and her husband, Mark, were advised to smuggle their daughter \u00c9adha home in the boot of their car in order that they could bring her home to Ireland. The result of our current legislation is that grieving parents are being made to feel like criminals for wanting to bring their daughter home. That is not what Ireland voted for in 2018.  As legislators, we do not get to look away from the reality because it is uncomfortable or complicated. We are the only people in this country with the power to fix laws that are causing harm. Right now, our law only permits a termination where the condition is likely to lead to the death of the foetus before birth or within 28 days of birth. Doctors, families and advocacy groups have repeatedly told us that this threshold is too narrow and too rigid. Doctors are being placed in an impossible position, and women are still travelling as a result.  The mandatory three-day waiting period is another example of a barrier that exists not because of medicine but because of politics. Once again, it is women who pay the price. The World Health Organization has been very explicit that mandatory waiting periods create barriers to care and should be removed because women are capable of making decisions about our own healthcare. We know from IFPA research that 98% of women return after the three days, so what does the law actually achieve? It does not improve healthcare or protect women. In some cases, it is pushing women beyond the 12-week limit entirely, forcing them to travel abroad again. This Bill would make a reflection period available to any woman who wants more time but would no longer force women who have already made up their minds to delay their care.  We also need to talk honestly about criminalisation. The World Health Organization is clear that abortion should be fully decriminalised and treated as healthcare, yet healthcare professionals in Ireland can still face up to 14 years' imprisonment. That matters because criminalisation creates a chilling effect whereby doctors must consider legal risk rather than focusing solely on the patient. Decriminalisation does not mean deregulation. There will be safeguards and accountability, and doctors will still be governed by professional standards and medical ethics. Healthcare should be regulated as healthcare as opposed to through the threat of criminal sanction.  I ask Members across this House not to close their minds to this legislation before the work has even begun. Allow this Bill to move to Committee Stage, because that is where we can do our best work, where we hear from experts and clinicians and where we can test and improve legislation and strengthen it. This Bill is not the final product; it is the start of improving a system we know is failing too many women. The gaps in our law were identified three years ago in the O'Shea review. Women are still living with the consequences of our failure to act. They deserve better. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  I thank my colleague Deputy Cairns for her leadership on this issue and for bringing forward the Bill. There are three things I would like to discuss which I think will come up during the course of our debate in the House this morning. The first is what the referendum was or was not about. For those of us on the progressive left who campaigned on this issue day after day, month after month and year after year, we are really clear about the what the referendum was and was not about. It was about listening to women, providing care and compassion, ensuring that no woman would have to travel abroad for healthcare and taking this issue out of the Constitution and into the hands of legislators to legislate in respect of it. It was also about reproductive rights and freedom, and that is what our Bill is about. For far too long, we looked away as women travelled abroad. That has to stop. We have to ensure that nobody is forced to go abroad. The referendum was also about smashing the shame, stigma and silence. We have to ensure that continues and that we have legislation which is robust and which works.  The second thing is that people will say there are difficulties with the Bill. That always happens with Opposition legislation. People they say that things need to change. To that, I say that the Minister should come back with amendments. That is why we have a ten-step legislative process. This is Second Stage. On Committee Stage, Report Stage and in the Seanad, the Bill can be amended and improved. Matters can be teased through on Committee Stage by the select committee. We can debate matters and fix things if they need to be fixed, and we can have a Bill that works for everybody. I am sure the over 600 officials who work in the Department of Health will work with the Minister on drafting amendments. Every time Bills - even Government Bills - are introduced, they are vastly amended on Committee Stage and on Report Stage. That can happen with this Bill too if, as has been reported, the Minister has difficulties with it.  The final thing I will is about the process of progress. When we had the Repeal referendum, it was not frozen in time. There was always going to be a review. The review of the legislation was built into the legislation. We now have the review. We need to act on it. In the same way as marriage equality, that was not the end of the campaign for LGBT rights. The repeal referendum was not the end of the campaign for reproductive rights. We will continue to campaign on this issue. If we do not with the vote tonight we will be back because the women of Ireland deserve better. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  I will start with a simple premise which I imagine will be repeated by other speakers today - eight years ago, Irish people voted overwhelmingly to repeal the eighth amendment. One of the central promises of that campaign, a promise that moved many people, was that women would no longer have to travel abroad when they received a devastating diagnosis of fatal foetal abnormality. Today, eight years later, many women still have to make that traumatic journey. That is a starting point for this debate; it is not about ideology or politics. The 2018 Act contained a provision for a review to take place after three years. That review happened. Marie O'Shea conducted it. She found serious systemic problems. That was three years ago. The Oireachtas has not acted since.  The Bill before the House is designed to fix three of those problems, the first being that the mandatory three-day waiting period has no basis in medical evidence. The WHO is unambiguous on this. It recommends against mandatory waiting periods, finding no evidence of benefit and clear evidence of harm. Some 98% of women who attend services proceed after the wait. It does not change minds, it just delays care. It disproportionately punishes women who are already vulnerable, women in rural Ireland, women in abusive relationships, women who can least afford another trip, another day off work, another arrangement. The 28-day rule forces clinicians to predict with certainty how long a baby will survive after birth. That is not something medicine can reliably do and because clinicians cannot certify, some women are then turned away. They are forced to travel. They go through one of the most devastating experiences of their lives alone abroad and that cannot continue.  Ireland has a 14-year criminal sanction on medical practitioners. It is one of only three countries in Europe at that level. The WHO recommends full decriminalisation. That sanction creates fear in our hospitals. It drives conservative decision-making in grey areas and causes harm. I will be clear about what we are asking for today. We are not asking for everybody to support every line of the Bill in its final form. We are asking for it to go to Committee Stage in order to scrutinise it, test it and amend it where needed. Where a Government-commissioned review has already found systematic failures in primary legislation, refusing further scrutiny is not a neutral act. That is a choice to leave things as they are. Leaving things as they are means more women travelling, and we were elected to do better than that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  I thank my colleague, Deputy Holly Cairns, for the work she has done on this legislation. When I grew up in Ireland in the eighties and nineties, abortion was absolutely not allowed. It was not spoken about and was portrayed as something only certain types of women did, and there was a massive stigma to it. When I went to college there was no availability of information for people about safe and accessible abortion services here or abroad. Everything was hush-hush. If you got pregnant and there was a crisis pregnancy you were left to figure it out. If you found yourself in that situation and tried to find someone who might help you, it was almost impossible to find that information. Throughout the course of my career, I have worked with women who have been in crisis pregnancies. I worked with a 15-year-old girl who got pregnant and needed to have a termination. She had to travel for that termination. I worked with a woman who had a fatal foetal abnormality and had to make the heartbreaking decision to terminate her much-wanted pregnancy. It absolutely broke her heart. Abortion is one of those topics that is so divisive. It is uncomfortable to talk about it, and I think that comes from an era where women's rights were just put to the side. Now, it is 2026 and we need to have a situation where women should be treated with respect, dignity and trust. Irish legislation needs to trust women to know that the decision they are making is the correct decision. We need to protect them, and we also need to protect the medical workers who will give that care to the women.  This legislation seeks to ensure that women who receive a devastating diagnosis of fatal foetal abnormality no longer have to travel for care. It removes the three-day mandatory waiting period and provides more certainty about abortion in cases where a woman's health or life is at risk. It also clarifies the law when it comes to conscientious objection and removes the criminalisation of medics. As uncomfortable as some people may find this legislation and topic, it is imperative that we allow this legislation to move to Committee Stage to scrutinise it and make amendments and improvements that help women access the care they need. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Liam Quaide  I commend my party leader, Deputy Cairns, and her colleagues in the party, including Ellen Casey, on taking a lead on this Bill. Eight years ago, people in every part of this country voted to remove the eighth amendment from the Constitution. They did so because they had listened to women. They listened to women who had been sent away from their own country at moments of profound grief, fear and medical crisis. One of the central issues in that campaign was the tragedy of fatal foetal abnormality. Women and couples told the country what had happened to them. They described receiving devastating diagnoses in Irish hospitals and being told the care they needed could not be provided here. They described booking flights under a cloud of shame, travelling abroad, navigating an unfamiliar health system and trying to stave off the effects of the trauma they were living through before returning home carrying grief that had been made worse by the actions of this State. Those stories changed Ireland, yet years later some families are still being put through versions of the same ordeal. The recent public testimony of Denise Whitmore brought this home with painful clarity. Denise learned at a routine scan in 2024 that her baby had a fatal condition. Instead of being able to receive care in Ireland, Denise had to travel to Britain. Her experience is a warning that the law is still failing people in the precise circumstances the referendum campaign asked us to address.  The problem is the current legislation's narrow and inflexible parameters. In cases of fatal foetal abnormality doctors must operate within a framework that requires a level of certainty that is simply not possible in all instances. In real clinical situations, that level of certainty may not be available. Families facing devastating diagnoses should not be left in limbo because the law demands a level of precision that clinicians cannot realistically provide. The result for clinicians is fear and hesitation. Doctors are left worried about the legal consequences of acting. Families are left waiting for certainty that may never come, and some women are still forced to leave the country for healthcare. This is not what people voted for in 2018. This Bill would make the law more workable, more compassionate and more true to the complexity of real-world experiences of fatal foetal abnormality. It would provide clear legal space for care where there is a fatal condition affecting the foetus. It would also address the chilling effect of criminalisation of doctors who are providing healthcare in good faith. No decent healthcare system should force clinicians to practice under a spectre of fear when dealing with complex, sensitive and time-critical cases. No woman should be told in the middle of a pregnancy ending in tragedy that the Irish health system cannot care for her because the wording of the law is too narrow.  This Bill is not about reopening the referendum. It is about honouring it and taking on the recommendations of the Government's own review. Repeal was not meant to replace constitutional callousness with legislative obstruction. It was meant to ensure that women could access compassionate healthcare in their own country. We should allow this Bill to progress. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  I am proud today to support my party leader, Deputy Holly Cairns, in this Bill to implement much-needed changes to legislation governing terminations of pregnancies. There is a worthwhile history lesson we should remember in this debate. The people of this Republic made their decision on access to abortion care in 2018 by an overwhelming majority in the affirmative. Many opposed to this Bill will say that the electorate in that referendum made its decision on the basis of the terms set out in the Bill passed into law in 2018. If that is the position, what must also be acknowledged is that in keeping with the spirit of the referendum, this House agreed to reviewing the operation of the Act in a debate in late 2018. Section 7 of the 2018 Act legalising abortion in Ireland provided for review and, by implication, for future adjustments to the law. That section was introduced after the referendum, on Committee Stage via amendment on 6 November 2018 by the then Minister for Health, and current Fine Gael leader, Deputy Simon Harris. The amendment was agreed without objection and without a vote on both Committee and Report Stages. It stands to reason that all Members of the House, of all parties, agreed that a review of the legislation should be carried out, adjustments to the law made on foot of such a review and that this would be in keeping with the will of the people expressed through referendum. At the instruction of the Department of Health and under section 7 of the Act, Marie O'Shea issued her review of the Act three years ago in 2023. The Bill being introduced by my party leader today gives effect to the recommendations of that review. Upon introducing the concept of the review in November 2018, after the referendum had been passed, Deputy Simon Harris said:  It seems to me it would be wholly irresponsible for us as legislators to pass legislation on such an important issue to do with women's health and not keep it under review on the basis that our job is done. It is good practice to keep legislation under review.  He further said that it is important we check the Act, which is about access and women's healthcare and make sure it is working for women and the medical profession. Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael representatives in the debate agreed with the Minister. Even Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn, who was present at the time, did not object to the review amendment and did not call a vote on it. He agreed with it.  There is no conceivable argument therefore that this legislation before us, based on the output of that review, is not in keeping with the will of the people or the D\u00e1il in 2018. In fact, it is the full interpretation of the will of the people and the D\u00e1il in 2018. Any contention to the contrary is nonsensical and revisionist. As such, it is incumbent upon us to implement these provisions as recommended by the D\u00e1il-sanctioned and Government-commissioned review and to do so as a matter of urgency to bring this forward to Committee Stage. Anything less would be a gross dereliction of duty to the constitutional role with which we have all been charged. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Health (Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill)  I begin by acknowledging the women who have had truly heartbreaking personal circumstances in pregnancy and whom I know are the motivation behind this Bill by the Social Democrats. Many Deputies in all parties, both in government and in opposition, know people who have struggled with the worst news in pregnancy. I think of all of those women who inspired the Bill, the Social Democrats' work on it and this debate. I truly respect all Deputies' commitment to raising these issues. I always vote to enable debate. I worked in government in 2017 and 2018 to support the repeal referendum.  I thank the Social Democrats Members for meeting with me last Friday, along with the State's interim Chief Medical Officer, the deputy chief medical officer and officials from my Department, to discuss the Bill. I am grateful to them for that very constructive discussion. It gave me a much better opportunity to understand exactly what was being put forward, as I had some concerns and questions about the way in which the Bill was drafted. I am always reluctant to criticise the drafting of Bills because I was a drafter in opposition for Fine Gael for three years. I know how difficult it is and I really respect that process.  I agree that most legislation can be fixed if there is agreement on principles across the Houses and through the different Stages. In this case, however, I am afraid I cannot agree in that way because the issues are based on principles, which I will discuss presently, that are so fundamental they go beyond what I can agree here and fix later. I am asking colleagues to consider a different approach with which we could potentially work. I ask them to consider whether we could, for example, facilitate an engagement with the national women and infants health programme, NWHIP, and with the doctors who are discussing the improvements made since the O'Shea report, which Deputies opposite correctly relied on in the intent and drafting of this Bill. I ask that they consider how we could create a more structured engagement with any Deputy who wishes to understand exactly what has changed and how it is working from their perspective. That offer remains open irrespective of what happens today or at any other time.  The reality is that when it comes to legislation, words matter. We are here as legislators and the courts presume that we mean the impact of the words we say. This Bill raises both significant legal and operational concerns and I have to bring those concerns to the House. It proposes five major changes to the existing legislation. I see policy difficulties with four of those changes and legal difficulties in all cases. I do not believe in my heart that those difficulties are all necessarily intended, which is why I am so careful around the question of drafting. I have done what colleagues opposite are doing, namely, brought something forward to be debated, which is the purpose of this House in many ways. However, it is also its purpose to enact legislation and I must point out the difficulties in that regard.  The first and least problematic of the five issues concerns the amendments relating to the three-day waiting period. The arguments for and against the removal of that provision have been well aired in the public domain. I personally do not see any difficulty with the requirement. That is my personal position. It is a policy choice. The HSE has advised that the current model of care is safe and that it is reliant on it, but that could change were the Oireachtas to make changes in legislation. As I said, I consider this the least problematic issue.  The only drafting issue with this proposal, which could be fixed, is that it makes reference to a statutory right to a reflection period, which does not exist. There is no reflection period that exists anywhere else. There is no such statutory right. However, that is policy and it is fixable. I will not comment further on this matter, as I have already spent longer on it than I intended, other than to make the point that a woman is already entitled, as a matter of ordinary medical law and practice, to take any such time as she deems appropriate to consider her decision on whether to avail of a procedure. I do not believe that creating a specific statutory right of reflection is helpful. It is not a panacea. As I have indicated, the issue with this proposal is just a drafting one and can be fixed.  The other issues are more difficult. The second is the proposal for a reduction in the number of doctors making decisions. That applies in two areas. First, the Bill proposes to amend the statutory language to remove the requirement for two clinicians to be involved in the decisions regarding a termination where the life or health of a mother is at risk. There are really practical and clinical reasons that the input of more than one clinician is relevant in this decision-making. Doctors work as a team. Where, for instance, a woman's life or health is at risk because of psychiatric illness, a cardiology issue or a neurology issue, that will, of necessity, see the involvement of both a cardiologist, say, and an obstetrician. That is just the practical medical reality. Removing or changing that requirement creates an uncertainty I do not believe is helpful. The courts will interpret this later and that is meaningful. I do not have time to go into exactly how meaningful it is.  In section 11, it is proposed to change the number of doctors involved in the decision about a fatal foetal abnormality by not requiring both of them to do an examination. It is a subtle nuance and there is potential for dependence on notes. Again, the practical reality is that two doctors are necessary. There would be an obstetrician involved but there would also be a geneticist or neonatologist, who would be the other doctor identifying the fatal foetal abnormality and the trajectory of it. Changing the threshold from examination to potentially including notes brings in a measure of uncertainty for the courts later. Questions might arise as to how far back the notes go. There is an extra element of uncertainty. My understanding is that Deputies opposite are trying to reduce uncertainty, not create it.  I wish I had more time to go through this but, in practical terms, the dual professional signature is a fundamental principle of safety that is widely practised in healthcare. It is a critical safety mechanism for high-risk actions and serious decisions, and this is a serious decision. I am very aware of the unintended or tragic outcomes that have already occurred where core principles of safety have not been adhered to in that way. That is the difficulty with this proposal.  In addition, legally, the Bill provides that both those sets of decisions would be based on reasonable opinion formed in good faith and based on knowledge available at the time. That language is taken from the O'Shea report. I accept it is correct and I understand the motivation behind it. However, with all respect, Ms O'Shea is not a drafter. The good faith test is already well understood by the courts. Adding words to that introduces more complexity.  The third issue is with the ministerial clinical guidelines proposed in sections 9, 10 and 11. In short, I do not believe it is appropriate for me as Minister, or any Minister, to make clinical guidelines in any context. It is an interference in the independence of the medical profession. There may be a sort of assumption by Deputies opposite that every Minister is going to make guidelines that align with their view of the world. We already know that is not the case in respect, for example, of the heartbeat law that was introduced in Hungary in 2022. If a Minister were to bring in something similar here in clinical guidelines, it would require a woman to listen to the heartbeat before having a termination.  If the Social Democrats Members are on the progressive left, then I am on the progressive right. However, there are other Members of this House who take a very different view and I do not want any of them being Minister for Health and having the capacity to make ministerial guidelines. I do not believe we should bring that concept into legislation. I do not think it adds to what we are trying to do, which is to make things easier for women. Additionally, for doctors, it introduces more uncertainty because it says to them there are statutory rules and then there also are these ministerial guidelines. Which will the courts test? How does that work? We in this House are presumed to intend the impact of the changes we make in law, and that is the view the courts will take. I cannot support that concept. First, I do not want to create a precedent whereby we interfere in the medical profession in any area of clinical practice, whether it is obstetrics or cardiology. Second, I do not want to give a different Minister the opportunity to do something that would be very different from my world view. I do not believe it is a concept we should embed in legislation.  The fourth issue is the decriminalisation of medical practitioners. This would be a very substantial policy and legal change. At present, a doctor's decision does not have to be correct. Doctors do not have to be right; they just have to have made their decision in good faith. That is the defence. A question arises as to why a doctor who carries out a termination unreasonably or acting in bad faith should be exempt from criminal sanction. What is proposed is a blanket decriminalisation and it is not confined to the woman's treating doctor but to any doctor. That is a very significant change. It is not just a drafting issue that could be fixed.  I have only one minute remaining in which to deal with the most important issue, namely, fatal foetal abnormality. It is an extremely complex issue that raises many different ethical issues. I totally empathise with what the Bill is trying to achieve in this regard. I have met with and spoken to women who have faced unimaginable and harrowing circumstances. I want to explain why the Oireachtas took the approach of having the 28-day provision. I know these decisions are not easy. In fact, it is desperately difficult for anybody who falls outside that timeframe. It is only that I have just one minute remaining that I am not spending more time on this. I ask colleagues to forgive me for that. If I had time, I could detail some of those stories, as they have done.  I do not mean to cause any upset to anyone but the reason the limit is set at 28 days is that where there is a condition that results in the death of a live-born infant, that death nearly always occurs in the first 28 days. Those first four weeks are known as the neonatal period. Of the approximately 190 infant deaths that occurred last year, about 150 of them were within that period. It is not a figure chosen at random. It was chosen because it is related medically to the period in which an infant is most at risk.  Beyond that, the issue is extremely complicated. Members of the Social Democrats, People Before Profit and others have argued the period should be up to a year. However, if a baby can live for two, three or four months, I do not understand how we would pick a timeline for that. I would ask Deputies opposite to pick the number of days that are appropriate beyond 28 days. I personally find it impossible to do so. Instead, the Deputies have created the idea of a fatal condition the foetus might have.  That is the most expansive position that anybody has ever taken, and not just in this House. It impacts any condition that an infant or child might have. It goes way beyond the neonatal period. A fatal condition in the foetus is also one that a child would have, and there are a whole range of conditions. We know, as Members of the Oireachtas, that for people who are living to seven, eight, nine, ten or 20, these are fatal conditions. There is no point in Deputy Cairns shaking her head at me. This is the reality. This is true, and I really regret it. I am asking Deputies to come with me, to take a different approach and to take up my offer of meeting NWHIP and debating this issue in a different chamber. I do not want to be in a space against this when I know what the Deputies are trying to do is to resolve the cases of many women who have had such difficulty, but it is complex----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Darren O'Rourke)  Time, Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  -----and I need more time and space to explain that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  I thank the Minister for her contribution and for meeting with us and the interim Chief Medical Officer, CMO, and the deputy CMO. She has gone through all of the reasons this is not going to work. She gave technical details. However, we can agree on the principle of what we are trying to achieve. We want this to go to the next Stage where we can have that in-depth discussion. We need to bring the experts before the committee. We need to bring people with lived experiences before the committee. We need to have this discussion in committee and that is why we are asking the Minister to support this Bill. I know it is complicated and complex, but the 240 women who had to travel for terminations outside the State last year do not want the Minister's empathy. They want her to legislate. They want her to ensure that no other woman has to do that and no other woman has to make the incredibly difficult decision with her family to terminate a baby that is wanted and loved. They do not want any other woman to have to make the decision to go to the UK to get the medical care that she requires. They do not want any other woman to have to make the decision as to whether to hide her baby in the boot of her car or to tell the ferry or airport that she is trying to bring her baby home. They do not want any other woman to have to leave her baby in the UK because she is afraid of bringing her baby back into the country illegally. They do not want any other woman or her family to have to go to Aldi to pick up ice - excuse me - so her baby can get home. They need the Minister to legislate. I know it is complicated, but that is the Minister's job.  I am sorry, but I cannot continue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  I thank Deputy Whitmore for her impassioned contribution. I thank the Minister for being here.  Just shy of eight years ago, we celebrated the repeal of the eighth amendment. I use the word \"celebrated\" in a measured way, because although this is a grave and serious issue, it was an issue on which views on both sides of the campaign to repeal the eighth amendment were deeply held. I respect the views of those who campaigned against the repeal of the eighth amendment. We celebrated because it was a milestone for women's rights and gender equality in this country. It was a tough campaign. I was chased down a street in suburban Dublin being told that I had blood on my hands. During the campaign, it was clear that the voices that spoke most clearly to the public were the voices of those women who had suffered fatal foetal abnormalities and their experience was one of the reasons that many people chose to repeal the eighth amendment.  We, as a State, built into that legislation a mechanism for review. Indeed, I contributed to that very review in my previous role. Within that review, there are clear recommendations as to what needs to be done to implement the repeal of the eighth amendment, yet this Government has failed to bring forward that legislation. So we have done exactly that. The Minister spoke about the principles that needed to be addressed. She spoke about legal and policy difficulties. She also mentioned subtle nuances. I urge her to work with us and bring this to Committee Stage so that we can work through those legal and policy difficulties, those subtle nuances, and arrive together at legislation that finally addresses this issue.  Here is the issue: it comes back to choice. I respect anybody's choice to take a three-day waiting period, but I do not respect the imposition of that three-day waiting period on me or anybody else who chooses to move ahead. Women know their bodies. They know what they are doing. They know when they make the choice to terminate a pregnancy exactly what they are doing. All that these measures represent is the hangover of an infantilistic and misogynistic approach to women's health that prevailed in this country for many decades. Indeed, in some areas, it still prevails. Women know. Women need to be trusted and to be given the choice to proceed with their healthcare and their reproductive rights in the way that they wish. I urge all Government TDs to vote for this legislation and bring it forward to the next Stage so that we can get past the Minister's subtle nuances----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  That is not fair. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  -----and legal and policy challenges. Those were the words the Minister used. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  That is not fair. I said there was a fundamental problem. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  My point is that this legislation is on the books right now, ready for the House to debate it. The Minister said that it needed to be debated in other chambers. Where are those chambers? This is where it needs to be done. It needs to be debated at the health committee and in the D\u00e1il so that we can finally legislate for what people voted for on 25 May 2018. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aidan Farrelly  I thank the Minister for being here this morning, for her detailed contribution and for meeting the party in advance of this debate. I also commend Deputy Cairns and my friends and colleagues in the party for bringing forward what is, as we have said, the wording from a report commissioned by the Government. This is what we are trying to do.  In my political naivety, I thought the days when we asked women to share personal stories of trauma in order to enact legislative reform were behind us. Notwithstanding many of the meritable contributions in the Minister's speech, we cannot ignore some of the basic limitations to the legislation as it stands. We have spoken about the recommendations and the stance of the WHO on the three-day wait and the 28-day piece, but also the criminal sanction that is faced by practitioners and the fear that creates within that occupation.  I only appeal to the Minister on one issue. Similar things seem to be being said by people on either side of the House. The Social Democrats are asking the Government to work with us on this legislation. She has pretty much said the same thing to us. She is asking the Social Democrats to work with her on this legislation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  Yes, but do not press a vote. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aidan Farrelly  Did the Minister say it would not pass a vote? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  I am sorry. No, that is not what I said. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aidan Farrelly  I ask for clarification. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  I am asking the Social Democrats to come and meet NWHIP with me to hear more of the reality. There are not 240 women travelling because of fatal foetal abnormalities. There are some, but there are many women travelling for other reasons because there are different thresholds in the UK and Ireland. Some who are travelling will never meet the threshold in Ireland because the UK threshold is about serous handicap and others. The group of women does not number 240. It is a much smaller number. They are very case specific. Some of them will not be fixed by legislation of this kind. I am asking the Deputies for that meeting and to really get into that detail. We will never be able to fix this for every single situation. That is what I am trying to say. That is practically impossible in this context. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aidan Farrelly  What I have learned, as a still relatively new TD, is that when legislation such as this comes before the House, the Government either amends it into an abyss or it goes to the next Stage to have what I think we can all agree is something of a meritable debate. It needs to debated further. We all have different opinions and conclusions. As part of that, we bring in the expertise and the different stakeholders and talk it through. It would be deeply regrettable to say \"Goodbye\" to this legislation when a committee room would be the appropriate next chamber for us all to work on it together.  That is why I again appeal to the Minister, notwithstanding what she said in her contribution, to agree that there are many points in what we are saying today that make sense and there is significant evidence that backs that up. To me, that measure merits further conversation and legislatively that happens on Committee Stage. I again appeal to the Government to reconsider and allow the Bill to progress in order to have a debate on Committee Stage. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  I welcome the opportunity to debate the shortcomings in abortion services in Ireland. My priority is access for women to the services which were voted for and endorsed by the people in 2018 and the too many barriers which remain. One of those barriers is the three-day wait. Sinn F\u00e9in supports removing the three-day wait. We never supported the three-day wait in the first place. We have tabled legislation to remove the three-day wait and have always been clear that this waiting period does not provide care or support or make the service safer. Rather, it simply makes access harder.  We do, however, have significant concerns about the proposed new definition of a condition likely to lead to the death of the foetus, which is not grounded in the recommendations of the review of the Act and ignore the intention of a clear and tight definition. We are also concerned by proposals to decriminalise medical practitioners who knowingly and wilfully act illegally beyond the scope of the Act. We have a long history in this country of scandals in women's healthcare. The law is the law and medical practitioners should not be given carte blanche to act outside of the law.  I want to address each of these points and the other provisions in the Bill in turn. The provision of termination of pregnancy services was endorsed by the Irish people by referendum, with a clear picture of what those services would look like. The Act was put in place with a clear understanding that the legislation underpinning these services would continue to be reviewed for operational effectiveness. The review of the operation of the Act was published three years ago. It highlighted serious imbalances in access to care, significant geographic variation in access to services, the underdevelopment of regional services and barriers such as the three-day wait. My priority is that the services which were voted for and endorsed by the people in 2018 are fully operational and accessible to all women. Women should be able to access the services which were voted for democratically, yet there are still barriers for access for many, as identified in the review.  There is a postcode lottery in access to care. One of the biggest barriers identified in the review was a lack of GPs providing access to early medical terminations and the fact that regional centres and multidisciplinary teams are not fully operational. This creates a postcode lottery in access to care. Only 10% to 15% of GPs provide early medical termination services, which means fewer than ten GPs in some counties as of early last year. The review recommended a geospatial analysis of services to identify the biggest gaps. I am not aware of the Department ever conducting or publishing such a review. Maybe it exists and the Minister might come back to me on that. The review provided 75 recommendations to be worked through. Most do not require legislative change. It is important that the House receives an update on the steps the Minister is taking to improve services, to ensure access to services through community providers and to ensure hospital-based services are accessible in a timely manner. The Oireachtas did not intend for the Government to carry out a review and leave it on a shelf. The Minister for Health and the Taoiseach need to step up and implement the findings of the review. The Minister should bring forward a progress report on the consideration and implementation of the recommendations of the review.  Moving to the Bill before us, I note it proposes to remove the three-day wait, instead obliging doctors to inform a woman of her right to a reflection period, to be exercised at the woman's discretion, and I support that. The Bill proposes to replace the death within 28 days prognosis-based definition for a condition likely to lead to the death of the foetus, otherwise known as fatal foetal abnormality, with an open to interpretation, circular and untested definition, namely \"that there is present a fatal condition affecting the foetus\". That is not grounded in the O'Shea report and the review of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act. The Bill further proposes to remove clinical provisions for medical practitioners who knowingly and wilfully provide abortions, access to terminations or advice on terminations which are outside the scope of the Act and which are, and would remain, illegal in this State.  The Bill proposes to require practitioners or health professionals who are conscientious objectors to ensure access to abortions in an emergency. This is already provided for in the Act where there is an emergency threat to the life of the mother. This amendment, at best, seems to be redundant.  The Bill seeks to remove the requirement for two medical opinions for access to a termination on risk to life or health grounds, to allow access following consultation with a single practitioner and to require the Minister to, within six months, issue guidelines to provide clarity to medical professionals in carrying out procedures under risk to life or health in an emergency and a condition likely to lead to the death of a foetus grounds. Finally, the Bill seeks to require a further operational review of the Act within three years.  As I have set out, Sinn F\u00e9in supports removing the three-day wait for access to abortion services and replacing it with a right to a reflection period. We never supported the three-day wait. This waiting period does not provide care. It simply makes access harder, especially for women in difficult circumstances, whether they are victims of coercive control or domestic violence, rape or sexual assault or simply find out about their pregnancy too late and face timing out of access to care due to the mandatory wait. It particularly puts women who are subject to controlling or abusive partners and are from marginalised backgrounds in a difficult position because the first appointment may be the only appointment they get.  The clear feedback from women and the review of the Act was that some women were also being pushed beyond the 12-week threshold by the three-day wait, which denied them their choice to end the pregnancy. We have always said that when it comes to personal decisions such as abortion, we need to trust and support women when they are making these decisions.  We have all recognised in law and policy that women should have access to abortion services in the first trimester on the basis of their own free choice. This is the compassionate position put before the people in 2018 and it is the basis on which services have been provided since. Sinn F\u00e9in has tabled a targeted Bill to remove the mandatory three-day wait. We think that this Bill strikes the right balance. It is the right change to make. It respects women's decisions. It removes an unnecessary barrier to care. Removing the mandatory three-day wait does not provide remove a woman's ability to take more time if she wants to. That option will always remain open to her, and rightly so. Our Bill removes the requirement that the State must force every woman to wait, regardless of her circumstances, decision, health or needs. This is something that can be done quickly and should be done during the course of this D\u00e1il term.  We fully agree with the need for robust clinically sound statutory guidelines to protect and direct clinicians in providing lawfully permissible services. The absence of guidelines was identified as a serious barrier to many clinicians providing care. Guidelines are essential to address issues identified with the operation of terminations under sections 9 and 10 relating to risk the life of the mother and section 11 of the Act where a condition is likely to lead to the death of the foetus. Terms such as \"risk\" and \"serious harm\" and the lack of reliable pathways were identified as problematic due to the lack of legal definition which asks clinicians to make philosophical judgments and puts them at risk of acting beyond the Act and illegally.  This Bill makes the same mistake with its definition of a fatal condition. We do not support the proposed definition for a condition likely to lead the death of the foetus, otherwise known as fatal foetal abnormality. This amendment is not grounded in the statutory review of the Act, which recommended a review with stakeholders to consider alternative grounds that would be clear to apply in practice and in keeping with the spirit of the legislation. The proposed definition in the Bill is untested and circular. The term \"fatal\" is not defined. There are no limits on it. It leaves the philosophical question of life and the balance of probabilities entirely to clinicians, which is not right and an abdication of our duty in this House. Most problematically, the amendment ignores the intention of a clear and tight definition and the process recommended by the review is ignored.  We should not insert untested and loosely drafted definitions into the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act without having followed the right process. The review recommended the convening of stakeholders, including medical practitioners, other relevant healthcare professionals, patient representatives, lawyers and, of course, women, in order to obtain a better understanding of the challenges in section 11 and ensure that the multidisciplinary foetal medicine teams are properly resourced with the appropriate skills mix.  In the context of late-term abortions for fatal anomalies we are talking about pregnancies a person wants to keep, and made the choice to keep during the 12-week period. For these pregnancies we need to work with clinicians on guidelines to give effect to the intentions of the current definition, to consider only minor amendments to that definition to improve its operation and not its scope, and to work together to improve health services for children to ensure that where a family elects to continue a pregnancy they are supported if their child is born with a condition. There are many conditions that can be recognised as fatal under the proposed definition, not because they have to be but because the services to save the child's life are not present or functioning. They are fatal because successive Governments have failed to put in place the health services those children need to survive. Many conditions are present at a higher level in Ireland than in other jurisdictions, because instead of providing families with the supports and services they need for their child to survive and thrive, they have the option of an abortion because the child has an anomaly. I do not support that. I support families who have chosen to keep the pregnancy to have the best chance for their child. I support those children being able to live a good and healthy life. We do not support any slip into the territory of abortion on possibly fatal grounds. We do not believe that disability is a ground for an abortion or that this is in any way a progressive position.  I agree that no woman should be forced to carry an unviable pregnancy. I also agree that no woman should be forced to travel for services that should be lawfully available on this island, but it would be wrong to insert such an open-ended, untested and loosely drafted definition that puts families and children in a position where abortion is an option not because the child will not survive, but because the child might die because the State has not invested in the care the child needs.  We are concerned by proposals to remove offences for medical practitioners who knowingly and willfully act illegally beyond the scope of the Act. Abortion services in Ireland are decriminalised for an early pregnancy and otherwise for risk to the life or health of the mother or in the case of a condition that is likely to be fatal. We have a long history in this country of scandals in women's healthcare and the treatment of women and children by some parts of the health service. The criminal provisions retained in the 2018 Act are there to ensure that medical practitioners do not knowingly and willfully act illegally outside or beyond the scope of the Act. The law is the law and the medical practitioners should not be given carte blanche to act outside of the law. That would be ludicrous. Criminal sanctions were included in the Act to ensure that only those services endorsed by the people and by the Oireachtas are made available in this State. The way to address issues of criminalisation is through the application of clear, robust statutory guidelines on the provision of services under each different ground. That is how we balance protections for clinicians, parents and children. We acknowledge people's right to conscientious objection and the importance of protecting that, while ensuring that in emergency cases the life and health of the mother must take priority.  I am not convinced of the need for the proposed amendment on this issue. The point is already addressed in the existing law. The issue here again is a lack of statutory guidelines. We need to be very clear on this issue. When there is a risk to the life or health of the woman, there is an obligation on medical practitioners to try to save her life. We need to avoid any repeat of the tragedies that happened under the old system, like what happened to Savita Halappanavar. Her story is part of why we have the legislation we have today. In a repeat of those circumstances there should be no barriers or objections to saving a woman's life.  It astounds me that the Bill clearly goes far beyond the recommendations of the review. It disrupts the consensus-based approach that brought about repeal and presumes to rip up many of the safeguards that were presented to the people in order to convince them to repeal the eighth amendment in the first place. A genuinely constructive approach to improving services for women would have involved engagement across the Opposition to support the targeted Bills that are on the Order Paper for removing the three-day wait, tabled by me, Deputy Coppinger, and others, who have been trying to be constructive in removing the three-day wait period.  This Bill has no democratic legitimacy. It is not productive. It is not designed to become law. It proposes to significantly undermine the legal framework that was put before the people. Tremendous work was done by the committee on the eighth amendment and then by the health committee of the Thirty-second D\u00e1il to bring this legislation together and to deliver services for the women of Ireland, which also addressed the concerns of people on safeguards and protections, in particular, for children with disabilities. We have approached this constructively.  We will work constructively across this House on the recommendations of the review, which need to happen to ensure the services we voted for are fully operational and accessible so that women who choose to avail of an early-pregnancy abortion have access to GP-led services; that where there is a risk to life the mother is prioritised; and to ensure that where there is a fatal condition affecting the foetus that women are not forced to carry unviable pregnancies, but that where a child can live and the family has elected to keep the pregnancy during the 12-week period, that the child is given every chance to survive and indeed thrive. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ann Graves","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ann Graves  I welcome the opportunity to speak on an issue that affects women's reproductive health right across the State. I acknowledge that we have come a long way. We have a lot done but there is a lot more to be done. We are in a society now that is far more caring and considerate than the one I grew up in, but we had to fight every step of the way for what we have. From the contraception trains in the 1970s, the campaign against the eighth amendment in the 1980s, criminalisation in the 1990s, right up to the campaign for women's right to choose in the noughties, we had to fight every single step of the way. I was proud to stand with women in making the changes on many of these campaigns.  The 2017 Citizens' Assembly on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution was hugely important in moving the debate on, with 64% of participants voting in favour of unrestricted access to abortion and substantial support for the 12-week gestational limit. The referendum that followed was a turning point for women in Ireland. Finally, they could access reproductive healthcare, including abortion, without being criminalised or ostracised. Unfortunately, the legislation passed by the Oireachtas imposed a three-day wait for an early-pregnancy abortion. The review of the operation of the Act was published three years ago. It highlighted serious imbalances in access to care, significant geographic variation in access to services, the underdevelopment of regional services and barriers such as the three-day wait. It is time for us to make further progress.  One of the biggest barriers identified in the review was the lack of GPs providing access to early medical terminations. This creates a postcode lottery in access to care. Only 10% to 15% of GPs provide early medical termination services, which is less than ten in some counties. The review recommended a geospatial analysis of services to identify the biggest gaps. Sinn F\u00e9in supports the abolition of the mandatory three-day wait for an early-pregnancy abortion. We introduced legislation that would remove the mandatory three-day wait for access to an abortion during early pregnancy. It would represent practical and compassionate change. It puts women in a difficult position and it is not compassionate to those who suffer rape or sexual assault, those who learned of their pregnancy late or those who were subject to controlling or abusive partners for whom the first appointment may be the only appointment they can get.  We are concerned by proposals in the Bill to decriminalise medical practitioners who wilfully act illegally beyond the scope of the Act. We have a long history in this country of scandals in women's healthcare. The law is the law and medical practitioners should not be given carte blanche to act outside the law. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  I welcome the opportunity to have this debate. It seems clear to me that while the referendum and the legislation that followed it was a watershed moment, it does not represent the end of the discussion by any manner or means. It also seems clear to me that further reform is needed - reform that is evidence-based, thoughtful and compassionate - that will deliver better, less stigmatising access to abortion for women who need it for what it is, that is, healthcare.  Sinn F\u00e9in supports removing the three-day wait period and replacing it with a right-to-reflection period. I welcome the opportunity to debate the shortcomings that exist in abortion services in Ireland, of which there are many. My colleagues have mentioned the postcode lottery. It is undoubtedly the case that in large parts of the country women are not in a position to access abortion services. That clearly needs to be addressed.  The three-day wait period, which Sinn F\u00e9in did not ever support, creates an unnecessary obstacle. It puts women in difficult situations, in particular women from minority backgrounds, or perhaps most of all those who are in a coercive control relationship, who may experience domestic abuse.  Therefore, accessing any appointment is a challenge, not to mention having to access frequent appointments or multiple appointments. Our priority is access to services, which were voted for and endorsed by the people, and too many barriers currently remain. T\u00e1 g\u00e1 \u00e9 sin a r\u00e9iteach.  The proposals to decriminalise medical practitioners who knowingly and willfully act illegally beyond the scope of the Act is an issue that we find problematic and troubling. Unfortunately, we have a long and troubling history in this country of scandals in women's healthcare right up to recent years. The law needs to be clear and there should not be carte blanche . The provisions in this legislation could have significant unforeseen and unintended consequences. We believe there is scope and a need for constructive engagement to ensure thoughtful legislation to address the issues and in particular to ending the three-day wait, which is an unnecessary obstacle to services. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marie Sherlock  My thanks to Deputy Cairns for bringing forward this Bill, which the Labour Party supports wholeheartedly. Compassionate care for women in real difficulty has been an issue for our party for many decades, long before it was mainstream for people to be talking about this. Indeed, many in the Labour Party were ostracised for many years. It is important to say at the outset that progress has been made over recent years in terms of the greater number of maternity units that are now providing access to termination of pregnancy. We know from this legislation that Deputies Cairns and Whitmore and others have brought to this House, that we still have a journey to travel.  When two thirds of all voters cast their vote in favour of repealing the eighth amendment eight years ago I passionately believed that they were not voting for a situation that would continue to see over 1,500 women travelling for healthcare in subsequent years. They were not voting for the continued criminalisation of healthcare professionals or for couples with much-wanted pregnancies being forced into impossible circumstances due to the uncertain 28-day rule. In 2023 the latest available data available from the UK Department of Health and Social Care showed that 240 women from Ireland travelled to the UK for termination of pregnancy. I believe the people in this country voted to stop exporting our Irish problem abroad. We voted to ensure that women could get the necessary healthcare here and yet they are still having to travel. They are having to travel because of very specific difficulties and flaws within the legislation.  When we voted eight years ago the legislation was put in place. People voted to take abortion, termination of pregnancy, and reproductive health out of Bunreacht na h\u00c9ireann and put it into the hands of the Oireachtas where representatives of the electorate could respond to the challenges or the issues that emerged. That is what we are doing here today. It is very regrettable to hear the Minister come in here and sympathise and acknowledge the issues and yet bring forward no plan or proposal as to what she is going to do.  The electorate eight years ago backed a process where we would have a legislative review after three years. Marie O'Shea's report was a year-long process. It was detailed, methodical and expert led with extensive consultation with over 7,000 submissions. It detailed professional academic research into the experience of service users. To my mind this report has been undermined and ignored by this arrogant Government. There was a commitment that the Government would have the review. It took way longer than necessary to publish that review and three years on we have had nothing. There is a key question for the Minister today. The Minister has said she is going to fix the three-day wait. Why is the Minister not bringing forward her own legislation into the D\u00e1il? While all very welcome, frankly it is not good enough to be offering meetings. Why is she doing that now? The Minister has been backed into a corner and this Government has been backed into a corner where it has no answer on commitments that it made to the Irish electorate that it would have a review and act on that review. There are accusations out there that those of us in the Opposition are now trying to change the goal posts. In reality, it is actually the Government trying to change the goal posts by failing to respond to Marie O'Shea's very detailed recommendations that were issued over three years ago. That is the undemocratic part of what we are talking about here today.  With regard to the three-day period, we know from talking to doctors and to women that it is an unnecessary, impractical and stigmatising barrier to accessing the care that women need. When women go to their GP to say that they want to terminate their pregnancy they have already thought long and hard about it. They do not need to have a time to reflect. It is downright demeaning and degrading to be told go away for three days. While we acknowledge and respect that the Social Democrats have brought forward a particular mechanism with regard to the three-day wait, we in the Labour Party would be actually in favour of abolishing it altogether. It is much more straightforward. The World Health Organization has said very clearly that mandatory waiting periods can have the effect of delaying care - and I know that is the intent of is being proposed here - which can jeopardise women's ability to access safe and legal abortion services. Luxembourg and the Netherlands have entirely removed mandatory waiting periods. It is also important to say that we have overstretched GPs out there. From talking to many GPs, I know that they want to be able to support and help those women but finding those appointments within the three-day period is extremely difficult. If the Minister will not accept this Bill, we need her to bring forward her own Bill as soon as possible.  With regard to the 12 weeks, again we know from so many women and from doctors how women time out unnecessarily from the 12-week limit. Marie O'Shea was very clear about the barrier put up by the 12-week gestational limits and that there was no provision for the completion of the incomplete termination of pregnancy, where medicines had already been taken. There were women who had undertaken consultation but then fell out of the 12-week period. There is no provision for them in the Act and we need to see a change in that. On the criminalisation of those providing care, we have an utterly bizarre situation in this country where those trying to provide abortion care have the prospect of criminalisation hanging over them while those who obstruct and disrupt can act with impunity. These are not my words, they are the words of Marie O'Shea in her report.  With regard to the 28 days, of course as medicine and science develops there is always going to be an ambiguity and a lack of certainty about the length of time for a fatal foetal abnormality but I believe that when people were voting in 2018 they voted to trust women and particularly to trust doctors. We have to listen to the clinicians out there who tell us about the grave difficulties in having that firm cut-off period of 28 days. We in the Labour Party believe this needs to be looked at.  I have been really struck over the past 18 months by the women who approached me telling me their stories and their successful stories of going through the Irish health system. There are good things happening out there but it is absolutely unacceptable for 240 women to be travelling abroad because they cannot get the care here. This needs to change. I commend the Social Democrats on bringing forward this Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  I welcome the Bill and the opportunity to speak in this debate. I used to work for a TD who sat on the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution. I remember when that legislation was going through and how politically difficult it was. I also remember all the stuff that went into the legislation in order to get the legislation through the D\u00e1il and to get the referendum passed. While the eighth amendment referendum brought us in out of the cold and stopped us being so abnormal and so cruel it was never meant to be a ceiling. It has not gone far enough.  I welcome the intention of this Bill. As Deputy Cullinane alluded to, we never had a consensus approach to these things. This country had to be dragged kicking and screaming by activists. Somebody had to die. Savita Halappanavar had to die in 2012 before this country would move on this issue. While I welcome the Bill I think that in many ways it does not quite go far enough. We will still have women who are going to be forced to travel and the narrow distinction around the 28 days puts doctors in such an unenviable position. It is a no-win position. We know the 72-hour clause is paternalistic and we know why it was put into the legislation.  The fact is that when we are too prescriptive when talking about a very narrow distinction around fatal foetal abnormalities and very severe non-fatal foetal abnormalities, somebody always gets lost. Somebody always falls through the cracks and somebody is always forced to travel elsewhere to get the healthcare they need. I have had people come to my clinic who, nine year on, are still absolutely traumatised. The Government has the O'Shea review, which has been published. The recommendations are there. It falls to an Opposition party to bring forward legislation to deal with that, because the Government does not have the political gumption or courage to implement those recommendations. To be fair, the Social Democrats have had to come in here on a Wednesday morning and use their Private Members' time to deal with this matter. That is ridiculous. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  I thank the Social Democrats for bringing forward this Bill, which People Before Profit supports. It really is the bare minimum the Government should be doing to implement the recommendations of its own official review of the abortion law. The review recommended decriminalising abortion, reviewing the treatment of fatal foetal anomalies in order that women in this terrible situation are not forced to travel and abolishing the patronising and medically useless three-day wait. The Bill mostly does all of that. There are details that could be ironed out on Committee Stage. We would prefer to abolish the three-day wait entirely rather than making it optional. Women are perfectly capable of taking as much time as they need to make their own decisions without needing for that to be legislated for. We also favour deleting section 23 in order that abortion is fully decriminalised in line with other medical procedures.  People Before Profit would go further. Neither this Bill nor the official review actually gives pregnant people the right to choose. That right is still strictly time limited, ending abruptly at 12 weeks. That is regardless of when the woman finds out they are pregnant or even if they know that they pregnant at all. A relationship could break down after 12 weeks. Intimate partner violence - which happens in the case of one in eight pregnancies in Ireland - is more likely to begin during pregnancy. The woman could lose her job or become homeless. One of her other children could be diagnosed with a serious illness. She could find out that the foetus has a severe but non-fatal anomaly that means their child would need around-the-clock care for their whole life. None of that matters as far as our abortion law is concerned. Twelve weeks and that is it. After 12 weeks pregnant women in Ireland are still treated as vessels with no right to bodily autonomy, even though the foetus will not be viable for months. After 12 weeks, pregnant people are still forced to travel. The Government refuses to act. By 2030, over 1,300 women will be forced to travel. We have to stop that happening. We need a renewed abortion rights movement to do it. Just like Trump in the US, the far right here, the conservative politicians in Fianna F\u00e1il, Fine Gael, Aont\u00fa and Independent Ireland and many Independents want to take away women's hard-won rights. They want to turn them back into handmaidens. We have to take the fight to them, and that means fighting for the right to choose and nothing less. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  People Before Profit believes that it is a woman's right to choose and that we should trust women to make choices about their bodies, lives and futures. That is it; anything less is not good enough as far as we are concerned. However, we understand the logic behind the Social Democrat's Bill. It takes us at least a step forward from where we are in that it is essentially trying to make provision in line with the review that was promised when the referendum was passed, which the Government has and which it has refused to act on. On that basis, we are happy to support the Bill.  The three-day waiting period is an insult and is exacerbating the difficulties in accessing termination that women in the country are having to endure. The criminalisation is an absolute disgrace. Associating women's right to have a termination and to control their own bodies with some sort of criminal act is an absolute disgrace and should be struck from the Statute Book.  Regarding the issue of fatal foetal abnormality, the fact that women and couples, when they have a wanted child but when it has a fatal foetal abnormality, have to go to Britain for abortions is absolutely disgraceful. My ex-partner and I lost a child to fatal foetal abnormality. We are strongly of the view that it is up to parents as to how they deal with that situation. If they feel they cannot go through the trauma and they need a termination rather than face it, that is their choice, and it should happen here. The idea that people are to be sent abroad still is an absolute disgrace. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  On behalf of the Green Party, I am pleased to support this Bill. I thank Deputy Cairns for bringing it forward. During the 2018 referendum, I joined with representatives from other political parties, Independents and people who have never been involved in a political campaign before in our local Together for Yes organisation in Dublin West. The central case we made on every door as we campaigned was that Ireland needed to listen to women and respect their decisions about their bodies. When the referendum was passed decisively, Ireland understood that we were finally listening to women. However, the continuation of the three-day rule does not do that. Instead, it carries on the paternalistic view that women do not know their own minds.  Those who are going to vote against this Bill this evening have to ask themselves who that vote will serve? It will not serve the women of Ireland. We know from work done in the National Maternity Hospital and through Women's Aid that pregnancy is a high-risk time for women who are in controlling or abusive relationships. If a woman gets out of her house to see a doctor, is she going to get a second opportunity to come back in three days' time, knowing that she is in increased danger? We know it is difficult to get GP appointments in many parts of the country right now. What about women who are at the edge of the 12-week period? Those three days could be enough to force them to bring a pregnancy to full term or see their healthcare provider be criminalised for giving them access to abortion pills. I cannot think of another healthcare issue where a person's bodily autonomy is so blatantly ignored. We have to ask ourselves why the decisions that women make about their own bodies not be trusted.  I welcome the fact that the Government is permitting a free vote this evening. However, I have real worries that the concerns the Government has raised in the media about this Bill will be used subsequently to delay and ultimately derail the core policy goal behind it. Such an approach cannot be accepted. It is vital that this Bill gets the support of D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann and that it is not sidelined and left to rot in committee. It must be engaged with. If the Department has concerns, let them be fleshed out on Committee Stage. We need a commitment from the Government, and particularly the Minister, that a positive vote on this Bill tonight will see the Government engage seriously with the question of removing the three-day wait, bringing this matter back to the D\u00e1il rapidly in order that this paternalistic treatment of women in our law can finally be ended. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  Eight years ago, we were pounding pavements and having thousands of conversations. We won the most important right to bodily autonomy for women in this country in history by means of the efforts of a grassroots movement. Now, some people seem to think that they can roll back that right. We are seeing signs of this even in the D\u00e1il today in some of the comments being made.  I want to talk about what the Government has said about legal nuances. In the context of someone travelling in the case of a fatal foetal abnormality, there never should have been a distinction between fatal foetal abnormality and severe foetal abnormality in the first place. There is no such distinction in any other country. It is unscientific because doctors cannot predict it with surety. In other countries, they are just abnormalities. Because of cowardly and conservative politicians and in order to get Simon Coveney and others to agree to vote for repeal, that distinction was put in place here. However, that is still no reason to vote against the Bill. Let us be clear, parties and individuals opposing this Bill favour forced birth because, basically, they are saying that anyone who is pregnant - outside of the existing strict criteria - should just be forced to continue with the pregnancy but that there is also the safety valve of the UK and other countries. I was very disappointed but not a bit surprised to hear Deputy David Cullinane say that he does not agree. Who cares if he does not agree? It should not be his decision to tell a pregnant woman what to do with her life and her situation.  I found it very arrogant of Deputy Cullinane to stand there and say that. I was not surprised because I saw Sinn Fein rushing through a Bill here last Thursday on a three-day wait. I had a Bill on the three-day wait. It is great that Sinn F\u00e9in has one eight years after repeal. I knew it was doing it. I feared that and my cynicism proved correct that it would not vote for this Bill tonight. Sinn F\u00e9in would say it has its Bill and they did not need to vote for this Bill. It is cynical. It is conservative. It is a shift to the right by Sinn F\u00e9in----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy George Lawlor  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  -----because it supported Br\u00edd Smith's Bill in the previous D\u00e1il and now it is responding to the far right and other individuals who criticised it on the vote recently. Now, it is circling the wagons and women's rights have to pay the price. It really is shocking but it is good to bring clarity for people as to where parties stand.  Let us be clear: decriminalising is to prevent women being criminalised as well for taking an abortion pill after 12 weeks or whatever in their bedroom. However, it is also to get rid of the chilling effect that prevents doctors from acting to save lives and save health, and it is also forcing doctors to send women abroad with abnormalities because they are not deadly sure. That is why it is decriminalising. Stop pretending that it is protecting women and, really, that nonsense where it tries to say that it was because of that. It is very disappointing to hear that Sinn F\u00e9in is going to basically scupper this Bill tonight. We have to put pressure on it to change tack. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Darren O'Rourke)  We will move to the Independent Technical Group. The first speaker is Deputy O'Flynn. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  There is a moment in politics where the language we use in this Chamber becomes so sanitised and so carefully engineered that we risk losing sight of what we are actually talking about and debating. This is one of those moments because today we are not debating an administrative change or paperwork. We are debating whether the State should remove one of the last remaining safeguards before deliberation of ending an unborn human life. Before this House votes to dismantle that safeguard, we should ask ourselves some very uncomfortable questions. Why are the Social Democrats so determined to remove even a three-day reflection? If abortion is such an unquestionable, clear decision, or a very easy case, then we must also ask why HSE figures show that 10,000 women did not return after the initial consultation of the three-day waiting period between 2019 to 2024. That is 10,000 women; 10,000 moments when somebody stepped back; 10,000 moments when doubt entered that room; 10,000 moments when women realised that they needed more support or more time or that there were other options available to them; and 10,000 moments when a life had been saved. That matters, and it is important we put that on the record.  Let us stop pretending that this debate exists in a moral vacuum. Last year alone, more than 10,800 abortions took place on this island. That is over 10,000 unborn children, not statistics, not medical episodes or procedures and not lines in a spreadsheet but human lives. It is tiny hearts that beat, tiny hands, tiny faces - children who under other circumstances would be here today playing in classrooms and parks, celebrating birthdays and growing up in Irish families. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  Disgraceful. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  Yet, there was an argument before this House that does not remark on the tragedy of the loss of 10,000 human lives. The argument is that there is too much time to hesitate and we must remove that time. If the position of the Social Democrats is a moral certainty, then the question for it is why is it afraid of three days? That is three days for reflection, three days for people to speak to their family, three days to seek counselling and three days to escape the panic, fear, coercion or pressure that person may be put under. The reality is that for many women facing crisis pregnancies, those decisions they are making are not in calm circumstances. Some are very frightened, some are abandoned, some are financially desperate, some are under intense emotional pressure and some believe they have no supports or no alternatives available to them. Instead of this House building a society that says we will help them, stand beside them and be there because they and their child matter, the answer increasingly offered by the State is remove the pause and accelerate the process. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  I am a father and a grandfather and also a public representatives. As a public representative, father and grandfather, I support families and people in all their decisions. I have listened to the debate today. I have listened to the debate outside the Chamber. We have to listen to everyone and all their concerns. The concerns I have come from the people I have listened to. HSE data show that between 2019 and 2024, 10,426 women who attended the first abortion appointment did not return on the third day. That means that some of those people may have left the country to have an abortion. Some of those people had the children. Regardless of what decision people made, our choice here is to support them and give them the time and support they need. That is the job we have. Whether we agree with it or not is not the point. The point is that we support people in the decisions they make.  A person has a three-day wait to make a decision to do something. If it is a financial issue or if they are in a relationship they do not want to be in, give them the three days to reflect and see if the supports are there. If they want them or if they do not, then that is a decision they have to make themselves. Regardless of what decision they make, I am here to support them.  My position is that I am a pro-life person. Regardless of anyone's issues, I will be there to support them as a person on the decisions they make. My choice is my choice but I support everyone in their choices. That is what we all should do. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  This Bill will widen the grounds for abortion after a baby is diagnosed with a life-limiting condition. Currently, the law allows abortion if the baby is not expected to live longer than 28 days after birth. This would be changed to allowing abortion if there is a fatal condition affecting the foetus, which is a more broad and general phrase. It is hard for most of us to imagine just what it means for parents who had been happily looking forward to the birth of a new baby to hear that something is seriously wrong. Scans and tests can do a lot to diagnose and predict what to expect but they are not crystal balls. It can happen that mistakes are made in diagnosis. Abortion is not something that can be undone, and the couple whose baby boy was aborted in Holles Street after they were wrongly told by doctors that the baby had a life-limiting condition have spoken about the interminable sadness and grief they live with every day. How many other unborn babies, like baby Christopher, have lost their lives under Ireland's new abortion laws following a misdiagnosis? A child's chance at life, even during a short lifetime after birth, can be incredibly significant for parents to be able to meet their child alive and spend time as a family, maybe even to bring their child home briefly. Even with a correct diagnosis, medicine does not have a crystal ball to be able to say with confidence how long a particular child will live. For many babies  diagnosed with  trisomy 13  or trisomy 18, for example, it is a very short time but sometimes they can have longer and a better quality of life than what they were told to expect. Parents in this tragic situation deserve the best of support and care throughout the rest of their pregnancy and their child's life and death, at whatever point that comes. Irish hospitals have a wealth of experience in palliative care for babies to keep them comfortable. Instead of normalising abortion, we should be making this kind of support available and known to those who need it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  Last year, there were 10,852 abortions in Ireland. That is the lives of 10,852 individual living human beings that were ended last year, and that is the highest figure on record. It is equivalent to 400 classrooms of children, and it is absolutely heartbreaking. In 2018, there were 2,879 abortions and since that law was deregulated, the number of abortions in this country has surged. It is incredible. So high now is the rate of abortion in this State that is affecting the birth rate. For sure, the housing crisis and cost-of-living living crisis are also affecting the birth rate but the birth rate is collapsing in part because of the high abortion rate in this country.  Abortion is a massive decision. It is irreversible. A child cannot be brought back. It can also lead to a lifetime of regret for the mother. In the case of any big decision, reflection is key. There are very few elective procedures that can be done in one day. People cannot get a mole removed or cosmetic surgery or be sterilised without a wait to reflect. We also know that three-day wait period is actually working for families. We know that 10,000 mothers attend the first abortion meeting and they did not attend the second one.  There are thousands of children alive in their homes today as a result of that three-day wait period. When the abortion review was being discussed in the health committee in the previous D\u00e1il, I asked the chair of that review a direct and important question. I asked her, before she recommended getting rid of the three-day wait, whether she had spoken to one woman who had decided to keep her child and take those three days to reflect and she admitted that she had not spoken to one woman who had taken that time. That is an incredible admission and it completely undermines the evidential nature of the review itself. One in six mothers who attended their first abortion appointments did not attend the second one and I have no evidence that the Social Democrats or any other political party here has spoken to those women to ask them what their views are on the three-day wait.  I also want to talk about the so-called \"chilling effect\" in terms of criminal penalties. That is a fiction in this country. The opposite is actually the case. Baby Christopher was a fully healthy unborn child. His life was terminated at 16-weeks gestation. His parents were wrongly told that he had a fatal foetal abnormality, and it was not an accident. This was not a mistaken diagnosis in this situation. Their child was taken from them. There have been no efforts, by the law or this Government, to follow up in any way in relation to that. Baby Christopher is not unique. Many other women and mothers have lost their children in similar situations.  Eighty-five percent of mothers have abortions for socioeconomic reasons. There is nothing in this Bill to provide economic supports to mothers so that they can raise their children to their full potential. There are dozens of women giving birth in this country homeless. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Darren O'Rourke)  Go raibh maith agat. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  There is nothing in this Bill to provide supports to those mothers who need a home.  We were told eight years ago to accept the democratic will of the people. I would ask these parties to do the same. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Darren O'Rourke)  I move to other Members. First up is Deputy Grace Boland. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Grace Boland  I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate. This is an issue that evokes deeply held and personal views across Irish society and it is important that we approach it with sensitivity, compassion and respect for differing opinions. There will be strongly held views expressed in this debate, and I respect that. However, I believe as legislators that we have a responsibility to carefully consider the evidence presented in the comprehensive and evidence-based O'Shea report, the improvements made since the report, and the lived experiences of women, families and clinicians.  While aspects of this Bill may require amendment and careful scrutiny, I believe that the essence of what it seeks to address deserves debate and consideration by this House and the health committee. I say that for the following three reasons. First, this is fundamentally about women's healthcare. We know there are women in Ireland who are still being forced to travel abroad for care in cases involving fatal foetal abnormalities because clinicians cannot provide certainty within the narrow legal definitions contained in the 2018 Act. As a mum to two daughters, I do not believe that compassionate care should stop at the airport gate. Second, the O'Shea report concluded that aspects of the law were not operating as intended and were causing real distress to women and clinicians. Third, the O'Shea report questioned whether the mandatory three-day waiting period was evidence based and recommended that it be optional.  Figures have been cited here today regarding women who did not proceed with a second appointment. However, it is important that we are careful and evidence-based in how we interpret those figures. We do not know why they did not proceed. It may be that they miscarried, travelled, exceeded gestational limits or experienced other barriers accessing care, and we know that those in coercive relationships and in the postcode lottery that our healthcare system is have unequal access to healthcare. That is why this issue warrants examination by the health committee and further examination by this House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  I welcome the opportunity to speak in this debate. In my opinion, there is one simple choice. Do we trust women?  This is a very personal decision, it is a healthcare decision and women must be placed at the centre of it. An abortion is not something any woman or any couple enters into lightly, and by the time that decision has been reached, there has already been reflection, and there has already been discussion, fear, emotion and heartbreak. This is why the mandatory three-day waiting period is wrong.  For many women in my constituency, this was a huge issue that they spoke to me about on the doorsteps. The reflection has already happened, so this requirement can feel infantalising. It can feel like a judgment on them for coming to a decision about their body. For many women, those three days occur during an incredibly painful time. Also, there are the people who are financially unable to leave the country. We are just punishing them. The reflection period can push women further along medical timelines and reduce the options available for procedures of care.  I welcome the Bill's decriminalisation of healthcare workers who are helping these women.  We must remember that every one of these circumstances is different. Some of them might be facing huge stress or in abusive relationships where they are forced into an act that they do not want to do. Do we trust women or not? The only person who can fully understand the woman is the woman herself.  We should welcome this Bill and the opportunity it presents to bring in enactments and change, as we said during the referendum. Dublin Bay North, which is my constituency, had over 500 campaigners and the largest turnout and delivery of \"Yes\" votes in the country. We won by a three-to-one result in favour of repeal. To all the campaigners, I say, \"Go raibh maith agaibh.\" "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  I have listened to this debate continuously this morning. Indeed, I remember it so well eight and nine years ago.  I suppose I have to say I am pro life and I think that when a baby is born, it is the most majestic, natural and beautiful thing in the world. I am lucky that, in my time, Eileen and I have had six children, and now we have eight grandchildren.  We have to think of the baby in the situation they are in and we have to talk about them. I believe they have a right to live, and to wait three more days to give the mother a chance to reflect on her position is not too long to wait. That is my honest, humble belief.  I have nothing personal against the proposers of this motion but I cannot agree with or subscribe to it.  There are many couples in the country and, indeed, in the world who would love to have a baby, and when they cannot, at least to be able to adopt one.  I cannot agree with this Bill. I am sorry, but I have my own personal beliefs. I think the baby is entitled to a chance to get a shot at this world. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Carol Nolan  I will be opposing this Bill not merely on the grounds that I have profound conscientious difficulties and objections with the legislative intent driving it, but also because I sincerely believe that if it was implemented, it would represent an impoverished health policy that would fail to protect women and, of course, the lives of the unborn children that it will impact.  In fact, it was on the basis of information released to me through numerous parliamentary questions that we can confirm that the three-day waiting period prior to having an abortion has played a critical and life-saving role in the lives of thousands. In fact, over the five-year period since the law was introduced, 10,426 women did not return for a second appointment after the three-day waiting period. This was between 17% and 18% of women.  I have to be clear. From where I stand, any attempt to eliminate the three-day reflection period can now be seen for what it is - a morally reckless extension of an abortion ideology that many people find deeply troubling. Why the clamour for more and more abortion? Why the rush to annihilate all protections in the law for the baby in the womb? The Irish people did not give us a blank cheque to go on eliminating all protections for the unborn child until no such protections exist at all. To claim that they did is fundamentally flawed.  As political representatives, we should be prioritising the provision of positive support for women in unplanned pregnancy, including access to practical assistance and counselling, rather than seeking to weaken the existing protections.  No woman should be rushed into a life-changing decision but I am of the view that all children born and unborn have a fundamental right to life. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mattie McGrath  I, too, am opposing this Bill. I recently listened to the leader of the Social Democrats speaking on RT\u00c9 radio about the importance of listening to women's abortion experiences. I want to ask Deputy Cairns this question directly today. Before bringing forward this Bill to abolish the three-day wait and widen the grounds for late-term abortions, did she accept or ignore the request to meet women who deeply regretted their abortions? Did she take the time to speak to women who benefited from the three-day reflection period and ultimately chose to keep their babies? These are not unreasonable questions. Pro-life groups and others have asked those questions in recent days and nowhere have I seen Deputy Cairns or anybody from her party answer them.  It is well documented from replies to parliamentary questions that thousands of women have availed of the three-day wait and have gone on to keep their babies. With that evidence before us, I cannot fathom how any party would seek to abolish such a life-saving provision. There are 11,000 abortions taking place in Ireland each year, which is an unbelievably sad reality, yet today a political party in this House is seeking to remove one of the last provisions that offers a small glimmer of hope that the life might be saved.  We are still in the first half of 2026 and already two men have received lengthy prison sentences for their involvement in coercive forced abortions. These cases and other evidence show that the number of coercive abortions is rising at an alarming rate. Will the Social Democrats rush to scrap the three-day wait instead of working with others in this House to try to deal with the issue of coercive abortion? We have soaring abortion numbers, including coercive abortions, and we need to deal with that issue also. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niall Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Niall Collins)  As my colleague the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, has done, I too acknowledge the women and families who have had heartbreaking personal circumstances in pregnancy and who have been the motivation behind this Bill. There are, of course, many perspectives involved in the issue of termination of pregnancy services. As legislators, it is important that we facilitate open and frank discussion and consideration of issues. We must respect the input and views of all in this House. Constructive debate is always helpful.  I do not need to repeat all of the information the Minister has outlined but I will aim to make some critical points. The Government is committed to increasing access to safe termination of pregnancy services. In this regard, considerable progress has been made. I refer to the comprehensive body of work being undertaken by the national termination of pregnancy service improvement group. Work arising from the independent review of the legislation, the O'Shea review, and the HSE-commissioned review of section 11 of the Act, the Regan review, is being progressed across ten dedicated work streams.  Significant service development has taken place since the publication of the reviews. All 19 maternity hospitals now provide termination of pregnancy care, supported by designated clinical leads and co-ordinators. More than 490 community providers are delivering early medical abortion. The national governance structures have been strengthened through the relevant structures and governance group. A national electronic termination of pregnancy dataset has been established to support service improvement and workforce planning. Education and training activity has expanded, with multidisciplinary education, foetal medicine study days and workshops, and the development of patient information leaflets. A programme of work is also under way to provide a suite of national clinical guidelines and patient information booklets.  The feedback received directly from clinicians indicates that the service is working well. This is particularly significant if we take account of the fact that this was a new service built from the ground up. While it is acknowledged that a number of women continue to travel abroad for termination services, this figure has significantly reduced from 3,053 in 2017 to approximately 240 in 2023. As the Minister outlined, women travel for a variety of reasons, not all of which are related to fatal foetal abnormality.  I acknowledge the motivation for proposing this Bill. Nonetheless, as drafted, it will not achieve its stated objectives and ultimately may prove counterproductive. As the Minister pointed out, the amendment as drafted to remove the mandatory three-day waiting period has the potential to cause problems for existing medical law, but perhaps that is an issue that could be explored further.  On the issue of clinical guidelines, the HSE, in consultation with the relevant professional bodies, is the competent authority to develop such guidelines. It has the requisite knowledge and experience. Moreover, this process is already established. A national clinical guidelines programme of work has been agreed between the national women and infants health programme of the HSE and the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland. In March of 2021, Professor Keelin O'Donoghue was appointed as clinical lead for guideline development in maternity and gynaecology, responsible for the review update and production of national clinical guidelines in relation to maternity and gynaecological services.  It is impossible not to be deeply affected by the stories in the cases where there is a fatal foetal abnormality. However, I must stress that the proposed amendment would not bring clarity to the law. Rather, it has the potential to create ambiguity on which conditions would qualify and could lead to wide variation in its interpretation and application. I am sure that this is not the intention of Deputy Cairns or her party colleagues. Furthermore, it would include genetic conditions that are fatal later in life. This marks a significant policy shift and a huge departure from the commitments given to the Irish people prior to the repeal of the eighth amendment.  The proposal to decriminalise medical practitioners would represent a very substantial policy and legal change. A medical practitioner would no longer be subject to criminal sanction under the law even in instances where a termination had been carried out by acting unreasonably or acting unreasonably and in bad faith. Moreover, it would substantially weaken the powers of the committees established to review decisions to refuse terminations under sections 9 and 11 of the 2018 Act. The requirement that the conscientious objection would not override professional obligations in medical emergencies is already effectively and coherently addressed in the 2018 Act.  In conclusion, nothing is solved by politicising this very sensitive area. It does not serve one woman and it would not save one child's life. The Minister has indicated her willingness to engage constructively on the issues raised in the debate. We urge the Social Democrats and other Members of this House to take up that offer. By doing so collectively, we can do right by all of the women in Ireland. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas le Holly Cairns as an reachta\u00edocht seo a thabhairt chun cinn. I thank Holly Cairns for bringing forward this legislation. I thank all the Deputies who have spoken during this debate. I take the earlier contribution by the Minister for Health in good faith. However, what is missing from what the Minister said is any commitment to bring forward legislation to address the very serious flaws in the existing legislation that were identified in the review. Also missing from what the Minister said was any commitment that these legislative flaws and gaps would actually be addressed. We have received no firm commitments from the Government today that it will actually do anything to fix the very serious issues identified in the review. The Minister said that the situation of women being forced to travel abroad would not be fixed for every situation. She did not say that she would fix the very grave situation of fatal foetal abnormalities where women are still being forced to travel to the UK in the most horrific circumstances, as my colleague Jennifer Whitmore spoke about earlier.  I want to summarise the current situation. In 2018, an overwhelming majority of Irish people voted to repeal the eighth amendment. This explicitly gave the Oireachtas the remit to legislate for abortion. It also explicitly included a commitment from the Government to review the legislation. The barrister Marie O'Shea, who conducted the review, said that vulnerable women who continued to be forced abroad for terminations were being treated like criminals.  She said that a lack of action on the many legislative recommendations in her report meant that some pregnant women are being left to face profoundly sad conditions. The review found a number of very serious flaws in the legislation, including that doctors find the law unclear and fear clear criminal sanction, leading to defensive medicine and denial of care. The prospect of criminal sanction and adverse media scrutiny has likely led to women being denied care. Criminalisation is not theoretical; it is actively harming patients.  The mandatory three-day waiting period has a physical and psychological impact on women. It is particularly onerous for people in marginalised groups and those living in rural areas. The waiting period is not neutral. It causes measurable harm and pushes women past the 12-week limit. It is worth noting that the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women has called on the Irish Government to abolish this mandatory three-day waiting period.  It is also worth saying that middle-ground voters in the referendum were particularly concerned about women who needed terminations for medical reasons being forced to travel abroad, and they wanted to change this. Despite the review commissioned by the Government, which was published more than three years ago, what we have is inaction. It is clear today from the Minister's comments that this inaction will continue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  I thank Deputy Cairns and my Social Democrats colleagues for bringing forward this Bill. It is not a simple area of legislation but our job as legislators is not to shy away from the difficult conversations and to respond to the difficult realities that citizens and people in this country are living through. This is a deeply emotional topic. As a father and a partner, I have experienced the pain of pregnancy loss. I have close friends who had to travel due to a fatal foetal abnormality. They had to put their child in a cardboard box in the car and bring it home on the ferry. When Independent Ireland talks about tragedy and trauma, what about the tragedy and trauma inflicted on the more than 200 women, their partners and others who go through this?  The reality is that our families, people we know and friends in our communities are having abortions because they choose to and they need to. That is the reality. This proposal and legislation are about providing abortion care to women who need it. A vote against this Bill is a vote against a law that fully respects the bodily integrity, autonomy, equality and dignity of women. This is about trusting women. It is about giving women their autonomy.  The Act, as it stands, imposes an unnecessary mandatory three-day waiting period for abortion care. The legislative review, the O'Shea report, recommends the removal of section 23 from the legislation. I spoke to a researcher involved in that review who pointed out that the need for the removal of the criminalisation of abortion is because it is a reason that GPs are not opting to provide the care that is needed.  Independent Ireland and \u00c1ontu also made an accusation relating to women in homelessness. No one has pushed for action on women and children in poverty, in homelessness, in domestic violence and with disabilities more than the Social Democrats. That is just a red herring, trying to draw attention away from what this legislation is actually putting forward.  The O\u2019Shea review was informed by the ICGP and the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, and represents the recommendations of practitioners for best practice in healthcare provision. To enact these recommendations would follow the principle of evidence-based policy, which is at the core of what the Social Democrats are about. This Bill is drawn from good practice, as recommended by healthcare providers, legal experts and, most importantly, the women and patients themselves. Abortion care is about time-sensitive healthcare. The imposition of a mandatory three-day wait is in direct opposition to that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  We all know that this law is causing harm, and we have a responsibility to change it. We know women are being hurt by the gaps in our legislation in maternity hospitals, on overnight ferries and in hotel rooms in England, far away from their loved ones. Everyone in this Chamber knows about it, and everyone in this Chamber needs to address that reality.  We have heard repeated references today to caution, to limits and to concerns about changing the framework too much. There also needs to be caution about the harm caused by inaction, concern for the women who continue to fall through the cracks in this legislation, and limits to how long that evidence can be ignored, because none of these issues are new. The problems with the 28-day rule, the mandatory waiting period and the criminalisation of doctors were all identified years ago but nothing was done.  There is a tendency, when abortion is discussed, for there to be an undercurrent of suspicion - suspicion that if barriers are removed, women and doctors simply could not be trusted. I was shocked today that the Minister for Health and Sinn F\u00e9in are in favour of criminalisation. When politicians create obstacles in abortion care, it is women who suffer. The continued existence of criminal penalties sends a message that abortion is something morally wrong, something dangerous, something outside the bounds of normal healthcare, and that affects how a service develops. It affects how clinicians feel about providing care. It affects stigma. It affects access. You cannot build a genuinely supportive healthcare system while simultaneously threatening doctors with a 14-year prison sentence. The World Health Organization is clear that it does not agree with this.  People who fought for repeal will be stunned at the approach that Sinn F\u00e9in is taking. I am stunned too. Putting forward a proposal for the bare minimum - removing the three-day wait - Deputy Cullinane said that this strikes the right balance. I have to ask: for who? It is safe to say it is not the women who are forced to travel for a termination for medical reasons. Deputy Cullinane went as far as to say that our legislation lacks democratic legitimacy. That is an absolutely outrageous thing to say. It is based on an expert review of the law.  Irish people expect a healthcare system based on science and compassion, not ideology and shame. The public also expects the Oireachtas to respond when flaws in the law become obvious. That is what this Bill seeks to do: to address clear and identifiable legislative gaps. That is why I am asking Members today not to shut down this debate on Second Stage. If Members believe that parts of this legislation can be strengthened, then come forward with amendments. If Members believe that safeguards should be clarified, make those arguments. However, refusing to even engage with reform when we already know the harm being caused is irresponsible.  The women directly affected by these laws deserve better than that. They deserve a D\u00e1il that will take this issue seriously because, at the end of the day, women will do what they need to do in order to access a termination. The question is whether we ensure they can do that safely in Ireland, or whether we continue to force them abroad; whether we listen to women who told us that the law failed them, or whether we choose to ignore them again. I encourage the Minister, if she means what she says, and if she actually wants something to change, to come forward with something concrete on what she would do about that. I would encourage a Committee Stage debate. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  In accordance with Standing Order 85(2), the division is deferred until tonight's voting bloc.  Before we move to Leaders\u2019 Questions, I welcome the teachers and TY students from the Salesian College in Pallaskenry, County Limerick. They are with independent Councillor Tommy Hartigan from Adare-Rathkeale municipal district, who travelled with the group as a past pupil of the school. They are most welcome. There are also a number of staff from Mallow General Hospital here with Deputy Eoghan Kenny. Deputy Cathy Bennett would like to welcome the exchange students from Monaghan and also Monaghan u3a. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Reproductive Rights (Amendment) Bill 2026: Second Stage [Private Members]"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-13\/debate\/dbsect_10","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions","counts":{"speechCount":72,"speakerCount":11},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_10","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Our ambulance workers should not have to strike to be heard by the Taoiseach. They should not have to stand on a picket line to fight for fair pay, recognition and basic respect, but that is what they were forced to do yesterday. They were left with no other option because the Government has failed to deliver improved pay for the incredible work, vital skills and life-saving expertise they bring to work every single day. Paramedics were asked to step up and to take on advanced training to modernise the ambulance service, and they did what was asked of them. In typical Fianna F\u00e1il-Fine Gael style, however, the Taoiseach washed his hands of his obligations and left them hanging - not for a week or a month, but for six long years. The Taoiseach's response to the 24-hour stoppage means that we face escalating stoppages next week and the week after. His failure to intervene has real consequences. He says to use the industrial relations mechanisms of the State, but he knows that there is a deadlock and, without intervention, this could take months to resolve.  Yesterday, there was a significant impact on ambulance services, with even longer waiting times. The Taoiseach cannot sit this one out. His inaction risks walking the country into a summer of crisis, with rolling strikes week after week. People do not want that. They are really worried. They want this resolved fast. Paramedics do not want this. They want to be at work saving lives. This is not any regular industrial dispute; this is our ambulance service. It is a service critical to people's well-being, their safety and their health.  I do not know what the Taoiseach sees when he looks at a paramedic, but I know what I see. I see someone who shows up, who is there for you, who has your back in your most vulnerable moments and who gets the job done. Yet, they are denied fair pay. They are taken for granted and disrespected by the Government. That is at the root of this crisis. The Taoiseach needs to recognise that reality, he needs to listen and he needs to be active in fixing this.  Caithfidh an Taoiseach freagracht a ghlacadh agus teacht ar r\u00e9iteach don gh\u00e9arch\u00e9im sa tseirbh\u00eds otharcharranna. Seo fadhb a chruthaigh an Rialtas. Caithfidh an Taoiseach gn\u00edomh\u00fa, idirghabh\u00e1il a dh\u00e9anamh chun c\u00farsa\u00ed a r\u00e9iteach go tapa agus tuilleadh stailceanna a sheachaint. There is a crisis in our ambulance service. The Taoiseach's complete and utter inaction over six years has deepened that crisis. It is unacceptable for him to now look the other way. Standing on the sidelines simply will not cut it. The Taoiseach is supposed to be in charge, so he should take charge. There is a week before the next strike. I urge him not to waste that time. He should act, intervene, step in and help sort this out. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy M\u00e1ire Devine  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  First, I have always acknowledged the critical role that those who work in the National Ambulance Service play in our health service. The Deputy said she does not know what I see when I look at a paramedic. I was critically involved at an earlier time, as Minister for Health, in the professionalisation of the first responder service. I have the greatest and highest of respect for the transformation that has occurred. It has been a good transformation. We have modernised the first responder approach in medicine and in health. That is critical in terms of the acute service, but, more importantly, it is critical in terms of patient outcomes and the outcomes of very serious accidents or developments or cardiac arrests or whatever. The first responder is key. The fact that we have professionalised and modernised that is a good thing. We have always acknowledged and the State has always accepted that pay structures need to be modernised. I refer to the previous engagement at the WRC. I said this to the Deputy yesterday. It is very dishonest of her to say that this has been ignored for six years. That is not the case. Negotiations took place. There was engagement at the WRC. It concluded with significant outcomes, in particular, the State offering pay increases of between 3% to 14% linked to reform. This was on top of the 9.25% increase under the current public service agreement. While union leadership did recommend this proposal to their members, it was rejected by staff following a ballot. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Exactly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That is not ignoring something for six years. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Yes, it is. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  How can the Deputy, with any credibility, come into the House and say that this was ignored for six years, when, clearly, there were negotiations and an outcome? There were negotiations between the unions and the HSE. The unions recommended it. The members voted against it. Dialogue is the only route to resolving this. I am of the view that it will get resolved, but it has to be resolved through dialogue. The 24-hour work stoppage concluded this morning. The HSE and the NAS made every effort to minimise the impact on patients, but we do know that there were significant delays in ambulance response times. That did cause distress and upset to those who were depending on the ambulance service.  I also acknowledge the engagement of SIPTU and Unite in contingency planning in advance to assist in reducing the risks to patients. It is recognised and welcome that, on a number of occasions, the National Ambulance Service staff returned to work to support the management of critical cases. I acknowledge that and their desire to ensure patient safety and continuity of emergency care being the overriding priority. The HSE and the Department remain ready and available to re-engage through the WRC or the Labour Court processes. I urge SIPTU and Unite to return to those mechanisms in the interests of patients, staff and the wider public.  An tsl\u00ed is fearr chun \u00e9 seo a r\u00e9iteach n\u00e1 go mbeadh pl\u00e9 idir an HSE, SIPTU agus Unite chun an sc\u00e9al seo a r\u00e9iteach agus an tseirbh\u00eds a chur ar ais i bhfeidhm go hioml\u00e1n. Admha\u00edm go bhfuil bunathruithe tar \u00e9is tarl\u00fa maidir leis an tseirbh\u00eds. T\u00e1 an Rialtas s\u00e1sta glacadh leis sin agus d\u00e9ile\u00e1il leis. Rinneamar \u00e9 sin cheana f\u00e9in, agus t\u00e1 s\u00fail agam go mbeimid in ann \u00e9 a r\u00e9iteach tr\u00edd an WRC agus an Labour Court. I urge all involved to get back to the industrial relations machinery and use the WRC and the Labour Court to get this resolved. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  The Taoiseach's response reflects his lack of urgency on this question. He is quite happy to simply take a laissez-faire approach and hope that others will sort this out. He knows that for the past six years, throughout this process of modernisation, ambulance workers have been left understaffed to the point that they have very deep safety concerns. Those concerns are well-grounded. He has left them overworked. So many of them are burned out that there is now an issue around recruitment and retention in that very service. He has also left them underpaid.  Yesterday, those workers were on the picket line. If the Taoiseach maintains the position he has articulated today, we will face next week, the week after and the week after that an escalating crisis in the service. That is not good enough for the workers concerned and it is certainly good enough for the public and the citizens who rely on these workers for a life-saving service. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy. The Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  I urge the Taoiseach again to stop being a spectator----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach to respond. Time is up, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  ----- to intervene and assist in a resolution on this matter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Again, the Deputy is mischaracterising my approach to this. This is a very serious issue. The Deputy knows in her heart of hearts that this has to be resolved through the industrial relations machinery. She knows that. In every single public service dispute that can occur, taoisigh will not be getting involved. In my case, there is a proper way to do this. You cannot have a situation where we ignore completely the informed, sophisticated and experienced people we have in the Labour Court or in the Workplace Relations Commission. That is how these disputes get resolved. The Deputy knows that.  We have also invested very significantly in the ambulance service. Overall funding is up about 41%. That is up \u20ac83 million between 2022 and 2025. In three years alone, it went up 41%, to \u20ac285 million. Staffing is up - 588 staff. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Jesus, do not. They are completely understaffed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  There has been an investment of \u20ac126 million in the ambulance fleet and there is a further investment of \u20ac20 million planned----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  So there is not a problem. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----for 2026. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Taoiseach. Your time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Miche\u00e1l Martin  There has been substantial investment in our ambulance service and there will be more. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  In the run-up to the last general election, Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael were in panic mode.  In an effort to distract voters from the Government's failure to deliver they began splashing the cash, giving nearly everyone in the country a one-off payment which hit bank accounts in the week leading up to the election. Not just that, but a range of cast-iron commitments were made to the electorate. Chief among them was a promise to cap the cost of childcare at \u20ac200 a month. We were told that childcare costs were at the top of Fianna F\u00e1il's agenda, while Fine Gael promised to publish a plan to cap costs and deliver a public model of childcare within the first 100 days of office.  A full 475 days later, where are we now? Childcare costs have not come down by a single cent. Families with young children are still paying enormous sums for childcare. That is if they are lucky enough to even get a childcare place because it is almost impossible to get one, especially for babies between six and 12 months of age. This means thousands of women all over the country having to take unpaid maternity leave so they can care for their babies. It is stressful, it is a struggle and it is hugely expensive.  In an interview with Gavan Reilly on Monday the Taoiseach refused to commit to reducing childcare costs in the next budget. It was extraordinary to witness, given all of the pre-election bluster. The reality is that our childcare system is broken but, instead of reforming it, the Taoiseach wants to continue with business as usual. We have the resources to transform childcare services, rolling out a public model that would be accessible and affordable. It would mean the State treating childcare with the level of seriousness primary and secondary education get, recognising that investment in early years and the first few years of a child's life pays dividends over a lifetime.  The Social Democrats was the first party to publish a plan for a public model of childcare. We did that two years ago, detailing how we would set up a public childcare model to acquire private businesses that wanted to sell, because we know there are businesses that want to sell. Just this week, one of Ireland's biggest childcare operators, Tigers Childcare, was acquired by a large UK company, Kids Planet Day Nurseries. That deal was worth \u20ac75 million. That is a drop in the ocean of the surpluses available to this Government but the grim reality is that this Government, which is awash with cash, lacks both vision and ambition. The Government is incapable of investing the money wisely and reforming our public services, driving down costs for families, transforming people's lives in the long term for the better.  Why will the Taoiseach not commit to reducing childcare fees in the budget and where is the plan to roll out a public model of childcare? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  In terms of childcare more generally, there has been very significant progress made in childcare in the last number of years. Again, Deputy Cairns will not acknowledge that, but it is the reality in terms of both reduction of costs and, indeed, the increase in the numbers of children availing of the various programmes we have. In terms of the national childcare scheme, about 277,000 children will be supported this year. That is an increase of 27,000 children in just one year. Income thresholds are rising from September of this year, from \u20ac34,000 and \u20ac68,000, ensuring more low- and middle-income families qualify for higher levels of support. Some 105,000 children continue to benefit from two years of free preschool under the ECCE programme and the access and inclusion model now supports a record 8,400 children with disabilities, ensuring access to mainstream early learning and childcare. Core funding now exceeds about \u20ac420 million. That is a 62% increase since 2022, with 93% of providers signed up. After subsidies, parents in many instances now pay no more than \u20ac198.70 per week for a full-day, 45-hour place.  We have more to do and we want to reduce the fees even further. We are going to continue to work on that and the forthcoming budget will be an opportunity to improve the situation in terms of the cost of childcare and also, of course, in terms of payments. Regarding human capital and people who work in childcare, we have focused on that in particular in the last number of years, and this year's core funding allocation includes about \u20ac45 million ring-fenced to support improved pay for early-years educators and school-age childcare practitioners where new employment regulation orders are agreed. We achieved a milestone in the last Government by agreeing such a regulation order and the most recent employment regulation order delivered an average 10% increase in minimum pay rates, benefitting over two thirds of the workforce. The pay-related negotiations are conducted through the joint labour committee, with Government backing the outcomes financially through the core funding.  For the first time ever, the State is now the directly supporting the creation of new childcare capacity through a State-led building, acquisition and delivery programme targeting areas of greatest need, including places for children under three years of age and in rural and disadvantaged communities. There is \u20ac135 million in capital investment available over the next five years, with up to eight buildings to be selected for investment in 2026.  There has been steady progress made. In terms of the broader issue of State-led childcare provision, childcare has evolved over the last 30-odd years, beginning, actually, in the Department of justice under the new opportunities for women, NOW, programme. It has evolved through both community playschools, private operators and some----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Taoiseach. You will have to come back in. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I will come back in. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  The Taoiseach seems to just think it is par for the course to make these big election promises to people and then completely, unashamedly renege on them afterwards. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  He seems to think that pl\u00e1m\u00e1sing the electorate and promising things is just part of electioneering. It is not. People believed the Taoiseach when he said there would be a reduction in childcare fees. People believed this Government when it promised to roll out a plan for a public model of childcare. I just hope that people watching will judge this Government not on its empty promises in the lead-up to the next election but on its actions now. The Taoiseach says I will not acknowledge progress and is talking about workers in this sector. Does he acknowledge that workers in the childcare sector have the same level of training and qualifications as other teachers but get paid minimum wage and in the summer months have to sign on? Where is the progress for workers in this sector? Does the Taoiseach acknowledge that without a public model of childcare, without any actual childcare at all for so many families, we will never reach gender equality and that this stifles women's careers? It blocks them from getting back into the workplace. The Taoiseach lists off his script of things there as if that is progress. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I believe in childcare for the development of the child primarily. Anything we do in the area of childcare or early education should be about the child as the primary issue, actually. I know a lot about Montessori and I know all about early education because I was involved in it and I had Green Papers and so on. Maybe people should examine the Social Democrats' proposals and the lack of substance in them, the lack of detail, the lack of flesh on the bone. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  I think you should examine them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Deputy Cairns is now suggesting we can seamlessly move from a model we have developed over years through community----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  I did not say seamlessly. Did you read our proposal? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Cairns. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  You are saying that and you are holding up the prospect that we can, with a click of the fingers, seamlessly move into a----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  You obviously have not read the proposal. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, the rules are the same for you as everyone else. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I did not interrupt you, Deputy Cairns, in fairness. I never do interrupt you. Every time I say a few home truths, you all get a bit agitated and have to heckle back. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  Home spins. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The bottom line is this: the Social Democrats do not do detailed policy propositions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  That is rubbish. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That is the bottom line. They are talking about promises and commitments. The bottom line is a lot of what the Social Democrats say as a party lacks that substance and that detail. You cannot, overnight, move from where we currently are into a full public model. You just cannot do that and you should acknowledge the honesty of that proposition. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Your time is up. Deputy Paul Murphy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  Fianna F\u00e1il's former leader and Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, has engaged in disgusting racism in Dublin Central, saying we have \u201ctoo many\u201d immigrants and saying, \"The ones I worry about are the Africans\", and that, \"We can\u2019t be taking in people from the Congo and all these places.\" He said he worries about the next generation of Muslims. Bertie Ahern doing it makes the agenda very blatant: scapegoat immigrants and divide ordinary people. Why? So that nobody blames Bertie Ahern, Fianna F\u00e1il and the landlords and developers Fianna F\u00e1il has allowed to profit from the housing crisis.  People from the Congo did not take corrupt payments from developers to blow up the property bubble. They were never found by a tribunal to have been untruthful in explaining how \u20ac400,000 in today's money passed through their bank accounts. Muslim children did not crash the economy, causing years of misery and austerity for ordinary people. Unlike Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael, they never rolled out the red carpet for developers and vulture funds. They are not the ones who sowed the seeds of the current housing disaster and they were not the ones who refused to maintain council flats and then voted to increase council rents. All of this is an act of mass distraction. From what? From the horrendous conditions many people in Dublin Central are forced to face every day. Right across Dublin city there are council tenants living in conditions that nobody should be asked to live in.  Yesterday, in Sheridan Court on Dorset Street, we met a single mother with two children with additional needs. She is three months living without usable water because it is scalding hot. She has to bring her children to her mother's house in Fairview to bathe them. Her bedroom is severely damp and mouldy. I am holding up a photo of her bathroom - we can see the mould. Another woman is sleeping in the living room as her bedroom has been rendered uninhabitable due to leakages in the ceilings and walls. This is a photo of the hole in the wall of her bedroom. Another resident's ceiling collapsed in places in January. Her flat is not in a livable condition but she has nowhere else to go. Her ceiling can be seen in this photo. The only work done for the people in Sheridan Court has been superficial. However, it is not just Sheridan Court; it is right across Dublin city.  To add insult to injury, Dublin City Council has hiked these people's rents by 30%, an amount that many of them simply cannot afford. Councillors from Fianna F\u00e1il, Fine Gael, Labour and the Green Party shamefully voted against a budget amendment that would have stopped that rent hike. I have two simple questions for the Taoiseach. I want answers to them. First, will he commit to the residents of Sheridan Court and other flats around Dublin city that this treatment will not continue and that people in 2026 will not be asked to live like this? Second, will he support a reversal of these unfair rent increases in Dublin city and drop his agenda to hike council rents right across the country? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  In the first instance, we have a very clear asylum system in this country which is fair and robust. I do not approve of any commentary that would in any way undermine any particular ethnicity or any person with a particular ethnic background. I have been very clear about that. My understanding is that the former Taoiseach, Mr. Ahern, has resiled from those comments and says he has no issue with people who come through our asylum process. I want to be very clear from my perspective and my party's perspective that we do not approve of those specific comments. They were in a conversation which was subsequently published. It was not, therefore, a distraction process by anybody here because no one could anticipate that any commentary of that kind would be in the public domain. Be that as it may, our position is very clear. We have a fair and robust asylum process which has accelerated a lot. The Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, has outlined that. Then we have a broader migration narrative. People come from Europe, the EFTA countries and beyond, who work in our economy and our health service. We have many Irish citizens with different ethnic backgrounds who play a very full and meaningful contribution to Irish life.  Regarding the broader issue of housing, this Government, in particular over the last number of years, has substantially step-changed the provision of social housing. This year, up to 9,000 were built, compared with very low numbers four or five years ago. There has been a very substantial step-change in the provision of public housing itself. Significant funding is also made available to local authorities, and particularly Dublin City Council, in respect of regeneration, refurbishment and maintenance. In the first instance it is a matter for Dublin City Council to make sure its housing stock is properly maintained and refurbished. We establish local authorities. We give them powers and remit. Anytime they do anything then, the D\u00e1il - or elements of the D\u00e1il - in a reflex wants to come back in and say that local authority does not have any space or parameters in which it can develop policies itself. These are elected representatives of many parties, including the Deputy's, and they have to organise and run their councils in a sustainable manner. That is a matter for the councils. Government does not dictate every single item of local authority policy. What we have tried to do in the last while is to say to councils that they need to zone more land for housing. I do not know whether the Deputy agrees with that but we believe councils need to do this. We need more space for local authority housing, social and affordable housing, and affordable rental as well. That is the most fundamental----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank the Taoiseach. He will have an opportunity to come back in. I call Deputy Murphy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----way to meet the housing needs of people in Dublin Central, and, indeed, across the country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  On Bertie Ahern, I will just say this. What people say when they do not think they are being recorded is actually more valuable than what they say when they know they are being recorded. It suggests a dirty game used on doorsteps by Fianna F\u00e1il to divide and rule ordinary people, and to have them not blaming the people the Taoiseach represents - the developers, the landlords, the people who get rich from the housing crisis. Instead, it is better to blame the people from Congo or wherever else.  Regarding the council flats and the rents issue, the Taoiseach cannot have it both ways. He is the Taoiseach; the leader of a party which has councillors. He has a responsibility and a connection with the votes, for example, to increase council rents. Does he stand over those increases or not? They are not doing that out of nowhere. It is a nationally driven project. We can look at the Government's programme for Government increasing council rents. We can look at this new programme, which has not been published yet, which points to massive increases in council rents. We can look towards the plan to merge cost-rental and social housing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank Deputy Murphy. The Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  The other thing is the Department. The Department pulled the plug on Oliver Bond. It is the Department----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach will now respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  -----that has pulled the plug on regeneration. The Government cannot wash its hands of it and just say it is the council. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The same as everybody else, the Deputy's time is up. The Taoiseach, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  First, that was an unacceptable comment the Deputy made. That is not the Fianna F\u00e1il approach and it is not Fianna F\u00e1il policy. By the way, the Deputy is not shy himself in terms of mischaracterising people, spinning and deliberately exaggerating positions of different politicians on an ongoing basis. You are no angel yourself when it comes to politics, and do not pretend that you are. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  You will not catch me saying racist things, even if you record me secretly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The other problem is on councils. I have been on a city council. I have always divided the council between those who genuinely want to govern or run a city, as opposed to those who just oppose everything and never voted for a budget in their life. Did the Deputy every vote for a budget in his life on a city council? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  No. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  I was never on a council. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  He probably did not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  They are rhetorical questions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Yes, but your party, I mean. Those you represent. They never do. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  They never do. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  You want more and more, and more services. Services here, services there, but when it comes to the annual budget, you guys never vote for them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  Never. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  However, other politicians have to step up with a bit of guts and courage to vote to make sure a city runs. That is the difference between the Deputy's politics and the politics of the majority----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  It takes a lot of courage to increase rents on council tenants. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Time is up Taoiseach. I call Deputy Gogarty. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That is the fundamental point I would make. By the way, the city council did not pull funding----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Taoiseach, your time is up. Thank you. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----from Oliver Bond flats. That will be sorted out very quickly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  We have talked a lot about energy security, which is a very important issue, but I want to raise another issue that affects every household in this country and that is our food security or, more accurately, our lack of it. The Minister for agriculture describes the Government's Food Vision 2030 as strategy for a world-leading sustainable food system, but it is not a food security plan. In fact, the evidence shows that Ireland will not be able to sustain itself indefinitely without major agriculture and dietary change. We can do this the hard way or the easy way. At the moment, we are 233% self-sufficient in meat and 300% in dairy. Teagasc tells us we produce enough protein for 30 million to 36 million people, but that does not mean Irish families would have access to the food they need if imports were to be disrupted by a war or pandemic. What people buy every week is bread, cereals, pasta, fruit, vegetables, oils and all kinds of food that is largely imported. Only 10% of our land grows crops in this country. Some 90% of it is grass. Modern Irish beef and dairy farming depends on imported fertiliser, feed, fuel and machinery parts. What would this mean for ordinary families? After a two-week scenario, supermarkets would begin to show gaps in fresh fruit and vegetables. Bread would become harder to source because we import most of the milling wheat. Prices would rise. Choice would collapse. The weekly shop would suddenly cost more and people would buy less. After two months, pig and poultry products would become scarce because they rely almost wholly on imported feed. Dairy output would begin to get tighter. There would be more empty shelves. Families on lower incomes would be hit more because, as prices rise, the better-off would use their relative purchasing power to get what is available. After 12 months, fertiliser shortage would reduce grass growth and silage yields. Farmers would cull lower yield animals. Milk and beef output would fall. Ireland would still have all this calorific meat-based protein but not a balanced healthy and affordable diet. The Taoiseach is someone who is into healthy eating, and I am a vegan so I have to be, but households would have to shift to whatever is available. Grow your own might increase massively in gardens but it would not have the scale, so after five years we would have had to adapt massively.  As I said at the start, we can do this the easy way or the hard way and expand our horticulture and tillage now, reduce our livestock intensity and have a national food security plan. We have a massive opportunity to expand plant protein production. Fava beans, for example, will fix nitrogen in the soil. We can produce our own plant protein and our own plant milks but also make the soil healthier for other forms of agriculture.  The Teagasc tillage initiative scheme and the protein aid scheme have shown that farmers will grow more crops if the incentives are right. We need an actual food security strategy. I do not believe we have one. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy very much for raising this very important issue. We probably need to situate this in a European and global context rather than just in a narrow national context, although I take the Deputy's point that there are vulnerabilities in terms of the importation of a range of foodstuffs and that we need a plan regarding food security on the island. Our dairy and meat industries are probably more carbon efficient than others across the globe. We export to about 170 countries, so we feed a lot of people by means of the dairy, beef, lamb and pig industries. That is a factor which speaks to European food security and food security in Britain, where a lot of Irish produce is consumed. Globally, we use a lot of our technology and expertise to help sub-Saharan African countries with climate-resilient crops and so on.  I accept the Deputy's basic premise that we need to do more in the context of horticulture and tillage. We need to look at incentives to give us greater security and capacity in that respect. The Minister for enterprise recently announced a scheme to bring flour milling back into being here. Schemes that can guarantee farmers a market or an outcome in respect of a product are important.  I do not mean to digress, but I was at a Diageo facility earlier in the week. I was interested to learn that 10% of the barley grown in the country is used by Diageo. That is quite extraordinary. About 5% of Irish dairy is used to produce Baileys, which is exported all over the world. We are part of a global food supply chain.  The Deputy has highlighted a weakness when it comes to tillage and horticulture. The dominance of meat and dairy is, to a certain extent, related to global supply chains, markets and the returns achieved. We have to work on ring-fencing good returns for tillage and horticulture into the future. Land pricing is a factor in that regard. We need to systematically identify potential weaknesses that would cause problems if global events were to restrict the supply of vital imported foodstuffs or general foodstuffs we currently import. We have seen that in the Ukrainian war, which could have had impacts on Africa as a result of the blockade in the Black Sea. T\u00fcrkiye and other countries had to intervene in that regard. We see it now in an energy context in the Middle East. I accept the Deputy's general proposition that we need to be very alert to the issue of food security because we are vulnerable to global events. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  I am not trying to cause panic, but we need to be prepared. We have seen the virus on the boat in the Canary Islands. What if it was a more resilient and transmissible virus? What if the Iranian war or other conflicts prevented us from getting as many boats to this country? That is the issue. Food Vision 2030 is based on exports and farm income diversification. It is not about having a national food security plan. My understanding is that there is such a plan in the Netherlands. Even within an EU context, we need a contingency plan in case something happens. That is why we need a strategic food reserve as well as our strategic oil reserve. That means giving grant aid to farmers to allow them to engage in diversification. As the Taoiseach said, a lot of this produce could be turned into animal feed if we do not need it. However, we need some homegrown food stability. I would like to see an actual food security plan. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That is fair. I will engage with the Minister for agriculture on the Deputy's overall point regarding a national food security plan. There is merit in that. In recent years, the former Minister of State, Pippa Hackett, and the then Minister, Deputy McConalogue, were very involved in supporting organic farmers. In that context, \u20ac256 million was allocated to support organic farmers. That resulted in significant five-year growth and a 5.5% increase in organic production up to 2025. About 5,500 farmers are now engaged in the organic farming scheme. That is up 223%. We have made a lot of progress on the organics side, which is related to this issue in terms of capacity. I take the Deputy's overall point and appreciate the constructive manner in which he put it forward. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-13\/debate\/dbsect_11","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 na Comhalta\u00ed Eile - Other Members\u2019 Questions","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_11","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brendan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","memberCode":"Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brendan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","memberCode":"Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brendan Smith  I have previously welcomed the substantial and much-needed increase in investment in special education. The establishment of additional special classes and autism spectrum disorder units and the provision of additional staffing resources are positive developments in the context of overall education provision in our country. More investment is needed to establish more special classes. I commend the work of the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, and the Minister, Deputy Naughton. The chief executive of the NCSE, John Kearney, and his colleagues are very determined to make more progress in this area.  The Taoiseach may recall that I have previously raised with him and with other members of the Government the existing inequity and the disadvantages suffered by smaller schools due to the difficulty they have in reaching the required enrolment threshold for special classes. As I pointed out previously, this inequity impacts severely on schools that are under the patronage of the smaller churches. Such schools generally have small enrolments. This enrolment threshold also impacts severely on other smaller schools which, in most instances, are located in what are rural and, sometimes, remote areas. We are all aware of children having to travel too far to access special classes. That is far from ideal for pupils or parents. I again appeal for the enrolment threshold to be amended. A new model of system for the establishment of special classes is needed now. It is necessary to properly support smaller schools and schools under the patronage of the Protestant and smaller churches. Those smaller schools want to cater for all their pupils in the best possible way. The legitimate interests of those schools must be addressed.  Children need to be facilitated with appropriate school placements as near to their homes as possible and, if at all possible, with their siblings. Regrettably, the current model has detrimental effects on our smaller schools. I am aware of instances where families who have a child in a special class in a larger school have transferred a sibling or siblings to that larger school. Pupils leaving their own catchment areas can impact on the viability of small schools in the longer term. I fully understand the strong and legitimate wish of parents to have their children attend the same primary school. There must be an alternative way to improve access to local schools. If additional resources are needed, they should be provided. In rolling out the much-needed additional investment in special education, the Department must ensure that those welcome decisions and measures do not cause problems in the long term for our smaller schools, in some instances threatening their very viability. We cannot emphasise strongly enough the need to have siblings attend the same school. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank Deputy Smith for raising what is a fair and important point. I know this is something he has worked tirelessly to improve. The current threshold of six pupils for a special class at primary level with one teacher and two SNAs was introduced in 1998, when I happened to be Minister for Education and Science. We introduced a model of this kind for the first time and brought SNAs into mainstream education. Since then, the model has supported an enormous expansion of special education provision. Of course, the Deputy's point is that it might not always work for small rural schools. He mentioned instances where it has not and has particularly identified the issue of siblings and families attending the local school. We do not want children with additional needs having to travel unduly long distances simply because their local school cannot reach a threshold. The concern is specific and legitimate. The Department probably needs to look at this to identify both the scale of the problem and what the issues are, and how one would go about dealing with the latter.  The Deputy's point is that if a small rural school cannot reach the enrolment threshold of six children with additional needs, then those children may be denied a local placement, forcing families to deal with long daily journeys and often separating children from their siblings in the same school. That is an additional burden on families.  The preference has been for the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, and the Department to consider opening special classes in medium and larger primary schools. The issue when it comes to smaller primary schools has been more challenging. Of the 504 new special classes sanctioned so far by the NCSE for the coming school year, 330 are at primary level. More than one third, or 139, of those will be opening in primary schools with eight teachers or fewer. Of those, 69 will be opening in primary schools with four teachers or fewer. That is a significant number in itself. We need to drill down into the detail of this in order to try to identify the need and what, potentially, the response could be. This does demonstrate that the NCSE will sanction special classes in our small primary schools where there is a level of need and where there are schools with available accommodation and a willingness to open new special classes. The new inclusive special class model introduced this year is an example of an innovative step in this space, allowing 12 students to be supported in existing special classroom where space is constrained.  As of now, this may not meet the Deputy\u2019s point about the rural school threshold, but the inclusive special class model is a more innovative approach. It may provide a route to try to deal with the issues the Deputy identified. It will take a bit more working out, but-----0 "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----that may provide some opportunities into the future. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brendan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","memberCode":"Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brendan Smith  I thank the Taoiseach for his reply. I previously mentioned to the Taoiseach the case of Cavan No. 1 National School in Cavan town, which is under the patronage of the Church of Ireland and which has done exceptional work in providing a top-quality education for children from different denominations and of different nationalities. Inclusion is at the very heart of all activities in the school, and the work of the principal, Sabrina Richardson, her staff colleagues and the board of management is to be strongly commended. The principal has outlined in great detail to the NCSE and the Department of education the urgent need the school has for a special class. This school has also been waiting far too long for approval from the Department for basic improvement works which are urgently needed. I ask the Taoiseach to use his good offices to request that Department give urgent consideration to issuing approval in respect of the school's applications for the establishment of a special class and for the emergency works.  The Taoiseach may recall in 2011 or 2012, he along, Michael Moynihan, myself and others campaigned very strongly against the proposal by the then Minister for education to change the pupil-teacher ratio, which would have----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brendan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","memberCode":"Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brendan Smith  -----impacted very severely on schools under the patronage of the smaller churches. We must ensure that policies do not impact severely on small schools. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy again for his question on the Church of Ireland school in Cavan town and the special class issue. I am conscious the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, is in the Chamber as well. I take it he will have taken on board what the Deputy said.  On the emergency works application, there were some issues with the current proposal because it was well in excess of the minimum scope under the emergency works scheme. However, the Department of Education and Youth emergency works scheme team will work with the school to provide a solution that addresses the root issue the school is experiencing. There is hope for flexibility in that regard in order that the issue might be resolved for the school.  I will talk to the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, and the Minister, Deputy Naughton, with a view to making sure that we can meet positively the request from the school in terms of a special class. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 na Comhalta\u00ed Eile - Other Members\u2019 Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-13\/debate\/dbsect_12","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Pholasa\u00ed n\u00f3 ar Reachta\u00edocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation","counts":{"speechCount":68,"speakerCount":21},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_12","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Geoghegan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel McCarthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ryan O'Meara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I remind Members that they have one minute for questions to the Taoiseach and that he has one minute for answers. If their questions are longer than 60 seconds, they are asking them in the wrong forum. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  The October budget, which was worth \u20ac9.4 billion, left disabled people \u20ac1,400 worse off in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis. For months, disabled people and their advocates have told their stories of choices between heating and eating. They have appealed to the Government again and again to deliver a cost-of-disability payment immediately, but it has ignored them. The Government\u2019s consultation process is a distraction. It has stated that it needs to figure out what a cost-of-disability payment should be. However, it has had a report on the matter in its possession for five years. It knows what the additional cost of disability is. Disabled people cannot wait. The Government refused to give them an emergency cost-of-living payment and now it is asking them to wait for a permanent payment. That is not acceptable. They are under pressure and are struggling now. The Government needs to listen and to act with urgency on this matter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy is wrong in her presentation. The budget for specialist disability services has increased 50% since 2023. We increased a range of payments in the most recent budget that will positively impact on people with disabilities. We did not proceed with once-off measures across the board. The Deputy has mischaracterised that, of course, in her usual fashion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  No, I have not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The bottom line is people want permanent and sustainable action. Consultation is not a distraction. I am appalled at the Deputy\u2019s presentation. Organisations representing people with disabilities want to be consulted and insist on consultation. It is regrettable that the Deputy would describe consultation as a distraction. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  A \u201cFor Sale\u201d sign has gone up this week on the Christian Brothers monastery building on Synge Street in Portabello in my constituency. The property has a guide price of \u20ac3.75 million. For some time, I have been calling on the Minister for education to ensure that this building will be retained for educational use by the existing four schools on the street. Indeed, I have also called on the Christian Brothers in this regard. The area suffers from an acute shortage of local school places, particularly places where students can receive education tr\u00ed Gaeilge. The Minister, Deputy Naughton, has said in response that her Department has no intention of acquiring the site. which is regrettable. Earlier this week, adults who were the victims of child sex abuse had to get an order from the High Court to compel the Christian Brothers to disclose the names of alleged abusers and members of the order in order that they could be sued. The Christian Brothers are still using controversial legal strategies to keep redress beyond the reach of those to whom it is owed. Now we are seeing the Christian Brothers selling what could create a world-class public educational campus to the highest bidder. This will be a commercial sale, with no conditions attached. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  Whether they will use the proceeds to compensate victims of abuse, we do not know. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Time is up, Deputy Bacik. Prepare in time. The Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  I am asking the Taoiseach to intervene with the Minister for education in order to ensure this building remains in public usage as an educational campus----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, your time is up. You need to prepare in time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  -----or at the very least that the money to the Christian Brothers is used to pay victims. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy is taking absolute advantage and is using her colleagues' time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I do not run the Department of education. The Minister and the Department have to make assessments as to what is needed in any given locality, and they have clearly made an assessment in this case. That said, the money realised from the sale of this property should be ring-fenced and put into a fund for redress. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  Hear, hear. Exactly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That is what should happen here. The Department, as the Deputy knows, is examining all of that in great detail. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  This morning, the Taoiseach opened a cost-of-disability summit. Immediately prior to him doing so, the Minister for Social Protection was on \u201cMorning Ireland\u201d and refused to commit to a cost-of-disability payment in the forthcoming budget. Over the past month, the Government refused to introduce targeted energy credits that would benefit people with disabilities. Earlier this year, it refused to support my motion for an emergency payment for people with disabilities. In that debate, the Minister for Social Protection refused to acknowledge the lived experience of people with disabilities choosing between heating and eating. Shockingly, in an appalling act of cruelty, the Government cut the incomes of disabled people by \u20ac1,400 in the budget. It has been 30 years since a cost-of-disability payment was first mooted. Will the Government commit to its introduction in the forthcoming budget? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  If you go back over the past two to three years, you will see that there has been exponential growth in various payments right across the board, including the disability allowance. That growth was higher than anything in the preceding years. That is the reality. In terms of the cost-of-disability payment, it has to be defined and worked through. There is a lot of detail is involved in this; it is not just a matter of saying that we should do it this way or that way. There are issues around definitions, who benefits and so on. Meanwhile, we did increase the domiciliary care allowance by \u20ac20 again this year. We did the same last year. Disability allowance core payments went up substantially as well. The whole process is about arriving at a situation where we can develop a proposal. The Minister will have a proposal in July on foot of the consultation process that is taking place. That will then be fed into the Estimates negotiations for the budget.  The Minister has to respect the negotiations that will ensue for the Estimates for next year for his Department but also all other Government Departments----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call Deputy Seamus Healy. The time is up Taoiseach. Deputy Healy is on his feet. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  I should not have to ask this question but, of course, Irish Water has no respect for customers, so I do not have a choice. Tipperary town, with a population of more than 5,000 people, has been on a boil water notice since 12 February. There is an information blackout from Irish Water. Despite the efforts of the public, local radio and local and national public representatives, we still do not know when Uisce \u00c9ireann will be able to provide a safe water supply for the town. For ten weeks, the only information that could be extracted from Irish Water was the initial post on its website about the boil water notice. Eventually, on 1 May, it confirmed that new wells would have to be drilled. There were no further details and there has been silence since. All the time, families and businesses are buying bottled water. Can the Taoiseach establish for the people of Tipperary town when a safe water supply will be restored to the town and what plans Uisce \u00c9ireann has to do this? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising the issue, which is clearly of huge concern to the people of Tipperary town. I do not quite understand what he means when he says there is an information blackout. I am sure that could not be the case. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  It is the case. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I will communicate to Uisce \u00c9ireann that it needs to provide comprehensive information to the public so that they understand fully the challenges, difficulties, and the pathway to the resolution of those challenges and difficulties, no matter how challenging the required works are, which wells have to be drilled, or whatever else has to happen. Full information should be available to the public and we will communicate that to Uisce \u00c9ireann. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  Local Link has been a game-changer for many communities throughout the country. I pay tribute to all those who have helped to deliver the service but, alarmingly, in recent times, new services where tenders were sought and received have been unable to run due to funding constraints. Services from Dunmanway to Clonakilty, Grange to Timoleague, and Bantry via Kealkill to Macroom were put out to tender seven or eight months ago. They were tendered for and now they have been told there is no money to run the services. This, coupled with the NTA's stubborn resistance to including small additional loops in populated areas like Castletownsend, Mizen Head, Rinville and Oranmore in Galway, or on the extension of the Mayo anseo rural link from the Louisburgh, Killeen, Drummin and the Roonagh harbour hinterland is leaving people deeply frustrated. We found out last week that over \u20ac500 million of National Oil Reserve Agency, NORA, fuel tax has not been spent and remains in Government funds. Will this money be spent on these new transport services? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I appreciate that the Deputy is praising Local Link. I remember that it is the Deputy's b\u00eate noire , former Minister, Eamon Ryan, who introduced Local Link. Deputy Collins rather shamelessly at the time hopped on the bus and presented it as his own initiative in west Cork. He is always adept at local politics. Local Link has turned out to be very effective and very impactful. I pay tribute to our former colleague, Eamon Ryan, and give credit where it is due, for supporting that. The Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, has continued his support for it. There are always limits to public expenditure in terms of what we can do in any one year but this is a programme that is working for people on the ground in rural Ireland. It has a significant impact on increased socialisation and facilitating movement. We have included a recent \u20ac750 million package to support its operation with regard to the increased fuel costs. I will alert the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, to Deputy Collins's continued interest in Local Link. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail  Kilcock in County Kildare is the fastest-growing town in the county and one of the fastest-growing towns in the country. There was greatly welcome news that DART+ west will be extended to Kilcock, which is extremely welcome. However, the only bus service at the moment is the Bus \u00c9ireann 115 service. There have been many issues with it. Previously, Dublin Bus went to Maynooth. I am trying to get across the need for Dublin Bus to be extended to Kilcock. It is a wider issue for the commuter belt in Dublin, particularly those areas that are growing exponentially, and the need for additional bus capacity, particularly in light of people reducing the number of cars at home and how we are relying more on public transport. Dublin Bus has a bigger role to play here. I have met the NTA and Dublin Bus about this. I ask how the NTA and Dublin Bus are working together to deliver public transport for the commuter belt, Dublin in particular, and obviously Kildare and Meath. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising this and for his strong advocacy for the fastest-growing town in Kildare and the country. Kildare is growing apace. I will talk to the Minister about the 115 bus service and the role for Dublin Bus more broadly with regard to extending its remit, and of course the NTA, which oversees the whole route development programme. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Brennan  I am looking for an update on progress regarding the Wind Turbine Regulation Bill 2025. I am fully aware of our responsibility to reach our 2030 targets but is the construction of these monstrous turbines close to many rural villages really the best option for these communities? Should we prioritise solar panels and financially tweak the already-successful schemes so that every house, industrial premises, and farm shed can avail? Should we focus on the incredible untapped potential of offshore wind farms? Today, not 1 kW is being produced on the Irish Sea as progress is tied up with planning issues. By addressing these issues, villages such as Craanford in County Wexford will not have to accommodate these turbines, which are the height of the Spire in Dublin and span the length of the pitch in Croke Park. We know we have to reach our targets but the way we are going about it is simply wrong and we must take into consideration the communities there. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. The Planning and Development Act 2024 replaces the ministerial guidelines with national planning statements. The existing section 28 guidelines, including the 2006 wind energy guidelines, remain in force until replaced. The Department of Climate, Communications and the Environment, as the lead policy Department for renewable energy, supports the development of the national planning statement. That will include environmental reporting, public consultation, EU obligations, and matters such as setback distances, noise and shadow flicker. A focused review of the wind energy development guidelines is informing the new national planning statement. That national planning statement will address noise, setback distances, shadow flicker, community obligations and dividends, and grid connections. A strategic environmental assessment and public consultation will be carried out in line with EU requirements. That is currently under way. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell  When the Taoiseach entered politics, people were able to buy a family home for \u00a350,000. Now house prices in Galway have exploded. They are up by almost 50% in the city and more than 60% in the county since 2020. Buying a home now costs over \u20ac140,000 more than it did a few years ago. In five years of the Taoiseach's so-called affordable housing scheme, not a single affordable home was delivered in Galway. Now, finally, the Government has announced 33 affordable homes. Does the Taoiseach know that the prices being charged for these houses are up to \u20ac450,000? Does the Taoiseach agree that his own political legacy from when he first entered politics to his role in a Government that crashed the economy to now is a housing crisis, unaffordable rents, the collapse in homeownership, and many young people who see no future here because of the housing crisis? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I do not accept the Deputy's proposition at all but the key point is that people who are looking for housing is the top priority of this Government and indeed the previous one. It is interesting that our supports for first-time buyers are having an impact. The percentage of first-time buyers has been steadily increasing from 26% of all household buyers in 2015 to 40% in 2026. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell  Percentage of homeownership. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That is a huge increase. That is because of the help to buy scheme, the first home scheme, and the derelict and vacant housing grant schemes, which are helping first-time buyers. The costs are too high but the only answer is supply. We need more and more supply. We need fewer people and political parties objecting to housing to make sure that we have sufficient housing to provide for the younger people in the country. That is the target and objective of Government across social, affordable, and private housing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  We have a real problem in Athenry with capacity on public transport services to Galway. The NTA and Iarnr\u00f3d \u00c9ireann have stated that there is no funding in place to maintain the 6.50 a.m. train to Galway beyond August of this year. This is a vital service for those who have work commitments early in the morning in the city. It has been 18 months since the previous bus service to Galway ended and since the NTA approved the public service obligation, PSO, for a replacement service but the NTA is saying it does not have funding in place from the Department to establish this service either. I cannot stress enough the frustration the current transport situation in Athenry is causing for commuters. Rail services are dangerously overcrowded. More than 1,300 people have signed my petition to maintain the 6.50 a.m. service and establish a new bus service.  We need more services, not cuts. The Government speaks constantly about sustainable transport and getting people out of cars, but my constituents are being denied viable alternatives. Will the Taoiseach commit to ensuring that the funding is provided for these services? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy, but just before I respond, I want to welcome the group from Laois, Mountmellick and Portarlington who are in the Public Gallery, accompanied by Deputy Fleming. They are very welcome to Leinster House.  In terms of the train service from Athenry and the budgetary situation, Deputy Dolan has spoken to me about that as well. We are engaging with the Minister for Transport. That service is working and has worked very effectively. In terms of additional services, there has been substantial expansion of public transport and rail services, but we do need more. We are continuing, through the national development plan, to provide for the expansion of public transport more generally and particularly with a focus on Galway. There have been some good planning decisions in Galway that have come through An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la with the ring road and, indeed, the port and other developments as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  The horrendous fire in Tycor in Waterford city was obviously devastating for local residents, but most especially for the social enterprises, small businesses, service providers, a school of music, and a company that provided costumes for theatre. Much was lost. I met many of them yesterday. I know that the Minister was in, but I also met them afterwards. They have a number of asks. The first is that everything possible be done to get them back on their feet and get those businesses up and running again. I spoke to the CEO of Waterford City and County Council this morning and he said that what was needed was a fund that should be administered by the local authority. Money has to be put on the table. That could enable supports to be given to those organisations quickly.  They also need premises. There was a real sense of community among those people. They have been working together for years with a mix of social enterprises and service providers. Can Enterprise Ireland and the IDA look at sites that would be appropriate? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising the issue, and I appreciate his genuine commitment to this. I saw him there yesterday and I know the Ministers of State, Deputies Butler and Cummins, and all the public representatives in Waterford are obviously shocked at the impact of this fire, which has been terrible. The dislocation of so many groups and people has equally been very profound. It is very serious.  The CEO was in touch with the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, in terms of the fund idea. The Minister, Deputy Peter Burke, was down yesterday. The Minister, Deputy Browne, has also been there. We are working through a humanitarian approach. We are looking to pull that proposal together with a view to seeing if we can progress it as an option. There are also the questions of alternative premises for quite a number of the organisations involved and of working with State agencies. There are a lot of people working there but there are also disability services. It is quite shocking and devastating what has happened to the people. Every effort will be made to try to help those in distress at the moment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  The Currency reported today that, at the height of the genocide in 2024, the Department of trade authorised the export of \u20ac20 million euro worth of military-capable so-called dual-use goods, not just to Israel, but specifically to the Israel Defense Forces, IDF, or Israel's Ministry of Defense. What on earth was the Department doing sanctioning the sale of these goods, potentially for military use, to those organisations involved at the time of the mass slaughter of Palestinians? Did the Minister know anything about it at the time? Did he sign off on it? Did the Taoiseach know anything about it? Does this not make the case for full sanctions on Israel and for no trade with this apartheid and genocidal state, which is contained in our Bill that will be debated tomorrow? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  First, I have not read that article in The Currency . I will read it before commenting. Second, it does not justify a full trade boycott with Israel because we need to work out what the implications of that would be for Irish jobs and workers in particular. The Government favours a suspension of the European Union-Israel trade association agreement, which at the moment gives preferential tariffs to Israel. A full-on boycott and divestment could have serious implications for Irish jobs and companies as well. We need to just figure that out so that people can make informed decisions and not make them on the fly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Geoghegan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Geoghegan  Will the Taoiseach join me in condemning the racist abuse that Suad Mooge, the recently selected Dublin Rose, received simply by virtue of winning the competition? She was subjected to racist abuse because of the colour of her skin. I understand that she grew up in Sligo and then went to school in Terenure, which is in my constituency. I happened to listen back to her on \"Liveline\" yesterday and it was a personality explosion listening to her. I listened to the resilience that she has to display on a day-to-day basis through her whole life. We would not tolerate the level of racist abuse that she faced if it was happening on the streets daily. She faced this volume of racism because it was on online platforms. Let us blunt be about this - those online platforms are monetising the hate and racism. We are doing a lot in these Houses and in Europe to protect children. What can we do to protect people like Suad Mooge and some of our incredible sporting heroes who faced the same level of racism in that online sphere? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I join with the Deputy in condemning those racists attacks on the Dublin Rose who has been selected. It is absolutely appalling and there should be no tolerance of such racist abuse of any person in Ireland, or anywhere for that matter. Again, all of us in the House need to reflect on this. I recall in the last D\u00e1il that there was legislation on hate speech, which eventually ran into a roadblock politically because others suggested that it undermined free speech and so on. To be honest, the D\u00e1il collectively shied away from some aspects of that. We did bring in the additional penalties for criminal convictions and so on. At least it was done in terms of assaults and that. However, there is a huge issue, and the Deputy is correct in terms of the monetisation of this. I am reading some stuff on the by-election in Dublin Central that is quite appalling. Stuff just appears online irrespective of the candidate, and it is just appalling that this kind of stuff can happen. We need to collectively address it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marie Sherlock  Yesterday marked something of a milestone for the health service. For 50 days in the past three months, the number of delayed transfers of care has exceeded 500 patients across acute hospitals. For 50 days, there have been over 500 people waiting and ready to leave acute hospitals but cannot. They need step-down care, specialised beds, home care packages and nursing homes. These people need care that would cost a lot less than being in an acute hospital bed. Of course, all of this is taking place at a time when the HSE has overspent for the first quarter of this year, the Minister for Health is telling us that we need another \u20ac300 million in the health service for this year and the medical board at University Hospital Limerick is saying that there is a very real risk to patient safety there right now. When I talk to hospital managers across the country, they are telling me of closed step-down beds and repeated business cases being submitted but going nowhere.  Are alarm bells going off at the moment with regards to the health budget and the needs that are there? What plans does the Minister specifically have for step-down beds? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Health (Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill)  I thank the Deputy. I have not said anything about a supplementary budget. That was reported based on last year's, so I have no idea where that is coming from.  Taking the case of Limerick, there were 20 delayed transfers of care there yesterday. Over the past ten days, Limerick has ranged from having 15 people on trolleys to 70 people on trolleys, at an average of about 30 to 40 each day. I was in Clare on Monday. The community supports are just as important in Clare to take the pressure off Limerick as anything else and I noticed that, on the same day I was in Clare talking about the development of care there, the Limerick doctors were highlighting patient safety issues. The reality is that if someone turns up to the medical assessment unit in Ennis in the morning and needs an urgent CT scan, it will be read by a radiographer in Limerick, but if someone turns up to the medical assessment unit in Ennis in the afternoon instead of the morning and needs an urgent CT scan, it will not be read by the radiographer in Limerick. Instead, the patient will be transferred by ambulance to the emergency department in Limerick to have the scan there. There are still things that do not make sense and need to be fixed. Processes need to change to take the pressure off Limerick and other hospitals. A big part of that is investing in the community and step-down beds, as the Deputy said. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel McCarthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Noel McCarthy  I have raised this matter on several occasions since my election to the House. It concerns the idle IDA site in Fermoy on the grounds of the former Fitzgerald Camp Army barracks. Although it is a serviced site close to the Cork-Dublin motorway, it has unfortunately remained without tenants for nearly 24 years since being handed over to the IDA. In addition, there have been no recent expressions of interest to operate on site.  This continues to be a major disappointment to the people of Fermoy and the Blackwater region, given the site appears to be perfectly suited for investment. I highlighted this fact with the Taoiseach as recently as January. He said he is familiar with the site and that he would talk to the IDA and seek clarity on its development potential. I, therefore, ask the Taoiseach whether there is any update from the IDA on possible proposals being considered. I thank the Taoiseach for the interest he has already taken in this matter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy again for raising this. On the last occasion, I said to him that sometimes we have to be patient but I accept that 24 years is a long time. Often, it depends. The IDA will bring people to various sites. Ultimately, it is up to companies to decide the location of any particular site. I will engage with the IDA to see whether it has any different plans for the site. It would be a big boost to Fermoy if we could attract a foreign direct investment, FDI, company to that particular site. It would make a significant difference to the economy of Fermoy. That is the balance. It could be used for something else, such as indigenous enterprise and so on, but that would cut off the prospect of FDI. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Healy-Rae  I thank the Government, particularly the Minister of State, Deputy John Cummins, and the Minister, Deputy James Browne, for the excellent work they have done in progressing planning exemptions on modular homes. I take issue with some political commentators and people in the media who refer to them as beds in sheds. This is highly insulting to the excellent and reputable Irish companies that are producing these modular homes. If only they knew what they are talking about. The BER rating of many of these modular homes will be far superior to bungalows built as recently as 20, 25 and 30 years ago. In other words, they are a comfortable place for people to live for a period of time. I am not trying to say that it is a housing solution for everyone for all time but it is at certain times. It will be positive. I again thank the Minister and Minister of State involved. It has been dragging on for quite a while, however. When can people look forward to the necessary legislation being put in place, so that local authorities can allow these exemptions to go ahead? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I agree with what the Deputy has said. The use of that language is deliberately demeaning to undermine what is an important initiative. It is not a silver bullet in and of itself but we have many different people looking for different types of accommodation in the country. This provides a further option. As the Deputy said, we are looking at buildings and modular units that are quite modern in terms of their configuration and so on. People have used the term \"sheds\" and all that for naked political reasons as opposed to any informed assessment of what is happening and what potentially will happen. I will ask the Minister and Minister of State to talk to the Deputy again but my understanding is that there has to be a degree of screening in terms of the various environmental aspects to this, planning and so forth. We will be moving on this quickly. The decision has been taken. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I have a letter from retained station officer, John Molloy, from Dunleer fire station. It was sent to the Taoiseach. It states:  I am serving retained station officer with Louth County Council due to retire in a number of weeks on 24 May 2026. At 62 years of age, I do not want to retire, nor am I ready to retire. All assistant chief fire officers can stay until 70. All county council outdoor working staff can stay to 70. I am pleading with you to put something in place in the interim to allow us retained fire fighters to stay until the age of 65. This was done previously for age 62 on the basis of health checks. There are approximately 300 retained fire fighters due to retire at 62 over the next year. It is going to come into legislation eventually to keep us to 65. Please step in and do the right thing. The garda\u00ed are extending the retirement age. I served in the army for 22 and a half years and joined the fire service for 20 years within a week of leaving the army. I have given everything to this country. We do not want to be on social welfare. We are very experienced fire personnel who want to remain and pass on to our knowledge and experience to younger firefighters. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy will have to learn to read faster. I call the Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We should acknowledge that we have made a lot of progress on this. In the previous Government, we went from 55 to 62 across all the uniform grades. That was significant. We will keep all of this under review. I cannot make any specific commitment to go to 65 today or anything like that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  Could there be an interim solution? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  There are issues we have to take on board in terms of the nature of these professions and the work that is involved. We have come a long way from 55 to 62. That simply has to be acknowledged. It is and will have an impact on the Defence Forces and the Garda. While I did not catch his name, I appreciate the public service the gentleman----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  He is John Molloy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I appreciate the public service John has given to the country. That is accepted. These are issues that we will continue to keep under review. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  We have two Members waiting. We have taken the number of Members required but we will take the remaining two Members. I ask them to be brief. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ryan O'Meara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ryan O'Meara  The community sports facilities fund, formally known as the sports capital grant, is very popular in north Tipperary and north-west Kilkenny. I will be hosting an information evening with the Minister of State with responsibility for sport, Deputy Charlie McConalogue, on Tuesday, 26 May at 8 p.m. in Littleton in the Moycarkey-Borris Community and Sports Centre. It is in conjunction with Senator Imelda Goldsboro from south Tipperary and local councillor and Littleton man, Councillor Sean Ryan. The previous Government delivered record funding for sports clubs across Tipperary. I have two questions on behalf of the clubs I represent in north Tipperary and north-west Kilkenny. First, when will applications open? Second, how long after applications close do we expect grants to be awarded? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank Deputy O\u2019Meara for raising this issue. Clearly, he has assembled a formidable Tipperary team for that public information meeting that will involve both Tipperary and north Kilkenny. I anticipate it will be this year. Hopefully, we will be in a position to open for applications in the next month or two. It is a vital scheme that reaches into communities. Across the length and breadth of the country, we can see the impact of this scheme, with first-class sporting facilities in communities and clubs from all different codes. It is important that we can facilitate the applications again this year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aidan Farrelly  The student council from Scoil an Linbh \u00cdosa in Prosperous is in the Public Gallery today. Those students have written this question directly. I am merely reading it out for them. It is their words. They ask:  We do enough work in school. Our teachers agree. Children, families and teachers are so busy in the evenings. We want to promote well-being and nurture our hobbies and skills as children. There is no expectation that adults bring their work home, so why must children? Will this Government consider putting an end to homework for primary school children? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  When I was Lord Mayor of Cork, one of the great privileges I had was to give a half day and give the homework off. Unfortunately, the Department of education came down on that practice after I left my job as Lord Mayor of Cork. As the Minister for education, I repeated the act.  To be more serious, education and learning have evolved a lot. We know that children learn more through play in many instances than just through formal academic rigor. We do not want to dictate to schools across the length and breadth of the country but we think schools, particularly at primary level, should factor that into curriculum development. The teacher in me says that doing the odd bit of homework reinforces the message and makes sure that students have picked up and absorbed what was taught in the class. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Time is up, Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The students asked that question to me as Taoiseach rather than as a teacher, however. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  It is a very good question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We have evolved a lot. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  For this evening, both the Taoiseach and I combined----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The homework is off. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  There is no homework this evening for the students. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Is that for me too? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  It is not for you. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar fionra\u00ed ar 1.19 p.m. agus cuireadh t\u00fas leis ar\u00eds ar 2.22 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Sitting suspended at 1.19 p.m. and resumed at 2.22 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Pholasa\u00ed n\u00f3 ar Reachta\u00edocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-13\/debate\/dbsect_13","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Message from Select Committee","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_13","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  The Select Committee on Health has completed its consideration of the Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) (Amendment) Bill 2026 and has made no amendments thereto. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Message from Select Committee"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-13\/debate\/dbsect_14","debateType":"statement","bill":null,"showAs":"National Safety Camera Strategy: Statements","counts":{"speechCount":26,"speakerCount":23},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_14","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Canney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Geoghegan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"S\u00e9amus McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Keira Keogh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niall Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Se\u00e1n Canney, to the Chamber. Before we proceed with the statements, I welcome those in the Public Gallery who are looking down at us today. I particularly welcome Councillor Mick Delaney from Tullaroan. Joining him are active retirement groups from Kilkenny and Laois. You are all very welcome. I hope you enjoy your day with Councillor Delaney here at Leinster House. The group members had a lot of questions for me on the statements we are about to make. I was questioned sensibly on it and the need to have the cameras spread all over the country. They have a point of view as well, which they got across. I now call on the Minister of State to make his opening statement. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Canney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Transport (Deputy Se\u00e1n Canney)  I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I too welcome everyone in the Public Gallery to listen to the statements today. I welcome the opportunity to address the House and to update Members on the recently published National Safety Camera Strategy, and on road safety matters more generally. My colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Collins, will deliver the closing statement.  As many Deputies will be aware, the last five years have seen an increase in road-related fatalities and serious injuries. Last year was a particularly dark year when, tragically, 188 people lost their lives on roads, the highest total in a decade. While we have made great strides since our first national road safety strategy began in 1998, that progress is now in the past and we must do more to restore the downward trend of fatalities and serious injuries on our roads. Each death and serious injury impacts not just on the victim but on their family, their friends and the wider community.  The four main causes of fatalities on our roads have been consistent over time and remain: speeding, distraction, not wearing a seatbelt and intoxicated driving. All four come down to driver behaviour and personal responsibility on the part of road users. Tackling dangerous behaviours can be addressed through road safety education and public awareness campaigns, enforcement of road traffic laws, improved engineering of our road spaces and longer-term legislative reform. We are working on multiple fronts to address these problems. Let me be clear that this Government is committed to improving road safety and reducing fatalities and serious injuries.  The current national framework for road safety is set out in the Government\u2019s fifth Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030, which was launched in December 2021. The strategy aligns with EU and UN targets and is based on the safe system approach, which is forgiving of individual human error. It aims to reduce road deaths and serious injuries by 50% this decade, and to achieving Vision Zero, which is as close as possible to zero fatalities or serious injuries on Irish roads, by 2050.  The phase 2 action plan under the road safety strategy was published by my Department in July of last year for the period 2025 to 2027. This action plan comprises 12 primary transformative actions and 77 support actions. Delivering the action plan is a collaborative effort involving my Department and the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, together with An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, the Road Safety Authority, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, the National Transport Authority, the Courts Service, the Medical Bureau of Road Safety, the Health and Safety Authority and local authorities.  Deputies will note that there are many experts across a range of partners collaborating to take action and deliver positive road safety outcomes, and I assure the House that progress is being made. Key deliverables for this year include passing the national vehicle and driver file Bill 2025 to allow local authorities to resume accepting and processing collision data. The next road traffic Bill is also under development to advance programme for Government commitments around graduated speed limits, penalties and the camera enforcement of mobile phone and seatbelt offences. We are also addressing the long-standing issue relating to repeat renewal of learner permits, with regulations coming into effect this November. These are examples of actions well under way and progressing at pace.  On 29 April I published the first national safety camera strategy, which provides a framework for increased deployment of cameras across the road network in urban and rural locations. The use of cameras has been proven to reduce speeding and improve driver behaviour, and I am confident that implementation of this strategy will help us achieve our road safety targets. The strategy is a culmination of an extensive programme of work which was delivered under the phase 1 of the action plan for 2021-2024. Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, was tasked by my Department to develop a new safety camera strategy and TII served as chair and secretariat to an inter-agency working group that developed recommendations in this area. In addition to TII and my Department, the members of the working group include the Department of justice, An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, the National Transport Authority, the Courts Service, the Road Safety Authority and Dublin City Council. The work of this group built upon the findings and recommendations of the November 2023 report of the working group on camera-based enforcement of certain traffic offences. The group was not tasked with making proposals on the number of cameras to be deployed across the road network. Rather, in developing the strategy the working group focused on: mapping and understanding the current system, roles and responsibilities; analysing lessons learned from previous camera initiatives in Ireland; exploring best practice in other jurisdictions; assessing the optimal inter-agency partnerships for successful delivery; and formulating recommendations which were presented to the road safety leadership group.  The working group identified and assessed potential options for delivering road camera systems and a draft report was submitted to my Department last year. Following this, my Department conducted a series of bilateral meetings over the subsequent period with stakeholders who would be tasked with implementing the strategy. The increased deployment of safety cameras in the coming years is a key action to be delivered under the phase 2 action plan. This priority action is being delivered collaboratively by road safety partners and aligns with commitments in the programme for Government.  The national safety camera strategy focuses on speeding, red light running and bus lane infringements, with flexibility for the enforcement of other types of offence in future. Undoubtedly, speeding remains a serious safety concern on Irish roads. An RSA behavioural research study in 2025 showed that over 50% of drivers found it acceptable to exceed speed limits by up to 10 km\/h and almost 30% of drivers found it acceptable to exceed the limit by more than 10 km\/h.  This behaviour leads to dangerous road traffic collisions, often resulting in fatalities and serious injuries. Cameras are proven to be an effective deterrent in changing behaviour. As outlined in the strategy, according to a meta-analysis, average-speed cameras significantly reduce the number of collisions, with the overall number estimated to fall by 30%, and fatal and serious injury collisions by 56%. A similar comparison with fixed cameras indicates that they have significantly reduced collisions by approximately 20%, and fatal and serious injury collisions by 15%.  The National Safety Camera Strategy provides the required framework, with partnerships and responsibilities associated for the successful deployment of road safety cameras across the State. Effective delivery of a deployment programme will necessarily require collaboration by multiple State agencies ensuring appropriate use of skills and expertise. This includes An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, and the National Transport Authority, NTA. This approach was developed by the inter-agency working group led by TIl and was agreed by the road safety leadership group, which I chair, and which is driving implementation of the Government\u2019s Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030. Under this agreed approach, TIl will be responsible for the management of fixed and average speed cameras, in partnership with An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, which will continue to be responsible for the enforcement of camera-detected speed offences. The NTA will assume the primary responsibility - both management and enforcement functions - for urban traffic management offences. This approach builds on well-established road safety relationships, ensuring that we continue to see effective enforcement of road traffic laws, which is a key pillar of road safety.  This strategy provides a clear framework to strengthen the use of safety cameras in a way that is targeted, evidence-led and proportionate. Ultimately, the challenge is to change road user behaviour. Improved detection and enforcement of road traffic offences will promote better and safer driver behaviour and help protect all road users. A delivery focused camera enforcement oversight group comprising key stakeholders is being established to implement the National Safety Camera Strategy. Membership of the group will include senior leaders from An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, the NTA, TIl, RSA, the Courts Service and the local authority sector. The detail of both TIl's and the NTA\u2019s expanded roles will be developed with the assistance of the group and resourcing requirements will be considered for An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, TIl and the NTA in conjunction with parent Departments. The oversight group will: co-ordinate the activities of agencies involved in camera operation; collate, analyse and report on data on performance, for example, compliance and payment rates; keep the safety camera handbook up to date; undertake or task research to move forward the goals of the proposed new structure; and engage with my Department and the Department of justice on legislative, policy and funding matters. The group will agree its terms of reference and work plan to ensure successful implementation of the strategy. This includes agreeing at its first meeting an immediate set of short-term actions to start implementation. I expect the first meeting of this group to take place in the coming weeks. The group will report progress to the road safety leadership group. In addition, my Department will continue to work closely with all road safety stakeholders to ensure that the National Safety Camera Strategy is fully implemented.  In developing the strategy, the inter-agency working group, chaired by TII, also developed a corresponding safety camera handbook. This sets out the process to be implemented when selecting locations for safety camera deployment and currently it sets out the process for the selection and prioritisation of speed cameras and red-light cameras. The handbook has been designed in such a way as to allow for additional chapters for other camera systems to be added in the future. It follows an evidence-based approach, so that cameras are located where they have the greatest potential for collision and casualty reduction. It should also be noted that individual agencies and offices remain responsible for their core functions, including deployment of cameras across the road network. This remains the case in the interim period before the strategy is fully implemented. With regard to current camera enforcement activity, I can assure the House that this has increased across the road network since late 2024. An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, with the assistance of TIl and local authorities has deployed nine new static safety cameras in nine counties across the road network. In addition, three new average-speed cameras have been deployed in Cavan, Mayo and Meath, bringing the total in use to five average-speed cameras in operation. Complementing these additional cameras, An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, through the mobile safety camera programme, delivered under contract by GoSafe, provides 9,000 hours of monitoring on our roads each month. This has increased from 7,500 hours in 2024. From 1 January An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na introduced 390 new safety-camera zones, including 55 community request safety-camera zones, bringing the total to 1,901 safety camera zones nationwide.  My focus as Minister of State and the focus of my Department and of all the road safety stakeholders we work with is on the delivery of phase 2 of the action plan. This was developed by experts, is based on Irish experience, and considers best practice in other countries. Our focus must be on the delivery of these agreed actions. In that regard, the publication of the National Safety Camera Strategy is another step towards delivering this work. The use of safety cameras has been proven to reduce speeding and improve driver behaviour. I am confident that safety cameras will be an effective deterrent to motorists speeding and will further enhance the enforcement capabilities of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. The increased use of cameras can help us achieve our road safety targets, including working towards Vision Zero. I look forward to hearing from the Deputies on this important topic. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  Every day we step out into a world of movement with cars rushing to work, cyclists weaving through traffic and pedestrians crossing streets in hope and in trust. The road connects us but too often it has become a place of tragedy, a tragedy that is preventable. In the Twenty-six Counties there were 190 deaths last year. With the proper infrastructure, enforcement and resources, we can save lives but the Government has failed on three fronts. The National Safety Camera Strategy represents an opportunity to rectify the mistakes of the past but I fear that it may fall far short. Everybody wants to improve road safety and prevent tragedy on our roads but what is being presented here simply does not meet the urgency of the crisis we face. Let me be clear: the automated enforcement cameras can play a role in saving lives. International evidence shows they reduce collisions and serious injuries but the reality is that this is not a fully-fledged strategy. At the moment, it is a framework and is not ready for delivery. That matters because we are in the middle of a road safety emergency. I have said how many people lost their lives on Irish roads last year. It was the highest figure in a decade and nine of those were in my county. Deaths across the European Union fell by 3% but fatalities here rose by 7%. Since 2019, the divergence is even more stark. Since then, road deaths in Ireland have increased by 31% but across the EU they are down by 15%. Europe is saving lives but Ireland is going backwards.  When the Government asks us to support the strategy, we must ask whether this a serious effort or whether a serious effort been made to date. When we examine the details, the shortcomings are obvious. There are no clear timelines for roll-out, no measurable targets, no KPIs and no cost-benefit analysis. In other words, there is no way for this House or the public to hold the Government to account for its delivery. Of more concern is the failure to address fundamental legal questions. The strategy acknowledges and effectively sets aside critical issues around data protection, enforcement powers and evidential standards. These go to the very heart of whether the system can function and ignoring them will not make them go away. It will simply create the conditions for delay, legal challenge and possible failure down the line.  We also have a model here that could lead to unnecessary complexity and confusion. Under the strategy, responsibilities are divided between TII, An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and the NTA.  That may look like collaboration, but where is the accountability and is there a possibility of duplication or bureaucratic inefficiency?  We cannot ignore the reality of our current enforcement system. Under Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael, roads policing has collapsed. This matter was dealt with by the Joint Committee on Transport this morning. There are 400 fewer garda\u00ed working in road traffic than there were 15 years ago, according to PARC Road Safety Group. The latter stated that in 2009, there were 1,046 members of what was then known as the Garda traffic corps. By December 2025, the number of personnel had fallen to 647. In some regions, the number of garda\u00ed involved in road policing has halved since 2009. There are 40 fewer vehicles tied to traffic units compared with that time. Most crucially, in 2007 - and this is a very interesting statistic - there were over 20,000 checks at the side of the road in respect of people driving under the influence. Last year, there were fewer than 5,000 such checks, which represents a 75% reduction.  We also heard from Dr. Sheila Gilheany from Alcohol Action Ireland at the Joint Committee on Transport's meeting this morning. She stated that alcohol is factor in 35% of deaths on Irish roads. In places like Australia, the number stands at 14%. The answers are obvious, because we are not tackling this matter in the way we did back in 2007. The number of stops and checks is in free fall. In the context of the garda\u00ed we do have, there are serious issues as well, which we saw outlined in the Crowe report. That report not only made it clear that roads policing was under-resourced and ineffective but also that there are other issues.  It is important to note that the collapse in roads policing has occurred as the scope and scale of the responsibilities have increased. We have more cars, heavier traffic and more complex road risks than ever before, yet the number of garda\u00ed expected to do the work to address this has decreased. We are not going to deliver safer roads with fewer garda\u00ed, fewer Garda vehicles and limited technology. For example, garda\u00ed had to wait seven years to access the roads policing mobility app, which includes vital information such as motorist penalty points and court disqualifications. They are still awaiting access to further information, including driving licence photographs and people's signatures. That is not good enough. Against that backdrop, what confidence can the public have that this expanded system will actually be enforced? There is also a real risk that increased automation will overwhelm the under-resourced, underfunded system by overloading the fixed charge notice process and creating backlogs of appeals. This is not just about cameras; it is also about capacity, and capacity is already overstretched.  Even if all of that were resolved, we must ask another question. Is enforcement alone enough? The answer is \"No\". The transport committee has repeatedly heard that cameras are effective, but only as part of a broader approach that includes better road design and stronger policing. Better road design is particularly important at a time when we are dealing with an increased number of cyclists being killed or seriously injured on our roads. Without these measures, the impact of the strategy will be limited.  We must recognise that fatalities are only part of the story. The number of serious injuries may be significantly under-reported. Between 2020 and 2024, over 11,000 people were hospitalised compared to only 7,400 recorded by garda\u00ed. This is the true cost. There is a question over the data that are there. The context is a rising death toll, a worsening European situation and a system under strain, and what we have is a document that gives rise to more questions than it answers. We do not want more frameworks. We need to know that when cyclists, drivers or pedestrians take to our roads or footpaths, they will get home safely. We need a plan that is detailed, legally robust, properly resourced and ready to deliver, but we also need more garda\u00ed and more visibility. Everybody knows that when there is more visibility on the streets, the number of public order offences decrease. There needs to be more visibility at the times of day that road traffic fatalities and serious injuries actually occur, which is late at night and on country roads. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  Speeding is one of the leading causes of road collisions in Ireland. Last year, 2025, was the worst year for road fatalities in more than ten years and road collision statistics show that there is a growing trend that Irish roads are becoming less safe. Last year, an Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na recorded 190 fatalities on our roads and over 1,000 people being injured as a result of collisions. Each statistic represents a life lost, a wider family devastated and demonstrates the constant work needed to make our roads safe for all who use them.  The deployment of speed cameras and speed monitoring systems is one tool that can tackle speeding and that can make our roads safer. This strategy has been long overdue but, regrettably, it appears to be more of a scoping exercise rather than an implementable plan. When we look into the actual detail of the strategy, it appears that the Minister and his Department have no willingness to reform the operation of speed cameras and that they are committed to sticking with the same failed multi-agency approach. This comes at a time when the Government is spending millions of euro on a contract with the GoSafe company for the provision of mobile speed camera vans. In 2024, the State paid almost \u20ac18 million to GoSafe for the provision of approximately 58 speed camera vans. This works out at the State paying roughly \u20ac31,000 for the operation of each speed camera van per year. I would seriously question whether that represents value for money.  This strategy also rules out the possibility of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na taking full ownership of the deployment and operation of speed cameras. There was no detailed cost evaluation within the strategy to merit this decision, and it appears that the favoured operation models are just an exercise in the Minister of State making minor changes to a system that is fundamentally not working. Sadly, this lack of ambition on the part of the Government is yet another example of how it is not taking road safety seriously enough. Before Christmas, the Minister of State backtracked on the Department of Transport's plans to reform the Road Safety Authority, RSA. This followed the publication of the Indecon report in 2024 that recommended splitting the RSA into two separate bodies, one with responsible for road safety and one to oversee processes such as driver testing and the national car test, NCT, service. Months on from this decision, we are no closer to seeing any reform of the RSA.  When we see road collision outcomes going in the wrong direction, it is clear that something has to change but the Government does not seem to get it and all the while, more and more people are involved in road traffic collisions. There is clearly a need for action in the way this Government approaches road safety policy and in the way it implements road safety measures, including the deployment of speed cameras. This national speed camera strategy is a missed opportunity to deliver real reform in the area of road safety. I call on the Minister of State to deliver meaningful action in this area that ensures that there is effective speed detection that reduces the risks on our roads and that this is done in a cost-effective way for taxpayers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I thank the Deputy. I understand Deputy Ahern is sharing time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  I am sharing time with Deputy Lawlor.  As we are discussing this issue today, I am thinking of Fiona Holland, who was a teacher in Scoil Maelruain's Senior National School in Old Bawn in my constituency. She tragically passed away last week following a road accident in Terenure. Fiona played a huge role in her community and was loved by her students. I know what a huge impact her loss has been and will be on her community. My thoughts today are with her family and friends and the staff and pupils in Scoil Maelruain.  We are going in the wrong direction when it comes to road safety and have been for some time. We made a lot of progress in the early 2000s and 2010s, but somewhere along the line we seem to have got complacent and we are seeing a reversal of the trend. We need to take a holistic approach when it comes to road safety. It involves a number of overlapping elements, including planning, investment, road infrastructure and design, public transport provision, rural connectivity, driver behaviour, the overall coherence of Government policy and, of course, enforcement of the rules of the road and the realistic prospect that dangerous driving will be caught. I have long said that traffic cameras have a pivotal role to play, particularly in terms of influencing driver behaviour. To be fair, the Minister of State has acknowledged on a number of occasions that driver behaviour has increasingly become an issue, but it is in that context that I find the whole safety camera strategy just a little underwhelming.  Not only are there serious weaknesses in and omissions from the strategy, there is also a striking lack of ambition. The strategy itself admits that speeding remains widespread on Irish roads. It cites RSA research showing that 77% of drivers speed and that a majority of motorists consider modest speeding as being socially acceptable. That is pretty alarming given the trends in road deaths here. The strategy also acknowledges the proven effectiveness of camera enforcement. It cites evidence showing that average speed cameras can reduce fatal and serious injury collisions by up to 56%. If the evidence is that strong, why is the strategy so timid? Why, after years of rising fatalities on our roads, are we dealing with a document that appears to be more concerned with governance charts than administrative structures? The former have a role to play but are not more important than measurable outcomes.  The strategy repeatedly promises future consideration of further measures instead of immediate concrete delivery. One of the clearest examples of this is the continued absence of any meaningful progress on seat belt and mobile phone detection cameras. The Government has repeatedly stated that these technologies are being considered. When members of the Opposition have asked questions about timelines or implementation, however, we have been told to wait for this National Safety Camera Strategy. The strategy has arrived, but it provides virtually no clarity. The document merely states that mobile phone and seat belt detection cameras may be introduced in future once legislation is in place. There is no timeline. There is no implementation roadmap, no legislative schedule and no delivery target. There is nothing. At a time when distracted driving has become one of the greatest dangers on our roads, the Government is still stuck at the stage of consideration. We know the reality. We see motorists every day scrolling through their phones at traffic lights, texting and watching Netflix on motorways. People are driving while visibly distracted, and we have got these TV-like displays in newer cars that add to the mix. We know the devastating consequences that driver distraction can cause.  Likewise, seat-belt non-compliance continues to contribute to deaths and catastrophic injuries on our roads. I note that the strategy says its focus is primarily on cameras to detect speeding, people running red lights and committing offences relating to bus lanes, but we need a holistic approach to road safety. I cannot get my head around why mobile phone use and seat belt non-compliance would not be included, particularly when the technology is available and when we know the impact of those offences.  The absence of any meaningful targets or performance indicators is a major weakness. For a strategy that references Vision Zero and reducing the number of fatalities, it is astonishing how little measurable ambition is included. It says nothing about how many cameras we need or how many we hope to have by a certain date. If, for example, we were to have a similar number to Sweden, we would need approximately 430 traffic cameras nationwide.  There is nothing in the strategy about how we will measure its success or failure. There are no concrete deployment targets, no annual benchmarks, no performance indicators and no measurable timelines for expansions. Basically, there are no means by which we can hold the Minister of State to account. Instead, we are given vague references to incremental progress and modelling exercises. The closest the strategy gets to setting a target for cameras is where it states \"it could be feasible to aim to implement 10-20 new camera locations each year initially ... [while appreciating] that ... other European countries have considerably more cameras.\" That is about as weak an ambition as I can imagine. At that rate, comprehensive national coverage would take decades. Without clear key performance indicators, KPIs, the Government will always be able to claim the strategy is progressing regardless of outcomes. We need measurable targets and to monitor performance that we can say that the cameras are seeing success and changing driver behaviour, if speeding is down or if the number of people break red lights reduces. Unfortunately, we will not know that based on the model that is being outlined in this strategy.  Under this strategy, a number of new roles are assigned to local authorities. The strategy states that local authorities will help identify sites, conduct feasibility assessments, liaising with landowners and support implementation, but where is the discussion of resources and funding? Presumably, these new responsibilities will require new staff, but there is no mention of that in the strategy. Local authorities across Ireland are already overstretched. Many engineering and roads departments are operating under severe staffing pressures already. Councils are being asked to deliver active travel projects, housing infrastructure, flood mitigation, public realm improvements and road maintenance. That is all great, but it is all being done with finite resources. The strategy casually assigns additional responsibilities without explaining how these responsibilities will be supported. We are fully behind greater decentralisation, but what we are increasingly seeing is responsibility being decentralised while resources are not. Local authorities are essential partners in road safety delivery but council workers will be looking at this plan and thinking how the hell are they supposed to take on these new responsibilities if they are not getting any additional investment or staffing.  One of the more confusing aspects of this strategy is the extraordinary lack of clarity around governance and institutional reform. The document repeatedly refers to phases 1 and 2 implementation. Nowhere are those phases defined in terms of timelines. We have no clarity on when phase 1 will end and phase 2 will begin. We have no measurables, so we do not know what sort of milestones need to be achieved in phase 1 before we move to phase 2. To add to the confusion, the strategy splits responsibility for safety cameras across two public agencies, namely Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, and an as-yet-unnamed agency, and the Garda, with these different bodies managing various elements of the system. This is basically a rejection of the international evidence and best practice guidance that a well-resourced centralised authority is needed. It is further complicated by the strategy working group recommending, in the long term, the establishment of a new public body to achieve the full ambition of the strategy and take on the responsibility of both public bodies that will be responsible for cameras in the short term.  I do not know how this reconciles with the Minister's row-back on the commitment to establish a new road safety authority to take over certain functions of the RSA. Is this a row-back on the row-back? What will it mean for the RSA into the future? This strategy proposes the potential creation of another major body in the road safety space without any meaningful explanation of how it will fit within the wider institutional landscape. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy George Lawlor  With the Leas-Cheann Comhairle's blessing, I welcome the boys and girls from Castlebridge National School in Wexford. It is a historic place in Wexford. In fact, the Castlebridge team was the first Wexford team to win an all-Ireland hurling championship. The Leas-Cheann Comhairle, being a Kilkenny man, will no doubt look at that fact with envy.  The measures that were taken over the years in relation to road safety were working. If we look at the figures for 2018, we can see that, tragically, there were 139 road deaths. That was the lowest in modern times. The number of people killed in one year on Irish roads 40 years before that was 628. I refer to these tragic figures to indicate to the Minister of State that the measures we were taking in terms of enforcement of seat belt use, drink-driving and safety and in bringing the people along with us were working. When we put the resources into combating deaths on our roads and improving road safety, they actually work. In the context of a road safety camera strategy, it is essential that we roll-out static cameras.  I want to raise again - the Leas-Cheann Comhairle will be familiar with this - the static camera in Glenmore in County Kilkenny, which is causing turmoil for thousands of people. You are in a 100 km zone, you arrive at an 80 km speed sign and you do not have time to slow down safely and correctly before you are right on top of the camera. Hundreds if not thousands of people, the safest of drivers, have been caught for speeding and given points. People are coming to me saying that it is not so much the fines that break their hearts. These are individuals with unblemished licences who are being issued with points. I ask for the Minister of State's personal intervention on this. The camera is welcome. This is an issue of signage. The road is dangerous but, we need to ensure fairness for people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  The students from Wexford are very welcome. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Murphy  I welcome the publication of the National Safety Camera Strategy. I do so not only as a TD but also as Chair of the Joint Committee on Transport, for which, as the Minister of State will be aware, road safety has become one of the most urgent and consistent issues for discussion. As the Minister of State will be aware, in recent months the committee has undertaken a focused programme of work in this area. Of course, that is against the backdrop of a continued increase in road fatalities, with the most recent figures confirming the highest number of deaths in recent years. There were 190 lives lost last year. Fifty-eight have so far been lost this year. I personally thank the Minister of State for his close co-operation with the committee's work. The Minister of State is due to appear before the committee in the coming weeks. Of course, every statistic represents a family and a community dealing with devastating loss. I mention also the serious impacts that extend far beyond fatalities, including long-term disability, loss of employment, family trauma and mental health impacts.  Only today, the joint committee heard evidence from Alcohol Action Ireland that Ireland has the lowest rate of roadside breath testing in the European Union. That should concern every one of us in this House. We must, therefore, recognise a very simple truth, that technology alone will not solve the road safety crisis that we face.  Nonetheless, I want to be clear. We can and should invest in cameras, in enforcement technology and in data-led interventions. Cameras detect speeding. They can identify people running red lights and support safer driving behaviour.  That is why this strategy is so important and most welcome. The expansion of fixed safety cameras, average speed cameras, red light enforcement and a broader use of intelligence enforcement technology represents a significant step forward. International evidence shows us that these measures can reduce collisions and save lives. We had 200,000 road traffic offences last year with 126,000 related to speeding, of which 45,000 were for exceeding the 100 km\/h speed limit.  I acknowledge the work being done across the Government, in particular by the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and by An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, the RSA, local authorities, victim advocacy groups like PARC, and many other organisations and NGOs to modernise our approach to road safety. However, if we are serious about reducing deaths and serious injuries on our roads, we cannot consider or treat this strategy as the silver bullet. While it is important, the reality is that cameras do not pull over impaired drivers or detect drunk or drug driving on the roadside. We know from evidence this morning that alcohol is a factor in one third of all fatalities. Cameras do not replace Garda roads policing units operating in our communities, on rural and regional roads, and at times when dangerous behaviour is most prevalent.  That is why any serious road safety strategy must include a substantial strengthening of our roads policing unit, which currently stands at in the region of 650 members. Back in 2010 when we had 1 million fewer cars on the road, I believe it stood at 1,050. More garda\u00ed assigned to our roads policing unit is crucial. It means greater roadside testing capability and stronger enforcement against drink driving, drug driving and insurance offences. It means ensuring that enforcement is visible, consistent and nationwide.  Of course, enforcement alone is not enough. Road safety begins with road design and too many of our roads are unforgiving, particularly in rural areas. There are junctions that people fear using every day, roads without safe walking or cycling infrastructure and communities divided by dangerous driving conditions. That is why we need sustained investment in safer infrastructure. We need greater delivery of low-cost safety-improvement schemes, which is crucial. We need safer junctions, better lighting, traffic calming, pedestrian crossings and segregated cycling infrastructure. We need to continue to invest in active travel. Better and safer walking and cycling infrastructure not only supports climate and health goals but it saves lives.  I assure this House and the Minister of State of the focused work that is ongoing by the transport committee. We intend to provide leadership by identifying concrete actions and making strong recommendations to the Government and other relevant agencies, including key actions that can be implemented in a timely manner. We all agree that we need urgency and, above all else, delivery. Every statistic in road accidents represents a person, a family and a community devastated. While I welcome this strategy and the positive role that technology can play, I believe we must now match that ambition with stronger enforcement, better investment, better planning of infrastructure, better co-ordination and political will. I again acknowledge the strength of that political will in the Minister of State. If we do that, this strategy can become part of a genuine turning point in road safety in Ireland. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathal Crowe  I am glad to have the opportunity to speak in today's debate. Central to all of this have to be the victims of road accidents. My own dear mother-in-law, Mary Fehilly, passed away around 18 months ago and it just left the family feeling hollow. What I have found every day since is that you very much tune into the radio when you hear of an accident up the country. Heretofore, you would hear an awful report of a life lost on the road and feel a bit disconnected from about, but now it very much connects you to those families and the tragedies that others are experiencing around the country. Central to all that we speak about today must be the families impacted by deaths and lifelong injuries on our roads.  I sit on the transport committee and the Minister of State has been quite good to engage with us. I thank him for everything he is trying to do in the Department. He has been a very progressive and energetic Minister of State in taking on his portfolio.  There are a few points I wish to specifically raise. Of course, we are talking about the automated speed-detection cameras. They are very effective on the M7 motorway near Birdhill as people leave Limerick heading for Dublin, a road I often travel. They detect people speeding and lead to penalty points and convictions. They also ensure that a lot of people slow right down when they see them. Unfortunately, when they reach the other side of those speed cameras, they tend to speed up again. That kind of technology needs a more nationwide roll-out, which I would certainly welcome.  Recently, the Minister of State was very kind to meet with a delegation that I had brought here to Leinster House to discuss the N68 road, which leaves Ennis, heads out to west Clare and passes through a village called Darragh. In that vicinity there are many entrances and exits onto a national road. It might be called a national road, but it very much has local usage. It has a shop, local school, sports pitches and a litany of entrances into and out of houses and farmyards in that area. The Minister of State met Mair\u00e9ad Collins, Michael Fitzgibbon and Kevin McNamee here in Leinster House. They brought maps and brought forward proposals. Since then, I understand that Clare County Council has also brought a submission to him. What is the status of that? There has been a \u20ac2 million allocation to that stretch of the N68 at Darragh for pavement overlay on the road. While all roads can do with a touch-up and resurfacing, this road could do with some of that money being syphoned over to road safety measures. I would love to hear something on that front.  The N85 road, also in County Clare, is the main spine road that goes from Ennis into the north of the county. Every single day, thousands of people travel on that road, heading back to the Cliffs of Moher. The Cliffs of Moher are now Ireland's premier tourism site and there is a huge amount of pressure on that road, which was never built for that volume of traffic. The road has recently been highlighted by Councillor Shane Talty from Ennistymon and supported by Councillor Joe Killeen. Michael Vaughan, a prominent hotelier in Ennistymon, has also been flagging this. They really want to bring to the Minister of State's attention that, in spite of some significant events happening there next year, including the Irish Open and the Walker Cup, there is no plan to do something significant on this road. It is not fit for purpose at the moment, yet we next year expect the world and its mother to travel back through that north Clare road - the N85 - heading for golf events.  The future mobility campus in Shannon in County Clare is testing a whole load of new technologies that could be used for road safety. The city of Aachen in Germany is a really good example where the entire Ford fleet of cars are geofenced, so if the speed limit is 60 km\/h, the car is forced by geofencing to slow down to 60 km\/h. No matter what the driver wants to do, he or she is compelled to stick to the speed limit that by technology. Indeed, some Irish people are pioneering this technology. At some time, I would love the Minister of State to come to the future mobility campus and embrace some of these new technologies.  I wish him well in his Department. As I said, central to everything we do here have to be the victims of those awful accidents that are becoming far too frequent on our roads. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  This debate must first of all reflect on the carnage on our roads in 2025, a year in which 185 lives were lost in crashes and accidents. This was the highest fatality rate in over a decade. It was a year in which we saw the previous trends of progress in this area not just stalled, but actually reversed. That momentum of tragic reversal has continued in 2026.  I think everyone here recognises that safety cameras are not a silver bullet, but they can help to make our roads less dangerous. In the context of that ongoing tragedy on our roads, the delay in the publication of this report was really baffling. We know that the draft report was submitted to the Minister of State in May last year. That is a year ago now and that year has been a very dark one for road safety in our country. This is something I have raised in the Chamber and in the committee on a number of occasions. Instead of the emergency roll-out of technology that we know works, we saw a year of bilateral meetings and a review. However, while the Minister of State was reviewing this document, our roads were becoming increasingly lethal. That vision zero goal, Ireland's commitment to eliminating road deaths by 2050, becomes less like a target and more like a mirage when the primary tool for enforcement is stuck in a departmental inbox for a full calendar year.  I believe the strategy that has been published falls short in a number of key areas.  The primary and most glaring issue is that there are no timelines for the implementation of the strategy. In particular, it is clear that this strategy, if it is to work, requires significant legislative changes to deliver on its key elements, yet there is no commitment to a clear legislative timeline to do that. I am not clear why the Government would publish a strategy of such significance without tagging on a clear timeline with it, given the extent to which it has already been delayed and the urgency with which everybody speaking in this Chamber today is going to treat this particular matter. A strategy is just a beginning. There needs to be a clear commitment to deliver on it. Without timelines attached, it is hard to see where that commitment becomes apparent.  Bearing in mind the urgency with which I believe the roll-out of safety cameras must be treated, I would like to highlight a couple of areas in my constituency and around the country that some of my Green Party colleagues have flagged with me and that could be changed for the better by the introduction of these cameras. In my own constituency, I would point to the Kempton estate, just off the Navan Road and close to the Ashtown roundabout. Residents seeking to exit the estate onto the Navan Road, or pedestrians trying to cross the road to get to a bus stop or access the Phoenix Park, are put at risk by cars that are speeding, but in particular by cars running red lights at that junction. This location would be perfect for red light cameras. I read through this report, which gives us a brief history of red light cameras and of a pilot that was done in 2015, but there is no clarity on how residents in Kempton, or residents in hundreds of other areas that would benefit from this technology, will actually see an improvement in their situations because of the publication of this report.  Let us not forget that, in January, the National Transport Authority confirmed that, pending a decision on the strategy that has just been published, it will not proceed with developing camera enforcement at a small number of isolated locations, including proposed sites in Dublin. Therefore, the delay of the publication of this report is the reason the NTA is delaying rolling out enforcement cameras around the country, including in Dublin. Now that the strategy has been published, what will happen next? Is the Minister of State going to indicate to the NTA that he backs red light cameras - not just that he is verbally backing them, but that he will be coming through with funding as well? When will residents in Kempton and the hundreds of other places around the country that could benefit from these cameras see a tangible result from the publication of this report, which has been delayed for so long?  In inner city Dublin, there is a specific need for these cameras to keep vital public transport moving, and I would cite the Luas in particular. The Luas green line is experiencing delays in crossing the quays due to drivers remaining in yellow boxes. The Luas cannot get through and, of course, given the length of the Luas, it ends up blocking everything. Targeted enforcement of yellow boxes via cameras would prevent this. Similarly, on the red line, cameras are needed where Luas junctions intersect with car traffic to prevent encroachment on the line, which has previously led to crashes where full trams have been taken out of service.  At Doyle's Corner in Dublin 7, for example, one of the busiest intersections in the city for bus and car traffic, there are issues with red light jumping, putting pedestrians at risk and delaying bus routes. Similarly, at the bus gates on the quays, we have seen repeated instances of cars intermingling with buses and slowing down public transport. This is mirrored in other bus lanes, such as the southbound lane from Broombridge.  Moving to the home county of the Minister of State, at Eyre Square in Galway, the high volume of pedestrians makes it particularly dangerous when a car runs a red light. Cameras are needed to keep pedestrians safe. The Newcastle Road-N6 intersection is also noteworthy because that junction gets a high volume of cars travelling in both directions. Galway has planned for bus gates to be rolled out as part of BusConnects, whenever that is fully funded. It will need camera enforcement to ensure those bus gates are obeyed and that the issues we are seeing in Dublin, which I have already cited, are not repeated. The city council has not yet said how this will be enforced, but the view of my colleague, Niall Murphy, is that there should be cameras to ensure smooth movement of public transport through the bus gates.  These are just a couple of examples of areas where cameras could make a real difference to making public transport more efficient and, in particular, increasing road safety for all users. The Government needs to offer that clarity on timelines and actions. It is important to note, that in the EU context, we are real outliers in this regard. As of today, we have just nine static cameras and five average speed camera zones in operation across the entire road network. We can compare that to France, which has over 4,000, or the UK, where these types of cameras have been part of the fabric of roads policing for decades. In comparison to those countries, it is clear that we are trying to police a 21st century network with 20th century tools. Static cameras are a significant improvement in technology over mobile vans. They are visible and predictable and they preclude behaviour like slowing down for a speed van before speeding up once it is passed. They change behaviour on our roads by being consistent, and that changed behaviour goes on to save lives.  The people in my constituency and the other areas I have mentioned will not be protected by a strategy that just exists as a PDF online. We need to see three immediate steps. The first is a definitive roll-out timeline. We need to know exactly when the next 50 cameras and beyond will be operational, not \"in the coming months\", but with specific dates. Second, we need to see increased roads policing. Cameras are a force multiplier, but they cannot replace the physical presence of garda\u00ed. The decline in the number of dedicated roads policing members must be reversed. Third, we need transparency in revenue and safety objectives. Too often, speed cameras are viewed as revenue raising rather than as the safety devices that they primarily are. We must proactively communicate the safety gains made through the use of cameras. We must ring-fence the revenue earned from them directly for road safety and better infrastructure.  We have the means to make our roads safer, we have the data that tells us where the accidents happen and we now have this strategy. What we have to ensure now is the delivery of this strategy. The 185 families who were in mourning in 2025 are looking for us to act. We need to take that action now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail  I acknowledge the work of the Minister of State, the NTA and other bodies in establishing and creating this national safety camera strategy. After a period of improvement and positive trends in relation to road deaths, which were 472 in 1997 and dropped to 137 in 2021, that trend is now reversing. There were 190 deaths in 2025 and 175 in 2024. It is critical that action be taken to improve road safety for citizens across the country.  With regard to the new governance, the Garda is responsible for the enforcement of camera-detected speed offences. What is critical is that those locations be examined properly. I am thinking of Kildare, in particular the N4, and I am sure the Minister of State has seen this when travelling from Galway to Dublin. Time and again, we see speed vans in hidden locations, particularly on motorways. We see drivers putting their foot on the brake extremely quickly to try to avoid detection, with all the danger that causes on the motorway. It is something An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na needs to be very reticent to do. It has to be admitted that it is bad driver behaviour to be speeding on a motorway or any road. However, I have seen instances, particularly in poor weather, where the location of the speed cameras can cause additional danger to road users. I ask An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and all bodies to be mindful of that.  One point in the strategy is the establishment of the camera enforcement oversight group, which will be extremely welcome in its role in co-ordinating operations, data, research and policy needs. What I would ask, and what I have not seen in the strategy, is that there would be a feedback loop from public representatives and the public at large. That would be extremely welcome and helpful to the work of the oversight group. The members of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na see the black spots and understand where particular incidents can happen. However, members of the public also have historic knowledge of bends and bad turns, which would be quite useful.  That is something that should be looked at in respect of this particular strategy.  Looking at the scope of enforcement, I welcome the fact that there is a focus on speeding, as well as red light offences and bus lane offences. However, this all comes down to poor and bad driver behaviour. I think we all acknowledge and realise that. This is not excusing any of that bad driver behaviour, but what we have seen, in large urban settings in particular, is traffic congestion. I look at Kildare, Maynooth, Kilcock, Celbridge, Leixlip and Naas. Nearly every town in the county is growing exponentially and the traffic is growing with it. It causes great frustration to everybody. I think of young parents under severe pressure trying to pick up one child from one school and then get to another school to pick up the other kid, for example, if they are in a boys school and a girls school.  Traffic congestion adds to bad driver behaviour. As I said, I am not excusing in any way, shape or form bad driver behaviour, but we have to understand the reasons behind bad driver behaviour. It is not just people acting out of badness. A lot of the time, it is due to stress, time and whatever it may be.  Galway is a good example of a city that is growing exponentially. There is talk of progressing the ring road there, which is great news for the people of Galway. A ring road is now being built in Maynooth. In Celbridge, a second bridge is needed. Leixlip is completely congested as well. When we are building out and building more homes and communities in these towns, what is crucial is that we build the physical infrastructure, particularly the road infrastructure, to go with it. If we do not, then we have seen the evidence that it leads to bad driver behaviour. I would ask that this be considered in the future. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John McGuinness  I want to immediately draw the Minister of State's attention to some of the issues that are faced in my constituency of Carlow-Kilkenny. I feel that is the most effective way of contributing to this debate. Earlier, I had the privilege of welcoming a group from Tullaroan with Councillor Michael Delaney. Councillor Delaney and that group discussed in great detail the matter that we are now discussing. They brought to my attention a number of concerns that they had. They wondered, and rightly so, if the technology was there to identify the registration plate on a vehicle, why could it not be used to cross over and check the insurance, tax and so forth. Where stands that in relation to legislation or implementation?  People who live along stretches of road where they experience the speed and the dangers of speed, and sometimes the accidents that occur out of that, would like to see something done. They cannot understand why there is such an inordinate delay in dealing with all of this. Static cameras were mentioned by Deputy Lawlor in relation to Glenmore and the N24. It is a fact that the cameras work, but signage is necessary as you come into that stretch of road. I ask that there be some crossover with the councils or TII to ensure that there is sufficient notification on the road to indicate the speed, request a reduction in that speed and say that the cameras are there. The same could be said for the road into Dublin from Kilkenny. These signs are hugely important and contribute to the type of driver behaviour that we want to achieve, which is to act within the limits, drive responsibly and acknowledge the law. Glenmore is a particularly busy road. Work is to be done on that road. The signage, which the Minister of State might come back to me on, is essential.  When the former Deputy Shane Ross was a Minister, he came to visit Kilkenny. He looked at the road from Kilkenny city - the Waterford Road - out to the roundabout, particularly at Danesfort. I have lobbied the council, TII and the current Minister to take action on that stretch of road, which has seen a number of fatalities. Danesfort GAA Club is hugely actively there and a real anchor in the community. It is a very busy junction, but in spite of all of that, they refer to figures and analysis that simply do not give any indication of what is really happening on the ground and the real fears that people - residents and road users - in the area have.  Likewise, it is the same thing in relation to the R704, the Mullinavat road to New Ross. The local residents have complained over a long period about the 2.4 km of road that is dangerous and requires signage, work and prevention in terms of the speed that vehicles are travelling. Sean Maher, a local activist, wrote to me about this - not to just complain, but to suggest ways by which this could be dealt with. Again, the local authority has been lobbied for immediate action. That has not happened. It has to go through a long, convoluted process to get to the point where an acknowledgement is given of the dangers that exist and then the work is required thereafter. If the Minister of State could shorten the process and give due consideration to local people and their complaints, it would help greatly in our work to assist the Minister of State to ensure that there is greater safety on our roads. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan  I want to bring to the Minister of State's attention a road in south Kilkenny, the N25. For years, there has been a campaign to put safety measures in place on this road. It is welcome that the cameras have been put in place, but cameras alone are not going to solve this road. It needs huge attention. I bring to the Minister of State's attention the fact that TII has said that there is enough signage and notice going towards where the cameras are. Numerous people have contacted me and I have driven the road. There is not enough signage coming into the road. People are heading for the boat in Wexford. They are coming close to where the cameras are, but the cameras are getting them before they know it. It is dark and they are going down for the boat. They are not seeing the signage. They have driven the road the year before. One lady got three points. By the time she reaches where the signage is, she has already reached the camera. She cannot slow down in time for it. She has never been a bad driver, but she is getting caught. She got three points going to the boat on her holidays. Guess what? On the way back, she got another three points. There are numerous cases of people, not just from Kilkenny, but from Wexford and Carlow. Anybody travelling along that road is getting points on their licence. The signage is not good enough.  I welcome cameras. The people in south Kilkenny welcomed these cameras, but it is unfair that people do not have enough signage coming into where the cameras are. People are using that road maybe once a year to go on their holidays, and all of a sudden, it has changed. I find that very unfair.  The other side of it is that cameras alone will not solve the issues on these roads. This road in particular has a huge volume of traffic on it.  It was never built for that traffic. I ask the Minister of State to look into these. I am sure he will find there has been a huge volume of penalties on that road. I urge the Minister of State to look into this. The drivers are going into a 100 km\/h zone. For anything over a reasonable rate, those points should be taken off them. It is unfair when there is not enough signage going into it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Geoghegan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Geoghegan  I have to say I found the previous speaker's contribution strange, to put it mildly. For the Sinn F\u00e9in speaker to be trying to circumvent speeding on our roads when we see the dangers that are on our roads is incredibly bizarre, to put it mildly.  In any event, I welcome the publication of the National Safety Camera Strategy and congratulate the Minister of State on his continued efforts to use modern technology to address what is a major issue in Ireland today. In my constituency Irish Rail has already commenced a strategy at the Merrion Gates DART crossing for camera-based enforcement for road traffic offences, specifically, red-light offences for crossing that rail crossing. This was launched in January of this year and it marks the first time in over a decade that automatic cameras have been deployed to detect red-light violations. These cameras ensure that motorists who breach traffic signals face meaningful penalties, including fines and penalty points. I have no difficulty with a motorist who seeks to fast track across the crossings facing a penalty for this. I find it very strange that any parliamentarian would seek to defend, like the previous speaker did, a motorist who drove at over 100 km\/h and is facing penalty points because they did not see the sign, even if they are their constituents. In any event, this scheme is also being rolled out on Serpentine Road and Sandymount Avenue and on the other side of the River Liffey Irish Rail is also doing it in Sutton and Coolmine. I hope these cameras are installed as a matter of urgency because the evidence shows these measures work. In 2015 there was a pilot at the Luas crossing in the city centre and that reduced red-light breaches by half during a six-month trial.  I also want to emphasise the necessity for interoperability. Irish Rail is trying to protect against cars going through the rail crossings but where the Merrion Gates cameras are currently placed means they are perfectly primed to also prevent heavy goods vehicles using the Strand Road when they are not supposed to. It is illegal for heavy goods vehicles to use the Strand Road yet a report from the council in 2021 found that 130 heavy goods vehicles daily were travelling northbound on the Strand Road. It would not take much for those cameras to also be used to detect and criminalise that offence. I ask the Minister of State to look into improving the interoperability of cameras that are already in place so they can detect other road offences. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"S\u00e9amus McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy S\u00e9amus McGrath  I thank the Minister of State for facilitating the statements here today in relation to road safety and the use of cameras to deter and detect traffic offences. The number of deaths and serious injuries on our roads is far too high. I am sure the major progress we made as a country over recent decades to reduce the carnage on our roads has been mentioned many times today already. Unfortunately, we have seen a reversal of that in recent years, with 190 deaths in 2025. As a Government we need to work with all stakeholders, including the Garda, the Road Safety Authority and local authorities, to reduce the injuries and deaths on our roads in every way possible. I want to focus on pedestrian safety, which is very important. In total, 41 pedestrians lost their lives on Irish roads last year. Pedestrians are particularly vulnerable road users.  I want to focus on the use of cameras at signalised junctions and pedestrian crossings to address the breaking of red lights, which is a very serious offence that can have catastrophic consequences for pedestrians. The benefits of introducing further the roll-out of cameras to reduce the incidence of this offence is very important. I ask the Minister of State to move to introduce cameras as quickly as possible at signalised junctions and pedestrian crossings to act as a deterrent and detect offences of red-light breaking when they take place at crossings.  In addition, I ask that we consider our approach in terms of the consistency of pedestrian crossings because we have a myriad of different types of pedestrian crossings. We have controlled crossings, uncontrolled crossings, signalised crossings and zebra crossings. There is a wide range of them. It is important we develop a degree of consistency around our pedestrian crossings and that in itself will help with road safety and pedestrian safety. The final point I wish to make is the importance of having raised tables at pedestrian crossings to deter offences and slow down vehicles. This is critically important. It is an essential safety element.  In terms of the core issue of cameras, it is a modern technology we need to be using to greater effect to reduce deaths and injuries on our roads, particularly in the interest of pedestrian safety. That is one of the key tools we can use. We have not used it yet as a country. Other countries are using it. We need to step up to the plate to do that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  I welcome elements of the National Safety Camera Strategy in terms of expanding our safety camera network to 1,900 zones and targeting the high collision black spots. However, we cannot ignore the sheer scale of the violations occurring everywhere in my constituency and elsewhere. We need a lot more cameras and enforcement after it is handed over to TII. Equally, we have to look at the smaller roads and local authority areas also.  Let us look at bus lanes, for example. An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na issues over 6,000 fixed-charge notices a year to drivers unlawfully using these but there is no real deterrent. A survey by irishcycle.com on Westland Row near Leinster House recorded nearly one car per minute blatantly breaking bus-priority measures. To combat this massive volume, a strategy launching at just one or two pilot locations is completely inadequate and the \u20ac60 fine for blocking a bus lane is no real deterrent. It is happening all over and it is not about people turning 50 m from a filter lane; it is selfish and dangerous driving, so we need serious penalty points.  Constituents also have a serious problem with the breaking of lights, again, not just on regional roads. The covert traffic monitoring conducted by RT\u00c9 \"Prime Time\" recorded more than 60 dangerous red-light violations in just an eight-hour window across a tiny handful of junctions. That is death and injury waiting to happen around every single corner. We need the automated safety of these measures but until the strategy delivers widespread cameras everywhere instead of tiny pilots on just regional and national roads, it will be inadequate. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  Mia Lily Keogh O'Keeffe was a 16-year-old girl. She was struck by a red Mercedes when she was walking her dog across a pedestrian crossing in Navan this February. The driver fled the scene and it was a horrific accident. Seven other people were killed that same weekend. Mia Lily was a wonderful, well-liked young girl and she had her whole life in front of her. Her life has been stolen from her. The family is suffering profound grief. The mother has said she will never be whole again. This was no accident. The reality is that this was a killing that was caused as a result of a number of different factors. For sure there was the driver involved but the road itself is not up to scratch in terms of protections.  This is a really important point that the Minister of State and the Government are missing. Most road safety projects protect people from normal driving behaviour. They do not protect people from abnormal or dangerous driving behaviour. If the Minister of State goes to most countries on the Continent, in small towns and villages every single entry point will have some kind of road traffic measure. It will have a chicane, it will have ramps or it will have some staggered-type lanes which will slow traffic right down. In both cases of normal behaviour and dangerous driving behaviour, people are protected. That is not happening in Ireland and, truth be told, until that happens a lot of the talk that happens in here will be hot air because we are still going to see people being killed on a regular basis.  There are many parts of my county where the junctions, roads and bridges are simply not safe to drive through. They are not safe to drive through and they are being allowed to exist in that state by councils and the Government. Until the Government means business in fixing those junctions, narrow roads or bridges we are going to see more deaths happening in the future.  The last point here is that we can have all the rules we want in terms of road safety but if we do not have the garda\u00ed to implement them we are on a hiding to nothing. In 2009, there were well over 1,000 road traffic garda\u00ed in this country. Now, there are just over 600. That is a measure of how seriously this Government takes it. The Government needs to increase those numbers if it wants to protect life. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  Nobody disputes the need to save lives on our roads. Where there are real black spots, enforcement has its place. Let me be very clear that rural Ireland cannot be treated as an afterthought here. People outside of our small towns and cities rely on their cars every single day to walk, to farm and to bring children to school because public transport simply is not there. This strategy must not become another layer of penalties and surveillance on already stretched rural motorists. Camera locations must be based on real actionable data, clearly justified and signposted, not a cash cow for Government with cameras hidden away to catch people out. Instead of just fining drivers, Government needs to invest in safer roads, fix dangerous junctions, improve surfaces and protect communities.  I refer to the painting of the white lines; they are scandalous in my constituency. On most of the roads, you cannot see where the middle of the road is. Even at a junction in Drimoleague, people have been on to me for the last year asking that a square box be painted because people are driving from a minor road onto the main road and they do not see it. Nobody seems to care. We are always asking why there are accidents or more accidents there? The reason is a lack of funding. The road in some parts of west Cork mean you simply have to drive onto the other side of the road to avoid potholes. You cannot drive where you are supposed to drive and that is the cause of accidents. The Government seems not to understand that. For the long-suffering motorists from west Cork on the N71, there is no passing bay on the road to Innishannon, Bandon, Clonakilty into Skibbereen and down to Ballydehob. On the R586, there is no passing bay on the Bandon, Enniskean to Dunmanway road. We need to invest in public transport. We need to invest in the promises of bypasses for Innishannon and Bandon, in the northern southern relief road and the Bantry bypass. These are all promised each year and every time before an election but they are not delivered. It is just simply not good enough. This non-delivery is costing people their lives and the Government needs to sit up, take action and see where the money has been spent and where it needs to be spent.  I was in Galway canvassing over the weekend. People are pleading for the ring road in Galway. The traffic is blocked solid there. It is unacceptable. I think another promise will come up again before the by-election. It is not good enough. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  Regarding a National Safety Camera Strategy, I have no objections to any of that but what I would like to see is some joined-up thinking. In a lot of areas in County Limerick at the moment, an awful lot of robberies are taking place, and the garda\u00ed under pressure with the numbers they have. What I would like to see rolled out in the camera strategy is number plate recognition, which would help An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na catch the vehicles of those involved in robbing people at night, during the day or whenever. It could track them going through all the different towns, villages and byroads they are using and give that data directly to the Garda services. We have a limited number of garda\u00ed in this country, so we need to use technology to help them. We also need it to protect people's lives and people's homes. I would like to see number plate recognition come in. An investigation has been going on for six weeks in my area, trying to locate people who have been in people's backyards and at the back of their houses looking for opportunities to rob them. Yet, we cannot track down these vehicles. We have descriptions of them but An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na cannot seem to track them down. If we had number plate recognition cameras on the roads, we would be able to find out the location of these vehicles, where they are coming from, where they are going to, and we would be able to assist the garda\u00ed. We can also use them for the speeding offences - 100%. If we are going to have national safety cameras, we should also have them for the protection of people's properties and lives. That means we have the full data for our Garda services.  I was at the budgetary oversight committee yesterday, and I had done a small bit of research myself. The witnesses at the committee - professors and doctors - outlined research and asked about rural Ireland. They listed all the things in rural Ireland that should be improved - speed limits and all the rest of it. I asked them where they from. All three of them were from Dublin. They made comments about the whole country but all their data and research was based in Dublin. There are 32 counties in Ireland. There is more than Dublin in Ireland. When they are doing research, they need to research the whole country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Keira Keogh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Keira Keogh  I welcome the publication and the roll-out of the National Safety Camera Strategy. It is a significant and overdue step in modernising road safety enforcement, and reducing deaths and serious injuries on our roads. Mayo, along with Donegal, has the highest road deaths per capita on 2025 data, so this is important for me and for my constituents. The strategy provides a clear national framework, backed by evidence, for using cameras to tackle speeding, red-light running and dangerous driving behaviours but I also want to ensure it covers rural Ireland, especially blackspots where there are no traffic lights or bus lanes but where there are clearly wide roads where car enthusiasts are engaging in speeding or stunts like doughnuts and things like that.  The programme for Government contains a clear commitment to introduce new road safety cameras to automatically detect mobile phone use while driving and drivers not wearing seat belts. These behaviours are among the most dangerous on Irish roads and they contribute daily to collisions, injuries and fatalities. The strategy is strong on speeding and red-light enforcement but it is less committal on expanding cameras to detect phone use and seat-belt offences. We really need clear roadmaps and clear timelines for when these camera enforcements will be extended to those high-risk behaviours.  I have also raised before serious local issues in Mayo, specifically around Derrinumera site but also in other sites where large gatherings of car enthusiasts coming from Sligo, Galway and also Mayo are causing disturbances in the same areas over and over again. They are causing safety concerns but are also keeping babies awake at night and residents are having trouble getting to sleep. I have engaged locally with An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and I welcome that engagement. I also engaged with the local authority to discuss the best approach to tackling this issue. Residents are enduring noise disturbance. There is dangerous driving and antisocial behaviour as well as polluting and this deserves action.  I commissioned the Oireachtas Library and Research Service to examine international approaches around the world to managing car enthusiast gatherings and different evidence came back from that. One thing that was interesting was that there was no strong evidence that providing a safe place for car meets actually reduces antisocial behaviour, something we float regularly. What it did show, and what most evidence backed, was that vehicle impoundment was the most effective deterrent for dangerous driving and antisocial gatherings. It also highlighted emerging technologies that are being used in the UK that could support enforcement. These are noise detection cameras, which can detect behaviour visually but can also pick up on noise detections such as illegal exhaust modifications or excessive engine revving. These systems could be highly relevant in areas like Derrinumera where noise and modified vehicles are a major part of the problem and I hope Ireland can actively explore the feasibility of a pilot system here similar to the UK.  The National Safety Camera Strategy is a strong foundation but we must ensure it evolves to meet the full range of dangerous driving behaviours on our roads. When I look at that area of Derrinumera, these car enthusiasts are very clever. They have spotter cars on either side of the road about 1 km away from where the stunts are happening, so as soon as the garda\u00ed are on their way they notify the main group of people so they can disperse by the time the garda\u00ed get there or they can be lined up neatly in a row, which is not illegal. Cameras in these rural blackspots would really help An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na to pick up on that dangerous driving and be able to act on it.  I also think we have to get that portal up and running where people can upload their own dash cameras to report dangerous driving. The bus pilot is ongoing but this has to be the next step. My focus here is on safer roads, safer communities and evidence-based enforcement. I welcome the strategy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Currie  I welcome the publication of the National Safety Camera Strategy.  I fully support fixed speed cameras, average-speed cameras and bus lane enforcement because, without the infrastructure upgrades we desperately need, our public transport system is stuck. The core bus corridor for Dublin West remains tied up in legal challenges. Until that changes, our buses will continue to crawl through congestion at 12 km\/h or 15 km\/h, which is roughly the speed of a race walker. That is not a modern transport system. Bus lane enforcement matters. It is an essential short-term deterrent while we wait for long-term infrastructure delivery.  If I am honest, my contribution today will probably be defined by welcoming progress while being frustrated at the pace of change. This strategy outlines structures for the management of speeding enforcement, red light cameras, bus lane cameras and the future enforcement of offences such as mobile phone use and seatbelt violations. My question is simple. Why does progress take as long as it does? Road deaths are at their highest level in a decade. Many of the same agencies that will sit on this camera enforcement oversight group already sit on the road safety leadership group. This raises questions as to why co-ordination takes so long. I am not just referring to the camera strategy but changes in respect of road safety in general. How effectively are the stakeholders working together?  Ambition matters too. The strategy itself states that average-speed cameras reduce collisions resulting in fatalities or serious injuries by 56% while fixed cameras reduce such collisions by 15%. If we know they work, why move cautiously? We currently have just nine fixed speed cameras and three average-speed cameras nationwide. That is obviously not enough.  It is concerning that the strategy seems to talk itself out of expansion because of what it calls \"downstream impacts\". It suggests that too many offences might overwhelm the courts system. After identifying the benefits of cameras, it states that they should not operate 24 hours a day, that signage is an effective deterrent and that drivers will not know which buses carry the technology. Surely the answer is not to limit enforcement. The answer is to fix the system. Let us be honest about what is happening. A major reason people challenge fixed-charge notices in court is to avoid penalty points. Too often, they succeed because there are weaknesses in how offences are matched to driver numbers on the national driver and vehicle file. According to a Department of Transport review, approximately 1,500 people a year are getting away without any points being recorded. That is the problem we should be urgently solving. If we capture the driver number earlier in the process, ensure penalty points follow convictions properly and make it absolutely clear that offenders will not evade consequences, compliance rates will rise quickly.  Prioritising downstream constraints instead of fixing the root problems is not the right approach. Investing in court capacity, judges, clerks, registrars and digital integration is the right approach. I absolutely agree with the strategy that we must digitise documents, share information in real time and free garda\u00ed from unnecessary court attendance. That work does not need a camera strategy to begin. We know this work requires as much urgency as we can possibly bring to it. I know genuinely great work is happening but our road traffic incident numbers are higher than they should be. We must tackle that issue with every tool at our disposal. We are not just here to manage problems; we are here to solve them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  I wish I was here to welcome this with a sense of hope but this is not a strategy. It is a shortlist of options. People are dying on our roads. We are one of the only states in Europe that is going backwards in relation to road safety. In 2025, 21 people tragically died on the roads of Cork. In 2024, 18 died and seven died in 2021. These are horrific figures. Each of these people left behind a distraught family heartbroken with grief. Some families never come back from the heartache of a death like this. At the same time, the Minister of State has come in here today to provide five options. That is not a strategy. It is nothing short of an insult to those families and those who have died. We want to see real action and so do they. They want to see a real strategy that goes further and will help to prevent deaths. They do not want options. They want action.  This so-called strategy is 34 pages long and sets out five options. This could have been written at a rate of a page a week over the last two years. That is how long it took to put together and publish this strategy and to come up with five options and no clear actions. While this report was being worked on, 336 people died on our roads. It is heartbreaking.  There is another point I want to make. The first people on the scene of these tragedies are our front-line paramedics and ambulance drivers. They are the same people I was proud to stand with on the picket lines yesterday. They are not being valued by this Government. They are going to the scenes of these accidents and seeing the darkest days of people's lives. They are trying everything they can to save people or to show compassion. This Government is not showing compassion for anyone, however. Those workers deserve fair play and fair pay and conditions. I express my solidarity with them. I hope this Government will now step up and sort this out before there are any more strikes next week. From the bottom of my heart and on behalf of all of the people who are affected, I thank all of those people in the emergency services who go out to these accidents. They do unbelievable work. The Government needs to do more. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Carol Nolan  I welcome the publication of Ireland's first national camera safety strategy. Any measure that reduces speeding and saves lives on our roads is certainly worth considering in a constructive manner. Across the country, thousands of schools and communities will breathe a sigh of relief when they hear this news because far too many parents have their hearts in their mouths sending their children to school every morning.  Just yesterday, parents at Cloneyhurke National School contacted me with the shocking results of the school's green schools walkability audit. Some 97% of vehicles were breaking the 50 km\/h schooltime limit during drop-off. Some 83% were travelling at over 60 km\/h and some were recorded at over 100 km\/h. There is still no footpath between the school and the community hall. Children and parents are forced to walk on the road while cars block the hard shoulder. The road surface floods and the times on the signage are wrong. The situation is simply unacceptable. It certainly poses difficulties and risks in terms of children's safety.  Cameras will be welcomed by schools like Cloneyhurke National School but let us be honest. Cameras catch offenders but they do not build footpaths, resurface roads or install proper traffic calming measures. That is the glaring contradiction at the heart of this Government's approach. While the Department rolls out a national camera strategy, communities in Offaly have been left waiting years for basic road infrastructure. The Tullamore-Kilbeggan link road on the N52 is a case in point. For over a decade, we were told funding was in the pipeline. TII kept its grip on the money. Only recently, after ongoing pressure and the issue being raised by me in the Chamber many times, it has finally received approval and has been placed on the national development plan.  Road safety cannot be delivered by means of enforcement alone. We need cameras, but we also need concrete and proper infrastructure, particularly in the vicinity of schools where, in many cases, there are no footpaths. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  I welcome the opportunity to speak on this matter. I want to bring it down to what matters for north Dublin. The strategy is listed in the programme for Government. It sits at the centre of the road safety plan. It is fundamental and will protect lives. It is about the drivers, cyclists, pedestrians and families who have lost loved ones in the constituency I represent and nationally.  In recent months, Dublin Bay North has seen arson attack after arson attack. I would love for some of the CCTV footage to be used by Dublin City Council and garda\u00ed to protect the amenities that have been attacked. We fought for them. I would also welcome CCTV cameras outside schools. They help to protect children, but it is also about protecting the amenities for children. Two nights ago, a playground was attacked. Why are people attacking the communities? It makes no sense. In Coolock, we fought for a camera to be installed. In the Howth area, we got one installed. This is all in the past 12 months. In St. Anne\u2019s Park, public toilets were put in for young girls. Within two days, they were burnt down. That is inexcusable. CCTV, in conjunction with the national strategy, will be of benefit. When I have written about having cameras installed around clothes banks or areas where there is heavy traffic and risk to pedestrians, the GDPR is used as an excuse. I emailed about this in relation to CCTV and the Garda and received a reply to say that the GDPR does not prohibit the use of CCTV.  I welcome the work that is being done. My father was a traffic policeman for 35 years. I spoke to him about how it will help. He does respect that. Garda\u00ed need to be given the proper resources to correctly implement it. That is why it matters and gives us the framework for enforcement by garda\u00ed in the context of people who run red lights, the misuse of bus lanes and, crucially, public safety. Nobody wants a surveillance state. We do not want a Big Brother Ireland, but we do want to stop children\u2019s playgrounds in north Dublin being burnt down. We want to stop vans driving to Dollymount beach - a nature reserve - at 2 a.m. and dumping refuse. We also want to protect drivers and stop people recklessly driving on the roads while they are on their phones. I do welcome that.  We deserve better safety and better deterrence. I welcome the moves in that regard. I will continue to push constructively and to work with the Minister of State. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niall Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Niall Collins)  I thank the Deputies for their contributions and for their very useful comments during this debate on the National Safety Camera Strategy and the important topic of road safety more generally. Road safety is a matter which affects all of us, and every member of the public is entitled to feel safe on our roads. Far too many families and communities across the country continue to be affected by the devastating impact of road traffic collisions. I am sure we can all agree that road safety is an area where we all want to see improvements and most importantly a significant reduction in the number of deaths and serious injuries on our roads. In that regard, it is important that we see a return to the progress of previous years and that there is a reduction in the number of fatalities and serious injuries on our roads.  I would like to assure the D\u00e1il that this Government remains committed to delivering the Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030, with the ultimate goal of halving the number of fatalities and serious injuries on our roads by 2030. Meeting this ambitious goal will take us towards achieving Vision Zero by 2050. My colleague the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, provided an update on the phase 2 action plan under the road safety strategy for the period 2025 to 2017, which was published by the Department of Transport in July of last year. This action plan comprises 12 primary transformative actions and 77 support actions. I welcome the progress that has been made too date, in particular the publication of the National Safety Camera Strategy.  Road safety cameras are intended to be, first and foremost, a tool to support safety, prevention and behavioural change across the road network. The enhanced use of cameras across Ireland will encourage safer driving practices, reduce the number of collisions and protect road users by promoting compliance with road traffic laws. Enforcement measures only become necessary in circumstances where individuals fail to exercise due care and responsibility while driving. In this context, camera enforcement acts as an important safeguard to deter dangerous behaviours and reinforce a culture of road safety for all.  This is an ambitious action plan, but we need to be ambitious in order to reverse the upward trend in fatalities and serious injuries. Delivering the action plan is a collaborative effort involving my Department, together with An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, the Department of Transport, the Road Safety Authority, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, National Transport Authority, the Courts Service, Medical Bureau of Road Safety, the Health and Safety Authority and the local authorities. Deputies will note that there are many experts across a range of partners collaborating to take action and deliver positive road safety outcomes.  Road safety is a priority for the Garda Commissioner. An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na is committed to working with all road safety stakeholders to ensure that the number of fatalities and serious injuries on our roads is reduced. The Minister of State, Deputy Canney, reminded us of the four main causes of fatalities on our roads that have been consistent over time, namely speeding, distraction, not wearing a seat belt and intoxicated driving. Tackling these dangerous behaviours can be addressed through road safety education, public awareness campaigns and the enforcement of road traffic laws.  Over the recent May bank holiday weekend, An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na carried out an extensive roads policing operation, the results of which were quite emphatic. Almost 4,000 drivers were detected for speeding during the operation. A total of 165 were arrested for driving under the influence of an intoxicant and 300 were detected for holding a mobile phone or not wearing a seat belt. These trends cannot and must not continue. Everyone who gets behind the wheel of a car or who is a passenger in a car has a role to play in ensuring that they or those who are driving behave in a safe manner. Such a change in current behavioural trends would have a far greater long-term positive impact in affecting road safety if adopted by all of those who use the roads. Behaviours are key to creating safer roads across Ireland. We all have a role to play where road safety is concerned.  Ongoing enforcement is a very important aspect of the road safety strategy. In the modern world, it is important that we adopt a multifaceted approach to road safety enforcement. At the end of March, there were 695 garda\u00ed assigned to the roads policing unit. Of course, all garda\u00ed engage in the enforcement of roads policing as part of their duties. In fact, the majority of drug driving and drink driving checks are carried out by regular garda members.  Additional speed cameras and enhanced data sharing are key components of this multifaceted approach to road traffic law enforcement. As highlighted by the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, camera enforcement across the road network has been increasing since 2024. An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, with the assistance of TIl and local authorities, has deployed nine new static safety cameras across the road network as well as three new average speed cameras. Effective detection and enforcement of road traffic offences through the use of safety cameras will promote better and safer driver behaviour, which will help to reduce the number of fatalities and serious injuries on our roads. In addition, An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, through the mobile safety camera programme, delivered under contract by GoSafe, provides 9,000 hours of monitoring on our roads each month. This has increased from 7,500 hours in 2024. On 1 January last, An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na introduced 390 new safety camera zones, including 55 community request safety camera zones, bringing the total to 1,901 safety camera zones nationwide.  Increased data sharing is also having a positive impact on road safety. Every front-line Garda member now has a mobility device, which is essentially a mobile phone that allows them to access a number of specialised Garda apps at the roadside. These include the ability to issue a fixed charge notice, to check a vehicle's insurance status, if a vehicle is taxed and whether a driver is disqualified. These tasks can now be done within moments, without the need to return to the station making much better use of their time.  The statistics show that it is being widely and extensively used by garda\u00ed across the country as part of roads policing. An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na figures show that members of the force checked approximately 3.7 million vehicles via their mobile devices over the last full year. That is more than 10,000 vehicles per day. This year, members of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na had, on average, made inquiries in respect of approximately 360,000 vehicles per month to the end of March.  This information helps to enhance road safety. It also provides An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na with more comprehensive insight into any offences a driver may have committed, thereby making it more difficult for drivers who act illegally on Irish roads to evade detection.  The National Safety Camera Strategy sets out a new approach to the operation of safety cameras in Ireland. Up to now, the deployment of safety cameras across the road network has been the primary responsibility of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. Under the strategy, exclusive responsibility for the installation and maintenance of speed cameras will transition away from An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. A key strength of the new approach, as outlined in the strategy, is that it will ensure greater collaboration between road safety stakeholders, including An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, TII and the NTA, and build on well-established road safety expertise and relationships. By partnering with TII and the NTA, An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na will be able to focus its efforts on core policing, including enforcement activities, reducing time spent on the management of the road camera systems. These tasks are non-core policing work. Critically, the strategy has been developed to be scaleable, thereby allowing the introduction of camera-based enforcement of additional road traffic offences in future, such as mobile phone usage and people not wearing seat belts. This will further enhance An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na's enforcement capability in relation to deadly behaviours on our roads.  As outlined by the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, the camera enforcement oversight group, which will be delivery focused, will be responsible for implementing the national safety camera strategy. Senior leaders from An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na will work alongside leaders of the NTA, TII, the Road Safety Authority, the Courts Service and our local authorities. I am confident that this collaborative approach is the best approach to implementing the safety strategy, including a clear focus on the importance of enforcement of road traffic law. However, lasting progress cannot be made through enforcement alone. Success will require a strong and collaborative collective commitment from all road users to act responsibly, comply with road traffic laws and prioritise safety in every journey. Only through a shared responsibility approach can we create safe roads for everyone. I thank all the Deputies who made contributions to the debate. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar fionra\u00ed ar 4.12 p.m. agus cuireadh t\u00fas leis ar\u00eds ar 4.30 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Sitting suspended at 4.12 p.m. and resumed at 4.30 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"National Safety Camera Strategy: Statements"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-13\/debate\/dbsect_15","debateType":"billReport","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2025\/82","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2025\/82\/dail\/4_sub","houseCode":"dail","stage":"4_sub","isBillStage":false,"showAs":"Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na (Recording Devices) (Amendment) Bill 2025: Report and Final Stages (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na (Recording Devices) (Amendment) Bill 2025: Report and Final Stages","counts":{"speechCount":30,"speakerCount":5},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Amendments Nos. 1 and 4 are grouped together. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I move amendment No. 1:  In page 4, between lines 7 and 8, to insert the following:  \u201c \u2018crime against humanity\u2019 means any of the acts specified in Article 7 of the Statute of the International Criminal Court;  \u2018genocide\u2019 means any of the acts specified in Article 6 of the Statute of the International Criminal Court;  \u2018war crime\u2019 means any of the acts specified in Article 8.2 of the Statute of the International Criminal Court.\u201d.  Amendment No. 1 inserts these definitions. Amendment No. 4, which is a substantive amendment, reads:   Prohibition on procurement or use of certain technologies   43DA. (1) An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, the Minister, or any public body acting on their behalf shall not procure, license, contract for, deploy, or otherwise make operational use of any biometric analysis technology, surveillance technology, software, hardware, dataset, or related service supplied by\u2014  (a) a company incorporated, headquartered, or substantially operating in a state engaged in war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide,  (b) a subsidiary, affiliate, or parent undertaking of such a company, or  (c) any entity that develops, trains, sources, or operates biometric or surveillance systems using data, infrastructure, or technology originating a state engaged in war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide.  (2) For the purposes of this section, \u2018surveillance technology\u2019 includes any system capable of biometric analysis, facial recognition, behavioural categorisation, pattern of life analysis, or the processing of biometric data within the meaning of the Data Protection Act 2018.  (3) Any existing contract, memorandum of understanding, or procurement arrangement that contravenes subsection (1) shall not be renewed, extended, or varied, and shall be terminated at the earliest date ...  (4) Nothing in this section shall prevent the Minister from authorising the temporary retention of data or equipment solely for the purpose of evidential preservation ...  (5) No biometric data collected, processed, or retained under this Act shall be transferred to, processed by, or stored on any server, cloud service, or technological infrastructure\u2014  (a) located in a state engaged in war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide.  (b) controlled by an entity referred to in subsection (1), or  (c) operated using software, firmware, or backend systems originating in a state engaged in war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide.\u201d  The reason for these amendments is that banning the use of technology from states engaged in war crimes and genocide should not even be up for debate. It should be an absolute given. We know that An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na has used and is probably still using surveillance technology originating from the State of Israel. The record of Israel is highly problematic from both a national security perspective and because it is supporting a genocidal regime that uses this very technology to target Palestinians.  In 2023, for example, An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na paid \u20ac278,000 to Cognyte, an Israeli surveillance technology company. Its main product is an investigative analytics platform that uses AI, facial recognition and data aggregation to analyse communications, CCTV, social media and much more. The company has a really controversial history. Its tools have been used in Indonesia to monitor LGBT and religious minorities. They have been used in Myanmar and South Sudan for mass interception. A Brazilian investigation alleges that the Cognyte system was used under the Bolsonaro regime to track political opponents. The Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, cannot guarantee at present that this company's tools would not be used for the provisions under the recording devices Bill that we are discussing.  We also know that the Garda has paid hundreds of thousands of euro to an Israeli cyberdefence company that has worked with Israeli authorities to target Palestinians during the current genocide in Palestine. That company, Cellebrite, has deep links to the Israeli military and intelligence and has previously been criticised by many international groups for selling its technology to repressive governments. This company has been used by Israel to target Palestinians throughout the current genocide in Gaza. In 2021 alone, the Garda spent over \u20ac200,000 on that company's services.  While it is important that garda\u00ed have access to technology, including the deception technology required to detect and prosecute serious crimes, alternatives have to be found to using companies from states that are engaged in war crimes, genocide or crimes against humanity. Without enshrining this in law, I do not believe that will happen. The experience to date says it will not happen.  In 2024, the Government banned future purchases of military equipment from Israel due to the actions of the Israeli Government in Gaza, but this ban did not apply to An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. The acceptance of these amendments would mirror and be wholly consistent with the position that the Government has taken with respect to the purchase of military equipment by the Defence Forces. It would also be important - I want to stress this - that from a national security perspective, it would make absolutely no sense to procure this type of technology from a state that has been quite blatantly hostile to Ireland simply because this State has stood up against the crime of genocide that is occurring in Gaza.  I encourage and implore the Minister to accept amendments Nos. 1 and 4 so that we can enshrine their provisions in this legislation and ensure that we provide new powers to the Garda to procure equipment that will have very extensive capabilities while at the same time not assisting what is now by definition a rogue state. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Jim O'Callaghan)  I thank Deputy Carthy for these two amendments. We had an opportunity on Committee Stage to have a discussion on these amendments as well, but the Deputy is perfectly entitled to submit them again.  As the Leas-Ceann Comhairle will be aware, the purpose of this legislation is to provide a facility for An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na to engage in retrospective biometric analysis in terms of the work that it does and in terms of trying to speed up investigations for the purpose of identifying missing persons or locating individuals in a crowd when there is a large amount of CCTV footage. That is the primary purpose of this legislation.  What the Deputy is seeking to do is to put into primary legislation rules on procurement. In particular, he wants to rule out An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na entering into contracts with certain companies that are based in countries that have been adjudicated to have been involved in crimes against humanity or genocide. As I have said previously, however, procurement is governed by EU rules and national regulations and my view today is the same as it was when this matter came before us on Committee Stage, in that it would be inappropriate to duplicate these restrictions in primary legislation.  There are mandatory exclusion grounds where a tenderer has been convicted of one or more of the following offences: participation in a criminal organisation; corruption; fraud; terrorist offences or offences linked to terrorist activities; money laundering or terrorist financing; child labour; human trafficking-related offences; and the breach of tax or social security obligations.  Public procurement rules and regulations provide for a transparent, non-discriminatory process and there are sufficient rules and regulations in place in respect of existing guidelines. Procurement matters generally would not be a matter to be addressed in this Bill. In the case of any procurement of biometric technologies, there are requirements for providers and deployers of AI systems under the AI Act and An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na will look to its European counterparts when engaging in the procurement process for best practice in the area. I am satisfied that the Garda will seek to advance ethical considerations when it comes to procurement processes as well.  Deputy Carthy is seeking to target Israel because of the war crimes committed by it in Gaza and elsewhere.  I agree with him when he says that this State, through its Government, has stood up to the criminal genocide in Gaza. That is correct. Obviously, it has resulted in Israel having a negative view of Ireland on the basis that we are standing up for what we believe is a rules-based international system and ensuring we have an orderly resolution of disputes. Nonetheless, having said that, it would be inappropriate to include rules in respect of procurement in primary legislation. For that reason, I am adopting the same position as I did on Committee Stage, which is that I cannot accept these amendments. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  The difficulty is that we know An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na has purchased this type of equipment from companies that have close relationships with the Israeli regime. The current legal position is that this can continue. The Minister mentioned that we did not need to put this in primary legislation, but since Committee Stage up to now, I do not understand why the Minister did not cut this off at the pass by introducing these types of provision by regulation, as has been the case in respect of the Defence Forces. The Minister should answer to the House as to why he has not done that.  In the absence of such a move, the only inference that can be taken is that there must be at least the interest in keeping the option of the Garda using companies that are engaged and collaborating in a genocide for the purpose of purchasing material that will ultimately be used to carry out biometric recognition in respect of Irish citizens. That is deeply concerning. For that reason, this House should put on the record where it stands on this issue. This will come back to bite the Government if it does not accept this amendment or bring forward the regulations that would provide the comfort. This is not just in respect of Israel. It is in respect of Russia and any other state that is engaged in activities that are declared by the International Criminal Court, ICC, to be either genocide or war crimes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  As Deputy Carthy will be aware, under section 3 of the 2023 Act, there is a provision that enables me to make regulations in respect of provisions contained within the legislation. Obviously, I cannot make regulations now in respect of an amendment that is not yet part of the legislation. Nonetheless, I am aware of the powers that I have under section 3. It is a matter that I will give consideration to, but we need to recognise that there are rules in place to deal with procurement. It is not appropriate to put this into primary legislation, such as the legislation we are dealing with here about the ability of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na to use biometric retrospective analysis. It would be inappropriate in that legislation to put in a provision that talks about with whom An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na may enter into contracts. I am aware of the point being made by Deputy Carthy and I am aware of the powers I have under section 3. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  We are dealing with a Bill that would, for the first time, allow what we all hope would be the appropriate use of biometric recognition technology in order to assist our police force in tackling serious crime, security matters and missing persons cases. Most people in the House recognise that, for those serious issues, there is a need for the use of that type of technology. However, there is also a consensus that we have to ensure appropriate safeguards because we have seen how this type of technology has been abused internationally. A number of states have used this type of technology for aggressive reasons. They have used it to either spy on their own citizenry on an ongoing basis or pursue war crimes and breaches of international law.  To be clear, with this amendment, we are just putting in one of the necessary safeguards to ensure that we do not allow technology to be supplied by companies that collaborate with states engaged in war crimes or genocide. As I said at the outset, that should not even be up for debate. I thought the Minister would have welcomed and adopted that. My real concern is that while the Minister has said, as he did on Committee Stage, that this is something he will give consideration to by way of regulation, he has not assured this House that he will be pursuing that route. It is for those reasons that I will be pressing the amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I move amendment No. 2:  In page 6, after line 40, to insert the following:  \u201c(3A) A member of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na shall not deploy biometric analysis unless authorised in advance by a member of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na not below the rank of Chief Superintendent, who shall record in writing the grounds of necessity and proportionality for such deployment.\u201d.  This amendment was discussed on Committee Stage. It seeks to ensure that there are safeguards in terms of how this technology can be used and, crucially, to ensure that there is no overreach, by ensuring that the deployment of biometric analysis or facial recognition must be authorised in advance by a garda not below the rank of chief superintendent. As I said during the previous discussions on this Bill, we know that garda\u00ed have faced disciplinary processes for misuse of the PULSE system in the past, for example. There was one particularly horrendous case in which a former garda was ultimately jailed for inciting strangers to rape a colleague. That type of situation is in the minority. It is something that does not happen and we would not expect to happen. The individual pleaded guilty to the unauthorised disclosure of Garda PULSE personal data on 14 different individuals. While it is important to say, as I mentioned, that such misuses would only ever relate to a very tiny minority, it does point to a misuse of the PULSE system and, in my view, reinforces the need to ensure we have proper protections in place to ensure that when we are adopting new technologies that they are only used when appropriate, that they are properly authorised and that they are absolutely necessary for the investigation of serious crimes or missing persons or matters of that nature. It is appropriate that we would set an appropriate level of Garda rank who could authorise that and in my view the authorisation should come from a chief superintendent or above. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  I will be supporting this amendment and a similar one tabled by Deputy Kelly. We all appreciate that An Garda needs tools to investigate serious crime, find missing people of people and protect the public. Nobody on this side of the House will ever dispute that. However, our job is to make sure that when we hand these tools over we do so in a way that is legally sound. The Bill introduces a new concept of biometric analysis which is defined across three limbs in section 43A. The first allows garda\u00ed to automatically recognise and categorise physical features of individuals generally from footage gathered in an investigation. The second allows them to track particular unidentified persons across that footage. The third allows them to locate particular identified persons using the same process.  The Bill carefully avoids using the language of the EU AI Act, but the EU AI Act does not care what we call things; it cares what we do. What these powers do - in particular the first limb - is categorise people on the basis of their biometric data, namely, skin colour, hair colour, eye colour and body shape. By any plain reading, that is a biometric categorisation within the meaning of the AI Act. The AI Act is not aspirational. Rather, it is binding and it is explicit that biometric categorisation systems used by law enforcement are classified as high-risk AI systems. This classification carries with it a suite of mandatory obligations under Articles 26 and 27. These are obligations on the deployer, which in this case is An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. Those obligations include: ensuring human oversight by personnel with the necessary skills, training and authority; monitoring the system for risks to fundamental rights; suspending use of the system if such a risk arises; maintaining logs for a minimum of six months and carrying out a data protection impact assessment and, under Article 27, conducting a detailed fundamental rights impact assessment before deploying the system and sharing results with the market surveillance authority.  I did raise this on Committee Stage and I was told that the code of practice would deal with it. I want to gently but firmly push back on that. A code of practice prepared by the Garda Commissioner and reviewed every five years is not an adequate substitute for statutory obligations enshrined in primary legislation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I thank Deputy Carthy for his amendment and Deputy Gannon for his contribution. As I said at the outset, the purpose of this legislation is to provide an additional tool to An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na in order to expedite its investigations. This is not a tool that will be used for the purpose of putting evidence before a court to convict a person of a criminal offence. It is an instrument that will be of benefit to garda\u00ed when they are going through very significant amounts of CCTV footage. As I said previously on Committee Stage, this amendment would, in my opinion, make the system incapable of effective operation. As I said, the garda\u00ed will be assisted by this provision in sorting and filtering data in order that a human reviewer can narrow down avenues of investigation.  Let us take an example of where biometric analysis will be of considerable assistance to An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. This is in investigations of child sexual abuse material. As an aside, I should say that earlier today I was at the launch of the annual report of the Irish Internet Hotline. It is an excellent report, but it does reveal the extent to which child sexual abuse material is being derived, accessed and used by people in Ireland. It is something we need to be constantly vigilant about and ensure that we have a very strong ability within An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na to investigate it and prosecute it. If we take the example of a child sexual abuse material investigation, there could be thousands of images over which biometric analysis could be performed. If the approach in the amendment were to be adopted, it would require the biometric analysis of each image to be approved by a chief superintendent. We would clearly lose valuable time seeking authorisations. We would lose time identifying vulnerable victims and waste valuable Garda time. I regret to say it would make no operational sense to proceed in the manner proposed by the amendment.  Identifiable persons will be responsible for not only reviewing the footage or images, but responsible for any decisions made in the course of an investigation. Biometric analysis could aid investigators by finding all instances of a distinctive facial feature or scar in what can be hundreds of thousands of images or videos on a single seized device. All searching proposed in this Bill is for investigative leads only. It has the potential to group relevant images together, so a person can either review the footage or have a starting point for that review. Inserting an authorisation process for the carrying out of biometric analysis, as is suggested by this amendment, would, in my opinion, be unnecessary. This, as I said, is a decision-support tool with clear safeguards set out in the Bill, including approval by both Houses for a code of practice. Biometric analysis could be used to search for general biometric characteristics for an unidentified victim, a suspect, a person who is a threat to the security of the State or indeed a missing person. However, there are also conditions that must be met in order for those searches to be permitted and these include that it has to be necessary and proportionate in the context of a specific criminal investigation into serious offences, offences which have penalties of five years or more, a matter relating to national security, or in a missing person investigation. It can also only be used on documents gathered in the context of that investigation. An authorisation does need to be reserved for the most intrusive use in cases. The Bill is about using technology to aid investigative work, not to replace it.  For those reasons, I cannot accept Deputy Carthy's amendment.  I note what Deputy Gannon said in respect of the EU AI Act. I want to emphasise again that the Bill will be in line with EU law. The Commission guidelines for high-risk AI systems are still in drafting and have been reviewed by member states with feedback provided. These will include a list of practical examples of use cases of AI systems that are high risk or not high risk. While the guidelines will act as an interpretive tool in understanding how to implement the AI Act, the European Court of Justice will be the ultimate arbiter of the AI Act and its provisions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  I should say that we are not raising these issues to obstruct. We are raising the issues because there is the potential for quite clear legal vulnerabilities here. The Bill, as it is presented to us and as we can see before us, has brought suggestions from some organisations that there are some violations of the AI Act and EU regulations. We can only scrutinise what is in front of us as it is presented to us. With regard to the use of this technology, particularly in some of the cases the Minister outlined of the most serious nature where we want prosecution if a person is found to be guilty, we do not want to leave legal loopholes that people can use to remove themselves from prosecution because the tools that have been used by the State to establish guilt are being seen as a breach of an EU law. That is the vulnerability I am highlighting. I am not sure from the Minister's answer if that will be addressed in the legislation that actually gives confidence to what we are doing here today. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I am not entirely reassured by the Minister's assurances. He talks about a code of practice which this House will have no hand, act or part in developing. His own Department and his office, in particular, since he has taken office have been incredibly reluctant to provide information to the Members of this House on how decisions are made or how matters relating to the outworkings of legislation actually work in practice. I would have thought this would be a fairly standard safeguard to ensure the public could be assured that, before this type of technology is utilised, it is actually approved by a senior garda. The question then is at which rank that should be. We have indicated in this amendment that it should be chief superintendent. I think that is eminently reasonable. To talk about a code of practice that may or may not have adequate or even stronger safeguards ultimately does not provide the assurances this House should have before we pass legislation that will, ultimately, convey substantial new powers to An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I just want to clarify. I am certainly not suggesting that any of the Deputies here are highlighting issues for the purpose of obstructing the legislation or, indeed, trying to obstruct the work of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. Deputies are highlighting issues that are of concern to them. Similarly, however, in responding to them I have to be able to say be able to say how I think in practice the amendment, if enacted, would impact An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. My view is that if this amendment was enacted, it would have a very negative operational impact on the force because of the fact that we are dealing with images that can come in bundles of hundreds or thousands. If we are going to have a chief superintendent who has to authorise each one of them before biometric analysis can take place, that is going to have a very limiting impact on the work of the Garda. In fact, the likelihood is that it will just become a paper-signing exercise or a box-ticking exercise and it would undermine the whole purpose of the real measures that are going to be put in place to ensure there is proper oversight.  Deputy Carthy said he did not gain much confidence from the code of practice. He should reserve his comments in respect of that because a code of practice setting out procedures surrounding the use of retrospective biometric analysis will be laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas. It will be subject to debate and resolutions being passed. It will be published as a statutory instrument, making it a publicly available document. Human rights and data protection impact assessments will be required as part of the procedure for drafting a code of practice. In respect of the code, the Garda Commissioner, as is the case with the current codes of practice under the principal Act, will have to consult with several bodies listed in section 47A, which is to be inserted by section 10 in this Bill, and publish the code for views prior to adoption. There is, therefore, a whole statutory mechanism to ensure there is oversight and engagement in respect of the finalisation of those codes of practice.  Where garda\u00ed are deploying a high-risk AI system, there will be criteria to be fulfilled more generally under the AI Act for deployers, as I mentioned earlier, and the providers of systems will also have to fulfil certain criteria. Notwithstanding this, the Data Protection Acts will continue to apply, as set out in section 4 of the principal Act. There is also oversight whereby a High Court judge will be required to report to the Taoiseach annually on the code. There is a huge amount of oversight there. I believe it is sufficient to ensure there is public confidence in the work that is being done by An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na should this provision be enacted. I have to say, however, that I remain opposed to the amendment we are discussing now because I think it would have a very negative impact operationally on the work of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I will make a couple of comments in conclusion. The Minister knows full well that nobody is suggesting that there would be individual authorisation for every single image, for every still and video. The amendment does not suggest that at all. It states that it would be authorised in advance by a chief superintendent or higher and that there would be a written record of the grounds for necessity and proportionality. That would negate the suggestion that this would become just a rubber-stamping exercise. The amendment is eminently sensible in my view. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared lost."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I move amendment No. 3:  In page 8, between lines 12 and 13, to insert the following:   \u201cProcessing and storage of data   43DA. Biometric data processed under this Act shall\u2014  (a) be retained only for the minimum period strictly necessary,  (b) be stored and processed exclusively on servers located within the European Union,  (c) not be accessible to private contractors, and  (d) be deleted immediately once no longer required for the purpose for which it was collected.\u201d.  This amendment is about ensuring that there can be full public confidence. I think there is broad recognition that this type of technology will become an important and useful mechanism to An Garda in its work of tackling serious crime, dealing with security matters and particularly, hopefully, in respect of missing person cases. I will state again, however, that the public will want to be assured that there are safeguards in terms of how and when this technology will be used. This amendment seeks to ensure that we have full protection in terms of where the data is processed and stored and to ensure that such data is only stored for the necessary period. As we permit the use of this kind of technology in assisting garda\u00ed to do their job of detecting crime and catching criminals, we also need to ensure there are safeguards in terms of what is being processed and for how long it is being held. That is what this amendment simply does. I believe it is important because without this type of amendment there is going to be some public concern about the deployment of this type of technology. This amendment is a way of negating that in a way that does not disrupt the intention of the Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I thank Deputy Carthy for this amendment. As the subheading to it indicates, it is a processing amendment. I want to point out, however, that a processing provision is already provided for and the wording proposed for this section will be governed by the code of practice. The provisions of the recording devices Act are without prejudice to the requirements of the Data Protection Acts. The general principles of data protection are set out in those Acts and the processing of data, including access, retention, storage, deletion or destruction of data, will be supplemented by the code of practice. I ask Deputy Carthy to look at section 47A, which is on page ten of the Bill and, in particular, subsections (2) and (3) of that section. Subsection (2) states:  [the] draft code of practice shall include provisions relating to-  [...]  (b) parameters for use of biometric analysis, including geographical and, subject to section 43C(7), temporal limits of such use,  (c) the confidentiality, security, storage, access, retention, erasure and destruction of data obtained as a result of the operation of Part 6A,  It specifically includes, in subsection (2), reference to data, and also subsection (3)(b) refers to \"different types of biometric data and biometric analysis\", and \"different categories of persons or data (including biometric data)\".  The issue is referred to and covered already in the Bill. There is, as I say, a provision there regarding the destruction or deletion of data where it does not result in the recognition or categorisation of a person. I also emphasise that the power provided for in this Bill is for An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na only. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared lost."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I move amendment No. 4:  In page 8, between lines 12 and 13, to insert the following:   \"Prohibition on procurement or use of certain technologies   43DA. (1) An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, the Minister, or any public body acting on their behalf shall not procure, license, contract for, deploy, or otherwise make operational use of any biometric analysis technology, surveillance technology, software, hardware, dataset, or related service supplied by\u2014  (a) a company incorporated, headquartered, or substantially operating in a state engaged in war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide,  (b) a subsidiary, affiliate, or parent undertaking of such a company, or  (c) any entity that develops, trains, sources, or operates biometric or surveillance systems using data, infrastructure, or technology originating a state engaged in war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide.  (2) For the purposes of this section, 'surveillance technology' includes any system capable of biometric analysis, facial recognition, behavioural categorisation, pattern of life analysis, or the processing of biometric data within the meaning of the Data Protection Act 2018.  (3) Any existing contract, memorandum of understanding, or procurement arrangement that contravenes subsection (1) shall not be renewed, extended, or varied, and shall be terminated at the earliest date permissible under contract law.  (4) Nothing in this section shall prevent the Minister from authorising the temporary retention of data or equipment solely for the purpose of evidential preservation, forensic examination, or legal compliance, provided that no further operational use is made of such technology.  (5) No biometric data collected, processed, or retained under this Act shall be transferred to, processed by, or stored on any server, cloud service, or technological infrastructure\u2014  (a) located in a state engaged in war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide.  (b) controlled by an entity referred to in subsection (1), or  (c) operated using software, firmware, or backend systems originating in a state engaged in war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide.\". "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  I move amendment No. 5:  In page 8, between lines 15 and 16, to insert the following:  \u201c(ab) contravenes section 43C(1);\u201d.  The Bill is drafted on the basis that what is not permitted remains prohibited. Checking a person's image against a database of images seems to remain prohibited. It seems the only way to emphasise this is to make it an offence. The Bill already criminalises falsifying, concealing or destroying information obtained by biometric analysis. It does not, however, state that a contravention of the Bill itself is an offence. The purpose of this amendment to make it an offence without lawful authority or reasonable excuse knowingly to contravene section 43C(1), which states: \"A member of Garda personnel shall not carry out biometric analysis other than in accordance with this Part and any applicable code of practice.\"  The last time we spoke on this, the Minister said he would look at it and consider it. I await his response. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I did look at it and I am opposed to the amendment for the following reason. I am conscious that the Deputy wants to make it a criminal offence if a garda should access or use biometric analysis other than in accordance with the legislation. That would mean that a garda could be prosecuted in circumstances where the mistake was inadvertent or where something was done which did not reach the culpable level that would merit a criminal prosecution. Like the Deputy, I do not want to see garda\u00ed unnecessarily or unfairly prosecuted. If this provision was included in the Act, there would be a requirement on the DPP or whoever is investigating it to say there is a breach of the Act because even if it was an inadvertent breach of the rules in respect of biometric analysis, there was nonetheless a breach of the rules.  The offence provision follows on from what is set out in principal Act and focuses on the falsification, concealment, destruction or unauthorised disposal of information. These are offences that could have significant consequences for people if information were destroyed or concealed. That is what is criminalised in the proposed legislation at present. The Deputy's amendment would ensure that any inadvertent use would be subject to criminal penalties when it would be far more appropriate that such activity be considered in a disciplinary context and by the various authorities that oversee An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na.  I understand the intention of the amendment, but I do not see that making Garda personnel subject to an offence for inadvertent use is good policy here. As a result, I cannot accept the amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  I will not press the amendment. I accept the Minister's response. This is something that may need to be narrowed down and looked at. Something that is inadvertent would, by and large, be acceptable, but something that is deliberate would not. This may be a matter that we can return to at a later stage. On the basis of the Minister\u2019s reply, I will not press the amendment. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment, by leave, withdrawn."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I move amendment No. 6:  In page 9, between lines 36 and 37, to insert the following:  \u201c10. The Minister shall ensure that no national deployment of biometric categorisation technologies shall occur until a pilot programme has been completed and independently evaluated, including assessments of\u2014  (a) accuracy and error rates,  (b) discriminatory impacts,  (c) compliance with data protection law, and  (d) impacts on privacy and fundamental rights,  and the evaluation shall be laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas.\u201d.  The amendment follows on from the roll-out of other technology used by garda\u00ed, including body cameras. It would be eminently sensible that, prior to the full deployment of new technology, we would have a pilot programme. Such a programme would ensure that we end up with technology that is accurate and effective and that any issues which need to be identified are identified at an early stage and can be addressed prior to the wider roll-out. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I thank Deputy Carthy for his amendment. As he indicated, he wants to put into legislation that a pilot programme should be carried out before biometric analysis is commenced by An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. As I mentioned on Committee Stage, the putting in place of a pilot scheme for the roll-out of any new technology is an operational matter for the Garda Commissioner and is not appropriate to this Bill. For instance, regarding the use of body cameras, which Deputy Carthy mentioned, or the use of Tasers, the Commissioner has introduced them through the use of a pilot project. That type of technology is used operationally on the ground by An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na in communities.  Garda\u00ed have not yet procured this type of technology. Accuracy will be a decisive factor in any decision made. As I mentioned previously, garda\u00ed will look to their European counterparts during the procurement process because these types of tools are in use in other EU states. The code of practice procedure already requires the Commissioner to conduct data protection and human rights impact assessments before the deployment of any technology. Therefore, I do not think a pilot programme, whether it is necessary or not, should be put into primary legislation. For that reason, I cannot support the amendment. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared lost."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Amendments Nos. 7 to 9, inclusive, are related and may be discussed together, by agreement. Is that agreed? Agreed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I move amendment No. 7:  In page 10, between lines 16 and 17, to insert the following:  \u201c(ba) clear and specific limits on the circumstances in which biometric analysis or biometric categorisation may be used, including prohibitions on use for general surveillance, population level monitoring, or speculative searches,  (bb) objective thresholds and evidential standards that must be met before any biometric analysis may be initiated,  (bc) safeguards to prevent disproportionate or discriminatory impacts, including mandatory risk assessment procedures,  (bd) technical and operational parameters governing accuracy, reliability, and error rate thresholds, and  (be) mandatory documentation, authorisation procedures and audit trails to ensure accountability and prevent misuse,\u201d.  Amendment No. 8 proposes to insert the following into the Bill:  In page 11, between lines 22 and 23, to insert the following:  \u201c(5A) When making an order under subsection (5), the Minister shall lay the code of practice, together with an explanatory memorandum outlining the safeguards, limitations and parameters governing the use of biometric analysis and biometric categorisation, before each House of the Oireachtas.\u201d.  With respect to amendment No. 7, in response to a previous amendment, we heard the Minister cite the code of practice. Much is left to the code of practice regarding the potential concerns that people have, but there is no real clarification as to what the parameters of the code of practice will be. Therefore, it is important that we have some detail on the safeguards, data limits, oversight and practical uses within the overarching legislation. The section on the code of practice gives far too much discretion to the Garda Commissioner, who drafts, amends and controls the consultation process relating to the codes that regulate Garda powers. Safeguards are not fixed in the legislation, which leaves crucial questions unanswered. The additions in amendment No. 7 would strengthen the requirements in relation to the code of practice by requiring strict limits, objective evidential thresholds, anti-discrimination safeguards, technical accuracy safeguards and full authorisation, thereby ensuring that biometric powers would remain properly controlled and that there would be transparency and accountability.  Amendment No. 8 is complementary to Committee Stage amendment No. 16. It proposes a requirement that the code of practice be laid before the D\u00e1il and deals with the safeguards to which I referred earlier.  With regard to the first review of the code of practice, amendment No. 9 suggests a change from five years to two. After the initial review, five years is fine. However, five years is too long to wait for the first review of the code of practice. The amendment is clear and sensible. It does not upset the apple cart. There will be five-year reviews, but the first review should take place after two years. When talking about a new technology, there are, as already discussed, many potential issues that may arise. Unless amendment No. 7 is adopted, the answer to the question as to where the code will end up is very cloudy. It is critical that this House stipulates in legislation that after the first two years, there will be a comprehensive review. The reviews will take place on a five-year basis thereafter, as the legislation currently stipulates. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I thank Deputy Carthy for tabling these three amendments. One of the things that is noticeable when looking at this type of legislation, which involves data, is that there is a huge amount of legislation in place at present outside of the recording devices Act of 2023. I am referring in particular to the Data Protection Acts. Those Acts contain prohibitions on mass surveillance, indiscriminate searches and utilising biometrics. I do not believe amendment No. 7 is necessary because a lot of what it deals with is already prohibited under the Data Protection Acts. It is not good legislative practice to duplicate existing statutory powers.  Section 4 of the principal Act notes that the provisions of the recording devices Act are without prejudice to the provisions of the Data Protection Acts 1988 to 2018. This will also apply to Part 6A, which is being inserted by section 10. There is an express provision that states that the recording devices Act is without prejudice to what is in the Data Protection Acts. There are also clear limitations on searching already set out in section 43C. That information must be in the context of, among other things, a specific investigation.  As stated, the code of practice provisions already set out what needs to be included in a code. These include provisions relating to procedures, confidentiality, security, storage, access, retention and parameters for use. The code can also set out different provisions in relation to types of biometric data or the circumstances in which biometric analysis can be carried out. As a result, I cannot accept amendment No. 7. Amendment No. 8 is also not considered necessary because section 47A sets out what is to be included in the code of practice. This includes the parameters for the carrying out of biometric analysis. The code of practice for the carrying out of such analysis will be laid before the Houses. This means that the Houses will have the opportunity to scrutinise the code alongside what is required under the provisions in section 47A.  In the context of amendment No. 9, Deputy Carthy is proposing to change the initial review period from five years to two years. As I said on Committee Stage, setting this at five years aligns with the principal Act. We can already see how involved the process of drafting a code of practice is. The requirements for assessments and consultation make it a lengthy and detailed process and would further delay the roll-out of what I believe is an essential, necessary digital tool for An Garda. A code may need to be reviewed earlier than the five years and there is nothing preventing this from happening in the Bill. For that reason, I cannot accept the amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I will make a quick point in respect of amendment No. 9. The review will take place after the roll-out. Any delays in the initial roll-out will not affect the review - and that is not suggested or implied in any way - from the enactment of this legislation to the roll-out. The Bill currently states that following the initial roll-out, the review will take place after five years. There is nothing in the Bill to prevent a review taking place earlier. What is critically important for public confidence, however, is that people know that once this legislation is in place, there will be a swift opportunity to analyse its effectiveness. I strongly believe that this would be more appropriately done after two years rather than five. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared lost."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I move amendment No. 8:  In page 11, between lines 22 and 23, to insert the following:  \u201c(5A) When making an order under subsection (5), the Minister shall lay the code of practice, together with an explanatory memorandum outlining the safeguards, limitations and parameters governing the use of biometric analysis and biometric categorisation, before each House of the Oireachtas.\u201d. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared lost."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I move amendment No. 9:  In page 11, line 31, to delete \u201c5 years\u201d and substitute \u201c2 years\u201d. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared lost."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Amendments Nos. 10 and 11 are related and may be discussed together. Amendment No. 11 is a physical alternative to amendment No. 10. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I move amendment No. 10:   \u201c11. Section 49 of the Principal Act is amended\u2014   (a) by the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (3):  \u201c(3) The functions of the designated judge are to\u2014  (a) keep under review the operation of Parts 3, 6 and 6A in so far as each of them has come into operation, and  (b) report to the Taoiseach from time to time and at least once every 12 months concerning any matters relating to that operation, including the impact of such operation on human rights, that the designated judge considers should be reported.\u201d,  and  (b) in subsection (6), by the insertion of \u201cor disclose the personal data relating to an individual\u201d after \u201csecurity of the State\u201d.\u201d.  This amendment arises on foot of an amendment tabled by Deputy Kelly on Committee Stage, which, in effect, I am accepting. However, I have rejigged the wording in order to give what the Deputy proposed what we would regard as a more effective meaning in terms of its presentation. I tabled amendment No. 10 having considered the amendment put forward by Deputy Kelly on Committee Stage and again now. His amendment asks that the designated judge consider whether Part 3, which deals with ANPR, or Part 6, which deals with third-party CCTV, or Part 6A, which deals with biometric analysis, operate in a manner calculated to secure \"confidence in the impartial performance of policing functions, without disproportionate impact on persons of particular national or ethnic origins\". Using the words \"national or ethnic origins\" would have left it unclear as to how this could be measure for those Parts. That is why the proposal I have come with involves a slight change to Deputy Kelly's wording.  We should assess the impact on the human rights of the person. That will allow judges to focus on the operational effect of the Parts relating to human rights, something that will also be assessed by An Garda through the human rights impact assessment during the development of codes of practice for those Parts. I thank Deputy Kelly for bringing forward his amendment. His intention in amendment No. 11 is that the human rights of individuals should be assessed by judges. That is being done, although the only real change is that I have not limited it to the national or ethnic origins. I have adopted a broader approach, but human rights will contemplate someone's national or ethnic origins. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  This is a rarity, but I thank the Minister. It is not very often that, in effect, a Minister accepts an amendment from the Opposition, particularly on a Bill that is quite technical. I acknowledge that. Even though this is technically not my amendment, it reflects the spirit of the amendment I tabled. I acknowledge the fact that it is the Labour Party's amendment and my amendment. I do accept what the Minister is saying in relation to how he has constructed a revision of what I put forward and broadened it out to go past the issue of national or ethnic origins and focus on the broader human rights issue. I thank him sincerely for accepting the spirit of the original amendment. It was put forward for the right reason, namely to ensure that people will be protected no matter where they come from or their background. On that basis, I will not move amendment No. 11. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment No. 11 not moved."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Bill, as amended, received for final consideration and passed."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar fionra\u00ed ar 5.57 p.m. agus cuireadh t\u00fas leis ar\u00eds ar 6.02 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Sitting suspended at 5.57 p.m. and resumed at 6.02 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na (Recording Devices) (Amendment) Bill 2025: Report and Final Stages"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-13\/debate\/dbsect_24","debateType":"billCommittee","bill":null,"showAs":"Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026: Instruction to Committee","counts":{"speechCount":11,"speakerCount":5},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Defence (Deputy Helen McEntee)  I move:  That Standing Order 194 is modified in accordance with Standing Order 241(2) to provide that it be an instruction to the Select Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, in relation to the Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026, that the Committee has power to make amendments to the Bill which are outside the scope of the existing subject matter of the Bill in order to make amendments to the Defence Act 1954, in order to provide for certain powers of the Defence Forces in relation to:  a) safeguarding, protecting and defending the security of the State by the Defence Forces in certain circumstances arising in the territorial sea or internal waters of the State or where there is a risk to the sovereign rights and jurisdiction of the State in the exclusive economic zone;  b) the deployment of members of the Defence Forces in aid of the civil power; and  c) the protection of military installations by the Defence Forces;  and to change the title of the Bill and make other consequential amendments required to take account of the changes above.  I thank the House for the opportunity to discuss this motion to include relatively short but important amendments to the Defence Act 1954 on Committee Stage of the Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, which is scheduled for 19 May. I am progressing these amendments as a matter of urgency as it is a priority for me and all of us to ensure that the Defence Forces have the powers they need to respond to emerging threats in our waters, especially from vessels linked to the Russian shadow fleet. We are all concerned about the threats they present to our critical underwater infrastructure which provide vital support for our energy and communications sectors. I am also conscious, with our upcoming Presidency of the European Union, that I want to ensure we have the necessary provisions in place to respond to these threats, including clarity on the use of force by members of the Defence Forces.  The purpose of these amendments to the Defence Act 1954 is to help to protect and defend our territorial seas and internal waters and protect the sovereign rights of the State in our exclusive economic zone; to make provision for the long-standing role of the Defence Forces in aid of the civil power; and enhance the protection of military installations. The maritime security-related amendments are particularly relevant in today\u2019s increasingly volatile geopolitical situation, which is resulting in new and evolving threats in the maritime domain. We need to make sure we are able to respond to these threats as they emerge. This includes providing the Defence Forces with the specific necessary legislative tools they need to protect our critical undersea infrastructure.  As an island nation we are reliant on this critical infrastructure. Many major undersea cables land on our shores, come across the Atlantic and transit through our exclusive economic zone. They carry significant amounts of global Internet traffic and financial data. From an energy perspective, they are absolutely critical for us. Our energy sector is heavily supported by subsea gas pipelines and electricity interconnectors. This infrastructure is vulnerable to hybrid threats, as it is in any other ocean. In broad terms, this legislation will provide the Defence Forces with stand-alone statutory powers that will include the power to use force that is reasonable, proportionate and necessary in order to safeguard, protect and defend the security of the State in the maritime domain. This is to ensure they have stand-alone statutory powers. At the moment, they are working to other legislation from other Departments.  In practical terms, this proposed legislation will allow, for example, the captain of one of our State\u2019s naval ships to have the power to hail, board, search, re-direct or otherwise frustrate and delay those ships suspected of engaging in non-innocent passage in the seas around our island. The proposed legislation also provides for the Chief of Staff to provide guidance on the exercise of these new powers. This guidance will, of course, be developed with the consent of the Minister, where appropriate, in consultation with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade insofar as the guidance relates to the application of international law at sea.  Let me also make it clear that these legislative proposals do not provide for any prosecutions, arrests or detention of vessels. I have asked my Department to undertake a comprehensive review of all maritime security-related legislation that is envisaged as part of the new national maritime security strategy that I launched at the end of February, and I will bring forward further legislation in this space if it is required. I am bringing this forward now because I believe it is important we have specific legislation for the Defence Forces enacted as soon as possible. I am satisfied that this legislation is proportionate and that it will address the urgent needs of the Defence Forces when they are carrying out operations at sea. I also think it is important we have these legislative amendments in order that we can respond to other potential challenges with our naval fleet, particularly with the shadow fleet when it comes to an environmental challenge.  Let me now turn to the other defence-related amendments. The proposed new section 40B of the Defence Act 1954 will make express provision in primary legislation for the long-standing role of the Defence Forces when they assist An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, which is referred to in the Defence Acts as the aid to civil power. This new section sets out the legislative framework under which members of the Defence Forces may be deployed in aid to civil power. It also clarifies that a member of the Defence Forces deployed in the aid to civil power is authorised to use such force as is proportionate, necessary and reasonable when deployed on such duties. This is a necessary provision to clarify the powers of a member of the Defence Forces in such circumstances.  It is important to note that there is ongoing and continuous close liaison between An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and the Defence Forces regarding security matters, including aid of civil power deployments. In any given year there can be in excess of 3,000 aid of civil power operations. These range from explosive ordnance calls to cash-in-transit escorts. The new section 40B of the Defence Act 1954 will replace existing provisions concerning aid of the civil power as set out in Defence Force Regulations. Finally, the proposed new section 40C of the Defence Act 1954 sets out the powers that may be exercised by a member of the Defence Forces for the protection of military installations.  There will be an opportunity for detailed engagement on the text of the amendments on Committee Stage. I would appreciate Deputies' support on progressing these important amendments to the Defence Acts as expeditiously as possible. I commend this motion to the House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I am used to dealing with the Minister for justice and I am used to dealing with convoluted ways of dealing with matters. There is clearly a habit of limiting democratic oversight and scrutiny of this House in announcing and bringing forward proposals at short notice; minimising the period of time for debate; guillotining important legislation; and moving things from committees to this Chamber rather than allowing the detailed scrutiny of legislation. However, this is probably the most bizarre stroke pulled yet, where we have a Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill that is dealing with a myriad of issues. There was already quite an amount of criticism from many stakeholders that a number of very distinct issues were in a single piece of legislation, and then we find out on a Monday that Government is actually bringing forward an additional change in the law that has nothing to do with criminal law, nothing to do with civil law and nothing to do with Jim O'Callaghan's Department at all, but is actually a defence amendment.  I hear what the Minister is saying.  We are blaming the need to move this in at short notice on Russia apparently. There would be openness from all sides of this House to ensure our Defence Forces had the powers necessary for the safeguarding, protection and defence of the State, particularly in respect of maritime security, if it was done in the right way, but I suspect the reason this Bill is being brought forward in this manner at this time is not just for that. To get to the crux of this, people might be interested in part of the motion that is being brought before the House. It states that the Minister may, subject to conditions, give general approval for the deployment of a member of the Defence Forces in aid of the civil power for such classes or class of assistance as may be agreed with the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration. Does that sound familiar to anyone? It sounds familiar to me. I think people will automatically remember that, during the fuel protest, rather than de-escalate tensions, the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, inflamed what was a volatile situation with his comments threatening to deploy the Defence Forces. It was the first time in the history of the State that the Army had been used as a threat against the Irish people by a Government. The Government have refused point blank to acknowledge just how insulting and angering that was and how those comments inflamed a situation and brought people to protests. When I attended protests to do what Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael refused to do and actually listen to people, I heard time and again that it was those comments more than anything else that had spurred people to action. When I was at the Galway protest, for example, with Mark Lohan and Mair\u00e9ad Farrell, several people told me they were spurred to action because people who were protesting against the costs they were enduring and the pressures they were under were being threatened in that way. It now appears clear to me that, having learned nothing from the mess that the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, made of this situation, the Government is now changing the law to retrospectively make legal what he said during the protests. It is crazy stuff.  Why bring this in now in this manner and in this type of legislation? Any reasonable person will look at what is being proposed here and will say that the Government is trying to get measures to expand the deployment of the Defence Forces through the D\u00e1il, again without proper scrutiny, by putting them into a piece of criminal law and civil law, a miscellaneous Bill that already deals with a range of unrelated matters. What the Minister, Deputy McEntee, is trying to do is rushed, unfair, undemocratic and underhanded. Jim O'Callaghan made a mess. The Minister was dragged into the original mess. It seems she is going all in now. This is a product of Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael putting up in bright lights that they still have not listened. Sinn F\u00e9in will not be supporting this motion because the Government is treating this House with utter contempt. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  I find this totally improper. A couple of months ago, the Minister launched the maritime strategy, a very substantial document. It is the way we should be going. There are a number of issues with it but we should be debating this in the context of a defence amendment Bill. With these amendments, we are amending the Defence Act 1954 in three substantial ways: helping to protect and defend our territorial seas and internal waters and protect the sovereign rights of the State and our exclusive economic zone; making provision for the long-standing role of the Defence Forces in aid of the civil power; and enhancing the protection of military installations. These are substantial things to amend and should be done with proper scrutiny, notwithstanding the EU Presidency. The EU Presidency has not falling upon us by surprise. We have known for years that we were going to have this Presidency.  The Russian shadow fleet is also being used as a reason to bring this in. Again, the threat and the activity of the Russian shadow fleet is not something that has fallen on us. The Minister's messaging is mixed. She is saying this is both a pre-EU Presidency measure and is also meant to tackle the Russian shadow fleet. We need scrutiny and debate on both of those things, particularly in relation to how we tackle the Russian shadow fleet and other threats in our seas. I believe that the Minister is serious about tackling those threats. I do not believe that she thinks it is proper to be in the D\u00e1il debating a criminal and civil law Bill with amendments that impact her remit as Minister for Defence. I do not think that this is how she wants to do business.  I think that the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, has made and is making an absolute mess of his portfolio. An example of that is the element of these amendments relating to the aid to civil powers. On 9 April, the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, confirmed it was well established in law that the Defence Forces may assist An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na in aid to the civil power. That was on 9 April when he was deploying Defence Forces in relation to the fuel protests. Here we are on 13 May and we are bringing in new law to enable him to request the deployment of the Defence Forces \"in aid of the civil power\". He said six weeks ago that it was already in law, so why are we bringing in these amendments now? It is because the Minister for justice made an absolute hames of it and acted outside his remit in early April.  This deserves huge attention. At a time when the Minister for Defence is transforming our Defence Forces with the amount of funding that is going in and when national security is a huge conversation that is taking place, not just in committee rooms here, but in homes and on doorsteps all over the country, we should be having grown-up and sophisticated debates about national security through our defence committee and in the D\u00e1il properly, not with late, ham-fisted amendments put through in a criminal and civil law amendment Bill. It is totally improper. It is not how we should be doing business on matters of such huge national significance.  The people are being asked to come on a journey with us in national security. We have issues in relation to the deployment of troops and the triple lock, which is under threat. The Minister, Deputy McEntee, is trying to get the trust of the people and bring them along. I want to see us transformed in terms of our national security. I want to see us in a state where we can defend ourselves and have proper intelligence, proper surveillance and a proper ability to monitor our waters. However, the Minister loses the trust of the people on that journey when she brings in amendments such as this. It looks like it is mission creep and that she is trying to do it under the table and under the radar. That is not how it should be. There is no way a Minister for Defence should be happy that such substantial amendments to our Defence Forces would be brought in in this manner.  The Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, has a lot to answer for. He should be here. These amendments should not be on the cl\u00e1r. They should be in a Bill separate from the one in the Minister, Deputy McEntee's name. We find this improper and we cannot support it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  Let us cut to the chase with the language of these amendments and get to the reality of what people are asking at home. The foreign fishing vessels in our waters are, by and large, not there illegally. We all know that. They are there under EU rules. If they were acting illegally, though, would this legislation actually stop them? Would we see real enforcement or more talking while Irish waters were left exposed? Fishers along our coast have heard it all before - promises of protection and action - but when push comes to shove, they are often left wondering who is minding the waters. We saw that starkly with the Russian vessel off our coast. The Government hesitated, delayed and dithered, and it was Irish fishers who stepped up, organised and forced the issue. Ordinary working people did what the State should have been prepared to do. I ask the Minister plainly. Will paragraph (a) of the motion mean that never happens again? Will the State act decisively the next time or will we again be relying on fishers to defend Irish sovereignty?  Let us turn to the other side of this, which is where the real concern lies. We are giving powers here for the deployment of the Defence Forces in aid of the Garda and explicitly allowing the use of force described as reasonable, proportionate and necessary. Fine words, but people have heard that language before. Look at the fuel protests across the country. People came out because they could not afford to run their cars, heat their homes or keep their businesses going. Yes, there were blockades and disruption but those protests came from desperation among ordinary Irish people backed into a corner. What people fear is that measures like this could be used in future, not against external threats, but against our own citizens when they stand up and speak out.  That is a line the public does not want crossed. I am asking the Minister for real clarity. Are these powers about stopping genuine threats in our waters, protecting sovereignty and ensuring we are not caught flat-footed again or are we quietly expanding the scope for force to be used domestically where Irish citizens could end up being on the receiving end? Once those powers are in place, they will be used. The public needs to know exactly where they stand. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Defence (Deputy Helen McEntee)  I thank the Deputies. I will touch on a number of points. It has been suggested that this is an attempt to sneak something in and to avoid debate and proper consideration but that is not reflected in the facts. Since coming into this Department and first engaging with our Defence Forces, particularly our Naval Service, and since publishing the maritime security strategy, I have been very clear that I want to introduce new legislation to consolidate the various pieces of legislation our Naval Service currently works to into a specific defence Act. The Defence Forces have been asking for that. I have also been very clear that I want this in place before we begin our Presidency. There is a reason for that. I brought a memorandum to the Cabinet back in March. I did not hide the fact that I was bringing it to the Cabinet. I said very clearly what the intention of the memorandum was.  It is important that we have a vehicle to move this on. While it could have been other legislation, the quickest approach was to use this miscellaneous provisions Bill because it was already moving. I thank the Minister for working with me to give me a vehicle and mechanism to introduce this. Irrespective of the contents of the miscellaneous provisions Bill, this is specifically about our Defence Forces and making sure they have powers in legislation.  When at sea, the Defence Forces rely on the powers assigned to them under the Customs Act, the Sea Pollution Act, the Criminal Justice Act, the Dumping at Sea Act, the Maritime Security Act, the Maritime Safety Act and the Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act. Under these Acts, members of the Defence Forces operate as authorised officers or exercise certain powers on behalf of other State bodies, including An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and Revenue. While these arrangements have been sufficient up until now, is has been made very clear to me that we need specific legislation through the Defence Act to grant powers specifically to the Defence Forces. This is something the Defence Forces have been asking for.  Deputy Duncan Smith is right. Just because these issues have been ongoing for some time does not mean we should not act on them now. That is what I am doing. I am responding to a very clear ask from the Defence Forces. We will have an opportunity to debate and discuss this next week, on 19 May. I am very open to engaging with colleagues on amendments or adjustments. This is a focused amendment to specify in legislation certain powers of the Defence Forces, which they can currently only use as authorised officers. It is appropriate to have this in place for the beginning of our Presidency on 1 July. That is the reason for the urgency in moving this forward. I have worked on other legislation in which other Ministers have asked me to include certain elements. That has happened without debate in this House. It is important that we are having these discussions here this evening. We will discuss these amendments further on Committee Stage before the legislation progresses through the various other Stages.  On the question of providing aid to the civil power, this has been worked on within my Department for over a year. It is not something that has just come about in the last few weeks or months. Again, this is about putting in place----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  When did the Minister bring that memo to the Cabinet? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  The Minister should just continue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  Will we get our questions answered? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  This is about taking something that is currently in regulations made under the Defence Act and putting it into primary legislation. It does not change the provisions made under the regulations. This has been worked on for some time. We are simply putting it on a new statutory footing. I repeat that the Defence Forces provide aid to the civil power, for example, An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, at least 3,000 times a year. That support is provided every day in extreme weather conditions, in incidents such as those we have seen recently or in the scenarios I outlined in my opening remarks. This is really about putting what is already in regulations on a different statutory footing. My Department has been developing this for over a year now. As we now have this legislative mechanism to move it forward----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  When was it brought to the Cabinet? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  -----I thought it would be appropriate to do so. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026: Instruction to Committee"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-13\/debate\/dbsect_29","debateType":"billReport","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/37","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/37\/dail\/4_sub","houseCode":"dail","stage":"4_sub","isBillStage":false,"showAs":"Critical Infrastructure Bill 2026: Report and Final Stages (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Critical Infrastructure Bill 2026: Report and Final Stages","counts":{"speechCount":34,"speakerCount":15},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_29","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Fitzmaurice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Amendments Nos. 1 and 2 are related and may be discussed together. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  I move amendment No. 1:  In page 5, to delete lines 22 to 26 and substitute the following:  \u201c(4) A draft of the designation order shall be laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas, and the order shall be made only after a resolution approving the draft has been passed by each House of the Oireachtas.\u201d.  I want to talk about the concentration in the hands of the Minister of huge power under this Bill. I am generally supportive of the intention of this Bill and what the Minister is trying to achieve. However, there is not sufficient oversight of this or transparency about it. As I have said before, any legislation has to be drafted keeping in mind any Minister and indeed any Government being in that role. What is being proposed in my amendment and in a similar amendment from the Labour Party is very reasonable. It is simply that the designation order shall be laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas, and the order shall be made only after a resolution approving the draft has been passed by each House of the Oireachtas. That allows for proper scrutiny, debate, questions around the process, how this designation was arrived at, and whether one project is being prioritised as critical infrastructure when another is not. The current provisions in the Bill put the onus on Members of the Opposition to use limited Private Member's time to put down a resolution. Smaller parties and groups may not have time to do that. Just to ask questions about the designation should not require having to put down a motion in Private Member's time when we have limited opportunities to do that.  This is a sensible proposal. I do not see the issues with it. It would give greater transparency and oversight to the process, and put more confidence into it. The Oireachtas, Members of this House and the general public have a right to know why these decisions have been made, why certain projects have been prioritised, and why certain projects are not being prioritised. This will prove to be controversial because there will be geographic areas, for example, that do not get their infrastructure project prioritised and they will wonder why that is the case when other areas did. In the past, there have been instances of certain parts of infrastructure getting a much higher priority than others. We are talking about not just prioritisation under this Bill but also the money behind that, which is public money. The more oversight we have of that, the better. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  I echo Deputy O'Callaghan's concerns about this. We obviously want to see infrastructure delivered quickly in this country. Our biggest concern with the Bill in general is the disapplication of the climate action Acts. Given that is a power that will be given to the Minister, it is important that the D\u00e1il and Seanad have a say in any project that is designated. Our amendment would essentially flip the burden. Rather than something being annulled requiring a resolution from the D\u00e1il, we would say it will not take effect until a positive resolution is passed by both Houses. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  These are modest amendments reinstituting some form of democratic oversight. I presume the Government is going to oppose them, because the whole purpose of the Bill from the Government's perspective is to gut democratic oversight and democratic input into the planning system. The public should know where this is coming from. The Collison brothers, two filthy-rich Irish billionaires, have developed seriously undue influence over the Irish Government via the neolibertarian think-tank, Progress Ireland. First, it was changing the law to allow landlords to rent out beds in sheds by getting rid of planning permission for cabins in back gardens. Now, they are driving this Bill to gut democratic input into the planning system so that what tech billionaires see as critical infrastructure can bypass normal democratic checks and balances. Presumably the Minister will oppose a modicum of democratic oversight as proposed by these amendments.  It does not take a genius to know what this will mean. It will mean data centres driving household electricity costs even higher, hoovering up all the renewables that are added to the grid, just like they have been doing for the past ten years. The next item on their agenda is normalising nuclear power. The mindless parrots over on the Government benches are singing along to that tune now too. The last we heard of the Collisons was them jogging through Tel Aviv, tweeting that it is great to be back, during a genocide. These Zionists are disciples of the notorious Koch brothers. For decades, they have bankrolled and astroturfed for far right, neoliberal and libertarian causes around the world, including Javier Milei in Argentina, climate denialism, and, of course, Donald Trump. Ninety-year-old Charles Koch, the closest thing to a real-life Mr. Burns off \"The Simpsons\", is an idol for these people. Last summer, Patrick Collison gave a keynote address at a gathering of libertarians in Washington, DC, where he eulogised Charles Koch as inspirational. The Ayn Rand Institute, the Cato Institute, the Adam Smith Institute, and the Mercatus Center, all shadowy, Koch-funded, right-wing think tanks, are co-thinkers and fellow travellers of Progress Ireland, with 1,000 ties that bind them together. It is genuinely scary stuff.  The Government will oppose this amendment which is about a modicum of democratic oversight. Progress Ireland's innovation policy lead, Sam Enright, recently hosted a conference to discuss whether Milton Friedman was the greatest economist of all time. The fact that he was the architect of Pinochet's neoliberal reforms in Chile, which would only be enforced by a military coup and brutal dictatorship during which an estimated 40,000 people were tortured, is no problem for these guys. If anything, as the Collisons' attitude to Israel shows, it is probably a plus.  When Progress Ireland launched an appeal for funding, it bragged that, \"Ireland is highly conformist and is more prone to deference to elite or expert consensus than our British counterparts.\" That was said to be a positive in its pitch for funding. I am making this speech to warn everyone who is watching that what we are experiencing right now is a key moment of corporate takeover. Fianna F\u00e1il, Fine Gael and the right-wing Independents are lapping it up like the corporate lapdogs that they are. We have to wake up and stop the Collisons before it is too late. This amendment is a very small step towards doing that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Before we move on, I caution Members with regard to mentioning the names of people who are not present or are outside the House. While it can be Deputies' opinion, it is not fair to use derogatory terms when there is no one here to defend themselves. That is a caution, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  I support the amendment. It is a commonsense amendment that requires transparency, openness and discussion. There is really important work to be done regarding infrastructure. We really need to get it right now. The Government is bringing forward a plan, which we support, but it is not going far enough. I will give a couple of examples. The point was made by a number of speakers about transparency and what projects go ahead in what areas.  I represent Cork North-Central. For over 25 years, there has been talk about a northern ring road. The southside of the city has a massive ring road, all the way from Ballincollig, into the tunnel, and out to Dunkettle. We have nothing on the northside. The question that people ask me about transparency and honesty is who made the decision to pull the northern ring road. Why was it made? Transparency is so important because this was part of a plan 20 years ago, and now it is not, and the Government has allocated a couple of hundred thousand euro to a project. People might say, \"You are being parochial about the northern ring road, Tommy,\" but the northern ring road is key for the city, because if there is a crash in the tunnel or on the south ring road, there is chaos in Cork. It is vital infrastructure. How do I find out where that vital infrastructure is?  How do I get answers? How do we debate it? Who picks the projects? Are they picked on merit or are they picked because of who is in power or who the Minister or Taoiseach is? These are vital questions. That is why if we come in here and we have a debate, people can get answers and we can go back to our constituencies. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Please, Deputy. Put your hand up if you want to speak. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  We have the same issue with northern distributor road. We have an elective hospital that was promised 20 years ago. It is vital that these pieces of infrastructure are delivered not alone for northside of Cork city but for Munster.  Someone made a point about delivering infrastructure quickly. That is impossible. It will never happen on this island, especially in the Twenty-six Counties, but we could aim to deliver it in a reasonable amount of time. I represent people and we cannot get more jobs into the northside of Cork city. We cannot get more investment in. Why? It is because we do not have the infrastructure to support the business.  I want to make one last point. We want to see a college campus on the northside of the city. Education is the key to success for individuals and the country. Why has the northside never got funding? Why has there never been a college campus on the northside of Cork city? I cannot get answers.  This amendment will allow people to come into this House to discuss issues openly and transparently. This is not to kick the Government. This is to work with the Government and to say that we need fairness and transparency. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  The background to this Bill is this country is grinding to a halt in so many ways. Right across the country, critical infrastructure that is necessary for all our lives is grinding to a halt and it is having disastrous effects on people's lives. It is water infrastructure currently. Uisce \u00c9ireann came into the infrastructure committee and stated that it will take until 2050 before the gaps in the water infrastructure that are currently blocking the building of homes will be filled. In a housing crisis, that is a startling admission. The Navan to Dublin rail line was promised in 1994. The earliest possible chance currently is 2036. People who started work in 1994 will have retired by the time the rail line is built. The Midleton flood defences were promised in 2015 after Storm Frank and no planning application has been put in yet. We have a massive crisis in terms of infrastructure builds in this country.  Regulation is important. There is no doubt that we need regulation to make sure that we have environmental, safety and working standards, but regulation can often be like a pendulum. We can have times when there is too much regulation, and we have times when there is not enough regulation. At this moment in time, we have times when we have too much regulation happening, especially in terms of the climate action Act. The climate action Act is preventing lifesaving projects from going ahead in this country because the balance in terms of people's needs is simply not there any more.  We see projects like the Galway ring road being stopped, in large part because of the climate action Act. This has led to tens of thousands of people being stuck in traffic for long periods of time, with all the damage that it does. In the North of Ireland, we have a similar Act that has actually put a stop to the development of the Derry to Dublin road, which, in itself, is leading to significant deaths among people. We need a rebalancing in terms of this.  There needs to be a realisation that this Bill only goes some direction in terms of what is needed. It prioritises some of these infrastructural projects and it does so on the basis of what the Government thinks should be prioritised. This means that there is a natural deprioritisation of other projects. We need the whole system to be made far more functional, far more efficient and far faster.  I have a question for the Minister, Deputy Chambers, and he may have answered it before. I know it came up in the committee. Will the Bill cover private projects such as data centres, etc.? Will the Minister go on record and answer that query? I would appreciate it.  This amendment does look for some level of oversight and engagement with this Chamber and it is a good amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  Having been denied the opportunity to tease out some of the provisions of this legislation by the decision to waive pre-legislative scrutiny, giving a mere 60 minutes to the debate on Report Stage is entirely inappropriate.  I have deep concerns about what the Government is doing tonight. It is seeking to undermine the climate action Act by the back door. More significantly, by the provision of section 7 of this legislation which disapplies section 15 of the climate action Act, it is actually going to make it more likely that challenges against big infrastructure projects will be successful. I will repeat that. By disapplying section 15, it is more likely that challenges to big infrastructure projects, particularly infrastructure projects that are going to help us reach our climate targets in the area of public transport, will be successfully judicially reviewed in the courts.  I want to take the House back to the decision of the Supreme Court earlier this year relating to Coolglass and section 15 of the climate action Act. Coolglass Wind Farm Limited had applied to a wind farm in County Laois. The then named An Bord Plean\u00e1la rejected that application on the basis that the Laois county development plan said that there should be no wind farms in particular areas. The Supreme Court held that An Bord Plean\u00e1la had not applied its section 15 obligation to consider the climate obligations of this particular wind farm development and did not consider its pro-climate benefits. Section 15 was the critical factor in the Supreme Court overturning a rejection of planning permission. The Bill that the Minister is putting forward provides that section 15, which we have demonstrated protected a major infrastructure project three months ago, will no longer apply to those projects. This entire piece of legislation is being conveyed on the basis of changing the law to get stuff over the line and to get these big projects delivered. The one time that section 15 was actually used in our courts, it was the decisive factor in a rejection of a wind farm swinging to an approval. This notion being put forward that what we are doing is going to help us deliver big infrastructure projects is entirely wrong, and this is demonstrated by a recent decision of the Supreme Court.  Earlier in this process, I referred to three real-life judicial reviews against public transport projects: the judicial review of the Luas in Finglas, the judicial review of DART+ West and the judicial review in my constituency of BusConnects between Blanchardstown and the city centre. In each one of those cases, an individual was protecting their private property rights through a judicial review. I did not agree with those judicial reviews. I wish that they had not gone on. I am glad that two of them have been resolved, but someone exercised their rights. These were not environmentalists. These were not people with climate objections. These were people with a personal property right objection to these particular projects. Time and again, they are the source of the majority of judicial reviews that come before the courts, not environmental matters. This Bill does nothing to restrict the ability of somebody to take a judicial review on the basis of protecting their property rights, the much bigger driver of judicial reviews within our courts. In each of those cases, and one of them has been litigated before the courts, the National Transport Authority, the body taking the projects forward, strengthens its case for getting acceptance of those particular projects by saying that it is implementing its climate objectives by bringing them forward under section 15.  We have to very clear: we are taking away the extra protection that section 15 gives to these particular projects, and public transport projects are explicitly listed as one of the areas that this Critical Infrastructure Bill is to apply to. It has been described as something that will help deliver these projects. It is exactly the opposite. We can be sure that as this Government and future governments advance major infrastructure projects, and particularly in the area of public transport, they will be judicially reviewed. They always are. People do it because they do not like the compulsory purchase order and they do not like losing a piece of their land. They have a right to do that. However, by passing this Bill tonight, we are making it more likely that those judicial reviews will be successful.  We are making it more likely that public transport projects will be successfully judicially review by courts and plans with planning permission will be overturned. We are doing that wilfully. I have raised this throughout. The Minister has at no point come back and explained why he is ignoring the powerful decision of the Supreme Court in the Coolglass case. That judgment shows that section 15 of the Act protects projects that are seen to have a positive climate impact. We are wilfully doing that today. I want to put it on the record of the House that this Bill will not advance big public transport projects. It undermines and lessens the chance that they will get planning permission. It particularly strengthens the case of those who want to judicially review for personal reasons. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  I am glad to get the opportunity to say a few words on this Bill. I will give the Government the benefit of the doubt because, for too long, this country has been starved of infrastructure. We are strangled and tied down and I cannot see the benefit of this amendment by insisting that we are to go through this Chamber. I realise all the different political views that different Members have from different counties. We would finish up without agreement on anything important that we need for our counties. Each of us would be fighting our corner, which we would be well entitled to do.  For my part, Kerry has been starved of an awful lot of infrastructure. For instance, in Kenmare, we have no public water supply at the present time. Many towns and villages have inadequate treatment plants. There are villages without any treatment plant like Scartaglen and Curragh where the sewage is being drawn into Killarney. It is the same story in Beaufort where the sewage is being drawn into Killarney. We have all these places without any treatment plants. We must find the best way to hurry these things along. Uisce \u00c9ireann has a lot of work to do but we cannot be seen to be holding it up inside this Chamber with debates as to whether it should be Beaufort or Brosna or some place in Limerick or Cork.  We are behind in so many ways now. For a country that is first to bring in every type of new regulation, we are behind with many of the critical infrastructure projects that are needed. Even when it comes to the basic local improvement scheme, LIS, we are way behind in Kerry, with some 560 to 570 roads on the LIS. People appreciate the last half or quarter mile to their door. We can do all the motorways and national primary and secondary roads but the road to the door should also be good. The people of Kerry and rural Ireland are entitled to a road to their door every bit as much as the people in Dublin 4.  I cannot and will not support this amendment tonight. We have been waiting for so long. There are judicial reviews, analysing and scrutinising and we are paying environmental objectors money each year to object to projects. That is the actual truth of it. You could not build a hen house now anywhere without some fella putting in an objection, and he could be 100 miles away.  I am glad to get this opportunity. I will support the Government on this. If it does not work, then I hope I will be back here telling the Government that it is not working. I am giving it the chance to put this Bill forward to see whether it will help us because we are in a desperate way. People who need planning are waiting far too long. It is time to do something about it. This has been promised for a long time and I hope it works. I hope, for the Government\u2019s sake, that it works. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Fitzmaurice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice  In the context of this amendment, some accountability has to be brought to the D\u00e1il. I support the Bill because it is needed. It is basically putting critical infrastructure projects to the top of the pile, to put it in simple terms. I note that the Minister said earlier, which he said previously, that private infrastructure projects are not part of this. The one thing I will say is that there are projects waiting for years. Galway hospital is one such example. It is critical infrastructure that is needed because it covers the west, north west and all that area. We all know about the Galway outer ring road that has been on the go for 30 years.  As I said to the Minister earlier, there are two issues we have to address as public representatives. If they are not addressed, we can put the Bill to the ceiling of the D\u00e1il Chamber. First, the habitats directive is blocking progress on any building job around the country, whether it is a road, sewerage or water project or works at an airport, port or wherever. We must do something with that when Ireland holds the Presidency. There are a lot of sceptics who will go against the Government if it opens its mouth about this, but let us call a spade a spade and call out the rigmarole one has to go through. A snail that did not exist in Sligo held up a water project for ten years. Let us think about that. The lunatics are running the asylum to be quite frank about it. That is what is happening. We must address that.  Second, sooner or later, politicians will have to face back to the climate Bill. I am watching what the courts have decided on and some of what they have said. I am fearful for road projects and other types of projects with some of the definitions I see coming out of the courts on the climate Bill. If they go down that road, legislation will have to be brought in to try to resolve that so that we will be compatible with the courts. I am not criticising the courts but we must be compatible with them so that this works. Those are the two issues I address to the Government. We support the Bill but unless those two issues are addressed, we are in trouble. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Look at Deputy Healy-Rae. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  It was not my phone. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  It was not his phone that rang and he thinks he is a hero. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  Why do Members always look at me? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  I wonder why. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call Deputy Michael Collins. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  In principle, we will be supporting the Bill because of the importance it holds for the much-needed projects out there. I was in Galway recently and I met a lot of people in relation to Galway University Hospital. Staff are working in shocking conditions, with scaffolding in place for the past two years slattering around the place like frisbees. It is a bit of a joke in this modern era in which we live. Some 4,000 brilliant staff are trying to work under those conditions.  Who has the final say as to where all these projects will go? I have been a Member of the D\u00e1il for the past ten years and I have been bringing up passing bays on the N71 in west Cork and on the R586, but nothing has happened. A fortune of money was never needed. These projects are desperately needed. A bypass is needed in Innishannon, while in Bandon there is the need for northern and southern relief roads. These all remain undone 20, 30 and 40 years later. However, every year before an election, an announcement will be made that there is money to look at some project. Some fella will make a couple of hundred thousand euro but there will be no shovel in the ground. One of my councillors, John Collins, asked that question at a meeting recently. He asked when our shovel will be in the ground, and he could not get answer. That is all we want to know. We do not want to hear about more reports because reports end up finding snails and worms, and we know what that means - the can is kicked down the road. It is the same with the bypass in Bantry. It is very difficult to come up here and to be kind of giving out while not seeing the progress that is needed for areas to progress.  If this Bill is going to be supported by us, I want to know who has the final say about the projects that are being picked. Is it going to be where the most Ministers are? Is it going to be in the bigger cities while the smaller towns and villages throughout Ireland, where critical infrastructure is equally as important, will be forgotten about? Work is desperately needed in areas like Roscarberry, Ballydehob and Goleen where raw sewage is pouring into the tide. There is a desperate need for Uisce \u00c9ireann to build new sewerage services. In fairness to Uisce \u00c9ireann, it met us recently across the road. We cannot get it to sit down with us even if we have a developer. In one of those towns, I have a developer who is willing to invest and build a plant with Uisce \u00c9ireann, but it will not sit down with us. We have been asking it to do so for five or six weeks.  That makes me very doubtful about where all this money is going to end up and who will have the final say. It is fine to say that we need critical infrastructure as it means the projects that are desperately needed will get to the top. However, councillors in County Cork will soon vote on a county development plan that has no vision and cannot have a vision because most wastewater treatment plants in the county's towns are full and bursting at the seams. It is a vicious circle. Money is critically needed for a lot of these projects, but is it going to be provided or am I going to be back again in five years' time telling this House that nothing has happened with these projects and we are still in crisis, even though we supported the Bill for critical infrastructure projects that were supposed to get to the top for delivery?  I do not want to harp on too much but these are hugely important issues. I would like to know where the funding we are voting for will go and who will have the final say. Will politicians and the political body have any say or are we going to be squeezed out, with the final say going to the most senior politicians? In fairness, if we are supporting this, the least we deserve is an answer here and that everybody will have a say in this and will feed into the whole process. We could then go back to people and say that while we did not get the bypasses, we might have got passing bays. That would be a great start. I know of a lot of accidents in west Cork caused by people becoming frustrated behind lorries and tractors. The Minister, Deputy Chambers, and the Minister of State, Deputy Fleming, have been down there themselves. Imagine travelling from Bandon all the way west to Skibbereen before being able to pass a vehicle during the silage season. Lord God, there is something wrong somewhere. A few simple passing bays could be put in. That is where money like this should be going. It is what I keep asking for. I never ask for a fancy flyover. I just ask for common sense solutions so that people travelling on those roads at least have some safety, people who have a genuine reason to travel slowly can be easily passed and there are no serious accidents on the roads.  As I mentioned, hospitals and other critical infrastructure projects need to be put at the top of the list. I know from talking to people about the Galway ring road that it is a serious issue. There is a chronic traffic issue in Galway city. I met the groups down there and they told me about it. I did not need to be told, though, because I travel around there myself. It is chronic to get through Galway at the present time. I would hate to see projects being announced now just before the election, but we need a concentration on major projects so they are done for the people and people see where their money is going. They are taxpayers. They are honest to God, hard-working taxpayers and they deserve to see their money being spent wisely and to get something back for what they continue to give. Some \u20ac500 million left over in the National Oil Reserves Agency, NORA, fund has not been spent. At the same time, I am trying to get rural transport projects across the line for rural communities. These are simple, good projects in villages and towns that transport does not reach, yet there is \u20ac500 million there. I do not know why funding is so scarce or why that money cannot be spent or given back to the people in some way.  I recently met a person in Dublin who has been 20 years living in this country. He said it is a great country but it is badly run. I had to agree with him. He is from Nigeria. It was a simple statement but he is 100% right. This is why we need to make sure the money that will be available, and there could be a lot of it, is spent right and on the projects that are needed. Whether that is University Hospital Galway or passing bays in west Cork, the focus needs to be on those projects. People should be able to go into a hospital in Galway without having to look at scaffolding or see slates flying around like frisbees for the next two years. Money needs to be spent and there needs to be delivery for the people of Galway.  Do not be smiling. I am being honest. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathal Crowe  I am glad to have the opportunity to speak on this very important Bill. I do not support the amendments. It is important that we get this legislation passed and allow critical infrastructure to be built in the quickest possible time. I hope the Minister will have an opportunity to visit Ardnacrusha power station some day. To give some background to that, in 1896 a young engineer who had qualified through UCD was over working in the province of Pomerania in Germany. His name was Thomas McLaughlin and he came back home to Ireland at Christmas in 1923 aged 27. After being with his family, he spent the Christmas period trying to convince various Government Ministers - I will not try to name them - that a hydroelectric scheme similar to the one opening in Pomerania that year could be done in Ireland on the lower River Shannon. Given the differential in flow from the Galway area down to Killaloe and further down to Parteen, he said this could work in Ireland. In December 1923, the Government accepted what a 27-year-old bucko, who was home on holidays from Germany, had to say. Construction started 18 months later and Ardnacrusha took just four years to build, with 5,000 workers. During those years, we saw an influx of workers into our area, including a huge number of German contractors via the Siemens-Schuckert company, and a large cohort of 1,000 people from the Connemara area. During that period, our local club won its only county title in those years. The match report stated there were four languages heard on the pitch that day, English, Irish from the Connemara men, German and bad language.  On a serious note, this proves that in the early years of this State, coming out of the Civil War with all the strife those years brought, and the economic uncertainty we were facing into, and with a population not knowing what their future held, we were able to build the biggest public project in our country, the likes of which has never been surpassed in the past century. That is a template for what we should be doing. The meeting Thomas McLaughlin had with the Government that Christmas is commemorated on a plaque at the entrance of Ardnacrusha power station.  It is wrong that key projects are being held up year after year. I was elected to my local council at the age of 21 in 2004. There was joy in the area that summer because land had been acquired to build a sewerage scheme. I am sad to say that 22 years later, it has not been built. The Government has been actively working on it but it needs to benefit from this legislation. There are so many projects, not just in Clare but in every constituency, that could benefit from this legislation. I could rattle off a list of them.  I read recently one of the Minister's statements, which I hope to convey correctly. He said that when this legislation passes two of the test projects he would like to see were the redevelopment of the GPO site and the redevelopment of the National Concert Hall. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  They are for delivery under the National Development Finance Agency, the NDFA. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathal Crowe  Those are to be administered by a different organisation. It is important that other projects also move at pace. University Hospital Limerick dominates so many debates in the House, whether at question time or during questions to the Taoiseach. I would like to see that project, above all others, progressed and advanced.  A balance needs to be struck between advancing critical infrastructure and public projects and listening to the voices of objectors. It concerns me hugely that just this week, a large wind farm company objected to, and had overruled, planning permission that had been granted to a private family for a private dwelling just outside Thurles, County Tipperary. The reasons it opposed planning and put the family through the wringer of An Coimis\u00fain Plean\u00e1la had nothing to do with the principles of renewable energy or wind turbines and their rotational impact. The objection dealt with the county development plan and the entitlement the family would have, as local rural people, to live in the local rural area they originate from. This is fundamentally wrong. The company in question, Orsted, would want to take a good look at itself. If it intends to become a feature of the rural Irish landscape providing renewable energy, it needs to understand that it has to coexist with families in the area. We cannot have one without the other. Families will continue to exist. This did not occur in my constituency of Clare but it is something we are seriously concerned about as the company tees up other projects in the west. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (Deputy Jack Chambers)  I will deal with amendments Nos. 1 and 2 in the first instance. Members have raised the climate Act, so it might be useful to address that specifically.  I will not accept these two amendments. There is a clear process for the designation of individual projects and programmes set out in the Bill, as currently drafted. The process already includes a provision that allows D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann to reverse any Government decision to designate a specific project or programme. Specifically, an order may be annulled if a resolution annulling the order is passed by D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann within the next 21 days on which D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann has sat after an order is laid before it. In practical terms, this gives D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann ample time to consider any order the Government makes. This reflects wider accountability but broader questions can also be asked of me or my Department, as would occur through the normal process, as set out on Committee Stage.  While I intend to recommend the designation of only a small number of projects or programmes, I believe it would be disproportionate to require each designation order to receive an individual assent from both Houses of the Oireachtas. The focus of the Bill is on accelerating the pace of critical infrastructure delivery.  This is within the broader framework of the accelerating infrastructure plan published late last year. Part of this wider work includes taking a cold, hard look at the legislation and the regulatory process to determine which ones are fit for purpose and which ones may trap infrastructure investment in process without purpose. I do not believe that adding a requirement for both Houses of the Oireachtas to positively approve each and every designation order would be an efficient use of time. It could add an additional and unnecessary layer of uncertainty to the infrastructure development process. In that context, I will not be accepting the amendment.  I was asked a question specifically relating to private projects. Section 1 of the Bill states that a project is something \"funded by capital investment, by or on behalf of the State or by or on behalf of a public body\". Some of the statements about private data centres are just inaccurate in relation to this Bill. It does nothing to enable them in the context of critical infrastructure and that is set out in the detail of the Bill.  There has also been reference to section 7 disapplying section 15 of the climate Act. This is an important and substantive change which we discussed at length on Second Stage and on Committee Stage. I remain strongly of the view that the disapplication of section 15 of the climate Act is necessary to accelerate the provision of critical infrastructure in the country. There has been a lot of what I would describe as misinformation about the motives for this provision and its practical impact. Section 15 of the climate Act and the Supreme Court's recent interpretation of this section effectively establishes a potential extra barrier to infrastructure by creating a new avenue for judicial review. This avenue is where a public body has had adequate regard to a range of climate policies and strategies in its consideration of any development proposal. This is not idle speculation on my part. Published analysis of the recent Supreme Court judgment on Coolglass by legal professional and others has noted the higher evidential bar that would be imposed on public bodies as a result of that judgment. The issue is that in many cases, whether a public body has had adequate regard to climate considerations would be an inherently subjective assessment. Indeed, one piece of published legal analysis noted that how decision-makers square away conflicting objectives and obligations is likely to be decided in another decision of the court on another day. This is a tangible demonstration of the uncertainty that the application of section 15 is adding and could add to infrastructure development.  The Government has signed up to ambitious climate targets. We are accountable to our citizens and legally to the EU on the achievement of these targets. There is no change whatsoever to our ambition, our targets or our climate policies as a result of this legislation. Similarly, the role played by public bodies in the achievement of the climate targets is set out at multiple levels and is reflected in strategies, policies and investment plans. It includes assessment of the climate and environmental impacts of any proposal that may be developed. However, the climate Act is clear that the national climate targets will be achieved through the accumulation of mitigation measures that are put in place on a sectoral basis, with each Minister responsible for achieving these targets in the sector of the economy for which they are responsible. Having a parallel system that attempts to determine whether every public body in the approval process has sufficient regard to the climate characteristics of each individual infrastructure development is a real departure, in my view, from the intended structure of the climate Act. It is also an abdication of responsibility. How An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la should weigh, for example, the public safety benefits of a road improvement versus the potential impact on emissions is not something that should be determined by the courts on a case-by-case basis. It would be irresponsible for us in our role as legislators to leave the risks associated with this system in place.  Removing the application of section 15 from designated projects or programmes simply removes one avenue for potential judicial review. It does so on the basis that the provision could delay the development of infrastructure and introduce uncertainty in the development system. As the accelerating infrastructure report demonstrated, there is a clear link between the increasing number of judicial reviews over time and the hesitation and consequent delays this risk introduces into decision-making processes, and we have to be responsive to this. This is in line with action 6 of our plan, where the Government undertook to respond more rapidly to precedent, where warranted.  I want to be clear that I see judicial review as an important tool that ensures decisions made by bodies carrying out public functions are transparent, fair and accountable and adhere to the principles of legality, procedural propriety and rationality. However, as the administrative complexity of the State has evolved, the application of this test to a significant number of decisions made by public bodies has the practical effect of potentially delaying the development of critical infrastructure. This imposes real costs on taxpayers and on society in general. People have referenced the Galway ring road. Multiple critical projects over the last 20 years are going through process after process. People want us to get things done and not be outsourcing responsibility or risking delivery of projects to the courts.  Disapplying section 15 to critical infrastructure projects does not mean that projects will not be subject to climate and environmental assessments. These will still take place as part of the development process for these initiatives. Every Exchequer-funded project is already required to measure and price its greenhouse gas emissions under the infrastructure guidelines. That provides an important incentive to minimise emissions, where it is cost effective to do so. Similarly, every individual----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank the Minister. He will have an opportunity to come back in. The first person indicating is Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  The need for these designations to come before the Houses of the Oireachtas is absolutely critical because I do not trust this Government not to bully its way through on things it wants, over the legitimate concerns of stakeholders, in these decisions. I want to highlight again an instance of this, which is very relevant and happened in the last few weeks. Fishers in Dublin Bay, who have been fishing for a very long time and earning their living, have been bullied in the most disgraceful way by EirGrid. EirGrid wanted to do a survey and, without any consultation with the fishers, sent them a notice a week or two before the survey instructing them to get their fishing pots out of the water because it was going to do a survey. The consequences were that the fishers were taken to court. They were terrified. These are hard-working people who had never been in a courtroom in their lives. They were terrified and were landed with costs. I was talking to one of them just now. He was one of the named people against whom Eirgrid took the case and they were talking about \u20ac80,000 in costs being made against these fishers. This is outrageous. I raised it a couple of weeks ago in the D\u00e1il. The whole issue is that there is supposed to be consultation, but to me this shows the high-handed attitude that State bodies can have, rather than actually having a process where everybody is heard.  One imperative to develop offshore renewable energy is that it is not supposed to displace other industries. That is my understanding of EU directives in this regard. Other people's livelihoods are not supposed to be displaced in the process of critical infrastructure being developed. In this case, what is doubly infuriating about it all is who will be the beneficiaries of these developments for which the State is going to run the infrastructure, the cables and so on. Is it the State or the taxpayer? No, it is private companies like the French state and other European companies that have got the licences for a lot of these sites, which the developers selected. They were not done on the basis of benefit to the State. Do not get me wrong, we need offshore renewable wind and we need it on the east coast, but it should be done on the basis of the most appropriate and suitable sites. It should not happen at the expense of other people's livelihoods, biodiversity and sensitive environments like the sandbanks. These are very rich environments and the spawning grounds for fish, shellfish and so on. They are also the main area where phytoplankton, which produces oxygen, is found. One of the main sources of oxygen and one of the main carbon sinks are sandbanks.  If the Government is concerned about protecting marine biodiversity and having the marine protected areas, it should want to designate such areas. Instead, it wants to give it all away to private developers to make profit out of our natural resources at the expense of biodiversity and, in this case, at the expense of the rights of fishers to continue their traditional livelihood. The Government just says, \"no, they can select the sites, we will put in the infrastructure for them, and they will run away with the profits\". That is what is actually going on. By the way, there is no obligation that the supply will come back to us or that we will benefit in terms of price or anything else from these private concerns that selected their own sites, which the Government gave them the right to do. We are going to pay for the infrastructure.  Where have we heard all this before? This is happening on sea, but I have a vague memory that this happened on land as well. In fact, it is the basis of all the rotten corruption that existed in this country in terms of developer-led stuff. The Government will do anything for the developers. What do we get out of it in the end? We get housing that nobody can afford. We get speculation. I suspect the same is going to happen with giving away these sites. It is wide open for the same kind of speculation. We put in the infrastructure for them. We drive the fishers out of the way. We short-circuit any proper planning process. They are the beneficiaries, but they do not actually have to do anything. The Government is leaving it up to them as to whether we will get the offshore renewable energy at all, and they can just sit on it. They can flip it. They do not have to do anything, but the Government has left it in their hands. We are bending over backwards. We are displacing fishers and bullying and threatening them in the courts to the extent that they are fearful that they may lose their houses. That is outrageous.  The whole thing is a flipping scandal. We need to develop offshore renewable wind and renewable energy, but it should be us who are doing it. The beneficiaries should be us, the owners of the sites. The site selection should be based on what is best for our Irish society, the environment and biodiversity. The benefits should accrue to the people of Ireland - and, for that matter, the environment - but not to private companies that decide which sites they get and get to run away with profits. We are paying for the infrastructure while short-circuiting the right of stakeholders to actually have any meaningful say in all of this. If they get in the way, they will be bullied and threatened. That is what has happened to the fishers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  After listening to Deputy Boyd Barrett, I might misquote St. Augustine: \"Lord, make me an ecosocialist, but not if the turbines are in my constituency\". I think it is a good quote for that. I have a question for the Minister. I do not think this is in the Bill, but he might be able to clear it up. Can this particular Bill affect any project that has already gone through planning in terms of any conditions that have been assigned to the planning application of an existing project? The Minister might be able to think about that and answer it, if he can, on the record. That is important because if there are existing projects that have gone through existing planning and have conditions attached to them, they should not be reopened. The conditions should be applied properly, etc., on that.  In terms of what Deputy Cathal Crowe was saying about Ardnacrusha, the Navan to Dublin rail line was built in the 1860s in three years with picks and shovels. As I said, it has already been waiting 40 years from announcement to completion on it. I was in Deputy Crowe's constituency of Clare on Monday meeting people in Broadford, Ennis and Kilrush. The N68 is the main road between Ennis and Kilrush. It is a dangerous road. It is a very narrow road that is a 45-minute drive. It is the main access route to the west of County Clare. It is wide open for accidents and difficulties and, again, it is one of those projects that have been crying out for investment for a long period of time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  The intention of my amendment is that it could go through the Houses of the Oireachtas in a matter of hours. That is the amount of time that would be needed. It should not be causing any delays. It could happen within a matter of days. Indeed, if the Minister has made a designation, it is not as if the project just stalls in its entirety until the designation order is ratified by the Houses of the Oireachtas. There is still work that can go on in the project. I wish to press the amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  We are all agreed that there are delays and problems in delivering infrastructure in this country. The problem is that the Government and the Minister have come to the wrong conclusion about why this is a problem and why this is happening. He is determined to blame judicial reviews and environmental laws and to dump on environmentalists. These are people who are just trying to ensure that the law is upheld as it is and that decisions of our public bodies are made in the appropriate manner. The reason we want transparency and accountability and why we are pushing this amendment is that the Government is giving Ministers, essentially, the powers of monarchs. It is a power to essentially suspend or disapply a law for their favourites. The monarchs' power to suspend or dispense with the operation of law in a way that favoured their favourites was actually outlawed by a bill of rights in 1689. Deputy O'Gorman talked about judicial reviews increasing as a result of this legislation. I think this legislation is potentially open to a constitutional challenge on the basis that we had Supreme Court cases before where Ministers have given themselves power to disapply laws for whoever they want and that has been struck down. I refer the Minister to the case of East Donegal Co-operative Livestock Mart Ltd. v. Attorney General from 1970.  The issue at the heart of this is not in relation to the planning process; the issue is the allocation of resources to our public bodies. The national children's hospital has been delayed 17 or 18 times. That is not to do with environmental law; that is to do with a lack of strategic planning and a lack of controls in our procurement processes. We know we are still four or five years away from any offshore wind infrastructure being built. That should be through planning in the next couple of years but the reason it is not going to be built is because our ports are not ready to construct the offshore wind platforms. This is not to do with planning or objections; it is to do with the resourcing and the expertise needed in our public bodies. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  I will come back to the central issue of whether this Bill will make it more or less likely that judicial reviews will be taken, and also the question of whether it will mean judicial reviews are more or less likely to be successful after they are taken. The Minister noted that there have been academic articles discussing the impact of the climate Act. He said this is tangible evidence of the risk of section 15 of the climate Act. I am sure those particular academics are absolutely delighted now to have the Minister reference their work. The impact scores for their research are going to go off the charts now that they have been cited in the D\u00e1il. With respect, however, this is not tangible evidence. The tangible evidence we have about the impact of section 15 of the climate Act is the Supreme Court decision in the Coolglass case four months ago, which made it very clear that section 15 applied to a planning decision and was used to overturn the denial of planning permission. Section 15 protected the infrastructure development in that case. The Government's Bill is disapplying section 15 to the biggest types of infrastructure development that the Government and future Governments are seeking to bring forward. This Bill removes legal provisions that have been held to weigh in favour of the granting of planning permission. Throughout all of this debate, the Minister has failed to address the issue of how section 15 has been found by our Supreme Court to benefit these big projects, particularly where they are seen to have a positive climate impact. When judicial reviews are taken against big public transport proposals, as they always are, that provision is going to be denied to them. In future, the granting of a designation of critical infrastructure to big projects may actually be the death knell of those projects because they will be harder to defend in the courts, not easier. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John McGuinness  My concern around the issue we are debating now is the rights and supports that are necessary for local communities when they make their objections and when they are pitched against big companies that can steamroll their way through the planning process and onwards. The reason they take judicial reviews is because they feel that they are failed by the process itself and that they are being ignored by the political process.  We have been promised, for example, onshore wind regulations in this House since 2006. We have had numerous debates about the regulations. Politicians have done somersaults in relation to it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  As the time for this debate has expired----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John McGuinness  Can I mention before I sit down that they construction of a ring road around Kilkenny is another issue which was held up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The time permitted for this debate having expired, I am required to put the following question in accordance with the order of the D\u00e1il of 12 May 2026: \"That Fourth Stage is hereby completed and that the Bill is hereby passed.\" Is that agreed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  It is not agreed. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Critical Infrastructure Bill 2026: Report and Final Stages"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-13\/debate\/dbsect_34","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Presentation of Estimates: Motion","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_34","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (Deputy Jack Chambers)  I move:  That, notwithstanding Standing Order 222 of the Standing Orders of D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann relative to Public Business or the Resolutions of the D\u00e1il of 17th December, 2025, 28th January, 2026 and 25th March, 2026 the following Further Revised Estimate for Public Services for the year ending 31st December, 2026, be presented to the D\u00e1il and circulated to members on 13th May, 2026 being a date later than that prescribed for the presentation of Estimates:   Vote 26 \u2014 Education and Youth. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Presentation of Estimates: Motion"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-13\/debate\/dbsect_35","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Dublin City Flat Complex Retrofit and Regeneration: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_35","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The following motion was moved by Deputy Mary Lou McDonald on Wednesday, 6 May 2026:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"notes that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Dublin City Council (DCC) has 6,000 flats across 100 complexes built from the 1930s to the 1960s;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 due to poor maintenance by the Council, and underfunding by central government, living conditions in these flat complexes are amongst the worst in the city;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 these sub-standard conditions have a significant impact on community cohesion and the well-being of residents, in particular, young people;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 damp, mould, rodent infestation, chronic overcrowding and inadequate sports and community facilities, continue to blight the hard-working communities who live in these flat complexes;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 in 2017, following a collective complaint to the European Committee of Social Rights at the Council of Europe, Strasbourg, by the residents of many of these flat complexes, the Irish Government was found to be in breach of Article 16 of the European Social Charter (Revised), which protects the right of the family to social, legal and economic protection, including the provision of adequate family housing;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 despite valiant campaigning by residents, supported by the Community Action Network and the Communities of Practice, the conditions in these flat complexes have continued to deteriorate;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 in 2023, DCC undertook a comprehensive engagement with communities in flat complexes, and produced a plan for the deep retrofit and regeneration of these flat complexes, to bring their homes in line with contemporary standards;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 this plan is based on successful estate retrofit and regeneration, such as Killarney Court and the pilot project in Ballybough Court;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, is refusing to fund the initial proposals for the retrofit and regeneration of these complexes in Pearse House and Oliver Bond House, on the spurious grounds that it would lead to a reduction in the number of homes in each complex;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 this decision is now fatally undermining years of community consultation, and further delaying the bringing of these flat complexes up to legally required standards for rental accommodation; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Dublin City Councillors from Fianna F\u00e1il, Fine Gael, the Labour Party, the Green Party and some Independents voted for the recent Council Budget, which included significant rent increases for Council tenants, including those living in sub-standard accommodation in the inner-city flat complexes; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"calls on the Government to:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 reverse its current position of refusing to fund DCCs proposed retrofit and regeneration on the inner-city flat complexes;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 put the views and needs of our strong and vibrant long-standing inner-city communities at the centre of all policy and funding decisions related to the retrofit and regeneration of the flat complexes; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 provide DCC with a dedicated team of staff, headed by a senior assistant director of service, with a comprehensive budget, to drive an accelerated programme of flat complex retrofit and regeneration."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Debate resumed on amendment No 1:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"To delete all words after \"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann\" and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\"notes that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Programme for Government commits to continue and accelerate Social Housing regeneration schemes in Dublin, and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage continues and commits to support regeneration projects submitted by Dublin City Council (DCC) that do not result in any significant loss of homes;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government's objective is to maximise the quality and availability of homes within the established inner-city flat complexes, and to ensure that they are to an acceptable standard;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 DCC, through funding from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, are focused on eradicating any sub-standard conditions that have arisen in aging flat complexes, and this directly addresses the issues raised in the collective complaint to the European Committee of Social Rights at the Council of Europe, Strasbourg;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government is fully committed to working with DCC to ensure that all plans to regenerate all such flats, through either deep-retrofit or demolition and re-build, comes to fruition;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government has shown its commitment through National Development Plan funding of \u20ac20 billion for housing, which includes support for Dublin City regeneration;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 a number of funding channels are available to local authorities to support regeneration projects, including the Social Housing Investment Programme, the Affordable Housing Fund, the Capital Advance Leasing Facility, the Cost Rental Equity Loan, and through the Regeneration and Refurbishment Programme;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 an unprecedented level of funding is available to local authorities through these schemes, totalling over \u20ac3.4 billion in 2026;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 local authorities are supported by almost \u20ac260 million per annum for the management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, through the Planned Maintenance\/Voids Programme (\u20ac40 million), Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme (\u20ac140 million), Housing Adaptation Grant for Disabled People (\u20ac28.5 million), and the Regeneration and Refurbishment Programme (\u20ac50 million);"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, has recently approved funding of \u20ac13.8 million for the deep retrofitting of 78 flats across four blocks at Pearse House;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage are working with DCC on a proposal for retrofitting the flats at Oliver Bond House, that will not result in a significant loss of housing, but will result in all homes being upgraded to modern standards;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Minister and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage will continue to support such retrofitting of these aging flats to bring them in-line with modern standards, and previous delivery of projects, such as the successful estate retrofit and regeneration or demolition and re-build of Killarney Court, Dolphin House Phase 1 and O'Devaney Gardens, shows that a pathway exists for successful delivery of inner-city regeneration to the satisfaction of all stakeholders, and the Government, and the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, are fully committed to continue this work;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government continues to recognise and support the needs of our strong and vibrant longstanding inner city communities, and recognises the value of their input and valuable lived experience to the planned regeneration of inner-city flat complexes, and this work is continuing throughout DCC, and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is happy to assess each proposal that is submitted by DCC; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage works closely with the local government sector to ensure that delivery teams are fully resourced, and continues to do so, and are awaiting a report from a County and City Management Association working group on local authority social and affordable housing resources, and the Chief Executive of DCC has ultimate operational responsibility for the organisational structure of DCC, including additional staff requirements.\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"- (Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy John Cummins)"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I must now deal with a postponed division relating to the motion regarding flat regeneration. On Wednesday, 6 May 2026, on the question, \"That the amendment to the motion be agreed to\", a division was claimed and in accordance with Standing Order 85(2), that division must be taken now. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Dublin City Flat Complex Retrofit and Regeneration: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members]"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-13\/debate\/dbsect_44","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Cost of Living Mini-Budget: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":2,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_44","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The following motion was moved by Deputy Ged Nash on Thursday, 7 May 2026:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"notes that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Budget 2026 failed to provide for indexation of income tax credits and bands, providing instead untargeted Value-Added Tax (VAT) cuts for the hospitality and construction sector;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 despite clear evidence of an ongoing cost-of-living crisis, the Government withdrew energy credits and cut pre-election once-off payments, that in recent years had cloaked the inadequacy of existing social welfare payment rates;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the analysis by the Economic and Social Research Institute of Budget 2026 measures, shows that it resulted in household income losses averaging 2 per cent of disposable income, with low-income households hit hardest;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the illegal war launched by the United States of America and Israel against Iran, has created an energy crisis that has already led to increased inflation, with further price rises still to come on energy, food and other commodities;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the energy sector is reaping windfall gains, with British Petroleum reporting more than a doubling of profits in the first three months of 2026;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 last year, in advance of Budget 2026, Department of Finance officials warned that the hospitality VAT cut was a blunt measure, would be poorly targeted, and comes with a significant amount of deadweight, while Bord Bia consumer spending in food services data shows that 60 per cent of the benefit goes to fast food outlets and hotels;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 sectoral fuel supports and cuts to Excise Duty have been introduced by the Government, which includes changes to the Diesel Rebate Scheme that were backdated to January 2026;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 struggling households will have to wait over five months, until October, to find out what supports may be introduced to ease the increase in the cost of living; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the State has yet to deploy the Apple windfall funds, and carries significant cash balances;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"recognises that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Pay As You Earn (PAYE) and self-employed workers have received no targeted support in the cost-of-living crisis, and are now subject to effective cuts in their disposable incomes due to Government budget decisions;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 rising grocery prices continue to impact on household budgets, as 14 per cent of households can't afford to warm their home, and nearly half a million households are in arrears on their energy bills;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 those most at risk of energy poverty, and reliant on fossil fuels, will continue to be hit hardest by further increases in energy prices;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Ireland has the highest energy prices in Europe, due to an overreliance on natural gas for electricity generation leaving us exposed to geopolitical shocks and international market prices; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 only by rapidly transitioning away from fossil fuels through faster rollout of renewables, and electrification of transport and heating, can prices be permanently reduced;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"calls on the Government to immediately introduce a Cost of Living mini-Budget that will:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 reverse the VAT reductions and use the savings to provide for indexation of income tax bands and credits, backdated to January 2026;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 introduce a windfall tax on energy profits to fund targeted energy credits and social welfare supports, including a summer bonus double payment;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 provide a one-off \u20ac100 grocery supplement to Child Benefit, restore the \u20ac100 previously cut from the Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance, and remove State exam fees;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 increase the bank levy to \u20ac500 million, and provide targeted energy grants for small businesses, and tailored supports to increase uptake of Electric Vehicles for households and businesses;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 introduce pilot trials of free public transport, to reduce fuel use and cut school transport fees; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 deploy the windfall Apple funds to turbocharge retrofitting, the installation of solar photovoltaic and offshore wind, and the electrification of heating and transport, to bring down the cost of bills; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"further calls on the Government to introduce a Budget in October that puts the interests of middle- and low-income households first."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The following amendment was moved by the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Robert Troy, on Thursday, 7 May 2026:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"To delete all words after \"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann\" and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\"notes that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the conflict in the Middle East has, once again, exposed the vulnerability of the Irish economy, and Irish society more generally, to imported fossil fuels;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 these strategic dependencies have major macroeconomic implications, and the risks to macroeconomic and fiscal stability cannot be ignored;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 at a minimum, the large upward shift in energy prices is likely to impart a stagflationary impulse to the global economy, with a combination of lower levels of economic activity alongside higher inflation;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 by reducing Excise Duty payable on both petrol and diesel, the Government has dampened the pass-through from higher wholesale price to retail prices;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 this burden-sharing has been complemented by other support mechanisms, including an extension of the fuel allowance season and targeted measures for the most exposed sectors;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the total budgetary cost of these measures is of the order of \u20ac750 million this year, one of the largest interventions of any country in the European Union (EU), and these measures reduce the annual rate of inflation in April, May, June and July by about 0.6 percentage points;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government has also extended the 9 per cent Value-Added Tax (VAT) on gas and electricity bills until 31st December, 2030, one of the lowest rates in the EU, which will have cost over \u20ac1 billion from the time it was introduced in May 2022, until the end of this year;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Budget 2026 focused on building more homes and protecting jobs;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the 9 per cent VAT rate for hospitality and hairdressing will take effect from 1st July, 2026, to support businesses in services sectors, supporting over 150,000 jobs across the country;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Budget 2026 delivered weekly welfare rate increases, benefitting approximately 1.5 million people, including pensioners, people with disabilities, carers and lone parents;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 for low-income families, Budget 2026 increased the weekly rate of the Child Support Payment; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government has increased the rates for the Fuel Allowance, extended it to the recipients of the Working Family Payment, and recently extended the season by four weeks, to protect those at risk of fuel poverty;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"recognises that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 a package worth \u20ac750 million of supports has been introduced by the Government;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 rates of Excise Duty (Mineral Oil Tax) applying to petrol, auto diesel and marked gas oil (MGO) have been temporarily reduced;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the National Oil Reserve Agency levy has been reduced by 2 cent per litre of fuel, to 31st July, 2026;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the total reductions, will reduce the cost of:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 petrol, by 27 cent per litre;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 diesel, by 32 cent per litre; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 MGO\/green diesel, by 7.4 cent per litre;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government deferred the planned increase in carbon tax, scheduled for 1st May, until October, to provide additional support for consumers of green diesel and other affected fuels;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 to protect those at risk of fuel poverty, the Government extended the fuel allowance season by four weeks, which will result in additional payments of over a quarter of households;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 in Budget 2026, Government announced that VAT on electricity and gas will remain at the lowest possible level of 9 per cent to the end of 2030, to mitigate costs and address energy poverty;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government increased the maximum repayment allowable under the Diesel Rebate Scheme from 7.5 cent up to 12 cent per litre of diesel, which will apply until 30th June, 2026;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 these interventions have been designed to provide timely and proportionate relief, indeed, the Government's approach is underpinned by the need to balance short-term supports with longer-term objectives, including:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 maintaining fiscal discipline and building fiscal buffers;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 supporting continued employment growth and economic stability;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 strategic capital investment and infrastructure delivery;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 advancing Ireland's climate commitments and energy transition; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 strengthening energy security and resilience;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Fuel Support Scheme for farmers is now open for applications, and a scheme for hauliers will open in the coming weeks;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Budget 2026 was the first of five budgets to be delivered by the Government;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 this Government has committed to, and will stand by, its Programme for Government commitment to make progressive changes to personal income tax, if the economy remains strong;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 preparation for Budget 2027 is already underway, and decisions regarding policy measures should be taken in the context of the annual Budget and Finance Bill processes;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the bank levy has raised \u20ac1.8 billion since 2014, with a further \u20ac200 million due in 2026;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the National Development Plan, includes the once-off receipts arising from the Court of Justice of the European Union ruling of 2024, to advance key capital projects;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Irish economy is facing its second fossil fuel shock in less than half a decade;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 fossil fuel dependence, especially imported fossil fuels, is a major economic vulnerability;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 analytical work will be undertaken by the Department of Finance, to set out the key macroeconomic principles that should guide the medium-term transition towards energy independence; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government has also established the National Energy Affordability Taskforce, to identify, assess and implement measures that will enhance energy affordability for households and businesses, while delivering key renewable commitments and protecting security of supply and economic stability; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"acknowledges that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the geopolitical and economic outlook continues to be highly uncertain;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 in the Department of Finance's reference scenario, inflation is projected to average 3.3 per cent this year, 1.5 percentage points higher than assumed at budget time, but still significantly lower than the 8.1 per cent rate recorded in 2022, after the last energy price shock;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the economy is still expected to grow this year, albeit at a slower pace than previously forecast, and Government has committed to a range of temporary measures to mitigate the impact of increases in energy prices on households and businesses;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the overall approach to budgetary policy must remain balanced and sustainable over the medium-term; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government will consider the continued impact of the energy shock on households, and make proportionate decisions in the forthcoming Budget.\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Debate resumed on amendment No. 1 to amendment No. 1:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"To delete all words after \"notes that\" and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\":"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the conflict in the Middle East has, once again, exposed the vulnerability of the Irish economy, and Irish society more generally, to imported fossil fuels;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 these strategic dependencies have major macroeconomic implications, and the risks to macroeconomic and fiscal stability cannot be ignored;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 at a minimum, the large upward shift in energy prices is likely to impart stagflationary impulses to the global economy, with a combination of lower levels of economic activity alongside higher inflation;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 by reducing Excise Duty payable on both petrol and diesel, the Government has dampened the pass-through from higher wholesale price to retail prices, but they have not gone far enough;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 this burden-sharing has been complemented by other support mechanisms, including an extension of the fuel allowance season and targeted measures for the most exposed sectors;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the total budgetary cost of these measures is of the order of \u20ac750 million this year, one of the largest interventions of any country in the European Union (EU), and these measures reduce the annual rate of inflation in April, May, June and July by about 0.6 percentage points;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government has also extended the 9 per cent Value-Added Tax (VAT) on gas and electricity bills until 31st December, 2030, one of the lowest rates in the EU, which will have cost over \u20ac1 billion from the time it was introduced in May 2022, until the end of this year;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Budget 2026 left workers worse off, and handed tax breaks to those at the top;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the 9 per cent VAT rate for hospitality and hairdressing will take effect from 1st July, 2026, to support businesses in services sectors, supporting over 150,000 jobs across the country;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Budget 2026 delivered weekly welfare rate increases, benefitting approximately 1.5 million people, including pensioners, people with disabilities, carers and lone parents;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 for low-income families, Budget 2026 increased the weekly rate of the Child Support Payment; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government has increased the rates for the Fuel Allowance, extended it to the recipients of the Working Family Payment, and recently extended the season by four weeks, to protect those at risk of fuel poverty;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"recognises that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 a package worth \u20ac750 million of supports has been introduced by the Government, that has left many people still struggling to make ends meet;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 rates of Excise Duty (Mineral Oil Tax) applying to petrol, auto diesel and marked gas oil (MGO) have been temporarily reduced;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the National Oil Reserve Agency levy has been reduced by 2 cent per litre of fuel, to 31st July, 2026;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the total reductions, will reduce the cost of:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 petrol, by 27 cent per litre;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 diesel, by 32 cent per litre; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 MGO\/green diesel, by 7.4 cent per litre;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government deferred the planned increase in carbon tax, scheduled for 1st May, until October, to provide additional support for consumers of green diesel and other affected fuels;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 to protect those at risk of fuel poverty, the Government extended the fuel allowance season by four weeks, which will result in additional payments to over a quarter of households;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 in Budget 2026, Government announced that VAT on electricity and gas will remain at the lowest possible level of 9 per cent to the end of 2030, to mitigate costs and address energy poverty;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government increased the maximum repayment allowable under the Diesel Rebate Scheme from 7.5 cent up to 12 cent per litre of diesel, which will apply until 30th June, 2026;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 these interventions have been designed to provide timely and proportionate relief, indeed, the Government's approach is underpinned by the need to balance short-term supports with longer-term objectives, including:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 maintaining fiscal discipline and building fiscal buffers;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 supporting continued employment growth and economic stability;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 strategic capital investment and infrastructure delivery;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 advancing Ireland's climate commitments and energy transition; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 strengthening energy security and resilience;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Fuel Support Scheme for farmers is now open for applications, and a scheme for hauliers will open in the coming weeks;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the bank levy has raised \u20ac1.8 billion since 2014, with a further \u20ac200 million due in 2026;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the National Development Plan, includes the once-off receipts arising from the Court of Justice of the European Union ruling of 2024, to advance key capital projects;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Irish economy is facing its second fossil fuel shock in less than half a decade;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 fossil fuel dependence, especially imported fossil fuels, is a major economic vulnerability;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 analytical work will be undertaken by the Department of Finance, to set out the key macroeconomic principles that should guide the medium-term transition towards energy independence; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government has also established the National Energy Affordability Taskforce, to identify, assess and implement measures that will enhance energy affordability for households and businesses, while delivering key renewable commitments and protecting security of supply and economic stability;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"further recognises that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Budget 2026 left workers worse off and handed tax breaks to those at the top;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 according to analysis by the Economic and Social Research Institute of Budget 2026 measures, households lost disposable income, with low-income households hit hardest;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 despite clear evidence of an ongoing cost-of-living crisis, the Government withdrew cost of living supports, including energy credits;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 people with disabilities have been hard hit by the Government's callous decision to withdraw cost of living support, with many people with disabilities left up to \u20ac1,400 worse off;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 since energy credits were withdrawn, we have seen record numbers of household unable to pay their electricity bills, and many more people struggling to keep up;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government measures on Excise Duty on fuel do not go far enough, with petrol, diesel, and green diesel all remaining too expensive at the pumps;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government has refused to cut Excise Duty on home heating oil, despite over 700,000 homes relying on this fuel source for heating;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 struggling households cannot wait until next years' Budget for Government intervention; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the State is forecast to run a surplus of \u20ac9.2 billion, \u20ac4.1 billion higher than previously projected; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"calls on the Government to immediately introduce a Cost of Living Emergency Budget that will:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 cut the Universal Social Charge, to put \u20ac500 back in the pockets of workers;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 cut Excise Duty on fuels, such as petrol, diesel, green diesel and home heating oil;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 introduce energy credits of \u20ac400 per household; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 make targeted cost of living support payments of \u20ac500 for people with disabilities, \u20ac400 for social welfare recipients, such as pensioners and people on the Working Family Payment, and a double child benefit payment.\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa)"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I must now deal with a postponed division relating to amendment No. 1 to Government amendment No. 1 to the motion on a cost-of-living mini-budget. On Thursday, 7 May 2026, on the question, \"That the amendment to the amendment be made\u201d, a division was claimed. That division will be taken now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  I move amendment No. 2 to amendment No. 1:  To insert the following after \"decisions in the forthcoming Budget\":  \"; and  commits to adopt the Social Democrats' five point 'Solar for All' plan, to help families cut electricity costs by an average of \u20ac450 a year, through the following measures:  \u2014 double grants for solar installation to \u20ac3,600;  \u2014 include solar panels in the 'Warmer Homes Scheme';  \u2014 reinstate the \u20ac1,000 battery grant scheme;  \u2014 develop streamlined regulations for 'Plug-in Solar' products for renters and apartment dwellers, whilst ensuring safety standards; and  \u2014 increase the grant value for solar panels for businesses.\". "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Cost of Living Mini-Budget: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members]"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-13\/debate\/dbsect_61","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/26","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/26\/dail\/2","houseCode":"dail","stage":"2","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Electricity Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2026: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members] (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Electricity Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2026: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_61","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I must now deal with a postponed division relating to Second Stage of the Electricity Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2026, taken on Tuesday, 12 May 2026. On the question, \"That the Bill be now read a Second Time\", a division was claimed and in accordance with Standing Order 85(2), that division must be taken now. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Electricity Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2026: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members]"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-13\/debate\/dbsect_66","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/40","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/40\/dail\/2","houseCode":"dail","stage":"2","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Reproductive Rights (Amendment) Bill 2026: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members] (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Reproductive Rights (Amendment) Bill 2026: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_66","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I must now deal with a postponed division relating to Second Stage of the Reproductive Rights (Amendment) Bill 2026, taken on Wednesday, 13 May 2026. On the question, \"That the Bill be now read a Second Time\", a division was claimed and in accordance with Standing Order 85(2), that division must be taken now. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar athl\u00f3 ar 8.41 p.m. go dt\u00ed 8.47 a.m., D\u00e9ardaoin, an 14 Bealtaine 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The D\u00e1il adjourned at 8.41 p.m. until 8.47 a.m. on Thursday, 14 May 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Reproductive Rights (Amendment) Bill 2026: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members]"}]}}]},"contextDate":"2026-05-13"},{"debateRecord":{"house":{"showAs":"34th D\u00e1il","committeeCode":"","houseCode":"dail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/house\/dail\/34","chamberType":"house","houseNo":"34"},"chamber":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/def\/house\/dail","showAs":"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann"},"lastUpdated":"2026-07-03T02:14:06+00:00","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/main","formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/mul@\/main.xml"},"pdf":null},"date":"2026-05-12","counts":{"contributorCount":169,"divisionCount":1,"debateSectionCount":34,"questionCount":54,"billCount":5},"debateType":"debate","debateSections":[{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/dbsect_2","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions","counts":{"speechCount":80,"speakerCount":13},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Today, front-line emergency workers are on strike. Paramedics, advanced paramedics, specialist paramedics, emergency medical technicians, EMTs, and supervisors are all on strike. People who save lives are on the picket line. They stand there as a result of the Government's refusal to resolve long-standing issues relating to pay and conditions and staffing. Ambulance workers do not want to be on strike; they want to be at work helping people and saving lives. The Government, however, forces them to fight for respect, recognition and fair pay. It is to their credit that they will continue to respond to life-threatening situations during this stoppage.  This strike could have been avoided, but the Government has let the situation fester for six years. Back in 2020, an independent report recommended the modernisation of ambulance services. This was to be driven by the upskilling of front-line staff and the delivery of pay that recognised their enhanced roles. Ambulance workers kept their side of the deal. They have taken on advanced training, education and additional responsibilities. They have transformed this service from a transport service to full pre-hospital emergency care.  The Government broke its side of the deal, however. For years now, it has refused to deliver the fair pay ambulance workers deserve. It has left the ambulance system stretched to breaking point. Six years ago, the Government was told that more than 2,500 additional ambulance workers would be needed by this year. Only 500 have been recruited since. Overworked paramedics are under extreme pressure as a result and are struggling to plug the gap caused by acute staff shortages, and patients pay the price. People are left waiting far too long for ambulances. The situation is particularly bad in rural areas, where it can be hundreds of miles to the nearest hospital. People have died after delays in an ambulance getting to them. The Taoiseach is aware of this. I previously raised with him the harrowing death of Stephen Lavelle in Mayo, and there have been others.  I spoke to one paramedic yesterday who told me that the workers have children to feed, bills to pay, rent, mortgages and kids in college in respect of whom they have to pay big fees. She said that a strike was the last thing they wanted but that they had no other option. She also said that the matter could be sorted out at the stroke of a pen if the Minister just looked at the work they do and ensured they are paid fairly. The Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, refuses to intervene, however. Yesterday, at a meeting in Clare, she shocked people when she referred to paramedics and EMTs as ambulance drivers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  Excuse me? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  There is the problem in a nutshell. The Government is blind to the expertise and skill of those who save lives every day. It asks ambulance workers to upskill and then refuses to pay for the upskilling properly.  Is iad Fianna F\u00e1il agus Fine Gael at\u00e1 freagrach do staid na seirbh\u00edse otharchairr inniu. Is teip ghlan \u00e9 n\u00e1r chuir siad p\u00e1 c\u00f3ir ar f\u00e1il d'oibrithe. D'fh\u00e1g siad iad gan aon rogha. N\u00ed f\u00e9idir lean\u00faint mar sin. Caithfidh an Rialtas idirghabh\u00e1il a dh\u00e9anamh chun teacht ar r\u00e9iteach l\u00e1ithreach.  The Government's inaction and refusal to listen has effectively left people without an ambulance service today. What is the Taoiseach going to do about it? So far, he has stood back and acted as a commentator but he is not a commentator; he is the Taoiseach. The striking ambulance workers are right to demand fair pay, proper conditions and safe staffing. When will the Government deliver? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I must say that is a very dishonest portrayal and presentation of the situation. In her heart of hearts, Deputy McDonald must know that. It is very dishonest and a distortion of what has actually happened. Surely she realises that the HSE has been engaged with the trade unions on this issue for quite some time. By the way, for well over two decades now, the State has invested very significantly in the modernisation and transformation of our National Ambulance Service, pre-emergency hospital care and the first responder area. That has been a continuing reality for well over two decades. To be fair to all involved, including those working on the front line, they have participated in that transformation. They sought it. In the early part of the 2000s, I was involved in establishing the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council.  With regard to this current dispute, the State has always accepted that pay structures need to be modernised. Previous engagements at the WRC actually concluded in very significant outcomes. In particular, the State offered pay increases of between 3% and 14%, depending on the grade and so on, linked to reform. That was on top of the 9.25% increase under the current public service pay agreement. Union leadership recommended this proposal to their members. How then can the Deputy say that we refused to resolve the issue, forced them to fight and let this fester for six years? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Because you have. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Negotiations happened----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  I am sorry a Cheann Comhairle but the question was put to me. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Negotiations happened and there was an agreed outcome. The two unions recommended the agreement to their members. The members were entitled to vote against it. I accept that point but the Deputy's portrayal of this is clearly dishonest when set against the facts. This is not something we should play politics with. People need the services of first responders. The HSE, the Government and I are all saying that the only way to resolve this is through dialogue and exhausting the well-established industrial relations machinery of the State, whether the WRC or the Labour Court. It is very clear that the HSE remains available to meet and engage with the unions. There will have to be discussions on this.  The investment has been significant. Overall funding has increased 41%, to \u20ac285 million, between 2022 and 2025. A 41% increase is significant. Staffing is up 28%, bringing total numbers to 2,655. About \u20ac126 million has been invested in the ambulance fleet. A further investment of \u20ac20 million is planned for 2026, with additional recruitment expected to bring the total workforce up by a further 263. There are also plans to deliver 21 extra crewed ambulances operating at peak demand, four additional intermediate care vehicles and the continued development of clinical hubs and alternative care pathways.  With regard to reforms, strengthening workforce availability and supporting new models of care, including the expanded use of special paramedics in community and urgent care settings, formed part of what was negotiated. Workforce availability measures related to night-time and weekend services and so on. Critical care retrieval and air ambulance services were also to be expanded. This is all part of what was negotiated with the unions, as was wider geographic and 24-7 coverage. Modern clinical roles were also to be recognised and grading and pay structures were to be updated to reflect the evolution of paramedic and specialist paramedic roles into autonomous, degree-qualified and professionally regulated positions. That was all negotiated by Government in good faith. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  If everything is so hunky-dory, why are they on strike? Is the Taoiseach trying to suggest that the ambulance workers are wrong? Is he trying to suggest they are imagining the circumstances they are in? Here is the core dishonesty in the Taoiseach's reply. This situation has dragged on for six years and the Government has demonstrated an absence of good faith and respect.  It asked the paramedics to step up. It asked them to upskill, to retrain and to take on greater responsibilities. They have done all of that. They were happy to do it, because they want to provide the most excellent service they can. For its part, the Government promised recognition, staffing and fair pay and it has not fulfilled that. The Government has left them understaffed, overworked and underpaid. That is why they are on the picket line today. The Minister said the quiet bit out loud. Ambulance drivers is how she described skilled professionals and paramedics. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy's time is up. The Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  The Government has on three occasions taken a confrontational approach to workers----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, the Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  -----namely with the SNAs, the agricultural contractors and farmers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy McDonald, your time is up. You are out of order. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  It is now taking the same approach with the ambulance workers. When will it act in good faith with these people? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Prepare in time, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy again ignored the core reality that the HSE negotiated this with the unions. The unions recommended what was negotiated to the membership. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  And the workers rejected it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy has ignored that reality. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  And what? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Allow the answer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That is not festering. That is not delaying. That is not letting things drift. There was substantive agreement which would modernise it even further and draw in a lot more resources and investment, and there is an increase of between 3% and 14% on top of the 9.5% increase. That is substantial by any yardstick in terms of public service pay and increases. However, the Deputy ignores all of that. As far as she is concerned----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Never mind me, what about the workers? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy should agree with me in saying that they should get back into talks. It is the only way to do this. There have to be discussions and dialogue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  With no preconditions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It is the only way we can resolve any disputes----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  Who is going to negotiate if you are going to break promises? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----in the public service or in the private sector for that matter. We have good industrial relations machinery, and it should be used properly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  It is not working. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  There is evidence that it is broken. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I believe it can be----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you. I call Deputy Bacik. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  -----and it can pave a pathway to resolve this dispute. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Your time is up, Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  We are increasingly seeing the consequences of this Government's failure to support working people. Today, National Ambulance Service workers are on picket lines across the country. Our ambulance drivers and paramedics, who do such heroic front-line work, have been driven to strike over pay and conditions. Like so many, they are struggling to make ends meet on their current pay rates. As a result, the ambulance service cannot recruit or retain the staff it needs. Crews are being asked to provide increasingly complex care, under relentless pressure. This is unfair and, above all, unsafe.  Those involved have my solidarity and that of the Labour Party colleagues today. It is not just ambulance staff. Across communities, people are grappling to get by, instead of being able to get on because of the Government's policies. Just like in the eighties, a generation of young people is again facing a choice between adulthood in their childhood bedrooms or a new life overseas. Unlike the eighties, there is no shortage of jobs here. Instead, runaway costs and a poverty of Government ambition on housing and public services are driving them away. T\u00e1 siad ag dul thar lear ag lorg oibre. T\u00e1 siad ag dul ar imirce. N\u00edl rogha acu ach imeacht thar s\u00e1ile. That is having devastating effects. Last week in Glasnevin, I met a woman in tears who told me, in her words, that she was about to lose her second child to emigration. Her children, like so many others, are leaving Ireland because they see no future for themselves here and have no prospect of owning or having a home of their own. A former constituent who is now living in Perth told me that from his graduating medicine class of 350, 100 have joined him in Australia. That is an extraordinary figure. More extraordinarily, 60 of his classmates are working in the same hospital with him. He said the move has been made easier. although it is far away, because there are so many Irish people his own age there with him. He said that life is just so much easier there.  The fighting talk from the Minister, Deputy Chambers, this week is an admission that the Government is not spending wisely. We know, and Labour has said, that before the election, money was no object. The Government was rolling out gimmicks to buy people\u2019s votes with their own money. Now, however, when communities need supports, it has deserted them while continuing to favour the burger barons and the big builders. When the Government's hare-brained VAT cut comes in on 1 July, working families will still be worse off. Who will not be worse off? McDonald's franchisees across the country stand to be \u20ac20 million better off. Supermac's, with revenues of nearly \u20ac300 million, will save \u20ac12 million due to the VAT cut. There is no evidence that this will be passed on to consumers.  The message the Government is sending to ordinary people is that they are on their own and the Government has made its choice. However, there is another choice. Last week, Labour put forward a mini-budget that would offer a substantial package for PAYE workers and struggling families. We are asking the Taoiseach if, tomorrow night when it comes to the vote on our mini-budget, he will support it. Will he support the targeted measures that will actually help households in this cost-of-living crisis? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Regarding the National Ambulance Service and the dispute, I already outlined how the Government entered into good faith negotiations and agreed a very comprehensive outcome. The unions recommended that outcome to their members. It was defeated by the members. No one can charge the Government with acting in bad faith in respect of this. We acted in good faith and will continue to act in good faith, and the HSE is as well. There is a way to resolve it, which has to be through the industrial relations machinery of the State. I would urge all involved to engage in dialogue to resolve this.  Deputy Bacik referred to the 1980s. For God's sake, there was 17.5% unemployment in the 1980s. It was shocking. Do not compare the 1980s to now. It does not----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  There are jobs now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  I made----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I lived through it. There is no comparison. It was depression after depression----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  The Taoiseach did not just live through it. He----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----because of decisions that were made at the time. There is no comparison to the current day. We need to have a sense of perspective in how we debate things. Yet, young people do leave the country for different reasons. The housing issue is similar all over the world. It is far more difficult to buy a house in Canada or Australia, for example, than in Ireland. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It is. I have talked to young people who have been to Australia and Canada. In 2025, about 31,000 Irish came back into the country and 35,000 went out. Our population has grown exponentially over the last two to three decades. The Deputy must know that. Employment went up by 8.5% between 2020 and 2025. It went up 52% between 1995 and 2025. Therein lies the challenge to public expenditure and services. I would acknowledge that. The overall size of the economy is growing significantly. Our GDP, GNI*, whichever way you want to measure it, has grown substantially over the last decade. The population has grown with it and, therefore, the challenge to meet public services is also growing with that in terms of education, health, policing, and so on. That brings its own challenges. We then add onto that four to five major global seismic shocks, from Brexit to the pandemic, the war in Ukraine, tariffs from America and the war in the Middle East. Yet, the Irish economy is staying resilient. Employment is staying very resilient in terms of the number of people who are employed in our economy - over 2.8 million, which is a record in the history of the State.  I accept that there are challenges and many issues, the most important one being housing in terms of enabling young people to buy houses that they can afford and rent, and that we can provide social housing for those who cannot do that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  I always acknowledge the global shocks and global context in which the Government has to make responses. I acknowledged that it was a different context to the 1980s, but the similarity is that we are losing many of our young people, who have come through medical school here and see a better life and future for themselves in Australia, for example. Here at home, it is the Government's response that has caused and exacerbated the cost-of-living crisis. Notwithstanding the global shocks, there are choices that the Government made and could still make. That is why we put forward the mini-budget last week, namely, to put forward to the Government an alternative set of choices and a set of targeted supports, not VAT cuts that benefited large businesses, but targeted supports for working families and PAYE workers who felt left behind. The Taoiseach is out canvassing, as I am, across Galway West and Dublin Central. He is hearing it, too. People are feeling this in their pockets and their families and young people are leaving the country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  N\u00ed aonta\u00edm leis an Teachta. T\u00e1 an Rialtas ag d\u00e9anamh gach aon d\u00edcheall cabhair agus taca\u00edocht a thabhairt do dhaoine agus do theaghlaigh at\u00e1 faoi bhr\u00fa. N\u00edl aon amhras faoi sin. Bh\u00ed pac\u00e1iste m\u00f3r againn le d\u00e9ana\u00ed de luach \u20ac750 milli\u00fan. Sin a bh\u00ed i gceist againn chun an br\u00fa sin a \u00edsli\u00fa. We have not exacerbated the global situation.  This is a ridiculous assertion. How is allocating \u20ac750 million to the haulage industry, to farmers, to contractors, and----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  To PAYE workers? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----to PAYE workers, yes, in terms of the reduction in diesel and petrol, which is universal across the board, exacerbating a global crisis? There are challenges and pressures on families and certainly the global situation is overwhelmingly responsible for that. Everybody knows that. There is a war in the Middle East that is resulting in a 20% contraction----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  I acknowledged that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----of vital supplies and that is a big problem. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  Today workers in the ambulance service are on strike. This is a last resort which has been taken by front-line workers who have been left with no other option. We all know how hard paramedics and emergency medical technicians work and we all know the immense responsibility that comes with that role.  I spoke to paramedics today who came off a 12-hour shift and are now on picket lines ready to work another shift in a few hours. These are workers who go above and beyond, who do the most important work and who even volunteer after they finish work to provide that crucial emergency care. They spoke about how much they had to upskill over the years so they can provide better and faster treatment to patients and how the evolving nature of their role has not been recognised by this or any previous Government. Instead, these workers have been ignored for years.  Not only are these essential workers badly paid but they are not adequately resourced. The service is so understaffed that personnel numbers need to be doubled by hiring 1,800 workers. Is it any wonder the service is so stretched on the ground or that this is having very serious consequences for patients?  In my constituency of Cork South-West, I have been contacted by people who had to wait four hours for an ambulance. Imagine seeing a loved one in serious medical distress and waiting for hours for an ambulance to arrive. It is horrific and is the result of years of underfunding, and it is something that people in rural Ireland have unfortunately come to expect.  This is not the fault of ambulance workers who do their very best. The blame lies squarely with a Government that expects an ambulance service to run on fumes and workers' goodwill.  It is outrageous that this Government has allowed things to deteriorate to where we are today. Ambulance workers on strike, with the service running at 46% capacity. What does the Government have to say to those people who have been fighting to resolve these issues for years? The bottom line is that staff in the ambulance service must be fairly paid and recognised for the essential and skilled work that they do.  An independent report published six years ago has set out how that can be done but instead of just implementing the report as recommended by the Labour Court, attempts have been made to introduce preconditions which would see the number of trained paramedics in a crew go from two to one and in some instances actually reduce people's pay. You could not make it up.  This is not something that workers can or should agree to. This is now beyond a crisis, and this dispute must be brought to an end. Will the Government commit to dropping those preconditions and adopting the McHugh and Crabtree report? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Again, it was successive Governments that invested and took the policy decisions to change the whole nature of the first responder sector. The Deputy just made a comment that no previous Government ever did anything about this. It is such an outrageous comment to make and there is no reality attached to it at all. However, the Deputy thinks that she come in and just say it and that is grand. How does the Deputy think it happened? How does she think the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council was established? How was the first responder system and the professionalisation of the whole area developed?  Yes, all involved were fantastic in going with it and having the ambition to do it but let us not make throwaway statements that no one cared a damn about it until now when the Deputy got up to speak. That is ridiculous. The bottom line is this: genuine negotiations went on between the HSE and the unions. The unions agreed to put the proposals and recommended the proposals, which all of the Opposition Members ignore. They seem to be saying that no matter what is sought, just agree it please. There are always negotiations in situations like this.  We want to modernise. We accept it even further. We want to invest more. There is more funding on the table for investment. There has been very significant investment. Now, there are pressures on workers in that sector. Of that there is no doubt.  Reforms are important in public expenditure as well. We can always do things better and more efficiently and effectively, but the Deputy seems to be saying for us to forget all about reform. I do not think that is a sustainable position. Neither did the unions, for that matter, and correctly so.  Fantastic work is being done on the front line. We affirm it. We want to get this resolved. There is only way to resolve it, and that is through mediation and dialogue. I am confident that it can be resolved, the issues can be netted out and we can get to a conclusion. There have been tremendous strides made, despite what the Deputy has said, in this area in my lifetime, and certainly over the past two decades, because of decisions to change policy and professionalise emergency medical technicians and the entire service. That has been very effective because it complements and supports the acute hospital service. In other words, the first responder is the key person to anyone whose life is in danger or who has been in an accident. We have professionalised the service, and that all of those involved undertook the additional academic work, qualifications and so on is to their credit. No one is disputing that. The State has accepted from day 1 that pay structures need to be modernised. That was the subject matter of a previous engagement at the WRC, which concluded with very significant outcomes. I outlined those earlier. They were significant outcomes, but they fell at the ballot. We need to get this sorted. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  I said that neither this nor any previous Government had acknowledged in terms of pay and conditions how much workers in the National Ambulance Service had upskilled. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That is nonsense. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  In the past 15 years, they have gone from essentially being a patient transfer service to providing nearly accident and emergency-style services in any given situation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We know. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  It has not been acknowledged----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It has. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  -----that their pay should be representative of that. That is the truth. They are on picket lines because of that. I say to the Taoiseach and the Minister, who is tutting over at me, that paramedics have the same responsibility and amount of training as other medical professionals but are paid significantly less. That is fundamentally unfair. The Taoiseach and Minister must at least recognise that. The paramedics are going into a pay dispute and being told that, in order to get a pay rise, they have to accept a reduction in the number of trained paramedics in a crew and that, due to conditions around overtime, some of their pay might be decreased. It is ridiculous. Will the Government drop the precondition around pay? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  First of all, Deputy, we are not going to negotiate an industrial relations agreement paragraph by paragraph in the Chamber. It is not feasible and we are not going to do it, but what I have said from day 1 is that there should be dialogue. The HSE remains available for engagement----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  These workers have been waiting for six years. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----with the trade unions on this matter. That is the sensible way to resolve this. Anyone involved in industrial relations over the years realises and knows that. By the way, we are long gone from the day of ministerial interventions in every single dispute that could potentially arise. That day is gone. We have a very sophisticated way of resolving disputes that involves experienced people. There must be a will on both sides to resolve it. There is a will on the Government\u2019s side to resolve it, and I am sure there is, too, on the union side, but people should enter into discussions and get into dialogue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  We are now over a month since the fuel protests and not a single cent of the Government\u2019s fuel subsidy has been paid out to farmers and contractors. This scheme was announced to great fanfare to quell the protests, but the application process only opened in recent days. Farmers and contractors still do not know how much they will qualify for because the scheme is capped. The window for applications closes on 27 May, which is during one of the busiest times for farmers, contractors and accountants when they are buried with paperwork, basic income support for sustainability scheme, BISS, applications, VAT returns, etc.  The scheme itself is deeply unfair. Applicants must produce receipts for the entire 12 months of the year. They are then paid a subsidy based on five fifths of their returns from the previous year.  Farmers do not use fuel evenly across the year. It is heavily concentrated in the spring and in the summer, at a time when silage needs to be cut, fields need to be ploughed and tilled and crops are harvested. Calculating the payment on a monthly average from the previous year is deeply wrong. It is systematically flawed and unfair on farmers.  I want to turn to the figures around the carbon tax. The statistics released to Aont\u00fa in replies to parliamentary questions tell a very different story to the narrative that the Taoiseach's Government is selling. The Government is on track to collect an additional \u20ac200 million more this year than last year. We also know that half a billion euro was collected in carbon taxes from 2020 to 2023 that was never spent on climate action measures. Essentially, half a billion euro is left over and not needed. The NORA levy is another tax that has generated half a billion euro since 2020. That account sits in surplus in the region of a quarter of a billion euro. This is a surplus of \u20ac278 million at a time when farmers are desperately crying out for help, at a time when margins in the agri-sector have never been as tight, at a time when inputs are going sky high and revenue is falling.  Is the Government misleading the House in relation to carbon taxes and the necessity that the Taoiseach outlines? If it is all so necessary, why is so much money sitting in surplus? Why is so much carbon tax remaining unspent? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy. Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  My question to the Taoiseach----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy's question time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  Does the Taoiseach accept that the fuel subsidy package is totally inadequate for farmers and contractors? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy's time is up. You should prepare in time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  First of all, n\u00ed aonta\u00edm leis an Teachta. Pac\u00e1iste cuimsitheach at\u00e1 ann i dtaobh na feirmeoir\u00ed agus na daoine at\u00e1 ag obair san fheirmeoireacht. Suas le \u20ac100 milli\u00fain at\u00e1 i gceist le haghaidh na m\u00edonna sonracha. I do not accept the Deputy's proposition that the fuel subsidy scheme for farmers and agricultural contractors is inadequate. It is a comprehensive scheme that was worked out in discussions with representative organisations. There has to be some methodology attached to it. The Deputy has not come up with any alternative but there has to be a clear methodology designed. The Minister for agriculture has worked with the agricultural organisations and the representative organisations in respect of that and every effort will be made to support farmers and contractors in that regard. The Minister for Transport on the other hand is dealing with the haulage industry, which is also critical. It is endeavouring to base it on previous usage, which I think is reasonable, because that would give us some indication of the needs and the additionality in terms of the costs that have undoubtedly been incurred because of the war in Iran and the increase in fuel prices globally as a result of that.  The revenues from the carbon tax are used to support lower-income households, farmers, and indeed the retrofitting programme itself. Since 2020, \u20ac4.2 billion has been allocated from carbon tax revenues for all of those purposes. The ESRI analysis shows that lower-income households are net beneficiaries due to accompanying social protection measures. For example, in 2025 there was some \u20ac558 million for residential and community upgrades, including solar PV. That was a significant increase on the previous year. There was about \u20ac350 million for welfare measures this year - working family payment, child support payment, and the extension of fuel allowance eligibility - all coming from the revenue from the carbon tax. The Deputy has been a big advocate for the fuel allowance and has been saying we should increase it even more. This substantial revenue comes from the carbon tax revenue.  In agriculture, \u20ac173 million has been allocated to farmers through agri-environmental schemes, including funding for ACRES under the CAP strategic plan. Between 2020 and mid-2025 about \u20ac366 million was allocated to agri-climate supports - to farmers, basically - through a variety of schemes.  That is income to farmers. The ACRES scheme alone is about \u20ac1.6 billion and the bulk of that is from the Exchequer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  The very clear methodology we outlined over the fuel protest was to scrap carbon tax because that would have provided an immediate relief to farmers and contractors who desperately needed it. Instead we are now a month on from the fuel protest at a time when the cost of fuel is still very high. Green diesel is still extraordinarily high in terms of last year's figures and there has been no relief and many farmers have no idea when they will receive that relief. That is what the Government should have done. It should have removed the carbon tax. The Taoiseach's has made the point on many occasions that the carbon tax is necessary. The actual data says otherwise. Some \u20ac500 million is unspent in relation to carbon charges. Is it the Government's intention to increase carbon tax year after year, irrespective of the price of fuel? Is it the Government's intention to increase carbon tax again this October? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  If the Deputy wants to scrap it entirely, just like that, it would be huge money. Has he costed that? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  \u20ac1.1 billion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  That was a rhetorical question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Where is the Deputy going to find it? I am asking the rhetorical question. He will ask for another billion somewhere else, and another billion somewhere else, and another billion over here. That has been Aont\u00fa's performance all year. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, you are not special. Do not start. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Aont\u00fa expects us to magic up money for farmers, magic up money for those on social protection and magic up money for tax cuts for working people. We have to magic all that up as well. We have to magic up money for education, magic up money for social protection and keep abolishing any tax that exists. That is Aont\u00fa's approach. It is fantasy land. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  It is not the approach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  You are not living in the real world. We will spend all of the carbon tax revenue----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  It is one third of the children's hospital overrun. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----on vital areas to do with climate, energy efficiency and retrofitting. That is the thing to do, and farmers as well, by the way. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  And BAM. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Before I move to the Chief Whip, I welcome on behalf of Deputy John Clendennen the ACCS all-Ireland debating champions from Gallen Community School in Ferbane, County Offaly. I am sure you are learning a lot here. I would also like to welcome Scoil Mhuire Buncrana, who are guests of Deputy Padraig Mac Lochlainn. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/dbsect_3","debateType":"orderofBusiness","bill":null,"showAs":"An tOrd Gn\u00f3 - Order of Business","counts":{"speechCount":84,"speakerCount":22},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Edward Timmins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Cahill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Mythen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Mythen.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Mythen.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Willie O'Dea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Willie-O'Dea.D.1982-03-09","memberCode":"Willie-O'Dea.D.1982-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Mary Butler)  I move:  Tuesday's business shall be:  - Statements on International Nurses Day (not to exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes)  Tuesday's private members' business shall be the Second Stage of the Electricity Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2026, selected by Sinn F\u00e9in.  Wednesday's business shall be:  - Statements on the National Safety Camera Strategy (not to exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes) (Dept of Transport)  - Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na (Recording Devices) (Amendment) Bill 2025 (Report and Final Stages) (to be taken no earlier than 4.30 p.m. and to conclude within 2 hrs)  - Motion to Instruct the Committee on the Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 (to conclude within 1 hour and any division claimed to be taken immediately)  - Critical Infrastructure Bill 2026 (Report and Final Stages) (to conclude within 1 hour)  - Motion re Presentation and Circulation of Further Revised Estimate for Public Services 2026 [Vote 26] (without debate and any division claimed to be taken immediately)  Wednesday's private members' business shall be the Second Stage of the Reproductive Rights (Amendment) Bill 2026, selected by Social Democrats.  Thursday's business shall be:  - Industrial Development (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 (Second Stage) (if not previously concluded, to adjourn at the end of the first speaking round)  Thursday evening business shall be the Second Stage of the Sanctions against the State of Israel Bill 2025, sponsored by Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett.   Proposed Arrangements for this week\u2019s business:   In relation to Tuesday's business, it is proposed that:  1. notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders: .  ( a ) the time allocated to Government business shall be extended in accordance with the arrangements for that business and the D\u00e1il may sit later than 10.48 p.m.; and  ( b ) private members business shall be taken on conclusion of the Statements on International Nurses Day, with consequential effect on the commencement times for the items following in the ordinary routine of business;  2. the Statements on International Nurses Day shall not exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply:  ( a ) the statements, not including the Ministerial response, shall be in accordance with the sequence contained in the table immediately below (to be read across);  ( b ) following the statements, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes; and  ( c ) members may share time; and          Gov      SF      Lab      Gov      SF       Mins    25    15    10    10    3           SD      Gov      SF      IPTG      Gov       Mins    10    10    3    9    10           SF      ITG      Gov      SF      OM       Mins    3    9    10    3    5       Total: 2 hours 15 mins                              3. notwithstanding anything in Standing Order 177(2), the proceedings on Second Stage of the Electricity Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2026 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 2 hours.  In relation to Wednesday's business, it is proposed that:  1. the ordinary routine of business as contained in Schedule 3 to Standing Orders shall be modified to the following extent:  ( a ) in the event that the Statements on the National Safety Camera Strategy conclude before 4.30 p.m., the sitting shall stand suspended until 4.30 p.m., when the order of business shall resume with the Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na (Recording Devices) (Amendment) Bill 2025;  ( b ) any motions to be taken without debate shall be taken on the conclusion of proceedings on the Critical Infrastructure Bill 2026; and  ( c ) the weekly division time shall be taken on the conclusion of proceedings on any motions without debate, and the D\u00e1il shall adjourn on the conclusion of the weekly division time;  2. notwithstanding anything in Standing Order 177(2), the proceedings on Second Stage of the Reproductive Rights (Amendment) Bill 2026 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 2 hours;  3. the Statements on the National Safety Camera Strategy shall not exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply:  ( a ) the statements, not including the Ministerial response, shall be in accordance with the sequence contained in the table immediately below (to be read across);  ( b ) following the statements, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes; and  (c) members may share time;          Gov      SF      Lab      Gov      SF       Mins    25    15    10    10    3           SD      Gov      SF      IPTG      Gov       Mins    10    10    3    9    10           SF      ITG      Gov      SF      OM       Mins    3    9    10    3    5       Total: 2 hours 15 mins                             4. the proceedings on the Report and Final Stages of the Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na (Recording Devices) (Amendment) Bill 2025 shall be taken no earlier than 4.30 p.m. and shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 2 hours by one question which shall be put from the Chair, and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration;  5. the proceedings on the Motion to Instruct the Committee on the Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 60 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply thereto:  (a) the order of speaking and allocation of time shall be as follows:-  \u2014 opening speech by a Minister or Minister of State \u2013 10 minutes;  \u2014 speeches by representatives of Sinn F\u00e9in, the Labour Party, Social Democrats, Independent and Parties Technical Group, and Independent Technical Group \u2013 7.5 minutes per party or group;  \u2014 speeches by Other Members \u2013 7.5 minutes in total; and  \u2014 a speech in response by the Minister \u2013 5 minutes;  (b) members may share time; and  ( c ) any division claimed thereon shall be taken immediately;  6. the proceedings on the Report and Final Stages of the Critical Infrastructure Bill 2026 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 1 hour by one question which shall be put from the Chair, and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation; and  7. the proceedings on the Motion re Presentation and Circulation of Further Revised Estimate for Public Services 2026 [Vote 26] shall be taken without debate, and any division claimed thereon shall be taken immediately.  In relation to Thursday's business, it is proposed that:  1. notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, topical issues may be taken earlier than 7.24 p.m. with consequential effect on the commencement time for Second Stage of the Sanctions against the State of Israel Bill 2025, and on the time for the adjournment of the D\u00e1il; and  2. the proceedings on the Second Stage of the Industrial Development (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 shall, if not previously concluded, be interrupted and stand adjourned at the end of the first speaking round and the following arrangements shall apply:  ( a ) the first-round speeches, not including the Ministerial response, shall be in accordance with the table below (to be read across);  ( b ) where speeches conclude before the 3 hours and 24 minutes have elapsed and no other member is offering, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a speech in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes; and  (c) members may share time.          Gov      SF      Lab      Gov      SF       Mins    20    20    20    12    4           SD      Gov      SF      IPTG      Gov       Mins    20    12    4    20    12           SF      ITG      Gov      SF      OM       Mins    4    20    12    4    20       Total: 3 hours 24 minutes                            "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Are the proposed arrangements agreed to? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  Not agreed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  We have had three Leaders' Questions in relation to the National Ambulance Service strike. Given the gravity of this industrial relations dispute, we need to have a debate in the D\u00e1il on this matter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  Half a billion euro has been left unspent when it comes to climate action measures. We are in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, in the middle of incredible energy shocks, where people cannot afford to pay their electricity bills. We need to have a debate on how the Government is going to spend that money. The Social Democrats have proposed a solar-for-all scheme and a targeted energy scheme. We need to see some movement on this. Can we have a debate on the matter? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  I agree with my colleague, Deputy Duncan Smith, that we need to have a focused debate on the National Ambulance Service. The fact that ambulance workers across this country are on strike today says it all. They do not feel valued and we need to deal with that in these Houses. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  We need to hear from the employers of workers in the National Ambulance Service, because that is what the Government is. We need to hear from the Minister for Health to explain why ambulance workers feel they have not choice but to go on strike because of the failure of the Government to recognise they are vital healthcare professionals. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  I was going to mention the short-term lets and the legislation and the looming date of 20 May, but the advanced paramedics are out on strike today. I refer to the disrespect that is being shown to them. It is a long-standing pay dispute, going on since 2020. We need an urgent debate on it today in the House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  I thank the Deputies for all of their comments. They have been noted. The Order of Business stands. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Are the proposed arrangements agreed to? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  They are not agreed. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The question has been agreed. We move to----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  V\u00f3t\u00e1il. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  V\u00f3t\u00e1il. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I had said already----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  V\u00f3t\u00e1il. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I had said the question was agreed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  I said \"V\u00f3t\u00e1il\". "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  We said \"V\u00f3t\u00e1il\". "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The bells will ring for ten minutes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  For decades, the residents of Oliver Bond House have lived in some of the most appalling conditions in our city. Decades of neglect have left these families living in damp, overcrowded, rat-infested homes. In April, the Department of housing wrote to Dublin City Council refusing a funding request to deep retrofit and amalgamate 74 homes in the flat complex. The rationale was that the council's proposal would see a reduction in the number of flats. The Department set out an alternative approach and requested that the council submit a new proposal. Today, it is revealed that the Department's proposal would result in an even greater reduction in the number of people living in these blocks, with a bed space reduction of 41% compared with the council\u2019s proposal of just 26%. In light of this significant development, will the Taoiseach ask the Minister for housing to revisit his decision? Dublin City Council's plan is the best proposal to bring these homes up to modern standards while retaining the right number, size and mix of homes for singles, couples and families. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  At the outset, I welcome and congratulate three students from Mullaghbuoy National School and the green committee there. Donal McMorland, Jason Woods and Jack O'Neill were the regional winners of the award for global citizenship today in Tullamore. They are very welcome to D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann.  The Minister, Deputy Browne, did not make that decision, but there was a communication from Department officials to Dublin City Council in respect of the matter. The Minister will engage. He is of the view that this matter can be resolved satisfactorily. Funding has not been refused. Funding has not been withdrawn. It remains in place. There has not been a refusal of regeneration for Oliver Bond House. Engagement is going to be key here. Hopefully, we can get this resolved very quickly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  This week is national bike week. As conveners of the all-party Oireachtas cycling group, Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern and I were delighted to host a cross-party cycle around Leinster House today, and thanks to all the colleagues who took part. We need to see the Government step up and provide proper investment for cycling infrastructure. I ask that colleagues commit not to buy into an anti-cycling narrative. There has been a lot of talk recently about the cost of bike sheds, but we need to put that in perspective. The cost of building a single basement car parking space, for example, is between \u20ac50,000 and \u20ac70,000, and \u20ac1.2 million is being spent every year by the OPW on leasing car parking spaces for civil servants. In a climate crisis, while we of course need value for money in all our projects, investment in cycling is not a frivolous extravagance. In a climate crisis, we need to support people to make the transition to cycling in order to help reduce emissions from fossil fuels and reduce dependence on private cars. I ask the Taoiseach and those on all sides of the House to commit to supporting cycling. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I support investment in cycling. The greenways, cycleways and active travel programme have represented a transformation over the past decade in particular. It has been fantastic. People are voting with their feet in places where safe cycleways can be provided. Obviously, we need more sensible arrangements in terms of bike sheds, if I am honest. People did seek that here in Leinster House and we saw what happened afterwards. More generally, investment in cycling is a good thing. It is healthy, and it has implications for less congestion and so on, but we need to provide very safe routes. A lot of that has happened over the past number of years. We will continue our investment in active travel, cycling, pedestrian walkways and so forth. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  Parent across the country are desperately trying to secure appropriate school places for their children. There is still huge uncertainty around the level and scale of unmet need. Transparency is really important. The Department of Education and Youth, working with the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, should be able to give us that data. I am suggesting that it publish that on a monthly basis, like the Department of housing publishes the homeless figures. That is to show transparency. We want to work constructively with the Government and the NCSE to quell the amount of panic that is going on. If the NCSE and the Department were able to publish on a monthly basis the number of students who were yet to get an appropriate school place, we would be very clear on what that would be. The data is there. It is just not being published. It happens in the Department of housing with the homeless figures. This is a way of showing that transparency and quelling that panic that is going on. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I think what we need is all of our officials in the Department working flat out to make sure that every child gets an appropriate place next September. That is where we need staff deployed. We do not need new units to start producing data. There is a balance to be struck in terms of the deployment of public servants. We are increasing the number of public servants on an annual basis. The increase has been significant over the last number of years. To be fair to the Minister, Hildegarde Naughton, and the Minister of State, Michael Moynihan, their focus has been very much on securing additional resources and working with the National Council for Special Education to get the places. They opened the portal early in October. That has resulted in far more significant numbers. I think about 6,000 children in existing mainstream classes have now been identified as needing additionality in terms of supports. That is happening. The Department is flat out on that with the NCSE. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  I have just come from the picket line on Davitt Road, where National Ambulance Service workers are on strike for 24 hours because the HSE has failed for six years to implement a 5% pay rise that they are due under benchmarking. It is not just the HSE, though. The Government is their employer. They are public sector workers and they are calling for the Taoiseach's intervention. The HSE has accepted upskilling and increased responsibilities for ambulance workers, so why is it a conscious policy to not reward essential workers, whom we absolutely need for front-line services? The stress, the burnout and the tragedy that these workers see and deal with daily is horrific. Why has the HSE not been engaging with them? Will the Taoiseach call for that? Will the Taoiseach directly intervene? These workers do not want to be on strike. The last thing that they want to be doing is not providing an essential service. The last time they----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Time is up, Deputy. The Taoiseach will respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  -----refused a pay rise it was because it was a deterioration in the service. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  There is absolutely no point in you and I talking over each other. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I have already spoken on this earlier in the House. I accept the workers do not want to be on strike. It is wrong to say that the HSE or the Government does not want to reward front-line workers. There were good faith negotiations entered into. The unions recommended the outcome of those negotiations that came out of the WRC to the workers. The ballot was negative. The HSE is saying it is available for discussion and engagement with the unions. I think that is what should happen. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  Ambulance response times are getting longer in this country. Handover times for ambulances in hospitals are getting longer. Six months ago, 12 ambulances were stuck at Drogheda hospital for hours. At the same time, no ambulance was available in Cavan, Monaghan, Meath and Louth at all. In 2016, there were 657 deaths before ambulances arrived. In 2023, that increased to 1,108 deaths. This February, I asked the National Ambulance Service the same question. It refused to answer the question. It is an accountability-free zone, refusing to answer TDs' questions on the number of people who have died waiting for an ambulance to come. We know that there is an intense strain on ambulance services at the moment and that it is leading to death and injury. Will the Taoiseach resource these services properly? Will he make sure that the workers have their pay rise implemented? Will he sit down with the workers to negotiate the implementation of that pay rise? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  First of all, we have put significant increased resources into the ambulance service and have incrementally increased it on an ongoing basis. They have been very significant increases, which I outlined earlier to the House. I think it was a 41% increase since 2022. I can check that figure again.  Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn needs to be careful with figures, as he knows. He tends to manipulate figures from time to time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  No, I do not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I have noticed that in different areas. Some people's cases may have had nothing to do with the ambulance service getting there. The Deputy must acknowledge that, too. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  I have not said there was no progress. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I know, but the Deputy implies it. That is the problem. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  I said there was a difference. The figure increased. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We need dialogue. We need negotiations in the WRC to get this resolved. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Albert Dolan  In the past two weeks, we had some fantastic news for Galway. In our only model 4 hospital, the design team was appointed for a 300-bed block at University Hospital Galway. This is really welcome. However, as the Taoiseach knows, design teams get appointed, we go through the planning process and it can take an incredibly long time before we see a shovel in the ground. Would it be possible for the only model 4 hospital in the west to have the 300-bed block that it is seeking designated as a critical infrastructure project, cutting through the red tape and getting the project moving? This is part of a larger phased development that will transform the model 4 hospital in the west. I am conscious that the Taoiseach does not want to start producing lists of projects that are critical infrastructure but for our hospitals, for these beds and for the people of Galway, I ask that this get priority. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I am very conscious of the situation there. I have visited that hospital on a number of occasions. As a model 4 hospital, it is in urgent need of significant modernisation in terms of infrastructure and it needs that 300-bed block. It is critical to it. There has been a lot of work done already to get to this stage. One could argue that it has taken an inordinate length of time to get to where we are now. I will certainly talk to the Minister for public expenditure once that legislation is passed, given the critical nature of it to the health service across the entire north west and west. I think there is a very strong case there. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Edward Timmins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Edward Timmins  I want to raise the issue of rural planning. It is an issue I have raised here previously with the Taoiseach. I am pleased that the guidelines are to be amended and I ask the Taoiseach to support any proposed changes that will help genuine applicants. This is an important component in dealing with the housing challenge. I have worked through four county development plans in Wicklow over 20 years and made many changes but was often restricted due to national guidelines.  There are many aspects that are making it difficult. I will list three of the many proposals I have made. First, social or economic need must trump views and prospects in planning decisions. Second, we need to allow people to downsize from one rural area to another. This is especially important for elderly people who live in unsuitable accommodation. Third, the national definition of \"under urban pressure\" should be removed. This is far too restrictive and stops many genuine applicants. I have seen applicants appealing to An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la and being refused on that basis. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank Deputy Timmins very much for his constructive proposals. I will certainly talk to the Minister for housing in regard to his suggestions around amendments to the national guidelines and developing a very pragmatic approach, given the severity of the housing crisis we are facing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  There is a shortage of Gaelscoil places for September 2026 in Dunshaughlin, County Meath. There are anywhere between 15 and 30 children, some with offers from other schools but who want an Irish-medium education and want a Gaelscoil place. The demand is there. The willingness is there on behalf of the Gaelscoil, the board of management, the bishop and patron body. The Taoiseach's ministerial colleagues, Helen McEntee and Thomas Byrne, are very familiar with this issue. However, the block is with the Department, the Minister and the wider Government. They will not sanction an extra class and an extra teacher. I ask the Taoiseach to intervene and ensure that an extra class and teacher are put on for these children for September. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I cannot get involved in every single application. I am not clear about what Deputy O'Rourke is saying. Is it an application for an extra classroom? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  Yes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Teachers come automatically if the numbers increase. There is a pupil-teacher ratio that applies automatically if numbers increase in any given school. I doubt it is a question of the sanctioning of a teacher. Maybe because so many people want to get into the school it does not have the capacity right now, but that is another issue and maybe it needs to be resolved with the Department. I will raise it with the Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy O'Rourke can write further. I call Deputy Duncan Smith. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  A couple of weeks ago, I raised with the Taoiseach the need to repair the swimming pool at Portmarnock Sports and Leisure Club, PSLC. The PSLC is a vital piece of local infrastructure across Fingal and 90% of its users are not-for-profit community pool or non-members of the leisure centre.  Fingal County Council has stepped up to the tune of \u20ac500,000 towards the overall cost of repair, which is approximately \u20ac1 million. The Government has not yet committed funding. There is talk of about \u20ac100,000 coming from central government, but we need more. Either way, we need a commitment to ensure that this repair project can begin and end as soon as possible. This is not the large-scale sport infrastructure fund, LSSIF, or the sports capital programme. It would be through the Minister, Dara Calleary's community fund. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It is a community matter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  Yes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I do not have the specifics of this. Is it Portmarnock community centre? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  Portmarnock Sports and Leisure Club. We have spoken about it before. It is the pool there. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That could be a sports matter. I will talk to both Ministers and we will see what we can do. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  I thank the Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  This week in Spain, they have called for the creation of a European army. They argue that Europe must develop a permanent common military capacity. Many Irish people are increasingly concerned that the long-standing Irish policy of military neutrality is being eroded step by step through deeper EU defence integration without a direct democratic mandate from the Irish people. Will the Taoiseach give us a clear commitment in this House today and to the Irish people that we will not participate in, support or move towards any European army, common EU military structure or mutual defence agreement without first seeking explicit approval from the Irish people by way of referendum? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  First of all, what Spain proposes or does is Spain's business. Many people hold up Spain as representing different stances internationally and so on. I am not familiar with the comments. Is the Deputy saying that the Prime Minister made them? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  The defence minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The defence minister said there should be a European army. Well, the specific characteristics of Irish foreign policy are well known across the European Union and are cited in all documents pertaining to defence, as are those of Malta, Austria and Cyprus. Our military neutrality was decided by Government policy back in the Second World War, essentially, and has evolved since then. We are not joining NATO and we have no intention of joining a military alliance. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Cahill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Cahill  I call on the Government to urgently address the anomaly that exists with the current taxation system in respect of capital acquisitions tax when applied to partners in comparison to married couples. Current legislation means that a partner, even a lifetime partner, is regarded as a stranger for capital acquisitions tax purposes. Therefore, the current threshold limit of \u20ac20,000 applies and anything over that amount is taxed at 33% whereas married couples are tax exempt. Partners are now entitled to a survivor's pension if they have been living together for at least five years, or two years if they have children. This arose from a court case where it was found that to deny the survivor's pension would be unconstitutional. In another recent case, a civil servant passed away and his partner was refused the widow's portion of his civil servant pension, as they were not married. This was also unconstitutional. Contrast this with the current taxation system whereby partners are treated as strangers for capital acquisitions tax purposes. This is wide open to constitutional challenge to----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach will respond, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Cahill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Cahill  -----the current legislation and needs to be addressed by the Minister for Finance. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy very much. He has made a very compelling case in his citing of constitutional decisions in respect of survivors' entitlements to pensions and so forth. I will raise the matter with the Minister for Finance in the context of the forthcoming budget in October to see if he will examine it because the threshold looks rather low. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mattie McGrath  Ar an gc\u00e9ad dul s\u00edos, I welcome the students and teachers from Col\u00e1iste D\u00fan Iascaigh in Cahir, including Ms McGrath and Ms Hickey, to the Public Gallery.  In 2021, I asked the Taoiseach a question here about a new business charge that had been put in called the integrated single electricity market, I-SEM. He told me that he did not know what it was. At that time, I saw a bill from an excellent businessman, whom I have spoken to again today. There was a huge increase in his bill. Has the Taoiseach found out what this is? It is supposed to be looking after the integrated market, North and South, but charges and prices have only gone up since the introduction of this new body or whatever it is. Is it a body? Does it have offices? Does it have staff? Who or what is it? This is another charge that businesspeople cannot afford. At that time, the Government had the small cost-of-business grant at \u20ac250 million. That is now gone. Prices are going up incrementally every day and have been even before the war in Iran. This is another quango as far as I can see. The Taoiseach did not know then what it was. I hope he does now. He was T\u00e1naiste then; he is Taoiseach now. I hope he has checked out what or who I-SEM is rather than robbing people, including businesspeople. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach will now respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I accept fully that there are cost-of-living pressures on families and individuals arising significantly now from the war in Iran, which has----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mattie McGrath  Three wars. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----resulted in a 20% contraction in oil supplies and a dramatic escalation in oil prices. That is very worrying in terms of its potential impact on the world economy for the rest of the year. Hopefully, that war can end as quickly as possible. In the meantime, we have announced, as the Deputy knows, a \u20ac750 million package----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mattie McGrath  Freagair an cheist. Who are I-SEM? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  N\u00e1 b\u00ed ag caint, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----trying to alleviate the pressures on families. I will have to get a look at the bill the Deputy referred to because I did not quite catch the name----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mattie McGrath  I have it here. I-SEM. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----of the company he was talking about, but----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call Deputy Johnny Mythen. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mattie McGrath  The Taoiseach told me that a few years ago. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Johnny Mythen. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Mythen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Mythen.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Mythen.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Johnny Mythen  I would like to raise with the Taoiseach the issue of increased funding for family resource centres around the country, but in particular those operating within my county of Wexford. The newest family resource centre is within Templeshannon Community and Childcare Centre, Enniscorthy, and is a most welcome addition to the east side of the town. Family resource centres are at the heart of our communities, from providing counselling and therapeutic supports to community inclusion and well-being, to essential front-line prevention and early intervention. However, they are under severe financial pressure. There is a steady growth in demand for their services, including a 51% increase in respect of mental health needs alone. I ask the Taoiseach to consider increasing the core funding of \u20ac180,000 per family resource unit to a minimum of \u20ac255,000 in the October budget. This would be a targeted but urgent investment in strengthening communities, particularly in rural and disadvantaged areas. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. The Minister, Norma Foley, was, to be fair to her, effective in the Estimates process in getting additional funding to establish ten new family resource centres across the country, a significant milestone in terms of what had been happening prior to that. I will talk to the Minister about core funding requirements. Again, we are anxious to give additional capacity to family resource centres. We value the role that they are playing and the challenges they are under. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Willie O'Dea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Willie-O'Dea.D.1982-03-09","memberCode":"Willie-O'Dea.D.1982-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Willie O'Dea  While we welcome the fact that the Minister for Health has been quite proactive in following up the accident and emergency difficulties in the mid-west following the HIQA report, I nevertheless want to draw attention to the report and the statement from the medical board of University Hospital Limerick, UHL, yesterday, which pointed out that patient safety was still a huge concern. As a matter of fact, it concluded that the problems surrounding patient safety had not improved at all since the HIQA report, which is now eight months old. The board made certain recommendations as to what could be done in the interim, on a short-term basis, until the situation regarding patient safety was stabilised. One of the recommendations is that the recruitment processes in the mid-west HSE area be changed. Does the Minister for Health intend to respond positively to those recommendations? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  First of all, I think the Minister is actively engaging with the mid-west university hospital and has continued to engage. I will alert the Minister to what the Deputy has said. He is speaking of HIQA's review. As he knows, the Minister did respond to that review, I think. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Willie O'Dea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Willie-O'Dea.D.1982-03-09","memberCode":"Willie-O'Dea.D.1982-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Willie O'Dea  I am referring to the report yesterday from the medical board. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The next thing is that I will raise with the Minister the outcome of that report. In fact, the Minister discussed the emergency care situation in Limerick this morning with the Cabinet. Also, in recent weeks, there has been a 10% increase in activity levels at the emergency department in Limerick, so there is no doubt that the hospital remains under significant pressure, notwithstanding the fact that 278 new beds have opened in acute hospitals across the mid-west region. I will ask the Minister to communicate with the Deputy in respect of the matter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Liam Quaide  Two weeks ago, I raised with the Taoiseach here a tragedy involving a young man who died in east Cork last year in the context of a prolonged wait for an ambulance to reach him and what the HSE has referred to as \"omissions\" in the administration of care at the scene. I followed up our exchange by emailing the Taoiseach's office with a clear outline of the efforts made by the family to secure a meeting with the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, beginning on 29 January, four and half months ago. That first request from me was acknowledged immediately by the Minister's office. Since then, three follow-up emails from me, as well as direct contact from the family, have elicited no further response. I have also not heard back from the Taoiseach's office yet. The Taoiseach and I both know that if this family were to choose to relive their harrowing experience in the national media, a meeting would likely happen very quickly. This is a devastated family seeking basic assurances that the serious issues arising from the tragedy are being acted on.  Will the Taoiseach intervene with the Minister again on this issue? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I will engage with the Minister. The HSE and the hospital should be engaging with the family in the first instance. There are proper mechanisms for accountability in respect of situations like this. However, I will talk to the Minister. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"An tOrd Gn\u00f3 - Order of Business"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/dbsect_8","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Visit of Barbadian Delegation","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I ask colleagues to join me in extending a warm c\u00e9ad m\u00edle f\u00e1ilte to Senator The Honourable Christopher Sinckler, Senior Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Barbados, who joins us in the Distinguished Visitors Gallery today alongside the ambassador of Barbados to Ireland, H.E. Cleviston Haynes. They are most welcome. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Members applauded. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Visit of Barbadian Delegation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/dbsect_9","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/49","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/49\/dail\/1","houseCode":"dail","stage":"1","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"National Minimum Wage (Equal Pay for Apprentices and Young Workers) Bill 2026: First Stage (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"National Minimum Wage (Equal Pay for Apprentices and Young Workers) Bill 2026: First Stage","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":4},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  I move:  That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the National Minimum Wage Act 2000 to provide for apprentices and young workers to be paid at least the National Minimum Wage.  I will share time with Deputy Boyd Barrett. I am glad to be introducing this Bill. It is a Bill to end the super-exploitation of young workers and apprentices. We introduced a similar Bill in the last D\u00e1il to abolish sub-minimum wage rates for workers aged under 20. At the time, the Government claimed to be looking into abolishing these super-low rates of pay. A young worker can be paid as little as \u20ac9.91 an hour, which is \u20ac4.24 less than the national minimum wage. Of course, in reality, Fine Gael and Fianna F\u00e1il have done nothing of the sort. They have ignored the recommendation of the Low Pay Commission and the vote of this D\u00e1il to do away with these sub-minimum wage rates. They are doubling down on shafting young people on pay just like they are shafting them on housing and the cost of living.  Research by the ESRI has shown that the percentage of workers on these super-low and super-exploitative rates of pay has doubled since 2020. The national minimum wage has gone up, although it is still entirely inadequate. The result is that greedy employers are using sub-minimum wage rates for young people as a loophole to get out of paying even that inadequate minimum wage. We have gone from 20% of young workers being paid sub-minimum rates in 2020 to 30% now, a massive jump of about 30,000 young people.  The justifications used by bosses for this are outrageous. I had to listen to some of them in the committee that deals with this area. ISME, the Irish SME Association, has claimed that exploiting young people in this way \" is of greater long-run benefit and importance for poorer social classes where education is their way out of lower-skilled employments.\" It also claimed that paying young workers the national minimum wage might cause them to \"favour gratification\". This is the type of attitude towards young people we are dealing with. It is like something out of the Dark Ages.  What is also out of the Dark Ages are the levels of pay being paid to apprentices. First-year craft apprentices are being paid \u20ac7.67 an hour, which is \u20ac6.48 less than the national minimum wage. That is disgraceful. Their union, Connect, says that apprentices now usually start in their 20s rather than their teens. It says the average apprentice will have at least one child to support and that 60% are renting. They have rent and mortgages to pay. They also have to pay for their own tools, which can cost \u20ac1,000 or more in some cases. They often have to relocate around the country and pay course fees as well. How are they meant to survive on less than \u20ac8 an hour? It is an absolute joke. It is also proof that the Government is not serious about fixing the housing crisis. It should be doing everything in its power to attract young workers to take up apprenticeships rather than legalising this super-exploitation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  To follow on from Deputy Murphy's point, one of the biggest obstacles to solving the housing crisis and the chronic deficits in infrastructure in this country is the lack of skilled tradespeople. We are making it difficult for young people to qualify in these areas by allowing these abysmally low rates for apprentices, particularly in the first and second years of their apprenticeships. These rates are just over \u20ac7 and just over \u20ac11 respectively, both of which are below the minimum wage. This means that apprentices are dropping out, often to work in fast food chains. They are not doing this because they want to but because the pay levels are so low.  It also sends the message to our young people, which many of them are unfortunately acting on, that we do not really value their work at all. They are leaving. Huge numbers of people who want to work in the area of construction and to take on these trades are just leaving the country, even if they do qualify, because they do not feel valued. It is absolutely inexplicable that we expect apprentices to accept this. The average age of an apprentice is 23. Many of them have to pay rent and have children, relationships and lives but, in their first year, they are expected to live on about half of a living wage and less than the minimum wage. It is inexplicable. There are also lower rates of social protection for younger people. We are sending the message that we do not care and that we do not value our young people. It is no wonder that many of them are leaving the country. This is a minimal step that says young people, including those doing apprenticeships, should not be paid less than the minimum wage. The minimum wage should be a legal right and entitlement. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Is the Bill opposed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Mary Butler)  It is not opposed. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I ask one of the Deputies to propose that Second Stage be taken in Private Members' time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  I move: \"That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time.\" "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"National Minimum Wage (Equal Pay for Apprentices and Young Workers) Bill 2026: First Stage"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/dbsect_10","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/50","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/50\/dail\/1","houseCode":"dail","stage":"1","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Comptroller and Auditor General (Due Diligence Complicity Audit) (Amendment) Bill 2026: First Stage (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Comptroller and Auditor General (Due Diligence Complicity Audit) (Amendment) Bill 2026: First Stage","counts":{"speechCount":11,"speakerCount":5},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_10","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Brady","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  I move:  That leave be granted to introduce Bill entitled an Act to amend the Comptroller and Auditor General (Amendment) Act 1993 to require the Comptroller and Auditor General to conduct a due diligence review of the State\u2019s relations with Israel in line with the legal analysis and recommendations of the United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel on implementation of the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice on the Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.  I will share time with Deputies \u00d3 Laoghaire, N\u00ed Raghallaigh and Brady. \"We are not asking for your solidarity. We want you to stop doing us active harm.\" This is the message of Omar Barghouti, founder of the Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, which I hosted here in Leinster House in my role as convenor of the Ireland-Palestine parliamentary friendship group. Our State's complicity is doing Palestinians active harm. Complicity in genocide, apartheid and occupation is incredibly serious and requires immediate actions, including sanctions against the State of Israel, an arms embargo, and the enactment of the occupied territories Bill and the Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill. These are all actions we can and should take but that Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael refuse to.  This week, we approach Nakba Day, 15 May. This is a day when the catastrophe perpetrated against the Palestinian people since 1948 is marked around the world. Horrors beyond our worst fears continue to unfold before our very eyes. Yesterday, The New York Times published an article by Nicholas Kristof entitled \"The Silence That Meets the Rape of Palestinians\". This reported on the brutal sexual abuse of male and female Palestinians at the hands of Israeli prison guards, soldiers, settlers and interrogators. The United Nations has reported that sexual violence has become standard operating procedure.  We in Ireland cannot be complicit in facilitating such a brutal regime. That is why this Bill, sponsored by Deputies Brady, \u00d3 Laoghaire and N\u00ed Raghallaigh and me, is before the House today. It proposes one thing that we are entitled to do without awaiting agreement at EU level or clutching at the excuse that international law is complex. We propose an audit of our State's complicity. A due diligence audit is not just something we can do but something we are required to do under international law. That is the legal advice of the United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in Israel on the implementation of the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the legal consequences arising from the policies and practices of Israel. It states:  Each State is obliged to undertake a thorough due diligence review of its aid and assistance to Israel and determine whether it is being used by Israel to support and maintain the unlawful occupation.  This is stated in light of the fact that \"all States are under an obligation not to render aid or assistance in maintaining the unlawful occupation.\" This is also the advice of the leading human rights lawyer Blinne N\u00ed Ghr\u00e1laigh, who recently made a similar call before the Oireachtas foreign affairs committee.  The Hague Group of 12 nations agreed last July to commence an urgent review of all public contracts to prevent public institutions and their funds from supporting Israel's illegal occupation of Palestinian territory and entrenching its unlawful presence. Ireland is falling behind. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  Taca\u00edm leis an mBille agus tr\u00e9asla\u00edm leis an Teachta \u00d3 Snodaigh as a chuid oibre air seo ar feadh tamall fada. I commend Deputy \u00d3 Snodaigh on his work on this over a considerable period of time. We have had many debates in this Chamber and, unfortunately, some attention has slipped away from Palestine and from the appalling atrocities that continue there despite so-called ceasefire. People are being killed daily but more fundamentally in a long term way the ground for a Palestinian state is being eroded constantly by the actions of Israel. Often there are debates about what we can do since we are a small country but there are actions we can undertake. Clearly, the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice makes it clear that states have an obligation to ensure they audit their processes, relations and trade to ensure states are not complicit. We can and should do this. There is nothing constraining us from doing it. This is the minimum we can do in the context of a situation that daily erodes the rights of the Palestinian people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Brady","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Brady  I concur with my colleagues. This is an important piece of legislation given the Government's systemic failure to take meaningful action against the genocide and apartheid regime of Israel against the Palestinians. A number of pieces of legislation were brought forward previously, including my illegal Israeli settlement divestment Bill. The Government has made us stakeholders in the illegal practice of apartheid in the West Bank by having shares----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Is the Bill opposed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Brady","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Brady  -----in the illegal occupation----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Time is up, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Brady","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Brady  This is an important piece of legislation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Is the Bill opposed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Mary Butler)  It is not opposed. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Since this is a Private Members' Bill, Second Stage must, under Standing Orders, be taken in Private Members' time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  I move: \"The Bill be taken in Private Members' time.\" "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Comptroller and Auditor General (Due Diligence Complicity Audit) (Amendment) Bill 2026: First Stage"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/dbsect_11","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2021\/135","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2021\/135\/dail\/motion\/referral","houseCode":"dail","stage":"motion","isBillStage":false,"showAs":"Flood Insurance Bill 2021: Order for Committee Stage [Private Members] (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Flood Insurance Bill 2021: Order for Committee Stage [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_11","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Brady","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Brady","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Brady  I move:  That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach pursuant to Standing Order 187. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Flood Insurance Bill 2021: Order for Committee Stage [Private Members]"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/dbsect_12","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2021\/21","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2021\/21\/dail\/motion\/referral","houseCode":"dail","stage":"motion","isBillStage":false,"showAs":"Veterinary Practice (Amendment) Bill 2021: Order for Committee Stage [Private Members] (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Veterinary Practice (Amendment) Bill 2021: Order for Committee Stage [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_12","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere  I move:  That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Agriculture and Food pursuant to Standing Orders 187. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Veterinary Practice (Amendment) Bill 2021: Order for Committee Stage [Private Members]"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/dbsect_13","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna - Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_13","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna - Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/dbsect_14","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Cabinet Committees","counts":{"speechCount":43,"speakerCount":17},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/dbsect_13","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_13","showAs":"Ceisteanna - Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_14","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_14.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 21, inclusive, together.  The Cabinet committee on the economy, trade and competitiveness last met on 2 March and is scheduled to meet on 25 May. Membership of the committee comprises the Taoiseach, the T\u00e1naiste and Minister for Finance, and the Ministers for public expenditure, foreign affairs, climate, enterprise, culture and further and higher education and research. Other Ministers or Ministers of State are invited to participate as required.  The committee oversees the implementation of programme for Government commitments relating to sustainable economic and employment growth, trade competitiveness and productivity, innovation, the national digital strategy and pensions. As with all policy areas, issues relating to the economy are regularly discussed at full Cabinet meetings, where all formal decisions are made. Ireland continues to demonstrate its economic resilience and its ability to adapt to changing global circumstances. The economy is performing well, despite times of enormous economic uncertainty, with record numbers of people in work, low unemployment and real wage growth. We will continue to advance an economic model founded on a pro-enterprise policy framework, a stable and sustainable regulatory and tax environment with sound management of the public finances and investment in the infrastructure, energy and skills required to ensure our future competitiveness and productivity.  The updated national development plan represents one of the largest and most significant capital injections in our economy in the history of the State. It sets out total public capital investment of \u20ac275 billion to 2035. Investment in this critical infrastructure will enable 300,000 additional houses by 2030 and expansion of our onshore and offshore electricity transmission and distribution network infrastructure through a \u20ac3.5 billion equity investment in EirGrid and the ESB. This will future-proof Ireland's electricity system and ensure it can meet the growing demands of our economy, our homes and our climate targets. The upgrading of our water and wastewater infrastructure will enable social inclusion, environmental sustainability and housing delivery. This funding of \u20ac12.2 billion to 2030 represents the largest ever capital investment plan in the history of water services and water quality.  Enhanced road and public transport infrastructure will connect our island and reduce travel times. Transport funding of \u20ac24.3 billion for the next five years will deliver a diverse range of transport options including public transport, active travel, roads, maritime and aviation. Approximately \u20ac10 billion of this will be used for public transport projects with a further \u20ac2 billion from the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund specifically to start construction on MetroLink.  There will be greater opportunities to attract foreign direct investment and support our international competitiveness. There will be delivery of more childcare facilities and school places, investment in children\u2019s disability services and better healthcare for all.   Additional information not given on the floor of the House   We will continue to invest in the future of Ireland while preserving the jobs, stability and prosperity of today. We will also continue to put resources into reserve funds, conscious of the risks of using windfall corporation tax revenues for ongoing current expenditure commitments.  However, the situation in the Middle East remains volatile and highly uncertain. The economic fallout will depend on the depth and duration of the conflict. The Department of Finance has assessed the economic impact of three scenarios, and this was published as part of the annual progress report on 21 April. The first relatively benign scenario is based on the futures market in mid-March, where energy prices were assumed to moderate over the second half of this year.  The second scenario assumes a sustained but contained disruption to energy markets, with oil prices remaining at approximately $100 per barrel over the coming months. The third scenario is based on a more pronounced and persistent disruption to energy supply with oil prices reaching $150 per barrel and staying elevated for an extended time. Under all scenarios, there is a shock to inflation, squeezing purchasing power and lowering the growth rate. While the near-term outlook is clouded in considerable uncertainty, what is clear is that economic fallout is likely to persist given the lasting damage to energy infrastructure in the gulf.  The Government is taking action to help households and businesses with the cost of fuel and energy. We are conscious of the increased financial pressure on households and businesses as a result. To date, over \u20ac750 million has been committed to measures to support households and business with increased fuel costs. This response has been possible because we have adopted a prudent approach in recent budgets. We will navigate this period of volatility, but we must remain flexible in our response. We cannot mitigate every increase in costs, and we must retain resources to ensure we can deal with any further deterioration in the global economy. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and respond as appropriate. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  There are many questions, so it will be 30 seconds each. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  Ireland is uniquely positioned to become a global leader in helping multinational companies achieve their carbon neutral targets. Nowhere is that opportunity greater than in County Offaly with Bord na M\u00f3na's landbank and the renewable energy capacity and scale to become one of the most strategically important locations in the country for sustainable industrial and enterprise growth. The Taoiseach recently described Offaly as a powerhouse in renewable energy and I believe that presents a major opportunity for the county and the wider midlands. International companies are actively seeking secure renewable and cost-effective energy to support them in the long term. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Albert Dolan  I speak regularly to sole traders, farmers, tradespeople and small business owners who are under immense pressure from rising costs, irregular income patterns and administrative burden. Many also remain concerned about the level of protection available to them if illness strikes or if business slows. Will the Taoiseach look seriously at strengthening supports for the self-employed, including areas such as simplified tax compliance, improved income protections and measures that recognise the reality of the risks they are taking to provide employment across the country? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere  Across rural Ireland family-run pubs are under severe pressure from rising energy bills, insurance costs, staffing shortages and reduced footfall. In many villages and small towns, the local pub is more than a business, it is a social hub, a meeting place and an important part of community life. The Vintners' Federation of Ireland is calling for the Government to introduce a new targeted tax credit, which would be linked to draught products and capped at \u20ac20,000 per premises. I strongly support this request, and I ask the Taoiseach to outline what specific measures the Government is considering supporting small rural pubs, including action on energy costs----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call Deputy O'Rourke. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere  Will the Government support the VFI proposal to----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  Eurostat has again confirmed that Ireland has the highest electricity prices in Europe, meaning that on average, consumers are paying in the region of 40% more than their European counterparts. What measures is the Taoiseach taking to reduce the cost of electricity to households and businesses, and to address the root causes of the high cost of electricity here? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  The recent report by the ISME noted that there was a decline in SME credit balances from \u20ac62 billion in 2011 to \u20ac17.8 billion in 2023, despite headline economic growth in Ireland during that period. That is a stunning drop of 70% in capital to indigenous companies since the Taoiseach was last in government. He says he is a pro-enterprise Taoiseach but the evidence points to the contrary. What will he do to improve the conditions for indigenous enterprises in Ireland? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  It is 18 years since CI\u00c9 pensioners received an increase in their pensions. There was agreement between CI\u00c9 and the unions in May of last year. A year later the Government has still not signed off on this increase. When I asked the Taoiseach about this in February, he said that the sign-off was imminent. We are now in May, and it has still has not been signed off. When will the CI\u00c9 pensioners get the increase for which they have been waiting for 18 years?  It is absolutely necessary that we look at the fact that Irish people are paying 40% more for electricity. We need to find the solution to this. It is not okay.  Recently, a number of us met the House of Commons business and trade committee. A particular issue that I brought up, which I raised with the Taoiseach previously, is cross-Border taxation, particularly for those who are remote working or who cannot remote work, or companies which cannot facilitate cross-Border remote working. It requires a bilateral agreement with the British Government. It should be on the agenda of Government. I also said we should actually deal with the biggest issue, which is the Border, but the Taoiseach has a bit of work to do on that himself. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  The prospect of 720 job losses at Covalen has caused enormous anxiety for workers and their families and our existing legislation on statutory redundancy is no longer adequate. After losing their jobs, Covalen workers are worried about whether they will have meaningful access to retraining and reskilling pathways and alternative employment. They are concerned about cooling-off periods and non-compete arrangements preventing redundant workers from potentially taking up employment with rivals. Will the Taoiseach ask the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to meet the Communications Workers Union and ensure that the consultation process delivers meaningful change and fair outcomes for Covalen workers? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Connolly  The Taoiseach recently alluded to the historic success of the social partnership model in the country and the impact and role it had in maintaining living standards, social cohesion and limiting industrial action. In alluding to that, I was hoping that we might be in a position to say that we are to commence a new period of social partnership between the employers, employees, and the Government as well. I ask the Taoiseach to update the House on whether such efforts can be made real. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  I welcome the recent discussion about nuclear power but, economically, would it not be more viable for us to decentralise our grid with the private wires Bill and bring in long-duration energy storage and alternative energy storage abilities, be it gravity, green hydrogen or any of the newest things that are coming to the market? We saw how much the UK project went over its budget and I would love to see the cost-benefit analysis of nuclear compared with renewables. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  It is economically illiterate for this country to sit on \u20ac500 million that has been set aside for climate action and not spend it while at the same time looking at funding renewable energy projects in other countries to make up for the fact that we have not done enough on climate in this country. It is crazy. Will the Taoiseach please explain his rationale on that? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  It is an absolute disgrace that Jack Chambers and this Government are threatening essentially a return to austerity and cutbacks across Departments and trying to imply that because extra money had to be found for special needs, this has to be done. That is a cynical divide-and-conquer tactic when there are alternatives. The Government had underfunded special needs and was forced to acknowledge that. It could find extra money rather than cutting other Departments by taxing wealth and profits in this country. That is the elephant in the room that is never discussed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  We need retrofitting as quickly and as much as possible. It is part of the answer to the cost-of-living crisis and the climate crisis. The problem is that the way the Government has gone about it with its privatised model is now beginning to result in significant problems. I will give a few examples from my constituency. Philomena Doran, a 92-year-old widow in Oldbawn, got a 100% grant to get wraparound external wall insulation, but the external wall insulation was put on during Storm Chandra, when the building advice states clearly that it cannot be put on when it is raining. She went to the SEAI and got nowhere. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call Deputy McGuinness. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  Another woman, Clare Hayes, got in touch, where the provider did not provide the necessary declaration for her to get the grant. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Everybody is being treated the same. I call Deputy McGuinness. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  She did not get anywhere with the SEAI. Where are people meant to go? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  The scenes in Tycor in Waterford over the weekend have been devastating for residents, businesses and workers. I commend the firefighters, emergency services and front-line workers who responded. On Sunday morning, my colleague, Deputy David Cullinane, and I visited the area to meet those residents, the workers and the businesses affected. While the immediate danger has passed in many respects, enormous concerns remain around livelihoods, the clean-up operation, asbestos, air quality and long-term safety. I welcome the response under way by Waterford City and County Council and the local enterprise office, but once the national attention moves on, Government support cannot move on too. Will the Taoiseach commit to ensuring sustained Government support for affected residents? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  The current public sector pay deal is due to expire over the next few weeks. Trade unions looked at the Government response to the fuel protests in recent weeks and understood that the package that was developed for those who were protesting did nothing whatsoever for PAYE workers, despite the Taoiseach's protestations to the contrary. He is opening the F\u00f3rsa conference this week. What will he say to the public sector workers represented by F\u00f3rsa and other trade unions, both in regard to their expectations about a new public sector pay deal and what he plans to do for PAYE workers in October's budget? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  We are losing nurses, teachers and tradespeople because they cannot afford housing in this city and across the country. Our businesses and public services cannot get workers because of the rents. We are seeing the main supply is vulture fund apartments at \u20ac3,500 a month. Who can afford that? Not one affordable house for sale was built by the State in Dublin city last year. What is the Taoiseach doing to ensure workers can afford to live in our city and can afford the rents and house prices? It is a crisis that is threatening our economy and destroying our society. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I agree entirely with Deputy McCormack about the potential for the midlands for renewable energy. There have been some very good developments and announcements there over the last year, with various Ministers attending. I attended one recently with the Deputy. The Bord na M\u00f3na land resource has very significant potential for both energy renewables and industry to go along with that. We will do everything we possibly can to capitalise on that for the benefit of the midlands. A transition and transformation is happening there, which is very positive.  Regarding sole traders, small farmers and the self-employed more generally, Deputy Dolan is looking for a more streamlined Government approach and simplified tax compliance mechanisms. A cost of business forum has been established which has worked with the small business sector with a view to endeavouring to identify cost pressures on SMEs in particular. That is one strategy that has been deployed. A capacity is being developed within the Department of enterprise around simplification of regulation nationally. Across the European Union, significant work is also under way relating to the simplification of regulation for small businesses in particular. One of the initiatives coming on is a 28th regime, whereby SMEs can establish online and, within a number of days, would be European SMEs, without having to negotiate all the various national borders and so on. That is a focus of Government and of the European Commission.  Regarding Clare family-owned pubs, we will examine what the VFI has put forward. There is no question that family-owned pubs, particularly in rural Ireland, provide a social network and enhance socialisation, which is an important dimension of human health and the development of community ethos and spirit. I am not sure about the specific proposal. I will have to examine that, but we can see what can be done.  On the issue of our electricity prices being the highest in Europe, we are also the fifth highest in terms of purchasing power parity, but, nonetheless, they are too high. One of the key issues is grid dispersal. We are a peripheral island nation and we rely too much on imported fossil fuels. Those are the fundamental drivers of the high cost of fuel, as well as the volatility that arises when war starts. When there is conflict like in the Middle East and in Ukraine, and going back over the past number of decades, wars and conflict in oil-producing areas have created the greatest degree of volatility, so we have to move to renewables. That is the medium-term strategy. About 50% of electricity generation last February was through renewables. We achieved a lot in onshore renewable wind and solar is moving fast. The key challenge for us over the next number of years is offshore renewables, and then to work with the European Union on whether there are ways to deal with the regulatory framework governing the setting of energy prices. The link to gas is a particular factor in how energy prices and electricity prices are determined.  Regarding capital, the support for enterprise is very strong. From Enterprise Ireland, for example, it is growing and continues to do so in respect of most indigenous enterprises for export.  The Deputy did not distinguish whether it was indigenous enterprise for export or domestic service companies, but in terms of indigenous enterprise for export, the feedback has been very positive regarding Government supports, not just financial supports but also soft supports, market access supports, market intelligence, R and D grants and so on. Through the budget, we reduced VAT on hospitality. That measure, which was attacked by the Deputy and his party, is supporting SMEs. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  They cannot get access to----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  No. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We have provided various mechanisms for access----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputies, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----to credit as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  It is not working. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Very often, the take-up is not huge in terms of the various loan schemes going back to Covid-19 right through. They had not been taken up to the same extent, but the Deputy attacked it. The VAT reduction was a very simple, straightforward way to try to help the hospitality industry, likewise on the construction side to try to reduce costs but the Opposition attacked it. They cannot have it both ways, but we will continue to work on the financing of enterprise and improving the venture capital area as well.  Regarding the CIE pensioners, again I will talk to both Ministers. My understanding was that it was coming to a conclusion and hopefully it will be resolved very quickly.  In response to Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa, cross-Border taxation is on the agendas of the Department of Finance, the UK Treasury and the Northern Ireland Executive. In terms of resolving the issue, it is easier said than done, but there is no question that it is one that the Minister and T\u00e1naiste is focused on. We discussed it at North-South meetings, ministerial meetings and also in the context of the cross-Border bodies whose workers are directly impacted by the taxation situation vis-\u00e0-vis  North and South.  In terms of the job losses at Covalen, retraining and reskilling supports will be provided. We do have the National Training Fund, so the agencies should engage with the workers there in terms of whatever supports they need in perhaps finding alternative employment or helping some establish their own businesses if that is what some might want to do.  In response to Deputy Connolly, social partnership is important. The most recent manifestation of it this year has been the Labour Employer Economic Forum that the Irish Congress of Trade Union, the chambers and IBEC attend. I have asked the Secretary General of my Department to draw up a paper and I have consulted with the unions and IBEC, as well as the chambers and others, to see how we can solidify or develop a pathway to a stronger social dialogue and engagement. It will take all involved to participate but people would generally be supportive of some enhanced social dialogue. Whether the various parties want to go back to full-blown social partnership as we knew it is another question.  In response to Deputy Heneghan, I agree with him in the sense that all of what he outlined in terms of private wires - and the Minister is driving that forward - will be pursued and, as I said last week, the cost benefit analysis is part of what we need to examine. Examining a proposal means doing the cost benefit and the leg work to sort of identify what it would entail on the nuclear question. However, all of the others do not fall by the wayside as we develop that.  In terms of the half a billion euro, I have spoken to the Minister and that will be spent. We have spent up to \u20ac4 billion from carbon tax revenues on a whole range of measures, including farming, in terms of agri-environmental schemes, fuel poverty and the retrofitting scheme. Since the Minister brought in reforms, the applications have doubled in the first month or two since he announced them.  In response to Deputy Boyd Barrett, someone has to keep an eye on public expenditure and if the Minister for public expenditure is not doing it, then there is something really wrong. The Minister has to alert all Government Departments to stay within their budgetary frameworks.  I did not quite get the import of what Deputy Paul Murphy was saying, in terms of one person not being able to get the grant because it was wrongly----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  That was one of them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  And the other person did----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy will have to engage further. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  The work was during the storm and they----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It should not have been but----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Sorry. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----that is a specific case. They should get it back and the one-stop shop should be approached----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach and Deputy can engage further. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----to engage with the company involved.  In response to Deputy McGuinness's question regarding that fire in Waterford, the Ministers of State, Deputies Butler and Cummins, have been there and met with the key people. The Minister, Deputy Browne, visited yesterday. The Minister, Deputy Burke, visited today and also received Cabinet approval today for a humanitarian scheme for those impacted. We are working to see if we can relocate the social enterprises and in particular the facilities for adults with disabilities which have been wiped out as a result of the fire. We are also working to make sure that full public health protocols are applied in terms of the asbestos. Teams are already down there trying to protect public health.  In response to Deputy Nash's question on the public service pay bill, the Minister will obviously engage with the trade unions on a new public service pay agreement, which will have a bill attached to it. I want to make the point that the package did result in a reduction of 32 cent in diesel and 27 cent in petrol which benefits workers. That cannot be ignored. It happened. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  It was accidental. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  No. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I am looking forward to opening the F\u00f3rsa conference as well, and we might allow them to hear my speech first. Perhaps it would be the best thing to do.   In response to Deputy Hearne, we built about 36,000 houses last year. We need to do much more, and we need to go higher again. We are going to do everything we can to provide social and affordable houses to both buy and rent. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Cabinet Committees"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/dbsect_15","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Cabinet Committees","counts":{"speechCount":46,"speakerCount":18},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/dbsect_13","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_13","showAs":"Ceisteanna - Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shay Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_15.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I propose to take Questions Nos. 22 to 40, inclusive, together.  The Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs was established by the Government in 2025. It meets quarterly in advance of regular European Council meetings, and as required. Its role is to oversee implementation of programme for Government commitments in relation to the European Union, including preparation for Ireland\u2019s Presidency in the second half of this year, and international  issues. The Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs last met on 26 February 2026 in advance of the meeting of the European Council on 19 March. At the March meeting of the European Council, leaders dealt with a very full and important agenda against the backdrop of a very challenging and volatile international environment. Substantial items discussed included the situation in the Middle East, including the impact on energy prices, Ukraine and economic competitiveness.  On the last of these, leaders agreed a programme of work to be completed in the period ahead that will be central to Ireland\u2019s Presidency of the Council in the second half of the year. Other items on the European Council agenda included European security and defence, migration, the democracy shield, multilateralism and the protection of children online. There was also a euro summit which  assessed the state of the EU\u2019s economy.  European leaders met again in Cyprus for an informal meeting of the European Council on 23 and 24 April 2026, where our discussions included geopolitical developments, the impacts of the war in Iran on energy prices and supply, and the EU\u2019s next long-term budget, the MFF.  I also attended a European Political Community, EPC, summit on 4 May in Yerevan, Armenia. The EPC is an informal forum which brings together around 50 leaders from across the Continent of Europe twice a year to discuss co-operation on issues affecting the entire Continent, such as geopolitical uncertainty, economic security, trade, energy and connectivity. At the meeting President Zelenskyy gave a sobering update on the challenges he and the Ukrainian people face in confronting the continuing Russian aggression. I participated in a round table discussion with other leaders on how to improve European connectivity and economic security, as well as the pressures being faced by people as a result of the conflicts in Iran. I joined the Moldova core group meeting which focused on supporting Moldova on its pathway to accession to the European Union.  I also participated in the second meeting of the European Coalition against Drugs, co-hosted by President Macron of France and Prime Minister Meloni of Italy. I strongly support our focus on the collective fight against drug trafficking and drug-related threats. I also met with a number of leaders, including Prime Minister Starmer of the UK, President Guy Parmelin of Switzerland and Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada. This was the first time a non-European leader has attended.  The Cabinet committee will continue to oversee preparations for and delivery of the rotating Presidency of the EU Council which we will assume in July.  It will be our eighth time doing so and we look forward to advancing the common European interest and improving the lives of citizens across the Union.   Additional information not given on the floor of the House   Irish Ministers will chair many dozens of formal meetings of the Council in Brussels and Luxembourg, and they will lead work to advance a positive policy agenda for all member states. We will host an informal meeting of the European Council and a meeting of the European political community in Dublin next November. In addition, up to 22 informal meetings of EU Ministers will be held in Ireland, with around a quarter of these meetings outside Dublin.  The next meeting of the Cabinet committee is scheduled for 18 May. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shay Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shay Brennan  There have been some significant developments in recent days around the conflict in Ukraine, including a temporary ceasefire and comments from the Russian President about a willingness to enter into dialogue. We have also recently seen an EU member state hold an election, the outcome of which might signify an easing of its stance towards the bloc's enlargement. Will the Taoiseach provide an update on where we stand with Ukraine\u2019s membership application? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  This morning at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence, we heard from witnesses from the University of Limerick\u2019s Centre for Robotics and Intelligent Systems about the concerns regarding AI-enabled drones and how drone warfare is impacting the battlefields in Ukraine after Russia\u2019s illegal invasion. Given that the Taoiseach will have seen drone attacks at the European Council meeting in Copenhagen last year, and we have seen them here in Ireland as well, will he assure the House that the technology will be in place to repel any potential drone attack during our Presidency of EU Council meetings? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail  The EU is reviewing its relationship with Israel due to the ongoing humanitarian conditions in Gaza, the settlement expansion and the International Court of Justice, ICJ, provisional measures. The Commission is reported to be considering targeted sanctions on violent settlers as well as a suspension of trade preferences under the association agreement. Has the Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs considered these measures on Israel as part of the wider European context? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Daly  We are leading out on the European Presidency from July. Can we bring a focus on the cost-of-living issues throughout Europe and use European institutions, such as European competitiveness and competition law, in relation to the price of groceries? Up to 35% of families are spending a third of their disposable income on groceries each week. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  I do not know how the Taoiseach can look the leaders of some EU member states in the eye given their complete and utter disregard for what Israel is doing to the people of Palestine. I also want to mention Lebanon and the brutal methods being used there. One in five of the population has been displaced and a total of 2,846 people have been killed, 552 of whom were killed after the ceasefire. Villages are being razed with the methods learned in Gaza, such as the use of bulldozers. There is an illegal occupation of southern Lebanon. What is our Government doing? It is normalising the Israeli State. For example, it is urging players to take part in the disgraceful games coming up in September and October. That is what it is. There is also no occupied territories Bill. The Government will not do something as simple as telling players they do not have to play this game and demanding that Israel should be kicked out of UEFA, like they should be kicked out of Eurovision. Instead, it is pushing the players. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail  Is it 30 seconds or three minutes? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  Shush. People are going take the law into their own hands and organise a campaign. Stop the Game was launched last week. Many high-profile sports people, personalities and politicians are now gearing up to organise to stop that game, and I think it will be stopped.  Would Deputy \u00d3 Cear\u00fail ever whisht, for goodness sake? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail  You whisht. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  It was a ridiculous comment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail  There are rules in the House and you are going on way longer than anyone else. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  So? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail  There is no respect for the rules of the House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  When are we going to see the occupied territories Bill in relation to services and goods? When will we ever see any action by the European Union with regard to the EU-Israel association agreement given the breach of the ceasefire, plans for further settlements in the West Bank and attempts by Israelis, through ethnic cleansing and every other means open to them, to create a security buffer zone in Lebanon?  I cannot mention Lebanon without mentioning our UNIFIL mission there, as well as Se\u00e1n Rooney. In the parliamentary questions I submitted, I did not receive any update on the ongoing appeal process in Lebanon. The report of the independent inquiry led by Michael Delaney is now with the Attorney General. When will it be published, or at least delivered to the family of Se\u00e1n Rooney? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere  Irish unity is now moving from an aspiration to a live constitutional question. The responsibility on the Government is to ensure we are not just commenting on that reality but actively preparing for it in a serious and structured way. If unity is to be achieved, it will not emerge from sentiment alone. It will require detailed constitutional, economic, health, educational and governance planning. This is not about accelerating a process. Rather, it is about ensuring readiness for one of the most significant constitutional developments in the history of this State. What concrete work is the Government undertaking to prepare for Irish unity? Rather than just discussing it, we must plan for it in a comprehensive and credible way, should the people of this island choose that path. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Liam Quaide  It is becoming almost impossible to find words to describe the dehumanisation of Palestinians by the Israeli State. In recent days, a Palestinian family in the West Bank buried their 80-year-old father. Israeli settlers then arrived and claimed the cemetery land as part of a settlement. The family was forced to exhume his body and rebury him elsewhere under the watch of Israeli soldiers. This is all part of an escalating campaign of terror, displacement and annexation in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Yet, the occupied territories Bill, which would cut trade links with these illegal settlements, remains in cold storage. That Bill was voted through by a majority of TDs in January 2019, introduced by current Minister of State, Deputy Niall Collins. We all know it has been obstructed because of diplomat pressure dressed up as legal complexities. History will not look kindly on the cowardice and dishonesty of the Government in respect of this Bill when such destruction and evil are being visited upon the Palestinian people. When will the Taoiseach finally intervene to progress this Bill? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  I echo the urgency for the occupied territories Bill to be passed. I welcome the Minister, Deputy McEntee\u2019s confirmation in the D\u00e1il last week that it is to be introduced soon. It is not quick enough, however.  Regarding the Taoiseach\u2019s statement on EU engagement he had in March, what other engagement has happened between Ireland and the German Government on how its plug-in solar scheme was adapted? It is a quick investment. The savings would be seen in customers' bills. I did my own calculations. Some \u20ac150 million to \u20ac250 million - if we are being optimistic \u2013 would be saved by apartment dwellers immediately from a modest investment of \u20ac250 million. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  Ireland is one of the lowest rank countries when it comes to protecting nature. A total of 90% of protected sites are in unfavourable condition. It is going to cost hundreds of millions of euro to restore nature across this island. Where will that funding come from? Is the Taoiseach having any conversations at a European level about funding nature restoration? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  On Thursday, People Before Profit will bring the Sanctions against the State of Israel Bill before the D\u00e1il. It asks the Government to act on its obligation under the Genocide Convention to prevent the commission of genocide by the State of Israel. It is an obligation we have. It calls for comprehensive economic, financial and trade sanctions against a state that is guilty of genocidal actions. Is the Government intending to support that Bill given it is a signatory of the Genocide Convention? The Bill also refers to our commitments under the Rome Statute as well as to other international legal obligations. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  The Taoiseach rightly says that Israel has committed genocide in Palestine. I do not know whether he accepts that Israel is still committing genocide in Palestine but surely that has to mean something in terms of what he does. Surely it is a contradiction for him to say that Israel is committing genocide and then spend his time trying to ensure we do nothing to punish, impact or prevent the continuation of that genocide. Does the convention on genocide mean anything to the Taoiseach? If it does, he will vote to support our Bill for comprehensive sanctions on Israel. The idea that a state can continue in this way without comprehensive sanctions by any state that claims to stand up for human rights makes no sense whatsoever. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  Has the Taoiseach spoken to the incoming First Minister of Wales and leader of Plaid Cymru, Rhun ap Iorwerth, or with the current and likely future First Minister of Scotland, John Swinney, following last week\u2019s seismic election results? In the context of the growing constitutional change taking place across these islands, does he intend to meet them alongside the First Minister and deputy First Minister in the North to discuss future relationships and co-operation? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  We await with bated breath the occupied territories Bill being progressed. Will the Taoiseach make it a primary objective of our Presidency of the EU for this country to advocate on behalf of the Palestinian state? Will he place that front and centre with our EU partners?  Does the Taoiseach think our underinvestment in Garda resources is going to come back to bite the Government during the course our Presidency? I have a letter from Garda HQ which states that the development of new Garda stations in the Swords and Donabate, which have populations of 60,000 to 20,000, respectively, are not going ahead. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  Ireland is the largest exporter of alumina, the key component of aluminium, to Russia. We are exporting almost 1 million tonnes of it a year. This is being used by Russia to make the drones and missiles that are being used to kill Ukrainian men, women and children. Ukrainian civilians are being murdered with weapons and missiles made using materials supplied by Ireland. Why is Ireland supplying this key war component to Russia? Was the Taoiseach aware that the Irish State has lobbied for these exports to be shielded from sanctions? What action will he take about this matter? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  The Israeli Knesset has approved, by a substantial majority, legislation that will permit the execution of Palestinian prisoners. This comes amid continuing international concern regarding the humanitarian catastrophe and genocide in Gaza, the treatment of Palestinian detainees and repeated warnings from human rights organisations regarding violations of international law. Most people in Ireland are deeply alarmed by measures of this nature, which risk further undermining the prospects for peace and accountability. What is the EU's response to this? How can the Taoiseach make sure that this is central to our EU Presidency? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank Members for their comments. I will begin with Deputy Shay Brennan, who referred to developments relating to the war in Ukraine. One of the more significant developments has been the unblocking of the \u20ac90 billion loan to Ukraine in the aftermath of the Hungarian election. That sends a real signal to Russia that Europe is in there for the long haul and that Ukraine will have the capacity, in budgetary terms, to invest in defending itself. That is significant. European Union leaders are looking at the idea of Europe opening up its own channel of negotiations with Russia at some stage. That is being tentatively explored and discussed, because we do need to bring an end to the war. The US-brokered dialogue has not yielded an outcome. We are very conscious of the need to protect the territorial integrity of Ukraine.  Enlargement will feature as a key topic during the Irish Presidency. In our view, Ukrainian membership of the European Union in and of itself would afford some form of security and protection to Ukraine. Fundamentally, it is to say that to the Ukrainian people, who desire the freedoms that are attached to European Union membership, as opposed to what the situation might be if their country was to be taken over by Russia. We have to respond to the desires of the Ukrainian people, who do aspire to a European way of life in terms of democracy, freedom of speech and all of that. We will be progressing enlargement in the context of Ukraine. The precise form that will take has to be discussed by the various member states. Enlargement has been on the slow burner for the past decade. It has come into life more recently because of Russia's imperialist approach to many countries, including those in the western Balkans and Moldova. The latter have come under enormous pressure from Russia in the context of attempts to interfere in their elections. They have proved resilient enough. I met with President Maia Sandu recently. The whole Moldova and Ukraine piece around enlargement will be a key agenda item for us to see if we can progress it.  On technology, An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na has substantially enhanced its technology capability with drones, as have our military and Defence Forces. It is interesting. Reference was made to the University of Limerick, UL. I visited the university's underwater drone capacity research centre. It was a very insightful visit, and the research is ground-breaking. Ireland will be playing a role in protecting subsea cables, for example, and the gas connectors with the United Kingdom.  On Deputy \u00d3 Cear\u00fail's question on sanctions, there has been big progress with the European Union. Many member states are coming around to the Irish and Spanish position. Despite what is said, Ireland and Spain were the first to call for a review of the EU-Israel association agreement, and a lot more countries are coming around to our view. A breakthrough has happened in terms of sanctioning settlers, and a number have been identified. That was blocked by Hungary for quite some time but has now been lifted. There has also been progress with regard to sanctions on Hamas leaders. That is some bit of progress. There is more work to be done about the association agreement. The Minister updated the Cabinet on that this morning.  The behaviour of Israel is reprehensible. I will deal with that again later in respect of other questions. Active work is being done by the Irish Government with others at European Union level, at the Foreign Affairs Council and at the European Council.  With regard to Deputy Martin Daly's question, the cost of living will be a theme in the context of the energy crisis. Interestingly, and rightly, Deputy Daly has focused on groceries and food prices for hard-pressed families. In the context of the budget, we will be looking at how we can reduce the pressure on families in that regard, and particularly for those on the lowest incomes who inflation hits the most. I take on board what Deputy Daly has said.  On Deputy Coppinger's question, we are not urging anyone to play anything. I wish we could have a decent debate about this, but I get the feeling that the Deputy is more interested----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  You said it should go ahead. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----in attacking the Irish Government as opposed to the Israeli Government at times. That is what it feels like in this House. In the context of all the protests and all the agitation, it is the Irish Government that the Deputy is attacking----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  And vice versa. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We were the first to intervene in the context of the genocide when South Africa took a case before the ICJ. We were the first European State to intervene in that legally and make a strong submission in that respect. We gave additional funding to the ICC in respect of what was happening in Gaza and in the Middle East to support it and give it the resources and capacity. We were one of the earliest to go in and defend UNRWA and fund it substantially when others were not. Likewise, there have been other measures such as supporting human rights organisations, such as those referred to by Deputy Heneghan. We have been doing that even when they came under a lot of pressure. The Irish Government has done a lot. If you ever meet the Palestinian or Lebanese Governments----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  I meet them every day. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----they thank the Irish Government, and they thank the Irish people for their support. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  They do not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I met with the President of Lebanon, Joseph Aoun, recently when he attended after the informal EU Council meeting. He cited the Irish experience in terms of the peace process and conflict resolution as a basis for how the Lebanon-Israel situation and the Palestinian question could be resolved. That is the other side of the coin. We want to be part of solutions and we want to use our experience in conflict resolution to help in that regard.  On Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa's question about the occupied territories Bill, the Minister, Deputy McEntee, has engaged with the Attorney General on that. I have made it very clear that I do not believe services should be included in the Bill. That would damage Ireland more than anything. It is largely a symbolic Bill. It will not have any practical significant impact on the ground, but nonetheless it will come before the House. We all need to honest and clear about that. When the detailed analysis was done----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  If it is symbolic, why would it damage Ireland? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----I think it emerged that about \u20ac190,000 worth of goods has come in. Others go through Antwerp and do not come directly into the country. A lot of work has been done on that and the Minister will come back to the House on it. At European Union level there is a real push to see can we suspend the trade association agreement.  The UNIFIL mission is on all of our minds. I keep in regular contact with the Chief of Staff, as does the Minister for Defence. I raised the Se\u00e1n Rooney case and the appeal with the Lebanese authorities when I was in Lebanon. Hopefully, we will see some progress on that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  And the report? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  On Deputy Cleere's question, more work has been done on understanding the differences between North and South in the last four years than was done in the previous 100 years. We have invested hugely in research on all aspects of education and health and the differences between the health systems in the North vis-\u00e0-vis the Republic, and school completion rates in the North vis-\u00e0-vis school completion rates here. The ESRI has done a lot of good studies around primary care in the North versus primary care in the Republic.  We have funded research projects between universities. We are now looking at the first potential all-island university, involving Queen's University and Dundalk. This is being funded through the shared island initiative. This has probably been one of the more radical and impactful initiatives the Government has ever undertaken in the context of North-South relations. It has been broadly welcomed and well received across all communities. The research piece is working well. The Narrow Water bridge project will hopefully be completed in late 2027. We are going to go the whole way and complete the Ulster Canal project . It is about enhancing connectivity. We have an all-island musical archive for music from different traditions.  On biodiversity, we have an all-island network and another on climate and so on. Am I out of time? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I have shown the Taoiseach some latitude. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  What about the Michael Delaney report? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I will come back to the Deputy on that.  On the other matters, I think I have dealt with the Palestine issue for Deputy McQuaide.  Deputy Heneghan inquired about plug-in solar. There are some issues which the Minister spoke to me about. If you have plug-in solar, some houses have to have the capacity to absorb. However, I think the Minister is in favour and is trying to develop it.  On nature restoration, I am working with the Minister of State, Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan, and the Minister, Deputy Chambers, to ensure a good funding profile for nature restoration in the medium term, as per the report that was published recently by the independent advisory committee chaired by Dr. Aoibhinn N\u00ed Shuilleabh\u00e1in. That is on my radar and my agenda.  I dealt with Deputy Murphy's question about the ICJ and the ICC. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  What about our Bill on Thursday? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  On Deputy O'Callaghan's question about Ireland being the largest exporter of alumina to Russia, again, that has not formed part of the sanctions. This is because the product from the factory is also important to wider industry in Europe. When imposing sanctions, we have always endeavoured not to harm ourselves more than anybody else when it comes to Russia. I will get the information for the Deputy, but there is an importance ere to European-wide industry as well in the context of what is produced in Limerick. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  What about our Bill on Thursday? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  We now will move on to statements on International Nurses Day. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy will get the answer on Thursday. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  What about the Michael Delaney report? "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Cabinet Committees"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/dbsect_16","debateType":"statement","bill":null,"showAs":"International Nurses Day: Statements","counts":{"speechCount":39,"speakerCount":33},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_16","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cormac Devlin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Roche","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Lahart","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Lahart.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Lahart.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Health (Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill)  I am sharing time with the Minister of State, Deputy Butler. Today, which is International Nurses Day, I would like to recognise the presence in the Public Gallery of Caroline Gourley, president, and Phil N\u00ed Sheaghdha, general secretary, from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, INMO. Ms N\u00ed Sheaghdha has been president of Irish Congress of Trade Unions since last July. I congratulate here on that. I understand that we also have in attendance the CEO of the Nurses and Midwifery Board of Ireland, NMBI, Caroline Donoghue, and that organisation's president, \u00c1ine Lynch. They are very welcome here to join myself and other Members in marking International Nurses Day. This is an occasion recognised around the world to honour the professionalism, commitment and vital contribution of nurses to our health services and to society as a whole.  The them for this year's International Nurses Day, \"Our Nurses, Our Future. Empowered Nurses Save Lives\", is a powerful and timely message. It is also reflected in this Government\u2019s clear objectives to deliver structural reform that supports a sustainable supply of nurses to meet population health demands and support improved working conditions. The Government is committed to supporting innovation, a range of career opportunities and strong professional governance and leadership. Nurses have demonstrated that they can and want to work to the very top of their training, and we need that. This is essential for patient safety and a sustainable health system into the future. I want to reflect honestly on the challenges nurses face as we try to get to that.  I am aware of the recent INMO survey that indicates a high level of burn-out, stress and increasing violence and aggression in the workplace. While these issues are not specific to Ireland or to nursing here, nurses and midwives, as the largest workforce, are disproportionately affected. This poses a greater risk to staff well-being, workforce retention, and the delivery of safe patient care. Nursing is the largest professional group within our health system. Simply put, the breadth and depth of healthcare, working across every care setting. At every stage of life, and at moments of greatest vulnerability, nurses are often the first point of contact and most enduring point of contact for patients. They provide highly skilled care, lead with strong clinical judgment and deliver care with compassion that ensures patients, families and service users remain at the centre of the work they do. I would like to take this opportunity to formally acknowledge and extend my thanks to nurses in every service right across the country. I have seen first hand their leadership, professionalism, skill and commitment to the health and well-being of patients and all of our service users.  It is important to acknowledge the significant progress that has been made in Irish nursing over recent years. My Department is the great beneficiary of the work of the chief nursing officer and her team in the Department, who are leading on nursing policy solutions for the health service. I would like to make people aware of the integration of the nursing team into the Department. It is a mixed team of professionals and civil servants. Our chief nursing officer is Rachel Kenna. Her deputies are Karen Greene, who was the director of nursing in Beaumont Hospital, Kelly Mofflin, who was previously director of nursing and mental health nursing, and Gr\u00e1inne Sheehan, who was previously a nurse specialist in cancer care. They are supported by nursing project officers \u00dana Rogers from midwifery, Claire Townsend and Tara Mulleary, who are public health nurses, and Helen Carlin, who works in the area of renal nursing. They are supported by a team of civil servants. I mention this in order that Deputies will have a full sense of the integration of nursing into the Department of Health and the importance we place on that within the Department, leading on nursing policy solutions for the whole healthcare system. That has delivered not only a well-developed national nursing workforce, but also one that is highly regarded internationally. Significant investment in nursing has enabled a more sustainable, highly skilled and motivated workforce in line with Government commitments. That is very much in partnership with nursing representative organisations and every single nurse working in the Irish State.  Nursing in Ireland is a progressive, well regulated and forward-looking profession. Nurses are trained at undergraduate level in general, mental health, intellectual disability and children\u2019s nursing, enabling that system-wide contribution from the outset. This strong focus on education is clearly reflected in the recent review of undergraduate nursing education. This not only sets out the commitment to modernising practice, but the education reforms that reflect the future health care environment graduates will be working in. It has considered digitally enabled care, universal healthcare and integrated services. From 2027 onwards, students will spend substantially more time training in community settings, supporting early career pathways in community care and acting as a key enabler of Sl\u00e1intecare delivery. I want to acknowledge how nurses and midwives work in an integrated way to provide person-centred care, combining their expertise in a seamless way to support individuals and families across the full continuum of healthcare.  The report The State of the World's Nursing, published in 2025 by the WHO and the International Council of Nurses, highlights that the global nursing shortages remain a critical challenge. Nursing is the largest professional group within our health system. In Ireland we are in the enviable position of having 14.3 practising nurses per 1,000 population. This is more than nearly all other European countries. I believe that only Finland and Norway have higher numbers but that also reflects the very different geographical spread of their populations. Nevertheless, I am very pleased that Ireland is so highly position among European countries in having so many practising nurses per thousand of population.  There are almost 93,000 nurses and midwives registered with the NMBI. That represents a 3% increase on last year and is the highest number of registrants ever recorded. Overall in 2025, there was an increase of 883 nurses. This is a hugely significant addition in a single calendar year, but it has been bettered this calendar year so far. Already in quarter 1 of 2026 we have an additional 843 nurses. That is a real commitment to recruiting nurses into permanent positions and it is very clear that nurses want to work in Ireland.  In addition to our Irish-trained nurses - who, the NMBI has told me, are staying more in Ireland than has previously been the case - we benefit greatly from the contribution of a diverse international nursing workforce. It is important to place on record that our recruitment approach is firmly grounded in ethical recruitment. Ireland has signed up to and is aligned with the WHO global code of practice on the international recruitment of health personnel. When I was at the World Health Assembly last year, we sat at the front of the table, alongside the representatives from the Philippines, in terms of leading the conversation about ethical international recruitment. We will continue to need international professionals; however, given the global shortages of health care workers, a more sustainable health and social care workforce is the focus. Nursing has a significant and unsustainable reliance on international recruitment.  Significant Government investment is being provided to expand healthcare education capacity here. A \u20ac28.5 million investment over the next three years aims to deliver 1,100 additional healthcare training places, each year, across medicine, nursing, therapy professions, pharmacy and dentistry. The years 2020 to 2025 saw first-year nursing places in Irish higher education institutions grow by 23%.  There are very real pressures in our system, such as increased demand and growing complexity, demographic changes, technology advances and financial challenges, but having a sustainable workforce is critical for the future of health in Ireland, and that is what we are working towards.  Despite the recruitment success I have outlined in 2025 and in the first part of 2026 - I hope there is more to come, and we have an awful lot more to do on that - nurses continue to experience staffing gaps in acute and community settings and there is too much reliance on agency staff in certain areas. International as well as national evidence has shown the direct correlation between nursing staffing levels and better patient outcomes, improved safety and reduced adverse events. It has also shown that appropriate staffing enhances staff well-being and improves retention.  Nursing in Ireland has shown national and global leadership by developing the framework for safe nurse staffing and skill mix, which we call the framework. This is an evidence-based approach to determining appropriate nurse staffing levels across different care areas. The framework is designed with patient need at the core. It is not about blunt staff ratios or minimum staffing levels. It is patient focused. It is flexible. It is a flexible model that adapts to the Irish context. Phases 1 and 2 of the framework are national policy. Phase 1 essentially applies to inpatient adult medical and surgical settings, while Phase 2 applies to adult emergency departments. Since 2020, a total of \u20ac56.2 million has been provided by the Government to implement this framework. That has delivered an additional 2,000 whole-time equivalent registered nurses and healthcare assistants. The framework is now fully implemented in all of our adult emergency departments nationally and it is nearing full roll-out in all applicable wards.  I believe the framework continues to demonstrate positive impacts for patients, staff and hospitals. Some examples include reduced length of stay, shorter wait times and fewer nurse-sensitive adverse events. It has improved working conditions and demonstrated a reduction in signs of burnout, lower levels of absenteeism and improved staff retention. From a cost and safety perspective, it helps to reduce reliance on agency staff and focuses on stabilisation through permanent whole-time equivalent staff. The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, INMO, and nursing representatives are very supportive of the framework and want us to drive as hard as we can in its implementation. In many respects, we are the envy of Europe in having this very professional structure. We want to continue to drive that and retain the leadership position we have in Europe in this way.  Advanced practice is a hugely important part of what we are trying to do to support nursing generally and support patient care. Advanced and specialist nursing practice has been the cornerstone of reform in recent years, delivering high-quality, autonomous care across acute, community and specialist settings. Care pathways are being transformed by providing quicker access to care, timely assessment, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. It is reducing waiting times, improving continuity of care and supporting care closer to home. Advanced practice is not only a key lever for optimising the capacity of the existing health workforce. It is important in supporting and advancing meaningful and significant clinical career pathways for nurses, and it strengthens retention. I want nurses to work at the very top of their expertise, the very top of their licences and the very top of their profession, and advanced practice is the way towards that. As a result of sustained investment, the number of nurses and midwives practising at an advanced level in March this year was 1,354. We now have 2.7% of the nursing and midwifery workforce at advanced level and we are on track to reach the 3% policy target. That positions Ireland as a global leader for advanced practice. We have begun a national evaluation of the impact of that, and this will be central to shaping the next phase of advanced practice.  Virtual care and the pace of digital and technological reform has opened many opportunities to innovate, change and improve care for patients. Let me particularly mention this today because nurses are playing a pivotal role in the innovation and safe expansion of virtual and digitally enabled care. Through nurse-led virtual clinics, remote monitoring and community-based models of care, nurses are actively improving access for patients, supporting chronic disease management and reducing unnecessary hospital attendances and exacerbations of people's long-term illnesses. Our nurses are at the forefront of embedding digitally enabled services, ensuring the new models of care are well co-ordinated, safe and focused on the needs of patients. That leadership is clearly demonstrated in the virtual wards now in every region. Those initiatives have been extremely successful at improving patient comfort. I spoke yesterday with a man in Kilkee in County Clare who had been on a virtual ward from Limerick for five weeks after experiencing a neurological event, and he spoke of it very positively. We have supported 2,800 individuals and patients like him, and it has delivered over 27,000 bed days for us, freeing up beds and other hospital resources for patients who require more traditional care. Virtual wards are not for everybody but for those who they are, they are being supported, delivered and led by nursing. Taken together, safe staffing, advanced practice and virtual care clearly demonstrate how nurses are actively shaping service reform. They are not simply responding to it; they are shaping it.  I attended the INMO conference last week and had the good fortune to meet many nurses and midwives from all over the country. I know and, indeed, heard again first hand about how passionate nurses were about what they did, about the challenges they experienced and about their commitment to their profession and their patients. I want to refer to the Expert Review Body on Nursing and Midwifery, which provides 47 recommendations of real significance. The positive impact of the expert review body\u2019s work continues to be realised year on year in many different ways, but there have been delays in implementing some recommendations and that has caused frustration. Work is ongoing to finalise processes under way for those recommendations.  I want to reaffirm the Government\u2019s clear recognition of the importance of actively supporting the continued development of the nursing workforce. I also want to acknowledge the practical improvements that will be delivered from local bargaining under the 2024 to 2026 public pay agreement. I am informed that the proposals being finalised will deliver a broad range of measures to strengthen pay and progression across the nursing and midwifery career pathways and are an important part of supporting retention and ensuring a sustainable nursing workforce.  International Nurses Day provides an important opportunity for me and, indeed, all Members of this House to formally recognise the professionalism, skill and unwavering commitment of our nursing workforce. I want to acknowledge not only the extraordinary contribution nurses and midwives make every single day, but the leadership, innovation, compassion and support they bring to every person in our health service in the face of significantly growing demands and ongoing pressures. On this day, I reaffirm my strong personal commitment and, indeed, that of my Department and the Government to the nursing profession. I really do welcome contributions from Deputies and I hope - I know - that they will join me in once again placing on the record our sincere gratitude for the continued dedication and professionalism of our nurses today and every day and acknowledging the many improvements and supports we are trying to advance for the excellent nurses in our State. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Mary Butler)  I am pleased to join the Minister for Health today in marking International Nurses Day and in recognising the extraordinary contribution nurses make to our health service and society. I was also pleased as Chief Whip to fulfil the request by Deputy Devine, who wanted these statements held. I was pleased to be able to put this onto the agenda because it is important that we acknowledge the fabulous work nurses do.  As the Minister of State with responsibility for mental health, I would like to make special mention of the role of mental health nurses in the health service. Mental health nurses look after some of the most vulnerable people in our communities. They support individuals at moments of acute distress, at points of recovery and throughout longterm engagement with services. Their work, like that of all nurses and midwives, is grounded in clinical expertise, therapeutic relationships and sustained commitment to personcentred care. They are often the consistent presence for people navigating complex mental health needs, building trust over time and supporting continuity of care across services.  Nursing roles today are carried out in a context of significant and evolving demand. Mental health needs in our society are increasingly complex, services are multidisciplinary and care pathways extend well beyond traditional clinical settings. Mental health nurses are essential to navigating and responding to these challenges. I have seen first hand how nurses adapt practice, support innovation and help to shape how modern mental health services are delivered. I am also aware of how lucky we are in Ireland to train mental health nurses at undergraduate level. Across the EU, most countries do not train mental health nurses as a separate undergraduate field. Every mental health nurse who graduated last year in Ireland was offered a position here. It is important to acknowledge that.  The role of the mental health nurse has evolved significantly in recent years. We are seeing clinical leadership and a growing level of specialisation across the workforce, reflecting both the complexity of need within services and the expertise required to meet it. Mental health nurses work across a broad range of advanced and specialist roles, contributing not only to direct care but also to assessment, care co-ordination, prescribing, governance and service development. I want to give a special shout-out to mental health nurses who work across the psychiatry of later life. They do an amazing job supporting older people at a time in their lives when all they want to do is stay at home to live their best lives in their own communities. They actually go to the house to support people who might have an enduring mental health condition or who might be struggling with anxiety or distress.  I have seen it first hand and I cannot pay enough tribute to them for the work they do and their kindness and understanding of the client who they are seeing. We see this also in the delivery of services such as the national clinical programme for suicide ideation and self-harm where experienced and skilled nurses work in our emergency departments to respond in real time and provide support to people in severe distress.  While we are continuing to expand crisis alternatives in the community, we know people in distress will always present to hospital for emergency care. In responding to this reality, I believe the solution is to establish specialist nursing teams in our emergency departments, staffed by advanced nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists working out of hours to support the non-consultant hospital doctor on duty and the consultant on call. I have funded these new teams for all model 4 hospitals in budget 2026, and I will do the same for model 3 hospitals in the next two budgets. This is further recognition of the role nursing can play in expanding the scope of how we provide mental health services and utilise the extensive skills and experience of our nursing workforce.  Similarly, the suicide crisis assessment nurse, SCAN, service is another example of how our nurses go above and beyond for their patients' well-being. SCAN is a key component of national suicide prevention and crisis response efforts. It provides a timely response to requests from GPs for the assessment of people experiencing suicidal crisis, with assessments often taking place in primary care or community settings.  The SCAN service provides a short-term, specialist, community-based clinical response for individuals presenting with suicidal ideation or self-harm that does not require acute hospital admission. As of 2025, there are 33 funded SCAN clinical nurse specialist posts for adults operating across 15 counties, alongside three under-18 SCAN services. Funding provided in budget 2026 supports expansion to a total of 45 posts nationally through the allocation of six new SCAN teams for Kerry, Limerick, Galway, Kildare, Dublin south city and an under-18 team for Linn Dara in West Dublin-Kildare. An under-18 SCAN service commenced in Donegal in July 2025.  As the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, said, this Government is fully committed to facilitating nurses to continue to work to the top of their licence.  Supporting advanced and specialist pathways not only strengthen services but also supports retention, professional autonomy and leadership within the workforce. These developments are essential to building a sustainable mental health system that can meet current and future demand.  It is important to acknowledge the realities of nursing in the mental health sector and, indeed, nurses and midwives across all sectors. Many work in settings that are highly demanding, emotionally complex and, at times, high risk. We are aware that these pressures can contribute to reduced job satisfaction, stress, burnout and challenges with staff retention.  My colleague referred to the recent INMO survey highlighting high levels of burnout, stress and exposure to growing levels of violence and aggression at work. The WHO Mental Health of Nurses and Doctors, MeND, survey in 2025 found similar results across the European region.  These issues are not unique to Ireland or, indeed, nursing. This is a reality globally for the health and social care workforce. However, nurses as the largest workforce can be disproportionately affected as reference by the Minister, Deputy MacNeill. The increased awareness of these issues has, however, identified evidence-based policy actions to assist in addressing them. I am pleased that in Ireland, the Government is supporting many of these actions.  The Minister has set out the recent and ongoing policy responses, and it does not surprise me that nursing in Ireland is a global leader in some. This Government will continue to invest in our nursing workforce. Our commitment to this is reflected in our approach to workforce planning. All recent graduates, as I said, of psychiatric nursing programmes have been offered posts within our health service. This is a clear statement of the value placed on mental health nursing and the recognition of its importance to the delivery of mental health care nationwide.  International Nurses Day is an important opportunity to recognise the unwavering professionalism, compassion and expertise that nurses bring to every aspect of our health service. This is very evident in the area of mental health, where the training enables skill, empathy, and resilience that makes a profound difference to the lives of individuals and families every day.  I want to restate my deepest appreciation for our nursing workforce and to reaffirm my commitment to strengthening the profession through an ongoing focus on safe staffing, professional support, leadership and working conditions. When we support and empower our nurses, particularly those working on the front line of mental health care, we strengthen our entire health system and improve outcomes for patients and service users across the country.  Mental health nurses also play a critical role in supporting effective integration across physical, psychological and social services. This is essential to ensure continuity, improve outcomes and support holistic recovery for patients. This is important across CAMHS teams where you have multidisciplinary teams and the clinical nurse specialist embedded in the team, providing a huge amount of effective supports and reaching out to all the various definitions to make sure the young person receives the care that they need. Together, mental health nurses working in partnership with colleagues across all fields of nursing strengthen integrated care, ensuring that every patient receives holistic, compassionate and seamless support throughout their health journey.  I welcome the contributions of my fellow Deputies, and I hope they will join me in, once again, expressing our sincere gratitude for the dedication, courage and humanity that nurses demonstrate day in, day out.  As former Minister of State for older people, I want to touch on the phenomenal work that public health nurses do in communities every day of the week. Whether it is supporting a mother with a new baby, supporting people at their end of life or supporting people to live their very best life, they play a phenomenal role in the community. We have been challenged in some areas of Dublin, for example, in recruiting public health nurses into areas but I fervently believe, as somebody rooted in my own community, the importance of public health nurses, especially for older people when they are receiving the supports of home care, day care and meals on wheels, is to know that the public health nurse is there at a time when, for example, coming home from hospital, an older person might need a hospital bed or some kind of physical supports as well as the clinical supports that we provide to support older people to age well in their own community. We are very lucky in Ireland to have the calibre of nurses we have. Whether it is public health nurses, nurses who are supporting you at end of life, nurses who are supporting you when you go into hospital or the nurse in your GP service, they are the backbone of health all over the country and I proud to salute them here today. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy M\u00e1ire Devine  As the only nurse in the D\u00e1il, I stand here very proud. I am fortunate enough to have served on the board of St. James's Hospital, the largest hospital in the country. I am delighted that the Government agreed to have these statements on International Nurses Day and I thank the Minister and the Ministers of State. It is a first for the 100,000 plus nurses across this island, North and South. We hardly ever agree to things and this might be a rare occasion.  I concur with most of what the Minister said. There are details in other areas I would disagree with but today is a day of celebration and we will not get too snarly with each other. It is about, I suppose, recognising the hard work of nurses, globally and nationally. We are the backbone of the healthcare service - the glue that holds it together - and keep it going, albeit in unsafe conditions.  I recognise my colleagues from the Psychiatric Nurses Association of Ireland, the INMO and Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland, NMBI, formerly Bord Altranais, in the Public Gallery. T\u00e1 c\u00e9ad m\u00edle f\u00e1ilte romhaibh, a ch\u00e1irde. International Nurses Day was first celebrated 65 years ago on the anniversary of the birth of Flo, Florence Nightingale, also known as the Lady with the Lamp. I also honour our own Irish nursing heroes - Cumann na mBan's Elizabeth O'Farrell and the very matronly Margaret Huxley, in whose name they still have yearly awards in hospitals for the most high-achieving nursing student.  This year's theme, as the Minister said, is \"Our Nurses. Our Future. Empowered Nurses Save Lives.\" This means ensuring the nursing workforce has the resources, the authority and the safety necessary to improve healthcare outcomes. Nurses are carers but they also need to be cared for. The insecurity of poor working environments with so many vacancies compromises patient care. That is just the way it is. Our healthcare system is in trouble. It is shaken to the core by the rapid and steady exit of medical professions to perceived greener pastures. An estimated 25,000 Irish qualified nurses and midwives left the healthcare system in the past two decades.  The significant long-term trend of emigration deepens the nursing crisis in Ireland with three quarters of new graduates considering emigrating due to burnout, poor working conditions and, of course, the housing crisis. Some 6,000 funded posts remain vacant, meaning that recently announced HSE staffing controls are extremely worrying to all nurses.  As the INMO warned, nurses cannot provide safe care and are scraping by with unsafe staffing levels. Essential worker recruitment is the first cut in every healthcare budget overrun. Likewise, the Psychiatric Nurses Association of Ireland has flagged the HSE's shocking proposals to close ten CAMHS beds in St. Vincent's in Fairview. Serious difficulties in recruitment and retention of psychiatric nurses give rise to grave concerns of the feasibility of opening the 11 beds in Linn Dara, as the Minister of State will be aware, and the 20 new CAMHS beds at the national children's hospital, whenever that opens.  I am grateful to the registered nurses from outside Ireland who have arrived to help. A large proportion of our nursing force is now from other lands. It is a global phenomenon, as the Minister rightly said, and we are now heavily reliant on international staff to help steady our wobbly ship. While on the one hand we have a brain drain of trained nurses, we are also posing a drain on nurses from the less-advantaged countries of the world, negatively impacting their own quality of healthcare. The WHO has identified more than 50 countries that are exporting nurses, putting their own healthcare systems at risk. Everyone is entitled to look for a better life as our nurses have done abroad. However, the solution is not just in recruitment, but in retention and increased capacity for those wishing to train as nurses. That means a strong commitment to the existing workforce in terms of pay and conditions, safety, respect, support and professional development.  We must invest in affordable housing for nurses, midwives and their families near their workplaces. Locally, I am talking to the approved housing bodies and requesting of them in the Dublin 8 area, which is the health hub of our country, to retain some of the new housing builds for accommodation for local nurses through their four years of training.  I cannot help reflecting on the HSE's appeal at the beginning of the Covid pandemic. The Be on Call for Ireland campaign was heard loud and clear around the world. Tens of thousands gave up jobs and homes and returned to Ireland to assist. Many were nurses and were given a mere three-month contact, as I was. The HSE squandered the opportunity to decrease the billions of euro spent on agency workers and overtime over the last number years and instead provide skilled, knowledgeable and experienced nurses. It was a crucial missed opportunity to end long hours and burnout, provide safety and allow us to carry out our duty of care.  I conclude by acknowledging all of the healthcare professionals who have been abducted, injured and killed in Palestine due to Israel's horrific and violent attacks on the health infrastructure there. What they have endured is truly abominable. We are witnessing the loss of humanity. Humanity is a core component of what it takes to be a nurse. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  Nurses are held in huge esteem in this Chamber and right across the country. It is worth asking why that is. The reality is that it is because they perform their duties with compassion, dedication and commitment to public service and to the communities in which they live. We all hold them in huge esteem. The problem is that, far too often, esteem and respect are not followed through in policy.  I am concerned at the situation we are facing in Cork and others are facing in other regions where this new control on spending could potentially - I want clarity on this - lead to a freeze on recruitment. There are some 5,000 vacant midwifery posts across the State, hundreds of them likely in Cork and Kerry. We have just had the busiest April for some time when measured by people on trolleys. The waiting lists in Cork are absolutely exploding. This is at a time when Irish nurses right across the world are desperate to return home to work in Irish hospitals to do what they can to assist in what is, in my view, still a crisis in our healthcare system. How can it be anything other when we have exploding waiting lists, growing numbers of people on trolleys, and appointments, elective surgeries and diagnostics constantly being postponed and cancelled? I find it difficult to understand why we could even be contemplating a potential freeze on recruitment for clinically front-facing posts, which could include nurses. That needs clarity.  The other people I am thinking of today who serve our communities are our paramedics. I urge the Government to engage with them, to meet them without preconditions to ensure that they get what they have been waiting for for five or six years, which is recognition for the job they actually do in this modern day. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  International Nurses Day is about recognising the extraordinary dedication, professionalism and compassion shown every day by nurses across our health service. They are the backbone of patient care. I have seen at first hand in Mayo the incredible work nurses do every day. However, too many are working under relentless pressure in overcrowded hospitals, understaffed wards and unsafe conditions that are driving exhaustion and burnout. Successive Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael Governments have failed to deliver safe staffing levels. That is the bottom line. Nurses are being asked to do more for less while patients wait longer for care and healthcare workers carry the burden of a system stretched beyond capacity. If we are serious about protecting our health service, we must invest in the workforce that sustains it. That means delivering safe staffing levels, improving pay and working conditions, and ensuring that nurses have the support and respect they deserve. We also need urgent action to recruit and retain our graduate nurses. Every year, highly trained graduate nurses leave Ireland because they cannot secure permanent posts, affordable housing or decent conditions. We continue to train nurses for export while our hospitals suffer from understaffing.  As we sit here today, SIPTU members in the National Ambulance Service across the country are taking strike action. We must acknowledge the pressure facing these workers. Their concerns on staffing and working conditions deserve meaningful engagement and a fair resolution. On International Nurses Day, Sinn F\u00e9in stands in solidarity with our nurses, our front-line healthcare workers and our ambulance workers. We value their incredible work and dedicated service, and we demand the recognition from the Government that all healthcare workers deserve. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh  Is \u00e9 inniu L\u00e1 Idirn\u00e1isi\u00fanta na nAltra\u00ed, ina dtugaimid aitheantas do na daoine a choinn\u00edonn an c\u00f3ras sl\u00e1inte ag feidhmi\u00fa l\u00e1 i ndiaidh lae, go ci\u00fain agus go d\u00edcheallach ar bheag\u00e1n bu\u00edochais. Go raibh maith agaibh. Today is International Nurses Day, a day to give thanks to the people who are the backbone of our health service, the unsung heroes doing so much of the heavy lifting of care work in our hospitals and communities. However, one day of appreciation is not enough. Respect for nurses must be shown every day of the year. According to the INMO, we are short more than 5,000 nurses across the State, yet last week the HSE introduced a recruitment moratorium affecting nursing posts. At a time when our health service is already under enormous pressure, we need more nurses, not fewer. If agency spending is too high, the solution is to invest in direct employment, not to freeze recruitment.  Nurses are overworked and increasingly unable to deal with the cost of living. We are effectively training nurses for export. I have dealt with a young full-time nurse in my constituency of Kildare South. She is a single mother and at risk of homelessness after receiving an eviction notice from her landlord. This is happening across the State and it is shameful. Strikingly, community nurses, predominantly women, were forgotten about in the most recent package of measures despite facing drastically increasing cost pressures tied to their work.  We must also speak about safety. No one should go to work fearing abuse or intimidation, yet we know nurses face verbal abuse, physical threats and, far too often, racism in the workplace with 12 incidents reported daily. This is not acceptable and is not inevitable. If we truly value nurses, we must provide safe workplaces, fair pay, sustainable conditions and a health service where nurses can build a life and a career in Ireland. Teasta\u00edonn uainn an t-\u00f3m\u00f3s at\u00e1 tuillte ag altra\u00ed na h\u00c9ireann a l\u00e9iri\u00fa le p\u00e1 cothrom, coinn\u00edollacha maithe agus ionaid oibre s\u00e1bh\u00e1ilte. Mar sin a choinneoimid altra\u00ed ag obair agus ag fanacht in \u00c9irinn. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan  I strongly welcome these statements. I want to express my solidarity and thanks to all the nurses working and training across Ireland right now. For the many thousands of nurses who have been forced to emigrate by the failed policies of Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael, I want them to know this: we will work to build the conditions that give them the real choice to return home, with secure housing and a good quality of life. Over the past ten years, our health service has paid a heavy price because those in power have failed to value and respect our nurses. The knowledge and expertise that we have lost to places like Australia are hard to comprehend.  While members of Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael will line up here today to sing the praises of our nurses, it will just be empty words. To be fair, Fine Gael has never hidden how it views our nurses. We all remember the then Minister for Health, Simon Harris, threatening to impose financial penalties on striking nurses, or Leo Varadkar telling us that it is best to keep our hospitals under-resourced, with fewer beds, because, according to him, if a hospital is not under pressure, the staff will kick back and relax. That culture in Fine Gael has ensured that any improvement in working conditions for nurses has had to be dragged out of the Government.  It is that critical mindset that shows that Fine Gael simply does not understand what it is like to work as a nurse - the long unsociable hours, the chronic understaffing, the physical demands, the high patient-staff ratios and the harsh workload. That is ever more present in St. Luke's Hospital in Kilkenny. Those who do their best get punished more. We see resources for hospitals going into black holes. Hospitals like St. Luke's Hospital do the very best with what they get, but they get a slap on the wrist for it. They do not get the resources they need. The Government needs to look at this.  Despite these harsh conditions, day in, day out, our nurses go above and beyond. They provide a level of warmth, care and support to members of the public who find themselves in need at a time of great vulnerability. That deserves more than praise. It deserves action. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marie Sherlock  I welcome the opportunity to speak today on International Nurses Day. The theme is: \u201cOur Nurses. Our Future. Empowered Nurses Save Lives\u201d. I have just come from the new national children's hospital. I want to pay particular tribute to the nurses who are leading the charge there, as well as Lucy Nugent, the chief executive of CHI, and Julia Lewis, the head of transformation. It is wonderful to see so many nurses now coming into senior leadership roles across the health service, where for so many years, it was dominated by the other professions.  I also pay tribute to the nurses I encountered in the Mater emergency department last night, when I was there with a friend, for the incredible professionalism and work rate that they bring every day to their jobs in what is a very difficult environment. We have seen a lot of commentary in recent weeks about violence and aggression. This is seen not only in the Mater hospital, but in many hospitals across the State. The reality is that many nurses go beyond the call of duty to deliver care across a variety of environments. It is important that when we talk about nurses today, we are not just focusing on the nurses who work in acute hospitals, who are incredibly important to the conversation, but we also recognise nurses in nursing homes, primary care clinics and GP practices, as well as community midwives and public health nurses.  Some 15% of the nursing workforce in this country has come from other countries. Our health service, particularly our nursing workforce, would not be able to survive were it not for people from countries like the Philippines and India coming to this country year after year to join our workforce. We must be very thankful to them. We also need to mind them and look after them. Certainly, the increasingly racist commentary that we hear among politicians, but also the really crude discourse that exists out there online and in our communities, has put the fear of God into many migrant nurses and other workers. It is something the Government needs to act on in a much more comprehensive fashion. We were promised an information campaign on the benefits of migration. We see it in our hospitals, day in, day out, but we have yet to see that campaign. I impress upon the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, that we need to see something specific to the health service and many other sectors to reassure those workers who have come to our country, but also to call out the racism that is out there.  I have three questions. They are principally directed to the senior Minister for Health, but I know the Minister of State will take them on board. The first concerns safe staffing ratios. We know that in 2017, the then Minister for Health, Deputy Simon Harris, introduced the general scheme of the patient safety Bill. It went through pre-legislative scrutiny, but it has been gathering dust ever since. We have to ask why that is, and what are the Government's intentions in this regard. When we look at the reality on the ground, the INMO national conference last week and its annual survey laid bare the extraordinary strain that so many nurses are working under. Some 67% of staff believe their current staffing levels and skill mix do not meet the clinical and patient demands required in their work area. Over half of respondents said that patient safety was almost always put at risk, or certainly very often. Almost half were pressurised to work additional hours or shifts. Shockingly, a quarter of the nurses who responded to that survey said they had to attend a GP due to work-related stress. We know that those in other grades within the health service are similarly suffering enormous stress and strain, as seen, in particular, in the F\u00f3rsa survey produced earlier this year.  We have to ask what the Government response to this is. I acknowledge that the number of nurses has gone up significantly in the past five years, by some 9,700, or just short of 10,000. That is significant. However, we know that when we benchmark Ireland against many of the other European countries and OECD norms, we are significantly short. That has to be part of the conversation on the future path for nurses working across our health system, and how we ensure that they and the patients are kept safe. That piece of legislation is vital. There are minimal staffing ratios in childcare and education, yet we do not have that within our hospitals, where nurses and other staff are providing a crucial service.  We also have to look at the attitude of the Government and the HSE to commitments they have made to nurses and other health staff in recent years, particularly the WRC agreement in 2024. There were specific commitments with regard to agency, outsourcing and maternity cover, yet the unions had go to the Labour Court last November with regard to the non-implementation of the WRC agreement by the HSE. That is simply not on. It as a misuse of the HSE\u2019s time that it has to go trekking down to the WRC. It committed to that agreement. Why is it not abiding by it? In February of this year, we saw nurses in Naas General Hospital going on strike because of unsafe staffing. This is a very real issue. We need the HSE and the Government to respond.  I am alarmed that we now have a recruitment freeze. We have heard all the reassurances from the Government, but the reality is that it is going to hit front-line workers. The Minister said this week that an extra \u20ac300 million is required for the health service. That is going to impact outcomes and services. We raised these issues at the budget last year, and we were told we did not need to worry because the health service was properly resourced. We knew then it was not the case, and now that is bearing fruit. That is serious mismanagement by the Department of Health in its budgeting.  The second question that I have for the Minister----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I am afraid we are too late. I call Deputy Eoghan Kenny. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  I am happy to share my time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  In that case, it is fine. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marie Sherlock  The other two questions I have relate to the strategic review of GPs. We have been promised this for a year and a half. It is late. Are we going to see a reference to GP nurses? They provide vaccines and smears. I refer to the new chronic disease management programme. Are we going to see a reference and proper provision for them in the new GP contract?  The last thing I want to say is with regard to public health nurses. From what I can see, the number of public health nurses across the country is lower now than it was five years ago. I looked through every region. Every single region has fewer public health nurses than it did five years ago. Why are the HSE and the Department of Health showing such contempt to public health nurses and the delivery of nursing care in our community? That needs to change. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  Today we must recognise the immense pressure that our nurses are under in this country, but also other front-line health professionals across Ireland. This morning, I met with paramedics outside Mallow General Hospital who do not take this strike action lightly. Listening to them this morning, it was clear that this dispute was more than pay and grading. It is about burnout, staffing pressures, retention and a workforce that feels ignored for far too long. Last night, I spoke with nurses from CUMH and CUH who are genuinely fearful about the impact this strike action it will have on patient care, particularly vulnerable patients who may now have to rely on private transport. I want to make clear, however, that workers do not take strike action lightly. Ambulance staff, paramedics, nurses, healthcare assistants and front-line workers have carried this health service on their backs for years. They worked through Covid, through overcrowding crises, through staffing shortages and through increasing pressure in our emergency departments and hospital wards.  This is nowhere more clear than in specialised nursing care. I want to specifically raise the concerns of Parkinson's Ireland regarding the shortage of Parkinson's nurse specialists. These nurses are essential for people living with Parkinson's disease. They support self-management, help patients manage systems and medications and reduce avoidable hospital admissions and pressure on acute services. In Ireland, we have around 60 Parkinson's nurse specialists. We currently have just 25, with two of those funded by Parkinson's Ireland itself. A recent UCC audit found that 57% of people living with Parkinson's in Ireland have documented access to specialised nurses. That is compared with 95% in the United Kingdom. There is a huge amount of work to do for front-line health services in this country, particularly for nurses. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cormac Devlin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cormac Devlin  I join the Minister in welcoming the representatives of nursing who are in the Gallery. They are all very welcome to the House. I thank them for being here. It is important to hear the contributions being made today. I am sure they are not agreeing with everything that is being said, but they are all very welcome.  I am very happy contribute to these statements as we mark International Nurses Day, and to join with colleagues across the House in paying tribute to our nurses and midwives. Every family in this country has a story about a nurse: the nurse who sat with an elderly parent through a long night; the midwife who delivered a baby and steadied a worried first-time mother; the community nurse who calls to the door each week so that a neighbour can stay longer in their own home; or the public health nurse who picked up early warning signs that a child needed additional help. These are not small things; they are moments when our health service delivers and lives up to its promises and, in certain cases,k goes way above and beyond the call of duty.  In my own constituency of D\u00fan Laoghaire, that work is carried out every day in a network of hospitals and community services that constituents rely upon. St. Vincent's Hospital at Elm Park is a major acute hospital serving a huge catchment area, with a nursing workforce of over 1,000. St. Michael's Hospital in the heart of D\u00fan Laoghaire town runs a busy local emergency department and 130 inpatient beds, with several hundred nursing and clinical staff. I had personal experience of that over the last number of months. I want to put on the record, as it is appropriate today, that the nursing staff, Dr. JJ Barry and all the team there do immense work, not only for a relative of mine but indeed for so many constituents. St. Columcille's Hospital in Loughlinstown, with around 450 staff in total, provides the medical assessment unit and injury unit that so many people and families have turned to over the years. On top of that, there are the public health nurses, community nurses, school nurses, nursing home staff, hospice nurses and practice nurses working across D\u00fan Laoghaire every single day. We owe all of them a huge debt and gratitude and simply say, \"Thank you\". We know what you do and we are grateful for it.  Gratitude on its own is not enough, of course. Nurses themselves would be the first to say that. The recent INMO member survey is a serious document, and the levels of stress, burnout and pressure that it records cannot be brushed aside. I heard Phil N\u00ed Sheaghdha on the radio recently talking about this document. Some of the statistics in it are quite startling. The World Health Organization recognises burnout as an occupational phenomenon. The international evidence tells us it has to be tackled on two fronts at once, that is, through individual supports and through structural change in how services are staffed and organised. That is what this Government is doing.  As of the end of March, there were 10,975 more nurses and midwives working in our health service than there were at the start of 2020, bringing the total to 45,591 whole-time equivalents. Over 93,000 nurses and midwives are now on the NMBI register \u2013 the highest number ever recorded. First-year nursing places in Irish higher education institutions have grown by 23% since 2020 and an additional \u20ac28.5 million is funding more than 1,100 extra healthcare training places every year for the next three years. The framework for safe nurse staffing and skills mix is now fully implemented in emergency departments and is nearing full roll-out in wards, backed by \u20ac56.2 million since 2020 and around 2,000 additional registered nurses and healthcare assistants. The evidence is showing what nurses have long known: when staffing is right, patients do better, missed care reduces, retention improves, and reliance on agency staff comes down.  We are also seeing real progress on advanced practice. Ireland is now a global leader in this area, with advanced practice accounting for 2.7% of the nursing and midwifery workforce. That has meant shorter waiting lists, faster access for patients, and clear career pathways for nurses themselves. Of the 47 recommendations in the expert review body report, 36 have been closed, with the rest on track for 2027.  The goal of universal healthcare, a public service that delivers the best possible care when it is needed, will not be reached without the nurses and midwives of this country. They are not a cost to be managed; they are the reason the system works at all. On International Nurses Day, I want to acknowledge them, particularly in D\u00fan Laoghaire and right across the country, and to give a clear commitment that this Government must continue to back the nursing workforce in the work they do. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  I am very glad to be here today to speak on behalf of everybody in Ireland and thank the nurses for the work that they do, particularly on International Nurses Day. It strikes me, on this International Nurses Day, that so many of our nurses are international when you walk around the hospitals. I think between one in five and one in six are from overseas. Many of them come here because they have the opportunity to come here. That is an issue that needs to be dealt with. I have spoken to many nurses and other healthcare professionals who have come from overseas with contracts to the HSE. They have families and they want to bring their families here. It is very difficult to do that. That is something that needs to be reassessed because many of these people are reconsidering their options. If they are talking to others who are considering coming here, they are certainly telling them to think carefully about doing so because it is very difficult for their family to join them. These people are independent. They have their salary, a house and everything they need, yet they find it very difficult. It is an issue that needs to be dealt with.  I have personal experience. My daughter, Claire, is a nurse. She has wanted to be a nurse since she was small. As a parent, you always want your children to do well and to be successful in whatever way they can, and to hopefully do better than you do. That is the plan that we always have in life. To be a nurse is something very special. It reflects a caring individual, somebody with humanity and great empathy. They are prepared to roll up their sleeves and do the hard work as well. There are those two sides to it. From speaking to her and others in that profession, it is often not recognised to the level it needs to be, particularly because of the stresses they are under. If I talk to nurses and ask what the one thing is that would change things and make them better, they will say more staff - more nurses, more than likely. That is the big pressure that they are under, in many cases. In many cases, they are working in circumstances where logic would tell you there should be three or four working in a ward but there are only two.  They are facing real difficulty. That is one of the big issues that needs to be dealt with.  It has been mentioned that there are over 5,000 vacancies in the service. That needs to be addressed. We need to put the pressure on to ensure we can deliver those staff and ensure we can get an adequate health service that deals with all of these issues. Indeed, my daughter, Claire, said to me that as bad and as difficult as it often is for nurses, they are not the first ones at the scene when there is a car accident or when there is somebody in serious trouble having a heart attack. The first people there are the paramedics who have driven an ambulance to get there. Often, in tragic circumstances when a person is deceased, they have to cut them out of the vehicle. The trauma and difficulty of that and the level of skill they have is not recognised by the level of remuneration. That is why they are on strike today. I visited them today in Ballyshannon, Sligo and Carrick-on-Shannon on my way here.  Many people in the health services are under huge pressure. If the State wants to celebrate nurses, it needs to celebrate everybody in the health service and ensure it deals with this issue in regard to the ambulance services. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  On this International Nurses Day, I want to commend our nurses and midwives and thank them for their work and service. Nurses and midwives need more than thanks on the floor of the D\u00e1il. They need better working conditions, they need more staff and they need more resources. That is what would make their jobs easier.  We know April was the worst April on record for overcrowding, with 11,000 patients treated on trolleys. It is putting huge strain on nurses, midwives and staff which means really bad outcomes for patients. This needs to change.  We have also seen in the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, INMO, survey of their members really shocking and startling results: 70% say there is inadequate staffing and skill mix; 60% considered leaving their job in the last month; 40% said work negatively impacted on their psychological well-being; and 25% of nurses and midwives attended a GP due to work-related stress in the past year. The stress and the strain our nurses and midwives are under because of the working conditions should be setting off alarm bells in the Department of Health. It really is not good enough.  The Minister for Health says the safe staffing framework is well resourced. I would ask her to talk to nurses, midwives and patients because the experience on the ground does not reflect that. It has never been fully resourced and it needs to be. In other countries, they do this. In Australia, they have enshrined in law that the safe staffing framework must be resourced. We can do that too.  Our time today would have been better spent legislating for safe staffing levels in our hospitals instead of talking about and giving thanks to nurses, and actually improve their working conditions like they have done in other countries. We know people are leaving here to go to work in places like Australia where there are better working conditions. The Australian health practitioner regulation agency saw an 86% rise in Irish healthcare workers registering there since 2019. People are moving because of the working conditions. People are leaving the health service because they are under such stress and strain and it really needs to change.  I submitted a parliamentary question to the Minister in November on the staffing levels and found out there are over 3,700 funded posts from 2024 and 2025 that have not been filled. Of the 2024 funded posts, 27% remain unfilled. Of the 2025 funded posts, 80% remained unfilled. We provided the funding for them but they have not been filled by the HSE. That is on top of the 3,100 previously unfilled vacant posts. Across the service, 7,000 posts across the HSE are vacant. This is why nurses and midwives are under such stress. It is because there are vacancies right across the service. We know 1,100 funded nursing and midwifery posts remain vacant while the HSE spends \u20ac124 million on agency staff.  The decision last week on the hiring freeze on non-front-line workers was a knee-jerk reaction done without consultation with workers and unions. It is going to have a big impact. Who is going to do the administrative work? It is going to fall on the clinicians and it is going to really impact on services. While I do welcome the controls on agency spend, we have been here before. We know that since 2020, \u20ac4 billion has been spent on agency staff. That is a staggering amount of money. It is poor outcomes for staff, patients and the public purse and it needs to change.  We know targets were set for converting agency posts into permanent posts. There was meant to be 960 conversions over 2024 and 2025. However, the Department and the HSE fell 132 posts short of that, 77 of which were in nursing and midwifery. Converting those posts into permanent posts is a basic thing that could be done. It is a staggering amount of money spent on agency staff. That money should be spent on filling these permanent posts, improving the services, resourcing our health service and it is not being done.  Crucially, what needs to happen is that we need a multi-annual budget for the health service. Since 2016 it has been promised time and again, Government after Government, but we have not had it. It would lead to better planning, more sustainability and we would not have this knee-jerk reaction of pausing recruitment and stopping hiring. If you were going to buy a car, you would ask if you could pay off the loan over three or four years. You would not think of one year at a time. We need to have better planning for our health service and we need a real guarantee from the Minister that there will not be a freeze on front-line workers. I would love the Minister to make that commitment on the floor of the D\u00e1il and say that this will not be extended to front-line workers. Ultimately, we need to have those safe staffing levels. That should be the guiding benchmark in terms of recruitment for our staff. That would have the biggest impact on nurses and midwives. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Liam Quaide  International Nurses Day should not be treated as an annual exercise in sympathetic, soothing words about how great our nurses are. Nurses do not need another round of empty public praise or applause that carries no willingness to improve their working conditions behind it. Our nurses need a health service that take their safety, their working conditions and their health and well-being seriously. Of course, we should recognise and celebrate the work nurses do. Every day, in hospitals, community services, mental health wards, disability services, older person services, emergency departments and public health settings, nurses carry an enormous share of the health service. They are often the people who notice when a patient is deteriorating; the professional a family turns to when they are frightened or confused; and the worker trying to hold a service together when staffing is short, beds are unavailable and the wider system is failing around them.  If the tributes being paid today are to mean anything, we must be honest about what many nurses are asked to endure. One of the clearest examples is violence and aggression at work. A HSE response to a parliamentary question I submitted last year showed there were almost 17,800 reported assaults on HSE staff between 2022 and 2024. These included physical, verbal and sexual assaults reported through the national incident management system. The category of worker most affected was nurses. There was almost 11,000 incidents reported involving nursing staff over those three years. Mental health services accounted for almost 7,500 incidents. Disability services represented over 3,470 and acute hospitals recorded almost 4,000.  This means nurses being threatened, punched, kicked, spat at, grabbed, sexually harassed or verbally abused while carrying out their work. We need to be careful and humane in how we discuss these realities. Many incidents happen in settings where patients may be extremely distressed, frightened, intoxicated, psychotic, cognitively impaired, traumatised or unable to regulate their behaviour because of disability, illness or crisis. However, none of that takes from the impact of these assaults on staff. A serious response means safe staffing levels. It means proper training in de-escalation. It means appropriate security where needed and ward and service environments that reduce risk rather than compound it. It means proper follow-up after incidents and psychological support. It means managers and senior decision-makers treating workplace violence as a major occupational hazard, not as background noise in a health service under pressure.  Assaults are only one part of the wider picture. Nurses are also dealing with injuries from moving and handling, exhaustion from unsafe staffing, missed breaks, relentless pressure and the psychological toll of trying to deliver safe care inside a system that too often makes that impossible. There is a particular kind of stress and dejection in knowing what a patient needs and not having the staff, time, beds, equipment or community supports to provide it. That is not just frustrating but over time, it is corrosive. It damages morale. It pushes experienced nurses out. It makes recruitment more difficult. It affects patient care. The State cannot keep speaking about retention while ignoring the conditions that drive people away.  I want to briefly raise healthcare workers living with long Covid. During the pandemic, healthcare staff were asked to answer the call of duty in settings that were fraught with danger and uncertainty. Many were exposed to Covid before vaccines were available, before PPE was consistent and before the long-term consequences of the virus were properly understood.  Some people are still living with those consequences. Long Covid, as we know, can involve debilitating fatigue and pain, cognitive difficulties, breathlessness, post-exertional crashes and a range of other symptoms that make ordinary life extremely challenging, not to mention returning to demanding clinical work. The special Covid leave with pay scheme for public health service employees with long Covid has now ended, with remaining staff moved onto the ordinary sick leave scheme. I welcome the Taoiseach's recent engagement with unions on this issue, but I also want to mention the many nurses as well as other healthcare workers who fell outside eligibility for special Covid leave with pay and who remain disabled by their symptoms and unable to return to work. If nurses are central to the future of healthcare, safe staffing is imperative. If nurses were asked to carry the health service during Covid, those still living with the consequences of the pandemic should not be abandoned. The tribute nurses need is not sentimental social media soundbites; it is protection at work, proper staffing, fair treatment when injured or ill and a health service that stops asking them to absorb the consequences of political failure. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail  On International Nurses Day, I pay tribute to all nurses and midwives throughout the country, particularly in Kildare. We are fortunate to have Naas General Hospital in Kildare North, but many of the nurses and midwives in my home town of Maynooth, Celbridge, Leixlip, Clane and Kilcock work in Blanchardstown, Tallaght, St. James's and HSE service providers around the country. For a long time, one of those nurses was my mum. She worked in Stewarts Care for over 30 years. She trained to be a nurse in Clonsilla. The working conditions for her became far too much at one stage, so much so that she has now left intellectual disability nursing and has moved into special education, initially as a teacher and now as an SNA. I have seen first hand with my mum, a single mother of four children, the difficulty she had, particularly with the working conditions, the late hours and trying to raise four young children, my three sisters and me.  There are silver linings in how more nurses are coming on stream. I look at Maynooth University, for example, my alma mater in my hometown. Professor Fintan Sheerin has established a school of nursing there. Professor Sheerin trained to be a nurse with my mum in Clonsilla. That school has grown from strength to strength over the past year, and it is exciting to see the work happening in Maynooth University under Professor Sheerin's leadership. It shows that more can be done to train more nurses across all disciplines of nursing and all disciplines of medicine.  Looking to the future, I had a call last Friday from a young mum, an ICU nurse, who had moved back to Kildare from the United Arab Emirates, UAE. She had spent a number of years there with her husband and their two daughters. She had difficulties getting the eldest child into school. The child is going to a Gaelscoil now, even though she did not speak any Irish. She had to get grinds in the UAE. Then there are similar difficulties with childcare for the youngest daughter. There is an issue for my generation, in particular. I am 36. Many my friends and a lot of people of a similar age who moved to the UAE or Australia are now looking to move home. We need those specialist nurses and healthcare providers to come back here. There should be assistance there and a pathway for them to come home. That could involve assisting with securing accommodation, education, childcare - basic fundamentals in which the State has a role. Certainly, the HSE should be looking to try to help more Irish medical professionals to come home. They want to come home.  We have seen the difficulties with people trying to obtain somewhere to rent or to buy. There should be assistance provided in that regard. In the Minister of State's constituency in Limerick, for example, assistance could be given to particular nurses who are trying to find accommodation in Limerick or in Clare. The same could be done in Kildare in order that there would be assistance for people seeking to come home, and that when they do come home, they are not scrambling to try to find childcare or school places for their children. It is the least we can do. The HSE needs to look at this as part of a proper campaign. I think it would benefit not only the healthcare professionals - in this instance nurses and midwives - but also the State. The State would benefit greatly from experienced and knowledgeable nurses, midwives and doctors being brought back here. We need their experience and expertise, and our healthcare system would be better because of them. It is already better because of the nurses and the midwives we have in the country.  I pay tribute to all the nurses, all the midwives and my mum for the incredible work they do in helping people. Nursing is the noblest of careers, and I thank them for their work. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan  I thank all the nurses around the country on this day, International Nurses Day. It is only fit and right that we start our speeches in here by saying \"Thank you\", not just as a formality or a generic line in a speech but as a meaningful and heartfelt one. All of us in here have experienced healthcare at various stages of our lives or with our family members, and nurses have always been there to help us along those sometimes most treasured moments in our lives but sometimes the most difficult moments in our lives as well. If you think about it, the first hands that would have touched many of us in this world have been those of a nurse or a midwife. When we were frightened in hospital as children, it was a nurse who sat with us. When our parents or grandparents were at their most vulnerable, confused, in pain, afraid, it was a nurse who often stayed with us, who explained things gently, who held a hand when no family member could be there, who made a cold, clinical environment feel somehow human. There is no qualification in the world that teaches you how to do that; that comes from something deeper, from the character of every one of those nurses and from genuine compassion. Irish nurses have that in abundance.  The INMO represents over 42,000 nurses and midwives across the island, 42,000 people who made a deliberate choice to dedicate their working lives to the care of others, who sat their exams, completed their training, put on their uniform for the first time and decided that this was how they wanted to spend their days. That decision deserves to be celebrated loudly and genuinely here today.  Irish nursing also carries a history to be enormously proud of. For generations Irish nurses have been regarded as among the finest in the world, sought after, respected and trusted in every corner of the globe. Their reputation was not handed to them; it was built ward by ward, shift by shift by the women and men who gave everything to their patients and to their profession. We stand on the shoulders of that tradition today and we should acknowledge it with pride.  The dedication continues. Right now, there are nurses in Cork, Munster and every county across the country who are on their feet doing what they do quietly, expertly, without fanfare. They are not looking for applause - they never have been - but they deserve it all the same.  Celebrating our nurses means asking ourselves an honest question: are we doing enough to make Ireland a place where they want to stay, where they feel valued enough to build their whole career, their whole life, right here at home? The truth is that Irish nurses are wanted everywhere: Australia wants them, Canada wants them, the Middle East wants them. Who could blame any country for wanting the best? However, we want them here also and we need them here. More than that, they belong here, in the hospitals and communities they grew up in, caring for the people they know, building something lasting in the country that shaped them. It is worrying that Ireland has the highest proportion of foreign-trained nurses in the entire OECD, 51.8%, more than twice the level of the second highest country. That is not a badge of honour; it is a warning sign flashing red for all of us, so we need to take heed.  The INMO has told us that there are currently 5,000 nurse and midwife vacancies across the country. That is not just a number on a page; it is 5,000 opportunities for Irish nurses to come home, to step in and to be part of rebuilding something, and it is 5,000 reasons why we must make Ireland as attractive as possible for nurses to stay and to return.  That is why we should be making Ireland the best place in the world for an Irish nurse to build their career. We should be investing in pay that properly reflects the responsibility nurses carry every day. A staff nurse starts on \u20ac37,288. We need to keep building on that year on year until the gap between what Ireland offers and what other countries offer is no longer a reason for anyone to leave. We should be moving urgently towards safe staffing legislation and real enforceable ratios in order that every nurse can finish their shift knowing they gave the standard of care they trained so hard to deliver.  We should be providing genuine career progression in order that nurses qualifying today can look ahead and see a future here that is fulfilling, sustainable and rewarding. We should be making the choice easy. Right now, for too many nurses, it is not easy enough. We want the young people who are considering nursing as a career to choose it with confidence. We want newly qualified nurses to look around and see a country that has their back. We want the experienced nurses who have given years of service to feel their dedication is truly seen and truly valued. Ireland is blessed with nurses who are second to none. We should make sure Ireland is a country that is second to none in the way it looks after them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  Today, on International Nurses Day, we recognise and thank nurses working across every part of our health service and at every stage of life. We think of those nurses in our hospitals, in GP surgeries and in communities. We think of public health nurses, addiction nurses, mental health nurses, intensive care nurses, palliative care nurses, paediatric nurses, geriatric nurses, and those working in disability services, cancer care, maternity care, health promotion and the Irish Blood Transfusion Service. Irish nurses have earned a reputation across the world for excellence, professionalism and compassion. That is a source of enormous pride for this country.  My aunt Stephanie worked as a nurse and a midwife for much of her life. She cared for patients here in Ireland but also in many areas affected by war, famine and insecurity. She taught nursing and midwifery in some of the largest and worst refugee camps in the world. Today, on International Nurses Day, I think of her and of all of those nurses, healthcare workers and health facilities that have been attacked, particularly in Gaza but also in the West Bank and Lebanon, as Israel continues with its genocide.  Today is also an opportunity to recognise the international character of modern nursing in Ireland. Nurses working in our health services have come here from every corner of the globe. We are deeply grateful to every nurse, whether from Ireland or beyond, who cares for people here with dignity, skill and humanity. Gratitude alone is not enough, however. If we truly value nurses and nursing, we must ensure safe staffing, fair pay, decent and safe conditions and affordable housing. We must tackle the burn-out, exhaustion and unsafe workloads.  The figures from the INMO are deeply worrying. Too many nurses report unsafe staffing levels, serious stress and pressure to work additional hours. Many are considering leaving their workplace or leaving their profession entirely. It speaks to the compassion, dignity and discipline of nurses that, when they are asked to do more, they tend to do so until they hit the point at which they can do no more. That is not sustainable for workers or for patients.  As we are speaking here, I will also express solidarity with nurses' colleagues in the National Ambulance Service. These workers taking industrial action today are paramedics, advanced paramedics and EMTs and provide extraordinary front-line clinical care under immense pressure. They also deserve proper staffing, recognition and meaningful engagement from Government.  No more than paramedics and the rest of their colleagues in the health service, nurses are essential to society and to humanity. They deserve action, fairness and protection. They need to be acknowledged. If it boils down to one word, it is \"respect\". Gratitude and platitudes are easy but respect costs. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  During this whole discussion, there have been elements of d\u00e9j\u00e0 vu as regards Covid. I was not here but, like many others, I looked at the screen and saw the applause for nurses in the D\u00e1il. It was the height of hypocrisy. There was applause but no pay rises. Long Covid supports have just been ended. Nurses were urged to go onto the front line. It was mainly nurses who suffered from that condition. I seriously wonder how nurses around the country, particularly those at University Hospital Limerick, and nurses abroad feel hearing this debate. This April was the worst on record for overcrowding in the hospitals. Some 11,175 people were treated on corridors according to the INMO's trolley watch. That long-term degradation of their working conditions has an absolutely massive impact on nurses' well-being and so on. They face stress, burn-out and unsafe conditions.  In a survey, two thirds of nurses said that staffing levels and the skills mix around them did not meet patients' needs. I could go on forever. One quarter of nurses have gone to their GP due to work-related stress in the past 12 months. To be frank, it does not sound like nurses are valued, does it? The INMO has gathered many statistics on this. Some 61% of nurses are considering leaving nursing and 80% report unsafe conditions. Nearly half of all nurses reported pressure to work extra shifts.  I will add something else into the mix. It is International Nurses Day, a day on which we also celebrate midwives. Some 15% of the entire HSE workforce come from international areas. There have been 200 racist incidents against nurses in Ireland in the last year. In some cases, nurses are travelling in groups to their workplaces because they are afraid. One member of the INMO said that things like verbal comments and exclusion can have an impact and that this comes on top of everything else you are getting on with. That is a real issue because we rely so heavily on nurses coming here from other jurisdictions. They should be treated with respect.  What do nurses want? It is obvious. They want safe working conditions, decent pay so they can actually afford to live, and to feel they are able to keep going in the job. We need massive investment in the health service to provide the staff that are needed and to get rid of the unsafe working conditions nurses are being forced to put up with. We need less applause and fewer statements on International Nurses Day. Once again, a highly feminised workforce is just expected to put up with crap again and again. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  It is obviously good that we are at least getting this opportunity to talk about the issues affecting nurses but it is pretty rich given the issues highlighted by the INMO at its conference, including stress, burn-out, unsafe staffing levels and student nurses. I do not know how many years ago it was that we had motions about student nurses and the number of them who were contemplating leaving the country because they felt it was not doable for them because of the way they were being treated and what they were facing in the Irish health service. Many of them were leaving the country and going to Australia or wherever. All of those issues that the INMO have been campaigning about all of these years remain with us. Really, nothing has changed. A quarter of nurses are needing to see their GP because of the impact the job is having on them.  Last year, this all became very tangible for me rather than being somewhat abstract. I was in the hands of the nurses who were looking after me when I was in a difficult spot. It is then that you realise just how important they are and how much they do for you. We then find that nurses are treated in this way.  The Government is now talking about recruitment embargos again. I cannot believe it. When we have unsafe staffing levels and the union has been campaigning to place a legal obligation on the State to ensure safe staffing levels, we are back to recruitment embargos. The Government has given no real clarity as to whether these will impact on nurses and the front line and therefore on patients, the quality of services and all of the rest of it. The Government has consistently underbudgeted for health. That is why we get overruns. The pay, conditions and the situation in our health service are so bad that the service cannot recruit people and has to rely on outsourcing. Working in the public health service is just too unattractive to nurses. The last thing we need is recruitment embargos. We need a recognition from the Government that it has been underfunding and under-budgeting for our health service. Quite frankly, it is scary that the Government is talking about recruitment embargos as a response to its failure to acknowledge the amount of money it needs to put into our health service and into backing our nurses and other healthcare workers. \"Hear, hear\" for the nurses but the Government needs to step up to the mark. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charles Ward  Nurses play a vital role in caring for patients in hospital and healthcare centres. Their work and their impact extend far beyond medical treatment. They are often the first people patients see. They are the ones who spend the most time providing care and comfort for the sick and injured. They are often the ones who provide emotional support to families during extremely difficult times. They do all of this while juggling immense workloads and dealing with overcrowded hospitals, staff shortages and long working hours.  The physical and emotional pressures they come under caring for patients every day cannot be underestimated. This is reflected most in the HIQA report on Letterkenny University Hospital where risks were identified in the emergency department, particularly with regard to overcrowding. Despite this the nurses were observed being courteous, attentive and respectful in their interactions with patients. The report said they were aware of this and demonstrated commitment to providing care and dignity and autonomy in delivery of care, and they retained a calm reassuring presence despite the pressures of a busy department with long waiting times. This is consistent with many reports you hear about Letterkenny hospital. Despite this and the many challenges they face, the nurses are exceptional in their work and the care they provide.  I do not think they get the recognition they truly deserve, and I am glad we are taking time to recognise them today. They deserve far more recognition, and the Minister of State knows this. At last week's INMO conference, an emergency medical nurse who worked in Letterkenny hospital for 22 years described how she left due to stress, anxiety and the physical demands of the job. She said she would go back in a heartbeat except her health was so damaged. She was one nurse potentially looking after between 30 and 40 patients in a busy emergency department. The shifts are physically hard and demanding. These are 13-hour shifts where you are on your feet and it is constantly go, go, go. It also takes a significant mental toll on their health, and they suffer from burnout. This is pushing them to the brink until they can physically and mentally do no more. We must support them and support their jobs.  We must also support our National Ambulance Service. The HSE's failure to update the ambulance workers' pay scales to reflect changes in their responsibility and workloads over the past 20 years is shocking. We must do all we can to support them. Two weeks ago, I was in the accident and emergency department in the middle of the night with my youngest child who had a high temperature. I received fantastic treatment there. One of the Indian nurses came in and she was magnificent. She cared for my child like it was her own. We need to recognise this but we also need to recognise that we have to look after our nurses. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John McGuinness  I thank all of the nurses and midwives we are speaking about this evening. I certainly appreciate them. I thank them for their passion for the job, and for their commitment and dedication. I also recognise that we stood in this House and applauded all of the front-line workers and made comments and statements about nurses and others. Yet, we did not fulfil what is necessary, which is pay and conditions, the proper number of staff and allowing them to perform their functions, which they are very good at.  I stand in solidarity with the ambulance drivers today and say we should recognise what they are doing and improve the range of qualifications now in play and ensure they have the numbers to do the job the way we expect them to do it. It is hypocrisy to speak here and for the HSE or Government, whoever is at fault, to not give the appropriate pay and conditions to those we are speaking about. We need to change that radically.  St. Luke's in Kilkenny is a level 3 hospital. It is short between 70 and 100 nurses. They use a lot of money to bring them in from the private sector to nurse in that hospital. When I see that, I think of the management and structure in the HSE. It is not good. It is not best practice, and it is not good business for the country. We should be doing a lot more to manage the staff we need and the qualifications we need within the health service. We should be doing an awful lot to support the nurses and midwives financially and in terms of their work arrangements.  There is a new hospital ready to be opened in Thomastown. I hear no talk about that in the context of staffing levels. Have they been completed? We need to have fewer promises from Government and politicians with regard to how all of this going to be achieved. We should be dealing with the reality of the crisis that faces nurses, be they in general hospitals or in the mental health setting, but we do not. I would like to see more time given to a discussion about management to deliver what we are speaking about to the front-line workers and to ensure they get the best for their jobs.  In his day, Bernard Gloster promised a skills facilitator for St. Luke's in Kilkenny. It never happened, and that is what I am talking about when I talk about promises made. You need to do what you say. You need to ensure the workers and nurses we see on the front line are properly compensated and we need to ensure those who continue to argue about long Covid are answered. They are not just doing it for the fun. Some of these nurses and front-line workers have been very sick following Covid and we have not recognised it. We have pitched them all back to the HSE to work out their deal for their ongoing income. A lot of them are really stressed about all of this. They are suffering depression, anxiety, burnout and so on. We talk about it here. We identify where the problem is but for some reason we refuse to address it. Until such time as these issues are addressed, the Government can stand and be counted as not fulfilling its first obligation, which is to keep its people safe.  Nurses and front-line workers deserve better. If the management were any way right, or any good at all, the strikers would not be out there today. That matter would have been dealt with long before it happened. If the Government was in private business, it would look across the range of employees it has and make it super attractive to keep them there, particularly when there is a shortage of skilled staff. That is what is done but it does not seem to be done by Government or the HSE. That needs to be talked about and corrected. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Roche","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Roche  I am glad to have the opportunity to add my voice of thanks to the many nurses around our country. I also give a shout-out to those in the ambulance services who are striking today and want us to do more for them. Strangely, my first job at 16 years of age was in a nursing home during the summer holidays. I never forgot the impact that had on me because I saw the outstanding work the nurses did. It resonated with me and the outstanding care left an indelible mark on me. Every patient was like their own parent, brother, sister or father. I thought that was incredible. From my circumstances in the past year, we lost two members of my family. We lost my daughter-in-law this time last year and my brother in recent times. I had lots of good reason to visit hospitals. I have often felt that nurses are born to be nurses. They are not manufactured. They come with such empathy, care and compassion and wonderful tolerance. They can cope with almost anything. I saw lots of times how people struggling with dementia might strike out. The nurse is able to withstand that and take that as if it is par for the course. I am not sure there is any other occupation with the tolerance to do that. The work they do is resounding. It is high time we said thank you loudly to them.  Saying thanks, as others have indicated over the last while, is a small thing, though significant, but what is really needed is for us to take stock and be cognisant of what they are enduring. There needs to be fair play for the contribution they make to society. That is one of the most compelling things, which we should really be doing. All of the contributions here today have been along the lines of praising them highly and speaking about the challenges. We all know those challenges and aware of the tremendous threat.  I am one of those, and God knows there are plenty more, who witnessed the nursing staff never allowing that stress or front-line pressure to have any impact on their patient. I can recall, as I said in recent times, when my brother was critically ill just a few weeks ago that it was a comfort to him to press the red help button. The expression on anyone's face, particularly his, when that nurse arrived into the room showed that was a lifesaver.  These are the things that I take from today's conversation. It is about acknowledging that wonderful contribution that they make to society. They continue to do personal development and improve their skills. Many are finding it a struggle to find their first job in their nursing career, and there are those who are abroad and want an opportunity to come home and work here. Many of those who are abroad, be it in Australia, America or Canada, go as a life choice and come back with a wealth of experience to offer to the health system here. I add my voice of thanks to the wonderful nursing staff around the country for what they do to keep the clock ticking on life. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Maurice Quinlivan  I begin by sending my solidarity to those in the National Ambulance Service who are engaged in strike action today. I know they would much rather be at work. Today's action should and could have been averted but the Government failed to address the issues that caused them to strike. At this late hour, I call on the Government to intervene and engage with the workers, and ensure that ambulance staff receive the respect and safe staffing that they deserve.  Nurses are the backbone of our health service. While the direct role is often to deliver medical care, the functions that they undertake span many more tasks than that. Nurses are medical professionals. They are the person a patient will trust and often confide in, the provider of emotional support to the ill, the comforting voice in a maternity ward, and the shoulder to cry on for those consumed by loss. Given the immense role they play across the health service, it is appropriate that there is a day to celebrate them today. The work they do and the hours our nurses put in comes with a cost to them personally. A 2026 member survey by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation noted high levels of stress, burnout and concern about working conditions for nurses. Some 39% of respondents reported that their work negatively impacted their psychological well-being, and 24% of respondents reported visiting the GP due to work-related stress over the preceding 12 months. These are stark statistics.  Beyond this staggering personal toll, there is a danger that we will continue to lose our highly trained nurses to other jurisdictions. The INMO survey results are damning in this regard. Some 61% of respondents have considered leaving their work area in the month prior to completing the survey. Some 80% of those reported unsafe staffing levels in their areas. It is clear from these results that staffing levels and workload pressures remain a huge stress on our nurses. We need to establish in legislation safe staffing policies to protect both our nurses and patients. How can we expect to attract people to a sector if we cannot guarantee their safety, we cannot guarantee their leave days will be available when they need them, and we cannot guarantee that they will have manageable and safe nurse-patient ratios?  I briefly mention the nurses who work in my hospital, University Hospital Limerick, UHL, and commend them. For many years, they have been doing their already challenging job in some of the most difficult conditions faced by healthcare workers in any medical facility in the State. They are among the best heroes of our health service. Over the last number of years, the overcrowding in UHL has got worse for thousands of patients treated on trolleys all over the hospital. This severe risk to patient safety has often been mitigated by the professionalism and dedication of our nurses, and I thank them from the bottom of my heart. While people become frustrated waiting in the emergency department and despondent from being treated in the corridor, the feedback we receive regularly is that once you get in the door, the care you receive at UHL is pretty good.  I salute our nurses and midwives for the wonderful work they do. I commend the INMO for its attention to the needs of its members, and I call on the Government to ensure that our nurses are provided with safer and more secure working conditions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  I thank all the nurses in the country, especially five of them in a place called Athlacca in County Limerick. There is a family of six, with five girls and one boy, and five of the girls were nurses. They are Marie, Eileen, Noelle, Angela and Cliona. They are the O'Keeffes. I grew up with them. The whole family have dedicated their lives to care and nursing. It was unbelievable to see. I thank all of the families, male and female nurses across the country, for what they have done, for the care, and for the families who encouraged them and gave them the help to become nurses so they can actually provide for others. I grew up with it. My sister is a nurse who is now retired. They grew up at a different time for nursing. At the time, they were in hospitals with matrons and each ward was run by the matrons. From those times to the training that we have today, the care that nurses gave and still give is above and beyond. They are the link between all staff, between the doctors, the consultants, the nurses, and everyone else, because they meet the patients and their needs. They get to the root of the problem. I thank them for everything they have done for this country and its vulnerable people. Small changes need to be made to encourage people to go into nursing. People can become apprentices today and are funded. Those who are becoming nurses should be funded the same. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  I thank nurses across the country. Without them, we would not have a health service, but the reality is that student nurses are being worked full time caring for patients while struggling to afford rent, transport and food. Much of this work is unpaid. Travel accommodation and fuel costs are pushing students into debt, hardship and even homelessness just to qualify. By the time they graduate, many are already burned out. That is not sustainable. If we want nurses to stay, we must support them properly during training, not after.  We also have serious issues with nurses on work permits. In Bantry General Hospital, a nurse is still waiting on her Irish residence permit card and cannot travel home to see her family. This is simply not good enough. I also raise the case of Ms Elma Joseph, an Indian national with a valid critical skills employment permit to work as a nurse. She has been told she must leave the State due to a change of employer despite being lawfully here and working in a sector crying out for staff. That completely undermines the purpose of the critical skills scheme.  I call on the Government to sort out these issues immediately. Our health system cannot afford to lose these nurses, especially on a day when all paramedics are taking strike action. The Minister will have to sit up and listen to this. I listened to the Taoiseach's answers about those paramedics who are on strike today. They have been wronged, not for a week and not for two weeks, but for years. The Government seems to be using every kind of mechanism against the ordinary working paramedic who has given their time to save lives and upskill. A report was brought in in 2020. All of this was there before this Government and the last Government, and the paramedics have been left there and forgotten. This cannot continue. The Government has been neglectful and caught sleeping at the wheel. People are striking. That is no place for good, genuine, hard-working people who want to go out, save lives and do what they are trained to do and should be paid properly to do. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  On behalf of Independent Ireland and our TDs, I start by saying thanks to every nurse working across Ireland in the hospitals, nursing homes, community care, mental health services and emergency care. I thank every one of them for the tremendous work and their vocation in this State.  Without them, we would be in a terrible situation. The irony is not lost on me as we are thanking nurses on this day for what they do for the State that there are nurses in Australia, the United Arab Emirates and Canada who want to come home but cannot. There has been lots of talk on this side of the House about nurses coming home and that we must bring our nurses home, but what would they be coming home to? They are coming home to rents they cannot afford. They are coming home to a property market so difficult to get into that there are no properties there for them to buy. We are spending \u20ac100,000 plus every year advertising in Australia and probably \u20ac500,000 advertising across the world asking Irish people to come back home, but what have they got to come back home to? That is the worrying thing. I see many people leaving. One Member said earlier that they left by choice and for lifestyle. That may be the situation when people are younger and they want to explore the world and do those things, but most people want to come home. They want to settle down near their families, near their mothers and fathers, they want to be back working in the country they grew up in. They want to give something back to this country. I do not believe that this State is truly interested in bringing back those people who we have educated and done everything right for because it is saying to forget about them. We are not making it viable to come back into this country with the tax brackets. We are not making it viable to come back and buy a property here and we are not making it viable for them to come back by giving them good work conditions. That has to be addressed.  While we are all praising nurses in this House today, we must remember that we are letting an awful lot of nurses down across the world who come from and were educated in Ireland. That needs to be addressed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  I want to start by thanking all of the nurses, not just in this country, but all of our Irish nurses right across the world in Australia, Canada and America. Some of our best and brightest young people are educated here, which is paid for by the taxpayer, and then essentially forced abroad. That is what has happened over many years. It is devastating to hear that there are new talks of a recruitment freeze, given that the previous recruitment freeze drove our best and brightest away. Now, the Department is talking about another recruitment freeze. This cannot happen. We cannot repeat the mistakes of the past. The health service is under immense pressure. Nurses are under immense pressure. There are over 5,000 unfilled nursing and midwifery positions in the HSE.  I also want to talk about the National Ambulance Service. I support all of the men and women who are standing on picket lines across the country. In Mayo, there are areas that are incredibly poorly served. In Erris recently, Stephen Lavelle, God rest his soul, was left without an ambulance for a considerable length of time. I support them and I urge the Minister of State to do so. They are under immense pressure, and we need to support the National Ambulance Service. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  I am in solidarity with the ambulance workers but I want to take the opportunity to praise the fantastic work of our nurses on what is International Nurses Day. There are over 92,000 registered nurses and midwives in Ireland who all do a fantastic job, but their working conditions are far from optimal. They have raised issues like unsafe staffing numbers, high levels of burnout and pay that has failed to keep up with the cost of living.  Ireland relies to a much greater extent on internationally educated nurses compared to many other high-income countries. According to a 2024 ESRI report, 46% of the workforce had been educated abroad while 69% of all new entrants had been trained internationally. That means that over the past two decades, more than half of all nurses registered in Ireland were migrants and we are increasingly reliant on the great work they do. At the same time, Irish nurses continue to move abroad, and many do not come back. Even if they did not emigrate, we still train too few of them in any event, with a 2023 OECD report finding that we produce 31 nursing graduates per 100,000 people compared with 58 in the Netherlands and 109 in Australia. There have been some improvements, but we need to keep our Irish nurses and retain the international ones by paying them better and improving their working conditions, bringing in the likes of a Dublin allowance, because having a vocation only goes so far. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Lahart","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Lahart.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Lahart.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Lahart  When I think of nurses, male or female, I think of the stereotypical attributes that we associate with them: kindness, gentleness, warmth, a reassuring smile or word, but also their dedication and professionalism, as well as world-class qualifications, ability and professional capacity. It is appropriate that every year on this day, International Nurses Day, Parliament recognises and thanks those nurses for the extraordinary care that they provide to our communities every day. Those nurses include advance medical practitioners, and I am conscious of the National Ambulance Service and its strike action. I hope that the Government can assist in resolving this via the HSE as soon as possible.  I am fortunate enough to have the national ambulance training centre in Tallaght in my constituency as part of a broader expanding health campus adjacent to Tallaght University Hospital. The national ambulance training centre is an interesting place to visit. I recommend it to anybody who is involved or interested in health. Its staff are always delighted to facilitate Deputies to see exactly how it works in terms of how calls are taken, distributed and responded to.  International Nurses Day, as we know, is marked on the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the figure we associate with modern nursing and who understood something that remains as true now as it did then. She is attributed with the words \"A cure is not always possible, but care is always possible\". I do not think that anyone understands that truth more deeply or lives it more fully than the nurses in our hospitals, both private and public.  Nurses understand that care is not secondary to cure. It is not an optional extra or a premium people pay for on their health insurance. It is an essential foundation of any humane health system, and it is our nurses who bring that foundation to life every day. They stand with patients and families during the longest nights and the hardest conversations, offering support when medicine alone is not enough. They are present not only in moments of recovery but also at moments of fear, uncertainty and loss. They are the beating heart of our health system.  It is not enough for this House to simply recognise that their work is important but to ensure that those who deliver care in healthcare settings outside of hospitals in our cities, towns and villages are properly supported in their work.  We heard from the president of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation last week that nursing is a safety critical profession. Patient safety depends on having a sufficient number of skilled and experienced nurses and midwives and that they be respected and retained within our health system. That is a truth that all of us in this House agree with regardless of party affiliation.  Despite criticism, it is also an area where the Government has made solid progress. Since the beginning of 2020, there are nearly 11,000 additional nurses and midwives working in our health services, bringing the total number to 93,000. This achievement represents a 3% increase on the previous year, and it also represents the highest number of registrants to date. Progress has also been recognised internationally. Recent data from the OECD shows that Ireland is now among the leading countries in Europe for nurses per capita .  These statistics represent real progress, but they do not give us licence, as previous speakers have said, for complacency. Staffing levels on paper do not always reflect the pressures that are felt on the ground, and many nurses continue to report workloads that are difficult to maintain. For example, I read an interview with the chairman of the board of University Hospital Limerick at the weekend about the frustrations and overwhelming pressures on the nursing staff at the hospital. Unfortunately, it is a story that keeps repeating itself.  The safety and health, including the mental health and physical safety, of our nurses is critical. In a previous contribution, Deputy McGuinness mentioned the impact of long Covid on nursing staff. I have constituents, as many of the people in this House would have, who are nurses who suffer from long Covid and have seen their entitlements come to an end. They have had to add that stress to the stress of having a tedious, unrecognised illness and all the symptoms associated with that.  I urge those in charge of the systems that offer protection and pay to people in this situation to look on this with an empathetic eye and remember the days and nights when we applauded our nurses who stood between us and a pandemic. They were very much at the front line of that pandemic.  I read recently in the newspaper that in Northern Ireland - I hope I have this correct - nurses' unions are considering that nurses wear body cameras, such is the level of assaults and intimidation of healthcare staff. While we read about attacks in emergency rooms here, for now, the decision has been taken not to take that step because it would violate patient privacy. The point is that no one in the health service - I have spoken to doctors, consultants and nurses in this regard - seems to be escaping the break down in the boundaries and barriers of respect and protocols that existed. This affects health professionals and everyone else who works in the health system, such as orderlies, ushers, caretakers and catering staff. All those kinds of boundaries appear to have broken down. On top of going into work and being overwhelmed by the demand on the wards, intimidation and physical violence is also part and parcel in some parts of our hospital system.  It is true that, last year alone, some 7,000 healthcare professionals left Ireland to work in Australia, at a time when we produce approximately 900 doctors and 1,600 nurses each year. That gap should and does give all of us pause for thought. It underlines that the training of more professionals, while essential, will never be sufficient on its own if we do not also create the conditions that encourage skilled staff to build their careers in Ireland and ensure that the people most affected by the change in conditions or the lack of accommodation are given a strong voice within the partnership system, or what used to be called the social partnership system in this country. Their voices must be heard and represented at the table for negotiations when discussions on their future take place.  We need to support nurses. We need to care for those who care for us. Personally, without going into any detail, I have been at the receiving end of that care on a number of times in my life, as have members of my family, both here and abroad. International Nurses Day should not only be a moment of celebration; it should also encourage us to recommit to listen, respond and keep raising the ambition of what we can do for the nurses in our health service and health system. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  The 120,000 registered practitioner nurses and midwives across the breadth of the island are the backbone of our health service. As they care for us throughout our lives, those of us in public life, particularly those in government, have a duty to care for them but that has not always been the case. Our student nurses have been utterly failed, alongside other students, when it comes to student accommodation. There is a deficit of at least 39,000 student beds across Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway. The Government is delivering near naught in terms of purpose-built student accommodation. It is a drop in the ocean. As these nurses progress through their careers, they endure the burden of conditions that no one would wish for our healthcare system.  In the past week alone, it was reported that last month was the worst April on record for overcrowding in University Hospital Kerry. A total of 23 people waited 24 hours on trolleys in University Hospital Limerick where doctors warn that patient safety risks identified by HIQA last year remain unaddressed. In my constituency, 16 people were waiting on trolleys in Cavan hospital. Monaghan hospital should be fully operational. Is it any wonder that some 25,000 Irish-qualified nurses and midwives, excluding retirees, have left our health system over the past two decades? We need to do better for our nurses. They are highly trained, qualified and dedicated but we need the Government to put in place conditions that both nurses and patients need and deserve.  The same holds true for many of our other healthcare professionals. Given the events of today, it is apparent that there has been a failure by the Government to properly recognise the modern role of ambulance personnel as prehospital care professionals. There have always been severe issues of workforce planning, driving overtime and burnout. In some cases, there have been issues of resourcing. The Government cannot say it was not warned, however. I have raised resourcing issues within our ambulance service in Monaghan with the Taoiseach, the T\u00e1naiste, the Minister of Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, and many others to no avail. This Government is just not listening. What is needed? The Minister must intervene directly and genuinely listen to the grievances of our hardworking nurses and ambulance service workers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas le gach Ball a labhair inniu. I welcome the opportunity to speak on International Nurses Day. I welcome all those in the Public Gallery. I sincerely thank all the nurses, midwives and my relations, both those in north Dublin and across Ireland, for the extraordinary work they do every single day. It is not just a profession for them; it is a profession built on compassion and skill. We have all seen, either through our experience or that of our family members, the brilliant work they do. They care for us when we are sick and they care for the vulnerable. I especially acknowledge the staff in Beaumont Hospital who cared for me when I fell sick as a teenager. They showed professionalism and kindness, bringing me chocolate and cheering me up when I was down. It definitely helped me get through it.  Like many families I represent across north Dublin, I know personally the difference they can make. As they support us, we too need to support them. Since I have been elected, I have raised on the floor of the D\u00e1il nearly 16 times the current accident and emergency department in Beaumont Hospital. The nurses, healthcare workers and all the hardworking men and women in Beaumont Hospital are under enormous pressure. I welcome the \u20ac27 million that was announced at the start of this year for the initial works and improvements in Beaumont Hospital but these hardworking men and women are the ones dealing with the burnout and rise in demand. When the infrastructure in the hospital they are working in is not sufficient, they are the ones who bear the cost. I welcome the Minister, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill\u2019s visit to the hospital and what she has implemented, as well as the brilliant work of the new CEO of Beaumont Hospital, but we need to give workers safe staffing levels, fair pay and conditions, investments in training and improved hospital capacity.  Speaking as someone from a younger generation \u2013 this was mentioned across the House today - a lot of my friends who studied nursing, midwifery and a lot of other occupations are feeling the financial pressure, especially those living in Dublin. It is more financially viable for them to leave or emigrate. We need to encourage them back, and I know there is work being done on that. One thing I have raised is the need to have financial packages for those critical workers in high-cost areas, particularly at the beginning of their careers. I thank every single nurse and midwife. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  I am glad to get the opportunity to raise my satisfaction and appreciation of all the nurses in Kerry and around the country, especially the nurses with whom I have had the occasion to deal with many times, both in the past and recently. I am especially thinking of staff in University Hospital Kerry but also those in the district hospitals in Killarney, Listowel, Cahersiveen, Dingle, Valencia and Kenmare and the hospitals that Kerry people go to, such as the one over the head in Bantry. Many Kerry people also use the hospitals in Cork, including Cork University Hospital, South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital, Bon Secours Hospital, the Mater Private Cork Hospital and so forth. The standard of nursing we have in this country is massive.  I do not think they have it in any other part of the world. I had occasion to be in the hospital the other night with a patient at around 3 a.m. The nurses there were working the very same as if it was the middle of the day. They were doing their duty and they knew every patient by name. They had such an understanding of everyone's needs on the ward I was in. It is great to have that when we need it. We must look after them.  I had occasion to meet a young girl who is 18 years old and training to be a mental health nurse. She has to go to Mayo from Milltown in Kerry to further her studies. She is determined and she will do it as she wants to be a nurse. I admire her for the determination she is showing. We need these nurses and we need them seen after, and paid and remunerated properly.  I feel for the ambulance drivers who have to go out on strike. I met one of them the other evening who had actually given up. He was a young man of only 45 years of age. He could not stick it any longer. That is the gospel truth.  To go back to the nurses, I appreciate them. We adore the ground they walk on and we appreciate them so much for the effort they put in on that roster every time they appear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy M\u00e1ire Devine  Thanks, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy Healy-Rae. It is greatly appreciated. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor)  I thank all the TDs who contributed today. Nursing in Ireland is a modern and highly skilled profession built on education, research and continuous professional development. This evening we heard from across the Chamber a shared understanding and deep appreciation of the vital role that nurses play across our health service. There is also a shared commitment to ensuring they are supported. My own daughter is a nurse and I am very proud of her. As a mother and as a Minister of State in the Department of Health I understand and appreciate the importance of our nurses. In supporting our health and well-being, nurses are present at every point of care and at every stage of our lives. They bring skills, care and humanity in an absolutely brilliant way. They do so in the most complex clinical environments while also shaping new ways of working that respond to patients' needs, demographic pressures and changing models of care.  I want to acknowledge the nurses within my own remit, those working within addiction services, social inclusion healthcare and sexual health clinics, and the nurses who support Healthy Ireland in its work. I thank all the nurses for their work, often with our most vulnerable people and in some very challenging settings. They are crucial to so much of what our health services do. They are the backbone of our health services.  I reaffirm the Government's firm commitment to ensuring that Ireland has a strong, sustainable and future-focused nursing workforce. The actions we are taking are not short-term measures; they are a long-term investment in the health and well-being of our people. We do not, however, underestimate the challenges that nurses continue to face in their day-to-day work. The reality of heavy workloads, staffing pressures and the complexity of modern healthcare is well understood. Addressing these issues requires long-term planning and investment. To address these issues we are expanding the supply of nurses. Ireland now has 14.3 practising nurses per 1,000 head of population, one of the highest ratios in Europe. Over 93,000 nurses and midwives are registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland, the highest number ever recorded. This growth is the result of sustained investment, with \u20ac28.5 million allocated to fund more than 1,100 additional healthcare training places every year for the next three years. Nursing places have increased by 23% since 2020, with a further 275 places secured in Northern Ireland. We continue to work closely with the higher education sector to expand domestic training capacity across all health professions.  Increasing numbers is only part of our responsibility to our nurses. We have also introduced supports for student nurses, acknowledging the amount of training time that is spent learning in clinical environments. We recognise that they are learners and students first of all, not employees. It is important that student nurses get the full college experience, immersing themselves in knowledge, research and learning through practice. The Government has strengthened the financial support available to student nurses and midwives. There is an enhanced travel and subsistence scheme, a targeted \u20ac500 annual meal allowance and additional uniform and laundry supports. We have reinstated the final year internship pay at 80% of the first year staff nursing salary. These measures ensure that no student is left behind because of financial pressures. Everyone who wants to become a nurse and has the skills and dedication should not be held back by costs.  We have also delivered the most reforms in nursing education in decades. We have huge reforms. The new NMBI undergraduate standards reflect the reality of modern healthcare, whether it is digital enabled, integrated or community based, and this also aligns with Sl\u00e1intecare.  As mentioned by the Minister for Health earlier, the expert review body on nursing and midwifery continues to provide the blueprint for the future of this profession. Its 47 recommendations present an ambitious programme of reform to further empower nurses and midwives to deliver high-quality care across all settings. These positive impacts of the expert review body are clear. The workforce is benefiting from strengthening leadership and governance structures, from recruitment development to health regions, and from workforce planning based on evidence with a strong focus on staff health and well-being.  I also want to acknowledge that Irish nursing and midwifery has a respected and established global reputation. We know we have a huge global reputation. Our evidence-based approach to safe staffing and evidence-based practice is increasingly recognised across Europe and beyond, reinforcing Ireland's position as a global leader in nursing and midwifery reform. We are so well respected around the world and we are credited for the work that they do. I compliment all our nurses. Our evidence-based approach to safe staffing and evidence-based practice is increasingly recognised and reinforced. We are also making improvements in advanced practices. Over 1,300 nurses and midwives now work at advanced level. This represents 2.7% of the workforce. We are firmly on track to reach the target of 3% of nurses and midwives working at advanced level. We can also look forward to the findings of the national evaluation on the impact of evidence-based nursing and midwifery practices. Nurses in Ireland are central to reform, innovation and safety. Whether through new models of care, expanding scopes of practice or digital-enabled pathways, nurses are leading innovation across acute community and specialist settings. We are investing in education, supporting students, modernising training and expanding advanced practice.  The Government is aware of the challenges that nurses experience at work. Earlier, my colleagues the Minister, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, and the Minister of State, Deputy Mary Butler, referred to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation survey highlighting the high levels of burnout and stress and the exposure to growing levels of violence and aggression that nurses face. This is a concern for everyone. The survey is a timely reminder that we cannot take our healthcare staff for granted. They deserve a safe working environment and it is the Government's responsibility to support this. Nurses work every day in hospitals, community services, mental health, children's health, midwifery, disability, public health and specialist settings. They provide skilled care with compassion and grounded in professionalism. I am sure most of us can remember a time when a nurse provided reassurance and comfort to us in respect of a family member, whether at an appointment, during a hospital stay or ahead of an operation. Their role is truly invaluable and their work makes a profound difference every day.  It is important that we are mindful of and remain focused on implementation of policy change that supports a strong and sustainable workforce. This is an aim that we in Government, the Department of Health, the HSE, and representative bodies all share. Together we want to shape a health service that is resilient, modern and firmly centred on the needs of patients and communities. I want to take this opportunity on International Nurses Day to again place on record my sincere appreciation for the nurses across Ireland. Go raibh m\u00edle maith agat. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank the Minister of State. That concludes statements on International Nurses Day. I too would like to welcome those in the Public Gallery who have listened to our debate and statements. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"International Nurses Day: Statements"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/dbsect_17","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/26","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/26\/dail\/2","houseCode":"dail","stage":"2","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Electricity Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2026: Second Stage [Private Members] (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Electricity Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2026: Second Stage [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":42,"speakerCount":31},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Guirke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donna McGettigan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dessie Ellis","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Mythen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Mythen.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Mythen.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  I move: \"That the Bill be now read a Second Time.\"  In Ireland we have huge potential for a hopeful vision and we have a natural gift of 540 GW of renewable energy in offshore wind. We can achieve energy independence if we have the requisite motivation and we can return to the days when we had the lowest electricity prices in Europe, if there is State investment and development. However, we are currently paying the highest electricity prices in the EU. Recent reports from the ESRI and Eurostat show that we are paying 40% more than the European average, \u20ac480 more in average bills and we had the third-highest increase in costs, behind Austria and Romania. These figures are from 2025 and do not take into account the recent increases in the cost of pre-pay power.  Heat and power are not luxuries; they are basic necessities that should not cause households to spiral into debt. There is now a record number of households in arrears, with nearly 320,000 unable to keep up. Their debt levels are higher now and they last far longer than ever before. We in Sinn F\u00e9in are not the only ones calling this into question. The ESRI has called for an independent investigation and for the regulator to release the relevant data for independent analysis. However, the Government and the regulator have refused. One of the key drivers, according to Eurostat, is network costs. The Government has not intervened. It says we must get the balance right and keep our powder dry, there is nothing it can do and it is all the fault of the war in Ukraine or now the attacks on Iran. However, the question remains: why are we paying the highest price in Europe? Why do our bills fall more slowly here in response to falling wholesale costs when compared with other countries? This do-nothing Government is out of touch. It is sitting on its hands while people are pushed to the pin of their collar.  Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael continue to act as if workers and families are in a position to wait until the budget later on this year, but people are struggling here and now. They keep asking themselves just how bad it has to get before the Government will step in and act. Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael want people to believe that these prices are out of their control and that they are too complex and technical to fix, but we can see that Irish households are being fleeced. Ordinary workers and families are being hit with sky-high bills, as well as exorbitant rents and steadily increasing grocery prices. On top of that, mortgage payments and car insurance costs - which are still stubbornly high despite all the breaks and concessions given to that industry - and the cost of childcare are all increasing. The list goes on. After all, the Minister must know that Ireland once had the lowest electricity prices in the EU, and now we have the highest. Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael presided over this change. Not only did they do nothing to stop it, they have reinforced the system that caused it. They have chosen not to intervene. They have chosen to protect the corporate bottom line instead of intervening to protect ordinary workers and families. People are saying the same thing: enough is enough. Meanwhile, energy giants are posting enormous profits, driven by crisis, war and instability. It is not just wrong; it is indefensible. This is not inevitable. There are solutions. This can be fixed by political decisions, but just requires the will so to do.  In Sinn F\u00e9in we believe in transparency, fairness and an energy system that delivers for the public good rather than corporate profit. If companies are not profiteering or price-gouging, they should put their money where their mouth is and prove it. They should be held to account. That is why we are bringing forward legislation which is practical and contains common-sense measures to give the energy regulator more teeth to hold the companies to account. Energy credits are essential as an interim measure because we need immediate action. We are calling for the reintroduction of energy credits to give families breathing space now, while we fix the deeper structural problems that have left Ireland with some of the highest energy costs in Europe. We want to reduce prices for the long term but, to do that, we need to address the fundamental flaws at the heart of our energy markets. Our proposals here would strengthen the oversight of energy companies' pricing and hedging practices, allow the regulator to investigate and sanction anti-competitive behaviour and increase transparency by requiring companies to provide detailed pricing data and make energy affordability a central priority, not an afterthought.  For too long, energy companies have operated without meaningful scrutiny. Take the Government's approach to data centres. They consume massive amounts of electricity, drive demand and place massive strain on our grid, but who foots the bill? Ordinary workers and families. Households are paying a whopping six to eight times more in network charges than data centres and double the unit price. What did Eurostat identify as the leading factor in Ireland's extortionate energy costs? The same network charges. I will come back to the rest of it later on. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy R\u00e9ada Cronin  The rip-off legacy of this Government continues unabated. Last week, Eurostat reported what we already knew, namely, that Ireland has the highest electricity prices in the European Union. This is under the watch of Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael, sponsored by the Independents. In Ireland, we are paying nearly \u20ac500 more per year than our fellow European citizens. At the same time, many of my constituents in north Kildare face constant blackouts from a grid that is simply not fit for purpose. Ordinary workers and families are being fleeced by energy companies making eye-watering profits. What is the Government doing to address the issue? Absolutely nothing. What should we expect it to do? Its reputation as a do-nothing Government precedes it.  On the other hand, Sinn F\u00e9in has offered solutions but the Government has refused to listen. The Bill before us tonight could drastically reduce the cost of electricity bills for people now and into the future. It would empower the CRU to monitor the hedging practices of these companies and sanction anti-competitive behaviour if energy companies are profiteering from a crisis. This is something the Government could do immediately. This would provide the regulator with real teeth to enforce laws that would protect households. The regulator wants these teeth but it seems the Government would rather protect data centres than households.  This was most obvious in Castlebaggot in west Dublin last year when a data centre was given a connection priority over an ESB Networks substation that was meant to be connected to new houses. It is first come, first served, but we all know who Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael serve. That one data centre consumes enough energy to power 200,000 homes per year, yet they are not paying their fair share when it comes to electricity bills. The Government gives them a sweetheart deal while it shafts ordinary families and workers with the highest prices in Europe. These sky-high prices are not inevitable, as the Government continues to suggest. They are a political choice. The choice we have given the Minister tonight is a simple question: whose side is he on? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  Workers and families across this State are really struggling with the weight of the highest electricity prices in Europe. We have normalised these and it is not good enough. We all spoke earlier about nurses on International Nurses Day, and they are struggling too. This energy crisis is impacting everyone across the country. Parents and carers are cutting back on essentials, workers are rationing heating and households are falling deeper into poverty, simply trying to keep the lights on and keep heat in the house. Yet, at the same time, energy companies are making eye-watering profits off the back of this crisis. The latest Eurostat figures confirm that Irish households are paying electricity prices 40% above the EU average, and people are asking why. This means that Irish families are paying, on average, \u20ac480 more per household compared with households in Europe, for a basic necessity. The Government's response has been to shrug its shoulders and pretend that nothing can be done. This is head-in-the-sand syndrome. Ireland's energy rip-off is the result of political choices made by Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael to protect corporate profits instead of working people and families. Tonight, Sinn F\u00e9in is saying that enough is enough. Immediate supports like electricity credits are urgently needed to support struggling households but we recognise that temporary measures alone will not solve this crisis. Unless our energy market is fundamentally reformed and our reliance on international fossil fuel markets significantly reduced, households will continue to suffer from one global conflict to the next.  I thank my colleagues for bringing forward this legislation to give the energy regulator real powers to hold companies to account, to tackle price-gouging, to improve transparency and to prioritise affordability. If energy companies are not profiteering, they should have no problem proving it. Workers and their families are carrying an unfair burden while massive corporate energy users receive sweetheart deals.  Households are paying double the generation costs and ten times the network costs of that of data centres. How can that be justified? I have said before in this House that deciding not to end energy rip-off is a political choice. Government could choose to impose a windfall tax on the eye-watering profits of energy companies. It could choose to introduce household energy credits but it has not. Sinn F\u00e9in has always chosen to stand with workers and families and wants to end the rip-off once and for all. The same cannot be said for Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael. Something has to be done. We cannot continue pretending that Ireland having the highest energy costs in the EU is normal. It is not normal, and it is not fair. In fact, it is grossly unfair. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Guirke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Johnny Guirke  Sinn F\u00e9in has brought forward legislation that speaks directly to the electricity price hikes facing ordinary workers and families across the State. This Government continues to sit on its hands and act as a spectator while people struggle to pay their bills, pensioners sit in cold homes and young families are forced to choose between heating their homes or putting food on the table. The reality on the ground is that ordinary working people are struggling. Ireland now has the highest electricity prices in the EU. Families across the State are being hammered month after month with rip-off electricity prices. Small businesses are under serious pressure. Workers are doing everything right, yet they are falling further behind because Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael have failed to act.  People are sick and tired of excuses. They are sick and tired of hearing Ministers talk about international markets while ordinary households are pushed to breaking point. The truth is that this Government has allowed energy companies to rake in enormous profits at the expense of working people and families. Sinn F\u00e9in's legislation seeks to finally bring fairness and accountability into the energy market. It seeks to strengthen the powers of the regulator, rein in excessive electricity price hikes and ensure greater transparency from energy companies on how prices are set. It also seeks to protect consumers from being repeatedly hit with unjustified increases while energy companies continue to rake in massive profits. For too long, Fine Gael and Fianna F\u00e1il have looked after vested interests instead of protecting ordinary people. They have been reactive instead of proactive. Every single week, I meet families who are worried about the next electricity bill arriving through the door. Parents have told me that they are skipping meals to keep the lights on. Elderly people are rationing heat all year round. This is the reality of this Government's failure.  Government TDs now have a choice. They can continue to look after their friends and vested interests or they can stand with ordinary working people, young families and pensioners. I urge every TD in this House to support Sinn F\u00e9in's legislation and provide relief to those who are struggling the most. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  I want to start by congratulating Councillor Ted Tynan of the Worker's Party who retired from politics in Cork City Council last night. The reason this is relevant is that Ted fought for the working classes and communities on the north side of Cork city for years. However, the one thing he always fought against was the privatisation agenda of Fiann F\u00e1il and Fine Gael. We had many marches and protested together many times against that. The Minister might ask why that is relevant. I will tell him why. We have the highest energy costs in Europe and the Government has done nothing about it. This Government and previous Governments of Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael have done nothing. What they have done, however, is look after big business. They looked after the big energy companies and data centres but what about the ordinary working man and woman? What about pensioners? What about people with disabilities? Who looks after them? The Government is supposed to be looking after them. Why is it not looking after them? People were shocked when people took to the streets a few weeks ago with their anger. That is why they are angry. They are angry because the Government privatised energy companies, so they could make millions of euro while ordinary people struggle. Where is the justice in that?  People tell me that they cannot afford it. Then, the Minister and Government backbenchers are saying the summer is coming. I do not know whether the Minister is living in Jamaica or wherever but it is still cold in Ireland. People still need to wash clothes, cook and clean. It all costs money. It is all energy. With the summer coming, parents are asking whether they can afford summer camps, give their children a holiday or pay for childcare. That is how desperate people are. It is the Government's job to stop us having the highest energy prices in Europe, and it is not doing it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  We are very proud in Ireland of building up electrification at a time when our country had limited resources. It is a great story of our people. That led to us having the cheapest electricity in Europe. This was infrastructure and a resource that belonged to our people. Whenever the privatisation agenda was pushed by the European Union, Ireland was at the top of the queue to privatise what was publicly-owned infrastructure. That is fundamentally the reason today our workers, families and small businesses are being crippled with electricity prices. It is the failure historically of Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael to protect a precious national resource we had built up. We just handed it away, and that is the price that we pay today.  This is the other issue. I heard the Taoiseach talking about wind energy. For God\u2019s sake, does he ever talk to anybody in County Donegal? We have wind farms all across Donegal and half of them remain dormant because the electricity infrastructure is not there. There is no point talking about solar and wind energy independence and reducing our prices when we are allowing these wind farms to remain dormant and are not working or functioning because we do not have the electricity infrastructure. This is failure after failure.  Our people need to know the reason we have the most expensive electricity in Europe is the historic failures of Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael because they are working closely with industry and huge profit-makers rather than defending the public interests of their people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  I commend colleagues on bringing this forward. The reality is that the vast majority of people around the country are finding it very difficult to meet their energy costs. We all know that. We can see it in the arrears. We can see it in the difficulty people are having when it comes to the cost of living across the board. All of this basically stems from energy. That is one of the big issues we have. This country has fallen so far behind where it could have been. I remember when Eamon Ryan was in this House talking about how we were going to be the Saudi Arabia of Europe because there was going to be so much energy produced in Ireland. We do not have the infrastructure to deliver that energy to the people in Ireland never mind export it elsewhere.  What we have is a situation where the Government has totally dropped the ball with regard to energy infrastructure. Even when we look at microgeneration, a lot of people are putting solar panels on their homes now; I have put them on my home. People can get a grant. The grant was \u20ac1,800 but they cost \u20ac9,000. That is the reality for most people who are on a low incomes or even reasonably good incomes. They cannot afford to do it because the grant does not come near where it needs to be in order for people to have that possibility of being able to generate their own power. If they want to put batteries in, it is an awful lot more. We need to recognise that Government needs to step up to the mark and assist people to be able to do that and certainly people who are already paying a mortgage, a car loan and everything else. They would not be able to afford to provide the microgeneration they need to be able to because the subsidies that are in place are simply far too low and totally inadequate to be able to do it.  This particular legislation to try to get the regulator to have the teeth to be able to see why we have the highest electricity prices in Europe needs to be put in place. That is why I appeal to the Minister to ensure that he supports what we are doing here and that we all work together to try to hold the energy companies to account. It is simply wrong that Ireland is paying through the nose for the mistakes of others in the past. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Crowe  I am probably repeating it but surely it is long past the time that Government takes action to protect workers and families from spiralling energy costs. People tell me they are sick and tired of hearing that wholesale electricity costs are going down while their household bills are still eye-wateringly high. One of the main aims of this Sinn F\u00e9in legislation is to empower the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, to monitor wholesale and retail prices in the energy market and strengthen its powers to monitor anti-competitive behaviour of gas and electricity suppliers. Who would be opposed to that? The CRU must have a greater role in consumer protection and much stronger powers to address energy affordability. Otherwise, what is the point? Being told that the electricity prices are going up and going down without any power to effect change is meaningless and only leaves consumers feeling utterly abandoned.  As we speak, hundreds of households are being disconnected each month for falling into arrears on their energy bills. There are over 300,000 households now in energy arrears. That is one in six or one in seven. We all know these people.  Simply lighting and heating their homes is becoming increasing unaffordable for many families.  Irish workers and families are tired of being ripped off. The cost of electricity in Ireland, as others have said, is 40% above the EU average. How is this happening? Successive Governments have steadfastly refused to take any real action to either assist people with an energy credit or tackle the root cause of what makes electricity unaffordable. All Sinn F\u00e9in wants to do is protect energy consumers from unfair pricing, price gouging, restrictive practices and anti-competitive behaviours. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment (Deputy Darragh O'Brien)  I am speaking on behalf of the Government on the Bill. I thank Deputy Daly for tabling it.  I will speak to the legislation and explain the rationale as to why we are opposing it, which we are doing on the basis that the CRU already holds significant existing powers to monitor, report and regulate gas and electricity suppliers. Additionally, as the Deputies will be aware, a review of the comprehensive suite of legislation underpinning the work of the CRU has already been commenced by Government. This is in line with our programme for Government commitment to prioritise a review and reform of the legislation underpinning the CRU and to emphasise that low costs for households and businesses are a central tenet in the updated mandate of the CRU. A review of the legislation underpinning the commission has been completed. The next phase of the work involves an assessment of what is adequate or in need of change, including whether a stronger mandate for the CRU is required. I believe that it is, and that will come out of this process. In light of this, any changes to CRU's mandate right now would be premature. However, I acknowledge the manner in which this has been put forward.  The Government is putting in place additional measures to ensure a well-functioning energy market and to support energy affordability. Additional staffing resources have been sanctioned and have been allocated to CRU. That is to ensure that the latter can fully and effectively fulfil its remit.  The forthcoming transposition of the electricity market design directive by my Department will also provide further consumer protection measures and monitoring of energy supplier hedging practices. Intensive work is under way on the preparation of the energy affordability action plan, which we discussed last week and which will examine cost drivers in the energy sector and identify measures to enhance affordability of energy for households and for businesses.  Deputies will be aware that we have brought in targeted measures in what is an international crisis in order to support 470,000 households. Those measures included extending the fuel allowance to those on the working family payment scheme. This is a direct payment to households.  Insofar as retrofitting is concerned, 250,000 homes have been retrofitted, bringing about permanent savings for families. We are targeting a further 73,000 this year with grant offerings that we recently changed. There is a major role to be played by solar and battery storage, but we need to expand our grid. We need to improve the resilience of our grid to enable us to take more renewables into our system. That is the purpose of the capital investment plan for the period 2026 to 2030, which includes critical pieces of infrastructure, as I am sure the Deputies opposite will be aware, such as the North-South interconnector. The latter is a critical piece of infrastructure for the island of Ireland that operates under a single electric market. That needs to commence construction on both sides of the Border. That one project will drive down electricity prices for us.  Like the rest of Europe, we are unquestionably at the mercy of the vagaries of international markets. We are an island nation that imports a substantial amount of fossil fuel, but, thankfully, now we are seeing well over 40% of our electricity being generated through the use of renewables. In March, 49% of our electricity was generated through renewables. There is 8 GW of capacity of renewables within our system. Ireland is the number one country in Europe for the integration of renewables into its energy system.  Price reductions take time to pass on. There are families out there who are struggling to meet energy bills. That is why any supports we bring forward need to be targeted. That is why I have also amended the grants to bring forward a retrofitting passport to break down the grants and make them more accessible, particularly to middle-income families. We have seen 29,000 applications in quarter 1 of this year - a 189% increase on the same quarter last year. That is significant.  With the warmer homes scheme, which is 100% grant-aided for low-income families and those at risk of energy poverty, we have managed to retrofit 34,000 homes and are targeting 12,000 this year alone. These are very targeted measures, most of which are paid through the carbon tax which the proposing party opposed. It is the right of those opposite to oppose this, but they have never indicated how the gap will be filled.  What I have outlined are real measures that would protect against further price shocks and crises, but what is really within our grasp is that acceleration of the delivery of additional renewables into our system, including more onshore wind and solar. In only 11 years, we have gone from 2 MW of solar integrated into our grid to 2,553 MW being integrated into it as of last month. The acceleration of delivery is happening. There is still, however, the issue of our reliance on gas, particularly imported gas. Approximately 20% of the gas that we use comes from the Corrib field. The remainder is imported. Unquestionably, there are costs associated with that.  What drives me is ensuring that we get energy prices down for households and businesses. That is why business support grants are important, particularly to enable businesses to retrofit but also to switch to renewable forms of energy.  On offshore renewables, Deputies opposite will be aware that the five east-coast schemes still remain in planning. From my engagement with the offshore renewable electricity support scheme, ORESS, 1 developers, I can tell the House that we expect at least two of those to come through planning toward the end of this year. That will mean that we will be able to commence construction by 2030. The original plan was that they would be electrified and that 5 GW of offshore renewables would be integrated into our system by 2030. That will not happen. I have been very honest with people. What we need to see is construction of that offshore wind resource, and to scale that up. Whilst our target is 80% renewables by 2030, our projections are between 68% and 72% by the end of the decade, but we can bridge the gap.  Battery storage is critical, particularly long-duration storage. Only yesterday, Euronews highlighted a Eurostat report which shows that is in the top four countries within the European Union for long-duration battery storage within our system, and that has expanded greatly. That is important because Deputies, both in government and across the House, look at curtailment of renewable energy resources of sometimes up to 16%. The more battery storage we have within our system, the more we can deploy that energy at the appropriate time. We are seeing now approximately 1.2 GW of battery storage connected within our grid.  We are also seeing a rooftop revolution when it comes to solar panels on houses. People are accessing the grants that Deputy Kenny mentioned at an accelerated rate. Savings of approximately \u20ac1,500 per year can be obtained by households that install solar photovoltaic panels on their roofs. I would like to see more of that being done by businesses.  I appreciate that the Bill has been tabled and that Deputy Daly and colleagues went to some effort to produce it. The measures it contains are being looked at right now. It would be premature to accept the Bill at this time because the review to which I referred earlier has been concluded. The next phase is to look at the recommendations within that and to make the relevant changes, should they be needed, to the CRU, which already has a substantial mandate overseeing retail energy costs within our system.  Furthermore, as the Deputies will be aware, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, CCPC, also monitors energy prices. It has an important role in that regard. Recently, the CRU produced a report, with input from CCPC, and found that competition in the Irish electricity and gas markets is functioning effectively and is generating meaningful rivalry. The point I am making is that we have to make it easier for people to switch providers - not enough people do so - and there are major savings to be made by households and businesses that switch electricity providers. There is an issue when it comes to enabling the senior cohort of our population to access switching of energy providers in as appropriate a way as possible.  Our focus is absolutely on delivering affordability. Much more work needs to be done on that. In the budget, we reduced the VAT on electricity and gas to 9% permanently out to 2030. In July we will have the final report of the energy affordability task force, looking at things like network charges and what we can do in the round on that to drive permanent savings on household and business bills. Fundamentally, within all of this is reducing our dependence on fossil fuel. It is creating more domestic energy generation through renewable sources and the projections for that are very positive. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sorca Clarke  While energy giants protect massive profits, ordinary people are sitting at kitchen tables terrified to open another bill. Sinn F\u00e9in has repeatedly warned about profiteering, weak oversight and consumers being left completely exposed, all while 23% of our electricity goes to feed data centres in circumstances where the EU average in that regard is just 2%. The State will continue to lurch from one crisis to the next unless action is taken to reform how we approach our energy. The CRU must given expanded powers to allow it to monitor wholesale and retail pricing, investigate anti-competitiveness, oversee hedging practice and examine affordability. We need to end the wall of complexity and secrecy because consumers are expected to continually suck up price hikes.  In one of the wealthiest countries in Europe, no family should have to choose between heating their homes and feeding their children. This situation was created by years of weak regulation, market failure and political choices that prioritised energy companies over ordinary citizens. Across Ireland today, there are parents skipping meals in order that electricity meters stay running. Pensioners are sitting in the cold afraid to turn on their heaters. Workers are falling deeper into debt despite doing everything that is asked of them. The Minister said that this Bill is premature. In that context, how many people must be in energy debt before Government finally acts? We continue to have electricity prices among the highest in Europe. That is neither normal nor acceptable. Sinn F\u00e9in will never accept a system where energy companies thrive while families struggle to survive.  We need stronger consumer protection, real accountability and long-term investment in affordable public energy infrastructure. Above all, we need a Government that is willing to stand with ordinary people instead of standing back while prices spiral out of control. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Maurice Quinlivan  Irish householders pay 40% more for electricity than the EU average, which comes to \u20ac480 more per year. On average, households owe \u20ac500 to their energy suppliers. The vast majority of them simply do not have that. Over 320,000 households are in arrears on their electricity bills and 180,000 are in arrears on their gas bills. This is scandalous. Irish people, when they can, always pay their bills. These figures demonstrate the scale of the rip-off that our Irish householders face. While Irish workers and families struggle in an ongoing cost-of-living crisis, energy companies are making obscene profits.  Surely if the Government were concerned about the well-being of its citizens, it would step up and hold these energy companies to account. Instead, we get inaction and a hands-off approach, with citizens abandoned by the do-nothing Government across the Chamber from us. The Government is committed to the corporate bottom line as opposed to the well-being of its citizens. That is, unless there is general election in the offing. When that happens, course, energy credits are available. However, once the election ends, those supports conveniently disappear like snow off a ditch.  Since the onset of war in Ukraine, we have warned that the regulator requires more power to get this escalation of prices under control. However, the Government has sat on this legislation for three years. It is an outrageous situation when we consider that Irish households pay ten times the network cost of data centres. In this State, 23% of electricity goes to data centres. That compares with an average of 2% across the EU. However, one Government policy after another has supported data centres rather than Irish households.  This Bill offers an opportunity to hold these energy companies to account. It offers transparency through regulator reporting responsibilities. However, our do-nothing Government seems more than content to allow Irish householders pay more than their European counterparts. It seems determined to not rein in these companies. Irish consumers and families suffer, yet data centres and energy companies benefit from the Government inaction and a failure to hold them to account. With no election on the horizon, citizens are suffering through a cost-of-living in crisis while the Government sits back and watches. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joanna Byrne  Another week and another Private Members' Bill to try to address the real issue that is adversely affecting the Irish people, and yet another seemingly disinterested and dismissive amendment from this do-nothing Government. What is beyond laughable is that it will ignore this issue and continue to inflict the highest energy bills in Europe on the Irish people. Then, come election time, the Government will suddenly be interested and most earnest and will introduce one-off or short-term measures to reduce people's gas and electricity bills and actually help them where it counts, namely in their pockets. That is one of the ideas in its playbook. Like all of its ideas, it has been worn out. It is too little too late.  Let us get real. The energy bills the Irish people have to pay for are not fair. They are the highest in Europe. Joe and Mary Public have to pay twice the rate that multibillionaire data centre companies have to pay. Energy company profits are through the roof and yet the Government refuses to introduce a windfall tax. Profiteering and price gouging must not continue to go unchecked, and energy companies must be held to account. Just like in the aftermath of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the conflict in the Middle East has been exploited by corporate interests. Energy companies are laughing as they go off into the sunset with sky-high profits. Meanwhile, ordinary households are being fleeced. We in Sinn F\u00e9in have repeatedly warned the Government that the regulator must be given the powers to get this under control. However, Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael have sat on this legislation for over three years, demonstrating once again that their priority is always the corporate bottom line over ordinary people.  Sinn F\u00e9in's legislation would enhance the power of the energy regulator to hold energy companies to account, to tackle price gouging and to prioritise energy affordability. Until that is done, people will continue to fall into arrears in their electricity bills in the midst of this cost-of-living crisis. Half-measures will not make a difference and this has been proven. The Irish people are sick to the back teeth of being ripped off. They expect action from this Government but all they get is complacency. They expect accountability and all they get is deflection. They expect support and sadly all they are getting is shafted. That is the level of delivery to the Irish people from this Government and it is utterly shameful. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan  Since the 1920s, the ESB has been at the core of secure electricity generation across the entire State. It did that to great effect, getting power lines out to the most rural communities. The ESB, as a State-owned body, worked to deliver electricity not as commodity for profit but as a resource for the Irish public. Because it operated in the national interest as oppose to in the interests of lining the pockets of stakeholders and investors, the ESB was able to do all of that while providing affordable electricity and great working conditions for its staff. As a result of Fianna F\u00e1il's and Fine Gael's blind commitment to EU policies that are not always in the national interest, there was a push to open up our energy sector to private ventures. They tried to fool the public into believing that liberalising the market would bring more choice and reduce prices. Instead, in the early 2000s the Irish Government drove up prices for ESB customers by nearly 70%, for one reason only: to force customers to leave the ESB and to make the market more profitable for private energy companies.  Just as the private market has failed the Irish public in the supply of affordable housing, so too has it failed in the supply of affordable energy. However, the private market has ensured record prices for investors and stakeholders at the expense of the Irish public. For Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael, the interests of ordinary people have always come second to the interest of capital and profits for private companies. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donna McGettigan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donna McGettigan  This do-nothing Government has stood back and watched while fuel and energy prices have spiralled out of control. Families, workers, carers, pensioners and people with disabilities are being squeezed from every angle while this Government refuses to act. People cannot afford to wait until the next budget to find out whether they will once again be left worse off like workers were in this year's budget or forgotten about entirely like so many people with disabilities feel today.  A record number of households cannot pay their energy bills. Carers cannot afford to fill their cars to get to work to care for people. -Parents are lying awake at night wondering how they will pay the rent, buy the groceries, cover insurance, fuel their cars and keep the heating on. People with disabilities are not able to charge their vital equipment. What has this Government done about this? Very little. The Minister may pat himself on the back and point to extra fuel allowance payments, but I ask him to speak to those people receiving them and ask them if it is enough. The answer from the people I speak to is clear: it is not enough. The Minister should ask workers and families if they can afford to heat their homes, ask them if they are getting into debt to survive, ask elderly people if they are afraid to switch on the heating and ask parents if they are skipping meals so their children can eat. This is the reality of the Government's failure.  What is needed now is action. Sinn F\u00e9in has put forward solutions. The Sinn F\u00e9in mineral oil tax Bill must be enacted and the planned carbon tax increases must be scrapped. People need relief now, not more excuses or delays, and not more spin. We need the Government to stand with ordinary people. We need elderly and vulnerable people to be able to heat their homes without fear and those with disabilities to able to heat and eat as opposed to having to choose one or the other. We also need to see carers, workers and families able to afford a decent standard of living.  The Government should show it is willing to support those who are struggling. It should stop the fact that Ireland has the highest cost of energy and bring it back down to an affordable cost. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  I thank Deputy Daly and Sinn F\u00e9in for bringing forward this legislation. I am disappointed that the Government will not be supporting it. The Labour Party and I have long called for enhanced powers for the CRU. Indeed, I have my own electricity regulation Bill, which seeks to give the CRU the ability to issue specific emissions reduction or offsetting obligations on large energy users, like data centres. I hope we get the opportunity to debate that Bill on Second Stage in the House in the not-too-distant future.  I am broadly supportive of Deputy Daly\u2019s Bill. There are elements that I think could use some strengthening, which I will come to, but on the whole, it is a noble endeavour. We are discussing this in the midst of what the head of the International Energy Agency has described as the worst ever energy crisis. However, the sense of dread with which people open their energy bills long proceeds Trump and Netanyahu\u2019s illegal war in Iran. Low-income households, small businesses and pensioners are the cohorts that have been put to the pin of their collar for years now. Virtually everyone is being touched in some way by this fossil fuel crisis. While the Government has produced a \u20ac750 million package, however necessary it was, it was designed to placate sectoral interests. It has done next to nothing for ordinary PAYE workers, certainly not those who take public transport, cycle or walk every day. The Government has resisted every effort from the Labour Party, including the costed mini-budget that we proposed last week, to give workers a dig-out during this perpetual cost-of-living crisis.  This Bill seeks to amend the 1999 Act in several important ways, which have already been outlined by Deputy Daly and others. The governance and mechanisms of the energy markets are convoluted and complex, to say the least. We cannot expect the average consumer to know the ins and outs. That is hard enough for those of us in here, whose job it is to understand it. In that respect, greater transparency in energy pricing is necessary and good. Stronger consumer protection is necessary. Better scrutiny of suppliers is necessary. Affordability must be recognised as a core public policy objective, not just an afterthought.  The provisions in this Bill would set us in the right direction. I suggest that we could perhaps go even further. I am on record on a number of occasions as not just calling for greater regulation in the energy markets but also for greater intervention and a crackdown on some of the profiteering we have seen on the part of the energy companies. The Irish energy system is dominated by a relatively small number of large actors. The liberalisation of our energy markets in the early 2010s was supposed to bring about lower prices through greater competition. That clearly has not happened. Instead, we have repeatedly seen cartel-like behaviour from the companies operating here. When international energy prices rise, bills fly up immediately. When wholesale prices fall, however, consumers wait months or even longer to see any meaningful reduction in the prices they pay.  This fundamentally undermines public trust in the energy markets. People know they are being ripped off. This Bill proposes enhanced monitoring of wholesale and retail prices, including average supplier margins and changes in prices paid by domestic and business consumers. That is a welcome proposal. Transparency matters. The public deserves to know not just what prices are being charged, but why they are paying them. There has virtually always been insufficient visibility with regard to supplier margins and the relationship between wholesale costs and retail prices. Consumers have basically been asked to accept on trust that price increases are unavoidable and proportionate. That is not good enough, particularly in the current context of market volatility.  If a supplier claims that international gas prices necessitate major increases, then the CRU should have the capacity - indeed, the obligation - to rigorously scrutinise that claim. We know there is an active investigation being carried out at present by the CRU into price gouging and the failure of energy suppliers to pass on wholesale price reductions to consumers. The wholesale cost is down 72% from its peak in August 2022, but the prices being paid by consumers remain stubbornly high. It has been more than five months since that investigation was commissioned by the Minister, and we are still to get any update from the CRU on the progress of that investigation. That says to me there is something seriously lacking in terms of the CRU\u2019s capacity to investigate matters such as these. Crucially, we must also see statutory powers for intervention where unjustified pricing practices are identified. Transparency cannot become a substitute for action or accountability. lf that investigation eventually finds that there has been price gouging, what then? It cannot just be another report to add to the pile, and let that be the end of the matter.  The Bill also addresses hedging. This is one of those technical issues that is probably quite remote from the concerns of ordinary consumers, but it is really important because different hedging strategies directly affect the prices people pay. In theory, hedging allows suppliers to protect themselves and, potentially, consumers from market volatility by purchasing in advance at agreed prices. Done responsibly, it can provide stability and predictability. However, we have seen the lack of transparency in this process create legitimate public concern. Consumers have repeatedly been told during periods of falling wholesale prices that suppliers remain tied into earlier purchasing arrangements and, therefore, cannot yet reduce bills. However, as we know from very recent examples, energy and fuel suppliers are very quick to hike their prices during periods of wholesale price increases, despite having purchased their supply weeks or months prior. Consumers cannot hedge their bills or protect themselves against sudden price spikes. Therefore, stronger oversight of hedging practices, including investigative practices and powers for the CRU, would be very welcome. We need to ensure that what people are paying reflects what it costs the supplier.  The provisions in the Bill regarding anti-competitive behaviour are welcome. This goes back to my earlier point about the state of competition between actors in the Irish energy market, which is highly concentrated. Consumers do not experience this market as competitive in the everyday sense of the word. Most providers offer more or less the same high prices with minimal variation, and all too often, a price hike by one precipitates a price hike by the rest. We saw this last year, when more or less all of the energy companies raised their prices well above the rate of inflation.  Barriers to switching between providers have increasingly become an issue, particularly for more vulnerable households, like older people, people with disabilities and those with limited digital literacy or access. That reality needs to be recognised. It is not enough to tell people that the burden is on them to switch. We need to have real competition in the market. If a market is technically competitive but practically inaccessible, then many consumers remain unprotected.  Energy should not be viewed simply as a commodity. It is an essential public good. Electricity is not a luxury. Heating is not optional. When people cannot heat their homes, we see the consequences, be it in public health, child poverty, educational outcomes or mental well-being. I have dealt with people in my constituency who have gotten sick because they have not been able to heat their homes, and people who have skipped meals in order to pay their bills. These are not exceptional cases. They are the far too common reality of so many people in this country at present.  I welcome the consumer protection elements that are included in this Bill, and welcome that the interests of the consumer and protection against unfair pricing would be central considerations, but we also need to clarify what that looks like in practice. Does it mean clearer information on bills? I certainly hope so. Does it mean stronger enforcement powers? Absolutely. However, it surely must also mean preventing energy poverty before it actually occurs. Fundamentally, that means wider structural reforms in our energy system. As I have said on numerous occasions, the only way we can genuinely protect consumers from future fossil fuel crises is by reducing our dependence on those fossil fuels in the first place.  I will continue to bang the drum on this for as long as I need to because the Government has been moving at a snail\u2019s pace. We need to see a much greater level of ambition in our home retrofitting programmes. We need to see low and middle-income households targeted in particular. We need to rapidly scale up public investment in offshore wind, solar, plug-in solar and battery storage. We need to accelerate grid modernisation while ensuring that the large energy users, like data centres, pay their fair share. At present, the bulk of the funding for grid improvements comes from ordinary households and small business consumers through their energy bills. Meanwhile, data centres are getting a discount. Working people are being asked to bear disproportionate costs in order that large corporations can continue to make massive profits. In order to make the energy transition a reality, we need to improve and modernise the national grid, but we cannot make this a choice between climate action and affordability. The two can and must be pursued together.  One of the great failures of recent years has been the inability of successive Governments to communicate that renewable energy, energy efficiency and public investment can reduce household costs. Instead, many now associate climate action with an additional expense because the big polluters and the large energy users have not been paying their fair share and properly contributing towards a just energy transition.  lf our transition towards a cleaner economy and society is perceived as something imposed on ordinary workers while wealthier actors remain insulated, public support will fracture. Perhaps that is already happening. Affordability must be central to our energy policy and our energy transition. A functioning energy system must be measured in terms of whether people can actually afford to heat and power their homes. In a country as wealthy as ours on paper, it is just unacceptable that for so many that isn\u2019t the case.  We in Labour acknowledge that our energy challenges do not exist in isolation. The volatility experienced in recent years obviously reflects broader geopolitical instability, but external factors cannot excuse the local inertia we have seen from the Government. Countries with stronger public infrastructure, greater energy independence and more developed renewable generation capacity have been able to weather this storm far more effectively. Look at Spain. Following the fuel crisis that arose as a result of Putin\u2019s illegal war on Ukraine, they turbo-charged their solar energy capacity and have been largely protected against this current crisis. They are paying some of the lowest prices in Europe now. While Spain took that fossil fuel crisis as a wake up call, our Government hit the snooze button. We remain overly dependent on imported fossil fuels. We remain vulnerable to international price shocks. Despite our enormous potential in offshore wind generation, we still have not added a single additional turbine in more than 20 years, and the Minister has told us again tonight that we will not see anything in construction until 2030 at the earliest. The only urgency that we have seen from the Government with regards to our energy system is in its attempt to import even more fossil fuels via a new liquefied natural gas, LNG, terminal. I sincerely hope that this Government takes the right lessons from this crisis, the ones that it did not take from the crisis in 2022.  I will conclude by again commending Deputy Daly on his Bill. It poses an important question to the Government about what kind of energy system we want in Ireland - one in which energy is treated as a commodity subject entirely to commercial logic, or one in which it is treated as a public utility and social good. My Labour Party colleagues and I certainly favour the latter and we will be supporting this Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  I thank Sinn F\u00e9in for introducing this Bill. The Social Democrats will be supporting it. Transparency in our energy pricing sector is long overdue. This Bill ensures that. It also strengthens the mandate of the CRU to actively intervene in the energy market in the name of the public interest. It places energy affordability at the heart of energy regulation. This is all very welcome. For too long, Irish households have been asked to accept price increases and to trust that those increases are justified and fair without concrete evidence that this is true. This debate goes to the heart of that problem. It is about transparency and restoring public trust in our energy sector by enhancing the CRU's reporting obligations and requiring regular published data on retail prices, supplier margins and price changes. That is an important and necessary change.  Last month, I raised the CRU's price gouging investigation with the Minister of State, Deputy Dooley. I asked him for an update on the CRU price gouging investigation that the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, had called for at the end of 2025. Yesterday, the CRU finally published its interim review. When I spoke to the Minister of State in mid-April, he had no update on what the CRU had actually done or where the CRU was at with its investigation. I find it surprising that the Minister of State did not know that the publication was just weeks away. There is a clear disconnect between the Government and the regulator. This is a concerning thing.  The CRU's interim review concludes that it has found no evidence of excess profitability or price gouging by suppliers. For me, that raises more questions than it answers. The CRU will appear before the climate committee tomorrow to go through the review. This is only an interim review and it is not the full investigation. The CRU states that more detailed analysis is to come. In this interim review, the CRU does not dispute that wholesale prices have fallen dramatically since 2022, that the International Energy Agency, IEA, states that those reductions were not passed on to households and that the Eurostat data states that Ireland has the highest household electricity prices in the EU. This is all still true. Yet, according to the CRU, there is nothing to see here. The market is functioning as it should. There is nothing to worry about. I just do not understand how that makes any sense.  The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, said earlier on that he believed there needed to be a strengthening of the mandate of the CRU. I would question exactly why he believes that the mandate should be strengthened. If the mandate of the CRU needs to be strengthened, that would imply that any investigations into things like price gouging are potentially not up to scratch or the CRU does not have enough teeth or remit to deal with them. I would be interested to hear from the Minister on exactly what additional powers he would like the CRU to have.  People all over this country are being crushed by incredibly high electricity prices that are just going up and up. Over 317,000 households are now in arrears. These are people who work hard, who do all the right things, who get up every morning and go to work, but they simply cannot keep their heads above water. All the while, wholesale electricity prices are 72% lower than they were at their peak in August 2022, yet retail prices continue to rise. If that is a well-functioning market, it is a market that is failing consumers.  For many people across the country, this energy crisis is getting worse by the day. Hundreds of thousands of people are in arrears on their electricity bills. Families are being forced to make impossible choices every day between paying their bills and covering basic daily essentials. The cost-of-living increases from 2025 alone have led to an average Irish home paying \u20ac480 more per year than households in neighbouring countries. When the Government is challenged on that point, it points to the national energy affordability task force that was established last year. It keeps on saying that solutions will come later in the year, but people are struggling now. They need help now and they have needed help for months. That answer is completely unacceptable.  This task force, even with the fact that it will only be reporting fully at the end of the year, has only met on three occasions between its establishment in June 2025 and February 2026. Three meetings while electricity prices climbed and climbed and more families fell into debt. That response is not reflective of the scale of this crisis. It appears to me that the Government is not taking this seriously at all. Irish households have been struggling with skyrocketing energy costs for years. It did not begin in February with the USA and Israeli war on Iran. It has been going on for years.  Last week, we learned in the Irish  Independent that Irish households were now \u20ac2,000 a year worse off due to rising energy, grocery and health insurance costs combined. Energy is not an isolated expense, but part of the wider cost-of-living crisis that is squeezing people to breaking point. When the Minister of State and this Government tell people to wait, that relief is coming and that assistance is on the way, he can understand why people do not believe them and why their trust in this Government is eroding. EU state aid rules have been relaxed in the context of the current energy and oil crisis. Targeted price interventions have been permitted by the Commission. The Government has options, options that make this inaction inexcusable.  In the face of this cost-of-living crisis, the Social Democrats have proposed a targeted \u20ac400 energy credit for households with low-to-middle incomes. That is a practical and deliverable measure. It would offer direct relief to those most under pressure. However, short-term financial support is simply not enough. We also need structural change. We need to accelerate our transition to green energy and start future-proofing homes against future price shocks. The Social Democrats have a plan for that as well. Our solar for all proposal is a five-point plan that would expand and improve access to solar nationwide. It includes doubling the existing solar grant, reinstating the grant for battery storage, including free solar panels as part of the warmer homes scheme and increasing grants for businesses to install solar. Crucially, our plan also addresses the need to roll out new technology like plug-in solar. These are practical proposals that would cut bills, reduce emissions and insulate households from future shocks.  Energy security is about more than just affordability. Energy security is national resilience. Transparency needs to lie at the heart of everything we do. Without it, public trust will be lost, if it is not already. Irish people are being asked to pay the highest electricity prices in Europe while being told everything is working as it should, that prices are fair and everything is fine. This simply does not add up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  I welcome this Bill. I support it and thank Sinn F\u00e9in for introducing it. The Bill gives the Commission for Regulation of Utilities the power to monitor wholesale and retail prices in the energy market; to increase the frequency and level of reporting; to monitor and regulate hedging practices; to strengthen its powers to monitor anti-competitive behaviour of gas and electricity suppliers; to give an expanded role in consumer protection; and to strengthen its powers to address energy affordability.  The Bill is definitely going in the right direction but we must go further and more must be done. The Bill raises the whole issue of Ireland's soaring energy costs, which are the highest in Europe. Households in Ireland are now paying \u20ac480 more in electricity that in other countries, with overall energy costs costing households an additional \u20ac2,000 a year each. Families are being fleeced and energy companies are taking advantage of the illegal US war on Iran to make families pay through the nose while making huge, unearned war profits.  Statistics on profits are horrendous. The oil companies are making $30 million per hour in unearned war profits. In March alone, these companies made an extra $23 billion in unearned war profits. It means they will have an additional $234 billion in unearned war profits in 2026. These profits are coming straight out of the pockets of the public who are paying higher prices. These are windfall, unearned war profits. They must be subject to a significant windfall tax. That tax can be used to offset the huge cost to ordinary workers and families.  This whole area is flooding into the most horrendous cost-of-living crisis we have ever seen. The Government's withdrawal of energy credits in the 2026 budget and its refusal now to reintroduce energy credits means that record numbers of households are in arrears. In fact, approximately 500,000 families are in arrears on their gas and electricity bills. Some 317,000 families were in arrears on their electricity bills in February. This is an increase of 58,500 compared to the same month last year, a rise of 23%. Furthermore, 191,000 families are in arrears for over 90 days, up 36,000 or an increase of 23% on the same time last year. The level of debt has also reached new heights. The average amount now owed by families is \u20ac492.72, an increase of \u20ac64.94 on last year. Families now owe electricity suppliers \u20ac156 million. On gas, 179,500 families are in arrears on gas bills, up 8,000 on the same period last year. In fact, a quarter of all gas customers are in arrears. It is now a question of heat or eat for these families. Many families are at or beyond breaking point. The level of disconnections indicates that is the case, as they are up 64% on the same time last year. That is an outrage, and it outrageous that the Government refuses to introduce energy credits in this situation.  Do not tell us that these credits are unsustainable or that the Government does not have the money or needs to be prudent. We know - and if the Minister of State read the Sunday Business Post on 3 May, he would know - that the Government has \u20ac39 billion in State cash reserves held by the National Treasury Management Agency. They are liquid assets. Two weeks ago, the Government announced an increased budget surplus for 2026, up from \u20ac5 billion to \u20ac9.2 billion. There was a budget surplus in 2023 and 2024 of \u20ac30.9 billion and there are rainy day funds, the Future Ireland Fund and infrastructure funds of another \u20ac20 billion. The truth is that the Government is awash with money. Before the 2024 general election, the Government found \u20ac2.2 billion for a package straight from the back of a couch to help it win and buy that election. It is time to now reintroduce credits. Families are at breaking point. They are at the pin of their collar and they need energy credits now of at least \u20ac500 each. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  I thank Sinn F\u00e9in for introducing this Bill on electricity regulation. People Before Profit is happy to support this, which is a serious attempt to address the issue of the energy price hikes and the energy poverty that has resulted from those as well as the price gouging and profiteering of energy companies. The idea that there would be a body in legislation that would monitor price gouging and price levels is an admirable one and we are happy support it and see it go to the next Stage.  I have to be honest, though, and say that we need to go a lot further than this. There is immediate stuff, which I am sure Sinn F\u00e9in would agree with and that others have articulated, about energy credits and the cuts that were imposed in the budget this year, but this Bill is obviously an attempt to deal more structurally with the whole issue of price hikes, profiteering and price gouging. It would be good to monitor pricing, and we need to monitor it, and this Bill has provisions on protection against unfair pricing and so on, but it is still predicated on a privatised and deregulated market. I believe the problem is the privatised, deregulated market. If we look at electricity, what has happened is absolutely clear. I said this to Professor John FitzGerald today in our committee and, surprisingly, he agreed with me. I will be careful to say he agreed with me \"to some degree\". I find it grimly amusing to go back to 2011 when Eamon Ryan fully and finally deregulated the Irish electricity market and read what he said. He said that competition was going to be good for the consumer, that we were going to have competition in the market and that prices were going to go down. He said the consumer was going to benefit.  This process had started under Fianna F\u00e1il. I think Mary O'Rourke was the Minister back in 2001, and then Noel Dempsey. The Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Act 2001 removed the not-for-profit mandate of the ESB. Eamon Ryan finally removed all regulations on price in 2011. It was all based on private competition and how deregulating the market would benefit the consumer because competition leads to prices going down. However, the exact opposite happened. All the market claptrap and dogma did not lead to prices going down and did not benefit the consumer. The prices went up almost immediately. Profits for the ESB and all the other energy players went through the roof and have consistently continued to go through the roof since then, as have prices for ordinary householders. We went from being under a regulated market that was not for profit, where the ESB controlled the market and we had the lowest electricity prices in Europe, to being deregulated, privatised and with the highest electricity prices in Europe.  That is what happened. It is obvious when you look at the profits being made that that is the problem. We need to take that sector back into public control, not because it is a good idea coming from the lefties but because it worked. We had it before and it worked, and we should not have fixed what was not broken. We had good electricity prices. The ESB was a fantastic company. Then, a market dogma and claptrap were introduced and we have paid a bitter price for it. Half a million ordinary people, as a result, are in arrears on electricity and gas. That is where it ends, with super profits for the energy companies. Let us go back to what we used to have, which was a company that had a not-for-profit mandate and where there was not massive profiteering.  I also believe we just need to introduce energy price controls. We have them. We do not even need new legislation for this. Fianna F\u00e1il, for all the criticism I have of it, brought in legislation, the Consumer Protection Act, which actually empowers the Government to impose price controls when there is an emergency. Why on earth did Fianna F\u00e1il bring it in? It did so presumably because it thought we might need it some time, but it has never used it and it refuses to use it, even though this is the definition of an emergency in terms of the cost of energy. There is a war going on and prices have gone through the roof and people cannot people pay their bills because of it, and there are the price hikes that have made energy unaffordable. Why on earth do we have something on the Statute Book that was designed for exactly that situation but we refuse to use it? We should impose the price controls that that consumer protection legislation empowers the Government to use. The Government will not do it because it seems to think it is okay that people are profiteering off the cost-of-living misery that ordinary people are suffering, or maybe it is a commitment to market dogma, or both, but it has failed us. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  As others have said, people are fed up, exhausted and worn down by the current energy crisis. Some of those already challenged to make ends meet - those with disabilities, for example, or those on very low incomes - are now living hand to mouth and cutting back on food just to keep a bit of heat and light, and that is before the darker winter months crawl back in again. We have also found out that small businesses are hanging on. I have spoken to quite a few in my constituency. We see that prices always shoot up in an incident, but when wholesale prices drop or a Government initiative provides a belated relief, we do not see the same movement downwards. It is all about the hedging and the margins, but a lot of it is basically \"Wizard of Oz\" stuff and no one can see what is going on behind the curtain.  That is why I welcome the Electricity Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2026. In the same theme as \"The Wizard of Oz\", it is not a magic wand to reduce prices but it might just lead to fairer pricing and help people make better decisions because of the suggestions like the monthly publication of the supplier margins, the oversight of the hedging, the quarterly reports showing how quickly the retail prices are tracking the wholesale costs and giving more and stronger powers to the CRU to investigate any kind of anti-competitive behaviour.  To be clear, there are real reasons prices stay up. Ireland's wholesale prices are still higher in general. Network and grid charges are higher, and that is before we put the investment into upgrading the grid so we can actually be supplied wholly by homegrown energy and be a net exporter. That is a long way down the road but we should be starting now. Hedging, to an extent, does delay price reductions, and our dependence on oil and gas for electricity and for other forms of energy makes us very vulnerable.  The Bill is restricted in what it can do. The CRU cannot override EU law. The Government might say EU law is already in place so we do not need this, but it cannot get better than EU law and it cannot set direct pricing either, and it does not tackle the root cause of our dependence on imported fossil fuels. To be clear, however, it is an improvement on what is there already. Every piece of relevant information can only push the system a little closer to fairness for people. Let us remember that we are paying among the highest, if not the highest, electricity prices in Europe, but we are probably the ones that get the lowest amount of information as to why. A little bit of transparency would not go amiss, and I cannot see why this Bill would be opposed by the Government. Even if there are measures that its advice says cannot be implemented, the Bill can be amended and made better. In that context, more transparency is a good idea. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  In recent years, energy suppliers operating in Ireland recorded profits running into hundreds of millions of euro, even as households struggled with some of the highest electricity prices in Europe. That reality is why stronger transparency, oversight and consumer protection are not only justified, but necessary. This pressure has been felt most sharply in rural Ireland. When people in rural areas do not have access to cash, they have no alternative. They rely on electricity, oil and solid fuel, often in older homes that are expensive to heat. When prices go up, they have nowhere to turn and fuel poverty sets in quickly. I saw that clearly myself time and again while canvassing in Galway last weekend. On doorsteps in rural areas, people raised energy costs as one of their main concerns: pensioners, working families and small business owners all said the same thing. They feel squeezed, they feel forgotten and they are worried about how they will manage the next winter.  While people are struggling like that, profits are being made. The ESB recorded profits of \u20ac868 million in 2023 and \u20ac706 million in 2024. Bord G\u00e1is Energy made \u20ac72.5 million in profit in 2025. SSE's Irish operations reported profits of over \u20ac50 million. These are huge figures when set against the reality being faced by households across the country. We also know what actually provided relief before the last election: energy credits were issued. I did say \"before the last election\". I heard again on the doors of Galway how important these credits were to people, who remember them because they made a real a difference. They reduced fear and bought people breathing space. Energy prices remain high. Fuel poverty has not disappeared. That is why I make a direct appeal to the Minister of State: those energy credits need to be reintroduced, not as a political gesture, but as a necessary support for our households, particularly in rural Ireland.  This Bill is a step in the right direction. It pushes transparency and accountability, but legislation alone will not keep homes warm. People need practical help and they need it now. Energy is an essential service. No one should be forced to choose between heating and eating. That is why stronger regulations, real affordability measures and the return of energy credits are not optional but essential.  We are, unfortunately, not energy independent. We should be. We are laggards. That is what the powers in Europe think Ireland is: laggards in relation to renewables. People out there are trying to put solar on their houses and on the roofs of their sheds. The pittance grants they are getting are shocking compared with those in other countries in Europe and in the UK. They are getting treble in Scotland what we get in Ireland. We are not moving in any direction. All the Government wants to do is tax the people as hard as it can - carbon, the National Oil Reserves Agency, NORA, levy, VAT, the whole lot down the hard-working man and woman's back. The people know it and they are angered out there about this because the Government has neglected the good hard-working people of this country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  I thank my colleagues in Sinn F\u00e9in for introducing this Bill. It is a very good Bill and works quite well. I was kind of shocked when I was reading it because I wondered should this not have been done a long time ago by previous Governments. I welcome it in that sense.  The clich\u00e9 every Member in this House is using is the phrase \"heating or eating\", but that is the truth. That is what is happening in Cork, Dublin, Donegal, Galway, Kilkenny - anywhere in the country. People are choosing between heating and eating. Recently, I visited a gentleman's house where they had one bar on the fire and were wrapped in blankets. He is afraid to turn on the heating in his house. In my constituency, there are many families leaving their kids in bed late on the Saturday and on the Sunday to ensure that they do not have to turn on the heating in the house because that is how difficult it is for them.  I know the Minister of State is scrolling through his phone. I am sure he is very busy there, but the other thing is that----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  I am listening to the Deputy. I am not just----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  Well, I would like the Minister of State to listen to me and pay attention, if that is okay. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  I am sorry, but Chair? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  I am only asking for a small bit of respect----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  I have heard everything the Deputy has said. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  -----and for the Minister of State to have a small bit of respect for the Leas-Cheann Comhairle as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  I have heard everything the Deputy has said and I will reply to him. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  I thank the Minister of State. He will reply----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  I will. Do not worry. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  -----and he will have his opportunity to do so. Fine.  The reality is that there are people in this country who have never been worse off. The Government goes out and says every day of the week that it is doing fantastic and asks people to give it a clap on the back because it has this deficit and that deficit.  You cannot eat a deficit. There are people now choosing between turning on their heating and eating and the Government is not listening to them. More than 300,000 people in this country are in arrears with their ESB and gas bills. There is something wrong with that. There is something fundamentally wrong when people are in significant arrears in a First World country. The Government does not seem to be listening and does not seem to understand. I do not know if Government Members are knocking on the same doors as we are in Galway and Dublin but, at the doors we are knocking on, people are telling us straight out that they cannot take any more, that they are sick to death of it, that this is the final cut and that they cannot keep on going. I appeal to the Minister of State and to his Government. My colleague has just spoken about the renewable energy schemes that are available, which the Government continuously says are fantastic and marvellous. The truth is that you would want a ball of money under the bed to avail of these schemes. Some of these measures cost \u20ac16,000 but you only get \u20ac2,000 back. It is ridiculous. It does not make sense. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  I will be supporting this Bill. No one has mentioned the elephant in the room. This Government signed off on allowing networks to charge up to \u20ac120 per megawatt hour. It costs \u20ac50 per megawatt hour to produce electricity but the networks are allowed to charge up to \u20ac120. People in some areas have gas and alternatives. They can swap between different groups to get cheaper rates. In rural areas, we are lucky to have ESB at times. People in rural areas only have one choice. If something is not broken, they will not fix it. They will not swap between different networks because they do not have the opportunity to do so. The Government brought out so-called targeted funding but it is taking it back through VAT increases. It is giving with one hand and taking back with the other.  The Government then came out with a solar panel scheme. I am all for solar panels but the Government brought out a grant that only allows you to put up to 6 kW of solar panels on your roof. Even if a roof could take up to 20 kW, the Government says people can only put up 6 kW. Why is that? It is because the infrastructure is not there to take the power fluctuations. The Government does not want you to be able to power your own house for free and send back electricity to the grid because the infrastructure is not there. The Government limited the number of solar panels and the amount of grants that would allow people to get cheaper electricity.  Some people wait for the bills to come in at the end of the month and do not know what price different things are going to come in at. They take every chance they can to turn off lights or heating to save as much as they can, even if it means doing without. Everything the Government has done has only benefited the electricity suppliers. They are making profits off these exponential increases.  Along with Eamon Ryan and the Green Party, the current Government parties were part of the Government that stopped the designated maritime area plans, DMAPs, that would have allowed us to generate offshore wind power in Ireland coming out because they wanted it to go on the east coast. They would not allow it for the likes of Foynes and other areas on the west coast, where the highest wind speeds are. For five years, they held back the DMAPs to stop us developing offshore generation and are now talking about being environmentally friendly. We could have produced power offshore. We would have needed no wind turbines inland, where they have health implications. That is what they did. They held this up for six years and are now part of another Government, which is giving the people a pittance back and telling them they are looking after them. They are giving them nothing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  First, I thank Sinn F\u00e9in for bringing forward this very important Bill. As I have said in the Chamber several times, it is a fact that the cost of electricity has gone up every day since we closed down Bord na M\u00f3na. Reflecting on it now, that should not have happened but Eamon Ryan and the Greens were in a hurry. It should not have been closed down until we had at least made some preparations or had enough wind power or energy from other sources to replace it, although I fervently believe there was nothing wrong with generating electricity from turf or with cutting turf. I have turf cut and ready to save myself. It is very important to have your own fuel. People were wrongly advised that they should not cut turf. Many people are now afraid to cut it. They think they are breaking the law but they actually are not. They can provide turf for themselves. That is legal. I hope that will never change.  The worst thing that is going on with the energy companies now is that there are so many of them and they are making fortunes on the backs of poor people. Even working-class people and small businesses are suffering. I cannot understand what is going on. Some companies are putting up their prices by a given percentage while others are putting them up by even more. One company has even brought its prices down. It seems there is no regulation whatsoever. The regulator is asleep, not there or not acting for some reason or other. It is not good enough. I call on the Minister of State, the Taoiseach and the senior Minister for energy to bring these electric companies before the relevant Oireachtas committee, whether that is the committee on energy, the committee on finance or some other committee. The ordinary people on the ground whom we represent are the people we are answerable to.  The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, spoke about the amount that is being put into retrofitting but there are many people who are not benefiting at all. You need a lot of money to meet the qualifying conditions for the grant. On the warmer homes scheme, I was talking to someone last week and many people are being excluded because they do not qualify. They are not told for a year and half although they are waiting for it. That is not on at all. That should be rectified. Like everyone else, I am afraid that many people will be in the dark and cold this winter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Carol Nolan  T\u00e1 \u00e1thas orm labhairt ar an mBille seo inniu. The ESB, Ireland's own exaggerated prices, surpluses and bonuses board, has been charging households and businesses some of the highest energy prices in Europe while boasting about profits and posting record profits. It is obscene and extremely unfair on households and businesses that are struggling to survive and yet it goes on and on. That is partly why I am broadly in support of this Private Members' Bill, which offers a focused and practical measure that finally gives the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities the statutory tools it has long lacked, including monthly price and margin transparency, proper oversight of hedging practices, stronger powers to address anticompetitive behaviour and an explicit legal duty to protect consumers from unfair pricing. However, two critical deficits remain within the Bill. Unless they are rectified, the Bill risks becoming yet another well-meaning statute that delivers little on the ground or in reality.  The first deficit is that, as far as I can see, the Bill contains no automatic consumer relief mechanisms. Monitoring margins is useful but, when suppliers' profits surge, the CRU still cannot impose or mandate automatic rebates. The second deficit is that the legislation hands the CRU and the Minister broad discretionary powers but does not guarantee resourcing. We have seen this before. We only have to look at the unfair trading practices legislation and the Agri-Food Regulator. Both were launched as new oversight mechanisms to protect farmers and small suppliers but, because the underpinning legislation and the powers granted were not sufficiently robust, they have failed to deliver real and meaningful change.  New institutions without real teeth simply become expensive talking shops and we have had more than enough of those. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  I welcome the opportunity to speak on this. People across Ireland are exhausted. They are exhausted by constant worry about bills. I welcome engagement with the Department, but it is not happening fast enough. I submitted a parliamentary question on the October 2024 consultation on EU Directive (EU) 2024\/1711. There were five submissions from the ESB, Electric Ireland, Bord G\u00e1is \u00c9ireann, Energia and the Electricity Association of Ireland regarding plug-in solar. Can what they said about plug-in solar be made available to the House so we, as legislators, can have a debate on plug-in solar? It is important that the people of Ireland understand what was said to the Department and why we have not acted on this. The UK and German governments are doing it. We have seen there is war and instability in global energy markets. I am blue in the face. We cannot just keep relying on temporary financial supports. We need to continue examining more reductions for home heating oil. However, subsidies alone are not good enough for a long-term energy strategy. The only long-term solution is reducing the cost of energy and moving from being a petrostate to an electrostate. That means accelerating renewable roll-out. Members have already spoken about battery storage and long-duration energy storage and whatever means, grid upgrades and local energy infrastructure. We already know the current system is under pressure. That is why the investment the Government gave for ESB, and the grid infrastructure announced under the programme for Government, were welcome, but we need delivery and we need it quickly. That is one more reason for plug-in solar - it would be done quickly. It makes no sense to ordinary people struggling with bills why we have not acted on this. We should be examining practical ideas that could directly help households.  Renters and social tenants I represent constantly contact my office. I recognise we have different wiring standards and safety requirements than other countries. That should not stop us from examining a safe framework that could be developed. We should not be afraid of innovation in this sense, and I welcome the engagement I have had on this with the Department. I understand it is examining multiple things but the goal with regard to private wires should not be to replace the national grid or create an uncontrolled private system. The goal should be reducing pressure on constrained parts of the grid. So many studies out there show that accelerating these renewable connections, reducing curtailment and decentralising our grid will allow energy to be used more efficiently where the bottlenecks already exist. I have heard multiple people mention it in the Chamber today. When we bring in the private wires Bill I would love to see them support it and engage with it to make sure it is done for the betterment of the Irish people. If we are to bring in a private wires Bill that will be used by large-scale energy, there should be a proportionate community benefit fund that is directly linked to the savings associated with that private wires Bill. Anything we do in this House should benefit the Irish people. That is what the public needs and that is one of the solutions. We need delivery and we need to lower bills. I believe the Critical Infrastructure Bill in conjunction with the private wires Bill will help. This means acting faster on these so Ireland becomes more resilient and secure. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mattie McGrath  I am delighted to speak on this Bill. It is timely, and I support it. The Electricity Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2026 cannot be viewed in isolation. If we are serious about reducing electricity costs, we must address the core structural issues that continue to drive prices upwards. Only by tackling these areas together can we deliver lasting reductions in electricity costs for households and businesses across the country and reduce Ireland's dependency on imported energy. Almost 50% of the average electricity bill is driven by energy costs. Natural gas generates roughly half of Ireland's electricity and approximately 70% of the gas is imported, meaning Irish consumers are tied to the global price swings. We must have different options. This dependence on gas has had a direct and severe impact on our electricity prices. Gas prices today remain more than three times higher than before the Russian invasion of Ukraine. These elevated prices have fed straight into higher electricity costs for households.  In 2022 the then rural Independents, including Deputy Danny Healy-Rae, Deputy Nolan, other colleagues and I, introduced a Private Members' motion calling on the Government to allow oil and gas exploration off the Irish coast at Barryroe with the aim of strengthening Ireland's energy security and reducing reliance on volatile international oil. The Government of the day, at Eamon Ryan's behest, with Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael, voted against the motion. The then Minister, Eamon Ryan, wanted to fill the pipe with Readymix concrete to block the pipe to make sure it could never be used. Concrete is scarce enough and dear enough. I do not know if it ever happened. I hope it did not. I called it national sabotage. If it did happen, it would be an act of vandalism and national sabotage. Now here we are. We had people here at that time and you were afraid to be seen talking to them. It was an international company that was going to bring in the oil at its own risk, produce it here and have it for us. It was taboo. We could not be seen talking to them. We had to have records of our meetings and everything else because we had to be too PC. That is what is wrong here. We have allowed big business to dictate.  It is a holy terror that data centres are paying less for electricity than householders in Clonmel, Carrick-on-Suir, Cahir, Cashel, Tipperary town and the other rural areas. It is a holy terror we have a Government that would allow that and continues to allow that and to allow them to continue expanding data centres when our grid is at crashing point with amber lights, warnings and outages recently in Nenagh with no explanation. We are on a tenterhook, and we stopped our turf and briquettes, and we are importing them. That is what we have. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (Deputy Jerry Buttimer)  Ar dt\u00fas b\u00e1ire gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Teachta Daly as ucht an r\u00fan seo a chur os comhair an T\u00ed. Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis na Baill a ghlac p\u00e1irt sa d\u00edosp\u00f3ireacht an-t\u00e1bhachtach seo. Deputy McGrath is right. We cannot have this debate in isolation, and it goes back to Deputy Heneghan's contribution about the turmoil in global energy markets. I make the point that in this debate some people are running to the hills to have their social media posts up. They want to score cheap points and do the kinds of things that some people do. That is not what this debate should be about, and I appreciate Deputy Pa Daly's sincerity in this. I made the point here last week that words and language matter. I pose a question to all of us in this Chamber tonight. We all accept there are too many people in energy uncertainty and in arrears with their bills, but I ask the Members to tell me how many people in Ireland were disconnected. How many? They should come back to me. How does it happen that people are disconnected? I make this point as a practising politician who has people in his office, who meets people, does not live in an ivory tower and who understands the frustration articulated by many in this Chamber. How is it that people are disconnected? I make the point that our language matters and people listen to us. For somebody to be disconnected there has to be no engagement whatever with the energy supplier. Let us be real and honest. If we engage as an advocate or if we engage with a person in arrears with an energy company, there will not be disconnection. We have all been that advocate and that person working for the vulnerable person. Let us be clear about that and not have Deputies coming in here tonight castigating some of us as uncaring and unkind because we are not. We understand full well. Nobody mentioned the moratorium on disconnections. I wonder why. I accept that people are faoi bhr\u00fa and I share the views expressed by many in the House that there needs be greater transparency on the pricing structure of bills so people can understand.  If you sit down in an office or in a person's home and talk and engage with them, it is a comment that is made quite clear.  People came into the Chamber tonight, in some sections of the House, like confetti at a wake, speaking about the profiteering and high profits. I ask people to read the CRU's report from yesterday about profitability. I ask Members to do that. The CRU said there was no evidence of energy companies profiteering, but there was a question as part of the report about the profit margin and further examination being needed. It goes back to my fundamental point that our words do matter and we have an ability to lead as Members. That is why I think, to be fair to Deputy Daly, that his contribution and what he is trying to do here is that. I readily accept that. In his reply at the beginning of the debate, the Minister outlined why the Government is opposing the Bill, and I will not go through that again. The Minister said that Government is committed to putting in place a well-funded energy market and tackling energy affordability. I repeat the point tonight that I do not believe any of us in this Chamber want to have people struggling to pay or to engage with the energy companies and suppliers.  I totally understand the frustration and annoyance of people, but part of the overarching debate that we do not seem to have done is to speak about a move, as we should, away from fossil fuel dependency. I was at the Cork development forum yesterday and we got a paper on Cork's energy grid, our current capacity and future opportunities. We all need to have that conversation about the future of our energy supply.  I welcome the opportunity to discuss the Commission for Regulation of Utilities with regard to our energy markets. The Government is deeply committed to ensuring that the CRU can effectively monitor and regulate electricity and gas prices and suppliers to ensure the best outcome for the customer. That is at the heart of what I want to be as a person in this Chamber representing people. It is to ensure, like many in this House have done, that energy is affordable. It is important that we do that. Equally, if you look at what the Government has done, there was action. While if you listened to some of the contributions, you would think Government did nothing, and I would take criticism any day of the week about being late, slow, or whatever, we did act. There was the VAT reduction, multiple rounds of energy credits, and protections given to customers since 2022. Nobody other than the Minister referred to the fact, as part of the debate, that we are now getting 49% of our electricity from renewables. We are moving away from the fossil fuel dependency.  We need to continue to do more as a country and a people. We had consternation last week about the Taoiseach and Deputy O'Connor's intervention about nuclear energy, yet we are getting nuclear energy through the interconnector. We need to look at the structural factors around our energy prices. That is why I welcome the debate tonight. I know I am repeating myself, but I think this debate has been important because it gives us that opportunity. We are too energy-dependent on fossil fuels. There is a market vulnerability due to price that none of us, or at least not me, can predict for next week, let alone October or November. Looking at the debates in the House of Representatives in America, for example, with American prices, there is now a movement by some of President Trump's own people in the Republican party relating to his war in Iran.  Former Minister Eamon Ryan has been criticised left, right and centre here tonight, but he was very successful at retrofitting, warmer homes, solar panels and offshore energy. We are working to ensure that households benefit directly from that renewable energy transition. Since 2019, \u20ac1.7 billion has been spent on SEAI schemes in support of homeowners, delivering almost 250,000 home energy improvements. That is fully equipped upgrades for households at risk of energy poverty under the warmer homes scheme. Last year, 5,000 businesses and community groups received grants to retrofit homes or install solar. As the Minister said in his contribution, that rooftop revolution has begun, and our job as leaders is to help, support and augment that so we can expand the number of people who are benefiting from that and their energy bills can be reduced. Where energy is produced, it can be sold back into the grid.  Government supports have been discussed tonight. We are very much aware of and concerned about the pressures that people are under, be it householders or businesses, with the higher energy costs. We have provided support of the second-highest, if not the highest, packages in Europe in the last number of weeks. As a Government, we are taking action to help householders and businesses with the cost of fuel and energy.  In concluding on behalf of the Government, I know the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, has addressed the issues about the Bill. I thank Deputy Daly for bringing it forward and having a good debate. I wish that some in the House would use their contributions to have a proper, meaningful, informed debate. Unlike them, Deputy Daly did put forward an informed debate. As the Minister said, the Government will be opposing the Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dessie Ellis","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dessie Ellis  My constituency of Dublin North-West has a growing older population, showing high concentrations of older residents, particularly those over 80 years of age. The constituency also has areas of economic disadvantage and high unemployment. People are struggling daily and this cost-of-living crisis and escalating costs are continuing to impact families, who are forced to make hard choices between putting food on the table for their families or paying for essential utilities and various housing costs, including medical care. Families are facing an almost \u20ac2,000 annual increase in household bills. Over the last number of winters, we have seen how families have struggled to heat their homes, as energy costs have gone through the roof. Electricity bills now make up a big part of the annual household expenditure. Families have received exorbitant electricity bills in recent years, leaving people stressed and fearful for the future, especially in these economically and politically unstable times.  Many have gone into significant arrears and have even gone into debt because of these huge electricity bills. Families need protection from price-gouging and anti-competitive behaviour, and they need proper monitoring of energy prices. The Commission for Regulation of Utilities needs to be given additional powers to carry out such functions. Ireland once had some of the cheapest electricity prices in Europe. The break-up of the company has led, over time, to Ireland having the highest household electricity prices in the EU, with costs roughly 40% above the EU average. This is not sustainable and it is the ordinary person on the street who is suffering. This amendment to the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 will protect consumers and struggling families. It is needed now more than ever in this uncertain world. Families who are suffering need a break and to be protected from the rip-off energy prices. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Mythen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Mythen.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Mythen.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Johnny Mythen  I thank Deputy Pa Daly and my colleagues for bringing forward the Electricity Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2026. It is to monitor and regulate hedging practices, monitor anti-competitive behaviour, and force energy companies to provide data on pricing strategies to the regulator. It also provides legislation to regulate standing charges through the regulator. The current power of the CRU is minimal, to say the least. As someone said, it is like a dog with no teeth. Its public enforcement action is weak and limited. Energy companies need to be held to proper account.  These companies are making millions upon millions of euro on an annual basis. Every time energy costs increase, so does the cost of living from food to clothing to services. This gouging is damaging lives and our economy. They must be regulated through legislation. How many times must the Government be told by Eurostat and the ESRI that energy prices are the highest in the European Union? This was before the illegal war started in Iran and Lebanon. Householders are paying double the generation costs and ten times the network costs of data centres. How can this be justified? How could the Government cut energy credits during a cost-of-living crisis with over 300,000 households in energy debt? I am sure more will follow when the figures are published in the next quarter.  Sinn F\u00e9in is calling on the Government to act to back the workers of this country, to back the grannies and grandads, and to introduce a windfall tax on these energy companies to shield the most vulnerable in society and give the people the break that they deserve. We cannot continue to allow these energy companies to dictate and rip off the country by setting prices that are putting workers to the pin of their collars and driving masses of people into more debt. Sinn F\u00e9in asks all TDs to support the Electricity Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2026. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  The biggest issue here is that while we have not had the Government attack this legislation, we have had it talk about the fact that it is premature and not the time. When we make proposals in respect of many issues, we hear that it is not the right time. The fact is that people are dealing with a cost-of-living crisis that was in existence long before the Iran and Lebanese war, and we could go back a long time before that.  Once upon a time, we had the cheapest electricity prices in Europe. We now have the most expensive by 40%, and we did not really need Eurostat to tell us that. The fact is we have spoken for a huge period of time about the need to tackle energy costs properly.  This regulation deals with the monitoring and regulating of hedging practices that are always used as the excuse why energy companies cannot do this, that and the other. It provides for enhanced powers to monitor and sanction anticompetitive behaviour because it is not okay for energy companies to screw over the Irish people. We need to see transparency. This is very straightforward. It is about having the ability to provide data on pricing strategies to the energy regulator so we can see what exactly the situation is. It is about taking energy affordability seriously.  Again, Sinn F\u00e9in proposed legislation which will give the regulator the power to regulate standing charges. How long have we been talking about that? It is an absolute joke, and everyone believes it when we hear about data centres getting far cheaper, and from their point of view far fairer, costs than the regular Joe and Josephine out there. None of this is good enough. We need to see restructuring of the network charges and the PSO levy. We have talked about this for a long time and, yes, we think that there is a need to do it, while accepting that the Government made some moves under pressure from people who went out and protested initially. That is the only reason that any action was taken in the first place, and nobody will tell me different.  There is huge anger out there. We know what we need to see and that is cheaper petrol and diesel at the pumps. The issues of those who need home heating oil to heat their homes - about 750,000 people - need to be dealt with. However, we do not see movement from the Government in relation to any of this.  I am also told that the SEAI has a particular solar panel grant scheme for those who are vulnerable medical users that is not sufficiently funded at this point in time. Will the Minister of State come back to me on that?  First, we need to deal with the profiteering of the energy companies. We need to see these sort of moves made and then we need to see energy and electricity made cheaper for the Irish people because this is a disgrace at this point in time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  This all goes back to the fact that Ireland once had the lowest electricity prices in the EU. We now have the highest. Successive Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael Governments have presided over this change, did nothing to stop it and in fact reinforced the system that caused it. I thank all of the other speakers of the Opposition, maybe bar one, who agreed with many of the merits in this Bill and who are calling for more transparency. We agree with their calls for more transparency, more public trust and more power for the CRU. We agree on many of the issues. Indeed, we agree with some of what the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, said earlier on. He acknowledges the problems and accepts that extra powers are needed for the CRU to be revamped.  Where we disagree, however, is where the Minister said that this is premature. That has been the problem to date because Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael are continuing to act like workers and families are in a position to wait until next year's budget, but they are not able to wait that long. The Government may say that there is a review in place or that a review has been completed, and we have to wait for the energy affordability task force, which was established about a year ago but still has not recommended any reforms. Unfortunately, people do not have the luxury of waiting around for that.  I have listened to what has been said. Unfortunately, the Government is way behind with the retrofitting grants. EV-charging infrastructure and EV cars are weighted too much in favour of the wealthy. It is not fair. We are way behind on offshore wind. We are way behind on the onshore guidelines, and it is no wonder that one of its own Ministers said in an interview that the Government has been sitting on its hands and navel gazing about offshore wind. It has been way behind, and nothing has been done even in relation to the energy cloud.  In the course of the debate, the Minister for State mentioned the disconnection moratorium but there are many people who are on prepay or pay-as-you-go plans. In effect, there is a disconnection policy in place for all of those people. The problem is that we do not have statistics or the data. We need the CRU to be revamped. The Minister of State referred to the energy credits which were in place in the months running up the last election and then stripped away. The new alliance between Deputy O'Connor and the Taoiseach, Deputy Martin, whereby they are tapping each other on the back, is unfortunately distracting from the main issues. We need a windfall tax. We need transparency and we need the CRU to be revamped. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Conor Sheehan)  In accordance with Standing Order 85(2), the division is postponed until the weekly division time on Wednesday, 13 May 2026. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Electricity Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2026: Second Stage [Private Members]"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/dbsect_18","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/dbsect_19","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Third Level Costs","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/dbsect_18","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_19","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donna McGettigan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_19.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donna McGettigan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donna McGettigan  Will the Minister consider additional financial supports for students on a temporary basis due to the increase in travel costs that students are currently facing, particularly at this time of exams? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Deputy James Lawless)  The Deputy's question is timely. I am always conscious of the desire to reduce the cost of education for students. I met a number of students recently at the cost of college event where I had very good conversations. I am meeting AML\u00c9 tomorrow and I meet student unions across the country on an ongoing basis.  On many occasions, I have outlined my commitment to improving student supports in a way that is equitable, funded, fair and provides certainty for families. That is one of the reasons I prioritised student supports in the most recent budget, my first budget in this role. Real and permanent changes were introduced that support students from all backgrounds and help reduce the cost of education, particularly for those who may not have traditionally been able to access it. As a result, more people are allowed in and the pool of access is broadened. Access to higher education is a life-changing event.  The Deputy posed a specific question about travel costs and temporary supports. I agree with her, and so does the Government. That is why we recently agreed at Cabinet to provide \u20ac750 million of additional money to support people suffering as a result of the fuel crisis across a number of sectors. Most importantly, this is done in a way that supports everyone who uses motorised transport through reductions at the pumps. There is a 10 cent additional excise duty reduction, bringing the total reduction put in place this year to 32 cent per litre on diesel and 27 cent per litre on petrol, combined with a package of other measures.  For any student who, as the Deputy described, is incurring increased travel costs, be it through their car or travelling on a bus, train or other vehicle, which all have heavy fuel costs, the idea behind the excise duty cut is that every household, family and student in a car or bus will avail of some sort of subsidy and relief on a temporary basis for the cost of travel, as the Deputy suggested. In short, I agree with the Deputy. That is exactly why the Government is moving swiftly on this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donna McGettigan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donna McGettigan  I welcome the fact the Minister said he is trying, although the 10 cent reduction has already come and gone and it is still costing students and their families more to travel. Some students have no choice but to live at home and travel because there is no accommodation for them. We are coming into the exam period and there is also uncertainty around the student fees with the current cost of living. I know the Minister can only do so much with the allocation he has, but students are telling me they need this. Students should not be the ones to carry this burden. They should be able to put fuel in their car, but they cannot do so. They cannot afford it and are getting into debt. They have to take on extra time in work just to pay for this. I would welcome even more supports than what the Minister has outlined because the current supports are not enough. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  As the Deputy knows, the student supports I introduced in the most recent budget targeted, in particular, those students who have to travel extra distances. They are categorised as being \"non-adjacent\". All four bands of non-adjacent maintenance grants were increased by between \u20ac200 and \u20ac400 to reflect the additional costs for those commuting those distances.  The Deputy mentioned accommodation, and rightly so. I am aware it is a key concern for most students. As the Deputy knows, I published the student accommodation strategy recently. It is building up steam. There have been almost 3,000 new commencements since it was introduced only a month or six weeks ago. I visited Whitebox Student Campus in Limerick where a site of approximately 1,200 to 1,400 beds is getting ready to move forward. That site used my new student accommodation design template. The fruits are already beginning to bear, but I am conscious it will take time to build those sites out, secure planning and move through the process. We are up and running with that now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donna McGettigan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donna McGettigan  Would the Minister look at the costings for a temporary free travel scheme for students affected by the current fuel crisis? We are not looking for this to be a permanent measure but, rather, a temporary one to get them over this period. Such a scheme could lift the burden on students commuting long distances to colleges. Any relief on the cost of living would make a significant difference to students. Not only are they trying to afford to stay in college, but their mental health is being affected by this too. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  We are doing that. This week or next week, we will pass the Finance Bill through the Houses to give effect to those measures we have already decided, as a Government, to take. We are doing exactly as the Deputy suggests. We are providing further subsidies on the cost of travel to students in two ways, namely, through direct intervention at the petrol pumps for those students who travel by car and motorised transport and by additions to the maintenance grants, which are already in the system and being paid out to students across the country. Students are receiving those benefits from the new grant amounts that I increased for exactly that reason.  I am always having ongoing conversations with students. I will be publishing shortly the outcome from the cost of college event I hosted this year. That will be in the form of a paper and it will be available for reference to the Deputy, as her party's spokesperson for this area, and to all Members of the House. It will outline all the different options students suggested, with a costing against each one. For the first time this year, the paper will contain an impact analysis detailing what each measure would mean in terms of outcomes, policy goals, widening access and the material difference it would make to allow students to make the leap into education and navigate through it. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Third Level Costs"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/dbsect_20","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Third Level Fees","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/dbsect_18","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_20","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_20.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  I thank the Deputy for his ongoing interest in this matter and all matters pertaining to higher education. As he knows, the programme for Government addresses the cost of college in a balanced way. It does so deliberately by combining universal and targeted measures. The programme for Government commits to incrementally reducing student contribution fees as well as increasing SUSI grants; providing targeted support measures for specific cohorts; providing more pathways into higher and further education; and improving how students navigate within the system. The programme for Government also states \u2013 this is less often quoted by commentators \u2013 that all this must be done in a financially sustainable manner. That is the wording. It is on the website for all to see.  In the current budget, I was pleased to introduce the first permanent reduction to the student contribution charge in approximately 30 years. It is a \u20ac500 reduction. That flat-rate reduction has reduced the top rate from \u20ac3,000 to \u20ac2,500. That is in effect from the current academic year, and we backdated it to make it available to students already in the system. That is the first permanent cut. It has benefited 108,000 undergraduate students and 14,000 apprentices. It is only right that apprentices also benefit from a 17% pro rata reduction in the fees they pay.  The State provides grants that cover all or part of the student contribution for eligible learners on a SUSI grant. Up to 70% of households are now eligible for the full student contribution fee to be paid, half of it to be paid or, for those at the top level with a household income of up to \u20ac120,000, a \u20ac500 subvention. A family with a household income of, say, \u20ac118,000 that is availing of the flat fee of \u20ac2,500 is eligible for the \u20ac500 fee grant, meaning they effectively pay \u20ac2,000. For a family with an income of, say, \u20ac60,000, half of the fees are paid for. Below that, families get their fees paid in full. There are a number of interventions aimed at different sectors in a targeted fashion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  I appreciate that. The Minister will be acutely aware of the level of concern among families and students to the news that there is a possibility that the incremental decreases in student contribution fees will not go ahead. The Minister mentioned that this must be done in a financially sustainable way, which is something that is not spoken about perhaps in the media or by other spokespeople. The Department might be financially sustainable, but why should students or the Department cover the cost for other Departments that are not so financially sustainable? That is not good enough. It is not acceptable to students. I do not doubt the Minister's bona fides on this and I am sure he would love to be able to decrease the student fees or even get rid of them altogether. A financially sustainable way of decreasing fees should not mean students have to bear the brunt for the Department of education's overspending every year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  The Deputy makes the point well. I will not comment on collective Cabinet decisions, but I hear what the Deputy said. It is very fair. For my part, I attend to pursue a multitude of options to further support students. These include making progress on fees but also a number of other options in areas such as maintenance grants, funding for students with disabilities, mental health supports, the student assistance fund, accommodation support through the non-adjacent grants and so forth. As I mentioned to Deputy McGettigan a few moments ago, we will be publishing a paper that sets out the different options available to us, along with the costings of each one. This year, for the first time, I commissioned, through the new economics policy under my Department, an impact assessment that tells us what the benefit of each measure will be on particular cohorts and how it will be of assistance and progressive in reducing the cost of education. I assure the Deputy that I am committed to continuing the work of the programme for Government in full, including the fee reductions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  Is there a date on which that paper will be made available? Those costings will be very important to politicians in this Chamber but also extremely important to the very students who we profess to represent in this Chamber regarding to the amount they will have to pay for the coming academic year. I represent the students across this country and the important issue for them is that there was a commitment in the programme for Government to reduce the student contribution fees, albeit in a financially sustainable way, incrementally year on year during the Government's term. It is something I will absolutely call out as a spokesperson on education. An overspend within the Department of Education and Youth and an overspend across government as a whole should not have knock-on effect for the Department of further and higher education or for the very students we stand here and represent. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  I assure the Deputy and the House that I will make the case in the budget negotiations to secure the maximum possible package for my Department for the benefit of students, apprentices, researchers and all the people within and for all the good reasons the Deputy articulates.  I expect the cost of college paper to be available in June or early summer, and certainly it will be with us before the summer break. It has been commissioned at the moment. It derives from the cost of college event, which we held with students and other stakeholders, and it will also draw upon information meetings with a number of groups, such as AML\u00c9 who I will meet in the morning, and many other groups I meet on an ongoing basis. When the paper is published, I will inform the relevant spokespeople.  I also welcome any collaborative input from spokespersons on education in the House as to the opportunity cost because it would never be possible, even if we had plenty of time, to do everything. Choices will have to be made. I would welcome a debate and formal discussion. The intention of that paper is to put the choices out there with the costings of this but not that, for example, and to take an in the round view on what is the optimal approach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Aire. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Third Level Fees"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/dbsect_21","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Student Accommodation","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/dbsect_18","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donna McGettigan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_21.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  It is a priority of mine to make higher education more accessible, as I have been saying in reply to earlier questions. Part of this is the cost of accommodation, the cost of putting a roof over everyone's head, and making sure that the students are ideally as close to their college as possible. I firmly believe that the student experience and the college experience necessitates, and is enhanced by, being proximate to the college and having the opportunity to not only be in college for classes, but to attend extracurricular activities and to form new friendships and new networks. Notwithstanding that hybrid lectures and online study can be useful and can be of assistance in certain ways, there is no substitute for the real life in-person interaction. Student accommodation, therefore, is so important for many reasons. There are two ways we go about that. One is through viability and the other is through supply.  Specifically on the Deputy's question and focusing on the service charges and whether they are used as a way around rental restrictions in terms of the law, there are two points. The legislation governing that is the law on rent pressure zones, which is outside of my Department. This jurisdiction is within the preserve of the Minister for housing, Deputy Browne, and his Department. I would say strongly that student accommodation falls under the remit of the Residential Tenancies Board, RTB. The board offers a dispute resolution service and it has the authority to investigate breaches of rental law, any improper conduct, any unlawful rent increases and any misbehaviour by landlords, including student landlords. This all absolutely comes into the domain of the RTB. The board can impose sanctions of up to \u20ac15,000 in fines. Any student or any representative of students who comes across a situation where they believe the RPZs are not being honoured or that the legislation is not being adhered, should make a report to the RTB and have it investigated by that independent body, which is commissioned for that purpose, so the full force of the law can be brought to bear in those situations. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donna McGettigan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donna McGettigan  The Minister said that he does not like to see this happening in reply to me in committee. However, the RTB has said that if the rent is set out at the start with the services charged separately, the charge can stay separate. We have seen in institutions that the increase is around 7%, when we look at the rent rise and the rise of the service charges. I would like the Minister to sit down with the Minister for housing to try to work this out a framework and put protections in place. Otherwise, service charges that are separate to rent will soar high and then students will be ripped off again. This cannot go on. We have already had this in other institutions. I acknowledge the Minister cannot do anything about that because it is already in place but I would like him to sit down with the Minister for housing to discuss this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  I have indeed sat down with the Minister for housing. We had a number of good interactions over the past year, and particularly when he announced his intention to bring forward the reform of the rent pressure zones and to legislate for that. We immediately engaged on that and we spent a long time working out the details of how that would affect students. One of the outputs of that is the special protection regulation for students specifically stating that student-specific accommodation is safe from the regular rent reset that can happen in other private accommodation when a tenant vacates. Where there is a student apartment, regardless how many students come and go, the rent cannot be reset for a minimum of at least three years. This is a very specific protection measure to save students from the annual reset. We know the way students operate and how they come and go with each academic year. This is in law. It passed through these Houses and is now enshrined in the rental acts, and rightly so. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donna McGettigan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donna McGettigan  I hear that but I am still not hearing that the Minister will examine the service charge and the rent section going out together. It is a loophole and it will cause issues for students down the line if service charges can go up. They did in one institution recently where the cost increased by 7%. We need to sit down with students, with the Minister for housing and with the Minister, Deputy Lawless, to discuss this important issue. This loophole needs to be closed to protect students and others in rental accommodation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  I have ongoing engagement with the Minister for housing and we have had a very structured and productive engagement, which led to the student exemption and the protection window of three years being imposed in the new rental protection Acts. I hear the issue that the Deputy raises. I have written directly to one or two institutions where I was made aware of this practice. I advised them that I did not feel this was in the spirit of the law, while within the letter of the law. It certainly is not within the spirit of the law. I made my views very clear on that. The Deputy will understand that there is a limit to the powers I exercise here. They are independent entities. There is legislation in place to govern it but we have a dedicated stand-alone agency, which is the RTB, to investigate any breaches of the laws. Where there are situations that come to the Deputy's attention, or to any student's attention, I strongly encourage them to make a report to the RTB and they could be investigated accordingly. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 153 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Student Accommodation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/dbsect_22","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Third Level Education","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/dbsect_18","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donna McGettigan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_22.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Teachta McGettigan. Aithn\u00edonn mo Roinn an r\u00f3l t\u00e1bhachtach at\u00e1 ag earn\u00e1il an oideachais threasaigh maidir le cur chun cinn agus cothabh\u00e1il na Gaeilge. T\u00e1 r\u00e9imse c\u00farsa\u00ed ar f\u00e1il do mhic l\u00e9inn tr\u00ed mhe\u00e1n na Gaeilge ar fud na hearn\u00e1la treasa\u00ed. Is iad na hinstiti\u00faid\u00ed f\u00e9in a dh\u00e9anann na cinnt\u00ed sin i gcomhr\u00e9ir lena neamhsple\u00e1chas acad\u00fail. L\u00e9ir\u00edonn anail\u00eds a rinne an t\u00dadar\u00e1s um Ard-Oideachas le d\u00e9ana\u00ed gur chl\u00e1raigh 420 mac l\u00e9inn i gc\u00farsa\u00ed a shol\u00e1thra\u00edodh go hioml\u00e1n tr\u00ed mhe\u00e1n na Gaeilge sa bhliain acad\u00fail 2023-24 agus 265 mac l\u00e9inn eile ag d\u00e9anamh staid\u00e9ar i gc\u00farsa\u00ed a shol\u00e1thra\u00edodh go p\u00e1irteach tr\u00ed mhe\u00e1n na Gaeilge. Den chuid is m\u00f3, is i r\u00e9imse an oideachais iad sin. We need to make further progress on what we have done. I recently visited an t-acadamh in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe D\u00e9ardaoin seo caite. We spoke to a number of the students and educators there about their plans and their ambition to deliver education in the medium of Irish. It is important also that we recognise the difference between c\u00farsa\u00ed sa Ghaeilge and c\u00farsa\u00ed through Gaeilge. Are we teaching Irish or are we teaching other courses through the medium of Irish? Sometimes that distinction is not always picked up on but it is important. We have a very strong ambition, working with the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Dara Calleary, to reach the goal of 20% of public servants working through the medium of Gaeilge and having it at their disposal. It is something that I am very much committed to and am very much working on. This is why I visited with an Teachta John Connolly and an Comhairleoir Keane at the acadamh in Galway last week. I am very committed to this.  We will be publishing a national plan for Irish-language public services. This will include research into existing and future demands for Irish-medium tertiary education and then look at how we will roll that out up to 2027. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donna McGettigan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donna McGettigan  The Minister will have to excuse me. T\u00e1im ag foghlaim Gaeilge anois. N\u00edor thuig m\u00e9 gach rud a d\u00fairt an tAire. I welcome any progress made on this issue. My son went through bunscoil and Gaelchol\u00e1iste and when he went on to college, there were certain words and phrases he struggled to understand, particularly in science. The Government has set a target that 20% of new recruits to the public service will be able to converse with the public and provide services through Irish by 2020, but currently less than 1% of third level courses are being provided in Irish, despite over 50,000 students attending Gaelscoileanna. Would the Minister agree that this is a bit slow? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  N\u00edor cheart go mbeadh imn\u00ed ar an Teachta faoina cuid Gaeilge, t\u00e1imse ag foghlaim chomh maith. Maith th\u00fa as an bhfoghlaim. We will learn together. It is commendable when anyone attempts it. To meet the target, the goal is to have a workforce capable of speaking at least partly as Gaelige, but ideally 20% would have a strong ability and competency. A wide range of courses is available already. Some are fully in Irish, some are partly through Irish and there can be combinations. Course provision is determined by the institutions, because they are academically autonomous. It is not just within na hollscoileanna. I visited an education and training board, ETB, recently that was providing Irish-language education in night classes. We also support clubs and societies in a number of different activities on campuses, outside of the formal learning experience. I am very supportive of that, as is the Minister of State, Deputy Harkin. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donna McGettigan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donna McGettigan  In a recent submission to the committee on further and higher education, Conradh na Gaeilge called for at least 5% of third level courses to be available through the medium of Irish. Does the Department have any plans to have this? The Irish language is enjoying a cultural revolution, particularly through the music scene. An awful lot of young people now want to take up the language, to learn the language and to continue in their life with the language. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  I know Conradh na Gaeilge well. I will be meeting its representatives in the near future to discuss their submissions and requests. I am very supportive and I hope we can do as much as we can for them. I mentioned some of the actions we are taking. There are a couple of specific actions we are taking to meet the target. We are working with the Department of Education and Youth to examine the transition of students from Irish-language post-primary education because we know there is a huge growth in the bunscoileanna and Gaelscoileanna. The question is how they move on to tertiary education, because we do not want their Irish to fall away when they move to third level education. We are working with the Department of Social Protection on the sectoral working group I mentioned already to see how that can contribute to the targets. We are undertaking research to understand the demand and availability of both the courses and of students wishing to take them up. We are also examining the inclusion of Irish-medium courses in future expressions of interest. We are running a number of expressions of interest with the HEA at the moment for new course provision in areas like disability, therapies, medicine, veterinary, etc. We will see if we can include Irish as one of those in the future and if there is an option to provide those courses, we will. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Third Level Education"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/dbsect_23","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Grant Payments","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/dbsect_18","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_23","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_23.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  It is very unfair that only income from work during holidays is considered for students who wish to avail of the SUSI grant. If they have a small weekend job they lose out, as there is no disregard for that. What is the reason for this? If they have a bit of work for weekends, why not allow it to be disregarded, like the holiday pay? Youngsters appreciate work. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  I worked all the way through second level and third level and afterwards. Then I ended up studying while I was working, so I did it both ways round. I totally appreciate the industriousness and the necessity in many cases for students to work through their education. How we have it structured is that under the SUSI grant scheme, income from employment that represents holiday earnings outside of term time is calculated on the basis of Easter holidays, summer holidays and Christmas holidays. This can be disregarded when calculating the means of the family for the SUSI grant application. In the current budget, we are increasing that from \u20ac8,424 to \u20ac8,830, which is an increase of about \u20ac400, or 5%. That is something I was minded to do. As I said in response to a question earlier, there are a number of choices in each budget. We cannot do everything so we try to look at how we can approach something with targeted measures. This was one of the ones that was important, even if it was only 5%. It was something I was conscious to do in order to keep student earnings in line with inflation and allowing that to be taken into account. Students should not be penalised for going out to work outside of term time.  We have what we call an options paper on the cost of college, which is an analysis of engagement with students. I had a meeting with a number of students' unions and other stakeholders recently in Portlaoise. We examined the different asks they had regarding grants, fees, thresholds, student accommodation and the earnings disregard for students' income at weekends or over term breaks. Next, I will take all those different requests and publish them as an options paper and have a costing and impact analysis against each one. We can make decisions then and I would welcome the input from those in the Houses who are interested in the brief, as to which options are preferable to others and why people believe that to be the case. I will engage in good faith with Deputies in the House as we approach the budget to consider those options. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  I thank the Minister for his reply. What I am saying is that it will cost the State nothing to allow the work students do at weekends to be disregarded for the SUSI grant. The costs are exorbitant now for students going to college and it is only natural that they would want to help their parents out and help to get themselves to college and pay for all the things the Minister listed, including the fees, student accommodation and travel from places as far away as Cahersiveen and Dingle and all the places in Kerry that they have to travel from to colleges right around the country. What benefit is it to the State to stop youngsters from going to work for the weekend? It is hurting businesses that may have built up a relationship with these youngsters during the holidays. I see no point whatsoever in it. It has been known all our lives that we should encourage youngsters to work but this is doing the opposite. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  They do not need to leave Kerry any more at all, because we have a fine university in Tralee with MTU. I visited it recently with the Minister, Deputy Foley, and Deputy Cahill and we saw it in action. Professor Maggie Cusack and the then chairperson, Jimmy Deenihan, welcomed us to the facility. The university is providing world-class services. If students do want to leave Kerry, however, there are course options available to them. I know it is expensive, and I talked earlier about the recent cuts we have implemented. There is a \u20ac750 million package to assist with the cost of travel, in terms of excise cuts and many other measures. There is also the student Leap card and the young adult Leap card to use on public transport and, of course, there are the \u20ac500 cut to student fees, which is permanent, and all of the increases to grants, particularly the non-adjacent grants for students who have to travel that bit farther. However, there is a cost to the State. It was calculated last year that exempting all students' earnings would cost about \u20ac26 million. To put that into perspective, that same amount could pay for a 10% increase in all maintenance grants or could increase all income thresholds by 10%. There are choices to be made regarding whether we increase grants or thresholds or disregard student earnings to a greater extent. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  As much as anyone else, I welcome the MTU in Tralee for students in Kerry. However, I would say again that it does not make any sense at all if these youngsters could work and earn another bit of money to help themselves to go to college. It would help to take the burden off their parents. The Minister is talking about all the things the Government has given out and that is fine, but these people and their families are still under financial pressures that were never seen before. This is especially the case in families where there is more than one student in the house. I ask the Minister to look at this and to give these lovely young boys and girls a chance to work. They love to work. I always had someone like them in the bar at home and I appreciated them. We can learn things from young people that we might not otherwise learn.  I ask the Minister to look at this again in a favourable way. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  As I said at the outset, I worked all through college at a variety of things through weekends, evenings in some cases, and all through my summers and, indeed, often Christmas and Easter holidays as well. I would make the point to the Deputy that there is nothing stopping students from doing that. Students can work, and they can choose. It equates roughly to Christmas holidays, Easter holidays and summer holidays. However, if students want to say they are going to work every weekend instead or work one part of the year and not another, it is entirely up to them.  A threshold of \u20ac8,830 has been imposed now. To work it through, if we were to take that away and say there is no threshold, theoretically, a student could earn not \u20ac8,000 but \u20ac80,000 or \u20ac100,000. It would actually be a backdoor to the household or family suddenly having their income threshold nearly doubled. I know the Deputy would agree that is not desirable either because we have to have a progressive, fair system that targets supports to those who need them the most. I know that is maybe an extreme example, but there is logic to this and how it is calculated. Originally, the idea was to discourage students from working during term time. That is why it was applied to holiday periods. That is more relaxed now and they can choose to work weekends if they wish. There has to be some level at which it is set, however. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Grant Payments"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/dbsect_24","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/dbsect_25","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Further and Higher Education","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/dbsect_24","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_25","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_25.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  As the Minister knows, the jobs requirements by companies are very fluid at the moment, especially with the introduction of AI. What steps are being taken to ensure that higher education courses are aligned with current and projected skills shortages, and will with Minister make a statement on it, please? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  I thank the Deputy very much. He mentioned AI and skills shortages and understanding the new trends that are emerging in higher education and across training our graduates and, indeed, our apprentices. That is an absolute priority for me and the Department. We are doing a lot of work on skills and identifying skills needs and skills gaps, working through SOLAS, the National Skills Council, the expert group on future skills needs and other groups and agencies. I have done a couple of things in recent times. One is that we have set up the national skills observatory, which is data driven and, effectively, a database for the State to be able to plug in searches and see what patterns have emerged in terms of job vacancies, job advertisements, skills needs and employer reports. That would be a real-time engine to see what skills employers are seeking and, indeed, what is on the move and what is going in the other direction.  I have also commenced a series of skills round-tables, where I bring together employers from different sectors along with the training agencies, SOLAS, the HEA, the ETBI and the different higher education institute and university associations. That conversation I am having will, at the next event on the 27th of this month, focus on construction skills. The Minister, Deputy Browne, and Minister of State, Deputy Harkin, are joining me for that as well. We will be bringing the construction employers into the room and looking at the trades, apprentices, engineers, architects, town planners, etc., and asking whether they are receiving the skills, graduates and competencies they as employers require from the training system and skills system, especially at a time when construction of housing is our number one goal as a Government and, indeed, more broadly across infrastructure, building out our railways, grids, ports and energy supply. We have a huge construction challenge, so it is particularly timely. The next event I am planning for the month after will look at the impact of AI on the professional workforce, consultancy firms, accounting, legal firms and so on. That deep dive will bring employers around the table to have a solid engagement. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  I welcome the focus on aligning higher education with current and projected skills shortages. Like the Minister said, it is about meeting with the industries to figure out what requirements are needed but also to find out and make sure that the courses we are providing at the moment are giving the students the proper skills when they actually finish those courses.  It is clear that artificial intelligence is now fundamentally changing the nature of work and the skills that will be required in the years ahead. Across every sector, whether it is healthcare, manufacturing, finance, education, agriculture or retail, AI and digital technologies are rapidly reshaping how businesses operate. Our education system must be agile enough to respond to the challenge and there is now a growing need not only for specialist AI and technology graduates, but also for broader digital literacy and adaptability across the workforce. At the same time as we embrace these new technologies, we also have to ensure we do not lose the core knowledge and fundamental skills on which industry will depend. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  The Deputy is exactly right. One of the interesting outputs of the inaugural skills round-table I held about six weeks, which had the accommodation sectors at it, was that there was a common theme. Regardless of semiconductors, biosciences, pharmaceuticals or construction, there was a common theme. They said they want to be able to hire graduates, trainees and skilled workers who have broader skills, such as communication skills, teamwork skills and the ability to work on a team, analytical skills and strategic skills and the ability to make judgment calls on a particular set of facts. That is one thing the computer will never be able to replace - that human intuition and experience and that unique set of circumstances that has brought us all to where we are.  As I noted recently, there is a concern that some firms may be beginning to put a brake on graduate recruitment and might be thinking that AI can replace certain junior jobs. However, there is recognition that we need the senior people and experienced people in every organisation. If people stop hiring at the entry level, they never get to the experienced layer beyond that. It is something employers really need to take stock of. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  I thank the Minister for his response. While AI presents enormous opportunities, there is also understandable concern among many workers and students about how it may affect future employment. I think it will actually increase employment, but it is important that our education system prepares people not just to adapt to technology change but benefit from it. Will the Minister outline what steps are being taken to ensure that students across all disciplines develop AI and digital skills while also maintaining the core fundamentals and professional knowledge that remain essential in the workforce? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  There are a couple of things. I recently launched a website called aiready.ie . The Deputy might have tried it out. I urge anyone who has not already to do so. That website is specifically targeted at short AI familiarity skills. It is not necessarily building up to expert user level but building up an awareness of AI and how it works - how it can be used, for example, in a small business, for personal use, planning a holiday packing list, organising an event, etc. It is the intention that it will help with that. That is very much the first phase of it. That will ramp up over time, with multiple courses added to it. I am also working with my team to look at the micro-credentials delivered through Springboard+, Skillnet and similar courses to have a wider range of offerings, with greater subsidies available for learners who might want to take them up. Some might be in employment, some may wish to go independently, but I am looking at greater subvention of those courses to make them even more affordable than they already are. Those are two measures.  The Higher Education Authority has published guidelines around the use of AI in education to make sure that student competence is still coming through both in terms of testing but also in terms of the competencies and skills that are being taught to the student. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Further and Higher Education"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/dbsect_26","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Student Accommodation","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/dbsect_24","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_26","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_26.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  I wish to ask about the Minister's engagement with University College Cork and the Munster Technological University in Cork on the housing crisis and the impact on student accommodation in Cork. This is something that has been spoken about at a consistent level by the Labour Party and by me and my colleagues, Senator Harmon, and an Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach, Deputy Sheehan. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  I am aware of the Deputy's interest in this. I am pleased to be able to advise the Deputy that I have met the presidents of both UCC and MTU on a number of occasions. I have also visited both institutions on a number of occasions and, indeed, I will do so again this week.  I am very aware of how the supply and affordability of accommodation is impacting students in Cork and more generally across the country. That is one of the reasons I was very pleased to be able to publish the national student accommodation strategy, which sets out the pathway to make higher education more accessible by addressing two critical challenges. There are two pillars of that strategy, as the Deputy is probably aware. One is the viability challenge and incentivising the development at scale of student accommodation and large, high-quality student developments, ideally on campus lands or in and around campus. This will be supported through the strategy and through a number of measures within it. There is also a focus on affordability, with \u20ac176 million in new supports being placed in things like the maintenance grants for non-adjacent students and a range of other measures to make it somewhat more affordable for students to be able to pay their rents, effectively, in the different developments. Of course, both MTU and UCC have been engaged in that with me and my officials.  My Department held a briefing for both universities very recently to walk through the new student strategy and explain how that is going to work. Part of that is the extension of what was a TU, accommodation programme across the traditional universities and what we are calling the higher education institutions student accommodation programme, HSAP. That has been up and running now since we launched the strategy. I am pleased to advise the Deputy that there are three locations being targeted in the first wave, namely, Dublin, Galway and Cork. Cork is up and running already. We have had extensive engagement and we have had a number of inquiries coming in already.  That is going well. It is something I am keen to move on at all possible expedition to ensure we begin to deliver those much-needed beds for the students. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  I appreciate that there have been developments in student accommodation. However, Cork, as a county with a huge university city, has the lowest proportion of public student accommodation beds available at 18%.  In February 2026, a report by Sherry FitzGerald showed that the State needs at least 38,900 beds to keep up with the demand. The report says that for every 13 students across the south-west region, which is inclusive of Cork and Kerry, there are ten beds, and that with roughly 30,300 students enrolled, there is a shortfall of approximately 9,900 beds. This report assumed that those living in their own counties do not avail of accommodation. We are taking that assumption that people from towns such as my own, Mallow, do not move up to Cork city, if they are attending UCC or the Munster Technological University, MTU, or any other further or higher education facility.  The significant shortfall is there. It is probably due to a lack of forward planning for many decades, within the former Department of Education more so that the newly formed Department of further and higher education. I understand that there has been progress but significant progress has to be made in Cork. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  I totally agree with the Deputy. We need to see significant progress and we need to see it soon.  On the theme of progress, we saw 206 beds with a commencement notice issued only last month in Cork. There are 3,000 around the country since I launched the strategy approximately six weeks ago. Approximately 206 of those are in Cork, and they are badly needed. There are another 1,700 beds in Cork with planning granted which I hope will become viable through the strategy. There were a number of beds at sites around the country where planning was granted but where inquiries took place at the stage of planning. They were not progressing for various reasons. The strategy, as the Deputy knows, includes a number of viability levers to assist with that and move those on to construction and move those forward.  Additionally, there is planning permission in the system in Cork working its way through for another 500 beds already. Those are positive numbers to consider. That will provide an additional 2,200 beds when those come on stream. I expect there will be many more coming behind that with the new sites that are being identified. In addition to that, I should point to the beds available under the rent-a-room scheme - 926 beds for MTU Cork and 72 beds being offered at UCC at the moment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  In relation to what my colleague, Senator Harmon, has said in relation to the technological universities being allowed to borrow to build student accommodation, is it something that the Minister and the Department are taking seriously? There would be an appetite there from MTU.  In relation to private rented accommodation, we have had many debates across this House on private rental student accommodation, particularly in Cork city where a lot of the time, in a lot of the situations I have come across, the accommodation has been completely unsatisfactory. It is due to the fact that we have students in our county who are going to our colleges or further and higher education institutes and have been forced to go into these private rented accommodation settings because of the lack of publicly available student accommodation beds. While I appreciate that progress is being made on it, we have to move this on as quickly as possible. Will the Minister give an assurance to the House that technological universities, such as MTU, could borrow to build? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  I am conscious of this and I have met all the technological universities, TUs, on it. It is a programme for Government commitment and it is one I have given effect to through the student accommodation strategy because the strategy includes provision for nomination agreements. Nomination agreements are technical arrangements, but they allow the technological university to take on a contingent liability upon its balance sheet which could be construed as a State liability. It is something that we are supporting through the student accommodation agreement. That has involved work with not only my Department but also the Departments of Finance and public expenditure. Those discussions have been ongoing with both Ministers. We have managed to secure within the accommodation strategy provision to do exactly that. That allows the technological universities to enter into agreements with providers to book out large blocks of beds in a long-term fashion in a way that commits them to expenditure in the long term that is a form of borrowing, but one that is done with full State support. That was an important measure that was called for. It is one I was keen to ensure was included in the strategy, which it is. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Student Accommodation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/dbsect_27","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Third Level Admissions","counts":{"speechCount":10,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/dbsect_24","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_27","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_27.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  My question to the Minister is whether his Department has carried out an analysis of those university courses that have maximum or very high-level CAO points requirement for which some students who meet those points requirement are not successful because of random selection. Will he will list those courses that it will apply to, outline exactly how many places are on those courses and the number of places therein that are available for international students? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  As the Deputy will be aware, under legislation, the Irish higher education institutions are autonomous in their decisions and the processes they follow in relation to admissions, and rightly so. They operate without political influence in terms of their admission criteria and enrolment.  Both public and private institutions, all use the CAO, which is well understood, to centrally process the applications for most undergraduate programmes. Further information on how that works, including statistics and data from previous years' offers, is all publicly available on the CAO website, if the Deputy wishes to refer to that. Based on publicly available data, my Department has identified the higher education courses where attaining the maximum points from the leaving certificate did not guarantee admission due to high demand. Where that happens, the CAO applies a system of random selection.  Going specifically to the Deputy's question as to how many courses did this happen in this year, there was one course where a student was denied entry because of random selection at 625 points. There was a second course but it was not on the first round; it was on the second round. All students on the first round that sought a place received a place. There was one course, that I am aware of, where this happened on the first round. That is the scenario there.  On the courses where it has happened, there is a pattern, if you look back over the past number of years, in terms of the courses that have a 625 points target and use random selection in the final rounds. These are dental science, management science and information systems, dentistry, management science and dental science. Going back over the past number of years, those were the courses. Obviously, there is a strong pattern.  Briefly, to talk about dental science and dentistry, since it is one of the courses where that has happened in recent years, I am adding another 35 dental beds or, I should say, \"chairs\", which is what we need for dental places, through the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, RCSI. I opened 20 of them in Sandyford earlier this year and a further 15 are coming on stream next year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  The Minister cannot finish an answer by claiming credit for providing extra places in courses when he started his reply by saying this has to be an autonomous-based system where there is no political interference because political decisions affect the number of places available on courses. I am sure the Minister will accept that.  Last year, we are told that entry to 25 undergraduate courses with high level points were determined by random selection. That means people secured very high points in their leaving certificate but were not able to secure their preferred choice because of random selection. Essentially, it was a lottery.  The Minister did not answer the question in respect of the number of international students. It is important that we get those answers because the Minister has been quoted as suggesting that some universities are gaming the system. If people are being denied places to courses in areas for which we have shortages in the State and universities are selling places in those courses to international students, that is a problem this House needs to be aware of and informed of. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  I am just clarifying. The Deputy's question asked about the courses in which maximum leaving certificate points did not guarantee admission due to demand and he has moved on now to high-points courses. The difference between maximum and high-points is that it is a meritocracy. Rightly or wrongly, the CAO system awards courses on the basis of points. A student had maximum points and missed out on a place, which arose in one instance this year for a course that I mentioned. The other scenario I talked about is where the students that took up the course were students who had higher points than students who missed out. There were students who had the maximum points and students who had points less than that, ultimately, over descending order, until they got to the last place on the course. There were then two students who had the same points but they were not as high as other students who got into the course. One always, of course, feels sympathy for the student in that situation, but it is not the case that students on maximum points were displaced. It is students that did not get maximum points. Put simply, the students with the highest points got the places. In the case of students on lower points, at some point there was a cut-off. Unfortunately, some students missed out, but that is the way across any course in the entire CAO. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  Is there a reason the Minister will not answer my question in relation to international students? I have asked it twice now and it was in the written question that was submitted.  Here is what we know. There are areas of speciality for which we have chronic shortages in many parts of this State.  Dentistry, as the Minister, mentioned is an obvious place. The Irish Dental Association has said that one of the issues is that in many courses which the State has provided for dentistry, a significant proportion of places are actually being sold by universities to international students. That is not a meritocracy. That is a problem that we need to address but we cannot address it unless we have the information. Can the Minister provide the information in respect of these vital courses? I accept it is important that there is an element of international students but is it the case that places that should be filled by people coming through the CAO route are ultimately being sold to the highest bidder on the international market? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  Not to my knowledge. My Department does not collect data on the number of international students or the share of places offered through the CAO on a course-by-course basis. That falls under the remit of the individual autonomous higher education institutions and they determine that annually. The Deputy may wish to correspond with them to make his own inquiries. I reiterate my point because the scenario he is depicting is suggesting that some students have been displaced by international students coming into the same course. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I am asking for the information. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  In actual fact I do not have the information. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  Why not? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  It is because these are autonomous institutions that manage their own course and manage their own systems within it. The Deputy is welcome to correspond with them, if he has not done so already, to see what information he can derive. Every student who wanted a course, bar one, got into a course. In the latest CAO round, there was one student in one course in entire country. It is regrettable and I would prefer if no students missed out. I think that we can agree that out of 108,000 students, one student missing out on a place is very regrettable for that individual and I would have preferred if it had not happened. That is why I am increasing the courses by 1,100 place this year alone. The problem is certainly not of the scale the Deputy wishes to depict. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Third Level Admissions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/dbsect_28","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Education Schemes","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/dbsect_24","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_28","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_28.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Conor Sheehan)  Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan will introduce this question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan  I am asking this for Deputy Cathal Crowe. Will the Minister for higher education outline his priorities in relation to Erasmus+ in the current negotiations for the EU\u2019s multi-annual financial framework from 2028 to 2034? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  We have been engaging intensively with European partners on the future of Erasmus+. My officials are working closely at the technical level and I am working at the ministerial and political level to advance negotiations on this important programme. Good progress has been made under both the Danish and Cypriot Presidencies. As the Deputy knows, the Cypriot Presidency comes to a close at the end of June. I was in Brussels yesterday at the Education Council. I am pleased to advise the Deputy and the House that we reached agreement among education ministers at the Council on the partial general approach for the next Erasmus+ programme. That is a really significant milestone. The partial general approach is the agreed framework among officials and across ministers at Council to now take that forward to what we call the tripartite negotiations. I will be privileged to chair those debates over the next six months. We will be taking Erasmus+ into tripartite negotiations with the European Parliament to progress that. That is very positive and I am excited about the opportunities for us and the opportunity for Ireland to put our stamp on the Erasmus+ scheme when we bring those negotiations in.  One of the plus points of the new Erasmus+ programme is that it opens up integration to the European Solidarity Corps. As the Deputy will be aware, the Erasmus+ programme has been largely an academic college-based exchange. We are broadening that out to include community programmes, sporting programmes and youth programmes. That is really important because it widens civic participation. It is not necessary to be a student to be involved in Erasmus+; young people may be involved in many other strands of public life. They will have the opportunity to exchange with other European nations, centred around European values and have the experience of living and participating abroad, which is to be welcomed. It was very good news coming from Brussels yesterday. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan  I realise that next year will be the 40th anniversary of the Erasmus programme and it has gone from strength to strength. Like the Minister, I know dozens of students who have availed of it over the years. I believe Ireland has sent more than 65,000 students since the programme's inception. It is a programme that we all support and would like to see go from strength to strength. The funding for the programme has increased to \u20ac40 billion now, which is far greater than its predecessor of \u20ac26 billion. However, because of the further reach to people not doing academic courses as the Minister has outlined, from what I am reading from the European Parliament debates on it, there is a concern that proportionately, the money going to each individual student might actually decrease. I ask the Minister to speak to that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  It would be regrettable if that scenario were to come to pass. I understand the concern and it is well voiced. We are at the partial general agreement, meaning that specific parts of the proposal have been agreed. Ultimately the budget has yet to be agreed and that is what we have to negotiate with our colleagues in the European Parliament as we move on to the tripartite stage. I will be meeting some of the relevant committee chairs in the European Parliament and some of the members of those committees. I will engage with them further in July, I think at the Strasbourg session, to try to move this along. However, the fact that we reached partial general agreement yesterday is critical because we could not have opened negotiations had we not done that. That will be part of the overall MFF negotiations.  It is also very much a goal for the State and for me to seek maximum funding for the Horizon research programme envelope. Some \u20ac175 billion is bracketed in at the moment, a very significant figure. That is available to Irish researchers, including small and medium enterprises, as well as the academics. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan  We know the value of the programme in terms of the student experience. People pick up linguistic skills and become more rounded students. It is proven academically that students who engage fare better in terms of their academic life and their job prospects afterwards. There is no denying how important the scheme is. I believe it was worth \u20ac14 million to the Irish economy in 2016 with 25,000 students coming here as well as their families who might visit them. In 2025 we received 44,500 students showing how it has grown exponentially. I ask the Minister to fight for every penny he can to increase that budget because there are concerns that proportionately, students in the scheme will not fare as well. I ask the Minister to emphasise that in his negotiations. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  I very much take the Deputy's points on board. He is right about the contribution to the economy that arises from having the student inflow here as well as the visiting families and so forth. When I was growing up, my own house was home to many visiting students of many nationalities on different courses. It also provides for a richer rounder experience for the host families and the students. Earlier we were talking about the age of AI, digital skills, skills gaps and some of the automated tasks being carried out now. A student who has travelled, experienced other cultures, and acquired language and communication skills will be much more resilient in the face of AI and changing digital transformation and the new world we are entering into. I agree with the Deputy that it is an extremely important progression. I will absolutely be keeping a watchful eye on that, as Ireland assumes the Presidency of that Council, to ensure the budget is maximised for Irish students. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Education Schemes"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/dbsect_29","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Veterinary Services","counts":{"speechCount":9,"speakerCount":4},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/dbsect_24","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_29","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marian Harkin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_29.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Conor Sheehan)  Question No. 160 is being taken by Deputy Tony McCormick on behalf of Deputy Cleere. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  I am taking this question on behalf of Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere, a great Kilkenny sportsman in his day. I want to convey his congratulations to Offaly on their great performance at the weekend. He wants to wish Offaly well in the upcoming Leinster Championship.  The question is to ask the Minister if the veterinary course at Kildalton College will have its first intake of students in 2026 and if he will make a statement on the matter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Conor Sheehan)  The Minister has two minutes to----- "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marian Harkin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marian Harkin  Do not forget Roscommon in the Connacht final. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  Well done to all the winners and commiserations to all who did not make it over the line. The ongoing success of Offaly hurling is to be celebrated in Offaly but perhaps to be feared in other counties in Leinster. We will wish the Deputy well for now, but we will see where it goes.  Before I speak about Kildalton College, I compliment the team in Mount Bellew Agricultural College in County Galway, which I visited with Deputy Albert Dolan and Senator Anne Rabbitte recently. It is also hosting the veterinary course in ATU, which is coming on very well. Both of the courses in Mount Bellew and Kildalton are part of the new veterinary expansion. A number of years ago we realised that there was a huge demand for veterinary places and many of our students were leaving the country to study in Poland and further abroad - some in Edinburgh and some in eastern Europe - and we needed to up the ante in veterinary course provision.  Two new veterinary schools are being provided now, one in ATU and one in SETU, with 40 students in each.  The SETU programme will be supported by the Glassworks site in Waterford, but also through Teagasc's Kildalton College, which operates a working farm. That reflects international best practice between the academic laboratory experience at the Glassworks site and the practical hands-on farm knowledge at Kildalton.  There is some good news to report on that. The planned commencement of 40 places for this September has received a significant boost with the opinion of reasonable assurance from the Veterinary Council of Ireland inspection of the bachelor of veterinary medicine programme. What that opinion of reasonable assurance means is that the regulatory body has now said that it is satisfied that this course passes muster, something that was expected, but which we could not take for granted would come through. My officials have been engaging intensively on this, and we have now received that assurance. This means the students are guaranteed it will commence as planned this September. It is a very important step, which will be welcomed across SETU and ATU for the reasons I have mentioned. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  The Minister's answer marks a hugely positive step forward for agriculture and animal healthcare in Ireland. The introduction of a veterinary course in Kildalton College offering 40 places each year is something that cannot be overstated in its importance. For too long, we have faced a serious shortage of qualified vets across the country. This has impacted farmers, the meat industry and even everyday pet owners who rely on timely and professional care for their animals. At the same time, many Irish students have had no choice but to travel abroad, often to countries like Poland, as the Minister mentioned, to pursue their dream of becoming veterinarians. Now, with these additional places here at home, we are not only strengthening our educational system, but also investing directly in the future of Irish agriculture and animal welfare. This is a practical, meaningful solution to a very real problem, and one that will benefit communities nationwide. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  Absolutely. I look forward to visiting Kildalton, and I am going to arrange to see it myself shortly. This has that best practice combination of academic theory in the college institutions and hands-on farm experience on the practical college farm at Kildalton. I visited the UCD Lyons Farm just outside Celbridge in my constituency a number of times to see the wonderful work it does. This is an essential part of it. What is welcome in these courses is that while the students will, of course, have the same veterinary degree as a veterinary degree awarded from institutions anywhere in the world, there will be a particular opportunity to focus on large animal practice in these facilities at Kildalton and Mountbellew, for SETU and ATU, respectively, because there will be more of that traditional agricultural setting. In time, it might allow them to develop small animal practice for, dare I say it, city vets and large animal practice for vets in more regional centres of education. Of course, it also makes it much more accessible and available to students from the south east and the midlands, and from the north west for ATU. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  The establishment of a veterinary course in Kildalton College is not just an educational development, but a boost for the entire Piltown-Kildalton region. Bringing 40 students into the area each year will have a tangible impact on local life and businesses. These students will live and study in, and become part of, the community. They will support local shops, accommodation providers and services that may have been struggling in recent years. This kind of steady, long-term presence brings the vitality and economic activity that rural areas truly need. At the same time, we are building a pipeline of skilled professionals who will go on to serve farms, clinics and industries across Ireland. It is a win for education and for the whole area. I compliment the Minister's team on the hard work they did to ensure this course happened. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  I thank the Deputy. I agree with him about all the benefits that will flow to the regional areas from this. The expansion is being funded through the veterinary places activation programme. That wider programme is backed by \u20ac155 million, with \u20ac80 million specifically ring-fenced for veterinary education. It is a very important programme. I set a target across government to increase the number of healthcare places, and professional places overall in order to reduce the points pressure on the high points courses like medicine, veterinary and dentistry. Already, we are seeing 1,100 new places across a number of professions coming good on that. In this case, in particular, there are 80 new places for this September across the two new veterinary schools. Even the fact that there are two new veterinary schools in existence is wonderful. They now have representative bodies in the different agencies and boards. I am sure they will play their part in shaping the future of Irish veterinary and making a strong contribution to the regions where the colleges are located. Their graduates will be an exciting new, dynamic force within the veterinary sector. I wish all of the students who applied this year every success. I thank SETU and ATU for rising to the challenge. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Veterinary Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/dbsect_30","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Further and Higher Education","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/dbsect_24","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_30","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marian Harkin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_30.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marian Harkin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Deputy Marian Harkin)  It is a high priority for me and my Department to support the development of high-quality and accessible tertiary education systems that reflect the full diversity of Irish society and ensure that all learners can access and successfully complete their education. Since the establishment of the first technological university in 2019, the Department has prioritised targeted investment of over \u20ac300 million in technological universities to ensure structural, high quality, inclusive education, training, research and innovation across the regions. As part of this funding, last year, my Department announced the targeted enhancement fund, which delivered \u20ac65.8 million for the technological sector and publicly funded specialist colleges.  ATU operates nine campuses across the northern and western region. As of now, it is a region in transition, but thankfully, it is being reclassified as a more developed region. However, due to its lagging status, ATU was allocated \u20ac10.5 million from this fund over the next two years.  The Deputy is particularly interested in the Technological University of the Shannon, TUS. It was the third technological university to be established and the first cross-regional technological university, with its main campus in Athlone. Since its establishment, it has considerably assisted higher education access, growing regional development and providing more opportunities to students, staff, business and enterprise, and local communities, serving communities in counties Westmeath, Limerick, Tipperary, Clare and Offaly. TUS has been allocated \u20ac6.3 million from this fund over the next two years. As the Deputy can see, this is a significant investment that is improving access to higher education in Offaly and the midlands. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  I thank the Minister of State. Improving access to higher education in regional areas is critical, not just from an educational perspective, but also from a social and economic perspective. The Minister of State spoke about the great work that is being done by TUS and also Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board, LOETB, in its third level exploits in Offaly. Too often, students in regional counties face barriers that are less pronounced in larger urban centres. Cost-of-living pressures, accommodation shortages and travel distances can make access to higher education significantly more difficult for families. It is important that students feel they can pursue further and higher education opportunities without feeling they must leave their communities permanently in order to succeed.  I welcome the important role being played by TUS and the work being done by LOETB. However, it is important to note that Offaly still has very limited direct access to third level education provision, although excellent work has been done locally through LOETB. I am passionate about improving the situation and ensuring that students and families in Offaly have greater access to opportunities. Will the Minister of State outline what additional investment is planned for our area? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marian Harkin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marian Harkin  I am pleased to say that the midlands are well served by Technological University of the Shannon because it offers students from Offaly and surrounding counties high-quality university education. What I am talking about in particular today are the tertiary programmes. They offer students the opportunity to begin a course in further education before transitioning to complete their degree in higher education. We have invested \u20ac4 million from budget 2026 towards the development of these programmes. In 2026 and 2027, Laois and Offaly ETB will be offering four tertiary pathways, in partnership with SETU and TUS, in programmes including business, technology and nursing. Students on these courses can spend the first year of study in their local education and training board before transitioning to higher education, with no fees, smaller classes and additional support while they are in the ETB. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  Regional education provision is not just about access to courses. It is also about supporting balanced regional development and ensuring that talent can be trained within communities. Will the Minister of State outline how the Department is ensuring that regional institutions are properly resourced to compete, grow and respond to emerging skills needs, particularly in areas linked to technology apprenticeships and further workforce demands?  How will the Department measure whether progress is genuinely being made in improving regional access to higher education over the coming years?  While the tertiary courses are absolutely fantastic and brilliant, we would like to have an outreach in Offaly from somewhere like TUS that is providing third level education for people who want to participate in third level in their home towns to avoid the cost of having to pay for accommodation by moving away and avoid the cost of transport by travelling on a daily basis, and to make sure that we have that offering in Offaly in order that they do not have the burden of the extra costs. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marian Harkin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marian Harkin  I hear what the Deputy is saying. Tertiary education is a great pathway. It is such an opportunity for students. It is not within the CAO system, so it allows students to access tertiary education. They can start in their local ETB and, if they like, progress on to further education in third level institutions. That is available to students across the country - in Offaly just as well as anywhere else. TUS and SETU are the Deputy's main partners in all of this. That is where the third level institutions are. Of all the locations I visited in the country, the one that impressed me the most when it came to tertiary education was the national construction training campus in Mount Lucas. To me, that is a standout initiative. It offers training in areas like modern methods of construction and near-zero energy buildings. That is an example of regional education provision. It is so important for the region the Deputy represents. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Further and Higher Education"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/dbsect_31","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Further and Higher Education","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/dbsect_24","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_31","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_31.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  I am aware of the Deputy's interest in STEM, drug discovery, life sciences, pharmaceuticals and all those related matters. They are also a key priority for me, as is support for STEM overall, as well as being a key strategic priority for the Government, given its increasing criticality to economic growth, to resilience, future skills needs and regional development. I know the Deputy is very close to that in Cork with a number of significant employers in this space.  In relation to Cork particularly, the provision of higher education places in STEM is kept under review through workforce planning and higher education institutions. My Department also supports a network of regional skills forums to help employers to address their skills needs. I will be in Cork this week. On Thursday, I will be visiting UCC, among other venues. Part of the conversation, as it always is, is understanding their requirements, needs and skills and making sure they have a strong STEM ecosystem in place. Of course, they do. The presidents of both UCC and MTU, Professor O'Halloran and Professor Cusack, provide significant STEM courses and options, along with the ETB STEM pathways through the tertiary system.  There is a number of tertiary degrees with a STEM focus being delivered in Cork. I advise anybody engaging with students to make them aware of the tertiary degree paths, because these are ways that students can enter third level and higher education through local FET colleges and local ETBs. Fees are nominal. They may be \u20ac50 but may not even be that much in some cases. Students can progress into second year and move into a more traditional university for third year and beyond. There is a number of tertiary courses in STEM as well. Significantly, I recently visited the Tyndall National Institute in Cork, where I made a \u20ac160 million commitment in terms of building out the next generation of semiconductors, photonics and quantum and AI technologies. It is a world-leading institution. That was the first output of my new INSPIRE research programme. That is money well spent in the Cork area. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan  I will take from the Minister's response that he is satisfied or somewhat satisfied that enough courses are being filled and enough graduates are coming through the pipeline. The Minister knows the importance of Cork. He outlined it himself. According to the Irish Examiner , we are home to seven of the top ten pharmaceutical companies in the world. Approximately 14,000 people are employed across Cork in those pharmaceutical companies. We are a hub for the global life sciences. Maintaining that position is imperative for us in Cork. The most important thing that can help us to maintain that competitive edge is our people. As the Minister has said, UCC and MTU do phenomenal work. He mentioned the Tyndall National Institute. We are a hub of innovation. We are looking to grow the 14,000 jobs to 21,000 jobs by 2027. There have been recent job announcements by Eli Lilly, Regeneron and AbbVie. The demand is quite clear. The question is whether our STEM pipeline can keep up. Fundamentally, the Minister's stat data here is saying that while we have the highest proportion of graduates, we are going to come under increasing pressure in the coming years. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  I thank the Deputy. I would welcome his input, with his strong local knowledge and policy knowledge of the area, for STEM provision in Cork in particular. If he thinks there are particular gaps that we need to fill or areas we need to work on or address, I would welcome that engagement. One of the policy initiatives I am pursuing is a widening of our doctoral programmes because many STEM workers ultimately come through PhD programmes. Many of those go on to work in industry. I think up to 90% of them do. The earning potential of those with doctorates is significantly ahead of undergraduates coming out at earlier stages. The statistics show us that those with doctorates are more likely to found campus companies or to go on to very successful enterprises afterward. Between the Tyndall National Institute, which I mentioned already, and other activities where we are investing in research and research funding, I opened this morning the first call for the more general round of the INSPIRE programme. A total of \u20ac150 million is being made available, and I strongly expect Cork to be making significant bids and submissions of interest to replace the foundational equipment across each university, labs, libraries, equipment, etc., as a refresh and rebuild module. That is the first phase and it is open as of today. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan  If the Minister asks, he will receive my local knowledge. I visited a company recently. I will not name the company, but I would love for the Minister to visit it at some stage - maybe not this Thursday because I know his schedule is full, but perhaps at another stage when he is in Cork. This company employs 65,000 people internationally, 500 of whom are in Cork and based in the city centre. The vast majority of them are PhD graduates. I recently attended there in late January. A total of 80% of their workforce have had to be brought in from abroad because they cannot satisfy what is required here in Ireland. That then has knock-on effects for housing and renting. These people are in high-paid jobs but struggle to even get a rental. We genuinely need to put the money in domestically, as well as bringing in international expertise. That is part of what we have to do. That is part of the success story to keep fuelling this. I was listening to a previous question in relation to the number of people coming in from abroad undertaking courses here and so on. There is a balance there. Nobody is saying we do not need foreign people to come in and study here, of course we do, but there is a balance there that we need to strive for. This particular company would put a spotlight on some of the difficulties that are coming down the pipeline. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  That is important to hear. I have set up what I call a skills roundtable series of events where I am engaging with sectoral employers. The first event took place about six weeks ago in Grangegorman with a range of employers. I am hosting a construction skills event with the Minister, Deputy Harkin, and the Minister, Deputy Browne, later this month to hear from different construction employers such as the Construction Industry Federation, etc. I will be talking to AI and professional services employers before the summer, and then moving onto life sciences. I think pharmaceuticals will be the next up. The Deputy may have an interest in that and may wish to suggest attendees. Perhaps the company he referred to may be a suitable panellist at that. The entire point of that exercise is to engage with employers and with industry in the same room as my training agency, SOLAS, the HEA, the ETBs, etc.; to have the conversation in real time; to ask what the gaps and needs are; and to ascertain what patterns are coming through. Are they being supplied with the relevant competencies? Is the training system providing? One of the findings from the most recent event was that transversal skills need to be increased in terms of communication, analytical ability, teamwork and those sorts of universal skills, which are not as specialist as some courses might provide, but are ultimately foundational to everything. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Further and Higher Education"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/dbsect_32","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Student Accommodation","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/dbsect_24","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_32","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marian Harkin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eamon Scanlon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eamon-Scanlon.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Eamon-Scanlon.S.2002-09-12","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_32.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marian Harkin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marian Harkin  I thank Deputy Scanlon. He has made representation on this issue to me on many occasions.  To provide the background to this, in February 2025, under section 8(1) of the Technological Universities Act 2018, the Minister, Deputy Lawless, approved Atlantic Technological University\u2019s request to acquire a 16.35 acre site near its campus, to be funded from existing reserves. However, the HEA has since confirmed that the purchase did not proceed. I will come back to that in a moment. Both Deputy Scanlon and I are aware of what has been happening on that.  However, I want to assure the Deputy that I recognise the significant impact that the supply and affordability of student accommodation is having on students, including in Sligo. In March, the Department published the national student accommodation strategy, which sets out a clear pathway to improve access to higher education by addressing supply, viability and affordability challenges, with projections showing demand for around 42,000 additional beds over the next decade. The strategy addresses barriers to student accommodation development through a balanced approach. I will not go through the list but it is quite detailed.  My Department has engaged extensively with technological universities including ATU Sligo, and both the Minister, Deputy Lawless, and I will be meeting them again this week. The Department has developed multiple programmes that will be brought forward on a phased basis this year through the newly established higher education institution student accommodation programme.  I have spoken to the county manager in Sligo, who tells me Sligo County Council is in discussion with a private provider to see if it would develop the 16 acre site Deputy Scanlon mentioned in order to provide student accommodation. My most up-to-date information is that these discussions are ongoing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eamon Scanlon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eamon-Scanlon.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Eamon-Scanlon.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eamon Scanlon  The announcement in February 2025 represented a significant boost for the university, particularly given that this site had long been identified as a crucial element in addressing the ongoing accommodation crisis in Sligo. For several years the shortage of suitable and affordable student housing has placed considerable pressure on both the university community and the wider local area. It is, therefore, understandable there is ongoing frustration.  In November 2024, Sligo County Council voted to sell the land to ATU, specifically for the development of student accommodation. We are now 18 months on from that decision and, despite initial optimism, progress has been slower than many had hoped for. The sale was agreed on the clear condition that a substantial portion of the lands would be dedicated to the construction of student housing, reflecting the urgency of the situation.  The site has the potential to make a transformative impact, with early proposals indicating capacity between 300 and more than 900 beds alongside the possibility of future campus expansion. Such development would play a vital role in easing the acute housing pressures faced by students each year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marian Harkin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marian Harkin  I cannot disagree with anything the Deputy has said but I reiterate that in February 2025 the Minister granted ATU Sligo permission to proceed with the acquisition of that 16.35 acre site at Ardaghowen in County Sligo. The approval did not convey or imply approval for any proposed capital investment that ATU might be considering for the lands. ATU was directed to fund the cost of the acquisition from within its existing reserves. ATU Sligo did not progress with this site purchase.  I know what the Deputy is saying about what the local authority is doing. As I said, it is my understanding that, as we speak, the local authority is in discussion with private providers to see if they could develop that site for student accommodation. Without being specific about it, right now that seems to be the best possible way forward. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eamon Scanlon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eamon-Scanlon.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Eamon-Scanlon.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eamon Scanlon  To be honest, I was not fully aware of the situation. In recent years hundreds of students in Sligo have found themselves without suitable accommodation following the repurposing of two privately owned student housing complexes that had traditionally provided beds for approximately 500 students. Their conversion to facilities for international protection applicants significantly reduced the availability of purpose-built student accommodation in the area, placing immense pressures on both new and returning students. The shortage had a profound impact on student life at ATU. Currently, an estimated 60% of students are commuting, with many travelling long distances each day simply because they cannot secure a place in which to live.  It is crucial that, whatever considerations have to be taken and whatever proposals are in place, this site move quickly to provide student accommodation to ensure the fine university we have continues to grow and grow. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marian Harkin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marian Harkin  I appreciate Deputy Scanlon's considered and reasonable approach to this. I am just as familiar as he is with the history, what has happened and the fact that we had student accommodation that is no longer available to students. A lot of people are extremely concerned about that. What the Deputy has said underlines the urgency to move forward with whatever mechanism we have to provide student accommodation in the shortest possible timeframe. As I said, the Minister gave that permission to ATU but it did not proceed with the purchase of the site and now Sligo County Council is actively looking at the site and what role it could play. It is great to see that our local authority is playing such a positive role in looking at the provision of student accommodation. Obviously, everything is in the initial stages so I cannot say anything more than that, but I can tell the Deputy they are working as best they can to ensure that student accommodation may be provided on the site through a private provider. Even so, I must insist we still have a long way to go on it. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Student Accommodation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/dbsect_33","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Artificial Intelligence","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/dbsect_24","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_33","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_33.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aindrias Moynihan  I welcome the launch of the aiready.ie website and its aims to upskill over 1 million people through free, short, accessible courses. As an introductory platform, it is very helpful and is a positive in that direction. My concern is whether aiready.ie in its current form is equipped to support workers who are facing immediate displacement and whether it connects clearly into deeper retraining pathways. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  I thank an Teachta Moynihan. The pace and scale at which AI and technology in general is changing, adapting and transforming continues to astound us all, so it is all the more important that we try to stay ahead of it and that we drive our national AI skills agenda forward. It is one thing I am very conscious of right across education, research and innovation. As a productivity tool, so many businesses and users are adopting AI now in different ways. In my view, it is positive when properly harnessed and it is welcome. I do not think the worst-case fears are founded, nor do I think the wildest exaggerations of its abilities will be borne out. It is a bit like the Microsoft Excel programme, Google search or, indeed, a smartphone when they came along. We have advances in technology that we can reap benefits from, but ultimately we will move on to a different paradigm.  Among the goals of strengthening literacy for all users, I recently launched aiready.ie as an AI skills platform. It is developed by SOLAS in partnership with my Department. That was based on the advice of the national skills council, which had identified that AI literacy was a fundamental competency and that we had strong skills in the expert-user area but were not as pervasive across the ordinary user or person who wishes to use it for their accounts, for productivity gains or even for planning a personal event to build a foundational awareness. That is an essential element.  I am also launching a new range of courses, free or heavily subsidised through the Springboard+ programme, which will bring a number of microcredential courses and other courses to learners. They can be in employment, they can be independent but those courses will be offered at a heavily subsidised rate, with over 7,200 places being delivered by 36 providers nationwide. Between aiready.ie , Springboard+ courses and a number of microqualifications being delivered through the ETBs we now have quite a wide array of courses and training providers in the AI space. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aindrias Moynihan  Demystifying AI and familiarising people are an important first step. It cannot stop there, however, and the current AI Ready platform is focused very much on the first steps of introduction to AI. AI, as the Minister said, is rapidly evolving, and I am concerned that AI Ready may be focusing on yesterday's AI already. Can it bring people towards deeper retraining pathways? Can it act as a gateway? I look, for example, at MTU in Cork, with a wide range of micro credentials assisting people mid-career with courses in cybersecurity and AI skills and then doing those courses over a number of weeks and getting recognised qualifications on them and skills. Will the website, AIready.ie , be able to evolve into a gateway or a portal so as to bring people towards those courses and put them in a stronger position to work their job for their future roles? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  Absolutely. That is very much the intention. It is, as the Deputy rightly said, currently pitched as an entry-level offering to raise the level of awareness among the general public and to broach that AI literacy or AI familiarity challenge in order that non-technical users can become more au fait with the technology, that it is demystified, as the Deputy said, and that they can get ready for it. That is the goal of the first round. It is very much the intention to continue to build on that platform, to host increasingly more sophisticated courses, to diversify and multiply the number of course offerings through it and to have the AIready.ie platform as a portal to other platforms. For example, a number of ETBs, including my local ETB, KWETB, have recently launched their own AI programme, which is a series of skills and training courses they are now offering at local level but also online in many cases. Every ETB in the country is taking up that baton as well similarly to roll out those AI courses. AIready.ie will continue to be expanded and to have additional course offerings as well as having finger-posting to the different options available on other compatible websites. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aindrias Moynihan  AI Ready is an important first step and it needs to evolve quickly from the basic introduction into a more meaningful enabler and a gateway for other courses. I am glad that the Minister has been engaging with the various colleges, SOLAS and others about the courses they are offering and developing. Will they be available through the AIready.ie portal? Will it act as a gateway or a portal? Because some sectors will be more affected by AI than others, will there be sector-specific courses and pathways set out and signposted for people? It is very much a different situation in financial services and the skills that would be needed there with AI, for example, skills that might be needed in graphic design for AI. Will the Minister outline how it is intended that the platform will be developed so as to support people whose jobs are at risk from AI? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  Again, the Deputy made strong points, and I fully agree. The intention is to continue to expand the portal. In addition, I have asked my Department to develop what we are calling a roadmap for technology and future skills and a statement of ambition, which will set out where we want this to go. There are all the things the Deputy has just described. In addition to the initial range of courses offered, the National Skills Council comprises a group of people, cross-sector, who are engaging with my Department and me to look at skills gaps that exist. We are holding a number of skills round-table events, where we bring sectoral employers into a room. We will host a construction event later this month, and I will host an AI-specific event then in June. The idea behind that is to look at professional services and how they are being impacted by AI, that is, legal firms, accountancy firms, professional consulting firms and many of those white-collar jobs in which we are seeing graduate recruitment being somewhat paused, perhaps, to understand the implications of that. Then that will inform part of the next planning for the next round of AI Ready and subsequent iterations of that. The National Skills Council will be very much a part of the team attending at that event and will draw from that expert evidence as to where we need to go next and what courses need to be offered. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Is f\u00e9idir teacht ar Cheisteanna Scr\u00edofa ar www.oireachtas.ie. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Written Answers are published on the Oireachtas website. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Artificial Intelligence"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/dbsect_34","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_34","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Paula Butterly)  I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case:  Deputies Dessie Ellis and Paul McAuliffe - To discuss the new school building for Gaelscoil U\u00ed Earc\u00e1in, B\u00f3thar Ghlas Na\u00edon, Finglas East, Dublin 11.  Deputy Jen Cummins - To discuss supports for children and students with dyslexia.  Deputy Malcolm Byrne - To discuss the planned new Courtown Coast Guard building.  Deputy S\u00e9amus McGrath - To discuss the recruitment process for the Defence Forces.  Deputy Paula Butterly - To discuss increasing the mandatory retirement age for firefighters from 62 to 65.  Deputy Barry Ward - To discuss support mechanisms for families when their childcare centre pulls out of the core funding model.  Deputy Michael Cahill - To discuss measures to avert a proposed strike action within the ambulance services.  Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher - To discuss access to approved treatments for people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.  Deputy Ryan O'Meara - To discuss investment in the Limerick to Ballybrophy rail line.  Deputy Colm Burke - To discuss the establishment of a national radiation therapy equipment replacement programme.  Deputy Danny Healy-Rae - To discuss the delay in opening the Killarney Community Hospital.  Deputy Tom Brabazon - To discuss the disruption to DART services in north Dublin.  Deputy Michael Murphy - To discuss actions to address growing road safety risks associated with horse-drawn vehicles on public roads.  Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa - To discuss supports for those with frontotemporal dementia.  Deputy Keira Keogh - To discuss the transparency of the CODA process for Ladies Gaelic Football Association clubs and players.  Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan - To discuss the loss of medical card access due to age-based insurance restrictions on general practitioners.  Deputy Pa Daly - To discuss provision of an additional special needs class in Ballyduff.  Deputy John Lahart - To discuss the proposed move of the An Post sorting office in Edmondstown to Lucan.  Deputy Thomas Gould - To discuss the promised review of the voids return programme.  Deputy Maurice Quinlivan - To discuss patient safety concerns raised by the University Hospital Limerick medical board.  Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire - To discuss breaches of the working time directive for Defence Forces staff.  The matters raised by Deputies Ellis and McAuliffe, O'Meara, Healy-Rae, Quinlivan and Lahart have been selected for discussion. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/dbsect_35","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_35","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/dbsect_36","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Schools Building Projects","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/dbsect_35","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_35","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_36","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dessie Ellis","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dessie Ellis","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dessie Ellis  It was with great disappointment that the pr\u00edomhoide, staff, pupils and parents discovered that Gaelscoil U\u00ed Earc\u00e1in was not included in the list of prioritised projects for 2026-27. Gaelscoil U\u00ed Earc\u00e1in, B\u00f3thar Ghlas Na\u00edon, Finglas East, Dublin 11, is a recognised DEIS school and has been acknowledged by the Department of Education and Youth to be in extremely poor condition. It has long been accepted that a new school building needs to be constructed to replace the current school. Gaelscoil U\u00ed Earc\u00e1in has been seeking a proper school building since it first opened in September 2005. The new school building will include 16 general classrooms and a two-classroom SEN unit. The school currently has 291 pupils and the new school will cater for approximately 400 pupils. The project is currently at stage 2a, architectural planning, and is being delivered under the ADAPT programme. To date, the project has stalled. According to the timeline agreed with the Department, the project should have moved on to stage 2b, that is, approval for statutory application, in August 2024. The agreed timeline, as presented to the school by the Department, is not being adhered to. Previously, in a meeting in January 2025 between the school authorities, design team and project manager, the Department requested an additional report to address issues of concern raised by the Department. The report was submitted to the Department addressing these concerns. Since then there has been no further progression of the project. The new school is urgently needed because the school is constantly firefighting as maintenance problems continually arise and a lot of money has gone into maintaining this old building.  Teasta\u00edonn freagra\u00ed uaim maidir leis an bhf\u00e1th ar th\u00e1inig deireadh leis an tionscadal seo. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul McAuliffe  Is mian liom labhairt faoi Ghaelscoil U\u00ed Earc\u00e1in i bhFionnghlas. Rinne m\u00e9 staid\u00e9ar sa teach scoile seo 40 bliain \u00f3 shin. Bh\u00ed mo sheanathair ar choiste t\u00f3g\u00e1la na scoile 70 bliain \u00f3 shin, agus t\u00e1 an teach scoile ag \u00e9ir\u00ed an-sean anois. T\u00e1 teach scoile nua ag teast\u00e1il \u00f3n scoil agus t\u00e1 g\u00e1 leis go han-luath. Gaelscoil U\u00ed Earc\u00e1in is a school I studied in 40 years ago. My grandfather was on the building committee nearly 70 years ago, yet the building still remains in desperate need of improvement. Over recent years, thanks to the tireless work of the principal - I give her great credit; she lets none of us off the hook - we have invested in the school in the form of new windows and other improvements. As she says, however, we are throwing good money after bad because we know that there is a plan for an exciting new school building, and the principal, the students and the school community want to get on with that being built. It is at stage 2a. There are documents, I understand, with the Department that have to be reviewed. There was certainly some back-and-forth over different elements of the design, but we find that it has come to a halt. The school was particularly disappointed when it was not included in the recent list, particularly when an adjoining school, St. Canice's Girls' National School, actually had a letter of intent issued today.  We are very grateful for that but it is all the more reason the Gaelscoil beside it should also get the go-ahead. There is demand for school places in our area. Gaelscoil U\u00ed Earc\u00e1in needs a new building. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (Deputy Jerry Buttimer)  T\u00e1im f\u00edorbhu\u00edoch de na Teachta\u00ed Ellis agus McAuliffe as an \u00e1bhar seo a ard\u00fa sa Teacht. T\u00e1im ag caint thar ceann an Aire Oideachais. T\u00e1 br\u00f3n uirthi nach bhfuil s\u00ed anseo chun labhairt faoi Ghaelscoil U\u00ed Earc\u00e1in. Bh\u00ed an Teachta McAuliffe mar dhalta san fhoirgneamh 40 bliain \u00f3 shin. Bheadh a sheanathair br\u00f3d\u00fail as. Molaim d\u00f3 as an obair at\u00e1 \u00e1 d\u00e9anamh aige ar son na scoile.  The important point that both Deputy Ellis and Deputy McAuliffe have raised is that the project is to provide a new replacement 16-classroom primary school and accommodation for pupils with special educational needs at the existing site. As the Members know, the current school building will remain in operation until the replacement school is delivered and will be demolished thereafter.  I am taking this Topical Issue tonight on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Naughton. I know Deputy McAuliffe has been in contact with her. As has been said, the project is currently at stage 2a, architectural planning - developed design. At this stage, the preferred design option is developed to a point at which the project can be fully cost planned and prepared to lodge for statutory approvals.  This major programme is being delivered under the Department's ADAPT programme. T\u00e1 an cl\u00e1r t\u00f3g\u00e1la scoile ag m\u00e9ad\u00fa. We are increasing the programme. The programme uses a professional external project manager to co-ordinate and drive the design team to achieve the best possible timeframe for the project through the stages of architectural planning and on to tender and construction. As both Deputies have said, the Department of Education and Youth has reviewed the stage 2a submission. The stage 2a stakeholders' meeting between the school authorities, the design team, the project manager and the Department was held in January last year. The meeting concluded with a request for the design team to submit a stage 2a addendum report addressing issues raised by the Department at the meeting. The Department has received this report. Upon review of the report, the Department will advise all stakeholders regarding the progression of the project.  I have been informed by the Minister that she has published a \u20ac7.55 billion NDP sectoral investment plan for the education and youth sectors. This plan places a strong emphasis on maximising existing capacity and the prioritisation of school building projects to meet the most urgent needs. In this regard, there will be a strong emphasis on special education throughout project roll-out. Of the \u20ac7.55 billion, it is envisaged that around \u20ac5 billion will be used for project roll-out to support the delivery and modernisation of school buildings across the large-scale, additional accommodation, modular and annual September accommodation needs programmes.  I am told the Department will continue to build on the progress made with the continued roll-out of these projects on a prioritised basis to meet the most urgent needs in terms of provision of additional capacity and modernisation of existing facilities. The Minister has informed me that she has published a list of 105 school building projects to proceed to construction or tender this year or next year. This includes 80 large-scale and additional school accommodation scheme projects. There is a strong focus on maximising existing capacity and prioritising project roll-out to meet the most urgent needs and particularly to support special education needs provision. Those projects that are at tender stage, stage 3, will be facilitated to progress to construction over the course of this year and next year. Some 35 projects that currently have planning permission and that are at pre-tender stage will also be facilitated.  I will take the views and remarks of both Deputies back to the Minister. I know the reply I have given is not what they wanted to hear as regards where we are going and the provision of additional capacity to cater for the demographics they have described clearly. On foot of what we have heard tonight, I will bring their remarks and views back to the Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dessie Ellis","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dessie Ellis  T\u00e1 d\u00edom\u00e1 orm an rud at\u00e1 r\u00e1ite ag an Aire St\u00e1it a chloiste\u00e1il. N\u00edl s\u00e9 soil\u00e9ir go bhfuil aon dul chun cinn \u00e1 dh\u00e9anamh. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 scannalach nach bhfuil aon rud le tabhairt ar ais don scoil mar gheall ar an bhfoirgneamh nua a th\u00f3g\u00e1il. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 de dhualgas ar an Rialtas f\u00e1s \u00e1r dteanga a chur chun cinn. N\u00edl ach scoil Ghaeilge amh\u00e1in i bhFionnghlas c\u00e9 go bhfuil l\u00edon m\u00f3r scoileanna B\u00e9arla ann. There are lots of English schools all around Finglas. We see seem to be the second class. We do not seem to be taken seriously. This has been hard work. The principal, the pupils and the people in the area have done huge work to get this school running. There is massive demand in our area. This is a kick in the teeth to people trying to get their children into Irish schools and trying to put our language first. That should be the priority of the Government and of the Minister. I am so disappointed in the response. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul McAuliffe  I have to agree. The fact that both Deputy Ellis and I are putting this Topical Issue down together should show the Minister for education how important public representatives in our area consider this issue. Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Aire St\u00e1it as a fhreagra. T\u00e1 na p\u00e1ist\u00ed, na m\u00fainteoir\u00ed agus an pr\u00edomhoide ag obair go dian. Is pobal scoile iontach iad. T\u00e1 teach scoile maith tuillte acu. Imp\u00edm ar an Aire St\u00e1it gach gur f\u00e9idir leis a dh\u00e9anamh chun an scoil nua a th\u00f3g\u00e1il go luath. We have to press ahead with this. The Minister of State has spoken about \u20ac7.5 billion and 108 schools. Previous Ministers were often accused of talking about millions and billions. All of that means nothing to people if they do not have a new school building in their own area. I again ask the Minister of State to communicate to the Minister the joint determination of the public representatives in this constituency to support Gaelscoil U\u00ed Earc\u00e1in. I ask him to do everything in his power to deliver it within the capital budget. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  T\u00e1im ag \u00e9isteacht leis na Teachta\u00ed McAuliffe agus Ellis. T\u00e1 a fhios agam go bhfuil d\u00edom\u00e1 orthu leis an bhfreagra. T\u00e1im ag t\u00f3g\u00e1il an t-\u00e1bhar seo thar ceann an Aire. Mar a d\u00fairt m\u00e9, tabharfaidh m\u00e9 freagra\u00ed na beirte don Roinn agus don Aire. I will disagree with Deputy Ellis on one thing. This Government is committed to the Irish language. T\u00e1imid ag m\u00e9ad\u00fa an l\u00edon scoileanna, buis\u00e9ad Roinn na Gaeltachta agus \u00fas\u00e1id na Gaeilge sna scoileanna agus sa phobal. I understand the frustration and the depth of disappointment of the Deputies. I am taking this Topical Issue on behalf of the Minister. I will relay the concerns the Deputies have expressed tonight to her. As a former teacher and someone who understands the need for scoil nua a th\u00f3g\u00e1il do Ghaelscoil U\u00ed Earc\u00e1in, t\u00e1 a fhios agam go bhfuil fuinneamh ag na Teachta\u00ed i leith an chl\u00e1ir seo. I recognise that the school building project is important to the Deputies. It is an important part of what we do in expending the education budget. I recognise that the reply tonight is not what the Deputies want to hear. I will certainly bring their remarks back. I will definitely relay their concerns as to the advancement of the school building programme to the Department and the Minister. I thank them for their courtesy to me tonight. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Schools Building Projects"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/dbsect_37","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Rail Network","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/dbsect_35","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_35","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_37","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ryan O'Meara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ryan O'Meara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ryan O'Meara  I will raise with the Minister of State the issues my constituents are facing in relation to the Limerick to Ballybrophy rail line, which travels through north Tipperary and stops in Birdhill, Nenagh, Cloughjordan and Roscrea. I will begin by acknowledging the North Tipperary Community Rail Partnership, which has highlighted the potential of this line and the issues facing it for many years.  I will start with some of the issues facing the line. According to local media, commuters in Nenagh were recently locked out of the railway station because the gate to the station was locked. The gate is locked when the station is not in use. The station is actually rarely in use, which is one of my biggest issues. Those trying to travel that day missed their train and their connections.  There are also other issues. No real-time information is provided. Services are cancelled and replaced by buses. Journey times are excessively long and travel times on this regional line are mind-bogglingly inconvenient. It is now 10.30 p.m. on a Tuesday night. Before I came down to the Chamber, I decided to look at what my travel times would be like if I were travelling on the rail line tomorrow. If I wanted to depart Nenagh for Dublin tomorrow, the earliest I could arrive in Dublin, if using local rail, is 9.53 a.m. That is not much use if you are commuting for work. If I wanted to depart Dublin tomorrow to get home to Nenagh, I would have two options. I could choose the 3 p.m. or 6 p.m. service.  The 6 p.m. brings me back by the Ballybrophy line but the 3 p.m. brings me from Dublin to Limerick Junction, Limerick Junction to Limerick Colbert and then Limerick Colbert back out the Ballybrophy line. If I wanted to travel from Cloughjordan or Roscrea to Limerick, the earliest I could arrive in Limerick in the morning is 10.08. Again, that is not much use if you are trying to commute for work. If I wanted to depart Limerick, the only time I could leave that is any bit convenient, but not really, is 5.10 in the evening. My other option is to leave at a quarter to six and travel from Limerick to Limerick Junction, Limerick Junction to Ballybrophy and then back out again. I say that at the risk of sounding like one of the D'Unbelievables while I give that example.  The programme for Government states many things about public transport, particularly on rail lines. One of those points is a commitment to develop additional track capacity, electrification, increased line speeds and new routes to enhance and develop rail services. We already have the track in place on the Ballybrophy line but we want increased speed times and faster journey travel across north Tipperary, and that is a very reasonable request. We do not need a new route. The route is already there. We need faster travel times, more frequent services, more reliability of services and better infrastructure at our stations. That infrastructure point is important because Nenagh could have a transport hub at Nenagh railway station if we could get the investment. It is key to all of this, to getting the station open when it should be open, getting the physical station open and so that those commuting are not facing that locked gate as we saw previously. On top of that, a transport hub in Nenagh railway station would allow the bus stops to move out of the centre of the town and up to the train station to create a real transport hub for Nenagh.  Back in January, Councillor J.P. O'Meara and I met the NTA in its headquarters in Dublin to discuss that transport hub. One of the key points to that is funding. It is a large investment, but Tipperary County Council has the plans, and we deserve that investment in north Tipperary for a key transport hub. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. I am taking it on behalf of the Minister for Transport, who sends his apologies. The Government is strongly committed to providing all citizens with reliable sustainable mobility options. Public transport plays a key role in the delivery of this goal. Improving public transport services and infrastructure is central to improving all people's quality of life. As the Deputy mentioned, the Limerick-Shannon metropolitan area transport strategy sets out the framework for the delivery of the transport system required to further develop that whole Limerick region. A key principle of the strategy is to reduce dependency on the car while increasing the appeal of sustainable transport options. Proposed projects such as double tracking the line from Limerick Colbert to Limerick Junction and improving the frequency of services on the Limerick-Nenagh-Ballybrophy line as demand for travel increases will help to achieve this.  Investment in the Ballybrophy line is provided for under the infrastructure manager multi-annual contract, the contractual arrangement between the Minister for Transport and Iarnr\u00f3d \u00c9ireann for the protection and renewal of the rail network. The current contract runs for four years from 2026 to 2030 and will see over \u20ac2 billion invested in the rail network over this period. The funding will increase service reliability and punctuality, improve journey times and ensure continued safety of rail services across the network. As an example of the type of works funded, in 2021, an enhanced programme of track re-laying on the Ballybrophy line was supported by this programme. Iarnr\u00f3d \u00c9ireann invested \u20ac22.8 million between 2011 and 2020 on improvements and upgrades to the infrastructure on the Ballybrophy to Limerick rail line. The upgrades were made up of a range of infrastructural improvements across the track, bridges, signalling systems and other structures that comprise the assets on this route. Irish Rail has invested further in the line between 2020 and 2022, which ha seen the route upgraded from jointed track to continuous welded rail, yielding journey time improvements of 15 minutes. Any further journey time improvements would be dependent on further investment in level crossings and other infrastructure. There are 12 staffed level crossings on the Limerick-Ballybrophy branch and there are no plans to automate these in the short to medium term. A re-signalling scheme for this branch will likely be required to facilitate the automation of these level crossings.  An estimate in 2023 suggested it would cost in the region of \u20ac58 million to re-signal the line and automate these level crossings, but further studies would be required to produce a definitive current estimate. The high number of user-operated crossings, including farm crossings, would also need to be addressed to further improve journey time. As well as addressing gatekeeper resources, one of the most significant issues currently is fleet availability. While new trains entering service from 2027 onwards as part of the DART+ programme will initially have direct benefit within the greater Dublin area, the secondary effect of these new trains will be to free up intercity and commuter trains currently operating on the northern line to be used on other routes around the network. Their deployment will be subject to review with, and the approval of, the National Transport Authority, subject to demand and infrastructure capacity at the time. The Minister of State, Deputy Canney, the Minister and I look forward to working closely with the NTA and Iarnr\u00f3d \u00c9ireann in the coming years to increase the number of trains in operation on regional lines across the country.  Deputy O'Meara's points are well made about the commuter line, the servicing of it and the need for a uniformity of approach. I will bring his remarks back to the Minister. I thank the Deputy for meeting with the NTA and for his ongoing advocacy and the work he is doing. His points are well made and are part of what we will be the national rail framework in the coming years. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ryan O'Meara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ryan O'Meara  In his answer the Minister of State touched on a number of points I had intended to raise. There are the issues concerning the amount of time it takes to travel the line or the limitations on the speed of trains in the line. The first is level crossings and the second the signalling system, which is not out of the past century but the century before that. Some Members in the House might know but the Fianna F\u00e1il Ard-Fheis is on this coming Saturday, and it will be 100 years old on 15 May. One hundred years ago, when Countess Markievicz, Eamon de Valera, Se\u00e1n Lemass and others were planning the foundation of Fianna Fail, the signalling system on the Ballybrophy line was not new technology then, and yet we are still using that technology today. The answer to the issues facing the Ballybrophy line is investment. It is serious investment, but it is long-term investment with a long-term vision for north Tipperary and commuter accessibility to north Tipperary.  The argument for many years for people in Birdhill, Nenagh, Roscrea and Cloughjordan was about keeping the line open because there was so much discussion about closing it. That argument is over. It is done. The line is open and it is not going anywhere, but the argument now has to be on future investment and future viability of the line. It is only viable with major investment from the Government. We have to have ambition for our future and ambition for the future of north Tipperary. There is major potential for commuter transport in north Tipperary out of Birdhill, Nenagh, Roscrea and Cloughjordan. Nenagh is already a satellite town of Limerick. Roscrea has huge potential to be that and so much more. Birdhill is already close to Limerick and Cloughjordan, while being a rural village, has major sustainability principles with the eco-village there. However, Irish Rail has said it is going to invest massively over the coming 25 years, with billions going into the rail infrastructure across this country. In north Tipperary, Nenagh, Cloughjordan, Roscrea and Birdhill deserve their fair share of investment in our regional line. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  I share the Deputy's point that the Department and the Minister and Minister of State are fully supportive of investment in rail. The Deputy's ambition for north Tipperary and the areas he has mentioned is correct. The All-Island Strategic Rail Review will be the pillar on which we will outline our approach, that is, the Department's approach, to sequencing and optimising the recommendations in the coming years. The important point is that, in the short term to 2030, the prioritisation strategy specifies a number of early interventions to be delivered in the coming years, which include a new platform at Limerick Junction, which will support through services between Cork and Galway via Limerick and more movements from Cork to Limerick. It also includes a passing loop at Clonmel, which will achieve that two hourly service between Limerick and Waterford. In addition, there are the pieces around electrification and line speed on the Dublin-Cork, Dublin-Belfast and Belfast-Limerick Junction lines. Under the All-Island Strategic Rail Review, in the context of Limerick-Ballybrophy, the ambition is to increase the service frequency to a two hourly service in each direction on that line. It should also be noted that projects referred to in the rail review and prioritising strategy will be advanced by Government in the context of the infrastructure guidelines.  Again, the points made by the Deputy are pertinent.  The ambition the Deputy speaks about is one that we have as a Department. The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and I look forward to the progression of the recommendations of the rail review over the coming years in the Limerick region. I certainly hope that our successors here, whether they are celebrating 200 years of Fianna F\u00e1il or whatever, will not have to have this conversation about the important point the Deputy makes. The argument has been won. He is right, and I thank him for his contribution. It is our job to make sure that we make improvements on the line, for increased travel and shorter times, so that the next generation and this generation can have commuter rail, which is what we all badly need. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Rail Network"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/dbsect_38","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Nursing Homes","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/dbsect_35","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_35","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_38","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  I am glad to get the opportunity to raise with the Minister of State the proposed opening of the new Killarney community nursing home, which has been completed for over 12 months. There is a lot of frustration in the region, the town and all around it with the delay in opening it. As I said, it has been completed for over 12 months. The lights were on there every night through the winter. The heating has been on and everything, and people are wondering. Councillor Maura Healy-Rae brought a motion to the area meeting some days ago and she was supported by her fellow councillors. Each of them has often asked why there is a delay, what is happening and why it is not opening. There is a conflict in relation to the proposed staffing of the hospital. It will require a lot of extra staffing. The INMO said recently that the HSE has not engaged with it regarding the staffing issues. In recent days, a senior HSE official said the HSE is engaging with the INMO every week. Someone is right and someone is wrong, or maybe both are wrong, or maybe both are right, but at the same time, the hospital has not been opened.  So much is contingent on this hospital opening. The present district hospital in Killarney and St. Columbanus home are practically together. The long-stay patients in St. Columbanus home are to be moved to the new hospital to make way for a primary care clinic. The old district hospital is to make way for respite for elderly people and, as I understand it, elderly people in care are entitled to four weeks of respite. Many people did not get that in our area last year. We also have a minor injuries clinic. That is to be in St. Columbanus home, the respite is to be in the district hospital, and we do not yet know where the primary care clinic is going to be. They are all contingent on each other.  Does the Minister of State know when the hospital will open? Does he know if there is engagement between the nurses' union and the HSE? God almighty, the amount of money that the HSE has got in this year's budget alone. The worry is that it has come out in recent days to say there is an embargo on hiring staff in the south west. We are in the south west and I hope this is not going to hit or hurt our hospital opening. As I said to the Minister of State, there is ambivalence about who meets whom, but they certainly need to meet each other and we need to get the hospital open. I am asking the Minister of State to give me an answer about what is happening, if he can. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kieran O'Donnell)  I thank Deputy Healy-Rae for raising this important matter. Long-term residential care is a crucial part of the overall continuum of care and, across the country, our HSE community nursing units, CNUs, and community hospitals play a vital role in the provision of long-term care and other services. The Government is committed to continued investment in healthcare infrastructure that supports the highest quality care for our older population. This investment includes the community nursing home capital programme, which was launched to ensure that up to 90 of our public community nursing units and community hospitals would be refurbished or replaced to ensure the best quality environments for our older people.  The public private partnership aspect of the community nursing unit programme continues to progress and will deliver 528 beds in seven facilities across the country. The new community nursing unit in Killarney is part of the public private partnership project and will have a complement of 130 beds providing 50 long-stay beds, 30 dementia-specific beds and 50-short stay beds. The CNU will provide a high-quality living environment that will be in line with all regulatory requirements. I advise the Deputy that the new facility was handed over to the HSE by the contractor in December 2025. I accept that is over four or five months ago.  HSE South West has advised me that preparations for Killarney CNU to welcome residents are now at an advanced stage. The application for the registration of Killarney CNU has been submitted to HIQA and an opening date for the new CNU will be fully finalised once HIQA registration has been achieved, and this will allow for the opening over the coming weeks. Once HIQA registration is secured, the new unit will open on a phased basis, with a planned transfer of residents from St. Columbanus and the district hospital, as the Deputy already referenced, to the new building. HSE South West has assured me that there is ongoing engagement with residents and their families ahead of the transfer. I have taken a particular personal interest in the opening of this CNU. I have met the HSE on a number of occasions with Department officials to ensure that Killarney CNU is opened as quickly as possible. There is a process, and part of the process is that it has to be taken over by the HSE, which happened in December, and then there is an application to HIQA, which has happened. I have requested that engagement with residents and their families take place.  All current staff will transfer to the new facility, and I have been advised that the recruitment campaigns for the additional staff required are well under way to allow for the opening of the additional beds in Killarney CNU. The current two nursing homes have 101 patients. Those staff will transfer to the new CNU. There will be an additional 29 patients to bring it up to a full complement of 130.  Engagement with union representatives at a local level is also ongoing and I thank the staff representatives for their continued engagement. That is taking place. I have spoken directly to the HSE about it and have been assured that it is taking place. I thank the staff representative bodies for their continued engagement.  I advise the Deputy that HSE South West will continue to engage with residents, families, staff and the wider community on all updates in relation to the opening of the new Killarney community nursing unit. HSE South West advises that it does not envisage that the current delay in opening the new Killarney community nursing unit will have any impact on services or new developments. HSE South West is planning to set up an injury unit in the vacated St. Columbanus building to support the existing emergency department in University Hospital Kerry in Tralee and does not foresee any delay in these planned services. A process to appoint a design team to progress the proposal is under way and is expected to conclude in the quarter 2 of this year. The opening of the new community nursing unit in Killarney is an absolute priority for me, the Department of Health and the HSE, and indeed the Government. This state-of-the-art CNU will enhance the lives of older people in Killarney and the surrounding areas for many years to come by providing the highest quality health and social care services, and I look forward to seeing it fully operational. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I have worries and questions about how this will be opened on a phased basis.  Is the Minister of State saying to me that 101 beds will open at the start? When will the other 29 beds open? I can see right away that there will be a requirement for new staff if we are moving the staff  out of the St. Columbanus home and then out of the district hospital. I do not know where the differences in the statements from the INMO and the senior official in the HSE came from but the Minister of State seems to be adamant that they have been talking.  It would be remiss of me if I did not mention this tonight but I want to thank the staff in the district hospital and who are in the St. Columbanus home at the minute for the great care and attention that they have given to patients in both places back over the years, including all the different members of staff who served there and did so well. I thank each and every one of them.  However, I am looking forward because, like I said to the Minister of State, there is deep frustration in the area as to what is wrong and why it is not open. It has been added to by the story from the HSE that there is an embargo in hiring staff in the south west for the rest of this year. It is true that it has come out and said that. I hope that it will not hurt us in Killarney in any way because we have waited long enough. We have waited for the minor injuries clinic. We have been asking for it for over ten years, as well as the primary care clinic and the respite that so many carers deserve. People could not go on a week's holiday last summer because they had no place to get their parent, or in some cases a brother and a sister, into. I am asking for special attention for Killarney because we have waited long enough. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kieran O'Donnell  I thank Deputy Healy-Rae. I join with him in commending all the staff in both St. Columbanus and the district hospital in Killarney who provide such a great service to the patients who are there. As I said, the 101 patients will transfer over to the new community nursing home unit. All current staff will transfer to the new facility and I have been advised that the recruitment campaigns for additional staff are well under way to allow for the opening of the additional beds in Killarney.  I want to see the new community nursing home unit open in Killarney. That is a process. There is an application before HIQA and the way that will work is that the existing residents in St. Columbanus and the district hospital will transfer to the new nursing home when it is registered. I want to see the additional capacity of 29 beds in the CNU to bring it up to 130 beds to be in place as quickly as possible. As I said, it will provide 50 long-stay beds, 30 dementia-specific beds and 50 short-stay beds. It is hugely important and is a priority for me as the Minister of State with responsibility for older people. It is a priority for the Department of Health, the HSE and the Government. We will get the new, state-of-the-art community nursing home unit in Killarney open as quickly as possible. Everyone is working actively on that goal for Killarney. I will continue to meet the HSE, along with the Department of Health officials, to ensure that it continues to get the priority it deserves.  I again state that the opening of the new community nursing home unit in Killarney is an absolute priority for myself, the Department of Health and the HSE. I am committed to ensuring that the residents can move into their new homes without delay. It is their home and that is something that is very important.  I once again thank the staff representatives for their engagement. This is a collaborative effort and we all want to work to ensure that we get this new 130-bed state-of-the-art nursing home unit in Killarney open as quickly as possible. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  I thank the Minister of State. I was asked to ask him if some official from the HSE could meet with the councillors from the Killarney electoral area? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kieran O'Donnell  I will follow up on that request. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Nursing Homes"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/dbsect_39","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Hospital Overcrowding","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-12\/debate\/dbsect_35","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_35","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_39","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Maurice Quinlivan  The medical board at University Hospital Limerick has, as the Minister of State is aware, warned that the risks to patient care at the hospital remain intolerable and unacceptable. I have spoken countless times in this Chamber over the past decade of the challenges faced by patients and staff at University Hospital Limerick, UHL, and I welcome the intervention of Prof. Devlin of the UHL medical board.  Dr. Alan Watts, a consultant in emergency medicine and a member of the board as well, said on the Live 95 FM radio station in Limerick, \"There are people on a trolley in the emergency department who should not be there.\" He said that they should be in a bed and that corridor care is not adequate healthcare. Today, there were 101 people being treated on trolleys and in hospital corridors at UHL. This strips them of their privacy and dignity, yet despite this and despite UHL consistently having the highest number of patients on trolleys in the State, there seems to be no immediate actions being taken to address this crisis.  Those who read about the trolley crisis may believe that it only pertains to those in the emergency department. It does not. A walk through the hospital's zones is a walk past numerous trolleys scattered across wards. I have seen this myself. Professor Devlin also has stated that \"there are trolleys in corridors all around the hospital\". This is a crisis, and it requires a crisis intervention.  I am sure the Minister of State will talk about some of the investments and additions that have been made in the last number of years at UHL and the wider mid-west region. There are commitments to open additional beds in Ennis, St John's Hospital and in Nenagh hospital by 2030 or 2031 but we need immediate intervention to tackle the ongoing risk to patient safety caused by the overcrowding at UHL. Put simply, recent Governments have failed to curb the crisis in healthcare at University Hospital Limerick.  The new bed unit opened in October last year. While very welcome, it has only reduced the numbers being treated on trolleys by approximately 2%. While any reduction is welcome, this leaves on average 94 people on trolleys every single day in UHL to date this year.  The new surgical hubs that could alleviate some of the pressure at UHL will now open at the end of the year and not this month as originally planned. Not only that but the HSE has advised me that it will receive only 50% of the funding needed and that level of funding will struggle to achieve half of the planned 20,000 annual procedures. Will the Minister of State intervene in this issue and speak directly to the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill to make sure that we get the 100% funding that we need?  I have been advised by staff and patients at UHL that the MRI machines are often not working, which leaves patients taking up beds for longer than is necessary as they wait for their slot for MRIs that work. It is really appalling that in a modern hospital already plagued with overcrowding that such necessary equipment is often broken.  The next additional 96-bed unit at UHL is scheduled to open at the end of 2029. It was announced years ago and yet there has been no urgency to swiftly progress it. UHL is not receiving the support that it needs. For instance, if we compare UHL with University Hospital Waterford, despite UHL having double the number of people presenting at the emergency department, University Hospital Waterford has more consultants than UHL. This is a clear demonstration of years of underfunding for the mid-west region.  We have a commitment from the Minister that the three recommendations in the HIQA report will be implemented and yet no board of management has been established to deliver this commitment. The HIQA report, which was published on 30 September 2025, stated the mid-west needs 500 acute additional beds. Some 224 days later, the delays in progressing these recommendations is systematic of the lack of urgency, as usual, where UHL is concerned. A project board needs to be established swiftly to deliver these projects. The challenges at UHL stem from bad decisions taken in the 2000s that ignored the concerns raised at the time about capacity. The board at UHL has called for a suspension of staff ceilings and other staffing restrictions in the mid-west. This call needs the Minister of State's support, and we need to ensure that all resources requested are made available to contribute to the ending of the disgraceful situation at UHL. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kieran O'Donnell  I thank Deputy Quinlivan for the opportunity to discuss the challenges and the ongoing developments to support University Hospital Limerick and our health services across the mid- west region. I am taking this debate on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill.  I acknowledge that there are significant challenges at the UHL site, which are having an impact on patients, staff and families in Limerick and the mid-west region. I also recognise the dedicated and hardworking staff at UHL and throughout the health services in the region and I accept that the numbers on trolleys are too high.  The Government is working and is committed to addressing the challenges facing acute care across the mid-west.  Investment in the hospitals in the region has increased from \u20ac370 million in 2019 to \u20ac763 million in 2025. The budget for UHL has increased from \u20ac265 million to \u20ac569 million in the same period. Staffing at the university hospital has grown by 57% to 4,422 whole-time equivalents, WTEs, since December 2019, which is an increase of 1,608 WTEs from 2,814. This includes 319 more whole-time equivalent doctors, including consultants, 616 more nurses and midwives, as well as 199 more health and social care professionals. The Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, has been advised by the HSE that recruitment of clinical front-line staff at UHL and throughout the region can continue as normal. Baseline implementation of the safe staffing framework has been funded in UHL. The framework was implemented on a phased basis between 2022 and 2024 in the emergency department and all 22 medical and surgical wards.  More must and will be done. The Government is fully committed to delivering the highest quality care in the mid-west. We have carefully considered all of HIQA\u2019s recommendations following its review of urgent and emergency care in the region. The Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, has listened carefully to the determined advocacy of people, healthcare professionals and public representatives across the mid-west. She has visited the region on a number of occasions and will continue to listen. The Minister remains focused on ensuring the recommendations arising from HIQA\u2019s assessment are implemented in a timely and co-ordinated manner and that people in the mid-west have access to safe, high-quality and reliable care.  HIQA\u2019s review identified three potential options for the region, namely, option A, expand capacity at the UHL site in Dooradoyle; option B, extend the UHL campus to include an additional adjacent site; and option C, develop a model 3 hospital in the mid-west to provide a second emergency department. In December, the Minister for Health received Government support to progress a blend of all three options. Work to progress option A is being rapidly advanced, including the delivery of a new 96-bed block at Dooradoyle in October 2025. There is also ongoing work to deliver a second 96-bed block and planning is under way for additional 16- and 66-bed blocks.  The ESRI projected that between 299 and 503 additional beds will be required across the mid-west by 2040 compared to 2023 levels. Under existing plans, we will deliver 420 additional beds by 2031, with 128 of these hospital beds already delivered at UHL. The second 96-bed block is getting under way, along with an additional 82 beds to be delivered. Furthermore, the 420 beds include 48 additional beds planned for delivery in Ennis Hospital, 42 for St. John\u2019s Hospital and 24 for Nenagh Hospital.  To progress option B, the HSE has acquired a 44-acre site in Raheen, just 2 km from UHL. This site provides a significant opportunity to provide meaningful additional capacity and health services to the people of the mid-west.  The Minister visited Clare in the mid-west yesterday and met the public, patient advocates, healthcare professionals and public representatives from the region. The Minister has requested the HSE to deliver additional health services locally at Ennis, Nenagh and St. John\u2019s hospitals where it is safe and appropriate to do so. The next step is to establish a project board to progress options B and C and develop a comprehensive strategic plan for the organisation of services and investment in the mid-west to ensure a balanced, sustainable and region-wide model of care. The Minister for Health is committed to advancing the establishment of the project board before the summer D\u00e1il recess.  I assure the Deputy, the people of the mid-west and all public representatives that the Government will continue to pursue all measures to increase capacity and improve service delivery at UHL and across the entire region. I will bring to the attention of the Minister the two points the Deputy brought up about the surgical hub and the MRIs. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Maurice Quinlivan  I am deeply concerned by a part of the Minister of State\u2019s response. He said that, \u201cUnder existing plans, we will deliver 420 additional beds by 2031\u201d. He also said that 128 of those beds have already been delivered at UHL but HIQA said in September, when it knew these beds were there, that 500 beds were needed. That is what it said. I spoke to senior officials in the hospital before I came here tonight. I am deeply concerned about that.  I am deeply concerned that the mid-west has been left behind for years. We do not just need a small plan to go forward but an intervention. We must realise the mistakes we made in the past. People have been abandoned for years. As I said, Waterford has more consultants than UHL, but we have double the number of people presenting. The staff have been left in an impossible situation where presentations in January and February of this year have increased by 14%. The Government is not planning an extra 14% in its plans. It is actually talking about 300 beds when HIQA says 500 beds are needed. That is a concern.  People deserve to be treated properly. When people come to a hospital, they need to be seen, including those presenting at UHL. The people I talk about on trolleys are people who are deemed to be in need of a bed, but no bed is available for them. At UHL, since 2022, we have had 93,000 people on trolleys. I have been at the hospital recently. I am sure the Minister of State has been there as well with relatives and friends. As Professor Joe Devlin said, there are trolleys everywhere. They are all over the place. People are being treated in corridors. Unfortunately, I overheard people\u2019s diagnoses and people in stress. I heard people talking to doctors and nurses, who are doing their very best in an overcrowded situation.  The answer is very disappointing. The Minister needs to get involved as a matter of urgency to appoint and get that board up and running. It is 224 days since the HIQA report was published. We need to get that board up and running. We need all three recommendations implemented. We must end the scandal of people in Limerick and the mid-west on trolleys. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kieran O'Donnell  I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter and the concerns raised by the UHL medical board. Like the Deputy, I am local TD in Limerick and I am fully aware of the concerns raised. The Government is fully committed to driving significant improvements to the health service at UHL and across the mid-west. As the Deputy stated, UHL is one of the busiest emergency departments in Ireland. Increasing levels of activity in 2026 have attendance up 11% in January to March compared to the same period in 2025. Despite these attendances and a related rise in waiting times, we have seen some improvement in compliance but there are too many instances of prolonged patient waiting times. There are too many people on trolleys. I accept that. It is a capacity issue, as the HIQA report stated.  The Minister for Health and the Government are focused on increasing bed capacity. Staff numbers in UHL have grown by 50% since December 2019. As I stated, the Minister of Health has been advised by the HSE that recruitment of clinical front-line staff at UHL and throughout the region can continue as normal. That is an important point to make people aware of.  More than 53,000 patients attended the three mid-west injury clinics - St. John's, Ennis and Nenagh hospitals - during 2025. Those clinics do great work. The acute virtual ward went live in UHL in July 2024. This has been scaled up to now provide 40 virtual beds, assisting in freeing up hospital capacity. The surgical hub is expected to be in operation by the end of the year, as the Deputy referenced. This will increase theatre capacity and reduce day cases and the low-complexity surgical waiting list in the region. It will make an enormous difference. The purchase of the 44-acre site at Raheen represents a significant milestone and provides an opportunity to plan for delivery of healthcare in Limerick and the region for current and future generations.  Obviously, the Minister is committed to advancing the establishment of the project board before the summer recess. That project board will look at all aspects, including capacity and everything else that is required in the region. It will look at all aspects when it comes to options B and C. Option B is to look at additional capacity and the expansion of the UHL campus to include an additional adjacent site. Option C is to develop a model 3 hospital in the mid-west to provide a second emergency department.  I concur with the Deputy that it is very difficult for patients coming to UHL with the waiting times and trolleys. I join with him in expressing gratitude to the staff in UHL and the entire region for the fantastic work they do. The Government and the Minister for Health are absolutely committed to ensure that we continue to provide further investment in required staff to meet capacity requirements for UHL, Limerick and the entire mid-west region in delivering health services. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar athl\u00f3 ar 11.10 p.m. go dt\u00ed 9 a.m., D\u00e9 C\u00e9adaoin, an 13 Bealtaine 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The D\u00e1il adjourned at 11.10 p.m. until 9 a.m. on Wednesday, 13 May 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Hospital Overcrowding"}]}}]},"contextDate":"2026-05-12"},{"debateRecord":{"house":{"showAs":"34th D\u00e1il","committeeCode":"","houseCode":"dail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/house\/dail\/34","chamberType":"house","houseNo":"34"},"chamber":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/def\/house\/dail","showAs":"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann"},"lastUpdated":"2026-07-02T02:10:52+00:00","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/main","formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/mul@\/main.xml"},"pdf":null},"date":"2026-05-07","counts":{"contributorCount":127,"divisionCount":0,"debateSectionCount":43,"questionCount":35,"billCount":2},"debateType":"debate","debateSections":[{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_2","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_3","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Swimming Pools","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_2","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_3.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joanna Byrne  Considering the significant deficiencies in Ireland's swimming pool infrastructure and the need for urgent investment, can the Minister of State make a statement outlining how we intend to action this, and provide some indicative timelines for same? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport (Deputy Charlie McConalogue)  Ireland's first ever national swimming strategy was published in 2024 and sets out a vision to provide everyone in our country with an opportunity to swim. It includes an action plan containing over 50 actions across five thematic strands, focusing on providing improved facilities, increasing access for people with disabilities, improving the culture of inclusion, better coaching supports, increasing safety awareness and providing a pathway that allows for the nurturing and development of potential high performers.  Further to a specific action in the strategy, Swim Ireland carried out an in-depth analysis of swimming pool provision within Ireland, examining the condition and age of facilities, community accessibility, the availability of swimming lessons, energy and sustainability practices and the provincial and county-level distribution of pools. The resultant Swimming Pool Gap Analysis Report was published in late 2025 and is available on Swim Ireland\u2019s website. The report is currently being examined by my Department and will be a key input to the future development of swimming pool facilities by enabling enhanced decision-making with regard to targeting investment more effectively.  The report was funded by the Department of sport. The report was carried out and commissioned by Swim Ireland on the back of the funding from the Government for that purpose.  At the moment, two capital funding programmes support investment in sports infrastructure, namely the community sports facilities fund, CSFF, and the large-scale sport infrastructure fund, LSSIF. LSSIF applications must be made by either a local authority or a national governing body of sport. The LSSIF is currently closed to applications, and no decisions have yet been made regarding the timing of the next round. Applications for the refurbishment of pools, for other swimming infrastructure works and for the purchase of non-personal swimming equipment can be made under the CSFF, the next round of which we intend to open in the near future over the summer. We will continue to fully assess the report in terms of how we can support the issues and gaps raised and clarified. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joanna Byrne  Ireland has only public pool per 81,000 people. That is a significant deficit compared with other nations like Scotland, which has one per 14,000 people. The Government, like previous Governments, has acknowledged the problem but there is no viable plan to resolve it. The Minister of State has accepted the Swim Ireland report, a pool within reach. That remains a distant reality amid critical swimming infrastructure gaps. There is just no movement in resolving the issues. This is not tomorrow's problem. There is not enough swimming infrastructure to sustain the current levels of participation, let alone plan for the future.  Currently, swimming infrastructure in Ireland is almost entirely in private pools. That means increased cost for clubs, participants and the parents of children who want to swim. It also means very early or late night swim times for clubs and competitors due to the sharing of facilities. All of this needs to be addressed. We need a research-based approach to building pools and we need to deliver them throughout the State. We need to support local authorities in an endeavour to deliver this as well. Action plans like the one the Minister of State mentioned provide everybody with an opportunity to swim. It is just not a reality. If it is, it is at an extensive cost to those who are participating this sport. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  From a Government point of view, this is something that we want to see addressed and the provision of swimming opportunities and facilities improved. That is why we paid for the Swimming Pool Gap Analysis Report, which Swim Ireland commissioned. We are considering the full findings of that report. From a Government point of view, there has been investment through the LSSIF in swimming facilities. We have seen a total of \u20ac41 million allocated over the latest two rounds to support pools, namely, Askeaton pool in Limerick, Dundalk Leisure Centre, Galway Regional Aquatic and Fitness Centre, Portarlington Leisure Centre swimming pool, the Samuel Beckett Civic Campus phase two, the Watershed Development, the Waterpoint Aqua Park, Wicklow swimming pool and Edenderry swimming pool, as well as a designated funding award to three swimming pools in Buncrana, Mullingar and Edenderry. Investment is being put in through the community sports facilities fund. There will be the opportunity to apply for funding this summer as well. We are further considering the gap analysis report and the response required to address the challenges raised by it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joanna Byrne  An adequate number of swimming pools for modern Ireland will not be delivered by the already oversubscribed large-scale sport infrastructure fund or the community sports facilities fund. The local authority swimming pool programme was to provide capital grant aid to local authorities for new, refurbished and upgraded swimming pools and never really did. Now the shift for future funding has moved to the LSSIF. If this remains the approach, then all of these supposedly ambitious public pools in Louth and Meath, in Drogheda, Dundalk, Trim and Navan, will have to continue to pay high rates to private commercial operators. I do not see this being delivered through this scheme. It is something that needs to be considered. This is an ever-growing sport. Participation levels are increasing day by day, but, unfortunately and sadly, so are costs for parents and clubs, as is the need for facilities for those who are competing at a competitive level. We are just not meeting the mark in that regard. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  It is something we want to do more on. Swimming is the second most participated sport in the country. It is wonderful in that it can be from a very young age throughout one's life. There are challenges. The gap analysis report has addressed those. Funding streams continue to be available and will be available this summer. In relation to how we consider the challenges to try to make sure that the opportunity is available to everyone to be able to participate in sport, we are considering the Swimming Pool Gap Analysis Report. We have funding streams in place, and we will proceed with those and ensure those are available. We are also considering how else we may need to respond to address the challenges and the gaps across the country to make sure that swimming opportunities are available to people in all parts of the country and in every community. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Swimming Pools"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_4","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Broadband Infrastructure","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_2","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_4","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Patrick O'Donovan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_4.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Patrick O'Donovan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport (Deputy Patrick O'Donovan)  I thank the Deputy. The Government\u2019s digital connectivity strategy, DCS, aims to have all Irish households and businesses covered by a gigabit network by 2028. A fibre network is faster, consumes less energy and is more reliable than a copper network, and the transition away from legacy copper infrastructure to modern fibre is consistent with that objective. In this regard, the Department supports the prioritisation of a managed transition from copper to fibre-based broadband.  The widespread deployment of fibre infrastructure across the State represents a significant step towards the transition from copper-based networks. However, the acceleration of the switch-off of the legacy copper network cannot be determined on the basis of infrastructure availability alone. Any decision in this area must take account of a range of additional factors, including the protection of end users, the continuity of essential services, affordability and the availability of appropriate wholesale access arrangements. It is also necessary to ensure that competition in the market is maintained and that consumers, particularly vulnerable users, are not adversely affected. As indicated previously in response to Question No. 966 on 18 March 2026, the process by which Eir can retire this network is laid out in the Commission for Communications Regulation Decision D09\/23, Framework for the Migration from Legacy Infrastructure to Modern Infrastructure.  The Government remains supportive of an orderly transition to fibre-based networks, while ensuring that any copper switch-off is carried out in a proportionate manner and in the best interests of consumers and the wider market. In January 2026, the European Commission published its proposed Digital Networks Act, DNA, which is a substantial file and contains several new policy proposals for regulating the electronic communications market. In relation to copper switch-off, the proposal sets out that member states must mandate copper switch-off in all areas where sustainability conditions have been met and it is commercially viable to do so by 31 December 2035. By 31 October 2029, each member state should prepare a national transition to fibre plan and notify it to the Commission.  The DNA proposal is currently being negotiated at official level in Brussels and copper switch-off is one of several significant issues including spectrum, resilience and satellite connectivity being discussed. While it is expected the negotiations will not be concluded during Ireland\u2019s Presidency, Ireland will aim to submit a progress report by December 2026. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert O'Donoghue  I thank the Minister. I look forward to the progress report in 2026. That is good news. I agree that the move to fibre will improve Internet speeds, reduce connectivity problems and support modern services such as online learning, remote working, streaming and digital healthcare. I think that is what the Minister means by end users and vulnerable users. It is especially important for rural Ireland, where better broadband can create new opportunities. Copper networks are also old and expensive to maintain. Fibre is more durable, efficient and better prepared for the future demands of technology. As Ireland becomes more digital, we need infrastructure that can support future generations. The copper switch-off is not about taking something away; it is about replacing outdated technology with a stronger and more reliable system. Overall, this change will help modernise Ireland and improve connectivity around the country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Patrick O'Donovan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Patrick O'Donovan  I do not disagree with the Deputy at all. He gave a good synopsis there as to why the investment in rural broadband is so important. I do not know whether any political party bar my own at the time actually advocated for it, but it has been transformative. I see it in my own home where the broadband that I have now in a rural location with fibre connectivity is a lot faster than in my constituency office and is nearly faster than what we have here in Leinster House. That has been transformative. When I first came into the D\u00e1il in 2011, every second question asked of the Taoiseach and the Minister for communications at the time related to broadband. This is the first broadband question that I have been asked since being appointed Minister, which shows the level of roll-out and the impact that it is having. I raise copper switch-off with regard to vulnerable users, specifically around isolation alarms and alarms for older people where they have the pendants on the wrists. We have to be very conscious that whatever we do, we do not leave them behind, particularly older people who have pendants and wristwatches where they press the button.  There is a bit of work to be done on this yet but I fully understand and empathise with what the Deputy is saying. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert O'Donoghue  I thank the Minister. I will claim some for myself. I believe the project is coming in under budget. It goes back to maybe Pat Rabbite's days and that is over 10 years ago, so it is a long time coming.  While the copper switch-off is an important step forward, many people still do not understand what it means for them. This goes back to the vulnerable end users. That is why the Government should run a public awareness campaign once the time comes. Many households, especially older people and those in rural areas, still rely on traditional landlines and older systems connected through copper networks. Some might not realise they need to upgrade equipment or switch services before the change happens when it eventually comes. Without clear communication, people could become confused or worried about losing phone or broadband services. A Government campaign could explain what the copper switch-off means, when it will happen, how to prepare, and where people can get help and support should they need it. If the Government informs people early and clearly, the transition will be smoother, less stressful and more successful for everyone. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Patrick O'Donovan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Patrick O'Donovan  I agree with the Deputy. A lot of parallels can been drawn from this with regard to when the former Minister, Pat Rabbitte, initiated the Saorview switch-over. When Saorview was being switched over, a large amount of investment was put into public awareness and many vulnerable people, especially the elderly, received assistance to make sure they were not left behind. This is being discussed at EU Council level. We are far more progressed than a lot of our colleagues in the European Union thanks in no small way to National Broadband Ireland and the investment we have made in rural broadband.  However, in Dublin, for example, a lot of people are very reliant on copper. I do not in any way take from what the Deputy O'Donoghue said with regard to copper, which is slower than fibre. The reality is that for older people especially, where the conventional landline is their mode of communication and where the pendant and the wristband are their form of protection, we have to make sure through work we will do with the Minister in the Department of rural and community development, Deputy Calleary, that whatever we do is in an orderly fashion and we do not in any way cause distress to end users who are reliant on the copper network as it is at the moment. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Broadband Infrastructure"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_5","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Departmental Schemes","counts":{"speechCount":10,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_2","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_5","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Patrick O'Donovan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_5.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Patrick O'Donovan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Patrick O'Donovan  I thank the Deputy for raising this question and for his ongoing support for the basic income. In February, I announced that the Government had agreed to a successor scheme to the basic income for the arts pilot. Guidelines for the new scheme were published by my Department on 1 April. The applications portal opened on 15 April and will remain open until 12 May, which is an important date given the fact we are still in the middle of that application process.  The BIA will provide 2,000 artists with a weekly payment of \u20ac325 for a period of three years. The focus of the successor scheme is to support professional artists whose creative practice is based in Ireland. This is a major milestone for the arts in Ireland and I am particularly pleased that the research my Department conducted provided Government with a clear evidence base upon which to make that decision. The research clearly demonstrated both how precarious and difficult it is to be an artist and the positive benefits for society as a whole if we invest in it. The Department has seen strong demand so far with over 3,000 applications submitted. Over 8,200 eligible applications were received under the original pilot scheme. We expect that number to grow substantially before the end date.  My officials are providing assistance with making applications in a number of ways, including an email mailbox, an online video providing information on filling out the form and a telephone helpline. There has been a high volume of email queries, which are being triaged depending on the urgency of the matter. Our officials are also providing over-the-phone assistance for those who have specific accessibility needs and for queries that cannot be dealt with via email . A voicemail service to book these sessions has been in operation since the scheme opened with priority given to those with accessibility needs or who are vulnerable. Assessment for eligibility and the selection of successful applicants for the scheme will begin once applications close on 12 May. I expect payments to begin before the end of the year.  This is a groundbreaking support for the arts in Ireland and recognising the importance of supporting artistic practice and makes Ireland a world leader in how we support our artists and culture and will help to sustain the careers of those who receive it and retain their talent into the future. I encourage artists from every background and every corner of the country to apply for the scheme as is currently laid out. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  I also encourage professional artists and graduates because it is not just professional artists who can apply. There is a number of positions available in this scheme for those who have just graduated.  The issue I had raised initially relating to the website has been addressed. Originally people could not find where to click unless they read the whole front page. That issue is addressed. However, there are other issues. People who have been leaving voicemails or who have been looking for help were not getting the help as quickly as they felt they should. If somebody is an artist and is busy and is trying to access the website or a person to talk to, there is frustration. That has already led to some people thinking they might not apply. I encourage them to apply. The main thing here is to make it as easy as possible for those artists who should be applying to apply. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Patrick O'Donovan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Patrick O'Donovan  I agree with the Deputy. If anyone who has experienced any difficulties and has contacted the Deputy, I encourage him to pass any specifics on to me. We want to try to make it work. It is in our interest that we get the maximum number of eligible applicants because we are only around the corner from the next round of negotiations on public expenditure for the next budget. The success or otherwise of this scheme will be demonstrated not just in relation to the output of the artists but also through the number of eligible applications we receive. The greater the number of eligible applicants we receive is a good thing as far as I am concerned. Whether I am able to give them a grant or not is kind of secondary. It will demonstrate very clearly to the Department of public expenditure and reform on my behalf that there is pent-up demand.  If there are IT problems the Deputy is aware of, I ask him to send them on to me. I also encourage anybody who has experienced difficulty to contact the Department directly or contact my office and we will endeavour to make sure that everybody gets a proper service. I am acutely aware there is a vulnerable cohort here as well who might not be as tech savvy as other people are who we do not want to be excluded. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  The portal has been moved higher up on the page. Originally users had to scroll down several thousand words before they found the portal to click on. It is now in the first one or two paragraphs. When they click onto it the user is brought to a page that says \"An Roinn Department Client Portal\" and asks for an email and password to log in. It is only down at the end where it prompts if they do not have an account to create one account. The person will not have an account; that is the whole point. This is a one-off. For people who are not tech savvy, it can be scary. There are a lot of people who do not like filling out forms, whether they are on paper or online. When somebody gets to that page, it should state somewhere that this is the basic income portal and make the sign-up part larger, just for the next couple of weeks while we are waiting for applications. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Patrick O'Donovan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Patrick O'Donovan  That is very helpful and I will certainly relay that back to the team in the Department to see if we can adjust the home page to address the points the Deputy has made. I am not sure whether that is possible or not but we will certainly try. If there are people who have nothing better to do at 9.05 a.m. than listen to the Deputy and I having a chat in the D\u00e1il and who have specific problems accessing the service, I encourage them to contact the Department. We do not want to leave people behind. I do not want a situation where people say they could not apply because the system would not allow them. That is no good to me, no more than it is no good to the artist. If there are specific issues the Deputy or any other Deputy in the House has encountered regarding the application process, they should let us know and we will endeavour to make sure everybody gets a fair crack at this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  The appeal is for artists to apply. They have until 12 May. The appeal from here if, as the Minister said, anybody is listening, is for people to make the application between now and 12 May. They will then have to wait. When exactly will the scheme start? The Minister has allocated, I think, \u20ac18 million. That amount suggests six months for this year and it will cost \u20ac33 million per year based on 2,000 people. Can the Minister indicate when the scheme will start? The last time it started, there was a----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Conor Sheehan)  The Deputy is over time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  The screen indicates I have 11 seconds. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Conor Sheehan)  That was for the Minister's previous reply. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Patrick O'Donovan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Patrick O'Donovan  I ask the Deputy to bear with me. Our bona fides in this have been well established and we have had a very good engagement with the Opposition.  Once 12 May has passed, and once I have a full read-out of the number of applicants, which I will publish, I will come back to the Deputy. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Departmental Schemes"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_6","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Broadcasting Sector","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_2","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_6","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Patrick O'Donovan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_6.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  I would like to hear if the Minister has any response to the recent radio broadcast levy, which has gone up nearly 70% since 2024, and if he or his Department has any plans to support local radio with this very steep levy increase. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Patrick O'Donovan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Patrick O'Donovan  A diverse, independent and trustworthy media sector, operating in line with appropriate media codes and rules, plays an important role in supporting our democracy, fostering our national identity, heritage and culture, and ensuring access to free and impartial news and current affairs. However, it is equally important that any supervision or regulation of the sector is also independent. As such, the independence of Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n is provided for under section 10 of the Broadcasting Act 2009, as amended.  There is a long-standing principle that costs of regulation are met by regulated sectors, particularly commercial operators. Therefore, provision is made in section 21 of the Broadcasting Act for the imposition of levies to meet the costs of media regulation, supervision and licensing.  The Act also vests authority and responsibility for the levy in Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n. As such, as Minister, I have no role in either determining the cost of regulatory activities or setting the levy. I did, however, meet with two commissioners from Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n last week in order to seek clarity from Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n regarding its approach to implementing its statutory responsibilities with regard to the levy. It was also an opportunity for me to impress upon Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n the need to take the opportunity to more clearly communicate such matters to its stakeholders and the wider public.  I am conscious of the very important role independent broadcasters and outlets play in the wider media sector, particularly at local and regional level. The importance of this role is recognised by ongoing support which is provided to the sector through a range of schemes, funded by both Exchequer and television licence revenues, which are designed to support the continued provision of a diverse range of public service content to audiences.  Between 2020 and 2025, the commercial radio sector was supported with over \u20ac13 million in funding through Sound and Vision. In addition, the number of support schemes has increased significantly over recent years. In 2026 to date, the commercial radio sector has been awarded \u20ac4.3 million under a range of media fund schemes. This represents a very significant increase in funding for the sector and shows the Government's commitment to supporting independent media in Ireland. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  I am heartened to hear that the Minister has at least spoken to Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n about this but I do not believe that explaining to it that it needs to communicate to its stakeholders is enough in this regard. I also do not believe that the argument of an independent regulator is reason enough for the Minister to wash his hands of this issue. As he has said, local radio is a crucial part of the fabric of Irish society. The services that local radio offers to community cohesion, democratic participation, entertainment and culture within this country are so valued by so many members of Irish society, yet this is an industry and a sector that are under great pressure and have been for many years now as we have seen change of ownership and the pressure of disruption from the tech sector. I do not believe it is enough to simply say that the regulator has the right to impose the levy and therefore it can. It is disproportionate compared with the others. Not only that but Deputy O'Donovan is the Minister for the media, and this goes beyond just asking the regulator about it. What is the Minister doing to support the radio sector in this complex situation? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Patrick O'Donovan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Patrick O'Donovan  I have already outlined what I have been doing. The Deputy cannot have her cake and eat it. It is not that long ago that her party and the party that sits beside it were very quick out of the traps, when I asked a question about Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n, to remind me of my role under the Broadcasting Act and the independence of Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n. The Deputy cannot have her cake and eat it. She cannot come in here one day and tell me to keep my nose out of Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n and the second day come in here and tell me to tell Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n its job. That is opposition politics for opposition's sake. The Deputy is good at it, fair play to her, but I remind her of what her party and the party that sits beside it said. This is a statutory organisation that is independent of the Government and that makes its decisions independent of the Minister and of any political interference. The Deputy wants it both ways but she cannot have it both ways. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  That interference, which is how I would describe it, or attempted interference, on the Minister's part was very different from this situation. His is a Government that has been in power for many terms now and it has built and established a statutory body to regulate this sector, so it is beyond me that he can say he has nothing to do with it. It is the Minister who is trying to have his cake and eat it by saying that this regulator can just be established and then let run. It is not interference to examine and engage with his agency on a disproportionate levy on radio of 2.8%, compared with TV at 1.2%, online services at 1.25% and streaming at 0.5%. This is an industry that, as I have said, is already under pressure. The Minister is the one who is trying to have his cake and eat it. He is trying to say he does not have anything to do with this when we know that independent local radio is being crushed. Meanwhile, the online sector, which is pumping out misinformation that local radio is trying to combat, which has taken all the ad revenue and which the Minister's Government is failing to regulate, is cleaning up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Patrick O'Donovan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Patrick O'Donovan  Again, nice try. The Deputy fails to recognise one fact, and I think she was connected previously to the tech sector so she will know the role that Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n has played with regard to the tech sector. Only this week Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n has announced further investigations into the tech sector. The Deputy is right: this Government has been in office for a long time. It has been in office thanks to the votes of the people of the country. We have won successive elections. We have put together programmes for Government, manifestos and mandates that the people have voted for. We have also put forward legislation through the House that the Deputy's party when it was a lot smaller and the party beside it when it was a lot bigger supported in relation to Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n. If the Deputy is claiming people are washing their hands in here, she should stand in front of mirror. She is attempting to place me in a position where she knows I cannot be. Hers was the very party a couple of weeks ago when I asked a question - I just asked a question; I did not make an assertion - that jumped up and down, which of course it does very regularly. Nobody jumps up and down higher than the Social Democrats when it comes to indignation. I am simply saying what the legislation allows for. I have also said that I have had engagement with Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n and I have relaid to Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n the need for it to engage more clearly----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Conor Sheehan)  Minister, you are well over time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Patrick O'Donovan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Patrick O'Donovan  -----with the relevant stakeholders. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Broadcasting Sector"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_7","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Heritage Projects","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_2","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Patrick O'Donovan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_7.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  This question is about the law adopted by the French National Assembly on 30 April with regard to the repatriation of heritage objects taken as a result of colonial plunder. I ask if the Minister plans to establish a similar framework of cultural heritage objects in this State, when the advisory committee on the restitution and repatriation of cultural heritage last met and the recommendations it has made. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Patrick O'Donovan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Patrick O'Donovan  I thank the Deputy for raising this important question. The issues of restitution and repatriation are complex and sensitive matters which have significant impacts on families and communities of origin, as well as more broadly on the cultural landscape. I am aware of the legislation recently passed by the French National Assembly which creates a legal framework for the return of cultural objects taken from former colonies, replacing the previous requirement for separate, case-by-case legislation for restitution.  In Ireland, the advisory committee on restitution and repatriation was established in 2023 to advise the Government on matters relating to restitution and repatriation of culturally sensitive objects held in collections in Ireland. The advisory committee has been expertly chaired by Sir Donnell Deeny, chairman of the UK Government's Spoliation Advisory Panel and member of the Court of Arbitration for Art in The Hague. The Heritage Council provides the secretariat, and the committee's membership brought together diverse experiences, expertise and perspectives from potential claimant communities, the national cultural institutions and other collecting institutions, and the fields of law, ethics, academia, public policy and cultural heritage.  As part of its work, the advisory committee considered the associated legal, ethical, policy, procedural and institutional issues and reviewed the international best practice research available in this area. In 2024, the Heritage Council undertook a national survey to understand the scope and the scale of cultural heritage collections in Ireland. These findings have significantly informed the advisory committee's work and will also be of great interest and benefit to the cultural heritage sector.  Through its work, the advisory committee will provide guidance to support cultural institutions and other bodies that have responsibility for managing historic collections, on associated matters, including collections management and provenance research. I am very pleased with the progress that the committee has made in this regard to date. The committee as a whole met most recently in November 2025 with significant strands of work also being progressed between meetings.  I received the committee's interim report early last year and I am due to receive its final report shortly. I will bring this to Government at the earliest opportunity and I intend to then publish it without delay. I will give full consideration to the advisory committee's recommendations and I will then bring a plan to the Government to seek support for implementation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  The French National Assembly in some ways is setting out where we need to go with this but, given that it is a former imperialist and colonial power, it has a lot more work to do than we should have. That is not to say that there is not within our national institution collections elements of colonial plunder. We should look to ensure that the repatriation of those, where demanded or sought, takes place.  As to the real question, the Minister has mentioned the advisory committee on restitution and repatriation of cultural heritage, saying that it met in November. I believe he also said it was due to meet in February, which was its final meeting. When do we expect the committee's recommendations and final report? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Patrick O'Donovan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Patrick O'Donovan  It is expected shortly. As I said in my reply, I will bring the report to the Government and then publish it. I do not disagree with anything the Deputy has said. Restitution cannot be a one-way street. We need to see if there is anything in Irish institutions that is connected to, funded by or associated with colonial plundering. I do not disagree with that term. I believe the Deputy is being very mild-mannered in using it. We cannot ask others to do as we say and not to do as we do. In a similar way, if other countries, particularly European Union and former European Union countries, have plunder from here, restitution needs to be examined. There are post-colonial museums scattered all over Europe like feathers out of a bag and these contain plunder from all over the place, including from Ireland. There is a compulsion on European Union countries that are funding museums they know to contain loot that was taken from people against their will to recover it and return it to those people's countries. That includes Ireland. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  There are a number of issues here. We are not in disagreement. We must ensure our national cultural institutions and other museums are aware of this issue and will take a proper approach to it. However, funding is required to address that and perhaps to make 3D copies of the material on display so that we would still have a facsimile in the collection. As the Minister has said, it is not a one-way street. Over the years, we have seen countries, particularly England, holding material belonging to or relevant to Ireland that is hidden away in museums. This material is sometimes surplus to the museums' requirements. Such material has sometimes been given back by way of permanent loan rather than being returned outright. When he worked in a museum, my father managed to return some such items without anybody's permission. These items now sit in a museum. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Patrick O'Donovan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Patrick O'Donovan  His methodologies may have been a bit different and might be a bit unorthodox for a Deputy of D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann to be advocating. However, I do not disagree with the sentiment. If there are materials in other museums, particularly in countries that were formerly colonial powerhouses, including the one that occupied this State, in the modern world of 2026 there is a compulsion on them to look into their hearts and recognise that this stuff was taken against the will of the people from whom it was taken and that it really does not belong where it is. That is particularly the case where it is archived and shoved into presses or cupboards but it does also apply to stuff that is on permanent display that clearly does not belong to the country in question. There are some museums that contain nothing belonging to the state in which it is located but rather a mixum-gatherum of stuff that was literally stolen from all over the world. In 2026, any right-thinking democracy needs to take a long look at itself and say that now is the time to begin the process of repatriation as part of restitution and an overall recovery package for what was done during colonialism. I certainly support the Deputy's point. I look forward to the final report, which I will publish. Once I publish it, I expect our national cultural institutions and those institutions funded by my Department that are not NCIs to act appropriately. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Heritage Projects"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_8","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Swimming Pools","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_2","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_8.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Grace Boland  North County Dublin is one of the youngest and fastest growing areas in the country yet access to public swimming pools is extremely limited, particularly in north Fingal. Waiting lists for the limited swimming pools that are available are at 100%. Fingal County Council is planning to develop a swimming pool in Balbriggan. Will the Minister of State update us on whether any money will be made available from central government to fund that swimming pool? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  I thank Deputy Boland for her question. I know she is very committed to the development of a swimming pool in Balbriggan. Further to a specific action in the 2024 national swimming strategy and enabled with funding from my own Department, Swim Ireland was commissioned to carry out an in-depth analysis of swimming pool provision across the country. This examined the condition and age of facilities and the provincial and county-level distribution of pools. The resultant swimming pool gap analysis report was subsequently published at the end of last year and is available on Swim Ireland's website. That gap analysis report, which our Department paid for, is now being considered by Department officials. It will form a key input to the future development of swimming pool facilities, enabling enhanced decision-making with regard to targeting investment more effectively. That is the objective. We are now assessing the report and how to take steps forward, ensuring we are making the best investment that will have the biggest impact.  As things stand, the provision of swimming pools is ultimately a matter for the relevant local authorities. From what the Deputy has said before and today, I know there are plans to construct a new public swimming pool at Castlelands in Balbriggan. These plans are being progressed by Fingal County Council and the project has moved to preliminary design and planning stages. Fingal County Council made an application for grant funding in respect of the proposed new pool under the 2024 round of the Department's large-scale sports infrastructure fund. Unfortunately, due to the large volume of applications made under that round, it was not allocated funding. We continue to monitor capital availability under this round. Moving forward, we expect the large-scale sports infrastructure fund to reopen within the next couple of years. Applications to the fund must be made by a local authority or the national governing body of a sport. So far, we have seen \u20ac41 million invested in 12 swimming pool projects through the LSSIF. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Grace Boland  I very much welcome Swim Ireland's report. The Minister of State will have seen from it that waiting lists in Fingal are at 100%. The nearest pool to Balbriggan is in Swords. Balbriggan is the youngest large town in the country. We need access to a swimming pool for Balbriggan, Skerries, Rush, Lusk and the surrounding villages of Naul and Garristown. The demand is there and we have the population. Fingal County Council has put an awful lot of work into the planning. I urge the Minister of State to look favourably on any application from Fingal County Council. It is an essential necessity for the area, which is rapidly growing. We are building houses in Balbriggan, Skerries, Rush, Lusk and the villages. We need access to appropriate sporting facilities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  I accept that. I know there is a particular challenge in the north Dublin area in relation to swimming pool availability. The gap analysis report certainly identifies that. We are considering that gap analysis report at the moment to get a sense of the scale of the challenge and to assess how those challenges can be matched by our current funding streams, including the community sports facilities fund and the large-scale sports infrastructure fund. The Government is focusing on this issue and wants to see it addressed. The capital envelope will obviously be important in determining what we can do. However, we have now for the first time identified the challenges and where they are most acute. In line with our national swimming strategy, we want to achieve our objective of making sure that people have the opportunity to participate in swimming regardless of where they live. We are considering how best to do that, following on from the publication of the gap analysis report. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Grace Boland  I welcome the Minister of State's positive comments. I think I will be back here asking him follow-up questions. I would appreciate it if he would work with me on this issue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  I thank the Deputy for her ongoing advocacy and for identifying the challenges and the need for swimming pool facilities, which mean that everyone can avail of sports and that we do not have long waiting lists. I look forward to continuing to work and engage with her on this with a view to identifying opportunities to invest to make sure that projects such as the one in Fingal can be moved forward. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Swimming Pools"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_9","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_10","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Sports Events","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_9","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_10","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_10.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  Will the Government call for a boycott of the upcoming Nations League matches between Ireland and Israel on the grounds that Israel is an apartheid state that has engaged in ethnic cleansing and genocide? What engagement has the Minister of State had with the FAI on the matter? If he thinks it is okay to ban Russia from international sport, why can the same rule not apply to Israel? Will the Minister of State stop the game and refuse to play ball with genocide? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  I thank Deputy Ward for his question.  National governing bodies of sport, such as the Football Association of Ireland, are independent, autonomous bodies responsible for the governance of their own sports, including the organisation of sporting fixtures, whether in domestic or international competitions. The Government has no role in deciding who plays who in international sports. The FAI is within its rights to decide to fulfil these upcoming UEFA fixtures and I note its intention to fulfil both fixtures against Israel in September and October. I support the FAI's right to make this decision and the Government will not be calling for a boycott of these games.  The FAI has made this decision in accordance with its obligations as a member of UEFA, the governing body and confederation for football in Europe, and having consulted with An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and other key stakeholders. The FAI has also briefed myself and the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, on this matter, and I understand that it will be engaging with the Norwegian Football Association to learn from its hosting of a match against Israel last year. I understand that the FAI is also continuing to engage with An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na to ensure appropriate preparation for, and policing of, the home leg of the fixture.  On a wider note, I want to reiterate that the Government remains committed to working with key partners to end the conflict in Gaza and to advancing a sustainable peace plan. We want all parties to adhere to their commitments in full, desist from any actions inconsistent with what has been agreed and continue to negotiate in good faith to ensure full implementation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  Let us get real here. The Minister of State is ducking any responsibility. If the Government opposed Ireland playing Israel in an international soccer match, the FAI would follow suit. Yesterday a campaign was launched to stop the game between Ireland and Israel. An open letter was signed by many people in Irish soccer, including Brian Kerr, Joe Redmond, Pico Lopez, Louise Quinn and Roddy Collins as well as people outside soccer, including Christy Moore, Senator Frances Black, Kneecap and the Fontaines DC. I am a season ticket holder for the FAI. As a basic human being, I will not attend that match.  Last year, the FAI passed a motion to suspend Israel from UEFA competitions. The Government and the FAI must respect that mandate. The signatories are calling for the game to be stopped on the basis that Israeli teams are playing on occupied Palestinian land and that Israel has a brutal system of apartheid and has committed acts of genocide. The Government accepts that Israel is an apartheid state and is committing acts of genocide. It is inconceivable that the Irish Government is willing to stay silent on this matter while these crimes are going on in the name of football. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  The Deputy made the comparison with Russia in his contribution. To tease that out, the Russian exclusion from sporting events was a decision that was made by UEFA, the sporting body. It blocked and barred Russia from participating in competitions as did FIFA. The footballing body decided to do that as well. As we well know, in the European Union at political level, we have sanctions imposed on Russia. In regard to the participation of Israel, there is no such ban by UEFA or, indeed, FIFA. The FAI brought a motion or proposal to UEFA, which was not supported by other member countries. The FAI, as is its prerogative, is working within its footballing union. It is an independent body within this country. It has taken up the matter within UEFA and is fulfilling its responsibilities in that regard and the Government supports its right to do so. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  The Minister of State mentioned sanctions on Russia. The Government has still not enacted the occupied territories Bill. We are still waiting. That was a promise in the programme for Government. What the Government has responsibility for is who comes into our country. Can the Minister of State guarantee that those arriving to support Israel have not taken part in or supported genocide? What security measures will be in place to stop people who have taken part in or supported the slaughter of 75,000 Palestinian people from entering Ireland? How will the Government screen for those who have committed the most barbaric crimes from entering the country? Will they be arrested at the airport for crimes of collective punishment, mass displacement or genocide? Can the Minister of State even guarantee that the Israeli players themselves are not or were not members of the Israel Defense Forces? Are we going to stand by and allow supporters and perpetrators of genocide to enter our country? This part of it is the Minister of State\u2019s responsibility. I urge the Minister of State to stop the game: do not play ball with genocide and be on the right side of history. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  From a political point of view Ireland and the Irish Government has led out internationally in relation to the atrocities we have seen happen in Palestine as part of the conflict and in terms of providing leadership and trying to bring about a peaceful settlement to the conflict. We have set the agenda in many ways at European and international levels in relation to the approach and stance we took which subsequently many other countries rallied around as time went on. We continue to play our role internationally to try to ensure there is a sustainable peace settlement in Palestine. As a country, we have also led out on the development of and are assessing the legal challenges around implementing an occupied territories Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  What about the security measures? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  The FAI is an independent organisation working within the footballing and governance structures internationally. UEFA has not prevented Israel from taking part in competitions such as happened in the case of Russia. The FAI is engaging with An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na in relation to the appropriate policing arrangements for the game. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Sports Events"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_11","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Sports Funding","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_9","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_11","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_11.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul McAuliffe  Will the Minister of State outline the engagements he and his Department have had with local authorities and national sporting bodies in advance of the forthcoming round of sports capital grants? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  I thank the Deputy for the question. I know the sports facilities fund is something he is very committed to in relation to supporting clubs in his local area. In line with the previous rounds of the community sport facilities fund, a review of the current funding round has been undertaken and will be finalised shortly. It is anticipated that the objective of the next round will particularly target areas and sports that have been under-invested in over the years. We are working to be in a position to be ready for opening a new round next month.  The Department is currently collating feedback from sporting clubs and organisations which will provide valuable input to our ongoing preparations for that next round. I and my officials engage regularly with local authorities and national governing bodies and this engagement is helping to shape the criteria for the new round. New guidelines will be published in advance of the opening of the next round to ensure clubs have clarity in relation to the application round. We will also undertake a comprehensive communication round to help clubs make their applications.  My aim is to have as many eligible sporting bodies as possible applying, by simplifying the application process and guide, and carrying out a wide-reaching communications campaign, including with local authorities and national governing bodies. Many clubs are relying on volunteers, and with a revised and simplified application and assessment process which my Department is implementing, it will be easier and quicker for clubs to navigate the system at all stages and allow for quicker turnaround times while also streamlining the workload for my Department.  As I travel to many different parts of the country, I provide the opportunity for sports clubs to engage with me. I get their feedback on the challenges they face and how best we can make sure this next round of community sport facilities fund meets their needs as well as to give them as much information and answer as many questions as they have on how the programme and fund has worked and how they can best prepare for the next round. Once we finalise that review and publish the new round, we will communicate that clearly through the national governing bodies and through our sporting organisations. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul McAuliffe  I welcome that engagement. I want to highlight an issue particularly in cities. Often within cities land is the key issue. There might be land owned by one party and then there is a club or sporting body. That needs a degree of co-ordination. Of specific concern to me is that co-ordination and bringing parties together is not being done on a structured level. I have done it in my own communities where I have tried to bring different parties together. Dublin City Council\u2019s parks have so much potential across the city. I am not certain that at a senior level in the city council the opportunity of the sport facilities grant is being taken serious in regard to all-weather pitches. There are parks right across my area that have the potential. There is already the example in Finglas west, the Kildonan model, where two soccer clubs have joint access to a new all-weather facility. I want to see that in parks right across Dublin City Council. That involves Dublin City Council leading the charge. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  Particularly in large urban areas such as Dublin city land can be a real challenge. That is why with the last round but particularly this upcoming round we are looking to encourage educational institutions as well as local authorities to work with clubs to make joint applications.  For example, where we can get a school that has some land available, where facilities can be improved and the children can use that during the school day and a club or community can use it in the evening, we get a lot more participation return for the investment that we are making. I have tasked my officials with engaging in more detail with the Department of environment and the local authority structure about how we can better structure the collaboration in relation to identifying land and making sure that it is part of our wider policy analysis and sweep, to make sure that the provision of sporting infrastructure and amenity infrastructure is considered with regard to how we develop communities, particularly new communities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul McAuliffe  I welcome what the Minister of State is saying. When the sports capital grant opens, it is almost too late to start to bring together parties in that way. That is why the city council has such an opportunity to lead on this. I am looking at a park like Albert College, for example. Many soccer clubs but also GAA clubs really need somebody to bring them together and to put that package together on city council land in a park. I am thinking of clubs like Glasnevin FC, which really wants an all-weather facility in Albert College. There are other parks like Johnstown Park or Poppintree Park in my area that could do with all-weather facilities. We know these pitches are used widely at the moment but the wet weather that we have often reduces the amount of usage that they get. Our public parks are for everybody and we do not want to see public parks losing space, but a well co-ordinated plan and better co-ordination with the Department of heritage about brent geese needs to happen. I ask the Minister of State to reach out to Dublin City Council and ask it what its intention is this year, because I am fearful that it will not be substantial or ambitious enough. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  I have engaged on this and will meet local authorities across Dublin in advance of the round opening, with the objective of making sure that they are being as proactive as possible. I know from visiting a number of clubs and working with the Deputy in his own area that he and other representatives working with him are trying to ensure that the local authority is prioritising this as well. There are challenges, particularly in urban areas, but those are challenges that we want to try to do our best to address. It requires everyone working together. Regarding the next upcoming round, we want to see that happen as much as possible. Also, with regard to long-term planning, there should be a joined-up policy and regulatory approach to make sure that land availability is considered in the context of supporting and growing a community. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 9 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Sports Funding"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_12","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Sports Facilities","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_9","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_12","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_12.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  I ask the Minister of State if he plans to introduce a scheme to support sports clubs with the cost of purchasing land for playing pitches. I could include buildings. My question is about providing clubs with a permanent home, whether playing pitches, boxing clubs and so on. It is a big issue for clubs across the State, particularly in urban centres and, in my case, in the commuter belt area, where the State does not own land. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  The programme for Government commits to supporting local authorities in the acquisition of new lands for parks and playing pitches to help to build liveable communities. While neither of my Department's sports capital funding programmes, the community sport facilities fund, CSFF, or the large-scale sport infrastructure fund, LSSIF, provide for the acquisition of land, I would be supportive of local authority acquisition of lands for sport and recreation purposes. I have asked my officials to engage further with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage's officials in this regard and will liaise further with the Minister to assess steps that we can take to make real progress on this and on working with local authorities to identify and secure land.  Once lands are acquired for sporting purposes, applications for capital investment, including equipment, on those lands can be supported by both the CSFF and the LSSIF. In line with previous rounds of the CSFF, a review of the current funding round is being undertaken and will be finalised shortly, in advance of it opening. My Department is aiming to announce the opening of applications over the course of this summer. Regarding the LSSIF, our current focus is on ensuring project delivery under the first two rounds and this process will inform any decisions regarding the timing of a future round. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  Both the Minister and Minister of State have to be aware that this is a major issue. We are here for oral questions every six weeks or so. Every time we are here, this question comes up, particularly in the urban areas, Dublin and the wider commuter belt. The issue is that there are public parks and they are oversubscribed and, certainly in my area, that the State does not own land. The first question I asked when I was a county councillor elected to Meath County Council in 2014 was to show me the land that the council or the State owns in the area I was elected for. It is minuscule. Clubs are entirely dependent on negotiation or some sort of deal under the county development plan. They are renting and are sent from pillar to post. It is a major issue and there needs to be a solution for it. Whether it is the Minister's Department or the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, we need a solution for this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  We need to do more on this. Certainly, with the next round of the community sport facilities fund opening over the course of this summer, we want to try to do as much as we can in that short timeframe to encourage collaboration between schools, local authorities and clubs. We also have to look at how we can do more to identify land and communal grounds where municipal-type facilities can be developed. The programme for Government commits to that. My officials and I are engaging with the Department of housing to establish that. One recent example I saw was a GAA club where the local authority had required that an area the size of a football pitch be made available to the club free of charge as part of a zoning permission for a new housing estate beside that pitch. That is the type of joined-up thinking we need to see more of and that is the objective. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  I could name any number of soccer clubs, including Stamullen FC, Killegland AFC and Kells Celtic FC, and boxing clubs which are in precarious situations. For example, they may be renting a corner of a gym. Many important sporting clubs and organisations have been without a permanent home for a long time and a solution needs to be provided. I have heard the Minister of State mention this developer-led approach where there can be negotiations and conditions on planning applications. I have also heard and have experience of working with educational facilities. It is very slow. An Teachta Se\u00e1n Crowe was here before to address a specific roadblock. I have experience of people going for a sports capital grant on school facilities who did not get the okay and had to pull out of it. It is not a permanent solution but where it works, it works. In an awful lot of cases, it does not work. We need the State to step in and say it will build communities and support people doing it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  The key thing is that we have to make the biggest impact we can with what is available, and also look to grow what is available too. There are opportunities in many communities where there could be land available through schools and local authorities to collaborate with clubs. That is a message that we are getting out as strongly as we can with regard to this new round to encourage that collaboration, but there are also challenges regarding availability of land and it not being available. We are engaging across Departments about that to see how we can do more. Tools are available to local authorities, like I described, to be able to identify lands and to help to make them available, but we certainly need to make that more of a priority and for it to become more standard practice in how we step out and plan for new communities and make sure that their sporting and recreational needs are fully catered for. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Sports Facilities"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_13","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Post Office Network","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_9","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_13","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_13.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail  Ba mhian liom ceist a chur ar an Aire St\u00e1it uasd\u00e1t\u00fa a thabhairt ar mhaoini\u00fa a d\u2019fh\u00f3gair an Rialtas do l\u00edonra Oifig an Phoist i m\u00ed Ean\u00e1ir. I ask the Minister of State for an update on the \u20ac15 million agreed by Government for the post office network in January, if the funding has been made available to An Post, and what projects and services the funding will be allocated to. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  I thank Deputy \u00d3 Cear\u00fail for his question and his ongoing advocacy on behalf of the post office network and its importance for local communities.  The post office network is a key component of the economic and social infrastructure throughout the country. On the back of that, the programme for Government states that the Government will continue to provide the nationwide network of post offices with funding to ensure their sustainability and enhance the value they bring to local communities. In that regard, on 13 January 2026, the Government approved renewed funding for the post office network for the next five years, running from 2026 to 2030, at an enhanced amount of \u20ac15 million per annum from my Department. That has increased from \u20ac10 million per annum.  In line with the programme for Government, the funding will support the stability and sustainability of the nationwide network of post offices, protecting and nurturing a commercially focused post office network. It will also support access for citizens to the key social benefits of the post office network and help citizens access services effectively and equitably.  The Government also agreed the principles on which the funding model will operate, which include maintaining access to the network across urban and rural Ireland, aligning individual funding with criteria, including the degree of isolation and the sustainability of each post office, ensuring a minimum revenue threshold for post offices, and recognising offices of cultural or geographic significance, such as those on inhabited islands or in Gaeltacht areas.  My Department is progressing the necessary legislation to place this funding on an appropriate statutory footing. I will shortly prepare a memo to bring to Government to publish the legislation which has been drafted in conjunction with the Office of the Attorney General. As matters stand, that funding is being provided from the start of this year by An Post to the post offices. Once the legislation is passed by this House, we will reimburse An Post and provide that funding for this year.  Decisions relating to the network, including decisions relating to specific post offices, are always operational matters for the board of An Post and the management of the company. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail  The Minister of State and I agree the post office network and post offices, particularly in rural Ireland, are vital community infrastructure. I pay tribute to the Irish Postmasters Union for the work it is doing on behalf of the postmasters throughout the country and our party colleague, Councillor Tom O'Callaghan, for his advocacy as well. I appreciate the \u20ac15 million that has been allocated. However, the question that still remains for a lot of the postmasters is when the funding will reach the network so that they actually see it. I appreciate that the Minister of State said it has already been allocated but a lot of the postmasters have not seen any of it yet.  Furthermore, what specific improvements or protections will the funding support? Part of that is looking at extending the post office network into other areas, such as click and collect, and making the business more commercially viable, operating in the heart of a community and delivering services that would not be available if it were not for An Post. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  My understanding is that, since the start of the year, the funding is being paid from An Post to postmasters. If there are any particular instances where that is not the case, I will be happy to have them followed up. That is my understanding of the situation based on the briefing I have received on it. An Post is due to get \u20ac15 million, which is an increase from \u20ac10 million last year. This requires short legislation going through the Houses. Our objective is to have that completed by the summer. Once that legislation has been facilitated, we can make the \u20ac15 million payment for this year to An Post. This will cover the funding the company has already given post offices since the start of the year and the funding that is required to carry post offices through to the end of the year and, going forward, to 2030. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail  It would also be beneficial to have annual reporting on that \u20ac15 million to ensure there is transparency as regards where and how it is being spent. That would be extremely helpful in order to get a better understanding and ensuring value for money for the additional funding the Government is providing to the post office network. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  There was very strong engagement between the Irish Postmasters Union and An Post in relation to agreeing the criteria for how the funding will be distributed. An agreement on its distribution, including the criteria around that for each of the five years, has been finalised and is now in place for postmasters. That Government commitment, under which we have increased our funding to the post office network by 50% since last year and increased certainty around the future of that funding by putting in place a five-year agreement as opposed to the three-year agreement it is replacing, has been very much welcomed by postmasters throughout the country and the Irish Postmasters Union. It reflects the commitment of everyone in the House, including the Deputy and I and, in particular, the Government, to supporting the post office network. I thank the Deputy for raising this matter and for his ongoing advocacy on behalf of the post office network and of its importance to local communities. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Post Office Network"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_14","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Raidi\u00f3 Teilif\u00eds \u00c9ireann","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_9","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_14","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Patrick O'Donovan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_14.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  Baineann an cheist seo leis an geo-bhloc\u00e1il at\u00e1 \u00e1 dh\u00e9anamh ar chl\u00e1racha Gaeilge \u00f3 chraolt\u00f3ir\u00ed seirbh\u00edse poibl\u00ed nach bhfuil ar f\u00e1il don lucht f\u00e9achana sna S\u00e9 Chontae de bharr an geo-bhloc\u00e1il at\u00e1 \u00e1 dh\u00e9anamh ar sheirbh\u00eds\u00ed beo agus ar sheinnteoir\u00ed ar l\u00edne araon. An bhfuil s\u00e9 i gceist ag an Aire aon ghn\u00edomh a dh\u00e9anamh chun deireadh a chur leis an geo-bhloc\u00e1il sin ionas gur f\u00e9idir le lucht f\u00e9achana ar fud na h\u00c9ireann \u00e1bhair at\u00e1 \u00e1 chraoladh sa teanga n\u00e1isi\u00fanta a fh\u00e1il? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Patrick O'Donovan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Patrick O'Donovan  I measc na n-aidhmeanna at\u00e1 ag RT\u00c9 agus ag TG4 is ea go gcuirfeadh an d\u00e1 chraolt\u00f3ir seirbh\u00edse poibl\u00ed a gcuid seirbh\u00eds\u00ed ar f\u00e1il, a mh\u00e9id agus is f\u00e9idir \u00e9, don phobal uile ar oile\u00e1n uile na h\u00c9ireann. T\u00e1 RT\u00c9 agus TG4 araon ar f\u00e1il i dTuaisceart Eireann ar an ard\u00e1n Freeview, chomh maith le hard\u00e1in s\u00ednti\u00fais eile, ach is f\u00e9idir bac a chur ar \u00e1bhair \u00e1irithe ar bhonn cearta. De r\u00e9ir mar a thuigim, nuair a cheanna\u00edonn an d\u00e1 st\u00e1isi\u00fan cearta ar \u00e1bhar craolt\u00f3ireacht, ar n\u00f3s imeachta\u00ed sp\u00f3irt, d\u00e9anann siad iarracht cearta a cheannach ar bhonn oile\u00e1n uile nuair is f\u00e9idir. N\u00ed bh\u00edonn s\u00e9 seo \u00e9asca i gc\u00f3na\u00ed. Is \u00e9 an gn\u00e1thn\u00f3s sa saol craolt\u00f3ireachta n\u00e1 cearta a dh\u00edol ar bhonn cr\u00edche. Mar sin is minic nach dtairgtear \u00e1bhar do RT\u00c9 agus TG4, n\u00f3 n\u00ed bh\u00edonn siad in ann \u00e1bhar a fh\u00e1il gur f\u00e9idir a chraoladh i dTuaisceart \u00c9ireann n\u00f3 \u00e1it eile taobh amuigh den St\u00e1t as B\u00e9arla n\u00f3 as Gaeilge. Is minic a bh\u00edonn cearta cr\u00edche ar chl\u00e1ir, n\u00f3 ar \u00e1bhair faoi leith, faighte cheana f\u00e9in ag craolt\u00f3ir sa R\u00edocht Aontaithe don dl\u00ednse sin ar fad. Cuireann s\u00e9 seo cosc ar RT\u00c9 agus TG4 iarracht a dh\u00e9anamh an t-\u00e1bhar sin a cheannach don oile\u00e1n uile. I gc\u00e1sanna \u00e1irithe, c\u00e9 go bhf\u00e9adfadh cearta uile-oile\u00e1in a bheith ag RT\u00c9 n\u00f3 TG4 maidir le craoladh l\u00edneach, t\u00e1 cosc orthu \u00e1bhar a chraoladh ar sheirbh\u00eds\u00ed sruth\u00fa, mar a bh\u00edonn acu ar na seinnteoir\u00ed, lasmuigh den St\u00e1t. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  Baineann an cheist seo le halt a bh\u00ed ar Journal.ie le d\u00e9ana\u00ed. Is ceist \u00ed at\u00e1 ardaithe agam agus ag daoine eile i dTithe an Oireachtais. Baineann s\u00ed le cl\u00e1ir do leana\u00ed ar n\u00f3s \"Bluey\" n\u00f3 \"Dora\". B\u00edonn an cl\u00e1r \u201cDora\u201d ar TG4 agus b\u00edonn \u201cBluey\u201d ar RT\u00c9. T\u00e1 geo-bhloc\u00e1il \u00e1 dh\u00e9anamh. San alt c\u00e9anna, d\u00fairt P\u00e1draig \u00d3 Tiarnaigh \u00f3 Chonradh na Gaeilge:  T\u00e1 s\u00e9 scannalach, beagnach 30 bliain ar aghaidh \u00f3 Chomhaont\u00fa Aoine an Ch\u00e9asta, go bhfuil RT\u00c9 iad f\u00e9in ag d\u00e9anamh socruithe cl\u00e1r teilif\u00edse a cheannach agus a chur ar f\u00e1il tr\u00ed Ghaeilge, agus ansin bac a chur...[orthu si\u00fad] do phobal na Gaeilge at\u00e1 lonnaithe sna s\u00e9 chontae.  Bh\u00ed leana\u00ed Ph\u00e1draig ag baint sult as \"Bluey\" tr\u00ed Ghaeilge agus iad ar saoire I dT\u00edr Chonaill. Nuair a d'fhill siad abhaile, \u00e1fach, bh\u00ed \"Bluey\" imithe don seinnteoir. T\u00e1 muid anois tamall maith de bhlianta \u00f3 Chomhaont\u00fa Aoine an Ch\u00e9asta inar glacadh leis go nd\u00e9anfa\u00ed cinnt\u00ed le d\u00e9anamh cinnte de nach mbeadh cosc n\u00f3 baic maidir le coth\u00fa agus forbairt na teanga. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Patrick O'Donovan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Patrick O'Donovan  Tuigim c\u00e9 chomh t\u00e1bhachtach is at\u00e1 an cl\u00e1r \"Bluey\", an leaid gorm sin as an Astr\u00e1il, don lucht f\u00e9achana B\u00e9arla agus Gaeilge araon. T\u00e1 an cl\u00e1r t\u00e1bhachtach do na gas\u00fair \u00f3ga agus iad sa bhaile. N\u00ed hamh\u00e1in go bhfuil s\u00e9 t\u00e1bhachtach do na gas\u00fair, ach t\u00e1 s\u00e9 t\u00e1bhachtach do na tuismitheoir\u00ed freisin. Is ceist th\u00e1bhachtach \u00ed. N\u00ed hamh\u00e1in go mbaineann an cheist seo leis an gcl\u00e1r \"Bluey\" agus na cl\u00e1ir eile a chraoltar do na gas\u00fair \u00f3ga, ach baineann s\u00ed le st\u00e1das na teanga i dTuaisceart \u00c9ireann. Leagadh amach i gComhaont\u00fa Aoine an Ch\u00e9asta a th\u00e1bhachta\u00ed is at\u00e1 an Ghaeilge. Mar is eol don Teachta, bh\u00ed m\u00e9 i m'Aire St\u00e1it a raibh freagrachta\u00ed na Gaeltachta air.  Bh\u00ed an-chuid fadhbanna ag an Rialtas anseo ag d\u00e9ile\u00e1il leis an bhFeidhmeannas i dTuaisceart \u00c9ireann maidir le st\u00e1das na Gaeilge i dTuaisceart \u00c9ireann. Ar an gcead dul s\u00edos, is ceist \u00ed seo don Fheidhmeannas agus do Rialtas na R\u00edochta Aontaithe, ach tuigim c\u00e9 chomh t\u00e1bhachtach is at\u00e1 an cheist seo, n\u00ed hamh\u00e1in don chl\u00e1r \"Bluey\" ach do st\u00e1das na teanga i dTuaisceart \u00c9ireann freisin. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  Tuigim go dtuigeann an tAire an cheist. N\u00ed bh\u00edm ag f\u00e9achaint ar \"Bluey\" m\u00f3r\u00e1n ach nuair at\u00e1 na garph\u00e1ist\u00ed linn, b\u00edonn siad \u00e1 lorg i mB\u00e9arla, i nGaeilge n\u00f3 i p\u00e9 teanga ina gcraoltar \u00e9. Is bre\u00e1 leo \"Bluey\". Nuair a bh\u00ed m'in\u00edon \u00f3g, is ar an chl\u00e1r \"Dora\" a bh\u00edodh s\u00ed ag f\u00e9achaint. Nuair at\u00e1 RT\u00c9 agus TG4 ag ceannach cl\u00e1ir mar seo agus ag d\u00e9anamh aistri\u00fach\u00e1in orthu, m\u00e1 dh\u00e9anann siad iad f\u00e9in \u00e9, t\u00e1 s\u00e9 t\u00e1bhachtach go bhfuil na cead\u00fanais acu chun na cl\u00e1ir a chraoladh fud fad na h\u00c9ireann ina ioml\u00e1ine. D\u2019fhoilsigh m\u00e9 an Bille Craolach\u00e1in (Seirbh\u00eds Uile-\u00c9ireann) (Leas\u00fa), 2025 chun d\u00edri\u00fa isteach ar an gceist seo. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 t\u00e1bhachtach go mbeadh an Rialtas ag d\u00edri\u00fa isteach air seo ionas gur f\u00e9idir linn teacht timpeall ar an bhfadhb seo. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Patrick O'Donovan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Patrick O'Donovan  B\u2019fh\u00e9idir gur ceist \u00ed seo don Roinn gn\u00f3tha\u00ed eachtracha n\u00f3 Roinn an Taoisigh mar t\u00e1 s\u00ed an-t\u00e1bhachtach. Mar at\u00e1 leagtha amach i gComhaont\u00fa Aoine an Ch\u00e9asta, comhaonta\u00edodh go mbeadh TG4 ar f\u00e1il chomh forleathan agus ab fh\u00e9idir ar fud Thuaisceart \u00c9ireann. T\u00e1 st\u00e1das TG4 agus st\u00e1das t\u00e1bhachtach na Gaeilge leagtha amach cheana f\u00e9in. T\u00e1 a fhios ag an Teachta na deacrachta\u00ed a bh\u00ed agam maidir le Foras na Gaeilge nuair a bh\u00ed m\u00e9 i m\u2019Aire St\u00e1it le freagrachta\u00ed don Ghaeilge agus do na Gaeltachta\u00ed. Tuigim c\u00e9 chomh t\u00e1bhachtach is at\u00e1 s\u00e9 seo, n\u00ed hamh\u00e1in do na gas\u00fair ach freisin do st\u00e1das na Gaeilge. Le cr\u00edoch a chur leis an \u00e1bhar seo, t\u00e1 an Teachta ar n\u00f3s \"Bluey\" ar maidin agus \u00e9 ag caitheamh l\u00e9ine goirme, chomh maith le seaic\u00e9ad gorm. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 go h\u00e1lainn an l\u00e9ine gorm a fheice\u00e1il ar maidin. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Raidi\u00f3 Teilif\u00eds \u00c9ireann"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_15","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Online Safety","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_9","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Patrick O'Donovan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_15.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Erin McGreehan  I ask the Minister to outline the actions being taken by his Department to protect young people online. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Patrick O'Donovan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Patrick O'Donovan  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Teachta as ucht an \u00e1bhair t\u00e1bhachtaigh seo a chur os comhair na D\u00e1la ar maidin. Ireland's online safety framework includes the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022, the EU Digital Services Act and the online safety code. That code requires that designated platforms restrict access to certain categories of content that could cause harm, including to children. Those include cyberbullying and promoting eating disorders, dangerous challenges, self-harm and suicide. The code came into full effect in July 2025 and applies EU-wide in respect of platforms established in the State, including many of the larger platforms. Failure to comply can lead to significant financial sanctions of up to \u20ac20 million or 10% of turnover.  The Digital Services Act includes obligations to protect minors. Failure by a platform to comply can also lead to significant sanctions. However, the developing nature of digital services requires continuing vigilance. The protection of children and young people in the online world remains of the utmost importance to the Government. It is a key theme in our most recent national digital and AI strategy.  Under the online safety code, designated platforms must use robust age assurance measures to prevent minors from accessing pornography or gratuitous violence. I am determined to make sure that this requirement can be implemented. Officials in my Department are working with the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer on an age verification tool within Ireland's digital wallet. This will meet high standards of privacy, confirming to platforms only whether a person is over 18.  I am exploring options for introducing restrictions on social media use for young people under 16. It is Government policy and my firm belief that there should be a restriction at EU level, and I have been engaging with EU counterparts in that regard. If a common approach is not achieved at EU level, I will seek Government approval to take action at a national level.  Online safety for children is a priority for Ireland's Presidency of the European Union. The evaluation of the audiovisual media services directive, which will be published during our Presidency, may also yield proposals for other new measures to protect children online. I will be hosting a high-level Presidency conference in Dublin dedicated to this, which will review progress and discuss options for further measures. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Erin McGreehan  I thank the Minister for that overview. As a parent, I am supremely worried about online technology harms. To a person on the street, it seems we have a wait-and-see approach. I feel child welfare is quite often dismissed due to our dependence on technology companies in the Irish economy, not by the Government but that is what it is seen as quite regularly. We see younger and younger children accessing mental health supports. We have to acknowledge the correlation between social media and online harms and our children's mental health. I see this as a public health issue, on which we must act fast.  I am glad to hear the Minister is making this a priority during the European Presidency because we have to make it a priority. He mentioned that the code of conduct came into effect in 2025. Does it work? What are the results? Have we seen any sanctions so far? Does Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n have the resources and personnel it needs? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Patrick O'Donovan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Patrick O'Donovan  To go back to a previous question, Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n is self-financed in terms of the regulation. Regulation costs money and that is why levies are imposed. People do not like that, and the previous Deputy said she did not like it. That is a separate issue, however. I am a parent as well and I am not happy with what is happening, particularly at EU level. This issue was raised at the EU Council meeting last week, and there was a shift in attitude on it. At the previous EU Council meeting, there was a view that the Digital Services Act was enough. It was very clear last week, maybe with the exception of one or two countries, that everyone now wants action taken on this. I had a bilateral meeting with the Commissioner at which I made my Department\u2019s priorities clear. We have one sole priority, and I laid that out clearly. Everything else the Commission wants us to do as a Government in the areas of communications, postal and everything else will be predicated on its commitment to working with us on this. If it does not work with us on this, we will not work with it on those other areas. That is the way I am going to play ball. There is no issue facing the European Union at the moment that is more pressing than the protection of our children. If people do not get that message the easy way, we will do it the hard way. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Erin McGreehan  I appreciate the strong line the Minister is taking on this. It is positive that this will be the single line of importance for his Department during the European Union Presidency. It is important we take a zero-tolerance approach to this and that we look after our children. As I said, it is a public health issue. The damage it has caused to our children will stay with them. I also extend that to online social media in general for all of us in the country. People would not dare say the things they say online to people as they walk down the street. If they cannot say it to someone's face, they should not say it online. Everyone in this House has been a victim of nonsense being said about them online. When we meet those people in person, however, they are as quiet as mouses. We have to stand tall and ensure we put pressure on the digital media companies to stamp it out. They have responsibility. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Patrick O'Donovan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Patrick O'Donovan  I agree entirely with the Deputy. For anyone who did not hear it, I restate that if a common approach is not possible at EU level, I will seek Government approval to take action at a national level. That is not ma\u00f1ana. If I feel, having taken over the Chair of the Presidency, that this is something the Commission or a significant blocking minority is resisting, we will go it alone like France, Spain, Germany, Greece, Luxembourg and a number of other countries have done.  The sad reality is that the Commission and the European institutions have left it to individual member states to act unilaterally in this regard. That is not how Europe should work. This question should not be about anything other than the protection of the European child. At the moment, that is not the case. If I feel, having taken the chair of the Council of Ministers, that this is something being pushed back on by the Commission or there is a reluctance to move it forward, I will bring forward proposals for Ireland to deal with it unilaterally in our jurisdiction by implementing a digital age of majority, as other countries have done. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 14 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Online Safety"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_16","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Sports Funding","counts":{"speechCount":9,"speakerCount":4},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_9","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_16","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"S\u00e9amus McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_16.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"S\u00e9amus McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy S\u00e9amus McGrath  When does the Minister hope to open the community sports facilities fund and the large-scale sports infrastructure fund for applications? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  I propose to take Questions Nos. 15, 16, 18, 19, 27, 33, 39, 40 and 56 together.  I thank Deputies McGrath and Cleere for their questions. The programme for Government commits to continuing to support the funding of sports capital projects and assessing the distribution of funding in order to maximise participation in all sports at community and national level. My Department's Statement of Strategy 2025-2028 commits to continuing to invest in sports infrastructure through the community sports facilities fund, CSFF, and also the large-scale sport infrastructure fund, LSSIF. Deputies will be aware that these funds are critical to advancing the development of sporting facilities in different counties and parts of the country. This infrastructure is key to sporting participation and success and we will continue to invest in it.  One of the benefits of the investment we have seen as a result of the community sports facilities fund over the last years has been a growing level of participation. Sport Ireland's sport monitor shows that just under 50% of the adult male population now participate in sport at least once a week and among women, just 3% less than that, at 47%, participate in sport at least once a week. Significantly, in recent years we have seen the closing of the gender gap between the participation levels of men and women. This success is putting significant additional pressure on our sporting clubs and organisations in relation to the need for facilities and the quality and standard of facilities. This is all a result of that success.  The Government's objective, through grants from the community sports facilities fund, is to work with clubs to help them develop their facilities. We have seen the significant impact these grants have had since 1998 when the community sports facilities fund, previously the sports capital fund, was established. A total of \u20ac1.4 billion has been invested in grants to clubs, with 19,000 different projects supported. There has been a significant and generational change in the quality of facilities across the country as a result. The most recent round saw the largest ever investment in the community sports facilities fund, at just under \u20ac270 million, with over 3,000 projects supported and 40 different sports types benefiting.  We are now in the process of preparing for the next round. Significant work on a review of the previous round has been undertaken. We are working towards being ready to open for applications next month. We also have to finalise our engagement with the Department of public expenditure in advance of that. A lot of work has been carried out. We are also in the position of finalising a new communications or IT platform on which applications will be received. Everyone involved with clubs across the country will be very familiar with the OSCAR platform, which has been in place for over 20 years. Work is being finalised on a new platform which will be ready to accept applications on this occasion. It will be more user-friendly for clubs and for those making applications.  We are also finalising the finer detail in relation to the terms and conditions and how the scheme will operate. These will be made clear to clubs when we open it up. This applies to the standard club applications, which, under the previous round, were for a maximum grant of \u20ac200,000, and the regional applications, which were for a maximum grant of \u20ac500,000 under the previous round. The stream within the community sports facilities fund for equipment grants will be available again this time around. That was capped at \u20ac70,000 last time around. Clubs can apply for that. We had discussions earlier about the challenges of getting access to premises. Through this round, we want to bring about more collaboration around how people provide facilities where clubs do not have premises. Basketball and boxing clubs, for example, which may not have a premises and instead rent premises, are eligible to apply for equipment grants. Clubs must have a lease or ownership of a premises if they are applying for a capital development grant, but not so for equipment grants. This is certainly an option that clubs will be able to avail of as well.  I am meeting many clubs to gain feedback and provide information opportunities to clubs in different counties. We are also engaging on their experience of previous rounds of funding. The information gathered as part of that will help inform the review of this round to make sure it is as workable and practical as possible for clubs and to address the particular challenges we see as regards areas that have growing demand and sports that may have been underfunded in the past. We are working towards being able to open up the fund, all things going well, next month, pending Government approvals, and to have an application round over the next months. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"S\u00e9amus McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy S\u00e9amus McGrath  I very much welcome the Minister of State's commitment in relation to these sports schemes. They are critically important. We are a proud sporting nation, as the Minister of State outlined. It is critical that we continue to invest in sporting facilities. There are many sporting clubs, community groups and national governing bodies waiting for the sports funds to open for applications. I see the importance of sporting clubs in my community. They are the thread that holds the community together. They provide a very positive outlet for people of all ages, particularly young people. It is essential in the world we are living in that we provide this positive outlet. Sport provides immeasurable benefits from a health point of view, both physical and mental health. It is critical, therefore, that we continue to invest in sporting facilities. I welcome the commitment the Minister of State gave and the fact that the community sports facilities fund is likely to open for applications in June.  I also asked about the large-scale sports infrastructure fund. If the Minister of State or the Minister could give us some clarification in relation to that, it would be welcome. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere  I thank the Minister of State and acknowledge his role in the sports capital grant. To see the fund increase under previous governments from \u20ac70 million to \u20ac170 million and then to \u20ac270 million in the previous round has been absolutely fantastic. This Government needs to continue to support and invest in sporting organisations right across the country.  The caps on the regional, local and equipment grants were \u20ac500,000, \u20ac200,000 and \u20ac70,000, respectively, in the previous round. It is my strong view that grants need to be brought in line with increased costs. I implore the Minister of State to try, to the best of his ability, to get all three of those caps increased to give clubs a fighting chance.  Sports capital grants are a shot in the arm for clubs that are the lifeblood of communities. They are at the heart and soul of communities right across the country. They make a phenomenal difference and the Government has to continue to support them. I look forward to the funds opening up in June for the thousands of clubs across the country that can benefit from this significant funding. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  We have all seen the benefits of sports capital grants. There was a lot of conversation about the sports capital grant for the pitch and lights in Oriel Park. It has been a great benefit and absolutely necessary. We need that to continue. I add my voice to the call to increase the caps of \u20ac200,000 and \u20ac500,000 given the higher costs, especially with serious capital builds.  When will the large-scale sports infrastructure fund open? This is of major interest, not only to Dundalk Football Club and Oriel Park, but particularly to Louth GAA. We have seen the work on the stadium going on, and rightly so. If this was a couple of weeks ago, I would be talking about how great the Louth team is doing but it has been a rough week. I commend the under-20 team on a good came against Kildare. The best of luck to them. Hopefully we do better at senior level against Dublin next time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  I thank Deputies McGrath, Cleere and \u00d3 Murch\u00fa. With regard to Deputy McGrath's question on the large-scale infrastructure fund, we have had two rounds of that fund so far, in 2019 and 2024. The national development plan provides for one round to be conducted and opened during this Government term. We expect it will be a couple of years from now, towards the latter end of the Government, because the current focus is on drawing down funding and making sure the projects funded in the most recent round are followed through on. We will be monitoring that closely. We are not talking about the next year or 18 months, but a time beyond that, perhaps in a couple of years. We will monitor it as it goes.  We will monitor that closely. We are not talking about the next year or 18 months. We are talking a couple of years beyond that. We will monitor it as it goes. There will be one round of the LSSIF over the Government's terms.  We are considering the caps as part of the review. The Minister and I will engage with the Department of public expenditure and across government as well to make sure that the funding envelope can be as strong as possible. That will inform where we are at with the caps as well in terms of the level of funding that can be made available and our general guidance on that. Going around the country, I met Deputies McGrath and Cleere in their own areas. I know they have many projects they want to see going forward. There is real demand. It is exceptionally rare that I visit a club or an organisation that is not under pressure for capacity and space. That is a reflection of the really strong work that the volunteer input that drives our clubs and makes support possible in communities is achieving. From a Government point of view, we have to work to try to support clubs with their key priorities in how they are developing their club best to meet the needs of their members and the participation demands that are on them as well.  We look forward to working closely with the Deputies to finalise the detail of this review, and then to having a round open over the next number of months and to make sure that it is as practical and as accessible as possible for clubs to be able to participate in it. We will all work collectively as a Government then to try to support the great work happening in our communities, driven by clubs and underpinned entirely by a voluntary commitment and effort. It makes such a difference and is such a gift from those people to their local communities in terms of the time they give up throughout their week for a wonderful dividend with sport being part of more and more people's lives on a regular basis. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"S\u00e9amus McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy S\u00e9amus McGrath  I welcome the Minister of State's acknowledgement of the volunteers who help to run these sporting clubs across our country. They are critically important. People give up their time to proved a positive outlet for people of all ages in our communities. I want to add one point on the need to continue to invest in our sports facilities. Housing is our number one priority as a Government and we are rezoning additional land across the country. We will see additional houses built in our towns and villages. It is critically important that we invest in our social infrastructure, such as sporting facilities, to provide outlets and amenities for people. As I mentioned to the Minister of State previously, in my hometown of Carrigaline I have a project in the pipeline for the LSSIF. This is why I am interested in that fund. This is a combined application made up of a number of local sporting groups and we have a very ambitious project in the pipeline, so I will follow up on that with him in due course. I welcome the fact that there is a commitment to open up that fund during the Government's term. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere  As the Minister of State knows, I have a number of projects and I am sure we will discuss them at length in due course. I want to pay tribute to his colleagues in Killarney as well. Ken and the lads have been fantastic in any dealings I have had with them on existing schemes to new ones going forward. I welcome the Minister of State's commitment to the LSSIF to open in late 2027 or early 2028 as provided for in the programme for Government. We have some key infrastructure projects in my constituency that I look forward to discussing with the Minister of State as well.  Last night in Kilkenny I attended an amazing event for an incredible young man called Peter Lynch. He is the fastest marathon runner in the Republic of Ireland. He ran 2:06:08 to finish ninth in the London marathon and was the first European past the post. Peter is a product of Kilkenny City Harriers. In March, he ran the first sub one hour half marathon in New York, which was an incredible achievement. The community of Kilkenny City Harriers and Kilkenny County Council came out last night to support and congratulate this young man on his incredible achievements. It is important in this House that we acknowledge that Peter was an ordinary young lad growing up, worked his way through and showed incredible and resourcefulness. To come away and be a pure champion is absolutely fantastic. I pay tribute to Peter Lynch and Kilkenny City Harriers for their fantastic work. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I agree. We all know the necessity of sport as being a real positive in a world of many negatives. It is about making sure that the money does come on stream and that the Government would look at the caps. Whether it is Louth GAA, Dundalk FC or Drogheda United, they would be somewhat worried about what looks like a delay in the LSSIF. It is necessary, particularly for League of Ireland clubs. I said it about Louth previously and now I will say it about Dundalk FC. Hopefully we will do better against Bohemians at the weekend than we have done in the last while. We also need to make sure that we support the likes of Peter Lynch, Kate O'Connor and those who are coming behind them. We know some good work has been done but there is a lot more that needs to be done. We are starting from behind in some cases. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Sports Funding"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_17","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_18","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Legislative Measures","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_17","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_18.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  The volatile nature of the world underlines all the more the reason that Ireland needs to maintain an independent foreign policy. Central to that policy, as was articulated by members of the Government while in opposition is the triple lock. This is a crucial protection for our neutrality. I would like an update as to where this legislation stands and what consideration the Minister has given to the pre-legislative scrutiny report from the committee. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Defence (Deputy Helen McEntee)  I fully agree with the Deputy. We can all see that we are living in a very changed world and a more complex world, particularly when it comes to our overall security environment. That being said, I want to make it absolutely clear that the Government has no desire to change our position and our policy of military neutrality. This is something that is long-standing and something that the vast majority of people in this country support. However, it is my intention and the intention of Government to change the terms of how our Defence Forces can be deployed overseas. I, and I think many colleagues in this House, believe that it is untenable to continue with the current policy. Essentially, we have a situation whereby other countries, many of which are at war or in conflict at the moment, are able to make a decision that impacts on our sovereign decision-making process when it comes to where and how we deploy our troops. That position is untenable.  Any considerations on international peacekeeping engagements should be within Ireland's exclusive sovereign control. It should be our own decision-making process and it should be purely within the remit of Government here so that we can have these debates in the Oireachtas with people who have been democratically elected by the people of this country. This is a very strong belief and firm view that I have. I thank the committee for the excellent work it did on the pre-legislative scrutiny. This legislation has gone through a number of stages at this point. I have considered carefully a number of recommendations from the report and brought this to Cabinet recently. Drafting work is under way to progress some of the recommendations, specifically around the international obligations but also in terms of annual reporting. I accept that where one element is removed from what has been a long-standing process, we have to make sure that any mechanism we have in the Oireachtas and across the committees has a level of oversight and scrutiny. What was stressed by the committee is that in any changes that are made, it is very clear that any peacekeeping mission that will be approved will be in line with and grounded firmly by the principles of the UN Charter and international law.  That is something the committee has stated very clearly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  The Minister thanked the committee and I acknowledge that. It was under a different Minister, and I would say it is not an unheard-of occurrence, but it is remarkable that Government TDs and Senators on the committee were whipped to prevent extra hearings because there was such a rush in terms of this legislation, and now it is many months since that process was concluded. I find that hard to understand. We had a desire within the committee to ensure that it would see full scrutiny. Members of the committee were clearly whipped to prevent the extension of it. That was a tremendous shame.  I would make the point to the Minister that the triple lock is a protection for future Governments as well. More importantly, I would make the point that it is our decision. The Defence (Amendment) Act is Irish legislation. It is legislation constructed and passed by these two Houses on the basis that our troops should serve on peacekeeping missions that are mandated by the UN. If we are going to be serving on peacekeeping missions that are not mandated by the UN, under which auspices are we undertaking those peacekeeping missions or other missions generally? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  The Deputy said this is about protecting future Governments that might decide to deploy our troops to missions that are not based on the UN Charter and are not upholding and protecting fundamental principles of international law. What I am saying very clearly is that the legislation would have this enshrined in it. It would be very clear as to how and when our troops could be deployed. There would be a level of oversight within the Oireachtas. It would have to be voted through by a democratically elected Government. There would also be a level of oversight within the committee, depending on when or how many troops are being deployed. That would also be included in the legislation.  We have a situation emerging at the moment. We now have some of the final members from the 128th Infantry Battalion who are going out to UNIFIL. That mission has not been continued because we know it would have been vetoed. If it had been vetoed and if a vote had gone through last year, our troops would have had to have left immediately. Decades-long service of Lebanon peacekeeping troops would have ended immediately. We would have had no ability to send our troops back unless we had a new mission put in place, be it a common security and defence policy, CSDP, mission, which is something at which we are looking at the moment. Moreover, and on top of that, we now have another mission, Operation Irini, that we are looking at very carefully but which very soon, in the coming weeks, could come to an end because it looks as though that mandate is not going to be renewed. What we want that mandate for is to be able to monitor the shadow fleet in our waters that is causing huge challenges and that is funding the war in Ukraine. There is also a potential environmental disaster looming with any of these ships. How do we know it is going to be blocked? We know the Russian person who is perpetrating these crimes is on the committee and is able to do it. The idea that Russia would be able to stop us from keeping our troops on a mission in the Mediterranean that would monitor what are illegal ships is absolutely crazy. It is crazy that we are in a situation that, as a country, we cannot deploy our troops because a country like Russia is going to be able to stop us. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  The Minister spoke about the SCDP and potential deployment. Could she elaborate on that? Is she saying there would potentially be a CSDP deployment to Lebanon in place of UNIFIL? Could she please clarify that?  The issue in relation to the protection of future Governments is crucially important. That is my view, and I think it is the view of the people. Our troops have served under the UN flag with incredible distinction. I think it is profoundly dangerous that UNIFIL is coming to an end. I really regret that decision. It is important that we continue to push for UN reform. I would like to hear the Minister say some more about that. Ultimately, if we are not deploying troops under a UN flag, they are going to be deployed in another context. It is not difficult at all to see circumstances where if we remove the triple lock, pressure comes on a future Irish Government to deploy troops to a scenario or theatre that would clearly endanger our neutrality. The Minister has said that the Irish people support neutrality. This potentially brings future Irish Governments into a position where they are pressurised into deploying troops in situations that would undermine our neutrality. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  The first thing to say is that any change to our triple lock does not change our position of neutrality. Our position of neutrality is about joining military alliances. If we are to deploy troops under this new legislation, it would have to align with, adhered to and be firmly grounded in the principles of the UN Charter and international law. That would be our law, so to do anything other than that would be to breach our law. This would be overseen by committees and by the Chamber. We fully support the UN. I make this point every single time I engage with it at an international level and it knows that. However, we know that the structure is not working at the moment. The fact is Russia would able to stop a mission that is currently under way in the Mediterranean in which our troops participate. They do a really important job in terms of arms. We want to now use that mission to be able to monitor the Russian shadow fleets - an illegal fleet that is funding an illegal war and a maritime disaster ready to happen. The fact that Russia would be able to block that does not make any sense. It is taking away our sovereign ability to make a decision as to where we send our troops but it is also stopping us from doing what we should be doing and that is monitoring its illegal activity and making sure we do everything in our power to stop it from being able to wage the war it is waging and possibly more beyond that.  In terms of making it clear around the overall missions, again, it would not be within our power to send our troops to anything other than peacekeeping missions or, as we have seen in recent times because of the conflicts happening around the world, where we need to get people out safely. That is something we really need to be able to do. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  We can do that. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Legislative Measures"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_19","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Defence Forces","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_17","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_19","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_19.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  The world is changing, and national defence is becoming more important by the day. The Government is slow-walking change, though, to the pay and conditions of our Defence Forces, particularly for our cadets. It is simply unacceptable. The question I want to ask the Minister today is about the timeline for the increase of cadet pay in the Defence Forces. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I fully agree. The world is changing. We need to expand our Defence Forces. We need to enhance our capabilities. However, we need to make sure we have the men and women in our Defence Forces to be able to operate and be able to grow in the way we need to. That means looking to retain those we have but also encouraging more and supporting our cadets as well.  As the Deputy will be aware, there has been significant progress made more broadly in terms of pay and conditions for the Defence Forces personnel, particularly over the past six years. There has been a renewed focus, and rightly so, in making sure we increase pay and that the pay is reflective of the work and training that is happening. I met with representatives of RACO on 22 January 2026 and they, of course, raised the issue of cadet pay with me. It is an issue that is currently on the conciliation and arbitration agenda. I have agreed on top of that to give further consideration to the issue and the process that is ongoing. I outlined at that meeting, however, that any cost-increasing claims must be addressed within the parameters of public pay policy. I think we all know that but we want to make sure that structure is progressing and that claim is progressing as well.  The Deputy will be aware as well that different pay scales apply during training, obviously, for different periods for cadets and recruits. The current pay scale applicable to cadets ranges from \u20ac26,248 to \u20ac39,026, depending on their qualification. In addition, cadets are provided with accommodation and meals free of charge for the duration of their training as part of their overall package. What is important here as well is that we are investing in where they are staying and where they are eating their meals. In the past two weeks alone, I opened quite a large new canteen facility, essentially, in the barracks in Dundalk. In the past two weeks, I also opened accommodation in Haulbowline for a significant number of new recruits. We want to make sure we are investing significantly in where they are staying, where they are being fed and where they are training and in their gym where they need to do their training. This year alone about \u20ac70 million is being spent specifically for accommodation. That is an investment in the men and women of our Defence Forces.  At the same time, I appreciate that when it comes to overall pay and cadet pay, in particular, we need to make quicker progress through the conciliation and arbitration agenda. This is something on which I have committed to working with them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  Those improvements in accommodation and other physical places, such as barracks, etc., are welcome. I and Deputy \u00d3 Laoghaire have just come from the Joint Committee on Defence and National Security, and that came up and was complimented. It simply is not enough to talk about action when it comes to pay. I accept the Minister's bona fides in terms of wanting to improve this but it is worth putting on record that cadet pay remains the lowest in the Defence Forces at just \u20ac503 per week compared to \u20ac550 for a recruit. It rises to \u20ac627 after 12 weeks. Cadets remain on this pay for the entirety of their first year while recruits can move to a weekly salary of \u20ac814 after six months. They are paid significantly less than enlisted recruits despite being in full-time training for commission leadership and bearing far greater responsibility. In fact, in their first year, cadets earn 47% less than their enlisted counterparts. This can have knock-on impacts for their pension entitlements. I know there is a process under way but we need a timeline. I accept the Minister's bona fides but we need to see real progress on this for the cadets. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I agree. I would like to see things move on. I would like to see a resolution as quickly as possible. It is obviously going through the process. Again, the current public service pay agreement to which the members of the Permanent Defence Forces are party provides for that local bargaining process. It provides for that 3% of basic pay, with the 1% to be paid from the current agreement and the balance to be addressed in any successor pay agreement.  There is an opportunity beyond the current engagement to examine pay and conditions, including cadet pay, through that process. There is a number of different ways in which we can look at this.  It is encouraging, not only for cadets. However, if you look at the number of applications for cadets in 2022, it was 1,297. If you fast-forward to this year, it is 2,878. We are seeing a significant increase in the number of applications, more broadly, across the Defence Forces. There were 16,500 applications last year and up to the end of March of this year alone, there have been 7,000.  There is a significant increase in interest and I think it is because we are investing more. We are clear that we want to expand the Defence Forces. We want to invest in the men and women who are there but we want to invest in greater capabilities. There are more opportunities, be it in the Naval Service, the Air Corps or the Army, for people and that is reflected in the overall figures. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  Certainly, we are trending away from the recruitment and retention crisis that we have seen in the Defence Forces. We are not quite there yet and still have a bit to go.  In terms of cadet pay, the long-term impacts of it and why it needs to be resolved, it can become financially illogical to become a cadet. Under the single pension scheme, earnings are averaged across an entire career meaning that paying cadets the existing poverty-level wage does lasting damage to their pension entitlements. It is not as enticing an offer to young people as it could be if we get through this process as quickly, as expeditiously and as beneficially as possible for the cadets. These young cadets will have dependants in the future and an increasing amount of responsibilities, like most people, as they go through life.  There is an increase in recruitment but we will have a problem with retention unless this pay and pensions issue is resolved for cadets. I urge the Minister to put every pressure on to get this resolved as soon as possible. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I stress that the claim was received by the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers. The claim is being dealt with under the conciliation and arbitration scheme for members of the Permanent Defence Forces. The Deputy will appreciate the discussions under the conciliation and arbitration scheme are confidential but I look forward to, and hope we can have, that constructive engagement and that conclusion reached as soon as possible.  The Deputy is correct. There is quite a variation from \u20ac26,248 to \u20ac39,026. I would stress, however, that if you are a cadet coming in, your accommodation is paid for and your food is paid for. Obviously, for a lot of people, that would account for a significant portion of any wage that they would get on a weekly or a monthly basis.  More broadly, we need to make sure we are doing everything that we can to focus on increased recruitment and retention. We have a defence sector working group, which was established to examine the representative associations' proposals. We are working with RACO and PDFORRA proposals under local bargaining. What that is doing is identifying measures to increase recruitment and retention, with a particular emphasis on the Naval Service because with the new national maritime security strategy and with the need for us to do more when it comes to maritime security, our focus on the Naval Service is important and the cadets within that. We are seeing an increase in numbers also. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Defence Forces"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_20","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Air Corps","counts":{"speechCount":14,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_17","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_20","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_20.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  Since our last engagement on this issue, we have had the \"RT\u00c9 Investigates\" documentary, considerable reporting by Neil Michael from the Irish Examiner , and many disturbing and worrying disclosures and descriptions of what was going on. It is clear that Air Corps personnel were exposed to unsafe working conditions and to dangerous chemicals and there seems to be a strong correlation to very serious illness and bad health outcomes. These are people who served the State. They should get support. What does the Minister intend to do about it and how does she intend to ensure that they are looked after? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I thank the Deputy for raising this. I acknowledge the Deputy's engagement around the issue. I welcome the opportunity to set out the position as it stands. As there are multiple ongoing cases before the courts, as I have stated previously, I am limited in terms of what I can say so that I do not prejudice any of the ongoing litigation. The Deputy has said previously that it is possible to discuss both but I always want to be careful in that regard.  The advice available to me is that any view I have here needs to be carefully expressed so that we do not undermine the current process. Each claim has to receive the necessary case-specific analysis and consideration because what is clear is that each individual case is different to a certain extent.  I had a number of briefs from my officials on this. I then requested further detailed analysis from them. I have received that and carefully considered it. I convened a meeting with the Attorney General, representatives from the State Claims Agency and officials from my Department to discuss the matter further, having sought various different advices.  There are accusations that the State is prolonging legal proceedings as a deliberate tactic but that is not the case. It is important to stress that at every step of the way, the engagement that we have had, be it through the State Claims Agency working with individuals, has been to try to find a resolution and to work constructively with them.  The State Claims Agency has confirmed to me that it has made representations to the legal representatives of the litigants to explore the possibility of mediation to find a resolution to this issue. This is the way we want to move forward - that we can mediate and find a way forward - but those approaches have been rejected pending the cases having been set down for hearing.  I would encourage all those involved. We want to find a way forward. We do not want this to have to go to a court setting. There is an offer there from the State Claims Agency to work with it and with its legal representatives. We all want to find a mutually agreeable resolution, taking into consider what people have gone through and the current individual situation for those involved in this overall. I would encourage them to take up that offer and to engage more broadly with us. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  To be honest, that is a frustrating response because the Minister is well aware that I have outlined the point in the past. I would say there are issues in relation to the handling of the State Claims Agency of these cases. It is not appropriate for us to get into individual cases. I have never asked the Minister to do so. I have never tried to discuss individual cases in this Chamber, with the Minister or her predecessor. The issue here is in relation to a category of people who were acting in the service of the State. They were supporting the Defence Forces in terms of maintenance of aircraft. As the Air Corps Chemical Abuse Survivors group outlined, there have been 130 potential premature deaths. Clearly, we need to get to the bottom of that.  I am not asking for an update on the legal side, although I think there are issues in relation to the State Claims Agency's approach. What I am asking for is what the Minister proposes to do, and which we discussed previously, in terms of the whole category, a potential package of health supports and health safeguarding, including forms of screening, and an accountability mechanism. There has to be an accountability mechanism as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  There are 22 active cases before the courts, which we are trying to engage with. Like the Deputy, I want to understand whether this is something that is happening on a wider scale but at the same time, we have to identify whether or not there is a consistent pattern here. Work has been done within the Department to see whether this is something that has been happening on a broader scale and whether there is a consistent pattern beyond the 22 people the Deputy is talking about here, and even within those cases where there is not a consistent pattern in terms of health implications or issues that have come to the fore. I am not for a second disputing the fact that the people who we are engaging with have health concerns and have had health concerns. There has never been a dispute that there needed to be better measures in place in terms of health and safety, whether it was gloves or handling. Whether the exposure had the overall effect, as has been set out by the individuals in the 22 active cases, is what is being discussed and engaged with at present. I would encourage all those to engage further in a mediation process that we have been actively trying to pursue because I think this the best route to be able to come to a conclusion for all of the individuals concerned. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  If there is a pattern, we are not going to find that out in the High Court. That will be found out through a process the Department seems to be considering. A memo was due to be brought to the Minister in the first quarter but we are past the first quarter now. That is what I recall the Minister saying. Has the Minister considered this memo in relation to a whole-category approach?  I ask the Minister to not go back into the legal cases. The clear example is in relation to Australia where the Australian air force saw that there was an issue, it engaged with the group and the people retained their right to take cases as they saw fit but there was health screening, an accountability mechanism and health supports. There is nothing preventing the Minister from doing that. When will she make a decision as to whether the Government will put in place a process such as there was in Australia - a study of health outcomes, identifying whether there is causation and ensuring support for people who are very sick? Among these people, there have been heart conditions, colorectal cancer and suicides.  Clearly there is a need for things like routine cardiac screening. These are all things that can be done without any reference to the court cases. When will the Minister make a decision on a solution for the whole category? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  The Deputy referenced Australia. The case in Australia involved de-seal and reseal programmes. The maintenance workers were quite literally required to physically climb into fuel tanks of F111 fighter jets. They worked in extremely cramped conditions for extended periods with chronic confined exposure to concentrated hazardous substances. Nobody has suggested at any point that this is in any way aligned with the conditions in the Air Corps. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  No, but it still goes on. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  We have said very clearly that there need to be better health and safety standards. That is something that has been made very clear and those changes have been made. As the Deputy has outlined, we have a significant number of different conditions that have come to the fore with the litigants who have been mentioned. However, it has not yet been identified whether this was specific to the exposure. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  We should find out. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I told the Deputy that there was a body of work being done initially to see if there is a connection. Is there an increased level of particular types of health complications? Was there an increased level within the Air Corps during that time because of that exposure? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  When will we find out? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  That body of work is still under way at the moment. I do not think we can say this is the same as Australia. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  I hear the Minister saying that but when will we find out? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  That work is under way and I will bring that to the D\u00e1il and to the Deputy's attention when I can. If people have been harmed here, I want to make sure we know about it. I also want to make sure that those involved in the process can engage with us and come to a conclusion on that process. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Air Corps"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_21","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Military Neutrality","counts":{"speechCount":10,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_17","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_21.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  Is it the Government's intention to proceed with the proposed defence (amendment) Bill to provide for the abolition of the triple lock, which is against the expressed wish of the Irish people as expressed in two referendums on the Nice and Lisbon treaties? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Defence (Deputy Thomas Byrne)  As set out by the Minister earlier in this session, the purpose of the defence (amendment) Bill is to consolidate the existing provisions of the Defence Acts concerning the despatch of members of the Defence Forces for service outside the State. In effect, the requirement for a UN mandate will be removed. It will modify the existing requirement regarding the so-called triple lock mechanism in relation to the despatch of the Defence Forces for service outside the State as part of an international United Nations force.  It is important to note that the Bill will also seek to amend the Defence Act to provide for the suspension of members of the Defence Forces, thereby giving effect to recommendations in the 2024 Ward report on the management of members of the Defence Forces charged with, or convicted of, serious criminal offences.  There has been extensive engagement between the Department and the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel on the drafting of the Bill, and the Minister intends to bring the Bill to the Government for approval shortly.  As previously outlined to the House, the continued reliance on a UN Security Council mandate can have direct practical consequences for Ireland\u2019s peacekeeping engagements. A very recent and tangible example is in relation to UNIFIL. We saw one power exercising its veto at the UN Security Council. Had the mandate for UNIFIL not been renewed - as was the case for a short period of time - Ireland would have been legally obliged to plan for the immediate withdrawal of Defence Forces personnel from that mission. Similar issues arise in respect of other operations, with concerns arising in relation to the upcoming renewal of the UN mandate of Operation Irini in the Mediterranean in early June. The outcome is currently unclear and if this mandate is not renewed, it would necessitate the immediate withdrawal of Irish troops under the current legislative provisions. The mission would continue nonetheless in its humanitarian work and its work to prevent illegal weapons coming into Europe because it is an EU mission.  The Bill also provides for reinforced safeguards governing any future overseas deployments. While the UN Security Council mandate requirement is being removed, the legislation expressly requires that all such deployments be consistent with the principles of the UN Charter and with international law. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  Neutrality and a triple lock have served his country well. The current Taoiseach is on record as saying that the triple lock is the core of Irish neutrality. Of course, that neutrality goes back over 100 years to when James Connolly erected a banner on Liberty Hall declaring that, \"We serve neither King nor Kaiser, but Ireland\". It also goes back to hugely successful protests against conscription in Ireland during the First World War. It goes back to Article 29 of Bunreacht na h\u00c9ireann, \u00c9amon de Valera's Constitution, which speaks of \"adherence to the principle of the pacific settlement of international disputes by international arbitration or judicial determination.\" It goes back to \u00c9amon de Valera's declaration of neutrality in 1939.  The triple lock itself has been endorsed by the sovereign Irish people in two referendums, the second referendum on the Nice treaty and the second referendum on the Lisbon treaty. Solemn national declarations have been added to those treaties. Successive polls have shown support for the retention of neutrality, the core of which is the triple lock. I believe it is now time to abandon this proposal. Of course peace missions can be authorised by the UN General Assembly as well as the Security Council. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  The Deputy is correct that under Article 29 of the Constitution, Ireland's international relations are founded upon international justice and morality. Our Constitution affirms our \"devotion to the ideal of peace and friendly co-operation amongst nations\". That is not changing. That is in our Constitution. That is the entire basis on which the Government exercises its foreign policy. The removal of the triple lock in current circumstances has no impact whatsoever on Ireland's policy of military neutrality. All it means is that we are not giving the authority to any of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council to determine what our foreign policy is in terms of our peacekeeping missions. It is a fact that the UNIFIL mission was stopped, effectively, by one member of the UN Security Council. It is also a fact that if a mission were to continue, for example under EU auspices, in Lebanon, it is entirely unclear as to whether Ireland could take part in that without a UN Security Council mandate. Operation Irini would continue as a very effective peacekeeping mission but Ireland would not be able to be part of it without a UN Security Council mandate. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  Irish peacekeepers who have served throughout the world for decades know the value of the triple lock. Neutrality has been an invaluable component of Ireland's foreign policy. This country's involvement in and reputation for peacekeeping gives moral legitimacy to our voice for the international rule of law and peaceful resolution of conflicts. Former Defence Force members with first-hand experience of peacekeeping and conflict have spoken in defence of the triple lock. These people include Senator Tom Clonan who stated that it gives international status as an impartial voice for peace and de-escalation of armed conflict. Gerry Rooney, a former secretary general of the PDFORRA, which represents about 7,000 members of the Defence Forces, is also on record as saying that maintaining the triple lock and strengthening the engagement of the United Nations would be a more effective path for sustaining Ireland's peacekeeping role and neutrality. I believe that abolition of the triple lock undermines our peacekeeping role in the world. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  All deployments of Irish troops abroad under this legislation have to be consistent with the principles of the UN Charter and international law. I have already said that I agree with the Deputy in relation to the Constitution. However, I suggest that nobody in this House agrees with the decision of the UN Security Council to end peacekeeping duties in Lebanon. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  What about the General Assembly? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  The General Assembly has not put forward any proposal in relation to that and it is not practical for us to----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  The General Assembly is entitled to call for peacekeeping missions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  There have been no proposals in the General Assembly to continue a mission in Lebanon. At the end of the day the Security Council is the authoritative body on international security. That is just the reality of the situation. We have an incredibly proud track record of peacekeeping under our Constitution and consistent with UN principles. We would like that to continue. In the current environment it literally cannot continue in Lebanon because of the decision of the UN Security Council. That mandate is coming to an end because of a decision effectively of one country. If another peacekeeping mission were agreed, for example at EU level, we could not take part in it under the current legislation. All we are trying to do is to make our own sovereign decisions and continue the peacekeeping work that we have done over many generations. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Military Neutrality"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_22","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 69 and 70 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_23","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Departmental Properties","counts":{"speechCount":11,"speakerCount":4},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_22","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_23","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_23.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  My question relates to the future use of the accommodation at the Curragh Camp. There are many vacant homes there at the moment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. There has been significant investment in the Defence Forces built infrastructure in recent years. The capital expenditure for building works in military installations and barracks across the country for the past five years was approximately \u20ac170 million, and for this year alone is close to \u20ac70 million. In particular, the development of accommodation for new recruits has been a priority for the Department.  In terms of the existing Defence Forces residential housing stock in the Curragh Camp, of 104 residential units, 63 residential properties are uninhabitable. None of these properties can be brought up to a habitable standard without significant work, and many were built prior to the introduction of building regulations. Consultants were commissioned to assess the condition of the Defence Forces vacant housing stock and its suitability for conversion or refurbishment to provide for additional single living-in accommodation for Defence Forces personnel. That consultancy reported its recommendations on refurbishment projects last year.  My officials have since engaged with the Defence Forces to have those projects included in the existing infrastructure development programme. I am advised that work is actively under way to prepare the necessary tender documentation, with a view to commencing a procurement process this year.  There is currently an extensive programme of investment in accommodation for serving Defence Forces personnel across all military installations. Since the launch of the infrastructure development plan in January 2020, numerous accommodation projects, at a combined cost of approximately \u20ac49 million, have been completed and have provided 775 beds. The Deputy may also wish to know that a steady pipeline of accommodation projects is being progressed. These are expected to significantly increase accommodation capacity in the coming years.  As I said in an earlier reply, only last week, I was at Haulbowline, the naval base in Cork, where we opened state-of-the-art accommodation with over 70 beds. That was in some of the older infrastructure, thereby making sure we protect our heritage and protect our older buildings, where possible, but also making sure that our new recruits are living and operating in new, modern facilities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  I take it from the response that there has been some progress. The Minister referred to 63 but my information is that up to 80 properties are in a derelict state. Soldiers are travelling distances to work, and many travel from County Laois. There are also retired soldiers, some of whom, unfortunately, end up in difficult housing situations. It is important these properties are put back into use. We cannot have vacant homes of any kind lying empty, given the housing crisis. Has there been liaison with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage on the issue?  I would make one point about the consultants and the report. The Minister and I know that things can go around the houses over a long period of time. It is important that there is action. They are empty and derelict houses. It is important that we move on and try to get them back into use. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I agree that we need action. We need to make sure that the money we have allocated, all \u20ac1.7 billion of it, in particular the money that is specific to accommodation, is spent and that projects are ready to go. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  How much will be spent on accommodation? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  In this year alone, we are up to \u20ac70 million, and that includes accommodation, but also dining facilities, a new gym and overall critical infrastructure. It will be over \u20ac400 million in the coming years. We need to make sure that we have projects ready to go and lined up. As I said, 63 residential properties have been identified as uninhabitable.  The projects that are being progressed include refurbishment of block one in Collins Barracks, modular accommodation in Haulbowline, the conversion of houses Nos. 2 and 5 in Casement Aerodrome, the refurbishment of cadet accommodation in Haulbowline, the refurbishment of the cadets\u2019 mess accommodation in Haulbowline, the refurbishment of blocks A, B, C, D, E and F in Stephens Barracks, and there is also Cathal Brugha Barracks, the Curragh, Gormanston and Casement Aerodrome. These are all projects that are under way. On top of that, the projects that have been completed to date include Pearse Barracks, the Defence Forces Training Centre in the Curragh, Cathal Brugha Barracks, Casement Aerodrome, McKee Barracks and Haulbowline. A huge amount of work has been done in recent years. As I said, a huge number of projects are currently under way. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  The Minister outlined the many different locations, barracks and naval bases. I welcome that. However, the issue at the Curragh is of particular concern. This has gone on for a long time and in the past three or four decades, these houses have gradually fallen into disuse. I know some of them might be a challenge as they were built at a different time, some during the period of British rule. Whether it was 100, 120 or 130 years ago, housing standards were not what they are now. There has been a lot of talk in this House about upgrading houses and bringing old houses back into use. There is a lot more technology now. The Minister outlined a wide range of works across the State but I would like to see a particular focus on the Curragh. The Curragh was the main Army camp over the years. There was a big concentration in Kildare, and many people from County Laois served there. I would like to see that as a particular target. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I have been in the Curragh a number of times. It is synonymous with the Defence Forces and is long-standing in terms of what it has provided and supported for Defence Forces members for many years, including accommodation and training on the grounds. I want to do everything possible to invest in new infrastructure but also to bring what is derelict back into use and ensure we are making the best use of the infrastructure that we have there. That is why we are seeing a significant amount of investment, not just in accommodation, but more broadly in infrastructure across the Curragh and all of the various different barracks and areas that I have mentioned.  It is important to stress that we have a Defence Forces infrastructure development plan. It has set out the delivery of these projects from 2023 to 2027, many of which have already been delivered. With the new capital plan, the intention is to make sure that we have a new stream of works and more projects that are ready to go, including projects like the one at the Curragh. As more funding comes on stream, or as additional funding is added to our capital plan mid-term, I hope that we will have more projects ready to go and that we will be able to continue that steady stream of investment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl indicated that he wished to ask a supplementary question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl  I commend Deputy Stanley on putting down a question on this important matter. I welcome the response from the Minister. I grew up in Kildare at a time when, like many generations before me, the Curragh was a vibrant, living community. Unfortunately, in recent decades, the Department of Defence took as its policy the depopulation of the Curragh camp. Worse still, in recent years, we have seen the demolition of many houses in the area, which is completely wrong. I thank the current Taoiseach and former Minister for putting a stop to the demolition of houses. I welcome the Minister, Deputy McEntee's reply today. The commitment to refurbish those houses is very positive.  I ask her to also look at the Orchard Park 100-house development, where a few houses remain in Army ownership. The intention is to transfer them to the local authority, which is in agreement, but there are still some tenants in those houses who would want to avail of an option to purchase. I ask the Minister to look at that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  We need to look at all of the stock in the Defence Forces. We need to make sure that where we can refurbish, we are doing that, and where we need to build new, we are doing that, but also that we are looking at other options, whether with the local authorities or other associations. I am happy to look at any proposals or suggestions that the Deputy has raised.  More broadly, the Deputy spoke about it as a community. I work very closely with somebody who went to school in the Curragh, so I understand that we are not just talking about people who are training but their families living onsite and going to school there. It is a community. We want to make sure that it maintains that sense of community, given its importance for the Defence Forces overall. My priority is to make sure we continue to invest in it, and that where there is dereliction, we address that, but also that we highlight it and support the community that is thriving there. That is an integral part of our Defence Forces because the support the families provide to our Defence Forces is essential. Again, this comes back to the fact that if we want to grow and expand our Defence Forces, have greater capabilities and encourage more people to come into the Defence Forces, we need to make sure there is appropriate accommodation and services for them. That is a key part of our overall plan and objectives in the years ahead. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Departmental Properties"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_24","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Defence Forces","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_22","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_24.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  I ask the Minister to comment on the fact that Ireland remains stubbornly at the bottom of the EU table for defence and security expenditure, and what plans she has to ensure that Ireland does not remain at the bottom and continues to improve its investment in this area. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I am very conscious, as we all are, of the narrative that Ireland has not been spending enough and that we have not invested in the Defence Forces. I think we all agree that we need to do more and spend more. That is why, in the past six months, we have seen an increase in our overall capital plan for the Defence Forces of 55%. We have a new defence sectoral national development plan from 2026 to 2030.  This is a comprehensive plan for the record \u20ac1.7 billion capital investment in over the next five years - an increase of \u20ac600 million, or 55%, on the previous baseline. This investment provides for the modernisation of the Defence Forces capability across all domains. In addition, the defence Vote group has been provided with the highest ever level of overall funding - an allocation of \u20ac1.49 billion - for 2026. That is, over time, an increase in spending on capital by 55%. Our increase in current is going in the right direction. In the upcoming budget, I will be hoping to increase that further.  When we look at the investment itself, we see that each new investment is delivering additional capabilities as part of our commitment to delivering on a major programme of capability improvement in the Defence Forces. For example, I opened a number of different blocks and accommodation and supports for the Naval Service base, but also for our Defence Forces across the country. This is part of a range of ongoing projects including the development of the cadet school - we spoke of cadets earlier. By investing in the school, we are encouraging more. It also includes a new medical facility at Casement Aerodrome. We also have a new contract for the construction of an Army Ranger wing headquarters at the Defence Forces training centre. A record \u20ac83 million has been allocated this year.  What comes through when I speak to colleagues at an international level is what we are doing when it comes to our new capabilities, particularly the military radar programme. This is the first thing that I have brought forward in our capital plan to make sure that we have the appropriate capabilities that we need in terms of long-range, land and air radar, given that the type of challenges that we are facing is changing and we need to be able to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  Successive Governments, for decades, have underinvested in our Defence Forces. Beyond that, wider politics needs to take some responsibility. We have used our commitment to military neutrality as a reason not to invest in our Defence Forces and our national security. We do need, at this time, a greater degree of sophistication in terms of how we discuss this. I hold our military neutrality very dear. I do not ever want to see Ireland join NATO, a common defence union through the EU or any other composition that would tie our hands in terms of military deployment. I also want to see us invest in our national security and ensure that we are sovereign in that. The triple lock is a part of that discussion, but it is not the full discussion. Again, there needs to be an approach on all sides of the House in relation to that. It is a part of it, but it is not the full story. We have neglected them. There has been some change and some increased investment, but I believe we need more. We need a lot more. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  We are in a good place in terms of the increased investment that we have agreed to. I think we need to do more. I fully agree with the Deputy. My intention is that if SAFE, a fund that is applicable to all member states, opens up again, which I believe it will, Ireland should be applying for funding through SAFE. We should be using our own money that we are investing in Europe to be able to invest in our security and our defence. I fully agree. I think there is a belief by some that our military neutrality - the militarily neutral position that we have taken - somehow does not fit with us needing to defend ourselves by making sure we have the appropriate security mechanisms in place to defend our people and to work with other colleagues, partners, allies and friends across the EU and at an international level. When I speak to colleagues about the fact that we now have a new national maritime security strategy, it is something that is very welcome. Our maritime domain is seven times the size of our land domain. Many of the risks we are seeing now are not land wars, albeit that is happening now in Europe for the first time since the Second World War, and we are very clear that we are not neutral on that war. We now have a situation where we know there is a shadow fleet and other ways of bringing about the cutting of significant cables, hybrid attacks or other types of security warfare that is impacting us as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  Defence and security experts are clear that we are not at a major risk of a kinetic attack but that our infrastructure is under constant threat. It is important to ensure that the debate is taking place in that space. Last week, Dr. Paul Davis from the DCU Business School appeared before the defence committee on the topic of defence procurement and raised how defence procurement needs to be looked at differently. There is already a degree of exceptionalism to it, but we must look at it from outside the general procurement system in the context not of what delivers value for money today, but of what keeps us safe into the future in scenarios that we hope never arise. That is a difficult thing politically because success is measured on things that do not happen and that we do not see, rather than being able to point to something like a children's hospital. As controversial as it has been, at the end of it, we will have a hospital. It is different in defence and therefore requires a degree of political leadership. There is a real possibility that, come the end of this decade, Ireland could find itself sandwiched between Europe and a US that is becoming increasingly hostile to Europe. Who knows where the UK could be in terms of its politics? These threats are real. They are unseen, but they are something we need a sophisticated approach to. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I agree. There are two things we need to do. First, we need to spend more and we need to spend wisely. The investment in our military radar programme and our counter-drone technology is absolutely essential. We are also investing in sonar equipment in order that we can scan our seabed and make sure we know what is happening underwater as well as above the sea. I also mention the sonar buoys that are going to be deployed from our helicopters and our Air Corps. We also have investment that is happening in new technologies. We are supporting the private sector to make sure we have the best equipment and the best technology, whether it is on Haulbowline or in the monitoring of our seas and what is happening. It is also about investing in cybersecurity, where An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na has a lead, but also the Defence Forces now have their own unit within it to make sure their equipment is safe and cannot be interfered with by other outside forces. The second thing does not cost money. It is about engaging with other countries. We do a huge amount already. We are involved in PESCO programmes, European Defence Agency programmes and UN programmes. We are looking to see whether we can do more in joining more co-operative agencies, task forces and groups that are set up within the EU and beyond. Where we are sharing information and intelligence and doing it on a more regular and structured basis, we have a better picture of what the challenges are and we are better able to respond. I am determined that we will do both. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Defence Forces"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_25","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Defence Forces","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_22","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_25","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_25.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  I ask the Minister to update the House on the Defence Forces personnel numbers for 2026, 2025 and 2024. What steps are being taken to increase those numbers and to strengthen the Defence Forces? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I propose to take Questions Nos. 73 and 84 together.  I am fully committed to supporting the Defence Forces to increase numbers and, overall, to strengthening our Defence Forces. It was positive to see the growth in numbers last year, with 790 inductions. I have set a target of 850 inductions for 2026. Indeed, overall application numbers for careers in the Defence Forces continue to grow, with a total of 16,510 applications received in 2025 and more than 7,000 received to end of March 2026. On top of that, the number of people who left last year was at an all-time low over the last ten years. Not only are we seeing more people applying, but we are getting our numbers up in terms of the overall inductions. The number of people who are leaving, because our retention figures are much better, is at a low over the past ten years.  I recently visited the joint induction training centre in Gormanston barracks, an impressive facility in our own county, which is under expansion and will eventually facilitate the induction of up to 900 recruits per annum. Following investment of over \u20ac8.8 million, I officially opened the accommodation base in Haulbowline, as I have mentioned, which will accommodate an additional 74 personnel. The military authorities have provided the requested establishment and strength figures over the last seven years, which are set out in the table that is included with this reply. What we are seeing over the last number of years is an increase in that overall strength. Coupled with the increase in applications over the last three years, this shows that the enabling measures we are putting in place to support and drive Defence Forces recruitment retention numbers are yielding results.      Year      Establishment      Strength       2019    9,500    8,659      2020    9,500    8,568      2021    9,500    8,456      2022    9,500    7,966      2023    9,589    7,550      2024    9,600    7,557      2025    9,739    7,756      2026    9,739    7,778 (as at end March 2026)       I will outline some of the measures. We have increased the maximum ages of recruitment and retirement respectively. This was aligned with the increased age for An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na as well. It also includes the extension of private secondary healthcare to all personnel and the application of the provisions of the working time directive, which is something the unions quite rightly fought for and engaged with for some time. The patrol duty allowance payable to Naval Service personnel at sea has been doubled after ten days at sea in a calendar year, while the Naval Service tax credit has been extended up to 2029. There continues to be significant progress on pay with all personnel benefiting from a pay award in February with a further increase due in June. We now have a situation where our Defence Forces personnel are represented by unions at those pay talks, which is really important as well.  Underpinning these and other measures, my colleague ensured that budget 2026 provided a record allocation of \u20ac1.49 billion, an increase of \u20ac145 million on 2025. These funds include provision for the recruitment of a net 400 additional members per annum. Opportunities for careers in the Defence Forces remain open via a diverse range of ongoing competitions including general service recruitment, re-entry schemes and multiple direct entry competitions for specialist roles. While recruitment and retention remains a challenge, and that is the case across a lot of our public sector, significant strides continue to be made on a number of fronts.  We have record levels of expenditure and investment. We are seeing the numbers of people who apply and, importantly, the number of people who stay increase on a year-on-year basis. I want and need to ensure, as we all do, that we continue on that trajectory. If we are to meet our level of ambition 2 and go beyond that, we need to make sure we have a steady plan and are on the right trajectory, which we currently are. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  I do not agree. I will be interested to see the figures, which I understand the Minister will provide. According to the latest information we have, which is from the end of 2025, the target for the Naval Service, for example, was 1,094 personnel and the target for level of ambition 2 for 2028 was 1,794 personnel, whereas the number in situ in late 2025 was roughly 784. That means we needed more than 1,000 additional members to be recruited by 2028. Is that going to happen? What are the latest figures the Minister has for the Naval Service? My concern is that we are a long way off that level of ambition 2 figure. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  We have set targets for 2028 and meeting them is going to be a challenge. I will not say otherwise. However, I believe that the higher the targets we set ourselves, the quicker we will reach them and the more we do to encourage and support more people to apply and also to retain our overall numbers, the quicker we will reach those establishment figures.  In terms of the Naval Service, this year the figure has gone up again. It is now at 833. With an establishment figure of 1,094, however, there is obviously still work to be done. The overall figures show that of the 7,000 people who applied in the first three months of this year, 23% applied to the Naval Service. If 23% of 7,000 applicants in the first three months were applying to the navy, we are clearly starting to see the numbers increase, which is really positive.  That is down to the fact that now, for the first time ever, we have a national maritime security strategy and are very clearly focused on how we can invest in the navy, its ships, fleet and personnel. We are now developing new equipment the Naval Service will use on our fleet. As part of the advancement of the new military radar programme, we will see new radar capability on our ships this year. In addition, the Naval Service will also deploy sonar equipment.  We are focused on our Naval Service. We are going to invest in it and we are talking about how good it is. It does a huge amount of work. On a 24-7 basis, seven days a week, 100% of our exclusive economic zones, EEZs, are monitored. Of the eight vessels we have, four are out on rotation at any given time, as are two helicopters. Due to that and the support we have from the Air Corps, our EEZs are monitored all of the time.  To Deputy Smith's comment, it is when things do not happen that we tend to talk about them but the fact is we have had successful monitoring, we are able to respond to challenges and we are working closely with other countries. We need to highlight that more. My ambition is obviously to be as ambitious as we can be but also to highlight what the Naval Service is doing and how important it is to us, and to encourage more people to join the navy because we want to grow it and we have more work to do. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  The Minister has acknowledged that recruitment is a challenge and will be a challenge until 2028. I hope she will acknowledge that retention is also an issue. Defence Force members in County Meath, the Minister's constituency and mine, raise with me the issues of breaches of the working time directive and recognition, respect and fair pay for our Defence Forces and for the overtime they do. Does the Minister recognise that is a contributing factor in terms of the recruitment and the retention of Defence Force members? How will she address that? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  We always need to do more in terms of retention. However, the fact that the numbers leaving was at a ten-year low is a positive sign. Notwithstanding that, as regards any measures brought to me by the unions, all of which I met in the first part of this year, I have given a commitment to actively work with the unions and overcome any challenges, particularly when it comes to overtime or working on bank holidays. That was raised recently and I also discussed it during oral questions recently. We are working through that.  More broadly, if we want to get our numbers to where they need to be, we need to make sure we look not only at recruitment to the Defence Forces but also at civilianisation more broadly. That is the path we have taken with An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na where it has obviously improved numbers. Everyone brings something different and significant to the roles as well. A new workforce plan is being developed by the Defence Forces, working with my Department, and I hope to be able to present that in the coming weeks and months. That will set out the overall figures and also what we need within those figures, how we get to those figures and, importantly, how we increase the number of civilians we have working within the Defence Forces as well. There is a greater need and role for civilians if we are to achieve the overall numbers.  It comes down to making sure that we have a continued focus on investment in the critical infrastructure and resources that our Defence Forces use and need. It is about making sure, through public sector pay agreements, local bargaining and other negotiating options, that our Defence Forces benefit in the same way everybody else does. I stress again that it is very welcome our members are now, through the unions, around the table and part of the discussions. Any public sector pay agreement is about making sure that as issues emerge, we respond to them and that, more broadly, we highlight the positive work our Defence Forces do and the contribution they make, not just home but abroad.  We discussed the triple lock earlier. The first thing that comes to everybody's mind is the work we have done in Lebanon and the unbelievable contribution our Defence Forces have made in that regard. We need to highlight that work and make sure it is seen as a worthwhile career. The Defence Forces are doing extremely meaningful work in very challenging and difficult circumstances. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Defence Forces"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_26","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Naval Service","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_22","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_26","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_26.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed  My question largely focuses on objective 2 of the national maritime security strategy and how we can improve the security and resilience of Ireland's critical maritime infrastructure. Will the Minister outline the importance of the national maritime security strategy, particularly as it relates to protecting critical infrastructure? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I thank Deputy \u00d3 Muir\u00ed for raising this question. Earlier this year, I launched Ireland's first national maritime security strategy. This is the first strategy of its kind in Ireland. It focuses on risks and threats to Ireland's national security and defence as a consequence of the assessed threat level, our geographic position and the fact we have a maritime domain seven times the size of our land domain. There is a responsibility and need for us to protect that domain and the critical infrastructure around it, and also to work closely with our colleagues in the UK, in Denmark, in the Nordic and Baltic countries, France and beyond, in identifying where those potential risks emerge and how we respond to them.  Through the new strategy, I am paying particular attention to the security of critical infrastructure in our maritime domain. This is because, as we all know, many major undersea cables land on our shores, come across the Atlantic and transit through our EEZ. They carry significant amounts of global Internet traffic and financial data. From an energy perspective, they are absolutely critical for us. In addition, our energy sector is heavily supported by subsea gas pipelines and electricity interconnectors. The infrastructure is vulnerable to hybrid threats. The same applies to any other country. I stress that with any type of underwater infrastructure, we are all open to the new and evolving types of threats. Vessels from the Russian shadow fleet also present a significant challenge from an environmental perspective. This is something that has been called out significantly.  I will outline some of the key actions in the strategy to respond to and be able to combat some of the concerns. First, we will develop the concept of a national maritime security centre, which will deliver a new whole-of-government approach to protect the security of our maritime domain. We will explore the opportunity for Ireland to host or participate in a regional maritime monitoring hub for the protection of critical undersea infrastructure in the North Atlantic. We want to strengthen regional partnerships, particularly with our near neighbours. Most recently, I signed a memorandum of understanding with the UK. We have a new memorandum of understanding with France and we are also looking at what other types of European initiatives we could join. We are working more closely with the private sector, which is absolutely crucial when so much of the equipment for underwater cables is from the private sector. We are also developing a comprehensive new legal approach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed  I welcome the national maritime security strategy. It is a very positive step forward. With the EU Presidency just around the corner, this defence issue has rarely been more topical. We face potential threats now that we would not have thought of ten, 15 or 20 years ago. The sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines, for example, puts into perspective how vulnerable we would be if that were to happen to us.  The two interconnector gas connections going from Scotland to Ireland will carry 86% of our gas for this winter. The new Celtic interconnector on the seabed between Cork and France when it comes live will have 700 MW of power, powering potentially 450,000 homes. These are all vulnerable. Until we transition to renewable energy sources, they will be vulnerable. Will the Minister elaborate further what is being done to safeguard those particular assets from man-made threats to them? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  When I meet colleagues, be it when I was in Poland last week or when we have colleagues visiting here, security is one of the key things we speak of, making sure that, from an economic security perspective, we are focused on it but also when it comes to the potential threats. The Deputy touched on it and mentioned the Russian shadow fleet, not least the fact that that shadow fleet is funding the illegal war in Ukraine. There is also the potential for an economic disaster. With our Presidency coming up, there will be a renewed focus on Ireland and the fact that we have a large number of visits taking place. Then there is also the critical infrastructure, be it our energy infrastructure or the huge amounts of data that are essential for much of our economies here but also that carry data right across the globe. We need to make sure that we have all the infrastructure in place to be able to identify where risks emerge and how we respond to them. The military radar programme coupled with the sonar programme we are developing, the sonobuoys, make sure that we have a full and complete picture of what is happening under our water and above our seas. The close engagement we are having with the UK, France and many other countries and the networks we are feeding into at a European level mean that we have a complete picture of what is happening. We are also making sure we are able to respond to threats as they emerge. I hope to enact before the summer new legislation which will give our Defence Forces even greater clarity in terms of boarding, inspecting and directing ships if they are where they should not be. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed  I really welcome the co-operation with the UK on this matter. Let us be honest: it has technological capabilities and experience in this area that we can really learn from. That partnership is therefore really welcome. I am Chair of the climate, environment and energy committee, and we had a briefing recently from officials from the French embassy and they really highlighted the issues around the Russian shadow fleet and its proximity in terms of its operations close to our waters or, in fact, sometimes in our waters and the threats they carry. I would welcome, in the context of the Presidency, Ireland really pushing that issue with France to try to prioritise resolving those issues. There are environmental risks associated with the shadow fleet. They are probably the least of the risks but they are there as well because those vessels are so dated. As Chair of the climate committee, I have seen first hand how vital certainty and stability are for energy. The roll-out of the new EU-wide resilience measures that the Minister mentioned and the co-operation with our partners are really important. I would appreciate if we could keep that on the cl\u00e1r for the EU Presidency. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  We have a huge amount of talent and a lot of innovation happening here. I think other countries are looking to Ireland and some of the work we are doing. On the same day I launched the maritime security strategy, I awarded a grant of \u20ac1 million through our Department to a private company that has been working with a university here. It is developing technology that can scan the seabed, look at gas pipelines and other types of critical infrastructure and identify where risks are emerging and how we respond to them but also maintenance and upkeep where that is needed. There is a lot of innovation happening here in Ireland, and we need to do more. The Deputy will know that our colleague, the Minister, Deputy Peter Burke, is bringing forward legislation to allow companies where there are dual-use opportunities around security and defence to access funding in a way they have not done before. That is really important. What is also critical in the new national maritime security strategy is the development of a forum that will bring together the private sector, Government, State agencies and Defence Forces to look at the overall infrastructure and how we develop, protect, monitor and manage it. That will be a really important way to ensure that everybody involved here in protecting what is critical infrastructure and the security of our State is working together and that we have full sight of what we need to do. Work is under way at the moment, and I look forward to providing further updates. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Naval Service"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_27","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Naval Service","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_22","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_27","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_27.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  I ask for the number of naval vessels that are in service and that we can staff and safely put to sea. As the Minister knows, in recent years that has been down to one or two at times. I am just looking for the current level of ability or capacity there. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  The Naval Service currently has a fleet of eight commissioned vessels. These eight vessels consist of two P50 class large patrol vessels, four P60 class offshore patrol vessels and two P70 inshore patrol vessels. I am advised by the military authorities that there are four vessels available for operations on a rotation basis. This rotation takes account of maintenance, crew training and rest periods.  The strength of the Naval Service, as of 31 March 2026, was 833 personnel out of an establishment of 1,094 personnel. The military authorities have advised that the total number of personnel currently required to crew all vessels is 294. It should be noted that this figure is currently under review in the context of the overall force design process currently in progress, with a view to enhanced capabilities under level of ambition 2.  Challenges with ships to sea have been well documented in recent years. In 2025 we saw the benefit of a number of initiatives which have been introduced in recent years, such as the doubling of patrol duty allowance payable. As a result of these initiatives, we have seen the number of patrol days completed by the Naval Service in 2025 increase by over 35% on the outputs from the previous year, so quite a significant increase.  I reassure the Deputy that the regeneration of the Naval Service is one of my priorities as Minister for Defence. It is also, of course, a priority for the Defence Forces. This reflects the commitment in the programme for Government. It is reinforced in the actions required under the strategic framework to 2026, which was published in February of this year.  To that end, I have had detailed discussions with the Chief of Staff on the need to have a regeneration report submitted on the Naval Service, and work is under way on that. The Defence Forces, in conjunction with senior officials in my Department, are working to have the report, and an action plan against which progress will be able to be measured, delivered to me as soon as possible.  The joint actions of the Defence Forces provide a vital foundation for the new strategy. I am determined to strengthen our Defence Forces through investing in their personnel and capabilities in order that they can continue to protect and monitor our maritime domain against new and evolving threats. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  I thank the Minister for her reply. Of course, the maritime area that has to be protected and that comes within our jurisdiction is massive. From her reply, I take it that there are four vessels that are seaworthy and available, as she said, at any one time. In relation to the rotation, are there some ships within that fleet of eight that are not seaworthy at all? The Minister might clarify that when she comes back. If I heard her right, I think she said that there are 833 staff. What are the numbers that were recruited in 2025, what were the numbers that retired and what is the target? They are the three key figures: the target, the numbers that have been recruited and the numbers that have retired or that have left the Naval Service. I know there has been recruitment to improve the capacity, and I welcome that. It is important we have it to protect our cables. The fact that we are a neutral country, which the Minister admitted in answer to a previous question, does not impede us in any way from increasing the capacity of our navy and having sensible levels of co-operation with neighbouring countries and other European countries. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  Our overall strength, as of 31 March, was 833 personnel. We have an establishment or a target figure of 1,094. Obviously, we want to reach that, and we want to go beyond it if we are looking at level of ambition 2 and beyond. While I do not have the exact figures to hand for last year, as of 31 March this year a total of 39 personnel have been inducted, but that is just within the first three months. As I mentioned, of the 7,000 who have applied this year, about 23%, I believe, are applications to the Naval Service, so quite a large number are still applying. Thirty-nine have been inducted up until 31 March this year.  In terms of the overall vessels and how they operate, it is not physically or logistically possible for all our Naval Service vessels to be at sea simultaneously. That is because they operate on a rotation basis. Furthermore, I refer to maintaining safe manning levels and preventing personnel burnout. That is why we want to increase our numbers, in order that we can increase our overall capacity. Again, I stress, through the ships we have out, and with the support of the Air Corps, we are able to cover and to monitor with technology and equipment our EEZ 24-7. Obviously, we want greater capabilities on top of that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  In relation to the eight vessels, there are four at sea at any one time. I understand there is rotation and that they cannot all be at sea at any one time. Is it the case that there are one or two of those ships that are not seaworthy and that are permanently docked at any time? I ask the Minister to clarify that. That is the question I am asking. Of course, we have to protect our undersea cables.  As a result of the agreement signed with France, the Celtic interconnector will now be coming on stream. The import of drugs also continues to present a challenge. The navy and other arms of the State have had some notable successes in that regard. I welcome the target of 1,094 personnel but only 39 were inducted in the first three months of the year. That is a very low number considering the huge number of applications. Huge numbers of people are applying but the Minister said that 39 have been inducted, which is a very small number. Will the Minister clarify that point regarding the ships? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  In relation to our ships, at any given time, something might arise resulting in a ship requiring unscheduled maintenance but, the vast majority of the time, it is a case of scheduled maintenance. Ships come to a certain point in their lifetime and go in for scheduled maintenance. It obviously takes some time to go through that process. That is why the ships operate on a rotation. The L\u00c9 Aoibhinn is a new ship that we hope to be ready and commissioned in the third quarter of this year. Again, it is about making sure that scheduled maintenance happens as it is supposed to. Where issues arise and ships need to be taken in for maintenance as the result of unforeseen circumstances, we obviously need to respond as quickly as possible. I again stress that the physical presence of our navy ships is complemented by intelligence-gathering carried out by naval operations 24-7, 365 days a year, at the command centre in Haulbowline. That involves remote monitoring. In addition, Air Corps aircraft are equipped with state-of-the-art communications and surveillance equipment. To the Deputy's point, these work very closely with An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, Revenue and customs. We recently saw a massive drugs haul involving the MV Matthew . That was the result of all of our agencies working together with all of the resources we have. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Naval Service"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_28","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Defence Forces","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_22","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_28","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_28.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl  This question is a logical follow-on from the one posed by Deputy Stanley. It asks the Minister about action on cadet pay. I ask it against the background of the continuing crisis in recruitment and retention. It is not just a question, but a call for urgent action. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I propose to take Questions Nos. 76, 85 and 93 together.  I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. He would probably agree that significant progress has been made on pay and conditions for Defence Forces personnel, particularly over the last six years. I have met with the various associations. I met with RACO on 22 January and its representatives raised the issue of cadet pay with me. As the Deputy will know, the matter is currently on the conciliation and arbitration agenda. At that time, I said that I would see whether we could give further consideration to the issue beyond what is being done through that system. I have asked my Department to look at that. During those discussions with RACO, I also outlined that any cost-increasing claims have to be addressed within the parameters of public pay policy. When dealing with our public servants, including members of the Defence Forces and An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, we have to work within that public pay policy.  As the Deputy will be aware, different pay scales apply during the training period for both cadets and recruits. The current pay scale applicable to cadets ranges from \u20ac26,248 to \u20ac39,026, depending on various qualifications. In addition, cadets are provided with accommodation and meals free of charge for the duration of their training. This is part of the overall package. For many young people starting off, rent and food make up a large chunk of the bills they have to pay so the fact that these are included is very welcome and certainly helps with the overall costs facing cadets. Cadets are required to complete a training period that is approximately 11 months longer than the training programme provided to recruits. They have to complete this programme before they are commissioned and operational. When they are commissioned, their starting pay ranges from \u20ac46,359 to \u20ac51,748, depending on whether they came in as school leavers or as graduates.  In the conversation surrounding the pay and conditions of members of the Defence Forces, it is important to point out that, in addition to basic pay, certain positions in the Defence Forces attract specialist and technical pay. There is additional pay to attract those with specialist qualifications. There is also scope for further income from duty allowances for specific duties carried out on an ongoing basis as well as the possibility of earning a tax-free duty allowance, which starts at \u20ac15,000, for a six-month overseas deployment. Many of those in the 128th Battalion, which is heading to Lebanon in the time ahead, will receive that allowance.  Members of the Permanent Defence Force are a party to the current public service pay agreement. This provides for local bargaining. Parties can bring forward proposals up to a maximum value equivalent to 3% of basic pay, with 1% to be paid from the current agreement and the balance to be paid under any successor pay agreement. There is an opportunity to examine pay and conditions, including cadet pay, through that particular process.  To the Deputy's question, negotiations are ongoing. The matter is on the conciliation and arbitration agenda. I would like to see that process concluded as quickly as possible. I have also asked my Department to look at other ways to support them on top of that. I can come back to that in my next response. It is about making sure we are investing in the physical environment and in our Defence Forces and that we are making it an attractive career, whether you come through as a cadet or through any other route. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl  I acknowledge the Minister's positive disposition to this matter in many aspects of her response but the general secretary of RACO, Conor King, recently set out in the Irish Examiner the fact that cadets are paid far less than the enlisted soldiers they work beside in their first five years. This anomaly would be indefensible in any other profession. Cadetship is a gruelling high-intensity apprenticeship like no other. As well as undergoing long hours of education and training, cadets may be deployed as an aid to civil power operations and are routinely used as the go-to unit for State ceremonial events, representing Ireland at moments of national and international significance. They demonstrated their usefulness during the course of the Covid crisis. We have a problem with recruitment and retention. Much has been done in that area but low cadet pay is a serious blockage in recruitment and needs to be addressed urgently. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  The Minister has given indications in the past and she has talked about addressing this issue but it has been six months since she took office and ultimately nothing has changed. Cadets are still paid well below the minimum wage. That is damaging to recruitment and retention. Their pay is the lowest in the Defence Forces at \u20ac503 per week. That compares with \u20ac550 for a recruit. Considering that is weekly pay, there is a considerable distance between the two. Recruit pay rises to \u20ac627, which is considerably above that \u20ac503. They remain on this pay for the entirety of their first year, earning 40.7% less than enlisted counterparts. This has a knock-on impact on pension contributions so it has a whole-career impact. This is undermining recruitment and retention. These are the future leaders of the Defence Forces. It is crucially important they are supported. I understand RACO has said it has been left with little alternative but to recommend that cadets enlist as a recruit in the Defence Forces before entering a cadetship, which unnecessarily lengthens the progress of their career. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  In these six months, I have been clear that I want to see us do more for cadets. There are quite a range of entry points, starting at \u20ac26,248 and going up to \u20ac39,026. A person's entry point depends on whether they enter on the higher scale as a graduate or otherwise. I cannot step into another role. The Representative Association of Commissioned Officers has sent in a claim. This is being dealt with through the conciliation and arbitration scheme for members of the Permanent Defence Force. Those discussions are confidential. While I would like to resolve the matter myself, I cannot do so. However, I would like to see it resolved as quickly as possible. We may have an opportunity to increase pay for our cadets and other members, including recruits, through local bargaining or otherwise through the public sector pay agreement.  It is essential that we look in the round at how to attract more people to the Defence Forces. Of course, an important part of that is pay and conditions. I accept that. We all know that. That is why, in recent years, we have made significant advancements on overall pay through the public sector pay agreements, on the health supports that are provided, on specific supports for those in the navy with particular programmes they are engaged in, on direct entry, and on allowances for specialised areas. More recently, issues around holiday pay, bank holidays and double time have been resolved. We need to make sure that, where issues and challenges arise, we respond to them quickly but in the context of the overall public sector pay agreement. As the Deputies will appreciate, this is not relevant only to the Defence Forces but we must make sure that our Defence Forces are represented and that, where there are increases, members at every level, including cadets, feel the benefits.  I will finish where the Deputy has alluded to very clearly. Cadets are valued members of Defence Forces as is the work they do. I know many people who have gone in through the cadet programme and are doing really well. They are people we are extremely proud of in the roles they are in. We need to make sure we provide every opportunity for people to enter and progress within the Defence Forces and to continue the really important work they do on the ground at home and overseas. That is my commitment in the time ahead as Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl  I have to proudly state that those who emerge from cadet schools are people of an extraordinary calibre that we are all enormously proud of. Low pay might be tolerable if the cadetships were short or if the financial impact disappeared once training ended but under the single pension scheme, earnings are averaged across an entire career and, therefore, at the end of a career, the cadet is still being penalised by virtue of the reduced pension they will receive. That is not a tolerable situation. The recruitment age for cadets has been increased to 39 years. If people are 30-plus and have a family and a mortgage there is no way, unless they have very substantial savings, that they could afford to become a cadet and take the vastly reduced pay available at that level. The good step of increasing the age profile is being hampered and impeded by the low rate of cadet pay. It really needs to be resolved.  On a completely different but related matter, the cadet school has ended its relationship with Malta. For many years, the Irish cadet school trained members of the Maltese military in a really beneficial and impressive manner. I regret this has ended. Can something be done to restore that programme? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  I would love to hear about local bargaining. Local bargaining seems to be the solution to cadet pay, the service commitment scheme and to specialist staff. However many per cent it is, the scope clearly does not exist to expect it to be like the miracle of loaves and fishes and solve all the problems. There is scope to do a bit with local bargaining but ultimately the Department needs to recognise that these are strategic considerations in the development capability and the personnel numbers of the Defence Forces. This is intolerable. Deputy \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl is entirely correct. If people are coming from a different sector to become cadets, it will not be sustainable for them to keep up mortgage payments on that kind of pay.  I will give a brief mention to something else in another training sphere, namely Air Corps apprentices. One category of them, not the most recent, is actually on lower pay than the class coming just behind them because of the recategorisation. It is a small category. Some sort of ex gratia scheme or approach should be made to support them because it is not fair to have one class on a lower scale even though it is a year advanced than the next category. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  An investment in the men and women in our Defence Forces is an investment in our security and the security of our State. We all fully agree and we are all aligned in that. We all fully agree we need to expand and grow our Defence Forces and expand our capabilities. That means more money but it also means making sure that pay and conditions are as strong as they can be. We have made significant progress in the past number of years. Conditions not just for our cadets, but across the Defence Forces, have improved. Through public sector pay agreements, overall pay has increased. There has also been investment in specialities and particular roles as well as encouraging people to come in with different qualifications. I accept if somebody is coming in later in life with a mortgage and family, we need to be able to look at that and see how we attract those types of people and make sure it is viable for them. That is where accommodation comes in and where paying for meals and other elements are important. We need to make sure it is accessible to people and they are not living in Donegal and having to go to Cork. We are looking at where training takes places and are trying to address all the different challenges, particularly when we have increased the age threshold. I welcome that and I witnessed the impact that had on recruitment to An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. I also see how it is starting to trickle through when it comes to our Defence Forces.  Both Deputies mentioned training. Whether it is maritime security strategy, the information sharing environment we are now part of at a European level, our PESCO programmes, the European Defence Agency or, indeed, the Partnership for Peace programmes we are involved in with the UN, much of what we do is around training. Our recruits are going to other countries and training troops on the ground there and exchanges that take place are a really important part of that overall training. For example, that type of exchange and training is a core part of the most recent memorandum of understanding with the UK. While I cannot speak directly to the Malta programme with Deputy \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl at the moment, I am happy to follow up on that. I assure him that training and exchanges right across the EU and beyond and various different types of programme, peacebuilding or otherwise, are a core part of what we do. It is essential to the overall training of our own teams as well. The training we provide is seen as world-class. That is certainly something I am prioritising in every programme we are developing and in every exchange that is taking place with other international and European partners. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 77 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Defence Forces"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_29","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Defence Forces","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_22","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_29","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_29.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  Why has the conciliation and arbitration scheme for the Permanent Defence Force has been without an adjudicator since June last year? This is the only place Defence Forces members can have grievances addressed. This process is being held up because of the lack of an appointment. I would like an update please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I would like to see this resolved as soon as possible. It was raised with me by the representative groups when I met them. Every effort to nominate an adjudicator for the conciliation and arbitration, C and A, scheme for the Permanent Defence Forces is being made to bring it to a conclusion. Efforts have been under way for some time. As the Deputy will be aware, the scheme for the Defence Forces is the primary mechanism for addressing industrial relations issues in the defence sector. It is a voluntary mechanism that provides structures for management and the military representative associations to engage on issues as they arise. I am glad these structures have helped to maintain positive industrial relations in the sector over a number of years.  The scheme provides for an arbitration process to assist in the resolution of disputes that remain unresolved following engagement and that become the subject of formal disagreement. The scheme includes provision for an adjudicator and an arbitration board. Under the agreed terms of reference of the C and A scheme, the adjudicator and arbitration board appointments are mutually agreed by both sides. While an arbitration board is currently in situ , the matter of the appointment of an adjudicator remains under consideration. For that reason, it is something that has to be mutually agreed on both sides.  There has been considerable engagement between the Department of Defence, the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation and the military representative associations on the appointment. I look forward to the matter being resolved in the near future. I will continue to engage with all those involved to make sure we can have an individual who is mutually agreed by both sides. The Deputy will agree that the work the body does is essential so we need to make sure that it is functioning in the way that it should and that we have someone appointed as quickly as possible. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  The continued delays and the recurring nature of this issue risks undermining the integrity of the C and A scheme in general. Given the unique restrictions places on the Defence Forces personnel, I have to say in the strongest terms, it is absolutely essential that this mechanism operates without interruption and with the confidence of all parties.  I will bring this up at every Oral Question session having been making continued representations to the Minister and I will work with the representative bodies as well to ensure that this matter is resolves at the earliest opportunity. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  While the post of adjudicator under this scheme has been vacant, it has not prevented the continued operation of the scheme. It is important to stress that. We want to make sure someone is appointed as quickly as possible but it has not prevented the operation of the scheme. We have engagement between the official side and the military representative associations. That has continued through the conciliation councils, where appropriate, and through facilitation as well. The Deputy will be aware the revised scheme introduced in April 2024 strengthened the role of the independent chairperson and placed a greater emphasis on early and structured facilitation with the objective of resolving matters before escalating to the adjudication or the arbitration. It is working and it is important it continues to work but I fully agree and appreciate it is important we have someone appointed as soon as possible. I will continue to work with all of those involved to make sure a person everyone can be supportive of is appointed as soon as possible. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Is f\u00e9idir teacht ar Cheisteanna Scr\u00edofa ar www.oireachtas.ie. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Written Answers are published on the Oireachtas website. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Defence Forces"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_30","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions","counts":{"speechCount":59,"speakerCount":10},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_30","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Seo scannal both\u00e1n rothar eile - \u20ac127,000 caite ar bhoth\u00e1n rothar in Ospid\u00e9al Chiarra\u00ed. Tagann s\u00e9 seo ag an am c\u00e9anna ina bhfuil Feidhmeannacht na Seirbh\u00edse Sl\u00e1inte ag r\u00e1 go bhfuil s\u00e9 ag dul siar ar a bhuis\u00e9ad, go bhfuil smacht caiteachais i bhfeidhm anois, agus go bhfuil morat\u00f3ir ar earca\u00edocht ar fud chuid den tseirbh\u00eds sl\u00e1inte. Deirtear le hoibrithe c\u00faram sl\u00e1inte nach bhfuil go leor airgid ansin. T\u00e1 fol\u00fantais nach bhfuil l\u00edonta. T\u00e1 foireann at\u00e1 traochta. T\u00e1 othair at\u00e1 ag fanacht. T\u00e1 p\u00e1iste at\u00e1 ag fanacht m\u00edonna i gcomhair meas\u00fanuithe. Ach ar an l\u00e1mh eile, n\u00edl fadhb ar bith ag an Rialtas \u20ac127,000 a fh\u00e1il agus a chaitheamh le c\u00fapla rothar a choinne\u00e1il tirim.  Another day, another bike shed scandal, and not for the first time involving the Minister's Government. We had a \u20ac336,000 Leinster House bike shed. Almost \u20ac100,000 was spent on a bike shed at Holles Street, and now we have another bike shed, costing \u20ac127,000, at University Hospital Kerry. It is another slap in the face to ordinary people right across this country, workers and families who are already at breaking point. This comes at the exact time that the Government is imposing a recruitment embargo across parts of the health service. Healthcare workers are being told that there is no money. Vacancies are going unfilled. Staff are working to exhaustion. Patients are waiting for longer and longer. Children are waiting for months for assessment, yet, on the other hand, somehow the Government, no problem, finds \u20ac127,000 for a designer bike shed, and that was signed off without blinking an eye. Does the Minister know what the most outrageous part of that is? Vastly cheaper options were available. The Government examined options that included one at less than \u20ac7,000, one at \u20ac10,000 and another at \u20ac21,000, but no the Government chose an option that was 20 times dearer than that. What was the excuse for all the Government's waste? What the excuse for this because it had tougher glass, because it looked nicer, because the spacing was a bit better and because the hospital green team thought it might be more publicly acceptable?  If this was satire, it would be unbelievable. Patients are being treated on trolleys in corridors in our hospitals, in Kerry and elsewhere. That is the reality. Families are desperately trying to access the care and supports they need. We have staff who are being burnt out and are leaving the system. Now, on top of all of that, the Government has imposed a recruitment embargo on parts of the health system. While essential posts go unfilled under the Government's watch, it has signed off on a luxury bike shed and lectures the public about value for money and the need to tighten their belts in these challenging times.  Let us be clear that this is not just waste. This is a culture of arrogance. It is the same culture of arrogance where there is always money for the vanity projects and the indulgence but never money for the patients and those on the front line. It is the same rotten culture that gave us the previous bike shed scandals. There is one rule for the ordinary workers and the ordinary people but when it comes to the Minister's Government and to wasting the public money, there is no end. People are told to tighten their belts. Hospitals are told to cut back. However, when it comes to the Government's waste and excess, the chequebook is always open. People watching this and listening to this story are working hard. They are paying their mortgage and their rent. They are trying to pay their bills, whether for electricity, groceries, fuel or energy. They are trying to do their best. They do not get to waste \u20ac127,000, shrug their shoulders, and just move on. The Minister's Government does it again and again, and nobody is ever held accountable.  Let us call this what it is. This is not just bad luck. It is not oversight. This is pure waste. It is squandering the people's money but the Government keeps on doing it and nobody is held accountable. How can the Minister justify imposing a recruitment embargo across parts of the health service while defending \u20ac127,000 for a designer bike shed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Helen McEntee)  Each and every one of us, whether Ministers in Departments or Deputies in this House, wants to make sure that every taxpayers' penny that is spent is spent well, goes to where it needs to go and goes to those who need it. That is across every Department, including health, education, active travel, and investing in critical infrastructure. With the \u20ac105 billion that was announced in last year's budget, there is a role for all of us, including Ministers, Departments, and agencies, to make sure we get value for money, spend it where it is needed, and that projects come in on time and on budget. That has to be a focus and priority for all of us. That is an objective of Government and of all of us in this House.  One of the Department of public expenditure and reform's key roles is the development of guidance, codes of practice, and circulars to make sure we get best value for money, that we adhere to critical infrastructure guidelines, that we have codes of practice in place that are adhered to, and that we make sure that what we are spending our money on is spent well, whether it is money invested in health, education, communications, large-scale transport, or any other larger projects. Before suggesting that is not happening, look at communications where we have the \u20ac3 billion national broadband plan which was delivered on time, on budget, and is ahead of schedule. We have large-scale transport projects that are coming in on time and within budget. In the health sector, which the Deputy referenced, more money is being spent than ever before. We will have more people working in our health service this year than we did last year. Of course, we have to make sure that where budgets are set within hospitals and within regions, people are able to stick to those because if you go over your budget, then somebody else in a different part of the country suffers.  When you look at the projects and the investment, we had acute facility expansions in 2025, with works to expand ward blocks in Cork University Hospital, St. James's, Connolly, Blanchardstown, and the Mater hospital. They have all been delivered on time and on budget. These are facilities for people where people will benefit day-to-day. The Mater hospital's Rock Wing was completed in 2023. I mention the national forensic central hospital and Merlin Park University Hospital. Look at further and higher education and at education.  We are absolutely determined that every cent that is spent of the \u20ac105.4 billion budget announced last year, which we will spend this year, and the money announced in the past couple of weeks, will go directly to those who need it but we need to make sure we have a balance, that we are investing in active travel, that we are encouraging people to cycle to work where they can, that we are investing in our communities and that it is not just going directly into services and infrastructure.  Nobody agrees with what happened here in Leinster House last year. That is why the OPW has put in place new measures and put forward changes to make sure something like that cannot happen again but the project the Deputy mentioned went through the procurement process and the proper guidelines. What was delivered was what was decided was needed for the hospital in the place that it was located. That is in the scheme of a \u20ac105 billion budget, with additional funding already provided for this year. We have provided \u20ac750 million to people because we know that it is needed. Some \u20ac100 million has been provided directly to our farmers and contractors who are quite literally providing and putting the food on our tables, and there is \u20ac100 million extra for our hauliers, who are transporting our goods, food, commodities and people across the country. We are also supporting people directly with the reduction in overall fuel prices, whether it is the 32 cent, 27 cent, or the significant reduction in marked green diesel. All of this is because we appreciate and understand that while we need to continue to invest in our infrastructure and to spend money on our schools, hospitals, and directly on supports people need, we also need to invest in the here and now, and acknowledge that people are in a very difficult position because of the war in Iran, the conflict in Ukraine, and because of what has happened post Covid. All of this cumulatively has put immense stress and pressure on people. That does not mean that every single cent that is being spent is not being spent well and wisely. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  The public is sick to the teeth of this. The Minister stands there and defends \u20ac127,000 being spent on a designer bike shed at the same time as the Government is imposing a recruitment embargo. Does the Minister not know how tone-deaf that is and what the family whose mother is lying on a hospital trolley in a corner of one of those hospitals feel when they hear that, or when the carer who is sitting at home cannot actually care for people because there is a recruitment embargo that does not allow the hours for home help to be provided? Does the Minister not understand that people are sick to the teeth of the Government, which is a serial waster of public money, spending money over and over again on vanity projects? That includes \u20ac336,000 on the Leinster House bike shed, \u20ac100,000 on the Holles Street hospital bike shed, and now the Minister defends \u20ac127,000 on a bike shed in the Kerry hospital. It was the most expensive option, at 20 times dearer. These are vanity projects and the Government has lost the run of itself on public spending and value for money.  The Government is tone deaf when it talks to people about how they will have to wait until next year's budget for supports and have to tighten their belts. Yet the Government signed the cheques for designer bike sheds and the Minister stands there and defends that at a time the Government is telling people it is imposing a recruitment embargo. Nurses are at breaking point. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  The Deputy to conclude. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Front-line staff are at breaking point. These waiting lists are getting longer yet the Minister defends the indefensible. How does she square that circle? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  Does the Deputy accept we are spending more money on health every year? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  With the cost of the bike shed, of course the Government can. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  This time next year there will be more people working in our health service. We cannot have a situation where money is being spent and there is no accountability as to where it is going within our health service or anywhere else as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  That is the problem; there is no accountability. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  The Deputy talks about our budgets. We would not have the money to invest if we followed the tack the Deputy wants us to take. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  While I do not stand here every Thursday, I listen every Thursday and every single week, the Deputy comes in here and wants a new budget. Sinn F\u00e9in has put forward a new plan for \u20ac3 billion additional funding but does not take into account the fact that if we were to spend every penny----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  What about the bike shed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  -----that the Deputy wants to spend----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  Tax and spend, Pearse. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  The Minister has not mentioned the bike shed once. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  Not only would we not have a surplus----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  Tax and spend, Pearse. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Order, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  What about the bike shed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  How many bike sheds----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  Let the Minister speak. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  -----and we would not actually have the money to spend. Sinn F\u00e9in does not want any taxes or to take in any money. It just wants to spend it. Sinn F\u00e9in does not take into account that the money it is proposing the Government spends would increase costs even more for people by about 5% or \u20ac3 billion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Answer my question please, with respect. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I have answered the Deputy's question very clearly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  What about the bike shed? I have asked the Minister twice now. How can she defend that? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy Doherty, allow the Minister to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  What we have is an infrastructure plan of \u20ac102 billion. The Deputy can talk about one project. I think we all agree we need to make sure whether it is a large or small project, that value for money is achieved. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  But it was not. The Minister should suigh s\u00edos. She has no answers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  What Deputy Doherty will never accept is that \u20ac102 billion is being spent in our schools hospitals, our road networks and our infrastructure----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I thank the Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  -----all of which people will benefit from. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  The Minister should conclude. Deputy Nash is next. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  We would not have a red cent of that if we followed the economic plans Sinn F\u00e9in has proposed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  PAYE workers need a mini-budget, and they need it now. Last October\u2019s budget, the first of this Government\u2019s new term, managed to pull off a quite extraordinary feat. It committed to spend over \u20ac9 billion more than the year before, yet left working families even worse off. This is an unparalleled achievement and all because of choices the Government made. Even before Trump and Israel\u2019s war on Iran, the ESRI, in its post-budget analysis, said working families would be 2% poorer this year, with those who depend on the State for all of their income twice as far behind.  Roll seven months on, and the picture for PAYE workers has worsened considerably. Working people were deliberately misled by Fine Gael before they went to the polls in 2024. The Minister's party said that PAYE tax rates and bands would be indexed every year, making sure small pay hikes would be taken home. Instead, Fine Gael chose an economically stupid tax break for fast food chains and to subsidise the bank balances of developers against all of the expert advice, even from the Government's own civil servants. These are not the actions of a responsible Government.  Three weeks ago, a Government that was close to losing its authority caved in to sectoral interests and shelled out over \u20ac700 million to buy their silence for a few weeks. Nobody is saying for one minute that supports were not needed but there was nothing in that deal whatsoever for PAYE workers, and they know it. There was nothing to help with the day to day challenges that now have a permanence about them.  The truth is the Government has abandoned hard-working families on middle and low incomes. Money was no object before the votes were counted in November 2024. No vote buying gimmick was too madcap not to find its way into that year\u2019s pre-election budget in a transparent attempt to buy people's votes with their own money. The message to working people since has been clear: you are on your own. Ireland has the highest energy prices in the EU with a harsh winter ahead. We have had already high grocery prices, rising by a further 6.5% for the basics in the first part of the year. There is no sign of the promised \u20ac200 childcare rate and there were shameful sham fights this week over college fees, rather than knuckling down and cutting costs for families  This afternoon, Government will have a chance to show its support for PAYE workers. Labour\u2019s motion makes a very clear ask: do a mini-budget now, and put up to \u20ac1,000 into the pockets of average working families by: indexing bands and credits for PAYE workers backdated to January, bringing in a targeted \u20ac400 energy credit for households on under \u20ac80,000 annually and introduce a \u20ac100 groceries supplement to combat high prices at the checkout. In the absence of a mini-budget, it will not be Ireland that will be going nuclear; it will be Irish workers hit with high costs and no sign of relief and respite Does the Minister plan to formally oppose Labour\u2019s motion later and if so, why? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  Again, we all appreciate that we can all see the challenges people are facing at the moment. This has not happened overnight. We have had a series of events that have impacted inflation and our overall prices, from Covid-19 to the war in Ukraine and the most recent crisis in the Middle East where it is being said that if what happened in the seventies was coupled twice with the war in Ukraine, in terms of the impact on and access to fuel and prices, this is worse. We are dealing with what has been a cumulative impact and the need not just for a response of a direct financial support to people, but for structural change and investment. To the Deputy's point, that is exactly what this Government campaigned on, was elected on and what we set out to do in our programme for Government.  We have a programme for Government that is set out over the five years. It is important to stress that it is five budgets over five years. It is not possible to do everything in any one year. What we have been very clear on from this year's budget and will be clear again in the coming weeks and months with next year's budget, is that we want to make sure that with the surplus we have, because of the way in which the economy is managed and of our focus on developing economies and making sure we have money to invest back into our infrastructure and in our services for people who need them most, we are in a position where we can provide support directly to people but also plan for the future and invest in those long-term structural changes while, at the same time, making it easier for those who are working and need our support as well. I appreciate that and we all accept that for those who are working, taking the average household - I hate to use the example we always use of a nurse and a garda, or two people who working in the public sector - we want to make sure people feel the benefit when they take home their pay packets every week or month. We have said we will make changes when it comes to income tax brackets and that is something we are committed to doing. We have made very clear that we have plans when it comes to reducing overall costs for childcare, something that can be like an extra mortgage for people, but that we also need to look at overall access to childcare. That is being worked on at the moment.  People are struggling most at the moment with energy costs and trying to respond to what has been a significant shock during the past few weeks. We have been clear that we want to do two things. We want to continue directly to support people. I do not accept the Deputy's comment that the general person who gets up and goes to work got nothing. The reduction in fuel costs overall was to support the person who gets into their car or gets public transport and goes to work every day. The \u20ac750 million package between the extension of the fuel allowance, the direct reduction and, yes, the specific package for the hauliers, farmers and contractors, was provided with a very clear focus on an industry that uses more fuel than ever because of the time of the year and the production they are involved in. We are making sure that, because of the choices we have made in the past and because of the fact we have a surplus, we are investing directly and supporting people as they need it now. We also have significant plans through our investment and infrastructure plan, and other plans whether they be for childcare----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I thank the Minister, Deputy Nash to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  -----the delivery of more homes, investment in healthcare and education that we are making permanent invests and permanent savings for people going forward. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  With respect, nothing the Minister has said on the record in response to my question will make it any easier for PAYE workers between now and the budget to get some respite and help with the high energy costs and so on she directly referenced. We can trace all of this back to the poor decisions the Government made in budget 2026. The Government will have an opportunity to make amends for that this afternoon by withdrawing the countermotion and ensuring it sends a signal to PAYE workers and the self-employed that it is for a change in its sights. It has gotten off to a very bad start. Working people are much worse off this year than they were this time last year. They took the Government's pre-election commitments at face value that this would not be the case. I will make a prediction. When a lot of the adjustments that were made in recent weeks are exhausted shortly, the Government will roll them over. The best and most responsible way of organising a financial package is to do so in a responsible, structured way with a mini-budget that is holistically managed and that ensures PAYE workers are looked after and that their interests are prioritised as well over the next few months and in advance of the October budget. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I thank the Deputy. The Minister to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  Working people cannot wait any longer for support. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  In the past few weeks alone, the Government has introduced a support package of \u20ac750 million plus. If we were to add another budget, essentially, on top of that before we reach October, what will we trade off here? We fully appreciate we need to support people in the here and now.  To say that nothing is happening and no one is benefiting is inaccurate when the reduction in overall costs for fuel prices impacts every single person who gets in their car or uses public transport. What we need to do when we are looking at energy in particular is change how we build our new homes and retrofit existing homes. The figures alone total some 250,000 households. Many people who get up and go to work have had their homes retrofitted, which is saving up to \u20ac1,100 per year. A total of 73,000 homes are already targeted this year for retrofitting and there are 100% grants available for those who need it most. I think about 34,000 households have been provided with that support.  Well before anything happened in Iran, the national energy affordable task force was put together to make sure we can look at overall prices and structure and how we can reduce costs. The initial report recommended that we reduce our VAT on energy and electricity to 9%, and that is a decision that was taken by the Government last year, which will go out to 2030. The new report from this group will be published in the summer. Again, it will look at how we pay for investment in our grid, how we structure our bills and how we can bring down overall costs. A lot of things are happening. The Deputy keeps talking about introducing budgets every couple of weeks. Where is this money coming from? How would we end up having any money to do anything in the budget in October? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  You keep introducing \u20ac750 million packages without any----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  T\u00e1 gealltanais bhriste. There are broken promises. Ar fud na t\u00edre, t\u00e1 daoine tuirseach de n\u00edos m\u00f3 agus n\u00edos m\u00f3 gealltanas briste. Bhris Fine Gael roinnt gealltanas a rinne s\u00e9 sa toghch\u00e1n deireanach. Fine Gael has broken promise after promise that it made in the most recent general election. Parents, students and disabled people were all told that help was on the way, but those election commitments were swept under the rug once the Government was formed. There is palpable anger and frustration with the Government\u2019s failure to deliver on its word. At the 2024 election, Fine Gael promised affordable childcare costing \u20ac200 per month. It quickly forgot that promise. Fine Gael promised to phase out third level fees. Does the Minister remember that? Instead, those fees were increased. Fine Gael promised a \u20ac500 cost-of-disability payment. Instead, in the last budget, it cut the income of disabled people by up to \u20ac1,400.  The Minister's party leader, Simon Harris, promised to pass the occupied territories Bill within the first year of the Government and yet, days, weeks and months pass with no sign of the Bill in the D\u00e1il. The occupied territories Bill was initiated in 2018. We are waiting more than eight years for the Government to progress this Bill. Last year, the T\u00e1naiste promised that the occupied territories Bill would be brought to the D\u00e1il by the end of November. We are now half a year past that deadline. That is yet another promise made by Fine Gael that has been broken.  The horrors in Palestine continue. The killing has not stopped and the illegal occupation is intensifying. Two weeks ago, Aws al-Nasaan, a 14-year-old boy, was murdered. While he was standing at the gate outside his secondary school in the West Bank, he was shot dead by an Israeli settler. This was part of a wave of settler violence in the occupied West Bank, primarily targeted at schools and children. Palestinian children are being murdered as they go to school while Ireland is still doing business with the companies profiting from this illegal occupation. We have a duty to stand up for the Palestinian people. We have a legal obligation to act when a genocide is taking place. Why does Fine Gael keep on making and breaking promises? When will the occupied territories Bill be brought to the D\u00e1il? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  In relation to what is happening in Gaza and specifically the West Bank, I am as appalled as the Deputy is. I think everyone in this House is equally appalled. We have what is supposed to be a ceasefire. Having visited the region and having been to Rafah only at the beginning of the year, it is clear to me that the terms of the ceasefire are not being adhered to in many instances. It is clear that what is happening in the West Bank is only escalating further. The level of settler violence is increasing. The level of destruction of homes and communities is increasing. It is for that reason that Ireland has acted throughout all of this conflict - we have led in many instances - to try to provide support to, first and foremost, bring the conflict to an end, but also to provide humanitarian aid where needed and make sure those responsible are held accountable.  We led efforts at a European level to recognise Palestine. We were one of the first countries to do so. We also have had a focus on the association agreement. Only last week at a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council, I wrote directly to the Chair of the Council, along with my Slovenian and Spanish colleagues, asking for the suspension or partial suspension of the association agreement between the EU and Israel to be up for discussion or on the agenda when it comes to goods. I also asked for us to focus on sanctions when it comes to settler violence in the region. For the first time in a long time, we are now starting to see movement in this regard. We are starting to see countries that had not supported any kind of progress in this regard moving.  I also know that Palestine needs our continued support and funding. When I was in the region in January, I announced further funding, which brings the aid and support we are providing to the region to about \u20ac144 million. It is unfair for anyone to say that Ireland is not front and centre in providing support, leading, bringing about change and working with colleagues where we can.  When it comes to the occupied territories Bill, I came into this Department in November. At that point, the T\u00e1naiste, who held this Ministry before me, had worked with the committee and its ask for services to be included in the Bill that had been presented previously. That work has been done. I received advice from the Attorney General before Christmas, as is the case with any legislation, particularly where when there are complex elements in it. I asked further questions and that advice has come back to me. Of course, I will now make a decision in terms of the timelines and how we progress with this.  What I would like to see happen is what we have seen in the past where countries have worked together and made progress on issues, such as recognising Palestine, working on the association agreement, providing aid and calling out issues where they emerged. Where we have worked together, we have made a greater impact and seen greater progress. I have been engaging with colleagues across those other countries where similar legislation has been introduced or is progressing to see what progress we can make. My objective and that of the Government is to make sure that this war comes to an end, that we stop people being murdered and killed and that we support those innocent civilians. We must ensure the two-state solution, which has always been this country\u2019s focus and priority, remains a viable objective. The longer the violence in the West Bank continues, that becomes less and less viable. That is why we are taking the actions we are taking. That is why we are still committed to progressing the legislation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  We have to act because the situation is too extreme not to act. It is absolutely horrendous that school children are being murdered standing outside their school. That is taking place while Ireland still trades with companies that profit and operate in the occupied territories. That has to stop and it has to stop now. This Bill was initiated more than eight years ago. Fine Gael has been in government for all of that time. It has had ample time to get legal advice and do all of that. Eight and a half years later, it must act on the occupied territories Bill. The Minister said she has received the advice and subsequently sought clarification on that advice. Now all we are waiting on is for the Minister to make a decision. That is what she said. When will the Minister make a decision to progress this Bill? Will the Minister bring it to the D\u00e1il in the next few weeks? Will it be passed before the summer recess? Will the Minister act urgently now? We cannot afford to wait on this any longer. When will this Bill, which we have been waiting eight and a half years on, be brought to the D\u00e1il to get it passed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  The Deputy outlined the timeline but recently, particularly as this conflict has escalated and as more and more people have been brought into the conflict, we have acted in a way that many other countries have not. We have led in recognising Palestine. We led in advocating for more support, financial aid and assistance. We have led when it comes to the suspension of the association agreement, which I believe would have a greater impact and effect in supporting people in the West Bank and Gaza more generally. That is why I, along with my colleagues from Slovenia and Spain, wrote recently to put this back on the agenda. It is why I have advocated to ensure there are sanctions applied for those engaging in violent settler actions in the West Bank. It is also why I am engaging with my European colleagues so that as we progress this legislation, we are working collectively together to have an impact. The objective here has to be----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  When will the Bill be brought forward? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  -----to make sure that we have an impact. As I said, I have received the advice. We are at the stage where I have received the advice. I have to finalise and assess that. I will then move forward after that. I have only received that advice in recent weeks. I will be able to make progress and move on it.  Everything that we do has to make sure we are able to make an impact and a positive impact for people on the ground. That is always going to be my priority when it comes to this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  I want to raise the Government's total inaction on the issue of Palestine. We have just heard the Minister talking about aid, recognising the Palestinian state and of trying to get a motion passed in the EU. These are the three things the Minister mentioned. The Minister did not mention a single sanction. I will raise a number of things the Government could be doing. In her role, it must be exhausting for the Minister trying to come up with new excuses about the occupied territories Bill with some new reason each time as to why it cannot be passed eight years on, when 350 lawyers have already signed a statement saying that it is perfectly in order.  I want to raise the plight of the people who took part in the Global Sumud Flotilla. As the Minister will know, Israeli naval forces attacked the flotilla off the coast of Greece and 180 unarmed humanitarian workers were kidnapped and assaulted. Two of them, Thiago \u00c1vila and Saif Abu Keshek were abducted and are now detained in Israel and being tortured. I would fear for their lives. Thiago's mother has just died. Some 22 Irish people took part in the flotilla, of whom seven were also abducted by Israeli forces in international waters 1,000 km off Israeli territory and near an EU state. Three are in Greece continuing the flotilla. Martin Guilfoyle aged 75 had a gun put to his head. Catriona Graham said she was cable tied, manhandled and left without adequate food or water. They were dumped in Greece and the Greek authorities would not even help them either. Why are Irish people willing to take these risks? They are willing to do it because the flotilla was a response to the inaction of the Irish Government, of the EU state and of international states.  What exactly is Ireland's position on Israel? In theory we support the Palestinian people but in practice it is a litany of inaction. Let us consider the occupied territories Bill, for which the Minister has invented new excuses. Slovenia passed a similar Bill last August and Spain has followed suit. What is the problem with Ireland? Why are we so different? As I said, it must be exhausting. In regard to Shannon Airport, under the Minister's watch, there was a 56% surge in US military overflights last month, which coincided with the attacks on Iran and Lebanon. The Minister sees no connection between the two things and there are verbal gymnastics when she is asked to condemn these acts. When people say academic links should be ended, the Minister constantly says we should separate the two, even though the university links are with companies that are involved in the military assaults. Even with the Ireland and Israel match, the Government is pushing players to participate in that when it knows the Israeli team is steeped in apartheid, in racism and in the IDF itself. When will the Government sanction Israel? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  The Government has consistently been a strong voice for the rights of Palestinian people. Whether Deputy Coppinger would like to accept that or not, or whether she agrees with me or not, that has always been the case. With every opportunity, be it within the EU or the international community, we have advocated for the rights of the Palestinian people and for a two-state solution. We have not just advocated. On top of the areas I have mentioned, where others have pulled back, we have provided humanitarian aid. We have continued to advocate for other organisations whose members I have met and whose colleagues were killed and murdered in this conflict. We have continued to advocate for them and to provide funding while making sure that at every level possible, at the UN level with our international partners, that we highlight the absolutely integral role they play. We continue to advocate for the suspension of the association agreement. For me, this is extremely important because the association agreement, or part of it, particularly when we talk of the West Bank, is at an EU level. This is where we have the greatest impact, where we effect change and how we bring about the response we need, which is that the killing stops, that what is happening in the West Bank stops, and that the pathway towards a two-state solution remains viable. When it comes to that, we have been part of an overall association that is working actively at the moment. While it seems difficult given what is going on, we are actively working to ensure that this remains the focus and the priority. We held one of the most recent conferences in Dublin with people from right across the globe, including Palestine, focused on how we can achieve that overall objective and how we can bring to bear our own experiences on our island of what seemed like an impossible solution in Northern Ireland, how we brought that to the fore, and how we brought the peace process to the fore. We are actively engaged with Palestine and with our counterparts. We are actively engaged with our colleagues right across the EU, and I am actively engaged with them to see what measures we can bring forward. We have to accept there is not a consensus in Europe at the moment when it comes to the association agreement and suspending it. I know from the discussions we had in the past few weeks that there was a shift and a change. My continued engagement with them will be to focus on how we can do more and how the EU can collectively respond and do more because I do not think we have done enough. I am happy to say, and I have said time and again, that at an EU level, I do not think we have done enough.  We have given a very clear commitment with regard to the occupied territories Bill. Legislation does not progress in the same way in different countries. Two countries have already introduced it but it was not through primary legislation and it was by a different route. At the same time, we know other countries are progressing it at the moment and I am actively engaged in working with them. Where we move in unison and where we act collectively together, we have a greater impact and we have a stronger response. This comes back to what is actually having an impact on the ground, how we are supporting people and what it is they need. When I was on the ground speaking to people, they said they need continued aid, they need continued support and they need us to advocate at a European level. That is the way to bring about the change that is needed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  An advocate and a voice but no action. That is all the Minister said, basically. Slovenia and Spain passed occupied territories Bills but Ireland will not because Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael have developed an economic model of Irish capitalism that is so interlinked with American multinationals and, therefore, they do not want to pass it.  I want to mention two issues, the first of which is the trial of an Irishman, Daniel Tatlow-Devally, in Germany. Mr. Tatlow-Devally's family has contacted the Minister and TDs to ask that his trial would be observed. Germany has become a police state, in effect, in its opposition to the Palestinian people. Daniel was led into a court with two-mile high bulletproof glass wall, so he could not engage with his solicitors, along with the other defendants. This is extremely concerning in an EU state.  With regard to the flotilla, I ask that the Minister do something concrete. They are asking for diplomatic protection, for a public investigation as to what happened, including to our own citizens who were brutalised and for economic sanctions against this criminal act by Israel. Will the Minister take action on those three things? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I am very clear that we are committed to the Bill. I am very clear on that and I cannot stress that enough. In terms of the flotilla, this is the second flotilla. With the first flotilla, our representatives on the ground responded immediately to those who were in Israel. They were some of the first citizens who were brought home. With regard to this current flotilla, I condemned outright the actions taken by Israel in international waters. This was a clear violation of international law. I made it very clear that this was a breach. We had officials on the ground who supported those people immediately and who made sure those who were brought to shore in Greece were provided with the support and assistance they required. I have to stress that our advice to people is not to travel in the region. I have condemned the actions of Israel. I have made sure our officials and our team are on the ground supporting those people but again I stress our advice is not to travel to the region. It was clear where they were headed to and the advice is not to travel. To anybody who is taken off the flotilla to decide to continue in that vein, our advice has to be to advise against that.  Again, it is not inaction and it is not just words. We are taking action. My actions in recent times in trying to bring together the European Union to respond more collectively is how I believe we will gain respect and make sure we have a greater impact. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_31","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 na Comhalta\u00ed Eile - Other Members\u2019 Questions","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_31","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  Ever since entering this House, I have always made it clear that my politics are pragmatic and solution focused, and I will not say things that cannot be backed with real figures. I understand that money cannot grow on trees. I am a realist. I like to be inside the tent not on the outside throwing rocks and getting nothing done. I was an engineer before I came in here, so I have always been focused on solutions. One of the most frustrating things to me is that since negotiating the programme for Government, I have learned how the systems in the D\u00e1il need to be changed. If we take Dublin, for example, it is the economic engine of the country.  My constituents would like to know how much of our local property tax is going outside of Dublin. We generate hundreds of millions annually and while distribution is needed in some cases, I would like a clear answer on how much is being given out. The delays in Dublin City Council projects, the conditions of some of the public places in the area I represent and the lack of basic amenities are not good enough. Yesterday, we debated the Oliver Bond flats and I believe this needs to be addressed immediately. I will suggest one of the ways we can get some funding for this. In the programme for Government, we committed to examining the Dublin Airport cap as soon as possible. However, I would like an announcement on what is being done there because from speaking to airport officials and from meeting Michael O'Leary last week, nothing being done in the Department. We need to remove the cap because if we remove the cap, we increase the number of people who can come here. If we increase the number of people who can come here and if we give local councils the option of opting into a tourism tax, this would give councillors and councils more money to benefit the areas they represent. We need money and do not have an endless money tree.  I was contacted by a constituent recently about Kilmore. We need to address the Stardust all-weather pitch. Money generated by the removal of the cap and a tourism tax could be used by Dublin City Council. From her previous role, the Minister will be very familiar with Gaelchol\u00e1iste Reachrann. There is so much that needs to be addressed and my support is based on my priorities being addressed. Dublin Bay North needs proper sports facilities and investment in Dublin Bay but we need the money to do that. What is the update on Dublin Airport's passenger cap? Is there an update on the removal of it? Will the Minister give an update on the 2024 consultation on plug-in solar? As legislators trying to decide whether plug-in solar should be allowed, the submissions from private and public entities should be given to us because I want to know who is stopping apartment dwellers from reducing their bills and what they are saying to the Department. Do they have vested interests? Plug-in solar is used in the UK and Germany. Let us get to work and give it to the Irish people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  The Deputy will appreciate he covered a lot of areas there, so I will try as best I can to touch on all of them. When it comes to our capital city, we all want to make sure we are investing in a vibrant and growing capital city. It is not just about tourism but that people are able to live and work here and that we are investing in our schools and infrastructure while at the same time making sure the offer is a big as it can be. Obviously, the airport plays a huge role in that and that we open it up to as many people as possible. The programme for Government includes a commitment to work with stakeholders with the objective of lifting the passenger cap at Dublin Airport. This means working with local communities, not just in Dublin but in my county of Meath and the surrounding areas as well. The commitment the Minister for Transport made is to progress legislation that would empower him to make an order to amend or revoke the passenger cap. In advance of making such an order, he has to engage with An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la, which will screen for, and if necessary, undertake a full assessment in line with overall environmental law. Pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme is nearing completion, with the report of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport expected later this week. In parallel, drafting of the Bill has been progressed and is at an advanced stage. A lot of things are happening at different stages that need to progress. In that regard, the Minister for Transport intends to finalise the Bill this month and at that stage will be bringing it to Government for agreement to publish. The commitment is to enact that as soon as possible, so it is very clear that actions are happening and progress is being made in that regard.  More broadly, the Deputy mentioned education and specific schools and investment in our sports facilities and complexes. While I do not have the timeline exactly, we do know that in the coming period we will have a new sports capital grant. This grant was introduced by a previous Fine Gael Government to specifically and directly invest in sporting facilities across our communities, in particular, but not limited to our cities, towns and villages. In Dublin, we have seen a huge investment in our sports campuses and I have no doubt that when that opens up again, appropriate funding will be provided for Dublin.  We have also seen significant investment in education. In the past number of years alone, over \u20ac6 billion has been invested directly in our schools. Of course there is a plan to do much more than that as well. When it comes to investment overall in Dublin city centre, of course, a huge amount of property tax is taken in but a huge amount is also being reinvested, whether through the national programmes or directly by Dublin City Council. Of course, we want to work with the Deputy to make sure all our priorities and all these important projects can progress at various different stages. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  My constituents saved up, bought houses and are paying the property tax. What proportion of that directly affects them? Regarding the lifting of the passenger cap, the programme for Government clearly stated it should be as soon as possible, so that needs to be addressed. Regarding the 2024 plug-in solar, I know I have raised a lot of issues, so I hope the Minister's officials are watching and will get back to me. I believe this needs to be addressed.  When I wrote this speech, I was under the impression the T\u00e1naiste would be here but since the Minister here, I would like an update on when the occupied territories Bill will be enacted and an update on what actions she has taken on the illegal abduction of Irish citizens on Global Sumud Flotilla. I was abducted by the IOF. I have seen how they brutally treat people who are trying to bring food and aid to a starving population under genocide. How are they able to have impunity in the EU? We need to act and bring in sanctions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  In terms of the solar programme, the Deputy should speak to the Minister, Deputy O'Brien. Everyone in government is open to a way in which we can ensure individual householders and home owners can reduce their bills. I mentioned figures earlier in terms of the investment that has already taken place. Some 250,000 homes have been retrofitted. Over 73,000 homes are targeted for this year. How can we do more and go beyond those overall targets? We need to ensure that for any new scheme, we have the right oversight in place and the right type of technology. When you look at the UK, which has moved farther ahead than us on this, problems have arisen in older homes where the wiring and the network is not capable of sustaining or taking on the new solar panels. With anything we do, we have to make sure there is oversight and that it is put in properly so that problems do not arise. There is very much an openness to delivering this and working with innovative companies that have solutions to reduce overall bills.  Regarding the occupied territories Bill, I am committed to bring it forward. A process has been taking place over the past while with the Attorney General but I intend to make progress on it soon. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 na Comhalta\u00ed Eile - Other Members\u2019 Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_32","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Pholasa\u00ed n\u00f3 ar Reachta\u00edocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation","counts":{"speechCount":43,"speakerCount":19},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_32","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"S\u00e9amus McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  Some \u20ac78 million was collected in car parking charges in hospitals over five years and a record \u20ac17.5 million was collected last year. In 2018, Simon Harris was so concerned about hospital car parking charges that he promised a review and that action would be taken. Here we are in 2026 and no action was taken. In fact, hospital car parking charges have increased. The programme for Government gave a commitment to examine again reducing the cost of car parking charges at hospitals but it simply has not happened. We have seen them go up and up. It varies from hospital to hospital and site to site. Where is the programme for Government? Why is it taking so long for any action to be taken? Patients who have recurrence and repeat appointments and people who visit sick people in hospitals are paying more and more. It is not fair. It is an out-of-pocket expense on people being sick and the Government simply has to do more. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I would again stress that the programme for Government is a five-year plan. We want to make sure that we can get to as many of our commitments as soon as possible. I appreciate that for many hospitals, it raises revenue. However, like the Deputy, I have constituents who have raised concerns with me, particularly when they have to attend hospital on a regular basis and the impact and the cost that is having on them. We need to find a way to reduce the costs for people overall. I will come back to the Deputy with an exact timeline from the Minister for Health as to where that is at. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  Will the Minister explain why the Government has chosen to impose expenditure levies on Departments given that the State is currently running a surplus of more than \u20ac9 billion? The State has run surplus budgets for 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025, all while the top 10% hold nearly 50% of total net wealth in this country and the number of super rich has doubled in the past five years. Successive Governments did not apply this approach to the Department of Health, despite repeated overruns and Supplementary Estimates year after year.  Yet, now Departments such as the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science are being required to absorb levies and make reductions, including the pay and pensions levies. Can the Minister explain the rationale for imposing cuts when the Exchequer has the resources available? As a Cabinet Minister who has been in many Government Departments, can she confirm whether all Departments are being treated equally under this approach or whether some Departments are receiving exemptions that others are not? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I think the Deputy would agree that our budget year on year has increased. We had a budget last year of \u20ac105.4 billion. Within that, each Department is given a specific budget and within each Department, we are all expected to work within that overall budget. In terms of health, it is the case, and has to be the case, that if the HSE is given a particular budget, we work within that and where there are overspends or changes that are required, that is all done in line with that overall budget because if we overspend in one area, there are potential implications for a patient in another part of the country and we start to see that impact. Irrespective of what Department it is, we are all given budgets that are set for us. It is always important to try to stick within those budgets. However, we have a process in place where if there is a need or demand, Departments can engage with the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation. We have a process later in the year when it comes to our budget if there are overruns or there is need for overspends. Insofar as possible, however, Departments have to stick within our budgets. The Deputy will see that our budget was \u20ac105.4 billion last year. That is to cope with the increased demand and the need for increased services, including in health. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  I raise the issue of the failure to regenerate social housing flat complexes. The Government is giving billions of euro away in tax breaks to wealthy investor funds, yet it has turned to our most disadvantaged communities living in substandard housing conditions in social housing flat complexes and told them it cannot fund their regeneration. Does the Minister have any sense of embarrassment or shame that after being in government for 15 years, Fine Gael has failed to address the housing conditions of the most vulnerable in this country? The community of Oliver Bond flats are devastated. Similarly failed are communities in the north inner city like Greek Street and Henrietta House. Social housing tenants across this city, from Ballymun to Ballybough House, have been left living in unacceptable conditions, with mould and damp. They were promised improvements by the Government, but all they got was a rent increase this year, pushing them over the edge in a cost-of-living crisis. I have met families with children growing up in mould and damp, which is making them sick. Babies are being hospitalised because of respiratory illness caused by mould and damp. This is the Government's legacy. This is Fianna F\u00e1il's and Fine Gael's legacy. Why should anyone living in a social housing flat complex believe the promises of a better future from Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  We need to understand fully what has happened when it comes to the Oliver Bond complex. I appreciate that there is a huge amount of frustration and anger when it comes to this specific project. We need to understand how we have got to this point and how the direction has suddenly changed and the project has not been approved. More broadly, in terms of social housing, between July 2020 and the end of last year, almost 60,000 social houses have been built. There is an absolute commitment there to make sure our local authorities are not just acquiring and taking on----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  These are existing social homes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  -----accommodation but also delivering new accommodation. A group has been established specifically to make sure the process by which local authorities can build and develop new homes is sped up and that authorities understand it and know how to use it. That forum has brought together all our local authorities to make sure that everybody is delivering more social housing as well as making sure we are investing in private, affordable and rental accommodation as well. We are committed to that. We see that in the figures, with over 60,000 houses in the last few years alone. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  I suspect quite a few people voted for Fine Gael in the most recent election because it promised that it would reduce childcare costs for everybody to \u20ac200 per month. It has spectacularly failed to deliver on that promise, which is a very serious cost-of-living issue for many. To give the Minister one instance, this week, in my area, I have been inundated by emails from parents whose cr\u00e8che provider has pulled out of core funding. To cite one case, their monthly fees have gone from \u20ac1,500 up to \u20ac2,400. They are already paying a mortgage; that is now a double mortgage. There are many others like them. The Government said it is going to deliver 800 State-led cr\u00e8che places. One of those cr\u00e8ches is in my area of Shanganagh. It is now very clear that those places are not going to be \u20ac200 either, despite the Government's promise. When is it going to deliver childcare costs of \u20ac200 per month for everybody? At the moment, it is failing a lot of parents very seriously. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  We have over the last number of years, in particular in previous Governments, invested hundreds of millions of euro in childcare and making sure we can provide early childhood care and education, ECCE, spaces for children to which every child has access. About 96% or 97% of children are accessing the ECCE programme, which is available to parents. Beyond that, we have set out a very clear commitment in the programme for Government not just to make childcare affordable but to make sure that, with a growing population, there is access to places as well. That has become a much more significant challenge in areas with a growing population. We have a five-year programme for Government. We have made very clear commitments that we will provide the places and reduce the costs for parents. The plan and intention are that, over a series of budgets, we will be able to deliver that for people. We have not moved away from that commitment. That commitment is there. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  What about the people I mentioned? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  The Minister for Children, Disability and Equality is setting out and working on a plan as to how we can achieve that overall. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  What about these people? How are they going to pay? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  Early years providers across the country are contacting me in distress after receiving commercial rate demands from their local authority. These are essential community services already under enormous financial pressure and now they are being hit with unexpected bills that threaten their very viability. The Minister, Deputy Foley, has stated that rates decisions are a matter for Tailte \u00c9ireann and the local authorities, yet she also acknowledges the critical importance of early learning and childcare for families and communities. The Minister met the Minister, Deputy Browne, and said they were seeking a resolution. The providers need clarity now, however. Will the Minister tell the House what concrete steps this Government is taking to ensure early years services are not forced to close their doors because of commercial rates liabilities? When does she expect a definitive solution to be delivered? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  It is the case that commercial early years providers have always paid rates. However, there is a long-standing agreement or exemption for community not-for-profit services, that is, those that solely offer early childhood care and the ECCE programme. The Minister, Deputy Foley, is aware of a small number that are now starting to be charged and where issues are emerging. She wants to respond, given the importance of early learning and what the Deputy has raised, and she is giving her full attention to the matter. She has met the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, specifically the Minister, Deputy Browne. She is hoping to be able to come to a conclusion or find a solution to this. She is very aware of the problem and obviously wants to address it. It is a long-standing practice that where a not-for-profit body is solely providing this service, it would not be included in rates. We just need to work through this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Connolly  There was widespread relief among the general population in Galway, and particularly among the local authorities and transport authorities, following the recent decision of An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la to grant approval for the Galway city ring road. This will obviously allow for the development of the road but also enable the city to develop a new metropolitan transport strategy. One group of people for whom the road development has had a direct and probably greater significance are the 54 homeowners who will be subject to compulsory purchase as part of the process. These families were first advised in the winter of 2015 that their homes were along the preferred route corridor of the new road. There has been a long period of uncertainty for these families. We are at a point now where we need the transport authorities to engage proactively with the families in a sympathetic, purposeful but definite and direct manner to reduce that uncertainty and give clarity to where they currently are and also to recognise the challenging circumstances these families have endured for the past decade. This was the second time planning was granted for the road. These families require some certainty. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I agree with the Deputy. Most of us are not from Galway, but we see the importance of the road and its approval recently. It is, however, important that any new project engage with families locally in a sensitive way. I will relay the Deputy's concern directly to the Minister and ask that the transport authority engage directly and as quickly as possible. I know people locally want to see the project move as quickly as possible. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Currie  The proposed scrapping of the 70 bus service under BusConnects represents a downgrade in public transport for Littlepace residents. This is a direct commuter service into the city centre, operating with reasonable frequency at peak times and then once per hour during the day. Under BusConnects, peak-time services would remain direct but during the day, they would be replaced with a connection at the Blanchardstown centre. I met the National Transport Authority, NTA, a month ago and it said the community will have access to a more frequent service. However, this is coming at the cost of a direct service. The community should have the final say on this.  It is its service, not the NTA's. The NTA should learn from similar outcries in communities such as Chapelizod and Finglas and meet the residents now. Otherwise, we are heading towards the same pattern of community resistance and frustration at decisions being imposed instead of discussed. I ask the Minister to encourage the NTA to meet residents now while trust and goodwill remains, not after they have been lost. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  A core objective of BusConnects is to have a better network, with a more frequent service that reduces journey times and provides better service for people. My understanding is that under BusConnects, the 70 route will be replaced by other bus services, including the L64, which will provide an all-day frequent service to my constituency, in Dunboyne, Clonee and Blanchardstown, and the peak-hour P64 service, which will provide a direct service between those places and Dublin city centre. It is being launched among other services. Where this has applied in other areas, we have seen that it means people having to change buses and not having direct routes. I appreciate the challenges that might create for constituents who do not have a direct route and I will ask the Minister for Transport to engage with the Deputy, with a view to perhaps engaging with the NTA. The service is not due to be introduced until 2027, so obviously there is time to engage further with it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan  I raise with the Minister the case of Ois\u00edn Pollard. At nine years of age, Ois\u00edn was diagnosed with Friedreich's ataxia. For the past 18 years, he has battled on. For most of those 18 years, he was told there was no treatment. Now, for the first time, there is hope. Skyclarys has been rolled out by other EU states with great effect. It is life-changing. However, little progress has been made here. The HSE remains locked into a haggling war over price. For the small number of people suffering with this rare condition, time is precious. It has been nearly two years since Biogen applied to the HSE for reimbursement of this drug. I ask that the T\u00e1naiste, the Taoiseach and the Minister for Health engage with the HSE to ensure that a solution is found so that Ois\u00edn and others get the urgent support they need. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I am really sorry to hear about the particular case. Where possible, where there are particular rare conditions, we need to support people insofar as we possibly can, with the HSE working closely with the companies as well. If the Deputy passes on the details of the specific case, if that has not already been done, I will certainly raise it again with the Minister for Health. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan  It relates to the reimbursement of the money. It has to be done. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I will engage directly with them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Murphy  I welcome recent comments in this Chamber by the Taoiseach in which he acknowledged that the abolition of town councils was a huge mistake. My home town of Clonmel was one of five former boroughs established by royal charter in 1608. It was self-governing for more than 400 years and that 400 years of history was wiped out by pen in 2014. I am conscious of the consequences for those representing a region in Spain who flirted with independence recently. I make a similar call for independence for Clonmel - independence from Tipperary County Council and financial independence from the power base that is Nenagh. When the local democracy task force report comes before Cabinet, will the Minister be a strong voice for the restoration of town councils above a certain population threshold, in particular, the restoration of borough status for those five towns, including Clonmel? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I commend and acknowledge the role of town councils. We had some in my constituency in Meath. I have worked with councillors since then who perhaps share the same view as the Deputy and would like to see things resumed as they were. I understand the local democracy task force is due to make recommendations or findings on this matter soon. When we are presented with those findings, I will be happy to engage with colleagues to see what is the best way forward. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joanna Byrne  The Minister might get a sense of d\u00e9j\u00e0 vu because I spoke on this matter during Questions on Policy or Promised Legislation last May. For those who need these vital services in Louth, it is Groundhog Day. I raise the need for additional funding and resources for the three housing adaptation grant schemes in Louth. On 1 May, just over a third of the way through the year, Louth County Council had to close its applications for anything other than priority one applications. As the Minister will be aware, very few applications are categorised as priority one. This is not the first year that Louth County Council had to stop taking applications for these scheme only a fraction of the way into the year. Every application represents a person struggling to stay in their own home with the support of loved ones and, in many cases, in horrendous and substandard conditions. The fact remains that local authorities are under-resourced and citizens are suffering. Under-resourcing these vital schemes not only leads the elderly and vulnerable struggling, but pausing them also strips them of any viable pathway for a more comfortable life in their home for the rest of their days. The Minister for local government urgently needs to release more funding to Louth County Council for the housing adaptation schemes. I ask the Minister to take that message directly back to him today as a matter of urgency. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  The Department's budget for this year has been set. The housing budget has been set. At the same time, we have a new budget coming up. All of these different matters have to be taken into consideration, to make sure funding can be most impactful and support people who need it most. I will certainly raise this issue with the Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul McAuliffe  I welcome the allocation of additional garda\u00ed. Of the 140 allocated for Dublin, 113 will go to Dublin metropolitan region, DMR, north and west. In particular, so far this year, 37 new garda\u00ed have been allocated to Finglas and to Ballymun. While I welcome that, I also want to see the roll-out of high-visibility policing. It has made a difference in the city centre. It has been rolled out to some other urban villages. People in places such as Santry, Whitehall and Beaumont want to see that high-visibility policing on the ground. I hope those new numbers will make that difference.  I also note the request by the chair of the implementation board for Ballymun, which the Minister established in her time in the Department of justice, to meet the Taoiseach has been dealt with. However, we need more garda\u00ed beyond those that have already been allocated. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I will sound like I am taking on my previous role, but the deployment of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na is a matter for the Garda Commissioner. The most important thing is that we are starting to see, in all of the changes that have taken place in recent years, the numbers of recruits coming through at the high level that we need and, most importantly, that they are now flowing down to various parts of the country, including Dublin which has a huge population. I have no doubt that the chief superintendents on the ground will ensure these garda\u00ed are deployed in the best manner possible. From my time engaging with many of them, I know that community policing and visible active policing are core to their overall objective of keeping people safe. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  Paramedics and emergency medical technicians, EMTs, play a crucial role in the healthcare system, despite the fact that they are incredibly stretched, with personnel numbers approximately 1,800 short of the target. They are often running on fumes as they try to respond to situations. They are going on strike on Tuesday, as things stand. They do not want to be on strike. They want to be out there responding to emergencies but the reality is they feel that they have no other option because the report that has been sitting around for six years with recommendations to ensure they get basic pay that reflects their responsibilities and duties has not been implemented. Will the Minister for Health intervene to ensure this strike is prevented, there is dialogue and paramedics and EMTs get the pay and conditions they deserve? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  Nobody wants to see the National Ambulance Service or paramedics on strike. I commend the fantastic and unbelievable work they do. The Minister for Health has assured me that she, the HSE and the Department are open to further engagement with the National Ambulance Service and want to engage with them through the industrial relations mechanism. That offer, I believe, is there and it is open to the NAS to engage. The Minister very much encourages it to do so before next week. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  I raise a serious issue regarding access to dental care for medical card holders. Corporate dental providers are withdrawing from the medical card scheme because, under current legislation, they cannot legally hold contracts directly with the HSE. The legislation governing this area has not been substantially updated since 1987 despite the fact that the structure of the dental profession has changed significantly in recent years. As a result, more than 200,000 medical card procedures that were previously carried out annually in these practices will now have to be provided elsewhere. These patients are finding it difficult to find replacements, as many traditional dentist practices are already operating at full capacity and cannot take on additional medical card patients. Will the Minister raise this with the Taoiseach, the T\u00e1naiste and the Minister for Health as a matter for urgency and examine the need for legislative reform to protect access to dental care for medical card holders? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I am happy to raise the matter directly with the Taoiseach, T\u00e1naiste and, in particular, the Minister. It is essential, whether through legislative means or financial support that is required, that people have access to dental care. I am happy to raise that directly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Grace Boland  Fingal is one of the fastest growing areas in the country but transport needs to keep pace with housing delivery. We need buses that connect the new developments in sprawling towns like Balbriggan, Skerries, Rush and Lusk to the town centre and, crucially, also to our rail links. Rush and Lusk train station is actually in the middle of nowhere and is surrounded by fields. The car park is at capacity. When I brought this up with the NTA I was told all the focus is on the eastern rail corridor, but the reality is there is no bus to connect people to the train station. We need to have local public transport that moves people around our towns and villages and connects them with the rail infrastructure. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  Overall, the Government fully recognises the need to create more connectivity to make sure that people living in rural and not-so-rural areas are able to use public transport and that there is greater investment. A huge focus of the \u20ac102 billion investment in our infrastructure plan is for public transport, investing in our roads, railway networks and bus networks to ensure that they are joined up and connected insofar as possible. Obviously, it is about making sure that we are working directly with the Deputy on the area that she outlined. The Minister for Transport, the NTA and our agencies are working directly with the community to identify where the gaps are and how we fill those gaps and that plans are in place and ready to progress as funding is allocated. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"S\u00e9amus McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy S\u00e9amus McGrath  The pupil-teacher ratio currently stands at 23:1. The programme for Government contains a commitment to reduce it to 19:1, which would be more in line with EU averages. We all know the importance of having a low ratio. With the multiplicity of needs that teachers now face in the classroom, having a lower ratio leads to a better learning environment, more individual engagement with pupils and better outcomes overall. Unfortunately, I am aware of a school in my constituency where two senior infants classes will have to merge, increasing the overall class number to 33, which I think we can all agree is not acceptable. I urge the Minister to convey to her colleagues in Cabinet the urgent need to reduce the pupil-teacher ratio. It is something we have to do and we need to press ahead with the commitment in the programme for Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  There is a very clear commitment in the programme for Government. We have seen a reduction in recent years, in particular under the previous Government. We know the impact it has on students and on teaching, coupled with the significant increase in the number of teachers, including special or additional needs teachers who are supporting our mainstream classes. We know when we walk into a classroom now there are more teachers there and more support there at the same time. We need to make sure that no classes go beyond the number that we have clearly identified. We all know there are some schools where the numbers are higher than they should be. We want to do everything we can to reduce that overall number. That will take time and will have to happen over a series of budgets, but it is something we are committed to. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Wall  The waiting time for occupational therapy, OT, services in Kildare and west Wicklow is now 169 weeks, or 3.25 years. I have received replies to a number of parliamentary questions related to constituents who have to wait that long to see an occupational therapist. They are waiting for motorised scooters, chairs and simple rails to help their quality of life. Some of these people cannot wait three and a half years; they are in their golden years. I ask the Minister to talk to the Minister for Health and the HSE to see what we can do for OT services. This is a quality-of-life issue. These people need assistance. They cannot wait three and a half years. I ask the Minister to ask the Minister for Health to look at this urgently for those people who need it most. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I am happy to raise this matter directly. There are a number of things we need to do in response. We need to ensure we have enough qualified people and ensure we have enough courses and training opportunities working with our universities. That is happening already through the Department of the Minister, Deputy Lawless, working with the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. We also need to consider where legislative changes are required, in particular when it comes to assessments where more OT time is being spent on assessments as opposed to providing services, not just for children but for people more broadly. Those changes need to come into effect soon and I know the Minister is working on that. We also need to make sure we have the funding to be able to support the hiring of new staff to provide these services more broadly. I will raise the matter directly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charles Ward  There is currently a capital advance leasing facility application for 60 new homes in Carndonagh in County Donegal. I cannot overstress how important this development is for Carndonagh. Families across Donegal are desperate for the opportunity to secure an affordable home and build a better future for themselves. The cost of houses has risen, soaring rents have left many unable to afford suitable accommodation and thousands remain on the social housing waiting list. New housing development can play a vital role in easing the housing crisis and provide people with a safe secure place to live. I ask the Minister to encourage her colleagues to look at the 60 applications in Carndonagh and to review the 17 houses in Milford that have already been refused. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  Obviously, if this is a planning matter, it is something for An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la. If it is about any scheme, the need for funding or investment, I can raise it directly with colleagues. Some \u20ac40 billion will be provided over the next number of years directly for housing development and water infrastructure. There will also be additional funding to make sure that grid access or any other type of infrastructure to open any new housing development is developed as quickly as possible. If the Deputy provides me with details of the specific projects, I can relay those. If it is planning related, that is obviously a matter for An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  Will the Government back a plan to introduce nuclear power? Who and what are behind this latest kite the Government is flying? Is this pandering to vested interests, tech companies which want to expand data centres even further in this country? Those data centres are currently consuming about 25% of all our energy. We should not be introducing nuclear power to power data centres. I just want to nail a few lies. Nuclear is a dangerous option; it is not safe. It takes 200,000 years for the waste to become safe. Mining is dangerous. It is not carbon neutral and not sustainable. Accidents are not in the dim and distant past. There have been 57 serious nuclear accidents since 1986. Nor is it cheaper; nuclear energy is three times more expensive than renewables. The small modular reactors may lower the construction costs but they do not deal with the issue of waste. The Government is not able to build housing in this country, yet it is willing to undertake potentially going nuclear to fund multinationals and their data centres. This is a bogus argument. The Government needs to lower electricity costs and there are other ways of doing it without introducing nuclear power. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  Our laws are very clear: it is illegal to create nuclear power in Ireland. Any proposal to change that would have to be done with agreement and debate, not just here in the Houses but more broadly. At the moment, there are no direct plans but given the situation in which we find ourselves on a global scale, we should not rule out discussions about things. However, the law is very clear at the moment: nuclear power is not allowed and not applicable. I know this came up yesterday. Whether it is the French interconnector which will be connected soon or even the UK interconnector, there is an element of nuclear energy that comes into Ireland. However, from an Irish perspective, I think we are a long way off even having that overall discussion. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Pholasa\u00ed n\u00f3 ar Reachta\u00edocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_33","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/46","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/46\/dail\/1","houseCode":"dail","stage":"1","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Work Life Balance Bill 2026: First Stage (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Work Life Balance Bill 2026: First Stage","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_33","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  I move:  That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to provide an entitlement to employees to request certain flexible working arrangements, to make certain provision for amending or terminating any such arrangements that have been agreed with an employer, to give further effect to Directive (EU) 2019\/1158 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 on work-life balance for parents and carers and to provide for related matters.  This is the first Bill I have brought forward myself. I was privileged to bring forward on Second Stage a Bill that Senator Alice-Mary Higgins had worked on. As I came into this job to be a legislator, this is a really exciting moment for me. I thank the Office of Parliamentary Legal Advisers, OPLA, for its work on this project and the assistance it provided to me. Most of all, I thank my team, particularly my parliamentary assistant, for the work they have done in bringing this Bill to the House.  The justification for this Bill is that it brings about significant reforms to the area of flexible working, which affects a huge part of the population now. As we have heard in recent contributions, both in committee and here in the Chamber, the current legislation does not deal with the issue. There is a mechanism by which the right to request remote working is dealt with but, unfortunately, it is just not working and the numbers tell the tale. Only 70 workers have achieved flexible working through formal processes in the courts. That is obviously nowhere near the nearly 1 million people who have different arrangements of flexible and remote working.  The Bill deals with the objective proof required to refuse a request for flexible working.  Those reasons relate to the unreasonable burden for the employer to a point where corrective action would have to be taken, the detrimental impacts on the work of the employee and the pre-existing structural plans made by the employer, which are contrary to flexible working. It makes the case that the employer has to put forward much stronger.  This Bill also rewrites the process of consideration of a request, which removes ambiguity and reduces the maximum potential time for consideration. The Bill ensures that changing and cancelling is done on the same objective grounds that I have discussed. That means it provides significant protection to the hundreds of thousands of employees who are currently in flexible working arrangements, many of whom have entered into those arrangements in informal ways and ways that are simply not protected by law.  It also protects them from penalisation. I have worked in the corporate sector and the private sector, as well as in the public sector, and I have also run my own business. It is the reality that there are people who will not approach their employer because of the fear of penalisation for even asking for flexible and remote working arrangements. This legislation looks to protect that as well.  The Bill looks to provide balance and give workers who are engaged in flexible and remote working the exact same rights that workers who are not in those arrangements enjoy. It deals with the legislation that is necessary to do that, as well as the ways in which existing legislation will be altered. In summary, what the proposed Bill does is bring legislation into line with the reality that we are all in right now. Since Covid, remote and flexible working has been transformational in the lives of many people. People in Ireland make decisions about their lives based on flexible and remote working. However, right now, there is an imbalance. For example, it is easier to access in the public sector than in the private sector, and in many cases, it is done in informal ways. As we see in so many areas of employment, the imbalance of power between the employer and the employee means there is nothing that people can do to protect it, build around it and feel secure within the arrangement.  Of course, this disproportionately affects women and others who take on the additional care burden. I am a single mum. I raised my daughter alone and it would have been really nice to have flexible working arrangements available to me when I was dealing with many of the challenges of balancing that care and work. It also affects people with disabilities who have been able to take up employment since Covid in ways they were not able to do before.  As we have seen, many companies right now are simply saying, \u201cCome back to work. That is our decision. We are not consulting with you.\u201d They do not have to because, in this country, we have a voluntarist system under which they do not have to recognise trade unions. Ultimately, that is what this Bill boils down to. During Covid, it suited employers to deal with it in that way. Right now, we are starting to see that in the existing fuel crisis, it is once again going to be the case that they are looking for people to avail of flexible and remote working arrangements, or at least the State will. Once again, however, the employer has all the cards to play here and the employee has none. In the public sector, there is more room for negotiation and collective bargaining because there is greater trade union recognition but because of the voluntarist system, that simply does not exist for others.  The Bill addresses the specific area of flexible and remote work-life balance in the context of that power imbalance. I look forward to debating it in the House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Is the Bill opposed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Helen McEntee)  No. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Since this is a Private Members' Bill, Second Stage must, under Standing Orders, be taken in Private Members' time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  I move: \"That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time.\" "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Work Life Balance Bill 2026: First Stage"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_34","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/47","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/47\/dail\/1","houseCode":"dail","stage":"1","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Health (Abolition of Three Day Wait Rule) (Amendment) Bill 2026: First Stage (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Health (Abolition of Three Day Wait Rule) (Amendment) Bill 2026: First Stage","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_34","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  I move:  That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 to abolish the mandatory three day wait rule for access to a termination of pregnancy.  This is a straightforward and targeted Bill. It does just one thing. It proposes to remove the mandatory three-day wait for access to an abortion during early pregnancy. It does not require an abortion to happen on the day of a first consultation, but where a woman is certain that this is what she wants, it allows her to make that decision for herself in her own time about her own pregnancy without a mandatory delay.  Under the current law, where a woman attends a doctor seeking a termination of pregnancy within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, the doctor cannot certify the procedure until three days have passed. Our Bill deletes that requirement. It allows certification to take place as soon as may be, but before the pregnancy has exceeded 12 weeks. This is important because the clear feedback from women and the review of the principal Act was that some women were being pushed beyond the 12-week threshold by the three-day wait, which denied them their choice to end a pregnancy.  This is not a complicated proposal. It is a focused, practical and compassionate change. My party has always been clear and consistent that we did not approve of the mandatory waiting period, that it put women in difficult positions and that it was not compassionate to women who had suffered rape or sexual assault, women who learned of their pregnancy late or women who are subject to controlling or abusive partners, for whom that first appointment may be the only appointment they can get.  The three-day wait has long been recognised as unnecessary. It was examined as part of the review of the operation of the Act. Its removal was one of the clearest recommendations arising from that process. We have all recognised, in law and in policy, that a woman should have access to abortion services in the first trimester on the basis of her own free choice. This was the compassionate position put before the people in 2018, which I and many in this House supported, and it is the basis on which services have been provided since. The question before us now is whether the State should continue to impose an arbitrary delay after a woman has made her decision and presented to a doctor. I do not believe that it should. The waiting period does not provide care. It does not provide support. It does not make the service safer. It simply makes access harder and more difficult, especially for those who can least afford delay.  It can create real difficulty for women - women who have travelled long distances, women arranging time off work or childcare, women in crisis or women living with coercive, controlling partners or domestic violence. For many women, having to return days later is not a small inconvenience. It can be a very serious barrier. Removing the mandatory waiting period does not mean that a termination must take place on the first day. It does not remove a woman\u2019s ability to take more time if that is what she wants. If she does, all of the supports should be made available to the woman at that point. That option should and will always remain for women.  What this Bill does is remove the requirement that the State must force every woman to wait, regardless of her circumstances, her decision, her health or her needs. The Bill clearly sets out the Sinn F\u00e9in policy that was endorsed at our Ard-Fheis a fortnight ago. I thank the Bills Office for its swift facilitation of this Bill, which I am introducing as soon as possible following the Ard-Fheis, as mandated by our party membership. The Bill strikes the right balance. It is the right change to make. It is overdue. It respects women\u2019s decisions and it removes an unnecessary barrier to care.  There are many other issues that these Houses should and must work through arising from the review of the Act. It raised many issues that we have to carefully work through, which will take some time. While that work is being done, there is no cause for delay the passage of this Bill. The review of the Act was clear. The view of women who have used abortion services is clear. The mandatory wait is a barrier, and it should be removed. I commend the Bill to the House, and note that we intend to move this Bill on Second Stage when we get an opportunity to do so. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Is the Bill opposed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Helen McEntee)  No. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Since this is a Private Members' Bill, Second Stage must, under Standing Orders, be taken in Private Members' time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  I move: \"That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time.\" "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar fionra\u00ed ar 1.29 p.m. agus cuireadh t\u00fas leis ar\u00eds ar 2.11 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Sitting suspended at 1.29 p.m. and resumed at 2.11 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Health (Abolition of Three Day Wait Rule) (Amendment) Bill 2026: First Stage"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_35","debateType":"statement","bill":null,"showAs":"Europe Day: Statements","counts":{"speechCount":40,"speakerCount":23},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_35","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Clendennen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Edward Timmins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"William Aird","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Thomas Byrne)  Is m\u00f3r an on\u00f3ir dom labhairt sa D\u00e1il inniu ar \u00f3c\u00e1id L\u00e1 na hEorpa. As Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs, I am proud to speak today to mark Europe Day. In less than eight weeks' time, on 1 July 2026, Ireland will take on the Presidency of the Council of the EU for the eighth time. The European project was not built for easy times. It was built precisely for moments like this, and it is delivering for Europe and for the people of Europe. Ba mhaith liom tr\u00ed rud a dh\u00e9anamh inniu. First, I want to acknowledge the significance of this Europe Day, in the context of our Presidency of the Council. Second, I want to set out the priorities Ireland intends to pursue. Third, I want to speak honestly about what is at stake, for Ireland and for Europe, as we prepare to lead.  Before I turn to the work ahead, I want to spend a moment on what the European Union has meant for Ireland because it is important, particularly in this House, to say it plainly. In over 53 years of EU membership, Ireland has been transformed. When we joined in 1973, we were an economy heavily dependent on one trading partner, the United Kingdom, with limited access to international markets and no seat at the table, in any of the decisions that shaped our Continent. Our membership of the European Union changed all that. It gave Irish businesses access to a market of 450 million people. It gave Irish students the freedom to study across Europe. It gave Irish workers the right to live and work in 27 countries. It underpinned the Common Agricultural Policy, which supports our farming communities. The European Union protected the peace process in Northern Ireland during Brexit - when the protection of that peace was our first priority - and I restate my thanks to our fellow EU member states, their citizens, parliamentarians and government members for their solidarity during that time. Our EU membership helped us through the financial crisis. It helped us through a global pandemic. For Ireland, EU membership is not a political abstraction; it is the lived reality of every business, every farmer, every student and every family in this State.  The Taoiseach has described Ireland's EU Presidency, as a Presidency that will be defined by action. This is a commitment rooted in a clear understanding of what a Council Presidency is, and what it demands. During the Irish EU Presidency, we will act as an honest broker. We will chair the Council's work, across all its formations. We will set agendas, build consensus, broker compromise and move forward a legislative programme of enormous breadth and consequence. We will do this in the interests of all 27 member states. That impartiality is precisely what an EU Presidency is about, and what gives it its authority and influence. The scale of what lies ahead is significant. In Brussels and Luxembourg alone, our Ministers will chair dozens of formal Council meetings. Our officials will lead the work of approximately 180 Council preparatory bodies, most of which meet on a very regular basis. We will lead the Council's legislative engagement, with the European Parliament, across dozens of policy areas. We will chair negotiations in a range of international multilateral forums, including in the UN framework.  Here in Ireland, the Taoiseach will host a meeting of the European Political Community, the largest event of its kind ever held in this State, bringing together Heads of State and Government, from 47 European countries to Dublin. I think about the founding fathers and mothers of this country and how proud they would be to see a Taoiseach of Ireland leading 47 Heads of State and Government in Dublin as an equal partner with all of them. We will host an informal meeting of the European Council. We will host up to 22 informal ministerial meetings, with approximately a quarter of these taking place outside Dublin - in every corner of this country - ensuring that the EU Presidency is truly national in its reach. We will set out our full EU Presidency priorities and policy programme in early June, as is traditional. What I can say today is that our work is organised around three broad thematic pillars - competitiveness, values and security. This reflects the pillars of the EU's strategic agenda for 2024 to 2029. The pillars are not independent of one another. They are interconnected and dependent. Without security, there can be no prosperity. Without competitiveness, we cannot sustain our societies, our jobs and our economies. Without values, without democracy, the rule of law, and respect for human rights, none of it matters, and none of it, quite frankly, exists.  Competitiveness is what ensures that the European economy thrives, and that its citizens prosper. It is what delivers good jobs, good wages, and a good of life, and it is a genuine priority for Ireland's EU Presidency. The context is clear. Europe faces real and serious competitiveness challenges, exacerbated by the fallout of the conflict in the Middle East, to which I will return. While our Single Market is very successful, it remains a work in progress. The IMF has estimated that internal barriers to trade, in the Single Market, amount to the equivalent of tariffs of 40% on goods and 110% on services. Energy costs are elevated and continue to rise. Investment in research and innovation has lagged. The regulatory burden on businesses, particularly on SMEs, is too high. At the informal European Council in Cyprus, European leaders signed the One Europe, One Market roadmap to address these issues. This has given us firm targets, and a clear timetable. There are approximately 28 proposals, which the joint statement called to be agreed, by the end of the Irish EU Presidency. We intend to deliver on that agenda. We will spare no effort in doing so, and we will rely on a matching level of commitment from other member states, from the Commission and from the European Parliament.  Simplification of EU rules is a top priority for this Government, and will be a top priority for our Presidency. The European Council, the democratically elected leaders of the member states of the European Union, has called for a simplification revolution. That language reflects a genuine political consensus around that table, that the regulatory burden on businesses and citizens must be addressed. The Commission has set a target of reducing administrative burdens by 25%, and by 35% for SMEs, by the end of its current mandate in 2029. It has proposed ten simplification packages, known as omnibus packages, to date, covering sustainability reporting, due diligence, chemicals, digital regulations, environmental rules and more. Today, we got political agreement between the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament on the AI omnibus package. Irish members of the European Parliament and the Council were involved. I thank the Cypriot Presidency for its work. This is a democratic process that is happening here to deliver not just easier rules for business but, in this case, more protection for minors and other people affected by nudification use in AI.  The savings for businesses that are estimated from the simplification process are about \u20ac12 billion a year in the packages that have already been proposed by the Commission. As Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs, I sit on what is known as the General Affairs Council of the European Union. During the EU Presidency, it will be my job to steer this simplification agenda on the General Affairs Council, where it sits. Our primary focus and my primary focus is not deregulation; it is on better regulation. It is cutting red tape. It is about ensuring that the rules we have serve their intended purpose but do not create unnecessary costs and complexity for business. It matters for Ireland too. Simplification can help us address some of our most pressing domestic challenges in infrastructure delivery and housing. Recently, along with six member states in total, I have written to Commissioner Dombrovskis, calling for simplification of permitting and planning rules in order to help us to continue to build more and more houses. That agenda is gaining some considerable traction around the European Union.  The Single Market is the engine of our success. Deepening it and completing it in services, in digital and in capital markets is an Irish priority of the longest standing.  The savings and investment union, the so-called EU Inc. proposal for company law and progress on the capital markets union are all central to our competitiveness agenda.  Another critical area of work for our Presidency, which falls under the General Affairs Council and then with the leaders, will be the negotiation of the new multi-annual financial framework, MFF, which is the EU's long-term budget for 2028 to 2034. The Commission has proposed a budget of \u20ac2 trillion to support competitiveness, decarbonisation, security, cohesion and Europe's global role. The shape of the budget will determine what kind of EU we will have for the next seven years and it will be one of the most consequential pieces of work that any EU Presidency undertakes. I am more than happy to come into the D\u00e1il, the Seanad or a committee at any point to update Members on the work as this negotiation continues. Ireland will approach this with seriousness, with ambition and with a commitment to outcomes that work for all member states; including the smallest, the most peripheral, and those most dependent on cohesion funding.  We have also set out our national priorities last year, which take a somewhat second place as we take on the Presidency. However, those national priorities are very clear. Central to them will be the Common Agricultural Policy and funding for research and innovation through the Horizon programme based on excellence. We will work very seriously on this.  Energy policy is, of course, to the fore again. The conflict in the Middle East has again precipitated an affordability crisis with a direct impact on Irish households and businesses. In response to the impact of events occurring in the Middle East, the Government has responded with a package of substantial measures to help alleviate the pressures on Irish households and businesses. In the medium to long term, decarbonisation and the adoption of green energy will be central to our energy security and competitiveness, and this has been a key focus of the response at EU level. The Government welcomes the Commission\u2019s package of proposed measures recently outlined in the AccelerateEU communication. We will take this work forward during our EU Presidency, and we are committed to making meaningful progress on the grids package and other key files, which will expedite the deployment of renewables and bolster the EU\u2019s security of supply.  The renewed agenda for EU-UK co-operation will be a priority during our EU Presidency. This is something that is on the agenda regularly at the General Affairs Council. I welcome the agreed ambition to conclude negotiations on a youth experience scheme, a sanitary and phytosanitary agreement and on linking our respective emission trading systems by the next EU-UK summit. In a challenging geopolitical environment, we see the UK as a vital, like-minded partner and it is in our mutual interest to have a close relationship also in the area of foreign and security policy.  The EU is, first and foremost, a union of values. They are set out in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union. They are not aspirational guidelines. They are legally binding on us and they are the foundation on which everything else is built. We will be an unambiguous champion of those values. We will address challenges to the rule of law, including democratic backsliding, wherever they arise. I will steer the ongoing work in this area, as chair of the General Affairs Council, making full use of the rule of law toolbox, and by paying close attention to the findings of the European Commission's annual Rule of Law Report. The rule of law is not a peripheral concern. It underpins the effective functioning of the Single Market. It is essential to the Single Market and I always say Ireland's own adherence to the rule of law over many decades has been essential to our economic success. The rule of law and our values is what makes EU membership worth having and we must maintain it with conviction and without compromise.  Values also means enlargement. It is more than 13 years since a new member state, Croatia, joined the Union. That is too long. The enlargement process is one of the most powerful instruments the EU possesses for security, stability and the long-term prosperity of our Continent. Growing our Union is the best way to secure our Continent. I believe we have a generational opportunity and a generational obligation to keep moving forward.  I was in Kyiv six weeks ago to mark St. Patrick\u2019s Day with the Ukrainian people and our diplomats in Kyiv for the occasion of the first official St. Patrick\u2019s Day reception held at Ireland\u2019s Embassy in the city since it opened in 2021. During that visit, I met with senior figures in the Ukrainian Government and gave them Ireland\u2019s personal assurance that we will do everything we can during our EU Presidency to advance Ukraine\u2019s accession process. Ukraine\u2019s destiny lies in the European Union. That conviction will underpin Ireland\u2019s work during our EU Presidency as Ukraine continues its fight against Russia\u2019s illegal and barbaric war.  Moldova too has shown deep democratic courage. Its people voted in favour of an EU path for their country, despite relentless external interference. Montenegro might be small in population but it is determined in purpose and it is working to meet the criteria for membership. Albania is advancing. The western Balkans and the former Yugoslavia must not be left waiting indefinitely. As holder of the Presidency, Ireland will work to sustain the momentum on enlargement and to ensure that bilateral disputes cannot be allowed to slow down individual candidacies.  We support the use of qualified majority voting when deciding to open negotiating clusters, as proposed by Germany and Slovenia. We believe this is a practical measure to keep progress moving forward while preserving unanimity for the final decisions.  In the context of a deteriorating, and increasingly contested international security environment, the need for greater international engagement and co-operation, especially through the EU, is vitally important for Ireland. Ireland is supportive of the initiatives at EU level to increase resilience and capabilities of member states. We see value in member states and partners working together to mitigate the threats and challenges we collectively face. Ireland is investing significantly in its own security and defence architecture to confront new threats and to protect our citizens and our economy. We have increased national defence spending by 43% since 2020. In December, we launched the \u20ac1.7 billion Defence Sectoral National Development Plan 2026\u20132030, which includes major capability upgrades across land, air, maritime and cyber domains. It represents an increase of 55% in capital funding allocated to defence up to 2030 and is the most significant investment package in the Defence Forces in the history of the State. We will adopt a constructive, positive approach to the development of the proposed new European security strategy, including during the upcoming Irish EU Presidency.  The Government has consistently been a strong advocate for the rights of the Palestinian people and we continue to use every opportunity within the EU to stress our grave concerns about the situation in Palestine. Over six months into the ceasefire, the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire. The majority of Gaza residents are displaced in dangerously unsanitary conditions, while access to essential supplies and services are severely restricted by arbitrary regulations imposed by Israeli authorities. Meanwhile, the situation in the West Bank is deteriorating, where Israeli military operations have caused widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure and homes and significant displacement. Extremist settler violence is also rampant and continues in an environment of impunity.  Ireland and Spain first called for a suspension of the EU-Israel association agreement in February 2024. In June 2025, an EU review concluded that Israeli actions breached Article 2, which is the human rights clause of the agreement. At the most recent Foreign Affairs Council, Ireland called for the suspension of the agreement. We will continue to press for appropriate EU action. If we do not act, the viability of the two-state solution and the credibility of the EU is at stake.  Since the outbreak of the conflict in Iran, Ireland has been closely engaged with its EU and wider European partners in monitoring and reacting to the developments. We must see the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping to mitigate the economic impacts, which are affecting households across Europe. We have jointly welcomed the ceasefire agreements in the Gulf and the Levant while calling for further negotiations to turn these into lasting peace agreements. Israel and Hezbollah must fully maintain the ceasefire in Lebanon. Ireland has been at the forefront in calling for international law to be upheld at all times. All parties are obliged to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure during conflicts.  We also demand the protection of UN peacekeepers. I am deeply saddened by the death of six UNIFIL peacekeepers and the injuring of others in Lebanon. When I went to meet my counterpart in France recently, the first thing I mentioned was that France had recently suffered the deaths of two soldiers and expressed my sympathies to the government of France and to the families. We know Irish families have had similar experiences over many years there and we must constantly remind ourselves of the sacrifices our peacekeepers make. I offer my condolences to the families, comrades and nations of those who were killed.  The conflict in Sudan has sadly entered its fourth year, and has become the world's worst humanitarian and protection crisis with over 150,000 dead, a figure estimated to be much higher in reality, and almost 12 million Sudanese forcibly displaced. We remain resolute in our commitment to ensuring this crisis is not sidelined or forgotten. We regularly raise this at EU level. We will continue our active role on the political and humanitarian tracks when we assume the EU Presidency later this year.  The Presidency is not only about the six months in which we hold the chair; it is about building Ireland's long-term influence and presence in the European institutions.  That is why I believe that the Career for EU strategy, which I launched in 2021, when I was previously Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs, matters. The officials who draft proposals, shape regulation and turn political agreement into operational law are central to how the Union works. The more Irish people in these roles, the more the Irish perspective is heard and understood. I am pleased to report genuine progress. Ireland has increased the number of permanent officials at the key entry grades in the European Commission from 30 in 2022 to 43 by the end of last year. Earlier this year, the Commission ran its main graduate-entry competition for the first time in seven years, and more than 1,700 Irish citizens applied. This is the tenth highest application rate per head of population in the entire Union, so we have come a long way. When I first took the office of Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs, the advice was that this had now reached a crisis point and that we had to do something about it. That is why I launched the Career for EU strategy, which we have continued to push, and we now see the results of that.  One other area we emphasised at the time was the provision of more seconded national experts into the European Union system. Now we have the highest number of seconded national experts per capita of any member state in the Commission. These are striking figures, and this is something I am pleased to see success on. It is a project that is very close to my heart. These figures are also a vote of confidence in the European project from a new generation of Irish people who want to shape the European Union's future from the inside.  The EU Presidency happens in Ireland as well as in Brussels, Luxembourg and Strasbourg. I am committed to taking the EU Presidency to communities across the country. The Presidency belongs to all of Ireland. We are the European Union. The county pairings programme, which pairs individual Irish counties with EU member states, is one way of doing this. It is creating new connections, new conversations and new relationships at a local level that will outlast the Presidency itself. I have been struck by the enthusiasm the county pairing project has generated. The Communicating Europe initiative is another. It funds local civil society organisations to engage their communities on EU issues. More than 270 events are planned throughout Ireland during the Presidency, ensuring that this is a genuinely national moment.  On Saturday this week, we mark the 76th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration. We mark it in a world that Robert Schuman would recognise in its instability, its danger and its need for the kind of creative, principled co-operation he proposed. No institution is perfect, and the EU is not perfect. It moves sometimes frustratingly slowly. However, we must always distinguish, I believe, between the institutions of the European Union and the people we elect to put in the institutions. We should guard the institutions with dear life, and then we can vote for the people whom we want to represent us in the institutions, either through governments or through the European Parliament when those elections happen. I pay tribute - I have done this already in the Seanad - to the current crop of MEPs. There are different political viewpoints from Ireland in the European Parliament, but all the MEPs are visible, working on particular files and doing great service for the country. They are in touch with people. People know what is happening in Brussels and in Strasbourg more than they ever did, and that is welcome because it adds to the democracy. It reminds people that this is a democratic project and that no law can pass through the European Union unless it is approved by the European Parliament, by the member states. The Commission merely proposes. The democratic process, of course, requires compromise, patience and goodwill from 27 very different countries, but the European Union is our institution. It is an expression of the values we share. It is a framework for acting together in the world.  The European Union is a guarantee - and we know this guarantee - that no EU member state faces the challenges of our time entirely alone. When Brexit happened, there were MPs in parliaments all over the European Union who all of a sudden became experts on the Irish Border, the North of Ireland and our specificities. It is so encouraging to meet them still, and they are very proud of the work they did. Ireland has always punched above our weight in Europe, since the very day we joined. We have shaped European Union legislation, led European Union negotiations, built European Union institutions and championed European Union values, while also fighting for our national interests at every turn. We have done it as a small state with big ambitions and a genuine commitment to the European project. This is exactly what we will do from 1 July. The challenges that Ireland's EU Presidency will face in competitiveness, in security, in upholding our values, in enlargement and in negotiating a new long-term budget for Europe are real and serious. We need leadership, judgment and determination. We are ready. On Europe Day, let us remember that we are Europe - we are the European Union. Is \u00e9 mo thuairim go mbeidh Uachtar\u00e1nacht na h\u00c9ireann ar cheann de na hUachtar\u00e1nachta\u00ed is \u00e9ifeachta\u00ed a chuir an t\u00edr seo ar f\u00e1il do Chomhairle an Aontais Eorpaigh. It is my firm belief that Ireland's EU Presidency in 2026 will be one that truly delivers for Ireland, for Europe and for generations to come.  It is a matter of considerable pride to me, as an Irish speaker, go mbeidh seo an ch\u00e9ad Uachtar\u00e1nacht ina mbeidh an Ghaeilge mar theanga oifigi\u00fail de chuid an Aontais Eorpaigh. T\u00e1imid tar \u00e9is conradh a dh\u00e9anamh maidir le haistri\u00fach\u00e1n agus ateangaireacht a bheith ar f\u00e1il anseo in \u00c9irinn do na cruinnithe a bheidh ar si\u00fal. Anois t\u00e1 an Ghaeilge, sa Chomhairle ar a laghad, comhionann leis na teangacha eile ar fud an Aontais Eorpaigh. It is a matter of considerable pride to me that the Irish language is an official language of the European Union for the first time in an Irish Presidency. We have recently concluded a contract for the provision of interpretative services at the Presidency council meetings for Irish to be available. I can go to a council meeting of the European Union since 2022, and now for the first time in a Presidency, and speak Irish and my Lithuanian colleague on one side can hear me in Lithuanian and my Cypriot colleague on the other side can hear me in Greek, English or whatever they want. That is an extraordinary achievement and shows that the diversity of countries actually finds expression in the European Union, and the Irish language is the classic example of that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  Tos\u00f3idh m\u00e9 le r\u00e1 go n-aonta\u00edm leis an Aire St\u00e1it gur rud an-dearfach agus gur \u00e1bhar d\u00f3chais \u00e9 go mbeidh an Ghaeilge in \u00fas\u00e1id mar theanga oifigi\u00fail le linn na hUachtar\u00e1nachta. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 s\u00e1ch t\u00e1bhachtach go mbeadh an Ghaeilge feice\u00e1lach agus in \u00fas\u00e1id anseo, sna hinstiti\u00faid\u00ed Eorpacha agus in imeachta\u00ed na hUachtar\u00e1nachta.  These statements on Europe are an opportunity to reflect on what the EU was intended to be, its purpose, our place in it, what it is not intended to be and where it is failing. There is no doubt in my mind that Ireland's place is in the EU and that there have been benefits, but there is considerable scope for criticism as well in terms of democracy, the rule of law, human rights and a wide variety of other issues. The Presidency is an important opportunity for Ireland to demonstrate leadership and to identify some of the items of most particular concern to Ireland and Ireland's interests, but also to redress what I think is a serious deficit on the values side as well. I will return to that.  In relation to our own interests and priorities, I will raise two items that maybe have not got as much attention. In my opinion, there is an opportunity, or there should be an opportunity, in the context of the EU Presidency in terms of Irish unity. I say that in the context of a thoughtful, considered approach to that. Previous Irish Governments, under the former Taoiseach Enda Kenny, ensured that were the North to reunify with the South, it would access the European Union without any particular constraint. That was something we welcomed at the time and something Sinn F\u00e9in and others lobbied for at the time. It was an important step. Clearly, that will be an important part of the constitutional debate at that moment in time. It is my view that it is reckless and short-sighted of the Government not to plan and prepare for Irish unity. No one says that this needs to be rash or rushed, but if we fail to do anything at all, that is the reckless and the thoughtless approach. I think there is scope to have some discussions with other member states about the role the EU can play. I think it will play potentially a crucial role in the event of Irish unity, and we should be thoughtful of that and consider it. There are other items we need to discuss, but this should be part of the debate.  The other issue is the whole area of competitiveness. It is true that we need to ensure competitiveness. In my view, from an Irish point of view, we need to ensure that our reliance on energy from other sources, in terms of fossil fuels, is reduced, that we build up our renewables capacity and that we invest in infrastructure and a whole lot of other areas.  Too often, the competitiveness agenda becomes a proxy for deregulation and undermining workers' rights. I am particularly concerned, as is the trade union movement, about the Irish Commissioner, Michael McGrath's file and the proposal for a single unified legal entity for companies across the EU. There is a danger that this will allow companies to sidestep Irish labour law. I encourage the Minister of State and the Government to be watchful for that. There are also areas in which we are falling short of EU norms. Collective bargaining is a particular example. That is also something that needs to be addressed.  I will return to the issue of values. If any area has shown up the flaws and hypocrisies of the EU at times over the last number of years, it is the area of values. I refer particularly to Gaza and Palestine and the unconditional and unqualified support for Israel from Ursula von der Leyen and Kaja Kallas on behalf of the EU at a pivotal point. That gave political cover for the genocidal destruction that subsequently unfolded. In addition, the EU leaders' muted and almost non-existent response to people from the Global Sumud Flotilla being effectively abducted on the high seas and in international waters, completely contrary to any international law, is completely unacceptable. This should be a priority for the Irish Government. Ireland needs to speak up for international law not only in this region, but in general.  The Minister of State might comment on the issue of Israel breaking sanctions against Russia in relation to stolen Ukrainian grain. It is important that the EU make a clear statement against that. Along with its occupation of south Lebanon and its genocidal policies in Gaza, these breaches of sanctions against Russia need to form part of the case for suspending the EU-Israel trade agreement. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Crowe  Europe Day is meant to be a celebration of peace and unity, when we mark how a continent that emerged from war resolved to work together to ensure future harmony and prosperity. My party, Sinn F\u00e9in, is often accused of being sceptical of the EU. That accusation is often thrown around in this House. It may happen in this debate. However, it is simply not the case. Sinn F\u00e9in's policies towards the European Union have always been focused on critical engagement. Where measures are in the interests of the Irish people and the peoples of Europe, we support and seek to further them. When they have not been in Ireland's interests, we have opposed them and campaigned to change them, but always from within and always in a constructive manner with a view to creating an inclusive Europe that reflects the needs and aspirations of all its people, not just the few or the elite. We are not anti-EU and we do not want to see Ireland outside of the EU. We simply see a different path forward in Europe. We seek what is in Ireland's best interests, as do Fianna F\u00e1il, Fine Gael and others.  We are critical of many of the EU's stances, most often in the area of foreign relations, especially where Palestine is concerned. Along with many others, I believe the stance of the EU when it comes to foreign relations is totally out of step with the stances of the majority of its citizens. We do not support a European Union in which a small number of large member states take it on themselves to dictate economic, security or foreign policy to smaller states. As a bloc, the Union provides political cover and trade deals to those who commit genocide and it turns a blind eye to wars of aggression that have had catastrophic impacts on our economies and on the standards of living of workers and their families. Why are we so afraid to say \"No\" to Israel and the US? Why can we not come together as 27 member states and say what is wrong and what is unacceptable? Why can we not refuse to do business with those who are ethnically cleansing Gaza and the West Bank? Whether it is the result of cowardice or something worse, we have decided that doing business with the oppressor is worth more to us than our principles.  Europe Day should not be simply about the end of a world war, but should also be a rallying cry to work towards a world without wars. We have huge diplomatic and economic levers. We can use these to effect real change not just in ending conflicts, but also in preventing conflicts from ever occurring through dialogue and sustainable investment to build up economies in the developing world and through divesting from fossil fuels.  The EU has been incredibly passive when it comes to threats and bad actors. We are expected to simply weather the impact of high fuel prices caused by the Russian war in Ukraine and the war of aggression against Iran. The European Council's recent meeting was more concerned about a fresh flow of migrants than about stopping the war against Iran and rebuilding what little peace the Middle East has seen in recent decades. We saw how one powerful state can torpedo any attempts to hold Israel to account by revoking the sweetheart trade deal it has with Europe. The EU could be a powerful force for preventing interstate violence and war. It could be a beacon of hope and solidarity among nations. However, right now, it is an inept bystander that is led by the nose by external actors who have no regard for Europeans or their lives. Surely the time has come to stop being so passive and to work together in solidarity to bring peace, stability and economic prosperity to peoples around the world. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  The European Union has contributed incredibly positively to Ireland in many ways. Of course, there was the significant investment by Europe through structural funds and support for the peace process, especially through PEACEPLUS funding, which remains vital. The European Union also stood with Ireland throughout Brexit. I put it to the Minister of State that a united Ireland should be high on Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael's agenda during the EU Presidency.  It is right that we acknowledge the work the European Union does and the benefits of our membership but, to some in this House, it seems that any criticism of EU policy amounts to an attack on the concept of our ongoing membership, which is utter nonsense. It seems that we must treat the EU as unique among political organisations and above reproach or critique. It is actually Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael that do the EU a disservice in behaving in this way. Ordinary people will naturally think that there are things the EU does well but also things that it does badly. Failing to acknowledge that contributes to the perception that the Irish Government's attitude to the EU is that you simply do as you are told. Being a real friend and partner means being willing to have difficult conversations, when appropriate. It means standing apart when faced with repugnant behaviour that you simply cannot stand behind.  While some in this House today will speak about the EU's contribution to human rights and the rule of law, the fact of the matter is that across great parts of the world the EU has lost all credibility due to its ongoing refusal to sanction Israel for its blatant war crimes and genocide. I acknowledge that the Minister of State's Government joined cause with others in seeking the suspension of the EU-Israel association agreement but it supported Mrs. von der Leyen's reappointment and now laments that her Commission takes no action and blames it for preventing it from fulfilling its commitment on the occupied territories Bill. I caution the Minister of State that it is his Government that undermines the credibility not only of the EU here in Ireland, but of our own political institutions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Donnelly  \"Europe Day is a chance ... to celebrate the community of values we represent and are jointly working to protect and nourish.\" That is something I read today. Yesterday, the Minister, Deputy McEntee, talked about establishing an international claims committee for Ukraine, which we support. There is rightly outcry and outrage against Russia across the EU. Russia has committed atrocities and there are quite rightly demands for reparations and sanctions. However, Israel has done the same against the Palestinian people. We see apartheid and the daily theft of homes and land by illegal settlers who are paid to travel from all over the world to settle on land that is not theirs and that is stolen. We have seen entire villages obliterated over the past couple of weeks and even in the most recent days. There has been ethnic cleansing and destruction not seen since the assault on Gaza, which still continues. I do not believe there is actually a ceasefire. People are dying every day. The illegal war in Ukraine is horrific and rightly condemned by all right-thinking people. I can understand why people here and abroad see the EU as being hypocritical. A poll that was carried out and published in the last couple of days showed that 45% of people believe the EU is moving in the right direction.  Less than a majority of people believe it is going in the right direction. That is a worrying statistic.  Imagine the outrage and horror here if the Russian Parliament passed a law to execute Ukrainians only. Israel has passed such a law. The Minister of State complained and expressed outrage but the EU, of which Ireland has been a key member for decades, still gives Israel preferential economic treatment. That money supports genocide and a parliament that will execute Palestinians only and supports money being raised under this agreement to bring settlers in to steal land. The EU is Israel\u2019s largest trading partner, with total goods traded reaching \u20ac42.6 billion in 2024, representing 32% of Israel\u2019s total trade. Economic support includes deep integration into EU research programmes, with \u20ac1.1 billion in Horizon Europe funding earmarked for Israel. In trade relations, the EU-Israel Association Agreement enables preferential access to the EU for Israel. Israel is in a research and innovation association that involves aerospace companies which have ties to the defence sector \u2013 I would not call it the defence sector as the Israel Defense Forces are a murderous sector - in bilateral funding, education and culture. According to the European Union - the Commission - the State of Israel is responsible for an unprecedented level of killing and injury of civilians, a large-scale displacement of population and the systematic destruction of hospitals and medical facilities in Gaza. Israel also implemented a blockade of humanitarian aid that could amount to starvation as a method of war. Israel is in breach of multiple rules and obligations under international law and fails to prevent the crime of genocide as ordered by the International Court of Justice. The hypocrisy in the EU in relation to Israel\u2019s apartheid and genocidal regime knows no bounds. While billions are traded with that apartheid regime, Israeli leaders, some Cabinet members and military leaders are wanted for war crimes. Unfortunately, today the EU is stained with the blood of the Palestinian and Lebanese people. The EU cannot avoid its responsibility and its complicity in this genocide. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Mark Wall)  We move next to the Labour Party. Deputy Smith has six minutes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  I will be sharing time with Deputy O\u2019Donoghue and we will have five minutes each. I will pick up on one of the final points the Minister of State made. He said that 76 years on, Robert Schuman would probably recognise the instability that exists now. I agree with him in that regard. If we look to the east, we can say that what is happening now represents the realisation of the worst fears from back then. Russia has literally rolled tanks into Ukraine, is carrying out proxy attacks, proxy wars and cyberattacks, and is ultimately operating to destabilise Europe. That has been the fear for many decades and it is being realised. We see the unexpected aspect of this rupture when we look to the west. Throughout the European Union's evolution, the United States was a dependable ally of the Union. That came with concerns - there were issues in relation to the build-up of US military personnel and facilities in mainland Europe - but the US was a dependable economic ally. That is no longer the case. In the last week, the US has announced that it is moving 5,000 troops from Germany. That is something that President Biden had put in train but the notable aspect of the method used by the Trump Administration to carried that out was that there were no negotiations and no forewarning that it was going to happen. Again, we have seen yet another snap decision. It might not be a big deal in and of itself \u2013 perhaps it was welcomed by some \u2013 but when we look at the first 15 months of Trump 2.0 with a wider view and when we examine the wider trend of tariffs, Greenland and a US approach to NATO which impacts a lot of our European Union allies, we realise that Europe now needs to look away from the US, away from the self-appointed leader of the free world and away from isolationism. This is bringing up some difficult questions for Europe and for Ireland, chiefly in the area of security.  We hold our military neutrality very dear. I have been at conferences in Europe over the last 18 months. It is clear that many people in Europe want to move towards a common defence union. That is something we must resist and we can resist. We must do so while improving our own security, however, because the charge against Ireland is that we have not taken our own security seriously. It has been a decades-long embarrassment that we have been reliant on Britain, the US and others for our own security. The security threats have changed - the new threats are potential cyberattacks and attacks to undersea cables \u2013 so we need a sophisticated approach. It is not the build-up of tanks, jets or troops; it is the build-up of capacity and of sophistication. We need to work with our allies and, in doing so, to be forthright that we not want to join NATO or a common defence union and nor will we ever. It may be a delicate path but it is a path that we must take with clarity. We must not be afraid and we must not hide behind vague definitions of this, that and the other.  I note recently, the Canadian Prime Minister, Mark Carney, was the first non-European leader to attend a meeting of the European Political Community. That is more than merely symbolic. It is an important indication because it is another signal following Prime Minister Carney's speech in February that we cannot follow, and the European Union cannot follow, the United States into isolationism. There is a troubled and uncertain road ahead, but Europe needs to pull together and answer and meet hard challenges and hard questions with honesty and forthrightness.  Europe has consistently let itself down in the last number of years in its approach to Israel. It is inconsistent, inhumane, unethical and downright wrong that Europe is not calling out Israel for the genocide that is being carried out on the people of Palestine, for what it is doing in Lebanon and for its continued expansion of the illegal settlements in the West Bank. Europe will not retain any moral leadership, will fail to bring along allies and will fail to bring along the people of Ireland if it continues to treat Israel in this exceptional manner by excusing these despicable acts that continue.  Ireland and the Irish people remain, by and large, positively disposed towards the EU. I think Brexit had a lot to do with that. Without doubt, a lot of EU states stood by us during that process but we cannot take that support for granted. We must be honest and forthright. We must be committed to Europe but we must also be able to pursue our own sovereign interests. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert O'Donoghue  I am glad the Minister of State mentioned the Schuman Declaration from more than 70 years ago. I always feel like Jean Monnet always gets hard done by. It was the diplomat who did most of the work but the politician got his name on it. The EU is unique. It is the longest lasting confederation of states probably in the history of the world. Is it perfect? No. Is it the best we have got in the world we have? Yes. The European Movement study published this week showed that 82% of Irish people believe being in Europe is where we should be, as do I. We should be at the heart of it.  On Saturday, as we mark Europe Day, we celebrate not just a union of countries, but a shared vision that is based on co-operation, peace and opportunity. For Ireland, membership of the EU has been nothing short of transformative. It has shaped our economy, strengthened our voice in the world and helped to define the kind of country we are today. When Ireland joined the European project in 1973, we were a very different nation. We were economically limited and we depended heavily on a small number of trading partners. Membership opened doors. It connected us to the Single Market, one of the greatest achievements of the European Union and something that needs to be finished. Through it, Irish businesses can trade freely across Europe without tariffs or barriers, giving companies access to hundreds of millions of consumers. For a country of our size, that access has been vital, driving growth, creating jobs and helping to transform Ireland into one of the most open and successful economies in the world. That is more important than ever now, given Trump's tariffs.  Perhaps even more importantly, the European Union has amplified Ireland\u2019s voice in the world as a small nation. At the European table, Ireland helps to shape decisions on climate action, digital innovation, workers\u2019 rights and global trade. We are not just participants; we are contributors to our collective future. The value of that solidarity became especially clear during Brexit. I thank the Minister of State for mentioning that. When the United Kingdom decided to leave the European Union, Ireland faced unique challenges, politically, socially and economically yet through that process EU member states stood shoulder to shoulder with us.  It recognised the importance of peace on this island, that we needed not to have a hard border on the island, and it safeguarded the economy in the long term. That unity ensured that Ireland's concerns were not sidelined, but prioritised. In a moment of uncertainty, EU membership provided stability, support, and strength. We reject that very British concept of euroscepticism. I said it last year and I stand by it.  For young people in Ireland, EU membership means opportunity. The freedom to live, study, and work abroad has broadened horizons of both young people and the country, and created connections that span cultures and countries. It has made Europe not just a place on a map, but a shared home. Of course, membership is not without its challenges. Being part of a union requires compromise, responsibility, and engagement. The institutions of Europe need fundamental reform. I think the Minister of State would agree with me on that. It is through working together that we enhance our sovereignty and Europe's by deepening the pool together.  As we look to the future, the importance of Ireland's place in Europe remains clear. In a world of uncertainty, co-operation matters more than ever. The European Union gives us a platform to face challenges collectively, whether climate change, economic stability, or global security. Europe Day is a reminder that unity is not about losing identity, but is about strengthening it through partnership. Ireland's story within Europe shows what is possible when countries choose collaboration over isolation. On Saturday, we celebrate not just what Europe has given us, but what we contribute in return, our ideas, our values, and our commitment to a shared future. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Clendennen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Clendennen  Over 70 years ago, Robert Schuman delivered his declaration that would change the course of European history. One of his key declarations was, \"Europe will not be made all at once, or according to a single plan. It will be built through concrete achievements which first create a de facto solidarity.\" His vision was both bold and quite simple at the same time, to make war between larger member states not just unthinkable but materially impossible, by pooling their coal and steel production. The European Coal and Steel Community laid the foundations of what has become the European Union today. Since Ireland joined in 1973, we have seen significant and material progress on our shores and across our country, whether it be development of our infrastructure, support and funding for our agricultural sector, access to the Single Market, or foreign direct investment through our gateway to Europe. I would strongly question whether we would have seen the foreign direct investment that we have had if we were not an important and integral member state of the Union.  There is also the adoption of the euro. When the euro was adopted, I happened to be living in Switzerland. I remember getting in a car and travelling to Germany with one of my friends from Germany, Italy and France on a road trip to get a few euro notes just to say that we had them. That was a day when I had first-hand experience and a memory of solidarity with European counterparts that was beyond just being Irish. That has only grown today and we all have our own memories of how we are not just Irish but Europeans, and long may that continue.  Other speakers have mentioned a study about European Movement Ireland. Overall it is relatively positive. Some 82% still believe that Ireland's membership of the EU is important. That remains strong and it demonstrates that despite the challenges of our time, the vast majority of Irish people recognise the benefits of European engagement. Looking deeper into the figures, we need to ensure that we listen, learn and act on some of the sentiments coming through. Less than half of the respondents believe that the EU is moving in the right direction, with concerns about migration, EU regulation, and sovereignty. These are legitimate concerns and demand our attention. They remind us that the European project is not a static entity but a dynamic one that must continuously adapt and respond to the needs and anxieties of citizens. As a member of Fine Gael and of the European People's Party, I am proud to be European, but when we listen to those sentiments and concerns, we need to have a realistic debate and conversation about our defence and security and how we can co-operate with other member states. We also need to ensure that Europe is not only economically robust but also secure and capable of protecting its citizens and interests, while also looking at the likes of the cost of living, which is a top concern for us here at home, and migration and housing.  I will bring it closer to home in relation to the need to inform and educate the next generation of citizens. The Minister of State recently visited my constituency where we went to Sacred Heart and Col\u00e1iste Choilm in Tullamore to share the insight and inform students of the importance of Europe. We cannot take that for granted. We need to see more of that and investment in it. As we move from being a net beneficiary to a net contributor in the European Union, we need to structure ourselves better to identify funds and allocations to continue on that pathway to support agriculture, infrastructure and foreign direct investment. I attended a public meeting in Tullamore last night about we move Offaly forward. We would resource an EU funding officer in local authorities to identify ways and means to maximise the effectiveness of those finances. We have made a lot of great progress in towns with the likes of the public realm, both with Government investment and European investment, and that needs to be continued. We also see the likes of just transition funding and what it has done.  Just last week, I was at Ballycowan Castle where a new accessibility biking scheme was introduced to make the most of the Grand Canal greenway. This could not be done without European funding, and just because we are moving from being a beneficiary to a net contributor does not mean that should be lost. We have to identify ways to keep those channels open and keep those revenue streams coming to areas that need it most. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John McGuinness  I compliment the Minister of State on his input into European affairs. I know he is dedicated and that he participates at all levels within the European Union. I commend him on the work he is doing. I know the value of the European Union, of the Single Market, and how valuable it is for Ireland to be a member of the European Union, but that does not mean that, in a debate like this, we cannot raise our concerns about Europe and the direction it is taking. From the beginning, Europe was about people. It was about the people whom we represent and the people who elect those in all other member states to represent them in the European Union. Irish people believe that is the way it should work. Democracy should work in that fashion, but it does not really, in the European Union. That is why I will call on the Minister of State to highlight the need to overhaul the bureaucratic structure in the European Union to make it far more transparent and usable, and to have far more emphasis in those structures on the people we represent.  The Minister of State said the European Union is about us. We are European. We are the members, but sometimes it feels as if you are outside the door and that somebody else, other than those we elect to the European Parliament, are actually making those decisions. That approach can be seen by way of the various regulations, legislation or direction that is sent to us here in Ireland, to the Government, to transpose into Irish law. That happens regularly and we do not have sufficient input here to analyse what is actually going on, to raise our criticisms, and to raise suggestions to make things better, because it is done and dusted and we do not have a say. That is not democracy. That is simply bureaucratic structures imposing their desire to have the European Union go in a particular direction and not take into consideration consequences for its members. For example, the consequences of the financial crash were that we picked up the debt. Germany, France and Italy insisted on it, yet in Ireland, Jonathan Sugarman highlighted the fact that the Italian bank was bust.  Did the Italian bank get sanctioned? No. Did Jonathan Sugarman get sanctioned? Yes. He is living a life that is far from perfect and ideal and was never recognised for the work he has done. We - Ireland and the Government in question - used Europe as a dumping ground; we sent stuff to Europe. For example, people such as Noel McGree, and Dan Brennan in my own constituency, raised an issue in the European Union and had it dealt with, but there has been almost no outcome, other than constant deliberation and nonsense to pretend that something is being dealt with when it is not. Julie Grace is another example of a whistleblower who went to Europe, aired her case and the European Union just turned a deaf ear. We in Ireland did the same thing. We provided the direction for these people to go to Europe in order that we would get them away somewhere else and we would not have to deal with them under the whistleblower legislation.  I would like to see farmers and the farming community better recognised in the European Union. Take away the red tape and bureaucracy and start understanding that it is the farmers and those who live in the countryside who care for it. Then, make it easier for them to draw down whatever financial supports might be available so they can continue their work without having to fill out a huge number of forms and tick boxes and then be caught at times because they have either not ticked the box or have ticked the wrong box.  Where is Europe in terms of leadership on the cost-of-living crisis we are going through? Where was it on insurance and banking? Why can we not access low interest rates, banking institutions and insurance? Why? I have not heard any of this raised in the European Union and I urge the representatives we have elected to do so. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan  This week, we mark Europe Day, a day to recognise the positive contributions the European Union has made to Ireland, to this region and on the world stage. We also need to apply a level of self-criticism to the work of the European Union because it has become painfully clear over the past number of years that the EU has shifted far from its core vision and values. Right now, the EU, in particular the European Commission, does not appear to be acting with respect for the collective position of EU citizens and elected Members of the European Parliament. Late last year, we saw widespread opposition to the ratification of the EU Mercosur trade deal by everybody, from farmers to environmentalists. A majority of MEPs voted to refer the Mercosur agreement to the European Court of Justice, yet the Commission chose to cast those concerns to the wind and press ahead to enact the trade deal. How does it look to our farming communities to have their concerns ridden over roughshod by the power of the European Commission?  Our farmers and rural communities are feeling the pressure. They are struggling and they are frustrated that their concerns are not being taken on board. There is deep worry for the future. CAP funding is clearly under threat as the Commission seems more keen to increase the budget for arms and bombs than to continue to invest in our food security. If those billions were put into the agri sector instead, we could transform agriculture and our wider food sectors. We would be able to deliver a Common Agricultural Policy far greater than the limits of the current CAP, one that would rejuvenate farming and rural communities and deliver generational renewal. Our food products and those of other member states are among the highest quality in the world. The sky should be the limit for our agri sector. Instead, we see from the Commission a rush to outsource food production to South America and other countries.  The majority of people on the island of Ireland would vote for Irish unity as part of the EU. This would hugely help with disease outbreaks in the farming sector, such as the bluetongue virus and bovine viral diarrhoea, BVD. Europe will play its part. We need a referendum because farming knows no boundaries. We have a great opportunity to hold talks during the EU Presidency, and I hope we will. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  We move to the Social Democrats. Deputy Gibney is next. I note there are four Deputies due to speak. If the fourth Member does not arrive, we will divide the time by three. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  I will message the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  He sometimes cuts it fine, so I hope he will be here shortly. I welcome the opportunity to make these statements to celebrate Europe Day because I am a proud European. It is important to remember and celebrate the very positive influence European Union membership had has on Irish society, as did, prior to European Union membership, co-operation with European member states post war and post conflict. I want to emphasise first that this is for me a really heartbreaking moment, whereby what started as a peace project in post-war Europe - the European Union was called something different then - to end and prevent conflict between European nations and to prevent wider global conflict is at a point where we are now approaching essentially a European defence union and the level of militarisation in the European Union - the Minister of State shakes his head at me and at other speakers----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  I do so because these are scare stories the Deputy is putting out there. They are totally false. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Allow the Deputy to have her time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  Excuse me. These are not scare stories. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  It is misinformation and it scares people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  This is not misinformation or scare stories. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  It is total misinformation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Stop the clock, please. The Deputy must have her time. The Minister of State will have ten minutes to make closing remarks and he can address that then. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  I have to stop this misinformation about the militarisation of the EU from Sinn F\u00e9in and the Social Democrats. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  This is not the way to address that. There is a format to the----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  It is wrong to be frightening the people of Ireland in that way. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  You are the one doing that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Minister of State is not listening. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  It is wrong. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Then have a referendum about it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The rules are the rules. You will have ten minutes to address the issues at the end of the debate. I ask Deputy to continue, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  I am the people of Ireland and I am frightened by the level of militarisation the EU is pursuing. The fact that the multi-annual financial framework has pivoted towards rewarding arms manufacturers over small and medium businesses and that the countries that will benefit most from that are the largest countries in Europe that have those weapons industries is so far removed from the social cohesion and promotion of democracy this Union was started for. Of course, I am afraid and fearful, and it is absolutely right that we call it out.  This Government's version of EU membership is to blindly follow that, to go with the EPP and Renew Europe groupings' vision of what this EU should be. Instead, we could be a vital voice. Ireland is one of only 27 members of this Union and we could be a vital voice, that same voice we heard in John Hume, one that talks about peace, solidarity, cohesion and democracy. I was at the launch of the European Movement Ireland survey yesterday. The values of the EU were captured in that survey as being democracy, equality, rule of law and human rights. It is my opinion that we have drifted far from those values in the pursuit of appeasing big business through deregulation across the EU and increased militarisation and military spending. If it upsets the Minister of State that I come into the D\u00e1il Chamber and say that, then I am sorry but he will have to deal with it.  I will touch on something I raised last week, which was dismissed as not being relevant to the post-European Council statements, even though there was a relevant post-European Council statement on this matter. It is the Irish attack on the European Convention on Human Rights. Only couple of years ago, the Government criticised the UK for its attack on the ECHR, yet only a few months ago, the Government joined in that attack. The European Convention on Human Rights has done nothing but bring good for all the states that signed up to it. This Government, along with others, is happy to start hacking away at it, in an attack on the separation of powers, which I think is just incredible, and judicial independence. It is politicising the entire process at a time when we have an active inter-state case based on the third article of the ECHR - we had two successful inter-state cases before that - and when we know the ECHR is what underpins the Good Friday Agreement and peace on this island. I asked the Minister of State about this last week and he dismissed it but I want to, again, be reassured of this Government's commitment to the ECHR and the European Court of Human Rights and that it will not pursue the Chi\u0219in\u0103u process and deviate from it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  The EU is built on partnerships and collaboration. It works because member states commit to pulling their weight, particularly on cross-border challenges like climate change. Climate change policy within the EU relies on the key principle of trust that every country will do its part.  Today, we learned in The Irish Times that Ireland might be trying to buy its way out of delivery by funding renewable projects abroad rather than meeting targets at home. That is not partnership; that is avoidance. That avoidance will come at a cost to Irish households and the Irish environment. We cannot adopt an attitude where we deal with failure by paying someone else to cover it. Failure is dealt with by addressing and correcting it. Writing checks to send abroad will not save our environment. It will not put solar panels on roofs or help households cut their electricity bills. It will not protect them from energy shocks or increase their energy resilience. Ultimately, climate action is energy security action.  Writing checks to send abroad will export opportunities. It will improve conditions abroad while ignoring the struggles of people at home. All this does is weaken trust in this Government, which is already fragile. People have been asked over the past decade or so to change their attitudes and how they travel, live and heat their homes all in the name of climate action, and people have done so. Those asks coming from the Government, however, are unfair if the Government is not willing to act with the same urgency it expects of everyone else. Climate action is not just a box-ticking exercise; it poses a real threat and it must be met with action on the ground in our communities. This Government cannot outsource that responsibility or our environment will pay the price. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  Europe Day is a celebration of peace, solidarity and the shared values across our Continent. As someone who is proudly Irish, I am also proud to be European and part of a German family. Given the number of people who live in Ireland from elsewhere, it is important to celebrate our differences and what brings us together. I come from a proud bilingual family. We speak both German and English at home, and I am also learning Irish again. When a person speaks another language, they have a view into another culture, world and way to live. When many young people are learning different languages, not only are they learning how to communicate to buy something in the shop, or whatever else it is, they are seeing how other people live. Speaking another language allows people to understand a culture at a different level. They understand it in a way that cannot be achieved by just visiting and observing. They become part of the culture. Europe gives us the opportunity to do that.  At a time in this world when there is such a focus on what makes us different, Europe has the potential to show us that although we are different, we have shared values. It gives us a way of examining what makes us different and similar. It allows us to reach out and ensure that the negativity that seems to be seeping across the world of difference is challenged.  At this time of year, a lot of college students are getting ready to figure out what they are going to do in the summer. I am sure their parents are asking them what they are going to do. They might hope they get a job. Some of them will have the opportunity to travel. The interrailing initiative, DiscoverEU, gives many people the opportunity to do that. I would love to see that scheme expanded to more young people. It allows them to travel in a climate-friendly way. They interrail rather than take short-haul flights. Most European cities and countries have excellent networks of rail. We need to look at expanding the scheme to more young people because the more young people who travel to explore differences, learn new cultures and languages and see something different, not only will it give them pride in themselves but also pride in being a part of Europe.  I would love to see more young people going abroad to study. There are such excellent schemes. Studying abroad allows them to be able to learn in a different education system and experience different work ethics and way of working. There is so much we can learn from one another in Europe. At a time when many differences are being highlighted, I want us to hold onto that in our country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul McAuliffe  Europe Day is an important day for us to reflect on what Europe means to us and what we mean to Europe. It also allows us to apply a lens to the current issues of the day. I will speak to that first. Ultimately, at its heart, Europe is a peace process. For many hundreds of years, a kind of toxic nationalism existed in Europe. While that toxic nationalism is certainly been diluted as a result of the European Union project, we should never take it for granted. In some ways, we took the peace of the Good Friday Agreement for granted prior to the Brexit referendum. We saw how quickly some of those tensions could arise again. The idea that peace and mutual co-operation in Europe is a given is something we should be fearful of. We have to be careful of any one country asserting its nationalism above others. The European Union gives us the structure to do that. At its very heart, the European Union is a model to perpetuate peace.  It is also a model of ensuring that national governments step up to the plate when there is a common European norm. With issues such as gender rights and climate policy, we have seen how Europe has challenged Ireland over many years to go further than perhaps national governments would have.  The third leg of that stool is economic prosperity. At different times over our history with Europe, Europe has contributed to our economic prosperity and growth. It has challenged us at times as well. The post-crash period was incredibly challenging for many European Union countries. We cannot forget that this is about those three stools - peace, the idea of stretching beyond national horizons to adopt a pan-European policy on big issues like climate and economic growth.  With any peace process, there must be parity of esteem. We have to recognise that there are other European Union countries with different views. There are democracies in each European member state. One of the great tragedies for me is that while we have been able to respond almost with unanimity on the issue of Ukraine, we have not been able to do so on the issue of Palestine. I have to accept that, in a democracy, people will come to the table with different views. While I fundamentally disagree with the approach of many of the European Union governments on the issue of Palestine, our interaction with Israel and so on, I have to accept that there is that difference within a union. Sometimes, people in this House speak about the European Union as if what happens here in Dublin happens everywhere in the European Union or that the views expressed here in Dublin are expressed everywhere in the European Union. We have to accept that, in a partnership, other people may have different views and priorities. We must work within that framework.  There is no doubt that the current crisis with regard to the cost of oil and petrol is having a real impact on people\u2019s lives. We need to have an approach similar to the way the European Union excelled in the delivery and procurement of the Covid vaccine. The AccelerateEU programme will be at the centre of the EU Presidency for Ireland. We need to ensure that the changes we make will have a practical impact on people\u2019s lives.  We have talked about solar. The big difficulty with the transition from, let us say, gas heating in a home to something like a heat pump is that people are relying on the expense of electricity. There is no easy technology transfer from a traditional gas boiler over to a full retrofit installation with a heat pump. We need to find new technologies to do that. That is an area where the European Union could lead the way. We can do more in the area of solar energy as well. It can help subsidise those electricity-consuming heating systems in homes. There is a lot of talk in this House about plug-in solar but we have to ensure that we get the safety, electricity and regulation right. We can do more in this regard. With the better energy warmer homes scheme for those on fuel supplement, we can do far more in terms of solar nationally. All that can be done better by working together in Europe. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Edward Timmins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Edward Timmins  Ireland has benefited enormously from our membership of the European Union. From the huge value of structural funds to the attraction for American multinationals of having an English-speaking base in the EU, Ireland has been transformed for the better by this membership. This has led to a standard of living our grandparents could never have imagined, not only economically but also culturally, socially and educationally. Witness the enormous success of the Erasmus programme.  I will refer to the huge positives I have experienced personally in Europe. As a young man, I lived for a number of years in the 1980s on mainland Europe in France, Germany and Switzerland. I experienced the extraordinary culture and history of many European countries. In Switzerland, I lived in St. Gallen, a city founded by the Irish monk St. Gall, after whom the city is called. Ireland has contributed enormously to the common European culture, heritage and values that go back a very long way. We were known as the island of saints and scholars. St. Columban and other monks founded monasteries all over Europe. One of the founders of the European Union, the French statesman Robert Schuman, in 1950 described St. Columban as the patron saint of all those who wish to build a united Europe. I lived in Hanover in what was then West Germany during the Cold War. Nearby was the so-called German Democratic Republic, more accurately called East Germany. I crossed over the Iron Curtain, as it was called then, a number of times and visited the totalitarian states on the other side. I shared an apartment with a young man who was caught trying to escape over the Berlin Wall only to be caught and imprisoned for a year and then allowed to leave.  This division ended in 1990 and eastern Europe was freed but today that freedom is under serious threat. Vladimir Putin, who lived in Dresden in East Germany in the 1980s, wants to recreate that totalitarian world. The evidence is there. This can only be stopped by European countries being prepared to defend themselves. If this does not happen, our way of life may disappear.  It is especially important that Germany, always the political and strategic focal point of Europe, builds its defence capability. This is not anything like the 1930s. This is Germany using its economic strength to defend European values and deter an aggressor. There was a phrase used in Europe called \"realpolitik\". The realpolitik of today is that Europe is under threat and it must be prepared to defend itself.  With Ireland holding the EU Presidency shortly, we need to stamp our mark on European policy. For me, the stand out one is to push for implementation of the Draghi report, which addresses the European Union's lagging productivity and economic growth relative to the US and China. As the most successful economy in the European Union, we are well placed to push for the implementation of the Draghi report. Europe is lagging behind and has become enormously dependent on the US. We rely on Amazon and Microsoft for cloud services. We have very few at the forefront of AI. While regulation may be justified on a one-by-one basis, taken together it has stopped business development and has made us dependent on the US. We must look to implement the Draghi report.  Ireland has a proud European history and we are European but we have a unique perspective in Europe and we have a unique link to the US. We should use these factors to foster continued prosperity in Europe. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy R\u00e9ada Cronin  This week we mark Europe Day. The European Union likes to present itself as a peace project founded off the back of two World Wars in quick succession and built on the promise that never again would Europe stand by while genocide unfolded. It talks about multilateralism, co-operation, solidarity and international law - all the right words but those words ring hollow because when it matters most and when people are being slaughtered the European Union has not led; it has failed. The peace project is taking a battering. What we continue to see in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran has shattered any claims the EU has moral leadership on the world stage.  In Ukraine, the EU has no plan for peace only a plan for the unlimited supply of arms and weapons that continue to slaughter innocent people, both Ukrainian and Russian. Ordinary people can see it and they are not fooled. They see a Union that lectures about human rights while turning a blind eye to genocide, or worse enabling it, when it suits. Member states continue to trade with Israel, supply arms, and give political cover and silence where there should be disgust and outrage. Ordinary people wonder why Palestinians, Lebanese and Iranian schoolgirls should be forced to pay with their lives for the crimes of the Weimar Republic 80 years later. Yet there are those, led by our Taoiseach, Deputy Miche\u00e1l Martin, who want Ireland to cosy up to EU warmongers, who obsequiously agree that increased militarisation is the only way forward for Europe, who want more alignment for Ireland with military blocs, and who think we should abandon neutrality, fall into line and succumb to the war machine.  The truth is that Ireland could close all its hospitals, all its schools, all its universities and pour every penny into the bloated pockets of weapon manufacturers and still we would not be able to defend ourselves from any threat, real or otherwise. International law is the only protection small countries like Ireland have and we have a unique opportunity with the EU Presidency. We can choose to go along with the hypocrisy or we can challenge it. We can stand up for what the EU was supposed to be about, peace, co-operation and solidarity, by demonstrating that international order must be upheld and international law implemented.  That means looking to the future as well for our Presidency because a place where the EU did play a positive role in supporting peace was on our island. I am sure the Minister of State was pleased to note the Am\u00e1rach Research poll yesterday showing the growing majority, North and South, in favour of a united Ireland within the European Union. Now is the time for this Government to get on with that preparation. Now is the time for this conversation. The demand for unity is growing stronger and louder every day and it is beyond time for the political leadership in Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael to catch up with where the people of Ireland are, North and South. A united Ireland is not a far-off dream for another generation to deliver. We must have the courage to reach for it now during our Presidency, and do the work so we can finally make the dream come true. Anois an t-am don aontacht. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  The Minister of State, Deputy Thomas Byrne, lauded the European Union as being a place of values. He talked about its commitment to international law and to the rule of law and was somewhat aghast that people suggested Europe was guilty of a move towards militarisation. I put it to the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, that if he was to characterise the major value of the European Union currently, it is precisely that it is the biggest contributor to a massive increase in global arms expenditure, which is now up to \u20ac2,887 billion, which is \u20ac2.8 trillion. The biggest contributor to that increase, with a 14% increase last year, is the European Union. That should hardly surprise us because Ursula von der Leyen, a former arms seller when she was a minister in Germany, selling arms to all and sundry, has argued for the rearmament of Europe and for massive increases in European expenditure on weapons. This is what Europe is actually doing.  By the way, it spends four times more on weapons than Russia. Then add to this the trillion dollars the United States spends. Clearly, militarisation and spending money on weapons does not do anything to deter war. That is very clear when we look at the balance of global arms expenditure.  Where this notion of commitments to international law or any kind of values is exposed as complete nonsense is when we look at the European Union's relationship with the State of Israel and at the crimes Israel is committing. Even before the genocidal assault on Gaza, Israel had shown itself to be the world's number one enemy of international law. It refuses to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty but we all know it has about 200 nuclear weapons. Israel does not think that law applies to it. Trump thinks it is okay to bomb Iran, as does Israel does, because Iran might have nuclear weapons but Israel will not even sign the international treaty to restrict their use.  Since 1948 when it ethnically cleansed nearly 1 million Palestinians, Israel has denied under international law the right to return that Palestinians have, leaving millions of Palestinians displaced all over the Middle East. It has a law explicitly denying the Palestinians the right self determination and has granted that right only to people of the Jewish faith. It presides over an apartheid regime, according to every serious human rights organisation, and since 2016, it has been collectively punishing the two million people of Gaza with a criminal siege. Then we had the genocidal massacre of the past few years.  Who provides the weapons? The European Union and, to a very significant extent, Germany.  As we speak I have just had a message from Mimi Tatlow-Golden. Her son, an Irish citizen, was with four other people protesting against Elbit Systems, the major provider of weapons to Israel to commit genocide against the Palestinians, in what was an act of civil disobedience where there was no threat of violence to anybody. His mother was saying that in the court at the moment the judge is likening them to terrorists and organised criminals, and really setting them up as horrible, dangerous people. This makes it very worrying about their treatment. The family appeals again to the Irish Government to send monitors to the trial, which is an absolute travesty of justice.  The European Union is showing complete moral bankruptcy in the face of genocide, the worst crime it is possible to commit. Next week, the Sanctions against the State of Israel Bill will come before the D\u00e1il. It states that because Ireland is a signatory to the Genocide Convention, it has a legal obligation not just to punish the crime of genocide, but to prevent it, and to use all reasonable means to do so. The Bill calls for across-the board-economic sanctions. Will the Government support the Bill next week when it comes before the House? I very much doubt it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  I have participated in a lot of Europe Day debates. In fact, the first time I ever spoke in the D\u00e1il was before I was a TD when as an MEP I was invited to address the House on Europe Day. Of all the set piece annual debates we have, this is the most sickening. Every time we get the same platitudes trotted out about Europe being a peace project and the European Union being a defender of democracy and being founded on the basis of fundamental rights. This bears no resemblance to the actually existing European Union.  In particular, in terms of the biggest crime that is happening now in the world, namely, the genocide that been going on in Palestine for more than two years and the EU's role in that. We are all expected to just ignore that. We heard earlier from Deputy McAuliffe that he would prefer if the European Union really did something about the genocide but, at the same time, he accepts that, well, that is it and different people have different opinions and so on. Do not try to claim that it is a peace project if it is involved in supporting, facilitating and arming genocide. Let us drop the pretence that it is a peace project when it has a strategy called ReArm Europe and when it is, as Deputy Boyd Barrett outlined, a driving factor in the process of militarisation, which the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, tried to deny by suggesting it is somehow not true. It is there in black and white. He can go and read their strategy documents. He can look at the figures in terms of the extra amounts spent. Let us not hear talk about the European Union being a bastion of democracy when the most powerful, dominant state in the Union, Germany, right now is treating people, including an Irish citizen, Daniel Tatlow-Devally, as a terrorist for an act of civil disobedience. It is treating people as terrorists for honourable, legal acts of civil disobedience trying to prevent the continued commission of genocide. The speaking of Irish is banned by the German state at Palestine protests.  Let us not hear about fundamental rights when the Fortress Europe project is responsible for the deaths of thousands of people in the Mediterranean Sea every single year. It is an absolute joke and, of course, there is no greater illustration of this gap between the rhetoric we hear once a year or more often, unfortunately, and the reality of the situation in Gaza. We are two and a half years into an accelerated genocide carried out by Israel against the Palestinians. There is a so-called ceasefire now, but people in Gaza are being murdered every single day. Documented killings in Gaza now stand at over 72,000 people, with 21,000 children, which is the highest percentage death toll of children in any war. UNICEF has said that tens of thousands of babies born in Gaza since the start of the war have been delivered into hell. As of February last year, 25,000 wounded children had no surviving family. The reality is going to be worse than all of those nightmarish figures when the truth comes out. Israel has resumed its slaughter of civilians in Lebanon. It is breaking its ceasefire there on a daily basis too.  What is the European Union doing about any of that? Nothing. Nothing to sanction the State of Israel. Let us compare that to how swiftly sanctions were imposed on Russia after its illegal invasion of Ukraine, proving that it can do it, but instead it has spectated while the genocide has continued. It has looked on as European countries are some of the biggest, after the US, deliverers of weapons to Israel and it has treated Israel as a favoured nation in terms of trade, effectively equivalent to as if it was in the European Union. The Government has delayed and refused to act on the occupied territories Bill. Why? Cowardice and a calculated decision to prioritise financial ties with Israel and the US over human life. That is why we are moving our Bill next week for comprehensive sanctions on the State of Israel. Why? Because of genocide, apartheid and crimes against humanity. It is time for this State to act. The Government knows that public opinion is strongly in favour of that. Will it ignore that as well as the genocide or will it finally take meaningful action? Will it allow a conscience vote on our Bill? If the Government can have a conscience vote on the issue of abortion, why can it not have one on the issue of genocide? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"William Aird","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy William Aird  Today we mark Europe Day 2026. It is a chance to reflect on how far Europe has come and what Europe stands for, namely, peace, working together, democracy and opportunity. For Ireland, being part of the European Union has made a real difference. It has helped grow our economy. It has supported our communities and has backed our farmers. We have seen that clearly in County Laois and across the midlands. I know people at home will often say that Europe can be heavy on rules and that there is too much red tape at times, and, yes, some of this criticism is very fair. However, taken as a whole, Ireland's membership of the European Union has been overwhelmingly positive. Ireland makes a significant net contribution to the EU budget. That is a fact but we do get strong investment and real value in return in our communities, infrastructure and economy.  From farming to small businesses and from roads and infrastructure to education, Europe has brought real benefits to areas that were once left behind. As we prepare for Ireland's Presidency of the European Union, we have a real opportunity. We must make sure that regional Ireland, including the midlands, is front and centre. Ireland's Presidency cannot just be about meetings in Brussels. It has to be about delivering to our towns, businesses and farming families. For a county like Laois, I see three clear priorities, namely, enterprise, industry and agriculture. Regarding enterprise, the midlands has huge potential. We have good connections, a strong workforce and a real sense of enterprise. We should use our Presidency to push for better support for all small businesses, easier access to finance and more investment outside the big cities. The midlands can lead the way in balanced regional development.  The second priority is industry. The move to a low-carbon economy has to be fair. The midlands has already gone through major change. New jobs and investments must come to towns and rural areas and not just cities. We need the support for infrastructure, energy, training and new industries. There is great potential for the midlands in renewable energy, manufacturing and logistics. We need proper backing to make all this happen.  The third priority must be agriculture. Farming shows the value of Europe to Ireland. The CAP has supported rural communities for years, but farmers are under real pressure now. As President of the EU, Ireland must stand up for food producers. We need practical, working policies that support farm incomes and recognise the laws that farmers are already using. Farmers in Laois want to play their part on climate and sustainability but they need fairness and certainty.  Europe Day is about people. It is about giving the next generation in counties like Laois the chance to live, work and raise a family in their own communities. Ireland's Presidency is a chance to make the case that regional Ireland and rural communities matter and that places like Laois and the midlands must be at the heart of Europe's future. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  Europe has worked as a peace project. We all know Europe was incredibly facilitatory and really useful in our own peace process. The solidarity we were shown during the lunacy of the Brexit process was a necessity. I assume it also shows the power of the Single Market, even when it came to those from Germany or France who wanted to sell into Britain. However, we cannot say there are not issues in relation to the European Union and how it is constituted at this point in time. We all understand that we are in a very changed geopolitical set-up from a couple of years ago but the European Union is meant to have credibility. It is meant to have credibility in the wider world, particularly when it talks about international law and the rights of supporting the Ukrainians in the context of the illegal invasion by Russia of Ukraine.  I will take one headline from the RT\u00c9 app, which reads: \"Call for EU to deter Israel from building in West Bank\". The article states: \"Nearly 450 former EU ministers, ambassadors and senior officials have called on member states and EU institutions to take action deterring Israel from constructing a controversial Jewish settlement in the occupied West Bank which, say critics, would separate East Jerusalem from the main Palestinian population centres.\" We all understand the genocide that was carried out in Gaza and a ceasefire that is not really a ceasefire. We have seen the attacks by Israel in Lebanon. We have seen how it has dragged the United States into absolute madness as regards the attacks on Iran. I am not entirely sure how they manipulated Donald Trump into it. Everybody out there who is paying huge fuel rates knows they are paying for that. The fact is that we have these sorts of actions by those who are ensconced within the European project at the same time we have member states, particularly Germany, selling arms to Israel and the continuity of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. It is sickening to anyone not only that trade with Israel remains, but the fact that they are giving such beneficial agreements to themselves. It is utterly wrong. I reiterate that we need to take the actions we can and that means implementing the occupied territories Bill for goods and services. It is fair enough to say that people would like to see the Irish Government put pressure on the FAI and that we would not see the Irish team playing Israel as it continues with its genocide, lunacy and madness. The European Union has to stand up for something more than it is. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  Bh\u00ed m\u00e9 ag \u00e9isteacht le gach duine agus m\u00e9 i m\u2019oifig ansin. Aonta\u00edm le go leor ruda\u00ed r\u00e1ite, go h\u00e1irithe faoin gcaidreamh idir an tAontas Eorpach agus Iosrael. I mentioned it earlier in the House. N\u00edl s\u00e9 maith go leor nach bhfuilimid ag d\u00e9anamh \u00e1r nd\u00edcheall le haghaidh sanctions agus the OTB. I welcome that the Minister said that she has consulted with the Attorney General. I urge that this be done urgently.  Europe Day is a moment to reflect not just on what the European Union is, but what it can be. I welcome Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa's acknowledgement of how the EU did help with peace and how it will hopefully continue in the future. We have benefited enormously. I have been speaking to some of my senior constituents about times gone by and how times were a lot different. We have better infrastructure and better economic development. One of the things I would love us to take from some of our EU counterparts and the UK, which have left the EU, is their energy policies on private wires and plug-in solar. The EU should make it easier for member states to roll out these systems.  Ireland knows better than most that targets are being set relating to strategies, working groups and clearing houses. We are continuously discussing this at the Joint Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy. Action is what we need. We are generating enough renewable energy and it is being turned off. Many studies show that the use of battery energy storage systems, BESS, gravity storage and any long duration energy storage, in conjunction with private wires or the national grid, if it is being done fast enough, will help the Irish people. We need to be serious about energy independence because otherwise, our Government can be dictated to by foreign wars as it is at the moment. We saw a 23% rise in the cost of liquefied natural gas, LNG, in 24 hours. For energy security reasons, the Government is considering an LNG terminal. For energy security reasons, we need to decentralise our grid and have the alternative solutions in place. People should be allowed to have plug-in solar battery systems rolled out faster. Air-to-air heat pumps should be allowed. Solar meitheal projects should be brought in across social housing and we should benefit our country with what we already generate from offshore renewable energy.  It is ridiculous that we cannot invest in ports at the moment. There was a loophole where we got \u20ac90 million into the Port of Cork. Currently, one of the only alternatives to Cork that can build these giant structures for offshore renewable energy, ORE, is Belfast. We need to have the guidance of the EU and our European counterparts in Norway who rolled out the system and have a more energy independent state. If we can reduce energy costs and grid capacity, we will help the Irish people and reach our climate targets or close to them. The solutions are available today and they are used across the EU. This will reduce electricity bills.  I also hear talk about nuclear power. Look at the UK and what happened with Hinkley Point C. The UK has a lot more resources than our State. When I was doing engineering, we did a small module on nuclear energy and we learned about the basic workings of it. We do not have the mechanics or nuclear physicists in our country, so we will have to externally source them. To bring the economics of the UK comparably to a decentralised, more renewable-focused grid, Ireland would be better positioned now than if we go down the nuclear route. I am not completely against nuclear. I understand the efficiencies but as a short-term effect, it is not ideal. As a long-term solution down the road, when small modular reactor systems get more developed and are used at a higher rate, we will possibly have a cheaper option. Hinkley Point was approved in 2016. The estimated cost was \u00a318 billion. The latest estimated cost is \u00a331 billion to \u00a334 billion, and it is at the higher point now. It is actually even higher when we take into account inflation. That is the UK Government. We have seen how some of the State contracts have gone overboard here with small projects. Think of a nuclear power plant and any small change that can happen. Hinkley Point was originally expected to be functional by 2025 and it is now expected to be closer to 2031. If we are serious about benefiting and being a leader in the EU, we need to benefit the Irish people with our offshore renewable energy, including wind. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Debate adjourned."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Europe Day: Statements"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_36","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_36","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case:  Deputy Michael Cahill - To discuss the application of capital acquisition tax to partners in comparison to married couples.  Deputy Colm Burke - To discuss the establishment of a national radiation therapy equipment replacement programme.  Deputy Jen Cummins - To discuss the status of the Cork Life Centre.  Deputy Jennifer Whitmore - To discuss issues surrounding animal welfare.  Deputies Dessie Ellis and Paul McAuliffe - To discuss the new school building for Gaelscoil U\u00ed Earc\u00e1in, B\u00f3thar Ghlas an \u00c9in, Finglas East, Dublin 11.  Deputy Gary Gannon - To discuss policing in Dunard, Dublin 7.  Deputy Pa Daly - To discuss funding for youth service in Kerry.  Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan - To discuss proposals for the use of the old prison site at Rathmore Road, Cork city.  Deputy Louise O'Reilly - To discuss expanding the communications allowance to include broadband and mobile data.  Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa - To discuss supports for those with frontotemporal dementia.  Deputy Rory Hearne - To discuss community safety and the need for intervention in Ballymun.  Deputy Barry Ward - To discuss creating mechanisms to facilitate a greater uptake of employment within the European Parliament and related institutions.  The matters raised by Deputies Jen Cummins, Louise O'Reilly, Barry Ward, P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan and Jennifer Whitmore have been selected for discussion. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_37","debateType":"statement","bill":null,"showAs":"Europe Day: Statements (Resumed)","counts":{"speechCount":2,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_37","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Neale Richmond)  I am grateful to the Deputies who contributed to this important annual debate. We take time in the busy D\u00e1il schedule every year ahead of Europe Day, on 9 May, to reflect on contemporary historical and future issues facing the European Union and the wider European project.  I will address three points in the Chamber today. I will go into a little bit of detail about our upcoming Presidency of the rotating Council of the European Union, respond to some of the points made by some of the Deputies, and reflect on where the European Union is going and where the debate that we have can impact that.  In relation to the upcoming Presidency, the exact detail of our policy priority areas will be laid out in the coming weeks by the Taoiseach and the Minister, Deputy McEntee, as is appropriate. Certainly, one issue that will dominate the Presidency, even though the conclusion will not be reached until afterwards, is the negotiation of the European budget for the next seven years, also known as the multi-annual financial framework. Bearing in mind that I am Minister of State with responsibility for international development, I emphasise that a key part of that is the Global Europe debate, which is of massive concern, most importantly due to the real, clear backsliding by so many countries across the world when it comes to support for humanitarian activities, for the international development infrastructure and for multilateralism. The United States, through the United States Agency for International Development, USAID, was once responsible for over 25% of global development, that was abolished overnight. As a result, Europe is now by far the largest player, both as the European Union but also on a member state basis. Ireland was one of two EU member states to increase its development budget last year. I hope and look forward to the ability to do that again next year. In the face of cuts by a number of EU member states which have been traditionally viewed as strong donors, we need to see that level of protection from the European Union in budgetary purpose for development and humanitarian activity. When you remove funding from development programmes and remove support from humanitarianism, you merely fuel the issues that fall at our doorsteps and into our constituency clinics on a daily basis. This matters. It matters to everyone in our country. It is not some object at a remove. When you remove development support from communities and when you turn your back on allowing humanitarian actors to get support into the most dire situations around the world, you simply provide fodder for the sorts of movements that lead to political extremism; force people into forced migration, which in turn leads to irregular mass migration across the continent of Africa and other parts of the world; lead to extreme hardship for those most at risk from the impact of the climate emergency; lead to food insecurity; and lead to energy security. All of this has a massive consequence for the people of Europe.  In that further regard, and in the context of the second part of my own brief, I would like to look at the impact of the work of the European Union on the Irish diaspora. Close to 150,000 Irish people live in other EU member states. They are absolutely free to live, work and study in those countries. They can make sure they can play a full part under the four freedoms of the European movement. Last year, we welcomed over 26,000 EU citizens to live, work and study in this country. They continue to contribute warmly.  I want to pick up a few points that were made during this afternoon's debate. I was quite taken by Deputies Bennett and Cronin, who spoke in vicious tones about the European project. They laid out their criticism of the project in many areas and at the same time, in parallel, said it is okay to be questioning or critical of the European project. Deputy Aird said the same, and he is dead right. At some stage, hiding behind the veneer of somehow being a questioning authority becomes quite revealing because they are speaking on behalf of a party that has opposed every European referendum and has consistently opposed European efforts. It deliberately used the term \"No to an EU army\" during European election debates even though there was no proposal for an EU army. People talk about it, but there is no official proposal. There is no Irish support for it, whether people want to believe that or not. The facts matter.  I am delighted my friend Deputy Boyd Barrett - I do mean that - returned to the Chamber. We have debated this for as long as we have known each other and it is good, healthy debate. The Deputy's vision of Europe differs from mine, and that is good. However, I suggest that when talking about a genocide happening in the Middle East - I agree with the Deputy on that matter - it is unfair not to refer at all to the absolute horrors that are happening in Ukraine, which were not cited in the Deputy's interventions or those of his party colleague, Deputy Murphy. When the Deputy spoke about armaments and security, it is unfortunate that he did not reference the biggest conflict happening on European soil since the Second World War. The Deputy has addressed that in other debates, and I agree with him that no one wins from this war, but the Deputy cannot approach it in such an \u00e0  la carte measure when we are trying to combine a debate.  A couple of other points that were made are of real relevance to our Presidency and deserve response. First, I will respond to Deputy Timmins's point about the Draghi report. I sat around the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council when we discussed this at length. When we look at the three key policy priorities for the Presidency - values, security and competitiveness - the full implementation of the Draghi report, and the response and respect for an EU of equal 27 member states, is so key.  Deputy Aird said at length that, taken as a whole, the European Union has been beneficial for Ireland. Any independent analysis can say that the Ireland of today is fundamentally better in every scoring matrix than the Ireland of 1972. When certain Members who sit in certain corners of the Chamber - certainly, not those present in the Chamber - talk about a return to the good old days in a way that mirrors the sort of discussion we have seen far too often in Britain and in parts of the United States, I question what part of the good old days they are looking for. Are they looking for a return to an average lifespan of 62 or the reintroduction of the marriage bar? Are they speaking about a time when there was an absolute inability for people to achieve greater educational obtainment? If so, they want a poorer, backwards Ireland. Deputy Aird makes the key point that food security is one of the key components of the European project. The Common Agricultural Policy was set up in the 1960s to make sure that Europe could always be able to feed itself. We have to make sure that food security, not only within Europe but within our partner countries, is a key part.  Deputy Heneghan referred at length to energy security. He proposed a number of areas where progress could be made more quickly. People have had debates over the last number of days, in this Chamber and in the media, in relation to the possibility of nuclear energy. They are all valid arguments and I have no issue with them, but we have to look at how Europe secures its energy better. Europe secured its food coming out of the 1960s, coming out of the era of rationing and great starvation. We now need to secure our energy because our overdependence on outside actors is clearly telling, and is clearly felt in every homestead across the country as well as in every business.  I would like to comment on some of the tone and some of the rhetoric used consistently in the debate. Some of it is misplaced. I agreed fundamentally with Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa when he spoke eloquently about his belief, unlike what we heard from other members of his party in their contributions, that the EU peace project has worked. The Deputy suggested that during Brexit, France and Germany somehow wanted to change the negotiations because of their export strategy. Now this matters. I have a lot of time for Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa, and he knows that, but when he says that he is placing a piece of misinformation on the record of the D\u00e1il. We all remember a campaign by various right-wing economic think tanks in the United Kingdom and newspapers in that country, such as the Daily Express , the Daily Mail and The Daily Telegraph . The Ceann Comhairle played an important role during the Brexit debates in her professional career. We all remember the consistent misinformation that the EU was going to buckle at any moment and that Europe was going to throw Ireland under the bus. Ultimately, that never happened. There was no such proposal from the German or French Governments because we saw that level of tolerance.  Yesterday, European Movement Ireland, an organisation that I used work with for quite some time professionally as well as still being a member of, produced its annual report, which has been referenced by most speakers in the Chamber. It showed that 82% of Irish people want Ireland to remain within the European Union - the exact same as it was last year. It is not the heady 93% of the peak Brexit years, and that is what we are all talking about, but it is still well ahead of the years when this report started when we were talking about the troika coming to Ireland and the fiscal stability treaty, etc. That 82% level matters. When you dig into the figures, however, you can see that people are worried about the direction in which the European Union is going. We have to reflect on how we talk about Europe in this Chamber. We have a debate every year. I share some of Deputy Murphy's cynicism, perhaps from a different angle, about this set-piece debate. How many times have we got up to blame Brussels for something? How many times have we used the European project as a handy scapegoat? British commentators will tell you that when politicians spent 40 years blaming Brussels for everything that was inconvenient in their lives and then spent six weeks trying to convince people to remain within the EU, the debate was lost.  The UK's people and economy have been suffering desperately ever since.  I am very grateful to the Oireachtas for putting together its programme of Europe Day events. I am very grateful to the Blue Star programme that is running in schools around our country. If we are going to debate Europe, just as we debate other tricky issues in this Chamber, let us do it from a basis of fact and with language and rhetoric that are reflective of good tolerant debate. Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle, and happy Europe Day. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  You too. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Europe Day: Statements (Resumed)"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_38","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Cost of Living Mini-Budget: Motion [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":65,"speakerCount":24},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_38","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  I move:  That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann:  notes that:  \u2014 Budget 2026 failed to provide for indexation of income tax credits and bands, providing instead untargeted Value-Added Tax (VAT) cuts for the hospitality and construction sector;  \u2014 despite clear evidence of an ongoing cost-of-living crisis, the Government withdrew energy credits and cut pre-election once-off payments, that in recent years had cloaked the inadequacy of existing social welfare payment rates;  \u2014 the analysis by the Economic and Social Research Institute of Budget 2026 measures, shows that it resulted in household income losses averaging 2 per cent of disposable income, with low-income households hit hardest;  \u2014 the illegal war launched by the United States of America and Israel against Iran, has created an energy crisis that has already led to increased inflation, with further price rises still to come on energy, food and other commodities;  \u2014 the energy sector is reaping windfall gains, with British Petroleum reporting more than a doubling of profits in the first three months of 2026;  \u2014 last year, in advance of Budget 2026, Department of Finance officials warned that the hospitality VAT cut was a blunt measure, would be poorly targeted, and comes with a significant amount of deadweight, while Bord Bia consumer spending in food services data shows that 60 per cent of the benefit goes to fast food outlets and hotels;  \u2014 sectoral fuel supports and cuts to Excise Duty have been introduced by the Government, which includes changes to the Diesel Rebate Scheme that were backdated to January 2026;  \u2014 struggling households will have to wait over five months, until October, to find out what supports may be introduced to ease the increase in the cost of living; and  \u2014 the State has yet to deploy the Apple windfall funds, and carries significant cash balances;  recognises that:  \u2014 Pay As You Earn (PAYE) and self-employed workers have received no targeted support in the cost-of-living crisis, and are now subject to effective cuts in their disposable incomes due to Government budget decisions;  \u2014 rising grocery prices continue to impact on household budgets, as 14 per cent of households can't afford to warm their home, and nearly half a million households are in arrears on their energy bills;  \u2014 those most at risk of energy poverty, and reliant on fossil fuels, will continue to be hit hardest by further increases in energy prices;  \u2014 Ireland has the highest energy prices in Europe, due to an overreliance on natural gas for electricity generation leaving us exposed to geopolitical shocks and international market prices; and  \u2014 only by rapidly transitioning away from fossil fuels through faster rollout of renewables, and electrification of transport and heating, can prices be permanently reduced;  calls on the Government to immediately introduce a Cost of Living mini-Budget that will:  \u2014 reverse the VAT reductions and use the savings to provide for indexation of income tax bands and credits, backdated to January 2026;  \u2014 introduce a windfall tax on energy profits to fund targeted energy credits and social welfare supports, including a summer bonus double payment;  \u2014 provide a one-off \u20ac100 grocery supplement to Child Benefit, restore the \u20ac100 previously cut from the Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance, and remove State exam fees;  \u2014 increase the bank levy to \u20ac500 million, and provide targeted energy grants for small businesses, and tailored supports to increase uptake of Electric Vehicles for households and businesses;  \u2014 introduce pilot trials of free public transport, to reduce fuel use and cut school transport fees; and  \u2014 deploy the windfall Apple funds to turbocharge retrofitting, the installation of solar photovoltaic and offshore wind, and the electrification of heating and transport, to bring down the cost of bills; and  further calls on the Government to introduce a Budget in October that puts the interests of middle- and low-income households first.  I will be sharing time with colleagues. I am pleased to move the Labour Party motion which calls for the introduction of a mini-budget targeted unashamedly at Ireland's 3.5 million PAYE workers. Working households are bearing the brunt of the cost-of-living permacrisis. This is no longer a fleeting problem. We have the highest energy costs in the EU; childcare which is a veritable second mortgage; rising college costs which Fine Gael and Fianna F\u00e1il would rather have a public fight over than sort out; workers paying more income tax this year than last; extortionate housing costs; and the long-fingering of a living wage. I could go on.  The Government made choices in last year's budget that are now coming home to roost. For example, it went all in on plain silly VAT cuts for a hospitality sector that is adding jobs by the day instead of easing income tax for workers. The Minister of State's own party, Fianna F\u00e1il, clearly still has the hots for big builders as is shown by the dopey decision to transfer a few hundred million euro to apartment developers to boost their bottom lines on homes, many of which were already under construction. The ESRI and others set out how decisions made last October which came into effect on 1 January of this year would leave working families worse off. They did so and then some. The Government has to own those decisions. Those choices are now coming home to roost.  All of this was before Trump's and Israel's misadventure in Iran. While the situation is worse now than could have been envisaged by anybody last October, it will get worse still. All the while, the cost of energy has gone up to the tune of well over one week's wages for a worker on the national minimum wage. I thought it was tone deaf of the Taoiseach, Monty Martin, and his sidekick, Waylon Smithers O'Connor, to be extolling the virtues of a shift to nuclear when this Government has proved itself completely incapable of developing the offshore wind we need to decarbonise to make our bills cheaper and secure our economy's future by ensuring that Ireland becomes a net energy exporter. What kind of message does this send to possible wind farm developers who have enough to contend with from a Government that has not been exactly all in on wind and solar? Are they being given the message now that Ireland is taking another look at renewables like offshore wind and will instead focus on nuclear? This is the distraction of the decade. By all means, let us have the debate but the Government's timing is badly off and quite frankly it is an insult to the intelligence of the Irish people.  It is also quite something to think that the T\u00e1naiste's signature contribution to the debate on household finances since he took office has been the 563rd announcement of a proposed new retail savings and investment scheme, which, while it has merits, will do absolutely zero to help working families who are not worried about savings and investment schemes, but rather are concerned about the day-to-day problems of keeping the fridge and the presses stocked with food. As for the Taoiseach's musings to the Sunday newspapers on inheritance tax changes, I think we should leave that argument to another day.  What the Labour Party is proposing today is simple, straightforward and impactful. If adopted, it would make a real difference to the lives of working people now. The Labour Party's mini-budget would provide almost \u20ac1,000 in income supports for working families and make a real difference in helping them to cope with the escalating cost of living. Our proposals would transfer profits from the big energy companies, big tech, the infamous burger barons and the banks to the pockets of PAYE workers and the self-employed who are struggling to make it to the end of week three of the month. Our proposals would reverse the indefensible decision to give a VAT cut to fast-food chains and instead give workers a break.  The Labour Party is calling for the indexation of tax credits and bands to allow workers to hold on to more of their wages. This would be worth \u20ac400 to someone earning \u20ac50,000 and ensure the real value of their pay is not reduced due to rising prices and wage increases. We want to see this backdated to January, just as the diesel rebate scheme changes were backdated by several weeks. We want to see targeted energy income tax credits worth \u20ac400 for working households with incomes of less than \u20ac80,000.  We would also introduce a double social welfare payment just like the Christmas bonus. The Minister of State will know that hot school meals are a real help for families but they end when the summer holidays start and grocery prices continue to climb. That is why we would provide a one-off summer grocery supplement of \u20ac100 for each child through the child benefit system, giving real help to families. We would cut school transport fees, which are due to rise sharply in September, and we would scrap the reimposed \u20ac116 charge on students to take the leaving cert and \u20ac109 for the junior cert.  We would reduce public transport costs in a really targeted way and include a trial of free public transport that would cost an average of \u20ac90 million a month. A number of cities and countries around the world have made public transport free as part of their response to the energy shock and there is no reason we cannot do it here.  For the longer term, we would increase investment in retrofitting and renewable energy. Colleagues will expand on this later in their contributions. We want to turbocharge the retrofitting process across the country and use the profits of big tech in the form of the Apple tax windfall to fund it.  The Labour Party is always careful with the public finances and we have set out precisely how this package is to be funded in a responsible way. We propose \u20ac1.3 billion in revenue-raising measures to cover the cost of these measures to help working families to make ends meet. The increased revenue will be drawn from a windfall tax on energy companies, which seem enjoy record profits every time there is an oil crisis. The rest of the money will come from a reversal of the VAT reduction due to come in in July as well as an increase in the bank levy.  In short, this is an old-fashioned transfer of wealth from big business to the pockets of working people who keep this country going day in, day out but are far too often absent from the thinking and considerations of this conservative coalition. It is quite extraordinary that the Government has chosen to oppose this modest motion. Before the last election, Government parties bought voters' support with their own money. There was no shortage of hare-brained wheezes that Jack and Paschal were happy to fund. What we are proposing now is a fiscally and socially responsible initiative to assist households that need extra help today. This would be done in a focused way and before the benefits of October's budget are seen next January. Working people simply cannot wait until October for a signal that they will receive some respite through the budget process. They need support now and I am happy to propose our motion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  I am delighted to second this motion. I commend my colleague Deputy Ged Nash on proposing a mini-budget on behalf of the Labour Party in order to stand up, as he says, unapologetically for hard-pressed PAYE workers and their families, who have been left behind by the Government's policies. Ged has been a voice of reason as our finance spokesperson. He has consistently called out the crazy VAT cuts that the Government introduced for burger barons and big builders. Unlike the Government and uniquely among other parties, the Labour Party has opposed those VAT cuts.  Indeed, we are against narrowing the tax base. As socialists and as a socialist party, we stand for transfer of wealth, for redistribution and for equality. Unlike the Government, we are not kite flying on issues such as inheritance tax and nuclear power. We are putting forward a costed and clear set of proposals, a mini-budget to help struggling households and families. Since the escalation of Trump's war in the Middle East and with Putin's continued assault on Ukraine, we have seen a cost-of-living crisis that is biting deeper for families and households across the country, with nearly half a million households now in arrears on energy bills as energy prices in Ireland skyrocket.  There was confirmation this week of what we already knew: Irish electricity prices are the highest in Europe. Far too many households are feeling the pressure as we learn that rising costs are blowing a \u20ac2,000 hole in average household budgets this year.  What has the Government done? It has withdrawn energy credits, it has not put any cushioning in place and it has failed to index tax bands. That is before we talk about its slashing of VAT for Supermac\u2019s, with zero evidence that it would help households. Far too many are feeling the pressure every day at the till and in their bills. Despite working hard, they are being crushed by a cost-of-living crisis. This is no accident. It is down to the Government's policies. It is not an inevitability. We can look elsewhere, and I have called out the Taoiseach on this. The Government can look to Spain, where a socialist Government has ensured that Spanish households enjoy some of the lowest electricity prices in Europe. Why? It is because their Government invested heavily in renewables. By contrast, the Government's response to this crisis is to subsidise fossil fuels, further locking us into polluting, unreliable energy.  The Government had other options. It had progressive options. It could do what we are proposing in this mini-budget and introduce a windfall tax on the energy profits of big companies, ensure that we have a real retrofitting revolution, ensure that households receive supports to fund the rollout of solar panels and ensure that we see wind power being generated at pace, instead of slowly and with delays.  The Government\u2019s crypto set of ad hoc measures should amount to a mini-budget but they do nothing for those who are struggling because the Government has no coherent vision for how to support them. It would have been more honest to call the drip-feed of measures what they are - a mini-budget released in segments - because that would have allowed people to judge it on its merits. The Government has not done that. It knows its package is doing nothing for families that are already stretched to breaking point. We ask the Government to adopt our motion and implement the clear measures that we have set out here - targeted measures that will support struggling families in a cost-of-living crisis. Stop wasting time and money that people simply do not have to spare. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Wall  I thank Deputy Nash for his considerable work on this motion and for bringing forward the Labour Party mini-budget. Too many workers and self-employed people who keep this country going, day in, day out, have nothing left by the end of the week, and struggle to simply put food on the table. The older people who built this Republic are forced to choose between heating and eating, while carers, who work 24-7 and save the State billions every year, get little or no recognition of the extraordinary care they provide. These are the people the Government left behind, not just in the budget of 2026, but also in the recent fuel supports, as announced. Those protests were not just about fuel costs. They were also about much more than that. They were about energy bills, renting, house prices, childcare fees, education costs and more. Fundamentally, the social contract has been torn up by Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael. Previously, a decent salary was enough to help people buy a home but now it is just enough to get them from bill to bill.  This is what shocks me most about the attitude of the Government. The Government has no idea of the level of anger and frustration out there. The people who are coming to my office in Kildare South are barely surviving, yet these same working people would have been described as comfortable not so many years ago. Every single day of the week, I have people telling me they are under pressure - young families and workers who earn too much to qualify for social housing but nowhere near enough to buy their own home; small businesses stretched to their limits, with some forced to close; and carers and older people afraid to turn on their heating simply because they cannot afford the bills. It is clear the Government has no plan to address the cost-of-living crisis that is impacting so many workers, self-employed people, carers and older people. This is why people took to the streets. They are looking for a lifeline but the Government simply has not delivered for these workers.  Our motion brings forward a number of measures that will support the people who need help the most. We need to put money back in the pockets of working people by indexing income tax bands and credits. We need targeted energy credits to help struggling workers and low-income households to keep the lights on and make their houses comfortable once again - those who are lucky enough to have a home. We need energy credits that will support the small businesses that need help the most at this time. We need to make \"free\" education actually free by abolishing exam fees and cutting school transport fees. We need to bring down the cost of the weekly food shop for working families with a \u20ac100 grocery payment on top of the child benefit. These are the real and practical measures that can immediately bring down the cost of living for so many people who are struggling in this State right now. These are the measures that put the worker and the carer of this country first for once, where they deserve to be.  I have listened to Minister after Minister say they cannot bring in a mini-budget in advance of the formal budget in October. It is time for the Government to put working people, those who have worked so hard to shape this country and the carers who save the State billions, first. For many of them, it is raining heavily now. If they have to wait until October for help, many will not be able to put their heads above the floods. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  I pay tribute to Deputy Nash for his immense work in preparing this mini-budget, which I commend to the House. After Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and the energy crisis that followed, the Labour Party was the first party to call for a windfall tax on the gross and excessive profits that were being made by energy companies. It took the Government a year and a half to do it but a temporary solidarity contribution, as it became known, was enacted in 2023 and covered the excess profits of fossil fuel energy companies for the years 2022 and 2023. Some \u20ac267 million was raised; it was ring-fenced and helped to reduce the burden of high energy costs on vulnerable households. Then, this really progressive and useful tax was just stopped but the cost-of-living crisis has never stopped. Energy prices have never returned to what they were prior to the war on Ukraine. Fossil fuel companies continue to make record profits. The time has clearly come for this windfall tax to be reintroduced, and that is what we in the Labour Party are calling for today.  This fossil fuel crisis has touched more or less every household and small business in the country. We know that 500,000 households are already in arrears on their energy bills. I know people with good jobs and steady careers who are simply not able to pay their bills currently. However, it is low-income households, in particular, who need a lifeline. That is why we are calling for the introduction of targeted energy credits for those with an income of less than \u20ac80,000. Before the Government gives out that we only ever want to spend, spend, spend, the credits would be funded by the windfall tax on energy company profits and the other measures that my colleagues have outlined.  The Government cannot dither on this again. I hope the Minister for energy will lend his support to us on this. If he does not want to listen to us, he might listen to his party colleague, Barry Andrews, MEP, who has made a similar call. Our costings put the revenue raised from this windfall tax at \u20ac476 million, \u20ac270 million of which would be used for energy credits, with the remainder put towards social welfare supports, such as a bonus double payment.  On many occasions in this House, I have called for a crackdown on profiteering by energy companies in the midst of this cost-of-living crisis. Time and again, we have seen them hike their prices despite very healthy profits. Just last week, when another price rise was announced, I called on the Minister to ensure that the State-owned energy company, Electric Ireland, did not follow the private operators and increase its prices. I repeat that call today. To its credit, Electric Ireland has held off recently on price rises, as is only right and proper for a State-owned company. That must continue.  Trump and Netanyahu's illegal war in the Middle East shows very little sign of ending soon. Part of the solution has to be reducing our fossil fuel use. That is why we are proposing a pilot programme of free public transport. Along with introducing a real right to remote work, this is the best way to protect people from the high costs of petrol and diesel by cutting out the cost of commuting altogether. We must offer supports to people in the here and now but the longer-term ambition has to be reducing our dependence on the fossil fuels that have caused this crisis. That means putting the supports in place to help people switch to EVs, particularly in more rural areas with a less developed public transport system. I raised the abysmal uptake of zero emissions HGV grants with the Minister last week.  That scheme and the incentives must be reviewed so that they are actually availed of and used. We also need to seriously scale up and deploy our renewable generation capacity. The theoretical musings we have heard about nuclear power this week from Fianna F\u00e1il are simply a distraction. They are fundamentally unserious at a time when we need to just do the simple things right. We know where our renewable potential is, and it is primarily in wind. Now more than ever, we need urgency and focus from the Government in getting offshore wind built. We are told it will be another four years before we even start construction on any offshore wind farms. Just get it done. People are hurting. The Government must heed the calls in our motion to give people support in the short term and focus its attention on the resources we actually have, not fantasise about new energy sources when we have not built an offshore turbine for 20 years. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Deputy Robert Troy)  I move amendment No. 1:  To delete all words after \"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann\" and substitute the following:  \"notes that:  \u2014 the conflict in the Middle East has, once again, exposed the vulnerability of the Irish economy, and Irish society more generally, to imported fossil fuels;  \u2014 these strategic dependencies have major macroeconomic implications, and the risks to macroeconomic and fiscal stability cannot be ignored;  \u2014 at a minimum, the large upward shift in energy prices is likely to impart a stagflationary impulse to the global economy, with a combination of lower levels of economic activity alongside higher inflation;  \u2014 by reducing Excise Duty payable on both petrol and diesel, the Government has dampened the pass-through from higher wholesale price to retail prices;  \u2014 this burden-sharing has been complemented by other support mechanisms, including an extension of the fuel allowance season and targeted measures for the most exposed sectors;  \u2014 the total budgetary cost of these measures is of the order of \u20ac750 million this year, one of the largest interventions of any country in the European Union (EU), and these measures reduce the annual rate of inflation in April, May, June and July by about 0.6 percentage points;  \u2014 the Government has also extended the 9 per cent Value-Added Tax (VAT) on gas and electricity bills until 31st December, 2030, one of the lowest rates in the EU, which will have cost over \u20ac1 billion from the time it was introduced in May 2022, until the end of this year;  \u2014 Budget 2026 focused on building more homes and protecting jobs;  \u2014 the 9 per cent VAT rate for hospitality and hairdressing will take effect from 1st July, 2026, to support businesses in services sectors, supporting over 150,000 jobs across the country;  \u2014 Budget 2026 delivered weekly welfare rate increases, benefitting approximately 1.5 million people, including pensioners, people with disabilities, carers and lone parents;  \u2014 for low-income families, Budget 2026 increased the weekly rate of the Child Support Payment; and  \u2014 the Government has increased the rates for the Fuel Allowance, extended it to the recipients of the Working Family Payment, and recently extended the season by four weeks, to protect those at risk of fuel poverty;  recognises that:  \u2014 a package worth \u20ac750 million of supports has been introduced by the Government;  \u2014 rates of Excise Duty (Mineral Oil Tax) applying to petrol, auto diesel and marked gas oil (MGO) have been temporarily reduced;  \u2014 the National Oil Reserve Agency levy has been reduced by 2 cent per litre of fuel, to 31st July, 2026;  \u2014 the total reductions, will reduce the cost of:  \u2014 petrol, by 27 cent per litre;  \u2014 diesel, by 32 cent per litre; and  \u2014 MGO\/green diesel, by 7.4 cent per litre;  \u2014 the Government deferred the planned increase in carbon tax, scheduled for 1st May, until October, to provide additional support for consumers of green diesel and other affected fuels;  \u2014 to protect those at risk of fuel poverty, the Government extended the fuel allowance season by four weeks, which will result in additional payments of over a quarter of households;  \u2014 in Budget 2026, Government announced that VAT on electricity and gas will remain at the lowest possible level of 9 per cent to the end of 2030, to mitigate costs and address energy poverty;  \u2014 the Government increased the maximum repayment allowable under the Diesel Rebate Scheme from 7.5 cent up to 12 cent per litre of diesel, which will apply until 30th June, 2026;  \u2014 these interventions have been designed to provide timely and proportionate relief, indeed, the Government's approach is underpinned by the need to balance short-term supports with longer-term objectives, including:  \u2014 maintaining fiscal discipline and building fiscal buffers;  \u2014 supporting continued employment growth and economic stability;  \u2014 strategic capital investment and infrastructure delivery;  \u2014 advancing Ireland's climate commitments and energy transition; and  \u2014 strengthening energy security and resilience;  \u2014 the Fuel Support Scheme for farmers is now open for applications, and a scheme for hauliers will open in the coming weeks;  \u2014 Budget 2026 was the first of five budgets to be delivered by the Government;  \u2014 this Government has committed to, and will stand by, its Programme for Government commitment to make progressive changes to personal income tax, if the economy remains strong;  \u2014 preparation for Budget 2027 is already underway, and decisions regarding policy measures should be taken in the context of the annual Budget and Finance Bill processes;  \u2014 the bank levy has raised \u20ac1.8 billion since 2014, with a further \u20ac200 million due in 2026;  \u2014 the National Development Plan, includes the once-off receipts arising from the Court of Justice of the European Union ruling of 2024, to advance key capital projects;  \u2014 the Irish economy is facing its second fossil fuel shock in less than half a decade;  \u2014 fossil fuel dependence, especially imported fossil fuels, is a major economic vulnerability;  \u2014 analytical work will be undertaken by the Department of Finance, to set out the key macroeconomic principles that should guide the medium-term transition towards energy independence; and  \u2014 the Government has also established the National Energy Affordability Taskforce, to identify, assess and implement measures that will enhance energy affordability for households and businesses, while delivering key renewable commitments and protecting security of supply and economic stability; and  acknowledges that:  \u2014 the geopolitical and economic outlook continues to be highly uncertain;  \u2014 in the Department of Finance's reference scenario, inflation is projected to average 3.3 per cent this year, 1.5 percentage points higher than assumed at budget time, but still significantly lower than the 8.1 per cent rate recorded in 2022, after the last energy price shock;  \u2014 the economy is still expected to grow this year, albeit at a slower pace than previously forecast, and Government has committed to a range of temporary measures to mitigate the impact of increases in energy prices on households and businesses;  \u2014 the overall approach to budgetary policy must remain balanced and sustainable over the medium-term; and  \u2014 the Government will consider the continued impact of the energy shock on households, and make proportionate decisions in the forthcoming Budget.\".  The Government opposes the motion initiated by the Labour Party. Nonetheless, I thank it for giving me the opportunity to discuss the Government's management of the public finances, the supports we have put in place and the preparations already under way for budget 2027. I will do so without resorting to petty name-calling of any individuals.  Nobody can honestly say what the future holds in regard to the war in the Middle East. This is contributing to a deeply uncertain global picture. No government can totally shield its country against the worst global energy crisis we have seen since the 1970s. For a small, highly open economy and, importantly, a net importer of energy, this situation presents a particular challenge for Ireland. The Government has already taken action, in a targeted and affordable way, to protect households, businesses and key sectors of our economy from the recent energy price shock. Our response goes much further than the responses of many other nations around the globe. This is a testament to the prudent management of public finances, which I will touch on later. We may disagree on what supports we have initiated, but it is simply wrong to say that nothing has been done.  Our status as a net importer of energy means that movements in international energy prices are transmitted quickly into our domestic economy. We are acutely aware that this places real pressure on households and businesses. I acknowledge the fear and frustration which were evident around the country in recent weeks. We are responding to those concerns, and will continue to do so. That is why the Government acted in a decisive and responsible manner, providing supports of over \u20ac750 million. These interventions were built on permanent targeted supports which were introduced as part of budget 2026 and budget 2025, including the 9% VAT rate for gas and electricity, increases for social welfare, higher child support payments, increases and extensions to the eligibility for the fuel allowance, the further roll-out of free school meals, which Deputy Nash acknowledged as a good initiative, further roll-out of the free books schemes, a significant increase in housing spend - last year, the highest number of social houses were built since the 1970s - and a significant increase of 20% in the disability spend. It is simply wrong to say that nothing is being done.  It is important to be clear about this Government\u2019s approach. The choices we make in responding to these pressures will have longer term consequences, and that is why the Government has been very deliberate in its response. Our response has been targeted, temporary and proportionate. This allows us to support those most vulnerable, avoid embedding measures that add to inflation and retain capacity to respond to future challenges. The Government has introduced both tax and spending measures, including reducing the excise duty on diesel by a total of 32 cent per litre, on petrol by 27 cent per litre and on green diesel by 7.4 cent per litre. This means a saving of roughly \u20ac16 on diesel and \u20ac13.50 on petrol for motorists for an average 50-litre fill at the pumps. Every single motorist is benefiting from those interventions.  We are enhancing the diesel rebate scheme. We are delaying the scheduled May increase in carbon tax until later in the year. We are reducing the NORA levy to a nominal amount. We are extending the fuel allowance season, directly targeting energy costs, benefiting the widest range of cohorts, focusing on pensioners, carers, lone parents, people with disabilities and long-term unemployed people. For the first time, the Government is extending the fuel allowance to people who are in receipt of the working family payment. These are all direct, targeted measures helping the most vulnerable in society, which the Deputies failed to acknowledge.  The Government is also introducing a transport support scheme for haulage operators, Local Link providers, school transport providers and certain commercial passenger operators, to a maximum of \u20ac40 million per month for a period of three months from March to May 2026, providing a flat-rate payment based on the number of vehicles operated. This is helping to keep food on our shelves and preventing further increases on the cost of doing a weekly shop, ensuring that children can continue to go to school on a daily basis. These are all direct, targeted interventions. The Government has also introduced a fuel subsidy support scheme for farming and fisheries, totalling \u20ac20 million per month for the five-month period from March to July 2026, to provide funding support equivalent to 20 cent per litre for green diesel to be paid based on usage, again supporting our primary food producers.  These measures have been put in place because the Government has had sound management of our public finances in recent years and we had the capacity to make the interventions. Many countries across the globe have had to borrow to make their interventions. There is not, as some on the Opposition benches might describe , a sort of endless money tree to pick from. Our economic position of strength requires careful management, something which not all in opposition appreciate. We have vulnerabilities in our tax base, particularly when it comes to corporation tax. The Government has been effectively managing these windfalls and investing in the future of this economy through the Future Ireland Fund and the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund. This will allow us to plug the infrastructure gap to make our economy more competitive.  This motion tabled by the Opposition seeks to have us spend not only in the future but also in the past, reopening tax credits and income tax bands on a retrospective basis. What will the Deputies forgo to make this happen? Will they deprioritise investments or scale back on everyday services? Those are choices they will have to make. This Government is honest. It is time for the Opposition to be honest too. The Government was elected to maintain sound public finances. As such, an inappropriate fiscal response would risk undermining our ability to take further action in the future as the situation evolves. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  It is a jammy Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  It is jammy when things are going right and when things are going wrong, it is the fault of the Government. That is a very simplistic approach.  lf the economy remains strong, we will stand by the programme for Government commitment to make progressive changes to personal income tax rates. We have full employment. I suppose that is jammy and good luck too. From my perspective, as a Minister of State in the Department of Finance, this budget should be about rewarding work. In budget 2026, it was about supporting jobs, record investment in housing and record investment in disabilities. We must ensure that budget 2027 is about supporting those who are working and there are significant tax measures to support them.  I remind the Opposition, the Labour Party in particular, that the programme for Government is a five-year programme. We have delivered one budget in that timeframe, yet the Deputies seem somewhat disappointed that every measure has not been introduced in year one at a time of huge global uncertainty. It is not about political gameplaying. Preparation for budget 2027 is already well under way. Next month, the Government will host the national economic dialogue. We will be listening to stakeholders from across society and discussing the necessary reforms and priorities for the upcoming budget, all with a view to shaping a secure future. The Government has shown that we are not afraid to act swiftly and forcefully when required, but we have always been clear that the best way to debate and manage fiscal policy is in the context of the annual budget cycle, rather than through multiple fiscal events a year.  It is also worth stepping pack for a moment and looking at the broader economic context.  The Irish economy has continued to demonstrate remarkable resilience. Our unemployment rate has remained below 5%, a level consistent with full employment, for almost four years now. This strength reflects the resilience of our economy and enterprise base. We cannot take this economic resilience for granted. In the current environment, risks remain firmly tilted to the downside and the outlook continues to be shaped by developments beyond our control. Inflation now stands at 3.6% for April. Four years ago, in 2022, that rate was over 8%. While still lower than at the peak of the energy shock in 2022, Irish electricity prices are high compared to those of our European neighbours. We are responding to that previous shock and the one we are feeling now. It is important to acknowledge that Ireland's exposure to this energy price shock is, in part, a consequence of our reliance on imported fossil fuels. Reducing that reliance is imperative. We are making significant investments in renewable energy and grid infrastructure and rolling out supports to improve the energy efficiency of our homes and workplaces. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marie Sherlock  I thank my colleague Deputy Nash for bringing forward this Private Members' motion on the cost-of-living crisis. I listened carefully to the Minister of State's words. He talked about acknowledging the fear and frustration that were evident around the country in recent weeks and how this Government is responding. The Government is responding all right to those who blockaded our streets. While we had genuine sympathy for many of those people, we, the Labour Party, are standing for the people who could not get to work, who had to spend hours getting to their health appointments and for whom this Government has delivered nothing. That is why we are calling for a mini-budget.  Most of us have weekly or monthly clinics and we knock on doors on a regular basis. However, because we have a by-election in Dublin Central at the moment, I am knocking on doors on a daily basis. I have to tell the Minister of State that there is a serious level of bitterness and resentment towards this Government. That bitterness is because people felt bought before the general election when, for three winters, there were energy tax credits worth \u20ac2.77 billion and then when household arrears topped \u20ac500,000 last winter, there was no support. I am talking to women in flat complexes who are putting in \u20ac50 every two days into prepaid meters. They cannot afford to continue.  There is bitterness among workers on average incomes - the mechanics, office administrators, bus drivers and social care workers. These workers on average incomes of \u20ac52,000 are now somehow deemed to be high earners in our income tax system because they are paying the higher rate of tax. We have a tax system that is seriously out of kilter when the marginal rate of 52% kicks in for those on just above average earnings. We need to see changes to that to make sure average workers pay the standard rate of tax. Among so many other working people, many of whom vote for the Minister of State's party and other Government parties, there is a real sense of bitterness and resentment about what the Government is doing with their hard-earned taxes. They are being told to weather this storm until October, to sit it out, yet they see the prospect in July of a VAT cut for the hospitality sector, with no guarantee that it will save jobs or businesses.  We hear all these excuses from Government about the war, the energy markets and whatever else. There is some sort of post-colonial feigned helplessness in the way this Government responds. There is always someone else to blame. That has to change and the Government has to control the controllable by using the might of our public finances to permanently reduce the cost of living and cut people's bills by retrofitting homes while also reducing emissions. It must use the might of the public finances to keep people healthy and out of hospital by actually purchasing available vaccines, such as the shingles vaccine and the enhanced flu vaccine, rather than throwing its hands up in the air, saying these vaccines are too expensive. We had the extraordinary situation in March whereby the Government concluded a multibillion euro three-year deal with the pharmaceutical companies in this country for the purchase of drugs for people who are sick and there is not a single mention of vaccines.  The prosperity we see in our public finances will not be there forever and I very much worry about when those days are going to change. The last major economic expansion in our country was 21 years ago. We are now 14 years into our current run. It is vital that we make the most of what we have. We have to make sure that with the money we have, clean, cheap energy is for the many, not just the few; that the system of grants is overhauled so that when households look at solar grants they do not see the actual cost quadruple; and that we achieve scale and put in place incentives to have a number of properties retrofitted together in order that we get to the point that 500,000 houses are retrofitted by 2030.  We need ambition from this Government. We are not seeing that. We have to use the resources we currently have and that may not be there forever to ensure we resolve the cost-of-living crisis. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  It was incredible for the Minister of State to say our motivation for calling for the introduction of a mini-budget was impatience and that it was because the Government is not bringing in its budgets quickly enough. We do not support the programme for Government. If its first budget is anything to go by, the Government has no interest in helping ordinary workers and families given that it prioritised the hospitality sector. We are proposing this mini-budget because it is pouring down on people out there.  We are in the midst of the worst fuel crisis in the history of the planet. What does this Government decide to do to distract people this week? It says we should discuss nuclear power. If anything highlights the poverty of the Government's ambition in this area, it is that. It is an utterly brainless idea when states like Germany, Italy and Lithuania decommissioned nuclear power a long time ago. Belgium, Spain, Switzerland and others are actively winding down nuclear power because they know it is not the power source of the future, but the power source of the past. What is the Irish Government doing? It is going to start a conversation about it. The Government is utterly without ideas.  We know what the future is but this is about what we can do now. Food prices are absolutely crippling people. In this mini-budget, we are offering a \u20ac100 credit. Yes, it is blunt but at least it will help people right now. We are proposing targeted energy credits for households that are struggling to pay their energy bills. All the Government says in opposition to this is that people should contact their energy company and draw down their hardship fund. That shows an absolute poverty of ambition and absolutely no ideas. PrepayPower Energy announced last week that electricity prices are going to rise by nearly 10%. We know the other companies are going to follow. We know food prices are increasing week on week, yet the Government has no answers.  We are not just looking to shake the magic money tree. We are putting in place a plan, through windfall taxes, to fund what we are asking to do. This is not voodoo economics from us, but a plan for how to raise the money and where to spend it properly. The Government does not care about that because it is listening to who shouts the loudest and sectoral interests. It is letting down workers, families and households all over the country and it just does not care. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  I must note the irony of a Fianna F\u00e1il Minister coming in here and trying to lecture the Labour Party on fiscal responsibility. It is unbelievable. Fianna F\u00e1il crippled the country and allowed the Labour Party to try to bring it back from the brink and the Minister of State comes in here and tries to lecture us on fiscal responsibility.  This is a vital and timely motion. It is clear to many of us in this House that we urgently need intervention to support ordinary working people in this country. I was genuinely shocked when the news came through that there are to be increases in school transport costs. The Minister of State told us about a transport support scheme for school bus operators. What about the parents who have to pay these school bus costs? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  What about those parents who are struggling to get their children to school, predominantly children in rural areas who the Minister of State professes to represent? Education in Ireland is supposed to be free. It is clear to parents across the country that it is only free in name.  Prior to the general election in 2024, the then Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael Government implemented supports to households to cope with soaring energy bills. Since the election, Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael have cut those supports from right under families while energy costs rise. These increases affect the lowest income households the hardest at a time when one in seven children lives in households that are below the poverty line, with over 264,000 children living in households experiencing deprivation. I repeat that there are 264,000 children in this country experiencing deprivation.  We had post-election tax cuts for industries that are raking in the money and for which nobody in this country voted. The Labour Party understands many small businesses, farmers and contractors are under pressure and need support.  We backed the package, and the Minister of State will see for a fact that we voted for it to support them, but the lack of targeted measures is galling. There is the example of the Panda waste collection company increasing monthly fees due to the fuel crisis and being outside of the scope of the support package. An increase of \u20ac12 a month is not nominal. How are you supposed to absorb additional household fees if you are already struggling to heat your home or put food on the table for your children? The cost of groceries in this country has skyrocketed in the past five years. The price of chicken breast has increased from \u20ac5 to \u20ac12 or more. That increase is a snowball continuing to build.  We have proposed to the Government that it provide a one-off \u20ac100 grocery supplement to child benefit, restore the \u20ac100 previously cut from the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance and remove State examination fees because these are not optional extras but everyday necessities for people. On the face of them, these measures are normal and would help ordinary working people, but Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael have never represented the ordinary working people in this country. The Minister of State can throw his eyes to heaven all he wants, but I know that for a fact. They have never represented ordinary working people in this country----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  When push comes to shove. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  -----but we profess to and do represent ordinary working people in this country - for example, by putting forward this mini budget, with practical, real-life solutions that will help in the here and now, rather than the Minister of State just throwing his eyes to heaven in the face of the people and the families across this country who are struggling to put food on the table for their children. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I move amendment No. 1 to amendment No. 1:  To delete all words after \"notes that\" and substitute the following:  \":  \u2014 the conflict in the Middle East has, once again, exposed the vulnerability of the Irish economy, and Irish society more generally, to imported fossil fuels;  \u2014 these strategic dependencies have major macroeconomic implications, and the risks to macroeconomic and fiscal stability cannot be ignored;  \u2014 at a minimum, the large upward shift in energy prices is likely to impart stagflationary impulses to the global economy, with a combination of lower levels of economic activity alongside higher inflation;  \u2014 by reducing Excise Duty payable on both petrol and diesel, the Government has dampened the pass-through from higher wholesale price to retail prices, but they have not gone far enough;  \u2014 this burden-sharing has been complemented by other support mechanisms, including an extension of the fuel allowance season and targeted measures for the most exposed sectors;  \u2014 the total budgetary cost of these measures is of the order of \u20ac750 million this year, one of the largest interventions of any country in the European Union (EU), and these measures reduce the annual rate of inflation in April, May, June and July by about 0.6 percentage points;  \u2014 the Government has also extended the 9 per cent Value-Added Tax (VAT) on gas and electricity bills until 31st December, 2030, one of the lowest rates in the EU, which will have cost over \u20ac1 billion from the time it was introduced in May 2022, until the end of this year;  \u2014 Budget 2026 left workers worse off, and handed tax breaks to those at the top;  \u2014 the 9 per cent VAT rate for hospitality and hairdressing will take effect from 1st July, 2026, to support businesses in services sectors, supporting over 150,000 jobs across the country;  \u2014 Budget 2026 delivered weekly welfare rate increases, benefitting approximately 1.5 million people, including pensioners, people with disabilities, carers and lone parents;  \u2014 for low-income families, Budget 2026 increased the weekly rate of the Child Support Payment; and  \u2014 the Government has increased the rates for the Fuel Allowance, extended it to the recipients of the Working Family Payment, and recently extended the season by four weeks, to protect those at risk of fuel poverty;  recognises that:  \u2014 a package worth \u20ac750 million of supports has been introduced by the Government, that has left many people still struggling to make ends meet;  \u2014 rates of Excise Duty (Mineral Oil Tax) applying to petrol, auto diesel and marked gas oil (MGO) have been temporarily reduced;  \u2014 the National Oil Reserve Agency levy has been reduced by 2 cent per litre of fuel, to 31st July, 2026;  \u2014 the total reductions, will reduce the cost of:  \u2014 petrol, by 27 cent per litre;  \u2014 diesel, by 32 cent per litre; and  \u2014 MGO\/green diesel, by 7.4 cent per litre;  \u2014 the Government deferred the planned increase in carbon tax, scheduled for 1st May, until October, to provide additional support for consumers of green diesel and other affected fuels;  \u2014 to protect those at risk of fuel poverty, the Government extended the fuel allowance season by four weeks, which will result in additional payments to over a quarter of households;  \u2014 in Budget 2026, Government announced that VAT on electricity and gas will remain at the lowest possible level of 9 per cent to the end of 2030, to mitigate costs and address energy poverty;  \u2014 the Government increased the maximum repayment allowable under the Diesel Rebate Scheme from 7.5 cent up to 12 cent per litre of diesel, which will apply until 30th June, 2026;  \u2014 these interventions have been designed to provide timely and proportionate relief, indeed, the Government's approach is underpinned by the need to balance short-term supports with longer-term objectives, including:  \u2014 maintaining fiscal discipline and building fiscal buffers;  \u2014 supporting continued employment growth and economic stability;  \u2014 strategic capital investment and infrastructure delivery;  \u2014 advancing Ireland's climate commitments and energy transition; and  \u2014 strengthening energy security and resilience;  \u2014 the Fuel Support Scheme for farmers is now open for applications, and a scheme for hauliers will open in the coming weeks;  \u2014 the bank levy has raised \u20ac1.8 billion since 2014, with a further \u20ac200 million due in 2026;  \u2014 the National Development Plan, includes the once-off receipts arising from the Court of Justice of the European Union ruling of 2024, to advance key capital projects;  \u2014 the Irish economy is facing its second fossil fuel shock in less than half a decade;  \u2014 fossil fuel dependence, especially imported fossil fuels, is a major economic vulnerability;  \u2014 analytical work will be undertaken by the Department of Finance, to set out the key macroeconomic principles that should guide the medium-term transition towards energy independence; and  \u2014 the Government has also established the National Energy Affordability Taskforce, to identify, assess and implement measures that will enhance energy affordability for households and businesses, while delivering key renewable commitments and protecting security of supply and economic stability;  further recognises that:  \u2014 Budget 2026 left workers worse off and handed tax breaks to those at the top;  \u2014 according to analysis by the Economic and Social Research Institute of Budget 2026 measures, households lost disposable income, with low-income households hit hardest;  \u2014 despite clear evidence of an ongoing cost-of-living crisis, the Government withdrew cost of living supports, including energy credits;  \u2014 people with disabilities have been hard hit by the Government's callous decision to withdraw cost of living support, with many people with disabilities left up to \u20ac1,400 worse off;  \u2014 since energy credits were withdrawn, we have seen record numbers of household unable to pay their electricity bills, and many more people struggling to keep up;  \u2014 the Government measures on Excise Duty on fuel do not go far enough, with petrol, diesel, and green diesel all remaining too expensive at the pumps;  \u2014 the Government has refused to cut Excise Duty on home heating oil, despite over 700,000 homes relying on this fuel source for heating;  \u2014 struggling households cannot wait until next years' Budget for Government intervention; and  \u2014 the State is forecast to run a surplus of \u20ac9.2 billion, \u20ac4.1 billion higher than previously projected; and  calls on the Government to immediately introduce a Cost of Living Emergency Budget that will:  \u2014 cut the Universal Social Charge, to put \u20ac500 back in the pockets of workers;  \u2014 cut Excise Duty on fuels, such as petrol, diesel, green diesel and home heating oil;  \u2014 introduce energy credits of \u20ac400 per household; and  \u2014 make targeted cost of living support payments of \u20ac500 for people with disabilities, \u20ac400 for social welfare recipients, such as pensioners and people on the Working Family Payment, and a double child benefit payment.\".  As I have said before, we here get an opportunity to come in and repeat our single transferable speech. Unfortunately, however, that is what is necessary because this Government will not listen. I do not know how long we have been talking about the housing crisis, and I imagine everybody who is talking about engaging with people on doors or in their constituency offices or clinics cannot but see the number of people coming to them with notices to quit. They have no notion how they will afford the unaffordable rents, which were unaffordable long before the Government decided it was okay to introduce its Bill which actually hiked those rents.  The Minister of State says the Government is honest. I suppose he will accept that Ireland has the most expensive electricity in Europe and around 320,000 households that cannot pay their electricity bill. How many people is that? We are probably talking about a million. One in four people cannot pay their gas bills. These are the realities that everyone else bar the Government realises are happening.  There was support for those who were out on the fuel protests. Why? It was because people are annoyed and browned off - I think that is the nicest way I can put it - about a Government that is not listening and does not see their problems. Their problems at this point are many. Anybody who has tried to shop in the past while knows that they cannot rely on the prices from the week before as an indication of what they will have to pay. Inflation has nearly doubled. We are talking about a 3.6% increase, while the Government had projected 1.8%.  I get that some of these circumstances are outside of the Government's control. We all accept there is a madness in the world at the moment, that Donald Trump, led by Israel, is doing what he is doing and that the Minister of State and the Government cannot control that. They can call him out, and the international community could play a stronger role in that regard, but first and foremost the Government could look after its own people.  We have calls for energy credits, and not because energy credits are a solution but because they can be done here and now. Energy credits were only ever meant to be a stop-gap measure that would provide the time and place for the Government to deal with the necessary reforms, for the powers to be given to the CRU and for us to ensure we are not wedded to through-the-roof gas prices. Everyone here talks about wind power and how we would love this country to become, as we used to say, the Saudi Arabia of wind power. However, we have not seen sufficient movement over years and years in an industry in which at one time we were ahead of the game.  I have to ask not about what the Government has done but about what it was forced to do by the fuel protesters. That is the reality. They had support on the street because every man, woman and child is fed up with the pressure they are under and they need support now, not into the future. That is why we are saying we need to put \u20ac500 back in workers' pockets, that is, abolish the USC on the first \u20ac32,500. That is straightforward. That is just putting money into people's pockets. We know we need to get \u20ac400 or thereabouts in electricity energy credits.  The people who have always been forgotten about are those with disabilities. The Government accepts there is a need for a cost-of-disability payment. It intends to do some work on delivering it next year but it was not delivered last year. What about the people who sometimes cannot afford to eat or heat or who cannot afford to charge their electric wheelchair? We have all heard directly from people. This is not made-up anger; it is the reality of the world we are in. It is an emergency budget now that is necessary. We need to see the Government listen, watch what is happening out there and take real action. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  I thank the Deputies for bringing forward the motion and using their Private Members' time to give us an opportunity to debate this important issue. The Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, will know well that Sinn F\u00e9in has been calling for emergency measures to support workers and families experiencing an unprecedented cost-of-living crisis. Sinn F\u00e9in supports the call for an emergency budget. We have been calling for this for some time, and it is welcome to see other parties coming to the table to echo the call and the need for emergency measures. The Minister of State knows that we have set out what we believe needs to be done. The Government needs to cut the USC, put \u20ac500 back into workers' pockets, cut excise on fuels, introduce a \u20ac500 cost-of-disability emergency payment and a \u20ac400 social welfare payment, to include pensioners, and extend the fuel allowance by a further eight weeks.  Inflation is now double what it was when the Government wrote its budget last year. Some 320,000 people are in arrears on their electricity bills. One in four cannot pay their gas. I was out canvassing last week with Janice Boylan and she spoke to a young woman in her flat. The young woman has a blow heater that she turns on occasionally because she is in a constant battle with the mould. She does not turn on her gas because she cannot afford it, though that would probably heat her home and help her in the battle with the mould. She cannot afford that so she has a small but expensive-to-run blow heater and she feels that is more manageable. The end result is that she and her kids can be cold in their home in the evening. The sun might shine during the day, but in the evening she is cold in her home with her children. She needs to turn on the heater to try to air out the house because the mould is so bad. Can the Minister of State imagine for a moment how that woman felt, while she was engaged in a battle with the mould in her Dublin City Council flat, when she read that the Lord Mayor and Deputy Buttimer's colleague, the Government representative for the local electoral area, flew first-class to California, just after he had voted to jack up her rent?  The plea, certainly from us, is that if the Government cannot do something effective, something that will actually intervene in the lives of working people, if it cannot lift the burden, it should not, for the love and honour of Jesus, make it worse. I urge the Labour Party to reflect on its own vote to jack up the rent for Dublin City Council tenants in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis while they are dealing with some of the worst conditions people have to live in in this State. The Lord Mayor turned to the left when he got on the plane; unfortunately, he does not turn to the left any other time. There is a lesson in that for the Labour Party and the others that supported the call to jack up rents in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis. I am not asking for any ambition because Jesus knows we are sick asking for that and there is none. The very least the Government could do is simply not make things worse.  The previous junior Minister read out the greatest hits of who the Government tries to blame. It is blaming global politics. It has blamed the Opposition plenty of times. It is at that craic again. It has blamed the weather. Will the Government wake up and take a look at what is going on? There is nothing amusing about this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  I am amused at your carry-on. You have broken every rule in the book and every rule of the House so far. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Jen Cummins)  Excuse me, Minister of State. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  There is nothing amusing----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  You have broken every rule of the House so far. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  There is nothing amusing about----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  You have broken every rule of the House so far. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  -----the poverty that people are living in at the moment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  You should respect the rules. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  I am on my feet. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  I know you are. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Jen Cummins)  The Deputy is on her feet. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  D\u00fan do bh\u00e9al, le do thoil, and perhaps listen. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  T\u00e1im ag \u00e9isteacht leat. T\u00e1im ag \u00e9isteacht. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Jen Cummins)  Can the clock be stopped because this is unfair on the Deputy? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  Perhaps you would open your ears. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  T\u00e1 Gaeilge fhl\u00fairseach agam. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Jen Cummins)  Minister of State----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  Perhaps you would listen. If you listen, you can hear. I am speaking----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  T\u00e1im ag cloisint. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  -----on behalf of people who are getting crushed by a cost-of-living crisis. When they look to the Government, they see a Government that is out of touch and out of ideas. We have presented what we believe needs to be done. Others have done the same. The Government has chosen to turn a deaf ear to that. The message is being received loud and clear. This Government is telling people who are in dire straits today that they have to wait until next October, January or God knows when to get some help and support. They need that help and support now. That is why people say there is a cost-of-living crisis. The Government may not choose to recognise or acknowledge that. It can stick its fingers in its ears and refuse to hear it, but there is a cost-of-living crisis.  In the few seconds remaining to me, I will speak about people with disabilities, who have seen a \u20ac1,400 cut in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis. They are faced with making choices between heating, eating and charging mobility devices. These are not my words but the words of the disabled community. The Minister of State should listen to them instead of turning a deaf ear or sniggering, which helps absolutely nobody. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  I thank the Labour Party for bringing forward this Private Member's motion. The vast majority of people recognise that we need the Government to take action to deal with the ever-growing cost-of-living crisis. The previous budget, which was introduced here last October, did absolutely nothing for ordinary people and workers. It was an example of Government spending great deals of money to deliver very little. That has been the experience of hundreds of thousands of people across the State. I listened with interest to the Minister of State's predecessor speaking about delivery and the measures that have been put in place. These measures came as a reaction to the crisis that brought people onto the streets and brought huge turmoil to the country for almost a week. Only then did Government wake up and say that it needed to do something. Even then, it only took half measures. I particularly think of the farmers and contractors. I know many people from my community who went out onto the streets to demand that something be done because the cost of living, especially the cost of energy, was putting so much pressure on so many people.  While Government talks about targeted measures for the agricultural sector, claimants have to look at the amount of green diesel they used last year, put together all of the invoices and receipts for all of that, and put that in. Five months of documentation is needed. It is a complicated and convoluted way of doing it. Government should simply do what a sensible Government would do and look at bringing down the price at the pumps for everybody. Everybody uses fuel, including people going to work and families bringing children to school or who are dealing with a person with a disability and who have to take them to appointments. All of those people use fuel and nothing was done for them.  Neither was anything done for people who depend on home heating oil. I know many people in my community who use home heating oil, even at this time of year. Older people and people whose houses are very cold need to use home heating oil, but Government did nothing for them. It is simply sitting back and saying that, since the sun is shining, everything is fine. It is not fine, however. People are recognising that the Government is quite prepared to leave them behind.  As I have mentioned, there are also people with disabilities who are in difficult circumstances. That is who poverty kicks most, people who have extra payments to make and who face extra costs as a result of a child, elderly person or other family member having a disability. We have seen people talking about adult children with severe and profound disabilities and asking what is going to happen after their deaths. They are all looking at a future where they are going to go over a cliff edge. Government has no answers for them.  The only answer Government had in the budget was to bring in tax breaks for the very wealthy and for certain sectors that were able to get the ear of Government. It goes back to the idea that if you are well connected in this country, you have made it, but if you do not, you are on your own. If we are to truly prosper and develop as a State and have a future for our children and our children's children, we need to put the resources in now. We need to invest in that future. That investment is clearly not happening.  In the here and now, people are under serious pressure to pay the high costs of energy. That is why the Government needs to do something real and substantial. We need to look at the USC, which was introduced by Government as an emergency measure during the crash but which is still there and has not been taken away. We need to remove the USC for the vast majority of workers and put \u20ac500 back into their pockets. We need to look at the electricity credits that were there before. We need to reintroduce those energy credits. The Government says that would be given to millionaires and that universal payments are a bad idea. The taxation system should deal with that. Government refuses to look at that. Universal payments would benefit everyone in society but it is an easy way to get money into people's hands. However, a proper, effective and balanced taxation system could then deal with those on the wealthier end. The Government fails in this area every time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Donnelly  In the statement from the Minister of State, the Government claps itself on the back for doing something over the last couple of weeks even though it had to be dragged kicking and screaming into doing so. Even then, it could not get it right. Unsustainably high energy and fuel prices in this State further compound a pre-existing cost-of-living crisis that has been going on for the last number of years. We keep saying this but, cynically, when the election was over, Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael introduced a budget that left people worse off. Most cruelly, people with disabilities were left \u20ac1,400 worse off. The Government dropped supports for ordinary workers and families and left people high and dry with growing food bills and rocketing electricity and gas bills. A record number of people are now unable to pay their electricity bills. Almost 320,000 households are in arrears. People are getting hit with unaffordable rents caused by really bad decisions on rental policy. We see higher mortgage payments, childcare fees, college fees and insurance prices. Inflation is higher than the Government projected on budget day.  Last week, waste management companies put an energy surcharge on top of the 9% increase they introduced in January. We are being screwed by greedy companies when we pay for our heavily packaged food and now we are being screwed by those who take away that packaging. I remember the slogan from many Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael councillors when I was on Fingal County Council. They would say that you would only pay for what you throw away. That was another lie and another trap as they commodified and privatised waste management. We would be paying through the nose for water charges if Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael had got their way. We can be thankful the people stood up to them and their privatisation agenda.  Supporting people is the right decision for the economy. Without intervention, we risk having the legs kicked out from under local economies as people cut back spending just to get by. People are wise to the Government and they are seeing through its nonsense and misinformation. On the one hand, the Government says we are the best little country in Europe and have surpluses every year, including surpluses of \u20ac9 billion this year and \u20ac12 billion last year. On the other hand, it is crying that money does not grow on trees and asking where the money is to be found for an emergency budget. The Government cannot have it both ways. It is speaking out of both sides of its mouth. The Government has plenty of money for bike sheds, however. We saw another grandiose bike shed come to light today.  The Government needs to bring in an emergency budget. As has already been said, money must be given back to the workers. In 2016, Fine Gael promised to get rid of the universal social charge, the temporary tax that was brought in to pay the bankers and the bondholders.  They got their money; they all got paid off and why? Because the Government screwed the people, the workers, in 2009 and 2010 and right the way through the austerity years. What was temporary became permanent. I know Leo is gone at the moment but that was certainly one of his promises back in the day in 2016. The universal social charge needs to be addressed.  Does the Minister of State remember the electricity credits the Government was giving in the past couple of budgets, right up to just before the election and then stopped straight after the election? There is that too. I am asking on behalf of people with disabilities in particular. That was really cruel. The people who need it most are those who have disabilities, and they are \u20ac1,400 worse off.  Let us talk about people getting to work. What about the ordinary person stuck on the M50, N3 or N4 trying to get into work? They are burning up fuel they are paying much more for at the pumps.  Just this week we learned that Ireland has the highest energy rates in Europe. I think it is around 40% higher than most of Europe. Europe Day is coming on Saturday. We had statements on it earlier. Why do we not do what the rest of Europe is doing? Why can we not have the same price for electricity if we are all in this together? We do not because we are not all in it together. We are being screwed. Workers and families in this country are being screwed. It is time to act and act now. We cannot wait until October for the Government to deal with the crisis. People need it now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Louise O'Reilly)  The next slot is the Social Democrats. The Deputies have two minutes each. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  First I want to mention the Northside Home Care workers. This is a group of low-paid workers, earning just above the minimum wage, who do incredibly important care work. As the Government has failed to intervene and make sure they get paid the going rate the same as HSE care workers and failed to ensure there is a sectoral pay agreement for care workers, they are a group that is particularly vulnerable and disadvantaged during this cost-of-living crisis. I urge the Minister of State and his colleagues to back them and sort them out and ensure that every care worker gets paid the same, fair going HSE rate.  What sort of Government cuts the income of disabled people by \u20ac1,400? That is what the Government did in this year\u2019s budget. To put that in context, this country, the Government, has \u20ac39 billion sitting in cash yet it decided to take \u20ac1,400 off disabled people, putting people further into poverty. It means that, for example, people who were in receipt of some of those supports who were getting dialysis at home can no longer afford the electricity bills for their dialysis and are having to go back to hospital to get dialysis every day, causing massive disruption and having a huge impact on their health and well-being. What sort of Government does that? How can its members justify that to themselves? How can they make those decisions? How, when it has the resources available to invest in targeted energy credits to lift people out of fuel poverty and invest in solar energy, does it continue to sit on its hands and not act or use the resources at its disposal to really help the people who need help the most? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  People all over this country are being absolutely crushed by incredibly high electricity prices that are just going up and up. We have 317,000 households in arrears. These are people who work hard and do all the right things but just cannot manage to keep their heads about water. It really does not have to be this way. The Social Democrats have put forward a proposal for solar for all, a doubling of the grants, a battery grant for households, to include the warmer homes scheme in the solar panels scheme and to also increase supports for businesses. Solar is the solution to cut people\u2019s energy bills. It is quick, easy and relatively inexpensive if you get sufficient grants to do so. We ask the Government to support our amendment in this regard.  One area this Government has continued to ignore for some reason is the benefit and potential of plug-in solar. Plug-in solar is used by 1.5 million households in Germany and is being rolled out in the UK yet in Ireland, for some reason, we are still caught up in years of red tape when it comes to this Government trying to figure out how to legalise plug-in solar. It is a very simple technology. It is a solar panel, micro inverter and a plug. You do not need an electrician. All you need is a bit of sunlight and a socket. You can buy them in your local shops, plug them in and immediately start reducing the cost of your electricity bills. They are suitable for people in apartments and for renters. You can stick them on a shed roof or put them in your garden. They are such a fantastic technology and the fact the Government is continuing to ignore it is beyond belief considering the incredible costs people are incurring. I ask that the Government consider this proposal seriously and support the Social Democrats amendment to the motion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  Two years ago I canvassed in the local elections. One day in Harold\u2019s Cross I knocked on the door of a man about my age. He came to the door. There were toys in the hallway and he was making dinner for his kids. I asked him what were the kinds of political issues that were on his mind and he said, \u201cThe cost of living\u201d. That was May 2024. Two years later I think about that man, with everything that has happened since then \u2013 energy costs accelerating to the highest in Europe, punishing rental or interest rates, inaccessible childcare miles away that costs a second mortgage and the cost of goods and food, groceries and other everyday items surpassing the rate of wage growth.  The core truth of the cost-of-living crisis is that for many people there was a crisis two years ago. There was a crisis when this Government and the Minister of State was elected. There was a crisis at the time when it was announcing the last budget and last January when I asked that it give disabled people a modest emergency payment after it gutted their incomes in the budget. There has been a cost-of-living crisis ongoing for months and years before the illegal war on Iran and the energy crisis it has brought about but the Government spent months and years not reacting, making poverty rates climb, according to the Parliamentary Budget Office and the CSO, allowing price-gouging to go unchecked and incentivising rents and mortgage interest rates to rise all while the richest in this country have never had it better. The Government\u2019s actions over its time in office have failed to recognise the depth of the crisis and resulted in a dereliction of duty to those struggling. When will it recognise its obligations and take meaningful, costed, targeted and responsible measures from the Opposition such as the one in this motion to intervene in people\u2019s lives? When will it lead? Will it take a by-election to wake it up or will it stay asleep at the wheel while the financial lives of our citizenry are left to burn? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  Education is supposed to be free in this country but unfortunately this year we have seen exactly how it is not free. Books are free, which is great, but there is an ever-increasing reliance on tablets which are not free. In fact, not only are they not free, they cost between \u20ac700 and \u20ac800 each. Exam fees are being reintroduced for the leaving certificate and junior cycle exams. There was no warning about that. There was six weeks for them to be paid in. They have not been paid since before Covid by any family. In a cost-of-living crisis that was a massive surprise for those families.  There is also what seems to be a now annual threat around third level fees and the failure to reduce them. We seem to have this conversation every year as young people are studying for their state exams.  There are people working in our education system who are not earning a living wage. Recently the joint committee on education heard from local training initiative, LTI, workers who told us their wages were so incredibly low that they wanted to have what the community training centre, CTC, workers have even though the CTC workers are saying they cannot live on those wages and they want to get what the Youthreach workers are getting. We have a system where parents cannot afford to pay for their free education and the workers who are working in education cannot afford to live.  If the Government does not recognise there is a cost-of-living crisis maybe it should take a walk down Grafton Street and turn off it. They could wait and see the people I saw last night as I was on the way home who were waiting for the soup run. One woman was lying on her side up against the wall \u2013 utterly sad and utterly cold and lonely. I thought, \u201cIs this what we have in 2026?\u201d This is a really rich country and people are reliant on soup runs. I pay special tribute to the Muslim Sisters of \u00c9ire who go out every single week and support people in this city. They are absolutely amazing and I really want to praise them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  The Minister of State spins a story that the Government has acted on the cost of living, but the truth is that the Government has stubbornly refused to do things within its power that could reduce the cost-of-living crisis for ordinary people. On the other hand, the Government gives away billions of euro in tax breaks to wealthy investor funds and those on the highest incomes. The Government refuses to freeze rents. Instead, it actually removed the paltry rent controls that were in place and is allowing the big landlords to increase rents even further. It promised to cap childcare fees at \u20ac200 a month and has taken no action on that. The Government refuses to implement our proposal for public affordable childcare. We have the highest electricity costs in Europe. Where is the action to tackle the price-gouging? The Government refuses to implement our proposal for targeted energy credits that could help 800,000 households.  On the basic cost of food and groceries, it looks the other way while supermarkets profit and price-gouge. On the basic cost of health, ten years ago, Fine Gael promised to extend free GP care for all children under 18, yet, today, when a child turns eight, the family has to pay full GP costs. If the Government extended free GP care to children, as we proposed, to children just up to 12, it would help 200,000 children and their families and cost just \u20ac30 million a year, but it refuses to. Instead, it gives twice that amount, \u20ac60 million, in tax breaks each year to high-earning executives relocating here, earning up to \u20ac1 million.  T\u00e1 daoine in \u00c9irinn ag streachailt go m\u00f3r leis an ng\u00e9arch\u00e9im costais maireacht\u00e1la. T\u00e1 ard\u00fa ar phraghsanna fuinnimh agus t\u00e1 c\u00edos r\u00f3-ard. T\u00e1 a l\u00e1n br\u00fa ar theaghlaigh. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 an-deacair orthu a gcuid bunriachtanas a chl\u00fadach.  There is so much the Government could, and should, do to help ordinary people with the cost-of-living crisis. The question is why the Government is not doing it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  I welcome the proposals to reduce the cost of living for people. We have had a cost-of-living crisis since the end of Covid. That has escalated and it is now at crisis point. It is a serious situation and Government needs to understand that. Middle- and low-income households were never under so much pressure. Fuel, petrol, diesel, solid fuel, gas and costs are high and, as we learned today, electricity costs are the most expensive in the European Union. Rents, mortgages, house prices and waste charges are high. Health insurance does not just go up once a year anymore. It goes up two or three times, in double digits, and people are forced to pay it. Grocery prices, student fees and much more are all escalating. The combined total of all this is bringing huge pressure on ordinary, hard-working people, who cannot keep. People are in arrears with mortgages. I say all this sincerely. Rents are escalating. People just cannot pay their electricity bills. As of March, we have 320,000 people in arrears on their electricity bills. It is fair to say that that could be 400,000 now. Some 180,000 were in arrears on gas as well in March. It is safe to say that figure has escalated since.  The top 10% of people in Ireland never had it so good. We must not forget that when people are paying higher prices, the money does not just disappear because the profit margins of many companies are up. The wealth of the big supermarket chains, the big hotel chains, and McDonalds continues to increase. We are looking at the transfer of wealth. Budget 2026 did not just leave behind ordinary PAYE workers and the self-employed; it actually left them worse off because of Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael's failure to increase tax thresholds and move the tax bands. PAYE workers and self-employed are now paying much more tax. The number of people in arrears on electricity has reached crisis point. People in rented accommodation are really struggling because rents are out of control. We know why that is. That must be addressed.  We had one of the cheapest electricity systems in western Europe when it was all in public ownership, but the cost has increased since the State started to privatise it. Other reasons have been given and I accept there are other factors, but one is that because it is privatised, profit-making actions are taken by the companies generating electricity. We need to get into our heads that this has happened. Mortgages are at an all-time high because house prices are at an all-time high.  I am not asking the Government to throw money around the place but we should have targeted measures. I do not agree with untargeted measures. Targeted measures need to be the name of the game. We need to look at those households that have an income under \u20ac75,000 a year. The Government should bring in a windfall tax on the large energy companies. There are good examples across Europe of where that is happening. We need to reverse the VAT cuts for the big hotel chains and the big food distribution companies such as McDonalds. We need targeted energy credits for households with income under \u20ac75,000. We urgently need a cost-of-living payment for people who are disabled because they are \u20ac1,400 worse off this year than last year as a result of the way the budget measures were done. We need to restore back-to-school funding. We need to halt the planned increase in student fees. The Government needs to adjust the tax bands. Ordinary workers, particularly workers on less than \u20ac75,000, whether self-employed or on PAYE, were left behind. We need to increase the relief on rent paid and on mortgage interest charges.  I ask the Government to examine the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission to see what it is about. In my time here, it has shown itself to be totally useless, and I do not say that lightly. One of the other proposals relates to solar grants. Solar energy is a quick win and easy to fit. I know it cannot be done in a day or a week but, in the medium term, we should move fairly quickly to try to do that and scale up the grants for solar, to get panels onto houses and speed up the warmer homes scheme. The waiting list is 23 to 24 months. I ask that those practical measures be taken. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  I thank the Labour Party for the motion and for suggesting that we should have a mini-budget to address the cost-of-living crisis. We agree with quite a number of the measures and some were in our alternative budget. It is a fact that the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. While a cost-of-living crisis is going on for working people in this country, where half a million people either are either in gas or electricity arrears and are crushed by the USC, carbon taxes, energy price hikes and food price hikes, the rich are getting richer. The year before last, there were nine billionaires in Ireland. Now there are 11. The wealth of those billionaires went up by \u20ac13 billion last year. Just 11 people's wealth went up by \u20ac13 billion. Some 1,400 people in Ireland have more than \u20ac47 million each while 20,000 people in this country have more than \u20ac4.7 million each. If we adopted a wealth tax, as Oxfam has proposed, on just that group of 20,000 people, it would raise \u20ac9 billion. Let us imagine what we could do with \u20ac9 billion for the cost-of-living breaks that working people need.  There is a similar picture on profits. Profits are up 300% in the past ten years. In 2014, total profits before tax amounted to \u20ac95 billion. In 2023, they reached \u20ac318 billion. Here is the real kicker. The total earnings of every one of the 3.3 million workers in this country comes to \u20ac130 billion. That is all the wages together. How much tax do those 3.3 million workers pay on that income? Some \u20ac32 billion. What are the total profits of the 170,000 businesses in this country? Some \u20ac318 billion. It is more than twice than what all the workers earn between them. How much tax do they pay? Some \u20ac23 billion. The rich earn far more and pay far less in tax. Workers earn less and pay more between USC, excessive electricity and energy costs, carbon taxes, you name it.  Profits go up for the super rich, they pay less tax and we get more billionaires, while workers are screwed to the wall with the cost of living. How do these things happen? I will give an example - rezonings. The Government is rezoning land all over the place. The value of the rezoned land is going up, from about \u20ac160,000 per hectare when it is zoned for agricultural use to \u20ac1.6 million when per hectare after it is rezoned. Actually, when the land is sold on the market we are probably talking about more like \u20ac16 million. So, overnight, somebody who owns that land and has done absolutely nothing is made a multimillionaire by the rezonings that are happening all over Dublin at the moment, courtesy of Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael. Is that a victimless crime? No. That extra money that has gone into their pockets - millions of euro because of the votes of Fianna F\u00e1il, Fine Gael and, in some cases, Green Party councillors and others - goes onto the prices of houses. That is why the prices of houses and rents are so high. That is where they get their money from. It does not come out of the sky. It comes out of the price or the rent you pay. That is how people get rich overnight. It is not magic. It is a transfer of wealth from working people who cannot afford a house or cannot afford the rents into the pockets of rich people who have done nothing except own a piece of land that has been rezoned.  This week, I heard of the case of a clerical officer working in the Civil Service, who is earning \u20ac32,000 and has four children. He should be below the social housing income threshold limit but he gets family income supplement as his income is so low. If he gets this year's increment, due this summer, he will be thrown off the housing list and will not even be eligible for HAP. He is on \u20ac32,000 and has four kids. The workers get screwed; the rich get richer. That is what is happening in this country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  Bh\u00ed m\u00e9 ag \u00e9isteacht le gach duine.\u00a0 Aonta\u00edm le go leor ruda\u00ed ach an rud nach dtuigim n\u00e1 two weeks ago the Opposition was asking to collapse the Government where no financial measures could be passed and now it is asking for a mini-budget. We are in very unpredictable times and need to have a stable Government. How could any financial measures have been passed if the Government had collapsed as the Opposition wanted? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  Through a new Government----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  I am asking how could the Opposition, after a general election----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  -----that the Deputy did not prop up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  I did not interrupt you, Deputy Kenny. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  We were hoping for a----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  I did not interrupt you either, Deputy Sheehan. A general election would take four weeks. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Louise O'Reilly)  I ask all Deputies to address their remarks through the Chair. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  I thank the Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach. If there was a general election in three or four weeks, due to the count and the formation of Government, there would be a long period when nothing could be passed. Is this performative? I want to show solutions.  The Government has provided \u20ac775 million but it could introduce more supports. In respect of the 2024 plug-in solar report, in a response to a parliamentary question I submitted, six key stakeholders took a negative view of plug-in solar. I have requested the consultation responses and I want to see why those stakeholders would be against a system that could be bought in a supermarket such as IKEA, Lidl or Aldi and installed at home in conjunction with an inverter battery. This would benefit people. While I welcome the SEAI grants, the return on cost and instant relief plug-in solar would deliver, particularly for people in social and affordable housing, are much bigger. I understand there are long-term returns from rooftop solar and that it is a more durable system. However, in my constituency, apartment dwellers would like to see an immediate reduction in their energy bills. If the Government invested in a giant scheme in which these systems were bought in bulk at a reduced rate, there would be energy savings. If it also gave grants to people to buy these systems, we would see an immediate reduction in bills.  I will continue to work with the Minister, Deputy O'Brien. I welcome the Ministers of State, Deputies Dooley and Buttimer, who complimented me on my work on this and are working with me constructively on it. I commend all of the Department staff who have been engaging with me because we need to move fast on this. The UK, Germany and the US are doing it and other EU countries have done it. We need to act on it. That is one of the solutions.  The clearing house in the Taoiseach's Department for offshore renewable energy is welcome. However, having spoken to developers of wind energy and long duration energy storage, the people who will help us to decentralise our grid, these stakeholders need to see action.  In regard to the private wires Bill, I have my own Bill which is separate from the Government's Bill. It was a huge priority for me that my Bill be considered ahead of the Government Bill because key aspects of it need to be taken into consideration for members of the public. A private wire that is installed must be proven to not have a negative effect on the domestic cost per kilowatt hour for Irish citizens. There should be a community benefit fund that is directly linked to the proportion of savings made from a private company installing the wire to the local community. There should be clear systems in place to give private households that want to install a private wire a timeline for when it can be done. This will save people money. It will bring in foreign direct investment and create jobs in Ireland. If we had a set timeline for FDI, it would be a boost for electricians, labourers, engineers and administrative staff. I understand there are people who will be critical of my Bill, on which I look forward to constructively working when it comes to the House.  For cost-of-living reasons, we need to be less dependent on global fuel markets. This is where we have an opportunity to lead. As I have said before, the price of LNG rose by 23% in 24 hours. If we are looking for energy security, we need to look at what is already on our island and we can benefit from. We will not see the sun go any time because of a war in the Middle East that was not even started by our country. It was started by one of the most destructive regimes we have seen. If we rely on sources of energy that are here and will benefit the Irish people, that will make us independent. When, during the Second World War, Churchill tried to force de Valera's hand, we were energy dependent. If we were energy independent, we would become the creators and guiders of our country. We are generating renewable energy and then turning it off. We are delaying projects due to grid constraints. Why are we importing electricity when we can produce it ourselves? That is not just inefficient; it is costing the Irish people money. We need to accelerate renewable deployment and storage. The climate and energy committee, which some of the Deputies present are members of, is working constructively on that but we need action.  We need to upgrade and modernise our grid. I welcome the Government announcement of funding for grid developments. However, in conjunction with that, the private wires Bill would work in parallel and create a better system. By using smarter solutions like long duration, battery energy storage systems, BESS, and demand products, we would help the cost of living, directly. We need to support local and direct energy infrastructure so that energy can be used where it is generated, thereby reducing pressure on systems and lowering costs.  We need to electrify because we are a petro-state and we need to become an electro-state. Transport, heating and industry are how we should reduce our dependence on imported fuels. It is not just in Ireland; there are so many countries in the EU we can follow and this being Europe Day, we should be doing so. This is about getting electric buses, which can be put in more easily with private wires, on the roads. It is about powering homes with cheaper energy, supporting workers, creating jobs and making Ireland more competitive.  We all heard the recent pronouncements on nuclear power. We need to have open discussions about technologies and I will discuss and debate nuclear power but I would love a cost-benefit analysis of nuclear and a timeframe for when it could be implemented compared to using the renewables that are here right now. Hinkley Point in the UK is showing the costs have doubled, timelines have gone over and delivery is complex.  Currently, universities in Ireland are not teaching enough courses for nuclear physicists. They are not teaching enough courses for the technicians or labourers who would be working on these systems. If we do not have the workforce, we have to bring them in. While I agree with the key aspects of the development of small modular reactors, SMRs, we need to focus on what we can deliver right now. We currently have renewable projects waiting for grid connection. The Critical Infrastructure Bill and the private wires Bill in conjunction will speed up the gridlock and reduce costs. The slowing down of electrification is putting pressure on our households.  While we hold the EU Presidency, we need to push for those things that we always stood for, including smarter energy systems and a shift towards cheaper electricity. I look forward to working constructively with the Minister of State. I hope this war ends soon and there will not be a need to bring in more financial measures. If we do have to, however, when we are knocking on doors in my constituency, please God may members of the Opposition be able to say how financial measures were brought in without a functioning government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (Deputy Jerry Buttimer)  D\u00e9anaim comhghairdeas le gach Ball as a gcuid \u00f3r\u00e1id\u00ed ar an d\u00edosp\u00f3ireacht th\u00e1bhachtach seo. I thank the Labour Party and Deputy Nash for bringing the motion before the House today. It is important, in the context of the debate we are having, to make three points. I know the Opposition has to play a certain role and I appreciate that. I have been a Member of the Houses of the Oireachtas for 19 years, have dealt with many of the Members here and I appreciate that. There is a commonality here because all of us are on the side of the people and the gn\u00e1thdhuine. We must accept that. Second, while I know it is a great line - the Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach used it very well when she spoke to this motion - to say we are out of touch, aloof or immune or whatever, we are not. We have our life experiences and that of our families, friends, neighbours and the people we meet at our clinics and offices every day. We know full well that people are faoi bhr\u00fa, under pressure, with the cost of living. That is why this debate is important.  We may disagree about the rubrics of the scaffolding by which we all move forward but let us not lose the tenet that what we are doing on this side of the House \u2013 I am speaking as a Member of these Houses for 19 years \u2013 is representing our people. There is merit in many of the suggestions we have heard today and it is our job to forensically go through them in the context of the debate we are having. That is why this debate is important.  I am a former teacher. Deputy Cummins discussed education. Under the Minister, Deputy Naughton, initiatives are now under way to address educational disadvantage to help children and young people realise their potential through education. I spent most of my life teaching the leaving certificate applied programme as an adult education director. This is about the power of being able to see the investment in education, upskilling, training and reskilling in order for people to meet life\u2019s needs. That is why there is a \u20ac48 million investment in the new DEIS strategy and DEIS plus scheme. Are we seriously saying in this House that we should not have that? Of course we are not. These measures represent a significant investment by the Government in a ten-year plan to tackle educational disadvantage and promote equality across our education system. Equally, we have seen the DEIS plus scheme advanced where we now have 181 schools in our education system being able to be supported under this scheme. This morning, I spoke with students participating in the think big programme in Stillorgan. These are wonderful young people coming together with ideas and creativity.  Understandably, people are frustrated, angry and upset at the rising costs. However, if we were to have an objective analysis, which does not always suit the narrative some want to portray, it would tell us that we must be clear and responsible in our administration of public moneys. All of us are acutely aware of the energy price shock. It did not take a protest or a blockade to tell us that. That is why the Government acted. I am serious; we did not need to hear that. We knew it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  Little was done until then. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  Perhaps we did not communicate it properly or engage quicker. I accept that. I am not living in an ivory tower, as I said. I accept that point. We acted to insulate households and businesses from the worst impacts of rising costs. That is why we have two packages with a cumulative cost of \u20ac750 million. It is the second highest or highest package in Europe. That budget surplus was not conjured up out of magic money. This package supports the most vulnerable through lower costs at the pump and supporting key sectors of our economy.  It is great to go off and tax and spend, but what happens next October or November if we are still where we are? That is why I agree with Deputy Heneghan. Let us hope this war is over because it has only got one outcome, that is, it is negative for everybody. That is why the Government has been clear around de-escalation. Some of the propositions from the Opposition are to spend it all now, which would leave us with no buffer for the winter or anything to last us into the next couple of months. Where would we be then? Members of the Opposition would come into the Chamber and say that we were irresponsible, imprudent and did not manage the economy carefully. In that scenario, hey presto, we would have no resources on hand to budget for unforeseen shocks. As the Minister of State, Deputy Troy, said, if we were to respond to every demand asked of us, we would have no surplus and be in a far more exposed position. We would be back to the budgetary position we were in at the time of the crash between 2007 and 2010 and beyond. That is why this is important.  I have great faith in people like Deputy Nash. I admire him greatly, having served with him in both Houses. He has that ability to look at the national economic dialogue and engage constructively. He was in government. He knows what it is like when there is nothing in the cupboard and when you are hiding under the cupboard to try to find a few bob. He never shirked his responsibility, nor did the Labour Party to be fair when it was in government. I will always have admiration for people in the Labour Party because when the country needed it in the tough times, the party was there. We should never forget that. My view is very clear in that regard.  The budgetary economic process has begun, as we know. The priorities for the next budget are beginning to be unfurled. That is why I welcome this conversation around tax and taxation. The T\u00e1naiste has initiated that conversation. As policymakers, there is an obligation on us, as Deputy Heneghan mentioned, to strike that balance between the competing priorities that we all rightly commend and speak for. We all represent different interest groups and people. At the end of the day, those interest groups are representing people, and we should never lose sight of that. We must strike that balance so that we can responsibly manage our public finances and invest in childcare, disability, education and infrastructure.  I understand the political game. It is back and forth and sometimes, we have to try to appease, win and excite people. However, do not for one second think that those of us on this side of the House do not recognise the difficulties people face. We understand them fully. That is why we intervened. Many of us in our parliamentary parties engage with our Ministers and leaders about them.  The Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach referred earlier to the greatest hits of the Government. This was not about the greatest hits; it was about interventions to address the impact of costs on people whom we all represent and understand. I will not list the measures introduced but people are seeing a benefit now. Are they totally immune? No. The Taoiseach said here many times that we cannot provide that blanket for everyone. What we are doing, however, is putting in place packages that reduce the rate of inflation and costs on people. Let us be clear: there are choices to be made, and those choices have consequences. The Government has been careful in its deliberation and calibration of the response. This is not a letter to Santa. We cannot write, \u201cDear Santa\u201d and the wish list will be got. As we all know, someone pays the bill for Santa at the end of the day.  The measures we have taken are targeted. They provide support to the most vulnerable and assist the people and sectors of our economy where there is a need for jobs, job security and growth. They are proportionate measures.  I know it is not sexy or glitzy to speak about the sound management of the economy. When I think about the Ministers for Finance we had in modern times, people like Ruair\u00ed Quinn, Brian Lenihan jnr, Paschal Donohoe, Michael Noonan, Jack Chambers and now Simon Harris, and Joan Burton when she was in social protection, I often wonder how they would have reacted and what would they have done. It is about providing benefit to householders and businesses so that we can keep jobs going, we can sustain that sustainable position on our economy, and we can use our funds wisely. If we are genuinely sincere in the way in which we continue to budget and continue to manage our economy, we must have sustainability and we must be wise and prudent. I certainly do not want to go back to 2007 or 2010 when we were in this House and the Upper House. This is why the national development plan has a clear roadmap for investment.  Proper budgetary planning must be done in a measured way to represent people, taking into account the pressures of today but also the longer-term perspective. I thank the Labour Party for bringing the motion before the House tonight. I believe the Government is getting the balance right. As I said in the past, it is a sensible approach to the medium and long-term budgetary position. I thank Deputy Nash for bringing the motion forward. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  It is not just that the Minister of State does not get it or that individuals do not get it; I genuinely think that the Government as an entity does not get it. Consider the counter-motion the Minister of State has put forward. It is a rehash and a restatement of what the Government said it would do in budget 2026. If we want to talk about budget 2026, we can talk about the fact that it leaves families 2% worse off. That is a fact. It is not me pointing that out; it is the ESRI. We could talk about the blunt measure of the poorly targeted VAT cut with 60% of the benefit going to fast-food chains and not to struggling local caf\u00e9s. That is not me pointing that out; it is the Department of Finance. For the Government to come in here with a counter-motion and to literally reprint and rehash that statement is completely laughable. It is not even funny because what the Government does not get is that the Government has lost the dressing room. Look at the anger that was out there on the streets. A Government backbencher cannot put a post up on social media at the moment about getting a hole in the road filled without an abundance of stuff underneath it because people are furious. In many cases what the Government has done with that fury is come to a house fire with a can of petrol. Let us go back to the week of the fuel protests. Monsignor Miche\u00e1l Martin came out to lecture the nation followed by Colonel O'Callaghan saying that he was going to send in the tanks. It was absolutely ridiculous. I wonder if the people who come into my clinic, the people I represent, have to get their Toyota Corollas and line them up outside O'Connell Street down by the GPO in order for the Government to actually listen to them?  What we have put forward is very clear. It is targeted and we have said how we will pay for it. The Government's entire budgetary policy is based on the idea of people getting a fiver at budget time but six months later they get a \u20ac500 bill. The families the workers I represent in Limerick do not need a restatement of budget 2026 from this Government. They need action on the cost-of-living crisis. Their groceries have gone up, their energy bills have gone up, their rent has gone up, and their mortgage interest rates in many cases are going up. They are working full time and yet they have sweet feck all left at the end of the week.  The fact of the matter is that we know from what the ESRI has said, and from what the Department has said, that the Government's budgetary measures are not prudent. They leave families worse off on average and they hit the lowest-income earning families the hardest. Yet, the Government's counter-motion today does not acknowledge any of this. This is about political choice. We have made our choice. We back workers, we back families and we back people who are struggling. We do not partake in leprechaun economics. We have set out very clearly how we would pay for this. The people that all of us represent deserve much more from this Government than being told to just wait until October and that help is coming not now but in six months. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert O'Donoghue  Within my office in the last few weeks we have been discussing the emails that have been coming in. These are from ordinary working people who are living with fear, desperation and pressure because of the cost-of-living crisis. We wonder whether the Government gets the same emails we do and whether it can be dealing with the same issues we are. If it was, the Minister of State would not be standing across from the Opposition benches pretending that everything is fine and pretending that there is nothing to see. The Minister of State would be acting on at least some of the measures that have been brought forward here today. I wonder if the Minister of State has ever lain awake wondering how he is going to get to the next pay cheque.  I will tell the story of one of my constituents in Dublin Fingal West. She received a notice to quit but she was lucky, and I mean she was really lucky, to get a rental property a week before she was to go into emergency accommodation with her children and dog. She told me that she can afford to rent or she can afford to eat, so she will go without food because that means her children do not have to suffer the trauma of going into emergency accommodation, and she did not want to lose their dog. Think about that for a moment. In one of the richest countries in Europe a mother is prepared to go without food to keep a roof over her head. She felt embarrassed by this but it is not her who should feel embarrassed. The Government should feel embarrassed that in a rich country, renting a home or having a hot shower is becoming a luxury. The Government should be embarrassed that parents stand at checkout queues having to figure out what they are going to send back because they simply cannot afford it. Working people are one break away from financial disaster. Perhaps a car needs repairs, dental work needs to be done or a washing machine breaks down. Any one of those events can completely clear a family's savings. There is no safety net; just constant pressure and worry of what is going to come next. Urgent action is needed because carers, disabled people, lone parents and working people across the country are at breaking point. Where are the \u20ac200 a month fees that were promised for childcare? That was to be part of the cost-of-living package also. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  In my concluding remarks I will counter one or two of the points the Minister of State made, the first being his claim that nobody likes talking about fiscal responsibility and that it is not sexy. Well, it is the kind of thing that keeps me awake at night, and the Minister of State touched on one of the reasons. In an economy that is not managed responsibly, we know there is no future for working people and there is no future for small businesses. This is why it is very difficult to sit here, take lectures and be sermonised about fiscal responsibility by the Minister of State, Deputy Troy, and by Fianna F\u00e1il. We all know the impacts of the irresponsibility they showed 20 years ago, and the impacts this had on working families in this country. We all know the impact that their destructive policies are still having on our dysfunctional housing system today, which goes to the root of the economic and social problems we have. We in the Labour Party will not be taking lectures from the Minister of State, Deputy Troy, or anybody else in his party about fiscal responsibility. By the way, fiscal responsibility does not mean austerity, cutbacks or anything of the sort. Fiscal responsibility means good economic management allied with imaginative economic management and social initiatives that allow Governments to address the real problems society is encountering.  In the last budget we saw the Government make choices that we fundamentally disagree with, and the Minister of State accepted that in his remarks. We can, thankfully, respectfully disagree. I have the height of respect for the Minister of State and the way in which he practises his politics and the way in which he represents his constituents and the country. We can, however, respectfully disagree.  We fundamentally disagree with the choices that Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael made in the last election. There was no argument, for example, for a tax cut for the hospitality sector, which was adding jobs by the week. There was an even smaller argument, if one existed at all, for tax cuts for the development sector to supplement the bottom line of builders who were building apartments already. There was no argument whatsoever. That was done at the expense of tax indexation for PAYE workers. That is acknowledged by representatives on the Government side and is something we are seeking to address in a motion that is put forward in good faith to try to address the real concerns of working people in this country, who simply have had enough. They can no longer manage and they cannot, as colleagues have said, wait until a signal is sent in October that things might improve come 1 January when the Finance Bill is enacted.  I ask the Minister of State and his colleagues to reflect on the decision to introduce an amendment to the Labour Party motion. I ask the Government to send a signal to working people in this country that it is on their side. In particular, PAYE workers rightly feel abandoned by this Government. What we are arguing for is the definition of fiscal responsibility, namely, a properly framed mini-budget rather than a drip feed of interventions worth hundreds of millions of euro based on who shouts the loudest. That is no way to manage an economy. That is not fiscal responsibility or prudence. I would ask Fianna F\u00e1il, Fine Gael and the Independents to reflect on the position they have adopted here today. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment No. 1 to amendment No. 1 put."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Louise O'Reilly)  In accordance with Standing Order 85(2), the division is postponed until the weekly division time on Wednesday, 13 May 2026. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Cost of Living Mini-Budget: Motion [Private Members]"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_39","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_39","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_40","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Education and Training Provision","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_39","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_39","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_40","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  I am delighted that the Minister of State is here. We often meet on Thursdays when we are chatting. I am disappointed that the Minister for education is not here because it falls within her remit. I thank the Minister of State for taking the time to come and discuss the issue of the Cork Life Centre. I am sure he is aware of it. It is in his neck of the woods, not quite in his constituency but closer to him than it is to me. I visited there in February when I was in Cork for the Social Democrats' conference. I had spent a long time hoping that I would some day get to visit the Cork Life Centre, because it is a place that many people hold in high esteem. When I went in, it was exactly how I thought it would be. It was a place of care and love and excellence in education. I was shown around by a young person who had written to me and invited me to the centre. He was a graduate of the Cork Life Centre and he could not have demonstrated better why it was a place that should be valued and held in the highest esteem in our education system.  Why the centre works so well is because our education system is built around systems. It is built around a curriculum and bigger things that move in large movements as opposed to the person whom it should focus on and move around, that is, the child or the learner. The Cork Life Centre has figured out exactly how to put the student at the core of the curriculum and everything it does. This means that when a young person arrives to the Cork Life Centre, they are greeted with open arms. There is an expectation that they will achieve the best that they can in the time that it takes and that the centre will be with them all the way along that journey. Students can be interested in whatever takes their fancy. I saw a beautiful woodwork room, and art room and rooms where they could read, learn or play. An exercise area was being built. The gardening area was fantastic. When they arrive, they are welcomed with a cup of tea and a biscuit, just like I was, and the warmth in that building is spectacular.  There is a slight problem, in that because it is not a recognised centre, it does not quite fit. It does not have a roll number like a primary school, a secondary school or a special school. It is not a community training centre and it is not Youthreach. It does not fit neatly into what we want it to fit into. The review of out-of-school provision was published in 2022 and a number of recommendations have come from that. I know that there is an implementation forum that is working through those but it was published four years ago now and that should move on.  The challenge for the centre of not being recognised as one of the settings I mentioned earlier is that it does not get appropriate funding. It does not get the allocation of teachers or the supports that other learning centres get. On that basis, the centre struggles with funding and with getting teachers. There are teachers and support personnel there who work on a voluntary basis. We are talking about a very vulnerable cohort of young people who have left mainstream education for whatever reason and they are being accepted into the Cork Life Centre to be given a second chance. However, the centre cannot exist on fresh air and hope only. What can be done to support the Cork Life Centre correctly? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (Deputy Jerry Buttimer)  I thank Deputy Cummins for raising this very important matter. At the forefront of our thoughts this afternoon is Don O'Leary and the great work he did. This is a very important Cork educational establishment. The Deputy is right that it is held in high esteem across Cork and beyond. The care and love it shows is a wonderful example of how education can be. As a former director of adult education and a teacher of the leaving certificate applied, I understand fully that the Cork Life Centre is committed to supporting children and young people who attend the centre so that they can realise their full potential and the benefits the centre will bring to their lives.  I apologise that I do not have the scripted reply for the Deputy, but I will get it forwarded to her. For some reason, it has not been made available. I also apologise for the Minister not being here. I am taking this matter on her behalf.  Since the 1970s, a small number of alternative education settings that operate outside of the traditional mainstream education system have evolved on an ad hoc basis across the State. What is clear is that these settings support the needs of children and young people who have disengaged from, as it were, or are not engaged in mainstream education. They have blossomed and flourished, in this case in the Cork Life Centre in Sunday's Well. The Acting Chair is familiar with it as well.  This educational setting, and I use to word \u201csetting\u201d not in a cold way but, as the Deputy quite rightly articulated, in a way that provides access to education for approximately 55 children and young adults between the ages of 13 and 18 who would not be in mainstream education and who would be lost to the education system were it not for the centre. As I said, it is junior cycle and leaving certificate applied exams. It is supported by an incredible group of staff, teachers, volunteers and people who are under the trusteeship of the Christian Brothers European Province.  The centre is one of a small number of alternative education providers that are supported by the Department of Education and Youth. The Department has provided funding and teacher co-operation hours to the centre for several years going back to 2018, which has been increased significantly since then. This year, the Department provided funding of \u20ac177,500 along with 6,200 co-operation hours in conjunction with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. As the Deputy knows, centre referrals come from the education and welfare service, school principals, social workers or child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS. The centre is seeking sustainability for the future from the Department. Over the past number years, Department officials have visited the centre and met with management on a number of occasions in relation to the issues discussed by the Deputy. Department officials wrote to the centre two years ago with a proposal from the Department that will see the centre recognised under the Education Act 1998. It will then be designated as a special school for primary, with a school roll number. The communication from the Department sets out the requirements in relation to equipment provision, teaching of the curriculum and the length of the school day and school year in order to be recognised by the Department as a primary school under the Education Act. The letter also outlines the level of staffing resources and other supports that would be allocated by the Department to the centre to be recognised as a school. I believe that officials are continuing to engage with the centre in respect of this funding and arrangements.  I assure Deputy Cummins that the Department of education recognises the many benefits of the centre. All of us present in the Chamber recognise the impact it is having on young people, and we are totally in awe at the quality of education and the outcomes. I am constantly asking the Department about this as well. The Department is committed to working with all of us to ensure that the centre in the coming period is sustainable because Cork Life Centre has been of huge benefit in our city and county. I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. I will bring her points back to the Department and the Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  I thank the Minister of State. As he said, it really is a wonderful centre. The thing is, however, it is not a special school. When it is designated as a special school, that means a primary school, which it is not. These are young people. In fact, some of them are 16. They can decide their own medical issues. They can apply for a driving licence at 17. It is not a special school. I know the Department wants to designate it as a special school, but it is not one. Therefore, a category has to be made for this type of school.  The iScoil is designated as a primary school as well. There is a review of the blended learning centres for iScoil that has not been published yet. I imagine it will say that it is absolutely excellent. I say that as somebody who ran an iScoil in a blended learning centre. The challenge is that if we are trying to fit education provision centres into something they are not, that is where we will reach difficulties. A primary school does not do the leaving certificate and junior certificate, so how do we do that? These young people will be doing Quality and Qualifications Ireland, QQI, levels 3, 4 and 5. They will be doing the leaving certificate applied. Therefore, it is not a special school. A different category has to be created.  What is quite difficult for me to understand, though, is that if the Department has been engaging - I believe it has, I am not questioning that part - why it has taken three years to discuss this when it has been going since the 1970s. That special category to recognise centres like the Cork Life Centre has to be put into the Education Act. It is just taking too long for the Department to come up with the answer for that. In the meantime, we have staff who are so absolutely dedicated but kind of flabbergasted as to why it is taking so long and why they have to prove so much that the work they are doing is saving people's lives. It is bringing people back into education when the education system has failed them. The young people did not disengage from the education system. The mainstream education system neglected them and labelled them as \"others\" and they were let down by that system. The young people were failed. It is not that the young people disengaged or failed. It is that the system failed them. The Cork Life Centre is there, however. It will be able to bring them back to a way of learning that appreciates them for who they are and builds back their self-esteem and their love of learning, which, ultimately, is a thing that we want to see for every young person.  I am way over time so I better stop talking. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  It is important to recognise that the Department has been engaging. There was a piece going back to 2024 relating to primary school designation. Ultimately, what we all want to see is that the life centre in Sunday's Well is supported and that we keep students who would not be in mainstream education in education. The inspectorate carried out a bespoke evaluation model last year. As the Deputy can imagine, the evaluation was positive. Some of the findings include that staff were observed as being considerably kind, supportive and caring towards all young people. Young people themselves reported that the education in Cork Life Centre was a positive experience for them, and parents reported that the centre and staff made a very positive contribution to children's lives and the lives of their families.  The key point for all of us here, and the Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach is very familiar with this, is that the recent evaluation reported that the lessons in the life centre were meaningful and engaging and that a good questioning approach was used that enabled young people to be able to, if you like, use subject-specific terminology and express their understanding. As we know, that is very important in the education process. What is very important from the evaluation and for those of us who go in there and have met with the staff and students is that they are very effective and proactive in supporting young people to recognise the positive contribution education can make and have on their future development.  We will continue to engage with Cork Life Centre. I reassure the Deputy that the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, recognises the many benefits Cork Life Centre is having on children and young people who attend it. The Department is keen to work with Cork Life Centre in the coming period to examine its future sustainability. For a variety of reasons, we must recognise that students do not stay in mainstream education. It is not leaving cert plus, as the Deputy knows; it is a combination of everything. The approach being taken here is one that has worked. I certainly hope we can collaboratively work together to ensure its continuing success. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan)  I thank the Minister of State. Cork Life Centre will be having its annual awards on Thursday, 21 May. We are all looking forward to that as well. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Education and Training Provision"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_41","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Social Welfare Payments","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_39","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_39","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_41","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  This matter relates to the telephone support allowance. It is one of those things that is an essential part of the income for a lot of people. The organisation ALONE has highlighted not just the value of this allowance but also the fact that it has not been keeping pace anywhere close to inflation. It was not increased in the most recent budget. I understand that the primary objective is to allow the most vulnerable people at risk of isolation, including the elderly and those with disabilities, access to personal alarms or phones for security and, absolutely, that is essential. However, there is more and more of an emphasis now on availability and access to data and mobile phones. It strikes me that the allowance is deficient in two ways. One is that it is not enough; it was not increased. We have just spent a couple of hours in here and nobody would dispute the fact that the cost of everything is going up, but also the fact that it is not modern or fit for purpose.  I am, therefore, echoing the calls that have been made by ALONE about the clear necessity to expand the payment. It said this in its pre-budget submissions. It looked for an increase of \u20ac7.50, which is a fairly modest and balanced ask, to be fair. This is mostly for vulnerable groups, specifically, but the largest cohort who use it are older people. The Minister of State will know that when people cannot pay their bills, they cannot do a side hustle, as the Americans call it. They are on a fixed income and that is it. Their pension from the State, small as it is, has to stretch to meet all their outgoings. More and more, we see that communication of all forms is shifting online. I was struggling when I was coming in to think of people I know who still have a landline. They are moving rapidly towards obsolescence. I do not lay the blame for that at the Minister of State's door.  People are voting with their feet. They are not getting landlines anymore. It is quite unusual outside of an office environment to even get a landline number.  In a reply to a parliamentary question, the Minister for Social Protection stated that he \"will continue, as part of the budget planning process, to consider if improvements can be made to ensure that this benefit continues to target vulnerable cohorts. Any future decisions will, of course, have to take account of the availability of financial resources.\" Shortly after he gave that answer, it turned out that there were slightly more resources available than perhaps had been obvious. The cost of the increase to \u20ac7.50 is \u20ac67 million. It is a modest amount. It is a small and simple ask. Broadband is expensive. Mobile data plans are expensive and connectivity has never been more important. There was the report on loneliness, particularly in rural Ireland. Often it is a lack of connectivity that people will tell you they are experiencing.  I seek an update on whether improvements can be made. I think they can. I outlined improvements that could be made. I also ask the Minister of State to give an indication of what the Government's thinking is on this allowance because it is rapidly becoming obsolete. As he will be aware, it is only \u20ac2.50 per week. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  I thank the Deputy for raising the matter. He is correct that it is an important matter because more and more people are depending on connectivity by mobile phone. I am taking it on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Calleary, who sends his apologies.  The telephone support allowance is \u20ac2.50 a week for people who are getting both the living alone increase and the fuel allowance, and one of a number of payments that I will not go through because the Deputy knows all the payments associated with it.  The primary objective of the telephone support allowance is to allow the most vulnerable people at risk of isolation, including the elderly and those with disabilities, access to personal alarms or phones for security. As the Deputy will be aware, we are moving with the personal alarms as well. I am due to meet ALONE in a couple of weeks in that regard. The allowance is a cash payment automatically paid with a person's main weekly social welfare payment and it can, of course, be used towards broadband or mobile data charges. Cumulatively, the allowance is paid to over 164,000 customers weekly, at a cost of \u20ac21.6 million.  The Deputy stated that it would cost \u20ac67 million----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  To increase it to \u20ac7.50. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  -----to increase it to \u20ac7.50. I will certainly feed that back to the Minister as part of the Government's deliberations on next year's budget.  The Government is committed to supporting older persons and persons with disability. Given the many competing demands for the limited funding available in the Department of Social Protection, there was no increase in the telephone support allowance in budget 2026. Other supports provided by the Department, however, were increased in that budget, including the \u20ac10 increase in the weekly rate in social welfare payments and the \u20ac5 increase in the fuel allowance. It is important also to recognise that in that fuel allowance piece, we are providing an additional \u20ac140 during the annual fuel allowance season. This will provide support of \u20ac1,064 to a household during a 28-week fuel season. In response to the increase in energy prices due to the war in the Middle East, the fuel allowance season was extended by a further four weeks to the end of April, which provided an additional \u20ac152 to recipients.  To receive the telephone support allowance, a customer must be in receipt of a qualifying payment and also in receipt of both the living alone allowance and the fuel allowance. This means that those in receipt of the allowance already receive considerable support from the Department. However, there is, to be fair to the Deputy, merit in the consideration of this because I believe that more and more people are looking to us in terms of mobile phone connectivity.  The household benefits package is available to those in receipt of the telephone support allowance. This comprises of an electricity or gas allowance and a free television licence, which is worth approximately \u20ac580 a year. Furthermore, the Department of Social Protection provides for a means-tested additional needs payment as part of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which helps people meet essential expenses that they cannot pay from their weekly income. These payments are available through community welfare officers.  Increasing the rate of household-based schemes, such as the living alone increase and the fuel allowance, provides targeted support to households that are at a higher risk of poverty. Any proposal to increase the rate payable for the telephone support allowance could only be considered in the budgetary context. Telephone companies and operators have an obligation and duty as well to look at that, in terms of some of our older people, in their packages. They can tailor some of their packages to suit older people.  I will bring the Deputy's remarks back to the Minister. In fairness, we are hearing on a day-to-day basis of people needing their phones more and using them more, even to stay in touch. It is that element of fear. As I said, we are working with ALONE about changing the senior citizens alert scheme. We will have more information on that at a later date. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  I thank the Minister of State for the reply. I do not mean this disrespectfully but when I have asked a question about the telephone allowance, it is probably not helpful for anyone listening in who might be conscious of the issue of the telephone allowance that the Minister of State listed other payments. We understand that there were modest increases in the budget. They did not keep pace with inflation. He will know, as I do, that inflation was running at 1.8% when the Government wrote its budget and it is now at 3.6%. That has doubled and that has pushed people who are dependent on social welfare even further into poverty.  The Minister of Stat referred to \"over 164,000 customers\" in his reply. It is only 164,000 customers and we are not talking about large numbers. Increasingly, private care companies are shifting online to a more visual check-in with clients. That is not something that I necessarily support. In fact, I campaigned against it when I was a trade union organiser representing home helps. Much as I do not think it is good for either workers or older people, that is the direction of travel. Increasingly, older people are finding themselves in a situation where access to mobile data is not optional; it is essential for them to live their lives. The existence of the telephone support allowance is to ensure that people remain connected, can participate and are not further isolated, but if it is not updated, it will leave a significant cohort of people out.  I welcome the fact that consideration will be given to it as part of the budgetary process and I thank the Minister of State for bringing my remarks back to the senior Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  A sum of \u20ac21.6 million or 164,000 customers are not small numbers.  I thank the Deputy again for raising the matter. I agree with her that in a world that is changing hugely, we cannot let older people be left behind and left out. They are feeling isolated and vulnerable in a digital world that is changing, and we cannot ignore that. The Government will not be found wanting in that regard.  The Department provides targeted payments to help people with their household costs. I listed the fuel allowance, the living alone increase, the household benefits package and additional needs payment because it is a comprehensive suite of measures and investment by Government.  While these supports can, of course, help older people with their cost-of-living services, providing access to these services is also a priority for Government. In this regard, it is providing very significant funding through the national broadband plan. That plan, which is the largest ever telecommunications project undertaken by the State, will radically transform our broadband landscape through the delivery of quality, affordable high-speed broadband to all parts of Ireland where such services will be delivered and available to people. There is a commitment in the programme for Government that 1.1 million people, including people living in rural and urban areas, farms and non-farms, and businesses will be connected by 2026.  I reassure the Deputy that the Department will continue to support recipients of the telephone support allowance, especially where they are vulnerable and at risk of isolation. The existing supports available in the Department along with the recent budget increases will continue to support this important group of people, but I will take the remarks the Deputy has made back to the Minister because, in a changing world, it is important that we do not leave older people behind. The world that they inhabit now is a digitally changed world and we have a duty of care to them as well. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Social Welfare Payments"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_42","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"European Union","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_39","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_39","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_42","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  Baineann mo cheist le fosta\u00edocht san Aontas Eorpach. T\u00e1 g\u00e1 orainn n\u00edos m\u00f3 a dh\u00e9anamh chun eolas a thabhairt do dhaoine, go h\u00e1irithe anseo in \u00c9irinn, faoi na poist at\u00e1 ar f\u00e1il agus an bealach ar f\u00e9idir iarratas a dh\u00e9anamh orthu le go n-\u00e9ireoidh leo lena gcuid iarratas agus na poist sin a th\u00f3g\u00e1il. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 sin thar a bheith t\u00e1bhachtach, go h\u00e1irithe an tseachtain seo nuair at\u00e1 L\u00e1 na hEorpa \u00e1 cheili\u00faradh againn D\u00e9 hAoine. Caithfidh muid a bheith in ann a r\u00e1 i rith Uachtar\u00e1nacht an Aontais Eorpaigh go bhfuil muid ag d\u00e9anamh iarracht \u00c9ireannaigh a chur sna poist sin ar fud na hEorpa.  The question I have this evening is about employment in European Union institutions. As this week we celebrate Europe Day commemorating the Schuman Declaration, it is an important week to think about this as we approach the Presidency coming up on 1 July as well. This week a delegation from the European affairs committee, which I chair, visited Luxembourg where there are a number of European institutions there and a number of Irish people working within those institutions. It was my pleasure to meet many of them and talk to them about the work they are doing. They range from people who are on stages there, people who are trainees within places like the Court of Auditors, to Tony Murphy who is currently the lead person, the president of the Court of Auditors. There are Irish people throughout those institutions contributing at the very highest level. Thank God they are there because the reality is that at the moment our influence within those institutions is waning and we need to do something about that.  One of the things I learned this week is that Ireland is not even in the top ten in terms of European countries applying for such jobs. I am talking about per capita rather than in sheer numbers. It contrasts sharply with countries like Italy, for example, which specifically targets jobs within European institutions by putting in place a whole college, a whole institution, whose job it is to prepare Italians to apply for jobs, to position them, to inform them, to help them make those applications and to help them be competitive when going through the process.  Although we have had some notable Irish people at the top of the European civil service like Catherine Day, who was, of course, the head civil servant within the European Commission, many of those people have retired. The people who occupy high positions will retire in the coming years. For example, six Irish people in the Court of Auditors will come to retirement in the coming years. If they retire and leave that service, we do not have the people coming behind them to fill the positions and to ensure we still have that presence within the institutions.  It can be said that these are institutions for the whole of the European Union and not for Ireland, and of course that is true, but we should be represented in them. One of the ways we can do that is by focusing our resources to educate people throughout the country on what is available. It is not just that, but we need to encourage them to apply for jobs, to inform them about what the pay and conditions are. It is not just about the pay, there are also favourable tax incentives for them, childcare facilities, healthcare facilities and relocation grants. Lots of things go with these jobs. More importantly, these are immensely fulfilling jobs. They do important work that influences the decisions that are made across our Continent. The opportunity for people in this jurisdiction to contribute at that level is huge.  In addition to giving them all that information, we also need to advise them how to apply and how to be successful in their applications so that when they put in applications, they are competitive in that. We are not even competitive yet in terms of the numbers of applications being made. If we do not have enough people applying, we will not have enough people who will be awarded those positions.  There are institutions not just in Luxembourg but across the EU, including Eurofound here in Ireland. This is the time we need to have a concerted effort to inform people in this country about the opportunities there, encourage them to apply and help them make successful applications. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Teachta as an \u00e1bhar seo a chur os \u00e1r gcomhair. I agree with him that it is an opportunity present, showcase, promulgate, inform and educate people as to what is available. We should be represented in the European institutions and I fully concur with him. I apologise that the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, is not here to take this and I am taking it for him.  I welcome this opportunity to address what is genuinely a success story, one that reflects years of sustained, strategic effort by the Government to ensure that Irish citizens are well represented in the EU institutions. In May 2021, the Government launched the A Career for EU strategy to improve Irish representation in the EU. Implementation is led by the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne. The strategy has three key areas of focus: promotion of careers in the EU institutions in Ireland, in particular within the education system, to encourage more Irish applicants for EU posts; greater support and training for Irish people interested in careers in the EU; and promoting the reform of the EU\u2019s recruitment process to ensure more Irish people get posts in the institutions.  Since its launch, outreach and awareness-raising have expanded significantly. This includes social media, with a particular focus on the careers networking platform LinkedIn, and informational webinars with professional bodies and universities. There is also attendance at second and third level careers events, reaching thousands of people in 2025. Additionally, in 2025, hundreds of Irish candidates received targeted training supports across multiple competitions, including EU-specific practice materials and interview preparation. The strategy and these efforts are starting to bear results. For example, Ireland had 43 permanent officials at the key entry grades in the European Commission in December 2025, an increase of seven on 2024 and up from 30 in 2022.  I also wish to highlight the large number of Irish applicants for the recent graduate AD5 competition, the first large-scale recruitment competition that the EU has held since 2019. Over 1,700 Irish citizens submitted applications, placing Ireland tenth out of 27 member states on a per capita basis. The result also shows that Ireland had the third largest increase in candidates compared with our figures in 2019. In addition, in January 2026, Dr. Lorraine Nolan took up office as executive director of the European Union Drugs Agency, the third Irish national currently heading an EU agency.  Traineeships are a proven pathway towards a rewarding career in the European Union, and recent promotional efforts have also focused on highlighting ones such as the Blue Book with the Commission. In 2025, 34 Irish people undertook the Schuman traineeship with the European Parliament, representing 3.76% of total trainees. This is almost double our expected percentage of 1.94%.  The Government has made notable progress on the placement of seconded national experts, SNEs, from the public or Civil Service in strategically important positions across the institutions. Funding for the centrally funded scheme for SNEs has risen from \u20ac2 million in 2021 to \u20ac4.2 million this year, supporting an increase from 24 SNEs to 53 over the course of 2025 and helping to give Ireland the highest number of SNEs per capita in the European Commission among all member states. With Ireland assuming the Presidency of the European Union from 1 July 2026, having experienced Irish officials in place across the institutions has never been more important.  In summary, the progress we have made under the A Career for EU strategy is real, measurable and the result of a consistent, whole-of-government commitment to ensuring that Irish voices, Irish values and Irish expertise are present at the heart of the European Union. I thank the Deputy for raising the matter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  I agree with the Minister of State on the effort being made. I acknowledge the work done by the Department of foreign affairs and European Movement Ireland. I also acknowledge that Noelle O'Connell has left as the head of European Movement and has been replaced by David Geary. We wish him the best of luck there. They do a particularly good job in terms of advertising jobs and making people aware. While I acknowledge that there has been success there, many of our highly qualified capable graduates are not aware of the opportunities that arise. It is not just the Commission and the Parliament. There are many institutions across the European Union where there are good quality jobs that give people an opportunity to contribute at the highest level but also give us an opportunity as a country to put our values and our views at the top table. We need to be encouraging those people, and however good it might be now, we need to redouble our efforts.  There is an opportunity coming with the Presidency. I know from speaking to colleagues around Europe that there is a very high expectation for how Ireland will do during that Presidency. We all have faith that our officials will continue to deliver at the highest level, as they have done in the past and as they will do again in the second half of this year. However, there is an opportunity now for us to target graduates from university, people within the jobs market. I am not talking about it happening passively but we need to be doing it actively. There should be a dedicated unit within the Department of foreign affairs that has, as its remit, education, information and assistance to help people get into those positions, and doing so in a targeted way with measurables so they can show the increases in numbers of applications and the successes that might come from those applications. If we do not do this, we will allow our numbers to reduce in real terms and our influence within the Union to reduce.  It is to be hoped during our Presidency that we will pursue an enlargement agenda which will make the European Union larger. I know that Montenegro might be at the top of the list, but there are countries very close behind it as well. In the coming years, we will see enlargement. A lot of their citizens will have to fill positions. We cannot allow Ireland to fall behind into a position where our guys are not getting a seat at the table the way they should. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  I again thank the Deputy. There is huge merit in what he is suggesting. The point he made on education, information and assistance is critical. He is right that we must continue to raise awareness.  We must continue to ensure that there are Irish people in good quality jobs in the European Union. The Deputy is 100% right that our influence in Europe has never been more needed in a global world where there is uncertainty. We are building new friendships and new alliances. I commend the Deputy on his role as chair of the European grouping in the Oireachtas. I wish David Geary every success in his new position and thank Noelle O\u2019Connell for what she has done as European Movement Ireland is a critically important organisation.  The Deputy is correct that our officials are doing extraordinary work. That is why one of the three key pillars of the careers in Europe strategy is about promoting the reform of the European Union\u2019s recruitment process to ensure we have more Irish graduates and others getting posts in the institutions. We firmly believe that the structural issues require permanent solutions. We continue to lobby, alongside like-minded member states, for the adoption of selection competitions based on nationality for underrepresented countries. The Deputy\u2019s points are well made.  As a country, we have welcomed the decision by the European Parliament to hold nationally based competitions to address the chronic underrepresentation of three member states, namely, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Austria, among the staff. As the Deputy knows, the legality of this decision is being challenged in the Parliament by Spain and Italy, and it is before the Court of Justice. Ireland has intervened in the case in support of the Parliament, and the case is ongoing. A positive outcome to this legal case would set a precedent for the use of nationality-based competitions by the Commission and other institutions.  The Deputy is right about the need to continue raising awareness so that we can have good quality jobs for Irish people in the EU institutions. I commend him on bringing the matter before the House. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"European Union"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_43","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Prison Service","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_39","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_39","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_43","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan  I thank the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, for coming to the House. It is rare that we get a senior Minister taking a Topical Issue, so I appreciate him coming in.  I want to address the ongoing and worsening overcrowding in Cork Prison and the very real impact it is having on prison officers and staff, who are being asked to manage conditions that are no longer sustainable. Cork Prison has an operational capacity of 296 but the daily average number of people in custody in 2024 was 335, which rose further to an average of 354 in early 2025. That means Cork Prison has been operating at 120% to 130% capacity, with between 50 and 80 people sleeping on mattresses on the floor on any given night. This level of overcrowding is not just an inconvenience. It is a serious occupational health and safety issue for all the staff who work in the prison. Overcrowded landings, people sleeping on floors, limited sightlines and cramped shared spaces significantly increase the risk of violence, assault and disorder, while also making routine duties more dangerous and stressful for staff. Prison officers in Cork are being asked to maintain order, safety and discipline in conditions that fall well short of what would be regarded as acceptable in any other public service workplace. Staff cannot be expected to carry this burden indefinitely.  While I acknowledge national plans to add capacity around the country, Cork has for many years been under sustained pressure but without a permanent solution. Short-term measures and marginal increases in bed numbers do not address the fundamental problem, which is that the physical size and layout of the prison is no longer fit for purpose given current committal levels. That is why I call on the Minister to commit to a substantial extension of Cork Prison, delivering additional modern accommodation that reduces pressures, improves staff safety and allows the prison to operate within safe limits on a consistent basis.  I refer to it as an extension because many of our opponents in the Opposition would contend that we are trying to land a second prison on top of people. As usual, they are trying to play politics with this issue. An extension is warranted and that is what it is; an extension.  Any extension to the prison needs to bring a clear community dividend or community benefit. I ask the Minister to speak to whatever public consultation can be done, whether by the Minister, the Department of justice, the Prison Service or the OPW, to consult with the public as to what community dividend we can have for the local community. Whether that public consultation would yield an amenity space, a community building or otherwise, it would be important to factor it in.  This is not just about being hard on crime. It is about running a prison safely, professionally and efficiently while respecting the people who work there and protecting the wider public by ensuring the system is stable and controlled. Cork Prison cannot continue to operate over capacity year after year. That is why I am asking that Cork be prioritised for a major capital extension with a clear timeline, clear staffing protections and a commitment that any development delivers tangible benefits both for prison officers and the wider Cork community. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Jim O'Callaghan)  I thank Deputy O'Sullivan for putting down this very important issue I accept that overcrowding is having an impact on the provision of services within the prison estate, and is having an impact on both prisoners and staff.  A lot of outstanding work is ongoing within our prisons that probably does not get enough recognition. This morning, I spent two hours at Mountjoy and D\u00f3chas. Three weeks ago, I visited Castlerea Prison for a full afternoon. In fact, I have visited every prison in the country with the exception of the Midlands Prison and Arbour Hill Prison, and I will be visiting them shortly. I take this opportunity to commend the Irish Prison Service and the staff on the outstanding work they do daily. This morning, I had an opportunity to look at the education services provided within Mountjoy and D\u00f3chas. It really is an excellent service, notwithstanding the pressures that overcrowding creates.  I am pursuing a dual approach to address the issue of prison overcrowding by increasing prison capacity and pursuing further measures to support the increased use of non-custodial sanctions. I have secured a record capital investment of \u20ac528 million for the Irish Prison Service over the next five years, of which \u20ac495 million will be invested to deliver one of the most significant capital programmes in the justice sector, with an overall target of delivering over 1,500 spaces by 2031.  The building programme, which is committed to 2031, will, as the Deputy has requested, include a large extension to the existing Cork Prison on the site of the old, decommissioned prison. It is important to state that this is not a new prison; it will be an extension to the current Cork Prison. I had the opportunity, with Deputy O'Sullivan, to visit Cork Prison last year. I was very impressed with the commitment and professionalism of the Prison Service and the prison staff there. I am conscious that we need this extension.  There will also be a new block in Wheatfield and an additional block extension at Midlands Prison. This is in addition to spaces at Castlerea, Mountjoy and the D\u00f3chas Centre, where an extension to Rowan House is expected to accommodate 50 women prisoners. I visited D\u00f3chas today and saw another extension that had been put in by using office space. It is a fantastic extension and shows the work that has been done in the past year.  The proposed project for the extension to the existing Cork Prison is still at an early planning stage but preparation works will start early next year. The extension on the old, decommissioned Cork Prison site will be a large extension of the function of the existing prison and will provide prison spaces for approximately 100 women and 230 men. This will improve efficiency. As the Deputy will be aware, the former Cork Prison ceased to operate as an operational prison in February 2016 but the site provides an opportunity for the Prison Service to extend.  As the project progresses, there will, of course, be community engagement as part of the planning process. I hope that consideration will also be given to community benefit as part of the project as matters progress. With regard to Cork Prison, I should also mention the excellent educational work that is provided by the Dillon\u2019s Cross Project, which celebrates its 30th anniversary. The project provides vital educational and social support to the partners and families of prisoners. That is an example of the excellent work that is done for community benefit arising from the prison. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan  We are all aware that this prison extension is going to happen but I welcome the confirmation from the Minister. It is unfortunate that the plan for it to be delivered extends to 2031, which is the best part of five years away. While I understand that these things take time, I hope that if everybody puts their shoulder to the wheel, that could be shortened.  I welcome the fact the proposal is to go forward for planning. When it comes to the design level, we will do what we can to work with the communities that live nearby in terms of designing a prison that can fit in well with the community that is already there.  My real motivation for raising this is to hammer home the community benefit side of things. It is imperative that fair consideration is given. I know the Minister is not an architect or an engineer, that he will not be designing the prison, and that it will be done by professionals in the Prison Service or hired by the Prison Service but I need to hammer home that the community needs to see a dividend out of that. I would hope the Minister's words here will be passed on to the people who will be designing the scheme when it is put forward. It is about something substantial for the community. On the northside of the city, there is a clear lack of community buildings, amenities and so on. I am hoping that due consideration will be given. I hope that will be passed on to the governor of the prison and the people who will be tasked with designing the prison. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I am hoping, and it is intended, that we will start preparation works early next year in respect of the extension to Cork Prison. I am hoping and expecting that it will be completed in advance of 2031 and that it will be finished in the latter part of this decade. It is also important to point out that we have a good record in the Irish Prison Service in delivering extensions or new blocks on prison property very quickly. As I said to the Deputy, I was in Castlerea three weeks ago. Works started on a project there - the Grove - on 1 May 2025 and it is finished now. I turned the sod there three weeks ago for a further extension. The Prison Service is renowned within the sector as being very efficient at getting works completed very promptly. A further example of that is the works I saw this morning in the D\u00f3chas Centre. I also have to point out, however, that I did manage to secure an exemption from the Minister for public expenditure for six projects totalling 960 prison spaces and to move them straight to approval gate 2 pre-tender approval of the infrastructure guidelines, a measure which is expected to speed up delivery of these projects by 12 to 18 months. It also frees up capacity within the Irish Prison Service to progress projects.  The proposed extension on Cork Prison is to deliver new prison spaces for men and women. We will try to get that expedited as quickly as possible. I hear what the Deputy has said in terms of a community gain. Obviously there are restrictions in terms of a prison. It is not as though it is a housing estate where you can just put a unit in there but I will think creatively, and I am sure the Irish Prison Service will too, in terms of what can be done for the community. The educational services provided by the Prison Service for families outside of prison is one example of that. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Prison Service"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_44","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Animal Welfare","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-07\/debate\/dbsect_39","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_39","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_44","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  I thank and acknowledge the Minister for being here today. I have often spoken in this House about animal welfare, particularly puppy farms and the regulation of dog breeding. One of the things that we can agree on in this House is that Ireland is a nation of dog lovers. If the Minister goes down any street, he will find someone out walking their much-loved dog. They form a huge part of our homes and our families. Unfortunately, there are far too many people in this country who are not dog lovers, and, in fact, see dogs and puppies as a commercial opportunity. They will breed as many puppies as they possibly can to try to make unbelievable amounts of money in some instances. I was just looking on one of the websites that showed the most gorgeous pups. Some of them are going for approximately \u20ac2,500. Unfortunately, there are some people who will take whatever opportunity they can to make as much money out of pups and puppy farming. Therefore, that is where the Government comes in to regulate these operations. Unfortunately, the current legislation is not sufficient to regulate them properly or to put enough safeguards in place. What we have are instances where hundreds of breeding females could be on site with no statutory limits on the number of staff required to look after them. The conditions they are in are often absolutely horrific. That is a side of puppies that people do not see when they buy them. They do not see where that puppy came from and started its life and the awful conditions that the puppy may have potentially been born into.  I also tend to spend a lot of time looking on rescue Facebook and Instagram pages. These organisations do incredible work in filling in those gaps and ensuring that, where they can, they absolutely assist any puppies or any families looking for dogs who cannot be homed through normal means, or, when they are homed cannot live in a family home and have to be rehomed because the family cannot look after them. One of the things that I found very interesting when I was researching my Bill on this previously was when I spoke to behaviouralists and vets. When a dog with behavioural issues comes in to them, they can identify exactly which puppy farm that animal has come from because it is either genetic issues or issues with the environment. The environment that they were born into actually causes behavioural issues that stay with that pup, sometimes for their lifetime.  I brought this Bill forward in December 2025. I agreed and was very happy to agree to work with the Minister of State, Deputy Grealish, on it. We have a timed amendment on it. A commitment was made that we would work closely on the Bill to see if we could actually come up with something through consultation and engagement, something that will help protect and regulate puppy farms in order that we have much greater confidence in them. I want to see a cap on the number of dogs that can be on site and the conditions in which they are held. Could the Minister give me an update on any progress on that? I have had one meeting with the Minister of State but unfortunately there was no progress at that point. Could he provide me with an update with the progress that has been made, perhaps in relation to the stakeholder group, the public consultation and where he sees this legislation going forward? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Martin Heydon)  I thank Deputy Whitmore for raising this important matter. I thank her for facilitating it being moved to today so that I could take it myself, which I wanted to do. I also thank the Minister of State, Deputy Grealish, for having taken the Bill in my absence the last time it was discussed. Animal welfare in general comes under the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine but, as the Deputy will be aware, it was a key commitment in the programme for Government to have a joined-up approach to dog control issues, something I fought for and advocated for during the negotiations on the programme for Government. This was to ensure that we would have that joined-up approach to dog control issues, legislative and policy responsibility for the Control of Dogs Act and the Dog Breeding Establishments Act and have that transferred from the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht to my Department. That happened on 1 June 2025 and 1 August 2025, respectively.  Regarding dog welfare, the dog control stakeholder group was established in 2024 with a remit to consider policy and legislative matters, specifically the dog control Acts and the Dog Breeding Establishments Act and consider any need for legislative change. Three sub-groups of a stakeholder group were established to focus on specific areas relating to dog control and welfare. I expect a report to be submitted to me from that group very shortly. In the interim, I have been working on reviewing all of the legislative enforcement and engagement issues relating to the control of dogs. I intend to bring forward specific legislation in relation to dog breeding establishments very shortly, which will then go through the full rigours of the legislative process here, as committed to.  The Dog Breeding Establishments Act, as it exists, provides a robust regulatory framework for the licensing, monitoring and inspection of dog breeding establishments by local authorities, where a serious and immediate threat exists to public health or animal health and welfare for the closure of such establishments. Dog breeding establishments guidelines were establishment under section 15(4) of the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010 following a public consultation process in 2018. It came into effect on 1 January 2019. These guidelines aim to provide for welfare of dogs and pups, provide clarity on socialisation of pups, and accurate record-keeping. It stipulates staff to animal ratios and allows for unannounced inspections by local veterinary services and beyond. The guidelines are published and are available on my Department's website. It is important to note that dog breeding establishments must comply with the relevant health and safety legislation. Dog breeding establishments must also comply with relevant animal welfare legislation such as the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013.  Under the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010 local authorities are required to maintain and publish lists of dog breeding establishments and my Department collates this information to form a national dog breeding establishment register.  However, as the Deputy outlined today and previously, the practices that are happening at present in this space are unsatisfactory. I share the Deputy's determination to bring about a change here. It was why in the negotiations for the programme for Government I wanted whoever was Minister in this position now to have the ability to bring those together and I am delighted I have the opportunity to do that and to work with colleagues in the House, including Deputy Whitmore.  I was a member of the joint Oireachtas committee on agriculture from 2011 to 2016 when the then Minister, Simon Coveney, brought in a consolidated animal welfare Act. However, we always have to strive to do better and keep a very close eye on what the practices of the day are. Deputy Whitmore has outlined some really concerning practices that are of grave concern to me.  The stakeholder group has done a huge body of work. I hope we can get its report very soon because I do not want to act in advance of that but I am really keen to move here. I agreed to the timed amendment to Deputy Whitmore's Bill on the basis that there were a few elements of it I wanted to work through on my side but I believe we are both trying to achieve the same thing. There are some constraints I would be happy to discuss with the Deputy in the House and on Committee Stage as well as we work through what is possible legislatively and legally and what is not. I have a clear determination in this space. I hope to bring forward legislation very soon this year and to be able to work through that legislative process on reform. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  I thank the Minister. I appreciate his answer and clearly this is something he wants to drive strongly forward, so I look forward to working with him on it. It is a really important piece of work and I have always wondered why there was never any previous moves to strengthen it. It is good to hear the Minister is taking that seriously and I look forward to hopefully seeing the results and report from the stakeholder group because it is important it is taken into account in the legislation. We will wait for that process to follow.  I want to use my last minute to raise another animal welfare issue that I am finding quite disturbing at the moment. That is the number of instances of sulky racing and the impact on the horses involved in that activity. I have been sent and have seen some absolutely horrific videos of horses. One was on the N7 recently where there were five or six cars directly behind two horses that were being forced to race and the cars were flashing their lights and sounding their horns. Those horses must have been absolutely terrified to be chased in that manner on a motorway.  For the life of me, I cannot understand it. This is not the first instance; it quite frequent. There was the instance of that poor pregnant horse, Anne, that died recently following a sulky race. I just do not understand why there has not been a tightening up on these races. They have been prohibited since 1993 but we see them so often. There are certain animal welfare issues we have to stop completely. We cannot have instances where horses a being treated so inhumanely on our streets in broad daylight. There does not seem to be any stopping it. Can the Minister give me some update on what his Department is doing and what consultation he has had with An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na on this issue? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  In trying to prepare for this debate, I was not sure which element of horse welfare and dog welfare the Deputy would raise. I will amend what I will say on the basis of the targeted nature of her question. We have done a lot in the area of equine control and supporting equine charities and animal welfare charities in general in terms of the work I do in my Department as well as on supporting the different elements. We have a number of urban horse projects and so on and they are really positive. From 2015 to date, we have spent about \u20ac2.1 million on urban horse projects, and \u20ac170,000 was allocated for these projects in 2026. My Department would welcome submissions from local authorities on other projects.  The Deputy specifically mentioned sulky racing, which I have huge concern about. It is important to say that responsibility for animal welfare rests with the owner of the animal and the person whose care the animal is in. Sulky racing on roads comes under the Department of Transport and, as the Deputy said, the Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na as well. My Department does work in the area of enforcement. We have the legislation around harness racing on roads. We have to be able to identify the organiser and that is difficult to do in many instances. It is the organiser who is liable in that regard. I am having engagement with my colleague, the Minister for Transport, while also looking at it from the justice side as well because I am deeply uncomfortable with the images we have seen on our motorways, which are completely unacceptable. It is lawlessness. It is not appropriate behaviour. From an animal welfare perspective, it is absolutely terrible. It is also a road safety issue on many fronts. It is something that is not acceptable to me and something I hope, through working with colleagues in government, we can have further action on. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar athl\u00f3 ar 7.06 p.m. go dt\u00ed 2 p.m., D\u00e9 M\u00e1irt, an 12 Bealtaine 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The D\u00e1il adjourned at 7.06 p.m. until 2 p.m. on Tuesday, 12 May 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Animal Welfare"}]}}]},"contextDate":"2026-05-07"},{"debateRecord":{"house":{"showAs":"34th D\u00e1il","committeeCode":"","houseCode":"dail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/house\/dail\/34","chamberType":"house","houseNo":"34"},"chamber":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/def\/house\/dail","showAs":"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann"},"lastUpdated":"2026-07-02T02:10:47+00:00","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-06\/debate\/main","formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-06\/debate\/mul@\/main.xml"},"pdf":null},"date":"2026-05-06","counts":{"contributorCount":168,"divisionCount":1,"debateSectionCount":16,"questionCount":0,"billCount":3},"debateType":"debate","debateSections":[{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-06\/debate\/dbsect_2","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions","counts":{"speechCount":58,"speakerCount":9},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I welcome the public in the Gallery to our session. I will now take Leaders' Questions under Standing Order 38. I call Deputy Mary Lou McDonald. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  The urgent need for an emergency budget grows by the day. In the past week, we have had report after report all saying the same thing: this crisis is getting worse. This morning, we heard that rising prices hit the average household by close to \u20ac2,000 a year. Families are under huge pressure to keep up with the cost of groceries, fuel, insurance and energy bills, and \u20ac2,000 is a lot of money for those working families. For many, it is the difference between staying afloat or going under.  The big question everyone is asking is: what is the Taoiseach waiting for? How bad do things have to get before he wakes up and acts? What happened on Friday last should be a loud wake-up call for his Government. PrepayPower, Ireland's largest pay-as-you-go energy provider, announced sharp hikes in its electricity and gas prices. Nearly 250,000 customers will see their average yearly bill shoot up by almost \u20ac300 and that is only the start. More increases are on the way.  We already have the highest electricity prices in Europe, which was confirmed by Eurostat today. We pay \u20ac480 a year more compared to the EU average. Other suppliers will hike their prices in coming weeks, and why would they not? The big energy companies have nothing to fear from the Government. It has not laid a glove on them. It has taken no action to get prices down and its gutless, carte blanche approach and refusal to rein in these companies has left us with the highest electricity bills in Europe, bills that are landing now and have pushed more than 300,000 households into arrears. People are sick of the Government standing back as they take hit after hit. It will not take on the energy companies to get the prices down. It will not provide energy credits to help households with bills and it pushes back against the immediate need for an emergency budget. We have a do-nothing Government led by a do-nothing Taoiseach.  As prices go through the roof, the Government leaves people in desperate situations - stress, worry, cutting back, going without and working hard but still struggling for the basics - but it has the resources to act. The surplus provides room to help but the Government's message to the working people of Ireland is to struggle on, make do and wait for next year's budget as the bills pile up. This is not just a bad political choice; this is, in fact, a dereliction of the Taoiseach's duty to the people who keep this country going. T\u00e1 tuilleadh arduithe ar phraghsanna leictreachais os \u00e1r gcomhair amach, ach t\u00e1 Fianna F\u00e1il agus Fine Gael f\u00f3s s\u00e1sta su\u00ed siar agus faic a dh\u00e9anamh. T\u00e1 c\u00e1inaisn\u00e9is \u00e9igeand\u00e1la agus creidmheasanna fuinnimh ag teast\u00e1il l\u00e1ithreach.  The time for lame excuses is over and the time for action is now. An emergency budget is not just another call from Sinn F\u00e9in. It is essential to help prevent households from going to the wall. Energy credits are vital to help families cope with runaway electricity prices. It boils down to this. The Taoiseach can either deliver an emergency budget, provide the energy credits, give households the lifeline they desperately need, or he can stand back and continue to do nothing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  N\u00ed aonta\u00edm in aon chor leis an Teachta. T\u00e1 an-chuid d\u00e9anta ag an Rialtas go dt\u00ed seo, idir an ch\u00e1inaisn\u00e9is a bh\u00ed againn agus an pac\u00e1iste a d\u2019fhoilsigh muid coic\u00eds \u00f3 sh\u00edn, chun an br\u00fa at\u00e1 gan dabht ar theaghlaigh agus ar mhuintir na h\u00c9ireann a \u00edsli\u00fa agus a laghd\u00fa. Mar aon leis sin, t\u00e1 an-chuid infheist\u00edochta curtha isteach againn i seirbh\u00eds\u00ed oideachais, sl\u00e1inte agus i go leor seirbh\u00eds\u00ed eile.  I just want to say at the outset that the Government from the budget onwards has focused on investment in services and alleviating pressures on families, and will continue to do so. We acknowledge that there are significant pressures on people because of a range of issues, not least the impact on fuel prices arising from the Middle Eastern war, which follows the tariff issue and which follows the situation with the invasion in Ukraine, and the post-Covid inflationary cycle that occurred then, which was at 10%. One of the challenges here is how to respond properly, sensitively and in a targeted way that also maintains economic balance and proportion. What I mean by that is that if we were to take the Sinn F\u00e9in budgetary package that it put forward at the last budget, and if we were to add the \u20ac3 billion and more, we would be looking at inflation rates of about 5% or 6% in our economy. That is the reality of it. You have got to be careful. You can keep spending more and more money every month but it will have an inflationary impact and we will be chasing inflation. That will not alleviate pressures on working families because when inflation gets higher, it is those on the lowest incomes who will suffer the most. We have to be extremely targeted in how we do things, both sectorally and in terms of low-income groups. Remember we have reduced VAT already in terms of electricity charges down to 9% and we are going to maintain that out to 2030. That just gets ignored when the Deputy lists everything.  We announced a \u20ac755 million to \u20ac770 million package recently to alleviate the pressures on the public and, indeed, on crucial sectors around food production and around haulage, and on many thousands of workers working in those sectors. Also, as we were doing that, we have increased expenditure on education by \u20ac646 million additional to the budget. We have choices here. You cannot have it each way and every way. We are keeping a focus----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  The sums are wrong in the budget. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----on those services. If you keep spending billions now, you will not have the money for education, special education, childcare reductions and health services. You will not have the funding for all of that at the next budget or, indeed, for next year.  On what we have done so far, we extended and increased the fuel allowance and we expanded it in terms of the number of people it covers, particularly those on the working family payment. The minimum wage has increased significantly. We have deferred the carbon tax increases and we have a variety of packages for a range of sectors. Our social welfare payments went up \u20ac10 in the last budget. It has come under huge pressure since then, and I acknowledge that. We also put in record increases to child income support payments - the highest on record. That was a really significant and targeted message. The way the Deputy wants it is that she wants not to do that. She wants us to move away from that sort of targeting approach.  Then, in the context of the October budget, we will have available to us other mechanisms like tax and other measures that we can introduce that can benefit people to get them over the winter period, which is going to be a crucial period for all. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  The Taoiseach acknowledges on the one hand go bhfuil daoine is teaghlaigh faoi bhr\u00fa, that people are under pressure. He acknowledges the stress that people are living with daily.  I am sure the Taoiseach accepts the figures and facts presented to him of over 300,000 households in arrears, of energy prices, including gas and electricity, rising again and of people here already spending more than anyone else across Europe on their electricity costs. He acknowledges all of that but then when the obvious question is asked of him, which is what will the Government do to respond now in May, not next October or January, as these bills are landing and as families are under this level of pressure, the Taoiseach comes up blank. All he offers is spoof and distraction. Nobody is going to buy that because people have to live with the realities of the here and now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  When will the Taoiseach intervene? He really is a do-nothing Taoiseach----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  -----or else he is just so incredibly indifferent----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy's time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  -----to the reality of people's lives. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach will respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Does he listen to people? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call the Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Does he hear what people are living with? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy's time is up. Please comply. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  No disrespect to the Deputy and her party but she is the personification of spoof and bluster. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  If we had introduced the measures she advocates from last October, we would be looking at an inflation rate of close to 5%. That is by any yardstick or formula. That is the reality. We have already acted and the Deputy knows that. Some \u20ac750 million is not spoof; it is real funding that we have budgeted for and allocated in terms of the food production sector, farmers, contractors and the haulage industry. We have hundreds of thousands of people working in all of those sectors. It might be spoof to the Deputy because she is a Johnny-come-lately when it comes to the farming world----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Pardon me? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----but it is not spoof to the people benefiting from it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Says farmer Miche\u00e1l. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  In terms of the people who are going to benefit from it----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Silage, manure and cow dung. Was the Taoiseach out cutting the silage? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Please, Deputy McDonald. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Go away out of that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Exactly, the Deputy does not want to listen to anybody because she is incapable of listening to the truth. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank the Taoiseach. I call Deputy Bacik. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The bottom line is----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The bottom line is time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----the Deputy's approach all along on this------ "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Did the Taoiseach come in on his tractor? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Bacik is on her feet. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  Rising costs are blowing a \u20ac2,000 hole in average household budgets this year. That is in today's Irish Independent . The cost of food, health insurance and energy are all soaring. Ireland has the highest household electricity prices in the EU, as Eurostat has confirmed. The Government's words of sympathy for struggling families are meaningless because it is failing to take action to cut energy costs. It is hunting with the hounds and running with the hare and the hare has got its brains too, it seems. We saw a hare-brained notion from Deputy James O'Connor that nuclear power somehow represents a solution to the crushing cost of energy here but as the Deputy has not acknowledged, in countries with a planning system that actually works, nuclear still takes 15 years to come on stream at a minimum. The stakes for hard-pressed households and PAYE workers are just too high for this sort of public brainstorming exercise form Fianna F\u00e1il TDs.  We in the Labour Party welcome national conversations about energy security but not at the expense of actual delivery. Let us look at delivery. In Ireland, we are still at best four years away from delivering any offshore wind energy. That delay is due to lack of Government ambition and government focus. It is deeply regrettable because unlike nuclear, wind power offers feasible, scalable projects. Other countries have led the way on renewables. Let us take Spain, a European leader. More than half of Spanish electricity is generated from renewables. Its government, a labour government, saw which way the proverbial wind was blowing four years ago when Russia mounted its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Spain rapidly ramped up renewable energy capacity, achieving 75% low-carbon electricity generation last year. Solar and wind power are significantly lowering energy bills in Spain. Why are we not doing the same? Our climate boasts plenty of wind but without turbines it is going to waste. As a result, people here are wasting hard-earned money filling the coffers of oil and gas giants. Households here pay \u20ac500 more per year for electricity than the EU average. Why does the Government not focus on rapid delivery of renewables? Instead of delivery, it seems that Fianna F\u00e1il are the Don Quixote of Irish politics; it is frightened of windmills. What else can explain the delay? There is so much more we could do. It is not just wind energy; there is also plug-in solar and enhanced battery capacity. Renewables can drastically reduce household bills. We need them to cut emissions and meet climate goals too.  The Government is failing to insulate people from the cost of energy now and failing to ensure the future of our younger generations. Its go-to solution for energy shocks is subsidies for fossil fuels and energy companies are reaping windfall gains. Where is the windfall tax that could fund targeted energy credits, as Labour has sough,t and where is the climate action plan for 2026? It was due in January and still has not appeared. When will we see the Government take action on renewables to cut costs for struggling households? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy mentioned that Spain was at 50% renewables for electricity generation. Last February, 50% of our electricity generation was renewable. I believe the Deputy is misleading the House in her political characterisation of the Government in respect of renewables. We have been driving renewables for quite some time over successive Governments. In terms of offshore wind, I established a clearing house in my Department that meets with the industry, Departments and regulators to remove systemic potential barriers to offshore wind delivery. We have had a series of auctions. We have a number of offshore wind farms in the planning process. Surely the Deputy must know that. While she exaggerates and makes silly statements about Don Quixote and all that nonsense, it is far too serious for that. She says she is interested in national conversations and then lambastes Deputy O'Connor for initiating a national conversation. Where is the consistency in that approach or the logic in what she is saying?  France is a good example where there is a combination of sources, with nuclear being one. It will take time but we have to have these serious conversations and examinations. I made it very clear last weekend that our main focus was on offshore wind, and we have made substantial progress on onshore wind. The reason for the high cost of electricity in Ireland is, yes, an isolated grid with a lack of interconnection. We have two gas interconnectors to Britain and we are on the cusp of completing an interconnector with France. We have also initiated discussions with Spain about an interconnector with it because Europe needs a comprehensive grids package to reduce our historic dependence on imported fossil fuels. We rely substantially on imported gas, which increases and exacerbates the price situation in Ireland vis-\u00e0-vis other countries. In purchasing power parity in the European Union, we are the fifth highest, which is too high. Structural reform is the way to deal with that but that will take time. There is no point in pretending it will not. We have our offshore wind targets to 2030 and 2040 of up to 20 GW and I believe we can achieve that. If the Deputy talks to those in the industry, they acknowledge that Government is engaging proactively on that topic. However, we also have to alleviate pressure. The Deputy scoffed at the idea of subsidies for fossil fuels. At the moment, people need supports. I am surprised. Is the Deputy now against what we did in subsidising the costs for people out there motoring or involved in our trade, or in farming and agricultural matters? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  Things are serious. They are serious for the many thousands of families and households in arrears on their energy bills. They are far too serious to be toying around with distractions about nuclear power when we know the solution lies in the scalable projects of renewables. The Taoiseach speaks about a Government focus on renewables, but it is clearly evident, particularly since the Green Party left government, how there has been a slowdown in Government commitments on climate and on renewables. Last week almost 60 countries met in Colombia for intensive talks to forge a roadmap to phase out fossil fuels. Ireland's decision to send a senior civil servant rather than the climate Minister speaks volumes. The Government is not taking this seriously. I used Spain as the example. Let us look at the Eurostat figures. Last year, Irish electricity cost 40.42 cent per kWh. That is 40% over the European average and well above the Spanish cost of 24 cent. The figures speak for themselves. The figures for the households in arrears speak for themselves and we know the answer. In opposition, we supported the MARA legislation, but there is still no urgency on rolling out renewables to help struggling households. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It is a big political untruth to suggest that since the Greens left, we somehow reduced our commitment to renewables. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  It is evident. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It is a deliberate misrepresentation for political purposes, and that is all, but it is false and it is untrue.  Since this Government was formed we have established a clearing house, which my good colleague, the former Minister Eamon Ryan, refused to do, although industry wanted to engage. The one difference we have made here is to facilitate the engagement of industry to stop the them-and-us approach and work systemically on the barriers to successfully deploying offshore wind farms. We are making progress. There are significant challenges globally in that respect, with supply chain issues and the United States approach to wind. We are in a good position in terms of the auctions we have already held and the submissions to An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la that have already occurred. We have had engagements with MARA and with An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la. The Critical Infrastructure Bill will be very significant in enabling us to prioritise----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The time is up. Thank you, Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----what is a critical issue for the country----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call Deputy Holly Cairns. The time is up. Thank you, Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----namely, the development of offshore wind. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I have called Deputy Cairns. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. There is a constant dread that is now hanging over people\u2019s lives. It is a quiet, growing panic about whether they can make it to the next payday. We have more evidence today of the huge cost-of-living pressures people are under. A new survey in the Irish Independent confirms what we already know, which is that costs have soared again. Households are now spending on average an extra \u20ac2,000 per year just to get by. People who could never afford luxuries now cannot afford the basics. Everything they earn is swallowed up by skyrocketing rents, childcare fees, mortgage payments, and energy and grocery bills. As those people desperately tread water, this Government refuses to throw them a lifeline. Even when Eurostat tells us that electricity prices here are the highest in the EU, at nearly 40% above the average, the Government is still telling people to wait until the budget in October, or maybe even next January, to get any support. Does the Taoiseach realise how crushing that is to hear if you are already at breaking point? The Government has the resources to act; it is just choosing not to do so.  The Social Democrats have a comprehensive plan that could be adopted now, with targeted measures to support low- and middle-income workers who are now under enormous pressure, including a \u20ac400 energy credit targeted at households earning up to \u20ac70,000, a supplementary mileage scheme for essential workers like nurses and carers, and a \u20ac400 emergency cost-of-disability payment. As the Taoiseach knows, disabled people were struggling long before this energy crisis. Disability was meant to be a priority for this Government. What will it take for disabled people to be heard?  We need emergency supports today and solutions for tomorrow to protect households from future energy shocks. That is why we have proposed a \"solar for all\" plan that could be rolled out rapidly and would bring down costs instantly. It includes making solar panels free for the homes most at risk of energy poverty, doubling grants to \u20ac3,600, a new grant for battery storage and finally rolling out plug-in solar, which this Government has delayed for far too long. Imagine the difference it would make to people\u2019s lives if they could simply plug in solar panels from their balconies and watch their bills fall. These measures are practical and achievable, and would make a real difference, so why is the Government not doing any of this? The Taoiseach says he supports targeted measures and says this is an unprecedented crisis, so why will his Government not act like it and deliver the targeted support people need now? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  First of all, the Government has provided targeted support. The evidence is there in terms of the free school books at primary and secondary levels. That is a significant measure we have brought in, which this year again will assist many families with what was a major cost for those with children attending primary and secondary school. We have expanded the free hot school meals programme. We have expanded childcare and we need to do more on the childcare front. We have the \u20ac280 new baby grant, for example. Hospital inpatient charges were abolished. We have expanded free GP care significantly, particularly for children. In the most recent package, we have significantly provided for a reduction in diesel and petrol that will affect ordinary people.  That is immediate and that is happening. If it was not, their costs would be significantly higher. We have also provided packages for the transport sector of about \u20ac40 million per month. There is a \u20ac100 million worth of a fuel scheme for farmers, contractors and fishers. Of course, the diesel rebate increased to 12 cent per litre.  We expanded the fuel allowance and increased it to \u20ac38 per week. We expanded eligibility and brought in those on the working family payment. Now about 470,000 households benefit from that. The Deputy cannot ignore all that. She does not get to choose which measures Government has introduced to ignore, and just articulate a banal assertion that Government has done nothing. Just because the Deputy keeps saying Government has done nothing does not mean that is true. Clearly, Government has done a lot.  The reality is we have a budget in October. We do not know where this crisis is going or, indeed, the more medium-term consequences of it. We need to hold some resources in reserve for the winter period, at a minimum, and work out how best to systemically cushion the lowest income groups and those who need our support the most.  I support the Deputy's broad principle of targeting. I have challenged others in the House who do not support it but I do. In the budget, we have a far better range of measures so we can arrive at a balanced approach where we can give working people relief but where we can also target measures. We did that in the previous budget with child support payments, which were the highest on record, in terms of what we did there to try to eat into the issue of child poverty. We want to do that consistently over time. We also want to make sure we can reduce the cost of childcare and look again at what we can do in healthcare. Can we add to measures we have taken previously with HRT, free contraception and so on?  If the Deputy wants to blow everything today and spend \u20ac2 billion or \u20ac3 billion now, she might come back in July and say let us spend another \u20ac2 billion. By the time we get to October, there will be \u20ac5 billion or \u20ac6 billion spent. That is no way to run a country either. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  This is not about ignoring certain measures the Government has introduced but when I ask the Taoiseach about targeted supports for people who cannot pay their bills, in the context of an energy crisis and rising costs of 70% in a month for home heating oil, it is not that I have no regard for the free book scheme. For somebody watching, who is struggling to pay their bills, when the Taoiseach is asked about targeted energy supports for people who cannot pay their bills and he talks about the school book scheme, they despair.  In the context of these rising energy costs, the Taoiseach understands there is an energy crisis, understands we have energy costs that are 40% higher than the European average and understands how much people are struggling. How does he expect people to wait until October? We already had hundreds of thousands of people in arrears on their energy bills before this crisis. We already had disabled people out on the street protesting for an emergency disability payment. Even before that, we knew that one in five disabled people is living in poverty but the Taoiseach will not bring in any measures between now and the budget for these people who need help. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We invested an additional 20%, up to \u20ac500 million extra, in disability services. That is systemic, sustainable and something that will happen year on year. We increased the domiciliary care allowance for a second year in a row by an additional \u20ac20. We will do more in the forthcoming budget. If you look at the changes we have made to the fuel allowance scheme, a two adult household will benefit by about \u20ac2,300 per annum as a result of that. A lone parent family will benefit by up to \u20ac1,800. These are significant measures we are taking. We extended it because of the impact of the war in the Middle East, which has undoubtedly created huge pressures all round. The biggest issue is uncertainty about how long this crisis will last and the direction it will take in terms of the impact on fuel prices, which will then impact everything else.  We have to be very careful too of the inflationary impact of Government spending. If Government just allocates another \u20ac4 billion or \u20ac5 billion, that sounds great but it simply brings us to a 5% or 6% inflation rate, which would not be sustainable. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  In yesterday's Irish Independent newspaper, a headline read Ireland should seriously look at the option of nuclear power, says the Taoiseach. He said in Yerevan, and I quote the Taoiseach directly, \"we certainly should look at and examine options like nuclear power seriously.\" I asked the Taoiseach the exact same question in the Chamber two weeks ago.  His answer was that \"the direction of travel has to be in the renewables area\". He dismissed the Barryroe oil field. He defended the 2021 ban on oil and gas exploration. He cited the enormous costs on nuclear energy - that is the record - as a reason for caution. That position is on the record of this House in response to my question. Which is it? Is it the answer that the Taoiseach gave this Chamber two weeks ago or the answer that he gave the cameras in Armenia?  The contradiction continues. The Minister for Finance and T\u00e1naiste, Deputy Harris, says that nuclear energy should be considered with an open mind. The Minister for public expenditure, Deputy Chambers, has said that there is an argument for nuclear energy, that the argument is decades old and that we are now living in a different world. Billy Kelleher MEP, the President that would be, says that he would back a motion to overturn the 1999 ban at the Fianna F\u00e1il Ard-Fheis later this month. The Taoiseach's Ministers, MEPs and backbenchers are all moving in one direction, yet the 1999 ban remains law, the 2021 oil and gas exploration ban remains law and the Government has not introduced legislation to lift the nuclear prohibitions and does not have plans to reverse the exploration ban.  I made the point to the Taoiseach in this Chamber two weeks ago - it is on the record of the House that he did not deny it - that Ireland bans nuclear energy at home while it imports nuclear-generated energy directly from France through the Celtic interconnector. That is not climate leadership but policy contradiction, which is sitting unanswered on the record of this House. Ireland imports 86% of its energy, one of the highest dependence rates in Europe. Norway and the United Kingdom face the same markets - and the same pressures, indeed - but they produce energy; we import it. They have options; we have none, because of Government policy that has closed every door and dressed it up as Government policy.  Will the Taoiseach today in this House, on the record, commit to bringing forward Government legislation to lift the 1999 nuclear ban? Will he reverse the 2021 gas and oil exploration ban to allow Barryroe to be excavated? Will Irish families continue to pay the highest prices in Europe? Will the Taoiseach save his real answers for foreign summits? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  When the Deputy asked that question last month, I stressed the importance of renewable energy. In Armenia, I made it very clear that our immediate focus is on offshore wind. I pointed out the very significant progress we have made in respect of onshore wind and, indeed, solar. Solar is moving at pace in Ireland and I trust the Deputy is supportive of that. Deputy James O'Connor is introducing legislation which the Government will examine, along with the question of a legislative response in respect of nuclear, but we understand that it will take time. It is not going to immediately alleviate the pressures that people are under. One of the reasons we announced investment in a strategic reserve of liquefied natural gas, LNG, for example, was to deal with the security issue of energy supply. If anything were to happen to gas interconnectors through malign third-party actors, we would need a fallback. That got attacked as an anti-climate measure----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  It is. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----or was somehow portrayed as rowing back when, in fact, it was the very strong advice in the Department in respect of our vulnerability to anything happening to those gas interconnectors.  We are not connected yet to France so we are not yet importing nuclear. That has been delayed a bit, through no fault of the Government or anything like that. I take the Deputy's point that once that connection happens, we will, to all intents and purposes, be importing energy generated through France's nuclear capacity. If we connect to Spain in the fullness of time, it would more likely be renewable of one sort or another, given the prevalence of renewable in the Iberian Peninsula.  I believe we should have a serious examination of nuclear because we need to work out costs and timelines. There have been advances in technology in the smaller reactors and so on, and I am all for that.  Barryroe has been around a long time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  So has the Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Not quite as long as Barryroe, although I do travel the length and breath of the Barryroe parish.  The oil issue has been around for a long time. Successive companies - this is the only point I will make in respect of it - did not feel the capacity was there or were not in a position to bring it to the surface and so on. It did not appear at any stage to be economical through its a long history. I am not an expert on that. We are very clearly focused on the renewable agenda and have made huge progress in this country. If we are honest, fossil fuels have impacted negatively on the world for a long time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  I thank the Taoiseach. What he has done in this Chamber is exactly what he did in Armenia, namely he said a great deal while committing to nothing. Within the past hour, the Taoiseach has twice referenced renewables and connecting to Spain. It is worth putting this on the record of the House because people hold up Spain as the great renewable energy country. Renewable energy in Spain is at 21% while its nuclear energy is at 20%. If we connect to Spain, which is the Taoiseach's plan, we will take nuclear energy from it. We have to admit there is a policy deficit here. We are looking at taking nuclear energy from a foreign body but there is a ban in the Government's legislation on such energy.  We have spoken about Barryroe. We have been back and forth on it. Deputy Collins has been brilliant in speaking about Barryroe. Lift the ban, let them drill and let them decide. Let them see if there are 1.6 billion barrels of oil in that oil field. Let us take that because we realise we will be stuck with that type of energy for the next decade. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for his commentary. I am consistent. We should examine the issue of the potential of nuclear power given the changing technologies and how technology has advanced. However, our first priority in the here and now is renewables, including wind, solar and anaerobic digestion. We have made a lot of progress on those fronts, in particular solar latterly. Industry, in particular, has adopted solar, be it rooftop or in farms adjacent to major factories. There has been a very successful outcome.  On the accelerated EU proposals for greater EU level co-ordination, the EU grids package is key. That means connecting to Europe more and more and Europe developing strong grid connection to give it energy security and independence. The biggest negative impact on Europe is this energy question. We have had numerous crises going back over five decades and we need to make sure the next five decades are not similar. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-06\/debate\/dbsect_3","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 na Comhalta\u00ed Eile - Other Members\u2019 Questions","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mattie McGrath  With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I welcome the members of Rotary Club of Clonmel to the Gallery, along with Councillor Richie Molloy.  Yesterday, along with Councillor Niall Dennehy and Councillor M\u00e1ir\u00edn McGrath, I met the new superintendent in Clonmel, James Hallahan. There is a deep sense of frustration at the ongoing neglect of County Tipperary regarding Garda numbers and Garda presence. We discussed all of the concerns, and he was forthright and we spoke the truth. The numbers are scary. It is not possible to operate a safe policing presence with the numbers we have. This has been going on for a number of years. So far this year, Clonmel in the Tipperary-Clare division, which was a disastrous move, got only one new Garda recruit while at the same time we lost one of the recruits from last year who did not stay in the job, which is okay as people might want to leave. Our message was clear. We need a Garda presence, Garda visibility and a timely Garda response when people need it.  No police force in the world can police without the support of the public, and we have that here. I always support An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. It is clear that we do not have the numbers to provide responses. Without additional garda\u00ed, there cannot be a response. Garda\u00ed in Cahir, Tipperary town, Carrick-on-Suir, Cashel and Clonmel do not have the numbers to send out a squad car. It is scary and it is not good enough. The public deserve and expect resources.  On a dark night last November, a convoy of four vehicles came from a neighbouring county and proceeded to rob numerous houses and businesses. One businessman frightened them off and followed them. That was his mistake. He was on the road and was on to the Garda station for 45 minutes but received no assistance.  He said he would drive to Cashel town Garda station and he was advised not to as there were no members there. He was then advised to drive to the Circle K for safety, light and visibility and where there are CCTV cameras. This is not good enough. What is the Taoiseach going to do to increase the numbers because they are not there? The garda\u00ed are doing a good job and I salute them and support them but they need proper numbers. It is not safe for them.  The last Garda Commissioner under this Government and previous governments really did a lot of damage to An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. I had great hopes for the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, but his behaviour during the peaceful protests recently - and the Taoiseach's own - in wanting to put the garda\u00ed in a situation with the riot police and everything else against ordinary decent people, did not help the morale of the public and in supporting the Garda. They support the Garda always and want to, and these people will and do. The heavy-handed tactics reminded me of the heavy-handed tactics of Fine Gael back in 1973 to 1977. It was shocking the way they were treated. We need extra numbers in Tipperary and in Clonmel especially. The antisocial behaviour is out of hand there. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising what is a very important issue. The Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, and the Government are very strong in terms of increasing the number of garda\u00ed. We have committed very substantial resources and we want to maintain those resources to continue to increase the number of garda\u00ed going into Templemore for training. The cohorts of over 200 trainees are now entering Templemore regularly. In the first intake of this year, 215 recruits entered Templemore and 209 trainees entered the college on Monday, 4 May 2026. As of the end of March, there is a total of nearly 14,500 thousand garda\u00ed across the State. That is up 13% since 2015. The numbers are coming in. I understand the Deputy's concern in terms of those numbers then translating into County Tipperary, and into Clonmel, but we will get around. Quite substantial numbers have gone into cities and they have made a big difference. It is the intention of the Commissioner to substantially increase the number of garda\u00ed in given towns like Clonmel and elsewhere as the garda\u00ed continue to come through. People were talking earlier about Government expenditure and so on. To keep this at a very high level, we need to maintain and ring-fence the expenditure for that. I think that is something everybody wants.  Operation Thor, which is dealing with rural crime, has been operating since 2015, and I understand burglaries have come down 75% since 2016. An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na is making a lot of progress and does enjoy the confidence of the public. I agree we need more numbers in Tipperary and we will allocate as soon as numbers come out of Templemore in line with the operational and strategic planning of the Garda Commissioner. We have also been working on freeing up garda\u00ed. There has been a significant increase in Garda civilian staff, which has freed up about 900 garda\u00ed for front-line duties as a result of that particular initiative. We will continue to work with communities, the chambers of commerce across the country and business groups with a view to supporting them in protecting their goods and their services from crime, and also in working collectively with communities on what is the best overall planning approach to reducing crime and protecting people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mattie McGrath  When will the Government have a measurable number of garda\u00ed to put into rural towns and counties - I am talking about Tipperary here - and will he commit today to a specific plan to restore Garda numbers to Tipperary? I am not sure about this calling 999. Every person now is being told, and I heard this in my meeting yesterday, to ring 999. There is no replacement for connectivity with the local Garda, the garda on the beat and community garda\u00ed. I salute Garda Fiona Gleeson in Clonmel and her other three colleagues, and Sergeant O'Leary in the community policing section. That is badly needed. They do a great job but they do not have enough of them. They are pulled off the community unit every other time there is an issue and shortages. An amount of time is wasted in courts and on other situations that they should not be dealing with. We have to move on here and get the garda\u00ed out on the beat meeting the people and standing with the people, and they will stand with the garda\u00ed. However, at the moment we do not have the supports and there is antisocial behaviour. Sulky races are another huge problem. There was a march about it on Saturday in Clonmel. It is a huge problem. We must have more resources for our garda\u00ed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank Deputy McGrath. Time is up. The Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We are providing very substantial resources to An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. There has been substantial change in terms of the recruitment processes. We have increased recruitment age and training allowance, shortened recruitment timeframes, reform of the physical competency test and the introduction of the assessment-centred approach to elements of recruitment. We had two recruitment campaigns in 2025, and likewise again in 2026. The numbers are increasing, but they need to increase more. We need to be very consistent in the allocation of resources to the Garda recruitment programme, but also more broadly in terms of equipment and supports to An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, which we are doing. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 na Comhalta\u00ed Eile - Other Members\u2019 Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-06\/debate\/dbsect_4","debateType":"orderofBusiness","bill":null,"showAs":"An tOrd Gn\u00f3 - Order of Business","counts":{"speechCount":83,"speakerCount":26},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_4","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Edward Timmins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Mary Butler)  I move:  Wednesday 's business shall be:  - Motion re Proposed approval by D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann of the Convention Establishing an International Claims Commission for Ukraine (to conclude within 60 minutes)  - Statements on the Scoping Exercise in response to requests from Dignity4Patients on behalf of victims and survivors of Michael Shine (to conclude within 60 minutes)  Wednesday 's private members' business shall be the Motion re Dublin City Flat Complex Retrofit and Regeneration, selected by Sinn F\u00e9in.  Thursday's business shall be:  - Statements to mark Europe Day (to conclude within 2 hours and 25 minutes)  Thursday 's private members' business shall be the Motion re Cost of Living Mini-Budget, selected by the Labour Party.    Proposed Arrangements for this week\u2019s business:    In relation to Wednesday's business, it is proposed that:  1. notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders:  (a) Parliamentary Questions to the Taoiseach pursuant to Standing Order 47(1) shall not be taken, and Government business shall commence at the time when Parliamentary Questions to the Taoiseach would normally be taken;  (b) private members business shall be taken following the Statements on the Scoping Exercise in response to requests from Dignity4Patients on behalf of victims and survivors of Michael Shine;  (c) Parliamentary Questions to a Minister pursuant to Standing Order 47(1) shall not be taken; and  (d) topical issues shall be taken on the conclusion of private members business;  2. the proceedings on the Motion re Proposed approval by D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann of the Convention Establishing an International Claims Commission for Ukraine shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 60 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply thereto:  (a) the order of speaking and allocation of time shall be as follows:-  \u2014 opening speech by a Minister or Minister of State \u2013 10 minutes;  \u2014 speeches by representatives of Sinn F\u00e9in, the Labour Party, Social Democrats, Independent and Parties Technical Group, and Independent Technical Group \u2013 7.5 minutes per party or group;  \u2014 speeches by non-party\/group members \u2013 7.5 minutes in total;  \u2014 a speech in response by the Minister \u2013 5 minutes; and  (b) members may share time; and  3. the Statements on the Scoping Exercise in response to requests from Dignity4Patients on behalf of victims and survivors of Michael Shine shall not exceed 60 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply:  (a) the order of speaking and allocation of time shall be as follows:-  \u2014 opening statement by a Minister or Minister of State \u2013 10 minutes;  \u2014 statements by representatives of Sinn F\u00e9in, the Labour Party, Social Democrats, Independent and Parties Technical Group, and Independent Technical Group \u2013 7.5 minutes per party or group;  \u2014 statements by non-party\/group members \u2013 7.5 minutes in total;  \u2014 a statement in response by the Minister \u2013 5 minutes; and  (b ) members may share time.  In relation to Thursday's business, it is proposed that:  1. notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders:  (a) no motion for a Committee report pursuant to Standing Order 111 or private member's Bill pursuant to Standing Order 169 shall be taken;  (b) private members' business pursuant to Standing Order 168(1) shall be taken for 2 hours on conclusion of the Statements to mark Europe Day; and  (c) topical issues shall be taken on the conclusion of private members' business, and the D\u00e1il shall adjourn on the conclusion of topical issues; and  2. the Statements to mark Europe Day shall not exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply:  (a) the statements, not including the Ministerial response, shall be in accordance with the sequence contained in the table immediately below (to be read across);  (b) following the statements, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes; and  (c) members may share time.          Gov      SF      Lab      Gov      SF       Mins    25    15    10    10    3           SD      Gov      SF      IPTG      Gov       Mins    10    10    3    9    10           SF      ITG      Gov      SF      OM       Mins    3    9    10    3    5                       Total:      2 hours 15 mins      "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Are the arrangements agreed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  Not agreed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call Deputy Mac Lochlainn. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  Anybody watching the debate here in the D\u00e1il today must be scratching their head when they hear the Taoiseach talk about wind and solar. Does the Taoiseach know that there are turbines turned off in wind farms across this country because the electricity grid is not there? Does he know that offshore renewable energy policy is just not there? There is no strategy there. It is not happening. That is the reality. People need help now. We need an emergency budget now. The Government cannot expect the Opposition to agree to a schedule when it just brushes aside our calls for an emergency budget with an intervention. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call Deputy Duncan Smith. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  People need money in their pockets now with this crisis. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputies have 30 seconds each. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  Now that Ireland is lamentably at the top of the list in terms of the highest cost of electricity, and people are pinned to their absolute collar, there has to be an emergency debate and discussion for a mini-budget this week. We cannot agree to the Order of Business on those grounds. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call Deputy Farrelly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aidan Farrelly  Today, Social Justice Ireland has launched its national social monitor painting a very damning picture for young people in this country aged 18 to 24. Rising youth homelessness and decades of underinvestment in mental health services are just some of the issues. I ask for statements on these issues facing young people aged 18 to 24. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy. I call Deputy Boyd Barrett. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  On May Day - International Workers' Day of all days - this Government betrayed hundreds of thousands of pensioners in this country and sabotaged the democracy of this House by refusing to issue the money message for the retired workers Bill, which had passed Second Stage and pre-legislative scrutiny and would give pensioners the right to have a say over the fact that their pensions were slashed and have never recovered from the austerity cuts to pensioners. They campaigned for this. The Government announced this on Friday of all days. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy. I call Deputy Michael Collins. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  It is a disgrace. Those pensioners are furious. They are very angry. Will the Government at least explain to this House why it has done this to our pensioners? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy's time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  On 20 May, the people of this country doing short-term lets, Airbnb, etc., are supposed to sign up to a document. It is like a blank cheque. There is no legislation, despite being promised here for many years, never mind over the last number of months. I have been asking nearly every week for three months to bring the Minister before the D\u00e1il to explain the situation. Do not expect people on 20 May to sign a blank cheque. Surely be to God, the Minister can come before the D\u00e1il and explain what is going on. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  I noted all the comments and the Order of Business stands. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Is that agreed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Not agreed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  For decades, Dublin inner-city flat complexes like Oliver Bond flats have been failed by the State with families been forced to live in damp overcrowded flats and communities left to battle neglect, antisocial behaviour and organised crime alone. Dublin City Council agreed a regeneration plan to deliver safe modern homes for local families but yesterday, the Government pulled the plug. The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage blocked funding. Why? It was because some overcrowded flats were to be amalgamated to make them big enough for families to live in because the Government chooses to keep them in small overcrowded flats. Think about that. It is absurd, cruel and a betrayal of this community. The Taoiseach visited Oliver Bond flats in 2020, looked residents in the eye and promised regeneration. He must reverse this utterly disgraceful and disgusting decision and fully fund this project. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Government is absolutely committed to supporting regeneration projects submitted by Dublin City Council, including deep retrofit remedial works at older flat complexes. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is actively supporting viable regeneration proposals from Dublin City Council and will continue to do so. We are also continuing to invest heavily in regeneration across the capital city, particularly social housing flat complexes and estates, in a timely manner. I will raise the issue with the Minister as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  The Government pulled the plug on the Oliver Bond House project. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  If further engagement is required, it will not be here. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  The Taoiseach has misled the House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call Deputy Bacik.   "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  Today, parents from Ireland, including our Labour Councillor Ali Field, are travelling to Brussels to present a petition to the European Parliament and institutions asking them to investigate Ireland's failure to meet its legal obligations to children with additional needs. Under the Disability Act 2005, every child in Ireland is entitled to an assessment of need within six months. However, more than 21,700 children are now on waiting lists, overdue for assessments of need. The average wait time is two years and many parents, having battled for the assessments of need, are now battling for appropriate school places, therapies and supports.  The Government's record is abysmal. Families are being dragged through the courts, trying to have their children's basic needs met and there is the breaking of our own laws on this. It is a national embarrassment that families and parents have been forced to travel to the European institutions in Brussels today to present a petition on behalf of their children.  On behalf of Councillor Ali Field and the parents, what is the Government's response? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  As the Deputy will know, there are a range of responses to this. Apart from the fact that about 6,000 assessment reports were completed in 2025, which was a 45% increase on the previous year, nonetheless, current waiting lists are too high. The model and framework governing this is also wrong. We need a legislative change, which we are going to do, and we need operational change, workforce reforms, increased capacity and recruitment of the therapists, and the development of the school-based multidisciplinary teams, which are now going into the special schools in the first instance. All of those are a more effective way of deploying the therapy resources we have within the HSE and our education system. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  Six years ago, the Taoiseach visited Oliver Bond Street in my constituency. I can tell him the anger right now is palpable. The residents have been lied to and let down, and they live in homes that you would not put an animal in. There is damp, there is mould, there are windows rotting out of their frames and there are doors that are not able to close because they are so warped. There is antisocial behaviour that is not acceptable in any other part of the city. These families and the people who live in Oliver Bond House have been let down by the Government.  I am very disappointed. It beggars belief that it has even stated in response to Sinn F\u00e9in's Private Members' business today that it is going to work with Dublin City Council on Oliver Bond House, but it is not because it has just pulled the funding. There has just been a meeting where people were told, but it was in the media before the residents who live there had been told. It is an absolute disgrace.  Is the Taoiseach going to apologise and reverse this decision? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  First, I made a general statement that we are investing a huge amount of money on regeneration. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  The Government pulled the funding. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  On the specifics of Oliver Bond House, the Deputy said just today something happened with communication between the Department and the residents or the city council. I will engage with the Minister for housing on the matter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charles Ward  Will the Taoiseach address the position confirmed in writing by the Government, the Housing Agency and Donegal County Council that homeowners in the defective concrete scheme are required to agree to a remediation determination for their home without first being provided with full engineering evidence, including petrographic and material testing, on which it is based?  The Housing Agency has confirmed it has no issue with sharing the engineer's report and stated it could be accessed through FOI or data protection processes. Donegal County Council confirmed the report is issued to the applicant once it receives it and made available on the portal. However, the Government's position is that the report is not provided to the homeowner at that point of the determination and the issue does not form part of the decision stage. Will the Taoiseach explain the arrangement that it can be conceived without informed consent, where homeowners must agree to a process before seeing the evidence for the determination, and why access to evidence is left to FOI and data protection processes after the decision is required? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Again, I will engage with the Minister for housing on that. I presume the Deputy has been engaging with the Minister, so he must have a fair idea as to what his and the Department's perspective is. I do not see any issue with sharing data or material evidence with the homeowner. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  Ireland is the most expensive country in Europe for electricity. A total of 320,000 families are currently in energy arrears. Energy is not a luxury good; it is a staple. People have no alternative but to use energy, and reports have shown today that already, the increases in energy costs have taken about \u20ac2,000 out of people's pockets so far this year and that is going to get worse because it is forecast that electricity prices are going to increase.  Last year, ESB made \u20ac636 million in profits. It is a semi-State organisation that operates under the policy guidance of the Government. How is it acceptable that the ESB would make supranormal profits at a time of energy crisis for people? The ESB is making \u20ac300 in profit per family in this country. If we break it down to those people in arrears, the ESB levied \u20ac96 million worth of profits on the third of a million people who are in energy arrears in this country.  How is that acceptable? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  Will the Taoiseach mandate the ESB to reduce the level of profit during the energy crisis? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy's time is up. The Taoiseach will respond. It is pointless talking over me; the Deputy needs to prepare in time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  First, as I discussed earlier, the Government did take measures in the budget to try to protect people from increasing prices. If we look at the core payments alone in social protection, the increase in core payments, child support payments and the fuel allowance, we are looking at about \u20ac2,300 additionally provided out of the budget to a two-adult household, or indeed \u20ac1,800 to a lone-parent family. People are definitely, without question, under pressure and we are going to do everything we can to try to continue, as we did in the recent package two weeks ago, which is on top of the budge, to alleviate pressure in terms of fuel costs, including diesel and petrol----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  What about the profits of the ESB? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----and for agriculture, fishers and farmers.  In terms of the ESB, it obviously continues to invest in our energy system and so on but we will see what we can do. We can take back a dividend from the ESB and so on. It is open to Government to do that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere  We hear a lot about teacher shortages, and the Government rightly says it wants to attract experienced teachers home from abroad but the reality on the ground can sometimes tell a different story. Teachers returning from abroad, including places like Dubai, are finding that years and sometimes decades of experience simply are not being recognised on the incremental salary scale. The justification given is that this work was done in private schools, even where those schools operated under rigorous inspection and accountability systems. Quite frankly, this does not add up. On the one hand, we are asking teachers to come home and, on the other, we are effectively telling them that their experience abroad does not count.  There also appears to be inconsistency in how these rules are applied, which again can only add to the sense of unfairness and frustration. At a time recruitment and retention are already under pressure, this approach is not just unfair; it is counterproductive. Does the Taoiseach accept that the current system is asking as a barrier to teachers returning home? Will he commit to a clear review of how overseas experience is recognised so that policy matches the Government's stated ambition? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  To be fair to Government, we have invested hugely in teaching and the teacher training colleges. Numbers have increased exponentially over the past number of years in teaching in Ireland. I understand the issue in terms of returning and not receiving incremental credit. On the other hand, the issue needs to be examined more but we do not want to create scenarios where we incentivise too many leaving the system immediately.  In education, we have, had a stronger position historically than we have had in health in terms of professionals staying within our system, generally speaking but I get the sense of unfairness if someone has taught for four or five years in the United Arab Emirates and then comes back and does not get any incremental credit. I will ask the Minister to examine that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Callaghan  I am asking for increased State funding for supported care homes in my constituency of Carlow-Kilkenny. Supported care homes like Mount Carmel Supported Care Home, Callan, St. Fiacc's House, Graiguecullen and St. Lazerian's House, Bagenalstown, to name just three across the constituency that I have visited, provide a vital service to their communities, helping to prevent social isolation in elder years while maintaining an older person's independence. Without doubt, they truly are a home away from home.  Supported care homes, even though they are subject to Health Information and Quality Authority inspection and operate under HIQA standards, are, unlike nursing homes, deemed ineligible for funding through the previous residential safety improvement scheme and the current residential environmental enhancement, REE, scheme. They need to fundraise in the community to meet these costs. Can the Taoiseach review the eligibility for the current REE scheme so participation in the nursing homes support scheme ceases to be a requirement or introduce a separate funding scheme that supported care homes can avail of to help meet the financial costs of upgrades to their premises, improve resident comfort and meet regulatory standards? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. These are very significant centres and they do great work. About \u20ac3.5 million in recurrent funding is provided to about ten care homes in the south-east supported care homes. The Minister of State, Deputy Butler, enhanced that in 2024 with a \u20ac1.7 million increase in recurrent funding. A lot of work has been done in respect of it. We acknowledge the very significant role they play and, in fact, the role model they also represent in terms of different stages of care that people may require. We will keep that under review. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell  The Taoiseach has been in the D\u00e1il since before I was born and I am beginning to think he has become so out of touch that he does not see the hardship facing ordinary workers and families. Every single day in Galway, people tell me that the cost of living is too high and that the Government is doing too little. Then, today, we hear that we have the highest electricity prices in the EU, an outstanding 40% above the EU average. Why has the Taoiseach allowed this? Does he not meet people who cannot pay their electricity bills or afford home heating oil? Does he not speak to those people who struggle to fill their cars with petrol or diesel or to renters who can barely keep a roof over their heads? How can the Taoiseach stand over a situation where in a wealthy country with record surpluses, life is no longer affordable for ordinary people? What is he going to do about electricity prices? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I would not be here if I was out of touch. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell  Gabh mo leithsc\u00e9al----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I would not be here as long as the Deputy suggested if I was out of touch. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell  People are----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Le do thoil, a Theachta. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I ask the Deputy to please not be so arrogant and patronising----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----and almost presenting the idea that she is the only person - or Sinn F\u00e9in Deputies are the only people - who have a monopoly on empathy and compassion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell  Show it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, the rules are the rules. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  All of my life, I have been in touch with people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell  It does not seem like it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I understand the pressures that are on people. I do not need the Deputy's lectures in that regard. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Then do something about it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  The Taoiseach should answer the question. What is he going to do? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  He never answered the question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  Dublin Bus recently announced that it is going to introduce a bus tracking system to help it combat the issue of ghost buses. This will be really welcome because it will bring transparency and real-time information to bus users. Why is Go Ahead Ireland not required to implement a similar system? It would be incredibly useful. In my constituency of Wicklow, since Go Ahead Ireland was awarded contracts, we have had nothing but problems with buses not showing up, buses driving past people, buses not actually going on their required routes, or people with disabilities not being able to access the bus because the ramps do not work. It is problem after problem. I hear about this from people every week. It has not been resolved. I have spoken to Go Ahead Ireland about it. I have spoken to the Minister for Transport and the National Transport Authority and we are just not seeing improvement in the service. Having some level of transparency such as a bus-tracking system would absolutely shine a light on the difficulties people in Wicklow are facing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising that. That is an innovative approach and it is positive to develop a bus-tracking system. The Deputy is saying that not only should it be applied to Bus \u00c9ireann but to Go Ahead Ireland as well. I will speak to the Minister to ascertain from him the background to this and how it is going to evolve. I presume that, in the fullness of time, it will have to apply to all providers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  I raise the issue of IRES real estate investment trust, REIT. A number of renters from different complexes it has have been in touch with me. It is deeply alarming that IRES REIT, which is Ireland's largest vulture landlord, owning over 4,000 properties, is refusing tenants permission to replace a tenant who leaves in flat-share situation. The remaining tenant has been told they must pay the full rent. One tenant who is in touch with me is going from paying \u20ac1,000 per month to having to pay the entire apartment's rent of \u20ac2,000 per month. This is a new practice by IRES REIT to take advantage of the Government's new rental rules by getting around the no-fault eviction situation and it can let it out at full market rent. It is disgraceful, in a housing emergency, that our biggest landlords are allowing rooms to lie idle because they do not want them to be rented out so they can get all the tenants out the apartment and then bring in full market rents.  The Taoiseach said in the D\u00e1il in February: \"Existing tenancies will not be negatively impacted as a result of the changes in the rent rules.\" Here are existing tenants who are facing economic eviction as a result of the Government's new measures. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach to respond, Deputy Hearne. Prepare your question in time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  Will the Taoiseach intervene and stop IRES REIT engaging in this exploitation? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy will have to acknowledge that a very substantial part of those reforms was about protecting tenants. That should at least be acknowledged. I will speak to the Minister in respect of this practice, which was not intended in any shape or form, to see how we can deal with that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  I raise with the Taoiseach the situation in our prisons. Our overcrowded prisons are after reaching crisis point. I have complaints from prison staff going back over the past year or two on this issue. The situation in the Midlands Prison in Portlaoise is like a pressure cooker. It is unsafe for staff and vulnerable prisoners. It is vastly overcrowded, operating at over 120% capacity. It has capacity for 890 inmates but the number stands at just over 1,100. Prisoners are sleeping on bunks and mattresses on the floor. There are two prisoners in a cell with a toilet and no privacy.  This is leading to assaults on staff. There were 11 assaults on staff last year and 102 prisoner-to-prisoner assaults and 60 weapons seized. Assaults are up 23%. I have been told the job of staff is being made impossible and managing the situation is very difficult. There is a promise in the programme for Government for 1,500 additional places. When will we see those? When will we start using restorative justice more to divert people away from prisons and when will we see progress on those two issues? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising what is a very important issue. I know he will have a particular focus on Portlaoise as well as it is in his constituency. We do have a challenge with overcrowding in our prisons. There is very significant and good work going on in the areas of rehabilitation and youth justice programmes aimed at keeping people out of prison but the fact remains that some crimes must attract a prison sentence and some criminals need to go to jail. The Government and the Minister are acutely aware of the capacity constraints in our prisons and the resulting challenge faced by those who work and live in our prisons. The Minister is pursuing a dual approach to address the issue of capacity by increasing prison spaces and then pursuing further measures to support non-custodial sanctions. The Irish Prison Service is committed to preventing identified members of criminal gangs from conducting criminal activities while in custody and also to preventing them exerting inappropriate influence on other persons. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  Homelessness has doubled since June 2020 under the Taoiseach's watch. He will not ban no-fault evictions and we have the highest level of homelessness ever recorded. Today the residents of Oliver Bond flats are coming to terms with the Government's refusal to fund phase one of a long-promised regeneration project. This development has been beset for decades by damp, mould and severe antisocial behaviour. The Taoiseach visited it himself and committed to the regeneration. Now the Government and the Minister have pulled the plug. What in the name of God is going on? How can this be justified? Will the Taoiseach immediately go back and investigate this? If this regeneration is not carried out in the way that has been agreed with Dublin City Council, that development in Oliver Bond is not going to be able to be regenerated within, say, the next decade. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I will discuss this matter with the Minister for housing. I do not have the specifics in respect of the latest decision on the Oliver Bond complex. I will revert when I discuss it with the Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Edward Timmins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Edward Timmins  I met with the NTA in April 2025 and I was advised that the 132 bus service would double from four to eight buses a day at the end of April 2025. Since then, nothing has happened. I still have no clear explanation as to why. Expanding the bus service is part of the programme for Government. I ask that the current service, the only public transport for most of west Wicklow, be at least reliable. It is regularly cancelled. Second, on the proposed 199 bus from Glendalough to Bray, I was told last autumn that it was planning for commencement shortly. I was told in January that the procurement process was complete. My colleague on Wicklow County Council, Councillor Shane Langrell, has been constantly raising the proposed 199 bus from Glendalough to Bray. We owe him and the people of Wicklow an answer and a solution. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Over the years there has been significant expansion of bus services. I will have to talk to the Minister. There could be a resourcing issue. There are set budgets for all Departments. That was agreed at budget time in terms of the degree of expansion that could be entered into across the board. I will check what the position is in terms of the 132 bus service and the 199. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in  I understand the Taoiseach is aware of the situation where Gorey Hill special school, which was put in on a temporary basis on the campus of Gaelscoil Mosh\u00edol\u00f3g, where I worked prior to starting here, is now expanding across the remaining green areas of the Gaelscoil. It is basically a problem which has arisen due to the lack of forward planning by the Department and casual indifference. It is having a huge impact now on special education in north Wexford, as well as on Gaelscoil provision. There is a massive demand for both in north Wexford and south Wicklow. My school was happy to facilitate special education to cater for the huge demand, even giving up play areas, parking, storage, green spaces and full access to the hall. However, due to lack of forward planning the special school now needs to expand further and it will need to expand further in subsequent years, going by projections. There is a lot of concern in the area about this. Could the Taoiseach give a commitment that he or his Ministers will come down to Gorey to discuss this with all parties concerned and come to a conclusion that is suitable to both parties? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I think Deputy Malcolm Byrne would have been on about this as well as the Deputy. It is in Gorey. I do appreciate the work the Gaelscoil did in facilitating the location of the special school there. I certainly will talk to the Minister for education and see how we can progress this further. The Deputy is saying that the amenities and playing pitches the Gaelscoil has been enjoying are now under pressure because of the expansion of the special school. I presume there are plans afoot to provide a permanent premises for the special school. I will engage with the Minister in that regard. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  Fresh statistics released to me regarding primary care services in Mayo are very concerning. Last year only 31 out of 150 Mayo children under five years of age received psychology support. During Covid, when the Taoiseach was Taoiseach, speech and language therapists across the country were redeployed to vaccination centres and for contact tracing. As a result of this, in Mayo in 2021, only 400 children were seen in primary care for speech and language therapy supports. To put that in context, generally there are thousands of children seen in Mayo. Does the Taoiseach accept in hindsight that this was a mistake? Does he accept that many children suffered during those years? Does he accept that there is still immense pressure in relation to primary care, CDNTs and children waiting for crucial therapies across Mayo and many other counties? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Covid was an emergency. Before we got vaccination, people were dying and the fundamental objective of Government was to protect life and then to protect livelihoods. That was it, and all the stops had to be pulled out to enable us to do that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  The children can wait. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I do not accept that five years on the Deputy can casually, at such remove, make such statements as he just made. If we did not get vaccination, and I presume the Deputy supports vaccination, we would have been in deep trouble and continuing trouble as a country, and more and more lives would have been lost. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  And the children today? "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"An tOrd Gn\u00f3 - Order of Business"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-06\/debate\/dbsect_9","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/43","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/43\/dail\/1","houseCode":"dail","stage":"1","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na (Recording Devices) (Amendment) Bill 2026: First Stage (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na (Recording Devices) (Amendment) Bill 2026: First Stage","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Geoghegan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marian Harkin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Geoghegan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Geoghegan  I move:  That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na (Recording Devices) Act 2023 to require that public bodies provide members of Garda personnel access to publicly operated CCTV systems, without a full new authorisation being required, for the prevention, investigation, detection or prosecution of criminal offences; to allow members of Garda personnel to install and operate CCTV in designated high-crime areas; to provide for the preparation of draft codes of practice in relation to Garda access to publicly operated CCTV systems, and for the Minister to declare them by order to be codes of practice.  I welcome the opportunity to speak on our Fine Gael Private Members' Bill, which seeks to amend the Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na (Recording Devices) Act 2023. At its core, the Bill has two clear objectives: to reduce the administrative burden faced by garda\u00ed, and to better deter criminal activity in areas experiencing persistent crime, antisocial behaviour and vandalism. There is no village, town or city in Ireland that is untouched by crime. Every community has a fundamental right not only to be safe but to feel safe.  This Bill delivers on that in two important ways. First, it establishes a new, streamlined data-sharing framework between An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and public bodies in relation to CCTV footage. Under the current system, garda\u00ed must seek authorisation on a case-by-case basis, often involving lengthy and cumbersome court processes. This Bill replaces that with approved data-sharing arrangements, allowing garda\u00ed to access live or recorded footage for legitimate policing purposes in a far more efficient manner.  Second, the Bill introduces the concept of crime prevention zones. These are targeted, time-limited areas designated where there is a clear and evidenced pattern of repeat criminal activity. Importantly, these zones are not open-ended. They will be subject to strict proportionality tests, public notification requirements and regular review. They will automatically lapse after a defined period unless there is clear justification for renewal.  Crucially, this Bill also strengthens safeguards. It introduces a robust code of practice, including enhanced protections for areas primarily used by children. In such locations, there will be explicit obligations to minimise recording, limit operating hours and ensure that the privacy of young people is fully respected.  This will have significant importance in areas near playground for example. Recently in Dublin there has been a spate of vandalism. Some playgrounds have been set on fire, including one in my constituency in Se\u00e1n Moore Park, which has been set on fire six times in the past three years. It also explicitly prohibits the use of biometric analysis within crime prevention zones, a safeguard that is not currently provided for.  This Bill builds on the existing legislative framework but also highlights an important gap. Key elements of the 2023 Act remain uncommenced, most notably the code of practice governing the use of CCTV by An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na which has yet to be published by the Minister. I welcome confirmation by the Minister for justice that public consultation on this code by An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na concluded in February of this year and that it is now finalising a draft code for approval by the Minister. I look forward to working constructively with the Minister to advance that code, the investment in CCTV and the additional measures proposed in this legislation.  This legislation has been informed directly by engagement with garda\u00ed on the ground as well as by examining best practice across other European jurisdictions. The message from An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na is clear - it wants to be out policing communities and not tied up in unnecessary administrative processes. The message from the public is just as clear - they want Garda resources deployed effectively and stronger tools to tackle crime where it occurs most. A poll by opened by Journal.ie yesterday in respect of our legislation has seen almost 8,000 people respond so far demonstrating that approximately 80% of people who participated in the poll support this legislation and increased Garda-operated CCTV in areas where it is needed most. That reflects what all of us are hearing in our constituencies and communities. People want safer streets, visible policing and garda\u00ed equipped to do their jobs. This Bill strikes a balance between reducing red tape, making communities safer and protecting people's privacy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Is the Bill opposed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marian Harkin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Deputy Marian Harkin)  No. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Since this is a Private Members' Bill, Second Stage must, under Standing Orders, be taken in Private Members' time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Geoghegan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Geoghegan  I move: \"That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time.\" "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na (Recording Devices) (Amendment) Bill 2026: First Stage"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-06\/debate\/dbsect_10","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/44","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/44\/dail\/1","houseCode":"dail","stage":"1","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Criminal Law (Adult Safeguarding) Bill 2026: First Stage (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Criminal Law (Adult Safeguarding) Bill 2026: First Stage","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":4},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_10","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marian Harkin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  I move:  That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to provide for offences committed against adults whose ability to guard themselves against violence, exploitation or abuse, whether physical, sexual or emotional, or against neglect by another person is significantly impaired; and to provide for related matters.  We have all heard the horror stories - \u00c1ras Attracta, Lees Cross, the treatment of Grace, failures in home care and care homes, and the indefensible failures in the Brandon case. A simple question is always asked: who is held accountable? Time and again devastating failures have been exposed in care facilities, at home and across society. They have been exposed not by the Government or at times by people in the HSE but by families, social workers, regulator, the media and whistleblowers, and yet the Government has failed to put proper adult safeguarding laws in place.  Families, social workers, advocates and Opposition TDs have been calling for a comprehensive adult safeguarding law for years. This Bill is a first step. The Bill was drafted by the Law Reform Commission following extensive and deep engagement with a wide range of stakeholders. The Bill would create stand-alone criminal offences for those who abuse, neglect, coerce or exploit adults. Similar protections were introduced for children more than ten years ago. In my view, they have worked. This legislation would protect older people, people in care facilities, people with disabilities and adults at risk in their own homes and communities - our friends, sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, cousins, colleagues and loved ones. The Bill would ensure perpetrators, those who cover up abuse and those who cut budgets or impose policies without regard for the consequences can face real criminal consequences. There is an urgent need for the Oireachtas to act against adult abuse, neglect, coercion and exploitation. This is about protecting people and accountability.  I ask the Ministers for Health and justice to engage with us and the experts on this Bill before Second Stage. My office will be in touch with their respective offices. I hope they will engage in a constructive manner and see if we can get the Bill supported and implemented. People at risk of harm cannot be left waiting any longer for legal protection. Every time there is one of these scandals, we end up having statements in this House. Sometimes there are crocodile tears and we all say this should never have happened, but it has happened again. We do not have the legislative framework to ensure that at an organisational level, people can be held to account whether in nursing homes or disability centres. For far too long, unfortunately, I have been raising these issues. It all comes back to the same failures. If the law does not exist, the protections are not in place. While these failures obviously rest with abusers or those responsible for neglect, there is also a responsibility on the State if we do not have the proper legal architecture. That is why we are introducing this Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan  I could not think of a more fitting day to introduce this Bill on adult safeguarding. Today, I had the pleasure of welcoming to the D\u00e1il people I used to support - Ciar\u00e1n Wall, Ger Ryan, Liam Burke, Gerard Connolly, Peter Glendon, Vincent Anthony, Michael Fenton, R\u00f3is\u00edn Rockett and Billy Gear. They are some of the most amazing people I had the pleasure of working with as a carer for adults with disabilities. For almost two decades I worked as a carer with the Brothers of Charity, supporting adults with disabilities to live independent full lives - their best life. It was far more than just a job; we built real friendships with those we cared for. I am so happy to have been able to welcome them here today. It is for people just like them that we are introducing this safeguarding legislation. The harsh reality is that not every care home works to the highest standards, as we have seen time and again on TV. Enough is enough. We do not need to see such scenes any more. It is happening every day, right now. Time and again we have seen some of our most vulnerable citizens failed by those entrusted with their safety and well-being. It is damning that after all these years with Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael in power, they have failed to deliver adequate safeguarding legislation. Once again it has been left to us - the Opposition - to bring forward meaningful safeguards that will finally bring about real accountability. Does the Minister of State not think they need assurance and safeguarding legislation? They deserve it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Is the Bill opposed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marian Harkin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Deputy Marian Harkin)  No. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Since this is a Private Members' Bill, Second Stage must, under Standing Orders, be taken in Private Members' time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  I move: \"That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time.\" "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Criminal Law (Adult Safeguarding) Bill 2026: First Stage"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-06\/debate\/dbsect_11","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/45","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/45\/dail\/1","houseCode":"dail","stage":"1","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Residential Tenancies (Temporary Prohibition of Termination Notices) Bill 2026: First Stage (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Residential Tenancies (Temporary Prohibition of Termination Notices) Bill 2026: First Stage","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_11","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marian Harkin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  I move:  That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to make exceptional provision in the public interest for the prohibition of certain termination notices under the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 during the period of 3 years following the enactment of this Act, and to provide for related matters.  I introduce this Bill because we are in a housing and eviction emergency. Figures published by the RTB show that the number of terminations rose by 41% in the last three months of 2025 compared with the same period in 2024 and that there was a 21% increase for the year as a whole compared with the previous year. I introduce this Bill in the context of a housing market where rent has increased by more than 100% in the past ten years and by 50% since the onset of the Covid pandemic six years ago. Exceptional times call for exceptional measures in the public interest.  I believe these are needed to respond to the current dysfunctional nature of the residential tenancy market, much of which is a response to repeated legislative interventions that have been poorly designed and implemented. Since I was elected in November 2024, homelessness has risen from over 15,000 to 17,500 in March 2026, the highest figure ever recorded. This Bill seeks to give renters certainty over the medium term and give them breathing space from the daily fear of a notice of termination coming through the door. Since this Government has not met its own housing targets, it should at the very least do whatever it can to remove the fear of homelessness from renters, the most vulnerable people in the housing system. This Bill seeks a temporary moratorium on no-fault evictions to protect renters who, through no fault of their own, are being forced into a brutal housing market. It is for renters such as those in Hazelwood estate, Wexford, where 37 households were initially given notices to terminate with little warning as the company that owned them wanted to sell. It is for renters in Ballybane, Galway, and renters in my constituency of Limerick city.  This Bill seeks to protect renters from having to look again for HAP accommodation, which is an uphill battle at the moment with a recent Simon Communities report saying that in 16 areas surveyed, there were only 14 properties available, and none in my constituency. This Bill seeks to protect the more than 80% of renters who were following their obligations in the final three months of the year but who, according to RTB data, were still given notices of termination.  This is well past the point of an emergency. The fact is there is no acceptable rate of homelessness. We have a situation in this country where the homeless figures are at record highs every single month of the year and have effectively become wallpaper. This is not acceptable. It should not be considered so, and it should not be considered normal. Homeless figures continue to surge again and again, as they did under the previous Government.  This Bill does not seek to reinvent the wheel. It is extending a ban on no-fault evictions that was in place during the Covid emergency and should be used again in this emergency. If this Government does not consider nearly 5,500 children in emergency accommodation to be an emergency, then what number of children in emergency accommodation counts as an emergency? This Bill seeks to give protections to renters who are following their rental obligations, to give them certainty for three years and give them an assurance that they will not be forced into homelessness, giving renters time until supply starts to improve and to give some breathing space. This Government needs to take stronger action on homelessness because we are at a stage where homelessness has almost become acceptable, and this Bill goes some of the way to achieving that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Is the Bill opposed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marian Harkin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Deputy Marian Harkin)  No. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Since this is a Private Members' Bill, Second Stage must, under Standing Orders, be taken in Private Members' time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  I move: \"That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time.\" "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Residential Tenancies (Temporary Prohibition of Termination Notices) Bill 2026: First Stage"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-06\/debate\/dbsect_12","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Approval by D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann of the Convention Establishing an International Claims Commission for Ukraine: Motion","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":7},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_12","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cormac Devlin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Helen McEntee)  I move:  That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann, pursuant to Article 29.5.2\u00b0 of Bunreacht na h\u00c9ireann, approves the terms of the Convention establishing an International Claims Commission for Ukraine, signed at The Hague on 16th December, 2025, a copy of which was laid before D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann on 1st May, 2026.  I welcome the opportunity to discuss this motion today. The convention we seek to ratify is about establishing an international claims commission for Ukraine. It is about Ireland supporting and being part of the efforts of the international community to ensure justice and reparations for Ukraine. Above all, it is about ensuring accountability for the damage and destruction caused by Russia through its unprovoked and unjustified full-scale invasion of its neighbour.  Just a few months ago in December 2025 the Oireachtas heard directly from President Zelenskyy of Ukraine as he addressed Members in this Chamber during his visit to Ireland. He spoke passionately about the situation in his country, and he spoke eloquently about Ireland\u2019s support for Ukraine. He situated the invasion of his country in a wider context and stated that it takes a community of nations to make a truly lasting peace. He asked us to remember that Russia's invasion of Ukraine is a criminal and unprovoked act of aggression, which cries out for justice. He said that it has happened for one reason only, which is \"because Russia wants to treat Ukraine as its property and Ukrainians as if they belong in its backyard like livestock.\" In terms of accountability, he urged Members:  ... to oppose any decision that weakens pressure on Russia for this war as long as war and occupation and the propaganda of hatred continue. All the pressure on Russia must remain in place, so that Russia does not believe it will be rewarded for this war with stolen Ukrainian land or thousands of kidnapped Ukrainian children ... [and that] Russian killers cannot freely travel the world as if they have done nothing wrong.  I visited Ukraine in April when I attended the foreign affairs Council in Kyiv. I stood in solidarity with the victims of the atrocities inflicted upon innocent civilians in Bucha by Russian forces in 2022. I saw first hand the devastating human cost of war. I witnessed for myself the hardship and tragedy still being caused by Russia\u2019s war of aggression more than four full years later. I saw the resilience and determination of the Ukrainian people and I took part in discussions about the measures we can take to ensure accountability for that aggression.  Ireland and this House has been firm in its support of Ukraine throughout the more than four years of this war. We have been firm in our support for accountability as a matter of principle in the same way as we have long stood firm on the importance of human rights, international law and multilateralism. We have supported initiatives through the Council of Europe to deliver accountability and in the coming weeks, we will vote in favour of a resolution at the Council of Europe ministerial meeting advancing the establishment of the special tribunal on the crime of aggression against Ukraine.  Today we have an opportunity to support Ireland\u2019s participation in the convention establishing an international claims commission to assess damages, loss or injury inflicted by Russia on Ukraine. The establishment of this claims commission is a key step towards delivering that accountability. It forms part of a broader international compensation mechanism, which the Council of Europe decided to establish in 2023 following the 2022 UN General Assembly resolution, \"Furtherance of remedy and reparation for aggression against Ukraine.\" It forms part of a system that seeks to ensure that Russia is held accountable for its actions and the destruction that it has caused.  In taking this step, it is important to note that the claims commission will not itself be responsible for paying out compensation directly. It will be an administrative body that examines claims of damage, loss or injury due to certain acts that have been committed by the Russian Federation in Ukraine or against Ukraine. It will determine whether compensation is due and how much, if any, is due. In this way, the claims commission will be the second of three components of a broader compensation mechanism.  The first component was the establishment of a register of damage caused by the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, which was set up in 2023. This has already received over 80,000 claims. Its operation will transfer to the claims commission after it is established. The commission will review, assess and decide on claims it receives and determine the amount of compensation due. This forms the backdrop to the third possible part of that mechanism, which would be a compensation fund to meet these claims. This still needs to be put in place.  In terms of accountability, the finance needed to provide these funds should be contributed by Russia as reparations for its aggression against Ukraine. The convention expressly provides for the expectation that the Russian Federation will fund the compensation determined and awarded by the claims commission and that other commission members will not be required to fund the compensation. Ratifying the convention represents an important endorsement of the principle of accountability and sends a message to Russia that it cannot carry on as if nothing wrong has been done.  At this point too, the House should understand the financial cost to Ireland would be a proportionate annual contribution towards the administrative costs of the claims commission. It is too soon to say precisely what that will be, but we expect it will be less than \u20ac1 million per year. This contribution would only start once the convention has come into force. The convention will enter into force when 25 countries, or regional integration organisations, have ratified it and when the associated financial commitments are enough to support the work of the commission starting off. The convention opened for signature on 16 December last year. Some 35 states, including Ireland, as well as the European Union have signed it. Estonia and Iceland have now ratified the convention and a number of other states have said they intend to ratify it in the coming weeks and months. Today I seek D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann\u2019s approval of the terms of the convention. In effect, I seek Members' approval for Ireland to support the important steps being taken by the Council of Europe towards holding Russia accountable for its actions.  A Cheann Comhairle, right now as Russia\u2019s war of aggression continues, Ireland, along with our fellow EU member states, is committed to making sure Ukraine gets the supports it needs to continue to defend itself and to put it in the strongest possible position in peace negotiations. We are continuing to provide political support, financial support, humanitarian support and non-lethal military support to Ukraine. Since February 2022 Ireland has contributed over \u20ac500 million in support of Ukraine. Last month, I announced a further \u20ac40 million in humanitarian and stabilisation supports for 2026. This winter, Ireland contributed \u20ac26 million to Ukraine\u2019s critical energy infrastructure. It is important to stress this is money that is going directly to communities that have been impacted by this devastating war for many years now. Ireland strongly supported the agreement at EU level of the \u20ac90 billion support loan in December and we welcome the recent unblocking of the decision to allow us to move forward with this loan. Ireland has also welcomed over 120,000 Ukrainians under the temporary protection directive. There are still some 84,000 Ukrainians here. We know them, they are in our communities, they are in our schools and they are working in our businesses. We provided these supports even as Russia chose to continue targeting Ukraine\u2019s civilians and its critical infrastructure, even as Russia carried out reprehensible attacks on Ukrainian energy systems throughout the bitter winter and even as Russia launched over 6,800 long-range drones and missiles into Ukraine in April, making it the most intense month of long-range aerial attacks so far in the war.  In the meantime, we continue to welcome efforts to end the war of aggression against Ukraine and to achieve lasting and just peace and security. One day this brutal war of aggression will end. When it does, we must be ready to act and to hold Russia accountable for its brutal attacks and the unspeakable suffering and damage it has inflicted. Fundamentally under the convention, it is expected that the Russian Federation, once it becomes a member, will bear the full costs of the claims commission from the time the convention enters into force. Crucially, it is expected that the Russian Federation will be the one to fund the compensation determined and awarded by the commission under the convention. Until such a time as this happens it is incumbent upon us, together with our international partners, to make ready the system for this to happen. The register of damages has already begun recording the claims for compensation for damage, loss and injury inflicted by the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. There are, as I mentioned, over 80,000 claims to date, before the war has even ended. The claims commission will be the body that assesses and determines those claims. Establishing the claims commission is the next step in getting ready to ensure accountability for Russia\u2019s war of aggression. It is one Ireland should join.  I commend this motion to the House and trust D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann will support the ratification of the convention. I look forward to engaging with colleagues on this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  Beimid ag tac\u00fa leis an r\u00fan. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 t\u00e1bhachtach go mbeidh cuntasacht ann agus go mbeidh pion\u00f3s ar an R\u00fais de bharr na h\u00e9ag\u00f3ra at\u00e1 d\u00e9anta i gcoinne na h\u00dacr\u00e1ine. We support this motion. We believe it is important for Ireland to continue to do what it can to support vulnerable people in Ukraine and elsewhere and to support the protection of human rights and international law globally.  It is important in this debate, which is framed very much in the context of international law, accountability and compensation, that the Government be clear and robust in its defence of the multilateral system. It is very explicit and clear in this area but in others it could have done with being more clear about breaches of international law. It is important that Ireland's position, as part of an independent foreign policy that has been prized by all parties and by people from every political perspective in this House, is that the Irish Government calls out breaches of human rights, whether they are by countries we have friendly relationships with or otherwise. That is crucially important. A multilateral system that has strength and mechanisms of accountability is in the interests of small countries, as far as Sinn F\u00e9in and I are concerned. It is important that there is accountability for crimes and wrongful acts under international law, whether those are crimes arising from Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the genocide committed by the Israeli state, the illegal occupation of south Lebanon, or the multiple illegal wars that successive US Administrations have engaged in.  The objective of this convention is to hold the Russian Federation to account for damage, loss or injury caused by internationally recognised wrongful acts committed by it in or against Ukraine. This is something Sinn F\u00e9in fully supports. We are told that the commission will be an administrative body and will review, assess and decide on claims for compensation for damage, loss or injury caused by such acts, including the amounts of compensation, but will not be responsible for payment of compensation. Over four years ago Vladimir Putin and the Russian Federation engaged in an act of aggression and imperialist expansion against Ukraine and its people. We have since seen appalling atrocities at Bucha, Zaporizhzhia, Mariupol and other locations, attacks on civilian infrastructure, the direct targeting of civilians and the barbaric abduction of children. Sinn F\u00e9in and this House have been emphatic in our condemnation of this and the people of Ireland have responded commendably in supporting Ukrainian families and through contributions to various charitable causes. The past four years have seen the Ukrainian people suffer many hardships. The situation on the ground remains very severe and it is important to continue to support assistance for civilian, humanitarian and non-military purposes, especially the need that exists to bolster civilian infrastructure, with a particular emphasis on energy infrastructure. During the past winter we all saw and read terrible reports of Ukrainian energy workers collapsing from exhaustion as they worked in incredibly challenging circumstances to keep the Ukrainian energy system going in order to sustain the economy, to ensure healthcare continued to function and to serve the needs of the Ukrainian people. They must continue to be supported.  The issue of accountability is crucially important. As I said, the Irish Government should represent the people\u2019s desire that this accountability be exercised without fear or favour in relation to any particular country, but it is important in terms of the accountability piece that on an individual level justice is done. The Ukrainian ambassador has spoken with great passion and prioritised the issue of the abduction of children by the Russian Federation. Clearly, when we talk about accountability the only true accountability for those families is that their children are returned to them. The Government has been vocal on this but it needs to continue to make this a priority. We can only imagine the heartbreak those families are enduring due to these callous abductions. That is a crucial part of accountability.  Accountability cannot simply be about financial compensation - it must involve doing right by the families who are most directly affected. I believe the European Union will soon look at the 21st package of sanctions. In the context of the 20th package, which included an increased focus on aluminium, it is important we get clarity from the Government on what it intends to do in relation to aluminium to ensure it is effective. Clearly, it will have to ensure compliance with the sanctions. I have raised in the past the fact that while there have been a wide range of sanctions against Russian individuals and companies, despite the centrality of atomic energy to the Russian economy and war effort the Russian atomic agency, Rosatom, has not been sanctioned.  I want to encourage the Minister to raise this issue at a European level and encourage actions. The issue of sanctions against the atomic agency is a very clear priority for the Ukrainian Government, as articulated by President Zelenskyy in mid-February. Mr. Zelenskyy was rightly critical of the reluctance of European governments to act to tackle to this and sanction the agency and the people who control Rosatom. T\u00e1 tuilleadh arduithe ar phraghsanna leictreachais os \u00e1r gcomhair amach, ach t\u00e1 Fianna F\u00e1il agus Fine Gael f\u00f3s s\u00e1sta su\u00ed siar agus faic a dh\u00e9anamh. T\u00e1 c\u00e1inaisn\u00e9is \u00e9igeand\u00e1la agus creidmheasanna fuinnimh ag teast\u00e1il l\u00e1ithreach.  Clearly, sanctions are agreed at a European level but there is no reason Ireland should not show leadership on the issue and should not specifically push this issue that would have a very clear political and diplomatic impact. Ministers in the past have said they support it but they have been coy as to whether they will make that a specific priority and vocally call for that at a European level. In order to ensure meaningful peace talks that can deliver a just, sustainable peace that respects Ukraine, it is clear that more international pressure on Vladimir Putin, particularly from Europe and the United States, is required. Sanctions on this particular energy company would be a key form of sanction to increase pressure. I urge the Minister to make a clear statement that she will make this a priority and build momentum for sanctions in this area of atomic energy in the next package.  We recognise and support the fact that Ukraine continues to require support politically and diplomatically. It is clear where the fault lies and who is the aggressor. It is Vladimir Putin and the Russian Federation. We should continue to offer political and diplomatic support and, where required, humanitarian and civilian support in practical ways that are consistent with our neutrality. Russia's military aggression cannot be rewarded. It is clear there needs to be accountability. The policy of the Irish Government in conflicts around the world has been to use means such as this to exert pressure on countries in flagrant breach of international law. We must again focus on these efforts and use our voice to increase diplomatic and political pressure, including sanctions. Clearly, mechanisms such as this are important to ensure appropriate compensation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  We, in the Labour Party, also welcome the International Claims Commission for Ukraine being established and the Irish support for the same. In a world where the international rules-based order is unravelling and disintegrating, it is instruments such as this that we need to support and hold firm with, along with many others. Of course, as stated by the Minister, the success of this instrument will be reliant upon the Russians themselves signing up and the Russians themselves funding the compensation as it is calculated towards Ukraine. At this point in time, that seems quite fanciful but given where we are in the world, it is these instruments which we need to bring forward that we need to support. For those of us who support a proper, international rules-based approach to conflict resolution, accountability, justice and resolution, it is instruments like this which we need to put our full support behind.  For Ireland, we have demonstrated real solidarity with Ukraine. It has been somewhat easy for us on a number of levels. For many decades, Russia, or formerly the Soviet Union, has been either a very real threat to Europe or, at best, an uneasy and not too trusted ally at times. However, for the past decade or so, and as we have seen in the Ukraine war of the past four and a bit years, Russia has become a very real threat and enemy to the stability of Europe. Ukraine has suffered up to 600,000 casualties, with as many as 140,000 deaths as a result of Russia's invasion and war of aggression. That is according to the Centre for Strategic and International Studies. There is no doubt in our minds that the actions Russia has carried out have resulted in death and destruction and damage to and destruction of infrastructure, schools and hospitals. It continues. As we heard in the Minister's statement, April of this year was the most destructive month of the entire conflict when it comes to long-range missile attacks upon Ukraine.  While no conflict is black and white, this conflict is as close as we can get in the modern world. However, there is another conflict that is taking place which we also view as quite black and white, namely the US and Israel's war upon Iran. In any general terms, it was unprovoked. As despicable as the Iranian regime is and has been for many years, the US and Israel launched a war for which they have no logical outcome and which is causing death and destruction. While there is an uneasy peace at the moment, there is long-term economic damage. There is no sense that Ireland, the international community or Europe will act in such a way as to tackle the United States and Israel for their actions of unprovoked war and their actions of roguery the way we are with Russia, and rightly so with Russia. There is an inconsistency in our own approach, not withstanding historic cultural links, contemporary economic links and all of the other things we have with the United States. What is being done is wrong. While we are unsure as to what the outcome will be in terms of the US, Israel or Iran, there is one winner early on from that conflict and that is Vladimir Putin, for whom Trump has \"temporarily\" lifted sanctions on Russian oil. That \"temporary\" lifting of sanctions has been extended by Trump and there is a sense in Kyiv that Trump is closer to Moscow than he is to Kyiv in how he is operating his international policy and affairs, insomuch as anyone can account for them.  All of us present here in the Chamber have spoken how the old order has been absolutely obliterated and it is uncertain as to where we are at. The instruments that are being proposed are laudable. We need them and we need them to work. In the world that exists today without the bigger powers or without institutions like the European Union being fully behind them, it is very difficult to see how they will have an impact. We in Ireland have to do what we have been doing for the past four years and three or four months - standing shoulder to shoulder with the people of Ukraine. We must do that. I hope this convention comes into force and that Russia signs up to it. I hope Russia pays compensation to Ukraine. I do not think that will happen but that should not be a reason not support this and push it has hard as we can through the United Nations, the EU and any bilaterals we have. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  The Ukraine reparations commission that this Government proposes we join is a very welcome idea. It is a means of showing solidarity with Ukraine and I fully accept that but I believe we can go further than just showing solidarity. I want to speak to this concept of solidarity because it is so crucial. What does solidarity mean? It is real and serious action. It is acting with justice in mind and taking meaningful steps to help the people who we mean to help. We will always stand with and support Ukraine in its mission to preserve its sovereignty. This reparations commission will work over several years to evaluate the collective damage done by Russia to Ukraine throughout the invasion. This is welcome but I have concerns that it may be an expensive, academic exercise if we do not take more action.  The reparations commission will evaluate and produce a cost Russia is liable for but will Russia ever engage with its liability, other than to reject it outright? Russia is a rogue state that rejects any application of international law, so why would we expect it to suddenly accept a massive reparations bill? Russia will reject this commission's findings so we must ensure the rebuilding of Ukraine actually takes place through alternative means at the same time as the work of the commission continues. Instead of just drawing up a large bill for Russia, we need to ensure that our solidarity is felt by every day Ukrainians.  I have other concerns that this new commission may sideline the primacy of Ukraine in negotiations as the assessment of claims may differ from what is needed or desired by the Ukrainian state to build positively into the future. I hope the Minister of State accepts that I am putting these forward as concerns but it in no way undermines our support for the motion. Ireland must be a leader on this action to ensure Europe does not just signal intent and support but actually takes a meaningful role in supporting Ukrainians. There is currently massive co-operation between European countries and Ukraine in terms of arms deals and military support but there is huge further potential for humanitarian assistance and transitional support. In our own history, we have received a peace dividend in the aftermath of the Troubles, as did much of the rest of Europe in the wake of World War Two.  Ireland has also participated in international aid measures to countries across the globe and continues to do so. We need to remember this history, step up to the occasion and ensure that Europe is ready to assist when this war ends.  In a briefing circulated by the Government Whip, we are told that Ireland's contribution to the administrative costs of the commission will be less than \u20ac1 million per year. Currently, Irish institutions are in possession of roughly \u20ac2 billion in frozen Russian assets. The Government at the very least should be looking to use this money to finance the Irish contribution to the commission, which would ensure that further pressure is put on Russia to come to the table because of Putin's reliance on these oligarchs.  The nations of Europe in this initiative are coming together in a truly historic way. To rebuild a country and support a peace process of this scale is a real achievement. It must be built on to ensure that Europe is a force for peace in the world. This commission should lay the groundwork for a similar Palestinian reparations commission. When European governments freeze assets of one occupier but maintain preferential trade deals with another, it makes us all hypocrites. We need to support Ukraine and we need to use this model as a blueprint to ensure Trump and his board of ethnic cleansing do not get to pave over Palestine. A reparations commission should be formed to give real power to the establishment of a strong and secure Palestinian state and to end the illegal and despicable occupation of stolen land by Israel. The failure of European governments to uphold international law in Palestine needs to be corrected. The destruction of Ukraine and Palestine are fundamentally connected by regimes that seek to impose militarist powers through unilateral action. Europe, as a wealthy continent, should be a leader in the provision of post-war funding to build sustainable futures for Palestinians and Ukrainians. We need to recognise that peace and justice are a universal mission and the practical steps to achieving this should not be segregated by continent.  This proposal in its current form will not rebuild hospitals or schools, or fund widows' pensions. If we are to rebuild Ukraine, it must be a collective and international effort. We can legislate at the national and European levels to release seized Russian assets to Ukraine. We should use the estimated more than \u20ac200 billion of frozen Russian assets in the EU banks to give an immediate and serious peace dividend to Ukraine. The use of these assets would ensure that Russians complicit in the invasion of Ukraine, those oligarchs who sought to profit from war, will not be able to use their illegal acts for personal gain.  We must also learn from historical example that placing a massive reparation burden on a post-war state only sparks destabilisation and hatred. A nuclear-capable Russian state embroiled in domestic chaos is a fundamental danger to itself and the world. The nations of the world, but particularly those in Europe, must ensure that the end of Putin's war and dictatorship allows for the Russian people to exercise their right to self-determination and to construct a new government based on human rights. We can make Russia pay for its crimes right now and ensure that it is not the average citizen, who opposes Putin's war and dictatorship, who pays Putin's bills but the cronies and criminals who oppress their own people.  The step to join this commission is, as I said, welcome, but there is so much more work to do. We can make Russians complicit in Putin's war and regime pay this bill. We can kick-start the rebuilding fund and then we must use the lessons learned from assessing reparations here to ensure that Palestinians get the justice they deserve by establishing a similar claims commission with justice and long-term security at its heart. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  The idea that we should quantify the compensation for the damage done by Putin's brutal and illegal war against Ukraine and that the bill should be sent to Putin and the Russian regime is absolutely right and proper. It is an imperialist war being waged by Putin and has been from the outset. It is criminal and without justification. As well as the immense human damage done - probably in excess of 100,000 lives have been lost - there has also undoubtedly been huge damage done for which the Russian regime and the people who preside over it should have to pay the bill. I certainly would have no problem if the assets of the oligarchs and Putin's coterie of hangers-on had to pick up the bill and that those assets would be used to pay the bill due to ordinary Ukrainians who suffer the consequences of this terrible war. It is an entirely reasonable proposition.  However, I must say that when you see the determination with which the Irish Government and all the members of the European Union pursue the rightful demand for accountability for the Russian regime for the crimes it has committed against the Ukrainian people and yet see it fail, in the most brazen way, to do the same when it comes to Israel's crimes against the Palestinian people, you cannot help but be absolutely infuriated at the hypocrisy and the double standards of the European Union. You call into question whether they are even concerned about the crimes done to the Ukrainian people. If it is a crime to launch an illegal war against the people of Ukraine, which it is, and if it is a crime to occupy their lands and kill nearly 100,000 people, surely it is the same when Israel does it to the Palestinians. Such is the extent of the crimes that Israel has committed against the Palestinians that it is now in the dock for genocide, the greatest of all possible crimes, as well as for multiple breaches of international law, the commission of crimes against humanity, apartheid, ethnic cleansing, illegal occupation, the collective punishment of the Palestinian people, instigating yet another war against the people of Lebanon, bombing Iran and putting the entire region on fire to such a degree that even ordinary people in this country cannot pay their bills because of the crimes that Israel is committing. Yet, the same European Union that professes to be horrified by the crimes of the Putin regime not only does not impose sanctions on Israel for crimes that are as bad or worse but gives favoured trade status to the Israeli regime and gives economic privileges to the regime that is committing those crimes against the Palestinian people on an ongoing basis. The hypocrisy and double standards are staggering. They are beyond belief.  The Minister of State might be interested to know that I was just on the phone with an Irish citizen who is on the flotilla and who is very scared. He asked me to tell the Minister of State that he is scared. He is on the same boat as the sister of President Catherine Connolly. He said they are frightened about what is coming down the line. Two of the leaders of the Global Sumud Flotilla are being kept in detention in an Israeli prison. We are talking about a regime where the wife of one of the Ministers gave him a cake in the shape of a noose to celebrate the idea that they are going to hang lots of Palestinians because they are Palestinians resisting the Israeli occupation. Think about the horrific nature of this regime. The man on the flotilla asked me to ask the Minister of State what the Government is doing about these violations of international maritime law, where there is kidnapping, piracy and so on, to add to all the crimes that Israel is committing. Yet, the European Union does not sanction Israel for it and does not seize its assets. Why are we not seizing its assets for those crimes against our citizens? We have often given money to Palestinians and then Israel blows to bits schools and all sorts of infrastructure into which European money has gone. However, we do not sanction Israel even though we are required to under the Genocide Convention. We continue to extend favoured trade status to Israel. It is absolutely unbelievable.  It makes me think that the motivation of the people who run the European Union has nothing to do with the things they say motivate them when they talk about how horrible the occupation of Ukraine is. It is horrible. It makes me think it is not morality that is driving them because if it were morality or concern for the innocent victims of war, illegal military aggression and crimes against humanity, surely it would extend to other people but it does not. Then you ask what is the real motivation here. Is it that Europe is only concerned with its sphere of influence and is guilty of exactly the same crime as Putin is guilty of and that it is now very obvious that Donald Trump is guilty of?  It has a policy of saying that it has the right to control South and Latin America, Cuba and Greenland because that is its sphere of influence and it will take out governments if necessary and threaten to attack people in its sphere of influence. Putin does it. Israel, a US ally and an ally of many in the European Union, is doing the bidding of certain European powers. Therefore, not only will we not sanction them, we will extend them favoured trade status. It is all hypocrisy.  All of the moral outrage expressed about Putin is actually nonsense because what is actually motivating the European powers is their own strategic self interest. It does not suit them to impose sanctions on Israel because in the twisted world they inhabit, they see Israel as essentially a colonial outpost. That is, of course, what it is and always has been. It is a colonial outpost to serve the interests of western powers and if the Palestinian people have to suffer genocide because of that sort of colonial project to control and dominate the region, so be it.  The people of Ukraine deserve compensation but so do all victims of the same crimes, including the Palestinians. It is very obvious that the European Union is not concerned or motivated by a humanitarian principle or moral principle. It is riddled with double standards and hypocrisy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cormac Devlin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cormac Devlin  I welcome the opportunity to speak on this motion. In August 2022, I travelled to Ukraine and I saw at first hand the damage caused by Russia\u2019s illegal invasion. I saw the suffering of ordinary families. I met people who had lost their homes, livelihoods and, in many cases, members of their family. I will not forget what I saw, and I will not stop saying that this war was unprovoked and is unjustified and wrong.  I support this motion, which authorises the establishment of an international claims commission for Ukraine. It puts the principle of accountability into a working compensation system. It says clearly that the state responsible for the damage must pay for the damage. That is a basic point of justice, and Ireland should stand behind it.  The war has dragged on for more than four years. The fighting continues. Civilians are still being killed daily, including in a missile strike just two days ago. There are short symbolic ceasefires being declared this week around Russia's victory day commemorations.  They are welcome insofar as they spare lives but a 48-hour pause is not peace. Only serious negotiations will deliver a lasting settlement. I urge the Russian side to extend any pause in the fighting, to engage seriously and to come to the table in good faith.  The Ukrainian people have shown again and again that they want this war to end. They have made several gestures to the President of Russia as well as other intermediaries. Russia must show the same by being willing to engage and demonstrate that peace is possible.  Ireland has stood with Ukraine from the very start, bilaterally and through the European Union, and we should continue to do so. Signing this convention is a further step in that solidarity. As the Minister of State will be aware, the Taoiseach has been to the forefront in speaking to European colleagues and using Ireland's soft power to ensure Ukraine is kept to the forefront of the agenda as a candidate country in the European Union. As the Minister of State for European affairs is present, it is imperative that Ukraine is also included as much as possible in our Presidency of the European Commission. I commend the motion to the House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Thomas Byrne)  Today, as we pursue a constitutional obligation to ratify an international agreement, we have an opportunity to say \"No\" by saying \"Yes\" and voting \"T\u00e1\". We have an opportunity to say \"No\" to Russia\u2019s unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression, to death and destruction with impunity, to rewarding Russia for stealing Ukrainian land and the forcible removal of Ukrainian children and to inflicting unspeakable suffering and damage without consequence and to say \"Yes\" to justice, consequences, responsibility, reparation and, above all, accountability.  During my visit to Kyiv in March, I witnessed first hand the strength and endurance of Ukraine\u2019s leaders and people, as well the reality on the ground of a country at war, living with the relentless presence of war and Russian violence as part of everyday life. I saw the reality of living with constant fear, unpredictability and, of course, devastating loss. I saw the effects of Russian attacks on Ukraine\u2019s energy and civilian infrastructure in the middle of a brutal, bitter winter.  Russia fired over 6,800 long-range drones and missiles into Ukraine in April alone, more than nine attacks per hour, night and day, every day in April, leaving Ukraine, as a nation without sleep. Since the Russian Federation launched its full scale invasion in February 2022, more than 15,000 civilians have been killed, 41,000 have been injured, millions have been displaced and untold damage has been caused to civilian property and infrastructure.  I also witnessed the tenacity and commitment of the Ukrainian people. I was humbled by their ability to maintain a functioning state and administration in the face of invasion. It underlined for me the real potential for Ukraine to flourish when this terrible conflict ends. Of course, the people in Ukraine look to the day when peace returns and they can build a brighter future. When that day comes and the war finally ends, it will be vitally important that preparations have been made and mechanisms put in place to ensure that Russia can be held to account for its actions.  The establishment of the claims commission is one clear step that we can take in preparation for that. It is a relatively small step from a practical perspective but politically it sends an important message. Ireland ratifying the convention is Ireland continuing to lend its unwavering support to Ukraine. It is Ireland continuing to support the principle of accountability and continuing to support the important steps being taken, by the Council of Europe, not the European Union, towards delivering accountability.  In the coming weeks, we will vote in favour of a resolution at the Council of Europe ministerial meeting in Chi\u0219in\u0103u to advance the establishment of the special tribunal on the crime of aggression against Ukraine. We now have the opportunity to ratify the convention establishing an international claims commission for Ukraine, an administrative body that will assess the damages, loss or injury inflicted by Russia on Ukraine.  It is worth reiterating that the claims commission will not be responsible for making any compensation payments. Instead, it will assess and determine claims for compensation. Ratifying the convention does not make Ireland liable for those costs. Russia should pay these costs through reparations. When the convention opened for signature in December of last year, Ireland was among the 36 states or bodies that signed it. Now, let us be among the first of the states to ratify it and take another step towards putting the principle of accountability into action.  It goes without saying that no award or amount of financial compensation will change or even make good the devastating damage and destruction inflicted on Ukraine, its people and its communities by the Russian Federation in the course of this war. Nonetheless, it is incumbent on us, along with our international partners, to put in place a system that can hold Russia to account when the time comes. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Approval by D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann of the Convention Establishing an International Claims Commission for Ukraine: Motion"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-06\/debate\/dbsect_13","debateType":"statement","bill":null,"showAs":"Scoping Exercise in Response to Requests from Dignity4Patients: Statements","counts":{"speechCount":9,"speakerCount":9},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_13","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Health (Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill)  I welcome the opportunity to address the House on statements on Michael Shine, and much more importantly, his victims and survivors. The abuse of trust and attack on the dignity and the person of patients by Michael Shine was a terrible betrayal. I have the deepest sympathy and concern for all the victims. I acknowledge the many people affected, including several I have been fortunate enough to meet. Reports suggest that the total number of those impacted is in the high hundreds and it ranges across a huge age span. These individuals have demonstrated remarkable bravery as they continue their pursuit of justice for the serious wrongdoing they experienced. Those individuals who are not necessarily involved in that campaign and who have suffered in silence have also demonstrated great bravery in continuing their lives in remarkable ways, notwithstanding what has happened to them.  Michael Shine, a former surgeon, worked in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda from 1964 until 1995. In March 1995, the CEO of the hospital was made aware of a complaint of abuse against him by the North Eastern Health Board. Michael Shine took leave while the complaint was addressed and subsequently retired in October 1995. By the time of his retirement, he was already the subject of multiple allegations of sexual abuse going back as far as the 1970s. In 1995, the matters in the hospital were the subject of an independent review chaired by Dr. Miriam Hederman O\u2019Brien, which was reported in 1996. The review was established by the board of the hospital and its terms of reference included \u201cto examine and report to the Hospital Management Board on the Hospital\u2019s response to the complaints of sexual abuse made against a consultant, formerly employed by the Hospital\u201d. Dr. Hederman O\u2019Brien\u2019s report set out the chronology of events at the hospital, and recommendations on the prevention of sexual abuse and on procedures for handling complaints. Following the recommendations, the health service made substantial enhancements to its procedures for preventing and addressing claims of sexual abuse, and those included establishing clear practices and protocols to handle such concerns in such instances of horrendous abuse. In October 2009, on foot of requests from Dignity4Patients, the then Minister for Health and Children announced the establishment of an independent non-statutory review, the Drogheda review. The purpose of the review was to advise on whether a further investigation into the procedures and practices at the hospital during that period would be of significant public benefit in helping to improve best-practice guidelines and policies. That review was carried out by retired High Court judge, Mr. Justice T.C. Smyth, who submitted his report to the then Minister in September 2010. The report recommended that a further investigation should not be held and that, in order to avoid prejudicing current or future civil or criminal cases, the report should not be published.  Dignity4Patients has been campaigning on behalf of the victims for many years. It is an organisation that has long sought an inquiry into the sexual abuse of patients and in the past year has sought that in a more formal way. In April, I met with representatives of Dignity4Patients and as part of that engagement programme, I asked them to share with me their areas of concern and those areas they felt could best be addressed by further inquiries. In their response, they detailed their call for a statutory investigation, highlighted specific issues they felt were as yet unaddressed by other mechanisms, and sought an opportunity to have a space for the voice of victims and survivors. At that time, I committed to engaging with my Government colleagues on how to best provide answers to the issues raised by Dignity4Patients on behalf of the victims. I met with the group again on Monday, 24 November and I remain committed to the group and to identifying an appropriate and bespoke response to the issues raised and the needs identified by it. It is very important to say that we have - or I certainly hope we have - been working in great partnership with Dignity4Patients, a group for which I have enormous respect and regard, both as to the way in which it represents the advocates, survivors and victims but also the complete professionalism with which it approaches its work.  On 26 November, the Government agreed that a time-bound scoping exercise be undertaken by an independent person in response to requests from Dignity4Patients on behalf of victims and survivors of Michael Shine. For decades, victims and survivors of Michael-Shine have carried trauma and have sought recognition and accountability. Their strength and willingness to continue pressing for the truth will, I hope, be met with more compassion, seriousness and action. There is a substantial body of work involved, including examination of all previous reports, relevant court findings, hospital and institutional actions and the historical context of the abuse. I am glad we have had this very structured engagement with Dignity4Patients and with victims and advocates to ensure their experiences, expectations and their needs are fully reflected and to try to work out what the outstanding issues are to which we can provide further answers, what information is held by the State in that regard, how we approach this in the most contained but impactful way, and how, within that, we give the appropriate voice for survivors.  I announced the appointment of Mr. Lorcan Staines SC as the independent facilitator to conduct this scoping exercise following engagement with the Attorney General. Mr. Staines commenced his work on 3 March and this scoping exercise will run for up to 16 weeks. He has been finalising the terms of reference for the scoping exercise in direct consultation with Dignity4Patients and with the Department for Health on the other side. Mr. Staines has two decades of experience of criminal, regulatory and administrative law and he is widely recognised for his specialist work with victims and vulnerable witnesses. It is also important to say that during the process, Dignity4Patients will have the support of expert advisers, including Maeve Lewis, former CEO of One in Four, and Professor Phil Scraton, a specialist in inquests and inquiry models, as well as their solicitor, Diarmuid Brecknell of Phoenix Law. Government has emphasised the need for the process to be survivor-centred and Mr. Staines will receive all necessary supports to ensure a victim-centred, trauma-informed, human-rights based approach underpins the scoping exercise and any subsequent statutory processes. I have asked that the well-being of victims and survivors remain central throughout this process. The final report and recommendations will be submitted to Government to guide the development of an appropriate and bespoke response to the issues raised and to the needs identified by Dignity4Patients.  I emphasise the paramount importance of the lived experiences of those affected by Mr. Staines\u2019s work. It is vitally important that he get the opportunity to engage with victims and survivors, for them to have their voices heard at this stage, and to create a process that enables their voice be heard in the future. In order for that stakeholder engagement to begin, a lawful basis to process personal data for these exercises was required in alignment with Article 6(1)(e), Article 9(2)(i) and Article 10 of the general data protection regulation, GDPR. In accordance with these articles, the making of regulations under the Data Protection Act 2018 was necessary to give domestic legal effect to this basis, to ensure legal certainty, foreseeability and to place appropriate safeguards on a statutory footing. No processing could commence until the necessary statutory framework was in place. On 24 March, the Houses approved the data protection regulations for this scoping exercise and I signed them on 9 April. Our commitment is to ensure a process that recognises the suffering experienced, honours the voices of victims and survivors, and seeks a path towards truth and healing. I again acknowledge the courage of victims and survivors, whose experiences have brought us to this point. Their voices must remain central as this work continues. This scoping exercise and the subsequent next steps will proceed with independence, compassion and a trauma-informed approach.  I really wish to pay tribute to the hundreds of men across counties Meath and Louth who have been impacted and who will be impacted yet again as we discuss this. I acknowledge their work and their dignity and I acknowledge the people who have provided a broad support network to them and the advocates who have brought us to this point. We are more than halfway through a facilitative process. I believe, and hope the House agrees with me, that this has been a process based on genuine collaboration and a real effort to try to find a mechanism to answer the questions that can possibly be answered. I hope through this process that we will find some measure of a voice for those issues that a resolution can be found for, though I always worry that no matter what way we structure it or no matter what we do we will disappoint, or that some people will not find the justice they hope to seek throughout any process. However, we are here to try to facilitate this. We are here to try to give this voice, respect and dignity that has not been provided to date, certainly not in the original experience within the hospital or in the process since then. I do not think anybody would disagree with me on that point.  I thank the groups for their ongoing collaboration. I apologise to Members and to anybody watching as I cannot stay. A Cabinet meeting began at 4.30 p.m. It is now 4.40 p.m., and I have to attend. The Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, is here with me and I assure Members that I will be reading back the contributions made by all of them. We have spoken about this in part in the past in this House and I have spoken with many of Members individually, but I wish to apologise to anybody who is watching that it is not possible for me to stay due to the Cabinet meeting. I thank the House for facilitating statements at this time. It is something we will continue to discuss. There is ongoing work that I am not in a position to discuss today because some of it has to go back to Cabinet. I cannot breach Cabinet confidentiality but I acknowledge that the work is continuing with the Dignity4Patients group and its representatives in the same collaborative way that has brought us to this point. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I welcome that a scoping exercise has been established. I reiterate the very clear and just demand that a full public inquiry be delivered and secured to allow the full truth to emerge. I wish to be very clear because the Minister said that people may or may not be satisfied at the end of the process. To ensure that as many people as possible are satisfied, we need to understand what it is they are looking for. We need to know at the end of this process precisely the details of the crimes that Michael Shine committed but we also need to know who knew, at what stage they knew and how in God's name this was allowed to continue for so long and that so many young lives were destroyed, and so many lives and innocence were taken away from people. It is very simple. That is what we need at the end of this process. I want to put on the record again my huge commendation and admiration for Dignity4Patients, and each and every one of those victims and survivors who told their stories and who often were not believed and ignored or dismissed. It was largely because they were young men, and they were dismissed out of hand. They persevered and deserve any credit that is going for the progress that has been made to date. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joanna Byrne  Just over a year ago, I had the privilege of hosting Dignity4Patients in Leinster House where five courageous survivors of convicted sexual abuser, Michael Shine, shared their testimonies with TDs, Senators and political staff. Survivors Larry, Cianan, Gerard, Peter and Ian spoke with one voice on behalf of the hundreds of known victims who had come forward. Their message was clear: truth matters and transparency matters. Complaints and reports of sexual abuse by Michael Shine were first made to hospital authorities as early as 1964 with more documented reports throughout the seventies and eighties. Victims have stated that this was an open secret at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, but nobody batted an eyelid. In 1995, Bernadette Sullivan, a nurse, stepped forward and made a formal complaint. This was the beginning of Michael Shine's well overdue downfall and exposure as the most prolific paedophile in Europe. She has been called a whistleblower. She is, in fact, a hero.  The wheels of justice turned slowly and that is why in 2026 we are still looking for answers. I acknowledge the immense pain and trauma that survivors of Michael Shine have endured, the long and difficult path they have walked with Dignity4Patients in their fight for truth and justice, their positive engagement with the scoping inquiry and the ongoing campaign for a public inquiry. The Government must also support them to rebuild their lives. Through my own local engagement with survivors and their families, I know how important this support provided by Dignity4Patients is. The people of Drogheda and beyond rightly view this as a lifeline. While the scoping exercise was an important and welcome step, it also exposed the lack of capacity to support victims and survivors. Adequate funding and resources must be provided to Dignity4Patients by the Government ahead of any potential next steps that follow this exercise. It is mind-boggling that it has not been provided with funding for an advocacy worker, despite submitting a business case for this, particularly when it is supported over 400 vulnerable people and brave survivors with only two advocacy team members. The State has a duty of care to survivors like Larry, Cianan, Gerard, Peter, Ian and many more like them. I am proud to personally know these men. I am immensely proud of their bravery. I thank them for trusting me with their painful experience. I reassure anybody out who is watching today who has been affected similarly that Dignity4Patients has an ongoing helpline, Monday to Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There are people there to listen and support them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  Michael Shine was an abuser who was well known for decades hiding in plain sight. There have been multiple failures, whether we are talking about Our Lady of Lourdes, Medical Missionaries of Mary, the Garda, successive Departments of Health and by the State and many Governments. We all welcome the scoping exercise by Lorcan Staines. There has been good engagement by the survivors and victims. However, it only matters if it provides what is needed, which is a full public inquiry that provides the absolute truth in relation to what happened and beyond what happened, why it happened and why it continued to happen for so long. Like many others, I was very taken when I listened to the stories of the likes of Larry, Cianan, Gerard, Peter and Ian. Many of us were at that presentation and many others over the years by those survivors. We are talking about Dignity4Patients, which has done huge work on delivering where we are today. It represents 398 men and two women. We know that the group represents a lot more. We cannot even imagine how many were abused by Michael Shine.  I reiterate what Deputy Byrne said about the absolute necessity for funding, but also that notice goes out for those who still have not spoken and need to that Dignity4Patients and others are there to provide that support. This is back to the Government. It is about ensuring that the scoping exercise does what it is supposed to and that we find a means of providing people with the full powers of inquiry that are required. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  I acknowledge the words of the Minister. She mentioned two counties in her contribution. She did not mention County Dublin. There are people living in my constituency who were living there when they were abused by Michael Shine because Our Lady of Lourdes is the local hospital for Balbriggan. I am sure that was an oversight on her part. What is at the heart of this is that these kids and their families were not listened to. When we talk to victims and survivors of that vile and disgusting man, they tell us that everybody knew but nobody stood up. As my colleagues said, it was an open secret along the corridors of Our Lady of Lourdes. The State failed those children, their families and the good decent people in the hospital who were trying to speak up. Those kids carried that hurt into adulthood but they have carried themselves with dignity. They have carried themselves so well. I pay tribute to the Dignity4Patients group. The Minister needs to resource that group. It is a lifeline and a support for those victims. That group needs to be resourced. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  The Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, spent time in County Louth last Friday opening a welcome new social housing development. It was great to welcome him to our hometown and our small city. In the time he spent in County Louth, there was a very strong chance that some of the men he met are survivors and victims of disgraced paedophile and former doctor, Michael Shine. The spectre or ghost of Michael Shine hangs over my hometown, counties Louth and Meath, north County Dublin and parts of counties Cavan and Monaghan. That one of Europe's most prolific sex offenders and abusers managed to get away with immunity with what he did over many decades working in one of the most substantial and largest public hospitals in our country requires the kind of statutory investigation that successive Governments have not been of a mind to grant. Michael Shine has spent a short time behind bars. Prosecution through the criminal courts and spending time behind bars having lost one's liberty for a short period does not accountability make. Accountability is a more complex matter. When we discuss the crimes of Michael Shine and the way in which he was allowed to operate with impunity up until the mid-1990s, thanks to the actions of Bernadette Sullivan, we need to look more closely at the environment in which he was allowed to operate.  As I have said in this Chamber on countless occasions, there was a network. The system allowed this to happen. It turned a blind eye to the damage done to my friends, my peers, my contemporaries, and it went on for far too long. It went on for years without any intervention whatsoever being made. I want to say, hand on heart, that I am grateful - if gratitude is the right emotion or position to take - for the interest the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, has taken in this matter since her appointment as Minister for Health. That interest was generated by the remarkable campaign and advocacy work done by the Dignity4Patients group and the victims and survivors, individually and collectively, of Michael Shine, many of whom are friends, contemporaries and peers of mine - people I grew up with. They deserve a form of justice that has been denied to them to date.  In the context of the scoping exercise process we are in at the moment, it is appropriate to acknowledge that many of the survivors and victims who have engaged with Lorcan Staines and the experts who are advising on the scoping exercise have acknowledged that this is the most significant initiative taken to date since they first went public. Some of them had to go public and waive their anonymity and tell their story in public. They should not have had to do that. I pay tribute to their courage, bravery and tenacity, and to the bravery of their families as well, and to the Dignity4Patients group which supported these men in very difficult circumstances who had to state publicly what happened to them, and all of the vulnerabilities that it involved. It has been a remarkable journey.  I do not want to pre-empt the outcome of the scoping exercise. I do not necessarily want to interrogate the words of the Minister today and what she said on previous occasions, especially back in March in this House, but there is a clear expectation that a form of statutory inquiry or commission of investigation will emanate from this process. We know the legislation guiding these processes. We are aware of it and we understand it. We are conditioned to expect a bespoke arrangement to allow an investigation that has a statutory basis to happen.  Without pre-empting the outcome of the scoping exercise, which would be unfair to those who are involved \u2013 I do not necessarily want to scope out what the frame of a process like that would look like - there need to be powers of compellability. An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na needs to be held to account for how it handled the management of complaints over the years. Clearly the Medical Missionaries of Mary will be involved in that as well, as the owners and operators of the hospital before it was taken over by the North Eastern Health Board, which was, to the best of my recollection, in 1997. In addition, the old North Eastern Health Board, the Department of Health and any other agency that had any kind of responsibility whatsoever from the point at which former Dr. Michael Shine was allowed to perpetrate these crimes against young children, who are now young men, must be involved. Many of the men who suffered at the hands of Michael Shine are now dead. They have gone to their graves without any form of public accountability for the actions of Michael Shine, the way in which these crimes were allowed to happen and how he was permitted to operate with impunity for so long.  There are lots of unanswered questions. This is an initiative I support and that the patients support. As colleagues said earlier, it is a constant battle. The very first statement I made in this House when I was elected back in 2011 was for additional funding for Dignity4Patients. That funding was never more essential than it is now because more victims and survivors are coming forward. When this emerges again into the public domain, it piques interest. Clearly, financial support and advocacy support are required. I appeal to the Minister to have an open mind on that and to grant the group the support it needs to help the victims through this very welcome process. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  We in the Social Democrats welcome today's statement and the scoping exercise into Michael Shine's abuse. I thank the Minister for Health for providing time for this dedicated debate. Michael Shine is one of the most notorious and prolific paedophiles in Irish history and a full public inquiry into his abuse is long overdue and must finally be delivered. His abuse was carried out on an industrial scale and went unchecked for far too long \u2013 dating as far back as the 1960s and continuing throughout the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. Reports of his abuse at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda began in 1964, but no action was taken by the hospital and the beginning of the despicable pattern in our State institutions continued. Public bodies turned a blind eye to the abuse of children and young people, allowing him to continue his crimes for decades. Even as recently as the early 2000s, when a victim took the brave step of making a formal complaint to the Garda, he was told that there was not sufficient evidence and that he should write a letter of apology to Michael Shine for bringing the allegation. That is an outrageous situation. It is more evidence of a system that has systematically failed victims over and over again, retraumatising them rather than supporting them. It is not as if Shine's abuses were not known. It has been described as an open secret locally, yet his crimes went unchecked by the State for decades. As has been the case again and again, the systems that should protect and support victims closed ranks. There must be accountability for this. We need to know who knew what, who facilitated it, and who allowed it to continue and to cover it up. Why was this man aided and abetted for so long?  While it is welcome that a scoping exercise is finally under way, why has it taken decades to get to this point? In a country with such a long and dark history of abuse, we should know better. More decisive action should have been taken years ago. There have been too many cases of abuse in which the State has dragged its heels, in particular when it comes to establishing inquiries, ensuring transparency and delivering accountability.  For years, survivors have sought an inquiry to examine how Shine's abuses were allowed to go unfettered for so long and why it took decades to secure a conviction. The fact of the matter is that Michael Shine has only served three years in jail for these horrific crimes. Survivors have rightly argued that this is not justice served given he has only been convicted for crimes against nine boys when we know there were so many more victims of his crimes. The Court of Appeal said he preyed on these young boys whom he was entrusted to medically examine. To date, more than 400 men have come forward. However, new cases continue to emerge and victims believe that a more accurate figure could be in excess of 1,000.  Even as recently as last year Shine still showed no remorse, nor would he take any responsibility for his depraved crimes. This is a man who got to retire more than 30 years ago on a full pension, having spent decades abusing boys and young men. It took until 2019 for him to face any jail time, albeit far too short a sentence. That was following years of him fighting every step of the way, even seeking damages from the State. His recent prosecution barely scratched the surface of the crimes he committed. Notwithstanding the unjustifiable delays in getting to this point, it is a positive development that this scoping exercise is finally under way. The appointment of Lorcan Staines SC in March was a welcome step. It is essential that this scoping exercise is now followed by a full statutory inquiry in which victims, who have waited long enough, should have their voices heard.  On behalf of the Social Democrats I pay tribute to the courage and resilience of the survivors and their representative group, Dignity4Patients. They should not have had to tell their stories again and again to finally secure this scoping exercise. Their tireless fight in the pursuit of truth must now be honoured with a full statutory inquiry. Nothing less will suffice. The system failed them. Now it must support them in the pursuit of truth. A statutory public inquiry is the only way to properly investigate not only the actions of Michael Shine but also the failings of several public bodies and how this was allowed to continue for so long. The matter has never been properly dealt with. It is time for the State to rectify that and ensure that this is never allowed to happen again. After decades of fighting for justice and truth, the scoping exercise's 16-week timeframe must be adhered to. This process must finally deliver for the survivors. It is crucial that any ultimate statutory inquiry is victim-centred and adheres to their experiences and needs.  Victims' stories must be listened to and their questions must be answered. Above all, we must ensure nothing like this can ever happen again. We in the Social Democrats will work with the Government in whatever way we can to advance this important work and obtain justice for the victims once and for all. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Erin McGreehan  I thank the Minister of State, Deputy O\u2019Donnell, for being here today. I welcome the opportunity to speak on the long-awaited and much-needed scoping exercise on the disgusting paedophile Michael Shine. He abused his position. In a depraved manner, he took advantage of his perceived respectability, and the trust we usually place in the medical profession, to abuse hundreds of patients. Today, I acknowledge and pay tribute to the courage of those victims \u2013 the survivors who have carried this burden for decades and who were denied not only justice but also any semblance of support in dealing with the pain and trauma of their abuse.  I always get nervous when I speak about these things because they are so deeply personal to so many. You want to do justice to them and their trauma every time you come into these Houses to speak about them, but the truth is that none of us in here really can. The only way in which we can push for them is to make sure we listen to them now.  Having listened to Deputy Nash, who has been to the forefront of this since he entered elected office, I note it is very rare that all the Louth TDs stand in this place in complete agreement. All of us knew what was going on. Everyone from County Louth and from our home knew about it. Even I, as a child, knew about Michael Shine nearly as a verb, not understanding what was involved, the abuse or its consequences. The reason we did not understand is because the victims were silenced and everything was in place to protect Michael Shine, the hospital and the authorities. Thank God we have had representatives like Deputy Nash and others to speak out about this and represent, in these Houses and other places, the people affected, the whistleblowers and everyone who, against all odds and to the detriment of their careers, spoke out against this absolute demon who abused so many. I cannot use the words I wish to put on the record of the House because they would be very unparliamentary.  It is only when you hear the stories and look into the eyes of the men involved, the victims, that you realise what occurred. It is those eyes that I look at. I look at the wee pictures of what the men looked like as children. You look at your own children and think, \u201cJesus, it could be my wee boys. It could be my brothers.\u201d It could be anyone. It could be any of us. It is important that the Government continue to listen to Dignity4Patients.  I echo what other representatives have said here today about supporting and funding Dignity4Patients because of what it has been doing over decades, on a shoestring, to support so many victims. There are hundreds of victims. I hope a statutory inquiry is to come. The victims trust Dignity4Patients and we owe them respect. We owe Dignity4Patients so much in this House and we need to respect that.  I very much acknowledge the work of Mr. Lorcan Staines SC and Gemma McLoughlin-Burke JC because the feedback I am getting from the survivors is really positive. The work is very important and really matters after years of frustration and mistrust. We have to keep it up and keep listening to the victims. It shows what can occur when Government actually listens, properly engages and places survivors at the centre of the process rather than at its margins. That is where it is at.  As a Senator in the previous Seanad, I worked very closely with an awful lot of victims of the mother and baby homes. They very much felt outside every single framework. That is where we failed miserably regarding the related scoping inquiries. We forgot the victim. We cannot move on to the next stage if we do not do well on this stage. We have to make sure that all the buildings and settings in which Michael Shine abused the children are taken into consideration. This has to be the first part of a two-stage process. We have to make sure this is being done not only for the victims who came forward but also to ensure that what occurred never happens again, that there is safeguarding and that there is a trusted structure to report abuse.  Victims are always silenced. They are always afraid that they will not be heard and they will not be believed. If there is a process in place as a default, they will come forward. We cannot change what happened in the past but we can change what could happen in the future and ensure the statutory inquiry has a strong focus on patient safety and sexual abuse prevention. Lessons must not simply be documented and thought about but acted upon.  It would do us all well to listen to the stories and testimony of victims of Michael Shine because doing so grounds us in a dark, dark time for this country. It shows why it is important to listen to victims. It shows why it is important to have proper safeguarding in our hospitals. It shows why it is important that victims be believed, trusted and minded. An awful lot of this is just about minding people, looking after them and giving them some dignity. We owe it to the victims and to those who were abused as wee children to see this through fully, properly and without delay. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kieran O'Donnell)  I sincerely thank the Members of the House for their heartfelt contributions this evening and the specific points raised.  Today, the House has reflected on the scoping exercise in response to requests from Dignity4Patients on behalf of the victims and survivors of Michael Shine. As we close, I want to bring us back to the heart of why this process matters. It is because it affects the lives of the people who have been so deeply shaped by the events and systems we are now examining. The survivors and victims who came forward through Dignity4Patients have shown immense courage. Everyone here today has remarked on that courage. The victims have carried trauma and pain for a very long time, and it takes profound bravery to revisit the experience of harm and violation in order to help to shape a system that is safer for others. Deputy Nash referred to people coming forward initially. That must have been very traumatic and required great bravery, not to mind revisiting the trauma now.  The appointment of Mr. Lorcan Staines SC, and the trauma-informed, victim-centred approach underpinning the scoping exercise, represent the commitment of the Government, including the Minister for Health, to ensuring victims and survivors are heard and treated with dignity, respect and care at every step. Their well-being is the foundation upon which this work is built. The Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, had to attend the Cabinet meeting and has already referred to that. However, her officials are present today and she will be looking at all the contributions made in this debate.  This scoping exercise is essential for enabling those impacted to contribute to shaping any future response. Its purpose to recognise harm, analyse failures and strengthen our system to ensure that it is safe, effective and compassionate enough to prevent such failures from happening again. It is important to emphasise that this scoping exercise will be substantive with a focus on rigour and direct engagement with the lived experience of victims and survivors of Michael Shine.  To the families, victims and survivors listening today, I say that their great courage and advocacy have shaped the scoping exercise and their voices will continue to guide what happens next. This process is intentionally designed so that the independent facilitator, Mr. Lorcan Staines SC, is tasked with finalising the terms of reference for the scoping exercise in direct consultation with Dignity4Patients. Mr. Staines will have the resources and the full support from Government he requires to assess the full situation and provide a meaningful bespoke approach and response capable of addressing decades-long traumas. We thank Mr. Staines for his work on this scoping exercise, which is over halfway through the 16-week period, and look forward receiving his final report.  We particularly thank Dignity4Patients for its sincere and meaningful engagement with Mr. Staines to finalise the terms of reference and for its continued support to the victims and survivors. Mr. Staines will carry out his role as the independent facilitator through direct engagement with victims and survivors of Michael Shine. The lived experience and voices of victims and survivors are at the centre of this scoping exercise and will shape this work.  We particularly thank victims and survivors for engaging with Mr. Staines and for their incredible courage and commitment to this process. We appreciate that participating in the process like this must be exceptionally difficult for them and their families but their lived experience is essential to shaping a bespoke approach that will lead to real and lasting change. Mr. Staines is approaching his work with care, independence and respect and with the engagement of victims and survivors, this scoping exercise will deliver the understanding accountability and improvements that victims and survivors, their families and the public deserve. We have a responsibility to those impacted to make sure this work is careful, caring, comprehensive and considerate. It must result in real change and improvements.  As the Minister stated earlier in the debate, the final report and recommendations will be submitted to Government to guide and development of an appropriate bespoke response to the issues raised and the needs identified on behalf of the victims and survivors of Michael Shine. Many speakers made reference to various aspects, which the Minister is taking under very careful consideration. We have listened carefully to everything raised in this House today regarding the victims and survivors of Michael Shine. I want to thank all Members for their continued engagement on this very important matter and echo whatever everyone has said, namely, that this is a partnership with Dignity4Patients and, more particularly, the people its represents - the victims and survivors of Michael Shine. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Scoping Exercise in Response to Requests from Dignity4Patients: Statements"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-06\/debate\/dbsect_14","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Dublin City Flat Complex Retrofit and Regeneration: Motion [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":149,"speakerCount":25},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_14","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dessie Ellis","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  I move:  That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann:  notes that:  \u2014 Dublin City Council (DCC) has 6,000 flats across 100 complexes built from the 1930s to the 1960s;  \u2014 due to poor maintenance by the Council, and underfunding by central government, living conditions in these flat complexes are amongst the worst in the city;  \u2014 these sub-standard conditions have a significant impact on community cohesion and the well-being of residents, in particular, young people;  \u2014 damp, mould, rodent infestation, chronic overcrowding and inadequate sports and community facilities, continue to blight the hard-working communities who live in these flat complexes;  \u2014 in 2017, following a collective complaint to the European Committee of Social Rights at the Council of Europe, Strasbourg, by the residents of many of these flat complexes, the Irish Government was found to be in breach of Article 16 of the European Social Charter (Revised), which protects the right of the family to social, legal and economic protection, including the provision of adequate family housing;  \u2014 despite valiant campaigning by residents, supported by the Community Action Network and the Communities of Practice, the conditions in these flat complexes have continued to deteriorate;  \u2014 in 2023, DCC undertook a comprehensive engagement with communities in flat complexes, and produced a plan for the deep retrofit and regeneration of these flat complexes, to bring their homes in line with contemporary standards;  \u2014 this plan is based on successful estate retrofit and regeneration, such as Killarney Court and the pilot project in Ballybough Court;  \u2014 the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, is refusing to fund the initial proposals for the retrofit and regeneration of these complexes in Pearse House and Oliver Bond House, on the spurious grounds that it would lead to a reduction in the number of homes in each complex;  \u2014 this decision is now fatally undermining years of community consultation, and further delaying the bringing of these flat complexes up to legally required standards for rental accommodation; and  \u2014 Dublin City Councillors from Fianna F\u00e1il, Fine Gael, the Labour Party, the Green Party and some Independents voted for the recent Council Budget, which included significant rent increases for Council tenants, including those living in sub-standard accommodation in the inner-city flat complexes; and  calls on the Government to:  \u2014 reverse its current position of refusing to fund DCCs proposed retrofit and regeneration on the inner-city flat complexes;  \u2014 put the views and needs of our strong and vibrant long-standing inner-city communities at the centre of all policy and funding decisions related to the retrofit and regeneration of the flat complexes; and  \u2014 provide DCC with a dedicated team of staff, headed by a senior assistant director of service, with a comprehensive budget, to drive an accelerated programme of flat complex retrofit and regeneration.  The flat communities of Dublin's inner city are not a problem to be managed. They are communities to be respected - communities built on resilience, solidarity and enormous pride. Let us tell the truth here this evening. For decades, these communities have been failed with families forced to live with damp, mould, chronic overcrowding and rodent infestations - conditions no Minister in this Government would tolerate for a single week or day. Yet these families have endured this for years because successive Governments lacked urgency and, more importantly, lacked respect. We are talking about the people of Ballybough, St. Michan's, Oliver Bond House and Pearse House. Across Dublin's inner city, these communities fought to be heard and after years of campaigning and engagement, finally there was a pathway forward. A regeneration plan was developed with residents and not imposed on them. We know that this is the approach that can work because we have already seen it in action. In Killarney Court in my constituency, regeneration transformed living conditions for residents and families while the pilot project in Ballybough Court shows what is possible when communities are listened to and properly supported so nobody in government can claim that this cannot be done.  The problem is not the communities. The problem is the lack of political will and now the Government has pulled the plug. The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage has refused to fund the regeneration of Oliver Bond House and Pearse House because some flats would be amalgamated to meet modern living standards. That is an absurdity. Families are now living in overcrowded flats and parents are trying to raise families in conditions utterly unfit for modern life and the Minister's response is that the homes are too small to regenerate or that families should be forced to remain in inadequately small accommodation. This is bureaucratic cruelty masquerading as policy and is absolutely indefensible. The message it sends to working class communities is devastating which is that after all the consultation, promises and engagement, this Government is still not prepared to treat these communities equally.  These are not abstract policy debates for us in Dublin Central. These communities are our neighbours. They are our communities. They are the people we represent. These communities are tired of Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael Ministers turning up occasionally for photographs and then disappearing when decisions have to be made. They are especially tired of being asked to pay more rent for sub-standard homes. Let us remember that Fianna F\u00e1il, Fine Gael, Labour and the Green Party all supported rent increases for council tenants while these same tenants continue to live in deplorable conditions. Families are paying higher rents while mould climbs their walls, overcrowding worsens and regeneration is delayed yet again. The people of Dublin's inner city deserve so much better than this.  Let me say clearly that regeneration must never become code for displacement. Residents must remain central to every decision and communities must remain intact. Families must be guaranteed the right to remain with their communities, so really our motion is straightforward. The Government must reverse this disgraceful decision, fund the regeneration plans, provide Dublin City Council with the resources and the staffing necessary to accelerate this work and, most importantly, start treating the people of Dublin's flat complexes with the dignity, urgency and respect that they rightfully deserve because the people of the inner city have waited long enough - far too long - and they should not have to spend yet another decade fighting for what every family in this State should already have, namely, a safe, warm and decent home. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  For decades, Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael have neglected Dublin city's and county's flat communities. I am talking about inner-city flat complexes like Pearse House, Oliver Bond House, St. Michan's House and Dolphin House but also suburban schemes like Cromcastle Court in Coolock and Balgaddy in my constituency. These are strong, vibrant and resilient communities that have been utterly failed by successive Governments. So bad were the failures that in 2014, residents from 20 council housing estates supported by the Community Action Network and others took the Irish Government to the European Committee of Social Rights.  After listening to all the evidence and hearing the weasel words of Government, that committee found the Government and State were in breach of Article 16. It was failing to protect the rights of families to social, legal and economic protection, including the right to provision of adequate family housing by the State.  That decision in 2017 finally meant Dublin City Council started to take action, with a report in 2018 and another report in 2020. In 2021, intensive negotiations began, led by residents of these communities and Dublin City Council. Over three years of enormous effort, a regeneration and deep retrofit plan was agreed. What did Government do then? In 2025, the first application for the retrofit of Pearse House was rejected on the grounds that it would see a reduction of units because you had to amalgamate homes to meet legally required minimum standards.  Then, yesterday, the second application for Oliver Bond Street flats was also rejected by a Minister who clearly does not understand the realities in these communities. I want to make it clear the false economy the Government is imposing on these communities. It is saying you cannot reduce the number of units to meet legally required minimum standards, so you have to retrofit the units as they are. However, fewer people will be allowed to live in them. That makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. In fact, this is going to lead to even greater delay.  When Pearse House was knocked back last April, it took until March of this year for a revised proposal to be accepted. From my own conversations with Dublin City Council, it is not clear at all that it will be able to proceed fully with the regeneration of these estates, based on the policy of the Department. What is also without doubt is that the letter from Government to Dublin City Council yesterday was deeply dishonest. It said the reason the Department cannot accept it is that there is a 38% reduction in the number of homes. However, it fails to mention is that in the Dublin City Council plan, which I have here, in order to deal with the fact there would be a reduction of units when you amalgamated two flats into one or three into two, Dublin City Council identified a brand new vacant site opposite Oliver Bond House where it would deliver an additional 43 homes. The scheme has a net gain of 15 homes, and the Minister of State's Government is saying \"No\" to the people of Oliver Bond House. It is utterly disgraceful.  What needs to happen? The Government needs to accept it has got this wrong. It is adding insult to injury to the hardworking, rent-paying tenants in these communities. It needs to reverse its policy decision of opposing amalgamation. It needs to fully fund the adequate regeneration of these estates, and it needs to do it at a more accelerated pace than was originally agreed. What will that take? A dedicated team of staff in Dublin City Council, led by a senior official at assistant director of service grade, and a proper multimillion euro budget provided annually to deal with these issues.  I had the very good fortune of being at an event earlier last year in which Gayle Cullen, one of the leading figures in Oliver Bond House, was discussing their experience of regeneration. That was before that community received the devastating news yesterday. What she said at the end of her presentation was that as a community, they were worn out, tired, fed up and living in or beside derelict blocks in awful conditions, and that it was no wonder residents did not back regeneration boards. Speaking to Gayle today, she said the news yesterday was like a death in the community.  This is on this Government, and I hope we hear at some point today from Deputy Browne, the Minister who has taken the decision to refuse the funding and who is forcing these communities to continue to live in illegal, substandard accommodation. These conditions have to be reversed, the funding has to be provided and the communities in the Public Gallery today need to have the rights of everybody else to live in safe, secure and adequate homes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I thank my constituency colleague, Deputy \u00d3 Broin, for bringing forward this motion here today. The issue of regeneration of inner city flat complexes is not new. I was actually in Henrietta House today, canvassing on behalf of Janice Boylan for the upcoming by-election, and you could not meet a nicer bunch of residents. One woman I was speaking to asked me to come in here to give the Government hell for the conditions she has been left in. She also asked me to say \"Up the flats\", so I am saying \"Up the flats\" on her behalf. That is for you, Dee.  Dee, and residents like her, do not deserve to be left behind by this Government. My mother originally lived in Dolphin's Barn and my father lived in Keogh Square in Inchicore. They talk about the living conditions back in the 1960s but things have not improved. Dublin City Council has 100 flat complexes built right across the city, which were built between the 1930s and 1960s. Years of poor maintenance by the council, compounded by under-funding by central government, has created a situation where living conditions in these flat complexes are some of the worst you will see anywhere else, never mind in the city. We have seen countless reports of damp, mould, rodent infestation and chronic overcrowding in the flats. There are not enough sport facilities and community facilities, and this is so unfair for hardworking communities who have to live in these flat complexes, like the people I met in Henrietta House today.  Do you know what is even more absurd than having to live in these horrific conditions? It is being asked to pay more to live in them. Councillors from Fianna F\u00e1il, Fine Gael, the Labour Party, the Green Party and some Independents inexcusably voted to increase rents on these hard-pressed families. You could not make it up. The message from these councillors is, \"We are going to leave you in squalor but we are going to ask you to pay more for the privilege.\" "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy M\u00e1ire Devine  Yes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  This is not good enough.  This motion we are talking about today calls on Government to fund Dublin City Council's proposed retrofit and regeneration in inner-city flat complexes and to put the views and the needs of the strong, vibrant, long-standing inner city communities at the centre of this policy, like the people we see here in the Public Gallery. They need to be at the heart of this conversation. I genuinely do not think this is too much for people to ask for after decades of neglect.  As Deputy \u00d3 Broin said, the European Committee of Social Rights concluded the Irish Government was found to be in breach of Article 16 of the European Social Charter, which protects the rights of the family to social, legal and economic protection, including the provision of adequate family housing. Balgaddy in my area was part of this ruling. M\u00e9ile an R\u00ed, Tor an R\u00ed, Buirg an R\u00ed and parts of Foxdene Avenue were built almost 20 years ago. Since they were built, there has been constant problems with damp, mould and leaks. I have witnessed water literally running down people's walls.  South Dublin County Council has said it is committed to dealing with the housing maintenance issues in Balgaddy, and I acknowledge there has been some progress. However, residents will tell me it is simply not enough. They continue to live in unacceptable conditions, and like the flat complexes in the inner city, residents of Balgaddy are having to pay more to live in these substandard conditions.  Sinn F\u00e9in Councillor William Carey has done Trojan work in trying to get South Dublin County Council to review the rent increases. However - here we go again with the same names - this was voted down again by Fianna F\u00e1il, Fine Gael, the Labour Party and some Independents. Because of them, the people in Balgaddy will have to pay more rent while having to live in these substandard conditions.  A working group was set up in Balgaddy but they are working in a vacuum. Elected representatives are not on this working group nor are residents. I have called for this process to be changed so that people in Balgaddy can have their voices heard. Some of the nicest people, my best friends and the best people in my area come from Balgaddy, and it is absolutely heartbreaking to see them being left behind and having to pay more to live in these horrendous situations. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  I commend the residents, especially those here today, and all those who have to live in these unfit conditions. All of a sudden, Fianna F\u00e1il, Fine Gael and Labour has decided that there is an increase in their rent. If it is unfit, there should be no increase. In fact, there should be no rent for the conditions some of these tenants are living in, pure and simple.  The council has been informed for many years of the unfit conditions, and that includes, for a long time, sewage coming up through the baths in some of the flat complexes. That is how bad it is and how bad has been, yet we have a Government that is willing to put on hold any chance of regeneration in Oliver Bond Street.  I have sat on the Dolphin House regeneration board for many years. In that instance, they keep telling lies, coming up with new dates and then turning them upside down, and it does not happen. I have documents and questions here where we have been continuously told that phase 1B of Dolphin House will proceed. It was supposed to be finished by the end of this year; it is now 2029.  Let us look at how disgraceful the Government amendment is. Most people do not normally look at it because they know it is a negative. The Government parties are crowing and saying how great they are at delivering social housing regeneration. They picked out Dolphin House and said that they completed it in 2018. They did not complete phase 1 in 2018; they are still working on it. That is how badly the work was done. It is not complete. There is still no movement on phase 1B. We are still waiting on it. Where are phases 2, 3, or 4? Nobody knows. The last we heard was 2035. That is supposed to have started 20 years ago. All of the deadlines set by the council or the Government have never been met because they do not involve them living in it, pure and simple. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy M\u00e1ire Devine  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  They would not live in the conditions they are asking residents in my constituency to live in, whether it is Oliver Bond House, Emmet Buildings or Basin Street. There are quite a lot more, including Bernard Curtis House, Dolphin House and Seagull House. In some places, they have pulled them down. People might remember the Emmet estate, or the old St. Michael's Estate. How long has that been waiting for the building? They are only on-site, yet the buildings were pulled down many years ago. That is scandalous.  It is strange that the Labour Party even bothered trying to amend our motion because it tried to take out the criticism we had of the party increasing the rent. Shame on it for that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  It should acknowledge that it has increased the rent in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis. It should also acknowledge the increase in rent is for substandard accommodation, pure and simple. These flats are substandard and people know it. They are not fit, in some cases, for human habitation. I have had many cases over the years where residents have come to me about the level of mould and damp, with water running down their walls, not the windows but their walls, and into sockets, making it dangerous to live in. The floor gets saturated and the furniture they have starts to warp and attract mould and damp. The Minister of State would not expect to live in that, yet the State expects people to live in those conditions.  It needs to end now. The Government needs to reverse the decision taken on Oliver Bond House and not just that. It needs to accelerate all of the other ones. The communities have spent time and effort and have had consultation after consultation, yet they are getting knocked back. Communities will not continue to engage in those consultations. Is that what the Minister of State wants? Does he want to break the communities and separate them around the city, as has happened in the past, because of the delays? Blocks are detenanted, people are moved out of the community and they are no longer part of it. They are elsewhere. Is that the intention? Then, all of a sudden, the Government has a greenfield site it can build public-private apartments on. That is the wrong approach.  These communities are proud. They are the best people in the world, yet we have allowed them to continue to live in unfit accommodation with all of the other pressures these communities are under. We all know about the antisocial and criminal behaviour of people selling drugs in many of these complexes. That needs to end, and it needs to end now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy John Cummins)  I move:  To delete all words after \"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann\" and substitute the following:  \"notes that:  \u2014 the Programme for Government commits to continue and accelerate Social Housing regeneration schemes in Dublin, and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage continues and commits to support regeneration projects submitted by Dublin City Council (DCC) that do not result in any significant loss of homes;  \u2014 the Government's objective is to maximise the quality and availability of homes within the established inner-city flat complexes, and to ensure that they are to an acceptable standard;  \u2014 DCC, through funding from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, are focused on eradicating any sub-standard conditions that have arisen in aging flat complexes, and this directly addresses the issues raised in the collective complaint to the European Committee of Social Rights at the Council of Europe, Strasbourg;  \u2014 the Government is fully committed to working with DCC to ensure that all plans to regenerate all such flats, through either deep-retrofit or demolition and re-build, comes to fruition;  \u2014 the Government has shown its commitment through National Development Plan funding of \u20ac20 billion for housing, which includes support for Dublin City regeneration;  \u2014 a number of funding channels are available to local authorities to support regeneration projects, including the Social Housing Investment Programme, the Affordable Housing Fund, the Capital Advance Leasing Facility, the Cost Rental Equity Loan, and through the Regeneration and Refurbishment Programme;  \u2014 an unprecedented level of funding is available to local authorities through these schemes, totalling over \u20ac3.4 billion in 2026;  \u2014 local authorities are supported by almost \u20ac260 million per annum for the management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, through the Planned Maintenance\/Voids Programme (\u20ac40 million), Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme (\u20ac140 million), Housing Adaptation Grant for Disabled People (\u20ac28.5 million), and the Regeneration and Refurbishment Programme (\u20ac50 million);  \u2014 the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, has recently approved funding of \u20ac13.8 million for the deep retrofitting of 78 flats across four blocks at Pearse House;  \u2014 the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage are working with DCC on a proposal for retrofitting the flats at Oliver Bond House, that will not result in a significant loss of housing, but will result in all homes being upgraded to modern standards;  \u2014 the Minister and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage will continue to support such retrofitting of these aging flats to bring them in-line with modern standards, and previous delivery of projects, such as the successful estate retrofit and regeneration or demolition and re-build of Killarney Court, Dolphin House Phase 1 and O'Devaney Gardens, shows that a pathway exists for successful delivery of inner-city regeneration to the satisfaction of all stakeholders, and the Government, and the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, are fully committed to continue this work;  \u2014 the Government continues to recognise and support the needs of our strong and vibrant longstanding inner city communities, and recognises the value of their input and valuable lived experience to the planned regeneration of inner-city flat complexes, and this work is continuing throughout DCC, and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is happy to assess each proposal that is submitted by DCC; and  \u2014 the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage works closely with the local government sector to ensure that delivery teams are fully resourced, and continues to do so, and are awaiting a report from a County and City Management Association working group on local authority social and affordable housing resources, and the Chief Executive of DCC has ultimate operational responsibility for the organisational structure of DCC, including additional staff requirements.\".  I thank the Deputies opposite for tabling the motion, which relates to flat complex retrofit regeneration in Dublin city. While the Government cannot support the motion, I welcome the opportunity to set out its clear and robust position on the issues the motion raises and to table a countermotion.  Within the programme for Government 2025, Securing Ireland's Future, a commitment was specifically made to continue to accelerate social housing regeneration schemes across Dublin. In our housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities, the Government commits to a social housing regeneration and remedial works programme for ageing flat complexes and estates nationwide. Social housing is absolutely a central priority for this Government, with 72,000 units planned under our housing action plan to the end of 2030. It is a fact that we are delivering the largest investment in social housing in the history of the State. That investment is being directed specially towards delivery of new social homes, the regeneration of older complexes and the refurbishment and maintenance of existing stock. This is a sustained, multi-annual commitment, not a short-term response.  Regeneration is actively happening across Dublin city. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy M\u00e1ire Devine  That is rubbish. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Cummins  Large-scale redevelopment projects are progressing, transforming communities----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Rubbish. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Cummins  -----and improving living conditions for residents. The Department of housing is fully supportive----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Has the Minister of State been in any of these complexes? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Cummins  -----of regeneration proposals submitted by Dublin City Council, which do not result in any significant loss of homes----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Come and visit them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Cummins  -----or when loss of homes cannot be avoided, such decisions are fully justified. Furthermore, over \u20ac230 million per annum of Exchequer funding is being provided to local authorities under the planned maintenance and voids programmes, the energy retrofit programme and the regeneration and refurbishment programme, all of which are proving vital in the refurbishment and maintenance of local authority stock nationwide.  Contrary to what the Opposition is saying, the Government does not accept there is an issue of underfunding. Local authorities generate significant----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  The Government refused Dublin City Council the funding for Oliver Bond House yesterday. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy \u00d3 Broin. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  That is the reality. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Cummins  A Leas Cheann-Comhairle----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  He is talking down the clock and ignoring the issue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Cummins  -----I can respond to the motion that is before us if the Deputies want to give me the respect I gave them in the Chamber. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  How about some respect for the residents who are being forced to live in Third World conditions because of the Government's refusal? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Cummins  If the Deputy wants me to respond to the motion, I will but----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  I would really like the Minister of State to. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Cummins  -----but if he does not want to hear what I have to say----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  The Minister of State should direct his remarks to the people in the Gallery. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  Deal with the issue. Do not talk down the clock. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy \u00d3 Broin. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Cummins  Am I allowed to respond? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  As far as I am concerned. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  We would welcome it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Cummins  I would appreciate the same respect that I accord the Deputy in this Chamber all of the time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  While sitting on his phone. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  Respect is earned. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Cummins  I do not shout across the Deputy. I listened to him; I would appreciate if he could give me the same respect. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  It is the residents we want the Minister of State to listen to, not us. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Go ahead. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Cummins  Thank you, a Leas Cheann-Comhairle. As I was saying before I was rudely interrupted by the other side of the House, local authorities do generate significant rental income that should supplement central government funding in the area of maintenance because nobody in this Government wants to see anybody living in substandard accommodation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Apparently the Government does. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Cummins  Dublin City Council is working closely with the Department to determine the best solution for each complex, be that demolition and rebuild resulting in mixed-tenure communities or, where appropriate, deep retrofit and remedial works. Mention has been made of local authority staffing and while it should be noted that the operational responsibility for staff lies with Dublin City Council and the chief executive, I assure the Chamber that my Department will consider all staffing requests that can add value to the delivery of housing in the city and across the country.  With funding from my Department, Dublin City Council is delivering significant regeneration in Dublin city and we are supporting the council's ambitious pipeline of regeneration projects. Significant work is ongoing within the council's portfolio of regeneration projects as a direct result of extensive supports the Government is providing.  Large-scale, mixed-tenure redevelopments are beginning to bear fruit, transforming their respective communities and delivering housing at scale. The Donore project at the former St. Teresa's Gardens flat complex, as well as the Montpelier development at the former O'Devaney Gardens----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  How long did that take? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Cummins  -----are both currently on-site. Construction has recently begun at An Droichead \u00d3rga in Inchicore, at the former St. Michael's estate next to the historic Richmond Barracks. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  Twenty years after. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  How long did that take? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Cummins  These three regeneration projects will revitalise their communities and deliver over 2,000 mixed-tenure homes, including cost-rental, affordable purchase and social housing once all phases are completed, with the support of Exchequer funding of over \u20ac460 million. This is clear evidence of the significant investment that Government is making----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  The Minister of State needs to come and visit the flats because he is speaking from a position of absolute ignorance. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Cummins  -----in the regeneration of Dublin city, which is in stark contrast to the motion before us.  The Department has funded Dublin City Council to the tune of \u20ac120 million for social housing regeneration projects completed in recent years, refurbishing or rebuilding 345 homes, including 72 homes at Dominick Street east----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  How long did Dominick Street take? A generation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Cummins  -----100 homes as part of Dolphin House phase 1, and 32 homes for older persons at Glin Court in Coolock.  The Department is funding eight projects currently on-site, delivering almost 1,000 homes at a total investment cost of \u20ac490 million. Additionally, Dublin City Council has a strong pipeline of regeneration projects that are currently at implementation phase, with building contractors on-site and construction progressing rapidly. These include 163 homes at Dorset Street, St. Mary's, Dublin 1, 102 homes at St. Anne's Court, Dublin 5 and 46 homes at Constitution Hill, phase 1, Dublin 7. The Department has also provided funding approval for regeneration projects in Dublin city, where DCC is working on the design, including Pearse House, Dublin 2, Dolphin House 1B, School Street, Dublin 8, Constitution Hill phase 2, Dublin 7, as well as Glover's Court, Dublin 2. In addition, the Government is supporting the Land Development Agency in its objective to deliver social and affordable homes at scale, and it is partnering with Dublin City Council to deliver significant schemes at Donore Avenue at the former St. Theresa's Gardens flat complex, Bluebell Waterways, Dublin 12 and Cherry Orchard. The LDA has also engaged with Dublin City Council in planning for significant social and cost rental delivery at Dolphin House flat complex.  In relation to Pearse House and the Oliver Bond Street flat complexes, this Government recognises the need and potential difficulties of regeneration in fully tenanted, ageing buildings. As I have said, we do not want to see anybody living in substandard accommodation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  The Government parties do. They are in the Gallery here. This is deeply frustrating. This is doolally stuff, with no bearing on how decent people are currently living, on the Minister of State's watch. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Cummins  A Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I always address through the Chair. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  No, the Minister of State do not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy M\u00e1ire Devine  He is very good. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  The best boy in the class. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Cummins  I would appreciate some extra time because I might not get finished as a result of the interruptions, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  The Minister of State might actually address the question in front of us. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Cummins  To that end, and recognising the efforts of Dublin City Council to create an agreeable and sustainable plan, funding of \u20ac13 million for the retrofit and deep refurbishment of four blocks at Pearse House has recently been approved by my Department. This follows an initial rejection of an amalgamation proposal from DCC, which would have resulted in the loss of 43% of existing homes at a very high cost. The Department is currently working with the Council to find an equally appropriate solution for the Oliver Bond House flat complex. This remains a priority regeneration project for Dublin City Council and for the Department. A recent funding submission received from the council for blocks L, M and N included a reduction of existing homes from 74 to 46, a 38% decrease in existing homes. That loss of 28 homes was not acceptable, given the current shortage of homes. A more appropriate response to this issue has been suggested by my Department, whereby flats that are currently configured as two-bedroom flats, with floor spaces of 48 sq. m should be converted into one-bedroom, two-person flats that would satisfy the minimum floor area standards for apartments. Coupled with this, Dublin City Council is proposing to develop an adjacent site at Bridgefoot Street in which larger families from the Oliver Bond Street complex could be accommodated, thus maintaining an appropriate mix of household types and sizes within the complex. The clear focus of Government is on driving delivery and increasing the number of homes available for use by all individuals and families. Additional supply is the only long-term sustainable solution to our current housing challenges. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  The Minister of State is joking. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Cummins  The Department is acutely aware that regeneration programmes cannot succeed without the input from local communities. That is why Dublin City Council continues to seek input from existing communities in flat complexes at each stage of the regeneration process. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  Which the Government then ignores. The Government then ignores and throws it in the bin. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Cummins  Their input is valued and all projects are advanced with the objective of improving the living conditions of these long-term established communities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  That is them. That is a good one. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Cummins  I have a couple more concluding comments and would appreciate some latitude, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, because I was interrupted several times.  We are aware of the collective complaint that was made to the European Committee of Social Rights in Strasbourg in 2017. It is for that very reason that Dublin City Council has been working on plans to regenerate all such flats through either deep retrofit or demolition and rebuild. The unparalleled funding available to local authorities through delivering homes and building communities will continue to be a key focus of this Government because both the Minister and I want to ensure that these flat complexes and other regeneration projects across the country are delivered. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Oh, my God. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy M\u00e1ire Devine  A Leas-Cheann Comhairle, the Minister of State is way over and he has not answered anything. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  That is a disgraceful response. Have he visited them? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  This is Orwellian. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  The Minister of State is welcome to come to my constituency and visit to see how people are living. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  The Labour Party amendment cannot be moved until the Minister of State's amendment has been disposed of. We will continue with Sinn F\u00e9in. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  The absolute neck of the Minister of State reading out that diatribe. He should have addressed his remarks to the people in the Gallery but he would be ashamed. He could not even look them in the face. My God, this makes me so angry. He is dragging people back to tenements. My mam and dad were born in tenement housing in the city centre in Dublin and they left, they moved to the suburbs so that they could make a better life for themselves and the slums were cleared. That is not good enough for Fine Gael and Fianna F\u00e1il. They want to bring the slums back to Dublin city. Shame on the Minister of State, shame on him. Nothing that he read out in his script will give comfort to any person up in that Gallery that he is listening, that he understands, that he gives - I am not even going to say it because I am better than that.  I want to talk very briefly about a lady who commented on a Dublin Live article on the conditions that she is living in. She is five months pregnant. Her home is overcrowded and no matter what she does, she cannot win the fight with the mould. She cannot buy anything for her baby because she knows that by the time the child is born, the stuff is going to be covered in mould. Imagine that when you are planning to bring a lovely newborn baby back to your place. Imagine that you cannot buy anything, not a Babygro, not a Moses basket, nothing for the child, because you know by the child comes home, by the time you bring your little baby home to your overcrowded, draughty, damp flat, the stuff is going to be covered in mould. She lies in bed every night, five months pregnant, terrified because of what she is breathing in, and worries that it is going to harm her and her baby. Imagine how she feels when the Lord Mayor of Dublin votes to jack up her rent five minutes before he hops on a plane to head off to California. She is trying to wipe the mould off the walls and she is listening to him tell her she has to pay more rent, that she cannot move, she must endure those conditions, and that this is the place she is going to have to bring her baby home to. Imagine listening to that, five minutes before he hopped on a plane and headed off on a first-class flight to California.  The people in the flats are house-proud. If the Minister of State visited the flats, he would see that. He has been invited by Deputy McDonald to go to her constituency and see the conditions. He is their landlord. There are plenty of private landlords sitting on the Government benches but he is their landlord. If this was private renting, the landlord would not get away with it. It is getting away with it because it is the Government and it should be ashamed of itself. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy M\u00e1ire Devine  C\u00e9ad m\u00edle f\u00e1ilte to all the residents up there. I want to give a shout out to the flat complexes of Meath Place, Dolphin House, Tyrone Place, Braithewaite Street and Seagull House in my constituency alone. Unfortunately the residents of Oliver Bond House, who planned to attend, cannot be here, as has been mentioned. These residents are devastated by dealing with yet more Government ineptitude but they are ready for the fight ahead. All these guys in the Gallery have fought all their lives and they are not going to give up now. Some 120 years ago, Dublin had the worst slums in Europe in which 30% of the city's population resided. Slums were described as unfit for human habitation. These conditions bred illness and premature death. It was called the consumption at the time. Even the Brits were forced to acknowledge this was unacceptable and undertook the construction of estates for public health and to clear some of the slums.  In 1917, Sinn F\u00e9in alderman Thomas Kelly chaired the Dublin Corporation housing committee and kicked against funding delays, a mirror image of the failings of today's Government and the Minister. Residents of Dolphin House had to bring their case to Europe due to sewage, damp, rodent infestations and mould. There has been no meaningful maintenance of inner city flat complexes. DCC has been bled dry of expertise and decimated due to the Government decisions and funding cuts over the past 20 years. The Minister of State should know this well. He has continued these practices and policies that perpetrate Dickensian conditions. The damaging criminality, antisocial behaviour and drug dealing are picking off our youth in these complexes. Some of the well-heeled are aghast that these young people seemingly do not respect their areas but why should they when the Government does not lead by example? The social cost to communities the Government is tearing asunder and neglecting is immeasurable. The Government's countermotion cites the successful rebuild of phase 1 of Dolphin House. What a joke - more jokes than a cracker factory. Entire rows need to be redone. If the Government considers this a success I would hate to its failures. The Labour Party's amendment decries the recent rent increases in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, yet Labour Party councillors voted in favour of these hikes along with the Green Party. Apparently the Labour Party not only has buyer's remorse; it is also having by-election remorse. The Minister of State should be ashamed of himself - absolutely morto for you - at the irreparable damage he is wreaking upon the working classes of our city and the inner city that is their place and their home. Respect is a two-way street. Please stand up and respect these guys in the Gallery. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dessie Ellis","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dessie Ellis  Dublin's inner city like other areas of the city, including my constituency, Dublin North West, has long faced challenges related to social inclusion, economic disparity and the consequences of many years of ageing infrastructure and buildings coinciding with a lack of proper maintenance of such structures or adequate financial investment in the areas. In the past there were efforts to revitalise local communities, improve the quality of life of residents and stimulate economic development. The Ballymun regeneration project is one such effort as is the more recent project in O'Devaney Gardens and the redevelopment of St. Mary's Mansions in the north inner city. Regeneration is not only about renovating or building new houses or apartments; it is also about providing proper community facilities and services. It is important that such redevelopments and regeneration projects ensure community-led decision-making by actively involving local residents and other stakeholders in the planning and decision-making process. A recent report from Eurostat shows Ireland has the highest household electricity prices in the European Union. DCC currently maintains an ageing housing stock with over 50% of its properties built between 1930 and 1977. A big problem with the council's retrofitting works programme is that is stops in October and does not resume until April, which leaves a huge gap in knowing what works are required for the following year and contractors left without confirmation of future contracts. There is also an inefficiency in how it works. Where a terrace of houses gets wraparounds, a single house in the middle does not because it is privately owned. Dublin City Council's new differential rent scheme is supposed to augment its maintenance budget and has increased rents for almost all of the city's 68,000 council tenants. It disproportionately impacts social housing tenants already struggling with the cost of living and has placed the burden of funding DCC's maintenance programme on the shoulders of its most vulnerable tenants. Additionally, Dublin City Council manages a significant number of vacant social housing units or voids awaiting refitting or refurbishment. Government assistance is inadequate for such works as the cost of refitting a unit is approximately \u20ac40,000 but the Government provides around \u20ac10,000 for each unit averaging out from its contribution. DCC has to make up the shortfall. It is outrageous that so many of these regeneration schemes face delays and roadblocks because the Government is blocking the funding necessary for projects such Pearse House regeneration and the Moore Street redevelopment. Today we heard the regeneration of Dublin's Oliver Bond Street complex is to be scrapped. These regeneration projects need to be fully funded and any roadblocks to progress lifted. The neglect of our communities needs to end. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marie Sherlock  I apologise that I could not be here earlier. We were dealing with the ambulance strike due to take place next Tuesday so I missed the earlier contributions. I do not know who wrote the Government's countermotion this morning but the people sitting around the Cabinet table who signed off on it this afternoon and the person who wrote this have their heads in the clouds. Everything in the Government's countermotion suggest an aloof and, worse, an indifference or callousness towards the appalling conditions in which far too many council tenants in this city find themselves living. Of course, there has been progress - none of us is denying that - particularly in the north-west inner city in recent years in Constitution Hill, Dorset Street, and O'Devaney Gardens. That is all welcome but the context is that there are 211 flat complexes across the Dublin City Council area and just 12 are either undergoing major regeneration or subject to some sort of plan. There is a hell of a lot to be done. I am in no way hearing from Government that it gets the depth of the problem with the flat complexes in our capital city or has any idea of the impact of its short-sightedness, particularly when we see the stalemate between it and DCC on Oliver Bond Street flats. The news that emerged today regarding those flats is disgraceful. We have listened for many weeks to the Taoiseach talking about how local authorities are well-resourced, lots of money going into the housing budget for local authorities and money having to be carefully spent.  Hundreds of thousands of euro have been spent trying to get the plans for the Oliver Bond Street complex to where they are, yet the Department has been blindsided by the desire for volume, which we all share, but cannot see the short-term and long-term costs to families continuing to live in squalor in the flats. It is condemning those people to all the social and health costs that with it. We know from research conducted by the Robert Emmet Community Development Project and Trinity College that children in the Oliver Bond Street flats are 2.4 times more likely to have asthma relative to the general population. There is still not a huge volume of evidence relating to the causation but the correlation is enormous. We have to draw an inference that suggests people's lives and health are badly affected from the people who come to my clinics, in the flats I step into, the babies on inhalers before the age of 18 months, and the children missing school days because of chest and throat infections due to the mould on their walls and around their windows, mildew and fungus growing from their ceilings. Year after year people paint their walls. Who paints their walls every year? The people in the flat complexes in my constituency in Dublin Central do. It is unacceptable and outrageous. They are trying to cover up a problem that will not go away because of construction defects, yet the Government continues to say plenty of money is going into housing. It is not going into flat maintenance or regeneration and it must. The reality is hundreds of flat complexes are old and in need of regeneration but there are also new complexes like Blackhall Place, which is only 30 years old and won awards at the time. It was poorly built and now residents have to deal with issues with drinking water and drainage. I spoke to a lady last Saturday on Poplar Row whose insulation is soaking. That is a result of Dublin City Council dropping the ball and the Government. We talk about fire safety defects and the enormous bill for private apartment complexes but there is also a massive issue with the Government dropping the ball on building standards in flat complexes in this city and beyond.  A big concern I have in all of this is that there have been so many broken promises to residents in flat complexes over the years from successive Ministers and public representatives in Dublin Central. We were told Croke Villas was due to start in 2019. It is still to happen. Matt Talbot Court is still standing there. It was supposed to be finished in 2022. Gardiner Street flats and Dunne Street flats were supposed to start in 2021. There is still no progress. I know all too often that Dublin City Council and the Government will point to the pandemic. We saw the Mater getting its act together during the pandemic and building much-needed hospital bed space, but when it comes to flat complexes we have seen no progress.  It is important to say that the corrosive impact of the broken promises is not just for the residents but is right across the communities. We are seeing that manifest with the local election results in 2024 and what may happen in our constituency over the coming weeks. This Government has to wake up to the reality that there is a serious crisis when people are living in those sorts of degrading conditions. Deputy Devine mentioned the rent increases. I tell the Minister of State clearly that I am not happy about the rent increases. It is crap that anybody has to pay a rent increase in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis. Dublin City Council executives dropped the ball by not having a rate review for over 30 years, but the Government has also starved Dublin City Council of funding for refurbishment and regeneration. The reality is that the \u20ac30 million that is going to be raised by the rent increases is supposed to go into maintenance. We will be doing our damnedest to make sure it does, but it is a drop in the ocean in terms of what is needed. There needs to be a honest conversation about the expectations for all the people I am delighted to see in the Gallery today and what they can expect over the coming years.  Let us look at the figures. To try to do decent maintenance across four complexes will cost approximately \u20ac70 million. To fully regenerate major complexes will cost hundreds of millions of euro. We have to hear from the Government whether it is willing to stump up those hundreds of millions of euro to fully regenerate those flat complexes in coming years or whether it will merely involve replacement of windows, doors and ventilation, which is important, but does not go far enough in making the lives of people better.  It is not all about money. It is about capacity and resources. In local authorities across this country, we have seen a hollowing-out of staffing over many years. Some local authorities have tried to start apprenticeship programmes in their maintenance departments, but we have far too few. If we are to seriously have a planned maintenance programme across all local authorities we need to see leadership from the Government on this. We need to see direction from the Government to make sure it is direct employment within local authorities so the day-to-day maintenance can be dealt with and the real money can go into the issues of cold walls that need the insulation and broken windows. Far too much of the money at the moment is going into day-to-day stuff. None of it, or far too little, is going into proper maintenance and upkeep of flat complexes that are many years old.  For many years there have been residents and residents\u2019 groups fighting tooth and nail on this. I know in my constituency ICON has been to the fore in leading the charge to bring people together in recent years. I pay particular tribute to Belinda Nugent and others working there and looking at this as a systemic issue rather than just going back and forth between maintenance staff in Dublin City Council and individual tenants. The reality is that we have a systemic crisis. There are far too many children growing up in degrading conditions in our flat complexes. At the very least, for the dignity of families in this country we need to see a change in tone and attitude to funding local authorities from this Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  Today's motion from Sinn F\u00e9in is welcome and we support it. It is timely given what has come out today about the Oliver Bond Street flats, which is absolutely disgraceful. I have been in Oliver Bond Street and have worked with colleagues who have done research and community work in those flats. I worked for many years as a community worker in the Dolphin House flats dealing with issues of mould and damp. One of the big motivations for me to get involved in politics was that people should have the basic necessity of a home, a place where they can rest their head and raise their families, and that does not make them sick and ill. We know in flat complexes across this city and in social housing across this country there are tenants living in homes making them and their children sick. It is wrong. It is a breach of this State's obligations to ensure that not just all housing but social housing in particular, for which the Minister is responsible and landlord of, is not damaging people's health. It is, and we have known about it for years. Ultimately it comes back to the failure to treat housing as a human right, particularly for renters. They have a right to live in housing of a decent standard, whether that is social housing or private rental housing. Many people who own their homes are living in mould and damp as well.  In Ballymun, in my constituency, I have dealt with many people living with similar situations of mould and damp. I have been dealing with one mother in particular. I visited her home two months ago and saw the mould in the child's bedroom. It is absolutely unacceptable that babies are born into, and children growing up in homes with mould in the walls. I put my finger on the windowsill, and it went into it because of the dampness. The Minister of State knows what that does to a child with impacts on asthma and even development. It is unacceptable and this State cannot accept that children and families are left growing up in substandard social housing. On top of that, they are being asked and forced to pay even higher rent. It is absolutely disgraceful and unfair that they are living in homes that are uninhabitable and being asked and forced to pay higher rents for that. There are alternative ways to raise funding. Councils need to be funded properly, but ultimately the Government has to take responsibility. We are jeopardising the lives of our children and families growing up. People in social housing have an absolute right to a decent standard of home, just like anybody else. This and previous Governments have failed social housing tenants in this country, and it is not okay.  My colleagues will be talking about this, particularly in relation to Oliver Bond Street and what is happening there, but also about inner-city flat complexes that have been left derelict. I was involved in a research project recently specifically about Oliver Bond Street and the concept of care. The question that was put over and over again was whether the Irish State cares about people living in social housing. The only conclusion I can draw, and they can draw, is that right now it does not care. However, it should, and it needs to, and we will fight and push until it does and until people have decent homes in this country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  I listened to the Minister of State's contribution earlier. My only hope is that he did not write it himself because I cannot describe it as anything other than obnoxious. It was a gaslighting of communities, some of which I am sure are in the Gallery this evening and are living in conditions nothing short of inhumane. The response from Government was \"carry on\" because things are good and it will get there in due course. However, due course has health implications for the people living in those flat complexes. There are respiratory issues and mould on the walls. When I canvas any of the inner-city flat complexes I will inevitably be brought in by a person to see the mould on the walls, to see hinges on doors that do not actually close, and to see windows only barely contained within the structure. Only 17% of flat complexes in this city have experienced any form of upgrade.  The people living in them have been given a double insult.  I will get to the insult in a second, but in addition to what this motion is asking for, all anybody in the flat complexes or those who have the pleasure of representing them are asking for is that this Government lives up to its own commitments. In October 2024, to great fanfare, Simon Harris and lots of other Ministers stood in the GPO and announced a capital-only plan called the Big Move 2. It committed to a \"total regeneration of all existing social housing in the city centre [and this is the real kicker] within three to five years\". I do not believe a single flat complex has been renovated in that time, but the Minister of State's speech tells us the State will get to it in due course. The Government is going against its own commitments made in the GPO under the heading \"Ten Big Moves\". I can imagine a person in one of the flat complexes locally, like Greek Street, Henrietta Street, Ballybough House or Dunne Street would have looked at that and said it was great and that maybe within in three to five years they would have habitable conditions in which they could raise their children. What did they get within 12 months of the Government's Big Move? They got rent increases. I cannot imagine anything more cruel than a report commissioned by the State that commits to addressing the absence of any sort of humane conditions in flat complexes and rather than the State doing the job it committed to do, which was to allocate the funding promised, it turned around and raised the rents of people living in conditions not one of us in this Chamber would live in now.  I grew up in Mountain View Court. I spent the first seven years of my life there. I will not romanticise it as there absolutely were issues, but I still see people on the street who say they remember me from the flats. A sense of solidarity, commitment and community exists there, but it exists in the absence of State intervention and of a State willing to say that, as these people's landlord - the overarching truth is that this State is quite literally the landlord - it is going to allow people to live in conditions that are nothing short of the tenement conditions of old. Within these complexes you will find people who keep their flats immaculately. They clean their flats every single day. I am sorry to the Minister of State, but I am talking to him. I am talking to him through the Chair, admittedly, but I would appreciate it if he----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Cummins  I am listening to the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  -----listened to me about the cry I am getting from flat complexes the length and breadth of this city, which is that the State should just do its job. With Dublin City Council or any other local authority, it is the State that is the overarching landlord of conditions that were found by European courts to be inhumane. The Minister of State cannot tell me we are a rich country when we are a slum landlord. The calls in this motion are minuscule but the demand from the people living in these flat complexes the length and breadth of the city, who we meet every single day, who are hurting and who have that hurt compounded by increased rents, is simply for the State to do its job, live up to its commitment and stop asking people to live in conditions none of us in this Chamber would live in. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  The Minister of State is having a bad time today because what is happening with the Oliver Bond Street complex is an absolute disgrace. I have the letter that was sent by the senior Minister, who really should be here to answer the questions. Well done to Sinn F\u00e9in for bringing this forward. Dublin South-Central, which I represent, has a number of regeneration projects that have been going on for what seems like decades. It is quite outstanding that the State could build homes designed by Herbert Simms and all these amazing places and then let them rot, let the people inside them also rot, promise the people it will get the regeneration done and then not do that. The State wasted people's time on the Oliver Bond forum for years. It wasted their valuable time sitting and talking about things only to say, at the last minute and with the stroke of a pen, that the answer is \"No\"; the computer says \"No\".  The Taoiseach visited Oliver Bond Street six years ago and promised the sun, moon and stars. He promised that regeneration would be done, but there is not a dicky-bird. Nothing has happened in six years. Again, the State was making people spend their valuable time coming up with ideas and working with the council - giving them the runaround - and then saying \"No\", with the excuse that regeneration would reduce the number of units. If the Minister of State had ever visited the place he would know it is not fit to live in. There is mould and damp. They are tiny flats. They do not reach any standards. It is a computer says \"No\" situation. The utter disrespect this Government has for the people in Dublin South-Central is seen today. I do not like calling people out but the TD for that area who is from the Government and the Senator for that area who is from the Government should not knock on doors and promise people the sun, moon and stars and then not deliver on it. It is unfair and inhumane how people are living down there. Not one person would accept it for themselves and it should not be acceptable for anyone who is paying rent in social housing in Ireland. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  The living conditions faced by Dubliners in social housing flats built between the 1930s and 1960s are frankly unconscionable. I have heard stories from people who are desperate, who are enraged and who, increasingly, are resigned to the failure of this State to uphold their human rights.  I get countless pleas in my constituency of Dublin Bay South from people living in flats with mouldy walls, rotting woodwork and rat infestations in places like Pearse House and Markievicz House. The endless tick-tacking between central government and Dublin City Council on regeneration plans has left these residents exhausted and hopeless. As one resident put it to me, residents have gone through hell over the last five years with the planned and cancelled regeneration of Pearse House. Another told me of her deteriorating mental health and said residents had suffered in silence for too long and the thought the regeneration may be cancelled has left them hopeless. She said they were simply asking for a chance to live in peace and dignity.  Residents of Pearse House and Markievicz House have been left in limbo by a housing Minister who seems more concerned with optics than solutions. The Department refused the comprehensive regeneration plans put forward by Dublin City Council last year on the basis there would be a reduction in the overall number of units. However, it would stand to reason that the severe overcrowding issues simply cannot be solved without some reduction. Imagine if the same had been said about the tenements. The solution for Pearse House that has been approved is a reduced refurbishment project that will not solve overcrowding and has only had its first phase approved. Is the progress the Minister and Minister of State are making on supply of new housing so limited that the loss of a few units in Pearse House would make a substantial impact on the Department's performance? Must the residents of Pearse House and Markievicz House continue to live among rats in mouldy, overcrowded flats in order to appease ministerial vanity? The choice is the Minister's. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  I have had the pleasure over the last number of months of visiting a lot of flats in the north inner city. This is in the context of both the by-election and the campaign against the rent increases, which is a Dublin-wide campaign even though we are at different phases. It is interesting to hear the TDs from the constituency talk because what strikes you is the very deep sense of community due to people living so close together. It is a very strong sense of community and solidarity. These are really great people. That is on the one hand, but what also strikes you is the pretty horrific conditions in which people have to live in 2026. There is mould everywhere. There are stories of people repainting their flats over and over. There are rats. Obviously there is overcrowding, which is chronic across the city. It is utterly unacceptable. What we have heard about the Oliver Bond Street complex is outrageous. People have had their time wasted, have been led up the garden path and then have been left waiting again in horrific conditions because of what is effectively a tick-box approach to resolving the housing crisis, as opposed to dealing with the situations people are facing.  It is outrageous that people who are living in such poor conditions have been asked, forced or compelled to pay even more in rent. It is outrageous that the argument for them to pay more in rent to Dublin City Council \u2013 an average increase of 30% - is wrapped up in the language of the council wanting to be a good landlord. It wants to be a good landlord so it has left people living in crap for years and years or even decades, and now it wants them to pay more for the privilege of it. It is outrageous. The main responsibility for that goes to central government for not properly funding our councils, but there is a lesson here for Labour and the Greens in particular because it was a horrendous mistake to vote to increase these people's rents. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy M\u00e1ire Devine  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  The mistake can be righted at the next budget. There is a big campaign to ask people to reverse it. Ultimately, the vote was lost by one vote. There was an amendment to say we should not be increasing people's rents and should instead be hitting the big companies by introducing what is effectively a differential rates scheme. It can be reversed for next year. We need commitments from Labour and the Greens to do that, as opposed to charging people more.  I wish to speak for a moment about South Dublin County Council. In my constituency we do not have that many social housing flats.  Obviously, we have lots of social houses and the same sorts of issues apply. The biggest issue is people waiting for years and years for windows and doors that are necessary. There are gale-force winds passing through their houses. The idea of having insulation or whatever in that context is obviously a complete joke.  Just as in Dublin city, Fingal and Galway, the management in South Dublin County Council, with the presumed agreement of the ruling group, is planning to go for big rent increases. The council has produced a PowerPoint presentation to outline its case. Effectively, it is trying to suggest that just as in Dublin city, the council takes in less in rent than it spends in maintenance. It is not true. When you go through the figures, you see that it is not true whatsoever. The council is adding in all sorts of extra expenses - I will go into some of it for a second - to try to create that impression. Dublin City Council has said that it is not getting enough in rents so it has to increase them, and then it will improve maintenance. South Dublin County Council is raising a fair bit more in rents than it is actually spending in maintenance. It has no excuse for not providing it. I will give one example; the council includes in its expenditure the money that comes from central government for retrofitting, which is about \u20ac7 million a year. The council is including that in its own expenditure to try to pretend it is making less. The truth is that it is taking a lot more in rent than in maintenance. It does not need to increase the rents; there is no argument for it whatsoever. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  Decent housing is enshrined as a human right in Article 25 of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It should also be enshrined in Bunreacht na h\u00c9ireann, the Irish Constitution. A referendum to that effect should be called immediately. The policy of successive Governments has been and continues to be an abysmal failure. Target after target has been missed. There are well over 17,000 families who are now homeless, including well over 5,500 children. Thousands more are living in substandard council houses and flats all over the country. Housing rents, including council rents, have skyrocketed and are being further substantially increased by the new rents regime introduced by the Minister. Billions of euro every year are being paid to landlords in respect of HAP payments. Over 140,000 households are on council waiting lists and thousands more are being locked out of the housing market because they are earning slightly over the council housing income limit but not enough to secure a mortgage while they cannot save for a deposit.  This housing emergency has broken the social contract between the State and its citizens. Successive Governments have paid lip service to this situation by calling it a priority, a crisis and even an emergency while failing to take any housing emergency action. To deal with this housing emergency, the Government must enact a housing emergency measure in the public interest law. Bunreacht na h\u00c9ireann, the Irish Constitution, provides for such an emergency action in Article 43.2.2\u00b0. The new law must provide for a massive construction programme for social and affordable houses on public land by local authorities. Local authorities must be funded to carry out this programme, which includes building houses as well as retrofitting and upgrading existing houses.  Tipperary County Council must be commended on delivering 180 social houses in 2024. Despite this, and due to the failure to provide capital funding to the council, the council's waiting list is, at best, static with 3,400 on the list. This waiting list significantly underestimates the real demand because large numbers of households are being excluded from the waiting list on income grounds. I will give an example. An applicant in receipt of one-parent family payment who is working part time and in receipt of the working family payment is deemed to be over the limit. These applicants are condemned to long-term renting at exorbitant levels, with no hope of a council house or a mortgage. The income limits for housing applicants for local authorities must be increased by at least \u20ac10,000. To address the country's dependence on fossil fuels, the retrofitting of council houses must be hugely increased. The illegal US-Israeli war on Iran shows how important this is.  Tipperary County Council has a social housing stock of 5,210 units, but works on just 71 of those houses were completed under the energy retrofit programme in 2024. This is a snail's pace and is totally unacceptable but it is the best that could be done with the funds available to the council. The Government needs to significantly increase funding to local authorities on this scheme, with a target of completing all council houses in a four- to five-year period. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  I fully support the proposals being put forward to improve accommodation for the people living in the flat complexes in Dublin city. I have been to many of them over the years and I have seen at first hand the difficult conditions that people are living in.  I will turn to private rental accommodation and apartments. In County Laois, there are 5,600 households who are living in private rented accommodation. A lot of them are flats and apartments. Some of the older private rented stock is in very bad condition. Tenants complain to me about dampness, mould, poor ventilation and houses that are impossible to heat. This creates health issues. It is not just a housing issue; it creates a health issue as well. Tenants in private rented accommodation are often reluctant to complain because it is followed up by an inspection from the council which can lead to a notice to quit. I have seen examples of where a notice to quit follows the inspection. Of the 5,600 private rented homes, 227 were inspected last year by the Laois County Council inspector and of those 227 - this is a telling figure - 176 received an improvement notice. That means 80% of the landlords of those properties got a notice to improve them. That high percentage shows that some are in a very bad condition. Tenants can often get a notice to quit. After a period of time, the flat or house is re-let. Much of the private rental stock has a very poor energy rating and this well known. Every TD here knows this. There is very poor insulation and a very poor energy rating. In turn, they have sky-high energy costs because they are heated by very expensive electricity meters. We know today that we have the highest electricity costs in the European Union. We must change this.  On top of all of that, rents in County Laois continue to skyrocket. A two-bedroom flat now makes \u20ac1,600 plus per month. There are examples of three-bedroom houses for rent for in excess of \u20ac2,000 per month. In fact, one house was advertised for \u20ac3,000 per month. People on low and middle incomes who are living in private rented accommodation are those hardest hit because they are not on the fuel allowance, they do not have any other supports and they are paying for a whole range of other things as well, such as health costs, and are commuting - in some cases as far as Dublin city - to work every day. They are really being caught. They are paying high rents, ever-increasing high energy costs and a high cost for everything else.  On the Laois County Council part of it, a lot of the housing stock is fairly new and built in recent years. That is in fairly good condition and a lot of it has a reasonably good energy rating but there is a lot of stock that has to be improved as well. There are over 2,400 council dwellings in the county. At the moment, 250 properties from the older stock are getting a deep retrofit. Some others have had more minor energy upgrades. That work has been successful but it needs more money because the midlands just transition fund, which was mainly funding it, is running out. It has now run out so Government funding is needed to keep it going. I urge the Government to keep the funding going for the remaining Laois County Council houses, particularly the older ones that need further upgrading. I also urge the Government to ensure enforcement standards are improved for private rented accommodation and for council housing as well, including what we spoke about earlier. We need to put the onus on landlords to improve the energy rating of the rental stock. We cannot have tenants paying the highest rents in the worst accommodation with the most expensive electricity. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  I acknowledge the presence of the Minister of State for further and higher education on the Government side. The Minister of State is a very fine Minister of State but I find it rather upsetting that we do not have the senior Minister in the House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  This is a very serious debate and some very serious questions need to be answered on what we are discussing here. I commend my colleagues in Sinn F\u00e9in on bringing this to the House and I welcome those people to the Visitors Gallery. I say to tenants in Dublin that they are not alone in what is happening in their properties. We have exactly the same thing in Cork city and county.  I received a copy of an email from Councillor Noel O'Flynn, a former Member of this House and member of Independent Ireland. He informed me that he received an email from one of the senior engineers in Cork telling him that a B2 energy rating by the time the flats will be completed in Mary Aikenhead Place will be 2050. Most of those people will have reached their eternal reward. Those flats were built in 1959. It was the first set of flats and has not been retrofitted. Other flats around them have been retrofitted but they have not.  We can go to Blackpool and to Farrancleary Place. Those flats were built in the 1960s. They have no fire escape, despite the issue being brought up in this House on a regular basis. The set of steps there is bad anyway but if there is a fire in those flats, we are going to lose over 100 people because there is no fire escape. That has been flagged with Cork City Council on a regular basis and Cork City Council has applied for funding and has requested Government funding. It is all very well for junior Ministers to come in here and to say that the duty of care is a matter for the local authority. That is no good unless the Government is funding it. That is no good unless the Government is handing down the money and making it available.  We can walk down into Blackpool and into Madden's Buildings, which were built in 1868. We can go up the hill and into Roche's Buildings, which are 18th century buildings. We can visit Kelleher's Buildings in Dillon's Cross or Ryan's Buildings in Ballymacthomas. Those buildings have been there since the 18th century and there has not been a tack of retrofitting. The only retrofit that happened was that the outside toilets were brought in in 1991 and bathrooms were fitted, thanks to Noel O'Flynn.  In Roche's Buildings at the moment, tenants have water streaming down through Velux windows. Tenants have water streaming down the walls because soffits have not been replaced and building work has not been done. No retrofit has been carried out despite continuous calls from the local authority requesting money to do that.  We can go to the south side. I have an email from Councillor Albert Deasy, a very fine independent councillor in Cork city. He is a great man. He has been working in the Taoiseach's constituency. He is a member of the council in the Taoiseach's constituency. You would think that the Taoiseach might have a small bit of influence over what goes on in his constituency. The Togher flats now have a situation of chronic dampness, black mould and rodent infestation. I must also mention that there is a rodent infestation in Mary Aikenhead Place. There are serious structural defects there. A series of problems is continuously happening and yet we are being told that the Government is providing money for retrofitting. Why are these flats not fixed? Why are the people in the Gallery here? Why are we not fixing that and addressing those issues? They have been around since 1860 and 1959. It seems absolutely absurd. I meet constituents every day of the week. I have constituents with black mould in their properties. We all have photographs. It is okay if the Minister of State wants to go. We have so many people who have sent photos that are now on our phones. Every TD has photos of black mould on walls or water coming down in flats and council houses. We continuously come across such situations and it is not acceptable. Nobody should have to live like that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  I thank Sinn F\u00e9in for bringing forward this important motion. There are families from flats in Dublin in the audience today. Good, decent people are being left to live in damp, mouldy, unsafe homes. That is simply unacceptable. I have seen it in towns and villages in west Cork, where people have been waiting years for repairs that never come. They are paying high rents while living in conditions that no one here would be expected to tolerate.  The Government talks about housing numbers but a substandard home is not a housing solution. We must fix the homes we already have and make them warm, dry and safe. When regeneration is promised, we must be honest. If we knock down homes, where are the replacements? Communities deserve straight answers. People are tired of plans, consultation and glossy announcements. They want delivery, accountability and funding that is ring-fenced, time-bound and actually spent on the ground.  This is not just a Dublin problem. It is a very serious problem in Dublin and I fully respect those who are here today to highlight their crisis, as such. However, it is happening across rural Ireland, too. The message from those communities is clear: treat tenants with dignity, stop the waste and delays, and make sure no regeneration project reduces the number of homes available. We support action, and want to see real delivery, real value for money and real homes in which people can actually live.  We must look at different ways. The Government has, in fairness, been looking at some ways, including extensions at the back of houses. I fully agree with that and think it is wrong for anyone to criticise it. We must look at every opportunity out there. I would like the Government to consider affordable sites and the value to communities. People bought sites with State subsidies and homes were built for local people who took their children to the local school and invested in the local community. They were a huge benefit long ago but are not there today. I would like the Government to look at that again. Affordable sites are a considerable issue in rural communities. People cannot afford to buy sites or get a mortgage or whatever.  I have been fighting for a long time about housing and have talked about planning. It is a serious issue. I am a big believer in the county development plan but county development plans are built not to engage. That is a serious mistake. It tells people how to get housing and planning for the next number of years but if you are not allowed to participate in it or it is poorly advertised or poorly discussed with people, they do not get that chance. People have come to me often recently. They have ruins and are trying to rebuild them. There is an amount of hassle involved. It costs thousands and thousands of euro for this report and that report. It is turning people away from just doing up a ruin that is falling down anyway. I cannot understand for the life of me where the Government is going.  We need to look at vacant houses. The Government is attacking the short-term lets sector. I plead with the Minister not to allow that to continue. In rural communities, the Government has said it is dealing with----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy M\u00e1ire Devine  I do not mean to be rude but----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  I thank the Deputy. I did not interrupt when she was speaking. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy M\u00e1ire Devine  -----this is about inner-city flats. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  Hang on a minute, we are talking about them too. There is plenty of time to let the Deputy talk when she wants to. The whole problem of the short-term lets is a serious issue for our communities. At the same time, you see vacant council houses and HSE houses all over the place. There is plenty of housing. The Government is going after a sector it should not be going after. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy James Browne)  I thank the Deputies for the opportunity to clarify the situation in relation to Oliver Bond flats and regeneration right across the country. I highlight that in 2026 alone, there will be just over \u20ac9 billion in capital invested in housing in this country as a result of Government policies. Some \u20ac50 million per year is set aside specifically for regeneration projects that require refurbishment and remediation works. That is only one part of the funding that there is for regeneration in this country. Funding for projects is at record levels that have never been seen previously in the history of the State. That must be acknowledged.  The commitment is further evidenced in the Dublin city task force and implementation plan to prioritise the total regeneration of social housing complexes within the city centre as well as the ambition shown by Dublin City Council in the recently launched Dublin home building programme. There is concrete evidence of the Government's commitment to regeneration at complexes within Dublin city. In the past ten years or so in Dublin city alone, there has been significant spending on regeneration projects, including the demolition and rebuilding of homes at St. Michael's Estate, O'Devaney Gardens, St. Teresa's Gardens, Dominick Street and Dolphin House. Those are just examples. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  Dolphin House is not finished. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  My Department always welcomes----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  The Minister is saying it but it is not finished "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  -----applications for funding for regeneration----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy M\u00e1ire Devine  The Government has kicked to touch. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  -----including for funding to support refit, retrofit and remedial works programmes. In the case of Oliver Bond flats, funding has not been withdrawn. Let us be very clear. There is plenty of funding available for the regeneration of Oliver Bond flats. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy M\u00e1ire Devine  There is the letter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  There is the letter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  Deputy \u00d3 Broin is fully aware of this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  The Minister refused the funding application from the council. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  What the Department cannot----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  Tell the truth, Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  What has been refused? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy M\u00e1ire Devine  Do not twist it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  The Minister decided this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  What the Department will not stand over is the reduction in the number of homes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy M\u00e1ire Devine  Pathetic. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  The proposal includes----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  There would be 15 extra units in this plan. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  Every time I try to speak in this Chamber and it is something the Deputy does not like----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  We cannot let the Minister lie in the House "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  -----he tries to shout me down. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  The Minister is misleading the House. He refused funding. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  These are shouting tactics because they do not want to----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  Tell the truth. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  This is a Chamber. The Deputy does not want to listen because he does not want me to say what I am saying. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy M\u00e1ire Devine  Read that sentence again. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  I have the letter from the Department. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  Let me say what I am saying. May I speak? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy M\u00e1ire Devine  Will the Minister read again the sentence he just read? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  Are you going to keep shouting me down? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  The Minister should not be telling porkies. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy M\u00e1ire Devine  Porky pies. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  The Deputies are not doing this House or anybody any favours----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa)  Bomaite amh\u00e1in here. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  -----by constantly trying to shout me down. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa)  D\u00e9anfaidh s\u00e9 sin c\u00fais. Lean ar aghaidh. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  I thank the Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach.  The funding stands available for the regeneration of Oliver Bond House. What the Department cannot stand over is a reduction in the number of homes. We will not fund a reduction in the number of homes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  There are 15 extra homes in this proposal, a net increase. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  The proposal includes a 30% reduction in the number of homes. There is not a net increase in the number of homes in this regeneration project. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  I have the map. Maybe the Minister could look at----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  Since 2015, the Department has spent over \u20ac500 million on regeneration projects across Limerick, Cork and Dublin, as well as providing additional funding for planned maintenance, voids programmes, energy efficiency upgrades and refurbishment works. The Government has made available substantial funding.  In terms of how we govern in this country, we govern in a way that we ensure we have a strong economy that benefits local communities. We have to have both. We have to have the money to be able to spend it. That happens through the good management of the economy. As I have highlighted, Montpelier, Donore, An Droichead \u00d3rga, Dorset Street and St. Mary's have all been significantly redeveloped. The pipeline for regeneration is extremely strong.  I wish Deputy \u00d3 Broin would stop putting out misinformation that the funding for regeneration has been withdrawn. The funding remains available. Dublin City Council knows full well that we will support regeneration, just as we did with Pearse House where a solution was found. What we will not do is fund a reduction in the number of homes available to people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  Just the number of people living there. Fewer people will live there under the Minister's policy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  That is the reality of the position. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy M\u00e1ire Devine  That is shameful. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell  The Minister talks about a strong economy. A strong economy is not made up of thousands of homeless children who face Christmas after Christmas in emergency accommodation. A strong economy is not made up of young renters who cannot afford to buy a home and feel they will never have the ability to do so under this Government. A strong economy is certainly not made up of all of those people who feel they never will have a future in Galway city, a place they are from, because they simply cannot afford to rent or buy and there is no prospect of ever building a home there.  I am outraged by the disastrous way in which the Minister has handled the housing crisis. I have been an elected representative in Galway city for the past 12 years and in that time I have never seen the housing crisis as bad as it is now under the watch of the Minister. That is the reality of the situation. I am constantly speaking to young people who tell me they are paying \u20ac2,000 or more in rent each month and have no option to buy or provide a future and stable environment for their young children because of the policies of the Government. This is not a natural disaster. This is a man-made disaster caused by successive Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael Governments which continue to fail to meet the demand in terms of housing supply for the people Galway.  Bh\u00ed m\u00e9 ar na hoile\u00e1in amach \u00f3 ch\u00f3sta na Gaillimhe inn\u00e9. Bh\u00ed m\u00e9 ag caint le daoine ar Inis Me\u00e1in agus Inis O\u00edrr agus bh\u00ed an rud ceannann c\u00e9anna le r\u00e1 acu sin. N\u00edl deiseanna tith\u00edochta ar na hoile\u00e1in sa chaoi ch\u00e9anna nach bhfuil tith\u00edocht ar f\u00e1il do mhuintir chathair na Gaillimhe ach an oiread. N\u00edl s\u00e9 de dheis acu tithe a cheannacht ann n\u00f3 a th\u00f3g\u00e1il agus is f\u00e9idir r\u00e1 go cinnte nach bhfuil an deis acu tithe a fh\u00e1il ar c\u00edos. T\u00e1 na lochtanna seo ar fad ann mar gheall ar chinnt\u00ed a rinne Rialtais de chuid Fianna F\u00e1il agus Fine Gael ar feadh na mblianta. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 thar am don Rialtas rud \u00e9igin a dh\u00e9anamh chun stop a chur leis an ng\u00e9arch\u00e9im tith\u00edochta. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  I have spoken to tenants in various Dublin City Council properties and I know they feel the exact same as tenants in Cork City Council flats. They feel that when it comes to housing, they are at the absolute back of the queue. It is a case of out of sight, out of mind and they are shuttered away. Not only has the Government neglected buildings, it has neglected people. These people are watching their children with lung conditions becoming unhealthy. Every year they are throwing out bags of clothes and other possessions because of damp. They are dealing with rodents and very often local authorities tell them it is their problem, despite the fact that they are local authority buildings. There are issues with how city councils in Dublin, Cork City Council and elsewhere manage properties.  At the end of the day, the buck stops with the Minister. He spoke about misinformation and referred to progress happening. It was said that progress is glacial but at least a glacier moves forward a small bit. Tenants in Cork City Council flats in Togher, including those on Cherry Tree Road, Sycamore Place, Togher Road, Clashduv and Hazel Road, have seen no progress in the past three years. I have dealt with one tenant over the past couple of months who has had issues with a chimney collapsing and a banister falling off the stairs in the flat, and is now dealing with a rodent problem. Throughout this, Cork City Council has not offered the tenant alternative accommodation. At the end of the day, there has been no investment in these flats and no prospect of it as far as I can see.  There are profound issues. People renting in the private sector have to deal landlords who let people live in poor conditions but as far as I am concerned, the State and the Minister, as the landlord, are neglecting people. The Minister is leaving them in the cold and damp. Some of the conditions in these flats are appalling. They are way beyond their shelf life. I have heard stories of children who have cut their hands on jagged railings that have rusted away to nothing. There are issues with subsidence. There is a need for urgent investment. This is in the Taoiseach's constituency. I ask the Minister to speak to the Taoiseach. He should visit these flats. I am sure he has passed them many times. He should see the conditions.  No family in any form of accommodation in this country should have to deal with rodents crawling all over their kitchens. That is the reality in too many of these homes in Desmond Square, Fort Street and Dean Street. Those complexes still do not have clarity about what is happening. Nobody deserves to live in such conditions and it is the responsibility of the Minister to address that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  I recently undertook a housing survey across the State. There is more information in it than in everything the Minister or Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, said earlier because these are the facts. I will give the Minister a few facts. Some 83% of people said they had maintenance issues with black mould all over their houses. Some 77% of people said they had damp. They are major issues. Black mould, damp and cold in homes can do damage to people, including young people, people with asthma, people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD, and people with disabilities.  Dublin City Council and other city councils are trying to increase rents. People have to leave their heating on constantly and Ministers have said summer is coming. It does not matter if it is winter or summer; the flats are cold all year round because they have not been retrofitted or regenerated. The Minister has come in with facts and figures. Deputy McDonald and I asked the Minister, to come to the flats in the inner cities of Dublin and Cork to see what people have to put up with. I have been in some flat complexes in Dublin and met residents and it is the same in Cork. The conditions are horrendous.  These are proud people from proud communities who keep their houses immaculate. They try to do everything right but if the windows are falling out, the doors are loose and there is no insulation or proper heating, what are they supposed to do? Some of these flats are 80 or 90 years old. The Minister has said the Government will do something and then tried to blame local authorities, the council and residents. The Minister is trying to blame everyone. He is the Minister and is part of the Government. Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael have never given a damn about working class people or cared about people who live in flats because they never voted for them. They have abandoned and betrayed them for years.  I live on Cathedral Road. Behind me is Mary Aikenhead. The houses are freezing cold. In Blackpool, Castleknock or Baker's Road, there are freezing cold homes. What is the Minister doing? He is blaming everyone instead of doing his job. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  The approach of the Minister to inner-city flat complex regeneration is fundamentally flawed. After three long years of consultation with the local community on Oliver Bond Street, Dublin City Council made a very detailed proposal.  It would take 74 1930s flats and bring them up to modern standards with a loss of 28 units. It identified a brand-new site, adjacent to Oliver Bond flats, with an additional 43 units. That is a net increase of 15 homes. In addition to that, there would be a community centre. The Minister has refused funding for that. The letter was sent to the council this week. He has refused funding on the most spurious of grounds, namely, that the Department cannot accept a reduction in the number of units. What the Minister is proposing is that instead of having an adequate mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom homes in these large flat complexes, these will have to be scaled down to a large volume of studios, one-beds and some two-beds. That is going to fundamentally undermine the coherence of those housing estates. The Minister will not be able to do that across all of the blocks in Pearse House or in Oliver Bond flats. It is a fundamentally flawed approach. This policy says fewer people will live there. The units will be maintained - this fictional target - but fewer people will live there.  With respect to the other schemes the Minister has mentioned, he listed off a series of regeneration schemes where communities were destroyed ten or 20 years ago, flung to the four corners of our city, and only now the Department is finally getting around to rebuilding them.  The Minister's approach to this is a mistake and it is one he needs to reverse. I think he is being badly advised by the Department. He is refusing to listen to the residents who have given enormous amounts of time to this consultation. The irony is that if a private landlord was the owner of these flats, they would be in front of the Residential Tenancies Board, fined and the problems would be fixed. If an approved housing body was the landlord of these flats, it would be in front of the Residential Tenancies Board and forced to fix them. However, the Minister is refusing funding, is pursuing a failed policy and, as a consequence, thousands of people in Dublin, Cork and elsewhere will live in slum conditions. That is his policy. He can come into the House and speak for four or five minutes, having not listened to the debate, and think that might convince somebody. It does not convince us and, more importantly, it does not convince the residents in the flats he is allowing to live in squalor. He should reverse the decision, change the policy, fund the councils to fix the flats and stop misleading this House with information about what is going on on the streets of Dublin, Cork and elsewhere. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy M\u00e1ire Devine  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Cuireadh an leas\u00fa."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa)  De r\u00e9ir Bhuan-Ordaithe 85(2), cuirfear an v\u00f3t\u00e1il siar go dt\u00ed an ch\u00e9ad am v\u00f3t\u00e1la seachtaini\u00fail eile, D\u00e9 C\u00e9adaoin, an 13 Bealtaine 2026. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Dublin City Flat Complex Retrofit and Regeneration: Motion [Private Members]"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-06\/debate\/dbsect_15","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa)  I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case:  Deputy Pat Buckley - To discuss the failure to follow through on a Labour Court recommendation.  Deputy Colm Burke - To discuss the establishment of a national radiation therapy equipment replacement programme.  Deputy Malcolm Byrne - To discuss the planned new Courtown coastguard building.  Deputy Jen Cummins - To discuss the status of the Cork Life Centre.  Deputy Pa Daly - To discuss funding for youth service in Kerry.  Deputy Michael Cahill - To discuss the refurbishment of school buildings across County Kerry,  Deputy S\u00e9amus McGrath - To discuss the recruitment process for the Defence Forces.  Deputy Michael Murphy - To discuss the local democracy task force report.  Deputy Mark Ward - To discuss waiting times for occupational services in Dublin Mid-West.  Deputy Eamon Scanlon - To discuss reducing capital gains tax for families passing homes to their children.  Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail - To discuss social infrastructure provision in Kildare North.  Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan - To discuss proposals for the use of the old prison site at Rathmore Road, Cork city.  Deputies Ged Nash and Joanna Byrne - To discuss the exclusion of schools in disadvantaged areas of Drogheda from the DEIS plus scheme.  Deputy Brian Stanley - To discuss overcrowding in the Midlands and Portlaoise Prison.  Deputy Louise O'Reilly - To discuss expanding the communications allowance to include broadband and mobile data.  Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa - To discuss supports for those with frontotemporal dementia.  Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire - To discuss the armed assault by Israeli naval forces on the Global Sumud Flotilla.  The matters raised by Deputies Eamon Scanlon, Pat Buckley, Mark Ward, Michael Cahill, Ged Nash and Joanna Byrne have been selected for discussion. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-06\/debate\/dbsect_16","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_16","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-06\/debate\/dbsect_17","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Tax Code","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-06\/debate\/dbsect_16","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_16","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eamon Scanlon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eamon-Scanlon.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Eamon-Scanlon.S.2002-09-12","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marian Harkin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eamon Scanlon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eamon-Scanlon.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Eamon-Scanlon.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eamon Scanlon  I am grateful to have the opportunity to speak on this issue. I know I am not the only TD who has been contacted by parents who want to pass a property from one generation to the next. At its heart, this is not about tax breaks for the wealthy; it is about fairness, stability and the ability of ordinary families to plan their futures without being overwhelmed by financial pressures that are, in many cases, disproportionate and unnecessary.  One family contacted me recently and their case illustrates the problem clearly. They own a second property and they want to gift it to their adult child, so that it will become their home. Before they can make the transfer, they face a capital gains tax bill which in their case is somewhere between \u20ac70,000 and \u20ac75,000. They simply do not have that kind of money. On top of that, they remain liable for tax on the property even when no rent is being collected. This is not an isolated case. This is a hardworking family who have never asked for anything from the State. They work, they pay their taxes, they cover college fees and they contribute to their community. They are not opposed to capital gains tax in principle but a 33% rate on a property they are not selling is excessive by any measure. The reality is stark. Their child is now considering emigrating, leaving behind a good job, because they do not want their parents burdened with a massive tax bill. That is the human cost of the current system.  Across the country, families who have worked for decades to build security are finding that transferring a property to their children triggers a tax burden that simply does not reflect the reality of their circumstances. These are not investment properties or speculative assets. In many cases, the property is the only significant asset a family has and the intention is not for profit but for continuity, stability and giving the next generation a foothold in the housing market. We already have models that balance support with safeguards. The vacant property refurbishment grant, for example, requires owners to live or rent out the property for a minimum of five years. That protects the integrity of the scheme while still delivering meaningful help to families and communities. A similar safeguard can and should apply.  It is entirely reasonable to require that the property becomes the child's principal private residence for, say, ten years. Such a condition would ensure the measure supports genuine family transfers rather than speculative behaviour. This approach would strike the right balance. It would ease the financial pressure on families who simply want to keep a home in the family while ensuring the tax system remains fair, transparent and resistant to abuse. It would help younger generations put down roots at a time when housing affordability is one of the greatest challenges they face and, crucially, it would allow parents to pass on property without the fear of being hit with a large capital gains tax bill on a gain they never actually receive because the property is not being sold; it is being gifted.  Parents should not have to pay capital gains tax when transferring a second property to a son or daughter who will use it as their family home. That is the principle at stake and it is one we should be willing to stand over. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marian Harkin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Deputy Marian Harkin)  I thank Deputy Scanlon for raising this important issue. I am responding on behalf of the Minister for Finance. The Deputy will be aware that capital gains tax, CGT, is a tax on the gain that arises on the disposal of an asset. The chargeable gain of an asset is the difference between the amount a person received for it - in other words, the sale price - the amount a person paid for it, the purchase price, and any allowable expenses in the meantime. Capital gains tax arises not just on the sale of an asset but also on the transfer or gift of an asset from one individual to another, and that is the issue the Deputy is raising here. Capital gains tax is payable by the disponer of the asset and the current rate is 33%. The first \u20ac1,270 of chargeable gains of an individual in any year are exempt from capital gains tax. The rate at which capital gains is charged has varied both upwards and downwards since its introduction back in 1975, and the present rate of 33% has been in place since 2012. It is understood that Deputy Scanlon is referencing a situation where a person is selling a second house, such as an investment property, for the purpose of providing funds to a child to buy their own house and, as such, no relief from capital gains tax applies.  While capital gains tax makes up only a small proportion of overall taxes, it is considered an integral part of the overall taxation system due to the need to ensure as broad a tax base as possible. The purpose of capital gains tax is to ensure fairness. It ensures taxation is not focused solely on income tax and that those who benefit from gains in the value of their assets are included within the tax net on an equitable basis. In doing so, we can limit the need for increases in income tax rates and secure the sustainability of the taxation system against future challenges.  While capital gains tax is a broad-based tax, which applies across the board to virtually all gains that a person can incur, appropriate reliefs are provided in particular circumstances. For instance, section 604 of the 1997 Act provides relief from capital gains tax on the disposal of a person\u2019s principal private residence. A principal private residence is defined as any dwelling house, together with surrounding land, occupied as gardens or grounds up to an area of 1 acre. There is no requirement to pay capital gains tax on gains accrued if such a house is sold. An individual, married couple or civil partners cannot have more than one principal private residence at any one time. The Deputy should note that there may be difficulties with unintended consequences if the rate of capital gains tax were reduced for one category alone. If that were to happen, it would be difficult to distinguish in legislation such a property from other circumstances where second properties are sold, for example, paying off a loan or providing for a pension. There may also be a possible State aid dimension to such a proposal due to the targeting of the measure. In such circumstances, where a reduction to the overall rate of capital gains tax was necessitated, there would be a significant Exchequer cost. For instance, a 5% reduction would result in a cost to the Exchequer of \u20ac436 million. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eamon Scanlon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eamon-Scanlon.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Eamon-Scanlon.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eamon Scanlon  I thank the Minister of State for her response. I am pointing out that where there is a gain somebody is definitely entitled to pay capital gains tax but, unfortunately, the parent who hands over that property has no gain, gets no money and has to pay out maybe \u20ac70,000 or \u20ac75,000. In this particular case I raised, they may have to pay out \u20ac70,000 or \u20ac75,000 in capital gains tax, despite the fact they do not get any funds whatsoever. They are gifting the house to one of their family members. In these times with such pressure on young people and young families to try to get a home for themselves, it is something that should be looked at in the coming budget. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marian Harkin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marian Harkin  I thank the Deputy for bringing this issue to the House. The rate that capital gains tax is charged at has varied upwards and downwards. The truth is that the existence of capital gains tax can help maintain a balance between the rate of taxation of capital assets and the higher rate of income tax. It can also prevent tax planning behaviour. There are a number of targeted reliefs from capital gains tax, including principal private residence relief as well as retirement relief and revised entrepreneur relief. It is often the case that significant exemptions often require a higher rate to generate an appropriate yield.  As the Deputy is aware, the programme for Government commits to maintaining a broad tax base to guard against the need for a countercyclical fiscal policy in the event of a downturn and to prepare for future budgetary challenges related to population ageing. Capital gains tax is part of a system to ensure a wide taxation base reducing the burden on income tax that is tax on labour. I assure the Deputy, as with all taxes, that capital gains tax is subject to ongoing review which involves the consideration and assessment of the rate of capital gains and the relevant reliefs and exemptions from capital gains tax. Capital gains tax policy and legislation are reviewed as part of the annual budget and Finance Bill process, and is part of wider tax policy considerations. That same consideration will take place this year. It will be kept under ongoing review most particularly in light of the upcoming budget. That is an opportunity for the Deputy to make his case. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Tax Code"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-06\/debate\/dbsect_18","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Labour Court","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-06\/debate\/dbsect_16","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_16","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pat Buckley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pat-Buckley.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Pat-Buckley.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marian Harkin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pat Buckley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pat-Buckley.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Pat-Buckley.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pat Buckley  I thank the Minister of State for being here. A Labour Court recommendation on 22 October 2022 recommended that Stryker management in Carrigtohill should enter into negotiations with SIPTU, with a view to concluding a collective agreement that covers procedural arrangements within which normal industrial relations business can be conducted. It would have given members a voice at the negotiating table so that serious issues, such as improving health and safety standards, at both plants in Cork would be addressed. I raise this because it goes back to 2018. The said factory was subject to a Cork City Council health and safety motion. That was ignored. Around 2021, I was involved with Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell and former Minister, Michael McGrath, on the Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Act 2022 because I had possession of a protected disclosure on the failings of all the health and safety in this. I went to three separate taoisigh over a number of years on this. I have met with the HSE on this. There is a High Court case running at the moment. I will be careful not to mention any more about that, but it has been delayed continuously.  Multinationals are coming into this country and they can rickshaw over Government policy. They will not recognise unions. Unfortunately, between working on protected disclosures - in protected disclosure law the most important one is the reversal of burden of proof for whistleblowers today who have more powers - and in my experience of dealing with this specific protected disclosure, every one of those whistleblowers were got at, so they have disappeared. I do not know about that court case I mentioned. When you are given a protected disclosure specifically on health and safety issues, you are duty-bound to report it. I do not know whether the DPP has got that evidence. That is serious. I do not know how to find out, which is very serious. If we move onto 2023, after numerous articles in most of the national papers reporting the failures in health and safety on this, we had a fatality. It is three years on and that family are still in limbo because that company is ignoring them. The company has refused to engage with any union.  As recently as last week, I got another anonymous letter mentioning the said company and another pharmaceutical company in Cork, which I will not mention. I am here like anybody else as an elected representative and people put trust in us. These were red flags going back to 2018. We are now in 2026. If we go from 2018 to 2023, it had at least four to five major incidents where people were hospitalised. Health and safety were ignored. We are talking about titanium fires. I contacted Cork County Fire Service. It cannot put out a titanium fire. This individual died by burning. Titanium burns at around 2,000\u00b0F. To this day, I am stuck in limbo here. That is why I wanted to raise this tonight. The Labour Court recommendation is just to engage with unions that were concerned about health and safety. This is the decision in October 2022. We are now in May 2026. Nothing has moved forward. We have had a fatality. We have also had some major incidents that have been reported where people were left out in the car park - three in particular - with no health and safety officer. Nobody knew whether it was water, oil, gas or air before they were hospitalised. There is a breakdown in communications.  I am just trying to understand why these companies will not engage in respect of the Labour Court recommendations. In this country, we have unions, and people have a right to be represented. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marian Harkin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Deputy Marian Harkin)  I thank Deputy Buckley for raising this very important issue. I have been asked to respond on behalf of my colleague the Minister of State, Deputy Dillon.  Volunteerism has long been a defining feature of Irish industrial relations. It respects the autonomy of employers and workers, places a strong emphasis on dialogue and engagement and has served the State well over many decades. This model remains central to maintaining a stable and balanced industrial relations architecture. However, volunteerism also carries responsibilities with it for all parties. When disputes arise and engagement at workplace level breaks down, the State provides well-established institutions to support resolution. Chief among these is the Labour Court, which plays a vital role in offering independent, reasoned guidance aimed at restoring stability and constructive relations. Under Ireland's voluntary system, Labour Court recommendations in industrial relations disputes are generally non-binding. This is a long-standing and accepted feature of the framework. Nevertheless, such recommendations are intended to be treated with seriousness by both parties. They are the product of careful consideration of evidence and competing interests and are designed to support renewed engagement and resolution where voluntary processes have failed.  I should also draw a clear distinction between industrial relations recommendations and decisions of the Labour Court made under employment rights legislation. Decisions under the latter - such as those relating to unfair dismissal or payment of wages - are legally binding and enforceable. Industrial relations recommendations, by contrast, are not for the reasons I have outlined. In essence, this reflects the Labour Court's central role in upholding statutory employment protections and the confidence placed by the State in its expertise and independence.  At the heart of many disputes is the issue of voice - that is the ability of workers to raise concerns in a structured and orderly way and the ability of employers to have their perspectives heard. Labour Court recommendations frequently seek to establish or strengthen procedural frameworks that allow normal industrial relations business to be conducted between the respective parties without disputes escalating. This is particularly important in sensitive and high-impact areas such as health and safety, workplace change and terms and conditions. These matters are best addressed through engagement, dialogue and the confidence that both sides will be heard.  It is important to say that volunteerism does not mean the absence of structure, nor does it mean that guidance from the State's highest industrial relations body can be set aside without consequence. A voluntary system relies on mutual trust and a shared commitment to engage in good faith when difficulties arise. When recommendations designed to promote dialogue are disregarded, workers may reasonably ask where they are expected to turn to resolve disputes constructively.  I also acknowledge, as Deputy Buckley did, the tragic incident that occurred at Stryker in 2023. As investigations remain ongoing, however,it would not be appropriate to comment further on that workplace fatality at this time, but I did hear what he had to say. Any concerns regarding workplace health and safety can be raised directly with the Health and Safety Authority, which enjoys considerable legislative powers to inquire into and enforce occupational health and safety standards.  If it is any help to the Deputy, I heard both what he said and his sincerity. I will bring this issue to the attention of the Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pat Buckley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pat-Buckley.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Pat-Buckley.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pat Buckley  I thank the Minister of State for her response. She stated, \"When disputes arise and engagement at workplace level breaks down, the State provides well-established institutions to support resolution.\" I understand that the Labour Court recommendations are generally non-binding. She also stated, \"Nevertheless, such recommendations are intended to be treated with seriousness by both parties.\" I understand that she cannot comment on the case, but I want to follow up on what she said about the recommendations being treated with seriousness by both parties.  In 2018, when Cork City Council had a health and safety motion before it, I engaged with the Health and Safety Authority, HSA. It took a lot of work and it was difficult, but the families involved are relatively happy with the HSA. I have brought this up many times; it is frustrating. We have to wait for Europe to change the law on protected disclosures before we can change anything. In fairness, it was done by mutual consent in this Parliament. An office was set up. I met with the HSA prior to these accidents. It is not being taken seriously. I ask the Minister of State to put herself in my position. I have gone through three taoisigh in the context of protected disclosures. I have tried to raise the matter. I spent 18 months working on protected disclosure legislation in order to strengthen it for whistleblowers. I discovered that there have been constant breaches of health and safety standards, accidents and leakages in the meantime. I could write a book on the subject.  How does the Minister of State think that makes me feel as a human being when I am sitting at home and hear that there has been a fatality? I feel that I have failed everybody in the factory who came to me. We are here again in 2026. I understand where the Minister of State is going, but I want to get on the record that the matter has not been sorted, that the union is not being recognised, that the company is ignoring everybody, that the family is being destroyed, that a person is dead and that nobody provides answers. All I am getting is that the matter is before the courts and that we cannot say anything. I am saying it now that this is not good enough. We have a separate protected disclosures office. It should have the power to investigate because that is what the protected disclosures legislation was for. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marian Harkin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marian Harkin  I go back to what I said initially, which is that our system of industrial relations is built on volunteerism, which is a model that values engagement, respect and good faith over compulsion. It has delivered stability and progress precisely because it prioritises dialogue rather than conflict. As I said, however, volunteerism only works when all parties participate responsibly.  The Labour Court plays a central and indispensable role within the system. While its recommendations in industrial relations disputes are generally non-binding, they are neither incidental nor optional. They represent the considered judgment of the State's highest industrial relations body and are intended to guide parties back towards constructive engagement, and they are expected to be taken seriously.  It is also important to recognise that the Labour Court's authority is firmly established in law. When recommendations designed to promote dialogue and provide workers with structured voice are set aside, confidence in the voluntary system is undermined and, as I said earlier, workers are left uncertain as to where they should turn. This debate is not about mandating outcomes or moving away from volunteerism; it is about reinforcing its foundations, namely engagement, good faith and respect for our industrial relations institutions. If volunteerism is to remain credible, Labour Court recommendations must be treated as more than advisory comment. They should be understood for what they are, a roadmap back to stability, fairness and mutual respect in the workplace. The Labour Court fulfils its role and it is incumbent on all parties to do the same.  The Government's action plan to promote collective bargaining demonstrates a clear commitment to further strengthening the industrial relations framework through structured engagement with the social partners, improved data and practical initiatives, including public procurement pilots. The focus remains on expanding effective collective bargaining coverage and improving pay, working conditions and overall quality of life. As I said, I will speak to the Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pat Buckley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pat-Buckley.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Pat-Buckley.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pat Buckley  I thank the Minister of State. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Labour Court"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-06\/debate\/dbsect_19","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Health Services","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-06\/debate\/dbsect_16","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_16","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_19","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marian Harkin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I thank the Minister of State for taking this matter. I am disappointed that the Minister for Health - or a Minister of State with a health brief - is not here to respond to the debate.  I have been informed by some of my constituents about unacceptable waiting times for occupational therapy. Occupational therapy is important for people who may have suffered an injury that requires their home to be adapted. An occupational therapist will visit a person's home and compile a report in respect of the disabled person's grant The relevant form cannot be completed without an occupational therapy report. The form will not be accepted by South Dublin County Council without such a report, so it is vital.  I will speak about three of my constituents who received this news.  I have their permission to mention them tonight.  Larry is to turn 80 this year. He needs a stairlift installed in his home because he has a pacemaker due to a heart condition and is regularly out of breath. I contacted the HSE for Larry and the response I got was that he would be waiting 330 weeks for an appointment. That is over six years. The Minister of State has to agree that a six-year waiting list for an occupational therapist for anybody is unacceptable. I am lost for words that an 80-year-old man was told he must wait six years for occupational therapy. I was speaking to Larry myself and he told me that when you get to 80, you are lucky to think six months down the line, never mind six years.  Angela is a woman in my constituency. She is not 50 and broke her hips two years ago. She has not been able to go up the stairs in her home since. She has told me she has to travel to her daughter's home in a different county just to be able to wash herself. She has also been told she will be waiting 330 weeks for an appointment.  Sarah-Jane is a young woman in her 30s but she has mobility issues and needs the assistance of her 71-year-old mother to be able to shower. Her mother is finding this more difficult over time. Sarah-Jane was referred in March 2022 for an occupational therapy appointment so she could adapt her home. She was not told she would have one in 330 weeks like the other two constituents; rather, she was told there was no appointment date for her. She is not even getting an appointment in six years.  Such delays are having an abject impact on people's quality of life. These are just three cases. I could mention more from my constituency. I have written to the Minister for Health and have requested that she urgently examine these cases and introduce the necessary measures. I do not know what the Minister of State's response will be, but if it is a matter of a staffing issue, it must be addressed urgently. Six years is far too long to wait.  Furthermore, there is a postcode lottery for care in Dublin Mid-West. If the three people I mentioned were in a catchment area in the constituency with a different primary healthcare centre, I expect they would not have to wait so long. Care should be based on need, not on where you live. Also, it should not be based on the ability to pay.  In the response I received for Sarah-Jane, the HSE advised her to go private. A public health service that is in place to serve the public is telling patients they should go private. The HSE also told Sarah-Jane she needs to recoup the costs from South Dublin County Council. I have been a councillor and know how South Dublin County Council works. It is not possible for residents in council homes to recoup the cost of private occupational therapists from South Dublin County Council. However, if Sarah-Jane lived in a private home and paid for private healthcare, she could recoup the costs. This is a two-tier system that discriminates against those who rely on the public health service. There is nobody who is not on the same page. I do not think there is a person in this House who would agree a six-year wait for an occupational therapist, so people's quality of life can improve, is acceptable. I am looking forward to hearing the Minister of State's response. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marian Harkin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marian Harkin  The Minister for Health has asked me to thank the Deputy for raising this important matter and for the opportunity to update the House on it. He has outlined it very clearly. On behalf of the Minister, I fully acknowledge that waiting lists for primary care therapies, including occupational therapy, are far too long. She recognises that people waiting years to access these services is simply unacceptable.  It is important to recognise that overall activity within the eight core primary care therapies is significant, with approximately 1.3 million appointments having been provided across occupational therapy, physiotherapy, dietetics, psychology, speech and language therapy, audiology, ophthalmology and podiatry services in 2025. However, the HSE has advised that the increased pressure and demands on primary care therapy services are related to an increase in referrals, the increasing complexity of presentations, which of course leads to longer interventions, and challenges related to the recruitment and retention of healthcare professionals.  The recruitment and retention of healthcare professionals, in particular therapy professionals, remain a challenge across the health, education and disability sectors and comprise one of the key causal factors impacting primary care therapy waiting lists.  The HSE has advised that, in integrated healthcare area, IHA, Dublin South West and IHA Dublin South City and West, waiting times are particularly long because demand exceeds the current service capacity. In response, referrals are being triaged and prioritised on the basis of assessed clinical need so those most in need are seen as soon as possible.  The HSE has confirmed that the IHAs in the Dublin Mid-West area continue to progress recruitment and service improvement measures aimed at reducing the current waiting times for primary care therapy services. However, the Minister acknowledges that a lot more needs to be done to reduce waiting times. To that end, the Department of Health is currently working with the HSE on a focused joint programmatic approach to primary care therapy waiting list management to put in place considerable standardised infrastructure to address both the long waiting times and long-term capacity planning.  As part of this programme of work, in September of last year the Minister approved proposals to address occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech and language therapy waiting lists through a national initiative supported by the enhanced community care programme. The goal of this initiative is to reduce the waiting times for these three therapies to less than ten months. The initiative aims to remove over 60,000 people from the waiting lists across these three therapies by the end of this year, with efforts currently under way in a number of IHAs. The initiative has been rolled out on a phased basis to include all IHAs nationally over the coming months.  Initial results show a reduction of 12,700 patients from these waiting lists for physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech and language therapy since the initiative commenced. It is very welcome news that both waiting list numbers and the waiting periods of those waiting longest are reducing. For the first time since 2021, waiting lists have decreased month on month over a three-year period. As the work continues throughout the year, we expect to see waiting lists nationally reduce and improved access times for all, including those in Dublin Mid-West. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I thank the Minister of State. She mentioned priorities, triage and how people are assessed. Larry, who is 80 and whom I spoke about, is not priority 1. He is priority 2, and that is why he must wait for six years. Angela, who broke both her hips and has not been up her own stairs in two years, is not priority 1. She is priority 2. Sarah-Jane, who has to rely on her 71-year-old mother to get washed, is also not priority 1. She is priority 2. Whatever this triage system is, it is not working because Larry, Angela and Sarah-Jane are falling through the cracks.  To make a bad situation even worse, if Larry, whom I will use as an example, has to wait for six years for an occupational therapy appointment, he will probably have to wait a further three or four years to get the disabled persons grant from South Dublin County Council. Larry, who is 80 now, could be 90 before he gets the stairlift he badly needs to get up his stairs. That is simply not good enough in a modern society.  The Minister of State spoke about waiting list reductions and said there were 1.3 million appointments. That is absolutely fantastic but the reality in Dublin Mid-West as we speak is that if you live in Palmerstown and are waiting for an appointment for a physiotherapist, you will be left waiting because the service is suspended. A parent of a newborn child will not receive developmental checks for his or her baby if they have to go to Rowlagh health centre. This is because of staff shortages. The average waiting time to see a psychologist for a child in my area is four years. An adult living in Lucan who wants to see a psychologist will not get an appointment. That service is suspended as well.  There are currently over 7,000 children in my area alone who are overdue an appointment for an assessment of needs. If you live in Lucan, you can expect your child to wait over two years for a speech and language therapy appointment. There are also 800 children waiting for an appointment for child and adolescent mental health services. That is just in Dublin Mid-West.  Whatever work is going on behind the scenes really needs to happen quickly because patients, including children, are being left behind. The problems that they have now, because they are not being addressed, are just going to get worse. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marian Harkin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marian Harkin  Again, on behalf of the Minister for Health, I thank Deputy Ward for raising this important issue and the cases of the various people he spoke about.  The Minister fully acknowledges that the increasing waiting times for primary care therapy services is a source of real concern for service users, their families and, indeed, the Minister herself. As outlined, a national initiative is under way to address long waiting times for primary care, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech and language therapy and to reduce the numbers awaiting access to services significantly by the end of the year. Furthermore, the Minister has committed to building capacity in primary care. To support efforts to reduce waiting times, an additional 200 whole-time equivalents were approved for recruitment in primary care therapy services in 2026. The Government has also committed to increasing the number of college training places for therapy professions. In June of last year, the Government announced a major expansion in health and social care professional training places, with 461 new places to be delivered across nine priority disciplines. Occupational therapy places have increased from 125 in 2020 to 198 in 2025, which is an increase of almost 60%. In 2025, additional occupational therapy places were also created on a new tertiary programme.  The Minister assures the Deputy that this Government is committed to ensuring that every person with therapy needs receives timely, high-quality care. The Minister continues to support efforts to address the waiting times for primary care therapy services, including occupational therapy. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Health Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-06\/debate\/dbsect_20","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"School Funding","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-06\/debate\/dbsect_16","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_16","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_20","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Cahill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Cahill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Cahill  I welcome the opportunity to again raise this important issue and to request that the Minister for Education and Youth provide additional funding for significant improvement and refurbishment works in schools. What is happening in my county of Kerry is simply not acceptable in 2026. We have a systemic problem of underinvestment and as I outlined about two weeks ago in this Chamber, it is very obvious in Scoil Iogn\u00e1id R\u00eds in Daingean U\u00ed Ch\u00fais-Dingle. Conditions there are \"outdated and dangerous\", yet the school is told to apply under the emergency works scheme or the summer works scheme. With respect, these schemes are completely inadequate for what is required here. One cannot fix a 60-year-old school with structural and design failures through patchwork funding.  It is not an isolated case. In Scoil R\u00e9alt na Mara in Cromane, the principal has confirmed to me that its minor works grant is just over \u20ac8,700 but a basic project like painting the school costs over \u20ac21,000 plus VAT. This is a funding model that is completely divorced from reality. Even more concerning, the school is being extended, increasing the building's size by over 50%, yet the funding to maintain it will not increase accordingly. How can that possibly make sense? We see similar problems in Presentation Monastery National School in Killarney. I call on the Minister to urgently progress the climate action summer works scheme application for St. Brigid\u2019s Presentation Secondary School in Killarney, particularly regarding the upgrading of pupil toilet facilities. This is basic infrastructure and it cannot be delayed any longer.  In general, schools are waiting far too long for clarity on staffing and summer programmes. This should be provided as soon as possible to allow schools to plan accordingly and give certainty to staff. It is the least that they deserve.  Beyond infrastructure, the school is also dealing with significant demographic pressures and high levels of need yet has no access to DEIS supports in the Killarney area. This must be analysed and corrected. In Filemore National School, funding has been approved under the additional school accommodation scheme but is stuck in paperwork and bureaucracy. Will the Minister of State ask his officials to progress this with immediate effect? Aghatubrid National School is still waiting on progress for an autism unit, which is a vital service for families there. The tiles in Scoil Naomh Mhich\u00edl Naofa in Dungeagan are almost 50 years old. The school has been asked to recost the works for a second time. Can that be looked into? Financing the day-to-day running costs of Caherdaniel National School is a major struggle. The list goes on. Castledrum National School is seeking a special class. The building is already there. The National Council for Special Education, NCSE, might review this decision, as the school was already turned down. I do not see any sense or merit in that. It is the same in Killarney, which has major development plans - I will talk to the Minister of State in due course about that - as has Col\u00e1iste na Sceilge in Cahersiveen.  The common threads here are clear - delays, underfunding, a system built on outdated assumptions, bureaucracy and too much red tape. Schools are being forced to fight for basic and essential infrastructure, so I am calling for three actions. The first is a comprehensive assessment of all primary and secondary school buildings in County Kerry and a proper identification of the scale of the refurbishment and modernisation required. The second is a dedicated funding stream for older school buildings, separate from minor and emergency works, to deal with structural long-term deficiencies. The third is a review of the minor works grant model so that it reflects the actual size and maintenance needs of school buildings and not just enrolment numbers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Education and Youth (Deputy Michael Moynihan)  I thank the Deputy for his Topical Issue. It gives me the opportunity to update the D\u00e1il about investment in schools in Kerry but, more importantly, it shows that the Deputy is in touch with all the school communities, which is hugely important. All Deputies from all sides of the House are engaging with school communities because they are a hugely important piece. They are educating our young people and are meeting many challenges head on both at leadership level in the schools and as teachers and special needs assistants, SNAs, for which I commend them.  The Deputy mentioned a number of schools in Kerry. I do not have the exact details of all the schools but I will endeavour to get them. I want to reassure the Deputy that we are aware of the challenges faced right across the country with regard to the schools estate, particularly in County Kerry. The Deputy will be aware that over \u20ac7.55 billion has been included in the sectoral investment plan for education and youth over the next four years. This plan has a very strong emphasis on maximising existing capacity and prioritising building projects to meet the most urgent needs. The plan includes 105 schools across the country, three of which are in Kerry.  Since 2020, the Department of Education and Youth has provided \u20ac148 million in capital funding for schools in Kerry. Over this period, a total of 66 schools have been upgraded either through the provision of new school buildings, large-scale extensions or modular accommodation. More than 160 small-scale improvement projects were also completed in Kerry during that time. Eleven school projects in Kerry are under construction while another three projects will go to tender or construction in the 2026-27 period.  The Deputy mentioned a number of schools awaiting special classes. A total of 70 special classes have been sanctioned in County Kerry over the past five years, of which 17 have been sanctioned for September 2026. The Deputy spoke about the minor works scheme. A number of grants are available to schools such as minor works grants, ICT grants, the summer works scheme and the emergency works scheme.  The Deputy gave a reasonably good tour of the kingdom of Kerry in respect of the schools he mentioned and asked me to do a number of things. We are constantly reviewing the funding mechanisms and the capital investment in our schools right across the country. Visits to some schools would have shown that minor works or emergency works would not be enough to deal with the scale of the work that needs to be done. We are acutely aware of the challenges. The Deputy put his point very well with regard to a school that increased its capacity and floor size and still remained at the same level of the minor works scheme. I will certainly go back to the Department and look at that.  On the Presentation school and the toilet facilities, these are urgent matters that need to be dealt with. The Deputy has made several representations across the school communities in Kerry and I endeavour to take up those issues with him. As for the schools he has mentioned, I will certainly look for an update on them to ensure there is an investment in the schools, starting with the most urgent. I will also meet the Deputy to go through the list of schools he is progressing. In the not-too-distant future, if the visas will be stamped, I hope to get across the border to the kingdom as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Cahill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Cahill  I thank the Minister of State for the response but I have to say it does not match the reality being experienced by many schools across County Kerry. This evening, I have raised consistent and repeated concerns from multiple school communities and I would like to return briefly to a few of them. Scoil Iogn\u00e1id R\u00eds, Dingle, has a building that is fundamentally unfit for purpose. This is not a minor works issue; it is a full redevelopment issue. In the case of Scoil R\u00e9alt na Mara, the funding model is clearly broken in that schools are expected to maintain expanding buildings with completely inadequate grants. In the case of Presentation Monastery National School, Killarney, I stress again that the climate action summer works scheme application, particularly for upgrading the pupil toilets there, must be progressed urgently. These are basic facilities and there is no justification for delay.  As schools cannot continue to operate in a system where essential projects are stuck in bureaucracy, approved funding is not translating into delivery on the ground and principals are left firefighting instead of planning, I will ask again very directly whether the Minister of State will commit to a full assessment of school infrastructure in Kerry. Will he introduce a dedicated refurbishment fund for older schools and will he ensure urgent applications like that of Presentation Monastery National School are fast-tracked without delay? At the heart of all this is a very simple question, namely, why should a child in Kerry be expected to learn in conditions and environments that would not be tolerated anywhere else in the country?  This is about safety, fairness and delivering a basic standard of education infrastructure that every child deserves. If we continue as we are, we are not improving our education system but are allowing it to fall behind. As the Minister of State knows well, the ones paying the price for this are the children sitting in those classrooms every day that are not sustainable. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  I thank Deputy Cahill for his closing remarks. I take the point very seriously. He has very eloquently put the challenges facing several schools he has listed on the D\u00e1il record as regards funding and some basic infrastructure.  As a country, we have been very proud of our education system that has developed over many years but it is crucial because you have to have the right working environments for the teaching communities, leadership, teachers, SNAs and all the school communities together. More importantly, it is crucial to deliver a first-class education system. We have a huge amount of funding in place in terms of the capital funding over the next while, but we also have a huge amount of schools where there is competing demand to try to meet that.  The Deputy mentioned seven schools, and if I have missed any one of them the Deputy might correct me on it, but I will endeavour to find out exactly what the issues are with each of those and report back to him. On the minor works and all the other schemes, the summer works scheme was started many years ago and has allowed funding to go into schools. It was the intention at the time that the works would be done over the summer holidays to allow for the least disruption but it has moved on from that. I take the point regarding some of the schools the Deputy mentioned, particularly in Dingle and the structural deficit that is there. I will endeavour to get a full update for him on them. He can rest assured the Government is very committed to funding schools right across the country, particularly in County Kerry. We have seen the benefit of education and the Deputy mentioned several schools that have indicated they wish to have special classes. We are working meticulously through numbers at present and I will certainly come back to the Deputy on the schools he has raised with me as a matter of urgency.  I assure Deputy Cahill that I take seriously the issues he has raised regarding the school estates across Kerry. I will endeavour to make sure any bureaucracy or red tape that is holding up any the projects is cut through to deliver for him and for County Kerry. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"School Funding"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-06\/debate\/dbsect_21","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Educational Disadvantage","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-05-06\/debate\/dbsect_16","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_16","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  We were told time and again that the identification of DEIS plus schools would be done in a transparent, robust and evidence-based way but the fact that not a single school in Drogheda has found its way into this long-awaited scheme leads me to challenge that assertion.  As the Minister of State will know, Drogheda is the largest town in Ireland yet to be declared a city. It is a great place with a great spirit and yet like all urban areas, we have our problems. We have pockets of severe and deep social and economic intergenerational disadvantage. I deal with those challenges every day. This is recognised officially in the Geiran review, which I managed to have commissioned several years ago. What followed was ad hoc short-term additional teaching and support resources. When the Drogheda implementation board's mandate ended, the disadvantage and poverty did not. Schools like St. John's and St. Paul's, St. Patrick's and St. Brigid's would have expected to be included in DEIS plus. St. Joseph's, Sunday's Gate, for example, and others would have expected elevation to DEIS 1 status. Deputy Byrne and I brought all principals of local schools together when the original decision was made to review this appalling decision soon after it was made. To say we were collectively shocked at the outcome is the understatement of the year.  That these schools were left behind leads me to question whether the Pobal index and the new DEIS plus identification model were used at all. The Department of education has got this badly wrong. The evidence before my own eyes, based on the work I do every single day, the levels of need and the data and the qualitative and quantitative evidence we have available all say to me that a massive error was made in this regard by the Department. The Minister of State will have the chance to correct that error. We genuinely believe a mistake has been made. While we know there is an appeals process under way, there needs to be more meaningful engagement with these schools aside from a desktop appeals process and review. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joanna Byrne  Right through last year and continuing up to this week, I met principals of DEIS schools in Drogheda on various issues. Even back then, before the announcement of the DEIS plus scheme, it was very disheartening for schools to tell me they were very worried about being forgotten once more and as it turns out, they were right.  DEIS schools in Drogheda provide an incredibly supportive environment for local children to thrive in. They are at the heart of communities that have been forgotten by successive governments. After the Government's DEIS plus announcement, Drogheda schools and community leaders collectively expressed absolute outrage and devastation at the fact that not one school in the largest town in this country was included in the new DEIS plus funding scheme despite several other schools at the other end of the county being included- fair play to them - but there is a blatant imbalance here.  Local principals at these schools went as far as to say there was a de facto demotion for existing DEIS schools. How can people in our area have confidence in the Department of education when they are once again being snubbed by the Government and this Department on the provision of desperately needed DEIS placement in an area that is suffering severe deprivation? The exclusion directly contradicts the 2022 Pobal HP deprivation data and recommendations from the 2021 Geiran scoping report, which have been outlined already. In a town that is used to being treated unfairly by successive governments, and I do not say that lightly, this latest snub has gone beyond the pale. Behind this wrong decision by the Government, thousands of children are being left without. It needs urgent reconsideration for all those who are being left behind. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  I thank both Deputies for raising the issue. On a serious note, I always admire when constituency colleagues come together on issues of education. It shows the depth of knowledge and commitment they have to education and I have seen that in several constituencies, so I compliment them on that.  Addressing the education disadvantage and ensuring every child and young person can reach their full potential is key for both me and my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Naughton. We look at this and the supports we give to children as leading to better outcomes for their lives individually, as well as for society. The DEIS plus scheme represents a significant expansion of the targeted education supports. It is designed to provide enhanced, evidence-based support to 121 schools with the very highest concentration of children and young people experiencing persistent and intergenerational disadvantage.  Approximately 30,000 children and young people nationally will benefit from inclusion in the scheme.  The Deputies raised issues in relation to schools in disadvantaged areas of Drogheda not being included in the scheme. At the outset, I acknowledge the very real challenges faced by the school communities in Drogheda, as well as the commitment of the school leadership, teachers and the entire school community who work continuously to support children and families facing complex and entrenched difficulties. It is important to stress that a school not being included in DEIS does not imply that disadvantage does not exist within that school's community.  The DEIS plus schools were identified using a rules-based model built on nationally available pupil-level administrative data. This model draws on a range of indicators associated with persistent and intergenerational disadvantage, including small-area disadvantage, lone parents, unemployment, Traveller or Roma identity and children living in State-funded emergency accommodation. These indicators are applied consistently across all schools using enrolment data from the past three years. In order to be included under the model, schools must demonstrate both a level of disadvantage significantly higher than the national average and a high concentration of pupils from very or extremely disadvantaged areas.  Schools can experience significant levels of challenge and need but still fall outside the thresholds required for inclusion in this very targeted scheme. A school-led application or self-reporting process would introduce inconsistencies and inequality, which is why a data-driven and national comparative approach is essential. The OECD review of the DEIS identification model highlighted the strengths of this approach, noting that it is multidimensional, general data protection regulation compliant and places no administrative burden on the schools.  The Department also recognises that some schools operate in particularly difficult local environments, where community pressures can impact well-being, engagement and learning. While such pressures are often well understood locally, they are not always captured in the datasets that can be fairly and consistently applied across the entire school system. A rules-based national model must consider all schools on the same basis; it cannot substitute locally known challenges for data that are not available or comparable nationwide.  When applied to schools in Drogheda, the model reflected disadvantage but not at the level of concentration required for inclusion in DEIS plus. However, DEIS schools in Drogheda continue to receive significant supports. DEIS grant allocations have been recalculated under the new model, with a number of schools receiving increased funding, and all continue to have access to a full home school community liaison co-ordinators. Additionally, three schools in Drogheda benefit from further staffing supports under the DEIS urban band 1 enhanced capitation rate, as recommended by the Geiran report, providing additional teaching capacity and stability. This measure has been recently extended and all schools have been notified. The appeals process for schools not included in DEIS plus is now open, with full details available on the Department of education's website. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  I would like to have more time available to discuss this, because I am confounded by that response. Effectively, what the Minister of State is saying is that we have disadvantage but that it is not at the level of concentration required for inclusion in DEIS plus. That is quite extraordinary in light of the data we have available.  I will give the Minister of State an example. At least three of the schools serve particular areas. I am going to read out the levels of disadvantage in the context of the HP deprivation index in 2022. One area on the north side had a HP deprivation index of minus 33. There was 27% unemployment among males there and 47% of people in the area were lone parents. On the south side, one area stood at minus 32 on the deprivation index. It had an unemployment rate of 27% and 25% of those in the area were lone parents. All the schools in that area are accommodating children who are in international protection accommodation services, IPAS, centres, many of them coming from the largest IPAS centre in the country, namely the Mosney centre. It is meeting all the thresholds laid down by the new DEIS identification model and the HP model. This is extraordinary. It needs to be reviewed in a meaningful way. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joanna Byrne  The Minister of State is paying lip service to the dedication of the staff carrying the can for inadequate Government investment in areas ravaged on the basis of the criteria he listed, namely lone parenthood, unemployment and children living in State-funded emergency accommodation and international protection accommodation. We have Mosney seven minutes down the road and we have the D Hotel, the only large hotel in the town centre of Drogheda, which was ripped away by Government. It does not meet the Minister of State's criteria. It is an absolute insult to the schools and to the teachers who are carrying the can for this. Worse still, it is an insult to the children who need these State supports.  I will tell the Minister of State another thing: the silence in the south of Louth and Drogheda by Government representatives is absolutely astounding. I think that Government backbenchers will agree that this is the wrong decision and that it needs to be reversed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  In the first instance, the appeal process is there. I am sure the school communities are engaging to ensure that appeals are submitted.  Going back to the challenges in relation to this matter, we have often seen that the criteria being used are very robust. The data collection is also very robust. The challenge here is that the Deputies have given me figures in relation to percentages of unemployment and lone parents and information in respect of IPAS centres. It is hugely important that we have a robust system that goes through all the schools and that the resources that are put in for DEIS plus, or even DEIS in the first instance, are robust enough that we can understand it and stand over it. What the Deputies have outlined is serious, particularly as they see flaws in the system. It is hugely important that this is demonstrated in any appeal that is put forward by the school communities in relation to DEIS plus. These are robust mechanisms that have been considered in the context of international best practice. To be fair, the review in that regard was very complimentary regarding the system.  We are trying to make sure that the scarce resources available to the State are targeted at and reaching the most vulnerable. What the Deputies have outlined would certainly give me food for thought in the context of the percentages they mentioned in a number of instances, such as the figures relating to lone parents and unemployment. I appeal to them to make sure that the school communities include that information in their appeals. I take this opportunity to reassure them that the system is robust enough to ensure that those data will be taken into consideration into the future. The wider points the Deputies made in relation to Drogheda and the large urban centre are not lost on me. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar athl\u00f3 ar 7.57 p.m. go dt\u00ed 8.47 a.m., D\u00e9ardaoin, an 7 Bealtaine 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The D\u00e1il adjourned at 7.57 p.m. until 8.47 a.m. on Thursday, 7 May 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Educational Disadvantage"}]}}]},"contextDate":"2026-05-06"},{"debateRecord":{"house":{"showAs":"34th D\u00e1il","committeeCode":"","houseCode":"dail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/house\/dail\/34","chamberType":"house","houseNo":"34"},"chamber":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/def\/house\/dail","showAs":"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann"},"lastUpdated":"2026-07-02T02:10:42+00:00","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/main","formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/mul@\/main.xml"},"pdf":null},"date":"2026-04-30","counts":{"contributorCount":130,"divisionCount":0,"debateSectionCount":45,"questionCount":27,"billCount":2},"debateType":"debate","debateSections":[{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_2","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_3","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Public Services Card","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_2","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_3.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  The Minister will be delighted to know that my question is straightforward. It relates to the expansion of the digital ID, or the public services card as it is known. The Minister will be well aware that this card has been mired in controversy. A succession of Ministers have tried to defend how this card is mandatory but somehow not compulsory. There is an element to this that people have to have it but they also do not have to have it. For that reason, I and many others are concerned about its expansion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Dara Calleary)  I thank the Deputy for her question. In April 2024, the European Parliament and the Council introduced eIDAS regulation 2. The overall aim of this regulation is to create a predictable and legally binding framework for digital identities that will enable citizens, residents and business to securely access public and private services across member states. The regulation requires each member state to develop and provide at least one European digital identity wallet by the end of 2026. The wallet will enable people to store various identity credentials, such as driving licences, EU health insurance cards and age verifiers, securely on their mobile phone or device and produce them, at their own discretion, to evidence entitlement to services and benefits anywhere in the EU.  A key benefit of the wallet is that the personal data will be held and controlled by the citizen. The citizen will decide whether they want to use the wallet, what credentials they hold in the wallet and where and to whom they provide any credential.  The Department of Culture, Communications and Sport has responsibility for implementing the regulation while the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation has responsibility for the development of the Government digital wallet. The wallet must meet EU technical, security, interoperability and certification requirements.  My Department\u2019s role is to use the existing MyGovID service to verify that the person seeking a wallet and wishing to download identity credentials into the wallet is the person they claim to be. We will also provide the core public service identity data, such as the name and date of birth, but we will not hold or have access to any of the credentials from other public service providers they subsequently download. We will not know what other credentials have been downloaded, nor will we have any access to usage data.  The Office of the Government Chief Information Officer, OGCIO, is currently inviting the public to take part in a consultation and testing phase of a pilot Government digital wallet. Launching a consultation and testing at this stage enables the Government to engage with the public to understand what they would like from the Government digital wallet. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  The Minister will well understand why I and others, such as the Irish Council for Civil Liberties and other groups, are necessarily cautious about this. For example, when the public services card, PSC, was brought in, it was said that it would be mandatory but not compulsory, or vice versa . In the end, the requirement for those over 65 is that they must have one of these cards with a chip in it to access the free travel scheme. There is a creeping sense that people are being asked to hand over their identification and have a level of trust \u2013 this is not personal to the Minister - in the Government in the holding of their data. I do not believe that sufficient work has been carried out in order to assuage people. The Data Protection Commissioner has already made a ruling in this regard, although I understand it is under appeal. That ruling was damning of the Government\u2019s capacity to handle people\u2019s data. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  As the Deputy said, the ruling is under appeal. We are appealing it. I also thank the committee for beginning pre-legislative scrutiny of the social welfare Bill yesterday. There are initiatives contained in that Bill for a card holder to use their public service card for identity purposes at their own discretion in exactly the same way they can do with a driving licence or a passport. That is particularly for people looking for ID for bank accounts or credit unions, etc. We are trying to give people the ability to use the card at their own discretion and judgment.  The public service card currently does not display card holders' dates of birth. The proposed changes provide for a card holder to opt in to have their date of birth inscribed on their public service card. If they so wish, they can have it removed at a later point. Since 2012, over 5 million people have completed the SAFE registration process for the public service card. There are approximately 3.5 million users of MyGovID who complete about 60 million transactions per annum. It makes the provision of services a lot easier and quicker for citizens. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  The Minister stated that people can put their date of birth on it if they wish and that everything will be absolutely opt-in all the time but that is not true. The moment something like this is brought in, it becomes compulsory. Those aged over 65 have an entitlement to access the free travel scheme but they must have this card to do so. If people do not want to have the card, they are simply locked out of the scheme. When the Minister says that something will be voluntary, such as the public services card, it is not the case. The only thing people are volunteering to do is not have their lawful entitlement to the free travel scheme if they are over 65. Does the Minister understand why people are naturally suspicious about this? In the Minster\u2019s answers, he talked a lot about it being voluntary and people opting in. In truth, however, the PSC is no longer voluntary, particularly for those over 65. People do not have the choice to opt in.  We are doing pre-legislative scrutiny on the social welfare Bill. It is a fairly big piece of legislation and changes to the PSC are contained within it. I am putting the Minister on notice that those changes will be resisted by me and the Opposition more broadly because there is no trust when it comes to the holding and collection of data. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I look forward to engaging with the committee on the pre-legislative scrutiny of the Bill. I emphasise the voluntary nature of this. It is the Department\u2019s policy that this is digital by desire. We understand there are people who do not wish to or are not comfortable using digital services. We will continue to make our services available on an optional basis.  Equally, there is a level engagement with the public services card. There are a total of 3.4 million verified MyGovID accounts. In 2025 alone, we had over 44 million logins. That gives the Deputy a sense of the level of interest and use of it. We will have further questions later about the ongoing online services. I have made it clear within the Department that this should be digital by desire. If someone is not comfortable with it \u2013 I am speaking as one such person - those services and options should be fully available. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Public Services Card"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_4","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Pension Provisions","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_2","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_4","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_4.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  I ask the Minister about the long delays in invalidity pension appeals. I am aware of one such case but I wonder whether there are others. In this particular case, the original appeal happened in January 2025. It is now five months since there was an appeal to the chief appeals officer but there has been nothing back. This woman clearly cannot work. She has extreme migraines that mean she often cannot get out of bed. She can barely take care of herself. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  It is important to ensure people claiming benefits satisfy the criteria established by the Oireachtas for entitlement to that benefit. However, in doing so, it is also important that we offer people who may not receive a favourable decision the opportunity to seek a review of that decision and submit a formal appeal. In that way, we work to ensure the entitlement is not denied to people who have a need for support and satisfy the relevant qualification conditions.  In the case of invalidity pension, we offer claimants both a review by the decision area as well as a formal appeal mechanism. In most cases, these reviews and appeals can be dealt with expeditiously. We are also continuously working to improve the service. For example, over the past year, we have introduced new regulations that extend the period of time during which a person can make an appeal from 21 to 60 days. The new regulations also grant additional rights to seek an oral hearing of the appeal and receive an explanation if an oral hearing is not granted. In addition, they grant specify specific timelines for the exchange and processing of appeal documentation.  In parallel, we have introduced a new IT system, including the ability to submit appeals online. An average of 60% of appeals are now received online. We have also significantly increased staffing in the appeals service. Indeed, I welcome members of the appeal service, who are in the Public Gallery.  These changes have resulted in a reduction in the number of appeals on hand from 21,630 appeals at the end of December 2024 to 7,470 appeals on hand at the end of March 2026. Processing times have also improved from an overall average of over 23 weeks in 2024 to just 9.5 weeks today in the case of invalidity pension.  However, having said all of that, some cases, in particular those involving the exchange of complicated medicine, take time to finalise. With respect to the case referenced in the Deputy's question, while I cannot discuss specific details on the floor, I have raised the case with the chief appeals officer, who acts independently in the performance of her duties, I will engage directly with the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  In this case, the woman is often in so much pain that she cannot leave the house. Sometimes, she might be well and can function as others can, but on other days she cannot even open her eyes. She is obviously not in a position to find work. There is a question as to whether this case is illustrative of a wider approach of delaying appeals. The woman has made the point that she has the capacity to fight, contact a Deputy, write letters and do those things. However, she acknowledges that plenty of people cannot necessarily do that and, when confronted with a wall of delays and refusals, might just give up. Is this part of a policy? It is interesting that the number of recipients of invalidity pensions has fallen at a time when the population has increased and the number of recipients of other payments has increased. I wonder whether there is some sort of policy or approach being implemented to push people back from receiving what they are entitled to. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I can absolutely assure the Deputy that is not the policy and approach. As I said in my initial response, we are working continuously to improve the appeals process and are continuously investing in that process. We are also investing in the initial process in terms of medical assessment and knowledge. By introducing a new IT system, we have given people the capacity to make appeals online. They do not have to physically post applications; they can apply and exchange information online from the comfort of their own homes. We have also increased staffing in the appeals process office considerably.  As I want to reiterate, some 21,630 appeals were on hand at the end of December 2024, which we reduced to 7,470 by the end of March. More importantly, the processing times for appeals have reduced from 23 weeks in 2024 to nine and a half weeks today, in particular in the case of invalidity pension. I am very focused on appeals. I thank the appeals office, which is independent, for its work in this space. There is a specific issue with regard to the case raised by the Deputy, which we will discuss separately. I assure him that there is no policy to dissuade people from applying for any payment or making appeals. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  In that case, I do not know whether the Minister or Department has carried out any analysis of this area. What is the explanation for the decline in the number of recipients of invalidity pension? The number was about 55,000 in 2015, which rose to 59,000 in 2020, but the figure has fallen year on year to a low of just over 55,000 in 2024. There has been an increase of only 1% despite the population having significantly increased over ten years. The number in receipt of carer's allowance is up from 62,000 in 2015 to almost 100,000 in 2024, a 56% increase. The number in receipt of disability allowance is up from about 120,000 to close to 170,000, but the number in receipt of illness benefit has fallen. The Minister has said there is no policy of his predecessor's \"I, Daniel Blake\" policy, which was withdrawn and is not being implemented through the back door, in terms of targets to refuse applications or make it harder for people to access illness benefit and invalidity pension. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I can do some work and come back to the Deputy on invalidity generally. As he said, there have also been increases in disability and other areas, such as carer's allowance. There is definitely no policy to discourage people from applying. It can be challenging in terms of getting the necessary medical information, in particular where a case is not as black and white as other cases may be. The appeals team and medical team are very much attuned to those cases. That is why we have put a focus on invalidity and domiciliary care allowance appeals and reducing the processing time in order to give certainty to those making the appeal.  I will engage with the Deputy directly on the specific case he mentioned and will come back to the House generally on invalidity pension and illness benefit and the relevant figures. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Pension Provisions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_5","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Cost of Living Issues","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_2","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_5","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_5.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  As the Government seems to be blissfully unaware, there is a cost-of-living crisis. We know this from the numbers of people in energy arrears. We also know this from the figures from Barnardos and other agencies. This is backed up by the survey on income and living conditions, SILC, data. My question is simple. In light of the announcement of a surplus last week, has the Minister given any consideration to a cost-of-living payment for those vulnerable households at risk of poverty? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I thank the Deputy. We are all greatly disturbed by recent geopolitical developments, including the conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine. Wars are destroying lives across the world and in communities and will deepen and entrench rather than resolve any situation. As a nation, we feel the impact of these conflicts in the upward pressure on fuel costs, in particular. We should always remember those who are suffering in other ways.  In response to the spike in fuel prices, the Government has acted more decisively than many other Governments. We have made an investment of over \u20ac750 million, which will bring down fuel prices and provide targeted support to households on low incomes in receipt of the fuel allowance payment. More generally, the Government increased core welfare rights above the rate of inflation in budget 2026. In 2026, my Department will spend \u20ac28.9 billion on schemes and services, which includes \u20ac1.15 billion in new measures, comprising an above-inflation increase of \u20ac10 per week in core rates and a range of targeted supports, including \u20ac320 million in measures that are alleviating child poverty. This also includes the largest ever increase in the child support payment.  The budget also provided significant support to help households with the cost of heating and other energy bills. The fuel allowance has increased by \u20ac5 per week, or 15%. For the first time, families in receipt of the working family payment qualify for the fuel allowance. The Government has also extended the period of time during which the fuel allowance is paid by four weeks to the end of this week. Combined, the changes in fuel allowance equate to a year-on-year increase of nearly 32%. The fuel allowance is paid to just under 469,000 households across the country.  Taken together, the increase in core rates, the child support payment and the fuel allowance mean that, for example, a lone parent family with one child will see an increase of over 9%, or nearly \u20ac1,800, in payments from the Department, while a household comprising two adults will see an increase of over 8% percent or \u20ac2,300 in their payments. Those increases are significantly ahead of inflation and we will continue to monitor the situation and cost-of-living pressures, including those arising from any developments. I will continue to revert to the House on that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  The Minister will know that, before the war in Iran, 330,000 households were already in arrears with their bills. The average household arrears are \u20ac470. The Minister is playing ducks and drakes with percentages and references to millions of euro. The figure for the average arrears for household energy bills is \u20ac470 and the extension to the fuel allowance is worth \u20ac136. The Minister can see how those figures do not add up. The Taoiseach referred to October and January, but if people are struggling now, what is the Minister prepared to do for those households that are at risk of or are in poverty? They cannot pay their bills today and cannot wait until the budget in October and the measures to be introduced in January. That is far too long for people to wait. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  We have acted. I again emphasise the increase in the fuel allowance and the extra four weeks of the payment bringing it to the end of this week, which is the beginning of the month of May. That has not been done previously. We increased the fuel allowance by \u20ac5 per week. As I said, the increase in the fuel allowance is a 32% increase for the 469,000 households that are in receipt of it. For the first time, the fuel allowance is now being paid to working families. Those in receipt of the working family payment were eligible for the fuel allowance. We made a back payment to the beginning of January so that those in receipt of the working family payment received a lump sum for January and February at the beginning of March and now have the benefit of the extension.  That is a very targeted intervention to those 469,000 households in receipt of the fuel allowance. We continue to pay the household benefits package. Over 500,000 households are in receipt of that. That is a direct payment that people can use in relation to fuel and energy supports. We have just finished a run of engagements across the country with Members of the House around availability of additional needs payments. That may be something we can come back to. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  I am a constituency TD, as is the Minister. I listen to my constituents and I have talked to people in my own party. From our read of it, there is a need for an intervention from the Government. We have proposed \u20ac400 in energy credits, a cut to the USC, which would be worth \u20ac500, \u20ac400 in emergency welfare payments and a \u20ac500 cost-of-disability payment, as well as an additional eight weeks on the fuel allowance because that is what people need.  Last February, I was ten years in the D\u00e1il. The Minister has been here longer. I have never experienced the level of poverty that I see in my constituency offices in Balbriggan and Rush. I have never seen anything like it. My constituency manager would say the same thing. People are desperate and being put to the pin of their collar. We are not making this up in the Opposition. This is coming to us. The Minister saw people on the streets, not just in tractors, but in wheelchairs, telling the Government very clearly that they were making choices between heating, eating and charging their mobility devices. The time for intervention is now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I acknowledge that pressure. We see that as well - we are not immune from that - but we also have to be honest with people about our ability to make interventions. We cannot make interventions every few months. There will be an intervention in the context of the forthcoming budget. We have made a \u20ac750 million intervention since March in two packages, which has reduced the day-to-day cost of fuel for people and has brought in a targeted extension of the fuel allowance payment, giving people access to the fuel allowance to the beginning of May. This was not previously available to those 469,000 households. Some 500,000 households are benefiting from the households benefits package, which will be paid all year around, including the summer.  We will continue to review all of the pressures people are under. We get it, but we also have to be honest. We cannot support all of those pressures, and we have to do this in a manner that is feasible and allows us to respond when the winter comes when energy prices and energy pressures will possibly be worse. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Cost of Living Issues"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_6","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Social Welfare Code","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_2","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_6","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_6.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  T\u00e1 m\u00e9 ag lorg nuachta faoin infheist\u00edocht do dhaoine faoi mh\u00edchumas, go h\u00e1irithe i mBaile \u00c1tha Cliath Thuaidh ach nationally chomh maith leis sin. I would appreciate if the Minister would give me a detailed timeline for the next step for recognising the associated costs for people with disabilities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Teachta as ucht na ceiste ar son na ndaoine faoi mh\u00edchumas. Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis as a shuim san \u00e1bhar seo. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 r\u00e1ite sa chl\u00e1r Rialtais go mbeimid ag seasamh le daoine faoi mh\u00edchumas agus go bhfuil muid ag obair go crua air sin. Supporting disabled people is a key priority for this Government. That is why the programme for Government is introducing a number of commitments to improve the position of people with disabilities, including a commitment to introduce a permanent annual cost-of-disability support payment. Under the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030, which was developed with significant input from disability groups and advocates, it was agreed to establish a strategic focus network summit on the cost of disability. This is being led by my Department, but it should, must and does include other Departments as well as disabled people and their advocates.  We have had a series of meetings with a number of organisations, including disabled persons organisations, DPOs, to discuss the structure and content. A public consultation process is also being established on how a cost-of-disability payment can best be achieved. That was launched on Friday, 20 February. It ran for just over six weeks until Tuesday 7 April. I am pleased that there was an exceptional response, with over 1,000 submissions received. Some 87 submissions were from groups and organisations and 12 were from disabled persons organisations and disabled persons representative organisations. Accessible ways to partake were widely used, with almost 60 submissions made over the phone, 20 received by post and seven by video. I thank all of the contributors, including Members in the Chamber, for taking the time to make a submission to the process.  The summit will now be held on Lansdowne Road on 13 May. It will be an in-person event, with online access also available. The summit and the submissions received through the consultation process will help inform the approach to be taken in delivering on our programme for Government commitment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Aire. T\u00e1im bu\u00edoch as an bhfreagra sin and the continued engagement with my office. I commend the staff in his office for their hard work as well as the Minister himself. What is absolutely clear is that the cost of disability must reflect the reality. In north Dublin in my constituency, we have the Irish Wheelchair Association, IWA, the Central Remedial Clinic, CRC, and multiple disability organisations. I have been speaking to them about the urgency needed, not just in the winter, but also with transport costs, infrastructure and electricity. I hope that the Government acts on plug-in solar, which will reduce the cost for apartment dwellers, particularly people with no access to rooftops but who could easily access a similar system with a low initial cost. In conjunction with batteries, this would help with electricity costs. We also need to be clear about eligibility. Those who are on disability payments, who are in employment or who are over 65 need to be prioritised. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I thank the Deputy for his input. We will be having the summit on 13 May, which is next Wednesday week. Following the summit and the consultation process, we will be preparing a paper that will outline the key learnings and any tangible outcomes that support how we deliver in this area going forward. I will work with my colleagues in government in relation to a potential proposal around the eligibility for the payment, who should get the payment and how it should be paid. We will have engagement around that with the committee on social protection.  I wish to emphasise that we have made increases this year to the fuel allowance and the weekly rate of disability allowance. Additional needs payments are also available through the community welfare office network. I encourage people to ensure that they have access to those payments and have engaged with the network in respect of them. We have done a lot of work in recent weeks to make information about those payments available to Members of the Oireachtas so that they can pass it on. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  There is real urgency here. I welcome the fact that the Minister is acknowledging that this is needed. The gap is not abstract and it is felt every single week by the people I represent and people across Ireland. The payment would be very meaningful and very well accepted. I look forward to working with the Department and the disability organisations on that.  This does not relate to the Minister's Department, but last night, we saw Irish citizens from my constituency and some of my friends illegally abducted by the Israeli Government. I was part of a previous flotilla. Could that be brought to the Department of foreign affairs, as they were off the coast of Crete in international waters? I know that the Minister cannot act on this in his Department, but I need to highlight it on the floor of this House and do everything I can do. A lot of these people were with me previously. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I have absolutely no doubt that the Department of foreign affairs is fully monitoring that situation. Our thoughts are with all of those Irish citizens this morning and with their families here at home.  Regarding the Deputy's question, the cost of disability and the challenges facing those with disabilities is not solely a matter for the Department of Social Protection. It is essential for transport costs and employment costs - there are other supports from the Department of Health, obviously - that all of those Departments are part of this conversation. That is our intention and our priority as regards both the summit and the paper that will inform decisions. We will be prioritising the cost-of-disability payment from the Department of Social Protection in this year's budget but other Departments are going to have to come to the table as well with supports to allow to people to travel, use medical services, access primary medical certs, avail of motorised transport and deal with the various costs that are there.  A whole-of-government approach is necessary. We will work closely with the Minister, Deputy Foley, and other Ministers in relation to this. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Social Welfare Code"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_7","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_8","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Social Welfare Benefits","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_7","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_8.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I thank the Deputy for his question. There have been significant improvements in recent years to the fuel allowance scheme, which has resulted in more than 100,000 additional households qualifying for the payment. The budget for the fuel allowance scheme has increased significantly, to \u20ac557.4 million in 2026. That compares with \u20ac290.45 million in 2020. In January 2023, enhanced fuel allowance measures for people aged 70 or over were introduced. These have since been extended to those aged 66 or older. This included a new weekly means threshold, which now stands at \u20ac534 for a single person or \u20ac1,068 for a couple. In addition, the amount of capital that is disregarded in the means test was increased from \u20ac20,000 to \u20ac50,000. The weekly means threshold for those aged under 66 was also increased by \u20ac80, to \u20ac200, above the appropriate rate of the contributory State pension.  In response to the rise in fuel prices, the Government has approved the extension of the 2025 to 2026 fuel season by four weeks, until the end of this week. This provides an additional \u20ac152 to some 470,000 households at an estimated cost of \u20ac71.4 million. A number of other important improvements to the scheme have been introduced. In budget 2025, we allowed the carer's allowance to be considered as a qualifying payment for the fuel allowance for the first time. The fuel allowance was extended in budget 2026 to recipients of the working family payment from January 2026. In budget 2026, we allowed those who leave their disability payment to take up employment to continue to receive the fuel allowance for five years after exiting the payment.  We do not hold data on household composition to be able to identify where a member of the household is over 70 years of age, and therefore, cannot provide a costing for the measure that is proposed by the Deputy. However, the criteria for the fuel allowance are framed in order to direct the limited resources that are available to my Department in as targeted a manner as possible. Extending the eligibility to include automatic entitlement to the fuel allowance for those over 70 years of age could change the targeted nature of the fuel allowance payment. It would require additional funding and would need to be considered in the context of overall budgetary negotiations. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Burke  Where I am coming from is the context of people who are living on their own. One of the big problems that we have where a person is living on their own is that there are additional costs. The cost of heating a house and normal maintenance is the same as it would be if there were two or three people living in the house. If we look at the allowance that the Department is paying out and the cost to the State where a person ends up in a nursing home, the average cost in a nursing home as a minimum now is \u20ac1,250 per week. Therefore, if we look at the overall cost in real terms, there are challenges for people, particularly in rural areas, who are living on their own trying to make ends meet. The cost of heating, especially in older houses, is a huge additional cost. It is something that needs to be looked at. The cost of administration is taking up a lot of money. If the allowance was already there for anyone over 70 years of age, that would reduce down the cost of administration. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  Absolutely. The Deputy's question was framed in the context of the fuel allowance, but the living alone allowance would be the payment in relation to those people. It is a payment that I intend to focus on in this year's budget. There is no doubt that people on their own have extensive outgoings, particularly those who may end up on their own following the death of their partner or separation. It is an area that I am going to be very focused on in the context of this year's budget. The proposal to give an automatic entitlement to the fuel allowance for somebody who is over 70 would require significant resources and would take away from my capacity to do something on the living alone allowance, but also de-target some of the necessary element of the fuel allowance which we can target at people. I am very conscious of those living of their own and older people living on their own and the very disproportionate bills that they face, oftentimes without any warning or notice. I am going to be very focused on the living alone allowance in the context of budget 2027. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Burke  The cost of running a house for one person is the same as the cost of running it for two people, especially in relation to heating and maintenance. That is where I am coming from in relation to the fuel allowance for the over-70s. There is that huge additional cost. I recall dealing with one man whose basic allowance was the old age pension. His wife died. The income was cut in half but the cost of running the house was the same. In rural areas, we have quite a lot of properties that are not in great shape. They are extremely costly. People do not have the funding now to do major renovations despite all the grants that are there. It still costs a lot more money than what the grants will provide. In that context, I am wondering about making the fuel allowance automatic for people living alone rather than having their income assessed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  We have made considerable changes to the fuel allowance in recent years. We have considerably increased the disallowance in the context of means. A lot more people have qualified for it. We have gone from \u20ac290.4 million in 2020 to \u20ac557.4 million in 2026. A total of 470,000 households qualify. We need to do more work on the living alone allowance to cater specifically for the kind of cohorts that the Deputy spoke about. In many cases, for the fuel allowance and somebody living on their own, many people will qualify. We will do some more work around communicating the new means. I will be specifically targeting the living alone allowance to address that kind of cohort of people, particularly those who are left on their own, either by death or separation, with large expenses. The Deputy is absolutely right. We have the retrofit programmes and various support programmes, but for many older people it is a very big project to take on. I am going to be doing a lot of work in that space. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Social Welfare Benefits"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_9","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Child Poverty","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_7","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_9.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  The subject of my question is child poverty. Central Statistics Office, CSO, figures that were released recently show that the consistent poverty rate for families headed by lone parents was about 13.4% last year compared with 11% in 2024. It is a 22% increase in consistent poverty for one of the most vulnerable groups in the country, including the children they take care of. Will the Minister confirm what new measures the Department is designing to reverse this trend? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I thank the Deputy. The key national metric relating to the measurement of poverty is that of consistent poverty. It records those households who are both at risk of poverty and are experiencing deprivation. It is independently measured by the CSO through the survey on income and living conditions, SILC. SILC 2025, which is based on income data from 2024, was published in March. This shows a reduction in the child consistent poverty rate in 2025, from 8.5% to 7.8%. This is equivalent to an 8% reduction year-on-year. As SILC 2025 is based on 2024 income data, the survey does not take into account Government measures to reduce child poverty that were included in budgets 2025 and 2026. Budget 2026 included some of the most significant investments any government has made in tackling child poverty in order to make progress towards our new child poverty target.  Budget 2026 contained a \u20ac320 million social welfare package specifically to reduce child poverty. Key measures included the largest ever increases to child support payments, with a 16% increase for children under 12 and over 25% increase for children over 12, higher income thresholds for the working family payment and expanded access to the fuel allowance and the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance. Taken together, the increases in core rates, the child support payment and the fuel allowance as well as the recent four-week extension in the payment of that fuel allowance means that a lone parent family with one child will see an increase of over 9%, or nearly \u20ac1,800, in payments from the Department and a two-adult household will see an increase of just over 8%, or \u20ac2,300, in their payments.  Budget 2025 extended the hot school meals scheme to make it available to all primary schools.  This additional investment supplements other cross-government supports such as free schoolbooks, free GP visit cards and enhancements to early childhood care and education schemes. While the impact of some of these non-cash measures will never be fully reflected in poverty statistics, I am confident that, together, they will bring us closer to achieving our target, which I am determined we will meet. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  I thank the Minister for his reply. Many of those payments and changes are welcome but there is a question, in the context of the growing hardship on families, the cost of energy and the cost-of-living crisis, that people are being left behind. Potential talent, in particular, is being left behind at a young age if we do not reverse the trend of consistent child poverty. The Government's target is about 3%; 7.8% is still quite a long way off, despite the things the Minister has worked on.  In our alternative budget, the Social Democrats proposed a reworking of the working family payment to create a highly targeted support in the form of a second tier of child benefit. We were promised a second tier by the Taoiseach for budget 2026 in August. I think the Minister gave some support to that, but it did not appear. Will the Minister commit to the Government taking the rising poverty figures and the cost-of-living crisis as impetus for introducing a second tier of child benefit? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  In budget 2026, we introduced record increases in the child support payment, which are making a direct impact for families as shown by the figures I have provided.  In relation to a targeted child benefit payment, I want to announce to the House that I am introducing a public consultation, opening next Tuesday, 5 May, and look forward to the input of Members of the House around that. It will be aligned with a consultation on a working age payment. Both payments are aligned and will have impact. We will review what comes back from that consultation.  Through the Taoiseach's intervention, we have a child poverty unit in his Department which is driving all of us across government to take the appropriate action. We can take action in the Department of Social Protection but it also requires input from the Departments of children, health, transport and education. That is also happening. We will be in a position to make reports on that in the context of the Taoiseach's office and the roadmap for social inclusion. I will be publishing a new roadmap before the summer recess, which will have a specific focus on child poverty on a cross-government basis. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  It is worthwhile to read into the record some of the harrowing stories presented by St. Vincent de Paul and the reality faced by lone parents. One parent said: \"I can't get control, we can't make plans, it's like being in a deep hole, no matter what we do we can\u2019t get out of it. We climb up and fall back in.\" Another single mother told the organisation: \"I find life very hard, not being able to pay all my bills and always putting some on the long finger. The stress makes me sick. I\u2019m always worrying knowing that my kids have to go without.\" We know targeted interventions into child poverty are not just a moral imperative; they are the best investment the State can make into its people. Early intervention makes a huge difference later in life and can improve life trajectories and reduce the need for support down the line. A 2025 report from the ESRI suggested a payment of this type would cost around \u20ac772 million and could lift more than 50,000 children out of poverty. I hope the Minister takes that on as a major point of intervention. In the context of the energy and cost-of-living crises, the Minister has to do all he can on child poverty. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  Absolutely. I think I have taken it on. We have directed our resources through a \u20ac320 million package in this year's budget. My new measures package was \u20ac1.2 billion and \u20ac320 million of that went specifically to child poverty measures - a 25% increase in child support for children over 12 and 16% for those under 12. They are making a difference. A lone-parent family with one child will have an increase of nearly \u20ac1,800 in their payments from the Department this year while a two-adult household will see an increase of just over \u20ac2,300. That is a direct difference and is making a difference in weekly payments as we speak. There is the increase in and, particularly, the expansion of the fuel allowance. The working family payment will assist children under the pressure the Deputy outlined.  We will publish the roadmap for social inclusion 2026-30 before the summer recess. That will focus on child poverty. The child poverty unit in the Department of the Taoiseach continues to keep every part of Government focused on this space. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Child Poverty"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_10","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Social Welfare Benefits","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_7","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_10","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_10.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  Will the Minister provide an update on the number of applications for urgent needs payments in Cork for the first three months of the years 2019, 2025 and 2026, by category of application and the numbers approved, in tabular form? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, my Department may make additional needs payments to help meet essential expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income or other personal and household resources. This includes supplements to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from the customer\u2019s own resources and which are deemed to be necessary. The main items eligible for assistance include utility bills, repairs to household appliances, clothing, child-related items such as cots and prams, assistance with funerals or burial costs, and travel costs.  The reporting of this scheme was revised in 2022 to give more complete information; therefore, the format requested by the Deputy is not available for previous years, including 2019. I have a tabular statement for this reply and will provide it to the Deputy separately. It outlines the number of additional needs payments registered and awarded, by category, in County Cork in quarter 1 of 2025 and 2026. In 2025 there were 1,078 awarded in quarter 1, compared with 1,038 in quarter 1 in 2026. The largest number of claims fall into the general category, followed by housing and then clothing. The figures do not reflect the number of claims that have been withdrawn, cancelled or are awaiting further information. Applications are assessed on the basis of identified need, income, available resources and essential expenditure.  I would encourage anybody to engage with the community welfare service. We have done a lot of work in recent weeks to connect that service to Oireachtas Members through mywelfare.ie or through the community welfare contact centre. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  Go raibh maith agat. I would have preferred to have the information in front of me so I could have gone through it. There has been a reduction of 40 payments made between 2025 and 2026, if what the Minister has said is correct. I find that unbelievable. More and more people are coming to my office every week in urgent need - people in debt, whether in arrears on electricity or on gas; people who have had a car break down and do not have the money to fix it; people who are struggling to pay for confirmations and communions at this time of year. For it to be less, that is a failure of the Government to let people know the payment is there. There are just over 1,000 people availing of the scheme in Cork; that is only a fraction of the people who are in trouble. We know from information that came out this week that over 300,000 people are in energy arrears. The ESRI found today that more than one in ten households cannot afford a warm home. How do these figures match with that? They just do not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I share the Deputy's concern about the low number. That is why we put in considerable effort, following submissions from the Deputy's colleague, Deputy O'Reilly, and other Deputies in recent months, to bring the community welfare service here. We had a very good afternoon in the audiovisual room a few weeks back. Each community welfare service had a clinic in every part of the country for Oireachtas Members to attend, meet them and get information. We have provided considerable information to every Member in recent weeks about that contact point, the qualification, the means test and so on. I will give the Deputy's office that information again. I want people to avail of these services. We have done a lot of work in relation to feedback about the ESB and, in particular, meters - the so-called pay as you go. There is an awareness of the difficulties people are under there, from feedback from Deputies.  If the Deputy feels we need to do more in the Cork area in terms of information, we will do that. We have tried to use Oireachtas channels to provide that information; if there are other channels, we will use them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  If we are serious, the Minister has a job of work to do now. Over 300,000 people are in arrears on their energy bills. The Minister for energy has announced that there will be a 9% rise in energy prices, so more and more people will go into arrears. What is the plan? Has the Minister devised a plan in his Department to support affected people and let them know support exists?  The fuel allowance ends today. In the next week, we will see temperatures drop to 5\u00b0C. What about those people who are going to struggle, who cannot afford to turn on their heating? It is going to be cold and the fuel allowance is to end.  Let me put on the record the view of a 21-year-old who is trying to pay rent. The person says the cost of living has reached a point where it feels impossible to get ahead. They add that everyday expenses like those related to food, rent and bills are becoming overwhelming, and despite working hard, it feels like there is no real support available. I have a list of people crying out for support. The Minister needs to do more. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  As I said earlier, this year, 2026, we are going to spend \u20ac557 million on the fuel allowance. We have extended it to May. It is being paid right until the beginning of May. It has been extended by four weeks and increased by \u20ac5 per week. It has been extended to 50,000 people who are on the working family payment. That is a significant extension. In 2020, we spent \u20ac290.4 million on the fuel allowance. This year, we will spend \u20ac557.4 million. The household benefits package continues to be paid.  I am very much open to getting information about additional needs payments out. A household with two children on \u20ac45,000 a year can still qualify for an additional needs payment. Our community welfare teams, including the local ones we all engage with but also the central one, through mywelfare.ie , are available to assist people in any given situation. The supports are available and open. Once again, we will make information available on them.  With regard to the fuel allowance, an investment of over half a billion euro is very significant. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Social Welfare Benefits"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_11","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Social Welfare Benefits","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_7","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_11","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_11.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I thank Deputy McCormack for his question. Jobseeker's pay-related benefit is a new social insurance income support that replaced the jobseeker's benefit scheme for people who became fully unemployed since 31 March 2025. This is a significant reform that brought Ireland in line with many other European countries. Jobseeker's pay-related benefit means that the income support is directly linked to a person's previous earnings.  People with five years' PRSI contributions receive 60% of previous earnings, subject to a maximum of \u20ac450, for the first 13 weeks. After that, the rate reduces to 55% of earnings, subject to a maximum of \u20ac375, for the following 13 weeks. A further 13 weeks sees a payment at a rate of 50%, up to a maximum payment of \u20ac300. People with between two' and five years' paid contributions receive 50% of previous earnings, subject to a maximum of \u20ac300 per week, for up to 26 weeks.  The scheme is demand-led and cost \u20ac297 million in 2025. We have provided over \u20ac560 million for the scheme in 2026. It is important to emphasise that jobseeker's pay-related benefit costs are funded by the increases in PRSI that have been legislated for. Over 97,000 people have been awarded jobseeker's pay-related benefit within its first year. There are currently almost 34,500 claimants. Of these, the majority, 84%, qualify for the higher rates payable to those with at least five years' PRSI contributions. Over half of those who qualify for the higher rates are being paid the maximum weekly rate of \u20ac450 for the first three months of the payment.  The jobseeker's pay-related scheme is in its early days. We are closely monitoring its impact and the pay-related approach to a benefit payment. It is still too early to make assumptions about trends or patterns. However, the data so far show that those on the scheme are returning to employment and generally close their claims before decreasing to the second tier of payment after 13 weeks. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  I welcome the introduction of the pay-related benefit and believe it is an important step forward in how we support people who find themselves unemployed, especially the 97,000 who have received the benefit in the past 12 months and the 34,000 on it at the moment. For many families, losing a job is not just a financial shock; it is also an emotional one. It creates uncertainty and pressure at a time when people are trying to get back on their feet and secure new employment.  As I am hearing directly from people, the scheme provides stability during the period of transition. It allows people to focus on finding the right job rather than immediately falling into financial distress. From my interaction with individuals who have availed of the support, I believe there is a strong sense that it preserves dignity. People feel they are being treated fairly and that their contribution over many years of work and paying taxes has been recognised. That is an important principle. When people have contributed to the system, they should feel supported when in need.  Can the Minister outline how the Department is assessing the early impact of the scheme, particularly in terms of supporting people in returning to employment while maintaining the sense of stability and dignity? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I thank the Deputy. His overview of people's feelings about the scheme is absolutely correct. There are 34,500 claimants of the benefit in the first year, 84% of whom qualified for the higher rates payable. Over half of those who qualified for the higher rates were paid the maximum rate, \u20ac450.  We have begun an analysis of the first full year of operation, which ended at the end of March. It is too early to identify a trend or pattern from that, but most people are closing their claims before moving to the second tier of payment after 13 weeks. That is welcome and it explains the link to earnings. We will share the full analysis when we have it later in the year.  It is important to emphasise that this scheme is funded through the Social Insurance Fund, through people's own PRSI contributions. In this regard, people are basically getting back what they are putting in through PRSI. We will be learning from the jobseeker's pay-related benefit scheme for the lifetime of the Government and considering how a similar pay-related approach might be applied to other schemes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  It is great news that the majority of those who receive the benefit do not proceed to the second stage, which means the job market in Ireland is buoyant and people are able to find alternative employment. Building on that, I believe this approach should form a cornerstone of how we think about social welfare supports more broadly. It is about recognising contributions, supporting people through difficult periods and helping them to return to work in a sustainable way.  Can the Minister outline whether there are plans to further develop or extend pay-related supports and how the Government intends to ensure the principle of recognising and rewarding contributions remains central to our social protection system? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  Absolutely. As the Deputy knows, the programme for Government commits to introducing a pay-related parent's benefit and also to exploring other payments where a similar model could be applied. Parental leave and benefit were introduced in 2019. As the Deputy knows, parents can take up to nine weeks of leave in blocks of a minimum of one week in the first two years following the birth of their child.  We are now going to examine the experiences from the first year of operation of jobseeker's pay-related benefit to inform thinking on extending pay-related benefits to parental and other benefits. We will be launching a public consultation to capture the views of the wider public on that process at some stage during this year.  This is the first scheme of this type introduced in the country and I want to ensure we have a very good understanding of its benefits, but also any challenges that may have arisen, inadvertently or otherwise. Once again, it is important to emphasise that any pay-related scheme is funded through increases in PRSI contributions that have already been legislated for. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Social Welfare Benefits"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_12","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Social Welfare Appeals","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_7","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_12","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_12.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  I am asking this question on behalf of my colleague an Teachta Darren O'Rourke. It is fairly straightforward. It is just looking for the number and percentage of disability allowance decisions that are appealed, and the number and percentage of decisions overturned on appeal. What we are seeking to understand is the reasoning. In most circumstances, nothing changes materially, so it is essentially the same person submitting the same claim again. Sometimes it is overturned.  My feeling is that a high number of cases are overturned on appeal but I await the figures from the Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  There is no direct correlation between the number and percentage of disability allowance decisions and the number of appeals that are registered during a particular time period as time differences always apply. This is particularly the case given that appeals regulations that came into effect on 28 April last year are now giving customers 60 days to make an appeal from the date of their decision. This is an increase from 21 days previously. Accordingly, appeals received in January 2026 may refer to decisions that were made in November 2025. However, as an indication of the appeal rate, 8,786 disability allowance decisions were made during quarter 1 of this year with 1,951 appeals being registered in the same period. That represents an appeal rate of approximately 22%. A total of 24% of appeals that were determined by appeals officers were allowed in favour of the appellant with a further 36% awarded by the decisions team without the need to complete the formal appeals process. Taken together, this means that 60% of appeals received had a favourable outcome, which represents about 13% of all disability allowance decisions that are made.  It is important to note that where decisions are allowed on receipt of an appeal, this may not mean that the initial decision was incorrect. A decision can be revised because the person making an appeal provides additional information that was not made available when the decision was first made. In other jurisdictions, appellants are not allowed to submit additional information but instead are required to submit a new claim. By referring the appeal papers back to the deciding team for a review, the process is more flexible. It does not require a person to restart his or her entire claims process. As a result, 606 of the 1,096 disability allowance appeals granted in quarter 1 of 2026, which is about 60%, were made by way of revised decision of the scheme deciding officers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  Sixty percent of them? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I will come back to that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  It had better be something good because that is not a good figure. It is traumatic for people to have to go through the application process. I know the Minister has sat in his constituency office with people and has gone through these forms the same as I have, so he knows these forms are not easy. They are necessarily comprehensive and I am not for a moment suggesting that the information should not be collected but if 60% of them result in what the Minister refers to as a favourable outcome, that is not exactly a massive endorsement of the process that happens initially. With regard to 60% of them being overturned, the Minister says that new information can be provided but that is not an indication that there is new information. In my experience, very often, it involves the same information and the same person with the same disability and 60% of them are being overturned. That figure is one that should cause the Minister some concern. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I have emphasised that 60% did not go into an appeals process. There was engagement with the person through that. As I said, in other jurisdictions, the person would be asked to submit an entirely new application. In respect of the 40%, if that decision remained unchanged, the appeal went to a formal determination by the appeals officer. The appeals officer then examined the documentary evidence that was presented and considered the appeal. Where an oral hearing is required, the appellant is generally given up to two or three weeks advance notice. A person can avail of an oral hearing.  Regarding going back to the original team and providing extra information, I have drilled into this quite considerably over 15 months as Minister. It is getting about the information, which can be difficult at times, and getting the medical information. We have tried to ask our team to engage with medical professionals so that there is consistency in the information that is provided. I accept that this is a very difficult process and I do not want to make people's difficult journeys even more difficult but, equally, there is a minimum threshold of information we need to make a decision and we continue to engage with medical professionals in particular in that space. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  Those figures are not brilliant. The Minister can present it any way he likes but those are not good figures. He mentioned medical professionals. The problem is not specific to Balbriggan but the most recent case that was brought to me is in Balbriggan where doctors are now refusing to fill out these forms and not just for people on the medical card, although it happens a lot with people on the medical card. I always encourage my constituents to appeal where a decision goes against them if I feel they have grounds for that. Increasingly, I am advising people to appeal but they have to go back to their doctors now and they are not getting the forms filled out. The doctors are just point blank refusing them. The former Minister for Health, Dr. James Reilly, was in the newspapers sometime back regarding all the money he gets, and rightly so, for the medical card patients he has but some of these practices are getting a lot of money from the State and are then refusing to handle requirements for applications for payments from the State. It is a bit much. I know that is somewhat tangential but it is a very serious issue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  It is not tangential. It is really crucial that we get consistency of information and a certain level of information and engagement. I will revert with regard to that. During quarter 1 of this year, nearly 9,000 disability allowance decisions were accepted and approved so we also have to look at the overall approval rate, which continues to be quite high. I will follow up with engagement with the various organisations regarding the consistency of information that is provided. It is important our medical assessors and appeals teams have engagement and consistency around the information that is provided. What the Deputy said was not tangential. It is crucial to the quality of the application. Those making these applications deserve that level of support and that level of consistency from medical professionals with regard to the completion of their application forms. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Social Welfare Appeals"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_13","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Pensions Reform","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_7","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_13","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_13.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  Industrial relations are a bit like the song \"Hotel California\", in that, apparently, I was able to check out but, unfortunately, was unable to leave. This industrial relations dispute concerns branch managers of social welfare offices. The Minister will be aware of the dispute. He will also be aware of the requirement by the Department that branch managers participate in auto enrolment but if it is not funded, how are they going to be able to do that? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I am certainly very aware of the situation and very much acknowledge the work of our branch managers around the country in the delivery of our services. The introduction of auto enrolment in January 26 2026 sought to address the employee pension coverage gap that exists in Ireland in order to provide all employees with greater comfort and security regarding their retirement income. As the Deputy knows, each social welfare branch office is operated and managed under a contract for service by our branch managers. As independent contractors, branch managers do very significant work on a commercial contract for service that is subject to public procurement rules. As is standard in commercial agreements, each branch manager is expected to meet operating costs from within the agreed pricing.  Auto enrolment obligations involving 1.5% of payroll costs now apply across the economy and with the exception of those community and voluntary organisations paid on a cost-recovery basis via grants, it is not appropriate for the Department to unilaterally approve changes to pricing arrangements to fund auto enrolments costs under commercial contracts such as those in place. However, we have received a request for review the overall remuneration arrangements for branch managers. We are engaging at the moment with the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation and will be in a position to revert to branch managers in the coming days with an update. I am hopeful that we can finalise revised terms very shortly. I am very conscious of their work, the contribution they make and the presence they give the Department around the country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  I might do the lotto on my way home because apparently I have incredible powers of prediction. I literally told the Minister this was going to happen. I said that if the Minister did not provide funding for people and if he put in an obligation regarding auto enrolment, particularly on organisations and entities that do not have access to any revenue-raising powers, this would happen.  These people cannot raise revenue; they are not in a position to do that. They are entirely dependent on the State and the Minister knows that. He put the obligation for the auto enrolment on them. They want to be part of the auto enrolment scheme but my information is the Minister's Department is refusing to go to arbitration with them. That is very much a backwards step. We know we have the Kevin Duffy recommendation, which was accepted by both sides, but the individual branch managers want to be in a financial position to discharge their obligations. They have no capacity to raise the revenue, the Minister knows that, and the obligation is on his Department.  I welcome that there is news in the coming days and I would welcome it even more in the Minister's next contribution if he advised me this is going to be good news for the branch managers and news that will allow them to discharge their obligations for auto enrolment and stay within their budgetary guidelines. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I can assure the Deputy there has been a lot of engagement from my Department's branch office support unit with both branch manager associations. Over the course of 2025, both associations expressed their intentions to seek a request for the review of the remuneration package. The representative group of branch managers submitted its formal request and case to the Department in May and the branch manager association did so in August. They all reflected not just auto enrolment but also the operational challenges of the branch office network, other costs that have increased and the cost of living.  We have been engaging with the Department of public expenditure on that and in respect of our responsibilities to engage with that Department around that. I acknowledge the frustrations with the time it has taken but we have to engage with that Department regarding this space, and we are nearly there. I wish the Deputy well in the lotto, also. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Pensions Reform"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_14","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Social Welfare Schemes","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_7","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_14","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_14.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I thank Deputy Wall for his question.  The Government recognises the important and valuable role of family carers and we - myself in particular - are committed to continuing to improve the supports available to them.  Carer's allowance provides a personal rate for the carer with additional increases for child dependants. If the carer is providing full-time care to more than one person, the rate payable is increased by 50% of the standard personal rate. As part of budget 2026, the personal rate of carer's allowance increased by \u20ac10 per week. A person caring for more than one person and receiving the maximum rate now receives a personal rate of \u20ac405 per week if aged under 66 or \u20ac462 per week if aged 66 or over.  An accurate estimate of the full year cost of paying carers who care for two or more people with a full carer\u2019s allowance in respect of each person, as requested by the Deputy, is not currently available. However, I have asked for that to be prepared and I will forward the same to the Deputy.  Carer's benefit also provides an enhanced payment where care is provided to more than one person. The weekly personal rate of payment increased to \u20ac271 where a person is caring for one person and \u20ac406.50 where two or more people are being cared for. The annual carer's support grant is available to all carers providing full-time care regardless of their means. Last June, this grant was increased by \u20ac150 to \u20ac2,000 - the highest ever level. Domiciliary care allowance is payable to a parent or guardian of a child under 16 with a severe disability. Where a person is caring for more than one child, they may claim the allowance for each child. There is no restriction on the number of children being claimed for.  The programme for Government commits to examining how best to support carers who are providing full-time care and attention to more than one person. This work will continue to be advanced over the lifetime of the Government, taking account of available resources and the broader budgetary context. However, in line with the views expressed to me by carers and carer associations, my first priority will be the removal of the means test. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Wall  I thank the Minister for that. Yesterday, myself and a number of colleagues in the House this morning attended the Family Carers Ireland briefing scorecard for 2025 in respect of the Government. The big issue that arose for many of us at that briefing was that the Government needs to listen and to listen more.  The organisation appreciated the change in the means test. Obviously, many of people there said it needed to be abolished but the problem for many of them is two- or threefold. Many people who were present yesterday were caring for a second loved one and the costs do not diminish when you have a second child but they actually increase. The Minister said there is a commitment in the programme for Government to review this but we still do not have a costing on it. Does the Minister know when he may have a costing on it? Is it realistic for it to be in the programme for Government? Is it something the Department is currently looking at? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  We also engage with the carer organisations and we look forward to engaging with them on their work yesterday and at our annual carers' forum, which is being held next week on 7 May. This gives carers and carers' organisations a chance to engage directly with not just myself but also with officials from across the Department and a range of budgets. We also have our pre-budget forum as a Department on 1 July, at which carers will be represented and will be part of.  There are a number of issues and I will pursue the costings as regards the Deputy's proposal, particularly for those carers who provide care for several people. I am determined to abolish the means test during the lifetime of this Government but I am also very aware of existing carers for whom that will not make a difference in their weekly payment and in the supports available. I will be very focused on what we can do for those who are on the existing payment regarding providing extra supports for them in their very important work. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Wall  I thank the Minister for that. Regarding what he has just said on providing additional supports, in parliamentary questions I tabled to the Minister, it came to light that only 4.4% of those who were in receipt of carer's allowance were getting fuel allowance, which is a very low figure. Some 106,000 people in this country are getting carer's allowance and only short of 6,000 of those are in receipt of fuel allowance. We have been told time and again, and we were told this again yesterday, that bills for those looking after their loved ones are three times higher than those who may not have to look after loved ones. Can the Minister look at something like that for them? The costing we have on it is around \u20ac107 million but the cost involved, and we are in the middle of a fuel crisis as has already been said this morning, would make a difference to so many. The Minister knows the cost of heating, the cost of using a washing machine, etc., when you have somebody who needs that level of care. It would make a huge difference on a weekly basis. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  That is a very sensible proposal and those who care depend on heat and very high energy usage in terms of washing machines, tumble dryers, electrical equipment, beds, etc. I will look at that and see what the reason is. We introduced carers as a qualifying payment for fuel allowance a number of years ago. We will do some work to make sure those who are supposed to get it are getting it.  As I said, this year we expanded the fuel allowance to those on the working family payment but, obviously, anything we do has to be done within a very strict budget envelope and there are many priorities. However, I can assure the Deputy and the carers organisations - we will spend a day engaging with them next week - that their work is valued by the Government and by myself and we will certainly try to look at the schemes we can do, not just removing the means test for potential carers but also for those on existing carers payments. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 12 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Social Welfare Schemes"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_15","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Pension Provisions","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_7","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_15.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I thank Deputy Callaghan for her question.  As part of budget 2026, I announced a \u20ac1.15 billion package of new social protection measures, which included a \u20ac10 weekly increase across social welfare schemes from 1 January 2026. This raised the maximum personal rate of State pension contributory to \u20ac299.30 per week and non-contributory to \u20ac288.00 per week.  These increases were set above the prevailing consumer price index, CPI, with pension rates rising by 3.46% for contributory and 3.60% for non-contributory.  In determining these budget increases, consideration was given to the most recent available consumer price index data and the broader cost of living pressures were also assessed in areas such as housing, energy and food.  I am very conscious of the impact that increases in the cost of living are having on those who rely on social protection supports, particularly older people who may not have the ability to get extra income, but also carers, those with disabilities and low-income families.  Additional relevant measures contained in budget 2026 included a \u20ac5 increase in the fuel allowance, which brought it to \u20ac38 per week, and a Christmas bonus was paid to pension recipients in December. In March, as the Deputy knows, the Government also approved an extension of the 2025-26 fuel allowance season by four weeks, which will see it continue to the end of this week, as part of the temporary and targeted measures to help those most vulnerable to rising energy costs. That included pensioners, and over 460,000 households are in receipt of the fuel allowance payment.  While it is not possible at this stage to set out specific budget parameters for budget 2027, we are very much closely monitoring developments. All changes to the current rate of payment for contributory and non-contributory payments will be considered in a budgetary context but with a very sharp eye on the pressures our pensioners are facing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Callaghan  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Aire for that response. I absolutely welcome all the measures he outlined that were contained in budget 2026 and that had a good impact on the State pension and those in receipt of it. However, what I really need to stress is that we are not living in ordinary times. There is a war raging in the Middle East. It is affecting everyone across Europe and in Ireland. There is no end in sight. What I am hearing from State pensioners in Carlow and Kilkenny is their worry and anxiety about what the winter is going to bring and how they are going to manage. We are all aware that people who are in receipt of the State pension, be it contributory or non-contributory in nature, have contributed to this country. They paid into the pot in the hope that they would be able to sustain themselves in their latter years, not in the context of living any kind of extravagant lifestyle but just so they would not have to worry about paying household bills and everyday expenses. If it is not going to be possible to increase the pension, what will it be possible for the Department to do? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I am not saying that it is not going to be possible to do anything. We are obviously not in the budget situation yet, but I am very aware of the pressures people are under and that those pressures will increase during the winter. That is why, in the context of our initial \u20ac750 million response, we have made it clear that we may have to produce further responses. However, it is important that we give ourselves the ability to be in a position to respond, and do so quickly, if this energy crisis continues through the winter.  I had a very good discussion with Deputy Colm Burke earlier around the fuel allowance and the living alone allowance. I am going to be particularly focused on the living alone allowance because, for many older people who are left alone by being widowed or through separation, their expenses and the cost of running large houses remain but their income has been halved. I am going to be very focused on the living alone allowance as well as looking at how we continue to use the fuel allowance on in a targeted manner to support those most at risk of energy poverty, which includes our pensioners. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Callaghan  I welcome the Minister's focus on the fuel allowance. It is a very good scheme but is not agile enough to cope with the increases that are going to happen. The Minister said, \"if this ... [war] continues\". It will no doubt continue into the winter and it might still be with us this time next year. That is what I understand and feel, and our State pensioners are feeling that too. They would like more communication and a chance to know what measures might be possible to alleviate the worry and anxiety they are feeling. Bear in mind that said worry and anxiety are then passed on to their adult children, which means that entire families are concerned about this. It is also really important to recognise that these State pensioners, and pensioners in general, are on fixed incomes. They do not have any option or any other avenue whereby they can supplement the income they have. In fact, I sat with a lady last week who was in tears because she is dipping into her savings - money she thought she would be able to give as an inheritance to her children and grandchildren. Now she is utilising it for everyday cost-of-living expenses. I appreciate the work the Minister is doing, but I would love it if we could have some communication to allay the fears of our older generation, the people who helped to build this country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I agree, particularly in relation to the fixed nature of pensioners' incomes and the challenges they face. They will be a priority for me in the context of budget 2027. I assure the Deputy of that, not just in the context of 2026 but also with regard to the increased energy costs they will face. I am very much aware of their need to have security.  In respect of information, unfortunately, we will not be able to do that until budget day, but the Deputy should be very aware that I look forward to working with colleagues across the House in relation to providing them with security and support. They should not have to have that worry at this point in their lives. They have given enough. They have done and worked hard enough for this country and we should give them comfort and security now that they are in retirement. As Minister for Social Protection, I will certainly continue to invest in our pensioners - not just in the weekly rate but the supports and other payments that are available, such as the living alone allowance, the fuel allowance and access to other payments.  As I have said throughout the morning, we have done a lot of work in recent weeks to give information to Oireachtas Members about additional needs payments and community welfare supports that are available. I encourage Members to use those supports. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Pension Provisions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_16","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Parental Leave","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_7","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_16","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_16.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Grace Boland  I am very glad that since I had my twins nine years ago, a Fine Gael Government introduced parents' leave, which now stands at nine weeks for each parent. As we know, the take-up of this leave, particularly by dads, is exceptionally low. Research from the Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI, and the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, IHREC, last year showed that awareness really is part of this, as well as the low level that both parents will be receiving social welfare payments at a time when costs have hugely increased. The Minister might please give us an update as to what he is doing in regard to extending parents' leave and the rate at which it might be paid. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I thank Deputy Boland for her question. As she acknowledged, parents' benefit provides nine weeks' paid leave to parents during the first two years of a child\u2019s life or following adoption. Any proposal to extend the period of leave is a matter for Deputy Foley, who has legal and policy responsibility for family leave as Minister for Children, Disability and Equality. My Department has legal and policy responsibility for the payment of the associated benefits.  Parents' leave and benefit were introduced in November 2019. The Government has provided over \u20ac123 million for the scheme in 2026. The scheme provides each parent with nine weeks of non-transferrable leave to be taken within two years of the birth or placement, in the case of adoption, of their child. The nine weeks can be taken in any combination of minimum one week to a maximum of nine weeks' leave. The 2019 Act is in line with the EU directive 2019\/1158 on work-life balance for parents and carers. It provides that the nine weeks' leave is non-transferrable between parents. That is in order to promote the equal participation of men and women in the workplace and in caring roles. The leave was extended from the original two weeks in November 2019 to five weeks in April 2021, seven weeks in July 2022, and nine weeks in August 2024.  The number of applications for parents' benefit by both men and women has steadily increased. Our Department's statistics for quarter 4 of last year show that 40% of all applicants for parents' benefit were men and 60% were women. In providing nine weeks of non-transferrable leave to each parent, parents' benefit in effect ring-fences leave for fathers and it is hoped that this approach will encourage fathers to avail of their leave entitlement.  While Ireland is atypical among EU member states in paying a flat rate for all family leave benefits of \u20ac299, it provides one of the most generous durations of maternity leave, with 26 paid weeks and 16 unpaid weeks available to new mothers. I will certainly take Deputy Boland's proposal on board in relation to awareness around parents' benefit, particularly for men. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Grace Boland  I thank the Minister. There is a real issue with awareness and we need to have a concerted awareness campaign. Fathers simply do not know that they are entitled to take this leave.  In regard to increasing the rate of payment, we know the projected child benefit payment this year is actually going to be down \u20ac320 million on what was paid last year. We should be looking at supporting families, particularly around payments for family leave. The is money there. We are going to be down \u20ac320 million on child benefit last year and I think we should look at increasing the rate at which we are paying for family leave.  The Minister might give us an update as to whether that has been costed or looked at. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  As the Deputy knows, the programme for Government has a commitment to introduce pay-related parent's benefit. We are looking at that. We introduced pay-related jobseeker's benefit in March 2025. That has just finished its first year of operation and I am undertaking a full review of it. We will learn from the lessons of pay-related jobseeker's benefit what we can do before we carry out a consultation later in the year in relation to parental benefit.  We introduced a very specific child poverty package of over \u20ac260 million this year looking at families on lower incomes. We have a very specific focus on children who are at risk of poverty and on reducing that rate to zero, ideally. No child should be at risk at poverty. I take on board the Deputy's suggestions and proposals on the need for greater awareness, particularly for fathers, around the supports that are available. We will engage with the Department on that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Grace Boland  In terms of looking at people and children at risk of poverty, for a mother who is availing of maternity leave at \u20ac299 or of the 16 weeks' unpaid leave, and a dad who is also taking parent's leave at a rate of \u20ac299, the two combined payments are exceptionally low in terms of actually being able to avail of this leave. It means the people in lower socio-economic positions are simply not able to avail of this leave because of the rates of pay. I appreciate pay-related rates being looked at, but at the same time it is people at the bottom who are really going to be most affected because they simply cannot afford to take the leave. We need to look at that and how we can support everyone at all socio-economic levels. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I agree and I think we have done that. This year, the fuel allowance has been extended to those on the working family payment. It is the first time the fuel allowance is available to those who are also working. That means that 50,000 extra people now qualify for the fuel allowance payment. We also ensured that it was backdated to 1 January so that the 50,000 or so families with children would receive a lump sum payment in the beginning of March for January and February and were now getting the payment up to the end of this week to assist with the energy crisis at the moment.  We are going to look at the experience of the pay-related jobseeker's benefit's first year and how it worked and then apply the lessons to forming a consultation document on parental leave. The Deputy has raised it with me and Deputy Currie and colleagues across the Government are relating to me that we need to look at those payment rates. The point I always make about jobseeker's pay-related benefit is that it is people's own money being paid back to them. They have paid PRSI and they have paid into the Social Insurance Fund and that is what it is there for. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Parental Leave"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_17","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_18","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Road Safety","counts":{"speechCount":10,"speakerCount":4},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_17","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_18.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  What measures are being taken to improve road safety? Clearly, road safety and fatalities on the road are moving in the wrong direction, and quite dramatically so. An independent report said that there had been a very worrying recent increase in fatalities and serious injuries. Since 2019, road deaths have risen by 31% in Ireland while across the European Union they have fallen by 15%. What steps are being taken to address this? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Transport (Deputy Darragh O'Brien)  I thank the Deputy for raising this really important matter. Any death on our roads is one too many. I am always conscious when talking about numbers that behind these numbers are people and families. We have to continue working to improve road safety. One element of it is the continued investment in our roads. Physical infrastructure is critical, as is the safety framework.  The current framework for road safety is set out in the Government\u2019s fifth road safety strategy, which has the target of reducing road deaths and serious injuries by 50% this decade. My Department published the phase 2 action plan under this strategy last July for the period 2025 to 2027. That plan comprises 12 primary transformative actions and 77 supporting actions. Delivering the action plan is a collaborative effort involving my Department, the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, the Road Safety Authority, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, the National Transport Authority, NTA, the Courts Service, and right the way across the board. The Deputy will note that there are many experts across a range of partners collaborating on taking action and delivering positive road safety outcomes, and I would like to assure him that progress is being made.  Key deliverables for this year include passing the National Vehicle and Driver File Bill to allow local authorities to resume accepting and processing collision data. We are also addressing the long-standing issue relating to repeat renewal of learner permits, with regulations coming into effect later this year in November. Yesterday, I published the first national safety camera strategy, which provides a framework for increased deployment of cameras across the road network in urban and rural locations. The use of cameras has been proven to reduce speeding and improve driver behaviour, and I am confident that implementation of this strategy will help us achieve our road safety targets.  The Deputy might wish to know that, this year, \u20ac14 million has been allocated under the low-cost safety improvement scheme to support small-scale engineering measures to address identified road safety issues. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  The Minister mentioned that there had been progress on all actions but, unfortunately, that is not seeping down into the road death figures, which are going in the wrong direction. It is not the Minister's brief but I want to refer to the number of garda\u00ed on the roads. It is a consequence of inaction by the Government. There are 400 fewer garda\u00ed on the roads than there were 15 years ago. The number of garda\u00ed in that Garda unit has halved since 2009. We received a briefing the other day from Alcohol Action Ireland. There are some very worrying statistics in its brochure. It said that, in 2025, there were 4,800 arrests for drink driving. That compares to almost 20,000 in 2007. The rate of breath-testing among licensed drivers is only 5.3% whereas in other countries it is multiples of that. The consequences of that are that while 14% of driver fatalities in Australia, for example, have a positive toxicology for alcohol, that figure is 35% in Ireland. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  Undoubtedly, we have seen an increase over the last number of years from a lower base. When you compare Ireland to the rest of Europe, the statistics - this is not to mean the road fatalities themselves - compare favourably and we are still in the upper quartile in relation to prevention of road deaths and the number of road deaths. Again, I say this on the basis that I do not like talking about numbers because there are people behind them.  On safety cameras, 390 new safety camera zones became operational from 1 January this year. This brings the total number of safety cameras nationwide to 1,901. The Deputy raised a point and I would say to him that enforcement is unquestionably critical. It is something that my Department discusses with the Department of justice. I continue to engage with the Minister, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan. We have the road traffic (amendment) Bill coming in later this year. Driver behaviour is critical, though, and that is why education is important. We all see it, we all drive around the country and see some outrageous driver behaviour. It is unacceptable, by the way, for anyone in this day and age to get into a car when they have had alcohol. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  Whatever level of enforcement is there, personal responsibility really needs to be brought to the fore. We all agree on that. There is only so much a Government can do. We need to do more - I am with the Deputy on that - but personal responsibility is critical. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  Unfortunately, personal responsibility is corralled or dictated by the chances of getting caught.  When the number of arrests, the amount of enforcement and the number of garda\u00ed on the road have decreased so hugely and the number of drink driving arrests is down by 75% since 2007, people are more likely to get into cars. That is just human nature.  I want to ask about the flip flop on the disbanding of the RSA. An independent report was commissioned, done by Indecon. It said the dual role of the RSA in delivering operational services, such as driver testing and NCT, is a distraction from the more important role of national road safety policy, education, which the Minister spoke about, and campaigns. It undermines the ability to respond to rising fatalities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy David Maxwell)  Thank you, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  Is the Government even at this late going to allow the RSA to do what it is supposed to do and deal with operational services in a separate body? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  The RSA is very well resourced to carry out the functions it is charged with. Splitting up the agency would have a detrimental effect. It would take too long. It needs to focus on road safety and education. NCT and driver testing are also important. That feeds into the road safety piece. I will counter the Deputy on one particular thing he said. Driver behaviour and personal responsibility are critical. We all want to see more garda\u00ed enforcing this. Measures have been taken around specific bank holiday weekends when we still see shocking numbers of people driving under the influence or drink and drugs and speeding at excessive and dangerous rates. Enforcement is critical to catch these people and put them off the road - it is as simple as that but more needs to be done. I outlined some of the safety measures that have been brought forward. The number one priority is road safety to reduce road deaths. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Road Safety"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_19","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Electric Vehicles","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_17","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_19","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_19.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  I would like to ask the Minister about the electrification of our heavy goods vehicles fleet and for a report on the zero-emissions heavy duty vehicle purchase grant and zero-emissions heavy duty vehicle infrastructure grant schemes, including the number of applications received and funding drawn down since their inception; the steps he will take to encourage and increase uptake among those in the haulage and farming sectors. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  This is an important area and we have to look to electrify it. Heavy goods vehicles is one of the more challenging areas to electrify. We are committed to transitioning to a low-carbon economy by 2050. The transport sector has a significant role to play in that. The decarbonisation of heavy duty vehicles will be a key mechanism in achieving this objective within the sector. To promote the decarbonisation of HDVs, we launched the alternatively fuelled heavy duty vehicle purchase grant scheme in March 2021. That scheme was intended to help bridge some of the difference in purchase price between conventional HDVs and those powered by alternatively fuelled powertrains. In line with changes to the state aid regime, the Department amended the scheme to focus on zero-emission vehicles and launched the ZEHDV scheme in 2024. The scheme is administered by TII and funded by my Department. It awards grants to assist companies and enterprises that wish to buy zero-emission heavy duty vehicles instead of the diesel equivalent. In November 2024, the scheme was expanded to include purchase grants for recharging infrastructure. The total funding available under this grant scheme since 2024 to date is \u20ac11 million. Almost \u20ac4 million has been drawn down to support 76 vehicles - not a massive number - all of which are electric and include large HDVs, refuse trucks, large vans and buses. Using this scheme, the Department of Transport is also supporting businesses at the planning stage through the EV fleet assessment grant. This offers fully funded expert assessment to help companies understand how electric vehicles can operate within their existing fleets. In February, we published a new national EV charging infrastructure strategy for the next three years in line with the programme for Government commitment. This strategy includes a specific set of measures to support the transition of the HDV sector, taking account of a recent report, the HDV Electrification Pathway Report, which brought the haulage sector and my Department together to determine an appropriate and viable pathway for the sector. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  I ask this question in the context of the \u20ac500 million package with no strings attached announced for the haulage and farming sectors. While we recognise the need for these packages, we also have to recognise this exists because of fossil fuel dependence in those sectors and it is in many ways a subsidy to the fossil fuel industry. As part of a just transition, we must make this choice easy for hauliers in particular to decide to purchase zero-emission vehicles. The figures are not great. In 2025, of 2,564 HGVs purchased in Ireland just 1.09% were zero emission. The grants available are not availed of to the full extent either - about 50% are not being availed of. What will the Minister do to encourage the use of them? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  It is a fair point. The road transport support scheme is not a subsidy. It is a cost reduction measure and a viability measure for our supply chain. I do not see it as a fossil fuel grant or incentive for the use of fossil fuel. That said, it is clear the haulage sector in particular and others in the agriculture sector are heavily dependent on fossil fuel, especially heavy goods vehicles. A lot of white van vehicles have changed to EVs and hybrids. It is down to the weight carried. We had 162 electric HGVs registered at the end of 2025. Compressed natural gas is another renewable fuel. We had 157 registered in 2025, a 5% increase. Also, to be fair, in the haulage sector many firms use alternative sustainable fuels and biofuels like biogas and HVO. This is an area for which substantial grants are available but we need to create confidence in that sector that there is an alternative in using electric instead of diesel in the heavy goods vehicles space. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  No country is doing particularly well in this area but even across Europe 4.5% of HGVs are zero emission and we are only at just over 1%. In China, it is up to 25%. It is leading the world in this regard. The charging infrastructure grant is important because hauliers say to us they cannot avail of this not only because of the cost of the vehicles but also the lack of infrastructure. My understanding of that grant is that \u20ac1 million was allocated last year, less than \u20ac200,000 was spent and \u20ac188,000 of that was on administrative costs. I think only one grant was availed of in that whole infrastructure scheme. Improving that has to be looked at. I ask the Minister to increase the price differential in the purchase grant scheme to 100% to incentivise, so there is no cost differential between a diesel or electric vehicle purchase. At the moment, there is still a cost to the haulier in making that decision. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  The Deputy's point is well made. In the private fleet and private cars, there is a substantial increase in EV registrations. There are over 230,000 EVs on our roads. In the first quarter of this year, there was a significant increase with about 40% of all cars purchased being EVs. Heavy goods vehicles is a more complex area. Confidence needs to be instilled in the sector that there are alternatives. The Deputy is right that the level of drawdown is low. The scheme was reworked at the end of 2024. It is kept under review. I have met officials about it. We would like more supports deployed to this sector to bring the transport sector onto a more sustainable and climate-friendly footing. That can be done but the Deputy rightly pointed out it is a challenge across Europe not just here. I take the Deputy's points on board. We are keeping this under review. We will change the offerings if we can see that by changing them more people will access them. There are substantial grants and savings for businesses if they pivot to electric. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Electric Vehicles"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_20","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Rail Network","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_17","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_20","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_20.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  I want to ask the Minister about documents recently released to the Committee of Public Accounts relating to cost overruns in the IT system that was supposed to regulate train movements across the State. Under the initial proposals, the traffic management system was targeted to be commissioned in 2024 with an associated target cost of \u20ac19 million.  However, over \u20ac31.5 million has apparently already been spent without the first phase having been completed. Has the Minister of State any statement to make? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Transport (Deputy Jerry Buttimer)  I thank the Deputy for raising the matter and acknowledge that this is an elongated process. The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, has been engaged with the process on behalf of the Department and twice met the people involved. The Deputy can take it from our side that we are not happy with progress, and I will come back on that further in the supplementary.  The national train control centre, NTCC, project aims to deliver a modern, safe and efficient rail traffic management system that can effectively meet the needs of a growing railway service in the coming decades. The NTCC building near Heuston was completed in November 2022, close to its initial target date and budget despite the significant disruption to the construction caused by Covid during its development. Bringing the centre into full operation has been delayed by slower-than-projected progress in developing and rolling out the new traffic management system, which is the software that integrates a range of complex railway systems, such as signalling and communications. As a result of these delays, the Minister met the NTA and the contractor responsible for the traffic management system, Indra Sistemas, last August and later on to express dissatisfaction with the rate of progress and emphasised the importance of project delivery. The Minister met them again in January at the opening of Indra Group's office in Dublin, which marked an important positive development for the project in terms of Indra's permanent presence in the Irish market and reiterated the importance of successfully progressing the project.  I understand that Iarnr\u00f3d \u00c9ireann has been actively engaging with Indra and testing software ahead of a major release in July, with commissioning phase 1 covering the Rosslare line targeted to go live in 2027. The timeline for future commissioning phases will be informed by phase 1, and the Department and the Minister will continue to keep the project under close review with a view to bringing its benefits to railway users as soon as possible.  It is important to note that traffic management is continuing to operate out of Connolly Station and there is no impact on railway safety as a result of delays in the introduction of the new system. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  There may not be difficulty with railway safety at the moment, but to say that progress has been slower than anticipated when \u20ac31.5 million has been spent without the first phase having been completed is surely the understatement of the year. I understand that there are between seven and nine phases to it and we have not even reached phase 1 despite that kind of expenditure. I do not need to go into the history of bike sheds, children's hospitals and so on but is there a danger that something similar will happen, given the snail's pace of this progress? It was presented as a flagship project. It was going to be the brain of the railway network and the NTA said it was a critical component of the national train control centre, but we cannot hide from this. The costs are massive, and people are keeping an eye on this at the moment with the cost-of-living crisis. I do not think that the progress, answers or reviews are good enough. The Department, the Minister and the wider Government need to take action. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  The Government has taken action. The Minister has been proactive and the Department has engaged. The payments under the contract are directly linked to the costs incurred by the contractor and are based on standard international engineering projects. The Deputy presents it as black and white. To be fair, it is not, and I respectfully challenge him. This is a complex matter and it takes time. It is going slower than we would like and we recognise that, but we must get it right and we must be prudent in the management of the project to be delivered. I take the point that it will make a great headline on the news tomorrow that we are running behind time and it is costing X amount, but the costs are incurred by the contractor. We are determined on the Government side, on behalf of all of us, to ensure that the project is delivered. It is taking longer to deliver, but it is still a flagship and it will still be this model that will ultimately deliver for all of us.  We have seen, if the Deputy looks at the depth of the questions on rail, that there is a growing use of rail. I assure the Deputy that there are no commercial agreements that will cost further, as of now, for the State. We will work with everyone to ensure that we deliver the matter on budget. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  The Minister of State is correct to say that there is a growing use of rail, and we support that, but its development and broadening out are at serious risk with projects like this. The minutes of Irish Rail board meetings are publicly available. The chair of Iarnr\u00f3d \u00c9ireann and the project director have expressed serious reservations about the direction and delivery of the project as well as concerns about the contractor's ability to deliver all phases of the project. The failures of this project also raise massive concerns about the contractor's ability to deliver the new \u20ac269 million-plus contactless transport ticketing service, the contract for which it also has. We are in a situation where there are electric buses parked up. They are not being used and there are serious concerns about the ability to deliver next generation ticketing. We are lagging far behind the progress that we see in other countries. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  We share the Deputy's concern. The Minister has met Indra twice and it now has an office in Dublin. The Deputy is not correct about the buses he refers to. They will be used. Two per week are being unveiled as we speak. All I can say to the Deputy, and I think he will agree, is that there is an extensive safety process that must be gone through. With safety approval stages, you cannot just tick a box and hope it goes away and that you get away with it. That is why the software package must be proper and robust and must stand up to testing and have a quality mark.  The Minister has been actively engaged with Indra. The Deputy is right in one regard, in that Indra has to step up to the plate as well. It is the operator. It is the genius, if you like. We can only do so much. I concur with the Deputy on that. That is why the Minister and the Department have been proactive and the Department has been engaging with Indra.  At the end of the day, notwithstanding that it is behind time, which we are unhappy about, I think we will have a project that is fit for purpose, will be a flagship and will serve us well in time. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Rail Network"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_21","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Public Transport","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_17","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_21.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  I thank the Deputy for the question. As she knows, essential maintenance is being carried out and there is inconvenience for people, but I will put this in context. The majority of maintenance works on the rail network take place overnight or in a way that will see little or no disruption to services. In some instances, however, this disruption is unfortunately unavoidable, such as for the upcoming May and June bank holiday weekends. I genuinely understand that while it is frustrating, it is an essential part of maintaining our rail network. To support the maintenance of our rail network, we are investing close to \u20ac2.1 billion over the period 2026 to 2030. This year alone we will invest over \u20ac350 million in resilience and upgrading of tracks and network. The annual investment will increase year on year to almost \u20ac465 million by 2030.  Disruption to services occurs when Iarnr\u00f3d \u00c9ireann is replacing or improving essential infrastructure like tracks, bridges, signalling and overhead lines or assisting third parties with major works. We do this to ensure that, at peak times when more people are travelling, the network is robust and we will not see outages in the system. The company is also currently engaged in the multi-annual programme of overhead line renewal and track renewal across the DART network.  Iarnr\u00f3d \u00c9ireann chooses bank holiday weekends to undertake projects of significant scale. The extra weekend day allows them to achieve more progress more efficiently, avoiding impacts across multiple weekends and weekday passengers. It is standard international railway practice for bank holidays to be used in this way. I know that when events like the VHI mini-marathon are on, which will see approximately 30,000 people coming in, additional bus services are put on. However, I will be honest and say that, that looking through the details, the buses will serve major stations and not every station. I think that is an area that can and should be improved on. People get that we have to maintain our lines and make sure that they are safe and upgraded.  I will come back with more information during supplementary. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  Approximately 30,000 women take part in the VHI mini-marathon. It is the world's largest all-women 10 km race. It raises approximately \u20ac10 million per year for charities and it has raised over \u20ac255 million since it began. This is a hugely important event. Tens of thousands of women and their families participate in it and it raises money that charities across the country simply cannot do without.  People understand the need for track maintenance, know it has to happen and appreciate that days that are quieter, like Sundays, are the ones for maintenance. However, on weekends where we have such a major event it does not make sense to stop the DART from running when there are so many people who need it. I ask the Minister to reconsider this policy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  This is an operational matter. I do not direct Iarnr\u00f3d \u00c9ireann as to when it maintains its lines. I recognise there will unquestionably be inconvenience to people. Bank holiday weekends allow engineers to work continuously for 76 hours on the line and get extensive work done that does not have to be spread over other weekends. Fortunately, there is very rarely a weekend where there is not a major event on in this country and in our capital city. That could be sport, concerts, mini-marathons or whatever. That is good because it is a vibrant city and a lot of people use the city. DART services will operate on the southern line from Greystones into the city. It is the northern line that will be impacted. There are additional bus services put on that line. During the June bank holiday further work will happen. All those details are pre-announced and they are all up on the website. It is also advertised that there will be disruption when lines are closed for maintenance. There is no easy way of doing this. There is only so much work you can get done during night-time hours because we are running earlier and later trains, so the gap for maintenance at night is shorter. That is why if we can get 76 hours of continuous work done, that is banked and we do not have to do it over successive weekends. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  I thank the Minister. I understand, and everyone understands, there is no easy way of doing it but there are certain weekends where the demand is so high it warrants running the DART. Perhaps it could just be for that individual day and the works could be done at other points in the weekend, which is what used to happen. Last year there were no additional Luas services provided on the weekend for the VHI mini-marathon and no additional bus services. I have been contacted by people who ended up arriving late to the entry point and were not allowed run the marathon. This is hugely disruptive to people. Just because there is low commuter demand on a bank holiday weekend does not mean there is low public demand. These are public transport services, not just commuter services. Relying on bank holiday weekends, especially ones when there are large-scale events, is the wrong way to go about these works. There has to be a way of doing this and managing this better. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  There is significant advance notice given. We need to improve the additional services that are there. I can tell the Deputy there are additional bus services this weekend serving the northern line. There is no easy answer to this. Lines need to be upgraded. Overhead lines, railway tracks and embankments need to be worked on. That all needs to happen. I cannot tell the Deputy we can avoid doing work on the May or June bank holidays. You can get a significant amount of work done on a continuous basis. That is the advantage to the workers who are carrying out that essential work. I appreciate it is disruptive and I take the point. I will bring the Deputy's feedback to the company to see if there is a way of just using the Monday. Large events are taken into account too but fortunately there is rarely a weekend that there are not major events in the capital city. I take the point the mini-marathon is a staple in our national calendar and I will bring that back. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Public Transport"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_22","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Bus Services","counts":{"speechCount":19,"speakerCount":4},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_17","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_22.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  The 70 bus that connects Dunboyne and Littlepace to the city centre is going to be cut under the BusConnects plan even though it is the most direct route many people in Dublin 15 have. This is also going to hit people who are not very mobile. It is incredibly ablist to force people to get off a bus and to route everything through Ireland's busiest shopping centre in Blanchardstown. Nobody wanted this and the BusConnects planners have not listened. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  I thank Deputy Coppinger for raising the matter. In the overall context BusConnects is important. She makes a point about the listening piece. I know from my constituency in Cork there is an obligation and a real need to listen and engage. I will bring the Deputy's comments back as well.  As she has said, the 70 bus will be replaced by other bus services as part of the implementation of BusConnects Dublin. These new services will include the L64, which will provide a frequent service between Dunboyne, Clonee and Blanchardstown, and the P64 which will provide a direct bus service to Dublin city centre for commuters. Since the start of BusConnects, a core objective has been to provide a network of more frequent bus services with reduced wait times for all passengers. This sometimes requires transfer between frequent services. Opportunities will exist for transfers to very frequent bus services on the B spine to and from Dublin city centre. Connections with Dunboyne rail station, for rail services to and from Dublin city centre, will also be available. I would also like to highlight the benefits of these new services in the Littlepace area. These will include the introduction of significantly better all-day frequencies, not just during peak commuting hours, and better network connectivity options with the 90-minute Leap fare.  On bus users with mobility issues, I note that all buses are fully low floor wheelchair-accessible and bus stops at the L64 transfer point will also be fully accessible. I assure Deputy Coppinger the distances between bus stops will be kept to a minimum where interchange is required. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  Yes, but most buses only have a place for one wheelchair and one pram, so I do not accept the idea everybody is going to be able to transfer like that. Let us start with the reality. Who wants to have to get off a bus? Nobody. Once you are on a bus you want to stay on it. However, for some reason BusConnects planners and the NTA are fixated on the idea of routing everything through the Blanchardstown centre, which by the way, coincides with the potential introduction of car parking charges there. That fits in nicely and BusConnects is being cited as the reason to fleece the local community.  There is currently a bus that runs from Dunboyne and Littlepace directly onto the N3 with a bus lane and for some reason the planners want to take it away. From 6 a.m. it is every 20 minutes and then from 7 a.m. it is every ten minutes until 8 p.m. when it becomes every 15 minutes. It is perfect. It is one of the buses that actually works. In 2018 when this was discussed there was a raft of complaints, public meetings and petitions. Why does government not listen? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  I think the Deputy is incorrect regarding the buses because there are many buses and the new ones will have more than one wheelchair access point.  The other point is we have almost 5,500 people working in Blanchardstown Shopping Centre, which is a massive number. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  Tell me about it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  Is that a problem? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  Is that a positive or a negative for the area? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  Would she rather they were not working? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  Would she prefer they were not working? In fairness, they are providing. The Deputy can shake her head at me but she is meant to represent----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  Just answer the question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  I will. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  It is about the 70 bus. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  She raised the shopping centre. Does she want the people to work or not? Does she want them to be unemployed? Let us be fair now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Will the Minister of State just address the question? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  The fundamental point is BusConnects offers greater connectivity, higher frequency, better connection and a more direct route to the city. We can disagree on some things but I genuinely take the Deputy's point that if BusConnects is to succeed there must be meaningful engagement with residents and people in areas that are affected. The point she made there is right. I have it in my city, as I said. It is important planners engage and listen. The overall point is this is a good news story for people, in that there is an enhanced offering of bus services. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  The reason I was rolling my eyes is I campaigned and marched to get that town centre built. I know how important it is and family members have worked there. My point is that does not mean everyone wants to sit in traffic in it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  That is why we are doing BusConnects. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  Yes, but nobody wants to sit on a bus and be dragged through Blanchardstown centre. The Minister of State does not seem to know the area, with all due respect. People are often delayed there for 20 minutes. With the original BusConnects plan there were roughly 28,000 complaints. Some 914 of them originated from Blanchardstown and most of them were about the 70 bus route. One third of respondents said there would be a loss or reduction in the existing service. Roughly one third said they did not want to have to get off the bus to transfer into town and one third referenced the requirement for new infrastructure and a new interchange. I do not know how frequent the L64 the Minister of State mentioned is going to be and it is not clear how many P64 buses there will be either, but at the moment the service is perfectly adequate at peak times and people are losing this. Government needs to listen to what people are saying sometimes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  I listen. I am a public representative and I represent people.  It is important to recognise that the new L64 network will run between Dunboyne and the Blanchardstown centre. The new peak-time route, the P64, will run between Dunboyne and the city centre and both will serve Littlepace. Both services will also lead to Dunboyne. Equally, detailed timetables will be issued and will be set near the time of implementation so that we can take account of the comments the Deputy has made here this morning. There has been engagement with residents. Concerns have been raised not just by the Deputy but also by other local representatives in the area and changes have been made. I look forward to further engagement by the NTA. In the interests of fairness, BusConnects is a good news story. It will enhance frequency, enhance connectivity and enhance the passenger experience for the commuters who are asking for more buses that are on time and that are frequent. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Bus Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_23","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Public Transport","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_17","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_23","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_23.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shane Moynihan  I ask the Minister for Transport to give an update on the DART+ South West project, the progress that has been made to date, the way in which this crucial infrastructure project for my constituents in Dublin Mid-West may be expedited, and if he will make a statement on the matter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  As part of the wider DART+ programme, DART+ South West will provide an extension of electrified DART services from the city centre to Hazelhatch and Celbridge. I know this is a project the Deputy has supported from its genesis and he continues to do so. A major milestone was cleared in November 2024 when the project secured full planning approval from An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la. Preparation for procurement for DART+ West and DART+ South West is progressing together. I want to be clear about that. Design and build pre-qualification questionnaires were issued in May 2025. Funding allocated under the national development plan sectoral investment plan, which was published last November, will see construction of the DART+ programme begin. I expect DART+ West will enter construction before the end of 2027. DART+ West is a critical enabler for the wider programme and must be advanced first, as it will provide an additional depot location and capacity for new fleet as well as the requirement enhancements to city centre rail capacity to support future services. I will return to this.  Funding from the sectoral investment plan has also allowed compulsory purchase orders for DART+ South West to commence in February this year. Procurement for DART+ West is progressing in a way that ultimately assists with DART+ South West, in that it is intended the framework contracts being established for DART+ West will also be used for DART+ South West. I want to see this being done in tandem. In addition to sectoral Exchequer capital allocations, which the Deputy has been pushing for and on which we met on a number of occasions, my Department will continue to explore opportunities to advance this and bring it forward. DART+ West is an enabler for DART+ South West.  Within our sectoral ceilings we do have some flex and I believe we can bring this project forward. We need to get the compulsory purchase order, CPO, work done and we need to get DART+ West started in 2027. I believe that with continued work on this we could see DART+ South West starting in 2028. Both of them interact with each other, as the Deputy knows, and I will be working with the Deputy to ensure that we do. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shane Moynihan  I welcome that response. The Minister's successor as the Minister for housing, Deputy Browne, was in the constituency this week in Clonburris and Adamstown. He saw the scale of housing being delivered and the importance of the infrastructure that enables that housing. One such project is DART+ South West. Coming from a commuter constituency the Minister will know full well that commuters in my constituency who use stations like Kishoge, Adamstown, Clondalkin Fonthill, and Park West are the people who want to use public transport in the morning. Carriages are full so we know the demand is there. DART+ South West is something we must prioritise. I welcome the movements made on the CPO work being rolled out. I welcome the work being done to ensure that procurement will not be delayed if and when funding becomes available for this. I also welcome the Minister's commitment to bring this forward as far as we can to ensure that those commuters who do not want to sit in traffic on the roads around Lucan and Clondalkin are served well by a train station. I will work with the Minister to continue doing that but I will also fight the corner for these commuters who need a good, reliable and, crucially, a frequent train service to enable their commutes and to get the congestion off our roads. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  I agree completely with the Deputy. The work that is happening now is critical to advance the project. In fairness, the Deputy has been working directly with us on this and advocating for his constituency. Deputy Moynihan is right. Given the number of houses and the development that is happening out there and in Adamstown the whole area has grown substantially over the last years and this needs to be supported by DART+ South West. Working with the Deputy, we will ensure that we do that. DART+ West is critical, as is DART+ South West because they do interact with each other. I believe we can bring this project forward and I want us to do that. We have allocated the funding we need in order to do what we need to this year and next. It is about bringing it into construction. I am confident we can do that. I want to get over the milestones of the CPO. We want to get to the commencement of the enabling works as well, which will be happening too. We will see construction start in 2027 on DART+ West. Shortly after that, with movement in our sectoral ceiling that I think we can do, we can get DART+ South West into construction in 2028. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shane Moynihan  I thank the Minister. For the record of the House, I have seen the work being done to advance the CPOs and the enabling works. The Minister has outlined the important step, which is crucial, that procurement for DART+ South West and DART+ West is done in tandem. We cannot afford to lose any time in this if and when funding becomes available. I want to thank the Minister for his personal commitment to try to bring the funding forward for this. I will work on this directly with the Minister.  I will take a moment to point out the additional benefits of the DART+ South West project not just for my constituency in Dublin Mid-West where will it be a crucial enabler, but also for intercity trains coming from the western part of the country. The four track system that this will enable on the line will reduce the bottlenecks at Athlone and Heuston. They are all crucial pieces of infrastructure and investment that we need to do. The key point for me remains that we need to get this over the line as quickly as we can for the commuters who want to get out of the traffic that is already congested all around the roads in my constituency, and for those people who use stations like Kishoge, Adamstown, Park West and Clondalkin Fonthill, and all the commuters in Lucan and Clondalkin who are relying on this piece of kit who want to use public transport. Let us respond to that demand and put a strong service in place to deliver it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  In the national development plan one in every four euro being invested between now and the end of this decade, between now and 2030, is being invested in transport. We are investing in public transport like has never happened before. It is very much focused on our rail network because it is good particularly for commuters, good for quality of life, good to reduce congestion and good for climate. We are seeing record numbers of people using public transport and record numbers of people using the trains. I know from being out in the constituency with Deputy Moynihan and from meeting his constituents that there is an absolute desire and imperative to deliver this project. We are delivering it and we have started those enabling works now through the CPO work. I believe we will be able to bring this very shortly after, with construction on DART+ West and DART + South West. I will work with the Deputy on it. The Taoiseach has spoken to me directly on it too. He is fully supportive of the DART+ programme. Obviously there are also the other elements such as DART+ Coastal North and so on, but these two will be first. We will work together to make sure it happens. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Before we move on to the next question, I welcome all of the students in the Public Gallery. It is great to see you here this morning. I hope you enjoy your day in Leinster House and your visit. I particularly welcome the students from the Christian Brothers College in Kilkenny and their teacher, Mr. Murphy. You are all very welcome. Enjoy your day. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Public Transport"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_24","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_25","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Bus Services","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_24","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_25","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_25.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  Kilkenny is well represented in the Chair this morning. I wish to ask the Minister for Transport for an update on the roll-out of the planned O route, which is the inner orbital route, as part of the BusConnects project in Dublin. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  I join with the Leas-Cheann Comhairle in welcoming the students from Edmund Rice College, Carrigaline, who are here today as well. I wish them a very pleasant visit to Leinster House.  I thank Deputy O'Gorman for the question. BusConnects Dublin is a transformative programme of investment to provide better bus services to more people across the capital. The Department of Transport is providing significant funding to support the roll-out of new bus infrastructure, fleet and services. We have already rolled out the first seven phases of the BusConnects Dublin network redesign so far, with the most recent one being the F spine serving Finglas to Tallaght in October 2025.  The National Transport Authority is progressing all necessary works required to facilitate the introduction of the O route, which will provide an inner orbital operating on the North Circular Road and South Circular Road. The \u20ac940 million in public service obligation funding provided in budget 2026 allows the NTA to operate the bus network on a sustainable basis and to prioritise changes in line with operational capacity and passenger needs. The focus this year is on consolidating and strengthening the current network, while progressing improvements already under way. Unfortunately, it is not possible this morning to confirm an exact date for implementation of the O route. I am assured, however, that the S2 route from Heuston Station to Irishtown, which entered service in 2023, serves a part of the O route currently.  The Department is also providing funding to advance the core bus corridors elements of the BusConnects programme.  Contracts have now been awarded for both the Liffey Valley to city centre and the Ballymun-Finglas to city centre schemes, with a view to both entering heavy construction this year. I look forward to working with the NTA and our Department to continue the roll-out of BusConnects in Dublin in the years ahead. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  One of the most difficult things to do in public transport in Dublin is get across the city rather than in and out of it. That is why those orbital routes are so important. The BusConnects O route will connect communities across Dublin city centre, from Infirmary Road in the west and North Strand in East Wall to across the Liffey and around the South Circular Road back to Heuston Station. Running in both directions, it will be the first true orbital route. It is the circuit that will link all the different spines of BusConnects together.  When I asked the Minister and the NTA last February when it will roll out, I was told it would be in quarter 3 of 2025. There was no sign of it in quarter 3 of 2025. When I asked the Minister and the NTA about it in February 2025, they could not even give me a roll-out date. The reply stated that,\" Commencement of the new O-Route is subject to confirmation of sufficient PSO funding to support its operation, and hence a precise commencement date cannot be provided at this time.\" When will the O route be rolled out? Will the Minister of State work to speed it up? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  The Deputy is correct; it is difficult to get across the city. The orbital routes are important. In fairness, the Deputy\u2019s former colleague and former Minister, Eamon Ryan, introduced them. We have seen some being rolled out and we are doing more in that regard. The Department of Transport and I will engage with the NTA to ensure we get a date. There is ongoing engagement around the planning of all necessary works for the route about which the Deputy spoke. I will bring his feedback back to the officials.  While I cannot provide a date this morning, I can say that the sectoral plan of the national development plan has allocated significant funding to the NTA to progress BusConnects routes in Dublin, Galway, Cork, Limerick and Waterford. The Minister, Deputy O\u2019Brien, the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, the Department and I share the Deputy\u2019s commitment in this regard. I take the Deputy\u2019s points on board. I do not have an exact date but I will bring his remarks back and engage with the officials in the Department. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  We are missing an opportunity if we do not speed up the introduction of this O route. Running buses in both directions in a circuit around Dublin city centre will change the way people get around the city.  There is one point about which I am concerned. My understanding, from comments an NTA official made to me, is that the roll-out of the O route might be split into two semi-circles, with only the southern portion being introduced first. That absolutely misses the point of an orbital route. It would also be unfair on communities in Dublin\u2019s north-inner city that would benefit from a high-frequency service running in both directions along the North Circular Road. As with so many other public transport projects, it is clear that a lack of funding is causing the delay. The Minister needs to back this project and ensure the O route is rolled out soon on both sides - north and south - from the outset. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  We all share the commitment to enhance the public transport offering. It is not correct to say there is a lack of funding. In the budget, the Minister received an increase of 46% in the PSO allocation. What we are doing - I think the Deputy will support us in this, being a former Minister - is building resilience and sustainability in the transport system and network for the future. We are planning new routes in a way that is sustainable for the future and will avoid the need to have to go through supplementary measures every budget and cycle. As the Deputy knows, people want certainty, reliable information and on-time buses. We will engage further with the NTA to ensure that process of planning is in place so that we can deliver.  The Deputy is right that this is transformative. I assure the Deputy that all of us in the Department of Transport are committed to this. We want to see it happen. As I said, we have increased the PSO offering. It is now about making sure we continue to roll out BusConnects routes not just in Dublin but in the city of Cork as well. I hear the Deputy\u2019s views. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Bus Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_26","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Air Services","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_24","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_26","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_26.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  We have been without this crucial Derry-Dublin airlink for 16 years. It was removed by the Government at the time. If we look at the map of Ireland, we see there is no motorway or train link directly to Derry, Donegal and the north west. The restoration of this airlink is key. I welcome that it has been agreed to by the Government but we need clear timelines. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  I agree with the Deputy that this is a critical route. I am happy to provide him with an update. It was a programme for Government commitment, as the Deputy knows, to re-establish the route. I thank the Deputy for his continued interest in this matter. We are committed to supporting vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities throughout Ireland where people can live, work and connect. The Deputy has made that point validly with regard to the north west. Many stakeholders have recognised that the north west is an area that is relatively under-served by transport connectivity. We are improving that but it needs to be improved further.  Government-funded PSO air services previously operated on this route for a ten-year period up until 2011. In this context, and in line with our objectives on building a shared island, the Government committed to engage with all relevant stakeholders to establish air connectivity between Dublin and Derry city airports. I met with officials in the City of Derry Airport and Derry Chamber as well as with the Deputy\u2019s colleagues in Donegal County Council.  Last year, we decided that, pending progress on the A5 motorway upgrade, preparatory work to reintroduce the PSO air service to establish air connectivity between Dublin and Derry airports in 2026 would be progressed. We are fully committed to the reintroduction of a PSO service on this route, which will be funded through the shared island fund. As announced in budget 2026, the Government has doubled the resources available under this fund out to 2035.  My officials are progressing the preparatory work necessary to establish this service. That work is now well advanced. On 22 December 2025, we published a market-sounding survey. Views of stakeholders, including those who might avail of the service, were sought on the service. It is important we do that. This survey includes the specifications that would potentially best meet the requirements of the PSO air service, such as aircraft type, capacity and frequency of services. Engagement on this survey was positive. Over 700 responses were received, confirming the interest and recognised benefits of the PSO air service for stakeholders in Derry and the wider north-west region.  All things being equal, it is expected that following a two-month tender procedure, a contract will be awarded for the commencement of services this October. This will align with the winter 2026 airline scheduling season. We are looking forward to it. It is on track. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  I thank the Minister for his response. Obviously, I will have many back-and-forth battles with the Government but this is welcome news for the north west. It is a tribute to both Letterkenny Chamber and Derry Chamber. They work together for the region. A total of 40% of the passengers who use the City of Derry Airport come from Donegal. For people elsewhere in Ireland, sometimes that geography can be lost. Essentially, Derry serves the entire region, including north Donegal. It is a crucial link. We have been devastated with the delays and legal challenges to the A5, so this is one project that gives people hope. I ask the Minister to ensure the October timeline does not slip. I am advised it is critical for the overall package of the airport. As the Minister knows, it connects into Heathrow Airport and various airports in England, Scotland and other countries. This is part of this package to continue to build confidence in the north west and show that we are rebalancing with the rest of island. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  I, too, share the Deputy\u2019s disappointment with regard to the A5. We are still committed to delivering it whenever legal challenges and planning issues are dispensed with. In the meantime, this is critical. This route is viable and needed. We will support it with a public service obligation. The timelines I have provided are robust. I very much expect this service to be up and running in October. Both the awarding of the contract and a commencement of the service will happen in October, aligning with that winter 2026 schedule. Not only will this service provide connectivity between Dublin and Derry but it will provide onwards connectivity as well.  Certainly, from a geographical perspective, it is critical for the north west. It will drive investment. I met with the chambers of commerce on both sides of the Border, as well as with Derry City and Strabane District Council. On the Letterkenny side, there are substantial land banks for further investment and employment growth. There would also be a good tourism offering for people there. I am looking forward to it. We are watching it. I am confident in the timelines I have provided. I thank the Deputy for his support for this project. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  I welcome the Minister\u2019s firm commitment today. It is good news for the City of Derry Airport. I also commend Derry City and Strabane District Council and Donegal County Council. They created the vision of the north-west city region. They speak with one voice. This is good news for Donegal, Derry, Tyrone and the wider north-west region. I will leave it at that. I appreciate the firm commitment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  This is another project that shows the benefits of the shared island initiative.  It is bringing people on the island of Ireland together and normalising future relations. It is a fantastic example of how local authorities and chambers of commerce work together. The Border does not exist, and that is critical. People are working together and bringing in investment. People work on both sides of the Border.  The shared island fund is an important enabler. The Taoiseach is incredibly supportive of the project. We are happy to work with it. The fund has been a constructive partner, as have Donegal County Council, Derry and Strabane and the chambers of commerce. To be fair, politicians across the House, including Deputy Mac Lochlainn, have been very supportive of this. I look forward to it opening. Maybe we will take a flight up there together. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  Sounds good. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Air Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_27","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Public Transport","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_24","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_27","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_27.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  It is an ordeal to get from Dublin Mid-West to the airport. What public transport options are available to Dublin Airport from Dublin Mid-West for the residents of Clondalkin, Lucan, Palmerstown, Citywest, Newcastle, Saggart, Brittas, Fettercairn and Rathcoole? Are additional routes being considered? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  The NTA is critical in the context of the planning and provision of services and continues to keep public transport connectivity, including access to Dublin Airport, under ongoing and active review. As the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, mentioned in a previous response, there was a substantial increase, about 46%, in the public service obligation in the budget to enhance and improve our services. While there is no direct public transport from Dublin Mid-West to the airport, a range of convenient and flexible travel options are available. Many travel by rail into the city centre and out from there.  Looking ahead, the NTA is continuing to invest in additional orbital bus services which will provide more options to reach Dublin Airport by public transport. For example, route W4 which currently operates between Tallaght and Blanchardstown will connect with the planned new route N8 at Blanchardstown which will serve Dublin Airport via the M50. A further welcome development is included in the Dublin Airport Authority's planning application currently under consideration to increase passenger numbers to 40 million per annum. As part of this proposal, the DAA has sought approval for a new ground transportation centre which will consolidate airport bus services in a single location and, where possible, segregate general but traffic from pedestrian movements. This would provide priority access to bus stop facilities and increase bus bay capacities, supporting the continued growth of public transport use to make journeys to the airport.  In addition there is MetroLink, which will start construction by the end of next year. It is fully funded under the national development plan and will integrate directly with Iarnr\u00f3d \u00c9ireann services at Glasnevin, thereby significantly improving public transport access to Dublin Airport.  Deputy Moynihan asked for an update on DART+ South West. We are committed to that and are doing it as a Government. It will be a critical enabler of improving public transport services in what is a major growth area. There has been significant housing development in the area and new families moving in. We have to ensure that the public transport offering is commensurate with population growth. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  There was a private operator, the Airport Hopper, in Dublin Mid-West until February 2025. It provided an economical route to Dublin Airport for residents of Tallaght, Lucan and Clondalkin. The operator closed because the service was not financially sustainable.  The Minister mentioned public service obligations. I understand when a privately run service stops, the State can take it over through the public service obligation. This essentially means that the route would remain in place, but would be operated publicly by the NTA. I received a response from the NTA that it is not considering a public service obligation. Instead, it will begin a new service between Blanchardstown and Clongriffin. I am delighted for my colleague Deputy Donnelly in Blanchardstown and Clongriffin, but that is no good for people in Clondalkin, Lucan and Tallaght. Can consideration be given to taking the Dublin Airport Hopper under the public service obligation in order that we can have at least one direct route to the airport? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shane Moynihan  I thank Deputy Ward for asking the question. As he knows, I asked a question about this matter a few weeks ago and have engaged directly with the Minister on it. The suggestion I put forward is that there be airport-bound routes going through Dublin Mid-West, like the Expressway service from the western part of the country. I have written to the NTA and hope to get the support of the Minister to allow pick-up and drop-off for residents in Lucan and Clondalkin on airport-bound routes outside of Dublin in the interim. I will work with the Minister and hope to secure a public service obligation for some sort of airport link. We can apply some interim solutions until then.  I welcome the support of the Minister in working with the NTA to mandate operators to provide additional pick-up and drop-off points. It is uneconomic to drive from Lucan, Clondalkin or Palmerstown as I have said on the floor of the House and with the Minister privately. I encourage him to support encouraging people to use public transport in as direct way as possible. I mean no disrespect to the response of the NTA, but it described a circuitous route to the airport when people need to get onto the M50. I would welcome interim solutions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  Deputy Moynihan asked a question about this on a previous occasion. The cessation of the Airport Hopper was a disappointment. It was a direct route for people. On foot of the questions asked a few weeks ago and Deputy Ward's question today, I will ask the NTA to move forward and see if something can be done within the public service obligation. There was a substantial increase in public service obligation funding. We have also seen a substantial increase in routes and additions to routes. Last year, 365 million public service obligation transport journeys took place across the network, a record number. Journeys are growing by about 6% or 7% per year. People respond when they have the choice and opportunity to use public transport. One can see from the questions Deputies Ward and Moynihan have asked that there is a gap regarding which needs to be filled in the interim. I am aware of the issue and will engage with the NTA to see whether we can bring forward the service and provide interim services solutions in advance of that. I will keep the Deputies informed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I welcome the fact that the Minister is going to have a conversation with the NTA regarding the consideration of interim solutions. If I were to travel from Neillstown, where I am from, to the airport today by public transport, I would have to take three buses. If I travelled via Adamstown I would need to take a train and bus, that is, if I was lucky to be able to get on a train. DART+ South West was mentioned. That needs to be built as soon as possible.  Many people in my area, myself included, have no choice but to get taxis to the airport. I checked prices before coming into the House and discovered that the cost of getting to the airport from different parts of my constituency by taxi ranges from \u20ac50 to \u20ac90. It is often the case that the taxi fares people pay are more than what they pay for the flights they are taking out of the country. I urge the Minister to consider interim options. I take the point on the Citylink service from Galway to Dublin, which comes down the M4 and does not stop on the way. A stop would help some people along the way, especially in Lucan, Palmerstown and parts of Clondalkin. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  That point has been well made by both Deputies. I will engage with the NTA and keep both Deputies fully informed. There could be an interim measure we can take. There is a longer term plan and continued investment in the public transport fleet, including DART+ South West, which everyone is supportive of and which we will bring forward. The Government has started work on that. I will keep Deputies Ward and Moynihan informed of progress. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Public Transport"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_28","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Public Transport","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_24","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_28","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_28.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Callaghan  Is the Minister considering providing funding for increased car parking spaces in Carlow and Muine Bheag train stations in County Carlow, particularly in light of the ongoing fuel crisis in Ireland as a result of the war that shows no sign of abating, to try to give 7,000 commuters an alternative to taking their cars to work? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  Students from Edmund Rice College Carrigaline are in the Gallery. I welcome them and wish them well. I hope they have a very good visit. Go raibh m\u00edle maith agaibh go l\u00e9ir. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  They are all welcome. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  By allowing drivers and passengers to complete part of their journey by car and part by public transport, park-and-ride sites have an important role to play in generating a mode shift towards public transport, cutting emissions and reducing congestion in our urban centres. To support this work, Iarnr\u00f3d \u00c9ireann is currently updating its national carpark strategy report to establish the capacity requirements for car parking, bus connectivity and active travel at all 147 train stations across the rail network. It is anticipated that the strategy will be complete and an updated report issued to the NTA for review later this year.  The Department of Transport has allocated significant funding to advance public transport projects, including park-and-ride facilities, through the national development plan sectoral investment plan, which was published in November. The NTA is now progressing a more detailed implementation plan within this overarching Exchequer funding envelope. The implementation plan, which will be published in the coming months, will provide details of projects to be progressed within the funding available over the period 2026 to 2030. This implementation plan, together with the report being prepared by Iarnr\u00f3d \u00c9ireann, will inform which park-and-ride sites are advanced in the medium term.  I thank the Deputy for raising the issue of Muine Bheag. It is not her first time to do so. She has been very articulate about the need for both car parking spaces in Carlow and enhanced connectivity. Carlow is a growing town, as the Deputy said. There is expeditious growth east and west. I thank the Deputy for raising the matter and look forward to engaging with her further. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Callaghan  The Minister of State is correct. Carlow is a thriving university town. I have also been calling for increased train services from Carlow - actually from Waterford all the way through Kilkenny to Dublin and vice versa . We need to have a change of focus. I welcome the report that has been done by Iarnr\u00f3d \u00c9ireann and the desire to have park-and-ride facilities throughout the country. However, in the current geopolitical environment, the Government as a whole needs to have a greater sense of urgency. While I appreciate all the measures it has brought in so far, in Carlow and Kilkenny there are approximately 7,000 people who commute by car and whose journeys to work and back home last more than 60 minutes. What is happening is that commuters are arriving at Carlow train station with the desire to take the train and there are no car parking spaces available. In that light, this is an immediate and urgent call I am making. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  I am fully aware of the situation in Carlow. I am very familiar with the town. When you come off the motorway from Dublin, you can see cars parked along the road as you go into Carlow in an area where there could be a need for a park-and-ride facility. The Department and I are very much committed to having an overall strategy. We are looking at a change in focus. That is why we have BusConnects, why we will have the light rail system for Cork, and why we have the strategy whereby a modal shift is being further assisted and supported by Irish Rail with the Department of Transport in the context of park-and-ride facilities. Stations are prioritised using a multi-criteria analysis that takes into account the capacity, current and projected demand, the number of potential spaces gained and lost and everything to do with planning and programme risk. From my own observations, Carlow would be well placed on the relevant list. I know the Leas-Chathaoirleach is also familiar with this matter. For the Department, this is about the modal shift, enhanced connectivity and getting people out of their cars onto public transport. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Callaghan  I really welcome that very positive response and the proactive and ambitious plans for the future for rail networks through Carlow and into Kilkenny. I attended a meeting in Mullinavat this week. This is kind of separate from my question, but while I have the opportunity, I will mention that there is an disused train station in Mullinavat. It would be very interesting to explore whether we could recreate a stop there to help alleviate the pressure that has been experienced due to the reduction in the service of Expressway route 4.  When we talk about car parking spaces in train stations, will the Department consider multi-storey car parking for train stations like the one in Carlow or in Bagenalstown that are short on space and that do not really have the capacity to expand into the surrounding area? There are a number of schools around Carlow train station. If that was possible, we might consider putting solar panels on our car parking spaces, as happens in many other European countries. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  The Deputy makes an interesting point. On the other, broader point, digressing from her subject matter of the question, from a geopolitical point of view, we need to look differently at rail provision. She mentioned Mullinavat. I could throw in the Midleton to Youghal line in Cork as an example. The Leas-Cheann Comhairle could have a couple in Kilkenny as well. We have to look at the whole thing differently now given what is happening in the world around the uncertainty in the Middle East and then moving away from fossil fuel dependency. The Department and the Government are committed to progressing the modal shift from cars and to buses, to Bus Connects, to a national rail strategy around commuter rail and to the Luas and the metro in Dublin and Cork.  I will certainly bring the fundamental point the Deputy makes back to Iarnr\u00f3d \u00c9ireann and to the Department. She is right though; it is about looking at how we can create that sustainable piece. What we are trying to do is to build reliance into our rail services. Part of our discussion, not just now but in the future, is about the points the Deputy has made here this morning. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Public Transport"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_29","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Electric Vehicles","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_24","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_29","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_29.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy R\u00e9ada Cronin  Is the Minister for Transport aware of the findings of a research paper from the school of physics in Trinity College Dublin entitled Why Rural Ireland holds the key to transport decarbonisation? Has he engaged with himself, as the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, on this matter? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  I talk to myself every day. It is good having two Departments because you can ask permission from the other Minister. There are good synergies between both though, to be fair. It is a good question. As Minister for transport and for climate, energy and the environment, I am aware of the report in question. I thank Deputies Cronin and Daly for bringing it to my attention. I have also reached out to Professor Brian Caulfield to arrange a meeting to discuss his research. It is very timely. We are firmly committed to achieving a low-carbon economy by 2050. The transport sector will play a pivotal role in that. Fleet electrification is expected to continue to provide the greatest share of emissions abatement in the short to medium term for the transport sector. Rural motorists are often in an advantageous position to make the switch to an electric vehicle, due to the large number of dwellings in rural Ireland which are suitable for home EV charging. Home charging is the primary charging method that most Irish EV owners use as it is convenient and cheaper for the consumer, as well as assisting in the overall management of the grid.  According to data provided by TII and the charging point operators, over 3,200 publicly accessible charge points are now available nationwide. We are finalising a data strategy in line with the programme for Government commitment, which will enhance the Department\u2019s ability to monitor infrastructure roll-out, capacity and usage, so we can more accurately assess that data with the ultimate objective of delivering on EU requirements. We are going very well on the EV roll-out, and we have seen a really substantial jump in quarter 1 of this year. We have close to 240,000 EVs now on our roads and we are seeing that increase. I want to be able to deploy more EVs and ensure that people, particularly in rural areas, are assessing them. The data we have from last year shows that there is a good regional split. The need to focus on this has been raised by many Deputies and, indeed, Sinn F\u00e9in's transport spokesperson, and we will. I intend to meet Professor Caulfield in the coming weeks to discuss his research. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy R\u00e9ada Cronin  That is great that the Minister has engaged with this and that he will be meeting Professor Caulfield because the need to decarbonise and move to green energy has never been clearly, especially with the illegal wars in Iran, Ukraine, Lebanon and everywhere. The Minister can tell Mich\u00e9al Martin that we do know about it. People in rural communities depend on their cars and are feeling this the most. One obvious way to protect them from these price shocks is to make electrical vehicles more accessible. The paper to which I refer suggests that this is not really that straightforward. While the good news is that the uptake of EVs in rural areas has been good, many of the people who are reliant on them are charging them at home. This can cause huge spikes in demand that our grid simply cannot handle. Even if people do want to switch to EVs, the grid infrastructure is just not there and that leaves rural communities stuck for the foreseeable future. What has been done to make sure rural areas have the grid capacity that they need so we can get on with the decarbonisation? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  That is a very good question. That is why PR6, the capital investment programme into our grid infrastructure between now and 2030 is so critically important. We will be investing up to \u20ac18.9 billion in our grid. It is needed to improve grid resilience, grid capacity and distribution. That will be about adding more renewables to our grid too and storage to be able to deal with curtailment issues too but capacity issues in certain parts of the grid. The capital scheme encompasses about 520 projects right the way across the country. This will give that improvement our grid needs to be able to expand further, allow more people, businesses and homes to access the grid, and to facilitate further EV charging. That work has commenced across those projects and it will be the most critical grid upgrade that has been done since electrification in this country.  Projects like the north-south interconnector are encompassing it. That is critically important for grid resilience across the island of Ireland. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy R\u00e9ada Cronin  I am grateful for that because this is critical. When Russia invaded Ukraine, it should have been a wake-up call for us. We should have accelerated investment in renewables and energy security straight away. We have to accept that geopolitical instability is going to be part of the world - certainly for the next few years - and plan for that. Short-term supports certainly are a help but they do not go far enough. This paper offers solutions. We need long-term solutions, such as investing in the grid, expanding renewable energy, and easing pressure on the system. I encourage the Minister to look at a moratorium on data centres. It comes up all the time at the climate committee that the grid has increased and the first come first served system just does not work in regard to data centre.  We do not know how long these conflicts are going to last. We do not know when the next crisis is going to come. We have to make sure that we are prepared. I ask the Minister after his engagement with the professor to write to the climate or transport committee. It would be appreciated. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  That is a good idea. I am happy to do that. In relation to renewables and the acceleration of renewables, we need to continue to reduce our dependence on fossil and imported fossil. That is good for climate, our economy and people's pockets. The good news is that we have doubled our wind capacity in a ten-year period. We now have over 8 GW of renewable energy connected to our system. We have about 1.4 GW of solar on rooftops. Solar is growing at a significant rate. In March of this year, 50% of our electricity was generated by renewables. We need to accelerate that further. We are doing that. We are doing that through measures like the Planning and Development Act.  Earlier this week I visited Bord na M\u00f3na's Derrinlough wind farm, which is one of the largest wind farms in the country. Bord na M\u00f3na is generating over 1 GW of renewable energy. It was a fossil-based peat company that has transitioned fully to green energy. In its pipeline of development and planning, it has over 5 GW of further renewable sources. On the offshore renewables, we need to get them into construction this decade. Regarding the horizon, the outlook is positive. I agree with the Deputy that we need to accelerate it. I will write to the transport committee post my meeting with Professor Caulfield. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy R\u00e9ada Cronin  I appreciate that. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Electric Vehicles"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_30","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Public Transport","counts":{"speechCount":10,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_24","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_30","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_30.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  In response to the fuel crisis, other countries are rolling out additional services. Some are making public transport free, which we have called for for a long time. The Government did not provide any funding for new services in this budget. Will it reverse that decision in light of the fuel crisis? Will it provide additional funding for new services to be rapidly rolled out to alleviate the fuel and cost-of-living crisis and to enable us to get off the reliance on fossil fuels as quickly as possible? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  I thank the Deputy. As Minister for Transport, I fully recognise the pressure that people and businesses are under due to rising fuel costs. Public transport has a particularly important role to play at times like this by providing a more affordable and sustainable alternative for many people. We are seeing public transport usage increase year-on-year. Last year, we saw a record 365 million public transport journeys. In that context, I am keeping under close review how the public transport system is equipped to respond to current pressures. My Department and the NTA remain in close contact with operators to monitor demand and operational impacts as the situation evolves. At the same time, it is important that any such measures are carefully considered and aligned with available resources, so that they are effective, sustainable and can deliver real benefits.  The immediate priority has been to protect existing services and ensure continuity across the network within the resources allocated in the PSO programme. In the PSO, we secured an unprecedented allocation of \u20ac940 million. That was a 43% uplift on the previous budget. I want to get us to a sustainable footing in relation to the funding of public transport services. Where it previously had been, where additional routes were added and at the end of every year a supplementary budget was sought for transport, is not the way to plan things. It is not the way to plan things going forward.  To further support the sector, we approved a range of measures to mitigate rising fuel costs, including the transport sector through the road transport support scheme. That will support bus and coach operators providing TFI Local Link services and school transport. If we look at our charging structure in Ireland for public transport, it compares very favourably with our European counterparts. We have broadened free services with children up to the age of nine getting free travel, the senior free travel and the companion pass, which is being rolled out. We keep the fare structure and the fares under constant monitoring. We review it on a regular basis. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  To respond to the climate crisis and the cost-of-living and fuel crises, we need to rapidly roll out as much public transport as quickly as is possible. That is not what is currently happening. Dublin Bus is sitting on 50 new electric buses. They are expensive and very good quality presumably but they are sitting there not being used because of a lack of appropriate infrastructure. The oldest new electric bus has been sitting there since November 2023. We have owned this bus for two years and five months. It is not on the road. It is not being used. Why? One reason is the lack of charging infrastructure and Broadstone buses cannot charged during the day because the grid is overloaded. Can the Minister not say to his Government colleagues that we should be prioritising charging our electric buses instead of giving all of our electricity to the data centres?  Each time we add one of these electric buses to the fleet, we are taking one diesel bus out. Why on earth are we taking buses, regardless of what fuel they are, out of the fleet when we should be adding capacity? Regardless of what fuel they are, it is much better for people in public transport rather than sitting in individual cars. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  Let us turn to some facts. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  Yes, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  There are more people using public transport than ever. There were 365 million public transport journeys last year. That is a 6% increase. Our fare structure is affordable. We have many free fares across the system, which we will continue to maintain. On the other issue in relation to the electrification of our fleet, Limerick and Athlone are fully electrified. There were additional buses purchased in the previous Government term which are still being deployed at the rate of two a week. All the additional electric buses will be deployed across Dublin by this year and the remainder of them in quarter 1 of next year. There are two a week going into service now. I visited Broadstone to see that. It is not about grid capacity, although it was. There were issues with charging infrastructure. The Deputy is correct. I have addressed that. This is a matter that I inherited that we are dealing with. Bus \u00c1tha Cliath and its drivers have been really good in that regard. A lot of people are getting used to the use of those EV buses. We will continue to roll them out. There were issues. Those issues are being worked on and addressed. The remainder of those buses will be rolled out over the course of these few months. They are being rolled at a rate of two per week. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  I ask the Minister to give me a date for when all the electric buses will be in use. I would like that. I will hold him to it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  Excellent. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  There are 50 brand new electric buses still not being used. The issue that the Minister did not come back to is that each time we add one of the electric buses, we are withdrawing a diesel bus. Why on earth are we doing that? Why are we not having more buses in the system? That is what we need. We need a lot of more buses. Why are we scrapping routes? We introduced the BusConnects routes. That is fine. Why are we withdrawing other routes as a consequence of that? For example, in my constituency, there is a campaign to reinstate the 49 bus, which was cut when the F1 Busconnects route was introduced. It is a downgrade for a lot of people. It is taking people commuting to work to the city centre from Tallaght, Firhouse and Knocklyon an extra 20 to 30 minutes each way, which is ridiculous. It is driving people back into cars as a result. In response to the fuel crisis, why not reinstate the 49 bus? There are examples from other parts of the city. We should be expanding routes and buses, not swapping one in for another. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  We actually are. We are expanding services across the country. The numbers bear that out. To answer the Deputy's question directly, to be fair to my predecessor, he had bought additional electric buses because the capital was there. They were purchased forward. They were not all going to go into use over the course of a month or two. It has gone on longer than it should. We are looking at about 10% of our fleet in Dublin being electrified. That is a good thing. Limerick and Athlone are fully electrified. We are investing \u20ac1 in every \u20ac4 in this NPD between now and 2030 in the transport sector. It is just short of \u20ac25 billion to deliver projects like MetroLink, BusConnects and the quality bus corridors, which we are starting. I mention Ballymun-Finglas to the city and the Liffey Valley to city. Both of those contracts are signed and both will be in construction this year. We are in the delivery phase.  The Deputy is right that there are deficits. I am not painting the picture that everything is perfect - it is not. We have a growing population. We have growing housing and had good news on housing again this morning - a 33% increase in housing completions in quarter 1 of this year. That is the type of sustainable progress we will continue to make across housing, transport and education. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Public Transport"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_31","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Taxi Regulations","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_24","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_31","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_31.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  I welcome the huge investment in and development of private wires and look forward to the private wires system helping electrification and contributing to the solution to the issue Deputy Murphy raised regarding electrical infrastructure. The private wires Bill can reduce timelines for the installation of renewable projects and electric infrastructure.  I come to my question on the WAV grant scheme. I have been contacted by people in my constituency who are wheelchair users and are being refused by taxis despite the fact the taxis have received grants for wheelchair accessibility. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  I thank the Deputy for his ongoing advocacy on behalf of people with disabilities and his good work with Ciar\u00e1n Delaney, whom we both engage with. If there are complaints, I encourage the Deputy to ask the people affected to log them and we will take it up. It is important we have that data.  The regulation of the small public service vehicle, SPSV, sector, including the compliance, enforcement and administration of the wheelchair accessible vehicle grant scheme, is a matter for the independent transport regulator, the NTA, under the provisions of the consolidated Taxi Regulation Act. The Minister and I have no role in the matter.  The Department has been informed that, in relation to Dublin, the NTA has received 13 WAV-related complaints in the last 12 months, with 11 received in the previous 12-month period. Any person who receives a WAV grant from the NTA must complete mandatory disability awareness training. It is a condition of receipt of any portion of the grant that the proposed driver of the WAV must either undertake the free half-day SPSV-specific disability awareness training provided by the NTA or provide evidence that they have completed a SPSV-specific disability awareness training course during the three years prior to the application date for a WAV grant.  Not all WAVs are grant aided. In 2024, 346 non-grant-aided WAV taxi and hackney licences were added to the SPSV fleet, alongside WAV grants given to 372 new SPSV licenceholders. To support all licenceholders and not just grant recipients in providing WAV services, the NTA extended free training to all SPSV licenceholders at the start of last year. Operators can undertake the training as often as required, free of charge, to ensure that they are confident to provide such services to a high standard for passengers. There will be no ambiguity from us. The passenger experience must be to a high standard. There can be no obfuscation. I encourage wheelchair users to log their complaints. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  I thank the Minister of State for his engagement on the matter. I have constituents who are left waiting hours for wheelchair accessible taxis that will take them.  In response to a parliamentary question I submitted last July, the NTA acknowledged what the Minister of State just said. It stated it was giving training for the safe use of lifts and clamping systems and that, since that January, the training had been provided free of charge. I welcome that but the most common excuse given to constituents who have contacted me is that drivers are saying they are unable to operate the lift. That does not stand up to scrutiny. All holders of wheelchair accessible licences have a statutory obligation to provide the service. This issue has been raised with me and my former colleagues on Dublin City Council, including Councillor Nial Ring and Councillor Kevin Breen, who are working with local residents.  How many complaints have been received and penalties issued? Are drivers who received public money under the WAV scheme being held to account if they refuse passengers? It is not acceptable that we are giving money to drivers through a grant to make a vehicle accessible but they are not taking people with disabilities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  I concur with the Deputy that that should not be the experience of people. The NTA has been working to make it easier for taxi drivers nationally and locally to increase the numbers available to passengers.  The last year for which statistics are available is 2025. The NTA received 1,815 complaints regarding SPSVs compared to 1,713 in 2014. Complaints related to the condition of the vehicle, driver behaviour, hiring matters, as the Deputy articulated, and fare matters. The majority of complaints, 976, were fare matters, while driver behaviour accounted for 368 and 396 were hiring matters.  I will come back to the Deputy on fixed-charge notices. My information is that four were given, which might seem small in the overall scheme but the percentage of complaints is quite low, given the number of taxis we have and journeys undertaken. I would be happy to engage with the Deputy further on the matter outside the Chamber. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  I will send it over to the Minister of State's office. I can give cases of constituents with physical disabilities who have been refused collection by taxis. There are also taxi drivers who have built up records and submitted them to the NTA showing how many people with physical disabilities they collect but who then did not get the grant. I ask that when the next grant comes out for accessibility or renewal of the lift in the back of the taxi, taxi men and women with a proven record of doing the job the grant is given for are prioritised, rather than it being a lottery scheme. If that is already being done, will the Minister of State show me the steps? I will send him correspondence from the NTA stating it is not doing this currently. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  I think there was one fixed-charge notice fine this year. The range of fines has gone from \u20ac80 to \u20ac250. Around 20% of the fleet comprises wheelchair accessible vehicles; I think it is about 4,836. It is an important matter and deserves the attention the Deputy gives it. If a person has a complaint, they should log it so that we can follow through. We must make it easier and we are providing training and that accessibility peice for the taxi driver. I take the Deputy's point on board. We are on a journey and must continue that journey. It is because of people like the Deputy that we are seeing that mindset being changed. I commend him on his work. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 109 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Taxi Regulations"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_32","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Public Transport","counts":{"speechCount":3,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_24","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_32","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_32.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  I thank the Deputy for raising the matter. Rural transport is an important point. In the context of the budget, the Minister and I are aware of the role that enhanced connectivity plays in supporting communities in Offaly. I commend the Deputy on the work he does in that regard.  In the budget for this year, the Department of Transport secured \u20ac940 million of funding for PSO and TFI Local Link services, providing a significant 43% uplift from last year. This package includes a dedicated \u20ac31 million for rural transport service provision, representing a 38% increase on last year\u2019s funding. As the Deputy knows, people will use the service if they get it.  Offaly and Laois have been well served and seen significant investment in rural transport in recent years, with funding increasing by 36% between 2024 and 2025 to over \u20ac5.5 million. Passenger numbers are also increasing. The timetabled services in Offaly and Laois saw a 52% increase from 2024 to 2025.  Our public transport system is at an important juncture. To be fair to him, the Deputy has been advocating for it. We are experiencing growing passenger numbers and increasing demand. There is also the challenge, about which we have heard this morning, in parts of Dublin and Cork concerning congestion and getting enhanced and more frequent bus services to allow people to travel to and from work more easily.  In the interests of providing citizens with a high-class service, my focus as Minister of State with responsibility for rural transport is to stabilise the PSO position, ensure we have resilience and the routes we have now are functioning, reliable and sustainable, and progress improvements that were already under way.  With the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and the other Minister of State in the Department, Deputy Canney, we will work with everybody to ensure new routes are provided and accessibility and connectivity are enhanced. I will engage with the Deputy further on the matter. I thank him for raising it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  I welcome the progress being made under the Connecting Ireland programme. I acknowledge the excellent work being carried out by Local Link services across the country. In rural communities in counties such as Offaly, Local Link has made a real difference in connecting people, particularly those who may not have access to a car. It has helped to address isolation and has provided vital links to services, employment and education. However, despite this progress, rural isolation remains a very real issue. There are still many areas where services are limited, infrequent or simply not available at the times people need them. For people living in rural Ireland, access to reliable public transport is not a convenience; it is essential. Will the Minister of State outline what further expansion is planned under Connecting Ireland to increase frequency and coverage in rural areas, and specifically how counties like Offaly will benefit from those improvements? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  The Deputy is right in that access is not just an option; it is important not just for employment but also for connectivity, going to hospital appointments, going to medical services and even going to the local village. That is why we review local transport provision under the programme for Government commitment. The Minister and I are very much committed to ensuring we see an uplift again in the provision of transport links. This is critical.  The TFI Local Link rural transport programme has worked right across the country, east, west, north and south. I join the Deputy in congratulating and thanking those who administer and run the programme. What we are committed to doing through the programme is connecting the missing pieces. It will take time. We will be in the Estimates process seeking further support from the Department of Finance and the Department of public expenditure. I hope that will come because the Deputy is correct that it is the regular rural service and the demand-responsive element that have been critically successful. The proof of that is the number of passenger journeys. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Is f\u00e9idir teacht ar Cheisteanna Scr\u00edofa ar www.oireachtas.ie. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Written Answers are published on the Oireachtas website. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Public Transport"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_33","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions","counts":{"speechCount":44,"speakerCount":8},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_33","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  We now move to Leaders' Questions under Standing Order 38. I call Deputy Doherty. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I thank the Leas Cheann-Comhairle. He will indulge me in welcoming the p\u00e1ist\u00ed \u00f3 Scoil N\u00e1isi\u00fanta Chnoc na gCaiseal in the Kingdom, County Kerry. They are very welcome to the D\u00e1il today to witness proceedings as guests of Deputy Pa Daly.  T\u00e1 daoine ag labhairt amach le m\u00edonna anuas go bhfuil siad ag cuardach cuidithe. T\u00e1 cuidi\u00fa de dh\u00edth orthu. T\u00e1 siad ag r\u00e1 nach f\u00e9idir leo a gcuid bill\u00ed a \u00edoc. T\u00e1 oibrithe, teaghlaigh agus pinsin\u00e9ir\u00ed ag d\u00e9anamh gach rud i gceart ach go f\u00f3ill t\u00e1 siad ag titim siar. Maidin inniu, dhearbhaigh an ESRI an rud a bh\u00ed ar eolas againn, is \u00e9 sin go bhfuil an gh\u00e9arch\u00e9im seo go dona, go forleathan agus ag \u00e9ir\u00ed n\u00edos measa. Bh\u00ed deacracht ag suas le 30% de theaghlaigh a gcuid bill\u00ed fuinnimh a \u00edoc. Is \u00ed an fh\u00edrinne, \u00e1fach, n\u00e1 go bhfuil s\u00e9 seo i bhfad n\u00edos measa mar l\u00e9ir\u00edonn an tuairisc tr\u00e9imhse ina raibh na creidmheasanna fuinnimh ar f\u00e1il agus nuair a bh\u00ed costas leictreachais n\u00edos \u00edsle. Anois, \u00e1fach, t\u00e1 siad i bhfad n\u00edos measa.  People have been crying out for months for help. They have been telling the Government that they cannot pay their bills. Workers, families and pensioners are doing everything right and they are still falling behind. This morning, the Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI, confirmed exactly what they had been saying. The crisis is deep, widespread and getting worse. The real picture is even starker, however, because the report reflects a time when energy credits were still in place and electricity costs were lower. The crisis has got much worse since. The Government's response was to withdraw energy credits. At the very moment families needed help most, it took the supports away and made a bad situation worse. That is not just wrong, it is indefensible.  This report does not stand alone. On Tuesday, we learned that 317,000 households could not pay their electricity bills. People already falling behind are now being pushed further and further. Yesterday, in another report, the Central Statistics Office, CSO, told us that grocery prices were rising again, piling pressure on already stretched households. Bills are going up while supports are going down. This crisis is so severe that families with two incomes can no longer afford to pay their bills. This is not marginal; it is a social emergency.  Report after report, warning after warning, are telling the Government the same thing: the crisis is worsening and the Government is standing idly by. How many warnings is the Government going to ignore before it acts? This is not about statistics on a piece of paper. This is about people's lives. It is about people living in cold homes, parents skipping meals so that their children can eat and older people afraid to turn on the heat in their homes. It is about people rationing heat and cutting back on essentials. It is about living with constant anxiety over the next bill that is going to come through the door. All the while, the State runs multibillion euro surpluses, so there is no excuse whatsoever for inaction. The State has the money but it is a question of why people have never felt under so much pressure. Instead of addressing this, the Government has allowed this crisis to deepen, forcing families into impossible choices every week: heat or food, electricity or rent, keeping the lights on or falling into arrears. This is not inevitable. It is a political choice, and it is the Government's choice. That is why this is happening.  Sinn F\u00e9in has set out a clear alternative: an emergency budget to cut costs and support households right now. That is what is needed. It includes reinstating the energy credits that the Government withdrew and providing direct, immediate relief for families under severe pressure just to get by. The T\u00e1naiste might not understand this, but out in the real world, people cannot wait for next year's budget or for the Government to get its act together in October. They need the supports now. It is now that bills are rising and that pressure is mounting, so they need the supports now.  How many warnings does the Government need and how many stories does it have to hear before it finally acts, introduces an emergency budget and restores energy credits for households that cannot wait any longer? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Of course, the Government has not waited to act. It has introduced what is either the largest or second largest package of supports in the EU. It was announced on the floor of this House around two weeks ago, and I am pleased to say it is having an impact. While diesel and petrol prices are still too high, people have seen them lower at the pumps than they were before the intervention. People see that with their own eyes because we took the decision to reduce the excise on diesel, even going beyond what was allowed under the energy tax directive to reduce it further. We also took the decision to reduce petrol and green diesel costs. Yesterday, we announced two significant support schemes for crucial sectors of the economy - farmers, fishers, farm contractors and hauliers. I certainly heard words of welcome for those schemes, and I am sure the Deputy must have, too. I heard them on the radio and television. Farmers and their representative bodies said the schemes would help and make a difference. The scheme for farmers and farm contractors will open as soon as next Tuesday.  The Deputy is right to highlight the issue of inflation because the war against Iran - the bombing of Iran - has caused inflation to increase, but it is also true to say that the economic analysis of the package that we have introduced has shown it is suppressing inflation. The chief economist in the Department of Finance believes that the package we introduced will not just benefit farmers, fishers, hauliers and people at the pumps, but will also suppress inflation by around 0.6% per month. This will benefit people, by comparison with what they would otherwise have experienced, in the supermarket or local shop as they go about dealing with the cost of living.  The ESRI report did not fall from the sky. It was commissioned by the Government itself because it is always good to have an evidence base. The report states many things. It notes that the number of people at risk of energy poverty or of not being able to warm their homes nearly halved between 2013 and 2024. In 2013, in the depths of a financial crisis, 25% of households in Ireland were struggling to heat their homes. The percentage was still too high at the end of 2024, when it was down to 14%. The report also found that the fuel allowance scheme was very effective. The Minister, Deputy Calleary, his predecessors and this and the last Governments have not sat idly by since the end of 2024. In fact, in the two budgets since then, we took measures to increase the fuel allowance further and extend it to more people. We have seen it extended to more older people and to 50,000 more low-income families. We have seen the amount of the allowance increased also. The war has had a real impact, and that is why, in addition to those measures, we decided to further supplement it by \u20ac77 million, extending it for another month, benefiting 470,000 people.  The report refers to the need to help people to warm their homes and ensure they are more energy efficient. I am pleased to say that we are also taking measures in this regard, with record funding this year to help to upgrade people's homes, make them more energy efficient and make them warmer so they will be cheaper to heat, allowing us to move away from the over-reliance on fossil fuels. We have seen an increase in the application rate for these grants of 186% as a result of decisions made by the Minister for housing, Deputy O'Brien, and Government colleagues.  Grants for windows, doors and heat pumps are all up hugely on last year. Since 2019, over 250,000 home energy upgrades have been delivered thanks to Government funding of over \u20ac1.7 billion.  This is not a question of anybody having to wait for anything. This is a Government acting beyond the government of any other European member state to try to make real progress. The Deputy may like to put forward a narrative but people out there know that we have taken measures to reduce the price of diesel and petrol, help key sectors of the Irish economy and suppress inflation, and they know that we stand ready to take more in the months. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  With respect, the T\u00e1naiste not understand the scale of the crisis in people's homes. Does he really believe that what he has just said here makes a blind bit of difference to any one of the 317,000 families----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Wow. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  \"Wow\"? Listen to this. Does that make a blind bit of difference to the 317,000 families that cannot pay their electricity bills now? The T\u00e1naiste is talking about extending the fuel allowance. That ends today. He is talking about stuff that has already happened. They still cannot pay their electricity bills. That is the problem. Doe the T\u00e1naiste know what he is telling them? He is telling them to wait until next year's budget. The bills keep on rolling in, the prices keep going up, the pressure is mounting, the billions of euro keep on rolling into the coffers and the Government will not give Irish citizens the support they need at this point in time. We need an emergency budget. The Government needs to restore the energy credits that it withdrew from those families in last year's budget. It made a massive mistake and has plunged families into crisis - 317,000 families. Just picture that. How many children and adults----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I thank Deputy Doherty. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  These families cannot pay their electricity bills. They need support now. What the T\u00e1naiste has said does not cut it for them because he does not understand the scale of the crisis. That is his problem. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  It is quite extraordinary that after 16 years as the Opposition spokesperson on finance, the Deputy still believes that a cost-of-living package of \u20ac750 million does not help. Of course it helps. It helps reduce the cost of diesel and petrol; it extended the fuel allowance; it is making people's homes warmer; it is helping the farmers, fishers and hauliers; and it is helping to suppress inflation. The Deputy wants to ignore all of that because he has this narrative of telling the Irish people that the Government is refusing to act. The Irish people are not stupid. They know we are acting. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" A Deputy","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" A Deputy  The T\u00e1naiste is treating them as stupid. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Deputy Doherty is trying to convince them of a false narrative, but the Irish people know something else, too. He Deputy does not want \"an\" emergency budget. He wants one a week. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I do----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  He came in here about two weeks ago and asked me to bring forward a package of measures that would have cost \u20ac1 billion. Last week, Sinn F\u00e9in held its Ard-Fheis and said, \"God, we had better come up with another plan - \u20ac3.2 billion\". Sinn F\u00e9in's policies are not sustainable. We will have no options left in the winter if the Deputy continually comes in here every week and says \"another billion, another billion, another \u20ac3 billion\" without even bothering to target the measures. Under Sinn F\u00e9in's plan, the Deputy would get an energy credit. He does not need an energy credit. Sinn F\u00e9in has not even done the level of detailed policy work----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  The Government has had four years to target energy credits. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Every week with the Deputy, it is another emergency budget. He wants to spend a surplus that would not even exist if he was in power. We are acting. The Deputy is making it up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Let us walk down the street together and talk to ordinary people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Order please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  The T\u00e1naiste needs to get out of his bubble. It is no wonder he is going down in the polls. Seriously. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Deputy Doherty is making it up as he goes along----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  We now move to Deputy Gannon. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  -----and it is more about the tensions in Sinn F\u00e9in than here in Parliament. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy Gannon, with respect. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  When the shouting stops. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  When they cool down. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  The T\u00e1naiste leads a party that identifies itself as the party of law and order. Fine Gael's website says, \"Fine Gael is the party of law and order\" and \"We are the party that will ensure your family, your community, and our country is secure from crime\". After 15 years of Fine Gael in government, for 14 of which his party held the justice portfolio, could he stand in Ballymun today and tell those he meets there that his party has ensured that their community and the families who live there are secure from crime?  At 3 p.m. on Tuesday, a child of 11 picked up a loaded gun that had been discarded during a Garda pursuit and fired a shot into the air. It is by the grace of God that this child or another child in the vicinity was not killed. That is a truly terrifying incident and should be a watershed moment because this problem is much deeper than what happened in Ballymun and has been shaped by long-term policy choices on housing, public services and community investment. Since 2021, there have been over 2,500 recorded incidents of drug-related intimidation across this State. Arson attacks linked to drug debt have quadrupled in four years. Debts are sold between gangs so that families who pay once are forced to pay again. Of those 2,500 incidents, just 4% have resulted in prosecution. This is not law and order, but the absence of it.  This is no longer just an urban problem. A Garda sergeant and a crime prevention officer in Galway told a community meeting that decent hard-working families across rural Ireland were being targeted to pay off the drug debts of their children and that drug intimidation had become more lucrative for dealers than selling the drugs themselves.  Teenagers are being used to distribute drugs the length and breadth of this country. The four national Greentown reports since 2015 captured this. The Montague report on Ballymun and the Connolly report on Dublin South-Central found that criminal networks in Ireland deliberately and systematically recruited children below the age of criminal responsibility not just because they could not be prosecuted, but because the conditions of their birth made them vulnerable to exploitation; that once the child complies even once, the obligations deepen and a refusal is met with violence and intimidation; and that children embedded in these networks are from the most deprived communities in the country. Up to 1,000 children at any given time across the State are under the coercive control of criminal adults. Clare O'Connor, one of the researchers behind the most recent Irish Penal Reform Trust, IPRT, report, put it to me simply. She said that, above all else, poverty was the one consistent factor in the grooming of children into crime. Poverty creates conditions, deprivation removes the options and the sole focus on criminalisation compounds the cycle.  The T\u00e1naiste cannot continue to claim that his party is one of law and order and avert his gaze from the factors that have led to children in this State being exploited and groomed into the most exploitative forms of criminality. Given what we have heard about the level of child criminalisation and exploitation and the level of crime in rural Ireland, can the T\u00e1naiste still tell us that Fine Gael is a party of law and order? What is the actual plan to break the cycle of crime and deprivation, not only in marginalised communities, but across Ireland? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I join with Deputy Gannon in acknowledging the huge sense of trauma, fear, disgust and shock being felt in the community of Ballymun and by people right across this country, but nowhere more acutely than in Ballymun. As the Deputy rightly said, on 28 April, a man armed with a handgun was seen near Ballymun Garda station where a second man was being detained. Both are suspected of being involved in an ongoing feud. Garda\u00ed approached the man with the firearm. He ran away, was pursued and threw the gun into bushes as he made his escape. That gun was then subsequently picked up and fired by a child of around 11 years of age. Thank God, nobody was injured in the shooting, but as the Deputy says, it was for the grace of God that nobody was injured. A short time later, two men arrived on an electric bike and took the gun away but the weapon has still not been recovered in spite of intensive searches by garda\u00ed, including armed units.  I am conscious that two males were subsequently arrested - a man in his 20s and a teenager - in connection with the incident and both have been detained under section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act. That is law and order. When a crime or an alleged crime is carried out, people should be detained, arrested and questioned. I believe the man in his 20s is still being questioned in connection with the incident while the teenager has been released without charge, pending a file being issued to the Director of Public Prosecutions.  I know that the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, has been briefed by the Garda on the circumstances concerning the incident in Ballymun. I am obviously aware that there have been arrests and I do not want to comment too much on that part, but I join with the Deputy and everyone else in this House in asking anybody with any information in connection with the investigation to come forward either to the local Garda station in Ballymun or to the Garda confidential line where any information they have will be treated with the utmost confidence.  I want to say to the community in Ballymun that at the end of February, 268 garda\u00ed were assigned to Ballymun district. Of those,160 were assigned to Ballymun Garda station. Since 2024, 34 probational garda\u00ed have been assigned to Ballymun. To tackle some of the deep-rooted issues that have existed over many years in the community, the Ballymun Implementation Board was established in 2024 by my colleague, the former Minister for justice, Deputy McEntee. The board is led by an independent chair, hosted by Dublin City Council and brings together relevant social services, providers and the Garda to work together with community leaders and local business leaders. We have provided funding of \u20ac200,000 through the Department of justice to help with the running of the board. It would be useful for us to have further engagement with it as a Government in terms of concrete steps that we can take.  We changed the law with regard to children being coerced into crime. For anybody to solicit or coerce a child is a particularly disgusting and heinous crime.  While the Deputy makes the point this is often the most deprived communities in Ireland, drug use is often not in those most deprived areas. It is happening in so-called middle-class areas - middle Ireland - where people are snorting a line of coke at the weekend, not thinking of the devastating consequences it is having on communities, and that action should be called out too. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  What happened in Ballymun on Tuesday was absolutely shocking but I chose in my opening remarks to widen it beyond simply Ballymun because I recognise the pattern. There will be an incident that captures public attention in a particular area, and then we will talk solely about that one community as if this is happening in isolation. I am not sure if anyone in Fine Gael reads the Irish Farmers' Journal anymore----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  We do. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  -----but in March, for example, farmers were forced to sell cattle to pay drug debts amid rising rural crime.  What is happening in this State with drugs, drug-related intimidation and the exploitation and coercion of children into that crime is an absolute failure of this Republic. It will not simply be addressed by Fine Gael stating it is a party of law and order on its website. It must look into the underlying causes of the crime, the cycle that brings children into criminality and into the prison systems and to have that repeated ad nauseam . Also, why is this happening in communities that never felt it? There is something deeper happening and I do not believe for a second that the T\u00e1naiste's Government is aware of it or has the means by which we can actually police it. We do not have enough garda\u00ed in this State to police the level of crime and criminality that is happening, and we certainly do not have the understanding to appreciate what causes that crime. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  First, I fully appreciate the Deputy is making a point that is broader than Ballymun. I just wanted to acknowledge the trauma in Ballymun and point out there is a structure there that Government should harness to try to support the community at this time of particular acute challenge.  We have taken a number of initiatives to try to tackle deprivation in the country. I can think of one as recently as last month, with the rollout of DEIS plus, targeting schools in our communities that are not just the most disadvantaged but the most disadvantaged within those most disadvantaged. The Deputy is right on the broader point of something going on in society. It is not just in a certain small number of communities. Drug use is now widespread. I hope we can join across the political divide in making that point but there needs to be an understanding in society, in everyone's home, in every community, pub and social setting in Ireland that the taking of illegal drugs in your community is not a victimless crime. Somewhere along that chain, before you snorted that line of coke or took that pill, there was potentially a child being brought into a life of crime. We cannot avoid or sugar-coat that anymore by just thinking this is an issue confined to certain communities.  Nearly all communities are now complicit in this harm and we need to have a much less tolerant approach to the casual taking of drugs. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  As the T\u00e1naiste knows, 7,000 students marched in UCD at the beginning of March in support and solidarity with a student who had been drugged, raped, had image-based sexual abuse used against her and, unfortunately, became pregnant and lost her place on her course. I know the T\u00e1naiste is well aware of the issues. It was very positive, in an era of an epidemic of gender-based violence and where the manosphere is being promoted, to see all genders and students there. They wanted justice for this student and they wanted her reinstated onto the course. They also wanted an end to the multiple sharing of image-based sexual abuse. Unfortunately, those things have not happened. The student has not successfully been reinstated and there have been further images of image-based sexual abuse. The Government's role in this is that it has a duty to make colleges safe and to have good procedures and practices by authorities.  I want to raise the academic issues first, and getting this student back to her dream of becoming a doctor and allowing her to salvage something from this horrific trauma. It has been a month since the dean of medicine responded to the medical student after the talks that took place. She was assured they would reply after Easter but that has not happened. This is going against the thousands who marched and is also a rebuke to that student who put her faith in the process. As she said to me, it was difficult and upsetting to be let down and then have to re-engage. We have an unprecedented situation here and an unprecedented response is called for. I know there are issues with academic qualifications and I am absolutely not saying this is straightforward but I ask the Minister to intervene with the college even more directly, and I know he met the student. It is absolutely vital we do not have a rapist continuing on and the rape victim being the one who suffers.  I also want to mention the culture in UCD. A number of people were emailed this image again, not on the UCD server but to people connected with the protest and the president herself. President Feely was sent this image since this was raised publicly. This person is clearly saying \"F you\" to everybody else - the brazenness of it. However, this comes from the top because the UCD legal team characterised a rape disclosure as dropping a bombshell. Those were the words it were used. This 21-year-old was crying on the stand. When she reported text messages she received last year, she was told she might be better to continue her studies in a different college year. These ideas are coming from the top. A medical student wrote to me about the dean of medicine coming into the college, putting up a big QR code in the lecture hall and going through what happened in the court. This student said to me it bordered on victim-blaming and it was shocking to see somebody talking about a rape victim like that. We have real problems still in our colleges. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Coppinger for raising this issue and this case again, and I say that sincerely. I know the intense and constructive ways in which she has been engaging to try to support this student. I say that before I say the next piece, which is I am genuinely not 100% sure how to answer this question, for the reason that I am conscious, based on what she has told me now and what she has said previously in this House, that there are parts of this that may require due process. There are very clear laws in this country, quite rightly, regarding rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment and sexual violence. An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na are the people who enforce those laws and no part of Irish society, no matter what kind of governing structure anybody has or academic autonomy or anything else, is independent of or separate from those laws. I need to be very conscious of that, and I am not being in any way critical of the Deputy, but when it comes to referring to a rapist or a rape victim, there are places outside of the D\u00e1il where, quite rightly, importantly and appropriately, those issues should be determined and established.  I join the Deputy in commending all the students who stood up and spoke up for zero tolerance when it comes to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. The Deputy made the point that it was not just women or female students at that protest but it was also men because men cannot recuse themselves from this huge epidemic in Ireland as regards sexual violence. I fully agree with her in a broad sense that every college, workplace and educational setting has an absolute duty to be a safe environment. I remember from my own time as Minister for higher education a significant body of work that was under way in the universities in that regard. Therefore, I am concerned and disappointed - and it is an understatement - to hear some of what the Deputy has told me here today.  I am conscious the Deputy has also said some of this is not straightforward in terms of the academic piece. I acknowledge that and I know the Minister, Deputy Lawless, had an engagement with the student, quite properly, on foot of the Deputy raising this issue here. I will speak to the Minister again and perhaps there is an opportunity to engage with the governing authority as well as the college. I will ask the Minister to come back to Deputy Coppinger directly.  The final thing I will say is that this House has quite rightly taken serious action in recent years on the sharing of intimate images, or indeed even the threat of sharing intimate images under Coco's Law. That law is very clear and robust on that and I expect the laws of this land to be applied without fear or favour. Clearly, if there are any breaches, complaints or allegations of a breach of that, An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na should investigate it fully. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  I wonder should the Minister ask for himself or one of his team, if you like, to be engaged in those discussions with the college and the student because it does not help when the dean of medicine walks into lecture halls, spends half an hour undermining a student and is then the person taking part in the discussion around the academic issues. This medical student told me that a significant number of students now perceive the supports available as performative and not something they would engage in because if you speak out, you are going to be ostracised. This is a male student by the way. He said that many of them felt their colleague's credibility and the reputation of the student were being undermined in front of their own eyes and that they would not talk about a rape patient in that way.  There are problems in the culture, and I am sure it is not just UCD but other colleges too. UCD has a DEI Athena Swan Award for its great ability to be inclusive but that is not reflected in reality. Just to say, a rape did take place, regardless of the person not reporting it.  You can see why. They tried to get on with their life. We know that from the image that was shared after, in any case. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  The Deputy should conclude now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  I am asking the T\u00e1naiste to get the Minister to intervene as much as he can. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I am not in any way, shape or form undermining or implying any doubt in regard to what the victim has said to the Deputy and others. I am simply respecting the role I have versus the roles others have in society. There are obviously processes outside of here that have to establish fact. I do not say that to be in any way lacking in empathy; it is just to be factual. On the broader point the Deputy makes around the Minister and asking whether the Minister can provide any further assistance, guidance or linkages with the governing authorities, it is certainly a point I will discuss with the Minister, Deputy Lawless. I know the Minister already met with the student and was eager to do so.  A broader point I want to make - I made this point when I was Minister for higher education - is that there is an epidemic of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence in Irish society. Our colleges and universities are not immune from that and, therefore, there was a very strict programme of action that they were all meant to undertake. To hear the Deputy - and I accept she said it in good faith - use the word \"performative\" is something I know none of us would like to ever see, so I will ask the Minister to reflect on that broader point too. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  I thank the Leas Cheann-Comhairle. I might beg your indulgence for a couple of seconds before my Leader's Question. I would briefly like to say \"Thank you\" to Brigid McGlynn, who is finishing in the D\u00e1il today. I wish her the very best and thank her for all her work and kindness to us all down through the years. She has been here since 1980, so we can only imagine what she has seen and heard in these corridors during that time. We want to say, \"Thank you\" to Brigid on behalf of everyone in the D\u00e1il. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Dara Calleary)  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Members applauded. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  Energy poverty is not a theory. It is a reality in kitchens and sitting rooms across the country today. This morning on \"Ireland AM\", it was stated that households need an extra \u20ac480 a year just to exit fuel poverty. That figure is now backed up by new ESRI research published today, which tells us that 14% of Irish households, one in seven, cannot afford adequate warmth or to pay their energy bills in full. When broader measures are taken into account, up to 30% of households are experiencing some form of energy affordability crisis. I acknowledge the packages that have been given out but the pressure is not easing on families; it is getting worse.  As of February of this year, almost 317,000 households were in arrears on their electricity bill, with the average debt approaching \u20ac500 per household and over 190,000 families trapped in arrears for more than 90 days. This is no longer short-term difficulty; it is systematic energy poverty. At the same time, the ESRI tells us that \u20ac480 a year would be enough to lift a household out of fuel poverty. That is less than what many families already owe. Yet, instead of being helped out, they are being dragged further under.  We hear the phrase \"choosing between eating and heating\" so often in this House that we risk becoming immune to it. People are dreading the ESB bill landing on the mat like a stealth bomb, not knowing how they will cover it. That bill never arrives alone. It arrives the week parents are trying to pay increased school transport charges. It arrives when the car is due for the NCT and needs money spent before it will pass. It arrives the same week someone in the household gets sick, costing \u20ac60 for a GP visit and \u20ac100 for medication.  The Government repeatedly tells people the solution is to move away from fossil fuels but let us be honest about that and what it costs an ordinary family. To install a solar system capable of covering heating, hot water, everyday electricity and charging a car can cost up to \u20ac20,000. The grant is a measly \u20ac1,800. That is simply not enough to encourage anyone to change over. Then comes the electric car. Any vehicle capable of a real family mileage is around \u20ac50,000. Even with grants, that remains totally out of reach for households already struggling to pay their electricity bills.  The reality is that for a normal family to fully transition from fossil fuels, the up-front cost is close to \u20ac70,000, and that is before the cost of a home charging unit is even considered. That is not a transition; it is an impossible one. My question to the T\u00e1naiste is, will the Government increase the solar panel grants? Will the grants for heat pumps and electric cars be increased, and what is the Government going to do, in real, targeted, affordable terms, to help citizens of this country to exit fuel poverty rather than simply endure it year after year? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Collins. I join with him in wishing Brigid McGlynn all the very best. I was not aware of that. I say it from a position of affection and respect that she has been part of the furniture around here in all the time I have been here. She is quite an institution in and of her own and I wish her and her family all the very best, and indeed the best, as the Minister of State, Deputy Higgins tells me, with their Dublin Hills goat's cheese venture as well. I wish her all the very best and every health.  I thank Deputy Collins for acknowledging the package that has been put in place. We can always have a debate in this House around more, and we should, and what else can be done. The package we have put in place for farmers, fishers, farm contractors and hauliers, and the engagement we will have with contractors in the construction sector, is all an effort to recognise that, yes, a fuel and energy crisis impacts everybody in our country but there are some sectors of society and some industries that are heavily dependent on fuel and that it has a greater impact on. I welcome the generally broad welcome that there has been across those industries for these packages. Of course, it is important we keep them kind of simple and non-bureaucratic and that we get payments out as quickly as possible. I am pleased that the farm scheme will open, I think, next Tuesday as well.  I already referenced in an earlier engagement the report of the ESRI, a report we commissioned. We commissioned it as a Government because we always want to monitor what can be done in this area. It did find the fuel allowance to be effective and it talked about targeted measures. That is why I think the trajectory we are on, under the leadership of the Minister, Deputy Calleary, of expanding the fuel allowance, making sure more people than ever before are accessing it and the increases to it in recent years are all measures that make real differences to people. I have been in the homes of many people where they will tell you the difference that makes as well.  I welcome the fact that the Deputy has also referenced what more we can do. He would be the first to remind us that there are certain sectors of society that it is harder to transition away from diesel and fossil fuel. I get that, but there are also lots of people in the Deputy's constituency and mine who are trying to do the right thing by their own home and their own lives to save a few bob too. We have already made a number of changes to try to help people with electric vehicles, EVs, solar panels, windows, doors and heat pumps. In fact, the changes made by the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, only in recent weeks are already seeing a big benefit. There has been about 186% of an increase in people looking for home upgrade grants.  I have made the point - and the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, myself and everybody in Government shares this point - that we have to be constantly restless to do more in this space. One of the areas we are looking at in the time ahead, as well as having discussions about what we can do in the here and now to help people with the bills, is whether there is more we can help people do to break that cycle around being so reliant on fossil fuels and being in homes that can sometimes be cold, drafty or the likes. In the next couple of weeks, the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, will be updating Cabinet on the work of the national energy affordability task force. In addition to that, my Department of Finance is doing some work on energy economics and what the right levers are to pull to try to address energy poverty. I will be very happy to update the Deputy when we have those two pieces of work completed.   "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  I thank the T\u00e1naiste for his reply. If the system was working, 317,000 households would not be in electricity arrears, with average debts close to \u20ac500 and 190,000 families stuck in long-term arrears. That is deep-rooted energy hardship and when the ESRI tells us that just \u20ac480 a year would lift a household out of fuel poverty, it is indefensible that people are being allowed to sink further into debt instead of being helped over that line.  I see Government saying in the past week that it is forecasting a \u20ac9.2 billion surplus. Great news, and we have a rainy day fund. In 2023, it was estimated at \u20ac6 billion. This is a rainy day. It could not be wetter out there for the people of this country, besides the sun over my head right now. The point is that rainy day fund should be put back into people who are struggling badly. The surplus needs to be focused on families who are at home, scared of the electricity bill coming in the door and not being able to pay the bill. Those are the facts of the matter. People cannot heat their homes on announcements; they need targeted supports. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I would make a couple of points on the surplus. First, it is better to have one than not have one, and it has enabled us to bring in a \u20ac750 million package of supports, one of the largest in the European Union, and not have to borrow for it. If you look at our nearest neighbours in the UK, they brought in a smaller package for their citizens per head of population. They had to borrow and were charged around 5% on the market for that as well. We are using the fact that we have a fiscal buffer to the advantage of our citizens in being able to have a larger package in place but also not having to borrow and pay interest for that package as well.  To reassure people, I would also make the point that the \u20ac9.4 billion is not sitting in the Department of Finance getting dusty. This is a projection as to what we believe the surplus could be by the end of the year. It has not come in yet. This is the month of April; it is what we believe the surplus could be by 31 December. I think that sometimes gets missed in this debate. There is not \u20ac9.4 billion of a surplus sitting over there now.  The third point I would make, and I say this respectfully, is that in the past perhaps people talked of rainy day funds. We do not have any such fund in Ireland any more. We have two funds that are very clearly actively being used, one around infrastructure, climate adaptation, capital projects, metro potentially and for other things, and another called the Future Ireland Fund, for demographics, including a population that is going to get older in the Deputy's constituency and mine. We do have options in terms of being able to do more in the time ahead but the politics and the facts of the surplus are a little more complicated than is sometimes presented. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_34","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 na Comhalta\u00ed Eile - Other Members\u2019 Questions","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_34","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paula Butterly  I want to raise the ongoing and deeply frustrating situation facing retired CI\u00c9 pensioners in County Louth and across the country, many of whom have not received any pension increase since 2008. These are men and women who have worked for decades in public transport and who often kept the wheels turning in both good times and bad. Last May, after 17 years, CI\u00c9 and the trade unions finally reached agreement on proposals that would allow for a long-overdue pension increase of up to 5%. Employees voted on these proposals in August and both pension schemes accepted the changes. On foot of these ballots, pensioners were told that the increase would be implemented before Christmas. Imagine their shock that instead of having something nice in their stockings, all there was was a lump of coal. Payments did not come through. It was only after Christmas that they were made aware of the additional requirements that might be familiar to the T\u00e1naiste and me, but mean nothing to the ordinary man and woman on the street. These requirements were a business case from CI\u00c9, sign-off across three Government Departments, approval from NewERA and input from the Attorney General before the Minister could even put the draft statutory instrument in place. The expectation of a payment before Christmas did not arise.  A delay like this may seem bureaucratic but it undermines the credibility of those who make the promise and, as time flies, time for pensioners is truly precious. The increase involved is modest. For most people, it amounts to between \u20ac500 and \u20ac1,000 a year. However, there are pensioners struggling with rising costs for energy, food and healthcare for whom this is urgently needed. It is also important to state clearly that this increase applies to those who retired up to the end of 2022, people who have already given their working lives to public service.  My ask is quite simple. I ask the T\u00e1naiste to call on the Ministers to expedite all remaining approvals, progress the statutory instrument as a matter of urgency, and ensure that retired CI\u00c9 pensioners finally receive the increase they have been promised and have waited too long for. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank my colleague, Deputy Butterly, for raising this matter. I accept her challenge and request in terms of seeking progress and expediency in relation to this. I am also conscious of CI\u00c9 pensioners who are probably watching this and thinking there has been nothing expeditious about it. I am conscious of that as I say it. I did speak with ministerial colleagues on this during the week and I know there is a shared sense of urgency to get this done for once and for all in the interest of these pensioners. I thank the Deputy raising it today.  Factually, issues in relation to CI\u00c9 pensions are primarily a matter for the trustees of the pension schemes, which is the CI\u00c9 group and their employees. The CI\u00c9 group operates two defined benefit pension schemes, namely, the regular wages scheme, RWS, and the 1951 superannuation scheme. As I know Deputy Butterly knows, between 2008 and 2022 both schemes did not meet the statutory minimum funding standard which is required by the Pensions Authority. At the end of 2023, those schemes did meet that standard. The most recent CI\u00c9 pensions proposal in 2025 was negotiated across a number of months between the group and the trade union group. I thank them for the work they did on this with the aim to ensure the stability of the scheme while crucially ensuring there was no reduction in benefits, and providing overdue increases, which is the nub of this issue, for CI\u00c9 pensioners. A ballot on the proposal ran, I think, from 11 July to 15 August last year. The ballot passed both schemes on 19 August. Since then, and I acknowledge the work of the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien on this, the Department of Transport has been working with its own financial and commercial advisers, including NewERA, to engage with all relevant stakeholders, whether that is the Pensions Authority or the Department of public expenditure, on the next steps to progress that agreement and bring CI\u00c9 pensions onto a more stable footing for the benefit of active and retired scheme members. We do not want to see this ever happen again. As part of that, they are also reviewing all the relevant statutory instruments and of course the matter of increases to pension payments.  I am pleased to tell the Deputy that there has been very positive engagement between the Department of Transport and the Department of public expenditure and reform on the policy issues. Everybody is working now to really get the proposal reviewed and the relevant ministerial consents in place at the earliest possible time. I am struck by the point the Deputy made around proper communications in relation to this, though, being honest and blunt with people and not giving them a sense it is going to be on a particular date and then it ends up being at a further time. I will engage with Ministers and more broadly with the system in relation to that. I know it is something the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, would also feel strongly about. The main thing I want to say to the Deputy today is that there is very sincere, very intense engagement to try to get this matter resolved for once and for all, as expeditiously as possible, but also to make sure it is done in such a manner that it is stable going forward and we do not find ourselves in this situation again. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paula Butterly  I am encouraged by the T\u00e1naiste's words and by the fact that the Ministers are taking this very seriously. Time passes very quickly and the older you get, it passes even quicker. For a lot of these pensioners, what they are looking for is very modest but it will make a great difference in their daily lives. Time, for them, is really of the essence. I take the T\u00e1naiste's point about communication. Fundamentally, that is the point here. They were promised that they would see it at Christmas but that probably was unrealistic. We have to be better at that. We always talk about the fact that we want to reward people who work hard. We should never forget and we must reward the people who have worked hard. They are essential. They are the reason the T\u00e1naiste, I, the Opposition and everybody else are here today. They should be taken care of. Essentially, when we make a promise, we must keep the promise. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  The Deputy is right; time does not stand still. There are real people waiting for this increase, and waiting longer than they ever expected they would have to and longer than we would have wished. I acknowledge that. I also acknowledge that they are people who worked bloody hard in public service for the good of our country, through a great and proud tradition of working in CI\u00c9. Many of us know people in our community who served in CI\u00c9 in our public transport or railway network over many years. We all want to get this resolved. To them today, I want them to know that there is real ongoing, active work on this between all of the relevant Departments, most crucially the Department of Transport and the Department of public expenditure and reform. I know everybody wants to bring this to a conclusion as expeditiously as possible. I will ask the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, to write to Deputy Butterly and keep her updated on the matter. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 na Comhalta\u00ed Eile - Other Members\u2019 Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_35","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Pholasa\u00ed n\u00f3 ar Reachta\u00edocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation","counts":{"speechCount":44,"speakerCount":19},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_35","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dessie Ellis","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Mythen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Mythen.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Mythen.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tom Brabazon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Clendennen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ann Graves","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I too want to be associated with the words about Brigid McGlynn and thank her for her many years of service to this House and to all who served here.  Fine Gael and Fianna F\u00e1il are presiding over a serious immediate crisis in cancer care. Of the 23 radiotherapy machines in our health system, 80% require immediate replacement. There is no structure for planned replacement in place. These are life-saving machines that are breaking down frequently. They need constant maintenance and new parts. The health committee heard this week oncology experts outlining the impacts of the breakdowns on cancer patients. They talked about missed treatments, delayed treatments, longer treatments, delays that reduce the chance of survival for people. Imagine what that means to somebody when they hear that, when they are fighting for their life. Imagine what that means to the family of that cancer patient. How in God's name has the Government allowed this situation to develop? How has it allowed vital radiotherapy machines to get so old that they break down so often? Cancer experts have called for an urgent replacement programme. Is the Government listening and will it act? Why has it been allowed to get to this crisis point? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  We are listening, we are acting. It is an important and serious issue. We have made a lot of progress in relation to improvement to our cancer services over a sustained period. Under the current national cancer strategy, we have already allocated \u20ac105 million to support our cancer services and an additional \u20ac120 million in direct investment in radiation oncology centres in Cork and Galway to address the radiotherapy equipment needs. Funding has been allocated in this year's capital plan to progress a linear accelerator replacement programme under way at St. Luke's radiation oncology network in Dublin as well and I expect progress on that very shortly.  My understanding is that the Department of Health and the HSE are developing a strategic infrastructure programme to plan for replacement and expansion at public radiation oncology services. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy George Lawlor  Last year, the N25 around the area of Glenmore in County Kilkenny was the recipient of a much welcome static speed camera. However, because of inadequate and poorly placed signage, this camera is penalising even the safest of drivers. Literally thousands of drivers have been caught by this static speed camera because there is no adequate signage. People driving at 100 km\/h have to drop to 80 km\/h when they see the sign but given that they come into the camera's zone within 50 or 60 yards, they have no chance to adjust their speed properly. I spoke to a woman recently who received three penalty notices, in other words nine points, in the space of a week as a result of the poor and inadequate signage to which I refer. As the Leas-Cheann Comhairle will probably agree, this has energised the people of south Kilkenny and Wexford. One hundred tickets a week are going to Wexford people who use this road, which is the main Waterford to Wexford road. Can the relevant authorities be asked to improve upon this? People are suffering and being penalised rather unfairly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I rarely disagree with the Deputy, and I do not mean to be argumentative, but that woman in Wexford received penalty points because she was speeding not because there was a lack of signage. Speed kills. I encourage people to put up correct signage, but we are living through a road safety crisis. Static cameras are an effort to try to assist people. Nobody likes to get penalty points. If you obey the rules of the road, you will not get penalty points. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  Some 14% of Irish people are unable afford to heat their homes or pay their energy bills and 317,000 people are in arrears on their electricity bills. This is only going to get worse. The Social Democrats have called for a targeted energy credit scheme for households earning less than \u20ac70,000. That is a short-term measure. Obviously, we need longer term and more sustainable measures to deal with the energy crisis. The T\u00e1naiste has spoken about heat pumps and electric cars, but these are out of the reach of many people. The biggest bang for the State's buck would be the use of solar. One million homes in Ireland are suitable for solar. Using solar would reduce people's electricity costs by 40%. The Social Democrats has a Solar for All plan. We call for a doubling of the grants for all households, a \u20ac1,000 grant for batteries, free panels for those eligible for the warmer homes scheme and the rolling out of plug-in solar across the country. I ask the T\u00e1naiste to consider that as part of the upcoming package. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Before answering, I would like to welcome the young people in the Gallery from the Youth Advocate Programme, For\u00f3ige and Springboard Family Support Project, all of whom appeared in front of the Joint Committee on Children and Equality. Deputy Keogh, the Chair of the committee, asked me to say that. They were before the committee in respect of the topic of online safety, which, I assure them, is something we always discuss here across the political divide. Listening to young people's voices is an important of that. Go raibh m\u00edle maith agaibh for your contribution.  In the context of this crisis, we cannot afford say we are the Government and this is our idea, you are the Opposition and they are your ideas and because they say it, it is a bad idea and because we say it, it is a good idea. Some of the ideas the Deputy's party has put forward around solar panels merit serious consideration. It has been a constructive contribution to the debate; I say that sincerely. We believe we are doing a lot more to try to help people make the transition. The figures show some progress, and there has been a 186% increase in people accessing grants. However, solar is an area we can go further on. If the proposals of the Social Democrats are constructive in relation to that, they will get proper consideration by the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and the Government as a whole. I know that, and I know that the Minister has engaged constructively in respect of this matter.  On energy credits, I have to keep making the point - because I really believe it - that an energy crisis in the winter is very different to an energy crisis in the summer. We are not ruling out further interventions that may be required. At this stage, however, we are not quite sure where the energy situation or the war will be. We continue to keep the matter under review. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  The programme for Government contains a commitment for the creation of more jobs in the regions outside Dublin. However, IDA Ireland and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment seem to have a blind spot when it comes to County Laois. Despite Portlaoise and Laois being located on the crossroads of Ireland at the N7, N8, N77, N80, the performance of IDA Ireland and the Department in Laois is dismal. There are just 156 IDA Ireland-backed jobs in the county. More than 12,000 workers commute out of the county every morning. Some have to drive long distances and can find themselves sitting in traffic for two hours. The Leprino cheese factory, which has only been there for three years, is due to close very shortly, with the loss of 132 jobs. I raise this because we do not seem to have got anywhere with it over the years. People have been raising it for three decades. The figures say that 156 jobs have been created but that 132 are going. What is being done by IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland to get replacement industries for the Leprino plant? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  What is being done to develop the 60-plus acres owned by IDA Ireland outside Portlaoise----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy Stanley. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  -----and get industry onto those sites? Will the T\u00e1naiste take this matter up with the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and his Department and ask them to urge IDA Ireland to act quickly in respect of this matter? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  The short answer is that I will speak to my colleague the Minister, Deputy Peter Burke, in relation to this. Thankfully, we live in a country that has had full employment for 16 consecutive quarters, but we are not in any way complacent in saying that. We are seeing a churn, for want of a better phrase, in the jobs market. There is no room for complacency. That is why IDA Ireland, which had its most successful year ever last year, and Enterprise Ireland are receiving a lot of Government support. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  Not in Laois. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  On the Deputy's point about the need to have a plan for replacement jobs in Laois and the use of IDA Ireland land is a fair on, as is that which he makes around people's quality of life and traffic congestion. We believe passionately in balanced regional development. On foot of the Deputy raising this matter today, I will ask the Minister to speak to IDA Ireland and to come back to him directly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan  The T\u00e1naiste will not be surprised that I am again raising the issue of rare diseases. In the coming weeks, RT\u00c9 will be broadcasting a \"Prime Time Investigates\" programme on this topic that will highlight the difficulties patients with such diseases have in accessing drugs here. The T\u00e1naiste was Minister for Health in 2017, so I know he is aware of this matter. Back then, he described the system as broken. The system has not changed one bit in the intervening nine years. There was a bit of transparency in the form of an online tracker, but, fundamentally, the process is the same. I have got to know a lot of people, as has Deputy Aird, over the past few months like Emily Felix, who suffers from Friedreich's ataxia, and Craig Coady, the parent of two boys who also have that terrible and debilitating disease, one of whom passed away, unfortunately. The end for the second child is inevitable because we continue to bury our heads in the sand. We in this House are participants in this because we continue to oversee an overly bureaucratic process that blocks patients from accessing treatment. In some cases, people are travelling to America for treatment that is funded by means of GoFundMe. When are we going to cop on to ourselves and initiate an early access scheme similar to those that obtain right across the EU? It is consistently said that we are laggards. We know this, but we continue to bury our heads in the sand. I ask for early access for these people now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank the Deputy for raising this issue again and for acknowledging Deputy's Aird's interest and work in this area as well. I am very sorry to hear of those extraordinarily painful, difficult and sad situations regarding children. I will seek an urgent update from the Minister on the specific drug and the condition to which it relates and on the Deputy's broader point regarding early access.  I am taken by the point the Deputy made in respect of the process, particularly as, quite frankly we are now in a vastly different situation, from a funding point of view, in relation to new drugs than we were when I was Minister for Health. The drugs budget now is \u20ac4 billion a year----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan  Half a per cent goes to rare diseases. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I take that point too. I think \u20ac1 in every \u20ac8 in the health budget is now spent on drugs. The Deputy's particular point about rare diseases and the need for Ireland to significantly up its game in terms of an early access programme is serious and sincere. I will ask the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, to come back to him directly. Considering that this matter comes up too often in the House, perhaps we could facilitate time for a proper detailed debate on it in order to hear everyone's ideas. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed  I wish to raise two issues regarding the housing assistance payment, HAP, in the context of constituents in Dublin Bay North. The first is HAP discrimination. Is the T\u00e1naiste aware of cases of landlords refusing to take tenants who are on HAP? While this practice is illegal, it is still happening routinely across Dublin Bay North. The other issue is the thresholds that apply. Constituents are being refused HAP support on the basis of their average net income over 12 months. If you lose your job or face a financial crisis, your income falls off a cliff but you are still assessed on the average of the previous 12 months. It is unfair and does not reflect the reality of the situation for those people.  What can we do to better help people who experience sudden and devastating changes to their lives to access those HAP supports? What can we do to deal with those landlords who are refusing access? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank the Deputy for raising this issue with the housing assistance payment. As he rightly says, the law is clear about people not being able to refuse a tenant on the basis of HAP. He is also right to highlight the fact that there are sometimes people trying to skirt the law in this regard. I will bring those comments to the attention of the Minister for housing. The second issue he raised about rent limits is important and I am pleased to tell him the Department has now undertaken a review of all the existing HAP rent limits to ensure there is sufficient support under the HAP scheme to assist eligible households to access accommodation in the private rental sector. It is intended that the review process will conclude before the end of quarter 2, so this summer. We will have an opportunity to consider what to do about reviewing rent limits at that point. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dessie Ellis","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dessie Ellis  Dublin City Council's financial contribution scheme allows homeowners over 60 to sell their home to the local authority in return for making a financial contribution to the council, which then provides senior citizen accommodation to the homeowners. Dublin City Council has been told by the Minister that there is no funding available for this scheme. There are a number of people on a waiting list who wish to avail of this scheme, which can also deliver badly needed housing to the community. Are there any plans to resume funding of this much-needed scheme? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank the Deputy for raising this issue about the financial contribution scheme and Dublin City Council's view that it requires funding for it. Truthfully, I am not sure of the next steps but on foot of the Deputy raising it, I will speak with the Minister, Deputy Browne, and ask him to come back to the Deputy directly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul McAuliffe  The T\u00e1naiste referenced the voice of children, and I want to speak on behalf of two children in Ballymun, aged 11 and 6, who this week came across a discarded loaded firearm, discarded by gangland criminals. Like any children who come across a gun, they fired that gun. It is scary to think how close we came to a tragic accident. Ballymun is a fantastic community but for several months it has experienced significant gangland events. A number of firearms have been discharged since December and last year a man was murdered by a speeding car. It is an extraordinary community, and fantastic work is being done on the ground. I acknowledge the work being done by John Costello with the implementation board. However, we need to ensure this incident is discussed at Cabinet level. These people are undermining the State and are using guns to do that. We need an emergency response to them. Lots of communities want more garda\u00ed. My community needs more garda\u00ed. When garda\u00ed are allocated later this month, we want to see more in the Dublin north region. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank the Deputy for raising an issue that I know has been harrowing for his community and constituency this week. On a human level, there is the trauma and loss of childhood innocence for an 11 year old and the other child the Deputy rightly referenced. For that child to come across and fire a gun, it is but for the grace of God that nobody was seriously injured. That is not to take away from the trauma and the real shock and fear it has caused in the community. I will ensure this is discussed across Government, and I know it will be. Our colleague, the Minister for justice, is keeping in close contact with An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. I know there is an active investigation. I take the broader point about Garda numbers and resources. I can point to some positivity in the Deputy's area in the past while but I will speak to the Minister and ask that he liaise with the Commissioner. We must then support the Ballymun implementation group to do its work. We have invested a lot in setting up that structure and bringing partners together around the table. Perhaps now might be a timely opportunity for the Government to take stock with that group about what it believes should be the next steps. I am happy to discuss that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Neville  I welcome the students and teachers from Confey College. I was on the board for ten years.  Today I raise a fundamental local issue in Leixlip, Celbridge and Maynooth where we had another water outage this week. We have had a number of water outages affecting over 10,000 houses and 25,000 people. Indeed, the students in the Gallery, along with those in other schools, were not able to go to school on Monday because of the outages. This year we had outages on 24 February, 3 April and 27 April combined with six or seven last year and the previous year. I have raised it as a councillor and as a TD and I take the opportunity to raise it again today. Unfortunately, this impacts the most vulnerable in our society, including the oldest and the youngest people and our businesses. I was in contact with one business that only opened six months ago and has had to close for five days. We have given significant money to Uisce \u00c9ireann. We need to build houses but we also need to look after those people who have houses and ensure they have the vital infrastructure. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I join with Deputy Neville in welcoming the students from Confey College. Before I get to the seriousness of the water burst, if you got a day off school for that and a day in the D\u00e1il, it is not a bad week, and there is a bank holiday on Monday. They are welcome and it is great to have them in Leinster House.  The point my colleague and friend, Deputy Neville, makes is a serious one. I know it is one he has been campaigning on and highlighting for quite a while. We have rightly resourced Uisce \u00c9ireann to a significant degree. It is now important that it engages with communities to come up with solutions. I know it is committed to solving and replacing the necessary section of the mains water network that the Deputy has highlighted and there is now a funded capital project in place to address that issue. I am told the project is at design stage and that it is a somewhat of a complex design process owing to the challenges in reinforcing an existing pipe or routing a replacement given the congested nature of the route. It obviously needs to do this while trying to maintain capacity to meet present and future demand. A number of solutions are being investigated but in the interim, immediate steps have been taken to respond to bursts in the area and to try to manage supply interruptions. On foot of the Deputy raising this today, I will ask that Uisce \u00c9ireann come back to him directly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Mythen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Mythen.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Mythen.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Johnny Mythen  I raise an important issue in my constituency. I have been contacted by principals in two of the main schools in my area, namely, St. Aidan's primary school and St. Senan's primary school in Enniscorthy. St. Aidan's school has 861 pupils and St. Senan's has 435 pupils, operating seven special classes and four special classes, respectively. Both schools have expressed utter dissatisfaction at the unprofessional conduct of the NCSE. Both St. Aidan's and St. Senan's primary schools sought a review and asked for the rationale of the decision prior to their appeal as advised and advocated by the NCSE. They have both contacted the NCSE on numerous occasions for clarification of the rationale behind its initial decisions. Without this information, neither school can support a comprehensive and accurate detailed account to back their appeals. I ask the T\u00e1naiste to contact the CEO and the head of inclusion support services of the NCSE to supply St. Aidan's and St. Senan's primary schools with the requested rationale behind its allocation of SNAs to both schools. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank the Deputy for raising the issue of St. Aidan's and St. Senan's. I thank them for all they do to meet the needs of the young people of the community and people with additional needs in Enniscorthy. I also acknowledge that for them to be able to do that in the way they want, and the way people expect them to do it, we need to work with them to support them. On foot of the Deputy raising this, I will ask that the Minister, Deputy Naughton, speak to the NCSE and that it or the Minister make direct contact with him to follow up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Carol Nolan  Last Friday Poland announced that it will file a complaint against the EU-Mercosur trade deal at the Court of Justice of the European Union. As I understand it, this is the first member state to take this step. This follows the European Parliament's earlier referral, which I welcomed as a rare victory for common sense and prudence. Irish beef farmers have been warning for years that this agreement threatens their livelihoods, our food standards and our national interest. Yet, Government opposition has too often looked like political damage limitation rather than principled action. Today I call on the T\u00e1naiste, the Taoiseach and the Minister for foreign affairs to follow Poland's lead immediately and lodge Ireland's own challenge today at the ECJ and use every legal and diplomatic lever available to protect our primary producers before provisional application begins on 1 May. Our farmers cannot afford another EU deal that puts free trade above food security and food standards. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank the Deputy. I make the broad point that this country, including Irish farmers, benefits hugely from free trade. Most of what we produce in this country in the agrifood sector is sold abroad. We are a better and more prosperous nation, and farmers are better and more prosperous, as a result of free trade. However, we had specific concerns about Mercosur because level playing fields, common application of standards and environmental issues matter too. That is why we did not vote in favour of the Mercosur deal and agreement. I know the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade was in Poland this week meeting her counterpart. I will seek an update from her as to whether they discussed the issue of Mercosur and whether there are any plans for us to take further action. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  I raise with the T\u00e1naiste Loreto College in Swords, a State school that was not included in the roll-out of 105 new projects to progress to tender or construction earlier this year.  This omission is not without its immediate consequences. Existing students and staff will continue to work and learn in overcrowded conditions. Most pertinently, up to 16 girls will be unable to take part in transition year during the upcoming academic year. Transition year is crucial in the context of people's educational and personal development. I know that from personal experience many years ago. Every opportunity must be taken to support this school, these families and these girls. Will the Department make direct contact with the school with a view to resolving this crisis and finding a solution? The school feels let down by the Department and the parents feel let down by the school. Ultimately these girls will be let down if they are not allowed take part in transition year and are obliged to go straight to senior cycle. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  On foot of the Deputy raising this matter in relation to Loreto College Swords, I will speak to the Minister, Deputy Naughton, and ask that she engage with the Deputy directly to see if a solution can be found. On education capital more broadly, I would say that the list is not the final word from Government. There will be further allocations made in the time ahead in relation to building more school projects. That is really important. The Deputy's point is that in the here and now, 16 young women cannot access transition year. Let us see if a solution can be found. I presume that if people work together it can be found, but I will ask the Department to engage and the Minister to come back to the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  There is a crisis of community safety in Ballymun in my constituency. This week, an 11-year-old boy found a gun with live ammunition in a public space and discharged it. It is a miracle that a child was not killed or injured. This must be a watershed moment for Ballymun. What happened is utterly unacceptable. I have been consistently raising ongoing community safety issues and the need for increased visibility of garda\u00ed in Ballymun directly with the Minister for justice in the D\u00e1il. He committed that he would act and would fund the Ballymun Implementation Board. However, the reality is that people in the community are scared to let their children out to play. They are being intimidated. This was not an isolated incident.  Five years ago, the Montague report set out a clear plant to tackle the issues of antisocial behaviour and crime via an increase in the number of garda\u00ed and by means of early intervention. However, the recommendation in this regard has still not been implemented. Will the Government give the Ballymun Implementation Board sufficient funding? There is a threat of the board being wound down. That is what has been expressed. It needs sufficient funding to expand and do its work. Will the Government commit to new initiatives on Garda visibility being rolled out in the coming weeks and months in order to ensure nothing else happens and increased funding for early intervention, local community services and the implementation of the Montague report? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Hearne for raising this issue in relation to Ballymun and the absolute horror his community experienced this week when that young child found and discharged a gun. As the Deputy quite rightly said, it is a miracle nobody was seriously harmed or even worse. I take his point that this is not an isolated incident and that there are broader issues in respect of community safety in Ballymun. Similar to my response to Deputy McAuliffe, I assure the Deputy that I will speak with the Minister for justice on this. The Ballymun Implementation Board, from what I can see, is doing very good work, so there is a need for us to further support it. I am very open to facilitating conversations in that regard. It is not for me to tell anyone their business, but perhaps, in the first instance, the Deputies in the constituency could come together and meet the Ballymun Implementation Board and then meet the relevant Ministers to discuss how we can take this forward. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tom Brabazon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tom Brabazon  I want to raise the ongoing works by Uisce \u00c9ireann or its agents at James Larkin Road. These works are causing severe disruption to residents of Raheny, Kilbarrack, Bayside, Howth and Sutton. Tailbacks on the road are a mile long and, most frustratingly, residents are seeing little or no activity on the site of the works. They regularly report to me that there is plant and equipment lying idle on the site and that these vehicles are parked along vast tracts of the James Larkin Road. Along with some of my Oireachtas colleagues, I put various suggestions to Uisce \u00c9ireann, including a tidal flow on the road, but nothing seems to have been accepted or worked on by the company. It is not acceptable that residents in the areas to which I refer are being completely held to ransom by contractors that do not seem to be working with any sense of urgency or of the inconvenience they are causing to the very people who are funding their activities. We all accept that the works are necessary, but Uisce \u00c9ireann needs to react. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Brabazon for raising this significant issue of annoyance, concern and inconvenience for his constituents on the James Larkin Road and in the surrounding areas. As he says, all of us and our communities expect some degree of disruption when works have to be carried out. However, we also expect that these works will be completed in a timely manner and that there will be an awareness and an understanding on the part of those charged with carrying them out on behalf of the taxpayer that they would be done expeditiously. On foot of the Deputy raising the matter, I will speak to the relevant Minister and ask that he make contact directly with Uisce \u00c9ireann and encourages it to come back to the Deputy directly to see if this can be speeded up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Clendennen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Clendennen  In the first instance, I want to acknowledge the commitment of the Government to the local improvement scheme, LIS, which has made a real difference to the lives of rural dwellers since its reintroduction in 2017. This is a really important scheme for households, farmers and community amenities in the context of the maintenance and enhancement of access. The funding provided is not meeting the level of demand, however. Following a recent meeting with the area engineer in the Birr municipal district, Brian Keenaghan, I learned that there is a 12-year waiting list. These are applicants who will never benefit from public lighting or roads, but they need this. They are rural people who are willing to make a contribution and who are willing to pay in relation to this scheme. I ask that the Government to consider the provision of supplementary funding for areas where there are long waiting lists. A 12-year waiting list is simply unacceptable. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Deputy Clendennen is absolutely right. I love the local improvement scheme. It works really well. It makes a real difference to rural communities. As he said, people in rural communities who are always looking to get on and help themselves but sometimes are looking for just a little support as well. It is also clear that people like the LIS, and that is why there has been such a demand. We have seen that across the Deputy's county in places like Birr in the context of the carrying out of works on non-public roads that are not normally maintained by local authorities at all. Since 2020, Offaly County Council has been allocated more than \u20ac4.5 million in LIS funding.  I have discussed this issue with the Minister, Deputy Calleary, who has responsibility for this. He has confirmed that during the course of the year, spending trends across the Department will be monitored and that it will look to reallocate any savings which may arise to schemes such as the local improvement scheme. I am hoping that there may progress on that throughout the course of the year whereby if we see that there is an underspend in one area, we can reallocate the money to an area like County Offaly where there is acute demand. I will keep in touch with the Deputy on this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ann Graves","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ann Graves  The Government has to deal with the crisis relating to school places in Fingal East. What is happening is very serious. I have a 13-year-old boy who is non-verbal and who has ASD. He is meant to be starting first year. His mother is a single parent and she will be forced to give up her job if she cannot get a place for him in September. In Loreto College Swords, 16 have been left without places for transition year. Their parents are at their wits' end. This is causing serious upset and anxiety for the girls in question. In Portmarnock, there is a serious shortage of school places, particularly in St. Marnock\u2019s primary school. Hundreds of houses have been built, which is welcome, but the number of school places does not match the demand that exists. There is an urgent need for expansion of capacity in the school. The Minister sent a standard reply to parents which stated that the demand for primary school places has reduced in recent years and is projected to continue to reduce, but this is not true. The Department indicated that it reviewed demand based on child benefit statements in 2025, but that is clearly not the case because the evidence needed would be there in black and white. We need to do something serious, particularly in light of the growth happening in the area. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I am conscious that Fingal East has one of the youngest populations in the country and is one of the fastest growing areas in the country. We are seeing more houses being built and more people moving in, and they require school places. Sometimes the Department of education can be right on the macro and wrong on the micro. It needs to take a look again at specific parts of the country, including the Deputy's, where there is acute need. We made a significant additional allocation of \u20ac668 million to the Department of education about a week or two ago. That was a recognition there is going to be a need for capacity in the school system from this September, most particularly in relation to special educational needs and the provision of additional classes. I will ask the Minister, Deputy Naughton, to come back to the Deputy on the specific areas of her constituency to which she referred. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  Over the weekend, the T\u00e1naiste stated that the Government is exploring one-off payments towards environmentally-friendly measures such as heat pumps and efficient cars. I welcome that the Government is looking at how it can support householders more. My worry is by floating for potential of new grants without a timeline, there is some risk people will defer big decisions on new EVs or heat pumps until there is clarity. One comment on my social media was as follows: \"Yep, we were about to pull the trigger on a heat pump; now not sure if we should wait or not\". I also asked the Taoiseach about this matter during Questions on Policy and Legislation yesterday but I was not much clearer about it afterwards. There is confusion out there. Will the T\u00e1naiste give as much clarity as he can right now? Is a scheme for more financial support for heat pumps and EVs on the way imminently?  Will the T\u00e1naiste give us as close to a \"Yes\" or \"No\" answer on that because there are people waiting on that clarity in terms of big investment decisions they make in their own households? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  The answer is that I am hoping we can do more on measures in the budget to help people adapt, and I am hoping we can do more in each budget that comes thereafter. The budget is 6 October. I know the Deputy does not need to be told this, but the point I was trying to make is that we should not reduce the conversation in here to just about a cash support right now if there are actually other things we can do that would have greater benefit for people's households. We have made a lot of changes already this year. We are seeing the numbers significantly up and we are seeing huge demand even this week in people accessing and seeking to access these schemes. I am just making the point that not just in Ireland, but also in Europe, we are going to need to continue to explore what more we can do to get away from fossil fuels beyond the conversation about how we subsidise the paying for fossil fuels. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Before we conclude our business, I want to join with the Members who expressed their good wishes to Brigid McGlynn and to wish her well in her retirement. Anyone who knows Brigid knows her as an extremely hard-working member of staff of this House. I am sure that the vast amount of knowledge and experience that she has over all of her years of service will be missed when she goes into retirement. She is a very pleasant person, hard working and dedicated. I wish her the very best on her last day here and for the future in her retirement with her family. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar fionra\u00ed ar 1.21 p.m. agus cuireadh t\u00fas leis ar\u00eds ar 2.01 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Sitting suspended at 1.21 p.m. and resumed at 2.01 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Pholasa\u00ed n\u00f3 ar Reachta\u00edocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_36","debateType":"statement","bill":null,"showAs":"Supports for Hauliers and Supply Chains: Statements","counts":{"speechCount":23,"speakerCount":19},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_36","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Canney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Lahart","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Lahart.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Lahart.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"William Aird","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I welcome the Minister for Transport, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, and the Minister of State, Deputy Se\u00e1n Canney. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Transport (Deputy Darragh O'Brien)  I thank the Ceann Comhairle. I will be sharing my time with the Minister of State, Deputy Canney. I welcome the opportunity to address the House on the road transporters' support scheme, RTSS. I will provide more detail on the scheme and who the scheme will support . The road haulage sector is of national strategic importance in bringing essential supplies into and around the State, supporting key infrastructure and enabling the maintenance of all economic and social activity in our country. Employment in the logistics and supply chain sector is expanding with over 246,000 people working across diverse logistics and supply chain roles, including nearly 60,000 in the transport sector, according to the 2022 census data. The commercial bus and coach sector is a pillar of Ireland's public transport and tourism sector ensuring urban and rural connectivity and underpinning public and school transport networks. Both sectors have been significantly impacted by a multitude of crises in recent years, from the Covid-19 pandemic to the temporary closure of Holyhead Port. These critical transport sectors have demonstrated remarkable resilience and a willingness to collaborate with policymakers to overcome challenges.  Recent cost pressures borne out of the conflict in Iran represent a threat not just to the transport sector but indeed to our whole economy. Higher prices for hauliers lead to secondary price rises across all sectors they supply and feed into higher prices across our economy. The European Commission has stated that it is essential to contain freight transport costs to limit wider inflationary pressures. This Government has acted quickly and decisively to support our hauliers and public transport providers. On 24 March, the Government allocated \u20ac250 million in targeted supports to assist those experiencing real and immediate financial pressure including reductions in excise rates for fuels and increased repayment rates for eligible recipients of the diesel rebate scheme. On 12 April the Government agreed a new additional package of measures to further reduce excise rates on fuel and it announced additional supports for the transport sector and the farming and fisheries industries at an estimated cost of \u20ac505 million. In total, this is a package of over \u20ac755 million. This is proportionately the largest package of supports provided by any EU member state.  I am pleased to inform the House that the details of the scheme to support the haulage and coach sector have been agreed by Government. I can now provide a detail of its design and implementation. The road transporters' support scheme, RTSS, will be modelled on the licensed hauliers support schemes of 2022 and 2023. They were deployed at the time to assist the sector given the higher fuel prices following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. I can confirm that the RTSS will go further than the previous schemes and will be open to both licensed road haulage operators and own-account sector operators, as well as licensed road passenger operators subject to certain criteria. Supports will also be provided to operators of the TFI Local Link services under contract with the National Transport Authority, and school transport services through the Department of Education and Youth.  Passenger service operators that do not fall under the scope of the supports provided by the NTA or Department of Education and Youth may be eligible for support under this scheme. Applications for support will be considered on a case-by-case basis, which is necessary given the complexity of most passenger service providers' business models where the same operator may provide services under Local Link services, school transport services, and indeed on a commercial basis. The scheme is directed primarily at the road transport sector given its importance to the wider supply chain and to businesses and communities throughout the country. The scheme reflects the immediate need for financial support and the ongoing commitment of the Government to work with the sector to maintain Ireland's essential trade and strategic supply chains.  I commend the representatives of the haulage sector, the coach and the bus operators on the really constructive way in which they engaged with the Government right the way through the course of this year, and they continue to do so, representing their members exceptionally well.  The RTSS will provide direct payments to haulage and coach operators. Payments will be graduated with smaller businesses receiving a proportionately greater level of support. An initial payment backdated from March 2026 will be made to each qualifying haulage or coach operator. The scheme will remain in place for three months and payments will be made for April and May if the national average price of diesel exceeds \u20ac1.90 per litre in any given month. The RTSS will also offer support for operators of ferry services to and from our island communities that do not hold a government contract that includes a fuel price variation clause. My Department is liaising with the Department of the Gaeltacht and rural affairs on how to administer this support.  The combined cost of these supports for the transport sector is estimated at \u20ac40 million per month. The Minister of State at the Department of Transport and I will administer the scheme. Officials have already begun to develop an electronic application and processing system to facilitate payments under the scheme. We estimate it will take a number of weeks to complete the development of the system itself. Again, we have engaged with the sector on that and it is content with that. This will allow an efficient payment system through an online portal application, which will be a simple application with certain criteria set out around tax compliance and various things like that which are important. Engagement with the European Commission on state-aid rules is ongoing in parallel with the system development. The Department is working towards opening the scheme for applications in the next couple of weeks with payments made as quickly as possible thereafter.  I am sure Deputies will agree there has been some concern that supports will only be provided to licensed hauliers or to hauliers who are members of recognised representative bodies. I assure the House and the sector that the scheme has been designed to support the overall road transport sector to the very widest possible extent. Having said that, a key design consideration of this scheme is the need to avoid over compensation for operators with mixed business models who could otherwise seek support under the fuel support scheme being established by colleagues in the Department of agriculture. A number of key eligibility criteria will apply and it is important to note that eligibility does not mean an entitlement to funding. I would expect that this scheme can support up to about 48,000 operators, which is up from 25,000 in the previous scheme. Each application will be assessed by officials within the Department of Transport against a common set of requirements. Payments will be made to applicants once they can satisfy the necessary criteria. Full details on eligibility criteria and the application process will be made available as soon as possible. We expect that to be within the next week but I will highlight some of the minimum requirements today. As payments will be backdated to 1 March all applicants must meet the following conditions as of that date. They must be a holder of a road haulage operator licence issued by the Department of Transport, or where the applicant is not normally required to hold a road haulage operator licence be an operator whose normal commercial activity relates to the carriage of goods by roads, or be the holder of a passenger operator licence issued by the Department of Transport.  In all cases, only vehicles registered on the Department\u2019s National Vehicle and Driver File database with motor tax paid and a valid commercial vehicle road worthiness test, CVRT, certificate will be eligible for support under the scheme. All applicants will be required to be registered for tax in this State, have a valid tax clearance certificate and be able to demonstrate that their business is an ongoing concern. Declarations and proof will be sought from all applicants and will be verified by the Department.  For licensed road hauliers, supports will be provided for all vehicles of over 3,500 kg listed on their licences as of 1 March. Licensed passenger operators will be eligible only for vehicles listed on their passenger operator licences. Some passenger operators provide services under Local Link or school transport services as well as on a commercial basis. Officials are working with the NTA and the Department of education to ensure that these providers are fairly supported, either through contractual arrangements or under this scheme. The RTSS will follow the same structure as the previous licensed haulage support scheme.  I will go through the amounts. Adjustments have been made to reflect inflation. A total of \u20ac1,350 is being given per vehicle for the first five vehicles. An additional \u20ac790 per vehicle will be given for the sixth to 20th vehicles, while an extra \u20ac300 will be allocated per vehicle for operators with 21-plus vehicles. Based on the Department of Transport\u2019s data, the average licensed haulier has 17 vehicles on their operator's licence. That business would receive a payment of \u20ac16,230. In that instance, the operator will receive \u20ac1,350 for each of their first five vehicles and \u20ac790 for each of their next 12 vehicles.  I will shortly hand over to the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, who will provide more detail on some of measures. Before I do that, however, I wish to reassure the House that the support package has been carefully considered following ongoing engagement that the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, officials and I have had with representatives of the haulage and passenger services. One must take this scheme in the context of the other measures it is coupled with, such as the significant excise duty reductions, the National Oil Reserves Agency, NORA, levy pause and the increase in the diesel rebate scheme, which is administered by the Revenue Commissioners and runs until the end of July.  By any fair assessment, and to be fair to the sector, this had been broadly welcomed. This is a robust and significant support package for a sector that needs and deserves our support because it is critical to our economy and supply chain. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Canney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Transport (Deputy Se\u00e1n Canney)  I thank the Minister, Deputy O\u2019Brien, for sharing his time with me and for the information he has provided to the House today. I reiterate my support for the sector and thank the representative bodies for their ongoing commitment to address the challenges we are facing in a spirit of constructive dialogue and collaboration. The Irish Road Haulage Association, IRHA, the Coach Tourism and Transport Council, CTTC, and Freight Transport Association Ireland, FTAI, have been working diligently with us and our officials over a long number of weeks to ensure that this support package is brought in and targeted.  As the Minister said in his opening remarks, the haulage sector is of national strategic importance and the road transport sector faces a challenging operating environment. Higher prices for hauliers add costs for each and every person in our country. In the four weeks from 2 March to 30 March, diesel prices at the pump rose by approximately 25%. According to industry data, operating margins in the supply chain sector were about 6% in 2025, with fuel costs accounting for approximately 47% of the operational costs for a typical 46-tonne articulated vehicle. When looked at in this light, even a marginal, sudden increase in fuel costs can represent a significant challenge to the liquidity of operators in the haulage and supply chain sectors. This may be even more pronounced for smaller operators, with nearly half of licensed road haulage operators only having one vehicle.  Small and medium operators constitute the lifeblood of the road haulage industry. As a result, rising fuel costs mean increased costs for everyone in the supply chain. It is vital, therefore, to minimise the impact of these costs on end consumers. The support scheme will support hauliers and transport operators to absorb some of these additional costs and continue to play their vital role in our economy. By helping our road transport sector, the scheme will also help protect consumers who otherwise would face increased costs across a range of everyday goods and services were the transport sector forced to pass on fuel cost increases to their customers.  I know that Deputies want to ensure that nobody is inadvertently left out of the scheme. That is a priority for me and my Cabinet colleagues as well. I will outline those eligible for the support scheme. The scheme will be open to both licensed road haulage operators and the own-account sector, subject to eligibility criteria, where the vehicle is used for the carriage of goods by road. Someone will be able to submit an application for heavy goods vehicles weighing over 3.5 tonnes in their fleet, provided the vehicles were in their fleet on 1 March 2026. All operators looking for support will need to be registered in the State, compliant and operating as a going concern for the duration of the scheme. There is no limit to the number of vehicles for which they can apply for support, but verification checks will be conducted to ensure that applications are only made in respect of vehicles that are actively used by operators in the course of their commercial activities. Verification will also be undertaken to ensure that the commercial activity is related to the carriage of goods by road and that the vehicle is roadworthy and compliant with all motor tax requirements for the duration of the scheme.  As the scheme is primarily directed at the road transport sector, it will not be open to farmers or the construction sector in respect of machinery used as part of their operations that are fuelled by marked diesel oil or green diesel. They may be eligible for support under the RTSS for other vehicles in their fleets if the vehicles are used for the carriage of goods by road and meet all the eligibility requirements. However, I welcome the \u20ac100 million allocated for the fuel subsidy support scheme, FSSS, that is being implemented by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to assist farmers, agricultural contractors and fishers in managing the increased cost of marked gas oil. As a rural TD, I know how higher prices have impacted on these sectors. This scheme will support those people to maintain their essential work across the country. Further information on the eligibility criteria will be made available by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and it is expected that applications for support will be possible in mid-May, with payments to follow thereafter.  Although the RTSS is aimed primarily at road transporters, it is important that we also support transport to and from our offshore islands. While the Department of Transport does not look after these services, it is important that the House is aware that the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht supports island communities by providing subsidised ferry, cargo and air services between the islands and the mainland to ensure the continued viability of these communities.  In 2025, there were 25 contracts for subsidised passenger and cargo ferry services. These contracts include a fuel price variation clause, which will be activated in order to support these providers. There are also several non-subsidised ferry services to the offshore islands, many of whom operate on a seasonal basis. It is envisaged that non-subsidised ferry services to the offshore islands may be eligible for support through a similar mechanism. While the application of the fuel price variation clause in respect of the subsidised services is a matter for the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, my Department will work with it to the greatest extent possible to ensure that all service providers are supported.  I will provide the House with some more detail on how we will support the passenger transport operators and school bus providers who are a critical part of our public transport system, providing essential connectivity across both urban and rural areas. These services are not operated on a commercial basis, so time-bound supports are necessary to protect service capacity and maintain continuity across the sector. TFI Local Link services are provided under the public transport public service obligation, PSO, a service managed by the NTA. Contracts under the PSO include a fuel variation mechanism to allow for additional payments to providers in circumstances such as those currently being experienced. The fuel subsidy uplift varies by month in line with the actual change in costs incurred by operators. In many cases, fuel costs for publicly contracted services will be covered, in whole or in part, through State subvention or contract pricing mechanisms.  There are three separate school transport services transporting 181,000 children and young people to school on over 8,700 buses and taxis, covering more than 11,000 routes daily. These services are typically delivered under fixed-price contracts, leaving operators exposed to rising fuel costs with little ability to adjust pricing.  To address this, a temporary fuel variation mechanism will be introduced, aligned with the approach used for other contracted services. Support will be delivered through existing arrangements with Bus \u00c9ireann and the Department of Education and Youth and will target operators which are not already compensated for fuel cost increases. Officials from our Department will assist their counterparts in the operation of the scheme where necessary.  Passenger service operators that do not fall under the scope of the supports provided by the NTA or Department of Education and Youth may be eligible for support under the RTSS. Applications for support will be considered on a case-by-case basis. This will be necessary given the complexity of most passenger service provider business models where the same operator may provide services under Local Link services, school transport services or on a commercial basis.  I want to be as open as possible that there may be some overlap between the bus and core supports and the road transport and the fuel subsidy support schemes. Any overlaps are expected to be minimal and are reasonable in the context of our transport business operates. For example, a business that provides agricultural contracting services and has haulage operations may benefit in respect of different vehicles for the road transport support scheme and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine fuel subsidy support scheme. A licensed passenger operator providing bus services to and from piers for island ferries may benefit from the road transport scheme and Department of Rural and Community Development supports.  Licensed passenger operators who provide commercial bus services as well as school transport services may be eligible for support from both schemes in respect of different parts of their business. It should be noted that the Local Link services are provided through identified separate vehicles. These vehicles will be excluded from the road transport support scheme. Therefore, operators of Local Link will not receive support under the road transport scheme in respect of the licensed vehicles used for Local Link schemes.  As the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, indicated, the scheme will run for three months, from March to May. An initial payment backdated to March 2026 will be made to each qualifying haulage or coach operator. Payments will only be made in respect of April and May should the national average price of diesel exceed \u20ac1.90 per litre in either month. For the avoidance of doubt, the same payment structure and rates will apply in these months regardless of how much or how little the average diesel price exceeds \u20ac1.90 per litre. The \u20ac1.90 per litre level is a critical measure for the commercial transport sector, in the experience of the representative bodies, after which many businesses may become unviable. The development of an electronic application and processing system to facilitate payments is under way and applications are expected to commence soon.  In the meantime, my Department continues to engage with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment's state aid experts on the notification of details of the scheme to the EU Commission. The European Commission is working on a state aid temporary crisis framework to support the EU economy in the context of the Middle East crisis. Ireland has provided feedback on the proposals and the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, discussed the impact of the Middle East crisis on transport in Ireland and the necessary priority measures with other EU Transport Ministers on 21 April. As such, I will provide further information on which state aid framework the road transport support scheme will operate within once officials in our Department and the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment have had the opportunity to review the Commission's forthcoming temporary crisis framework.  In conclusion, I want to reiterate that the Government is acutely aware of the challenges faced by the road transport sector in recent months. The transport support scheme is a wholly necessary support for an industry that is a crucial employer and underpins the broader economy. Together with the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and officials in my Department, I will continue to engage constructively with representative bodies not only on recent cost pressures but on other challenges, including driver shortages and decarbonisation. I am grateful for the opportunity to share details of the scheme today. I look forward to confirming the opening date for applications in the coming weeks and I welcome the contributions of Deputies on this important topic.  I would again like to reiterate that the engagement we have had with representative groups started the week that the crisis in Iran began, and has been ongoing since and will continue. It is important that that dialogue creates a basis by which we can face the challenges going forward because the challenges will change as we go along. The other issue is that the complexity of transport, coach and education delivery involves complications in each area. We have developed a scheme that is simple and easy to operate. All of our officials will work together to ensure that the application process can happen as quickly as possible and funding can get out to keep cash flow going for those who need it most. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  The haulage industry is essential to Ireland's economy. It is not just about moving goods; it is about keeping local economies alive. Every shop shelf, building site and farm relies on a local driver and business to keep moving. The sector was already under considerable strain before this crisis. When the US and Israel began their war on Iran, which spread across the region, the pressure became unbearable.  Despite this, the Government sat on its hands four weeks, prevaricating until people were forced onto the streets to make their voices heard. Only then did the Government take action. Still, it only came up with half measures and continued to overlook large swathes of our economy and society. Its measures fell far short. What about the 750,000 households who are reliant on home heating oil? Their prices have skyrocketed by over 70% and the Government had and still has no answers for them. What about the hundreds of thousands of households in energy arrears who are racking up record debt? What about the surging number of households that are having their electricity cut off? Where is the Government's answer to them? They have been abandoned and left out in the cold by this do nothing and out of touch Government.  The truth is that we are living through a moment of unprecedented crisis, with record levels of households in arrears and skyrocketing numbers of people at risk of energy poverty. Yet, with each passing day things are deteriorating. Across the country, ordinary people are doing everything right. They are working hard, budgeting carefully and cutting back whenever they can but it is not good enough. This is no longer about tightening belts because, for many people, there is nothing left to cut. The reality is simple. People are struggling to heat their homes, face electricity bills they cannot afford and are paying more every week for fuel, groceries and the basics of daily life - none of these costs can be avoided.  While all of that is happening, they are being told to wait for the next budget, even though the last did not have anything for working families. They are being told to wait for the markets to settle and to wait for help that never seems to arrive. That is not leadership; it is political failure. When people are forced to choose between heating their homes and putting food on the table, the response cannot be half measures and recycled analyses. An emergency requires an emergency response. What we have seen so far simply does not meet the scale of the crisis.  There is a growing disconnect between decision makers and ordinary people. We hear of strong public finances, healthy balance sheets and a surplus but in kitchens and sitting rooms across the country, there is no surplus. Their economy is wrecked. There is only stress, worry and fear about how bills will be paid. Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael are completely out of touch. This pressure is not only crushing households; it is putting an enormous strain on people and sectors to keep our communities alive. Hauliers are the perfect example. They are the backbone of our local and national economy. Hauliers are essential to every pharmacy that dispenses medicine. A truck is necessary to keep goods moving. These are often small family run businesses, providing stable and secure jobs, especially in rural and regional areas. They support local garages, mechanics, fuel and service providers and when haulage works, communities work.  Fuel is not just another cost for hauliers. It is their livelihood. Rising diesel prices cannot be absorbed forever. When haulage firms are pushed to the brink, the consequences are severe. Jobs are lost, costs rise and ordinary consumers end up paying more. The same is true for farmers. They are under relentless pressure with fuel, electricity, fertiliser and feed costs, all of which have increased sharply. Yet, farmers have little control over the prices they receive and are being squeezed from every side. They are not just producers of food; they are the backbone of rural Ireland, sustaining local economies and, by and large, they spend their money locally. They keep communities alive. When farmers struggle, rural communities suffer and so does our food security.  It is about protecting jobs, safeguarding supply chains and keeping local economies functioning. Supporting farmers and hauliers is not just about special treatment. Acknowledgement alone will not pay the bills.  What is needed now is decisive action. That is why Sinn F\u00e9in is calling for an immediate emergency budget. The Exchequer is billions of euro in surplus but in the real world people are counting every cent to be able to afford the basics. People cannot wait until next year. We need a budget now and we have set out what clearly needs to be done. We need energy credits for households, a \u20ac500 payment for people with disabilities, a suite of measures to protect the most vulnerable and a permanent cut to the USC that puts \u20ac500 back in people's pockets. This must happen now. Ordinary people cannot wait again until the end of the year.  It brings us back to the central issue, that of political choices. A cost-of-living crisis on this scale is not inevitable but how it is managed reflects priorities. It is a choice of whether to protect those who are already comfortable or to stand with workers, families and communities under pressure. Energy affordability is a clear example. High prices are not simply the result of global forces; they are shaped by how systems are designed, regulated and taxed. If energy remains treated primarily as a commodity for profit rather than a necessity, ordinary people will pay the price. Climate action is another area where fairness matters. Measures that increase living costs without realistic alternatives do not change behaviour; they deepen hardship. That transition must be a just one that brings people with it rather than leaving them behind. The crisis is about dignity, about whether people can live decent lives, heat their homes, put food on the table and plan for the future without constant anxiety. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  Hauliers, farmers and agricultural contractors are among those who only a few years ago would have been called essential workers. Coach operators, too, are essential for day-to-day life, especially in rural Ireland where public transportation options are sorely lacking. They pick up some of the slack begotten to us by the dearth of inward investment from successive Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael governments. They operate on incredibly slim margins. In the face of drastically increasing fuel prices, they are looking to the Minister of State and his Government to alleviate that burden so that they can produce food, transport it and other goods, and help ordinary people go about their day-to-day lives, get to work, school or college, or just go about their ordinary business.  The Taoiseach and the Minister of State seem taken aback when Members of the Opposition continue to raise this with them. The Taoiseach thinks people are failing to realise that the crisis has arisen due to international events outside of his control. The frustration being felt by hauliers, farmers, farm contractors, coach operators and many more is not because they do not comprehend international circumstances; it is because they looked to the Government in response to a cost-of-living crisis on which it has utterly failed them. The price shocks that are felt by the sector have knock-on effects for all ordinary workers and families, even beyond the immediacy of the energy shocks it is feeling itself. The Minister of State is failing them too with his meagre, paltry, half-baked and half-arsed half-measures. What we need now is to see real political intervention that meets the scale of the challenge that we face and that requires an emergency budget immediately. People cannot wait until October. We need to see petrol and diesel made affordable. We need to see carbon tax wiped off home heating oil and green diesel, with not one single cent in increases in carbon tax. We need the energy credits, which the Government callously ripped from people, restored. We need targeted social welfare packages for carers, pensioners and people with disabilities. Struggling businesses and ordinary people and workers need this now and it is no less than what is deserved during a cost-of-living crisis. We need an emergency budget. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  What we are looking at here is insufficient action by Government to deal with the pressure people are under at this point. It is little that they are getting, but they would be getting nothing if it had not been for those protestors who went out onto the streets. I spoke to many of them. Many of those who were out in the Minister of State's own part of the world probably voted for him. I have no doubt that they voted for Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael in an awful lot of cases. I could not get over the fact of how let down they felt by those they had supported probably over generations. That is the reality. Who are we talking about? We are talking about hauliers, farmers, farm contractors and bus and coach operators, many of whom did not always get any wins in rebate schemes that existed previously, so I would like to think that the schemes being operated will be delivered for them.  Being left out altogether, however, are the regular Joe and Josephine; the 750,000 people who use home heating oil. Nothing is being provided for them - not a penny. We hear the statistics at the minute. Some 19.2% has been the increase in electricity bills over March and April. We know 317,000 cannot pay and are in arrears on their electricity bills. I think 25% of those are in arrears on their gas bills. The ESRI reports - this is historic - that 14% of Irish households in 2024 were unable to afford adequate warmth or energy. Think of that. That is long before we get to the place we are in now. We all accept this is down to the lunacy of Donald Trump being led by genocidal Israel and Benjamin Netanyahu. We understand there are limits to what the international community and the Government can do on that. However, people expect sense here. They expect supports. What are we talking about in terms of supports? We are talking about energy credits to reduce electricity bills. We are talking about cuts to fuel taxes. The Government could go further in relation to petrol and diesel than 15 cent. That is before we talk about the abject failure there has been on green diesel. I cannot get over the fact that kerosene has not been touched in any way, shape or form. We need an emergency budget. Pearse Doherty has said it. Mary Lou McDonald has said it. Many in the Opposition have said it and more will be saying it into the future. We need cuts to the USC. None of this is good enough. We also need the cost-of-disability payment because they are the people the Government has really let down. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  First, we all recognise the integral part the haulage industry plays everywhere across the country. In every community around the country there are so many small haulage companies that are usually working on contracts that are very tight and for which there is tight competition. Many people in this House would understand that. When the companies get that contract they have to fulfil it. Very often, if there is any difference in what their costs are compared with what they were projected to be, they are in trouble. That is where a lot of them found themselves, which led to them going out protesting and pleading for help in recent weeks. I met many of the protestors. Farmers, hauliers and ordinary people who had no connection to any of those industries were also there saying they had to get something out of this. That is the biggest problem with the suite of measures announced by the Government. We would like to get the detail of it. While a lot of it was announced----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  It is on the way. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  -----here today, we have not seen it on paper. It would be very useful to get that. Anything that happens that benefits people is welcome, but the problem is that it has been like pulling teeth to get even this far and we have an awful long journey to go to ensure ordinary people can get any sense they are being looked after in all of this. The one thing I found when talking to people out on the protest was that the change they wanted to see was the price coming down at the pump for everybody, not just for the sectors. They thought everybody needed to get it so that the ordinary people who had to travel to work and bring their children to appointments would all benefit as well. So far there has been little for them. That is one of the problems with this package.  The agriculture industry has also, of course, been acutely affected. The first announcement, which brought down 3 cent off the green diesel, was absolutely laughable. It is welcome that there is a change in that. However, again, it is not this year; it is going back looking at what fuel they used last year and taking five months off that. A whole complicated process has been put in place, which is regrettable. The way to do it is to put it at what people buy today and reduce it for them now. That is what people wanted to see happen. That has not happened. That is one of the most regrettable parts of this. We need to see a mini budget.  We need to see something put in place that will deliver for ordinary people. The USC is a clear area where something needs to be done. It was brought in as an emergency years ago but nothing has happened since then. It has been kept. We are well past that emergency now. The emergency is at the other side to try to remove it.  I wish to make a point regarding haulage. I have had several haulage companies contact me. It is very difficult to get drivers. An awful lot of them are having to bring drivers in from abroad, particularly from outside of the European Union. The immigration portal that has been set up is an absolute disaster. People are waiting months to get processed and they are waiting months even for renewals. Perhaps that is the something the Minister will raise with the Minister for justice because it is a real problem for people apart from the other crisis that we have regarding costs. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert O'Donoghue  I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to speak on the supports needed for hauliers and supply chains but also the wider reality facing working people across Ireland. We cannot underestimate how vital the haulage industry is in keeping our society running. Hauliers are the backbone of our economy. They keep food on the shelves, medicines in the pharmacies and goods moving in every town, village and community across the country. When crises hit, it is often the hauliers who are the first to feel it. When global effects of illegal wars and the instability associated with the Trump and Netanyahu started war began to be felt in Ireland in recent weeks, it was the hauliers who were at the cutting edge of the crisis along with the agricultural sector. They raised the alarm early about the spiralling fuel costs and the growing pressures facing families, businesses and workers alike.  I raised this in the Chamber before the protests as in my constituency of Dublin Fingal West, I have been contacted by growers who are rapidly facing increasing financial costs. I ask the Minister and Minister of State to consider supports for our growers who use gas to heat their glasshouses. For example, the heating bill of Welgro Produce in Rush will go from \u20ac200,000 to \u20ac400,000 this year, based on gas prices, which puts their survival in jeopardy. A small number of growers use it and we do not have a large community of growers left. From a food security point of view, we cannot afford to lose them.  The Government's announcement of fuel supports for the sector was necessary and welcome. Without intervention, many operators, particularly small and medium-sized firms, will be pushed to the brink. The Irish haulage industry is overwhelmingly made up small and medium enterprises. Some are family run businesses, local employers and owner-drivers who are deeply embedded in their communities. They are also highly fuel intensive by nature, which means they have been among the sectors hardest hit by the rising energy costs. The Labour Party has called for and welcomed the supports to keep exposed sectors operating during this crisis, including support for hauliers who are absolutely essential to our economy and supply chains.  While immediate relief is essential, we also have to ask ourselves a bigger question. How do we stop Ireland from being exposed to these shocks in the future? What this crisis has shown us very clearly is that we cannot continue stumbling from one emergency package to another while leaving the underlying problems unresolved. Whether we are talking about hard-pressed households or exposed industries, the lesson is the same. Short-term supports matter but long-term change is more important. The crisis has illustrated just how important investment in clean renewable energy really is, not just as a climate measure but, more importantly, at this point as an energy security measure and a cost-of-living measure. If we continue to depend so heavily on imported fossil fuels, then workers, farmers, families and businesses will continue to pay the price every time global instability raises its head and drives up the cost of energy. That is why we must strategically invest in the haulage sector and support a just transition for workers and businesses in the industry.  We need to support hauliers in shielding themselves from fossil fuel shocks by accelerating the decarbonisation of the haulage fleet. At the moment, Ireland remains heavily dependent on diesel-powered heavy good vehicles. That leaves our supply chains extremely vulnerable, and businesses exposed every time there is volatility in the international energy market. However, this does not have to be the case. Countries across Europe and around the world are moving rapidly to electrify their haulage fleets. They understand that doing so is not just good for the environment but it is good for economic resilience, supply chain security and long-term affordability. Here in Ireland, the Department of Transport's zero emissions heavy duty scheme, which is welcome, is supposed to be the key tool for supporting this transition. While it is welcome, it could be working more effectively. If we are serious about modernising our haulage sector and protecting it from future crises, then we need to see a far greater investment in this scheme and stronger incentives for businesses to make the switch.  At present, the pace of progress simply does not match the scale of the challenge. Yet we know that where governments take the issue seriously and provide the right supports, businesses respond positively. Hauliers understand the long-term advantages of electrification, such as lower operational costs, reduced exposure to fuel price shocks and greater sustainability. Many simply cannot shoulder the upfront costs alone. They need to be supported. That is why Government leadership matters. While we discuss supports for industries and businesses, we must never lose sight of the people behind the headlines. Ordinary workers are suffering too. Families across Ireland are under sustained pressure from rising energy bills, rising rents and mortgages, rising grocery costs and rising childcare costs. For many households, every week has become a struggle to just make it through. Increasingly people feel exhausted. Working families who do everything right still find themselves falling behind. Carers are stretched beyond breaking point. Disabled people are trying to survive on inadequate supports while dealing with rising daily living costs. Low- and middle-income workers are carrying enormous pressure while feeling the Government response is too little, too late. Many of these people are simply too exhausted to advocate for themselves. That is why we must advocate for them here.  While the supports announced for sectors like haulage are welcome, there are also genuine working people, working families, disabled people and carers who are just about getting by day-to-day and desperately need targeted supports during this crisis. The Government cannot continue to rely on piecemeal and reactive measures. What we need now is a transparent targeted package of supports that prioritises ordinary people as much as industry. We need measures that genuinely reduce the cost of living, strengthen energy security and protect vulnerable households from being left behind. The truth is that a resilient economy is not just one where supply chains survive, it is one where workers, families and communities survive also. If the crisis teaches us anything, it should be that protecting our economy and protecting our people goes hand-in-hand while moving towards energy and food security. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John McGuinness  I welcome the package of measures under the transporters' support scheme being debated. It is absolutely necessary for this scheme to be rolled out quickly. I note there will be back payments and that it is a short scheme. There will be recognition of any further turbulence in relation to oil markets and the impact that those markets may have on our economy. My background is in haulage, both in the heavy haulage end of it and the parcel end of it. I have seen first hand what is happening to haulage companies. They have gone through the experience of the crash warehousing their debt and their revenue. They have worked away to stay in business to this day. I compliment them on the efforts that they made. Most of those big companies are based on family and commitment from their employees. They are the main employers in some local communities, or they are certainly part of a network of small businesses that create a huge number of jobs in rural Ireland.  The question is whether they deserve the support, and the answer is that they do. Every time there is a price increase and that price increase is passed on, it is the end user who pays for it. It is always the customer of one company or another that has to use transport to get goods and services to the market or the bigger companies that use parcel operators throughout the country to transport their goods or services. That is why I would like the Minister of State to respond, if necessary, to the bigger just-in-time services, particularly those companies that are in Dublin and have a huge number of vans in their fleet, to ensure the parcels they receive, whether business to business, business to household or simply online purchases, are supported. It is hugely important that all those sectors that rely heavily on the cost of fuel be examined and that the State be agile in its response to any issues that might arise for those businesses. I say this because the profit margin in haulage companies is not exactly big. Their profit is heavily reliant on the stability of the cost of inputs and so on. It turns out we cannot rely on that stability any more because of the wars.  It is good to see bus and coach operators there. If we can stabilise their costs, it means those using their services will not face extra costs. It is a sensible approach in the scheme and it is addressing directly the issues that will impact on our economy and on the people who rely on these services.  Expressway formally notified the National Transport Authority that it will not be operating route 4 as and from the end of this month. That will have a huge impact on the travelling public going to hospital appointments, schools, colleges or wherever they might be going for social occasions. To think that service would end without a seamless transition to another service and another bus operator, the mind boggles. It should not be allowed to happen. I have no doubt that part of the problem for the route was the cost of putting the vehicle on the road, the cost of energy and the cost of fuel. It will now be introduced for Carlow to Waterford in terms of a public service obligation but what concerns local communities affected along the route from Waterford to Dublin Airport is the fact they might not have a service or that they may only have a part service because of the public service obligation. I want to put the Minister of State on notice that that is not good enough and we will need a response in time, ensuring the costs affecting that route in terms of Expressway's provision are addressed.  The public discontent about how people were treated during the recent protests cannot be ignored by this House. There was too much inconsiderate language used to described those who were on the protest. The people I met on the protest in Kilkenny and Carlow were ordinary farmers, businesspeople and families who wanted to express the fact that they were suffering badly in terms of the cost of living, the cost of energy, the cost of home heating oil and so on. In Kilkenny, I saw where Philip Ireland, who organised the event, worked closely with the Garda. They provided stewards and there was no hassle. As I said in the House during another debate, it was the first time I saw kids having the space to play hopscotch on a roundabout.  There was a good feeling within that protest, yet there was a sad side to it as well. There were families who were forced to go out in that protest to get their message across to the political system. It is disappointing that those early protestors who asked politely for a meeting were not heard. I am not talking about what happened at the end of the protest. I am not talking about those who were considered to be far right or however they were described. The ones I am speaking about were ordinary people trying to get their message across. It was wrong of Government not to reach out on day one or day two to those sensible people who were making that case.  As we discuss haulage, agriculture and supports for farmers, contractors, the construction sector and others, we cannot ignore the fact that home heating oil is at a level that is hard to explain to the householder. The Government needs to provide answers to that. It also needs to provide some form of intervention as we approach summer and then go into winter to those who are marginalised, elderly or sick, so they will get the necessary supports to fill their tanks without being embarrassed about going for financial supports in different places to buy a drum of home heating oil. I delivered a drum of home heating oil to an elderly constituent. It was a sad day when that happened, to find someone who was elderly and cold in their house but could not fill their tank. If the Government is to respond to the sensible people on the protest, the ones who are really put to the pin of their collar, it needs to address that issue and address it significantly.  I have always stood up for the SME sector and the farming community in this House because they are the backbone of the economy and create jobs. They are spoken so highly of, yet we often turn our backs on them. That is not right. We need to find a way for their difficulties to be communicated directly to Government when action is required. The European Union has let us down in this area. It has not led the debate when it should have. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  Every supermarket shelf, pharmacy stock-room and construction supply chain relies on trucks moving safely and affordably across the country. When haulage costs rise, we all pay the price. Hauliers face extreme cost pressures with volatile fuel costs and rising insurance premiums. They are also struggling with the increasing general cost of living alongside the rest of the country.  The Government response has been to offer direct cash payments to haulage and passenger transport operators, with payments ranging from \u20ac1,350 per vehicle for small fleets to \u20ac300 per vehicle for larger operators, backdated to March and currently time-limited until May at an estimated cost of \u20ac120 million. While any support is welcome, the scheme is not enough. It will only provide temporary relief when they actually need certainty and a plan for future-proofing. Probably most important, we have seen from the past month or so that there needs to be strengthening of the dialogue pathways for people.  This sector had to bring the country to a standstill to have its concerns taken seriously. Protest is a powerful tool and an important part of any democracy, but it should not have taken this level of disruption for the Government to listen to people and offer them support.  I hope the Government takes that lesson and works on it, because the protests demonstrated that a huge swathe of our society feels ignored, let down and left behind. What also came across very strongly to me during the protests was that even people who did not understand the pressures on hauliers or contractors supported the protests because they are also experiencing cost pressures in their own lives. They could empathise because they find themselves in similar circumstances.  Although we have these discussions about the hauliers and although the support package is welcome, we cannot proceed in isolation from the fact that many people across our communities are struggling and suffering. We are aware that approximately 317,000 people are in arrears on their electricity bills, many for more than 19 months. These are not people who have mismanaged their finances; they are people who never recovered from the price shocks triggered by global energy crises. Wholesale prices are 72% lower than they were at their peak, in August 2022, but that is not reflected in retail prices.  There are serious questions, which I have raised many times, regarding the regulation of the market and the risk of price gouging. Although the Government has asked the regulator to examine this matter, the CRU has yet to produce a report on it and appears to be taking a very slow approach to transparency in the electricity sector. While this happens, people will continue to struggle to make ends meet.  At the same time, we are told there will be no emergency budget, no price controls and no price reductions. Instead, we hear about future-focused measures such as home-heating upgrades and low-cost financing for retrofitting. There is a place for these measures. They may be useful in the long term, but they will not do anything for those families who are struggling today and are choosing between heating and eating.  The EU has explicitly relaxed State aid rules, allowing targeted price interventions, income supports, tax incentives and even windfall taxes on excess energy profits, yet the Government\u2019s approach is timid. There is no serious push for windfall taxation, no targeted price intervention and absolutely no urgency. The reality is that it took nationwide disruption before action was taken. Even now, the response is reactive rather than planned. This is crisis management; it is not policy.  A report published today by the ESRI indicates that 14% of households in 2024 stated that they were unable to afford adequate heating or pay their energy bills in full, and that approximately 30% of households experienced some form of energy affordability challenge. The report states \u20ac480 in additional income is needed annually by those affected in order to exit fuel poverty. The Social Democrats have been calling for a targeted payment of \u20ac400 in the form of an energy credit for those struggling the most and households earning less than \u20ac70,000. This proposal is very closely aligned with the recommendations in the ESRI report. I ask that the Government take another look at our proposal because, if independent experts have produced a report at the request of the Government indicating that roughly \u20ac480 is what people need if they are to be lifted out of energy poverty, a targeted \u20ac400 credit would go a considerable way towards addressing energy affordability and poverty.  This crisis has seriously exposed Ireland\u2019s energy insecurity. Despite increased renewable energy generation in Ireland, Irish householders are not seeing the benefits. Much of our renewable output is being absorbed by large corporate users, including data centres, some of which are paying substantially less for electricity than domestic users. I am not sure how the Government can continue to stand over that. Investment in renewables is flowing but people are not seeing the gains. Instead, families are usually exposed to global shocks while policy decisions are prioritising large energy-intensive users.  At the same time, we are sitting on an enormous untapped resource. One million homes in Ireland are suitable for rooftop solar. Just ten panels can save an average household more than \u20ac450 per year on electricity bills. That is pretty much the same figure that the ESRI set out as what people would need their electricity bills reduced by annually. This is clearly a very good option or solution.  The benefit of solar is that installation can take a matter of hours, not years. You do not need to carry out major works on your house or move out. It is much simpler. Solar represents one of the fastest, simplest ways to reduce energy poverty and improve resilience to energy shocks. However, there are big upfront costs to solar, and it is not affordable to everyone. That is why we in the Social Democrats have launched our plan Solar for All. This plan would double the rate of grants available to all households. It proposes a \u20ac1,000 battery grant for all householders. Free solar installation should be provided for households under the warmer homes scheme, including people receiving the disability allowance, carer\u2019s allowance and fuel allowance. We also need to see the rapid deployment of, or the ability to deploy, plug-in solar, which is very common in Germany and which has been introduced in the United Kingdom. These are very simple measures that we have put forward in our plan. They are simple, achievable and very effective. They would make such a huge difference.  Imagine if the 300,000 homes that currently receive fuel allowance could save \u20ac400 on their electricity bills every year? This really is a no-brainer. I raised this earlier with the T\u00e1naiste and he was very positive about working on a solar plan. Indeed, the relevant Minister, Deputy O\u2019Brien, was similarly positive. I am more than happy to work with them on this. I really believe this is the option that can quickly make a difference in people\u2019s homes.  Along with highlighting our energy insecurity, this crisis has highlighted growing vulnerability regarding our food security. Our agriculture sector is deeply exposed to global markets, particularly for fertiliser, fuel and animal feed. We saw this following the invasion of Ukraine, when fertiliser prices surged to record levels, driven by gas shortages and export restrictions. We are now seeing the same thing happen following the ongoing war in the Middle East. Around 30% of fertiliser traded globally travels through the Strait of Hormuz. Fertiliser production is extremely energy-intensive, so when oil and gas prices rise, fertiliser prices rise too. This locks farmers into higher import costs long before any ship is even deployed. These costs do not remain on farms. Since the start of the war in Ukraine, Irish food prices have risen by roughly 9% to 10% overall because farmers need to be paid for the work they do and cannot absorb all the costs arising from fertiliser price increases.  While food inflation eased briefly over the past few years, international bodies expect prices will increase by over 30% this year if the disruption persists. Ireland is not a very food-secure country. We import over 80% of the fruit and vegetables we eat. At one point, these imports were of exotic fruits and vegetables that we could not grow in Ireland, but now they include crops that we can and should grow here, such as apples, tomatoes, carrots and onions. We saw a major Irish producer of carrots go into liquidation recently. That sector needs support. We cannot allow it to disappear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Lahart","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Lahart.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Lahart.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Lahart  I acknowledge the men and women who keep this country moving. The Ceann Comhairle knows all about them from a previous life. Our hauliers are not constitutive of an abstract sector in the economy; they are people who deliver every product on every shelf, every medical supply to every hospital and every tonne of gravel to every construction site. They are the ones who collect our waste and recycling material before most of us have even awoken in the morning. They drive through the day and night and in all weathers so the country can function. When they struggle, the entire country feels it. Without them, Ireland stops. It is as simple as that.  In recent weeks, we saw protests across the country. There were many voices involved and many genuine people were present. These are people who are feeling genuine pressure, who are watching their costs rise week after week and who simply cannot afford to absorb another price increase. Their concerns deserve to be heard with respect and without judgment.  I acknowledge the work that has been done by the Government, the Minister, the Minister of State and others. The RTSS and the fuel support scheme represent a really meaningful step forward. These schemes will provide relief for many operators, and I welcome the engagement that has taken place between the Department and the sector.  These schemes recognise the essential role played by hauliers, bus operators, farmers and contractors in keeping Ireland supplied and connected. However, the reality on the ground is that hauliers are still facing a perfect storm in the form of pressures that no single scheme can fully offset. On 1 January last, tolls increased again on some roads where it seems that enormous profits are already being made by the toll operators. We are talking about a 20 cent rise per journey on the M50, bringing tolls to \u20ac7.80 return, or \u20ac8.80 on other motorways. Many hauliers pass through multiple toll plazas every day. The Irish Road Haulage Association has said the average haulier now pays around \u20ac150,000 a year in tolls, with larger operators paying up to a \u20ac250,000 annually. This is not sustainable. Is it true that hauliers are legally entitled to a 10% discount under toll bylaws but in practice, they cannot get access to this very easily? Is it true that in order to claim it, drivers must stop at toll plazas every day and buy books of paper passes? That seems unsafe, outdated and completely impractical in the context of modern logistics. If true, it is a discount that exists only on paper. Applying it automatically to prepaid toll tags would be a far simpler and fairer reform that is overdue.  Then there are the new charges at Dublin Port, which include a 5% increase in container prices and a new \u20ac15 infrastructure fee together amounting to a 46% rise in the cost of moving containers in and out of the country. Hauliers tell me that this comes on top of a dysfunctional operating system and model at the port, with opening hours that push trucks onto an already congested M50. They described the system as fundamentally unworkable and out of step with major EU ports.  In spite of the measures, fuel costs remain a major pressure. The RTSS is designed to help when diesel exceeds \u20ac1.90 per litre and that threshold reflects the point at which many operators simply cannot cope. However, hauliers are not just dealing with diesel. This is a point I have raised with the Minister and I know he is sympathetic to this. Many operators want to use hydrotreated vegetable oil, HVO, and many operators are using it. HVO is a cleaner renewable fuel that can significantly reduce emissions. A haulier in my constituency is very proud of the fact that his company has moved to HVO, but there is no reward for the greening of either his company or his operating costs. Hauliers wants to invest in greener fleets and be part of the climate solution, but HVO is more expensive and, unlike diesel, there is no rebate mechanism to offset the cost. We really need to move on this. Operators that are trying to do the right thing are finding that they are effectively penalised for it. If we want to support decarbonisation in transport, this gap needs to be addressed.  Insurance premiums remain exorbitant. Hauliers in my constituency tell me that they have seen no meaningful progress in tackling the cost of insurance. For many operators, insurance is now one of their single largest expenses. Without reform, this will continue to undermine competitiveness and push smaller operators out of the market. Compliance costs are rising too. New EU rules require hauliers to retrofit smart tachographs across their fleets at significant expense. Operators accept the need for both safety and compliance, but they cannot absorb every single new cost without support. I contrast the support for purchasers of electric cars with the lack of supports for the essential service of haulage.  There is a shortage of drivers. We cannot recruit young Irish drivers because the testing regime has been allowed to fall into dysfunction so it is taking young men and women up to two years to get a commercial licence. Most give up and go to other countries like Australia or Canada where they can work immediately. Meanwhile, the industry is forced to recruit drivers from elsewhere. In that context, the visa process has become a bureaucratic nightmare. This is simply not a sustainable model for a sector that is essential to our economy.  I want to be clear that I support the hauliers and I support the Government in all its efforts to make the daily lives of hauliers easier. I support the workers who are doing everything they can to keep their businesses afloat in the face of rising costs. I support the small operators that are barely breaking even. I support the drivers who spend long hours on the road to keep shelves stocked and supply chains functioning. I want the haulers in my constituency to know that their concerns have been heard and that their contribution is truly valued. I will continue to raise their issues in this House with Ministers and the Government.  The \u20ac120 million RTSS and the \u20ac100 fuel support scheme are very welcome. They will help, but will not resolve the structural issues hauliers face every day such as those relating to toll systems that are outdated, unfair port charges that are rising faster than margins, insurance premiums that are out of control, a licensing system that is driving young people out of the industry, compliance costs that keep increasing and a lack of support in respect of renewable fuels like HVO. If we want a resilient, competitive and sustainable haulage sector, and all of us do, these issues must be addressed because, as the Ceann Comhairle knows, when hauliers struggle, supply chains struggle, when supply chains struggle, businesses struggle, and when businesses struggle, families struggle. This is not just exclusively a sectoral issue; it is a national economic issue  Ireland needs a haulage sector that is strong, viable and future-proofed. I know the Government and the Minister support this. The people who keep this country moving deserve nothing less. I will continue to work with the Minister of State, his ministerial colleagues and the sector in order to ensure that the supports provided are meaningful, accessible and reflective of the real pressures that hauliers and transport operators face. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  I was calling round to people's houses in Dublin Central the other night and met a woman who said to me \"Everything's going up. My rent is going up\" - she is a Dublin City Council tenant - \"The price of petrol is going up. Groceries are going up. Everything is going up except for my wages.\" She is right. Statistically, that is the case. Prices are up almost a quarter over the past five years and people are really struggling out there. The Government's response suggests that it either does not get it or does not care. After housing costs, one in five people was at risk of poverty or lived in relative poverty last year, with over 300,000 people in arrears on and unable to afford to pay their electricity bills. That was before the coming increases hit. The most incredible statistic, which I say over and over again, is the fact that four in ten parents in this country, which is one of the richest countries in the world, say that they are either going without meals or cutting back on their meal sizes so that their kids can have enough to eat it. It is absolutely scandalous. Many of these people rightly went out to support the fuel protests. There was a collection taken in the flats, and they brought down sandwiches, tea and coffee to the protesters to say \"Fair play\", because they said that someone was standing up to the Government and calling for action on fuel prices.  If we look at what the Government has given, with regard to the \u20ac500 million package, ordinary people get some benefit in terms of reductions of taxes on petrol and diesel with tiny reductions in terms of home heating oil. There is some benefit now, but that could be wiped away tomorrow by Trump's deepening imperialist adventures in the Middle East.  However, the other half of the package is for businesses; it is not for ordinary people at all. The lion's share of those supports will go not to small businesses, which were involved in many of the protests, but instead to the big businesses. That is who the Government is looking out for all the time.  The Government often likes to say in here that the Opposition only has criticism and we do not have any solutions but the key immediate answer to the fuel crisis is something we have been calling for well over two years now. We have had legislation for it for well over two years, which is the idea of price caps and is precisely the main demand of the fuel protestors. The problem is the original measures the Government brought in a couple of months ago were wiped out, as we predicted, by the rise in the international price of oil and what has been done recently can be wiped out again. The only way to give people security and to cut across the profiteering we are seeing, for example, on an international scale with BP, which doubled its profits in the first quarter of this year compared to the first quarter of last year, is to do these price controls. That is an immediate measure to give people security and to stop the profiteering taking place. That needs to happen.  Workers need to be on the streets to demand that happens and to say we need to have universal measures, not measures that benefit businesses. We need universal measures like price caps, a \u20ac500 energy credit to every household and funded by the data centres which are using more electricity than all our households put together and yet are paying half the price of the electricity that ordinary people pay. We also need measures to move us away from reliance on fossil fuels, which is what has put us into this position in the first place, such as free public transport, the rollout of retrofitting, solar panels, free attic insulation and so on. That would move us off the reliance on fossil fuels that the Government has got us into.  However, there is a lesson from the protests which is that unless you can cause significant destructive action, if you are not a fast-food giant, a developer or a major multinational like Google, the Government is not going to listen to you. Workers need to prepare for a massive day of action. Preparation for that will start tomorrow at the May Day protest at 6.30 p.m. at Parnell Square in town but that needs to be just the first step towards a major national day. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  People power works. That is the lesson of the protests. When people get out and protest, and organise and mobilise, they can force a Government that is failing them to make concessions. Trump's war means every single working person in the world is paying an economic price for Trump's blood lust, his imperialism and his support for the Israeli regime. We are all paying now. People who supported Trump a couple of years ago who thought he was a friend of the little person should frankly hang their heads in shame because he has revealed himself for what he always has been: a billionaire property speculator, in with big business, willing to slaughter people for profit and for the billionaire class. Now, ordinary people in Ireland and across the world are paying the price and the hauliers showed us you have to respond when you are screwed by the consequences of this and a system that more generally favours the rich. That is the fact.  The Government made concessions to one group but the widespread sympathy for the hauliers was because huge numbers of other people, who got nothing from the Government's concessions, have been crucified with the cost-of-living and housing crises and are angry about it. They are right to be angry because the fact of the matter is this Government, Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael, represent the bosses and the rich.  I decided get a few figures on the current distribution of income and tax in this country and it really tells its own story. All the workers in this country combined, and there are 3.3 million of them, earn \u20ac130 billion. In total, they pay \u20ac32 billion in tax, which is 25% of their income. There are 170,000 employers in this country. Guess how much they earn? They earn \u20ac318 billion between them, which is more than twice what all the workers earn. How much do they pay in tax? Remember the workers who earn a lot less pay \u20ac32 billion. The bosses, who earn \u20ac318 billion in profits, which is rising every year, pay \u20ac23 billion, about 8% of their income. Workers are subsidising the obscene profits and lifestyles of the rich and these people are profiteering off the cost-of-living and housing misery that ordinary working people are suffering.  That is why workers need to take the lesson of the hauliers and get out on the streets, starting with May Day tomorrow, the trades council march, and building up to the budget next year. We need to do what was done in the tax marches in the late 1970s and early 1980s when the working class of this city and across the country mobilised, fought and demanded tax justice because they are certainly not getting it from Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael.  There is a list as long as my arm of workers who are being screwed. School caretakers, from whom I got messages this week, are first into the school and last out. They are let go at Easter, the summer holidays and at Christmas and they have no pensions. The Oireachtas TV workers, who I will mention again, the people who film these proceedings, are let go. Even though they work for the Oireachtas, they are let go at Easter and every time the D\u00e1il is off, during the summer and at Christmas. Their average earnings are \u20ac12,000 and because they have organised into unions to fight for their rights, they are now being victimised and taken off the roster.  I have been highlighting in recent weeks the northside homecare workers who provide homecare to vulnerable sectors of our society who are out on strike because their wages were slashed in austerity in 2009 and they still have not had their incomes restored. They are fighting for a 9% pay increase and are being victimised as well. Shop stewards were suspended this week for organising trade union action. Workers need to get on the streets to fight back. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"William Aird","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy William Aird  I welcome the opportunity to address the House on supports for hauliers and the wider supply chain sector. Global instability from the Middle East conflict continues to affect international markets. We have seen sharp increases in oil and fuel prices and households and businesses are under sustained pressure, and this has all been well debated in this House. I welcome the Government fuel support scheme announced yesterday. I acknowledge in the House today the work of the Taoiseach, the T\u00e1naiste, the Ministers, Deputies O'Brien, Heydon, Canney and Calleary, who is responsible for the islands. I wish to acknowledge all the work they have done to come up with this package that we have.  The measures announced will provide much-needed relief to those most exposed to rising costs, the haulage sector in particular, which is important in my own constituency of Laois. According to the CSO figures, there were 127 licensed hauliers operating in County Laois in 2022. Figures for own-account operators were not available but, as everyone will know, there are many in each of our counties. In my constituency in Laois, the haulage sector covers construction, agriculture and food haulage, timber transport and the essential distribution networks that keep our shops, factories and communities supplied. As costs rise for hauliers, the impact is felt beyond the industry, triggering knock-on price increases across the economy and adding to the nationwide cost pressures.  Supports for the sector are not only welcome but are critical at this stage. Hauliers have faced a series of cost pressures from increases in vehicle prices, repairs and maintenance. Often, these costs are forgotten when it comes to a crisis like the one we have at the moment, such as CVRT testing and insurance premiums, toll charges and, most recently, a rise in the cost of diesel. These pressures have eroded margins and placed a huge strain on operators, many of whom are small, family-run businesses.  Under the EU mobility package, further challenges are on the horizon. In 2026, a new version of smart tachographs must be retrofitted to light commercial vehicles. All eligible non-European nationals travelling to or transiting through the UK also require electronic travel authorisation.  Hauliers who travel to the North of Ireland have to pay a heavy goods vehicle, HGV, levy when crossing the Border. Each of these measures carries a cost, and together they are a significant burden on a sector already under pressure. Our hauliers are the backbone of Ireland's supply chains day in, day out. They and their staff work long hours to keep the goods moving, maintain employment and support economic life in every county.  The reason these people were on the streets of Ireland was because of the pressures - not because they wanted to do it, but because they were forced. A lot of them were in fear. With the rising cost of diesel, people I know did not know what their future was. A lot of these people, including fellow agricultural contractors, have a lifelong agreement, if you like - or a custom, whichever you like to say - with all of their clients, where they usually get paid maybe once or twice a year. Each year, these people would be in a position to carry that cost but the fear of the increasing price of diesel was running through their very veins, with them not knowing what was going to happen.  These people are passionate about doing the job they do and giving the service they give to people. For maybe two or three generations, they have been going in to do work on the same agricultural land for families. They found themselves in a very perilous situation. They did not know what the price of diesel was going to be day by day, not to talk about week by week. For those people, I am delighted that, at least, we are spending \u20ac750 million for them.  A Cheann Comhairle, in a crisis situation, it does not cost anything to talk to people. You must talk to people. I talk to people every day. For every public representative, it is part of the core of their job. It comes from their heart, like mine, to talk to people in crisis. Since I was 19 years of age when I became a public representative, I have been talking to people who, in their situation on that day, were facing their biggest crisis. That is why we, as public representatives, always have to put out a hand of friendship to people. Lessons can be learned from what happened and I believe in my heart that the sooner you talk, the sooner you get resolutions. I hope we have learned from that.  I am encouraged by the words that have come from the T\u00e1naiste and the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, regarding renewables. I feel it is something we have to look at for every household in this country. It is something we can do. I do not know, no more than anybody else in this House today, what is down the road for us as regards what we witnessed in the past couple of weeks and months. We saw what happened in Ukraine. Now we have the oil crisis. We do not know what is facing us for the winter. We do not know what is going to happen in the next two or three years. However, one thing we can do in this country is invest in renewables. It would be a great incentive for everybody. It would take the burden, hardship and fear out of people if they could know that they would be in a position to reduce their dependence on petrol, oil or whatever. That is something we need to address and that we need to invest in immediately. Members can see for themselves the rewards that could be reaped from this.  I can remember the shortage in petrol and the big queues in my own town of Portlaoise when I was a very young person, especially down at Conroy's garage. Now, it is an ongoing situation. People do not know from day to day. I still have people who say to me that they wonder what is going to happen when the real silage season cuts in in the next week or fortnight. There is still a fear there. People do not know whether it is going to cost \u20ac200 or zero to \u20ac200 to put silage in a pit per acre. They do not know what it is going to cost as regards wrapping. We are not only talking about diesel, but plastic. For everything that is associated, all costs are going up.  I spoke to a person the other day who hauls cattle. In my opinion, probably the hardest job that anybody does on the road is hauling cattle. There are thousands of cattle hauled through this country on a daily basis. There is one question I need to have answered, and it is to ensure that cattle hauliers are included in this package. I also wish to ask for the sole trader drawing cattle to be included in the package. I presume they are but it is not there in black and white, and when I do not see something in black and white, I always get concerned. I would like that question to be answered here today.  Going forward, it is important, especially for our young farmers, that we try to persuade them that there is a good living to be got and it is a good job you can do. When we see ups and downs like this, I meet young farmers out there who have done their yearly calculations - or two- or three-year ones, when they are borrowing money to invest in their farms - and, all of a sudden, you now have milk gone down to 37 cent per litre and costs are going up on the other side that they have no control over. It is very difficult.  It is very important, even when we do small steps like giving enough money forward for the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme, TAMS, grants, to put panels on any property available for them. That is a no-brainer in this day and age. Investing that small amount of money is something that the Government will reap bucketfuls back from. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  I will start by welcoming the package. There is no point in saying that the package has been announced and we are against those announcements. It took a long time. It was a huge struggle because people were bitterly disappointed that that struggle had to take place. At least, something has been put in place. I have other concerns but any recognition by the Government that fuel costs are putting serious pressure on transport operators, farmers and fishing is necessary and overdue. The funding envelope is significant and the fact that these supports are being backdated to March will be of some help.  However, welcoming a package does not remove our responsibility to examine how it will work in practice because the detail here matters. While supports are backdated, applications for the road transport support scheme will not open until May. That means operators carry the cost through March and April, paying fuel bills in real time, often on tight margins and with a limited cash flow. Timing is not a secondary issue for a small and rural operator; it is central.  There is also uncertainty about eligibility. The scheme states that the passenger transport operators may qualify. That needs to be clear. The Minister must confirm whether private bus and coach operators who are not part of the school transport scheme are included and, if not, on what objective grounds they are excluded. Artificial insemination, AI, operators have been on to me from all over the country. They are on the road every day. Are they included under some scheme?  For those within the school transport scheme, clarity is equally important. Will support be paid directly to operators or filtered through Department of education contracts? Are operators on fixed-rate contracts fully eligible, partially eligible or excluded? The same lack of clarity applies to Local Link services. Operators need to know whether supports will be paid directly or through contractual adjustments via the NTA.  This package is a step in the right direction but it must be matched with clear, written guidance so that operators know exactly where they stand. A lot of them have told me that they are very concerned this will mean extra work for the accountants. We need the money to get back out there to the people who are delivering these services and are delivering food to our tables. If it does not, the food on the table becomes an impossible task to deliver and at an impossible price.  There is a lot of clarity needed here. This is the sector coming back and telling me and this is what it needs to find out before it can make any future arrangements. Some of these people are going out of business. I know the Minister of State will say to me that the Government cannot control the price of fuel.  Brent oil was $126 a barrel last night, which is an astonishing price. It is down to $114 a barrel now as I speak, I think, again an astonishing price rise compared to where it was before, namely, maybe $55 or $60. I have heard the Taoiseach and T\u00e1naiste say that the Government is giving the most. It is taking the most. That is what they have forgotten. It is taking the most out of people's pockets. There is a projected figure of \u20ac9 billion going to be coming into the Government's coffers this year. There is a rainy day fund and, my God, this is a rainy day, as I was saying it to the T\u00e1naiste earlier. Irish people and businesses are on their knees. That is what led to the protests. I know it.  I was at the protests from the moment they started. I even intervened at a protest. I noticed there on a podcast - I do not watch that rubbish but somebody showed it to me - that someone was giving out that Independent Ireland did nothing and we were trying to stop the protest. No, we knew how this could be handled but the Government was not listening and people who did not know what was going on talking loosely on a podcast were not listening either. Basically, there were over 500 people in Portlaoise and my colleague and I got up and asked for negotiation first with the Government. That was done, in fairness, by the protestors. They sent their request. I will not say their set of demands because they were struggling and were in a desperate position. Some of them wanted to go on strike that very evening and the next morning and we said, \"No, hold on\", and they did. That is how you negotiate. We looked for the reconvening of the D\u00e1il. We wrote to the Taoiseach to act as a conduit with those protestors because he did not want to talk. The whole thing unfortunately spiralled out of control because there was a lack of connection and understanding, a lack of real vision by the Government to understand that these were genuine hard-working mothers and fathers, hauliers, farmers, fishers, coach operators, ordinary hard-working people. They are what Independent Ireland represents, the hard-working men and women who get up in the morning and deliver for this country. When they needed the country to just put out the hand and say it would give them something back, it was swept away from them. That is not good enough. That is just not a caring Government. I know the Government is frantic now and it is trying to create all these little mini-budgets that it said it could not do before.  I am not going to discredit them but at the same time I look across at parties that come in here with a sympathetic ear, like the Social Democrats or the Labour Party, who turn around and tell people they really want something to be done but on the other hand they want to shove on the carbon tax on top of the Irish people. For the love of God, they are talking out of two sides of their mouths. They are not on the same planet as I am, where the ordinary people get up in the morning, work hard, cannot afford an increase in fuel, cannot afford a carbon tax, cannot afford NORA, cannot afford VAT. These parties say that they are supposedly sympathetic towards them, but they have their backs turned on them. Even their leader yesterday wanted to get rid of holiday homes. Jesus, what next? Lord Christ, is it a Communist country we are heading into?  The Government has failed the country in relation to renewables. There is no point in talking about renewables when somebody has to spend \u20ac20,000 and they are only getting an \u20ac1,800 grant. That is not good enough. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  This is a rip-off Government. The price of petrol, diesel, home heating oil, electricity, groceries, rents, house prices and childcare are all sky-high. The Government plays a significant role in jacking up the prices on all of those. It is hitting families really hard. I know of parents who are lying awake at night trying to work out what bill they are going to be able to pay. People on good wages and in good employment are actually living month to month now on overdrafts. Many families are just one thing going wrong with their car away from not being able to stay on top of their bills. It is not an accident. The Government is making it harder in many ways.  In terms of taxes, the Government is incinerating taxpayers' money with incredible waste. We see the jacking up of rents at the moment because of dysfunctional housing policy and the Government's immigration policies as well. Look at the semi-State ESB. It is making super-normal profits - \u20ac650 million last year - while electricity prices here are higher than in practically any other country in Europe. In terms of fuel, the Government is taxing petrol and diesel at the rate of 65% for a staple, not a luxury good, an item that people have no alternative but to use. In respect of the tolls on the M50, we found out they are now collecting \u20ac216 million, double what it was just ten years ago. I look at the pittance the Government provides in terms of home heating oil and kerosene. Older people are sitting in the cold regularly for the want of the money to fill their tanks with kerosene, and there is nothing being done. The food situation is incredible. Ireland is now the second most expensive country in the whole of the European Union. It is 15% higher than the average EU price in relation to food. Compared to just five years ago, shopping for groceries costs 40% more. A trolley that used to cost \u20ac150 is now \u20ac225. People are paying an extra \u20ac3,000 a year for exactly the same groceries. Chicken breasts were \u20ac5 in 2022, now \u20ac12.98. Steak was \u20ac10.66 a kilo in 2022 and is now \u20ac19.49. Butter is \u20ac1 more than it was just a year ago. The price of eggs has increased by 35% since 2021.  Government Members should not shake their heads. The Government has a role in this supply chain in terms of the taxes and tolls it is putting on hauliers and the fact that we have an oligopoly, a small number of supermarkets where there is very little competition in terms of the price of products. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan  I want to begin by welcoming these statements. They are long overdue. I commend the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, and all the Ministers involved in the negotiations over the last weeks. The figures speak for themselves. In four weeks, diesel prices at the pump rose by approximately 25%. For a sector where fuel already accounts for nearly half of all operating costs, that was not an inconvenience, but an existential threat. We are not talking about large multinationals here with deep reserves and teams of financial advisers. We are talking in many cases about sole traders, owner-drivers, family businesses, people who get up before dawn, who keep our supermarket shelves stocked and make sure medicines reach our hospitals and building materials reach our construction sites. Nearly half of all licensed road haulage operators in this country own just one vehicle. If that operator cannot meet their costs, they will have to close down. When they close down, the consequences ripple outward. Higher transport costs mean higher prices for every business they supply and, ultimately, for every household in the country.  That is why acting quickly was not optional, but essential. The road transporters support scheme does exactly what good, targeted policy should do. It is graduated, meaning that the smallest of operators who are most vulnerable receive the greatest proportional support at \u20ac1,350 per vehicle. It is backdated to 1 March so that no one is left carrying the costs the State has acknowledged they should not have to bear alone. At \u20ac120 million over three months, it is a serious, substantial commitment, not just a token gesture.  I want to highlight something that sometimes gets overlooked in these debates. This scheme does not stop at main roads. It reaches Local Link services, connecting rural communities. It reaches school transport providers and ferries to our offshore islands, communities that depend entirely on these vessels for their way of life. That is a Government that is thinking about everyone, not just those who shout the loudest. This scheme complements the broader package - the excise reductions, the NORA levy adjustments, and the enhanced diesel rebate scheme - demonstrating that this Government is prepared to use every lever available to protect workers, businesses and consumers.  I encourage all eligible operators to prepare their applications when the online portal opens in the Department of Transport in May. The backdating to 1 March means that every qualifying vehicle is already accumulating entitlement. I am actually surprised at the number of small hauliers who are still unaware of the details of the scheme. It is something we need to emphasise in the next few weeks. It needs to be communicated an awful lot better from the top down.  A Cheann Comhairle, if I could mention two other issues, I know you have a long history with the haulage sector and I would be interested to hear your thoughts afterwards on a few of these suggestions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  No thoughts here. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan  Going forward, we need to look at the tolling system if we are on about protecting supply chains. I am from Little Island in Cork, which is a large industrial area. We have dozens of haulage companies around the harbour area, coming in and out of Ringaskiddy and the city. Cork is a city that is very heavily reliant on the haulage business. We need to have a look at tolling. In certain countries, there are exemptions for HGVs at certain types of tolls. They look at the weight of the truck and so on. That is something we need to consider in an upcoming budget.  At the moment, if trucks come from Britain or Northern Ireland, there is no additional levy placed on them whereas if an Irish truck or haulier crosses the Border or goes over to the UK, there is a levy of \u00a310 per truck, I think. Levying money on foreign-registered trucks, particularly in the UK, needs to be looked at. Our hauliers are being levied at the moment. If we are talking about preparing the next package for the next shock that will undoubtedly be felt in this sector, we need to look at other ways of being innovative and how to pay them. Such a scheme might be a way forward in how we contribute to the next package. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed  I wanted to assure Deputy Collins that I represent the hard-working women and men of Dublin Bay North but he ran out before I could do so.  I welcome the opportunity to speak about the supply constraints we are experiencing as a result of the fuel crisis. Brent crude is now at $114 a barrel, down slightly from $126 a barrel earlier this week but it remains very high. The World Bank expects energy prices to go up 24% this year, the highest level of increase since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, even if the most acute disruptions caused by the war ease in May, and there is no guarantee that will happen. The energy crisis has laid bare our dependency on fossil fuels. The answer is clear - we must get away from fossil and accelerate the take-up of renewable.  While it is welcome that the construction sector is included in the Government's package, it reaffirms how vulnerable construction is to global oil price shocks. That sector must be central to the decarbonisation debate. Construction and the built environment account for over one third of our carbon emissions. Our commitment to new housing is very important and presents a significant challenge in reducing emissions across the sector, as modern building methods are very carbon intensive. Last October, our committee heard from stakeholders in construction about how we could break down barriers to meeting emissions targets in construction. The urgent need to provide incentives to decarbonise construction sites was clear. A big practical gap remains on those sites, in that heavy plant machinery and temporary power still use a lot of diesel, with electric and alternative fuel options not yet viable for smaller organisations without Government support. On-site generators run for more or less the full working day, contributing significantly to emissions. Support for EVs, battery storage systems and HVO-fuelled equipment as alternatives to diesel on site represent a positive short-term step that the Government could take to tackle rising fuel costs and meet our climate objectives.  We also had the haulage industry at the committee. The Ceann Comhairle would have a good knowledge of the haulage industry. What was really clear was that, with the exception of more efficient diesel engines, there was no clear way for long-haul haulage to decarbonise. It is vital that we find a way to do that. Batteries are heavy and have to be hauled long distances. Hydrogen was spoken about as a possibility but we do not seem to be there yet.  We need to recognise the new reality that even if America and Iran each an agreement to reopen that strait, it will take time for the oil market to return to normal. Oil and gas infrastructure in the Gulf has been wrecked by all warring parties. Even if it all stops tomorrow, it will take years for that to be rebuilt. Supply will not recover overnight and the burden on households and businesses will persist. We cannot afford to wait for the market to deal with this. The case for accelerating our transition to renewable energy has never been stronger. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Carol Nolan  I am delighted to speak this evening. As a rural TD, I have always strongly advocated for the haulage and agricultural sectors, which are interwoven in many respects. The recent protests were a sign that not only was the Government moving in the wrong direction, but it had completely taken its ear off the ground. You need listening skills at all times for effective communication. That effective communication was not there, hence the protests. I stood with many hard-working, decent and genuine people at the protests in Tullamore, Birr and Cloghan where I heard directly from many agri-contractors in particular and small haulage companies trying to deal with the fact that their businesses were on a knife edge, ready to go to the wall. It was a shocking situation that should never have arisen. If the communication, as in listening skills, had been there and if the Government had heeded the warnings, it would not have come to that.  In ten years as a TD, I have never seen anything like the distress it caused to people who were really grappling with many issues. These are people who create huge employment in rural counties like Offaly. It is not fair to do that. With the direction this Government is going, it appears at times that those who work the hardest are punished the most in terms of the haulage, agricultural and construction sectors. I met people from all of those sectors on the protest lines. The Government needs to listen to them. That needs to change and be learned from this.  I commend the IRHA president, Mr. Ger Hyland, who made the case many times in here for the sector. He has also stated many times that the sector is being taxed out of existence. There needs to be a look at how business is being done. Hauliers are an important cog in the wheel of the Irish economy. They need to be supported and listened to. Timely action needs to be taken. It is important that we support the people contributing greatly to our economy. Hauliers are on the road 24 hours a day, 52 weeks a year. Their need for certainty does not disappear because of a war breaking out or a political decision taken elsewhere, yet successive Governments unfortunately waited for a crisis to emerge before taking action. There is a crisis and the Government needs to act. It needs to continuously support these sectors. They are people who create much-needed employment, particularly in rural counties. The warning signs were there in plain sight, such as the chronic driver shortage that the IRHA quantified as requiring 4,000 additional drivers over five years and the punitive toll increases now costing the sector approximately \u20ac72,792 a day, with some large operators paying between \u20ac20,000 and \u20ac35,000 per month. That is unacceptable. I met the senior management of Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, last year. At that meeting, I asked about barrier-free tolls at the Dublin Port tunnel to allow trucks to move more freely. The Ceann Comhairle raised this in the Chamber many a time. I commend her for that. It is another example of the Government not listening. It should be able to intervene directly with TII. I met TII already as an Independent TD, so I ask the Government to meet it. Not only should the Government meet it about barrier-free tolls, but it should meet TII about excessive toll charges. This is not sustainable for any sector. The excessive toll charges need to be called out. There need to be immediate meetings with TII to address those issues. No business can sustain that. Hauliers are not asking for favours. They are the lifeblood of retail and manufacturing and rural economies. They pay diesel, tax, VAT, PAYE and PRSI, road tax, tolls and the insurance levy, an unrelenting burden on razor-thin margins. Is that not an example of them being taxed out of existence? When they warned that toll avoidance would push HGVs onto unsuitable secondary roads, wasting millions of litres of fuel, they were ignored - another fine example of practical and constructive solutions put forward all the time but no one listening or taking action. There has to be a change of direction. At times, it feels like the Government has moved so far left that it has left behind businesses and is divorced from reality. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Supports for Hauliers and Supply Chains: Statements"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_37","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_37","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case:  Deputy Michael Cahill - To discuss refurbishment works to school buildings across County Kerry.  Deputy James Geoghegan - To discuss the State purchase of the Martello Tower on Sandymount Strand.  Deputy Joe Neville - To discuss the issue of the green lane schools in Leixlip being oversubscribed.  Deputy Jennifer Whitmore - To discuss issues surrounding animal welfare.  Deputy Barry Ward - To discuss the financial strain on people with dietary restrictions due to a medical diagnosis.  Deputy George Lawlor - To discuss the system and mechanism of appeal of special needs assistant, SNA, allocation in schools.  Deputy Malcolm Byrne - To discuss the planned new Courtown Coast Guard building.  Deputy Tom Brabazon - To discuss the need for emergency works at Scoil Assaim, Raheny.  Deputy Louise O'Reilly - To discuss funding of the tenant in situ scheme in Fingal west.  Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa - To discuss the assistive technology grant scheme.  Deputy Colm Burke - To discuss the establishment of a national radiation therapy equipment replacement programme.  Deputy Gary Gannon - To discuss policing in Cabra, Dublin 7.  Deputies Paul McAuliffe, Rory Hearne - To discuss the increasing number of firearms discharged in Ballymun, Dublin.  Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed - To discuss the status of funding for community facilities in Belmayne and Clongriffin under the national development plan sectoral plan.  The matters raised by Deputies James Geoghegan, Louise O'Reilly, Michael Cahill, George Lawlor and Joe Neville have been selected for discussion. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_38","debateType":"statement","bill":null,"showAs":"Supports for Hauliers and Supply Chains: Statements (Resumed)","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_38","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Children, Disability and Equality (Deputy Emer Higgins)  I thank the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, on whose behalf I am closing this debate, for outlining the detail of the road transporters support scheme to the House. This scheme is vital to support our overall economy and trade. It is vital to support the businesses that will receive support under the scheme. That is essential when it comes to ensuring continuity and stability throughout the supply chain. I also thank all of the Deputies who contributed to today's discussion. It was a good discussion, and I appreciate the different perspectives that were put on the record and the perspectives of many people working in the industry that were put on the record by Deputies. It is a clear indication that everyone in this House values our hauliers and our bus and coach operators and the role they play in wider society, as they should. After all, these are the people who keep our country moving, who keep our shelves stacked, who bring others to and from work or school and who create jobs in their small, medium and large companies. They are the people we depend on when it comes to certain sectors being successful, like the retail sector and the tourism sector. We are dependent on them for many of the services we provide, like our healthcare sector, disability services or local authority services. The bottom line is that these people are vital to the functioning of both society and the economy.  As mentioned earlier, these sectors have faced multiple challenges in recent years, including Brexit, the Covid-19 pandemic, fuel cost increases that immediately followed the invasion of Ukraine and the multiple severe weather events that have resulted in increased disruption at our ports and across the wider transport network. I start by acknowledging the resilience of the sector and I thank the people working there for working with the Minister, Ministers of State and officials in the Department of Transport to find solutions to the challenges we know exist.  The support package has been carefully considered following ongoing engagement between the Minister for Transport, Deputy O'Brien, the Minister for State at the Department of Transport with responsibility for international road transport logistics, rail and ports, Deputy Canney, and officials in the Department of Transport with haulage and passenger representative bodies over many months. The scheme reflects the immediate need for financial support and the needs communicated by the sector over many engagements. It demonstrates that the Government is listening to the needs of the sector. I thank everybody involved in those discussions, particularly the Irish Road Haulage Association. As the Minister mentioned in his opening remarks, over 246,000 people are working across a variety of logistics and supply chain roles, including almost 60,000 people in the transport sector.  While I am sure Deputies will agree that financial supports are necessary right now, I reiterate, as many Deputies did in their contributions, that this Government also recognises the need to support the haulage, logistics and supply chain sector in the longer term. It is important to address long-standing challenges such as driver shortages and to work with the sector on its transition to decarbonisation. In December 2022 the Government published Ireland's road haulage strategy, which runs from 2022 to 2031. It followed two phases of public consultation. That strategy highlights the importance of the haulage and road freight sector. It identified 39 actions as short-term priorities that are expected to be completed within a two- or three-year timeframe, and enablers for medium- to long-term progress that will ensure the delivery of policy objectives over the full term of the strategy. The implementation of the short-term actions has progressed well since publication and three annual progress reports have been published so far. A key action identified in the road haulage strategy was to establish a road freight forum with representatives from the relevant Government Departments and agencies and the haulage, freight, distribution and logistics sector. That road freight forum held its first meeting in February 2023. It is chaired by the Department of Transport and its membership includes the National Transport Authority, the Road Safety Authority, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, the Freight Transport Association, the Irish Road Haulage Association, the Irish International Freight Association and the Irish Exporters Association. That forum formalises engagement between key stakeholders and builds on the work done in response to the international crises we mentioned earlier. It supports collaboration, which is key to identifying practical and effective solutions to support the sector to maintain Ireland's essential trade and strategic supply chains. It also monitors the implementation of the road haulage strategy and that provides an opportunity for stakeholders to identify emerging challenges at the earliest opportunity.  The logistics and supply chain skills group was established in 2019 to support the promotion of careers, skill development and sustainable employment in the logistics and supply chain sectors in Ireland. This group has been making good progress to address systematic challenges with support from officials in the Department of Transport. In 2023 the group organised Ireland's first logistics and supply chain skills week to promote careers in the sector and to engage with supply chain executives on the new skills needed now and into the future. This has become an annual event, and this is year nine in terms of in-person events that have been held this year, as well as three international and five national webinars and a sustainability competition for third level students that took place this earlier month. In addition, LogisTYcs is a flagship skills expo under the logistics and supply chain skills week and was held in the past couple of weeks in the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght. The Minister of State, Deputy Canney, mentioned to me earlier that he was there and met 1,500 students as well as educators, employers and industry bodies. It is an opportunity for them to learn more about career and education options within the sector. Both the road freight forum and the logistics and supply chain skills group provide an excellent platform for structured engagement between policymakers and key sectoral stakeholders. Officials in the Department of Transport want to continue this spirit of collaboration to assist the sector to achieve the goals set out in the road haulage strategy and the actions identified by the sector in the logistics and supply chain skills group action plan. That is ongoing collaboration and is in addition to the commitment given by the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, to engage with the representative bodies over the coming months.  I recognise the efforts being made to improve current processes and build a resilient and skilled workforce equipped to meet the future needs of the sector. Recent cost pressures born of the conflict in Iran have highlighted the need to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels in the transport sector. The road haulage strategy provides a roadmap for how the sector can decarbonise to meet the targets set out in the climate action plan. I am going to digress from the script because I do not agree with the next sentence, so I am sure I will be killed by officials. It states here that the haulage sector is almost exclusively fuelled by diesel. That is not necessarily true. I know many operators in this sector who have utilised HVO, and Deputy Lahart mentioned that earlier. It is important that we recognise the contribution they are making to the environment by making the decision to move to HVO. I appreciate that more needs to be done in this area. However, Deputies will agree that decarbonisation will be a significant challenge for the sector over the medium term to 2030 and beyond. Several targeted supports have been provided in recent years to assist the sector on its journey to zero emissions. The zero emissions heavy duty vehicle purchase grant scheme supports the purchase of zero emission vehicles and associated charging infrastructure. HDV Electrification Pathway: Navigating the Path to Heavy Duty Electrification in Ireland is a report published on 3 March 2026. It identifies the key enablers to accelerate HDV electrification and that is really important. I agree, as was mentioned today, that we also need to support the transition to HVO and to support those who have already made that transition. The fleet assessment audit offers businesses an assessment by an independent energy adviser who will provide guidance on transition to zero emission vehicles. Two tax incentive schemes allow operators to reduce their immediate tax bill against company profits when investing in zero emission vehicles and they are already in place.  I recognise that not all businesses can afford to invest in zero emission vehicles even when they avail of grant funding. However, eco driving techniques can help drivers to reduce their fuel and emissions in their existing vehicles while enhancing road safety for all road users. A national standard for eco driving courses has been established and a range of subsidised or fully funded eco driving training courses are also available to HDV drivers. The promotion of both digital and operational efficiencies such as load sharing and logistics consolidation hubs are also being explored by the Department of Transport. Despite the cost of zero emission vehicles posing an ongoing challenge for some, the number of electric HGVs in the fleet is increasing, with 162 electric HGVs registered at the end of last year. The number of compressed natural gas fuelled vehicles rose to 157 last year and that was a 5% increase on the year before.  Energy consumption from renewable resources such as liquid biofuel and biogases which are often used to power heavy goods vehicles continued to grow as well. It has increased from 64 kilotonnes of oil to 78 kilotonnes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank the Minister of State. Before I move to the Topical Issue Debate, we have some very serious movers and shakers in the Gallery. They are a crowd of women from Wexford. They are the tea makers and the bakers from Duncannon FCA. I am sorry, I mean ICA. You are more than welcome. The FCA might be more appropriate. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  The FCA would not mess with the ICA. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  It would not mess with the ICA. All our other viewers are most welcome. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Supports for Hauliers and Supply Chains: Statements (Resumed)"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_39","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_39","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_40","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Housing Schemes","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_39","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_39","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_40","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  I welcome our guests in the Gallery. I will say this because I say it every time - and I do not in any way mean this to be disrespectful of the Minister of State, Deputy Higgins, as I am grateful she is here - but it is regrettable the senior Minister has not made himself available for this because it is a very serious issue. It might not be a serious issue to him but it is an incredibly serious issue to the people I am representing. The Minister of State will know well that we are in the middle of a housing crisis. In the midst of that crisis the very least we could or should expect from a half-decent government is that it would not make things worse. There is a single measure that is a homelessness prevention measure. The only measure the Government sponsors that stops people in any way from becoming homeless is the tenant in situ scheme. I am sure the local authority housing list is as bad in the Minister of State's area as it is in mine, where people have a 14-year wait for a house or any kind of accommodation. When a person gets a notice to quit, if they are on the local authority housing list and they are evicted - and there has been a 41% jump in the number of people being evicted, kindly sponsored by the Government's latest legislation - the only measure that will keep them in their home is a tenant in situ purchase.  I have two examples from Fingal County Council here, though I could paper the walls of this place with examples. The first, dated 18 February, was sent by the council to a landlord who is selling the property but willing to sell it to the council. The council said:  Unfortunately, given the number of cases progressed and the level of funding available, Fingal County Council is no longer accepting new expressions of interest in this scheme. If applications for the tenant in situ scheme reopen in 2026 it will be advertised.  That is if it reopens. There is no doubt we need it, absolutely none at all. There is another letter dated 28 April. In it the council says it is not in a position to accept new expressions of interest in the tenant in situ scheme because it does not have the funding. If you are renting privately in north County Dublin and you apply to Fingal County Council for the tenant in situ scheme the response you get makes it very clear the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage funds the scheme and it has not funded it for Fingal County Council.  The case dated 18 February is that of a mam, a dad and three children and the one dated 18 April is of a mam, a dad and one child. I am going to spare them the embarrassment of naming them or their areas because quite frankly these people are going through enough, but both families have been told there is not enough funding in the tenant in situ scheme. It is not that their places are not appropriate but that the Government has not given the council enough money to fund the purchase of their homes, so those families will now go to emergency accommodation. I can tell the Minister of State in both cases the mams came to my constituency office and I had to tell them they will likely go to emergency accommodation. As the Minister of State and I both know, they are not renting anywhere privately as there is nowhere to rent. They are heading for emergency accommodation because the Government will not fund this scheme. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Children, Disability and Equality (Deputy Emer Higgins)  I thank Deputy O'Reilly very much. The Minister, Deputy Browne, passes on his apologies that he could not be here and asked me to take this on his behalf.  Tenancy sustainment, which includes the purchase of private homes where a social housing tenant is in situ , is not a stand-alone programme or scheme. However, it is a priority category of the Department of housing\u2019s social housing second-hand acquisitions programme, which helps prevent social housing-supported households in the private rental sector from becoming homeless, as the Deputy said. Tenancy sustainment, or tenant in situ, is an option for local authorities to support households who are in the most precarious housing situations. Such acquisitions are, and will continue to be, available to local authorities for use as a last resort when other options have been exhausted. They are not the sole, or indeed the primary, option. The default first option should always be securing the sustainment of the tenancy with the landlord, securing alternative accommodation through the tenancy sustainment and place finder services, or allocating a local authority or approved housing body tenancy via a new build home or relet. Where acquisitions are deemed necessary in terms of a tenant in situ , local authorities have delegated sanction to pursue individual priority acquisitions without recourse to the Department of housing, where these acquisitions are in line with the broad parameters and criteria of the second-hand acquisitions programme.  Along with the clear focus of Government on increasing the supply of new build social and affordable homes, a targeted social housing acquisition programme has been and will continue to be an important policy response to priority needs. At the end of February, so about two weeks after the first email Deputy O'Reilly quoted from 18 February, the Minister, Deputy Browne, secured funding to a total of \u20ac373 million to fund acquisitions under the Department of housing\u2019s social housing second-hand acquisitions programme. That funding will be available for drawdown by local authorities and approved housing bodies under the 2026 programme priorities. Those priorities include: exits from homelessness, with \u20ac150 million allocated; AHB priority delivery to support older persons, persons with disabilities and care leavers, with \u20ac50 million allocated; and local authority priority acquisitions, which includes tenancy sustainment or tenant in situ acquisitions, with \u20ac157 million allocated. A contingency fund of \u20ac16 million will also be retained to be there to top up where local authorities have drawn down and fully exhausted their initial allocation, because we want to continue to enable them to be ambitious and to continue to drive these acquisitions.  Fingal County Council has been given an initial allocation of \u20ac30.7 million of this funding. That is a 54% increase on its allocation for last year. This funding is now available to the council. I note the second family in question made contact with the council on 28 April, so I am not sure why it is giving them that response given it now has its initial allocation of \u20ac30.7 million of this funding. Ultimately, the delivery of new additional social homes is the only strategic solution when it comes to long-term homelessness, with allocations from new and existing local authority and AHB social homes the primary means through which social housing-qualified households should be accommodated. I appreciate what the Deputy is saying about how the tenant in situ programme is really important for many families and that is why Fingal County Council has been given a 54% uplift in this year's allocation. I hope it will use that to support families in the Deputy's constituency like the ones who contacted her. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  I absolutely respect that the Minister of State is giving me the information she has but that information is not accurate. It does not represent a 54% increase by my figures but we can debate that another day. When people go to Fingal County Council looking for the tenant in situ scheme they are told it does not have the money. That email dated 28 April was actually a response to a query I had sent in. It said the council had responded to the landlord, which we know it had, explaining it is not in a position to accept new expressions of interest in the tenant in situ scheme accordingly. The council is not accepting expressions now. The Minister of State might say it should be or that it has the money, but that is not what the council is telling landlords.  In the middle of all this I have a mam, a dad and their son. The man, as it goes, happens to be undergoing some fairly heavy-duty cancer treatment at the moment. Their notice to quit expires in two months' time. I had to tell that woman that she, her husband and her son will have to go to emergency accommodation. I understand what is in the note the Minister of State read.  The Minister of State and I both know that in the real world there is no available private rented accommodation coming over the hill. The woman asked what the emergency accommodation was like. It is not good. I would not like to live in it and I do not think the Minister of State would like to live in it either. She cried her heart out in my office. I am the only TD in my area who has an office - I have two, in fact - and this may be part of the reason that we see more of these cases than others do. She sobbed her heart out and she said \"But there must be a way surely\". This woman works hard, her husband works hard, and her son. They are terrified for the future. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Higgins  I thank Deputy O'Reilly for raising her constituents' experience with us here today. It is really important that everybody remembers that behind the statistics we read out in here are families. They are families exactly like that. It is for this exact reason the Government is allocating funding. According to the Department of housing, last year the Department funded a total of 68 second-hand acquisitions for Fingal County Council. Of those, 61 were for tenancy sustainment, allowing for these private tenancies to continue in preventing homelessness, and others were tenant in situ acquisitions. So far this year Fingal County Council has only seven second-hand acquisitions in the pipeline. That is the information I have from the Department of housing. It has been given \u20ac30.7 million to fund acquisition of housing. This is a 54% increase on its allocation last year.  I will certainly bring the Deputy's feedback to the Minister for housing because, ultimately, what I am being told is that there is funding there and Fingal County Council has that funding, but only seven second-hand acquisitions are in its current pipeline. Perhaps that is because there was a pipeline from last year that it is still working its way through. I do not know the detail of that but the people who do are in the local authority, and they are who the Deputy needs to engage with on this. I know and respect that the Deputy has already done that but I think we need to do that further. There is funding there for this. With this funding we want to support families who are at risk of homelessness. The funding has been allocated to the council and the Deputy has given us an example today of the kind of family for whom we need to do that. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Housing Schemes"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_41","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Special Educational Needs","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_39","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_39","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_41","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy George Lawlor  I wish to raise the issue of the appeals' process in the allocation of special needs assistants, SNAs, in the context of the treatment meted out to St. Aidan's primary school in Enniscorthy in Wexford. St. Aidan's is one of the largest DEIS band 1 vertical primary schools in Ireland. It is exceptional in scale for a primary school, with 861 pupils. It has seven special classes, 36 mainstream classes and 76 teachers and has been awarded 15.75 SNAs. The school currently has 54 pupils attending the seven special classes, all operating at level 3 support. The vast majority of the pupils here have care need plans and require regular access to an SNA. Of these pupils, 38 have a single diagnosis and 17 of the pupils have multiple different diagnoses, including general learning disability, autism spectrum disorder, ASD, speech and language disorder and severe intellectual disorder. Five pupils within the school are type 1 diabetics. There are also children who suffer from social and emotional behavioural difficulties, and children with anaphylaxis, epilepsy and physical disabilities. There are 36 pupils in mainstream classes with a diagnosis of ASD at different levels and as of yet the SNA allocation that covers both the special classes and the mainstream settings remains unchanged at 15.75 SNAs. Therein lies the difficulty.  The school appealed the outcome of the SNA review it requested. It was told that there would be no change to the SNA allocation and that the whole school SNA allocation for 2025-26 would continue at 15.75 SNAs. The letter the school received from a principal officer in the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, stated that this decision can be appealed. The details of the appeals process can be found online. In the letter, the NCSE advised the school to seek a rationale for the outcome prior to the submission of any appeal. Therein lies the problem.  Those in the school tried up and down and back and forward. They went to the local special educational needs organiser, SENO, and they went to the regional manager of the NCSE. They also went to the NCSE itself but nobody could give the school the rationale. They were encouraged to seek the rationale to add to their submission of their appeal. There is a ten-day period to appeal. The school went numerous times to the regional manager, the SENO and the NCSE. The NCSE came back with no clarity, no advice and no direction. No guidance could be provided by the staff there as to how they would access the rationale for the SNA review. In the end the school had to submit its appeal to the NCSE without any access to the rationale that it was encouraged by the very same NCSE to acquire in order to submit the appeal.  This is a major school with massive support requirements. The teaching staff and the SNAs are put to the pin of their collar to provide a decent atmosphere and a decent schooling for the myriad children in the school who have additional needs. It simply is not good enough. I will acknowledge that I contacted the head of the NCSE and he came back to me after a couple of days to say it would be investigating the matter. To put the staff through the wringer on this and not supply the rationale that the school was requested to seek is simply not good enough in the context of the stress that already exists within these schools. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Higgins  I thank Deputy Lawlor for raising this important issue on behalf of St. Aidan's school community in Enniscorthy, and not just on behalf of the student or the students attending school in special classes, but indeed the entire school community, including teachers, parents, special education teachers and SNAs. I hear the Deputy's frustration. His frustration was mirrored earlier by one of the Deputy's constituency colleagues who also raised this with the T\u00e1naiste today on the floor of the House. In case the Deputy missed that debate, I will just say that the T\u00e1naiste committed to raising this with the Minister for education directly, asking her to arrange that either the Minister herself or the NCSE would make contact with that Deputy. I will certainly add Deputy Lawlor to that list to ensure he gets that same information and that same contact. I am very glad to hear that the Deputy has been in contact directly with the head of the NCSE and that he is working proactively to help to resolve this from a rationale perspective to give the information the school wants and should have gotten much easier than this. I appreciate that the issue here is not just for St. Aidan's and that the issue is with the process. I will absolutely provide that feedback to the Minister for education.  As the Deputy is aware, the National Council for Special Education has responsibility for co-ordinating and advising on the education provision and care support for children and young people with special educational needs in our schools, including the allocation of SNA support to schools. In relation to the appeals process itself, on completion of an SNA review the NCSE communicates the outcome to a school. If the school is not satisfied, it may submit an appeal of the outcome to the NCSE. The school has ten days to do so. Information, including guidance on the appeals process, is available on the NCSE website. The NCSE is currently processing a number of appeals and the outcomes of these will be communicated to schools shortly.  The Department and the NCSE are committed to delivering an education system that is of the highest quality, where every child and young person feels valued and is actively supported and nurtured to reach their full potential. I will provide the Deputy's specific feedback on the rationale. I note this is what was advised in the information on the website to show this is how one should submit the appeal. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy George Lawlor  The advice was in the letter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Higgins  To be told that this is the correct way to be able to gain the information and then to be frustrated through the process and not get it, I can understand that this is not efficient for either the school or the NCSE. It does not set the school up for success in terms of being able to put forward a coherent and comprehensive appeal. I appreciate what the Deputy is saying in that this information should have been made available in a timely fashion to the school. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy George Lawlor  I thank the Minister of State for the response. Obviously it is not her core area so I understand the difficulty she finds herself in. I am holding the letter from a principal officer which was sent to say that there would be no change. Within the letter the school is advised to seek the rationale. I appreciate that the Minister of State said herself that this issue does not apply just to St. Aidan's school in Enniscorthy.  It is a huge primary school, particularly when one considers all the supports that are required. A letter was sent to the school informing it to seek a rationale for what was required while, at the same time, no one within that organisation, from the bottom to the top, could tell it where to get that rationale. From the conversations I had with the deputy principal and the head of special education teachers in the school when they visited me at my constituency office in Wexford, I know that they tried everything multiple times but no one within the organisation could provide them with the rationale, which seems to be a key component of the appeals process. What does this say about the entire appeals process from the start? Are all schools advised to seek the rationale? The fact that the school could not even be told where to get the rationale and the regional manager said he was seeking guidance indicates to me that there is a bit of chaos within the NCSE when it comes to processing the appeals system. It throws something of a blanket over the appeals process and suggests that it is a matter of just ticking a box to say \u201cComputer says \u201cNo\u201d\u201d. It does not have any rationale available despite the fact that it tells schools to look for it. The notion that no one within the organisation knows where to go to find it is quite baffling. I am sure the Minister of State will agree with me in that regard. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Higgins  I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and giving us this opportunity to discuss it on the floor of the House. The NCSE allocation and review processes are essential to ensure that SNA support is provided where it is most needed. An appropriate appeal mechanism is an important part of the review process, and this has always been the case. I fully appreciate that schools need to be given whatever information needed in order to put forward a thorough appeal. If schools are not satisfied with the outcome of a SNA review, they can then submit the appeal. As I said, details on how to do that are available online. The NCSE is available to support schools and discuss the deployment of SNA resources allocated to support their students.  With regard to the appeal, it might be helpful to outline some of what is taken into account in terms of the rationale. Special education needs organisers engage with schools, including school leaders, teachers and SNAs, and a national review panel reviews decisions to ensure consistency across the country. Among the factors taken into account are changes in student numbers, changes in individual care needs and students moving from primary to post-primary schools. Sometimes, those factors form part of the rationale. While I do not know the specific details in the case of St. Aidan\u2019s Parish School, the information should have been made available to it in a timely fashion. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Special Educational Needs"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_42","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"School Enrolments","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_39","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_39","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_42","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Neville  I was due to speak on the need for an additional class between the three schools on Green Lane in Leixlip. Those three schools are Scoil Bhr\u00edde, Scoil Mhuire and Scoil Eoin Ph\u00f3il. I attended Scoil Eoin Ph\u00f3il. There is a requirement for an extra class, but I am delighted to say that this morning we finally received the good news that it has been delivered. Obviously, I had put in for this speaking slot and I still wish to speak to the matter.  I am thankful to the parents who raised this issue with me, as well as to the principals who worked with me in the past number of months. This was an issue for parents. It has caused major concern because there is a lack of school places in the Leixlip area. Parents want their children to attend school in their parish, but in excess of 20 parents had not been able to get places for their children. As I said, there was real concern for those children, especially given that some of their siblings already attend the local school. It was a serious, live issue. I thank the three school principals, Anita Clarke, Se\u00e1n O\u2019Boyle and \u00c1ine Crotty, who liaised with me continually over the past number of months. They indicated to me that they wanted to get behind this to provide the extra places. Obviously, we had to convince the Department of the need for the class. The Minister, Deputy Naughton, was amazing throughout the process. She and her team kept going back and forth. I needed to explain to them the importance of delivering this extra school class in our parish. In fairness, it worked and the classroom has been delivered. That group of children will be able to go to school along with their siblings and friends.  This speaks to the wider issue we have in north Kildare and in the Minister of State\u2019s constituency of Dublin West, the Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach\u2019s constituency of Wicklow, Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn\u2019s area of south Meath and Wexford town, where Deputy Lawlor is from. There are big population increases in these areas and there is a need for increased school provision. There is an increased demand for Gaelscoileanna, which is hugely important for all our towns and villages. We have demand in our secondary schools. We have a need for secondary school places. We also have a need for extra special education classes. I know this is not hard but they need to be dealt with. We must have a focus on this area.  Every few years, we carry out a census. Every year, we see new numbers coming into the early childhood care and education, ECCE, programme. We need to be analysing those numbers clearly and in a qualitative way so we know where issues will arise in individual towns. Growing up in the expanding town of Leixlip in late eighties and the nineties, there was real growth in the area in which we went to school. As that boom declined, the numbers decreased but we are now seeing another housing boom coming back and those numbers are changing. We need to be alive to those changes. We must build for the future. All of these issues are real for the people who live in these communities.  The idea of a parent with one or two children in a certain school having to ultimately put another child in the car for an extra 15 to 20 minutes depending on traffic \u2013 we all know how bad traffic can be in north Kildare \u2013 is just not tolerable. That was a real concern. I am happy that I have been able to speak and receive text messages from a number of parents today who are so relieved and delighted. I thank them for their forbearance. I also thank the principals for their work. I thank the Department for seeing sense in this proposal and making the right decision. I thank the Minister for her decision as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Higgins  D\u00e9anaim comhghairdeas leis an Teachta. I congratulate Deputy Neville and the school communities. I know that he attended one of the schools. I am sure this is a big day for both he Deputy and the school communities. I thank him for raising this issue and for his strong and consistent advocacy on behalf of families in Leixlip. I know he worked very closely with the school community on this issue. His engagement and that of the school community with the Minister for Education and Youth, Deputy Naughton, both on the ground locally and in the House, has been important. I compliment Deputy Neville on his hard work because he has been instrumental in bringing this matter to a positive outcome.  Providing school places for every child, including those with additional needs, is a top priority for the Government. While we are seeing a general decline in enrolments nationally, we know that growing communities like Leixlip are facing real and immediate pressures. Behind every statistic are families who simply want a place for their child in a local school. While the Department is aware of enrolment pressures and demand for additional school places in some areas, it is important to note that enrolment pressures can be driven by duplications of applications, applications from outside an area and school-of-choice factors.  In Leixlip, there has been particular pressure for junior infant places for September 2026. Department officials have been working closely with local schools, analysing the data and responding directly to the concerns raised by parents and the Deputy. Today, I am pleased to confirm a clear and practical step forward. Following direct engagement with Scoil Mhuire on Green Lane, the Department of education has, as the Deputy outlined, now approved the opening of a second junior infant class. This additional class will be in place for September 2026 to accommodate local children.  I am sure the Deputy will agree that this is a real and tangible outcome that will make a difference for families in the area. It will mean more local children will now have access to a place in their community. While places are available across the wider Leixlip area, we recognise that families want to stay local, wherever possible. That is why targeted, local actions like this matter.  The Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in the area. For planning purposes, the Department examines urban areas as a whole and does not recognise parish boundaries in the review. Parents have the right to choose which school to apply to and, where the school has places available, the pupil should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available, a selection process may be necessary. This selection and enrolment processes must be non-discriminatory and applied fairly in respect of all applicants. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.  In accordance with the provisions of the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018, schools are required to clearly set out their selection criteria in their admission policies. The criteria to be applied by schools and the order of priority are a matter for the schools. It is an important feature of the act that schools can only make a decision on an application for admission that is based on the school\u2019s admission policy.  I am pleased to be putting positive news on the record of the House today. I again thank the Deputy and the local school community in Leixlip who have engaged in a constructive and successful campaign. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Neville  It is not often that I table a Topical Issue and get the win on the same day. This is a matter I have been raising for a number of months.  As already stated, this is a very positive situation. What has happened speaks to the work of Department in this case. The Minister of State stated that a specific issue can be targeted. I was conscious of the potential for the Department to look organically at this from a high level as opposed to looking at parish boundaries, different clubs and roads and what areas gravitate towards their own areas. Children want to go to school with the other kids who live on their roads.  We have a Gaelscoil and an Educate Together in our area. The Green Lane schools all have a Catholic ethos. Each one offers different things. Ultimately, people want their children to have the opportunity to go to school with other children on their roads and, most importantly, with the children in their homes, namely their older brothers or sisters who are already going to particular schools. In this instance, that would not have been possible until the decision made today. That is why I was quite passionate about this issue, why I liaised, as much as I could, with the schools and the parents involved in respect of it and, ultimately, why I raised it in the D\u00e1il. I also spoke at meetings and raised the issue with the Department.  As I said, in this case, the issue has been resolved. There is a wider issue regarding north Kildare and other areas that have difficulties. I am sure parents in Celbridge, Naas and Kilcock have real concerns about waiting lists for primary and secondary schools. Ultimately, we have a group of families who are delighted. As I said, I am sure other families might be in a position where they are still awaiting decisions. As I said, this is a new good news story for the Green Lanes schools and I am glad to be in a position to have that news. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Higgins  I thank the Deputy for outlining the steps he has taken and the positive and proactive engagement he has had with the Minister for Education and Youth and departmental officials and the collaborative way in which he has worked with the school community. That matters and doing that work matters. It is hard and tough work, but as the Deputy can see it gets results. It has got results in this instance.  The message here is very simple. The Government has listened, engaged and delivered. A new junior infant class has now been approved for Scoil Mhuire. Critically, that class will be ready for September of this year. The Deputy mentioned other schools in similar situations. The annual enrolment process for new junior infants at primary level and new first years at post-primary level is a large-scale operation. It is transacted with close to 4,000 schools across the country involving 140,000 pupils. In order to plan for school places and need, the Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and utilises a geographical information system to anticipate school place demand. Information from a range of sources, including child benefit data, school enrolment data and data on residential development activities is used for this purpose. In addition, the Project Ireland 2040 population and housing targets inform the Department's projection of school place requirements.  The Deputy mentioned constituents in Celbridge and other areas. It is important that they are aware that the Department is looking at this from a holistic perspective and is making sure that the Department is able to provide classes, classrooms and schools where demand exists. Scoil Mhuire and the Green Lane schools very clearly demonstrated that the demand is there, and the Department responded accordingly. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"School Enrolments"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_43","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"National Monuments","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_39","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_39","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_43","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Geoghegan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Geoghegan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Geoghegan  I thank the Minister of State for taking this matter, which relates to the Martello tower in Sandymount. The Minister of State will be familiar with Martello towers located across Dublin Bay. I understand that 28 were originally built. Every few of them are in as good nick as the one on Sandymount Strand.  As a local Deputy and a former councillor, I am aware that people have been raising this issue on a continuing basis. They would walk along the promenade past the Martello tower, which is such an iconic building. People have not had access to the inside for decades. Those who have lived in the community long enough remember a time when there was a caf\u00e9 in the tower. In other parts of the city, such as D\u00fan Laoghaire, there is a James Joyce museum in a Martello tower.  I could not tell the Minister of State the number of occasions on which I, as a councillor, was contacted by people asking whether anything could be done with the Martello tower. I do not know how often Dublin City Council wrote to the owner to see whether a collaborative approach could be taken to open the tower. We talk about dereliction and vacancy generally across the city. This is a landmark building. The owner is the only person who has access, which he is perfectly entitled to have. The first time anyone has had a glimpse of the inside of the building is right now because it has been put up for sale. Photographs have been published in order that people can see what the tower looks like inside. It has been decades since anyone has peered into the building.  The tower is recognised and registered as a national monument on the national monument registry. There is precedent for the State acquiring buildings that are recognised as national monuments. One of the challenges if the monument goes into private hands is its ability to serve the community and serve its intended purpose. To be fair to the current owner, perhaps 25 years ago or so, a planning application was submitted to put in place a caf\u00e9 at the site. For whatever reason, that did not work out.  We should be able to do so much more to recognise and preserve our history. This is a unique opportunity. A tower was constructed over 200 years ago by our then colonial overlords to prevent or at least defend against the perceived risk of a French invasion. We now have an opportunity to preserve and highlight that history. It is not just on behalf of the community that I am making this representation. Sandymount Strand is visited by hundreds of people on a daily basis. It is an oasis on Dublin Bay and a UNESCO biosphere. It is something that the whole of Dublin is proud of, enjoys and frequents.  There would be an enormous opportunity to create a history tour linking all of the Martello towers. It could become an iconic destination. In terms of value for the State, the Government could work with the local authority and Dublin City Council. To be fair to the council, there has already been some preliminary engagement with the seller. The State and the local authority could work together to provide a caf\u00e9 on site that would build up revenue. Whatever the capital cost might be right now, it would wash its face within a short period.  The cultural, historic and social dividend for everyone visiting the area would be ginormous. I have raised this matter in order to encourage the relevant agencies of the State to engage with the sales process and investigate and determine whether it is plausible that the State could acquire this Martello tower. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Higgins  I thank the Deputy for raising this matter, which provides an opportunity to outline the position of the Office of Public Works, OPW, in regard to the potential acquisition of the Martello tower at Sandymount Strand, although I would suggest that there are other State bodies, Departments and local authorities that will have an interest in this matter.  At the outset, I wish to acknowledge the significant historical and cultural value that this tower represents as part of Ireland\u2019s built heritage. These early 19th century defensive structures form an important element of our coastal landscape and are closely associated with our architectural, social and literary history, with approximately 50 located around the country. The OPW has responsibility for the care, management and presentation of a large portfolio of heritage sites across the State, as the Deputy will be aware. These include many of Ireland's most significant national monuments, currently numbering approximately 780 sites nationwide, which are under the ownership of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. In this context, it is important to note that the OPW does not have a general role in acquiring national monuments; rather, it is responsible for the conservation, maintenance and management of services of those sites where guiding services exist.  The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage is a relevant decision maker when the State is considering taking a property or monument into the care of the State. Ultimately, the OPW is responsible for conservation, maintenance and management of what is in the State's control. Acquisitions are considered on a case-by-case basis, having regard to a range of factors, including national significance, strategic fit within the existing portfolio, public access potential and the availability of resources to conserve and manage the site into the future.  As the Deputy said, the State already has a Martello tower in its care. It is managed by D\u00fan Laoghaire-Rathdown local authority and operates successfully as the James Joyce Tower and Museum. This demonstrates that, where appropriate, such structures can be preserved and repurposed through collaborative arrangements at local level.  In relation to the specific property referred to, I understand that the Martello tower at Sandymount Strand is in private ownership and has, over time, been used as a private dwelling and for commercial purposes. I commend the fact that the Deputy has engaged with the private owner from his time as a councillor and recognise that the situation will change if, as he stated, the property is up for sale. While the OPW recognises its heritage value, it is the case that the State must carefully consider carefully its approach to acquiring historic properties. The assumption of ownership, as I am sure the Deputy understands, brings with it long-term obligations in terms of conservation, maintenance and public access. All of this must be carefully considered in the context of competing priorities across the heritage sector. In addition, local authorities are often best placed to bring forward proposals for the reuse and regeneration of heritage buildings where there is a clear community or civic function identified.  I was really pleased to hear the Deputy say that it is his understanding that preliminary engagement has already begun between the seller and Dublin City Council as that may be a really good avenue to continue to explore. Any future proposal for the Martello tower at Sandymount Strand may be more appropriately considered at local authority level, in this instance Dublin City Council, and potentially in partnership with other stakeholders. I urge the Deputy to continue to engage with the city council on this matter. If the tower is up for sale, it is obviously now an opportunity for those discussions to happen in a serious context. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Geoghegan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Geoghegan  I thank the Minister of State. I am very encouraged by the reply. I may be too much of an optimist. However, to be fair to the OPW, particularly in the context of the reply the Minister of State read out its behalf, it has highlighted a very successful model that has worked when working with a local authority in the preservation of Martello tower in D\u00fan Laoghaire, which is not very far away from the Martello tower in Sandymount, and how it successfully operates as a museum. It is my understanding, as already stated, that there has been some engagement on the part of the local authority regarding the sales process. I acknowledge that it identifies the parent Department as being the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, which might have a role in directing the OPW in this matter.  This is clearly an area in which the State has comfort. What everybody wants to see is a community dividend from this unique opportunity. I would be concerned that the relevant stakeholders on the State side will not grasp the nettle. This is a live sale process. Theoretically, the tower could be acquired by any person who wishes to acquire it right now. It is for sale on the open market. I will certainly be engaging with Dublin City Council on foot of the reply that has been given. Equally, I will engage with the Ministers responsible in the Department of heritage, particularly as this Martello tower is registered as a national monument. I will highlight, as the OPW has done, a ready-made existing policy, not something to be feared by the State, that has proven successful, viable and that it has the experience to deal with the maintenance of such an important building. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Higgins  I thank the Deputy. I agree. The fact that this is a registered national monument that is located in a UNESCO biosphere on, as the Deputy put it, the oasis that is Dublin Bay, this does represent a unique opportunity now that it is for sale. To reiterate, the OPW does not have plans to acquire the tower, but it is standing ready to engage constructively with relevant stakeholders, where appropriate, and remains committed to the conservation and the promotion of Ireland's built heritage and its natural heritage more broadly.  What the Deputy said regarding continuing engagement with Dublin City Council is very positive and is something I would actively encourage him to do. In my constituency, we had a similar situation whereby Lucan House, which is the former residence of the Italian ambassador to Ireland, was going to be put up for sale on the open market. We have really benefited from the fact that South Dublin County Council, our local authority, was in a position to purchase the estate. While it is still not fully open to the public, it was open on Saturday and it was great to have so many people there enjoying the atmosphere and the stunning grounds. The house itself will soon be open to the public. There is precedent for local authorities taking the lead on this, obviously supported by national Government.  There is the precedent for local authorities to take the lead in circumstances where the OPW does not necessarily see that something is a fit for it. In this instance, the OPW has clearly stated that it is not a fit for it in the here and now, but having D\u00fan Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council operate a successful museum in a very similar tower not far away does offer a roadmap for success. Ultimately, I know the Deputy's goal is to preserve this historic amenity and to bring to life its history and that would be a wonderful thing if he was able to partner with Dublin City Council to achieve. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"National Monuments"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_44","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Message from the Standing Business Committee of D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_44","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Jen Cummins)  The Standing Business Committee of D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann has completed its consideration under Standing Order 30 of the request by Deputy John Brady to waive the requirement for scrutiny of the Flood Insurance Bill 2021 by the relevant committee under Standing Order 103 and has agreed thereto. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Message from the Standing Business Committee of D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_45","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"An Bille um an Aon\u00fa Leas\u00fa is Daichead ar an mBunreacht (Cearta V\u00f3t\u00e1la i dToghch\u00e1in Uachtar\u00e1in) 2025: An Dara C\u00e9im [Comhalta\u00ed Pr\u00edobh\u00e1ideacha]","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_45","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"An Bille um an Aon\u00fa Leas\u00fa is Daichead ar an mBunreacht (Cearta V\u00f3t\u00e1la i dToghch\u00e1in Uachtar\u00e1in) 2025: An Dara C\u00e9im [Comhalta\u00ed Pr\u00edobh\u00e1ideacha]"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-30\/debate\/dbsect_46","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2025\/36","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2025\/36\/dail\/2","houseCode":"dail","stage":"2","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Forty-first Amendment of the Constitution (Voting Rights in Presidential Elections) Bill 2025: Second Stage [Private Members] (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Forty-first Amendment of the Constitution (Voting Rights in Presidential Elections) Bill 2025: Second Stage [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":15,"speakerCount":5},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_46","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  Tairgim: \u201cGo l\u00e9ifear an Bille an Dara hUair anois.\"  I move: \"That the Bill be now read a Second Time.\"  I am delighted to be able to introduce this Bill in the House today. It is a good-news story. The Bill simply seeks to extend the democratic franchise, the right to vote, to all Irish citizens across the country in presidential elections. This is no small thing at all. Enfranchising 1 million Irish citizens is massively important. It is historic in many ways. This Bill would have significant consequences. To put it in context, the last time we saw a Bill affecting the franchise on this island at this level was in 1918. The last time that any legislation was passed to give the right to vote to a section of Irish citizens across the country was over 100 years ago. Indeed, the last time Irish citizens in the North of Ireland got a chance to vote in an all-Ireland election was in 1918. That is an incredible fact.  This Bill should not be underestimated. I ask the Minister of State to imagine circumstances in which she, as a passport holder and an Irish citizen, did not have or was denied the right to vote in a presidential election. Imagine if it was not just her but also her family and entire constituency that was refused the right to vote in a presidential election. I imagine she would be furious. She would see that as a massive attack on and affront to her democratic rights. Yet, that is exactly what is happening in the North of Ireland at present. Hundreds of thousands of citizens who were born in Ireland, who live in Ireland, who play Gaelic games and who hold Irish passports are refused the right to vote. In many ways, this is an affront to the Good Friday Agreement, which states that citizens in the North of Ireland have the right to Irish citizenship.  The Good Friday Agreement has been in place since 1998 but we still have not implemented the spirit of it in the intervening period. I ask the Minister of State to imagine the sheer joy of Irish citizens in the North of Ireland if they were able to cast a vote in an all-Ireland election for the first time since 1918 and the sheer joy she would afford them if they were allowed to do so. Shockingly, a person from the North of Ireland can campaign in a presidential election. They can put their name forward for election as President. They can win a presidential election. They can actually be the President of this country, but they cannot vote in presidential elections. Mary McAleese is the perfect example in this regard. Would the Minister of State deny Mary McAleese's Irishness? Would she say that she is less Irish than she or I because of where she was born and raised? I am sure the Minister of State would not do so.  Yet, in a legal and democratic sense, we do exactly that to well over 700,000 passport holders in the North of Ireland. Irish citizens from the North of Ireland can join the Irish Army. They can fight and die for Ireland but they do not have the right to vote in a democratic election on the island of Ireland. That is an affront. It is wrong and it needs to be changed.  The legislation that we in Aont\u00fa have put forward is not a zero-sum Bill. Often, we talk about the constitutional situation in the North of Ireland as, when nationalists gain something, it in some way takes a right from our unionist brothers and sisters. This Bill does not do that in any sense. It does not remove anything from our unionist brothers and sisters. It simply adds to the rights of Irish people. On most of the constitutional questions that we discuss, debate or converse on in the D\u00e1il, we talk about not having the ability to do it. However, the crazy thing is that the power for this change lies not in Westminster or Stormont, but here in Leinster House. It is we who can make the change in law to create the constitutional right for people to have a referendum on this issue. This is in our gift. If there is a wrong in relation to people not being given the right to vote in the North of Ireland, that wrong lies on the shoulders of the people here.  It is over 100 years since the Irish Boundary Commission. If the Minister of State knows her history, she will know that the Boundary Commission was just one in a long list of bitter blows against Northern nationalists in terms of participating in Ireland. It shut the door to Northern nationalists playing a democratic role here. Surely, it is now time, 100 years later, for us to open that door to these citizens to be able to vote in this country.  From what I know, Fine Gael supports a united Ireland. It is my understanding that every party in this D\u00e1il currently supports a united Ireland. For some people, Irish unity is for some time in the future. For Aont\u00fa, we support it now. The majority of Irish citizens, when polled, say over and over again that they support a united Ireland. This Bill does not even go that far. It is an incremental step along the way, but it does not go that far.  My understanding is that the Government is not going to oppose the Bill on Second Stage. I welcome that. It is wonderful that the Government is not going to oppose it. I urge the Government to join in a cross-party effort to speedily get this legislation through the Oireachtas in the next year. Sometimes, it is the practice of the Government not to oppose something that is popular. We often see that the best way for a Government to say \"No\" is to say \"Yes\" and then do nothing about it. My worry is that this Bill will get through Second Stage but then languish just before it gets into committee. In other words, the Government majority on a committee will simply not facilitate the Bill moving to Committee Stage to allow it to proceed. If that happens, it will be absolutely shocking.  One of the barriers to this Bill - it is the same as the barrier to a united Ireland - is that some political parties see these steps as a threat to their own party interests. Some political parties put their party interests ahead of the national interest on these issues. Before partition was introduced, Liam Mellows stated that if partition was introduced, two establishments would grow on either side of the Border that would depend on the Border for their power and the removal of the Border would threaten their ability to govern, and so it has come to pass in many ways.  If we are honest, there are those in Fine Gael and Fianna F\u00e1il who see this Bill, if it were in place, as preventing them from having the opportunity to win a presidential election. Maybe 700,000 voters from the North of Ireland would plump for a Sinn F\u00e9in candidate and, therefore, make it more difficult for Fianna F\u00e1il or Fine Gael to win a presidential election. It has always been Aont\u00fa's view that the reason Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael are reticent about Irish unity is that they are regional political parties. They are not national political parties. They do not represent Irish people in the North of Ireland. Therefore, in a general election, Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael's representation in an all-Ireland D\u00e1il would shrink and they would be less likely to be able to form a Government. If that is the case, it is wrong. It is wrong for an individual political party to put party political interests ahead of the national interest. I urge the Government to make sure that is not the case. If that is the Government's fear, the democratic right to vote should not be dependent upon the outcome of an election. The right to vote, the franchise, should be independent of that outcome, whatever it should be. As a democrat, I think the Minister of State would agree with that premise.  Right now, Sinn F\u00e9in in the North of Ireland is not doing so well politically. According to the opinion polls, its support is at its lowest in five years. Northern nationalists now have much more opportunity to vote for other political parties, such as Aont\u00fa, than they did before. It is not a given that 700,000 voters in the North of Ireland would plump for one political party.  This Bill has the potential to create a dynamic in all-Ireland politics that we do not even understand. Through legislation like this, some people from a Protestant, unionist and loyalist background would be attracted to also vote in a presidential election. People from a unionist background might vote for Fine Gael. They might feel that Fine Gael is the logical party to vote for in such a situation. There is no guarantee that only nationalists would vote in a presidential election. There is a growing number of people from a Protestant, unionist and loyalist background in the North of Ireland who, because of Brexit, have become frustrated with the so-called United Kingdom and are now more interested in the opportunities that a united Ireland could provide, or at least an all-Ireland democracy could provide. That situation could very easily develop if this Bill were enacted.  If a small political party like Aont\u00fa can function in the North of Ireland, form cumainn and compete in elections, and if the Green Party and People Before Profit can do likewise, why can the Government parties not do it? Why can Fine Gael and Fianna F\u00e1il not represent people in the North of Ireland? Fianna F\u00e1il was very close to doing so once when it opened a cumann in Queen's University. It planned to open further cumainn in the North. Mark Daly and \u00c9amon \u00d3 Cu\u00edv were suspended from Fianna F\u00e1il for landing in Omagh to officially declare a candidate in an election as a Fianna F\u00e1il candidate in the North of Ireland. Unfortunately, under Miche\u00e1l Martin, that move towards united Ireland politics has reversed significantly. Hopefully when Miche\u00e1l Martin retires, Fianna F\u00e1il too will open cumainn in the North and contest elections. That is the solution to this. Without any change in the law, all political parties could create an all-Ireland dynamic by simply standing for elections in the North. We have a moral responsibility to represent all Irish people in Ireland and not just a segment of people in the North. This is important for the Government's future development. A united Ireland is coming. There is a growing demographic change in the North of Ireland. There is a growing section of the Protestant, unionist and loyalist community in the North who have an interest in Irish unity. Due to Brexit, there are significant changes happening.  In Stormont, Westminster and local elections, the number of nationalist votes is increasing year by year. It is in the long-term interest of the Government parties to contest future elections in the North of Ireland. This Bill is an historic opportunity. It is an opportunity to build a democratic country, North and South, and realise the objectives of many of the founding fathers of the Minister of State's political party. There are many debates around this issue. The key debate, however, is how it is just or moral that an Irish citizen one mile south of the Border can vote in a presidential election while an Irish citizen one mile north of the Border cannot vote in that same presidential election. This is a very simple Bill that does not remove any rights from any section or community in the North of Ireland. It is a Bill that adds. It is an additional human rights Bill. It is an additional democratic Bill for people in the North of Ireland.  When we talk about the North and presidential elections, many people say there are more important things at the moment, in terms of the cost-of-living crisis, housing and healthcare.  I would say \"No\", actually. There are urgent things in life and there are important things in life. There is an urgency to the cost-of-living crisis, to housing and to healthcare, but over the 100 years development of this country, it is in our national interest to be able to organise on an island basis. It is in our national interest in terms of developing a bigger economy and a more efficient public service. The Border is like a wall with 1,000 blocks. Each of those blocks is impeding development North and South, whether it is spatial development, healthcare development, such as an all-Ireland ambulance service, or educational development. Universities are working in some cases with their backs to each other. Incredibly, we are still spatially developing this country with our backs to each other and at a cost to each other.  People say there is an economic cost to all this. I say the people in Dundalk are just as hard-working as the people in Newry, the people in Dungannon are just as enterprising as the people in Monaghan and the people in Derry are just as hard-working as the people in Letterkenny. The key ingredient that is missing is self-determination: the ability of the Irish people to make decisions for ourselves for the betterment of this country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Children, Disability and Equality (Deputy Emer Higgins)  I appreciate the opportunity to contribute to the debate. I can confirm the Government will not oppose the motion and will continue to keep the matter of extending the right to vote in presidential elections to citizens overseas outside the State under review.  The story of emigration from our island is long and layered. For many years, the prevailing narrative rightly focused on the fact that economic challenges and social exclusion meant that, for many, emigration was seen as the only viable option. For others, particularly more recently, emigration was a choice made under more positive circumstances. In our work, we are fortunate to witness the role the diaspora plays in carrying Ireland\u2019s voice and values around the world.  From talking to colleagues across the Oireachtas, two things stand out. First, there is hardly a town, village or community across Ireland that has not been impacted by emigration. Like many in the Chamber, I have direct experience of family and friends moving abroad and the strange gap that exists when someone who was always around is now in another country. Second, we all share a desire to deepen the ties between Ireland and the Irish abroad.  Earlier today, in line with the commitment made in the programme for Government, my colleague, the Minister of State with responsibility for international development and diaspora, Deputy Richmond, launched the Government\u2019s new diaspora strategy. The launch was one of the highlights of the fourth Global Irish Civic Forum, which takes place in Croke Park today and tomorrow. The forum is an integral element of the Government\u2019s engagement with Irish communities abroad. It has brought together 250 people from 21 countries for two days of networking and discussions on the challenges and opportunities facing the Irish abroad. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  It is not about \"abroad\". There is nothing in the Bill about being abroad or emigration or diaspora. It is purely the North of Ireland. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Higgins  When I was abroad, I had the opportunity to meet very active Irish communities in Sweden and Denmark. I am pleased Irish politicians get the opportunity to engage with so many Irish living across the world. Throughout 2025, the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, led the most intensive consultation ever undertaken with the Irish abroad. The centrepiece of the process was a series of formal consultations led by Ministers in 27 cities across 17 countries, including Ireland. Just under 500 individuals attended these discussions, with over 250 organisations represented. In addition to the formal public consultations, the strategy was informed by engagements with a range of stakeholders from the Oireachtas, civil society, NGOs, community and cultural movements and groups, business networks and academic institutions at home and abroad.  The in-person consultations were supplemented by the Global Irish Survey, our first ever online survey of the Irish abroad. That consultation launched on 7 July 2025 and ran for seven weeks throughout the summer of 2025. Over 10,000 responses were received. The overall response to this open and expansive approach in person and online was very positive. In a changing and complex world, building an enduring relationship with the diaspora remains as significant as ever to our national identity. Our new strategy reflects the commitment of the Government to work with the diaspora on a new and unprecedented chapter in diaspora relations. There are 23 commitments and they focus directly on the challenges and opportunities identified by the Irish abroad during the consultation process. Given my portfolio, I welcome the commitment to open doors for those from under-represented groups to engage with Ireland.  I will deal with the substance of the Deputy's Bill, which is votes for citizens outside our jurisdiction. As I understand it, the Bill seeks to extend the presidential franchise to citizens resident in Northern Ireland. The issue of voting rights in Irish presidential elections was debated in the Northern Ireland Assembly last year. We have also been supportive of the work undertaken by the Convention on the Constitution. This matter is not without challenges. At an operational level, a number of implementation issues will have to be addressed, including the establishment of an online-based voter registration and the extension of postal voting.  Before that, we are all aware that extending the franchise will require constitutional change. It is important, as we have this discussion, that we do not underestimate the challenge constitutional change brings. In the course of the last Government we held two referendums and both were defeated. I believe in expanding the presidential franchise to all Irish citizens, regardless of where they live on this island or around the world, but to get to that point we have to win that debate. When you hold a referendum, you need to be, as we found out, in a position to win, and preferably to win strongly. If you do not, then the chance to extend the franchise will be lost for a generation.  When this debate arises, the Government is often accused of not supporting an extension because we would not like the result. Like all here this evening, I am a democrat, I was democratically elected and I would not support approaching the matter in an undemocratic way, but we have to be clear as to what is possible. Holding a referendum is a political decision that needs to be taken by the government of the day. I assure the D\u00e1il that this Government is reflecting on this issue for that exact reason.  I have a number of speaking points in relation to deepening ties with the global Irish but I appreciate the Deputy's comments that he would like the debate to focus on the specifics of the Bill, which concern citizens resident on the island of Ireland. While those comments have been circulated, I will take the Deputy's feedback on board and leave it at that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Crowe  Taca\u00edm leis an mBille seo. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 ag dul sa treo ceart. This Bill is going in the right direction and we will support it. Sinn F\u00e9in firmly believes in the core republican principle of equal citizenship and supports the right of all citizens of voting age to vote for the Irish President, regardless of their place of residence. The Good Friday Agreement states the Government recognises the right of all people born in the North to identify as Irish citizens if they wish. We should not treat them as second-class Irish citizens but as full Irish citizens with full voting rights. It is a dreadful exclusion that our citizens in the North are treated with such disdain that they cannot vote for the President of Ireland.  In September 2013, 73% of the members of the constitutional convention voted in favour of giving Irish citizens resident in the North a presidential vote. This was not the answer the sitting Fine Gael-Labour Government wanted and that Government missed deadlines in issuing responses to recommendations of the convention, refused to hold referendums on many of its recommendations and held an unsuccessful referendum on the future of the Seanad, without the support of the convention. The Government should have faced up to the democratic demands of that convention to end this disenfranchisement. Instead, it pretended it never happened, as governments always do when citizens' assemblies do not produce the result they want. We are still waiting for meaningful action on the report from the Citizens' Assembly on Drugs Use.  It fell to the Opposition to try to make real the change that the Assembly demanded. Gerry Adams and I introduced a Bill very similar to the one we are debating now in March 2014. It would have been the thirty-fourth amendment to the Constitution. Many referendums have come and gone, and still our Northern citizens are excluded. Our Bill would have granted the franchise to every citizen of Ireland without disqualification on the basis of place of residency. In this regard, I refer to many of the issues the Minister of State dealt with.  I would like to think that the President represents us all and that every citizen would have a say in the selection of their representative. While this Bill is narrower in scope than mine, it would be an important first step and a realisation that the Good Friday Agreement promised that all citizens would be equal. My Bill is still on the Order Paper and ready to go if the Government lends its support to it.  There is always talk of the legal and logistical challenges that come with change like this. However, are we really saying we cannot organise polling stations or a postal vote across the North? People queuing up outside embassies in Dublin in order that they can vote in elections back home is a regular sight, and not just in the case of presidential elections. Some countries, including South Africa, allow a special vote for all citizens abroad in their national elections. We act as if it would be the biggest logistical feat since the Berlin airlift. Ireland is, in fact, among a small minority of countries that do not allow non-resident citizens any sort of voting rights. One hundred and forty countries currently allow voting in at least some elections.  There is a broader discussion to be had in this State about the obstacles to voting. The difficulty in obtaining a postal vote is on that list, along with the poor quality of the electoral register. Let me quote the 2020 general election manifesto of Fine Gael:  We support extending the franchise at presidential elections to Irish citizens resident outside the State. This referendum will take place within the first year of Fine Gael being returned to Government. If passed, this will allow Irish citizens in Northern Ireland and around the world to vote in the next presidential election, in 2025.  These are the words of the Fine Gael Party. That was the commitment it made to the people, supposedly in exchange for their support. Fine Gael was returned to office, but there was no referendum.  The presidential election has come and gone. It is not as if Fine Gael did not have plenty of opportunity. Former Minister for foreign affairs Simon Coveney introduced a Bill in this area in 2019, with the referendum question already worded. The previous Government could have picked up where he left off, and no one in this House, bar, perhaps, the current Taoiseach, would have objected.  We cannot go on ignoring the right of all our citizens to have a say. We are reducing their citizenship to little more than a passport. Let us start with giving our Northern countrymen and countrywomen a vote for a President who represents all on our island. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  Is Bille maith \u00e9 seo agus t\u00e1imid ag tacadh leis.  It is fair to say that this State has abjectly failed those in the North for many years. The issue we are dealing with is therefore the continuous failure over many years. It is also fair to say that primary responsibility for partition lies with Britain. Partition entailed the idea of Britain maintaining a foothold in Ireland, not so much facilitating Ulster unionists as using them \u2013 not for the first time and not for the last. We cannot forget the threat from David Lloyd George of \u201cimmediate and terrible war\u201d. Obviously, that led to a really sad history. It broke many families, created a huge split in what had been the independence movement and eventually led to the creation of Cumann na nGaedheal, which later became Fine Gael and Fianna F\u00e1il. I agree with what Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn said about the necessity for any parties here to organise in the North, but ours would have been a very different history had those parties organised in the North. This would have changed their mindset in relation to many events. Maybe we could have avoided much of what happened, down to the fact that the North became, for all the failings of this State, a sectarian state, a sectarian Orange state that maintained the supremacy of unionism over nationalism and treated Catholic nationalists, it is fair to say, like dirt. Unfortunately, the British Government and Governments down here did nothing to address this for 50 years, and that is what led to what was a community insurrection and, unfortunately, huge pain on all sides. We are a lot happier that we are in our current position. However, the only point of that is actually delivering on our citizens\u2019 rights across this island.  We are talking about voting for Uachtar\u00e1n na h\u00c9ireann. That is fairly straightforward. I refer to the idea that the Irish President would represent the Irish people. You would think that would include those in the Six Counties. The Minister of State\u2019s former leader, Leo Varadkar, accepted that Northern nationalists had been failed for many years, so I would like to think a move could be made to address this issue.  Deputy Crowe spoke about the 2013 constitutional convention, and that should have been the impetus to take action. The Deputy spoke of the fact that he and Gerry Adams produced legislation in 2014. Unfortunately, none of these opportunities have been taken up. We failed to deliver for the last presidential election.  I accept some of what the Minister of State emphasised regarding the diaspora. Given our history of emigration and families torn asunder, we should do everything to ensure we engage those who have found themselves on far-flung shores. Unfortunately, some of our young people have had to leave because of issues with housing, childcare and all the other cost-of-living issues that unfortunately existed here long before the present cost-of-fuel crisis.  Deputy Crowe stated it quite clearly: we have all seen in news reports and elsewhere people queuing up outside embassies to vote in far-flung places, whether in parts of eastern Europe or elsewhere all over the world. In eastern Europe, people had a long history of not being able to vote. It cannot be impossible for us to facilitate voting, no more than it cannot be impossible to find a means by which we could facilitate those in the North to vote in a presidential election.  A much bigger body of work has to be done. The failure does not start and stop with presidential elections. In this Chamber, it should be possible to provide speaking time for those who represent citizens in the North, those who are elected in the North. It is vital that we bring their voice to this Chamber. The fact is that demographics are changing. There is a conversation happening across Ireland and there are significant sections, even within the Protestant unionist community, who now see Irish unity as a sensible option, including for reasons such as being part of the EU. Many were not very taken by the madness that took Britain and the North out of the EU, particularly when the majority in the North voted to stay in it. They have seen the chaos that has existed in Westminster for far too long.  We will rail about this Government and what it has failed to do, but I believe more and more people on this island realise that the best way to make decisions for the people of Ireland, North and South, is to make them here on the island. Too many times, we have seen how there are insufficient powers in the Executive and the Assembly when it comes to taxation and other very particular issues where powers are still maintained by Westminster. These are all issues that need to be addressed.  We need this Government to take the right steps. We are talking about Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael in government. Fianna F\u00e1il would profess to be the republican party and the Minister of State's party professes to be the united Ireland party. I would like to see some action in that direction. The Taoiseach has set his mind against any moves on Irish unity. We all accept very much that good work has been done by the shared island unit and I think we all want to eventually see the necessary work done on the A5. All of us see Narrow Water Bridge as an example of a spectacular project connecting my constituency with County Down. We know that there will be huge benefits not only from the point of view of transport and connectivity, but also from a tourism point of view. However, we also have to make sure that we follow through on the conversations that are happening about constitutional change.  From my point of view, it is about removing the British presence from Ireland, but it will probably be a very different united Ireland than I would have thought when I was 17. We are talking about an agreed Ireland. It is an Ireland where we have to make space for unionism and for those who see themselves as British. There is an argument that there is an onus on all of us in a referendum to be able to sell the idea that life would be better for them and their children and that we can deal with the inadequacies across both states relating to health, education and ensuring the sustainability of the economy. It is as simple as that - that we can literally put together a roadmap to Irish unity that can provide for better lives so that we can cherish all the children of the nation equally. That is something that we should all espouse.  The problem is that the Taoiseach and the Government have stated that we have to wait on this perfect moment of utopia involving what the Taoiseach terms complete and utter reconciliation. Fine Gael's former leader Leo Varadkar said that if this had been the idea, the Good Friday Agreement would not have been agreed upon. It is nearly 30 years since the Good Friday Agreement and we are in a much better place.  When we are talking about giving citizens in the North the right to be able to vote in a presidential election, we are talking about the bare minimum. We need to see the preparatory work this State has the capacity to do actually being done. Even if people do not want to call it a citizens' assembly, we need some sort of forum where people can have a conversation about what Irish unity would look like and where they could deal with those particular issues and the worries that some people have. I do not see a British Government agreeing to a referendum date on Irish unity when you have an Irish Government that will not even ask the question. Rather than supporting this today and then letting it wither on the vine, we need to see movement. Regardless of whether it is Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn's legislation, Gerry Adams and Deputy Se\u00e1n Crowe's legislation or the Government's, we need to see delivery. I have no problem with making sure that as many members of our diaspora as possible can vote but we must ensure that citizens from the North who live on this island can vote in a presidential election and then see real movement toward building the republic that many have died for over many generations. That is what we need to see. Go raigh maith go l\u00e9ir agus an phoblacht ab\u00fa. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  I listened to the Minister of State's speech and looked at the hard copy of it here. The vast bulk of this speech - up to 75% to 80% of it - is about a topic that is not included in the Bill at all. There are a couple of reasons there is a significant problem with this. In the speech, the Minister of State mentioned emigration, overseas, the Irish abroad and the diaspora. This Bill has nothing to do with any of those people at all. They are a completely separate issue. I am not sure if this is a mistake or if it is purposeful and I will tell the House why. If someone goes to the Fine Gael website and clicks on the North of Ireland or if someone from the North of Ireland wants to join Fine Gael, it actually terms it \"overseas members\", so someone from Newry who wants to join Fine Gael must join as an overseas member. I mean no disrespect but I am not sure if the Minister of State wrote this. It would be better for her if she did not write this, to be honest, because this is not about the topic at hand, and if it is about the topic at hand, it is deeply disrespectful to Northern nationalists. Imagine someone from the North of Ireland listening to this - as many people are likely to be doing because this is a big issue in the Six Counties - and a Minister of State of the Government talking about overseas Irish, global Irish, diaspora Irish, emigrants, etc.,----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Higgins  Deputy, I also spoke about votes for citizens in Northern Ireland. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  But I have the hard copy----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Higgins  We had a back and forth about this. On a point of order----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  In fairness, if I stood up in the Minister of State's place, I would be ruled out of order very quickly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Higgins  I would just like to raise a point of order. Am I entitled----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  An Teachta T\u00f3ib\u00edn. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  I have the hard copy here and 75% of the speech is either an insult to Northern nationalists or is a mistake, and that is very problematic. The context of me saying this is the fact that the people of the North of Ireland have gone through very difficult times in the past 100 years - heart-breaking, devastating challenges over the past 100 years - but at the heart of the annoyance felt by Northern nationalists is the strong feeling that they have long been betrayed by the political establishment in the South of Ireland. There is a very strong belief running through people in the North of Ireland that in their time of need, there has never been or has seldom been solidarity from the South. There have seldom been efforts to really stand up for their interests and rights. That feeling of betrayal will be magnified in many ways by the words of the Minister of State on this.  The Minister of State stated that she and her Government were reflecting on this issue. Reflection is good. I am a fan of reflection but reflection has to have some time limit for when it is complete. The programme for Government in 2020 stated that this Government would introduce a Bill that would give voting rights to the people of the North of Ireland. We are six years later. The Government had already given the commitment and has not fulfilled that particular commitment. The citizens' assembly also voted by a majority that voting rights should be given to the people of the North of Ireland. On foot of the Aont\u00fa Bill tabled initially, Sinn F\u00e9in tabled a non-binding Bill in Stormont that was supported by the majority of MLAs. Opinion polls have shown that there is support for this. Maybe there is reflection but maybe there is reflection in an effort to be in a position of paralysis and not actually do anything about this.  Voting rights for the diaspora is a completely different project to voting rights in the North of Ireland. I am in favour of voting rights but with regard to saying that a person in Johannesburg should have the same right to vote as a person in Forkhill, that a person in Buenos Aires should have the same right to vote as a person in Belcoo or that a person in Shanghai should have the same right to vote as a person in Strabane, they are two completely different proposals and should not be lumped in together or even understood together.  To understand them together completely changes what it is to be an Irish citizen. The Constitution and the Good Friday Agreement state that a person, as in the Good Friday Agreement, has a right to be an Irish citizen. All I am saying is that because of that inherent right, it should be fulfilled in their rights to have a democratic franchise. That is what we are looking for with this.  I accept and agree with the Minister of State on a point and I do not want to be totally negative on this. I agree there is a challenge in the functionality of whatever election is held in the future in terms of making sure we register people in the North of Ireland properly and that we have a facility whereby people are able to cast their votes properly. However, that is a challenge that is surmounted by 140 countries around the world in facilitating voting in an election outside of the specific jurisdiction. It is nothing new and has been happening for well over 100 years in many different places and there is an opportunity there.  The Government also mentioned that reconciliation should happen before these decisions are taken and this is the mad thing. If I can have her attention for just a second, this is important. Reconciliation has happened pretty much 100% since partition in the South of Ireland. Most people who come from families who were unionists or loyalists in the South of Ireland are fully reconciled with the southern State. I do not know of anybody in the South who is from that original community and is not reconciled with their brothers and sisters, their neighbours or the State. In the North, it is the opposite. The Northern state has fossilised and petrified conflict. The Northern state, because it has been so wrong and unfair in how nationalists have been treated, has actually maintained the issues at the heart of the conflict and reconciliation is far more difficult in the North of Ireland. If you want to turbo-boost reconciliation, the way to do that is on an all-island basis. If you want to stop reconciliation happening, maintain the status quo . When Miche\u00e1l Martin states reconciliation must happen before we enter upon this journey, his policy is to maintain the seeds of conflict in place and all the negativity that comes from that.  In another aspect to this issue, back in 2018 I was the rapporteur for the enterprise committee and I was given the task of carrying out the first report in Leinster House on the all-Ireland economy since partition. I interviewed about 100 people from all different backgrounds in the North of Ireland from different communities including Catholics, Protestants, trade unionists, business people, farmers, people in the public sector, etc., and one common thing in all those discussions was that if we plan together, fund together and deliver services together, they simply will be better services and will be more efficient and cheaper to deliver.  There is so much opportunity at the heart of the proposals we have for this particular Bill and for Irish unity. I am thinking of many of the Aont\u00fa representatives in the North of Ireland such as Gemma Brolly, a representative for us in East Derry, Liam Reichenberg in south Armagh, Rois\u00edn Mulgrew in Newry and all the people who represent Aont\u00fa in the North of Ireland. I am thinking of all the hard work they do on a daily basis to build positive relationships with their communities but also to further the objective of having a society that allows for equality among Irish citizens. The status quo makes one Irish citizen more equal than the others.  I urge the Government to see this as a legacy issue. The Minister of State could go through governance for the next few years and in 100 years' time, what does she think the people will think about her Government? In 100 years' time, if Government passes a Bill such as this, that will be the issue it will be remembered for. This is a legacy-type Bill. This is a Bill that transforms a country's ability to include everybody on the island of Ireland. This is a Bill of significance, up there with the extension of the franchise to women and the extension of the franchise to people in 1918. This is a Bill of significant magnitude and I urge the Government to take it from us and run with it. Please do not let it get blocked by intransigence on Committee Stage and allow citizens in the North to use the next election in six and a half years' time to be the first election since 1918 where they can participate in their democratic franchise as equal Irish citizens. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Children, Disability and Equality (Deputy Emer Higgins)  The Government recognises that conversations on issues like this lead to more specific discussion and engagement, North and South, about constitutional change more broadly, as provided for under the Good Friday Agreement. That is why we are not opposing this Bill and why we want to have this debate in this Chamber. However, I do not appreciate some of the comments the Deputy has made in his remarks. These are extremely important issues and they naturally require very careful and serious consideration.  We have taken careful note of the reports published by the last Oireachtas on these issues. The full implementation and effective operation of the Good Friday Agreement is an absolute priority for this Government. In addition to the rights regarding identity, the principle of consent and the possibility of change in the constitutional status of Northern Ireland are fundamental elements of the Good Friday Agreement endorsed by the people of this island, the island of Ireland, both North and South. The approach of any Irish Government regarding Irish unity is guided by Article 3 of the Constitution, as amended by the people in 1998, as the Deputy will be aware.  The Government firmly respects and affirms everyone's right on the island to make the case for the constitutional future they wish to see, whether they are nationalist, unionist or neither. The Good Friday Agreement and the two sovereign Governments explicitly recognise and validate the legitimacy of views on these constitutional positions. Our focus through the shared island initiative is in working towards a shared future underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement. That approach is necessary, regardless of whatever shape, future or constitutional change may take on this island or between these groups.  I am talking about constitutional change because, as I mentioned in my opening remarks, the Bill would require constitutional change. The Deputy's Bill would require a referendum. The issue of voting rights in the Irish presidential elections, as I said earlier, was debated in the Northern Ireland Assembly last year and we have been supportive of the work undertaken by the Convention on the Constitution. This is not without its challenges and Deputies Crowe, \u00d3 Murch\u00fa and T\u00f3ib\u00edn had specific queries and comments regarding those challenges I mentioned.  Ultimately, the issue of expanding the right to vote in presidential elections for Irish citizens resident outside of the State and those in Northern Ireland is a sensitive topic and requires thorough and respectful dialogue across this House. I commend Members this evening on their contributions and note that until recently, it was mature and constructive debate, which is a debate I want to engage in. On the specifics of this Bill, namely, expanding the franchise to Irish citizens in Northern Ireland, the Good Friday Agreement makes clear the people of Northern Ireland can, as we all appreciate and respect, identify as British, Irish or both. Article 2 of the Constitution, as amended, forms a key part of the agreement and ensures the entitlement and birthright of every person born on the island of Ireland to be part of the Irish nation.  This Government and all governments since 1998 have advocated for and defended that right, and we must do so as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement and will continue to do so. However, the issue of extending the franchise for voting in presidential elections is not straightforward. The work undertaken by the Convention on the Constitution and voting rights and other matters was important, and the detailed 2017 options paper on the matter prepared by the Department of housing, planning, community and local government and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, considered a range of policy, legal and logistical matters that need consideration. As I said earlier, these include the register of electors and postal voting, for example. I am not saying it cannot be done; I am saying it requires careful thought and preparation, as well as securing a positive result in a referendum.  The Government is focused on what is attainable - the art of the possible. We want to hold a referendum that we can win. We believe that if you hold a referendum, you need to be in a position to win it. That is why it is imperative that we continue to maintain cross-party dialogue on this topic and that we continue to be respectful of people when it comes to it.  I wish to reassure the D\u00e1il that the Government takes this matter seriously. We are not opposing this Bill for that reason. We are, as I said earlier, reflecting on it and on how best to work on it going forward. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Cuireadh agus aonta\u00edodh an cheist."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar athl\u00f3 ar 5.51 p.m. go dt\u00ed 2 p.m., D\u00e9 C\u00e9adaoin, an 6 Bealtaine 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The D\u00e1il adjourned at 5.51 p.m. until 2 p.m. on Wednesday, 6 May 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Forty-first Amendment of the Constitution (Voting Rights in Presidential Elections) Bill 2025: Second Stage [Private Members]"}]}}]},"contextDate":"2026-04-30"},{"debateRecord":{"house":{"showAs":"34th D\u00e1il","committeeCode":"","houseCode":"dail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/house\/dail\/34","chamberType":"house","houseNo":"34"},"chamber":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/def\/house\/dail","showAs":"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann"},"lastUpdated":"2026-06-10T02:07:46+00:00","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-29\/debate\/main","formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-29\/debate\/mul@\/main.xml"},"pdf":null},"date":"2026-04-29","counts":{"contributorCount":165,"divisionCount":2,"debateSectionCount":17,"questionCount":0,"billCount":2},"debateType":"debate","debateSections":[{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-29\/debate\/dbsect_2","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case:  Deputies P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan, Louis O'Hara - To discuss equitable access to rare disease medicines.  Deputy Michael Cahill - To discuss refurbishment of school buildings across County Kerry.  Deputy Barry Ward - To discuss the financial strain on people with dietary restrictions due to a medical diagnosis.  Deputy George Lawlor - To discuss the system and mechanism of appeal of SNA allocation in schools.  Deputy Cathy Bennett - To discuss the report from the Irish-US driver's licence campaign on the exchange of drivers' licences.  Deputy Michael Murphy - To discuss the failure to recruit a consultant ophthalmologist in south Tipperary.  Deputy Malcolm Byrne - To discuss the planned new Courtown Coast Guard building.  Deputy Tom Brabazon - To discuss the need for emergency works at Scoil Assaim, Raheny.  Deputy Albert Dolan - To discuss the potential loss of the 6.50 a.m. train service from Athenry to Galway.  Deputy Thomas Gould - To discuss the increase in drug-related intimidation and violence in Cork city.  Deputy Maurice Quinlivan - To discuss ongoing capacity issues at University Hospital Limerick.  Deputies Ged Nash, Joanna Byrne - To discuss the exclusion of schools in disadvantaged areas of Drogheda from the DEIS plus scheme.  Deputies David Cullinane, Conor D. McGuinness - To discuss the cessation of therapeutic support services for children in care and foster carers at St. Brigid's Family and Resource Centre in Waterford city.  Deputy Conor Sheehan - To discuss the exclusion of specific schools in Limerick city from the DEIS plus scheme.  The matters raised by Deputies P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan, Louis O'Hara, Michael Murphy, Albert Dolan, Cathy Bennett and Conor Sheehan have been selected for discussion. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-29\/debate\/dbsect_3","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-29\/debate\/dbsect_4","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Medicinal Products","counts":{"speechCount":9,"speakerCount":4},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-29\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_4","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan  I know this is a topic the Minister of State is very familiar with, as she has heard me raise it many times within our parliamentary party meetings. This is something she has heard plenty of times from me in the past few years. It is something I am very passionate about. I have more or less dedicated six years of my job as a public representative to pursuing various drugs for rare diseases.  I have a feeling I know what will be contained in the answer in front of the Minister of State. It will probably be something about the fact that the State is spending more money than ever on drugs for rare diseases and drugs in general. The spend is more than \u20ac4 billion. What I would like to hammer home is that a tiny fraction of that - less than 1% - is dedicated to new drugs, specifically drugs for rare diseases.  When I submitted this question, I specifically wanted to talk about Friedreich's ataxia and the drug Skyclarys, which is currently under consideration by the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics, NCPE, and the drugs group. It is a degenerative disease. I know the Minister of State is familiar with it. There are hundreds of diseases out there that would break her heart or the heart of anyone in this House if they affected a brother, sister, son or daughter of theirs. It is heartbreaking to see the stuff people are going through on a daily basis.  The difficulty I have is that we have been blaming the process for too long. It clearly does not work and is fundamentally broken. At various stages, both the Fianna F\u00e1il party leader and the Fine Gael party leader have said the process is broken. They are now in a position to change the process but we have not looked at it in a meaningful way in the six years we have been in power together. We have given a commitment in the programme for Government and I want to see us follow through on it. First, we must undertake to provide an early access scheme for people to access many of the drugs we are talking about this morning. Second, we must fundamentally overhaul the reimbursement system. They are two commitments in the programme for Government. I would like to see in the reply that the Minister has finally embarked on the task of starting that work, specifically on Skyclarys, which is currently under consideration. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  The Deputy's time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan  The NCPE is waiting for a response from the drugs company at the moment but I hope that, in the coming months, we will be in a position where the 200 patients affected will get access to the drug. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  I am also here to speak about Friedreich's ataxia. On Monday evening, I met Aoife Quinn from County Galway, who was diagnosed with Friedreich\u2019s ataxia in 2021. She outlined to me her long pathway to getting a diagnosis for this rare disease and how the disease impacted on her life. She told me of her experience dealing with symptoms like loss of balance and speech difficulties and of how her symptoms had deteriorated over time. Every day brings her a loss. It is a relentless and progressive disease.  The reimbursement of Skyclarys would slow the progression of this disease and give her the chance to maintain her strength and independence for as long as possible. She is just one of approximately 200 people across the State who are living with Friedreich's ataxia. Access to this treatment would also help those who are newly diagnosed, who may be spared some of the suffering experienced by those before them.  I am aware that the HSE is engaged in negotiations with the drugs manufacturer, but as of today the negotiations will have been going on for almost two years. Every single day that passes, Aoife's condition worsens, as it does for every person who is suffering from this disease. The clock is ticking for them and they cannot face more delays. This drug is an opportunity to slow the deterioration - in Aoife's case before she is wheelchair bound or suffers other issues. She does not have time to wait.  We all understand that there must be a process where the HSE negotiates to get the best possible price for medicines but we need to see real urgency here because every day that passes matters. Aoife has also expressed her frustration that she is not kept updated on the negotiations and that there is not regular contact with her on that. Will the Minister of State look at that?  The bottom line is that these people do not have the luxury of time. Every day that passes without the medication is a day where symptoms deteriorate. They do not have time to be left waiting in the dark, wondering whether a medicine that could improve their lives will be reimbursed. Will the Minister of State provide clarity today or give a commitment that this will be resolved soon? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Mary Butler)  I thank both Deputy O'Sullivan and Deputy O'Hara for raising this important issue. I spoke on this in the Seanad a couple of weeks ago. I acknowledge Deputy O'Sullivan's advocacy on rare diseases in the past six years.  As we all know, the State acknowledges the importance of access to new and innovative medicines for patients living with a rare disease. Budgets 2021 to 2025 included dedicated funding for new medicines of \u20ac158 million. Budget 2026 allocated an additional \u20ac30 million of funding available for new drugs. From 2021 up to March 2026, this has enabled the HSE to approve reimbursement for 263 new medicines, including 72 new medicines for the treatment of rare diseases.  As Members are aware, the National Rare Disease Strategy 2025-2030 was launched last year. The strategy outlines a comprehensive framework designed to enhance diagnosis, treatment and support for people living with rare diseases, aiming to improve quality of life, promote equitable access to healthcare, and foster innovation in rare disease research and treatment. It also emphasises the importance of access to orphan medicines among its key recommendations. The State has signed two new framework agreements on the supply and pricing of medicines from 2026 to 2029, following successful negotiations with the pharmaceutical industry, that will provide stability and certainty to the sector.  Building on this achievement, the State and the pharmaceutical sector have agreed to establish a strategic partnership on the development of a sandbox early-access programme for rare diseases. This will be a proof-of-concept initiative aligned with the commitments in the programme for Government and the national rare disease strategy.  Regarding Skyclarys, I will provide some background for our colleagues and then address the Deputy's question. Omaveloxolone, sold under the brand name Skyclarys, is a medication licensed by the European Medicines Agency to treat Friedreich\u2019s ataxia in patients aged 16 years and over. Friedreich\u2019s ataxia is a rare inherited disease that causes damage to the nervous system. Under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on the pricing and reimbursement of medicines. The Act provides for a rigorous process for the assessment of new medicines for reimbursement. This ensures that the right medicines are chosen and that approval is at a sustainable price.  The HSE received an application for pricing and reimbursement for Skyclarys from the applicant, Biogen Idec (Ireland) Limited, on 1 August 2024. After receiving a completed rapid review assessment report from the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics, the HSE commissioned a full health technology assessment on 25 September 2024. A fully completed dossier, which is required to allow the NCPE to conduct a pharmacoeconomic assessment of the pricing and reimbursement application, was not received from Biogen until July 2025.  The NCPE proactively engaged with the applicant company and submitted the finalised health technology assessment report to the HSE on 16 December 2025. It is important that we look at the timelines. This report included submissions made by patient organisations. These submissions will form part of the data that the HSE considers. The HSE invited the applicant to commence price negotiations and offered a range of dates to the company. The HSE has advised this meeting took place on 12 February 2026 and, as of the most recent update from the HSE in April, a commercial proposal from the company remains outstanding. I checked with the Minister's Department last night in this regard and I know the Taoiseach has engaged with her. Where we are at the moment is that a commercial proposal from the company remains outstanding, which I know is frustrating, but it is important to put the timelines on the record of the D\u00e1il. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan  I thank the Minister of State for the response. It is predictable, although I do not say that to be dismissive. I know a lot of this and have known it for some time. The point I made in my initial salvo was that we rank 23rd out of 27 EU countries with regard to reimbursement for rare disease drugs. That is a fact. Whether it is Skyclarys or some other drug for some other ailment, the fact of the matter is that Ireland is a laggard among our EU counterparts in terms of reimbursement. I understand that engagement with this company has been attempted. I have not come across this company in the past. I wrote to it myself last week to look for engagement. I would like to think it might do something immediate, short-term and local with patients to give them early access in the absence of State intervention. However, fundamentally, we must be truthful with ourselves in here and recognise that the system is flawed. It is the same system we have had for decades. Any common drug or other product on the shelf of a pharmacy that costs you \u20ac2 or \u20ac3 goes through the same process as one of these drugs that costs hundreds of thousands of euro. If we fail to acknowledge that fundamental flaw in the system, this issue is going to keep being repeated. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  I appreciate the update from the Minister of State. I cannot emphasise enough the impact the ongoing delays are having on those impacted by the disease. I also call on the drug company to engage in good faith in the negotiations with the HSE. The priority of all parties involved should be delivering this vital medication to the people who need it. Aoife and all of those who suffer from Friedreich\u2019s ataxia want an opportunity to have as good a quality of life as possible. This medication is critical for them. As we speak, people like Aoife are losing their mobility, their ability to live independently and so on. The onus is on the Minister and the Department to ensure that people who suffer from rare diseases are given access to vital medication. The frustration is that we are one of the wealthiest countries in the world and this drug is available in many other European countries. The Minister of State mentioned that the commercial proposal is still outstanding. It has been two years since this process commenced. If she were to put herself in the shoes of somebody like Aoife, she would see how there would be enormous frustration at the delays that are happening here. I urge her to do absolutely everything she can to get this resolved as soon as possible. Every single day matters. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  I concur with both Deputies. We are speaking about this really important drug and 200 people, their families and their parents want to know what is going to happen and are hanging on our every word. I take all that on board. While I know this has been going on for two years, the HSE did not receive the information from Biogen until July 2025. We are still waiting for the commercial proposal from the company. That remains outstanding. That is the situation at the moment. I am glad Deputy O'Sullivan has engaged with the company to see if we could get some movement on this. We have an agreement in relation to some drugs. We have the Benelux agreement, which allows us to get really good value in procuring drugs. However, it is different for drugs for rare diseases. You need a number of elements to work together. I agree with Deputy O'Sullivan about the overall system, the process and meaningful engagement. I will be speaking to the Minister about this again. The sooner the commercial proposal from the company comes in, the sooner a decision can be made. There is not a Deputy in the House who has not been touched by Aoife's case and those of others who are awaiting this drug.  Did the Deputies get my response? Was it circulated? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan  I have the response from the Minister of State. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Medicinal Products"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-29\/debate\/dbsect_5","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Health Services Staff","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-29\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_5","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Murphy  I am raising this Topical Issue again because children across south Tipperary are being left without access to critical basic community ophthalmology services due to repeated recruitment failures following the planned retirement of the previous consultant, Dr. Hillery, in August 2024. This is not a new issue. It has now escalated into a full-blown failure of ophthalmology service delivery across south Tipperary. What should be a core community service simply has not existed for the past two years. More than 2,000 children are on the waiting list, 1,500 of whom are under the age of four. As we all know, vision development in early childhood is time-sensitive. Delays in assessment and treatment can have lasting consequences for speech and language development, educational progress, social interaction and general confidence and well-being. Very young children are waiting two, three or four years. In some cases my office has been made aware of, children have been waiting for an appointment since 2023. This can mean missing critical developmental windows.  In the interim, families are being advised to contact the emergency clinic at University Hospital Waterford if concerns become urgent. Families who have engaged with me tell me that the reality is that, more often than not, the phone in Waterford is not being answered. Waterford is already under huge pressure with its own waiting list. What we really need is a structured contingency plan.  I have raised this matter repeatedly throughout 2025, in February, April, July, October and December, and I had a Topical Issue debate on it with the Minister of State on 18 February this year. What immediate actions are being taken to secure a permanent consultant ophthalmologist for south Tipperary? We have now had three campaigns. Following the first campaign, the successful candidate declined the position. The second campaign found no eligible candidates. I do not think there were even any applications. None of the candidates who applied during the most recent campaign were deemed eligible. We also need to know what changes are going to be made. We are now entering into a fourth recruitment campaign. We need to ensure it is successful.  How will the Minister for Health ensure that patients in south Tipperary receive timely and equitable access to this critical ophthalmology service?  I wish to refer to the response that I received on 18 February last delivered by the Minister of State. The HSE said that it was engaging with the Royal Victoria Ear and Eye Hospital in Dublin with a view to supporting Tipperary South. Is there any update? The HSE also confirmed that it was entering into discussions with a private agency with a view of a scoping exercise being conducted. I previously spoke about availing of capacity within the private sector. There are 2,000 children waiting, with 1,500 under the age of four. As if the crisis in orthodontic services was not enough across the south east, this is another full-blown crisis with regard to ophthalmology. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  I thank the Deputy for raising this again and for his continued advocacy in relation to this situation. It is one that I am very familiar with, as our two constituencies align along a border. I have met one of the nurses who works in the service and who has advocated strongly as well. I just happened to meet her one day.  On behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health, I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue, which he has highlighted a number of times. As the Deputy is aware from previous replies, every effort has been made to recruit staff to this service, but these efforts have not been successful to date. The HSE provides free optical services to preschool and national school children who are referred through child health and school health examinations and are identified as having sight problems. These services continue until a child reaches 16 years of age. In addition, the community ophthalmic services scheme, which has been in place since 1979, allows medical card holders aged 16 and over to access care from contracted ophthalmologists, community ophthalmic physicians, optometrists or dispensing opticians.  The HSE has confirmed that the community ophthalmic post in south Tipperary - University Hospital Waterford - became vacant in October 2024 following a planned retirement. In 2025, the post was regraded to that of consultant in medical ophthalmology to align with the national clinical programme for ophthalmology. Permanent consultant posts are advertised through the Public Appointments Service, PAS. This process can take time, and the HSE ran two temporary recruitment campaigns in May and September 2025 to maintain services in the interim. Unfortunately, no appointment was made following these campaigns. The permanent post was advertised by the PAS in November 2025. As there were no applicants, the closing date was extended to January 2026. One application was received but following shortlisting, the candidate did not progress to interview. The post was advertised in the British Medical Journal . In parallel, the HSE has advertised clinical optometrist and orthoptist posts, a process that closed in January. Filling these roles will help support the resumption of optical services in south Tipperary.  While recruitment to the consultant post remains ongoing, a multidisciplinary working group has been established involving consultants from University Hospital Waterford and the national clinical lead for ophthalmology. In addition, a targeted blitz clinic initiative is being processed to urgently address the significant waiting list backlog for patients in south Tipperary.  I take on board every word that the Deputy said in relation to over 2,000 children waiting, with many of them under four years of age. That early intervention is absolutely crucial. We accept that. Sometimes, it is difficult for different reasons to get the specialist consultant into a particular area. That is what is proving difficult in this case.  As Minister for State with responsibility for mental health, I have similar challenges in various areas. I was delighted to see a vacancy in south Kerry child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS, that had been vacant since 2014 being filled only recently. It had been supported by locums up until that. The HSE has tried everything to try to get this post filled. It went out to the British Medical Journey . However, I am pleased to see that this targeted blitz clinic initiative is being progressed to urgently address the significant waiting list backlog for patients in south Tipperary. Hopefully, that will have an impact while the recruitment process is under way in parallel. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Murphy  I thank the Minister of State for her reply. It is very unfortunate. What I find most frustrating is that Dr. Hillery's retirement was a planned retirement. The recruitment processes that we have been going through for the past 15 months should have commenced before Dr. Hillery's planned retirement.  I am a small bit alarmed about what was not mentioned in the reply, namely, the HSE's engagement with the Royal Victoria Ear and Eye Hospital in Dublin. What was the outcome of that engagement? There was also no reference to engaging with the private agency, as was suggested in the reply to me on 18 February. There is no detail on the scoping exercise or, indeed, any plan to avail of capacity within the private sector.  I welcome that a multidisciplinary working group has been established involving consultants from University Hospital Waterford and the national clinical lead for ophthalmology. This is a matter concern for all the elected representatives in south Tipperary. Perhaps a meeting could be set up with Deputies Healy and McGrath and myself. It is important that we be kept updated.  What are the contingency measures in the meantime? My understanding is that there is no additional capacity. Everybody is working hard down in University Hospital Waterford. I do not like to put on the record of this Chamber that parents are telling me that the phone is going unanswered, but parents are unfortunately being forced into accessing private ophthalmology. It is a crisis. I would like to organise a meeting with the Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  It is disappointing that a post that has been advertised for almost two years has still not been able to be filled for various reasons. It is important to note that recruitment to the consultant post remains ongoing. In parallel, a multidisciplinary working group has been established involving consultants from University Hospital Waterford. The national clinical lead for ophthalmology is that piece of the jigsaw that the Deputy mentioned as regards the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital. That would be the person. Across all definitions in health, we have a national clinical lead. To have the national clinical lead involved at this level is important.  The targeted blitz clinic initiative is being progressed. We do not have the details here, but I would expect that would include public and private to try to get the waiting lists down. That would be normal. I will look for more information in relation to the blitz clinic initiative because I am a very conscious of the growing waiting list. I will revert to the Deputy. I will talk to the Minister. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Health Services Staff"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-29\/debate\/dbsect_6","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Public Transport","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-29\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_6","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Albert Dolan  There is growing concern in the town of Athenry in east Galway that a service that was introduced - the 6.50 a.m. train service from Athenry to Galway city - will be lost. In October 2025, this service was added as a temporary service in light of the works that were ongoing at Ceannt Station and Oranmore Station. As the Minister of State can imagine, there are many people who now rely on and benefit from this service, as there was no earlier service going into Galway city from Athenry. There are currently about 50 people availing of this service every day. I have been receiving messages and communications from people who are fearful that it will be lost and they will be forced back into their cars. They have been able to leave their cars in Athenry to commute on the train while avoiding traffic and getting to Galway city to work. It has been a huge quality of life enhancement for them.  This was a temporary funded service until the end of July 2026, so we still have an opportunity to get this right. The service is not gone yet. The decision is with the National Transport Authority, NTA, to make around funding. I am sure the Minister of State knows this from his constituency, but the reality is that there is no available rolling stock in Irish Rail.  Where is this stock going to be moved to? We need to keep this as a commuter rail service for the people of Athenry. We are a growing town with a population in excess of 5,000. For the past 18 months, we have had no bus service, despite a public service obligation being in place. I ask the Minister of State to communicate with the Minister for Transport, Deputy O\u2019Brien, to ensure there is no loss of service in Athenry and that people who wish to avail of public transport can do so. Given the cost increases for commuting over the past few years, many people are choosing to use the train as a more economical option. It makes perfect sense and it gives them back some quality of life.  A consultation was carried out in the past 18 months on what people wanted to see in Athenry for the commuter service. The consistent message was that people wanted to see more early morning services, and this was part of the response to that. This new service at 6.50 a.m. was brought in and it allowed people to be in early. There is now a fear out there that the service will be lost because it is not funded any further than July 2026. People need and depend on this service. They need to trust that we, as a Government, will continue to support people who wish to commute to work via public transport. I understand it is a decision for the NTA, but the NTA needs to look at this. Where else is it going to send the stock? Why would it reduce commuter services in Athenry given it has been such a success? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Transport (Deputy Jerry Buttimer)  I thank Deputy Dolan for raising this important matter. I am taking this on behalf of the Minister, Deputy O\u2019Brien, who sends his apologies. The Deputy is correct that this is an opportunity to get this right. It is important that our public transport offering provides services that benefit people. I agree with the Deputy in that regard. In my city of Cork, we see that commuter rail is successful. It works. As the Deputy knows, the Minister, Deputy O\u2019Brien, has responsibility for policy and overall funding. As the Deputy alluded to, the NTA is the agency responsible for the provision of this transport matter.  It is important to recognise - Deputy Dolan has done so - that in response to growing demand, Iarnr\u00f3d \u00c9ireann increased service frequency arriving into Ceannt Station before 10 a.m. from four to five trains in August. Following completion of work on the curved glass roof and the new platform 5 in late 2025, the next phase of the Ceannt Station development was completed on Saturday, 18 April. New platforms 3 and 4 also entered service. We all know the different knock-on supports that happened with the opening of the new platforms. This latest milestone equates to roughly half of the station footprint being reopened to the public, ensuring an improved passenger experience and a more streamlined service for local rail users. That links to what the Deputy wants to see happen with the continuation of the service that he spoke about.  Through funding from the Department of housing's urban regeneration and development fund and the NTA, Ceannt Station has been undergoing significant works for the past two years to deliver a modern, fully integrated and fully accessible transport hub in the heart of Galway. This commuter service is part of that, which is pivotal. As a gateway to the city, the investment will deliver better platforms and more capacity. For example, the number of platforms has gone from two to five, which will significantly expand the rail service well into the future. We have a new southern entrance and facade, creating that modern facade that we need.  Enhanced connectivity and interchange between rail and bus services will make it easier and more attractive for customers to use multiple modes. There will be improved accessibility and waiting areas, along with that ticketing office improvement about which we all get representations from people who use the buses and trains. Additionally, future bus bay expansion will be provided for, which is envisaged under the development of adjacent lands. In addition to the new roof, there are renovations to the northern elevation as well as infrastructure works, including track and resignalling, to support the increase in the number of platforms. Other service work is ongoing, including drainage works.  It was arising from operational arrangements associated with the ongoing renewal works at Ceannt Station that in October 2025 there was an ability to introduce a temporary 6.50 a.m. Athenry to Galway service until the end of July 2026. This service was funded though the capital project funding, as a train set had to be stabled at Athenry to facilitate the works. This temporary service is funded until the end of July this year. I heard the Deputy\u2019s point on the consultation piece and I will bring that back to the NTA and the Minister. Iarnr\u00f3d \u00c9ireann has submitted to the NTA the associated costs to continue the operation of this temporary service beyond 31 July. This is currently under review by the NTA. I thank the Deputy for his advocacy. He has made a cogent and clear argument this morning. I will speak to the Minister and the NTA about it. Service level increases have proven beneficial to the travelling public and commuters. At a time when want to see more people get out of cars, this makes imminent sense. I am happy to support it and raise the matter with the Minister and the NTA. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Albert Dolan  I appreciate the Minister of State\u2019s comments and sentiment. This new service was welcomed when it started last October. The critical piece of the Minister of State\u2019s reply is that these carriages were stabled at Athenry, which allowed for the early commuter service. I completely welcome the works and the incredible transformation and investment that have taken place at Ceannt Station. Regardless of what is happening in the city at Ceannt Station, however, there is nothing stopping those carriages being stabled in Athenry and used to operate that commuter service. When the new carriages come, we can enhance and further expand the service. We must show people that we are ambitious, and that is what I want to see from the NTA. The NTA must show ambition and provide a dedicated, reliable commuter service that is stabled in Athenry and available for people when they want to use it in the morning.  I understand the service was funded through capital funding for the project in Ceannt Station, but the same point remains. These carriages are like gold dust. They are hard to come by and I do not know where they are going to be moved to or whether another service will be changed. They are in Athenry, where they are serving a lot of people and working really well. I cannot see why the NTA should not fund this. Let us call a spade a spade. In the past 18 months, the NTA has not delivered a bus service for Athenry. Athenry, a town with over 5,000 people, has no bus service to Galway city. The train is the only piece of public transport that we have, so let us enhance and make the most of it. In the time to come, I hope that Ceannt Station and the passing loop at Oranmore will see an enhanced frequency of service but, right now, we have this stumbling block to overcome. We need to keep the service after July 2026. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  Deputy Dolan makes a compelling case. The Deputy can be assured that I, the Department of Transport, the Minister, Deputy O\u2019Brien, and the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, are all strongly committed to providing all regions and citizens with reliable and suitable mobility options. Public transport plays a key role in the delivery of this goal. I live in Cork where we have an ambitious plan. It has been successful. Cork, Mallow, Cobh and Midleton are beyond recognition from where they were ten years ago. The Deputy made a key point. The key point for us is that in the budget, we secured \u20ac940 million in funding for PSO and TFI Local Link services. A significant uplift of 43% has been seen, which is important.  The Deputy is correct that the works in Ceannt Station have been transformative, but it is that piece about connectivity. The Government is fully supportive to continue to invest in public transport, particularly in Athenry. In the programme for Government, we are committed to a variety of changes and ways of making public transport more accessible and sustainable for the future.  This service is a matter for the NTA. As I said, it is carrying out a review. It is important we communicate with the NTA in this regard. I accept that. I am happy to do so with or on behalf of the Deputy, along with the Minister, Deputy O\u2019Brien, and the Minister of State, Deputy Canney. We have seen a transformation in the provision of public services in the Galway area. That is a credit to the Government but also to Iarnr\u00f3d \u00c9ireann. We should also show our appreciation to the travelling public who have had to endure a lot of hassle and hardship in that period. The Deputy\u2019s point is well made. I am certainly happy to commit to engage with the NTA in support of the continuation of this service. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Public Transport"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-29\/debate\/dbsect_7","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Driver Licences","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-29\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  I ask the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, to prioritise driver licence exchange agreements. Reviewing parliamentary questions placed by my party colleague, Deputy Conway-Walsh, in the previous term and questions from at least ten TDs in this term, Ministers advised that it is a matter for the Road Safety Authority to recommend, following a detailed examination of the licensing system in a third country, whether or not to engage in the licence exchange agreement.  People appreciate that there could be a degree of technical complexity in terms of the reciprocal exchange of driving licences. More recently, as the campaign to make real progress on exchanges with the United States has gained momentum, Ministers have expanded on that explanation, saying we operate within the EU framework, standards are set at EU level, there is a technical road safety-based process and that this is not a matter of political will. This is what we have been told by the Government until now.  I commend Safe Home Ireland and the Irish-US Drivers Licence Campaign on their recently published report, Irish-US Driver\u2019s Licence Campaign: Easing the burden on our returning citizens. I also welcome Ciar\u00e1n Staunton, the co-chair of the campaign, who is in the Gallery today with Damian Greene.  Both organisations have done incredible work over recent years supporting members of the Irish diaspora seeking to return home. Ciar\u00e1n's work with and among the Irish in the United States has been incredibly important over many years. What this report brings to light is that for all of the complexity we have been told about over the many years, there is perhaps a degree of this matter being about political will. The Minister of State can have the political will. There is certainly a need for common sense by all.  Road safety is paramount, of course, but we are talking about people who may have had Irish driving licences for decades and who may not have had to do a test had stayed in Ireland. We are also talking about people who are free to drive in Ireland for up to one year but it becomes an issue after that. In fact, in one instance, I read about an Irish citizen who had obtained a US licence, exchanged it for a Belgian one, returned to Ireland, drove for six years and then had to sit the Irish driving test. We all need to agree that it is not about road safety. It sounds as if it is more about bureaucracy.  Further to this report, I have a number of specific questions for the Minister of State, and I would appreciate if he would provide clarity. While we all accept the reciprocal approach when we think about, we also accept that under Irish law exchanges do not necessarily need to be reciprocal as in the case with some of the arrangements in place already with Austria, Belgian, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands and Portugal. When we see so many awaiting driving tests, I think we all agree on a need for simplification. I would appreciate a response from the Minister of State to this very important report. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Teachta as an \u00e1bhar seo a ard\u00fa. I welcome Ciar\u00e1n and Damian and thank them for their work, advocacy and what they have been doing. I thank Deputy Bennett for raising the matter. I am taking this on behalf of the Minister who sends his apologies for not being here.  In order to ensure the safety of road users, it is vital that Ireland only exchanges licences following a detailed examination of the relevant country's licensing and testing regime. Engagement with the relevant licensing authority is required in order to conduct such an examination. In addition, formal engagement is required with the other country during the licence exchange process itself in order to verify the licence. Bilateral agreements are utilised to ensure that both of these steps may be undertaken effectively.  Entering into a driving licence exchange agreement with a country outside of the EU is not a straightforward matter and reaching it is not a matter of political will. However, I take the Deputy\u2019s point with regard to political will. There needs to be that political will to do that. The former president of the GAA, Larry McCarthy, has been engaging with me on this issue. The core principle when reaching an agreement with another jurisdiction is to ensure the continued safety of road users is not compromised.  In reaching a bilateral agreement, the most important element is ensuring that the other jurisdictions applies standards for obtaining a licence which are compatible with our own. Where they do not meet these standards, no agreement is possible, no matter how desirable an agreement with that jurisdiction may be. From Ireland\u2019s perspective, the Road Safety Authority, RSA, is delegated under national legislation with the task of conducting the independent technical assessment comparing the two licensing regimes.  Irish licences are normally issued for ten years but they may be issued for a shorter period in certain circumstances, such as on health grounds. Under the Road Traffic (Licencing of Drivers) Regulations 2006, as amended, someone who is resident in Ireland may apply to renew their Irish licence within ten years of it expiring. This effectively gives a window of 20 years from the day the licence is issued to the date it must be renewed.  People with a non-exchangeable licence who come to reside in Ireland must obtain an Irish licence in order to drive here. However, a person with a full but non-exchangeable licence can avail of a shorter learning to drive process, which includes six essential driver training lessons instead of 12 and no minimum period of six months before taking a driving test.  One of the commitments of the programme for Government is to work to facilitate the easier return to Ireland for emigrants, including reciprocal driving licence arrangements with the United States, Australia and Canada. Ireland has a licence exchange agreement with Australia and with seven of the ten Canadian provinces, with a proposed agreement under way at present with Nova Scotia. Under the programme for Government, the RSA is currently engaging with New York, Massachusetts and New Jersey in order to undertake a technical review with a view to entering into a licence exchange agreement. I am happy to ask the RSA to engage with the campaign group because it is important we hear from all sides and that we engage and understand fully what the issues are.  The EU Driving Licences Directive 2025\/2205 aims to modernise the driver licensing system and bring down the number of road deaths across the EU. The Union is committed to getting as close as possible to zero road traffic accident victims by 2050. The rules on driving licences are essential elements of the common transport policy and play a major role in improving road safety. The new directive provides for agreements on the EU-wide recognition of EU licences issued in exchange for licences from specific third countries, which have a road safety framework similar to the EU. This may only take place after the Commission, together with the member states, assesses and decides on a country-by-country basis which third countries meet the requisite standard.  I again thank the Deputy for the opportunity to speak on this issue. I will bring her concerns and the points she raised back to the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and the RSA. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, for the offer to engage with the RSA. The gentlemen in the Gallery will be delighted with that response because it is something that we do need to move on. Ireland has asked a lot of our diaspora and they have answered time and again, particularly the Irish community in the United States, whether with political support or interventions regarding the Good Friday Agreement or Brexit, economic support or remittances during times of famine, funds that supported the fledgling Government during the Tan war, foreign direct investment and even supporting the tourism sector to this day.  We have been less consistent in relation to what we have to offer our diaspora. This is the bare minimum we can do, especially at a time when the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is actively encouraging people to return home to rebuild Ireland. It would make sense, it would be straightforward and it would make it possible for these people to return home.  In that context, I note the programme for Government speaks of prioritising agreements with states from which Ireland can source professional drivers. Given the shortages that makes complete sense. However, in terms of returning emigrants, the language is much softer. The Government needs to work to facilitate the easier return to Ireland for emigrants, including reciprocal driving licence arrangements.  Can we recognise where there are solutions, such as those brought forward in this report? I commend this report, which is great. It would be very useful for the RSA to engage with this as well as evidenced in the examples set by other states. The failure to prioritise our diaspora means that we do not have such an agreement or arrangement in place today. Can we agree today that the Department of Transport will ensure that it and the RSA will give equal priority to agreements and solutions for returning Irish citizens? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  It is not a question of political will. We all accept the great need to have that piece around connectivity. As I said at the beginning, entering into a driving licence exchange agreement is complex. It is not straightforward. We completely agree that we need to find the solution going forward.  Let us have the solution. I commend the publication of the report and the work that has been done genuinely. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  A solution----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  Whoa, whoa. Taistil go mall. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  I know. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  I do not disagree with the roadmap; the question is how you get to the end of the road. What we cannot do - and if we were to do so, the Deputy would come in here and excoriate me - is compromise on road standards and safety. We must engage. That is the one thing we will do. I will take back to the RSA and the Department the need to go through the report and meet with the group. They are fine people. I know them. Larry McCarthy, the former president of the GAA, has been on to me and I have spoken to him about this. We have seen an increase in fatalities on our roads in recent years and we cannot relax standards in that regard. We must ensure that the driving licence regime is robust and can stand up. I do not think any of us want to relax standards, and the report is very clear on that. We must ensure, where possible, that anybody who has passed a practical driving test to Irish standards obtains an Irish licence. Again, however, this is not as straightforward as we think. I am happy to advocate and to continue to ensure, as we have done in the programme for Government, that we have that reciprocal arrangement such that road safety and keeping Irish roads safe are the priority for all of us. Linked to the campaign about bringing people home, we must be able to ensure that anyone who obtains an Irish licence has passed a practical roads driving test that is up to our standards.  I will work with the Deputy. There is more that unites us than divides us. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Driver Licences"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-29\/debate\/dbsect_8","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Educational Disadvantage","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-29\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  DEIS plus is a crucial step to break the cycle of poverty and educational inequality. Several Limerick city schools have been included, which I really welcome, but, unfortunately, six schools have not been and they serve some of the most deprived communities in the State. Those schools are Our Lady of Lourdes, St. John's Girls' and Infant Boys' School, St. John the Baptist Boys' National School, Presentation Primary School, CBS Primary School and St. Michael's Infant School. These schools all form part of the Oscailt network of DEIS schools in Limerick city consisting of all band 1 primary and post-primary schools in the city. There are 12 schools in the Oscailt network. Six were successful with DEIS plus and six were unsuccessful. Research by the Oscailt network in 2025 highlighted the need for multidisciplinary support across all 12 schools and not just the six selected.  I will give the Minister examples of some of the statistics from some of the schools that were excluded. St. John the Baptist Boys' National School is an all-boys band 1 school located in Garryowen. It serves a community with complex needs where the majority of the students require interventions from SETs, local unemployment is at 33% and lone parent rates exceed 42%. Third level education in this community is as low as 14.8%. The school was unsuccessful. Similarly, next door, St. John's Girls' and Infant Boys' School serves 220 pupils and is in the John's A electoral district, which is statistically recognised as one of the most deprived areas in the country. A significant proportion of the students come from migrant backgrounds. Third level attainment is also very low. Our Lady of Lourdes has 162 pupils with an early start preschool and two special classes for autism. Most of the school's pupils come from families experiencing long-term intergenerational poverty, and their community is directly impacted by ongoing gangland feuding in the local area. Presentation, CBS and St. Michael's are on the one campus. Some 30% of their students are homeless, including hidden homeless, 20% are in IPAS accommodation, 10% are from a Traveller background and 40% are in DEIS band 1. The principal of CBS primary had to purchase mattresses himself last year as he found 15 people living in a one-bedroom apartment, a fact not picked up by the POD system.  The exclusion of these schools reflects not a lack of need but a failure of the system to respond appropriately to that need. The DEIS plus identification model is too rigid. It does not consider the lack of services in areas of high socio-economic deprivation or the crippling and destructive impact for children, families and communities of the many complex issues in these communities. It relies heavily on self-declared census data, and in many of these communities a high proportion of responses to the census return do not state certain details. For example, in Limerick city centre a large cohort of individuals chose not to disclose their ethnic or cultural identity or level of education, and these are two specific areas looked at in the DEIS plus identification model. This tells us that there is a gap in the data. Further gaps exist due to the self-reporting data collected by schools for the POD and P-POD because if the parents do not provide the information on a child's ethnicity, it is not captured by the identification model. We are falling short because the selection process fails to recognise the lived experience of poverty and disadvantage experienced by the children in these schools. In the appeals documentation the Department states that no additional data can be submitted on the appeals process. Therefore, appeals will be considered only on the DEIS plus identification model. We need to find a way to make sure that schools like this are picked up by the DEIS plus identification model. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Education and Youth (Deputy Hildegarde Naughton)  I thank the Deputy for his question and for giving me the opportunity to speak to it. Addressing educational disadvantage and ensuring that every child and young person can reach their full potential is a key priority for me as Minister for Education and Youth and for this Government.  The DEIS plus scheme, commencing this year as part of the DEIS Strategy to 2035, represents the most significant expansion of targeted educational supports since the establishment of the DEIS programme. It is designed to provide enhanced, evidence-based supports to a cohort of 121 schools with the very highest concentrations of children and young people experiencing persistent and intergenerational disadvantage. This forms part of a full-year investment of \u20ac48 million, with approximately 30,000 children and young people nationally benefiting from inclusion in the scheme.  The Deputy has raised questions about specific schools in Limerick city which were not identified for inclusion in the DEIS plus scheme, including Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School, St. John's Girls' and Infant Boys' School, St. John the Baptist Boys' National School, Presentation Primary School, CBS Primary School and St. Michael's Infant School. I acknowledge the very real challenges faced by school communities in Limerick and recognise the dedication of the principals, teachers and staff who work daily to support children and families experiencing disadvantage. It is important to stress that where a school is not identified for inclusion in DEIS plus this does not in any way imply that disadvantage does not exist within that school community.  DEIS plus schools were identified using a refined, rules-based model built on nationally available pupil-level administrative data. The model draws on a range of indicators associated with persistent and intergenerational disadvantage, including small-area deprivation, lone parenthood and unemployment, Traveller and Roma identity, and children living in State-funded emergency accommodation or international protection accommodation. These indicators are applied consistently across all schools using enrolment data from the past three years.  For inclusion in DEIS plus, the data on the individual school must demonstrate both a level of disadvantage that is significantly above the national average and a very high concentration of pupils from very or extremely disadvantaged areas. Many schools experience real and sustained challenges but still fall outside the threshold required for inclusion in this highly targeted intervention. A school-led application or self-reporting model would introduce inconsistency and inequity, which is why a data-driven and nationally comparable approach is essential. An independent OECD review of the DEIS identification model in 2024 highlighted the strengths of this approach, noting that it is multidimensional, respects GDPR principles and places no administrative burden on schools.  When the DEIS plus identification model was applied to the schools referred to by the Deputy in Limerick city, the data reflected disadvantage but not at the level or concentration required for inclusion in the DEIS plus cohort. In applying the same model nationally, a number of schools across Limerick city and county were identified for inclusion under the scheme based on the same objective criteria.  Schools in Limerick that are not included in DEIS plus continue to receive significant supports through the DEIS programme. DEIS grant allocations have been reallocated in line with the DEIS plus model with a number of schools mentioned receiving increased funding.  In addition to funding adjustments, the Department has reviewed and strengthened home school community liaison provision across the schools referenced by the Deputy with allocations updated under the revised DEIS model to ensure that meaningful supports are in place for families and communities. There is an appeals process for schools not included in the DEIS plus scheme that has now opened and the relevant schools can access full details on gov.ie . "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  I thank the Minister for being here today. It is very rare that one gets the actual Minister when one raises a Topical Issue. We have the OSCAILT network in Limerick and 12 schools are identified in that. It is very similar in the north east inner city where we have the North East Inner City initiative that works with ten of the most deprived schools in the inner city and operates on the same principles as OSCAILT. My understanding is that those schools were all identified and included in DEIS plus.  I have a couple of follow-on questions. Will the Minister or the Department flag to principals in advance of next year the importance of updating their primary online database, POD, and post-primary online database, P-POD, before the DEIS plus assessment? Principals have a highly intensive work load and in many cases the POD may not have been updated in the fullest sense. Will the Department carry out a review on the roll-out of DEIS plus to look meaningfully at some of the issues I have raised around the rigidity of the application process? There is a school on the left hand side of the road in Limerick that has been included and meets the criteria as set out by the system but there is a school on the right hand side of the road that does not when it essentially serves the same population and has the same issues. One school has now been given a leg up while the other has, unfortunately, been given a kick back. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  The model nationally did not overlook Limerick. A number of schools across Limerick city and county have been identified for inclusion in DEIS plus based on the same objective criteria. With regard to the appeals process, schools have until 25 May to submit an appeal to the Department for review and they also have the opportunity to update their enrolment data for the years 2023 to 2424, 2024 to 2025 and 2025 to 2026 on the Department's POD and P-POD where they identify that the information already provided is not an accurate reflection of their school enrolment for those years.  Schools may also request that the application of the model to their existing data be reviewed. That review process will be overseen by an independent appeals board, the members of which are not part of the initial design and implementation of the DEIS plus identification model. When all of the appeals have been processed, the schools will be informed in writing.  The data is as good as that on the P-POD and POD but as part of the model, we are looking at unemployment levels and Traveller and Roma identity within these areas. It is based on the Pobal index as well. There will be as periodic reviews of this. My Department is working with the CSO and the ESRI around refining the data. As demographics and data change over the years, this will need to be reviewed as well. Schools will be reassessed periodically as the data sources and techniques are updated and advanced and as demographics change. The identification of schools for inclusion in DEIS plus does consider the presence of that persistent disadvantage but I would advise those schools to appeal as well. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Educational Disadvantage"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-29\/debate\/dbsect_9","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Family Law Transparency, Child Welfare, and Reform of the In Camera Rule: Motion [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":30,"speakerCount":21},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gillian Toole","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gillian-Toole.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Gillian-Toole.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  I move:  That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann:  notes that:  \u2014 family law proceedings concerning child custody, access, guardianship and childcare matters, continue to be heard otherwise than in public under statutory provisions including, Section 27 of the Guardianship of Infants Act, 1964, and Section 29 of the Child Care Act, 1991;  \u2014 the recently published book entitled \"Justice for Birth Mothers \u2013 The Fight Against Forced Separation in Modern Ireland\", documents numerous experiences of women who report feeling disempowered, unheard and unable to challenge decisions made behind closed doors, illustrating the broader impact of secrecy and silence on vulnerable families;  \u2014 such secrecy in the decision-making process also affects men, and can contribute to a sense of injustice and exclusion;  \u2014 the Review of the Operation of the In Camera Rule in Family Law Proceedings, published in 2025, found widespread confusion among parents about what they may lawfully discuss, and reported that many feel isolated, silenced and unable to seek support;  \u2014 few of the recommendations of this long-delayed review have been implemented, and its conclusion that family law proceedings should continue to be held in private has been overtaken by real world developments in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, where accredited journalists and legal bloggers may report on family law proceedings subject to strict anonymity protections;  \u2014 international best practice, informed by sustained advocacy and research by legal experts, including Dr Charlotte Proudman, increasingly favours controlled transparency with strong anonymity safeguards rather than blanket secrecy, particularly in cases involving allegations of domestic abuse or parental alienation;  \u2014 the lack of transparency surrounding alleged abuses of the system, groupthink, incompetence, under-resourcing and poor decision making, ultimately impacts children most of all;  \u2014 the In Camera rule has left children exposed to emotional harm, re-traumatisation, and unsafe contact, creating conditions linked to severe distress, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and suicidal thoughts; and  \u2014 the constant additional conflict and negativity caused by the lack of transparency, and related poor decision-making, can hinder their emotional, social and cognitive growth;  further notes that:  \u2014 investigative reporting and academic research have highlighted concerns regarding the use of unregulated or insufficiently accredited court appointed experts, including in cases involving allegations of parental alienation; and  \u2014 concerns have been raised about Tusla's role in family law cases, including inconsistent implementation of expert recommendations, and instances of non-compliance with court directions;  acknowledges that the transparency reforms in England and Wales, including the Family Court Reporting Pilot and its subsequent national rollout, have been independently evaluated and shown to:  \u2014 increase public understanding of family court processes;  \u2014 maintain full anonymity, with no known breaches;  \u2014 provide clearer information to parents through transparency orders; and  \u2014 improve scrutiny of professional practice; and  calls on the Government to:  \u2014 initiate stand alone, specific legislation, to replace the current blanket In Camera rule, with a modern transparency framework that:  \u2014 permits attendance and reporting by accredited journalists and legal bloggers;  \u2014 mandates full anonymisation of children and family members; and  \u2014 provides judicial discretion to restrict reporting, where necessary for child welfare or safety;  \u2014 amend the statutory provisions requiring private hearings in child related family law cases, including:  \u2014 the Guardianship of Infants Act, 1964;  \u2014 the Child Care Act, 1991; and  \u2014 the Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2013;  \u2014 introduce statutory transparency orders in all child related family law cases, clearly setting out what may be reported and how anonymity is protected;  \u2014 establish a regulatory framework for court appointed experts, including minimum qualifications, accreditation and oversight, and ensure that contested or unvalidated theories are subject to clear evidential standards;  \u2014 strengthen statutory oversight of Tusla, to ensure timely compliance with court directions and consistent practice in child welfare cases;  \u2014 create clear education and training pathways for An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na in relation to family law matters, including domestic abuse, coercive control and contested expert evidence; and  \u2014 provide clear guidance to parents on their rights and obligations under any new transparency system, including how they may seek support and engage with accredited reporters, without breaching court rules.  As the Minister may know or have inklings of, the family law system is harming our children. If we do not take serious action, what is going on today will be perceived in the years to come as State-sanctioned child abuse. There is something seriously wrong with the courts, with Tusla, with experts and, above all, with the in camera rule. There are so many stories I could tell the Minister today if I had the time. Many of them are contained in a recently published book entitled Justice for Birth Mothers: The Fight Against Forced Separation in Modern Ireland . Many other people have also contacted me directly with their experiences of group think and lazy decisions by members of the Judiciary, revolving-door barristers with varying levels of interest and the absolute reliance on court-appointed so-called experts. These stories make numerous allegations but without scrutiny and transparency, they remain hearsay.  Let us start with Tusla. We are all aware of the recently reported failures to protect children in its care but in family law courts where parental disputes arise, there is an equal failure by Tusla to provide necessary supports and protections. Justice for Birth Mothers: The Fight Against Forced Separation in Modern Ireland contains 357 references to Tusla. There are good, kind and conscientious people in the agency but it paints a picture of a collective and structural influence that is often malign.  A story from Clara illustrates this. Clara fled to Ireland after testifying against a dangerous criminal. Garda\u00ed wrongfully arrested her on more than one occasion and removed her children three times handing them to Tusla. In court, she proved that some of the most serious claims made against her were simply false. She said that she had proved in court that Tusla lied in sworn affidavits. She said that judges tell Tusla to get its house in order but that nothing changes and that Tusla blocks children from speaking to verify the truth. She said that some lies are disgusting and easily disproven but Tusla keeps them hidden and that she did not know how these social workers could sleep at night. We need a radical overhaul of Tusla. It is dysfunctional - not because there are about 50,000 referrals when we take out multiple referrals for children but because it is not organised properly and not adequately resourced. I hope the promised review will overhaul things but I fear it will be too little, too late.  Then, of course, there are the court-appointed experts. Family law cases are by their nature adversarial. Parents will lie. Some parents will weaponise their children. Parents will make true claims, serious claims and false claims. The reality is that despite policy efforts to encourage mediation, family court cases have increased in number. This means the system can often be overloaded with long delays. This has meant that expert reports are used more often, which can actually escalate conflict rather than resolve it. I refer to the 2024 review of the role of expert reports in the family law process from the Department of justice. It mentions how experts are commonly sourced through word of mouth instead of through a formal panel, that verification of qualifications is informal and inconsistent and varies by judge and that challenges to expert recommendations were shown to occur in only 10% to 20% of cases according to interviews with the Judiciary. That means that eight or nine out of ten times, the so-called expert makes recommendations and he or she is not challenged in court. The review notes that every judge interviewed described extra reports as extremely useful and central to the decision making in private family law disputes. This makes these experts hugely powerful. Experts have been accused of making allegedly skewed decisions for money at the end of the day and the judges must take reports at face value.  Personal testimony is very powerful so I will take time to read a collection of stories about experiences. I got a message from a father who describes how his life changed in 2018 when his partner suddenly left with two young daughters and accused him of emotional abuse. Despite there being no evidence, he spent months without contact and endured repeated allegations, Garda investigations and blocked access. Each time he was cleared, new claims emerged leading to long gaps without him seeing his children. When access resumed, the girls showed fear and distress shaped by their mother. After years in court, he eventually secured shared custody but his relationship with his youngest remained strained. He highlights the severe harm caused by what he describes as deliberate alienation and calls for better awareness among professionals.  Another man who shared his story moved to Ireland and remained an involved father, but after his arrival his contact with his son was steadily reduced. A single, very positive visit from his perspective later became the basis for removing all access, with no specialist evaluation. Years of proceedings ultimately left him with no meaningful relationship with his child. He was dependent entirely on the child, a very young child, initiating contact, which was unlikely without external support. To be clear, men do suffer in this system. It is important to note that but, as the other stories will show, the balance is massively skewed against women.  Let me quote a passage from Justice for Birth Mothers :  (Amy's troubles began when she reported to Garda\u00ed that her children were being sexually abused by their father. A court expert was appointed who wrote a report recommending that the children be handed to the father. He accused Amy of parental alienation and recommended that she have no access to the children at all).  \"I went into it very naively, thinking the assessor would hear what I had to say and what my children had to say. The opposite happened. The court expert told me he was a psychotherapist. He gave himself a number of different [professional titles] ... He ignored the sexual abuse and the domestic violence.  He recommended that custody be removed from me and given to their father, the man my children named as their abuser. Supervised access was run by a for-profit business charging more than two hundred euros a week. If I could not pay, visits were cancelled.  He came to every court case and charged for each appearance. I have paid him around twelve thousand euro. I do not know what he received from my ex-husband.\"  Here is another story from the book:  (Erica's troubles began many years ago when she reported child sexual abuse to Garda\u00ed. Over time she succeeded in preventing the family court from giving custody of her children to the father, who was the perpetrator of that abuse. In her most recent court appearance, however, a judge accepted a court expert' s claim that she was guilty of parental alienation and ruled that custody be given to the father. Erica appealed but could not secure free legal aid in time. She was forced to borrow twenty thousand euros from family, friends and her local credit union to hire a private solicitor).  Erica stated:  I eventually did get a barrister, and she would just turn up that morning, and my solicitor would fill her in on details. It was so obvious she never spoke to the barrister before that. When it became really serious, she absolutely let me down. It was like having no representation.  Here is yet another story, from somebody who contacted me directly:  I was labelled as \"bitter because I didn't have money\". The expert told me he wrote what my ex told him. He wrote on a report that my ex said I had issues with alcohol [she does not] but when I asked had he any proof he said no. I gave him proof in the form of a recording of my ex saying I didn't have a problem. But he refused to listen. I asked him was he accusing me of PA [parental alienation] and he said where did I say that then went and wrote it specifically [in his report]. Lied on the stand in court. Stood with my exes legal team despite supposedly being independent. And multiple meetings with my ex and phone calls but I wasn't afforded the same.  He dismissed my child when bringing up inappropriate behaviour said she got it wrong. The only other person he discussed the case with [believe it or not] was with the woman my ex had an affair with who [had] walked out on her own family. He dismissed 1 child's learning issues said they were a performance I made her put on, despite a report from an OT.  He made kids stand under a tree and told to bond with [your] father or be brought back. This is despite being told by the children my ex had told them he was getting bailiffs to drag me out of the house and frightening them. He [was] completely dismissive of domestic abuse.  Even when this expert [was] presented with proof my ex was not being alienated and he was lying about access he still spun a total lie that I was alienating him.  This is Sophie's story:  (Sophie reported that her teenage daughter had been sexually abused by her father. The case went to the family court where a court expert accused her of parental alienation. Custody of the children was given to the father. She has not seen her children since early 2022).  \"I despise all of them. If I had to pick an organisation that is the worst it is the family law courts. It is the people in them. They are liars. They have no honesty.  The in-camera rule needs to be lifted. There is no justice. Your basic human right is being violated, and it is hidden by the in-camera rule.  People commit perjury every day in the family law courts and nobody outside knows. I have seen social workers commit perjury. I have proof of it. I have an admission of perjury from [one] ...  We see how these experts facilitate false accusations in the court system and that many parents have been denied access to their children as a result. We have heard stories of alienation in the general sense, but we have also heard about cases, especially concerning women, of those who have been wrongly accused of parental alienation, with one social worker in the system, a cult-like devotee of Gardner's discredited theory of parental alienation syndrome, who has consigned numerous children to prolonged stays with narcissistic and abusive parents under so-called immersion therapy. Some would say that man deserves a special place in hell, but he is not the only expert who has caused pain. Of course, again, it is all hearsay, because we have no reporting due to the in camera rule. It provides shelter for abusers.  I am aware that the 2024 report made recommendations, and some things are coming online. I hope this positive feature will help but we still know that, even if we have the new panel of assessors, with the new scrutiny arrangement, we still have to have transparency and scrutiny regarding the decisions being made because even the most qualified people make mistakes. We have seen this with judges and we see it everywhere, which brings us back to the in camera rule.  No doubt the Minister referred to the report on the operation of the in camera rule in family law proceedings, by Drs. Parkes, Burns and McCaughren. This report was comprehensive and based on multiple interviews with many stakeholders. It found the in camera rule is inconsistently understood and applied in Ireland. The report emphasised that while privacy is essential, the rule creates a striking absence of public knowledge about what happens in family courts. This lack of transparency undermines public confidence. The report states the current operation of the in camera rule is an impingement on young people's lives, especially when it prevents appropriate information sharing with those supporting the child.  As I understand it, there are steps to address this specific area, but in general terms very few of the recommendations of the long-delayed review have been implemented in full, or even partially. We have no new primary legislation, no automatic access to redacted orders for certain professionals, such as those in foster care, schools and support services. This requires legislation to be implemented. There is also no statutory right for parties to request transcripts. Ironically, this slow and piecemeal progress \u2013 I have to give the Minister credit for speeding things up a bit \u2013 now presents us with an opportunity. Incredibly, and despite all the evidence, one of the conclusions of the report on the in camera rule was that family law proceedings should continue to be held in private. A kind of halfway house is suggested, but it is not the abolition of the in camera rule.  Like the Minister, I believe that if new evidence comes to light, conclusions must change. My understanding is that the evidence from across the water is overwhelming. The English and Welsh legal system recently had a sea change in how the family courts were reported on. Pilots were set up that removed the in camera rule and allowed accredited journalists and legal bloggers to report on family law proceedings, subject, of course, to strict anonymity protections. This system has been found to work, with ongoing protection of anonymity, and as a result it has now been rolled out extensively, including through a pilot in Northern Ireland. The open reporting provisions in this system, which is one of the closest to our own legal system, mean there is a presumption that a transparency order protecting the anonymity of children and their families is granted unless there is a legitimate reason not to do so. Therefore, the system is totally different. It is a case of assuming you can report on matters and that names are going to be protected, and of having trust in the journalists. I am aware that the Minister is talking about having a regulated accredited-journalist system, but any journalist who meets the criteria should be able to report. Where they do not, there would be prosecutions. We have to assume the right to report first and foremost in a democracy.  The president of the family division in England, retired judge Sir Andrew McFarlane, said the following about the system there:  The establishment of the open reporting provisions in all family courts in England and Wales is a watershed moment for family justice.  He also stated:  There have been no known breaches of anonymity of children, and the aims of the pilot, to increase public understanding and awareness of the Family Court, are being realised.  My understanding is that there are 23 court areas in Ireland at District Court level, with those districts subdivided into the eight Circuit Court regions. Surely we could pilot a scheme in Ireland that could be initially rolled out in several of these areas.  I hope the reason the recommendations have not been implemented is not fear of a backlash from the Judiciary. We know that Dr. Charlotte Proudman in the UK, for example, was trolled online and called a bitch. She was got horrendous abuse from members of the Judiciary who did not like her involvement in the case in question. There was a collective effort by many people in the UK. Dr. Proudman comes over here regularly and is a keen advocate of the removal of the in camera rule. She got dog's abuse. It is highly unfair.  I believe members of our Judiciary are more civilised. I believe people are in favour of transparency, so let us bring in that transparency, pilot it and can fix any errors as they arise.  The time for secrecy has ended; the time for meaningful action is now. It is time to do the right thing and shine a light on the system. We need to remember we are trying to put the best interests of children first. Even if 80% of the allegations are hearsay and false, that means 20% are true. Shining a light on bad decisions and putting scrutiny on something leads to improvement. We need to shine a light and I call on the Minister to do the right thing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  I thank Deputy Gogarty and his staff for putting this motion together. It seeks to reform how our family law system operates, not by removing protections for children but by modernising a system that is too secretive, too closed and too unaccountable for the level of power it exercises over families. Family law cases are sensitive, but sensitivity cannot continue to be used as an excuse for blanket secrecy.  The in camera rule, as currently applied under the Guardianship of Infants Act and the Child Care Act, has created a system that operates almost entirely beyond public view, lacks transparency and is doing harm. Under the current system, proceedings are held fully in private, reporting is almost entirely prohibited and parents are often unclear about what they are legally allowed to say. When a system operates without transparency, it operates without accountability. When there is no accountability, mistakes are not corrected and they are repeated. That is not good enough for families, and it is not good enough in the context of child welfare. Parents are telling us the same thing again and again. They feel silenced, disempowered and excluded from decisions that affect their children. Many of them leave family courts confused, distressed and fearful of speaking out even when they believe serious errors have occurred. That completely undermines confidence in the system.  This motion recognises that parents must be protected from unjust exposure but they must also be protected from institutional silence. The motion also directly relates to concerns we have raised consistently in this House about Tusla. Tusla exercises enormous power within family court proceedings. Its assessment and recommendations carry decisive weight, yet its actions are largely shielded from scrutiny by the in camera rule. In recent years, we have raised concerns about inconsistent decision-making, delays in implementing court directions, poor communication with families and an imbalance of power between the State and parents. These issues are extremely difficult to change when everything happens behind closed doors. Secrecy does not protect Tusla from criticism; it prevents improvement.  The family law system exists to protect children, but protection requires oversight. Where there is no scrutiny, poor decision-making can persist, groupthink can develop and under-resourcing becomes normalised. Parents raise concerns about children repeatedly experiencing emotional harm, trauma and long-term mental health impacts. Children suffer when systems are hidden from view. This motion is about ensuring that child welfare outcomes improve. It is not about opening courtrooms to the public.  The motion also raises legitimate concerns over the role of unregulated or weakly regulated experts. Court-appointed experts can have enormous influence, yet standards, accreditation and oversight are inconsistent. If expert evidence is to shape decisions about children's lives, it must be properly regulated, evidence-based and accountable. This is responsible reform.  Ireland is falling behind. England, Wales and Northern Ireland have already moved away from blanket secrecy by allowing accredited journalists, legal reporters and controlled reporting with strict anonymity protections. The evidence shows no breaches of anonymity, increased public understanding and improved accountability. The motion simply asks Ireland to learn from what already works. It does not call for open courts or unrestricted reporting. It proposes replacing the blanket in camera rule with controlled transparency, strong and enforceable anonymity protections, judicial discretion to restrict reporting where necessary, transparency orders that clearly define what may be reported, regulation of experts and stronger oversight of Tusla's compliance with court direction. This is balanced and proportionate reform.  We have huge difficulties regarding areas in respect of which reform is still needed. I wrote to the chief superintendent in west Cork in recent days about a young child. We have been working with her parents. The child, who is 15 or 16 years of age, has been in continual communication with some kind of paedophile in the UK who is in his late 30s. There was huge upset in the home, obviously, which led to the child being taken into foster care for the time being. One of the parents is very distressed as a result of their daughter being violated by this gentleman. The laws do not seem to be able to protect them or put a stop to what is happening. The person in the UK seems to be protected by laws that Irish lawmakers cannot seem to cover. That is not something that has happened in the past week or two; it has been going on for a number of months. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Jim O'Callaghan)  I move:  To delete all words after \"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann\" and substitute the following:  \"notes that:  \u2014 family disputes can be difficult and traumatic for those involved, particularly for children and victims of domestic violence;  \u2014 litigation to resolve those disputes can itself, despite the best efforts of judges, courts officials, and legal representatives, be very challenging for those involved;  \u2014 family law proceedings concerning child custody, access, guardianship and childcare matters allow attendance and reporting from specified persons under statutory provisions, including Section 40 of the Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004, provided that the anonymity of the parties is preserved at all times;  \u2014 the Family Justice Strategy 2022-2025, aims to create a family justice system that works better for everyone engaging with it, but particularly for those who need additional supports and protections, such as those affected by domestic violence or vulnerable parents and children; and  \u2014 the Government announced in April 2026, the Implementation Plan for the Family Justice Act 2024, which will deliver significant reforms to the family justice system, and ensure that the family courts are more user-friendly, less costly, and place the needs of children at the centre of family law proceedings;  acknowledges that:  \u2014 transparency and promoting a greater understanding of the family law system is critical to maintaining and building trust in it, and at the same time, those who seek the assistance of the Courts in resolving their family justice disputes need to be assured that their privacy, and that of their children, will be appropriately maintained;  \u2014 there has been significant progress in family law reform, including:  \u2014 the establishment of a Family Law Reporting Project, which aims to enhance transparency for the public about private family law proceedings, and build confidence in the judicial determination of private family law disputes, while continuing to ensure the privacy of those proceedings for children and families;  \u2014 the detailed examination being undertaken by officials on findings and recommendations from the Report on the Operation of the In Camera Rule in Family Law Proceedings, including a comparative review of the Transparency Project and the use of Transparency Orders in England and Wales;  \u2014 the publication of the Judicial Guidelines on the Commissioning, Preparation, Content and Usage of Expert Reports in Family Law Proceedings in 2026, which aims to promote consistency and best practice in the use of welfare reports in private family law proceedings;  \u2014 the ongoing work being undertaken by officials in the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, to progress work on establishing a panel of family law assessors, and the panel will address a number of issues identified in the Review of the Role of Expert Reports in the Family Law Process, including lack of regulation of experts and lack of adequate training or accreditation;  \u2014 the establishment of a Children's Court Advocate Pilot Project, which will apply to all applications for guardianship, custody, and\/or access, test a new way of hearing the voice of children in private family law cases, and provide regulation of assessors and consistency of practice; and  \u2014 the establishment of a Family Justice Training Working Group in 2024, to review existing training needs for those working within family justice and to develop effective and relevant training programmes; and  resolves that:  \u2014 good progress has been made in respect of the Family Justice Strategy 2022-2025, and promoting transparency and a greater understanding of the family justice system;  \u2014 improved awareness and understanding of the operation of the In Camera Rule is integral to informing future reforms of the area, and the establishment of the Family Law Reporting Project will play a key role in this regard; and  \u2014 monitoring and measuring the impact of these reforms will determine their effectiveness and inform any further policy or legislative developments required.\".  I thank Deputy Gogarty for tabling his motion. I welcome that we are having this debate on family law, transparency, child welfare and reform of the in camera rule. The first thing that needs to be acknowledged is that family disputes and particularly family law proceedings are difficult and traumatic for those involved, particularly for children and victims of domestic violence. The reason they are so difficult and traumatic is that they are emotional, they are personal and they deal with very sensitive issues in persons' lives. I also recognise that litigation to resolve those disputes can be very challenging for the litigants involved in it. It is also very challenging for the judges who have to reach a determination based on the evidence that is presented before them in family law proceedings.  I say this respectfully. As legislators and policymakers, we should all repeat the desire that where possible people who find themselves in family law proceedings should seek to reach an amicable resolution in respect of those proceedings. There is a huge advantage in parents and partners being able to reach agreement on issues such as access to children, custody of children and, indeed, maintenance because they retain control over the resolution that is achieved. If there is not agreement on those issues by the individuals involved in the litigation, necessarily the court will impose its settlement. Notwithstanding the efforts of the court to try to reach the best solution that it thinks appropriate, an agreed resolution is always better than an imposed resolution.  I want Deputy Gogarty and his colleagues to know that I am fully committed to reforming the family justice system through the implementation of the Family Justice Strategy 2022-2025. This is an ambitious programme of reform and significant progress has been made in promoting transparency and greater understanding of the family justice system. Several key actions under the strategy are highly relevant to the motion that Deputy Gogarty has put forward. I will address each of these in turn as well as the amendment proposed by Deputy Gibney.  First, I will deal with the in camera rule which is referred to in the motion. The Constitution requires that justice be administered in public. Transparency and promoting a greater understanding of the family law system are critical to maintaining and building trust in it. At the same time, we need to recognise that those who find themselves before the courts seeking resolution to their family justice disputes need to be assured that their privacy and that of their children will be protected and maintained.  As committed to in the family justice strategy and as mentioned by Deputy Gogarty, I commissioned a review of the operation of the in camera rule in family law proceedings. I published it in May 2025. It sets out 21 recommendations which I am considering. Deputy Gogarty has made a number of suggestions, including the introduction of stand-alone legislation on the in camera rule. I am giving consideration to not only legislative change, but also a broader range of measures that could be promptly introduced, such as improving awareness and training for parties, legal professionals and members of the media on the operation of the rule.  Deputy Gogarty mentioned permitting attendance and reporting by accredited journalists and legal bloggers. I remind him that family law proceedings concerning child custody, access, guardianship and childcare matters allow attendance and reporting from specified persons under statutory provisions, such as section 40 of the Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004, provided that the anonymity of the parties is preserved at all times.  I think everyone in this House would agree that it is important to preserve the anonymity of individuals, particularly children, who are before the family law courts.  I acknowledge that improving awareness and understanding of the operation of the in camera rule is integral to informing future reforms in the area. In that context, I commissioned the establishment of the private family law reporting project under the leadership of Dr. Carol Coulter. This three-year project will observe a representative sample of cases across different court jurisdictions and geographical areas and, I believe, enhance transparency.  It is important to acknowledge the Child Law Project, which was established in 2012 and attends childcare proceedings that would otherwise be held in private in order to conduct research on childcare law. The Child Law Project, commissioned by the Department of children, independently observes and publishes anonymised information about in camera childcare proceedings.  I now want to deal with another contentious issue, which is the role of expert reports. These are reports sometimes referred to as section 47 reports. Another key action in my family justice strategy is to review the role of expert reports in family law proceedings. That review, published in June 2024, sets out 20 recommendations. Earlier this month - in fact, I think it was about two or three weeks ago - I published the judicial guidelines on the commissioning of preparation content and use of expert reports in family law proceedings and launched them along with the Chief Justice. They aim to promote consistency and best practice in the use of welfare reports in private family law proceedings.  In parallel, a voice of the child working group is progressing the development of the voice of the child report template and guidelines to ensure consistency. This group is also establishing a children's court advocate pilot project. Work is also under way to establish a panel of family law assessors, which will address concerns such as lack of regulation and adequate training or accreditation in respect of the provision of reports.  The third issue I want to deal with is the training working group and family justice strategy. In response to Deputy Gogarty's point regarding the need for clear education and training, I wish to highlight that there has been significant progress. The strategy established a working group in July 2024 and is reviewing existing training and developing effective, relevant training programmes for family justice stakeholders, such as the Garda. There is also a 2025-26 implementation plan for the third national strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, DSGBV, which is a relevant part of this. It outlines a mandatory DSGBV training for those working in family law.  One of the suggestions by Deputy Gibney in her amendment is that judges be provided with bench books. My own view in respect of that amendment is that this would probably be an interference with the separation of powers under the Constitution for the Government to start intruding on the independence of the Judiciary by providing it with bench books guiding it on how to administer justice in the courts. The Judicial Council supports judges with comprehensive training programmes and the development of appropriate materials, such as bench books. A training working group was established in July 2024, which comprises membership from key Departments, State agencies and legal professional bodies, including the Judicial Council.  I will now look at the family courts. The Family Courts Act was enacted by the Oireachtas in 2024. It is a key component of my strategy and contains a number of provisions designed to make the family court process more focused on the needs of children, as well as being user friendly, safer and less costly. Earlier this month, I published the implementation plan for the Family Courts Act, which will deliver on these aims.  In response to Deputy Gogarty's point on providing clearer guidance to parents, improving information and awareness is a key priority under the strategy. The Courts Service has made significant progress through its family law information hub, which provides accessible, plain language guidance to help families better understand the system. As regards the Deputy's call for strengthening statutory oversight of Tusla, it is important to note that as an independent agency, Tusla is independent in the performance of its functions. It has a very difficult task to perform, as I am sure everyone will agree. The framework in place for the governance and oversight of Tusla is comprised of relationships of oversight, direction and reporting between the Minister for the Department of children and Tusla. There are also a range of formal arrangements in place between the Department of children and that agency. In addition, Tusla services and individual social workers are subject to multiple levels of oversight.  To conclude, I thank the Deputy for bringing this motion on these important issues. I am working in respect of the areas he has highlighted in the motion, particularly the in camera rule and the section 47 reports. However, I will conclude by saying what I said at the outset. I know it may be difficult for people in family law proceedings, which are difficult proceedings. They are not like ordinary civil court proceedings, such as commercial proceedings or proceedings between entities that do not have any emotional involvement. Family law proceedings are very emotional and contentious, but it is important that people recognise that they can seek to control the outcome of those proceedings by reaching a resolution themselves in respect of access and custody. Ultimately, that is what the court is going to do. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  M\u00edle bu\u00edochas leis an Teachta Gogarty as ucht an Bhille seo a thabhairt os comhair na D\u00e1la. I welcome and thank the Alliance of Birth Mothers Campaigning for Justice for all the work it has done on this issue in recent years.  One of the most difficult cases that regularly comes into my office is when a child is taken from their family or parents. That is because the act of forcibly separating a child from a parent is probably one of the most damaging things a State can do, if it is done in the wrong situation. It has an enormous impact on the child and will last with them for the rest of their lives. It also has a harrowing impact on a parent.  One of the worst nightmares that could ever face any parent is having their child forcibly taken away from them by the State, especially when you look at what is happening with Tusla. The nightmare was heightened by what we saw on \"RT\u00c9 Investigates\" just last week. Many children who are in very difficult circumstances and are taken from their parents often find themselves in a situation where they are exposed to rape, sexual exploitation, grooming by drug gangs for the sale of crack cocaine and even killed. The idea that your child would be taken from you is a nightmare of epic proportions in the first instance, but then for them to be given to an organisation that is itself mired in controversy because of the disasters befalling so many children is horrendous. I do not know how I would feel if it happened to my own child. I imagine it would be all-consuming in terms of the stress, pressure, anger and frustration that I would feel.  The other aspects of why these cases are so difficult is because it is difficult to determine what the truth is in such situations. Both parents are so emotionally invested in the situation that some parents will do anything to make sure the child is not taken off them. I have dealt with many mothers and some fathers who have been shockingly aggrieved at what has happened to them. One of the issues that has come through is that their voices regarding those grievances are not being heard and that the in camera rule is stifling their ability to seek help or support.  One aspect of this is many parents ring me and say that they do not know whether they have the right or ability to speak to me as their TD and converse with me about what is happening to their children because of the in camera rule. Some parents have said they are even afraid to talk to the Garda about their experiences because of the in camera rule. It is nearly seen as a complete block of communication for an individual who is probably in one of the biggest nightmares a parent can be.  Tusla has taken children from mothers off the back of false information in the past, and that is absolutely factual. It has had to apologise in certain cases and it has had to return children to those parents. Tusla has placed inaccurate information on mothers' files in certain situations. It has wronged birth mothers on many occasions. The system is failing those mothers especially and they have nowhere to go. I have raised these cases in the D\u00e1il Chamber many times.  At the heart of this is the necessity for women and mothers to be listened to and for their grievances to be addressed, and that is not currently happening.  We need to amend the Child Care Act 1991 to provide HIQA with the necessary powers to sanction Tusla when it fails to meet the statutory obligations.  One of the major problems with the in camera rule is that it prevents accountability. It massively reduces the ability to have public scrutiny of judicial decision making. Most people in the general public would be blind to what is happening in these courts on a daily basis. Some families would go so far as to say that, in their experience, the rule is a gagging order in many ways. There is a necessity for the Minister to seek to reform this system because it is radically broken, extremely damaging to children and phenomenally damaging to parents.  I want to make a brief reference to some of the elements that came from the \"RT\u00c9 Investigates\" programme on Tusla last week. In all of the discussions, it is sometimes forgotten that there are many good workers in Tusla doing the very best they can for children in extremely difficult circumstances. I know of many good workers who are regularly getting burned out. Young people come out of college with all of the necessary zeal and energy to tackle very difficult situations, but because of the pressure they are being put under, they are becoming burned out and leave the sector after a while.  One of the reasons we have a shocking mismanagement of Tusla is because, in many ways, the Minister for children is absent without leave. When we have a housing crisis in this country, we have a housing Minister who is regularly questioned and has to be responsible and accountable for what is happening in housing. When there is a crisis in the health service, the Minister for Health is questioned regularly and held responsible for what is happening. However, when there is a crisis in Tusla, the Minister for children is invisible. The only critique I have from the RT\u00c9 show last week is that there was no reference to the Minister. The strategy of the Minister for children when these crises arrive is to be hidden from sight and inaccessible for questioning and accountability. One reason Tusla is falling apart is because we have an absentee Minister for children.  The response of the T\u00e1naiste to last week's programme on Tusla was to say that everything was getting better and the special emergency arrangements were reducing in number. He boasted that special emergency arrangements were being closed, as if the Government was proactively seeking to end the practice. The truth is very different. The truth is that special emergency arrangements were closed down not because extra capacity was put into the system, but because documents were falsified. Some five special emergency arrangements were closed because they were referred to the Garda National Vetting Bureau. The Government was putting extremely vulnerable children into special emergency arrangements that are being referred to the Garda National Vetting Bureau. That is a national scandal and the Government used it as an excuse to say it was fixing the problem in the system.  The Government has said that the number of special emergency arrangements is falling. Again, this statement is disingenuous, which is just a fancy term for \"not telling the truth\". The reason the number of children in special emergency arrangements is falling is because the number of unaccompanied minors coming into the system is falling. Those unaccompanied minors who are coming into the system are now being sent to the International Protection Accommodation Services, IPAS, for age verification, as the Minister will know. They are being signposted to a different location, as such.  However, the number of Irish children in special emergency arrangements has increased in the past year. The number of children in this country that the Government is exposing to rape, sexual exploitation and becoming drug mules is increasing in real time. That is a national scandal. The Government has said this will be sorted out. The waiting list for the regulated residential sector in this country is 50% of all of the children. These are the children who are in situations where they cannot be put into ordinary foster families. Their situations are very serious. They need residential places, but the waiting list is so long that they makes up 50% of all of the children in the sector. This problem is going nowhere fast because there is a lack of investment in locations and a lack of management. There is a mismanagement problem at the heart of the system.  Is it any wonder that mothers and families are living in fear when Tusla seeks to take their children from them and they go into a legal system that has a complete lack of transparency and openness and where their voices are not heard? Is it any wonder that those mothers are living in fear as a result? The Minister has the opportunity to leave a legacy that opens up the process, with voices being heard, children being protected and there being scrutiny and accountability. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I welcome the opportunity to have a debate on family law transparency and the need to prioritise child welfare at all times and to discuss the reform of the in camera rule. I thank Deputy Gogarty for bringing this to the D\u00e1il because these issues are raised weekly, if not more regularly, with me in my capacity as Chair of the justice committee. These issues also come to my constituency office.  The remarks of the Minister tacitly acknowledge the general consensus that progress in terms of reform of family law and the implementation of the Family Courts Act has been far too slow. The Free Legal Advice Centres, FLAC, have told us that family law is the single biggest area of unmet legal need in the State and pointed to a sharp rise in queries from people who were representing themselves, with a high proportion involving family law disputes. This highlights the difficulty many face in accessing legal representation in family law courts. The Minister will know that I have raised with him the crisis in civil legal aid a number of times, which has direct consequences for family law, in particular those seeking legal representation. These issues have not been addressed. It seems that the discussion just goes on and on.  The Family Courts Act 2024 introduced much-needed reforms of the family law system, including the creation of dedicated family District, Circuit and High Courts, yet no new family courts have opened to date and there has been little progress on the purpose-built law complex on Hammond Lane. The latest response to a parliamentary question I received from the Minister suggests that construction will not start until 2027. This is a far too familiar story when it comes to projects under Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael. Progress is slow. The family courts building was first announced in 2014 and was originally expected to be operational by 2017, yet we are now being told it will be 2027. I have met a number of people at the busiest family law court, Dolphin House in Dublin, who told me the experience was horrendous. It is an outdated and overcrowded building that is not fit for purpose.  People have articulated very well the problems the in camera rule presents and the need for it to be reformed. I want to report that our committee has heard from numerous victims and survivors of domestic violence, as well as others, who have experience of the family courts. They pointed out that the in camera rule severely limited accountability, prevented them, as they saw it, from sharing their experiences and left them silent, isolated and unsupported during family law proceedings. Others have argued that the in camera rule has shielded perpetrators from scrutiny and limited public accountability. Essentially, it has allowed harmful behaviour or litigation tactics that have exacerbated that harmful behaviour to go unchallenged behind closed doors. Measures such as more anonymised judgments would increase transparency.  Following the publication of the review of the operation of the in camera rule in family law proceedings last May, which found widespread confusion, inconsistent application and a lack of transparency in family law proceedings, changes needed to be implemented as a matter of urgency. The Minister described the changes as critical, yet as far as I am aware, few if any of the recommendations have been implemented to date.  Having spoken to people who have come through the system, again acknowledging survivors of domestic violence, they feel absolutely silenced by the rule. I believe the recommendation that litigants in domestic abuse and coercive control cases should be able to seek the permission of the court to lift the rule to waive anonymity should be implemented as a matter of urgency.  Another area of family law which has been widely criticised is the use of so-called experts in family courts. That needs to be addressed. Concerns about the use of expert reports include inconsistent expert quality, sometimes bias, high cost, delays and reports that assessments can lack transparency or robust standards. I know the Minister has launched new judicial guidelines, which are welcome, but consideration should also be given to ensuring minimum qualifications, independence and accountability for anybody who deems themselves to be a family law expert.  I want to repeat my commentary in respect of Tusla, which I have made on a number of occasions. I agree with the previous speaker who said there are many very hard-working, dedicated and committed people working for Tusla but the organisation, as a whole, continuously falls short of the standards we should be demanding. Tusla has charge in many instances of the most vulnerable children in our society and there are far too many cases of children in Tusla care who not only did not receive the support they deserved and that we should expect as a society but who have actually come out harmed as a result of their interaction with Tusla. Somebody has to take charge and ensure those deficiencies are fixed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Claire Kerrane  As my party spokesperson on children, I am really glad to have the opportunity to speak on this motion, particularly about the importance of the voice of the child in court proceedings. This is an issue I have been raising with the Minister, Deputy Foley, repeatedly and I am glad to get the opportunity to raise it here this morning. The Minister of State will be aware of the new service being established for guardians ad litem , GALs, a system that will regulate them. That is welcome and GALs have no issue with it. Where issues have arisen and where they have flagged concerns is twofold. The first is their independence. They will go in with Tusla under the same Department. The second is the fact that there will be no guaranteed legal representation for the GAL in court proceedings. GALs are not legal experts. They will be in courtrooms where Tusla will have legal representation and where the parents, if they are there, will have legal representation. The GAL has the most important job of all, being a voice for the child, yet they will stand in a court of law without legal expertise. That is of no benefit to the child who is at the centre of court proceedings. It is really concerning.  Judge Simms, who appeared on the \"RT\u00c9 Investigates\" programme last week, was in here last month with GALs. I hosted them in the audiovisual room, so they could outline these issues. It is hard to take anything positive from the \"RT\u00c9 Investigates\" programme last week but one tiny positive was seeing the powerful advocates that the GALs were on that programme. When they were in here last month, one GAL set out a case that I want to read into the record:  I was a GAL for three siblings; they had been in care in different foster families for three weeks while Tusla tried to find them a permanent foster family...  Tusla found a potential foster family that I was able to visit, the foster family were delighted to be able to offer a place for all three siblings.  I went to court the next day, when I got into the court Tusla solicitor announced that this foster family was now approved, but was only approved to take two of the [three] siblings, the youngest would have to go somewhere else, another foster placement in a different county and a different province.  I consulted [there and then] with my solicitor, and they agreed that [we] would lodge a section 47 application. This specifically asked for the Tusla foster care committee to present to the judge the reasons why they only approved [two of the three siblings]...  My solicitor called me to give evidence to the judge.  Because they had met them, the GAL could say that the foster family had fully committed to taking all three. The GAL was able to tell the judge how capable and committed these foster parents were, having visited them in their own home, and that their children were now adults and that they had lots of support and plenty of space. The court adjourned for the evening.  The next morning, the GAL said that  Tusla told me and the others that they had ... decided to approve the foster family for all three [children], due to the issue being raised ... by the GAL and the lodging of an application.  Result was these three children can grow up together and continue [to care and look after each other].  The GAL said that \"If I was not independent and not provided with [the] ability to have the ... conversations with this foster family and to consult with my solicitor 'in the moment'. This outcome would never have been possible.\" They would not have had the ability to bring the application under section 47 and the children would have been separated in two different families in two different parts of the country that evening.  I cannot understand why we would remove the guaranteed legal representation for GALs. There is no GAL looking for legal representation willy-nilly. They look for it so they can be the best voice for the child in the court proceedings. Nobody can tell me why that is being removed. It will do no favours and provide no support for children in our State. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  I thank Deputy Gogarty and the Independent Technical Group for bringing forward this important motion. Family law is not working to protect the children of this State. Children are not only failed by family law, they are all too often put in harm's way. That means the State is facilitating harm to children. The system is massively skewed against women and children but I acknowledge that it impacts men as well. It ignores domestic violence and threats to kill, and forces children to continuously meet those who have already abused them. I have case after case where this is happening, and it has happened for years. I am glad the Minister is facing up to this but we need to do it much quicker than it has been done. It really says an awful lot for the Ministers who have come before him. The experts making these decisions work without oversight and without accountability. There is no transparency and no scrutiny.  The horror stories coming out of the family law courts can only be described as State-sponsored cruelty. What are we going to tell these children when, as adults, they ask why we, as legislators, did not intervene to stop the harm that was being done to them? Are we going to tell them it was too complex?  The use of experts in family law cases needs to be dealt with by regulations rather than by guidelines, given the serious concerns that have arisen to date and the need to ensure the highest standards in terms of how the justice system works. Minimum standards of training are required for those who work in the area of family law, as recognised in the Government's Family Justice Strategy 2022-2025. It is now 2026 and such standards are overdue to be introduced across all professionals, including legal professionals and civil and public servants operating in this area.  I acknowledge the Minister's intent but the lack of transparency is striking. By excluding the public and limiting reporting with the in camera rule, we have created a system that operates largely out of sight. Justice must not only be done but it must be seen to be done, as we know. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  I welcome the opportunity to speak on these very important issues. The reality is that State is failing vulnerable children. A lady contacted me in my clinic on Monday. She was in foster care the majority of her life. For a short period when she was 17, she tried to go back home and rebuild a relationship with her mother but this did not work out and she went back into residential care. When she turned 18, she was told there was no aftercare service for her. For the majority of this young lady's life she has been in care. Now at 21, she has been homeless for three years. I could not believe it when talking to this young woman on Monday that for her whole life, she has been in foster care, residential care, and now in homeless accommodation, with no support. The State has abandoned this young woman. If someone does not step in and provide aftercare and help for her now, what is going to be her future?  The treatment of children and young people shows that the system puts rules, regulation and bureaucracy ahead of children. How can that be right?  The system - from the courts to the care system - is not designed with children and young people at its core, as they should be. We do not need to look any further than the special emergency care arrangements for proof of this. We are talking about children being placed in unregulated, unsuitable bed and breakfast accommodation, hotels and rental accommodation. How in the name of God is that right in this day and age? Deputy Kerrane has described these as modern-day mother and baby homes. She is correct because they are. It is a case of out of sight, out of mind for these children.  People come to me who have come out of treatment and are in recovery. They cannot get access to their children because they do not have suitable accommodation. They do not have a home. Their children are being left in foster care although Tusla say they could go with their parents or mother if they had a home. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I thank Deputy Gogarty for the opportunity to talk about child welfare, in particular in relation to Tusla. We all saw the harrowing documentary from \"RT\u00c9 Investigates\" last week in relation to the failures of Tusla to protect some of our most vulnerable children. I commend the makers of this programme for an excellent piece of journalism. We got to meet Max in this documentary. He was sleeping in an underground car park at a Tusla premises in Naas, County Kildare. He left the care system last October after spending almost his entire life in Tusla's care. Now he is sleeping in one of its underground car parks. This is not right. Max is a product of a failed care system.  When Tusla has no beds available it outsources the placement of children to private companies under what are known as special emergency arrangements, SEAs. These arrangements mean that children are accommodated in care facilities provided by private operators, including rented apartments, bed and breakfast accommodation, hotels and houses. These are unregulated and they are not open to independent inspection.  I worked with vulnerable children in a previous job. I have constantly raised concerns about unregulated settings, in particular the fact that they are not investigated and looked into. Max's story is not unique. Last year 1,100 children in Tusla's care were placed in unregulated special emergency arrangements. This is an increase of 675 children on the number who were placed in these settings in 2023. Last year, 56 children under the age of 12 were placed in unregulated special emergency arrangements. I do not know this has been allowed to happen. That is despite the concerns of some judges who have ordered that children would not be placed into these unregulated settings. Last month Judge Conor Fottrell severely criticised profiteering by private operators providing unregulated placements for the most vulnerable children. He described it as \"wrong\" and \"shameful\". I wholeheartedly agree. The Government is paying millions to these private operators to keep the system going. It is time the Government took full responsibility for its actions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I would like to bring up a very specific issue that was raised with us at the autism parliamentary group yesterday. I will not go into the complete detail, but it is about real failings that surround child protection and child welfare. This relates to the most vulnerable children who do not have a voice, namely, those who are non-verbal. In the near future people will hear about - and we will deal with - failings in the criminal justice system. Training and guidelines are required for the Garda. Agencies must ensure we have the necessary child welfare protections. At this point in time we are absolutely falling down. As Deputy Kerrane says, it is utterly crazy that at the same time the Government is going to undermine the independence of the guardian ad litem - the voice of the child in the court settings - those most vulnerable of children who in many cases have been failed for far too long. We need to have at least somebody there who is not in the employment or under the direction of a Minister or Department and has an element of freedom to represent the child. That should be the sole focus.  Like Deputy Mark Ward, I commend the work of \"RT\u00c9 Investigates\" in relation to the brutal case of Max. He was subject to a special emergency arrangement in a hotel and went missing for two and a half hours. He was sleeping in a car park open to all sorts and abused within that setting. I accept we are talking about very complex cases but we are also talking about cases that have been made more complex by the lack of early intervention. The State is paying something like \u20ac2,000 per child per week to unregistered, unregulated SEAs. Last year there were 170 SEAs. There are now 70. It is still too many but that is an improvement. I also hear from Tusla front-line staff that SEAs cannot be operated at the moment, understandably so. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aidan Farrelly)  I thank the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  The fact is that Tusla does not have the correct residential or special care facilities. At the moment, even if we are not using SEAs, we are using inappropriate settings. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aidan Farrelly)  We are moving to the Labour Party. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  None of this is good enough. The Minister for justice and other Ministers need to get a handle on this because we have failed for far too long. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  I wish to share time with Deputy Sheehan and Deputy Ahern. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aidan Farrelly)  Is that agreed? Agreed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  First, I compliment Deputy Gogarty and his colleagues for bringing this forward. This is an extremely important topic. To a degree, we probably need to get to a political consensus on it. I believe that the Minister can travel this journey with us. He is probably committed to a certain amount of reform in this area. I read what he said last year and prior to that in relation to this. I hope his goodwill towards it is very real. I accept that it is a tricky area and it will take some time but I believe and hope that he will be the Minister to deal with this.  Like others, I also compliment \"RT\u00c9 Investigates\" on its programme. It certainly provided a level of knowledge to people and did it in a very real way. The review that reported in 2025 demonstrated what parents and guardians feel as regards being confused, isolated, silenced and completely confused as to what they can and cannot discuss. It is glaringly obvious that this has to be dealt with. We need clear information, clear knowledge and clear guidelines on how we deal with family court issues.  I do believe the Minister is committed to it but few of the recommendations have been implemented. However, the report ultimately keeps the in camera rule, which creates a very confusing outcome. While we can agree with many of the recommendations, it still comes down in favour of that. This cannot continue in the real world. The world has changed from where we are in terms of the legislation that was brought in in relation to this, whereby information now comes out in a different way. We need to ensure that there is controlled transparency, with strong anonymity safeguards, rather than blanket secrecy. The impact on families and children has been huge. There has been emotional harm which has traumatised and retraumatised them. As legislators we finally need to deal with this in 2026.  I have been saying this for some time. One of the most key points is that we need to deal with the issue of court-appointed experts. Without a shadow of a doubt, this is an area that needs a complete overhaul as regards minimum standards, minimum requirements and qualifications. In many cases judges just take the opinions of experts as factual and are guided by them. These people are being paid. It is an industry. The standards are not there. It is too defining a role to leave it in such a laissez-faire way. It is unacceptable.  I urge the Minister to deal with this issue because it is life-changing for the families and children involved and it is completely inconsistent. There is also inconsistency in how Tusla implements recommendations. Ultimately, we need to change the in camera rule and permit the attendance of journalists. We need fully anonymity for families and we need judges to have discretion in respect of restrained reporting. We also need complete regulation of experts and training for members of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  I welcome the opportunity to speak in this debate. There is clear evidence of the need to reform and change the in camera rule. In practice, the rule restricts evidence and protects perpetrators rather than victims. It has created a culture of secrecy that shields abuse and effectively acts as a gagging order. While in theory it protects privacy, in practice it often prevents public accountability and hinders supports for vulnerable people through its misapplication.  In the Minister's amendment, he mentions that a detailed examination is being undertaken by officials and also mentions findings and recommendations from the report on the operation of the in camera rule, including a review of the Transparency Project and the use of transparency orders in England and Wales. When is the Minister going to take action on foot of recommendations for reform, including the introduction of transparency orders? The independent research report was published almost a year ago. We need a commitment to transparency as a priority rather than just an acknowledgement that the Minister values it. On the specific issue of transparency orders, the reply I received to a parliamentary question sidesteps the question and says that officials are examining developments in England and Wales. We need an indication that such orders are being actively considered for Ireland. There is a clear gap and we need a structured transparency regime such as that provided by transparency orders. There is a notable emphasis throughout on privacy as opposed to transparency. It feels like the groundwork is being laid to push back against the deeper reforms that are necessary. It has become internationally accepted that the blanket enforcement of in camera rule-style procedures in family law matters is unacceptable. We need to at least see a pilot on changes to the rule.  Women have come to my clinics and tell me that the in camera rule is a cloak of invisibility for the failings of the family courts. I have been contacted by women who have been threatened by judges with the D\u00f3chas Centre and having their children removed from them for non-compliance with contact orders. When they try to challenge these decisions or explain, they are shot down and often told that it is the woman the father has a problem with and not the children. The comments are made in cases where the father is accused and sometimes convicted of domestic and sexual violence against the mother. While the in camera rule is in place, there is no accountability for the manner in which some judges and barristers treat women in court.  I support the amendment Deputy Gibney is going to move. We need access to relevant case law on the Bench. Australia's National Domestic and Family Violence Bench Book provides a good example. We need to introduce something like that here. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  As the Minister knows, family law remains one of the most overlooked and under-resourced areas of our justice system. The attitude to family law is epitomised by the huge site earmarked for the headquarters of the new family law courts back in 2014 that has been lying vacant and waterlogged on Hammond Lane in Smithfield for years. Planning permission was granted in 2024 and it might be completed by 2029, if we are lucky. None of these delays have anything to do with environmental law or judicial reviews, by the way. This is just a failure by Government to prioritise family law. In the meantime, our existing family law courts, which are spread over multiple different venues, are overcrowded, dilapidated and lacking in privacy and spaces suitable for dealing with the tragic and sensitive disputes at play.  I welcome this motion and thank Deputy Gogarty for proposing it. It is a worthy objective to seek more transparency and clarity in our courts system for the benefit of all court users. The notable thing about this campaign for reform of the in camera rule is that it has been led by survivors. It is grounded in the lived experiences of women and children who have experienced intimate partner violence, abuse and coercive control and who are trying to navigate a decrepit family law system that is failing them.  Our system does not always manage to achieve the best outcomes for children, who are at the heart of many of these disputes. Attempts at reform in this area are welcome. Accessibility is vital in our justice system. Even the name of this rule, the in camera rule, is archaic and outdated. I welcome the Department's announcement of plans to retitle the rule into plain English to ensure that it is understood by all family court users, not just those with a legal or Latin degree. That is really simple but very important. Let us just call it \"the privacy and transparency rule\". It is vital that this rule, as long as it still exists at all, be clearly and consistently defined and understood and that its operation does not impede parties accessing support services outside the court. Of course, we should always be encouraging, in every way possible, the resolution of family disputes outside the confines of our courts.  There are many other pressing issues in our family courts at the moment. These include the need for a statutory agency to pursue child maintenance. I welcome the child maintenance guidelines that were issued earlier this year. These will help parents to decide and come to an agreement on the appropriate level of maintenance outside of the courts. However, as the Law Society has recommended, we still need an agency to assist in bringing court applications to determine maintenance where disputes arise and an agency to act as a collecting agent for maintenance payments and to engage in the enforcement of maintenance and the collection of arrears. I reiterate my support for the motion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aidan Farrelly  I commend Deputy Gogarty on bringing forward this motion. The Irish State can no longer facilitate children and young people being silenced within the courts system. I have read the in camera rule report commissioned by the Minister's Department and published by UCC and Trinity College Dublin in May of last year. It is undoubtedly research of fundamental importance that cuts to the heart of our family law system, most specifically problematic interpretations of the in camera rule. As Dr. Aisling Parkes said when launching the research, \"What emerged as one of the most significant findings is the striking absence of public knowledge and understanding of what goes on behind the closed doors of the family law courts\". This study did not hear directly from children and young people. Research from this perspective would be very beneficial in contributing to the discourse. As a social researcher, I understand the ethical considerations associated with such research but it is a limitation nonetheless.  It appears that, while the in camera rule sets out to do something intrinsically positive, there are many unintended consequences. The majority of respondents believed they did not know enough about the rule. That, in itself, is deeply problematic.  Recommendation 6 of the report is to \"Protect the privacy rights of children and parties in family law proceedings\". It is imperative that this is continued and prioritised. I draw Members' attention specifically to what the report says about children in care. It says, \"Some children who are in State care are effectively silenced when they wish to speak about their experiences if they are identifiable as a child in care (by way of court order).\" Coupled with an 18-month-long District Court inquiry into Tusla, which determined that Tusla had failed in its statutory duty to 471 children, this paints a disgracefully worrying picture for those who are the most vulnerable beings in our State. Yesterday, I called for an independent review of Tusla. I did not do so lightly. I repeat that call here today. No one in this House needs reminding of the harrowing reality of the experiences shared by those young people, whose stories were featured on RT\u00c9 just last week. It is unacceptable that children and young people are silenced, that children and young people are failed and that children and young people in the care of this State must suffer any more.  I support this motion. I once again commend Deputy Gogarty for raising the issue. I just wonder whether the political appetite is there to one day reach a point at which motions like this one will be irrelevant and when children and young people in the care of this State will have their rights fulfilled, services offered to them and their voices rightfully amplified throughout the process. If not, we should no longer call it State care, but State-sponsored neglect. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  I support this motion and Deputy Gibney's proposed amendment. At its core, it is about something very simple and that is whether justice in our family courts is visible, whether it is accountable, and most important of all, whether it is fair to the people who depend upon it the most. Right now, those who have depended upon it and been failed by the system are very clearly telling us that it is not. We have built a system that operates behind closed doors justified in the name of privacy, but what the research and lived testimonies have shown us is that secrecy is not protecting people in the way that it should. That secrecy is isolating and compounding trauma. The 2025 review of the in camera rule makes that very clear. Parents do not understand what they are allowed to say. Many feel silenced. Many feel that they cannot even seek support. When people feel shut out of a system that is making life-altering decisions about their children, trust will inevitably collapse. We also know from research that there is widespread concern about the lack of transparency, inconsistency in decision-making and barriers to accessing support.  I wish to acknowledge something that brought this home in a very real way for all of us on the justice committee last week, when Margaret Loftus appeared before the committee and gave one of the most powerful testimonies that many of us have heard. She spoke at length about what she was put through in search of justice. Everybody in the House should watch her testimony. If the Minister has not seen it, he should go back and have a look. When she was asked about the one thing she would change in the system, her answer was simple - she said she would change the in camera rule. She said it was having a detrimental impact upon victims of domestic abuse and is no longer fit for purpose. That stopped me in my tracks and I hope it would stop anyone else. When somebody who has lived through what she has lived through, as well as so many other survivors, tells us that the rules that are meant to protect them are actually silencing them, we have to listen and break that silence. Her experience alone is a damning indictment of where we are, but it is also reflected in so many other testimonies and lived experiences. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Liam Quaide  I commend Deputy Gogarty on his motion and the strong and sustained support that he and his office colleagues have given many families affected by the issues being discussed here today.  As a psychologist working in mental health services, I have seen the fallout when family conflict becomes destructive, entrenched and entangled in the labyrinthine and secretive family courts system. I have supported people whose mental health was weaponised against them and whose distress was treated as evidence that they were unsafe, unstable or unworthy of contact with their child. Sometimes, their distress was stoked and heightened by the system itself to a point that brought them to a psychological brink. I have also seen the devastating impact when children are drawn into adult conflict and, in effect, set against a parent. It is important to say that these patterns can affect both mothers and fathers. Abuse, coercive control, emotional harm and risks of any kind must always be taken seriously, and so too must the harm caused by false allegations, diagnosis or vulnerability used strategically in the courts system. For a parent who is pushed out of their child's life, the torment is hard to describe or even imagine. The daily grief of knowing that your child is growing up and needing your love and relationship while you are powerless to reach them can break people.  I am particularly concerned about court reports that can shape decisions about where a child lives, how often a parent sees them or whether a relationship even survives. Concerns persist about delay, inconsistency and whether authors always have expertise in child development, attachment, trauma, domestic abuse and complex family dynamics. In some cases, they clearly do not have this expertise. A poorly considered report can do enormous damage. It can harden a narrative about a parent that is incomplete or simply wrong. Once it takes hold, it is almost impossible to undo. Privacy remains paramount, but privacy cannot mean parents are left alone in a closed system, unable to speak, get support or understand decisions of such magnitude. We need a careful, humane and accountable family courts system, one that upholds, wherever safe and possible, a child's right to a healthy ongoing relationship with both parents, as well as the parent's right to fairness and due process. It must recognise abuse, coercive control and where conflict is intensified by the court process. Above all, it must not add to the trauma of the children and families it is supposed to protect. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  I welcome this debate, and the motion put forward by Deputy Gogarty. I have provided two points within the amendment which I have tabled to the motion. The first one is around a bench book, which essentially is a manual for judges to help them with the specifics of family law. The Minister spoke about the unique nature of family law and how difficult it can be. That is essentially what this is. On the Minister's comments around the separation of powers, that is not the intention of this amendment. Of course, I recognise the role of the Judicial Council in providing those bench books. I would never be suggesting that the Government would write such a bench book. All I am suggesting is that it be provided for.  The second point in the amendment is one that I wish to emphasise, which is the establishment and maintenance of a family helpline. One of the issues with our family court system is that so much of this ends up in the courts. If we better resourced and informed the public on the structures that should be available to them or are sometimes and intermittently available them to prevent them from ever entering the courts system and, instead, assisting them, as the Minister suggested, with finding solutions around maintenance and custody that can be done outside the court system, it would relieve the pressure on the courts system. It would provide families with less adversarial solutions to the crises that they find themselves in. All of this and all the changes that we heard suggested today must be backed up with consistent funding. The Family Courts Act should assist in resolving many of these issues, but only if it is matched with funding.  It really struck me that, until Deputy Kerrane spoke this morning, I did not see the voice of the child present in this debate. Thankfully, it has appeared since then. The voice and rights of the child should be what this debate is channelled through. It is what any amendments, motions, law and policy should be done through. We know from research and, indeed, from lived experience that when we centre and foreground the rights and voice of the child, everybody else's rights are met. That is what we have to keep focused on in any of this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gillian Toole","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gillian-Toole.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Gillian-Toole.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gillian Toole  I thank Deputy Gogarty for the opportunity to address this most serious issue. I thank the Minister for the pending reforms of the family court system. It is overdue and most welcome. I commend Anna Kavanagh and Dr. Finbar Markey who have done tremendous work, both supporting and documenting the plight of parents trying to navigate a complex and oftentimes inhumane system. I am sorry I missed the other contributions this morning. I am bilocating with the Joint Committee on Disability Matters. Following on from Deputy Gibney in relation to the fiscal resourcing, what is critical to all of this is a resource of empathy. That will boil down to the recruitment and possibly the relocation of personnel with empathetic skills par excellence in this most complex area. It is not enough to add trauma on top of trauma.  The starting point is the child-centred piece. I refer to four Ps - prioritising the person over procedure and the person not to be a pawn. To this end, I must flag the most serious issue of safeguarding and independent advocacy. It is something that is quite relevant and inextricably linked to the work of the Joint Committee on Disability Matters and the Joint Committee on Children and Equality. In phase one and phase three in 2027 and 2029, respectively, the reform must include the recognition of harm against non-verbal or disabled children as a serious safeguarding crime. There must be disability-informed safeguarding protocols and training across all agencies involved in carrying out the continuum of care during and after the family court process.  I wish to make a couple of suggestions. These have come forward from parents whom I have had the privilege to meet and hear from. The first is the automatic appointment of an independent advocate or guardian ad litem in any legal process involving a non-verbal or severely disabled child. I am linking my comments specifically to the joint committee work because there is a very timely overlap. I reference Frederick Douglass, who said, \"It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.\" I will briefly refer to Tusla. Many Members have probably gone to that topic before me.  This is relevant to an interaction with a parent as recently as yesterday. We have approximately 100,000 referrals. In the absence of accurate data regarding repetition as to the number of revolving-door incidents, this distils down to 51,000 children. I met a mother yesterday, purely by chance, at a committee meeting being held to discuss another matter. The incident stuck all of us who heard about it. The woman in question has two daughters. Between them, they have been the subject of 32 referrals to Tusla in four years. This is linked to a domestic violence case. The referral cases have been closed because they do not meet certain criteria. There absolutely needs to be a root-and-branch reform of the system.  Data, in this instance, is linked entirely to families and children. There is also a link to housing policy. Take the example of Meath County Council and those presenting for emergency housing accommodation. It took three years, but I kept asking for a breakdown of those presentations number of presentations. I discovered that the primary reason for presentation is marital breakdown.  I take this opportunity to link with what Deputy Gibney said in the context of the prevention, mediation and family resource centres. I acknowledge the increased funding for family resource centres, but Tusla is at the beginning, the middle and the end of all of this. Fiscal resourcing is necessary but empathy is absolutely critical. I trust the Minister to work with all stakeholders, including the recently formed cross-party committee, to ensure the child is prioritised and mothers and fathers are supported. If this does not happen, lifelong trauma will ensue, and the body bares the scars. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  Aonta\u00edm le go leor ruda\u00ed a bh\u00ed r\u00e1ite sa Teach seo, go h\u00e1irithe an m\u00e9id a bh\u00ed le r\u00e1 ag an Teachta Toole ag an deireadh faoi na pr\u00edomhruda\u00ed ag t\u00fas shaol na bp\u00e1ist\u00ed sa t\u00edr seo. Is \u00e9 sin t-am nuair is g\u00e1 d\u00fainn cabhair, infheist\u00edocht agus ruda\u00ed mar sin a chur isteach le go bhf\u00e9adfar cabhr\u00fa le daoine. Gabhaim m\u00edle bu\u00edochas leis an Teachta Gogarty for proposing the motion and giving us the opportunity to have this debate.  When parents walk into a family court, many of them are often already at a very low point in their lives. They are dealing with separation, fear, stress and uncertainty about their children's future. I welcome the work the Department has done. I also welcome the commitments the Minister gave earlier. I trust that the Department will take all aspects of this matter under consideration, particularly in relation to how the pilot scheme in Northern Ireland is going ahead. Wales and England have their own schemes.  The 2025 review of the operation  of the in camera rule confirmed that too many parents leave the family court feeling silenced, confused or powerless and do not understand why they are not legally allowed to talk about their cases. That cannot be healthy in any modern democracy or system of law.  England and Wales have introduced controlled transparency, and, as mentioned, there is a pilot scheme in Northern Ireland that allows accredited journalists to observe and report on proceedings. Studies have shown that those reforms have not led to children being exposed. In fact, those studies found that the reforms have improved understanding and scrutiny of and confidence in the system. I welcome that the Minister is examining this, but sometimes, as with any aspect of Government, one of the biggest frustrations relates to speed. It is very easy for people to say \"Just do it now\", but there is a lot of backlog that will have to be gone through in order to ensure that it is done right. I ask that it be done as quickly as possible. I understand that the Minister wants it to be done right and does not want it to have to be revisited. I acknowledge and welcome that.  I also welcome the phased implementation plan that is due to begin in 2027 and the commitment in the programme for Government to modernise family justice services and put children's welfare at the centre of proceedings. Democracies cannot operate behind closed doors. A judicial system that operates largely behind closed doors will struggle to command full public confidence. Where there is no visibility, inconsistency, poor decision-making and a lack of resources can grow unchecked. It is the same with many of the matters we discuss. When members of the public cannot see exactly what we are doing in this House and do not understand the decisions we are making, that does not add to confidence among them and it creates mistrust. That is why I welcome many of the proceedings that have taken place and how much more open we have been in our State.  We need stronger standards regarding and oversight of court-appointed experts and clearer training pathways for An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. One of the things I will continue to push for is more investment in local family resource centres across north Dublin. The people in those centres are doing the work on the ground, they understand what cases involve and they are preventing certain things from happening. Families deserve privacy but they also deserve transparency and accountability. They also need to have confidence in the system.  I trust the Minister and believe that he will examine this matter. Achieving a balance is possible. The other countries to which I refer are showing that this can be done. There are studies and data which show that it is beneficial. We must, as other Deputies mentioned, show political will and catch up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Education and Youth (Deputy Michael Moynihan)  I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute on behalf of the Government and the Minister for Education and Youth and our Department. I welcome the commitment given by the Minister for justice, Deputy O'Callaghan, to enhance transparency and public understanding of the family law system and ensure that the right of children and parents to privacy is upheld.  In relation to open reporting, in The Operation of the In Camera Rule in Family Law Proceedings, recommendation 9 proposes introducing a right for accredited members of the media to attend all family law hearings and a right to communicate with parties on an anonymised basis. This approach is similar to the recent developments in England and Wales under their open reporting provisions. Expanding upon the In Camera report, officials in my Department are conducting an in-depth international comparative review, including on the transparency project on the use of transparency orders in England and Wales. This will form part of my Department\u2019s ongoing examination of the report\u2019s recommendations and their feasibility in practice.  As the Minister mentioned earlier, attendance and reporting by specified persons in family law proceedings is provided for under statutory provisions, including section 40 of the Civil Liability Act 2004, as amended, provided that the anonymity of the parties is preserved at all times.  I note the important role the media plays in attending to and reporting on cases, supporting transparency and raising awareness of these important issues. The establishment of the private family law reporting project earlier this year will further promote transparency in family law proceedings. This project will contribute to greater confidence and trust in the family justice system and will better inform family law policy and reform. It is expected that this project will produce key information for the Department to support the ongoing development of family justice policy and legislation. The Minister will receive the first volume of case reports later this year.  I acknowledge that family disputes are difficult. I strongly sympathise with the difficult experiences that many children and families face during family breakdowns. The Minister for justice remains committed to the ongoing reform of the family justice system to improve the rights and protections of children and families.  As part of the family justice strategy, the Department of justice undertook a public consultation and independent research in respect of parental alienation. The findings of both were analysed and, on foot of them, Department officials developed a policy paper on how best to address the issue. Despite the highly contested nature of this concept, there was consensus in the public consultation that the means to address parental alienation lie in improvements to the Irish family courts and the family justice system. Reflecting this, the policy paper puts forward six recommendations to address parental alienation. These are also linked to actions outlined in the family justice strategy. One of the recommendations in the policy paper suggested that a review of the expert reports in family law be undertaken. That review was completed and published in 2024.  The debate today has called on the Government to establish a regulatory framework for court-appointed experts, including minimum qualifications, accreditations and oversight and ensuring that contested or unvalidated theories are subject to a clear evidential standard. In June 2024, the Department of Justice published a wide-ranging review of the role of expert reports in the family law process. Significant progress has been made in advancing the 20 recommendations contained in that review.  The Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, already referred to the work of the voice of the child working group. By way of further detail, this group was established in 2024, with membership comprising both statutory and voluntary stakeholders in the family justice system. It was established in line with the commitment in goal one of the family justice strategy, namely, supporting children. The group is progressing a number of the recommendations in the review of expert reports, including the development of a voice of the child report template, and guidelines are expected to be published in the coming months which will ensure consistency of approach by experts in supporting children to have their voices heard; and the development of the children's court advocate pilot project, which will be established in two locations, Waterford and Clonmel. The pilot will apply to all applications for guardianship, custody, and access. The service will be free of charge and will trial a new way to hear the voices of children in private family law cases. It will help regulate assessors and ensure consistency of practice. Running alongside the project will be a comprehensive evaluation to assess its effectiveness in achieving its aim of improving how the voice of the child is heard and considered in private family law proceedings.  As the Minister mentioned, the implementation plan for a new family court system was published earlier this month. The Family Courts Act 2024 will introduce important changes to the delivery of family justice in Ireland. These changes will include full-time specialist judges assigned to deal with family law within new family court divisions, each run by a new principal judge, and the possibility to provide divorce applications at both District and Circuit Court level.  The implementation plan sets out a clear, three-phase approach. Phase 1, beginning in January 2027, will see the rollout of three pilot locations, comprising a family district court, a family circuit court, and a family high court. Judges with specific expertise in dealing with families and family law matters will be assigned to these first court locations on a full-time basis. Phase 2, expected from January 2028, will build on this by adding additional family court divisions to those operational from phase 1. A staggered commencement may involve certain processes coming online at different times, allowing for training and digital capacity to be established as needed and to learn from the results of the evaluation process. Phase 3, expected from January 2029, will lead to the full implementation of the Act.  On behalf of the Government and the Minister for justice, in particular, I thank the Deputy for bringing forward this motion and the considered debate we have had in relation to these issues. One of the most important aspects of the family justice system is to ensure we have a system that is as child-focused as possible. We must also make sure that this is the case for all children, whatever abilities and challenges they may have, and mention was made by other Deputies of those who are non-verbal. It is important in this context to make sure that we understand the family law courts and the challenges there, and that in any and all changes made to the regulations we ensure that the voice of the child is a hugely important component of the decisions being made. I know the Minister is acutely aware of that perspective and has given due consideration to all the aspects of it but it is something we have to be very mindful of as we build more expertise into the courts system to better provide for families. We want to make sure all children are heard through that process. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  As I pointed out earlier, fathers have been shown to be damaged under the current flawed system, and I have been very sure to mention this aspect, but the system has hurt mothers a lot more. It is unfair, opaque and needs to change.  I mentioned Dr. Charlotte Proudman, one of several advocates in the UK. Her research found that the secrecy and gender bias in family courts in England concealed poor practice and a lack of accountability. There is no reason to believe it is not the case here that there is a systemic gender bias that needs to be addressed. As I mentioned at the outset, no matter which parent has the issue and who is telling lies and who is telling the truth, the main issue is the harm being caused to children. This has been first and foremost in my thinking, and this is why we need transparency.  I had submitted some parliamentary questions to try to get the up-to-date situation in respect of the rollout of reforms the Minister mentioned. It is clear that he has done a considerable amount of work over the past 18 months. I do hope the work on experts will show significant improvement. I reiterate, however, that there is sometimes a confirmation bias even among experts. It depends on their background, their training, and the guidelines given. We have to be absolutely certain that what goes forward is going to work. We need transparency shone on this area.  I thank, first and foremost, my Opposition colleagues from all groupings for their support for this motion and for sharing their experience, knowledge and practical suggestions to add to the wording. I also thank members of the cross-party committee I am on that is seeking the reform of expert reports, the in camera rule and other relevant issues pertaining to people suffering in the system. Go raibh maith agaibh go l\u00e9ir.  I thank the Minister too for his thoughtful contribution. In discussions, I always find that he is a thinker and that he does not get into points scoring. He tries to look at things rationally and reasonably. I do again acknowledge the work he is doing in relation to the reform of family law pertaining to experts, as I mentioned earlier in the context of the parliamentary questions, and the issue of transparency. I want to reiterate and make clear, however, that as far as the families and women are concerned and as far as the best interests of children are concerned, more needs to be done and faster.  It is great that the Department has accepted all the in camera review's recommendations and work has begun on establishing the regulated national panel of court assessors, which will replace the ad hoc unregulated, and what I would say is a damaging and dangerous, system currently in place. Even if this works out as we would all like it to, which it may not, it still needs scrutiny and transparency. We can take an overview over a period but shining a light often only works if it is available immediately. Hence the need to change the in camera rule.  Reference was made to a new private family law reporting project which works in tandem with the likes of the child law project, going back to 2012. It does so, however, in my view and that of some others, by creating a centralised and, for want of a better term, curated reporting mechanism. It is designed to produce anonymous reports and summaries and to contribute to national data which may inform policy changes. That is all well and good but it is not opening the courts to broader public scrutiny in itself.  The Minister did, of course, mention that under the Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004, as amended, that specified persons, including bona fide journalists and researchers, may already attend family law hearings and publish their anonymised accounts. The model currently being followed here, however, basically still inserts a gatekeeper. Attendance is restricted and reporting is controlled, so in working practice, only a small number of specialist reporters might regularly cover cases. The proof is in the pudding. I have not seen too many reports out there in the media. I do not want to reference names but I will just use one name in the context of this debate.  We often see reports about Judge Nolan in the media. That is the way it should be. I am not making any comments on the integrity of his judgments. He is a great judge. I am just saying that he is often mentioned in the media but we do not hear about the family law courts too much. Hence the alliance of mothers----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aidan Farrelly)  That is the Deputy\u2019s time up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  -----podcast and recently published book.  I would like to see more transparency in the interests of the children and to pilot what is already happening in the UK. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  I welcome this motion from my colleague, Deputy Gogarty. I hope it receives cross-party support.  There are many problems with the in camera rule in the family court. It is something we in Aont\u00fa have raised consistently for a long time. The cross-party group has formed in the Oireachtas seeking reforms. This is very welcome and indeed it is good to see Government backbenchers as part of that group as well.  Deputy Gogarty cited the example of Britain and the pilot system it introduced to remove the in camera rule and how it is working. This is something we should look at seriously. We have a situation which not only prohibits journalists from reporting on the horrors unfolding in the courtrooms, it also leaves people feeling like they cannot talk to garda\u00ed, or their solicitor in some cases. There is an entire attitude where people feel a significant fear around talking about their situation. There is also a situation where judges themselves are often scathing in their assessments, sometimes in relation to Tusla, and are not having their remarks publicly heard. It is a significant thing that in some cases judges are scathing of Tusla and those remarks and assessments go unheard.  The problems in Tusla, which have been well-highlighted by my colleague, Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn, over many years, are extremely serious. The inside of courtrooms get much greater insight into these problems than we do, but the in camera rule prevents us as policy and law makers from getting a proper understanding of what is happening and how we can fix it. The secrecy around family law cases creates a breeding ground for corruption. Margaret Loftus, a wonderful woman from Mayo, spoke to \"Prime Time\" earlier this year about the abuse she experienced at the hands of a member of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. She spoke last week to the justice committee and asked how many garda\u00ed have barring orders against them. The answer is we do not know, because of the in camera rule. That is a shocking revelation.  She was asked about her experience of family law courts. The family law court outlined that she should be ashamed of herself and go home and apologise to her children. She was told that if the judge had jurisdiction over the Central Criminal Court, she would throw out the charges. This is a woman who endured sustained, brutal attack lasting an hour and a half, when she was put against a wall and kicked repeatedly, and left huddled with her children. She was speaking under D\u00e1il privilege at an Oireachtas committee last week and said she could not go into any detail about what happened to her because of the family law courts and the in camera rule. Not only this, but any evidence she herself gave in the family law courts could not be used in the criminal courts. This evidence would be disregarded, which is extraordinary. This woman\u2019s own evidence which was used in the family law courts was precluded from being used in the criminal courts. She could use the evidence but would have to get permission, which is really quite incredible. Margaret Loftus has said the in camera rule needs to go, as it is having a devastating effect on survivors and victims of domestic abuse. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The debate today has called on the Government to establish a regulatory framework for court-appointed experts, including minimum qualifications, accreditations and oversight and ensuring that contested or unvalidated theories are subject to a clear evidential standard. In June 2024, the Department of Justice published a wide-ranging review of the role of expert reports in the family law process. Significant progress has been made in advancing the 20 recommendations contained in that review."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, already referred to the work of the voice of the child working group. By way of further detail, this group was established in 2024, with membership comprising both statutory and voluntary stakeholders in the family justice system. It was established in line with the commitment in goal one of the family justice strategy, namely, supporting children. The group is progressing a number of the recommendations in the review of expert reports, including the development of a voice of the child report template, and guidelines are expected to be published in the coming months which will ensure consistency of approach by experts in supporting children to have their voices heard; and the development of the children's court advocate pilot project, which will be established in two locations, Waterford and Clonmel. The pilot will apply to all applications for guardianship, custody, and access. The service will be free of charge and will trial a new way to hear the voices of children in private family law cases. It will help regulate assessors and ensure consistency of practice. Running alongside the project will be a comprehensive evaluation to assess its effectiveness in achieving its aim of improving how the voice of the child is heard and considered in private family law proceedings."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"As the Minister mentioned, the implementation plan for a new family court system was published earlier this month. The Family Courts Act 2024 will introduce important changes to the delivery of family justice in Ireland. These changes will include full-time specialist judges assigned to deal with family law within new family court divisions, each run by a new principal judge, and the possibility to provide divorce applications at both District and Circuit Court level."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The implementation plan sets out a clear, three-phase approach. Phase 1, beginning in January 2027, will see the rollout of three pilot locations, comprising a family district court, a family circuit court, and a family high court. Judges with specific expertise in dealing with families and family law matters will be assigned to these first court locations on a full-time basis. Phase 2, expected from January 2028, will build on this by adding additional family court divisions to those operational from phase 1. A staggered commencement may involve certain processes coming online at different times, allowing for training and digital capacity to be established as needed and to learn from the results of the evaluation process. Phase 3, expected from January 2029, will lead to the full implementation of the Act."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"On behalf of the Government and the Minister for justice, in particular, I thank the Deputy for bringing forward this motion and the considered debate we have had in relation to these issues. One of the most important aspects of the family justice system is to ensure we have a system that is as child-focused as possible. We must also make sure that this is the case for all children, whatever abilities and challenges they may have, and mention was made by other Deputies of those who are non-verbal. It is important in this context to make sure that we understand the family law courts and the challenges there, and that in any and all changes made to the regulations we ensure that the voice of the child is a hugely important component of the decisions being made. I know the Minister is acutely aware of that perspective and has given due consideration to all the aspects of it but it is something we have to be very mindful of as we build more expertise into the courts system to better provide for families. We want to make sure all children are heard through that process."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar fionra\u00ed ar 11.55 a.m. agus cuireadh t\u00fas leis ar\u00eds ar 12.01 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Sitting suspended at 11.55 a.m. and resumed at 12.01 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Family Law Transparency, Child Welfare, and Reform of the In Camera Rule: Motion [Private Members]"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-29\/debate\/dbsect_10","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Visit of Polish Delegation","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_10","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  On the occasion of Polish Constitution Day, I ask Members to join me to extending a warm c\u00e9ad m\u00edle f\u00e1ilte to Mr. Artur Michalski, charg\u00e9 d'affaires of the Republic of Poland in Ireland, who is in the Distinguished Visitors Gallery, alongside his colleagues from the embassy, and 40 invited guests who are in the Public Gallery. They are all very welcome and I congratulate them on their national day. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Members applauded. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Visit of Polish Delegation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-29\/debate\/dbsect_11","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Gn\u00f3 na D\u00e1la - Business of D\u00e1il","counts":{"speechCount":3,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_11","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  There is one other matter to attend to. On the last motion, the question was put and although the amendment was agreed, the question now is: \"That the motion, as amended, be agreed to.\" Is that agreed to? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Agreed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  That was the Private Members' business. Thank you, Deputies. The motion, as amended, has been agreed to. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Gn\u00f3 na D\u00e1la - Business of D\u00e1il"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-29\/debate\/dbsect_12","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions","counts":{"speechCount":151,"speakerCount":17},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_12","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Brady","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Denise Mitchell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Yesterday the Taoiseach told working people and families struggling to get by to wait until next year's budget. He might help them then or he might not - wait and see. That was his message. The consequences of that indifference were exposed yesterday. While the Taoiseach downplayed the pressure on households, the regulator released startling figures. The number of households behind on their electricity bills has shot up again. Listen to this. Some 316,838 households were behind on their electricity bill in February. That is frightening. More than half of these households are in debt for over 90 days and the number is growing. More and more households find it harder to pay their electricity bill, find it harder to get back on track and the fear of disconnection is real. As a matter of fact, 197 households have already been disconnected this year. Many are forced to switch to pay-as-you-go meters where they end up paying the most expensive tariffs and bills. These are families who do everything and are desperate to keep up but they just find themselves in awful situations and the Taoiseach's Government \u2013 Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael \u2013 simply shrugs its shoulders.  The crisis did not fall out of the sky. The Taoiseach knows it has been getting worse, so how can he not accept the need for an emergency budget? How can he not see the need for energy credits? Last October, we told him that cancelling energy credits in his budget was a terrible decision. The regulator warned him that even more households would struggle to pay their bills as a result of his decision but the Taoiseach ignored those warnings. He withdrew the credits anyway and he left households terribly exposed. He stood idly by as big energy companies, one after the other, hiked their electricity prices up and up and now his energy Minister tells people to brace themselves for even further electricity price increases. There are households in arrears, sky-high prices, fear of disconnection and more price hikes to come.  Today\u2019s CSO report makes clear that people cannot wait until next year\u2019s budget. It tells them what they already knew - that the cost of living is getting worse. Food prices and energy prices are up and pressure on families has increased and the Taoiseach, Miche\u00e1l Martin, sits back and watches. The damage and hardship caused by withdrawing energy credits is plain to see but he does not listen. He does not recognise that he got it wrong. He does not accept that action is now needed. That is not a real or sustainable response. He needs to stop doubling down. Help is needed. Energy credits are urgent.  N\u00ed f\u00e9idir leis na c\u00e9adta m\u00edlte daoine a mbill\u00ed leictreachais a \u00edoc ach f\u00f3s t\u00e1 Fianna F\u00e1il agus Fine Gael ag di\u00falt\u00fa gn\u00edomh\u00fa. T\u00e1 cabhair ag teast\u00e1il \u00f3 dhaoine l\u00e1ithreach. T\u00e1 c\u00e1inaisn\u00e9is \u00e9igeand\u00e1la ag teast\u00e1il anois.  Families are now asking how bad things have to get before the Taoiseach wakes up. How many families have to fall behind in their electricity bills before he acts? What is the number? Is the number 400,000? Is it half a million? What number spells crisis for the Taoiseach? For every single one of these households, the crisis is now - it is today. They cannot wait until next year\u2019s budget, so the Taoiseach must act. We need an emergency budget now. Families desperately need energy credits now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  First, I join the Ceann Comhairle in welcoming the Polish community in the Gallery in celebrating their constitution day. I pay tribute to Deputy Malcolm Byrne, in particular, who is the convenor of the Irish Polish parliamentary group. I welcome the ambassador to-be Mr. Artur Michalski to the House.  I fully reject the Deputy\u2019s analysis of the situation. The first point I would make is that yet again she is ignoring that fact that we are facing a major dislocation of oil supply and disruption because of a war in the Middle East. What is her problem in acknowledging the war in the Middle East? "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  That is rhetorical and there will be no interruptions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Since the war broke out, the Deputy keeps pretending it has not happened. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" A Deputy","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" A Deputy  Not true. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It is almost as if she is living in a parallel universe. We have a huge issue----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  What is the Taoiseach going to do about it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----as have the world and Europe because of that war which is following on earlier shocks, in terms of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the energy crisis that happened then. We need a Government----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Brady","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Brady  We do need a Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----and we need a political response that understands the seismic potential damage of this crisis. The Deputy is ignoring it and that is irresponsible and negligent. Anybody I meet, at European level or anywhere, is very concerned about not only the short-term impact but the medium- and long-term impacts to the world of this energy shock crisis. That is not overstating it - that is what people are saying.  We have allocated around \u20ac750 million on top of a budget last year that was substantial in terms of public expenditure, and I will deal with that in a second. We just announced one of the highest packages, so we are not ignoring anybody and we are not holding back. We have allocated one of the largest packages across the European Union to alleviate pressures that undoubtedly are on families. We decided strategically to look at the food production sector, so we can continue food production at some affordable prices and the haulage industry in terms of our export economy and also getting goods on shelves in an affordable way. Those packages are substantial by any yardstick.  Then the general reduction in excise duty of 32 cent on diesel and 27 cent on petrol is helping to alleviate pressures. However, the pressures are undoubtedly there, of that there is no doubt. What the Deputy wants to do is spend about \u20ac3 billion to \u20ac4 billion now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Yesterday. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Please, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  What happens in October if this crisis does not abate? What happens in January? What happens our housing investments or our investments across in education, health and childcare? The USC brings in \u20ac5 billion to \u20ac6 billion. The Deputy wants something for everyone in the audience. She wants universal energy credits. She wants to give credits to the wealthiest in society. She does not believe in targeting anymore. Her measures, if they were brought in, would bring about 2% or 2.5% to inflation. We know who suffers most when inflation goes up - it is lowest income groups. That is not politically fanciful for the Deputy. She has a by-election coming and she wants to win as many votes as she can, so she wants to say, \"Let us spend \u20ac4 billion and give it out to everybody.\"  That is what she is doing. Let us be under no illusion that that is what is afoot here. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We have to think even short term to October. We should be looking at more permanent measures that help to alleviate the cost of living. T\u00e1 g\u00e9argh\u00e1 \u00e9 sin a dh\u00e9anamh. T\u00e1 an-chuid d\u00e9anta againn agus t\u00e1 n\u00edos m\u00f3 le d\u00e9anamh againn dan dabht. It is not next year's budget but next October's budget, which is a number of months away. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  That will not take effect until January. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  No, not necessarily, and the Deputy knows that is not the truth either. We know that we have to help people over next winter, which will be a crucial period, but we are going to do it in a measured, sensible way, not Sinn F\u00e9in's way, which is the Liz Truss way,----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call Deputy McDonald. I thank the Taoiseach, but his time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----which nearly blew the British economy apart. That is where Sinn F\u00e9in is going. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  The number of households in arrears that I quoted to the Taoiseach come from February. That predates the Trump-Netanyahu attacks on Iran. That has made matters worse, which I absolutely acknowledge. What the Taoiseach cannot acknowledge is what the regulator and the CSO are telling the Government directly today, namely, that the cost-of-living crisis is getting worse, including for groceries and energy, and families are struggling. I have given the Taoiseach the figures for the level of arrears. They are terrifying. The Government has allocated diddly-squat - sweet feck all - for working families. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  That is the truth and families know it. I put it to you directly that your attitude of sitting back and watching this unfold is not acceptable. We need measures now. One of them is energy credits. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  That matter is absolutely clear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I remind Deputies----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Why do you refuse to act to protect workers and families----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy McDonald's time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  -----in this situation? You are negligent,----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call the Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  -----not me. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Through the Chair, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Hold on a second. The budget that we announced last year----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  The Government took away the energy credits. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Please, Deputies, allow the response without interruption. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We have introduced permanent measures that reduce the cost of living. In terms of healthcare, we eliminated all hospital charges. In terms of education, there are free primary schoolbooks. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  That is why arrears are up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Sorry, but if I have to interrupt----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  In terms of primary schools, there are free hot school meals. These are measures that matter. We have expanded the back to school allowance and so on. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputies are speaking out of both sides of their mouths now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  In terms of the fuel allowance, we expanded that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Mary Lou McDonald","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Mary Lou McDonald  Family carers are not getting it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputies have to keep interrupting because they do not like the truth, but 450,000 working families benefit from the fuel allowance. We brought in the working family payment within that. We have done very effective, targeted measures, including free contraception, HRT, and going right through the health services. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  These all reduce the cost of living for working families. Sinn F\u00e9in chooses to ignore that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Get out of your bubble. Get out of your bubble. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I welcome at long last that Sinn F\u00e9in has acknowledged that there is a war in the Middle East. That is progress from its perspective----- "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Enough. Thank you, Taoiseach. Time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----but I do not accept Sinn F\u00e9in's approach to how to resolve the issues for people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  The Taoiseach is making a show of himself. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Before I call Deputy Bacik, I will remind Members not to come to meetings where we all speak out of both sides of our mouths about interruptions. They know the rules. Interruptions are not allowed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Denise Mitchell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Denise Mitchell  Is that not what that means? It is about---- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Each Member is entitled to a fair hearing and each Member will get it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  I welcome our Polish community and also a group of students who are with me from Trinity and schools in Dublin and Wexford.  Far too many people in Ireland suffer the trauma of losing their home. That is a direct result of the Government's policy. It prioritises the market over people. It did it in March, incentivising landlords to evict with new rent laws, and it is doing it again now, this week telling 16,000 Ukrainian refugees to fend for themselves in an overheated rental market or return to a war zone. So much for solidarity with Ukraine. In Dublin, even if a person's budget is \u20ac1,500 per month, there are just two two-bed properties for rent on daft.ie today. The housing crisis has been normalised on the Taoiseach's watch. As a local TD, it is getting harder and harder to support people through this deepening crisis, but each year, the Government is pursuing the same policies and things are getting worse. We are now hearing from constituents who are even grappling with suicidal thoughts as they and their families face the horror of eviction.  Threshold supported more than 10,000 households in the first three months of this year alone. That was 3% of all households in the private rented sector that are struggling. People cannot cope. I know the Taoiseach would love for homeless figures to reduce but the Government is doing nothing about it. He must face up to the fact that its policies are making things worse and that there are people in Ireland who are profiting from this social disaster. Scarcity drives profits up for land hoarders and higher rents benefit price-gouging landlords, yet the Government is subsidising those who are speculating on this social disaster. When it pats itself on the back, as I know it will, for the mortgage drawdown figures today, it is missing the point. The Government needs to close the door to lobbyists and open its eyes to the solutions before it, because we know what works. The eviction ban slowed the pace of homelessness. In the 1960s, under a Fianna F\u00e1il Government, the National Building Agency, a State construction company, built homes at scale, lifting thousands of families out of squalor, yet the Taoiseach ridicules Labour's proposal to transform the Land Development Agency into a new State construction company.  The Government's policies are failing people. The Government is failing the 5,500 children in homelessness, failing the 60% of renters unable to afford rent, and failing the 60,000 on the housing list. Yesterday, the Cabinet failed once again to agree measures to stop Airbnb and short-term letting companies from mopping up the supply of homes, and at the same time, the Government decided to throw thousands of Ukrainian refugees to the mercy of the rental market. It has passed laws unleashing a tsunami of eviction notices and its solutions are \"shedsits\" and tax breaks for developers. When will the Government take radical action to end the housing disaster, stop evictions of renters and refugees, and ramp up the Land Development Agency to build homes at scale? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I fundamentally disagree with the Deputy's proposition. The State is investing the majority of funding in housing right now and has been for the last three to four years. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  Not true. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Deputy Bacik's presentation, saying that we are favouring the private market, does not add up. There are record levels of State investment, nearly up to \u20ac10 billion this year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  Tax breaks for----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  They are not tax breaks at all. Come on, the Deputy knows it. That is untrue. Let us have an honest debate about it. The only thing Labour has produced in its policy responses is a State housing development agency. That is all. Not one paragraph in it is fleshed out at all, as far as I can see. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  Yes, there is. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I will make this point to the Deputy. Thirty-six thousand houses were built last year. Supply is the key here. Labour keeps opposing measures that will add supply. The Deputy talks about an eviction ban. She said it would slow down homelessness. It would slow down supply, and did slow down supply. Be in no doubt that supply is the key. We need to get to 50,000 houses a year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Eoin \u00d3 Broin  Not a chance. Not a chance. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That needs to be balanced with public sector investment and private sector investment. \"Private sector contribution\" should not be seen as a dirty term, as some on the left see it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  It is not. It is about home ownership. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It is a very important contributor to getting to 50,000 or 60,000 houses per annum. The momentum is very strong now. Unfortunately, this crisis in the Middle East could be problematic in time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  It is always somebody else's fault. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  You cannot blame the housing prices on that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We need that war to end. We have built about 170,000 houses since 2020 and 50,000 apartments have been built. There were 8,000 permissions in quarter 4 of 2025, up 20%, and 20,000 houses were granted permission in 2025, which is the highest number since 2009. Commencement notices were up 184% in quarter 1 of 2026. Real dwelling investment was up by close to 20% in the first three quarters of 2025. Construction employment was at 191,000 at the end of 2025. That is up 30% since 2019 and 12% year on year. The Home Building Finance Ireland, HBFI, loan book has grown by 25% to \u20ac3.2 billion. We have announced the \u20ac1 billion housing infrastructure investment fund, which is also doing very well. I can go through all of the various investments that the State is putting into this. Nearly 59,000 social houses have been added since July 2020. It is significant that 60% of all mortgages drawn down now are first-time buyers. That matters. I would not dismiss it like the Deputy tried to in her opening remarks. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  I am not dismissing it. I acknowledge it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I am not missing anything here. That is significant because it means the measures we have introduced are helping first-time buyers, albeit at prices that are still too high, but the only way we will deal with that price issue is by having more supply. We need a more collective approach to housing supply and not to oppose every single thing that the Government brings in.  In terms of the reforms, the Deputy knows well that some smaller landlords did not like the reforms because they gave additional protections to tenants, not the other way round. That is the impact. We did protect tenants----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank the Taoiseach. Deputy Bacik will now have an opportunity to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  We can agree on one thing, which is that supply of homes is key, but the Government is not delivering increased supply. Unfortunately, the only momentum is with the tsunami of eviction notices that people are experiencing. The Government cannot blame the housing crisis on Trump - the Taoiseach knows I have acknowledged the impact of the global energy shock - because the Government's policies have not changed. They are failing to deliver for people.  They are failing to deliver for people like the family I met in Oranmore last week who asked me to tell their story - a couple with three small children, one with additional needs, who received a notice to quit. They will be evicted in June. They are facing homelessness and a support worker has advised the father, who is working, to give up work to improve chances of getting a home. What has the Government got to offer him? What has it got to offer my students in the Gallery? It seems there is an acceptable level of homelessness. This figure has been normalised. It is climbing every month. Deputy Sheehan is out with other Opposition spokespersons commenting on the homeless figures every month. They continue to climb - 5,500 children. Those three children I met in Oranmore will join those figures. What will the Taoiseach do for them? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Housing supply is the key----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  It is key. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----and we need to build more houses. Labour's policies would actually reduce housing supply. There is no question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  Where is the evidence of that? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  As to the other point on homelessness, the profile of homelessness has shifted dramatically. There is no question. That is the reality. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  Now you are blaming homeless people for homelessness. That is outrageous, Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  If you look at the figures----- "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Respect. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  The Taoiseach of the country is blaming homeless people for their homelessness. He is responsible for their homelessness. What a disgrace. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy \u00d3 Broin, the last time----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I am not blaming anybody. Deputy \u00d3 Broin is wrong. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Sorry, Taoiseach. Excuse me. Stop the clock, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  That is exactly what you are doing. You are blaming the victims of your own housing policy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The biggest factor, if you look at the figures---- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  That is an absolute disgrace. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy \u00d3 Broin, there is nothing special about you, or is there? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Deputy \u00d3 Broin, you are not leader of Sinn F\u00e9in yet. By the looks of things, you will be a long time waiting. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  I do not want to be leader but I want to see homelessness fall. That is not happening under you. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  What I want to say is this. If I could speak to Deputy Bacik----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Taoiseach, the clock is stopped. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Sorry. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Excuse me while I address the Chamber. Deputy \u00d3 Broin, the rules apply to everybody. Interruptions are not allowed. Your leader has had Sinn F\u00e9in's question and was afforded the time, if I recall, by everybody to put the question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  I am routinely interrupted. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  I was provoked by the Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy \u00d3 Broin, if you cannot have respect for the Chair, have respect for your colleagues. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  I have respect for the Chair----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, and for your colleagues. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  -----but I have no respect for a Taoiseach who misleads the House. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Enough from everybody. Taoiseach, please resume. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The fundamental change in homelessness, and it is still an issue, without question, is the fact that less than 50% are now Irish citizens. Migration has impacted hugely on homelessness. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  Oh, the Simon Harris line. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Enough. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The facts speak for themselves. If we cannot have an honest debate----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  On a point of order, it is unacceptable to conflate----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Look, do not be getting into high dudgeon now. That is the truth, unfortunately, whether Deputy Bacik likes it or not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  That is outrageous. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy can try and make all the commentary she likes about that, and I say that----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  The Dublin Region Homeless Executive, DRHE, is disputing that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call Deputy Cairns. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Look at the Dublin figures alone. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  We know the figures. Government policy creates homelessness. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Taoiseach. I call Deputy Cairns. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It is out there----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Taoiseach. Deputy Cairns is on her feet. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  When the Government announced plans to regulate short-term lets, nearly everyone welcomed it. The Department of tourism said the measure would lead to 12,000 homes returning to the long-term rental market. The F\u00e1ilte Ireland chief executive said the registration system was simple and user friendly. Even Airbnb and the Irish Self-Catering Federation welcomed the introduction of a register. The catch is that was back in 2022 - four years ago \u2013 when the Government first announced these plans. Four years of inaction, delay and excuses.  This week, we learned of yet another missed deadline. A plan to have the register come into force on 20 May is dead in the water, as is any prospect of homes returning to the long-term rental market any time soon. The Government is prioritising proposals that will see renters living in sheds in back gardens with no protections instead of bringing the potentially thousands of homes listed on Airbnb back into the long-term rental market. Does the Taoiseach not see that for what it is? It is an insult to thousands of renters all over the country. This Government would prefer to see them paying thousands of euro every month to live in cabins in back gardens than to regulate Airbnb.  Nearly every week, the Taoiseach tells us that housing is the Government\u2019s number one priority. I do not think anyone believes that. Not only has it refused to introduce long-overdue regulation of an out-of-control short-term letting sector, it has gutted the regulations before they have even come into force. Initially, the Government's plan was to restrict short-term lets to towns of 10,000 or more. Then, thanks to lobbying by the Healy-Raes, it abandoned that plan, raising the bar to towns with a population of 20,000-plus. It shafted renters to keep the Healy-Raes happy only for them to walk out of government a few weeks later anyway.  Record numbers of people are now homeless, including more than 5,500 children. Meanwhile, in some areas of the country, there are 25 times more homes on Airbnb than homes to rent. A Government that took the housing crisis seriously and wanted to protect renters would do something about that.  On top of all this, there is no clarity on what will happen in towns with a population below 20,000. Will housing need even be a consideration or is the Government telling every town and village in rural Ireland and every square metre of the Gaeltacht that nothing is going to change? What is the Government's plan for short-term lets in these areas? Will housing need be a consideration for planning? Why has the Government been dragging its heels on regulation for four years? What is the Government's plan? Does the Government even know? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  First of all, the short-term letting and tourism Bill will provide the statutory basis for the introduction of a register of all short-term lets in Ireland. That will be accompanied by a planning statement from the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Browne, governing that entire framework. That will broadly restrict the approval of new planning permissions for short-term lets in cities and large towns. All of this is aligned with the European directive and the European approach to this.  Bear in mind that even in Deputy Cairns's area there has been a lot of pushback, not from any particular Deputies, but generally from people who have been operating Airbnbs in west Cork, Kerry, along the western seaboard and in the south-eastern areas from a tourism point of view. There has been a reaction against it - not from any one TD, but from people on the ground. Yesterday, I was answering this question from a different perspective from the Deputy's colleague Deputy Collins, who is completely against any ending of the short-term lets and so on.  We have decided on the figure of 20,000. We think it is a reasonable balance. If we can get the short-term lets back to housing in the cities and the large towns, that will be a good day's work. It is not simple either, in terms of planning laws and the frameworks around that, to make sure that we get it right. The Government will introduce this. We will be doing it and are nearly there, to be quite frank, in terms of completing the process. It is a measure in addition to all the other measures.  The Deputy is derisive about what she calls \"sheds\". They are not sheds. Talk to people. She says she has spoken to people in her constituency. A lot of people in west Cork approve of the planning exemption proposal around units at the back of their houses and so on. They actually approve of it. Some people will be paying up to \u20ac80,000 for those, if they are modular units, for example. They may use them for their family members but family members will not be there forever. We have a housing supply crisis and it makes sense to free up the planning permitting situation for units of that kind. We will keep it under review.  I am in favour of anything that increases supply. I am not really interested in rhetoric. I am not interested in opposing everything that everybody proposes. The vast majority of what the Government has proposed over the last number of years on housing has been opposed by the Social Democrats and others. The Social Democrats oppose any private sector involvement. We have a lot of workers working in Ireland. There are a lot of people out there who would avail of these kinds of units and take pressure off the more conventional rental market.  It is about supply and we make no apology for it. Next week, we will look at rural planning guidelines for housing as well, which the Deputy will probably oppose, but we have to produce more supply. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  Being from west Cork, I absolutely understand the importance of tourism in the area I grew up working in local caf\u00e9s and restaurants that rely on the influx of tourists in the summer. What those businesses and local schools, post offices and everything else also rely on is locals - people living in the area and workers in the area. This is about getting the balance right. The balance at the moment is not right. In Cork South-West, there are housing estates with almost nobody living in them full-time any more. The amount of short-term lets is out of control.  The Government has been dragging its heels on this legislation for four years. I asked the Taoiseach why but he did not answer that question. Do I recognise the importance of tourism? Absolutely. Does the Taoiseach recognise the importance of people needing a home? In his response previously, he spoke of all of these different measures of housing success. Does he include the number of homeless people? In Cork South-West, people are contacting me. They are being evicted and have nowhere to go. That has to be weighed up against the importance of Airbnbs, too. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Absolutely, and that is what we are doing. We are legislating in terms of Airbnbs in any area above 20,000 people. That is a very significant change, and rightly so because the priority is housing. Our priority is housing and will remain housing. There is an issue of balance here in terms of the proposal and this would be a major step forward when we bring in this legislation----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  It leaves out the Gaeltacht. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  What do I tell the areas with fewer than 20,000? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----in terms of anywhere over 20,000 for cities and large towns. That will be significant progress. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  What about the Gaeltacht areas? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputies, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We will have specific policies for the Gaeltacht areas. T\u00e1 siad t\u00e1bhachtach. T\u00e1 na hAir\u00ed, na Teachta\u00ed Calleary agus Browne, i dteagmh\u00e1il maidir leis na Gaeltachta\u00ed. Admha\u00edm go bhfuil c\u00e1s faoi leith ann \u00f3 thaobh lucht na Gaeltachta a labhra\u00edonn an teanga go rialta agus gur c\u00f3ir go mbeadh seans acu tithe a cheannach n\u00f3 a th\u00f3g\u00e1il ina n-\u00e1it d\u00fachais f\u00e9in. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charles Ward  I have constantly raised the issue of side-by-side rebuilding under the defective concrete scheme through amendments, a motion in the House and parliamentary questions. This is happening in people's homes right now. For many families, side-by-side building is the only workable way to rebuild while staying within their communities in Donegal. The Government has indicated that it will be available in certain, limited circumstances but those circumstances are not clear and the provision is not yet operational. Families still do not know how it will apply to them and the uncertainty is causing real difficulty in planning and rebuilding for families to actually move forward. I am dealing with families directly and speaking to them every single day and their cases are coming through my office, where people are trying to understand how they are meant to proceed. There is a significant number of people affected and they are older homeowners and disabled homeowners. Side-by-side building is a way for them to move forward. There are consequences for the delays being put in place at the moment for the rebuilds to move forward because it is time-sensitive. It would also avoid moving disabled and older people out of their communities when they can build side-by-side if they have the land next to each other and can proceed. Families remain on site, there are no rental payments and there are no storage costs. Everything is there and it is fiscally responsible. It allows them to move on.  I am dealing with a family in Carrowkeel who have a child who is severely disabled. They are currently dealing with electrical issues with their house because it is structurally unsound and is moving. That child, who will be 18 next week, is on an air mattress and when it goes down she is prone to ulcers and back sores. Her framework cannot be bolted to the house because the house is not suitable, so the family is waiting to go. They are in their house but the house they are waiting to build is out in the garden. We are waiting for approval but we need approval and we need answers.  When will this scheme commence and when will homeowners who have the space and capacity to carry out side-by-side rebuilding be able to do so under the scheme? Will it set out clearly when this will be operational? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The entire defective concrete blocks schemes have moved on apace over the past number of years and that needs to be acknowledged as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  Jesus Christ. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The sum of \u20ac293 million has been provided this year alone for the remediation of homes affected by defects including pyrite, apartment defects and defective concrete blocks. The pace has accelerated, in particular over the past two years. There was \u20ac155 million spent in 2025, compared with just under \u20ac60 million in 2024. As the scheme ramps up, more sufficient additional funding will be provided as required. As the Deputy knows, the overall cost is estimated at about \u20ac2.2 billion.  The scheme is designed, as per the Government's commitment, and delivered in a manner that meets the real needs of homeowners in an efficient and effective manner. Currently more than 3,000 homeowners are at various stages of the scheme. The data is clear, too, that many are availing of it and that the grant rates, which were set and increased in 2024 and are based on expert advice, are at a level to ensure homeowners will get the money they need to put their homes right. That the grant scheme follows the most up-to-date science is particularly important and changes were made to the scheme late in 2024 to take account of the most recent research.  A forthcoming Bill will make amendments to the grant scheme to allow changes to be implemented by the administrators of the grant scheme. That will allow grant rates and payments under the scheme to increase by up to 10%.  In relation to the Deputy's specific question, I will engage with the Minister regarding what is the latest position on that. I think what the Deputy is suggesting is that a house would be built adjacent while the existing house is being repaired. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charles Ward  Yes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  In special areas or right across the board? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Ward can respond in a minute. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It is important. The scale and pace of this is growing enormously. I will talk to the Minister and ask him to engage with the Deputy to get clarity on that specific point, particularly for families that are under pressure either with disabilities or a wider range of issues. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charles Ward  With respect, there have been 300 homes built in the past five years. There are 3,000 people currently trying to go through the scheme who are stuck in the scheme. Families are waiting for the basics. Side-by-side building is where you go onto an acre of land that could have a house on one side that is defective and a house on the other, and then pull it down and keep the family in this house until the other house is rebuilt, and then pull the defective house it down and move them over. That is what we are waiting for. That is what people are waiting for if the capacity is there to do it. The family I am talking about in Carrowkeel have a child with a severe disability who has basically been waiting to move for three years on the scheme and cannot get side-by-side building. There is a reality going on here that this scheme is only at 2% capacity. When it starts to move and to crank up, we acknowledge the money is being spent, but only 300 homes have been built. There are 3,000 people caught in this scheme and thousands more are currently waiting. My colleagues in Donegal are all dealing with this and we know what is going on on the ground. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank the Deputy. The Taoiseach will respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I have spoken to people in Donegal and to public representatives who have said there is real momentum in this scheme----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  Which ones? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Oh my God. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----and do not give the exact same----- "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It is not your question, Deputy Mac Lochlainn. This scheme----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Do not interrupt. Allow the Taoiseach to answer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  There are new new asks all of the time in relation to the scheme. We need to get on with it and get it delivered. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  We do. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We do. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charles Ward  I agree with you that we do but we need to----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The legislation has changed, expert advice has changed and the science has changed. The Government's commitment is absolutely 100% in terms of delivering this scheme, and 3,000 people are not trapped in the scheme. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  They are trapped. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charles Ward  I am one of them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  They are engaged in and involved with the scheme at different stages. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Works of fiction. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-29\/debate\/dbsect_13","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 na Comhalta\u00ed Eile - Other Members\u2019 Questions","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_13","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Clendennen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Clendennen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Clendennen  I would like to raise the whole area of commercial rates for County Offaly and the funding of it. In December 2020, a planning application for Shannonbridge power station - the Taoiseach recently visited Shannonbridge - was refused. It would have been a transition to biomass. It left a serious void in the local revenue of the county council of \u20ac1.7 million. In fairness to the Government, it stepped into the breach and we have seen its support every year for the past six years. This support is about to finish at the end of December and is essentially a cliff edge for County Offaly in terms of revenue. I am calling for a tapering to be considered in relation to the phasing out of that support.  Before I get into further detail on that, we need to recognise County Offaly has been on since those very dark days at the end of the previous decade and early in this decade. We have been identified under the EU just transition programme as the county most impacted by just transition. The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, in fairness to him, is going a very good job and was in Offaly on Monday. Right now, we have 2 GW of renewable energy in the pipeline in County Offaly alone. To put that in perspective, last November we surpassed 2 GW nationally in relation to solar power generation. Our ambition and objective for the entire county of Offaly, with 2% of the land mass, is 2 GW. We are on a transition and unfortunately our transition has not gone in pace with the current financial commitment that is there. That is why I am asking for further support today.  What I would see in terms of a potential tapering is that we would look at four years in the range of \u20ac3 million to \u20ac3.5 million. It would give us the scope to further explore the possibility of identifying space for enterprise parks and shared sporting campuses and to ensure the placemaking part we need for tourism and film and creation in the county can be achieved.  We have been diversifying. We have become a leader in relation to energy but I ask the Government not to take it for granted. We have shown serious leadership here and it needs to be recognised. I am calling for this support in relation to the number of years ahead.  It is important to also note that this will give certainty to the county, going forward. It will ensure that we have that infrastructure and that support from a commercial rates perspective and a community benefit fund perspective, all while reaching towards that national goal of reducing our fossil fuel reliance and reducing our carbon emissions. That is my ask. I ask the Taoiseach to give it serious consideration. I have been engaging with the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, and I appreciate his efforts in relation to this but I really want to emphasise the importance of it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising the issue and I will pass on his good comments in respect of the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, about what is happening in the midlands and the energy transformation that is occurring. Recently, I was in Shannonbridge myself with Hanwha Energy to launch the battery storage and the condenser, which is a very novel proposal. There is no doubt that the midlands is going through a very exciting transformation. It will have very significant potential for jobs and a modern economy for the midlands that will be quite telling in terms of its impact.  There is no doubt that early plant closures created an unforeseen financial shock for both Offaly and Longford county councils. These closures happened earlier than planned. Shannonbridge power station and Lanesborough power station had been expected to close in 2027 but ceased operations seven years earlier. At the time, the just transition commissioner stated it would be extremely unfair for the local authorities to bear a sudden loss of commercial rates due to a decision beyond their control. He recommended emergency support arrangements for 2021 to 2026 to offset the unexpected loss. That has happened. A total of \u20ac15 million has been provided to date with \u20ac3 million committed for 2026. Engagement is under way to manage the post-2026 transition responsibly and reasonably.  The good news is that Offaly's rates base is now strengthening significantly, particularly through renewable energy investment. Government remains committed to ensuring financial stability and service continuity in affected local authorities. I can go through the various figures and there is a breakdown there year after year but it is important that we avoid a cliff edge. We should try to marry the growth in the rate base because of additional investments with the decline from the historic power stations that were important. My understanding is officials are engaging with both local authorities and are liaising with the Department of public expenditure also to deal with the post-2026 period to ensure a reasonable wind-down of supports. For the benefit of the House, Shannonbridge power station represented 18.5% of Offaly's rate base at the time. That is very significant and needed an exceptional response.  Commercial rates income has now increased in 2025 and 2026 because of the new wind farms entering the rates base. I pay tribute to Bord na M\u00f3na, which itself has transformed as an organisation to become a climate-enabling organisation. It has been a tremendous transformation and that does not ever get acknowledged because people are either saying we are not doing enough on climate change or others in the House are against any notion that climate change is even happening. Bord na M\u00f3na has been a very commendable----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach's time is up. I call Deputy Clendennen. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Clendennen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Clendennen  I met with Bord na M\u00f3na and Amazon at the official launch of Derrinlough with the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, on Monday to see a \u20ac150 million investment that will deliver a \u20ac12 million community benefit fund and multiples of that in commercial rates. What I am looking for here is not a hand out but a hand up as we continue with that transition.  We are on an exciting trajectory. We have the energy in place. We are now looking to pursue that whole digital and tech sector. I have no doubt that with the vision of Offaly County Council, members and executive, having secured the energy progress we have and the engagement we are having with the digital and tech sector, there will be a further flow of jobs. We are definitely on the cusp of huge opportunity but we cannot take anything for granted at any step of the way. That is where we need support. I ask for the Taoiseach's commitment that Government will provide it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Absolutely. What I would like to see happening with the energy transformation that is occurring is the resetting of the investment profile for the midlands in terms of foreign direct investment coming to the midlands in greater numbers than it has heretofore. There are some significant plants around the midlands but there is potential for more. Given the link between energy, industry and investment, some significant companies are looking at the midlands. That is very positive news all around. There is a lot of untapped potential. Notwithstanding all of the global turbulence and challenges, I am reasonably confident we can continue the momentum.  I take the Deputy's point. We want to maintain existing services. By the way, if you look across the board and take out just rates, the Government has been increasing contributions to local authorities on a whole load of fronts in the past number of years. On total funding overall, if you take the \u20ac46 million allocated in 2021, the Government is now allocating \u20ac64 million to Offaly County Council. That is a big increase. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 na Comhalta\u00ed Eile - Other Members\u2019 Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-29\/debate\/dbsect_14","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Pholasa\u00ed n\u00f3 ar Reachta\u00edocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation","counts":{"speechCount":83,"speakerCount":21},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_14","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Denise Mitchell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  How is it that 100 electric buses costing \u20ac10 million of taxpayer's money are purchased and then sit idly for up to two and a half years? Why did this happen? It happened because when purchasing said electric buses, it was overlooked that you had to have chargers for the electric buses. We have seen a litany of incompetence from the Taoiseach's Government - the bike shed cost hundreds of thousands, 14 steps in a park in Dublin cost \u20ac700,000 and I do not have the scope to describe the fiasco of delay and waste that is the National Children's Hospital. Now, there is this. Is this the most incompetent, wasteful Government in the history of Irish Governments? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Absolutely not. If you take Iarnr\u00f3d \u00c9ireann, for example, it has been extremely efficient, on budget and on time with all its rail projects. This is unacceptable. The agencies involved here should not have allowed that to happen. Across the board with public transport, some very significant investments have happened within budget and on time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Denise Mitchell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Denise Mitchell  That is not what the question was. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  There are 50 buses in Galway as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I know Deputy McDonald wants to keep attacking the Government, its agencies, Bus \u00c9ireann, Iarnr\u00f3d \u00c9ireann and so on like that----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  Electric buses. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----but a hell of a lot has been done in this country in the last number of years in terms of infrastructure. You know what? An awful lot more will happen as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  He sounds like Bertie now. Ominous words. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  The European State of the Climate report released today shows that Europe is the fastest-warming continent on Earth. From the Mediterranean to the Arctic Circle, the Earth is heating in ways that are no longer subtle or gradual, with forest fires, destructive storms, heatwaves in the Arctic and snow cover in Europe that was 31% below average in March. We know that islands, like Ireland, are particularly vulnerable. We need to start delivering real measures to support people to move away from fossil fuels.  In doing so, we will reduce energy costs for households. At a time of a global energy shock, inflation looking to surge and fuel and energy prices rising astronomically, we know moving to renewables with the renewables revolution will significantly reduce household costs as well as reducing carbon emissions. Can the Taoiseach say how his Government will address this new and really alarming finding from the European State of the Climate report? How can we deliver that renewables revolution? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I agree 100% with the Deputy in the sense that this is an existential crisis. I have noticed that, in the House, there seems to have been a drop in the contributions on climate in terms of political discourse. That may be due to other events. Ireland now has the lowest greenhouse gas emissions in 35 years. It is important to point that out when you look at the extraordinary increase in population. There has been a concurrent increase of about 1.5 million people over that 35 years. There has been more than 1 million new homes and over 1 million extra vehicles on our roads, and we still have the lowest level of greenhouse gas emissions in 35 years.  This suggests that we can have economic growth and reduce emissions. This is the direction of travel and we have to rededicate ourselves to the issue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  The CSO recently released data on rising levels of poverty among our older population. The consistent poverty rate for those living alone aged 65 years and over and was 9.6%, which is nearly one out of every ten, compared with 5.2% in 2024. This is a staggering near doubling in just one year. More than 30% are now at risk of poverty. I know the Taoiseach was in Stoneybatter yesterday evening and I was not so far away, canvassing in Phibsborough. As he went door to door, did the Taoiseach meet the pensioners who are struggling to heat their homes, the ones who stay in bed until a bit later to save on gas or home heating oil? Just an hour ago I heard from family carers telling me the cost of energy for them at home has tripled and the Government is overwhelmingly failing them in the support they have in their hand. Pensioners need supports, carers need supports and disabled people need supports. Will the Government finally implement the Social Democrat's proposed \u20ac400 targeted energy credit for older people and disabled people and those who care for them? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I was out knocking on doors and I did meet pensioners. We had very good conversations. In the last budget we increased the pension by \u20ac10. That was significantly above the going rate of inflation at that particular time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  Not for energy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We have increased the fuel allowance. We have substantial provision for pensioners in our social protection frameworks. We allocated an additional \u20ac2 billion. There is a sense in the House that we can literally allocate billions more to everybody. We do need some conversation around targeting. I think targeting is important for pensioners as well, which we have done and which we will do more of. In terms of child poverty as well, we targeted it in the budget and it gets ignored because people want universality left, right and centre. As Deputy Hayes knows, there was a \u20ac16 increase in the child support payment for children aged over 12, bringing it to \u20ac78. There is a danger in the House that we are going to lose the importance of targeting in the political debate about the cost of living. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  This is a targeted measure. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  Over the weekend the T\u00e1naiste stated he was exploring one-off payments towards environmentally friendly energy measures such as heat pumps and efficient cars. I welcome the fact the Government is giving consideration to how it can do more to protect households and how it can make them more energy efficient and cut their bills. However, when it comes to offering new grants there is a problem with floating an idea and then taking a long time to deliver on it. If there is talk of additional financial supports coming down the track, no one will buy an EV or invest in a heat pump when they think something extra is coming down the line. If the Government is not planning to introduce these new measures until the budget in October, the T\u00e1naiste's remarks risk pulling out the rug from under new EV sales and new heat pump sales over the next six months. Will the Taoiseach confirm when households will know what are the new energy efficient measures the Government is proposing to bring forward, and when will they be able to get the benefit of them? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  To be fair to the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, he has already brought forward substantial improvements to retrofitting measures. The heat pump system grant, for example, now totals \u20ac12,500. He expanded this grant and increased it substantially by up to \u20ac6,500 for a heat pump. He did that last February. He also introduced measures on central heating upgrades and a new \u20ac2,000 grant. There are increased grants for attic and cavity wall insulation and attic insulation top-up grants for first-time buyers. There is the windows and doors measure in particular. By the way, the take-up has been quite significant with regard to the numbers in the first quarter availing of the attic and cavity wall insulation of up to 80% of median cost and up to 100% for first-time buyers. There are already substantial measures and a lot of people are availing of them. There were huge increases in the numbers in the first three months. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  Many years ago a young girl from Oldcourt in Bray had a dream. At a time when women were not even allowed to box, Katie Taylor dreamed of winning an Olympic gold medal for Ireland. She went on to achieve that dream in London in 2012 and in doing so she changed Irish sport and world sport forever. Katie has been the driving force behind the rise of women's boxing, helping to bring it to where it is today. As an amateur she won multiple world titles and Olympic gold medals. As a professional she has achieved everything there is to achieve, becoming an undisputed champion and widely recognised as the greatest female boxer of all time. Now, as an extraordinary career draws to a close, Katie has one final dream which is to fight one last time in Croke Park. Will the Taoiseach and the Minister for sport do everything possible to make this happen as a mark of appreciation for her dedication, her achievements and everything she has given to this country and to women's sport? It is what the people of Ireland want to see, and it is what Katie Taylor deserves. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I salute the achievements of Katie Taylor. She has been an outstanding boxer and an outstanding representative of people, dignified in her approach. Certainly I hope her dream of boxing in Croke Park can come to reality. No proposal has come to the Government or has been proffered by anybody to the Government in respect of this. Any proposal generally that seeks public funding for a major sports event is considered by the Department of communication, which is the Department of sport essentially. There is a division in the Department that examines major international sports events and it has a policy and framework to deal with it. Some of it deals with tourism potential and some deals with sports legacy. Without question, Katie is an exceptional talent and has been an outstanding ambassador for Irish sport and for Irish women in sport. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathal Crowe  I want to raise the issue of the possibility of an air ambulance for the mid-west. There was some good news for the north west the other day, as it now has an air ambulance based out of Sligo. There is real need to have one in the mid-west. Recently I was part of a delegation of TDs from the region who met the National Ambulance Service. It costs it at around \u20ac4 million per annum to have an operational service. It is really needed. For many people in the western and northern extremities of County Clare there is no golden hour. They are simply too far away from University Hospital Limerick. I cannot hide my personal disappointment that the new hospital site for UHL was chosen in Raheen in Limerick and not in Clare. We very much need something that deals with the peripheral parts of our county. If the north west has it, given that the annual budget for healthcare in this country is \u20ac29 billion surely \u20ac4 million could be facilitated to run an operational air ambulance service in the mid-west, specifically out of Shannon Airport in County Clare. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank Deputy Crowe for raising this issue. I fully understand his desire for the location of an air ambulance service for the mid-west. I do not know what the response was from the National Ambulance Service but a lot of work has to go into such a proposal, in terms of researching it and making sure we have the human personnel, the expertise and the evaluation of how it is working across the country, with a lessons-learned approach. I will ask the Minister for Health and make some inquiries in terms of where we are in respect of this proposal. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Burke  The Government provides funding to the FAI. A memorandum of agreement was signed in December 2024 with \u20ac6 million a year paid to it. Back in 2011 and 2012 Cork County Council engaged with the FAI with a view to providing land to it. Eventually in 2017 it leased 30 acres in Brooklodge in Glanmire. This land has lain idle since, even though a sport complex was to be built there. My understanding is that there was to be further engagement about the use of these 30 acres. Glanmire is an area where we have Sarsfields GAA club as well as a camogie club and Glanmire football, soccer and rugby clubs. They are all looking for space for a growing young population. This 30 acres is lying idle and I ask that the Taoiseach's Department would engage with Cork County Council and the FAI with a view to the lease being surrendered back to the county council so we can start from scratch with developing 30 acres of sports facilities, which are so badly needed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I remember well when all of that happened. In fairness, the county council entered into all of that in very good faith with the FAI. My understanding is that a local soccer club, Riverstown, is on the cusp of entering a lease agreement, and the council will go out to public consultation on all of it to engage with all of the interested parties in terms of the utilisation of the land. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  The 35th anniversary of the murder of County Donegal councillor Eddie Fullerton on 25 May 1991 is just weeks away. For all these years, Eddie's family have campaigned for truth and justice. They have been badly failed by An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and the State. An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na has been aware of the names of all those who murdered Eddie since late 1993. It had most of the killers names in late 1991. One of those killers went on to oversee 17 murders, including the massacres at Castlerock and Greysteel in 1993. He was a sectarian serial killer and a British military agent, and he has been shielded from justice for all of these years. The family of Eddie Fullerton have requested to meet with the Taoiseach, as they did with one of his predecessors, Bertie Ahern, in 2007. Will the Taoiseach listen to their compelling story and act on their demands? Will he meet with them? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I do not think I have received correspondence. I will check. I do not want to be----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  The Taoiseach will receive it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I will receive it. Obviously, when people seek meetings, I do my very best to meet with them. My understanding is that, generally speaking as opposed to in just this case, An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na does everything it possibly can to get to the bottom of murders of this kind, which are reprehensible, and to try to bring the culprits to justice. I certainly will examine the situation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Before I call Deputy Callaghan, I welcome the staff and pupils from Bishop Murphy Memorial School in Fermoy who are here with Deputy McCarthy. They are very welcome, even if they are displaying the Kilkenny colours. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Careful now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Careful is right. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Callaghan  I would like to speak on behalf of those in Carlow and Kilkenny who are in receipt of the State pension. As we all know, State pensioners worked hard their entire lives. They paid into the pot to ensure that they have in income to help them sustain not an extravagant lifestyle in retirement but to have enough in order that they do not have to worry unnecessarily about household bills and everyday essentials in their later years. Bearing in mind that their income is fixed and in light of the ongoing war in Iran that is looming large on the horizon, many of the State pensioners I have spoken to in Carlow and Kilkenny over the past couple of weeks are genuinely worried about how they are going to manage in the winter time. I have spoken to my party leader about this matter, but I want to ask the Taoiseach directly if the Government will commit to prioritising a significant increase in the State pension in budget 2027. Will it prioritise a targeted support package for the duration of the war for, in particular, State pensioners in order that they can enjoy their later years? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We extended the free fuel allowance for a month. Obviously, the Government, as a collective, will address this. Every party in government will have to work collectively to prioritise things for the budget in terms of having a targeted approach and how, in general, we alleviate the impact of the undoubted pressure that those in society who are most vulnerable are feeling as a result of the war. We increased the State pension last year by about \u20ac10, which was a high increase relative to the rate of inflation. We have been doing that successfully over the years. We have also put in place other supports for pensioners. This is an issue we will certainly be focusing on in the context of the budget.  In passing, I wish to extend a particular welcome to the students from Fermoy. You come from a very good county. Take care. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Very good. We move now to Deputy Aindrias Moynihan. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aindrias Moynihan  I need to raise with the Taoiseach the situation at Coachford College. There is a major plan for a new 1,000-student school, but it is not on the Department of education's priority list. It really needs to be. Two and a half years have been spent on getting planning permission, with the education and training board, ETB, going through issues with the council and Irish Water. There is real concern that once that is resolved, the project will still have to wait to go through tendering and so on with the Department of education or that we will even have to wait for a new programme and that, as a result, the planning permission will expire. There is a real need for the Department to review the priority list and include Coachford College on it.  Irish Water also needs to step up to the plate in respect of Coachford. There is a brand new treatment plant, and the existing Coachford College has a connection to it. The new school should be given access to water services. Coachford College has great standing. It serves a huge community in Ovens, Aherla, Cloughduv, Crookstown, Canovee, Farran, Rusheen, Rylane, Aghabullogue, Donaghmore, Berrings and Dripsey----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy's time is up. The Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aindrias Moynihan  -----and they really need to get access to a school of the best quality. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy very much. It is a great school. I was there many years ago in my capacity as Minister for Education and so forth. My understanding is that the Department of education is awaiting the submission of stage 2b material from Cork ETB in respect of this project. When that is received, it will be looked at from a technical and cost perspective. Obviously, as the Deputy said, there is an issue about the overall prioritisation of the project in terms of the school capital programme. The issue relating to Irish Water is also a factor. The note I have states that it is expected that the stage 2b material will be submitted in quarter 3. That needs to happen as quickly as possible. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Maurice Quinlivan  As the Taoiseach knows, a new 96-bed unit was opened in University Hospital Limerick, UHL, last October. That was very welcome, but it has not addressed the issues at the hospital in the way that some people had forecast. To date, 7,554 people have been on trolleys in UHL. That is a reduction of less than 2% on what was seen last year despite opening that 96-bed unit. UHL has doubled the number of people who attend the hospital in Waterford, which has more consultants, and good luck to it. UHL needs a lot more to be done. One of the small pieces of fixing the jigsaw of the health service in the mid-west region was opening the surgical hub. That was due to open next month but has been delayed until December. That is not the worst thing that could have happened. The worst thing is that it was designed to deal with 20,000-plus day cases, which would take people out UHL and helped to alleviate the issues there. The real kicker here is----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Is there a question? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Maurice Quinlivan  -----that we heard from the HSE on Monday that it is only getting 50% of the budget for the surgical hub. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Time is up. The Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Maurice Quinlivan  I am asking the Taoiseach to intervene and make sure  that the HSE Mid West gets the 100% of funding it needs to open the new surgical hub. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Minister is very committed to the surgical hub concept. The previous Minister, Stephen Donnelly, did a lot of work on that. The Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, has engaged with the hospital, and the funding support will not be there for the surgical hub. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Maurice Quinlivan  It will not be. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  There has also been significant investment in the hospital, as the Deputy knows, and----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Maurice Quinlivan  The surgical hub will not be open. The hospital will not have the money. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Let the Taoiseach answer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Minister has had regular engagement with the hospital because it needs two fundamental approaches. One is reform of the management of the hospital and how it is run, both of which have happened,. The second is investment, which is also happening. Funding of \u20ac47 million is involved. In any event, the new location in Raheen is a huge boost to the future of tertiary healthcare in Limerick. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Maurice Quinlivan  That will take years. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  The Government announced fuel supports and a reduction in fuel costs for particular sectors. I understand the package amounts to \u20ac750 million in total. Let us that put that in perspective. A reply to a recent parliamentary question stated that the Government took in \u20ac4.3 billion in fuel taxes and \u20ac1.2 billion in carbon tax last year. Both of those were the highest amounts ever. The justification the Government uses when it comes to carbon tax is that it ring-fences it and uses it for carbon reduction measures. Of course, like a lot of what the Government says, that is completely untrue. The reply to an Aont\u00fa parliamentary question shows that between 2020 and 2023, 39% of all carbon tax collected was not spent on climate action schemes. I am sure the Ceann Comhairle has heard it said a million times in this Chamber and in the media that this money is going to be spent on climate change issues. It is not, in many cases. Some 19% of that money was simply went into the State's coffers and 17% of it was spent on social welfare. A massive proportion of carbon tax is simply a tax by any other name----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy should ask a question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  -----except poorer people spend more of their income on it than other people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Time is up, Deputy. You have not posed a question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  Will the Taoiseach axe carbon taxes in this fuel crisis? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy wants to axe \u20ac1.5 billion in revenue, and he has dismissed the social welfare dimension. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Rhetorically. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We have all always said that one third of it goes to fuel poverty measures. That is how we have been able to expand the fuel allowance----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  That is not true either. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----and to bring in working families for the first time. An extra 50,000 working families are now entitled to the fuel allowance. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  That is simply not true. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  In the context of the agriculture sector, a significant amount of money goes to farmers under the agri-climate rural environment scheme. That scheme costs about \u20ac1.5 billion.  Sixty per cent of that money comes from the Exchequer. The Deputy wants an each-way bet on everything. Is he against the carbon tax revenue going to farmers? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  It is very frustrating. Only 40% is only going through carbon tax. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Is the Deputy against it going to the poorest households in the country? If he is, he should say so. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Liam Quaide  I want to raise the tragic death of a young man in east Cork last year and the serious issues that have emerged from the HSE's review of his care. The young man's family made an emergency call during a prolonged seizure event. The National Ambulance Service was unable to reach him until 47 minutes after that call was made. It is also a matter of public record that the HSE has acknowledged omissions in aspects of the clinical care provided. Behind that careful language is a devastated family, a precious life lost and serious questions about emergency response capacity and accountability. The HSE has said that local ambulance service provision is funded to 95% capacity. However, the family involved have told me they have been informed that service cover in east Cork remains compromised due to funding constraints.  The measure of the response to this tragedy will be whether anything changes. The family have requested to meet the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, and the CEO of the HSE, Ms Anne O'Connor. They need reassurances that emergency response capacity is being addressed as a matter of urgency. Can those assurances be provided to them? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I do not have the background to the specifics of the case, but I will inquire with the HSE and the National Ambulance Service in respect of what the Deputy has said about omissions in clinical care and a failure of the ambulance service to get there within the allocated timeline. Investment in the National Ambulance Service continues to be made and has increased year on year. Personnel are coming through on an ongoing basis.  If the Deputy can send a note, I can forward it to the Minister and ask her to maybe to engage with the Deputy on the matter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marie Sherlock  I want to ask about the national vaccination programme. Yesterday, HIQA issued its health technology assessment on the respiratory syncytial virus, RSV, vaccine stating that it is clinically effective for small babies but that the cost is too much to continue the mass roll-out. Last week, we had officials from the HSE and the Department of Health tell us that they very much believe in the clinical effectiveness of the shingles vaccine but, again, HIQA has stated that it is too expensive. Last winter, HIQA also talked about the clinical effectiveness of the enhanced flu vaccine but, again, cost was an obstacle.  Vaccines are crucial to public health and to reducing health inequality. The shingles vaccine costs over \u20ac500. In the context of cost being the issue, of course we need to drive a hard bargain with the pharmaceutical companies. In that context, why was there no reference to vaccines in the framework agreement reached with pharmaceutical companies in March? The latter is a three-year agreement governing the sale of drugs to this country. Is there no emphasis on future vaccines on the part of the Government? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Department of Health has agreed the scope of the RSV infant immunisation pathfinder programme for 2026-27, which will involve the same eligibility criteria in place for the 2025-26 season. A health technology assessment on RSV immunisation for infants and adults was undertaken by HIQA and was published on 28 April. HIQA stated that the assessment provides robust evidence that RSV immunisation, particularly for infants, can deliver significant health benefits and reduce winter pressures on the health service. I am in favour of vaccination programmes.  The position in terms of the adjuvanted flu vaccine was not as clear-cut. Nonetheless, the Minister is examining that as well in terms of the next winter period.  We will continue to work with HIQA and the HSE to look at the findings, the options and, obviously, the budgetary impacts. Shingrix is extraordinarily expensive, but it is effective. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Brennan  I want to discuss a live issue relating to Gorey Hill School and plans the Department of education has in respect of lands currently being used by Gaelscoil Mosh\u00edol\u00f3g and the Irish play school on the site. I preface my remarks by stating that the three schools in question play an essential and hugely positive role in the community of north Wexford, which is a credit to the management, the staff and the students. Gorey is a prosperous town and a victim of its own success. We continue to witness a surge in population there. What is needed is increased capacity in Gorey Hill School, but this simply cannot come at the expense of the Gaelscoil and the play school. I am asking that the Minister for education and officials from her Department meet the three schools involved, listen to their concerns and not put on the table again the quick-fix solution that is currently there. What we need is a long-term solution for the schools and the children of Gorey and north Wexford. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. His colleague Deputy Malcolm Byrne raised it a number of weeks ago as well. Obviously, it is a pressing issue for Deputy Brennan and his colleagues in Wexford and in Gorey in particular.  The Department has stated that site at Gorey provides a good location for expanding capacity in the form of a permanent modular extension for the school. That modular accommodation will be delivered under the Department's devolved special education needs reconfiguration and modular accommodation programme, which involves the use of project management supports. I will ask the Minister to engage with the Deputies in the first instance. There has been engagement with the patrons of both schools, An Foras P\u00e1tr\u00fanachta and Waterford and Wexford Education and Training Board. I will ask that there would be consultation with the Deputies. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  I want to raise the question of dereliction and the inconsistency of approach between local authorities. The Taoiseach is aware of the impact of the scourge of dereliction on our towns and communities. In Gorey, Wexford County Council has taken a very active approach to deal with the problem of derelict buildings. In Arklow, however, Wicklow County Council has not taken an active approach and, as a result, there is a serious problem with dereliction, particularly in the centre of the town.  I will frame my question in terms of the data. Wexford is much more active in tackling dereliction than Wicklow. Obviously, I want dereliction in Arklow in particular to be targeted. How can we ensure a consistency of approach between local authorities? How can we ensure that Wicklow County Council will use the powers at its disposal to tackle dereliction? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising this. Arklow certainly needs that sort of focus in terms of eliminating dereliction. The Deputy's observations are exactly correct and conform with those of the Government. The Minister has produced data in respect of this matter. Some local authorities do far more than others., which motivated the decision in the recent budget to move enforcement in respect of dereliction to Revenue . The view is that this will, in its own way, bring consistency. A lot of mapping, etc., has to happen. I hope the process in that regard accelerates as quickly as possible. The view would be that Revenue being involved might concentrate minds a bit more and bring about a greater level of performance across the board. Local authorities should still be actively pursuing this issue. Limerick did very well on dereliction. Other local authorities did very little on it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  Most days, the Taoiseach and I fight and argue about policy and politics. Today, is not one of those days. I come in here today to speak on behalf of Craig Coady. He had a family, a wife and two sons. His wife now is in long-term hospitalisation. She has Huntington's disease. They buried their 13-year-old son Rory, who died as a result of Friedreich's ataxia. Their second son Paudie, who is 15 years old, is dying of the same disease. Skyclarys is not a perfect medicine. It is not a cure, but it has been shown repeatedly to have clinical benefits in slowing the disease. I am asking that under the compassionate access programme, as happens in France, this drug be provided to Paudie. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  Can I just say this? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  No. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  I spoke to----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach will respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  I spoke to Craig this morning. He is pleading from his heart that the Taoiseach and the Minister for Health see to it that this drug is provided. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Gould is really making it difficult for other people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank Deputy Gould for raising the issue. He is correct in that this is not an issue that anybody wants to have a dispute over. Deputy Paudie O'Sullivan raised it this morning. I spoke to the Minister about the case last week. My understanding is that there are ongoing interactions with the company involved. There has been a health technology assessment and so on. This has proven problematic.  My heart goes out to the Coady family. They have lost their son Rory. The situation is very challenging for Paudie unless he can get access to this drug. I will work with the Minister to see what we can do to try and help the family. I appreciate the Deputy raising the matter in the manner in which he has raised it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Every week, month and year, working people who have been waiting on social housing lists for years are being thrown off those lists because they get a pay rise or an increment or, as was the case for one civil servant I spoke to this week, are awarded family income supplement. They lose their years on the housing waiting list as a result. They do not have enough income for cost rental. They cannot afford affordable housing or to bid on the open market. When will the Government, as I have asked repeatedly, raise the social housing income thresholds in order that working people in this situation will have some chance of being housed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I have spoken to the Minister for housing about this matter, which is under active consideration in the context of raising the income thresholds. It was raised a number of years ago, but the Minister is examining it. I hope to be back to the Deputy before long. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar fionra\u00ed ar 1.21 p.m. agus cuireadh t\u00fas leis ar\u00eds ar 2.20 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Sitting suspended at 1.21 p.m. and resumed at 2.20 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Pholasa\u00ed n\u00f3 ar Reachta\u00edocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-29\/debate\/dbsect_15","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2024\/66","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2024\/66\/dail\/seanad_amd","houseCode":"dail","stage":"seanad_amd","isBillStage":false,"showAs":"Mental Health Bill 2024: From the Seanad (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Mental Health Bill 2024: From the Seanad","counts":{"speechCount":84,"speakerCount":9},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The D\u00e1il went into Committee to consider amendments from the Seanad."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Seanad amendments Nos. 1, 457 and 465 to 471, inclusive, are related and may be discussed together. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 1:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2: In page 14, line 23, to delete \u201cmeans\u201d and substitute \u201c, other than in Chapter 2 of Part 7 , means\u201d."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Mary Butler)  I am pleased to be here this afternoon for the final Stage of the Mental Health Bill 2024. Following more than 40 hours of debate in both Houses, I am very proud of the final version of the Bill being brought before the Dail today. Following extensive Committee Stage debate in this Chamber and in the Seanad, we have made a number of improvements to the Bill that I think all Deputies will welcome. We have introduced new sections to regulate pharmacological restraint, which was a priority for many Members. We have introduced additional safeguards in relation to consent to treatment for adults. We have made changes to the criteria for involuntary treatment and treatment without consent. We have included a statutory right to information on advocacy supports. We have aligned the Bill with the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act, the Child Care Act and the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act. Finally, we have provided for transitional provisions to allow for the smooth transition from the current Act to the new one.  Amendments Nos. 1, 457 and 465 to 471, inclusive, to the Family Courts Act will amend the definition of family law proceedings to include court proceedings under the Mental Health Bill 2024 that relate to children. This will ensure that all the protections that are built into the Family Courts Act for children will be extended to children subject to court proceedings under this Act.  The amendment to the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 will allow a registered proprietor of an inpatient mental health service to make an application directly to the Circuit Court under Part 10 of the 2015 Act, where a person has been assessed as lacking capacity under the Mental Health Bill 2024. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Seanad amendments Nos. 2, 27, 189 to 191, inclusive, 208, 209, 249, 275, 294, 301, 305 to 307, inclusive, 309, 311, 317, 324, 325, 343, 407 and 409 are related and may be discussed together. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 2:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2: In page 14, between lines 24 and 25, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c \u201cAgency\u201d means the Child and Family Agency;\u201d."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  The amendments in this grouping relate to references to parents and, where relevant, the Child and Family Agency, throughout the Bill. Officials in my Department carried out extensive consultation with their counterparts in the Department of Children, Disability and Equality throughout the legislative process and I brought a number of amendments to the Seanad arising from this consultation. All the amendments in this grouping relate to references to parents and-or Tusla and their right to be informed about the care and treatment of their child under the Mental Health Act.  Amendment No. 275 introduces a new section to ensure that notification is made to Tusla by the HSE when children have their detention extended or when they are discharged from a mental health service. This amendment includes children who were the subject of care orders or other types of orders under the Child Care Act 1991 at the point of their admission to the mental health service, but whose Child Care Act orders have lapsed during their admission. This will ensure that all children formerly in the care of Tusla will be accounted for and that there will be open lines of communication between the HSE and Tusla.  We will discuss a number of different groupings today that relate to children and the alignment between the Mental Health Act and the Child Care Act. At every point during the development of these amendments, the Department of children was consulted to ensure that the rights of children who are in the care of Tusla will be fully vindicated. These amendments, and amendments in later groupings, will ensure that children in care can access inpatient mental health services on the same basis as any other child. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Seanad amendments Nos. 3, 28, 40, 42, 44, 45, 49 and 53 are related and may be discussed together. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 3:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2: In page 14, to delete line 29 and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c \u201cBoard\u201d has the meaning assigned to it in section 94 ;\u201d."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  The amendments in this grouping relate to definitions in sections 2 and 11. These definitions are either being moved from one section to another section, or are being introduced because they reference definitions in the Child Care Act 1991. For example, amendment No. 45 introduces a definition of voluntary care arrangement that links directly to its definition in the Child Care Act 1991. Amendment No. 42 does the same thing for supervision orders. Amendment No. 28 moves the definition of permitted absence from section 39 to section 2. There was no change in policy. This is just tidying up the Bill so it reads better. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 4:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2: In page 15, line 1, to delete \u201ca child\u201d and substitute \u201ca child aged 16 years or older\u201d"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Seanad amendments Nos. 4 and 8 are related and may be discussed together. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  This grouping relates to amendments Nos. 4 and 8, which relate to the definition of \"child\". The policy behind the definition is not being changed. A child is a person who is under 18 years of age. There is no law in Ireland that defines a child as being younger than 18 years of age. A child is legally considered to be anyone under the age of 18. I am aware that, depending on the type of health service accessed, young people are sometimes considered to be adults from the age of 16 or 18. This Bill only relates to mental health services and, in mental health services, a young person is treated by Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, CAMHS, until the age of 18. This is how it is defined in the law and how it operates in services.  An important aspect of the Bill is that 16- and 17-year-olds will be permitted to make decisions about their care and treatment, in the same way as for physical health treatment.  Any person younger than 16 years old must have their views listened to and considered but, ultimately, it is the decision of any child's parents or guardian as to whether treatment is given. This is true of any area of healthcare, not just mental health. Where a 16- or 17-year-old is unable to consent to treatment, consent can be given by their parents or guardian.  The Bill sets out the different responsibilities and entitlements of young people and their parents or guardians in great detail in Part 4. The Bill contains mechanisms to ensure that treatment can be given to a child where the child refuses treatment or treatment is refused on the child's behalf by way of application to the court. This can only be done where the child's life or health is at immediate or serious risk. It ensures that treatment pathways will remain open for children and young people who are very unwell and at immediate risk of serious damage to their health or loss of life. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Amendments Nos. 5, 11, 16, 207, 310 and 312 are related and may be discussed together. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 5:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2: In page 15, between lines 2 and 3, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c \u201ccare order\u201d has the same meaning as it has in section 18 of the Act of 1991;\u201d."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  This grouping relates primarily to definitions being inserted that are in the Child Care Act 1991. This is similar to the grouping we discussed before the previous grouping. For example, amendment No. 5 moves the definition of \"care order\" from Part 4 of the Bill to section 2 instead. Amendments Nos. 11 and 16 insert definitions of \"emergency care order\" and \"interim care order\" into the Bill. In both cases, the definitions refer to the existing definition for both in the Child Care Act 1991. The later amendments in this grouping are minor in nature and insert references to care orders later in the Bill. These amendments ensure that children who are the subject of care orders can access mental health services on the same basis as children who are not in care, and that there are pathways for these children into inpatient admission and treatment under the Mental Health Act. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Amendments Nos. 6,  9, 10, 12, 13, 17, 21 to 24, inclusive, 26, 31, 37, 41, 43, 47, 48, 50, 54, 55, 61, 62, 64 to 66, inclusive, 68 to 74, inclusive, 76, 80, 83, 84, 86, 90, 91, 95, 97, 99 to 102, inclusive, 107, 113, 115, 117, 118, 121 to 128, inclusive, 130, 131, 134 to 136, inclusive, 141, 147, 149, 151, 159, 167 to 171, inclusive, 173, 174, 177, 181, 182, 192, 193, 195, 196, 198, 199, 205, 211, 215, 216, 221, 232, 237, 238, 260, 265, 269, 274, 285, 292, 293, 295 to 297, inclusive, 302, 322, 323, 326, 331, 333 to 335, inclusive, 337, 342, 346, 347, 349 to 353, inclusive, 355, 356, 358 to 367, inclusive, 370 to 377, inclusive, 379 to 383, inclusive, 385 to 389, inclusive, 391 to 393, inclusive, 395, 397, 400 to 402, inclusive, 405, 408, 410, 411, 418, 426 to 432, inclusive, 435 to 437, inclusive, 462 to 464, inclusive, are related and will be discussed together. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 6:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2: In page 15, line 6, to delete \u201cor\u201d and substitute \u201cand\u201d"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  I believe there are around 180 amendments in this grouping, so I will not repeat them. While there is a significant amount of amendments in this grouping, they all relate to smaller amendments. These amendments are being introduced to provide clarity or for consistency with wording elsewhere. There are no policy changes in this grouping. To pick some examples from this group, amendment No. 55 inserts a comma after the word \"means\", amendment No. 64 deletes a comma after the word \"particular\", amendment No. 174 deletes a line and amendment No. 171 inserts that same line earlier in the section.  After the Bill passed Committee Stage in the Seanad, officials across my Department and across the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel, the Attorney General\u2019s office and the Bills office reviewed the Bill line by line. This is the last opportunity to amend and improve the Bill. Considering this, I gave additional time to allow for more reviews and readings of the Bill to take place. The Bill is over 200 pages long and contains 268 sections. On Committee and Report Stages in the D\u00e1il and on Committee Stage in the Seanad, I introduced a large number of amendments at each Stage to improve the Bill, based on continued consultation with stakeholders. Considering the size and complexity of the Bill, as well as the many amendments that had been introduced, I gave additional time for officials in my Department, the Attorney General's office and the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to read through the Bill line by line. From these very close readings of the Bill, I introduced a significant number of technical amendments on Report Stage in the Seanad to address typographical and grammatical issues, ensure consistency across sections and improve clarity. This grouping relates to these amendments. While it is a very large grouping, it does not contain policy changes. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 7:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2: In page 15, line 9, to delete \u201cparent or guardian\u201d and substitute \u201crelevant consulted carers, if any,\u201d."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Amendments Nos, 7, 14, 15, 33, 38, 201, 257, 258, 264, 284, 286, 299, 300, 318, 403 and 406 are related and will be discussed together. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  The amendments in this grouping all relate to the care and treatment of children. Amendments Nos. 7, 14, 15, 33 and 38 all relate to definitions. The later amendments in this grouping insert these definitions later in the Bill. Amendment No. 14 inserts a new definition of \"guardian\" to ensure consistency with the understanding of \"guardian\" in other enactments. Amendment No. 15 inserts a definition of \"guardian ad litem \" to be consistent with the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2022. Amendments Nos. 33 and 38 insert definitions for \"relevant carer\", \"relevant consulted carer\" and \"relevant notified carer\". These amendments were introduced on Report Stage in the Seanad following further consultation between officials in my Department and the Department of children. That Department sought additional minor amendments, primarily related to the rights of Tusla to be notified of certain actions such as admission and discharge when a child is in the care of Tusla.  Another goal of these amendments is to make the Bill more readable. The Mental Health Act and the Child Care Act are complex and officials in the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel and my Department have worked hard to streamline the references to the Child Care Act in this Bill. As Deputies can see, the amendments will introduce three definitions at the start of the Bill that set out the different roles and entitlements of parents, guardians and Tusla regarding children, depending on the age of the child and his or her admission status. Then, throughout Part 4 of the Bill, those definitions are used as a shorthand instead of spelling out each type of Child Care Act order or arrangement it refers to in longhand each time. The three definitions are \"relevant carer\", \"relevant consulted carer\" and \"relevant notified carer\".  While I appreciate that these amendments are complex on the face of it, they are necessary to ensure that all of the complexities between this Bill and the Child Care Act are understood and addressed. This Bill has to work for children in all settings, which is really important. That includes children who are subject to different orders and arrangements under the Child Care Act. These amendments ensure that the role of parents and the role of Tusla are fully understood in the Bill and that the rights and entitlements of parents and Tusla are recognised. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 8:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2: In page 15, to delete line 14 and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c \u201cchild\u201d means a person who has not attained the age of 18 years;\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 9:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2: In page 15, line 23, after \u201csuch\u201d to insert \u201ca\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 10:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2: In page 16, between lines 2 and 3, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c \u201cdirect application for a recommendation for involuntary admission\u201d has the meaning assigned to it in section 15 ;\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 11:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2: In page 16, between lines 2 and 3, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c \u201cemergency care order\u201d has the meaning assigned to it in section 13 of the Act of 1991;\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 12:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2: In page 16, line 3, after \u201crecommendation\u201d to insert \u201cfor involuntary admission\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 13:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2: In page 16, line 7, to delete \u201cjudgement\u201d and substitute \u201cjudgment\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 14:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2: In page 16, to delete lines 10 to 12 and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c \u201cguardian\u201d means, in relation to a child\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) a guardian pursuant to the Guardianship of Infants Act 1964, or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) the person acting in loco parentis to that child;\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 15:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2: In page 16, between lines 12 and 13, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c \u201cguardian ad litem \u201d means, in relation to a child, a guardian ad litem (within the meaning of section 35A of the Act of 1991) appointed for the child in accordance with Part VA of the Act of 1991;\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 16:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2: In page 16, between lines 15 and 16, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c \u201cinterim care order\u201d has the meaning assigned to it in section 17 of the Act of 1991;\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 17:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2: In page 16, to delete lines 16 to 18."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Amendments Nos. 18, 19, 81, 180, 217, 219, 222, 223, 225, 228 to 230, inclusive, 233, 244, 245, 261, 263, 266, 267, 276, 276a, 277, 278, 280 to 283, inclusive, 287 to 291, inclusive, 304, 308, 313, 315, 320, 328a, 329, 330, 338, 339, 434 and 492 are related and will be discussed together. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 18:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2: In page 16, lines 19 and 20, to delete \u201cdetention in section 65 \u201d and substitute \u201cinvoluntary admission of a child\u201d."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  These amendments relate to the entire process of involuntary admission of a child in Part 4 of the Bill. They include changes to criteria for involuntary admission to make the protections stronger for children. It includes minor changes to the involuntary admission process, which is done by way of application by the HSE to the District Court. This grouping also includes a number of additional safeguards for children, including protections in relation to the use of Garda powers to take a child into custody, as well as additional safeguards around the mandatory provision of information to children and their parents at the point of admission. Finally, this grouping includes amendments to provisions in relation to consent to treatment for a child.  One thing Deputies will remember us discussing last year was electroconvulsive therapy, ECT, for children. One amendment I would like to highlight is amendment No. 330, which provides for the prohibition of ECT for children. According to information I have received from the HSE and the Mental Health Commission, ECT has not been administered to a child in Ireland in over 15 years and, in fact, the expertise and equipment to administer ECT to children is not present in the State. At the same time, I had given a commitment that I was going to come back with this amendment in place. It is really important that we spell it out loud and clear, and I am happy to do that.  Other amendments in this grouping enhance safeguards for children accessing treatment under the legislation, such as including protections where a child is taken into Garda custody and the right of children and their parents or guardians to receive information following a child's admission to an inpatient mental health service. That is something we discussed at length here as well.  The amendments in this grouping enhance the protections for children in relation to the involuntary admission process. These amendments have been informed by extensive consultation carried out by officials in my Department with the Departments of children and justice, the HSE, the Mental Health Commission and other important stakeholders. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Liam Quaide  I acknowledge the significant improvements that have been made to the Bill through the Seanad process. That is very much appreciated.  Amendment No. 276 relates to a very concerning provision in the Bill. A child in serious mental health distress needs urgent clinical assessment and therapeutic support. They do not need the trauma and stigma of Garda custody. A Garda station is not a therapeutic environment. It is not a child-centred or trauma-informed environment. Garda\u00ed themselves are not clinicians. They are not trained to assess severe mental health difficulties or determine whether a child meets involuntary admission criteria. There is a real risk that neurodivergent behaviours, trauma responses or extreme distress will be misunderstood in that context. There is also a safeguarding concern, because Garda stations can be chaotic, frightening and distressing places to be. A child in crisis may be exposed to shouting, intoxication, displays of violence or other highly charged situations. All of this delays the very thing that the child needs most, which is prompt clinical assessment and therapeutic support. Whatever way this provision is framed, it risks taking children deeper into a coercive and adverse environment when what they need is a health-led, trauma-informed response.  I acknowledge and welcome the prohibition of ECT for children. That is a significant child protection and human rights safeguard.  Reverting to the admission of children who are placed in adult psychiatric units, I know that is a very small number and has been declining considerably in recent years. I appreciate the attention that the Minister of State has given to this, but I just want to stress that low numbers are not the same as a legal safeguard. If a practice is wrong, particularly when it is tied to under-resourcing, it needs to be resolved through State investment and legal safeguards, not simply reduced. However, I acknowledge that it has been significantly reduced. I understand the Minister of State's concerns about tying the hands of clinicians, as she said before, but their hands are tied if their services have not been resourced sufficiently. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sorca Clarke  I recognise the improvements that have been made to this Bill since we last debated it in this House, both by our colleagues in the Seanad and through the moves the Minister of State has made. It is important to recognise when positive steps are taken. While we may not agree on everything politically, it does not mean that we ignore where we do agree on some things that have changed.  I will speak to amendments Nos. 276 to 278, inclusive, 288 to 290, inclusive, and 330. I am very concerned about children in Garda stations. We have had debates in this House before about people in mental health distress being in unsuitable locations at that time. It was part of our Private Members' business on accident and emergency units and adults and children in mental health distress. I do not believe that the Garda station is the right place for a person in mental health distress to be. In fact, it is completely inappropriate. It can cause further trauma and long-term issues with their self-esteem and sense of being. Garda\u00ed have enough work to be doing without also trying to double-job as something that they are not qualified to do, by which I mean the area of medical expertise. With the inclusion of this provision, there is a very real chance of further stigmatising someone who is a child and reinforcing the harmful association between mental health and criminality.  If the Minister of State were to look at some of the comments that Mental Health Reform has outlined, she would see that one of them was a direct quote from a garda. The garda said that they completely understand the need for the presence of garda\u00ed in some cases, but they were a firm believer that a Garda station was not a place for a child to be brought back, especially one with mental health issues. If that is coming from the garda\u00ed themselves, there is an onus on us to listen and act. There will never be a better opportunity to do that than here during this Bill.  Talking about children can be a very distressing part of a mental health Bill, but mental health concerns, issues and illnesses do not begin when somebody turns 18.  We must have these conversations from a point of view of it being a health-led response to a crisis without the involvement of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. Yes, the clinical assessment needs to be done but it needs to be done in a place that is appropriate and in an age-appropriate way. We have had this debate in the House repeatedly, but I do not think any child should be placed in an adult unit, particularly because of pressures in the system elsewhere. That is a failure. The numbers may be small but every single time that happens, it is a further failure by the State. A wrong is a wrong and it should not happen whatsoever.  I recognise and welcome the prohibition of ECT for children. That is a very important safeguard. Such a practice may not have happened in 15 years but it should not have been on the books as having the potential to happen. The prohibition is a positive thing.  Moving to amendment No. 330 and discharges and service transition issues, we have all spoken with people who have been through various levels of the mental health system and they speak of cliff edges and a lack of joined-up and continuous care. We cannot allow that continue to happen. I believe that a discharge plan, particularly for a child, should begin on admission with the family involvement, a school liaison, community follow-up and also, critically, clear accountability for aftercare because recovery does not stop at the hospital door when a person leaves. If continuity of care fails, then it is children and families who are left carrying the burden, and that is grossly unfair. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  I thank Deputies Quaide and Clarke for acknowledging the significant improvements that have been made since we have been here last. I appreciate that.  In relation to amendment No. 276, the reality is that there needs to be a legal basis for the Garda to take a child into custody where the child is an immediate and serious risk of harm and to ensure there are pathways for that child to be examined and receive treatment. That is already in the legislation since 2001. That could happen every day of the week if it was needed. It is very rare that the Garda has to take a child into custody, but it is very important for the Garda that if a child is an immediate and serious risk of harm to themselves or others, there must be pathways and a legal basis for the Garda to act.  This amendment is being introduced to address operational concerns raised by some key stakeholders. There was a huge amount of engagement with the Department of justice around this. The new section 74 recognises the distinct and important roles of the Garda, the HSE and Tusla. Depending on the circumstances of the child, one of these three bodies will be responsible for taking charge of the child and the new section 74 recognises the different functions of each. It is an extremely rare event where a garda must take a child into custody due to a suspected mental disorder but it does happen on occasion.  Section 74 of the Bill will provide absolute clarity as to the powers as well as the responsibilities of members of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na when taking a child into custody because of his or her mental disorder. Section 74 includes a number of safeguards that will help protect the rights of children, including a very strict time limit for which a child can be in custody. Those very high criteria must be met, namely, that the child is an immediate or serious risk of harm to self or others due to a mental disorder and the automatic referral to the HSE for examination.  A huge amount of work has been done on this section. There might be a time when a 16- or 17-year-old might have to be taken into Garda custody. The Garda have to have a legal framework. We are improving what is already there in the 2001 legislation.  I also want to talk about children in adult wards. As Deputies will know, this is something I feel extremely passionate about. We got the figures recently while I was before the Seanad. Last year, there were five young people involved. Four of them spent one night in an adult ward and the other spent two nights in an adult ward. Over the whole year, including all of the children who spent time in an approved centre, there were six nights. That happened with the support and consent of their parents in all cases. They were in a single room on their own with 24-hour one-on-one support while the appropriate supports were being put in place.  I have spoken about this before. I know of one particular case - this is going back a few years - where it was appropriate for a young person to stay in a facility. There are many different reasons this happens. We have come from a situation where the amount of young people being held in adult wards was simply not acceptable. I do not want to see any child in an adult facility. Nobody wants to see it. I do not know any clinician who wants to see it. However, sometimes there is a crisis in real time. It could happen at 10 p.m., 11 p.m., midnight, 1 a.m. or 2 a.m. I have spoken to families. I have spoken to young people who were that person who stayed overnight for their own safety. I do not have a medical background but I have a lot of lived experience, living experience and I listen. It would be remiss of me to tie the hands of any clinician who has to make that decision at midnight or 1 a.m. when a young person is a risk to themselves or others. Over 95% of the time, it is people of 17 years of age or older. I have come across very few cases where there is not family consent and support.  We have discussed this at length here and in the Seanad. I have given examples of cases. There was one example in Donegal when there was a storm on the particular night and it was not safe for the staff to move the person. Sometimes, there are just extreme circumstances. However, I do know that any clinician involved in having to detain a young person looks at every opportunity to not do that. They do their utmost. I remember speaking to a clinician at University Hospital Waterford about a case. Without identifying anybody, the clinician said that it was life or death at the time and if he had not detained that young person under the Act, it would have been a different story. The parents begged him to do that because they felt they could not take the child home with them.  It is not a budget issue regarding beds for children. Most of the time, we are running at 70% capacity among our inpatient beds. The majority of the beds are in Linn Dara, Eist Linn, Merlin Park and St. Vincent's. Twenty of the 51 beds we have open are for eating disorders and in most of those cases, the children and young people are there for between three and seven months because of the nature of what they are dealing with.  One of the amendments raised in the Seanad sought to write into the Bill that no young person could be detained for more than 72 hours. The reason I did not accept that amendment was because we would have been writing into legislation that it was okay to detain a young person. I want to get to a stage where no child is detained in adult wards. We had five such children last year and six the year before. Last year, it was six nights overall. If we write that into this new Bill, which will become an Act next week, please God, we will be saying it is okay to take a young person into an adult ward for up to 72 hours. That is the reason I did not accept the amendment. I do not want to normalise it. A huge amount of work has been done by clinicians and by those working in approved centres to make sure that they find the appropriate setting for that young person. In some cases, depending on where they are living, it can be easier and quicker to find that accommodation than in other areas.  For that reason, and as I said in the Seanad, I will take it to the grave with me if I get this wrong but I do not think I am doing this wrong in this respect. If it will only help one child, it will be worth it for me. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marie Sherlock  The Minister of State has inherited this Bill and somewhere in the order of 900 amendments have had to be dealt with as the legislation has gone through this House and the Seanad. The Minister of State\u2019s own personal commitment to the Bill is very clear, and I very much welcome the improvements before us today. Regarding those issues raised in section 10, relating to how practicable it is to place a child in an age-appropriate setting, we know there is an issue concerning ageing out of child psychiatric services at 16. The Minister of State reflected very eloquently on the life-or-death decisions that do have to be taken.  I do worry about the future. The Minister of State spoke about facilities being at 70% capacity at the moment but this is legislation that we hope will be there for the long term and that none of us will be back to deal with this legislation again any time soon. The dramatic drop in the number of children in adult psychiatric wards is to be welcomed. We all know, however, what the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child has said with regard to that practice. Even if it is one child, there remains a concern that the legislation, as drafted, remains too permissive. I do worry about a time when there may be a shortage of beds and the de facto approach, because no child facility is available, ends up with a decision being made that a child, albeit one nearly entering adulthood, will just have to be placed in an adult facility. I am conscious as well of all the arguments about those in their late teenage years who need a continuity of care right into adulthood. I get all those arguments but it is important that I put on the record that I retain that concern that the legislation, as drafted, remains too loose and is not as prescriptive as it should be in terms of, effectively, outlawing the care of any child in an adult facility in future. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  I will conclude with one other point. The Bill does not legislate for or against child admissions. This is important. It was the reason I felt in the Seanad that if I included an amendment that said a child cannot be retained for more than 72 hours after an admission, we were nearly saying it was okay to do this. I do not want to see that happening at all.  In 2008, there were 247 admissions to adult units. As I said, this was reduced to five last year, which was six nights. We have to commend the staff working at the coalface who have done everything they can. Children are admitted to adult units only after efforts to place them in a child and adolescent inpatient unit are unsuccessful due to capacity or clinical need, depending on the situation. It can be very difficult for a child, for example, living in Donegal having to go to Galway, a child living in the midlands having to go to Dublin, a child in Waterford having to go to Cork or a child from Kerry having to go into Cork. This is the reality of the situation.  We must realise, however, that the majority of supports for our young people are provided in the community, regardless of their mental health illness. For example, 95% of all eating disorder supports are provided in the community. We have seen such a surge in those figures since Covid. We do have to accept and acknowledge that these are unique cases. In a unique case, when there is a really difficult decision for a clinician to make, we have to take life over death. I say it every time. We have no choice. It is for that reason, and that reason only. I do believe that we will get to a stage very soon where we will not have any child admissions. Nobody wants to see these admissions happening.  This is what I spoke about at the start. When this Bill is enacted, a 16- or 17-year-old will be able to make decisions in relation to their mental health. Being involuntarily detained at 16 or 17, however, is different. In every single case where this was done, and it was the same the year before, it was undertaken with the support of the family and the young person knew what was happening and it was for a short time. That is the reason I feel so strongly about this aspect. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 19:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2: In page 16, lines 20 and 21, to delete \u201cmade under section 65 or 66 \u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Seanad amendments Nos. 20, 30, 56 to 60, inclusive, 63, 67, 78, 93, 103, 105, 106, 109 to 112, inclusive, 114, 116, 146, 148, 155, 156, 160, 164 to 166, inclusive, 172, 175, 176, 178, 179 and 404 are related and will be discussed together. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 20:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2: In page 16, line 24, to delete \u201cwithout providing his or her consent to such admission\u201d and substitute \u201cpursuant to an involuntary admission order or a renewal order\u201d."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  These amendments relate generally to the involuntary admission process for adults. Many of the amendments in this grouping are smaller in nature. For example, Seanad amendment No. 12 inserts the term \"for involuntary admission\" after the word \"recommendation\" on line 3 of page 16. Similarly, Seanad amendment No. 54 provides for the deletion of a definition in section 11, and Seanad amendment No. 10 provides for the insertion of the same definition in section 2.  To pick out some of the amendments of significance, Seanad amendment No. 57 amends the criteria for involuntary admission to ensure that the condition of any involuntarily admitted person must be likely to \"materially benefit\" from the admission, rather than just \"benefit\". This amendment was introduced following further consultation with stakeholders in the context that the criteria for admission as passed by the D\u00e1il needed to be increased somewhat. I am satisfied that, with this amendment, the criteria for involuntary admission are robust and person-centred. This amendment was also mirrored in the criteria for admission for children.  Seanad amendment No. 106 removes the lower limit of 14 days within which a review board must review an order for detaining a person. I brought forward this amendment in the Seanad following consultation with stakeholders. Under the new Act, 21 days after an order is made will be the upper limit in which a review board must meet. The Minister will be able to prescribe a shorter period by way of regulation, so the period can be reduced over time from 21 days to 14 days or even lower.  Seanad amendment No. 148 introduces an additional safeguard in relation to the carrying out of capacity assessments for adults. The amendment requires that regular capacity assessments are carried out when a person has been assessed as lacking capacity. The amendment introduces an upper limit of every 14 days for the carrying out of capacity assessments. A further safeguard is introduced in Seanad amendment No. 156, which will ensure that, where treatment is administered to a person while the capacity assessment process is ongoing, the assessments must be completed within 72 hours. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul McAuliffe  As we get to the end of this Bill, I commend all the Minister of State\u2019s officials who have worked on this legislation, all the stakeholders who have engaged with the Minister of State and the Minister of State herself. She has engaged with many of us across the House, and particularly with some of her Government colleagues who had concerns in relation to the Bill.  I wish to speak to this group of Seanad amendments because it deals with the issue of involuntary adult admissions. In many ways, depriving anybody of their liberty is an incredibly serious thing, so it should be difficult to secure an involuntary adult admission. Trying to find that line between it being difficult and too difficult has been the job the Minister of State has had to do.  Where I had some concerns during earlier phases of the Bill was in relation to dual diagnosis. I want to be careful using this term because when I use it, I am relating it to dual diagnosis of addiction and mental health issues. Of course, as has become very obvious from the conversations in the Seanad with colleagues there, a dual diagnosis can mean many things. It can, for example, relate to a dual diagnosis of autism and mental health issues or many other conditions.  Specifically, in relation to dual diagnosis for addiction and mental illness, the Minister of State will know, because I have plagued her about it many times, about a report on dual diagnosis community inquiry.  The report, Dual Diagnosis: a Community Perspective, carried out by Dublin City University and the Finglas Addiction Support Team, FAST, specifically references areas in relation to dual diagnosis for addiction and mental health which need improvement. There have been significant improvements since that report was published in 2020, namely around the national clinical programme. The report references areas of the Mental Health Bill where the idea of a \u201cwrong door\u201d was being experienced by people. In some cases people were not able to access a psychiatric facility because they may have been using either a legal or illegal substance, and at the very moment they were in crisis or seeking to deal with their addiction, they found that both services, addiction and mental health, were often citing their other diagnosis as a barrier to them entering. As one person in the report said, \"when we get somebody into a service and there is opportunity to make good progress, it should not be missed.\" The idea of catching somebody as they are falling is really important.  I watched the debate on this in the Seanad very closely. The Minister of State was very strong in outlining why, in primary legislation, the phrase \u201cdual diagnosis\u201d could not appear. I am anxious for the Minister of State to repeat the commitment she gave in the Seanad here in the D\u00e1il as regards a dual diagnosis protocol. I ask her to outline to the House how that might work or to write to me about it. What I want is to record in this House what happened in the other House, that is, the attempts made to make changes to the Mental Health Bill and the reasons that did not happen. While things might not be able to be dealt with in primary legislation, that does not mean we cannot deal with them overall. Regardless of what happens to the Mental Health Bill, I ask the Minister of State to continue to be committed to the issue of dual diagnosis for addiction and mental health. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sorca Clarke  I wish to start with amendments Nos. 57, 155 and 172, particularly in relation to the materiality benefit threshold. This is a very positive improvement. There has to be real, demonstrable justification for any state to compel admission or treatment, and there has to be that demonstrable prospect of therapeutic aim. Involuntary powers should only be used where strictly necessary and where meaningful clinical benefit is likely. However, I have some issues with wording only being on a page. The real test of this is going to be how it is interpreted in practice. I look forward to seeing it included in any review, either full or interim, how this is working in practice. Words on a page do not give equal strength across the board. If I interpret something as being demonstrable, does another person have the same interpretation? That is why I look forward to it being included in the review. Where coercive powers exist, the bar really has to be set and remain high for the patient\u2019s wellbeing and legal entitlements and rights.  In relation to the capacity assessments and consent safeguards, capacity is not fixed. Those 14 days have me very concerned because capacity can fluctuate very quickly, particularly when it comes to mental health. It can improve and return quickly, particularly following a crisis and during treatment. The Minister of State said she would do them every day if she could but that is not realistic. There has to be a timeframe. Given the fluid and rapidly changing nature of capacity, when it returns, personal autonomy has to be immediately restored to the person.  I have very real concerns about the 14 days. A guiding principle throughout the Bill should be the least restrictive approach because that is how we ultimately get the correct balance between care, a person\u2019s dignity, and his or her rights. In terms of court applications and treatment decisions, it is one of my most firmly held believes that when courts are involved in treatment decisions the process has to be fair, swift and person-centred. Any delays in court processes can further delay treatment. At the same time, we cannot deny a person\u2019s rights simply for speed. I would like to see a system that guarantees access to legal representation, supported decisions and clear pathways so that the person understands where the courts are required. While we are debating a Bill, this is fundamentally about people. The person has got to be at the very centre of every decision we make today, or which is contained within the Bill.  In relation to amendment No. 67, the administration powers engage some of the most fundamental rights any citizen has. We are talking about a citizen\u2019s liberty, dignity and family life. That is why an application process must be clear, understood by the person, evidence-based and free from any form of conflicts of interest. Service users need to have confidence that decisions are clinically justified, procedurally fair and subject to that meaningful review. We will come back to that at a later time.  I will finish on this section by saying safeguards are not obstacles. They are essential protections for every single one of us. I still have very real concerns about those 14 days. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Liam Quaide  I wish to speak to amendment No. 93 in relation to advocacy. It is obviously positive that information about advocacy is shared with the person who is involuntarily detained, but being told advocacy exists is not remotely the same as having a statutory right to independent advocacy. It is regrettable that despite a very strong focus on this from some of the interest groups such as Mental Health Reform in each stage of the Bill, that has not been provided for. A person who is involuntarily detained may be very fearful, highly distressed, over-sedated, isolated from family and dealing with teams and professionals using clinical and legal language. Many people in that situation will find it overwhelming. In that context, independent advocacy should be a basic safeguard. A nominated person is not a substitute for an independent, professional advocate. A nominated person may be a family member or friend, they may be supportive but may not have the training, confidence or independence to challenge clinical decisions or help a person navigate a rights-based process.  The definition of advocacy should have been stronger. Advocacy should not be reduced to helping someone express their will and preferences, it should support a person to exercise those preferences, vindicate their rights and participate meaningfully in decisions affecting them. Without guaranteed independent advocacy, many people will be left alone at the precise moment the State is exercising the greatest power over them. Related to that, the independent complaints mechanism was also ruled out of order earlier. It is important to say what has transpired at Bloomfield Hospital in Dublin and in Kerry CAMHS underlines the importance both of independent advocacy and independent complaints. It is fair to say that \u201cYour service, your say\u201d is a dysfunctional complaints mechanism. We cannot ask a vulnerable person, particularly someone who was involuntarily detained, to complain directly to the same system that controls his or her care, medication, leave and discharge. We see a huge amount of disquiet and discontent among service users with regard to \u201cYour service, your say\u201d. That is important to put on the record. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  I will work backwards if that is okay. In relation to the patient advocacy services, and we spent a lot of time discussing this in the Seanad but it is important to put it on the record of the D\u00e1il, I very strongly believe that patients, regardless of what health service is being assessed whether a nursing home, approved centre, day services or whatever, should be able to advocate if they are not happy with the support they are getting. The reason we have not included it here is we have not prescribed advocacy in primary legislation for any other area of healthcare, including for older people or people with disabilities.  Regulations have been made under the Health Act 2007 to provide for access to advocacy services for people resident in designated centres for the purpose of, for example, making a complaint.  I have a bit of longevity in the Department of Health - I am here now six years - and I was the Minister of State who introduced patient advocacy services across nursing homes. They had started to be rolled out in HSE-run nursing homes, the community nursing units, but I rolled them out throughout public, private and voluntary nursing homes and I have every intention of doing the same in relation to mental health approved centres. I met patient advocacy services recently, about two months ago, when this was a hot topic in the Seanad. My team has met them since and we will put in place those services. They have to ramp up their service as well. For those dealing with people who are very ill, who have a mental health or mental disorder, in an approved centre additional training needs to happen. Already they are providing advocacy services for people with a disability and some of those people are receiving those services in relation to mental health as well so the start has been made. We do need to do it and I want to do it as quickly as possible.  The Deputy mentioned Kerry CAMHS. That comes back to longevity as well. The Deputy will have heard of the youth advocacy programme, YAP. I am very fond of it and have done a lot of work with it over the years. Shortly after the Maskey report in 2022, I formally opened YAP services in Tralee to support young people down there. I want to commend that organisation. It does a great amount of work. The voice of the young person is always heard in relation to that.  Deputy Clarke spoke about capacity assessments. I agree with what she is saying. I want to point out that she was the person who raised the language in relation to benefit and \"materially benefit\". I do remember her being very strong on that at the time. I did listen and take it on board. It is a better choice of wording.  The Mental Health Commission will prepare and issue a code of practice for staff working in registered acute mental health centres in relation to the provisions of this section as well, which will be very helpful, especially on criteria for admissions. The 14 days is the absolute maximum period that is allowed but also the Bill states that a person\u2019s capacity should be reassessed if their condition changes in any form. That is really important and it is written into the Bill. I hope those two safeguards will help in that respect.  Deputy McAuliffe spoke about dual diagnosis. The very first meeting we ever had, back in 2020 when Deputy McAuliffe was a new TD, was in relation to dual diagnosis. I thank him for raising this issue. I know he is passionate about improving the service for people with coexisting mental illness and substance abuse disorder and he has done a lot of work in his own right. I want to state unequivocally that people with coexisting mental disorders and substance misuse disorders can and do access inpatient and community mental health services. This was not always the case. An awful lot of people still have a huge affection for A Vision for Change but it did not allow for dual diagnosis, whereas Sharing the Vision did, and that is my bible. That is the bible I have worked off since June 2020. That was really important because there were doors being slammed into people\u2019s faces because they might have had a mental health disorder but they also engaged in substance abuse, it could have been alcohol or drugs, and it is really important that is recognised. It will not be included in primary legislation - it will be included in secondary legislation \u2013 but I have asked the HSE to develop a protocol in relation to access to services for people presenting with dual diagnosis of a coexisting mental disorder or difficulty and a substance use disorder. I believe that a dual diagnosis protocol can address many of the issues around access raised by Senators, Deputy McAuliffe and other Deputies and provide clarity to services working across mental health and substance misuse and access to treatment.  My position is that the solution to this issue is to continue to fund both general mental health services and specialised dual diagnosis mental health services to improve access for all. I am not going to stand here and say there is not an issue. There are issues in relation to people with dual diagnosis and doors are slammed. That is why we are working really hard to change that. I launched the dual diagnosis national clinical programme, the new model of care, in May 2023. We are now investing over \u20ac5 million annually from the mental health budget, matched by social inclusion, to develop specialist community teams to support people with mental illness and substance abuse issues.  The primary purpose of the Mental Health Bill is to set out the legal basis for the involuntary admission of people to acute mental health settings. The Bill cannot and does not provide specific medical pathways or legal safeguards for access to services for any specific cohort of person outside of those who are subject to involuntary admission. More specially, it not provide for admission and access to services for any person either in the community or inpatient who does have a mental disorder that does not meet the criteria for involuntary admission. Importantly the Bill does not discriminate about what mental disorder a person has. The Bill does not specify but it does not need to do so. How we deliver our services will come in secondary legislation. Looking forward, my adviser and I had a meeting yesterday on the Keltoi facility and the day services which will be provided there. We are making progress. Again, the funding is there and the staff are being recruited. We want to get that open as quickly as possible. I hope I have answered everything. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 21:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2: In page 16, between lines 24 and 25, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c \u201cinvoluntary admission order\u201d has the meaning assigned to it\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) in relation to an adult, in sections 22 and 38 , and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) in relation to a child, in section 66 ;\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 22:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2: In page 16, line 34, to delete \u201cjudgement\u201d and substitute \u201cjudgment\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 23:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2: In page 17, line 3, after \u201c2011,\u201d to insert \u201cor\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 24:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2: In page 17, line 12, to delete \u201cof that Act\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Seanad amendments Nos. 25, 412 to 417, inclusive, 419, and 421 to 425, inclusive, are related and may be discussed together. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 25:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2: In page 17, to delete lines 16 to 18 and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c \u201cnominated person\u201d means an adult nominated\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) in relation to an adult, in accordance with section 185 , and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) in relation to a child aged 16 years or older, in accordance with section 186;\u201d."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  These amendments update the definition of \"nominated person\" to clarify that a nominated person must be an adult, which is a person 18 years or older. The rest of the amendments in this grouping change the word \"nominee\" to \"nominated person\". This is being done to ensure consistency in language across the Bill.  A nominated person, as I said, can be a person over the age of 16 who an adult or child admitted to an inpatient mental health setting can nominate to attend meetings with them and receive information of a general nature about the person. The wording of the Bill has been carefully put together to ensure that a nominated person can be any person of the admitted person\u2019s choosing. It can be a family member, a loved one, friend or a carer, or otherwise a person can appoint a peer advocate or a professional advocate to act as his or her nominated person.  This is a really good element to the Bill in that they can have that nominated person to support them through their care journey. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sorca Clarke  On a point of clarification, what age can the nominated person be? I understand that the Minister of State said 16. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  It is 18 years. Sorry, I did say 16. I apologise. The minute I said it I knew it was wrong. It was a typo. It is 18. I thank the Deputy. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 26:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2: In page 17, line 20, to insert \u201cboth\u201d before \u201cwithin\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 27:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2: In page 17, between lines 25 and 26, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c \u201cparents or guardian or the Agency\u201d means\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) in relation to a child the subject of a care order, the Agency, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) in all other circumstances, the child\u2019s parents, or either of them, or guardian;\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 28:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2: In page 17, between lines 25 and 26, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c \u201cpermitted absence\u201d has the meaning assigned to it\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) in relation to an adult, in section 39 , and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) in relation to a child, in section 77 ;\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Amendments Nos. 29, 39, 183, 184, 332, 340, 341 and 345 are related and will be discussed together. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 29:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2: In page 17, between lines 25 and 26, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c \u201cpharmacological restraint\u201d means the administration of medication to a person where the only purpose of such administration is to\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) control the person\u2019s behaviour, or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) restrict, prevent or limit the person\u2019s freedom of movement or access to his or her own body, but does not include the administration of medication that is for the purposes of treating or ameliorating his or her mental disorder;\u201d."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  These amendments relate to chemical or pharmacological restraint and provide for the regulation of pharmacological restraint on adults and children. I asked officials in my Department to review this matter following a debate in the D\u00e1il last year and requested that the Mental Health Commission carry out a rapid evidence review of pharmacological restraint in other jurisdictions. The amendments introduced in the Seanad are informed by this research by the commission. Pharmacological restraint involves the administration of medication to a person where the purpose of the medicine is only to control a person's behaviour or control access to his or her body. Pharmacological restraint does not include any administration of medication where the medication is for the benefit of the person's condition or treatment. I have heard narratives that this does not exist. However, I always listen to all voices, including lived experience, and I welcome the work that the Mental Health Commission in carrying out a rapid evidence review of pharmacological restraint. I was happy to move that amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Liam Quaide  I commend the Minister of State on the inclusion of this section. I note my concern about the levels of professional defensiveness and detachment from the reality of service user experiences exhibited by the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland in its attempts to remove the term \"pharmacological restraint\" from the Mental Health Bill. It is highly invalidating of the experiences of people. These people do exist and I have worked in the mental health system myself. They are people who have been over-sedated, who have experienced medication in a coercive or overly restrictive manner, even if that is not the intention, over the course of their psychiatric treatment. The notion that it does not exist is just perplexing. It is worth noting that for people who have already experienced significant trauma in their lives, pharmacological restraint can be traumatic and can compound the very distress that the mental health services are meant to alleviate. That was a regressive intervention on the college's part and I am glad that it was not agreed to.  It is not just Mental Health Reform or cohorts of service users who are saying this; the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission have said it. The World Psychiatric Association, in its 2023 position statement on alternatives to coercion, explicitly identified chemical or pharmacological restraint as a form of restraint, which it is, experienced by people in mental health services. That is not to say that it is done with sinister intention, but it needs to be recognised, monitored and carefully managed. It is also recognised and regulated in mental health services in England, Scotland and Wales.  As stated, I welcome the inclusion of this section. It has been stated previously that the definition could be better safeguarded. To say that it is used for treatment does not quite go far enough, but at the same time, I recognise the progress made on this and want to validate it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sorca Clarke  It is important that pharmacological restraint is mentioned here because if the State or any service intervenes in a way that limits a person's liberty, movement or bodily autonomy, the safeguards have to be exact. In addition, it has to be a genuine last resort, clinically justified, proportionate, time limited and independently scrutinised. I would like to see mandatory recording, clear notification procedures, oversight by the Mental Health Commission, and regular publication of anonymised data. People in crisis deserve care, compassion, and de-escalation first, and restrictive interventions must never become substitutes for proper treatment, staffing shortages, overcrowding or unsuitable settings.  I have a specific question that I would like an answer to. It relates to subsection (3) of amendment No. 345, which inserts a new section after section 91. It states:  Where the responsible consultant psychiatrist forms an opinion that it would be in the best interests of the child for any persons specified in subsection (1)(a) or (2)(a) not to be provided with information on the application of restrictive practices, such information is not required to be provided.  My understanding is that this means that a consultant psychiatrist may not be required to inform the parent when a restrictive practice has been used on his or her child. Could the Minister of State give an example of such a circumstance that may exist in the real world? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  They absolutely have to inform the family. I am looking at the amendment. They have to tell the family because they have to be able to discuss the treatment of the child with the parents. It is important to balance the debate because, while we are discussing restrictive practices, Sharing the Vision includes a recommendation to adopt a zero-seclusion, zero-restraint approach in mental health services and there has been a significant reduction in the usage of seclusion and restraint in mental health services. According to the Mental Health Commission, Ireland ranks among the lowest in comparable countries for the use of seclusion and restraint. In 2023 and 2024, there was a 34% reduction in the number of reported episodes of seclusion and physical restraint. Since 2018, there has been a 62% reduction in all restrictive practices. Irish mental health services must be commended on their continued and sustained positive efforts in the area. We have one of the lowest rates in comparable jurisdictions, according to the Mental Health Commission. That was extremely welcome, but to put the Deputy's mind at ease, my understanding is that if a restrictive practice was applied to a young person, that young person would fall under the remit of three different entities, namely those of the HSE, Tusla or the parent, and would be informed of that decision. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sorca Clarke  I just want to be very clear on this. What that section states is, \"it would be in the best interests of the child for any persons specified in subsection (1)(a) or (2)(a) not to be provided with information on the application of restrictive practices\". "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  That is general information on admittance. It is not to say that it is being used but------ "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sorca Clarke  On admittance. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  On admittance. It is general information that is provided. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Liam Quaide  I want to make a more nuanced point on pharmacological restraint. I welcome this, as I said. Mental Health Reform has also welcomed the recognition of pharmacological restraint as a restrictive practice that must be regulated. It has also warned that the definition may be too narrow to capture the full reality of how people can be pharmacologically or chemically restrained. That concern is well founded. As I was alluding to earlier, it is not enough to say, as per the Bill, that medication was given for treatment if, in practice, the effect is to control behaviour, limit autonomy or movement, suppress mobility or render a person unable to engage meaningfully or exercise control over his or her own body. That is a weakness of this. Mental Health Reform has also called for a comprehensive system-wide review of sedation practices, including therapeutic sedation, rapid tranquilisation and pharmacological restraint. This reflects a long-standing concern of mental health advocates that there is insufficient clarity, consistency and oversight in this area. It is important that the Mental Health Commission code of practice resulting from this is robust and addresses less visible forms of coercion, including over-sedation and the misuse of pro re nata , PRN, or as-needed medication. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  I reassure the Deputy this is the first time that pharmacological restraint will be regulated. It was not regulated in the 2001 Act. The regulation will be drafted by the Mental Health Commission, who are the right people to do this. I understand the concerns Mental Health Reform might have raised but at the same time we have to have a workable Bill. We have to have a situation where it is led by the Mental Health Commission and all those working in healthcare will be subject to regulation by that commission. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad agreement agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 30:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2: In page 17, between lines 35 and 36, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c \u201crecommendation for involuntary admission\u201d has the meaning assigned to it in section 16 ;\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 31:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2: In page 17, between lines 35 and 36, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c \u201cregister\u201d means\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) in relation to a registered acute mental health centre, the Register of acute mental health centres,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) in relation to a registered community mental health centre, the Register of community mental health centres, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(c) in relation to a registered community mental health service, the Register of community mental health services;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201cRegister of acute mental health centres\u201d has the meaning assigned to it in section 139 ;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201cRegister of community mental health centres\u201d has the meaning assigned to it in section 140 ;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201cRegister of community mental health services\u201d has the meaning assigned to in section 141 ;\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Seanad Amendments Nos. 32, 94, 145 and 396 are related and will be discussed together. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 32:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2: In page 18, between lines 21 and 22, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c \u201crelevant advocacy service\u201d means a service which assists or supports a person in expressing his or her will and preferences, or otherwise in making his or her views known, in relation to mental health services being provided to the person;\u201d."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  There was extensive debate on the topic of advocacy on Committee Stage over a number of amendments and hours. Following those debates, as well as an amendment tabled by Senator Black, I introduced several amendments on Report Stage in the Seanad in relation to information on advocacy supports.  These amendments will ensure that any person admitted under the new Act will be given information in relation to any available advocacy supports. This will apply to both children and adults, ensuring that information on advocacy supports will be available regardless of a person\u2019s age. Importantly, this information will be given to people whether they have been involuntarily admitted or are seeking treatment on a voluntary basis. Just because a person has chosen to admit themselves voluntarily, it does not mean that they will not require some support.  These amendments build on the amendment put forward by Senator Black on Committee Stage by extending access to information on advocacy supports to all people admitted to inpatient mental health settings. Advocacy is not provided for in any primary legislation, including older person and disability services. However, advocacy services are now available in those services. Officials in my Department will shortly begin preparations to draft all the necessary regulations to underpin operation of the new Act. I have asked officials to examine how advocacy can be incorporated into these regulations.  As I said earlier, I have met with the national advocacy service. It informed me that it already provides support to people with disabilities who use mental health services, most commonly in relation to housing, social protection and other entitlements.  I rolled out patient advocacy supports across all nursing homes and have every intention, if I am still in this role, to continue doing that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sorca Clarke  Informing people of available advocacy services is a positive but it is not the same as giving them access. One of the concerns I have is if a person is detained and is frightened or overwhelmed, they may not be in a position to navigate the system alone or to use the information that is given to them. For a person in that position, the information is useless unless there is somebody there with them to help them navigate the system. There needs to be independent advocacy. It should be a practical right, not a theoretical option.  We need to look at the role of advocates in this regard, even down to things like understanding decisions and communicating effectively the person's will or preference. A legal right to advocacy could build confidence in our mental health system. Far too often, people express to me that they feel excluded and powerless in that system. If we genuinely believe in a rights-based mental health system, advocacy must be independent and available to the person from the first moment they are in a position to avail of it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marie Sherlock  I acknowledge there has been progress in this space but I want to flag a concern about the wording around any \"relevant advocacy service\". This is about how information is disseminated and the manner in which it is received. I hear what the Minister of State is saying about looking at ministerial regulation in this space but if at the heart of this legislation is ensuring greater rights for those accessing mental health services, we can look at other countries, particularly across the water in England, Scotland and Wales, and see that an independent, statutory advocacy service is critical. When we think about people receiving treatment or accessing services, the reference here is far too loose and will not ultimately be effective for patients. I welcome the progress but the destination needs to be a statutory, independent advocacy service. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Liam Quaide  I want to support the points made by Deputies Sherlock and Clarke and to come back to what I said on independent advocacy and independent complaints. What was the obstacle to enacting independent advocacy and independent complaints? It seems they would be basic parts of human rights-oriented legislation. They seem uncontroversial. I would not imagine there was lobbying against them. It is low-hanging fruit and it is a shame it is not part of it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  I think there is a lot of confusion here. To be honest, there has been a lot of griefing against the patient advocacy services that are being provided. It is important to put this on the record of the D\u00e1il. The patient advocacy service is an independent, free and confidential service which can provide support to people who wish to make a complaint about the care they or a family member has received in a public acute hospital or in a public or private nursing home. It also provides support in the aftermath of a patient safety incident. It currently provides supports for people with disabilities and people who use mental health services. It is being rolled out. That is the first point. I met with it to discuss how we can accelerate and expand it into mental health as quickly as possible. Just so there is doubt that this is not happening, it is happening.  The second point is it is in the programme for Government. It is a programme for Government commitment to extend the patient advocacy service to support those accessing public mental health services. I was the person who wrote it into the programme for Government because I was involved in writing the mental health and a lot of the health element of the programme for Government. That is the second piece.  Deputy Clarke is so right about how important advocacy is but the difference in this Bill is each person, voluntary or involuntary, is entitled to have a nominated person. That nominated person will be there to support them. The onus is on all of us when the Bill is enacted that people know they are entitled to a nominated person who can support them to access patient advocacy service. I think we are doing a disservice to the patient advocacy service, which is independent, free and confidential and is doing a great job around the country. It has to scale up and it will. I will fund it in the budget and it will happen. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 33:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2: In page 18, between lines 21 and 22, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c \u201crelevant carer\u201d means\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) in relation to a child the subject of a care order, a voluntary care arrangement, an emergency care order or an interim care order, the Agency, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) in all other circumstances, the child\u2019s parents, or either of them, or guardian;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201crelevant consulted carers\u201d means\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) in relation to a child the subject of a care order, the Agency,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) in relation to a child the subject of a voluntary care arrangement, an emergency care order or an interim care order\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(i) where the child concerned is a voluntarily admitted child under 16 years of age or a child aged 16 years or older lacking necessary capacity admitted with parental consent\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(I) the Agency, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(II) his or her parents, or either of them, or guardian,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(ii) where the child concerned is a voluntarily admitted child aged 16 years or older, at the child\u2019s request\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(I) the Agency,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(II) his or her parents, or either of them, or guardian, or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(III) the persons in clauses (I) and (II) ,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(iii) where the child concerned is an involuntarily admitted child under 16 years of age or is under 16 years of age and the subject of an application for involuntary admission under section 66 \u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(I) the Agency, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(II) his or her parents, or either of them, or guardian,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(iv) where the child concerned is an involuntarily admitted child aged 16 years or older or is aged 16 years or older and the subject of an application for involuntary admission under section 66 , at the child\u2019s request or where, in the opinion of the responsible consultant psychiatrist, it is in the child\u2019s best interests\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(I) the Agency,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(II) his or her parents, or either of them, or guardian, or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(III) the persons in clauses (I) and (II) ,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(c) where paragraph (a) or (b) does not apply\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(i) where the child concerned is a voluntarily admitted child under 16 years of age or a child aged 16 years or older lacking necessary capacity admitted with parental consent, his or her parents, or either of them, or guardian,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(ii) where the child concerned is a voluntarily admitted child aged 16 years or older, at the child\u2019s request, his or her parents, or either of them, or guardian,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(iii) where the child concerned is an involuntarily admitted child under 16 years of age or is under 16 years of age and the subject of an application for involuntary admission under section 66 , his or her parents, or either of them, or guardian, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(iv) where the child concerned is an involuntarily admitted child aged 16 years or older or is aged 16 years or older and the subject of an application for involuntary admission under section 66 , at the child\u2019s request or where, in the opinion of the responsible consultant psychiatrist, it is in the child\u2019s best interests, his or her parents, or either of them, or guardian;\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Amendments Nos. 34 to 36, inclusive, are related and will be discussed together. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 34:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2: In page 18, line 23, to delete \u201cpractitioner,\u201d and substitute \u201cpractitioner, or\u201d."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  These amendments delete subsection (c) in the definition of \"relevant health professionals\", which referred to \"a registrant\" within the meaning of section 3 of the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005. Following the Seanad Committee Stage debates, the Mental Health Commission wrote to me regarding this definition. The commission is responsible for drafting all of the rules in relation to the use of restrictive practices, as part of its regulatory function. The commission recently revised its rules in 2023 following an extensive consultation and the input of an expert group.  The commission strongly recommended that only a registered medical practitioner or a registered nurse should be considered an appropriate profession to order and supervise the use of a restrictive practice. The commission raised concerns that the list of professions would be expanded too much if professions included under section 3 of the Health and Social Care Act were included and I was happy to take the commission's advice on this. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 35:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2: In page 18, line 25, to delete \u201cor\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 36:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2: In page 18, to delete lines 26 and 27."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 37:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2: In page 18, line 28, to delete \u201cthe application, initiate the application of, or apply,\u201d and substitute \u201cor initiate the application of, or apply,\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 38:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2: In page 18, between lines 29 and 30, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c \u201crelevant notified carers\u201d means\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) in relation to a child the subject of a care order, the Agency,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) in relation to a child the subject of a voluntary care arrangement, an emergency care order, an interim care order or a supervision order, his or her parents, or either of them, or guardian and the Agency, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(c) where paragraph (a) or (b) does not apply, the child\u2019s parents, or either of them, or guardian;\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 39:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2: In page 18, line 37, after \u201cmechanical restraint\u201d to insert \u201c, pharmacological restraint\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 40:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2: In page 18, after line 38, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c \u201creview panel\u201d has the meaning assigned to it in section 27;\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 41:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2: In page 19, line 11, to delete \u201cmeans\u201d and substitute \u201cmeans,\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 42:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2: In page 19, between lines 14 and 15, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c \u201csupervision order\u201d has the meaning assigned to it in section 19 of the Act of 1991;\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 43:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2: In page 19, line 15, after \u201cperson,\u201d to insert \u201cother than in sections 37 and 78,\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 44:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2: In page 19, line 27, to delete \u201corder.\u201d and substitute \u201corder;\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 45:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2: In page 19, between lines 27 and 28, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c \u201cvoluntary care arrangement\u201d means a care arrangement under section 4 of the Act of 1991.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Seanad amendments Nos. 46, 51, 220, 227, 231, 235, 236, 240 to 243, inclusive, 246, 247, 251 to 255, inclusive, 259, 270, 314, 316, 319, 321, 390 and 491 are related and may be taken together. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 46:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2: In page 19, between lines 27 and 28, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(2) In this Act, until such time as section 234 comes into operation, the following modifications shall apply:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) a reference to the Family High Court shall be construed as a reference to the High Court with any necessary modifications;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) a reference to the Family Circuit Court shall be construed as a reference to the Circuit Court;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(c) a reference to\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(i) the Family District Court, or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(ii) the Family District Court or the District Court,shall be construed as a reference to the District Court with any necessary modifications;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(d) a reference to\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(i) the Family District Court district, or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(ii) the Family District Court district or District Court district,shall be construed as a reference to the District Court district with any necessary modifications;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(e) in section 71(4)\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(i) paragraph (a)(ii) shall not apply, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(ii) in paragraph (d) , the words \u201ca sitting of the Family District Court or\u201d are deleted;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(f) in section 84(3)\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(i) paragraph (a)(ii) shall not apply, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(ii) in paragraph (d) , the words \u201ca sitting of the Family District Court or\u201d are deleted.\u201d."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  These amendments relate to the Family Courts Act 2024 and will align court proceedings for children in a mental health context with court proceedings for children in a child protection and a family law context. There are consequential amendments to change references from the Circuit Court to the Family Circuit Court and the High Court to the Family High Court.  The alignment with the family courts system is a positive step for all children the subject of court proceedings because the family court is child-friendly and sets out in its guiding principles that the best interests of the child are the primary consideration of the court. This is a system responding to lived experience and aligning the Bill with the Department of justice. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sorca Clarke  I welcome the clarity with regard to the Child Care Act in particular. Our legislation needs to align. One part cannot be contradictory to another. I have to put the question to the Minister of State in relation to GAL appointments, agency notification and court procedures. We need to see these structures being properly resourced in order that they are able to meet the demand that is there. I know that is not directly related to the legislation we are speaking about but an under-resourced system will have an impact on this legislation if it cannot work effectively. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  That is noted. We are co-operating with the Departments of justice and children in regard to this Bill. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Seanad amendments Nos. 46a, 186 to 188, inclusive, and 472 to 490, inclusive, are related and may be taken together. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 46a:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 5: In page 20, to delete lines 23 to 36."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  These amendments relate to transitional provisions, so we are getting to the business part of the Bill. These are the sections of a Bill that allow for the transition from an existing Act to a new Act that will replace it. In this case, the existing Act is the Mental Health Act 2001 and the new Act is the Mental Health Act 2026.  For example, if the new 2026 Act is commenced on 1 January 2028 - I use that to explain it - there will be a short period of time where the 2001 Act will need to continue in operation. In order to have both the 2001 Act and the 2026 Act operating at the same time, we need transitional provisions.  The transitional provisions allow for a 28-day period after the commencement of the 2026 Act in which all people detained under the 2001 Act must be re-examined by a consultant psychiatrist and either discharged or admitted under the new Act. It is common practice to include transitional provisions in legislation. Transitional provisions are timebound and in the case of this Act, they will expire and no longer be in effect after 28 days. These transitional provisions have been the subject of extensive consultation with the Mental Health Commission, as the regulator of mental health services, and the HSE, as the service provider of public mental health services. Furthermore, officials in my Department consulted extensively with the Attorney General's office to ensure that the transitional provisions are legally robust.  There are 19 sections in the new Part being introduced on transitional provisions, spread across two Chapters. At any one time there are approximately 250 persons within an public-approved centre, so it is really important we put these transitional provisions in place to make sure that when the transition happens, there is a timeframe available to it.  My understanding is that every single person will have to be reassessed by a psychiatrist and that in some cases, people who were involuntarily detained may no longer fit the criteria to be detained involuntarily and their status will change. The period of 28 days, which is the maximum period, has to be allowed in order for that to happen. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sorca Clarke  In regard to the transition from one framework to another, I will go back to this legislation being people orientated and rights orientated. I have a concern, not so much about the 28 days but about the reassessment of any individual who is there. Given the pressures that exist in the mental health services, as they stand today, I ask the Minister of State to keep a very close eye on what is going on there and to engage with both the staff and professionals in the services but also those who speak on behalf of patients. We do not want to have somebody fall through the cracks because we are saying 28 days is the transition period. I ask the Minister of State to ensure the legal rights of individuals, whether they are voluntarily or involuntarily an inpatient at the moment, are central, protected and that those legal rights really stand up to scrutiny as we are moving from one to the other. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  I agree with the Deputy 100% and, to be fair, in one situation when we moved the Central Mental Hospital from Dundrum to where it is located now, which is Portrane, the HSE spent a lot of time making sure it got that right. A lot of planning will have to be put in place when the transition from one Bill to another happens. I will be meeting the new chief executive of the HSE next week to discuss that and I have already discussed it with the Secretary General of the Department of Health. This will be a hugely important piece of work but planning is essential and giving information to all those who will be affected is essential too. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 47:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 6: In page 20, to delete lines 39 and 40 and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(a) the Act of 2001;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) the Mental Health (Amendment) Act 2018.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 48:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 7: In page 21, line 2, to delete \u201cAct, shall\u201d and substitute \u201cAct shall,\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 49:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 9: In page 22, to delete line 11 and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(ii) any other mental healthcare professional who is not a member of the person\u2019s multidisciplinary team or who is otherwise not involved in the person\u2019s care and treatment,\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 50"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 10: In page 22, line 33, to delete \u201cdetention,\u201d and substitute \u201cdetention and\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 51:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 10: In page 22, line 37, after \u201cthe\u201d where it firstly occurs to insert \u201cFamily District Court or\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 52:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 10: In page 23, to delete lines 6 to 20 and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(c) that in the case of a child who is aged 16 years or older\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(i) it shall be presumed that the child has the necessary maturity and capacity to make decisions affecting himself or herself in relation to his or her admission, care and treatment under this Act, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(ii) the views of the parents or guardian or the Agency shall be recorded;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(d) that in the case of a child who is under 16 years of age and is capable of forming his or her own views, where practicable\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(i) the child shall be consulted at each stage of diagnosis and treatment,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(ii) the views and will and preferences of the child shall be recorded and given due regard, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(iii) regard shall be given to the age and maturity of the child;\u201d."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  Amendment No. 52 is being introduced for the avoidance of doubt to state plainly that young people over the age of 16 shall be presumed to have the capacity to make decisions about their care and treatment, unless shown otherwise. Where a young person has capacity, the views of their parents are to be recorded but cannot supersede the views of the young person. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 53:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 11: In page 24, between lines 10 and 11, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c \u201cdesignated healthcare representative\u201d has the same meaning as it has in section 2 of the Act of 2015;\u201d"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 54:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 11: In page 24, to delete lines 12 and 13."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 55:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 11: In page 24, line 19, to delete \u201cmeans\u201d and substitute \u201cmeans,\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 56:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 11: In page 24, to delete lines 28 and 29."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 57:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 12: In page 25, line 26, after \u201cto\u201d to insert \u201cmaterially\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 58:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 13: In page 26, to delete lines 19 and 20."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 59:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 13: In page 26, to delete lines 21 to 25 and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(d) is a spouse of the person, the subject of the application\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(i) who is living separately and apart from the person concerned, or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(ii) in respect of whom\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(I) an application for an order has been made but not yet determined under the Act of 2018, or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(II) an order has been made under the Act of 2018,\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 60:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 13: In page 26, line 27, to delete \u201cin paragraphs (b) and (c) \u201d and substitute \u201cin paragraph (b) \u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 61:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 13: In page 26, line 30, to delete \u201cparticular,\u201d and substitute \u201cparticular\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 62:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 14: In page 27, line 4, to delete \u201cpurpose\u201d and substitute \u201cpurpose,\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 63:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 14: In page 27, line 13, to delete \u201cmay\u201d and substitute \u201cshall\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 64:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 14: In page 28, line 20, to delete \u201cparticular,\u201d and substitute \u201cparticular\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 65:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 14: In page 28, line 26, to delete \u201cthe person, or a spouse\u201d and substitute \u201cthe person or a spouse\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 66:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 15: In page 28, line 35, to delete \u201cPart\u201d and substitute \u201cAct\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 67:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 15: In page 29, to delete lines 5 to 9."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 68:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 15: In page 29, line 10, to delete \u201c paragraphs (b) and\u201d and substitute \u201c paragraph (b) or\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 69:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 15: In page 29, line 22, to delete \u201cparticular,\u201d and substitute \u201cparticular\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 70:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 16: In page 30, line 5, to delete \u201capplication\u201d and substitute \u201capplication,\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 71:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 16: In page 30, line 20, to delete \u201cPart\u201d and substitute \u201cAct\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 72:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 17: In page 31, line 25, to delete \u201cinsofar\u201d and substitute \u201cin so far\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 73:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 17: In page 31, line 29, to delete \u201crequest, or the application\u201d and substitute \u201crequest or the direct application\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 74:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 17: In page 31, line 29, to delete \u201cconcerned\u201d and substitute \u201cconcerned,\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Amendment Nos. 75, 77, 79, 82, 85, 88, 98, 104, 108, 119, 120, 133, 139, 142 to 144, inclusive, 152, 154, 157, 158, 161 to 163, inclusive, 202, 206, 210, 218, 224, 226, 234, 239, 248, 250, 256, 268, 272, 273, 279, 303, 327, 348, 354, 357, 368, 369, 378, 384, 394, 399, 420, 433 and 458 to 461, inclusive, are related and will be discussed together. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 75:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 18: In page 32, line 7, after \u201c (5) \u201d to insert \u201c, subject to and in accordance with subsections (6) and (7) , as applicable,\u201d."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  These amendments correct cross-references following amendments to the Bill on Committee and Report Stages in the Seanad. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 76:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 18: In page 32, line 14, to delete \u201cInspector\u201d and substitute \u201cinspector\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 77:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 18: In page 32, lines 15 and 16, to delete \u201c subsections (3) to (7) may be carried out\u201d and substitute \u201c subsections (3) and (5) may be carried out, subject to and in accordance with subsections (6) and (7) , as applicable\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 78:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 18: In page 32, line 41, to delete \u201capplication for involuntary admission\u201d and substitute \u201can application for a recommendation for involuntary admission\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 79:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 18: In page 33, line 39, to delete \u201c7 4, \u201d and substitute \u201c 74, 76, \u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 80:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 19: In page 34, line 32, to delete \u201cconcerned,\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 81:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 20: In page 35, to delete lines 15 to 18 and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(a) the bringing of persons, other than children, to the registered acute mental health centre pursuant to section 19 or 21 ;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) the bringing of children to the registered acute mental health centre pursuant to sections 74 or 77 ;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(c) the bringing back of persons, other than children, to the registered acute mental health centre pursuant to section 21 or 40 ;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(d) the bringing back of children to the registered acute mental health centre pursuant to section 78. \u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 82:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 20: In page 35, line 27, after \u201c 40 \u201d to insert \u201c, 76, 77 \u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 83:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 22: In page 36, line 39, to delete \u201cdetention,\u201d and substitute \u201cdetention\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 84:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 23: In page 37, line 20, to delete \u201cdetention,\u201d and substitute \u201cdetention and\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 85:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 23: In page 37, line 22, to delete \u201c subsection (2) , or section 32 ,\u201d and substitute \u201c subsections (2) and (3) and section 32 \u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 86:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 23: In page 37, line 28, after \u201cThe\u201d to insert \u201cfurther\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Seanad amendments Nos. 87, 89, 92, 138, 140, 194, 262 and 298 are related and will be discussed together. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 87:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 23: In page 37, lines 31 and 32, to delete \u201cconsultant psychiatrist responsible for the care and treatment of an involuntarily admitted person\u201d and substitute \u201cresponsible consultant psychiatrist\u201d."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  These amendments are minor wording changes adding \"responsible\" in front of \"consultant psychiatrist\" in some instances. These amendments are to ensure consistency in language across the Bill. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 88:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 23: In page 37, line 33, to delete \u201cthis section\u201d and substitute \u201c subsection (2) or (3) \u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 89:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 23: In page 37, line 33, after \u201cthe\u201d to insert \u201cresponsible\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 90:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 25: In page 38, line 15, to delete \u201cand any\u201d and substitute \u201cor any subsequent\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 91:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 25: In page 38, to delete lines 17 and 18 and substitute \u201cinvoluntarily admitted person concerned a copy of the involuntary admission order or renewal order, as the case may be.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 92:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 25: In page 38, lines 19 and 20, to delete \u201cconsultant psychiatrist responsible for the care and treatment of an involuntarily admitted person\u201d and substitute \u201cresponsible consultant psychiatrist\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 93:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 25: In page 38, to delete lines 24 and 25 and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(3) A notice under subsection (2) shall include a statement in writing and in a form and language that may reasonably be understood by the involuntarily admitted person concerned, to the effect that he or she\u2014\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 94:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 25: In page 38, between lines 37 and 38, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(g) is informed of any relevant advocacy services,\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 95:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 25: In page 39, line 25, to delete \u201cof Part 7\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Amendment Nos. 96, 129, 132, 137, 150, 153, 200, 271, 328, 366 and 344 are related and will be discussed together. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 96:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 26: In page 39, line 37, to delete \u201crecord\u201d and substitute \u201crecords\u201d."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  These are technical amendments to replace the word \"record\" with \"records\" where it occurs throughout the Bill. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 97:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 27: In page 40, line 18, to delete \u201cof\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 98:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 29: In page 43, line 16, to delete \u201c paragraph (b) \u201d and substitute \u201c paragraph (a) \u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 99:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 31: In page 46, line 11, after \u201creport\u201d to insert \u201cto the Commission\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 100:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 31: In page 46, line 12, to delete \u201cprescribed to the Commission\u201d and substitute \u201cspecified by the Commission\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 101:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 31: In page 46, line 28, to delete \u201creviews\u201d and substitute \u201creview\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 102:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 31: In page 46, lines 32 and 33, to delete all words from and including \u201cpsychiatrists,\u201d in line 32 down to and including line 33 and substitute \u201cpsychiatrists.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 103:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 31: In page 47, line 2, to delete \u201ca copy of the person\u2019s medical record and\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 104:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 32: In page 47, line 15, to delete \u201c sections 9 to 24 and 38\u201d and substitute \u201c sections 9, 12 to 26 and 38 \u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 105:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 32: In page 47, to delete line 23, and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\"(3) Subject to subsection (4) , the review board\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No.106:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 32: In page 47, line 26, to delete \"which period shall not be less than 14 days\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 107:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 32: In page 48, line 28, after \"and\" to insert \"the\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 108:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 33: In page 48, line 36, to delete \" sections 9 to 24 and 38 \" and substitute \" sections 9 , 12 to 26 and 38 \"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 109:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 33: In page 49, to delete lines 26 and 27 and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\"(7) Notice of an appeal under subsection (1) and a copy of the proceedings shall be served by the person bringing the appeal on\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) the review board,\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 110:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 33: In page 49, line 31, to delete \"shall\" and substitute \"may\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 111:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 33: In page 49, lines 33 and 34, to delete \"or any other person on whom notice is served under subsection (7) \"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 112:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 34: In page 51, line 3, to delete \"and\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 113:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 34: In page 51, line 6, to delete \"request.\" and substitute \"request, and\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 114."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 34: In page 51, between lines 6 and 7, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\"(c) provide a copy of the request and his or her decision to the Commission.\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 115:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 35: In page 51, line 25, to delete \"or other designated centre\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 116:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 35: In page 51, to delete all words from and including \"or\" in line 41 to \"the case may be,\" in line 1, page 52."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 117:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 36: In page 52, line 36, to delete \"subject to subsection (10) , set the time and date for the hearing\" and substitute \"set the time and date for the review to be heard in accordance with subsection (9) \"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 118:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 36: In page 53, line 20, to delete \"a\" and substitute \"the\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 119"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 36: In page 53, line 24, to delete \" subsection (7) \" and substitute \" subsection (6) \"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 120:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 36: In page 53, line 31, to delete \" sections 9 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 22 , 23 , 25 , 31 , 32 , 33 and 38 \" and substitute \" sections 29 , 30 , 31 and 33 \"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 121:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 36: In page 54, lines 4 to 10, to delete all words from and including \"until\" in line 4 down to and including line 10 and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\"until\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) the expiry of the order detaining the person, or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) the expiry of any subsequent renewal order where, in advance of the making of the renewal order concerned\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(i) the clinical director of the registered acute mental health centre from which the person was transferred approves a further period of detention, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(ii) the clinical director of the Central Mental Hospital has consented in writing to the further detention.\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 122:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 36: In page 54, lines 11 and 12, to delete \" paragraph (a) of subsection (14) and a consent under paragraph (b) \" and substitute \" subparagraph (i) of subsection (14)(b) and a consent under subparagraph (ii) \"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 123:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 36: In page 54, line 20, after \"shall\" to insert \"prepare and\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 124:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 37: In page 54, line 32, after \"treatment\" to insert \", but no longer than the expiry of the involuntary admission order or any subsequent renewal order pursuant to which he or she is detained,\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 125:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 38: In page 55, line 2, to delete \" (7) \" and substitute \" (7) ,\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 126:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 38: In page 55, line 10, to delete \"detention\" and substitute \"admission\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 127:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 38: In page 55, line 12, to delete \"decision,\" and substitute \"decision and\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 128:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 38: In page 55, line 14, after \"decision\" to insert \"shall be\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 129:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 38: In page 55, line 14, to delete \"record\" where it secondly occurs and substitute \"records\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 130:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 38: In page 55, line 26, to delete \"certify in writing\" and substitute \"issue a certificate in writing\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 131:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 38: In page 55, line 35, to delete \"detention,\" and substitute \"detention\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 132:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 38: In page 56, line 5, to delete \"record\" and substitute \"records\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 133:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 38: In page 56, line 8, to delete \" Sections 23 to 37 \" and substitute \" Sections 22(4) , 23 to 37 , 39 , 40 and 41 \"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 134:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 39: In page 56, line 15, to delete \"Part\" and substitute \"Act\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 135:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 39: In page 56, line 23, after \"of\" to insert \"the\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 136:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 39: In page 56, line 34, after \"shall\" to insert \"prepare and\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 137:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 41: In page 58, line 14, to delete \"record\" and substitute \"records\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 138:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 41: In page 58, line 20, after \"her\" to insert \"responsible\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 139:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 41: In page 58, line 21, before \"is\" to insert \"subject to subsections (9) to (12) and (14) ,\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 140:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 41: In page 58, line 26, before \"consultant psychiatrist\" to insert \"responsible\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 141:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 41: In page 58, to delete lines 30 to 41 and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\"(9) Subject to subsection (10) , where an order is revoked under subsection (1) in respect of a person and the order has been referred to a review board under section 31 but the time and date has not been scheduled for the hearing of the review of the detention by the review board or the hearing has not commenced, the hearing by the review board shall not commence unless the person the subject of the order or his or her legal representative requests by notice in writing addressed to the Commission, as soon as practicable, but no later than 14 days after the date of the revocation of the order, that the review be completed."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(10) Where an order is revoked under subsection (1) and the revocation takes place within 48 hours before the time and date scheduled for the hearing of the review of the detention by the review board, the review shall continue at the time and date scheduled if the person or his or her legal representative submits a request in writing to the Commission to confirm that he or she wishes the hearing to proceed on that date."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(11) Where no request for the hearing to proceed is received under subsection (10) , the review shall be discontinued."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(12) Where a person or his or her legal representative requests under subsection (9) that a review be completed, that review shall take place within 21 days of the date the request is made.\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 142:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 41: In page 59, line 5, to delete \" section 32(1) \" and substitute \" section 32(2) \"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 143:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 41: In page 59, line 7, after \" subsection (9) \" to insert \"or (10) \"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 144:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 41: In page 59, line 9, to delete \" sections 9 to 24 and 38 \" and substitute \" sections 9 , 12 to 26 and 38 \"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 145:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 42: In page 59, between lines 38 and 39, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\"(f) is informed of any relevant advocacy services,\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 146:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 46: In page 61, line 16, after \"shall\" to insert \", as soon as practicable,\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 147:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 46: In page 61, line 30, to delete \"to refuse\" and substitute \"refuse\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 148:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 46: In page 61, between lines 36 and 37, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\"(6) A capacity assessment and, where applicable, a second capacity assessment shall be\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) arranged for and carried out as soon as practicable, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) carried out regularly, with the frequency of review based on the individual needs of the person concerned, and in any event not less than once every 14 days, to assess whether the person continues to lack the necessary capacity to consent to or refuse treatment.\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 149:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 46: In page 61, line 37, after \"second capacity assessment\" to insert \"of a person\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 150:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 46: In page 61, line 38, to delete \"record\" and substitute \"records\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 151:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 47: In page 62, line 25, to delete \"involuntary\" and substitute \"involuntarily\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 152:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 47: In page 62, lines 27 and 28, to delete \" section 48 , 49 or 50 \" and substitute \" section 48 , 50 or 51 \"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 153:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 47: In page 62, line 31, to delete \"record\" and substitute \"records\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 154:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 48: In page 62, line 33, to delete \" subsections (2) , (3) , (4) , (5) and (8) \" and substitute \" subsections (2) to (6) and (9) \"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 155:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 48: In page 63, line 10, after \"to\" to insert \"materially\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 156:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 48: In page 63, between lines 12 and 13, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\"(3) Where treatment is being administered to a person under subsection (1)(b) \u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) a capacity assessment and a second capacity assessment shall be completed no later than 72 hours after the initiation of treatment, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) the administration of treatment under that subsection shall be discontinued immediately where the person is assessed as not lacking capacity to consent to or refuse treatment after either the capacity assessment or the second capacity assessment.\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 157:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 48: In page 63, line 34, after \"or\" to insert \", where extended under subsection (4) , the\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 158:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 48: In page 64, line 1, after \"or\" to insert \", where extended under subsection (4) , the\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 159:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 48: In page 64, line 2, to delete \"and a person\" and substitute \"in respect of an involuntarily admitted person and that person\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 160:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 48: In page 64, lines 3 and 4, to delete \"responsible consultant psychiatrist\" and substitute \"registered proprietor\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 161:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 48: In page 64, line 4, after \"or\" to insert \", where extended under subsection (4) , the\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 162:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 48: In page 64, line 7, to delete \"or any\" and substitute \"or, where extended under subsection (4) , the\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 163:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 48: In page 64, line 8, to delete \" section 45 , 47 , 50 or 51 \" and substitute \" section 44 , 45 , 47 , 50 or 51 ,\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 164:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 49: In page 64, line 21, to delete \"responsible consultant psychiatrist\" and substitute \"registered proprietor\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 165:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 49: In page 64, line 22, after \"2015\" to insert \"as soon as practicable and\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 166:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 49: In page 64, between lines 24 and 25, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\"(2) An application to the Circuit Court made under subsection (1) shall be withdrawn by the registered proprietor where\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) the person the subject of the application is discharged as an involuntarily admitted person, or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) the person the subject of the application is assessed under section 46 to have capacity to consent to or refuse treatment.\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 167:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 50: In page 64, line 27, to delete \" (2) ,\" and substitute \" (2) \"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 168:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 50: In page 64, line 27, to delete \"the involuntarily admitted person concerned\" and substitute \"an involuntarily admitted person\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 169:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 50: In page 64, line 28, to delete \"an involuntarily\" and substitute \"the involuntarily\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 170:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 50: In page 64, line 31, to delete . \"after the initial treatment period and any\" and substitute \"outside of the initial treatment period or, where extended under section 48(3) , the\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 171:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 50: In page 64, line 34, after \"where\" to insert \"there is no alternative safe and effective treatment available and\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 172:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 50: In page 65, line 4, after \"to\" to insert \"materially\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 173:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 50: In page 65, line 5, to delete \"person,\" and substitute \"person.\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 174:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 50: In page 65, to delete line 6."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 175:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 50: In page 65, between lines 6 and 7, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\"(3) Where treatment is being administered to a person under subsection (1)(b) \u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) a capacity assessment and a second capacity assessment shall be completed no later than 72 hours after the initiation of treatment, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) the administration of treatment under that subsection shall be discontinued immediately where the person is assessed as not lacking capacity to consent to or refuse treatment after either the capacity assessment or the second capacity assessment.\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 176:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 51: In page 65, line 34, to delete \"responsible consultant psychiatrist\" and substitute \"registered proprietor of the registered acute mental health centre concerned\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 177:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 51: In page 66, line 17, to delete \"he or she\" and substitute \"and\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 178:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 51: In page 66, line 24, to delete \"responsible consultant psychiatrist\" and substitute \"registered proprietor of the registered acute mental health centre concerned\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 179:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 51: In page 66, to delete lines 28 to 34."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 180:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 52: In page 67, lines 4 and 5, to delete \"found to lack capacity to give consent to a proposed treatment under section 46 , then\" and substitute \"found under section 46 to lack the necessary capacity to give consent to a proposed treatment of electro-convulsive therapy, then\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 181:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 54: In page 68, line 17, to delete \u201cis, to\u201d and substitute \u201cis to\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 182:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 57: In page 69, lines 22 and 23, to delete \u201cwhich in the opinion of the consultant psychiatrist or relevant health professional expects will\u201d and substitute \u201cwhich, in the opinion of the consultant psychiatrist or relevant health professional, will\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 183:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 57: In page 69, between lines 24 and 25, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(3) The consultant psychiatrist or the relevant health professional who orders, initiates or applies a restrictive practice in respect of a person shall have due regard to\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) the will and preferences of the person regarding the application of the restrictive practice, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) the view of any nominated person in relation to such will and preferences,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"and such will and preferences and views shall be recorded in writing in the person\u2019s medical record and care plan.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 184:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 57: In page 69, between lines 6 and 7, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" \u201cPharmacological restraint "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"57. A pharmacological restraint shall not be applied in respect of a person receiving treatment in a registered acute mental health centre or designated centre unless\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) the restraint is ordered by a consultant psychiatrist only,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) the restraint is initiated by a relevant health professional,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(c) the restraint is applied in respect of the person by a relevant health professional,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(d) the application of such restraint is determined by the consultant psychiatrist, in accordance with regulations made under section 58 , to be necessary where there is an immediate threat of serious harm to the person or to another person, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(e) the pharmacological restraint concerned complies with regulations under section 58 .\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Seanad amendment No. 185:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 59: In page 71, between lines 9 and 10, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" \u201cInterpretation "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"59. For the avoidance of doubt, in this Part, a child that is the subject of an emergency care order, an interim care order, a supervision order or a voluntary care arrangement shall be treated the same as a child who is not the subject of a care order, unless otherwise provided.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 186:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 60: In page 71, lines 13 to 18, to delete all words from and including \u201c(1) The\u201d in line 13 down to and including line 18 and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(1) Sections 21, 22, 24, 24A, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 35A to 35Q, 37 and 47 of the Act of 1991 shall, subject to the modifications specified in subsection (2) , apply to proceedings under this Part as they apply to proceedings to which those sections apply."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(2) The modifications referred to in subsection (1) are as follows:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) references in a section specified in that subsection to proceedings or an order under Part III, IV, IVA, IVB, V, VA or VI of the Act of 1991 shall be construed as references to proceedings or an order under this Part;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) references in sections 29, 35F and 35G of the Act of 1991 to the Agency shall be construed as references to\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(i) where the child is the subject of a care order, the Executive and the Agency, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(ii) in all other instances, the Executive;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(c) references in section 34 of the Act of 1991 to an order made under Part III or Part IV of that Act and to the Agency shall be construed as references to an involuntary admission order made under section 66 and to the Executive respectively;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(d) references in section 35 of the Act of 1991 to an order made under Part IV of that Act and to the Agency shall be construed as references to an involuntary admission order made under section 66 and to the Executive respectively;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(e) in section 35B of the Act of 1991\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(i) references in subsection (2) of that section to proceedings under Part IVA and to the Family High Court shall be construed as references to proceedings under section 66 and to the Family District Court or District Court respectively, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(ii) references in subsection (3) of that section to proceedings under Part IV, IVB or VI and to the Family District Court or the Family Circuit Court shall be construed as references to proceedings under section 62(2) and 64(2) and to the Family District Court or District Court respectively;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(f) in section 35D of the Act of 1991\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(i) the reference in subsection (1) of that section to proceedings under Part IVA of that Act shall be construed as a reference to proceedings under section 66 , and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(ii) the reference in subsection (2) of that section to proceedings under Part IV, IVB or VI of that Act shall be construed as a reference to an application under section 62(2) or 64(2) ;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(g) in section 35H of the Act of 1991\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(i) references in subsection (1) of that section to a special care order and in subsection (6) of that section to a subsequent care order shall be construed as references to an involuntary admission order made under section 66 and a renewal order made under section 67 respectively, and references in subsection (1) or (6) of that section to the Family High Court shall be construed as references to the Family District Court or the District Court, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(ii) references in subsection (2) of that section to the Family District Court or the Family Circuit Court and an application under section 18(1) of that Act for a care order shall be construed as references to the Family District Court or District Court and an application under section 62(2) or section 64(2) respectively;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(h) references in section 35K of the Act of 1991 to \u201cthe Minister\u201d shall be construed as references to the Minister and the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(i) references in section 37 of the Act of 1991 to an order under Part III or IV of that SECTION 60"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Act shall be construed as references to an involuntary admission order made under section 66 ;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(j) any other necessary modifications.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 187:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 60: In page 71, to delete lines 19 to 21 and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(2) References in sections 18(3) and 43A of the Act of 1991 to a person having authority to consent to psychiatric examination, treatment or assessment shall, in respect of admission, detention, care and treatment under this Part, be subject to the provisions of this Act."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(3) References in sections 13(7) and 19(4) of the Act of 1991 to psychiatric examination, treatment or assessment do not include references to treatment under this Act.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 188:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 60: In page 71, between lines 21 and 22, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(3) Where a child is the subject of a special care order (within the meaning of the Act of 1991) or an interim special care order (within the meaning of the Act of 1991), he or she may be admitted to a registered acute mental health centre and treated under this Act as if he or she was the subject of a care order, with the modification that references to an application to\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) the District Court or the Family District Court under section 62(2) , 64(2) , 66 , 67 , 70 , 71 or 79 ,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) the Family Circuit Court under section 69 , or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(c) the Family High Court under section 82 ,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"shall be construed as references to an application to the High Court or Family High Court under section 23NF(1) of the Act of 1991 to authorise the release of the child from the special care unit for the provision of psychiatric examination, treatment or assessment and with any other necessary modifications.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 189:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 61: In page 71, line 27, after \u201cprofessional,\u201d to insert \u201cand\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 190:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 61: In page 71, to delete lines 28 and 29 and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(b) the child\u2019s parents or guardian or the Agency,\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 191:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 61: In page 71, line 30, to delete \u201cconsiders\u201d and substitute \u201cconsider\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 192:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 61: In page 71, lines 30 and 31, to delete \u201c, or refuse to consent to,\u201d and substitute \u201cor refuse\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 193:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 61: In page 72, line 4, to delete \u201c, or refuse to consent to,\u201d and substitute \u201cor refuse\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 194:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 61: In page 72, line 5, to insert \u201cresponsible\u201d before \u201cconsultant psychiatrist\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 195:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 61: In page 72, line 6, to delete \u201ca second consultant\u201d and substitute \u201canother consultant\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 196:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 61: In page 72, lines 13 and 14, to delete \u201c, or refuse to consent to,\u201d and substitute \u201cor refuse\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Amendments Nos. 197 and 212 to 214, inclusive, are related and will be discussed together. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 197:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 61: In page 72, between lines 15 and 16, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(5) A capacity assessment and, where applicable, a second capacity assessment shall be\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) arranged for and carried out as soon as practicable, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) carried out regularly, with the frequency of review based on the individual needs of the child concerned, and in any event not less than once every 14 days, to assess whether the child continues to lack the necessary capacity to consent to or refuse treatment.\u201d."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  This grouping relates generally to children aged 16 or 17 who have been assessed as lacking capacity under the Bill. This is not a new policy but instead places the provision in a more appropriate section. It provides that where a capacity assessment is being carried out on a child, it is done as soon as practicable, regularly to meet the individual child\u2019s needs, but not less than once every 14 days. This an important safeguard to ensure that the capacity of young people aged 16 and 17 is assessed frequently. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 198:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 61: In page 72, line 16, after \u201cof\u201d to insert \u201ca capacity assessment under subsection (1) or\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 199:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 61: In page 72, lines 18 and 19, to delete \u201c, or refuse to consent to,\u201d and substitute \u201cor refuse\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 200:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 61: In page 72, line 22, to delete \u201crecord\u201d and substitute \u201crecords\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 201:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 61: In page 72, to delete lines 25 and 26 and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(a) his or her relevant consulted carers, or\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 202:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 61: In page 72, line 28, to delete \u201c(a), (b) and (c)\u201d and substitute \u201c(a) and (b)\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Amendments Nos. 203 and 204 are related and will be discussed together. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 203:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 62: In page 72, to delete lines 39 to 41, and in page 73, to delete lines 1 to 5 and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(2) Where a child referred to in subsection (1) is the subject of a care order, the Executive may, with the agreement of the responsible consultant psychiatrist and with the consent of and on notice to the Agency, apply to the Family District Court or the District Court for the time being assigned to the Family District Court district or District Court district, as the case may be, where the child resides or is for the time being and, where the Court is satisfied that it is in the best interests of the child to be so admitted, the Court shall make an order authorising the admission of that child to the registered acute mental health centre."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(3) Where a guardian ad litem stands appointed for a child the subject of a care order at the time that an application under subsection (2) is proposed, the Executive shall notify the guardian ad litem of the proposed application in advance.\u201d."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  The two amendments in this grouping do not represent a significant change in policy from the Bill, as passed by the D\u00e1il, but have been included to clarify what should happen for voluntarily admitted children who are in the care of Tusla.  Amendment No. 203 provides for children who are in the care system to be admitted for inpatient mental health treatment on a voluntary basis, with the consent of Tusla, where it is in the best interests of the child. This admission is done by way of application to the Family District Court. The Family District Court judge will, in all cases, consider whether the appointment of a guardian ad litem is appropriate and in the best interests of the child.  Amendment No. 204 replaces subsections of the Bill, as published by the D\u00e1il, with new subsections. These new subsections clearly state that children under 16 years of age may only be discharged with the consent of their parent, guardian or the Child and Family Agency where they are the subject of a care order and that they must be discharged into the care of their parents, guardian or the Child and Family Agency, as appropriate.  These amendments will ensure that there are appropriate legal safeguards in place for children who are being transferred from the care of one State body to another. I believe it is an important protection to have such admissions decided on by the Court. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 204."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 62: In page 73, to delete lines 6 to 10 and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(3) Subject to subsection (4) and section 71 , a voluntarily admitted child under 16 years of age may leave the registered acute mental health centre at any time into the care of his or her relevant carer, with the consent of his or her parents or guardian or the Agency."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(4) The Executive shall, as soon as may be, notify the Agency where a child the subject of a supervision order leaves a registered acute mental health centre under subsection (4) ."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(5) Where a child under 16 years of age admitted to a registered acute mental health centre under this section may continue to require care and treatment in the registered acute mental health centre after attaining the age of 16, his or her responsible consultant psychiatrist shall, in consultation with the child, his or her parents or guardian or the Agency and the Executive, as appropriate, arrange for the child to be admitted under section 63, 64 or 66 or discharged under this section, as the case may be, immediately upon the child attaining the age of 16.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 205:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 63: In page 73, line 15, to delete \u201c, or refuse to consent to,\u201d and substitute \u201cor refuse\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 206:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 63: In page 73, line 19, to delete \u201cwho is the subject of a care order\u201d and substitute \u201creferred to in subsection (4) \u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 207:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 63: In page 73, line 24, after \u201corder\u201d to insert \u201c, a voluntary care arrangement, an emergency care order or an interim care order\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 208:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 63: In page 73, line 25, to delete \u201cChild and Family\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 209:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 63: In page 73, between lines 25 and 26, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(5) The Executive shall, as soon as may be, notify the Agency where a child the subject of a supervision order leaves a registered acute mental health centre under this section.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 210:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 64: In page 73, line 28, to delete \u201c subsection (2) \u201d and substitute \u201c subsections (2) and (3) \u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 211:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 64: In page 73, line 29, to delete \u201c, or refuse to consent to,\u201d and substitute \u201cor refuse\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 212:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 64: In page 73, to delete lines 33 to 39 and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(2) Where a child is\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) the subject of a care order,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) aged 16 years or older, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(c) assessed under section 61 to lack the necessary capacity to consent to or refuse his or her admission on a voluntary basis,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"the Executive may, with the agreement of the responsible consultant psychiatrist and with the consent of and on notice to the Agency, apply to the Family District Court or the District Court for the time being assigned to the Family District Court district or District Court district, as the case may be, where the child resides or is for the time being located and, where the Court is satisfied that it is in the best interests of the child to be so admitted, the Court shall make an order authorising the admission of that child to that registered acute mental health centre."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(3) Where a guardian ad litem stands appointed for a child the subject of a care order at the time that an application under subsection (2) is proposed, the Executive shall notify the guardian ad litem of the intended application in advance.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 213:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 64: In page 73, to delete lines 40 to 42, and in page 74, to delete lines 1 and 2 and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(3) Subject to subsection  (5) and section 71 , a child admitted to a registered acute mental health centre under this section may leave the registered acute mental health centre at any time into the care of his or her relevant carer, with the consent of his or her parents or guardian or the Agency, as the case may be."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(4) The Executive shall, as soon as may be, notify the Agency where a child the subject of a supervision order is discharged from a registered acute mental health centre under this section.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 214:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 64: In page 74, to delete lines 9 to 13 and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(b) arrange for capacity assessments of the child to be carried out in accordance with section 61 to assess whether the child continues to lack the necessary capacity to consent to or refuse voluntary admission.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 215:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 64: In page 74, line 15, to delete \u201c, or refuse to consent to,\u201d and substitute \u201cor refuse\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 216:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 65: In page 75, line 3, to delete \u201cdetention,\u201d and substitute \u201cdetention\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 217:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 65: In page 75, line 4, after \u201cto\u201d to insert \u201cmaterially\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 218:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 66: In page 75, line 22, to delete \u201cWhere\u201d and substitute \u201cSubject to subsection (3) , where\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 219:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 66: In page 75, lines 23 to 39, to delete all words from and including \u201cand where\u2014\u201d in line 23 down to and including \u201cshall\u201d in line 39 and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201cthe Executive shall, as soon as may be, arrange for a consultant psychiatrist to carry out an examination of the child."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(2) Where, following an examination under subsection (1) , the consultant psychiatrist is satisfied that the child has a mental disorder that fulfils the criteria for involuntary admission of a child, the Executive may\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 220:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 66: In page 75, lines 39 and 40, to delete \u201cthe District Court in the District Court district where the child concerned resides or is located,\u201d and substitute \u201cthe Family District Court or the District Court for the time being assigned to the Family District Court district or District Court district, as the case may be, where the child resides or is for the time being,\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 221:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 66: In page 76, line 1, to delete \u201cdetention,\u201d and substitute \u201cdetention\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 222:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 66: In page 76, between lines 2 and 3, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(2) In carrying out an examination under subsection (1) , a responsible consultant psychiatrist shall consider, in consultation with the child\u2019s relevant consulted carers, if any\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) whether the child may, in the first instance, be admitted\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(i) as a voluntarily admitted child under section 62 or 63 , or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(ii) as a child aged 16 years or older lacking necessary capacity admitted with parental consent under section 64 ,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) if so, whether it would be in the best interests of the child to be admitted pursuant to section 62 , 63 or 64 , as the case may be, rather than being admitted on an involuntary basis under this section.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 223:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 66: In page 76, to delete lines 3 to 6 and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(2) Where the Executive makes an application for involuntary admission under subsection (2) following an examination under subsection (1) , the consultant psychiatrist who carried out an examination of the child shall\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) report to the Court as soon as practicable within such period as is specified by the Court, which period shall be no longer than 72 hours after the giving of such direction by the Court, on the results of the examination, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) indicate to the Court whether he or she is satisfied that the child fulfils the criteria for involuntary admission of a child.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 224:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 66: In page 76, lines 7 and 8, to delete \u201c subsection (1) \u201d and substitute \u201c subsection (2) \u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 225:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 66: In page 76, to delete lines 9 to 18 and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(a) the child is aged 16 years or older and refuses or does not consent to the examination,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) in the case of a child under 16 years of age or a child aged 16 years or older who lacks the necessary capacity to consent to or refuse voluntary admission, the parents or guardian or the Agency refuse or do not consent to the examination of the child, or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(c) in the case of a child referred to in paragraph (b) who is not the subject of a care order, following the making of reasonable enquiries by the Executive, the parents, or either of them, or guardian, cannot be found by the Executive.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 226:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 66: In page 76, line 20, to delete \u201c subsection (1) \u201d and substitute \u201c subsection (2) \u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 227:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 66: In page 76, line 21, to delete \u201cthe District Court\u201d and substitute \u201cthe Family District Court or the District Court, as the case may be,\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 228:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 66: In page 76, to delete lines 24 to 26 and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201cconsultant psychiatrist and for that consultant psychiatrist to\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) report to the Court as soon as practicable within such period as is specified by the Court, which period shall be no longer than 72 hours after the giving of such direction by the Court, on the results of the examination, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) indicate to the Court whether he or she is satisfied that the child fulfils the criteria for involuntary admission of a child.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 229:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 66: In page 76, to delete lines 28 to 30 and substitute \u201c subsection (1) or (5) where he or she is a relative of the child concerned.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 230:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 66: In page 76, to delete lines 31 to 35."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 231:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 66: In page 76, line 36, to delete \u201cthe Court\u201d and substitute \u201cthe Family District Court or the District Court, as the case may be,\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 232:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 66: In page 76, line 41, after \u201corder\u201d)\u201d to insert \u201cfor the involuntary admission of the child concerned in a specified registered acute mental health centre\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 233:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 66: In page 76, after line 41, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(8) Where a guardian ad litem stands appointed for a child the subject of a care order at the time that an application for involuntary admission under subsection (2) is proposed, the Executive shall notify the guardian ad litem of the proposed application in advance."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(9) Subject to subsection (8) , notice of an application for involuntary admission under subsection (2) and a copy of the proceedings shall be served by the Executive on\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) the child\u2019s relevant notified carers, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) any other person specified by the Family District Court or the District Court, as the case may be."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(10) Before making an involuntary admission order under this section, the Family District Court or the District Court, as the case may be, may have regard to any submission made to it in relation to any matter by or on behalf of a party to the proceedings concerned or any other person having an interest in the proceedings.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No 234:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 66: In page 77, line 1, to delete \u201c subsection (1) \u201d and substitute \u201c subsection (2) \u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 235:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 66: In page 77, line 1, to delete \u201cthe Court\u201d and substitute \u201cthe Family District Court or the District Court, as the case may be,\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 236:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 66: In page 77, lines 3 and 4, to delete \u201cthe District Court under subsection (1) \u201d and substitute \u201cthe Family District Court or the District Court, as the case may be, under subsection (2) \u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 237:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 66: In page 77, line 5, to delete \u201cdetention,\u201d and substitute \u201cdetention\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 238:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 67: In page 77, line 11, to delete \u201cdetention,\u201d and substitute \u201cdetention\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 239:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 67: In page 77, line 13, to delete \u201c subsection (2) , section 69 or 69(7) \u201d and substitute \u201c subsections (2) and (3) , section 69 and 70(7) ,\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 240:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 67: In page 77, line 16, to delete \u201cthe District Court\u201d and substitute \u201cthe Family District Court or the District Court for the time being assigned to the Family District Court district or District Court district, as the case may be, where the child resides or is for the time being\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 241:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 67: In page 77, line 22, to delete \u201cDistrict Court\u201d and substitute \u201cFamily District Court or the District Court, as the case may be,\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 242:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 67: In page 77, line 25, to delete \u201cDistrict Court\u201d and substitute \u201cFamily District Court or the District Court, as the case may be,\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 243:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 67: In page 77, line 30, to delete \u201cDistrict\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 244:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 67: In page 77, lines 34 to 36, to delete all words from and including \u201cshe\u2014\u201d in line 34 down to and including line 36 and substitute \u201cshe is a relative of the child concerned.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 245:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 67: In page 77, between lines 36 and 37, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(6) Where the Executive proposes to make an application under subsection (2) , it shall notify the guardian ad litem for the child appointed in accordance with Part VA of the Act of 1991, as applied by section 60 , of the proposed application in advance."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(7) Notice of an application under subsection (2) or (3) and a copy of the proceedings shall be served by the Executive on\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) the child\u2019s relevant notified carers, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) any other person specified by the Family District Court or the District Court, as the case may be."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(8) Before making a renewal order under this section, the Family District Court or the District Court, as the case may be, may have regard to any submission made to it in relation to any matter by or on behalf of a party to the proceedings concerned or any other person having an interest in the proceedings.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 246:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 67: In page 77, line 37, to delete \u201cCourt\u201d and substitute \u201cFamily District Court or the District Court, as the case may be,\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 247:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 69: In page 78, lines 7 and 8, to delete \u201cCircuit Court against a decision of the District Court\u201d and substitute \u201cFamily Circuit Court against a decision of the Family District Court or the District Court\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 248:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 69: In page 78, line 11, to delete \u201c sections 10, 20, 66, 67, 71, 73 and 74 \u201d and substitute \u201c sections 10, 66, 67, 71, 73, 74, 75 and 79 \u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 249:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 69: In page 78, lines 16 and 17, to delete \u201cparents, or either of them, or guardian, or, where the child is the subject of a care order, the Child and Family Agency\u201d and substitute \u201cparents or guardian or the Agency\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 250:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 69: In page 78, line 18, to delete \u201c section 74(2) \u201d and substitute \u201c section 75(2) \u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 251:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 69: In page 78, line 19, after \u201con the\u201d to insert \u201cFamily\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 252:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 69: In page 78, line 20, to delete \u201cthe judge of the circuit\u201d and substitute \u201ca judge of the Family Circuit Court for the time being assigned to the Family Circuit Court circuit\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 253:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 69: In page 78, line 22, after \u201cthe\u201d to insert \u201cFamily\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 254:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 69: In page 78, line 29, after \u201cthe\u201d to insert \u201cFamily\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 255:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 69: In page 78, line 39, after \u201cthe\u201d to insert \u201cFamily\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 256:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 69: In page 78, lines 40 and 41, to delete \u201cany proceedings under this section shall be served by the person bringing the proceedings and a copy of the proceedings shall be served\u201d and substitute \u201can appeal under subsection (1) and a copy of the proceedings shall be served by the person bringing the appeal\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 257:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 69: In page 79, to delete lines 3 to 6 and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(c) the child\u2019s relevant notified carers,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(d) the registered proprietor of the registered acute mental health centre concerned,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(e) the responsible consultant psychiatrist in respect of the child the subject of the appeal, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(f) any other person specified by the Family Circuit Court.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 258:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 69: In page 79, between lines 6 and 7, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(8) A person bringing an appeal under this section shall also notify the guardian ad litem for the child appointed in accordance with Part VA of the Act of 1991, as applied by section 60 , of the bringing of the appeal.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 259:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 69: In page 79, line 7, to delete \u201cCircuit Court shall\u201d and substitute \u201cFamily Circuit Court may\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 260:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 69: In page 79, lines 9 and 10, to delete \u201cor any other person on whom notice is served under subsection (7) \u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 261:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 70: In page 79, between lines 10 and 11, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" \u201cDischarge of involuntarily admitted children "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"70. (1) Subject to subsection (2) , where a responsible consultant psychiatrist becomes of the opinion that a child no longer fulfils the criteria for involuntary admission of a child, the responsible consultant psychiatrist shall as soon as possible meet with the child concerned and\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) inform the child of his or her intention to notify the Executive under subsection (4) of his or her proposal to discharge the child and of the right of the child, if discharged, to leave the registered acute mental health centre or, with the responsible consultant psychiatrist\u2019s agreement\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(i) remain as a voluntarily admitted child if\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(I) in the case of a child aged 16 years or older, the child wishes, or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(II) in the case of a child under 16 years of age, the child\u2019s parents, or either of them, or guardian, wishes,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(ii) in the case of a child aged 16 years or older assessed as lacking capacity under section 61 , remain as a child aged 16 years or older lacking necessary capacity admitted with parental consent if his or her parents, or either of them, or guardian wishes,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) provide the child with all relevant information from the child\u2019s care plan prepared in accordance with section 180 and information regarding\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(i) what will occur if the child leaves the registered acute mental health centre, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(ii) what will occur if the child remains in the registered acute mental health centre in accordance with paragraph (a)(i) or (ii) ."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(2) Where a child referred to in subsection (1) \u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) is under 16 years of age or is assessed as lacking capacity under section 61, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) is the subject of a care order,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"that subsection shall apply in relation to the child with the modification that the child may remain as a voluntarily admitted child in the registered acute mental health centre with the responsible consultant psychiatrist\u2019s agreement where an order is made by the Family District Court or the District Court, as the case may be, authorising the admission under section 62(2) or 64(2) ."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(3) The meeting referred to in subsection (1) may also be attended by\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) the child\u2019s relevant consulted carers, if any, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) any nominated person."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(4) Where, following a meeting under subsection (1) , a responsible consultant psychiatrist proposes to discharge a child under that subsection, the responsible consultant psychiatrist or another mental healthcare professional who is involved in the child\u2019s care and treatment shall\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) notify\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(i) the Executive,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(ii) the child\u2019s guardian ad litem ,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(iii) the child\u2019s relevant consulted carers, if any, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(iv) in relation to a child who is the subject of a voluntary care arrangement, an emergency care order, an interim care order or a supervision order, if not already notified under subparagraph (iii) , the Agency,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"of the proposal to discharge the child, together with a report of his or her opinion that the child no longer fulfils the criteria for involuntary admission of a child, for the purpose of subsection (6) , and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) engage with the child concerned and, in so far as is practicable, where appropriate, liaise with the persons referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection (3) as they apply in respect of the child concerned for the purposes of planning the child\u2019s discharge."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(5) Where the Family District Court or the District Court, as the case may be, refuses an application for a renewal order under section 67 in relation to a child, subsections (1) to (4) shall apply to the child concerned and his or her responsible consultant psychiatrist with the modification that the discharge of the child has been authorised by the Family District Court or the District Court under subsection (7) , and a further application under subsection (6) shall not be required."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(6) Where the Executive has been notified of a proposal to discharge a child under subsection (4) , the Executive shall make an application to the Family District Court or the District Court for the time being assigned to the Family District Court district or District Court district, as the case may be, where the child resides or is for the time being and furnish the report referred to in subsection (4)(a) to the Court upon the making of the application."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(7) Subject to subsection (9) , where the Court is satisfied, having considered an application under subsection (6) , that the child no longer meets the criteria for involuntary admission of a child, the Court shall make an order authorising the discharge of the child as an involuntarily admitted child from the registered acute mental health centre."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(8) Notice of an application under subsection (6) and a copy of the proceedings shall be served by the Executive on\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) the child\u2019s relevant notified carers, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) any other person specified by the Family District Court or the District Court, as the case may be."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(9) Before making an order authorising the discharge of the child as an involuntarily admitted child under subsection (7) , the Family District Court or the District Court, as the case may be\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) shall have regard to the report referred to in subsection (4)(a) , and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) may have regard to any submission made to it in relation to any matter by or on behalf of a party to the proceedings concerned or any other person having an interest in the proceedings."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(10) The decision under this section for a child to remain in a registered acute mental health centre as a voluntarily admitted child or a child aged 16 years or older lacking necessary capacity admitted with parental consent, or to not remain, shall be recorded and a copy shall be retained in the child\u2019s medical records."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(11) Where a child discharged under this section is\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) the subject of a care order, a voluntary care arrangement, an emergency care order or an interim care order, or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) where paragraph (a) does not apply, under 16 years of age or aged 16 years or older and assessed as lacking capacity to consent under section 61,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"he or she shall be released into the care of his or her relevant carer.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 262:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 71: In page 81, line 16, after \u201cexamination\u201d to insert \u201cand consultation with the responsible consultant psychiatrist\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 263:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 71: In page 81, line 18, to delete \u201cthe involuntary admission shall\u201d and substitute \u201cthe detention shall\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 264:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 71: In page 81, lines 18 to 20, to delete all words from and including \u201cparents,\u201d in line 18 down to and including \u201cas the case may be,\u201d in line 20 and substitute \u201crelevant notified carers\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 265:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 71: In page 81, line 24, after \u201caccordance\u201d to insert \u201cwith that section\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 266:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 71: In page 81, between lines 30 and 31, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(4) Where a child discharged under this section is\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) the subject of a care order, a voluntary care arrangement, an emergency care order or an interim care order, or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) where paragraph (a) does not apply, under 16 years of age or aged 16 years or older and assessed as lacking capacity to consent under section 61 ,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"he or she shall be released into the care of his or her relevant carer.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 267:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 71: In page 81, to delete lines 34 to 40 and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c section 66(2) , subject to the following modifications:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) the application shall be made\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(i) at the next sitting of the Family District Court held in the Family District Court district in which the child resides or is for the time being,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(ii) in circumstances of urgency where no judge of the Family District Court is available to hear the application, at the next sitting of the District Court held in the same District Court district, or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(iii) in the event that the next sitting of the Family District Court or District Court is not due to be held within 3 working days of the date on which the child is detained under this section, at a sitting of the Family District Court or District Court which has been specially arranged under paragraph (d) , held within the said 3 working days;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) where a judge for the Family District Court district or a judge for the District Court district in which the child resides or is for the time being is not immediately available, an order may be made by any judge of the Family District Court or the District Court;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(c) the application may, if the judge is satisfied that the urgency of the matter so requires, be made ex parte ;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(d) the application may, if the judge is satisfied that the urgency of the matter so requires, be heard and an order made thereon elsewhere than at a sitting of the Family District Court or a public sitting of the District Court;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(e) the Executive shall furnish reports, prepared by the psychiatrist or psychiatrists concerned, of the examinations under subsection (2) when making the application.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 268:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 71: In page 81, line 43, to delete \u201c section 66(1) \u201d and substitute \u201c section 66(2) \u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 269:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 71: In page 81, line 44, to delete \u201cretain\u201d and substitute \u201ccontinue the\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 270:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 71: In page 81, line 45, to delete \u201cCourt\u201d and substitute \u201cFamily District Court or District Court, as the case may be,\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 271:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 71: In page 82, line 2, to delete \u201crecord\u201d and substitute \u201crecords\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 272:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 71: In page 82, line 4, to delete \u201c section 66(1) \u201d and substitute \u201c section 66(2) \u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 273:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 71: In page 82, line 5, to delete \u201c paragraph (a) or (b) \u201d and substitute \u201c paragraph (a) , (b) or (c) \u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 274."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 71: In page 82, lines 8 and 9, to delete \u201cof the decision to involuntarily admit or the decision not to involuntarily admit a child under this section\u201d and substitute \u201cof a decision under this section to make an application for involuntary admission under section 66 or to not make such an application\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 275:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 72: In page 82, between lines 9 and 10, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" \u201cNotification to Agency "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"72. Where a child was the subject of a care order, a voluntary care arrangement, an emergency care order, an interim care order or a supervision order at the time of his or her admission under section 62, 63, 64 or 66 and that arrangement or order ceases during his or her period of admission, the Executive shall, as soon as may be, notify the Agency where the child concerned\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) is the subject of a renewal order under section 67 ,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) leaves a registered acute mental health centre under section 62, 63, 64 or 71 , or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(c) is discharged from a registered acute mental health centre under section 70 .\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 276:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 72: In page 82, between lines 9 and 10, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" \u201cPowers of Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na to take child into custody in certain circumstances "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"73. (1) Where a member of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na has reasonable grounds for believing that a child has a mental disorder that fulfils paragraph (a) of the criteria for involuntary admission of a child, the member may either alone or with any other member or members of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) take all reasonable measures necessary to take the child into custody and arrange for the matters specified in subsections (3), (4), (6), (8), (10), (13), (15) and (16) , as applicable, to be carried out as soon as practicable, but no later than 6 hours after the time that the child is taken into custody, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) enter, if needs be by force, any dwelling or other premises or any place if he or she has reasonable grounds for believing that the child is to be found there."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(2) The period referred to in subsection (1)(a) may be extended by one additional period of 6 hours under the authorisation of a member of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na not below the rank of inspector if he or she has reasonable grounds for believing that the additional period is necessary in order that the matters specified in subsections (3), (4), (6), (8), (10), (13), (15) and (16) , as applicable, may be carried out."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(3) Where a member of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na takes a child into custody under subsection (1) , he or she or any other member or members of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na shall contact\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) in relation to a child the subject of a care order, the Agency,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) in relation to a child the subject of a voluntary care arrangement, an emergency care order, an interim care order or a supervision order, the Agency and the child\u2019s parents, or either of them, or guardian, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(c) in all other circumstances, the child\u2019s parents, or either of them, or guardian,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"as soon as practicable, but no later than 3 hours from the time that the child is taken into custody."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(4) Where a member of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na takes a child into custody under subsection (1) , he or she or any other member or members of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na may request\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) a registered medical practitioner to carry out an examination of the child, or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) the Executive to arrange for a consultant psychiatrist to carry out an examination of the child,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"to assess whether the child has a mental disorder that fulfils the criteria for involuntary admission of a child requiring an application for involuntary admission of a child under section 66 ."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(5) In so far as possible, an examination under subsection (4) shall also be attended by the persons specified in paragraphs (a) , (b) or (c) of subsection (3) , as the case may be."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(6) Where, following an examination of a child under subsection (4) \u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) a registered medical practitioner is of the opinion that the child concerned has a mental disorder that fulfils the criteria for involuntary admission of a child, a member or members of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(i) shall, subject to subsection (7) \u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(I) release the child into the care of his or her relevant carer for the purpose of that person or persons engaging with the Executive to assess whether an application for involuntary admission under section 66 is required in respect of the child, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(II) notify the Executive that the child has been released into the care of his or her relevant carer,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(ii) may request the Executive to assess whether an application for involuntary admission under section 66 is required in respect of the child,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) a consultant psychiatrist is of the opinion that the child has a mental disorder that fulfils the criteria for involuntary admission of a child\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(i) subject to subsection (7), a member or members of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na shall release the child into the care of his or her relevant carer, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(ii) the Executive may make an application for involuntary admission under section 66 in respect of the child."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(7) A member or members of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na shall not release a child under paragraph (a)(i) or (b)(i) of subsection (6) where\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) in the opinion of the member or members of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na responsible for the child, there is an immediate and serious risk to the health or welfare of the child or that of another person by releasing the child,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) in the opinion of the registered medical practitioner or consultant psychiatrist concerned, there is an immediate and serious risk to the health or welfare of the child or that of another person by releasing the child,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(c) in the case of a child who is not the subject of a care order, a voluntary care arrangement, an emergency care order or an interim care order, his or her relevant carer, after the making of reasonable enquiries, cannot be found, or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(d) his or her detention is authorised by law other than under this Act."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(8) Where paragraph (a) , (b) or (c) of subsection (7) applies, the member or members of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na may request that the Executive take charge of the child as soon as possible until such time as\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) an involuntary admission order is made under section 66 in respect of the child, or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) the Executive assesses that an application for involuntary admission under section 66 is not required in respect of the child."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(9) The Executive shall comply with the request under subsection (8) as soon as practicable."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(10) Where subsection (7)(c) applies and the child\u2019s relevant carer is subsequently found, the child shall be released from the custody of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na or from the charge of the Executive, as the case may be, unless, in the opinion of the member or members of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na responsible for the child or the Executive, there is an immediate and serious risk to the health or welfare of the child or that of another person by releasing the child into the care of that person or persons."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(11) Where a request is made under subsection (8) due to paragraph (a) or (c) of subsection (7) applying, the member or members of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na responsible for the child shall notify the Agency as soon as may be."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(12) Where\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) in advance of an examination of a child under subsection (4) , the member or members of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na responsible for the child has or have reasonable grounds for believing that the child concerned no longer has a mental disorder that fulfils paragraph (a) of the criteria for involuntary admission of a child, or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) following an examination of a child under subsection (4) , a registered medical practitioner or consultant psychiatrist referred to in that subsection is of the opinion that the child concerned does not have a mental disorder that fulfils the criteria for involuntary admission of a child,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"the child shall, subject to subsections (13) , (14) and (15) , be released from the custody of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(13) Where paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection (12) applies\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) where the child is the subject of a care order, a voluntary care arrangement, an emergency care order or an interim care order, a member or members of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na shall release the child into the care of the Agency unless his or her detention is authorised other than under this Act, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) subject to subsection (14) , in all other circumstances\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(i) where the child is under 16 years of age, a member or members of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na shall release the child into the care of his or her relevant carer, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(ii) where the child is aged 16 years or older, a member or members of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na shall release the child immediately,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"unless the detention of the child is authorised other than under this Act."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(14) A member or members of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na shall not release a child under subsection (13)(b) where\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) in the opinion of the member or members of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na responsible for the child, there is an immediate and serious risk to the health or welfare of the child by releasing the child, or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) in respect of a child referred to in subsection (13)(b)(i) , his or her relevant carer, after the making of reasonable enquiries, cannot be found,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"until such time as a request is made under subsection (15) or a notification is made under subsection (16) , as the case may be."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(15) Where subsection (14)(a) applies, a member or members of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na may request the Agency that the child be delivered up to the custody of the Agency under section 12 of the Act of 1991 as soon as may be."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(16) Where subsection (14)(b) applies, a member or members of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na may notify the Agency.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 276a:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 73: In page 83, to delete lines 13 to 43 and in page 84, to delete lines 1 to 5."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 277:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 74: In page 84, between lines 5 and 6, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" \u201cBringing of child subject of involuntary admission order to registered acute mental health centre "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"74. (1) Where an involuntary admission order is made under section 66 in respect of a child, the child\u2019s relevant carer shall arrange for the child to be brought to the registered acute mental health centre specified in the order as soon as practicable after the making of the order."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(2) Where a child\u2019s relevant carer is unable to arrange for the child to be brought to the registered acute mental health centre in accordance with subsection (1) , the relevant carer shall request\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) the clinical director of the registered acute mental health centre specified in the order, or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) a consultant psychiatrist acting on that clinical director\u2019s behalf,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"to arrange for the child concerned to be brought to the registered acute mental health centre."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(3) Where the relevant carer of a child the subject of an involuntary admission order, other than the Agency, fails or refuses to arrange for the child to be brought to the registered acute mental health centre specified in the order, the clinical director of the registered acute mental health centre concerned or a consultant psychiatrist acting on the clinical director\u2019s behalf shall arrange for the child concerned to be brought to the registered acute mental health centre."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(4) A person referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection (2) , on foot of a request made under that subsection, shall arrange for the child the subject of the involuntary admission order to be brought to the specified registered acute mental health centre by members of the staff of the centre or a service provider as soon as practicable."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(5) A clinical director or consultant psychiatrist referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection (2) or in subsection (3) may request a member of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na to assist in bringing the child the subject of the involuntary admission order to the specified registered acute mental health centre where the clinical director or consultant psychiatrist concerned is of the opinion that such assistance is necessary to protect the health of the child or other persons from the threat of immediate and serious harm."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(6) Where a request is made to An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na under subsection (4) , a member or members of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) shall comply with that request as soon as practicable, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) may\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(i) enter if needs be by force any dwelling or other premises or any place if the member has reasonable cause to believe that the child concerned is to be found there, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(ii) take all reasonable measures necessary to bring the child the subject of the order to the registered acute mental health centre including the detention or restraint of the child concerned."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(7) A member of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na who under subsection (5)(b)(ii) detains or restrains a child the subject of an order shall cease the detention or restraint immediately upon the detention or restraint no longer being necessary, in the opinion of the member of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na applying the restraint, in order to protect the health of the child or other persons from the threat of immediate and serious harm.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 278:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 74: In page 84, to delete lines 12 to 39, and in page 85, to delete lines 1 to 17 and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(2) A notice under subsection (1) and any information provided in accordance with subsection (3) shall be given to\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) the child concerned,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) the child\u2019s relevant consulted carers, if any,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(c) in relation to a child who is the subject of a voluntary care arrangement, an emergency care order, an interim care order or a supervision order, if not already notified under paragraph (b) , the Agency, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(d) where relevant, any nominated person."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(3) A notice under subsection (1) shall include a statement in writing to the effect that\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) the child\u2019s relevant consulted carers, if any, will be given a general description of the proposed care and treatment to be administered to the child during the period of his or her admission,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) the child\u2019s relevant consulted carers, if any, are entitled to receive information on any aspect of the child\u2019s proposed care and treatment at any time during the period of admission,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(c) the recipient will be provided with an explanatory note on the guiding principles that apply in relation to all decisions regarding the child\u2019s care and treatment,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(d) the recipient is informed of the rights of the child or his or her parents or guardian or the Agency, where appropriate, subject to Chapter 3 , to consent or refuse to consent to treatment,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(e) the recipient is informed of the complaints procedure for the registered acute mental health centre and of the entitlement of the child and his or her parents or guardian or the Agency to bring a complaint under that procedure,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(f) the recipient is informed of any relevant advocacy services,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(g) the recipient is informed of the entitlement of the child and his or her parents or guardian or the Agency to communicate with the Chief Inspector,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(h) the recipient is informed of the entitlement of the child and his or her relevant consulted carers, if any, to discuss discharge planning,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(i) the recipient is informed of the entitlement of the child to engage with\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(i) his or her relevant consulted carers, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(ii) where applicable, a nominated person,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(j) the recipient will be provided with all other relevant information as outlined in the code of practice relating to admission of children, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(k) the recipient is informed of the entitlement of the child to leave the registered acute mental health centre at any time, subject to sections 62(4) , 63(3) , 63(5) , 64(4) and 71 .\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 279:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 74: In page 85, lines 18 and 19, to delete \u201csubsequently provided thereunder\u201d and substitute \u201cprovided in accordance with subsection (3) \u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 280:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 75: In page 85, lines 22 to 27, to delete all words from and including \u201c(1) The\u201d in line 22 down to and including line 27."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 281:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 75: In page 85, line 29, after \u201cpracticable\u201d to insert \u201cbut not later than 24 hours\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 282:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 75: In page 85, to delete lines 32 to 39, to delete page 86 and in page 87, to delete lines 1 to 4 substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(3) A notice under subsection (2) and any information provided in accordance with subsection (4) shall be given to\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) the child concerned,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) the child\u2019s relevant consulted carers, if any,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(c) in relation to a child who is the subject of a voluntary care arrangement, an emergency care order, an interim care order or a supervision order, if not already notified under paragraph (b) , the Agency, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(d) where relevant, any nominated person."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(4) A notice under subsection (2) shall include a statement in writing to the effect that\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) the child\u2019s relevant consulted carers, if any, will be given a general description of the proposed care and treatment to be administered to the child during the period of his or her involuntary admission,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) the child\u2019s relevant consulted carers, if any, are entitled to receive information on any aspect of the child\u2019s proposed care and treatment at any time during the period of involuntary admission,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(c) the recipient will be provided with an explanatory note on the guiding principles that apply in relation to all decisions regarding the child\u2019s care and treatment,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(d) the recipient is informed of the rights of the child or his or her parents or guardian or the Agency, where appropriate, subject to Chapter 3 , to consent or refuse to consent to treatment,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(e) the recipient is informed of the complaints procedure for the registered acute mental health centre and of the entitlement of the child and his or her parents or guardian or the Agency to bring a complaint under that procedure,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(f) the recipient is informed of any relevant advocacy services,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(g) the recipient is informed of the entitlement of the child and his or her parents or guardian or the Agency to communicate with the Chief Inspector,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(h) the recipient is informed that a court may, in any proceedings under this Part that the child to whom the notice relates is a party, if it thinks fit, appoint a solicitor to represent the interests of the child in the proceedings pursuant to section 25 of the Act of 1991,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(i) the recipient is informed of the guardian ad litem appointed for him or her following the making of the involuntary admission order in accordance with Part VA of the Act of 1991, as applied by section 60 ,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(j) the recipient is provided with all other relevant information as outlined in the code of practice relating to admission of children,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(k) the recipient is informed of the entitlement to appeal to the Family Circuit Court under section 69 against an involuntary admission order or a renewal order, and of the effect of such appeals,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(l) the recipient is informed of the entitlement of the child and his or her relevant consulted carers, if any, to discuss discharge planning, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(m) the recipient is informed of the entitlement of the child to engage with\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(i) his or her relevant consulted carers, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(ii) where applicable, a nominated person.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 283:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 75: Inpage 87, lines 5 and 6, to delete \u201csubsequently provided thereunder\u201d and substitute \u201cprovided in accordance with subsection (4) \u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 284:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 76: In page 87, lines 9 and 10, to delete \u201c(1) Subject to subsection (2) , the parents of a child, or either of them, or guardian, or, where the child is the subject of a care order, the Child and Family Agency,\u201d and substitute \u201cThe child\u2019s relevant consulted carers, if any,\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 285:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 76: In page 87, line 12, after \u201cchild,\u201d to insert \u201cand\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 286:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 76: In page 87, to delete lines 13 to 15."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 287:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 76: In page 87, to delete lines 19 to 22."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 288:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 77: In page 87, between lines 22 and 23, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c Bringing of child other than child subject of involuntary admission order to registered acute mental health centre"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"77. (1) Where a child is to be admitted to a registered acute mental health centre under section 62 or 64 and his or her relevant carer is unable to arrange to bring the child to the registered acute mental health centre, the relevant carer shall request\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) the clinical director of the registered acute mental health centre which the child is to be admitted to, or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) a consultant psychiatrist acting on that clinical director\u2019s behalf,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"to arrange for the child concerned to be brought to the registered acute mental health centre."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(2) A person referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection (1) shall arrange for the child referred to in that subsection to be brought to the registered acute mental health centre by members of the staff of the centre or a service provider as soon as practicable.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 289:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 77: In page 87, between lines 22 and 23, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c Transfer of involuntarily admitted child to hospital or other place in certain circumstances"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"78. (1) A clinical director of a registered acute mental health centre may arrange for the transfer of an involuntarily admitted child detained in that centre to a hospital or other place, other than a registered acute mental health centre, for the purposes of receiving treatment and for his or her detention there for that purpose."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(2) A child who is transferred under subsection (1) may be kept at the hospital or other place so long as is necessary for the purpose of his or her treatment, but no longer than the expiry of the involuntary admission order or any subsequent renewal order pursuant to which he or she is detained, and shall then be taken immediately back to the registered acute mental health centre from which he or she was transferred."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(3) The detention of a child in a hospital or other place, other than a registered acute mental health centre, under this section shall be deemed for the purposes of this Act to be detention in the registered acute mental health centre from which he or she was transferred.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 290:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 77: In page 87, between lines 22 and 23, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c Transfer of child by clinical director in certain circumstances"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"79. (1) Where, in relation to an involuntarily admitted child, the clinical director of a registered acute mental health centre (in this section referred to as the \u201cfirst-mentioned registered acute mental health centre\u201d) is of the opinion that\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) it would be for the benefit of the involuntarily admitted child in the first-mentioned registered acute mental health centre to be transferred to another registered acute mental health centre (in this section referred to as a \u201csecond-mentioned registered acute mental health centre\u201d), or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) for the purpose of obtaining special treatment, the details of which shall be specified in writing, it is necessary for the child to be transferred to a second-mentioned registered acute mental health centre,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"the Executive may, with the consent of the clinical director of the first-mentioned registered acute mental health centre and the clinical director of the second-mentioned registered acute mental health centre, apply to the Family District Court or the District Court for the time being assigned to the Family District Court district or District Court district, as the case may be, where the child resides or is for the time being, for the transfer of the involuntarily admitted child to the second-mentioned registered acute mental health centre."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(2) Where, following an application under subsection (1) , the Court is satisfied that it is in the best interests of the child to be transferred, the Court shall make an order authorising the transfer, reception and care and treatment of that child in that second-mentioned registered acute mental health centre."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(3) Where a guardian ad litem stands appointed for a child the subject of a care order at the time that an application under subsection (1) is proposed, the Executive shall notify the guardian ad litem of the proposed application in advance."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(4) Notice of the application under subsection (1) and a copy of the proceedings shall be served by the Executive on\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) the child\u2019s relevant notified carers, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) any other person specified by the Family District Court or the District Court, as the case may be."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(5) Before making an order under subsection (2) , the Family District Court or the District Court, as the case may be, may have regard to any submission made to it in relation to any matter by or on behalf of a party to the proceedings concerned or any other person having an interest in the proceedings."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(6) Where an involuntarily admitted child is transferred to a second-mentioned registered acute mental health centre following the making of an order under subsection (2) , the clinical director of the first-mentioned registered acute mental health centre shall give notice in writing of the transfer to the Commission within 24 hours of the transfer having taken place."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(7) A child who is transferred to a second-mentioned registered acute mental health centre following an application under subsection (1)(a) may be detained in the second-mentioned registered acute mental health centre until the date of the expiration of the involuntary admission order pursuant to which he or she was detained in the first-mentioned registered acute mental health centre."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(8) A child who is transferred to a second-mentioned registered acute mental health centre following an application under subsection (1)(b) may be detained there so long as is necessary for the purpose of the specified special treatment and shall then be taken back to the first-mentioned registered acute mental health centre, which taking back may not occur later than the date of the expiration of the involuntary admission order pursuant to which he or she was detained in the first-mentioned registered acute mental health centre."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(9) In this section, references to an involuntary admission order include references to a renewal order.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 291:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 77: In page 87, between lines 22 and 23, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c Request for application for transfer of child"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"80. (1) A request may be made to the clinical director of a registered acute mental health centre for the transfer of an involuntarily admitted child detained in that centre to another registered acute mental health centre by\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) subject to paragraph (b) , in the case of a child aged 16 years or older, the child concerned or any nominated person, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) in the case of a child aged 16 years or older assessed as lacking capacity to consent under section 61 or a child under 16 years of age, his or her parents or guardian or the Agency or, where relevant, any nominated person."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(2) Subject to subsection (3) , a clinical director who receives a request under subsection (1) may request the Executive to make an application under section 79* for the transfer of the involuntarily admitted child with the consent of the clinical director of the registered acute mental health centre to which the child is to be transferred."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(3) Before deciding whether to request the Executive to make an application under section 79 , the clinical director who received the request under subsection (1) shall consult with the child the subject of the application, the responsible consultant psychiatrist and other members of the child\u2019s multidisciplinary team and, as appropriate, the child\u2019s parents or guardian or the Agency and any nominated person."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(4) The clinical director who received the request under subsection (1) shall, within 7 days of receiving the request\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) make his or her decision on whether or not to request the Executive to make an application under section 79 ,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) provide a copy in writing of that decision to the person who made the request which shall include, where the clinical director refuses a request, the reasons for refusing the request, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(c) send a copy of the request and his or her decision to the Commission.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 292:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 77: In page 87, line 26, to delete \u201cgrant\u201d and substitute \u201cgive\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 293:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 77: In page 87, line 26, to delete \u201cPart\u201d and substitute \u201cAct\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 294:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 77: In page 87, lines 31 to 33, to delete all words from and including \u201cparents\u201d in line 31 down to and including \u201cAgency\u201d in line 33 and substitute \u201cchild\u2019s parents or guardian or the Agency\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 295:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 77: In page 87, between lines 36 and 37, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(2) Where a permitted absence is given under subsection (1) to\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) a child the subject of a care order, a voluntary care arrangement, an emergency care order or an interim care order, or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) a child under 16 years of age or aged 16 years or older assessed as lacking capacity to consent under section 61 ,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"he or she shall be released into the care of his or her relevant carer for the duration of the permitted absence."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(3) The responsible consultant psychiatrist shall, where practicable, give adequate notice of not less than 3 days to the child\u2019s relevant notified carers in advance of giving a permitted absence under subsection (1) . \u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 296:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 77: In page 87, line 37, to delete \u201c subsection (1) ,\u201d and substitute \u201c subsection (1) \u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 297:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 77: In page 88, to delete lines 1 to 4."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 298:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 77: In page 88, line 6, to insert \u201cresponsible\u201d before \u201cconsultant psychiatrist\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 299:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 77: In page 88, line 8, after \u201cchild\u201d to insert \u201cand his or her relevant carer for the child\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 300:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 78: In page 88, lines 23 and 24, to delete all words from and including \u201cchild,\u201d in line 23 down to and including \u201cAgency\u201d in line 24 and substitute \u201cchild or his or her relevant carer\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 301:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 79: In page 89, lines 16 and 17, to delete all words from and including \u201cparents,\u201d in line 16 down to and including \u201cAgency,\u201d in line 17 and substitute \u201cparents or guardian or the Agency\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 302:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 80: In page 89, lines 24 and 25, to delete \u201c(in this section referred to as \u201cinformation relevant to the decision\u201d)\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 303:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 80: In page 89, line 29, to delete \u201c section 60 \u201d and substitute \u201csection 61 \u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 304:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 80: In page 89, to delete lines 30 to 37 and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201cconsent of the child\u2019s parents or guardian or the Agency obtained freely without threats or inducement where\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) adequate information in a form and language that the child can understand on the nature, purpose and likely effects of the treatment concerned has been given to the child\u2019s parents or guardian or the Agency, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) due regard has been given to the views and the will and preferences of the child in accordance with the guiding principles.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 305:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 80: In page 90, lines 4 to 6, to delete all words from and including \u201c section 61 \u201d in line 4 down to and including \u201cAgency\u201d in line 6 and substitute \u201c section 61 , his or her parents or guardian or the Agency\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 306:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 81: In page 90, lines 12 to 14, to delete all words from and including \u201cparents,\u201d in line 12 down to and including \u201cAgency,\u201d in line 14 and substitute \u201cparents or guardian or the Agency\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 307:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 81: In page 90, lines 17 to 19, to delete all words from and including \u201cThe parents\u201d in line 17 down to and including \u201cAgency,\u201d in line 19 and substitute \u201cIn respect of an involuntarily admitted child under 16 years of age, his or her parents or guardian or the Agency\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 308:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 81: In page 90, to delete lines 26 and 27."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 309:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 82: In page 90, lines 35 and 36, to delete \u201cparents, or either of them, or guardian, or, where the child is the subject of a care order, the Child and Family Agency refuses\u201d and substitute \u201cparents or guardian or the Agency refuse or refuses\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 310:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 82: In page 90, line 38, before \u201chis\u201d to insert \u201cother than where the child is the subject of a care order,\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 311:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 82: In page 91, lines 3 and 4, to delete \u201cparents, or either of them, or guardian, or, where the child is the subject of a care order, the Child and Family Agency refuses\u201d and substitute \u201cparents or guardian or the Agency refuse or refuses\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 312:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 82: In page 91, line 6, before \u201chis\u201d to insert \u201cother than where the child is the subject of a care order,\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 313:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 82: In page 91, line 8, to delete \u201cor on behalf of the responsible consultant psychiatrist\u201d and substitute \u201cthe Executive\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 314:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 82: In page 91, line 9, after \u201cthe\u201d, where it firstly occurs, to insert \u201cFamily\u201d"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 315:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 82: In page 91, line 21, after \u201cwill\u201d to insert \u201cmaterially\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 316:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 82: In page 91, line 24, after \u201cthe\u201d to insert \u201cFamily High\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 317:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 82: In page 91, lines 30 to 32, to delete all words from and including \u201cthe parents\u201d in line 30 down to and including \u201cor its\u201d in line 32 and substitute \u201chis or her parents or guardian or the Agency withdraws the\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 318:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 82: In page 91, between lines 33 and 34, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(4) Where an application is made to the Family High Court under subsection (1) , the Executive shall immediately notify\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) the guardian ad litem appointed for the child, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) the child\u2019s relevant notified carers,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"of the making of the application and any treatment provided under subsection (6) .\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 319:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 82: In page 91, line 34, after \u201cthe\u201d to insert \u201cFamily High\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 320:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 82: In page 91, after line 39, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(5) An application may be made by the Executive to the Family High Court to renew a treatment order made under this section, subject to any directions of the Court, where the grounds in paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection (1) and the relevant criteria in subsection (2) continue to apply."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(6) Where an application to the Family High Court has been made under subsection (1) or (5) in relation to an involuntarily admitted child under 16 years of age or an involuntarily admitted child aged 16 years or older who has been assessed as lacking capacity under section 61 , treatment may be administered to the involuntarily admitted child prior to the hearing of the application, for a period of 72 hours after its initiation or until the hearing of the application by the Family High Court, whichever is sooner, where, in the opinion of the responsible consultant psychiatrist, the grounds in paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection (1) and the relevant criteria in subsection (2) continue to apply."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(7) Where treatment is administered to a child without consent pursuant to a treatment order under subsection (1) or prior to the hearing of the application under subsection (6) , the absence of consent and details of the treatment or treatments shall be noted in his or her medical records."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(8) A treatment order shall, subject to any directions of the Family High Court, have effect for a period not exceeding 3 months.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 321:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 82: In page 92, line 1, after \u201cthe\u201d, where it firstly occurs, to insert \u201cFamily High\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No.322:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 82: In page 92, line 5, after \u201cage,\u201d to insert \u201cor\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No.323:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 82: In page 92, to delete lines 8 to 10."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 324:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 82: In page 92, lines 11 to 13, to delete all words from and including \u201cthe\u201d where it secondly occurs in line 11 down to and including \u201cAgency,\u201d in line 13 and substitute \u201cthe child\u2019s parents or guardian or the Agency\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 325:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 82: In page 92, line 14, to delete \u201cparents, or either of them, or guardian, or, the Child and Family Agency\u201d and substitute \u201cparents or guardian or the Agency\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 326:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 82: In page 92, line 15, to delete \u201cor refuse to consent to treatment\u201d and substitute \u201cor refuse treatment\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 327:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 82: In page 92, lines 16 and 17, to delete \u201c paragraphs (a), (b), (c) and (d) of subsection (2) apply\u201d and substitute \u201c paragraphs (a), (b) and (d) of subsection (2) apply (with the modification that a reference to an involuntarily admitted child shall be construed as a reference to the child concerned)\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 328:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 82: In page 92, line 21, to delete \u201crecord\u201d and substitute \u201crecords\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 328a:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 83: In page 92, to delete lines 22 to 36"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 329:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 84: In page 92, after line 36, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" \u201cApplication to Family District Court for relevant treatment order "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"84 . (1) Subject to subsections (11) and (16) , an application for a treatment order under this section may be made by the Executive where\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) treatment cannot be administered to an involuntarily admitted child aged 16 years or older assessed as lacking capacity under section 61 or an involuntarily admitted child aged under 16 years because\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(i) his or her parents, or either of them, or guardian, having been given an opportunity to consent to or refuse the treatment concerned, fail to do so or are incapable of doing so, or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(ii) his or her parents, or either of them, or guardian, after the making of reasonable enquiries, cannot be found,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) the relevant criteria in subsection (2 ) apply."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(2) The relevant criteria for the purpose of subsection (1) are that there is no alternative safe and effective treatment available and\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) the treatment is immediately necessary for the protection of life of the child or that of another person,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) the treatment is necessary for protection from an immediate and serious threat to the health of the child, or that of another person, or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(c) the child has a mental disorder, the nature and degree of which is such that\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(i) he or she requires treatment immediately,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(ii) the treatment required to be given to the child cannot be given to that child other than in a registered acute mental health centre, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(iii) the treatment of the child concerned would be likely to materially benefit the condition of that child."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(3) The following provisions shall have effect in relation to an application under subsection (1) :"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) the application shall be made\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(i) at the next sitting of the Family District Court held in the Family District Court district in which the child resides or is for the time being,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(ii) in circumstances of urgency where no judge of the Family District Court is available to hear the application, at the next sitting of the District Court held in the same District Court district, or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(iii) in the event that the next sitting of the Family District Court or District Court is not due to be held within 3 working days, at a sitting of the Family District Court or District Court which has been specially arranged under paragraph (d) , held within the said 3 working days;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) where a judge for the Family District Court district or a judge for the District Court district in which the child resides or is for the time being is not immediately available, an order may be made by any judge of the Family District Court or the District Court;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(c) the application may, if the judge is satisfied that the urgency of the matter so requires, be made ex parte ;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(d) the application may, if the judge is satisfied that the urgency of the matter so requires, be heard and an order made thereon elsewhere than at a sitting of the Family District Court or a public sitting of the District Court;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(e) the Executive shall specify the proposed treatment to be administered to the child concerned."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(4) Before making an application under subsection (1) due to a failure by a child\u2019s parents, or either of them, or guardian to consent to or refuse the treatment concerned, the Executive shall\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) provide adequate time, information and, as appropriate, support to assist a child\u2019s parents, or either of them, or guardian to make a decision regarding the treatment concerned, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) inform the parents, or either of them, or guardian of its intention to make an application and consult with them in advance as appropriate."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(5) Where an application is made under subsection (1) , the Executive shall immediately notify the making of the application to\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) the guardian ad litem appointed for the child,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) where possible and appropriate, the child\u2019s parents, or either of them, or guardian,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(c) where the child is the subject of a voluntary care arrangement, an interim care order, an emergency care order or a supervision order, the Agency, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(d) any other person specified by the Family District Court or the District Court, as the case may be."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(6) Subject to subsection (14) , where the Family District Court or the District Court, as the case may be, is satisfied, having considered any reports or evidence that may be adduced before it, that the grounds in paragraph (a ) of subsection (1) and the relevant criteria in subsection (2) continue to apply, the Court may make an order (in this section referred to as a \u201crelevant treatment order\u201d) for the administration of the proposed treatment to the child concerned in a registered acute mental health centre for a period not exceeding 21 days."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(7) Before making a relevant treatment order, the Family District Court or the District Court, as the case may be, may request and consider such reports or evidence as it considers necessary to be furnished to the Court, within such period as may be specified by the Court."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(8) Where an application has been made under subsection (1) , treatment may be administered to the child the subject of the application for a period of 72 hours from the initiation of the application or until the hearing of the application by the Family District Court or the District Court, as the case may be, whichever is sooner, where, in the opinion of the responsible consultant psychiatrist, the grounds in paragraph (a) of subsection (1) and the relevant criteria in subsection (2) continue to apply."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(9) Where treatment is administered under subsection (8) , the Executive shall immediately notify the persons specified in paragraphs (a), (b), (c) and (d) of subsection (5) ."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(10) On the hearing of an application under subsection (1) , the Family District Court or the District Court, as the case may be, pending its determination of the application, of its own motion or on the application of any person, may give such interim directions as it sees fit as to the care and treatment of the child the subject of the application, but any such direction shall cease to have effect immediately on the determination by the Court of the application before it."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(11) Where, in the case of an involuntarily admitted child aged 16 years or older assessed as lacking capacity under section 61 or an involuntarily admitted child aged under 16 years\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) the responsible consultant psychiatrist, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) the child\u2019s parents or guardian or the Agency,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"agree that it would be detrimental to the relationship between the child and his or her parents or guardian or the Agency for that person or persons to consent to or refuse treatment, and, in the opinion of the responsible consultant psychiatrist, the relevant criteria in subsection (2 ) apply, an application for a relevant order may be made under this section with any necessary modifications."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(12) An application may be made by the Executive to the Family District Court or the District Court, as the case may be, to renew a relevant treatment order for one further period not exceeding 21 days, commencing on the date of the expiry of the initial relevant treatment order, subject to any directions of the Court, where\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) in the case of a child aged 16 years or older, the child continues to lack capacity to consent to or refuse treatment, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) the grounds in in paragraph (a) of subsection (1) and the relevant criteria in subsection (2) continue to apply,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"and subsections (3), (4), (5), (7), (8), (9) and (10) shall apply to such a renewal application with any necessary modifications."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(13) The Executive shall withdraw any application under this section not yet determined by the Family District Court or the District Court, as the case may be, where any of the matters in subsection (14 ) occur."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(14) Treatment may be administered pursuant to a relevant treatment order or any renewed relevant treatment order under this section until such time as the order expires or any of the following occurs, whichever is the sooner:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) in the case of a child aged 16 years or older, he or she is assessed under section 61 as having capacity to consent to or refuse treatment;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) the child\u2019s parents, or either of them, or guardian makes a decision to consent to or refuse treatment on behalf of the child;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(c) the child is discharged as an involuntarily admitted child under section 70;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(d) the responsible consultant psychiatrist discontinues the treatment."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(15) The Executive shall notify the Agency where a relevant treatment order is made under subsection (6) or renewed under subsection (12) ."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(16) This section shall not apply to a child the subject of a care order other than where subsection (11) applies.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 330:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 85: In page 93, between lines 8 and 9, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" \u201cProhibition on administration of electro-convulsive therapy for children "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"85. Electro-convulsive therapy shall not be administered to a child and, accordingly, a reference in this Part to treatment that may be administered to a child, or authorised or directed in respect of a child, shall not include electro-convulsive therapy.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 331:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 86: In page 93, to delete lines 26 to 28 and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(c) the application of such restraint is determined by the consultant psychiatrist, in accordance with regulations made under section 89 , to be necessary where there is an immediate threat of serious harm to the child or to another person, and\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 332:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 88: In page 94, between lines 4 and 5, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" \u201cPharmacological restraint for children "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"88. A pharmacological restraint shall not be applied in respect of a child receiving treatment in a registered acute mental health centre unless\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) the restraint is ordered by a consultant psychiatrist only,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) the restraint is initiated by a relevant health professional,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(c) the restraint is applied in respect of the child by a relevant health professional,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(d) the application of such restraint is determined by the consultant psychiatrist, in accordance with regulations made under section 89 , to be necessary where there is an immediate threat of serious harm to the child or to another person, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(e) the pharmacological restraint concerned complies with regulations under section 89 .\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 333:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 88: In page 94, line 6, to delete \u201cshould be applied in respect of a child only\" and substitute \"may only be applied in respect of a child\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 334:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 88: In page 94, lines 25 and 26, to delete \u201cwhich in the opinion of the consultant psychiatrist or relevant health professional expects will\u201d and substitute \u201cwhich, in the opinion of the consultant psychiatrist or relevant health professional, will\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 335:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 88: In page 94, line 27, after \u201cproprietor\u201d to insert \u201cof a registered acute mental health centre\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 336:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 88: In page 94, line 35, to delete \u201crecord\u201d and substitute \u201crecords\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 337:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 88: In page 94, line 35, to delete \u201cspecified,\u201d and substitute \u201cspecified\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 338:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 89: In page 95, line 12, after \u201cMinister,\u201d to insert \u201cand following consultation with the Minister and Minister for Children, Disability and Equality,\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 339:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 89: In page 95, line 21, after \u201c section 10 \u201d to insert \u201c(including that the best interests and the welfare of the child shall be the primary consideration)\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 340:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 90: In page 96, lines 8 to 14, to delete all words from and including \u201c(1) Subject\u201d in line 8 down to and including line 14 and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(1) Where a restrictive practice is applied in respect of a child admitted under section 62 , 63, 64 or 66 , his or her relevant notified carers and nominated person, if any, shall be"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"informed of the application of the restrictive practice as soon as possible after the initiation of the application of the restrictive practice.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 341:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 90: In page 96, to delete lines 15 to 23."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 342:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 90: In page 96, line 26, to delete \u201c subsections (1) to (4 )\u201d and substitute \u201c subsection (1) \u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 343:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 90: In page 96, line 31, to delete \u201cChild and Family\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 344:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 90: In page 96, line 33, to delete \u201crecord\u201d and substitute \u201crecords\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 345:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 91: In page 96, to delete lines 35 to 40 and in page 97, to delete lines 1 to 15 and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" \u201cRole of parent or guardian regarding application of restrictive practice "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"91 . (1) As soon as practicable after the admission of a child admitted voluntarily under section 62 , a child aged 16 years or older lacking necessary capacity admitted with parental consent under section 64 or an involuntarily admitted child, the responsible consultant psychiatrist or another member of the child\u2019s multidisciplinary team shall\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) subject to subsection (3) , provide information on the application of restrictive practices in that registered acute mental health centre to\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(i) the child,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(ii) his or her nominated person, if any, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(iii) the child\u2019s relevant consulted carers, if any,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) take into account the views of any person to whom information is provided under paragraph (a) regarding the application of restrictive practices, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(c) record the views of any person to whom information is provided under paragraph (a) in the child\u2019s medical records and care plan."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(2) As soon as practicable after the admission of a child voluntarily admitted under section 63 , the responsible consultant psychiatrist or another member of the child\u2019s multidisciplinary team shall\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) subject to subsection (3) , provide information on the application of restrictive practices in that registered acute mental health centre to\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(i) the child,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(ii) his or her nominated person, if any, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(iii) his or her relevant consulted carers, if any,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) take into account the views of any person to whom information is provided under paragraph (a) regarding the application of restrictive practices, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(c) record the views of any person to whom information is provided under paragraph (a) in the child\u2019s medical records and care plan."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(3) Where the responsible consultant psychiatrist forms an opinion that it would be in the best interests of the child for any persons specified in subsection (1)(a) or (2)(a) not to be provided with information on the application of restrictive practices, such information is not required to be provided."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(4) Where information is provided to a child under subsection (1)(a ) or (2)(a) , such information shall be\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) given in a manner that is accessible to the child, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) provided in a manner that can reasonably be understood by the child.\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 346:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 109: In page 107, line 13, after \u201cand\u201d to insert \u201cthe\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 347:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 110: In page 107, line 24, to delete \u201cemployed,\u201d and substitute \u201cwas employed\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 348:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 111: In page 108, line 10, to delete \u201c section 5 \u201d and substitute \u201c section 242 \u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 349:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 116: In page 110, line 12, to delete \u201cand\u201d and substitute \u201cor\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 350:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 127: In page 116, line 25, after \u201cand\u201d to insert \u201cthe\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 351:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 128: In page 117, line 17, to delete \u201cor\u201d and substitute \u201cand\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 352:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 130: In page 118, lines 5 to 7, to delete all words from and including \u201cpersons,\u201d in line 5 down to and including \u201cInspectors\u201d)\u201d in line 7 and substitute \u201cpersons (who shall be known as Assistant Inspectors of Mental Health Services and are referred to in this Act as \u201cAssistant Inspectors\u201d), including members of staff of the Commission,\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 353:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 130: In page 118, lines 13, after \u201cand\u201d to insert \u201cthe\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 354:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 132: In page 120, line 19, after \u201c section 25 ,\u201d to insert \u201c 42 ,\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 355:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 132: In page 120, line 21, to delete \u201cor\u201d where it firstly occurs and substitute \u201cand\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 356:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 132: In page 120, line 29, to delete \u201cor\u201d where it firstly occurs and substitute \u201cand\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 357:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 133: In page 120, line 34, to delete \u201c subsection (1)(a) \u201d and substitute \u201c subsection (1) \u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 358:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 134: In page 121, line 20, to delete \u201cits\u201d and substitute \u201chis or her\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 359:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 135: In page 122, line 10, to delete \u201cCommittee of Inquiry\u201d and substitute \u201ccommittee (in this section referred to as a \u201cCommittee of Inquiry\u201d)\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 360:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 135: In page 122, line 13, to delete \u201cthe inquiry\u201d and substitute \u201ccarrying out an inquiry\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 361:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 135: In page 122, line 25, to delete \u201cthe later of the periods\u201d and substitute \u201cthe period\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 362:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 139: In page 124, line 21, to delete \u201csection\u201d and substitute \u201cAct\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 363:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 140: In page 125, line 4, to delete \u201csection\u201d and substitute \u201cAct\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 364:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 141: In page 125, line 20, to delete \u201csection\u201d and substitute \u201cAct\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 365:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 146: In page 127, line 28, to delete \u201cor\u201d and substitute \u201cand\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 366:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 147: In page 128, line 33, to delete \u201cor\u201d and substitute \u201cand\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 367:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 148: In page 129, line 26, to delete \u201cor\u201d and substitute \u201cand\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 368:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 150: In page 132, lines 3 and 4, to delete \u201cin accordance with section 146, 147 or 148 or following an inspection in accordance with section 12 8,\u201d and substitute \u201cin accordance with section 146 , 147 or 148 , or impose a condition, including an additional condition, where it considers it necessary under section 152 ,\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 369:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 150: In page 132, between lines 4 and 5, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(c) vary or impose a condition, including an additional condition, where it considers it necessary under section 152 , or\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 370:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 150: In page 132, to delete lines 7 to 11 and substitute \u201cit shall notify the registered proprietor in writing of the proposal and the reasons for the proposal not later than 14 days after the date of the proposal, and that he or she may make representations in accordance with this section.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 371:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 152: In page 133, line 17, to delete \u201cremove,\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 372:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 153: In page 134, lines 8 and 9, to delete \u201crefusal by the Commission to vary or remove a condition on the registration\u201d and substitute \u201cproposal by the Commission not to grant the application concerned\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 373:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 155: In page 134, line 36, to delete \u201cimposed\u201d and substitute \u201cattached, varied or imposed\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 374:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 156: In page 136, line 15, to delete \u201cregistered\u201d and substitute \u201cthe\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 375:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 161: In page 137, after line 37, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(d) making an application under Part 5 of the Act of 2015 for the purposes of Chapter 3 of Part 3 ;\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 376:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 161: In page 138, line 1, to delete \u201cto maintain or cause\u201d and substitute \u201cmaintaining or causing\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 377:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 161: In page 138, line 2, to delete \u201cto liaise\u201d and substitute \u201cliaising\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 378:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 161: In page 138, line 5, to delete \u201c section 146, 147 or 148 \u201d and substitute \u201c section 142, 143 or 144 \u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 379:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 161: In page 138, line 8, to delete \u201cor\u201d and substitute \u201cand\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 380:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 163: In page 138, lines 23 and 24, to delete \u201c(in this Part known as the \u201cregistered person\u201d)\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 381:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 163: In page 138, line 25, to delete \u201cthis section\u201d and substitute \u201cthis section (in this Part known as the \u201cregistered person\u201d)\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 382:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 164: In page 138, line 40, to delete \u201cPart\u201d and substitute \u201cAct\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 383:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 164: In page 139, line 22, to delete \u201cor\u201d and substitute \u201cand\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 384:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 166: In page 141, to delete line 13 and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(12) This section applies to sections 152, 157, 158, 159, 160, 161(3), 164(6), 175, 176, 181, 184, 187 , and 188 .\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 385:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 167: In page 141, line 24, to delete \u201cmatter\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 386:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 168: In page 142, to delete lines 31 to 36 and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(4) Where, on hearing an application under subsection (1) , the District Court is satisfied that there is a risk to the life, or a serious risk to the health or welfare, of members of the staff or a person accessing the registered mental health service because of any act, omission, failure to act or negligence on the part of the registered mental health service or the registered proprietor, it may make an order in accordance with that subsection\u2014\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 387:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 171: In page 144, line 8, to delete \u201cunder\u201d and substitute \u201cin accordance with\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 388:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 172: In page 144, line 35, to delete \u201ccentre\u201d and substitute \u201cregistered acute mental health centre\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 389:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 172: In page 145, line 2, to delete \u201cproprietor,\u201d and substitute \u201cproprietor\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 390:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 172: In page 145, line 5, to delete \u201cDistrict Court in the District Court district\u201d and substitute \u201cFamily District Court in the Family District Court district\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 391:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 172: In page 145, line 9, to delete \u201cdetention,\u201d and substitute \u201cdetention\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 392:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 173: In page 146, lines 7 to 20, to delete all words from and including \u201c(1) Where\u2014\u201d in line 7 down to and including line 20 and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(1) Where\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) the registration of a registered acute mental health centre has been cancelled and the service will cease to provide mental health services, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) the Executive is not taking charge of the centre concerned or the centre concerned will otherwise cease to provide mental health services,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"the Executive or the registered proprietor shall or may, as the case may be, carry out the steps specified in subsection (2) in respect of any person (including a voluntarily admitted child or a child aged 16 years or older lacking capacity admitted with parental consent) receiving treatment in the centre concerned who is not subject to an involuntary admission order or a renewal order."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(2) Where subsection (1) applies, the Executive or the registered proprietor\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) shall, where there is an imminent risk of harm to the person concerned if he or she does not continue to receive mental health treatment, arrange for his or her transfer to another registered acute mental health centre, or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) may, where there is no risk of harm to the person concerned, arrange for his or her transfer to another registered acute mental health centre.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 393:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 173: In page 146, line 28, to delete \u201cproprietor, may arrange for his or her transfer\u201d and substitute \u201cproprietor may arrange for the transfer of the person concerned\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 394:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 173: In page 146, line 32, to delete \u201c subsection (1) \u201d and substitute \u201c subsection (2) \u201d"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 395:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 175: In page 148, to delete line 18 and substitute \u201ca registered mental health service be required\u2014\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 396:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 175: In page 148, between lines 32 and 33, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(k) the information to be provided by a registered mental health service on any relevant advocacy services and access to such services, as appropriate;\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 397:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 176: In page 149, line 14, to delete \u201cage appropriate\u201d and substitute \u201cage-appropriate\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 398:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 176: In page 149, between lines 15 and 16, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(3) A person who contravenes a provision of a regulation made under subsection (1) that is stated in the regulations to be a penal provision shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a class A fine or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months, or to both.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 399:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 177: In page 149, line 31, after \u201c section 20 \u201d to insert \u201cor 74 \u201d"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 400:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 179: In page 151, lines 12 and 13, to delete \u201cA member of a person\u2019s multidisciplinary team shall, following a comprehensive assessment of a person in a registered acute mental health centre\u201d and substitute \u201cA member of the multidisciplinary team of a person, other than a child, admitted to a registered acute mental health centre shall, following a comprehensive assessment of the person\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 401:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 179: In page 151, line 29, to delete \u201cinsofar\u201d and substitute \u201cin so far\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 402:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 180: In page 152, line 8, to delete \u201cprescribed\u201d and substitute \u201cprescribed,\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 403:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 180: In page 152, lines 21 and 22, to delete \u201ca parent or guardian of the child as appropriate, or in the case of a child, the subject of a care order, the Child and Family Agency\u201d and substitute \u201cthe child\u2019s relevant consulted carers, if any,\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 404:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 180: In page 152, to delete line 24 and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(b) ensure that any consultation is accessible to the child and that information shall be provided in a manner that can reasonably be understood by the child, and\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 405:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 180: In page 152, to delete lines 25 to 31 and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(c) provide a copy of that plan to\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(i) the child concerned,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(ii) the child\u2019s relevant consulted carers, if any,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(iii) in relation to a child who is the subject of a voluntary care arrangement, an emergency care order, an interim care order or a supervision order, if not already notified under subparagraph (ii) , the Agency, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(iv) the child\u2019s nominated person, if any.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 406:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 180: In page 152, lines 35 to 37, to delete \u201chis or her parent or guardian, or, in the case of a child the subject of a care order, the Child and Family Agency and other members of the multidisciplinary team as appropriate\u201d and substitute \u201chis or her relevant consulted carers, if any\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 407:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 180: In page 153, lines 3 and 4, to delete \u201cparent or guardian, or, in the case of a child, the subject of a care order, the Child and Family Agency\u201d and substitute \u201cparents or guardian or the Agency\u201d"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 408:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 181: In page 153, lines 13 to 15, to delete \u201cadult, child or parent or guardian, or, in the case of a child, the subject of a care order, the Child and Family Agency, where appropriate, the subject of a care plan\u201d and substitute \u201cadult or child the subject of a care plan, and, where appropriate, the parents, or either of them, or guardian of a child the subject of a care plan or the Agency\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 409:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 181: In page 153, lines 20 and 21, to delete all words from and including \u201cchild\u201d where it firstly occurs in line 20 down to and including \u201cAgency\u201d in line 21 and substitute \u201cchild\u2019s parents or guardian or the Agency\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 410:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 184: In page 154, line 18, to delete \u201cfor the following\u201d and substitute \u201cfor any or all of the following\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 411:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 185: In page 155, line 5, to delete \u201csection\u201d and substitute \u201cAct\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 412:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 185: In page 155, line 6, to delete \u201cnominee\u201d and substitute \u201cnominated person\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 413:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 185: In page 155, line 8, to delete \u201cnominee\u201d and substitute \u201cnominated person\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 414:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 185: In page 155, line 12, to delete \u201cnominee\u201d and substitute \u201cnominated person\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 415:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 185: In page 155, line 16, to delete \u201cnominee\u201d and substitute \u201cnominated person\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 416:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 185: In page 155, line 18, to delete \u201cnominee\u201d and substitute \u201cnominated person\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 417."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 185: In page 155, to delete lines 22 to 28"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 418:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 186: In page 155, line 37, to delete \u201csection\u201d and substitute \u201cAct\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 419:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 186: In page 155, line 38, to delete \u201cnominee\u201d and substitute \u201cnominated person\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 420:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 186: In page 155, line 39, to delete \u201c90 and 91\u201d and substitute \u201c90, 91 and 180 and to make requests in accordance with section 80*\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 421:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 186: In page 156, line 1, to delete \u201cnominee\u201d and substitute \u201cnominated person\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 422:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 186: In page 156, line 5, to delete \u201cnominee\u201d and substitute \u201cnominated person\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 423:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 186: In page 156, line 9, to delete \u201cnominee\u201d and substitute \u201cnominated person\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 424:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 186: In page 156, line 12, to delete \u201cnominee\u201d and substitute \u201cnominated person\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 425:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 186: In page 156, line 18, to delete \u201cnominee\u201d and substitute \u201cnominated person\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 426:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 187: In page 156, line 22, to delete \u201cSubject to section 188, a registered proprietor\u201d and substitute \u201cA registered proprietor of a registered community mental health centre or a registered community mental health service\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 427:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 187: In page 156, line 23, to delete \u201cwho is in a registered mental health service\u201d and substitute \u201cwho is in or being treated by the registered community mental health centre or the registered community mental health service concerned\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 428:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 187: In page 156, lines 28 and 29, to delete \u201ca registered mental health service\u201d and substitute \u201cthe registered community mental health centre or the registered community mental health service concerned\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 429:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 187: In page 156, line 30, to delete \u201con a person\u201d and substitute \u201cof a person\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 430:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 187: In page 156, line 31, to delete \u201cthe registered mental health service\u201d and substitute \u201cthe registered community mental health centre or the registered community mental health service concerned\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 431:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 187: In page 156, line 38, to delete \u201cregistered mental health service\u201d and substitute \u201cregistered community mental health centre or a registered community mental health service\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 432:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 188: In page 157, line 2, after \u201cproprietor\u201d to insert \u201cof a registered acute mental health centre\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 433:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 188: In page 157, line 10, to delete \u201csection 62(2), 64(2), 66 or 70\u201d and substitute \u201csection 62(2), 64(2), 66, 67 or 70\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 434:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 188: In page 157, line 15, before \u201cany\u201d to insert \u201cwhere the person is an adult,\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 435:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 189: In page 157, line 34, after \u201cPart 6\u201d to insert \u201c(other than an offence under section 175 or 176)\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 436:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 192: In page 158, line 20, to delete \u201csections\u201d and substitute \u201csection\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 437:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 194: In page 159, lines 12 and 13, to delete \u201c(\u201clegal advice\u201d)\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 438:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 196: In page 160, to delete lines 32 to 34."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Amendments Nos. 438 and 439 are related and may be discussed together. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  These amendments both relate to legal representatives assigned for the provision of legal aid. Amendment No. 438 removes subsection 196 (7) which is not required now as the definition in section 2 requires the legal representative to be a practising barrister or solicitor. Amendment No. 439 sets out that the legal representative assigned must provide information to the commission, where requested, to ensure that the work carried out is \"of a sufficiently high standard\". This will ensure that the commission can monitor the quality of services being provided to detained people and help better vindicate the rights of people detained under the Act. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 439:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 199: In page 162, between lines 21 and 22, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(2) An assigned legal representative shall comply with a request of the Commission under subsection (1).\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 440:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 200: In page 163, between lines 27 and 28, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201cPART 8"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"AMENDMENT OF CRIMINAL LAW (INSANITY) ACT 2006"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Definition "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"201. In this Part, \u201cAct of 2006\u201d means the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006.\u201d."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Amendments Nos. 440 to 456, inclusive, are related and may be discussed together. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  These amendments all relate to the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006 and were introduced following extensive consultation between my Department and the Department of justice as well as consultation between both Departments and the Attorney General\u2019s Office. The Department of justice is the Department with policy responsibility for this Act, so it was important that it supported all amendments. That Department carried out consultation with its own stakeholders, including the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Criminal Law Review Board. Officials in my own Department consulted with the National Forensic Mental Health Service regarding these amendments.  These amendments update the references throughout the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act from the Mental Health Act 2001 to the Mental Health Act 2026. This is a positive step, as it will ensure that both Acts are aligned and that people detained under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act can enjoy the additional safeguards and protections of the new Mental Health Act 2026. This includes the additional safeguards around consent to treatment and the use of restrictive practices.  In addition to the extensive consultation carried out, legal advice was provided to my Department and the Department of justice that provided assurances that the amendments were appropriate. These are two very complex Acts and they deal with very vulnerable people with acute mental disorders. I was delighted to be able to carry the amendments on Report Stage in the Seanad and I am assured that both Departments are satisfied with the changes. The inclusion of these amendments is a very positive development. It will better vindicate the rights of people detained under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006 and ensure that this group of people will have access to the additional protections of the Mental Health Act 2026. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sorca Clarke  I would like to reiterate what I said earlier about that 28-day transition period. It is really crucial that nobody loses a pathway during that period as one becomes aligned with the other, particularly the new protections that will come in under the new Mental Health Act. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  I would be confident that nobody will lose a pathway. All of the patients at the time will be patients of an approved centre. The Mental Health Commission will play a role here and the HSE will play a significant role here. Their role will be to ensure that every single person under the new Act has his or her rights vindicated. We will keep a close eye on it. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 441:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 200: In page 163, between lines 27 and 28, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" \u201cAmendment of section 1 of Act of 2006 "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"202. Section 1 of the Act of 2006 is amended\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) by the deletion of the definitions of \u201cthe Act of 2001\u201d, \u201capproved medical officer\u201d and \u201cpatient\u201d,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) by the substitution of the following definition for the definition of \u201cclinical director\u201d:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2018clinical director\u2019 has the meaning assigned to it by the Act of 2026, and, where a consultant psychiatrist is duly authorised by a clinical director to perform his or her functions under this Act, the consultant psychiatrist shall, in relation to those functions, be deemed for the purposes of this Act, to be a clinical director,\u201d,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(c) by the insertion of the following definitions:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c \u2018Act of 2026\u2019 means the Mental Health Act 2026; \u2018consultant psychiatrist\u2019 has the same meaning as it has in the Act of 2026;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2018criteria for involuntary admission\u2019 shall be construed in accordance with the Act of 2026;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2018detained person\u2019 means a person detained in a designated centre pursuant to this Act;\u201d.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 442:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 200: In page 163, between lines 27 and 28, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" \u201cAmendment of section 3 of Act of 2006 "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"203 . Section 3 of the Act of 2006 is amended\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) in subsection (2), by the deletion of \u201cestablished under section 32 of the Act of 2001\u201d,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) in subsection (3), by the substitution of \u201cChapter 3 of Part 3 of the Act of 2026\u201d for \u201cPart 4 of the Act of 2001\u201d, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(c) by the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (4):"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(4) In this section, \u2018psychiatric centre\u2019 means a registered acute mental health centre (within the meaning of the Act of 2026) in which treatment is provided to persons for a mental disorder (within the meaning of that Act) that fulfils the criteria for involuntary admission.\u201d.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 443:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 200: In page 163, between lines 27 and 28, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" \u201cAmendment of section 4 of Act of 2006 "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"204 . Section 4 of the Act of 2006 is amended\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) in subsection (3)\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(i) in paragraph (aa), by the substitution of \u201ca consultant psychiatrist\u201d for \u201can approved medical officer\u201d, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(ii) by the substitution of the following paragraph for paragraph (b):"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(b) Subject to subsections (7) and (8), where in a case to which paragraph (a) relates, the Court determines that an accused person is unfit to be tried, the Court shall adjourn the proceedings until further order, and may\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(i) if it is satisfied, having considered the evidence of a consultant psychiatrist adduced pursuant to subsection (6)(b) and any other evidence that may be adduced before it that the accused person has a mental disorder (within the meaning of the Act of 2026) that fulfils the criteria for involuntary admission and is in need of in-patient care or treatment in a designated centre, commit him or her to a specified designated centre until an order is made under section 13 or 13A, or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(ii) if it is satisfied, having considered the evidence of a consultant psychiatrist adduced pursuant to subsection (6)(b) and any other evidence that may be adduced before it that the accused person has a mental disorder or has a mental disorder (within the meaning of the Act of 2026) that fulfils the criteria for involuntary admission and is in need of out-patient care or treatment in a designated centre, make such order as it thinks proper in relation to the accused person for out-patient treatment in a designated centre.\u201d,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) in subsection (5)\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(i) in paragraph (bb), by the substitution of \u201ca consultant psychiatrist\u201d for \u201can approved medical officer\u201d, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(ii) by the substitution of the following paragraph for paragraph (c):"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(c) Subject to subsections (7) and (8), if the judge determines that the accused person is unfit to be tried, he or she shall adjourn the proceedings until further order, and may\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(i) if it is satisfied, having considered the evidence of a consultant psychiatrist adduced pursuant to subsection (6)(b) and any other evidence that may be adduced before it, that the accused person has a mental disorder (within the meaning of the Act of 2026) that fulfils the criteria for involuntary admission and is in need of in-patient care or treatment in a designated centre, commit him or her to a specified designated centre until an order is made under section 13 or 13A, or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(ii) if it is satisfied, having considered the evidence of a consultant psychiatrist adduced pursuant to subsection (6)(b) and any other evidence that may be adduced before it, that the accused person has a mental disorder or has a mental disorder (within the meaning of the Act of 2026) that fulfils the criteria for involuntary admission and is in need of out-patient care or treatment in a designated centre, make such order as it thinks proper in relation to the accused person for out-patient treatment in a designated centre.\u201d,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(c) in subsection (6)\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(i) in paragraph (a), by the substitution of \u201ca consultant psychiatrist\u201d for \u201can approved medical officer\u201d in both places that it occurs, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(ii) by the substitution of the following paragraph for paragraph (b):"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(b) Within the period authorised by the court under this subsection, the consultant psychiatrist who examined the accused person pursuant to subparagraph (ii) of paragraph (a) shall report to the court on whether or not in his or her opinion the accused person\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(i) has a mental disorder (within the meaning of the Act of 2026) that fulfils the criteria for involuntary admission and is in need of in-patient care or treatment in a designated centre, or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(ii) has a mental disorder or has a mental disorder (within the meaning of the Act of 2026) that fulfils the criteria for involuntary admission and is in need of out-patient care or treatment in a designated centre.\u201d.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 444:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 200: In page 163, between lines 27 and 28, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" \u201cAmendment of section 5 of Act of 2006 "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"205. Section 5 of the Act of 2006 is amended\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) in subsection (1)(a), by the substitution of \u201chad, at the time, a mental disorder\u201d for \u201cwas suffering at the time from a mental disorder\u201d,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) in subsection (2), by the substitution of \u201chas a mental disorder (within the meaning of the Act of 2026) that fulfils the criteria for involuntary admission\u201d for \u201cis suffering from a mental disorder (within the meaning of the Act of 2001)\u201d,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(c) in subsection (3)\u2014 (i) by the substitution of the following paragraph for paragraph (a):"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(a) For the purposes of subsection (2), if the court considers that an accused person found not guilty by reason of insanity pursuant to subsection (1) has a mental disorder (within the meaning of the Act of 2026) that fulfils the criteria for involuntary admission and may be in need of in-patient care or treatment in a designated centre, the court may commit that person to a specified designated centre for a period of not more than 14 days and direct that during such period he or she be examined by a consultant psychiatrist at that centre.\u201d,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(ii) in paragraph (b), by the substitution of \u201ca consultant psychiatrist\u201d for \u201can approved medical officer\u201d, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(iii) by the substitution of the following paragraph for paragraph (c):"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(c) Within the period of committal authorised by the court under this subsection the consultant psychiatrist concerned shall report to the court on whether in his or her opinion the accused person committed under paragraph (a) has a mental disorder (within the meaning of the Act of 2026) that fulfils the criteria for involuntary admission and is in need of in-patient care or treatment in a designated centre.\u201d,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(d) in subsection (4), by the substitution of \u201chad a mental disorder\u201d for \u201cwas suffering from a mental disorder\u201d in both places that it occurs.\u201d"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 445:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 200: In page 163, between lines 27 and 28, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" \u201cAmendment of section 6 of Act of 2006 "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"206. Section 6 of the Act of 2006 is amended, in subsection (1), by the substitution of the following paragraph for paragraph (b):"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(b) had, at the time, a mental disorder, and\u201d.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 446:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 200: In page 163, between lines 27 and 28, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" \u201cAmendment of section 8 of Act of 2006 "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"207. Section 8 of the Act of 2006 is amended\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) in subsection (1), by the substitution of the following paragraph for paragraph (b):"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(b) that he or she did not, at the time when the act was committed, have a mental disorder of the nature referred to in section 5(1)(b);\u201d,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) in subsection (3), by the substitution of \u201cthat he or she did not have a mental disorder\u201d for \u201cthat he or she was not suffering from a mental disorder\u201d,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(c) in subsection (5), by the substitution of \u201che or she had at the time that the offence alleged was committed, a mental disorder\u201d for \u201che or she was at the time that the offence alleged was committed suffering from any mental disorder\u201d,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(d) in subsection (6)(b), by the substitution of \u201cdid not, at the time when the act was committed, have a mental disorder\u201d for \u201cwas not, at the time when the act was committed, suffering from any mental disorder\u201d,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(e) in subsection (8), by the substitution of \u201che or she did not have a mental disorder\u201d for \u201che or she was not suffering from any mental disorder\u201d, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(f) in subsection (10), by the substitution of \u201cis satisfied that the appellant at the time that the offence alleged was committed had a mental disorder\u201d for \u201cis satisfied that the appellant was at the time that the offence alleged was committed suffering from a mental disorder.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 447:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 200: In page 163, between lines 27 and 28, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" \u201cAmendment of section 12 of Act of 2006 "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"208. Section 12 of the Act of 2006 is amended\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) by the substitution of \u201cdetained person\u201d for \u201cpatient\u201d in each place that it occurs, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) in subsection (6)(a), by the substitution of \u201cdetained persons\u201d for \u201cpatients\u201d.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 448:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 200: In page 163, between lines 27 and 28, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" \u201cAmendment of section 13 of Act of 2006 "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"209. Section 13 of the Act of 2006 is amended by the substitution of \u201cdetained person\u201d for \u201cpatient\u201d in each place that it occurs.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 449:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 200: In page 163, between lines 27 and 28, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" \u201cAmendment of section 13A of Act of 2006 "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"210. Section 13A of the Act of 2006 is amended by the substitution of \u201cdetained person\u201d for \u201cpatient\u201d in each place that it occurs.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 450:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 200: In page 163, between lines 27 and 28, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" \u201cAmendment of section 13B of Act of 2006 "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"211. Section 13B of the Act of 2006 is amended, in subsection (10)\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) by the substitution of the following paragraph for paragraph (b):"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(b) the Board shall order that the detained person be brought before it as soon as may be for the purposes of reviewing his or her detention, and\u201d,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) in paragraph (c), by the substitution of \u201cdetained person\u201d for \u201cpatient\u201d.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 451:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 200: In page 163, between lines 27 and 28, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" \u201cAmendment of section 13C of Act of 2006 "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"212 . Section 13C of the Act of 2006 is amended by the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (3):"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(3) In this section, \u2018registered proprietor\u2019 has the same meaning as it has in the Act of 2026 .\u201d.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 452:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 200: In page 163, between lines 27 and 28, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" \u201cAmendment of section 14 of Act of 2006 "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"213. Section 14 of the Act of 2006 is amended\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) in subsection (1), by the substitution of \u201cdetained person\u201d for \u201cpatient\u201d,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) in subsection (2), by the substitution of \u201cdetained person\u201d for \u201cpatient\u201d,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(c) in subsection (3), by the substitution of \u201cperson\u201d for \u201cpatient\u201d in each place that it occurs,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(d) in subsection (4), by the substitution of \u201cperson\u201d for \u201cpatient\u201d,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(e) in subsection (5), by the substitution of \u201cperson\u201d for \u201cpatient\u201d,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(f) in subsection (6), by the substitution of \u201cperson\u201d for \u201cpatient\u201d,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(g) in subsection (8), by the substitution of \u201cdetained person\u201d for \u201cpatient\u201d in each place that it occurs.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 453:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 200: In page 163, between lines 27 and 28, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" \u201cAmendment of section 15 of Act of 2006 "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"214. Section 15 of the Act of 2006 is amended\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) by the substitution of \u201chas a mental disorder\u201d for \u201cis suffering from a mental disorder\u201d in each place that it occurs, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) in subsection (9)(a), by the substitution of \u201ca consultant psychiatrist\u201d for \u201can approved medical officer\u201d.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 454:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 200: In page 163, between lines 27 and 28, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" \u201cAmendment of section 16 of Act of 2006 "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"215 . Section 16 of the Act of 2006 is amended, in subsection (2), by the substitution of \u201c Act of 2026 \u201d for \u201cAct of 2001\u201d.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 455:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 200: In page 163, between lines 27 and 28, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" \u201cAmendment of section 17 of Act of 2006 "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"216. Section 17 of the Act of 2006 is amended, in subsection (3)(a), by the substitution of \u201chas a mental disorder\u201d for \u201cis suffering from or continues to suffer from a mental disorder\u201d.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 456:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 200: In page 163, between lines 27 and 28, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" \u201cAmendment of Schedule 1 to Act of 2006 "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"217. Schedule 1 to the Act of 2006 is amended, in paragraph 1, by the substitution of \u201cconsultant psychiatrist\u201d for \u201capproved medical officer\u201d.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 457:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 202: In page 163, after line 34, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" \u201cAmendment of section 36 of Act of 2015 "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"202. Section 36 of the Act of 2015 is amended, in subsection (4)\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) in paragraph (j)(ii), by the substitution of \u201cperson,\u201d for \u201cperson, and\u201d, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) by the insertion of the following paragraph after paragraph (j):"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(ja) a registered proprietor (within the meaning of the Act of 2026) for the purposes of Chapter 3 of Part 3 of that Act, and\u201d.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 458:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 202: In page 164, lines 4 and 5, to delete \u201cSubject to subsections (1) to (5) and paragraphs (b) and (c) of this subsection\u201d and substitute \u201cSubject to paragraphs (b) and (c) and subsections (1) to (5)\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 459:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 202: In page 164, lines 14 and 15, to delete \u201csubsections (1) to (5), paragraph (c) of this subsection\u201d and substitute \u201cparagraph (c) and subsections (1) to (5)\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 460:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 202: In page 164, line 17, to delete \u201cof this subsection\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 461:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 205: In page 165, lines 7 and 8, to delete \u201cthat person (within the meaning of section 16 of the Act of 2025 ).\u201d and substitute \u201cthe person (within the meaning of the Act of 2026 )\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 462:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 205: In page 165, line 10, to delete \u201cperson.\u201d and substitute \u201cperson\u201d.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 463:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 206: In page 165, to delete lines 13 and 14."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 464:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 206: In page 165, line 15, to delete \u201c136.\u201d and substitute \u201c \u201c136.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 465:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 208: In page 166, between lines 7 and 8, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" \u201cAmendment to Courts (Supplemental Provisions) Act 1961 "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"208. Section 8C of the Courts (Supplemental Provisions) Act 1961 is amended, in subsection (2)\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) in paragraph (k), by the deletion of \u201cor\u201d,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) in paragraph (l), by the substitution of \u201c2018, or\u201d for \u201c2018.\u201d, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(c) by the insertion of the following paragraph after paragraph (l):"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(m) Part 4 of the Mental Health Act 2026 .\u201d.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 466:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 209: In page 166, between lines 26 and 27, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(a) in section 12(3), after \u201cin accordance with subsection (1),\u201d by the insertion of \u201cor where a request is made under section 73(15) of the Mental Health Act 2026 ,\u201d,\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 467:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 215: In page 168, after line 34, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(2) The amendments to the Health Act 2004 effected by subsection (1) shall not apply in relation to a protected disclosure under section 55D of that Act or a disclosure to the Inspector of Mental Health Services under section 55G of that Act regarding actions or omissions that occurred before the commencement of this section.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 468:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 216: In page 169, lines 4 to 6, to delete all words from and including \u201cby\u201d in line 4 down to and including line 6 and substitute \u201cby the substitution of \u201cthe Mental Health Act 2026 \u201d for \u201cthe Mental Health Acts 1945 to 2001\u201d,\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 469:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 216: In page 169, lines 8 and 9, to delete all words from and including \u201cby\u201d in line 8 down to and including line 9 and substitute \u201cby the substitution of \u201cthe Mental Health Act 2026 \u201d for \u201cthe Mental Health Acts 1945 to 2001\u201d,\u201d"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 470:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 216: In page 169, between lines 14 and 15, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(2) (a) The amendments to section 86 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 effected by subsection (1)(a) shall not apply to medical care provided under the Mental Health Acts 1945 to 2001 before the date on which subsection (1)(a) comes into operation."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) The amendment to section 249(1A) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 effected by subsection (1)(b) shall not apply to an admission order or renewal order made under the Act of 2001 that continues in force after the date on which subsection (1)(b) comes into operation.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 471:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 223: In page 170, after line 21, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" \u201cAmendment of Family Courts Act 2024 "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"223. The Family Courts Act 2024 is amended\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) in section 2, in the definition of \u201cfamily law proceedings\u201d, by the insertion of the following paragraph after paragraph (z):"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(za) Part 4 of the Mental Health Act 2026 ;\u201d,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) in section 24(2)\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(i) in paragraph (j), by the deletion of \u201cor\u201d,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(ii) in paragraph (k), by the substitution of \u201c2018, or\u201d for \u201c2018.\u201d, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(iii) by the insertion of the following paragraph after paragraph (k):"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(l) Part 4 of the Mental Health Act 2026 .\u201d,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(c) in section 39(2)\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(i) in paragraph (d), by the deletion of \u201cor\u201d,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(ii) in paragraph (e), by the substitution of \u201c2018, or\u201d for \u201c2018.\u201d, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(iii) by the insertion of the following paragraph after paragraph (e):"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(f) Part 4 of the Mental Health Act 2026 .\u201d.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 472:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 224: In page 187, after line 14, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201cPART 10"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"CHAPTER 1"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Transitional provisions: Act of 2001"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Interpretation "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"224. (1) In this Chapter\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201cclinical director\u201d includes, where the context so requires, a clinical director so deemed under section 237 ;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201cregistered acute mental health centre\u201d includes, where the context so requires, a registered acute mental health centre so deemed under section 237;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201crelevant order\u201d, other than in sections 231, 232 and 233 , means\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) an admission order made under section 14 or 24 of the Act of 2001, or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) a renewal order made under section 15 of the Act of 2001;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201ctribunal\u201d has the same meaning as it has in the Act of 2001."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(2) For the purposes of this Chapter and to the extent only that this Chapter applies, references to a person include references to a patient within the meaning of the Act of 2001.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 473:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 225: In page 187, after line 14, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" \u201cTransitional provisions: admission and renewal orders for adults "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"225. (1) Subject to sections 226(4) and 228(6) , a relevant order in respect of a person that is in force immediately before the relevant date shall, subject to the modifications specified in subsection (2) , continue in force on and after the relevant date, and accordingly the Act of 2001, as it stood immediately before the date on which this section comes into operation (in this section referred to as the \u201crelevant date\u201d), shall continue to have effect in respect of the person concerned until the earlier of\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) the date an involuntary admission order is made under Part 3 in respect of the person the subject of the relevant order,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) the date the person the subject of the relevant order is discharged following its revocation under section 18, 19 or 28 of the Act of 2001, or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(c) the date of the expiration of the relevant order."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(2) The modifications referred to in subsection (1) are\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) subsections (3), (4), (6), (7) and (8) of section 9 shall apply in respect of the making of any decision relating to a person the subject of a relevant order that continues in force under subsection (1) as if that person were an applicable person (within the meaning of that section), and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) Chapter 4 of Part 3 and section 185 shall, notwithstanding subsection (1), apply in respect of a person the subject of a relevant order as if that person were an involuntarily admitted person.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 474:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 226: In page 187, after line 14, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" \u201cTransitional provisions: involuntarily admitted adults "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"226. (1) Subject to subsections (4) and (6) , where, immediately before the date on which this section comes into operation (in this section referred to as the \u201crelevant date\u201d) or following a transfer referred to in section 235 , a person is being detained in a registered acute mental health centre pursuant to a relevant order, the clinical director of the registered acute mental health centre concerned shall, on or after the relevant date, arrange for the person concerned to be examined by a consultant psychiatrist under section 22(1) as if the person concerned were the subject of a recommendation for involuntary admission."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(2) Following an examination of a person referred to in subsection (1) , the consultant psychiatrist\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) shall, if satisfied that the person concerned has a mental disorder which fulfils the criteria for involuntary admission, make an involuntary admission order for the reception, detention and care and treatment of the person under section 22(2)(a) ,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) if not satisfied that the person concerned has a mental disorder which fulfils the criteria for involuntary admission, shall\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(i) refuse to make an involuntary admission order, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(ii) arrange, subject to the modifications specified in subsection (3) , for the person to be discharged in accordance with section 28 of the Act of 2001."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(3) In relation to each subsection of section 28 of the Act of 2001, the modifications referred to in subsection (2)(b)(ii) are\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) in subsection (1), the consultant psychiatrist concerned shall, where not satisfied that the person concerned has a mental disorder which fulfils the criteria for involuntary admission, revoke the relevant order and discharge the person,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) for the purpose of subsection (3)(b), the consultant psychiatrist shall notify the person concerned that he or she is entitled to have his or her detention reviewed by a tribunal in accordance with section 229 , and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(c) subsection (5) shall not apply to a person concerned, and any subsequent review or otherwise of his or her detention shall be in accordance with section 229 ."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(4) A decision under subsection (2) to make or refuse to make an involuntary admission order shall be made as soon as may be after the relevant date, but not later than\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) the date of the expiration of the relevant order for the person concerned, or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) the date that falls 28 days after the relevant date,whichever occurs sooner."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(5) Where an involuntary admission order referred to in subsection (2)(a) is made in respect of a person referred to in subsection (1), the relevant order pursuant to which that person was previously detained shall immediately cease to have effect and be deemed to be revoked."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(6) A reference, in subsection (1) , to a person detained in a registered acute mental health centre pursuant to a relevant order immediately before the relevant date\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) includes a person on a permitted leave of absence under section 26 of the Act of 2001,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) subject to section 236 , includes a person absent from that centre without permission under section 27 of the Act of 2001, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(c) does not include a person transferred to and detained in the Central Mental Hospital under section 21 of the Act of 2001.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 475:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 227: In page 187, after line 14, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" \u201cTransitional provisions: involuntary admission processes in being "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"227. (1) Where, before the date on which this section comes into operation (in this section referred to as the \u201crelevant date\u201d), a person is the subject of an application under section 9(1) or 12(2) of the Act of 2001 but the medical practitioner to whom the application is addressed has not decided whether to make a recommendation in respect of the person concerned under section 10 of that Act by immediately before the relevant date, the registered medical practitioner concerned shall, on or after the relevant date, treat the application as if it were a direct application for a recommendation for involuntary admission under section 15 and any subsequent involuntary admission (or otherwise) of the person concerned shall be determined in accordance with Part 3."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(2) Where, before the relevant date, a person is the subject of a recommendation under section 10 of the Act of 2001 but an involuntary admission order has not yet been made or refused in respect of the person concerned under section 14(1)(a) or (b) of that Act by immediately before the relevant date, the clinical director to whom the recommendation is addressed shall, on or after the relevant date, treat the recommendation as if it were a recommendation for involuntary admission under section 16 and any subsequent involuntary admission (or otherwise) of the person concerned shall be determined in accordance with Part 3."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(3) Where, before the relevant date, a person has been detained under section 23 of the Act of 2001 but a determination has not been made by immediately before the relevant date on whether the person concerned is to be\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) the subject of an admission order under section 24(3) of that Act, or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) discharged under subsection (1) or (2)(b) of section 24 of that Act,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"the detention of that person shall, on or after the relevant date, be determined in accordance with section 38 subject to the modification that the steps in section 38 are required to be completed within 24 hours of the time the person is detained under section 23 of the Act of 2001, and any necessary additional modifications.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 476:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 228: In page 187, after line 14, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" \u201cTransitional provisions: admission to Central Mental Hospital "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"228. (1) Where, immediately before the date on which this section comes into operation (in this section referred to as the \u201crelevant date\u201d) or following a transfer referred to in subsection (8) or (9), a person is detained in the Central Mental Hospital under section 21 of the Act of 2001 pursuant to a relevant order, the clinical director of the Central Mental Hospital shall arrange for the person concerned to be examined by his or her responsible consultant under section 22(1) on or after the relevant date, as the case may be, as if the person concerned were the subject of a recommendation for involuntary admission."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(2) Following an examination of a person referred to in subsection (1), the responsible consultant psychiatrist\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) shall, if satisfied that the person concerned has a mental disorder which fulfils the criteria for involuntary admission, make an involuntary admission order for the reception, detention and care and treatment of the person under section 22(2)(a),"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) shall, if not satisfied that the person concerned has a mental disorder which fulfils the criteria for involuntary admission\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(i) refuse to make such an involuntary admission order, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(ii) arrange, subject to the modifications specified in subsection (3), for the person to be discharged in accordance with section 28 of the Act of 2001."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(3) In relation to each subsection of section 28 of the Act of 2001, the modifications referred to in subsection (2)(b)(ii) are\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) in subsection (1), the consultant psychiatrist concerned shall, where not satisfied that the person concerned has a mental disorder which fulfils the criteria for involuntary admission, revoke the relevant order and discharge the person,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) for the purpose of subsection (3)(b), the consultant psychiatrist shall notify the person concerned that he or she is entitled to have his or her detention reviewed by a tribunal in accordance with section 229, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(c) subsection (5) of that section shall not apply to the person concerned, and any subsequent review or otherwise of his or her detention shall be in accordance with section 229 ."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(4) Where an involuntary admission order referred to in subsection (2)(a) is made in respect of a person referred to in subsection (1) , the clinical director of the Central Mental Hospital shall, at the same time, consider whether\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) it would be for the benefit of the person to remain in the Central Mental Hospital, or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) it is necessary, for the purpose of obtaining special treatment, the details of which shall be specified in writing, for the person to remain in the Central Mental Hospital."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(5) Where the clinical director of the Central Mental Hospital is of the opinion that paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection (4) applies, the involuntary admission order made under section 22(2)(a) in respect of a person referred to in subsection (1) \u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) shall be for the reception, detention and care and treatment of the person in the registered acute mental health centre from which the person was transferred under section 21 of the Act of 2001, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) shall be deemed to authorise the reception, detention and care and treatment of the person in the Central Mental Hospital."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(6) A decision under subsection (2) shall be made and, as applicable, any considerations under subsection (4) shall be concluded as soon as may be after the relevant date, but not later than the date the relevant order for the person concerned expires or the date that falls 28 days after the relevant date, whichever occurs sooner."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(7) Where an involuntary admission order is made in respect of a person referred to in subsection (1) , the relevant order pursuant to which that person was previously detained shall immediately cease to have effect and be deemed to be revoked."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(8) The clinical director of the Central Mental Hospital shall notify the clinical director of the registered acute mental health centre from which a person was transferred under section 21 of the Act of 2001 of\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) the results of an examination referred to in subsection (1) ,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) the decision referred to in subsection (2) to make an involuntary admission order or to discharge the person concerned, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(c) the outcome of considerations referred to in subsection (4)."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(9) Where, before the relevant date, a clinical director of a registered acute mental health centre has proposed to transfer a person to the Central Mental Hospital under paragraph (a) of section 21(2) of the Act of 2001 but the Commission has not referred the proposal to a tribunal under subsection (2)(b) of that section by immediately before the relevant date, the Commission shall, on and after the relevant date, treat the proposal as if it were made under section 36(1) for the purpose of subsection (4) of that section, and any subsequent transfer (or otherwise) of the person concerned shall be determined in accordance with Part 3."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(10) Where, before the relevant date, the Commission has referred a proposal to transfer a person to the Central Mental Hospital to a tribunal under paragraph (a) of section 21(2) of the Act of 2001 but a tribunal has not by immediately before the relevant date reviewed the proposed transfer and determined whether to\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) authorise the proposed transfer under section 21(2)(b)(i) of the Act of 2001, or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) refuse to authorise the proposed transfer section 21(2)(b)(ii) of that Act,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"the referral to the tribunal shall lapse and the Commission shall, on and after the relevant date, treat the proposal to transfer the person concerned under paragraph (a) of section 21(2) of the Act of 2001 as if it were made under section 36(1) for the purpose of subsection (4) of that section, and any subsequent transfer (or otherwise) of the person concerned shall be determined in accordance with Part 3 ."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(11) Subsections (13) , (14) and (15) of section 36 shall apply to an admission to the Central Mental Hospital under this section with the modification that a reference to a registered acute mental health centre from which a person has been or was transferred shall be construed as a reference to the registered acute mental health centre from which the person admitted under this section was previously transferred under section 21 of the Act of 2001 and any other necessary modifications.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 477:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 229: In page 187, after line 14, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" \u201cTransitional provisions: referral to and review by tribunal "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"229. (1) Where, before the date on which this section comes into operation (in this section referred to as the \u201crelevant date\u201d), a relevant order has been made but the Commission has not received the relevant order under section 17 of the Act of 2001 by"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"immediately before the relevant date, the Commission shall, on or after the relevant date, carry out the matters specified in subsection (1) of that section upon receipt of the relevant order."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(2) Where, before the relevant date, the Commission has received\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) a copy of a relevant order under section 17 of the Act of 2001,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) an application referred to in section 15(3)(b) of the Act of 2001, or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(c) a notice referred to in section 28(5) of the Act of 2001,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"but has not carried out the matters specified in section 17(1) of the Act of 2001 by immediately before the relevant date, the Commission shall, on or after the relevant date, carry out the matters specified in that subsection."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(3) Where, immediately before the relevant date\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) a person has been discharged under section 28 of the Act of 2001,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) he or she has not made a request to the Commission for a review of his or her detention in accordance with section 28(5) of the Act of 2001, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(c) the period allowed under section 28(5) of the Act of 2001 for making a request referred to in paragraph (b) has not yet expired, the person may, on or after the relevant date but before the expiration of the period referred to in paragraph (c), make a request to the Commission in accordance with section 28(5) of the Act of 2001 for a review of his or her detention and, where he or she does so, the Commission shall, on or after the relevant date, carry out the matters specified in section 17(1) of that Act."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(4) Where the Commission carries out the matters specified in section 17(1) of the Act of 2001 pursuant to subsection (1), (2) or (3), a tribunal shall proceed in accordance with sections 17 and 18 of the Act of 2001 and, where the relevant order is affirmed, that decision may be appealed to the Circuit Court in accordance with section 19 of that Act."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(5) Where, before the relevant date, the Commission has referred\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) the making of a relevant order,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) an application referred to in section 15(3)(b) of the Act of 2001, or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(c) a notice referred to in section 28(5) of the Act of 2001, to a tribunal under section 17(1) of the Act of 2001 but such tribunal has not by immediately before the relevant date reviewed the detention of the person concerned under section 18 of that Act, the tribunal shall, on or after the relevant date, carry out the review of the relevant order concerned in accordance with section 18 of that Act and, where the relevant order is affirmed, that decision may be appealed to the Circuit Court in accordance with section 19 of that Act."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(6) Where, before the relevant date, an appeal has been made under section 19 of the Act"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"of 2001 against a decision to affirm a relevant order under section 18 of that Act but"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"the Circuit Court has not, by immediately before the relevant date, determined the"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"appeal, the appeal shall, on or after the relevant date, be determined in accordance"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"with that Act."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(7) Where, immediately before the relevant date\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) a decision to affirm a relevant order under section 18 of the Act of 2001 has been made,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) the person the subject of the relevant order has not appealed the decision under section 19 of that Act, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(c) the period of time allowed under section 19(2) of the Act of 2001 for bringing an appeal referred to in paragraph (b) has not expired, the person the subject of the relevant order concerned may, on or after the relevant date but before the expiration of the period of time referred to in paragraph (c), appeal the decision to the Circuit Court under section 19 of that Act and, where he or she does so, the appeal shall be determined by the Circuit Court in accordance with that Act."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(8) Where a relevant order is deemed to be revoked under section 226(5) or 228(7) or revoked by a consultant psychiatrist due to a discharge under section 226(3)(a) or 228(3)(a) before a tribunal referred to in subsections (4) or (5) completes its review"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"in respect of the relevant order under section 18 of the Act of 2001, the review by the tribunal shall not be completed unless the person or his or her legal representative notifies the Commission, as soon as practicable but not later than the time and date scheduled for the review, that the person concerned wishes the review to be completed in accordance with the Act of 2001."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(9) Where a person requests that a review referred to in subsection (8) be completed, the tribunal shall, notwithstanding that the person concerned is no longer being detained pursuant to the relevant order the subject of the review, on or after the relevant date, determine the review in accordance with the Act of 2001 with any necessary modifications."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(10) A person who is a member of a panel of consultant psychiatrists referred to in section 33(3)(b) of the Act of 2001 immediately before the relevant date shall, on and after the relevant date, continue as a member of that panel and be subject to the Act of 2001 as it stood immediately before the relevant date until the date of the determination of the final matter referred to a tribunal, including an appeal involving a decision of the tribunal concerned under section 19 of the Act of 2001, under subsection (4), (5), (6), (7) or (9)."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(11) The functions standing vested in a member of a panel of consultant psychiatrists referred to in section 33(3)(b) of the Act of 2001 immediately before the relevant date shall, in relation to a matter referred to in subsection (10), continue to be performable on and after the relevant date by such a person.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 478:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 230: In page 187, after line 14, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" \u201cTransitional provision: membership of tribunals "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"230. (1) Subject to subsection (4)\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) a person who is, immediately before the date on which this section comes into operation (in this section referred to as the \u201crelevant date\u201d), a member of a tribunal referred to in section 48(3)(a) of the Act of 2001 shall, on the panel establishment date, stand appointed as a member of the consultant psychiatrist review panel,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) a person who is, immediately before the relevant date, a member of a tribunal referred to in section 48(3)(b) of the Act of 2001 shall, on the panel establishment date, stand appointed as a member of the legal practitioners review panel, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(c) a person who is, immediately before the relevant date, a member of a tribunal referred to in section 48(3)(c) of the Act of 2001 shall, on the panel establishment date, stand appointed as a member of the community review panel."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(2) A person appointed under subsection (1) shall be so appointed for a period equal to the unexpired period for which he or she was appointed as a member of the tribunal, on the same conditions (including those relating to termination of appointment) as the Commission determined when appointing him or her under section 48(6) of the Act of 2001."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(3) The period served by a person referred to in subsection (1) as a member of a tribunal immediately before the relevant date and the period for which he or she is appointed under subsection (2) shall be regarded as one period of office for the purposes of section 27(7)."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(4) A person who is a member of a tribunal immediately before the relevant date shall, on and after the relevant date, continue as a member of that tribunal and be subject to the Act of 2001 as it stood immediately before the relevant date until the date on which any of the following occurs:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) the determination of the final matter referred to that tribunal under\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(i) section 17 or 21 of the Act of 2001, including an appeal involving a decision of the tribunal concerned under section 19 of the Act of 2001, or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(ii) section 229*, including an appeal involving a decision of the tribunal concerned under section 19 of the Act of 2001;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) he or she ceases to hold office under section 48(7), (9) or (10) of the Act of 2001;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(c) his or her period of membership expires,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"whichever is soonest."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(5) The functions standing vested in a member of a tribunal immediately before the relevant date shall, in relation to a matter referred to in subsection (4)(a), continue to be performable on and after the relevant date by such a person."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(6) In this section\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201ccommunity review panel\u201d has the meaning given to it in section 27(2)(c);"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201cconsultant psychiatrist review panel\u201d has the meaning given to it in section 27(2)(a);"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201clegal practitioners review panel\u201d has the meaning given to it in section 27(2)(b);"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201cpanel establishment date\u201d means the date that the Commission establishes the community review panel, the consultant psychiatrist review panel and the legal practitioners review panel under section 27(1).\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 479:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 231: In page 187, after line 14, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" \u201cTransitional provisions: admission and renewal orders for children "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"231. (1) Subject to section 232*, a relevant order in respect of a child that is in force immediately before the date on which this section comes into operation (in this section referred to as the \u201crelevant date\u201d) shall, subject to the modifications in subsection (2), continue in force on and after the relevant date and accordingly the Act of 2001 as it stood immediately before the relevant date shall continue to have effect in respect of the child until the earlier of\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) the date the child the subject of the relevant order is admitted under section 62, 63, 64 or 66 following the commencement of the process specified in section 232(1)*, or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) the date the relevant order is revoked and the child is discharged by the Family District Court or the District Court, as the case may be, under section 22 of the Act of 1991 (as applied by section 25 of the Act of 2001) following an application under section 232(2)(b)*."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(2) The modifications referred to in subsection (1) are that the following provisions shall apply in respect of a relevant order that continues in force under subsection (1) as if the child the subject of the relevant order concerned were an involuntarily admitted child (and any other necessary modifications):"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) paragraphs (a), (b), (d), (e), (f) and (g) of subsection (1) and subsections (2) and (3) of section 10;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) Chapter 4 of Part 4;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(c) section 186."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(3) In this section and sections 232* and 233**, \u201crelevant order\u201d means\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) an order authorising the detention of the child in an approved centre made under section 25(6) of the Act of 2001, or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) an extension of an order referred to in paragraph (a) made under subsections (9) or (10) of section 25 of the Act of 2001.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 480:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 232: In page 187, after line 14, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Transitional provisions: involuntarily admitted children "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"232. (1) Subject to subsection (3) and (6), where, immediately before the date on which this section comes into operation (in this section referred to as the \u201crelevant date\u201d) or following a transfer referred to in section 235*, a child is being detained in a registered acute mental health centre pursuant to a relevant order, the clinical director of the registered acute mental health centre concerned shall, on or after the relevant date\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) arrange for the child concerned to be examined by a consultant psychiatrist under section 66(1), and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) furnish the results of that examination to the Executive."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(2) The Executive, having considered the results of an examination under section 66(1) referred to in subsection (1)\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) shall arrange for the child to be admitted, with the agreement of the responsible consultant psychiatrist and the consent of the child or, as the case may be, his or her parents or guardian or the Agency\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(i) as a voluntarily admitted child under section 62 or 63, or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(ii) as a child aged 16 years or older lacking necessary capacity admitted with parental consent under section 64,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) shall make an application to the Family District Court or the District Court, as the case may be\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(i) for an order authorising the reception, detention and care and treatment of the child in a registered acute mental health centre under section 66, or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(ii) for the child to be discharged in accordance with section 22 of the Act of 1991 (as applied by section 25 of the Act of 2001)."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(3) An admission referred to in subsection (2)(a) or an application referred to in subsection (2)(b) in respect of a child the subject of a relevant order shall be made as soon as may be after the relevant date, but not later than the date the relevant order for the child concerned expires or the date that falls 28 days after the relevant date, whichever occurs sooner."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(4) Where a child referred to in subsection (1) is admitted to a registered acute mental health centre under section 62, 63, 64 or 66 or discharged in accordance with section 22 of the Act of 1991 (as applied by section 25 of the Act of 2001), the relevant order pursuant to which the child was previously detained shall immediately cease to have effect."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(5) Where a child referred to in subsection (1) is admitted to a registered acute mental health centre under section 62, 63 or 64, the Executive shall notify the Family District Court or District Court, as the case may be, as soon as may be that the child is no longer being detained pursuant to a relevant order."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(6) In this section, references to a child being detained in a registered acute mental health centre pursuant to a relevant order includes\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) a child on a permitted leave of absence under section 26 of the Act of 2001,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) subject to section 236**, a child absent from that centre without permission under section 27 of the Act of 2001, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(c) a child being detained in that centre following a transfer referred to in section 235*."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 481:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 233: In page 187, after line 14, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" \u201cTransitional provisions: involuntary admission of children processes in being "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"233. (1) Where, before the date on which this section comes into operation (in this section referred to as the \u201crelevant date\u201d), an application in respect of a child has been made under section 25(1) of the Act of 2001 but the District Court has not determined whether to make or refuse to make an admission order under that section by immediately before the relevant date, the Family District Court or District Court, as the case may be, shall, on or after the relevant date, determine whether or not the child should be admitted to a registered acute mental health centre in accordance with Part 4 subject to any necessary modifications."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(2) Where, before the relevant date, an appeal has been brought to the Circuit Court under section 28 of the Act of 1991 (as applied by section 25 of the Act of 2001) in respect of a relevant order but the Circuit Court has not determined the appeal by immediately before the relevant date, the appeal shall be determined, on or after the relevant date, in accordance with those Acts and where a relevant order is affirmed, those Acts, subject to sections 231 and 232, shall apply accordingly.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 482:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 234: In page 187, after line 14, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" \u201cTransitional provisions: voluntarily admitted children "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"234. (1) Where, immediately before the date on which this section comes into operation (in this section referred to as the \u201crelevant date\u201d), a child is being treated in a registered acute mental health centre as a voluntary patient (within the meaning of the Act of 2001), his or her responsible consultant psychiatrist shall, as soon as may be but not later than 28 days after the relevant date, carry out an examination of the child."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(2) After carrying out an examination under subsection (1), the responsible consultant psychiatrist shall\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) arrange for the child\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(i) to be admitted, with the agreement of the responsible consultant psychiatrist,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"and with the consent of the child or, as the case may be, his or her parents or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"guardian or the Agency\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(I) as a voluntarily admitted child under section 62 or 63, or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(II) as a child aged 16 years or older lacking necessary capacity admitted"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"with parental consent under section 64,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(ii) to be discharged from the registered acute mental health centre,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) where the results of the examination recommend the making of an application for involuntary admission, furnish the results of the examination to the Executive as soon as may be for the purpose of making an application for an involuntary admission order under section 66."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(3) Where the results of the examination under subsection (1) recommend the making of an application for involuntary admission, that examination shall be deemed to be an examination for the purpose of section 66(1) if\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) the examination was carried out within a period of not more than 72 hours before the making of the application under section 66(2), and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) a report of the results of the examination is furnished to the District Court or the Family District Court, as the case may be, by the Executive upon the making of the application."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(4) Where, before the relevant date, a child has been detained under section 23(2) of the Act of 2001 but an application under section 25(1) of that Act has not been made by immediately before the relevant date, any admission of the child shall be determined on or after the relevant date in accordance with section 71 as if the child were detained under that section subject to the modification that the period of 24 hours referred to in section 71(1) shall be deemed to have begun at the time the person was detained under section 23 of the Act of 2001.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 483:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 235: In page 187, after line 14, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" \u201cTransitional provisions: transfers of persons "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"235 . (1) Where, before the date on which this section comes into operation (in this section referred to as the \u201crelevant date\u201d), a clinical director of a registered acute mental health centre has received an application under section 20 of the Act of 2001 for a transfer of a person to another registered acute mental health centre (in this section referred to as the \u201csecond-mentioned registered acute mental health centre\u201d) but has not considered the application by immediately before the relevant date, the clinical director may, on or after the relevant date, consider and determine the application and, if he or she so thinks fit\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) refuse the application, or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) arrange for the transfer of the person to the second-mentioned registered acute mental health centre in accordance with that section and for the person to be detained accordingly in the second-mentioned registered acute mental health centre with the consent of the clinical director of that centre."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(2) Where, before the relevant date, a clinical director of a registered acute mental health centre has arranged for the transfer of a person to another registered acute mental health centre (other than the Central Mental Hospital) under section 21(1) of the Act of 2001 but the transfer has not taken place by immediately before the relevant date, the clinical director may\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) refuse the transfer, or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) arrange for the transfer to take place on or after the relevant date in accordance with that section and for the person to be detained accordingly in the other registered acute mental health centre concerned.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 484:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 236: In page 187, after line 14, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" \u201cTransitional provisions: absence with and without leave "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"236. (1) Where, immediately before the date on which this section comes into operation (in this section referred to as the \u201crelevant date\u201d), permission for a period of absence granted to a person under section 26(1) of the Act of 2001 is in force, the grant of such permission shall, on and after the relevant date, continue in force and accordingly that Act as it stood immediately before the relevant date shall continue to have effect in respect of the person until the date of the period specified in the permission expires, unless that permission is sooner withdrawn under subsection (2)."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(2) Where, immediately before the relevant date, a person is absent from a registered acute mental health centre pursuant to a permission granted under section 26(1) of the Act of 2001, the responsible consultant psychiatrist for the person concerned shall, on or after the relevant date, withdraw the permission and direct the person to return to the registered acute mental health centre for the purpose of an examination referred to in section 226(1* or 232(1), as the case may be."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(3) Where, immediately before the relevant date, following a withdrawal of permission under subsection (2), or on or after the relevant date, a person in respect of whom a relevant order or a relevant order within the meaning of section 231*** is in force\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) is absent from a registered acute mental health centre without permission granted under section 26(1) of the Act of 2001, or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) fails to return to the registered acute mental health centre in accordance with any direction given under section 26 of the Act of 2001 or subsection (2), the clinical director of the registered acute mental health centre concerned may arrange for the person to be brought back to the centre in accordance with section 27 of the Act of 2001.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 485:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 237: In page 187, after line 14, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201cCHAPTER 2"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Registration of services"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Transitional provision: registration of services, general "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"237. (1) Where, immediately before the date on which this section comes into operation (in this section referred to as the \u201crelevant date\u201d) or following a determination under section 238(1)(a)*, an approved centre within the meaning of the Act of 2001 (in this section referred to as an \u201capproved centre\u201d) is registered by the Commission under section 64 of the Act of 2001, the approved centre shall be deemed, on the relevant date or on the date of such a determination under section 238(1)(a)*, to be registered as a registered acute mental health centre and shall be entered by the Commission, on or after the relevant date, in the Register of acute mental health centres under section 139."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(2) The duration of a registration of an approved centre deemed to be a registered acute mental health centre in accordance with subsection (1) shall begin on either of the dates referred to in subsection (1) as applies in relation to the centre and end on the date the period of the registration of that approved centre under section 64 of the Act of 2001 expires."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(3) Where, immediately before the relevant date, a certificate of registration in respect of an approved centre under section 64 of the Act of 2001 is in force, that certificate of registration shall, on the relevant date, be deemed to be a certificate of registration under section 146 for the duration of the unexpired period of the registration referred to in subsection (2)."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(4) The Commission shall, on or after the relevant date, include a registered proprietor of an approved centre that is deemed to be a registered acute mental health centre in accordance with subsection (1) as the registered proprietor of the registered acute mental health centre concerned in the Register of acute mental health centres."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(5) The clinical director of an approved centre that is deemed to be a registered acute mental health centre in accordance with subsection (1) shall be deemed, on the relevant date, to be the clinical director of the registered acute mental health centre."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(6) The registered proprietor of an approved centre that is deemed to be a registered acute mental health centre in accordance with subsection (1) shall, as soon as may be and not later than 3 months after the relevant date, nominate a person to be the registered person in accordance with section 163(2), subject to the modification that the nominated person shall not be replacing a person named under section 163(1)."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(7) A registered proprietor of a registered acute mental health centre that is deemed to be a registered acute mental health centre in accordance with subsection (1) shall comply with this Act and any regulations made thereunder from the relevant date.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 486:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 238: In page 187, after line 14, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" \u201cTransitional provision: registration of services "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"238. (1) Where, before the date on which this section comes into operation (in this section referred to as the \u201crelevant date\u201d), an application has been made for registration of an approved centre within the meaning of the Act of 2001 (in this section referred to as an \u201capproved centre\u201d) under section 64 of the Act of 2001 but has not been determined by immediately before the relevant date, the application shall, on or after the relevant date, be determined in accordance with that Act and\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) where a certificate of registration is issued pursuant to that application under section 64 of that Act, section 237 shall apply accordingly, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) where a decision is made under section 64 of that Act to refuse to register the approved centre concerned, to remove the centre from the register or to attach a condition, or to amend or revoke a condition attached to the registration of the centre, that decision may be appealed to the District Court in accordance with section 65 of that Act subject to any necessary modifications."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(2) Where, before the relevant date, an appeal has been made under section 65 of the Act of 2001 against a decision under section 64 of that Act\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) to refuse to register an approved centre,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) to remove the centre from the register or to attach a condition, or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(c) to amend or revoke a condition attached to the registration of the centre, but the District Court has not determined the appeal by immediately before the relevant date, the appeal shall, on and after the relevant date, be determined in accordance with that Act with any necessary modifications."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(3) Where, immediately before the relevant date, an appeal under section 65 of the Act of 2001 has not been made but, on that date, the period allowed for bringing an appeal under that section has not yet expired, a registered proprietor or, as the case may be, a person intending to be a registered proprietor of an approved centre may, on or after that date, and within the period allowed for bringing the appeal, bring an appeal to the Family District Court under section 65 of the Act of 2001 and where he or she does so, the appeal shall be determined in accordance with that Act subject to any necessary modifications.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 487:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 239: In page 187, after line 14, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" \u201cTransitional provision: register of approved centres "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"239. (1) Subject to subsection (2), the Commission may retain the information contained in the register of approved centres maintained under section 64 of the Act of 2001 for the purposes of performing its functions under Part 6 in respect of an acute mental health centre deemed to be a registered acute mental health centre in accordance with section 237*."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(2) The Commission may retain the information referred to in subsection (1) for a period of 4 years commencing on the date on which this section comes into operation.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 488:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 240: In page 187, after line 14, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" \u201cTransitional provision: Inspector of Mental Health Services "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"240. Where, before the date on which this section comes into operation (in this section referred to as the \u201crelevant date\u201d), the Inspector (within the meaning of section 50 of the Act of 2001) or an Assistant Inspector (within the meaning of section 54 of the Act of 2001) has commenced a matter under the Act of 2001 but has not completed it by immediately before the relevant date, that matter may be carried on and completed on or after the relevant date by the Inspector or the Assistant Inspector in accordance with that Act.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 489:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 241: In page 187, after line 14, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201cChapter 3"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Miscellaneous "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Transitional provision: Service arrangements "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"241. An arrangement entered into under section 71A of the Act of 2001 that was for the time being in force immediately before the commencement of section 20 shall remain in force and have effect on or after the date of the commencement of section 20 as if that section had not been enacted.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 490:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 242: In page 187, after line 14, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" \u201cTransitional provision: Superannuation schemes "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"242. A superannuation scheme made under section 40 of the Act of 2001 that was in force immediately before the commencement of section 120 or 121, as the case may be, shall\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) remain in force and have effect on or after the commencement of section 120 or 121, as the case may be, as if the scheme concerned had been made under section 120 or 121, as the case may be, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) be construed as if references to a member of the staff of the Commission included references to a member of the staff of the Commission as established under the Act of 2001.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 491:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"TITLE: In page 13, line 20, to delete \u201cDistrict Court\u201d and substitute \u201cFamily District Court or the District Court, as the case may be\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 492:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"TITLE: In page 13, line 25, after \u201cpractices\u201d to insert \u201cand the prohibition on administration of electro-convulsive therapy\u201d"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  I thank Deputies for the debate today on this landmark legislation to update and modernise our mental health laws. The enactment of this Bill has been a long-standing priority for me and for the Government, and I am very proud to see it being passed here today. The Bill will now go to Uachtar\u00e1n na h\u00c9ireann for her consideration. This is once-in-a-generation legislation. The previous Mental Health Act was enacted in 2001 by our current Taoiseach. The previous legislation was enacted in 1945. The Bill that we are passing here today will stand the test of time. I hope it will be in place for many years - if not decades - to come.  T\u00e1im br\u00f3d\u00fail as a bheith i mo Aire St\u00e1it chun an dl\u00ed seo a rith, a th\u00e1inig uair amh\u00e1in i ngl\u00fain, chun feabhas a chur ar \u00e1r seirbh\u00eds\u00ed sl\u00e1inte meabhrach. Agus \u00e9 sin \u00e1 dh\u00e9anamh againn, cuirfimid daoine i gcro\u00edl\u00e1r a gc\u00faraim f\u00e9in agus l\u00e9ireoimid meas ar a gcearta agus a roghanna. We are concluding the legislative process relating to this Bill after 45 hours of debate across both Houses. I published this Bill in July 2024 and brought it to Second Stage that September. I was pleased to see the level of interest in the Bill in both Houses. We had many hours of productive debate on the provisions of the Bill. I thank every Deputy and Senator who took the time to speak on the Bill and to propose amendments.  The purpose of this Bill is to introduce a more person-centred, human rights-based approach to mental health services in statute. It will empower people accessing mental health services to make decisions about their own care and treatment \u2013 respecting their voice and choice. This Bill will regulate all community mental health services for the first time, including all community CAMHS and all community residences. This Bill will allow 16- and 17-year-olds to consent to their mental health treatment on the same basis as consent to physical health treatment. This Bill introduces a suite of new safeguards around the involuntary admission and detention process, including the use of restrictive practice and the administration of treatment to people lacking capacity.  The final version of the Bill before us today is over 200 pages long. It contains 268 sections. Each line of the Bill has been considered by officials in my Department and been the subject of thorough debate with the drafters in the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel.  A Bill of this size and complexity takes time. I am delighted that I have been able to oversee this Bill from the publication of the draft heads right through to enactment. The Bill will now go to the President for her consideration. I look forward to getting into the details of commencement and implementation as soon as possible.  I thank Deputies Paul McAuliffe, Sorca Clarke, Marie Sherlock, Liam Quaide and Michael Collins for supporting the final version of this Bill. It is very telling that the former Opposition spokesperson on mental health, who was very supportive of the Bill, Deputy Mark Ward, is here. I acknowledge all his work over the period; it has taken quite a few years to reach this point. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  It has. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  We all share the same goal, namely to ensure this legislation will facilitate the putting in place of a more robust framework in which our mental health services will be delivered and regulated into the future.  I thank my colleagues in government for their continued support. I particularly thank the Taoiseach for reappointing me to this role in order that I could complete the work on the Bill right to the end. I thank the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, for all her support and former Minister Stephen Donnelly, who was a huge champion for this legislation. I also thank my colleagues the Ministers of State, Deputies Murnane O'Connor and O'Donnell. I offer my appreciation to Ministers, Deputies Foley and Deputy O'Callaghan, and their officials for the extensive contributions by their Departments on different aspects of the Bill.  Considering the significant legal and ethical considerations involved in the Bill, it was important to ensure that there was ongoing consultation with key stakeholders throughout the drafting process. In particular, there was extensive consultation with the Mental Health Commission, as the regulator of mental health services, and the HSE, as the main provider of mental health services in the State. I thank the Mental Health Commission for all its support.  The Department consulted widely with other stakeholders and professional representative groups such as the Irish College of Psychiatrists, the Psychological Society of Ireland, the Ombudsman for Children, the Irish Council of Civil Liberties, Mental Health Reform and its various member organisations, other Departments and State agencies such as An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na.  I wish to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to all the people with lived experience of mental health services - those living the experience and their loved ones - for taking the time to engage with the Department at different points when the Bill was being drafted. I received a lot of correspondence from many different perspectives, and every view was considered and debated at length. The wide-ranging and extensive consultation with stakeholders from all sectors and the comprehensive review of the existing Act have delivered a new legal framework that will absolutely deliver on its aims.  I thank the officials in the mental health unit for their tremendous work in developing and progressing the Bill over the past number of years. I thank James Kelly, Lorraine Doyle, Siobh\u00e1n Hargis, Philip Dodd, deputy chief medical officer, my advisers, Ian Power and P\u00e1raic Gallagher, and my private secretary, Amy Brennan, for all their hard work, advice and support throughout this process.  I am extremely grateful to colleagues in the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel, the Office of the Attorney General and the Bills Office. I thank them for all their work. Getting here today would not have been possible without their valuable expertise, support and input. I also thank the Ceann Comhairle and Leas-Cheann Comhairle for powering through the amendments today.  This Bill will make a profound difference to the lives of tens of thousands of people each year, whether through in-patient care, community residences or community services. It has been a significant journey. I am proud to have brought the Mental Health Act 2026, as it will be known, through all Stages to its conclusion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sorca Clarke  I acknowledge the very hard work that has gone into producing what is a Bill of phenomenal size over the past number of years. I also acknowledge the engagement of all the stakeholders with my office and, previously, with Deputy Ward's office. That has not gone unnoticed and is very welcome.  I wish to raise one final issue with the Minister of State. I raise it from a political perspective and almost as a personal plea at this point. I ask the Minister of State to look at the possibility of having an interim review after 2.5 years. We debated the latter on Committee Stage. Five years is too long to wait for a review. Yes, this Bill is coming 20-odd years after the previous legislation. I do not think there is one person sitting in this room who was born when the Act previous to that was introduced. I am compelled to say that if gaps arise in this Bill, they are going to arise immediately. Five years is a little too long to wait for the review. There is merit for an interim review, whether it is in the context of delays, staffing pressures, access to the advocacy or the pathways after somebody leaves their time as a in-patient. This Bill will change a lot in the area of mental health. I ask the Minister of State to please consider having an interim review, particularly in light of the complexity and scale of the legislation. I would not like to think that one person would feel they were somehow failed along the path as a result of the need to wait five years for the review. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marie Sherlock  I commend the Minister of State on all the work she has done and effort she has put into this. I know it has been a very extensive process over a significant period. She set out the timeline for the two most recent mental health Acts we have had in this country.  Obviously, the words in this Bill are only as good as the level of willingness among the members of the medical profession - I know there is huge willingness to embrace what is being set down here - and as good as the oversight regime relating to the Mental Health Commission. I join Deputy Clarke in calling for the review to happen in a shorter timeframe, because we all want this to work. Ultimately, the point is that any Act is only as good as how well it is resourced and the willingness to implement its provisions.  I commend the Minister of State on all the work she has done. Some of the changes encompassed by the provisions in the Bill will be ground-breaking. Our collective hope is that we will have a much healthier and transparent mental health system for those who suffer mental ill-health.  I will conclude on the point that the legislation will on succeed if the resources are provided and there is proper oversight. When issues are flagged by the Mental Health Commission - we know that there have been delays in terms of responses in the past on foot of resourcing or other issues - we must ensure that they are responded to accordingly. I commend the Minister of State on all her work. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Liam Quaide  I commend the Minister of State on the epic undertaking that has been the very complex journey of this Bill and the vast amount of work she has put into it. It is fair to say that it is not a perfect Bill but it is a substantial improvement on the existing legislation. In the round, the Social Democrats are happy to support it.  A number of important improvements were made to the Bill when it was before the Seanad process. Those are very welcome. In particular, I refer to the prohibition on the use of electroconvulsive therapy on minors. That is both significant and welcome, as are the stronger provisions around capacity assessments and the removal of a provision that would have allowed a consultant psychiatrist override the treatment refusal of a person with capacity for up to 72 hours pending a High Court decision.  As we know, the extension of mental health commission regulation into CAMHS and community adult mental health services was already part of the Bill prior to the Seanad process, as was the clear recognition to the rights of 16- and 17-year-olds to consent to mental health treatment. Both of those measures are very progressive.  The fact that a dedicated section on pharmacological restraint has been introduced is also positive. There was a serious gap in oversight there that needed to be addressed. I think that can be improved on further with the tighter definition that Mental Health Reform has proposed. There are issues that are a cause for disappointment, particularly around independent advocacy and independent complaints mechanisms. We really need to address those issues.  I echo the call by my colleagues for a nearer term review of the legislation. The idea of a child in serious distress who needs urgent clinical assessment and therapeutic supports and that potentially happening in a Garda station is a cause for concern.  In relation to independent complaints and advocacy, as I said, what has transpired in Bloomfield Hospital and in Kerry CAMHS, particularly what transpired in Bloomfield Hospital despite the consecutive very high compliance ratings that the Mental Health Commission applied to that facility, has made the case for those safeguards very compelling. This is something we need to come back to. Overall, however, I welcome this Bill, and I commend the Minister of State on it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor)  I compliment my colleague and everybody involved because I know a lot of work has gone into this Bill. I know the commitment and dedication that there has been. I spoke to the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, several times about dual diagnosis, which I feel is really important and this is going to be addressed in this Bill. To everybody involved, as other TDs have said, this is groundbreaking legislation. Having known the Minister of State for so long, I know her commitment and dedication to getting this Bill through. This involves everybody who needs the services. This is about them today. This is about the people who need the services that are there for them, and this is what we are focused on today. Well done to all involved. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I thank the Ministers of State and their officials. The passionate commitment to this area is clear and it is great to see it. You stuck through it to the end and had it passed. Well done to you all. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle very much. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendments reported."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Mental Health Bill 2024: From the Seanad"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-29\/debate\/dbsect_16","debateType":"billReport","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/28","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/28\/dail\/4_sub","houseCode":"dail","stage":"4_sub","isBillStage":false,"showAs":"International Co-operation (Omagh Bombing Inquiry) Bill 2026: Report and Final Stages (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"International Co-operation (Omagh Bombing Inquiry) Bill 2026: Report and Final Stages","counts":{"speechCount":38,"speakerCount":4},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_16","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niall Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  We move now to the International Co-operation (Omagh Bombing Inquiry) Bill 2026. Amendments Nos. 1 to 6, inclusive, and 10 to 17, inclusive, are related and will be discussed together. Amendment No. 1 arises out of committee proceedings. Deputy Mark Ward is taking these amendments in the name of Deputy Matt Carthy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Wall  I move amendment No. 1:  In page 6, to delete lines 18 to 24 and substitute the following:  \u201c(2) A request for assistance under this section shall specify\u2014  (a) the topics, areas of inquiry, or matters on which the Chairman requests that evidence be taken in accordance with this Part,  (b) any documents, records, or categories of documents relevant to those topics or  areas of inquiry,  (c) the purpose for which the evidence is requested, and  (d) where the Chairman so wishes, any office holder or former office holder of whom the Chairman requests that evidence be taken in relation to a particular topic or area of inquiry specified in accordance with paragraph (a).\u201d.  Sinn F\u00e9in supports the families of the victims and survivors of the 1998 Omagh bombing in their search for truth and justice. The families who have campaigned for 27 years for this inquiry deserve full transparency and full disclosure about the events that led to the killing of their loved ones. In order to ensure the fullest co-operation possible with the Omagh inquiry and to allow the inquiry to get on with its work, it is important this legislation is facilitated in getting through the Oireachtas in a timely manner.  That is why we at the justice committee agreed to waive pre-legislative scrutiny but this legislation must also be done right. This is what these amendments that I will move today aim to do. A key concern Sinn F\u00e9in has is the lack of meaningful engagement with victims' families. Families were not shown the draft legislation before publication and have expressed disappointment that the Minister has not met them, despite earlier commitments to place their needs at the heart of the process. This has left some feeling sidelined in a process that should be trauma-informed and centred on their experience. A number of the amendments Deputy Carthy tabled for Report Stage reflect concerns raised directly with him by representatives of the families and the victims and survivors.  Under the Bill, any provision of oral sworn evidence to the inquiry by former members of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, former members of the Defence Forces, former Ministers and former officeholders of Departments of the State will be done on a voluntary basis. There are some concerns regarding the voluntary nature of this evidence and how that might work in practice. Concerns have also been raised that national security limits could restrict disclosure because governments, particularly the Government of our nearest neighbour, often protect intelligence services and operations.  Under the terms of this Bill, as they stand, officials may decline to provide evidence and broad security claims could be used to justify withholding sensitive or potentially embarrassing information. Far too often in the past, we have seen the British Government, in particular, misuse these types of provisions in relation to national security to fail to disclose information related to collusion, for example. We have to be clear that national security cannot be used to conceal failings or wrongdoings. While every jurisdiction has lawful national security issues, we all recognise that the question is how wide or narrow these aspects are and how they are defined in law. We have seen national security clauses used as a vague, undefined concept by the British Government to effectively veto the release of information it did not want to release, so the way the concept is applied here is of paramount importance. A number of the amendments that Sinn F\u00e9in has tabled deal with this matter.  The families and survivors of the Omagh bombing also have genuine concerns that the current draft may give rise to difficulties that could undermine its intended purpose. These concerns need to be addressed. As Deputy Carthy said during Second Stage, we were surprised when a representative for the families told us the Minister refused to meet them to discuss the draft legislation. The amendments that Sinn F\u00e9in has tabled are designed to strengthen this Bill and to ensure that the concerns of the families and survivors, as brought to our attention, are addressed insofar as is possible. I hope the Minister of State will engage with this aim in a constructive spirit, recognising that Sinn F\u00e9in\u2019s amendments are intended to be helpful, and give genuine consideration to accepting them.  Amendment No. 1 addresses a matter raised by legal representatives of the Omagh families. It replaces the requirement to pre-specify exact questions with a requirement to outline topics, areas of questioning and relevant documents. It preserves fair notice for witnesses while preventing rehearsed, scripted answers. It also aligns the legislation with the inquiry\u2019s own rule 10 protocol, ensuring consistency and effective evidence gathering.  The Omagh inquiry\u2019s rule 10 protocol sets out who can question witnesses, when others can request permission and how this keeps proceedings fair, focused and non-adversarial. This amendment clarifies that any request for assistance must outline the specific topics, documents, purposes and, where relevant, the officeholders from whom evidence is sought. It replaces references to \"questions\" with \"topics, areas of inquiry, or matters\". A number of subsequent amendments that will substitute \u201ctopics, areas of inquiry, or matters\u201d for \"questions\" are consequential amendments to this amendment. I hope the Minister of State will accept this amendment and subsequent consequential amendments grouped with this amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niall Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Niall Collins)  I thank the Deputy for his amendments. Amendment No. 1 seeks to substitute section 5(2) of the Bill and, in doing so, seeks to provide that the chairman of the inquiry would, instead of specifying the questions he wishes to have asked of an officeholder or former officeholder, specify, \u201cthe topics, areas of inquiry, or matters on which the Chairman requests that evidence be taken\". I note that the Deputy has not put down a similar amendment to section 6, which deals with requests for assistance from former holders of ministerial office. This creates drafting and technical difficulties in respect of the Deputy\u2019s other amendments to later sections of the Bill.  Leaving aside such issues, the effect of this amendment would be to fundamentally alter the nature of the bespoke legal mechanism provided for in this Bill to assist the Omagh bombing inquiry.  It would do so in two respects: by weakening the in-built safeguards designed to enable the taking of oral evidence for the purposes of an inquiry established in another jurisdiction, and by altering the role of the nominated judge of the High Court who is to act only as the conduit for the oral evidence.  When considering the amendments, it is necessary to recall why a bespoke legal mechanism, namely, this legislation, was required to assist the inquiry in the first place. As outlined on Committee Stage, there are legal complexities that must be navigated in the relationship between Ireland as a sovereign state and an inquiry established under the laws of another sovereign state. While the Government is fully committed to assisting the inquiry, we must ensure that we do so in a manner that is consistent with our sovereignty, laws and obligations to protect the safety and security of the State and the rights of citizens. Following extensive engagement with the Office of the Attorney General on how these two goals could be navigated, what is provided for in the Bill is a robust legal mechanism akin to that legislated for in 2019 to assist the UK Troubles-related inquest. The mechanism enables the taking of oral testimony in a manner that protects the rights of witnesses while also providing for the possibility of protecting sovereignty, national security and other essential interests of the State, and meeting obligations to, inter alia , investigate crime, protect life and comply with data protection obligations. The Bill does this by requiring that the questions to be answered by the witness must be approved in advance by the head of the State body concerned.  The proposed amendment, by only requiring the chairman to specify topics, areas of inquiry or matters, is not compatible with an obligation on the head of the State body concerned under section 5(4) to refuse to accede to a request on the basis of any of the grounds listed in that subsection. The head would not have sufficiently detailed information to do so. Were the head to accede to broad topics, witnesses could be put in the invidious position at a later stage of the process of having to decide whether answering a specific question would give rise to a risk of prejudice to the security of the State and so forth. We do not believe that this is a workable proposition.  There is a second fundamental problem with the proposed amendment, and this becomes clear when the later proposed amendment to section 9 is considered, which is amendment No. 20. It appears that it would be for the nominated judge of the High Court to examine the witness on the topics, areas of inquiry or matters and decide what questions to pose. This would involve the judge putting himself or herself in the place of the chairman of the inquiry, but without factual knowledge of all the material available to the chairman through the disclosure process or the chairman\u2019s lines of investigation. This would be to greatly alter the intended role of the nominated judge, who is to act only as a conduit for the evidence. The nominated judge is not acting judicially or involved in the administration of justice. In addition, assigning the judge a decision-making role would likely raise the issue of whether the judge\u2019s decisions could be challenged or appealed. As the Deputy is aware, Article 34.5.4\u00b0 of the Constitution gives the Supreme Court appellate jurisdiction from a decision of the High Court. There is no intention to create such an avenue, and doing so would certainly risk prolonging the process. Our preferred approach is set out in the Bill and has been carefully designed to maximise the evidence available to the inquiry in a manner that is consistent with our sovereignty, laws and obligations to protect the safety and security of the State and the rights of its citizens. We are unable to accept the amendments. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  All of our amendments were drafted in consultation with the Omagh families and their representatives. That is where we are coming from. They should be at the heart of this legislation. It is disappointing that the Minister did not take the time to meet them before this Bill was drafted.  Under this amendment, the procedure would preserve fair notice for the witness and give him or her the fair notice that he or she needs. It stops rehearsed or scripted answers and allows for a flow of conversation, which is more transparent and gets to the truth of things. That is one of the reasons for this amendment. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared lost."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I move amendment No. 2:  In page 6, line 27, to delete \u201cquestions\u201d and substitute \u201ctopics, area of inquiry or matters\u201d. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared lost."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I move amendment No. 3:  In page 6, line 29, to delete \u201cquestions\u201d and substitute \u201ctopics, area of inquiry or matters\u201d. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared lost."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I move amendment No. 4:  In page 6, line 31, to delete \u201cany such question\u201d and substitute \u201cregarding any such topics, area of inquiry or matters\u201d. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared lost."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I move amendment No. 5:  In page 6, line 36, to delete \u201cquestions\u201d and substitute \u201ctopics, area of inquiry or matters\u201d. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared lost."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I move amendment No. 6:  In page 6, line 38, to delete \u201cquestions\u201d and substitute \u201ctopics, area of inquiry or matters\u201d. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared lost."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Amendments Nos. 7 and 8 are related and will be discussed together. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I move amendment No. 7:  In page 7, to delete lines 1 and 2 and substitute the following:  \u201c(i) be likely to cause a specific, identifiable and substantial risk of prejudice to the sovereignty or security of the State, and only where such risk cannot reasonably be mitigated through redaction, protective measures, or partial disclosure,\u201d.  Sinn F\u00e9in has repeatedly highlighted how national security has frequently been cited in Britain to restrict disclosure in legacy investigations, often leaving families without full access to information about past events. This amendment reinforces that such an approach cannot apply here. It would ensure that co-operation with the Omagh inquiry was not undermined by broad or undefined national security claims and that designated individuals could be questioned in a structured, transparent process. The purpose of this amendment is to support truth and recovery, provide clarity for those affected, and guarantee that legitimate security considerations cannot be used to prevent the inquiry from receiving relevant evidence.  Amendment No. 8 is designed to ensure no misuse of national security as a rationale for not providing information to the inquiry. This amendment would ensure that refusals of co-operation could not rely on vague or speculative claims of security risks. It would require officials to set out clearly the specific harms they allege and to explain why less restrictive options would not suffice, strengthening transparency and accountability within the inquiry process. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niall Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Niall Collins  I thank the Deputy for these amendments. As we understand it, the intent of the amendments to section 5(4) of the Bill is to narrow the circumstances in which the head of the State body is required to refuse to accede to a request for assistance for reasons linked to the sovereignty or security of the State or other essential interests of the State.  We do not believe that this amendment achieves that. Rather, it would seem to have the effect of lowering the threshold for refusal. The test, as set out in section 5(4)(i), requires the head of the State body, be that the Garda Commissioner, the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces or the Secretary General of a Department, to be of the opinion that acceding to a request would be likely to prejudice the fundamental concerns of the State. The language mirrors that used in the Criminal Justice (International Co-operation) Act 2019, which provides for co-operation with UK Troubles-related inquests and has been used successfully.  The test as set out is, in our view, a higher threshold for the head to overcome than that proposed by the Deputy. The Deputy\u2019s proposed threshold as set out in amendment No. 7 simply requires that the head be of the opinion that acceding would be likely to cause a risk of prejudice to these fundamental concerns of the State. I note that the Deputy\u2019s amendment seeks to qualify the risk of prejudice that would be required by stating that it must be a specific identifiable and substantial risk and that it should only be used as a ground for refusal where risk mitigations such as redactions or partial disclosures would not afford sufficient protection. We do not believe that these qualifications overcome the ultimate effect, which would be to lower the threshold.  Amendment No. 8 picks up a similar theme and seeks to provide that a refusal may not be based on a general speculative or unparticularised assertion of harm. We do not believe that this amendment is necessary or adds anything when the totality of section 5 is considered. First, it is clear from section 5(3) that the head of a body may refuse a request for assistance in full or in part. This option is essential. It is our firm view, and that of the Government, that we must do everything possible to ensure that the chairman of the inquiry has access to the information that he needs to carry out his work and answer the questions of the families. This position has informed all of the actions that we have taken to support and facilitate the work of the inquiry, including putting in place a memorandum of understanding in relation to the disclosure of materials implementing measures to support the disclosure of sensitive personal data and bringing forward this Bill, and it will inform our consideration of any request from the head of a body to refuse to accede to a request on any grounds set out in section 5(4).  Second, the decision to refuse rests with the most senior officers in our State bodies. They are bound to act lawfully and with integrity and to make decisions on an objective, reasonable and rational basis in the public interest.  Third, as I alluded to, where the head of a body is of the opinion that acceding to a request would be likely to prejudice the sovereignty or security of the State, the head must consult with the line Minister, and where the Minister for justice is not the line Minister, also the Minister for justice. This is an important safeguard in the process. It will, of necessity, require the head of the State body to set out in writing the basis of their opinion, including the nature of the prejudice that is likely to occur and why it cannot be mitigated by, for example, a partial disclosure, the provision of a gist of the evidence or the use of codes to anonymise certain persons.  Fourth, I would draw the Deputy's attention to the requirement in section 5(6) that where a decision has been taken to refuse a request in respect of a particular question, that decision and the reason for the refusal must be set out in writing to the chairman of the inquiry.  Taking the section as a whole, we are satisfied that it has been designed in a manner that ensures that any decision to refuse will be taken only after very careful consideration and be well founded on the assessment that prejudice is likely to occur. The Deputy referred to a concern that national security grounds must not be misused to prevent the disclosure of information that might be embarrassing to services or to conceal wrongdoing or failures. We are entirely at one on that point and we are satisfied that the test as set out in section 5(4) and the layers approach adopted, which require consultation with the Minister or, in some instances, two Ministers, safeguards against this risk.  For these reasons, we cannot accept the amendments. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared lost."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I move amendment No. 8:  In page 7, between lines 6 and 7, to insert the following:  \u201c(iv) for the purposes of paragraph (i) , a refusal may not be based on a general, speculative, or unparticularised assertion of harm to State security or essential interests. The relevant head shall record in writing the precise nature of the risk relied upon and the reasons why less restrictive measures would not adequately protect that interest.\u201d. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared lost."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Amendments Nos 9 and 19 are related and may be discussed together. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I move amendment No. 9:  In page 7, to delete lines 7 to 11 and substitute the following:  \u201c(5) A relevant head to whom a request for assistance is made shall notify the former office holder of the request. The consent in writing of the former office holder shall be required only where the former office holder demonstrates that answering the specified question would give rise to a substantial and objectively reasonable risk of prejudice to their legal rights or to the performance of functions lawfully exercised during their tenure. A refusal to consent shall\u2014  (a) be provided in writing,  (b) set out the specific grounds relied upon, and  (c) be subject to review by the Chairman for adequacy and reasonableness.\u201d.  Amendment No. 9 is about ensuring that the process delivers truth for families. It clarifies that a former officeholder may withhold consent only when they can show a substantial, objective, reasonable risk to their legal rights or past lawful functions. Any refusal must be written, specify the grounds relied upon and can be reviewed by the inquiry chair for adequacy and reasonableness. This safeguard is important because it limits refusals to genuine demonstrable risks, requires written justification and ensures the inquiry chair can review decisions, strengthen transparency and prevent unjustified barriers to providing evidence.  Amendment No. 19 seeks to strengthen the effectiveness of this legislation in helping the families of victims and survivors of the Omagh bombing to get to the truth. The amendment provides that a former Minister\u2019s consent is only required where they can show a substantial objective, reasonable risk to their legal rights or past lawful functions. Any refusal must be written, set out on specific grounds and may be reviewed by the inquiry chair for adequacy and reasonableness. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niall Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Niall Collins  I thank the Deputy for his amendments. As I understand the Deputy\u2019s proposed amendment to section 5(5) and its equivalent in section 6(5), he is seeking to introduce a form of compulsion for former officeholders, be they past members of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, the Defence Forces or the Civil Service or former ministerial officeholders, to give evidence before the High Court. This would be subject to the person concerned having the right to demonstrate that answering the questions would give rise to a risk of prejudice to their legal rights or to the performance of functions lawfully exercised during their tenure. The risk of prejudice would need to reach the level of a substantial and objectively reasonable risk of prejudice. In such cases, their consent would be required.  Leaving aside some confusion in the wording of the amendment, which refers to consent being required in the first paragraph and to a refusal to consent in the second part, the proposal is fundamentally flawed. It seeks to assign the chairman of the inquiry the role of reviewing the case set out by the persons for refusing to consent for adequacy and reasonableness. In effect, the amendment appears to assign to the chairman the role of deciding whether the person has the right to refuse to consent to provide oral testimony before the nominated Irish High Court judge. In considering this proposal, it is necessary to recall that the inquiry is established under the law of another sovereign state. The chairman of the inquiry is necessarily limited to applying the law of the United Kingdom and were he to be assigned a role in determining the adequacy and reasonableness of the case put forward by the person concerned, he could only do so by applying UK law. I respectfully say that this is not a tenable proposition.  It is also the case that the chairman's powers do not extend beyond the United Kingdom and any view that he might take on the case made could have no validity under Irish law. The amendment raises many other issues, for example, whether the outcome of the chairman's review would be subject to appeal before the courts here or in the UK, thereby introducing delay into the process, or whether a person suffering ill health may have any means of declining a request to assist, but these are secondary to the fundamental problem with the proposal.  An important consideration when developing this Bill was how provision might be made for past officeholders to assist. Like everyone, I am conscious that the inquiry will likely wish to seek to hear from those with first-hand information of the events prior to the bombing. I am also conscious that, due to the passage of time, most, if not all, of those persons will be well into retirement. While such persons can, of their own volition, decide to attend before the inquiry in the UK, they would remain subject to certain residual obligations in respect of sensitive information acquired during their service, but without the benefit of the privileges and immunities to which they are entitled under Irish law. They would, in effect, be putting themselves at risk of being held criminally liable for failure to comply with orders of the chairman. These considerations resulted in the scope of the Bill going beyond what was provided for in 2019 in respect of the provision of assistance to UK Troubles-related inquests. While what is provided for is voluntary assistance in recognition of the fact that past officers are private citizens and cannot be compelled to provide assistance to a foreign inquiry, as I stated on Second Stage, I expect co-operation from all concerned who are requested to provide assistance.  As will be clear from our remarks, we cannot accept these amendments. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared lost."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I move amendment No. 10:  In page 7, line 9, to delete \u201cquestion\u201d and substitute \u201ctopic, area of inquiry or matter\u201d. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared lost."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I move amendment No. 11:  In page 7, line 17, to delete \u201cquestions\u201d and substitute \u201ctopics, area of inquiry or matters\u201d. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared lost."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I move amendment No. 12:  In page 7, line 19, to delete \u201cquestions\u201d and substitute \u201ctopics, area of inquiry or matters\u201d. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared lost."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I move amendment No. 13:  In page 7, line 22, to delete \u201cquestion\u201d and substitute \u201ctopic, area of inquiry or matter\u201d. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared lost."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I move amendment No. 14:  In page 7, line 29, to delete \u201cquestions\u201d and substitute \u201ctopics, area of inquiry or matters\u201d. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared lost."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I move amendment No. 15:  In page 7, line 34, to delete \u201cquestion\u201d and substitute \u201ctopic, area of inquiry or matter\u201d. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared lost."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I move amendment No. 16:  In page 7, line 38, to delete \u201cquestions\u201d and substitute \u201ctopics, area of inquiry or matters\u201d. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared lost."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I move amendment No. 17:  In page 7, line 39, to delete \u201cquestions\u201d and substitute \u201ctopics, area of inquiry or matters\u201d. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared lost."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I move amendment No. 18:  In page 8, between lines 9 and 10, to insert the following:   \u201cWritten statements from office holders and former office holders   6. (1) This section applies where a relevant head has, under section 5 , acceded in whole or in part to a request for assistance for the taking of evidence from an office holder or former office holder of a designated State body.  (2) Before any oral evidence is taken in accordance with sections 9 , 10 and 11 , the relevant head shall ensure that the office holder or former office holder concerned provides to the designated persons a written statement addressing\u2014  (a) the topics, areas of inquiry or matters specified in the request for assistance,  (b) any documents, records or categories of documents identified as relevant under section 5(2)(b) , and  (c) any additional matters on which the designated persons consider that a written account is reasonably required for the purposes of the Inquiry.  (3) A written statement provided under subsection (2) shall\u2014  (a) be signed by the office holder or former office holder,  (b) contain a declaration that it is true to the best of his or her knowledge and belief, and  (c) be furnished within such period as the relevant head may specify, having regard to the efficient conduct of the Inquiry.  (4) Upon receipt of a written statement under this section, the designated persons shall provide it to the Chairman as soon as practicable, subject to the condition referred to in section 11(8) .  (5) Where the Chairman, having considered a written statement provided under this section, is satisfied that the statement adequately addresses the matters for which evidence was sought, the Chairman may notify the relevant head in writing that oral evidence from the office holder or former office holder is not required.  (6) Where the Chairman determines that oral evidence remains necessary, the written statement shall form the baseline account for the purposes of any subsequent examination, and the oral evidence shall be confined, insofar as is practicable, to\u2014  (a) clarification of matters contained in the written statement,  (b) examination of inconsistencies or omissions, and  (c) any further matters reasonably arising from the written statement or relevant documents.  (7) Nothing in this section shall prejudice the power of the Chairman to request further written information or clarification from an office holder or former office holder where necessary for the purposes of the Inquiry.\u201d.  This amendment reintroduces a requirement for witnesses to provide a signed, truthful written statement before giving any oral evidence. It establishes a clear baseline account and ensures that key issues and documents are addressed in advance, and allows the chair to dispense with oral testimony where the written material is sufficient. Where oral evidence is still needed, questions can focus on clarifying gaps, inconsistencies or outstanding matters. The inquiry and draft memorandum of understanding both support this approach, which strengthens the clarity and overall effectiveness of the co-operation process. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niall Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Niall Collins  The Deputy is seeking to insert a new section after section 5 of the Bill providing for the taking of written witness statements from officeholders and former officeholders. The statements would be provided to the designated person, who would in turn provide them to the chairman of the inquiry. If the chairman is satisfied with the contents, he may decide that he does not require the person concerned to give oral evidence. I note that no provision is made in respect of former ministerial officeholders, which presents technical and drafting issues with the Deputy's proposed amendments to later sections of the Bill. There is some confusion in the drafting of the amendment, since, for example, the officeholder may well be the designated person who is to give the oral evidence before the nominated judge of the High Court. What is proposed is at odds with the mechanism provided for in the Bill and does not take account of how the State is working with the inquiry. The mechanism provided for in the Bill is, of necessity, given that the inquiry is established under the laws of another sovereign state, premised on the chairman of the inquiry specifying the questions that he wishes to be asked and the answers to those questions, insofar as they are acceded to, being put into evidence under oath before a nominated judge of the High Court. The questions specified by the chairman will arise from his consideration of the materials that the inquiry has gathered in the course of its work, including witness statements.  As the Deputy will be aware, a memorandum of understanding is in place with the inquiry regarding the disclosure of Irish State materials. A substantial volume of material has been disclosed to date - over 26,000 pages - and that process is ongoing. The inquiry is examining those materials and materials disclosed by the UK state authorities, including the PSNI and intelligence services. The legal representatives of the core participants of the inquiry, principally family members, are also examining the materials shared with them by the inquiry and drawing any potential lines of questioning to the attention of the inquiry team. Through this process, the inquiry is identifying persons from whom it wishes to take written statements. My Department, as the central point of contact for the inquiry, has already received requests for assistance relating to the taking of witness statements from a number of persons and is engaging with An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na about the processing of those requests.  Insofar as they may be former officeholders, it will be a matter for them as private citizens to decide whether they wish to provide witness statements, as they cannot be compelled to provide assistance to a foreign inquiry. It is not the case, as proposed in the Deputy's amendment, that the head of a State body can ensure that a former officeholder provides a written statement. A head of a State body has no power to direct a former official and no sanction available to impose in the case of non-compliance. However, as we stated on Second Stage, we expect co-operation from all concerned who are requested to provide assistance.  We anticipate that more requests for witness statements may be received and my Department is giving consideration to formally setting out an agreed process for handling such requests. This will be in the interests of transparency and ease of the inquiry. As I understand how the inquiry is approaching its work following its examination of a written witness statement, it may decide that matters remain that necessitate the taking of oral evidence or that there are no outstanding matters and it does not require the person to provide oral evidence. This applies in the case of UK witnesses as it does in the case of Irish State witnesses.  I am satisfied, following our consultations with the Office of the Attorney General, that there is no need for legislation to support the provision of assistance in relation to the gathering of such written statements. It can be done administratively.  Finally, I am doubtful as to the logic of creating a mechanism whereby the inquiry makes a request for assistance in the form of oral evidence under section 5 even though it may not be evident that oral evidence is required until after the preparation of witness statements. This seems rather back to front. I prefer the logic of the mechanism in the Bill, which is based on the chairman only making a request for assistance where he has established the taking of oral evidence is required.  We are not accepting the amendments, basically. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared lost."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I move amendment No. 19:  In page 8, to delete lines 31 to 33 and substitute the following:  \u201c(5) The Minister shall notify the former holder of ministerial office of the request. The consent in writing of the former holder of ministerial office shall be required only where that person demonstrates that acceding to the request would give rise to a substantial and objectively reasonable risk of prejudice to their legal rights or to the lawful performance of functions exercised during their tenure. Any refusal to consent shall\u2014  (a) be provided in writing,  (b) set out the specific grounds relied upon, and  (c) be subject to review by the Chairman for adequacy and reasonableness.\u201d. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared lost."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Amendments Nos. 20 and 21 are related and will be discussed together. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I move amendment No. 20:  In page 10, to delete lines 21 to 36 and substitute the following:   \u201cQuestioning of designated person by nominated judge   9. (1) For the purpose of taking the evidence specified in a decision under section 5(3) to which subsection (6)(c)(i) of that section applies, or specified in a decision under section 6(3) to which subsection (6)(c)(i) of that section applies\u2014  (a) no person other than the nominated judge shall ask questions of the designated person, and  (b) the nominated judge shall examine the designated person on the topics, areas of inquiry or matters specified in the relevant decision, and may, for that purpose\u2014  (i) put to the designated person any document, record or information relevant to those topics or areas of inquiry,  (ii) ask any questions that arise reasonably from the designated person\u2019s answers, from any written statement provided under section 5(5)(a) , or from any relevant document, and  (iii) pursue such supplementary or follow-up questions as the nominated judge considers necessary and appropriate for the effective and fair examination of the designated person.  (2) Nothing in this section shall require the nominated judge to confine the examination to any predetermined or pre-approved list of questions, provided that the examination remains within the scope of the topics, areas of inquiry or matters specified in the relevant decision under section 5 or 6 .  (3) The nominated judge shall conduct the examination in such manner as he or she considers necessary to ensure that the evidence taken is full, accurate and capable of assisting the Inquiry in the performance of its functions.\u201d.  As it stands, this section overly tightly restricts questioning to the exact questions authorised in advance. It creates a narrow, predetermined scope that limits flexibility and prevents broader or exploratory lines of inquiry needed to get to the truth. The amendment will ensure examinations are fair, thorough and not restricted to preset questions, allowing the judge to pursue relevant documents, follow-up queries and full evidence for the inquiry's work. The amendment gives the nominated judge explicit authority to present relevant documents and pursue follow-up questions within the defined topic. The purpose of the amendment is to enable effective and responsive examinations, which representatives of the families want to see.  Amendment No. 21 will allow the chair, or counsel on their behalf, to question a witness after the judge's examinations, probing any matters arising from the evidence. It permits follow-up questions, use of documents and exploration of inconsistencies, while keeping all questions within the defined scope of the inquiry's authorised topics. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niall Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Niall Collins  I touched on the difficulties with amendment No. 20 in my remarks on amendment No. 1. As it is linked to the change proposed to section 5(2), which has not been accepted, I cannot accept this amendment. This also applies to amendment No. 21. The amendment to substitute section 9 would fundamentally alter the bespoke legal mechanism being provided for in the Bill, which is designed to enable the taking of oral evidence in a manner that protects the essential interests of the State and the rights of witnesses. On this reason is founded the principle of the questions asked of the designated persons by the nominated High Court judge being only those approved in advance. Under section 9, the role of the High Court judge is solely to act as a conduit for the evidence to be given by the designated person in response to approved questions. The judge dealing with the matter is in effect carrying out a commission-on-oath-type role. It is not a hearing per se and the judge does not have a judicial role in relation to the content of the questions, the answers or the clarifying questions that may be asked under section 10.  The amendment seeks to turn the process into a hearing, which would see the judge take on the role of examiner deciding the lines of inquiry to pursue and the questions to ask the designated person. This is not the intended role of the judge, nor is it one he or she would be equipped to undertake as he or she would not have the factual knowledge to do so. The judge would, in effect, be putting him or herself in the place of the chairman to the inquiry, but without the factual knowledge of extensive materials available to the inquiry. In addition, assigning the judge a decision-making role would likely raise the issue of whether the judge's decisions could be challenged or appealed. This is not the intention and would risk prolonging the process.  Amendment No. 21 seeks to replace section 10. It would see the chairman of the inquiry, or counsel to the inquiry on his behalf, having a similar role to that proposed for the nominated judge under section 9. While the chairman or his representative would have access to all factual knowledge to examine the designated person and pursue any lines of inquiry, such a role is incompatible with the rationale underpinning the bespoke mechanism provided for in the Bill. Section 10 as it stands goes as far as possible. It has been drafted in ease of the inquiry so that, in the event of minor points arising that could be clarified on the day, the chairman will have the opportunity to seek clarity on the answers given.  There are also drafting and technical difficulties with the amendments. They purport to refer to section 6, which concerns requests for assistance from former ministerial officeholders, but no amendments equivalent to those proposed to section 5 were proposed to section 6. We cannot accept the amendments. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared lost."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I move amendment No. 21:  In page 11, to delete lines 1 to 9 and substitute the following:   \u201cQuestioning of designated person by or on behalf of Chairman   10. (1) Upon completion of the examination of a designated person by the nominated judge under section 9 , the Chairman, or counsel to the Inquiry on his or her behalf, may ask questions of the designated person.  (2) The Chairman, or counsel to the Inquiry on his or her behalf, may ask questions for the purpose of examining the designated person on any matters arising from the evidence, including\u2014  (a) matters arising from answers given to the nominated judge,  (b) matters arising from any written statement provided under section 5(5)(a) ,  (c) matters arising from any document, record or information relevant to the topics, areas of inquiry or matters specified in the relevant decision under section 5 or section 6 , and  (d) any inconsistencies, omissions or issues reasonably requiring further exploration for the purposes of the Inquiry.  (3) For the purposes of subsection (2), the Chairman, or counsel to the Inquiry on his or her behalf, may\u2014  (a) put documents or records to the designated person,  (b) pursue supplementary or follow-up questions, and  (c) probe any matter that reasonably arises from the evidence, provided that the examination remains within the scope of the topics, areas of inquiry or matters specified in the relevant decision under section 5 or 6.  (4) Nothing in this section shall require the Chairman, or counsel to the Inquiry on his or her behalf, to confine questioning to clarification of answers given under section 9 .\u201d. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared lost."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I move amendment No. 22:  In page 12, between lines 4 and 5, to insert the following:  \u201c(5) A person referred to in subsection (3)(f), (g) or (h) may\u2014  (a) propose to the Chairman, to counsel to the Inquiry, or to the nominated judge any questions or topics that the person considers relevant to the evidence being taken under section 9 or 10 ,  (b) make submissions or representations to the Chairman, to counsel to the Inquiry, or to the nominated judge in relation to the evidence being taken, and  (c) apply to the nominated judge for permission to put questions directly to the designated person giving evidence, and the Chairman, counsel to the Inquiry, or the nominated judge, as the case may be, shall consider any such proposal, submission, representation or application.\u201d.  This amendment strengthens participation rights by allowing certain affected parties to propose questions or topics, make submissions on the evidence and even apply to put questions directly to a witness. It ensures their concerns are formally considered by the chair, counsel or judge, enhancing fairness and transparency in how evidence is tested. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niall Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Niall Collins  The amendment would insert a new subsection in section 11 after subsection (4) dealing with the rights of core participants to the inquiry. The core participants are largely family members and have a formal status before the inquiry with rights to receive documents and make submissions to the chairman. There are 62 core participants, of whom 58 comprise families or groups of families represented by a range of legal firms. The Bill makes provision for them to attend and hear at first hand the evidence given before the nominated judge of the High Court. This is an important new feature compared with the 2019 Act and I am pleased it was possible to make such a provision in the Bill, notwithstanding the process is to be conducted otherwise than in public.  Amendment No. 22 is linked to the amendments to section 5 which sought to dispense with the requirement for the chairman to specify the questions he wished to have answered and to instead submit a more open request identifying topics, areas and matters. That amendment has not been accepted and I cannot accept this amendment.  The inquiry is established under the law of the United Kingdom and operates in accordance with the rules and procedures applicable to such inquiries in that jurisdiction. Those rules govern the right of core participants to make submissions, suggest lines of questioning to the chairman and ask questions of witnesses with the permission of the chairman. It is entirely a matter for the chairman to decide if or how core participants may make submissions to him in relation to the matters on which he may seek assistance from State authorities under section 5 of the Bill. It is not a matter that is appropriate to the Bill.  The elements of the amendment that would see the core participants making submissions to the nominated judge as to lines of questioning and seeking the judge's permission to directly question the designated person are wholly incompatible with the bespoke mechanism provided for in the Bill and the rationale underpinning such a mechanism.  Apart from these fundamental problems with the amendment, giving the chairman, counsel to the inquiry and the nominated judge decision-making roles would likely bring legal challenges or appeals into play. In the case of the chairman or his counsel, it is unclear whether such challenges would be determined under Irish law or UK law.  As will be clear from my remarks, I am satisfied the mechanism in the Bill is both legally necessary and legally sound, and is capable of operating reasonably efficiently so as to ensure requests for assistance are responded to as comprehensively as possible and without any undue delay. As such, we cannot accept the amendments. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared lost."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I move amendment No. 23:  In page 12, between lines 4 and 5, to insert the following:  \u201c(5) Without prejudice to subsection (4) , the Chairman and counsel to the Inquiry shall be entitled to make submissions or representations to the nominated judge concerning the scope, relevance and permissible extent of questioning under section 9 or 10 .\u201d.  This amendment confirms that the chair and counsel may make submissions to the nominated judge on the scope and relevance of questioning. It reinforces judicial oversight while ensuring the inquiry's leadership can guide how evidence is tested, help and maintain fairness, focus and consistency during examinations conducted under sections 9 and 10. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niall Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Niall Collins  The Deputy is seeking to insert a new subsection in section 11, after subsection (4), dealing with the right of the chairman and counsel to the inquiry to make submissions or representations to the nominated judge concerning the scope, relevance and permissible extent of questioning under sections 9 and 10. It appears to extend to the questions that might be put by the nominated judge, core participants or their legal representatives, or the nominated judge him or herself. In any event, it is linked to the Deputy's amendment to section 5(2), which has not been accepted, as it would change the whole basis of the bespoke mechanism that has been carefully designed to ensure the provision of assistance to an inquiry established in another jurisdiction, while ensuring necessary safeguards are in place, so we are not accepting the amendment. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared lost."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I move amendment No. 24:  In page 12, to delete lines 5 to 10 and substitute the following:  \u201c(5) For the purpose of giving evidence\u2014  (a) under section 9, a designated person shall not be compelled to give any evidence which he or she could not be compelled to give in criminal proceedings in the State,  (b) under section 10 , a designated person may refuse to answer a question only where answering would give rise to a substantial and objectively reasonable risk of prejudice to a legal right or privilege recognised in criminal proceedings in the State. Any refusal shall\u2014  (i) be provided in writing or on the record,  (ii) set out the specific legal basis for the refusal, and  (iii) be subject to review by the Chairman for adequacy and reasonableness,  and  (c) subject to paragraph (b) , a designated person giving evidence under section 10 shall answer all questions put to him or her, including supplementary or follow-up questions arising from\u2014  (i) answers given under section 9 or 10 ,  (ii) any written statement provided under section 5(5)(a) , or  (iii) any document, record or information relevant to the topics, areas of inquiry or matters specified in the relevant decision under section 5 or 6 .\u201d.  This amendment clarifies the limits on compellability when evidence is taken. It preserves the same protections a person would have in criminal proceedings but requires that any refusal to answer under section 10 be specific, justified in writing and reviewable. Subject to those safeguards, witnesses must answer all relevant follow-up questions arising from their evidence or documents. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niall Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Niall Collins  The Deputy's amendment seeks to limit the grounds on which a designated person may refuse to answer a question asked by or on behalf of the chairman of the inquiry under subsection (10). The amendment is drafted on the basis that many of the Deputy's earlier amendments have been accepted and is therefore not amenable to being accepted for that reason alone.  Providing, as section 11(5)(b) of the Bill does, that the witness is not required to answer any of the questions put by the chairman, or by counsel to the inquiry on his behalf, is necessary to avoid negating the safeguard of the head of the body making a decision, following consultation with Ministers, to refuse to answer certain questions at the outset on the grounds of likely prejudice to sovereignty, security or other essential interests of the State and to discharge obligations, including in relation to the investigation of criminal offences. The proposed amendment is incompatible with the legal framework being provided for in the Bill.  As I set out in my response to the previous amendments, the mechanism provided for in the Bill is a bespoke mechanism designed to enable the taking of oral testimony in a manner that protects the essential interests of the State and the rights of witnesses. It is for this reason that it is founded on the questions to be asked of the designated persons by the nominated High Court judges being only those approved in advance. Furthermore, it is difficult to see how the process proposed would work in practice in the course of the evidence being taken before a High Court judge. It would certainly require an adjournment of the process and would prolong it.  In regard to the proposal that a refusal to answer a question would be subject to a review by the chairman of the inquiry for adequacy and reasonableness, it is necessary to recall that the inquiry is established under the law of another sovereign state. The chairman is necessarily limited to applying the law of the United Kingdom and, were he to be assigned a role in determining the adequacy and reasonableness of the case put forward by the person concerned, he could only do so by applying UK law. I respectfully suggest that is not a tenable proposition.  It is also the case that the chairman's powers do not extend beyond the United Kingdom and any view that he might take on the case made could have no validity under Irish law. The amendment raises many other issues, such as whether the outcome of the chairman's review would be subject to appeal before the courts here or in the UK, thereby introducing delay into the process, and whether it is appropriate that the chairman would be a judge in his own cause. These are secondary to the fundamental issues with what is proposed and for these reasons we are not accepting the amendment. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared lost."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Bill received for final consideration and passed."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  The Bill will now be sent to the Seanad. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar fionra\u00ed ar 6.17 p.m. agus cuireadh t\u00fas leis ar\u00eds ar 6.21 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Sitting suspended at 6.17 p.m. and resumed at 6.21 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"International Co-operation (Omagh Bombing Inquiry) Bill 2026: Report and Final Stages"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-29\/debate\/dbsect_17","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022: Motion","counts":{"speechCount":17,"speakerCount":16},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy James Browne)  I move:  That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann approves the following Order in draft:  Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (Designation of Fingal and Wexford County Councils) (Parts of Administrative Areas) Order 2026,  a copy of which has been laid in draft form before D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann on 12th March, 2026.  I welcome the opportunity today to outline for Members the motion to designate parts of the administrative areas of Fingal County Council and Wexford County Council under the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022. During my time as Minister, I have had the opportunity to meet with many people whom the defective concrete blocks, DCB, issue affects. I have listened to their concerns directly, as well as to the issues raised by local representatives and advocacy groups on this matter. I am very much aware that while the nexus of the DCB issue is concentrated in the north west of the country, it also affects, unfortunately, numbers of houses in other parts of Ireland. Wherever it does, the Government stands ready to offer financial assistance to help people fix their homes and help them move on with their lives. It is for that reason that I am here this evening to put forward this motion which will extend the hand of assistance under the defective concrete blocks scheme to parts of two more local authorities, namely, Fingal and Wexford.  The number of homes affected in both administrative areas is thankfully relatively low. While mindful of the cost involved and our responsibility to ensure taxpayer funding is appropriately spent, this Government remains committed to flexibility and fairness when it comes to dealing with the situation faced by those affected by defective concrete blocks. Section 5 of the 2022 defective concrete blocks Act provides a mechanism whereby if additional local authorities believe homes in their functional area have been damaged by defective concrete blocks, they can request inclusion in the scheme via the established mechanisms. This statutory designation process can commence following a request by a local authority, or by me as the Minister, to the Housing Agency. The Housing Agency then conducts technical testing of dwellings in each local authority administrative area. As soon as practicable after the completion of any testing, the Housing Agency makes a recommendation to me as Minister on whether an order to designate the whole or part of a local authority's administrative area should or should not be made by the Government.  Both Fingal County Council and Wexford County Council, along with the Housing Agency, have now completed this process. The Housing Agency provided me with detailed reports and laboratory test results confirming the Housing Agency\u2019s recommendation to me that an order be made under section 5(9) of the Act designating a part of Fingal County Council's and Wexford County Council's administrative areas as being covered by the DCB scheme. The areas covered in Fingal are Ballyboughal, Lusk, Rush and Skerries and total 39 dwellings. The areas covered in Wexford cover Bunclody and Enniscorthy, with one dwelling in each location. Damage to dwellings within both administrative areas confirms there are dwellings exhibiting the typical defects as identified in the standard that underpins the DCB scheme, IS 465. Some of the typical defects encountered include disintegrated blocks and pattern-like cracking. The damage is evident to dwellings at various different locations across the local authority areas.  Looking briefly to the past, Deputies will recall that the first defective concrete blocks grant scheme, often referred to as the 90-10 scheme, came into effect in January 2020 and included counties Donegal and Mayo. Building on the work of that scheme, the Government approved the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022 on 21 June. The Bill passed through both Houses of the Oireachtas and was subsequently signed into law by the President on 23 July 2022. This current scheme included an unprecedented suite of improvements and I believe it still represents the largest state intervention in addressing defective concrete buildings anywhere in the world, with the scheme estimated to cost approximately \u20ac2.2 billion, excluding inflation. Changes introduced by the original legislation include a Government guarantee in regard to remediation works other than full demolition and rebuild through eligibility for a second grant, if required, for a period of 40 years; provision of alternative accommodation costs, storage costs and immediate repairs; a key role for the Housing Agency; the extension of the scheme to Clare and Limerick; the introduction of an appeals panel; and the increased scheme cap and grant rates. In 2024, the grant scheme cap was increased again by the maximum permitted of 10% to \u20ac462,000, along with an increase in the scheme grants rates. Sligo County Council also became the fifth area to be designated under the scheme in 2024.  I now propose to add parts of the administrative areas of Fingal and Wexford local authorities under the scheme. The designation brought forward today aims to further improve access to the grant scheme for impacted homeowners in these areas. I believe the designation will go a long way to address the needs raised by the homeowners in their correspondence with my Department. The draft motion today follows on from the recent DCB amendment Act 2025, which was passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas in December last. Deputies will recall some of the main provisions of that Act which will also assist homeowners in the newly designated areas of Fingal and Wexford. The Act widened the group of relevant owners who can avail of the recent increases in the grant scheme cap and rates. It also extended the time within which homeowners can complete the works to their houses. These necessary changes were as a direct result of the continuous engagement by my Department and the local authority sector with homeowners. It illustrates our commitment to continuous engagement and improvement when it comes to this significant scheme.  The memo for Government on the general scheme for the DCB Bill in June 2022 noted the cost estimate for the scheme as \u20ac2.2 billion, excluding inflation. Provision was made within the cost estimate for the homes thought to be impacted and eligible for grant assistance within the counties of Donegal and Mayo and the likely number of impacted homes if the scheme were to be extended to counties Clare, Limerick, Sligo and Tipperary. Given the possibility that the spread of impacted homes could be wider than these six counties ,and to be prudent, an additional 1,100 homes are included in the overall 7,500 estimate of the number of homes expected to be eligible for grant assistance, which informs the estimate. My Department keeps all aspects of the scheme under continuous review and I am conscious that since this estimate was made, new information has come to light from the local authority sector and others that means this costing has to be looked at again. This process is in progress now within the Department.  The cost implications of the inclusion of Fingal and Wexford is based on the reports I have received and is difficult to estimate with a high degree of accuracy. However, based on the average cost of remediation under the scheme currently - albeit in different and lower-cost areas of the country - and the likely number of dwellings affected, an approximate cost of \u20ac15.5 million is predicted. It is important to note that this will be incurred over a number of years so the cost in any one year will, in the context of the overall scheme cost, be minimal and will not involve any additional requests for funding from the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation at this time.  I will conclude for now by saying that while I am satisfied that the scheme is delivering for many homeowners in affected counties, with more than \u20ac235 million spent on the scheme to date, I remain acutely aware that it needs be closely monitored and changed as our experience and knowledge of this complex issue develops. The motion to extend the scheme to more affected areas is reflective of this commitment. This motion, if passed, will bring the total number of counties designated under the scheme to seven. It builds on the Government funding for DCB work that continues to be provided as and when required on an annual basis, with a record \u20ac175 million allocated to fund the scheme in 2026.  I have met with various stakeholders throughout my time as Minister, including representatives from action groups, along with a large number of county councillors, from all parties and none, and senior management of local authorities. Each group raised important matters including the need to extend the eligibility of the scheme to more administrative areas. I know that many adjustments, such as this designation, are essential interventions. I place on record my appreciation for the collaboration we have had to this stage with members of the local authorities in assisting us in progressing this as it is urgently required. I want to ensure that homeowners receive the help that they need. I believe today\u2019s motion is another key step in further assisting homeowners and, with the support of the Houses, I hope to have this progressed very shortly. I look forward to hearing the contributions from Deputies on this matter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  While I welcome the inclusion of these two counties, it has to be said that the scheme is not fit for purpose. It has been in operation for six years and fewer than 500 homes have been mediated. Despite the Minister's comment to the effect that so-called significant changes were made to the scheme to improve in 2022, fewer families in Donegal and Mayo have applied for the scheme under the new rules rather than the old. It is not 100% and it is not 80%. In fact, tens of thousands of euro are required by homeowners. Stage payments are not available and the processing is far too slow. The underpinning statutory instrument is still not based on the science and not a single social home in any county has been included in any scheme.  This scheme is not fit for purpose. It is an insult to families affected for the Minister to say that he is listening. He is not. We are not opposing the motion but we will continue to demand that the Minister change the scheme to do what the Government promised six years ago, namely 100% redress for all of those affected. That is not available today, either to folks already in the scheme or included in it. Until that changes, we will continue to campaign for further reforms. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in  I welcome the inclusion of County Wexford in the scheme for homes affected by defective blocks, which are unmortgageable, uninsurable and unsellable. I was on Wexford County Council in 2022 when a motion was passed in light of concerns raised by people in the areas of Bunclody and Ferns. Sean and Rachel Murphy first noticed small cracks in their brand-new homes near Ferns six months after they moved in 19 years ago. Due to the nature of mica, it took a few more years for them to realise the scale of the problem. Sean says it is almost like an earthquake took place underneath the house. Another victim noted that on seeing the report, an official commented that the house was pretty much made with river mud.  These blocks were made by an unregulated concrete industry and passed off as meeting EU quality standards. I advise homeowners who suspect that they have defective blocks to engage with Wexford County Council and, potentially, to seek independent advice as they can be very difficult to detect. I reiterate Deputy \u00d3 Broin's points that we need 100% redress. Nothing less than that will do. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  Constituents of mine who live in Rush, Lusk, Skerries and Ballyboghil will welcome this news. The Minister referred to 39 dwellings, but I would say 39 families. Those families have been to hell and back while their homes have crumbled down around their ears. They did nothing wrong. The Minister was full of praise for the local authorities, and that is fair enough, but there should be some recognition of the people who are impacted today and who will be joining the scheme, defective and all as it is if we forgive the pun, did nothing wrong. That is why the State is paying. It is not out of the goodness of the Minister's heart or because he has some notion of public service; it is because the State failed to regulate, and because of this these people are deserving of compensation. The scheme must be 100% because that is what people need and deserve. When will my constituents see money from this scheme, because that is what they need? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  Those of us in the west of Ireland have endured the inequality and injustice of seeing, rightly, 100% redress for 3,000 families in Dublin and north Leinster under the pyrite scheme, but nothing like 100% redress in the west of Ireland. We will now have people on the east coast who are also victims of injustice. We will have people who are victims of injustice and who live miles apart being treated unfairly and unequally. That is utterly wrong. I appeal to the Minister to listen to us. We told him that if he had a scheme like this, builders would bog their arms in and prices would become crazy and unsustainable. What we have now is a cohort of people in their 40s and 50s who might be able to access loans and project manage the work, but most people cannot make the scheme work for them. There is no scheme for social housing or for those who are older and cannot move on. This is terribly wrong, and the Minister is now spreading the inequality and injustice to people on the east coast. It is just getting worse. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  The scheme is not fit for purpose. We need 100% redress. Getting the work done is unaffordable for too many people. Particularly in my county of Mayo, the gap between the grant and the rebuilding costs is too big. Defective concrete blocks constitute one of the greatest scandals ever. We need a public inquiry to run in parallel with getting the homes rebuilt. People have to wait months on end just to get a result of the testing. I would say to people not to rebuild their homes without replacing the foundations. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan  I welcome that two new areas are to be included in the scheme. It has been nearly three years since Carlow County Council first requested inclusion in the scheme for homes damaged as a result of the presence of defective concrete blocks. It is six weeks since the Minister finally received the Housing Agency's report, along with its recommendations for the Carlow area. There are only a handful of affected homes in Carlow, but the families involved have been left in limbo as they watch their homes crumble and crack. This report cannot simply sit on the Minister's desk for months on end. We need to see movement on this issue before the summer recess. I ask the Minister to stop stalling and give homeowners a clear and prompt answer. They deserve clarity on whether they will be added to the scheme and a clear timeline for action.  These are not just houses; they represent lives. People's lives are left standing still. People are watching their houses crumble in front of them. Their kids are wondering whether their houses will fall down. They come home from school wondering whether they will still have a house. Mammies and daddies are stressed out of their tree because they do not know how they are going to afford this, what they will tell their children or whether they will be another homeless statistic. It is time to act. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  While we very much welcome the inclusion of Wexford and Fingal in the scheme - my colleague Deputy O'Donoghue, who will speak after me, has done a lot of work in this regard - it still does not cover the fundamental issues that exist with the scheme as it stands. While these changes may be necessary, they are still far too incremental. Because of the way the Government has designed it, the scheme has effectively been designed to fail. The fact the Act still requires rigorous case-by-case technical assessment by the Housing Agency to designate a new area delays urgent repairs for homeowners in areas that are awaiting designation. There are also the other issues that, at this stage, have been well aired in the House for many years regarding the fact it is still not 100% redress. There is nothing to cover social housing or childcare facilities. We still have the outstanding issue of the side-by-side rebuilding, which Deputy Ward very eloquently raised on Leaders' Questions earlier.  The scheme is fundamentally unaffordable. Homeowners in counties that have not yet officially been designated face immense stress watching for structural cracks while waiting for their county to be approved. Meanwhile their property, the thing for which they have worked night and day, is devaluing in front of them. We all know that this issue is more widespread than originally feared. That is why we need an end-to-end remediation scheme, as many others have stated in the House over the years. This should be based on the premise of the Fingal pyrite scheme and not this grant scheme, which is inflexible.  How many more times are we going to be here incrementally chipping away at the scheme, adding this county, that county and that local area? Technical amendments to the Bill have failed to fix the core issues. The 2025 amendment Bill missed an important opportunity to address side-by-side rebuilding. The scheme by its nature is far too narrow, exclusionary and limited. Where is the review of IS 465? It has been repeatedly delayed. This is cruel and indefensible, with families stranded in dangerous and defective homes. It is vital that the redress is based on the latest scientific understanding of this crisis and not on flawed data. We also need to see the review of the scheme urgently in July of this year. While more than 3,000 applications were made by the end of last year, only 7% of applicants have completed the necessary work. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert O'Donoghue  I am happy that this motion has been brought forward today. I urge the Minister to progress it without delay. Homeowners in my constituency have waited far too long. In the context of Rush, Lusk, Ballyboghil and Skerries in Dublin Fingal West, I have been dealing with this issue for years, dating back to my time as a councillor. I have submitted numerous parliamentary questions and direct emails to the relevant Ministers. I have met with families and some older homeowners who are living with constant stress and uncertainty as they watch their homes deteriorate before their eyes. These are investment properties, holiday homes and family homes, built on the basis of years of hard work and sacrifice.  Homeowners have found themselves trapped in impossible circumstances with homes crumbling around them. Their homes are effectively unsellable. Many are uninsurable. Yet, the same families continue to face mortgages, bills and liability for property tax in respect of homes that are fundamentally defective. The emotional and financial toll this takes on these families cannot be underestimated. For too long, these families have felt ignored and left behind. They have spent years fighting for recognition and inclusion and simply to be treated fairly.  Today's motion is important, and a necessary step for the affected homeowners in my constituency and in Wexford. However, I must send a clear message that there is an urgency involved. People cannot continue to live in limbo. Every month of delay means more damage, stress and uncertainty for families who have been pushed to the limit. The least we can do is move this process forward as quickly as possible and provide clarity, certainty and support.  I would like to take a second to acknowledge the campaigners in my constituency, many of whom I stood with outside the gates of Leinster House at the start of this year. These homeowners never gave up hope despite the frustration and delays they faced. They continued to engage by means of Zoom meetings that I organised, stayed connected through WhatsApp groups and consistently informed and supported each other throughout their campaign for action and recognition. Their persistence and determination brought us to this point. I thank them very much for that.  I support this motion. The homeowners I deal with have made one thing abundantly clear to me. They want the remediation process to be delivered as quickly, fairly and efficiently as possible. They also want assurances that rapidly rising construction costs will be fully taken into consideration in order that families will not left out of pocket while trying to rebuild both their homes and their lives. They have waited long enough. This is the ask that came through to me from four or five of them this afternoon. They want a timeline regarding when they can apply to Fingal County Council and when they can avail of this scheme. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  I support both the motion and what has been put forward. However, there is a need to raise certain issues in relation to the scheme. There are limitations to the scheme, and a number of questions remain to be asked, specifically in respect of the take-up and why only 435 houses that were built using defective blocks, or around 13% of 3,500 homes, have had the remediation work completed. Why has there been such a low level of take-up six years on? We need that question to be answered. At that rate, it will be many decades before this issue is dealt with and before people will be able to live in safe and secure homes.  The matter of defective blocks and pyrite, pyrrhotite and other issues has caused huge misery among people across the country. It was the lax regulation and hands-off approach of successive Governments that allowed cowboy developers to wreak havoc on communities. Of course, it is Fianna F\u00e1il's long and close relationship with developers that has left us with this situation. Today, the cowboys still face no consequences. What are Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael afraid of when it comes to accountability? Why has no one been held to account? We are going to spend billions of euro of public money picking up the pieces, helping people to rebuild their homes, but who will be held to account? That is a serious question, and we need to have it answered because significant amounts of public money are essentially covering up and dealing with the consequences of the failure of the lax regulation and actions on the part of quarry owners and others who were involved. The Government needs to take action in that regard.  Of course, we also know that the people who are in these homes face the insecurity that many others face, namely where they will go when their houses are being remediated. We have huge numbers of homeless people. We also have huge numbers on housing waiting lists, particularly in the counties that are affected. Where will people go and what will be done? We put forward the proposal, which the Government is still ignoring, of a State construction company that could help to rebuild these homes and that could also assist with retrofitting. In that context, we must ask from where the workers are going to come. From where are the private builders who are going to build these homes going to come ? That is why we should have local construction and State construction companies building homes and helping us get through this emergency. That is what is actually needed, but, unfortunately, Fianna F\u00e1il's and Fine Gael's short-term vision in respect of all of this means that they fail to put in place long-term solutions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charles Ward  I support the inclusion of Fingal and Wexford in the defective concrete scheme. This motion exposes how the scheme is being delivered on the ground. Delivery is still happening in stages. Counties and areas are added one by one, often after long preparatory work has already been completed. This creates delay that is built into the system rather than delay caused by chance. The delay is shown in how slowly the scheme becomes available and how we are separating the tendering and designation processes for each county. The gap has not been occasional. It has been consistent throughout this whole scheme. I am not speaking from distance. My home is within the scheme, and I have been caught in the scheme for six years. Freedom of information material has come to light which shows that there is a very clear framework for chartered engineers who were not just planning the theory but were also actively being put in place for multiple counties from 2024 to 2025. This is significant because it shows that preparation is happening in advance. However, there is significant delay before preparation is turned into delivery. As the system prepares to deliver, families wait for years and the preparation translates into action on the ground, but the gap is now defining and the scheme is experiencing significant delays.  As the Minister is aware, the pyrite remediation scheme provided true 100% redress. This scheme does not. The financial pressures emerging within the scheme are clear. The gap is already leading to shortfalls in County Donegal. That is happening now; it is not something that might happen in the future. These pressures will not stay in one area and they are likely to become very significantly troublesome in the areas of Fingal. This is what the current experience in Donegal is showing us.  There are practical barriers within the scheme that affect whether homes can be built, even after approval. People are dealing with sequences of work, managing multiple-stage construction and coming to terms with how to fund the works upfront even before they begin, and their shortfalls are significant. Approval does not always mean progress on the ground. Only a few hundred homes have been fully completed under the scheme so far and some of those are remediation works. The scheme will run until 2037. At the current pace of delivery, that date does not reassure families. It shows how slowly homes are actually being completed.  As more areas are added, the pattern becomes clearer. This is not because the problem is new but because the system has not changed. What exists is a process that prepares and pauses and then releases in stages rather than a system that moves smoothly, with readiness, to completion. The issue is not whether Fingal and Wexford should be included; of course they should be included. The issue is why inclusion requires repeated administrative steps when the groundwork for delivery has already been done.  In that context, the actual work has to be done. There is no reason for families to be kept waiting. At this point, the real issue is not eligibility; it is the distance between preparation and completion.  The suggestion has been made that those of us with concerns are afraid to enter the scheme. People are waiting. There has been no review of IS 465, and there is apprehension. People who are going into the scheme are out thousands and thousands of euro. People are not raising the issue for political advantage; they are raising it because they are dealing with this in their own counties along with their family and their friends. Families in damaged homes do not need their motives questioned. They need systems to function properly. They want a scheme that works. That is why I will continue to raise this matter, to challenge and to push to ensure that this is delivered at the pace and scale required.  This is not about disagreement within the scheme. This is about whether it will deliver for families, and when will it be rolled out and whether that will happen in stages. There is real apprehension out there with regard to what is happening. We have 3,000 people caught in a scheme, and 300-plus houses completed and 300 more to come. At the rate we are going, it will take decades to rebuild the 3,000 houses. The real number of homes involved in Donegal is, at a bare minimum, between 10,000 and 20,000, because we know the potential for this is there on foot of all the affected materials that came from a certain quarry. The damage threshold might not come through yet, but people are living in houses with plastered up walls that only contain sand. There are no blocks there any more.  The reality is that to this day there is no proper testing of quarries. As we speak, there are defective materials coming onto the market. When we should have scientific laboratories taking samples from every quarry in Donegal and measuring them to make sure that this does not happen again, nothing is happening. The approach to this appears to be \"Close your eyes and let us hope things get better\".  This is not the fault of the homeowners. The homeowners have done nothing wrong. Anybody in Ireland who is affected by defective concrete has gone through a journey that you would not wish on anybody.  This has been going on 14 years. We have two failed schemes. We are in the middle of a scheme right now under which work on barely 300 houses has been completed. A number of those were the subject of remediation work, which is a patch-up job. The work on these houses will have to be done again. Right now, people are stuck in them. They cannot sell their houses. They cannot move on with their lives. They are stuck in the same way that I am stuck and that everybody else involved is stuck.  We are depending on the Minister to make sure that this scheme, that is coming following the review of IS 465, is done in the proper way. To give him figures in respect of the scheme, I hear from Miche\u00e1l Martin every time I ask about this that we are spending \u20ac250 million. I understand all that, but I also understand that there are tens of thousands of houses to be built. At the current rate, it will take generations to complete the work.  We have to accept that it was Government regulation and quarries that caused this. The latter produced materials that were defective and that were put into blocks that were sold on the market. We need the Minister to acknowledge that, and we need him to put proper protocols and testing in place to make sure this never happens again. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  I have contributed to many of these debates because, like many others, I appreciate the hardship that people are going through and because Fingal is situated in my constituency. On the one hand, I welcome that there is a scheme proposed for Fingal, Wexford and other counties in terms of remediation for defective concrete blocks. Piecemeal as it is, as many others have said, I will not be opposing it. However, no more than the rest of it, the scheme is still not fit for purpose. It is not sufficient for people who need help. There are no stage payments. There are a lot more social houses in Fingal compared with places on the western seaboard. I see no reference to these types of dwellings or a specific plan for social housing, because people can be made homeless in those situations as well.  In line with issues raised by my colleague Deputy Charles Ward in relation to Donegal, Mayo and places all along the north-western seaboard, I believe, as others have said, that nothing less than 100% redress will be sufficient. We are talking about people's lives here. I again point out that the Government was asleep at the wheel in terms of ensuring that there was sufficient regulation and that this was enforced. It would be great if the industry could pay for this. When companies do not exist and they cannot pay, the liability unfortunately falls to the State, which failed to regulate. That is disappointing.  I am not an expert, but I heard Deputy Ward refer to defective materials that are still out there. That is something which should not be allowed to affect the lives of more homeowners in any way, shape or form. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  I very much welcome the fact that the scheme has been extended to Wexford and Dublin. That is a step in the right direction. We in Aont\u00fa remain very much of the belief, however, that 100% redress is required. Unfortunately, the scheme does not offer 100% redress.  The scheme has been changed many times since it was first discussed, which is creating a massive amount of confusion. I have heard of cases whereby, incredibly, one semi-detached house may qualify and the one next to it may not. What type of a mess is that? Likewise, I have heard of cases where it is obvious to everyone that half of a property will need to be rectified down the line.  Many homeowners cannot afford to enter the scheme. They cannot afford to pay upfront for the building condition assessments that are required. The fact that there are delays regarding payments - this was particularly the case with the most recent phase of payments - is resulting in some builders having to increase their prices. That is causing major issues for families, and it must be rectified. The instalment payments should not be late. There should be no excuses in that regard.  The idea that there is still no scheme for social housing is a matter of deep concern. There are social houses in Mayo that, as everyone knows, were built using defective concrete blocks. There is no scheme available in respect of those homes. That needs to be rectified. There needs to be a scheme. We need to ensure that local authorities can get on with the business of rectifying the problems with those houses.  This problem was created as a result of either light-touch regulation or no regulation at all. It is clear that the Government was asleep at the wheel in terms of the substances that were coming out of quarries. The result of that is that the State is paying hundreds of millions of euro to rectify the problem. It is quite incredible to think that, with the benefit of hindsight, we have learnt nothing, because the testing done in respect of what is coming out of quarries is completely inadequate. I listened to Deputy Charles Ward make this point eloquently and articulately. It is incredible to think that the Government will not listen. If it did listen to some of the wisdom that is coming from this side of the House, we might protect the future taxpayers of this country. I urge the Minister to consider the collective wisdom of this House and protect those future taxpayers. Houses are being built today, but not enough. The number being built, approximately 30,000 is far below the 50,000 target. However, we know that these houses are being built without the necessary checks being carried out to ensure that they comply with standards. We need better, more robust regulations and testing. Having both would benefit everyone. I urge the Minister to recognise that this should be a lesson. This should be a watershed moment in the context of making sure that the substances in the blocks and concrete that are coming out of quarries will be tested in order to ensure that future taxpayers will be protected. I urge the Minister to listen to logic when he hears it, to move in the direction suggested and to protect future taxpayers.  No one in this House wants to see people going through the devastation of watching a home crumble. The hardworking people who are paying taxes certainly do not want to see their hard-earned money going to rebuilding houses for a second time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Boland is sharing with Deputy Malcolm Byrne. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Grace Boland  I welcome the motion to extend the defective concrete blocks scheme to homes in Fingal. It is an important and overdue step for families who have lived for years with defective materials and the stress and uncertainty that brings. For those households, this offers recognition and a clear pathway to make their homes safe. However, the motion applies only to specific homes already identified and does not address a wider issue of fairness.  For example, in my constituency, Fingal West, two homes on the same street have been affected by the same defect. One family, in 2021, made the responsible decision to remediate their home at their own expense. They took on loans, used savings and acted not just for their safety, but for that of their neighbours and passers-by. Another family, through no fault of their own, were not in a position to act and will now, rightly, qualify for State support. However, the outcome is stark. Families who acted early and responsibly are left carrying the full financial burden, while others in an identical situation will receive assistance.  This creates a two-tier result, based not on the nature of the damage, but on timing and financial capacity. Article 40.1 of the Constitution provides that citizens are to be treated equally and while the State can make distinctions, they must be rational and proportionate. Here, the distinction arises, not from the defect, which is the same, but from the homeowner's ability to act at an earlier point. From a public policy perspective, this approach risks penalising responsible behaviour and sends the wrong signal to homeowners who act early to make their homes safe. This is not about removing supports from anyone. Expanding the scheme is the right decision. However, fairness demands that we also address those who remediated early, so that all affected families are treated equitably. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  I welcome this motion, and particularly the extension of the provisions to two designated areas in County Wexford. I thank the Minister for ensuring this happened and commend the work of the Housing Agency and Wexford County Council that allowed this to happen. The two areas concerned are, as the Minister indicated, in Bunclody and Ballyboy at Ferns. I was in a house in Ballyboy at Ferns. It was a family home of a hardworking and decent family. This is where they wanted to spend their lives. They invested their lives in this home and I could see the cracks in the walls and how the difficulties they faced caused unbelievable anguish to this family. I am conscious this is replicated across the country. These are hardworking, decent people who have contributed to their community, as others have to their communities all over Ireland. They were not at fault. There is still the case of those who sold the defective blocks. In whatever way we can, we need to take action against them, but hardworking and decent families deserve protection and that applies across the country.  I welcome the extension. It has been discovered that these houses have been affected, but I hope the Minister will continue to allow a situation where, if problems are found at some stage in the future as a result of defective blocks in other houses in Wexford or other parts of the country, the scheme can be similarly extended. I thank the Minister for bringing forward this motion. I hope that the families who are affected in Bunclody and Ballyboy outside Ferns can now have some level of security as a result of this and that every support will be made available to them by the Department and the relevant agencies. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy James Browne)  I thank all Members for their valuable contributions. I welcome the support for the designation of parts of Fingal and County Wexford. I will work with all sides of the House to ensure this decision is now acted on promptly, if supported. I commend the motion to the House and look forward to further engagement on this issue. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022: Motion"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-29\/debate\/dbsect_18","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Strengthening Workers' Rights: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The following motion was moved by Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh on Tuesday, 28 April 2026:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"recognises that the ongoing cost-of-living crisis is putting significant pressure on workers and their families as inflation continues to increase, eroding living standards and affordability for workers;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"notes that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 overall employment figures mask that one quarter of jobs in Ireland are considered \"poor quality\", characterised by low pay, insecurity, and poor working conditions;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the findings of the 2026 Ireland Thinks poll, commissioned by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU), found that 52 per cent of workers do not believe they are paid fairly for the work that they do, and the figure is higher for women and people on lower incomes; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 according to the Working In Ireland Survey 2026, 44 per cent of workers in Ireland that are not currently in a union would like to join one;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"further notes that Ireland is an outlier in the European Union (EU), in not providing workers a statutory right to collective bargaining, and lags behind other EU member states in respect of paid statutory annual leave;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"acknowledges:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the ICTU \"Quality Employment and Good Jobs: The first steps to a new economic model\" policy document; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 that the Northern Ireland Minister for the Economy, Caoimhe Archibald MLA, is currently proposing a good jobs Bill in the Northern Ireland Assembly, which represents the most significant piece of workers' rights legislation since devolution, and the European Commission is proposing a quality jobs roadmap;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"affirms that trade union membership and collective bargaining have been shown to increase pay, productivity and employee retention, as well as having positive macroeconomic benefits;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"condemns that, despite strong economic growth, Fianna F\u00e1il, Fine Gael and the Government Independents have rowed back on previous pledges to increase the statutory sick pay, and has delayed the move to a living wage until 2029; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"calls on the Government to:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 provide a legal right to collective bargaining through a union;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 provide unions with legal access to the workplace;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 bring the minimum wage into line with the living wage, and reverse the decision to delay its introduction until 2029; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 increase access to flexible and remote working arrangements for employees."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Debate resumed on amendment No. 1:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"To delete all words after \"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann\" and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\"recognises that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Ireland has experienced significant global inflationary pressures arising from international shocks, including energy price volatility, supply chain disruption and geopolitical instability, which have increased pressures on households and businesses; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 protecting jobs, sustaining economic competitiveness, and supporting living standards must be progressed in a balanced and sustainable manner;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"notes that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Ireland continues to maintain near full employment, with historically high labour force participation and rising average earnings across the economy;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government has introduced a comprehensive and record series of cost of living supports in recent years, targeted at workers on low and middle incomes, including reductions in Income Tax, increases in tax credits, and enhanced social protections;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 while some countries awaited the outcome of proceedings before the Court of Justice of the European Union on the Adequate Minimum Wages Directive, the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment remained committed to progressing and delivering the Action Plan to Promote Collective Bargaining 2026-2030 (the Plan), irrespective of the Court's decision, and fulfilled that commitment;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 implementation of the Plan in Ireland is well underway, with 22 actions to be delivered over the duration 2026\u20132030, a technical sub-group of Labour Employer Economic Forum (LEEF), consisting of Department officials and social partners are overseeing the implementation process, with a robust monitoring framework in place, including a mid-term review scheduled for 2028, this phased and responsive approach will ensure the continued relevance of the Plan in the context of evolving labour market conditions and the collective bargaining landscape;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Ireland has a robust suite of employment rights protections which have been significantly enhanced in recent years, including through the introduction of statutory sick pay, the right to request remote and flexible work, a new public holiday, protections for tips and gratuities, enhanced parental and carers' leave, and regular increases to the national minimum wage; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the statutory minimum wage has increased consistently under successive Governments and is set according to the transparent and evidence-based recommendations of the Low Pay Commission;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"acknowledges that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 social dialogue remains the cornerstone of Ireland's industrial relations framework;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 trade unions, employers and the State all have an important role to play in maintaining constructive industrial relations, promoting productivity, and supporting sustainable wage growth;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 ongoing consultation at European Union (EU) level, including discussions on a Quality Jobs Roadmap, provides an opportunity to share best practice and learn from other member states;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 a strong economy is essential to funding public services, sustaining employment, and enabling continued improvements in workers' rights and living standards; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 changes to employment law must be carefully calibrated to protect workers while avoiding unintended consequences for small and medium sized enterprises, competitiveness, and job creation; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"reaffirms our commitment to:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 advancing measures to strengthen collective bargaining participation in line with EU obligations, while respecting Ireland's voluntary industrial relations tradition;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 supporting flexible and remote working through existing legislative frameworks and guidance, balancing employee needs with operational requirements of employers;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 engaging with trade unions, employers and stakeholders including through LEEF, the Workplace Relations Commission and Labour Court to promote high quality, secure and productive employment; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 keep the adequacy of the minimum wage under ongoing review through the Low Pay Commission, with the objective of improving living standards while safeguarding jobs.\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"- (Minister of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment)"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I must now deal with a postponed division relating to the motion regarding strengthening workers' rights. On Tuesday, 28 April 2026, on the question, \"That the amendment to the motion be agreed to\", a division was claimed and in accordance with Standing Order 85(2), that division must be taken now. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar athl\u00f3 ar 7.25 p.m. go dt\u00ed 8.47 a.m., D\u00e9ardaoin, an 30 Aibre\u00e1n 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The D\u00e1il adjourned at 7.25 p.m. until 8.47 a.m. on Thursday, 30 April 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Strengthening Workers' Rights: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members]"}]}}]},"contextDate":"2026-04-29"},{"debateRecord":{"house":{"showAs":"34th D\u00e1il","committeeCode":"","houseCode":"dail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/house\/dail\/34","chamberType":"house","houseNo":"34"},"chamber":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/def\/house\/dail","showAs":"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann"},"lastUpdated":"2026-07-02T02:10:39+00:00","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/main","formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/mul@\/main.xml"},"pdf":null},"date":"2026-04-28","counts":{"contributorCount":168,"divisionCount":1,"debateSectionCount":36,"questionCount":42,"billCount":2},"debateType":"debate","debateSections":[{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/dbsect_2","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions","counts":{"speechCount":63,"speakerCount":12},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  The credit union consumer sentiment index for April has been published and it lays bare the severity of the cost-of-living pressure on people, especially when it comes to soaring energy costs. It reveals that a third of consumers expect to cut energy use just to get by, while nine out of ten consumers fear that high energy costs will force them to cut back on household spending. The reality is that working people and families are struggling to stay afloat. A record number of households cannot pay their electricity bills, one in four cannot pay their gas bills and now they brace themselves for further electricity price hikes in the coming weeks. Workers and families are really, really worried about the time ahead, yet they see the Government refusing to listen and seemingly incapable of understanding the pressure they are under.  Last October, the Government wanted people to believe that this was all over, and it could not have been more wrong. Since then, the Government's response has been all over the place. It has scrambled around taking a scattered approach, doing a bit here and a bit there but never showing the leadership required to truly grasp this crisis. What was needed from the Government was quick, decisive action to provide people with real relief and to give working households certainty for the time ahead. However, it is only when public anger grows that the Government moves. Twice, the Government has come to the table and twice the Government has got it badly wrong, with half measures each time and never being prepared to go far enough. It has left people to struggle on and to make do. Even when anger boiled into protest, it still failed to understand people's lives.  Workers and families cannot take this any more. They cannot wait for any longer. We need an emergency budget. We have set out clearly what needs to be done, solutions that cut to the heart of the pressure people are under. We need energy credits for households, a \u20ac500 payment for people with disabilities and a suite of measures to protect the most vulnerable, and there must be relief for workers. Remember, the budget last October left them worse off. The Taoiseach will remember introducing the USC. It was brought in by Fianna F\u00e1il when it crashed the Irish economy. It is a constant drag on people's wages and even more so during this cost-of-living crisis, so we propose a permanent USC cut that will put \u20ac500 back into workers' pockets. These are practical steps that can be taken right now to make a real difference and to lift some of the pressure people are under to make ends meet.  Caithfidh Fianna F\u00e1il agus Fine Gael d\u00faiseacht agus, i nd\u00e1ir\u00edre, g\u00e9arch\u00e9im an costas maireacht\u00e1la a thuiscint. N\u00ed leor leath-iarracht.  T\u00e1 c\u00e1inaisn\u00e9is \u00e9igeand\u00e1la ag teast\u00e1il l\u00e1ithreach chun faoiseamh ceart a thabhairt d'oibrithe agus do theaghlaigh. Expecting households to cling on until next year's budget is not only unfair it is downright insulting. This cost-of-living crisis is happening now. The stress is at kitchen tables now and at this time. The Taoiseach needs to do his job and he needs to act to make life more affordable. The Government has a surplus of billions. A fraction of that would make a real difference. Bring forward an emergency budget and finally listen. Give workers and families the proper relief they deserve. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I acknowledge that the war in the Middle East, which the Deputy somehow managed not to mention, is a war that has created shocking constraints in oil supply and has led to an increase in fuel prices across the world. Globally people are very concerned about what they see as the biggest shock to the energy sector in many a time. They are saying it is bigger than 1973 and 1979 combined, and even 1973, 1979 and 2022 combined. It is a very serious shock to the energy system that has been brought about, which has dramatically increased prices and will result in a global contraction of fossil fuel supplies with consequential impacts on other products like fertiliser, helium and so on, which in turn could have impacts on jobs and on food production across the world. These are very serious issues we are all facing.  We acknowledge fully that this is creating pressures on families and on households. There is no question about that. There is an uncertainty about it as well because we do not quite know when this is going to end and when the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is going to end, which is key to getting prices down and getting supply reactivated again to a significant degree. The Deputy has not referenced any of that. It is as if it does not exist in the Deputy's world but those are the realities facing every government across the world right now.  Yes, from our perspective, in the budget we majored very heavily on housing, on infrastructure, on disability, with a 20% increase, and on child poverty, with the support payments for children going up substantially by record levels. For children over the age of 12, it is by \u20ac16 and for children under the age of 12, it is less than that but still by record levels both ways. We also extended the fuel allowance to bring in those on the working family payment, which brought in an extra 50,000 people. About 26% of people are on the fuel allowance. That measure does help people deal with this, not comprehensively but at least it is a contribution to people to take pressure off them in respect of rising fuel prices.  We announced a package of over \u20ac750 million that has brought down the excise duty by about 32 cent on diesel and by about 27 cent on petrol. Those measures affect and help everybody. Today the Government approved two very specific packages for the transport haulier sector, which is much more expanded than was the case during the Ukrainian energy crisis. These very substantial schemes will also help farmers, fishers and contractors. We must remember that about 240,000 workers are involved in the haulage and logistics industry. I know the Deputy described them last week as a sectional thing and that we were only looking after particular sectors but it is key to everybody and all workers that we can get goods to port and get them exported at an affordable price, and that we can get goods on our supermarket shelves at an affordable price. When we alleviate the pressure on hauliers, logistics and supply, we are alleviating pressures on everybody, and likewise in terms of food production. We are not scattered all over the place, this was strategic to deal with food production. This is a critical period in terms of food. We are a big food-producing country and it is right that we should alleviate the pressures on farmers in particular around food production areas and alleviate the pressures on contractors given the role they play in food production. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  There was a cost-of-living crisis before the war in Iran. More than 300,000 households were already in energy arrears. This crisis has very deep roots. The Taoiseach failed to acknowledge that. The budget last October left workers worse off and left people with disabilities worse off. The Taoiseach failed to acknowledge that. Families and workers are really struggling and the Taoiseach has no response for them except to talk down to them and dismiss them. I have asked the Taoiseach to introduce an emergency budget. I have told him the very specific measures that we in Sinn F\u00e9in believe need to be taken, namely, energy credits, supports, including a disability payment, and, critically, a permanent cut in the USC. These are the things that need to happen if the Government is to be serious about assisting people in a time of crisis. Is it serious? Is it listening? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  T\u00e1 an Rialtas d\u00e1ir\u00edre faoin gceist seo agus t\u00e1 an-chuid d\u00e9anta againn \u00f3 thaobh costas maireacht\u00e1la. N\u00edl aon amhras faoi sin sa mh\u00e9id at\u00e1 d\u00e9anta againn sa gheilleagar agus leis an gc\u00e1inaisn\u00e9is a bh\u00ed againn an bhliain seo caite agus an bhliain roimhe sin. What Deputy McDonald has outlined is something for everybody. It could be \u20ac4 billion or \u20ac5 billion in terms of what she announced. Sinn F\u00e9in did not cost it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  It is \u20ac3 billion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I think it is approximately \u20ac3.5 billion----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  It is costed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy says that but what is the cost? I would say it is around \u20ac5 billion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  It is not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  No interruptions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The bottom line is that we have allocated \u20ac750 million already----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  The Taoiseach cannot count, a Cheann Comhairle. It is very----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----and there is a budget in October. We need to also bear in mind how best we target the resources we have. We do not have money in the bottom of a drawer like Deputy McDonald is suggesting. Much of that surplus is in the Future Ireland Fund and the infrastructure and nature----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  It is not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Unless Deputy McDonald is advocating we take it out of the funds, she needs to clarify this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  It is additional money. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The money has been put aside----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  The Taoiseach does not have a clue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----and a lot of it is being invested in the economy, in jobs and in housing right now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  He did not even think the Government had it last week. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  This time last year, households were already labouring under the pressure of grocery price inflation, the housing crisis and Trump's threatened tariffs. Since the outset of Trump's illegal war on Iran and in the Middle East, and with no end in sight to Russia's bombardment of Ukraine, things have got worse. The Taoiseach has rightly just described the situation we are in as a massive global energy shock, but in this shock, struggling households are left wondering when they will get some real reprieve from the Government. PAYE workers are not seeing the benefit of a multimillion euro sectoral support package.  In response to a question from my Labour colleague, Deputy Ged Nash, last week, the T\u00e1naiste ruled out a mini-budget for our communities. Today, we are told that officials are scrambling to design one-off supports, such as retrofit grants and energy tweaks, with all signs pointing to a sort-of mini-budget. As the saying goes, if it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it might just be a duck. In this case, it is a very lame duck because what we are seeing is not a coherent plan. The Taoiseach talks about a strategic response but where is the strategy in the series of ad ho c measures he is formulating? They appear to be cobbled together in response to political pressure. To borrow another animal metaphor, the Government is playing whack-a-mole. It has no clear vision for how to support working families through this deepening cost-of-living and energy crisis. Would it not be more honest to call the response what it is, which is a mini-budget but released in segments? Call it what it is and let people then judge it on its merits.  Families are already stretched to breaking point. The Taoiseach knows that more than 320,000 households are in electricity arrears and 180,000 are behind on gas bills. These are the highest levels on record. Homeless figures are the highest on record. Grocery prices are rising week on week. Insurance, housing and education costs are all up. What has the Government done? It has withdrawn energy credits without putting any cushion in place for households, it has failed to index tax bands, as Labour had sought, and it has left PAYE workers footing the bill for sectoral pay-offs. With regard to VAT cuts, there is no evidence that they will achieve anything other than costing the Exchequer. Now, as inflation threatens to surge again, the Minister for Finance is kite flying.  People see through this. They see a Government that can find \u20ac750 million for sectoral supports while telling households to tighten their belts. They hear the Government's talk of tax breaks on wealth while they struggle to find the money to cover food and heating costs at the end of the month. That is why the Government's approach is so frustrating. If it is doing a mini-budget in all but name, why not bring forward a coherent package?  Why not take the options that we have proposed, such as a windfall tax on excess energy profits of big companies; a renewables revolution to end reliance on fossil fuels; targeted energy credits for working households; and indexation of tax bands? This would be systemic change, not just token measures. Why will the Taoiseach not just introduce a mini-budget and a coherent package that gives supports to struggling households? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  First of all, we will not be introducing a mini-budget. I will say at the outset that we have taken a strategic approach to this. The most fundamental approach we should take is an understanding of the impacts of this - not just the immediate impacts of this, but the medium-term impacts on our overall economic life in terms of the impact on jobs potentially, the impact on prices and so on. We have announced \u20ac750 million. There is general relief in terms of the reductions in excise duty on diesel and petrol, which benefits PAYE workers, all other workers and all workers and everybody who uses their car and so forth. There is a targeted approach in terms of families on low incomes and the extension, as we provided, of the fuel allowance, in terms of everything to do with food production, and also in terms of the broader haulage logistics supply industry, which is critical for all of us. That is being strategic. We are a small exporting island. We export 90% of what we produce, so it is essential that logistics regarding the supply chain and haulage are enabled and assisted for it to do its business in terms of the measures we are bringing in and that were approved by Government today but were announced, as the Deputy knows, as part of the \u20ac750 million package. They will mean a lot for hauliers. They will mean a lot for people who transport goods and services. It will also mean a lot for fishers, for example, who need support and help, farmers, contractors and the general public through the reduction in excise duties.  The Deputy must realise that, before the war, way back in February, the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, announced a significant overhaul of the retrofitting schemes and an expansion of them, increased grants for attic and cavity wall insulation, an additional attic insulation top-up grant for first-time buyers, attic and cavity wall insulation, a second wall measure, a new grant for energy-efficient windows and doors, an expanded heat pump systems grant now totalling \u20ac12,500, and so on. The results of all that is that about 29,000 people have applied in the first quarter alone, which is a substantial increase on last year. There is very good feedback from the Minister's strategic approach to energy saving, insulation and so on, which has been quite significant over the last number of years in terms of the impact it has had on thousands of households across the country. I agree with the Deputy that this is one of the more effective ways to cushion people and help them to bear the brunt of what are very serious increases in energy costs arising out of the war and other events. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  I absolutely acknowledge that the energy shock and the particular energy crisis we are now in are, of course, caused by international events, in particular Trump and Netanyahu's illegal war on Iran. We are all conscious of that. The question is how we respond. There are two things. First, the Taoiseach acknowledges that systemic change is needed; I think he did in his response to me. Absolutely, I agree. We need to change the way we work. We need to change the way we do business. We need to change our reliance on fossil fuels. Therefore, we need that renewables revolution. The Taoiseach did not respond on that. Yes, it is welcome to see measures on retrofitting, but the upfront costs of fitting solar panels, for example, or installing heat pumps are massive for households, and there is far too little available. The roll-out of renewables and our capacity to generate energy through onshore and offshore wind is far too slow. We in opposition have supported efforts by the Government to speed up the pace, but we are seeing so little being done on what should be a huge thing for us, that is, the roll-out of offshore and onshore wind generating capacity.  The second thing to say is that there are consequences----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Time is up, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  -----to rolling out a continuous series of support measures. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank the Deputy. The Taoiseach will respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  People are not sure what is going on. They lack certainty,----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank Deputy Bacik. Her time is up. The Taoiseach will respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  -----they lack clarity and they are really concerned about how to pay for basics----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, your time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  -----in this cost-of-living crisis. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I would not agree with the Deputy that it is too slow. Look at the response to the measures that the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, announced in February.  There have been over 1,730 applications for attic insulation, up 81% year on year; over 1,000 applications for cavity wall insulation, up 62%; 350 applications for heat-pump installations, up 95%; 7,000 applications for window and door upgrades - that is a new grant; over 10,000 applications for solar PV, up 65% year on year; and over 1,500 homes at risk of energy poverty upgraded under the warmer homes scheme to the end of March at an average cost per home of \u20ac31,000, up 18%; 900 heat pumps installed to the end of March; a new grant for first-time buyers, 225 active applications; and new energy-poor grants for attic and cavity wall, also significant numbers. Essentially, the revamp or overhaul of the scheme has resulted in a very significant increase in the numbers applying, which means it is responding to the needs out there. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  At the outset, I want to acknowledge the passing of Councillor Joe Carroll on Friday. He was exceptionally helpful and supportive towards me when I first entered into politics. That is the kind of person he was, and the kind of person who will be missed, in Skibbereen and beyond. My thoughts are with Sheila, and Linda and Kieran, and Anna.  Eight years ago, Ireland voted to repeal the eighth amendment, to take abortion access out of the Constitution and into the hands of the legislators in this House. It was the culmination of decades of campaigning by committed activists all across the country. Many people across this House, including the Taoiseach, were part of that referendum campaign.  From my experience canvassing in west Cork, I know the stories from women late-on in pregnancy who were forced to travel abroad to have terminations for medical reasons were the stories that stuck in people's minds and hearts the most - women who, in the midst of grief and trauma, chose to speak publicly to share deeply personal experiences. They spoke about receiving devastating diagnoses. They spoke about being told they could not receive care in their country. They spoke about the loneliness of travelling, leaving behind their families, their support networks and their homes at one of the most painful moments in their life, and they spoke about stigma and shame where there should have been compassion and care. They told their stories for a simple reason: so that what happened to them would not happen again. Eight years ago, Ireland listened to those women and voted to repeal the eighth.  Three years ago, the Marie O'Shea report was published - a report which was baked into the initial legislation and commissioned by the Government. This report found that the law is not working as it should. It recommended clear, practical changes, including removing the mandatory three-day waiting period, ending the criminalisation of doctors and providing clarity so that women facing fatal foetal diagnoses can access care here at home, but since then little has changed.  Every year, approximately 240 women are still forced to travel to the UK to access abortion care. Many of those women are travelling because they have received a devastating diagnosis, often after their 20-week scan, such as Denise Whitmore, whose story I raised with the Taoiseach a few weeks ago. We cannot ask women to share their stories over and over again and not take action. We cannot stand over a system that continues to send women abroad at their most vulnerable moment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach will respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  Eight years ago, the public voted for a compassionate approach to abortion care. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The time is up, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  Three years ago, the report was published. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach will respond, Deputy Cairns. Prepare in time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  Today, I am introducing a Bill to enact the recommendations of the report on this legislation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach will respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  First of all, I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. The Government is committed to ensuring that there is safe and equitable access to termination of pregnancy services. Significant steps have been taken in this regard, including the expansion of hospital services, the introduction of safe access zones and the continuation of the revised model of care for termination in early pregnancy. These measures have substantially reduced barriers and they have increased accessed to services for those who need them. Given that there is a broad spectrum of sincerely held opinion on the issue of legislative change, proposals in this regard require careful consideration.  There was a referendum, as the Deputy said, on the eighth amendment and termination of pregnancy services came into operation on 1 January 2019. As the Deputy says, a review of the Act was completed in 2023.  Significant progress has been made on implementing the operational recommendations arising from the review. Termination services in early pregnancy, up to 12 weeks, are now provided in all 19 maternity hospitals. That was not the position some years ago. There has also been a sustained increase in community providers, which currently stands at 491. Furthermore, the revised model of care introduced in response to the Covid-19 pandemic has been approved as the enduring model of care. It is also now possible for one of the two consultations required for termination in early pregnancy to take place remotely. The Deputy will be aware of the safe access zones legislation coming into effect.  Overall, the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 is consistent with commitments given to the Irish people prior to the repeal of the eighth amendment. That said, there is a broad range of sincerely held opinion on the issue of legislative changes to that Act. It is important that all voices are heard, that we have a respectful debate and discussion on this and that we listen to one another with a view to achieving the maximum consensus possible before proceeding with change. The Social Democrats' legislation will give an opportunity for that to happen in the House. I have spoken to the Minister about this and she will engage constructively with the legislation the Social Democrats will bring to the House. Ultimately, the legislation calls for ministerial guidelines to arbitrate - that is the wrong word - to guide clinicians in respect of fatal foetal abnormality, which is an issue for some of those who are travelling out of the country to have terminations. It is not all cases. The three-day wait and other issues in the legislation also need to be discussed. If we learned anything from the referendum, it was that----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Taoiseach. Deputy Cairns will respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----there was sustained discussion in the House and at committee level which facilitated the subsequent outcome. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Taoiseach, your time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  I appreciate the Taoiseach's engagement on the issue and that of the Minister for Health and that he has spoken to her about this. It sounds like the Government is willing to constructively engage and that is important, given the trauma that many people are still going through.  I appeal to people on all sides of the House to allow the legislation to reach Second Stage, to allow it to at least be debated. An argument is often made in this House and beyond that, because the public voted on particular legislation, it simply cannot be changed. That argument does not stand up to scrutiny. The voting public knows legislation changes and can be improved and it is our job to do that. A review was also baked into the legislation and the public voted on that.  I thank the Taoiseach for his co-operation and ask again whether he will be supporting the passing of the Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  On this side of the House, as the Deputy will be aware, it is a vote of conscience on matters of this nature. Life or death matters are votes of conscience. We will examine the legislation. There will be debate around the area of fatal foetal abnormality. There was significant debate around it on Committee Stage in advance of the referendum and during the referendum campaign. There is a desire in many people to maintain faith with the amendment and the debate around the changes that occurred, which were debated during the referendum campaign. I think everyone facilitates debate in the House, or at least they should, from First Stage into Second Stage. We should allow people to examine the Bill in detail and come to their positions on it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  I want straight answers today on the delay and the disorder surrounding the short-term letting and tourism Bill. The general scheme was approved by the Government last April, yet we are here again with no Bill published, no final planning guidance and no clarity for the people whose livelihoods are directly affected. At the same time, tens of thousands of small family-run accommodation providers across the country, many of whom are in the rural and coastal communities we represent, are still being told they must be ready to comply with new rules by 20 May 2026. They are being asked to plan their futures, their homes and their businesses without seeing a single line of the law they are supposed to comply with. That is not good governance. Will the Taoiseach explain to the House why the Bill has still not been published?  I raised this issue numerous times with the Taoiseach and others but the Government still went ahead and rammed through the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Bill 2025. I have highlighted over and over again since then that this Bill will destroy smaller rural family businesses across the whole western seaboard. The Government is trying to make criminals of ordinary decent taxpayers. The tourism committee carried out pre-legislative scrutiny in January. I attended and spoke at the meeting and pleaded with the Government to use common sense. The report is still not published. I have asked for a full debate on the issue every week since then at the Business Committee and on the floor of the D\u00e1il but to no avail. Last Tuesday I put down a Topical Issue on the matter but neither the senior Minister nor any of his two sidekicks could come into the House to debate the issue. Instead, I got a well-worn, stock answer delivered by a random junior Minister who appeared to lack a good grasp of the issue.  Today's newspapers are reporting that the whole scheme is being kicked back to the summer or beyond and yet I cannot get a straight answer here in the House. There are rumblings of backbench division on this issue. If recent history has taught the Taoiseach anything, my advice would be that he sits up and listens on this one, if not to me then to those sitting behind him. The Government must not force families out of business for a foolish notion that it will free up thousands of properties for the rental market. Is it the idea to fleece them for the thousands in compliance fees while flushing a good going element of the rural economy down the toilet?  Will the Taoiseach confirm for the House that the registration deadline of 20 May is dead in the water? Will he also confirm when the legislation will be published and commit to not ramming it through the House without proper debate and consideration of Opposition amendments? Finally, will he consider making the accommodation I have repeatedly asked for, that the established operators are treated with respect and granted a planning exemption in order to comply with F\u00e1ilte Ireland registration? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  First of all, no one is wiping anybody out in rural Ireland. It suits the Deputy to create a storm and to spread rumours saying the Government is going to do this and that. Let us get the background to this. Everyone in this House was agreed that housing was the number one priority, or at least I thought it was the number one priority, facing this D\u00e1il at its commencement. The objective in terms of the short-term lets legislation is actually to get more houses back into the rental market. The policy decision we have taken, of which the Deputy is well aware, is that it relates to towns over 20,000, so that excludes straight away all of the western seaboard and the north western seaboard, all the way along. We are looking at towns and cities above 20,000 people.  Planning law is planning law and the seven-year rule is there. Basically if someone is operating an Airbnb for seven years he or she does not need planning permission. That is my understanding, my lay-person's articulation of it. Essentially, there would be great difficulty in enforcing anything at that stage. I am sure the Deputy would accept that. He is wily enough in terms of planning issues as they affect people so I am sure he will agree that is the position.  There is an EU directive governing this as well and that is governing all of Europe. In the cities we want less of the short-term lets and we want more housing because we need more housing for younger people. People are arguing about the rents being high and we need more supply. There is an issue there and the Deputy should acknowledge that. It is not a foolish idea. There is a logic behind it and there is a rationale behind it. The fundamental objective is to continue to support tourism in those areas where tourism is a key industry and that is all along the western seaboard, the south west, the west, the north west, along the east coast, the south east coast and so on. They are all well below the 20,000 threshold and the idea is to balance the need for long-term housing supply and greater housing availability while also protecting rural and regional tourism and jobs. The national register is to be compiled by F\u00e1ilte \u00c9ireann for short-term let providers. It is to be established by F\u00e1ilte Ireland. The issue is still being examined by Government in terms of the planning statement and so on and how to enable people to adjust to the situation and the policy position we have identified and announced. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  I thank the Taoiseach for his reply. He said that I create a storm but this has been talked about for two years and the Government cannot----- "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  Sorry. They are ringing me from west Cork. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  Here is the storm. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  He has been sitting here for a half and hour and his phone did not ring. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  The Taoiseach is talking about creating a storm. This is a serious storm for the people who are facing a crisis at this moment. They are talking about signing up to something on 20 May. It is like signing a blank cheque. Are people going to have to sign up to something on 20 May, like signing a blank cheque? That is what we are asking. All we are asking for are clear guidelines as to what is going ahead. Are people going to have to sign up to something that they do not know what they are signing up to? There is no point in the Taoiseach saying here what way it might be and that this is the way he sees it. I am not in the business but other people see it totally and utterly differently. What they want is clarity. That clarity should have been there months and months prior to this. We should be debating this in the D\u00e1il, agreeing or disagreeing to it and going forward on that basis. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  When the Government has a final position, there will be plenty of opportunity for debate in the D\u00e1il. We are not rushing anything in and we are not going to ram anything through. The Deputy needs to be clear as well. Long before any of this happened, change of use always required planning. The Deputy knows that. He is pretending the Government has suddenly invented that. We have not. He has been around meetings and is on Facebook every second night at a meeting here and a meeting there----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  That is what I am entitled to do. That is what social media is all about Miche\u00e1l----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, you have had your contribution. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Timmy Dooley  Every second night - it is more like twice a night. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  He is saying the Government is going to bring in this draconian law about change of use. Change of use has always been there. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  Sure, you cannot bring it in. The Taoiseach does not----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, you have had your contribution. There is nothing different about you to every other Member. Allow the Taoiseach to make his contribution because you are running down the clock, not him. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We are very conscious, and have been, of the need to protect regional tourism, rural Ireland and the jobs that go there. That is why we took the population threshold of 20,000. We will be back to the Deputy. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/dbsect_3","debateType":"orderofBusiness","bill":null,"showAs":"An tOrd Gn\u00f3 - Order of Business","counts":{"speechCount":12,"speakerCount":9},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Mary Butler)  I move:  Tuesday's business shall be:  - Motion re Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions (without debate and any division claimed to be taken immediately)  - Motion re Proposed approval by D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann of meeting of the Joint Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy in Wexford (without debate)  - Motion re Consideration of Estimates by Committees (without debate)  - Statements on the Consultation process of Our Rural Future Policy (not to exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes)  Tuesday's private members' business shall be the Motion re Strengthening Workers' Rights, selected by Sinn F\u00e9in.  Wednesday's business shall be:  - Mental Health Bill 2024 (Amendments from the Seanad) (to conclude within 4 hours)  - International Co-operation (Omagh Bombing Inquiry) Bill 2026 (Report and Final Stages) (to conclude within 2 hours)  - Motion re Proposed approval by D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann of the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (Designation of Fingal and Wexford County Councils) (Parts of Administrative Areas) Order 2026 (to conclude within 1 hour and any division demanded to be taken immediately)  Wednesday's private members' business shall be the Motion re Family Law Transparency, Child Welfare, and Reform of the In Camera Rule, selected by Independent Technical Group.  Thursday's business shall be:  - Statements on Supports for Hauliers and supply chains (not to exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes)  Thursday evening business shall be the Second Stage of the Forty-first Amendment of the Constitution (Voting Rights in Presidential Elections) Bill 2025, sponsored by Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn.  Proposed Arrangements for this week\u2019s business:  In relation to Tuesday\u2019s business, it is proposed that:  1. notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders:  (a) the time allocated to Government business shall be extended in accordance with the arrangements for that business and the D\u00e1il may sit later than 10.48 p.m.; and;  (b) private members business shall be taken on conclusion of the Statements on the Consultation process of Our Rural Future Policy, with consequential effect on the commencement times for the items following in the ordinary routine of business;  2. the proceedings on the Motion re Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions shall be taken without debate and any division claimed thereon shall be taken immediately;  3. the proceedings on the Motion re Proposed approval by D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann of meeting of the Joint Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy in Wexford shall be taken without debate;  4. the proceedings on the Motion re Consideration of Estimates by Committees shall be taken without debate; and  5. the Statements on the Consultation process of Our Rural Future Policy shall not exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply:  (a) the statements, not including the Ministerial response, shall be in accordance with the sequence contained in the table immediately below (to be read across);  (b) following the statements, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes; and  (c) members may share time.          Gov      SF      Lab      Gov      SF       Mins    25    15    10    10    3           SD      Gov      SF      IPTG      Gov       Mins    10    10    3    9    10           SF      ITG      Gov      SF      OM       Mins    3    9    10    3    5                       Total:      2 hours 15 mins      In relation to Wednesday's business, it is proposed that:  1. notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders:  (a) the D\u00e1il may sit later than 9.30 p.m. and shall adjourn on the conclusion of the weekly division time; and  (b) the time allotted for Government Business shall be extended in accordance with the arrangements for that business, with consequential effect on the commencement time for the weekly division time, which may be taken on the conclusion of the proceedings on the Motion re Proposed approval by D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann of the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (Designation of Fingal and Wexford County Councils) (Parts of Administrative Areas) Order 2026;  2. the proceedings on the amendments from the Seanad to the Mental Health Bill 2024 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 4 hours, and any amendments from the Seanad not disposed of shall be decided by one question which shall be put from the Chair, and which shall, in relation to amendments to the Seanad amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Health  3. the proceedings on the Report and Final Stages of the International Co-operation (Omagh Bombing Inquiry) Bill 2026 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 2 hours by one question which shall be put from the Chair, and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration; and  4. the proceedings on the Motion re Proposed approval by D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann of Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (Designation of Fingal and Wexford County Councils) (Parts of Administrative Areas) Order 2026 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 60 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply thereto:  (a) the order of speaking and allocation of time shall be as follows:-  \u2014 opening speech by a Minister or Minister of State \u2013 10 minutes;  \u2014 speeches by representatives of Sinn F\u00e9in, the Labour Party, Social Democrats, Independent and Parties Technical Group, and Independent Technical Group \u2013 7.5 minutes per party or group;  \u2014 speeches by non-party\/group members \u2013 7.5 minutes in total; and  \u2014 a speech in response by the Minister \u2013 5 minutes;  (b) members may share time; and  (c) any division claimed thereon shall be taken immediately.  In relation to Thursday's business, it is proposed that:  1. notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders:  (a) topical issues may be taken earlier than 7.24 p.m. with consequential effect on the commencement time for Second Stage of the Forty-first Amendment of the Constitution (Voting Rights in Presidential Elections) Bill 2025, and on the time for the adjournment of the D\u00e1il; and  (b) the D\u00e1il on its rising today shall adjourn until 2 p.m. on Wednesday, 6th May, 2026; and  2. the Statements on Supports for Hauliers and supply chains shall not exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply:  (a) the statements, not including the Ministerial response, shall be in accordance with the sequence contained in the table immediately below (to be read across);  (b) following the statements, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes; and  (c) members may share time.          Gov      SF      Lab      Gov      SF       Mins    25    15    10    10    3           SD      Gov      SF      IPTG      Gov       Mins    10    10    3    9    10           SF      ITG      Gov      SF      OM       Mins    3    9    10    3    5                       Total:      2 hours 15 mins      "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Are the proposed arrangements agreed to? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Not agreed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  The T\u00e1naiste at the weekend was talking about his Department officials looking at more heat pumps. How out of touch can you be? People need money in their pockets now. We need statements on an emergency mini-budget. Sinn F\u00e9in has put forward proposals, including a permanent cut to the USC, a restoration of the energy credit and a cut to fuel and diesel at the pumps. We need this House to represent what people are going through out there. We need a reality check on Government. I am calling for statements on an emergency mini-budget this week. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  We are waiting the bones of a decade for the Government to take meaningful action on short-term lets. Where is the Bill? Where are the guidelines? When are we going to see the national planning statement? Will the register be in force for the previous May deadline that was agreed? We need to have a debate on this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  This Government has been talking about short-term lets since 2022 and the regulations that were required. I may not share the same position as Deputy Collins on it but I do share his concerns about fresh delays arising today out of Cabinet disagreement over it. This is in the context where, in some counties, there are 25 times as many short-term lets as there are properties available on the private rental market. We need a debate about this issue and it to be resolved and clarity around it immediately. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Is the Deputy against Deputy Collins's position? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Some 700 workers at Covalen, a major contractor for Meta, that incidentally made \u20ac26 million in profits last year, have been told their jobs are gone. This is on top of 300 jobs before that. They cannot work for six months because of what Meta requires, and the vast majority of them are getting no redundancy. They are looking to meet the Taoiseach and the senior Minister. We need to discuss their plight because their jobs have been replaced by the AI that they trained. More job losses like this are coming. We need to address this as a matter of urgency. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  We need a serious discussion in the D\u00e1il about the mental health services in this country. A lot of centres are closing down and buildings are being lost. It is a serious issue that needs discussion. I asked for it some time back and it has not happened. I appreciate that we would have a debate on this week going forward. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  As the Ceann Comhairle knows, during the Business Committee meeting last Thursday, there were very few issues with the Order of Business. There was a request for additional time. It was facilitated. All issues raised here today can be discussed. I think only Deputy Collins raised the issue of short-term lets last Thursday. In relation to mental health, I will be in the D\u00e1il tomorrow for another four hours. That will bring to 38 hours the amount of time given to discuss the Mental Health Bill over the past few weeks. Deputy Collins is more than welcome to attend. The Order of Business stands. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Is the Order of Business agreed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Not agreed. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"An tOrd Gn\u00f3 - Order of Business"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/dbsect_8","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Visit of Albanian Delegation","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I wish to welcome some people in the Gallery. I welcome the Albanian speaker, Niko Peleshi, and his delegation who have come to Ireland at the request of the speaker. I hope they are enjoying their visit.  I also welcome Mr. Joseph P. McGill, the honorary consul of Ireland in Detroit, Michigan. He is here with Deputy John Paul O'Shea. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Visit of Albanian Delegation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/dbsect_9","debateType":"orderofBusiness","bill":null,"showAs":"An tOrd Gn\u00f3 - Order of Business (Resumed)","counts":{"speechCount":58,"speakerCount":18},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"William Aird","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Brady","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Children with additional needs are being failed by the State. Some 7,860 children will need special class or school places for this September but the Government has planned for only 5,500 places. That leaves at least 2,300 children without appropriate places and takes no account of possibly hundreds more. These are not statistics; these are children being failed by the State. Parents have been left in limbo weeks out from summer and are unsure if their children will have school places. Some parents have received as many as 14 rejection letters. They are doing everything asked of them and still getting no answers. This is an abject failure of political will.  Will the Government act to guarantee sufficient places, special needs assistants and supports for every child come September? Can it guarantee that the additional funding announced last week is new money and will provide an appropriate place for every child? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  First, 7,860 children who have applied for special placements in our schools. That is more than twice the number who did so ahead of the current school year. Please acknowledge that. It is because of the earlier date being forward. Six thousand are already enrolled in schools----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  In appropriate places. They are in the wrong places. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----and a further 1,400 are preschool-age children. To be very clear, the Government is absolutely committed to meeting the needs of every one of those children. The \u20ac646 million approved by the Government is additional to the Estimate that was agreed at budget time. This money is largely to cater for the additionality that has arisen as a result of the change in the system that we brought in with the early date in October.  The investment in special education has been enormous, and rightly so. In the context of all that talk about failure, we have doubled and trebled the numbers across any metric to do with special education. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  Since the beginning of this year, more than 30 prospective international students have come forward to detail how they were effectively scammed. After having their visa applications refused, they were denied refunds by the English language schools here that they had paid for places they cannot now take up. They have no protection, even though they paid upfront in good faith and followed the process. Some have lost out on thousands of euro in fees and have been left to chase refunds from providers based in different countries. The Irish Council for International Students and my Labour colleague Senator Laura Harmon, who has been working on this, have pointed out that the protective framework, TrustEd Ireland, is toothless. Will the Government act to regulate the English language school sector here in order to ensure that prospective students will be protected rather than being left to foot bills that they should not be liable to pay? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  My understanding is that a new regulation has been introduced by the Minister in respect of this in recent months. It is shocking that this would occur. I presume the matter has been referred to the Garda in terms of any fraudulent activity here, because it is absolutely unacceptable that would occur to any student. The Minister has acted on that, but I am sure he would be willing to engage with the Deputy\u2019s representatives in order to provide an update on where we are on it and to take on board any constructive suggestions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  I thank the Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  Is mian liom ceist a chur ar an Taoiseach faoi thaighde an Bhainc Ceannais. Research from the Central Bank published today shows that one in three adults has experienced fraud or scams. At the same time, social media companies earned an estimated \u20ac32 million last year from scam advertisements aimed at people in Ireland. These social media giants are turning a blind eye in order that they can profit off the misery of their customers. One couple from north Dublin were preparing for their dream wedding. They booked what they believed was a legitimate villa advertised on Facebook. They paid \u20ac2,800 for accommodation that did not exist. These scams are being operated on an industrial scale.  Why are these social media companies allowed to make millions in advertising fees from these false, fraudulent advertisements? What will the Government do about it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Online fraud is an enormous issue and has been for quite some time. There are regulatory frameworks governing this and obligations governing the companies as well. There is an issue with some of the revenue models of some of the companies in respect of advertising that defames people, for example. There is revenue in that and there is also revenue in the shocking case the Deputy outlined with a young couple being defrauded to the tune of \u20ac2,000 in respect of a villa. At both European and national levels, we will keep the legislation under review to make sure this is stamped out. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  I want to ask about corporate capture of the Government, enabling landlords to build shed-sits with no planning permission, to rent them out with no legal protections, to evict tenants at any time with no right of appeal, no reason and no basis to go to the RTB. Where did this dystopian idea come from? A corporate think-tank set up by the billionaire Collison brothers. Plugging the idea two years ago, Progress Ireland boasted that there could be 350,000 such shed-sits, and it said they could be built based on whether rents were high enough to justify building one. This always had landlords' greasy fingers all over it but the Minister of State, Deputy John Cummins, claimed that it would only be for family members. He still has a video up on Facebook saying it would give younger people and older people the option to live independently of the family home while retaining support of the family network. He told RT\u00c9 he did not see it as a rental measure. Will the Taoiseach go along with this creation of a second class of renters or will he stop this corporate capture? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy loves creating a narrative about every initiative of Government. It is nothing to do with Progress Ireland or anything like that but it is to do with supply. I will be straight-up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  It is its idea. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It is not its idea. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  It is its idea. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Deputies all over this House were advocating for this long before Progress Ireland was ever established. There have been cases in rural Ireland where people have had difficulties with extensions and buildings in their back gardens, fields, or whatever they were attached to, including farmhouses and so on. There is a balance here. The Deputy has opposed every single measure to do with supply of housing that we have introduced. You name it. It includes any of the housing Acts, and everything else. I do not know what Deputy Murphy's agenda is, ultimately. I am not saying this is perfect but it is needed. It can be for family members and will be useful for family members but family members will not be staying forever in a unit out in the back. They will want to move on as well. These are not sheds, by the way. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  Today, we will receive a report in the audiovisual room from Ireland's US driver licence exchange campaign on an unnecessary barrier faced by the Irish diaspora and returning citizens. I raised this issue many times. In November 2025, I asked the T\u00e1naiste to liaise with the Minister for Transport to direct the RSA and the National Driver Licence Service to recognise previous Irish driving licences without an outdated ten-year time limit. This is a simple, administrative change. It poses no risk to road safety and will immediately support Irish people seeking to return home. This can be done with the stroke of a pen. The T\u00e1naiste acknowledged that this issue is a genuine barrier and linked it to the forthcoming national diaspora strategy. Since then, members of the diaspora have done the work the Government should have done. Their report shows that a pragmatic, risk-based system already used in other EU states is both possible and lawful. My question is straightforward. When will the Government act? Will the Taoiseach instruct the Minister for Transport to remove the barrier without further delay? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Minister of State, Deputy Canney, is working on this, and is making progress. We recently signed an agreement with Moldova for truck drivers to be able to come and work here automatically. It is needed for the diaspora. There is no question about that. The Minister of State, Deputy Canney, is making progress on it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  I have been contacted by a number of women in County Offaly who are experiencing significant delays in accessing screening through BreastCheck. I am informed that mobile screening is not due in Offaly for at least six months, meaning that some women are now waiting well beyond the recommended two year interval for a mammogram. This is causing real anxiety and raises serious concerns about equitable access to cancer screening services in the midlands. Will the Taoiseach raise this matter with the Minister for Health and the HSE and seek urgent action to ensure timely BreastCheck screening is restored in County Offaly? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I will raise the issue with the Minister for Health. There may be other aspects to this as well. We do not want any anxiety in any location around this. I will talk to the Minister in respect of it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"William Aird","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy William Aird  I want to raise the issue of GP shortages in County Laois. The population of Laois has risen sharply over the past decade but primary care services have not kept pace. I acknowledge the tremendous work of local GPs. They are the backbone of community healthcare. However, the reality is the HSE can assign a GP to a medical card and GP visit card holder, but there are no GPs in the Portlaoise area with capacity and private patients are being left without access to a full-time GP. This is not sustainable for a growing county like Laois. What supports are being put in place to ensure that newly qualified GPs can establish in general practice, especially in counties in which need is acute? The Taoiseach knows that we in County Laois have a quota of houses to build over the next seven years, and rightly so. In Portlaoise alone, that number is 5,000 houses. I ask the Taoiseach to come up with some plan. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising what is a very important issue. General practice is one of the cornerstones of our health service. Forty-three percent of the population now has access to free GP care and Government investment has significantly increased. We spend in excess of \u20ac1 billion annually on general practice to support patients. There is a strategic review of general practice under way. The Minister for higher education has increased the places for medicine training to have more output and throughput of GPs through the colleges. We will await the strategic review. We increased funding substantially in terms of the 2019 GP agreement and a further \u20ac130 million investment under the 2023 GP agreement. We are making it more attractive. On training and recruitment in particular, there were 350 places in 2024 and 2025. That was an increase of two thirds since 2020. Getting those numbers through the colleges is going to be key. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Albert Dolan  I raise with the Taoiseach the case of Carrabane National School in east Galway. This school is on the priority list for development, and we welcome that, but the prefabs at the school are falling apart. The tenders were received for this building in January 2024. We are now in April 2026 and the Department of education has not yet made a decision on whether it will proceed. Will the Taoiseach please engage with the Department of education to unblock whatever blockages are there and see that this school is built? The people of Carrabane and the surrounding area have waited long enough and they are crying out to see this school built once and for all. I will support the Taoiseach in any way I can to see it delivered but the Minister for education needs to make a decision. She needs to work with the principal officers to make a decision. The tender reports were received in January 2024 and it is now April 2026. We need to see action. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising the issue of Carrabane National School. If the tenders were issued in January 2024, it is difficult to comprehend why it did not get the green light soon after that. I certainly will engage with the Department of education on this and more broadly in terms of capital allocation to education. We have invested a lot in school buildings in the last number of years but it is vital to the quality of the learning environment for the children concerned. I will take up the matter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you. I call Deputy Pa Daly. I apologise for missing him earlier. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle, and thank you for the opportunity to raise the issue of the former ecclesiastical site of Rattoo in Ballyduff, north Kerry. It is a national monument and 1,000 years old, and it is the best-preserved round tower in the whole country. It once hosted an abbey, a church, a hospital and even a school of music. It is of immense historical and local significance and huge tourism potential but it has been closed for 15 years while works are being carried out by the national monuments depot works. Most of those works have been completed. Can the Taoiseach give us a date when it will open again, either by taking away the scaffolding or by opening up the gate? Tourists cannot visit. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Is that the Office of Public Works, OPW? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  Yes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I will talk to the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, in respect of this fascinating location and site. It is very historic, so obviously we would like to have it reopened, but I will have to get the timeline for the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Brady","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Brady  I want to raise with the Taoiseach the imminent sale of a substantial parcel of land in the Wicklow Mountains, including the summit of Lugnaquilla, due to be auctioned off this Friday. The 1,527-acre holding represents a massive opportunity for the State to secure what is essentially a priceless piece of our natural heritage. I do not think land of such environmental, cultural and recreational value should be sold off to the highest bidder, including international interests. It is an opportunity for the State to purchase this land. The land borders the Wicklow Mountains National Park and offers a real opportunity to expand the park and take that land into public ownership. At a time when we have a biodiversity crisis and are under obligations under the EU nature restoration law, not investing in additional public lands such as this would put us under additional financial strain and potentially lead to penalties from the EU. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank the Deputy. The Taoiseach to reply. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Brady","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Brady  I have written to the Minister in relation to the sale of this land on Friday. Will the Taoiseach examine this with a view to the State purchasing it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach to respond now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It has obviously gone on the open market. I will talk to the Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan, who has responsibility for the National Parks and Wildlife Service, but these are issues it pursues. We do not normally talk about land sales but obviously it is out there. I will see what its position on it is. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  Local government is the beating heart of democracy. In July of last year, when replying to a question of mine, the Taoiseach confirmed that the abolition of town councils was a big mistake and that he was a great believer in restoring town councils. He said that many town councils had great visionary district councils in the past. In November of last year, the Taoiseach confirmed that it was an issue that was close to his heart, that he opposed the abolition of town and borough councils and that as a democrat, he believed in fundamental layers of democracy. Has the local government task force reported? Has the report been seen by the Minister? Will the report be published? Has the report gone to Cabinet? Will the Taoiseach confirm that, in line with his previous statements, borough and town councils will be re-established? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I applaud the Deputy's very precise and accurate recollection of what I said last year in respect of the----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  It is on the record. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Absolutely, and I repeat and endorse everything I said. As I said at the time, the review has not been brought to Cabinet but it is complete. I would not hold my breath and have some disappointment with the review in terms of its lack of focus on urban councils. There is a focus on municipal area districts. We will examine it and bring it to the House for debate. I believe we need to look at some urban areas to begin the restoration of urban councils. That is a view I have but the system has a different view. We are elected to do what we believe is right. I think it was a mistake to abolish councils for a number of reasons. One reason was that they gave a cohesion and sense of community to given towns and allowed them to create a vision for the town. They also allowed people who wanted to make a contribution to their locality at a certain electoral level to do so. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank the Taoiseach. The time is up. Deputy Kelly is next. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  Deputy Robert O'Donoghue and I had a meeting with vets over the past period of time with a view to progressing the Veterinary Practice (Amendment) Bill, which was actually brought in by former Fianna F\u00e1il Deputy, Jackie Cahill, and my former constituency colleague. We will have a crisis in veterinary services across Ireland if we do not do something because veterinary practices are being bought up by corporate entities. This is happening continuously. As a result, we are having loss of service, restricted times for services and prices dramatically increasing and we will have animal welfare issues. This is an urban issue as well as a rural issue. It will be across the board. In Britain, they are trying to reverse allowing corporate entities to have veterinary practices. Instead, there should be a veterinary practitioner in charge and in ownership of all of these practices. I understand that every political entity in this House supports this Bill. It is coming back before the agriculture committee. Will the Taoiseach ensure its quick progressions through these Houses so we can protect veterinary services in the country? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We will examine it. Again, obviously, the market has to operate as well. I am just making a general point. We will certainly examine the legislation, constructively and in an engaging way, and we will see if we can----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  Your own party supports it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Yes, I know. All right. I cannot arbitrate here in one minute. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Farrelly is next. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aidan Farrelly  It is time for Tusla to undergo a complete and independent review. I have heard from too many social workers in Tusla who are worried about the reforms recently undertaken. We have heard from too many judges who are frustrated at a lack of action regarding court orders and, most recently, we have heard from too many young people who have shared their harrowing experiences of involvement in State care. Does the Taoiseach have full and unreserved confidence in Tusla because I do not? We must be able to trust Tusla's culture, governance and operations. That is why I am asking the Taoiseach, not to listen to me but to the young people who shared their experiences last week. Will the Taoiseach initiate an independent review of Tusla so we can have full confidence in our national Child and Family Agency? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  First, we need to continue to work with Tusla. It is all great calling for independent reviews, inquiries and everything. That just paralyses organisations. That is the other side of that coin. We have to deal with children now who need care today, tomorrow or the day after. A balance needs to be struck in terms of how we deal with this. There are very serious issues here and all is not well in certain aspects, particularly in terms of special care and particular individuals who need very specialist care. However, if we keep putting every organisation endlessly under a microscope, then where is the space to actually get things done, improve the organisation and build up confidence? There are thousands and thousands of cases. There were 106,000 child protection and welfare referrals. That is enormous. That is an increase of 10% on 2024, and is driven by domestic violence, homelessness, addiction, criminal activity, sexual exploitation and mental health challenges. I think of a lot of the people who work in Tusla too because they are at the coalface of very challenging situations. I fully respect the Deputy's perspective and why he is concerned. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach's time is up. Deputy Gogarty is next. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The easiest thing we can do is call for reviews and have everybody investigating everybody else with everyone too afraid of their shadow to get things done. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Gogarty is next, Taoiseach, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That is the other side of this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  I would like to visit the issue of people being able to build modular homes in their gardens and subdivide them because it is a hugely important issue. It is definitely not a panacea for the housing crisis but it will help in certain situations. For example, yesterday I had a gentleman on to me worried that the legislation will not cover an area where the person who has a big enough house and wants to live on the garden and rent out the house. There are a lot of older people who want to live in the ground floor of their houses and then let someone else move into the upstairs of the house because they do not want to leave an area. They are close to their local churches, shops, etc. Where I grew up in the 1980s there were ten shops within a mile from where I lived. Now there is just one. That shows the population has declined. People have grown up and left the area. In line with national density regulations, we need to improve the density in areas to have a critical mass for services. Will the Taoiseach prioritise this Bill, so it passes through all Stages by the summer? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Yes, we can. My understanding is that it is done by regulation but we can. There will be some legislative changes needed. I agree 100% with what the Deputy said. In fact you can now subdivide a house as well under this planning statement. Equally, you can do what the Deputy said in terms of people creating a unit for themselves and renting out the house. There is no question that in many of the older housing estates, the density has gotten very low. Whereas when we grew up, there was five or six people per family - in some cases, there was eight or nine people per family - but all of that has changed dramatically. There is further thinking to be done on how we maximise the capacity of the existing housing stock in our society. I think there is a bit of an iceberg here that we are at the tip of. In my view, we have not really properly explored it. The rent a room scheme does help in regard in terms of incentivising the use of buildings where there might be just one person in a three-bedroom house and so on. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  Yes, for families but not investor-landlords. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Yes, it is open to families. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputies will have to engage further on this issue. Deputy Carrigy is next. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Miche\u00e1l Carrigy  I acknowledge the good work in the area of dementia supports. The Minister of State, Deputy Butler, has done a huge amount of work over the years, as has the Alzheimer Society of Ireland.  At the weekend, I happened to be watching the London marathon and saw a young guy by the name of Jordan Adams running it with a fridge on his back to signify the weight that he carries, given that he has a gene that means he will develop frontotemporal dementia, FTD, which will shorten his life. His mother was of Irish heritage and 11 members of their family have died from this. Having started in Antrim, he and his brother are running a marathon in all 32 counties in Ireland.  This is particularly personal to me. My mother Eilish passed away from dementia during Covid and I have seen what that did to her and to us as a family in trying to deal with it. I have also seen the support we were given when we went looking for it, particularly from the Alzheimer Society of Ireland, to help us through that. I would ask people across the country, and Members, to look up where the marathon is taking place in their county and support these men who are looking to highlight dementia. On Thursday, 28 May, they will finish in Merrion Square. I ask that Members please be there to support them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank Deputy Carrigy for raising what is a very important issue and for sharing his personal experience with us about the impact of dementia on family and on individuals. I commend the runners for their initiative to create awareness. The Deputy correctly credited the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, who does fantastic work, particularly in the area of day care centres. There are 60 such centres now across the country. I remember how five or six years ago we had very few. We now have 60. We need to continue to work on this and we need to continue to do more. The advisers are very important. We need to invest more in research to understand it better and to develop greater therapeutics that can stall and delay dementia. There is a lot happening in that world. That is why investment in research, investment in care and investment in supports, above all for families and individuals who have dementia, is critical. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"An tOrd Gn\u00f3 - Order of Business (Resumed)"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/dbsect_10","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/40","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/40\/dail\/1","houseCode":"dail","stage":"1","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Reproductive Rights (Amendment) Bill 2026: First Stage (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Reproductive Rights (Amendment) Bill 2026: First Stage","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_10","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  I move:  That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to enact recommendations of the Marie O\u2019Shea report into the operation of legislation on the termination of pregnancy, providing clarity on terminations for medical reasons, removal of the 3 day waiting period, and ending the criminalisation of doctors.  Next month marks eight years since we voted overwhelmingly to repeal the eighth amendment. It was an incredibly powerful moment for this country but while the eighth amendment is gone, too many of the barriers it created to abortion care remain embedded in our law and our healthcare system. The reality is that women are still travelling, still navigating crisis pregnancies far from home and far from their support networks, and are still being failed by a system that was meant to care for them. That is not what people voted for.  There is an argument often made in this House that we must leave the legislation as it stands because it reflects what was put to the public in the referendum. This argument does not stand up to any kind of scrutiny. Ireland voted to take abortion out of the Constitution and into the hands of legislators in these Houses. No legislation is set in stone and no law is beyond improvement. The public know that. The legislation also explicitly included a mandatory review after three years because, of course, gaps could emerge with the new law and would need to be addressed. The Marie O'Shea report clearly identified those gaps and it is now on us to close them. That is what this Bill aims to do.  When I knocked on doors in Cork South-West during the repeal campaign, people told me over and over again how much the stories of women who had been forced to travel impacted them. The Terminations for Medical Reasons group, TFMR, did extraordinary work during the campaign. Its members told their stories and bared their grief and trauma in the hope it would mean no other woman and no other family would have to go through what they went through.  Eight years ago, people stood in polling booths all across this country and voted with those women in mind, yet every year, approximately 240 women are still forced to travel to the UK to access abortion care. Many of them are travelling because they received a devastating diagnosis, often after the 20-week scan. Currently, doctors must be certain that a foetus will die within 28 days of birth in order to provide abortion care. That certainty is very difficult to achieve and it leaves doctors with no other choice but to force women to travel abroad. There is no clinical justification for it. It is cruel and inhumane. Women deserve dignity, compassion and a healthcare system that addresses their needs rather than directing them to a ferry port.  In the Marie O'Shea report, consultants were very clear on the impact that the continued criminal criminalisation of doctors was having. They have been left to navigate the grey areas of abortion law with the threat of criminal prosecution hanging over them, which results in overly cautious and risk-averse decision making and a tendency towards refusing to provide the care. Doctors are scared, and rightly so. Anyone would be with their licence and livelihood on the line. There is no other area of healthcare where practitioners are exposed to criminal liability if things go wrong, and it is not fair on doctors. It is deeply unfair on the women who are denied care as a result.  One of the most glaring issues in the current legislation is the three-day mandatory waiting period. It pushes women closer to the 12-week limit and puts additional strain on already stretched GP services. No other area of healthcare requires this. It is not grounded in science or any kind of evidence. It is only grounded in a profound mistrust of women. It is paternalistic and patronising and it needs to go. This Bill proposes something far more reasonable, in that the waiting period is optional, not mandatory. At its core, it comes down to a fundamental question: do we trust women or not? Do we trust doctors or not? These changes are not radical. They are reasonable, necessary and long overdue. The public voted for a compassionate evidence-based system of care. We have made progress but we are not there yet.  This proposed legislation is an opportunity to take another step closer to that goal, not by reopening old arguments, but by addressing clear and identified gaps, and not by asking women to speak louder, but by finally listening to what they have already told us. The time for review has passed and now we need to act.  I want to thank my colleague Ellen Casey for her dedicated work on this Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Very good. Thank you Deputy. Is the Bill being opposed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment (Deputy Timmy Dooley)  It is not opposed. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Since this is a Private Members' Bill, Second Stage must, under Standing Orders, be taken in Private Members' time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  I move: \"That Second Stage be taken in Private Members' time.\" "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Reproductive Rights (Amendment) Bill 2026: First Stage"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/dbsect_11","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/41","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/41\/dail\/1","houseCode":"dail","stage":"1","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Local Government (Cities) Bill 2026: First Stage (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Local Government (Cities) Bill 2026: First Stage","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_11","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joanna Byrne  I move:  That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to provide that the municipal district area that includes the Local Electoral Area of Drogheda Urban shall be known in the Irish language as Ceantar Bardasach Chathair Dhroichead \u00c1tha and in the English language as the Municipal District of Drogheda City, and for that purpose to amend the Local Government Act 2001; to provide that specified towns which comply with the requirements provided for by this Act may be granted city status and for those purposes to amend the Local Government Act 2001; and to provide for related matters.  It gives me great pleasure to introduce to this House my first Bill, the Local Government (Cities) Bill 2026. The purpose of this Bill is to provide that the municipal district area that includes the local electoral area of Drogheda urban be known as the municipal district of Drogheda city and to provide that specified classes of towns that satisfy the requirements provided for by the Bill may be granted city status, and to provide for related matters.  During the submission phases for Project Ireland 2040, the national planning framework and regional spatial and economic strategy, a massive number of submissions were made advocating for city status for Drogheda. Lobby groups and local citizens did what the Government asked them to do to play their part in our democracy and they articulately and eloquently stated the case for city status. None of those submissions received the due consideration it should have. The city status group met with many Ministers in many different Governments over the years and they presented the case for Drogheda's city status. They outlined various difficulties the town was incurring because different parts of it were run by Louth County Council and Meath County Council, with no overall cohesive plan for the area. We have two councils with no holistic plan for housing, infrastructure, transport, employment, and community and sporting amenities. This has proven to choke progress and stifle the growth of the largest town in the country.  Every elected representative from all parties and none in Drogheda supports the city status campaign, including those from the Government parties. I ask that the Government listen to them. The local democracy task force was established by this Government last year after years of debates and concerns about what went so terribly wrong with the Local Government Act 2014 and other aspects of our weak local democracy. City status, however, is not even being considered. Only a few moments ago, the Taoiseach referred to his own disappointment with the task force's lack of focus on urban councils. The Council of Europe has consistently highlighted this State as having one of the weakest and most centralised systems of local government in Europe. We have to try to do something different.  We in Sinn F\u00e9in will not be found wanting in making positive changes to empower local democracy. The Government's local government reforms in 2001 and 2014 have led to a downgrade of local government and more centralisation of powers instead of improving local government and delivering real local democracy. The Minister, Deputy Browne, recently noted that right now there are no formal criteria for awarding city status. Under the Planning and Development Act 2024 a city is defined primarily by its administrative status rather than population size. This is why I am introducing the Bill so that for the first time there will be formal criteria enshrined in law that can be used to award city status, with population size as the main factor for approval. If the Bill receives enough support in the D\u00e1il and Seanad and becomes an Act, Drogheda will become the municipal district of Drogheda city. City status is crucial to ensure that Drogheda and other large towns receive proper investment in infrastructure, services and jobs rather than being treated merely as commuter towns.  I do not claim to have a magic wand that will fix everything we have wanted for years but I believe this mechanism would pave the first step on a pathway to greater things. I stood for election on the platform of elevating city status for Drogheda and I am unapologetic in my attempts to deliver real change and local democracy for the place I call home. This is why I have spent the first 13 months as a TD working with the Office of Parliamentary Legal Advisers to produce this legislation. I emphasise that the same criteria contained in the Bill can be used for other large towns throughout the State to apply for city status for their respective areas. These include places such as Navan, Bray, Dundalk, Swords, Ennis, Letterkenny, Sligo, Tralee and many more. When they hit the criteria they too can apply for city status to have local government based locally, making decisions locally, to benefit all of what are now towns but are future cities. This is how we plan for the future.  To enable Drogheda's unique heritage, history and location, and to realise its full potential, we need to advance this legislation. I sincerely hope that years of virtue signalling to Drogheda from various taoisigh and Ministers will transpire into support for the Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Is the Bill opposed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Timmy Dooley)  It is not opposed. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Since this is a Private Members' Bill, Second Stage must, under Standing Orders, be taken in Private Members' time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joanna Byrne  I move: \"That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time.\" "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Local Government (Cities) Bill 2026: First Stage"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/dbsect_12","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions: Motion","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_12","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Deputy James Lawless)  I move:  That, notwithstanding anything in the Order of the D\u00e1il of 5th February, 2025, or in the Order of the D\u00e1il of 15th April, 2026, setting out the rota in which Questions to members of the Government are to be asked, Questions for oral answer following those set down to the Minister for Defence, shall be set down to Ministers in the following temporary sequence:  Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science  Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration  Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine  Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage  whereupon the sequence established by the Order of 5th February, 2025, shall continue with Questions to the Minister for Rural and Community Development. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions: Motion"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/dbsect_13","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Meeting of the Joint Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy in Wexford: Motion","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_13","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Mary Butler)  I move:  That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann, in accordance with Article 15.1.3\u00b0 of the Constitution, hereby determines that the Joint Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy may meet in Wexford Town, County Wexford, on a date in 2026 to be decided by the Committee, in order to hear from community groups, locals and stakeholders on the progress made at Lady's Island Lake; provided that, pursuant to Standing Order 115(4), Members may participate in such meeting from within the parliamentary precincts by means of the videoconferencing platform approved and provided by the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Meeting of the Joint Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy in Wexford: Motion"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/dbsect_14","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Committee Consideration of Estimates: Motion","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_14","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Mary Butler)  I move:  That, notwithstanding the Orders of the D\u00e1il of 3rd day of March, 2026, and 25th day of March, 2026, and pursuant to Standing Order 223(1), the following Committee may complete its consideration of the Estimates for Public Services for the year ending 31st December, 2026, standing referred to them pursuant to Standing Order 222(2), later than the eightieth day and not later than the one hundred and sixty-fifth day, being the 31st day of May, 2026, after the Estimates had been so referred:  \u2014 the Select Committee on Education and Youth (Vote 26). "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Committee Consideration of Estimates: Motion"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/dbsect_15","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna - Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna - Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/dbsect_16","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements","counts":{"speechCount":35,"speakerCount":12},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/dbsect_15","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","showAs":"Ceisteanna - Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_16","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_16.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 13, inclusive, together.  I attended the 2026 World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos on 21 and 22 January. My attendance at the forum is a useful opportunity to exchange views on key economic matters at a platform that brings together people from enterprise, politics, academia and media.  During my visit, I met with international and political leaders, including Prime Minister Mustafa of Palestine, who updated me on progress on the comprehensive plan to end the Gaza conflict and the very difficult situation in Gaza and the West Bank. We also discussed Ireland's support for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in the Middle East and for the de-escalation of violence and military action. I reaffirmed Ireland's commitment to adhering to the UN Charter and international law. We both agreed that the work of the United Nations, particularly UNRWA, together with other humanitarian organisations and non-governmental organisations, is essential to confront the catastrophic humanitarian situation and to deliver life-saving assistance and essential services to the civilian population in Gaza, the occupied Palestinian territory and the wider region.  I also had bilateral meetings with senior representatives of multinational companies with operations in Ireland. These included Joel Kaplan, the chief global affairs officer of Meta; Apple CEO, Tim Cook; AstraZeneca chair, Michel Demar\u00e9; and Microsoft president, Brad Smith. I received updates on the progress of these companies with their respective Irish operations and their future development plans. Throughout those meetings, I reiterated the appeal of Ireland as a country to do business in, noting key initiatives such as our action plan on competitiveness and productivity, our action plan on market diversification, investment in infrastructure and our continued focus on providing an environment for world class research and innovation.  IDA Ireland had a strong presence at the World Economic Forum as part of its continuing work to attract inward investment to Ireland across a range of sectors. I gave a keynote address at the annual IDA Ireland dinner event for business leaders from various sectors, including manufacturing, chemical, technology and finance. This was a useful opportunity to hear directly from leaders about their plans for the period ahead.  As part of the official World Economic Forum programme I participated in a public panel entitled \"Europe is Treading Water - How Can it Make Waves?\" This discussion focused on European growth and competitiveness, with an exchange of views on economic challenges and opportunities for Europe. I discussed with fellow panellists the need to focus on European competitiveness during these times of geopolitical uncertainty and outlined Ireland's priorities for our forthcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of this year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Even the multimillionaires are now saying that the inequality in wealth is obscene and that the rich need to be taxed. At the time of Davos, hundreds of multimillionaires, and even one or two billionaires, released an open letter to the Davos delegates saying there should be wealth taxes imposed on them. The inequality in wealth is staggering. The 11 billionaires we have in this country, a number that is growing each year, have the same amount of wealth as two thirds of the population. It is absolutely disgusting. It is corrosive of democracy and it is fuelling conflict all over the world. A small tax on these people could generate billions that could give working people relief from the cost-of-living crisis, as we have long argued. Does the Taoiseach agree, when even the billionaires and the millionaires are saying what we have been saying for many years, which is that we should have a tax on the super rich? This should not be on ordinary workers but on the top 1% who have more in this country than \u20ac4.5 million. A small tax to fund a little bit of relief for working people would be justified. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  The World Economic Forum is a place where billionaires and multimillionaires gather together with Heads of Government and Ministers. It is a place where the policy interests of the billionaire class are transmitted to their political representatives, the likes of the Taoiseach. In this country, the richest billionaires we have, who obviously are not resident, are the Collison brothers. They, like many of the tech bros, share a libertarian ideology about deregulation of everything, so-called YIMBYism, which has the happy coincidence of also maximising their ability to maximise their profit. The Taoiseach denied earlier that the shed-sit idea has come from the Collison brothers. He might tell me where this idea did come from if not from the Collison brothers. I do not mean these in terms of family members but in terms of the idea of these becoming long-term rentals. It is clear if we check the record that it is coming from Progress Ireland, which is funded by the Collison brothers. Se\u00e1n Keyes, the head of Progress Ireland, has claimed this idea, saying it played a role in this coming through, illustrative of the corporate capture of this Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail  I welcome the Taoiseach's report on his attendance at the World Economic Forum, and particularly the discussions he had on AI governance with multinational corporations and a lot of the tech companies. We have seen today the news about the loss of 720 jobs at Covalen, a subcontractor of Meta. As part of the Taoiseach's discussions at Davos, were there discussions about reskilling and retraining for people whose jobs may be replaced by artificial intelligence? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  We should put on the record that the Collison brothers have made an enormous contribution to this country in terms of job creation, and allowing their views to be heard is quite important in the debate on the future of technology. Further to my colleague Deputy \u00d3 Cear\u00fail raising the role of artificial intelligence and the recognition there is a paradigm shift happening with regard to technology and work, the World Economic Forum estimates that while 92 million jobs may be displaced over the next five years as a result of artificial intelligence, there is the potential for the creation of 170 million new jobs. I welcome very much the launch of aiready.ie by the Minister, Deputy Lawless, last week and the Government's AI and digitalisation strategy.  In terms of the Taoiseach's discussions, how are we in Ireland preparing to best be able to avail of the opportunities that AI presents and those 170 million new jobs that may be created? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  I welcome the Taoiseach's attendance at the World Economic Forum. It is an important platform for Ireland, particularly as part of the European Union where we benefit from being part of one of the largest and most influential trading blocs in the world. Our EU membership gives Ireland real weight on the global stage. It allows us to engage at forums like Davos, not as a small, isolated economy but as part of a powerful collective with real influence in trade and investment in global policy. In that context, it is important to acknowledge that without the European Union, Ireland would be far more limited in its ability to compete internationally, attract investment and influence global decisions. Given some of the anti-EU sentiment that has emerged in recent times, it is vital that we continue to clearly communicate just how important EU membership has been and continues to be for jobs, trade and economic opportunity. Can the Taoiseach outline how his engagement at Davos has been used to strengthen Ireland's position? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  A key discussion point at Davos this year was energy security and electrification. Were there any discussions in relation to the decoupling of gas from electricity prices? We have seen wholesale electricity prices go up 19% already this month as a direct consequence of the invasion of Iran but we really have not seen the impacts of the invasion of Ukraine being rectified on the electricity market, and gas prices set our electricity prices at the moment. Has the Taoiseach had any discussions, either with President von der Leyen or anyone else, in relation to the decoupling of gas from electricity prices? Is it something he is going to prioritise as part of his Presidency coming up in July? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Connolly  We heard earlier the impression some like to portray of the World Economic Forum. I noted that in some of the discussions the Taoiseach attended and some of the engagements he participated in, there was widespread discussion on the whole area of social cohesion. Could he outline today some of what was discussed in terms of developing further cohesion among all nations and across nations? He might extend that into some discussions there may have been around the cost-of-living pressures, including issues of poverty and inequality, with a particular reference to the increased effort Europe is making to increasing competitiveness and productivity, the reforms that are needed in that area and how it is going to make sure living standards are improved through them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  It is a number of months since the World Economic Forum in Davos. In the past few weeks, however, the Taoiseach has met the German Chancellor and we have had the German foreign minister here in Dublin. We now know that Germany has once again blocked even the most modest EU action to suspend the EU-Israel trade agreement, which grants preferential access to a rogue state that is systematically violating international law, human rights norms and the very terms of that agreement. At the same time, countries like Spain and Italy have taken unilateral steps and shown that action is possible. This Government has done neither. There have been no domestic sanctions, no leadership at EU level and no meaningful consequences from Ireland for Israel\u2019s actions, its brazen contraventions of international law and its genocide. I want to ask the Taoiseach directly. Has he challenged Germany\u2019s position and role in shielding Israel from accountability? Will he move on the occupied territories Bill? When will this Government finally take even the most basic, moderate steps of introducing real sanctions rather than continuing a policy of delay and inaction? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  Recent announcements regarding job cuts at Meta and possibly at one of the outsourcing firms, Covalen, serves as another wake-up call for Government that we need to diversify the economy and build a new economic model to attract new strands of foreign direct investment, FDI. Many of these job cuts have been attributed to AI and automation but the Government cannot allow this to be catalyst for further job losses across the sector. We must ensure that Ireland remains competitive and an attractive destination for FDI. What is the Government doing to build a new economic model and economic resilience that is underpinned by good jobs? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  We all accept that there has been an underestimation in relation to the cost of globalisation. Many see that their generation is now poorer than the generation before it. This is being exacerbated by artificial intelligence. We have seen the issue in relation to Meta and its subcompanies. We have seen 63 jobs lost in PayPal and, obviously, all that can be done has to be done for those workers. While I am told it does not relate to artificial intelligence, I think anybody who has seen job losses across the sector will accept that is the case. As much as there is hope into the future in relation to jobs that will be created, we need to look after those who need jobs now alongside the fact that the jobs people have do not necessarily have the same spending power they need. This is why we need cost of disability supports. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank all the Deputies who have raised issues on this basic question, the first of whom was Deputy Boyd Barrett. Overall, it is interesting that Deputies Boyd Barrett and Murphy look at Davos through a certain prism. In terms of taxing the wealthy, the reality is that one third of tax revenue now is corporate tax. A lot of the companies I met in Davos pay huge amounts in corporate tax to the Irish Exchequer. Those are the realities----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  The Taoiseach should see their profits "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  As corporate tax----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Look at their profits. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It is one third and it underpins a lot of spending on public services. Deputy Boyd Barrett's view is to attack them. That is his view. He does not really think they have value in the Irish economy even though some of them have been here for 50 years in terms of pharmaceuticals and life sciences. Many of them have been here. Microsoft came in in 1985. I go to Davos, as do the Irish Government and the IDA, to keep identifying and profiling Ireland's proposition and position and also to advocate for Ireland to make sure there are further investments coming to Ireland and to maintain the contacts. A lot of workers in our economy are working in those companies the Deputy would like to tax out of the country. That is the reality, and that is what the Deputy is proposing. Deep down, the Deputy does not really worry too much about the workers in those companies. I have never heard anything from Deputy Boyd Barrett or Murphy in any shape, sense or form that would underpin those workers in those companies. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  Deputy Boyd Barrett spoke about the workers today. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  I talked about Kilmainham today. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I have never seen it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Excuse me, Deputy----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It is a very anti-worker perspective in terms of the Deputies' attitude to the companies I am talking about more generally----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  He has to repeat the Kilmainham workers, though. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----and the industry and the sector. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Taoiseach, I am sorry. One second----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  If I could, through the Chair, say that Deputy Boyd Barrett raised the issue of equality. Ireland is more equal than most, actually, because of our progressive taxation system. In fact, there are a lot of people railing against that now on various platforms and media saying that we are overtaxing but Ireland is a much more equal society than others because of a progressive income tax system.  On Deputy Murphy's remarks, I do not represent any billionaire class. That is just nonsense. It is stupid stuff to be articulating in here. People are really fed up with that. I just represent the country. I represent the working people of this country. I said this to the Deputy before. I remember the 1980s here when we had 17% unemployment. That is what motivates me to participate in these events and to always be hungry for more investment and more jobs in the country. I notice today the Collison brothers are in his target zone. They are his new target. They came through the Young Scientist competition many years ago as young leaving certificate students and one of them won it. They are particularly bright and able. They created a world product that is global in its reach and that is impactful. A lot of people celebrate that, and that is a very good achievement for them. They have brought back some of that investment to Ireland both in terms of the company and employment and in terms of investment in biodiversity and other projects. That is a positive. They do not have to.  There are many authors of the units in the back gardens and so on. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  They are one of them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  There are ten other Deputies who are able to keep their mouths shut. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The humble TD has been as proactive about the back garden as the Collison brothers have. I will put it that way to him. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  For the family members, not for renters. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It is not a new idea. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputies, please. You are not special. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Deputy \u00d3 Cear\u00fail raised an issue. I was thinking of Mourinho when the Ceann Comhairle said that. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Deputy \u00d3 Cear\u00fail described himself to me as the Maradona of Kildare hurling one time but anyway. I should not be betraying private conversations but there you are. Apparently, he was.  On the more serious issue of AI, we have the national AI strategy. The Minister, Deputy Lawless, as Deputy Byrne has raised, is on the skills side. The IMF said we are well positioned from a skills perspective, but AI is coming fast. There was not as big a discussion at Davos, in the events I attended. However, there have been significant discussions, particularly when I was in America in March, and some of the people that we sound out there are saying it will be very impactful, AI will change the nature of work and we need to be ready for that. We need to work on that very quickly and very effectively. There may be alternative jobs created but we have to ensure that. We have to make sure that we attract AI investments to the country as well, and at all levels, from research to skills, to basic literacy in society and to SME adopting AI. So far, a lot of SMEs are adopting AI. Our AI literacy levels are relatively high. Per capita , we have one of the most skilled AI workforces in the world. We are well positioned in many respects.  The problem will be that AI will replace a lot of functions and activities and that will have an impact on employment. We are beginning to see signs of that. We need to be careful that we do not pin everything on AI in terms of some of the job announcements that we have witnessed because we also have positive job announcements. There are some very positive investments still happening. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  There are still ten Deputies. The Taoiseach has four and a half minutes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Okay. I was dealing with Deputy \u00d3 Cear\u00fail and Deputy Byrne there as well. In response to Deputy Byrne, the National Economic and Social Council came through Cabinet today. It has a very good report on AI, which we will be publishing imminently and is well worth a read.  In response to Deputy McCormack, I am absolutely clear that EU membership is critical to Ireland, as is the EU Single Market. Parts of the EU Presidency will be deepening the Single Market and moving from a single market to one market is the objective. The competitiveness roadmap has been outlined by the European Council and by the Commission. It will fall to Ireland to implement many of the 17 files that they have identified as critical, from the savings and investment union to the 28th regime to enable SMEs to start up quickly across Europe. We have a lot on the agenda. We will go at it very determinedly in terms of the competitiveness agenda and in doing so, strengthen Ireland's position because we have always benefited ultimately from the Single Market, the Common Market and a one-market approach.  The decoupling of gas from energy prices, to answer Deputy Whitmore, was not discussed at great length at Davos - not at the events I was at - but it is being discussed. It has been discussed over the last five years at the European Union. The Iberian Peninsula, because of the very heavy preponderance of renewables there, was in a position in some instances to decouple. We have put that to the President of the European Commission, Dr. von der Leyen. She has looked at it. It is very complex. It is not simple or straightforward. It is an issue I have raised consistently over the last number of months. Some 50% of our electricity generation is now from renewables. We are making good progress onshore but it will be some time before we get the offshore wind generation through. That is still a work in progress because if you could disconnect gas, it would help in reducing prices more generally.  In response to Deputy Connolly, at these events social cohesion is always an issue, and is always something that is discussed, as is the issue of research and development and competitiveness.  The other issue was the pace of change within Europe itself. There is a general view that Europe is too bureaucratic. For instance, most of the industry people I met felt that Europe was not as competitive as China, not as competitive as Asia and not as competitive as the US on many fronts, particularly on AI but also in other areas in terms of technology more generally. Some companies say they do not launch technology products in Europe and when they are doing a world launch, they exclude Europe because they feel it would be too difficult. That tells a story that should worry Europe in terms of its competitiveness.  In response to Deputy McGuinness, Ireland has taken steps with Spain. The way the Deputy presents the Ireland position on the Middle East defies what actually has happened. When I met Prime Minister Mustafa, all he said to me was, \"Thank you for Ireland's stance.\" We should listen to the Palestinian representatives and Palestinians generally, who are very appreciative of the efforts of the Irish Government and the Irish people towards their situation. I have engaged with the German Chancellor and others to try to persuade people. Germany has a particular historic perspective in respect of the Middle East and that has governed that country's position in relation to it. However, it is very strong, to be fair to it, on the humanitarian side and probably gives more than most in terms of contributions on that front. There is an issue, however, which I discussed only recently, at the Council last week, in terms of the Israeli behaviour in Gaza, but also in Lebanon.  In response to Deputy Conway-Walsh on the need to diversify, I think I have covered that with Deputy \u00d3 Cear\u00fail. We have to remain competitive. We are attracting more AI investments into the country. There is a race on to be competitive here and there will be impacts. As Deputy \u00d3 Cear\u00fail said to me earlier, re-skilling and re-training will be key to it.  In response to Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa, globalisation is not over. If you were a rural inhabitant of China, you might think globalisation was a good thing. Half a billion people have been lifted out of poverty in China. It is still a work in progress. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/dbsect_17","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Renewable Energy Generation","counts":{"speechCount":49,"speakerCount":15},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/dbsect_15","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","showAs":"Ceisteanna - Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_17.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 to 28, inclusive, together.  For compelling reasons relating to energy security, energy costs and climate change, the Government is committed to quickly reducing Ireland's reliance on fossil fuels. We are taking the necessary steps now to ensure Ireland's long-term energy security and unlocking opportunities for further economic growth. The development of a vibrant offshore wind sector is an important contributor to this objective. This task requires the collective skills and effort of the public and private sectors, working together, to make the most of this opportunity.  To meet our climate and energy ambitions, Ireland had committed to initially achieving 5 GW of installed offshore wind capacity, and an aim to deliver a total of 20 GW of offshore renewable energy by 2040. The 5 GW target will be met through a combination of those phase 1 projects that succeed in securing development consent, and from future offshore projects that will be developed within the south coast designated maritime area plan. The phase 1 developer-led projects include three successful under the State's first offshore renewable energy support scheme, ORESS 1, in 2023, and an additional two projects which are seeking merchant connections through a corporate power purchase agreement. These projects have all submitted planning proposals that are with An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la.  ORESS 2 saw a shift to plan-led development, with the State's first spatial plan for offshore renewable energy, ORE, development, the south coast designated maritime area plan, DMAP, that identifies four sites off the south coast in which future ORE development will take place.  In 2024, the Government's second offshore wind auction, Tonn Nua, marked another important milestone in the State's offshore renewable energy ambitions. The Tonn Nua project will contribute 900 MW towards the 5 GW installed offshore wind capacity and will save 1.87 million tonnes of CO2 annually over its anticipated 30-plus years of operation. The national designated maritime area plan for offshore wind approved by Government in 2025 will designate sites around Ireland's entire coast capable of delivering at least 15 GW of offshore wind by 2040, enabling Ireland to meet its 20 GW offshore targets. The plan is part of a programme for Government commitment to fast-track offshore wind development. This will significantly accelerate offshore wind development and will be one of the largest projects of our generation. We aim to adopt this national DMAP by the end of 2027.  Following on from constructive discussions at the Government industry forum on offshore renewable energy that I hosted last July, I established the offshore wind energy clearing house. The offshore wind energy clearing house is chaired by the Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach and members include: Secretaries General from the Departments of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Climate, Energy and the Environment; Enterprise, Tourism and Employment; Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science; and so forth; and representatives from Wind Energy Ireland, Marine Renewables Industry Association, Renewable Energy Ireland and NOW Ireland. Its first meeting was in September last year and we have had a series of meetings since. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathal Crowe  Earlier this afternoon, I attended an event down the street organised by Limerick Chamber of Commerce about the scope for developing renewable wind energy along the Shannon Estuary and up along the coastline of Clare. The panel of speakers spoke about the huge opportunities and the bright future for this area but they also dealt with some of the risks that this involves, delays that could be encountered and the non-configuration of some of the ports along the west coast.  What potential does the Taoiseach see? Are there any timelines for when all this could be advanced? It is a game-changer. For a county that led the way with Moneypoint and Ardnacrusha and that has huge kV lines crossing it, the potential is massive. However, we really want to see it go from being a pipeline aspiration to something tangible that happens. Is there any good news the Taoiseach could give us today? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Erin McGreehan  I welcome the establishment of the offshore wind energy clearing house. This shows how important the Government thinks energy security is and how important it is that we achieve it. As we all know, Ireland is dangerously exposed when it comes to energy. We are still far too reliant on imported fossil fuels, leaving our citizens and the economy at the mercy of global volatility. We have seen the consequences of that in recent weeks with soaring bills, uncertainty and pressure on households and businesses. We must move decisively from volatility to stability. Offshore wind is, as the Taoiseach will be aware, central to the transition, but we must match ambition with delivery. There are huge opportunities for Ireland to scale up. Will the clearing house be expanded to look at all renewable energy options, including how we can scale up and de-risk renewable energy generation, produce things like green hydrogen, develop biomethane and use alternatives like hydrotreated vegetable oil, HVO, for transport, which allow us to replace imported fossil fuels across the economy and not just in electricity? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  I welcome the establishment of the clearing house. We need to develop our offshore energy generation capability as quickly as possible. The only offshore turbines we have are in the territorial waters off the coast of my constituency. They were producing more energy 20 years ago than they are today. They are currently producing none. We know we will not reach our 2030 target, and I am worried about our level of commitment to building energy infrastructure.  I was stunned two weeks ago during oral questions when I asked about the date for the completion of the Celtic interconnector. The Leas-Cheann Comhairle was in the Chair and the Minister of State could not tell me the date the interconnector will be finished. We need to be realistic. We need to set out clearly that we will meet the targets in 2031 or 2032 and indicate how far along the line we are to meeting our targets for 2040 as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  I will take ownership of the Arklow bank as well. This clearing house was established to identify the impediments and challenges, which the Taoiseach did not refer to at all. There are clear impediments to offshore wind. As Deputy Byrne stated, Arklow bank is no longer producing offshore wind energy. We were producing more 20 years ago than we are now. The interconnector to France is required, not only to export electricity but also in the event we need to import it. We heard recently that it is going to be delayed by two years. Can the Taoiseach tell me why the interconnector is going to be delayed? Does it give rise to concern for the Taoiseach that such a major project, which is necessary for the security of Ireland's energy - it is nearly a whisper in the media - is being delayed by two years? The project is hugely important, so will the Taoiseach tell us exactly why this has happened? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  Is the clearing house just looking at projects currently in the planning system or is it looking at upcoming projects in the south coast DMAP area? Is it looking at future DMAPs? How is it approaching its work and what barriers are there? How is the clearing house resourced in the context of staff? Does it have enough people who have enough time available to them? Does it have an international focus? Is it rebuilding confidence of the international supply chain in Ireland as a place to invest? A lot of international confidence has fallen away and there are clear examples of that. Is the clearing house looking at that as well? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  I have raised the issue of plug-in solar on many occasions. I would like an update on the terms and conditions relating to the south-west offshore wind auction, including in respect of the Li Ban development area. Has the Department examined whether the grid will be upgraded enough or whether the demand will be there? Right now, investor communities are not sure whether the grid is future-proofed enough and capable of handling the level of generation being planned.  I welcome the private wires Bill development in decentralising the grid in this area. This will allow us to push for long duration energy storage, battery energy storage systems and stuff to contain and reduce curtailment. Has the Government considered a more State-led approach, similar to the Norwegian model, in order that the Irish public will retain a long-term stake in infrastructure and wealth created from our natural resources as opposed to them being leased to private developers? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  There is no question that Ireland and the world have experienced one of the most significant energy shocks in decades. As discussed earlier, there are no fully operational offshore wind farms in Ireland, one of the windiest countries in the world, after decades of underinvestment and deprioritisation by successive Governments, including those the Taoiseach has been involved with. It has been a gross dereliction of duty to Ireland's energy security that offshore wind energy has not been more urgently developed. The Government's approach to wind energy, as it is to everything, is to rely on foreign capital to solve a domestic problem, driving up prices, selling off natural resources to foreign shareholders and, consequently, engaging in years of meetings, reports and discussions such as this, with no progress towards reduced energy prices for the Irish people. Today, Ireland is almost entirely reliant on foreign, unreliable and expensive energy supplies to survive. Will the Government reverse course and chart a path for public ownership and development of the largest untapped domestic energy resource in Europe? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  It is an absolute disgrace that many of the benefits of offshore wind will be given away to private for-profit companies, most of which are from other countries. Another problem that flows from the policy the Government has pursued in this area is the displacement of fishers. I received correspondence today from fishers in Dublin Bay who have had an injunction taken out against them by EirGrid, which is doing surveys in respect of offshore wind. Of course, a private company will benefit from it. Even though the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority, MARA, licence it was granted stated it was not to interfere with fishers or their gear, EirGrid is now taking out an injunction against Dublin fishers who fish in Dublin Bay, saying their gear is in the way and the fishers must get their gear out of the way. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Sorca Clarke)  I thank the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  It is even against EU law to displace one industry with another. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Sorca Clarke)  The Deputy's time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  The Taoiseach should get on to EirGrid and tell it to leave the fishers in Dublin Bay alone. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  The new cost-of-living crisis underlines the need to get to 100% renewable energy as quickly as possible. For Ireland, that means developing offshore wind. It is quite incredible that for the past 20 years, successive Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael Governments have been in power and have failed to add any offshore wind energy to the grid. We have less offshore wind energy today than we did 20 years ago, despite all the talk of climate crisis and so on. Why? It is because the Government is relying on the private market and ignoring the lessons of our history, that large-scale energy projects should be publicly owned. It is a point the Minister, Deputy Chambers, made in his budget speech, praising the role of a fledgling State in building Ardnacrusha. We had 80% of our electricity from renewable energy at that point. We had energy security. We had almost zero emissions from our electricity system and we threw that all away to become 80%----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Sorca Clarke)  I thank the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  -----dependent on fossil fuels. We cannot control what we do not own. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Sorca Clarke)  The Deputy's time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  Will the Government change course and switch to a public model? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  We are feeling the shock in fossil fuel prices because of what is happening outside the country, and this really has to be the catalyst for us moving to renewables. I was shocked to hear that we used to produce more wind energy than we do now. As I said in this Chamber recently, if people go to the west coast, they will nearly be blown over. Therefore, I am at a loss as to why we do not have more wind energy.  The programme for Government indicates that the Government wants to deliver at least 5 GW of offshore wind energy by 2030, and there are greater ambitions out to 2050. How far along is the Government in the context of reaching that target? How likely is it to reach it? What is the plan for 2050? If there is anything standing in the way, what is it and how can it be removed? As other Deputies have said, it is not just offshore wind energy; it is also solar energy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  As someone who comes from Erris in County Mayo, I have witnessed the Corrib Gas project and how little we have benefited from it in the local area or in County Mayo and beyond.  We advocated many years ago for that project to be in public ownership and to do it that way instead. We have an opportunity here with wind energy, but we should have progressed it much further by now. We have an opportunity to look at a public ownership model as well. There is an onus and a responsibility on us to do that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  Before Christmas, the Government voted against proposed wind turbine guidelines from the Opposition. It did so because it said that the Government's proposal and guidelines would be brought forward early this year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We did not say that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  Spring is nearly over. Where are the guidelines? In 2024, the then Taoiseach, Deputy Harris, stated that wind turbine guidelines would be in place before the end of that year. Right across Ireland, companies are submitting applications for significant wind farms. The guidelines allow these companies to bypass local authorities and to build massive turbines very close to people's houses. The people in local and rural areas deserve guidelines. When will those guidelines be put in place? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  We have all been in here previously talking about the absolute necessity of using wind energy. We need to see major moves as regards offshore wind. Where is the clearing house in relation to where the deficits lie and in terms of Belfast Port being the only port that can facilitate----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  There is also Cork. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  -----the grid infrastructure? I echo what everyone else here has said. It makes absolute sense that there would be public payback. We cannot have a scenario where others make money off what is one of our major resources.  What are our plans for biogas, which Denmark has developed through anaerobic digestion, thereby reducing its carbon footprint by something like 40%? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Deputy Crowe opened proceedings with a heartfelt plea for the mid-west in the aftermath of having met with the Limerick Chamber of Commerce. I outlined earlier the progress that we have made in terms of auctions, planning permissions and applications that are in progress. I would be positive about this but, obviously, we have to work on the port there in terms of it being ready and capable and having capacity. A new ports strategy is being developed by the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, in respect of that. There is a strong infrastructure there, as the Deputy said, in the context of energy in the mid-west. I would be positive. Some Deputies have been overly negative, and deliberately so, for political reasons. We are making progress on offshore wind. One cannot wave a magic wand and just produce it, as some people seem to be suggesting, but a lot of progress has been made.  One of the reasons we set up the clearing house was to remove obstacles and barriers that could get in the way. It is composed of Secretaries General of Departments. Representatives from Eirgrid, the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities and the National Parks and Wildlife Service and An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la have attended meetings. They all have perspectives on this, and the industry has been brought in as well. This is the first time that the systemic issues that the industry might have are being dealt with. We put this into the programme for Government and have implemented it. Industry representatives meet with the Departments and the regulators, but not on specific projects. That is not allowed, so it is more systemic. Are there general issues that are impeding projects? How can we speed up permissions and make sure on that front, while also challenging the private sector as well in terms of making sure it will have its work done in respect of this? I have attended quite a number of the meetings, and a lot of progress is being made. It is also important to pull all of the Government together, including MARA, and make sure that everybody in the system understands that this is a national priority. That is one of the benefits of the clearing house, and the feedback has been very positive. I have to say that. The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, chairs an offshore wind delivery task force. He deals with certain issues at that level and again, he has brought industry in there to make sure we can work to get this over the line. It is extremely important for the future of the country.  Deputy Erin McGreehan mentioned the clearing house. She is absolutely correct that we have to move decisively away from the volatility that fossil fuels create. There has been a crisis almost decade by decade in respect of fossil fuels. A war in the Middle East or a war in Ukraine through the invasion by Russia and we have an energy crisis of one kind or another. I would point out that there are huge opportunities, which we have seen in the context of onshore wind. As I say to all Deputies, close to 50% of all or our electricity is generated by onshore wind. That was good Government policy. It was the policy of successive Fianna F\u00e1il Governments, in the 2000s. Some Deputies decided to have a pop at us, but we created that transformation. We were not in government from 2011 to 2020. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  Fianna F\u00e1il has been in government for a very long time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We were not in government for 20 years. We have been in government for the six years since 2020. There has been a significant change since 2020. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  Fianna F\u00e1il was in government for a long time before that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I pay tribute to the Green Party's contribution to that as well. The three parties involved in the previous Government all contributed to moving the dial completely in the context of offshore wind. There still are a lot of challenges with offshore wind. Some of these have to do with supply chains, costs and inflation. Someone referenced the fact that the position of the United States in terms of wind energy has impacted on certain companies.  In terms of HVO, I am a believer in that for transport and have discussed it with the Minister. Pepsi in Cork has rooftop solar that helps it meet about 25% of its energy needs, but it also has HVO, which reduces carbon emissions by about 70%, as well as biofuels.  Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa mentioned anaerobic digestion, but Deputies on his side of the House and elsewhere will oppose anaerobic digestion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  What is the Taoiseach's plan for it? He is in government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We are rolling it out. We have a plan. That plan has been published, but, let us be honest, it has met roadblocks from all Opposition Deputies. Politically, these are difficult issues. Onshore wind is a difficult issue, but we are all saying that we have to replace fossil fuels. There are tough political choices to be made, but there is a plan for that. We will continue to work on it.  Deputy Joanna Byrne mentioned the Celtic interconnector. Overall, it is a good story. I can recall signing the contract some years back. I met Eirgrid officials informally at an event in the French embassy and they indicated that there were technical issues. I will ask Eirgrid to brief the House fully in respect of the matter. My understanding was that it would be finished next year. At the time that I met the officials, about three or four weeks ago, at the French Film Festival in Cork, which Eirgrid sponsored----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  They would be better off working on the interconnector. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----they indicated that there were difficulties of a technical nature which could delay the project somewhat. There was not a single planning objection to the interconnector because of the work that Eirgrid did in terms of meeting with communities and so forth. We will get an update in respect of the matter in order that we are all fully and properly informed in relation to it. I take the Deputy's point.  The other issue on offshore wind will be the supply chain I mentioned. That is what we are testing. We are asking the private sector what its sense of that is, and we have discussed the matter with Prime Minister Starmer. There is a lot happening on the British side. We are assessing whether we can have complementarity on supply chains so that not everybody is chasing the same supplies and creating inflationary impacts and so on.  Deputy O'Rourke also mentioned the clearing house. It is properly resourced, and the feedback has been both good and positive. I outlined earlier who is on it and who attends its meetings. As a result of that, there is renewed confidence now. I am hearing from industry that there is a real sense of confidence, because of the clearing house, that the Government is really driving this and trying to remove the barriers and roadblocks.  In response to Deputy Heneghan, I have spoken to the Minister about plug-in solar. He is aware of the Deputy's interest in this and is very committed to it as well. The grid will be future-proofed. There is massive investment going into Eirgrid. Some \u20ac18 billion is being put in to make sure that it is ready for offshore wind.  In reply to Deputy Hayes, there is urgency. He said there is no urgency, but there is. There is a huge desire to get this done.  On the public ownership model, there are huge risks with such a model in terms of expertise, knowledge, know-how and all the rest of it. We might not have offshore wind for the next 20 years. We need to tease this out. That is the reality.  There is enormous risk to the Exchequer in terms of such a model. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Sorca Clarke)  Taoiseach, we are well over time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  There had been engagement with fishers and the representative organisations. I am not aware of the specifics Deputy Boyd Barrett referenced but I will check out the background to it.  Deputy Murphy raised a point. I do not accept that this model would work at all. There would be a huge risk to the taxpayer. There are issues around the capacity of the public service to do it and so on. Right now, we are on a trajectory where we will have offshore wind developed. We have built up the planning capacity and MARA's capacity and certain new agencies and so on to deal with this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Sorca Clarke)  Thank you, Taoiseach. The time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Deputy Conway-Walsh raised the Corrib gas project. The Corrib gas project has been very impactful and very successful, although everyone opposed it at the time. Sinn F\u00e9in opposed it - not the Deputy personally----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  I wanted it in public ownership. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Sinn F\u00e9in always has an excuse to say no to something. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  No, it is not----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The State does not do oil discoveries on its own and never has. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  No, but there has to be----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Deputy Lawless raised a question about the clearing house for offshore wind, not onshore wind. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  The Taoiseach will end up making the tea for them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That was the question that was tabled. On the onshore guidelines, I think the indication was that they would be produced in the autumn of next year. The Minister has done a number of planning statements on a number of issues to do with housing, which took priority, not least the planning exemptions. He is now looking at rural planning guidelines for housing also.  Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa raised Cork port. It will be ready. He is not paying attention, having asked the question. We will leave it at that. He was not paying attention. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Sorca Clarke)  Will the Taoiseach respond to Deputy Lawless's question? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I just did. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Renewable Energy Generation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/dbsect_18","debateType":"statement","bill":null,"showAs":"Our Rural Future: Statements","counts":{"speechCount":40,"speakerCount":29},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ryan O'Meara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Lahart","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Lahart.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Lahart.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Edward Timmins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Roche","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gillian Toole","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gillian-Toole.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Gillian-Toole.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (Deputy Dara Calleary)  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Teach as an deis seo chun labhairt faoi \u00c1r dTodhcha\u00ed Thuaithe and the consultation process that is coming to an end in relation to the development of Our Rural Future, the new national development policy. I will provide the House with an update on what we have delivered under the policy over the past five years but I also want to hear, as we finalise the consultation process on the new Our Rural Future, ideas and thoughts. I thank all who have already submitted to the process.  It is important to state at the outset that my approach and the approach of this Government is founded on a deep commitment to and ambition for rural Ireland. Our vision for rural Ireland clearly puts thriving, vibrant and inclusive rural communities at the very heart of our national development. Without sustained support and investment in our rural areas, we cannot deliver on the economic, social, cultural and environmental development that will underpin the quality of life of all our citizens. As such, rural development remains a key priority for this Government and it is imperative that we ensure that our towns, villages and more remote rural communities are able to maximise their potential now and into the future.  In bringing this commitment to life, Our Rural Future represented a milestone when it was published in 2021. It set out a whole-of-government approach to rural development that has provided significant investment and supports, strengthened local economies and improved the lives of many people in rural communities across Ireland. By drawing together supports and initiatives from across Government, a comprehensive national framework was put in place to deliver clear and tangible benefits to our rural communities over the lifetime of the first Our Rural Future policy.  One of the most high-profile commitments contained in the policy was the delivery of the national broadband plan, which was designed to ensure that rural Ireland would benefit from rapidly evolving developments in digital connectivity. Delivered by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport alongside National Broadband Ireland, the investment in our broadband infrastructure represents one of the most ambitious and forward-thinking initiatives ever undertaken by the State. I am glad to say that we are delivering on this level of ambition and investment. Based on almost \u20ac3 billion of public funds, the plan is delivering high-speed broadband to people all across the country, with an average of 4,500 premises per month being connected during 2025. The main infrastructure build is on schedule to be completed at the end of this year on time and under budget. I have no doubt that this kind of investment is making a real difference in the day to day lives of people in rural Ireland.  Similarly, Our Rural Future recognised the importance of issues such as rural transport. More than \u20ac700 million has been allocated in 2026 for maintenance and improvements to regional and local roads, while the Connecting Ireland rural mobility plan has delivered more than 180 new or enhanced services since its launch in 2022, substantially increasing passenger journeys and access to rural bus services. Such investment is improving connectivity between towns and villages, supporting access to employment, education and healthcare - issues that are absolutely central to quality of life in rural Ireland.  Rural enterprise and support for the development of the rural economy was a further central plank of our approach over the past five years. With this in mind, the policy provided the framework for the delivery of targeted growth and support for regional employment and enterprise growth. Initiatives such as the roll-out of the regional enterprise plans model, the work of LEADER groups in supporting local business, and targeted support from local enterprise offices and enterprise agencies, have collectively supported rural businesses to grow, innovate and attract investment. In addition, there have been major policy initiatives developed over the lifetime of Our Rural Future 2021-2025, including revisions to the national planning framework and national development plan; the launch of Food Vision 2030, which aims to make Ireland a world leader in sustainable food systems; and the national tourism policy statement, which will work to ensure that every region in Ireland can continue to benefit from growth in tourism.  My own Department has also been at the forefront in ensuring that a robust policy framework underpins our ambition and our investment. I thank all of the officials in my Department for their work and commitment to this mission. For example, we have delivered the first ever national outdoor recreation strategy which allowed us to fully realise the potential that is inherent in the outdoor recreation sector. Expenditure in the economy linked to outdoor recreation amounted to \u20ac2.2 billion in 2024. I am determined to ensure that rural areas can continue to derive the economic, social, health and environmental benefits that will arise from our continued investment in this vital sector. I was delighted to be able to launch the outdoor recreational plans for counties Sligo and Mayo over the past weekend.  In 2022, my Department, in conjunction with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, launched the town centre first policy. The town centre first approach is now being implemented in rural towns and villages all across the country, backed up by significant levels of investment from across Government.  Our ambitious national islands policy, Our Living Islands, was also launched under the umbrella of Our Rural Future. I am glad to say that implementation of the actions within that policy is now being progressed. These policy frameworks clearly demonstrate our commitment to rural Ireland, and our desire to support the narrative surrounding rural areas as centres of opportunity, growth and potential. We have continued to prioritise rural investment in the new programme for Government, and in the specific pledge to build on the momentum achieved under Our Rural Future by publishing and implementing the next iteration of the policy from 2026.  While it is vital that these new policy frameworks are in place, it remains crucial that we in government continue to back up our policies with sustained and targeted investment. Within my own Department, for example, the rural development investment programme, which includes schemes such as the rural regeneration and development fund, the town and village renewal scheme, the outdoor recreation investment scheme, CL\u00c1R, and LEADER, has delivered unprecedented levels of investment in recent years, which I will come back to in more detail shortly.  What is important now is that we build on what we have delivered and achieved under the first Our Rural Future policy.  That is why I have prioritised the development of the new Our Rural Future policy for the period 2026 to 2031. The new policy will be based on a number of central principles that reflect our experience over recent years and also take into account best international practice. The new policy will take a people-centred approach to rural development, placing people who live in rural Ireland at the very centre of our policy development and implementation. It will take a place-based approach that recognises that not all rural areas are the same. It will clearly recognise the interdependence of our urban and rural areas. It is not a matter of rural development or urban development. Both can live together and our approach sees support for rural areas as central to national well-being. The new policy will also continue our focus on a whole-of-government approach. An integrated approach across all levels of government is essential to realising our ambition.  The development of the new policy has been firmly rooted in consultation. Only by talking to and, more importantly, listening to people in rural Ireland can we fully understand what needs to be done, how to do it and when it should be done. With this in mind, an extensive national stakeholder and public consultation process has been in place for a year now. It was based on three linked stages.  First, an online survey sought responses to more than 40 questions covering the wide range of opportunities and challenges that would face rural communities and economies over the next five years.  Second, informed by the survey results, a series of eight public and stakeholder events, including one tr\u00ed Ghaeilge, were held around the country and online to discuss in more depth issues such as the rural economy, balanced regional development, and the revitalisation of rural places.  Finally, an open, public written consultation was held to seek the views of stakeholders and citizens on a draft policy paper that outlined the key areas of focus for the new policy that have emerged from the earlier engagements. More than 270 responses were received to this call, bringing the total number of participants in the consultation process to well over 2,000. Further bilateral engagements have taken place with key stakeholder organisations. My officials and I have met sporting organisations, including the GAA demographics committee, rural development groups, local authorities, regional assemblies and many others to ensure the widest range of inputs into the policy-making process. It was also vital to ensure that the voices of young people were included in the consultation process. With this in mind, the 2025 edition of the Rural Youth Assembly, itself an initiative born out of the first Our Rural Future policy, was focused on exploring the priorities of those growing up in rural Ireland.  It was important that we included some objective analysis of the current rural policy environment. The OECD was commissioned to undertake a review of the Irish context and, over the course of a number of months, it engaged with more than 500 rural stakeholders and Government officials. That review was published in February of this year and has played an important part in informing the new policy. In it, the OECD acknowledges the substantial progress made in Ireland, both under Our Rural Future and more broadly since the establishment of my Department. Ireland is recognised as being unique among OECD countries in its whole-of-government approach to rural development and for the high levels of awareness and visibility given to rural needs across Departments. The review also provided a series of recommendations and challenges for consideration, notably on supporting rural enterprise, service delivery and improving the effectiveness and use of rural intelligence and data.  I firmly believe that the extensive time and effort, including today's discussions, that have been invested in the consultation process will ensure a more effective and targeted policy for 2026 to 2031.  So far, throughout our engagements, a number of clear issues have been identified as being of primary concern to people living and working in rural Ireland. These include some of the key strategic priorities that underpin rural development, such as increasing the availability and affordability of rural housing and the essential infrastructure and services to support population growth in rural towns and villages. We have also heard loud and clear the need to continue to support rural businesses and strengthen the rural economy, particularly tourism, which came through as having rich potential for growth. There were also strong inputs at all stages of the consultation on the need to build strong, resilient and empowered rural communities while also protecting and sustaining our unique natural environment.  Informed by the results of the consultations and the OECD's review, the new Our Rural Future will be based around five policy pillars, focusing on rural places, rural people, rural services, the rural economy and the rural environment. In addition to the policy setting out the key priorities in each pillar, a series of detailed actions is being developed, which will be outlined in an accompanying action plan covering the initial period until the end of 2028. This action plan, as I have said many times, will be a whole-of-government approach and I wish to place on record my sincere thanks to my Government colleagues who have already come forward with impactful and ambitious proposals for inclusion. I once again use this opportunity to challenge them to be more ambitious in their proposals. A second action plan will follow to cover the remainder of the policy from 2029 to 2031, which will allow for the policy to be responsive to any emerging needs over that time.  Of course, the funding and supports delivered by my own Department will have a critical role to play in the implementation of the new Our Rural Future. These programmes are designed to support the delivery of projects in communities right across rural Ireland that will revitalise our rural towns and villages. Investment will help to provide the necessary facilities and infrastructure in communities to assist in attracting people to live, work and invest in rural areas while aiming to ensure that those rural communities can prosper in the years ahead.  In budget 2026, I secured a \u20ac611 million allocation for my Department. This is the highest ever budget allocation for our Department, which demonstrates the Government's continuing commitment to investing in rural towns, villages and communities. Within this investment, the rural development investment programme is continuing to provide an unprecedented level of funding for rural Ireland. Indeed, there are a number of funding schemes currently open for applications designed to directly support our rural communities.  In February, I launched a new call for category 1 applications under the rural regeneration and development fund, RRDF. This fund supports ambitious large-scale projects designed to regenerate rural areas and has allocated total funding of \u20ac440 million to 164 major strategic capital projects since 2020. Only in the last fortnight, I was delighted to be joined by An Taoiseach to officially open the new Campas \u00cdosag\u00e1in Digital Hub i mBaile Bhuirne, Contae Chorca\u00ed. With investment of over \u20ac3.4 million from the RRDF, we will deliver a state-of-the-art enterprise development, training and research facility and new gTeic hub by restoring the former derelict site of Col\u00e1iste \u00cdosag\u00e1in. Last week, I opened the heritage-led restoration of Market House and Market Square in Portarlington in County Laois. Building on the community-owned Portarlington regeneration strategy, this project will have a transformational impact on the town and bring a strategically placed and historically important building back into use for local people and for local organisations.  Since 2020, over 1,000 projects have been supported by funding allocations of \u20ac135 million under my Department\u2019s town and village renewal scheme. These projects are significant local investments that are rejuvenating town centres, driving economic growth and town footfall, combating dereliction and vacancy, and boosting the tourism and heritage potential of our rural areas. I was delighted last Thursday to open the restored Duncannon Fort in Wexford, which was supported by \u20ac500,000 in town and village renewal scheme funding. This project involved the renovation of three buildings to provide new public amenities, community buildings and a reception area. This stunning site in an historic location will help deliver on its tourism potential for Wexford and bring tangible benefits to the local community.  Likewise, over 1,500 projects have been allocated total funding of \u20ac65 million under the CL\u00c1R programme since 2020. The 2026 edition of CL\u00c1R opened for applications in March, alongside the publication of the review of CL\u00c1R areas committed to in the programme for Government.  That review has resulted in 110 new electoral divisions being designated as eligible for CL\u00c1R funding and brings the total population in areas covered by CL\u00c1R to over 1 million people for the first time.  Earlier this year, I announced an increased allocation of \u20ac17.5 million under the local improvement scheme, LIS, to help meet the high level of demand for works on private roads across the country. The \u20ac150 million allocated under the LIS since 2020 has funded work on over 3,000 road projects, benefiting over 16,000 people. I have already mentioned our commitment to supporting rural areas as world-class destinations for outdoor recreation. This ambition has been backed up by an investment of over \u20ac110 million since 2020 to develop outdoor recreational amenities. I am happy to confirm that I intend to open a new round of funding under this scheme in the coming weeks.  The longest running component of the rural development investment programme is the LEADER programme. Its bottom-up approach to rural development was introduced by Commissioner Ray MacSharry and has now been operating successfully in rural Ireland for over 35 years. I am absolutely sure that everyone in the House will be aware of the vital supports delivered by their local LEADER groups over that time. The LEADER programme forms part of a wider package of EU co-funded supports contained in the Common Agricultural Policy, CAP. Negotiations in relation to the development of a new multi-annual financial framework, MFF, which will include continued rural development investment, are well under way at EU level. It is a priority for this Government that these negotiations see the continuation of a well-defined and fully funded suite of supports for the CAP from 2028. Our farming community remains at the heart of rural Ireland and we must continue to support the development and viability of the sector in producing world-class food and delivering important environmental benefits. Within this context, I am also prioritising the ongoing funding of the LEADER programme and will continue to advocate strongly at home and at EU level for increased funding for the next round post 2028. I acknowledge the work of the Minister, Deputy Martin Heydon, and the Minister of State, Deputy Thomas Byrne, in this process.  The new Our Rural Future policy will commit to continued investment under the rural development investment programme. We are also listening to our delivery partners and to local communities to ensure that we make improvements to the efficiency and effectiveness of these schemes moving forward. In addition to the rural development investment programme, a range of other investment programmes are being administered by my Department that will continue to expand and deliver in the coming years and will directly benefit rural areas. A new round of funding with \u20ac25 million under the community centre investment fund, CCIF, focusing on the refurbishment of community centres at the heart of lives in all of our communities, was opened on 26 March. This will build on the \u20ac110 million already allocated to date, ensuring that our community centres are fit for purpose for years to come. I acknowledge the work of the Compass community centre in Portlaoise, which I visited last week and which received funding under this programme. I was struck by the range of local groups making use of the centre, and I am committed to ensuring that such local groups around the country have the modern and safe facilities that they need.  Our rural communities are also being directly supported by programmes such as the social inclusion and community activation programme, SICAP, and the community services programme, CSP. Under budget 2026, I was happy to secure increased funding of \u20ac4 million for the community services programme, which brings its annual allocation to \u20ac59.4 million. Over 400 community organisations now benefit from the increased funding I announced, alongside my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Jerry Buttimer, at the end of last year. We have now opened a new call for applications to this scheme. Budget 2026 also saw funding of \u20ac74 million for SICAP and similar social inclusion supports and the inclusion of a new funding stream of \u20ac5 million for an urban programme to target particular centres of disadvantage. These developments are helping us to ensure that social inclusion and equality continue to be at the core of the approach to supporting rural communities.  One of the major achievements under the first Our Rural Future was the substantial investment in remote working, particularly the establishment of the connected hubs network. Having achieved the target of 400 hubs on connectedhubs.ie , and to further leverage the benefits of hub working, we will continue to develop and expand that network.  T\u00e1imid ag lean\u00faint freisin len\u00e1r n-infheist\u00edocht sna ceantair Ghaeltachta agus in\u00e1r n-oile\u00e1in amach \u00f3n gc\u00f3sta. Mar shampla, t\u00e1 obair ar si\u00fal anois ar fhorbairt c\u00e9 nua \u20ac35.7 milli\u00fan ar Inis O\u00edrr. T\u00e1 an tionscadal seo ar cheann de na pr\u00edomhghealltanais a rinneadh faoin phlean forbartha n\u00e1isi\u00fanta, PFN, agus is \u00ed an infheist\u00edocht is m\u00f3 a rinne mo Roinn f\u00e9in riamh. Tr\u00ed infheist\u00edocht strait\u00e9iseach, nu\u00e1la\u00edocht, agus comhph\u00e1irt\u00edochta\u00ed \u00e1iti\u00fala sna seacht gceantar Gaeltachta ar fud na t\u00edre, leanfaidh \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta lena n-obair le cinnti\u00fa go mbeidh fosta\u00edocht agus deiseanna forbartha ar f\u00e1il i gceantair thuaithe imeallacha. I measc na n-infheist\u00edochta\u00ed PFN i dtionscadail Ghaeltachta, t\u00e1 maoini\u00fa \u00e1 chur ar f\u00e1il i gcomhair Ionad Gaeilge nu\u00e1la\u00edoch ar Shr\u00e1id Fhearchair i mBaile \u00c1tha Cliath agus i gcomhair forbairt scoil samhraidh Ionad Oideachais agus \u00d3ige Indreabh\u00e1in i nGaeltacht Chonamara.  I eagerly anticipate the new Our Rural Future policy. There will be an expectation concerning the document and we will continue to try to deliver on the ambitions that come with that expectation. My officials are working intensively with Departments across the Government on the new policy, with a particular focus on meaningful and ambitious commitments in the first action plan, which will cover the period to 2028. The policy and the associated action plan are nearing completion. I will continue to work with colleagues to finalise outstanding issues in this regard before bringing a draft of the policy to Government ahead of the summer.  I conclude by addressing the narrative that rural Ireland is declining or, worse still, dying. This evidence does not support that narrative, nor does the ambition of many of those living in, and working with, rural communities. Last week's publication by the Central Statistics Office, CSO, of the Urban and Rural Life in Ireland 2025 report shows that over one third of our population is living in a rural area, with the population of highly rural-remote areas increasing by 6.4% between 2016 and 2022. This growth is posing challenges in terms of housing, including in Gaeltacht areas, infrastructure and services, which we in government must address. Employment in rural areas is strong, incomes are rising and for many families, rural Ireland is providing a much better overall quality of life. These findings align with the analysis of the OECD, but I am not comfortable enough nor naive enough not to know there are significant variations within these statistics. There are areas facing particular challenges that we must recognise and act on. Ensuring the sustainability and attractiveness of all rural areas is my key priority, the key priority of the Government and will be the key priority for the development of our new Our Rural Future policy.  I am very proud to be from rural Ireland and very proud to represent rural Ireland. Our rural areas must be and will always be at the centre of who we are as a country. While much has been delivered, my commitment is to ensure that we build on the last five years, continue to invest in our rural communities, continue to engage in our rural communities and continue to ensure a whole-of-government approach to deliver for rural Ireland. I have no doubt that this commitment is shared across the Chamber. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  We are here discussing the consultation process, but if we are being honest about it, rural Ireland does not lack for consultation or for strategies and plans. What it actually lacks is delivery, urgency and alignment across Government policy. This is where the Government has failed.  The Minister is the one tasked with rural-proofing this Government. He is meant to be the voice at the Cabinet table defending rural Ireland, so this is a fair question to ask him. Where was Our Rural Future when the national development plan doubled down on urban concentration and left rural communities fighting for basic investment? Where was the Minister when housing policies stalled again and again and rural housing delivery was effectively frozen in large parts of the country, an Ghaeltacht san \u00e1ireamh? Where was the Minister when budget decisions reduced investment in rural development, including cuts to LEADER? Where was the Minister when families in rural Ireland were hit first and hardest by the fuel crisis, calls for meaningful support were ignored and workers, farmers, contractors and hauliers were being demonised? Where was the Minister and this policy when fishing communities faced devastating quota cuts? Where was Our Rural Future when post offices were being closed right, left and centre, when GP clinics were being closed, when the, at this stage, annual school transport chaos was unleashed across the State every August and September, when LEADER funding was being cut, when local roads budgets failed to keep pace with construction inflation, when ambulances and garda\u00ed were rarely available on time and when a generation was locked out of home ownership and sent packing to Dublin or Dubai?  Rural residents have seen no evidence of a Minister or indeed a strategy at the Cabinet table successfully arguing its case or actually standing up for communities. The reality is this; there is a growing gap between what Government says about rural Ireland and what it actually does. Last week, former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the quiet part out loud. In doing so, he belied an approach that has underpinned Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael\u2019s attitude to rural communities for far too long in this State. The consultation paper published last year contained no targets, timelines, funding commitments or clear delivery mechanisms. It asked communities for their views but did not set out how any of these things will be delivered. That reflects a wider problem as far as I am concerned. The programme for Government, national planning framework, national development plan and housing plan are not aligned with the stated ambition of the consultation, the last strategy or indeed the Minister's strategy of supporting rural Ireland. In fact, any objective analysis would suggest they are working against it. The OECD report on the old rural policy made this clear. It has identified centralised decision making, weak local delivery capacity and a lack of accountability as structural weaknesses in Ireland\u2019s rural policy. It also rightly identifies housing as a central determinant of rural development. That is a core issue that has long been ignored.  Housing is now the defining challenge for rural Ireland. Communities are losing young people, population decline is accelerating, local services, schools and clubs are under pressure, the GAA\u2019s own national demographics report confirms that many rural communities are already experiencing decline that is undermining their long-term sustainability, and yet housing delivery remains concentrated in urban areas, insufficient in scale and misaligned with rural needs. Rural Ireland is facing a double burden; too little new supply and often poor existing housing stock. At the same time, infrastructure deficits are holding communities back.  Water and wastewater capacity is preventing development in towns and villages, transport options are limited, road networks are underfunded and digital connectivity remains inconsistent. Without addressing those fundamentals, no rural strategy will succeed. The question is not about consultation; it is about whether Government is willing to change direction. We in Sinn F\u00e9in have made our position clear any time we have spoken about this, which has been often. Housing must be central to the next rural strategy. That means annual rural housing delivery targets, a serviced-sites programme that works and a sustained investment in water and wastewater infrastructure. It means aligning housing delivery with employment patterns and regional economic development and ending the contradictions between planning policy and rural sustainability. We have put forward plans for additional garda\u00ed, enhanced plans for primary care and meaningful steps to reduce deprivation and growing energy poverty. We need clear targets, defined timelines, assigned responsibility and annual reporting to the D\u00e1il in the new iteration of the plan. Without that accountability this will simply be another strategy that describes problems rather than solving them. It will be another thing to gather dust on top of the shelf somewhere. This requires an infrastructure-first approach. Investment in water, transport and connectivity must come ahead of and alongside development, and there must be targeted supports for Gaeltacht, island and coastal communities, recognising the unique pressures they face. Rural island does not need another consultation process that leads nowhere, it needs leadership at Cabinet, alignment across Government, delivery and an about-face from this Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael have failed rural Ireland. Along with Independents, they pay lip service to these communities but turn their back on them time and again. That is the reality. There is a real anger out there that has been simmering below the surface. It is an anger that boiled up when the Government abandoned people in the face of the fuel crisis. When people screamed out for help, it turned a deaf ear. However, this did not start this month or even this year. Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael have been chipping away at rural life for decades. Rural Ireland is being closed down one basic service at a time: banks, post offices, Garda stations, you name it, the basics any community needs to survive. Pick a way to measure it such as wages, infrastructure or opportunities, whatever way you cut it, people in counties like my own of Donegal are being left behind. People do not need to look at statistics; they feel it every day. They feel it when they are talking to their child on Zoom who is in Australia, and when they are walking down the village that gets quieter every year.  Last week, the mask clearly slipped last week when the former Fine Gael Taoiseach looked down his nose at rural island, when he accused the hard-working people of rural Ireland of sponging off the State. These are the people who get up in the dark and head out in all weathers to make sure there is food put on his table. Leo Varadkar\u2019s comments need to be a turning point where any doubt is cast aside that the decline of rural Ireland is Government policy. However, let me say, policies and Governments can change and the tide can turn. An Ireland of thriving rural communities is possible where people live, work and build their own homes in their own communities, where we value our family farm and contractors and where young people do not feel there is no future but are enabled to live their lives in the communities where they were born, like the generations before them were able to do, where our Gaeltacht and island communities is thriving. This is not about narrowing people's horizons but broadening them. It is about breathing life into the heart and soul of Ireland, the communities that make up our country. Rural communities, just like any other, deserve to survive and thrive. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  Everybody in this place knows what a district electoral division, DED, is. A district electoral division is usually half a parish. Everybody in politics knows about them and how they work. When the Central Statistics Office does an analysis it does an analysis of how many people there are per square km. It looks at them in DEDs. In many of the parishes around me, there are approximately 20 people per square km. That is the average. When we look at international statistics, they all tell us that if there are fewer than 35 people in an area per square km, that area is in terminal decline. There are many areas in my part of the world in terminal decline because the people are not there. The reason the people are not there is because the services are not there and there is no emphasis to try and regenerate those communities. Sometimes when you go to a place that is near a town, it has a better population of 35 or 40, but in many of them they are down at the level of 20. When they are down at that level they do not have enough people to keep the pub going at the crossroads, and the post office and the school are going to close. The local football club is in trouble. All of these things need more people, and to have them we need more people living in rural areas, and that means housing in rural areas. Housing is the key thing we need to look at. If we do not put practices in place - in a lot of these places there are no towns and we are talking about one-off rural housing - to allow people to come and live in their community then we have serious problems.  Last week, the Government brought in a notion it was going to allow people to build a little house at the back of the house, in the garden. Many people in rural areas are asking why they are allowed to build a house behind the house to put the auld pair into, but they cannot build a house for themselves in the field next to it. The Government needs to cop on that that is a problem.  We need to recognise that people from rural areas want to come back there. They may go away and get educated and get good jobs and live in the city for a while, but they want to come back and live in their rural area, send their children to the school they went to, and for their children to play with the football club they played for. Policies and opportunity stop them from doing that. If we are going to turn this around the Government has to come up with policies which will actually deal with those issues. The primary one it needs to come up with are policies that deal with ensuring people can build a home in their own community. I have given the Minister the statistics. Go to the DEDs where there are fewer than 35 people per square kilometre, and those are the areas the Government needs to put the emphasis on to ensure we can do something for people who live in rural areas. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  I acknowledge the consultation process on rural future policy. I raise the delay in funding for vital Local Link services in rural Waterford, particularly affecting Portlaw, Kilmacthomas, Mahon Bridge and Lemybrien. These services were expected under the National Transport Authority\u2019s \u201cConnecting Ireland\u201d plan to be properly funded. However, communities in Waterford are now being told they may have to wait until 2027. This is a major setback for rural Waterford and communities which have waited long enough for proper public transport. My colleague, an Teachta Conor McGuinness, spoke earlier about the simmering anger in rural Ireland because of the dependency on the car. We do not have public transport, we have rising fuel costs, a Government that is not doing enough and these types of setbacks with Local Link services not being properly funded. My colleague, Councillor Catherine Burke, has been very clear on this and has described this delay as a major set back for Waterford and the Comeragh district in particular. She is right. This is not a minor inconvenience. It is about whether people can get to work, students can get to education, older people can remain connected and whether those without access to a car can attend medical appointments or reach basic services. I imagine the Minister agrees Local Link is a lifeline. In rural communities, public transport is not simply about convenience. It is about equality, independence, inclusion and ensuring people living in villages and rural communities and areas are not cut off because they do not drive or cannot afford a car, or no longer feel able to drive.  We cannot speak in this House about balanced regional development, climate action, reducing car dependency and tackling rural isolation while at the same time allowing essential rural transport projects to slip to 2027. Waterford needs these services now. People of Portlaw, Kilmacthomas, Mahon Bridge, Lemybrien and, I imagine, many more rural communities in Waterford, across the south east and across the State deserve certainty and not delay. I support the call of my colleague, Councillor Catherine Burke, for Waterford City and County Council and, indeed, the Comeragh district to write to the National Transport Authority to lobby the Minister for Transport. I am appealing to the Minister to do what he can to raise these issues with the relevant Ministers to make sure those rural communities in Waterford get the Local Link services they deserve. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan  There is a certain irony in the Minister launching a consultation on his rural future policy just weeks after we saw widespread protests across rural Ireland and his colleagues in government flatly refused to listen to, or engage with, the very people from struggling rural communities. Communities like mine in south Kilkenny do not need more strategies or consultation processes. We need the Government to start delivering for ordinary people.  Only recently, for example, we got the announcement that a vital bus route connecting rural villages is to be stopped from the beginning of May. After that, Bus \u00c9ireann reviewed the route and confirmed it meets the demand requirement but Bus \u00c9ireann is still planning to cut this service despite the review. The Minister\u2019s backbench colleague came out and told people there was great news \u2013 he had got the bus sorted. That was a load of bull. Rural communities want more than the crappy promises of some backbencher. They want, and they deserve, a commitment from the Minister and Bus \u00c9ireann that these services will be continued and protected. This was a service used by workers, students and the elderly. So much for the Minister\u2019s talk of enhancing public services in rural Ireland.  We have seen it time and again - big strategies with long lists of action points but little to no follow-through on delivery. Access to housing is the number one issue in rural Ireland. Those with land are being locked out of building because, across Carlow and Kilkenny, Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael have completely failed to invest in fit-for-purpose water and waste infrastructure. Over the weekend just gone, businesses in Ferrybank had to close shop, and today they are closed again, because of these failures.  People want to live in the community they grew up in. They want to know that their children have access to creche places, school places, a local GP and local sports clubs - a sense of community. I do not think any of those are unrealistic expectations but the reality is that, for so many in rural Ireland, they are. If you live in rural Ireland, all of those - a GP, sports clubs, a school place, especially if your child has additional needs - are limited resources. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Sorca Clarke)  Deputy, time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan  The number of parents forced to travel long distances to secure a school place for their child is shocking. It is deeply wrong that children are not provided for in their own community. People in rural Ireland are sick of being left behind by this Government year after year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Sorca Clarke)  Now we have the Labour Party slot. Deputy Mark Wall has ten minutes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Wall  I welcome the opportunity today to speak on the Our Rural Future policy consultation. Over the last number of years I have been involved in and seen the positive impact that investment in rural places can have on towns, villages and rural communities throughout Kildare South. We are seeing investment in places like Athy, with Emily Square and the Shackleton Experience which the Minister was down to visit himself and which he officially opened. The Athy food hub obviously must be mentioned as well. There are more projects coming up, like the fabric and textiles design hub in Monasterevin. However, there is scope for much more investment to ensure rural communities are thriving and that they are places that people want to stay in and continue to have pride in.  In my own submission on behalf of the Labour Party, I highlighted the need for the Government to continue to provide funding for converting old schools and community buildings into community hubs, public libraries and remote working hubs, given the lack of vital infrastructure in some rural towns in south Kildare. As the Minister will be very much aware, Kildare has one of the fastest-growing populations in the country, yet the infrastructure is simply not enough to meet the demands of the population. Without doubt, utilising old and out-of-use buildings will help address this infrastructure gap. Many of Ireland's community halls are decades old and in urgent need of modernisation to allow them to continue to be a focal point for communities. The Government should expand community hall grants to include older buildings, and local authorities should carry out an audit on these buildings detailing their current state, use and potential for refurbishment and upgrade. This is something my own local authority, Kildare County Council, has carried out.  A prime example of what needs to happen in rural Kildare is the Clongorey and District Community Association. Yesterday I had a chance to visit this vibrant rural community and meet Sandra and Maureen. The Clongorey and District Community Association is a volunteer-led, not-for-profit organisation that plays a crucial role in bringing people together in their rural community in Clongorey, Newbridge, County Kildare. For over 25 years, the centre has supported a wide range of activities, including sports and fitness through Clongorey FC and local walking and running groups, social and educational activities such as bingo, card games, a history group, book club and many other areas including youth development and introducing children to digital skills and, most importantly, introducing them to community life as well. Its long-running fixtures include a St. Stephen's Day charity walk and run which has operated for over 30 years. However, the reason I was there yesterday is that its current facility, a second-hand Portakabin, is now in serious disrepair and no longer fit for purpose. Their vision is to redevelop the centre into a modern, accessible, and energy-efficient community support centre that will enhance inclusion, promote health and well-being and support lifelong learning and community engagement for all ages. As a key next step, they are seeking to undertake a feasibility study to identify the most effective and sustainable way to deliver this redevelopment and ensure it meets the growing needs of their community. I ask the Minister and the Department to support this desire and allow this great community to future-proof their association, which is replicated throughout south Kildare.  There has been a lot of commentary this evening on the need for rural housing. For many months now, we have been informed a new rural housing policy is to be announced by the Government yet I continue to deal with rural people who have grown up in the area, including farming communities, who are unable to get a one-off house for themselves. The issue of serviced sites has been raised already. Serviced sites could be a solution for many rural communities. They could sustain the schools. Today I dealt with two schools in County Kildare which are unfortunately losing staff because their numbers are decreasing. Even with the population of Kildare, this is what is facing so many rural schools. It is simply not sustainable for these rural communities. The local GAA clubs are suffering, as are the local communities.  A lack of proper infrastructure across rural communities is becoming a major barrier to creating strong and diverse rural communities, particularly in transport, childcare and schools, as we mentioned in our submission. As TD for Kildare South, I have been frequently highlighting the carparks that Ireland's motorways have turned into, particularly along the M9, M7, N7 and M50. The Government must greatly expand, and invest in, rural public transport. I agree with what the Minister said in his opening statement - that rural transport is central to the quality of life in many rural communities. In fact, it is a gamechanger. Some of the rural transport that has been provided in my own area has allowed those in rural Kildare to obtain employment in Kildare Village, for example. However, we have seen that stalling, as others have mentioned. I have been engaging with the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, on a number of routes that are not taking off. The route 893 will hopefully service the village of Suncroft has been promised for almost two years but not yet delivered. Now we are being told it will be a number of months still. This will be a gamechanger for the village of Suncroft. We have to see continued investment in, and no stalling on, these much-needed rural transport services. As the Minister said himself, it is central to the quality of life in those rural communities. There is also an urgent need to look at official bus stops and bus shelters throughout rural communities. These must be addressed. It is simply not good enough for people to be standing on the side of the road, which I see every morning when I come to D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann, because of the lack of bus stops.  I welcome that the local and community improvement scheme has seen investment, but it must go further. I previously raised with the Minister the issues with people who have one holding or are funding their own properties for farming. They are not getting the benefit of this grant. I ask the Minister to look at that because I believe that can make a difference to those holdings.  Of course, I have to use the opportunity to tell the Minister about the many people who have been in contact with my office about the childcare crisis across Kildare and areas that are becoming childcare deserts, like Kilcullen, Newbridge and Kildare town. A lack of available childcare places has now become the biggest barrier for parents trying for childcare or after school places. I frequently raise this with Government and the Minister for children. Parents are having to reduce their working hours or give up work entirely. In some cases, parents have raised concerns that they may have to move away to be closer to family due to the lack of childcare. This is a massive issue in rural areas and it can lead to people having less disposable income to spend in the local area and could lead to depopulation of rural towns and villages. The Government is telling us that it is coming up with eight pilot schemes for a public childcare model. I encourage the Minister to talk to the Minister, Deputy Foley, about ensuring that some of those pilot schemes are located in rural areas so we can see people remain where they want to remain in their local communities.  I have also seen the huge benefit of the senior alert scheme, which I want to raise with the Minister again. He has heard me raising that before. These schemes are a must for our older population in rural communities. In County Kildare, we have been involved in two pilot schemes. One was the provision of lights for older people. I ask the community section to look at that nationally. The second was the provision of home alarms for older people to ensure that they are safe in their homes and that children ensure that their parents are safe in their homes too. It has definitely worked in rural south Kildare and I believe it can work nationally too.  The lack of garda\u00ed in rural areas has been mentioned. The unfortunate closing of Garda stations has meant that many rural communities are facing an increase in rural crime. There were pilot schemes relating to CCTV cameras in rural areas, which we should expand again, particularly near motorways, where there is a significant increase in crime rates and has been for a long time.  I am proud to be from rural Ireland and from rural Kildare. One of the biggest issues that I face, day in, day out, and which I faced yesterday, is trying to explain to people the number of grants and sections in the Minister's Department and where they should actually go. I call for an easy to explain dialogue or diary, however the Minister wants to put it, for rural communities, so that they can actually talk to someone in Pobal or the community section about what grant will suit them. Yesterday, when I spoke to those people from Clongorey, they had already contacted four or five different sections relating to community in Kildare County Council. They were asking me where they should go next. I believe the community section should provide that portal to ensure that when a rural community is looking for investment, they can just bring up one person or look at one website, and get the information they require. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ryan O'Meara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ryan O'Meara  As the Minister knows, I am proud to be a rural TD and to come from a rural part of Ireland, representing some of the most vibrant, passionate, dedicated and ambitious communities in this country. There are challenges to being from and living in rural Ireland. The Minister knows that better than most in this House, with the many years of service he has given as a public representative representing a rural constituency with large urban bases.  I start by addressing some of the grants and supports available for rural Ireland which the Minister covers in his Department, including CL\u00c1R, LEADER, RRDF, the town and village renewal scheme and the community centre investment fund. The town and village renewal scheme currently has works ongoing in Carrig in the north of my constituency, where a village park is being built. I visited it a number of weeks ago. The Minister, his team and his office were a huge help in getting that project started. The community centre investment fund has been an enormous investment of over \u20ac110 million, according to the Minister's speech earlier today. It has seen massive improvements in our community centres, particularly the likes of rural parish halls. It is not just rural funding but is important to that rural parish hall, or to the likes of Ballymackey, which the Minister previously invested in, and Terryglass hall, for which he announced \u20ac86,000 last year.  There is a challenge in rural Ireland at the moment when it comes to population, services, and the changes of lifestyle, habits and how people work and live, but that is a challenge that we are facing up to as a Government, not shying from. Earlier, the Minister mentioned the interdependence of rural Ireland and urban Ireland, which is a very important point, because it is not about one being against the other. It is not that, as a rural TD, you only represent rural Ireland. I represent urban towns as well and they have different challenges, but the interdependence of Our Rural Future is important and should be recognised.  I would like to raise a couple of issues where I see challenges and think we can see some improvements over the next years under this Government. I previously raised the first with the Minister in the Chamber and still think it is important. That is funding for our playgrounds, particularly in our rural villages. There are options like CL\u00c1R and LEADER, but there is no specific scheme for playgrounds, which is a challenge for many communities, particularly Cloughjordan and Silvermines in north Tipperary. The price of building a good, fit-for-purpose, modern playground is high and is increasing. While there are some grant supports, we need to look at where we get a purposeful grant for playgrounds. When there is a community and a committee that is really dedicated to getting one in, when the last piece of the jigsaw puzzle is that grant, there is space for us to do a little more.  I again mention to the Minister the community caf\u00e9s and shops, which he will be very familiar with, through the hard work and dedication of Leonie Maher and Mary Fogarty in Loughmore. To give a synopsis of the community caf\u00e9s and shops in my constituency, we have Lorrha, Cloughjordan, Moneygall, Loughmore, Moyne, Ballingarry, Annacarty, Freshford and Muckalee. They are not all in my constituency, but they are all very important to the people in my constituency. They are a vital social and community outlet. I know the Minister has been working hard with that national body and with me. I appreciate the time and attention the Minister has given to them to date. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paula Butterly  I welcome the Our Rural Future policy consultation process. It is a further step to re-addressing and rebalancing the regional balance, which is so vital for all of us in this country. It is essential if we are to provide better services and better infrastructure for not just our rural areas but also for our rural villages and towns.  I have listened to comments from the Opposition over the last ten or 15 minutes. They have spoken about how we have failed rural Ireland and let it down, yet Deputy O'Meara pointed to a number of grants that have been available. I can also point to a number of grants and policies that we have established over the last ten years that have ensured that rural Ireland is not dying, is not dead and that we will always have rural Ireland's back. Let us look at the sports capital grants, the rural regeneration and development fund, and at the roll-out of broadband that has really brought remote working to rural towns and rural areas and takes the stress off many families from their daily commutes which now maybe only exist for one or two days. That does not point to a failure in rural Ireland. That points to success.  I refute completely what the Opposition said about our policy and our commitment to rural Ireland, but there is always room for improvement. I look at County Louth and, where it comes to transport, I agree with Deputy Wall. There seems to be a slowdown in the process and roll-out of rural transport. County Louth still does not have any links from east to west of the county. That means the villages of Clogherhead, Dunleer, and Ardee cannot connect with each other except by car. Surely in this day and age, the county which is the second most densely populated in the country should have rural transport which links from east to west.  We have also spoken about housing. I concur with most of my colleagues on rural housing. We have been restrictive about facilitating families, in many cases, to live in the communities where they were born and reared. This is not limited to farming families. I, as the daughter of a farmer, was lucky. I got a site and built my bungalow but many of my friends in the community were refused. They have the same rights as I have. They grew up and wanted to continue to live in Togher parish but were denied by restrictive policies in regard to rural housing. We must re-address that. It is not just about creating a community that will continue and thrive into the future; it is also about keeping that community connected and united. They are the people who service the clubs, offer their time and volunteer. They are also the people who take care of their families. As we know, many families have to row in where we have not been able to provide the supports. There are families providing care to their parents and siblings seven days a week. There is never a Saturday or a Sunday off. They are providing those services where we have not been able to provide them yet. These people are essential to our communities and have a right to build a house in the community in which they have lived. We must re-address that balance.  We must also address how we deal with housing for older people. We must have a policy that is proactive, progressive and very fast. Our population is ageing and we will very shortly - within ten to 15 years - have an ageing population whose housing needs are not being met. We have rural towns and villages and have provided a series of grants to regenerate these towns and villages but we also have to think about reviving our town centres and bringing people to live there - not just young people but also older people. Would it not be wonderful to go into the village of Dunleer or into Ardee or Castlebellingham and, because of the way we have changed the policy and facilitated it through incentives and central planning, older people could walk out their front door, get the paper and meet the people in their community? Isolation is a fear many older people have. By doing this, we would provide community and services. To walk down to their GP would be a wonderful thing for many older people.  We often hear from our constituents that they are living in houses that have outgrown them. They are tottering about in the houses, they are there on their own and they would like to move but do not want to move out of their communities. We must address that policy in tandem with our rural housing policy. It is not just about the young families who will support their families; it is also about ensuring people live in their homes longer, stay healthier and live better. We must also address that policy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate. When I was coming in this morning, I was reflecting on this debate and what someone with an obvious city accent would say to people living in rural Ireland. However, the truth is, when you think about it - and the Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach, Deputy Clarke, knows something about this as well - there is more that unites us than divides us. The same challenges exist in the town and village as in the city. It is the same failing, tone-deaf, out of touch Government that governs in the village, the town and the city. It is the same refusal to acknowledge the lived reality of people, whether they live in the town, the village, the townland or the city, that is at the root of many issues facing people.  It suits the Government down to the ground to have a manufactured situation where rural dwellers are on one side and urban dwellers are on the other. It would suit the Government all the way to Sunday if that were to be the case and if people were to be taking potshots or squabbling with each other. The truth is the people who live in rural Ireland are being let down, failed and ignored by the Government every bit as much as the people who live in urban Ireland. That is a fact. We saw that on the streets of our capital city and the highways, byways and back roads of our towns and villages in recent weeks, just in case anyone in government was not listening. People were shouting loud enough, I hope, for the Government to hear. In the midst of that crisis, the Government arrived with half-measures for the town, city, townland and village.  When I think about this consultation process and the way in which people have been sidelined and feel they have been ignored, I reflect on the number of reports and strategies that have been done. I put it to the Minister of State that rural Ireland does not lack reports or strategies; it lacks action from a Government that seems to be out of touch and indifferent to the lived reality of ordinary people. If a report, consultation or strategy document could change things, we would not be here. We would not be having this conversation because the change would happen but what will change things is action from the Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Liam Quaide  The consultation on the next phase of Our Rural Future is welcome but the real test is whether this becomes another high-level document full of warm aspiration or actually improves quality of life, economic development, town and village regeneration, inclusivity and protection of our natural and built heritage in rural communities. Rural Ireland needs services, infrastructure, housing, transport and the renovation and repurposing of long vacant and derelict buildings - in short, serious investment in the everyday foundations of a decent quality of life. If we want to see our rural communities thrive into the future, we have to move beyond the outdated idea that rural policy is essentially one version of agricultural policy with a few community grants attached.  Farming has been central to rural life for generations. It has sustained families, supported local businesses, creameries, marts, butchers, food processors and small businesses, and given many communities their economic and social backbone. One of the strongest pro-farmer arguments we can make is that rural development must diversify and farming must be supported to diversify. Many farmers are under enormous pressure from volatile markets, rising costs, escalating debt, land pressures, weather instability and environmental obligations. We should not pretend ever-greater intensification of agriculture is a sustainable answer for every family farm or rural community. Farmers who remove hedgerows and native trees wholesale from their land often make these decisions within a policy and market framework that has rewarded intensification and treated nature as a nuisance or obstruction, rather than as part of the rich fabric of rural Ireland. Hedgerows, mature trees and wetlands are vital for biodiversity, flood protection, carbon storage, water quality, landscape character and our natural heritage but we also have to understand their destruction in the context of an agricultural policy many farmers are simply locked into. A serious rural policy must support farmers to make a decent living while protecting those habitats and irreplaceable parts of our natural heritage.  There is a false and divisive narrative in some of our public debate on rural Ireland. Some people, including in this House, seek to appropriate rural Ireland as an identity, restrict who is allowed to belong within that identity and portray anyone who cares about, for instance, climate or nature as somehow hostile to rural life. That is nonsense. Rural Ireland is not a monolith; it is made up of farmers, farm workers, carers, teacher, nurses, small businesses, businessowners, artists, tradespeople, young families, older people, disabled people, Travellers, migrants, Irish speakers, people who go to mass, people who do not, people who play GAA and people who never did.  It includes people whose families have lived in the same parish for generations and people who have made their homes there more recently. No one owns rural Ireland. No one has the right to use it as a cudgel against people who do not fit a narrow version of what rural identity is supposed to look or sound like.  I grew up down a b\u00f3ithr\u00edn between two small villages. I spent a fair part of my summers stacking bales of hay and drawing them in on tractors. I also listened to The Smiths and read Sylvia Plath in my more anguished adolescent moments of alienation. I did not play GAA. I found parts of the culture I grew up in quite stifling and insular. Like many people around me, I had mixed feelings of love and hate, and many shades in between about rural Ireland and those feelings have shifted considerably over time. I am just as much a part of rural Ireland, shaped by it and proud to be part of it, as anyone else in this Chamber who invokes the term as a badge or authenticity or moral superiority. Rural Ireland formed me, just as it formed others here, in its strengths, beauty, constraints, complexities and contradictions and that is the point. Rural Ireland is richer, more diverse and more complex than the caricature often presented in political debate.  Caring about hedgerows, rivers, trees, wildlife and soil is not anti-rural Ireland. Wanting rural communities to be more inclusive is not anti-rural Ireland. Gay, lesbian and trans people, migrants, artists, Travellers, and people who simply do not conform to a narrow template of rural identity should feel at home in their own rural communities. A serious rural policy has to start from that plurality. Rural Ireland cannot be reduced to a slogan, a voting block or a lurch into pre-globalisation, anti-science nostalgia. It is a living, changing, diverse set of communities and policy should be designed for the full breadth of those communities, not just for the loudest or most familiar version of them.  Caring deeply about nature is not anti-rural Ireland; it is the opposite. Rural Ireland cannot be defended by degrading the very landscape that sustains it. Our policy must reflect that diversity. Policy must be also rooted in everyday experience: whether people can get to work, college or hospital; access childcare or a GP; rent or buy a home; get broadband or remain in their community as they age.  Transport is one of the clearest examples. In some parts of the country, Local Link has been transformative. It has given older people more independence. It has helped people without cars get to appointments, shops, college, services and to visit friends and family. It has helped local businesses by making towns and villages easier to reach. This is what public transport should do but in other parts of the country, including for much of east Cork, the service simply does not exist in any meaningful way and this is profoundly unfair. We cannot talk about rural opportunity while accepting a situation where one village has a regular bus service and another has a pale shadow of a service; where one older person can get to town independently and another is effectively housebound; or where one young person can access education or work and another is dependent on lifts. This is not a small inconvenience; it is a major quality of life disadvantage. The absence of public transport affects employment, education, health, social participation, family finances, disability access and climate action. If Our Rural Future is serious, it should set out a pathway to universal baseline rural mobility, with regular, accessible and affordable services connecting villages with towns, towns with rail and rural communities with healthcare, education and employment.  Housing is another central issue. Rural communities cannot thrive if the next generation cannot afford to live in them, if workers cannot move into them, if older people have no suitable options to downsize locally or if families are forced out because there are no affordable homes. At the same time, many rural towns and villages are scarred by vacancy and dereliction, with empty upper floors, former houses allowed to decay, commercial buildings lying idle while local groups have no meeting space, and small businesses cannot find suitable premises. Take Ladysbridge in my constituency, where a school with remarkable potential for community use in an expanding village with very few amenities has been left to rot for decades. Dereliction is not just an aesthetic issue; it is State neglect writ large. It speaks of a lack of interest and a lack of concern. Tackling dereliction should be a key part of Our Rural Future, through stronger local authority resourcing, serious use of compulsory purchase orders where necessary and meaningful support to over- the-shop units back into use.  This is particularly important in Gaeltacht communities. The Irish language cannot be sustained by rhetoric alone. It needs living communities behind it, affordable homes for young families, schools, childcare, transport, healthcare, digital infrastructure, local employment and cultural spaces. We cannot celebrate the Gaeltacht as part of our national identity while allowing housing pressures, lack or services and a lack of opportunities to hollow out the communities that keep the language alive. A social infrastructure strategy to sustain Gaeltacht communities has to be core to a language strategy. Teanga bheo at\u00e1 i gceist agus n\u00ed mhairfidh s\u00ed gan phobal beo.  Enterprise policy also needs to fit rural life and enhance it. Rural economies depend not only on export-led companies but on caf\u00e9s, trades, childcare providers, tourism businesses, small retailers, mechanics, digital workers, food producers, artists, carers and community enterprises. We need to listen to small rural businesses and hear about what is holding them back, such as insurance, energy costs, broadband, housing for staff, transport, water infrastructure, planning delays, access to finance and the decline of footfall in town centres. We need investment in regional employment hubs, technological universities, health and social care, broadband, public transport, water services, childcare, schools and community facilities.  The consultation process for Our Rural Future must be more than a listening exercise. It must lead to a different model of delivery and clear outcomes. It must lead to the decisive improvement in the lies of rural people. Can they get a bus? Can they get a home? Can they access a GP? Can their child get childcare? Can a disabled person live independently in his or her own community? Can a small business survive on the main street? Can young people see a future locally? The next Our Rural Future policy should recognise the diversity of rural Ireland. It should move power and resources closer to communities. It should expand Local Link and other forms of rural transport. It should address vacancy and dereliction in a comprehensive way with leadership from local authorities, not through a patchwork of grants that community groups have to scrap over, over a period of years. It should support farmers by diversifying rural economies. It should invest in public services as the foundation of balanced regional development and protect Gaeltacht areas as living communities, not just symbols of our national heritage. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Albert Dolan  I welcome this discussion on the future of rural policy and on Our Rural Future. I welcome the opening and consideration of the consultation for same. It is so important people right across this country, whether they are in an urban or rural area, contribute to what they believe the future of rural Ireland should look like and that we reflect on the first phase of this plan in terms of what went right, what went wrong and how we can do better. In this House, and in many parliaments across the world, the question we always have to ask ourselves is: how can we do better? For rural Ireland there are a few key areas I believe we can really improve things and over the coming years use this policy as the document that guides everything we do to improve rural Ireland.  Particularly for Our Rural Future, I want to talk about rural transport because many people love rural Ireland because they can work, live and contribute there and it is vital they have transport to access labour in our towns, cities and in areas of high industrial activity. The way we will do that and make rural Ireland more connected is through an enhancement of investment in rural links and in the Local Link service. In east Galway, we have seen many Local Link services enhanced over the past few years and they have been an absolute game-changer. However, many areas remain without this service and that leaves people isolated and unconnected. People need to have that opportunity to avail of Local Link transport, not just for the sake of transport but for the sake of connection and community. To get rid of rural isolation, we need to make sure our elderly people can access this service as well.  Another thing that needs to be considered is how we are delivering housing in rural Ireland and where there are blockages. A significant issue I see is that young people are not able to build using shared entrances into national roads. That is a Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, problem and it is a roads problem but it is a priority for Our Rural Future because young people are being encouraged to go 6 km or 7 km down the road and build on a b\u00f3ithr\u00edn, only to drive back and forth multiple times per day to tend to the farm at home. To be honest, that is absolute madness. We need to take a common sense, practical approach to our rural planning that allows people to build close to home and beside their parents so that when care needs arise in a home, the family will be there to care for one another. That is something that is really important in rural Ireland as well.  There are so many villages that are never going to be serviced or see a sewerage network, but they should not be choked because of that. They should not be stifled when it comes to development. People should be allowed to build homes in those villages. I welcome what the Minister, Deputy Browne, is doing with the developer-led wastewater treatment systems for projects of up to 40 units. Policies of that nature will allow these villages to thrive and to grow and will encourage people to live in them, which would mean that there could be more services and greater support right across rural Ireland.  Remote working hubs formed part of the previous Our Rural Future policy. Many of these hubs were established but were never given current funding to ensure that they were maintained or that they could employ managers. Every county should have a remote working hub manager who can manage all of the hubs in their county remotely. Those people could ensure that the hubs are kept going and are financially viable. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Lahart","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Lahart.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Lahart.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Lahart  Like colleagues, I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate on the consultation process relating to Our Rural Future. While this policy is often spoken about in the context of counties far from Dublin, the truth is that many of the challenges it seeks to address are felt just as strongly in parts of my constituency. Two fifths of Dublin South-West is rural. The constituency stretches out beyond Tallaght towards Brittas and the border with Wicklow on one side and through rural Rathfarnham out the Old Military Road across the Featherbeds, past the Captain Noel Lemass monument and into the county of Wicklow. The foothills of the Dublin Mountains, which I represent, cover Rathfarnham to Tibradden and Killakee and Glenasmole, Crooksling, Brittas and Bohernabreena on the western side of the mountains.  In recent weeks, the national conversation has been dominated by the fuel protests. These have prompted some to speak about a supposed rural-urban divide. What I hear from people who live in my constituency is very different. Dublin South-West residents understand both sides of the debate because we have both rural and urban areas. Many families in rural south Dublin balance the realities of suburban life, with the rural reality of having the mountains on their doorstep. These communities experience the same day-to-day challenges as any rural parish, with long commutes, limited public transport and infrastructure that has not always kept pace with demand. I would say to the Minister of State, Deputy Feighan that far from being a weakness, this blend of rural and urban is one of our great strengths because it gives people in the constituency a unique perspective. They know that rural Ireland is not some distant concept. It begins just a few minutes from the M50. It provides a truly enriching backdrop to suburban life and it is also home to hundreds of families. They know that when we talk about balanced development, fairness and investment, those principles must apply to every community, including those on the edge of our suburbs.  One of the clearest examples in this regard is broadband. Despite being so close to the city, there are still homes on the Bohernabreena side of the mountains that struggle with unreliable or inadequate connectivity and the consequences associated with that. Parents tell me of their children being unable to complete homework as a result of patchy connections. There are workers who are trying vainly to participate in hybrid work but who find themselves constantly at a disadvantage in that regard.  The same is true of road access, particularly in view of recent and ongoing closures. As a result of subsidence across on the Rathfarnham side of the Dublin Mountains, the Cruagh Road was closed causing significant inconvenience to local residents. People travelling to work, school or medical appointments found themselves facing detours. The feeling is that if this had been a suburban road, the problem would have been addressed much more quickly. As this consultation process moves forward, it is essential that the Department actively captures the experience of communities like those in Dublin South-West. The purpose of this consultation is to listen.  With regard to one-off housing - or the lack of it - on the Bohernabreena west side of the mountain and the Rathfarnham east side of the mountain, barely any planning permission for new homes has been granted by South Dublin County Council in the past ten to 15 years. I could probably count on both hands the number of homes in respect of which permission has been granted during my 27 years as a public representative. What this has done is split families and children from their parents. It means that children who grew up in the mountains now live in the suburbs of Old Bawn and Aylesbury while their parents, some of whom are ageing - a point made by the previous speaker - live in the foothills. This puts things like school numbers under pressure. I have seen the success of the Local Link transport in rural towns and villages in Ireland, but there is no Local Link service in the rural foothills of my constituency. Such a service would be of huge assistance to parents with children attending national school.  Digital connectivity and physical connectivity go hand in hand, and a community cannot thrive if either is unreliable. The consultation process must take account of a number of themes. One-off housing and the issues around this, as mentioned by all previous speakers, apply as much in rural south-west Dublin as they do in any other part of rural Ireland. Our Rural Future is an ambitious policy. The people who live in the rural part of my constituency, including sheep farmers and other farmers and horticulturists, are guardians of the part of the countryside that is closest to the city and its suburbs. We need to ensure that this policy delivers and is seen to deliver for those in Dublin South-West and in parts of rural south Dublin who experience both the fantastic opportunities rural life offers them and the challenges of living in rural Ireland close to a city every day. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in  Many of our rural villages are being allowed to die on their knees because of Government inaction. They are being strangled due to the obstacles that are put in the way of people who want to develop changes. My journey here today took me through the village of Aughrim, which has not seen any proper development for the past decade and a half. The lack of infrastructure such as wastewater treatment is strangling the development of desperately needed housing in the village, which would keep local people in the local school and living locally instead of exporting them across the world. Lack of State support is one thing, but that to which I refer is particularly infuriating for the entrepreneurial minded people I met today who want to build small clusters of houses in these villages and those who want to develop facilities for tourism or maybe repurpose an old building or a closed down building. They are, however, met with obstacle after obstacle, bureaucracy over regulation and strangulation due to the lack of wastewater treatment capacity. This is preventing people getting planning permission and is replicated in many other villages I represent, including Camolin, Ferns and others.  I also visited the schools in Camolin and Aughrim. The lack of infrastructure is having a really bad impact because young families cannot build houses and settle down in either village. They cannot live in the area so people are getting exported. I met quite a lot of young people from farms who cannot get permission to build. This is like something out of Stalinist eastern Europe as far as I can see. Local post offices are closing as are local Garda stations. People are finding impossible to access GPs. There is a lack of affordable childcare, affordable housing and reliable public transport in these areas of north Wexford and south Wicklow. In many ways from my memories I see that rural Ireland has been abandoned by Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael. I see similar stories in villages all the way from Ballindaggin up as far as Barndearg, and from Kilmuckridge up as far as Knockananna.  I read through the document. There is plenty in it about remote working and rural development. Last Saturday, I was in the lovely village of Carnew in south-west Wicklow. A playground there is still closed. There is a lovely building in the middle of the main street on a prime site, the old Bank of Ireland branch that closed in 2021. Along with one in Tinahely and another in Rathdrum, it was allowed to close and they are all still locked up despite groups and enterprises badly needing spaces. Why is that the case?  Ballycanew only got high-speed broadband in mid-2024 thanks to a local group, Whizzy Internet, that stepped in and provided a great service. We all rely on the rural road network but despite all of the damage recently Wicklow is still waiting on \u20ac15 million in emergency funding and Wexford is waiting on \u20ac20 million. There is not a cent yet. It also still needs \u20ac194 million to upgrade the road infrastructure.  There are so many areas I could focus on. Glossy documents are pointless without concrete action and timelines. I want to see proper commitment to delivering infrastructure, wastewater treatment and rural housing in north Wexford and south Wicklow. The document means nothing without action and timelines. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charles Ward  I welcome that the Minister undertook public consultation to further inform the development of the next rural development policy. It is important to view our rural communities. What matters most for rural communities is that the people in them are considered. I also welcome the fact that the consultation was done online. The latter is very important in order that everybody in the communities can have their say, particularly those with disabilities. It is important that their voices are heard, that the voices of young people are heard and that there is Government collaboration on this. I hope that many more consultations will be done in this way. That is very important because it will provide a great opportunity to inform future decisions relating to rural Ireland.  As someone who lives in rural Ireland, it is evident to me that the Government has fallen significantly short in providing the infrastructure resources and investment needed to support and develop our communities. As a result, those who live in these communities are unfairly left to pay the price for Government neglect. The lack of significant investment is reflected in many aspects of our daily lives, from limited public transport to poor broadband. There are towns in Donegal that only received access to fibre broadband as recently as yesterday. We are informed about this all the time, and we are so far behind everyone else. We are a decade behind Dublin.  As well as inadequate access to healthcare, education and employment opportunities are limited. These structural disadvantages have led to a severe population decline in our rural communities. Stagnation in growth is part of this. We wonder why people in rural communities are forced to take to the streets when there is something like a price hike in fuel. It comes down to the fact that it is their source of heating. If they have to pay double what they had to pay a few months ago, they will protest.  People are forced to travel long distances to access essential such as healthcare, work and school. There are fewer employment opportunities and most of them are lower paid in nature. Rural areas in Donegal have the second lowest disposable income per person in the country, at \u20ac24,686. That is 18% lower than the national average.  Our Rural Future seems to do very little to address any of these issues, which are absolutely massive. That there is nothing more in the Government policy document feels like a hollow, empty promise. There needs to be some form of implementation of these policies. I hope that future documents will be more realistic and more reflective of areas such as Donegal. Without meaningful sustainable investment, the gap between rural areas and others will widen. The Government must act and implement fairer policies. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  The Government has failed rural Ireland. What we have is a lot of talk and not enough delivery. There is a housing crisis, a cost-of-living crisis and a disability crisis in rural Ireland. There are other issues that people in rural Ireland face on a daily basis, such as those relating to a lack of water due to burst water mains, outages, treatment plant malfunctions and boil water notices. Irish Water has contempt for customers. It should never have been established and should be abolished. Tipperary town public water supply has been on a boil water notice since 12 February 2026. The supply serves a town of more than 5,000 people. The only and most recent information on the Irish Water website is dated 12 February 2026. There has been no further information. It is absolutely outrageous. Half of the town of Clonmel was out of water on Friday and Saturday with no notice. There were homes without water and businesses had to close. The town of Fethard was similarly without water at the weekend. The town of Carrick-on-Suir and west Waterford have ongoing outages and boil water notices. That is completely unacceptable.  Vacancy and dereliction in the main streets of our towns are very serious issues. I hope towns will be supported by means of the regeneration programmes for towns with populations under and over 10,000 people. In particular, Clonmel town centre requires consider refurbishment, having been hit by changes in retail trends and a resulting closure of businesses, including long-standing family businesses. Tipperary County Council is submitting a significant town centre upgrading project this week, under the towns and cities regeneration investment fund. Approval of this project is of vital importance for the consolidation and development of the town. It is a shovel-ready project, with Part 8 consultation complete. The town has an excellent record of completing schemes such as this on time and under budget. These include schemes such as Kickham Plaza and the sports hub. Early approval of this project is essential.  Other very serious issues affecting rural Ireland include security and the level of policing. Throughout Tipperary, Garda numbers are completely inadequate. Garda\u00ed on the beat are almost non-existent now. I must say that seeing on RT\u00c9 news recently a successful Garda beat in Dublin city centre was very difficult to take, seeing as we have been looking for this type of operation for quite some time. Transport is another issue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  I welcome this discussion on rural policy. The biggest issues relate to housing and services in rural areas. Often, people in rural areas do not have anything. Sustainable housing is the key in this regard. For that type of housing, we need infrastructure. Those engaged in agriculture, forestry and other rural employment must continue to be allowed to build one-off houses on family land or in appropriate locations. There also needs to be housing for a whole lot of people and their families who live in rural areas and who are engaged in other activities. We have to come up with a practical solution to this. Given the stricter regulations on one-off housing and environmental concerns, and the fact that not everybody owns land, one part of this has to be serviced sites in villages and on the edge of villages. These should not be half a mile up the road; they should be where they can be serviced. They should be provided by the local council. Laois County Council is already working on a small number of these but I ask that the Government and the Department get behind them. Serviced sites on the edge of villages could be one quarter of an acre where people build their own houses. These would be in walking distance of the local shops, school, church and sports field, with connected water, sewerage, Internet and electricity. There are some good examples of where this is happening. This requires upgrading sewerage treatment plants and water supply networks.  In Laois, villages such as Ballybrittas, Ballyroan, Ballinakill, Ballylinan, Borris-in-Ossory, Ballycolla and Timahoe could all be developed further if water and wastewater infrastructure were upgraded. Ballybrittas, Timahoe and Ballycolla do not even have a sewerage treatment plant but they are ideal locations for serviced sites. Ballybrittas is right beside the N7 motorway and the local railway station in Monasterevin is within a five-minute drive. The pumping station there has sewerage capacity for another 150 homes but Uisce \u00c9ireann is refusing to allow this to go ahead. It refuses to connect the existing houses in the village. It is trying to pass it back to the council, saying it is up to the council, but the council cannot do it because it is not its responsibility any longer. It needs a sewerage connection network to the existing houses and to allow for new developments in the village, which is in the commuter belt.  One of the interesting things about Ballybrittas is that it is included in Uisce \u00c9ireann's small towns and villages programme. It is in the programme, but it will not do it. The Department needs to push this. It is located beside the N7 and is five minutes from a railway station. The Department needs to be told to get on with this. We need to have these services to provide sustainable rural housing in County Laois. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John McGuinness  I will share time with Deputy Brennan. I welcome the debate. It is timely, particularly in light of the outcome of the various protests we have had in recent weeks. I want to put on the record that the people I met on the protests were decent individuals.  They were farmers, families and children. They gave no problems in relation to the stewarding of the protest itself and they were anxious to make a point. Whatever is being said nationally about those who were on the protest, I think it has angered and insulted the ordinary decent men, women and families who I met. They were out there because of the frustration they were experiencing and because they believed that they were being neglected. They believed that their ambitions were not being fulfilled and that they were not being supported by the Government. The farmers were there complaining about the fuel costs, and rightly so. They are understandably getting their package today. However, we need to deal with other issues we hear about in rural Ireland in relation to the cost of living and the cost of home heating oil. I would hope that the Government will continue to monitor the situation and ensure that those who are marginalised and elderly, in particular, have a package of some sort to take them through to the budget and beyond. We need to focus our policies, actions and budgets on people. It needs to be people centred and we need to support communities and families.  I listened to Deputy Quaide's contribution and I have to say that I cannot disagree with anything he said, or at least most of what he said, in that he highlighted the problems facing businesses in rural Ireland. They are probably the same issues and problems that face small businesses all over the place. I am referring, however, to small family businesses that have been put out of business or are struggling because of insurance costs, the general cost of doing business, and red tape and bureaucracy. I will cite one such family, Paudie and Catherine Neill from Thomastown, who had to close their business. I raised it in the D\u00e1il previously. They are a hard-working family. Now, a big part of that street in Thomastown is vacant and left without a great existence because the mainstay is gone. Direct intervention is required in situations like that.  The over-the-shop funding needs to be looked at in the context of what is happening in rural Ireland and the closures that are affecting the shop downstairs and living accommodation upstairs. People have made their contribution and paid their taxes and now they are suffering because of Government policy or misplaced policy. I would like their voices to be heard. Likewise, Inistioge is a beautiful part of County Kilkenny. People there are being deprived of their development and future because they do not have the infrastructure in terms of water and sewage treatment. They have been up and down on the list. They have been second, third and fourth and no one gives them an explanation. No one engages with them about a plan that will allow development to take place. Due to that, small businesses there, like the local pub and local shop, are under threat. They are reliant on business to come seasonally, but that is often not enough to take them through the harsh reality of business today.  I want to refer to route 4, a service that was withdrawn from rural Ireland that served as a connection to Dublin and Waterford. It was to be finished in May. The misinformation that is out there has not been addressed by the transport authority. Part of that route is being put out for public consultation, but we do not know if the full route is being retained for the people who travel there for hospital appointments, college, school and social occasions. Nobody knows what is happening. I ask the Minister to please ask the authority to issue a comprehensive statement on exactly where we are going with that. Schools in Kilkenny city are often full and as a result of that, people go to Scoil Aireagail and other schools around the county. However, Bus \u00c9ireann told them today that there would be no service. That is shocking. There is no service when there is a bus link and other services there. Bus \u00c9ireann needs to look at this again. It is not good enough just to raise it here. I hope that a note will be taken on what needs to be done and that we will hear from the Minister.  Tamara Whelan in Windgap attended the School of the Holy Spirit. For her future education through the National Learning Network, she needs a bus connection from Windgap. There is a bus service and transport from Tullaghought and Kilmoganny, but it needs to stop at Windgap. The bureaucracy and red tape attached to making that decision around a seven-minute trip is absolutely horrendous. If we are serious about connecting those who require further education to the centre, then we have to consider that.  Kilkenny corporation and Kilkenny borough council were abolished and taken into Kilkenny County Council. It was the wrong decision, and it is still the wrong decision. If we are talking about developing urban centres and democracy, we need to bring democracy back to those centres like Kilkenny city and ensure that they have their corporation and county council and that people can engage with them at the lowest level in the pecking order, which is at community level and through their local corporation. It has been promised for years that we would review it. There was a Bill before the House today. I hope that the Government will see the error of its ways and provide that structure for democracy and for the people I represent.  Will the Minister please tell the Minister for education to release the schools that deserve to be released into the construction phase? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Brennan  I note that, in the programme from 2021 to 2025, there was a clear call to reverse the flow of young people moving to the city. People living and working in their own towns and villages is what we should be working for. I welcome the billions of euro that will probably be spent on our new development plan. I welcome the engagement tonight. When we see young people spending 26 hours per week in a car driving from the south east to Dublin, however, that is frustrating. It is hitting their mental health. There is a cost to it, and it leaves a carbon footprint. I therefore encourage and welcome the proposals going forward.  I ask the Minister to please look at the towns and villages that have not been supported previously. I can give him the example of the town of Arklow. I know that there are five or six towns like Arklow in Ireland - towns and villages that were simply ignored. Arklow was the home of Inland Fisheries Ireland, IFI. It was the home of a great port. It was the home of Arklow Pottery. Then, over 30 years, due to lack of investment, it slowly declined. Now, however, Arklow is on the crest of a wave. There is a \u20ac3.6 billion data centre planned. There are approximately 50 offshore windmills planned. Arklow is in line for a greenway, which we discussed in this room before. There is continual investment. We are expecting thousands of houses. What we need to see, however, is investment in the social infrastructure of that town. That town has no theatre. If people want a concert in Arklow tonight, they either go to the hotel, a church or the school. It has no community centre. I have visited tiny villages in counties Wexford and Wicklow and seen fabulous community centres but for whatever reason, a town of 14,500 people still does not have a community centre. There is a building there that is waiting to be taken on. It just needs work and investment. Arklow has no town park. It is the home of Ronnie Delaney, where he was born, Lord have mercy on him, and Mary Hickey, the only woman to run around Ireland. Both were born and reared in Arklow, and it has not got a town park to show for it. I call for the social infrastructure and capital infrastructure, such as bridges and roads, to be matched with this expected boom in the town. It needs the support. As I said, Arklow is not on its own. There are plenty of towns like it out there that have been ignored for decades. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  I am going to focus my comments on the challenge in our coastal communities and, to be quite frank, the neglect of our coastal communities.  Today, in the fisheries committee, we dealt with seaweed harvesting and the applications that are coming in from major corporations. I asked a question of the traditional seaweed harvesters. I asked whether anybody from Government agencies had engaged with them directly to establish and vindicate their rights that have been there for generations and the answer was \"No.\" We had Maritime Area Regulatory Authority, MARA, which deal with the licensing, Bord Iascaigh Mhara and the Department of the marine in and every one of them confirmed that none had proactively engaged, even though the Attorney General ruled on this years ago. It is complete neglect of the potential of that issue.  Ireland, obviously, is an island nation. The Faroe Islands, which has a population not much more than the Inishowen Peninsula where I am from in the north of Donegal, has a bigger aquaculture industry than Ireland. There has been an utter failure to deal with the planning logjams that have bedevilled the potential of the industry. Everybody has a right to object but you have to make decisions in a timely fashion and it has dragged on and on.  Years ago when I engaged with inshore fishermen - I had policy responsibility for this in Sinn F\u00e9in - I asked them whether they be interested in a financial support scheme similar to what farmers had and, indeed, what artists rightly have now. Their response instinctively was that they did not, that they wanted to fish and that they did not want hand outs and they did not want financial supports. That was understandable and admirable but now they are making it clear that they need financial supports to stay in their communities. We really need to understand the history of neglect and wilful failure by Departments where there was not a dedicated Minister for the marine for a long time. There is one now. I will acknowledge that he is engaging and he is trying but we need to sort this out.  We are an island nation. I have just given three examples of the potential. I could go on about the Common Fisheries Policy and the fact that we have utterly failed and allowed our industry and production to fall apart. For example, Norway is a country with the same population as the Republic of Ireland and it has a seafood industry multiples the size of ours.  I offer that to the Minister. We have to turn this around. We have to reset the culture of the Department of the marine. We have to have a Minister who drives forward, works with the industry, cuts out the logjams and brings wealth and prosperity to coastal communities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  I beg the Leas-Cheann Comhairle's indulgence for a few seconds. I offer my sincere sympathy to the family of Councillor Joe Carroll, who died in west Cork, I suppose, suddenly enough. It is a huge blow. It is fitting that we are talking about Our Rural Future because he was a man who fought for the rural people. I was on the council with him for two years. I found him to be a gentleman. We might have fought inside it but we were best friends outside it like everybody else. I extend my sympathies to Sheila, Linda and Kieran and to the Carroll family and to the people of west Cork and to his colleagues who are brokenhearted because he was a joyful character to be with and to work with.  I am a long time fighting for our rural future policy. I have looked at closures and the damage they do to rural communities. If you look at the closure of a post office, you see the damage that does to the whole town. I know it because I live in a community - Goleen - where we have lost our post office. That meant the local butcher shop went. It had a knock-on effect straightaway because everybody moved to the next town to do business. The bank closed in Schull a number of years ago. That led to the loss of a supermarket there within approximately a year. It has a massive knock-on effect.  The supports need to be there. The understanding needs to be there. There are no great supports for the post offices. I was trying to save the Durras post office recently, and I might as well have been talking to the bloody pole because An Post did not care. It did not give a damn. It told me it was doing its best. Then I found out somebody who was trying their best to reopen it was not getting any assistance and was only being bluffed off the same as I was. If there is a real intent on rural-proofing all these sort of things, there is where the Minister needs to start.  We solved the problem with the Garda stations. However, the problem we have with Garda stations now is that they are no longer closing but there is nobody in them. It is a clever backdoor system of closing them. In Drimoleague and in a few in west Cork, there is no garda working in them because no garda\u00ed are appointed. If you do not appoint them, they cannot be in them. That also has a knock-on effect in the local community. The pub and the shops are closed and it drains the life out of them. In my own village, I see people coming back from all over the world trying to spend money and trying to rejuvenate the community. It needs the State to make sure they do not lose the likes of the post offices and banks because if they do, this is where you are going to end up.  If we look at the fuel protest, there is talk about a division between rural and urban. I do not like the talk about it but statements from a former leader, Leo Varadkar, are not helpful at all. They widened the gap there but we should be bridging that gap. The people of rural Ireland take the hit. That is the bottom line here. If the Government increases the carbon tax in the morning, those who will be hit most are the people who have to drive. They have to use that car. With Local Link, a lot of new services were promised to the people of west Cork, around the Grange area and Timoleague. People do not have any transport services in places, such as Kealkill and Corthna. They have no choice but to get into the car to go shopping, to take their children to school and to go to work in the morning, and they are the people who are hit hardest with fuel increases. The Government is quite happy to slap it on. It is being watched closely now but it usually slaps it on very easily, without thinking of the consequences for certain areas. Certainly, rural Ireland gets a terrible beating with any fuel increase because we have to drive. We have to use our vehicles.  There was also a discussion about the wastewater treatment plants. We want towns and villages to grow but the county development plans are a farce. That is what I call them. They are gone. They no longer engage with the people. The councillors no longer have a say as to what goes into a county development plan. It was drifting in in 2014 to 2016, when I was a councillor. Councillors were having to \"Yes\" to officials and to play along with it. That is where we are today.  We even had village nuclei between 2014 and 2016 in west Cork and they removed them the next year. The village nucleus was where there was a shop, a church, a creamery or a pub. You give a certain amount of area around that for building to give people a chance to come and live in that community and to build up that community. Sadly, the council, the Cork one anyway, as I can only talk about that one, ran a mile from that. It is like as if it is scared. It has every kind of policy to block you from getting planning. All the young people begging for planning are finding it almost impossible to get it. They are spending fortunes when they should not be doing that. They should be encouraged. These are the people who will turn things around and who will keep the local community alive. We need that to be understood but, unfortunately, that is not happening.  We see the confusion now with the short-term lets. Lord God Almighty, it is as simple as one, two, three. On what the short-term lets are doing for rural communities, people will buy a little drink, they will stay overnight, they will drive around and they will buy food. That is what keeps rural communities alive but I cannot get that into the minds of the Government. They feel short-term lets are enemy of the State but they are not. These short-term lets should not be attacked by local government.  We were in the audiovisual room a while ago for a presentation on driving licences and reciprocal licences. People come back from America who had licences in Ireland. They are driving in New York one day but are not allowed to drive in Skibbereen the next day. It is insane. A report has been drafted and put forward and, in fairness, it is a good report. I would appreciate the Government might spend time on that. I could spend a day talking about these issues because they are close to my heart. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  I have major concerns about small family businesses right across Mayo and the west. They are in massive difficulty. During the recent protests, I spoke to a number of people, not from the haulage, construction and farming sectors but from small family-run businesses that were really struggling. They are struggling with the cost of business. They are struggling with rates. They are struggling with insurance and with increases in terms of labour force and auto-enrolment. All of these things are really crippling businesses. If we lose businesses from the centre of a town, it will be extremely difficult to replace them.  When one building becomes vacant and the next one becomes vacant, there is almost a contagion effect. Therefore, I urge the Minister to support small family-run businesses during this difficult time of energy cost increases because, if we do not, we will need more grants down the line for refurbishments of derelict commercial buildings. We need to keep the businesses in operation and protect them. The Minister's remit - rural development - is not exactly enterprise, but it is important that we protect businesses in regional towns.  I attended the fisheries committee discussion of seaweed today and it is clear that any consideration of seaweed applications should be halted because native seaweed harvesters will potentially be trampled on. MARA and the wider State effectively do not know what is happening and do not have certainty about the rights in local areas in Mayo, Galway, Kerry and Donegal. This is a major issue for rural and coastal communities in Mayo. I am therefore asking for the Minister's intervention to make sure, in the midst of this wave of applications from large commercial seaweed harvesters, that we protect the native seaweed harvesters. The changes coming down the line for these harvesters and this industry will suit and favour the big players. From 2028, there will be an obligation on native seaweed harvesters to register and that will come with a fee of \u20ac2,000 and a litany of additional reports that will cost significant money. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  My fear is that we will push these people off the radar and pave the way for large seaweed harvesters. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy Lawless should conclude. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  I ask the Minister to intervene. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Edward Timmins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Edward Timmins  I will raise a broad range of issues affecting rural Ireland. I will start with one close to my heart, that of rural planning. This is an important component of dealing with the housing challenge. I have worked through four county development plans in Wicklow and made many changes to help with rural planning. There are currently many aspects of it that make it difficult and we must make changes. First, social and economic need must trump views and prospects in planning decisions. Second, we need to allow people to downsize from one rural area to another. This is especially important for elderly people who live in unsuitable accommodation. Third, we need to identify hamlets to allow clustering of houses in rural areas and broaden the qualification for building in hamlets to include nearby villages and towns. Fourth, housing need criteria should not be applied if people own a house in an urban area and want to move back to their rural area. I could make a range of other points, but I do not have time this evening to go through all of them.  On housing in villages, we need investment in villages, including in water and wastewater schemes. This would reduce the pressure on rural planning and help to make villages vibrant. The residential zoned land tax, RZLT, is suitable for cities but is not appropriate in rural Ireland and should be abolished outside the main cities. It mitigates against housing development in rural areas because sometimes it is economically viable, but a lot of the time it is not economically viable to build because build costs often exceed the selling price. Therefore, land should be left zoned until it becomes economically viable rather than be dezoned.  Airbnb is another important issue in rural Ireland. It should be encouraged in rural areas and villages and no development levy should be applied where a unit is being changed to an Airbnb. Current operators should be exempt from planning. They bring tourists to parts of Ireland that would otherwise never have tourists. I live in a small village in west Wicklow where a number of Airbnbs operate. They bring tourists to that village. Otherwise, it would never see tourists. These properties are not a solution to the housing challenge, which will, please God, dissipate in the next few years. We should not sacrifice the wonderful service Airbnb is to tourism and the funding of small operators in rural Ireland on the altar of an over-reaction, thinking it will lead to long-term lets. More than 90% of them, according to various surveys, will not lead to long-term lets, so they are not a significant solution to the housing crisis. They should be left to operate.  The RRDF is a great fund and I have seen it work well, but I have also seen it not work so well. It needs to come with funding for a dedicated person to oversee it in the councils. In my experience, no one in the council takes responsibility and nothing gets done. Money is not being spent and it loses value over years because of inflation. It is incredibly frustrating. I have seen it in a town in west Wicklow where the money was allocated in 2019 and there still is no shovel in the ground. Consultancy fees have been clocked up but nothing has changed.  LEADER funding has helped many rural projects from employment to playgrounds and is a really successful operation.  I will focus on the reliability of public transport. We need more of it, but we first need to get the reliability right. For example, the 132 bus from west Wicklow to Dublin is not reliable. People will not use an unreliable service. There is an extraordinarily poor service on the Wicklow to Rosslare line. There have been no improvements in 40 years in the train down the east coast to Rosslare. This train is the Cinderella of train services in Ireland. Wicklow town and towns further south have all increased hugely in population in that time.  On school transport, some secondary schools' feeder primary schools are a longer distance away from them than other primary schools. This means that when children are in a feeder school that is further away than another school, they are not allowed tickets and have to rely on concessionary tickets. That anomaly needs to be resolved.  Turning to tourism, in February last year, I proposed the development of an American Presidents trail to develop the sites that the ancestors of 23 American Presidents hailed from. I am pleased to say it has been approved by the Cabinet. Such projects increase tourism in many parts of the island and they need to be developed all over rural island, especially using the shared island fund.  With the cost of business in rural areas,----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  To conclude, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Edward Timmins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Edward Timmins  ------it is important that non-agricultural contractors are recognised----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I call Deputy Roche. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Edward Timmins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Edward Timmins  -----in the Government's response to the fuel challenge. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Roche","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Roche  I welcome the debate we are having today and look forward to two or three years' time when we can say what benefits accrued from it. The real measure will be in the action.  Like previous speakers, before I came into the Chamber, I was listening to a lot of the contributions. They were almost identical right across the line. Rural planning was one area raised, housing was another and funding for councils was also referenced. In my case, in County Galway, underfunding is a critical issue.  I feel blessed in many ways. I come from a small village in east Galway, Abbeyknockmoy, where we have a good, thriving community. That is because we have business people who try hard and work hard. However, like other contributors have said, one of the things those business people are dogged with is the ever-increasing cost of insurance. Rates are a real issue. The My Future Fund was the most recent additional burden and all of those things add pressure to businesses.  I take my hat off to all the volunteers around the country who continue to make applications for funding to the different rural schemes. Often, it is not businesses that do it, but rural volunteers, people who make up the community councils and development companies. They continuously strive to have a better place to live for people locally.  One of the things I am always challenged by is when I hear of young couples who have issues obtaining planning permission from the local authority. In some instances, cop-on is absent. In all of this debate, urban areas need the rural economy to be good, because the rural supports the urban. That is just the way it works. Connectivity is an issue we have all spoken about today. I will speak about it in terms of public transport and access to services like GP and dental care.  There is a whole host of things that really need to be improved. Fundamentally communities need their young people to stay local and to build locally because they need them to support the local football and hurling team. It is about stimulating that growth and that movement within communities. That is fundamentally important to a lot of those people who are really trying hard.  I commend the Minister on the number of times he has appeared before the social protection committee. I can see the passion that he has for promoting and supporting rural communities. Reference was made earlier to the RRDF, CCIF, and sports capital funding and all of the funding that goes across the different streams through which communities can obtain finance to enhance, support and promote services. It is that very stimulation and growth that encourages young people. It means that they like what they see in a village and they decide to build their first home there. Where there are small towns and villages on the periphery, and I am speaking for East Galway in this instance, I wonder and worry about the future for some of those communities in terms of having the numbers of people to be able to make a successful application for any of the funding streams that I just mentioned. We need to be mindful of the towns and villages on the periphery of cities and major towns. We need to help and support them and to be mindful of their needs.  One issue that we need to consider carefully is that of additional burdens on businesses in local villages, including filling stations, take aways, pubs, restaurants and others that are struggling in many regards. Any decision of future governments must ask if it is sustainable and if businesses can afford it and if not, let us not do it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I have just left the audiovisual room were the Irish-US driver licence campaign gave a presentation. That campaign is led by Mr. Ciar\u00e1n Staunton and Ms Karen McHugh. They presented a report by Mr. Damian Green and Mr. Laurence Donnelly. There was much conversation in relation to the lack of public transport in an awful lot of rural Ireland and the necessity of the car. They spoke about the huge issue that we have all dealt with as constituency TDs, namely the fact that a lot of the diaspora want to come home to where they are from and a lot of the time, that is rural Ireland but we have not made it easy for them. This State and this Government has not delivered a licence exchange agreement. Even worse, and what was probably more disconcerting for the Government TDs in the room, was the fact that the campaign has requested meetings with the Minister, the RSA and the Taoiseach but have not received a response. That is absolutely necessary. I accept the Government will talk about this policy it is following in relation to an agreement with New York but the campaign refutes the argument that this is the correct way. The Minister should put some pressure on his colleagues, a meeting should happen and we should come up with a policy that actually delivers this.  Recently we had fuel protests involving farm contractors, hauliers, bus and coach operators, farmers as well as fishermen, taxi drivers and many other workers. I never saw so much support for something that was absolutely discommoding. That was based on an acceptance of the cost-of-living and cost-of-fuel disaster we are going through. It goes without saying that many are not happy with what the Government was forced to do through these protests. If we are talking about rural Ireland and farming, this is not the only issue. Farmers are obviously in fear in relation to Mercosur and its provisional application. We do not know what is going to happen as regards the cost and supply of fertiliser or what will happen with the CAP. We keep talking about streamlining the system in relation to how farmers deal with the Department and other agencies but they are not necessarily facilitated. Rural Ireland in particular is suffering from the fact that home heating oil is something that the Government has failed to address. We know the issues in relation to poverty. I would need a lot more time to be able to deal with the wastewater inadequacies, the failure to deliver on housing, particularly in Gaeltacht areas, and the rural planning guidelines. We have been hearing about a report that was checked by the Attorney General. There is talk about hearing about this later in 2026 but we need to see it now. We know the issue for young people, which is that they cannot build houses where they are from and in the Gaeltacht there are particular issues for Irish speakers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gillian Toole","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gillian-Toole.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Gillian-Toole.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gillian Toole  Meath is a rural county under very strong urban influence to that end and juggling those parameters, I commend the great work of the LEO, Meath Partnership, the council and the community and voluntary groups. We are very grateful for RSS, LEADER and RRDF funding to date and would welcome much more in future, if possible. At this important time of Our Rural Future II policy formation, I note the recent OECD rural policy review of Ireland, particularly pages 16 to 51 containing the analyses and key actions. I hope that a lot of those, along with the extensive public consultation, will be incorporated. One of the key actions relevant to County Meath is enhanced provision of modern, safe and accessible public transport. In particular, I would suggest extending Dublin Bus to zone 1 areas and enabling Bus \u00c9ireann and Local Link to expand their services. Access to education is also important, particularly further education. The single phase development of Dunboyne College of Further Education will actually increase inbound commuting. Another key action is the land use review and the RSES, strengthening coordinated housing, employment and infrastructure such as adequate water supplies for Dunshaughlin and Skreen. The revitalisation and regeneration of towns such as Dunshaughlin to better serve the vast rural hinterland of south east Meath is also key. Similar to Austria, France and Japan, pairing workforce and housing support with transport and SME zone planning is important. Expanding the remit of the LEO to include non-exporting enterprises, including care and retail businesses, would be most welcome. Finally, I thank the Minister for his very comprehensive opening statement agus go n'eir\u00ed an t\u00e1dh leis. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Carol Nolan  This risks being yet another exercise in performative consultation while rural Ireland continues to pay the price for the previous Government's failure to deliver. Launched in March 2021, the last rural development policy was full of grand promises of a thriving countryside, digital connectivity for all, revitalised towns and villages, enhanced public services and active support for a vibrant, sustainable agricultural sector. The policy has, instead, presided over a period of managed decline. High speed broadband remains patchy in far too many rural areas. Housing provision in rural communities has been strangled by planning restrictions. Only last night I attended a cost-of-living meeting in Cloghan which took place after the fuel protests. We heard at that meeting of the case of a couple who had to abandon their hopes and dreams of building a home due to excessive costs. They only got as far as digging out a foundation. That is very wrong. That is failing rural people. We need to see action here.  The comments of the former Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, on rural Ireland were disgraceful. He should really hang his head in shame and so should Fine Gael. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  Like many others, I resent the comments by the former Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, more or less saying that rural Ireland is a burden to the State. That was dreadful. Each and every one of us needs to demonstrate to the people of rural Ireland that we appreciate them here in D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann. In Kerry we have a unique situation whereby there are 575 roads on the waiting list for the local improvement scheme, LIS. They are not private roads. They are public roads that were never taken in charge by the county council. There could be ten to 20 houses on each of these roads.  We only got \u20ac1.2 million again this year.  I raise the issue of planning in Kerry for people to build a one-off house for themselves. These people want nothing else but planning. They will do the rest of it themselves. They are being denied that day in, day out for year after year. It is very sad. The other thing that is very important in rural Kerry and in our small villages and towns is the LEADER programme. As we approach the new CAP, having already been told that there will be a 28% reduction in the CAP, I worry that LEADER funding will get squeezed, as well as the farmers who are trying to survive.  I know the Minister is attentive, and I appreciate that, but we need to address these urgent issues for the people who are trying to survive. There was one thing in the package that did not include people with diggers, cranes and any kind of machinery involved in construction. They got nothing toward the exorbitant cost of the green diesel. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (Deputy Dara Calleary)  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis na Teachta\u00ed go l\u00e9ir tr\u00e1thn\u00f3na inniu. C\u00e9 nach bhfuilimid ar aon intinn ar gach rud, is l\u00e9ir nach bhfuil ach dea-r\u00fan ag gach duine anseo i leith thodhcha\u00ed n\u00edos d\u00f3chasa\u00ed a chruth\u00fa do cheantair agus do mhuintir thuaithe na h\u00c9ireann. Is ceart - agus t\u00e1 s\u00e9 soil\u00e9ir - go bhfuil br\u00f3d ag gach duine as a gceantair thuaithe, as \u00e1r n-oidhreacht thuaithe agus go h\u00e1irithe as \u00e1r bpobal tuaithe. Is cuid l\u00e1rnach iad d\u00e1r nd\u00fachas mar th\u00edr, agus t\u00e1 \u00e1r bhforbairt n\u00e1isi\u00fanta amuigh anseo fite fuaite len\u00e1r bhforbairt thuaithe ansin.  I thank every Deputy. While we may disagree on many of the items, there was passion and pride in the debate today. I join Deputy Michael Collins and Senator Margaret Murphy O'Mahony in paying tribute to the late Councillor Joe Carroll. There have been many tributes to him for his passion. Deputy Collins summed him up wonderfully. He was a joyful character. He brought passion to politics and to people. I extend my deepest sympathies to his wife, Sheila, and his family, on his very untimely passing.  A number of key issues were raised around infrastructure and services. I will touch on some of them. Many people raised post offices. Through Our Rural Future, we have provided the funds to the Department of communications for rural post offices in particular to assist them. It is one of the challenges, as we invest in the national broadband scheme - which is rolling out ahead of schedule - that we are giving people more access to online services. That means we have to ensure that subsidies are available for services such as post offices. Many Deputies spoke about the withdrawal of post offices, Garda stations and banks, for instance. That is something that we need to look at to ensure that there are facilities within rural villages and towns to get that footfall.  There has been a lot of talk about housing, particularly the proposal by Deputies Wall and Timmins around serviced sites in rural areas and rural communities. Deputy Martin Kenny raised a point about DEDs and the population of DEDs. It is something I will reflect on, combined with the proposals in relation to serviced sites in areas. The Minister, Deputy Browne, is committed to rural housing guidelines. Many of the issues that have been discussed across the House are shared in terms of people who need access to rural areas, families who want to return. Deputy Timmins made the comment about families wanting to come back into rural areas and it being held against them that they may have property in urban areas. I am committed to working with the Minister, Deputy Browne, on that.  Deputy McGuinness called for targeted supports for the Gaeltacht and our islands. I have introduced that. I have introduced extra supports in terms of RRDF, town and village renewal and CL\u00c1R, specifically for Gaeltacht areas, but also for islands. We would have been at the Comhdh\u00e1il Oile\u00e1in na h\u00c9ireann AGM last week - it was postponed, unfortunately - to try to address the challenges that we face there. I also want to see skills, particularly on our islands, to ensure that we have the services on the islands. That is why we have worked with technology in relation to healthcare. I commend the work under way in the University of Galway around that space. It is about how we can bring remote healthcare to islands by using technology. There is some very good work there.  Both Deputies McGuinness and Mac Lochlainn have spoken about rural fishing communities. I have asked Deputy Mac Lochlainn to provide me with the information in relation to the Faroe Islands. I certainly want to see how we can do in that. I will come back to the Deputies. A number of Deputies, including Deputy Conway-Walsh, raised seaweed harvesting. It is a traditional industry that we need to respect and regard.  Many Deputies have raised challenges in relation to Rural Link and Local Link. Equally, we have to acknowledge the massive transformation that has been made on Local Link in the last number of years. We have seen that in Mayo, led by Sarah Togher and her fantastic board. There has been a transformation of the service. Yes, we need to continue to investment and a number of areas have been challenged around that.  My colleague, Deputy Ryan O'Meara, raised community caf\u00e9s and community services. That is something I will seek to support in the new Our Rural Future. The community caf\u00e9 model is fantastic and it shows.  Many Deputies have spoken today about volunteers. The point I always make is that parents, young parents in particular, get very busy doing the runs and being in ten places at the one time for the same training, but could you imagine if there were no trainers? Imagine there was no local committee to do the training. Imagine there was nobody to give the drama classes. Life would be a lot more complicated then if people had to entertain the kids themselves. That volunteer spirit is what keeps rural Ireland going. Deputy Roche and a number of other Deputies referred to what we call the bureaucracy burden that we unintentionally place on volunteers. That is something I am committed to addressing. We have made changes to CCIF. LEADER is one of the programmes that comes back a lot as having a major bureaucracy element to it, and it does because it is cofunded. We have to make sure that the form filling and the necessary information is not frightening people off. That is something we are committed to.  A lot of issues were raised regarding businesses in rural areas. We face a major challenge. As we go online and become more online, we have to try to protect businesses and base businesses in rural areas. I am certainly open to ideas and proposals on how we can do that. If we can do that, while there is a generation who may never walk into a shop, we have to give them a reason to use and go to a town and a village, be it for schools, community events, sport or the activities I referred to earlier. That is why we invest in infrastructure. That is why we invest in community infrastructure in order to do that.  I thank all the Deputies for their contributions, including the Leas-Cheann Comhairle. We have taken that on board and we will incorporate it into Our Rural Future. Equally, we all have a job to drive this debate on within our groups and parties, but also to actually deliver changes that support rural communities. That is something that we want to lead on. Many Deputies have referred to this. There is no need to divide our country. At a time of such division internationally, there is no need to divide this country between urban and rural. Urban areas need rural communities and vice versa .  The west coast of Ireland is providing some leading healthcare, pharmaceutical and health technology. It is providing services and treatments around the world from rural brains and a rural sense of enterprise. It is a kind of enterprise or meitheal. I speak of this all over the country. Meitheal must be a Mayo thing. I am struck by the fact that people do not seem to realise the work that volunteers to do in coming together in common purpose is meitheal. It happens everywhere in the country, but that is driven from within rural communities. It is driven from the passion of rural communities - a passion that was in evidence in the Chamber today.  Gabhaim m\u00edle bu\u00edochas le gach duine as p\u00e1irt a ghlacadh sa d\u00edosp\u00f3ireacht seo inniu. Bh\u00ed s\u00e9 \u00fas\u00e1ideach. T\u00e1imid chun an polasa\u00ed nua a fhoilsi\u00fa i gceann c\u00fapla seachtain. T\u00e1im ag tn\u00fath go m\u00f3r leis an bpolasa\u00ed sin a chur i bhfeidhm. I am looking to the new draft, but, most importantly, the policy will not be the important thing. It is the action plan that will go with it. It will include measurable, ambitious actions that I will have no difficulty, as long as I am Minister in this Department, reporting back on. I will conclude by thanking all of the officials in my Department who work incredibly hard in this space. I especially thank each and every person across rural Ireland who volunteers in any format, in any organisation and in any club to make our rural communities stronger, more vibrant, more welcoming and more active. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Our Rural Future: Statements"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/dbsect_19","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Strengthening Workers' Rights: Motion [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":47,"speakerCount":30},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_19","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Guirke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donna McGettigan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Mythen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Mythen.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Mythen.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dessie Ellis","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  I move:  That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann:  recognises that the ongoing cost-of-living crisis is putting significant pressure on workers and their families as inflation continues to increase, eroding living standards and affordability for workers;  notes that:  \u2014 overall employment figures mask that one quarter of jobs in Ireland are considered \"poor quality\", characterised by low pay, insecurity, and poor working conditions;  \u2014 the findings of the 2026 Ireland Thinks poll, commissioned by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU), found that 52 per cent of workers do not believe they are paid fairly for the work that they do, and the figure is higher for women and people on lower incomes; and  \u2014 according to the Working In Ireland Survey 2026, 44 per cent of workers in Ireland that are not currently in a union would like to join one;  further notes that Ireland is an outlier in the European Union (EU), in not providing workers a statutory right to collective bargaining, and lags behind other EU member states in respect of paid statutory annual leave;  acknowledges:  \u2014 the ICTU \"Quality Employment and Good Jobs: The first steps to a new economic model\" policy document; and  \u2014 that the Northern Ireland Minister for the Economy, Caoimhe Archibald MLA, is currently proposing a good jobs Bill in the Northern Ireland Assembly, which represents the most significant piece of workers' rights legislation since devolution, and the European Commission is proposing a quality jobs roadmap;  affirms that trade union membership and collective bargaining have been shown to increase pay, productivity and employee retention, as well as having positive macroeconomic benefits;  condemns that, despite strong economic growth, Fianna F\u00e1il, Fine Gael and the Government Independents have rowed back on previous pledges to increase the statutory sick pay, and has delayed the move to a living wage until 2029; and  calls on the Government to:  \u2014 provide a legal right to collective bargaining through a union;  \u2014 provide unions with legal access to the workplace;  \u2014 bring the minimum wage into line with the living wage, and reverse the decision to delay its introduction until 2029; and  \u2014 increase access to flexible and remote working arrangements for employees.  I welcome the opportunity this evening during Trade Union Week to bring forward Sinn F\u00e9in's motion on strengthening workers' rights. I was delighted to work alongside colleagues from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions on this motion and to host their representatives in the audiovisual room earlier today for a briefing on their quality employment and good jobs policy document. That was Owen Reidy, Neil McGowan from SIPTU, and John Regan, the chair of the Meath Council of Trade Unions, along with my former Seanad colleague, Paul Gavan.  I want to welcome members from the trade union movement to the Public Gallery to follow tonight's debate. I acknowledge all the great work that has been done in that area, including to create a new, sustainable, economic model that meets many of the challenges we are facing today and that will bring us to a better future.  The purpose of this motion is twofold: to support workers through this cost-of-living crisis and to increase collective bargaining coverage across Ireland. The reality facing workers is becoming increasingly difficult. Workers have never worked so hard and struggled so much. Across the country, people are doing everything right: working long hours, contributing to their communities and keeping our economy moving yet still finding it harder and harder to make ends meet. Despite strong economic growth and the prospect of even larger budget surpluses this year, far too many workers are being left behind. Wages are being steadily eroded by soaring fuel costs, rising energy bills and everyday expenses that continue to climb.  The cost-of-living crisis has not gone away. It is persistent and placing enormous pressure on working people and their families. Workers are putting in more effort than ever before yet many feel undervalued and underpaid, and they are right. The Government's decision to delay the introduction of the living wage until 2029 sends an entirely wrong signal to workers. It tells them that their struggles can wait, but workers cannot wait and their families cannot wait. Relief is needed now, not years down the line. The delay is simply not acceptable.  We must look beyond headline employment figures. While employment levels may appear strong, they mask a deeper and more troubling reality. One in four jobs in Ireland is considered low-quality, characterised by low pay, insecurity and poor conditions. This is not good enough. Unions will tell you how poor job quality leads to burnout, ill-health and lower productivity. Fair pay, progression options, predictable hours, training opportunities, a voice in the workplace and a strong work-life balance all lead to greater productivity and improve competitiveness. Workers must be paid fairly, young and old, and across every sector. The evidence is clear. The 2026 Ireland Thinks poll commissioned by ICTU found that 52% of workers did not believe they were paid fairly for the work they did. That figure cannot be ignored.  Ireland continues to lag behind much of the European Union when it comes to workers' rights, particularly in relation to collective bargaining coverage. Only around one third of workers are currently covered, leaving far too many without a meaningful voice in their workplace. Recent announcements of potential job cuts at Facebook and Covalen serve as a stark reminder of how vulnerable workers can be without strong union protections. Strengthening collective bargaining is not just about fairness, but also delivering better pay, better conditions and a stronger, more productive economy.  That is why Sinn F\u00e9in is bringing forward this motion. The motion calls on the Government to reverse the delay of the national living wage, to legislate for a legal right to collective bargaining through trade unions and, above all, to ensure that unions have legal access to workplaces. I am sick and tired of workers telling me that they have to meet in caf\u00e9s and places where they will not be known to discuss their workers' rights with unions. The motion also calls for the expansion of access to flexible and remote working arrangements, supporting a better work-life balance and reducing costs for workers. These are practical and achievable measures that would make a real difference in people's lives. This motion reflects the growing frustration among workers but also reflects a clear and constructive path forward.  Today was an opportunity for us in this House to listen to unions and act on behalf of workers. Instead, the Government has produced an amendment that ignores all our calls, points the finger of blame elsewhere and will fail to deliver meaningful improvements to collective bargaining coverage across this country.  I commend my colleague in the North, Caoimhe Archibald, for the good jobs Bill. We need to have uniformity across the island for what we are trying to achieve here. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Guirke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Johnny Guirke  I welcome all the unions in the Gallery today and thank them for their ongoing work in standing up for workers' rights. I acknowledge the Northern Ireland Minister for the economy, Sinn F\u00e9in's Caoimhe Archibald MLA, who is currently proposing a good jobs Bill in the North of Ireland, which represents the most significant workers' rights legislation.  As we approach May Day, we are reminded that this is not just a moment of reflection, but a call to action and a time to reaffirm our commitment to securing workers' rights fit for the 21st century. Workers are the backbone of our society, yet here we are in 2026 when the State is awash with money but thousands of workers feel undervalued, underpaid and overlooked. They are working harder than ever but struggling more than ever as the cost-of-living crisis continues to bite in housing, groceries, childcare and healthcare. We believe it is essential to legislate to give workers and the trade unions the legal right to organise and to deliver a legal right to collective bargaining. The Government needs to provide that right to collective bargaining through a union and provide unions with legal access to the workplace. A figure of 52% of Government TDs supported a pledge for collective bargaining before the last general election, including the Minister, Deputy Burke. It reminds me of Pat Rabbitte saying that that is what you do during elections, namely, make promises.  While we are talking about workers' rights, we need to look at the rights of workers here in Leinster House, such as the Oireachtas broadcast workers and how unfairly they are being treated while being denied employment protections. I have previously highlighted the poor conditions under which Oireachtas broadcasting staff operate. They are paid a pittance, denied employment protections and forced to rely on social welfare when the Oireachtas is not sitting. They must go from the D\u00e1il to the dole when the House is in recess.  If this debate is truly about fairness, dignity and workers' rights, then we must also address the complete neglect of young workers. I want to acknowledge the concerns raised by the National Youth Council of Ireland. It has made it clear that young people are being left behind. Young workers starting off face the same cost-of-living pressure such as rent, insecure jobs, and higher insurance costs, hitting over \u20ac2,000 in a lot of cases. This is another cost that the Government has failed to get on top of.  We have seen good, decent people protest recently to stand up against the cost of living during the fuel protests. Instead of being on the side of workers - the very people who keep this country running - threats were issued by Ministers who chose escalation over talks. We need the minimum wage in line with the living wage. Further delays until 2029 should be scrapped and it should happen now.  A figure of 52% of workers do not believe they are fairly paid for the work they do, and the figure is higher for women and people on lower incomes. Workers deserve fair pay for the work they do and safe working conditions. They deserve protections so that if they highlight health and safety issues, they will not be penalised and lose their jobs. Just today, one worker contacted our office and stated how many workers in the workplace were afraid to join their union, SIPTU, for fear of losing their jobs.  It is time this Government stood up for all workers in Ireland and supported this legislation, which will enhance workers' rights. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  I thank my colleagues, Deputies Conway-Walsh and Guirke, for bringing forward this motion this evening. I also want to welcome some of my former colleagues, friends of mine and, indeed, brothers and sisters in the Public Gallery. I will take this opportunity to wish the Leas Ceann Comhairle, everyone here and beyond a happy May Day for next Friday.  Next Friday, I will join my dad, who was a union official, and we will march in the Dublin Council of Trade Unions' May Day march, as we have done every May Day. I do not think I have ever missed one and I highly doubt my dad has missed one either. As we march, we will remember my mam, who was a very dedicated and committed trade unionist for all of her life. She believed in the power of the unions. She understood the power of collective effort. She understood that we were stronger together, stronger against this anti-worker Government.  We all know the best way for workers to protect or enhance their terms and conditions of employment is not just to join their trade union but to be active in their trade union. It is not our job as legislators to organise workers, that job falls to the people in the Gallery, but it is our job as legislators to create those conditions and that is exactly what this motion attempts to do. The Government\u2019s countermotion is shameless and the Minister knows it is. He is shameless to come in here and try to propose it, but sure, of course, that is what he does.  There is a reason Covalen does not recognise the Communication Workers Union, CWU. The main reason is because it does not have to. The fact that the company does not puts its workers at a disadvantage. When workers look around and wonder who is in their corner, their union is in their corner, the ICTU is in their corner and Sinn F\u00e9in is in their corner, but the Government is on the opposite side. There is a reason those workers cannot get recognition and that is because the Government simply will not act. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  As we move towards May Day, we recognise the proud tradition of the trade union movement and all those women and men who have served, joined and organised. As working-class people, we know that every time our class, the workers, has made an advance and a gain, it is because they struggled, fought for it and stood up and were counted.  I am very proud to come from Waterford, a county and a city imbued with a strong trade union tradition. I have been a member of a trade union since I was a teenager. It was Mandate first and then the Amalgamated Transport and General Workers Union, ATGWU, now UNITE the Union. I am still very proud to be a member of the Dungarvan branch of UNITE the Union.  Workers today are under sustained pressure from a deepening cost of living crisis and, in that context, it is even worse that the Government is trying to delay, prevaricate and hold back progress on workers\u2019 rights, so that trade unions, those people who workers select and elect to stand up for them in the workplace, are not even allowed to get into the workplace to make representations on their behalf and to meet workers to increase union density. This is the Government taking a side. It is taking the side it has always taken, that is, the side of the bosses. We have seen it when it comes to the Debenhams workers in Waterford and across the State. We have seen it when it comes to workers in all types of sectors, whether they are working in retail, in an abattoir, on a factory floor, as a winch operator on a search-and-rescue aircraft serving this State or as a special needs assistant, SNA, it does not really matter. The Government seems to have the approach that it is always about holding them back, holding back progress and frustrating the trade union movement and its ability to do its work and to stand up for workers.  It has already been said, but the countermotion put forward by the Government is shameful. Sadly, though, it is not shocking and not surprising. At the end of this week, on May Day, as workers reflect on who has their backs, they know it is their trade union and us Sinn F\u00e9in members and others in the Opposition. They know it quite clearly because they see both sides of the equation. They see the increasing costs and increasingly difficult nature of life and getting by, for workers and families. They also see the other side of things, where going to work is becoming more and more difficult for those who want to have dignity and fairness in the workplace. This situation is being made more difficult by the Minister and his Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joanna Byrne  I never imagined that I, as a first-time TD, would still need to speak about workers\u2019 rights, rates of pay and fairness in employment. The phrase, \u201ca decent day\u2019s pay for an honest day\u2019s work\u201d, should have been long retired before 2026. This debate, which should not even be a debate, has been around since before I was born and before my parents and grandparents were born. The points being raised here are the same points raised for decades, with just a few modern adjustments, such as the right to remote work.  However, we have to remember who has been in Government all that time. It is crazy to think that the Government parties have commemorated the 1913 Dublin Lockout and lauded the bravery of the workers taking on the big businesses, but 113 years later, it is still denying the workers trade union rights. This is why this motion has been brought in co-ordination with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, reflecting Sinn F\u00e9in\u2019s ongoing engagement with the trade union movement and as part of Sinn F\u00e9in\u2019s broader campaign to tackle the cost-of-living crisis and to strengthen workers\u2019 rights and collective bargaining.  There are a lot of jobs, but one in four jobs is low paid, insecure or lacking in decent conditions. The fear these workers have - and I ask the Minister to get it into his head that they are workers - is not a feeling that anyone in this State should be experiencing in this supposedly wealthy country in 2026. It is easy to have a budget surplus if money is not spent adequately and efficiently to resolve the problems in the country.  Workers deserve fair pay, secure jobs and a stronger voice in the workplace. I doubt that even the do-nothing Government\u2019s spokespeople could have a counter-argument for that point. To support workers to organise and facilitate greater trade union membership, Sinn F\u00e9in and the trade unions are calling on the Government to provide a legal right to collective bargaining through a union and to introduce a right for trade unions to access workplaces. The countermotion is an absolute insult to every worker right around this nation and I urge the Minister to listen to the contributions tonight, reflect on them and withdraw it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donna McGettigan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donna McGettigan  The cost-of-living crisis is putting significant pressure on workers and families. Bills are rising, rents are soaring and wages are simply not keeping pace. While employment figures are often hailed as good news, they only tell part of the story, because behind those headline numbers is a reality this Government refuses to face. One quarter of jobs in Ireland are considered poor quality, characterised by low pay, insecurity and poor working conditions. That is not a success; that is a failure of political choices, and workers know that. That is why 44% of workers in Ireland who are not currently in a union say they would like to join one. They understand that collective strength is the only real protection against exploitation. Trade union membership has for many years been proven to deliver better pay, better conditions and dignity at work.  Let me bring this beyond statistics, though, to what it means for real lives. I have been contacted by carers in County Clare struggling with the cost of living. County Clare is predominantly rural, so one carer, Jean, travels 44 km between one client and the next. She has no choice but to put fuel in her car, or her clients will be without care. Yet Jean is now at the point where she can barely afford to go to work, never mind work, and she is living pay cheque to pay cheque. Others have told me they are having to borrow money during the week just to make it to their next payday. This is not just difficult; it is completely unsustainable. It means that if something goes wrong, such as a much-needed car breaks down or medical issues arise, there is no safety net, no contingency fund, and this is the reality for far too many workers.  In fact, workers are worse off today than they were at the start of 2022, and were forgotten about in the last budget by the Minister\u2019s Government. We see the same pattern when we look at apprentices. We are being told by apprentices themselves that the supports available to them are not fit for purpose. I have met many apprentices and through our work on the relevant committee we have heard consistently that being paid well below the minimum wage acts as a barrier to participation. It pushes people out. Apprentices are leaving their training to take up better-paid jobs just to survive, or they are leaving the country, their home, altogether for a better life elsewhere. At the very same time, we are told we need more apprentices in construction. The situation simply does not add up. The Connect trade union has rightly described the situation as poverty pay.  I am asking whose side the Government is on. Sinn F\u00e9in stands firmly on the side of workers. In case the Minister asks about the North, Caoimhe Archibald is introducing a good jobs employment rights Bill to significantly enhance workers\u2019 rights. We believe work must pay and that nobody who goes out to earn a living should be forced into hardship. Workers built this economy and sustain it every day. It is time they are treated with the respect and protection they deserve. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sorca Clarke  I too want to welcome our union representatives in the Gallery and commend them for the work they do, day in and day out, representing workers across the country.  Workers are tired. They are tired of hearing that the economy is thriving while they struggle from week to week. The Government boasts about growth in exports and record employment, but workers cannot pay sky-high bills or meet the rising fuel costs with GDP figures, and nor can they buy groceries with headlines about surpluses.  The reality is that for the last number of weeks, the Government has fallen over itself to tell the good and great that the fuel allowance has been extended to over 50,000 working families who rely on the working family payment. If work paid properly, however, then families would not need the State to top up their wages. Inequality is not spread evenly. In Longford-Westmeath, disposable income is between 15% and 25% below average. This means that workers in my area, which is also the Minister\u2019s area, are being asked to cope on lower incomes while they face the same rising costs for food, energy, childcare and housing as everybody else.  When this Government delays the living wage until 2029, who does the Government think is carrying that burden? It is not those at the top; it is the workers in counties like Longford and Westmeath and families already stretched to the limit. Over half of workers say they are not paid fairly. One in four jobs is classed as poor quality. Nearly half of non-union workers say they would join a union if they could. Workers should have the legal right to collective bargaining, union access to workplaces, a living wage and stronger rights to flexible and remote working. The Government should stop pretending that national growth figures mean everybody is prospering; they are not. They certainly are not in Longford and they certainly are not in Westmeath and nor are any of those 50,000 families relying on State wage supports.  If the Government truly believes in rewarding work, it is time to prove it. I ask the Minister to withdraw his amendment and support this motion, workers, and fair pay. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (Deputy Peter Burke)  I move amendment No. 1:  To delete all words after \"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann\" and substitute the following:  \"recognises that:  \u2014 Ireland has experienced significant global inflationary pressures arising from international shocks, including energy price volatility, supply chain disruption and geopolitical instability, which have increased pressures on households and businesses; and  \u2014 protecting jobs, sustaining economic competitiveness, and supporting living standards must be progressed in a balanced and sustainable manner;  notes that:  \u2014 Ireland continues to maintain near full employment, with historically high labour force participation and rising average earnings across the economy;  \u2014 the Government has introduced a comprehensive and record series of cost of living supports in recent years, targeted at workers on low and middle incomes, including reductions in Income Tax, increases in tax credits, and enhanced social protections;  \u2014 while some countries awaited the outcome of proceedings before the Court of Justice of the European Union on the Adequate Minimum Wages Directive, the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment remained committed to progressing and delivering the Action Plan to Promote Collective Bargaining 2026-2030 (the Plan), irrespective of the Court's decision, and fulfilled that commitment;  \u2014 implementation of the Plan in Ireland is well underway, with 22 actions to be delivered over the duration 2026\u20132030, a technical sub-group of Labour Employer Economic Forum, LEEF, consisting of Department officials and social partners are overseeing the implementation process, with a robust monitoring framework in place, including a mid-term review scheduled for 2028, this phased and responsive approach will ensure the continued relevance of the Plan in the context of evolving labour market conditions and the collective bargaining landscape;  \u2014 Ireland has a robust suite of employment rights protections which have been significantly enhanced in recent years, including through the introduction of statutory sick pay, the right to request remote and flexible work, a new public holiday, protections for tips and gratuities, enhanced parental and carers' leave, and regular increases to the national minimum wage; and  \u2014 the statutory minimum wage has increased consistently under successive Governments and is set according to the transparent and evidence-based recommendations of the Low Pay Commission;  acknowledges that:  \u2014 social dialogue remains the cornerstone of Ireland's industrial relations framework;  \u2014 trade unions, employers and the State all have an important role to play in maintaining constructive industrial relations, promoting productivity, and supporting sustainable wage growth;  \u2014 ongoing consultation at European Union (EU) level, including discussions on a Quality Jobs Roadmap, provides an opportunity to share best practice and learn from other member states;  \u2014 a strong economy is essential to funding public services, sustaining employment, and enabling continued improvements in workers' rights and living standards; and  \u2014 changes to employment law must be carefully calibrated to protect workers while avoiding unintended consequences for small and medium sized enterprises, competitiveness, and job creation; and  reaffirms our commitment to:  \u2014 advancing measures to strengthen collective bargaining participation in line with EU obligations, while respecting Ireland's voluntary industrial relations tradition;  \u2014 supporting flexible and remote working through existing legislative frameworks and guidance, balancing employee needs with operational requirements of employers;  \u2014 engaging with trade unions, employers and stakeholders including through LEEF, the Workplace Relations Commission and Labour Court to promote high quality, secure and productive employment; and  \u2014 keep the adequacy of the minimum wage under ongoing review through the Low Pay Commission, with the objective of improving living standards while safeguarding jobs.\".  Recent action by this Government has resulted in improved conditions for workers, and we have driven many positive and progressive changes over the past few years. I wish to take the opportunity to speak about some of these this evening.  First, I must point out that there is no constitutional or legal impediment which prevents parties who wish to exercise their right to collectively bargain from freely doing so in Ireland. There is an extensive range of statutory provisions designed to back up the voluntary bargaining process. Ireland\u2019s action plan to promote collective bargaining, launched in November 2025, demonstrates the Government\u2019s clear commitment to strengthening the industrial relations framework and improving the quality of working life. Implementation of the action plan is well under way and is overseen by a technical subgroup of LEEF, consisting of officials from the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment and the social partners. The subgroup meets on a regular basis to provide structured oversight, monitor progress and ensure the phased implementation of actions in a manner that remains responsive to emerging issues and stakeholder feedback. This governance arrangement supports effective delivery of the action plan while maintaining flexibility to adapt to evolving labour market and policy priorities.  At the heart of the plan are 22 targeted actions across five strategic pillars. These focus on strengthening the evidence-base for collective bargaining, building capacity and awareness, promoting good collective bargaining practices, protecting existing rights and reinforcing the key institutions which support our industrial relations system. A mid-term review in 2028 will allow us to assess progress and ensure the action plan remains responsive to a changing and dynamic labour market. Officials in my Department have initiated discussions with the Office of Government Procurement to determine practical steps for implementing a pilot project, which would examine the incorporation of collectively bargained agreements as a weighting factor in public procurement processes. Progress is also under way to identify and reward best-practices by employers in the space of collective bargaining.  There has been a significant and lasting shift in attitudes towards remote working in recent years. Central Statistics Office data shows that almost 1 million people were working from home, either usually or sometimes, in the fourth quarter of 2025. That figure has remained broadly stable since the pandemic. Recognising the changing dynamics of the workplace, the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023 provided all workers the right to request remote working in March 2024. Ireland was among the first in the EU to introduce a right to request remote working. The legislation is accompanied by a code of practice which provides guidance for employers and employees on how to comply with this legislation.  My Department just recently concluded a statutory review of the operation of the right to request remote working legislation and a report of the review was laid before the Houses on 5 March this year. The findings of the review were informed by a nationally representative survey; a public consultation which received more than 8,000 responses; and engagement with the Workplace Relations Commission, employer and employee representatives and the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality. The review found that when used, the legislation works effectively. Some 94% of requests are approved either fully or partially, demonstrating that the legislation can facilitate compromise. The reported level of administrative burden is also low.  However, a key finding is that the challenge is awareness, with fewer than half of employees being aware of their right to request remote working. To address this finding and others identified by the review, the Department will implement recommendations from it, including a national information campaign to drive awareness and encourage increased use of the legislation. We will also request the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, to revise the code of practice to support use of the legislation. These actions complement the range of measures the Government is undertaking to facilitate and encourage uptake of remote and flexible working, including the code of practice and the right to disconnect, the tax deduction for home working, which was placed on a statutory basis in January 2022, the national hub network, which has been underpinned by significant Government investment, and the completion of the installation of high-speed fibre broadband. These measures are accompanied by supports for flexible working, including the revised code of practice on access to part-time working, which was signed into law in January this year. The revised code was prepared by the WRC in consultation with the social partners. The updated code provides practical guidance to help employers and employees agree part-time arrangements which support flexible and modern workplaces.  Irish employment rights legislation has also been progressive in terms of prohibiting zero-hour contracts in most cases and the provision of banded hours to enable workers to obtain more secure and predictable working hours. These provisions were introduced in 2018 through the Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, amending the Organisation of Working Time Act. Under the Act, zero-hour contracts are largely prohibited, except for genuine casual or emergency work. Where zero-hour contracts are permitted, employees are entitled to compensation if required to be available but not given work. The Act also provides for a right for an employee whose contract of employment does not reflect the reality of the hours they normally work. An employee who believes their contract does not reflect the hours they have consistently worked over the previous 12 months of service may request to be placed on a band of hours that better reflects the hours they have worked regularly. These provisions significantly improve the predictability and security of working hours for employees.  The introduction of statutory sick leave in January 2023, marked a key policy development for Ireland. For the first time, employees received a statutory right to employer-paid sick leave. It gives workers an income protection for up to five days in the calendar year should they be unfit for work, paid at 70% of gross earnings, up to a daily cap of \u20ac110. That provides a crucial safety net to workers who become ill. It again underscores the Government\u2019s commitment to progressive employment law and the protection, welfare, and well-being of Ireland's workforce. Originally three days, the entitlement was increased to five days in 2024. Since the introduction of the Sick Leave Act in 2023 and the subsequent increase in entitlement to sick leave to five days in 2024, business owners and representative organisations, particularly in the retail and hospitality sectors, have consistently raised concerns about the cumulative impact of such regulatory measures in the light of rising labour, input and energy costs. Research conducted by the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service, IGEES, along with officials in this Department show that firms in the retail, accommodation and food services sectors would likely to have been more affected if the statutory sick leave entitlement increased from five days to seven days. The research was published on the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment website on Monday, 14 April. On the basis of this research, I made the decision that five days sick leave strikes the right balance. It gives workers income protection for five days, after which illness benefit is there to support them.  Turning to the introduction of the living wage, I wish to make clear at the outset that the Government remains fully committed to ensuring fair wages for low-paid workers in our economy, and I also highlight the real progress we have made in raising the national minimum wage in recent years, by way of substantial increases.  Since 2020, the national minimum wage has increased by 40%, from \u20ac10.10 to today\u2019s rate of \u20ac14.15 an hour. This includes a 12% increase in 2024, a further increase of more than 6% in 2025, and an additional rise of almost 5% at the start of this year. These increases were well ahead of inflation and have delivered substantial, real-wage growth for the lowest-paid workers in our economy. The Government is committed to the progression to a living wage, set at 60% of the median hourly wages during its lifetime, and to promoting positive working conditions across the economy. However, it is also important to maintain a regulatory environment that allows businesses to remain viable, and to continue to provide quality jobs. It was in that context that last year, as part of measures designed to bolster resilience and support competitiveness, the Government agreed to adjust the timeline for the progression until 2029. This decision should be considered in the context of the recent significant increases in the minimum wage, as I have already outlined, and the progress achieved in reaching a living wage.  The Low Pay Commission, using CSO earnings data, has estimated that the 2025 national minimum wage represented just under 60% of median hourly earnings, and approximately 56% using labour force survey data, underlining the significant progress already achieved. The Government, therefore, believes that any further increases in the national minimum wage must continue to be managed in a sustainable way, and one that does not threaten employment or competitiveness.  This is particularly important for sectors such as hospitality, food services and retail, where employers continue to face significant cost pressures in respect of labour, regulatory costs and energy costs. The Government\u2019s objective is to support low-paid workers while protecting the viability of the businesses that employ them.  The Government carefully considers the recommendations of the Low Pay Commission when determining the appropriate national minimum wage. The commission, when making its recommendation for the minimum wage, has a statutory obligation to have regard----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I thank the Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  I can put the rest on the record of the House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Please do. I call Deputy Devine. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy M\u00e1ire Devine  With paltry sick leave and a living wage kicked to touch, in his contribution, the Minister did not do an awful lot to instil confidence. His first point was that \"nothing prevents parties who wish to exercise their right to collectively bargain\". He can tell that to the 700 workers in Covalen. I do not think they would find that very comforting at all. Trade unions are the only organisations that protect the rights and interests of workers, yet in our country, which has a long history of struggle and union activism, is an outlier in Europe. Workers have no right to collective bargaining. Employers holds the cards \u2013 their veto \u2013 and can refuse to engage with unions, which happens. That creates a chilling effect for workers in the context of job security and the quality of their well-being.  The voluntary system is unfair, one-sided and very short-sighted. It flies in the face of our obligations under international human rights law. It is counterproductive for thriving, successful enterprises and services. In fact, collective bargaining secures industrial peace and economic stability. It respects workers and employers and establishes mature dialogue and has been shown to prevent much industrial action. All other European states legislate for this, and most avoid strikes and stoppages. They reap the rewards of rewarding workers for productivity, innovation and ownership. Those rewards support industrial peace, economic stability and success. Workers have a democratic right to be collectively represented by trade unions.  This Government, including the Minister, made a pledge It should honour that now. The counter-motion is an embarrassment. The Minister made a pre-election pledge, and now he comes along with this. It is time to step up to the plate and deliver. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Maurice Quinlivan  I am proud member of a trade union, SIPTU, and have been for almost 20 years. When I lived in America, I was a member of the services union 32B\/32J. I was delighted to see the positive impact that the support from that union had on the election last year of Mayor Zohran Mamdani in New York city.  A survey from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions has found that more than half of workers believe their pay does not match their skills and effort. Figures published by the European Commission in 2025 show that one in five employees in Ireland is classified as a low-wage earner. The proportion of Irish workers deemed low-wage earners has effectively remained unchanged since a similar study on earnings was conducted in 2018. The Minister can spin it whatever way he wants, but the Governments of which he has been a member have not addressed the issue of low pay.  As a minimum, we need to start with the introduction of a statutory living wage. The latter has been pushed back to January 2029. This needs to be delivered now and not in three years' time. The 200,000 workers impacted cannot wait; the rising cost of necessities dictates that they cannot afford to wait. Our plan for a living wage includes safeguards for SMEs that may struggle to meet the cost involved and offers exemptions for financially vulnerable businesses. A living wage is necessary to stop the epidemic of low-paid and often precarious work in Ireland. At the same time, we need to help workers and their families to address the rising cost of living, particularly as it relates to rent, transport, and energy.  We also need to legislate for the right to collective bargaining and guaranteed union access to workplaces. The way to drive productivity is to invest in people and improve employment protections. Trade unions deliver better pay and conditions and a stronger and more productive economy, so why is there no urgency to deliver collective bargaining? As usual, when there is a choice to be made Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael will always side with employers as opposed to the workers because they know when there is collective bargaining, their rights are stronger, with better pay and better conditions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I commend the union leaders who are here. I also commend union leaders for the work they have done. Maybe more robust action will be needed in the future. We saw the fuel protests, which involved workers at the end of their tethers who had been given no choice. We see the huge impact of increases in the cost of fuel, which were caused by madness abroad - we accept that and it should be called out \u2013 but as much as we have insanity abroad, we need to see sanity here. Those in power need to deliver for workers who are under severe pressure. We hear that the price of wholesale electricity rose by 19.2% in February and March. Then there is kerosene. The Government might not have done enough in relation to green diesel, petrol or diesel, but it has done nothing for those who need to heat their homes. That is an absolute disgrace.  What are we talking about here? We are talking about fair pay and that delivery on the promises made in relation to the minimum wage will not be delayed. We are still talking about a right to collective bargaining and a right of access to the workplace. It is hard to believe that we are still having these conversations in 2026. What have we heard in the news? We have heard about Meta contractor Covalen and the possibility of 700 workers here losing their jobs. In PayPal, 63 jobs have been lost. As much as people tell me that this does not relate to AI, I am afraid that a considerable amount of it is displacement. I know there is no collective bargaining there. That is workers having to set themselves up with incredibly resourced managerial operations. It is not fair in any way, shape or form. We need to see delivery. What we have seen from the Minister in his contribution this evening is continued failure in relation to workers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Crowe  One quarter of jobs in this State are classified as involving low pay, insecurity and poor working conditions. The best way to increase pay, productivity and employee retention is through trade unions and collective bargaining. This is especially true at a time when rising inflation and external shocks are having a deep impact on living standards and affordability for workers and their families. I have been a member of a trade union, the ITGWU and SIPTU, long before I ever became a TD.  One third of workers under 20 years are making less than the minimum wage. Why does an 18-year-old hold less value than a 21-year-old? It is simply a licence for businesses to exploit the labour of the young. They face the same cost-of-living crisis as other workers, fuel prices and rent costs among them. The Government is condemning another generation of young workers to live with their parents, denying them a start of life of their own until they are in their 30s or 40s. It will not come as a shock or surprise that this Government has kicked the can down the road on abolishing sub-minimum rates of pay for young people until 2029. If only it were so simple to defer the cost-of-living crisis.  Equal pay for equal work was a radical concept more than 100 years ago. It should be the norm for men and women in the 21st century. All workers deserve fairness, dignity and respect for their rights, regardless of their age or gender. We must not only bring the minimum wage into line with the living wage but also reverse the decision to delay its introduction until 2029. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Mythen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Mythen.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Mythen.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Johnny Mythen  I also wish to welcome the trade unionists who are in the Gallery tonight. I thank Deputies Conway-Walsh and Guirke and the Sinn F\u00e9in team for bringing forward this motion. It is a very apt and important motion as we approach 1 May, which is workers\u2019 day around the world, and celebrate trade union week. It is a time when we remind ourselves of the working class struggle when citizens were treated no better than slaves, working themselves to the bone for a few scraps from the rich man\u2019s table to feed their families.  In our country, we have working-class heroes such as Connolly and Larkin, to name but two. They knew the true value and power of workers standing together to achieve decent conditions and decent wages. When we fast forward to today, we find that 75% of companies in Ireland will not indulge in collective bargaining with trade unions. In fact, the practice of union busting is rampant. The irony is those same companies often receive public contracts and grants funded by taxpaying workers to the tune of millions. Successive Governments have stood idly by. For years, they played a salient role in denying and voting against legislation to allow workers the right to collective bargaining year after year. Eighty-nine TDs signed a pledge to support collective bargaining, but they are complicit in accepting companies banning access to union representatives to workplaces and the exploitation of 200,000 low-paid workers.  The Government's action plan is a knee-jerk response to the European Union directive to increase collective bargaining to 80%. One has to ask why any Government would stall until 2026 to put together a so-called action plan to accept collective bargaining as a right of working people to protect their jobs and conditions. Workers deserve to be treated better. It is they who provide the skills. It is they who keep the wheels of industry turning. The Minister can legislate for the right to collective bargaining now. He can include in any Government contract the right of trade union representatives to access the working place now. He can deliver a living wage now. He can expand remote working rights now. Then again, as Connolly would have said, whose side is the Minister really on?  I urge all TDs to support this motion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy George Lawlor  We in the Labour Party are pleased to support this motion. I am pleased to move the amendment in my name and those of my Labour Party colleagues. This debate goes to the heart of what kind of economy we want----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy Lawlor cannot move the amendment yet. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy George Lawlor  Okay. I am still learning. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  So am I. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy George Lawlor  This debate goes to the heart of what kind of economy and society we want, and what value we place on the people whose work keeps this country running every single day. We are living through a cost-of-living crisis that has not eased and shows no sign of easing in any way, any time soon, for ordinary households. Inflation may fluctuate on paper but its impact is felt in every weekly shopping bill, every rent payment, and every energy bill. Workers are doing everything. They are working hard, contributing to the economy and paying their taxes, yet too many workers still find themselves struggling to get by, week in, week out. This weekly struggle is not inevitable. It is the result of political choices.  I listened with interest to this afternoon's Taoiseach's Questions, where An Taoiseach spoke about how he represented workers and not billionaires. The simple fact is that this Government is one of the most anti-worker Governments to govern in this Chamber. While this Government often points to record unemployment levels, those headline figures mask a deeper problem. As has been said already, one quarter of all jobs in Ireland are classified as poor quality, low paid, insecure, and absolutely lacking basic protections. This is not a small minority. It is a major issue in our labour market. Workers are telling us this. The 2026 Ireland Thinks poll, commissioned by ICTU, found that 52% of workers did not believe that they were paid fairly for the work they did. That figure was even higher for women and those on lower incomes. The working in Ireland survey shows that 44% of workers who are not currently in a union would join one if they had the opportunity. That is a powerful indication of a demand for collective representation, yet Ireland remains an outlier in the European Union. We still do not provide a statutory right to collective bargaining. We lag behind other EU member states on paid annual leave, and while other jurisdictions, including Northern Ireland, are moving forward with ambitious, good jobs legislation, this Government has stalled, delayed and diluted its commitments.  The evidence is clear for all to see. Trade union membership and collective bargaining raise pay, improve productivity and reduce staff turnover. They strengthen the economy as a whole but instead of embracing these benefits, the Government has rolled back on statutory sick pay commitments and delayed the introduction of a living wage until 2029. That delay leaves low-paid workers exposed for years to come. This is why this motion calls for a legal right to collective bargaining, for workplace access for unions, for aligning the minimum wage with the living wage, and for expanding access to flexible and remote work.  Motions and Bills that the Labour Party has brought forward in this Chamber have been vehemently opposed by this Government. They are not even being facilitated to go to Second Stage for fear of upsetting big business and the friends in high places. These are not radical demands. They are basic standards in many European countries. Imagine us having the audacity to demand that employers attend joint labour committee, JLC, talks. Upstairs downstairs is alive and well in the bastions of Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael. We must call out the Government's recent decisions that have repeatedly undermined workers' rights and living standards. That is why the amendment we propose is necessary. Our amendment notes that in budget 2026, the Government provided a VAT reduction to the hospitality sector costing \u20ac232 million in 2026 and \u20ac681 million in 2027, with no requirement that employers engage with trade unions or participate in joint labour committees. This is a sector where low pay and precarious work are widespread, yet the Government attaches no conditions to ensure that workers would benefit.  The Government failed to index income tax bands and credits in line with the wage code for PAYE and self-employed workers. At the same time, it introduced an improved diesel rebate scheme backdated to January 2026, and other sectoral fuel supports. Once again, ordinary workers were left behind while selective reliefs were prioritised. Since the general election, the Government has repeatedly voted down Labour Party legislation designed to strengthen workers' rights, including Bills to end age-based pay discrimination by abolishing subminimum rates for young people and ensuring that apprentices and interns receive at least the minimum wage, Bills to strengthen sectoral wage-setting through JLCs by ending the employer's veto, a Bill to provide a real right to remote and flexible work, not merely a right to request it, and the introduction of statutory paid medical leave for cancer screening. The Government is on course to miss the mandatory deadline of 7 June 2026 for transposing the EU pay transparency directive, a directive designed to close the gender pay gap and empower workers with information that they are entitled to. These are not isolated oversights. They form a pattern of choices that consistently favour employers over employees and short-term political convenience over long-term fairness.  Our amendment will call on the Government to take the actions that workers urgently need, including the introduction of a cost-of-living mini-budget to index income tax bands and credits in 2026, backdated to January just like the others, alongside targeted energy credits and other supports funded by a levy on windfall energy profits and reversing the hospitality VAT cut. It calls on the Government to commit to ending age-based pay discrimination and the poverty wages imposed on young workers, to increase statutory sick leave to ten days as originally promised when the legislation was introduced during the pandemic, and to bring forward legislation before the summer recess to fully implement the pay transparency directive.  This motion, which would be strengthened by the Labour Party amendment, is about fairness, dignity and economic justice. It is about ensuring that work pays and that the prosperity of this country is shared by those who create it, day in, day out. Workers are not asking for special treatment. They are asking for a fair deal. They are asking for a Government that listens, acts and recognises that a strong economy is built on strong rights, strong protections and strong collective bargaining. I look forward to attending the May Day celebrations at the Lock-out Gate, commemorating the 1911 Wexford lock-out, next Friday evening. I urge anybody who is available to attend those. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  I am pleased to speak in support of the motion. I commend colleagues in Sinn F\u00e9in for deciding to use their weekly Private Member's time to advance the argument for a fairer deal for working people in this country with the support of ICTU colleagues. Many trade union friends and colleagues are in the Gallery this evening and watching online. We rightly spend a lot of time in this House making the case for emergency financial support for working people who are struggling to pay the bills, keep food on the table, and merely keep the lights on. It is partly why the Labour amendment questions the decision to continue with a massive wealth transfer to growing hospitality businesses, money that ought to have been used instead to allow working people to pay a little less income tax this year. It is why we have also said, in the amendment referred to by my colleague, Deputy Lawlor, that young workers must be paid at least the same legal minimum wage rate as the adult colleagues who work alongside them.  We spend less time in this Chamber and elsewhere asking ourselves why people who work hard for a living are seeing their living standards slip and their hope for a better future disappear, no matter the shifts that they put in. We rarely ask ourselves what structural problems we are experiencing in this country and what detailed legislative, administrative, regulatory and policy changes we need to introduce to consign that problem, in this rich country, to history.  This timely motion goes to the heart of the problem. The Irish exceptionalism on full collective bargaining rights, the norm across the European Union, simply needs to end. We are European when it suits us and Atlanticists when it does not. If I hear one more time from the Minister or any of his colleagues that the voluntarist model of industrial relations is working, I will scream. It is a sham and a scam. It is intellectually and politically dishonest. It is an observable fact the world over that economies with industrial strategies that embed strong legislative frameworks and cultural norms of trade union access and collective bargaining rights are the best, most productive and most innovative economies on the planet.  It is why Denmark, Finland, Germany and Sweden are well ahead of us. It is why they will continue to be ahead of us and to be more competitive. The voluntarist model has not served working people well. Why? One in five working people is low paid. A plethora of economic sectors are addicted to low pay, subsidised by the State. There is a broken social contract and rising welfare supports for the working poor, rather than the alternative. What is the alternative? Better legal collective bargaining arrangements backed by the State to more fairly distribute the fruits of the labour of PAYE workers. Neither has the voluntarist model served the interests of our economy, if we are to be honest with one another.  Collective bargaining gives certainty to business and the economy. Change is negotiated. Skills are enhanced. Innovation happens in a planned way. True competitiveness is maintained, rather than a race to the bottom for short-term profit over long-term sustainability.  The evidence for collective bargaining is there but it is now clear, despite the Minister's claims to the contrary, that this is a Government with an ideological opposition to collective bargaining. It is on the wrong side of history. I am intrigued by the claim in the countermotion about the action plan on collective bargaining. It is very interesting. Yes, some actions have been delivered - the low-hanging fruit, not the difficult, challenging parts. The Minister is part of a jammy Government - a Government that is presiding over the fruits of an economic surplus and of unparalleled and uninterrupted growth. It is nothing to do with the genius of Fine Gael and Fianna F\u00e1il. It has fallen into their lap but they do not know how to make this rich country that feels so poor better for the majority of us. Sometimes the stories we tell ourselves as a country, we simply do not recognise. Any of us who cares about our country can and should be proud of our economic success but it is what is done with that success that matters. I looked at the Government countermotion and it confounds me as a representative of working people. Why would a Government in a rich country renege on a solemn promise made before the election to introduce modest extended sick pay schemes and put a commitment made to the lowest paid for a real living wage on the never-never? It is proof, if needed, that were it not for the Labour Party establishing the Low Pay Commission 11 years ago, we would not have seen annual rises in the national minimum wage each year since 2015.  I commend our colleagues on introducing this motion. We support it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  I wish everybody in this House a happy May Day this Friday. I particularly extend that to the staff in Leinster House who work so hard to allow us as representatives to do our jobs and work so hard. Of course, many of the staff here are union members.  I thank Sinn F\u00e9in for bringing forward this motion, which succinctly captures the four key issues we need to address and strengthen workers' rights in this country: recognising collective bargaining, giving unions access to the workplace so they can recruit and organise, matching the minimum wage with the living wage, and finally dealing with remote and flexible working in a way that works, not in a way that simply pays lip service to it. We are an outlier in Europe in not recognising unions. That is a problematic issue in many areas I have dealt with in my portfolio dealing with employment. The voluntarist system does not work. I have worked in the private sector and the public sector and I have owned my own business, so I understand why the voluntarist system cannot work. It is because if a company is driven by profit, it does not ever choose to recognise workers' rights over shareholders' interests. It will never be something it will choose to do or volunteer to do. What the voluntarist system tries to do will never work because the power imbalance is too out of kilter.  I was at an event recently and heard a European commentator describe von der Leyen's approach on this European Union Administration as uncritically pro-business. That is an absolutely perfect term to capture the attitude of this Government: uncritically pro-business. In so many decisions it makes, policies it designs and laws it enacts, it thinks about business and how the market can solve our problems, to the detriment of all other interests in society. That is how it chooses to address this and that is why we persistently keep this voluntarist model we all know does not work.  We have heard a lot about the Covalen workers today. I joined those workers on their strike in Sandyford in my constituency a number of months back, when 300 jobs were under threat - never mind the 700 now under threat. They are part of the Communications Workers' Union. I then attended the digital and tech workers alliance chapter of that union. It is so hard for unions to recruit. People will ask why they should bother signing up to a union because when it goes to the negotiating table, it has no power to drive the employer to that table. Unions face a huge issue with recruitment and membership will always remain low if we have this voluntarist model. Despite that, speaking at the launch of the data chapter of the Communications Workers' Union was one of the most exciting moments I have had as a TD because it felt to me like the momentum we know from trade union movements of old, where people recognised that collective bargaining and collective action are crucial. There is a power imbalance which can only be addressed by solidarity and by speaking and acting together. That is what we need to do.  Those Covalen workers trained the AI agents which are now taking their jobs. They are the little tip of the iceberg we will see emerge in the coming weeks, months and years, which will devastate sectors of the workforce across society. Anything that is text-based - lawyers, journalists and accountants - is under threat because data models can take the information and do a lot of the tasks we do. We will see labour displacement through this industrial revolution - the fourth industrial revolution, the AI revolution - at a pace and scale we have never seen before as a species. In this country, we have no power as workers to combat that or deal with it as the challenge it is.  There are many other crises and challenges facing our workforce. When I ask about youth unemployment, I get back that we have more people in jobs in Ireland than ever before and we have full employment. Youth unemployment is a canary in a coalmine. If we do not watch out for it and start to recognise it is coming in other areas, then we are setting ourselves up for failure.  I will be bringing legislation shortly to strengthen the right to request and to access remote and flexible working arrangements. It is not working as it is. We need legislation that allows people to put that question to their employer and directs that the employer cannot just pull out of thin air something they feel is an appropriate answer but has a categorised set of responses. We also need that to kick in from people's first day in their job. At the moment, it only kicks in six months after they start.  There is bogus self-employment, in-work poverty, the cost-of-living crisis we are all facing and the reduction in quality. ICTU has been out and about recently talking about quality work and quality jobs. The gig economy has started what we know is coming across multiple sectors in terms of automation, AI and the precarity of work they drive. When we say we have full employment, it masks the fact that much of that employment is poor quality. It is employment which does not allow people to advance in life or move out of their parents' home; it does not give them security or allow them to make decisions about living their lives and fulfilling their potential. It keeps them down, as so many of these mechanisms do. AI will keep coming at us. We do not have the social structures in place as it stands with this voluntarist system to combat that, deal with it and treat it in the just-transition way we need to think about. When we talk about just transition of the climate, we need to tack on to that the digital just transition that we should be considering. There will be such a level of job displacement that we need to see this as the crisis it is.  The other thing we need to call out is the resistance the Government has to the improvements we have seen in jobs and working conditions that have come through from the EU. Although we eventually transpose those things, we do so kicking and screaming. In terms of the current obligations we are trying to meet as Union members, I have heard Government representatives say the JLCs fulfil our commitments to collective bargaining, which is absolute nonsense.  The JLCs are working in some cases. I absolutely can see that. There are ways in which they are good but they are not good across the board. Some of them has hardly met and that does not create a situation where workers feel in any way empowered or in any way that they have a fair shout in terms of dealing with their employers.  The vision we need to seek is of a social democratic society where unions are properly recognised, where people can sign up for their trade union, where they do not have to hide and furtively discuss the idea of organising within their workplaces, and where access to the workplace is provided to unions which allows people to organise and to bargain collectively for better pay and working conditions. We need that system where the living wage is where our minimum wage is at and where people can access remote working and flexible working arrangements and that they can do so with the power of collective action, that they can sit at a table and expect their employer will meet them at that table. Right now, they can choose to collectively unite and to collectively act but when they go to that table, the voluntary system means the employer simply does not have to come to it and say, \"No thanks\". I have heard of companies where one plant will recognise unions and another plant does not and that is just as a result of historical legacy issues where in one company issues are dealt with by human resources while in other it is dealt with by proper industrial relations mechanisms. That is ridiculous. It is absolutely insane that you cannot rely on the security of trade union membership and what collective action can bring to you in the workplace and that, literally, in one company, it can change from one thing to the other. We must address the power imbalance we currently have and we must force employers to come to the table. This motion does exactly that by outlining those key issues that need to be addressed: collective bargaining, union access, living wage and remote working. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  I thank Sinn F\u00e9in for this important motion. I obviously agree with all of the points put forward about collective bargaining rights, providing unions access to the workplace, bringing the minimum wage in line with the living wage and the issue of workers' right to remote working.  I want to give a shout out to a few specific groups of workers. The first is the Oireachtas TV workers. They tell me that the people who broadcast these proceedings are being left off the roster because of their union activities and because they have campaigned over what is really shameful. They are doing us and the country a big favour, although maybe it is debatable that they are doing the country a favour by broadcasting what goes on in here but it is a public service. Some of them are earning about \u20ac12,000 per year and are laid off when the D\u00e1il is in recess during the summer holidays, Christmas and all the rest. They are disgraceful conditions for people who are providing an important service for democracy and for this House. Nothing has been done about it. The company making profits from all of this continues to get the contract again and again. It is outrageous. Something needs to be done about it. It is disgraceful that has been let stand.  Second, I mentioned the Covalen issues already. I mentioned it earlier on and it has been mentioned here again. Covalen made \u20ac26 million in profit the year before last. It is a major contractor for META that is making absolute billions. These are the content moderators who protect people against the toxic content you get on social media and all the rest of it, who are then training up the AI that replaces them. Covalen benefits from all sorts of tax breaks and reductions and all that kind of stuff, such as research and development tax credits, no doubt, but refused to recognise the union and now 700 workers, and 300 before that, were told their jobs are gone without a by-your-leave. There will be no redundancy and Covalen refuses to engage with the union. Employers should not be allowed to do that to workers. It is as simple as that. Yet, this Government does not stand with the workers but instead bends over backwards for these companies that exploit workers, make super profits and treats them in this utterly disgraceful way.  I spoke to those workers, their union representatives, the Communication Workers Union, CWU, and their shop stewards this morning and they are asking the Government for an intervention. They want to meet the Taoiseach and the senior Minister and they want the Government to intervene with Meta to engage with the union and to, at least, insist something is done about this six-month cooling-off period - it means they cannot get a job elsewhere - so they can get alternative employment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  I welcome the proposals in this motion. It is long past the time that collective bargaining and trade union representation were made mandatory. It is 113 years after James Connolly and James Larkin led the lockout in this city to seek basic rights for workers. This State is completely at odds with the rest of Europe in not recognising the right to trade union representation and collective bargaining. All that is in the programme for Government are vague commitments. Yes, we have a high level of employment but we also have a high level of poor quality jobs and that continues to be a problem. A large percentage of those jobs are poor quality and low paid. There is widespread casualisation, short-term contracts, precarious hours, bogus self-employment, and I could go on.  Unions have been resisted by many employers. There are reports of the victimisation of those who try to join, or recruit for, a trade union. The Government talks about collective bargaining and social partnership but 78% of the workforce in this State are locked out of that because only 22% of the workforce are in unions in 2024, the second lowest rate of union membership in the European Union, according to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. The Government needs to legislate to give trade unions legal access to workplaces, to organise and to provide legal rights for trade union representation and collective bargaining on pay and conditions, etc.  It was disappointing that the can was kicked down the road in regard to the living wage. This should have been brought forward and done a lot sooner. While the minimum wage has increased by a small amount, it does not cut it. Young workers aged under 20 are being exploited. Some of them are just getting 70% of the minimum wage, what is called a sub-minimum wage, but they are doing the same job. It is age-based discrimination. The Minister recently decided to defer any reform of the living wage until 2029 and that is disgraceful.  Big business was very well looked after in the last budget, in legislation and in everything in this D\u00e1il. Workers, however, are being left behind and it is now time to give basic rights to workers - those who get up early and keep this country running. A legal right to representation by a trade union and membership of one is a must. While you can join one, you cannot be represented by it.  Access to the workplace for unions representatives is essential as is bringing forward reform of the minimum wage. That it has to wait until 2029 must be rescinded. We need to deal with the exploitation of young workers aged under 20 who are doing the same work but who are on this so-called sub-minimum wage. That is not acceptable. That is discrimination against young workers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  I welcome the Sinn F\u00e9in motion and call on as many workers as possible to come out this Friday, on May Day, at 6.30 p.m. in Dublin. We need a movement of workers in this country and workers need to learn from what happened during the recent protests.  I do not have much time, so I will focus on the mistreatment of workers by the Government, their employer. They are the ASTI members. The Government has taken a decision to restrict access to promotional posts for the senior cycle leaving certificate reform. It will not be open to ASTI members, the biggest second level union in this country, because the ASTI did not vote the way the Government wanted it to vote in a recent ballot. The Government is discriminating on the basis of union membership. ASTI members are being punished, not because they rejected senior cycle reform, by the way, but because they rejected an unsafe and unsupported implementation model. Despite this, ASTI members are now excluded by their employer from applying for AP1 and AP2 posts while other teachers in the TUI, in no union at all and who did not have a vote or who did not bother to vote will be permitted to apply. Even if they did vote against it, it is a bit like saying that Fine Gael tried to abolish the Seanad and failed, so it should never be allowed to go into the Seanad. It is the exact same situation.  This is a clear escalation from past disputes over pay and conditions into direct discrimination in career progression for teachers who are members of the union. Teachers are being asked to take on a huge amount of responsibility and these were the issues that determined that vote for State certification through additional assessment components.  Teachers now have to verify authenticity in the age of AI, effectively taking over roles that were once done by the State Examinations Commission. They are also being asked to supervise exams or to run exams with significant safety concerns, for example the new laboratory-based assessments. These issues remain unresolved and it is not an isolated pattern. It follows a previous pattern where ASTI members were discriminated against but it is new in not allowing people to apply for promotion. It now means that any worker should learn from this because if the Government does not like a decision taken in a ballot, it can discriminate against you in order to reward compliance by one group of workers. That is an absolutely disgusting decision and I am asking the Minister of State, Deputy Dillon, to reverse it. The Minister of State knows that he cannot stand over it. I am hoping it will be legally challenged on the basis of discrimination on the basis of union membership. It is absolutely shameful by the Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  I welcome this motion and support it. It is appropriate that we debate this motion on workers' rights in the lead up to May Day. May Day and May Day demonstrations resulted from the adoption of a resolution for a great international demonstration at the International Workers' Congress in Paris in 1889. That demonstration was in support of workers' rights and the demand for an eight-hour working day, and 1 May was chosen to commemorate a general strike in the United States which had begun on 1 May 1886. In Ireland, May Day was first celebrated in 1890, organised by the Dublin Council of Trade Unions. The key demand from the platform speakers on the day of course was the eight-hour working day.  The working class and their trade unions have always been at the forefront of the fight for workers' rights and for national independence and self-determination. We need only remember the 1913 Lockout, the 1916 Easter Rising and the role played by the Irish Citizen Army led by James Connolly. We remember the banner hanging from Liberty Hall, the HQ of the Irish Transport and General Workers' Union at the time which said, \"We serve neither King nor Kaiser but Ireland\". Is it not shameful that, more than 100 years since independence, Irish workers do not have the legal right to collective bargaining through a union?  The work in Ireland survey 2026 found that the 44% of workers in Ireland who are not currently in a trade union would like to join. One of the reasons is that many employers, including hugely profitable multinational companies, refuse to negotiate with trade unions and cannot be forced to do so under current legislation. Urgent legislative change is needed to provide for a legal right to collective bargaining by trade unions. These companies put every obstacle in the way of trade unions recruiting members, including refusing access by trade unions to workplaces. Some even resort to harassment of leafleteers handing out union information on public thoroughfares near their companies.  Trade union membership and collective bargaining have been shown to increase pay, productivity and employee retention, and benefits to the community generally. The Government decision to row back on commitments to increase statutory sick pay and to delay the introduction of the living wage until 2029 is shameful and should be reversed immediately. The ask now is to introduce legislation to provide for a legal right to collective bargaining by trade unions, to provide legal access to workplaces by trade unions, to increase statutory sick pay, and to introduce the living wage immediately. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  Aont\u00fa supports workers' rights. Good work should ensure good pay, terms and conditions. A worker who works hard should have a decent wage and should be able to live well. Aont\u00fa is committed to justice in the workplace and the rights of workers on the island of Ireland to fair pay for fair work, and to allow for fair living conditions. We support dignity at work and the rights of workers to equitable pay and working environments.  Low pay and precarious work affect many people in this country. Some firms are treating workers without respect and with limited guarantees in terms of paid hours. I brought in the Banded Hours Contract Bill back in 2015. That Bill aimed to address erratic working hours in this country. Right now we need a strong and resourced agency to ensure proper compliance and legislation enforcement in these practices. Exploitative work such as bogus self-employment is a significant problem still today. It is an incredible situation. It robs the State of the taxes it is entitled to. That should be rooted out. It also robs the workers themselves of their rights and safeguards in terms of being able to look after holiday pay, sick pay and pension entitlements.  The national minimum wage needs to be sufficient, in truth, to deal with the 140,000 workers who currently are the working poor in Ireland. It is an incredible situation that 140,000 people are working but still do not have enough to be able to make ends meet in this country. That is a major problem. No business and no employer should have the right to build a business model that can only function when it provides a level of standards in terms of wages, pay and conditions that are not enough for people to be able to survive and live well. That should not be allowed. One of the biggest threats we have to the cohesion of the world at the moment is the over-concentration of wealth that exists and the fact that 1% of the wealthiest own about 43% of global assets. The lack of employee power in that relationship with employers leads in to that issue.  The Government also needs to look at the role it plays in this. Public services really can help in terms of workers. It provides a social wage, a type of income top-up, in relation to this. It means that workers have more disposable income because the services that they need are provided properly by the State as well. In truth, when I speak to workers around the country they tell me that some of the biggest problems they have at the moment are the cost-of-living crisis, the price of houses and the cost of rent. If we look at the incompetency of this Government, in many ways it is driving wage inflation in this country because workers are trying to keep up to be able to pay for the costs that are coming at them.  Before I became a TD I worked as a management consultant. I worked with hundreds of different businesses. I noticed very strongly that only when businesses are in equilibrium with employees in terms of the power dynamic are they likely to have a proper functioning business with happy employees who are productive and working well. When that power dynamic shifts and either one has too much power, that actually leads to a really difficult working situation and leads to damage to the functioning of that business. For an equilibrium and for a power balance to exist between employers and employees we must have the right to trade union membership and the right to collective bargaining. If we do not have that balance in the relationship, there will always be a section of employees at the wrong end of that power balance who will suffer. That suffering will be seen in exploitation and the loss of the ability to survive in terms of the work they do. We are calling for the Government to make sure that collective bargaining is brought into this country and that workers have a proper right to be represented. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  Independent Ireland supports a lot of what is being proposed here this evening going forward. I would also bear the employer in mind. I do not think anyone has spoken here about the employer and the difficulties many employers have at this present time and which many employers have had for quite a period of time. It is about finding that balance between rooting out the wrong being done to employees in this society but still protecting employers who are trying to create jobs. Sometimes when we talk inside in the D\u00e1il here it is like everybody is Dell or everybody is Apple, but that is not the case. There are people out there with four or five employees and they are struggling at this present time. They are struggling to deal with the minimum wage even while many are giving over the minimum wage, and they are dealing with holiday pay, maternity pay and paternity pay. They pay out and pay out. They are telling me that they are barely surviving. They are struggling and many are walking away. We have to really find the balance here going forward. It is very easy for me to get up here and say, \"Ah sure I am with you all the way and everyone is being wronged and everybody needs to be better paid.\" Yes, there are hard workers, those people who get up at unearthly hours of the morning every day of the week, fighting hard and struggling to survive, struggling to put money on the table to feed people, but so is the employer and certainly the small employers. We have to protect them also and we have to talk about them here as many have not. When I was at the fuel protests I spoke to many hard-working employers and employee. There was a unity at those peaceful protests.  These were farm operators, builders, taxi drivers, bus drivers and fishermen. They were all either employing somebody or employed. They were standing together because they knew they were at the end of their tether and they could not cope any longer. They needed State assistance and it was not there for them. Obviously, people got angry and things got little bit worse as the week went on but it was not too bad in fairness. A protest is a protest and I believe in democracy as long as it is peaceful.  What I am saying is that I do have very serious concerns. There are lot of home helps and carers who are undergoing savage costs. Carers are undergoing being means tested. These are such unfair burdens on people who are delivering and working for this country. They are saving this country millions of euro and they are not being respected enough. I have fierce concerns about home helps. I might bring forward something soon about the Government walking away from the old system that is there for the mainly women, who provide a fantastic service, and who are now being hit with massive fuel costs. They are also being hit with private companies taking them over. People from all over the world are working in homes where people deliver locally. They were there and they were always willing to do more hours. They were never given that opportunity and that is an abuse of an employee as far as I am concerned. I see it in my own place in west Cork where people have told me they would work extra hours but they are not being given them. Then I am being told people cannot get them, which is only a fob job to get rid of us.  I look at ambulance workers and there is talk about a strike next month. I am not sure how negotiations are going. Recently, I read that there are issues regarding pay and a failure over the past 20 years to update staff salaries to reflect changes in the responsibility in the workload. These people work under immense pressure and I know it well. In my constituency we are blessed to have people who work long hours, delivering for people and saving people's lives. They are pulled and hauled all over the place, wrongfully, behind an iron curtain. They could be up in Tipperary collecting a patient when they should be down in Skibbereen. Terrible wrongdoing is being done to these people. A new wrongdoing is bypassing the local Bantry General Hospital. I am well aware of this. I have been notified about it on numerous occasions. Management in the ambulance service is trying turn a blind eye to it. That is very unfair, again, to workers who are fighting for their basic human rights. That is what they are fighting for.  The Government needs to sit up and listen and reward those who do get up in the morning, the hard-working man and woman who go to work every morning. Some of these people are even pension aged and are still working because they have to put bread and butter on the table. At the end of the day, when most of these people come home, they have very few comforts. They may have the little comfort of going to the coffee shop and maybe going for something to eat at the weekend but this is being denied them because they do not have the money. The people do not have the money and it is a massive crisis in this country.  I met a Nigerian gentleman lately who told me he has been here for 20 years. He said we have a beautiful country but it is badly run. I had to stand back and tell him he was bloody right. He stunned me but he was 100% right in what he said. He knew it and he focused on it. He loves this country and he works his butt off in this country. When I was talking to him we got into detail. The problem is we are badly run. We need to sit back and reward those who work mortally hard to keep this country ticking over.  Look at the fight we had about the SNAs this year. The Government put up a fight on the SNAs and basically it was getting rid of some of them. Not alone this but a bit of respect goes a long way. The Government did not give this respect and put the wrong message out. It was the wrong message, in fairness, but the Government withdrew it. It may not have had the intended effect but it frightened the living daylights out of parents, SNAs and those of us in politics who knew what the SNAs were delivering for the people and that the Government did not reflect this by rewarding them.  I have been on a school board of management for many years and I see school secretaries. Deputy Boyd Barrett spoke about the Oireachtas TV company. It is the same for school secretaries. When summer comes, they are told to go home and go on welfare. This is not a fair reflection on society. If it is good enough for a teacher to get paid, it is good enough for school secretaries.  We have to be inclusive. We have to understand. I really do stand up for the small employers of this country who are massively struggling at present. We cannot point the finger at them because most of them are paying all their contributions and pension entitlements. There is a new one again this year that has worried the living daylights out of employers. A lot of them are saying it is not worth it. I see it in few caf\u00e9s. I know that VAT is coming down and I welcome this but I have seen it in a good few caf\u00e9s. Employers have told me they were working too but it was the workers who were making money while they were making nothing, so they are walking away from it. We cannot have a society like this. We need to encourage and reward people. This is a very difficult country for someone to make a profit in. They need to be rewarded for the work they put in. They need to be able to go home with a profit because a profit is turned around and put back into the business. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  I welcome this debate on workers' rights. I said in the House 12 months ago that if we are serious about workers' rights, we also need to be serious about protecting industries, infrastructure and investment to create and secure skilled and well-paid jobs for Irish workers. In recent weeks I have heard constant attacks on the private wires Bill, which will boost renewable infrastructure in this country. Too often the debate is driven by fear instead of facts. The reality is that the Irish energy transition is not an energy transition but an energy demolition and rebuild. For this we need to support workers and enable the grid to be developed faster and give jobs to electricians, crane operators and welders. This is why the private wires Bill, which has recommendations from the climate and energy committee, will boost Irish jobs, including machine operators, construction workers and apprentices throughout the country and in my constituency.  Over the weekend I spoke to a group of young electricians who were doing their PV course and looking forward to the boost in income from solar farms and, working with the Government, from the upkeep of plug-in solar. I would love to see this rolled out across social and affordable housing, which does not have access to rooftops and could benefit from a Government-led plug-in solar scheme. If we bought plug-in solar at a large scale and employed Irish workers to install it at a regulated setting and at a reduced rate for social and affordable houses, the people in my constituency who are struggling with their bills would benefit from it, as would the people who have trained to be electricians. It would create jobs and support workers.  Many projects and connections that simply would not happen in a reasonable timeline would be helped by private wires. Many companies would prefer to get standard grid connections quickly but this is not the case. Multiple parliamentary questions I have submitted on the timeline delays for renewable projects show the need for private wires legislation. With private wires legislation, we will increase the number of people who can work on renewable projects and increase the workforce, protecting workers.  When people in the House criticise the private wires Bill, they need to answer to the electricians, the workers and everyone in Ireland who would benefit from the increase of taxation of companies that will be using renewable projects to expand their business. When businesses invest here, the Irish people benefit. I hear claims about how private wires somehow shifts costs onto ordinary households. If the company remains connected to the public grid, it still pays the same connection standing charge as many other users. We have seen recommendations on this to protect and support people and the workers of the State. If we buy less electricity from the grid, and it generates a source of renewable electricity, we will benefit Irish workers. I have heard other scaremongering.  If we believe that the charge instructions need to be changed, the CRU has regulatory power to adjust the tariffs and standing charges in order to ensure fairness to consumers. We need to be honest about data centres in this Chamber. I did my thesis on data centres 18 months ago. I worked in the industry. All my friends who are now working in the industry are shocked by what they hear in this Chamber in relation to data centres. Yes, we need to change the current system of how they are used. We could use waste heat utilisation for district heating systems, but all the optimisations in the context of how data centres are using energy will help Irish workers. People need to take the actual facts on board. I would welcome a debate.  With regard to the----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Paula Butterly)  I thank the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  All right. I will go again on that. Go raibh maith agat. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  I thank Sinn F\u00e9in for giving us the opportunity to talk about a very important subject. I recognise the great work employees do in carrying out their duties in so many businesses that I know. When we talk about employees, we have to talk about employers as well because they are in it together. If an employer cannot carry on, he or she will not have the employees. I know this from working in the private sector for many years. My son is carrying on the business now. We have workers who have stayed with us for almost 40 years. We depend on them. If we do not treat them right and if they are not paid right or looked after, they will not stay with us. It is the same across the board. I recognise that many employees feel like maybe they cannot make ends meet. The cost of everything has gone up. What is happening in relation to the situation with oil is still hurting people. Little was done for workers by way of helping with their tax in this year's budget. That needs to be dealt with, sooner rather than later.  It is so hard now to get trained workers like good machine operators, lorry drivers, bus drivers or whatever. There are so many rules and regulations. We read in last weekend's newspapers that Ireland has the fewest entrepreneurs in Europe. We need to look at that and see how it can be changed. People are saying that this is caused by the fact that it takes so long to get planning and deal with the regulation and everything that goes with it, insurance, and so on. It takes too long to get things off the ground. That places a burden upon employers' shoulders. As we are talking here tonight, we are saying that workers must be looked after. They are the kernel of the issue. They have to be looked after and paid properly. An employer will not have workers if he or she does not look after them properly.  The Government has to do something about the tax situation because the cost of living has gone up in every sphere. The regulations will have to be looked at. When seeking to get connected to services, including those relating to water and electricity, people can be told that it could be any number of months. There is an exorbitant cost for those connections. It is taking so long for would-be employers to get going. All those things need to be addressed, as do the cost of public liability insurance and the weight that is placed upon employers' shoulders.  If employers cannot operate, they cannot hire employees or look after them properly. We have to look after people properly because if we do not, we will not have them. Good workers are very scarce.  I need to mention the oil crisis. Home helps and carers----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Paula Butterly)  I thank the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  -----are telling me that they cannot continue. It can go in one ear and out the other, but I ask the Minister of State to listen because we will not have these people. It is elderly individuals who want to stay in their homes for as long as possible who will suffer. They will finish up in hospitals and nursing homes----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Paula Butterly)  I thank the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  -----where it will cost a lot more to mind them. I ask the Minister of State to deal with that as a matter of urgency.  There was no package given in respect of the increase in the cost of the green diesel used in machinery that is involved in construction, and that will not carry on either. The number of houses that will be built will be reduced because when the price goes up from 98 cent to \u20ac1.78, people cannot afford it. They will not be able to keep going. I ask the Minister of State to deal with the last couple of things I said as a matter of urgency. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Paula Butterly)  I thank the Deputy and call the Minister of State. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (Deputy Alan Dillon)  I thank all the Deputies who contributed to this debate. I reiterate that the Government's approach to employment legislation in recent years has been deliberate, balanced and firmly grounded in the lived realities of both workers and employers. Across remote and flexible working, sick leave, pay, collective bargaining and sector specific protections, we have pursued reforms that strengthen security predictability and fairness at work, while also recognising the need to maintain competitiveness and economic sustainability. Importantly, these reforms are not developed in isolation. They are informed by research consultation with social partners, engagement with regulators and evidence gathered through statutory reviews and economic analysis. We have responded to profound changes in how people work through the right to request remote working and flexible working, enhanced protections around working times, strengthened sick pay entitlements and the right to disconnect. We have modernised our employment framework to reflect the change in the labour market.  Where legislation has been introduced, the Government has committed not only to implement it but also to review it in order to ensure that measures operating as intended can be refined, where necessary. At the same time, decisive action has been taken to improve pay and conditions for low-paid and vulnerable workers. These include substantial increases in the national minimum wage, continued progress towards a living wage, stronger regulation to sectorial employment orders and employment regulatory orders and enhanced protections for agency workers. Together, these measures demonstrate a sustained commitment to improve job quality and addressing insecurity at work. I also want to be clear that there are no constitutional or legal barriers preventing workers or employers in Ireland from freely exercising their right to collective bargaining where both parties choose to do so. The voluntary process is supported by an extensive statutory framework that underpins and reinforces collective bargaining, promotes constructive engagement between the social partners and ensures that dialogue and representation operate in a fair, structured and effective manner.  Ireland's action plan to promote collective bargaining represents a significant milestone. It reflects a renewed focus on social dialogue, effective employee representation and strong industrial relation institutions, all of which are the cornerstone of a stable, high-quality labour market. Through phased implementation, robust governance and close engagement with employers and trade unions, we are building an industrial relations framework that is both resilient, balanced and responsive to future challenges. It is also important to be clear about the fact that improving the quality of work does not fall to any single measure or piece of legislation. It requires steady and co-ordinated action across pay, work conditions, representation, enforcement and economic policy. This is precisely the approach that the Government continues to take.  The progress made in recent years has been real and tangible. It demonstrates a clear commitment to fairness and dignity and the opportunities in the workplace. While challenges remain, the direction of travel is clear. We will continue to listen, to review and act ensuring that Ireland remains a country where good work is supported, workers are protected and enterprises can grow and provide sustainable employment.  I commend these measures to the House and reaffirm the Government's ongoing commitment to building a labour market that works for every worker right across this country in every sector. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  I commend everyone who has brought forward this motion and all the speakers so far. We have an issue in this country with workers' rights. While I understand the Government may be in denial of that, the fact of the matter is we do not have collective bargaining as a right and that is something which needs to be established as a right.  Of course, we enjoy pretty good employment. A lot of employers cannot get workers. That is one of the issues we have across our economy, but we also have an issue where we have a very large number of people who are in precarious employment and do not have the standards that they need to have. Those standards need to be put in place and that will only happen if the State has a firm hand of regulation to ensure they are put in place. That is why it is so important we have trade unions and that more and more workers recognise they would be better off if they were in a trade union. The difficulty is that the employer can just turn their back on that and will not allow trade unions into many workplaces. That is an issue that needs to be dealt with.  While Government has this notion that employers, particularly some of the large multinational employers in the country, can somehow or other step outside of the norm, that is not appropriate. We need to have a situation where we guarantee that people who work hard, who get up in the morning very early, who contribute to society and do everything right also have rights, and that those rights are underwritten by the State. That is why the State has to come in to ensure that it underwrites those rights. So far, Government has failed to do that. The big message in this debate this evening is that the Government needs to step up to the mark here and needs to ensure that we guarantee workers the right to collective bargaining and the right to union access in the workplace, and that wages are something that workers must have to be able to live and to be able to get the kind of services they require across the economy.  One of the issues that often comes to light - I am sure in the Minister of State's constituency as well - is where we have people who are looking to get home help, for example, but they cannot get workers. We are told that they are advertising and they cannot get anyone. The reality is that such workers are being paid approximately \u20ac16 an hour. That is only about \u20ac2 above the minimum wage for work which is very difficult and very hard. There is a real, high responsibility in looking after elderly and sick people, yet they are on that kind of salary and that is the salary which is being offered to them by the State. There needs to be recognition that if we are to get people to do those kind of jobs, we need to pay them properly and the first people that have to pay them properly is the State. If the State and the HSE, which are directly employing workers in this regard, pay adequate and proper wages, the other providers will also have to step up to the mark and pay adequate and proper wages. That has failed to happen.  I commend this motion to the House and I hope that Government sits up and listens. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dessie Ellis","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dessie Ellis  The cost-of-living crisis has hit particularly hard those on low and average incomes, who are more exposed to this crisis as well as the mounting inflation that has driven up costs. Public and private sector workers' earnings are being eroded. Such households have become especially vulnerable as a consequence of the fluctuating political problems across the world and the unnecessary wars that have brought us to the brink of a global recession driven by the escalating conflict in the Middle East and a related rise in worldwide energy prices. Low and average income households are struggling with spiralling energy costs and the Government's response to this current escalating problem is inadequate. There is a need for the reintroduction of energy credits and a removal of excise duty on home heating oil to help struggling families.  Workers also have concerns about the quality of jobs that they are doing. A significant portion of the workforce has characterised the work they are doing as low paid, insecure and with poor working conditions. What could offset much of this would be making collective bargaining a statutory right. Ireland is behind much of Europe by not having this as a statutory right. The Government's response to this anomaly is to introduce an action plan to promote collective bargaining which unions have condemned for lacking concrete legal reforms as well as its measures being primarily aspirational rather than mandatory. The plan is insufficient when compared to the rest of Europe.  Collective bargaining strengthens employees' negotiation power and balances the employer-employee power dynamic. The benefit for employees is that they can negotiate for improved compensation and better benefits. Collective bargaining can ensure overall fairer treatment for workers, can offer greater job security and, most importantly, legal agreement protecting working conditions. Additionally, the delay in replacing the national minimum wage with a living wage until 2029 will severely impact the lowest-paid workers who, according to the ICTU, will lose approximately \u20ac600 this year alone.  Strengthening workers' rights and improving conditions in the workplace is not only good for the worker; it also creates a productive economy. Workers earning the living wage will spend their wages on goods and services----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Paula Butterly)  Thank you, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dessie Ellis","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dessie Ellis  -----which stimulates demand, driving further economic activity and thereby creating a cycle of growth which can only be good, not only for the worker but for the country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Donnelly  The cost-of-living crisis is putting massive pressure on workers and their families. Everything they buy and use, including their rent, fuel, food and meals continues to increase leaving workers unable to make ends meet. The dream that is sold to young people, that if they stay in school, do well, go to college or get an apprenticeship, they will get a job that will meet their needs, is becoming a nightmare. A lot of our young people are voting with their feet and leaving this country.  Did the Minister of State know that the overall employment figures mask that one quarter of jobs in Ireland are considered poor quality, characterised by low pay, insecurity and poor working conditions? The findings of the 2026 Ireland Thinks poll, commissioned by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, found that 52% of workers do not believe they are paid fairly for the work they do and that figure is higher for women and for people on low incomes. According to the Working in Ireland Survey, 44% of workers in Ireland not currently in a union would like to join one. Ireland, as the best little place in Europe to do business, is an outlier in the European Union in not providing workers with a statutory right to collective bargaining and lags behind other EU member states. I have worked in several places where being part of the union was required. As you went into the employment, you were told you were joining a union. It was really good. We had very strong unions and very strong negotiations with the management and it was a brilliant place to work, but that is a rare thing and is getting rarer.  The Minister of State needs to provide a legal right to collective bargaining through a union and provide unions with legal access to a workplace. Imagine, we are asking for legal access to a workplace for representatives. The Government also needs to bring the minimum wage into line with the living wage and increase access to flexible and remote working arrangements for employees. It is about workers' rights. It is about giving people who are on low pay the opportunity that everybody else has - a right to collective bargaining and a right to be in employment that pays well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  I thank all my colleagues for their contributions. I have to say I am dismayed to see the lack of Government speakers on this important issue tonight. It does not bode well. It sends a message out to workers that there is nothing more to see here. I am really disappointed. I thank all of the Opposition for their contributions. I acknowledge the work of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and the engagement we had earlier today. Its contribution reflected the lived reality of workers across the State and their voices deserved to be heard.  Our motion was grounded in two simple but urgent priorities: supporting workers through the ongoing cost-of-living crisis and expanding collective bargaining so workers have a real voice in the workplace. I will address a couple of points. This nonsense that there is no constitutional or legal impediment which prevents parties who wish to exercise their right to collective bargaining from freely doing so shows how out of touch the Government is with the reality of the way workers are treated when they try to access a union. Without having that legal provision there, it will not work and has not worked. There are companies that have branches in other jurisdictions which have that legal right to access trade unions. It is not right.  It shows companies are well able to do that.  I want to also address the position of small and medium businesses because we all care about competitiveness. That is why, in our alternative budget, Sinn F\u00e9in provided for a PRSI rebate to address those issue and to address the inequity where small employers may need an extra bit of help. There is a surplus in the National Training Fund. We just need a bit of imagination. However, we must collectively agree that everyone has to have access to a union and legal access to a union. That will not go away so my message to the Government tonight is that everyone should have a legal right to access a union. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Paula Butterly)  In accordance with Standing Order 85(2), the division is postponed until the weekly division time on Wednesday, 29 April 2026. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Strengthening Workers' Rights: Motion [Private Members]"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/dbsect_20","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_20","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/dbsect_21","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Legislative Reviews","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/dbsect_20","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_20","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_21.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  My question is in light of the current fuel crisis, which there is no sign will end any time soon. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (Deputy Alan Dillon)  I thank the Deputy for her question.  There has been a significant and lasting shift in attitudes towards remote working in recent years. Central Statistics Office data show that nearly 1 million people were working from home, either usually or sometimes, in the fourth quarter of 2025 and that figure has remained broadly stable since the pandemic.  The national remote work strategy and Our Rural Future highlight the role remote working can play in expanding employment opportunities outside Ireland\u2019s largest urban centres. The 2025 programme for Government reaffirms our commitment to this and recognises that flexible working arrangements can deliver economic, social and environmental benefits for workers and employers. Ireland was among the first in the EU to introduce a right to request remote working and this was commenced for all workers through the Work Life Balance Act 2024. The legislation is accompanied by a code of practice that provides guidance for employers and employees on how to comply with the legislation.  My Department recently concluded a statutory review of the operation of the right to request remote working legislation and a report of the review was laid before the Houses in early March. The findings of the review were informed by a nationally representative survey, a public consultation that received more than 8,000 responses and engagement with the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC. The review found that, when used, the legislation works effectively and that the majority of requests are approved either fully or partially, demonstrating that the legislation can facilitate compromise. The reported level of administrative burden is also low.  However, the key findings also looked at the challenges around awareness, with fewer than half of employees being aware of their right to request remote working. As with Ireland\u2019s broader suite of employment legislation, the legislation will be kept under ongoing review. However, providing a right to request strikes the right balance between flexibility and the need for businesses to remain competitive, profitable and viable. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  I thank the Minister of State. I apologise. I forgot to thank Deputy Conway-Walsh for facilitating my going first.  I heard similar words from the Minister of State's colleague a short while ago when we were discussing the strengthening of workers' rights under the Sinn F\u00e9in motion and it rings hollow, I am afraid. What we know about and what we have seen is just headline after headline about people being called back into the workplace.  People are dealing with a cost-of-living crisis and now a fuel crisis and there are ways we can respond to that as a society. During the Covid-19 pandemic, remote working became something that worked for people. Yet, since then, we have seen it rolled back again and again. I literally just got a ping on my phone while I was sitting here, which was a headline published by thejournal.ie two hours ago about Aer Lingus calling its staff back four days per week. The Minister of State's numbers do not paint the actual picture. The 94%, which is a great result, applies to 70 application since 2024. Awareness raising is not the only answer. There are a lot more reasons people are not using this system. It is not simply because they do not know about it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  The fuel crisis is exactly why flexibility matters. It is exactly why we introduced this legislation and, where remote or blended working is feasible, it can immediately reduce the cost of commuting and mean lower household expenses. It can also ease pressure on workers. We have put the legislative framework in place. It is already in use. It has been very beneficial to those who use it. At the same time, we have also introduced packages to support workers with energy costs.  Remote working is part of the solution but it is not the only solution the Government has introduced to deal with the cost-of-energy crisis. Our approach is focused on the fact there are different realities in different workplaces. Not all jobs can be done remotely. While we are supporting workers, we are also ensuring business needs are met through challenging periods. That is really our focus as regards the right to request remote working. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  Essentially, what I am hearing is that the Government responded, it built a solution that is working and that there is nothing to see here. I am saying it is not working. I looked at the report by the Department. Although its conclusion states everything is working, which is what we heard again today numerous times, a few pages earlier it talks about the toothless tiger critique and states: \"The qualitative findings clarify that this is not a vague or general complaint, but a specific and targeted critique of the perceived power imbalance within the current framework.\" That is my issue. It is laid upon a situation where we do not have collective bargaining so people are not coming forward to exercise their right to request remote working. They have no power to push back against multinational corporations, which at a whim can decide they want people to work two, three, four or five days in the office. That is the issue. Workers have no strength and the legislation does not help that in any way whatsoever.  We could be leaders in this. That is what kills me most. The Government tries to tell us we are leaders in the technology space. We could be leaders in this, by tapping into this technology and setting the trend for what we should be doing in facilitating remote working to deal with crises right now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  The numbers speak for themselves. Close to 1 million people work remotely in either blended or hybrid models. That is the reality. The shift since the Covid-19 pandemic has been enormous. It has been supported by the Government through the national remote working strategy. We have continued to roll out the national broadband plan, which will reach more than 1.1 million people in the most rural areas. That allows them to bridge the gap between jobs for which they might have to relocate to cities and jobs they can do at home.  The Government has gone even further. We have legislated for the right to disconnect. The national hubs network has more than 400 remote working hubs nationwide and more than \u20ac3 billion has been invested in high-speed broadband. That very much re-emphasises the Government's priority, which is to make sure remote working works for everyone and that those who want to work remotely have the legislative framework and code of practice under the WRC. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Legislative Reviews"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/dbsect_22","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Business Supports","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/dbsect_20","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_20","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_22.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  Towns and villages up and down the country are suffering from dereliction. Vacant and boarded up shops are all too common now in once vibrant communities and towns. Once thriving businesses, which employed local people have been replaced by empty units, a visible reminder that the Government is failing our SME sector. What new initiatives does the Minister plan to introduce to tackle this escalating problem given current solutions are not working? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (Deputy Peter Burke)  I thank the Deputy for the question. It is very important that we all acknowledge the importance of having vibrant towns and villages and that local shops and the retail sector are an important part of achieving that aim. The retail sector provides highly important employment, with over 220,000 people directly employed in retail, contributing to the economy of every city, town and village in Ireland.  As the Deputy will be aware, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht developed the town centre first policy, which was launched in 2022. This is a major cross-government policy that aims to tackle vacancy, combat dereliction and breathe new life into our town centres. In March, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy James Browne, launched the vacant over-the-shop grant, which will provide funding of up to \u20ac135,000 to support bringing above-the-shop vacant spaces into residential use where the commercial element is remaining. This grant is one of a number of measures, including a targeted top-up of the vacant property refurbishment grant and the expert advice grant, aimed at unlocking unused spaces in cities, towns and villages by converting vacant and derelict buildings and unused above-the-shop areas into residential homes.  The retail forum allows key issues of relevance to the retail sector to be discussed with a view to identifying practical actions which could be taken by the Government, or by industry itself, to support the sector, with particular emphasis on achieving sustainable jobs growth in the sector. The work of the forum is driven by its members and the issues that they have identified as being critical to examine to support sustainable jobs growth in the retail sector.  A broad range of supports for the retail sector, including training programmes and funding to help retailers adapt to new challenges and opportunities in retail, can be found on the national enterprise hub at www.neh.ie . This all-of-government service, staffed by expertly trained advisers, is focused on helping businesses to access a range of Government supports. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  The Minister's policies are not hitting the ground because towns and villages are hollowing out, with visible increases in vacancy and dereliction and declining footfall. Small and independent retailers, particularly in rural and regional areas, are facing unsustainable cost pressures. We know that rising costs in energy, insurance, rents and commercial rates are disproportionately impacting small businesses compared to the larger multinationals. The Minister of State, Deputy Dillon, who is beside the Minister will know what I am talking about when I say that I walked down the street in Castlebar last week and saw a number of businesses closed. He knows that businesses that have been there for years, if not generations, are gone and those units are now empty. That is exactly what I am talking about. We need action to be able to ensure that those units are full. We need to work to make sure they do not close down in the first place but, if they do, that they are quickly repaired and reoccupied. I am also concerned about towns like Belmullet where shop units are being taken over for residential development in the middle of the town. I am worried about where towns are going when we do not have businesses in them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  The town centre first policy has 33 actions right across government to enhance our town centres and villages. It is from the ground up and is community-led, to really accelerate those resources. The grant that I referenced of \u20ac135,000 will be of assistance in bringing on accommodation over the shop. We established our small business unit within the Department just a year ago and it has introduced a number of supports which are really targeted at our small business sector. As evidenced by Central Statistics Office data, all 13 sectors in our economy are now growing. There are challenges in town centres and that is why these grants are specifically targeted to bring them back to life. We can see the direct results of that, as well as through the cro\u00ed c\u00f3naithe initiative, which is bringing homes back into use and accommodation over the shop. That will be a big asset.  We have a cost-of-business advisory forum, which is due to report in the coming weeks. That will look at business costs and how we can reach a position where we are taking less money from businesses by reducing their utility costs and growing their revenue, which is key to keeping them sustainable. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  What the Government is doing is not working because vacancy rates in many towns are persistently high or rising, particularly outside the major urban areas. According to the GeoDirectory commercial buildings report prepared by EY in February, the national commercial vacancy rate in Ireland increased to 14.6% by the end of 2025. This is the highest rate recorded by GeoDirectory since it began tracking commercial vacancy data in 2013. In total, there were 30,687 vacant commercial units across the country in the fourth quarter of 2025. If what the Minister has outlined was working, this would not be the case. Fourteen counties experienced an increase in vacancy rates, with Sligo recording the highest commercial vacancy rate. Dereliction is not just an aesthetic issue. It affects the local economy and tourism and the existing supports clearly are not working. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  I would argue that we have a number of new schemes, particularly the one announced this month, which will make a difference to dereliction and reduce costs for businesses. We know from the evidence that traditional retail and hospitality are under significant pressure due to costs. What I have tried to do in the Department is bring about significant simplification measures. I have also tried to get additional grants in to small family businesses, which provide two thirds of employment across our economy. We can see that through our energy efficiency grant which reduces costs, or grants for growing their digital platform. We are very fixated on doing that.  New changes were also made by the Department of Finance in relation to dereliction, going through the Revenue Commissioners. That will involve a carrot-and-stick approach. We now have very significant grants, on the positive side, but the Government has also demonstrated that it will take action if properties are not brought back into use, particularly when we have a housing challenge. It is important that we see conversion rates increase and the policy balance that we have now will achieve that. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Business Supports"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/dbsect_23","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Business Supports","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/dbsect_20","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_20","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_23","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_23.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  I should not need to tell the Minister that businesses up and down this country are really suffering from an energy crisis that the T\u00e1naiste and the Minister's party leader have acknowledged is the worst the world has ever seen. Yet, in the eyes of business owners, the scale of the supports from the Government do not match the scale of the crisis. What additional new measures will the Government put in place to support all businesses facing increased operating costs arising from the ongoing fuel crisis caused by the US-Israeli war in Iran? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I thank the Deputy for her question. The Government understands the pressures that rising fuel and energy costs are placing on small and medium enterprises, SMEs. These are not abstract figures. These are family businesses, local employers and community anchors in every town and village across our country. That is why the Government has acted quickly, decisively and in a targeted way. In March and April, we introduced a substantial package of fuel supports to the tune of \u20ac750 million to cushion businesses against the current fuel shocks. These include VAT inclusive reductions of up to 32 cent on diesel, 27 cent on petrol and 7.4 cent on green diesel, alongside a reduction in the NORA levy and the deferral of planned carbon tax increases until budget time. This is immediate, real relief at the pumps for businesses that cannot pass these costs on.  However, we did not stop there. We also strengthened sector-specific supports where fuel is a non-negotiable input. These include an increase in the diesel rebate scheme, rising to 12 cent per litre; a new road transporter's support scheme for haulage and coach operators; and \u20ac100 million for a fuel subsidy support scheme for our farmers, contractors and fishers during peak fuel use months. These are targeted interventions. At the same time, we are backing SMEs to reduce their dependency on volatile fuel markets through SEAI grants, energy audits, business energy upgrades and supports for microgeneration. Firms are being helped to permanently reduce their operating costs.  We are also ensuring access to finance through the growth and sustainability loan scheme, offering long-term, low-cost loans of up to \u20ac3 million. Finally, we are also tackling cost pressures structurally through the action plan on competitiveness and productivity and the cost of doing business advisory forum. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  Business owners are begging for supports. Many of them joined the recent fuel protests as a last resort, just to have their voices heard. This comes in the context of the Government's spring economic statement, which predicts a surplus of \u20ac9.2 billion for this year, up from the \u20ac5.1 billion predicted on budget day.  Many of the businesses we are talking about have contributed substantially to that figure. Small- and medium-sized enterprises are the backbone of our economy. They sustain local communities, especially in rural areas like Mayo. Half-measures and piecemeal offerings so far have barely scratched the surface and not provided meaningful relief for SMEs. I put forward some suggestions recently to the Minister regarding more flexible payment options for grants administered by his Department, including upfront payments or staged instalments, rather than reimbursement as a lump sum after works have been carried out, but he rejected that proposal. I also suggested increasing the energy-efficiency grant from 75% to 100% for eligible costs to help businesses to decrease energy costs in the long term. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I thank the Deputy. I respect the concerns that she has raised, but do not accept the suggestion that we are leaving SMEs behind. Sinn F\u00e9in's talk around spending vast and wide in regard to budget surpluses is irresponsible. We have surpluses on the back of prudent and careful management of our economy. SMEs have been the beneficiaries in regard to the resources that we have at our disposal in recent weeks. These are designed precisely at a moment when our SMEs are exposed to fuel shocks at this magnitude. That is why we have ensured that we have seen reductions immediately at the pumps. We also have targeted schemes for transport operators, for agriculture, fisheries and contractors and SMEs dotted across our rural communities and across the country who need targeted supports at the most critical time of the season when they are very busy and have huge fuel consumption. We have put a real package of substance together to deal with the immediacy and the urgency in the here and now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  The Minister of State may thank the protestors for anything that has been put in place. The proposals I presented to the Minister of State earlier would encourage greater uptake of the grants and secure the futures of many SMEs, but he has refused to take those on board. I want to talk about it in the context of tourism. Tourism is the heartbeat of many Irish communities, especially in rural communities that depend on visitors to sustain local economies and jobs. As a rural TD, I can tell the Minister of State that public transport, as he will know, is scarce. Tourists rely on private bus operators to bring them to towns along the Wild Atlantic Way. For example, hospitality providers are worried that spiralling fuel costs will make these trips unviable for operators or that they will become so expensive that tourists simply will not come. Higher fares mean fewer visitors, and fewer visitors mean fewer jobs. If the routes are cut, rural Ireland pays the price. The Government should be doing all it can to ensure this will not materialise. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I reassure all our transport operators that the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, along with the Government, have introduced a substantial package of over \u20ac40 million a month to support our transport services, coach operators and haulage contractors. As someone who knows the importance of tourism in County Mayo, I look forward to Friday's launch of the Wild Mayo tourism strategy, which has a firm focus in regard to north Mayo and Achill Island. These are gems on the Wild Atlantic Way that we need to continue to promote and invest in. The Minister, Deputy Burke, has been working actively with F\u00e1ilte Ireland to drive our tourism programme to increase our visitor numbers because we know how vital it is to support more than 5,500 jobs locally. It also benefits the local economy to the tune of over \u20ac250 million. That is why we have introduced A New Era for Irish Tourism, which is a five-year strategy that is backed with real money through a capital programme. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Business Supports"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/dbsect_24","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Departmental Policies","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/dbsect_20","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_20","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_24.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  We are constantly dealing with the growing challenge of improving Ireland's competitiveness. While our economy, on paper, seems strong, there are clear and persistent structural weaknesses that are undermining our ability to sustain growth to attract investment and support our people. Last September, we received the Government's Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity, which contains 85 actions. Since the publication of this action plan, can the Minister report any measurable improvements to our national competitiveness? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  The preparation of the Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity, which was published on 10 September 2025, was a commitment under the programme for Government. Its delivery was expedited in response to international economic developments. The overarching objective of the action plan is to maintain and improve Ireland's position as a competitive and productive economy capable of withstanding shocks, building on our strengths and developing our indigenous enterprise base while continuing to attract investment and talent from abroad.  Ireland holds a strong competitive position globally. This is reflected in our current position as the seventh most competitive country worldwide in the latest IMD world competitiveness rankings 2025. Among EU member states, Ireland ranks second. The next update to these rankings is expected to be published in June 2026. I am pleased to report that the implementation of the action plan is well under way. Currently, the vast majority of actions are regarded as in progress. A number of key actions from the action plan have already been delivered or are due for completion in the coming months. The next progress update on the implementation of the action plan will be discussed as part of the Government\u2019s annual competitiveness summit in July 2026, with a first implementation report to be submitted for discussion at the summit.  Monitoring the success of this action plan will operate across two distinct but complementary dimensions. The first focuses on practical delivery, tracking the timely and effective implementation of specific actions and commitments across government. The second assesses strategic impact, evaluating progress toward the broader goals of the plan, namely, sustained improvements in Ireland\u2019s competitiveness and productivity. It should be noted that changes in productivity and competitiveness are typically driven by structural factors and are characterised by lasting improvements in efficiency, capacity and innovation. They will therefore require time. In that regard, to support monitoring and oversight in respect of the broader aims of the action plan, the Government will continue to seek advice from the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  Across many metrics, the Government is failing to address the challenges to our competitiveness and what we are hearing back from businesses. The housing crisis has worsened, with record rents and with homelessness at a record high. Employers are asking us where their workers will live. They have nowhere to live. I am a member of the Joint Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, which has been dealing extensively with the cost of doing business. We have heard at first hand from various chambers, ISME, the Small Firms Association and many more that these costs have increased significantly. Infrastructure delivery is slow and insufficient and not in keeping with demand. We have labour shortages in sectors that are crucial to our growth, such as construction. Our unreliable energy sources and grid capacity are stifling growth in many areas. On housing, we must confront the reality of Ireland's housing crisis. Our competitiveness is being eroded by a system that cannot provide affordable accommodation for its workforce. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  First, I go by evidence and fact. We are the second most competitive economy in the eurozone, which is a very strong value proposition. Since the report was brought forward in relation to the action plan, we have had a number of advances. Our semiconductor plan has commenced, which is significantly attracting investment in that space. Our action plan for market diversification is building on the risks that are there geopolitically, taking advantage of the 41 free trade agreements across the European Union with 72 countries. We brought forward our action plan for collective bargaining, which we discussed earlier on.  Despite the Deputy's reference to business costs, in the earlier debate she was looking to abolish subminimum rates, which would increase the costs of small shops by 30% or more. She is looking to bring in additional sick pay and refresh the living wage to bring it in more aggressively. All of those are costs to businesses. The Deputy should practice what she preaches in that regard. We have also brought forward and are working on a timeframe to ensure we lift the Dublin Airport cap. That is another important part of our tourism strategy. We brought forward our tourism strategy, A New Era for Irish Tourism, which was launched in December as part of the action plan. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  That is why we proposed in our alternative budget that we would have a PRSI rebate for businesses as well to enable them to meet the cost. I know that the Minister would not be suggesting a race to the bottom in relation to workers and workers' rights.  Our motion earlier was about collective bargaining and the right that workers have in other jurisdictions to access to a union. I know the Minister wants good, sustainable jobs and I am sure he has looked at the good jobs legislation that my colleague, Caoimhe Archibald MLA, is bringing forward in the North.  We are facing significant skills and labour shortages in key sectors, including construction, healthcare and technology, which are all reporting struggles to recruit and retain workers. We cannot stand here and ignore what has happened with the Meta workers and the outsourcing company where jobs are really at risk as well. What is the Minister specifically doing to retain those jobs and support those workers, and has he met with those workers? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  I have pointed out how we are improving the competitiveness of the economy, which is critical to ensuring we keep attracting jobs. We have about 2.83 million people working in our economy right now, which is a record. All 13 sectors of the economy are growing. That is not me saying that. It is the CSO, which is the gold standard. Real wage growth increased past inflation last year. Again, that is the CSO report, which is there for everyone to see. That shows there are very strong opportunities within the economy that is growing.  In relation to Deputy Conway-Walsh's colleague in Northern Ireland proposing to ban zero-hour contracts, we have done it. They are proposing to bring in tips legislation; we have done that. They are proposing to improve the work-life balance; we have done that already. So, a number of the initiatives that have been brought forward in the Deputy's colleague's Bill have already been acted on in this State's jurisdiction. We also brought forward the action plan on collective bargaining in advance of the target within the EU, and I made the commitment, irrespective of the European Court of Justice case, that I would accelerate it and bring it in. That is a strong testament to workers right across the economy. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Departmental Policies"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/dbsect_25","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Business Supports","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/dbsect_20","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_20","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_25","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Keira Keogh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_25.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Keira Keogh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Keira Keogh  Seasonal businesses, like many in my county of Mayo, are particularly vulnerable to economic fluctuations. Will the Department consider targeted supports to these businesses that are often the backbone of the economy in rural areas but also the social environment? Given there are three out of five Oireachtas Members from Mayo in the Chamber, I wish everybody a happy Mayo Day, four days early. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  As Deputy Keogh said, family-run and seasonal businesses are the backbone of rural economies like ours in County Mayo. They sustain employment, support tourism and hold communities together while often operating on tight margins and facing unique challenges linked to seasonality, distance and volatility.  The Government fully recognises this reality. Rather than narrow, sector-specific schemes, our approach is to ensure that enterprise supports are flexible, accessible and responsive to businesses with different operating models, including those that are seasonal or family owned. My Department works closely with F\u00e1ilte Ireland, the local enterprise offices and Enterprise Ireland to help rural businesses extend trading seasons, manage costs, upskill staff and adapt to changing economic conditions.  In tourism and hospitality, which are critically important right across the country, F\u00e1ilte Ireland provides practical, cost-management supports including free food and beverage and energy costs toolkits and confidential one-to-one clinics. These supports are designed specifically to help small, seasonal operators protect margins, reduce waste and improve resilience. At a local level, the local enterprise office in Mayo plays a central role, and in 2025 alone it supported 200 client businesses and over 1,380 jobs, with a strong focus on competitiveness, digitalisation and energy efficiency.  Mayo businesses have also seen a strong uptake in grants such as the energy efficiency grant, green for business, grow digital and LEAN for business. Access to these supports have also been simplified to the national enterprise hub that supports over 250 Government supports. Enterprise Ireland also continues to support job creation and indigenous enterprise growth right across Mayo, with over 6,500 people employed in Enterprise Ireland-supported companies. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Keira Keogh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Keira Keogh  I thank the Minister for State. I also thank the Minister, Deputy Burke, for visiting Westport earlier in the year and meeting with our businesses. However, I have to say and I am sure the Minister of State is aware, the last few weeks have been hugely difficult. I have met with business people who maybe do not call to the office or do not usually talk to me on the street about their problems. I am thinking about a retailer who inherited the family business who is close to closing the doors of a clothes shop. I am thinking of a beautician who has been open for 15 years who told me this was the hardest year ever. I am thinking of the pubs that are closing in places like Achill or Ballycroy, which are where men in their 60s, 70s or 80s especially, who may not be in men's sheds yet, go for social connection. Do we have to help those pubs transition from pubs into community hubs or think outside the box? I think of an ice cream shop that would love to stay open until 10 o'clock or 11 o'clock at night but cannot get the staff. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  We do all meet those types of business owners. However, the Government has looked at how we can respond and how we can support many businesses that are feeling the impact of rising costs. Through the cost of business advisory forum we have had SME representatives very much at the heart of reviewing the structural costs within their businesses and, indeed, we will be shaping the next phase of measures once that report comes before the Government. How we respond will be crucially important in terms of the practical measures and the evidence-based decisions. We are also undertaking a review in regard to the grants that are being administered through the local enterprise offices. We will have more details in the coming weeks on whether the grants are doing what they should be doing. Notwithstanding that there has been a good uptake in grants in Mayo, are they being measured through an additional employee or are they building resilience into the businesses that are currently operating? That is really what we want to hear for businesses. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Keira Keogh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Keira Keogh  It is very obvious we have been doing a lot to support and I think of the 9% VAT rate in the hospitality industry, which has been really welcome. What struck me about these businesses is that they do not seem to be reaching out for the local enterprise office supports. They do not seem to be aware of that cost of business advisory forum or the small business unit. What are we doing wrong that these business people I am meeting in the street do not seem to be aware of these supports or they are saying these supports are not enough? From an outreach perspective, what are the plans in order that we can reach these people who feel like they are on the cusp of closing their doors?  The biggest thing that came across when the Minister visited Westport and met with the chamber of commerce was rates. Businesses were talking about when they were paying rates when they first opened their doors, they were getting rubbish collection and free water, and now they feel it is only the roads and the lighting they are getting. We need to go a bit further to reach these businesses that are telling me they are not feeling the support and are close to closing their doors. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I thank the Deputy again for her question and response. The Minister and I chair the retail forum and the enterprise forum. We also co-chair the Labour Employer Economic Forum, LEEF, dealing with employers and employees. We try to gauge the feedback regarding where supports are required and how we can actually look at this, not just in the short term but also the long term, and the structural needs of many businesses. That is why, as I said earlier, the local enterprise office is the first port of call for somebody starting a new business but we do also identify there are many businesses that fall through the cracks and who are not being supported by the local enterprise office. We need to bring them in.  That is why Enterprise Ireland is looking at its own structures and trying to create a centre of excellence that will have more broad outreach to those businesses because they are Irish businesses creating vital employment in our local areas. Indeed, they may not want grants available through the local enterprise offices but it is a case of how we can support them in different ways, such as through mentoring and expert advice. Can they become the next company that has export potential? It is about building that leadership capability within those companies as well. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Business Supports"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/dbsect_26","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_26","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa)  T\u00e1imid cr\u00edochnaithe le Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain d\u00f3ibh. \u00a0Anois beidh Ceisteanna Eile faoi choinne an Aire Fiontar, Turas\u00f3ireachta agus Fosta\u00edochta. \u00a0Ar dt\u00fas t\u00e1 Ceist Uimh. 126, at\u00e1 in ainm an Teachta Fleming, ach t\u00e1 an Teachta McCormack \u00e1 glacadh. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/dbsect_27","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Business Supports","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/dbsect_26","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_26","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_27","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_27.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  What supports are currently available to the retail sector and are any additional measures being considered to assist retailers facing increased operating costs? I have asked this question previously on a lot of occasions, and the answers the Minister of State gave me, to be honest, just do not land with retailers on the ground. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I thank the Deputy for his question. The Government acknowledges the enormous contribution of the retail sector to our economy in every city, town and village in Ireland. It plays an important role in employment, with over 220,000 people directly employed in retail. As I said in response to the previous Deputy, I meet quarterly with the retail representative bodies for all retailers right across the country. The Minister, Deputy Burke, and I are aware of the issues facing retailers.  In addition, during the recent fuel price disruptions, officials in my Department engaged with the main multiple grocery retailers and focused on the impact on issues such as distribution, supply and home deliveries. As I said earlier, we are looking to identify practical actions that could be taken by the Government, or by industry itself, to support the sector, with particular emphasis on achieving sustainable jobs growth in the sector. The last meeting of the retail forum took place on 3 March. The topics discussed included retail crime, the deposit return scheme, environmental levies on single-use disposable cups and the national minimum wage.  The Deputy might be aware that the cost of doing business advisory forum has been established. It will look at the inherent costs for many retailers who are finding it challenging in regard to the increase in labour, insurance and energy costs impacting them. Over the last eight weeks, we have met regarding the various thematic areas of concern. Most of those focused on planning, insurance, infrastructure, water services and wastewater and legal costs. We want real outcomes from this forum. The last meeting was only held last week. It was attended by the Minister and the two Ministers of State here, given the political commitment we have to try to support the retail sector. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  I welcome the supports that are in place and acknowledge the strong work being done for small and medium-sized enterprises by local enterprise offices, LEOs, and Enterprise Ireland in supporting businesses across the country. However, we have to be honest about the reality facing the retail sector. Over the last 12 months in particular, retailers have been hit from every angle. Rising energy costs, increases in the minimum wage and now the additional burden of auto-enrolment are all adding to the pressure on businesses already operating on very tight margins.  I have raised this issue with the Minister of State previously on the floor of this House, and while the supports are appreciated, there is a clear sense across the sector that more needs to be done. I say this not just as a public representative but on a personal level. I started my first retail business at the age of 21. I was born into the retail business sector through a family shop at home. I know what it feels like to open the doors every morning wondering if enough will be made to cover the costs. I understand the responsibility that comes from employing people, the weight of knowing that others rely on you for their livelihood. I have lived it. Right now, many retailers feel that they are not being heard. What additional targeted measures are now being considered to support the retail sector in the face of rising costs, including energy, labour and auto-enrolment obligations, so that viable businesses can survive? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I understand the concern raised by the Deputy, and I certainly do not underestimate the challenges many retail businesses face. That is why we have undertaken interventions in March and April in regard to the ongoing energy crisis we face. We have also looked at VAT changes, which will be introduced in July of this year, in respect of many caf\u00e9s and small coffee shops. We have also looked at the targeted grants for local enterprise offices around cost reduction and digital adaptation. This is important. As I said earlier, we want to ensure that many retailers have consistency around cost certainty, simplification and where we can inform policy and inform regulators in regard to challenges or burdens being placed on retailers. This is why that exercise within the forum is not a box-ticking exercise. We want to look at the situation structurally and see where we can identify cost pressures and alleviate many of them to ensure the viability of businesses. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  Building on that, there is real concern that without further action, small, independent retailers will continue to struggle, particularly in regional towns and rural communities. These businesses are the backbone of our local economies, as the Minister of State said, and are vital to keeping our town centres alive. Are specific cost relief measures being actively considered for the sector, particularly in relation to energy costs, labour pressures and the added impact of auto-enrolment? Will the Government engage directly with retailers to ensure the supports being developed truly reflect the reality they are facing day to day? Talk is cheap. We need to act now and act fast. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  We are actively engaging with the retailers and the representative organisations. That is crucial. The charge may be that we are not listening, but we are listening. I think that is an important starting point.  The Deputy hit the nail on the head when he said we want to have less talk and more action. This is exactly what we are looking to do, focusing on delivery. We want to ensure that the grants around green for business, digitalisation and energy reductions, working with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, are targeting businesses and reducing their energy dependency. This is something we are talking to the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment and the Minister, Deputy Darragh O\u2019Brien, about, and the energy affordability task force will look at the structural costs around energy for businesses. On regulation as well, we have established the small business unit within our Department. That is about the thinking small business first principle, which is what we want to do. We have introduced the SME test within the Cabinet handbook. This is very much focused on assessing before approval the regulatory impact on small businesses of any new policy or legislation that comes forward. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 127 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Business Supports"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/dbsect_28","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Industrial Development","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/dbsect_26","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_26","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_28","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_28.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Murphy  Will the Minister give an update on the IDA-owned lands at Ballingarrane industrial estate in Clonmel and the extent to which the IDA is actively promoting the site, particularly following the recent granting of planning permission for a 100,000 sq. ft advanced building solution? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  I thank Deputy Murphy for his very important question and the work he is doing on the ground for our enterprise areas in Tipperary. Balanced regional development is a key focus of the work of the Department through our development agencies. In this regard, IDA Ireland is continuing its strong commitment to promoting foreign direct investment, FDI, in regional locations as part of our 2025\u201329 strategy, Adapt Intelligently, and is targeting 550 investments of FDI projects outside Dublin over the strategy\u2019s lifetime. Furthermore, IDA Ireland is positioning the midwest, including Tipperary, as a competitive destination for global investment and is targeting 100 of these 550 investments for the midwest.  The availability of suitable property and strategic sites is a critical component of the regional value proposition and can be a key differentiator in investment decisions from both new and existing clients, as well as clients of Enterprise Ireland and our local enterprise offices. IDA Ireland, in partnership with Tipperary County Council, has secured planning permission, as the Deputy pointed out, for a proposed 10,000 sq. m advanced factory building solution on a site of approximately 3.4 ha at Ballingarrane Science and Technology Park in Clonmel, which I visited with the Deputy earlier this year. This advanced planning permission allows maximum flexibility to the potential client, whereby they can avail of the permission or amend it to suit their specific requirements, subject to further planning permission.  IDA Ireland, in conjunction with Tipperary County Council, continues to aggressively market the Ballingarrane site and the proposed advanced building solution to existing investors, including in the IDA Ireland portfolio and through our Enterprise Ireland global office network, its regional offices and IDA Ireland\u2019s website. The timeline for delivery of the proposed advanced building solution will depend on when the site is acquired and developed by a suitable client.  I will give more information in my follow-up reply. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Murphy  It is positive to see that foreign investment is now at record levels.  There have been 323 investments in the past 12 months that will realise more than 15,000 jobs. Unfortunately, none of those investments are at Ballingarrane industrial estate. As the Minister said, this is a fully-serviced, strategically located land bank of more than 50 acres. It is in IDA ownership for more than 25 years. We have planning permission for that 100,000 sq. ft advanced building solution. As the Minister knows, Clonmel has a strong track record in terms of delivery, multinational employers, a skilled workforce and a reputation for reliability. Why has it taken so long to get to this point? It is crucial that Ballingarrane is prioritised within the IDA\u2019s international marketing efforts. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  I hear Deputy Murphy's frustration and I assure him I will leave no stone unturned in getting a client for this very exciting opportunity in Ballingarrane, which is an exceptional site that has full planning permission. We have approximately 16 IDA clients in County Tipperary such as Boston Scientific, Abbott, Merck, Sharp and Dohme, MSD, and Waystone. These are all exceptional clients providing high-quality employment across the sector.  We have approximately 95 Enterprise Ireland clients in Tipperary that employ 6,800 people. Between both agencies there are more than 12,000 people in employment. Critically, and I know the huge work the Deputy is doing in the tourism sector, we hope to have our capital schemes for F\u00e1ilte Ireland out in August.  I know at the forefront of the Deputy's mind is the Bulmers visitor centre at Dowd\u2019s Lane, which is another exciting project. The enterprise projects, between tourism and enterprise agencies, will critically breathe life into rural areas and give towns that strong, sustainable employment they so badly need. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Murphy  I thank the Minister. It was remiss if me not to acknowledge his own visit to the site at Ballingarrane. This site has been in IDA ownership for a very long time. The people I represent want to see tangible results, zoned and fully serviced lands, planning permission secured and a clear opportunity to deliver a flagship facility. I appeal to the Minister personally to keep the pressure on the IDA. I do not want to be asking the same question in six, 12 or 18 months\u2019 time, but I will. I really want to see a timeframe for delivery of an IDA-linked company at this particular site. It is great to see more than 300,000 people now employed in IDA-linked companies. I want to see Clonmel in that number. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  I assure the Deputy of my intention to continue to work very hard with the IDA to try to secure a client for that. It is important to note IDA employment increased 30% over the past five years in Tipperary as a whole. When we consider the region it is linked with, it has outpaced it by a very significant margin. Those exceptional clients in Clonmel and Tipperary as a whole create a solid ecosystem that makes it attractive for other clients to come into the region. We will work very closely with the Deputy to have a very strong value proposition. Budget 2026 achieved that for the enterprise sector. With our research development and innovation tax credit and the work we can do in supporting sustainable investments, in working with training and skills, we have a very important and exciting opportunity in Tipperary to work and develop further the options and value proposition Ballingarrane gives. We will do our very best to try to secure a client for it. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Industrial Development"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/dbsect_29","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Business Supports","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/dbsect_26","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_26","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_29","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_29.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  The Bose factory was a landmark in the region of Carrickmacross for many years. In 2015, the factory closed and essentially has remained closed ever since because despite the huge fanfare from a Government colleague of the Minister\u2019s, a then Minister, about 60 jobs coming, they never actually came. In recent months, we have been told that the factory is in fact up for sale. I seek an update on the Minister\u2019s efforts to secure alternative employment for that site. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  I thank the Deputy for his very important question. Enterprise Ireland supported the owners of the factory in Carrickmacross over a number of years as they sought to establish themselves as an infant formula and nutrition providers manufacturer. In March 2025, the company informed Enterprise Ireland that the business was no longer viable in Ireland due to inflationary pressures and market conditions. The company had intended to produce infant formula for the Chinese market. A number of factors have impacted on demand for imported formula in China, including a switch away from imported products and rapid growth in locally produced products. There has also been a significant decline in the Chinese birth rate over the past decade. As a result, the owners of the factory took the decision to sell the plant in Carrickmacross and appointed an Irish agent to support the sale process. They are actively seeking interest from potential purchasers of the facility and discussions have taken place with a number of interested parties. This process is ongoing and Enterprise Ireland continues to support the company by facilitating introductions to potential buyers where appropriate. Active promotion of the facility is being undertaken and further expressions of interest are being sought by the company both in Ireland and internationally. The Department keeps in regular contact with Enterprise Ireland about that important site. My colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Niamh Smyth, is very much linked in with it as well. Enterprise Ireland will continue to liaise with the agent in supporting the promotion of the facility to the relevant potential purchasers as a matter of priority.  My Department remains committed to driving balanced regional development, including in the north east. Enterprise Ireland supported 84 companies in Monaghan and 66 companies in Cavan in 2025. These companies employ more than 14,000 people. The north-east region enterprise plan is also focused on delivering a range of collaborative initiatives to strengthen the enterprise environment in the region. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  The building has essentially lain idle for 11 years. I mentioned it was 2019 when we had the fanfare and the Minister\u2019s party taking credit, make no mistake about it, for jobs brought by Fine Gael to Carrickmacross. The jobs never materialised. The question that needs to be answered is whether the Minister will take a hands-on approach.  We met Enterprise Ireland. In fairness to the Minister of State, Deputy Smyth, she organised a briefing for local Oireachtas Members when the Minister, Deputy Burke, refused to answer my repeated requests for such a meeting. This is a crucially important venue. It is a huge site and was historically, economically very significant and important for the south Monaghan region, and it has lain idle. It seems as though everything is being left in the hands of the owners of this building, who have left it vacant for the past six years. My request is that the Minister take a hands-on approach to ensure we restore viable, high-end employment to this site. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  First, Enterprise Ireland is working hard. It is the Government agency responsible for procuring a good client for the site in partnership with the owners. As I pointed out, this is a company whose business model was no longer viable. It is not fictitious; it did happen. The prima facie evidence is there. The owners engaged with Enterprise Ireland and were hoping to employ 60 people. This is obviously a very strong asset and Enterprise Ireland will work closely with national and international clients and the IDA to try to see if we can get a tenant for it.  There is significant employment in Cavan-Monaghan between Enterprise Ireland and the IDA with some very high-value jobs. In Cavan, as I put on the record, there are 66 Enterprise Ireland clients employing more than 6,000 people, as well as 1,557 people employed by clients related to the IDA. We have very strong jobs which our State agencies support in the area. We will do all we can in working with our agencies to get a good client for the site. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  If a buyer is found and a new enterprise is established, the Minister will be there to cut the ribbon and get all the glory. That is the benefit of being in government. However, the job of being in government is that one does not get to hide behind a State agency when we are trying to secure reinvestment in an area that has been deprived because of the closure of a substantive factory. People refer to the prima facie evidence, good will and the rest of it. Has the Minister\u2019s Department established whether the owners of the Newbaze site, previously the Bose factory, availed of the immigrant investment scheme, for example?  There are huge question marks over what exactly happened on the site. Given the level of investment we were told was being made in the building, with virtually no economic activity as a result, it does not make sense. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  I am not aware of whether the owners availed of the programme in question. Obviously, they availed of some significant Enterprise Ireland funding but the majority of that was repayable and has been repaid under the terms of the original agreement. Again, that demonstrates that a significant business was put forward at that juncture.  As I said, there is significant employment in the region. There are, as we heard from Deputy Michael Murphy, many sites that require good clients in them but the Realpolitik is that we are operating in a very different economic environment, with so many geopolitical uncertainties, and the challenge to get capital investments is more difficult. Notwithstanding that, the economy is growing. We have seen all 13 economic sectors growing, no more so than in Cavan-Monaghan through the jobs being supported by our agencies. We will continue to do that and we will market the site aggressively, as we do by putting Irish enterprise first. Enterprise Ireland is ensuring that over 60% of jobs are located outside Dublin throughout the regions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  That means 40% of them are in Dublin. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Business Supports"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/dbsect_30","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Fuel Prices","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/dbsect_26","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_26","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_30","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_30.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Albert Dolan  Has the Department prepared any assessment of the recent rise in fuel prices and the impact it is having on small and medium businesses in agri-related sectors and the construction and transport sectors? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I propose to take Questions Nos 130 and 134 together.  As the Deputy said, the Government is under no illusion about the seriousness of the fuel price shock facing small- and medium-sized enterprises. We recognise that for many businesses fuel and energy are not optional costs. They are a core input that determine whether a business survives or fails. The Department has carried out a detailed sector-by-sector assessment and the evidence is clear that the impact is uneven but acute in particular sectors. In transport and haulage fuel is a direct and immediate cost and price spikes feed straight into cashflow threatening viability, particularly for small operators with limited margins. The agriculture and agrifood sector faces double exposure, with fuel and fertiliser costs along with transport and processing pressures. These costs hit hardest during peak seasonal activities. In construction fuel and energy costs are embedded in materials, logistics and machinery use. The impact here is real and can be built up over time.  Beyond that, retail and hospitality SMEs are also facing sharp increases in energy bills that cannot simply be passed on without rising costs on competitiveness. This assessment has shaped a targeted Government response. Over March and April, we have introduced a substantial package of fuel supports, including VAT-inclusive reductions of 32 cent on the price of a litre of diesel, 27 cent on the price of petrol and 7.4 cent on a litre of green diesel. This is alongside a reduction on the NORA levy. Crucially, we have also deferred the planned carbon tax increase, providing immediate breathing space at a time of exceptional volatility.  We recognise that some sectors also need more than just price relief. For this reason, we have introduced and increased the diesel rebate scheme to 12 cent per litre. We have also established a new road transporter's support scheme, with direct payments for haulage and coach operators, which will cost up to \u20ac40 million per month over the next three months. We have also introduced a \u20ac100 million fuel subsidy support scheme to assist farmers, contractors and fishers during peak fuel-use months.  At the same time, the Government is looking at the structural costs to reduce further exposure altogether. This is being done through SEAI supports for businesses, which are being helped to cut energy demand permanently through audits, upgrades, renewable heat and microgeneration. Access to finance is also critical. It has been a barrier for many businesses to obtain the right finance to make these upgrades. The growth and sustainability loan scheme provides long-term, low-cost lending of up to \u20ac3 million, giving SMEs the capacity to manage shocks and invest through them.  These immediate supports are also being reinforced through structural reform. I outlined earlier that the cost of doing business advisory forum is now finalising its report, which has been brought by SMEs, regulators and Departments through a policy process identifying real cost drivers and also outlining practical solutions and recommendations.  While introducing immediate relief, we continue to monitor sharp rises in cost pressures to ensure that SMEs, jobs and our communities are protected in these uncertain times. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Albert Dolan  I want to make something abundantly clear and it is very important that I get this point across. Let us take someone in the agri-sector who is contracting day in, day out. If their machine is costing them an extra \u20ac200 a day to keep on the road, that amounts to a grand a week, which is over \u20ac50,000 a year. No business can survive that. That is why this intervention is absolutely critical. School bus operators are signed into a contract. They need to be supported. We are already having issues getting school bus drivers and operators. We need to ensure they are supported and they can survive and continue.  This country runs a serious risk of seeing massive construction inflation if we cannot manage the costs facing both self-builders and those building our national infrastructure and other projects across the country. It is vital that as much intervention as possible is put in place to help these SMEs survive. What further interventions does the Government plan to make? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  I welcome the supports that are in place but we need to recognise the immediacy of the pressure facing small- and medium-sized enterprises right now. For many small businesses, particularly those that deliver their own goods in a fleet of vans, the spike in fuel and energy costs is not something they can simply absorb. These are businesses operating week to week, dealing with rising bills, fluctuating costs and very tight cashflow. Unlike larger firms, many SMEs do not have the capacity to hedge energy costs or spread risk. They are exposed in real time and that is where the pressure is being felt most. They do not have the economies of scale enjoyed by bigger businesses. There is real concern about viable businesses being pushed to the brink, not because of poor management but due to external cost shocks that are outside their control. Will the Minister of State outline what representations he has made to the Cabinet for small- and medium-sized enterprises as part of the package for agri-contractors, hauliers, bus companies and fishermen? Where is the package for companies with fleets of vans or cars, taxi companies and businesses that are the backbone of our community? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I thank the Deputies for their questions and contributions. I and my colleagues in the Department of enterprise have placed SMEs in all sectors front and centre. They are not being left behind. We fully understand the cost pressures many of them face. The memo the Minister, Deputy O\u2019Brien, brought to Cabinet today was supported right across the Government. It outlined the types of measures that will be introduced over the weeks ahead. There are other specific measures within the construction industry. The sector was referenced today at Cabinet and more needs to be done for it.  On what we are doing and have done, we outlined the assessment that was made precisely to support those sectors that needed the intervention. If we take transport SMEs - our bus operators and haulage companies \u2013 they will receive direct fuel-linked supports because fuel makes up a huge proportion of their costs and they have felt disproportionate increases. Agricultural contractors are also receiving monthly targeted payments because they are exposed during seasonal periods. That is very important. Many businesses in retail and hospitality will see energy relief in terms of their distribution and they will have a significant VAT reduction to 9% on 1 July. We want to continue to ensure that businesses are supported.  Notwithstanding this, there is not a one-size-fits-all list of measures that the Government can introduce. The package currently stands at \u20ac750 million to support jobs, communities and SMEs right across sectors. This is targeted, evidence-based and an intervention that the Government wants to continue, and we are not finished there yet. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Albert Dolan  I welcome the intervention and the sizeable package that has been put in place, but it is like any scheme or package that was rolled out over the past few years. It is about how quickly a business can get this into its bank account to provide cashflow and liquidity so it can continue in business and get through a difficult and turbulent time. It is critical that the supports that are put in place now are through a streamlined process that is easy to draw down. Where I come from in east Galway, my family runs an accountancy firm and many of our clients are agri-contractors, small businesses and construction companies, and I see the hoops they have to jump through in trying to draw down many business schemes. I remember the temporary business energy support scheme, TBESS. That was extremely complicated and complex and it ended up being handed to the accountants to do. It is critical that people are able to utilise this scheme and get it as smoothly as possible. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  They are being left behind. The companies and businesses I spoke about previously, which have fleets of vans and taxis, which rely on vehicles and fuel to power their business, are being left behind. Looking beyond the immediate pressures, there are also broader concerns about competitiveness. If energy and fuel costs remain elevated, many SMEs will struggle to remain competitive, particularly when compared with businesses in other jurisdictions which may have lower operating costs or greater state support. Will the Minister of State outline what longer term measures are being considered to protect the competitiveness of Irish SMEs, especially in energy-intensive sectors like retail and hospitality? How will the Government ensure that small businesses are supported not just to survive this period but remain viable in the future? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I certainly disagree that SMEs are being left behind. This is one of the most substantial packages across the European Union. It is all about supporting jobs and those who are most impacted but also ensuring they can absorb some of the cost increases that they are facing. We cannot cushion all the price increases. There is a reality here that many governments are trying to grapple with. A sum of \u20ac750 million is really substantial. The Minister, Deputy Heydon, met many of the pillar banks as recently as last week, advising them that these schemes are in place and that they would provide working capital to many of these businesses in the short term until they get this money into their bank account. That was received well.  We want the scheme to be simple in nature. We are all about simplification and being fast and agile. I expect that would be the approach for many Department officials with regard to trying to get this up and running. Looking at the more structural interventions we need to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, we are looking at a large investment, through price review 6, PR6, into the grid and infrastructure, in ESB Networks and EirGrid. That will ensure we have the renewable energy deployment required right across the country, that we have energy efficiency supports and that we are looking at large-scale industrial decarbonisation. That is backed by over \u20ac300 million in environmental aid. We all know we cannot continue to go from shock to shock and not build resilience into businesses. That is why the T\u00e1naiste is working through the Department of Finance in looking at hybrid heat recovery pumps, hydrotreated vegetable oil, HVO, and other energy efficiency measures to reduce that burden either through tax measures or through grant supports and subsidies. They will have a meaningful impact for businesses across the country. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Fuel Prices"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/dbsect_31","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Artificial Intelligence","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/dbsect_26","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_26","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_31","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niamh Smyth","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_31.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aindrias Moynihan  AI is no longer evolving year on year but rather month on month. Businesses are now encountering agentic and autonomous AI systems that can plan, act and execute workflows. While larger firms are moving more quickly, SME adoption is lower and more uneven. That risks embedding a two-speed economy. Will the Minister of State set out how current AI supports are being adapted and scaled to help SMEs to move beyond pilots and entry-level tools and into more measurable and productive approaches? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niamh Smyth","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (Deputy Niamh Smyth)  I thank the Deputy for his important question. The Government is committed to ensuring Irish businesses can adopt and benefit from Al. Many firms, particularly at an early stage of adoption, are seeking practical guidance on applying Al across core business functions. In response, my Department works closely with the enterprise agencies to develop practical guidance, case studies and sector-specific examples that demonstrate the tangible business benefits of Al.  The recently published national digital and Al strategy, Digital Ireland - Connecting our People, Securing our Future, sets out a clear roadmap for Ireland's digital and Al development and includes actions to support Al readiness across enterprise. Evidence points to rapid progress. Research from the expert group on future skills needs shows that Al usage and demand for Al roles have doubled since 2023, with strong skills demand matched by supply. CSO data shows over 20% of enterprises used Al in 2025, up from 15% in 2024, while the European Commission's 2025 digital decade report indicates that 13.8% of Irish SMEs use Al, above the European average and up from 8% in 2023.  My Department is also working with the ESRI to assess Al take-up among SMEs, including barriers to adoption and investment. A key priority of the new strategy is accelerating technology adoption among enterprises, especially SMEs. Under the Government's Al good for business initiative, a national Al and digital awareness roadshow is being delivered in partnership with our local enterprise offices, LEOs. The roadshow helps SMEs to understand the practical benefits of Al and digital tools, showcases real SME success stories and highlights available LEO supports. The initiative also includes the appointment of Al sector champions and the establishment of OBAIR, the Observatory for Business Al Readiness. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aindrias Moynihan  We already see evidence that many SMEs are stuck around entry-level AI adoption. Most businesses planning AI investments are expecting to spend under \u20ac10,000. That is typically on more basic content creation and basic marketing rather than on deeper, productive gains through workflow automation and supply chain optimisation, for example. At the same time, Ireland remains mid-table, just above average, in EU business AI adoption. That is behind countries like Denmark and Finland. How will existing schemes, through the likes of Enterprise Ireland, the LEOs and \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta be redesigned or scaled up to support deeper AI integration in SMEs instead of fragmented, one-off or pilot schemes? How will the Department measure whether those interventions are actually delivering productivity gains at a company level? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niamh Smyth","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Niamh Smyth  We have work to do to ensure that the whole SME sector is open to and embracing AI tools. If they are not embracing it and looking at digitalisation in their companies, they are set to lose and the divide between the successful and businesses that will fall behind and may ultimately fall off will come down to their ability to adopt technology. We have a suite of measures to try to make that job easier. I am always keeping a close eye on the uptake of those grants to see how businesses are engaging with them. This LEO roadshow is incredibly important because it gives not just the Department's supports but also the LEOs', which are incredibly important at a local level. The case studies and, for me, meeting businesses and doing these roadshows is key, where businesses can see businesses like theirs and the difference that adoption makes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aindrias Moynihan  I want to move the focus towards job protection. The real risk from AI is not so much AI itself as the poorly managed adoption of AI.  Where we have seen agentic and autonomous systems, as I mentioned earlier, they must not just assist with the work but should carry out tasks and co-ordinate workflows. Where people are trained to supervise and validate the work alongside the AI, productivity can grow; where that training is absent, it looks like the AI will almost substitute for the person. Smaller businesses are expected to redesign roles, supervise autonomous systems and comply with the EU AI Act, and to do all that at speed. How are AI initiatives being accelerated beyond basic literary into practical job-protecting capabilities? How are these skill supports being used to help SMEs manage change without job displacement? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niamh Smyth","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Niamh Smyth  It is true there will be disruption in the labour force and in business because of AI. The disruption and impact will be greater if businesses do not embrace AI. We have the observatory piece in our Department, OBAIR, which is looking at mitigating that. The AI will impact the workforce required. We will look at how to retrain and upskill staff so they are not left facing redundancy or anything like that. I am not in denial, and I do not think anybody in government is in denial, about the impact this will have.  Our colleague, the Minister, Deputy Lawless, launched this week AI Ready which is to get down to the nitty-gritty with individuals in the workforce so nobody feels a digital divide and to help people who want to explore AI to upskill within a business. That is all part of our suite of measures in place to help the worker and the company. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Artificial Intelligence"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/dbsect_32","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Tourism Industry","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/dbsect_26","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_26","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_32","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Cahill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_32.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa)  Anois t\u00e1 Ceist Uimh. 132, at\u00e1 in ainm an Teachta Shay Brennan ach t\u00e1 an Teachta Cahill \u00e1 glacadh. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Cahill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Cahill  I raise this issue at a time of growing uncertainty for Ireland's tourism sector. In counties like Kerry, the uncertainty is very real. What is the Minister's Department's current assessment of the likely impact of these aviation challenges on overseas visitor numbers in 2026? Specifically, what contingency planning is under way to protect regions like Kerry? What actions are being taken to safeguard air access, support regional tourism and ensure counties like mine are not left exposed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  I thank the Deputy. The tourism sector entered the year with positive momentum. There were consecutive months of growth in overseas visitors from August through to February, the most recent period reported by the CSO, indicating that tourism was performing strongly prior to the escalation of the conflict. The Government, however, recognises that geopolitical instability, including the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, can have implications for international travel and tourism. Tourism is a vital pillar of Ireland\u2019s economy, with overseas visitors contributing approximately \u20ac6 billion annually to the island. The sector supports close to 10% of total employment, and critically, around six in every ten tourism jobs depend directly on international visitors.  The Middle East plays a critical role in global aviation, acting as a major transit hub and accounting for approximately 14% of international transit traffic worldwide. Disruption in the region therefore has system-wide effects that extend well beyond its borders, particularly for connectivity between Asia, Australia and Europe. These disruptions have altered the operating environment for tourism and underscore the importance of continued vigilance and a flexible, responsive policy approach as global uncertainty persists.  Tourism Ireland continues to take a forward-looking approach to market development, underpinned by resilience and diversification. In August 2025, the Government set out targeted initiatives to grow tourism within mainland Europe and globally and avoid over-reliance on any single market. While maintaining strong performance in the US and Great Britain, Tourism Ireland is increasing its focus on mainland Europe, developing Canada as a key growth market, and laying the groundwork for long-term growth in markets such as China. The growing network of new air routes from the US enhances marketing potential. Tourism Ireland continues to undertake extensive advertising, publicity, social and digital activity along with airline and tour operator partnerships. Tourism Ireland's Kickstart campaign earlier this year covered 19 US states.  As an island destination, air access is fundamental, accounting for approximately 90% of overseas inbound connectivity. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Cahill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Cahill  Tourism in Kerry is the lifeblood of our local economy. From Dingle to Cahersiveen, from Killarney to Ballyheigue, from Kenmare to Ballybunion, from Glenbeigh to Listowel, from Valentia Island to Tralee and right across the county, thousands of jobs and small businesses depend directly on a strong and stable flow of overseas visitors. That stability is under threat. We are seeing the early impacts of global aviation disruption, driven by the conflict involving Iran and rising jet fuel costs. Airlines are already scaling back. Lufthansa announced 20,000 flight cuts. We have seen reductions from Aer Lingus while others are adding fuel surcharges. For an island nation like ours that predominantly depends on air access, fewer flights mean reduced capacity, higher fares and, ultimately, fewer visitors.  The Irish Tourism Industry Confederation has signalled the earlier growth projection of 5% to 7% this year is unlikely to be met. For Kerry, even a small drop in overseas visitors has a disproportionate impact. We are a premium tourism destination but also a peripheral one. We rely heavily on connectivity through our regional airports and on visitors making the additional journey beyond Dublin. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  We have had strong growth this year, which is important to recognise, particularly since we brought in a new tourism policy in December, A New Era for Irish Tourism, which looks at bringing new strategies to lengthen the season and at ensuring we have a strong culinary strategy this year that will enhance the value proposition across the country, and, hopefully, an accommodation strategy that will look at viability for hotels.  I want to be careful in terms of airlines. Many airlines are consolidating their routes. If they run two flights and they are half full, they will only run one. We want to be careful how that translates into cuts in numbers. We are encouraging the airlines and working with them on this huge challenge. We have a lot of capital schemes coming out from August for F\u00e1ilte Ireland looking at enhancing visitor attractions, working with the 46,000 SMEs and, hopefully, getting capital into them to enhance their value proposition. Through our viability mechanism - our VAT cut - we are giving them 4.5 % on their margin. We need 6% and 7% growth on domestic and overseas tourism, which will be important for the communities the Deputy represents. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Cahill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Cahill  I appreciate the Minister's response but I want to press the point about regional impact. This cannot be approached in a one-size-fits-all way. Kerry and the wider south west are particularly vulnerable to any reduction in air capacity. If flights are cut or become more expensive, visitors do not just delay; they often choose alternative destinations entirely.  While there is a suggestion Ireland could benefit as a safe destination or from increased domestic tourism, we need to be realistic. Domestic tourism will not fully offset a decline in high-value overseas visitors, particularly in areas like Killarney, Kenmare and Dingle that rely heavily on international markets. We need to see proactive measures, not reactive ones.  I urge the Minister to consider targeted supports for regional tourism businesses if numbers soften, enhanced marketing through F\u00e1ilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, particularly in North America and mainland Europe, and, critically, protect and expand regional air access, including routes that serve the south west.  There is a strong case for ensuring Kerry Airport and access routes into the region remaining a priority, especially in the context of any wider aviation strategy. The message from the ground is clear. There is nervousness in the sector. I ask that additional flights for Kerry be looked at from Belfast, Barcelona and Amsterdam to boost visitor numbers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  We will do our very best to ensure the sector keeps growing. I am aware that overseas visitors are critical for regional locations. That is why we are looking at growing our value proposition. Remember that some of the viability mechanisms have not started yet; they will not kick in until 1 July. They are coupled with reform of our capital schemes, and I have taken the view within the Department that what you cannot measure, you cannot manage.  We have targets in F\u00e1ilte Ireland relating to growth on a month-by-month basis and strict KPIs to build up support for SMEs. There will be significant support across 2026 and we will continue that. We have about \u20ac400 million in our capital plan for the next five years to support the tourism sector.  That is a very significant increase on the previous one. We also have a very strong budget working with our strategic air activation scheme. We are putting boots on the ground where we have new flights because we need resources to market them and to get the awareness of flights and to get them to take hold. There is a lot of work to do over 2026. I look forward to working with the Deputy to ensure the kingdom does benefit from that. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Tourism Industry"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/dbsect_33","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Crime Prevention","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/dbsect_26","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_26","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_33","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_33.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I thank the Deputy for his question. The Government fully recognises the significant harm caused by retail crime, which not only impacts retailers and retail employees but also has broader consequences for local communities and the national economy. Theft, organised shoplifting and associated antisocial behaviour are not victimless crimes and directly affect businesses' viability, staff safety and community confidence. I am acutely aware retailers are facing real financial losses, including rising insurance and security costs, and have deep concerns around the personal safety of staff, many of whom are working alone or at late hours. For small independent retailers in particular, a single incident can have a real impact on weekly profits, or worse. The issue is being taken very seriously by the Government. The programme for Government makes an explicit a commitment on retail crime, including the development of the retail crime strategy, which is being led by my colleague the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, in the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration.  Over the past years, we have met officials from both Departments and have engaged extensively with retailers and representative bodies at the retail forum to understand at first hand the scale, patterns and consequences of retail crime. Operationally, An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na has established Operation T\u00e1irge to specifically target organised retail crime and Garda management has briefed the retail forum on its progress. I welcome the strong focus on intelligence-led enforcement but also the increased visibility of Garda members in crime black spots and the disruption of repeat offenders.  From my Department's perspective, we are also acting to support retailers through enterprise supports. We will establish access to grants and have engagement on insurance and regulatory burdens, but that will be done through the cost of doing business advisory forum. We will continue to work on this matter and shortly will have the publication of the action plan on retail crime. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Murphy  The reality on the ground is stark. Retail crime is no longer sporadic; it is systematic. We are seeing organised shoplifting, repeat offenders and a growing sense among retailers that there is little deterrence and few consequences. For small and family-run businesses, retail crime leads to lost income, rising insurance and security costs, and in many cases fear among staff going to work. I hear directly from retailers that feel they are being asked to absorb the cost of crime themselves and that cannot be acceptable because right now the perception, and increasingly the reality, is that retail crime does pay. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I thank the Deputy for his contribution. All retail workers deserve to go to work without fear and business owners deserve the protections of the livelihoods they have built. That is why we are very much focused on the retail crime strategy. It is well advanced and will include specific, targeted measures including prevention, enforcement and support for affected businesses. Operationally, An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na has rolled out Operation T\u00e1irge, which has been successful. We have seen more disruption, arrests and prosecutions in many crime black spots, but we need to continue to redouble our efforts because retail crime needs to be confronted. It cannot be normalised and we need to work with retailers and their employees to ensure it is stamped out for good. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Murphy  We need to do everything we can to support our retailers. They are the real heroes at the local level due to the extent to which they hire locally, spend locally and invest locally. Those same retailers tell me that the offenders are well known. Incidents are frequent and brazen and the system is simply not responding at the pace required. We cannot let the situation continue whereby honest businesses invest, employ people and contribute to their communities while others repeatedly break the law with little fear of consequence. What immediate actions, not long-term plans, will be taken in the next three to six months? Critically, who is taking ownership of this matter across government? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  As I said, the retail crime strategy is being worked through at the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration. It is being led out by the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan. I have had extensive engagement with him and his officials. We have held a round-table meeting with many retailers, who were representatives of the retail forum. We want to ensure that strategy has concrete interventions and that these can be delivered within the term of the Government. It is a programme for Government commitment. We want to see this being worked through and we will, within the Department of enterprise, continue to support that over the months ahead. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 134 taken with Question No. 130. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 135 to 152, inclusive, taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Crime Prevention"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/dbsect_34","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Wage-setting Mechanisms","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/dbsect_26","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_26","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_34","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_34.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  There is a film called \"No Country for Old Men\". This is no country for young people because the Minister discriminates against them in their entitlement to the minimum wage. People aged under 20 get paid either 90% of the minimum wage, 80% of it or sometimes as low as 70%. Apprentices, who we need a lot more of to help us to build the houses we need in this country, also earn less than the minimum wage in their first and second years, so it is hardly an incentive for young people to stay in this country. I ask the Minister to ensure that whether a person is a first or second year apprentice, he or she will get at least the minimum wage and that, similarly for those aged under 20, these discriminatory rates of minimum wages will be got rid of and that young people will be entitled to the full minimum wage. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  I thank Deputy Boyd Barrett for his question. We are very clear we want to see real wage growth in the economy. We saw from the Central Statistics Office, CSO, index in December that all 13 sectors of the economy are growing, but critically, we are seeing real wage growth. I know that will be a challenge across 2026. I note the Deputy's concerns about the subminimum rates but we were very clear in our concerns for small businesses, for corner shops and for that developmental piece in terms of the early years of one's career when young people get experience. I am particularly thinking of our corner shops and the potential imposition that a 30% uplift in costs would put on them, really threatening their viability. We also have to be careful of any unintended consequences of these decisions on third level education.  The Minister, Deputy Lawless, is working on an action plan for apprenticeships and that is key. The Deputy raised a very valid point about making apprenticeships attractive and ensuring we are bringing in skills that are critical for the construction sector and for trades, some of which are exceptional in terms of the career pathway they offer. Critically, as a Government, we have brought parity of esteem to third level education and apprenticeships in the Central Applications Office, CAO, process, which was a very strong signal from the Government. We put forward an amendment to the motion earlier to detail the huge improvement we have seen in workers' rights in this country, from improved agility in remote working to the trajectory towards a living wage, the different schemes to support workers, the tips legislation, the ban on zero-hour contracts and the right to disconnect.  There are so many different areas we have made progress on. I am thinking particularly of the action plan for collective bargaining, which we brought in ahead of schedule. I gave that commitment despite what happened with the ECJ case. Again, that gives us a good pathway for continued improvements in workers' rights. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa)  Deputy Boyd Barrett has 30 seconds. We do not want to go over time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Okay. The Minister seems a bit more sympathetic on the apprentices, but will he do something about it? The higher education committee recommended it in a report. It is ridiculous. We desperately need qualified apprentices in the trades in particular but also in many areas of the economy. For first- and second-year apprentices to be paid either \u20ac7.67 in their first year or \u20ac11.50 in their second year is pathetic. Many of them are in their early 20s. Some of them are paying rent or have families. They need to be paid properly. I disagree with the Minister on young people. Corner shops or anything else should not be based on exploiting young people who should be paid the minimum wage. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  To be fair, I do not think they are exploiting young people. In the many communities that have small shops, they really provide a service to the community and provide a huge resource, especially socially, to so many villages right across the country.  On apprenticeships, I absolutely think we have a lot of room for improvement. We are working on the action plan with the Department of the Minister, Deputy Lawless, to improve conditions and to make apprenticeships more viable career choices. Those are the skills of the future that a growing and dynamic economy needs. I am happy to work with the Deputy in that regard. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Is f\u00e9idir teacht ar Cheisteanna Scr\u00edofa ar www.oireachtas.ie. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Written Answers are published on the Oireachtas website. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Wage-setting Mechanisms"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/dbsect_35","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_35","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa)  I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case:  Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett - To discuss the detention of an Irish citizen by German authorities.  Deputies Claire Kerrane and Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa - To discuss issues raised about children in State care arising from a recent \"RT\u00c9 Investigates\" programme.  Deputy Malcolm Byrne - To discuss the planned new Courtown coastguard building.  Deputy Pa Daly - To discuss when the OPW will reopen Rattoo Round Tower.  Deputy Tom Brabazon - To discuss the need for emergency works at Scoil Assaim in Raheny.  Deputy Michael Cahill - To discuss funding for improvement and refurbishment works to school buildings across County Kerry,  Deputy Jen Cummins - To discuss the issue of public health nurses in Dublin 8 and 12.  Deputy Albert Dolan - To discuss the potential loss of the 6.50 a.m. train service from Athenry to Galway.  Deputy Aidan Farrelly - To discuss prevailing issues with water supply and outages across the State and local and national responses to same.  Deputy Thomas Gould - To discuss the increase in drug-related intimidation and violence in Cork city.  Deputy Maurice Quinlivan - To discuss ongoing capacity issues at University Hospital Limerick.  Deputies Joanna Byrne and Ged Nash - To discuss inclusion of Drogheda schools in the DEIS plus scheme.  Deputies Conor D. McGuinness and David Cullinane - To discuss the decision by Tusla to cease therapeutic support services for children in care and foster carers at St. Brigid's family and resource centre in Waterford city.  Deputy Danny Healy-Rae - To discuss payments to landowners along the south Kerry greenway.  The matters raised by Deputies Richard Boyd Barrett, Duncan Smith, Sin\u00e9ad Gibney, Claire Kerrane and Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa, Aidan Farrelly, Pa Daly and Danny Healy-Rae have been selected for discussion. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/dbsect_36","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_36","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/dbsect_37","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Consular Services","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/dbsect_36","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_36","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_37","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Frankie Feighan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Daniel Tatlow-Devally has been in prison in Ulm in Germany since September. He is incarcerated for 23 hours a day, effectively in solitary confinement, in pretty shocking conditions in prison. He was not allowed to hug his family until there was intervention by myself and other TDs with the German ambassador several months into Daniel's incarceration. He was not allowed to get books of his own choice. Generally he is kept in pretty awful conditions. The circumstances are that his trial was due to begin yesterday in Stuttgart.  He is imprisoned because he engaged in a direct action protest against Elbit Systems, which produces 80% of the weapons for Israel which they have used to commit a genocidal massacre against the Palestinians in Gaza. The protest was attempting to uphold the obligations of all states to act to prevent the committing of genocide and which they failed to fulfil under the Genocide Convention. It was a direct action protest but it was not one where anybody was physically threatened or harmed. The people did not run away and they did not resist arrest. Indeed, they waited for the police to come and arrest them and they represented no physical threat to anybody. The German authorities have, however, decided to try to convict them under legislation that is reserved for organised crime and are trying them now in a court that is normally reserved for terrorists and for organised criminals.  In the trial that began yesterday, the lawyers defending Daniel and the four other members of the Ulm Five who were involved in the direct action protest against Israel's genocide and the complicity of Germany and Elbit Systems in that genocide, described what happened in the courtroom as completely unprecedented. The lawyers had never seen anything like it. For example, in any normal trial in Germany the person who is on trial, even if they are a terrorist or a neo-Nazi murderer, can sit with their lawyers. They can sit in between their lawyers but in an unprecedented move this is not being allowed to the Irish citizen or to the other members of the Ulm Five. They are put in behind a high-security glass cage, essentially, so they cannot communicate properly with their lawyers. They are being tried as organised criminals when they represented no physical threat to anybody but were actually acting to protest against genocide.  I was talking to an MP from the German Parliament who was going down to monitor the trial and he was not physically allowed into the court. He was told that it was full, but Daniel's mother was in there and she said it was not full at all. The legal team on behalf of the defence is saying they have never seen anything like this. They have called for the judge to recuse herself such is the level of obvious bias. There were riot police in the court physically threatening members of the family and people who were in there, suggesting violence and so on against them. It is a show trial. They are asking that the Irish Government would send monitors to look over this trial, which will be spread over multiple days across May, June and July. We call on the German Government to stop treating these people as if they are organised criminals when actually they are people upholding international law in protesting against the genocidal horror that Israel has inflicted on the Palestinian people, for which Elbit Systems provides the means for Israel to commit that crime. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Frankie Feighan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (Deputy Frankie Feighan)  I am responding on behalf of my ministerial colleagues in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade who are unavailable due to their ministerial duties this evening.  Providing consular assistance to Irish citizens who find themselves in difficulty abroad, including in cases of arrest or detention, is a cornerstone of the work of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and its embassies and consulates around the world. Each year the Department provides support to a significant number of Irish citizens arrested or detained overseas. Our ethos has always been to place a strong emphasis on ensuring that Irish citizens receive timely and empathetic consular assistance.  We are aware of the case referred to by the Deputy. Consular assistance has been provided to the citizen referred to since September 2025, soon after their detention. I can confirm that a dedicated consular officer in the Consulate General of Ireland in Munich has been assigned to support the citizen and their family and has provided support and advice in accordance with the Department's consular assistance charter. I can further confirm that staff in the Consulate General in Munich, including the consul general and deputy consul general, have undertaken four consular visits to the citizen in prison, most recently on 10 April. We are in regular contact with the citizen and with family members. Consular visits are an opportunity to check on the welfare of a citizen, ascertain if there are any medical issues that require attention, offer pastoral support, and assess the conditions of detention. Our consular officers can also act as conduits, helping to share information from and to loved ones in Ireland if that is required by the citizen.  I understand that the conditions of detention in the case referred to by the Deputy are the same as those of any other person in their situation, which includes access to video calls and in-person visits. Prisoners at the facility in question also have access to a social worker. I understand that court proceedings in this case started yesterday. As laid out in the consular assistance charter, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and its embassies and consulates abroad are precluded from intervening in the judicial and legal processes of another country. Therefore, it would not be appropriate to comment on the ongoing legal case. The Deputy asked that we send monitors to the trial. I will bring this back to the Minister. I assure the Deputy that the Department will continue to provide all necessary and appropriate consular assistance to the citizen and their family. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  The Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, is not the senior minister and he is just reading off the script, which is a bit frustrating given that there is somebody facing very serious charges in a court in Germany and is being treated in an absolutely disgraceful way for protesting against genocide. This is about genocide. Ireland and Germany and 153 other countries are signatories to the Genocide Convention. In case the Minister of State does not know what is in that convention, I will outline what we signed up to.  What we signed up to and what every signatory did, after the Holocaust, was to prevent even a suspicion of a possible genocide taking place, and to act to prevent it and to do all in our power. States have failed to do this, self-evidently. This is why Ireland eventually joined South Africa's case against the genocide. People have not prevented it because, of course, the genocide continues in Gaza.  Daniel, an Irish citizen, and other people acted to do what states have failed to do, to try to disrupt the ability of Elbit Systems in Germany to provide Israel with the weapons to commit a genocide. For this, the German Government is prosecuting them as if they were organised criminals. This is not just for property damage, protesting or public order offences but as organised criminals. It has brought them to a courthouse normally reserved for terrorists and people involved in organised crime. There are riot police all over the place. Restrictions are being imposed which their legal team says are completely abnormal. The judge will not even talk to the defence legal team about the conditions in the court and the conditions under which Daniel is being detained. This is not normal. To simply say we do not interfere is not good enough when an Irish citizen is being treated like this for protesting against a genocide, which the Irish Government even thinks may be a genocide and why it has joined the case. We are asking the Government to send monitors to the trial, to make a public statement in support of Daniel, and to say the way he is being treated by the German legal system is an absolute disgrace. That pressure can impact on the German Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Frankie Feighan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Frankie Feighan  I thank Deputy Boyd Barrett. As I mentioned, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is fully aware of this case and has provided all appropriate consular assistance to the citizen and their family since September 2025 and will continue to do so. The Department, through its consulate general in Munich, has been in regular contact with the citizen since their detention began, and a series of consular visits has been possible to verify that the conditions of their detention are in line with those of other detainees. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  They are not. I am telling you they are not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Frankie Feighan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Frankie Feighan  Our embassies and consulates overseas play a vital role in providing support to Irish citizens who have been arrested or detained, and this is a core part of our consular assistance mandate. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is precluded from intervening in the judicial and legal processes of another country in the provision of consular assistance. I will bring Deputy Boyd Barrett's views back to the Department. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Consular Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/dbsect_38","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Children in Care","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/dbsect_36","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_36","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_38","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Claire Kerrane  I acknowledge that the Minister is here tonight to take this Topical Issue. I am sure she will agree that last week's \"RT\u00c9 Investigates\" was appalling. It gave us just a glimpse into the experience of some children in care and what they experience. I certainly felt, having watched it, that somebody needs to be held accountable for what we saw in the programme and it cannot just be Tusla. I have said before that the Government is in charge. The Minister and the Department have a responsibility for children who are in care, our most vulnerable children in the State. Far too often it is easy for all of us to point the finger at Tusla. It has been too much of an easy out and the time for that is over.  The system we saw last week on our television screens is one that is causing harm to children. We saw children who are being neglected. It is a system that consists of children who go hungry and children who run away because they cannot bear to be where they are put. It has actively led to children being exploited and being assaulted. It has brought vulnerable children into a world of drugs and crime. It has led to severe mental health issues and it has led to homelessness. These operators are being paid for this service and they are being paid in the millions. It is, frankly, disgusting that this is what they are being paid for.  The use of unregulated profit-driven residential settings has to be banned. There should be no room for profit making when it comes to looking after the most vulnerable children in our State. It is not just about a ban but about building capacity in the State system. This is there in terms of the voluntary residential services. They are ready, willing and able. They want to grow and they want to do more. Why can they not do so? It is because the funding they receive cannot and does not operate the services they have today. They are fundraising for their services. We need to give them funding that is adequate to do the job they do and we need more of them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I thank the Minister for being here. We dealt with this to some degree last week but, as Deputy Kerrane has said, it is utterly shocking and harrowing. There are no terms to describe the story of Max, which we all saw on \"RT\u00c9 Investigates\". We are talking about special emergency arrangements or accommodations that are not in any way suitable. He was missing for two and a half hours before anybody noticed and before the child was abused, and this is only part of it.  Unfortunately, this is a representation of many children who are in these inappropriate settings. It is all we can call them. They are inappropriate settings for which we are paying huge money. We heard it was \u20ac2,000 per child per week. This is utterly frightening. I raised this with the Minister last week and she told me that last year there were 170 special emergency accommodations and now there are 70. She said she is talking about reducing the number by 50%. We need to see special emergency accommodation gone. My fear is that the pressure is on, rightly, following \"RT\u00c9 Investigates\" and the shock that everybody got. We also understand the complexity of the issues, the lack of addiction services and the lack of mental health services and early interventions for families.  We are still talking about Tusla, which is dealing with these issues, probably a lot later because of the size of the caseloads. It is dealing with them a lot later when the issues have become a lot more complex. While we would prefer to see special care facilities funded, if special emergency accommodation is not being utilised, what is happening with the kids who have to be presenting at this time? My fear is that even if we are avoiding using special emergency accommodation, which we should long term, we are talking about inappropriate care, inappropriate supports and inappropriate accommodation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Children, Disability and Equality (Deputy Norma Foley)  I will begin by expressing my thanks to Deputies Kerrane and \u00d3 Murch\u00fa for raising this important issue and for offering me the opportunity to respond. I acknowledge, as I have previously, how upsetting it was to watch and listen to the experiences of the young people interviewed as part of last week's programme, and I commend and thank each one of them on speaking out. It is vital that we have the opportunity to hear from young people with experience of the care system and it is important that we listen to them.  For the information of the House, I would like to share that the vast majority of children in State care, 96% in fact, are in foster care or residential care. In comparison with our international peers, we are doing well on this front. Nine out of ten young people in foster or residential care are engaged in education, and three in every four young people leaving care and entering aftercare services are now participating in education and training, according to the CSO.  However, Tusla also deals with children and young people in care who are often coming from highly traumatic situations through no fault of their own, and in some instances foster care and residential care settings can break down. Last year Tusla received 106,444 child protection and welfare referrals, up 10% on 2024. I was pleased to secure a 14% increase in funding for Tusla in the most recent budget, bringing its overall budget to \u20ac1.4 billion in 2026. Tusla had approximately 5,661 whole-time staff at end of 2025, 343 more than at the same time in the previous year, including a 3.15% rise in social workers.  As regards special emergency accommodation, Tusla has experienced a 500% increase in the number of separated children seeking international protection being referred to the agency since 2022, along with an increasing number of children with more complex needs. This challenge is not unique to Ireland. The Department, along with Tusla, recognises that the use of special emergency arrangements is far from ideal. The Department is proactively supporting Tusla to improve the availability of placements and to expand capacity across its network.  Significantly, the use of special emergency arrangements to provide placement for separated children seeking international protection has reduced significantly over the last year, dropping from 105 at the end of 2024 to three as of last week.  As I mentioned last week, these three are, in fact, cases of disputed age and as a result are being placed in special emergency accommodation until the issues that have arisen are resolved.  The reduction in numbers being facilitated in special emergency accommodation has been achieved by opening 79 additional registered residential centres to support the large number of unaccompanied minors in the State. The Department is also proactively supporting Tusla to improve the availability of further placements and expand capacity across its network.  It is important to note the number of unregistered special emergency arrangements has significantly reduced this year. Some 19 centres are now categorised in line with legislation as emergency placements under the governance of Tusla and subject to inspection and monitoring by HIQA; 35 centres are in the process of registration; and 19 centres have completed registration and will be subject to Tusla's inspection and monitoring service in line with all private residential placements. This means that by the start of May this year, Tusla will have reduced the number of emergency placements that are not registered by almost 50%. The work to move that to a zero point continues this year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Claire Kerrane  I thank the Minister. In her closing remarks, she might let us know the action that has been taken. Has she met Tusla since that programme was aired last week, for example? Why are we not looking at the 13 voluntary residential services that have agreements in place with Tusla? Staff in them have experience of 25, 30 and more years' experience. We should be looking at those providers. There should not be any room for profit-making when it comes to children in the care of the State. Again, I make the point that we have residential services in the voluntary sector that are regulated to the hilt. They have to account for every single red cent. They are fundraising to keep their doors open to stand still. We are throwing money then at private providers, some of which are providing what we saw last week on the television. Can the Minister come back to us specifically on those voluntary residential services? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I will also follow up. The Minister stated that \"by the start of May this year, Tusla will have reduced the number of emergency placements that are not registered by almost 50%\". When are we taking that from? Are we talking about the 70 there at the moment becoming 35? We are literally talking about the end of this week. I am going to put that question again. There are obviously complex cases. We get the idea of the huge issue in respect of separated children seeking international protection. The Minister spoke about the issue of the age discrepancy, which needs to be dealt with, particularly from a safeguarding point of view. However, what happens with a complex child if we do not have a special care facility and we do not have the residential care that Deputy Kerrane is speaking about and which is underfunded? What happens in this day and age? As much as I want to see the end of SEAs, and it needs to happen as soon as possible and I ask for a date, I have a fear of what happens at present with one of those children to avoid them being placed in an SEA. Where do we put them if we do not have the appropriate residential care facility? I am very worried. I will also go back to that point that we are missing the early intervention piece that could avoid an awful lot of this nuclear action and we would not be failing children to the degree we are. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  I thank the Deputies for raising this important issue. In order to overcome the challenges within the care system that were highlighted on the programme and which have been raised by the Deputies, which I acknowledge, the Department secured an overall increase of \u20ac177 million for Tusla in the most recent budget. That is representing a 14% increase in Tusla's budget over 2025. This brings Tusla's total budget to over \u20ac1.4 billion. Additionally, Tusla plans to invest a total of \u20ac286 million in expanding mainstream residential care in 2026; an additional \u20ac53 million of current funding compared with 2025. As I mentioned previously this evening, 96% of all children in State care are placed in foster care or residential care. In this regard, in addition to building on the capacity of mainstream residential placements for children, prioritisation has also been given to building on supports with respect to foster care, which resulted in a 21% increase to the foster care allowance in 2024, a new initial placement payment to foster carers, improved travel allowances and greater access to therapeutic and peer supports.  I want to assure the Deputes that officials within the Department are proactively engaging with their counterparts in Tusla to continue to build on the supports that foster carers can avail of. The Department also expanded Tusla's capital budget to \u20ac35 million in 2026, which represents growth of 100% since 2024. That refers to the provision of additional residential places. This investment will support Tusla to expand its residential care, as has been outlined by the Deputies, including the provision of step-down units for children leaving special care. Three new step-down units are scheduled to come on stream. Two will become available in December of this year and one in January of next year. This will, in turn, add to capacity in special care going forward. As I said, significant work has also been undertaken to reduce the number of unregistered special emergency arrangements. Last year, there were 170 such facilities and we now have reduced this number to 70. We will continue to do more in this space going forward.  I would also like to confirm to the House that the Department has also engaged with children and young people on a consistent basis in the past year both through the care experiences project and through the significant consultation that has been undertaken as part of the development of a new national policy framework for alternative care. Combined, this research and policy development will allow us, as a State, for the very first time, to take a strategic approach towards the future of the care system, guided by the lived experience of the young people who have first-hand experience of the care system. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Children in Care"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/dbsect_39","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Water Services","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/dbsect_36","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_36","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_39","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aidan Farrelly  I thank the Minister of State for being here this evening to take this question. I appreciate that. The Minister of State will not need me to tell him that the people of Kildare and the eastern region are sincerely sick and tired of waking up to dry taps. In Kildare, in particular, we have had such consistent outages over the past number of weeks and months in many different areas that frustration is really at boiling pint at this stage. For context, we saw in the census very recently that Kildare's population 100 years ago was 50,000-odd people. Fast-forward 100 years and it is nearly over 250,000 at this stage. It is the fastest growing county in the country. That population has doubled in 30 years. We have had huge population growth, but I cannot understate the impact that has had on the services, most specifically when it comes to water. It is really having an enormous impact on people's lives.  We had a nice few days last week with a bit of sunshine. People woke up on Sunday morning to hear that in 24 hours, with no notice, Allenwood reservoir had run dry. A lot of pockets of these same communities only four, six and eight weeks ago were told there is a risk of planned flooding because the reservoirs were too high. It seems that we cannot deal with too much water and we cannot deal with too little water. My worry and my analysis keep bringing me to this point: where is the political accountability or oversight here? My concern is that without direct involvement at ministerial level, the utility is missing some sort of accountability. We have had it before the Committee of Public Accounts. We have had really thorough and robust engagement with the representatives. However, that is a very rare opportunity for political questioning. As a TD, as any Member of this House will know, if we put a question to the Minister for housing who has ultimate responsibility, the first line of every parliamentary reply is that water is not his responsibility. The Minister of State has been here as a councillor. He knows all too well the number of queries or contacts a county councillor will get about water, whether it is planned outages, unplanned outages or capital works. People go to the authority or the local authority and they say it is not their problem either. TDs cannot get answers from a Minister and councillors cannot get answers from the local authority and so people go to the rep desk. I am sure it will be part of the Minister of State's response that the rep desk is there but if he has used it, he will know that you will wait weeks upon weeks for an answer that ultimately does not ask. Really, it goes beyond what is acceptable in terms of any sort of real, thorough engagement.  I am asking with great sincerity tonight, not just for Kildare at all, although it is significantly felt in Kildare, but right across the region. Is there an appetite within the Minister of State, the Department or with Government colleagues to further increase political accountability and oversight here? I accept that many bodies are established to allow a set of professionals, in this instance, Uisce \u00c9ireann, to get on with the work and to escape any sort of political influence.  That is laudable. However, the Comptroller and Auditor General and many others have noted that Uisce \u00c9ireann is quite specific in its set-up. We know the origins of that. My worry is there is a lack of strategy here, a lack of oversight and a lack of transparency within which political representatives, whether they be councillors, Senators or TDs, can get access to timely information.  I look forward to the Minister of State's reply. I sincerely emphasise that piece with regard to Kildare. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy John Cummins)  I thank the Deputy for raising what is obviously an important matter. It is an issue of concern both locally and nationally. I appreciate the impact and challenges that shortages and outages of water have on communities around the country where they occur.  As the Deputy will be aware, since 1 January 2014, Uisce \u00c9ireann has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at a national, regional and local level, including investment in wastewater treatment plants, returning wastewater safely to the environment in an efficient and sustainable manner and supplying drinking water to the population across the country. That being said, the Government is equally concerned with ensuring citizens receive adequate water services and as such is delivering significant investment in our water infrastructure.  In response to the complex challenges facing the water sector, we have developed strategic objectives and supporting actions that will help us address our most critical needs and ensure that we continue to deliver sustainable water and wastewater services for the long term. These key objectives are highlighted in Uisce \u00c9ireann's water services strategic plan, which was approved by Government last year. The water services strategic plan presents Uisce \u00c9ireann's objectives for the next 25 years and the means by which they will be achieved. It aligns to requirements set out in the Water Services Act 2013. The first water services strategic plan was published in 2015. This was then replaced by the strategic service plan 2050, which was approved by the Minister, Deputy Browne, as I said, last year.  Since 2014, Uisce \u00c9ireann's capital investment has grown from \u20ac300 million to \u20ac1.4 billion under budget 2026. This sustained investment will support the delivery of key strategic programmes and projects in our cities and regions to deliver the additional water service capacity required for new housing targets, while prioritising public health and safeguarding the environment. Uisce \u00c9ireann is also committed to improving water supply by reducing leakage and carrying out upgrades to the infrastructure to ensure it can obtain maximum output.  Much of Ireland's drinking water is lost to leaks before it reaches our taps. To conserve this precious resource, Uisce \u00c9ireann has invested \u20ac2 billion to upgrade the underground water network across the country through the delivery of a leakage reduction programme. It is continuing this work with over \u20ac1 billion in further investment up to the end of 2029 to fix leaks and replace pipes to improve service and provide a more reliable water supply.  The revised national development plan, which was launched last July by Government, provides record funding of \u20ac12.2 billion for the water sector, of which \u20ac11.7 billion will be allocated to Uisce \u00c9ireann to support the delivery of large projects and critical infrastructure required to deliver 300,000 new dwellings by 2030. Uisce \u00c9ireann has said it is committed to delivering a multibillion euro capital investment programme under the revised national development plan. Major projects in every part of the country are being progressed, including two generational investments in the water infrastructure - the greater Dublin drainage project and the water supply project for the eastern and midlands region. Under the NDP, \u20ac2.5 billion has been specifically allocated for these projects. This overall investment will deliver significant improvements in our public water and wastewater services, not only meeting the Government's commitments in the programme for Government but also meeting Ireland's obligations under UN goals.  These are very serious issues. Of course, I accept the Deputy's bona fides in raising these matters. Other Deputies have concerns around the country as well. The response times are something that the Minister, Deputy Browne, has raised directly with Uisce \u00c9ireann. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aidan Farrelly  I thank the Minister of State for that response. Even in Kildare, you can see the impact of that funding. You can see the works happening from a capital perspective, whether it is roadworks or significant works that are happening to unlock that residential development within the county. The problem is we are midway through that in Kildare and I wonder whether the capacity is increasing at reservoir level. That is a concern for me as a wider piece. The Minister of State might come back in on that.  The bit that irks me a little, if I am honest, is that I am genuinely curious as to the nature of the relationship between the Department and the body itself. How involved is the Minister or how involved can he be, when we heard at the Committee of Public Accounts that nearly 94% of Uisce \u00c9ireann staff got their full bonuses in 2024? That smacks in the face people in Leixlip, for example, who have been noting, in 2026, unplanned outages in February and twice in April; and in 2025, in January, March, twice in May, twice in July and December. When these outages happen, the staff on the ground are phenomenal at trying to minimise the impact on communities but there is something wrong at the core if this is continuously going to happen. As I said, the news a couple of months ago was that they might have to flood our community because the reservoir levels were too high and then, a couple of weeks later with a little sunshine, that water is gone and they have to turn our taps off.  At this point, I offer my full support for greater oversight and greater communication networks between public representatives, the body and the Department. I welcome the billions of euro for infrastructure, which is more than needed, but what happens after that if the capacity remains a problem? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Cummins  The Deputy raised valid points, particularly around the reservoir levels. Obviously, I cannot answer to that specific case in the Deputy's constituency, but he is correct in pointing out that the significant investment of taxpayer's money we are allocating to Uisce \u00c9ireann as a utility company to be able to deliver those generational projects, and also to deliver those smaller projects right across the country, is critical to ensuring we are able to develop the quantum of housing required for our people. Only two weeks ago, in Dungarvan, County Waterford, I turned the sod on a water facility, which is a \u20ac29.5 million investment. It is being replicated right across the country to build that resilience into the network, as in the wider Dungarvan area, not only for the existing population but for what will be projected going forward. In the context of the \u20ac12 billion we are allocating to water in the national development plan, every cent of that will be put to good use because we need to build that resilience into the network right across the country.  It is true to say that there has been underinvestment in water over many years and catch-up is required. It is also true to say that Uisce \u00c9ireann needs to streamline its processes to ensure that infrastructure is delivered in a quicker manner. It is also true to say, and it has been raised by other Deputies, that communication needs to be better. That has been raised with Uisce \u00c9ireann by the Minister, Deputy Browne. For my own part, I have regular engagements with Uisce \u00c9ireann, particularly around connection times in relation to the developer-led infrastructure initiative and other matters, as the Minister has too. I assure the Deputy that while Uisce \u00c9ireann is there as a body, certainly the political involvement does occur. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Water Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/dbsect_40","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Heritage Projects","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/dbsect_36","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_36","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_40","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Frankie Feighan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  Eleven years ago, a reply was given by a Minister of State in this Chamber that the works at Rattoo Round Tower in Ballyduff in north Kerry, which were being undertaken at that time, included conservation and repair, working on the exterior and then moving on to the interior.  The works are continuing to this day and great work is being carried out by the national monuments depot works section, which is based in Killarney and in general does excellent work. However, the pace of the work is incredible and there is deep frustration in the Ballyduff area that this magnificent round tower, which has an unbelievable history going back 1,000 years, has remained closed for the past 15 years. Back in 2015, there were a few jobs to be done. The lightening conductor was being reinstalled and there were some other minor projects and it was promised at that time that some new interpretation would be made available on the site.  I am not sure that the Office of Public Works, the Department or the Government realise the significance of this former ecclesiastical site. I met some German tourists there last year who came to Ireland to see two sites. One was Clonmacnoise and the other was Rattoo Round Tower, so on an international archeological basis, this is of huge significance. At one stage, the site contained the 1,000-year-old round tower, which is probably the best preserved in Ireland and the only round tower remaining in Kerry, an abbey and a hospital and, according to a local schoolteacher, a harp school of music operated there going back to the 1600s.  As I said, the site has been closed for 15 year while these works are being carried out. Internal works have been completed and I am told there was a promise going back to the 1980s to reopen the site with an interpretative centre. In an area like Ballyduff, which some people feel has been neglected - there is a totally inadequate wastewater system there, for example - there is all the more reason for them to feel that the untapped tourism and historical potential is not being addressed. People are frustrated. The round tower could be the centre of a tourism project that would boost the village because it is just off the Wild Atlantic Way and employment, including secondary employment, could be created there. However, because of the scaffolding that surrounds the bottom of the round tower, it is a building site. People are not even allowed to go in and walk around the base of the structure.  I am asking that the Government do one of two things, either build a platform so the inside can be accessed or, if it will not do that, remove the scaffolding so people can be allowed access around the base of the tower so it can be viewed properly. In the meantime - and this is an easy request; going back to the 1980s, as I said, there was to be extra interpretation - will the Government put some information signage with QR codes so the history, which is unknown to many people, can be explained? Will it link in with local people to source the local history? I suggest that the site be opened either for the Ballyduff Summer Festival, which will take place in June, or for Heritage Week, which will take place in August. The time for delaying this is over. It has gone on long enough and I ask the Minister of State to make it a priority. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Frankie Feighan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Frankie Feighan  I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. Rattoo Round Tower, national monument No. 55, is a national monument in the ownership of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and is maintained by the Office of Public Works. In recent years, as the Deputy outlined, an ongoing programme of repairs has been undertaken, which included the regrouting and repointing of stonework and the installation of a platform to facilitate safe height access for future maintenance.  The substantial works on Rattoo Round Tower are now complete and it is envisaged internal lime-washing will be done in the coming weeks when the walls have sufficiently dried out after the winter. Upon completion of the repairs, as previously advised, the OPW will issue a full report to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, as required under the terms of ministerial consent.  The OPW intends to introduce a new interpretation service at Rattoo Round Tower that will explain its history and context in Ireland's early Christian heritage. The OPW would welcome community stakeholder engagement during this process. That is what the Deputy called for - information signage to be put up and that will be helpful. It also hopes to be in a position to facilitate internal access to the tower for Heritage Week 2026. The logistics are currently being considered and the main factors contributing to this will be an appropriate outside access structure and the form it will take. That is the platform the Deputy is looking for. I think it will be delivered as well.  As the Deputy is aware, there are challenges with access to the tower given the tall, slender structure with its confined internal spaces and steep vertical climbs. For the future, it will be necessary to undertake a safety audit of how visitors can access the areas within the tower, given the limitations of its upper floors. The Deputy also said that 15 years sounds like an incredibly long time and I suppose the locals in Ballyduff are anxious that the tower open as quickly as possible. It is interesting to hear it is of international archeological importance. The more we can do to open these facilities and heritage areas, which are much treasured, the better. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I am glad minds have been concentrated and I hope they will remain concentrated after today. I hope the Minister of State will go back to the Department. I asked a parliamentary question about this matter a year ago and the reply indicated that a reassessment of risk and public safety access would be prepared. I understand from the Minister of State's reply, which I thank him for, that the OPW will issue a full report following the completion of the works, which should be soon.  It is all a question of priorities at this stage. Given the length of time we have been dealing with this - the works have gone on for 15 years, but the OPW and Department have been looking at this and considering various interpretative centres around the area for 40 years probably - the least the people of Ballyduff deserve is that the report be prioritised and expedited as quickly as possible so the tower can be opened. The report will allow the access structure or whatever alternatives there are, to facilitate the reopening as soon as possible. It is not a lot to ask. The internal works have been completed. There is a platform inside. The door is 9 ft off the ground so when people go in they are on a platform. I think the lime-washing has been completed. If it is just a question of preparing a report regarding safety and the completion of the works, can that be done? Then, perhaps the centre could be open in time for the June bank holiday weekend, when the Ballyduff summer festival is on, or as the Minister of State hinted, it could be open for Heritage Week in August. That would be greatly appreciated after all this time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Frankie Feighan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Frankie Feighan  I reiterate that the OPW remains committed to the conservation and protection of Rattoo Round Tower. Repair works will ensure the long-term preservation of the monument and provide the foundation for a careful reassessment of the extent to which internal public access may be possible. The OPW looks forward to the completion of this project and welcoming the Deputy and the local community to view the interior of Rattoo Round Tower in the not-too-distant future.  The Deputy is absolutely right that this is an area of conservation. We also have heritage sites all around the country and sometimes we take them for granted. We probably did so. The Deputy outlined that German tourists came especially to see Rattoo Round Tower and Clonmacnoise. We have others. In our area, we have Moygara Castle, Carrowkeel, Sligo Abbey and Carrowmore and it is amazing to see people come who say they are there for the megalithic tombs or whatever. We sometimes take them for granted so I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. I will discuss it with the Minister again tomorrow. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Heritage Projects"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/dbsect_41","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Greenways Provision","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-28\/debate\/dbsect_36","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_36","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_41","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  This has been an ongoing for a long time. Back in 2014 when the compulsory purchase order, CPO, was being mooted and talked about, the management in Kerry County Council at the time were insisting on the CPO process to all the members of the council. Both myself and Councillor Johnny Healy-Rae were totally and absolutely against the CPO process because it encapsulates and gives fierce powers. I have always believed in ownership. If somebody owns land or owns a house, I believe it is theirs and that to deal with them, we have to buy it or make a deal in some way or other. The idea that someone can come on to someone's land and take as much as they want or need without any clarity for the owners to build a road or a cycleway that will be finished and opened to the public, but the owners are not yet paid, is very hurtful to many people, and indeed it is hurtful to me.  Where accommodation works are needed, they have to be agreed with the owners. If a road is put through a field and that field was always open for cattle, sheep, silage, hay or whatever, to get from one side to cross the greenway as easy as you can for cattle and for tractors or whatever, accommodation works are needed and have to be provided. For greenways going forward, CPO is not the way to go because we need to have the goodwill of the people. People are entitled to and can have a different value on different properties, for example, a site for a child, for themselves, or for whatever other use they have which might place a significant value on the land over what the people dealing with them might think.  Greenways sometimes finish up close to dwellings or outbuildings. This is the case in this instance and many families feel that their privacy is compromised. They feel very exposed to the public view. There is no doubt that local businesses in Glenbeigh, Rossbeigh and all of the other business down to and including Cahersiveen badly need the perk and the boost to the economy that this very scenic greenway will bring. I had to pay for any property I ever purchased before I entered it or began working it. I cannot understand why a greenway or piece of land that is to be used as an amenity is not paid for in the same way. Surely a contract should have been drawn up detailing what the land take would be and the accommodation works needed, that the farmer would be paid before any work started, with evidence provided of insurance to cover the farmer, the workers, any visitors and everyone involved. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Transport (Deputy Jerry Buttimer)  I thank the Deputy for raising this very important matter, which I am dealing with on behalf of Minister for Transport. On a personal level, I do not disagree with a lot of what the Deputy said. He is absolutely right and I will come back to that in a minute.  The Minister for Transport has responsibility for the overall policy and Exchequer funding in relation to greenways. The planning, design and construction of individual greenways is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TIl, as the approving authority and the relevant local authority, which in the case of this project is Kerry County Council. The delivery of the south Kerry greenway is a key priority within the greenways programme. It is a significant project that will link Glenbeigh and Cahersiveen, with the 24 km route primarily following the old railway line. Over \u20ac9 million has been allocated to fund this project in 2026 alone, while a further \u20ac7 million, approximately, was allocated to fund this scheme in 2025. This significant investment underlines the Government's commitment to the project.  I hear the Deputy's point about the economic lift the greenway will give the areas he mentioned. I understand that two sections of the greenway route have opened in recent months and that another section will be opened over the summer. This is a positive development and signals Kerry County Council\u2019s commitment to progressing this project to delivery. It would be remiss of me not to acknowledge the challenges involved in delivering this scheme, which range from complex engineering issues involving topography and remediation works on historical structures to inflationary pressures and, of course, land acquisition. The preferred approach to land acquisition for greenways is to procure required land by voluntary land agreements, VLAs. All reasonable efforts should be made to acquire land on a voluntary basis. It is only as a last resort that a CPO will be pursued by a local authority and it should only ever be a last resort. Even then, where a CPO process commence,s there should be further ongoing engagement throughout the process to try and reach a voluntary land agreement. That may not happen in some cases. I have heard that this is not the situation in some cases, which disappoints me. CPOs are a long-standing statutory mechanism available to local authorities for public infrastructure projects and their use is subject to strict legal processes and oversight. I hear very clearly the Deputy's remarks about the use of CPOs and he is right. It must be by the will of the people. There must be engagement, constructive and meaningful talks and conversations with landowners and others. That is the only way to proceed. I see this in my own constituency and in Cork South West, with the Cork to Kinsale greenway. I fully agree with the Deputy that we must bring people together, not divide and conquer.  Kerry County Council has advised that land is being acquired from 138 landowners for the south Kerry greenway. As of early April 2026, compensation has been agreed and paid to 36 landowners. Compensation has been agreed with a further 54 landowners and these claims are at various stage of the conveyancing process. The average time between finalising conveyancing details with a landowner\u2019s solicitor and making payment is five to six months. I have been advised that it is expected that all of these 54 claims will be paid in 2026, barring any unforeseen circumstances or issues. I would like to confirm to the Deputy that funding is available to pay these claims in 2026 on completion of the relevant legal documentation. When completed, 65% of all impacted landowners will have been fully compensated for their land.  In 16 cases, no statement of claim has been received from the landowner or the landowner\u2019s agent, which is resulting in delays to the process. There are other cases where agreement of landowners\u2019 agent's fees is also delaying the process. Three cases have been referred to arbitration and are engaging with the formal process to help bring matters toward a fair and timely resolution. I have been assured that Kerry County Council officials are working closely with remaining local landowners and their agents to finalise accommodation works and land acquisition payments. As the Deputy will appreciate, it is critical that there is a working relationship between the local authority and all landowners to ensure that all claims can be settled. I encourage all landowners to engage with the project team if they have not done so. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  I thank the Minister of State for his detailed reply. Before work starts on any man's land or woman's land, it should be paid for first, and not afterwards. It is not right that they may be paid at a later time. The Minister of State is telling me that some of them will be paid this year. What I am saying is do not go into any other man's land without paying first and agreeing the accommodation works. That is my view on it anyway.  To go back to when the CPO process was put in place, I was there and involved in the council meetings before Christmas. The officials came back and said they could not agree with six or seven.  I begged the manager to send down more help with him, and that I would go myself, if needed, to talk to the landowners and see how those six or seven could be brought around.  When the compulsory purchase order was being mooted first, I thought it was only for those six or seven. I appreciated that all the rest of them were willing to talk and to agree. As a last resort, it should have been only the ones they had trouble with and not all of them. When we see the powers that were given and that people are not paid until the works are completed, it is very wrong.  I am asking the Minister of State not to allow this to happen in any other part of the country - our country. I am talking about Kerry. It is vital that the landowners are brought on board where these walkways and cycleways are going through. You will always need their goodwill and to show goodwill to the people who are coming to visit our county. That is important. I am asking the Minister of State not to let this happen in any other part of the country. These people have not been paid and their accommodation is up in the air. They need to be talked to. There is a lot of work to sort it out. I am begging the Minister of State to do so and to ensure that we bring back the goodwill of the people whose lands we are going through because it is vital to have their goodwill on our side. The greenway will help everyone. It is making life difficult for the landowners, but they have to be compensated and seen after. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  The first point I will make is that greenways will have significant benefit to the local areas, as the Deputy said, in terms of significant benefits beyond the transport sector in areas such as regional economic development, public health, climate resilience and economic activity. The point the Deputy made is that it is important that three sections of the Kerry greenway will be open to the public by the summer. I will restate that it is, and should be, as the Deputy said, the primary objective across all proposed greenway schemes to acquire land voluntarily. In the transport committee in November, TII committed to reviewing the code this year. In tandem, the Government will review the parent greenway document strategy. I will come back to that again another day with the Deputy. It is important that best practice for regional and national greenways is that we do not enter into CPOs as a first resort, that it is the last resort, that there is engagement, connection and conversation, and that it is voluntary land acquisition.  I ask Deputy Healy-Rae to be that conduit. I believe, and will make the point, that Kerry County Council has said it is a priority for it that it will settle land acquisition arrangements. I hope it will because they are landowners. As the Deputy said, they are people who have worked hard for the land that they have. Equally, it is important that all lines of communication are open and that there is an opportunity to be taken to resolve the matter to ensure we see a positive solution that can be achieved for all the people living and working in south Kerry. I hope we will see progress. We need to see that done. The Deputy is right; there is no point in driving and dividing people. It is about bringing people together, and we all benefit from that.  I thank the Deputy for raising the matter on behalf of the people of south Kerry. I have it my own constituency. I am fully aware of the issues he has raised. It is one that we need to see common sense in as well, because it is about people. People in these cases are not looking to cause trouble. They are looking to protect themselves and do what is best for their communities. I am sorry to the staff for running over time. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar athl\u00f3 ar 11.24 p.m. go dt\u00ed 9 a.m., D\u00e9 C\u00e9adaoin, an 29 Aibre\u00e1n 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The D\u00e1il adjourned at 11.24 p.m. until 9 a.m. on Wednesday, 29 April 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Greenways Provision"}]}}]},"contextDate":"2026-04-28"},{"debateRecord":{"house":{"showAs":"34th D\u00e1il","committeeCode":"","houseCode":"dail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/house\/dail\/34","chamberType":"house","houseNo":"34"},"chamber":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/def\/house\/dail","showAs":"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann"},"lastUpdated":"2026-07-06T14:31:51+00:00","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/main","formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/mul@\/main.xml"},"pdf":null},"date":"2026-04-23","counts":{"contributorCount":133,"divisionCount":0,"debateSectionCount":64,"questionCount":40,"billCount":2},"debateType":"debate","debateSections":[{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_2","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_3","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"School Admissions","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_2","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_3.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  I want to ask the Minister the number of children in Dunshaughlin, County Meath, on waiting lists and still without an offer of a junior infants place for September 2026, the measures she will take to provide additional places, including with respect to language and ethos preferences, the date on which she will meet with Meath East TDs and local principals to discuss possible options, and if she will make a statement on the matter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Education and Youth (Deputy Hildegarde Naughton)  The provision of school places to meet the needs of children and young people at primary and post-primary level, including children and young people with special educational needs, is an absolute priority for me.  Recognising the potential for school place pressures, my Department has been engaging on an ongoing basis with the primary schools in Dunshaughlin and has assessed application and admissions data provided by those schools.  In response to the identified need, my Department has engaged with the patron of Dunshaughlin Community National School and has sanctioned the opening of a second junior infant class at the school for 2026. Department officials have been advised by the school that offers have now been made. Parents can be assured that all pupils in Dunshaughlin will have a place available for September.  It is important to note also that construction work on the new school building for Dunshaughlin Community National School is progressing well and is scheduled to be completed by early 2027.  My Department's responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in that area.  With respect to language and ethos preferences, parents have the right to choose which school to apply to. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available, a selection process may be necessary. This may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.  Each year, 140,000 children and young people enter a new school, mainly at junior infant level and at first year in post-primary schools. On the whole, admissions processes run smoothly each year. My Department is required to engage with schools and patrons in only a handful of cases to make additional class capacity available.  The annual enrolment process for new junior infants classes at primary and first year at post-primary is a large-scale operation. As the Deputy will be aware, there are close to 4,000 schools in the country and there are 140,000 new pupils involved. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  I take from the Minister's response that it is her understanding that the extra class at Dunshaughlin Community National School will accommodate all the additional children who were on waiting lists. It is my clear understanding that this is not the case. There are children who are still without an offer and children who are not on waiting lists and there are certainly children - in the region of 30 - who do not have an offer of the Irish-medium school place that they want. In the first instance, I understand there were 26 additional places at Dunshaughlin Community National School. Today is the closing date for acceptance of offer. My understanding is that there are a number of children who are still without an offer. Does the Minister know what that number is? What are her plans to accommodate them? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  There is ongoing engagement between the Department and the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, with the schools. In relation to the Gaelscoil, because this is related and it is within the area, my Department has been in ongoing contact with the school. As of 14 April, there are 30 pupils remaining on its waiting list. It is important to note that some of those pupils may have accepted a place elsewhere in the area. The school has contacted all families on the waiting list to confirm whether they wish to remain on it and these 30 pupils have confirmed that they do. There is some duplication between waiting lists for the community national school and the Gaelscoil. Once acceptances have been confirmed by children on the waiting list for the community national school who are being offered places in the newly sanctioned class, those on the Gaelscoil waiting list will be advised of its remaining places.  It is the Department's responsibility to make sure there are places within a catchment area. An ongoing extension project for the Gaelscoil will provide two mainstream classrooms, two special education tuition rooms and two special education rooms. The project, as the Deputy may be aware, is currently at stage 2b, detailed design. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  I will speak frankly here. This is an incredibly frustrating process. I have to say that today feels like more of the same. We are in a situation in Dunshaughlin where, taking into account the additional places at the community national school, there will still be children from Dunshaughlin without an offer of a school place. That is where we are going to be at the end of today and into tomorrow.  There are a large number of children who want Irish-medium education and they are being denied that opportunity. There is a clear solution here, and it was set out outside the D\u00e1il when parents came up to protest. The much-needed additional capacity at the community national school is very welcome but also additional capacity and extra places are also needed at the Gaelscoil. There is a proposal in that regard. Will the Minister meet the principals and local TDs? As suggested by her Government colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Thomas Byrne, will the Minister meet them to discuss possible solutions to advance this and ensure every child has a school place? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  I reiterate that I am in ongoing engagement with Oireachtas Members, including the Deputy today and other colleagues. My Department is engaging on an ongoing basis with Dunshaughlin Community National School. As I said, parents can be assured that all pupils in Dunshaughlin will have a place available for September. The construction of a new school for Dunshaughlin Community National School is progressing. That is well under way. That will be completed in early 2027.  In relation to the Gaelscoil, two mainstream classrooms, two special education tuition rooms and two special education rooms are at stage 2b and planning permission was granted in February of this year. We are aware of the demographics and demands in the area. As I said, we were in contact with the Gaelscoil in relation to its waiting list and it is working through that. There is ongoing engagement. The Deputy can be assured that for parents - I know this is the main concern - we will work intensively to make sure children have a place in the area for the new school year. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"School Admissions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_4","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Special Educational Needs","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_2","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_4","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_4.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  The National Council for Special Education has verified that 7,860 children and young people notified to it by 1 October 2025 meet the requirements for a special class or special school place for the 2026-27 school year. Further children have come forward after this date, and this will continue right up to September 2026. Approximately 7,000 of the 7,860 children and young people have a diagnosis of autism. There is generally an adequate number of available places for children and young people with other diagnoses. The focus, therefore, continues to be on new places for children and young people with autism.  This data continues to be reviewed and analysed by the NCSE, which continues to engage with families. It is the experience of the NCSE that some families who contacted it may decide not to apply for a special education place. This may be where the place is not in a particular school of their choice where a student is already being supported appropriately in his or her existing school.  Data available to the NCSE shows that approximately 75% of the children and young people who came forward by the 1 October deadline are already enrolled in school. As in previous years, the priority group for access to specialist placements for the 2026-27 school year are for those without a school place, namely, children moving into primary school for the first time; children moving from primary to post-primary school; and children without a school place such as those who might have moved into an area or where their previous placement has broken down.  Budget 2026 initially provided for 3,000 new places. There are over 2,500 places also available through the normal annual movement of students from primary to post-primary and finishing school. The funding approved by the Government earlier this week will allow to provide for further new special classes and special school places over and above the 3,000 new places already budgeted for. That work continues and the new special classes will continue to be confirmed over the coming weeks. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  At the Committee of Public Accounts in February, the Secretary General of the Department of education told me that a memo would be sent to Cabinet in relation to how we are going to deal with the exponential growth in the level of demand for children who require school places. Last Thursday, the Secretary General told me that the memo is set to be sent to Cabinet. Has that memo on how we are going to deal with this exponential growth been sent to Cabinet?  The Minister cited a figure of 7,860 children who had been notified before the October deadline. The Taoiseach has already clarified that there has been exponential growth following the deadline in October. I know the Department of education has the figure on the number of children who require a school place because the NCSE gives the Department a figure every Friday. That has yet to be revealed.  I want to know how many children still require a school place for the coming academic year and whether a memo has been sent to the Government on how we are going to deal with the exponential growth. It is more than likely that extra funding will have to be made available. Is it the case that we will need at least 600 special classes for the coming academic year? Are we still approximately 170 classes short? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  Many of the 2,700 new special education places provided for in the 2025-26 school year are in special classes, which means there are now 3,741 special classes in our education system. Budget 2026 provided \u20ac3 billion to support children with special educational needs and that allowed for 3,000 new special places for the 2026-27 school year, with 1,700 special needs assistants, SNAs, 860 special education teachers, \u20ac16 million for education therapy services, extra special education teacher hours for transition and co-ordination and a special school package increase in capital funding for these schools.  This week, a memo went to the Government under which I secured additional funding for the whole education budget, not just special education, because there was a structural deficit in the Department. Already to date, well in advance of previous years, we have sanctioned more than 400 special classes and the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, and I have continued to announce these. We want to do more of that. Work is ongoing with the NCSE and schools because there will be parents who may not yet know that their child needs a special class. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  There are also a lot of parents who know their children need a special class or special school placement and they do not know whether their child will get a school place. The memo sent to the Government did not only relate to special education, but it must have included the number of children who require a special class or special school placement. The Department knows that figure. The NCSE has told me that every Friday it informs the Department of the number of children who still require a special class or special school placement. Does the Minister know that figure? Does she know how many classes will be needed for the coming academic year? At the end of the day, there are parents outside the Chamber who are contacting every TD's office saying they have contacted 20, 30 or 40 schools about a school place for their child. This is an extremely important issue for their children. It needs to be put on the record of the D\u00e1il that the Minister for education is aware of the specific number of children who require a special class placement, the number of classes that will be needed for the coming academic year and whether the Department will match the level of demand. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  As I said, 7,860 parents were notified to the NCSE before 1 October. There are more who are still engaging with that process so I secured extra funding for the roll-out of further special classes. Some parents are still waiting for reports or recommendations and some parents might not be aware that their child may require a special class. However, I reassure those parents and families that they will be supported in seeking a placement in a school.  Some 240,000 children who have additional needs are supported in mainstream settings. The Deputy will be aware that the NCSE began sanctioning new special classes in January this year, which was several months earlier than last year. Some 427 classes have been sanctioned to date, with an additional five inclusive classes. In addition, there are 139 special schools, including seven schools attached to hospitals and three schools attached to CAMHS units, with approximately 9,817 pupils enrolled in those 139 schools. These numbers will evolve over the next few months. If parents engage with the NCSE, it is the role of the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, and I to ensure they have----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy David Maxwell)  Thank you, Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  -----school places and are supported in those settings. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Special Educational Needs"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_5","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Schools Building Projects","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_2","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_5","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_5.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  Has the Minister's attention been brought to the long and complex planning history of a school building project in Dunboyne, County Meath? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  The school building projects for Dunboyne junior and senior national schools will deliver a new 24-classroom primary school for the senior school and an eight-classroom extension and refurbishment project for the junior school. Both school projects will also include classrooms for children with additional needs.  I am aware that there have previously been procurement difficulties with this project and that an opportunity was taken to request the design team to do an element of redesign to include in the scope of works decarbonisation measures for both schools, and a fabric upgrade for the primary school. The revised stage 2b report for the senior national school was submitted in June 2025 and is currently with the Department for review. On completion of the junior national school's stage 2b report, the design team will be authorised to re-engage with the local authority regarding the planning permission.  In January this year, my Department published its sectoral national development plan, NDP, implementation plan, which included a list of 105 prioritised projects to proceed to construction or tender in 2026 and 2027. A Department-led prioritisation process will continue over the course of 2026 and 2027 to assess and evaluate the progression of individual projects through the design pipeline, including projects at stage 2b, such as Dunboyne junior and senior national schools. They are not part of the initial tranche of 105, but this will ultimately inform the next tranches of the programme roll-out to tender.  Officials will continue to engage with Dunboyne junior and senior national schools on their accommodation needs, including any interim arrangements that need to be put in place. Since 2020, the Department of education has provided \u20ac473 million in capital funding for Meath schools and, during this period, a total of 62 schools have been upgraded through the provision of a new school building, a large-scale extension or provision of modular accommodation. Currently, 13 school projects in Meath are under construction, seven school projects will go to tender or construction this year and next year, and ten schools have been approved for the summer works and climate action summer works schemes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  There are other questions on the Order Paper today about the same issue. A question being asked in every corner of Ireland is how are schools selected for prioritisation and how, in all that is reasonable, were other schools left behind. With the state of deterioration, dilapidation and condition of the school, that it is intended for this school to provide additional special education places and improved accommodation for a growing population and that it has essentially been at tendering stage on two occasions before now, the Minister will be able to imagine the extreme frustration of the school that there is a significant question mark over how long it will take to get a new school. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  The Deputy will be aware there are a number of factors. This is a general statement about the NDP and projects to be prioritised. Demographic pressures in an area, enrolments in the wider catchment area, special education provision and that schools do not currently have a home are all factored into the prioritisation.  On the school in question, we absolutely recognise the need for prioritisation here. This is a five-year NDP programme. The first tranche has been announced. Due to the project being re-tendered, the design team is currently carrying out a pre-qualification for a main contractor and reserved specialist. The project is now at an advanced stage of architectural planning, stage 2b - detailed design. The design team submitted an updated stage 2b report for the senior school in June last year. The amended design was to ensure decarbonisation measures were included and it included a new scope. In the interim, the Department has agreed the temporary accommodation for the junior school site. That will be replaced as it is no longer fit for purpose. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  The Minister will appreciate two significant considerations. One is the lapsing of the planning permission and having to go back. I met Meath County Council about this. There is a new county development plan. Significant work will have to be redone in terms of submissions and there is concern that will delay the project further. I appreciate what the Minister said about pre-works and so on, but can she give any assurance about that question? Will the lapsing of the planning permission delay the project further or can the two processes happen at once?  I repeatedly hear about a Department-led prioritisation process. What opportunities are there for individual schools or boards of management to engage with that process? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  Where planning permission has previously been secured but is due to run out before the project can be delivered, there are mechanisms.  My Department is very aware of this and would have a lot of experience in relation to it. The Department examines projects on a case-by-case basis to determine the best course of action. One approach might be engagement with the local authority to request an extension to the existing planning permission, for example. I am just speaking in the general here. This would be applicable, for example, where a project has substantially commenced on site before the expiry date of the planning permission. In some instances, a new planning application may be required and in cases where that is necessary, the Department will avail of the opportunity to review, and, where appropriate, update the scope of the project. Officials from my Department, along with the school's design team, engage with local authorities on this as a matter of common practice. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Schools Building Projects"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_6","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Special Educational Needs","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_2","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_6","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_6.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  It is only a few weeks since the Government caused fear, panic and stress among parents of children with special needs, school communities and SNAs by threatening swingeing cuts in SNAs in many schools. That was all because of a circular from 2014 which had failed the recognise the evolution of the role of the SNA and the needs of our children with special needs. An alternative circular has been put together by the Save our SNAs campaign group involving parents, SNAs and others. The group wants to know if the Government is going to support and adopt this new circular about the role of the SNAs in our schools. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Education and Youth (Deputy Michael Moynihan)  I thank the Deputy for the question. The Department of education recognises the value of the special needs assistant, SNA, role in the successful inclusion of students with additional and significant care needs in schools to enable them to achieve their best outcomes and reach their full potential.  I am also aware of the contribution that SNAs make to the educational experience and overall well-being of students in our schools. I recognise that SNAs demonstrate a deep commitment to their roles and the students they work with, providing a range of supports, including for behaviours of concern, assisting students with regulation and fostering independence.  Currently provisions on the role of the SNA are set out in circulars 30\/2014 and 71\/2011. The policy and the process for allocating SNAs has been in place since 2014 and the NCSE continues to respond to increasing demand for SNA support, as is reflected in the growing SNA workforce. By the end of this year, there will be almost 25,000 SNAs in our mainstream classes, special classes and special schools. Since its publication, circular 30\/2014 has facilitated unparalleled growth of more than 13,200 SNAs, more than doubling the SNA workforce.  The Department has concluded a comprehensive review of the role of the SNA as part of ongoing work on the first SNA workforce development plan. This work was supported by a working group comprised of a wide range of stakeholders which met on 15 different occasions in recent times, providing input from a number of perspectives. These stakeholders included school management bodies, F\u00f3rsa, the recognised trade union which represents SNAs, the National Parents Council, and the Children\u2019s Rights Alliance. All of these organisations, through their representatives, participated in the dialogue, exchanged views, provided suggested wording and ultimately influenced the final text of the circular. My Department has also conducted significant focus group research as well as a national survey of SNAs to ensure everyone in our school communities was given the opportunity to provide input. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  The Minister of State has not really answered the question. Let us remember that we had a massive revolt because of the anxiety, stress and fear induced by the Government's attempt to cut SNA supports in many schools, based on an outdated circular that failed to acknowledge the evolution of the role of the SNA and the rights of children to the supports and resources they need. What I have heard the Minister of State do is quote figures but the whole point of the new circular being put forward by parents, SNAs and school communities is that it is not about figures but about the needs of children. It is about a reaffirmation, as they say themselves, of the obligations of the Government under the UNCRPD and the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs, EPSEN, Act, and the rights of children to full and equal access to education. It is also about a recognition of the evolution of the role of the SNA as being somebody who removes the barriers and provides the supports necessary for children to have full and equal access to education at all levels. They want to know if the Government will engage with them on this circular, adopt it and it issue it as the circular that is needed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  The outcome of the consultation we have had with the various stakeholders, including SNAs, F\u00f3rsa, the National Parents Council and the Children's Rights Alliance, is a draft circular which provides a clear and detailed description of the range of duties and responsibilities of the evolving SNA role. The Minister and I fully understand the evolving role, which is a product of meaningful collaboration with all of those in our school communities. We met with the SNAs and other stakeholders last month in a day-long engagement to discuss work being carried out by the Department on the plan, including the comprehensive review of the SNA role. It is intended that a new circular and associated guidance documents on the role of the SNA will be published in quarter 2 of 2026. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  The Government really needs to realise that we have had revolts on a number of issues because it does not actually listen to the people on the front line. The Minister of State has not responded on the actual circular that has been proposed by the Save our SNAs campaign. It comes from the horse's mouth and is about what SNAs, parents and others believe is required to ensure that their children have the opportunities, supports and resources necessary to reach their full potential and to vindicate their rights to education and full participation in society. Is the Minister of State going to engage with the people who put this circular together? Is he going to engage with the circular? Does he agree with the principles set out in it? He is not really answering my question. He said that he has talked to this person and that person but is he going to respond to this circular and engage with the people behind it? I suggest he meets the people who put it together to discuss what is in it. It is not clear, otherwise, that the Government will not make the same mistakes that led to the crisis we had only a few weeks ago. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  We have had a considerable amount of engagement on this and work has been ongoing for a number of years on the SNA workforce development plan, redeployment and on the circular. A lot of work has been done in relation to the circular going back a number of years at this stage, involving consultation with those across the education partners, parents groups, children's advocates and SNAs who are central to advising on the challenges and the evolving role. It is important to note that we have been engaging extremely well to bring a new circular into the system. A huge amount of work has been done in terms of consulting with the people who are at the coal face. There are almost 25,000 SNAs and we have no intention, as a Government, to deplete the SNAs. The SNAs are a hugely integral part of the education experience for children with additional needs and they are the foundation of what we are doing. We want to ensure we have the right tools in terms of circulars, the workforce development plan, and redeployment in place to ensure SNAs are valued and the role they play is updated in the new circular. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  The Minister of State did not really answer the question "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 5 withdrawn. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Special Educational Needs"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_7","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_8","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Special Educational Needs","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_7","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_8.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  I thank the Deputy for his question. In 2024, the then Minister of State with responsibility for special education and inclusion established a task force to support the forward planning of special education provision in the Dublin 15 area. I thank all of the task force members, including parents representatives, school principals, school patron representatives and representatives of the HSE, the NCSE and officials from the Departments of children and education, for their work through the school year 2024-2025 in discussing the key issues relating to special education provision. The task force met on ten separate occasions. The key aims of the task force were to advise on how to better plan for the provision of special education places in Dublin 15 for the 2025-2026 school year and beyond, examine better ways to establish the level of need in the area, advise on how special education places can be provided and to examine how a common application system can be established to reduce the burden on parents applying to multiple schools.  The task force that supports forward planning of special education provision in the Dublin 15 area submitted its report late last year. The report sets out 21 key recommendations. I am happy that work is progressing in relation to meeting some of the key recommendations of the task force. A new education therapy service is being established. Additional funding has been secured for capitation for schools, with a particular focus on special schools. The State, as set out in the NDP launch earlier this year, is making significant capital funding available to our schools. I am happy to confirm that the report will be published very shortly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  There is real anger about the fact that this report that was handed over to the Department in July still has not been published. The Minister was involved in the establishment of this task force, so I do not need to go into the entire history. Before the 2024 general election, when there was a real crisis in Dublin 15 about lack of places for autism classes and in special schools, the Government, which I was a part of, made a decision to establish the task force to address the issue. The Minister of State set out the huge amount of work that was done by State bodies, but particularly by the representatives of parents and schools in the area. The recommendations are relevant to Dublin 15, but they are also relevant to the wider country. It is not good enough that we still do not have a date for the publication. I thought the Minister of State was going to give me some news there, but we need a specific date for publication and an understanding of how the Department is going to respond to each of the recommendations. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  I assure the Deputy that we will be publishing it as a matter of urgency. On the key recommendations, a task force outlined the challenges that were being faced in a particular part of Dublin 15, but it is also representative of the challenges that are being faced across the country. The recommendations that are in it are in relation to investing, understanding the challenges and the need within the communities and to make sure that the whole of the Government and the Department are focused on ensuring that there is provision for special education. An awful lot of work has gone on over the past to ensure that we have school places for children who have special education requirements and to ensure that we have the supports across the country and in Dublin in particular, where there was a huge challenge. A spotlight was put on that area because of the difficulties that were there a couple of years ago. I assure the Deputy that we are looking at the key recommendations in it. The report will be published very shortly. I also assure the Deputy that the recommendations that are in it have been taken on board. We in the Department are working meticulously to make sure that those are implemented. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  In Dublin 15, it has been parents and educators who have provided the leadership when it comes to special education. Danu Community Special School has a large number of autism classes. It was driven forward by the Dublin 15 autism group. The common application system, which is where, for the first time, a family only has to apply in one location and that application is sent for autism classes across 18 primary schools was driven forward by the Dublin 15 Principals' Network and Helena Trench in particular. That is why it is so frustrating that these groups gave a huge amount of time to the task force to bring forward these recommendations, which, as the Minister of State said, were put forward in the context of Dublin 15 but have city-wide and national application as well, have not been brought into the public light yet. It is urgent that the report is published. I urge him to do it as quickly as possible and to respect the work that was put into this report. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  I give the Deputy a commitment that we will publish it as a matter of urgency. I acknowledge hugely the amount of work that is being put in by the people into the task force by each and every one of the education partners across the sector. The Minister and I have been working since Christmas. Most Monday nights have been spent in meetings in relation to moving forward the education and special education component of it as well to ensure that we are listening to the challenges that are out there. We are taking on board the challenges right across the sector whether it is the SNAs and the school communities, but particularly families and communities that are looking to have the best possible education facilities and educational experience for children with additional needs. I will give a commitment to get that published as a matter of urgency. I reiterate that the recommendations in the report have very much been taken on board by the Government to make sure they are implemented for the best possible education system for children with additional needs. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Special Educational Needs"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_9","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Special Educational Needs","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_7","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_9.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  Inniu t\u00e1im chun caint faoi scoil a mb\u00edm ag caint f\u00faithi i gc\u00f3na\u00ed sa Teach seo, Stapolin Educate Together National School in my constituency of Dublin Bay North. I have raised it a number of times. It is a fantastic school with dedicated staff who are watching this at the moment. I had the pleasure of visiting it, as did the Minister of State earlier in the year. He saw how hard-working the staff members are and the exemplary example of the education they are providing for their students. The issue is that they need a special class. They do not have room and they need modular additions for that to happen. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  The Government is committed to the continued accelerated provision of additional special classes and special school places for 2026-27. The National Council for Special Education is the statutory body tasked with sanctioning new special education provision in our schools. The NCSE has sanctioned 432 new special classes nationally, including 102 new special classes in Dublin, for the next school year 2026-27, with more to follow in the coming weeks. This is a number of months ahead of last year and provides for greater certainty for families and more time for schools to plan for the establishment of new special classes. I commend every school, including the school referred to by the Deputy, that expresses an interest in opening a new special class. As the Deputy knows, I visited the school last year and I know the good work the staff do in supporting children with additional needs. This school is already supporting three special classes. The focus for the Department and the NCSE is working to provide new special classes in medium and larger primary schools with none or just one special class.  The school received a new building comprising 16 mainstream classrooms and a two-class SEN base in 2023. A recently received application for two special education needs modular classrooms under the additional school accommodation, ASA, scheme is currently under consideration. However, as this is a relatively new school building, the Department expects the school to prioritise utilisation of all existing capacity in the first instance. Resources are available to support schools who have children who have needs beyond those catered for within the special classes. I ask the school to continue to engage with the NCSE on accessing those supports. The council is also engaging with parents in the locality and in the surrounding areas to ensure there is a range of provision available, including in Stapolin National School. My Department and the council will continue to keep the matter under review. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  I visited the students in the school again last week . They need this to be given to them. One of the students, Esmai, also asked for a pink castle, if the Minister of State could do this for her. He said the NCSE is reviewing it, but from speaking and listening to the principal, the NCSE is saying that the Department will not give the modular building, so there is miscommunication there. All five TDs in Dublin Bay North have brought this up. It is needed. All of the local TDs are pushing for it, as are local councillors. Other schools that are not asking for special classes or for modular buildings are being offered them but this school, which has a clear demand with data - 64 children are waiting in this area that I represent - to support the need for a modular building to be put in and they will be able to do it. It has an exemplary example of how it should be done. It has hard-working staff. I would really appreciate if it could be reviewed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  I know the school community is extremely dedicated and capable. It has been engaging with all the public representatives, including the Deputy. He has mentioned it a considerable number of times in the House. There is a number of issues. We are trying to make sure that we have the best possible provision across the Dublin community. Dublin continues to be a challenge in terms of special education, both in special classes and in special schools.  There is a huge amount of work going on. This school is a new building, comprising of 16 mainstream classes. We are looking at other school communities to make sure we have a balance right across the system in it. Deputy Heneghan has raised it a number of times but I assure him that we are looking at every single piece and at all school communities. We are looking at how best we can support children with additional needs right across the city of Dublin and right across the country. It is fair to say that it is a relatively new school and it is important the school prioritises utilisation of all existing capacity in the first instance. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  It is a new school but it was not built big enough and there are more houses going into that area, which I represent. They need modular additions and I would appreciate if the Department could clarify whether it has assessed the situation.  I was speaking to one of the parents who is waiting for a school place. It is the case of James Field, who is currently without an appropriate special school place since September, despite the endless determination from his family. His mother, who was a councillor with me in the Clontarf Ward, has reached out to me. She said:  If James has no appropriate space by September, the years of progress will turn to regress day by day. James does not have play dates or friends coming here. School is essential for James to learn the basic life skills and social skills.  I have met James. He is a fantastic young man. Councillor Ali Field deserves for this case to be looked at. She has raised it through all of the TDs. She said:  If it was my child, how would you feel? You should be ashamed doing this to a 12-year-old, vulnerable little boy.  I would appreciate if the Department could look at that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  I appeal to James's family and the councillor to make sure they are engaging with the NCSE, like we have over many years within the NCSE. We are building up the expertise within the council to liaise with families. It is hugely important that we have what is needed on the ground dealing with families and challenges within the school communities. However, in the first instance it is important that James's mom is engaging with the council because it is the important conduit between the families and the school communities. It is always easier to give the carte blanche but this is a very challenging question the Deputy keeps referring to. It is important that the Department and the NCSE keep the matter under review but the school community should listen very carefully as well to the guidance they are being given and that they should utilise everything within the new school building at Stapolin Educate Together National School. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Special Educational Needs"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_10","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"School Transport","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_7","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_10","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Edward Timmins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_10.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Edward Timmins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Edward Timmins  As part of the programme for Government, we set out to implement the terms of the school transport review to reduce distance criteria and expand eligibility. I want to raise the importance of recognising feeder schools as part of this criteria. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  The school transport system scheme, which Bus \u00c9ireann operates on behalf of the Department, has expanded significantly over the past six years. In that time, the number of children and young people using the service has grown from under 120,000 in 2018 to over 181,000, including over 24,000 pupils with special educational needs in 2025, which equates to an increase of over 50%. Since 2018, investment in the scheme has more than doubled from \u20ac200 million to \u20ac537 million in 2025. The growth in school transport has been especially marked in the area of special educational needs. This now represents almost 60% of the scheme\u2019s total costs, while serving around 13% of pupils.  The School Transport 2030 report was published in early 2024. The recommended changes to the schemes include expansion of the current eligibility criteria, addressing current operational challenges and moving towards better integration with public transport to ensure the better value for money to the Exchequer. It was outlined at the time the review was published that the proposed changes to the eligibility criteria would further increase demand for the scheme so it was considered prudent to implement the changes on a phased basis.  As part of this phased rollout, 14 school transport pilots commenced in the 2024-25 school year. A further 11 pilots were approved for the 2025-26 school year. For these pilots, the distance criteria for pupils were reduced to 2 km for primary and post-primary and the need for a pupil to be attending their nearest school was removed. All pilots are being monitored, and a further evaluation will take place at the end of the current school year. Findings from these evaluations will guide the planning and implementation needed for a national rollout of a revised school transport scheme. Implementation of the recommendations of the review will continue to be planned subject to resources being available to meet the increased demand. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Edward Timmins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Edward Timmins  In west Wicklow, St. Brigid's National School in Manor Kilbride is a feeder school to Blessington Community College. Some families attending Manor Kilbride school are told they cannot receive bus tickets to Blessington. This is because five other secondary schools in County Dublin are closer but they cannot get into those schools as it is not a feeder school to those schools. This is a crazy anomaly.  It is important that this criterion be reviewed. Many families have been left relying on the concessionary ticket system, which creates uncertainty. This distance calculation is also sometimes done on roads that may not be safe or suitable for a bus carrying students to travel on. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  The school transport system is a hugely valued piece by families right across primary, post-primary and special education. Since the start of the school transport system in the late 1960s there have been many changes along the way. We had the recommendations of the report. The cost of the school transport has grown hugely over the past number of years to try to meet the needs.  Last September or October, there were over nine hours of discussion in the D\u00e1il, Seanad \u00c9ireann and committees in one week on school transport and that goes to show the respect there is for school transport right across the system. The Deputy made a point in relation to feeder schools and the anomalies within the school transport system. We are evaluating some of the pilot schemes that have been done over the past two years. Those evaluations will be done after this school year to inform us how best we can meet the various challenges within the system. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Edward Timmins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Edward Timmins  School bus services in County Wicklow are critical, especially in west Wicklow where public transport is limited. Some schools are on narrow roads with limited parking and no footpaths. School bus travel is essential and will make school drop-off and collection time safer, reduce traffic congestion and will be more environmentally friendly. It also allows parents to continue working, as many have given up employment or reduced working hours due to the logistical challenge of getting children to and from school where transport is not available. It is also important that the process considers the community links for students choosing to attend a particular school.  The full implementation of the 2030 review is required to permanently fix the eligibility status for families, whose nearest school is not their feeder school. This is an anomaly. They are being refused tickets because they are not the nearest school, yet it is a feeder school and the only option they have to get in because they are not feeder schools of other closer schools. A feeder school should automatically qualify for the ticket. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  There are pinch points across the country. There are always issues in relation to school transport in Wicklow. The school transport scheme was initiated in the late 1960s because a huge number of people did not have transport themselves. The school transport system was to get people to post-primary in particular, and to primary school as well. Now, because of work patterns, it is a crucial piece for families, in rural Ireland in particular, to make sure they have access to education.  Regarding the issues around the feeder schools, we will evaluate the data that will come forward at the end of this year on the pilot schemes. The cost of the scheme to the Exchequer has grown hugely over a short number of years, but we have to meet the demand as well. I will keep the points the Deputy made under review. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 9 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"School Transport"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_11","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Teacher Training","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_7","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_11","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ryan O'Meara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_11.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  A comprehensive suite of professional learning to support teachers in relation to artificial intelligence, AI, for teachers is being provided by Oide technology in education, Oide TIE, which is the Department-funded digital teacher professional learning service that has been rolled out across the country. This work recognises both the opportunities and challenges presented by AI in schools, including its potential to enhance teaching and learning and assessment, alongside considerations such as ethics, responsible use, data privacy, algorithmic bias and assessment integrity.  In this context, the AI in schools external advisory task force will hold its first meeting on 14 May 2026. This task force will be set up and will support the Department in developing a coherent national approach to the safe, responsible and effective use of AI across our school system. At my request as Minister, the task force will report to me quarterly with reports on its emerging findings.  Through Oide TIE, general support is provided on the use of AI, particularly generative AI, in education. A dedicated AI hub on the Oide TIE website is available for all schools. This is a carefully curated digital space to support school leaders and teachers in considering the use of AI. It promotes the practical implementation and ethical application of AI, ensuring that schools adopt AI technologies in a thoughtful and effective way. The AI hub provides resources for teachers, including an introductory online course, AI for Schools. It also helps educators to understand AI. Documents are published in relation to guidance on AI for schools and the ethical considerations involved, as outlined in the digital strategy for schools. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ryan O'Meara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ryan O'Meara  I would like to focus briefly on the additional assessment components, AACs. These are being rolled out fully but they exist already in some subjects. This time 12 years ago, I finished my research study report as part of leaving certificate history. I did that report on the Modreeny ambush, where the north Tipperary flying column ambushed the Black and Tans between Cloughjordan and Borrisokane during the War of Independence. I had to look at Ernie O\u2019Malley\u2019s Raids and Rallies , the late Roche Williams' book, In and Out of School - In the Home of the MacDonaghs , and research done by the Cloughjordan Heritage Group.  This morning, I was able to just google the Modreeny ambush and get a full overview, with the date and time, the number of casualties, their names and everything else. My concern is around the way in which students are so easily able to access all that information now and how it impacts on the additional assessment component. I am glad to hear that the external advisory task force is being established. That will be needed for teachers and for external examiners as we continue to grow what I see as the very important additional assessment components. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  The Deputy raises an important issue. In relation to the additional assessment components, coursework rules were published by the State Examinations Commission, SEC, last November. They addressed the use and misuse of artificial intelligence. Additionally, the SEC has also commissioned research by the University of Limerick, which is due for completion in December 2026. There are very clear rules online, through the SEC, in relation to the use of AI for examinations. As the Deputy and I will remember from when we were at school, if somebody else\u2019s work is being used, then it has to be referenced. We have to quote it. It is very clearly laid out for teachers and students. Students have a responsibility as well.  There is the AI task force, which has key educational stakeholders and experts in this area on it who will report back to me. It is not just us doing the work here nationally. We are also working with our European counterparts, looking at the evidence and best practice coming from an EU level, and constantly updating our own AI research and guidance to schools. The SEC has clear coursework guidelines in this regard. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ryan O'Meara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ryan O'Meara  It is important to acknowledge the many positive benefits to AI as well. It is not all negative but it is essential that this advisory task force is up and running and doing that work. AI is moving so quickly compared to what we would have had only a number of years ago, let alone what I would have had in technological assistance doing my leaving certificate 12 years ago. There are so many benefits there to enhance students' learning experience and to enhance their ability to dig down into information but it is about all those mechanisms the Minister mentioned and possibly more, including working with European counterparts, that will be so important to ensure this technology does not take away from the ability to teach students the skills of critical thinking, research and analysis and investigating primary and secondary sources in whatever subject it might be. A huge body of work is needed and I am delighted to see the Department advancing it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  The Deputy very eloquently expressed the situation in relation to the role of the teacher and teaching and learning, which is very important. There are lots of positives for AI, as well as lots of challenges, including its ethical use. Teachers and school leaders play a central role in developing students' digital skills, including AI literacy. To support them, we have the AI schools hubs, acceptable use policy, bespoke in-school supports for teachers and Oide. We are also working at EU level. An international AI pilot is exploring data literacy, the ethical use of AI and generative AI. That information, the feedback and learning from that pilot, will feed into our guidance for our schools. We are constantly working and evolving, and working with our European counterparts and on national research here and on best practice to ensure we are rolling this technology out in a very safe and ethical manner. My Department has adopted a whole evidence-informed approach to AI, and that task force will be instrumental in these ongoing efforts. This is a living document and an evolving situation, and we need to make sure we are keeping ahead and working with European counterparts to make sure our young people are prepared for this digital world. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy David Maxwell)  Deputies have asked to switch Question Nos. 11 and 12 around to allow for attendance at committees. We take Question No. 12 next. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Teacher Training"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_12","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"School Transport","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_7","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_12","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Keira Keogh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_12.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Keira Keogh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Keira Keogh  Go raibh maith agat to my Vice Chair who is allowing me to swap to let me make it in time for a committee. Has the Minister considered the particularly nuanced challenges around current school transport, especially local traditions in relation to feeder schools versus kilometres, especially in rural counties like Mayo? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  I thank the Deputy for the question. The school transport system is operated on behalf of the Department by Bus \u00c9ireann and it has expanded significantly over the past six years. In response to previous questions, I said the number of pupils using the service had increased from 120,000 years ago to 181,000 now. That is more than a 50% increase in a short time. The investment by the State has increased from \u20ac200 million to \u20ac537 million in 2025. There has been a huge increase in the special education requirement aspect of it as well, which now accounts for almost 60% of funding in the scheme.  The Deputy mentioned the feeder schools. At various points, we can see that the school transport system is encountering challenges across the country. There are challenges in relation to areas of the country where the feeder schools are going to one particular school and the nearest school is going to other schools. Those have been recurring for some time. In fact, going back a number of years ago, it was changed from the catchment area to the nearest school to try to alleviate the pressures in the school transport system and to modernise it. A number of pilot projects have taken place. There were 14 in the previous school year and 11 in the current school year. This data is being collected right to the end of this school year to ensure we have a proper glance at where the challenges are. In the programme for Government, we are committed to further expanding the scheme. Indeed, the 2030 report also talks about it.  A lot of the questions that have come from the Deputy, and from other Deputies, concerned feeder schools, the criteria involved in this context and how that marries into how we operate the school transport system in future. County Mayo has been mentioned a few times, and we will certainly review the situation, but it will be based on the data we have from the pilot schemes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Keira Keogh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Keira Keogh  I welcome the huge investment in school transport and the huge increase.  It is almost a year to the day I spoke about Sancta Maria Secondary School in Louisburgh that has two buses going every single day from Westport at a cost of approximately \u20ac850 to the parents. Traditionally, kids from Westport have either gone to Westport or Louisburgh schools. I even know of kids from Newport who will either go to school in Westport or Achill, but Castlebar schools could be considered their second nearest option. I understand there might be pilots going on, but a year later there are still parents paying \u20ac850. We do not have many children going from Westport to Castlebar, but traditionally we have two buses going to Louisburgh. That is data. We can look back over the past seven or eight years and there are two buses every single year going from Westport to Louisburgh. The Minister of State will agree, \u20ac850 is a huge cost to parents. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  We have looked at the different challenges with feeder schools and where the clusters or noise is within the system. Last year, we had a weekly meeting with Bus \u00c9ireann and the Department to monitor the situation and this year we have brought forward a closing date from June to 8 May to ensure we can do better. We probably will have the same challenges in August or September but we want to have better sight of what is needed and what are the applications. The issue in relation to feeder schools is continuously raised with us whether in the Deputy\u2019s area or other areas, and how the figures are with parental choice and what the norm is in those communities. It is something that if we had an endless purse we would love to resolve but we are constantly keeping it under review. Going back a number of years, it was the catchment areas which were drawn up in the late 1960s. We removed that. It is something that is constantly brought in with feeder schools and it is constantly under review. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Keira Keogh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Keira Keogh  I can see why in places like Dublin, Galway or bigger areas, the catchment area could be confusing and there are a lot of schools. However, when we look at really rural places, it seems it would be much easier to engage with the schools themselves. The primary schools can tell the Department where all the students are going. If the primary schools in Newport are saying their students are either going to go to Westport, Achill or Louisburgh, why is Castlebar down as their nearest school? It might geographically be the second nearest or nearest school, but if kids from an area are not going there at all, it is crazy that the system would look at it that way. If there is any way there is a pilot that could be looked at for rural areas to see if the Department could engage with primary schools first and foremost to assess the nearest and second nearest schools based on where kids are going rather than on kilometres it would help, because there could be a school nearer by kilometres. For example, for students in Glenhest, there is a 0.5 difference in kilometres, but the kids are not going to Castlebar, they are going to Achill, Westport or Louisburgh. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  I talked about if we had endless funding in the Department, one issue would be traditional feeder schools and the policy there. We have to work within the parameters we have.  In relation to the evolving of the school transport system, it is hugely valued within rural Ireland because it is an enabler to get the children to and from school and the different work patterns parents have. As I said earlier, one week last September there were nine hours of debate on school transport within the Houses of the Oireachtas which showed the level of interest in relation to it. One of the issues the Deputy\u2019s colleagues raised earlier in relation to another part of the country was feeder schools. There is no question we have challenges in relation to this because of the huge growth in the school transport system in the past number of years. We are continuing to invest in it, but it is one of the key pieces we have to do more work on. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"School Transport"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_13","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Schools Building Projects","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_7","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_13","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aisling Dempsey","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aisling-Dempsey.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aisling-Dempsey.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_13.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aisling Dempsey","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aisling-Dempsey.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aisling-Dempsey.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aisling Dempsey  I ask the Minister about the school building project list for schools which are either new builds or seeking extensions, and when they get on to that list how they work through the process and what delays they might face. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  I thank the Deputy for her question. My Department\u2019s process for delivering a school building project under the large-scale programme or additional school accommodation programme involves five core stages. These stages are reflective of the capital works, management framework and infrastructure guidelines. The stages range from preliminary design to completion and handover. My Department\u2019s design team procedures set out the requirements to be followed at each stage of those processes. These procedures are available on the website.  At a high level, the work progressed at each of the key stages is as follows: stage 1 includes reviewing the project brief information and analysing all the site factors which may impact on the project\u2019s viability; stage 2(a) includes the development of the design, cost planning and preparations to lodge the statutory approvals; stage 2(b) includes obtaining all the statutory approvals, preparing the tender documents and pre-tender cost plan; stage 3 includes running the tender process, assessing the tenders and awarding the project contract; stage 4 refers to the construction. Finally, stage 5 includes ensuring quality completion and timely project handover along with the final account.  In order for a pipeline project to move from one stage to the next, confirmation is always required that the project is compliant with all the relevant technical and cost requirements. Other factors which influence the timing for progress include relative prioritisation of the project and the timing affordability within the national development plan funding parameters, taking account of the overall programme requirements. Delays can occur on occasion due to factors beyond the Department\u2019s control, for example, challenges in acquiring a site, planning permission issues, procurement difficulties or adverse weather while the project is at construction. Some of these issues are not unique to the school building programme and the Department manages challenges as they arrive. Overall, my Department endeavours to manage the school building programme across the estate of over 4,000 schools to ensure that projects are delivered to meet the most urgent needs in the shortest possible timeframe. This year, will see at least 1,000 projects under construction across a range of programmes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aisling Dempsey","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aisling-Dempsey.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aisling-Dempsey.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aisling Dempsey  I thank the Minister for that clarification. I will use Boyne Community School in Trim as an example. It has been on the school project building list for over 15 years for works and an extension. Some 24 prefabs have been added to that site which is a recognition that the Department is aware how important extending and improving the school is. The local demand for this school is huge. It is the only secondary school in Trim that caters for boys. Engagement with the Department was lacking for many years, but a full redesign was completed recently. However, it still remains in stage 2(a) behind Scoil Mhuire and our local Gaelscoil which only got onto the list in recent years.  I understand emergency school building works will arise and sometimes projects will have to be leapfrogged, but Boyne Community School should be on a transparent, public list with works completed as quickly as possible, in the order it went on the said list. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  I think the Deputy. In the national development plan, of the 105 projects published earlier this year, seven are in County Meath, two of which are in Meath West, St Ultan\u2019s School and Ard R\u00ed Community National School, both in Navan. Additionally, ten schools, including six in Meath West are approved to undergo works as part of the climate action summer works programme this summer. These projects are in addition to the \u20ac473 million investment in capital funding since 2020 for schools in County Meath. Some \u20ac216 million was for Meath West schools. Over that period, a total of 62 schools have been upgraded either through the provision of a new school building, large-scale extension or provision of modular accommodation which includes 24 schools in Meath West. There are also 13 school projects in County Meath under construction, of which five are in Meath West. In addition, since 2020, a total of 125 special classes have been opened in County Meath of which six were sanctioned in Meath West for September 2026. I will come back in. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aisling Dempsey","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aisling-Dempsey.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aisling-Dempsey.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aisling Dempsey  Boyne Community School is a DEIS school. It is on a fantastic site and is a lovely, historical building, but it is not fit-for-purpose as it stands. The type of building it is causes complexity in design and cost but we really need to overcome that. It was acknowledged 15 plus years ago that this work was needed.  I have concerns around the 24 prefabs. Incredibly, having looked at them and the classrooms in the school, they provide better facilities for the students.  It is putting some pupils at a disadvantage. It is almost creating a two-tier education system within the one school community. With the new and improved curriculums which focus on continuous assessment and practical matters, we need to provide these much-needed facilities. We cannot continue to disadvantage the pupils in Boyne Community School. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  First, to reassure people, the NDP is a five-year plan but I know there is urgency. When you are on the list, it is great but when you are not on it, there is disappointment. This is the first tranche of a five-year national development plan programme for the country. It is \u20ac1.6 billion for those that are going to tender and construction this year and next year. My Department is also carrying out a prioritisation list. I know that school is moving through the process but it is looking at the energy and conditions of all the school estate across the country. That will feed in to prioritisation. There are some school which do not have a home at all - they might be working from a sports club, for example - and special education is a real priority for us. Also schools which have space to provide extra special education classes in their existing footprint are a priority as well. I know the Department will be working with that school to move it through the different stages of the process. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 13 to 15, inclusive, taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 17 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Schools Building Projects"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_14","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Schools Building Projects","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_7","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_14","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_14.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  In January this year, my Department published a comprehensive national development plan implementation plan for the education and youth sector. That included 105 school building projects to proceed to construction and tender in 2026 and 2027. That list included 80 large-scale and additional school accommodation projects along with 25 modular projects. The number of modular projects has now increased to 31.  The first tranche of projects was selected with a view to facilitating projects already at stage 3, that is, at tender stage, to progress to construction as smoothly as possible. The prioritisation of projects at stage 2b focused on projects which had achieved planning permission where therefore there is an appropriate stage of readiness for progression to tender.  Within the cohort of stage 2b projects, projects at special schools were afforded a top priority. Other projects included schools that did not have a permanent accommodation and had ongoing demographic pressures, projects providing significant special education capacity as well as projects progressing demographic pressures or had major condition issues.  There is a Department-led prioritisation process which will continue over the course of this year and next year to assess and to evaluate the progression of individual projects through the design pipeline, projects at stage 2b, that are not on that 105 list. This will ultimately inform the next tranches of the programme roll-out.  This is a five-year programme out to 2030. Where appropriate, the Department will also assess opportunities to undertake advance enabling works for the most urgent and complex projects to facilitate that smooth progression to construction in 2028 and beyond. It is important to note that of the 105 projects to move to tender and construction that represents a subset of all projects currently being progressed so in total 1,000 school buildings are projected to be under construction this year alone. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  I want to reference one school in particular. I taught in Coachford College for a year. The Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, will be acutely aware of Coachford College. I know he has engaged with the school on a consistent basis as it represents a number of his own constituents. Coachford College is a fantastic school with around 900 pupils. It has a huge offering of subjects. However, Coachford College has been waiting a number of years for a new school building. It is not part of the 105 school building projects list despite the fact it has been waiting so long. It is absolutely appropriate that the Department of education would communicate with schools like Coachford College on an ongoing basis so that they have an understanding on whether or not they will move to the tender process over the next two years. Will the Minister also clarify the date on which the new tranche of schools will be announced? Will it be 2028? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  There is ongoing engagement between the Department and schools and school patrons. That is happening all the time. The list of 105 projects includes 12 projects in County Cork, of which five are in Cork North-Central. One of these schools, Scoil \u00cdosag\u00e1in, moved into stage 4, which is construction, in February. Additionally, there are 35 schools, including eight in Cork North-Central, that were approved to undergo works as part of the climate action summer work scheme. These projects are in addition to the \u20ac785 million in capital funding since 2020 for schools in County Cork, of which over \u20ac199 million was for Cork North-Central schools. Over that period a total of 158 schools have been upgraded either through provision of a new school building, a large-scale extension or provision of modular accommodation. There are currently 20 projects in County Cork under construction, of which three are in Cork North-Central.  A prioritisation list will be worked on by the Department - that is the energy and condition survey. This is the first time this work has ever happened and it will give a real picture of our schools across the school estate. The Department will be working with schools through that and that will feed into the next tranche. I do not have a date per se. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  I was in communication with the Department last Thursday at the Committee of Public Accounts. We have moved to a modular accommodation style of building works. While we are still building traditional school buildings we have significantly moved towards modular accommodation on which a significant amount of money has been spent over the past five years. I am not saying at all that modular accommodation is not welcome. I am sure it is welcome the majority of school grounds across the country but exact clarification must be given to schools like Coachford College in relation to when they might possibly see a new school building. A significant number of students in the likes of Coachford College who have gone through their whole six years without ever seeing a new school building. It is a fantastic school. It covers a huge area as the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, knows. There are a number of primary schools in the whole area of Duhallow. It is essential that schools like Coachford College would have some sort of an understanding of when they might see shovels in the ground for new school buildings. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  In the past we might have thought of as modular as prefabs but these are not prefabs. These are state-of-the-art, very modern buildings. The Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, and I have walked into many of them. You do not realise they are modular. They just look like an extension to a school. The spec is of a high quality.  The Department is working with schools and engaging with school stakeholders. That prioritisation process is ongoing. Work is under way in the thousands of schools across the country that are currently under construction. This is the first tranche of a five-year plan. That energy and condition survey will feed into that. There will be that ongoing communication with the Department and the schools in order to prioritise the next tranche.  The timing of a pipeline project, moving from one stage to the next, requires careful planning. It is determined by a number of factors, including confirmation that any existing or emerging school capacity in the area is being well optimised - we have to make sure we are getting value for money for that - and that there is compliance with all the technical and cost requirements. The outcome of that prioritisation assessment will feed into it as well as affordability around the funding through the NDP. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Schools Building Projects"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_15","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"School Facilities","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_7","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel McCarthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_15.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel McCarthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Noel McCarthy  I ask the Minister for Education and Youth, further to Parliamentary Question No. 211 of 12 February 2026, the progress made to date in ensuring the use of a green area by schools at Carrigtwohill School campus and if she will make a statement on the matter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  I am very aware of this issue. I recently met Scoil Mhuire Naofa and the local representatives, including the Deputy, on the matter. A campus project was delivered for three schools - Carrigtwohill Community College, Scoil Mhuire Naofa Carrigtwohill, and Scoil Cl\u00edodhna Community National School - as part of my Department's design and build programme. The project was completed in quarter 4 of 2023.  The schools on the campus have sought to use a green area, which forms part of the site for recreation purposes.  The area in question, as the Deputy knows, is not suitable for a formal playing pitch, because it is required as an attenuation basin under the flood management system for the campus. However, the Department is pleased to support the schools' access to this green area as an informal recreation space. Planning permission was granted by Cork County Council for an entrance and access way to this green area, as a standalone planning application.  The scope of works and associated costs to provide the entrance and access way is being reviewed by the Department and officials will update the schools upon completion of that review. In addition, there is an area of about 1.9 acres to the north of the campus in my Department's ownership. The Department has agreed that this can be used as a recreation area by the schools on a licence basis. Officials from my Department are in contact with the relevant stakeholders to progress this. Should the land be required to support school place expansion in the future, its use as a recreation area will cease. My Department has had positive and productive engagements with the three schools and their patrons throughout all stages of this project and will continue to support the schools on the new school campus. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel McCarthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Noel McCarthy  I thank the Minister for her response. I thank her and her Department officials for recently meeting councillor Anthony Barry, Rory Cocking and me to discuss this matter. It is encouraging to hear at first hand from the Department that the expectation remains that access to the green area will be granted to all campus schools for recreational purposes. Entrance and access works to the green area have been approved, as the Minister said, by Cork County Council, but these works have yet to be completed. We are now nearly in May and it would be highly beneficial to all if these works were undertaken to ensure that access to the green area is in place for the upcoming school year in September. With this in mind, will the Minister confirm whether she has had any further recent engagement with the ETB and the schools on the matter and the status of the access works to be completed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  A scope of works and associated costs for the green space have been received by my Department for the proposed works to provide access to that green area. On initial review, it is the Department's recommendation that a cost-effective solution be considered and resubmitted for further consideration. Once the scope works and the cost to provide the access and entrance are agreed, procurement of a contractor to complete the works can be undertaken. Until the scope works are agreed, it is just not possible to give a timeline for completion, but the commitment is there to work with the schools on this. On completion of the works, my Department intends that the lands will be handed over to Cork Education and Training Board to be managed and maintained. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel McCarthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Noel McCarthy  I thank the Minister for her positive response. It is good to hear that work will be undertaken as soon as the scope of work and cost is in. This is an easy win for all concerned. The green area is a flood attenuation area that is currently locked and lying idle despite being approved. It would make perfect sense that students of all ages would be able to benefit from the use of such a large green area close to their schools. There will be no pitch markings or changes of any description, just a green area that will be cut regularly and used for recreation. I therefore again ask the Minister to address the need for her and her Department to do everything within their power to ensure that the area is open to all local students as soon as possible. I thank the Minister for her positive response. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  I thank the Deputy. The original planning permission for the campus development at Carrigtwohill included the green area lands to the south of the school building infrastructure, so the green area was always included in the development as a flood attenuation zone, which forms part of the campus flood mitigation strategy. The campus development was delivered according to the schedule of accommodation, which provided three general purpose areas, a PE hall in the post-primary school and a total of 13 ball courts across the three schools. As the function of the green area is primarily as a flood attenuation area, once the access and entrance are delivered, the area of green space can be accessed by the schools for recreation purposes and can be used when the weather and ground conditions permit. As I say, there has been ongoing engagement with my Department about this. At our meeting, we gave the commitment for this to proceed. The scope of works and associated costs were received by the Department, so the Department is asking the schools to come back with further information, and we can work with them. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 20 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"School Facilities"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_16","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Education Costs","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_7","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_16","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_16.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  As part of budget 2026, the Government confirmed that examination entry fees will be reintroduced for the 2026 State exams. These fees are being restored at their previous levels, which are unchanged since 2012. It is \u20ac116 for leaving certificate candidates and \u20ac109 for junior cycle candidates. Not all families are liable to pay examination fees. Any student with a full medical card, or covered under a parent's or guardian's card, will continue to be fully exempt from that fee. This approach strikes a fair balance, maintaining support for those who need it most while restoring a long-standing contribution towards the cost of running the examinations system.  I am advised that approximately one third of candidates who have engaged with the process to date are exempt from the fees. The process is straightforward, transparent and well signposted, and full details are available on the State Examinations Commission's website. Phone and email help desk services are available to school authorities and families who need assistance. A recent review of the school transport scheme found that having a fee helps make better use of resources and prevents seats on school buses from going unused, helping to protect and sustain the scheme for all families who need it. The school transport scheme remains heavily subsidised by the State, with over 92% of the overall cost covered. Transport, too, remains free for eligible medical card holders and pupils who are eligible for the special educational needs transport service.  The Department appreciates the concerns, given the recent global events and the impacts already being seen in increased fuel prices in Ireland. That is why a support package of measures has been approved by Government, providing targeted relief to transport operators, because this was a key concern for those operators. The details of these supports are being finalised. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  We cannot separate these increases in cost. To that repeated line about the review of school transport fees, there are already fees. It is not the case that there were not fees. The issue is that they are being increased significantly, by up to 100% in some cases. The Minister might say they are modest increases or a reintroduction of leaving certificate and junior certificate fees that were there before, but she cannot strip this away from the cost-of-living crisis. Parents are dealing with uniforms, transition year fees, voluntary contributions and digital devices. It is a major burden on families at a time when they need relief rather than additional costs being heaped on them. Will the Minister review and reverse these decisions? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  A recent review of the school transport scheme found that having a fee helps to make better use of resources and prevents seats on school buses from going unused. The fee for a primary school student is 55 cent per week and it is 60 cent for a post-primary school pupil, or \u20ac1.32 per week for a family. The Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, and I are also acutely aware of the school transport system and getting better data about usage of school buses across the country. We are working with the Department of Transport and Bus \u00c9ireann, which roll this out, to get that data. We absolutely appreciate the importance of school transport, especially around special education children, who get this free of charge. We want to be able to roll that out but we also need to make sure that we are getting good value for money and, where there are vacant seats, that they can be used. For example, there might be students who are taking the bus in the morning and not taking it in the evening, or vice versa , or not taking it on a Tuesday or Wednesday. We need to get that data because we also have calls from TDs here who are saying that their constituents cannot get access to school transport.  That is the work we are doing in the Department to make sure we are getting good value for money for what we are investing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  I think I speak on behalf of every TD in the Chamber in saying that come the middle of August, we will be in contact with the Department about children who have not got access to the school transport system. The Minister can take that as read - unfortunately.  I want to ask the Minister about a related point. My contention is that all of this happens in the same households on which there are demands to provide for the cost of sending children to school. On the one hand, I welcome the free books scheme. The Government is happy to remind people of that. On the other hand, a significant number of schools are demanding digital devices for every child, at a cost of hundreds of euro each. We saw media reports in recent days and weeks about Sweden and other places that are stepping away from this type of technology. Is this something the Minister is looking at? Is she concerned about the direction of travel in schools in Ireland, in particular the costs for parents? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  We have introduced a number of cost alleviations for schools and parents. The free school books is one example of that. We are providing solar panels for schools as well to reduce their energy costs. There has been a hugely positive uptake from schools across the country in relation to that. The school transport system costs 55 cent per day for primary school pupils and 60 cent for post-primary students. When we compare that to public transport costs there is a big reduction in the cost.  We give guidance to schools on ICT to ensure that in every way possible they minimise costs for parents. We also give them advice about uniforms. The financial services unit in the Department advises schools on their own costs and how they can make savings. There is also an onus on schools to ensure that, where possible, they reduce those costs. We also have ICT grants for schools. Millions have been invested in that. This is ongoing. We will work with schools in that regard. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy David Maxwell)  With the permission of the House, I intend to go back to Question No. 16. This is the last question of the morning. Is that agreed? Agreed. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Education Costs"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_17","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"School Transport","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_7","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_17.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  The school transport 2030 report was published in early 2024 following a comprehensive analysis and review of the scheme as it currently operates. The recommended changes to the future operation of the scheme include expansion of the eligibility criteria, addressing current operational challenges and moving towards better integration with public transport to ensure we have better value for money for the Exchequer.  As part of the review, it was also recommended that the Department and Bus \u00c9ireann continue to explore and implement improved technology. The Department is currently progressing a number of technological improvements to the scheme, including the planned introduction of e-ticketing. Not only will e-tickets replace the current printed paper tickets but they should also provide accurate information on ticket utilisation, which is currently not readily available. Better data will inform future route planning and maximise the efficiency and effectiveness of the system.  A technology working group has been established between the Department and Bus \u00c9ireann. Work is progressing on several projects, including e-ticketing, and the Department continues to engage with both the Department of Transport and the National Transport Authority on these matters. A phased implementation of the review's recommendations began at the start of the 2024-25 school year alongside the Department of Transport and Bus \u00c9ireann.  A total of 14 pilot projects took place and a further 11 pilot projects were approved for this school year. All pilots are being monitored, and will be evaluated in the future to better inform us. The e-ticketing pilot project is a hugely important piece of data collection for us and will make the best possible information available to us when we are planning the future direction of school transport. This morning a number of Deputies were looking for additional services in their communities. It is also important that we have the data on the utilisation of the current system, which will make sure we are putting the State resources to the best possible use. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Burke  I welcome the Minister of State's reply. The e-ticketing pilot data is extremely important in respect of the use of school transport. Every week we all get complaints about seats being vacant on school buses, while the children who would use them do not have access to the buses. E-ticketing is extremely important in making sure that there is full utilisation and that the people who have been unfortunate in not being able to get on the school transport system can use those vacant seats. What is occurring in parts of the country is that people agree to take the transport offered but then do not use it for various reasons, or they may use it some days of the week but not every day. It is important that e-ticketing would give us the correct data on the usage of school transport. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  E-ticketing and the collection of data on school transport are hugely important. We have seen an increase in the State funding being provided, from \u20ac200 million to \u20ac527 million currently. Demand is growing in terms of the number of people who are looking to access the school transport system. Since 2018, the number of students travelling on it has grown by 50%.  Deputy Burke is aware, from people telling him about challenges in regard to buses, that some of the buses do not have full occupancy. We are constantly being asked if we have data on this. E-ticketing will help us to know whether an allocated seat is being used three days a week or five days a week, mornings and afternoons, and what the data is in that regard, to ensure that the scarce resources we have are being best applied. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy David Maxwell)  We have gone well over time. Deputy Burke can have 30 seconds. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Burke  Will the Minister of State clarify if there is a target date for e-ticketing to be available across the board in all school transport systems? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  The work is ongoing with the National Transport Authority, the Department of Transport and Bus \u00c9ireann. We have to implement the reform and get the data. There is a huge body of work to be done but we intend to do it as soon as possible. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"School Transport"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_18","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_19","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Disability Services","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_18","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_19","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_19.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Liam Quaide  The Taoiseach told us this week that the single point of access initiative is being rolled out across child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS, children's disability network teams, CDNTs, and primary care so that young people are not languishing on one waiting list after another. There is serious concern, however, within the services that buy-in to the single point of access is not consistent across all parts of the system, including psychiatry, and that there is an absence of a clear adjudication mechanism for contested cases. What procedures are in place in each region to make this work on the ground? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Children, Disability and Equality (Deputy Emer Higgins)  The Government and I recognise the importance of early intervention for children with disabilities and ensuring they receive the right services at the right time.  The HSE has been developing a single point of access, SPoA, referral model. As Deputy Quaide has said, this will ensure that children are referred to the appropriate healthcare service, whether that is primary care, disability services or child and adolescent mental health services at an early stage. As a result, children will not be put on multiple waiting lists or be passed from one service to another. I am sure the Deputy has had the same feedback from parents and families, as I have from constituents. Sometimes parents feel they get to the top of the waiting list and they are told they are on the wrong referral path and they go to the bottom of another queue. This is to solve that problem because we know that is not fair.  The roll-out is expected to commence on 24 June and will continue throughout this year. The SPoA model will be supported by the Health Service Executive's community care record at that time as a key enabler for the administration and delivery of services. A national oversight group and six regional implementation groups are leading the programme.  The single point of access referral model across all six regions will be achieved through resourcing, partnership and collaboration, and the design and development of a single integrated pathway and streamlined referrals process. It is not expected to give rise to an additional staffing requirement but local areas will deploy existing resources in a way that best suits the needs of their area. A standardised, online, publicly available children and young people\u2019s services referral form has been finalised by the HSE and that single form and will replace over 20 manual forms that have been used until now. It is now being digitised to optimise the referral pathway and timelines for signposting each child to the service or services most appropriate to meet their needs.  Following the receipt of a digital referral form and engagement with the person who made the referral, the referral will then be reviewed and triaged, and this triage will continue to be locally led. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Liam Quaide  The single point of access is a sound concept and I fully support it. Young people are, as the Minister of State said, getting passed from one waiting list to the next and that is happening mainly because services have been understaffed for years and they respond to this by becoming more rigid in their gatekeeping of referrals.  There is also an issue of power imbalances that we need to focus on. For instance, it is very difficult for a basic grade speech and language therapist or a basic grade occupational therapist to hold the line with, for instance, a consultant psychiatrist, that CAMHS is a more suitable service for a young person even when, objectively, that is clearly the case.  I am hearing of concerns within services that psychiatry has not fully bought into the single point of access model in each region. I ask the Minister of State again whether there is an ongoing dispute between CAMHS, primary care and CDNTs about which service best fits a young person's needs. Who has the authority to make a final decision in that instance? Is there a named adjudicator? Is there a formal escalation pathway? Is there a timeframe for determination? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Higgins  The Deputy is right that more complex cases will often require further clinical interventions or reviews to ensure the most appropriate pathway of care. Decisions on how this is managed will continue to be made at a local level. Once the work for a single point of access is complete, the outcome of the referral will be communicated to the referrer, and the child will then be assigned to the appropriate service.  In recent weeks, the HSE access and integration team, which is leading the single point of access programme, has developed a high-level standard operating procedure, SOP. That sets out the core processes and requirements necessary to deliver on the single point of access commitments. This is currently under review by the six regions. It has gone to the six regions for their input and based on their feedback, regional implementation plans, which were developed in late 2025, may require further refinement to ensure full alignment with the agreed national approach and with the supporting digital infrastructure.  Ultimately, and this is the important bit and goes to the nub of the Deputy's question, clinical governance for each area will remain under the remit of the regional executive officer. Local areas will continue to exercise their clinical and professional judgment to manage and find resolutions to cases in line with existing HSE policy, practice and procedures. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Liam Quaide  The HSE has repeatedly told committees in the Oireachtas that the single point of access will stop children from being moved around the system, between primary care, CDNTs and CAMHS. It is still far from clear how this is meant to work when services fundamentally disagree. That disagreement continues about responsibility for a young person and that is the real test of this reform. Will the Minister of State now set out whether the Department or the HSE has formally engaged with the College of Psychiatrists on the single point of access, whether the college has indicated full support for the model and whether it has expressed reservations, particularly around disputed referrals or contested cases, and whether she will publish the governance and adjudication arrangements that are meant to operate when these disputes arise? It is not realistic to expect a basic grade occupational therapist to make a referral to the regional executive officer. Without that clarity this risks becoming another reform that looks nice on paper but leaves clinicians arguing and families stuck in limbo. It is fair to say that all this is happening against a backdrop of services remaining severely compromised by a long-standing failure to engage in proper workforce planning and comprehensive recruitment to disability and mental health services. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Higgins  I thank the Deputy for saying he feels that the single point of access is a sound concept. It is something I am very much committed to and I know it is something the Ministers, Deputy Foley and Deputy Carroll-MacNeill, are very committed to also. The HSE has done a huge amount of work on this. Ultimately, the rollout of a single point of access will be supported by the HSE community connects ICT system and by the regional implementation plans, which are now with each region so they can be fully refined. We expect this to be implemented soon.  In terms of the HSE and the College of Psychiatrists, if the Deputy would like to suggest to the college to write to me or the Minister, Deputy Foley, we would certainly take on board its feedback and be a conduit to the HSE if it feels there are any roadblocks there. Ultimately, what we all are committed to - the HSE, our Department and every person working in our CDNTs across the county - is ensuring families receive the supports necessary to meet their children's needs. Systematic changes have to happen in order to do that and the introduction of the single point of access, along with the 19% increase in the HSE's disability budget for this year to more than \u20ac3.8 billion, are clear steps that show we are very serious about this. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Disability Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_20","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Mother and Baby Homes","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_18","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_20","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_20.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy John Paul O'Shea)  With the permission of the House we will revert to Question No. 120 in the name of Deputy Claire Kerrane. Is that agreed? Agreed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Claire Kerrane  I want to ask the Minister about the landmark High Court ruling made in February of this year. It specifically examined two institutions, Temple Hill and St. Joseph's, that are excluded from the mother and baby institutions payment scheme. The judge at that time directed the Minister to consider adding these institutions to the scheme and I would like to seek an update on that direction please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Children, Disability and Equality (Deputy Norma Foley)  I thank the Deputy. As she will be aware, the mother and baby homes institutions payment scheme provides payments and health benefits to people who spent time in any of the mother and baby, or county home, institutions. These were institutions that were identified by the mother and baby homes commission of investigation as having a main function of providing sheltered and supervised ante- and post-natal facilities to single mothers and their children. The institutions covered by the payment scheme are set out in Schedule 1 of the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Act 2023. Chapter 2 of the social history section of the commission of investigation detailed the different types of institutions that existed and whether they could be considered mother and baby institutions.  While the 2023 Act lists all of the mother and baby institutions identified by the commission, section 49 of the Act further provides that, if it were to come to light that an institution in which the State had a regulatory or inspection function fulfilled a similar function with regard to single women and their children as those included in the payment scheme, the then Minister, with the consent of the Minister for public expenditure, may insert an additional institution into the schedule. The Government recognises there are people who suffered stigma, trauma and abuse in other institutions.  It should be noted that the payment scheme is just one of a large suite of actions being undertaken to respond to the legacy of these institutions under the action plan for survivors and former residents of mother and baby and county home institutions. The current programme for Government has underlined a continued commitment to its ongoing delivery. Of the seven major commitments set out in the action plan, six are now delivered and in place while the seventh is actually under way. Key initiatives in the plan include access to birth information, the services of a special advocate and counselling support, which are all already in place, as well as the ongoing development of a national centre for research and remembrance. The Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022, which commenced in October 2022, has seen more than 17,700 applications for information completed to date since services opened. The Institutional Burials Act 2022 and the establishment in 2023 of an independent office under the Act led the intervention at the site of the former mother and baby institution at Tuam. The Deputy is aware that work is under way there. There has been the appointment in 2024 of a special advocate for survivors, the provision of counselling services and out of hours counselling for survivors, and the administration of a commemorative grant scheme for survivors who wish to hold events. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Claire Kerrane  The Minister will no doubt acknowledge the ruling of the court and the views and comments made, most especially by Judge Alexander Owens about the exclusion of the institutions, particularly of Temple Hill and St. Joseph's, because they were the cases brought before him by survivors of both institutions. I have raised the case of Michael Grant in this Chamber and in committee many times. He spent the first year of his life in Temple Hill. He was a healthy child and his mother paid rent for him to remain there for the first year of his life before he was fostered.  Temple Hill appears to have been identified as a hospital. I do not know of any hospital in the State where you pay rent to keep a child. I think that is an omission and that is the ruling and the finding of the judge who considered both Temple Hill and St. Joseph's so carefully. The Minister mentioned a shelter for children. That is exactly what Temple Hill was for Michael Grant. Will the Minister give me any information about the direction she has been given? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  Specifically, in relation to the case, I acknowledge that the Department of children is responsible for overseeing the administration of the mother and baby institutions payment scheme and it must do so in line with the legislative scope and the intent of the Mother and Baby and Institutions Payment Scheme Act 2023 as enacted by the Oireachtas.  There has been considerable consideration of the legal advice that has been rendered. The Deputy is correct in seeking two institutions to be added to the scheme but I am obliged to take the advice of the Attorney General. The advice is unequivocal on the need for an appeal of the High Court and recognising that as a necessity. The reason is the grave degree of uncertainty generated by the judgment in terms of the interpretation of the Act and the related scope and parameters of the scheme. In a very detailed and comprehensive judgment, the State's position on a number of relevant matters was agreed with but there was also an indication there had been an error in law in one issue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Claire Kerrane  I acknowledge a review is coming up. I understand the review is quite niche but I hope the Minister might be able to confirm that the review towards the end of this year will look at the institutions. The special advocate who has been put in place to do a job has been clear in seeking the urgent expansion of this scheme. Having met Michael Grant and his daughter Rachel, my genuine fear is that he may not live to see such an expansion to institutions like Temple Hill. There are other survivors in that situation as well. We need to do right by them. Will the upcoming review look at institutions that are excluded and will it look at exclusions to the scheme as is? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  I do not at all take away from the individual cases the Deputy referenced. I have to say in sincerity that I am obliged to accept the legal advice presented by the Attorney General and the legal teams. The legal advice that I have received is quite categoric in that it proposes that the decision as it stands would create a number of significant unintended difficulties. That is the clear-cut legal advice.  In terms of the scheme in general, more than 7,000 applications have been received and 6,500 notices of determination have been issued. Over \u20ac78 million has been paid out. Approximately 2,800 people have qualified for health benefits. The scheme is open for five years until March 2029. I acknowledge as well the UK Government's recent announcement on disregards they will allow when people who are in the UK are being assessed for social welfare benefits in the UK.  We want to see more people applying for this scheme. To date, over \u20ac1.8 million has been spent on advertising. The Deputy is correct that there will be a review before the end of the year. It is very much meant to be a technical review. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Mother and Baby Homes"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_21","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Guardians Ad Litem","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_18","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_21.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  I appreciate the Deputy raising the question and I acknowledge that she has raised it previously. The guardian ad litem , GAL, service is a nationally organised and managed service established to ensure that children's voices are heard and their best interests are independently presented in childcare proceedings by an appointed guardian ad litem . The target is 23 June for commencement of Part 7 of the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2022. The Department is continually working towards this launch date. The commencement of the national service marks a significant transformation of the sector. Children and their best interests are at the centre of the guardian ad litem national service. The need to reform the guardian ad litem rule under the Child Care Act 1991 had been highlighted for many years. The lack of defined qualifications, role and status, as well as an absence of appointment procedures for the guardians, has been widely acknowledged for many years. The new national service will create a national, professional and highly qualified service that better serves children in the courts.  I am aware of the issues that have been raised by the Association of Guardians ad Litem in Ireland, AGALI, in relation to the new GAL national service. I received correspondence from AGALI on 30 January setting out their concerns. I met with their representatives on 24 February. Specific issues raised by them were referred to the Office of the Attorney General. Department officials have engaged with key stakeholders including: court services; the Judiciary; AGALI; Empowering People in Care, EPIC; the Irish Foster Care Association, IFCA; the NGOs; the Ombudsman for Children; Tusla; and care experienced young people. As part of the establishment of the national service, the Department hosted two policy consultations in Cork and Dublin to discuss professional standards, complaints and the code of conduct. We also hosted a townhall event with stakeholders, including guardians, in Miesian Plaza in June 2025. The executive office will issue further invitations and consultations online from 11 May. These consultations will provide current guardians with the opportunity to provide feedback on the appointment procedure, the training and the supervision policy, and the practice of audit procedures under the new national service. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Claire Kerrane  If anyone wondered about the value of guardians ad litem , they only had to watch the \"RT\u00c9 Investigates\" programme last night. We saw and heard from guardians ad litem who are powerful voices for the children that they look after, speak for and very much support through what can be a very challenging State care system. We also heard from Judge Dermot Simms, who I had in here last month for a briefing along with GALs to speak to the very serious concerns they have and he has for the national service. On a number of occasions the guardians ad litem have to, for want of a better term, go up against Tusla in a courtroom to speak for and advocate for a child. I cannot fathom how we can retain the independence of GALs as they go up against Tusla while both are under the one Minister and the one Department. That is where the question mark is over independence. The Minister will know of the issue I have raised many times in terms of the legal representation. I cannot understand how that cannot be maintained in terms of guaranteed legal representation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  I do not for a single second underestimate the importance of the powerful advocacy of guardians ad litem . They are hugely important. This process is to ensure that they have the appropriate supports, the appropriate regulation and that everything is as it should be. I reiterate that for many years there have been calls to examine this system to see how we can do better and to ensure that the voice of the child is very much at the centre. They are a very powerful resource. I do not take from that in any shape or form.  The Deputy raised the legal representation. There has been, and there will be, no question in terms of access to legal representation. Advice will be available at all times and a head of legal has recently been appointed. If the guardians are party to a case, are bringing a case or it is a special care application, they will automatically also have legal representation. With regard to their independence, there are many examples of bodies under the aegis of one Department but being entirely independent. I want to be clear that the purpose here is to ensure it is a service that does as it sets out to do and the voice of the child is heard. We are doing all we can to ensure this would be the case. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Claire Kerrane  When I hosted AGALI and Judge Dermot Simms last month I asked them to share one example case with me at that briefing. They spoke about two children under the age of 16 who were received into care for the first time and placed in a special emergency arrangement, SEA, which we saw much of in last night's programme. This was the first time they were placed into care and there was nothing else available. Tusla reported on the SEA over several months and they noted the staff were engaging positively with the children every day, that the children were comfortable and settled and that the placement was being overseen by an allocated Tusla SEA supervisor. When the guardian ad litem met with the children directly, the parents, the school and with Tusla and the SEA staff, they uncovered that the children were not being offered breakfast under the SEA. They were in school early enough to avail of the breakfast club but they were not actually enrolled in any breakfast club. The reported positive engagement was an hourly safety and well-being check of the children in their bedrooms. There was no attempt at connection. These were children who were found to be caring for themselves. Finally, the supervisor had visited the placement and was recorded as having met the children, met the staff and completed a risk assessment in one 21-minute visit. Now more than ever we need the guardians ad litem to have their independence and we need that legal protection retained. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  I reiterate that the entire purpose here is to ensure that the guardian ad litem service is doing what it should do.  I recognise that guardians ad litem are an incredibly powerful resource who are hugely important in presenting the view of the child. This is to strengthen the service and ensure the system works. It is important that the system is regulated and there is absolutely no doubt about that. It is important that access to legal support is there where a case has been made in this regard and there is no question of that. There is no question either about the independence of GALs. We can quote many other bodies that operate under the aegis of the Department. There has been consultation right across the board on the changes that have been brought in. There will be further consultations, with town hall events and meetings, and further engagement again from mid-May, and this will continue. This is to ensure we have the best possible service in place. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Guardians Ad Litem"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_22","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Childcare Services","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_18","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_22.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Wall  Has the Minister identified sites for the Government's pilot for public childcare facilities? Has she considered Kildare South given the urgent need and lack of childcare facilities in that part of the county? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  The Deputy will be aware that we recently announced \u20ac135 million in capital investment in buildings for high-quality accessible State-led early learning and childcare. The process begins this year, as he said, with investment in buildings in what will be a groundbreaking initiative for the Government. Capital funding will be used to acquire or fit out building, depending on the requirements. Up to eight buildings will be selected for investment this year and the State-led initiative will provide thousands of places to 2030 using the \u20ac135 million provided in the national development plan. The level of investment will ramp up over the lifetime of the Government.  The Department has received project proposals from a number of sources since the programme was launched and there are also projects the Department was aware of prior to the programme's launch. In total 82 potential projects across the country have been received as of 17 April. These projects are at very different stages of development and it is also important to acknowledge this. Some relate to existing buildings ready to be occupied and ready to fit out. Others, however, are much longer-term prospects for the future. Not all proposals align with the programme objectives and some may be funded by other means, including the next round of the building blocks scheme or whatever might be more appropriate to the application that has been received. Some projects have been proposed by an existing early learning and childcare service provider while others relate to a building or property only and a separate process to identify an operator will be required.  Included in the long list are three proposals from County Kildare that have been submitted to the Department. The Department will continue to seek potential projects for consideration. There will be a particular focus in the new State-led facilities on providing places for children aged between one and three, with capacity for these children to continue in the service until they start school, because this is where the need is greatest. The aim of delivering additional supply of this type in suitable locations will include rural areas and urban areas that are not well served at present. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Wall  I thank the Minister and I appreciate her reply. The fact we have 82 potential sites throughout the State is encouraging at this stage. Is the process closed for expressions of interest? When the Minister suggests that some projects are from existing suppliers of childcare and others are for properties only, does she have a breakdown of those? With regard to State-led services, is the State proposing to take over existing childcare providers in a State-led childcare service or will it be through co-operation between those existing providers and the State? I stress the problems that I am made aware of on a daily basis in County Kildare. The Minister will be aware that I have raised them a number of times. I would like a breakdown between existing buildings and services and what is property only, and how the Department are treating these. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  I acknowledge there are three applications in Kildare and they will be adjudicated in due course. The purpose of the State-led system is to step in where there is no provision. The point I was attempting to make on existing providers is that they may well be better suited to the building blocks arrangement. We have just announced a \u20ac10 million investment for private powders or community providers in the core funding model who can apply to extend their premises and provide additional places. Some of the applications that have come in might be more suited to this. I acknowledge that in assessing the sites and buildings, they will have to align with the objectives of the programme. If we have a building that is ready, it will be about the fit-out of the building or maybe the purchase of the building, and there would have to be a tendering arrangement for a provider to come in and carry out the work. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Wall  I appreciate the Minister clarifying this as it is an important distinction to make. Existing providers have access to other programmes to increase their level of service and this is important. Are those with a building excluded from putting forward that building? I want to mention the Kilcullen area of County Kildare. I am not sure whether one of the three is for this area. I have raised with the Minister previously the issue whereby upwards of 100 children are without a childcare service in that town. This is replicated throughout Kildare South where the population has increased. We have a very young population. Parents get up very early in the morning to travel 30 km or 40 km to avail of childcare services in other towns. Some of them travel into Dublin to avail of services. This cannot continue. This is a great opportunity for the Government to look at areas such as Kildare and develop State-led services. I ask the Minister to look at this and maybe she can confirm whether the option to propose buildings is still open. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  To be fair, it is a rolling application and it is still possible to nominate or submit buildings. There will come a point where we will have to say they will be considered in 2027 as opposed to 2026 and I want to be clear on this. At present we are still accepting them. In terms of Kildare, under the previous building blocks scheme two proposals were accepted and funded. I encourage more providers, either in Kildare or anywhere else throughout the country, to take a look at the scheme extension we announced earlier this week as it is a very suitable scheme for many who wish to extend their premises.  I also acknowledge the role of local city and county childcare committees. There is a consultation process under way on wider early years and learning in terms of the conversation on education. Great work is being done by the local city and county childcare committees, and those who are willing to put forward their buildings, thoughts or ideas must first go through the city and county childcare committees and I want to make this clear. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Childcare Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_23","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Childcare Services","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_18","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_23","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aisling Dempsey","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aisling-Dempsey.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aisling-Dempsey.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_23.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  As I said earlier, I am pleased to have announced on Tuesday that next phase of the building scheme. It is a \u20ac10 million capital funding scheme to deliver a significant number of additional early learning and childcare places. The scheme is being funded under the updated national development plan. The purpose of the building blocks scheme is to deliver additional capacity in the sector by supporting existing early learning and childcare services to undertake physical extensions to existing premises. The scheme will be open to community and private services that are signed up to the core funding scheme and commit to continuing in the scheme and adhering to its conditions, particularly in respect of the fee management rules.  The aim of the scheme is to tackle undersupply of full-time places, particularly for children aged from one to three years of age. Places for children in other age brackets will also be eligible for funding, once services create at least the minimum number of places in the priority age cohort. The scheme will have two strands, one for extensions to existing premises for community services and another for extensions to existing premises for private services. Community services can avail of investment of up to \u20ac530,000 for projects up to a total value of \u20ac650,000. Private services can avail of investment of up to \u20ac265,000 for projects up to a total value of \u20ac650,000, with a minimum of 50% funding to come from the operator. Thresholds from the scheme have been updated since the previous scheme to reflect construction price inflation.  All projects will be required to accept a charge on the premises to protect the State's interest in the property and ensure that the capital investment continues to be used for its intended purpose over a long period of time. That is important. The State needs to protect the investment. It is important that if funding is being given to provide additional places, it will be used in the long term for the provision of the additional places, as set out in the building blocks extension scheme phase 2. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aisling Dempsey","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aisling-Dempsey.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aisling-Dempsey.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aisling Dempsey  I thank the Minister. That is positive information and it is a positive scheme. I have had many inquiries over the last while from childcare providers in my area, both private and community-run, as to when it would be announced. It is important that it is for private and community facilities. We need all of our facilities to avail of it. I know people in Trim who are putting their children's names on waiting lists before they are even signing up for antenatal classes. The demand is that strong and this will make a big difference. Aiming the scheme, as I hope we will, primarily at one- to three-year-olds is also vitally important. They are children for whom we are lacking the most spaces. We need to help parents as much as possible to get back into the workforce if they wish to do so. This is a good scheme for achieving that. The scheme for State-led provision of childcare the Minister is working on will be hugely positive and beneficial. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  I thank Deputy Dempsey very much. I acknowledge her personal engagement with me on all matters related to early years and childcare. I know it is a particular priority for her and her constituents. The Deputy is correct that it is important to look at two schemes. The building blocks scheme has incredible potential to support private providers but also community providers and, indeed, to provide additional places. The previous scheme is seeking to deliver 1,500 additional places and this will be a further addition.  The State-led scheme is also an important scheme. As we discussed previously, it is a \u20ac135 million investment, with a \u20ac10 million investment into the building blocks scheme. However, the \u20ac135 million investment is specifically State led, looking at areas where there is an absence of provision and where no other provider, either private or community run, has stepped in, for whatever reason. It involves the State stepping in proactively. It will be not for profit. The opportunity this year is for the purchase of the building and in 2027-28, we will look at other options as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aisling Dempsey","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aisling-Dempsey.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aisling-Dempsey.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aisling Dempsey  I ask that the Department and the city and county childcare committees engage with providers, both community and private. I know a lot of places have identified to me a need for extensions, but some have not yet done so. It would be helpful if they were made fully aware and there was a good advertising campaign and engagement through the childcare committees to make them aware that this funding is available. I understand it is not matching funding for community facilities. It could be hugely impactful in our communities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  I acknowledge the role of the city and county childcare committees. We are indebted to them for their expertise and the manner in which they provide engagement on the ground with local providers, both private and community. I give them a shout-out because we have 50 engagements taking place right across the country on developing phase 2 of our action plan. Part of the discussion or conversation is around education, particularly early years education. Those on-the-ground consultations are very important and, as I said, they are being facilitated by early learning and childcare committees.  On the consultation, we have already had over 11,000 engagements online. There is, therefore, phenomenal interest in the whole area of early learning and childcare. The Deputy can be assured, through the city and county childcare committees, that every opportunity will be taken to advertise and promote the State-led and building blocks schemes to make people aware of the opportunities available to support them in the delivery of early learning and childcare. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Childcare Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_24","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 125 and 126 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_25","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Mother and Baby Homes","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_24","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_25","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_25.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Claire Kerrane  In relation to the mother and baby institutions payment scheme, what is the number of applications made to that scheme to date this year and what is the number that have been processed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  The mother and baby institutions payment scheme opened for applications in March 2024. Over its full lifetime, the scheme had been tentatively estimated to benefit up to a maximum of 34,000 people who spent time in mother and baby and county home institutions. The scheme is open for five years, so there is ample time for survivors to apply. It is very important that they are aware of that. I believe they have until March 2029 to apply. It is difficult to predict at what stage across its five-year lifetime applications may materialise, although we do know that in some previous redress schemes, significant numbers of applications were made towards their end or closing dates. As of 12 April 2026, over 7,100 applications had been received, over 6,500 notices of determination had issued to applicants and almost 5,300 payments had been made, totalling over \u20ac78 million. Over 2,800 applicants have also qualified for health benefits.  All information on the scheme, including how to apply, can be found at the dedicated payment scheme website, which includes a booklet, questions and answers and short how-to videos on the application process. A helpline is also in existence. For clarity, I will give the helpline number, which is 00353 1 522 9992. Overall, we have received positive feedback that applicants are finding the application process straightforward and that the information, helpline and so forth are helpful.  The Department will continue to do all it can to promote and raise awareness of the scheme via a significant public awareness campaign. This is operating on a phased basis in Ireland and in jurisdictions overseas that have a significant Irish diaspora. The first phases across 2024 and 2025 included a mix of press releases, poster placement in public facilities such as libraries, social posts, leaflet distribution, webinars, meetings with representative bodies in Ireland and Britain and paid advertising campaigns. To date, some \u20ac1.8 million has been spent on raising awareness of the scheme across the world. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Claire Kerrane  It is important to check the 6,500 notices of determination that have issued and the 5,200 of those that have been paid, as it means quite a number have not been paid. I do not have an issue with the system. It has actually worked quite well when people get into it and the application is processed. I have no issue there. However, that is a very significant gap and it could be checked. There has obviously been an issue raised as regards survivors who are living in England. Obviously, lots of people have lived in England and Ireland; it is very common. What level of communication has the Minister had in relation to ensuring those survivors living in England can access this compensation via the scheme without it impacting on other payments they receive, particularly pensions? More broadly, has this issue come up elsewhere, for example, in relation to the pensions and payments of survivors who are living in the US? Is this a wider issue beyond England? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  Specifically on the 6,500 determinations and 5,200 payments, they will all have come at different times. The gap between the two figures is because the applications came at different times and are being processed at different times. However, if a notice of determination has been reached, it has been reached. It is absolutely our desire and intention to get the maximum number of people engaged in the process.  I acknowledge the work that has been done in the UK to have a disregard for people in the UK who are applying for benefits in the UK. We had a breakthrough in relation to that recently. The Deputy will be aware that as part of the UK-Ireland summit, the Taoiseach and Prime Minister Starmer announced that a disregard would be put in place. It is my understanding that in the short term, guidance has been issued to all local authorities and all state agencies that might have an investment here so that they would be aware of that. I want to specifically acknowledge the great work of the British MP, Liam Conlon , who I have met and who has done great work in this regard in putting it into the public domain. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Claire Kerrane  I, too, welcome the statement making it very clear that there will not be an impact for those who receive money through this scheme in relation to their primary benefits, particularly pensions. Of course, the legislation has not been passed. There will be survivors who will be nervous and worried. There are also a number of survivors - I think about 700 - who have sought and received the payment and it is not clear if that has had an impact on their pensions and payments.  That needs to be checked as well.  Given the approximately 34,000 deemed to be eligible, and, unfortunately, there are seven exclusions, is it possible for the Minister to engage with other countries, such as America, to see if there is that same issue that has been experienced in England? We need to ensure that all survivors, no matter where they live, can access the support and it will not have an impact on their primary payments, particularly their pensions, in their older years. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  Going back to the announcement in terms of the UK, I appreciate the point the Deputy raised on legislation. In that respect, we all accept that it takes some time to put legislation in place. In the interim, I particularly welcome, as I have referenced, the proactive step that has been taken in relation to guidelines.  I am aware that operational guidance has issued to Department for Work and Pensions staff on pensions, universal credit and housing benefit so that all deciding officers would be absolutely aware and would act in that respect. The Department for Work and Pensions as also issued guidance to local authorities, as they administer the housing benefits. I am hopeful that this will support increased numbers of applications from the United Kingdom.  I acknowledge that, whilst the legislation might be there, the guidelines are absolutely there. It should be a put through to encourage more to apply.  In terms of what is happening in other instances, the chief issue arose in terms of the UK but we continue our engagements with all of the diaspora. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Mother and Baby Homes"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_26","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Child and Family Agency","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_24","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_26","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_26.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I would like to ask the Minister whether Tusla has completed any monitoring visits to hotels or other accommodation, particularly special emergency accommodation settings, used to provide for separated children seeking international protection accommodation in 2026. Given the \"RT\u00c9 Investigates\" programme, this relates to that whole sphere. I would be grateful if the Minister can give some sort of assurance that this is being dealt with and Tusla will move away from using special emergency accommodation because it is not suitable and not regulated. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  I appreciate the Deputy raising the question.  We know that Tusla is facing significant and ongoing challenges in sourcing appropriate placements for children and young people. It is important to recognise that there has been a 500% increase in arrivals of separated children seeking international protection entering the State since 2022, with the vast majority of arrivals aged 16 or 17 years of age. This has significantly impacted on Tusla's ability to provide accommodation and supports to this vulnerable cohort.  Tusla has advised that, where there is an unexpected increase in arrivals of unaccompanied minors, its national out-of-hours service may place young people in a hotel setting, in recognition of the immediate need for a place of safety. Tusla has said that young people are then moved to registered centres as a matter of priority and no later than the next working day.  The out-of-hours service follows standard operating procedures in respect of securing an immediate place of safety for unaccompanied minors, and immediately notifies the area manager of a placement the next working day, so that further arrangements for the accommodation of the minor can be made.  A risk assessment is completed by Tusla and support is provided to the young person and the care provider for the duration of their short time in the accommodation. Further, I have been informed when hotel accommodation is used in these instances, the young person is accompanied by staff during their stay and is not left alone in hotels.  Tusla provides regular data to my Department on its operation of special emergency arrangements. I am pleased to share that, as of Friday, 17 April, Tusla reported that there were no separated children seeking international protection placed in an SEA. In relation to that, it has come to my attention today that, whilst, on Friday, there were no children seeking international protection in special emergency accommodation, as of this week there are three with disputed age who are in three special emergency accommodations because they cannot be placed with other young people.  I acknowledge the work that has been done there by Tusla over the last number of months. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  What is the process as regards how the Minister deals with those separated children seeking international protection and a disputed age? It is necessary to deal with that as quickly as possible from a child protection point of view?  I accept Tusla is dealing with far more significant issues in relation to the complexity of issues that are in front of it and the increase in the number of those separated children, but all of us were impacted by what we watched last night on \"RT\u00c9 Investigates\", in particular, the case of Max. The Minister talked of children who find themselves in these particular situations and facilities always being monitored but we heard how it looks like Max, who has his own issues and complexities, at some level was left alone, found himself in a scenario where he was abused and nobody noticed for something like two-and-a-half hours. There had been a huge issue in relation to those who have gone missing for a significant time. What we need to see is a framework, that appropriate accommodation is found and we stop using unregulated facilities that are not suitable in any way, shape or form. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  I join with the Deputy in saying what all we saw and witnessed on the programme last night has been incredibly upsetting in terms of the young people who were part of it and the experiences that they shared. I want to acknowledge that.  I want to acknowledge also the staff that work with them every day. This past week, I met with social workers and social care workers. I am very conscious of the work of the foster care system and foster care families.  These are very complex situations. The vast majority of children and young people in State care are in foster care or residential care. Some 96% of children are either in foster care or residential care. Nine out of ten young people who are in foster care and residential care are in education, further training, apprenticeship or whatever the case might be.  I want to acknowledge too - I will not reference any specific individual case that arose last night - that in the main Tusla is working with young people in care coming from really difficult, traumatic and complex situations through no fault of their own. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I accept that. We have spoken on many occasions previously of the need for earlier intervention and family supports, and even in other cases where children need to be taken out of places that are not safe for multiple different reasons. We have spoken as well about the fact that we need more foster carers, social care workers and social workers to deliver the framework. However, I again ask what the process is in relation to those children with the disputed age. Is the Minister considering moving away from special emergency arrangements, which are not fit for purpose? What will the time frame be? There are huge dangers. Guardians ad litem and a number of others have given out about them.  Has the Minister the numbers in relation to those that are in SEAs at this point in time? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  The disputed age has been flagged by Tusla. It is a concern of the agency.  In relation to these three individuals, it will be worked through with the Department of justice. It is important that if there is any question over appropriate age, these young people are not placed with other young people who are underage.  In terms of the reliance on special emergency accommodation, I want to be clear that we are doing all that we can to move away from that, to minimise it and, eventually, to eradicate a reliance on special emergency accommodation. Last year, there were 170 special emergency accommodations. This year, there are 70. We are working to bring that down even further.  There will be for the first time a new policy on children in State care. That has been subject to public consultation. We hope that framework document will be available before the D\u00e1il recess or in the coming months.  In the meantime, staffing is an issue. There is a new training college for special care.  Three step-down facilities are being put in place, two before the end of the year and one in January. Thirty-eight new residential places were opened last year, with a further 47 due to be opened this year. By the start of May, our reliance on special emergency accommodation will have reduced by 50%. We need to and will do more to reduce that reliance. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Child and Family Agency"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_27","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Childcare Services","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_24","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_27","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_27.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  I have always been clear in communicating that the \u20ac200 per month commitment over the lifetime of the Government is hugely important. While the phase 1 report of Shaping the Future: Early Years Action Plan sets out the next steps towards this long-term ambition, I have not waited until now to take action. In September 2025, maximum fee caps were extended to all partner services in core funding. Budget 2026 also enables core funding to continue to support fee-control measures. It will ensure fees remain at 2021 levels for a majority of providers.  A central objective of Shaping the Future is to reduce parental fees to an upper limit of \u20ac200 per month over the lifetime of the Government. However, this objective cannot be achieved through the national childcare scheme alone. The fee freeze and maximum fee caps required for core funding have been key to the progress in recent years in making early learning and care and school-age childcare services more affordable. The phase 1 report of Shaping the Future sets out actions that will be carried out in 2026 using existing policy tools. The 2026 actions on affordability will include further reductions in some of the highest fees paid by parents by lowering the maximum fees core funding partner services can charge. In addition, from autumn 2026 we will reduce fees for lower income families through the national childcare scheme.  Specifically on the national childcare scheme, phase 1 of Shaping the Future commits to an increase to the lower or base income threshold of the income-assessed subsidy from \u20ac26,000 to \u20ac34,000 to ensure families with incomes below the relative income poverty line receive the maximum subsidies, a measure that came out of the recent budget; an increase to the upper income threshold of the income-assessed subsidy from \u20ac60,000 to \u20ac68,000 to extend income-assessed subsidies to more families - again, that came from the budget and we were happy to secure it; and an increase to the multiple-child deduction component of the income-assessed subsidy for families with two children under the age of 15 from \u20ac4,300 to \u20ac5,500, and for families with three or more children under the age of 15 from \u20ac8,600 to \u20ac11,000. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul McAuliffe  My children are now 14 and 16 and while that makes me feel old, it is remarkable to see the investment we have made in childcare over the period. We paid nearly \u20ac1,500 per month with no subsidy of any sort from the Government. As the Minister said, the national childcare scheme supports families. However, we need to be careful. A commitment was made. I am saying this not only to the Minister, Deputy Foley, but also to the Department of public expenditure. It is a key commitment over the lifetime of the Government and each year we need to be working towards delivering it so that, at the end of the Government's term, we will have followed through on it.  Many positive things will come out of delivering it. It is important. On the issue, there is always a tension between the provider, the childcare worker and the parent and the needs of all three. While we have to balance that, I return to the point that we made a commitment and I hope we will do everything we can in the remaining years of the Government to deliver it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  I absolutely agree with the Deputy. There is, in many respects, a balancing act in this. We have to ensure it is affordable for parents and that enough places are made available. We spoke earlier about State-led initiatives and the building blocks extension, which will be launched this week for providers. We also have to ensure that enough staff are available and that we are supporting them. I acknowledge that \u20ac45 million was put on the table last year to support staff and another \u20ac45 million is being put on the table this year to do so.  We are currently working on phase 2 of the action plan for early years. The Deputy will be aware there has been a strong consultation element to that, working through the issues and the perspectives of parents, providers and staff, to bring us to the point where we are delivering on all three aspects, the affordability for parents, a sufficiency of places and support for staff. We need to make progress quickly, but the actions we take in this second phase of the action plan will have to be sustainable and underpinned by the support and public consultation on the three different elements. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul McAuliffe  Along with the national childcare scheme, the commitment to a public childcare model is also important. That is why building blocks phase 1 was important. I welcomed the fact the Minister came to our nursery in Ballymun and saw at first hand the work being done.  On the balancing act between childcare workers, providers and parents, I am concerned that the \u20ac45 million that was set aside last year is still the subject of some negotiation. I would like to see, as quickly as possible, that money landing in the pockets of childcare workers because it is important we deliver for all three stakeholders.  I reiterate how important the building blocks programme is. I should be putting my question to the Minister for public expenditure. However, I compare it to the equal opportunities childcare programme of the early 2000s. The investment it made in youth centres and childcare was invaluable. We live with its legacy and I have no doubt we will live with the legacy of what the Minister is doing in decades to come. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  I acknowledge the great work happening in the Deputy's constituency. It was a pleasure to visit Ballymun and see at first hand the excellent work that happens there. I am aware of the Deputy's personal commitment to advancing early years childcare provision in his constituency.  Specifically, it is hugely important that we support providers and parents from an affordability point of view, but that we also support staff. I acknowledge that the \u20ac45 million is subject to an independent joint labour committee. I do not interfere with that, but the Government makes the money available. It is for the purpose of supporting staff and that is how it will be used. However, the decision around it is independent of the Department and I respect that.  All voices are important in this area. As a country and nation, we need to acknowledge the importance of early years education. We also need to have a pathway forward. That is the purpose of phase 2 of the action plan. In that regard, there are 50 consultation processes taking place on the ground across the country at the moment. Some have started, more are ongoing. I invite as many people as possible, including parents, workers and providers, to engage in that forum. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 130 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Childcare Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_28","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Disability Services","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_24","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_28","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_28.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Many organisations that deal with disability and vulnerable sectors of our society are voluntary organisations. That is in itself a problem, but I will set that aside and ask about proper funding for those organisations to be able to look after the most vulnerable in our society. The Before We Die campaign was in the Houses yesterday to highlight the lack of funding to deal with the need for proper housing and residential care for older people with intellectual disabilities when their parents die, get sick and so on. It is an example of the need for extra funding for these organisations to be able to do their jobs properly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Higgins  The Government acknowledges the essential role voluntary organisations have in delivering a range of disability services. The Department has provided substantial additional funding to HSE specialist disability services since the transfer of functions in 2023. In this year's budget, \u20ac3.9 billion is provided for. In budget 2025, it amounted to \u20ac3.2 billion, so there was quite a substantial increase of almost 20% in that one year alone. These substantial additional investments demonstrate the Government\u2019s commitment to supporting disability services, along with the provision of significant year-on-year Supplementary Estimates.  Through the annual budgetary process, the Department has helped the disability sector to meet the increased costs associated with existing service provision while also incrementally expanding service provision to meet demand. Every year, the Estimates process allows the HSE to request funding for the full cost of service provision, including cost increases experienced during that year.  In this year's budget, the Department provided \u20ac3.9 billion for HSE specialist disability services. As I said, that was a substantial increase of \u20ac628 million, or almost 20% above 2025, the largest ever increase in funding for disability services. It also follows significant year-on-year funding increases in recent years. In fact, there has been an overall increase of \u20ac1.85 billion, or 91%, since 2020. The additional funding sought for this year includes a significant uplift to the existing level of service provision of \u20ac478 million to address sectoral funding pressures such as the increased cost of service provision, pay cost pressures, capacity limitations and service provider sustainability. In addition to that \u20ac478 million for the uplift to the existing level of provision, a sum of \u20ac150 million has been provided to fund service expansion in residential and respite services, day service provision, home support, personal assistance and children\u2019s services. The Department is also providing \u20ac43 million in disability capital funding for this year, a significant increase of \u20ac16 million on last year's provision. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  To be honest, bandying around figures will mean very little to those who are concerned about their loved ones being let down. The Before We Die campaign's characterisation of the situation facing parents of children with intellectual disabilities was pretty grim. A lot of it revolved around the lack of planning and related funding for voluntary organisations. The description was fairly stark. They talked about a systemic failure in the State's provision of housing and care for adults with intellectual disabilities and about overreliance on emergency placements, where parents were living in a perpetual state of near or actual crisis. They said that the system was broken and that families were terrified that their loved ones would be placed in cost-effective, for-profit settings. They argued that their sons and daughters had a right to be heard, to be planned for and to be housed. Centrally, they said this means funded plans for children with intellectual disabilities when their parents pass on and proper, ring-fenced funding for section 38 and section 39 organisations. How does the Minister of State respond to campaigns like Before We Die and the concerns they are raising? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Higgins  I respond by meeting them and listening to them. I have met with the Before We Die campaign twice now and the Minister, Deputy Foley, has too. The first time was at their request and I was absolutely happy to do that. The second time was at my request because I wanted to meet them, together with the HSE, to ensure that we had the right people around the table to be able to make progress. I would also like to take this opportunity to mention a group who are not part of that campaign but who are facing similar situations, Remember Us. I met with a group of parents and adults with intellectual disabilities last month and I met with a young advocate and his parents yesterday. I have another meeting with two parents later today.  This budget, for the first time every, provides for planned residential placements so that we are not always operating on a crisis management basis but are funding beds for the future. That is the situation we want to get to. That is why this year we are investing in that and expect that to be a success. We expect to be able to bring those places on board and to fill those positions and we want to grow on that next year. We are capacity building through our service providers and through the capital plan that I mentioned earlier. We are also investing in better collaboration between the HSE and the Department of housing because local authorities have a role to play here also in terms of providing and building houses and homes that can become respite and residential day care services. We have six positions within the HSE, four of which are now filled, dedicated solely to that collaboration to bring more buildings on stream to provide for those children and young adults with disabilities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  That sounds good and I hope it is the case but if we look at the additional funding in the last budget, it was an extra \u20ac40 million. That amounts to about 80 to 100 new homes but there are more than 2,000 adults with intellectual disabilities living with parents over the age of 70. Around 500 of those are with parents who are over the age of 80. They characterise the situation as one where basically, unless somebody dies or gets severely ill, there is no help available. It is a crisis management situation and the allocation of funding to the relevant organisations is way short of what is necessary. I reiterate the point about section 38 and section 39 organisations that it does not help that we have a second-class tier of people working in the health and care services who are on lesser pay and conditions than the people working directly for the HSE. The lack of funding, the lack of proper payment for staff in this area and the lack of planned funding and so on is leading to a crisis management situation for very vulnerable people and their parents. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Higgins  On the Deputy's last point, the WRC pay agreement reached in 2025 between Government Departments and unions includes funding for a phased 9.25% pay increase that will benefit workers in section 39 voluntary organisations. The agreement also includes an automatic linkage to future public sector pay agreements for those workers to match all future pay increases. In delivering on the 9.25% pay increase, the Government is improving the ability of service providers to actively recruit and retain staff and supporting the overall sustainability of the sector.  The Taoiseach has convened a meeting of the Cabinet committee on disability for Monday. That meeting will be attended by me and the Minister, Deputy Foley, and our officials, as well as the Minister for housing and officials from his Department. We will discuss future planning when it comes to the buildings we need to increase capacity to deliver more residential and respite care across Ireland. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 132 and 133 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Disability Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_29","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Care Services","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_24","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_29","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_29.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Claire Kerrane  I again want to ask the Minister about the special care beds in the State that are closed. When I raised this issue with her here last month, she advised that 15 of the 26 beds were open. This issue was to the fore in the \"RT\u00c9 Investigates\" programme last night. What more can and will the Minister do to ensure that the 26 beds that are there and that are needed will open? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  I thank Deputy Kerrane for the question. Tusla has statutory responsibility for the operation of special care and the provision of special care beds. The Department recognises the significant challenges facing special care and is actively engaging with Tusla to address these challenges. Tusla has indicated that difficulties in the recruitment and retention of staff are the primary limiting factors in operating special care beds. The complex needs of children require high staffing ratios, as there is a need for at least one staff member per child throughout the day, in addition to supervisory staff, and the units must be covered on a 24-7 basis, albeit with reduced staffing at night. That means seven individuals for every one young person. Children with particularly complex needs may require up to twice that level of staffing resources, or 14 staff to one individual child or young person.  Department officials continue to work with Tusla to support it in addressing the staffing shortages in special care provision. A new grade and pay scale for special care has been introduced in an effort to increase staff numbers. This new Tusla special care worker grade offers an improved salary scale, with pay at the top of the scale 20.3% higher when compared with the social care worker grade used across services more broadly. A total of \u20ac26 million was allocated for special care in budget 2026. This represents an increase of over \u20ac6 million on budget 2025 and this investment will increase capacity and enhance provision, including funding for the new special care staff grade, staff well-being initiatives and additional therapeutic supports. As part of these therapeutic supports, Tusla has commenced recruitment for psychiatric nurses in special care.  Tusla has been allocated \u20ac188 million in capital funding for 2026 to 2030. In line with the national development plan, \u20ac17 million is the indicative allocation for special care. This funding will support Tusla in upgrading, renovating or purchasing special care and step-down units. Two new step-down units are scheduled to open in December 2026 and a third in January 2027. Tusla has commenced a project to repurpose a facility in Cork into a special care centre. This is expected to assist in recruitment outside of the Dublin area.  Tusla is fully focused on increasing staffing levels in special care and has taken significant steps to address the current challenges, with a dedicated recruitment team undertaking targeted campaigns across a range of media, including international recruitment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Claire Kerrane  I thank the Minister and acknowledge that there are real difficulties in hiring, recruiting and retaining professionals in these special care settings.  The Minister will be well aware of the restructuring that is being undertaken by Tusla. Part of that restructuring is impacting the special care services. Is the Minister aware that front-line staff and managers within special care services have raised serious concerns in relation to the impact the restructuring will have on the special care services themselves? Based on what we saw last night, would the Minister seek a pause in the restructuring in special care, given the concerns that have been raised by people who work in special care? Again based on what we saw last night, they are the people we need to be listening to. They have said that they are extremely concerned that what is being done in terms of the restructuring in special care will lead to a collapse of special care. Those people need to be heard by the Minister. Has she met the professionals in the special care services specifically? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  I acknowledge that there is an issue in terms of staffing levels for special care. We are very conscious of that. As I said, you can be dealing with very complex cases at a minimum. It is a staff requirement of seven people to one young person. In many instances, 14 staff could be required for one young person. Tusla is proactive on the ground, ensuring that there will be newer avenues or streams to bring in staff and make staff available. I have already referenced the new special care category, which is a 20% increase in wage. I also acknowledge that Tusla has recently launched a new special care training college. National and international recruitment campaigns have been undertaken, along with graduate sponsorship schemes, which is important. Tusla has also engaged with higher education institutions to establish a work-based learning programme which leads to a BA in social care. This programme is currently laying the foundation for formal establishment of a national apprenticeship scheme. Alongside these steps to improve capacity in special care and residential care, actions are being taken to improve foster care capacity, which is hugely important. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Claire Kerrane  We saw the need for special care beds in last night's programme. We saw the consequences of what happens when children in State care do not get the support they need. They enter a world of crime and drugs. They are abused and assaulted. They end up homeless. Those working in the special care services, who are highly trained and highly professional, are raising serious concerns in relation to the restructuring that is under way. I ask the Minister to please hear these concerns. I ask that there would be a pause on the restructuring of special care. Yes, there are issues in terms of recruitment and retention but we need to listen to those people. I am speaking about management level within those who are raising serious concerns for special care and for the restructuring and the impact that will have. I also know the director of special care has been removed from his position. That is deeply concerning based on what we saw last night. Will the Minister engage with these workers in special care services? Will she pause the restructuring until their issues are heard and addressed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  I cannot comment on HR matters for Tusla and how staff are moved or otherwise. It would be inappropriate. It is directly a matter for Tusla in relation to the management of its staff. Concerted efforts are being made, notwithstanding the challenges that are there. I have already referenced how upsetting it was to watch the experiences of and learn from young people their experiences, as we witnessed last night. It is so important that Tusla continues to be proactive in the space, particularly in the area of special care, recognising that a huge volume of staff are required in the area of special care and recognising that special care is a particular area where young people, for the protection of themselves, are denied their liberty. We are currently investing \u20ac26 million in special care from budget 2026, \u20ac17 million in capital funding for 2026 to 2030, renovating and purchasing new residential elements. There are three step-down facilities in special care being brought on stream this year, two at the end of December and one in January. As I have already referenced, we have the training centre. Over \u20ac1 million is being made available for therapeutic supports for those who might be in special care, leaving special care or on the verges of special care. There is every opportunity to do more in this space. More must be done in this space. It is being done and we will continue to be proactive in this space. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions No. 135 and 136 taken with Writtens. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Care Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_30","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Child and Family Agency","counts":{"speechCount":9,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_24","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_30","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_30.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I want to ask the Minister about the reason the caseload management system at Tusla has been paused and the protocols in place to ensure Tusla's social workers are not overwhelmed by caseloads. We have just heard from Deputy Kerrane in relation to the issues that exist for special care facilities, and the fact there are issues that need to be addressed there that have been made far worse by the show we saw - \"RT\u00c9 Investigates\". Those most vulnerable children not in appropriate accommodation. While we need more staff as regards social workers and social care workers, we need to ensure they are looked after and that we do not see the huge level of burnout that is happening within the sector at the minute. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  Tusla has informed me that it has not paused its case management system. That is the confirmation that I have received from Tusla. Tusla's case management system provides a single integrated case management system that, over time, will be implemented across all Tusla services. This case management system provides a single view of each child, young person, family, care provider and others who are engaged with Tusla. Tusla is improving its case management system. Key to this is the creation of a single record for each child and young person, which supports integrated working, including more streamlined referral and allocation systems for residential care, improved communications, accurate data to improve decision-making on an individual level and resource allocation. In effect, Tusla is building an integrated data environment centred around TCM that will enable the agency to deliver improved integrated reporting by the end of the Tusla's management and digital transformation strategy 2024 to 2026. This strategy was reviewed by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer and is aligned with the overall public sector data strategy. Tusla has simplified its standard business processes to reduce inefficiencies and to maximise time with children and families, facilitating more focus on direct contact and relationship building.  In 2025, Tusla experienced the largest ever demand for its services, receiving over 106,000 referrals, up 10% compared to 2024, with 96,666 referrals in 2024. Tusla areas prioritise social work resources to children where their knowledge and skill is most required, and then maximising the knowledge and skill of other professions where they can competently respond to children's needs. All of this work continues to be overseen by social work managers.  Tusla teams are constantly reviewing their caseloads to ensure that children with the highest priority are allocated as soon as a worker becomes available, while ensuring that children in urgent need of safety are prioritised for allocation. Each referral is screened. Based on the information presented, the referral is prioritised. As new information is received, the referral is reprioritised as required. Measures to reduce caseload pressure in Tusla have focused on recruitment of social work and social care staff at home and abroad, and increasing training places for social work and social care staff. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I ask that the Minister comes back to me in writing in relation to the caseload management system. My information is it has been paused. I accept the answer that the Minister got. In relation to the overall answer she gave, that sounds like a proper operating system. That is how things should operate. We have spoken before about the fact there are not enough social workers. The last figure I had was 1,728 or 1,754, including outsourced agency staff. Gerry Hone from Tusla told us we are 300 short in relation to that. There are 1,422 social care workers, of which we are at least 100 short. We need at least 500 foster carers for the overall system.  Not only does the Minister have to look at the issue in relation to special care facilities and those particular issues that are impacting it at the minute that will make it difficult to get away from special emergency accommodation or arrangements but we need to look at the operational situations for social workers and social care workers, ensuring the supports are also given to them so they can they provide the supports because we are losing, at times, some of our best to burnout. In some cases, they are just leaving because it is too difficult. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  I am just providing Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa the information that was given to me from Tusla. I will ask Tusla to respond directly to his concern. I want there to be 100% clarity on the issue the Deputy raised, and I thank him for raising it. That is the information I have received from Tusla. I will ask Tusla to engage directly with Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa on the matter if there is any kind of question or concern around it.  I acknowledge that Tusla teams are constantly reviewing their caseloads to ensure that children with the highest priority are allocated as soon as work becomes available, while ensuring that children in urgent need of safety are prioritised for allocation. Each referral is screened and based on the information provided. As I said, the referral is prioritised. Measures to reduce caseload pressure in Tusla have focused on recruitment of social work and social care staff at home and abroad. We have seen an increase of over 3% in the number of social workers and we want more. We are looking at a variety of schemes, whether they are apprenticeship-style schemes or whatever else, to ensure we have sufficient social workers available. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I appreciate the Minister's answer and that she will come back to me in writing in relation to the case management system. We definitely need to ensure we have a system that works. I also acknowledge the work being done in relation to training and recruitment. I ask for information on how many social workers have been recruited, how many we have and what the deficit is at this point. The information provided to the committee is that for social workers the deficit is approximately 300 and for social care workers it is 100. I also ask for information on the supports provided to those on the front line who are doing huge work.  We need to deal with the issue of special care facilities so we can move away from special emergency arrangements. Those who are the first port of call need to be given protections that will enable them to deal with their caseload and triage properly. As I nearly always say, we need to get early intervention in place. We have to give it a steroid injection or something because we are not where we should be in relation to the supports required by individuals and families. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  The Tusla staffing level is 5,661, which is an increase of 343 staff on the previous year. There has been a 3.6% increase in the number of social workers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  Could I have a breakdown? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  Yes. I will ask Tusla to make available to the Deputy a more specific breakdown on the different types of staff. I want to mention the training places for social workers because these have proven to be impactful. The number of training places has doubled over the past five years. At the end of 2025, there were 340 placements in Tusla, with further expansion planned. A social work apprenticeship has been introduced, with 34 apprenticeships starting in 2024 and 71 in 2025. The plans envisage that in 2026, we will have 100 or more apprentices in those training places.  A similar approach is planned for social care. Tusla continues to provide retention supports and management teamwork training for workers in order that caseloads are managed effectively and equitably. Tusla has also provided additional resources for more supports, including community and voluntary programmes to help assess and support cases more effectively. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy John Paul O'Shea)  I thank the Minister. We will now go back to Question No. 137 in the name of Deputy Barry Heneghan. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Child and Family Agency"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_31","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Disability Services","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_24","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_31","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_31.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  This issue has been raised and it is represented in a large part of my constituency. I speak of the Before We Die campaign. Its representatives were in the committee yesterday and I met the parents involved. I welcome the statement from the Minister of State in response to other Deputies who raised this matter today that it is being reviewed. I hope it will be examined. It is a very simple and profound issue. I understand, having spoken to the Minister of State, that she is going to work on it. This is about dignity and choice. Having spoken to the parents, they need and deserve to know before they die what will happen to their children. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Higgins  I thank Deputy Heneghan. This question relates to the continuity of care and day services.  The HSE advises that disability services integrated service area, Dublin North County, and integrated service area, Dublin North City and West, in the Dublin north-east region provides a range of supports for adults with disabilities, their families and carers, including home support, personal assistance services, respite services, day services and registered residential services, subject to assessed need and service availability.  The Deputy asked about people with disabilities transitioning from child to adult services. I point to the HSE day opportunities team which works closely with CDNTs to support transfer to HSE-funded adult services, where appropriate. Referrals for transition planning may be made from the age of 16 and families are invited to information sessions to meet local service providers, including those offering rehabilitative training. That gives people the opportunity to engage with those day services up to two years before the person takes up a place. It is really about supporting people through that transition.  The HSE national day services team is reviewing the transition process and information that young people and their families require when transitioning from services to school. This includes working with the multidisciplinary young adult teams in place for rehabilitative training and school leavers to standardise referral pathways. The national day services teams are also liaising with the Department of education with a view to co-ordinating the information and supports provided to them.  The Department of education has undertaken a transitions pilot with 41 special schools where information and support are provided to students to make informed decisions on post-school options and pathways. More generally, the HSE is supporting a day services deferrals process where individuals can avail of a deferral if they wish. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  I welcome the working day services, especially the service for north Dublin. It is much needed but the area needs more investment. We need more respite centres and we need to give parents and children with disabilities support.  On the Before We Die campaign, the parents are in absolute fear. We must focus on solutions. I welcome the Minister of State's comment to other Deputies on giving consideration to cross-departmental plans for disability housing and health to specifically address these cases.  Many parents have emailed my office. Bernadette, Caroline, Lynn, Candy, Tony, Susan, J.J., Mary and Helen all represent parents who are worried about what will happen to their children after they pass. I welcome that the Minister of State is working on this. I know it is one of here main priorities, as she said to other Deputies. I would love for this to be fast-tracked so those parents could have reassurances. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Higgins  I would too. I have met members of the Before We Die campaign twice, as has the Minister, Deputy Foley, and, I believe, many other members of the Government. I first met them at their request and the second time was at my request because I wanted to have a follow-up meeting with senior officials from the HSE to sit down together and work out a plan of action. I also acknowledge parents whose adult children attend the day services at Remember Us in Balbriggan, who I met on this issue as well. I met a young advocate yesterday on this and I will meet with two parents who are in a similar situation this afternoon.  I am very glad we have moved to a situation where we are funding planned placements, rather than constantly responding to emerging crises. It is important we can provide that certainty for both the adults and the parents. This year, for the first time, we are moving towards a strategy of planned placements. The numbers are small but we expect to be able to fill them. We will be in a good position to then ask for the Department of public expenditure and reform to fill more. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  I welcome the fact that the Minister of State has visited Remember Us. It is an exemplary example of what can be done. The increase in the budget for disability services was welcomed but fast-tracking personal assistance hours in these critical cases needs to be examined. Right now, these families feel like they are in the system. We need to move by making it planned for with centred supports. I welcome that the Minister of State has met parents at her request and at their request. I also acknowledge those who have contacted my office. Is there any timeline for delivering these kinds of co-ordinated supports for north Dublin and across Ireland? They are much needed. The data shows the northside has been neglected for too long. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Higgins  I agree with the Deputy that we need timelines and we do have some timelines in place. This year's budget will fund the planned places that will happen this year. In terms of capacity building, we have targets and deadlines outlined in our disability capital plan, in which there was also an uplift this year.  This year, we are hiring for six new additional roles within the HSE. Those postholders will liaise with, for example, local authorities, approved housing bodies and developers and work with them to ensure we are providing capacity at all levels, whether through private or public means.  I was in County Donegal last week where I met the access officer in Letterkenny, who informed me that, as part of the Donegal development plan, 30% of all new homes being built by local authorities or AHBs in the county will have to be accessible. That is really good. We need more local authorities to follow that example. That would help us to plan for the future. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  That concludes oral questions to the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Disability Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_32","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Gn\u00f3 na D\u00e1la - Business of D\u00e1il","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_32","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Before we move to Leaders' Questions, I have a note with regard to electioneering in the Chamber. Now that the writs have been moved and issued for the by-elections in Galway West and Dublin Central, I remind Members that the Chamber is not the place for electioneering. Clearly, Members have a wide margin to raise policy matters and matters of interest to voters in both constituencies, but it is not in order to use the Chamber as a platform to canvas for any candidate, party, or none. Members should not name candidates or bring them into their debates, either by way of praise or criticism. Contributions should relate strictly to the business before the House. I look forward to the co-operation of all Deputies during the period ahead. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Gn\u00f3 na D\u00e1la - Business of D\u00e1il"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_33","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions","counts":{"speechCount":28,"speakerCount":8},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_33","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The rules today are the same as always. All contributions should be through the Chair and all Members should receive a fair hearing without interruption. Under Standing Order 38, I call Deputy Pearse Doherty. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  An tseachtain seo, den dara huair \u00f3 mh\u00ed an Mh\u00e1rta, d'impigh an Coimisi\u00fan Eorpach ar bhallst\u00e1it c\u00e9imeanna a chur i bhfeidhm chun an br\u00fa \u00f3 phraghsanna leictreachais a laghd\u00fa. T\u00e1 an Rialtas go f\u00f3ill ag di\u00falt\u00fa rud ar bith a dh\u00e9anamh chun cuidi\u00fa le gn\u00e1thdhaoine at\u00e1 th\u00edos le bill\u00ed leictreachais iontach m\u00f3r. Le bheith f\u00edrinneach faoi, t\u00e1 an Rialtas ag d\u00e9anamh ruda\u00ed n\u00edos measa tr\u00edd an gcreidmheas fuinnimh a bhaint d\u00edreach nuair a bh\u00ed siad ag teast\u00e1il \u00f3 dhaoine go m\u00f3r. Beidh daoine anois ag cur na ceiste simpl\u00ed seo, m\u00e1 t\u00e1 an Coimisi\u00fan Eorpach ag imp\u00ed ar an Rialtas gn\u00edomh\u00fa, c\u00e9n f\u00e1th go bhfuil s\u00e9 go f\u00f3ill ag d\u00e9anamh rud ar bith? This week, for the second time since March, the European Commission has urged member states to come up with measures to ease the burden of electricity prices. This morning, people are asking a very simple question: if the Government has been told to act, why is it still standing back?  The reality for families is stark. Electricity bills are rising again, heating costs are through the roof, grocery prices are up week after week and households are being pushed to the pin of their collar just to get by. Here is the reality behind all those bills. The Irish Independent today spoke to an 85-year-old man from Balbriggan. He has been working for 71 years and still cannot afford to retire. He works 15 hours a week just to keep his head above water. He sees it plainly. The State pension is not enough to live on. After a lifetime of work, he is still paying for heat, food and insurance, with the cost of everything rising. He knows that if he stops working, he will not be able to pay his bills. The newspaper also spoke to another man. He is a farmer from Cork in his 70s. He gets up every morning at 6 a.m. to go to work, every single day, not out of choice but because costs have spiralled far beyond what the pension can cover. The cost of heating is up, fuel costs have doubled and the price of everything is climbing up and up. This is not how people imagined their later years. After a lifetime of contribution, they should not be worrying about whether they can afford to heat their homes, but that is the human reality of this crisis.  What did the Government do at the very moment people needed supports? It took them away. Energy credits are gone, scrapped just when the pressure was intensifying and just as households were already at breaking point. That decision is indefensible because, at the very same time, we see this week that the Government's economic spring forecast shows the money is there. The reality is that a fraction of the surpluses would make a real difference in ordinary people's lives. The Government has more than enough to act, more than enough to support households and more than enough to give people a real break. This is not about money but about political choices. The Government is choosing not to act. It is choosing to leave families exposed. It is choosing to let bills rise. It is choosing to tell people to wait - wait for the budget, wait until next year and wait while the crisis deepens. People cannot wait because the crisis is here, right now. The bills are landing right now. The pressure on families is right now. These families need relief immediately.  Does the T\u00e1naiste accept that his Government got it wrong when it scrapped the energy credits that were so obviously needed? Will the Government now act to reintroduce those supports and bring forward an urgent cost-of-living package or will it continue to sit on billions of euro in surpluses while workers, families, pensioners and so many others across the State are pushed to the brink? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank the Deputy. Of course, the Government did not wait. It brought forward, objectively, one of the largest packages of supports in the European Union to assist our citizens. It is either the largest or second largest package in the European Union, depending on how you look at it, and it is around two and a half times larger than the average package in the European Union. While I welcome the European Commission's high-level proposals of yesterday as an important contribution to this discussion, we in Ireland, in this Oireachtas and in the Government, did not wait for the European Commission to come up with a list of ideas.  To the Deputy's question, I welcome the high-level proposals published yesterday. They are being discussed today and tomorrow at a meeting of the European Council in Cyprus, where our Taoiseach will represent the country. I hope that meeting provides an opportunity to put a bit of meat on the bones of further areas where the European Union can bring forward opportunities to act. I welcome that the proposals yesterday referenced the ability of countries to go beyond the energy tax directive. The Deputy will remember that I brought a financial resolution into this House in which we went beyond the energy tax directive on diesel. On that occasion, we did so more to get ready to ask for forgiveness than permission. I welcome the recognition from the European Commission that it needs to give member states flexibility in relation to that.  I also note that the Commission's proposals say that measures should be targeted income measures. That is why we extended the fuel allowance. I welcome that the Commission said measures should be temporary because I think we have to stay agile and flexible during this crisis. It is hard to predict where the global economy will be in six weeks, let alone in six months. That is why our current measures run to the end of July. The Commission says that taking action on excise duty is an option, which is why we have cut the excise duty on diesel by 32 cent and on petrol by 27 cent. Between the green diesel excise duty cut and the support scheme, the cut for a litre of green diesel is 27.5 cent.  The Deputy is right that the Commission said there are options that can be considered in relation to electricity. I note it said it will soon adopt a legal proposal in relation to this, and Ireland will constructively engage on that. There is an interesting question, quite frankly, as to what more we can do around the structural cost of electricity. To give the Deputy an example, and I read the same article today as he did, we want to invest a lot more in upgrading our grid. We want to make sure more electricity is produced from renewables. The question of how much of that will come on to the household bill versus how much of it will come from the resources of the State is an important and legitimate debate. We are already planning on spending \u20ac18 billion on upgrading the grid. Is there more that can be done in that space? We will work constructively at a European level in this regard. We have already acted on the VAT rate on electricity. The Deputy will remember that we took the decision to extend the lowest rate of VAT that we can levy on electricity. That 9% rate has been in place since 2022, but it has constantly been rolled over. We took a decision early on to provide certainty that the rate would be in place until 2030. That measure has already come at a cost of about \u20ac1 billion.  We do not rule out taking further actions - no Government can - but an energy crisis in the summer months is very different from the challenges that people could face in the winter months. We have to make sure that we intervene, as we did with the largest or second largest package in the European Union, but also that we have an ability to intervene further. As the Deputy and all of us know in the context of this crisis, no matter what happens in Iran, the damage done now to the energy infrastructure means it will take a significant time to repair. Therefore, we have to be agile.  On the Deputy's point on the surplus, I am very pleased that there is a surplus. It did not come about by accident and did not fall from the sky. The sensible, pro-enterprise policies that this country has implemented mean that we have a fiscal buffer built up. The surplus is not just sitting idle. It is going into infrastructure and climate adaptation, through those funds, and into the Future Ireland Fund to meet, for example, pension requirements. It provides us with options. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  The T\u00e1naiste is still not listening. He is trying to spin it, and he can try to spin it whatever way he wants, but people, in their real, lived experiences, know where they are at. They see prices going up. They see the prices of electricity, fuel, home heating oil and groceries going up. They see all of that. They see a Government that is talking about surpluses - billions of euro more than were expected - and refusing to act.  The Government does not need the European Commission\u2019s approval to introduce energy credits. It withdrew those energy credits in the height of winter. We told the T\u00e1naiste what would happen. What happened Simon? Never have we seen more people in the history of this State who cannot pay their electricity bills. On top of that, we have fuel prices and groceries increasing and rents, insurance and student fees going up. It is never ending on families. I am telling the T\u00e1naiste, what the Government needs to do is act now. It needs to bring forward an emergency cost-of-living package that supports families in the here and now. People cannot wait for the Government to get its act together in the budget in October for measures to be implemented in January. People\u2019s bills are rising now. They are looking for help and leadership and the Government is continuing to give them the deaf ear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Truthfully, it is quite the opposite. We have already brought forward a package of \u20ac750 million. That is the opposite of refusing to act; it is acting. It is concrete, meaningful action and people see it at the pump. They know that the diesel price is lower than it was before. It is still too high but people know it is lower. They know the petrol price is lower than it was. Hauliers and their representative body have welcomed the package. Farmers and their representative body have welcomed the package. We continue to work and engage with many stakeholders including the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, ICTU, the Irish Business and Employers Confederation, IBEC, and many others. The Deputy should also acknowledge that never before in the history of the State have more people been in receipt of a fuel allowance. We made a decision to expand it to 50,000 more low-income, working families.  Here is the difference between being in government and opposition; we cannot come in here every Thursday and effectively propose we do another budget. I want to make sure we have options at budget time. We already took a very significant intervention and stand ready to take further interventions. However, we will not have the options we require as a country if we try and have a budget every Thursday. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  Hundreds of thousands of working families have been left asking why they have been left behind by this Government. They are left wondering what it will take for the Government to act to help them. Which piece of road or which port should they blockade before the Government takes notice? Over the past six months, Fianna F\u00e1il, Fine Gael and Independents made deliberate decisions which left those workers behind and worse off. It decided on plain silly VAT cuts for fast food firms, paid for by PAYE workers, because it chose not to index income tax bands and credits. Only now does Fianna F\u00e1il appear to have a problem with that stroke.  The Government made a decision to withdraw critical, once-off payments and energy credits. For three years families relied on a couple of hundred euro to ease the burden of Europe\u2019s highest electricity prices. The Government left them at a loss with less money in their pockets. They are now getting bills for \u20ac300, \u20ac400 or \u20ac500 at a time. That decision is now coming back to haunt the T\u00e1naiste and his colleagues.  The Iran war will nearly double inflation this year. Construction and food prices will rise further, making a complete mockery of the Government\u2019s VAT-cut misadventure. Grocery prices were already increasing at over 6% and electricity prices will rise even more, adding \u20ac150 to average bills which were already sky-high. Before Easter, the T\u00e1naiste and other members of the Government were talking about tax cuts for the richest in our society on inheritance and for special investment accounts. Quite frankly, that was tone deaf. That consideration once again ignored the needs of many who are struggling to pay their bills. Now it seems the Government has realised finally realised the error of its ways.  In the past week, the Government has flown many budget kites, including income tax cuts, energy credits and increased retrofit grants; you name it. Why do PAYE workers have to wait more than six months for relief when protesters only had to wait for a week? Those sectors did need some support but why are the needs of the real drivers of the economy being blanked by the Government? Yesterday, the Commission laid out the measures the Government can take to address the impact of the energy crisis. There are many policy options available to the Government in this toolbox such as a windfall tax on energy profits, price controls, energy vouchers, social tariffs and income support schemes for households.  People know there is a massive surplus. Why? Because the Government keeps telling us. They also know we cannot spend it all at once and that services need to be paid for. People saw that the Government very quickly found \u20ac750 million over the past month for sectoral interests. They need help now and there are ways for the Government to responsibly do a mini-budget now to provide real relief for PAYE workers. It could reverse the VAT cuts, introduce a windfall tax on energy companies and use the money for targeted energy credits of \u20ac400 for average income households. It could introduce the income tax indexation it promised during the general election but abandoned last October, and offer real supports for families with grocery bills and school costs. It can use existing laws to place maximum-price orders on home heating oil. Will the T\u00e1naiste now move to help working people through a mini budget? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  We will not be bringing forward a mini budget but we did introduce a \u20ac750 million package, the second largest in the European Union and two and a half times the European average, less than two weeks ago. I take some of the points the Deputy made on sectoral interests versus everybody. There is something in that. However, I will make two points regarding that. First, there are some sectors where it simply makes sense when there is a fuel crisis to prioritise an intervention. We are not all the same in terms of our fuel consumption. A haulier or a farm contractor has a very significant fuel bill. It made sense for all of us to keep our supply chains in certain crucial sectors of the Irish economy going. I do not think the Deputy and I disagree on that; he has acknowledged some sectors need help. Beyond that, I make the point that the package we brought forward is one everybody benefits from. I will explain why. The chief economist in the Department of Finance has estimated, and he said this on the day we published the spring forecast, that whatever inflation ends up being - we all want to suppress any increase - will be approximately 0.6% lower each of the months of May, June and July then it would otherwise have been. That person the Deputy quite rightly mentioned, and we all know them, who is in the supermarket and worried about the cost of food going up - by keeping inflation down through the package, we are having a positive impact on what that supermarket bill would have been otherwise.  On VAT 9%, and the Deputy got a lot of mileage since the previous budget out of the old burger baron cut, I want to ask him about it. I was in the Deputy's constituency this week. I doubt when he goes into his local caf\u00e9 in Drogheda, and we all have a local caf\u00e9 in our community, he looks at the man or woman behind the counter and says good afternoon to Mr. or Mrs baron because he knows in his heart of hearts, as a former Minister in the Department of enterprise, that the overwhelming majority of hospitality businesses are small businesses. He knows they are the heartbeat of rural and regional Ireland and they employ four, five or ten people. He knows that whatever the merits or demerits, and I accept we have a full policy difference, of our position on the budget, it is more essential we reduce their cost base. What would the Deputy be saying to me if we had not done anything to support the hospitality sector in the budget? A sector that employs well over 140,000 people directly needs our support. I am not flying any kites but when I am asked a question I try to answer it. I was asked whether there will be a personal income tax package in the budget; yes, there will.  I want to make another point as the Deputy has raised this with me many times. The country we saw in recent weeks regarding blockades is not who we are. We all know we are better than that as a people. People are angry and frustrated and there are real issues; I get that. However, we have to have really good structures for engagement in place with democratically constituted national bodies. We had a very good meeting in the past week of the Labour Employer Economic Forum, LEEF, with the ICTU, and others. It made points not too dissimilar to the Deputy\u2019s. There is a need to intensify that engagement in the weeks ahead. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  There are other and better ways of targeting supports to businesses which may need them, not a blanket VAT cut that is going to disproportionately benefit the burger barons like Ronald McDonald and his friends. That is a very poor use of taxpayer money and is being paid for directly by PAYE workers. That is the reality. The T\u00e1naiste is now trying to retroactively justify that by the increased energy costs that businesses will be experiencing. I simply do not buy that. The T\u00e1naiste is going to have to explain, with great difficulty, to workers who are going to continue to find it very difficult to pay their bills this summer when the VAT cut is introduced in July, why he is continuing to justify that. Lobbyists do a great job for the hospitality business. They did a number on the T\u00e1naiste. Hauliers did a great job in terms of how they acted. They got the T\u00e1naiste to respond. They have done the business for the people they represent. It is about time now the T\u00e1naiste and his Fianna F\u00e1il and Independent colleagues did the business for working people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  We will not get into it but the Deputy knows Ronald McDonald does not own the McDonald's in Bray. He knows there are franchises in relation to many of these places. It is important to point that out. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Whether it is a franchise or a small independent business, there are hardworking, decent people running these places too. They employ PAYE workers too. I will stand in any of these caf\u00e9s, restaurants or rural pubs that serve food and say to people that the reduction we have brought about from July on VAT is a reduction in the cost base of that business. At a time of real pressure, reducing costs on business is good. We can disagree on that point and agree on a broader point. There is a need to have broader engagement with wider society and representative groups on how we get ourselves through this moment of challenge. I found, and I certainly do not mean they were not tough on us or that they agree with us on everything, that the engagement we had with ICTU, IBEC and members of the LEEF to be very good.  What we need to do is have a much more intensive process now to engage with workers, their representatives and business representative bodies in the weeks ahead. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  I notice the T\u00e1naiste has been spending a bit of time in Dublin city over the past few weeks----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Cannot mention that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  I have to ask: does he feel any shame for what Fine Gael\u2019s time in government has done to our capital city? I know that is a difficult charge but I want to illustrate the point so I will talk about just one street in central Dublin. That street is Gardiner Street. I am not sure if the T\u00e1naiste is familiar with Gardiner Street but it is just one street over from the GPO where a mere 18 months ago, he stood and made a pre-election commitment to the people of Dublin. Does he remember that commitment? While launching the long-awaited report of the Dublin city centre task force, he said of our capital city:  It deserves a brighter future. It deserves dedicated resources, and it deserves a vision. We now have it.  That was the promise. One street over from where he made it Gardiner Street embodies the failure. One tenth of the homeless population of Ireland are being warehoused in emergency accommodation on Gardiner Street. The Dublin Regional Homeless Executive has contracted 20 properties on this one street, all but one of which are privately operated. That is 1,700 emergency accommodation beds on barely a half kilometre stretch of road. Yes, I also wince at the use of the word \u201cwarehoused\u201d but I know personally the lived experiences of families trapped in this reality and to call it anything else would be an insult to their experience.  Eoin Murphy is the principal of Gardiner Street Primary School where 20% of the children are living in emergency homeless accommodation. He recently told RT\u00c9\u2019s \u201cPrime Time\u201d:  Students\u2019 basic needs aren't being met a lot of the time because they might be up late at night. They might not have good washing facilities or cooking facilities, nowhere to play or do their homework. If your basic needs aren't being met it's very hard to learn.  What is happening on Gardiner Street is a blight on this republic but there is another fact I want the T\u00e1naiste to hold in his head if he visits central Dublin over the next few weeks. Using all available data sources, a north city centre residents alliance has concluded there are 7,000 people living in homeless accommodation in the north inner city. I do not have time to talk about the level of complex needs that are being unmet in this cohort but it is devastating to the lives of those trapped in the broken system and to the communities trying to pick up the pieces of Government failure. But there is an even crueller juxtaposition operating in tandem. The average monthly rent in Dublin city is \u20ac2,700 a month. Rents are 80% higher than they were a decade ago? How many affordable purchase homes were delivered across the entirety of Dublin City Council\u2019s boundaries last year? Zero. There was not a single one.  Eighteen months ago, the T\u00e1naiste stood at the GPO and talked of a vision for Dublin city. It is hard not to see the culmination of that vision as a city that is too expensive for the vast majority of Dubliners to ever live in and the creation of a system of impoverishment that is inescapable for those caught in the failed policies of the Government. Therefore, I will ask again: is this the vision of Dublin city that the T\u00e1naiste has in mind? What is the plan to remove us from this and improve the capital city for the people who live here and the people who are caught in the oppression created by failed Government policy? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank the Deputy. I remember very well standing at the GPO for what was a very important moment for Dublin with the launch of the Dublin city task force report. I say that because it was a report that had nothing to do with me. I decided that we should have a task force for Dublin but the report is the culmination of an incredible body of work done by many people, including many Members, many people across the political divide, all of the agencies, the city council and its excellent chief executive, Richard Shakespeare, and many other bodies, among them the HSE, An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and business groups, which fed into the vision. I know the Deputy knows that too but I wanted to say that. That was the outworking of that. Since then, we have seen real progress in the implementation of the report. I believe Dublin City Council is this week progressing the establishment of the special purpose vehicle, SPV. The Deputy will be aware of the appointment the Government has made of someone to head that up and drive that in the person of Robert Watt; that Dublin City Council has allocated staff with the technical skills to a programme management unit to drive delivery and it is now working on an integrated area strategy; the changes we made to the living city initiative to make sure more buildings in Dublin, including in his constituency, can qualify for reliefs to bring them back into use as homes, including above the shop, and removing any restriction in relation to that; and the very significant money we have provided through the various renewal funds around Parnell Square culture quarter, the fruit and vegetable market and the plans in relation to the GPO as well. Now we have that SPV to drive delivery too. I am proud, quite frankly, of the vision of the Dublin city centre task force. I think people far away from Dublin can take an interest in this too because we all want to see a capital city that is vibrant and thriving but that does not take away from the point the Deputy made because that point is very valid. Homelessness in our country, but also in our capital city, is still far too high. In certain parts of our country, there is a particularly high number of people as well; I do not like to use the word \u201cconcentration\u201d. We know while homelessness is a national problem, it is a problem that disproportionately impacts Dublin. That is why we are providing more funding for the Dublin homeless region and have provided funding of around \u20ac400 million in 2026; why we have provided local authorities with statutory discretion around HAP payments above the prescribed maximum rent limit; and why we recently met as a Government with Dublin City Council, its director of housing and its chief executive \u2013 that is myself, the Taoiseach, the Minister for housing and the Minister of State with responsibility for housing - to see what more can be done in relation to faster delivery of social housing. I accept it is an area in which we have a huge amount more work to do but both pieces of work are important. Driving implementation of the Dublin city centre task force is key while also, obviously, tackling the homeless emergency in the country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  The T\u00e1naiste mentioned real progress has been made by the Dublin city task force. If I capture a bit of the timeline, I will show the fallacy of that statement. The T\u00e1naiste first announced the establishment of the city centre task force in May 2023. That was commissioned later that year. Nothing happened in between the delivery of the report by David McRedmond which came 18 months ago. It sat on the T\u00e1naiste\u2019s desk for four months before that. In the 18 months sinc,e the T\u00e1naiste has talked about an SPV that is undefined and unbudgeted and the announcement of a Civil Service representative. Dublin City Council has been asking for \u20ac114 million just so it can give body and finance to some of the initiatives the T\u00e1naiste has talked about. For example, the last time I checked the living city initiative, there had been about 30 applications for it over many years and I would be surprised if it had reached 40 now. We need a vision for the city which, exactly as the T\u00e1naiste said, is resourced and understands the oppression of the people who are being left behind in our city and understanding that people cannot afford to live in their city. We do not need more reports and years; we need action now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  It was May 2024. I became Taoiseach in April 2024 so it was May 2024 that we announced the plan to put this in place. Now, in 2026, we are already seeing delivery on that. The Deputy is actually right about the living city initiative. There was a rigidity around the living city initiative that, quite frankly, was making it too hard for people to benefit from. That is why we made a number of changes to it. I genuinely hope we see the benefits of that, most particularly to the changes relating to above-the-shop development. There has been some funding, though, through the urban regeneration fund already. I welcome the support of the Deputy\u2019s party, I think, and most parties in this House in terms of other ways we can look at Dublin City Council having potentially ring-fenced funding whether that is a tourism levy or the likes - I am very eager to explore that \u2013 on the understanding that the funding goes directly into issues in Dublin city. We have seen other areas. The Minister for justice is present. We have seen a real focus on and progress in Garda numbers in the city and that has been widely acknowledged by people when I visit the Deputy\u2019s constituency as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  The T\u00e1naiste promised 1,000. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  A memo is due to go to the Government around the next two weeks specifically on the next steps for the GPO. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  Last night, \u201cRT\u00c9 Investigates\u201d broadcast a shocking report on Tusla and children in State care. This is something we in Aont\u00fa have been raising solidly for the past five years. The report was obscene. Young children are being taken from very difficult backgrounds from their parents and being placed into special emergency arrangements. These are often unregulated, often with staff who are unvetted and some of those staff do not even have references. Children are being located in apartments and hotel rooms and are being moved around on a regular basis. In short spaces of time, a child could be in 20 separate locations. Children are sleeping in car parks and sleeping in broken-down cars. They are being groomed by crack cocaine dealers. Children are being sexually abused while in the care of Tusla. Children are being raped in the care of Tusla and known to Tusla. This was reported last night.  We have uncovered a harrowing case of a 14-year-old girl who went missing from Tusla just 24 hours after she was placed there. The child was missing for an entire year. She was then found in a brothel. She was a victim of unimaginable exploitation when she was supposedly in the Government\u2019s protection. The Minister has refused in a follow-up question by ourselves to answer if anyone has ever been prosecuted for the trafficking and exploitation of that child. Children are being killed in the care of Tusla and known to Tusla.  Two hundred and thirty-five children known to child protection services have been killed in the last 12 years. There have been 13 homicides, 38 deaths as a result of suicide, and, in another parliamentary question from us, we learned that eight children were killed so far this year who were known to Tusla or in the care of Tusla. Mr. Justice John Jordan said that some of these failures are outrageous and an affront to the rule of law. He warned that Tusla is extraordinarily exposed to significant future compensation claims as a result of the harm that is being done to these children. Judge John Campbell stated that he was incandescent with rage that a secure bed could not be found for a child deemed at risk of death. He noted that children who should be getting ready for Santa Claus were being placed in unregulated placements. Judge Simms provided three important documents to the last Minister for children, Roderic O'Gorman, which were shredded. I believe this is one of the most disgusting, shocking scandals that has happened to children in the history of this State. When I first raised this in the D\u00e1il four or five years ago, it was so horrendous that I was sure that the Government would put an end to these special emergency arrangements. It has not. It is actually getting worse. Will the T\u00e1naiste give a commitment today and a date for when the Government will end the special emergency arrangements in this country? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank the Deputy for raising last night's programme. It is a programme which has been extraordinarily difficult for people across the country to watch. First and foremost, I thank the young people who came forward and shared their experience of the care system. It takes a lot of courage and bravery to do so and to do so in such a public manner. I commend \"RT\u00c9 Investigates\" on the work it did on this. It highlighted a number of very challenging cases and indeed upsetting cases about vulnerable children who the State should support and protect. Of that, there is no doubt. Listening to some of the negative experiences, although frankly that phrase does not capture it, so I should say listening to some of the horrors that some very vulnerable children have endured while entrusted to the care of our State raises significant questions.  Many fine people are working in Tusla. I do not think the Deputy is taking from that fact. They are working in extraordinarily difficult circumstances and often with very complex cases. I acknowledge them because they are doing good work, which is important to say.  On the specific issue the Deputy raised about the use of special emergency arrangements, this is effectively where the State becomes reliant on a private operator to provide accommodation in an emergency situation. It is good to see that the reliance on that is being reduced, although it is still too high. I think it has been reduced from around 170 children in special emergency arrangements last year to 70 but Tusla is now working to reduce that further in the coming months. I spoke to the chief executive officer of Tusla this morning and I understand that there are around 69 of these centres. Nineteen of those centres are due to be registered from 1 May. There is a further plan regarding another 19 of them too. I genuinely believe Tusla is working its way through this with a real sense of urgency. It has closed six centres and stopped working with them, and there have been five Garda referrals over a period of time. The Deputy mentioned some absolute horrors, as is his right in this House. I do not want anyone to think that any part of this country, service in this country or any individual in this country is beyond the reproach of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na or the law in this land. I think the CEO said connections with six centres have been ceased and there have been five Garda referrals. There are also internal monitoring teams in Tusla, which have carried out 300 visits.  It is also true that there has been an increase in the number of children requiring care, as the Deputy knows. We have seen an increase in the number of separated children seeking international protection. That reduced a lot compared with what it was a year or 18 months ago. Tusla is having to deal in real time with these pressures. It is very serious. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  The T\u00e1naiste has not given a date or a commitment that these will be closed completely. The \"RT\u00c9 Investigates\" programme was of great value but there was one problem with it. The Minister for children was invisible in that show. Tusla is not operating in a vacuum. Tusla is a product of the T\u00e1naiste's Government. It is a responsibility of the Government's Minister. The lack of funds and the lack of social workers is a policy choice by the Government. This scandal is unfolding in Tusla. It ranks up there with many of the scandals in the past but the difference is that this is unfolding in real time for the Government, and Tusla cannot be used as some kind of insulation blanket to separate the T\u00e1naiste's Government from the responsibility for this horror. The T\u00e1naiste said once that he wanted this country to be the best country in the world to be a child. For many of these children, with these horrors, it is one of the worst countries in the world to be a child at the moment. Children are being killed, raped and groomed at a cost of \u20ac14,000 a week to the State. When will there be accountability? When will the resources be matched to the needs? Will the T\u00e1naiste give a date and a commitment that by the end of this year, these SEAs will be closed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I need to be very careful here. There are extraordinarily harrowing cases that deserve and require a full investigation. I know that, over time, there have been five referrals to An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. The garda\u00ed do their job very well but we should also acknowledge that Tusla is not the problem here. Tusla is working with children in very vulnerable and complex situations. It is not acceptable for any child to have an adverse or bad experience but it is important to say that----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  It is a sanitised response. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The same rules apply to Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn as to anyone. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  It is important to say that there are around 6,000 children in our care system, living with foster parents and in registered centres. The vast majority are in education and training. It is also true, in fairness to the Minister, Deputy Foley, who is working hard on this matter, that she secured an increase in the Tusla budget of \u20ac177 million this year on top of an additional \u20ac53 million in additional capital funding. The use of these centres is decreasing and Tusla is determined to continue to decrease it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  No date, T\u00e1naiste. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_34","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 na Comhalta\u00ed Eile - Other Members\u2019 Questions","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_34","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aindrias Moynihan  Menopause has recently begun to receive the recognition that it deserves in this country. The introduction of the free HRT scheme was a significant and welcome step forward. However, the policy has always contained a clear and acknowledged gap for women who are medically contradicted from taking hormonal treatments. The National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics last week published its assessment on Veozah, a non-hormonal treatment for moderate and severe symptoms associated with menopause. This medication is particularly relevant to women for whom HRT is not clinically appropriate, including women who have oestrogen-positive cancers and other medical contradictions. This is a situation I have raised on the floor over a prolonged period.  While last week's NCPE assessment raises concerns about cost-effectiveness, it is notable these concerns are framed around individuals who can take HRT. That wording is critical because it highlights that the medication is being assessed against a comparator that a significant cohort of women simply cannot safely use. That is not an abstract concept. The Minister for Health has repeatedly acknowledged on the D\u00e1il record and in reply to my parliamentary questions that not all women are clinically eligible for HRT, and that women who are contradicted must pursue non-hormonal options with their GP or oncologist, and that there are currently no plans to modify the free HRT scheme to include those alternatives. That leaves women, often cancer survivors, with fewer treatment options, greater financial burden, and unequal access to menopause care.  The NCP process on Veozah should not be viewed as a single, narrow reimbursement decision. It presents an opportunity to address the wider policy issue on how the State supports menopausal women who are excluded from HRT on medical grounds. I ask that the Government ensure that Veozah is, at a minimum, included in the drugs payment scheme, and for a commitment to formally review the free HRT scheme so that women who cannot take hormonal treatments are not structurally excluded from State-funded menopause care. T\u00e1 druga ar f\u00e1il gur f\u00e9idir tac\u00fa le mn\u00e1 leis an athr\u00fa saoil, go h\u00e1irithe mn\u00e1 at\u00e1 tar \u00e9is ailse a chur d\u00edobh. N\u00ed f\u00e9idir leo an gn\u00e1th-HRT a \u00fas\u00e1id de bharr na hailse. Mar sin, ba ch\u00f3ir go mbeadh an druga sin, Veozah, \u00e1 chur ar f\u00e1il d\u00f3ibh. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank the Deputy very much for raising this important matter. I acknowledge that, as he rightly reminded the House, this is not the first time he has raised this issue here, and directly with the Minister for Health as well. There has been a welcome and renewed policy focus in this House and from the Government on the importance of HRT treatment and accessibility to the free HRT programme. I thank my colleague the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, for the work she has done in getting this programme up and running that is helping many women across the country.  I say that before getting to the Deputy's specific point. He raised the medicine, Veoza. My understanding is that the HSE received an application for pricing and reimbursement of Veoza on 9 February 2024 from the pharma company. It is for the treatment of moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause. On foot of a rapid review by the NCPE, the body that reviews medicines on behalf of the State, the HSE commissioned a full health technology assessment, HTA, on 8 April 2024, as per agreed processes. Often the State gets blamed for being slow but it is important to say that 16 months passed before the company submitted the completed HTA dossier. I say that because people often ask why the Government does not move quicker. Sixteen months passed from when the NCPE said it was going to carry out the HTA to when the company submitted the dossier. That fact should be made known as well. When the NCPE did receive the full dossier it carried out its work and, as the Deputy says, it issued a report. I thank the NCPE for the work it is doing.  The factual position now is that the HSE will contact the company with a view to commencing commercial negotiations. I want to be very careful not to interfere with that. The Deputy is not doing that either. We need to allow the HSE to do its job in terms of carrying out that commercial negotiation. We are now spending \u20ac4 billion a year on drugs, which is good, as we need to do so. That is more than the budget of many stand-alone Departments. The budget for the Department of justice is probably around \u20ac6 billion. We are spending \u20ac4 billion on our drugs budget, so we have to allow the HSE do its commercial negotiation and get the best value for the taxpayer because obviously if it does not, it will affect the ability to purchase other drugs as well.  I recognise the importance of timely access to new medicines. I take the point the Deputy made about certain women who cannot access other treatments. I take very seriously the point he made about cancer patients and also cancer survivors.  In terms of modifying the free HRT programme to include non-hormonal treatment - I will not comment on the specific drug given the negotiations, as I do not want to cut across that - but any of the more broad matters concerning the programme and the likes are a matter for budget time. I am very happy to engage with the Deputy on that then. The main thing now is for the HSE to contact the company and get into commercial negotiations. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aindrias Moynihan  A significant milestone was reached last week with the NCPE report. Ultimately, this is a question about fairness and equality. Women who are medically eligible for HRT now receive their treatment free of charge, whereas women who cannot take HRT, often because of hormonally sensitive cancers, are directed towards non-hormonal alternatives, yet those alternatives are not treated equally by the State. That is not a position that should continue, especially when there is an alternative available with Veoza.  I have raised this repeatedly with various Ministers for Health, including questions on medications prescribed through specialist menopause services for women who are HRT contraindicated. The response has consistently been that no expansion of the scheme is planned. That cannot continue. The assessment of non-hormonal menopause treatment such as Veoza has fundamentally changed the context. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aindrias Moynihan  The scheme needs to be reopened at this point to ensure equality. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call on the T\u00e1naiste to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  The Deputy is right. It is always a milestone moment in relation to the consideration of any new medicine for Irish patients when the NCPE produces its report and that has obviously happened. The next step is for the HSE to invite the company to initiate commercial negotiations. Following that step, clinical submissions are considered and so too are patient submissions. That is important so that the voices of the women the Deputy referenced can be heard in this process. Clinical submissions and patient submissions are considered, as well as the outworkings of the commercial negotiation. Ultimately, the HSE drugs group sends its recommendation to the HSE leadership team. That is the process that will be undertaken.  I am very proud of the work we have done together, as a Government, in terms of the free HRT scheme. I think we all are. It is very important that Deputies come to this House and highlight where they believe there is room for improvement or gaps where people cannot qualify. That is separate to the drugs piece, which I am not getting involved in because they are commercial negotiations. We can of course have those broader conversations about how we help all our citizens in the context of the upcoming budget. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 na Comhalta\u00ed Eile - Other Members\u2019 Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_35","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Pholasa\u00ed n\u00f3 ar Reachta\u00edocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation","counts":{"speechCount":40,"speakerCount":19},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_35","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"S\u00e9amus McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Roche","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Guirke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  What we saw on \"RT\u00c9 Investigates\" last night was absolutely shocking. It went to the heart of any parent out there. Children in the care of the State are being placed in really dangerous and wholly inappropriate settings. We are talking about unregulated emergency arrangements with no proper oversight where children are exposed to violence and trauma that will stay with them for the rest of their life. Young people are leaving care into homelessness. It is appalling and it is absolutely shameful.  These are children without a voice. They are overwhelmingly from working class communities and they are treated as if they do not matter while private profiteering continues. As we heard, none of this is new. Judges and child advocates have repeatedly raised the alarm with the Government and the concerns that Tusla is at a crisis point.  This is systemic. It is a political failure. People are asking what on earth is going on with children in the care of the State. When is the Government going to get a grip on this and make sure it comes to an end? We have seen too many programmes and reports. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy's time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I agree with a lot of what the Deputy said in the sense of these being extraordinarily harrowing cases involving extraordinarily vulnerable children. I want to answer his question. I know all of us in this House would say that these children do matter. Their voices do matter. All of us need to be their voice. I did have a good conversation with the CEO of Tusla earlier, with whom I have regular engagements. Tusla is making real progress in terms of opening more centres and reducing the reliance on what are called special emergency arrangements, SEAs. Alongside that, and regardless of it, there are laws in this country that have to be applied too. There are also matters that I believe are matters for An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. There are laws if anybody has committed a criminal act against a vulnerable child in this country and those laws need to be enforced. I understand there have been five Garda referrals and six centres were closed over a period. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Wall  I too want to raise last night's horrific programme. Like the T\u00e1naiste, I thank Barry O'Kelly and \"RT\u00c9 Investigates\" for bringing this in front of us. As has been said in this House already, it is not the first time that I and others have brought up this concern. Three weeks ago, Independent Ireland raised concerns we have on Private Members' business about Tusla services, SEAs and problems concerning them. It is simply not good enough that the most vulnerable in society are put at risk by these arrangements.  The State seems to be more concerned about bringing these vulnerable children to court rather than dealing adequately with their complex needs. The fact remains that Tusla has handed out \u20ac240 million to 93 unregulated providers of SEAs. This includes one company to which it paid over \u20ac41 million. Questions remains. Will an investigation be launched by the Government into last night's findings? Are there any financial penalties for SEA providers? Does the Government have a timeline to get rid of SEAs? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Last year alone, more than 106,000 referrals were received by Tusla. There are over 6,000 children in foster care with foster parents or in registered centres doing well. The vast majority of children in care are thriving and are being well looked after. The vast majority of them are in education or training. That is not to take away from the harrowing failures.  The Government will of course want to receive a full report from Tusla on this. I acknowledge that Tusla is working hard on this. We are seeing a reduction in the reliance on SEAs. We need to see an acceleration of that. We are seeing that against a backdrop of a greatly increased number of referrals. There can be no escaping the law in terms of any consequences for anyone who has breached the law. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  A new report revealed today the depths of disadvantage in Dublin's south-west inner city, where I live. On every metric, the area and its residents are being failed. There is a disproportionate disadvantage when it comes to deprivation and crime, low educational attainment and a chronic lack of sporting facilities, which I have spoken about several times in this Chamber. There are also very stark findings with regard to drug deaths and the crime rate, which is twice the national average.  It is really shocking it is laid out in black and white. I see it every day but it is shocking when it is written out in a report. It is also infuriating. There is a lot of money in this country, but how we choose to spend it is really important.  The only real investment that has happened over the lifetime of the Government is investment in private student accommodation, build-to-rent apartments and hotels for tourists. That does not help anyone living there. What I really want to know is if it is possible to have the same sort of thing that happens in the north-east inner city for the south inner city? They mirror one another incredibly, and that is my question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Cummins for bringing up the issue and I will have a look at that report. The question she is raising is a broader one that arises from time to time, where there is a model that works well in parts of the city or of our country and there are other communities saying that they too could benefit from that model. I am going from my memory now, but I know there was work to be undertaken towards the end of the last Government in terms of how we embed that good practice in other communities. On foot of the Deputy raising this today, I will link in with the Department of the Taoiseach, which is co-ordinating that. I will also point out, as I am sitting beside the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, that a number of funds are available to try to help communities, particularly to tackle disadvantage, and perhaps I will ask the Minister of State to speak to Deputy Cummins on that too. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  I want to raise again the fact the people of south Tipperary have no consultant ophthalmology service. There has been no eye service for almost two years now. The HSE has failed in its duty to provide that vital service. We have no consultant-led service, no optometry clinics and no nurse-led clinics. As a result there is a huge backlog of 3,000 people, with hundreds of children who have never been seen. There are hundreds of people with glaucoma who either have never been seen or need follow-up and some may be facing blindness. I know the ophthalmology department at the county clinic in Clomnel has been reallocated to other services, so what is going on? Is there a plan to downgrade or transfer the services out of south Tipperary? When will we have and see a consultant-staffed service in operation again in the county, please? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Healy and acknowledge this is not the first time he has raised it in this House. It does seem to have been going on for a very long time. Truthfully, I do not know the factual reason, whether it is regarding an inability to recruit or not. I know it often can be. The Deputy also raised the issue in relation to the transfer of services. On foot of him raising it again, I will ask that the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, interact with him directly on this matter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  In Cork city, tenants in Mary Aikenhead Place are living in flats that were built in the 1960s. They are cold, damp and affected by mould. Surrounding units in the residential area have already been retrofitted. The Government retrofit plan aims for a B2 standard by 2050, with only 25% to be completed by 2030. For many of these tenants, the timeline of waiting for 25 years to have their flats retrofitted is simply too long. Let me be precise. Will the Government commit to prioritising older flats such as Mary Aikenhead Place with an accelerated retrofit programme and will funding be in place to bring these homes up to standard by 2030? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy O'Flynn for raising this issue. On foot of him specifically raising that area, I will ask the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, who has responsibility for this area, to come back to him directly. The broader point as to how we make sure we can retrofit and make homes warm for people to live in and to have a higher standard more quickly is absolutely at the core of what we need to be doing now. We have so much discussion in this House about fossil fuels and chaos caused in the world. Actually, the action the Deputy outlined is the sort of step we need to be taking. We are eager to do more in this space. We have seen a significant increase in applications but I will ask the Minister to come back to the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"S\u00e9amus McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy S\u00e9amus McGrath  I want to raise the shocking and deeply concerning announcement by Pfizer yesterday that it is seeking to reduce its workforce in Ringaskiddy by over 100. This represents about 12% of the workforce. Pfizer has been a very good employer in Cork since 1969, when it established the plant. As the T\u00e1naiste will appreciate, it is deeply concerning for staff that this announcement has come forward. Will the T\u00e1naiste ensure the State agencies engage with the company immediately to understand the background to this announcement and also to try to minimise the impact? Will he give assurances to staff that will happen ASAP? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy McGrath for raising this issue. I will speak to the Minister, Deputy Burke, on this matter today. The Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, has told me he has spoken to him as well today. Pfizer is a great company and has been a great employer in the Deputy's own community but also in this country. I would like to have a better and deeper understanding of this and I am obviously very eager to support workers who are impacted. I know my immediate consideration today, and that of Deputy McGrath and the Minister of State, will be for the employees affected. All arms of the Government will work with them, but I will speak to the Minister on this today and ask that he also contact the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Paul O'Shea  I am seeking clarity on the commencement date for the newly approved Local Link bus service, the 515, connecting Mallow to Killarney, which serves the villages of Ballyclogh, Castlemagner, Kanturk, Boherbue and Knocknagree in my own constituency of Cork North-West. This route is not just a line on a map; it is a vital lifeline for rural communities. People in these areas have faced limited public transport options, impacting access to education, employment, healthcare and social activities. The approval of this service was very warmly welcomed locally when it was announced in November 2025 and there is strong expectation it will be delivered without delay in 2026. Reliable and accessible rural transport is essential if we are serious about balanced regional development and tackling rural isolation. This service has the potential to significantly improve connectivity across Cork North-West and into Kerry. The communities I represent are ready for this service. They now need certainty on when it will begin. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy O'Shea for raising this issue with me and with the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, here who has responsibility for rural transport as well. I am pleased to see the investment in rural transport in Cork increased by 46% between 2024 and 2025 to more than \u20ac7.2 million. To the Deputy's point about Cork, passenger numbers on the rural routes are increasing by 95% so there is clear demand for this as well. I thank the Deputy particularly for raising the proposed new bus route 515 under the Connecting Ireland rural mobility programme. I know this is something the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, is very supportive of as well. It would serve a number of villages the Deputy has outlined in Cork North-West. The NTA tells me it is planning the advancement of these routes but has not yet given me a date for implementation. On foot of the Deputy raising the matter here, the Minister of State will come back to him directly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Donnelly  I am going to give the T\u00e1naiste some examples of how this Government is failing our most vulnerable children. Hansfield Educate Together National School is telling us it will not be able to support children with additional needs due to the lack of SNA allocation for this September, forcing it to reduce timetables for students with additional needs. One school in Dublin West has been awarded DEIS plus status but there is none in Corduff, Blakestown or Mountview. At least 19 children with additional needs have no post-primary school place for September. The Minister's task force on special education, set up in October 2024, has still not published its recommendations. Why? Children have been waiting six years for an assessment of need for children with additional needs in Blakestown CDNT. School completion programmes tackling disadvantage in the Mountview, Blakestown and Ongar areas are operating with no increased funding and have been asked to support a school population that has increased by over 1,000 children. Deaf children get supports, or not, due to a postcode lottery. There is a baby alarm and monitor scheme in Meath----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy, the time is up. The T\u00e1naiste to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Donnelly  ----but not in Dublin West. It is the same HSE. Why? Why is the Government failing our children? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Donnelly. I am very proud to be a member of the Government that has introduced the DEIS plus programme. For the first time ever in the history of the State, we now have DEIS plus and I thank the Minister, Deputy Naughton, for her work on that. The Deputy and I have discussed this before. It is a start. The schools have been chosen on the basis of need, with criteria that are above and beyond politics in terms of trying to identify those most in need. That is not to say we do not wish to see DEIS plus expanded or rolled out further. Of course we do.  On the other specific issues, including HSE-related issues, I will ask both the Minister for Health and the Minister for education to come back to the Deputy.  While I am on my feet, I welcome the youth advisory panel who Deputy Keira Keogh, Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Children and Equality, said are in the Gallery. I know they spoke so very well yesterday on the topic of online safety. I think there are representatives form Webwise, Youthwork Ireland, the NYCI and the Ombudsman for Children's Office. I welcome them to Leinster House and thank them for being here. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  On behalf of all the Members, the youth advisory panel are most welcome and we all identify that their contributions are most important. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Maxwell  Following the announcement in February of the annual roads allocation, will the T\u00e1naiste give an update on any further allocations for Monaghan, Cavan and all of the other counties? This year's allocations for local and secondary roads will not go as far because they will be eaten up by price increases in supplies and labour year on year. With the excessive wet weather this winter and a number of storms, the latest being Goretti in February, local and secondary roads in counties Monaghan and Cavan are in a deplorable state. Will there be a further allocation to help local authorities reinstate these roads? These roads are used by farmers, all types of businesses and the people who live on them. It will cost Monaghan County Council just over \u20ac1.4 million for repairs to cover storm damage alone on their local roads this year.  At the moment this \u20ac1.4 million is being taken out of the ordinary roads maintenance budgets that are already cut to the bone. The people of rural Ireland deserve roads that are fit to be used safely. We need sustained increases to bring all local roads up to the required standard over the coming years. Can the T\u00e1naiste give a commitment here today to local authorities that another tranche of funding will be coming forward? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Maxwell for raising this. It is not the first time he has raised it with me. I know his constituency in Cavan and Monaghan has been significantly impacted by Storm Chandra. While we have increased the funding for roads in Cavan and Monaghan, which is important - there is an increase in the funding in 2026 versus 2025 - I want to see that money, and more importantly the Deputy wants to see that money, in Cavan and Monaghan being spent as it was intended and not sucked up by the road damage. We have gone out to the councils. When I say \"we\" I mean the Department of Transport has gone out to the councils and asked them to come back to us in terms of their storm damage so we can see if we can allocate additional funding for that storm damage within the Department of Transport Vote. That is the direction the Taoiseach and I gave a special Cabinet committee on the flood damage. There is currently an application in from eight local authorities, of which Monaghan is one. That is now being assessed. I am not saying this to be difficult but I am not sure if we have one in yet from Cavan. On foot of the Deputy raising this, I will follow that up. The Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, who is in that Department, will also link in with the Deputy on it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  The new school building for Gael Col\u00e1iste Reachrann in my constituency was moved to tender. Parents have been waiting 25 years for a permanent school building. We do not want any more broken promises in the sense that the school was told the project would move to construction in the second quarter of 2026 as previously indicated. Will the T\u00e1naiste outline any risks to this timeline and provide a detailed update on the status go h\u00e1irithe i mBaile \u00c1tha Cliath Thuaidh, \u00e1it a bhfuil daoine ag iarraidh Gaeilge a fhoghlaim? Caithfimid an infheist\u00edocht a chur isteach san \u00e1it sin. T\u00e1 tuismitheoir\u00ed agus p\u00e1ist\u00ed ag iarraidh Gaeilge a fhoghlaim i bhfoirgnimh bhuan ach t\u00e1 siad i prefabs at\u00e1 fuar. They are leaking and they are cold. Can we get an update from the T\u00e1naiste please? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I acknowledge that this is certainly not the first time Deputy Heneghan has raised this issue in the House. The Deputy raises it almost every time we meet, either formally or informally, around this building. Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Teachta for all the work he is doing in relation to it.  It is now one of the 105 large-scale school building projects that will go to tender and-or construction during 2026 and 2027. In other words, the project is definitely moving forward. The 600-pupil post-primary school project was authorised to proceed to tender on 12 November 2025. The invitation to tender issued on 28 November 2025 through the eTender portal. A request for an extension to the tender return period was granted. The school has also been granted a two-classroom special educational needs unit to be configured within the existing layout. An addendum is to be added to the invitation to tender shortly. The short-listed parties have been issued a clarification. It is expected the tenders will be returned approximately two weeks after that addendum in the second quarter of this year. The timeline remains on track. I will get a detailed note sent to the Deputy by the Minister, Deputy Naughton. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  Go raibh maith agat. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  I wish to raise the issue of the HSE discharging people from hospitals without the consent or co-operation of the families and in breach of the HSE's own protocols. I have an example of a man in south Leitrim who had a stroke and was in the care of the HSE. His sister in Dublin got a phone call saying, \"He is going home today\". She said there was nobody at home and that the house was under reconstruction because of the situation. She was told that he would be put in a taxi and sent home. That is it. A similar situation in south Donegal involved a lady who was in hospital. She was a very vulnerable patient with poor eyesight. Her daughter phoned the hospital to inquire about her and she was told she had already gone home. The daughter contacted a neighbour who had found the lady wandering outside in her pajamas in the month of January. This type of situation is happening more often than one would realise. Because of the pressures the HSE is under it is pushing people out, in breach of its own protocols and often without a care package in place. In regard to that gentleman in Country Leitrim who had had a stroke, adequate services for his rehabilitation were only put in place this week. He was waiting for two months. No care plans are being given to people and they are being sent home in breach of the HSE's own protocols and regulations. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I take Deputy Kenny fully at his word and do not doubt in any way the accuracy or bona fides of what he has shared with the House. I also accept the HSE is often very busy and under pressure. There are very many fine people who work in our health service and we thank them for that. There is, however, no excuse for anybody, no matter how busy they are, to discharge somebody without making sure there is an appropriate care plan in place. Surprising relatives and the like is not an acceptable thing to happen. I am not doubting the Deputy but on foot of him raising it, perhaps he will share the details, if he would not mind, in a confidential and an appropriate manner with the Minister for Health. I will ask that she would directly pursue that with the HSE. There are very clear protocols in place, as Deputy Kenny said, in relation to these issues. I am very sorry to hear about those two cases. The Minister for Health will engage with the Deputy directly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  Will the T\u00e1naiste join with me in calling for An Post to reverse the disastrous decision to move the sorting office for Dublin 16 out of Dublin 16, moving it from Edmondstown to Lucan. It makes no sense whatsoever. It is not clear where the public who miss packets and parcels are going to have to go to collect them. They may have to go all the way to Lucan to collect parcels that they miss. It certainly is clear that it will result in a worsened service for the public. The postal workers are going to be stuck on the M50 going between Lucan and back to Dublin 16. It is also clear that it is a disaster for the workers. Workers have built their lives around where they work. I was talking to one couple who both work there but one of them does not drive and they get there by bike. There is no way they are going to be able to get to Lucan. It just makes no sense whatsoever to move a sorting office for an area out of the area it serves, and particularly when it is staying in the control of An Post. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  As I was listening to what the Deputy was saying, I also had colleagues here saying to me that they are not unfamiliar with the significant inconvenience, anxiety and practical issues it can cause for constituents, including the constituents the Deputy referred to. On foot of the issue being raised by Deputy Murphy, I will ask the Minister and the chief executive of An Post to examine the specifics of the issue the Deputy mentioned about the proposed move of the sorting office from Edmondstown to Lucan. We also have to look at the opportunities to use local post offices and collection points there as well. An Post needs to think outside the box and be flexible as well. There are practical ways people need to go about collecting post, collecting parcels and like. We do have a very extensive post office network in addition to the sorting offices. I will ask the chief executive of An Post to engage with the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  Cuirim ceist ar an T\u00e1naiste faoi Ospid\u00e9al Beaumont. Despite the very best efforts of nurses and doctors in the emergency department it is often severely overcrowded. For over a decade, the T\u00e1naiste's Government has been promising a new emergency department at Beaumont Hospital. What is causing the delay to this much-needed new emergency department? When is it actually going to be delivered? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy O'Callaghan for raising the issue in relation to the need for a new emergency department for Beaumont Hospital. I accept that the Deputy is accurate. This is something that has been long discussed and much needed in Beaumont. I do not have the specifics in front of me here, so I do not want to give the Deputy or his constituents false information but it is my understanding that it is part of the HSE's capital plan. I will ask the Minister for Health to come back to the Deputy directly in terms of a timeline.  I also hope that some of these projects can be progressed in the healthcare space using the critical infrastructure legislation and other common-sense ways to try to speed up processes, with processes in parallel. I accept that emergency department is badly needed. I will ask the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, to come back to the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  I wish to raise the ongoing issue of Garda numbers in Cobh in County Cork. This issue has been brought to my attention by my Labour Party colleague, Councillor Cathal Rasmussen. Over the past number of months, and including this week, there have been a number of knife attacks in Cobh. Recently the doors of the Garda station itself were closed with no access to the public because of the lack of garda\u00ed. There are four units in Cobh and in one of those units now there is only one garda. Likewise, in Carrigtwohill both stations are swapping personnel to cover the shifts. I understand now that garda\u00ed are not willing to transfer to Cobh because of the lack of adequate resources. Locals are concerned that not only are there no boots on the ground but the station itself is now closed to the public.  Cobh is a hugely popular town and Carrigtwohill is becoming one of the fastest growing towns in Cork. The public are genuinely concerned for their safety. The first of the liners have started to dock in Cobh, swelling the daily population, but there are very few garda\u00ed available. We all want new garda\u00ed in our areas but Cobh brings such an economic benefit to Cork, the presence of garda\u00ed is absolutely essential there. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Kenny for raising this issue on his own behalf and on behalf of Councillor Rasmussen. They represent a beautiful part of this country. I know so many people who live there and who visit there from home and abroad. I take seriously the points the Deputy makes in relation to garda numbers in Cobh, in Carrigtwohill and in the area more widely, and in relation to the operating hours of the Garda station. I will ask the Minister for justice to engage directly with the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for the deployment of garda\u00ed. We are now seeing a significant increase in the Garda budget and in garda numbers in Templemore. I will raise the Deputy's concerns directly with the Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Roche","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Roche  I want to raise the issue of TB testing, the new guidelines and the action plan. There is considerable confusion about the testing and the movement rules. Constituents are a little bit confused about the categories their livestock fall into in this regard. They are asking that the rules be simplified. The compensation cap of \u20ac3,000 is fundamentally important, as a pedigree in-calf cow would exceed much more than \u20ac3,000. Apart from the financial burden, the emotional loss is also considerable. I am asking that the compensation cap be revisited and that consideration be given to 60 days pre-movement for all. Some are asking for 90 days but I believe that 60 days pre-movement would be relevant in this instance. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Roche for raising this matter. I know he has been engaging with the Minister for agriculture on this issue also and I thank him for it. We all know a TB breakdown can cause significant emotional and financial impacts on farms, and the recent changes are necessary to help drive down the levels and prevent more farmers experiencing these very difficult impacts. The changes are targeted to ensure they focus on a group of animals that are responsible for the largest number of reactors, namely cows, while also ensuring farmers can continue to sell them at livestock marts to achieve a competitive price. The Minister wrote directly to all farmers in advance of the changes, and officials from the Department continue to engage with farm organisations - it is very important for all of us to listen and engage on this issue - and with the livestock marts to try to guide them through the changes. I am aware of the financial impact and I will discuss with the Minister the points Deputy Roche has made on compensation schemes and changes. I know changes were made to the scheme in 2023. I will discuss the matter with the Minister, Deputy Heydon. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Guirke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Johnny Guirke  Shannen is the mother of four children who all have additional needs. Her daughter Evie went to Castlejordan national school in County Meath from junior infants. After meetings with the school, Evie moved to Clonard school, which has an autism class and more resources. In under a year Evie has nearly fully integrated back into mainstream education with access to autism support and she is thriving. Sadly, Evie is now isolated from the local kids and has lost local friendships from a school the family can see from their front door. Shannen's son Fionn is almost four and attends an autism playschool in Robinstown, an 80 km round trip for a child with additional needs. There were no closer options. Shannen has spent 13 years fighting for support for her children and says services are getting worse. A lack of accessible services locally is an issue that has deeply affected Fionn and has left his mother Shannen feeling powerless to get the system to support him. She wonders whether he will have a school place when needed. What measures are being put in place so children like Fionn with additional needs can attend their local schools and do not have to travel halfway around the country? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Guirke for raising this issue in relation to Shannen and her children. I am pleased to hear that Evie is thriving but I very much take the point about people wanting their child to be able to thrive in their own community and not be isolated from that community. I take the point. There is also anxiety as to whether Fionn will have an appropriate place. The budget we are working through for 2026 allocated funding for 433 additional special classes. Of these, 432 have been sanctioned and this week the Government allocated significant additional resources to the Department of education. Much of this will be for special education to increase further the number of classes. I believe we will need a number much closer to 600 by this September. If Deputy Guirke wants to send the specific details to the Minister, Deputy Naughton, I will ask that she comes back to him directly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  Hauliers and farmers who took part in the fuel protests are now facing summonses. In some cases their registration plates were recorded at the time of the protests and now they are being pursued. These are people who have invested heavily, in some cases hundreds of thousands of euro, into their businesses, trucks and livelihoods. The additional penalty points will see many of them lose their licences and their insurance policies. There is a real risk, therefore, that some of these people will be put off the road and will lose their businesses. I hear that in some cases garda\u00ed are patrolling certain areas where the protests originated and summonses are issuing in the aftermath. Is the Government engaging in reprisal action in relation to the protesters? Are people being penalised for exercising their democratic right to protest? Will the T\u00e1naiste instruct An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na to recognise the protest as peaceful, legitimate and driven by financial hardship? It is really important these people are protected. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Time is up and Deputy Lawless knows that the rules apply to him the same as everybody else. There is no point in us talking over one another. The rules apply to him the same as everyone. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I want to be really clear that the Government does not give any direction to An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na in terms of implementation of the laws of the land. Anybody who participates in peaceful protest is entirely in accordance with the laws of the land. Peaceful protest is an important part of our democracy. I have participated in protests and I have been protested at. Protest is a good thing in our democracy. What is not a good thing in a democracy is breaking the law, and anyone who breaks the law will face the consequences of the law, as An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na applies laws without fear or favour. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Pholasa\u00ed n\u00f3 ar Reachta\u00edocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_36","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/39","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/39\/dail\/1","houseCode":"dail","stage":"1","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Valuation (Amendment) Bill 2026: First Stage (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Valuation (Amendment) Bill 2026: First Stage","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":4},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_36","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Currie  I move:  That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Valuation Act 2001 in order to provide that property occupied for the provision of early childhood care and education, where such is provided either otherwise than for profit or subject to Core Funding and caps on all provision at Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE Programme) rates, and property consisting wholly or partly of a building, which is used partly as a dwelling to a significant extent and occupied for childminding services, should not be rateable; and to provide for related matters.  I will share time Deputy O'Shea. Despite the frequent howls from the hurlers on the ditch, this country gets it right on quite a lot of things. Sometimes it gets things very right, such as ECCE. Ireland got it right when it introduced two years of free preschool education and, most critically, it got it right for children. The first five years of a child's life shapes 90% of their development. Our preschool education programme, taken up by 96% of eligible children throughout the country, improves child outcomes, reduces poverty and enhances lifelong employment prospects. Something that is not right is a legal interpretation of valuation law that could shut down ECCE services.  ECCE-only childcare services have traditionally been exempt from commercial rates on the basis they are an educational service, which they are. These are preschool services receiving Government funding of \u20ac69 per child per week, up to \u20ac82 with core funding and a base rate of \u20ac14,400 per year. I know these services and I know that at this rate of subvention they are very far away from being profit earning. I also know something much more important, which is that they are even further away from being profit driven. These services and the people running them are deeply committed to their sector and their communities, and they are working on very tight margins. They do not need to be told that because of the legal interpretation of a State agency they now have to pay commercial rates, but that is what is happening.  In 2015, the law was amended requiring that services must be established and operated on a fully not-for-profit basis. Now, it seems that on foot of judgments by the valuation tribunal, Tailte \u00c9ireann has adopted a particular interpretation of the law that means some ECCE-only and ECCE services that offer short paid aftercare capped at ECCE rates are deemed to be for profit. This interpretation leading to rates for preschool services, and potentially for childminders, is the opposite of right; it is wrong. It is happening in Cork, Waterford and Kildare and it will come down the tracks for preschool services throughout the country. It will lead to ECCE services shutting down.  The contradiction is stark. One arm of government is getting it right and funding ECCE and childcare, and wants to expand services, while another arm of the State is taking action that could do the opposite. Ultimately this seems to be an issue for the law. It is an issue for us as lawmakers. The law must be changed, and fast, and that is what the Bill aims to do. It will ensure that ECCE-only services, ECCE aftercare services capped at ECCE rates and childminders are exempt from commercial rates. It aims to do the right thing for the ECCE programme. It aims to do the right thing for small childcare providers, for children and for parents. There is a problem here that needs to be solved and the Bill proposes solutions. I look forward to working with all sides of the House to get the right solution. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Paul O'Shea  Today marks an important and timely step forward in D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann with the introduction of the Valuation (Amendment) Bill 2026. This legislation is about fairness, clarity and, most importantly, protecting small childcare providers throughout the country. Many, including in County Cork, have recently been hit with unexpected and deeply concerning commercial rate bills. At a time when childcare services are under real pressure, the last thing providers need is an additional financial burden that could threaten their very survival.  Rising costs, staffing challenges and regulatory demands are all already placing strain on providers. To then be faced with commercial rate bills, often without warning, has created real anxiety across the sector. This legislation brings much-needed clarity and certainty to ensure that ECCE services, not-for-profit providers and childminders working from their own homes are not unfairly treated as commercial entities for trade purposes. It corrects an anomaly that has caused confusion and concern and sends a clear signal that we value the role these providers play. If we are serious about supporting families, improving affordability and increasing participation in the workforce, then we must also be serious about supporting the providers who make all of this possible. They simply cannot afford to see providers closing their doors because of costs that were never intended to apply to them in the first place. The loss of even a small number of childcare places can have ripple effects across entire communities. This is why I will be urging colleagues across the House to support the swift progression of this practical common-sense legislation so we can protect childcare places, support providers, give certainty to the sector and provide reassurance of families who depend on the vital services every single day. I wish to mention that Deputy Geoghegan and Senator Nelson Murray are also involved in this legislation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Is the Bill opposed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Neale Richmond)  It is not opposed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Since this is a Private Members' Bill, Second Stage must, under Standing Orders, be taken in Private Members' time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Currie  I move: \"That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time.\" "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar fionra\u00ed ar 1.21 p.m. agus cuireadh t\u00fas leis ar\u00eds ar 2.01 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Sitting suspended at 1.21 p.m. and resumed at 2.01 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Valuation (Amendment) Bill 2026: First Stage"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_37","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_37","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Mark Wall)  I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case:  Deputy Shane Moynihan - To discuss the provision of specialist supports for children with dyslexia, dyspraxia or apraxia of speech.  Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire - To discuss delivery of a permanent school building for Owenabue Educate Together National School, Carrigaline, County Cork.  Deputy Louise O'Reilly - To discuss the need for out-of-hours GP services for Dublin Fingal West.  Deputy Maurice Quinlivan - To discuss the ongoing crisis of capacity at University Hospital Limerick.  Deputy Rory Hearne - To discuss the number of affordable purchase homes delivered in Dublin city.  Deputy Colm Burke - To discuss Mayfield library and community centre.  Deputy Martin Daly - To discuss consumer protection in the context of grocery price increases.  Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed - To discuss the remit and objectives of the Land Development Agency, LDA, in delivering affordable homes for purchase.  Deputy Gillian Toole - To discuss the impact of the transfer of leases for solar development on the price of renewable energy to domestic consumers.  Deputies Richard Boyd Barrett, Duncan Smith and Sin\u00e9ad Gibney - To discuss the detention of an Irish citizen by German authorities.  Deputy Louis O'Hara - To discuss the proposed extension to Gort Community School in County Galway.  Deputy Darren O'Rourke - To discuss government efforts to increase the number of Traveller children who complete primary and secondary education.  Deputies Claire Kerrane and Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa - To discuss issues raised about children in State care arising from a recent \"Prime Time Investigates\" programme.  Deputies Grace Boland and Louise O'Reilly - To discuss the need to expand the D-Doc out-of-hours services to Balbriggan, and to discuss the need for out-of-hours GP services for Fingal West.  The matters raised by Deputies \u00d3 Laoghaire, Moynihan, O'Hara, O'Rourke, Burke, Daly, \u00d3 Muir\u00ed, Hearne, Toole, and Boland and O'Reilly have been selected for discussion. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_38","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_38","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_39","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Schools Building Projects","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_38","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_38","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_39","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  I will give the Minister of State some of the context in a moment but the simple ask is that the children, staff and parents connected to Owenabue Educate Together National School want to know what the plan is and when their project will go to stage 2. The current situation is totally unsustainable. The school was opened in 2020. To give some context, Carrigaline is probably a bit like places in the Minister of State's constituency. The town has grown rapidly, from about 12,000 people in 2006 to 15,000 or 16,000 by 2016, and the population will quickly reach 20,000.  There are huge numbers of young people and children and a massive need for additional school places in the area. In 2020 or earlier, the Department proposed a new school and the new Owenabue Educate Together National School was opened in 2020. A site  was soon identified for the school's permanent location but the building in question was reallocated to another school in March 2021. Owenabue national school had been due to move into that building the following September. That was a huge setback for the school but, at the time, it was given clear assurances by the Department of education that it would be treated as an urgent priority. It was confirmed in 2021 that the permanent accommodation would be a new-build. A site was identified over three years ago and subsequently purchased in Janeville, a new, large housing estate built on the northern end of Carrigaline. Since then, the board of management and school leadership have been trying to engage with the Department of education.  The project was commenced and meetings were held in May 2024. These indicated the school could possibly move in 2027-28, which is potentially as soon as the school year beginning next September. Stage 1 - design and review - documentation was submitted in June 2025, which is eight or nine months ago at this stage, but as of now, the project has still not been signed off to go to stage 2. It has not progressed beyond stage 1 during that period. No communication has been received by the school or patron in relation to when the project will progress.  This has clear implications. There are a number of schools in the area and parents are trying to evaluate the future prospects for the school and the children. This is hindering the school's growth. It is a fantastic school with a strong school leadership and a fantastic school community around it. People are obviously concerned about the future given the school's inability to plan.  The school is also split across two sets of buildings. I am sure the Minister of State has come across this before. It is far from ideal for a school in terms of planning, staff, supervision of children during breaks and ensuring the whole school community stays tight together. That it is currently split is not good enough.  The Minister of State will be familiar with the need to ensure there is adequate provision of special autism classes. There are currently two autism classes. The plan for the design of the permanent building includes approval for five autism classes, recognising local need given the very young population in the area. Obviously, those classes cannot be delivered until the school building is delivered.  The school is not getting any answers. Everything asked of it was submitted before June 2025. The target of 2027-28 is not much more than a year away. The school wants to know when the project will go to stage 2 and whether it is possible to achieve the deadline. Its ability to grow and prosper as a school community is being undermined by the lack of answers and lack of a clear plan for the school. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Neale Richmond)  I am very grateful to Deputy \u00d3 Laoghaire for raising this very pertinent issue in relation to Owenabue Educate Together National School in Carrigaline, County Cork. The Deputy is right that he could be reading this about at least seven different schools in my constituency. I have, therefore, great empathy for the case the Deputy raised and for the entire school community.  As alluded to, this school building project will deliver a new 16-classroom primary school and additional accommodation for children with special educational needs at Janeville in Carrigaline, County Cork. The project is currently at stage 1, preliminary design, assessment of site and location suitability and initial sketch scheme. As part of the stage 1 process, the design team submits a stage1 report to the Department. A preferred design option, including the scope and extent of works to be carried out, forms part of this report. The stage 1 report was received in the Department in January 2025 and upon completion of the Department of education's due diligence review, the stage 1 stakeholders meeting took place on 24 March 2025. The principal, a representative from the patron body, Educate Together, all design team members, the project manager and Department officials were in attendance. The meeting concluded with agreement that the design team would explore further design layout options. On 30 April 2025, an architectural workshop took place between the design team architect and the Department senior architect. The Department received the full design team stage 1 addendum report in August 2025 and this report is currently under review by the Department of education. On completion of this review, the Department will be in contact with the school and patron with regard to the further progression of the project.  For wider context, as the Deputy is aware, the Government recently published the \u20ac7.55 billion national development plan, NDP, sectoral investment plan for education. Of the total \u20ac7.55 billion investment, it is envisaged that circa \u20ac5 billion will be used for project roll-out to support the delivery and modernisation of school buildings. The Department has also published a list of the 105 school building projects in the first tranche to proceed to construction or tender over 2026 and 2027. This list includes 12 projects in County Cork. The first tranche of 105 school building projects includes 80 large-scale and additional school accommodation scheme projects.  To be frank, I think this will be a slightly frustrating reply for the Deputy and those on whose behalf he raised the issue. It is, however, typical of a process that is in the middle of the weeds. It would be irresponsible of me, on behalf of the Minister, to provide false information at this stage, other than to say that this is the review that is in place. What I would humbly suggest is that the Deputy consider bringing a deputation from the school for a meeting with the Minister, Deputy Naughton. I would be more than happy to play my part to ensure that is delivered as soon as possible. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  If that is something the Minister of State could facilitate or help to facilitate, I will take him up on it. This is, of course, frustrating. The schools is looking for answers. When will the project go to stage 2? We can say the school delivery team has so many projects and it is hard to get through them all, but if the Government, at the highest level, is setting a target for the delivery of that many schools, it clearly needs to ensure the team is resourced enough to get through them. There are many other schools as well, as the Minister of State has alluded to, that are waiting for answers. That is not good enough. This is imposing a huge constraint on the ability of the school to operate.  It is under a lot of pressure. I have acknowledged, and I hope the Minister of State will also acknowledge, that it is never ideal for a school to be split across two sets of buildings. It is a difficult situation to manage.  When we talk about prioritisation, it should be taken into account that the school was given a commitment that its project would be prioritised. The context was that five years ago the school was told the building that had been clearly identified for the new school would no longer be available to it. The roadmap changed. The goalposts were shifted right at the last minute. The school was due to move into that building in September 2021. That option was removed and it now looks like it will be September 2027 at the earliest before the school moves.  The Minister of State will not be able to provide a date right now. However, I urge the Department to provide a date - even an approximate one - by which the school will get stage 2 approval, so that it can understand when the project will move on.  I make the point again that the school will not be able to deliver the number of autism classes it wants to deliver. The school leadership has the appetite and desire to deliver as many autism class places as possible. It will not be able to do that until such time as the school has the permanent school building, its permanent home, for the coming decades and generations. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  That is a perfectly valid request. I advise having a deputation meeting and writing a formal letter to the Department of education on foot of this Topical Issue debate. The Deputy has been in this House longer than I have, and he and I know that Topical Issue debates are only a step in the process by which constituency TDs provide good advocacy. I will not insult the Deputy by giving out the departmental lines that this is obviously a process, there is continuing prioritisation and that prioritisation will move forward. Ultimately, the school community in Carrigaline - the current parents, the prospective parents and, most importantly, the children who rely on the Deputy to be their voice - expect better answers. I will have no hesitation in meeting the Deputy afterwards to see how we can facilitate such a deputation meeting as quickly as possible and ensure it gives as clear a timeline as is possible, recognising that any new school project or, more likely, school expansion project will be evaluated.  I take on board the two factors the Deputy raised, namely, growing demand, first and foremost, for what is needed and that this school is split over two sites. Having two campuses and two buildings is never the optimum or ideal. I make that undertaking to the Deputy in good faith. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Schools Building Projects"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_40","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Special Educational Needs","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_38","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_38","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_40","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shane Moynihan  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Aire St\u00e1it as ucht a bheith anseo tr\u00e1thn\u00f3na.  I start by acknowledging the significant strides made in recent years, especially in the expansion of special classes for children with autism which has improved access to the appropriate supports for so many children. My colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, and the Minister, Deputy Naughton, are still working to continue to make sure that provision is rolled out across the country. However, concerns have been raised with me that this progress has not necessarily been reflected in the provision of dyslexia and speech and language needs. Associated with that are needs around dyspraxia and apraxia of speech as well, especially where there is a co-occurrence of autism. Access to specialist supports, such as reading classes, needed for these sorts of conditions remains quite limited in scope and availability. For example, there are no reading classes or specialist reading schools in my constituency of Dublin Mid-West. There are only a handful of these in Dublin and, indeed, in the country.  Families in my constituency have reported to me that the early signs of dyslexia are not always recognised or acted upon in a timely way. There are many reasons for this. One is that there are capacity constraints in the National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS, which impact on access to psychological assessments. While diagnosis is not necessarily required for the continuum of support framework, we know that standardised test scores are used at school level to inform decisions on additional support. While these are valuable tools, they primarily measure attainment rather than the underlying learning difficulties and may only highlight the issues once a child has already begun to fall behind.  International best practice suggests that early screening of key indicators, such as phonological awareness and letter sound knowledge, are the sorts of things that we should be zeroing in on. We see examples of this at play in some of our schools.  Looking at the evidence for what needs to happen with regard to the identification of dyslexia and then the response to it, we need structured systematic literacy instruction or targeted small group or individual intervention delivered by trained staff, appropriate classroom accommodations and timely access to assistive technology. It is important at this point to thank all the teachers in schools who work with children who have dyslexia, dyspraxia or apraxia of speech. We need to make sure they have supports in place in their classroom and school settings, but also that they have access to the necessary training, especially with regard to structured literacy, and have the best-in-class, evidence-based teaching approaches to how they address this. As fathers, the Minister of State and I both know that without appropriate and timely intervention, dyslexia-related difficulties do not improve and children can experience reduced confidence, increased anxiety and ongoing academic challenges.  My question is to ask, given the limited number of reading classes available around the country and the limited number of appropriate speech and language supports for children who have autism and may also have an underlying need with regard to dyslexia or some other speech and language issue, are there plans to consider expanding dyslexia-specific classes or to better incorporate specialist provision through the provision of reading classes in schools using the same model as the autism classes in schools? Where the continuing support, as we know, reduces reliance on diagnosis, are there plans to apply a national standard and to provide support for teachers in terms of more consistent early-screening approaches at primary level?  Does the Department intend developing a national framework around guidance or standards for dyslexia intervention that is aligned with international best practice and the evidence I have set out? Another issue I have raised in this House, and I am sure the Minister of State, as a constituency TD, has also raised it, is the need for the expansion of NEPS provision across all schools to ensure timely diagnosis is made, as appropriate. I would appreciate the Minister of State's insight on that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  I thank Deputy Moynihan for raising this pertinent issue, which is one that resonates with many of us in the House in many regards. I am replying on behalf of the Minister.  It is the policy of the Department of Education and Youth, in accordance with the principles of inclusive education, that students with additional learning needs are supported in mainstream classes, along with their peers, with additional supports provided as necessary. The Department has invested considerably in ensuring that all recognised mainstream schools have been allocated additional special education teaching resources to support children with special educational needs, including students with literacy difficulties. Guidelines for schools on the organisation, deployment and use of their special education teachers have been published on the Department's website. There are 15,000 special education teachers allocated to primary and post-primary schools to enable them to support children with special educational needs. I know that, as my wife is one.  The National Council for Special Education, NCSE, has the responsibility for planning and co-ordinating school supports for children with special educational needs. The Department does not have a role in making individual school determinations.  Funding is also made available to schools for the purchase of specialised equipment such as computers or software to assist children with special educational needs, including children with specific learning disability, where relevant professionals recommend the equipment as being essential for the provision of education. Schools apply to the NCSE through their local special educational needs organiser, SENO, for such support.  A continuum of education provision is in place covering the full range of need spanning placement in mainstream classes, with supports through to more specialist placements either in a special class or a special school, depending on the complexity of need.  It is important to note, though, that the majority of students with literacy difficulties currently receive additional teaching support from a special education teacher in a mainstream class. This is provided on the basis of the individual student's learning needs identified in schools, as opposed to being based on a requirement for a child to have a diagnosis or an assessment of a particular disability.  There are four schools dedicated to supporting students with specific learning disability, SLD. There are also 14 SLD classes in 11 mainstream primary schools located across the country, in counties Dublin, Clare, Louth, Galway, Kerry and Wexford, although, I acknowledge, not in Dublin Mid-West. These settings have a student-teacher ratio of 9:1 and are attended by students normally aged between eight and 12 years for a maximum of two years. Students will have a diagnosis of dyslexia and score at the 2% percentile or lower on literacy standardised tests. They will also have an average or above average level of intelligence.  In May 2021, the inspectorate was requested by the Department's special education section to evaluate provision in special classes for children and young people with an SLD. The purpose of the evaluations was to examine the quality of provision for children and young people with an SLD, with particular reference to understanding the placement of children and young people in these classes and to identifying the strengths and areas for improvement in learning and teaching in these classes. The inspectorate's report will inform the Department's development of policy and the overall effectiveness of SLD classes in the context of emerging international trends for inclusion. This is an area that the Minister is keeping under close review.  The Minister is also working on a new measure which will see the provision of enhanced supports in mainstream schools for students experiencing literacy difficulties.  The Minister hopes to be in a position to update the House on this soon. The Minister and the Department of education will continue to consider the findings and recommendations of the inspectorate report and may in time request the inspectorate to review provision for children with specific learning disabilities, SLDs, in special schools. I undertake to ask the Minister to engage directly with the Deputy given his interest in the area. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shane Moynihan  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Aire as ucht an fhreagra sin.  I appreciate the good faith of the response and thank the Minister of State for taking this on behalf of the Minister for education. One immediate point I will make, which I am sure the Minister of State's wife would empathise with, is that the application procedure for additional resources for SEN in a school is extremely onerous. Our focus should be on ensuring the resources and hours required are made available in a targeted and timely way, in the best interest of the child, especially where the school has demonstrated a need that can be met.  I will delve into a few other things the Minister of State referred to in his answer and I would like him to take one or two other things to the Minister. The first is around the national framework and national guidance for an evidence-based approach to how we address dyslexia and associated speech and language difficulties in our schools. It is important it be evidence based. It is important teacher training be made available on a consistent basis. While I welcome that some specialist supports are provided in schools, there is also a need for an expansion of the reading classes the Minister of State mentioned in his reply. They do not necessarily need to be in a school setting, but the provision of more reading classes in schools is an important step in addressing the medium level of difficulty some children might have.  Above all else, the reason I want to centre the importance of the national framework is that there are instances in my constituency where children in an autism special class are not able to access speech and language supports because it is not seen in the overall suite of supports provided to children in an autism class. While I am not for a second suggesting we should stop our roll-out of autism classes, I am concerned that we need to give the same level of attention to speech and language difficulties that in many cases coincide with a diagnosis of autism, but in many cases merit proper specialist supports that might be more than the SEN hours allocated to a school, that might require the opening of a reading class or, in some instances, the expansion of the reading school. Those disabilities are as important as the ones we are rightly responding to at the moment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  I appreciate the Deputy's supplementary question and, where relevant, will bring it forward to the relevant line Minister. He raised a few key issues that are absolutely understandable, but go to the nub of the complexity of providing special education that is sometimes blanket and misses certain aspects of a child's development in education or what their need or want is. It is hard to put that into a straight column.  The Department will continue to engage intensively with the NCSE on forward planning for new special provision to ensure every child has a place in an educational setting, which, where possible, best fits their special needs on the back of the 15,000 special education teachers and 12,500 SNAs already in the system. For children with more complex needs, special class or special school places are still important. That is in keeping with the policy. Crucially, there is a need for a degree of flexibility to allow children to adapt to settings to allow them flourish to their best, particularly at the key ages of between eight and 12 when diagnoses are made. It is about putting in a learning support plan that is appropriate to the child's needs and the setting.  There is no perfect answer to any of the issues, which on an individual basis I have no doubt are coming into the Deputy's constituency office, as they probably come into all our constituency offices. However, the issues the Deputy raised provide me with great material, which I will put directly to the Minister and I will ask her to respond to the Deputy with additional information in due course. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Special Educational Needs"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_41","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Schools Building Projects","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_38","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_38","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_41","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  I am glad to get the opportunity to raise the proposed extension of Gort Community School in south Galway. The principal of the school, Brian Crossan, is passionate about this project and the future of the school. There is no doubt that it is badly needed. Gort Community School is holding celebrations tomorrow for its 30th anniversary. It is an important milestone for the school. I congratulate the school on 30 years.  In recent years, the school has grown from 780 to 1,050 pupils and will continue to grow. It has been working on this extension project for many years now. It first received approval from the Department back in 2019, so it has been in the pipeline for quite some time. After that approval, it is my understanding that the Department came back a few times and asked the school to make changes to redesign the project. As a result, the school is probably two or three years behind where it should be with this project.  It is important to say this is a fantastic school. People only hear good things about it, but there is a need for better facilities and investment in the school. The three ASD units are working out of ordinary classrooms. They are cramped and inadequate facilities. This is a real issue with the level of need the school is experiencing. Given enrolment trends, there is significant demand for ASD provision in the area and waiting lists for a place in these classes will only increase. The school is at capacity as it stands.  I mentioned the growth in pupil numbers, which is only going in one direction. The school is struggling for space and facilities and is reliant on prefabricated buildings. The extension will result in a 1,200-pupil school. It involves a purpose-built autism unit with three classrooms, 19 general classrooms, specialist rooms for art and home economics, science laboratories, a new staff room, a general purpose and dining area, a fitness suite and much more, as well as alterations to the existing building. This is an exciting project, but also an essential one, if the existing and projected demand at the school is to be met and education delivered at an appropriate standard. These are the type of facilities children and young people in the south Galway area need and deserve.  Gort and the wider south Galway area is growing at a fast pace. Planning permission is in place for hundreds of homes and the school has a wide catchment area extending into north County Clare. Planning permission for the extension was granted in 2024. I understand the stage 2b report was submitted in March. The school wants to get on with this project now. It wants to build it, but it needs the go-ahead from the Department and it was not included in the NDP sectoral investment plan. It needs to be added to the priority list as soon as possible. The Minister, Deputy Naughton, visited the school recently. She is aware of the urgency of this project for the school, but it needs to be pushed on. I urge the Government to ensure that happens and to provide clarity on a timeline for when it can proceed to the next stage and issue a tender for construction. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  I thank Deputy O'Hara for raising this important issue and join him in celebrating the 30th anniversary of Gort Community School's foundation. As the Deputy will be aware, the school was approved to enter the Department's pipeline for a project under the additional school accommodation scheme. The project will provide 19 general classrooms, seven SET rooms, two meeting rooms, one deputy principal's office, three classroom SEN bases, one art room, one home economics room, one graphics room, three science laboratories with two prep areas, one construction studies room with a prep area, one engineering room and prep area, three project stores, one staff room, one general purpose or dining area and other ancillary accommodation. The project was devolved to the school authority for delivery. It is currently at stage 2b, developed design. The stage 2b report was submitted to the Department in April 2026 and is currently being reviewed from a technical and cost perspective. All projects, including this one, undergo the necessary due diligence outlined in the public infrastructure guidelines.  Although this project is not in the first tranche of school building projects recently published in the NDP sectoral investment plan, it remains part of the Department's overall pipeline of school building projects. The NDP school sectoral plan involves a strong emphasis on maximising existing capacity and prioritisation of school building projects to meet the most urgent needs. In this regard, there will be a strong special education dimension to project roll-out. The Department of education will continue to build on the progress made in recent years with the continued roll-out of projects on a prioritised basis to meet the most urgent needs in terms of provision of additional capacity and modernisation of existing facilities. As part of planning ahead for the progress to tender of the next tranche of projects, the Department-led prioritisation process will continue over the course of 2026 and 2027 to assess and evaluate the progression of individual projects through the design pipeline, having regard to the continual need to maximise existing capacity and determine the prioritised needs going forward. This process will involve engagement with key stakeholders and individual schools and ultimately inform the next tranches of programme roll-out to tender.  The Department-led energy and conditions survey of the school estate, which will be finalised later in 2026, will provide an additional evidence base for assessing priorities. Based on this ongoing prioritisation process, some projects may be added to the list over the course of 2026 and 2027, having regard to their prioritisation and urgency of need and taking account of the ongoing ability to progress them to tender and construction within the parameters of overall funding.  Where appropriate, the Department of education will also assess opportunities to undertake advance enabling works for the most urgent and complex projects to facilitate a smooth progression to construction in 2028 and beyond. Any interim accommodation requirements will continue to be assessed and considered by the Department on a case-by-case basis to determine the prioritised needs and the best approach for addressing same. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  I thank the Minister of State. This has been going on for many years at this stage. Of course, I understand that these projects take time but there is a pressing need for this project to be accelerated and delivered. I mentioned the pressure on ASD provision in the school. That is a real and immediate need that has to be met. Further delays with this project just makes it more difficult for the school to meet the demand that exists and provide an inclusive learning environment. I also mentioned that Gort and south Galway is a growing area and it is inevitable that significant additional school capacity will be required in the local area. Indeed, it is already required and the young people attending school there deserve top-class facilities, the same as one would expect to find in any other school. There is a clear need and that is the message that I want to get across today. We have to meet the demands of a growing community. It is the Department's own land and buildings. The Department has asked the school to upgrade the plans to build for 1,200 pupils and everything is in place now. The school has done all that has been asked of it but the project needs to start so that the school is ahead of the curve and can avoid significant issues in terms of school places, ASD provision and so on. Again, I urge the Government to ensure that this happens, that the project is made a priority. I also ask the Minister of State to provide clarity on the timeline for when the school can proceed to the next stage. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  Once again, I thank the Deputy for giving me the opportunity to provide, on behalf of the Minister for education, an update to the House regarding the accommodation at Gort Community School. The Department is committed to ensuring appropriate accommodation is available for all school pupils and will, in the wider context outlined, ensure that each school project on the school building programme is subject to the due diligence required under the Government's infrastructure guidelines.  Since 2020 the Department has provided \u20ac256.55 million in capital funding for Galway schools. Over this period a total of 88 schools have been upgraded either through the provision of a new school building, a large-scale extension or modular accommodation. There are currently 17 school projects in Galway under construction and another ten school projects will go to tender or construction in 2026 and 2027. This summer, 20 schools are approved to undergo works as part of the climate summer works scheme. In addition, since 2020 a total of 101 special classes have been opened in Galway, of which 23 were sanctioned for September 2026.  The accommodation needs at this school in Gort will be considered as part of the ongoing overall Department-led prioritisation process in consultation with the school's patron and school authorities. The current status of all projects continues to be set out under item 10 on the Department's website under building works for the construction, extension and refurbishment of schools. This is updated regularly to reflect progress through the capital appraisal, site acquisition, design, tender and construction stages. The Minister, Deputy Naughton, is aware of the situation in Gort, not just from having visited there personally but from Deputy O'Hara's ongoing advocacy and that of other Members in the area. I will bring the contents of this debate to her attention and ensure that the pertinent points are made. I thank Deputy O'Hara again for raising this issue. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Schools Building Projects"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_42","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Traveller Education","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_38","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_38","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_42","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this Topical Issue for discussion. Every child is innocent and should have the opportunity to reach his or her full potential but the education system and the State are failing Traveller children. We have statistics showing that only 27% of young Travellers complete post-primary education compared to 97% of the wider population and less than 1% of Travellers go on to third level education.  This issue is particularly topical in the context of a report from UCC entitled Traveller transitions - Racialised inequalities in education, which was launched today. It is qualitative research so it is the voice of young Traveller people themselves. One of the key findings was that young Traveller people find the loss of tailored supports in the transition from primary to post-primary school extremely difficult. Relationships between Traveller young people and school staff are crucial but most Traveller young people in this study reported negative relationships with teachers. There were a number of other findings and recommendations for Government, schools and for policymakers. Recommendations include ensuring that: Traveller young people are supported in the transition into secondary school from primary school; ethnic segregation practices are not happening at school; discipline practices are not disproportionately affecting Travellers; and practices of inclusion are informed by Traveller young people themselves. These recommendations reflect some of the key findings.  Does the State have a strategy? It has a Traveller and Roma education strategy. I looked at the third progress report from December last year which is only a handful of months ago. It shows that a significant number of measures were only partially implemented or not implemented at all. We have been over this ground previously and have identified the barriers and what needs to happen but the necessary progress has not been made. What measures is the Government taking to support young Travellers and to increase the number of young Travellers who are completing primary and secondary school? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. This week there has been a lot of focus, correctly, on the areas raised by Deputy O'Rourke. Delivering an education system that is of the highest quality and where every child and young person feels valued and is actively supported and nurtured to reach his or her full potential is a key priority for the Government and the Minister. In that regard, supporting the education of Travellers and Roma children is one of the key objectives of the Government.  Currently action to address Traveller and Roma education outcomes is progressed through the Traveller and Roma Education Strategy 2024-2030 and its associated plans for implementation and action which were developed through the strong collaboration of Traveller and Roma organisations with the Department of Children, Disability and Equality and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. The strategy acknowledges that Travellers and Roma are among the most disadvantaged and marginalised groups in Ireland. While educational outcomes have improved in recent years, they remain significantly below those in the general population, as outlined by Deputy O'Rourke.  Key actions contained in the plan for implementation and action include increasing the number of Traveller and Roma young people who are completing post-primary school and achieving the leaving certificate; embedding Traveller culture and history into the curriculum; promoting workforce diversity; and providing teacher training on inclusion, cultural competence and anti-racism. The Minister is committed to promoting positive relationships and supporting the learning of Traveller and Roma children and young people. In this regard, funding was provided for 15 community link workers to work across a number of schools in areas where there are high numbers of Traveller and Roma children and young people. Their roles will focus on fostering greater engagement with Traveller and Roma families to facilitate successful communication, promote positive relationships and support the learning of Traveller and Roma children and young people by linking them to resources within their area. The link workers will provide vital engagement on the ground between schools, families and communities.  In addition, two Traveller and Roma strategy national co-ordinators and a Traveller and Roma education strategy general manager were appointed to support the implementation of the strategy and to lead on specific actions outlined in the initial two-year plan for implementation and action. The implementation of the strategy is supported by action plans, governance and consultation structures, including the Traveller and Roma education strategy plan for implementation and action and associated progress reports. The strategy's oversight group and the Traveller and Roma education forum are ensuring ongoing engagement with communities and effective monitoring of progress.  Work is currently under way on the development of the next plan for implementation and action, running from 2026 to 2028, which is due to be published in July of this year. To inform the plan, engagement is ongoing with the Traveller and Roma education strategy oversight group, the Traveller and Roma education forum and other Traveller and Roma organisations, communities, children and young people. I know that any contribution to that by Deputy O'Rourke would be welcomed by the Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  This is really important. I welcome a number of recent announcements by the Government related to DEIS plus and the DEIS plan. I will contest every inch of it but the principle of the transformational power of education and a specific focus on educational inequality is hugely important.  Within that, there needs to be a particular focus on the Traveller population because the figures are absolutely shocking. I referred to the completion rate for the leaving certificate, but if we consider those on reduced hours or timetables and the rate of absenteeism, the potential is being ripped from the lives of these young people. The State can take significant steps through the education system and other services to support these young people. They deserve that opportunity the same as every other child. I will be happy to engage with the further consultations and progress reports. A wealth of effort has been put in to date. There is a roadmap but it needs to be actioned and implemented. The stakes are high here. The number of children that are being failed, falling through the cracks and are being left behind by dint of the fact that they are Travellers is a stain and a shame on the State. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. I want to underline, without any degree of uncertainty, that the Government, just like everyone else in the House, is absolutely committed to increasing the number of Traveller and Roma children who complete primary and secondary education. The vision of the Traveller and Roma education strategy is that we want a high-quality, inclusive education system that is open and welcoming to all, irrespective of background or ability and that meaningfully engages learners of all ages in a positive learning environment where quality is upheld, diversity respected and where every individual is valued and actively supported to reach their full potential. The next two-year TRES plan for implementation and action will be published in July. The new plan will focus on improving the opportunities and achievement levels of Traveller and Roma children and young people and in addressing racism and discrimination by developing more targeted cultural competence in training and teaching Traveller culture and history through the curriculum. The TRES and its associated plans for implementation and action reinforce the Government's commitment to supporting and nurturing Traveller and Roma children and young people to reach their full potential in education and making up for lost decades of missed opportunities from successive Governments in the political system and the education system as a whole. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Traveller Education"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_43","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Library Projects","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_38","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_38","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_43","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Burke  Will the Department provide the necessary funding to Cork City Council to enable building work to be carried out on Mayfield library and community centre in view of the fact the council has submitted an application for funding for this project? Will the Minister of State make a statement? Mayfield has a large population on the north-east side of Cork city. It has many retired people but the population in the area is growing as well, with over 1,500 houses being built within a 1 mile radius of the library. It also caters for residents in Dillon's Cross, St. Luke's and upper Glanmire and the Glanmire area, which was an area previously in the county, which has now come under the city council's jurisdiction. There is a very big population in this area. A Part 8 planning notice was filed on 22 April 2024 by Cork City Council setting out what the proposals were. The proposals set out the changes that are required in the facility there. It is very detailed. The council, I understand, prior to putting in that Part 8 planning notice in 2024, made a submission to the Department as far back as 2023. We are three years on and nothing has occurred.  This is an important facility for the community. As well as a library, a community centre is attached to it, providing a lot of essential services for the area. The proposal included reconfiguration internally in the building itself, but also an extension to the existing facility to cater for the growing population of the area. It is an essential facility for the north-east side of Cork city, but also for the new housing that is being built in the immediate area. The housing is being built at a very fast pace. Over a three-year period, it is expected that at least 1,500 additional houses will be in place, with a new population moving in there. There will be people who are retired and new young families. It is important that the service provided by Mayfield library is up to date and it can provide for the population of the area. Will funding be provided to Cork City Council by the Department in order that this project can progress? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  I am very grateful to my dear friend, Deputy Burke, for raising this matter, as is the relevant Minister. Public libraries are at the heart of all our communities. The Deputy and I were in the Chamber when our former colleague, Paschal Donohoe, made that very clear appeal as part of his closing salvo to this House. Public libraries are multi-purpose social, cultural and educational spaces for the whole community to enjoy. There are 330 public libraries nationwide providing an excellent service throughout the country.  As the Deputy will be aware, the provision of library services, including buildings, is primarily a matter for local authorities in their capacity as library authorities under the Local Government Act 2001. Accordingly, the funding and delivery of the Frank O\u2019Connor Library in Mayfield project is primarily a matter for Cork City Council. In April 2023, the Department invited proposals for funding under the current Libraries Capital Programme 2023-2027. A total of 33 proposals were received for library capital projects and 15 for next generation mobile library vehicles. Each proposal received was evaluated thoroughly using a scoring matrix published with the initial call for proposals document.  Cork City Council's application in respect of Mayfield library unfortunately did not score or rank high enough to receive funding approval or to merit inclusion on the waitlist. One of the key factors in the failure of this project to secure funding was the lack of progress regarding planning approval at the time. The Minister has been informed by Cork City Council that the library project at Mayfield Is categorised as a priority project in the council's development plan 2022 to 2028. I have also been further advised that the Part 8 planning application, as per the requirements of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, was approved by councillors in October 2024, allowing the proposal to be progressed through the standard planning approval process.  With Part 8 approval secured for Mayfield library, the project is now positioned to provide a modern multi-use facility for the north-east suburb of Cork city and its surrounding area. This places the Mayfield development a strong position to compete for future funding developments as they arise. The Department\u2019s current libraries capital programme is fully committed. This ambitious \u20ac25.2 million investment includes \u20ac22.6 million in 11 state-of-the-art infrastructure projects nationwide and \u20ac2.6 million dedicated to 12 next generation mobile library vehicles to improve rural and community outreach.  I am delighted that later this year, the Department will begin planning for the next iteration of the libraries capital programme and a successor to the current national library strategy. Since 2019, the Department has demonstrated a strong commitment to library services in the region, providing \u20ac8.3 million in funding to Cork City Council and Cork County Council public library services, through the libraries capital programme and the rural regeneration and development fund. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Burke  I thank the Minister of State for the reply. The issue is the new development that is going on. That was not part of the submission made in 2023 because it had not even gone through the planning process. There has been a huge growth in population. It is an area that needs to be prioritised. The library facility in Mayfield, which has very good staff, is not adequate for the demand that is there now. There is also the whole issue about community facilities as well, which is attached to the library and part of the library building. They also need to be upgraded. I was there earlier this week for the AGM of the community association. There is an active community association there. They are trying to assist in various projects in the immediate area, but they also need to have the infrastructure in place. For instance, one of the projects within the community facility is a preschool facility for a small number of children.  That is already in place there. However, there is a whole lot of services that need to be developed. In particular, we need to ensure we have a library that is adequate for both the existing population and the growing of population. It is important it is prioritised. I ask that the Department makes sure it is considered in the next round of funding when it is dealing with it with Cork City Council. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  While I agree with the Deputy it was a shame that the Mayfield library could not be considered in the most recent tranche, I do think the Department's response and the developments from a planning point of view and more widely in the local community in that part of County Cork illustrate the need and merit for the library to be considered in the next round. I have no doubt the next time a funding round becomes available, a strong submission will be made by Cork City Council. The Deputy may rest assured that I will raise with the relevant Minister the strong case he has put forward this afternoon. A common-sense approach to this would be valued not just by the locals and patrons in Mayfield but more broadly by all those projects and potential projects that will be seeking funding under the next scheme. I fully believe Mayfield will be in a very strong position. I look forward to providing Deputy Burke with whatever supports I can, along with the Minister, to achieve that development. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Library Projects"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_44","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Food Prices","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_38","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_38","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_44","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Daly  I welcome the opportunity to raise this issue which has been felt in households right across Roscommon-Galway and, indeed, across the country. People are very clear about what they are experiencing. The cost of the weekly shop has risen significantly and it continues to rise. For many households, particularly those on low and middle incomes, this is not an abstract issue; it is a real and immediate pressure.  Families are noticing it week to week. They are adjusting what they buy, where they shop and how much they can afford to spend. What was once routine has now become a careful calculation. We know this is not just anecdotal. Food prices have risen by over 20% in a relatively short time. That represents a very real and sustained increase in the cost of living. For lower income households the situation is even more stark. A healthy weekly shop can take up to one third of disposable incomes. When we talk about grocery prices, we are not just talking about marginal changes but we are talking about a structural shift in affordability.  The core issue I raise here today is not simply that prices are rising but how those prices are being monitored and understood. We have a number of bodies with roles in this space, including the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission and the Agri-Food Regulator. There is no single body with a clearly defined role in monitoring grocery price trends, examining retail pricing practices or providing a consistent, consumer focused view of what is happening in the market. That raises a fundamental question about whether the current framework is sufficient. If prices are rising at the pace people are experiencing, who is tracking them in a structured way? If there are issues around pricing practices, who is examining them from the perspective of the consumer? If pressures are building, where is the clear line of accountability?  In rural areas such as Roscommon-Galway, this issue is particularly acute and was brought to the fore during the recent fuel crisis, which expanded into a cost-of-living issue for people in that area and many other areas. Choice can be more limited and households can be more exposed to rising costs. What assessment has been made of grocery price increases and their impact on consumers? Does the Minister of State accept there may be merit in a more clearly defined stand-alone mechanism or watchdog with the responsibility for monitoring grocery pricing, transparency and affordability from the consumer perspective? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  I am grateful to the Deputy for raising this issue, one that I have absolute familiarity with having previously been a Minister of State in the Department with responsibility for retail during a period when we had 16.9% grocery inflation on the back of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which massively increased food and energy prices across western Europe. Global inflation will see grocery prices increase. At the time, we would have seen grocery stores reduce their prices on about 700 products in the interim but there was a range of different proposals suggested. The opportunity I have this afternoon, given the directness of the points raised by Deputy Daly, is to outline the existing situation.  The Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment is responsible for policy in relation to competition and consumer protection. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, CCPC, is the independent statutory body responsible for enforcing competition law and consumer protection legislation. The CCPC is not a price-monitoring or price-regulating body. The collection, compilation and publication of official price data is a statutory function of the Central Statistics Office.  Businesses in Ireland are generally free to set their own prices, provided they do so independently and in compliance with competition and consumer protection law. The CCPC has engaged with public concerns about grocery prices within its existing remit. In August 2025, it published an updated high-level analysis of the Irish grocery retail sector, updating its 2023 work. This analysis examined market concentration, entry and expansion, national and international price trends, and the profitability of major grocery retailers.  The CCPC concluded that while grocery prices have risen significantly since 2021, there is no evidence of a failure of competition or of excessive pricing in the sector. The CCPC plays an active and enforcement-focused role in protecting consumers. It enforces competition and consumer protection law across the economy, including in the retail and grocery sectors, and takes action, for example, where traders mislead consumers, fail to display prices correctly, or breach pricing transparency requirements. This includes inspections, prosecutions and enforcement actions in the grocery and wider retail sectors. In parallel, the CCPC protects consumers by preventing anti-competitive outcomes that could lead to higher prices or reduced choice, including in rural areas. For example, the CCPC approved a proposed supermarket acquisition by Tesco only after the company agreed to divest an outlet in Oranmore, protecting local competition in Galway.  The Central Statistics Office continues to publish detailed and independently-verified data through the consumer price index, including on food and drink prices. This data provides a transparent and authoritative basis for understanding price movements across the wider economy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Daly  I appreciate the response but the concern remains around how this is being experienced by people on the ground. People are telling us that the value of a euro in the shopping trolley has fundamentally changed. There was a time when people could shop around. They might do a core shop in one retailer and then top up in other retailers for choice. However, we are increasingly hearing those price differences have narrowed significantly, suggesting a lack of competition in the retail sector. The sense of being able to shop strategically and save has reduced and people feel they are paying more regardless of where they go.  At the same time, the evidence is clear that healthier food can be up to three times more expensive per calorie than less healthy alternatives while cheaper more processed options continue to offer more for less. People with the least resources eat the unhealthiest food and that has ramifications right throughout our health system and our State. When households are under pressure, they are not making lifestyle choices, they are making budget decisions.  That brings me back to the central point. People are seeing prices rise, but they do not see who is actively tracking those increases, analysing them or holding the system to account in a clear and visible way. The question is not whether structures exist but whether they are sufficient or coherent enough for the reality that people are now facing. It has to be put in the context that this is not simply an Irish problem. This is about the lower-middle class people - people who get up for work every morning and pay for everything in this State but who are being squeezed and crushed. As Senator Teresa Costello said to me, there is no fun in their lives. That means they go out for work every day and by the time they get to the end of the week, they just about make ends meet. These are a group of people who do not want to be radicalised but are going to be radicalised. It was clear they were targeted during the recent fuel crisis.  Does the Minister of State accept there is case for a more focused and visible approach to monitoring grocery pricing so consumers can have confidence that what they are experiencing is being properly examined and understood? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  To be honest, I do not necessarily accept that. Perhaps this is a communications issue. As the Deputy said, the structures are there. The CCPC enforces competition and consumer protection law, and the CSO independently collects and publishes official price data through the consumer price index. This means two bodies are doing the key things the Deputy is asking for.  The CCPC is not the price monitoring or price regulating body; it just enforces the law. The CSO is the price monitoring body. The Deputy is right, equally, that grocery prices are not a uniquely Irish issue. We do not perhaps have the competition in the grocery sector that I would like, but let us not forget that there were only three major grocery retailers in the country up until about ten or 15 years ago. The addition of two other grocery retailers has provided other options. When we look at consumer spending, purchasing power went up by 2.9% last year compared with the year before. This is something that has, unfortunately, bedevilled economies across Europe. Croatia and Hungary introduced price caps on groceries and that had a disastrous consequence, with a lack of affordability and availability. The left-wing Government in Spain proposed to introduce price caps, only to reach the conclusion that isolated, rural supermarkets and smaller stores would simply have to close.  To get to the nub of the Deputy\u2019s point, I do not for an instant hesitate to accept that people are very much feeling the pinch at the supermarket tills at the moment, and they are rightly concerned. The key to this is that we are in the grips of an energy crisis that leads to issues with costs and food provision. In turn, we need to make sure the systems already in place in this regard, through the activities of the CCPC and the CSO, perhaps communicate more clearly and directly to allow that level of consumer confidence to be in place and ensure people are aware that even though things are very tight, the Government has genuine plans, be it through changes to income tax rates or targeted supports and social welfare, to make sure a little bit of a break is given to what I accept is a very hard pressed part of our society. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Food Prices"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_45","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Land Development Agency","counts":{"speechCount":10,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_38","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_38","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_45","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed  The Land Development Agency, LDA, is building up a great head of steam now in starting to produce homes at scale all around the country, but particularly in the urban areas where they are badly needed. There are two projects in my area, Clongriffin Central and, just this week, Richmond Village. Some projects the Minister of State will be familiar with in his own area or generally in his neighbourhood are Shanganagh and Dundrum. These are big projects. The planners are saying that apartments are what are required now in terms of the use of land, the intensification of land use, transport-oriented planning, etc., and that is welcome. When I look at the LDA, however, and taking Richmond Village as an example, the tenure mix is not yet hammered out on that development of nearly 800 units. The LDA says it will do it over the next while.  Affordable purchase, which is where citizens and families get to own their own homes, is a relatively recent thing for the LDA, as I understand it. The point I want to make is that I would like to see the LDA going with affordable purchase first. There should be a lot more emphasis on affordable purchase, giving people a chance to buy the units the LDA is building. I appreciate they would likely be subsidised based on the cost of these in the context of modern-day construction, but it is absolutely vital that we empower the LDA as much as we can to build quality homes that citizens can then buy in whatever way. Affordable purchase first should perhaps be the strategy for the LDA. I will come back to cost rental because issues with that were mentioned.  In my experience, and taking Clongriffin Central as an example, the LDA is not necessarily funded or empowered to deliver community facilities. We have that issue out in Clongriffin Central. An area left underdeveloped and unfinished for 15 years after the crash needs community facilities. The LDA is in there, buzzing along and actively delivering phase after phase of residential units, very welcome homes, but community facilities have to be put in as well. They are vital. I ask that we would look to broaden or maybe re-emphasise the strategy of the LDA towards affordable purchase first as a key part of any of its developments and also look at how it will deliver, and be empowered to fund and deliver, vital community facilities, including community centres, pitches, outdoor parks and all the other facilities that make communities in Dublin so great. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  I am very grateful to the Deputy for raising this issue. I think Richmond Village is a brilliant name. There should be more of them, needless to say. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed  Quelle surprise . "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  More pertinently and directly to the Deputy's point, on behalf of the Minister, we all know why the LDA was set up and the ambition it has. The Deputy is right that it is really ramping up. We can see that in sod turnings, on one hand, such as in Richmond Village, and in site clearings, such as at the former Central Mental Hospital, or Dundrum Central as we know it, but also, crucially, in people moving into homes, as we see in Shanganagh and Shankill.  In terms of affordable purchase homes, LDA-sourced or -built affordable purchase homes are delivered in partnership with local authorities, funded by the Department via the affordable housing fund and sold through the local authority affordable purchase scheme. Under this scheme, newly built homes are made available at a reduced price for first-time and other eligible buyers who cannot afford to purchase these homes at the open market value. These homes are made available at a sale price of at least 15% below comparable housing market prices.  Since 2022, the LDA has delivered over 400 affordable purchase homes through partnership arrangements with local authorities, on State lands or sourced through Project Tosaigh. This delivery includes the LDA working in partnership with other bodies, such as at Shanganagh. A total of 597 homes were delivered there, of which 91 were affordable purchase, with the remainder being delivered as 306 cost-rental homes and 200 social homes across 2024 and 2025.  In addition, the agency has partnered with Kildare County Council to deliver 66 affordable purchase homes last November at Barracksfield West in Naas. More recently, the LDA has launched Priory Fields in partnership with Fingal County Council, as Deputy Boland will be aware, to deliver the first phase, comprising 36 affordable purchase homes of a total of 345 homes at Hackettstown in Skerries. A further phase of 91 affordable purchase homes is planned, with the remainder being delivered as 117 cost-rental homes and 101 social homes. Furthermore, the expanded role and remit of the Land Development Agency, as outlined in Delivering Homes, Building Communities, will help to further accelerate its delivery of affordable homes. Key measures include the expansion of the LDA\u2019s geographical area of operation, which will enable the agency to partner with more regional-based local authorities and bring forward developments on local authority-owned land.  I could not agree more with the Deputy, and I think this matter is going to be a precursor to Deputy Hearne's Topical Issue question to the Minister. Prioritising affordable homes first and foremost should be the aim of the LDA, and I will make sure this point is brought directly to the relevant Ministers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed  As the Minister of State said himself, even the affordable purchase element of the Shanganagh scheme is about 15% of the overall project. We hear about the challenges with cost rental and concerns around mounting maintenance costs. Uncertain costs like that will, of course, upset mandarins in all the various Departments. The benefit of affordable purchase is that whatever discount or subsidy is given, the Government locks it in upfront. It goes to the homeowner, and is crystallised there and then and there is no long-term risk. The Government picks up part of the tab. I do think affordable purchase first should be the direction in which the LDA is headed. Without a doubt, there will be issues with cost rental in the future. They are being raised in the media, with various schemes having challenges with maintenance.  In relation to community facilities, local authorities, including Dublin City Council and South Dublin County Council, collect development levies from private development and use those development levy funds to deliver the parks, playgrounds and various community facilities. The LDA does not have that funding stream. It is vital that this is acknowledged by the Government and that the gap is plugged in some way for the LDA. Residential developments are fantastic, but the community facilities have to be provided as well while these projects are being built. I encourage the Minister of State to consider this issue from a Government perspective. I thank him. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  I will make two points quite clearly. In relation to affordable homes, that is the sort of prioritisation the LDA should be looking for. I am more than happy to bring this point forward on the Deputy\u2019s behalf to the Minister. Perhaps there will be scope for further discussion at the next round of oral parliamentary questions.  The Deputy has raised a point that is not being raised enough in relation to the collection of development levies and the ability to use those funds for community facilities.  The part of Dublin where I lived was very much a project of the Celtic tiger era where land that was once rural was rezoned rapidly, and housing of all forms \u2013 apartments, duplexes and three-, four- and five-bedroom houses - were built at pace, but it took approximately ten years for the schools to open, for roads to be finished off and even for the basic, more commercial entities such as supermarkets and shops to come on stream. We see where development has got this right, such as in Cherrywood, just up the road from me, where the roads and parks are already in. It is only now that we are starting to see the large-scale housing accommodation provided. The three school sites have not only been identified but groundwork has started, and they will be open for the children of that area to be educated in. It is similar with Clonburris in South Dublin County Council's locality.  I would argue that many of the mistakes made before have been learned from, but there are a heck of lot more that need to be learned from, and that requires our diligence to make sure those mistakes are not repeated. We need to make sure that, absolutely, we crack on and massively ramp up the delivery of new homes, but that those communities and, indeed, the scope for commercial facilities that goes with that are prioritised as well. Again, these are points I will be more than happy to make to the Minister on the Deputy\u2019s behalf. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  People across the city who are looking to buy a home are despairing. The prices of houses and rents are way beyond what they can afford. They are looking to the Government for hope to be able to buy a home. We have reached the point where no ordinary people can afford to buy a home in our capital city. It costs \u20ac500,000 for the average home in the city. That is ten times the average salary. In the main, new supply being built is investor fund apartments being rented out at \u20ac3,000 and \u20ac4,000 a month. A shocking 50,000 adults over the age of 18 are stuck living in their parents\u2019 home in Dublin city. They need the State to build genuinely affordable homes they can buy to allow them to start their lives and families.  In Dublin city last year, however, not one affordable purchase home was delivered by the State - not one. In my constituency of Dublin North-West, over 7,000 adults are stuck living in their parental home in Finglas and Ballymun, and there are over 6,500 in Artane and Whitehall. How many affordable purchase homes does Dublin City Council plan to build for these 13,000 adults? Just 291 between now and 2030. Fianna F\u00e1il's and Fine Gael\u2019s plans for affordable housing for sale will only meet the need of 2% of the adults living in my constituency between now and 2030. That is not to mention the thousands of renters stuck looking to try to buy a home as well.  Why is affordable housing so inadequate? It is because the starter home programme is not about delivering actually affordable homes but keeping house prices inflated for developers and investor funds. The Government does not want to undercut market prices. It refuses to set up a State construction company that could build tens of thousands of genuinely affordable homes for sale and rent. Will the Government take radical action? We need to see radical action for a generation of young people in their 20s, and increasingly their 30s and 40s, who cannot start their lives. They cannot buy a home in our capital city. Workers, young people and families cannot buy a home in this city. What is the Government going to do to change this and ensure there are affordable houses that people can buy in our capital city? It is beyond a crisis or a disaster. We need to see a significant change beyond what is planned.  I can go through the figures for the Minister of State. They are terrifying in terms of the low numbers of planned delivery of affordable purchase homes in Dublin city. In my own area of north central Dublin, zero affordable purchase homes were delivered last year, and 73 are planned for 2026. There are zero planned for 2027, 95 for 2028, zero for 2029, and zero for 2030. If the houses are not planned to be built and are not in the city council\u2019s plans, where are they going to come from? I am absolutely terrified. Not only is there poor delivery of affordable purchase now, but there is no sign of it coming. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and giving me the opportunity to reply on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Browne, who unfortunately is not here today.  Affordability and the chance to own a home is at the heart of the Government\u2019s housing policy, as embodied in the new housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities. The Government is continuing to invest an unprecedented level of funding to support housing delivery, which will underpin the new starter homes programme, delivering an average of 15,000 starter home supports annually to 2030.  In terms of starter home delivery, over 22,000 starter home supports have been delivered since the launch of the previous housing plan, Housing for All, including nearly 1,000 in Dublin City. Dublin City Council has established a significant pipeline of starter home delivery and continues to work proactively with all delivery partners to ensure the successful delivery of these homes.  Dublin City Council currently has an affordable housing delivery programme that includes a total of 789 new starter homes, which will be available for affordable purchase by eligible, approved housing candidates by 2028. These homes will be located at Ballymun, Montpelier, Oscar Traynor Road and Cherry Orchard. Twelve homes have been delivered at Ballymun to date, with the schemes at Montpelier and Oscar Traynor Road at an advanced stage. We will see significant delivery during the year.  The delivery programme continues to be expanded and accelerated. Two additional schemes with the potential to deliver a further 240 affordable homes are under assessment. The first home scheme, which supports first-time buyers in purchasing new houses and apartments in the private market through the use of an equity share model, is also available to support eligible new home purchasers. It has been availed of by 93 affordable home buyers in Dublin city up to the fourth quarter of 2025, the latest period for which statistics have been published.  The Department of housing is funding 12.5 dedicated administrative and technical staffing posts in Dublin City Council to support the resourcing and development of these starter homes schemes. In addition to this, we look at cost-rental delivery, the cro\u00ed c\u00f3naithe scheme and, crucially, the vacant property refurbishment grant and other available opportunities.  In conclusion, in order to further drive the required delivery of 90,000 starter homes under Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030, local authorities including Dublin City Council will shortly commence the preparation of new housing delivery action plans for review by the Department, setting out how the starter home programme will be implemented within their area. These plans, replacing those previously drawn up under Housing for All, will be informed by affordable housing need within the local authority area and will involve collaboration with the delivery partners, including the Land Development Agency, approved housing bodies and the wider development sector, as applicable. The plans will be published on each local authority's website following engagement with the relevant Department. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  I appreciate the Minister of State\u2019s response and setting out of the detail, but surely he can see it is completely inadequate. In terms of the numbers I gave earlier, 13,000 adults over the age of 18 are living in their parental home in my constituency alone. There are 50,000 people in that situation across Dublin. Where are young people, and as I said, increasingly those in their 30s and 40s, going to be able to buy a home in Dublin city? It is a disaster that is hitting now and is going to get worse in the coming years. It is a breakdown of the social contract.  The Minister of State said Dublin City Council is talking about 789 starter homes, which is higher than the figure we were given, but it is still a drop in the ocean of what is actually required. I do not see where the change in the plans is. What is going to change? Where is the step change that is going to deliver tens of thousands of affordable purchase homes in Dublin city? That is what is needed, but it is not set out. There is no answer to the question I have asked about actually providing a step change in policy. Surely the Minister of State sees that. I know Fine Gael agrees with affordable purchase, as does Fianna F\u00e1il, but in what has been brought forward in housing plans and policies, I do not see any step change of delivery of actually affordable purchase homes. The main schemes of delivery of affordable purchase homes in Dublin are coming through various market subsidies, including the first home scheme. I am surprised Government TDs such as the Minister of State are not extremely concerned about this. The Government\u2019s own policy, which I do not agree with, is only delivering 93 affordable homes in Dublin city under the first home scheme. It is a tiny number of people being supported to buy a home. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  I greatly appreciate Deputy Hearne\u2019s contribution. Delivering Homes, Building Communities is a clear priority for Government and we are committed to delivering on the targets across all pillars of the plan. The strategy delivers on the programme for Government commitment to increase housing supply and tackle homelessness with an ambitious target to deliver 15,000 starter homes annually to 2033 via local authorities, approved housing bodies, the Land Development Agency, the first home scheme, the vacant properties refurbishment grant and the help to buy scheme.  The next iteration of the local authority housing delivery action plan will shortly commence outlining local authorities plans to deliver in their areas over the next five years.  The LDA has also been tasked with taking over State lands in addition to unlocking stalled private planning consented developments in the shorter term through its market engagement initiative, Project Tosaigh, to facilitate additional starter home delivery. We will continue to work closely with local authorities, approved housing bodies, the LDA and other key stakeholders to support delivery of the starter homes programme and I will undertake to bring the points made eloquently by Deputy Hearne to the Minister in due course. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Land Development Agency"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_46","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Renewable Energy Generation","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_38","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_38","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_46","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gillian Toole","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gillian-Toole.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Gillian-Toole.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gillian Toole","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gillian-Toole.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Gillian-Toole.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gillian Toole  I will give a little context in advance. It is in the same vein as Deputy Daly\u2019s Topical Issue in relation to the cost of living. The current electricity pricing is between 28 cent and 37 cent per kilowatt hour, including VAT, and the night time rate is 14 cent. If we take an average annual consumption of 4,200 kilowatt hour, that works out at about an average of \u20ac1,700 per annum, equating to \u20ac142 per month. However, I think every Member of this House and every consumer outside this complex is well aware that in many cases, the prices are approximately 50% higher and at least \u20ac200 per month and upwards.  The majority of our renewable energy is now wind derived but solar renewable energy is fast on the catch-up. In the past five years, my home county of Meath has nearly become the solar renewable energy capital. It is probably on a par with Cork. It is certainly is well up there. Areas such as Batterstown, Culmullen, Duleek, Kilbride, Ratoath, Kells and Kentstown either have solar developments planning approved or pending with gas peaking plants and battery storage facilities at planning phase or some point along the line.  I have some concerns which have been reiterated to me by residents. The first is the absence of the second land use review. Then there is the solar development guidelines. Currently, planners have no reason to refuse a valid planning application but the residents are very concerned about a number of things, including the food producing integrity of these soils; the impact on visual amenity and heritage of these commercial developments and most recently; and, most importantly, their personal community and business concerns about the price of energy given that it is now majority renewable energy.  We know from EnergyCloud that there is a surplus of renewable energy. Its report for 13 months to 31 January shows there is an availability of approximately 1,500 GW, which equates to \u20ac559 million of monetary value that could be redistributed. The Minister of State might ask where I am going with all of this but hopefully it will make sense.  I will factor in the Irish Grain Growers group. It has flagged the availability of tillage land with me over the past two to three years. That is land its members would have leased for native local grain growing and food production. That land availability is diminishing because that land is being sold and leased for solar energy production. In those areas I have highlighted, there has been a pattern of leases being sold on after planning or after the renewable energy auctions. If you are trying to compile a risk benefit or take a cost benefit analysis approach, in a time of severe grid fragility and price volatility, what impact, if any, the transfer of leases from solar development may have on the price of renewable energy for domestic consumers if we take that gap between the average energy price and the real energy price? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  I thank Deputy Toole for her forensic Topical Issue. I appreciate the detail and I will endeavour to respond as best I can on behalf of the Minister, Deputy O\u2019Brien. Ireland\u2019s energy security has moved from being a long-term ambition to becoming one of the most pressing challenges facing our country. I think back to the formation of the Common Agricultural Policy which was based on the basic need that Europe did not starve again. We are now in a situation where the basic need is that we cannot allow the lights to go out again in Europe because recent geopolitical tensions and volatility in global energy markets have proven that energy security is not just an environmental issue but it is essential for delivering long-term energy security and price stability for Irish households and businesses. It is now more important than ever that we reduce Ireland\u2019s exposure to imported fossil fuel price shocks.  The programme for Government has reaffirmed Ireland\u2019s targets of 80% of electricity demand to be met by renewables in the near term with plans to move to net zero by 2050. We are fortunate here in Ireland to have extraordinary renewable energy resources. Our wind is among the strongest in Europe. Our solar sector is growing at speed, particularly in County Meath but, indeed, beyond, and it is already the third highest share of electricity generation for the country.  Ireland currently has over 8 GW of renewable electricity generation capacity connected to the network, a remarkable achievement as it means we have added approximately 5 GW of new renewable energy generation capacity in just ten years, including doubling our wind capacity and establishing solar energy as a major pillar of our energy supply. In a few short years, solar has become a major component of our electricity supply. Solar is now the third-highest supplier of indigenously generated electricity, behind natural gas and wind, to the electricity grid. Solar is not only reducing electricity bills for households and businesses but it is also easing pressure on the grid by lowering peak demand and supporting a more resilient energy system. The accelerated deployment of both rooftop solar and solar farms is a critical part of meeting the Government\u2019s commitment to deliver 80% of Ireland\u2019s electricity demand from renewable energy sources in the near term, including 8 GW of solar energy alone.  The design of our renewable electricity support scheme auctions ensures that the new renewables capacity is delivered in as cost effective and competitive a manner as possible. Solar has featured strongly in each scheme auction to date delivering real benefits to Ireland\u2019s electricity network and Irish electricity consumers. Indeed, at times of high electricity prices the two-way scheme design ensures consumers benefit directly from the claw back of any revenue in excess of scheme strike prices. For the 2025-2026 PSO levy year, it is expected that over \u20ac11 million will be returned to Irish electricity consumers via the PSO levy as a result of operational scheme projects. It is worth noting that all renewable electricity developments are subject to careful independent scrutiny at the planning application stage by the relevant planning authority when reaching a decision on an individual planning application.  Operational functions of the planning system, including the process of planning applications are, of course, a matter for the relevant planning authority. The points made by Deputy Toole are particularly relevant and I will be more than happy to bring them directly to the Minister, Deputy O\u2019Brien. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gillian Toole","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gillian-Toole.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Gillian-Toole.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gillian Toole  I thank the Minister of State. I always say here that every day is a school day. The \u20ac11 million PSO levy being returned is most welcome. I do not wish to be cheeky but I would welcome a response from the Minister of State on whether the transfer of leases has or does not have an impact on price? I appreciate that the Minister of State is deputising. I highlighted the average price versus the real price and the gap in the middle. I know the patterns in my area. In one instance, a farm was bought by a business person on the open market, and there was no problem there. The planning application was successful. Post-planning the parcel of land was sold on with a margin. I am not na\u00efve in that my background is small business and margin is critically important. However, if you add a margin at various stages which, to the best of my knowledge, do not have a safeguard or control, you could end up with the retail price at the end having that factored in. For something as essential as energy, that is something that really needs to be looked into.  Again, I would draw attention to the EnergyCloud report for the 13 months where there is \u20ac550 million of spare renewable energy that would be most welcome to those 330,000-odd households which are in energy arrears.  That should be investigated. There should also be an investigation into where that differential may arise. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  I thank Deputy Toole and the Ceann Comhairle for giving me the opportunity to provide a response to the overarching points the Deputy made and the wider context of domestic renewable electricity generation, the substantial progress that has been made, and the opportunities to further improve the transition to renewable energy to make sure it is not just a climate imperative but is central to our energy security and, indeed, our economic development. I fundamentally believe that we are making crucial investments in renewable energy, our electricity grid and, importantly, in energy efficiency. The ongoing conflict in the Middle East and, indeed, the continuing conflict in Ukraine underline again why we must accelerate the deployment of renewables, strengthen our grid and retrofit homes and businesses. The real issue raised by Deputy Toole about the transfer of leases is key. We have to provide that level of confidence in the system, not only for the consumer but also for those who are prepared to engage in this process to make sure there is balance and affordability.  I undertake to write to the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, on the Deputy's behalf to see if we can get a specific deputation meeting on this issue. Perhaps it might be more pertinent for oral parliamentary questions in the next round. Hopefully, the wider information will provide a good grounding for further discussion on this key area, which I am grateful to the Deputy for raising. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Renewable Energy Generation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_47","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Primary Care Services","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_38","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_38","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_47","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Grace Boland  The Minister of State has heard me say many times before that Fingal is the youngest, fastest-growing area in the country. Balbriggan is the youngest large town in the country and the fastest-growing, yet our D-Doc services are appalling. My understanding is that D-Doc was set up in 2006. Obviously, the population of Balbriggan, Skerries, Rush and Lusk, and the rural villages of Garrettstown, Naul, Ballyboughal, Rolestown, Oldtown and so on, have all grown hugely since 2006, yet our healthcare services have not expanded in line with population growth. Census 2022 tells us that the north part of my constituency, Balbriggan, Skerries, Rush and Lusk, and the surrounding villages, has a population of 68,000 people. I have tabled many parliamentary questions for the Department asking what the criteria are to get the expanded D-Doc services, and I am getting no answers back about the criteria. There has been major housing growth and we are continuing to see major housing growth. The reality is that Fingal is the growth engine for housing in Dublin if not the country, yet we have not had the increase in health services, education, public transport, roads or other services that need to go with the delivery of houses.  I find it concerning that the HSE service planning is relying on historical data or telling me that what was established in 2006 is suitable in 2026. Something is seriously wrong. Regarding the D-Doc services that are available to us, the parliamentary question response tells me that I can go to Ballymun, Coolock, Hartstown in Clonsilla, which I am not sure I have ever visited before, North Strand Health Centre in Dublin 1, or, the closest, in Swords. The reality is that the Swords D-Doc only stays open Monday to Friday until 11 o'clock and, at the weekends, only from 9.30 a.m. to 10.30 p.m. We simply do not have access to 24-hour healthcare. You absolutely have to have a car to access any of these health services. There is no direct public transport service to them except for Swords which, as I have just said, closes at either 11 p.m. or 10.30 p.m. It is not good enough and I would really like to understand what the Department of Health is going to do to meet demands in the area. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  I have to be very careful with this reply because, needless to say, replying on behalf of our mutual dear friend, the Minister for Health, whom I spoke to subsequent to receiving the script, is a balance, because I could throw back to the Deputy many of the points she has raised and somehow that constitutes a reply. I sometimes question, when replies are being drawn up, whether people look at maps or live in the areas. I know where Clonsilla is. I also know where North Strand is. It is a long way from Balbriggan. It should not take a southsider to tell someone that. I could also talk about the responsibility of every GP to make sure they are providing a genuine option for out-of-hours care for their patients as per their contractual requirements and, increasingly, how those out-of-hours services have been developed and expanded over time, and how they are working extremely well in so many parts of the country. It is a real testament not just to the Department, the HSE and the Minister but to the doctors who provide that care. I had reason to be in west Cork just last week and I read the local paper. It talked about a doctor who retired after 27 years of providing out-of-hours care to the sprawl of west Cork. I know Balbriggan is a long way from Stepaside but west Cork is even bigger again.  Crucially, it is important to look at the population in the round. The latest population figure for the wider area covered is 690,000. It is covered by five treatment centres, which the Deputy has listed, two of which are only open overnight on weekdays, and those two are open 24 hours on weekends and public holidays. The geography is vast and the requirement for a car is quite obvious. The key thing the Minister would say, which I absolutely agree with her on, is about two things in the immediate area that require attention. The first is the sheer number of GPs in the system. Genuine and forceful efforts are being made on her behalf to make sure we have more general practitioners, both through the additional annual investment and through the conclusion of the GP GMS agreement.  Something that we talk about, which is particular to this issue and which is parallel, not the solution, but complementary to it, is to have a greater D-Doc facility that goes into the north county. That is obvious to the Deputy and me, and indeed obvious to the Minister. That is ultimately the direction of travel we are taking, not just because Fingal is the fastest-growing county in the country or that Balbriggan is the fastest-growing area. I remember once when it was Stepaside but obviously it has been overtaken two censuses later. One of the key areas to cover the wider north county area is the development of the Swords surgical hub, which will be operational from this summer. It will draw on and replicate the success of Tallaght and Mount Carmel elective surgical hubs. One is in my own constituency. Indeed, I was born in Mount Carmel hospital. It will implement the use of innovative patient pathways and have a real impact on reducing waiting times for patients. If waiting times for patients are reduced, it means they will have less chance to need that out-of-hours care. Once it is fully operational, that Swords surgical hub is expected to deliver additional annual activity of 8,000 day care procedures based on the four theatres, 5,700 minor operations procedures, and approximately 18,500 outpatient department appointments. The Minister also introduced greater regulations to strengthen that. That is all complementary to the issue the Deputy raised and needs to be addressed at source. Needless to say, I will bring that directly to the Minister following this debate. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Grace Boland  I appreciate that. As the Minister of State knows, the surgical hub will be a very welcome addition to the area but it will not deal with the critical issue of the fact that people get sick every time of day and night and need access to a GP. The infrastructure exists in Balbriggan. We have a primary care centre. The population demand is clear. The growth projections are clear. What I am concerned about is that the response to the parliamentary question I received told me there were no plans to expand the GP services in the area. I hope that I am hearing from the Minister of State that the HSE and Minister are open to expanding services. I have been that parent who has had to drive two premature twins to Swords to try to find GP healthcare. The reality is that I did not have access to a car at the time and had to ask a neighbour. That is simply not good enough. We have a huge population in the area. We need to have clear criteria from the HSE and the Department about when we can get a D-Doc service and a timeline for expanding the services, and access to 24-hour GP care. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  Out-of-hours GP care is provided to the population in integrated areas. The Government is committed to the continued development of our general practice service to ensure patients across the whole country have timely access to GP services. As mentioned previously, work is ongoing to increase the GP workforce and therefore improve access to both daytime and out-of-hours GP services. Significant investment has taken place in general practice both in the 2019 and 2023 GP agreements but we need to do a lot more. The input from the Deputy makes a very clear geographic case for an increased need to service the wider Dublin Fingal and north county area, with a particular focus on the rapidly growing town of Balbriggan. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar fionra\u00ed ar 3.40 p.m. agus cuireadh t\u00fas leis ar\u00eds ar 3.47 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Sitting suspended at 3.40 p.m. and resumed at 3.47 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Primary Care Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_48","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_48","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  We will begin with Deputy \u00d3 Snodaigh's Other Question, Question No. 223. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_49","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Oideachas Tr\u00ed\u00fa Leibh\u00e9al","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_48","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_48","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_49","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_49.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  An bhfuil maoini\u00fa breise chun a bheith tugtha do na hinstiti\u00faid\u00ed tr\u00ed\u00fa leibh\u00e9al chun a dh\u00e9anamh cinnte de go bhfuil siad ag sol\u00e1thar c\u00farsa\u00ed tr\u00ed mhe\u00e1n na Gaeilge chun cuidi\u00fa leis an St\u00e1t an 20% at\u00e1 leagtha s\u00edos \u00f3 thaobh earc\u00fa isteach sa St\u00e1tch\u00f3ras a shroicheadh? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Deputy James Lawless)  Is \u00e9 sin an ch\u00e9ad cheist inniu toisc go bhfuil a l\u00e1n daoine as l\u00e1thair. In any event, aithn\u00edonn mo Roinn an r\u00f3l t\u00e1bhachtach at\u00e1 ag an earn\u00e1il oideachais tr\u00ed\u00fa leibh\u00e9al i dtaca le sprioc an Rialtais a bhaint amach, is \u00e9 sin go mbeidh 20% d'earcaigh san earn\u00e1il phoibl\u00ed inni\u00fail sa Ghaeilge faoi 2030.  Le hAcht an \u00dadar\u00e1is um Ard-Oideachas, 2022 cuirtear oibleag\u00e1id reacht\u00fail ar an \u00dadar\u00e1s um Ard-Oideachas tac\u00fa le hinstiti\u00faid\u00ed ardoideachais chun an Ghaeilge a mh\u00faineadh, a chur chun cinn agus a \u00fas\u00e1id. Chun na cr\u00edche sin, taca\u00edonn mo Roinn le hinstiti\u00faid\u00ed ardoideachais faoi l\u00e1thair, tr\u00edd an \u00dadar\u00e1s um Ard-Oideachas, tr\u00ed mhaoini\u00fa l\u00e1rnach agus tr\u00ed shruthanna maoinithe sonracha do thionscnaimh Ghaeilge. \u00c1ir\u00edtear leis seo beagnach \u20ac1.8 milli\u00fan in aghaidh na bliana d'Acadamh na hOllscola\u00edochta Gaeilge in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe agus \u20ac900,000 do thionscnaimh Ghaeilge n\u00edos leithne sna hollscoileanna.  Lasmuigh den earn\u00e1il ardoideachais, t\u00e1 scileanna Gaeilge \u00e1 gcur chun cinn freisin tr\u00ed l\u00edonra\u00ed Skillnet Ireland, print\u00edseachta\u00ed agus cl\u00e1ir bhreisoideachais agus oili\u00fana. Cuireann s\u00e9 sin uile leis an sprioc bheartais n\u00edos leithne maidir leis an nGaeilge a thac\u00fa i dtaobh \u00fas\u00e1id na teanga go gairmi\u00fail.  Maidir leis an bplean n\u00e1isi\u00fanta do sheirbh\u00eds\u00ed poibl\u00ed Gaeilge go sonrach, t\u00e1 mo Roinn tiomanta go n-oibreoimid leis an earn\u00e1il oideachais tr\u00ed\u00fa leibh\u00e9al agus le Ranna eile chun a chusp\u00f3ir\u00ed a chur chun cinn. \u00c1ir\u00edtear leis an obair seo gr\u00fapa oibre earn\u00e1la a bhun\u00fa, a mbeidh comhchathaoirleacht \u00e1 d\u00e9anamh air idir mo Roinn agus an Roinn Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta, chun breathn\u00fa ar bheala\u00ed praitici\u00fala inar f\u00e9idir leis na hearn\u00e1lacha----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank the Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  Ar a laghad t\u00e1 tuiscint ann anois go bhfuil g\u00e1 chun gn\u00edomh a dh\u00e9anamh agus d\u00edri\u00fa isteach ar an gceist seo. T\u00e1 roinnt de na hinstiti\u00faid\u00ed tr\u00ed\u00fa leibh\u00e9al ar an eolas faoin ng\u00e1 d\u00edri\u00fa isteach ar an gceist, ach don chuid is m\u00f3 t\u00e1 siad ag caint faoi l\u00e1thair ar modules a chur ar f\u00e1il sna c\u00farsa\u00ed, seachas go mbeadh an c\u00farsa ioml\u00e1n i nGaeilge. T\u00e1 bunt\u00e1iste ag an d\u00e1 ch\u00f3ras, ach sa deireadh thiar thall, muna bhfuil an c\u00farsa ina ioml\u00e1ine tr\u00ed Ghaeilge, d\u00e9anann s\u00e9 n\u00edos deacra do roinnt de na gairmeacha a chur i l\u00e1thair i gceart as Gaeilge. N\u00ed leor do dhocht\u00fair a bheith in ann Gaeilge a labhairt. Is g\u00e1 d\u00f3ibh an t-eolas a bheith acu agus \u00e9 a chur i l\u00e1thair sa Ghaeilge theicni\u00fail a bhainfeadh le docht\u00fair, innealt\u00f3ir n\u00f3 aon duine mar sin. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  Is minic a fhaighim an cheist ar c\u00e9 mh\u00e9ad mac l\u00e9inn san ardoideachas a dh\u00e9anann staid\u00e9ar ar an nGaeilge. N\u00ed rud simpl\u00ed \u00e9 l\u00edon na mac l\u00e9inn at\u00e1 ag d\u00e9anamh staid\u00e9ir ar an nGaeilge sa tr\u00ed\u00fa leibh\u00e9al a oibri\u00fa amach \u00f3s rud \u00e9 go gcuirfear an Ghaeilge ar f\u00e1il mar ghn\u00e9 riachtanach i gcuid mh\u00f3r cl\u00e1r, lena n-\u00e1ir\u00edtear formh\u00f3r na gcl\u00e1r comhch\u00e9ime on\u00f3racha BA. L\u00e9ir\u00edonn anail\u00eds a rinne an t\u00dadar\u00e1s um Ard-Oideachas le d\u00e9ana\u00ed go raibh 420 mac l\u00e9inn ag d\u00e9anamh c\u00farsa\u00ed go hioml\u00e1n tr\u00ed Ghaeilge sa bhliain acad\u00fail 2023\/2024 agus 2,625 eile ag d\u00e9anamh cuid d\u00e1 gc\u00farsa\u00ed tr\u00ed Ghaeilge, \u00e1 spreagadh go m\u00f3r ag c\u00farsa\u00ed san earn\u00e1il oideachais. N\u00ed \u00e1ir\u00edtear leis na figi\u00fair\u00ed seo, \u00e1fach, mic l\u00e9inn at\u00e1 cl\u00e1raithe i gcl\u00e1r ginear\u00e1lta BA inar f\u00e9idir an Ghaeilge a thairiscint mar \u00e1bhar riachtanach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh: T\u00e1imid ag d\u00edri\u00fa isteach ar cheann de na ceisteanna go gcaithfimid mic l\u00e9inn a mhealladh isteach sa ch\u00f3ras chun na h\u00e1bhair seo a dh\u00e9anamh. N\u00ed bh\u00edonn a fhios acu. N\u00edl an c\u00farsa ar f\u00e1il. Faoin am at\u00e1 s\u00e9 ar f\u00e1il, t\u00e1 na mic l\u00e9inn seo tar \u00e9is bogadh ar aghaidh. Mar shampla, bh\u00edodh c\u00e9im san iriseoireacht ann go hioml\u00e1n tr\u00ed Ghaeilge. N\u00edl s\u00e9 ann a thuilleadh, in ainneoin go bhfuil TG4 againn anois agus t\u00e1 f\u00e1s i ngach uile gn\u00e9 den saol \u00f3 thaobh na me\u00e1n cumars\u00e1ide. T\u00e1 roinnt r\u00e9ims\u00ed ar f\u00e9idir linn dalta\u00ed a mhealladh isteach ann an-tapa. T\u00f3gfaidh s\u00e9 i bhfad \u00c9ireann n\u00edos faide do chinn eile. Caithfidh strait\u00e9is a bheith ann ionas go bhfuil a fhios againn go bhfuil innealt\u00f3ir\u00ed, docht\u00fair\u00ed, lianna de sh\u00f3irt eile, fi\u00fa garra\u00edod\u00f3ir\u00ed agus a leith\u00e9id, go bhfuil an tomhas acad\u00fail acu as Gaeilge, n\u00ed d\u00edreach an Ghaeilge. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  N\u00edor luaigh m\u00e9 leis an Teachta D\u00e1la gur fhoghlaim m\u00e9 mo chuid Gaeilge sa King\u2019s Inns at the time. Tuigim an pointe sin. T\u00e1 an Roinn ag tac\u00fa le h\u00fas\u00e1id na Gaeilge ag an tr\u00ed\u00fa leibh\u00e9al tr\u00ed mhaoini\u00fa a leithdh\u00e1ileadh ar institi\u00faid\u00ed tr\u00ed\u00fa leibh\u00e9al. D\u00e1ileadh \u20ac1.6 billi\u00fan ar institi\u00faid\u00ed tr\u00ed\u00fa leibh\u00e9al tr\u00edd an \u00dadar\u00e1s um Ard-Oideachas mar bhloc deontais chun tac\u00fa le sol\u00e1thar oideachais tr\u00ed\u00fa leibh\u00e9al lena n-\u00e1ir\u00edtear sol\u00e1thar don Ghaeilge. Ar\u00eds, d\u00e1iltear \u20ac900,000 gach bliain tr\u00edd an sol\u00e1thar speisialta chun tac\u00fa le h\u00fas\u00e1id na Gaeilge i measc foirne agus mac l\u00e9inn ag an tr\u00ed\u00fa leibh\u00e9al. Leithdh\u00e1iltear \u20ac1.76 milli\u00fan gach bliain ar Ollscoil na Gaillimhe chun tac\u00fa le hAcadamh na hOllscola\u00edochta Gaeilge. Is sc\u00e9im mheant\u00f3ireachta, oili\u00fana agus gradaim \u00e9 Gn\u00edomha\u00ed Gaeilge do mhic l\u00e9inn a bhfuil baint acu leis an nGaeilge ar an tr\u00ed\u00fa leibh\u00e9al. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Oideachas Tr\u00ed\u00fa Leibh\u00e9al"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_50","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Student Accommodation","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_48","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_48","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_50","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_50.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  The activation of supply of student beds is of the utmost priority to me, my Department, the Government as a whole, to Deputy Kenny and I am sure to all in this House who take in an interest in the matter.  Since 2017, we have seen 16,266 purpose-built student accommodation beds completed nationwide, which brings the total stock to just under 50,000 around the country. At the end of March 2026, commencement notices issued in respect of 2,735 student beds, with a further 14,233 having planning permission but not yet been built out. In addition, planning permission has been applied for a further 1,684 beds that are coming through the system.  The projections contained within my student accommodation strategy, which I recently launched, indicate an emerging demand for approximately 42,000 additional student accommodation beds over the next decade, which underscores the scale of the challenge and opportunity. I should state that those 42,000 beds are not immediately required but they will be required as the decade progresses. However, there is undoubtedly a shortage of the beds that are required right now. It is not in the magnitude of that number but it is worth noting.  I am sure the Deputy has engaged with the new strategy which is published on the Government's website if people want to read it. It sets out a pathway to make higher education more accessible by promoting accommodation through addressing two critical challenges. The first is the affordability of accommodation by grant aid and additional supports to students to meet the costs of accommodation in lieu of commuting. The other challenge is around accommodation supply and viability and incentivising a greater rollout in the development of beds so that the 14,000 beds with planning permission that are not built out actually become activated. Affordability is delivered through a range of schemes, which I might speak about following the next supplementary question because I am watching the clock. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  In relation to the student accommodation strategy, the Minister knows I am not in the business of criticising in any way, shape or form any new development and I welcome it. However, I will call out certain aspects of it that I do not perhaps agree with. We might differ on that but that is fine. I have a sense that the strategy itself is developer-led with an enormous reliance on the private market. It fails in very basic protections in terms of capping student rents and ensuring service charges cannot be used as an excuse to drive up the rent beyond the RPZ rate. The landlords will be able to reset the rents in between the tenancies. I am just noting these issues.  A final point is that it is vital that technological universities have opportunities to borrow in order to purchase land to build or fast track their own accommodation for students. I raise those points because at the committee on higher education, a number of students from Aontas na Mac L\u00e9inn in \u00c9irinn, AML\u00c9, came in and spoke with us about that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  I have just one point, and I know the Deputy has engaged in good faith, as he always does. I have to correct one statement he made, and perhaps it is just not widely known. Landlords actually cannot reset rents between tenancies and that is a very deliberate thing I inserted to the legislation following engagement with my colleague the Minister, Deputy Browne. In terms of regulation, overall, student tenancies are subject to the same base rules as any other residential property in the State or any other rental, with the additional safeguard that in a student tenancy the rent cannot be reset when tenants move into and move out of purpose-built student accommodation. This is for the very simple reason that the new RPZ rules allow a reset when a tenant vacates, or after a period of six years, whichever comes sooner. In the case of student accommodation, the students vacate naturally most summers, if not every summer, and I thought it would be unfair on the students to impose an additional rent reset on them every summer. That would make the properties very expensive indeed. I intervened and negotiated with the Minister, Deputy Browne, who in fairness was happy to accede to that request and that protection is contained in the legislation now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  I thank the Minister for clarifying that and I will correct the record on that. I also want to speak to the broader aspect of accommodation that is being used by students in our cities. Since the Minister has taken up his position, in regard to communication he has with the Minister, Deputy Browne, there has been a significant amount of it in relation his own strategy. For example, in regard to private rental accommodation students have, there has been a significant number of cases brought to my attention where students are living in private rental accommodation near University College Cork, MTU and other third level institutions, particularly in Cork because I am a representative from Cork, where the accommodation itself is generally not fit for purpose. Whether it is because the local authority does not have the manpower or there is a lack of availability, there are very few inspections going on within private rental accommodation. From my perspective as spokesperson on education, and from the Minister's perspective, does he believe it is now more essential? Is he in any conversation with the Minister, Deputy Browne, about the inspections of private rental accommodation being used by students? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  I understand that the Deputy's question has a pertinence to students because they are living in the private residential sector but I do not want to trespass onto the brief of my colleague the Minister for housing, Deputy Browne, in terms of the rules governing that.  While I cannot quite mandate it, I have strongly encouraged, and used any powers available to me, to suggest and request that where universities are advertising properties on their student portals or websites they should only do so where they have met basic standards. The rent-a-room scenario is one of the ways that digs accommodation is being provided. We have a sample licence agreement, which we have published on the website. I have asked my officials to examine whether that can be enforced in the sense in order for any publicly-funded higher education institution to market it properly through the different student platforms and student union campaigns, which I appreciate most student unions are embarking on, that this would meet minimum standards including signing up to that licence agreement. That would be a very reasonable request.  In his opening remarks the Deputy mentioned the technological universities so I will speak to that briefly. There is a programme for Government commitment to give them a formal framework. That is delivered in this strategy. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Student Accommodation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_51","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_51","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_52","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Third Level Education","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_51","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_51","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_52","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_52.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  What engagement has there been between the Department, Dundalk IT and Queen's University Belfast on a partnership? The heads of agreement have been signed from the point of view of creating Dundalk university college. What work is being carried out by the Department to resolve cross-Border further and higher education issues and the anomalies in the CAO and UCAS systems? The recognition of awards, etc., is an ongoing difficulty. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  I must first send best wishes to the Deputy's colleague, Teachta McGettigan. I understand she has not been well this week and normally she would be a key part of this debate. She is a very valued contributor to the education conversation. I just wanted to send our best wishes. I know she was taken unwell this week.  On the Deputy's question, he will be aware, and as all in Dundalk know at this stage, that committed to developing the North-South collaboration in student mobility but particularly in driving on the partnership between Queen's University and Dundalk IT, DKIT, with the aim of Dundalk IT becoming a legally recognised university college of Queen's University, aligning on awards, on research and on quality assurance, creating the first all-island university. This is actually very exciting and something I am really pleased to be in a position to progress, and I am intending to progress very rapidly. It is something we are all very much aligned on and celebrate. It is a new model within the higher education landscape. There are significant opportunities for cross-Border collaboration and enhancement of higher education on an all-island basis through that.  In March I was present at the signing ceremony between the two institutions. The Deputy was present at that great event, as were Deputy Erin McGreehan and many others. That work is progressing as rapidly as my officials can deliver it. I am pleased to steward it through.  On another note, the Deputy asked about other collaborations or partnerships. I have met the Minister for the Economy in Northern Ireland, Caoimhe Archibald, MLA, on a number of occasions. We are working together to synchronise the two jurisdictions as best we can in terms of rules, exam results being released, and how the points are computed between the A levels versus the leaving certificate. As recently as this morning I launched the AIReady website that is about AI skills where I had a conversation with a number of interested parties from north of the Border who would like to see that developed on an all-island basis. I am having ongoing collaboration, which has been very positive and constructive so far, and I intend to continue it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Aire. I will pass on his best wishes to Deputy McGettigan. Our thoughts are with her and we are very glad that she is getting better.  We are all support this partnership, which is an all-island project that can deliver for the people of Dundalk and beyond. It will vw beneficial to Queen's University Belfast. It follows on from the idea of the M1-border corridor. At the Good Friday Agreement committee recently we had the Newry-Dundalk Chamber of Commerce and many others in. The representatives spoke about the absolute importance of this while dealing with other infrastructural issues that need to be dealt with.  I thank the Minister for his words in relation to his engagement with the Dr. Caoimhe Archibald. It is absolutely vital that we deal with those anomalies around points and the release of results, but that we also we get down to the issue around qualifications and recognition. It is absolutely necessary. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  A body of work is required. This is the first time this has ever been undertaken and there is a job of work to do to align the different rules and regulations across the Border. My Department has been intensively engaged with that. In consultation with my officials, DKIT has established a number of representative groups working to identify requirements and issues, and bottom out the issues around legislation, the awarding of degrees and other qualifications, quality assurance criteria and aligning the two systems on each side of the Border to make sure they can work together and find out what the model is to present these into the legislation that I will bring before the House in the near future. There has been active engagement between my officials, between Queen's University and Dundalk IT, and between the agencies of the Higher Education Authority and Quality and Qualifications Ireland, QQI on this end, and the Department of the Economy in the North. They have carried out a programme of consultation with key stakeholders, which is going well. A regulatory impact assessment is also being performed which will inform the legislative programme. It is certainly full steam ahead and progress has been good to date. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  We all agree this is vital stuff. Consultation on issues is a necessity so that we can cut the issues off at the pass. I thank Dr. Diarmuid O'Callaghan and his team in DKIT and those in Queen's University in making this happen. From what he says the Minister is in support of it and whatever is necessary from this end will be delivered.  There will be learnings in respect of those cross-Border issues the Minister is aware of that are impacting on a huge number of students and those that are qualified. It deals with higher education, further education and all the rest of it. We have heard here previously of the need for a proper clearing house for dealing not only in the educational sphere but in all spheres regarding cross-Border issues, while I might want to see a greater amount of work done in on delivering the all-Ireland project altogether. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  To continue that theme of collaboration, Universities Ireland is co-funded by my Department and the Northern Ireland Department for the Economy. This is another cross-border body. Through that body universities across the entire island of Ireland have been working together on this project but also on others. They have really displayed an agility, a willingness and an ambition, which I applaud, to align entry procedures and to encourage student mobility. I have asked my officials to engage with the representative bodies across the Irish Universities Association and the Technological Universities Association to take this matter forward. I met with Dr. Archibald quite recently at the all-island ministerial forum where we compared notes on this and other matters. The associations were very keen to align those processes and make sure their students can travel each side of the Border seamlessly and without having to come across any kind of procedural hurdles or hiccups that might delay that path because it is a fundamental goal that students in the North be treated the same as those in South and vice versa . "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Third Level Education"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_53","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Apprenticeship Programmes","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_51","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_51","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_53","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marian Harkin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_53.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  What number of apprenticeships has the State taken on each year from 2020 to date? We have discussed apprenticeships previously in this House. They are extremely important to me as a public representative and as someone who has grown up with many family members who have become apprentices. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marian Harkin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Deputy Marian Harkin)  I thank the Deputy for his question. The Government's commitment to expanding apprenticeship opportunities is delivering strong results. My Department secured \u20ac79 million additional investment through budget 2026, bringing the total investment for apprenticeships to over \u20ac410 million, more than double the level of 2020. This investment has supported significant growth with annual registrations rising by 78% from just over 5,000 in 2020 to well over 9,000 in 2025.  The question relates to apprenticeship participation across the public sector and this is a very specific priority for the Government. The public service apprenticeship plan, a deliverable under the Department's action plan for apprenticeship, which will soon be released, and the better public services strategy of the Department of public expenditure, sets a target of 750 annual public service apprentice registrations.  A co-ordinated set of actions from both Departments was put in place to assist employers in meeting apprenticeship targets. This included the establishment of leadership and working groups, employer engagement activities and practical supports such as the guide for employing apprentices in the public service, as well as promotional activities. While the target of 750 annual registrations has not yet been met, uptake increased from 67 in 2022 to 286 in 2025, demonstrating momentum and a foundation for continued expansion. The establishment of new apprenticeship programmes, such as social work, has been central to the increase achieved. In addition, earlier this week, together with the Ministers, Deputies Lawless, Chambers and Calleary, I launched a new business and operations apprenticeship, which will open up new pathways for careers in the public service. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  I firmly welcome the developments in the public service apprenticeship model made by the Department of further and higher education. The Minister, Deputy Lawless, and I have had many exchanges on the role of apprenticeships in our public services. It is being focused on by the Government and I welcome this. It is something I am absolutely focused on. We all know of the difficulty with the number of apprenticeships our local authorities are able to take on. Will the Minister of State outline, in relation to the goal of having 750 apprenticeships annually, whether we have an idea where they will be working in our public service? Will they be located in our local authorities? I want to know where they will be located. I have made the point previously on the floor of the D\u00e1il, and I will make it again, that local authorities are finding it ever more difficult to try to get their own workforce and are leasing out a lot to third parties. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marian Harkin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marian Harkin  The new business and operations apprenticeship will open up new pathways, beginning with the Civil Service, as well as contributing towards the overall target of 12,500 new apprentice registrations. There are other relevant programmes, including paramedic, spatial planning and data analytics. Information on public service apprenticeship uptake is not available prior to 2022 so I do not have figures prior to that. Regarding the figures Deputy Kenny is looking for with regard to public service apprenticeship numbers, back in 2022 the total number was 373. Last year, 2025, it was 566, and the annual registrations increased from 67 to 286. We can see a real increase in the numbers across the public service and Civil Service. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  The increase is significant and I am glad that some of what I spoke about 15 or 16 months ago has been taken on board, relating to the role of apprenticeships. With regard to students in fifth or sixth year who may be thinking about going into third level or progressing their academic life, or people in their 20s or whatever age they may be, where or how can they access this information? Is it being publicised correctly? Is it being given to career guidance teachers in schools? Is it openly and freely available through an online system? Are we promoting it? Can we help to promote it in different ways to try to get apprenticeships into our system? Genuinely, this is the first time I have heard about a lot of what the Minister of State spoke about. Is there a possibility, from our perspective or from an outside perspective, of promoting this better so we can give young people in this country the opportunity of jobs in our public service? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marian Harkin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marian Harkin  The point Deputy Kenny has made is very important. We have a number of programmes, especially in construction, and I will come back to the public service in a minute. One of our best programmes was a social media programme, Building Heroes, whereby 15 young men and women in the construction industry were involved in a social media campaign so that young people could see what it was like to be involved in these jobs. Yes, there are challenges with getting the messages out through schools but things are improving significantly. More and more career guidance teachers are becoming involved. Sometimes it is a teacher in a school who has a specific interest and can encourage students on this pathway. From this perspective, the Department is making every effort to advertise these programmes. I can say there are plenty of applications for the public service apprenticeships, and this is really where these apprenticeships are for now. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Apprenticeship Programmes"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_54","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Earca\u00edocht agus Sol\u00e1thar Foirne Tr\u00ed\u00fa Leibh\u00e9al","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_51","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_51","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_54","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_54.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  T\u00e1 an cheist seo d\u00edrithe ar an imn\u00ed at\u00e1 ann maidir leis an bpolasa\u00ed Gaeilge agus an r\u00f3l l\u00e1rnach at\u00e1 ag an nGaeilge in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, \u00e1it a mbeidh seans ann nach mbeadh Gaeilge inni\u00fail ag an uachtar\u00e1n, meabhr\u00e1na\u00ed, r\u00fana\u00ed ollscoile n\u00f3 an d\u00e9an feidhmi\u00fail agus go mbeadh s\u00e9 sin mar dhroch-ch\u00e1s don Ghaeilge agus do st\u00e1das na Gaeilge san ollscoil. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  Is institi\u00faid\u00ed f\u00e9inrialaitheacha iad ollscoileanna de r\u00e9ir bhr\u00ed Acht na nOllscoileanna, 1997. D\u00e1 bhr\u00ed sin, coinn\u00edonn siad freagracht as an ngn\u00f3 ar fad maidir le hacmhainn\u00ed daonna, faoi r\u00e9ir chomhl\u00edonadh bheartas an Rialtais maidir le l\u00edon na bhfostaithe agus an bheartas p\u00e1. Maidir le ceapach\u00e1in in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, t\u00e1 siad faoi ch\u00faram \u00fadar\u00e1s rialaithe na hollscoile sin, agus n\u00edl r\u00f3l agamsa n\u00e1 ag mo Roinn sa phr\u00f3iseas sin.  Aithn\u00edonn mo Roinn an t\u00e1bhacht gh\u00e9ar le cur chun cinn agus leathn\u00fa m\u00faineadh agus \u00fas\u00e1id na Gaeilge ag an tr\u00ed\u00fa leibh\u00e9al. Le hAcht an \u00dadar\u00e1is um Ard-Oideachas, 2022, cuirtear oibleag\u00e1id reacht\u00fail ar an \u00dadar\u00e1s um Ard-Oideachas tac\u00fa le hinstiti\u00faid\u00ed ardoideachais chun an Ghaeilge a mh\u00faineadh, a chur chun cinn agus a \u00fas\u00e1id. Chun na cr\u00edche sin, taca\u00edonn mo Roinn le hinstiti\u00faid\u00ed ardoideachais, tr\u00edd an \u00dadar\u00e1s um Ard-Oideachas, tr\u00ed mhaoini\u00fa l\u00e1rnach agus tr\u00ed shruthanna maoinithe sonracha do thionscnaimh Ghaeilge.  Leithdh\u00e1ileadh beagnach \u20ac1.8 milli\u00fan in 2024 agus 2025 ar Acadamh na hOllscola\u00edochta Gaeilge in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe. Taca\u00edonn Acadamh na hOllscola\u00edochta Gaeilge leis an nGaeilge laistigh d'Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, agus ar fud \u00c9ireann. Cuireann an t-acadamh roinnt cl\u00e1r acad\u00fail ar f\u00e1il tr\u00ed mhe\u00e1n na Gaeilge. Taca\u00edonn an t-acadamh le hOllscoil na Gaillimhe freisin agus \u00ed ag iarraidh a bheith ina hollscoil dh\u00e1theangach tr\u00ed fheabhs\u00fa scileanna sa teanga Gaeilge a chur ar f\u00e1il don fhoireann agus seirbh\u00eds\u00ed aistri\u00fach\u00e1in a chur ar f\u00e1il don ollscoil. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  N\u00ed f\u00e9idir agus n\u00ed ceart go mbeadh Pontius Pilate \u00e1 dh\u00e9anamh sa ch\u00e1s seo. Is cinneadh Rialtais a bh\u00ed ann Acht Ollscoil na Gaillimhe a th\u00f3g\u00e1il isteach in 2005 n\u00f3 2006. Rinneadh \u00edsli\u00fa ar st\u00e1das na Gaeilge \u00f3 thaobh coinn\u00edollacha a bheith ann maidir leo si\u00fad at\u00e1 i gceannas ar an gcol\u00e1iste. Is f\u00e9idir leis an Rialtas, tr\u00edd leasuithe a dh\u00e9anamh ar an Acht at\u00e1 ann faoi l\u00e1thair, dualgas a bheith ann go mbeadh c\u00e1il\u00edochta\u00ed ar leith ann - toisc an pr\u00edomhr\u00f3l at\u00e1 ag an ollscoil seo maidir leis nGaeilge - agus go mbeadh ar iarrth\u00f3ir\u00ed a bheith inni\u00fail sa Ghaeilge. N\u00ed caitheamh anuas \u00e9 seo ar na daoine at\u00e1 sna poist seo. Fuair siad an post tr\u00edd an ngn\u00e1thch\u00f3ras. Is caitheamh anuas ar an gc\u00f3ras \u00e9 nach raibh an coinn\u00edoll ann sa ch\u00e9ad dul s\u00edos. D\u00e1 r\u00e9ir, t\u00e1 \u00edsli\u00fa tugtha don Ghaeilge. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  Tuigim an fhadhb. Is institi\u00faid\u00ed f\u00e9inrialaitheacha iad ollscoileanna de r\u00e9ir bhr\u00ed Acht na nOllscoileanna, 1997. D\u00e1 bhr\u00ed sin, coinn\u00edonn siad freagracht as an ngn\u00f3 ar fad maidir le hacmhainn\u00ed daonna, faoi r\u00e9ir chomhl\u00edonadh bheartas an Rialtais maidir le l\u00edon na bhfostaithe agus an bheartas p\u00e1.  Is \u00e1bhar don chomhlacht rialaithe san ollscoil f\u00e9in \u00e9 ceapadh uachtar\u00e1n nua c\u00e9 go mbeif\u00ed ag s\u00fail go mbeadh pr\u00f3iseas oscailte earca\u00edochta i gceist. N\u00ed bh\u00edonn aon r\u00f3l ag an Roinn n\u00e1 ag an Aire sa cheapach\u00e1n seo. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  Tuigim cad at\u00e1 \u00e1 r\u00e1 ach t\u00e1 r\u00f3l ag an Aire tr\u00edd reachta\u00edocht na Tithe seo. Bh\u00ed an d\u00edosp\u00f3ireacht ann agus l\u00e9ir\u00edodh an bhuairt ag an am. In fact, sular \u00e9ir\u00ed s\u00e9 as, l\u00e9irigh \u00c9amon \u00d3 Cu\u00edv, duine do chomhghleacaithe an Aire, an bhuairt ch\u00e9anna. Chuir s\u00e9 Bille chun cinn chun tarraingt siar \u00f3n gcinneadh a glacadh in Acht 2006. Thug s\u00e9 an Bille an Chol\u00e1iste Ollscoile, Gaillimh (Leas\u00fa), 2017, chun cinn a bh\u00ed d\u00edrithe ar cinnte a dh\u00e9anamh de go raibh st\u00e1das n\u00edos daingne agus n\u00edos l\u00e1idre \u00f3 thaobh na Gaeilge de sa chol\u00e1iste, agus go mbeadh t\u00fas \u00e1ite ann \u00f3 thaobh na Gaeilge de. An bhuairt at\u00e1 ann n\u00e1 muna bhfuil inni\u00falacht sa Ghaeilge acu si\u00fad ag an leibh\u00e9al is airde sa chol\u00e1iste go nd\u00e9anfaidh s\u00e9 dochar don strait\u00e9is at\u00e1 ann. T\u00e1 strait\u00e9is ann a bh\u00ed ag tabhairt borradh don Ghaeilge sa chol\u00e1iste agus t\u00e1 dains\u00e9ar ann anois. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  T\u00e1 suim agam sa bhfadhb agus tuigim \u00e9. Beidh suim ag an Teachta sa mh\u00e9id at\u00e1 \u00e1 dh\u00e9anamh sa Roinn ag obair sa sp\u00e1s sin. Is rannph\u00e1irt\u00ed gn\u00edomhach \u00ed an Roinn sa r\u00e9imse agus t\u00e1 obair na hearn\u00e1la ardoideachais t\u00e1bhachtach chun a cinnti\u00fa go bhfuil luach \u00e1r saothar againn leis na scileanna teanga at\u00e1 riachtanach chun an sprioc inni\u00falachta 20% a bhaint amach. T\u00e1 a l\u00e1n oibre ar si\u00fal sa Roinn towards that regards. T\u00e1 r\u00e9imse leathan c\u00farsa\u00ed nua a bhfuil cuid acu i nGaeilge ar f\u00e1il do mhic l\u00e9inn. Is iad na hinstiti\u00faid\u00ed f\u00e9in a chinntigh sol\u00e1thar na gc\u00farsa\u00ed sin de r\u00e9ir neamhsple\u00e1chas a ceada\u00edodh.  Mar sin f\u00e9in, taca\u00edonn an Roinn le r\u00e9imse t\u00e9acsleabhair Gaeilge freisin at\u00e1 d\u00edrithe ar thac\u00fa le h\u00fas\u00e1id na Gaeilge ar champas tr\u00ed\u00fa leibh\u00e9al lena n-\u00e1ir\u00edtear taca\u00edocht do chlubanna agus cumainn Gaeilge. T\u00e1 m\u2019am thart. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Earca\u00edocht agus Sol\u00e1thar Foirne Tr\u00ed\u00fa Leibh\u00e9al"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_55","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Education and Training Boards","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_51","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_51","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_55","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marian Harkin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_55.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  I ask the Minister of State to provide an update on the funding cuts to the Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board. This specifically relates to the cut to English for speakers of other languages, ESOL, funding, which has resulted in the loss of 25 teachers and hundreds of classes within GRETB. This has had a devastating impact of which I know the Minister of State is aware. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marian Harkin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marian Harkin  The Deputy did bring this to my attention previously. I assure him that there have been no cuts to GRETB's core funding allocation. My Department remains committed to supporting a further education and training, FET, system that enables individual success, supports economic growth and strengthens communities, underpinned by almost \u20ac1.1 billion in current funding for ETBs in 2026. In 2026, GRETB's core allocation is \u20ac65.7 million. That is an extra \u20ac4.3 million relative to what was delivered 2025. In fact, it is an increase of over 34% to what was delivered in 2020. There are, therefore, no cuts to the allocation.  I understand what the Deputy is referring to, however, which is the conclusion of what was temporary emergency funding that was introduced following the outbreak of war in Ukraine in 2022. As I said, that was time-limited, temporary funding, but it did significantly expand ESOL provision for a fixed time period to meet exceptional demand. As was always intended, the temporary funding has now concluded, and ESOL funding has reverted to its pre-2022 core funding, which is in line with the parameters for budget 2026. While I acknowledge that the ending of these temporary supports presents challenges for some ETBs, it is important to be clear that this does not constitute a reduction in the overall ETB budget. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  I thank the Minister of State. I visited the Dunmore centre last week. I met with some of the English language students whose classes have been cancelled. These are people for whom English is not their first language. These classes really helped them to integrate into the community and find employment and so on. It was really heartening to hear what a positive difference it has made for them but, unfortunately, their classes have been cancelled. It is not just English language and literacy. We also had Irish language classes being cancelled in Athenry, which is really disappointing when we should be doing everything we can to promote the language. Digital literacy has also been affected in other areas. It is really disappointing because this has impacted on vulnerable and marginalised students in particular. It has also impacted a lot of teachers who were very close to completing their four years and receiving permanent contracts. It was a slap in the face for them after years of service. Altogether, 25 teachers and hundreds of classes have been affected by this. I met representatives of GRETB. They said their hands are tied. They have to deal with pay increases. They cannot touch apprenticeship funding, which is the only pot that has increased. There is, therefore, nothing they can do. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marian Harkin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marian Harkin  The point I made earlier is that there is no cut to the GRETB budget. In fact, it has significantly increased this year from last year. It is also important to say that while ESOL provision has reverted to pre-2022 levels before the Ukraine war, when it was significantly expanded on a temporary basis, ESOL continues to be delivered nationally as part of core funding. It is not that we have stopped it; it is just that we have gone back to the pre-2022 levels. Of course, ETBs have to manage within the budgets that are allocated to them, but GRETB has an extra \u20ac4 million this year. As the Deputy said, while it may impact on Spanish students and otherwise, it is important to remember that this was a temporary expansion and it followed the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  The reality is that it is a very significant cut within GRETB. Like I said, 25 classes are saying their hands are tied. I do not know if there has been engagement with GRETB on this. These cuts are cruel and they are impacting on marginalised students and staff who are about to become permanent. The Minister of State is shaking her head but, in fairness, there has been a significant cut to the budget in this area. GRETB has been very clear that it cannot move the funding around and that it has pay increases it has to meet. She might outline what engagement there has been with GRETB on this issue and if she would perhaps commit to meet with its representatives or with some of the teachers and students who have been affected by this. Every effort should be made to get these classes reinstated and get these staff back in place. I have been inundated with calls, texts and emails from people who are absolutely devastated by the outcome of this. That is the bottom line. I ask that the Minister of State do everything she can to get these classes reinstated. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marian Harkin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marian Harkin  I accept the Deputy's bona fides on this, and I hear what he says. However, I cannot emphasise often enough that there are no cuts here. There is an increase of \u20ac4 million in the budget. Each ETB has to decide how they spend their individual budgets, within certain parameters, obviously. ESOL programmes are simply going back to pre-2022 levels. We have seen similar tapering off of supports across other Departments. This was an emergency fund because of the Ukraine war and now, we are going back to where we were beforehand. I understand what the Deputy is saying to me, however. If he contacts me, I will get him as best an answer as I can. I cannot emphasise firmly enough, however, that it is up to individual ETBs. Each of them gets its funding. GRETB had a significant increase in funding and it is up to it how it spends that funding. I am, however, willing to speak to the Deputy about it to see if we can find any solutions. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Education and Training Boards"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_56","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Proposed Legislation","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_51","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_51","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_56","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_56.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  What is the current status of the draft legislation to amend the Technological Universities Act in terms of the facilitation of the partnership that was announced between Dundalk Institute of Technology and Queen's University Belfast?  I ask that question in particular because of the potential implications for what will be then the last remaining institute of technology, IT, which is the Institute of Art, Design and Technology, IADT, and whether there is scope within the legislation for its status to be dealt with. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  First of all, to take the Dundalk Institute of Technology and Queen's University Belfast partnership, that partnership under development is a hugely significant initiative, as I am sure the Deputy will agree, and advances the Government's goal, not only of balanced regional development, although it very much does in creating a university now on that north-east corridor between Dublin and Belfast, but by creating the first ever all-island university it very much advances the shared island objectives and broader objectives of alignment between both jurisdictions on the island and creating that shared entity. That partnership will include the development of shared processes in awarding qualifications, managing quality assurance of these different assessment bodies and grades, etc., within it, and collaboration in the research and innovation space.  It is also worth noting that Dundalk, under the partnership and under the technical specifications we are devising in terms of how it will operate, will retain its status as an autonomous designated institution of higher education in the State. While being part of Queen's, it also remains an autonomous entity within the State.  The matter has progressed steadily. I first brought it to Government in November. I was delighted to be able to do so. I secured Cabinet approval and set out immediately on pursuing the legislation that would be required to give effect to it. The colleges themselves, Queen's and DkIT, have been engaging closely and setting up working groups along with officials from my Department to prepare the necessary requirements and regulations to align the two jurisdictions and address whatever wrinkles may be there between incompatibilities to bring those together.  I am conscious of the Deputy's interest in IADT, which I share. I have visited the college on a number of occasions. I have met the IADT executive, president and team, both on site and, indeed, in here and in other areas. The IADT is one of only two remaining ITs in the State. It is a distinctive institution. It is a great opportunity for it, as a leader in the creative arts. I will come back to that in my next contribution. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  I can see the attraction of university status for Dundalk as an all-island university, etc., but that leaves D\u00fan Laoghaire IADT out on its own with no clear pathway forward. In particular, I am concerned for the staff and the workers, their terms and conditions and the sustainability of the IADT. If everybody who used to be in an IT is now in a university, who wants to go to IADT, but if IADT is to get university status, is it to be done under the Technological Universities Act 2018 so that the staff retain their existing terms and conditions? That is the way the staff would like it to be done. That is their clear declared position, and they are quite angry.  The Teachers' Union of Ireland, TUI, deplored the way in which the announcement was made, that it had not been consulted with in advance, that the authorities of Queen's and Dundalk and the Government clearly involved in the discussions around this make an announcement but that there was no consultation with the TUI and with the workers. This needs to be addressed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  Taking the Deputy's questions in reverse order, I will deal with the TUI in the first instance. The manner of the announcement was sensitive and was a case of jumping together. The executive of Dundalk IT, the board of Queen's University and, indeed, Cabinet here considered the matter on the same morning at the same time, and having come to a shared conclusion, we were then in a position to announce. I hope the Deputy will understand due to the sensitivities around it. It is historic. It is groundbreaking as a development creating the first all-island university, and it was essential that we moved as one. I hope that puts some context on the announcement.  I have met the TUI executive on a number of occasions, both here in Leinster House and elsewhere. I attended their conference recently and engaged with them on this matter and many other matters. We had a good, solid engagement. I do not say they agree with me on everything, nor I with them on everything, but we have a good working relationship and there is mutual respect there.  I might come back to the IADT-specific position in the next round because I want to go into some detail on that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  First, it is not great to make an announcement like that without consulting the workers. Their clearly declared position is that it should be done through an amendment to the Technological Universities Act 2018. Will the Minister clarify that is what the draft legislation is, when we are going to see it, when it will be published and whether there will be scope for amendment to accommodate a pathway to university status for IADT, which will be the last remaining IT? IADT will not be sustainable unless it has a pathway to university status, but the one that is preferred by the TUI and the staff in IADT is for it to be done through a technological universities Bill because anything else threatens or creates considerable uncertainty for the future of those workers and the terms and conditions of employment they enjoy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  The Technological Universities, TU, Act is predicated on the creation of technological universities through the amalgamation of institutes of technology and by ITs coming together to form a technological university. That is the framework that is provided for in the current TU Act. The Act does not currently have a mechanism for the elevation of a single IT to become a university. That process is not catered for within the Act. The Act is for an amalgamation and coming together of different satellites to become one. It does not have a single elevation path.  In the case of Dundalk and Queen's, there are a number of unique aspects to the partnership, because of the North-South and cross-jurisdictional nature of it. That requires separate legislation. I intend to publish heads of Bill at the earliest opportunity, which will be very soon and perhaps as early as next week, and we will see the flow forward from it at that stage.  I share the ambition of IADT to achieve university status. I fully support it in doing that. I respect the rights of staff and, indeed, learners at the college to have their say in that process. That is the process I am also engaging in, working with the institute in parallel. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Proposed Legislation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_57","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Third Level Fees","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_51","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_51","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_57","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_57.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shane Moynihan  T\u00e1 m\u00e9 ag t\u00f3g\u00e1il na ceiste seo thar ceann mo chomhghleaca\u00ed, an Teachta \u00d3 Cear\u00fail. The question is to ask the Minister if supports and grants are available for Irish students undertaking specialist artistic third level training, such as ballet dancing and dance training, that may not be available in Ireland, what supports are available to those families and those students undertaking such training and if he will make a statement on the matter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  The student grant scheme operated by Student Universal Support Ireland, SUSI, provides maintenance grants to eligible undergraduate students pursuing approved courses in other EU member states provided, of course, that they qualify for a SUSI grant at home in the first instance. A qualifying student can take that grant with them if they are pursuing a course of study abroad within the EU.  In general, the rules of the scheme state an approved undergraduate course is defined as a full-time undergraduate course of not less than two years' duration pursued in a university or equivalent third level institution that is maintained or assisted by recurrent grants from public funds in another EU member state or the UK. Therefore, there are certain minimal entry criteria to qualify, but they are quite well understood and quite compatible with the SUSI scheme as it operates at home.  Students who may be in receipt of SUSI grants in a domestic institution whose course of study includes a compulsory period of study abroad, and those registered in participating higher education institutions taking part in schemes such as Erasmus or other student mobilities, continue to receive their maintenance grant payments while abroad. Effectively, they take SUSI with them. If they are undergoing a placement, an exchange or an Erasmus programme, their grant travels with them and continues to support them.  However, the student grant scheme does not extend to the payment of tuition fees to institutions outside the State, other than exceptional provision in a small number of cases for postgraduate courses in Northern Ireland. This provision, which has been in place since the establishment of SUSI, is consistent with the principles of the Good Friday Agreement and is intended to promote greater tolerance and understanding between both jurisdictions. A little like the previous question where I spoke about Queen's and Dundalk IT, there is a particular sensitivity and complexity to aligning the North and South jurisdictions but it is seen and treated, I believe correctly, as a special case that deserves special support and a special set of rules to promote and encourage that mobility. It is a special case for Northern Ireland, which does not extend beyond that in terms of fees for tuition payments. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shane Moynihan  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Aire as ucht an fhreagra sin.  I want to be clear on the kinds of programmes I am talking about. I am talking about specialist ballet programmes that may not necessarily result in an undergraduate degree award but that are for individuals who would have been practising or learning how to perform ballet, in some cases since the age of four. They would enrol in universities abroad, for example the University of the Arts in Rotterdam.  A number of the constituency cases Deputy \u00d3 Cear\u00fail and I have been dealing with have come back and said that such a programme is not covered by SUSI grants at the moment. When people have a talent for something like ballet and it is something they want to pursue, it is important that, where programmes are not available in Ireland, some flexibility be given to people who want to study.  I know of instances where families have explored all available supports, such as through the Arts Council and SUSI and have been told quite clearly that such courses are not eligible for coverage by SUSI. Therefore, my question is on whether there is scope for grants or bursaries or for an alteration to be made to the criteria for SUSI grants to support families in such instances when students are not able to pursue these kinds of courses in this country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  I see the point and the scenario the Deputy described and I am sure these talented young people have great opportunities available to them in certain specialist centres of education outside the State. It is unfortunate that specialist area of training is not available in the State at present. There are institutes such as the Royal Irish Academy of Music and a number of different dance and music courses are available across many institutions. I am not sure of the degree of compatibility. I heard the Deputy say, and noted it, that this particular course is not available in the State. I am not sure whether there are comparable courses. The Deputy mentioned he had explored the avenue of the Arts Council. It does appear that this may be a candidate for a bursary scheme or sponsorship scheme. There are students studying in Ireland who have such bursaries from their home states, although not necessarily from their states but from sponsors who have taken them under their wing to promote their talent. Sometimes that happens on a private sector basis. In examples I have seen, students ended up in Ireland supported by sponsors abroad but it is not a scheme currently in operation here. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shane Moynihan  I ask for some consideration by the Minister of the possibility of exploring joint approaches with other Government Departments. When we see great people achieve greatness in their disciplines, we take credit for them and take pride in those people being Irish citizens. It would be great for people like these constituents we have dealt with who have an aptitude for things like ballet and will represent Ireland in the international arts environment, if we were able to say the State played a role in supporting their love of their vocations and in them developing the skills and doing the training they needed to excel on the world stage. It is about reviewing the criteria for SUSI grants, especially if there are niche courses like this for which there are no equivalents in this country. Consideration should be given to what kinds of supports could be made available. If it cannot be done through the SUSI angle, will the Minister look at partnering with other Government Departments or State agencies like the Arts Council and the creative Ireland programme, not only for things like ballet, but for other specialist art and performing arts we are all familiar with in our constituencies? We all take pride in them when they excel but we must ensure the State has played a role in helping them to do so. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  There is a case to be made for sponsoring, perhaps to a greater degree than is currently the case, students in the situation the Deputy described. It may be of interest to the Deputy and the House that I have asked my Department to commence preparation of a strategy for the creative arts, on how we support our artistic institutions, including the Institute of Art, Design and Technology, IEDT, the National College of Art and Design, NCAD, the Royal Irish Academy of Music and others, which perform a vital function in the creative tapestry of the social life in the State.  It is pertinent at a time when we require more transversal skills and the deep dive of specialised education is no longer as transferable as it once was. We need graduates to come out with skills in communication, problem solving and analysis. I often find the creative arts is a wonderful foundry for that kind of skill set and those kinds of ideas. I will take it on board. I would be happy to talk to the Deputy separately if he wants to follow up with me on the details of the case, or Deputy \u00d3 Cear\u00fail may wish to. In the context of the creative arts strategy, I will certainly examine whether there are any lacunas that could perhaps be usefully filled. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Third Level Fees"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_58","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Oideachas tr\u00ed Ghaeilge","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_51","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_51","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_58","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_58.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shane Moynihan  Is ceist \u00ed seo le cur ar an Aire maidir leis an taca\u00edocht at\u00e1 \u00e1 cur ar f\u00e1il ag a Roinn le sol\u00e1thar oideachas pobail agus sol\u00e1thar oideachais do dhaoine f\u00e1sta tr\u00ed mhe\u00e1n na Gaeilge. My question relates to the provision of adult and community education through the medium of Irish. Will the Minister make a statement on the matter? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  The Government is strongly committed to promoting and supporting the Irish language, including in the sphere of further education and training. Education and training boards, ETBs, play a crucial role in this work. ETBs assess demand in their communities for programmes delivered through Irish, including adult and community education, and provide these programmes where needs are identified and it is practicable to do so. Several ETBs participate in the breacadh scheme, which provides important support through the development of Irish-language teaching and learning resources, along with tutor training and curriculum development. ETBs also offer Irish language classes at a range of levels, including seasonal part-time and evening courses, with provision available for accredited awards from the national framework of qualifications, NFQ, levels 3 to 6.  In addition, Irish-language community organisations may apply to their local ETB for funding through the adult literacy for life collaboration and innovation fund, as well as the reach fund, subject to eligibility criteria. These funds support innovative projects addressing unmet literacy needs and engaging disadvantaged learners. Some examples of projects funded under these initiatives include digital skills programmes for older adults delivered through the medium of Irish and supports for refugees seeking to learn the Irish language. We spoke earlier about English for Speakers of Other Languages, ESOL, provision. There was some Irish language provision for Ukrainian nationals at one stage and gardening and horticulture classes are also delivered bilingually. That gives an illustration of the breadth of different courses being delivered by ETBs through the medium of Irish in a range of subjects.  The fundamental principle, which the point the Deputy made so well, is that Irish-language education does not mean teaching Irish. It means teaching other subjects through the medium of Irish. I am keen to progress that and expand on it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shane Moynihan  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Aire as ucht an fhreagra sin. Tugaim moladh m\u00f3r do na ETBs timpeall na t\u00edre at\u00e1 ag cur ar f\u00e1il scileanna nach scileanna Gaeilge iad ach at\u00e1 ag cur foghlaim scileanna ar f\u00e1il tr\u00ed mhe\u00e1n na Gaeilge. T\u00e1 an-t\u00e1bhacht ag baint leis sin, n\u00ed hamh\u00e1in sna ceantair Ghaeltachta ach sna ceantair nach bhfuil an Ghaeilge in \u00fas\u00e1id iontu chomh forleathan c\u00e9anna.  I pay particular tribute to the City of Dublin ETB for the Gaeltacht skills course it has put in place. It is a two-week immersion course for tutors and teachers in the City of Dublin ETB to give them the ability to revive their subject expertise through the medium of Irish. I was glad to hear the Minister articulate on the floor of the D\u00e1il that nuair a cuirimid ceisteanna faoi \u00fas\u00e1id na Gaeilge sa bhreisoideachas, n\u00edlmid ag labhairt faoi Gaeilge a chur ar f\u00e1il i ranganna, ach \u00e1bhair eile a chur ar f\u00e1il tr\u00ed mhe\u00e1n na Gaeilge. That is an important distinction to make.  I would like to see the City of Dublin ETB approach expanded across the country, not only in extending the provision of courses through the Irish language but also ensuring its staff feels comfortable doing so. Support from the Department is needed to allow the sort of immersion courses in City of Dublin ETB to widely expand the ability of staff to deliver tuition through Irish. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  B'fh\u00e9idir go mbeadh suim ag an Teachta i ngr\u00fapa oibre earn\u00e1la nua um riachtanas oideachas treasach don Ghaeilge san earn\u00e1il phoibl\u00ed. T\u00e1 an gr\u00fapa oibre seo \u00e1 bhun\u00fa ag an Roinn agus an Roinn Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta faoi ghn\u00edmh 4.3.3 den Phlean Gn\u00edomha\u00edochta do Sheirbh\u00eds\u00ed Poibl\u00ed Gaeilge 2026-2028. Is oifigigh shinsireacha \u00f3n d\u00e1 Roinn, chomh maith le p\u00e1irt\u00ed leasmhara earn\u00e1la \u00f3 Ranna Rialtais \u00e1bhartha, gn\u00edomhaireachta\u00ed St\u00e1it agus ionadaithe \u00f3 na hearn\u00e1lacha breisoideachais agus ardoideachais a bheidh mar chomhalta\u00ed an ghr\u00fapa. Is \u00e9 cusp\u00f3ir an ghr\u00fapa machnamh a dh\u00e9anamh ar an gcaoi ar f\u00e9idir r\u00e9imse ioml\u00e1n an sol\u00e1thar oideachais tr\u00ed\u00fa leibh\u00e9al ar fud an ardoideachais, breisoideachais, na hoili\u00fana, na bprint\u00edseachta\u00ed, agus na foghlama tac\u00fa leis an bplean n\u00e1isi\u00fanta do sheirbh\u00eds\u00ed Gaeilge. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shane Moynihan  Molaim go m\u00f3r na hiarrachta\u00ed sin. We need to go a little further with the upcoming draft strategy on FET, that should have - and I hope it will - an explicit mention of the provision of courses that are not on the Irish language but are taught through the medium of Irish. Ba mhaith liom rud eile a chur in i\u00fal don Aire agus na ETBs ar fud na t\u00edre n\u00e1 go bhfuil an-chuid Gaelchol\u00e1ist\u00ed againn ar f\u00e9idir a \u00fas\u00e1id don oideachas do dhaoine f\u00e1sta agus don oideachas pobail. Community colleges provide a broad range of adult and community education courses. There is no reason Gaelcol\u00e1ist\u00ed could not be asked to do the same and provide the same sort of model. That is something I would encourage. T\u00e1 an t-\u00e9ileamh ann don Ghaeilge. T\u00e1 daoine ann at\u00e1 ag iarraidh cur lena gcuid st\u00f3r focal agus lena gcuid Gaeilge. T\u00e1 m\u00fainteoir\u00ed ann ar fud na ETBs ar fad at\u00e1 in ann an teagasc seo a dh\u00e9anamh. Caithfimid an mhuin\u00edn a thabhairt d\u00f3ibh \u00e9 sin a dh\u00e9anamh as Gaeilge. T\u00e1im ag s\u00fail go nd\u00e9anfaidh an tAire obair leis na ETBs chun \u00e9 sin a bhaint amach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  I agree with the suggestion about the greater utilisation of Gaelchol\u00e1ist\u00ed and Gaelscoileanna as part of the educational real estate, which could play host to some courses of this nature. That is a good suggestion and one that I will take away with me and consider. I reiterate my Department's commitment to furthering provision of Irish language in this space and across all aspects of the tertiary estate. T\u00e1 an Rialtas tiomanta oibri\u00fa ar bhonn thras-Rannach oideachas tr\u00ed mhe\u00e1n na Gaeilge a neart\u00fa ag gach leibh\u00e9al \u00f3 na leathbhlianta go dt\u00ed an tr\u00ed\u00fa leibh\u00e9al ag cinnti\u00fa gur obair thairbheach agus inbhuanaithe at\u00e1 ann chun an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn. I hope I have provided some reassurance to the Deputy that this is being taken seriously by me and within an Roinn freisin. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Oideachas tr\u00ed Ghaeilge"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_59","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Third Level Education","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_51","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_51","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_59","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_59.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  I wish to ask the Minister about the level of demand for specific courses, particularly in healthcare including courses in medicine, nursing and dentistry; the number of applicants who apply for a particular course and the numbers that will be granted a course for the coming academic year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  I ask the Deputy to repeat that because I have run out of prepared answers. That is fine, I can take a free run but I ask the Deputy to repeat his question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  The question generally relates to the number of courses available in medicine, nursing and dentistry and if all applicants for whom it is their number one choice on their CAO form, for example, will receive a place on those courses. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  I would never be so bold as to make a commitment that every applicant will get his or her first choice every time because I am not sure that is something the system has ever achieved. However, 80% of applicants receive their first, second or third choice within the system. The vast majority of students receive a choice within their top three course preferences and that is positive. The traditionally high-point courses in healthcare, including medicine, nursing and dentistry, as well as physiotherapy and veterinary medicine the Deputy mentioned are all in high demand and they typically attract high points. One of the issues I have been working on is increasing the provision of courses. We have 1,100 additional places available in the current year.  When I assumed my role in the Department, I asked the HEA to conduct an expression of interest exercise. The authority went to the different universities and asked them how many more students they could take on board. I was happy to fund that and indeed, we have done that already this year by creating the 1,100 additional places. This is also imperative in the context of the whole-of-government focus on disability services and healthcare and in the context of our demographics, whereby we have a population that is ageing and living longer. It is key that people are enabled not just to live longer lives, but to live healthier lives as well, and part of that is having the medical and other professionals available to assist. This is an important mission of Government.  I am currently in the process of undertaking a second round of expressions of interest. I have invited the universities to consider whether, having provided 1,100 extra places, they can do more. Can we create more places? That has two effects. The first is that it creates more capacity in the system, which should exert downward pressure on points, leading to more students getting their first choice or certainly, their first, second or third. It also increases the throughput of those professions through the system. It is a very important piece of work. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  I thank the Minister for that. I asked the question because a lot of people have come to me who achieved the required points but they did not get the actual course because of a lack of places. I also asked it because we all see the extensive waiting lists across our health service, particularly for those trying to access a GP in their local area. There are also extensive waiting lists within community hospitals and in larger hospitals in Cork, Dublin, Galway and elsewhere. I am particularly interested in dentistry courses because I have come across a number of cases of people having difficulty accessing dental hygienist courses. I know of one person who applied for a dental hygienist course in UCC but a place is just not available.  Has the Minister been in communication with the Department of Health regarding the level of demand for these courses, given the waiting lists that we have in our health service? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  On dentistry, I was pleased to visit the RCSI's new dental hospital in Sandyford recently where a number of new places have been created straight into the system. I met students who are already in first year on that course and they were participating eagerly. I am very aware of the shortages of GPs and the pressure on rural practices as a TD and have seen it myself in my own constituency. One of the benefits of the new courses I have been supporting and encouraging is that rather than doing the same thing in every university, and repeating it around the country, universities are coming forward with different offerings that are more targeted and localised. For example, in Galway a new medical degree is being offered in the area of rural and remote medicine. That focuses on future practitioners who will have a rural catchment area and a slightly different practice than might be the case for an urban practitioner, which is helpful. The ATU and SETU are creating new veterinary courses with a focus on large animal practice, unlike the small animal practices that are typical of cities. The RCSI have a proposal for a new GP medical course focusing on care in the community. Each of these new courses has a particular focus which is of societal benefit. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  The question is based on the fact that people have come to me because their child has been waiting on a dental appointment for two years. People cannot get access to a GP, particularly those who are living in rural areas. I am sure the Minister is acutely aware of that. The first question that is often posed by constituents is around why we do not have more nurses, doctors or dentists because that would bring down the waiting lists. A cross-government approach to this is important. There are significant issues in our health service and the waiting lists. The possibility of providing extra courses, particularly in medicine, nursing and dentistry, would have cross-government and cross-House support because it would have the effect of bringing down the waiting times that many people are facing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  I sympathise with the plight of people. The Deputy asks what I am doing about that. I am creating more professionals. I am creating more college places and more capacity on those courses that are in demand. I am doing this for two reasons. The first is to enable access for professionals into those courses and the other is to ensure that we have a supply of graduates into the system to provide the services that the Deputy speaks about.  It is not related to my Ministry but there are incentives for GPs practising in rural areas. The rural practitioner allowance is a payment made to GPs taking on a rural practice to reflect the nature of the work they do, which can be somewhat different.  In terms of conversations with the Department of Health, the Minister for Health and I have had a number of conversations on this issue. We very much have a shared goal and I want to thank the Minister for Health publicly for her collaboration and cooperation with me on this piece of work. I also want to thank the Minister for Education and Youth in that regard because we are also looking at speech therapists, educational psychologists and a number of different professionals within the educational sphere. One of the key aspects to this is not just increasing the number of college places, although that is important, but having the placements that students can go on within the hospital setting as part of their training. The Minister for Health is working with me on that. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Third Level Education"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_60","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Employment Rights","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_51","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_51","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_60","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_60.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I ask the Minister to outline the progress in resolving the employment issues of personal assistants, an issue we have dealt with previously. He has met with me and a number of these personal assistants who work in ETBs and further and higher education centres. What is the timeline for when the issue is expected to be resolved? Will the Minister make a statement on that matter now? I am aware that a WRC proposal is in play but I am not sure there is absolute joy in relation to it. If he could give me an update, I will come back in then. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  I can give a very good answer in a minute or I can give the Deputy an answer off the top of my head right away. I do have any prepared answers left. We are beyond the range of questions that are normally reached.  I am very much aware of that situation. I have met the group with the Deputy in Leinster |House and we have had some good conversations. A disability demonstration project is under way in my Department, the purpose of which is to fathom the appropriate level of supports available to adult learners within the third level and further education system.  It may not be a direct correlation to perhaps an SNA-type role that we would see within the second level or primary school system because there has to be a degree of autonomy, dignity and recognition that the young adult may not be as keen to have a companion at all times in a way that a student at a junior level might. The actual nature and parameters of it are a little bit complex and require understanding.  There are multiple other supports from assistive technology through to different schemes. I increased the student assistance fund to \u20ac19 million this year, the highest it has ever been. It has a discretionary allocation within it that welfare officers and access officers in colleges can use to support students with a particular need. I appreciate that the question the Deputy is asking goes to the workers of his constituency, and the wider group whom I have met and engaged with. My proposal is to engage with the Deputy offline on that in terms of the latest development. It has been through the WRC, as he mentioned. I do not want to say too much on the D\u00e1il record for fear of interfering with the industrial relations process, but we might engage on that offline. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I thank the Minister. We definitely will. The stakeholders are the Department, the education and training boards, and F\u00f3rsa on behalf of the workers. This issue has been ongoing for considerable time. I took it to the T\u00e1naiste when he was Minister for further education. An element was dealt with in that the pay rate per hour was improved. It was a considerable percentage because it was a very low base. The big thing for them was the 52-week contract. These are people who are facilitating those who have challenging or further needs to stay in the educational sector and in further education. That is an absolute requirement. In relation to the disability project, a proposal is in front of them. It is not a 52-week contract, which is the big thing. The Minister knows that issue of applying for social protection is a huge issue. He might comment on the disability project, the outworking of that and how it may facilitate both those who need the help and those who are working in a scenario that is far from perfect. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  There are a number of different ways in which I can assist students with challenges in navigating the educational system. One cohort of such students are those with intellectual disabilities who are engaged in further education and training programmes. I became aware of a lacuna in the system last year when a case was presented to me. There was no transport system available for those students to avail of learning within their own areas, which often meant a parent had to take time off. Perhaps they could not even take up a job or work outside the home because the student was entirely dependent on that parent to bring them up and down to the place of learning. Those places of learning were somewhat unique and specialist and not necessarily available in every town or village. It is typically one or two per county. I intervened in that regard and made a sum available - \u20ac2 million, in fact - through SOLAS, which has been disbursed to the ETBs. This now means a transport scheme is available for those learners with intellectual disabilities to take up their FET place within the system. The funds have been made available to the ETBs. My Department has issued guidance as to how that should be operated. I hope that will make a meaningful impact for those learners and their families. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  We all realise the supports that are required, from reasonable accommodation to assistive technology. In some cases, students need added supports such as personal assistants. I do not see it as something that is changing. I accept that it creates a difficulty given that a proposal is in front of workers at the minute. I will deal with the Minister offline about that. There will be issues with pay and conditions, but the 52-week contract was a fundamental issue and is the reason there has not been huge retention in the area. Again, it is about providing the supports that work for those students who need added supports to stay in education, particularly in third level. It is also about providing people with a decent contract and decent pay. Even if this is accepted, I could not think that this will be a solution to the problem. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  As I said, I am aware of the issue and am very much engaged with the Deputy and the workers on it. We have had good meetings with them. The Deputy engaged with my predecessor on the matter in a similarly constructive fashion. I thank him for the approach he has taken to it.  While we are talking about the assistance provided through those very diligent workers that the Deputy represents and those to whom he has introduced me in his area and other parts of the country, we also have work to do around the transitions from education into the workplace. Many learners with intellectual of physical difficulties have said to me - I have met a variety of groups - that they are managing to navigate the education system, but it is about actually getting a job. It is about getting the dignity at work at the far side. That is fundamental. I am working with my colleague the Minister, Deputy Calleary, on that and on the pathways. My Department is investing significantly. A number of officials are looking at a project around that to support that transition journey so that they will find an employer that is suited to their requirements and so we can make that journey work for all. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  That is absolutely necessary. We will need to sort this out, particularly for personal assistants in DIFE, \u00d3 Fiaich, Cavan and beyond. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Employment Rights"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_61","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Further and Higher Education","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_51","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_51","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_61","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_61.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  We talked earlier on about big announcements without people knowing they were coming. I met earlier with representatives of the Postgraduate Workers' Organisation and Aontas na Mac L\u00e9inn \u00c9ireann, AML\u00c9, the national students' union, about the surprise announcement from Research Ireland that it is pulling out of graduate and postgraduate schemes for PhD and postdoctorate funding. People will now be applying directly to colleges and universities. They are extremely worried that this has come out of nowhere and about what it may mean for the stipend, for the autonomy and independence of postgraduate students and post-doctorate researchers, along with many other concerns. Will the Minister say something to reassure them? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  I am familiar with the situation. Research Ireland is changing some of the schemes it operates. It is consolidating some schemes. There were a number of different schemes within it, partly arising from the merger of the Irish Research Council to Research Ireland, and there was some duplication of schemes and programmes within that. There has been a consolidation. A new strategy has been adopted by Research Ireland, which is one I applaud and share the ambition of. Research Ireland has been funded to a level that has never been seen before. It has been one of the focuses of my time in this role that I have invested significant research funding, including in Research Ireland, which should be working its way through to the individual researchers. I would give an assurance to those researchers that while there may be a change in title of some of the schemes and a movement from one scheme to another, the overall contents of those programmes are being continued. The funding is also being continued. Those researchers should not have to fear the changes they are hearing about. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  They are very concerned because the background is that the Postgraduate Workers' Organisation and students' unions fought for stipend increases. They got them up to \u20ac25,000. It is still not enough and is much less than their European counterparts. They are also looking for status as workers. They fear that their conditions may be impacted by moving over to universities because if a block grant is going from Research Ireland to universities, potentially the university could say it will have more postgraduate students on stipends of less than \u20ac25,000. The universities will not want to be taking them on as workers, which is what the postgraduate students want. The postgraduate student will have less autonomy because, currently, the grant is given to them. Now, it will be given to the Department or the supervisor rather than to the individual. People's choice about the things they propose to research will be reduced and put into the hands of the colleges and universities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  I would be very concerned if I was to learn, and I invite the Deputy to share details with me if it is happening, of researchers being told they cannot research certain areas and are being directed toward particular areas of research, because academic freedom is a key part of my strategy, the Department's strategy and Research Ireland's strategy. It is also the case that I have promoted education as a public good and the pursuit of curiosity and knowledge as one of the four pillars of my Department's strategy.  It is fundamental to my approach that researchers should not be told that a particular area is off limits or is not in vogue. In fact, there should be that full academic freedom. There are a number of schemes in place that should be supporting that. I invite Deputy Boyd Barrett to share those details with me if he wishes.  The Deputy mentioned AML\u00c9. I met AML\u00c9 yesterday. I hosted a cost of college event where we met a number of students, learners, apprentices, researchers and people in the system across a range of institutions. It was a very helpful event which will inform my deliberations on the budget later this year. It is on my list to arrange, in the next couple of weeks, a dedicated sit-down meeting with the Irish Federation of University Teachers, IFUT, which represents researchers. I met with IFUT before but I am working towards a one-to-one meeting to hear what the organisation has to say on the issue.  I invite Deputy Boyd Barrett to share with me some of the details if there are issues of that kind. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  I understand from talking to AML\u00c9 and the postgraduate workers that IFUT is also concerned about this. I have not talked directly to it since this information came out but clarifications and reassurances need to be given that there will be no question that, for example, the stipends of \u20ac25,000 that have been achieved when researchers applied to Research Ireland will be undermined when they go to the colleges and the universities.  Another concern that was expressed is that because there is more money available from the corporate sector, industry and so on for STEM subjects, the arts could get squeezed and that there will be a pressure because the sector does not want so many people doing postgraduate courses in arts and humanities and wants more of them in areas where the universities can get more money from the corporate sector and industry.  There are serious concerns that need to be addressed and assurances need to be given. One would need to explain why this is happening and what exact benefit there is in this change for research, postgraduate researchers and their staff, incomes, career paths and so on. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  The Deputy obviously did not hear me on David McCullagh's show two weeks ago when I extolled the virtues of an artistic education, an arts degree and the humanities more widely. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  I am glad to hear it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  It is something I have been saying for ten years. The Deputy and I have joined in common cause on that in this House before. A point I have made at a number of events I attended, including today, for example, with companies in the technology and digital space, is that we need to produce a wide range of graduates across all disciplines. That is even more the case in the age of AI and digital because the problem-solving, collaborative, creative mindset enables and creates those transversal skills that can be applied across a range of jobs and areas of industry in the future.  The job for life has long been a thing of the past but the skill set for life is something that is continuing to change and evolve. It is those creative industries that can very helpfully augment that talent pool in a portable, transferable way. Ironically, and perhaps unexpectedly, they are the skills that employers are seeking out more and more, rather than deep technical qualifications that are, of course, in great demand, but workers need to be able to translate learning across different sectors and respond to change as it comes at them. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Further and Higher Education"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_62","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Community Training Centres","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_51","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_51","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_62","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_62.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  I want to talk about community training centres, CTCs, and the pay negotiations that are under way for them. I have spoken about this before. I am very passionate about CTCs. I have seen the major benefits these centres have for the young people who are in them in terms of their ability to learn, progress and gain self-esteem they may have lost in other education facilities. I would like to know how pay negotiations are going for those staff members. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  I thank Deputy Cummins. I share her high regard for the CTC sector and also for the very similar work Youthreach organisations perform. I have had the privilege of visiting both in my role on a number of different occasions. I attended the Irish Association of Community Training Organisations, IACTO, annual conference. I think it was in Athlone. It was certainly in the midlands. I attended that event, spoke with the IACTO executive and addressed the membership. It was a really positive event which I was pleased to be able to engage with. I have a great interest in that area.  In terms of the pay negotiations, I do not want to trespass on the functions of the Department of public expenditure, which is leading the negotiations in that regard. However, I am aware of some advances and some progress made. I do not want to go into great detail on the record in the D\u00e1il for fear of misquoting or misattributing a figure somewhere because it would be unhelpful to the process were I to do that.  I will share my view that CTCs and Youthreach perform similar functions and it would be desirable to strengthen both by n\u00ed neart go cur le ch\u00e9ile - being stronger together. There is a sort of consolidation exercise in a very positive way that could be performed there in terms of bringing them together. I have engaged with some CTCs on that initiative already. It is something I have called out in my tertiary strategy, which I brought to Cabinet on Tuesday. There are several actions in that strategy, close to 100. One of them is to look at a consolidated strategy that would allow CTCs to enjoy effectively the same rights and entitlements as the Youthreach centres currently enjoy, in a way that promotes them as a common entity or certainly as a common mode of educational delivery. There is such a similarity across the two services that it would make sense to consolidate in a way that gives both a greater platform. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  I do not want to jeopardise any negotiations that are going on either, but I am aware of the frustrations people in the sector have. People are leaving CTCs because they can no longer afford to live on the wages they receive. They feel disrespected and not recognised. I am glad, as I think others will be, to hear the Minister express respect and understanding of how important CTCs are. I am a little concerned about the use of the term \"consolidation strategy\". I hope that does not mean CTCs are going to be replaced with Youthreach. I hope it means both will be strengthened, as the Minister has said.  Another important point as regards Youthreach and CTCs is that the wages of another cohort of people, namely, staff in the local training initiatives, LTIs, some of whom were in front of the further and higher education committee today, are even worse than those of CTC staff. In fact, I was shocked to learn they want to move to CTC scales. I asked why they do not want to move to Youthreach scales. I obviously do not work in the Department of public expenditure. These are people who are working with a very vulnerable cohort of students. We need to respect and support those staff members to the best of our ability in order that we keep them in place, given all the experience they have. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  I completely agree with the Deputy. In terms of the vulnerable cohort of students, part of my political philosophy is to take a progressive approach by giving most support to people who need it most and making targeted interventions. That goes to the heart of the issue, in terms of the learners attending Youthreach, a CTC or an LTI. I have had the privilege of meeting many such learners. In fact, I have a piece of art that was put together by a learner in Kilkenny Youthreach. It now has pride of place on the wall of my office across the corridor.  The stories of each learner are unique and different. They are often inspiring and challenging. One of the points made to me by the educators in the centres is that there is not a homogenous group. There are many different people coming through with many different stories to tell. Many of them have challenges, all of a different nature. Many of them blossom when they are given an opportunity in a CTC or Youthreach centre. That is something I am very keen to continue to support. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  I am pleading with whoever is making the decision. I have been told several times that the Department is not their employer. Notwithstanding that, as a member of the board of management of one CTC, I have to say we can only pay the staff on the scales that are provided and those scales are provided by the Department. A bit of guidance and some moving of the scales and terms and conditions for staff members would be fantastic.  As the Minister rightly said, there are vulnerable learners and they present as they present, are taken as they are and really thrive. However, that is because of the skill and dedication of the staff members. We have to do everything we can to ensure they have appropriate pay scales and there is a parity of esteem for all staff members, whether it is in Youthreach, the CTCs or the LTIs. There are a lot of initials there. The most important thing is that there is equality and equity among staff members to ensure they do not leave because without those skilled workers, the students will suffer, will not be able to progress and will not have the bright future they deserve. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  The Deputy is right. I will give another example of the kind of creative learning that occurs. In the course of maths week this year, I visited Youthreach in Naas in my own constituency where I saw many of the learners being engaged.  Learning in the STEM and technology space was very evident that day. From speaking to tutors and learners, I know there is a range of activities and skills. Down the road, Newbridge CTC is another centre I visited recently. Any time I visit a constituency, I seek to go to a Youthreach or CTC because I think it is so valuable to do so. I am continually being impressed by the quality of education and the determination found in those institutions.  Separately, on the question of Youthreach, I am also aware of the issue of aligning with the school calendar. The request has been made and it has only come to my desk very recently. It is an issue I engaged with the TUI on at its conference and when I met its executive. To put it simply, I have great sympathy for the argument and I hope to be in a position to progress this matter shortly. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Community Training Centres"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_63","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Further and Higher Education","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_51","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_51","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_63","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_63.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shane Moynihan  This question is to ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the position regarding his plans to bring the Marino Institute of Education under the remit of his Department rather than the Department of Education and Youth; the timeline envisaged for any such change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  I am very familiar with the Marino Institute of Education, notwithstanding that it is under the remit of the Department of Education and Youth. I recently visited it with Deputies Brabazon, Heneghan and \u00d3 Muir\u00ed. The college serves a vital function in producing primary school teachers. It also has a wonderful ethos in terms of its embrace of an teanga Gaeilge and iom\u00e1na\u00edocht agus peile. The institute has had a variety of sporting achievements. The cult\u00far there spoke very strongly to me when I visited. It was very evident in the institution.  I do not want to put it too strongly because, again, some of these negotiations and engagements can be somewhat sensitive, but I am aware that Marino has engaged with at least one third level institution in the co-awarding of degrees. I think it is not a secret that it is Trinity College Dublin. An interest has been expressed in exploring a closer collaboration or partnership. I am not in any way opposed to that, but neither am I in a position to mandate it. Regarding the next steps, Marino, if it wishes to, is freely entitled to continue as it is as a stand-alone, independent college within the system. Equally, if it wishes to achieve an alignment with a third level higher education institution, it is perfectly entitled to do so as well. As I set out on the day, without going into the details on the floor of the D\u00e1il, a number of steps are to be taken towards that, a process which ultimately means the college's destiny lies with itself and whatever putative partner it may wish to engage with. I have set out what needs to be done if it wishes to follow that path. It is an autonomous institution. I think that has been regarded as helpful within the college. If it does wish to take the next steps, it knows what to do and I would certainly be happy to engage as that progresses. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shane Moynihan  I will clarify that I am asking this question on my own part, because I discovered the lacuna that Marino is not under the aegis of the Minister\u2019s Department. This query has not been requested by Marino.  As the Minister said, it is a fine institution. My wife is a graduate of it. She did her degree there. I am also struck by the sheer range of programmes it offers. It does not just offer primary school teacher training programmes. It also offers the early childhood education programme and a further education and training programme. I was puzzled, therefore, when I learned it was not under the aegis of the Minister\u2019s Department. The Minister\u2019s answer would suggest that the college needs to designate itself appropriately to be under the aegis of the Minister\u2019s Department, as opposed to it falling outside its remit. Could the Minister go into a bit more detail about where the lines lie in respect of it falling under his remit? If the college were to decide to take the path referred to, and, again, I have not spoken to the institution about this issue, what sort of timeframe might see it falling under the remit of the Minister? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  A number of institutions in the State are perhaps finding they struggle. I am not saying Marino is in this category, but there are some smaller institutions that may find they do not enjoy critical mass and wish to partner with a larger institution. It is one of the reasons the technological universities were created. We had multiple institutes of technology around the country, and joining those together meant the whole was greater than the sum of the parts. That was very much the philosophy that led to the creation of the technological universities. The process was assisted by an OECD report to ensure that the criteria for gaining university status were being met in all cases. To be fair, there have been some excellent examples of research innovation and high-quality education across all the TUs. It is beyond doubt at this stage that they have not only met those targets but surpassed them, and this is why they are technological universities today.  Some of the institutions, however, for whatever reason, were not suitable or did not engage in that process. Earlier, we heard a debate about the D\u00fan Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology, and I absolutely share its ambitions for university status. It is the aspiration of Dundalk Institute of Technology, along with Queen's University, to become a university college there. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Acting Chairman (Deputy Grace Boland)  I apologise, but we have run out of time in this section. I am sure we all did not think we would have got through so many questions, but we do need to move on to the next section. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 210 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 212 to 216, inclusive, taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 218 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 224 to 227, inclusive, taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 230 to 240, inclusive, taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 242 to 250, inclusive, taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 252 to 254, inclusive, taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 256 to 258, inclusive, taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 260 to 268, inclusive, taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Is f\u00e9idir teacht ar Cheisteanna Scr\u00edofa ar www.oireachtas.ie. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Written Answers are published on the Oireachtas website. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Further and Higher Education"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_64","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Message from Select Committee","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_64","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Acting Chairman (Deputy Grace Boland)  The Select Committee on Health has completed its consideration of the Health (Amendment) (Home Support Providers) Bill 2025 and has made amendments thereto. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Message from Select Committee"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-23\/debate\/dbsect_65","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/15","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/15\/dail\/2","houseCode":"dail","stage":"2","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Education (Medical Emergencies in Schools) Bill 2026: Second Stage (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Education (Medical Emergencies in Schools) Bill 2026: Second Stage","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":5},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_65","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  I move: \"That the Bill be now read a Second Time.\"  I thank the Minister of State for being here and Deputies Darren O\u2019Rourke and Jen Cummins for being in the Chamber. As I speak on this legislation for the second time, it is important for me personally and professionally, being a former secondary school teacher, as well as being an epileptic, having been diagnosed at the age of 21. This legislation is personally and professionally significant for me.  The Bill would improve access to training and resources for school staff to confidently and competently respond in emergency situations, including the safe administration of prescribed medication, where necessary. My intention in putting forward this legislation is to create a clear framework for first aid and medical emergency training in our schools, promote awareness and enable quicker access to life-saving interventions, where appropriate.  Having worked in classrooms across Cork and having experienced epilepsy in my own life, I understand how important it is that schools are prepared for medical emergencies. Awareness is important, but awareness must lead to action. Every student and every staff member deserves to feel safe and supported in their school community. We need to empower those working in school communities to respond to issues when they occur, from epilepsy to allergies, and to make sure those working in schools are fully equipped to provide emergency care when medical assistance is required. It is inevitable that most teachers will face such a moment at some stage in their profession. We must ensure that they are properly trained and supported when they do.  There are many steps between introducing legislation and seeing it working effectively in our schools. We must ensure that staff are supported every step of the way. This includes guaranteeing that school personnel are protected from liability, where they act in good faith and in accordance with training, if an adverse medical outcome occurs. Confidence and clarity are crucial if we want this initiative to succeed. As legislators, it is our duty to ensure protections are in place that safeguard our young people and those who care for them every day. This legislation is about preparedness, prevention and peace of mind for students, parents and staff alike. With the right supports, training and legal clarity, we can build a safer school environment for everyone.  I also wish to speak about a number of the groups I have met. Obviously, I meet quite frequently with Epilepsy Ireland. I am going to read some of what the group has said, It stated that, given its Seizure Safe Schools campaign, I had engaged with Epilepsy Ireland to update it on my plans to introduce this Bill. Commenting on the news that the Bill would be introduced in the D\u00e1il this week, its advocacy and communications manager, Paddy McGeoghegan said:  We are very pleased to see Deputy Kenny bring forward this legislation which further amplifies how epilepsy and other medical emergencies can present in the classroom. Ensuring our teachers and educators are equipped with the information they need from the outset is the whole purpose of our calls for Seizure Safe Schools. The bill obviously expands to other medical conditions and not just epilepsy, but we are delighted to see legislation being introduced that could make Seizure Safe Schools a reality. From our ongoing contact with Oireachtas members on the need for Seizure Safe Schools, we know there is broad support for what we are calling for \u2013 and we hope that there will be similar support for this new legislation.  In relation to Allergy Action Ireland, it has given me a fantastic briefing note and some very important pieces of information I want to lay before the House.  An estimated 160,000 people, 1% to 2% of adults and 5% to 6% of children, live with food allergies. A 2024 study from the University of Galway found that 80% of teachers and special needs assistants in primary schools had not been trained to recognise the signs of a severe allergic reaction, and 77% were not trained to administer an adrenaline auto-injector. Those are quite severe statistics when we think about it. Some 80% of teachers and special needs assistants, the core number of staff we have in our schools, are not trained to recognise the signs of severe allergic reactions, and 77% are not trained to administer auto-injectors.  In February 2026, Benedict\u2019s Law was formally introduced in England, committing to introduce mandatory statutory allergy guidance to schools through the Department for Education. In Canada, a similar law was passed in 2005, Sabrina\u2019s Law. These are two laws I can reference in relation to this legislation. Sabrina's Law, introduced in Canada in 2005, 21 years ago, is legislation quite similar to this. In February of this year, not too long ago, as I said, Benedict\u2019s Law was introduced in England. It is very similar to this legislation. There is cross-party support when it comes to this Bill as many of these groups have already met with a number of committees. I am going to read some of the experiences and give figures in relation to this.  Some 81 people responded to Allergy Action Ireland on its Instagram page. Some 63% of them said teachers in their child's school did not receive training on using an auto-injector. Some 17% selected \u201ca tell us more\u201d option and shared mostly negative experiences where training and knowledge depended on the individual. They shared that teachers were doing their best but it was not enough. Training was provided by a parent or there was no training provided at all. Just 20% felt the teachers in their child\u2019s school received adequate training and 52% of the 82 respondents were unhappy with the safety of their children at school. Some 16% selected \u201ca tell us more\u201d option and shared similarly negative experiences, citing the same lack of training and awareness among teachers and school staff. In some cases schools have implemented a \u201cno-nut\u201d policy, but this is undertaken on an ad hoc basis. Some 32% feel that their child is safe in school. That is a very poor statistic when we think about the number of children we have in our school system, and the more than 4,000 schools we have in the country. That statistic is quite stark and at the end of the day, all of us in this House, party politics aside, every single one of us wants to ensure children feel safe in their school environment. A parent and nurse in Dublin states:  Passage of this Bill is an important step in giving greater confidence to all involved with the school system that any intervention given to a student in the event of a medical emergency is supported by legislation and appropriate training. First, it gives students suffering from severe conditions the confidence that support is available in the school setting, especially as those students are children. Second, it gives school staff the confidence to engage with training and helps support students in the knowledge that there is legislative backing supported by formal training in any intervention. Third, it gives parents and carers the confidence that there is structure that supports their child in school in the event of an emergency medical incident.  I am the parent of two boys in secondary school, both of whom have severe allergies to a number of foods which can result in a medical emergency. The current situation is that in agreement with the school, I attend at the start of each year and carry out training with the school staff. I am lucky that the school is receptive of this, and that I am both a qualified nurse and educator as part of my role. Many other parents and children do not have these advantages. I have always found staff open and receptive to this but my experience is narrow; a particular school and medical issue. I believe formalised training with clear protocols can help improve confidence and outcomes compared to the existing ad hoc arrangements in place.  As first responders, there are significant asks of school staff in the event of an emergency, and it is only proper that they are supported in a structured and formal way to help deliver the often life-saving care that may be necessary. In my experience of talking to school staff, the overwhelming theme is that staff, including teachers, SNAs and support staff just want to be able to do the right thing. Keeping children safe as well as providing an education is their priority.  I know the priority for all of us across this House is the very same. The person continued:  Some of the questions which come up are enlightening. There is a fear of getting things wrong, concern at how exactly to administer the medication and monitor the child, and concern of blame if something goes wrong. One SNA asked me what happened if a child was not given an EpiPen. The answer that they would watch him die in front of their eyes was stark and powerful, but it was not intended to raise fear. There is a risk through the informal nature of these sessions that they could be seen as scaremongering. That is why formal training is so important. Linked with that, it is critical that anyone asked to intervene is supported and knowledgeable about what they are being asked to do.  I am also going to read some of what has been said by a parent and teacher in County Kerry:  Ten years ago I brought my son to allergy specialists and found out he is allergic to cow\u2019s milk and eggs. The doctor perceived I was very nervous and asked why. I answered that as a primary school teacher I had often found myself wearing two or three crossways bags on a school tour containing emergency medication for students I did not teach or know. It would be for a few minutes while other staff were taking a break. I might have known how to administer the medicine, but there was no certainty that I did. Thankfully, my boy successfully worked through the egg and milk ladders, and he can eat both with no issue since.  In January of this year, my daughter who is 13 started carrying EpiPens for a peanut allergy. I was shocked to discover nothing has changed. In my experience, EpiPen training only happens if a parent offers it. This is not a judgement of school staff. In my girl\u2019s school there are two very capable first responders who update their training regularly, but administration of EpiPens is not included in this. I really think it should be compulsory for all staff, including ancillary staff, just like child protection training. As a school principal in County Clare, I can testify from the accounts of many teachers and principals at schools are under-resourced and under-supported to intervene in children's emergency care. The Department of Education and Youth persistently fails to commit the necessary support and resources to training in schools, even when it relates to areas the Department itself has identified as priorities. This I think will need considerable effort and I respectfully suggest that any training would be provided as whole-staff training where possible, rather than a cascade model of training.  A teacher in Cork says:  Recently I had the opportunity to attend the Allergy Wise informal talk on food allergies and it really opened my eyes. Hearing about the daily struggles a child with allergies faces in school both in terms of safety but also socially, was so impactful. The presentation shed light on both the physical effects of allergies and the emotional toll it can take on a child's confidence. It was a powerful reminder of the importance of awareness, inclusion and support. It is a talk that should be given in every school in the country.  At the end of the day, this legislation is positive, forward-thinking and relatively fair in terms of the asking of school staff to engage in proper, adequate training to make sure our school environments across this country are safe environments for our children to enter every day of the school week. All children across this country want is a safe, efficient environment to be able to progress in their academia. All parents across this country want, and I am not speaking as a parent but I know from speaking to parents, if they have a child who has a long-term illness, disability or perhaps allergy is to know if the child suffers a medical emergency in their school environment they are safe and the staff within that school environment are trained to deal with medical emergencies. As a member of the Association of Secondary Teachers, ASTI, myself and having spoken to the teaching unions about this, there is general consensus among teachers and school staff across the country that this would be appropriate and they would welcome it from the Department of Education and Youth. We must ensure in the steps we take in making this legislation law, that teachers are protected and indemnified if something was to go wrong in the administering of prescribed medication. It is important legislation and we can work together on it. It is for the benefit of children across the country, and not just children. I taught in schools. Only for the fact that I was able to inform my colleagues of what to do if I was to receive an epileptic seizure, they probably would not have known what to do.  They probably would not have known only for the fact that there was another colleague in the school who was also an epileptic. It just so happened that was the case. Thankfully I did not receive an epileptic seizure in the school. I do not speak from experience but I fear if I had it in the time when I was in primary or secondary school what the consequences would have been had I received an epileptic seizure and if there had been no staff member there to prescribe any medication they might have deemed necessary. I am hoping there will be cross-party support in the House and I commend the Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Neale Richmond)  I move amendment No. 1:  To delete all words after \"That\" and substitute the following:  \"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann resolves that the Education (Medical Emergencies in Schools) Bill 2026 be deemed to be read a second time this day twelve months, to allow for consideration of all relevant matters at an inter-departmental level and the development of comprehensive proposals, noting that it may be necessary to consider settings other than schools, to obtain comprehensive legal advice, to allow for engagement with a wide range of stakeholders, including the education partners, management bodies and parent and student representatives, and to consider registration, training and budgetary matters.\"  I am pleased to be afforded the opportunity to speak today about the Education (Medical Emergencies in Schools) Bill 2026 on behalf of the Minister for Education and Youth. I would also like to take the opportunity to thank Deputy Kenny for bringing forward this important Bill. I am reminded of progress made in other jurisdictions. I remember speaking in favour of Sabrina's law when I was in the Seanad quite some time ago.  I will take the opportunity to outline the engagement that is under way between the Department of Education and Youth and other relevant stakeholders in regard to progressing how we deal with medical emergencies in our schools. I would also like to outline to the House the current practice that is happening in our schools to safeguard children and young people, as well as staff members, when such instances occur.  I recognise the importance of this Bill, in proposing to make provision for promoting participation by a greater number of school staff in approved courses of training in first aid for medical emergencies and for a greater number of schools to be listed as organisations whose staff are authorised to administer certain prescription-only medicinal products without a prescription for the purpose of saving life or reducing severe distress in medical emergencies. I wish to assure the House that the safety and well-being of all children and young people in our schools is a priority for Government. While the board of management of each school is responsible for the care and safety of all pupils, the Department of Education and Youth consistently seeks to support them in that role. Therefore, while the Government is not opposing the Bill l am asking for a timed amendment to allow for consideration of all relevant matters at an interdepartmental level and to allow for the development of comprehensive proposals.  I note that it may also be necessary to consider settings other than schools, to obtain comprehensive legal advice, to allow for engagement with a wide range of stakeholders, including the education partners, management bodies and parent and student representatives, and to consider registration, training and budgetary matters.  I ask the House to note that initial discussions already are under way on this matter between the Department of Education and Youth and the Department of Health. In addition, discussions are also under way with the Health Service Executive and the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council on how best to further develop policy in this area. These discussions are at an early stage, and significant further engagement is required with a wide range of stakeholders before further progress can be made on this important matter. Officials are committed to continuing this engagement with a view to progressing these important matters as a priority.  As the House may be aware, the Health Products Regulatory Authority, HPRA, is the statutory authority for medicines in Ireland. Under the regulations, employees or those engaged by listed organisations - who have completed specified training - can, under conditions outlined in the regulations, administer medication in an emergency.  The list of organisations that can register with the HPRA includes educational establishments and childcare facilities and I understand that five schools have registered. Registration is a matter for school boards of management if they consider it necessary to do so. However, it is understood that schools also have local arrangements in place, including parents attending to administer medication on-site. Where a school is aware of potential difficulties that may arise as a consequence of a medical condition suffered by one or more pupils, it may be possible for the management authorities, working in conjunction with parents, teachers and children, to put preventative measures in place. These measures would be designed to lessen the possibility of any difficulties arising or to ensure that if a pupil suffers from an illness which requires the administration of medication, that appropriate treatment is available. Where a child requires adult assistance to assist in the administration of medicine and where the extent of assistance required would overly disrupt normal teaching time, special needs assistant, SNA, support may be allocated for this purpose.  The role of the SNA, as set out in Circular 30\/2014 - a circular which will be updated in the near future - is to provide schools with additional adult support staff who can assist children with special educational needs who also have additional and significant care needs to facilitate their attendance at school. SNAs support the non-teaching care needs of students with additional needs, fostering inclusion and attendance. Primary care needs covered include the administration of medication, in addition to assistance with feeding, assistance with mobility and toilet hygiene. When appointing a SNA, it is a matter for the board of management to ensure they are in a position to effectively meet the care needs of pupils for whom SNA support has been allocated. There are many different training and upskilling opportunities currently available for school staff in the area of first aid and medical training. These include the education support centres located in regions nationwide who provide professional development to teachers, school management and parents. Many of these education support centres, which are funded by the Department of Education and Youth, provide accredited courses in first aid response and medical care for school staff.  Children's Health Ireland also provides an education day specifically for SNAs on clean intermittent catheterisation, CIC. The SNA national training programme, which is fully funded by the Department of Education and Youth for serving SNAs, provides practical training and a module on supporting students with primary care needs, including medical and complex needs. To date, approximately 3,774 SNAs have completed the national training programme. Where specific targeted training is required, the board of management can also liaise with the HSE in order to ensure that the HSE provides guidance and training that enables the SNA to meet the care needs of the pupil in an appropriate manner. It is a matter for individual school authorities to make such arrangements locally.  The SNA information hub that was set up for SNAs and schools as a result of feedback on the plan also includes links to accredited training. In addition, the Department of Education and Youth is currently advancing work on the first SNA workforce development plan, which is intended for publication shortly. Proposals for the plan have been developed in consultation with key stakeholders, including SNAs, school management bodies, unions, schools, parents and students. The learning and development programme to be established under the plan will strengthen SNA service delivery by providing access to appropriate and legitimate opportunities for upskilling and reskilling to ensure that SNAs are equipped to meet the complex needs of children in their care in an evolving educational environment.  In conclusion, I ask Members to note that discussions and policy development arising, in regard to dealing with medical emergencies in schools, are currently at an early stage. There is a need for co-ordination across several Departments and agencies. There is a requirement to obtain comprehensive legal advice and ensure its thorough review, to engage with a wide range of stakeholders, including the education partners, in particular staffing unions, management bodies and parent and student representatives, and to consider registration, training and budgetary matters before proposals can be developed. These may or may not require legislative change. A timed amendment provides sufficient opportunity to explore the relevant matters at an interdepartmental level and develop comprehensive proposals that may impact settings other than schools.  I thank the House for affording me the opportunity to speak about the Education (Medical Emergencies in Schools) Bill 2026 on behalf of the Minister for Education and Youth. I trust that the House recognises the current practice that is happening in our schools to safeguard children and young people, and that while we support the provisions of this important Bill in strengthening this work, I am asking for a timed amendment to allow for consideration and progression of all relevant matters. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  I welcome this Bill. Sinn F\u00e9in supports it and I thank Deputy Kenny for bringing it forward and outlining how personal it is to him. No child or member of staff should die or come to serious harm in a school because those around them did not have the training, equipment or permission to act. Every day, parents across Ireland drop their children to school trusting that they will be safe but the hard truth, backed by evidence, is that too many of our schools are not fully prepared for a medical emergency. In 2024 a report from Medical Emergency Response Ireland asked how prepared are Irish schools for a medical emergency and the answer was very concerning. Most primary school staff have not been trained to use life-saving equipment like adrenaline autoinjectors. We are not talking about rare hypothetical events. We are talking about the child with a severe nut allergy who suffers anaphylaxis, the student with type 1 diabetes whose continuous glucose monitor alarms requiring an insulin injection or the staff member who collapses from sudden cardiac arrest. In those moments, seconds count. In those moments, the difference between life and death can be whether a trained person is nearby with the right equipment. This Bill is about creating a system of preparedness that covers first aid training, medical awareness and the availability of critical emergency medicines.  Section 1 empowers the Minister to make regulations requiring schools to promote the training of sufficient staff in first aid for medical emergencies including the use of equipment like defibrillators. The Bill also pushes schools to join the list held by the HPRA, the list of organisations whose trained and authorised staff can administer prescription-only medicines such as emergency asthma inhalers or adrenaline autoinjectors without a prescription to save a life or reduce severe distress. That list exists but too few schools are on it. This Bill aims to change that.  We should also be clear about what this Bill is not. It is not a mandate to pile yet another unmanageable responsibility onto already overworked teachers. This Bill does not require every teacher to become a medical expert. Where a child requires additional, ongoing medical support, such as insulin monitoring or regular glucose checks, that is the role of an SNA. That is a clear line. Medical emergency preparedness is a whole-school responsibility, not an individual teacher's burden, and where extra help is needed with ongoing medical support, the State must fund extra SNA hours. Right now, there is no statutory requirement for consistent, high-quality emergency medical training in our schools. We rely on the goodwill of individual principals and passionate staff. Goodwill is not enough, though. We need a legal framework. We need every school to have a sufficient number of staff trained in emergency first aid, a maintained defibrillator that people know how to use, and a clear pathway to access and administer life-saving medicines without fear of legal repercussion. This Bill provides that framework. It is proportionate and necessary, and Sinn F\u00e9in supports it.  In the wider context, the Bill deals specifically with the Education Act, but the principle applies across all health issues, from allergies to epilepsy, from asthma to diabetes. A medical emergency does not ask for a timetable. It does not wait for the HSE to arrive. It happens in the classroom, on the playing pitch, in the playground. Parents deserve peace of mind. Students with medical vulnerabilities deserve safety, and staff deserve clear guidance, proper training and the knowledge that they are supported, not abandoned, when a crisis hits. This Bill provides the basis to give our schools the tools, training and legal clarity they need to protect the lives in their care, and I am happy to support its progress to Committee Stage. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  I commend Deputy Kenny on this Bill. It is practical and timely. A plethora of things go on in schools. They are really busy environments where many things happen. Medical emergencies happen at times when people are not expecting it. They happen when the trained individual is not there. They happen when it is busy, there is going to be a trip, or whatever it is in the yard. It is really important that we have as many staff as possible in our school settings who are able to support those children in an appropriate way. I have been an occupational first aider for many years. There is the Good Samaritan protection for anybody who, in good faith, is going to support somebody in a medical emergency. To be that person, you have to be very brave.  Sadly, I have witnessed many medical emergencies in my time in and out of schools and other education facilities. I remember a man who came back to work after years of being off. It was his first day back at work, working as a youth worker at the time, and he sadly had a massive heart attack on his first day back. The staff in that centre had just done first aid training but were terrified of touching him and did not know what to do. I was not trained at that time, so I was on the phone to 999, as it was at the time, and I administered CPR for a very long time. Sadly, he died. He was probably already dead when I was doing the CPR. The fact is that people were nervous. They had just done their training. They had never seen this happen. Huge panic sets in. I was probably 32 weeks pregnant, so it was not that easy to administer. He was a big man. I made it my business to become very trained straight after that, as soon as I had the baby, in case that ever happened again. Thankfully, it did not, but I would be able to support whoever that is.  The training needed to be constant, over the years in schools and in occupational therapy, so that we were able to do it in schools, at the after-school projects that we worked in, or in holiday time. That was important. Three years later, people might say that they remember all of it, but they do not, so the training that happens needs to be updated and practical, and it needs to be fun as well.  The worst-case scenario is that someone dies when you are giving them CPR, but that is life and emergencies like that happen in all settings. It could be a seizure or allergic reaction. With the best will in the world, school principals can write letters home to parents asking them not to send things in, but allergies and reactions happen, and asthma, too. How many inhalers are forgotten? What is needed as an adult in that situation is a calm demeanour, someone who is not going to panic, someone who has appropriate training to make sure that they know what they are doing, and other people around them who are also trained and know what to do so that there is support for one another doing it. We cannot hope that the trained person is the one who is there on the day when there is a medical emergency. The more people who are trained, the better.  I know when it comes to special schools and special classes that there is a whole other level of need. If nurses are involved in those special schools and special classes, that is fantastic. I am sure it must be a great relief for the staff that the medical professional is there.  I commend Deputy Kenny. Well done. I hope this goes forward. I should say before I finish that it is not just children who may have emergencies, but also adults. We can all have a medical emergency at any time, if we are healthy or not or if we have a condition or not. I thank Deputy Kenny. Congratulations. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I also commend Deputy Kenny on bringing this forward. It goes without saying that on some level, there should not actually be a need for a conversation in here. Everyone is always worried when they see we are kicking the can down the road. I hope there will be a proper attempt to address this issue. Forget the politics, which can occur from time to time in here. Obviously, I never partake in that and am always very constructive. In reality, this is about saving lives. It could be anybody's life. It is that idea. We have all seen it with regard to defibrillators. I have seen it in Louth. I have met people whose lives were saved on the basis of having a defibrillator and staff who were able to access and operate it. Deputy Cummins made a really coherent point about making sure that people are properly trained, including about the panic that can happen, because we are dealing with medical emergencies, people going into anaphylactic shock, people having heart attacks, and issues such as diabetes, which requires an insulin injection. It can be much more difficult when dealing with children, particularly young children.  A number of Deputies mentioned that this was a follow-on from Sabrina's law in 2006 in Canada. It seems this has been well tried and tested. It is straightforward. Deputy O'Rourke put it simply, in that it is making sure there are the correct resources, the correct training and, most importantly of all, given the issues that exist with insurance and so on, permission to act. We would also have the correct element of registration with the HPRA and so on.  We are all aware of children or adults who have been in difficult circumstances or medical emergencies. There will often be situations where it is an allergy to something that everybody is aware of, but kids are kids and adults are adults. You are not always necessarily sure of the thing that you get from somebody else's lunchbox, not that I would ever have taken anything that I was not offered in the first place, just in case the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, were to make some sort of crass accusation later.  This is an incredibly serious topic. The legislation has been presented by Deputy Kenny and is properly packaged and ready to go. We just need to make sure, as much as I have a difficulty with this being kicked down the road, that adequate planning and resourcing is put in place and we do not end up, in a year, having not dealt with it, which has happened from time to time. It cannot be another Bill that just withers on the vine. It is an absolute necessity that we have the autoinjectors, correct medicine, defibrillators, and people able to operate them.  I also want to follow on from what Deputy O'Rourke said from the point of view of putting more pressure on teachers who are obviously under severe pressure at the moment. He spoke about some of the delineation points, particularly in regard to children with diabetes. At times, this falls directly into the sphere of SNAs, which shows the importance of SNAs to the school population. I like to think we would eventually get to a position whereby we have a sufficient number of SNAs in schools from the point of view of ensuring children get the best opportunity to be all that they can be and to benefit from and flourish in the educational setting.  As I have said before, in an awful lot of cases there is a very simple solution to issues. It does not deal with every issue across the board, but the sense is that we should just make it happen as soon as possible. I ask the Government to make sure that it would happen. This is a lot more fundamental in the sense that we have already spoken about situations we have come across where people have been saved because the correct equipment or the correctly trained person was there and they were able and willing to do whatever was necessary with regard to using an autoinjector or defibrillator. It is just about making sure that happens within schools.  We are talking about the entire school population. Something could happen to any of us at any time. I do not know how many times in the last while we have seen paramedics within the campus. There are people with medical training as well who have put that to use. I spoke earlier about GAA clubs. We have seen it in all sorts of sporting organisations and community centres that have access to defibrillators. Sometimes the issue is not related to a particular campus but it happens in an adjacent organisation or premises. It is important that where there is an issue that at least somebody can get access. That happens. In fairness, schools play a fundamental role in many communities. In real terms, it could be a facility that operates even beyond the school.  First and foremost, parents need to feel their child will be safe, in particular if they have a kid with an added ailment or an added worry, for example, an allergy or some underlying condition that is understood. We must make sure that we have the facility there to ensure their safety as much as possible. We cannot make this an absolutely safe and perfect world, but we can definitely make it a bit safer. If this was done across the board I would like to think we would have fewer tragic circumstances. Nobody wants to be in a situation where they are saying \"what if\" or \"if only\".  I commend Deputy Kenny. I request that the Minister and the Government would take action to assuage my fears about the can being kicked down the road. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Neale Richmond)  As I outlined earlier, there is absolutely no objection to Deputy Kenny's Bill, but the Government is asking for the timed amendment of 12 months to be agreed to allow for sufficient time to develop the legislative proposals in line with the principles of the Bill.  I assure Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa, and all those who contributed in the House, that the Government will proceed with this Bill as quickly as is possible. There is a very clear bit of work that is needed to be done.  The safety and well-being of all children and young people in schools is a priority for this Government. While the board of management of each school is responsible for the care and safety of pupils, it is the Department of education that consistently seeks to support them. While I welcome the provisions of this Bill, work has already started in the area, and that is why I asked Deputies to note that initial discussions are already under way between the Department of education and the Department of Health. In addition, there are additional discussions under way between the HSE and the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council. While these discussions are at an early stage, significant further engagement is required in this area with a wide range of stakeholders before further progress can be made. That includes the Health Products Regulatory Authority engaging with employees and those listed by organisations who have completed specific training on the conditions. I understand that a number of people have started this.  I do not want to repeat the debate. I do not for an instant disagree with one comment that was made here in the Chamber by any Deputy. I agree with them. I appreciate the very real human and emotive need to get this done quickly. The fact that we are essentially 21 years behind the Canadians is something that does stick in my craw. The fact that something significant has been moved so recently in the far more similar jurisdiction of Great Britain just this year will provide an added level of motivation for officials to work across everything to make sure that this timed amendment provides a sufficient opportunity to explore the relevant matters. They must develop the comprehensive proposals that might impact on it in order to provide peace of mind so that when this Bill is enacted, which I very much hope will be the case, in 12 months' time that not only will it be fit for purpose - it clearly is already in its format here - but it will provide the overall surety and guarantee so that it is something that everyone can stand over, be it a teacher, parent, legislator or whoever else. Once again, I commend Deputy Kenny for his work on this Bill, and for introducing it here. I beg the House to pass this timed amendment to come back to it in 12 months. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, and the other Deputies. The Minister of State is here longer than me, but this is probably my first time to agree with everything that has been said in the Chamber, from both this side of the House and the other side of the House.  A timed amendment is appropriate and necessary. I thank the Government for engaging me on this crucial legislation. The Minister of State referred in his opening statement to engaging with stakeholders. It is extremely important that there would be engagement with stakeholders. I warmly welcome the fact that discussions have already begun between the Department of education and the Department of Health. The Minister of State mentioned legal advice. The indemnity of staff is something that has come up regularly with the three teaching unions. Seeking legal advice as part of the preparatory work is absolutely essential. We must ensure that no extra pressure is added to school staff.  As the Minister of State mentioned, we are 21 years behind Canada and Great Britain passed a Bill this year. We can be a flag-bearer across Europe if the legislation is enacted here. I do appreciate that the preparatory work has to be done.  I want to state clearly on the record that there are many schools already among the 4,000 schools in the country doing very good work. Some schools have trained personnel on site to deal with medical emergencies. I am not putting every single school into the same bracket. This legislation would ensure that there would be school staff in all schools across the country who are prepared to deal with a medical emergency, be it for a colleague or a student.  I want to quickly touch on the keeping of prescribed medication in schools. The Minister of State referenced already that very few schools across the country are able to act as locations for the keeping of prescribed medication. This is about empowering school communities to respond to issues when they occur, from epilepsy to allergies, and to make sure that those working in schools are fully equipped to provide emergency care when medical assistance is required.  Once again, I thank the Government for engaging with me on this crucial legislation. I offer to work constructively to see this crucial legislation become law. With the right supports, the right training and the right legal clarity, we can build a safer school environment for all children and school staff. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar athl\u00f3 ar 6.09 p.m. go dt\u00ed 2 p.m., D\u00e9 M\u00e1irt, an 28 Aibre\u00e1n 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The D\u00e1il adjourned at 6.09 p.m. until 2 p.m. on Tuesday, 28 April 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Education (Medical Emergencies in Schools) Bill 2026: Second Stage"}]}}]},"contextDate":"2026-04-23"},{"debateRecord":{"house":{"showAs":"34th D\u00e1il","committeeCode":"","houseCode":"dail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/house\/dail\/34","chamberType":"house","houseNo":"34"},"chamber":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/def\/house\/dail","showAs":"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann"},"lastUpdated":"2026-07-06T10:20:36+00:00","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-22\/debate\/main","formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-22\/debate\/mul@\/main.xml"},"pdf":null},"date":"2026-04-22","counts":{"contributorCount":164,"divisionCount":2,"debateSectionCount":20,"questionCount":0,"billCount":3},"debateType":"debate","debateSections":[{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-22\/debate\/dbsect_2","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Conor Sheehan)  I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case:  Deputy John Paul O'Shea - To discuss the provision of bus connections to and from Charleville train station.  Deputy Ged Nash - To discuss the fact that no schools in disadvantaged areas of Drogheda are included in the DEIS plus scheme.  Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed - To discuss the issue of \"ghost buses\" and the rollout of the new NGAVL system.  Deputy Louis O'Hara - To discuss the lack of respite care services in County Galway.  Deputy Albert Dolan - To discuss battery energy storage systems and solar planning guidelines in rural Ireland.  Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail - To discuss junior cycle certification processes for students in special schools.  Deputy Barry Ward - To discuss the need to promote an increase in the uptake of flexible work practices.  Deputy Malcolm Byrne - To discuss the planned new Courtown coast guard building.  Deputy Louise O'Reilly - To discuss the need for out-of-hours GP services for Fingal West.  Deputy Maurice Quinlivan - To discuss the ongoing crisis of capacity at University Hospital Limerick.  Deputy Rory Hearne - To discuss the number of affordable purchase homes delivered in Dublin city.  Deputy Colm Burke - To discuss Mayfield library and community centre.  Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire - To discuss delivery of a permanent school building for Owenabue ETNS, Carrigaline, Cork.  Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett - To discuss the detention of an Irish citizen by German authorities.  Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty - To discuss the extension and refurbishment project at Lucan Community College.  Deputies Se\u00e1n Crowe, Paul Murphy and Ciar\u00e1n Ahern - To discuss challenges facing Scoil Maelruain Junior National School and Senior National School.  The matters raised by Deputies Louis O'Hara, Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail, Paul Nicholas Gogarty, Se\u00e1n Crowe, Paul Murphy, Ciar\u00e1n Ahern and Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed have been selected for discussion. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-22\/debate\/dbsect_3","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-22\/debate\/dbsect_4","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Disability Services","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-22\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_4","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marian Harkin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  Carers across Ireland are the backbone of our healthcare system, saving the State an estimated \u20ac20 billion annually. Despite this massive contribution, they remain undervalued and pushed to the brink due to systemic failure to provide adequate respite. Respite is not a luxury. It is a fundamental necessity that prevents burnout, protects mental health and ensures the most vulnerable in our society receive sustainable long-term care. Organisations such as Ability West do fantastic work supporting families in the local area, and do their very best with the resources they have, but the reality is that in County Galway many parents of children with disabilities simply cannot access respite because of the lack of capacity and funding. The responsibility for this lies with the Government.  One parent has told me of how she has been fighting for overnight respite for her son with high care needs for some time. She informed me that no availability exists because he needs two-to-one care and his needs are too high. She said the system is very broken if the children with the highest level of needs are getting turned away. Another parent told me of her 12-year-old son who is non-verbal and autistic and has an intellectual disability. He attends respite at St. Teresa's respite house in Ballinasloe run by Ability West. She stressed that the staff there are exceptional and the care provided is invaluable but this support is already extremely limited with access only twice a month.  At present respite services have effectively been withdrawn due to a child requiring a crisis placement. While this child absolutely deserves appropriate care and support, the reality is that one child's crisis has resulted in other vulnerable children and families losing a service they depend on and this should never be allowed to happen. The situation has become so uncertain that although her son was offered a respite night this Saturday, she was warned he may have to be collected at any stage with little notice if issues arise. For her this is not respite but instability. She said that respite is one of the few places where he feels safe, secure and understood, and faced with the risk of this safety being disrupted she has had to make the difficult decision not to send him. No parent should be put in a position where they must choose between getting a break and protecting their child from a potentially distressing experience.  These are just two examples but they reflect the experiences of many families and many carers when it comes to accessing respite. Many parents are unable to access any support for their children. Many have to travel very long distances to access care. I have been told that out of 40 children who attend St. Oliver's Special School in Tuam only two can get respite at St. Teresa's in Ballnasloe. There is no overnight respite for children in the Tuam area, which Ability West has raised with me previously. Ability West has indicated a willingness to expand services, including the development of an after-school respite programme at St. Oliver's school in Tuam but the main barriers are funding and support. What will the Government do to increase funding for respite services in County Galway to support the expansion of services? When will this happen? As I have said, parents have been left waiting for years and years in many cases and they deserve much better. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marian Harkin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Deputy Marian Harkin)  I thank Deputy O'Hara. The Minister, Deputy Foley, thanks him for raising this important issue and I will respond on her behalf. The HSE is very much aware of the importance of respite service provision for the families of children with disabilities and the impact the absence of respite service provision can have on other services being delivered.  As Deputy O'Hara said, respite is a vital support for families and service users, and potentially helps to prevent out-of-home full-time residential placement. Respite also helps to preserve the family unit and supports family stability. In this respect, respite is a key priority area for the HSE for people with disabilities and their families. The increased investment in respite services in recent years has impacted positively on the level of service delivered in successive years. From 2022 to 2025, overnight respite provision increased by 26% while the number of day-only sessions more than doubled in the same period. The HSE project, while adjusting for data gaps, will be above target for the full year for respite activity in 2025. About 7,500 people avail periodically of centre-based respite, with regional disparities in access to the service and overall unmet need. Budget 2026 provides \u20ac25 million additional funding for respite expansion, supporting close to 10,000 additional overnight and 25,000 additional day respite sessions.  I am pleased to share with Deputy O'Hara that a number of new respite initiatives are under way in Galway, which add to the breadth of respite services available this year. Resilience Ireland is developing a new children's respite service, which will provide valuable support to families in this region. Ability West, and I agree with Deputy O'Hara on the great work it does, is establishing a new centre-based respite service in Tuam, providing critical access to respite for young adults in the area. There are also plans for a range of respite initiatives across Galway city and county over the summer period. This will involve a range of activities, including coding, sporting events and summer camps.  To provide some figures for respite funding provision for County Galway, from 2018 funding has increased by more than \u20ac53,000 to \u20ac149,000. This is an increase of approximately 275% over the seven-year period. The number of people in receipt of respite over the same period has increased by approximately 24%. In the national service plan for 2026 the HSE has committed to investing \u20ac25 million in respite services. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  I welcome any additional investment and the plans the Minister of State has outlined for Tuam and elsewhere. I would make the point that proper respite care is the very least we should be able to provide in a very wealthy country for our most vulnerable citizens, their families and those who care for them. The Minister and her Department must ensure this happens. There is no excuse for having a system that is under-resourced and not meeting the needs of vulnerable children and their families. We clearly still need to go further because many of the parents who are in touch with me are simply not getting the services they need. I ask that there continues to be specific engagement on this issue with the likes of Ability West and supporting the proposals it has and that the Minister of State outlined, particularly for the likes of after-school respite and things like that, which can make a big difference for people.  I also ask for specific funding for the area of crisis placements to be considered so that the emergency cases, such as those I outlined earlier, do not displace others from their planned respite. These are the kinds of assurances the families in touch with me are looking for because, as I said, for them respite is not a luxury but is absolutely essential. The risk of burn-out is real without it.  The Toghermore campus in Tuam provides a real opportunity through equine therapy to provide another form of respite to families and to bring real benefits to children with disabilities. That opportunity must be taken by the Government. Locally, we expect to see that project being progressed. I know that Ability West is very keen to work with the Government and the HSE on this.  I also want to mentioned the Before We Die campaign. There are obviously significant issues with the lack of space in residential care. I have constituents who cannot access full-time residential care for a loved one who has an intellectual disability and who desperately needs it. We must do much better for our vulnerable citizens. They are being failed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marian Harkin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marian Harkin  I thank the Deputy for raising this issue, which is a priority for the Minister, Deputy Foley, the Department and the whole Government. I agree that respite services are essential for people with disabilities and their families. The Government is committed to the continued expansion and development of respite services, as set out in the programme for Government and the new National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030. To support the HSE in its work to provide and develop respite services and in recognition of the importance of support for disabled people and their families, budget 2026 provided significant additional funding to support respite service expansion in 2026. As I said earlier, there is \u20ac25 million in additional funding. That funding will be used to support a range of service openings and expansions across the country, including a range of respite initiatives over the summer period. There will be a particular focus on strengthening provision in areas that currently have a lower level of supports.  I heard what the Deputy said about crisis funding and its importance and I will bring that to the attention of the Minister because it is a crucial issue for many families. There is the real risk of burn-out for families.  The Deputy mentioned the equine centre. This is not contained in the response I have before me but I remember visiting the equine centre in Ability West and the excellent work done there. I will mention that to the Minister. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Disability Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-22\/debate\/dbsect_5","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Special Educational Needs","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-22\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_5","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail  We have three exceptional special schools in Kildare North, namely, St. Raphael's Special School in Celbridge, Stepping Stones Special School in Maynooth and Sapling Special School in Kill. Indeed, the Minister of State met the school management of Stepping Stones this day last week, and I thank him for his work and engagement. It is much appreciated. In recent years, we have seen an increase in the number of special schools throughout the country and, under the leadership of the Minister of State, we have seen an increase in the number of special classes in mainstream education. This ensures that children get equal access to education and equal opportunity regardless of their background and perspective.  All children who go to a special school or are in a special classroom have goals that are set out at the beginning of the year for them to achieve by the end of the year. There are some students who go through the junior cycle profile of achievement, JCPA. There is level 1 and level 2. This affords students in special schools the ability to have a level 1 or level 2 certificate at the end of completing the junior cycle. That is crucial for those young people when some of them want to go into the workplace in the future. It also provides a great sense of achievement and pride, not just for the student but for their families and the entire school community.  At present, schools must manually generate JCPA certificates. The Department does not hold independent completion records of the students who have completed the JCPA and certificates are not automatically issued. As a result, junior cycle completion in special schools depends entirely on school level administration, unlike mainstream settings. The deputy principal in St. Raphael's in Celbridge was in touch with me about the lack of meaningful junior certificate recognition for their students and the increased administrative burdens on school staff.  We made a representation on the issue and the Department was in touch with the school one week after we raised it. Certificates will be issued to last year's students. However, it should not be up to the schools to issue certificates. It should not be up to me or anybody else to contact the Department about these certificates being issued. It is about due process, fairness, equality and recognising the work and effort of the students, the staff and the families who have helped the students get to that point.  There are some other concerns about some of the content that teachers have been recommended to teach. Staff have raised concerns about some of the material, which can be infantilising and quite childish for students who are 12- or 13-year-olds, or older. Those staff feel there needs to be more of an acknowledgement that every child's development and learning journey is very different, and that needs to be acknowledged. Some are more developed in certain ways than others, and that needs to be acknowledged.  The main issue is that students deserve recognition equal in dignity to their peers. That does not only apply to special schools. Now that we see the increased opening of special classes in mainstream secondary schools, it is important for those students to feel equal to their peers in the year. Ensuring they have a certificate to show that is part of it. As I said, it would mean they could go into meaningful employment in the future and have something to show for it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Education and Youth (Deputy Michael Moynihan)  I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. If he does not mind, I will depart a little from the script with which I have been provided. It is hugely important. We are talking about inclusion and making sure we get the best possible education for children with additional needs as they go through primary and post-primary school. As the Deputy rightly said, we are announcing more special classes. We are really trying to make the education system fit for purpose in meeting the needs of students with additional needs. As with other countries, we have seen the need growing across Ireland and the OECD. I have said many times that I shudder to think what is happening in the undeveloped countries. We are really trying to come to terms with it.  The Deputy mentioned St. Raphael's, Stepping Stones and Saplings special schools. I met representatives of Stepping Stones last week. I meet representatives of special schools regularly and have been to a huge number of such schools across the country. I applaud the work that is being done in the special schools and in special education, in particular. The Deputy mentioned special schools and I have met their representatives. From this week on, I will be having a number of regional meetings with the principals of special schools right across the country. We are starting an engagement process in Sligo on Friday. It will be right across the country. We will be meeting the leadership in special schools to get an understanding of the challenges that are being faced.  The Deputy raised the issue of the State exams and certification. It is hugely important that we have uniformity at the very core. The Deputy mentioned his representation in relation to certificates being issued. That is simply not good enough. We have to make sure for the student cohort who are going to special schools. A huge amount of work is being done in the schools and by families to equip students for life after school with the best possible engagement and fulfilment they can have in the life they lead. If we are true to the word \"inclusion\", we must include everybody. A lot of work has gone on in relation to designing the junior certificate and, indeed, the leaving certificate at the special school level. It is important we ensure that at the end of that process, it is the very same for the students who are going to the special school, in that the certificate is issued and we work through the various challenges to make sure they are on the same level as their peers in mainstream education. It is something we are looking at very closely. I intend to make sure that happens. It is not the case for public representatives; I know the Deputy is deeply invested in special education. He has spoken to me many times over the last 12 or 14 months or so in relation to the challenges that are being faced, and I appreciate that. We had a very successful visit to the Deputy's part of County Kildare recently. I actually saw first-hand the excellent work that has been done in some of the school communities there, which I mentioned in various discussions we have had not alone in the Department but in the wider sphere as well.  To address the Deputy's point, it is important that the student cohort who are going to special schools earn the same recognition as any of their peers. We have to ensure that the certificates are generated and issued within the State exams system within the Department. I can assure the Deputy that it is something we need to address because it is an issue that has arisen. We are working on it, and we have a lot of work done in designing the various schemes over the past while to have it student focused as well. It is something I intend to take very seriously. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail  I thank the Minister of State for his response and, indeed, as I mentioned at the beginning, his hard work in this area. There has been a marked improvement in special education in the country since he took on the role as Minister of State for special education. I commend him on that. I want to thank him as well for his continued engagement because I have been raising issues with him continuously and he has always engaged in an open, fair and constructive way, and I think many people across the House will say the same.  I am not going to go over to previous points but what I would like to do and as I always do on a Topical Issue matter, parliamentary question or oral parliamentary questions, is try to come up with proposed solutions. We can all identify problems, but actually identifying the solutions is the key aspect we should be doing a little bit more of as public representatives.  The first solution I have is automatic certification, that is, introducing a centrally triggered junior certificate profile of achievement process for all junior cycle students, including level 1 and level 2. The second is a clear national certificate to develop a recognisable certificate of junior cycle completion for level 1 and 2 pathways, issued directly by the Department. Finally, we need a review for parity of esteem to examine junior cycle certification arrangements in special schools and address the perceived structural inequality. Those three steps would go a long way to solving this. Maybe it does not seem like a huge issue to a lot of people but for those going through special education, particularly with the increase in special classes in mainstream, it will become more of an issue. It is just about due recognition for hard work and the effort made by the students, their families and the school community. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  The Department is keenly aware of it. There is always room for improvement and we are very understanding of that. We are challenged every day to make sure the education system is improving into the future right across the education system and, indeed, for special education as well. What we are going to invest in special education now will have huge benefits for students, families and society in the long term. I firmly believe that it will give a greater understanding.  Parity of esteem is one thing, and automatic certification is hugely important. We have to stand back and say that students who are going through special schools or special education must have parity of esteem with their peers. At the core of inclusion is ensuring students have the same rights and attainability and ensuring the best possible outcomes when they go beyond school. We did introduce some funding this year for the transition period from schools to adulthood. That is something I would be very keen to address. I addressed it again last night during Private Members' business.  I take the Deputy's points. I can assure him that this is something we will very much take on board. We will work very closely with the Deputy in relation to this. I am very keen to see automatic certification. The key phrase is \"parity of esteem\" so that everybody is treated equally and we understand and acknowledge the work that is being done by students, their families and the school communities and give recognition to that. I will work on that with the Deputy. I thank him for his engagement and his interest in special education over the last while. As I said, it is important that we, as Members of the House, continue to advocate on behalf of the most vulnerable because it is by that we will be judged. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Special Educational Needs"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-22\/debate\/dbsect_6","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Schools Building Projects","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-22\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_6","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  The Government seriously needs to reassess and reconfirm its commitment to imminently provide the full extension and refurbishment project promised to Lucan Community College going back to 2010. We are talking about dedicated classrooms for children with special educational needs, physical education space and refurbishment. The current piecemeal solution of a reduced phase 1 and temporary repurposing of some rooms for special educational needs and reviewing the situation in relation to the originally promised phases 2, 3 and 4 is not satisfactory.  Lucan Community College has a long and illustrious history in my constituency. It goes back to the vocational education committee, VEC, in the 1950s on the Lucan Newlands Road. By 1997, with population increases, the new Lucan Community College was established on its current location in Esker Drive under what is known today as the Dublin and D\u00fan Laoghaire Education and Training Board, DDLETB. This school rapidly gained a reputation as a centre of excellence, so much so that it started to need lotteries for places at a very early stage. Today, even acknowledging the deficit of second level school places and the fact that the Department is always behind the curve in providing places, it is the co-educational school of choice in Lucan. Lucan Community College has always been massively oversubscribed. Parents and children want to go to this institution because of the quality of teaching and the depth of its curriculum. When it started out in the new building in 1997, it was a state-of-the-art facility. However, it soon found itself needing to increase its intake. It has approximately 956 pupils today. Its capacity has not matched that increase in population. Different parts of the school started deteriorating over time - stuff that could not be fixed with summer work schemes and other tranches of funding. It is now overcrowded. It needs a major extension and significant refurbishment. These days, parents apply to get their kids into the school in spite of, not because of, the facilities of the school. I have been told by several exasperated parents who have more than one child in the school that this is the case. They know that the school facility is not great but that the teachers are fantastic. A lot more is needed, but the Department is dragging its heels.  To put it in context, I first heard about this and I was raising D\u00e1il questions in previous terms going back to 2007 when it was gradually moving towards the architectural planning stage in 2010. However, it took several more years to get the design and the planning permission in and it dragged on to 2020-21 when, eventually, it started moving towards the tender. In 2024, however, there was a delay in terms of issuing letters of intent. The school felt huge relief when this finally came through. They thought the extension was finally coming but last summer, in replies to parliamentary questions, it was indicated by the predecessor of the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, that due to the length of time between planning and construction, there was going to be a review of the project. Everyone thought this was going to involve tweaking and shaving stuff off because we know the costs have increased but no, the plan was now to build a modular building that was well insulated and long lasting, etc., but on a much smaller footprint, with no indication of what is going into the original footprint and over what period of time.  Phases 2, 3 and 4 are very opaque. There is no transparency. No one knows exactly what is going to happen. We need a commitment today that phases 2, 3 and 4, because we are talking about modular builds, can be designed and put into the current footprint, if that is possible, or if it needs a new planning application, that process can start so that in a matter of a year or 18 months, we can move on. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Teachta. If memory serves, in a previous incarnation in a previous life, he raised this issue at an education committee. That is going back some time. I thank him for raising and outlining the issue in relation to Lucan Community College. The Department of Education and Youth is progressing the delivery of a large timber frame modular extension to Lucan Community College. The project will deliver nine additional classrooms, a science laboratory and preparation area and a design and technical graphics room. Construction has already commenced on site. This delivery method and model of construction offers an extremely high quality, carbon-friendly building, combined with fast delivery. The Department officials are engaging with the school patron, the Dublin-D\u00fan Laoghaire Education and Training Board, and the school authorities in relation to progressing this accommodation. They remain available to provide support on this project, including the scope for repurposing some of the existing classrooms for special education provision. The National Council for Special Education is engaging with the school authorities in this regard and, of course, the Department has a repurposing scheme which provides \u20ac30,000 for start-up grants for each new special class and up to \u20ac70,000 for repurposing existing accommodation for special classes.  The Deputy will be aware we recently published \u20ac7.55 billion in sectoral investment for education across the education system, and a lot of that is due to a strong emphasis on maximising existing capacity and prioritising school building projects which meet the most urgent need. In this regard, there will be a strong special education dimension to projects being rolled out.  The Deputy mentioned the families in the school. There is a project being moved ahead, which I outlined in earlier comments. We, in the Department, will continue to work with the school authorities and the patron body, Dublin-D\u00fan Laoghaire ETB, to ensure needs are met within the Lucan area.  We see a huge amount of investment going into school building projects across the country. Over the past five or six years, extraordinary funding has been spent on them. However, when it comes to individual schools - as I indicated, this project has been discussed for a long time, going back a number of years to when the Deputy first mentioned it at meetings - it is important we continue to liaise. This first phase of it is on-site. This allows us to get very good high-spec projects built, and to get them delivered in faster time. We have seen many challenges in relation to projects going on too long.  I will endeavour to liaise with Department officials in the planning and building unit to ensure the entire need of the school community, not just this building project but the entire need, is met. I thank the school authorities for their engagement with the National Council for Special Education and the Department in relation to provision of special education, which is a huge core in any building projects we are doing, that is, to ensure we have a provision for special education. I will endeavour to ensure the Department and Lucan Community College continue to liaise so that the needs of the school community and the community at large are met in any new developments. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  The school has had to take the decision to subdivide rooms and to move students in order to have special educational needs classes in a setting that is not going to disturb students. I will give a few quotes from parents. Parents have said that every month that passes is actively harming children, that the school is not fit for purpose, that children with additional needs have been failed despite explicit promises and that children are stressed, more constrained and are falling behind through no fault of their own. There is confusion in terms of earlier responses from the Minister, Deputy Naughton, which said that phase 1 would include special educational needs classrooms but now it does not. Another parent said that it is entirely unclear as to the process and that the lack of transparency here is atrocious.  Another very concerning thing is that because of the overcrowding in the school, on a number of occasions students have been found eating their lunches in toilets when it is raining because they have nowhere inside to go. The staff do not allow this and they are told to move as quickly as possible but some of them go in there because there are radiators and it is a warm places to eat. That is not acceptable in 2026. This is the level of the conditions the students are being forced to endure. There are no areas for kids to have extracurricular activities and to meet and have casual chats that make school days, days to remember. It is all about into class and out of class. There is no room to engage and have that quality of life in the school environment. It is heartbreaking to see this for the children.  What we need are firm commitments in respect of the phase 1 modular building, the timber framed and well-insulated building. That is all well and good but in the original outline of the building, can we get clear answers from the Department that phase 2 can be commenced very quickly, because it is modular? The same goes for phases 3 and 4. Can these be designed and planned so they can go in a lot quicker and that in 18 months to two years, we can see the buildings? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  I thank the Deputy for outlining the challenges within the school community as well. It is important we have the best possible school environment for all students. Every student, no matter what their ability, must have a positive experience within the school. Phase 1 of the project is on-site and for delivery. The quality of the building going in is top class, as I understand it. That is moving at pace. The Deputy is looking for clarity in relation to how we are going to do the next phases of the project. I will liaise with the planning and building unit in the Department and with the Minister, Deputy Naughton, to ensure we get clarity for the school community, the school authorities, the ETB and the parents and students as fast as possible in relation to phases 2 and 3 and the building of it. I will endeavour to do that.  I take the points the Deputy raised in relation to the toilets and so forth very seriously. They do not rest easy with me. I will bring those points back to the Department and ask it to liaise with the Deputy in relation to the next phases. It is important the phase that is under way is completed as a matter of urgency because it shows that we intend to invest in Lucan Community College now but also into the future so that we best serve the future needs of the school and the community. I will endeavour to do that. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Schools Building Projects"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-22\/debate\/dbsect_7","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Schools Building Projects","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":4},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-22\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Crowe  We are talking about two schools here - the junior and senior schools. All the TDs in the constituency have visited the schools, and we are all of the same mind that work needs to move ahead. In 2011, the Department agreed to two extensions to the junior and senior schools. In 2014, there was a visit to the schools, and the Department felt it was necessary for a rebuild. Ever since, the school authorities have been trying to get the schools built. There is mould, water running down walls, water dripping from the ceiling and tiles collapsing, and the list goes on. Clearly, it is not an ideal situation for hundreds of school children and their teachers in the school. What we are looking for is action relation to this. It has gone on long enough. The parents and school community feel they have been let down and left behind. It just shows how long it takes for a new build to be built. The Department said that it was necessary for this to happen. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  This is very simple. The school building, as it is, is simply not fit for continued use. There are serious health and safety concerns. When we visited there was very clearly water still coming through and sitting on top of tiles. You could see water coming in beside an interactive electric panel, which clearly represented a danger. A couple of years ago there was a partial ceiling collapse while children were in a class. There is mould. It is simply not suitable as it is. What is frustrating is this was recognised in May 2014. An architect appointed by the Department of education recommended a complete rebuild for both schools yet we still do not have substantial progress.  This has been a real saga, the latest step being in July of last year when full 2a plans were submitted by the school. It still has no formal acknowledgement of that or a timeline for that. We know the Department got it. I asked the officials at the public accounts committee last week and they acknowledged they have it but it is simply not acceptable. The school is looking for a meeting with the Minister and the officials to map out a timeline to ensure these children get a suitable school building as soon as possible. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  As my colleagues have said, there are three of us here from the constituency but it is fair to say the five TDs in our constituency support the school in this regard. There is a short-term and long-term need in the school. The short-term need is to get an emergency grant to fix this roof, which is badly leaking. Almost daily water is dripping into classrooms and leaving pools. When we were there one of the classrooms was referred to as the Amazon rainforest by the students because of the rain coming down. There are buckets in classrooms and it is destroying the children's work, at times. Teachers cannot have any desks in that area. The panels on the roof collapsed on parents during a parent-teacher meeting. It is happening during school hours and the management cannot really predict where these collapses are going to happen. In the short term the roof needs to be done. As for the longer term, the Department approached the school in 2011 about adding 20 new classrooms. After three years, the Department's architect suggested a whole new rebuild. As Deputy Murphy said, that was in 2014. We are 12 years on from that and the school just wants to push the project along and that is what it is looking for now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  I thank the Deputies for raising the issue. I compliment them as constituency TDs because nearly every issue they raise is done on a cross-party basis. It is great to see it because education is so important. It is very important to be unified. We have had a number of issues with the Deputies we are working on but it is important to acknowledge the co-operation they have on this. This shows me the challenges there are in relation to the school and the decision that was taken.  A major project for the school was to build 20 mainstream classrooms along with additional classrooms for special education needs and associated work. This project is currently at stage 2a of architectural planning, where the preferred design option is developed to a stage where the project can be fully cost planned, and prepared to lodge for statutory approvals. The Department received that submission in July 2025 and a detailed review is ongoing. Part of the submission review will include a stakeholders meeting between the school authorities, design team and project manager, which will be held once the stage 2a report has been reviewed. It is important because that is the crucial piece. We have that report a number of months at this stage and, as Deputy Murphy quite rightly said, the officials confirmed to him we have it, so we need to move that on to the next stage. What is exasperating people in many of the questions I am answering here on an ongoing basis is the delay in getting school buildings beyond the design and the initial thoughts. The Deputies have demonstrated quite clearly there is need for this school and the Department has accepted it going back over a decade or so. It is important we move with the submission that is there.  On the immediate issue with the roof, I wish to clarify if there is an application in for emergency works for that. I will endeavour to go back to that application to see where that is at rather than give lip service to it in the Chamber. I understand the seriousness of it because of the co-operation between the Deputies. I will endeavour to find out where the submission is at, how soon we can get that reviewed and on to all the stakeholders.  There is a lot of detailed planning that goes in to ensure we are getting the best possible outcome. The Government has committed a huge amount of funding over the past number of years and into the future to school buildings across the country. At school visits I have made, we have often see there are major challenges with the buildings. I will go back to the Department and ensure the submission received in July is reviewed in a timely manner and that engagement is brought back to the stakeholders, including the school authorities, project manager and so on. I will endeavour as well to ensure I can report back to the three Deputies on where the current application for emergency works is. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Crowe  The school's most optimistic expectation is that it will take more than four years from the green light through to completion. Can we really stand here and say we cannot build two sets of classrooms and a new school within 12 years? It is just not acceptable. Children in Tallaght are being left behind. That is clearly what is happening. What message does that send to the children in these schools that it has taken 12 years? The Minister of State talks of repairing the roof but it is not repairable. That is what the school is telling us. It is unacceptable. We need some action here. We are asking for at least a meeting with the Minister and the officials. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  There is lots in the roof report carried out by Morris Roofing and Cladding. The key point is the roof has gone beyond economic repair due to its nearly 50 years of age. The fundamental problem is the school is over 50 years old and needs a new replacement building. That is not just the opinion of some teachers, students or parents but of the architect originally appointed by the Department 12 years ago. There is an additional issue in that when the new school building opens, there will be 36 extra places in special classes, which obviously for the children in the area, and for the Minister of State given his particular responsibilities, is an extra reason to get this happening as quickly as possible. I re-emphasise the point about a meeting with the Minister and officials. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  The principal and staff of the school are doing a brilliant job and it is a fabulous school. It is a big school in Old Bawn. There are about 700 or 800 students in it. It is lucky the school has a big site where it will be possible to build the new school at the same time as keeping the existing building going and doing it in phases without the need for additional funding for modular or temporary accommodation for the students. The school can do this project with relative ease on its existing site. We call again for a meeting with the Minister and Department officials to get this thing moving. We all know it has been delayed for too long and there is a real, urgent need here. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  With any funding going in from the State to new schools and buildings, it is important we have the special education part of it as well. That is a decision that has been taken by us in the Department to ensure we are accommodating children with additional needs within any new build. I take the point it has been 12 years. There was mention of 2011 and 2014. It has been too long. There is a report in with the Department and I will endeavour to find out where that is at. I also take the point that sometimes we spend an awful lot of time, effort and money to try to patch something up while we are waiting for the essential build. Deputy Crowe mentioned four years until completion. You are looking at a number of cohorts of students who started out thinking this would be completed by the time they were completing school and then it takes another round of students to go through the process again. I will look to have a meeting and serious engagement with the Deputies and the Department of education to ensure we can prioritise this and make sure any road blocks that are in the way are moved but also that we understand the challenges. Right across Dublin it is great to see schools that have space because we are really challenged with space in a lot of Dublin school communities. However, there is space here so we need utilise it and ensure we do that. I will endeavour to find out what is happening with the report that is with the Department since July 2025.  I will also endeavour to undertake the Deputies' request. I thank them very much. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Schools Building Projects"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-22\/debate\/dbsect_8","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Public Transport","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-22\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Canney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed  Delivering an efficient and accessible public transport system is essential to the daily lives of working people across Dublin city and to meeting our climate objectives. The case for public transport speaks for itself. Every single full bus takes 80 cars off the roads, reducing emissions by over 90% and freeing up 300 m of roadway. Week after week, however, I hear from northsiders that they have simply given up taking the bus, not because they do not want to use it but because they cannot afford to trust it. They cannot rely on it daily. Citizens are experiencing frequent no-shows, last-minute cancellations and long gaps between buses. We still hear on an ongoing basis of ghost buses, services that appear as due on the TFI Live app and on the displays but never arrive. How can we expect commuters to shift to public transport when they are plagued by issues every day?  I have spoken about this in the Chamber before, but this situation has become so commonplace in Baile \u00c1tha Cliath that a website called buscancellationsdublin.eu has started pulling together the data on cancelled buses. In any other sector or walk of life, this would not be acceptable. Northsiders are just trying to get on with their daily lives, yet they are being let down time and again by Dublin Bus and the National Transport Authority, NTA. The delays cause real distress. People are missing work and medical appointments and struggling to get to childcare commitments. I understand from the CEO of Dublin Bus, Billy Hann, that a new next generation automatic vehicle location, NGAVL, system will be piloted in September. This cannot come soon enough, and I really welcome it. As Mr. Hann has acknowledged, the title \u201creal-time passenger information\u201d is effectively misleading, as the system now is just a countdown from when the bus leaves the depot, with no ability to respond to what happens en route to the bus stop. The next generation AVL system must provide passengers with the reassurance they need and deserve while waiting for a public transport service.  The long list of issues I hear concerning the 73, 130 and 15 bus routes in my constituency are underpinned by the simple fact that commuters cannot trust that their bus will even show up. When a service is delayed or full, that is frustrating, but when it does not show up at all, with no explanation and no update, that really undermines public confidence in the system and in public transport as a whole.  We cannot settle for this standard of service that people have been forced to tolerate in the last few years. This is even more relevant in the current climate and in the current energy crisis, with the pressure on fuels. It is an opportunity, at one level, to get people out of cars and onto public transport. If we are serious about our climate targets and about building a country where an carr a fh\u00e1g\u00e1il sa bhaile is a genuine choice rather than a gamble, then public transport must be reliable enough from the first minute in the morning to the last minute at night. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Canney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Transport (Deputy Se\u00e1n Canney)  I thank the Deputy very much. I welcome his question, which is on an issue that is very topical at the moment. He is right that we need to give people confidence in the public transport system so they will continue to use it for all the very good reasons he spoke about.  We are strongly committed in the Government to providing all citizens with reliable and sustainable mobility options, and public transport plays a key role in the delivery of this goal. To support this objective, in budget 2026, the Department of Transport secured \u20ac940 million in funding for the public service obligation, PSO, and Transport for Ireland, TFI, Local Link services, and a further \u20ac980 million in public transport capital investment.  Despite this investment, I know that customers can and do encounter issues concerning service cancellations and reliability. Bus cancellations can occur for a variety of reasons, such as issues with the availability of drivers and mechanics causing services not to run to schedule. The NTA has assured me that it is acutely aware of the importance of good-quality information being made available to customers regarding bus departure times and on-street displays. The TFI Live app aims to provide this information. The real-time information displayed on the TFI Live app and on the on-street signs is provided directly by the bus operator responsible for operating the service. The onus is on the transport operator to provide live disruption information if, for unforeseen circumstances, a bus is unable to complete part of its schedule. This information can be relayed to customers using the on-street displays and the TFI Live app. The NTA holds weekly meetings with operators to discuss performance, understand challenges and identify where improvements can be made. In instances where performance drops, financial penalties are rigorously applied. Where a bus does not operate due to circumstances within the operator\u2019s control, a reduction is made in the amount due to the operator equivalent to the cost of operating the cancelled service. The contracts also provide for deductions to be made when punctuality and reliability targets are not met.  In relation to the specific issue of vehicle location and tracking information, the NTA awarded Trapeze ITS the contract to develop and implement a next generation automatic vehicle location system for Ireland\u2019s public transport buses. This centralised system will replace the existing fragmented automatic vehicle location systems and will offer better real-time information for passengers. It will enable two-way communication with drivers and monitor the performance of buses against their schedules. The system will also provide tools for service controllers to make interventions, such as curtailment or cancellation of services, and, importantly for customers, will generate the real-time passenger information used in information displays for the public.  The next generation automatic vehicle location system project is a centralised, more modern, cloud-based AVL solution to be used by all PSO operators. It consolidates the existing five systems, which are up to 15 years old. This will bring advantages in terms of consistency of data across the operators. The system will be more robust and will have more modern bus control features that will assist bus operators to run services against schedule, providing accurate and reliable data for passengers on real-time displays. The first implementation of this new system in Waterford is due to go live in June and is currently in testing. The system will be rolled out to other operators during the course of 2026 and 2027, including Dublin Bus, Bus \u00c9ireann and Go-Ahead Ireland services. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed  Go raibh maith agat. I welcome the confirmation that the NTA is taking the issue seriously and progressing plans to modernise the existing system. I welcome the fact it looks at it weekly and has a structure in place in this regard.  One thing that does concern me is that at the moment we are very reliant on the operators to share data and to push it into the system. I hope that in the new setup that will happen automatically, rather than there being a reliance on various operators to release data into the system. As much of that process as possible should be automated so that the end user is getting the data without even having to think about it and without having any dependency on an operator, whoever it is.  The 73 bus service, which I mentioned earlier, was originally the 123 Imp service. These were smaller yellow and red buses that used to run in and out of the city centre. It was a hugely popular service on the north side. The NTA took a decision to give it to a new operator and rename it the 73 in the autumn of last year. There are ongoing issues with that service. We are awaiting detailed information on the performance of the route from the NTA since early March. We have clarified what we are looking for but we are still waiting for that information. This service is a vital one for that part of the north side. I want to keep it on the agenda until the service works for local citizens. I ask that the Minister of State give the NTA a nudge to publish that information and get it back to us. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Canney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Canney  I will go back to the NTA regarding the 73 bus service to seek the clarification the Deputy requires. There is no doubt about that.  Further to the updates I provided earlier on the next generation automatic vehicle location system and practices by the NTA and bus operators to support a better real-time information system for passengers, I note that a number of actions have been taken that will help to address this issue. These actions include the replacement of older antennas on buses, with close to 800 to be replaced. GPS receiver boards on Dublin Bus services are in the process of being updated, with 300 buses updated to date and the balance to be updated in May of this year. Operational practice has also been modified to help address the issue. The NTA has developed a tool that can be used by Dublin Bus and Go-Ahead Ireland to monitor the efficiency of trip cancellation processes. This will help ensure real-time passenger information takes account of all cancellations as they arise.  Finally, as I noted in my opening statement, the new system is planned to go ahead in Waterford in June and the roll-out to the other areas will be taking effect straight away after that, in the rest of 2026 into 2027. It will consolidate the five existing systems, some of which are 15 years old, into one central one. This will bring advantages in terms of consistency of the data that people will get from across all the operators. The system will be robust with more modern bus-control features that will assist the bus operators to run services against schedule and provide accurate and reliable data for passengers on real-time displays. If we have the system correct, the information will be live and people will know. We invest a huge amount of money in public transport but we want to make sure we are generating the confidence in the public so that they can use it. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Public Transport"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-22\/debate\/dbsect_9","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Earth Day: Motion [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":32,"speakerCount":26},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Brophy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  I move:  That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann:  recognises that the triple planetary crises of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss are an existential threat to humanity;  notes that the 22nd of April, is Earth Day, where people around the world are called to stand in defence of the only home we share;  declared a climate and biodiversity emergency, becoming the second national parliament in the world to do so, and in so doing recognised the importance of Ireland responding to these crises in 2019;  further recognises that:  \u2014 to address this challenge, the Government has committed to achieving a climate neutral economy by no later than 2050 and, through carbon budgets and the Climate Action Plan, to reduce by 51 per cent the annual greenhouse gas emissions reported for 2030 compared to 2018;  \u2014 these commitments are underpinned by the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015, amended and strengthened in 2021, which acts as a foundation for the State's climate policy, and provides the legal basis for Ireland's climate ambitions;  \u2014 biodiversity targets are driven by Ireland's 4th National Biodiversity Action Plan 2023-2030 (NBAP), which aims to meet international commitments, including 30 per cent protected land and marine areas by 2030, this plan is on a statutory footing, and public bodies have a duty to contribute to these targets;  \u2014 achievement of these ambitions requires a Whole-of-Government approach to the decarbonisation of the energy system, the provision of electrified public transport at scale, the retrofitting of Ireland's building stock, and the development of new renewable energy sources;  \u2014 the ongoing crisis in the Middle East has demonstrated that the objective of affordable, secure and decarbonised energy cannot be met through importation of fossil fuels, which are carbon intensive and subject to rapid price shocks;  \u2014 in confronting the fact that 29 per cent of Irish households are in energy poverty and hundreds of thousands of electricity and gas customers are in arrears, we must ensure that in moving to a net-zero Ireland we adhere to the principles of the Just Transition Commission, and must reach those furthest behind first;  \u2014 energy crises disproportionately impact the most marginalised, including one parent families, carers, disabled people, members of the Traveller community, and older people are driven by an energy system that is too reliant on expensive imported fossil fuels; and  \u2014 climate change and its consequences are and will continue to have profound effects on human health and the wellbeing of future generations;  notes, with concern that:  \u2014 the Minister for Climate, Energy, and the Environment has indicated that the Government will miss its 2030 emissions reduction target by half, and has provided no emergency plan to reverse this trajectory;  \u2014 the Environmental Protection Agency, in preparing its latest emissions projections, found that the Government had not included any significant new policies or measures in the Climate Action Plan 2025, to close the gap in meeting 2030 climate targets;  \u2014 relevant Government Ministers have not yet fulfilled their duties under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Acts to attend the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy, and outline corrective measures to meet sectoral emissions ceilings;  \u2014 the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council and the Climate Change Advisory Council published a joint peer-reviewed analysis in 2025, indicating a potential \u20ac8-\u20ac26 billion in compliance costs for Ireland through missing climate targets;  \u2014 the Government has proposed legislation that will fundamentally undermine the functioning of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act, by exempting carbon intensive projects from scrutiny under that Act;  \u2014 the Government intends to increase Ireland's reliance on fossil fuels through the creation of a State-owned Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal which will be reliant on imported gas and subject to geopolitical price shocks far beyond the State's control;  \u2014 the enabling legislation for a State-owned LNG terminal, the Strategic Gas Emergency Reserve Bill 2025, seeks to pre-empt scrutiny of this project under Section 15 of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act, suggesting that the Government understands that it is not compliant with Ireland's climate targets;  \u2014 an LNG terminal will lead to locked-in fossil fuel industry expansion that does not align with Ireland's binding climate obligations;  \u2014 a similar provision in the Dublin Airport (Passenger Cap) Bill 2026 suggests that the Government is placing the interests of airlines ahead of the need for a healthy environment and climate action;  \u2014 the newly published Critical Infrastructure Bill 2026 will allow the wholesale exclusion of carbon intensive projects from scrutiny under the Climate Action Act;  \u2014 despite a target of 5 gigawatts (GW) of new offshore wind energy by 2030 under the Climate Action Plan, no new offshore wind projects have been delivered, and the projects currently planned amount to less than 5 GW;  \u2014 the Government is due to fall well short of its retrofitting targets of 500,000 residential retrofits and the deployment of 400,000 heat pumps by 2030;  \u2014 the National Development Plan Review 2025 has reversed the previous Government's policy of providing a ratio of 2:1 investment in public transport over new roads, which will undermine plans to improve public transport and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transport sector;  \u2014 rapid growth in the number of data centres in Ireland has created significant induced demand for electricity, which will eliminate the net positive effect of new renewables projects and lead to increased energy prices for ordinary households;  \u2014 the Government has raided the \u20ac3.15 billion Climate and Nature Fund to plug holes in its infrastructure budget;  \u2014 the Marine Protected Areas Bill has yet to be published;  \u2014 the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, has disbanded its climate division;  \u2014 funding for farmers to implement the NBAP is wholly inadequate;  \u2014 the Final Report for Phase 2 of the National Land Use Review has been with the Minister for Climate, Energy, and the Environment, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Minister of State at Housing, Local Government and Heritage almost a year and is still not published;  \u2014 the Government has not fully met its legal obligations under the Climate Act as emissions limits do not account for the Land Use, Land Use Change, and Forestry sector;  \u2014 the Government has not yet addressed the recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy regarding the preparation and delivery of Carbon Budgets 3 and 4 (2031-2040); and  \u2014 the Climate Action Plan 2026 has been significantly delayed and is still not yet published; and  calls on the Government to:  \u2014 re-commit to the legally binding target of 51 per cent emissions reduction by 2030;  \u2014 remove any provisions from draft legislation that limits the effectiveness of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act;  \u2014 implement the recommendations of the Independent Advisory Committee on nature restoration and to adequately fund Ireland's Nature Restoration Plan; and  \u2014 protect vulnerable households from the ongoing fossil fuel price crisis through new targeted supports and safeguards, by speeding up access to home energy upgrades, and by ensuring that Ireland develops its own secure and clean renewable energy.  Today, 22 April, is Earth Day, a day that has been marked since 1970. For 56 years, people around the world have used this date to speak for and act for environmental protection around our planet. It is appropriate, therefore, that on Earth Day this House supports the motion I am proposing and delivers a powerful message. The energy crisis is the climate crisis. On behalf of the Green Party, I am proposing this motion as people across our country experience the consequences of another global spike in the prices of energy. The origins of this energy price crisis is our country's over-reliance on fossil fuels. The war in Iran has, for the second time in four years, shown how our economy is at the mercy of the whims of Trump, Putin, Netanyahu and of the Ayatollah. Ireland needs to be able to generate its own energy so we can make our own choices. The only way to achieve true fuel security in Ireland is to stop importing it. Our country will remain vulnerable to energy shocks until we transition our entire economy onto renewable sources of energy.  Countries that have already taken this step to move to renewables have economies that are better placed to cope in the current crisis and are therefore better able to protect their own people from the worst of the energy price spike. In Spain, renewable energy now generates 50% of the country's electricity coming from wind, hydro, and, increasingly, from solar. Spain has seen dramatic growth in the use of solar power in the past six years. This is one of the contributing factors to Spain having the lowest wholesale electricity prices within the EU. This solar revolution did not come about naturally and simply as a cause of Spain enjoying a sunny climate. For decades, solar supplied only a minor part of the country's electricity. However, following the Ukraine invasion in 2022, the Spanish Government, recognising its vulnerability to international energy shocks, took a deliberate policy decision to reduce its dependence on imported gas and move much of its economy towards renewables. In Demark, over 83% of the country's electricity is generated from renewable sources: wind, bioenergy and increasingly solar. Interconnection with other Nordic countries provides an additional layer of protection. These countries have shown that governments can lead the fight on decarbonisation but at the same time create energy independence for their economies and leave all their citizens better off. Yet, over the past 15 months, the Government has demonstrated that it does not possess the belief in this transition to make the case for it convincingly to the Irish people.  Therefore, on a national basis, what should Ministers be doing to progress this transformation of our energy systems? First, the Government needs to speed up the delivery of the offshore wind farms that were successfully bid for during the term of the previous Government. An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la and the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority, MARA, need to be given additional expert staff so they can more quickly process and decide on applications for offshore winds and for large-scale solar arrays. The Government also needs to speed up investment and delivery of improvement in our ports. Right now, Belfast is the only port on the island capable of supporting the construction of offshore turbines. This has to change. We need to develop Cork and Rosslare ports so they can support the delivery of offshore wind but also that they can enjoy the benefits of the support industries and the economic development that will gather around sites where electricity generated by wind is brought onshore.  We need big and bold actions. The urgency with which we need to protect Irish households from this energy price shock, and the next one that probably is not far down the road. Over the past two months the Government has allocated over \u20ac750 million in new emergency spending to deal with the energy crisis. While this money is needed to protect households and businesses from the current crisis, not one cent of that money works to protect or prevent either our economy nationally or individual households from experiencing a similar price spike the next time there is a global emergency. A total of \u20ac750 million spent and it is all entirely reactive, entirely short-term and in no way changes or reduces our vulnerability.  I want to make three suggestions about what this bold action could look like. The Green Party proposes a new fully-free solar programme for all households in receipt of the fuel allowance. Eight solar panels will be provided to each home. This will mean solar will reach the most vulnerable households more quickly. It will reduce their energy bills at a time we know they can be subject to rapid price shocks. Investing \u20ac400 million a year for five years, which is about half the cost of the package that was agreed last week, would provide free solar energy to hundreds of thousands of energy-poor households.  Second, we propose that the Government creates a social leasing scheme for electric vehicles, EVs, for essential workers. This will be based on a scheme operated by the French Government over the past two years. As a social leasing scheme, it would operate where small-scale electric cars would be leased on a five-year basis by the State to essential workers who need to drive to work or have limited transport alternatives. This model, with the State making an initial contribution to reduce the monthly cost, would remove what we all recognise as the biggest barrier to EV uptake, namely, high upfront costs. An upfront investment of \u20ac500 million, about two-thirds of what was agreed in the emergency package signed off last week, would deliver 70,000 small electric vehicles under this scheme.  These schemes are not cheap. Activating them would mean upending our spending plans this year and next year, and I am sure it would cause a couple of furrowed brows on officials of the Department of public expenditure as well. However, at a time we are in the enviable situation to be one of a small number of European countries reporting a significant budget surplus, that we would go through a second energy crisis, again driven by our dependence on imported fossil fuels, and not take big and bold action to reduce our dependence, would be a failure to act as an act of national self-sabotage. We must acknowledge that the climate crisis is the energy crisis and that the solutions are not cheap but understand that once those solutions are invested in, they can bring immediate savings to hard-pressed households, will lessen our energy insecurity and have the added benefit of decarbonising our economy.  Our third proposal does not require major State expenditure. Over the past number of months, the Green Party and I have been urging the Government to allow for the deployment of plug-in solar in Irish homes and to take what steps that are needed to resolve any safety concerns related to it. In March, in response to the current energy crisis, the UK Government announced it would make plug-in solar panels available to British households. These easy-to-install panels have become commonplace in Germany. Over 1 million units have been installed. They are sold by major retailers. They are affordable and are easy to install. They can be used in apartments that cannot have rooftop solar and in rental properties as well. We know these panels could save people money on their bills now in the midst of an energy crisis. I asked the Taoiseach about this issue last month. I have questioned the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, on a number of occasions yet there is still no clarity on how or when any technical issues regarding the large-scale deployment of plug-in solar in Ireland will be addressed.  The actions needed to shift our economy to renewables are not only taken at State level. Communities are coming together to fill the gap Government inaction has left. The Ennis Environmental Action Group has led a voluntary public information campaign to inform neighbours and friends about the grants available under SEAI schemes. This work has led to a 2.6-fold increase in applications to the warmers homes scheme in that area. This sort of effective peer-to-peer sharing of information is helping to better spread information, but also break down preconceived notions about these schemes. At a time we know people are looking to better understand how the retrofit process works, I ask the Government to look at what the Ennis Environmental Action Group did and how it was able to make the case for transition within its community.  The argument for changing our economy to run on renewables is no longer just an environmental one. The cost-of-living consequences of sticking with imported oil and gas should not be borne by another generation of Irish householders. The energy crisis is the climate crisis and as a country, we have the natural resources to allow us to produce renewable energy at scale----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Conor Sheehan)  Thank you, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  -----and right now we have the financial resources to support the development of these new industries. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Conor Sheehan)  Thank you, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  Let us not wait until the next war or the next fuel crisis; let us act now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  I will take three and a half minutes.  We are in a situation now where the Government is set to miss its 2030 emissions reduction targets by half and there is no plan to reverse that trajectory. The Environmental Protection Agency's, EPA's, latest reports found the Government has not included any new policies or measures in the climate action plan to 2050 and we will pay for this because \u20ac8 billion to \u20ac26 billion in compliance costs for missing targets can be imposed.  The Government is also encouraging carbon-intensive projects. It is legislating for a State-owned LNG terminal. It is lifting the passenger cap in Dublin Airport, missing retrofitting targets and encouraging data centres, and it is boasting about that as well. The Government has utterly reversed - it is not going forward - in climate action and it is following a trend worldwide, where governments have no interest whatsoever. That includes governments that are considered climate deniers like Trump's, but the same goes for the Irish Government.  I will mention the dependence on fossil fuels and the food crisis, which the recent protests exemplified. The crisis caused by the US-Israel war on Iran, which the Government sat silently by about when it visited Trump, has highlighted the addiction of capitalism to fossil fuels, utter dependence on intensive agriculture, which is being developed and deepened in this country, and a huge dependence on synthetic fertiliser and pesticides and Gulf-based fossil fuels. It has been warned that if this crisis persists, fertiliser prices will increase and ultimately food prices will rocket, causing huge problems for the poorest people on the planet, but also for western economies.  In Ireland, if anything was shown by the recent developments, it was that we should introduce free public transport. It has been done in other countries. The Government is way behind on retrofitting. It is a model that requires large amounts of money upfront and it needs to be rolled out across all homes, not just for people who already have very nice incomes and homes. There is huge energy poverty in Ireland. The motion cites that almost one third of households are in energy poverty. There are huge arrears on gas and electricity bills. The ESB needs to be taken back into public ownership and run on a break-even basis. We should not just be subsidising profitable companies with one-off payments.  LNG is a dirty fossil fuel. Let us be clear. There should be no more fossil fuel infrastructure because if it is set up, it will encourage it to be developed yet again. It is not just a stopgap. It will increase our dependence on fossil fuels. We need to invest in renewables and stop this dependence on fossil fuels. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  I thank Deputy O'Gorman and the Green Party for tabling the motion, which we support. We have also tabled two amendments, which I will mention later.  The main point is that history will not treat this Government kindly, if history gets to be written. Maybe that is what it is counting on. One after another, the Government is ripping up its climate commitments relating to LNG, data centres, public transport, nitrates, marine protected areas, MPAs, forestry, you name it. The Fianna F\u00e1il-Fine Gael-Lowry lackey Government is going backwards. It is no coincidence this is happening. Fianna F\u00e1il, Fine Gael and whoever is in government with them serve the interests of big business. That is who benefits from the expansion of data centres, extending the nitrates derogation and locking us in to fossil fuel dependence on LNG.  Recently, a booklet called Sitka Spruce the Amazing Timber Tree was distributed to Irish schools. It included an endorsement from the then Minister of State with responsibility for forestry, waffling about forests being homes for birds and animals - not if they are Sitka spruce, they are not. These plantations are biodiversity dead zones and should never be promoted as a solution to the climate or biodiversity crisis. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae might have resigned but his cynical pro-business greenwashing attitude lives on. It is shown in the Government's amendment, which ignores the core demand of this motion, that is, for the Government to recommit to reducing carbon emissions by 51% by 2030, a supposedly legally binding commitment. Instead, we get vague waffle about being \"fully committed to ... climate ambition\". However, the only semi-concrete target mentioned is climate neutrality by 2050. The Government is also trumpeting an \u20ac18.9 billion investment in the national grid. What it fails to mention is that this will be swallowed up by data centres, just like they have swallowed up the increase in renewable energy in recent years. The Government has gone all-in on the AI bubble, so all this grid expansion will go to big tech too and it wants workers to pay for it through higher household energy bills.  That is what People Before Profit's amendments are about. We say ordinary people should not have to pay for a climate crisis caused by capitalism. It is why we have always opposed the carbon tax - not just increases to it, but the entire tax. It is time to make big polluters pay. The Green Party motion notes the rapid growth in data centres in Ireland will lead to increased household energy prices. It leaves out that it has done that already, including under the previous Green Party coalition, and it does nothing to fix it. Our amendments are about banning the building of any more data centres, taxing existing data centres to fund a \u20ac500 energy credit for households and making sure data centres pay the same price for electricity as households and not half price as they do currently. Our amendments also call for making public transport free and the expansion of bus and rail services. It makes no sense that during a fuel crisis, the Government is cutting taxes on petrol and diesel, which we welcome, but doing nothing to incentivise people to use public transport. Fares are being abolished in Australia in response to the current energy crisis. The same needs to happen here. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charles Ward  I thank Deputy O'Gorman and his staff for bringing forward this important motion. I particularly want to share my concern that despite a target of 5 GW of offshore wind energy by 2030, no offshore wind projects have been delivered. Ireland has huge potential to become a global leader in wind energy, particularly through offshore developments. County Donegal has immense potential given where it is situated and the amount of wind we gather off the Atlantic Ocean and it would benefit hugely from developing offshore wind.  I have spoken previously about the severe deterioration of the fishing industry and what we have seen in recent years. Due to the decline, many fishers are forced to find work abroad. Given the nature of the work and their area of expertise, naturally many of them look for offshore work, but instead of availing of work in Ireland, they are forced to go away to England, Scotland and Germany. The Minister of State would be shocked to know how many constituents in Donegal have to go abroad to find maritime work. Given that we are an island nation with huge volumes of wind and marine resources, surely we should be able to provide plenty of work here. Surely fishing towns in Donegal such as Killybegs and Greencastle would be prime spots in which to develop offshore wind energy, but once again, we have been held back by a lack of infrastructure.  In a session of the Joint Committee on Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, I was told by Wind Energy Ireland that Donegal has the wind and good water depths, particularly inshore towards Donegal Bay.  At present, it is challenging for us to generate offshore energy in Donegal because of the electricity grid; it needs to be updated. The lack of grid is probably one of the biggest challenges facing us. To get electricity out of Donegal, we will need a stronger grid so investment is essential. We can harvest it but we cannot take it ashore.  In 2025, 13% of the cheapest electricity was wasted because of the grid. It is simply not strong enough to carry the power that comes from the wind farms and most of the wind farms are left dormant; they are not moving. We have had to switch the turbines off at time which is absolutely crazy when they could be generating power. The figure is significantly higher in the northwest where the electricity grid is at its weakest. It is a disgraceful waste when the potential is there, but we have to have the courage and to invest. We have to invest in the future, now. In Donegal, if we had a more advanced, up to date grid, that could handle this we could be in a prime location to harvest the power and take it ashore. The wind breaking technology is there. Wave breakers are all over the north of Scotland and they are generating power. We have to have the courage, we have to have the belief and deliver. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan)  I move amendment No. 1:  To delete all words after \"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann\" and substitute the following:  \"affirms that, the Government:  \u2014 is fully committed to delivering on Ireland's climate ambition across all sectors, and to progress climate action in a planned and coherent way in pursuit of the National Climate Objective of a climate neutral economy by 2050, in a way that ensures that sustainability, affordability, competitiveness and energy security are all central to our future climate planning; and  \u2014 is acutely aware of the impact on households and businesses of the recent increases in fuel prices, and is progressing both immediate and longer-term measures to support households with these costs;  notes that:  \u2014 work is ongoing across the Government to deliver on climate commitments and accelerate climate mitigation efforts every day, supported by unprecedented Government funding across the National Development Plan (NDP), which will fund major upgrades to deliver carbon emission reductions, including major public transport projects, more efficient public buildings, and supports an \u20ac18.9 billion investment into the Irish electricity grid;  \u2014 this Government is committed to the delivery of major public transport projects, the NDP Sectoral Investment Plan for Transport, published in November, provided \u20ac10.1 billion for public transport, as well as an additional \u20ac2 billion from the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund to progress MetroLink, giving a total of \u20ac12.1 billion for public transport, this compares to an allocation of approximately \u20ac8.7 billion for roads capital investment;  \u2014 the unprecedented \u20ac505 million worth of practical measures introduced by the Government on 12th April, included:  \u2014 further reductions in excise duty on diesel, petrol and marked gas oil (green diesel) in addition to a deferral of the planned increase in carbon tax, scheduled 1st May until October 2026; and  \u2014 reductions in excise duty, including the National Oil Reserves Agency levy reduction with effect from midnight on 14th April and will run until 31st July, 2026;  \u2014 Government will also be establishing a new road transporters' support scheme, as well as supports for coach operators providing local link services, at a cost of \u20ac40 million per month for three months;  \u2014 a comprehensive \u20ac100 million Fuel Subsidy Support Scheme to assist farmers, agricultural contractors and fishers will be put in place;  \u2014 this package of supports is in addition to the measures announced in March, which included:  \u2014 an expansion of the diesel rebate scheme, backdating it to January, to help sectors of the economy most impacted by the rise of fuel costs; and  \u2014 an extension of the fuel allowance season to help the most vulnerable with the cost of home heating;  \u2014 the Government has established the National Energy Affordability Taskforce, to identify and implement additional measures that will enhance energy affordability for households and businesses while delivering key renewable commitments and protecting security of supply and economic stability;  \u2014 the Environmental Protection Agency's most recent emissions reporting confirms progress in delivering on climate action and records that Ireland has recorded overall greenhouse gas emission reductions for a third consecutive year, with a decrease of 6.8 per cent in 2023 followed by a further 2 per cent reduction in 2024, this is despite the concurrent increase of approximately 1.5 million people, more than one million new homes and over one million extra vehicles on our roads;  \u2014 Ireland is a world leader in electricity generation from renewables which has increased fivefold since 2005, and that in February 2026 wind energy provided a record 50 per cent of the State's electricity;  \u2014 Ireland has now reached a record circa 8 gigawatts (GW) of renewable generation capacity, up from 4.8 GW in 2020, and renewable energy provided half of Ireland's energy in March 2026;  \u2014 the Government is committed to 5 GW of installed offshore wind capacity, with 5 Phase One projects all currently being progressed through the planning system, and the Government is also aiming for 20 GW of offshore wind by 2040 to help power a new green industrial revolution;  \u2014 the Offshore Renewable Electricity Support Scheme Tonn Nua site, offshore wind auction was successfully concluded in November 2025; and  \u2014 the 2025 Zero-Emission Vehicle Intelligence target for electrical vehicle sales of 195,000 was surpassed in October 2025, and Electric Vehicle sales are now at over 227,000;  \u2014 the Climate Action Plan 2025 and its predecessor, Climate Action Plan 2024, provide a strong framework for continued delivery of climate action across all sectors each and every day, including measures and actions that are multi-annual in nature and effect, and the Government is committed to supporting their implementation;  \u2014 projected costs of compliance with the European Union (EU) climate and energy targets have not been confirmed at this point in time and that there are several routes to compliance available within the overarching EU framework, and the Government's focus is on implementing the measures at hand;  \u2014 the Critical Infrastructure Bill 2026 is a targeted piece of legislation that allows the Government to designate certain critical projects or programmes as critical infrastructure, including:  \u2014 grid infrastructure which is vital for Ireland's climate, societal and economic objectives, it does not seek to undermine the functioning of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act;  \u2014 climate considerations will continue to be fully integrated into decision-making processes, including through the planning system and national policy framework, even where limited and exceptional provisions apply;  \u2014 the Government's position on the need for a State-operated Strategic Gas Emergency Reserve, in the form Liquified Natural Gas, has been clear - it is a priority project of a strategic nature required to mitigate the major consequences for our society and our economy that would arise if Ireland was to experience an interruption to our gas supplies via subsea interconnection;  \u2014 the proposed Dublin Airport (Passenger Cap) Bill 2026 will enable the sustainable development of Dublin Airport, with full regard to environmental constraints, legal obligations, and the independent regulatory role of the Irish Aviation Authority, while supporting national connectivity and economic resilience;  \u2014 the National Residential Retrofit Plan 2026, announced on 27th January, introduced a number of new and expanded measures to make energy upgrades more affordable, and accessible to many more homeowners;  \u2014 in Budget 2026, the Government provided a record allocation of \u20ac640 million, targeting 73,000 home energy upgrades this year, this includes a record \u20ac340 million for the Warmer Homes Scheme which provides fully funded upgrades for those in energy poverty and will target 11,500 upgrades this year;  \u2014 capital expenditure of over \u20ac1.7 billion has delivered over 257,500 home energy upgrades from 2019 to end Q1 2026, and there are already over 170,000 heat pumps in existing homes and businesses across the country;  \u2014 the 4th National Biodiversity Action Plan, which was published in January 2024, strives for a 'whole-of-Government, whole-of-society' approach to the governance and conservation of biodiversity;  \u2014 the finalisation of the Report for Phase 2 of the National Land Use Review is advancing with a view to publishing later this year;  \u2014 work is ongoing on the general scheme of the Bill to amend the Maritime Area Planning Act 2021, to provide for marine protected area designation through the National Designated Maritime Area Plan (DMAP) process with a view to bringing forward proposals this year; and  \u2014 the MPA LIFE Ireland project (2024-2033) has been working at a practical level to help deliver Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in Ireland in line with the DMAP process and the principles of public participation, co-design, co-development and co-delivery, this nine-year \u20ac25 million project co-funded by the EU will focus on the social, economic and ecological dimensions of MPA designation.\".  I very much welcome any opportunity to discuss sustainability, renewable energy, opportunities to reduce emissions and, of course, biodiversity and nature restoration. It strikes me, though, that we do not debate nature restoration and biodiversity enough in the House. Even in the 20 minutes the Opposition had to put forward their case on the motion, which alludes to nature restoration, ten seconds of it referenced biodiversity in nature. In fairness, Deputy Murphy referenced MPAs, Sitka spruce plantations and water quality but Deputy O'Gorman had ten minutes to begin and did not reference nature and biodiversity. It strikes me how low a priority nature and nature restoration are on the Opposition benches.  That said, I welcome the opportunity to discuss the motion. The Government has tabled a countermotion. We must oppose this motion because it calls for a restatement of commitments already in law, does not reflect established statutory and parliamentary processes and fails to acknowledge the significant body of work under way across government.  Let me be clear from the outset that the Government is fully committed to delivering on Ireland\u2019s climate ambition across all sectors, and to progressing climate action in a planned and coherent way. Our approach ensures that sustainability, affordability, competitiveness and energy security remain central to policy. We are also acutely aware of the impact on households and businesses of recent increases in energy and fuel prices. Energy affordability is a core priority and that is why we have taken action by introducing one of the most comprehensive support packages in the European Union.  The motion draws attention to concerns regarding the State\u2019s current trajectory, suggesting a lack of progress. The facts, however, demonstrate a very different reality. The EPA\u2019s most recent emissions report confirms our progress, recording overall greenhouse gas, GHG, emission reductions for a third consecutive year. We saw a decrease of 6.8% in 2023, followed by a further 2% reduction in 2024. Ireland now has the lowest level of GHG emissions in 35 years, despite the concurrent increase of approximately 1.5 million people, the construction of more than 1 million new homes and over 1 million additional vehicles on our roads.  Work is ongoing across government every single day to accelerate climate mitigation efforts. We are undergoing a renewables-led energy transformation. Ireland is a world leader in renewable electricity generation, which has increased fivefold since 2005. We have now reached approximately 8 GW of renewable generation capacity, up significantly from 2020 levels. In February this year, wind energy provided a record 50% of the State\u2019s electricity.  The Government is prioritising offshore wind, with five phase one projects currently progressing through the planning system. The offshore renewable electricity support scheme, ORESS, Tonn Nua offshore wind auction concluded successfully last year and will make a major contribution to Ireland\u2019s clean electricity supply. We are also advancing the solar for schools programme, which successfully completed installations in over 2,000 schools as of 2025. To attract the next generation of investment in strategic energy-intensive sectors, our large energy user action plan is deploying a plan-led approach to co-ordinate the delivery of key enabling infrastructure, ensuring that long-term industrial growth is fully aligned with Ireland\u2019s green transition.  To support this rapid transition, we are backing our ambitions with unprecedented investment. The Government has approved an unprecedented \u20ac18.9 billion investment in the electricity grid. In the transport sector, the national development plan sectoral investment plan provided \u20ac10.1 billion for public transport, alongside major projects such as MetroLink and the DART+ programme. Electric vehicle uptake also continues to grow.  We are delivering warmer, more comfortable homes through the national residential retrofit plan. Since 2019, more than 257,500 home energy upgrades have been delivered. In budget 2026, the Government provided a record allocation of \u20ac640 million, targeting 73,000 home energy upgrades this year. This funding includes a record \u20ac340 million for the warmer homes scheme, supporting those experiencing energy poverty.  I want to speak to what we are doing on biodiversity and nature. I fully accept and appreciate, as the Minister of State with responsibility for this area, that we have a massive tide to turn in terms of the loss of species and of habitats. We are leaving no stone unturned when it comes to restoring nature. We will soon have an amendment to the Maritime Area Planning Act 2021 where we will see MPA legislation included. This will set the way very shortly after for MPAs to be designated.  For the first time ever, in budget 2026 there was an allocation of \u20ac100 million for the National Parks and Wildlife Service, which allows us to put in place a structure where we can restore nature across the board. I will give a brief example of what this looks like. I recently visited counties Galway and Mayo where I saw the extraordinary work being done by the Wild Atlantic Nature LIFE project there. They are investing in the restoration of habitats and the removal of invasive species. There are so many wins in this approach. First, the farmer or landowner is getting paid to participate in this scheme, so they win. Second, the local development companies are leading out on this. The local development companies who employ so many people locally are administering and putting in place the measures to ensure this can be done at scale. One of the big benefits is that the same farmers and fishermen, who are in the west where it can be more difficult to earn a decent income, are the ones being employed directly by the local development partnership to actually carry out this work, including to remove invasive species and restore peatland habitats, for example. We will increase the scale of this; we will scale it up. There are even more benefits because the rhododendrons they are removing is being processed and turned into a biochar, which has so many benefits for farming and renewable energy. To say there is nothing happening in that area would be completely unfair and the advisory committee's recommendations will be published shortly.  Despite this substantial body of work, the motion presents several demands that are either unnecessary, inaccurate or premature. First, it calls on the Government to recommit to the legally binding target of a 51% emissions reduction by 2030. As that target already is provided for in law under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015, no further recommitment is required.  Second, the motion expresses concern that the Critical Infrastructure Bill 2026 limits the effectiveness of the climate Act. This is incorrect. The Bill is a targeted measure to accelerate delivery of certain critical projects including vital grid infrastructure. It does not seek to undermine the functioning of the climate Act nor does it disapply climate obligations. Climate considerations will continue to apply through planning and wider statutory processes. Many of the projects that will be supported by this Bill are of strategic importance to the State\u2019s climate action ambition, including critical electricity infrastructure and public transport projects. Without these projects, we will not be able to meet our overall climate targets and delays in their delivery will have significant negative consequences in this regard.  Third, the motion mischaracterises the proposed strategic gas emergency reserve. The Government\u2019s position on this has been clear. This is a priority project of a strategic nature required to mitigate the major consequences for our society and our economy that would arise if Ireland were to experience an interruption to our gas supplies via subsea interconnection. It is a State-led, transitional reserve intended strictly for emergency use and it will be divested when it is no longer required to secure our energy systems.  Fourth, the motion demands the immediate implementation of the recommendations of the independent advisory committee on nature restoration. We have not published the recommendations yet.  This will be launched on 29 April and anyone who wishes to attend is more than welcome.  Fifth, the motion calls for the removal of provisions from the draft legislation that limit the effectiveness of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act. It is a matter for the Oireachtas through the established legislative processes to scrutinise proposed legislation as it is progressed through the various stages. It is through these established democratic procedures that legislative proposals are examined, refined and determined, rather than through sweeping motions that overlook existing statutory frameworks. The Government's counter-motion reflects the reality of the decisive actions already being taken and the commitments already in place. It offers a balanced, practical and deliverable path forward. We are making tangible, measurable progress in reducing emissions, expanding renewable energy, improving affordability and advancing the conservation of our biodiversity.  We have the plans, the legislative framework and the unprecedented investment in place to deliver on our climate ambitions. I reiterate that the Government rejects the Independent and Parties Technical Group motion and proposes a Government counter-motion that more accurately reflects the reality of the situation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  The programme for Government commits to intensifying the transition to lower cost renewables and electricity generation and to transitioning away from imported fossil fuels. We can see just how expensive fossil fuels can be since the illegal US war on Iran, just how dependent we are on them and how vulnerable that makes us to price shocks. Successive Governments have been too slow to move away from expensive, imported fossil fuels and worse still, are now reversing the existing policy.  The Government must expedite investment in our renewable energy infrastructure to insulate us from the worst impacts of the turmoil of a world oil supply shock. In the long run, the only way to prepare for future energy shocks is to invest substantially in our energy infrastructure. Offshore wind and wave power should be the priority and funds from the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund should be used for that. The energy crisis and climate change disproportionately impact the most marginalised. Efforts to address climate change, like carbon tax, the cost of retrofitting and electric cars, also affect PAYE workers, one-parent families, carers, the disabled and older people the most. A total of 29% of households are in energy poverty, 300,000 families are in arrears with their electricity bills and 180,000 are in arrears with gas bills. As a result, the just transition measures are absolutely vital.  Low-cost, even free, public transport is a key issue in climate policy, particularly in constituencies like Tipperary South where public transport is limited, to say the least. If you work in south Tipperary in somewhere like Clonmel and work in any of the local industries like Abbott; Boston Scientific; Merck, Sharp and Dohme; Medite of Europe; Tipperary County Council; or Tipperary University Hospital, you must drive to work. Low-cost or free public transport must be put in place. The town bus service in Clonmel has been an outstanding success and this service should be rolled out to other areas in the town, like Old Bridge, Powerstown, Redmondstown and Clerihan. Crucially, it should be extended to other towns in the county, like Carrick-on-Suir, Cahir, Cashel, Tipperary town and Fethard. This would be hugely advantageous from a climate point of view and also from a societal point of view.  The Government will fail dismally to meet the retrofitting targets of 500,000 home retrofits and 400,000 heat pumps by 2030. These schemes must be ramped up considerably and delays under the warmer home scheme - a very good scheme - are unacceptable. Two years is not simply good enough. The retrofitting of local authority houses must also be put in place. It is currently moving at a snail's pace and is almost non-existent. The projected budget surplus of an additional \u20ac4 billion must be used to do that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  I thank Deputy O'Gorman for bringing forward this important motion. He is absolutely right to highlight the need for the Government to recommit in a serious way because it seems to have abandoned any serious effort to address the climate and biodiversity crisis that threatens our planet, threatens the ability of the planet to sustain human life in the long run and will certainly impose a huge cost on ordinary people unless it is addressed and addressed as a matter of urgency. It seems that this is one of the many areas in which this Government has bent the knee to Trump and his climate denialism, his warmongering and his obnoxious agenda in general. Pulling back from any serious efforts, giving up and abandoning to a significant extent attempts to deal with the climate and biodiversity crisis is another one of those pretty pathetic submissions to the Trump agenda. You can look at what Trump's warmongering has now done. It is not only raining down death and destruction - by the way, all of that is an environmental disaster and if that level of militarism continues, the destruction of the climate is an absolute guarantee - but it is also imposing a huge economic and financial cost on ordinary people here. We saw the consequences of that.  We need to address this. That means recommitting to the climate targets and addressing biodiversity and things like the marine protected areas, which the Government has dragged its heels on. There is a pathetically low level of protection of our marine area and the biodiversity in it. What is absolutely critical - this is where I have a genuine disagreement with Deputy O'Gorman and others in the House, including on the left - is that it has to be a just transition. For the 320,000 people who are in electricity arrears, the 180,000 people who are in gas arrears and the one in four people who are suffering energy poverty, according to the ESRI, any further imposition on them of a financial cost over issues like energy flies in the face of any suggestion of a just transition. That is why we oppose the carbon tax.  You are discrediting the climate agenda by saying that ordinary people should pay carbon taxes when they are not profiting from the destruction of the environment. They have no choice about the energy they use. We should be targeting the people who profit from the destruction of the environment. That means the fossil fuel companies, the data centres and the people who are actually holding up the addressing of the climate and biodiversity crisis or, worse, profiting from it. We need to actively encourage people to buy into the green agenda by supporting things like free public transport, giving things like energy credits and rolling out free retrofits, which are paid for through progressive taxation. That is the sort of thing that can bring ordinary people on side with the urgent need to address the climate and biodiversity crisis. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  I welcome the very comprehensive motion that has been set out by Deputy O'Gorman. It is now accepted that we will miss our 2030 binding target of a 51% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. At last, Ministers are accepting that. The Government has failed to develop offshore wind energy, anaerobic digestion and hydrogeneration, and it is only starting with solar. This means just not climate and environmental damage but also economic damage. The Irish Fiscal Advisory Council and the Climate Change Advisory Council estimate that we face fines of between \u20ac8 billion and \u20ac26 billion due to our failure to meet our international obligations, which are also moral obligations. Meanwhile data centres continue to be built at pace. They are currently using almost one quarter of our electricity supply, but sure it is okay; we will supply them with electricity for roughly half the cost of what Joe and Mary Public pay in their household.  The next big, bright idea is that we will import fracked gas from America. During Trump's recent pronouncements, he said we need to do this. When the Taoiseach was over there, I heard him talking about it. We will have it in a floating terminal in the Shannon Estuary, even though the exploration and extraction of fracked gas is banned here. The latest one is the Critical Infrastructure Bill. This is the next thing coming down the line.  One section alone - section 7 - is there for no other purpose than to facilitate huge environmental destruction at the stroke of a Minister's pen and this needs to be stopped. It is clearly designed to override any environmental concerns the county councils, local communities or anybody else has. The Minister can simply disregard the scientific evidence of extensive climate damage and overrule it. Guess what? It will facilitate private investors along with public projects.  It is clear what we are doing. We are dancing to the tune of the American Chamber of Commerce. We are being told our economic model is broken so we will just keep going with it; we will just keep jumping in. That is what the Government is doing here. Projects will be given the green light and planners at local authority level and scientists will just have to look on in horror. Data centres, fracked gas terminals and all sorts of dodgy mining will be made easy. Instead, the Government should speed up the delivery of offshore wind energy, wave energy, anaerobic digestion which it has completely ignored, hydro which it has completely ignored, and solar which is only moving at a snail's pace. It should ease the tax burden on HVO fuels for heavy transport and buses. It needs to expand the home retrofit scheme to reduce the amount of fuel used and speed up the warmer home scheme. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  World Earth Day is a day that should be about hope, urgency and leadership but the truth is that the Government has failed on climate action. It has failed on fairness and has failed on any kind of just transition. If emissions continue on their current path, climate change will have profound consequences for Ireland. We can see the warning signs already: more frequent flooding; stronger storms along the coasts; rising sea levels threatening coastal communities; and increased pressure on farming from unpredictable weather, drought and flooding. Our food system, biodiversity, water quality and public health will all be put at risk, and Irish towns will face repeated flood damage. These impacts are not distant or abstract; they are happening now.  There was some mention earlier of plantations and biodiversity. Nowhere is this more real or apparent than in the tributaries of the River Feale in Listowel, the Abha Bheag and the Smearlagh. Not only has the biodiversity been decimated in that area in that there are no brown trout left in the rivers, but it has been completely wrecked by the plantations of Sitka spruce. We saw the flooding in Listowel two weeks before the election which has not yet been analysed in the reports that have been published. Because of the plantations, because of the vertical drainage, a surge came from heavy rain and flooded two or three parts of Listowel town. That has never been addressed but I would put it down directly to the plantations upriver. As I said, the impacts are not distant; they are happening now.  Ambitious climate action is not optional; it is essential. Acting now means protecting communities, safeguarding rural livelihoods and ensuring that energy security in an unstable world is prioritised. There should be ambition but there should also be fairness. Climate action will only succeed if it brings people with it. Lowering energy bills, expanding affordable alternatives, investing in renewables, resilience and ambitious transition is the only way to protect Ireland's future while no one is left behind. Unfortunately, the record of Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael on climate action is littered with missed targets and broken promises. They promised that today's pain would bring progress tomorrow. They assured us that carbon taxes would change behaviour and they consoled us in the face of skyrocketing prices by telling us that better things were around the corner, but that is incorrect. Ordinary people are paying the price because we have not seen a just transition. In fact, it is the opposite; ordinary people are being punished by Fine Gael, Fianna F\u00e1il and even the Greens, all because they cannot afford to transition.  Sinn F\u00e9in recognises the magnitude of what is before us. We see that urgent and ambitious action must be taken. We have to get it right and we are not going to do that with the approach that has been taken to date. This is eco-austerity. Sinn F\u00e9in has repeatedly warned the House from the very beginning that the Government's approach could never work due to the inequitable outcomes. Regressive measures that prioritise eco-austerity over just transition produce growing resentment and fear among ordinary people. They fail to leverage climate action and actually set us back.  As the criticisms grow, it is getting harder for the Government to ignore the mounting evidence. We are deeply dependent on imported fossil fuels, emissions reductions are lagging, climate targets are slipping and energy independence is starting to look like another opportunity that has been let slip through the Government's fingers. That is the legacy of this Government.  The reality of what people are dealing with in the cost-of-living crisis is that families are being crushed. The balance is not right and Government is completely out of touch. We have the highest electricity prices in the European Union. While households are being fleeced, giant data centres are getting sweetheart deals. Families are paying six to eight times more in network charges than data centres. Let us call it what it is. Households are paying for grid updates driven by massive corporate demand and corporations are not paying their fair share. That is a political choice made by this Government. The solutions are there to end the rip-off but the political will is not.  After the war in Ukraine and now what is happening in the Middle East, global instability is being exploited and corporations are cashing in. Still, for three years the Government has failed or refused to give the energy regulator extra powers to tackle price gouging and anti-competitive behaviour. Sinn F\u00e9in would act to regulate standing charges, enhance transparency and make sure that the biggest users of energy pay their fair share because households should not be doing it. There is a design flaw in the energy system that is not designed to serve the people. As I said, we are dangerously overdependent on imported fossil fuels with 94% of imported energy fossil-fuel based. There is a clear way out of this which is the delivery of Irish energy independence, not as one Government Minister says by sitting on their hands and navel gazing about offshore wind but delivering. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  Climate change has real and profound implications for us here in Ireland and right across the world. Here in Ireland, as globally, it is most likely those on the lowest incomes and the poorest who will potentially pay the highest price. I think the Irish people understand that very clearly. Sometimes when listening to these debates, we might imagine that the Irish people are yet to be persuaded that climate change is real and we need to tackle it. I do not believe that is the case. Of course, there will always be a need to continue to highlight these issues but in my experience, people are more aware than ever. I see more enthusiasm for tiny towns, biodiversity projects and river cleaning than I have ever experienced.  However, the frustration people have is that they feel their efforts are not only being undermined but being completely wiped out ten times over by the policies of this Government. The efforts that people make by recycling, reducing their energy and upgrading their homes disappear into a puff of vapour when compared with sweetheart deals that are being provided for data centres. We have the absolutely glacial pace of delivery of retrofitting and likewise with renewable energy. Of course, it is frustrating for people when they are making these efforts when they are trying to make decisions in their own life and they are seeing the effective subsidisation of these enormous energy consumers, such as data centres. We have some of the highest energy prices in Europe particularly when it comes to electricity and people are absolutely crippled with it. This affects domestic users and also small and medium-sized businesses. When I talk to the owners of small and medium-sized businesses about the pressures they face, energy costs are right up there and nowhere near enough is being done.  What is happening with renewables is incredibly frustrating. We could have had the same debate ten years ago and we would be saying every community building and school across the State should have solar panels and they should be supported to do so. A comparatively very small number of them do, even though the appetite is there, because the Government schemes are not there to support it. Looking at the current crisis that we face, we are more vulnerable than most countries across Europe to rising oil and gas prices because of the Government's failure. Companies that have looked to invest in wind energy, particularly floating offshore wind, have taken their resources and invested elsewhere because the pace is so slow here.  The Government is set to miss its 2030 targets by a country mile. The opportunities for Ireland are huge as well as our obligations in terms of reducing emissions. T\u00e1 deis dhochreidte ann, go m\u00f3r m\u00f3r timpeall an ch\u00f3sta, do phobail, do chathracha agus do bhailte ach n\u00edl an Rialtas ag baint bunt\u00e1iste aisti. N\u00edl s\u00e9 sin maith go leor. Ordinary Irish consumers will pay the price and the planet will pay the price for the failure to deliver on renewables. It is totally inadequate. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  As the Minister of State knows, housing is the number one social crisis currently affecting the State and the cost-of-living crisis is the most immediate economic challenge. However, climate change represents an existential challenge, not just in this country but across the entire planet.  We can see every single day the impacts in urban and rural Ireland as well as elsewhere in the world of the failure of governments, particularly those in wealthy countries, to meet their emissions reductions targets. As others have said before, this Government is on course to miss its targets. They are not just legally binding targets; they are scientifically established targets for emissions reductions to deal with the threat of climate change. To make matters worse, the Government is pursuing a policy that is heaping the majority of the cost of emissions reductions on families, workers, and small and medium-sized businesses. That is imposing enormous pain, particularly at a time of a cost-of-living crisis. Then, of course, there are others in this House and outside it who want to minimise, if not outright deny, the fact that climate change is real. They want to simply continue as things are. The consequence of Government failure and climate denial by others is that public confidence in meaningful climate action is being undermined.  The solution, of course, and what people are calling for, is the just transition outlined by my colleagues and others. That is front-loading investment in critical renewable energy, in public transport and in a retrofit programme that meets people's needs, not one based on their ability to pay, and prioritises energy for households, employers and workers, not data centres.  There is a relationship between this and the protests that have taken place across the State in recent times. While they are primarily about the failure of the Government to tackle the cost-of-living crisis, they are being exacerbated by its climate policies: overdependence on fossil fuels, failure to provide adequate green transport infrastructure or public transport infrastructure, and just not listening to communities. Aidan Regan, a political economist from UCD, made a very interesting observation recently. He said governments here and elsewhere are faced with a trilemma in that they are trying to reconcile three irreconcilables: a model of economic growth that is deeply unfair and unsustainable, and a climate policy focused on carbon taxes and pricing, heaping the burden on workers and families, all the while undermining public confidence in democracy. He makes an appeal for a change and for progressive politicians to build an alternative alliance, one that focuses climate mitigation costs on the very wealthy corporations and individuals, provides a just green transition for workers and families and restores proper democracy. That is the solution to this crisis. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  The question is: where is the just transition? The people out there do not feel it and do not see it. I do not know how many times I have used the term in here. We talk about Ireland being a wind superpower but that is all we are talking about. We will talk about the difficulties that arose when switching from developer-led to planning-led systems but the fact is that we have not been able to fundamentally make use of that one serious resource we have in the form of wind. I have not seen any adequate speed-up or streamlining of the system to improve this. We do this at a time when we have seen multiple reasons to do it on the basis of, obviously, improving the environment, even from an energy security point of view, the issues that have arisen in relation to the Russian war against Ukraine and the absolutely disastrous, illegal war being fought by the Americans at the behest of Israel against Iran. We do not even know long term where that will go.  Obviously, it is very hard not to talk at this point in time about the fuel protests. That is accepting that we are not in a world where renewables can offer solutions that are necessary as regards vehicular transport from the point of view of farmers and hauliers at this point in time. We know, however, that we could separate out our reliance on fossil fuels from an energy production point of view. That, at least from the State's point of view, would be a real win but again when we talk about just transition, the Government, in its defence of carbon taxes, will talk about the retrofit scheme. As Deputy \u00d3 Broin said, the problem with the retrofit scheme is that it has looked after those who can afford to pay the most, so we are probably looking at some of the best houses in least need of retrofitting getting the most money from this State. It did not go to the people who needed it most.  Then, at times, we have people put under severe pressure, whether we are talking about the burning of turf or any other issues. We have not dealt with the absolute price gouging that has gone on from energy firms in relation to those who are hurting the most. I do not know how many times Deputy Pa Daly and others have been in here speaking about the need to deal with standing charges and about the CRU having greater powers to address any of these issues. That is before we get into the issues of flooding and the mitigations and protections we know about because of changed circumstances. Again, this Government has dithered and taken far too long.  What we need to see are real movement and supports for people because none of this is good enough. Unfortunately, it is a continuity of failure. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  We have an incredible opportunity here for energy security and independence because of our massive wind resource, offshore wind in particular. We have the opportunity to democratise our energy system, give people cheaper bills and, more importantly, give them ownership of the energy system. We have the opportunity to deliver warmer homes, retrofitted homes, a public transport system that is accessible and affordable and, most importantly, the building of sustainable communities. That is what we can do and what we need to do.  The Government, however, has taken an entirely different approach. It has taken the approach of targets that it has failed to meet at every hand's turn. It has taken the approach of pontification and hypocrisy, with one rule for households and another rule for data centres and large commercial enterprises. There is no greater example of that than carbon tax. It has almost come to the point that you are not serious about climate action unless you support carbon tax but let us look at the Irish carbon tax and how it is employed.  New research from Trinity College Dublin published in the Energy Research & Social Science paper lays bare the deep inequity at the heart of the Irish Government's approach and the Irish carbon tax. The study finds that adoption of sustainable technologies like heat pumps, solar panels and electric vehicles is overwhelmingly concentrated in affluent areas. It says that disadvantaged communities are being left behind by rates five to seven times lower than wealthier areas. The pay-then-reimburse grant model system disproportionately benefits those who can afford high upfront costs. The Government's approach locks out renters, people living in apartments and low-income households. Instead of a just transition, we see a two-tier system where the wealthy get the supports to go green while everyone else is left to foot the bill through higher taxes. That is the reality. In effect, it is a massive transfer of wealth. Those people who are proposing and supporting a carbon tax should say if they are net beneficiaries of the carbon tax and if they are being subsidised in terms of purchase of electric vehicles or retrofitting. Have they drawn down thousands of euro in taxpayers' money while at the same time the rural dweller is left as a massive net contributor? It is a massive transfer of wealth and a deep inequity at the heart of this Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  I welcome the opportunity to have a debate here on climate action and commend the Green Party on bringing forward this motion. The frustration for me when we have debates on climate action is that, in part, yes, the debate is framed around carbon taxes, which is one part of the overall strategy, and we have our view on whether or not it is effective, which was very clearly set out by my colleague an Teachta O'Rourke. The other is that we have a discussion about high-level targets which we never meet. Any climate action target I have ever seen this State commit to we have not met it. I do not see a sense in our continuously setting high-level targets which we cannot reach and not having a debate about how we will actually meet them or having concrete plans, Department by Department, area by area, as to what we are doing and what we can do to meet those targets.  I will give one example of this in my constituency because it is really important to me and I have been out there a number of times and am a really big supporter of it. I refer to Waterford Port. Waterford Port and, indeed, Rosslare Europort in Wexford are uniquely placed to play a really strong part in offshore renewable energy. They want to do it. They have the capacity to do it. They have the ability to do it, the plans and the drive, and it would be transformative for Waterford and for the south-east region.  In fact, if we want Waterford to become a zero-carbon city, then this is the game-changer. The port has submitted its landmark planning application to An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la. It is a multimillion euro terminal that is being proposed at Belview. The Maritime Area Regulatory Authority, MARA, has granted the maritime area consent. The plans consist of a 250 m extension of the existing wharfs, land reclamation, more operational facilities, office space, a new electric substation and solar panels for enhanced solar power, so it is transformative. Here we have a port that wants to play its part. It is moving through the planning process; I get that. However, there is a concern, as with lots of these big projects, and I think this is critical, that in the final analysis it may not get the backing and the funding from the Department and Government that it needs. I want the Government to prove everybody wrong. It goes back to what I said. High-level targets are one thing. Here is a plan, a planning application and a funding ask that will come very quickly and will be transformative.  The proof of the pudding will be in the eating. If we are serious about this, the Government will fund it. I want to impress upon the Minister and the Government the importance of this for Waterford and the south east. For those of us who will go out and aggressively sell the advantages of offshore renewable wind, there will be some kickback, as there always is. I will be one of those who will go out and say what we need. We need to have the backing of the Government and the Departments to make this happen when push comes to shove. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Teachta O'Gorman agus an Comhaontas Glas as an r\u00fan den scoth seo a chur chun cinn. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 tr\u00e1th\u00fail agus L\u00e1 Domhanda na Cruinne \u00e1 cheili\u00faradh againn inniu. Tac\u00f3idh P\u00e1irt\u00ed an Lucht Oibre leis an r\u00fan.  This motion provides a stark picture of just how far we have slipped and continue to slip in terms of our climate goals. I have been really struck by how little emphasis the Government has placed on our response to what is the greatest existential crisis we face not just as a country but as a planet, and it is a climate and biodiversity crisis. I was listening to the Minister of State, Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan's, comments earlier about the lack of focus on biodiversity in the Opposition. That could be not be further from the truth and I am disappointed the Minister of State is not here for this. This Government, which the Minister of State is a part of, is determined to systematically destroy biodiversity in this country by ignoring and actively disapplying environmental laws and environmental considerations when it comes to critical infrastructure.  The Government is scapegoating environmental law for its own failures to deliver and undermining laws that were designed to protect our biodiversity and our natural environment. This Government wants to import hugely polluting fracked gas via a new LNG terminal. These two issues alone have huge impacts on our biodiversity and we are fighting against this in opposition all the time. This Government has also extended the nitrates directive, despite the fact that the quality of water in our waterways and lakes continues to decline. At the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy, which I am privileged to be a part of, we have tried to shine a light on the huge destruction of biodiversity and nature going on in various locations like Lady's Island Lake in Wexford and the Blackwater river in Cork. We have investigated the large-scale, illegal commercial extraction of peat for export and profit, destroying our bogs and peatland habitats, as well as undermining our vital carbon sinks. The committee has investigated the EU's proposal to eliminate the LIFE programme, the only dedicated fund in Europe for nature restoration and a scheme that has major positive impacts on biodiversity and nature restoration projects across Ireland.  Later today, we will be looking into salmon conservation. I have not seen the Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan, at any of our climate committee hearings on biodiversity. As the Chief Whip said to another Deputy yesterday, you do not need to be a member of committee to attend it. We would welcome the Minister of State's input. I know he has a genuine passion for and dedication to biodiversity and nature. I would like to support him in his role but I would suggest that rather than criticising the Opposition, his efforts would be better placed in trying to ensure that our Government focuses on biodiversity issues being raised by the Opposition and regularly at the climate committee on a cross-party basis. He should ensure that the EPA, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, county councils and other institutions are resourced to effectively enforce our climate and nature laws. What we have seen from this Government over the past year and a half is climate backsliding, both in terms of our level of ambition and in terms of the actual numbers. Of course, rhetorically this Government remains committed to our climate ambitions and it recognises the importance of decarbonising our economy and our energy sector and so on, but it undermines it every day of the week. It is laid out plainly in this motion and I commend Deputy O'Gorman on putting together a compilation of this Government's willful failures, its greatest hits when it comes to climate, energy and the environment.  Alarm bells have been going off more or less since day one of this Government. Let us take the removal of the 2:1 spending ratio on public transport to new roads in the programme for Government, for example. Clearly, this is a very regressive move, particularly given the positive steps that had been taken by the previous Government in the investment and roll-out of more public transport services in rural areas, the reduction in fares, etc. Transport remains the second highest emitting sector in our economy. Decarbonising it to the greatest extent possible would go a long way to helping us reach our climate goals, not to mention the associated public health and quality-of-life benefits and the improvements it could have on congestion on our roads. However, at a time when we are trying to see a modal shift away from private car use towards greener, more sustainable modes of transport like buses, rail, cycling, walking and so on, the Government's major change in policy was to pour more concrete and tar, which is just a bit depressing.  Public transport projects like DART+ Southwest, projects that would have a real positive impact on people's lives, are unfortunately just getting pushed back. Even on a more local level for me and for the Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, we have heard absolutely nothing about the programme for Government commitment to carry out a new independent feasibility study for an extension of a metro out to Dublin South West. It is looking like we will finally be able to say with some degree of confidence that construction on the MetroLink will begin soon and that is very welcome, but we now need to start looking ahead and we should be looking in the direction of Dublin South West. My frustration with these delays and the Government's apparent lack of urgency in delivering these public transport projects is not purely from a climate perspective. Reliable, efficient and affordable public transport is a quality-of-life issue too, and our cities are completely gridlocked. Dublin is the third most congested city in the world and people are wasting hours of their lives sitting in traffic every day, every week.  At the end of last year,Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, threw up the white flag on the M50, effectively saying there is nothing more it can do to address traffic congestion. A Galway bypass has recently been approved. This will be welcome in the short term but what happens when that road inevitably gets clogged with more traffic just like the M50 and every road we build? Where is the plan for the Galway Luas? Where is the plan for better buses, like the express service from Oranmore to the city centre that Councillor Helen Ogbu is pushing for? We saw the plan for the Cork Luas published last week, which is great but we need to see urgency from the Government to get it delivered.  Energy is, of course, on everyone's mind at the moment. In the Labour Party we have been clear that this needs to be a moment of revolution in our energy system. What we are experiencing at present is not an energy crisis; it is a fossil fuel crisis. Many of us have been sounding the alarm about our dependence on oil and gas for years from a climate perspective, but the last number of weeks have illustrated in no uncertain terms that there are also financial costs associated with our continued dependence on oil and gas. That is aside from any fines we might get from the EU for not reaching our climate targets. Ordinary workers, households and small businesses are now paying the price for our overreliance on dirty fossil fuels. I was really glad to hear an acknowledgement from the T\u00e1naiste yesterday morning that our dependence on fossil fuels is not sustainable, but the inertia we have seen in this area so far can no longer be tolerated. The events of the last few weeks have exposed just how scandalous it is that we have not added a single watt of energy from offshore wind to our grid in 20 years. Our most abundant renewable resource remains largely untapped offshore. We are certainly not going to reach our 2030 target, which was set in the previous programme for Government and the 2021 climate action plan of achieving 5 GW of offshore renewable capacity by 2030. The Minister is now framing that target to deliver 5 GW as being to have them under construction by 2030. That seems to be the best we can hope for. There has been no urgency to build up our renewable capacity. No great effort has been made to wean us off the fossil fuels that are not just harming our environment but causing real financial pain for workers and families up and down the country.  The latest exercise in climate backsliding we have seen from this Government is an attack on our climate laws. It does not want to bother with the climate Act any more. It is just an inconvenience. Instead of addressing our infrastructure deficits, the Government is scapegoating environmental concerns and judicial reviews.  There are any number of reasons that it takes time to deliver large projects here but dumping on environmentalists and environmental law is just dishonest. The Government is looking for someone or something to blame for its failure to properly resource our planning authorities, regulatory bodies and courts over the last ten years. None of the delays to the national children's hospital will be because of environmental objections.  Section 15 of the climate Act is there to ensure that our public bodies account for the fact that we are living through a climate and biodiversity crisis and that the decisions we take now will determine whether things get better or worse. There are also serious constitutional questions about this move. If it is to be the case that a designation by the Minister or the Government means that a core statutory duty, such as that contained in section 15 of the climate Act, can be disapplied, there would essentially be unfettered discretion, enabling selective exemption from legislation. Such a power has already been tested in the Supreme Court, where the case for it failed. Essentially, if the Bill allows the Executive to decide which projects are critical and therefore freed from climate constraints, the Government is effectively deciding when and to whom the law applies. That is not acceptable. This Government has unfortunately shown a total disregard for our existing laws, particularly environmental provisions.  I will reiterate my strong support for this motion. I could go on but I will finish by again stating that the story of this Government when it comes to climate is one of backsliding, a lack of seriousness and great rhetoric that is then undermined in practical actions. It is a story of a government without ambition on climate. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  I welcome this motion and thank the Green Party for bringing it forward. I absolutely agree that the energy crisis is a climate crisis, but it is also a social justice crisis. The reason we are here and the reason so many people are at the mercy of global and international fossil fuel shocks is that this Government and the previous Government did not put in place plans to insulate communities and homeowners from these energy shocks. It is not the case that we did not have warnings previously. After the invasion of Ukraine, we saw incredible increases in the price of electricity and gas. It was at that time that the Government should have put in place measures to insulate and future-proof homes and to protect those who are least able to weather these shocks.  We in the Social Democrats put out a press release in September 2022 that called for the Government to urgently ramp up investment in social energy, double grants for solar panels and give free panels to those who were eligible for the warmer homes schemes. I spoke about how not implementing proper large-scale investment in solar was a wasted opportunity. Some 1 million homes in Ireland were suitable for solar panels and should have been eligible. If the Government had listened at that time, this country would be in a much better position to weather the current shock.  That was a wasted opportunity on the part of the previous Government. Only last week, the Social Democrats reiterated our calls for large-scale investment in solar so that everybody can avail of its benefits. I refer not just to those who are financially secure but also to those who rely on supports, including disability supports and fuel allowance, and those families who are working but who find it difficult to invest in future-proofing their homes because they are worried about paying rent, their mortgage or for childcare. People do not have money sitting in their bank accounts that they could use for these measures. We ask that the Government support our calls and the calls in today's motion to really invest in solar because we cannot continue to go through this cycle of energy shock followed by failing people in our communities and placing the burden on them.  As it is Earth Day, I also want to talk about nature. We should not talk about climate and energy without also talking about nature. It is all inextricably linked. I have studied and worked in the area of environmental protection since I was 17. I have worked in a multitude of areas and I must say I find it very frustrating to see where we are now and how we have not used the last 30 or 40 years to protect our environment. I am really sick and tired of hearing governments say that they are supporting climate action and nature protection while doing the complete opposite. Last week in the D\u00e1il, we debated Government-proposed measures that would undermine the climate Act, the very Act we brought in during the term of the last D\u00e1il to protect against and mitigate the huge crisis that is the climate crisis. I am also sick and tired of seeing governments using the environment purely for photo opportunities and greenwashing exercises. I am sick and tired of the disconnect between what is spoken in here and what happens on the ground.  I will give some very small illustrations of where we are going so wrong in this country. We have national parks without management plans and where nature is not prioritised. We have protected areas where there is no protection. Every year, the Minister of State responsible for biodiversity signs off on the hunting of endangered red-listed birds and other endangered and protected species. It just does not make sense.  Compartmentalising nature separately from everything else that we do just does not work. Nature, climate and environment have to span every single portfolio because unless we do it that way, we are never going to get this right, we are never going to make inroads and we are going to leave people and the environment behind. If we do not get this right, the environment will continue to regenerate, but our lives, energy security, food security, mental health and ability to engage with our environment and our neighbourhoods will be heavily impacted. It is all highly linked. I ask that when the Ministers are sitting at the Cabinet table, they try to incorporate nature, the environment and climate change. It is only then that we will manage to make inroads and make the changes. We cannot separate nature from everything else. It just does not work like that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Liam Quaide  I thank Deputy O'Gorman for proposing this motion today. It is particularly welcome because the protection of our natural world and climate action are foundational to everything else but have dropped off the political agenda to an alarming degree.  Last week, near Cobh in my own constituency, constituents reported extensive hedgerow destruction during nesting season. The people who witnessed this activity were very distressed by what was happening. They reported it to the National Parks and Wildlife Service, which told them that it had no staff to send out to investigate. They also reported it to An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na but no intervention followed. I appealed to the Minister of State, Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan, to redeploy NPWS staff from outside east Cork. I appreciate him doing so in a timely fashion. It was also appreciated by local residents. However, this episode really highlights the absolute gutting of NPWS resources in east Cork for years now, which has left the region entirely exposed as regards the enforcement of wildlife protection provisions.  As I have raised here previously, it is incredible that east Cork has not had a ranger for 12 of the last 15 years. It has also had no district conservation officer for close to two years and there has been no regional manager over east Cork and Waterford for years. We are now in the extraordinary position whereby if something serious happens in east Cork, such as the destruction of hedgerows or habitats, staff have to be deployed from outside of the region, which only happened in this case following an appeal to a Minister, because the NPWS in the region is so overstretched. As happened in Cobh, all too often immense damage will already have been done by the time there is any investigation. Hedgerows are vital habitats. They are nesting sites, wildlife corridors and part of the ecological fabric of rural communities. They also help with the retention of excess rainfall, thereby contributing to flood mitigation.  When I previously looked into whether there had been efforts to recruit for these long-vacant positions in east Cork, the responses I received from the Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan's, Department were so opaque as to be insulting. This really needs to be prioritised for east Cork. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, global temperatures have already risen by 1.1\u00b0C above pre-industrial levels and it is increasingly likely that they will exceed 1.5 \u00b0C within the next decade without rapid emission cuts. The United Nations environmental programme estimates that around 1 million species are at risk of extinction, largely due to human activity. In 2019, D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann declared a climate and biodiversity emergency, becoming the second country in the world to do that. However, there are targets to meet under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 and Ireland's fourth national biodiversity action plan. There are loads of action plans with all of these targets set out but if we do not meet them, we are off track and we will have a seriously detrimental effect on our future. The Environmental Protection Agency reported in May 2025 that even with all the planned policies, Ireland is off track for its 2030 climate goals, with only a 23% reduction in emissions expected.  Despite growing awareness, data from a global survey done by UNESCO showed that 70% of young people surveyed could not explain exactly what climate change is or explain it very well. While climate change spans many subjects in schools, we need a dedicated subject. However, it is not only for young people in schools but for all of us - individuals trying to offset problems caused by industry and external factors outside this country. These are tiny things, drops in the ocean. As a city TD, I have to say that nature, biodiversity and all of those things are so vital. We are very vulnerable to pollution, both in the future and now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  As Deputy Cummins said, Ireland declared a climate and biodiversity emergency back in 2019. This motion aims to renew that because absolutely nothing has happened. It is a bit like St. Augustine when he said, \"Grant me chastity and continence, Lord, but not yet\". We talk the talk, but we never walk the climate action walk, and that is a depressing fact.  I do not have time in two minutes to talk about biodiversity but my statements on biodiversity were made quite recently and are on the D\u00e1il record. However, I do want to talk about our overall approach to climate action. It is a pity that there are no Sinn F\u00e9in Ddeputies in the House because Shinners speak with forked tongues when it comes to climate and carbon taxes. No one likes a carbon tax, and obviously in the context of the fuel emergency right now we need to give short-term measures to people, but the concept of a carbon tax is accepted worldwide. It is the implementation of it that is the issue. Some of our Sinn F\u00e9in colleagues mentioned that it does not necessarily help rural Ireland enough and that the current implementation of it does not help poorer families, that it disproportionately helps those who are better off. However, the principle of a climate tax actually makes sense to discourage the use of fossil fuels and encourage people to move towards alternatives.  This is where we get to the point that we do not have those alternatives. There has been underinvestment in public transport and the grid to allow us to be self-sufficient and self-reliant in energy and have EVs powered solely by Ireland. We have done nothing about tidal or wave power. We are gradually getting towards offshore wind power and have done very little about solar power either. We are way behind in terms of meeting our 2030 obligations and have to wake up and smell the coffee. We might be making a small net contribution to climate change, but we are disproportionate in terms of population and we have a responsibility towards Ireland and the world. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  Today, on Earth Day, I raise the very important issue of our pollinators. Our native Irish bees are in significant jeopardy as a result of the importation of foreign bees. The importation during the Covid-19 years increased by fivefold. Studies have shown that the rate of hybridisation in Irish colonies has increased by almost 300% over the past six years. That means our native Irish black honey bees are mating with other bees in the area. Beekeepers obviously cannot control that. They are mating and the result is a hybridisation effect. If we allow this importation to continue, particularly of yellow bees, there is a very significant risk that we are going to see the extinction of our native genetic strain of bees.  This is a very important issue and there have been calls by the Native Irish Honey Bee Society to enact the Protection of the Native Irish Honey Bee Bill 2021. We had the association before the Oireachtas committee recently and we heard about the devastating effects of hybridisation. I am calling on the Minister of State to do something. The Bill passed Second Stage in the previous D\u00e1il. It is really important that we see the passing of that Bill to protect our own bees, pollination and biodiversity in the country.  I also want to raise the climate fines this country is facing. The climate advisory council and Irish Fiscal Advisory Council, IFAC, outlined and warned the Government that we could face up to \u20ac26 billion in climate fines as a result of the previous Government signing very ambitious targets. Will the Minister of State outline on the floor of the D\u00e1il what fines we are expected to face as a country as a result of these climate action targets? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  We have been a long time talking about targets in this House and we are way off our game. To be honest, I have spoken quite a lot about Barryroe oil field and fossil fuels since I came into the D\u00e1il, and I often got Deputies sitting to my right screaming and roaring back at me. After the past two weeks, they now know that we cannot do without fossil fuels. Common sense has prevailed. In fairness, I will be honest that I need education as well. There is no point in me just shouting that fossil fuels are the way forward and moving on. That is ridiculous too, but I always felt that Barryroe should have been explored because it could have been a chance to fund renewables, the renewables that we promised this nation when I came into the D\u00e1il ten years ago and that have not been delivered. It is the only way forward.  We should sit down and put together a cross-party group of people with maybe extreme views on every side, as long as they would not be getting overly angry with each other, to see if they could come to a consensus in the middle because there is a middle ground there somewhere. We do have to look after the environment, and I am big into that. However, it should not come at a price and it is coming at a huge price to the people of rural Ireland with the carbon tax. Carbon tax hits rural people 99% more than anybody else. Those are the facts. People can be in denial and they can say this or that.  We know the mindset within Fine Gael. Leo Varadkar, the former leader of Fine Gael, has proven it this week when he decimated rural people and agriculture. It was an absolute disgrace. That was his mindset the whole time and he is now coming clean. He did not say that when he was below at the ploughing championships. He did not say that when he was canvassing around rural places. He told us we were great people. We now find out that Fine Gael does not like farmers or rural people at all. The Minister of State should read his statement. It was not good enough. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Brophy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Brophy  Leo Varadkar does not speak for Fine Gael. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  He should at least apologise to the people of this country because he hurt people, and he does not need to do that. He is a former leader. He needs to advise maybe and not attack the ordinary people.  There are over 300,000 people in energy poverty. How can we create a solution to this? Is it solar panels? The Green Party had to take the hit on this big time because it was in government. To run a home on solar power, and I have talked to experts about this, homeowners need up to \u20ac20,000 and they get a grant of \u20ac1,800. That is a pittance. The Government needs to encourage people to put solar panels up on sheds, on the roofs of houses and maybe on lawns. It needs to encourage people away from having to use electricity towards using their own power. That was where the Green Party should have come in and it failed to do all this. All it wanted to do was apply the carbon tax so it could double the number of cycleways up and down the country. I was canvassing in Galway last week with Councillor Noel Thomas. The people of that community were furious. Hundreds of households, not just one or two, asked why were there double cycleways. I agree we need a single cycleway and a single walkway, but the carbon tax is being used and abused as a tax to put forward fancy projects. It is the same as greenways, where people are saying their land is being stolen from them. These are hard-working farmers who do not want to give their land to have miles and miles of black tar put down through the middle of it. It is insane. It is time to stop these fancy silly projects and put the money back into the country.  I am willing to sit down with the Green Party, and have no problem in doing so, because some of its ideas are very good. We need to marry them with the people who might be on the other side and have concerns.  We have concerns about vehicles at the moment. I put forward a proposal to the Taoiseach two weeks ago about a battery operated lorry, something people thought I would not do, but the Taoiseach did not answer. The proposal was to carry out a pilot project in west Cork, because I know a person who wants to do it. Such lorries work in New Zealand and Japan, but Ireland will wait for 20 years before we will consider such vehicles because we might put forward something ahead of the rest of Europe and wake up to the realities of what is out there. This is where we are going. We need to sit around the table.  On public transport, Local Link has done some wonderful work for a couple of years. Over the past eight or nine months, it has had tenders and has told us there is no money to run bus operations. The Minister of State, Deputy Canney, told people to walk to work, cycle and take a bus. That is nonsense for most people who cannot do that. It annoyed people and that resulted in the protests at the present time.  I congratulate Damien Long, who bought the Viaduct bar and, it is to be hoped, will make something like we are used to at exits 14 and 9 in west Cork. It will be a park-and-ride system. There is no train for 18 miles in west Cork. In the next 12 months, we hope, people can go to the Viaduct and get a bus to Dublin. I want a such a service. All of my neighbours and friends want to leave Mizen Head and the Beara and Sheep's Head Peninsulas and get a bus that will take them to a train. We certainly cannot get a train. We had it, but we blew it in the 1950s. There is no point in going back over that.  There are also delays in retrofitting, which needs to be looked into. Progressive politicians need to have a cross-party alliance, whether that is the Green Party or any other party. We all need to sit around the table and toss out the solutions. Let us consider buses that can be battery operated. We need to look at solutions and work on them to ensure we do not end up being laggards like we are. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  Happy Earth Day, with thanks to Deputy O'Gorman. I want to begin with solar, including plug-in solar. People always say that this Oireachtas has one of the highest numbers of Gaeilgeoir\u00ed, which it does. It also has one of the highest numbers of beekeepers, including me, Deputy Paul Lawless and Senator PJ Murphy. Bees are one of the most fascinating creatures in Ireland. They feature in our Brehon laws. There used to be the tradition of telling the bees, where you would tell your bees about the passing of a loved one. They were intrinsically linked with our history, but they need our help. I welcome the work of Deputy Lawless and Senator Murphy with the native Irish bee Bill. As a Dub, I raised this issue at my first ever meeting of the agriculture committee in respect of how we need to work in conjunction with the North on the Bill. We are not importing bees but if they go through Belfast Port, there is no point in legislation. We need to protect native Irish bees. I have nine colonies and they teach you a lot.  We need a quick and decisive decision to help people with solar. There is strong public demand for solar panels across my constituency. I have referred to how apartment dwellers are blocked from being able to avail of reduced energy bills due to the fact that they do not have access to rooftops. The UK Government is fast-tracking this at the moment. The German Government has introduced a policy. All that is needed is a 500 W or 800 W solar panel on a balcony with an inverter plugged into a socket. People could use a battery in conjunction with that to help with the cost. I hope this will be looked into.  I raised this issue on a previous occasion and concerns were raised about the danger of plug-in solar. I am aware that without proper execution there is a possibility that if people used two 500 W or 800 W panels on a single extension lead plugged into a single socket, there could be risk of fire. We could have a government scheme to make sure my proposal is implemented properly. That would reduce bills immediately and if we introduced a grant, the payback period could be reduced and people could be helped immediately. Multiple studies have showed that, in conjunction with small scale batteries, solar panels can help people who are struggling with costs right now.  I welcome the work done by the SEAI and the Minister, Deputy O'Brien. Local authorities can also access support for energy upgrades. While canvassing across my area, I have found there is sometimes a delay. We need to investigate how tenants can avail of cheaper solar panels for terraced houses. If work was done at one time, that would reduce the installation fee. People have also raised concerns with me regarding installation quotes, which can vary hugely. People want to know that they are getting fair value and want transparency and confidence.  For anyone who is not familiar with plug-in solar, I have established what it involves. I welcome the comments of the Minister that it is under consideration. It would be a simple fix to help the people I represent.  On batteries and smart meters, home batteries make solar more useful. Instead of using the low value of electricity produced during the day and losing it, people can hold it and use it when they need it most. Smart meters are helping and allow people to understand their usage more accurately through their smart phones with a direct link. The CRU has also made it clear that smart services require customer permission to access data, which is important for public trust. If used properly, smart meters can really help.  The private wires Bill is being developed and will address barriers for EV uptake in Dublin. Many people do not have a driveway and live on terraced streets, apartments or homes. I will push for the Bill, one of the goals of which is to facilitate on-street parking.  I would like to finish with bees. Ireland has 98 species.. Some 77% comprise solidarity, which nest in the ground. We have white tailed and buff tailed bumblebees, which are lovely insects. I look forward to working with Senator Murphy and Deputy Lawless.  Regarding another nature-based solution, in Dublin the Green Ocean Foundation has installed oyster farms across D\u00fan Laoghaire and Howth. I hope the Government will consider expanding the scheme. Oysters are filter feeders and a single oyster can filter hundreds of litres of seawater a day. In doing so, they improve water quality on a local scale and help the cycle of nutrients. Oyster reefs are used in productive and shallow coastal habitats and can encourage biodiversity.  We need to work in conjunction with nature for nature-based solutions, be it pollution or coastal erosion. When oyster beds clean water, they also encourage sea life, and that encourages a reef, which reduces coastal erosion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  I am glad to get the opportunity to speak here today. I believe the climate change, but I do not agree with others about what is causing the change. Climate has changed dramatically over the centuries and decades. In the 1740s, Ireland went through a desperate famine and we lost a third of our population due to hunger, cold and rain. People could not save turf, had no hay for their cows and cattle starved over the winter. The country was burned out of it for 100 years in the 13th or 14th century. In the 1890s, there were floods in places like Gneeveguilla, where a bog was washed into the Lakes of Killarney 12 miles away. In a field in the Clydagh Valley, 11 men were washed down the river by a flood that affected the lads in Ballynavenooragh, Fenit west or something.  I do not agree we on this earth can change the weather in any way. What is going on is costing us an awful lot of money. The road in Fossa, a national primary road going back to Killorglin and around the Ring of Kerry, was narrowed and there are now footpaths and a cycleway on both sides beside the carriageway. Buses and lorries have to pass each other going east and west.  Our rivers are not being cleaned. We are waiting for assessments, reports and this and that. The Flesk river flooded in 2022, which affected the national primary road to Cork outside of Glenflesk. I went through it in late 2015 or early 2016 and I thought I would not get home that night because I did not know where the road finished. The water was 3 ft over the road and there is a 10 ft drop at the side. After several requests and deputations by me and many others, the Minister of State, Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran, cleared the river.  He gave us a small bit of money and we were allowed to clear the river. The road has not flooded since. Those are the facts, whether the Minister of State likes them or wants to hear them or not.  We are losing a lot of lives on roads. People are very hurt over that. A lot of pedestrians are being killed along local roads because the hedges are not cut. People are not allowed to cut them in the summer when the hedges have gone mad. Pedestrians are walking outside the yellow line because they are afraid their eyes would be picked out along the ditch, and then they get hit by motorcars or whatever.  During the last protest, the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, told us that we must walk and cycle more. That is hurtful to people who have a time limit to get to work. People have to drop off children to school and do 100 different other things. To tell them to go cycling or walking is absolutely ridiculous.  The last thing I will mention is the carbon tax, which I never voted for in this Chamber and never will. A great case was made at an IFA meeting last week by a sound farmer. He questioned why they should be paying carbon tax when they are sequestering carbon. They have hedges and ditches and when they are growing grass, carbon is being sequestered. That is the God\u2019s gospel truth. Every farmer is complying and putting AdBlue into his tractor, jeep or whatever vehicle it is but he or she is still made to pay carbon tax. Those are the points the Government needs to address. It is not fair, especially on farmers because they sequester more carbon than they generate. I ask the Government to look at that. In October I certainly could not vote to allow the Government to extend reducing the carbon tax to 2030. It does not make any sense. The Government states that the carbon tax goes towards retrofitting but many people are refused the retrofit grant. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Brophy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Colm Brophy)  I thank Deputies from across the House for their contributions to this debate. Obviously, as we have heard, the strength of feeling on this issue is evident. Having sat through this debate, a range of views have been expressed. The Government welcomes the engagement. There are serious issues that require serious and sustained action. It is important to address some of the points raised during the debate.  First, I will speak to the contribution we had on bees. As Deputy Heneghan will know, I am the Minister of State in the Department of justice, and we in the Department of justice are beekeepers as well. We have our own bees on the roof of the Department, which contributes to the excellent work the Deputy does with his beekeeping. Our honey is very badly called - excuse the pun - \u201cJust Honey\u201d. There you go.  There have been claims that Ireland is not making progress on climate action but the facts demonstrate otherwise. The Environmental Protection Agency\u2019s most recent reporting confirms overall greenhouse gas, GHG, emission reductions for a third consecutive year. Furthermore, Ireland now has the lowest level of GHG emissions in 35 years. That progress has been achieved while the population, housing stock and economy continue to grow.  It has been suggested that the Government is failing to protect vulnerable households from recent fuel price pressure. Again, that is not correct. We have introduced one of the most comprehensive responses in the European Union, including the recent \u20ac505 million package of practical measures. This included further reductions in excise on petrol, diesel and marked gas oil, along with the deferral of the planned carbon tax increase. This is in addition to the previously allocated \u20ac250 million in targeted supports to assist those experiencing immediate financial pressure.  It is important to note that budget 2026 also provided a record \u20ac640 million for home energy upgrades, including \u20ac340 million for the warmer home scheme which provides fully funded upgrades for households experiencing energy poverty. Additional supports also remain available through the fuel allowance and additional needs payments.  We are also undergoing a renewable-led transformation on our energy system. Renewable electricity generation has increased five-fold since 2005. Ireland has now reached approximately 8 GW of renewable generation capacity while wind energy supplied a record 50% of the State\u2019s electricity in February 2026. The Government is prioritising offshore wind, with five phase 1 projects progressing through the planning system alongside an unprecedented \u20ac18.9 billion investment into the electricity grid.  Significant progress is also being made on biodiversity. The fourth national biodiversity action plan is now in place on a statutory footing and promotes a whole-of-government approach. The \u20ac25 million Marine Protected Areas LIFE Ireland project supports the delivery of marine protected areas through public participation and codesign. There have been claims that funding for farmers to implement the national biodiversity action plan is inadequate. In reality, farmers are supported by a multilayered funding system, including the \u20ac1.5 billion ACRES.  In respect of data centres, the Government\u2019s position has been clear. We will focus on sustainable development of strategically significant energy-intensive industries, including data centres, through the Large Energy-User Action Plan published only this year and in alignment with Ireland\u2019s broader Government objectives. We will continue to focus our efforts on supports for families and businesses in need through our national energy affordability task force.  The Government fully agrees with the need for climate ambition, biodiversity restoration and support for households. Where we disagree is with a motion that restates commitments already contained in law and that does not reflect the established statutory and parliamentary processes or acknowledge the substantial work already under way across government.  The legally binding target of a 51% reduction in emissions by 2030 is already provided for in law under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act. In respect of the removal of certain provisions in the proposed legislation, it is a matter for the Oireachtas through the established legislative process to scrutinise proposed legislation as it progresses through the various Stages.  The Government\u2019s countermotion more accurately reflects the reality of the position. It affirms our climate ambition across all sectors, recognises the need to protect households and businesses from energy pressures, notes the progress already being delivered and supports a practical, balanced and deliverable pathway forward. This Government is taking decisive action to reduce emissions, expand renewable energy, protect nature and support households through the transition. We have the plans with the legislative frameworks and the investment in place to continue that progress. I conclude by thanking the Deputies across the House for their contributions today. However, as indicated by my colleague, I do not accept the motion before the House and I present the Government\u2019s countermotion in its place. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  I thank Deputies for their contributions to this debate, particularly those Deputies who indicated their support for my motion. In the effort to try to find a bit of common ground among Deputies who disagreed, I was delighted to hear Deputy Michael Collins speak about supporting one of his constituents who is trying to move transport and heavy goods vehicles, HGVs, onto a battery source. I recommend the Deputy look at the zero-emission heavy duty vehicle purchase grant scheme that is in place. In my time as Minister, I had the opportunity to take part in the launch of a number of heavy-duty vehicles being done by ATC Computer Transport and Logistics. It turned approximately 10% of a large heavy-duty vehicle fleet to electric vehicles. It can be done. I am delighted to see Deputy Collins advocating for that in his constituency.  I am afraid my efforts to find common ground cannot extend quite as far as aligning myself with Deputy Danny Healy-Rae\u2019s version of history and science. There is only so much we can do in one day.  I thank the Minister of State for his contribution. I am disappointed the Government is not prepared to accept the motion the Green Party has put forward and is instead tabling a countermotion, which frankly refuses to acknowledge the very real setback in climate action we have seen under this Government. There is serious denial on the Government benches around the scale of the challenges we face in Ireland. The attitude is that the foot can be taken off the pedal now that it does not have to deal with the Green Party at the Cabinet table.  At the very centre of this Government approach is the unambiguous statement by the Minister for climate and energy that Ireland will miss its 2030 emissions targets by half and the fact he has provided no emergency plan to seek to address that or reverse that trajectory. The climate consequences of that failure, of not reaching these targets, will have very real consequences for our economy as well. The Irish Fiscal Advisory Council and the Climate Change Advisory Council published a joint paper indicating the costs for Ireland as a potential range of \u20ac8 billion to \u20ac26 billion in compliance costs for missing climate targets. Even if we took the lowest end of that range, \u20ac8 billion, out of our budget in a year, that is a surplus wiped out. The comfort we enjoy now in terms of being able to deal with emergencies - for example, Covid, the Ukraine war and responding to the Iran war - that is being put at risk by our country's and our Government's failures to take the actions that will avoid these fines. What is particularly infuriating is that on this issue the Government is waving the white flag four years before the target deadlines come in. I do not know of any other targets set by the Government where it would be seen as acceptable for the Government to give up four years in advance. What the Government needs to do now is rapidly publish a climate action plan, fully align it to next carbon budget cycle and set out the additional measures, new measures and extra measures that will get Ireland back on track for our 2030 targets.  In his speech earlier, the Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan, had a bit of a go at me because I did not reference nature and biodiversity in my initial ten-minute speech. Funnily enough, I was going to give him a little compliment in terms of a bit of good news yesterday in the context of his Department. Yesterday, my colleague, Senator Malcolm Noonan, recognised it was World Curlew Day. That was celebrated because we are finally seeing some breeding pairs come back to various parts of Ireland led by the NPWS. I was going to acknowledge the Minister of State's role in that. However, if he is not giving any space, I am not going to give it either. That good news is reflected at a time when we also know there is a major crisis in terms of migratory birds. The number of migratory birds coming to Ireland has decreased rapidly in the past 30 years. A number of species have been particularly impacted. I suggest to the Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan, that rather than taking cheap digs that he looks at what he is not doing in his Department and looks at funding for farmers and nature-based solutions. That is funding had been put aside in the Climate and Nature Fund. There was \u20ac3.15 billion to deal with these kinds of issues and particularly to provide funding to farmers. We must recognise that if we are going to ask farmers to take nature-based solutions on their land, we have to pay them for that. We have to ensure new income streams are being provided. That money is gone because the Climate and Nature Fund was raided. Some \u20ac700 million of that, which was available to fund nature-based solutions that would have had a huge impact on biodiversity in our country, is not available anymore. That should be the focus of the Minister of State's work.  This House declared a climate and biodiversity emergency in 2019. I wish to emphasise the word \"emergency\". It was more than justified when we consider the scale of the risk to every person that climate change and biodiversity loss poses. In declaring an emergency, this House also took on the responsibility to respond to that emergency with action. The previous Government - the Government I was part of - took that responsibility seriously. We implemented ambitious targets. We passed the landmark climate Act. We funded the infrastructure we need to make that transition to a net zero economy. The Government is not treating this emergency with the seriousness it deserves, and worse, it is undermining the very mechanisms that have been put in place and that will allow us as a society to respond. No amount of hand waving away, in the context of the amendments to the motion, can change the fact the Government is undermining the climate action Act, defunding public transport and giving up on climate and biodiversity targets.  In tackling an emergency, sometimes the scale of the problem seems so large that it is difficult to make it tangible and make it real in the context of daily lives. However, this is not one of these times because the madness that we are seeing in the Middle East has made the climate emergency all too real for every one of us in Ireland. The energy crisis we face is a fossil fuels crisis. Many of us grew up hearing about the oil price crises of 1973 and 1979. Now, our generation is experiencing the second energy price crisis in four years. It is the second caused by a war in another part of the world and the second caused by the whims of an unstable political leader. We can free ourselves from the position of vulnerability we are in.  There is only one viable long-term solution to avoid these energy shocks and that is for Ireland to produce its own abundant renewable energy on our own terms. However, there is a lack of urgency and a lack of determination to address these challenges at pace by this Government. This lack of belief is translated into a failure to be able to convincingly make the case for this transition to the Irish people. Now, too often we see the opposite. We see an effort to scapegoat climate action for wider difficulties in the delivery of infrastructure.  I wish to conclude on the message that change in how we power our economy and our society can happen. Our European partners have shown that it can be delivered at speed and the benefits that accrue to the populations of those countries. This evening, the Green Party will join with other political parties and civil society groups outside the gates of Leinster House to remind the Government, which seeks to vote this motion down, that Ireland needs real climate action. The energy crisis is a consequence of the climate emergency. It is time for the Government to act. Let us establish our energy independence. Let us protect Irish households from high fuel bills into the future. Let us take that huge step towards meeting our climate and biodiversity targets. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  In accordance with Standing Order 85(2), the division is deferred until  tonight's voting block. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar fionra\u00ed ar 11.58 a.m. agus cuireadh t\u00fas leis ar\u00eds ar 12 noon. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Sitting suspended at 11.58 a.m. and resumed at 12 noon. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Earth Day: Motion [Private Members]"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-22\/debate\/dbsect_10","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions","counts":{"speechCount":114,"speakerCount":10},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_10","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":" A Deputy","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  We extend a very warm welcome to the students of the Holy Faith school in Glasnevin who are in the Public Gallery. They are very welcome.  There is real anger among workers and families pushed to the brink by the cost of living. People are working and paying their way yet they are falling further behind with each passing week. We finally have a very frank admission from the Minister for public expenditure, Jack Chambers. He now admits that last year's budget - in his own words - did not give workers a break. There it is. The Taoiseach's own Minister is finally saying out loud what we have been telling him for six months - what the Taoiseach has been denying for six months - that his \u20ac9.4 billion budget did absolutely nothing for ordinary working people. In fact, it left them worse off.  That budget drove the deep anger and frustration we now see across the State. As prices were rising and bills were mounting, while working families were under the most severe pressure, the Government withdrew supports. It abandoned its election promises one after another, and it left people high and dry. The Taoiseach had the resources and he made the wrong call. Now the consequences are everywhere. Workers are squeezed, households are stretched to breaking point, people are cutting back on basics and making impossible choices, wondering how they will get through the week, not to mind the next month.  The Taoiseach's own Minister now admits the truth. Will the Taoiseach do the same? Will he admit that he got it wrong? Will he accept that his poor decision-making left working people exposed to the full force of this cost-of-living crisis? Let us be clear. The Government did not just fail to help people but it made things worse. Workers were punished but others did very well - corporate landlords and the banks. Big funds were protected. Those at the top were well looked after. That was the Government's political choice. That was the Taoiseach's personal priority. The Government withdrew supports and then it piled on the costs and increased the charges. School transport costs are up. The junior and leaving certificates were reintroduced, and all of it landing on those same people - the workers and families who are already struggling. The Government does not listen or understand. It is out of touch with the reality of people's lives.  The Taoiseach's Minister now says that everything is on the table for the next budget. Everything. Let us test that. Is his promise to cut the USC on the table - a promise he broke? For low and middle income workers, the USC is a constant drag on wages. Every extra shift and every extra hour worked is taxed again. It punishes work and eats into pay packets.  D'admhaigh an tAire, an Teachta Chambers, nach raibh aon fhaoiseamh d\u2019oibrithe sa bhuis\u00e9ad deireannach. T\u00e1imid \u00e1 r\u00e1 sin leis an Taoiseach le s\u00e9 mh\u00ed anuas. An f\u00e9idir leis glacadh leis sin anois faoi dheireadh? An aonta\u00edonn s\u00e9 lena Aire f\u00e9in?  Having failed workers last October, is the Taoiseach seriously asking them now to wait until next January to see any support from him? The crisis is now. It is immediate. It is being felt every single day at kitchen tables across the country. People cannot wait. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  As a result of the budget last year, public expenditure will rise by 8.6%. That is not failing anybody. That is a very high increase in investment in public services that all workers benefit from - families and people generally. It is investment in education, health, childcare and right across the board but most critically in housing. Housing remains the number one issue facing our country. We put unprecedented investment into housing so that young working people could benefit from significant supports, from the help to buy scheme, the first home scheme and the rental tax credit. We introduced a significant range of supports to increase housing supply so that young people could be in a position to buy and rent houses they could afford. We will continue to relentlessly pursue the housing question.  In the budget we also, critically, put huge investment into infrastructure. We need new roads, a metro and public transport. All of that helps workers. That is the strategic decision we took to make sure there would be unprecedented investment in water, the electricity grid for electricity and energy, and in terms of road infrastructure and public transport.  Deputy McDonald ignores all of that because she does not adopt a strategic approach to jobs or to the economy. She should always remember that the most important thing in life is that we have an economy that can provide jobs to people. Last year 57,000 extra jobs were created in the economy, which is for working people. They are jobs that will enable them to navigate life, notwithstanding the pressures.  We did not forecast the war in the Middle East. I listened to Deputy McDonald yesterday and today and she ignored the fact there is a war in the Middle East, which is directly impacting fuel prices. That has led to the increase in fuel and has also impacted on other issues. It will filter into other parts of the economy, which is impacting on workers and on families more generally. That is why we announced a \u20ac750 million package, which will help workers, farmers and contractors. Food production is very important. The general excise duties will help also.  We also increased the State pensions by \u20ac10 in the budget. We increased child support payments. Deputy McDonald ignores that. It was the biggest increase ever. The families of children aged 12 plus get \u20ac16 extra, bringing it to \u20ac78 per week, while there is an extra \u20ac8 for the families of children under 12, bringing it to \u20ac58 per week. That was to deal with child poverty because we did prioritise child poverty, along with housing and infrastructure.  We also prioritised disability. An extra \u20ac500 million was allocated to disability services. We increased the domiciliary care allowance by an extra \u20ac20. We made choices to support and target our resources at those most in need, and those sectors that needed significant investment.  We increased the fuel allowance by \u20ac5 per week. We extended it by a month and we brought 50,000 working families into the fuel allowance for the first time ever, which will help them in some shape or form, and alleviate pressure on them. In terms of energy, we also extended the reduction in VAT. We had reduced VAT to 9% on gas and electricity. We have now extended that out to December 2030. We have record funding for home energy upgrades, which benefits many workers. A total of \u20ac558 million was allocated in the budget.  Deputy McDonald mentioned education, schooling and so on. We now have free GP care for children under the age of eight. Every individual aged 70 and over has automatic eligibility to a GP visit card. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank the Taoiseach. I call Deputy McDonald. The Taoiseach can come back in. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We have free school books and free hot school meals across every single school in the country----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank the Taoiseach. His time is up. I call Deputy McDonald. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----which benefits workers, working families and society at large. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  The Taoiseach's response is very telling because he ignores the immediate reality of people's lives. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  He ignores the fact that hundreds of thousands of households cannot pay their electricity bills; that families the length and breadth of the country are struggling with their rent, grocery bills, and to put bread on the table. He does not want to know that. There is nothing strategically positive about leaving people in poverty. There is nothing good about creating that level of stress or hardship for families and workers across the country. The Taoiseach's own Minister accepts that. He has said out loud what we all know: that the last budget failed working people and families. He has said and accepted that. How very telling that the Taoiseach cannot accept that.  He turns his face away from the people he should serve. He turns his face away from the reality of their lives. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  It seems, no matter how hard it gets----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call on the Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  -----Fianna F\u00e1il and Miche\u00e1l Martin, are quite happy to let people struggle on but people will not tolerate that----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy\u2019s time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  -----and the Taoiseach will get his response again. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  T\u00e1 cogadh ar si\u00fal. T\u00e1 a fhios ag an Teachta \u00e9 sin. N\u00edl aon amhras ach go bhfuil br\u00fa faoi leith ar theaghlaigh ar fud na t\u00edre agus ar mhuintir na t\u00edre de dheasca an chogaidh at\u00e1 ar si\u00fal agus ard\u00fa praghsanna de dheasca an chogaidh sin.  The Deputy has ignored and failed to mention the fact that the war in the Middle East has been a significant factor in the increase in fuel prices. Everybody knows that except her. Equally, she attacked measures in the budget that targeted the poorest working families and the poorest in society. She did not believe in targeting. She wants universality across the board. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  The Taoiseach is completely out of touch. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  She had a similar approach to Liz Truss on the energy question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  The Taoiseach is completely out of touch. Does he actually pay bills? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We have----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Does he go to the supermarket? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach\u2019s time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Sorry but I did not interrupt the Deputy. She has always had an inability to allow other people to speak because she does not like the truth. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Fair hearing, Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  All I am saying is that we know people are under pressure. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Do you? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That is why we introduced the \u20ac750 million package. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Do you? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That is why we introduced the \u20ac2 billion----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  No, you do not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----social protection package to protect pensioners and workers who needed support. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank the Taoiseach. I call Deputy Bacik. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We will do more, and we will do more in the next budget, just as we did in previous budgets. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  When? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Next year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  Yesterday, the Taoiseach described Ireland's economic outlook as positive but in a wealthy country, one in five children lives below the bread line. Nearly 5,500 are now homeless. We are once again approaching a new school year with a shortage of special education places. Tonight's programme \"RT\u00c9 Investigates: Inside the Care System\" highlights the shocking State failings in respect of children in care. The Children's Rights Alliance has described the haunting gaps in our country's response to children in need of care.  We know the State takes a child away from their parents and places them in care only as a last resort and in the most extreme circumstances, generally where a child is subject to serious risk. I used to act as guardian ad litem on behalf of vulnerable children in care proceedings, in some of the most distressing situations imaginable. Demand for care places has increased, yes, but a lack of capacity has always been an issue in the system. We have been approaching a breaking point for years.  Tusla now routinely asks the courts to approve placing a child in care while at the same time asks the judge not to grant a mandatory order requiring compliance with its legal obligations. This is extraordinary. Having decided that a child's situation is so dire as to require the State to act as the parent, Tusla, it seems, cannot recruit or retain enough staff to provide that State care. A starker failure could scarcely be conceived of.  Another vulnerable group is children with additional needs. Again, the Government has known of the exponential growth in the number of children requiring a special education place for this coming academic year. We in the Labour Party welcomed the news that 430 places have been made available and acknowledged that but the shortfall was 600. That is without accounting for all those parents who have had to accept a place in a mainstream or a special school knowing it is inappropriate for their child's particular needs.  In February, we saw the public outcry following the debacle over threatened cuts to special needs assistant, SNA, allocation. Our SNAs and teachers do extraordinary work under sustained pressure but they are being asked to deliver inclusion in practice without the key resources they need in schools. That is not fair or sustainable. Inclusion is officially the national policy of the State but without adequate resourcing, it is meaningless. Every week, we all hear from principals, teachers and exhausted parents who are fighting for the appropriate supports for their children.  These problems are not going away. During the general election, Labour launched its children's charter, a roadmap for strengthening the rights of children in Ireland. Those in government have been failing children. Despite budget surpluses, we see the Government failing children in care, children in poverty or homelessness, and children with additional needs. Will the Taoiseach adopt a planned response to guarantee the rights of every child in Ireland, including the rights to a home and to a local school place? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising what is an extremely important issue. There is a child poverty unit within my Department which actually had a significant impact on the last budget but everybody attacked it because it just targeted those most in need. I hope the Deputy will agree with me that what was done with the child support payment was going in the right direction to deal with poverty among children. It is. Others want universality everywhere but we do need to target and make choices if we do want to reduce consistent poverty among children, and I am determined to do it. With the Minister of State, Deputy Dara Calleary, in the last budget, we took significant steps in that direction.  On the RT\u00c9 documentary on special care, the care of young children and children coming into care, the experiences described are extremely disturbing. The Government takes that with the utmost seriousness. There has been considerable investment, structural reform and a very determined effort to eliminate inappropriate placements but demand for services is increasing at a very rapid rate. Demand for Tusla services has more than doubled since the agency\u2019s establishment in 2014. In 2025 alone, 106,000 referrals to Tusla were received. That is a 10% increase on previous years. Clearly, there are complex societal pressures, including domestic violence, homelessness and addiction.  About 5,900 children are in foster or residential care. Close to 3,000 young people are in aftercare. We will continue to invest, to increase investment and to try to enhance services. Recruitment is not necessarily a funding issue alone; it is also about getting people of the right quality. We have more work to do in this area in terms of full therapeutic supports for children in care.  In terms of special education, the bottom line is that we brought forward a portal with an early date for applications for special classes and so forth. This has resulted in a significant increase compared with last year. That dramatic increase has seen us end up with 6,000 pupils. We will be providing for children for next September. We are now looking at over 26,000 special needs assistants. The Deputy said they will not be getting support but they will be. The new inclusive special-class approach will ensure one teacher and two SNAs for every six pupils. That will result in a very significant enhancement over and above what had already been provided for in terms of SNAs. The numbers are growing very significantly, as is the overall budget for special education. The Cabinet has approved \u20ac650 million extra in current funding for education, with a significant amount of it directed towards accommodating special education. I can go through all the various classes and special schools that have been established. We will meet what is required. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  We acknowledge that the Government is spending money. That is not in doubt but our issue, and that of parents, teachers, SNAs and school communities all around the country, is the question of how it is spending it and the lack of a planned approach. The Taoiseach mentioned the \u20ac650 million bailout for the Department of education as if it were something to be proud of but the fact that it was necessary is exactly the problem. It shows the lack of planning. Parents are crying out for school places and supports for children with additional needs. We are seeing a lack of planning. The bailout is all over the place. How did the Taoiseach not know the money would be required? He knows the number of children who require additional school places.  The same applies to the care system. We are seeing money spent on special care centres that are unregulated, unregistered and under the radar. These are private facilities that lack supervision and inspection. The amount of money being spent is extraordinary. RT\u00c9 has stated it costs \u20ac750,000 per child per year for a special placement. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach will now respond. The Deputy's time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  Yet we are failing children because the Taoiseach\u2019s Government is failing to plan. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach to respond, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I disagree. It was a decision to bring forward the date so parents and schools would have ample time. It has transpired that parents of many children who were in mainstream classes have applied for special classes. The Deputy is now acknowledging that we are spending money but some weeks ago she was saying we were cutting back on SNAs. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  We were because the Government got it so wrong. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  The Government was. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Please. Allow the answer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That is what the Deputy said last week, knowing full well----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  The Government was cutting back. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Allow the answer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  No, sorry. A rule of thumb is that if SNAs are not required in any school in any given year, they should not be there. There should always be regular checking. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  But it was a matter of how it was done. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  No, it is not. I get that when in opposition, politicians have to do what is required but the bottom line, I take it, is that the Deputy is not opposing the increase in SNAs. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputies, if you do not listen, the Taoiseach is entitled to resume his seat. I call Deputy Stanley. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  The ongoing problems with the National Ambulance Service are not being addressed. I raised the serious gaps in the ambulance service, particularly in County Laois, with the Taoiseach last year, and it is through no fault of the staff. The number of staff in the county has not increased in the past two decades, despite the explosion in its population. Five vehicles are based in the county, with just two available most of the time. That is five nights of the week. On Monday and Tuesday nights, just one vehicle is available. This vehicle is often a long distance away, so if a serious incident arises, no ambulance is available to attend patients. This is happening on a regular basis in the county. I can list off several cases recently where that has happened.  Crews in Laois can be sent to Dublin, Wexford, Wicklow, Westmeath and Waterford. Often when they are almost at the patient's location, they are stood down and told to turn around and come back because another ambulance has just reached it. Recently, a crew from Portlaoise was two or three minutes from a scene in Wicklow but it was turned back. Dynamic deployment is not working. Crews are chasing around the country, travelling long distances without picking up patients. One crew came on to a shift recently in Portlaoise and was despatched on six occasions. On four of those occasions, the crew was stood down, including when it was almost where the patient was. It was told to turn around and come back to Portlaoise empty. On one of those occasions, it was away for almost four hours while emergencies were waiting in Laois.  Calls are being stacked. Between the time a call comes in, it could be two hours before an ambulance is actually deployed due to shortages. In a recent case involving an elderly woman in Clara, the call came in at 6.27 p.m. but the ambulance did not get there until 9.51 p.m - almost three and a half hours later. Meanwhile, there was a person in Portlaoise with a serious injury but the three ambulances were gone and there was nobody to pick up that person.  There is no rapid response vehicle in the county, despite the fact there are 56 in the State. Civil defence and the fire service are picking up the slack. Rathdowney fire service in one corner of the county dealt with four cardiac patients within a three-month period. Crews are going without regular breaks, meals, etc. The service is understaffed and under-resourced.  Will the Government provide a rapid response vehicle in County Laois? Will it ensure that at least two ambulances and crews are on at all times? Can it engage with the National Ambulance Service? The Government and the Minister for Health need to do this and get a more logical deployment model. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising an important issue, particularly for his constituents in County Laois. We have a National Ambulance Service. I am sure the Deputy will appreciate I cannot run the National Ambulance Service from here but I will engage with the issues he raised and I will talk to the Minister for Health about them. The National Ambulance Service will always defend the model it has, and it has consistently defended it over time. Notwithstanding that, we have heard illustrations, observations or commentary from different parts of the House about how that service has not been optimal in terms delays attending particular accidents, events or locations. I heard about one yesterday from Deputy McAuliffe, involving an elderly woman in Dublin waiting four hours.  We will engage with the National Ambulance Service but the investment has continued apace. I take the point made by Deputy Bacik earlier that it is not just about investment. I accept that. It is about how the investment is deployed and allocated and what the productivity outcome is from moneys we allocate. Since about 2022, the HSE has invested about an additional \u20ac75 million in the National Ambulance Service, with staff numbers increasing by 761 in the same period. Over 85% of National Ambulance Service staff work in direct patient-facing roles. That does help improve ambulance response performance, with additional emergency ambulances, immediate care services and developing alternative care pathways, including community paramedic services.  As the Deputy knows, a new helicopter emergency medical service has been established in the west and the north west. That does not affect Laois. There is further investment this year as a result of the budget, with \u20ac34 million for renewal and expansion of the fleet. This is \u20ac34 million for emergency ambulances and other response vehicles. The investment is continuing. We are looking at about \u20ac291 million being spent on the National Ambulance Service in 2026, with about 2,503 employees. That is up again on the same period last year. Further investment is planned this year, with 21 extra crewed ambulances at peak demand, four intermediate care vehicles and the continued development of clinical hubs and alternative care pathways.  I will speak to the Minister about the emergency response vehicle for Laois and will ask her to reflect on and engage with the National Ambulance Service in terms of the model it uses. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  When we compare what we have to what Scotland, which has similar population and geography, has, it has 5,000 staff while we have just over 2,500. Scotland has 1,500 vehicles while we have 620, so I think the Taoiseach accepts there is ground to be made up.  The spring economic statement that came out yesterday shows there are substantial resources there. I am not asking the Taoiseach to throw that money around like confetti. I do not want him to do that but I want the Government to make the ambulance service a key priority in the forthcoming budget. It is essential. We have heard enough over the years about the golden hour. If an ambulance does not get to a person for two or three hours, time is lost.  I am asking the Taoiseach and the Minister for Health to ensure County Laois is provided with a rapid response vehicle because we are at the crossroads of Ireland with the N7, N8, N80 and N78 all going through the centre of the county. I am asking the Taoiseach to ensure there is positive engagement with the National Ambulance Service to sort out rapid deployment and to ensure two or three ambulances are on at all times in County Laois. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Regarding the spring-October statement, the general Government balance is in surplus but all of that money is being used. There is an Exchequer deficit of \u20ac1.1 billion. The rest goes into the funds, which we have provided for. Nobody is commenting on that. That \u20ac10 million is not hanging around somewhere to be used. The bulk of it has been allocated to the funds and it is being invested in the economy, housing, infrastructure, wind energy and so on.  If we look at the ambulance service over a ten, 15 or 20-year period, a revolution in emergency care has happened, for example, the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council and emergency medical technicians. The professionalisation of the entire area has been quite remarkable and has led to very significant outcomes in terms of responses to patients and first responders. It has been dramatic compared to what we had historically but I accept the Deputy's point that there are legitimate issues that need to be examined by the HSE and the National Ambulance and I will ask the Minister to do that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  I need the Taoiseach to listen very carefully. He keeps standing up here and keeps mentioning the protests in this country and the war. I will put on the record why the protests happened in this country. They happened because of the increase in taxation on fuel. I will show the Government how it can counteract this, and I have said it on numerous occasions. The Government should cap the price of fuel from which it takes tax. It is the same as income tax for every worker in this country. I will give a summary. At the moment, it is \u20ac1.92 for the haulage sector. Minus the VAT, that gives you \u20ac1.56. The Government has put a package in place for which most of them will probably not be able to qualify because most of them are under pressure. It is not only householders who are arrears but they are also in arrears. The bus companies and everyone is now in arrears. If the Government capped the fuel cost----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Arrears? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  They are in arrears on repayments for their trucks and tax arrears, so they cannot qualify for the Government's package.  For everyone in this country, the Government would cap the fuel prices at \u20ac1.70 for white diesel. That would mean it would not have had to put the package in place for hauliers and everyone else in this country. It would include the package that the Government is coming out with. What that would come back to is that if you cap it, it creates stability across the country, and also creates forecasting for 12 months.  What has to happen here at every budget going forward, and from now until the next budget, is that the Government has to put in a cap on what it takes in taxes. If it was \u20ac1.70 at the moment with the tax, even with the war, if there was an increase in fuel, we would not even be at \u20ac1.93 at the moment. It is the tax on the increased cost that is bringing it to \u20ac2.20. If you cap the fuel, all businesses are covered, and anyone who is registered can claim back the VAT. That makes for a stable economy.  I cannot understand why the Government cannot look at this. It can do the same with green diesel for everyone in the agricultural sector and whatever sector uses it. It can do the same with kerosene, which covers all the packages that the Taoiseach is talking about, such as home heating, which people rely on. It can do the same with petrol. That would mean that every worker in this country, every person who is caring for people, including garda\u00ed, nurses, carers and the fire service - across the board - has something at source, but the Government has to give the cap, which creates the stability, for that to work. Take the taxes up to \u20ac1.70, but after that, no more tax. I have spoken to so many businesspeople, and everyone agrees with me. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  First, let us deal with that issue. The spin all along has been that we have taken in more from the VAT increase than we have given in reductions. That is not true. The bottom line is that because of the measures we took on 13 April, the percentage of the taxation component of the price of a litre of Euro-Super 95 petrol is set to fall to 44% compared with 58% at the end of March. The measures we have brought in have de facto significantly reduced the tax component of the price of fuel. Our overall package was about \u20ac750 million. The cost of that package, I acknowledge, is \u20ac670 million because we would gain about \u20ac82 million in the VAT component of it. That deals with this idea that we are getting more back.  On a cap, we do not favour capping the price of diesel or petrol. We think it should be specific fuel support packages for farmers and contractors. The Deputy is automatically assuming that most people will not benefit from the package, and he sort of said that was because of arrears. I was not quite clear what he was saying. I accept that people have to be tax compliant, but I would argue that the vast majority are tax compliant. Indeed, if they work with Revenue, Revenue has already said it is going to be flexible and so on. If people have arrears with others, that does not mean they are not entitled to the package. They will be entitled to the package.  It is a substantial package. Particularly in road haulage, the sector was quite satisfied with the nature of the package. The package for contractors and farmers is quite extensive at over \u20ac100 million, with a very significant reduction in the costs. People will be able to benefit from it. The Deputy has not set out with precision why he believes the vast majority will not be entitled to it. I would like him to explain why he thinks the vast majority will not be entitled to it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  No problem. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It is an important point. We have put forward a very significant package to get down the cost; there is no question about that. The figures are there in terms of how substantial the reduction is compared to what the tax component was. We will work out the package for farmers and contractors, and we will be in a position to outline those shortly. We have also provided a range of other supports to people more generally across other sectors of the economy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  It is easy to know the Taoiseach has never been involved in business because he would understand stability and forecasting if he had been. Everything that he discusses is the package. Is there one package there for the working person in this country who is travelling? The Taoiseach is talking about 2.3 million vehicles. He mentioned road hauliers. Road hauliers, in this package, are 17% of the transport network in this country. There is the Irish trucking haulage. Until this package was introduced, you did not get a subsidy if you were drawing your own goods. Now, they are included in this package. This is what I am talking about.  If the Taoiseach had done what I told him on a cap on the cost of fuel, he would not have had to introduce any package. Everything would work itself out. If a person was going to work in a car, a van or otherwise, with the package on white diesel, everyone would get it, and everyone on petrol would get it. That means that not only householders would get it, but all the businesses up along. Anyone who was registered could claim their VAT back, which would reduce their costs in providing stuff for people. I am not talking about a package for this person or that person. I want a package for everyone, and a cap applies to everyone, not just one sector. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Have you costed it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  Yes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  How much? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  The same revenue you had six weeks ago is the exact same revenue you will have today. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  No, that is not the way----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  Look at the package. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  This is a falsehood that you are presenting. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Sorry, Taoiseach, excuse me. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  The Taoiseach asked me. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  With the greatest of respect, it is an absolute falsehood you are presenting. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  Will I answer you? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  No, you will not, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" A Deputy","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" A Deputy  It is fairytale economics. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  Do you want me to answer? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  You need----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  I will do a live debate with you and answer you. There you go. Live - the two of us. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Excuse me. It does not work like that, Taoiseach. You may further engage outside this forum. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I am speaking through the Chair. He is shouting across. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Yes, through the Chair. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  Live debate. Come on. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  You do not expect the Deputy to answer you. You can further engage. He can ask a question, absolutely. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  But I cannot. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  I can. He asked me a question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Yes, but do not give the answer here. You may need further engagement. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  Thank you, a Cheann Comhairle. Like everything, he just wants to run down the clock. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  That is enough, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  You have your video clip now, Richard. You are happy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" A Deputy","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" A Deputy  He ran down the clock on Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael anyway. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Please, Deputy. The Taoiseach will finish his response without interruption. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I am entitled to pose a rhetorical question as a form of debate. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Yes, you are. It is Deputy O\u2019Donoghue who is not entitled to answer it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I would make the point. I know the Deputy was involved in the protests----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  I was supporting them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----and I know he took a role and so on like that, and he was deciding who was going to get all, and who was going to get----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  Sorry now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----which I do not agree with, but----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  On a point of order, that is out of order. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I want to ask you------ "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  On a point order, I went down and negotiated as a public representative. You had someone on the live airwaves who has misled the public. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, resume your seat. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  He has made a challenge against me. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, resume your seat. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Deputy, what I will say to you----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  He has made a challenge against me. Live debate. That is all you are good for, running down the clock. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Resume your seat. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  He made a charge. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  That is the end of Leaders\u2019 Questions. The Deputy does not wish to hear the response. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Finally, through the Chair, I have worked with the Deputy before. He is doing a lot of shouting and roaring here today in the Chamber. He has asked me about different things in the past, plenty of times, as a D\u00e1il Deputy, and I have responded to him. I treated him courteously. All I am saying is that I have no difficulty discussing with the Deputy at any time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  No problem. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-22\/debate\/dbsect_11","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 na Comhalta\u00ed Eile - Other Members\u2019 Questions","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_11","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"S\u00e9amus McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"S\u00e9amus McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy S\u00e9amus McGrath  We all understand in this House the enormous challenges faced by first-time buyers in securing home ownership. House prices are high, with the median price now at \u20ac390,000. With increasing costs in everyday life, it is becoming increasingly difficult for first-time buyers to afford to purchase a property. In this context, I find it deeply unfair and inconceivable that the State imposes an additional cost on first-time buyers in the form of stamp duty. Stamp duty applies to first-time buyers when they purchase a new or second-hand home at a rate of 1%. If we take the purchase price of a house of \u20ac450,000, the stamp duty cost for first-time buyers is approximately \u20ac4,500.  I am surprised that this topic does not generate more discussion and debate. As a government, we have put forward significant supports for first-time buyers, such as the help-to-buy scheme, the local authority home loan, the first home scheme and others. It is totally inconsistent with those policies that we, as a government, on the other hand, impose a cost on first-time buyers in the form of stamp duty.  It is estimated that approximately \u20ac60 million was collected in 2024 in stamp duty from first-time buyers. That is a very high figure, and it further highlights the burden that is placed on first-time buyers through stamp duty. I am strongly arguing here today that we should reintroduce a relief for first-time buyers on stamp duty up to a certain value of property. That relief was in place before, until 2010. I believe it would be a fair and equitable approach by the Government and would be consistent with our other policies to support first-time buyers.  Additionally, in the case of new homes, the help-to-buy scheme applies to first-time buyers, who can claim back their tax for the previous four years, up to a maximum of \u20ac30,000. However, when first-time buyers are purchasing second-hand homes, there is effectively no support in place. Introducing a relief on stamp duty for second-hand homes, as well as new homes, would provide additional relief for first-time buyers.  We have to continue to find pathways for first-time buyers to secure home ownership. A lot of good policies have come forward from this Government and the increased focus on affordable housing is certainly very welcome.  However, as a State, it is urgent that we remove this additional burden in the form of stamp duty. That \u20ac4,000 or \u20ac5,000 is a hidden cost when someone is purchasing a house. It does not form part of the deposit or the mortgage and it is badly needed by first-time buyers in fitting out a new home and getting themselves established. I would strongly urge the Taoiseach here today to work with Government colleagues to come up with a relief for first-time buyers from stamp duty and to bring this measure forward at the earliest possible time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising what is a very important issue for first-time buyers. The entire focus of this Government and the last Government is and was very much on alleviating pressures on first-time buyers but also enabling them to be in a position to buy houses at an affordable level.  The positive news is that as a result of measures we have taken, the numbers of first-time buyers drawing down mortgages have increased very significantly as a percentage of overall mortgages over the past five years. It is quite significant. The Deputy is correct in saying that 1% stamp duty on a house value up to \u20ac1 million is what is currently there. As he knows, there was a move in the taxation system towards simplification and to keep it very simple and straightforward. We brought in measures to prevent or disincentivise the investment funds and others from buying up blocks of new houses so as to make sure the supply of new houses would be there for individual buyers, and particularly first-time buyers. The Deputy is correct; in 2010, a decision was taken to streamline the stamp duty rate structure for both first-timers and those acquiring their second or subsequent residential property.  On what we have done in the last number of years, a suite of measures has been brought in, most notably the help-to-buy scheme, which is quite significant, the affordable purchase schemes and, of course, the first home scheme. They have been very effective in the market. The level of support under the help-to-buy scheme is the lesser of \u20ac30,000 or 10% of the purchase price of the new property or the amount of income tax and deposit interest retention tax, DIRT, paid in the four years before the application of the relief. That has proven to be a substantial support for first-time buyers. Then we have a whole range of other provisions, such as the local authority purchase and renovation loan. There are about 6,000 availing of the first home scheme. The vacant property refurbishment grants are also quite substantial in respect of vacant or derelict properties. I think the Minister is looking at extending the first home scheme.  In regard to the taxation treatment of it and the stamp duty, that obviously falls for a budgetary consideration. We will - and we will engage on this at Government level - give consideration to that, along with other supports for first-time buyers. I understand the motivation here. We want to enable young people to be in a position to buy houses and affordability is obviously a key factor in that decision. I would not rule anything out and it is certainly something we will give consideration to. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"S\u00e9amus McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy S\u00e9amus McGrath  I thank the Taoiseach. I welcome his response and I fully accept what he said about the Government supports for first-time buyers. They have been quite significant and the proof of that is in the figures on mortgage drawdown. There are a high number of first-time buyers in that position to draw down a mortgage and that is welcome. The Taoiseach is also correct on the simplifcation of the system in 2010. I would argue that one of the unintended consequences of that was that it imposed a stamp duty charge on first-time buyers. It is only consistent with our other policies that we would look to introduce a relief on that. I also accept that is something that would have to be discussed in a budgetary context. I repeat here again today, however, that if the Taoiseach can take that up with his colleagues in Cabinet and in particular with the T\u00e1naiste and Minister for Finance, I think it would be the only fair, equitable and consistent approach by Government in parallel with the other supports we have put in place for first-time buyers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Certainly, and as the Deputy said, help-to-buy is probably the most significant intervention we have taken in the last number of years. We will, at Government level, give consideration to this issue, and to whether there is anything further we can do to help alleviate the pressures on first-time buyers, particularly in terms of the application of stamp duty. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 na Comhalta\u00ed Eile - Other Members\u2019 Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-22\/debate\/dbsect_12","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Pholasa\u00ed n\u00f3 ar Reachta\u00edocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation","counts":{"speechCount":75,"speakerCount":22},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_12","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aisling Dempsey","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aisling-Dempsey.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aisling-Dempsey.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Edward Timmins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brendan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","memberCode":"Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Denise Mitchell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"William Aird","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Canney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  This morning, we hear of another scandal involving the care of vulnerable children in this State. Forged references were provided for staff at special emergency accommodation for children, putting vulnerable children in harm's way. These settings, as the Taoiseach knows, are unregulated, poorly resourced and unregistered facilities not inspected by the authorities, yet more than 1,000 children were placed in these settings last year. The State pays out literally millions to private operators to run them, all because of a severe shortage of foster carers and regulated care home placements - a shortage, by the way, that the Taoiseach's Government allowed to develop. What is the Taoiseach's response to this scandal and how will he ensure accountability for this, which is just the latest in a long line of such scandals? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  As I said earlier to Deputy Bacik, who raised this issue on Leaders' Questions, we are extremely concerned about this issue of forged letters, which is completely unacceptable and very serious for the care of young people who are taken into care. The numbers referred to Tusla have expanded to an extraordinary degree, which reflects wider issues within society of different kinds. We have substantially increased the current and capital funding, doubling capital funding and so forth. The recruitment of qualified staff is key. A lot of work has happened in that area in terms of investment in additional grades, improvements and so on, and we are going to have to do more on that front. I would pay tribute to a lot of Tusla staff out there who do an awful lot of good work looking after a lot of people who need that care and assistance. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  Last Thursday, I was in Westminster with Lisa Phillips, the courageous campaigner and survivor of abuse by Jeffrey Epstein. We met with British MPs who are supporting Lisa in seeking access to information about the extent of Epstein's criminal activities. Survivors are campaigning for full disclosure of all information held by the US Department of Justice on Epstein's global trafficking network. We know there are hundreds of references to Ireland in the Epstein files held by the US Department of Justice. We know he visited Ireland several times and that he had business interests here. Deputy Duncan Smith and I have asked the Taoiseach about references here to Epstein's activities. I think he said the Government here has no files related to Epstein. What I am asking now is, to ensure justice for survivors, would the Taoiseach consider taking a proactive step by appointing a senior counsel or a Government official to carry out a scoping exercise into the US Department of Justice files to see what information there relates to Epstein's activities in Ireland? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach to respond. The Deputy's time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  We need to get more information on this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I know the Deputy has raised this on a number of occasions and I commend the survivors on the work they are doing. It is very courageous. We do not have access to the State Department files at all but we would encourage the full release of all documentation and files in relation to Jeffrey Epstein and, if there are files referencing Ireland, that those would be released. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  There are. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I will discuss it with the Minister for justice again. I also received a very late request to meet, when I was in Washington. It was very late in the day that I received that request. People said I did not bother meeting. I will say no more. I can talk to the Deputy about this but the Government has no files. To our knowledge, there is nothing in the Department of justice and so on. I will discuss with the Deputy what mechanisms there are to do this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  Yesterday, the window for submitting observations on the development in Bessborough expired but the window for this Government to act has not. Behind those stone walls, women and children were put through hell and for 76 years the State turned a blind eye. Today, the Government is doing the same, as if the grim legacy of Bessborough can be buried under apartment blocks. It cannot.  Eight hundred and fifty-nine babies who died there have never been found and are likely in unmarked graves on the estate. There has never been a comprehensive investigation. Survivors have been consistently retraumatised by the State. The Government has an opportunity to change that legacy and to fulfil not just the legal but moral obligation to find the bodies of these babies and provide a dignified burial and memorial site.  If we do not act, we are complicit in further injustice. We owe survivors more than that. Will the Taoiseach act? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I take a different perspective in terms of how the Deputy put it. I do not think the State today or the Government today is complicit in anything that happened over 50 years ago and right throughout that period. I actually do not. It is easy language to throw out there or to say that we are ignoring----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  I said for 76 years the State was complicit. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  There is no right to respond, Deputy. That was rhetorical. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Personally, I think what happened is reprehensible. I have never understood it. What happened in earlier eras is that the poor homes evolved into the county homes, which evolved into the mother and baby homes. Some people----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  What about what is happening now? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I have already addressed that, Deputy, thank you. Now, Deputy Coppinger. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  On 8 April, four garda\u00ed with a search warrant barged into the home of a therapist. They shouted at her and her daughter to put down their phones, not to move and to tell them where her files were. They would not let her take a photograph of the warrant or talk to her solicitor. They said they would seize her phone and laptop. They did all this in front of her daughter, who has health conditions, and said her mother knows what she has done. The therapist had to ask them to stop shouting, such was the level of aggression.  What were they looking for? They were looking for the counselling notes of a client. They were not looking for drugs or guns but the counselling notes of a client she was trying to heal. The therapist had arranged with the client to hand over these notes when she returned from being abroad. I do not have the time to go into all of the dates and details here. The key issue is why was a therapist treated like a criminal in her home? Why has the Taoiseach and his Government allowed therapy notes of sexual assault survivors to become such an integral part of trials in the first place? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank the Deputy. Her time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  Will the Taoiseach tell his Minister to outlaw this practice in trials entirely? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach to respond. The Deputy's time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy knows the Minister is bringing in six substantial----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  He is not ruling it out, though. They can still be----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  This is not the forum for back and forth, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  If the Ceann Comhairle had let me finish the sentence, the Taoiseach would have heard that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I was not able to speak more than four words and the Deputy interrupted me. This is ridiculous. The Deputy is either serious about raising an issue or not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  The Taoiseach needs to answer the question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy needs to refrain. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy knows the answer to it. She has made assertions that are false about the Minister for justice. He is going far as the Constitution allows in terms of access to counselling notes. The Deputy knows that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  The Minister is not ruling it out. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Do not be so disparaging and negative about the bona fides of the Minister for justice on this issue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  What about the therapist? Is the Taoiseach okay with that? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  This is the wrong forum, Deputy. Do not ask follow-ups at Questions on Policy or Legislation. Deputy Paul Lawless. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  Why do we bother? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  I want to raise my concerns about the retirement age for emergency personnel and particularly for the retained fire service. Every year, very valuable members with huge amounts of experience leave the force - the retained fire service. In one station alone, 100 years of experience will be lost over the next number of years. These are individuals who undergo medical examination every year after the age of 50.  My view is that if a person wants to continue to work and if they are eligible and passing their medical examination, they should be allowed to do so. It is particularly in the context of the Workplace Relations Commission proposals in 2023. There was a major issue with recruitment in the retained fire service. I welcome the fact that has changed but there are a huge number who will have to leave. The new recruits need to have experience. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach will respond. The Deputy posed the question and his time is up. The Deputy must now allow the Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The retirement age was 55 and it is now 62. We actually have made very significant progress on extending the age at which somebody retires in the Garda, the Army, the fire services and across the board in emergency services. The original reason was the nature of the work. Obviously, because of the investment in health services over the past two decades and better lifestyles and so on, people are living much longer, people's quality of life is much better and people are fitter at older ages than they would have historically been. That is why the age limits have increased and we will continue to keep all of that under review. However, there will always be an age of retirement in emergency response services. That is clear. Obviously, the authorities concerned specifically with this area will do their research, analysis and assessment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aisling Dempsey","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aisling-Dempsey.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aisling-Dempsey.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aisling Dempsey  Child and adolescent mental health services, or CAMHS as we know it, supports young people up to 18 years of age with moderate to serious mental health difficulties. At 18, they are expected to move to the adult mental health services, AMHS. While, logically, we know that these young people are adults, many still need our help and particularly the ones who are in the care of CAMHS. They can be so incredibly vulnerable, yet they and their parents appear to be facing a cliff edge in care in some cases. When they push for the transition from CAMHS to AMHS, they are put off, in my constituency anyway. They have been told to wait until the person is 18 and then AMHS will get involved. A mother has been in touch with me about her son who is suicidal. Another mother has been in touch about her daughter's eating disorder. We cannot stop the care with CAMHS today and start with AMHS tomorrow. It is not feasible for these people. Can we change that recommendation to a requirement? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Mary Butler)  I thank the Deputy for raising this really important issue. As she knows, most children and young people receive the care they need from CAMHS and are discharged. However, some young people may need to transition to adult services. I accept and acknowledge that transitions between services can be difficult, and that is why I established a specialist group in the Department of Health policy oversight structures to examine the process. The recommendations of the group were informed by feedback from over 200 young people who transitioned between CAMHS and adult mental health services. It included listening to the voices of young people, using electronic files and the appointment of co-ordinators. It has produced a report, which is being implemented by the national child and youth mental health office. I would be happy to talk to the Deputy about those too. It is something I am acutely aware of and it is raised a lot. I thank the Deputy for raising it today. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Edward Timmins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Edward Timmins  Last night, in Baltinglass in rural west Wicklow, I met a group of 12 people. These were small businesspeople ranging from contractors to farmers. What they all had in common was the massive impact of the fuel crisis on their livelihoods. These were very reasonable people whose livelihoods are under threat. The package announced ten days ago will not solve their problem. It does not cover all contractors, such as those working on building sites, and there is little confidence the rebates proposed will happen quickly.  I urge the Taoiseach and his Government officials to do two things. First, will they engage with the contractors not benefiting from the scheme to ensure they are included? Many of these are working on house building sites, which we know is so important in this country. Second, will they ensure the scheme is simple and pays out quickly so that those who are suffering see an immediate benefit? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. Material hauliers are covered but I accept some contractors in specific sectors may not be. I will engage and ask Ministers to engage with the relevant groups there because we want the packages either for transport or for the agricultural contractor area to be inclusive. We do not want people excluded. The proposals have been worked up in the Department of Transport and they are being worked up in the Department of agriculture. We are very conscious of the need to get this formulated as quickly as possible so that people can benefit from the rebate, which will be quite significant going back to March for the agricultural areas and for contractors more generally. I will take on board what the Deputy has said, particularly about any gaps for any particular group that might be unwittingly or unintentionally excluded. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I welcome the Fermoy active retirement group to the Visitors Gallery. They are guests of Deputy Noel McCarthy and are very welcome. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  Cuirim f\u00e1ilte. I am really worried about the number of families I am meeting who are struggling with their energy bills. We know 315,000 households are currently in arrears but there are tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of others who are literally struggling just to pay their bills every month. The Taoiseach has to acknowledge that what his Government has done is not enough to help them. There is a growing divide between those who have the resources to be able to retrofit or put up solar panels and those who do not and who are meeting ever rising bills.  It is especially in the context of the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, suggesting there could be increases in energy costs of 8% or more. Does the Taoiseach accept now that the Government has to do something to support ordinary families with the cost of electricity?  Sinn F\u00e9in has advocated for the reintroduction of energy credits but it is not good enough and it cannot be good enough for the Taoiseach to tell people to wait until next year's budget or to say what we are currently doing is enough. Families are under huge pressure and they need the Government's help. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy said he was concerned about a growing divide. His solution would actually widen that divide for those on the lowest incomes. We have taken measures. The excise duty reductions help everybody by definition. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  What about electricity costs? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We will deal with electricity costs. Three tankers were attacked this morning in the Strait of Hormuz. This is a very serious war. The Deputy keeps talking as if the war did not exist. We do not know where this might lead to. We were all hoping, two or three days ago, that we were heading for a peaceful resolution of this war. Three ships were attacked this morning in the Strait of Hormuz so nothing can get through. Imagine the impact that will have on prices. The Deputy's view is to spend everything now. We want to support families. We have to make sure we can support families and support them substantially in the latter part of the year as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brendan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","memberCode":"Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brendan Smith  On the last sitting day here before Easter, I raised the very serious difficulties confronting farmers and agri-contractors due to the enormous increase in the price of green diesel at that time. I also referred to the increase in farm input costs, such as fertiliser. Combined with those additional costs has been the reduction for some time in the prices paid to farmers for farm products, namely commodity prices. Following the Government announcement of a scheme to help offset some of those costs. It is essential that the details be announced at an early date. The scheme needs to be as straightforward as possible and not tied up in paperwork. There also needs to be some flexibility on timelines. Farmers and contractors need those payments issued as quickly as possible. For many of those hard-working people there are real cash-flow problems at present and the Department has to act with the utmost urgency to ensure these essential payments issue to eligible applicants as quickly as possible. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I appreciate that the Deputy raised this issue of the impact of the war and increased fuel prices on farmers and agri-contractors more generally. I welcome the people of Fermoy, who are right in agricultural country as well. The need for a detailed package to be announced quickly is accepted. My understanding is that within the next week or so a package will be outlined by the Department of agriculture in respect of farming and contractors. Then we may have to look at the construction sector. Some will be covered by the haulier and transport provisions but others may be outside. We will see if we can close that gap. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Currie  I am raising childcare again today. There are not enough places and we have poorly planned spaces. Dublin West is peppered with either unused cr\u00e8che buildings or sites where cr\u00e8ches were supposed to be built but were not. I know this is happening in other parts of the country too. Developers are currently required to supply cr\u00e8che facilities in large housing developments but not to industry viable specifications. The result is that some cr\u00e8ches are built too small, are poorly designed or are badly located and they can often be left empty for years. We also have sites where cr\u00e8ches have not been built even though the developments are complete. During a childcare crisis, we cannot have childcare places going to waste. We must have a planning system that prioritises and designs for childcare. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  For the first time the State is moving beyond funding alone and directly supporting the creation of childcare places. Under the early learning and childcare capital programme, up to eight facilities will be delivered this year, providing about 800 additional places, focusing on under threes as well as rural and disadvantaged areas. There are very significant planning frameworks governing the development of childcare more generally. Budget 2026 marked the highest ever level of State investment. It is now at \u20ac1.5 billion, which is a 12% year-on-year increase but there are still significant issues. There is significant demand on places and we will continue to work on those. I encourage the Deputy to talk to the Minister for children in respect of this. Hopefully, in the forthcoming budget, we will in a position to do more in respect of childcare. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Denise Mitchell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Denise Mitchell  I want to raise the planned Garda headquarters at Northern Cross. As the Taoiseach will be aware, this was announced eight years ago. I and many people in the constituency are getting frustrated because we are getting mixed messages. Last week, the Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW said he hoped that this would commence in 2028 but then he went on to say that no site has been identified. The elected representatives for the area have been told for the past seven years that a site had been identified and is being progressed. I am asking the Taoiseach to get us some clarification because the last thing we need is mixed messages. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. The Minister of State responsible for the OPW is solid citizen. When he says things, he generally means them. I will discuss the issue with him and try to get clarity. In all of these developments, site acquisition is always the key enabler and sometimes the absence of a site can be the cause of a project not developing. I will ask him and come back to the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  I want to ask about drugs policy. On-street drug use is a significant issue in Cork city. Local residents feel unsafe and intimidated. Needles have been found at bus stops, at playgrounds and outside schools. Problem drug users have been pushed from one part of Cork city to another. They were in the city centre and now, as the Taoiseach will know, they have been in Turner's Cross and Ballyphehane in recent weeks. We are next. The Government's drug policy has failed with devastating consequences for individuals, families and communities. A UCC study shows that 35 people a year die from problem drug use in Cork city. These are preventable deaths. We need an enhanced community policing response but crucially we need a long-term solution. We need a health-led approach, greater addiction services, decriminalisation and a safe injection facility. We should not have to wait for the review of the service in Dublin. Last night, the drugs committee heard that 40 years of evidence shows that these are effective. They reduce on-street drug use, reduce the spread infectious disease, prevent overdoses and connect people to services. I have one simple question. Does the Taoiseach support a safe injection facility for Cork city and what will he do to make it a reality? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That is not the panacea for this issue, but there is an issue here. Of that there is no doubt. I have been in touch with the Garda on the specifics of the areas the Deputy has identified because there is a lot of concern and anxiety among residents. It is not because of Government failure on drug policy, by the way. There is individual responsibility here too. There are bad actors as well in terms of the drug pushing and so on. I am fully in favour of a health-led approach to addiction. That is what we have in essence. There have been different manifestations of that over the past number of decades but we essentially have a health-led approach and will continue to have that. We also need an enforcement and policing response to protect people in communities from unacceptable behaviour or any violence that may result from certain people behaving badly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere  I want to raise a very practical measure that could support families and community sports. Will the Government consider introducing targeted tax relief for households and families on their memberships of sporting organisations? Many families in my constituency are under serious financial pressure to give their children the opportunity to be members and join multiple sporting organisations, whether it be soccer, hurling, camogie, athletics or swimming. The list goes on and on. If they want to play additional support such tennis, golf, basketball, volleyball or cricket, there are additional specific membership costs for all of these. Providing a modest tax relief for membership of sporting organisations would help put money back in the pockets of individuals and families. Importantly, this measure would not only support families, but it would also strengthen local clubs by boosting participation and membership. It is a simple targeted initiative that would promote health, community engagement and well-being, and the sustainability of grassroots sports. It is an idea worth serious consideration in the context of budget 2027. I am looking for the Taoiseach's support on it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Is it all sporting organisations? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere  Yes, all sporting organisations. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I recall that about two years ago we looked seriously at tax relief for gym membership. As part of the budget preparations, I will discuss what suite of taxation measures we will adopt to try to alleviate pressures on people.  There had also been tax relief in respect of philanthropic donations to clubs and so on, but that all sporting organisations would be covered by a tax relief is a new one. Some charge low enough fees; some charge high fees. I do accept that in the current climate, with fuel costs and everything else, there are a lot of pressures on people, and inflation is at elevated levels because of what happened following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. It had been coming down before that war. We will examine this in the context of the budget. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  I have serious concerns about a proposal by An Post to relocate a sorting office from Edmondstown in Rathfarnham to Lucan later this year. This facility has served people in Knocklyon, Whitechurch, Firhouse and Rathfarnham for decades. Closing it would be a particularly bad blow, given the recent closure of the much-valued and much-used post office in Rathfarnham village. It will impact postal services in our area. It will have knock-on impacts with regard to delivery times and general service levels. Instead of having a relatively short and convenient journey, people in Rathfarnham will have to travel across the congested M50 all the way over to Lucan to pick up their parcels, and that is if they have a car. If there were to use by public transport, it would be a two-hour journey each way.  An Post is a public service. Accessibility has to be one of its guiding principles, and this proposal is contrary to that. I ask that the Taoiseach ensure that An Post invests in the services locally in the Rathfarnham-Edmondstown area rather than forcing people to travel across Dublin South-West to get their parcels. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising this. That sounds like an excessive journey across. I do not know whether he has engaged with An Post on this, but perhaps he should. I certainly will alert An Post to the fact that he has raised it here and get its plans and background. Normally it does not do stuff that would result in a deterioration of a service. We had similar issues in another location and it worked out okay. I do not have the full background to this but we will raise it with An Post. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathal Crowe  I want to ask the Taoiseach about a situation in the mid-west at the moment. I am one of the first people who would be out defending the rights of people to come here under international protection and beneficiaries of temporary protection coming from the war in Ukraine. They have a right to be safe and a right to be looked after. However, I want to tell the Taoiseach about someone who has been in this country three months and who at the weekend committed his eighth crime. He has been charged with his eighth crime. This is a man from Ukraine. Many people have that right, and I would defend the right of people to be here, but this is somebody holidaying here and on a crime spree at the expense of the taxpayer. We have to give space to the criminal justice system, but for someone flaunting our laws, abusing communities and being a thug, what mechanism is there to send him back? I think he has lost all right to be here in this country. The quicker we get him back the better. People have a right to be here, but this is not a right. This is an abuse of a right. This is criminality. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I do not believe it is necessary to name the nationality in our forum. I just do not think it is in any way helpful to----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathal Crowe  How else do I convey a situation, a Cheann Comhairle? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  You conveyed it well without having to name any nationality, and people understand----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathal Crowe  I respectfully disagree. I have a representational role here for my constituency. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  More generally, my understanding is that the Minister for justice has powers, and the Deputy should raise the case with the Minister because the Minister for justice has the capacity to deport people who have been convicted by the criminal justice system of crimes. I understand quite a number of deportations have happened in respect of others, but, again, that is all subject to clarity. That is my understanding, and I encourage the Deputy to raise the specific issue with the Minister for justice. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"William Aird","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy William Aird  I wish to raise the issue of payment terms applied by State and semi-State bodies to contractors. I welcome that payments are guaranteed but I have been told that payment terms can stretch to four months, which is simply not acceptable. These are small and medium-sized operators, the backbone of small enterprise across Ireland, who must cover fuel, machinery, wages and other overheads all upfront. They cannot wait months to pay staff or creditors. Payment delays are placing real financial strain on otherwise viable businesses. I respect that commercial contracts are not for direct interference but it is reasonable to question why State agencies, which should set the standards, are imposing such lengthy payment terms. I ask that the Government examines this issue and ensures fair, timely and responsible payment practices for small contractors across Ireland. Will the Taoiseach send a memo to all the Ministers asking them to talk to and engage with all the agencies? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising a very fair question. I would be equally intolerant of overly lengthy periods for paying contractors, particularly small to medium-sized enterprises, which need to be paid in a timely manner. I know that in the recent discussions with the Irish Road Haulage Association in which the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, were engaged, issues around payments and rebates, and the timeliness of those, were raised. Undertakings have been given to try to speed up some of those repayments, rebates and so on. It is a very fair question, and the State should act honourably and reasonably in these circumstances. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  We have two final Deputies. I will give them 30 seconds each. I call Deputy Cathy Bennett, to be followed by Deputy Charles Ward. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  In recent months, the Irish Government launched an advertising campaign in Australia encouraging those who built Australia to return home. Emigrants, however, face significant challenges returning home. While appreciating recent efforts to expand countries with which Ireland has reciprocal recognition arrangements regarding driving licences, will the Government ascribe equal priority to Irish citizens who are returning home in order that they can get driving licences? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charles Ward  I have an issue regarding the Minister for children not answering a question. The Ceann Comhairle ruled that the question was okay. It feels like we are being silenced here. I need the Taoiseach to ensure that the Government will take a whole approach to addressing children in support hubs with defective concrete. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Canney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Transport (Deputy Se\u00e1n Canney)  In relation to the drivers' licences and the reciprocation between countries, we are acting on that with a number of countries, including the US. Last week we signed an agreement with Moldova, and we are looking at how we can speed up the process and give equal recognition between Australia and ourselves. Just this morning I read a report of a review I got. The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and I are working on this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  And the USA. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Canney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Canney  And the USA, yes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I did not quite get the specifics of Deputy Ward's contribution, but the mica scheme is progressing fairly significantly now. Hundreds of millions of euro have now been successfully allocated and invested. The Deputy says in respect of children but----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charles Ward  It was to do with a support hub for children. The question was tabled and the Minister refused to answer it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I will have a chat with the Minister about that. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Pholasa\u00ed n\u00f3 ar Reachta\u00edocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-22\/debate\/dbsect_13","debateType":"statement","bill":null,"showAs":"Post European Council Meeting: Statements","counts":{"speechCount":61,"speakerCount":25},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_13","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I attended a meeting of the European Council on 19 March in Brussels. Once again, leaders dealt with a very full and important agenda against the backdrop of a very challenging and volatile international environment. The substantial items discussed included Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East and European competitiveness. There was also a Euro Summit, which assessed the state of the European Union's economy. Other items on the agenda were European security and defence, migration, the Democracy Shield, multilateralism and child protection online. I will set out the main results of the European Council with regard to support for Ukraine, the conflict in the Middle East, multilateralism and European competitiveness. The Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, will speak later to the other issues.  I will begin with competitiveness, a crucial issue for Ireland and Europe and one that is now firmly at the top of the European Council agenda. Supercharging Europe's competitiveness will also be a main priority for Ireland's Presidency of the European Union. The March European Council took further decisive action on strengthening Europe's competitiveness and unlocking the full potential of its Single Market. Leaders established the highest level of ambition for a new One Europe, One market agenda to be implemented during the course of 2026 where possible, and by the end of 2027 at the latest. As I said, this comprehensive agenda of concrete measures with ambitious deadlines will also provide the key strategic focus for Ireland's upcoming Presidency of the European Union Council in the second half of the year.  We will advance priority actions across five specific areas: deepening and integrating the Single Market; further simplifying rules and reducing regulatory and administrative burdens; accelerating decarbonisation while ensuring affordable energy; fostering industrial innovation and renewal in strategically important technology sectors; and mobilising necessary public and private investments. On the Single Market, priority measures will include a new 28th regime for company law, called EU Inc. This will make it easier to set up businesses across the EU, providing instant access to the Single Market. It will be digital-by-default to help innovative start-ups scale and grow. Work will also be undertaken to improve mutual recognition of professional qualifications and skills as well as addressing fragmented product labelling and packaging requirements.  Leaders called for agreement this year on all omnibus simplification packages tabled by the Commission, including an ambitious AI omnibus to be presented by the end of July. This work will reduce administrative burdens for businesses.  Leaders also called on the Commission to undertake an in-depth regulatory review of the current EU body of law, to eliminate outdated provisions, overlaps, and inconsistencies, while ensuring that all new initiatives are in line with simple-by-design principles and better regulation principles. Access to affordable energy is vital for our competitiveness. A key lesson of the past few weeks and the impact of the conflict in the Gulf is that Europe must become more self-reliant when it comes to energy and we must break our strategic dependence on imported fossil fuels. Europe must deliver the clean and abundant energy needed to power the economy of the future. Priority actions include agreement this year on the European grids package, including faster permitting procedures, to enable the injection of more renewable energy into the system. At the same time, targeted solutions are needed to protect our citizens and businesses from the recent and very significant spike in fuel prices.  Leaders invited the Commission to present a set of temporary and targeted measures, taking into account the differing situations of member states, and the need to address the particular vulnerability of energy-intensive sectors, including reducing risk of relocation and protecting jobs. Consideration of these measures by leaders will continue at the informal meeting of the European Council, which I will attend in Cyprus from tomorrow.  I have also written to President von der Leyen to set out the need for Ireland to retain the flexibility to introduce specific, temporary and targeted emergency measures to support the most affected sectors of our economy during this crisis. On industrial renewal and innovation, it is clear that the current geopolitical environment requires a new focus on strategically important investments in the technologies of tomorrow, reducing strategic vulnerabilities, while maintaining the deepest possible co-operation with like-minded global partners. Priority measures will include a mapping of dependencies in strategic sectors to be completed by the Commission this year, in co-operation with member states, as well as targeted and proportionate European preference in select strategic technologies.  Leaders also called for agreement this year on the industrial accelerator Act proposals presented by the Commission last month, along with further proposals to be presented shortly on strengthening Europe\u2019s capabilities in chip and cloud computing technologies. On mobilising investment, leaders reinforced their commitment to a savings and investment union with fully integrated capital markets being a necessary foundation for sustainable economic growth and competitiveness. This will enable more sustainable funding sources to support the development of fast-growing young firms at the technological frontier, including in digital and green technologies. Europe needs to improve its competitiveness to deliver for its citizens. The March European Council has set out a very ambitious agenda. The Commission\u2019s One Europe, One Market roadmap, shared with leaders last week, sets out our action plan. The upcoming Irish Presidency of the Council will be strongly focused on delivering it.  As Russia\u2019s aggression enters its fifth year, we cannot allow this war to be normalised. Ireland and the European Union must continue to demonstrate our full solidarity with Ukraine. The European Council in March held an exchange of views with President Zelenskyy and leaders will continue these discussions with the President at our informal meeting in Cyprus tomorrow. Unfortunately, leaders were unable to reach agreement with all 27 member states on Council conclusions. Instead, a separately agreed text on Ukraine was agreed with 25 European Union Heads of State and Government, with Hungary and Slovakia not joining. We agree that Ukraine must have the budgetary and military means to continue to exercise its inherent right of self-defence to counter and deter Russia\u2019s aggression, which continues. The crisis in the Gulf is very serious but we must retain the ability to support Ukraine and to keep pressure on Putin.  Ireland strongly supports the agreement for a \u20ac90 billion loan to Ukraine. Getting these funds to Ukraine on time is critical for both Ukrainian and European security and we regret any moves which delay its disbursement. With a change of government in Hungary, I am confident that this critical funding can soon begin flowing to Ukraine. I had a call with Prime Minister-elect Magyar last week and I look forward to working with him and his new government on this and other pressing issues on the EU\u2019s agenda.  We also need to secure agreement on the 20th package of sanctions. This is about increasing the pressure on Putin to agree a ceasefire and engage meaningfully in negotiations. Ireland strongly supports further measures to raise the costs to Russia, including by targeting the shadow fleet and its enablers. These vessels are transporting Russian oil while practising irregular and high-risk shipping practices. They threaten maritime safety and security and pose an acute environmental risk. I regret that the US-led trilateral peace negotiations have effectively stalled. I hope that fresh momentum can be injected into this process, as we need to see an end to this war. Of course, President Putin could choose to end his illegal war tomorrow. Any peace agreement must be just and lasting, protecting Ukraine and Europe\u2019s vital security interests. That is why the \u20ac90 billion is so important. It sends a real signal that Europe is behind Ukraine budgetarily and is behind Ukraine for the long haul. I am glad that Hungary has already lifted its block on the loan and its block on the new round of sanctions. This has happened while I am speaking and it is very welcome news. It is positive for that package to go to Ukraine. It will be a great relief to the people of Ukraine. Ireland remains a strong supporter of EU enlargement and we will work to advance Ukraine\u2019s accession during our European Union Presidency. We commend Ukraine\u2019s continued reform effort,s despite the very challenging circumstances and again, with a new leadership in Budapest, we are potentially looking at a formal opening of accession negotiations with Ukraine. We are also looking at Montenegro's accession process, which has made very good progress. Ireland would like to be in a position to have all chapters of that more or less completed by the end of our Presidency. It will be challenging but that is our objective.  Ireland remains deeply concerned about the war in the Middle East and the Gulf, which has escalated significantly since the European Council met in Brussels last month. The extension of the ceasefire as announced by President Trump Is welcomed. However, the situation remains very volatile. The Strait of Hormuz remains blocked by Iran, the US blockade of Iranian ports continues and a return to negotiations remains unclear. My understanding is that three ships were attacked this morning in the strait, which is very worrying news. Dialogue and diplomacy offer the best path to a lasting solution. Only through negotiations can a permanent end to the conflict be achieved and wider regional security assured. Escalation is in the interests of no one. We have seen the very damaging impact of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz on our economies, business and households. The Strait must be reopened, and free navigation must be guaranteed in full respect of the law of the sea. Ireland's position throughout the conflict is that all parties must uphold international law. The ceasefire in Lebanon is very welcome but clearly very fragile. Ireland remains deeply concerned about the appalling nature of what happened in Lebanon and about the security situation in southern Lebanon, in particular regarding the impact on the civilian population, which has been completely disproportionate and unacceptable. Initial discussions between Israel and Lebanon - the first since 1993 - are welcome. I hope these US-facilitated talks lead to a permanent ceasefire. We must do all we can to support a positive outcome that can lead to a comprehensive and sustainable peace. Such a settlement must include the disarmament of Hezbollah and security guarantees for both Israel and Lebanon as well as respect for Lebanon\u2019s territorial integrity.  European Union leaders and I have also been very clear that UNIFIL troops must be protected and their mandate respected. The killing and targeting of UNIFIL troops is completely unacceptable. I again commend our Irish troops for the huge contribution they continue to make in Lebanon in the service of peace.  At the European Council meeting, European Union leaders reiterated that, despite dramatic developments in the region, Gaza and the West Bank must not be overlooked. The European Council called for the full implementation by all parties of the ceasefire and all other provisions of UN Security Council Resolution 2803, in line with other relevant UN Security Council resolutions. The Council also reaffirmed its commitment to international law and a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on the two-state solution in accordance with relevant UN Security Council resolutions where two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, live side by side in peace.  European Union leaders also discussed the humanitarian situation and the need for the rapid, safe and unimpeded delivery and sustained distribution of humanitarian aid at scale into and throughout Gaza in accordance with international humanitarian law. The Council called on Israel to reverse its decision regarding the new registration arrangements for international NGOs, which will severely restrict their ability to operate in the occupied Palestinian territory and significantly worsen the humanitarian situation. All border crossings should remain open.  We remain very concerned and disturbed by Israeli actions that seek to undermine the stability of the Palestinian Authority and prospects for a durable path towards the two-state solution. Israel must immediately release revenues withheld from the Palestinian Authority and extend the correspondent banking services waiver between Israeli and Palestinian banks. The European Council also condemned the massive increase in settler violence against Palestinian civilians and underlined the importance of de-escalation in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Ireland is extremely concerned by the expansion of illegal settlements in the West Bank. Leaders called on the Government of Israel to reverse the expansion of settlements, which are illegal under international law.  Since the European Council last met in March, Ireland has condemned the law passed by the Israeli Parliament to expand the scope of the death penalty and revive its implementation in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. Ireland is particularly concerned about the discriminatory nature of the law as it relates to Palestinians. The European Union has noted its long-standing principled position against the death penalty and urged Israel to abide by its obligations under international law. At the European Council meeting, I advocated for the re-examination of the EU-Israel association agreement in light of egregious Israeli breaches of human rights and democratic principles. We have continued to call for this in light of continued unacceptable Israeli actions.  Leaders had an exchange of views with the UN Secretary General, Ant\u00f3nio Guterres. In this discussion, we reiterated our commitment to multilateralism and the protection of the international rules-based order and the need to support the UN system. We discussed multilateralism in the framework of challenges to international law, notably in relation to Ukraine and the Middle East. We joined the Secretary General in calling for an end to conflict in the Middle East and a return to diplomacy. Ireland is committed to maintaining the strong working relationship between the EU and the UN over the course of our EU Presidency and focusing on underpinning the multilateral order.  This was a significant and action-orientated meeting of the European Council. I look forward to continuing my discussions with fellow EU leaders in Cyprus over the next two days. I also look forward to continuing our discussions in this House on this very important agenda of work for Ireland, especially as we take up the responsibility of the EU Presidency from 1 July. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  It is reasonable to ask what it would possibly take for the European Union to suspend the EU-Israel trade agreement. What possible threshold must be met and what new horrors and breaches of international law are required before it moves away from its position of intransigence and failure? At times, we have debates in relation to the EU and some on the benches opposite try to make the Sinn F\u00e9in position on Europe sound complicated. I think it is pretty straightforward. We do not propose to leave the European Union. We want to be in it but we are extremely critical of it. This is one of the areas we are critical of.  The EU's handling of the conflict in Palestine has been appallingly shameful. This is a further example. It reflects the Union's abject failure. The failure to stand up for international law is an act of cowardice from the EU. Israel has violated human rights in Palestine and Lebanon, and the EU has still not taken action. Despite multiple legal opinions and the clear evidence we have seen on our screens, the EU has shown absolute cowardice when it comes to standing up to Israel. It is abundantly clear that Israel has violated the human rights conditions of the agreement. The agreement is predicated on respect for human rights by virtue of Article 2. It is very obvious that Israel is in breach of that article.  It is important to remember that suspending the association agreement is not a sanction. It is a decision to correctly apply the provisions of the agreement, particularly Article 2, which clearly predicate the entirely beneficial trading arrangements that Israel enjoys on respect for human rights. The reputation and credibility of the EU is in tatters due to this. It is incredible that it has failed to take any meaningful action against Israel. We are moving into a very dangerous world for everyone if we continue to allow international law to be undermined without consequences. If we stop enforcing international law on one country, we risk giving a free hand to all rogue states to act as they see fit.  The Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, highlighted to the Taoiseach the issue of the recent sanctions package. At this stage, attention will now turn to the next sanctions package. The new sanctions package identifies aluminium as a subject of sanctions. That obviously has implications for Ireland. It is right and important that aluminium be sanctioned. Will the Minister of State comment on that issue? This sanctions package did not include atomic energy, the Russian atomic agency, Rosatom, and the officials connected to it and it is important that the next sanctions package does. The Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has clearly called for Rosatom and all who are associated with it to be included in a sanctions package. I have asked the Minister of State about this before and he has said he is in favour of it. It is important that Ireland makes its voice heard in pressing for that to be included in the next sanctions package. That would be an effective action.  In the last session of post-European Council statements, I expressed disappointment and frustration that the conflict in Sudan was not referenced. That is remarkable. If you talk to international experts, humanitarian organisations, human rights organisations and the Sudanese community here in Ireland, they will make the point very clearly that this conflict will continue. We have seen the slaughter continue in recent weeks and months. Some 50 people were killed at a wedding and there was a further massacre of civilians in El Fasher. Day after day, people are being killed but, because it is happening on the African continent, it barely raises any comment. I do not direct that remark at the Minister of State but, across the political establishment throughout Europe, it draws very little attention. It is the view of people from the Sudanese community and those experts I have mentioned that, until such time as this issue reaches a point close to the top of the agenda in Europe and the United States, the war will continue. The conflict has now been ongoing for nearly five years. It is crucially important that Europe starts to raise its voice. Ireland needs to lead the charge in that regard. The flow of weapons has obviously been affected by the war in the Middle East but it continues nonetheless and has resulted in the slaughter of tens of thousands of Sudanese civilians over recent years. It is not acceptable. I urge the Minister to ensure this is a priority in future meetings of the European Council. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Crowe  This was another European Council meeting that refused to hold Israel and the US to account for their destabilising actions in the Middle East or to acknowledge those actions. Where was the condemnation of the actions that started this war? Our trade partners are an exception to outrage when it comes to killing children, journalists, ambulance drivers, medical responders and innocent civilians.  No one is here to defend Iran's human rights record but, if you were to read the conclusions of the European Council meeting, you would swear that Iran had fired the first shot. The line is that \"Developments in Iran and the wider region threaten regional and global security.\" It is anyone\u2019s best guess what developments are being talked about. The European Council assures us that it is \"closely monitoring the far-reaching impact of the hostilities\". The EU has shown itself to be a paper tiger. We are completely unwilling to use our collective diplomatic and economic power to prevent the US and Israel from riding roughshod over the region and killing who knows how many thousands of people in the process. It rained oil in Tehran but that is okay because Trump and Netanyahu murdered the ayatollah and some of his family. The European Council seems more concerned about \"migratory flows towards the European Union\" than ending conflicts and saving innocent lives. It has the gall to say that it will put an end to Iran's destabilising activities without a single word about Israel, bar a weak attempt at asking for it to stop invading quite so much of Lebanon.  What more needs to be done for the EU-Israel association agreement to be scrapped? Is it another genocide like Gaza? The EU cannot credibly claim to uphold human rights while sustaining preferential trade with a state whose conduct has been found by multiple international bodies as amounting to genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. Those are the words of the UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Palestine. It would not even be a trade sanction. It would be simply exercising Article 2 of the agreement that states Israel enjoys special trade privileges so long as it respects human rights.  Israel has ethnically cleansed Gaza, expanded its presence in the West Bank and tried to take over 20% of Lebanon. Human rights must be non-negotiable. Israel has crossed every red line and engaged in countless breaches of human rights and international law. We either stand for human rights or we do not. We either stand for international law or we do not. If the EU is to have any credibility on international affairs, weak words like the Council's conclusions are not going to cut it any more. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  When the European Commission proposed to slash Common Agricultural Policy, CAP, funding by as much as 25%, the response from the Irish Government should have been to rule out any cut at all. Instead, the Government decided to run for political cover claiming that it was just a starting point. It should have told Europe flat out that any proposals to cut CAP funding were a non-starter for Ireland.  Last week, we got an insight into perhaps why that was the case, when a former Fine Gael Taoiseach cynically degraded rural Ireland as a whole. He said he was seeking an honest conversation. Well, how about this? It was a Fine Gael Government that led the negotiations on the current CAP and a Fine Gael-Fianna F\u00e1il Government that signed off on it. They did so during a period when Ireland had become a net contributor to the EU budget. In doing so, they gave their blessing to a European budget that saw the amount assigned to fund CAP reduced from 37% to 30%, a cut in real time for our farming families. We now know that Ursula von der Leyen wants to do the same thing again. We also know that an element of Fine Gael and Fianna F\u00e1il think rural people have it too good.  The agriculture Council is due to meet next Monday to discuss the next CAP. Will the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, in his closing remarks, address whether Ireland will categorically rule out accepting the EU budget that contains further cuts to CAP? Will he also commit to advocating for new, enhanced and reinvigorating funding? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  I welcome the opportunity to engage on behalf of the Labour Party following the European Council meeting of 19 March. The meeting had an extensive agenda: Ukraine and the Middle East; competitiveness; defence; multilateralism; and democratic resilience. These are all complex challenges which have clearly become more challenging since that date, as the Taoiseach acknowledged. We have, unfortunately, seen further developments in the Middle East, with Trump and Netanyahu's illegal war only deepening there.  In Brussels, on the morning of 19 March, I participated in the Party of European Socialists, PES, pre-Council leaders' meeting along with other PES leaders, including Spain's Pedro S\u00e1nchez and Commissioner Teresa Ribera. Last weekend, we had another engagement hosted by Prime Minister S\u00e1nchez in Barcelona in the shape of the Global Progressive Mobilisation summit, at which we heard addresses by global leaders of the left, including President Lula of Brazil, Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, Mia Mottley from Barbados and Elly Schlein from Italy. It was an inspiring gathering where we discussed challenges and opportunities facing the left across Europe and the world.  What struck me was not just the scale of the crises we all face but also the clarity of the responses offered by those on the left and in the socialist movement internationally. As the Irish party within the Party of European Socialists and the S and D group, the Labour Party is proudly European and we assert the principles of a social Europe with an emphasis on climate action and an active state that can engage on housing, workers' rights and equality. The Spanish left Government has shown leadership on climate, renewables and so much more.  I raise three points that the Minister of State might also bring back to the Taoiseach. I very much welcome the Taoiseach's comments and ambition that the Irish Presidency this year will see an acceleration on the steps towards EU accession for Ukraine. The Labour Party is proud to stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine against the brutal regime of Putin and his colonial and imperialistic aggression against them. We are concerned that there are still Russian interests in Ireland, and we need to be clearer about sanctions for those. We very much welcome the change of government in Hungary and the fact that the \u20ac90 billion loan for Ukraine will now, it seems, be facilitated. That is hugely important and I welcome it. We will work the Government to ensure that during this Presidency, EU accession for Ukraine can be accelerated.  A great deal more could be done on the US-Israel war, however. It is deeply disappointing that the EU is not taking further steps to ensure the suspension of the Israel trade agreement. We see that Israel is now leading in the bombing of southern Lebanon and is seeking to do to southern Lebanon what it has already done in Gaza. We all very much hope that the ceasefire will hold, but there are clearly huge accountability issues and sanctions that need to be undertaken against Israel.  With the defeat of Orb\u00e1n in Hungary, Netanyahu has lost what has been described as his \"EU firewall\" against sanctions. It is hoped that Ireland, along with Spain and other allies, will now be able to press harder on more sanctions against Israel and, in particular, the suspension and ending of the trade agreement, as well as the passing of the occupied territories Bill here at home.  The implications of the illegal war being waged by Trump and Netanyahu against Iran and Lebanon and the energy shock that has generated have clearly shown just how exposed the EU is and how exposed Ireland, in particular, is given our over-reliance on imported fossil fuels.  The S and D group in the European Parliament has called for two key measures to be adopted by the European Commission to deal with the enormous disadvantage being faced by citizens across Europe and in Ireland. First, it is calling for a temporary energy emergency regulatory tool to fast-track the development and roll-out of renewables. We have seen it done in Spain where energy costs are now four times cheaper than in Ireland. The group is also seeking strong measures to protect vulnerable households, including an EU-wide social leasing scheme to give people access to clean energy solutions without upfront costs.  We see that the package coming from the European Commission also gives a facility to states to have a windfall levy on the taxes of fossil fuel companies. Let us do that in Ireland. Tax these windfall profits further but let us also accelerate away from our dependence on fossil fuels. Today is Earth Day. There is no better day to look for an urgent ramping up of our capacity to generate electricity through renewables. This Government has been very slow and indeed has been regressive compared to the previous Government. We need to see more and we will be pushing the Government on this. We have seen the benefits in Spain and elsewhere regarding energy costs, energy security and climate emissions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathal Crowe  I am glad to have the opportunity to contribute on post European Council statements. The discussions at the meeting were very much dominated by the war that is still going on in the Middle East. It is an impossible thing because it is changing by the day. A meeting of the European Council could be convened, and all terms could have changed by the evening time. Nearly all of this is outside the control of the Government and the European Union bloc, but how we respond to it is within our control.  I, like other Members, went out two weeks ago and met with protestors regarding the fuel prices. I met some of the best of people there and their concerns were very legitimate, and a package was eventually agreed by the Government. While we all knew it, although it does not always directly stare us in the face, and it was a concern during that week, was that some of the parameters of our taxation regime when it comes to fuels and VAT rates are controlled by the European Union. The European Union bloc needs to reflect on that and have more flexibility at this time. I note that Poland and Spain were reprimanded in words, but we do not know to what extent they will be reprimanded thereafter. I do not know what the outcome of that discussion was, but we need more certainty because this war has become so uncertain. It is a very fluid situation. The Government's responses will have to be fluid, as will those of other European states. If everything we hear in the media today is true, this is going to continue beyond the month of April and possibly through the summer. If that is the case, it will require more interventions by the Government and State. It will also require more interventions by other European governments. We need to know how rigid the European Commission and eurozone's parameters are and what more can be done by the European bloc.  The Ukrainian conflict is repeatedly spotlighted in Europe. We speak about it through one lens, but I have heard from countries on the eastern flank of the European bloc that they fear the conflict in real terms. They have had huge budgetary shifts whereby they have moved spending programmes from certain fields to a military spend. It is alarming how militarised the eastern flank of the European Union has had to become.  Last month, President Zelenskyy and his cabinet published figures which Russia has said it disputes. The figures from the Ukrainian Government state that 19,546 Ukrainian children were effectively kidnapped or rehomed during the early months of the war and have not been brought back. Some have been domiciled in Russia for four years. I do not know under what circumstances that has happened. I have tried multiple times to find out what is going on there. We refer to front lines, Zaporizhzhia, power plants being banned and drones going into the sky, but 20,000 children, which is a huge number, are missing. We do not know where they are, how they are being cared for or how many have been repatriated with their parents. There have been prisoner exchanges throughout the war. Russian and Ukrainian prisoners have been handed back. When I examined this issue a couple of months ago, the figure was around 19,000. What the hell is going on? It is perverse in any conflict that children who have been taken alive from a front-line war situation are held against their will and that of their families. The correct word to use is \"kidnapped\". They have been kidnapped by the Russian state. Vladimir Putin has blood on his hands. It is perverse and wrong that almost 20,000 Ukrainian children are in Russia. I have not heard this discussed sufficiently by any European leader in many months. I ask that the issue be spotlighted from an Irish position when the Minister of State is next in Brussels.  I refer to the recent attacks in Lebanon, which were discussed. The welfare of military personnel, be they Irish or other nationalities, should be of utmost concern to us and attacks on them should be condemned.  Things are going to gear up quite a lot over the coming weeks as we prepare for the EU Presidency, which will be a very proud moment for our country. I look forward to different events taking place around the country and I thank the Minister of State for the effort he has put in so far with his opposite numbers across the European bloc and here in Government channels to devise a positive programme from an Irish perspective. I conclude by reiterating my point on the parameters of taxation and what we can do with mother ship Europe. We need interventions on the home front as this crisis continues. All of that needs to be very much spotlighted.  As I said, close to 20,000 Ukrainian children are missing. There have to be answers. When something goes out of the media spotlight it filters away and no longer becomes a source of discourse. This should matter to us. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  As the Minister of State knows, we are living in very uncertain and volatile times across the world, in particular with conflicts in so many places around the globe. We are all very aware of the impact this is having, in particular on fuel prices and other commodities in Ireland. It is all having a knock-on effect on food prices and the food chains in the European Union. I am sure these are issues that are to the forefront of everyone's mind.  I want to concentrate on the beef industry. The volume of Irish beef exports fell by 5% in 2025, and across the European Union, beef exports fell by 2.2%. The volume of Irish beef exported to the UK fell by 5%. EU beef production is expected to decline by a further 1% this year. There has been an increase in beef imports from countries outside of the European Union, the majority of which comes from Mercosur countries, even before the Mercosur trade agreement comes into place.  An EU-Australia trade deal is coming up, which will see 30,000 tonnes of beef coming into the European Union. The EU must reverse the decline in beef production and not leave us in a position whereby we are dependent on importing food from the other side of the world. Irish and EU food is produced to the highest standards from an environmental and animal welfare point of view. Given the volatility in the world, it does not make sense to leave EU food security in such a vulnerable position. Sacrificing it for guns is not an option. Many people in Europe fear that is what is happening. A farmer recently asked me who would feed Ursula von de Leyen's army. That is the kind of impact this is having on people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  Deputy Kenny should tell him that she does not have an army. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  I understand that, but that is the view people have developed from all of the talk about more and more militarisation.  The cut in the CAP budget needs to be reversed. People need to be reminded that CAP payments or subsidies, as Leo Varadkar would now call them, are not free money for farmers. CAP was established to ensure food security, increase productivity and guarantee fair living standards for farmers across the EU. It was designed to stabilise markets, harmonise competitiveness and have rules across every member state to create a secure and sustainable affordable supply chain of food for everyone. Leo Varadkar's comments were shameful and they are another example of the anti-farmer and anti-rural rhetoric we hear from parts of the Government, in particular Fine Gael. It is no wonder Fine Gael refused to stand with farmers or listen to protesters when it has such an attitude towards rural Ireland.  For the EU to have food security, Ireland needs to have food security. As an island nation, we should ensure that we have a proper and thriving fishing industry. Yet, the Irish fishing sector has been decimated by Dutch, Danish and Norwegian fishing fleets which plunder Irish waters. The Government has stood by and allowed this to happen. It did not even bother to vote against the deal in February. The Irish fishing fleet has been let down by this Government and successive governments over the years. This needs to change. We need to stop the industrial scale fishing with super-factory ships and reckless overfishing again and again while the Irish fishing fleet, which has played by the rules, is thrown against the rocks and totally betrayed.  Ireland is very proud of our neutrality. We have a history of peacekeeping and standing up for human rights and international law. We are proud to be members of the EU Security Council and respected for our stance on these issues by other countries across the globe. That is why it is important that we maintain the triple lock and our neutrality because that is exactly what people want to happen. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  I welcome and commend the fact that Ireland was one of the voices in recent days to put forward the suspension of the EU-Israel Association agreement. It is insane that that has not happened to date. Europe is operating with hypocrisy in sanctioning Russia but not Israel. I remind the House that the suspension of the EU-Israel association agreement does not involve sanctions. Rather, it is the revocation of a privilege. Israel enjoys a preferential status in trading with Europe and to suspend the agreement is not to apply sanctions, which is what we need to do. Our first step towards the application of sanctions is dropping the preferential treatment we currently provide to Israel. What will the Government continue to do in this regard? As I said, I welcome that we were one of the countries pushing for this. How will we keep it on the agenda and make sure that the EU-Israel association agreement, in line with its human rights commitments, is fully suspended?  I want to talk about the digital omnibus, which I have raised on previous occasions. In the Taoiseach's contribution at the outset of this debate, we heard a lot about the competitive elements of AI and the enterprise and innovation space, all of which is welcome. I acknowledge that there is a place in a simplification agenda for small businesses, in particular, to address the duplications in different directives that require them to meet compliance standards in multiple ways. I get that. However, what nobody in the Government ranks seems to want to admit is that the simplification agenda has been hijacked by big tech to push for deregulation. The Taoiseach used those words in his contribution. He said the work will reduce administrative burdens for business. It is deregulation under the guise of simplification and harmonisation.  One thing that was lacking in the Taoiseach's speech was any reference to rights and protections. Normally, he at least pays lip service to the issue but there is nothing in his contribution about the fact that while we allow businesses to flourish and create systems and ecosystems for businesses to use technology to advance business and enterprise in Europe, we must also protect the rights and protections enjoyed by citizens and consumers in the European Union. That is, essentially, what the European Union is most proud of. I would like to understand this, in particular in light of the security risks and privacy concerns around the European digital identity wallet. What assurances can the Minister of State provide that any digital omnibus package will address those vulnerabilities, rather than accelerate their adoption without the adequate protections that citizens require?  I want to speak to something else the Taoiseach failed to mention.  I will read out the direct quote from the conclusion of the Council meeting:  On the basis of the lessons learned from the 2015 migration crisis and to avoid a similar situation, the EU is ready to fully mobilise its diplomatic, legal, operational and financial tools to prevent uncontrolled migratory movements to the EU and preserve security in Europe.  Based on those conclusions surrounding migration at the EU Council, why has the Government committed to the Chi\u0219in\u00e3u process? What is the precise reason? How can the Government reconcile that with our previously outspoken record on human rights, particularly in areas like the Middle East and Ukraine? We are putting ourselves forward for membership of the UN Human Rights Council in the second half of next year. We consider ourselves as a State to punch above our weight when it comes to human rights diplomacy. What this is doing and what the Irish Government has committed to do in undermining the European Convention on Human Rights, ECHR, is launch a full-frontal assault on human rights.  We all notice that it is not called the \u201cEuropean convention on human \u2013 unless you are a migrant \u2013 rights\u201d. That is essentially what this is trying to do. It is trying to say that we want the ECHR and that we have created this framework above member states within the European Union to which we are all accountable. Indeed, it is across the Council of Europe and allows us to ensure member states build their economies and societies within a human rights framework. The word \u201chuman\u201d is sacrosanct in this regard, however. Everyone gets to enjoy those rights. To carve out a little bit around immigration so that we can essentially drop our standards for inhuman and degrading treatment and torture when it comes to those individuals is a precedent that I am not willing to tolerate and one everyone in this House should be enraged at. If we start coming after migrants, we are going to see various other groups in society targeted quite quickly after that. It is not okay and I seek assurances from the Government, particularly as we approach the EU Presidency, as we are looking to take a seat at the UN Human Rights Council and in a time of increased global conflict, that the Government will commit to the ECHR and remove any suggestion to follow the Chi\u0219in\u00e3u process. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail  Mar is eol don Aire St\u00e1it, t\u00e1 an domhan athraithe go hioml\u00e1n, go h\u00e1irithe anseo san Eoraip. Nuair a smaoin\u00edonn muid faoi ch\u00farsa\u00ed fuinnimh, is l\u00e9ir go bhfuil athraithe m\u00f3ra ann. T\u00e1 siad le feice\u00e1il i gcomhth\u00e9acs na hIar\u00e1ine agus an tionchar at\u00e1 ag an gcoimhlint sin ar an Eoraip agus ar \u00c9irinn. When we speak of international conflict, we have to recognise the impact it has from both a European and Irish context. Increased oil and energy prices are connected to it. That needs to be recognised, particularly when we are debating in this House. We need to acknowledge that increased fuel and energy costs are Europe wide and worldwide. They do not affect Ireland alone. The Government has taken severe and serious steps in trying to address the issues in Ireland.  As the Minister of State will be aware, the election of P\u00e9ter Magyar in Hungary and the end of the autocratic rule of Viktor Orb\u00e1n was discussed at the recent European Council meeting. The huge mandate Mr. Magyar received signifies an end to autocracy and that Hungary is open to democracy. There have been some developments in Hungary since the new Prime Minister came into place, however. I refer to his comments that the Druzhba pipeline with Russia should open and the feelings of the Ukrainian people and President Zelenskyy in that regard. We need to look at some of these comments quite carefully. We cannot forget - this was also stated at the European Council meeting - that we must continue to stand with the Ukrainian people and not let any member state or changes to member states have any influence on how we support the Ukrainian people. This is a prime example. If that pipeline is reopened, it will have a negative impact on Ukraine and a positive one on Russia, particularly when we are trying to stall the limits of Russian financial ability.  I mentioned energy prices at the beginning of my speech. The EU has agreed to a co-ordinated EU action when it comes to energy, but there is a need to accelerate the energy transition. My perspective, and I think that of most people in this House, is that we must do it in a sustainable and renewable way, including onshore and offshore wind and solar energy. We must prioritise renewable energy as much as possible.  There have been comments over the past few weeks about an opening-up of the discussion around nuclear energy. We need to have that serious conversation. I am not talking about large nuclear plants but, rather, small modular reactors, SMRs. We look at Denmark in this country as a good example of how to do energy. It has done offshore energy better than anywhere else in Europe. Some might argue it has done it better than anywhere else in the world. Denmark banned nuclear energy in 1985, including research, but it has now changed that because it realises it needs to have an energy mix. What I have been calling for and continue to call for is that we review our nuclear ban. I am not calling for a nuclear power plant, but we must allow research into the pros and cons. We might come to the conclusion that it is not for us, but at least let us do it in an informed manner. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Erin McGreehan  It is great to have an opportunity to speak about the European Council meeting. The message could not be clearer from Europe and Ireland that we are operating in a far more volatile and uncertain world. Conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine are driving our instability, and that instability is driving directly into energy prices and supply chains. People are facing the consequences of that in the form of cost-of-living increases. Energy is right at the centre of that. The Council has acknowledged as much. When fossil fuel prices spike, Europe suffers. We remain far too exposed to forces we cannot control. We have a huge challenge and crisis at the minute, but we have to take this as an opportunity to move from volatility to stability. Ireland cannot continue to rely on fossil fuels and hope for that stability. That is not a strategy; it is a risk. Other speakers have spoken about how this is a risk we can do something about. We are not short of resources. Rather, we and the European Union are short of urgency. I hope this latest crisis will ensure the EU moves faster.  I see these opportunities in County Louth every single day. We have wind and water resources as well as the geographic position. We have a skills base. The Minister of State knows the county very well. Crucially, we have the infrastructural potential, particularly in places like Greenore Port. Greenore Port, as the Minister of State knows, has the potential to become the key operations and maintenance port for offshore wind in the Irish Sea. That is not pie in the sky; it is a practicable and deliverable project. It has planning permission. It would support offshore wind deployment, create jobs and anchor long-term economic activity in the region.  Potential does not deliver jobs, however; decisions supported by Government and made in this House do. I have huge ambition for this country. We can be a global leader in renewable energy, not just a participant in it. We can harness our natural resources to not only create energy but export it. We have that expertise. In reality, we have been talking about this for far too long. The European Council has set out the direction to accelerate renewables, invest in infrastructure and build the systems that will allow us to reduce dependence on the volatile fossil fuel markets, but Europe needs countries like us to deliver on it. We are not just part of the solution; we can be absolutely central to it. If we do not step up, not only will we fail ourselves but we will also weaken Europe\u2019s overall energy security and competitiveness.  If we talk about creating the resilience to move to stability, we know that oil and gas markets are hugely volatile and that geopolitical shocks can trigger sudden price hikes. We also know there will be another oil crisis. It is not a question of if but, rather, whether we will be ready for it and whether we are preparing right now because we are too exposed. This is why we need to move faster. Other speakers have spoken in this regard. We need to ensure we are moving on this.  With regard to Deputy \u00d3 Cear\u00fail\u2019s contribution around nuclear energy, it is 40 years away in Ireland if we look to it, but hydrogen energy is not. It is a new technology but it can be a huge part of the solution. We need to derisk that transition. We need to clear the funding pathways and the timelines that industry can work to. We have an incredible strategy from the Department of environment on hydrogen and alternative fuels, such as hydrotreated vegetable oil, HVO, for heavy goods vehicles, HGVs, and all of these things, but we have to make sure we are working on it.  The Minister of State will be leading out on many of our meetings during the European Presidency. Ireland needs to lead on this. Europe needs to lead on this. Energy and renewable energy need to be a key target and aim of the European Presidency. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell  The decision not to suspend the EU-Israel association agreement is an act of profound moral cowardice. Israel has violated every aspect of the human rights conditions attached to the agreement. It is committing genocide in Gaza. It is murdering citizens in the West Bank. It has started an illegal war against Iran. Now, it is also bombing Lebanon. This is not a normal government. This is a rogue state that has crossed every red line and engaged in egregious breaches of human rights and international law. Since this genocide in Gaza began, however, EU leaders have failed in their commitments to EU rights, failed to uphold international law and failed to stand up to Israel. Again, this week, the EU had the opportunity to finally send a clear message to Israel by suspending the EU-Israel association agreement and it shamefully chose not to. In this Chamber, we cannot sit around and wait for the EU to act. This Government must take trade with Israel into its own hands and pass the occupied territories Bill in full for goods and services. Ireland can and should act where Europe will not.  This takes me to another point in relation to the Technion contract or the links that University of Galway has with that Israeli institution. It is deeply concerning that yesterday \"7 L\u00c1\" exposed that the Nelson Mandela Foundation is now reviewing the use of Nelson Mandela's name by that university because of its links with Technion. This is something that a lot of campaigners in Galway have long campaigned on. They have asked the university to end any links with that Israeli institution. It is high time that it did just that. It is a shame that the Nelson Mandela Foundation has been forced to review its relationship with the university. I assume it feels that under the moral circumstances it is compelled to do so given the use of Nelson Mandela's name by that university.  My final point relates to the continued use by the US military of Shannon Airport. Too often I have heard Government TDs and Ministers talk about the illegal war in Iran in totally and utterly abstract circumstances. Do we have full control in relation to this? No, absolutely not. Nobody is saying that we do. However, it is outrageous that we continue to allow the use of Shannon Airport by the US military as it continues with its illegal war in Iran and atrocities around the world. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  The EU has decided to do absolutely nothing about the genocide being heaped on the Palestinian people. Yesterday, an attempt was made by Spain, Slovenia and Ireland to raise the issue of not just trade but the special trading status that the EU has. The EU is the largest trading partner with Israel, bar none. It is some indictment on the EU that it is now lining up four-square behind an imperialist power that is heaping such misery on the population, such as the death penalty being introduced, gendered violence and sexual violence being committed and people being killed since the ceasefire. Whatever about the EU, because we could talk about that all day, at least Slovenia has introduced laws that have banned trade between Israel and Slovenia in certain conditions. It is very similar to what was proposed in the occupied territories Bill, and Spain has done likewise. Ireland has done absolutely nothing. It is very easy for the Minister of State to go and virtue signal in the Europe, but he has the power to do something here in Ireland.  The first issue is Shannon Airport. There has been a massive increase in overhead flights, which are obviously military related, and the Government has no interest in doing anything about it. Shannon is a major hub for the US military. The second issue is the occupied territories Bill. The Government is sending it back for more legal advice. That is an absolute ruse because 350 lawyers have already examined this and said there is nothing illegal about it. The Government gave a commitment before the elections two years ago that it would move on this. People were under that impression. Where is the occupied territories Bill? Senator Frances Black feels that the Government is delaying now on this. Ireland claims to be standing four-square with the Palestinian people, yet it is going to allow, and in fact it has encouraged, the Israeli soccer team to come and play here in October. The Government is out of step with the Irish people on that issue. It has judged that very badly. There will be a campaign to stop that match. The \"stop the game\" campaign has already started. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  The Israeli regime and the United States have rained down death and destruction on thousands of people in a criminal war they instigated in Iran and Lebanon. The Israeli regime has done that following nearly three years of a genocidal slaughter against the Palestinian people. It continues to allow illegal settlers to run amok, terrorising Palestinians on the West Bank. It is now going to introduce a law to execute Palestinians who are resisting an illegal occupation of their land. There are reports in the past week of animals being used to rape Palestinian prisoners under the Israeli authorities. Against that background, the European Union fails to suspend the EU trade association agreement, the special trade status this regime gets. Despite the fact the Government was forced to raise that issue to call for a re-examination of this thing, it continues to allow the US military to go through Shannon Airport. Flights go through our airspace facilitating the US military machine, which is involved with this regime, committing these crimes. It refuses to pass the occupied territories Bill. It refuses to call for a boycott against the football match that Ireland are playing with Israel despite even UN experts saying we should not be playing football with teams involved in illegal occupation and genocide.  In the Taoiseach's speech, the only group whose disarmament he called for was Hezbollah. It was not the Israeli regime, which refused to sign the non-proliferation treaty, NPT, and is in the dock for genocide, but Hezbollah. I wish to give a brief history lesson. Before the Sabra and Shatila massacre in 1982, which was investigated by a former Irish foreign affairs Minister, Se\u00e1n MacBride, Hezbollah did not exist. That massacre was essentially orchestrated by the Israelis and Lebanese Phalange fascist forces. At the time, it was deemed by Se\u00e1n MacBride and the UN to be a genocidal massacre. It was only in the aftermath of that genocidal massacre by Israel and its allies that Hezbollah came into existence. It was a response to the terrorism of the Israeli state, yet we still refuse to sanction that state. We treat it as normal when it is clearly a terrorist state. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Albert Dolan  When we talk about these statements post the European Council meeting, it is so important that we have a conversation about the positive role that Europe and being part of Europe can play in all our lives. We are yet to see many of the benefits that were envisaged in a European Union and from a trade perspective. We do not have an opportunity to deal with banks across Europe. We do not have an opportunity to deal with energy companies across Europe. We do not have an opportunity to deal with a whole range of trade opportunities that would ultimately benefit consumers and reduce costs right across Europe. We often talk here about the cost-of-living crisis and the impact it is having on people's ability to carry on with a normal life, but the European Union is the tool that can ultimately help reduce costs throughout the EU.  There needs to be a more concentrated effort there. We are a small nation, but we have an opportunity to engage with the European Union and see benefits from that as well.  Energy security is absolutely critical. I welcome the announcements from the Commission about the AccelerateEU package. It is welcome that it is going to allow European states to take all the necessary actions to be able to protect ourselves against what is the largest oil shock in the history of the State. We have to be really careful there because we do not know how bad this can get. We do not know how expensive fuels and energy can become, so we really have to take every measure possible to, first, secure our own energy independence and then simultaneously ensure that we are able to negate any negative impact it could have on the economy. That is going to be a very difficult balance to find.  Ireland's position in Europe is a very strong one when it comes to agriculture. We have a very strong history of food production and producing food in a sustainable manner. It is very important that when the CAP negotiations begin, Ireland defends food production and the ability of our own people to produce our own food. It is going to be so important that the CAP reflects the contribution European food producers make within the European Union.  I also want to talk about an area where I feel the European Union is failing at the moment, namely, competitiveness and the cost of doing business. I am the spokesperson for enterprise and I also sit on the enterprise committee. We have been doing a body of work over the last six months to a year. We have been speaking to many different representatives about the cost of doing business and just how expensive it is. This is something that is replicated across Europe. If we are to be competitive as a Continent and a Union, we need to make sure that we do not trip ourselves up. It really comes down to managing costs and ensuring that there can be success within the European Union, and that we do not become unattractive to people seeking to create jobs in our country. I am conscious of the time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shane Moynihan  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Aire as ucht labhairt linn tr\u00e1thn\u00f3na maidir le cad a thit amach ag Comhairle na hEorpa i M\u00ed an Mh\u00e1rta. Ar an gc\u00e9ad dul s\u00edos, ba mhaith liom f\u00e1ilte a chur roimh an f\u00f3gra a tugadh ar maidin go bhfuil an Ung\u00e1ir tar \u00e9is a veto a bhaint ar an gcabhair a bh\u00ed le tabhairt don \u00dacr\u00e1in de bharr cinneadh na comhairle c\u00fapla m\u00ed \u00f3 shin. It is a very welcome development and it is a testament to the fact that there has been a change of government in Hungary, which has removed the block to assistance being provided to the people of Ukraine.  If I can, I want to touch on three points maidir le tortha\u00ed Comhairle na hEorpa. They are the ongoing focus, as Deputy Dolan rightly stated, for a laser-sharp approach to competitiveness. I will also discuss energy and the role the European Union can play in securing the affordability and security of our Union's energy supply. The third point is to make sure we keep online safety at the top of our minds, and the importance of the European authorities taking their responsibility very seriously with regard to the Digital Services Act.  First, I want to touch on competitiveness. I welcome the conclusion from the Council about the need to drive on with the One Europe, One Market agenda. I welcome the ambition of trying to get that started this year. It is very important that the signal is sent, not only on the back of the Draghi report but also in terms of the actions the Commission is taking with regard to looking at the simplification of regulations across the Union, making it easier to do business, embedding principles like \"once-only\" in how individual businesses and companies engage with each other across the Union and, as Deputy Dolan said, really harnessing the power of the Single Market to make it a truly seamless experience and to make it really come to life for its citizens. In addition to that - this is an area where we in Ireland need to step up more as well - we need to create an SME ecosystem that is focused on helping SMEs not only start but scale up. Many times in recent months, President Macron has been quoted as saying that Europe needs to develop its own industrial champions. We need to develop our own commercial leaders. We cannot be overly reliant on other countries around the world for our software platforms, logistical support or whatever the case may be. We do need to create an ecosystem that not only supports SMEs but where they provide a product or service in the market that is good, strong and commercially viable, and that we incentivise and promote a scaling approach. While domestic policy can incentivise that, it is something that must be at the heart of the European Single Market policy as well.  Turning to the affordability of energy, in March, the Commission announced that it was going to put in place a toolbox of measures to help member states deal with the energy crisis. This morning, there was some talk about reducing electricity taxes across the Union. In terms of the linkage between the Union and its citizens, it is really important that Irish people see the real impact of that toolbox of measures, and that they are made very visible in people's lives. As a Government, we must show the power of the European Union in co-ordinating not only energy affordability but also energy supply. We really need to start stepping up to the plate in regard to the development of a battery strategy, whether a national one here in Ireland or one that is developed at European Union level. Australia has set the template for how we should develop a battery strategy. That is key to securing not only energy security but also the long-term viability of renewable energy being the primary power source for our country, but also countries around the European Union.  I draw the attention of the House to the need for us to continue to ensure that the European authorities exercise their responsibilities in a speedy and efficient way with regard to digital enforcement. There was a lot of discussion a few months ago about the importance of online safety and regulations. It is important for citizens to see that our membership of the European Union gives us access to fantastic things like the Single Market, but also to show that it gives us the regulatory teeth to take on multinational companies that are contravening their responsibilities under the Digital Services Act and threatening the online safety of young people and that they can be dealt with appropriately at that level. I know that is something the Minister of State, Deputy Thomas Byrne, and the Minister of State, Deputy Niamh Smyth, are actively pursuing with our European colleagues in order to achieve that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  It is difficult to overstate just how precarious the geopolitical context has become. We are going from one disaster scenario to the next, and the consequences will no doubt be felt for generations. No words are sufficient to condemn the impunity or disregard for human life that is on display. When we think back to recent human history, we ask how we could have let it happen. There is conflict across the world, in Palestine, Sudan, Lebanon and Ukraine. Even though there is no conflict in Cuba at the moment led by an international warmongering country, the blockade of oil in that country has led to the worst economic and energy crisis in recent decades. Mexico, Spain and Brazil recently called for dialogue to address the gross humanitarian crisis that is happening in Cuba, but there is not a peep out of this Government about the situation there. Why is that?  Why do we remain silent so many times? We already saw the three-card trick the Government pulled in the run-up to the election about the occupied territories Bill. Eighteen months later, we are still waiting for it to be enacted. The Government has shown cowardice on an international scale. We are looking at international law being torn up. Human rights are optional. Institutions built to prevent catastrophe are under attack. We have seen what the US has done to its health and humanitarian outreach to foreign countries. It has been withdrawn from them. The US has stopped supporting UNRWA. Our collective humanity is under massive threat. We are witnessing a massive breakdown in global leadership.  The EU too is drifting towards militarisation. There are escalating trade tensions that threaten jobs and livelihoods and a raging cost-of-living crisis has resulted from wars and conflict. We have seen a devastating collapse in international development funding across the global south. We must be seen to be a neutral country and be proud of it. We cannot be seen to be neutral on injustice or war crimes. We must be militarily neutral, independently principled and committed to human rights, international law and the institutions that are under attack. If the Government is moving away from neutrality, it should put that to a referendum. Our position has got us respect for years. This reputation cannot be gambled away. Any move away from neutrality will not be supported by the Irish people.  The neglect of the Defence Forces is a political choice, and running a bulldozer through it will not fix it. The scale of human suffering across the world is staggering. We all know what has happened in Palestine over recent years. For the Jewish Power party to be wearing golden noose lapel pins on their suits in the Knesset in Israel is a staggeringly depressing visualisation.  What they want is separate facilities for people who have been convicted or sentenced to death, no visits apart from authorised personnel, no legal consultations except by video link, and assassinations or hangings to take place within 90 days of sentencing, closing off appeals and clemency. Is this where we have ended up on the international stage? Israel's human rights group has described it as institutional and racist violence against the Palestinians. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  Cuirim f\u00e1ilte roimh an Aire St\u00e1it.  I note that in Brussels in March, the key areas were again Ukraine and the \u20ac195 billion or so in support. Since then, we have had the Hungarian election, which, as others have noted, will hopefully free things up. I hope that at the informal meeting in Cyprus tomorrow and the day after, we will receive some signs of positive engagement from the Hungarian side, if we have not already done so. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  We got them this morning. It is all happening. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  I missed that because I was at a committee meeting. It is fantastic to hear.  The Middle East is going to come up again, I am sure, just as it did before. You never know from one day to the next what is going to happen. The last thing I heard related to the status of the blockade.  I know matters are complex because of the historical and neighbourly relations some member states have with Israel, but we seem to be letting the genocide, the occupation of Gaza and the occupied territories fall through the cracks. I am aware that the Irish Government will say this is not a debate on the occupied territories Bill and that I have raised it before, but we have got to keep moving on this. We can have the argument over whether services should be included during the debate on the legislation, but let us get to the stage where the legislation is coming up. On engagement with our European colleagues, the matter of Israel seems to have gone even further down the agenda. It needs to be kept as topical as possible.  Issues like security and defence were also mentioned at the March meeting. It is in the EU's security interest not to have a belligerent Israel and to have a more settled, long-term peace plan, which might not suit the Netanyahu Administration but might suit the Israeli people going forward, as well as the Palestinians, obviously.  The other issues I want to focus on, which did not get discussed in Brussels but which I understand are coming up in the next couple of days, are the multi-annual financial framework and the long-term budget. Getting the framework right definitely has potential to provide some security in uncertain times.  Another area that is relevant concerns energy security and high fossil fuel prices, which are very topical right now. I have mentioned this in this Chamber during the debate on the fuel crisis but I reiterate that we need to see more movement from Europe on long-term energy security.  I have criticised the Government constantly for not investing in long-term offshore wind, tidal and wave energy, storage capacity off the west coast for conversion to hydrogen and battery storage. We could be a massive exporter of energy. I want to try this angle as well: perhaps there needs to be an EU Cohesion Fund that would ramp up our energy production capacity as part of a European energy security network. In this regard, we would get some funding not from private corporations but from member states to have a kind of a quid pro quo 50:50 arrangement whereby we would still have enough capacity to sell to gain revenue from data storage companies. Some of the funding would come from Europe directly to build up scale and the energy would then go automatically through the French interconnector or by whatever means are necessary. This is because we need to ramp up our energy security from a national level but also from a European level.  I am not sure whether the Minister of State got to comment on the meeting in May. I might not be in the Chamber to hear his response but I will have a look at the transcript later. I am referring to the meeting in May of the European Political Community that involves 47 member states. It is a wider body that is not on a statutory basis. Could the Minister of State put on the record the level of engagement not just with the EU accession states but also with countries that are not anywhere in the pipeline for EU accession? What enhanced co-operation and economic pooling can we have on a Europe-wide basis, excluding, obviously, the countries that are not involved, which include Russia and Belarus? We are talking about the likes of Armenia, Georgia, T\u00fcrkiye, Moldova and Ukraine. Some of them are EU accession states, but there is a lot of potential on an EU level for enhanced co-operation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul McAuliffe  I thank the Aire St\u00e1it. I commend him on staying in the House for the debate. It is important that Ministers who represent the country abroad hear the differing voices in the House. Statements on the European Council are always a very valuable exercise to allow us to put on the record our views and influence our Ministers when they are representing us abroad.  The change of government in Hungary is welcome. I saw a photograph earlier this week of the Irish Council of State meeting and thought it perfectly captured how strong our republican constitutional democracy is. I am referring to the idea of an elected President using her powers, as outlined in the Constitution, to consider a Bill passed in this House, along with representatives appointed by her and representatives of both Houses of the Oireachtas. The Constitution dates back to 1937. Sometimes we take for granted how strong our Constitution is. We can see, from places like Hungary, how easily a European country's constitution can be eroded by an authoritarian regime. We have to be very careful of that within the European project. In this regard, Michael McGrath is doing significant work on the rule of law in the EU.  This morning, I was canvassing in Beaumont. While European Council statements might not have been not high on the agenda, international affairs were. Many people I spoke to were incredibly concerned about the impacts and costs of what is happening in the Strait of Hormuz and the Middle East more generally. Whether it is a matter of the price of home heating oil or that of petrol or diesel, they are seeing the real impact of war on economies. War has devastating impacts on those who live in war zones and on global economic growth.  What is very clear \u2013 I heard the Taoiseach piece this together \u2013 is that Europe is now dealing with the impact of two very significant wars within its geopolitical sphere. The war in Ukraine has had an incredible impact on gas prices. This had a corresponding impact on global supply chains and food costs. Now we see the impact on the cost of oil.  As we look to the coming months, we need to be careful about how we proceed as a country, and the economic bloc of Europe must also be careful. There is no doubt that the increase in oil prices has a significant impact on economic growth. I hate to use the \"R\" word, but recession is always possible. We need to be very careful about how we proceed.  People on the doors are talking about costs. I distinguish between those who were protesting and those who were blockading. Many who were protesting were among those affected by cost increases. I acknowledge the measures the Government introduced, the first being worth \u20ac250 million and the second \u20ac750 million. They are essentially tax cuts to try to support people in meeting their costs. However, we should not forget that this also means income forgone that could be used for public services.  As we proceed as a country, we also need to be cautious about what we can do sustainably over the long period of time while always making sure that the strong economic model we have here benefits those people on the ground.  I think Europe has been very strong at times in terms of acting as a bloc. We saw that during Covid and so on. At times when we are divided, the response is very poor. A number of speakers have mentioned the European response to what happened in Gaza. I would always cite that as a time when I was not proud to be European. I was very disappointed in the European response.  There are two elements in terms of how we proceed on this issue. One involves the short-term measures Europe can take. When the package was being put together, we saw how so much of that package was affected by European regulations and rules. We have to look at how we can make European countries agile, nimble and able to respond to what could be an ever-increasing cost of oil. That is the first thing. The European Union needs to treat it as an emergency and needs to empower European nation states to respond to protect their citizens. It is a very obvious but sometimes disputed concept but we do have to transition away from carbon fuels. We are doing a significant amount in this country. What we are doing in terms of retrofitting is incredibly significant. Again, I come back to Beaumont. Every third or fourth door I came across, I found retrofitting that had been done. This often involved older people who would not otherwise have been able to avail of it but who did because of the changes this Government made in terms of the fuel allowance. As a result, these older people were able to access the warmer homes scheme. We need to do more but the European Union needs to support countries to do so.  When one speaks to many people who are experiencing those costs, one sees how much it impacts them but when one speaks to people who have made that change to an EV - and it is not always easy although it is much more possible now with second-hand cars - one can see that they are not feeling that same pain in terms of their transport costs. There is a lesson there, which is that when we help people transition, it has a direct impact in the short term and the long term. While the European Green Deal has in some ways fallen off at the agenda and there is a big focus on deregulation, and I do not necessarily think that deregulation or simplification as it is often called is necessarily a bad thing, we have to stick to our long-term commitment to climate change measures and the environmental impacts of carbon fuel. The carbon tax can be very controversial. For those who I would describe as being at the populist end of the spectrum, it is very easy to say that we should pay less tax but the reality is tax allows us as a country do certain things. Whether that is investing in the retrofitting programme or supporting farmers, the carbon tax funds that transition and we have to make that transition in the longer term. Europe needs to help us do that and I would like to see the European bloc do more.  Two wars are ongoing. We have been strongly supportive of Ukraine and rightly so but what is happening in the Straits of Hormuz and the Middle East is having a direct impact and I want to see the European bloc now step up and be part of the global conversation about what happens and about trying to bring an end to a war that is having massive economic impact on all of us here in Ireland and elsewhere. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Carol Nolan  On 19 March, the European Council adopted conclusions that included the formal launch of the One Europe, One Market agenda. According to the official document, this initiative is designed to boost EU competitiveness, strategic autonomy, economic security and prosperity while preserving the European social model. The priorities set out are ambitious - deepening the four freedoms, removing internal barriers, simplifying rules, improving the recognition of professional qualifications and strengthening consumer and product safeguards.  On energy, the conclusions call for an accelerated transition to renewables and low-carbon sources to reduce price volatility. These objectives may appear constructive yet for Irish agriculture, the reality on the ground tells a completely different story. While the Council speaks of competitiveness and simplification, the European Commission continues to advance the Mercosur trade agreement towards provisional application from 1 May. Ireland voted against this deal in the Council precisely because it will expose our family farms to a flood of lower-standard beef, sugar and agricultural imports from South America. This directly threatens the viability of farming enterprises in my own county of Offaly and indeed across the midlands and the rest of this State. It undermines the very producers the EU claims to support through its Single Market strategy. This disconnect is particularly striking given the Council's emphasis on strengthening Europe's democratic resilience. The conclusions rightly highlight the need to protect democratic discourse and counter disinformation. However, when thousands of Irish and European farmers raise legitimate evidence-based concerns about the impact of Mercosur on food production, rural economies and environmental standards, these concerns are set aside and the institutions proceed regardless. Such an approach erodes public trust and contradicts the very principles of citizen engagement that the Council claims to uphold.  A similar pattern is evident in the Council's reaffirmation of unwavering support for Ukraine, including continued financial, economic and military assistance. Ireland has already committed hundreds of millions of euros in taxpayers' money to this effort. We must acknowledge the scale of this expenditure at a time when domestic pressures ranging from hospital waiting lists to rural infrastructure deficits remain acute. Irish families and businesses are entitled to expect that their elected representatives will balance international commitments with the immediate needs of its own citizens. I know from speaking to many agricultural contractors that they still need continued support. They are constantly contributing to our economy and as taxpayers, they should get fair play as should our small businesses and our haulage companies, which will also need continued support.  Finally the Council's call for an accelerated low-carbon transition must be examined in the light of recent domestic developments. The Government has announced a suspension or partial suspension of the carbon tax in response to public fury over rising fuel costs. I have consistently opposed the carbon tax. The EU-driven net-zero agenda with its binding 2030 targets and emissions transfer mechanisms continues to impose significant additional costs on households, farms and enterprises through higher fuel, heating and production expenses. The carbon tax suspension does not alter Ireland's commitment to that agenda. It merely delays the full impact while the structural costs remain. This illustrates the broader tension of an ideological commitment to rapid decarbonisation that is not logical, fair or balanced. In practice, this delivers higher living costs without delivering the energy security or competitiveness that the Council seeks. While the One Europe, One Market agenda is presented as a pathway to prosperity, it must be judged by its effects on Irish agriculture, the families bearing the cost of the energy transition and the allocation of taxpayers' public resources. Ireland's national interests require that we defend our farming sector, scrutinise the true cost of net-zero policies and ensure that international spending does not come at the expense of our own domestic priorities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aidan Farrelly)  We now enter a 20-minute question-and-answer session with the Minister of State. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  During my contribution, I addressed the next package of sanctions against Russia, in particular Rosatom, which is the Russian atomic agency.  Is this something the Irish Government is specifically referencing? I know it said it was supportive of it, but is it specifically calling for it?  Second, it is five or six months since the European Council had conclusions on Sudan, as I mentioned earlier. Kaja Kallas made some comments yesterday on the European Council. It is important that the pressure remains. Can the Minister of State comment on any discussions that happened on Sudan, either at the meeting or during bilaterals on the fringes of it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  Regarding Sudan, it is not that Kaja Kallas made comments yesterday. It is that the foreign Ministers discussed the issue of Sudan yesterday at the Foreign Affairs Council, and Kaja Kallas, as the high representative, spoke on behalf of all the governments. While it was discussed at the European Council recently, although not directly at the last one, it has been on the agenda of foreign Ministers on a regular basis. We share the Deputy\u2019s concerns about Sudan, and there is no question about that. The Taoiseach has also expressed them.  Regarding sanctions, today, we got Hungary and Slovakia to remove blocks on the 20th package of sanctions, and that hopefully will be enacted tomorrow. We will then work towards the 21st package of sanctions, and any extra entities or people that need to be included will be considered as part of that. We have achieved a huge amount by getting through 20 packages of sanctions, including significant sanctions on the Russian economy. That work will continue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  Earlier, I referenced three topics: the digital omnibus, the EU-Israel Association Agreement and the ECHR. I welcome Ireland\u2019s moves on the EU-Israel Association Agreement but I want to know what more is going to be done. How are we going to keep the pressure on to suspend the agreement and bring Europe's response to the Israeli genocide into line with our actions against Russia?  Second, I wish to ask about the digital omnibus. Last week, in error, I referenced the Fianna F\u00e1il grouping as the EPP. I apologise for that. I sometimes get mixed up between Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael; who would have thought it? I would be curious to know about the Renew Europe grouping. When I first spoke to the Minister of State\u2019s Renew grouping colleague, Michael McNamara MEP in Brussels about this, he said there was more of a split in the Renew grouping. I want to know what Fianna F\u00e1il's position is on the digital omnibus specifically and whether it is supporting the digital omnibus. Within that, there is a move back towards self-regulation by the tech sector, and the removal of the high-risk systems we are all seeking in relation to tech regulation, particularly in light of the European digital identity wallet.  Finally, and crucially, I want to understand Ireland\u2019s position on the ECHR and why, after criticising the UK for attacking the ECHR, we have followed in its footsteps and chosen to commit to the Chisinau process. Why and for what reason? How can we square that with our own human rights record and our ambition to be on the UN Human Rights Council? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  The digital omnibus is something the Government supports. What members of the European Parliament do is a matter for them. Just because they might not support an initial proposal does not mean they will not try to amend it and agree to it at the end. We will leave the European parliamentarians to do that job. They do an excellent job. That is one side of the democratic process, and the governments are on the other side of the democratic process in the European Union in terms of enacting this legislation. We have a very good crop of active MEPs on all of these files at the moment, and they are available to talk to anybody. They engage with us, but they engage with constituents as well.  On the EU-Israel Association Agreement, this is not a decision for Ireland. Ireland made its decision in the sense that the Minister, Deputy McEntee, went to Luxembourg with some other member states to achieve a suspension of this. However, it requires other member states to agree to this, and clearly that agreement was not----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  I am asking what we are doing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  What we are doing was announced by the Minister yesterday. We were pushing to have this agreement suspended, but it was not possible to reach an agreement.  With regard to the European Convention on Human Rights and the Council of Europe, that matter is a separate from the European Council. We are strong supporters and strong activists in the Council of Europe, as a government. I am meeting the General Secretary, Mr. Berset, this week. We will continue to support the Council of Europe and all of its work. In relation to any declarations or policy positions that may be made by member states, that has been discussed by the member states.  I reject the earlier comments. I know the Deputy did not say this directly, but the implication given was that, somehow, we want to torture migrants. That is not the case. What is the case is that we want to make sure we have control of our borders, as member states of the Council of Europe. That is a reasonable position for governments to take. We want a firm migration policy, one that is fair to migrants and is human rights-based, but also fair to the citizens of Ireland. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  Welcome changes are happening in Hungary, and the EU's release of funds to Hungary is positive. We need to continue to show our solidarity with Hungary at this time of great change. In the same way, that is obviously related to the importance of showing our solidarity with Ukraine. I have two related questions. First, we need to spell out more clearly why we are continuing to support Ukraine, and why there is the risk that if Ukraine falls to Russia, there is a huge threat to peace in Europe, but there is also the economic threat that brings. We need to counter some of the false narratives that are currently being articulated as to why we are showing that solidarity.  Second, and related to that, the negotiations will be happening around the multi-annual financial framework. A critical part of that for Ireland will be the Common Agricultural Policy. It is not just critical that we look at maintaining farm incomes now, but we have to look at it in the context of an enlarged European Union. I am particularly thinking that as we move towards Ukraine's membership over the next decade, we have to ensure that the MFF and CAP take into account the potential for Ukrainian membership. I would like to know if that formed part of the consideration. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  I thank the Deputy for raising the issue of Hungary. A new government has been elected, but it has not actually been appointed by the parliament yet. The party has been elected with a massive vote, but even before that, the outgoing government this morning dropped the veto on the \u20ac90 billion loan to Ukraine, and dropped the veto together with Slovakia on the 20th sanctions package. We very much welcome this. The approach that we will have to Hungary is, frankly, one that gives value to the votes of the people of Hungary. It is not that we like all of the policies of the Tisza party or anything like that. However, what the Tisza party stands for is the rule of law, liberal democracy and fundamental values. We can have a political debate within that, left and right, but essentially, what they are standing up for is a free media. It is quite shocking that Mr. Magyar was never on television during the campaign. He did not appear on radio until after he was elected. Frankly, I think a lot of the civil servants, diplomats and media are quite relieved that pressure is off them. They did not fully buy into the Orb\u00e1n system, but it was forced upon them. From an Irish point of view, we will have a generous approach because a successful Hungary benefits us, and it is a country that should be successful. Irish businesses can benefit from a successful economy in Hungary because we are such an exporting country.  Why do we support Ukraine? We support Ukraine for two broad reasons. One is that it is the morally and legally correct thing to do. They were invaded by Russia and they are standing up for their rights, and I think the Irish people saw that very clearly. It is also the economically correct thing to do for us. The threat from Russia, which we have seen actioned in Ukraine, is also a threat to other countries in that region on the eastern flank of the European Union. If anything were to happen to those countries, we would see a really serious economic shock here, and there is no question about that. We also see Russia very active in the information space and the hybrid warfare space, messing around in terms of what it might do with drones to transport links and various interconnectors, whether of information or energy. It is essential that we continue to support Ukraine.  While we have been generous with regard to Ukraine, the idea that somehow we are making choices between the Irish people and the people of Ukraine, as a government here, is completely wrong. The narrative that Deputy Nolan put forward in this regard is shameful.  She also spoke about the Mercosur agreement. We have accepted that there are issues for beef farmers. That was said all along, and that is why the Government voted against it. The Deputy should also recognise that there are farmers in her constituency in Offaly who supply Tullamore Dew, one of the most important whiskey brands we have. That product is seriously enhanced and protected by the Mercosur agreement, and the Government has acknowledged that. There is a balance that we have taken to oppose it, but it is not totally negative, as she seeks to point out. I compliment Barry Cowen MEP who has been very balanced in his approach and recognises the benefits to the whiskey industry in his county, while also recognising the difficulties for farmers.  With regard to the Common Agricultural Policy, which was also raised by Deputy Byrne, it is our strong policy to protect the policy and to have it strong, separate, robust and suitable for farmers. Again, we can come into the D\u00e1il to talk and, as the Opposition has done, to castigate the Government.  Recently, the former Deputy, Barry Cowen MEP, and a number of other MEPs came to Mullingar to discuss the negotiations on the CAP and it was a very instructive meeting. My officials in Brussels are available to any MEP who wants to talk about CAP and the negotiations we are in, and I will continue to keep Members informed. Our policy here is to ensure there is a robust CAP that protects rural Ireland and serves the fundamental purposes of the CAP, which is to keep farmers on the land and keep the food supply coming to Europe. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aidan Farrelly)  I thank the Minister of State. We are getting through time so let us keep to it. I call Deputy Boyd Barrett. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  The failure of the European Union to suspend the EU association agreement with Israel is an absolute disgrace. Does the Minister of State agree it is a disgrace, given that Israel is in the dock for genocide and has instigated murderous and illegal wars against Lebanon and Iran? Does the Minister of State agree? If his excuse is that Europe will not doing anything but we tried, does he feel Ireland has any responsibility to do anything in the face of the crimes Israel is committing? Specifically, does he think we have any obligations under the Genocide Convention?  On 14 May, I will have a Bill coming before the D\u00e1il. Luckily, it has been selected from the lottery. It is the Sanctions against the State of Israel Bill, which calls for us to impose comprehensive economic, political and diplomatic sanctions on Israel because of our obligations under the Genocide Convention, which requires signatories to act to prevent genocide. Does the Minister of State accept that under the Genocide Convention, regardless of EU hypocrisy, double standards and its refusal to move, we, as signatories of that convention, have a moral and legal obligation to act against the crimes that Israel is committing? It is a simple question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  The issue with regard to the European Council and the Foreign Affairs Council on the EU-Israel association agreement is as I said it was, namely, that the Irish Government has engaged with member states to try to bring forward a proposal which is sitting there but needs to be supported by a sufficient number of member states. However, we are not able to do that. That is a fact. I would encourage - we are doing this and we encourage everyone else to do it - is engagement with other member states to see why they do not agree with us. They have other reasons for this.  I also reject utterly any suggestions that somehow this Government or politicians in this Government are connected to or complicit, or whatever the phraseology is that the protesters and the Deputy's colleagues in political life use about complicity in genocide. I totally reject that. We have always stood firm on the side of democracy and human rights. To start throwing those allegations around the House is completely wrong. Any sanctions packages we have ever done we have done in recent times at a European level because that is where trade policy is. It is also where one has the most impact. No sanctions have ever been done where the damage to us would be greater than the harm we are seeking to impose to change ways. If he is setting out a policy, as the Deputy is, he has to set out for the people the economic consequences in Ireland of his various proposals. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  So, there is no answer on the Genocide Convention. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aidan Farrelly)  The last couple of Deputies will have 30 seconds each to make sure we get everybody in. I call Deputy Healy-Rae. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  The agricultural community is totally and absolutely against Mercosur. It has been referred to the European court. What legal aid do we have or who is representing us at that court? Do we have representation there? We surely should have representation to put forward our case and that of farmers the length and breadth of the country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  Is this on the Mercosur agreement? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  Yes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  The case has been brought by the European Parliament against the Commission. The practice, and this is a decision for the Commission and the member states which supported it, is to implement the trade provisions of the Mercosur agreement, whenever that happens in the coming period of time, notwithstanding the fact that we voted against it. There are measures to protect farmers, particularly beef farmers in the case of price shocks----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  That is not the question I asked the Minister of State. Who is representing us? Do we have representation? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aidan Farrelly)  This is not a back-and-forth, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  The case is between the European Parliament and the European Commission. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul McAuliffe  Two of my colleagues spoke about the European Single Market. While there have been benefits for industry from the Single Market, consumers in Ireland have not been able to get the full benefit in the areas of industry and financial products. Under our Presidency, what do we intend to do to progress that? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  There is a very exciting agenda ahead of us during our Presidency on what is called the one market approach. I have a copy of it here that was given to member states last night. There is a list of items there. At the last count - it may have changed overnight - there were 42 items in that to help bring the Single Market to reality and to give us greater economic prospects. Some 17 of those were slated to be organised, done or agreed during our Presidency. We will wait and see what the leaders agree. It is a big challenge for us, the European Parliament and everybody to bring these measures in in the timeframe proposed. At the same time, if we were to do so, we would have a transformed economy that would be much more resilient to economic shocks. It would enable greater opportunities for the Deputy's constituents and all of our constituents to prosper and for the Single Market to be brought to a reality. We would be able to trade and buy products and services from across the European Union in a way that we are not at the moment. There is a huge opportunity now and I am happy to update the D\u00e1il as this goes along.  There is also a lot of work going to take place in Brussels between the governments and in the European Parliament, where our MEPs will be working hard on lots of files but especially these ones over the next few months. We will engage with MEPs as well to try to make sure we get this agenda across. The Taoiseach said that this is going to be a Presidency defined by action and I think this agenda gives us plenty of action to carry out, which will result in serious and solid benefits for consumers and citizens right across the Union. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aidan Farrelly)  I thank the Minister of State. We have three minutes left and three Deputies identifying. They have 30 seconds each. I call Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  It is an absolute disgrace that the EU is not suspending the EU-Israel association agreement. We just have to do the bit we can do, and that is the occupied territories Bill. There is genocide, ethnic cleansing and colonisation, whether we are talking about Gaza, the West Bank or now in Lebanon.  The illegal war by the US in Iran has had a detrimental impact on us here. It is not life and death but it is having a huge impact on fuel costs. What conversations are happening in Europe in relation to the energy taxation directive and the idea of having minimum excise duty? We need to give states maximum powers to deal with the issue in front of us. The fear around Mercosur is that provisional application still applies before the court and Parliament make their decision. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  People complain sometimes about EU rules and ask why the EU has rules on certain issues that maybe do not suit us in particular moments. The reality is those rules enable the Single Market to operate. They should be there to enable us to operate on a level playing field. The Taoiseach has already----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  These are extraordinary times. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  I agree, and I am not saying the Deputy is wrong. I am just setting that out as an objective. We all ask why the EU is looking for this. It is always important to remember that the Single Market is there and the rules are there to facilitate the Single Market to give us as equal a shout as the Germans, French or whoever. That makes it all better for everybody.  The Taoiseach said he wrote to Ursula von der Leyen on some of the issues the Deputy mentioned in regard to looking for an understanding and flexibility in regard to proportionate temporary national measures designed to address the immediate consequences of the current fuel market disruption, while preserving our shared long-term decarbonisation goals. The Taoiseach has done that and we will continue to do that. I have absolutely no doubt that when all the leaders arrive in Cyprus, as they will this weekend, that what is being said in this Parliament is the same as what is being said in their parliaments and every parliament in Europe, particularly on energy costs, and it will be ringing in their ears. I have no doubt they will continue to put pressure on the European Commission to come up with solutions that can be used, adapted or adopted by member states in their own particular circumstances. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Daly  Will the Minister of State reflect on the election of P\u00e9ter Magyar as Prime Minister of Hungary, his winning the election and the end of the Orb\u00e1n regime? Hungary stood out as a sore thumb. I have been trying to understand, for the life of me, why the European Union did not take further sanctions against Hungary, although I know moneys were withheld. The lesson for other jurisdictions - if we followed the policies that were pursued by Orb\u00e1n, as some of our colleagues on the Opposition benches would do - is that Hungary was the poorest country in the European Union. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  I fully agree. Orb\u00e1n basically wrecked the economy. It shows that the link between adherence to the rule of law and democratic values and a free media is essential for economic growth.  We did not get involved in the election. We did not tell the Hungarian people how to vote. We were very careful about that, even though the temptation was very strong. Over many years, the Taoiseach, Deputy Miche\u00e1l Martin, and I and various Ministers who have been in government have been very strong in calling out what the Hungarians are doing. That included negotiating the conditionality regulation and working at my Council on rule-of-law issues and holding Hungary to account for some of the things its government had done, which were opposed to the foundational values of the European Union.  All of that had resulted in over \u20ac17 billion of funds being withheld from Hungary. I met Hungarian politicians from the cities, which would not be as Orb\u00e1nist as the rural areas, and they were crying out for the money. They really felt their areas were losing out big time because of this and their economy was losing out. We had to take a hard line, though. The Hungarian people have reacted. They realised that Orb\u00e1n had taken them to a place where they should not really have been. I say again that P\u00e9ter Magyar was not allowed on the television, which is incredible. I met Mr. Magyar in Munich at the security conference a couple of months ago. I had a brief conversation with him and wished him the best of luck but I did not encourage anyone to vote for him. He did that himself. Looking back at how he did his campaign over a year and a half, it is an incredible example of coming from almost nothing to getting two thirds of the vote by sheer persistence.  I discussed this with the Taoiseach before I spoke today. Our view is we should be generous to the Hungarian people. We should give them the value for the vote they have taken and work with them very quickly. It will be a task for our EU Presidency to unlock those funds. Obviously, there has to be some conditionality attached to that to make sure Hungary reverses some of what has happened. There is a generosity required and Ireland will benefit because Hungarian people will be spending money and seeking products and services, many of which will come from Ireland, if we are honest about it. This will benefit us too. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  What representations has the Government made, whether at EU level or to the United States, about the oil blockade of Cuba, which has resulted in a huge humanitarian crisis? Does the Minister of State agree with the call by Mexico, Spain and Brazil that urgent and sincere dialogue should take place to address this? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  I would be happy to get an answer for the Deputy but as the Minister of State with responsibility for European Affairs, I just do not have sight of documents about Cuba. I will get my officials to come back to him directly on that point. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  Is anything happening at European level? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  As I recall, there was nothing at the last European Council meeting but that would be a matter for a more international level. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  Has the Government itself done anything? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  That is the point. I will get the Minister to come back to the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aidan Farrelly)  There is no back and forth, Deputy. We are way over time. I invite the Minister of State to make his closing remarks. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis na Teachta\u00ed as a gcuid r\u00e1iteas agus ceisteanna. Tap\u00f3idh m\u00e9 an deis seo le labhairt go gairid faoi mh\u00edreanna eile ar chl\u00e1r gn\u00f3 Chomhairle Eorpach Mh\u00ed an Mh\u00e1rta, lena n-air\u00edtear sl\u00e1nd\u00e1il agus cosaint na hEorpa, imirce, cruinni\u00fa mullaigh an euro, sciath don daonlathas agus cosaint leana\u00ed ar l\u00edne.  Th\u00e1inig ceannair\u00ed le ch\u00e9ile i gcruinni\u00fa mullaigh an euro chun machnamh a dh\u00e9anamh ar ch\u00farsa\u00ed eacnama\u00edocha agus airgeadais reatha agus tionchar na coinbhleachta lean\u00fana\u00ed sa Mhe\u00e1noirthear agus i Murascaill na Peirse \u00e1 chur san \u00e1ireamh. I measc daoine eile, chuir Uachtar\u00e1n an Bhainc Ceannais Eorpaigh, Christine Lagarde, agus uachtar\u00e1n an ghr\u00fapa euro, Kyriakos Pierrakakis, leis an bpl\u00e9. Ina r\u00e1iteas, chuir Kyriakos Pierrakakis b\u00e9im l\u00e1idir ar an ng\u00e1 at\u00e1 le comhoibri\u00fa idirn\u00e1isi\u00fanta ollmh\u00f3r chun aghaidh a thabhairt ar an \u00e9agothroime eacnama\u00edoch agus ar an t\u00e1bhacht a bhaineann leis an obair lean\u00fanach a dh\u00e9antar chun r\u00f3l idirn\u00e1isi\u00fanta an euro a neart\u00fa agus an t-aontas coigiltis agus infheist\u00edochta a chur chun cinn. Tharraing Kyriakos Pierrakakis aird ar iarrachta\u00ed an ghr\u00fapa euro chun c\u00f3ras airgeadais na hEorpa a ullmh\u00fa don r\u00e9 dhigiteach, ar a r\u00f3l comhordaithe chun inbhuanaitheacht fhioscach a chinnti\u00fa agus an gr\u00fapa ag tac\u00fa le tosa\u00edochta\u00ed strait\u00e9iseacha agus ar a obair l\u00e1rnach chun ioma\u00edochas agus acmhainneacht a neart\u00fa. D'iarr ceannair\u00ed ar an ngr\u00fapa euro monat\u00f3ireacht a dh\u00e9anamh ar fhorbairt\u00ed eacnama\u00edocha agus riosca\u00ed maidir le hinbhuanaitheacht airgeadais agus cur leis an d\u00edosp\u00f3ireacht faoin \u00e9agothroime ar fud an domhain. Chuir lucht an chruinnithe mullaigh f\u00e1ilte roimh ghlacadh rath\u00fail an euro sa Bhulg\u00e1ir \u00f3n 1 Ean\u00e1ir 2026 i leith chomh maith.  T\u00e1 an tAontas Eorpach ag gn\u00edomh\u00fa le n\u00edos m\u00f3 cinnteachta, uaillmh\u00e9ine agus luais chun dul i ngleic leis na bagairt\u00ed at\u00e1 romhainn go l\u00e9ir, rud a bh\u00ed le feice\u00e1il go soil\u00e9ir le linn na sraithe cibirionsaithe agus ionsaithe hibrideacha a rinneadh le d\u00e9ana\u00ed, chomh maith le hionra\u00ed naimhdeacha in aersp\u00e1s de chuid bhallst\u00e1it an Aontais.  Ag Comhairle Eorpach Mh\u00ed an Mh\u00e1rta, lean ceannair\u00ed ar aghaidh lena nd\u00edosp\u00f3ireachta\u00ed faoi ullmhacht na hEorpa \u00f3 thaobh cosanta de. Chuir siad f\u00e1ilte mh\u00f3r roimh an moladh leagan nua de strait\u00e9is sl\u00e1nd\u00e1la na hEorpa a fhorbairt agus d'\u00e1itigh siad gur cheart go mbeadh na Ballst\u00e1it f\u00e9in i gceannas ar an bpr\u00f3iseas.  Chun freagairt \u00e9ifeachtach a thabhairt ar an iliomad bagairt\u00ed at\u00e1 romhainn go l\u00e9ir mar phobal, n\u00ed m\u00f3r cur chuige ilghn\u00e9itheach agus caolch\u00faiseach a chur i bhfeidhm ag an leibh\u00e9al n\u00e1isi\u00fanta agus ag leibh\u00e9al an Aontais. Glacfaidh \u00c9ire le cur chuige fi\u00fantach agus dearfach i leith fhorbairt na strait\u00e9ise nua\u00ed. N\u00ed m\u00f3r go mbeadh \u00c9ire p\u00e1irteach sa phr\u00f3iseas seo toisc gur cuid den Aontas Eorpach sinn, go gcuireann na bagairt\u00ed at\u00e1 romhainn \u00e1r modh maireacht\u00e1la i mbaol agus go bhfuil an strait\u00e9is fite fuaite in\u00e1r leas n\u00e1isi\u00fanta f\u00e9in. Is \u00e1bhar m\u00f3r imn\u00ed \u00e9 an m\u00e9ad\u00fa lean\u00fanach ar sc\u00e1la na gn\u00edomha\u00edochta hibrid\u00ed a dh\u00e9antar i gcoinne an Aontais.  T\u00e1imid ag pl\u00e9, ar bhealach gn\u00edomhach agus tairbheach, le forbairt beartas an Aontais Eorpaigh arb \u00e9 is aidhm leo troid i gcoinne bagairt\u00ed hibrideacha agus \u00e1r seasmhacht ina gcoinne a neart\u00fa. \u00c1ir\u00edtear leis sin cosaint na gc\u00e1bla\u00ed fomhuir\u00ed agus cosaint bonneagair eile at\u00e1 r\u00edth\u00e1bhachtach d'fheidhmi\u00fa \u00e1r ngeilleagar.  Mar gheall ar a cuid feachtas hibrideach gan stad, is baol m\u00f3r an R\u00fais maidir le seasmhacht, daonlathas agus comhth\u00e1th\u00fa s\u00f3isialta ar fud na hEorpa agus n\u00edos faide i gc\u00e9in.  Maidir leis an daonlathas, phl\u00e9igh ceannair\u00ed an t\u00e1bhacht a bhaineann le hathl\u00e9imneacht dhaonlathach a neart\u00fa i gcomhth\u00e9acs an mh\u00e9adaithe ar bhagairt\u00ed ar shl\u00e1ine an daonlathais ar fud an Aontais. T\u00e1imid ar son dualgas n\u00edos l\u00e1idre a chur ar ard\u00e1in ar l\u00edne ionas go mbeid\u00eds freagrach sa chomhr\u00e1 in aghaidh br\u00e9agaisn\u00e9ise agus \u00e1bhar m\u00eddhleathach. L\u00e9ir\u00edonn sin tiomantas na h\u00c9ireann d\u00e1 chinnti\u00fa go gcuirtear an Gn\u00edomh um Sheirbh\u00eds\u00ed Digiteacha i bhfeidhm go h\u00e9ifeachtach agus go gcoinn\u00edtear creat rial\u00e1la digiteach an Aontais ar bun. Leis an nGn\u00edomh um Sheirbh\u00eds\u00ed Digiteacha, ceangla\u00edtear ar ard\u00e1in ar l\u00edne modhn\u00f3ireacht a dh\u00e9anamh ar \u00e1bhar digiteach san Aontas agus an riosca a mhaol\u00fa go mbeadh \u00e1bhar m\u00eddhleathach ar a n-ard\u00e1in. Is pr\u00edomhuirlis \u00e9 chun tac\u00fa le seasmhacht dhaonlathas an Aontais Eorpaigh.  Maidir le himirce, labhr\u00f3idh m\u00e9 faoin mhachnamh at\u00e1 ar bun i r\u00e9imse na himirce chomh maith. Labhr\u00f3idh freisin faoi chosaint leana\u00ed ar l\u00edne agus an pl\u00e9 a bh\u00ed d\u00e9anta ina leith. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked me about children being stolen from Ukraine and brought to Russia. That was discussed at the European Council as well. I want to put on the record that it was something that was important to us. I am grateful for all of the contributions Members have made in the debate today. I can leave the full script because I did not get through it all. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar fionra\u00ed ar 1.19 p.m. agus cuireadh t\u00fas leis ar\u00eds ar 4.19 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Sitting suspended at 1.19 p.m. and resumed at 4.19 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Post European Council Meeting: Statements"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-22\/debate\/dbsect_14","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/36","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/36\/dail\/2","houseCode":"dail","stage":"2","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) (Amendment) Bill 2026: Second Stage (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) (Amendment) Bill 2026: Second Stage","counts":{"speechCount":23,"speakerCount":22},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_14","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Denise Mitchell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dessie Ellis","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor)  I move: \"That the Bill be now read a Second Time.\"  I am delighted to be here today to introduce the Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) (Amendment) Bill to the House. The purpose of the Bill is to reduce the appeal and accessibility of e-cigarettes, vapes and other nicotine products such as pouches to young people. This Bill and the single-use vapes Bill together with the 2023 Act mean that we will have one of the strongest regulatory frameworks in the EU on these products.  According to the current evidence e-cigarettes may be less harmful than tobacco smoking but this does not mean that they are harmless. Our priority with this Bill is to protect the health of our young people and non-smokers by reducing the likelihood that they will take up or continue to use products like vapes. The primary health risk for our children is that the use of nicotine may become an addiction which could lead to tobacco smoking with the absolutely devastating health harms that can cause.  While we may all have heard stories or even known someone who had no difficulties with quitting cigarettes, the evidence tells us that around 90% of people who smoke are addicted to nicotine and find it very difficult to overcome that addiction. This is not the future that we want for our young people or for those who do not already smoke.  The evidence confirms the risk to young people with a report from our Health Research Board finding that adolescents who vape are more likely to subsequently smoke. While it is a very important achievement that smoking rates among children have reduced to 5% from frighteningly higher levels in the past, we all agree that our aim should be to bring this down to 0%. Tackling tobacco head on is necessary to ensure that we reach our smoking-free goal for adults and children. However, regulating nicotine products is also important to ensure that these products do not contribute to an increase in smoking prevalence among our young people.  There are many concerns about the continues. Since July 2014 the World Health Organization has recommended that the sale of e-cigarettes to minors should be banned as there is evidence that nicotine may have long-term consequences for brain development. The figures on the use of vapes by our young people are mixed in the trends they are showing. Our 2022 health behaviour in school-aged children study found that 90% of the 12- to 17-year-old children have used an e-cigarette at least once. This is a decrease from 22% on 2018. In the same survey 13% reported that they had used an e-cigarette in the past 30 days, which is an increase from 9% in 2018. This data shows that the gap between ever using and use in the past 30 days has narrowed, suggesting that more children may be converting from experimentation to regular use.  The 2024 European school survey project on alcohol and other drugs of 15- to 16-year-olds found that 16% were current vape users which is a decrease from 18% in 2019. Some 32% were found to have tried vapes in 2024 which is down from 39% in 2019. Daily use of vapes in 2024 was recorded at 7% which is up from 5% in 2019. While this shows an encouraging reduction in experimentation and current use, it is the increase in daily use which this Bill is designed to address. The European school survey also found that 3% were currently using nicotine pouches. Although this figure is low, it is important that we act now to prevent its increase.  To make nicotine-inhaling products less attractive to our young people, the Bill will restrict the colours and imagery on packaging and on the devices themselves. The Bill will ban the sale of devices resembling or functioning as other products such as toys or games. This is to ensure that the Irish market does not see the evolution of these products into multi-use devices with features that would specifically attract young people. It will also restrict the flavours for sale and will prohibit all flavour descriptors and language other than basic flavour names. This is to eliminate the marketing potential of the use of child-friendly flavour names. The point-of-sale display and advertising of these products in everyday supermarkets and convenience stores will also be prohibited so that our children are not exposed to these products in their everyday life. It will also make it clear that these products are not the same as ordinary grocery goods.  The European schools survey project found that nearly 4% of our 15- to 16- year-olds used nicotine pouches in the last 30 days. Evidence is not yet available on the possible effects of these products, therefore the only harm that is known is that these products contain nicotine.  The Bill creates a new category of products called nicotine consumption products. This category includes pouches and any other product for the recreational consumption of nicotine, other than tobacco, nicotine inhaling products and medical products. By creating this new category, the Bill is future-proofed and any new products for the recreational consumption of nicotine will automatically fall under its provisions.  Current and future nicotine consumption products will be prohibited for sale to persons under the age of 18. In addition, the display of these products at the point of sale in our general stores will be prohibited and advertising of these products in-store will be banned in all retail outlets.  Regulation of the way that current and future nicotine consumption products are sold in our country can be done effectively in national law. The regulation of the products themselves would, of course, be most effective if it was introduced at EU level. A revision of the EU tobacco products directive which is the relevant EU law is long overdue. EU-wide measures on current and future nicotine-inhaling products and nicotine-consumption products would ensure that the measures in each country are supported because the ability to purchase from another member state with different product specifications would no longer exist.  An evaluation report from the European Commission on the directive was recently published. The next step is the publication of a proposal for a revised directive. The Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, and I have repeatedly called for that proposal to be published as soon as possible. I repeat that today. I am asking the European Commission to publish its plan for a revised directive as soon as possible. I also join the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, in promising that Ireland will do all that it can to progress the directive, if the proposal is received during Ireland\u2019s Presidency of the EU.  That is really important for us.  This Bill was developed in recognition that most adults who use vapes formerly smoked and that some people who wish to quit smoking have used vapes as part of that attempt to quit. Unfortunately, the benefits of this approach are not showing in our population. Our smoking rates have remained at the same level since 2019 despite increases in our vaping levels. From this data, it does not appear that vaping is substituting for smoking in our population. In addition, one out of six adults who use e-cigarettes has never smoked. Research on our Healthy Ireland survey data also shows us that in 2015 the dual use of cigarettes and e-cigarettes was linked to a high intention to quit and attempts to quit smoking but that by 2023 this link had disappeared in all age groups. The measures in this Bill are designed to reduce our young people's use of these products while ensuring that they remain available for use by adults who smoke. The review section in the Bill and the powers for the Minister for Health to alter the list of prescribed flavours means that we can monitor the effects of the legislation and respond quickly if needed.  This legislation is also proposed at the same time as significant investment in free, safe and effective stop-smoking support. Funding for the HSE quit programme has almost doubled since 2021, to over \u20ac20 million in 2025. This includes the roll-out of free stop-smoking medicines to anyone accessing the HSE quit service, with \u20ac2.9 million provided in 2025. The HSE has also recruited 48 new stop-smoking advisers and more than doubled the number of clinics in the country since 2022. This combination of medicine and behavioural support is recognised as the most effective way to quit smoking, and we will continue to look at ways to increase access to this life-saving support.  We are also reviewing our national tobacco control policy to determine the best pathway to a truly tobacco-free Ireland.  Before I take the House through the sections of the Bill, I would like to take this opportunity to remind us all of Ireland's obligations under the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Under Article 5.3 of that convention, Ireland is required to protect its public health policy from the commercial or other vested interests of the tobacco industry.  I will now take the House through the Bill to outline the content of each section.  Part 1 deals with preliminary and general issues and contains sections 1 to 5.  Section 1 is a standard provision for the Title, citation and commencement of the Bill.  Section 2 defines terms including other Acts that are referred to in the Bill.  Section 3 is a standard section that provides for the expenses incurred in the operation of the Bill.  Section 4 provides for the repeal of certain sections of the Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Act 2024, which have been replaced in this Bill.  Section 5 provides for a review of the operation of the provision of this Bill.  Part 2 of the Bill contains sections 6 to 12 and relates to the amendment of the Public Health (Tobacco) Act 2002.  Section 6 amends section 2 of the 2002 Act and sets out the definitions relevant to this Part.  Section 7 amends section 5 of the 2002 Act on penalties to include the new offences created by this Bill.  Section 8 amends section 48 of the 2002 Act to include powers in relation to nicotine consumption products into the existing powers of authorised officers of the national environmental health service. It also provides powers to ascertain details of the supply chain, market information and website ownership in order to align with the existing powers for tobacco and related products under the EU market surveillance regulations.  Section 9 amends section 50 of the 2002 Act to include nicotine consumption products in the protocols for the taking of samples by authorised officers.  Section 10 amends section 54 of the 2002 Act to allow the national environmental health service, the enforcement body under the Bill, to use compliance notices in relation to offences involving nicotine consumption products.  Section 11 amends section 55 of the 2002 Act to allow the national environmental health service to issue prohibition notices in relation to offences involving nicotine consumption products.  Section 12 provides the national environmental health service with powers to act on tobacco products and nicotine inhaling products that are compliant with tobacco control law but are deemed to present a serious risk to health. It includes powers to seize and destroy products as well as remove online content in order to eliminate serious risk. This measure is provided for under the EU tobacco products directive.  Section 13 amends section 56 of the 2002 Act to include the power to issue fixed payment notices for offences in the Bill.  Part 3, on amendments to the Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Act 2023, includes sections 14 to 27.  Section 14 provides for the definitions in this Part.  Section 15 updates the EU law references in relation to the exclusion of medical devices from this tobacco control law.  Section 16 adds nicotine consumption products to the existing standard provision to locate the jurisdiction of an offence.  Section 17 inserts a new section 26A into the 2023 Act to prohibit the point-of-sale display of nicotine inhaling products. A retailer can provide a pictorial price list of the products for sale to a customer and display a sign indicating that the products are for sale to persons over 18, which would be the main thing. The prohibition does not apply to shops that sell nicotine inhaling products only or additionally sell only the following: nicotine consumption products, vapes, vaping substances, or accessories related to the functioning or maintenance of nicotine inhaling products or vapes.  Section 18 makes it an offence to sell nicotine consumption products to a child.  Section 19 amends the definition of advertising in the 2023 Act to provide for the new advertising restrictions in this Bill.  Section 20 prohibits the advertising of nicotine inhaling products and nicotine consumption products in retail premises or on a website that sells these products.  Section 21 inserts new Parts 3A and 3B into the 2023 Act.  Part 3A regulates the appearance of a nicotine inhaling product, including that it must be of a prescribed colour and shall not contain any imagery such as cartoons or graphics. It also provides that a nicotine inhaling product cannot function as a toy or any other product. Similar measures apply to a refill container for a nicotine inhaling product.  Part 3A also regulates the packaging of a nicotine inhaling product, including that it must be of a prescribed colour and not contain any imagery such as cartoons or graphics. Any outside covering of packaging and inner lining are also regulated under this Part.  On flavours, a nicotine inhaling product cannot be sold with a flavour name other than those in the Schedule, which are \"unflavoured\" and \"tobacco\" flavour. Those are the two. The Minister for Health may add or remove flavour names to the Schedule, taking into account the impact of the measure and having regard to the objectives of reducing harm from tobacco products and nicotine inhaling products and prioritising the protection of health of our children.  In addition, a nicotine inhaling product with a variant name that implies that it has a particular sensory characteristic or a flavour other than that described in the flavour name cannot be sold.  Part 3B prohibits the point-of-sale display of nicotine consumption products. A retailer can provide a pictorial price list to the customer and display a sign saying that the products are for sale to persons over 18. The prohibition does not apply to shops that sell nicotine consumption products only or sell nicotine consumption products and-or additionally sell only nicotine inhaling products, vapes, vaping substances, or accessories related to the functioning or maintenance of nicotine inhaling products or vapes.  Section 22 includes nicotine consumption products in the existing test purchasing provisions.  Section 23 includes offences in relation to nicotine consumption products in information that may be published by the national environmental health service.  Section 24 includes offences in this Bill in the section related to penalties.  Section 25 includes nicotine consumption products in provisions in the 2023 Act regarding evidence in court proceedings.  Section 26 amends section 39 of the 2023 Act to deem certain offences in this Bill as \"category A\" offences, which attract a longer duration of licence suspension and can lead to licence revocation.  Section 27 inserts the Schedule on flavour names into the 2023 Act.  Part 4 relates to miscellaneous amendments and contains sections 28 and 29 of the Bill.  Section 28 amends the Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Act 2024. It is an additional amendment required along with that made at section 22 of this Bill to facilitate the test purchasing of nicotine consumption products. Section 29 amends the EU (Manufacture, Presentation and Sale of Tobacco and Related Products) Regulations 2016 to align the provisions in relation to the prohibition notice in that legislation with those in this Bill. I commend this Bill to the House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Public Health, Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products (Amendment) Bill 2026. This is an important Bill, which is broad in scope and long overdue. For too long, policy in this area has been reactive. New products emerge, marketing tactics change and the law has lagged behind. This Bill marks an important change in approach from the Government, which we in the Opposition have sought for years. This is future-focused legislation rather than the usual catch-up and piecemeal approach we have seen over the past few years.  The purpose of legislation like this should be clear. It should be to reduce smoking and it should be to protect children and young people from nicotine addiction. It should regulate products in a way that is proportionate, practical and grounded in common sense. When I test the Bill against these principles, there is a great deal in it that I can support. However, there is one significant measure that goes too far and gets the balance wrong. That is the total ban on all flavours except tobacco, despite the Bill as drafted allowing for additional flavours.  The Bill does a number of important things. First, it extends regulation beyond traditional tobacco and vaping products to include nicotine consumption products, such as nicotine pouches, including a ban on sales to under-18s. That is the right thing to do and it has taken too long to get here. These products have been developing in a grey area for too long. They carry a high risk of oral and gum diseases and it is beyond time that they should be regulated properly. It is important that nicotine pouches are regulated as tightly as cigarettes and vapes in terms of packaging, naming and advertising and, obviously, we will tease this out on Committee Stage.  Second, the Bill strengthens controls around nicotine inhaling products or vapes. It tightens the rules on advertising, sale and display. It restricts colours and imagery on devices and packaging and toy-like vapes, and all of this I support. These are serious interventions and they are justified. Third, the Bill strengthens enforcement. It increases fines and penalties for breaches of tobacco control law. It includes provisions dealing with serious risk products, enforcement mechanisms and appeals. It also includes a review clause requiring the operation of the amendments to be reviewed within three years.  However, one part of the Bill does not sit right with me and my colleagues for a number of reasons. This is the Government's proposed ban on all flavours except tobacco. I want to be very clear that I support regulating flavours. I support banning names and marketing tactics targeted at children. The Bill prohibits flavour descriptors and language other than basic flavour names for vapes, and I think this is the right approach. However, strangely, despite allowing for different flavours, only two flavours have been included in the draft Bill, namely, tobacco or unflavoured. In plain language, that means a ban on all vape flavours except tobacco. This is not a minor issue as it goes to the heart of whether this legislation has struck the right balance between protecting children and respecting adults while also keeping sight of the central public health objective. Unfortunately, the Government has gone too far.  The proposed flavour ban is an overreach into the personal decision of adults. It risks being counterproductive and enabling a black market where all of the products that we all want gone, including single-use vapes, the unsafe chemical products and the cheap imports from questionable manufacturers, will actually thrive. It reflects a simplistic view that vaping can be treated as though it is exactly the same as smoking, and that the answer to youth vaping is simply to strip vaping products of any appeal, regardless of the wider consequences. It risks drawing people back into smoking, which is the most serious issue for me and that is a very strong message I have heard from vapers. This is where I have my disagreement with the Government.  Let me be very clear on what I do support. I support the regulation of nicotine consumption products, including nicotine pouches. These products should not sit outside the law. They should be regulated and they should not be sold to children. I support the prohibition on the sale to under-18s. Children should not be able to buy nicotine products, end of story. That should not be controversial. What is controversial is that the Government was far too slow to act in the first place. It took years to ban the sale of vapes to children, or to ban colourful, single-use vapes. I support the restrictions on advertising and on point of sale display and putting these products behind the counter and out of sight in mixed-retail units. I support tighter controls on packaging, imagery, colours and device design, particularly where these things are clearly aimed at attracting children and teenagers. I support measures to stop the production and sale of devices that resemble toys or games or that are effectively gamified nicotine products. This is reprehensible and indefensible and it is, if we are being honest, a blatant attempt to hook children and young people and of course that should be stopped.  I support stronger penalties and stronger enforcement powers. Laws mean very little if they cannot be enforced and we have been here before in different areas in relation to that. Anyone who sells vapes or cigarettes or nicotine products to children or who ignores age restrictions or breaks display rules or flouts advertising rules should, of course, face real and heavy consequences. I support the broader approach in the Bill because it is intended to future-proof regulation rather than forcing the State to scramble after every new product category that comes onto the market.  Let us be honest about the problem we are trying to solve. There has been a sharp and a deeply worrying rise in vaping among young people, including many who never smoked and were never nicotine dependent before. That trend is real. It is serious and requires intervention but it also requires honesty about how we got here. The Government was far too slow to ban the sale of vapes to under-18s. It was far too slow to tackle aggressive youth-targeted marketing, and children were exposed to brightly coloured packaging, open retail displays and products designed to look like novelty items. We should not now pretend that every problem can be traced back to flavours alone.  This brings me to what I believe should happen instead of what has been proposed by the Government. My position is that the range of flavours should be limited to a small number of standard flavours under purely descriptive names. This is what they have done in New Zealand where vape flavours must be from a list under seven categories. I think the list in New Zealand is a bit too long and I would support a very tight list of a handful of flavours. That is a proportionate alternative. We have to recognise the rights of adults to make decisions for themselves. It also requires acknowledgement of the very significant difference in harm between smoking and vaping, and it addresses the legitimate concern that childish, novelty-based flavouring systems can be used to target young people, because the reality is many adults who vape are also former smokers.  The central public health question should always be whether policy helps move people away from smoking, which remains far more harmful, or whether it makes that transition more difficult. If we reduce vaping to tobacco flavour only, we may well reduce its appeals relative to cigarettes, and I think that is a real risk. If the effect of this measure is to push some people back towards smoking, or to stop some smokers switching in the first place, then that is a serious mistake. This Bill should start with a limited number of flavours and if after all the measures have been implemented we do not see progress, of course, we can always review what is being done.  There is another practical problem with the Government's approach because flavoured vapes and components for mixing liquids at home are readily available online. They will continue to be available online, even if they are banned in this State. We can pass laws but we cannot legislate away the Internet. Therefore, a blanket ban is likely to inconvenience law-abiding adults and legitimate retailers while creating an opening for a black market which means unregulated, low quality and potentially unsafe products. I do not believe that is smart public health policy. A ban is always an easy tool to reach for. It sounds clean and decisive and there are times, of course, when a ban is the right approach. The sale of nicotine products to children should be banned. Aggressive marketing tactics aimed at children should be banned. Devices made to look like toys should be banned but the same logic does not justify banning all flavours except tobacco for adults.  To reduce youth vaping we need effective age verification at the point of sale, backed up by strong penalties for those who break the rules. We need to ban the advertising of these products, ban child-focused packaging and stamp out the marketing tactics that prey on children and teenagers.  We need to keep these products out of sight, behind the counter where adults who are trying to quit smoking can still access them but where they are not pushed in front of every person who walks into the shop. We need the HSE and enforcement authorities to up their game. The Minister of State should not reach for a blunt instrument where a more proportionate tool is available.  This Bill contains a great deal that is necessary and overdue. I support those measures I outlined earlier but I cannot support the blanket ban on flavours. I have put forward what I believe is a much more proportionate path. That path is to protect children, to respect adults, to make sure that we reduce the incidence of smoking and vaping, and to keep public health policy anchored in common sense. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I sometimes wonder if this Government has the ability not to make a mess of everything. This Bill should be the most uncontroversial legislation to come before this House because there is political unanimity that children should not have access to vaping products, that there should be strong penalties for those who allow children access to such products, and that we should completely ban products that are clearly designed to appeal to children. That is the Bill that should have come before this House. Such robust provisions are required and there would have been political unanimity on them. Of course, as always, Government has made a mess of it by adding a provision that will only damage law-abiding adults, that is, the ban on the use of flavours in vapes.  There is a point that needs to be recognised. I know a lot of people just do not like vaping and they are entitled to that view but, for many people, there has never been a more successful route away from smoking. The figures back that up. Between 2004 and 2019, the number of smokers in this State has reduced drastically. There are a number of different reasons for that but one has been the evolution of vaping products. Some people will say that vaping products are dangerous themselves but nobody will convince me that they are more dangerous than smoking. It is therefore the least worst option for many people. What the Government is now doing in suggesting a ban on all non-tobacco-flavoured vaping products could be one of the only measures that any government has brought forward that actually reverses the trend of reducing smoking rates that we have seen.  I agree with a huge part, probably 90%, of this Bill. I believe that every sane adult in the country will support those measures. I refer to the mechanisms to ensure that children do not have access to nicotine products. The Minister of State has my full support on those. She should bank that and move forward in a united and cohesive way so that would be locked in. She should drop the mechanism that is clearly going to be divisive, that will lead to frustration and that will act to deter people from moving away from smoking or, in some cases, as a rationale to move back to smoking. It is time for Government to stop making a mess of things. It should not make a mess of legislation that should have the full support not only of this House but of every rational adult in the State. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan  I can guarantee the Minister of State two things. The first is that every single TD in this Chamber has lost a friend, family member or neighbour as a direct result of smoking. The second is that every one of us also knows several people who have quit smoking with the help of vaping, friends or family members whose lives have changed. I am almost certain that almost all of them used the very flavoured vapes the Government is now proposing to ban. Banning flavoured vapes would be a complete own goal in our fight to reduce the number of smokers in Ireland. All the Government would succeed in doing is pushing people back into the grip of the tobacco industry or driving them towards unregulated online platforms where there is little to no oversight on safety, age verification or quality control.  Let us look at the figures. The numbers are overwhelming. Some 73% of vapers say that fruit flavours play a key role in helping them stay off cigarettes. Some 49% would actively source flavoured vapes online or from abroad if a ban were introduced. A total of 72% believe that a ban would lead to more young people taking up smoking rather than fewer and 71% believe that banning flavours would push current vapers back towards deadly tobacco products. These are not my opinions but the views of the ordinary people whose interests we are here to represent. I have to ask whether the Minister of State and her Department even looked at what is happening in other jurisdictions that have banned flavoured vapes because it has not been a beaming success. The result has been a boom in illegal trading and an unregulated black market. This measure will not eliminate demand; it will just drive it underground.  Much of this Bill is sound, a positive step and, frankly, long overdue. How it has taken so long to prohibit the use of nicotine products by under-18s is beyond me. The changes around advertising and the restrictions on the colour and styling of these products are positive and welcome steps but banning all flavours is a step too far. It is a complete overreach by this Government into the actions and decisions of consenting adults. What will be next? Are we to ban cider because it tastes of apples and might appeal to teenagers? Will we ban fruit-flavoured alcohol drinks? Tackling colour, style and marketing, as the Government is already doing, will reduce the appeal to young people. That is a sound tactic. However, we should not throw out the very tool that has helped thousands of Irish adults escape a lethal addiction.  Vaping has taken us far in reducing smoking rates but that progress has stalled. The rate is no longer declining as it should. We need to be looking for the next tool to bring down that number. The cost of smoking to our health service in healthcare costs and to our society in thousands of preventable deaths is still staggering. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I welcome the opportunity to speak on this legislation on vapes. For too long, we have allowed a wild west situation to arise because of a simple lack of regulation. We all want to see a reduction in smoking rates but we also want to see proper and real regulations on vaping. For too long, mixed retail units selling vapes have been popping up in every town and village across our State. As I have said in the House before, if you walk through Clondalkin village, you will see kids in their school uniforms going into these shops and buying vapes. Kids are attracted to the bright advertising and the fancy lights and go in as they walk by. I welcome the fact that the legislation before us today seeks to address advertising. This Bill should also regulate the names of flavours. There is no argument about that at all.  I will point out that there is a difference between these mixed retail units that are selling vapes and the vape-only shops. At least the vape-only shops self-regulate and have experience in age verification. I can see in my own area that there is no age verification in these mixed retail units. As I have said, young kids in school uniforms are able to get vapes. At least those shops you see in the bottom of Tesco or in booths operate some sort of self-regulation.  According to research I have here, there are 8,500 adult vapers in Dublin Mid-West. Of those, 7,000 were previously smokers. That is 7,000 fewer smokers than there were before. This legislation on flavours will only push those 7,000 vapers back into smoking. There are people in my own circle of friends and family who no longer smoke but vape. As I would say if they were here in front of me, if I had a choice, I would rather they did neither, but they are adults and are able to make their own decisions. To limit the flavours to tobacco only simply will not work. It risks pushing adults back into smoking. It could also create an illegal black market that organised criminals will exploit for their own gain. It has not worked in other jurisdictions. As I have said, I do not have an issue with restricting the fancy names of flavours but banning flavours is a step too far.  The range of flavours should be limited to a small number of standard flavours, which should purely fit under descriptive names. As was said by Deputy Cullinane, this was done in New Zealand where the government limited it to seven flavours. Sinn F\u00e9in is open to limiting it to less than that if that is what the Minister of State wants, but we cannot just go into this legislation focused on tobacco only.  I am glad that the Government included Sinn F\u00e9in's suggestion to prohibit the sale of nicotine consumption products, such as pouches, to those under 18. It is something that we have raised numerous times. We also have to make sure that this legislation is robust enough so that any other new tobacco product that comes online can be included in it. I also ask the Minister of State to reconsider the reduction of flavours for vapes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marie Sherlock  The Labour Party welcomes this Bill but part of me wonders how it has taken long. This Government has moved at a snail's pace on the regulation of vaping and nicotine inhaling products. When we look at what this Bill is trying to do, the Labour Party agrees with most sections. However, we have concerns with the pace at which the Government has moved and the comprehensiveness of this Bill.  The reality is that the sale of nicotine pouches has rocketed from 6 million pouches in 2023 to 29 million in 2024, and what product will come online next year? I had correspondence from someone today about nicotine toothpicks that are coming on stream. There is a concern about to what extent we are hardwiring all future nicotine products into this legislation. I acknowledge there is a proposal relating to this, but we need to strengthen that.  There are two key issues for the Labour Party. The first is regarding the availability of sale. As other colleagues have alluded to, vapes are freely available in many locations with very poor or no age verification, particularly in supermarkets. There is also an argument to be had about the role of vape shops. There is certainly an argument to be had about the number of vape shops but that is a separate zoning argument relating to desirability. The standards are probably higher is some vape shops relative to others. When we look at the discussions taking place in Australia where the sale of vapes is only through pharmacies now, we need to look at the whole discussion about where vapes can be purchased. We would favour much tighter legislation on the sale of vapes.  In terms of the discussion on flavours, I am quite struck that the WHO has made the point that flavours are fuelling a new wave of addiction. It is particularly telling in the arguments about the extent to which we need to restrict vape flavours. The range of flavours has hugely increased the attractiveness of vaping over the past number of years but the figures regarding smoking cessation speak for themselves. The decrease in tobacco cigarette use has slowed in recent years almost in perfect parallel with the rise in vaping. There is an argument that if we start banning flavours, we will see an increase in smoking, but we are already seeing that. In the UK in particular, there are certainly studies that show that if 17-year-old children do not already vape, the probability of them taking up smoking is 1.5% but for those who do vape the figure rises to a staggering 33%. A 17-year-old who vapes is as likely to start smoking as their peers in the 1970s. We have to look at the role of flavours in that. The Labour Party has a huge concern about the range of flavours that are available. Sinn F\u00e9in commented on differentiating between adults and children, but of course the reality is that if it is available for adults, children will get their hands on it. We will be supporting the sections on the flavours.  Ultimately, my biggest issue in all of this relates to how we are co-ordinating at an EU level because Ireland, as a small country, is up against big tobacco and big business. In terms of the priorities for the Government coming into the Presidency for the second six months of this year, public health and vaping as a public health issue need to be on that agenda because while the research is not conclusive at this point in time, there are significant concerns within the medical world about the potential physical and mental health impacts of vaping. That is why we favour strong regulations around vaping at this point in time and are hugely aware about who exactly is very much driving demand in this country. It is big tobacco and big business, and we need to co-ordinate at a European level to ensure that people are not lured back into smoking or into vaping unnecessarily. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  I welcome this long overdue legislation to further regulate vapes and to finally regulate nicotine pouches. As has repeatedly been the case with these new nicotine pouches, regulation arrives too late. The use of vapes and nicotine pouches has surged with a new generation increasingly dependent on nicotine.  The Minister of Health and her predecessors have not shown the level of urgency required with a piecemeal approach to regulation that is consistently behind the curve. It took the previous Minister of Health, Stephen Donnelly, until the very end of 2023 to ban the sale of vapes to under 18s.  While welcome, this was hardly bold policymaking. At the time, most people assumed that the sale of vapes to under 18s had already been prohibited and understandably so, and even the bare minimum interventions failed to include nicotine pouches. Only now is that finally addressed in this legislation, two and a half years later. This is despite the fact that my colleague, Deputy Whitmore, has been raising this with Government for years.  In 2024, two years ago, a European School Survey Project found that 4% of 15- to 16-year-olds in Ireland were using nicotine pouches with 8% having used them at some point. Why has there been such reluctance to act decisively? For years, we have had more than just compelling anecdotal evidence, we have had the data.  When it comes to banning disposables, the pace of change has even been slower. It took the Government until December last year to finally introduce that legislation, and although it has passed all Stages in the D\u00e1il, we are still waiting for it to pass through the Seanad. I appreciate that a six-month notification process must be followed and that the delay is out of the Government's hands but the process should have commenced years ago, not just last December. Stephen Donnelly talked about his intentions to ban disposable vapes as far back as November 2023. He eventually secured Government approval to move forward with the ban in September 2024, and that was after two rounds of public consultations, one run by the Department of Health and the other by the then Department of Environment, Climate and Communications.  Why is there always such hesitation when it comes to progressing vape regulation? There is strong talk but no substance for action even though we know that children are being targeted by the tobacco industry. When it is passed, the Bill before us will finally deal with the tobacco industry's concerted efforts to manufacture vapes that appeal to children. This is welcome, although again long overdue.  We know from Central Statistics Office data that 7% of adults in Ireland vape daily, most of whom are current smokers or ex-smokers. The real concern, however, is that vaping rates among children are much higher at double that of the general population. A WHO study of school going children in Ireland found that 13% of 12- to 17-year-olds are currently vapers having vaped in the previous 30 days. Another study conducted by the European School Survey Project on alcohol and other drugs found that 16% of 15- to 16-year-olds in Ireland currently vape. When young adults, many of whom started vaping in their teens, are included, the number is even worse. According to the most recent Healthy Ireland survey, 17% of 15- to 24-year-olds report daily or occasional vape use.  This should not be news to anyone. Just look at any of our cities, towns our villages. This Government and its predecessor have sleepwalked us into a youth vaping crisis with its lacklustre approach to regulation. While available evidence indicates that vaping is safer than smoking, the long-term impacts are yet to be understood. We do know that vaping is not risk-free. According to the HSE, the short-term impacts of vaping include nicotine dependence, sleep problems, mental health difficulties, such as anxiety, damage to heart, lung and blood vessels and exposure to toxins.  Children are thought to be at even more risk, with the HSE citing particular concerns around attention and learning, mood, impulse control and anxiety. Vaping causes real harm. It is, therefore, welcome that the Bill provides for a ban on vapes that resemble toys and games because the manufacturing of vapes designed to appeal to children must be one of the tobacco industry's most despicable moves of late.  It must be repeated again and again that a considerable share of the vape market in Ireland and globally is controlled by the tobacco industry. These companies recognised the shift away from cigarettes and moved quickly to exploit it, adopting their business model to recruit a new generation of nicotine dependent customers to feed their profits. The products and branding may have changed, but the companies have not. Marlboro and PJ Carroll have already diversified into vape products. The disposable brands that have captured the Irish market, namely Elf Bar and Lost Mary, are produced by ambiguous Chinese companies. According to the Irish Heart Foundation, evidence indicates that China's vape market is now overseen by the state's national tobacco corporation and the state tobacco monopoly administration. It does not end with vaping. Big tobacco is also driving the surge in nicotine pouch use, another product being aggressively and cynically marketed to young people.  Last August, the Irish Cancer Society reported that big tobacco took centre stage at several festivals and concerts across the country, heavily promoting highly addictive nicotine pouches at festivals like Electric Picnic and Altogether Now. It is unsurprising that the tobacco industry has turned to vapes and other novel nicotine products to safeguard its profits. Not only do vapes mitigate against falling cigarette sales, they offer tobacco companies other significant benefits, including larger profits through lower taxation, the opportunity to circumvent tobacco legislation, such as marketing flavoured brands, preventing the loss of customers who quit cigarettes by getting them to switch to vapes and attracting new customers who would not have started smoking cigarettes in the first place. Thankfully, the Bill and other measures will call a halt to many of the benefits for big tobacco, at least domestically.  The most sinister and under-reported benefit for tobacco companies has been the opportunity to have a seat at the table again through funding research and the promotion of vapes as harm reduction products. I fear this argument is a Trojan horse, allowing the tobacco industry back into the conversation and giving it access to policymakers, albeit not directly. As I have said, the evidence indicates vaping is less harmful than cigarettes. The harm reduction argument is made when it comes to those trying to commit smoking, but the tobacco industry is not genuinely interested in harm reduction. It is only interested in creating addiction.  That is why all of us need to examine the harm reduction argument critically, consider who is making it and, critically, who is funding it. We must not just accept this at face value. The connection between Philip Morris International, the producers of Marlboro, and the Foundation for a Smoke-Free World has been exposed in recent years. The Foundation for a Smoke-Free World, which has since rebranded, was said to have the stated aim of ending smoking in this generation. In 2023, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners described the foundation as nothing more than a fig leaf for Philip Morris's real business, namely nicotine addiction.  Between 2019 and 2021, the world's largest tobacco company contributed over \u20ac160 million to the Foundation for a Smoke-Free World. During this period, less than 1% of the foundation's revenue came from other sources. As of 2023, the foundation has financed more than 70 academic papers on topics including vapes and rates of smoking cessation. In 2024, the UK Royal College of Physicians said tobacco company funded research accounted for a significant proportion of the science on new nicotine products and harm reduction approaches. It went on to raise serious concerns about the quality and veracity of that research. That is something we all need to be cautious about and careful of when making these arguments. We need to know exactly who is funding much of the research that is being put out there.  I would like to make a few points on the provisions of the Bill. I welcome the advertising ban on vape and nicotine pouches, the restrictions on displays and the introduction of plain packaging for vapes. The packaging and display of these products should be treated in the same way as tobacco, namely out of sight and in closed containers behind shop counters. Pick-and-mix style displays of vapes has gone on for too long. I am, however, concerned that the plain packaging rules and flavour name restrictions will not apply to nicotine pouches. That seems short-sighted. Why is the Minister repeating the mistakes of the past? Inevitably, we will be back in the House rehashing this debate in a couple of years.  On the question of flavours, I am glad the regulation is finally being advanced. This was recommended by the health committee as far back as 2022, when the committee had a Sinn F\u00e9in Chair, and had cross-party support. There can be no justification for the array of flavours currently available, most of which are clearly designed to entice children. However, the approach taken would regulate flavour names rather than the flavours themselves. According to the Library and Research Service, the understanding is that this approach would be easier to implement rather than one which restricts certain ingredients or sensory attributes. I would be interested in hearing more from the Minister of State on the reasons for this approach and the research carried out by the Department to support this view. This may well be the best approach, in particular from an enforcement point of view, but it would be beneficial if she could provide Members with a briefing note, in particular in advance of Committee Stage.  I would also appreciate if she could provide further information regarding the decision to restrict flavour names to just two options, namely tobacco and unflavoured. Specifically, I would like to know whether the Department considered the inclusion of menthol or mint, as flagged in previous debates, and what the update is on that. This is where the line should be drawn. The suggestion that was made on the floor of the House that banning vapes is like banning cider because it tastes like apples is a ridiculous argument and one that should not be entertained.  Finally, I would like to again restate the support of the Social Democrats for the Bill. We have long called for measures to address the alarming increase in vapes and nicotine pouch use, in particular among children and young people. It has been clear for some time that we need to address the normalisation of these products and treat them in a similar manner to cigarettes. I have no doubt that the new restrictions will be unpopular with many, but history will look favourably on these important public health measures. I commend the Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  We welcome the Bill. I am speaking as someone who has children, although they are not all children any more, and has worked with young people over the past 20 or 30 years. Anything we can do to ensure we continue to address addiction to nicotine is most welcome.  First there were cigarettes and there was a big debate about how we could reduce their use. Harm reduction came along and we had vapes. We now have nicotine pouches. The big business that is the nicotine industry is delighted with itself in marketing these products to keep people addicted to them for as long as it can. An untold amount of people's health is affected by nicotine in this country and around the world. We can see the effects of that every day.  I have spoken about this issue a couple of times in the Chamber. I have spoken about teenagers, who will always go against the tide and have the ability to rebel. I was definitely one such teenager and I have known quite a few in my time as a youth worker and through my involvement as a school completion programme, and as a parent. The way vapes are advertised and marketed to young people is genius. The companies make them appealing. If I were that age, I would definitely have been vaping and would have thought it looked great. That is what makes vaping even more evil. Companies are targeting young people. They know exactly what they are doing. Vapes can be matched to what people are wearing. Given the taste of vapes, it is no wonder that people are addicted to them. When I listened to the debate in my office, I was a little concerned that people would push back against the ban on flavours. When I speak to young people, they tell me vapes are only watermelon, lime or whatever - I am sure they do not think lime is great. They are flavours that are nice and therefore they do not see the harm in them. There are harms. Nicotine is an addictive substance.  My parliamentary assistant came to work and walked along Grafton Street. She was offered a free packet of nicotine pouches - I will not name the company. It made me wonder why they are being handed out. As previous Deputies have said, they are being handed out everywhere, including at concerts. This is how companies are promoting the next product they can get people addicted to.  First it was cigarettes, then vapes and now it is the pouches. I am sure companies are thinking of the next product after this. It is not good enough. While we cannot pre-empt what that next product will be with this legislation, we need to pre-empt being lobbied by these companies, which do nothing except create detrimental health outcomes for young people and adults.  I will be glad when disposable vapes are banned. They are a detriment to the person using them. With regard to the rechargeable vapes, there is a little black wire in each one. How many of those wires are hanging around the place? In 2019, this Chamber said we were in a climate emergency. We were the second country in the world to do that. Having disposable vapes with tiny wires in them for recharging does not help in any way towards mitigating against the global climate disaster that is upon us.  I will give a warning to those who are going to email after this: please do not lobby me because the answer is \u201cNo\u201d. I am not interested. I am speaking on behalf of mothers around the country who contacted me asking for something to be done so their children are not targeted in this way. Some Deputies will talk about adults but, having worked with children and young people, I will always put them first. This legislation must be about protecting them now and into the future. I ask lobbyists not to contact me. I am not interested in their products that will harm young people and adults. Please do not send me emails. I received emails the last few times I have spoken in this Chamber about vapes and I am not interested.  The last time I spoke on this issue, parents contacted me who were very thankful I used my voice to speak about what they too are saying. Young people are using the little money they have to go into shops to be sold those vapes. Although these products are not supposed to be sold to people under 18, they are being sold. They should not be sold but they are. I recall talking to a beautician who said that she can see young people coming in and their skin is in bits. She said she knows who is and is not vaping because of their skin. I could go on with the examples forever. I am speaking quite emotively because I feel so passionately about this. We would not allow this to happen in any other way to our children and young people. We have banned alcohol, rightly, for those under 18 and whatever way nicotine was allowed is also banned now. We need to clamp down hard. On the last occasion I spoke on this issue, I was delighted to read in the newspaper just before I entered the Chamber that people were prosecuted for it. Long may that last because it is not supposed to be done and it should not happen. I thank the Minister of State for bringing this Bill forward. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathal Crowe  I welcome the opportunity to speak on this positive legislation. Well done to the Minister of State for leading it in her Department. She has hit the ground running. I will make a few points. First, regulating nicotine products is essential. This is reminiscent of the time of the smoking ban, led at the time by the then Minister for Health and current Taoiseach. There were protests at that time. It could have been around the time of the 2009 local elections in which I was a candidate. The Minister of State may have been a candidate then as well. It was hot on the doors and it became apparent very quickly that it was a popular measure. People realised they could go to their coffee spot, restaurant or bar and have an enjoyable evening without going home reeking of tobacco for the next few days and having to fling their jacket on the clothes line to freshen it up again. That was a positive measure.  Of course, products have changed utterly since then. I only recently became aware of nicotine pouches; maybe I have been living in a cave. I thought they were little packets of loose tobacco, but they are not. A lot of kids are bringing them into schools, certainly at secondary level. The sooner we curb that, the better. I am glad there are some strict age restrictions built into this legislation. That is certainly a good thing.  One issue I mentioned privately to the Minister of State over recent months is how some of these products are sold on the high street in mixed retail units. When I am out and about with my children, they are drawn to the American candy stores. While there are American candy, phone cases and phone chargers in those stores, there is also a whole wall of vape juices, vapes and disposable vapes. It is immoral to have those positioned alongside sweets and candy, which are very much marketed for young people, particularly candy that has come from overseas intended to lure children into the shop in the first place. I know this measure is in the legislation. The sooner it is prohibited, the better.  Some people who work in the retail sphere say that limiting flavours should not happen, but I think it should. It has become a novel thing. Tobacco was tobacco for centuries. I think it was Sir Walter Raleigh who brought it to these shores, although I am open to correction in that regard. It has been the same product for years. The only difference is how it was rolled into cigarettes or sold over generations. Vapes have changed utterly in the past seven or eight years, however. People first told us they were a wonderful way to wean smokers of cigarettes, but they very quickly took over, with all these liquids and fruit-flavoured vapes. The vape off them is vile.  While I began by saying that people cannot smoke in public places, there is no cut and dried rule when it comes to vaping in public spaces. I get the train to the D\u00e1il every week. People cannot vape on the train because Iarnr\u00f3d \u00c9ireann has rules around it. In other spaces, however, people can vape. I recently received an email from a constituent who was shocked to see people vaping at a bingo event. They presumed it all came under the one Act but it does not. We need to go further in this regard. I do not believe such a provision is in this legislation. We need to go further and ban vaping in public spaces. It is quite disgusting for people to have a plume of awful, rotten vape blown across their face just as they are about to tuck into a lovely meal. It is passive so it cannot be avoided. People slugging drinks all night can be avoided, but a vape cannot be avoided and it goes into people\u2019s lungs.  Some of the retailers have also made the point that counterfeit vape juices are being sold online. They are being brought over the Border and coming from other jurisdictions. Retailers are finding it quite difficult. They are willing to adhere to the laws that are coming down the tracks but they make the point that people occasionally call to their shops and tell retailers they have the product they need, but they must pay cash for it. We need to watch that sphere, as well as the online space. We need to watch how these products come in from overseas in larger quantities than they should. Our Customs and Excise people need to be more watchful of that.  In my remaining time, I will raise another issue that I think falls within the remit of this debate. I hope the Leas-Cheann Comhairle will allow it. The Minister of State and I have had many chats about foetal alcohol spectrum disorder, FASD, in the past. It is also something we should be concerned about from a public health point of view. At the moment, all of the good people working with FASD Ireland, which happens to be headquartered in my constituency of Clare, are in Canada, where there is a world conference. Ireland is an outlier nation because we are one of the few nations that does not recognise FASD. Yet, there is a belief among practitioners and people who are experts in the field of FASD that Ireland could be among the most prevalent nations for this particular disorder. Of course, it is linked to the consumption of alcohol at the time a mother is pregnant. We thought it was just linear like that but now it has been proven scientifically that if the male is also consuming alcohol at the time of egg fertilisation and sexual intercourse, it can impact how the embryo develops from its early stage. It is something we need to recognise as a disability. We continue to be outliers in this country. I hope we can change the status quo in that regard. It is a little taboo because by diagnosing a child, adolescent or adult with FASD, we are basically saying that, at a certain time, the mother or father were on the bottle and, as a consequence, the child now has FASD. It is taboo but as a nation we have to be more mature about alcohol and many other issues. We need to own up to it. I thank the Minister of State for everything she is doing. Hopefully, some of my suggestions can be taken on board tonight. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul McAuliffe  I am pleased to support the Bill, which will prohibit the sale of nicotine consumption products and the advertisement of nicotine inhaling products, particularly in retail outlets. It will deal with the point-of-sale display in mixed retail outlets. The colour and imagery of nicotine inhaling products will be restricted and the sale of the devices or the functioning of other products, such as toys and games, will be prohibited, as will all flavour descriptors and language other than the basic flavour names. The flavours in nicotine inhaling products will be limited to tobacco, or be unflavoured. I say all of that because, for many years, each different generation has been targeted by the nicotine industry, for want of a better word.  Vaping and nicotine pouches are the latest version of that attempt by the nicotine industry to target young people. I am entirely supportive of the measures in the Bill. I commend the Minister of State on her efforts to help curb the continued marketisation of tobacco and nicotine inhaling products, especially towards the younger cohort. This is a clear public health issue. It is one that my colleagues in Fianna F\u00e1il have been consistent in addressing. My colleague mentioned the workplace and indoor smoking ban in 2004. There has been a consistent approach since then to tackle both the tobacco and nicotine industry.  I welcome that this Bill will prohibit the sale of nicotine products, such as nicotine pouches. As my colleague said, it is something that I had not aware of until recently. Many parents with teenagers know too well the dangers of these products, particularly regarding their ease of access and how easily they can be consumed. Every generation has gone through some sort of targeting by tobacco and nicotine industry.  I recognise that vaping is one element dealt in this Bill and that nicotine pouches and the related products follow very closely behind it. I commend the Minister of State on including them in the Bill. These products are currently advertised through mixed retail outlets. In effect, this has created another draw factor at the till in many local or small specialised shops. Essentially, what is happening is it is attracting people who would not smoke or consider tobacco. That is not an accident; it is by design. It is marketing. They are trying to increase their market share. We are preventing an industry from doing that. It can be uncomfortable using the language of \"preventing an industry\" because often I would be somebody who would support businesses, job creation and so on but we are dealing here with the sale of an addictive product. We know from studying addiction that addiction changes the reward systems in one's brain. While the first time one consumes an addictive product, it is a free chose. It is something that one considers. After that, each time the addiction and the patterns of addiction limits one's own personal choices. That is something that I am very strongly supportive of in terms of the issue of illegal drugs. It has its application here in the sale of nicotine products.  I wish to speak to a number of issues. In a similar way to single use vape products, the colours and imagery as well as their often playful or jovial depictions are another way for the industry to lure and attract people in. I look forward on Committee Stage to further examining the approach the Minister of State has taken which is essentially to limit the descriptor. It would be quite difficult to quantify or describe the products or flavour. I imagine environmental health will have a significant role in terms of monitoring how the legislation is implemented. I note the Minister of State has limited it to two descriptors - those being tobacco flavour or unflavoured. I note the comments from other people regarding the word \"menthol\". In essence if the vape is not menthol and unflavoured, then it should not have a descriptor that is not correct. There is an argument that it is used to prevent people from smoking tobacco. That is incredibly true and it has a role.  In evidence we have seen that while cigarette usage has flatlined, the consumption of vaping products has increased. If these were solely an alternative or diversion from tobacco, we would see tobacco consumption decrease and vaping increase. That is not what we are seeing. We are seeing new people taking up these products. The Minister of State's measures here are a way to prevent young people being targeted by an industry that for decades has sought to sell them a product that is addictive. I commend her on the work that she is doing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  I welcome the opportunity to speak on this debate. We can all agree that the hallmark, and the calling card, of big tobacco and big tobacco companies is their deep pockets and their seemingly endless supply of marketing budgets. It is for that reason that I distrust a significant amount of what is termed as \"evidence\" that has been emailed to me this week in relation to vaping and vaping products, with people who are in the pocket of big tobacco telling me how harmless they are. When someone is telling me that over and over again, that makes me pause. That said, we could all say the same thing about alcohol but we have agreed as a State that 18 years old is where the cut off is and after that point, you make your own decisions. There has to be an element of us being sensible about this. I say that as a former very committed smoker. I can say with my hand on my heart that I enjoyed every single one of them. It was torture to give up smoking but I am glad that I did every single day. It will be 20 years next January. I am glad that I did but that does not take away from the fact that I absolutely enjoyed every single one. When I had access to them as a young child - I should not have had access to them - they were single cigarettes that I could buy with a packet of matches. That is probably evidence of how old I am. Anything that acts an entry for children into that world of smoking, nicotine and tobacco consumption needs to be closed off. I can safely say that as a 12- and 13-year-old had I not been able to buy a single cigarette in the shop for 8 pence or 10 pence, then I definitely would not have been in a position to smoke. When we say that these products are not for over 18s, we need be very clear about the damage that these products can do.  That said, there are many people in my own family and community who tell me that being able to use the vape was a significant element in them being able to give up smoking. That cannot be ignored. That does not mean that we say the vapes are the be all and end all. I agree that we need to regulate where they are used. I do not like someone blowing vape smoke into my face. I do not know what is in it. If they want to take it, that is fine but I do not like it. We need to have a bit more regulation around it. When we are on a train, bus or plane, etc., it is very obvious as there are signs up. However, in some areas there is a bit of a grey area. We need to make sure that is regulated for the benefit of everybody.  In the run in to this debate, I was contacted by many parents. It is really hard to fathom this. Their big worry is that their children will start with vapes because of easy accessibility. The intention is to do reduce that. The concern is that they will move from vapes into cigarette smoking. When I see adults with a vape, I know they are not going back to traditional cigarettes. They are trying to put a bit of distance between them and traditional cigarettes but idea that children will start vaping and then move on to smoking cigarettes is a big concern for parents. They want to make sure their children are protected from these harmful intoxicants, because that is what they are, but that there is work done to ensure they do not regress to being cigarette smokers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Daly  As both a doctor and TD, I wish to be very clear about what we are dealing with here. This is not a minor trend. This is the early stage of a new addiction epidemic. In Ireland today, one in three students has tried vaping and one in six is a current user. Among the under-25s, 11% are regularly e-cigarettes users, which is the highest of any age group. Most worrying of all, the majority of young people who vape have never smoked previously. The idea that vaping is simply helping people quit smoking does not hold up in reality. For many young people, it is the starting point.  We are also seeing an explosive growth in newer nicotine products. Nicotine pouch sales in Ireland increased almost five-fold in a single year from 6 million to 29 million units. That represents a 442% increase in revenue with one brand alone taking nearly half the market. These are not niche products. They are scaling rapidly, largely outside the regulatory framework that governs tobacco.  I cannot stress enough that nicotine is not harmless. It raises heart rate and blood pressure. It disrupts brain development in adolescents, affecting concentration, learning and impulse control. It is linked to anxiety, sleep disturbance and long-term dependency.  Vaping itself is not risk free. Emerging evidence shows clear associations with cardiovascular disease, chronic lung conditions and asthma. We are seeing measurable damage to blood vessels and inflammatory responses that we do not fully understand. People who both vape and smoke are at even greater risk, so while vaping may be less harmful than smoking, it is not safe, particularly not for young people.  We also need to be honest about how we got here. This did not happen by accident. Products were deliberately designed to appeal to children, with bright colours, sweet flavours and packaging that mimic sweets, desserts and even toys. Research shows that young people recognises this themselves - that vaping products are more appealing than cigarettes because they look and feel like treats. When we add to that the lower cost, the easy concealment and the constant online promotion, it is no surprise that the uptake is rising.  This legislation is a direct response to that reality. It will ban the sale of nicotine products to under-18s, remove advertising and the point-of-sale displays, restrict packaging and imagery, and limit flavours that are clearly designed to attract young users. It also addresses new and emerging products like nicotine pouches so that we are not constantly trying to play catch-up with the tobacco industry. That matters because one of the biggest mistakes in public health is allowing industry innovation to outpace regulation. We have seen that previously with tobacco and we know the consequences.  In Ireland today, smoking still kills about 100 people every week and leads to more than 1,000 hospitalisations. Half of all long-term smokers will die from tobacco-related diseases. We have spent decades trying to reduce those numbers. We cannot allow a new pathway to nicotine addiction to undo that progress. This is not about banning everything; it is about protecting children from products designed to hook them. It is about ensuring that what looks harmless or appealing is not allowed to quietly cause long-term harm. It is about being proactive not reactive. I commend the Minister on that. From both a medical and public policy perspective, this legislation is necessary, proportionate and overdue. I support it fully. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  This Bill is very welcome. It is very clear. The intention of it is something that I fully and totally support. It is very clear from a public policy perspective that we must do everything we can to protect children from nicotine addiction. That is what is intended here. It is set out very clearly.  Last year, girls going to the debs were trying to get vapes to match the colour of their dresses. That is the mentality we have to try to deal with. I welcome the proposals within this legislation to deal with the colour of vapes and the fact that they almost look like little toys. They are attractive in particular to younger people and children. We have a body of work to do to ensure the vast majority of people understand the danger. Of course there are people who smoke and who use vapes to get off smoking. We must recognise and acknowledge that vapes have a role to play as a means of progressing that. That is generally in the adult population - hopefully.  We recognise the work that has been done to try to bring this Bill forward and to make it as proportionate as possible to deal with these issues.  The flavours are another issue involved in it as well. I refer to bubblegum flavour and other such flavours. Again, that is to make it more attractive to children. That is something that badly needs to be addressed and banned. The notion of banning all flavours, in particular for adults, is something I would encourage the Minister to re-examine and to consider from an adult perspective. That is something that needs to be considered because we do not want a situation where we bring in something to deal with children's health that may, in effect, mean that adults would probably prefer to smoke cigarettes rather than using vapes, when we know that vapes are not as dangerous. There is a little bit of work to be done there. I welcome anything that can be done in respect of that.  The reality is that addiction to whatever substance it may be is a huge problem for society. Often it is nicotine. A lot of children are drinking too much as well. We have issues with alcohol use. Alcohol has been a huge problem in Irish society, not just for decades but for generations. In this country we seem to have a set of people who have particularly addictive personalities. That is something we all recognise and understand. It is something that seems to be in the Irish psyche. The more education and awareness people have, and the earlier we realise that it is a trait in Irish society that we have to deal with, the better we can deal with it. For that reason, this legislation is very welcome. It moves us in the right direction.  The tobacco companies are the ones behind all of this, including the marketing efforts. The vaping industry is part of their industry. The way they market, coerce and control all of that is something that has to be tightly regulated and dealt with. For that reason, the legislation we are bringing forward is most welcome. Nicotine pouches are something we recognise as having huge problems and issues down the road and they need to be dealt with urgently. I again welcome their inclusion in this legislation.  We have a distance to go in regard to making sure that we get the balance right and that we do not annoy, isolate or put people off, in particular adults who may choose to use vapes as a means of getting away from smoking. That is something that needs to be considered. I encourage the Minister to take that on board as the Bill progresses and to see if slight changes or variations could be made to make sure that does not happen. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Burke  I welcome this Bill, which is to protect public health. Regulating access to e-cigarettes and nicotine products is essential. There is evidence on the risk of nicotine pouches - nicotine addiction, gum problems, mouth ulcers, dry mouth and hiccups, nausea and stomach problems, and nicotine poisoning.  When we look at the growth in the market, the sales of nicotine pouches by P.J. Carroll and Co. grew by 480% between 2023 and 2024. That is 6 million to 29 million units for VELO brand pouches. That is a 480% increase in just one year.  At European level, the first year of monitoring by the EU Monitor was 2018. It identified 292 million units sold. By 2021 it was 6.8 billion units of nicotine pouches - a 2,000% increase, and it has obviously increased dramatically since this then.  This Bill is a measured and necessary response to a market that has changed faster than our laws. It proposes to ban the sale of nicotine pouches to under-18s; restrict the advertising display of nicotine-inhaling products in retail units; tighten rules on colours and imagery on devices and packaging; prohibit products that resemble toys or games; and limit flavour descriptors, with flavours in nicotine-inhaling products to be limited to tobacco. These are sensible steps aimed at one clear goal: making addictive nicotine products less visible, less attractive and less accessible to children and young people.  We should also see the Bill as part of a wider direction of travel. In Ireland it sits alongside the Public Health (Single-Use Vapes) Bill 2025, which is already moving through the Oireachtas, and is intended to ban the sale of disposable vapes. Together, these measures represent a more coherent public health approach, one that recognises both the health harms of nicotine addiction and the very deliberate ways in which novel products are marketed to young people.  As we are not acting in isolation, on 21 April 2026 the UK's Tobacco and Vapes Bill cleared Parliament. That legislation includes a so-called smoke-free generation measure preventing the sale of tobacco to people born on or after 1 January 2009, while also strengthening the regulation of vapes and other nicotine products.  That Bill represents a significant moment and it shows that these questions are now being confronted across these islands with greater seriousness and urgency.  At European level, the direction of travel is the same. On 1 April 2026, the European Commission published its evaluation of the EU tobacco control framework, covering both the tobacco products directive and the tobacco advertising directive. The Commission's conclusion was twofold: first, that EU tobacco legislation has made a real contribution to reducing smoking and protecting public health; and, second, that the current framework is no longer fully keeping pace with a rapidly changing market, particularly considering the growth of novel tobacco and nicotine products and their appeal among younger consumers.  The message from Brussels is clear. The framework needs to be updated, and a further review of the EU rules is now firmly on the horizon. That matters for Ireland because we are not simply responding to a domestic challenge. We are legislating in step with a broader European reassessment of how tobacco and nicotine products should be regulated in the years ahead.  From 1 July to 31 December 2026, Ireland will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. That gives us a real opportunity not just to participate in the associated conversation but also to shape it and put child protection, prevention, product regulation and public health ambition at the centre of the European agenda. Ireland has often been at its best when prepared to lead on public health rather than wait for others. Our Presidency offers the chance to re-establish this country as a European global leader in tobacco control and to show that strong regulation, evidence-based policy and the protection of the next generation are not obstacles to progress but part of what responsible leadership looks like.  This Bill matters not only because of what it does today but also because of the signal it sends about Ireland. We want to be ambitious in public health, serious about prevention and determined to protect the next generation from addiction. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere  I am delighted to debate the Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) (Amendment) Bill 2026. I firmly believe this legislation has the potential to have a transformative impact on our younger people, much like when An Taoiseach, Miche\u00e1l Martin, led the way in introducing the smoking ban in the early noughties. This is regarded to this day as one of the most significant and effective pieces of public health legislation in the history of the State.  As a father of four young daughters, I am acutely aware of both the detrimental impact of these products and, more importantly, their very real lure and appeal for them. We are dealing with a generation that is being exposed not just to nicotine but also to a carefully crafted image of it, with colours and flavours and designed to appear harmless, even fashionable. This Bill seeks to directly confront that reality.  Through measures that restrict the colours and imagery used on nicotine inhaling products, devices and packaging, and by limiting flavours in these products to tobacco, with flexibility to adjust through regulation, we are taking decisive steps to remove the appeal that has drawn so many young people in. These are not cosmetic changes. They are targeted public health interventions designed to disrupt the pipeline into nicotine addiction.  As legislators, but first and foremost as parents, we have a responsibility to act when we see a public health threat emerging. That is precisely what we are witnessing. The industry is increasingly aggressive and actively targeting our children and other younger people through marketing strategies that rely on bright colours, appealing flavours and sleek modern designs. Let us be very clear: this is not accidental. It is absolutely deliberate. The Government is right to respond strongly through this Bill to protect our young people, not just from current harms but also from future ones.  It is important that we continue to reinforce clear public health messaging. The best way to stop smoking is to contact a GP or pharmacist. Vaping is not recommended by the HSE as a method of smoking cessation. The evidence consistently shows that licensed medicines remain the safest and most effective way to quit smoking. Furthermore, emerging research indicates that long-term use of e-cigarettes can significantly impair the function of blood vessels, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease, which should concern us all.  I commend the ongoing work of the Irish Heart Foundation. Its efforts in raising awareness of the dangers of vaping, particularly among younger people, have been invaluable. The briefings it has provided in Leinster House have been both informative and sobering. Its advocacy plays a crucial role in ensuring that we, as policymakers, remain informed, responsive and grounded by evidence.  The industry is fast-moving and aggressive, and one about which we must remain vigilant. A new product now emerging on the market is known as snus. For those unfamiliar with it, snus is a nicotine pouch placed between the lip and gum. While it may appear less harmful on the surface, it can contain very high levels of nicotine, posing serious risks and potentially leading to addiction and other health complications. As this product is relatively new to the market, we are still learning about its full impact. However, early indicators are deeply concerning. Reports from last November showed that tobacco firm PJ Carroll saw sales of nicotine pouches in Ireland increase almost five-fold, rising from 6 million to 29 million units. That is not just growth; that is an extraordinarily alarming surge. It underlines the urgency with which we must respond.  We now have clear and, unfortunately, growing evidence that the younger population is becoming increasingly dependent on nicotine. In Ireland, approximately 11% of under-25s are regular users of e-cigarettes, the highest usage rate of any age group. There are multiple factors driving this: the widespread perception that vaping is less harmful than smoking, the lower cost per use compared to traditional cigarettes, and the appeal of flavoured products that mask the harshness typically associated with tobacco. The absence of the traditional smell of smoke also makes these products easier to conceal, further increasing their attractiveness among younger users. This is not a marginal issue. It is a generational one, and it demands a comprehensive, sustained response.  I join colleagues across this House in encouraging people, including those in my constituency, which covers Carlow and Kilkenny, to seek support if they are trying to quit. The HSE Quit Service offers vital assistance to adults who smoke or vape. For younger people, the HSE Quit4Youth programme provides a dedicated seven-week support structure designed for them to stop.  The Government is showing strong leadership through the measures contained in this Bill. I am particularly proud that Fianna F\u00e1il continues to play a leading role in advancing public health policy, just as it did with the smoking ban many years ago. I look forward to the day when I can reflect, not only as a politician but also as a father, on the positive and lasting impact this legislation will have had. I want to see a future where my daughters and all young people across Ireland grow up in an environment where the pull of nicotine addiction has been significantly reduced, where informed choices are the norm and where public health is protected with the seriousness it deserves. This Bill is a step towards that future, and it is a step worth taking. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Denise Mitchell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Denise Mitchell  We largely support this Bill. For far too long, vaping products have been on display at shop counters, on streets and even on stand-alone stands in shopping centres, very clearly targeting teenagers and young people. It is very welcome that this Bill closes the loophole that allows the sale of nicotine pouches to under-18s, and it regulates the advertising of nicotine products in retail outlets, similar to what is already in place for cigarettes.  It is good to see that this legislation is also future-proofed against any new nicotine products that may come on the market. All that is very welcome.  On the banning or restricting of vape flavours, I do not believe an outright ban is helpful. This Bill currently allows for only two flavours: unflavoured and tobacco. I note, however, that it states the Minister can add flavours to, or remove them from, the list.  I worry that if we are too restrictive on this, two things will happen.  The first is that the outlets will simply sell nicotine vape fluid in one packet and the flavour additive in another and people will go off and mix them at home. The second is more concerning, namely, that if flavour additives are banned, we could have a situation where additives are purchased online or on the black market. That raises serious concerns about what is in them, whether they are safe to consume, the levels of various chemicals and so on.  We have seen how the system in New Zealand appears to work well. Under this system, there is a fairly broad but approved list of flavours maintained by the ministry of health. It is said that in New Zealand, there are about 57 flavours - I am not suggesting that there be 57 flavours - and they are very basic with simple words describing the product, for example mint, vanilla and so on. That would be the preferred model because it would allow adults to make personal decisions but it would also get rid of the flavour names and the packaging that is seen to target young children. Other measures include regulating the packaging, stopping advertising and taking the products off public display. We have seen that it can work in New Zealand so we should be trying that here. Overall, I welcome this legislation but I would caution the Minister of State against being too restrictive with regard to flavoured vape products. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dessie Ellis","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dessie Ellis  Thankfully, I have never smoked a cigarette in my life. With regard to tobacco products and nicotine inhaling products, I would support measures that would protect children by placing restrictions on both the advertising and display of such products, including how they are presented on the packaging of the products.  Addiction to nicotine is a costly addiction, both in terms of a person's health and the price of the product as well as the cost to the health service of dealing with the health consequences of this addiction. The cost of cigarette smoking to the Irish health service is over \u20ac460 million annually, with total societal costs exceeding \u20ac10.7 billion, which includes lost productivity with almost 100 people dying weekly from tobacco-related illnesses. These statistics are staggering. According to the Royal College of Surgeons, a 20-year-old male who is a cigarette smoker is expected to spend an extra \u20ac28,000 in healthcare costs over his lifetime. Cigarette smoking-related illnesses result in the hospitalisation of around 1,000 people every week.  While using vapes is not necessarily a great solution to weaning people off cigarettes, it is better than people being on cigarettes. Vape use does involve health concerns and people coming off cigarettes should also engage with the HSE's programmes assisting people to quit smoking. Selling vapes to a minor is a criminal offence that could result in fines or imprisonment. The licensing of and restrictions on the sale of the vapes will go a long way towards preventing minors from accessing these products.  However, restricting flavoured vapes also impacts adults and is not productive. Adults should be allowed to make a decision on such matters themselves. I have many people who have given up smoking and have had to take up vapes. It is the lesser of two evils. We know that vapes are not healthy but we need to look at the Minister of State's definition with regard to flavours because there are a lot of flavours out there like menthol and others that seem to be acceptable. People make choices. They did it with cigarettes. They used to take John Player, Major and things like that, so people are very good at making these decisions about what is good for them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  I welcome this Bill. I have been critical of the Government in lots of areas but I have to say that this legislation is a positive further step in protecting the health of all our citizens but especially our children. It would be remiss of me not to be a bit critical and say that I am not sure if it is enough in itself because we are dealing with what I would call a subversive and well-resourced industry. We think back to the Philip Morris days in the 1950s. The industry is still finding clever ways to sneak in and get people to buy its drugs so it will try to find loopholes around whatever laws we have as it did before in marketing colourful and dangerously addictive nicotine products directly to young people and diversifying them to tie in with modern lifestyles. I am reminded of the old ads in the 1950s where smoking was seen as glamorous, cigarettes were fitted into movies and it was stylistic. The industry is doing that with the flavours as well, not just with tobacco but also with vapes, which we are trying to make progress on. It reminds me of alcopops in the nineties and noughties when companies were trying to get young people into these types of products by making them more consumable, for want of a better term, so we will have to keep up. We have to make sure the industry does not start creeping ahead again. It will have to be monitored constantly.  There are some good elements in the Bill. Section 18 contains a prohibition on the sale of all nicotine consumption products, such as pouches and gels, to anyone under the age of 18 and expands enforcement powers. If we can inspect the supply chain and target any type of advertising and website marketing these nicotine products to minors, it is a good thing. Maybe I am not 100% sure and maybe I rushed through the legislation too quickly or did not read it thoroughly enough, but will the Minister of State outline whether this Bill will also target influencers and the social media side of things because that constitutes advertising as well?  Section 20 contains an outright ban on advertising and point-of-sale display of e-cigarettes and pouches in what is called the mixed retail environment. Some of these outlets will not like this but it is critical. Any sort of restrictions on imagery and clamping down on flavour descriptions are great. It is complementary to the Public Health (Single-Use Vapes) Bill 2025, which we debated in this Chamber a while back. Again, it attempts to strip away the attractiveness and visibility of nicotine products in the same way the single-use vapes Bill targets the equipment by banning cheap disposable vapes. The industry found workarounds in the UK with regard to that, so we must constantly be on our toes.  A shortcoming of this Bill is the fact that, as far as I can gather, menthol and mint flavours are still available. Is that the case? No. It is good to get some clarification on that. I did not want to be just making that statement as if I knew it. It is good that this has been dealt with.  The other risk is that when we move away from so-called nicotine products, and I am not trying to pass the buck and start looking at another line of argument, companies and different supply chains, for want of a better term, will probably try to find zero nicotine-type chemicals as workarounds. They will always find something. We have had debates about nitrous oxide canisters in this Chamber. There are other types of chemicals and drugs that people will be encouraged to get. The Department should be ready to see what is starting to trickle in in other countries where the legislation has been tightened up and start working on legislation to deal with that if it is not covered under existing legislation.  I do not think the other two listed colleagues are coming to the House, so Deputy Ward will be able to speak shortly.  As I have said previously, this legislation is not worth the paper it is printed on without resourcing the enforcement. We have better enforcement in the Bill, but unless we resource the enforcers and ensure that action is taken, it is pointless. We require quite a lot of money in additional annual funding. I hope that we can claw back some of that funding and resourcing through proper fines. We have very inadequate fines in many areas, litter being a case in point. I hope the fines that are being looked at for breaches of this legislation will be sufficiently robust. Hopefully, we will get the income to pay for some of the enforcement in the short to medium term, so environmental health officers and anyone else doing test purchases and so on will be able to go in and catch the people who breach the legislation.  I thank the Minister of State for bringing forward the Bill. I look forward to further discussion on it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  Cuirim f\u00e1ilte roimh an mBille seo. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 thar a bheith t\u00e1bhachtach. T\u00e1 g\u00e1 leis na ruda\u00ed at\u00e1 sa Bhille.  This is welcome legislation. I want to particularly paraphrase what my colleague, the Sligo county councillor, Fergal Nealon, said in the media this week. He talked about psychedelic nicotine pushers. He was talking about shops in Sligo town that his own child was trying to get him to go into, even though they were vape shops. He said that the windows are designed essentially like a cartoon shop, a Disney shop or something like that. It is 100% deliberate, I presume, but they certainly attract children who are into that kind of shopfront. The products in the window include toys placed next to these nicotine dispensing vapes. The point he is making is this: why on earth, if someone is selling these products, which are not supposed to be available to children, market them in this way if not to target that audience? It is not legal, which is an important point. One of the important aspects of this Bill is that we are going to attack the situation where we have an abuse of process, in essence, by certain shops throughout the country, which are definitely targeting younger audiences. They should not be. That should be shut down.  I absolutely reject the argument made by some other speakers that this is actually about choice or eliminating choice, and that adults should be able to make choices about what they buy and consume in terms of the flavours, colours and whatever else. On the one hand, I do not have a problem with that, and the notion that adults can make that choice is a good thing. The difficulty is not that adults cannot make that choice. The difficulty is that this space is being invaded by these psychedelic nicotine pushers to inveigle their way not to the adults, but the children. At the moment, the figures show that 13% of 12- to 17-year-olds in this country are using vapes. They were not previously smokers. They are children who have been persuaded by marketing and advertising to use these products. All of the data suggests that they will go on not to avoid smoking, but to become smokers because these companies are forcing a situation where they become addicted to nicotine, and that habit will only grow from there.  In contrast, only 7% of adults in Ireland are using vapes, as I understand it. They are former smokers or reformed smokers. I accept the role that vapes may play for smokers in reducing their dependency on a much more carcinogenic product, as far as we know, and getting them off cigarettes. That is fine. What this Bill has to be about is plugging the loopholes in the law that allow the traders in vapes to target younger audiences, to catch that captive audience, get them addicted to nicotine and then secure a market for life. We are where we were 70 years ago when it came to cigarettes but there is an opportunity for this legislation to get in and stop this from happening now.  Plugging those loopholes is a very important thing. The Minister of State will be aware of what are called \u201cbig puff\u201d vape devices. This is exactly the way in which these companies are getting around the regulations. The 2016 EU regulations make clear the limitations. They ensure that cartridges and tanks cannot exceed a volume of 2 ml, and attachments or refillable containers cannot exceed 10 ml. However, these big puff devices are circumventing that legislation. They are allowing the putting together of a product where people can clip on multiple different devices, which means the device is much more potent, but certainly much more voluminous than is allowed. They are getting through a loophole.  Can the Minister of State assure me that the legislation is going to put in place plugs for all of those loopholes? We need to make sure there is not a situation in a year or two years\u2019 time where we have put in place this legislation, and we are trying to protect children in particular, but there is then a situation where people find a vehicle to circumvent it. That is a difficult ask but the whole point is to try to see the future and see around every corner. What is really important is that we avoid situations like that. Is there anything in this legislation, for example, that is going to deal with big puff devices? These big puff devices also circumvent the legislation we passed just weeks ago on single-use devices, because although they are technically not covered by that legislation, as I understand it, they are frequently discarded afterwards, so they create the same environmental impact as single-use devices. The big thing about the big puff devices is that because they are selling in greater volume, they do so at a lower unit price, so there is a financial incentive for people to use the big puff devices instead of the standard ones.  To come back to where I started, the big thing about this Bill is that we currently have a situation where there are what I would consider to be irresponsible retailers. I know we do not criticise people, and I will not name anyone, but every Member has in his or her constituency a vape shop like this on a main street somewhere that is clearly designed in a way that we would not expect to be consistent with cigarettes or with vapes that are aimed at adults. What we have are shops that are clearly targeted at a different audience. It is not acceptable. We know from other expos\u00e9s that have been done by the media that children are getting into these vape shops. They are buying products they should not have access to. We know that 13% of the underage teenagers in the country are vaping. Let us stop that. Let us make sure we have a situation where we say it is not okay to target them with a product that is potentially carcinogenic, certainly bad for them and is definitely going to encourage them to smoke. It is not okay to target that at kids. We have to stop it. We have to make sure they act responsibly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  I welcome the Bill. I have raised the issue with the Minister of State on a number of occasions. I was in Arklow this morning. I met with the student councils of three second level school: Arklow CBS, Glenart College and St. Mary's. I allowed the students to ask any questions they wanted to ask. One of the early questions that was asked was what the Government was doing to protect young people against tobacco and vaping credits. This is not the first time I have been asked this by a young person. Young people have been asking about this for a number of years because they can see it among their peer groups. They can see how they are being targeted and exploited, in many cases by the big tobacco companies of the past, which have taken over the nicotine inhaling device companies.  Even though the sale to under-18s was banned, the Department\u2019s own inspections in the first two years after the ban found that 20% of retail outlets were still found to be selling to those under the age of 18. We know there are still retailers who will try at every opportunity to get around this to be able to sell this product to young people.  With other harmful products that are sold to young people, we take much stronger action. If a bar had a reputation for selling alcohol to young people, the Garda could object to its licence, and it potentially faced closure. If we are in a situation where a restaurant or somewhere that is preparing food does not take food safety particularly seriously, and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland inspectors go in, it could face closure. I would like the criminal enforcement within this Bill to be a lot stronger. It should not be a case of a fine or imprisonment where we see repeat offences. We should be moving towards guaranteeing that somebody who sells on a regular basis should face a custodial sentence. However, we need to go further. It is about hitting these premises in their pockets. The authority should be there to force the closure of some of these premises that breach the rules, whether it is selling to under-18s, or if they breach any of these marketing rules, which we welcome.  I do not doubt that for some of those who are smoking, as a device to help with the cessation of smoking, it is helpful. That raises the question: why not make it available on prescription? In all other cases where we talk about something to help somebody come off an addiction or whatever, we will make things available on prescription. It is still far too easy for young people to access what is incredibly dangerous.  I welcome this Bill. I know the Minister of State has worked really hard on it. I know I have been critical about the pace at which this has been moving but I know she is determined to introduce it. However, the evidence is there that there are still people who are avoiding the law in this regard and I do not think the consequences are strong enough within this legislation. What I would like the Minister of State is to consider doing is that on Committee Stage, particularly where repeat offenders are convicted, we would see a stronger requirement of prison, quite frankly, and further, that we move to a situation where we can provide for the forced closure of these premises. It strikes me as bizarre that you can close a pub, yet you cannot close one of these shops for pushing these really dangerous products on young people. We do not know yet, other than some of the early evidence from listening to consultants working in the area, the impact it is having on young people's chests, lungs and hearts. A lot of that is going to manifest itself down the line.  I would also say that in any of the process around this discussion, and I know the Minister of State is very committed to it, it is always important to engage with young people themselves, and to talk to Comhairle na n\u00d3g, the National Youth Council and the Irish Second-Level Students' Union. The Minister of State and I know that every single young persons' organisation and youth group engaged with this project wants to see this legislation brought in as quickly as possible and wants it to be tough.  I will be supporting it but I would ask the Minister of State, on Committee Stage, to try to strengthen some of those provisions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I think everyone in here wants to see a reduction in the number of people actually smoking. I do not think anyone is against that. Do we know, individually, the point of view of people who have used vapes? I get that the jury is out but I refer to some element of harm reduction and the point of view of them getting themselves off it. That has to be facilitated. We should be absolutely united in ensuring we are banning products that are targeted specifically at children and adolescents.  At times, we have seen an overproliferation of vape shops. I could say the same of Dundalk and I know it is an issue that has come up at Louth County Council a number of times. It is a very particular issue. I will accept that like many types of retailers, there are very good ones and very bad ones. We have seen circumstances of kids outside, who are in and out all the time. It is very obvious that they are not over 18, whether you were checking IDs or not. I agree with an awful lot of what has been said previously. It has to be possible. We have to make it easier, from the point of view of enforcement, that this would not happen.  We obviously support the idea of regulation of nicotine consumption products and particularly the likes of nicotine pouches. We do not necessarily see the logic of a ban on all flavours except tobacco. While I accept it in regard to anything that is targeted specifically at kids, we have seen what has been done in New Zealand, where you have vape flavour names that are boring and a couple of standard flavours. I think that is something we can all get on board with. There is a significant amount of work to do in relation to this and we really need to clamp down on anybody who is selling vapes with hexahydrocannabinol, HHC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, THC, which are having a detrimental impact on an awful lot of our young people out there. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  I too welcome the opportunity to speak on this legislation. At its core, I believe the Bill is about something we can all agree on. It is protecting public health. From speaking to my constituents and knowing someone who has vaped, nicotine is addictive. It is very addictive and I do not think anyone should be able to walk into a shop when they are paying their bills and see a giant green package that says \"double apple\", \"triple mango\" or \"Red Bull\". It is just attracting children. That packaging was deliberately designed by a graphic designer to be as attractive as possible. The entire vape itself, the way it sits in your hand, was done that way.  I do have questions. To seek clarification, is it specifically just tobacco, or will menthol be allowed as well? No menthol. A lot of constituents raised that with me. There are adults who would like to have the option of menthol. I do agree that we should not be able to get a super sweet cherry cola vape but there are smokers who smoke menthol cigarettes who have told me that if they cannot get menthol flavour, they will go back to smoking menthol cigarettes. I know you cannot get the filters but you could easily go abroad and get some of the flavours. We have seen a rise in vaping, particularly in young people, and that is completely wrong. We need to get rid of the bright packaging, the sweet flavours and the aggressive marketing.  This industry, the tobacco industry, is not one that has just been born. It is well established and it knows how to get around legislation, just like the ever-evolving head shop debacle we had, where they could change molecules or make a single change in the chain of it to get ahead of legislation. I too have heard other Deputies ask whether they would be able to bring out non-nicotine vapes. How would that be brought in by the legislation? The concern is valid and parents are finding children as young as ten or 11 with vapes in their schoolbags. They are contacting me and pushing for this so I do think there should be a much harsher penalty for anyone found selling to anyone under the 18.  It is important we are honest about the debate because as adults, people who, as I mentioned, cannot get menthol-flavoured tips in Ireland can go to the UK and get menthol-flavoured tips and bring them back. In the same sense, if someone wants to get a flavour of menthol vape, they can or will find ways around it.  Again, the bright double cherry or energy blast flavours are designed for children. Menthol and tobacco flavour could be used as a crutch for adults. It is also important, at the same time, to listen to all of the adults who contacted my office. They are real people and they are not trying to start a new habit; they are continuously maintaining and ending one. Many of them are worried and have told me that if this is brought in, they will go and get menthol flavour for themselves or worse, go back towards smoking.  I welcome all the work that has gone into this Bill. I want to raise those concerns, particularly from my constituents. When it happens, the control the HSE would hope to maintain is through the licensed retailers, if we were to bring in strict regulations on menthol and tobacco, but I understand that if you bring in menthol, then you might be bringing in menthol-flavoured apple and there is a loophole there. I understand there are ways around it.  We need to work together to protect young people in particular, and that is the main point of the Bill that I support. There is an idea among young people that vaping has no harm, when we can see complete studies of popcorn lung, multiple studies of people with lungs or half lungs collapsed developing at a young age, with vapes being found in their baggage at the age of 11. I will support the Bill and if we get the balance right, we will improve public health but if we get it wrong, we need to look at clear examples of other countries where a black market opened and people were able to get it from other sides. I welcome this, I will engage constructively on it and I fully support its intent. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor)  I thank everyone who spoke today in the Chamber. We can see the passion on this and the urgency of the Bill. A lot of issues were raised. I only have ten minutes.  The issue of flavours was the big thing. As for why we are banning all flavours except tobacco, this is what is most likely to reduce the appeal to our younger people. Today is about children and young people. In balancing this protection of young people with the help for adults who smoke, which came up today, we have found that vaping is not being substituted for smoking at a population level in adults.  Dual use of tobacco and e-cigarettes is no longer associated with an intention to quit smoking among adults and one in six adults who vape have never smoked. They have never smoked. There is no evidence that e-cigarette flavours increase the likelihood of quitting tobacco.  If I do not get through a lot of the questions, I will definitely come back with an answer for, or meet with, Deputies. I know they are saying we are forgetting about people who are smoking but we are continually increasing investment in State support to stop smoking, which includes free stop smoking medicine, such as nicotine replacement therapy, NRT, for anyone who wants to use them, more than doubling the number of clinics and expanding the We Can Quit peer-led programme. The HSE has now also recruited 48 new stop smoking advisers. We are trying to be very proactive in what we do.  Another big issue that came up was pouches. Under the Bill, retailers cannot sell pouches to anyone under 18. The pouches will also be behind the shutters which can be pulled down, which is what we want to do. We want to make sure the vapes cannot be seen. The pouches will be part of that. Toothpicks were brought up by a colleague along with snuffs. Anything with nicotine is included in this Bill. That is part of a really good initiative for anything new. We all know it is changing all of the time. From toothpicks to snuffs to pouches, it is constantly changing. In this Bill, that is what we are doing. Anything to do with nicotine is in this Bill.  I cannot highlight this enough to anyone. If people are selling to anyone under 18, they are breaking the law. They cannot sell vapes to anyone under 18. I cannot say this enough. It is so important not to be selling them. I want to compliment the team accompanying me who have worked so hard. I know from speaking to schools and parents I have been talking to myself, this is a priority for them. They see this with kids in schools where they see them vaping. One TD brought up a story about someone who was going to a debs and they wanted to get a vape to match their dress. This has to stop. We have to make sure we are protecting our children and the future for them.  I know other countries were talked about but the most relevant evidence for Ireland comes from the Netherlands. I was in the Netherlands recently and it put a ban on all flavours, except tobacco, which led to an overall decrease in both the vaping and the smoking and, seemingly, it is working really well.  The other initiative I want to talk about is the resources. Enforcement of tobacco and nicotine inhaling products legislation was highlighted as a priority. In 2026, as part of the HSE's national service plan, 30 additional whole-time equivalents have been allocated to the national environmental health service recruitment of these posts. They are expected in mid-2026. Enforcement came up a lot in the debate. It is important that we are able to enforce this as best we can within our health and well-being unit. We represent the health and well-being side. I am sure all Deputies are aware of the new licence fee coming out. This new licence fee will launch in the first weekend in August, I think. Anyone selling cigarettes or vapes will pay a licence fee. That means the HSE will have a list of who has licences, who does not and it will be easier for us to monitor this as well. That is another issue we really need to address.  Another issue that was raised was the vaping prevention campaign. An allocation of \u20ac300,000 was provided in budget 2025 to develop and run a youth vaping prevention media campaign, which was really successful. We spoke to all of the different groups. We made sure we went to schools. We spoke to parents. We had loads of media coverage on it, which was important in making sure we were able to get that information out there. This year, another \u20ac200,000 was allocated to this budget. The campaign provides evidence-based messaging to young people and information and supports to parents and guardians concerned about vaping.  The first phase was in 2025 and the second phase of the campaign is aimed at children and young people. It was launched in March and it was great. I launched it. For this campaign, we had influencers and content creators at the launch to reach young people through social media. We felt this time it was really important. We needed to target our young people and for us to do that, we used the influencers. That was a really positive move. Social media is a part of our young people's lives now. Social media is out there and we know that. That is why we worked really hard on that. As part of the campaign, a letter was sent to schools encouraging teachers and parents to learn more about vaping and to download the resources from the HSE. Since then, over 8,000 leaflets have been sent out. We also made leaflets explaining what we were doing about vaping and nicotine. That was really positive.  It is hoped that this campaign will also contribute to the continued decline in tobacco use among our young people, given the association between vaping and subsequent smoking in adolescents. I believe every Member wants this Bill to go through as quickly as possible. This Bill is about our young people but it is about when you are on a main street, for example, and you go into a shop, you see all of those colours, flavours and packaging, we are saying we are here to support you and work with you. Flavours are a concern but the unflavoured ones, other than tobacco, have worked in the Netherlands and it has legislated for this. It has really been successful.  Ireland is really leading the way in this, too. We work extremely hard with our EU counterparts, which is important. That is an issue we are addressing for the European Presidency and to have a workshop or work with them on legislation to see what we can do. I do not know if that will happen. The Minister has also been very positive on this. Ireland is leading the way on this. I know we need to do more. I know there will be amendments. I have listened to the concerns about looking at other flavours. This is about our young people and we feel tobacco and non-flavoured is the way to go. This is about saying, \"Do not vape\", and asking people not to vape. Vaping has been targeted so much at our young people and it has been a huge concern.  I wrote down everyone's questions. I will get back to Members but if they want to email myself or the Department with any particular questions they have, we would be more than willing to answer them. I thank all of the Deputies. I am hoping to get this Bill through as soon as possible. We work with the EU and provisions are going through the EU as well so we are waiting on that. On disposable vapes, we are waiting for word on that in June. With this particular Bill, it should only take three months so we are hoping to have that back to us by July. The urgency of this Bill is today's. We want to get this Bill through the House as soon as possible. I believe everybody here wants the same and that this Bill is needed. I cannot say this enough; all of us working together will get the Bill through as soon as possible. This is about our young people and their future. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and declared carried."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) (Amendment) Bill 2026: Second Stage"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-22\/debate\/dbsect_15","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/36","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/36\/dail\/motion\/referral","houseCode":"dail","stage":"motion","isBillStage":false,"showAs":"Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) (Amendment) Bill 2026: Referral to Select Committee (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) (Amendment) Bill 2026: Referral to Select Committee","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Justice (Deputy Jim O'Callaghan)  I move:  That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Health pursuant to Standing Orders 103(2)( b ) and 188(1). "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) (Amendment) Bill 2026: Referral to Select Committee"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-22\/debate\/dbsect_16","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Vehicle Registration Data Exchange with the United Kingdom: Motion","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":5},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_16","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Jim O'Callaghan)  I move:  That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann approves the exercise by the State of the option or discretion under Protocol No. 21 on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the area of freedom, security and justice annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, to take part in the adoption and application of the following proposed measure:  Proposal for a Council Decision on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union vis-\u00e0-vis the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland regarding the determination under Article 540(2) of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part, of the date from which personal data under Article 537 of that Agreement may be supplied by Member States to the United Kingdom,  a copy of which was laid before D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann on 27th February, 2026.  Today I am seeking the approval of D\u00e1il Eireann to opt in to a Commission proposal for a Council decision to allow member states of the European Union to resume the automated searching and matching of vehicle registration data, VRD, to the United Kingdom.  This proposal comes within Title V legal basis and as a result it triggers Ireland's right or discretion to opt in under Protocol 21 annexed to the Lisbon treaty. I am seeking the support of the House for an Article 2 opt-in, which must be completed by 30 April of this year.  I must emphasise that this is not a new capability. Under the Pr\u00fcm decisions, by which Ireland is bound, participating EU member states can search and exchange DNA, fingerprints and vehicle registration data with other member states via automated means for the purpose of preventing and investigating criminal offences.  Following the UK's withdrawal from the European Union, the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement was signed and concluded. It includes provisions on VRD exchange which required the United Kingdom to undergo an evaluation process before the exchange of VRD could be resumed with all member states, including Ireland. This evaluation process has now been successfully concluded.  The unilateral declaration presented as an annex to the proposal will determine the date from which member states may resume the supply of vehicle registration data to the United Kingdom. The date will be determined once the Council decision is adopted and the desire from all parties is to see this resumed as soon as possible.  Vehicle registration data includes the personal data of drivers, owners and operators of vehicles, and details of those vehicles such as make, model, colour, licence plate and chassis number. In Ireland, these details may be supplied to other participating states from the National Driver and Vehicle File.  The relevant national legislation is the Vehicle Registration Data (Automated Searching and Exchange) Act 2018, which designated the Minister for Transport as the national contact point. I understand the Minister, Deputy O\u2019Brien, will amend the 2018 Act by way of statutory instrument to include reference to the trade and co-operation agreement. His Department is engaging with the Office of Parliamentary Counsel in this regard.  The proposed Council decision has a Title V legal basis in the area of police co-operation. Its publication by the Commission on 30 January 2026 therefore triggered the three-month window for Ireland to exercise an opt-in under Article 3 of Protocol 21 annexed to the Lisbon treaty. This window ends on 30 April 2026.  Legal advice from the Attorney General has confirmed that a Protocol 21 opt-in is required to satisfy Article 29.4.7\u00b0 of the Bunreacht na h\u00c9ireann and to guard against a risk of legal challenges to criminal proceedings where VRD is utilised in the future. Ireland successfully negotiated additional recital language to better reflect our Protocol 21 rights and our sovereignty in the area of freedom, security and justice.  This proposal will promote enhanced police co-operation between Ireland and the UK. Our shared border and ferry transport links mean it is imperative that the competent authorities in both jurisdictions have access to this information-exchange mechanism. In operational and policy terms, it is considered desirable for Ireland to exercise an Article 3 opt-in to these proposals so that we can again supply vehicle registration data to the United Kingdom and receive data in return.  I commend this proposal to the House and seek the approval of the motion to participate in this Council decision. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  We are discussing another Protocol 21 opt-in but this time it relates to the Council decision that would allow member states to resume the exchange of vehicle registration data with Britain for the prevention and investigation of criminal offences. It is important to note that the State already participates in automated searching and matching of vehicle registration data with EU member states under the Pr\u00fcm decisions and, therefore, did so with Britain prior to Brexit. The Pr\u00fcm decisions is a framework for EU countries to automatically exchange DNA, fingerprints and vehicle registration data and to co-operate in policing, counterterrorism and tackling cross-border crime. Vehicle registration data includes personal information about drivers, owners and operators of vehicles as well as details of the vehicles themselves - for example, make, colour, model, licence plate and chassis numbers.  Sinn F\u00e9in does not oppose this motion because it relates to the prevention and investigation of serious criminal offences and co-operation in this area to crack down on serious criminality that operates on an international or cross-border basis is clearly important. However, it is important that this House is clear about the safeguards that are required when transferring personal data to Britain which now operates outside of the EU and, therefore, is not subject to the same laws in terms of data. I ask the justice Minister to assure the Oireachtas that robust protections will be in place to ensure that this data is not misused, retained longer than necessary or shared with third parties. Since Britain is now a third party under EU law, the standard of protection has to be equivalent to EU GDPR regulations.  It is important that we remember the original purpose of the Pr\u00fcm framework. It was designed for serious criminal offences and not just for routine enforcement. It is essential that this data is used strictly for the prevention and investigation of serious crimes. We cannot allow these types of data-sharing arrangements to drift by degrees into the type of surveillance I think many people would be rightfully fearful of.  Separately and outside of any EU framework, we have to acknowledge the policing challenges that arise in this country as a result of the fact that we are a partitioned nation and that part of our country operates outside of the EU. That affects the ability for the policing of communities and roads policing is one of the areas most affected. I represent a Border constituency. Time and again we have seen the Border used to evade prosecution for road traffic offences. Obviously, in the short term North-South co-operation is essential but the reality is that the solution to that particular issue is the simplest solution of all: it is to get rid of the Border on this island and to work towards the reunification of our country.  I make a general point on the opt-ins that fall under the areas of freedom, security and justice. I have made this point on many occasions. Protocol 21 was attached to the Lisbon treaty and it was put in place recognising the concerns of the Irish people in respect of sovereignty and the wish of the Irish people that decisions relating to these matters should be made at a domestic national level where that is possible. However, we have seen a drift particularly with this Government and under this Minister where increasingly Protocol 21 regulations opt-ins are being brought before the D\u00e1il with limited debate. I do not believe there is the consent or even the knowledge of the Irish people in respect of decisions that could have far-reaching consequences. In this case we are talking about something that I think will be broadly supported by everybody in this House but not all cases are as clear-cut as that. I am fearful about the lack of actual debate on and rationale behind some of the decisions that have been made. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  As Deputy Carthy set out, Sinn F\u00e9in is not opposing this. I recognise the importance of the item before us in terms of targeting serious criminality. However, we have to be very clear that Britain is now a third country and has been since Brexit. It is very important that there are strong measures when it comes to data protection and that the regime that will underpin the sharing of data here is as strong as if not stronger than the general data protection regulation that is in force within the European Union.  I share the concern and the criticism, or certainly the analysis, outlined by Deputy Carthy with regard to the real increase in the number of Protocol No. 21 opt-ins, which have become a feature of this Government. It seems to be undoing, maybe, some of the limited protections that were appended to the Lisbon treaty several years ago by stealth, without adequate levels of scrutiny and without adequate levels of debate. It might not be the case in this particular instrument that has come before us but there is a need for greater scrutiny and greater transparency when these opt-ins are proposed, debated and scrutinised in this House and in the Oireachtas as a whole.  This relates to serious criminality but there is another issue I want to use this opportunity to highlight and it is about road safety. As Deputy Carthy said, the nature of partition complicates policing on this island. We have a porous Border, and rightly so. The only thing that would improve it would be if we were to take it away altogether, and that is another day's work. Road safety concerns and the policing of road safety are a particular issue not only in the northern third of our country but also in the south east, where I am a representative, because of our links with Wales, in particular. The N25 is widely regarded as the most dangerous stretch of national primary road in the State. It is also a European route and one of the most dangerous ones in the European Union. The N24, which connects Rosslare onwards with Limerick and skirts Waterford, is also a very dangerous stretch of road. Both roads have not had their share of investment and safety improvements. What is making that situation all the worse is the sheer volume of traffic on both those roads comprising vehicles generally registered and regulated in Britain. There needs to be a good piece of work done by both the Minister's Department and the Department of Transport to get to the bottom of that issue and to make sure there is serious co-operation between authorities in Britain and authorities here when it comes to policing our roads and pursuing those who flout the rules of the road in Ireland, regardless of the jurisdiction in which they are registered. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  I welcome this. As regards An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na doing its policing duty, obviously, it will be very welcome. As regards the whole initiative of ANPR and number-plate recognition and the sharing of data, hopefully this will help, obviously, given the fact that we have a Border on this island. There is also the amount of traffic coming from Britain into Ireland and vice versa . It will particularly help in relation to serious crime. As we know, it is trans-border. On both islands, this will create a co-operation that is desperately needed.  From a policing point of view, I have read the Minister's statement as regards the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, bringing in the statutory instrument. Could the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, provide the timelines for when this will actually take effect? If he were to have any information on that, it would be interesting.  Second, obviously, we need to be very careful as regards the use of data here because this data will identify people and so on. We need to be very careful to make sure the standards that are maintained here meet with our national standards and EU standards, given the fact that we are dealing with a third country, outside the EU, in the United Kingdom. As I have raised here in the D\u00e1il and in committees on numerous occasions, I am not convinced that An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na has been in any way exemplary when it comes to the retention of data, whether the issue has related to DNA, fingerprints or many other areas. My concerns there would lead me to want to know when this will be brought in and to get an assurance about the manner in which this data will be retained, the duration of its retention and how it will be used. That should obviously be done to the standard that is required under national legislation and legislation at a European level to maintain those standards. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I am afraid our next speaker has not arrived, so I call on the Minister to make concluding remarks. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Jim O'Callaghan)  I thank Deputies Carthy, McGuinness and Kelly for their contributions.  Deputies Carthy and McGuinness expressed a concern about the use of Protocol 21 and a concern that this was in some way interfering with Ireland's sovereignty or autonomy. When it came to the Lisbon treaty, we agreed, and we got input into it, Protocol 21. That was for the benefit of Ireland. We wanted to leave outside of the agreement of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union issues in the area of justice, legal affairs and police co-operation because we wanted to do our own thing. The reason we included Articles 3 and 4 is that we recognised there would be many occasions when we would want to opt in and be part of the agreements put forward by the European Union. This is a prime example of one where we should exercise the option to opt in under Protocol 21, Article 3. Here we have a situation in respect of an agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom for the purpose of sharing vehicle registration data. It is obvious to me that we would want to be part of that. In fairness to Deputy Carthy, he recognises that as well. This is clearly one where we should opt in. Every time a decision is made whether or not to opt in, it is not done haphazardly; it is done through the exercise of a sovereign decision-making process within the Irish State. We come to the Houses of the Oireachtas, the Government puts forward a proposal to opt in under Protocol 21, Article 3 or Article 4, and the elected representatives of the Irish people have an opportunity to vote on it, and we do so. As there is greater harmonisation throughout the European Union in the areas of law and police co-operation, I think we will see more cases of Ireland wanting to opt in because it is to our advantage. If there are proposals that we do not want to opt into, we will not go near them and I will not propose them.  Deputies Kelly and Carthy mentioned the issue about data. Obviously, it is extremely important if we are sharing data of Irish citizens that it is protected. The only reason the data that is provided to the UK under the EU-UK agreement can be used is for the purpose of what is set out in the agreement, and that is for the purpose of investigating serious criminal activity pursuant to the vehicle registration data provisions. I do not want Deputies to believe that this data can be used for ulterior or parallel purposes. It can be used only for the purposes for which the agreement is entered into.  Deputy Kelly also asked about the timelines. As I said, the relevant national legislation in Ireland is the Vehicle Registration Data (Automated Searching and Exchange Act) 2018. That has the Minister for Transport, currently Deputy O'Brien, designated as the national contact point. We will amend the provisions of the 2018 legislation by way of statutory instrument to include reference to the trade and co-operation agreement between the UK and the EU. I cannot give the Deputy a specific timeline but it is not a very lengthy amending statutory instrument. The Minister is engaging with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel and the Attorney General's office, which will draft the necessary statutory instrument. Certainly, I would like to see that done very promptly. It is not something that should take a considerable time.  I heard what Deputy McGuinness said about road safety in the area of the south east and the sheer volume of traffic. Obviously, the Irish economy is very open. We export and import very significant amounts - more is exported, if the truth be told - and that will result in a lot of traffic coming from the UK and from France. Obviously, Rosslare has got much busier since Brexit because of direct links between France and Ireland but I hear what the Deputy says about the road safety issue. As the country gets busier, there will be more people on our roads and we need to ensure that road safety is prioritised. You yourself, a Cheann Comhairle, will know from the south east of the country that garda\u00ed are out there in terms of roads policing. Garda\u00ed are out there in terms of roads policing. It is a hugely important part of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na's function. We need to ensure that we keep the rules of the road enforced but there is also an obligation on everyone to slow down. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  As we are so far ahead of time, it might be a good idea to suspend the House for about three minutes. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar fionra\u00ed ar 7 p.m. agus cuireadh t\u00fas leis ar\u00eds ar 7.03 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Sitting suspended at 7 p.m. and resumed at 7.03 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Vehicle Registration Data Exchange with the United Kingdom: Motion"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-22\/debate\/dbsect_17","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Message from Select Committee","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Select Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery has completed its consideration of the Critical Infrastructure Bill 2026 and has made no amendments thereto. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Message from Select Committee"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-22\/debate\/dbsect_18","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2024\/61","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2024\/61\/dail\/seanad_amd","houseCode":"dail","stage":"seanad_amd","isBillStage":false,"showAs":"Health Information Bill 2024: From the Seanad (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Health Information Bill 2024: From the Seanad","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The D\u00e1il went into Committee to consider amendments from the Seanad."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Seanad amendments Nos. 1 and 2 are related and may be discussed together. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 1:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2: In page 6, between lines 31 and 32, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\"(d) information that relates to\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(i) the provision of health services, including planning for such provision, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(ii) the evaluation of health services,\"."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Mary Butler)  I thank Deputies for attending this evening and for their continued support of the Bill. The Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, brought forward a small number of amendments on Committee Stage in the Seanad to strengthen a number of important provisions, the details of which I can set out briefly. Seanad amendments Nos. 1 and 2 relate to the power of the HSE under the Bill to request health information for important public interest purposes beyond treatment and care. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 2:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2: In page 6, line 32, to delete \u201c(b) or (c)\u201d and substitute \u201c(b), (c) or (d)\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 3:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 12: In page 13, between lines 32 and 33, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\"(6) A person who uses, or seeks to have disclosed, a personal public service number in accordance with this Act does not commit an offence under section 262(9) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005.\"."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  Our health system needs a robust and proven identifier in order that health information can, effectively and reliably, be associated with the right individual. This is essential for care and treatment as well as patient safety. As part of this, the Bill aims to enhance patient safety through stronger identification processes, including best-practice use of the personal public service number and eircode to uniquely identify patients. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 4:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 17: In page 18, to delete lines 11 to 13 and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\"(ii) the development of policy and regulatory activities in order to improve,promote and protect the health and welfare of the public, including integrated service planning, performance management and the efficient and effective use of resources in the area of health, or\"."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  Seanad amendment No. 4 relates to the power of the HSE to use the electronic health record for specified public interest purposes. As the Minister outlined on Second Stage in the Seanad, there are a number of critical building blocks on the path to the full digitalisation of health records. One is the patient app, which now has over 157,000 users. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 5:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 21: In page 20, line 13, after \u201cgroups,\u201d to insert \u201cthe Health Information and Quality Authority,\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Seanad amendments Nos. 6 and 7 are related and may be discussed together. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 6:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 22: In page 21, lines 8 to 11, to delete all words from and including \"\u2014\" in line 8 down to and including \"(b)\" in line 11."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 7:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 22: In page 21, to delete lines 17 to 19 and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\"(b) the development of policy and regulatory activities in order to improve, promote and protect the health and welfare of the public, including integrated service planning, performance management and the efficient and effective use of resources in the area of health, or\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  This Bill, which will establish a legal duty to share information, represents a significant opportunity to move towards a more connected health service that fully embraces the potential of quality electronic health data collected in the health system every day. In so doing, it will lay the foundations for a much more innovative and efficient health service which, above all, centres on the patient.  I thank all Deputies for their engagement and for their contributions to the debate on and support in respect of this significant legislation. I look forward to its enactment. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendments reported."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Agreement to the Seanad amendments is reported to the House. A message will now be sent to Seanad \u00c9ireann acquainting it accordingly. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar fionra\u00ed ar 7.08 p.m. agus cuireadh t\u00fas leis ar\u00eds ar 7.11 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Sitting suspended at 7.08 p.m. and resumed at 7.11 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Health Information Bill 2024: From the Seanad"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-22\/debate\/dbsect_19","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Dublin Central By-election: Issue of Writ","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_19","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Currie  I move:  That the Ceann Comhairle direct the Clerk of the D\u00e1il to issue her Writ for the election of a Member to fill the vacancy which has occurred in the membership of the present D\u00e1il consequent on the resignation of Deputy Paschal Donohoe, a Member for the constituency of Dublin Central. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Dublin Central By-election: Issue of Writ"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-22\/debate\/dbsect_20","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Galway West By-election: Issue of Writ","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_20","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  I move:  That the Ceann Comhairle direct the Clerk of the D\u00e1il to issue her Writ for the election of a Member to fill the vacancy which has occurred in the membership of the present D\u00e1il consequent on the election as President of Deputy Catherine Connolly, a Member for the constituency of Galway West.  Get the posters up. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Galway West By-election: Issue of Writ"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-22\/debate\/dbsect_21","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Earth Day: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The following motion was moved by Deputy Roderic O'Gorman on Wednesday, 22 April 2026:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"recognises that the triple planetary crises of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss are an existential threat to humanity;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"notes that the 22nd of April, is Earth Day, where people around the world are called to stand in defence of the only home we share;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"declared a climate and biodiversity emergency, becoming the second national parliament in the world to do so, and in so doing recognised the importance of Ireland responding to these crises in 2019;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"further recognises that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 to address this challenge, the Government has committed to achieving a climate neutral economy by no later than 2050 and, through carbon budgets and the Climate Action Plan, to reduce by 51 per cent the annual greenhouse gas emissions reported for 2030 compared to 2018;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 these commitments are underpinned by the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015, amended and strengthened in 2021, which acts as a foundation for the State's climate policy, and provides the legal basis for Ireland's climate ambitions;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 biodiversity targets are driven by Ireland's 4th National Biodiversity Action Plan 2023-2030 (NBAP), which aims to meet international commitments, including 30 per cent protected land and marine areas by 2030, this plan is on a statutory footing, and public bodies have a duty to contribute to these targets;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 achievement of these ambitions requires a Whole-of-Government approach to the decarbonisation of the energy system, the provision of electrified public transport at scale, the retrofitting of Ireland's building stock, and the development of new renewable energy sources;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the ongoing crisis in the Middle East has demonstrated that the objective of affordable, secure and decarbonised energy cannot be met through importation of fossil fuels, which are carbon intensive and subject to rapid price shocks;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 in confronting the fact that 29 per cent of Irish households are in energy poverty and hundreds of thousands of electricity and gas customers are in arrears, we must ensure that in moving to a net-zero Ireland we adhere to the principles of the Just Transition Commission, and must reach those furthest behind first;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 energy crises disproportionately impact the most marginalised, including one parent families, carers, disabled people, members of the Traveller community, and older people are driven by an energy system that is too reliant on expensive imported fossil fuels; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 climate change and its consequences are and will continue to have profound effects on human health and the wellbeing of future generations;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"notes, with concern that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Minister for Climate, Energy, and the Environment has indicated that the Government will miss its 2030 emissions reduction target by half, and has provided no emergency plan to reverse this trajectory;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Environmental Protection Agency, in preparing its latest emissions projections, found that the Government had not included any significant new policies or measures in the Climate Action Plan 2025, to close the gap in meeting 2030 climate targets;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 relevant Government Ministers have not yet fulfilled their duties under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Acts to attend the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy, and outline corrective measures to meet sectoral emissions ceilings;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council and the Climate Change Advisory Council published a joint peer-reviewed analysis in 2025, indicating a potential \u20ac8-\u20ac26 billion in compliance costs for Ireland through missing climate targets;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government has proposed legislation that will fundamentally undermine the functioning of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act, by exempting carbon intensive projects from scrutiny under that Act;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government intends to increase Ireland's reliance on fossil fuels through the creation of a State-owned Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal which will be reliant on imported gas and subject to geopolitical price shocks far beyond the State's control;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the enabling legislation for a State-owned LNG terminal, the Strategic Gas Emergency Reserve Bill 2025, seeks to pre-empt scrutiny of this project under Section 15 of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act, suggesting that the Government understands that it is not compliant with Ireland's climate targets;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 an LNG terminal will lead to locked-in fossil fuel industry expansion that does not align with Ireland's binding climate obligations;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 a similar provision in the Dublin Airport (Passenger Cap) Bill 2026 suggests that the Government is placing the interests of airlines ahead of the need for a healthy environment and climate action;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the newly published Critical Infrastructure Bill 2026 will allow the wholesale exclusion of carbon intensive projects from scrutiny under the Climate Action Act;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 despite a target of 5 gigawatts (GW) of new offshore wind energy by 2030 under the Climate Action Plan, no new offshore wind projects have been delivered, and the projects currently planned amount to less than 5 GW;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government is due to fall well short of its retrofitting targets of 500,000 residential retrofits and the deployment of 400,000 heat pumps by 2030;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the National Development Plan Review 2025 has reversed the previous Government's policy of providing a ratio of 2:1 investment in public transport over new roads, which will undermine plans to improve public transport and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transport sector;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 rapid growth in the number of data centres in Ireland has created significant induced demand for electricity, which will eliminate the net positive effect of new renewables projects and lead to increased energy prices for ordinary households;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government has raided the \u20ac3.15 billion Climate and Nature Fund to plug holes in its infrastructure budget;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Marine Protected Areas Bill has yet to be published;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, has disbanded its climate division;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 funding for farmers to implement the NBAP is wholly inadequate;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Final Report for Phase 2 of the National Land Use Review has been with the Minister for Climate, Energy, and the Environment, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Minister of State at Housing, Local Government and Heritage almost a year and is still not published;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government has not fully met its legal obligations under the Climate Act as emissions limits do not account for the Land Use, Land Use Change, and Forestry sector;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government has not yet addressed the recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy regarding the preparation and delivery of Carbon Budgets 3 and 4 (2031-2040); and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Climate Action Plan 2026 has been significantly delayed and is still not yet published; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"calls on the Government to:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 re-commit to the legally binding target of 51 per cent emissions reduction by 2030;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 remove any provisions from draft legislation that limits the effectiveness of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 implement the recommendations of the Independent Advisory Committee on nature restoration and to adequately fund Ireland's Nature Restoration Plan; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 protect vulnerable households from the ongoing fossil fuel price crisis through new targeted supports and safeguards, by speeding up access to home energy upgrades, and by ensuring that Ireland develops its own secure and clean renewable energy."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Debate resumed on amendment No. 1:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"To delete all words after \"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann\" and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\"affirms that, the Government:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 is fully committed to delivering on Ireland's climate ambition across all sectors, and to progress climate action in a planned and coherent way in pursuit of the National Climate Objective of a climate neutral economy by 2050, in a way that ensures that sustainability, affordability, competitiveness and energy security are all central to our future climate planning; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 is acutely aware of the impact on households and businesses of the recent increases in fuel prices, and is progressing both immediate and longer-term measures to support households with these costs;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"notes that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 work is ongoing across the Government to deliver on climate commitments and accelerate climate mitigation efforts every day, supported by unprecedented Government funding across the National Development Plan (NDP), which will fund major upgrades to deliver carbon emission reductions, including major public transport projects, more efficient public buildings, and supports an \u20ac18.9 billion investment into the Irish electricity grid;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 this Government is committed to the delivery of major public transport projects, the NDP Sectoral Investment Plan for Transport, published in November, provided \u20ac10.1 billion for public transport, as well as an additional \u20ac2 billion from the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund to progress MetroLink, giving a total of \u20ac12.1 billion for public transport, this compares to an allocation of approximately \u20ac8.7 billion for roads capital investment;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the unprecedented \u20ac505 million worth of practical measures introduced by the Government on 12th April, included:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 further reductions in excise duty on diesel, petrol and marked gas oil (green diesel) in addition to a deferral of the planned increase in carbon tax, scheduled 1st May until October 2026; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 reductions in excise duty, including the National Oil Reserves Agency levy reduction with effect from midnight on 14th April and will run until 31st July, 2026;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Government will also be establishing a new road transporters' support scheme, as well as supports for coach operators providing local link services, at a cost of \u20ac40 million per month for three months;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 a comprehensive \u20ac100 million Fuel Subsidy Support Scheme to assist farmers, agricultural contractors and fishers will be put in place;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 this package of supports is in addition to the measures announced in March, which included:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 an expansion of the diesel rebate scheme, backdating it to January, to help sectors of the economy most impacted by the rise of fuel costs; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 an extension of the fuel allowance season to help the most vulnerable with the cost of home heating;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government has established the National Energy Affordability Taskforce, to identify and implement additional measures that will enhance energy affordability for households and businesses while delivering key renewable commitments and protecting security of supply and economic stability;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Environmental Protection Agency's most recent emissions reporting confirms progress in delivering on climate action and records that Ireland has recorded overall greenhouse gas emission reductions for a third consecutive year, with a decrease of 6.8 per cent in 2023 followed by a further 2 per cent reduction in 2024, this is despite the concurrent increase of approximately 1.5 million people, more than one million new homes and over one million extra vehicles on our roads;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Ireland is a world leader in electricity generation from renewables which has increased fivefold since 2005, and that in February 2026 wind energy provided a record 50 per cent of the State's electricity;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Ireland has now reached a record circa 8 gigawatts (GW) of renewable generation capacity, up from 4.8 GW in 2020, and renewable energy provided half of Ireland's energy in March 2026;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government is committed to 5 GW of installed offshore wind capacity, with 5 Phase One projects all currently being progressed through the planning system, and the Government is also aiming for 20 GW of offshore wind by 2040 to help power a new green industrial revolution;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Offshore Renewable Electricity Support Scheme Tonn Nua site, offshore wind auction was successfully concluded in November 2025; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the 2025 Zero-Emission Vehicle Intelligence target for electrical vehicle sales of 195,000 was surpassed in October 2025, and Electric Vehicle sales are now at over 227,000;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Climate Action Plan 2025 and its predecessor, Climate Action Plan 2024, provide a strong framework for continued delivery of climate action across all sectors each and every day, including measures and actions that are multi-annual in nature and effect, and the Government is committed to supporting their implementation;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 projected costs of compliance with the European Union (EU) climate and energy targets have not been confirmed at this point in time and that there are several routes to compliance available within the overarching EU framework, and the Government's focus is on implementing the measures at hand;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Critical Infrastructure Bill 2026 is a targeted piece of legislation that allows the Government to designate certain critical projects or programmes as critical infrastructure, including:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 grid infrastructure which is vital for Ireland's climate, societal and economic objectives, it does not seek to undermine the functioning of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 climate considerations will continue to be fully integrated into decision-making processes, including through the planning system and national policy framework, even where limited and exceptional provisions apply;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government's position on the need for a State-operated Strategic Gas Emergency Reserve, in the form Liquified Natural Gas, has been clear - it is a priority project of a strategic nature required to mitigate the major consequences for our society and our economy that would arise if Ireland was to experience an interruption to our gas supplies via subsea interconnection;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the proposed Dublin Airport (Passenger Cap) Bill 2026 will enable the sustainable development of Dublin Airport, with full regard to environmental constraints, legal obligations, and the independent regulatory role of the Irish Aviation Authority, while supporting national connectivity and economic resilience;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the National Residential Retrofit Plan 2026, announced on 27th January, introduced a number of new and expanded measures to make energy upgrades more affordable, and accessible to many more homeowners;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 in Budget 2026, the Government provided a record allocation of \u20ac640 million, targeting 73,000 home energy upgrades this year, this includes a record \u20ac340 million for the Warmer Homes Scheme which provides fully funded upgrades for those in energy poverty and will target 11,500 upgrades this year;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 capital expenditure of over \u20ac1.7 billion has delivered over 257,500 home energy upgrades from 2019 to end Q1 2026, and there are already over 170,000 heat pumps in existing homes and businesses across the country;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the 4th National Biodiversity Action Plan, which was published in January 2024, strives for a 'whole-of-Government, whole-of-society' approach to the governance and conservation of biodiversity;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the finalisation of the Report for Phase 2 of the National Land Use Review is advancing with a view to publishing later this year;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 work is ongoing on the general scheme of the Bill to amend the Maritime Area Planning Act 2021, to provide for marine protected area designation through the National Designated Maritime Area Plan (DMAP) process with a view to bringing forward proposals this year; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the MPA LIFE Ireland project (2024-2033) has been working at a practical level to help deliver Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in Ireland in line with the DMAP process and the principles of public participation, co-design, co-development and co-delivery, this nine-year \u20ac25 million project co-funded by the EU will focus on the social, economic and ecological dimensions of MPA designation.\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"- (Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan)"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I must now deal with a postponed division relating to the motion regarding Earth Day. On Wednesday, 22 April 2026, on the question, \"That the amendment to the motion be agreed to\", a division was claimed and in accordance with Standing Order 85(2), that division must be taken now. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar athl\u00f3 ar 7.33 p.m. go dt\u00ed 8.47 a.m., D\u00e9ardaoin, an 23 Aibre\u00e1n 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The D\u00e1il adjourned at 7.33 p.m. until 8.47 a.m. on Thursday, 23 April 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Earth Day: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members]"}]}}]},"contextDate":"2026-04-22"},{"debateRecord":{"house":{"showAs":"34th D\u00e1il","committeeCode":"","houseCode":"dail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/house\/dail\/34","chamberType":"house","houseNo":"34"},"chamber":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/def\/house\/dail","showAs":"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann"},"lastUpdated":"2026-07-02T02:10:33+00:00","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/main","formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/mul@\/main.xml"},"pdf":null},"date":"2026-04-21","counts":{"contributorCount":168,"divisionCount":2,"debateSectionCount":44,"questionCount":52,"billCount":1},"debateType":"debate","debateSections":[{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_2","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions","counts":{"speechCount":40,"speakerCount":10},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I welcome everybody in the Public Gallery. For the benefit of the public, speaking times have been agreed by the House and are displayed on the clock. If the clock turns red, a Member's time is up. When a Member rises, their time begins. Where time is shared, the Chair will indicate this. All contributions must be made through the Chair, and every Member speaking is entitled to a fair hearing. Our constituents expect our debate to be respectful discourse. I thank the Members.  I now call on Deputy Mary Lou McDonald under Standing Order 38. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Can we extend a very warm welcome to Margaret Loftus, who is in the Public Gallery and is appearing before the justice committee today?  The Taoiseach has published his spring economic forecast and it tells a very clear story. The Government expects the State's surplus to grow from \u20ac5 billion to over \u20ac9 billion, meaning billions more flowing into the Exchequer. The Government is taking in billions more, yet people cannot afford to heat their homes. People cannot pay their electricity bills. It is as though there are two different realities in this country: one in the Taoiseach's forecast of growth and surpluses and another at kitchen tables across the land, where there are cold homes, mounting bills and real fear.  The energy crisis is not easing; it is intensifying. Electricity prices are forecast to rise again and the Taoiseach's own Ministers warn of increases of up to 9% in the months ahead. We saw repeated hikes last year and now more are coming. More than 300,000 households are already in arrears on their energy bills, yet the Taoiseach's response is not to act but to comment, not to intervene but to observe. It is as if the Government is a spectator in this crisis rather than a government responsible for fixing it.  Over 750,000 households rely on home heating oil, and their bills have doubled in a matter of weeks. Last week, my colleague an Teachta Pearse Doherty spoke about a young working couple, both in employment, who have gone three weeks without heat because they cannot afford it. They did everything right.  They have worked hard, studied and built their lives and still they cannot heat their homes.  Families now face rising school transport costs and the return of junior and leaving certificate fees. That is what the Government is bringing to people's doors. It has scrapped energy credits and refused even to cut carbon tax on home heating oil when people needed relief most. While pressure mounts, the Government pulls supports. The moment households need help, it steps back. When intervention is required, it chooses inaction. Now it seems its message is that things will get worse and it will look at it again in October. That is six months away.  This is exactly what the Government did last year. It delayed and waited and when October's budget did come, its decisions actually left people worse off, so here we go again. On the one hand, the Government talks of rising prices and further shocks while on the other, it tells people to struggle on and wait. That is unacceptable. The Government has been warned about soaring energy costs and has been told that its measures are inadequate and that people need real intervention but it did not listen.  This failure is not confined to energy. We see it in housing. This weekend, figures show eviction notices surging since the Government's rent hike Bill came in - exactly as we warned. People see the same pattern. The Government does not listen, it delays and it makes the wrong calls and ordinary people pay the price.  On the back of the Government's spring economic statement today, the question is simple. With billions more available to it, why does the Government choose not to act for people who cannot heat their homes or meet their electricity bills? How does it justify refusing to act on the cost of home heating oil while prices remain so high? Why does it refuse to introduce energy credits when people desperately need them? Why does it not bring forward meaningful cost-of-living supports? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I do not agree with the Deputy's analysis. The Government understands fully the pressure people are under as a result of the various cost shocks over recent years from Covid to the invasion of Ukraine, when inflation was at its peak of 10%. We understand that. Prices are at an elevated high and now the war in the Middle East has again created a significant shock in terms of fossil fuel supply globally and prices. Every country across the world is grappling with this reality.  We have responded in a substantial, targeted and sustainable way - not just a global sum of \u20ac750 million but in terms of food production, road haulage and a reduction in excise duties, which benefits everybody. We will continue to keep a focus on this. In terms of home heating and other issues, we have to look at more permanent ways to ease pressures on families, particularly from energy pricing more generally.  The Deputy referenced the Government surplus but, as she knows, there is an Exchequer deficit of about \u20ac1.8 billion. The Deputy knows what is happening here. We are transferring funding from the Exchequer into the investment funds so it is not as if there are billions hanging round in a drawer somewhere to just take and spend. The Deputy surely knows that. What is happening with that funding is that it is being invested in people, housing, energy and infrastructure and offshore wind projects. That is what ISIF is doing - solar farm financing, grid expansion and interconnectors, battery storage systems for renewables, building energy retrofit programmes, the EV charging clean public transport fleet, the circular economy, forestry carbon sequestration projects, national scale retrofit financing platforms, equity in large housing developments, delivery of nationwide housing supply, mixed tenure schemes, urban regeneration partnerships and regional housing projects. That is where the investments are happening and much more than that.  However, the Deputy seems to misunderstand that, or is she saying we should wind up the funds - the Future Ireland Fund and the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund? The Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund is helping to fund the metro. Is the Deputy saying we should scrap the metro? Is she saying we should scrap these projects in which ISIF is investing? I think that would be a huge mistake. We are very clear that housing remains our ultimate priority. Infrastructure is key to everybody in the country. That is clear. Disability and child poverty are other issues. These are areas on which we have focused very strongly and are in a position to target.  The Deputy does not pay any heed to these factors. She seems to want to risk everything in the middle of this war. I think that would be a foolish thing to do. Notwithstanding what I have said, I think it does make sense, after a \u20ac750 million allocation so far, that we would look at how, structurally, we can ease the pressure on families permanently in the energy cost area. That will take a bit of work because we need to be targeted in how we allocate people's resources. That is a fundamental point that I think the Deputy consistently ignores.  An aidhm at\u00e1 againn n\u00e1 cabhair agus taca\u00edocht a thabhairt do dhaoine. T\u00e1 roinnt d\u00e9anta againn. N\u00edl aon amhras faoi sin. Is \u00e9 seo ceann de na pac\u00e1ist\u00ed is m\u00f3 ar fud na hEorpa. T\u00e1 n\u00edos m\u00f3 le d\u00e9anamh againn. Beidh molta\u00ed againn i gcomhth\u00e9acs na c\u00e1inaisn\u00e9ise a bheidh againn i m\u00ed Dheireadh F\u00f3mhair. Beimid in ann an br\u00fa at\u00e1 ar dhaoine a laghd\u00fa n\u00edos m\u00f3. Sin an aidhm at\u00e1 againn. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  That is guff, plain and simple. The Taoiseach has given us a catalogue of his own failures. On housing, the metro and infrastructure, it is fail, fail, fail on his part. Now, as we learn that the projected surplus will grow from \u20ac5.1 billion to more than \u20ac9 billion, the Taoiseach has the poor mouth for struggling families. That is all he is offering. I do not know if the Taoiseach thinks that people live lives of fiction. I want him to hear very clearly that families are struggling now, today, in the here and now. Part of our economic resilience, and the health of our economy and our society, has to be to intervene when families are struggling. You do not leave them in the lurch. You do not leave hundreds of thousands of people unable to meet their electricity bills, or hundreds of thousands of people struggling to pay for their home heating oil. There is an obligation on the Government to listen, to hear and to intervene. Why will it not do that, with all of these additional billions that are now projected? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Retrofitting is not a failure. Two hundred and fifty thousand houses have been retrofitted. That is a success, and all of those families can enjoy lower bills as a result of that retrofitting. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  They do not have lower bills. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Government did not wait. The Deputy has to be honest that over the last number of years, we have brought in very significant schemes that permanently reduce the cost of living for people. The free primary and second level school books scheme has reduced costs for families with children going to school. We also have the free hot school meals, a very recent innovation, which also helps families. The national childcare scheme is a universal subsidy that helps to reduce the cost of childcare. In terms of the fuel allowance, we have extended that, and brought in 50,000 extra on the working family payment. We did not wait. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  You do not live in the real world. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  In the budget, we took very concrete measures. A new baby grant of \u20ac280 is paid in addition to the first month of child benefit for children born or adopted on or after 1 December 2024. We have all of those measures. We have extended the free travel pass, and also the medical card for the over-70s. There are lots of things we have done. We are going to do more, and we will do more in the time ahead. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  You do not live in the real world. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  I acknowledge Margaret Loftus and salute her courage.  Another week has passed, and the cost-of-living crisis continues to heap pressure on families who are struggling to make ends meet. When people look to the Government to give them some hope, it tells them to manage their expectations. They are left wondering what it takes to get the same urgent treatment it affords to sectoral interests. I am left asking the same thing.  Every day, the Taoiseach stands in the D\u00e1il lecturing us about prudence and restraint. Of course, he is right to point to global instability as a driver of chaos. It is, clearly, but that instability cannot excuse his inaction at home. In fact, decisive action and cool heads are exactly what we need at a time of chaos. Unfortunately, the disarray internationally has infected the Government too. Just as Viktor Orb\u00e1n lost his election in Hungary, it seems the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, has lost his sense of humour.  It is clear that Trump has lost the plot, and we are all paying the price, but the Government has lost its touch, not that it ever had it, really. Where are the cool heads? Where is the decisive action? As the spring economic forecast indicates, there is money there. It is how the Government is spending it that is the problem. Nowhere is that problem clearer than in the mixed messages coming from the Taoiseach\u2019s own Cabinet.  In here, the Taoiseach tells us he is acting prudently but in the media, the T\u00e1naiste and Minister for Finance has transformed into the Minister for commentary and kite-flying, floating a stream of potential budget measures. In recent weeks, we have heard about saving scheme tax cuts and changes to inheritance tax; in the past 24 hours alone, new income tax measures and energy credits; and this morning, the Taoiseach is talking about new Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, grants. His shedsits are the latest - \u20ac14,000 tax free for people with large gardens. Where is the plan? Where are the supports for PAYE workers?  This is the failure of the Taoiseach's budget last year writ large. It is the original sin of his Government's lack of vision and ambition for the country. In October, there was no money for the renewables revolution that we need. There was nothing for universal public childcare, yet the Government found \u20ac1 billion in tax breaks for developers and fast food chains. The question is obvious: how can the Government move quickly for some but not for others, when nearly 500,000 households are in arrears on their energy bills, grocery prices are rising and the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, is warning that electricity prices could go up by up to 9% this summer?  The Taoiseach is failing to introduce the systems change that is needed. Other countries like Spain are offering an alternative by investing heavily in renewables, recognising the link between tackling climate action, reducing household bills and securing the energy grid. Unlike the Irish Government, the Spanish Government has a vision. Will the Taoiseach give hope to hard-pressed PAYE workers, adopt targeted energy credits, support pay rises and invest in real climate action to insulate against energy shocks? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I appreciate very much the Deputy's sincerity in wanting to look after people under pressure. We have a similar position but I think we need an honest debate as well. The Deputy cannot just come in here and say we have no vision for investment in the grid. Where has she been in the last number of months when we announced an investment of up to \u20ac19 billion in the grid? I refer to the PR6, where we put substantial billions of equity into EirGrid. Why does the Deputy come in then and say something that is patently untrue? Per capita , I would say we have invested more than Spain. We are number one in Europe in terms of the integration of renewables to the grid. That is true. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  Also for data centres. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Let us have an honest debate where we can agree and disagree on the facts and let us not make up stuff that does not have any basis from a factual point of view.  In terms of the surplus, I repeat that is going into the funds, such as the Future Ireland Fund and the infrastructure and nature fund. The Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, ISIF, manages that and it is being invested in a whole range of areas including renewables, such as offshore and onshore wind projects, solar farm financing, grid expansion and interconnectors, battery storage systems for renewables, investment platforms for energy developers and funds combining wind and grid-scale storage. Then there is the building of the energy retrofit programmes. There is a whole range of investments out of those funds going into that renewables space and protecting us in terms of developing a low-carbon public infrastructure for the future and electric vehicle, EV-charging, clean public transport fleets, a circular economy waste system and, above all, a lot going into housing, with equity in housing developments, delivery of nationwide housing supply and so on, such as the private, social, affordable and mixed-tenure schemes.  Money is being invested. We are not letting it hang around doing nothing. Therefore, the more honest position would be whether the Deputy suggesting that we would stop the funds or pause investing in them. Of course, they are necessary for the future pressures that will undoubtedly arise because of the ageing population and more expenditures that will arise in health services and looking after older people in our society because our lifespan is increasing dramatically as well.  In the meantime, we have allocated \u20ac715 million now in terms of supports. We have reduced, effectively, the excise on diesel by 32 cent. That will benefit workers. It benefits everbody, more or less, in society. Petrol is down 27 cent from where it would be if we had not intervened and marked gas oil will be up to about 20% when the scheme comes in for contractors. I will come back later on that sectoral thing the Deputy accused us of doing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  By all means, let us have an honest debate. The Taoiseach will have to acknowledge, in honesty, that the Labour Party supported the funds.  We did not support any narrowing of the tax base. We accept, of course, a renewables revolution requires investment, and requires money to be invested in it. However, if we are having an honest debate, let us talk about the ESRI report which acknowledged that Ireland has the highest energy prices in Europe and that a huge problem, which the Taoiseach must recognise, is that our electricity prices are being driven by gas prices. We are among the countries in the EU with the highest reliance on gas - a fossil fuel - and that is extremely costly. We have an extremely high proportion of households still using oil for heating. We are out of line with other countries which have invested more extensively in renewables and are pushing renewables to power electricity generation. Instead of that, the Government, particularly since the Green Party left office, is relying on an expanding series of data centres which are gobbling up electricity, and relying on the importation of LNG. Where is the vision there? Why are we not seeing more of a move from subsidising dirty fuels? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We have put billions into the funds. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  We supported the funds. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We then have an Exchequer deficit of \u20ac1.1 billion. That is what we have after the moneys is allocated to the funds. We do not have billions of surplus, if the Deputy accepts that the moneys should go to the funds, and she accepts that they should. When they are in the funds, they are being invested and so on under ISIF. We take the Deputy's point in terms of pressures that people are under. On the renewables, we are investing very significantly. ISIF is investing in many projects in respect of offshore wind and other areas. I have a full list of the housing area, transport, you name it.  From the sectoral interests point of view, the Deputy said we only looked after sectors. We do need to look after food production, so farmers do need to be supported in terms of food production. Contractors do as well. That is not narrow sectoral interest, we all benefit if the food production system can produce food at a reasonably affordable price. We need hauliers to get our goods to the shelves of shops in an affordable way. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  Last year the Minister of State, Deputy John Cummins, was clear. Modular units in people's back gardens would not be available for rent on the private market. He said: \"I don't see this as a rental measure. I see it as facilitating intergenerational movement.\" There was broad agreement across the Opposition. These units could help families and they should but opening them up to the private rental market was always going to lead to exploitation. We can already see exactly where that road leads. On Clare Street in Dublin, up to 22 people are crammed into one house, paying up to \u20ac890 for a bed. That is in a room with three or four other people, with the landlord raking in almost \u20ac20,000 a month. This is not a functional housing system. This is a return to tenement conditions which were rampant in the worst years of this State. It should not be tolerated but this Government seems to think differently.  Today, the Taoiseach is calling it practical and pragmatic to charge market rents for cabins in back gardens. Let us be clear about what that means. It means charging \u20ac2,000 to \u20ac3,000 a month for a shed in someone's garden with no tenancy rights because they would be rented out using licensing agreements. The same loophole is already being used in Clare Street right now. These renters have no security of tenure, no statutory notice periods, no rent controls and no access to the Residential Tenancies Board, RTB. Renters are being thrown to the wolves and this Government is telling them they should be happy about it. It is outrageous.  I know so many young people across the country are angry today but more than that, they are exhausted. They look at this Government and what it is doing and they just despair. Taoiseach, would you blame them? What exactly is the Taoiseach's vision for young people in this country? Is it for them to be ripped off by landlords, to scrimp and save to live in garden sheds, to be denied their tenancy rights? Unfortunately, that is the legacy the Taoiseach is leaving. For anyone watching today, I want to be clear.  There are solutions to the housing crisis, such as establishing a State construction company, modular home factories to dramatically increase the supply of affordable homes, a new State savings scheme to raise billions to fund them, and a ban on no-fault evictions to protect renters instead of treating them like second-class citizens. These are all political choices the Government could make but refuses to. How can the Taoiseach justify renters being charged extortionate rents to live in back gardens with no tenancy rights? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy looks at the world through one prism when it comes to housing; we look at it through another. In my vision for young people, housing is number one and it means a relentless focus on supply. The Social Democrats have opposed all supply measures in this House for the last number of years and they keep on criticising every single initiative that we have undertaken. If we do not get supply up, we will not moderate rents. All the rest is just populist waffle if we do not really focus on what matters.  The Deputy talks about legacy. When the previous Government was formed in 2020, direct social housing builds were in the low thousands. Last year, in 2025, we built 9,000 social homes, the highest on record since the State was founded. While I can never be happy when it could higher, that is a reasonable legacy in terms of permanent provision of social housing. The good news is that up to 23,000 more are in different stages of design and development. That is one aspect. The others are affordable and cost rental.  Yesterday I was at a sod-turning for 800 new units, not cabins but real units in Richmond. The T\u00e1naiste was in Drogheda where about 600 new units will be built. The Minister, Deputy Browne, will be in Drogheda tomorrow for, I think, another 600. Those are sod-turnings for 2,000 houses and apartments this week alone. We built 36,000 houses last year, delivered in 2025. That is the highest since records began and up 20% on 2024. Some 170,000 houses have been built since 2020, with 50,000 apartments built. On planning momentum, 8,000 permissions were granted in quarter 4 of 2025, up 19%. Permission was granted for 20,000 houses in 2025, the highest since 2009. There have been 8,000 commencement notices in quarter 1 of 2026. These are facts. It is not enough; we want to get to 50,000 per annum.  In terms of the exemptions, the Deputy said exemptions were a good idea if just for family members. I think that is what she said. If it is just for family members, are they no longer cabins? The Deputy used very derogatory language when she said they were for rent, but if the very same structures are built for family members what are they? They are not cabins anyway, because they have to be in alignment with the existing building record regulations. I think many people will welcome this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  Are you going to check it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We will keep it under review. We will look at every single way we can ease pressure on people, ease pressure on the private rental market and also give opportunities to people. We will follow up with guidelines for rural housing. We have a crisis with housing but we will never solve it if we criticise every single measure that a Government introduces, which the Social Democrats have been doing for five years. I believe we have to explore every option to get more houses built. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  When the Taoiseach comes in here week after week and gives this profoundly positive spin about housing, I have to wonder if he even feels convinced by his own words. We do not just have record rents and record house prices; we have record homelessness. We are talking about more than 17,000 homeless people, including more than 5,500 children, and the Taoiseach comes in here and gives this unbelievably positive message. He then says that this Government is not out of touch. It is difficult to even respond to but ultimately, it is evasion, deflection and a way of avoiding the question so I will just ask him again. Does he accept that people renting these cabins, these sheds in people's gardens, will not have any protection or any renters' rights? Is he okay with that? If not, what is he going to do about it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I am solution driven in terms of housing and the Deputy is not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  Answer the question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Sorry, I am answering the question. The Social Democrats, for example, voted against all residential zoning proposals on Fingal County Council. Two weeks ago, when the council agreed development plans to zone for 5,000 additional homes, the Social Democrats opposed them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Cummins  Shocking. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  They opposed the project in Ballymastone as well. People are now living in those houses. The Social Democrats cannot just keep opposing everything and claim they are serious about housing. That is the point I am making. Choices have to be made. As regards the planning in terms of the exemptions and so on, it is a major package of exempted development regulations to reduce planning bureaucracy. Planning bureaucracy has slowed us down in terms of housing provision. This will speed up delivery of additional units and maximise existing housing stock. It frees local authority resources for large-scale projects, introduces clear national standards, allows subdivision of homes to create just one additional unit, simplifies attic conversions and supports rental supply. The rent-a-room relief applies. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  All waffle. Answer the question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  All of that will happen. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  All waffle. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  No, it is not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  The Taoiseach will not answer the question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I am very clear: we will reduce the pressure on the----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  What about renters who will be stuck renting these----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Roderic O'Gorman is on his feet. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  Thank you, a Cheann Comhairle. At Cabinet today I understand the Government approved Robert Watt to head the special purpose vehicle, SPV, charged with addressing dereliction in Dublin city centre. His appointment comes a full 18 months after the report of the Dublin city task force was published but, helpfully, 24 hours before the writ is moved for the Dublin Central by-election. The task force report proposed a set of ten recommendations, or ten big moves, for the city. Tackling vacancy and dereliction and bringing abandoned sites in the city centre back to productive use is one of those big moves. City council officials have told councillors that the special purpose vehicle Robert Watt will head up will lead on the vacancy and dereliction work and will have another role in one of the other recommendations, namely revitalising O'Connell Street and the surrounding areas. Two of the recommendations, therefore, are being led by the SPV.  I want to ask the Taoiseach about some of the other recommendations. What of the recommendation for a total regeneration of social housing complexes in the city centre, giving tenants warmer homes and protecting them from the worst of the next energy crisis? What about the recommendation to deliver better and more localised services for vulnerable populations? What about the recommendation to provide an additional 1,000 garda\u00ed across the city centre area? I cannot say the Government is doing nothing about that last recommendation. The Dublin Inquirer reported that in the 18 months since the report was published, 40 extra garda\u00ed have been appointed across the two city centre districts. On that trajectory, those additional 1,000 garda\u00ed will be provided some time in mid-2063.  I have been out canvassing across Dublin Central with our candidate, Councillor Janet Horner. The lack of Garda presence and the sense that low- to mid-level antisocial behaviour is now just tolerated are prevalent across all communities. The task force report itself sets out that a total of \u20ac750 million to \u20ac1 billion in extra investment is necessary to deliver all ten big moves.  As the voters of Dublin Central put their attention to the by-election, I have three questions for the Taoiseach. When will the large-scale regeneration of social housing begin? Is the Government still committed to the additional 1,000 garda\u00ed, and when will they be delivered by? How much additional spending - I am speaking about additional spending - has been provided to date to implement the task force's ten recommendations? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I was out in Dublin Central last evening with Councillor John Stephens, and it was a very pleasant evening indeed. There was good feedback and a lot of issues raised, of course, on the doorsteps.  Yes, approval has been given to the expected appointment of Robert Watt as CEO, seconded to the special purpose vehicle. The SPV is a key legal vehicle to ensure not only the implementation of the task force report, but also the regeneration of the core of Dublin city, particularly the O'Connell Street area more generally, because it will have powers and capacity. The Government will not be found wanting in supporting housing provision in the area. There is, as the Deputy knows, quite a range of properties in private sector hands at the moment. That is an evolving situation, but I would like to have a situation emerge where the State has greater capacity to revitalise key assets on O'Connell Street, in particular the GPO.  We are doing a lot of investment in Moore Street.  The last budget dramatically and significantly expanded the living in the city initiative. A lot more substantial grants are now available to support living above the shop and to support mixed-use development. We are also committed to unlocking under-used urban space for housing and enterprise and then pulling everything together under planning, housing, transport and heritage, so that we get a consistent, one approach to the development of the city.  Dublin City Council has begun the task of setting up the Dublin city task force special purpose vehicle. The CEO designate is Robert Watt. It is putting in staff with the required technical skills for an interim programme management unit. Essentially, all the building blocks are being put in place now to get moving on what is a ten-year integrated area strategy for Dublin city centre. It will tackle vacancy and dereliction and get real change and will transform the situation there. I am confident we can do it. As a Government, we are very committed to doing it. We believe the GPO will be a major flagship project at the core of Dublin city.  Various funding streams will facilitate the objectives both of the task force and the special purpose vehicle itself. Getting the special purpose vehicle together is taking a bit of time. In terms of garda\u00ed, we have significantly increased their number. We have continued to do so and recruitment at Templemore is very positive at the moment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  The Taoiseach says the Government will not be found wanting and he has listed a number of undoubtedly valuable projects, like the Moore Street regeneration. However, these were in train years before the Dublin task force published its report. The whole idea behind setting up the task force was because additionality was needed to move the dial within Dublin's city centre. It was never meant to be a repackaging of stuff we were doing already. The Taoiseach says he has been out canvassing, and I am sure he will be back again. I think the Taoiseach will need better answers for the people of Dublin Central because he has consistently cited the special purpose vehicle. Yes, that is important in terms of the regeneration of O'Connell Street and the surrounding areas but the work on Dublin City Council's social housing stock is not being led by the special purpose vehicle. So many of those tenants are suffering from the energy price crisis now but that work is not being led by that. Will he give me clarity on who leads that work? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It is not as if we are not investing right now, as the Deputy knows. About \u20ac132 million from the urban regeneration and development fund, URDF, has already been already allocated for the north inner city concept area 1 proposal. This involves the regeneration and redevelopment of several areas of the north city that have suffered from dereliction and decline. Some \u20ac60 million of URDF funding has been allocated to the Parnell Square cultural quarter project and a \u20ac44 million project to refurbish the fruit and vegetable market is currently on site. That is outside the core inner city area but it is adjacent to it and it will be an important driver of regeneration.  On policing, we have about 3,894 garda\u00ed assigned in the Dublin metropolitan region, supported by 90 Garda reserves and 463 civilian staff. The Dublin north central and south central divisions were the first areas to roll out the new high visibility policing initiative. During the first six months of the roll out there were increased detections for public order offences. Body-worn cameras are in use across three stations. I know the Deputy was against them but they are helping with the detection and reduction of crime as well. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_3","debateType":"orderofBusiness","bill":null,"showAs":"An tOrd Gn\u00f3 - Order of Business","counts":{"speechCount":84,"speakerCount":22},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Brady","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  In accordance with Standing Order 35 I call on the Chief Whip, Deputy Butler, to move the arrangements for this week's business. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Mary Butler)  I move:  Tuesday's business shall be:  Motion re Eleventh Report of the Standing Committee of Selection (without debate and any division claimed to be taken immediately)  Motion re Organisation of Working Time (Reproductive Health Related Leave) Bill 2021 (without debate)  Tuesday's private members' business shall be the Motion re Special Education, selected by Sinn F\u00e9in.  Wednesday's business shall be:  Statements and Q&A post European Council meeting of 19th March 2026, pursuant to Standing Order 133 (not to exceed 1 hour 33.5 mins, followed by 20 mins Q&A and Ministerial response for 5 mins)  Public Health (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill 2026 (Second Stage) (to be taken no earlier than 4.10 p.m. and if not previously concluded, to adjourn at the end of the first speaking round; not to exceed 3 hours and 34 minutes)  Motion re Proposed approval by D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann of a Council Decision to resume Vehicle Registration Data exchange with the United Kingdom for the prevention and investigation of criminal offences (to be taken no earlier than 6.30 p.m. and to conclude within 60 mins)  Health Information Bill 2024 (Amendments from the Seanad) (to conclude within 1 hour)  Motion re Bye-Election for Dublin Central (without debate and any division claimed to be taken immediately)  Motion re Bye-Election for Galway West (without debate and any division claimed to be taken immediately)  Wednesday's private members' business shall be the Motion re Earth Day, selected by Independent and Parties Technical Group.  Thursday evening business shall be the Second Stage of the Education (Medical Emergencies in Schools) Bill 2026, sponsored by Deputy Eoghan Kenny.   Proposed Arrangements for this week\u2019s business:   In relation to Tuesday\u2019s business, it is proposed that:  notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders:  ( a ) Parliamentary Questions to the T\u00e1naiste and Minister for Finance pursuant to Standing Order 47(1), that were due to be taken on Tuesday 14 April, 2026 shall be taken today for 96.5 minutes immediately following the Questions to the Taoiseach;  ( b ) private members business shall be taken on conclusion of Parliamentary Questions to the T\u00e1naiste and Minister for Finance pursuant to Standing Order 47(1) with consequential effect on the commencement times for the items following in the ordinary routine of business;  the proceedings on the Motion re Eleventh Report of the Standing Committee of Selection shall be taken without debate and any division claimed thereon shall be taken immediately; and the proceedings on the Motion re Organisation of Working Time (Reproductive Health Related Leave) Bill 2021 shall be taken without debate.  In relation to Wednesday's business, it is proposed that:  notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders:  ( a ) the time allotted for Government Business shall be extended in accordance with the arrangements for that business and the D\u00e1il may sit later than 9.30 p.m.;  ( b ) the Statements and Q&A post European Council meeting of 19th March 2026, pursuant to Standing Order 133, shall be taken at the time when the SOS pursuant to Standing Order 25(1) would normally be taken, and on the conclusion of the Minister\u2019s response to the statements, the sitting shall stand suspended either for one hour or until 4.10 p.m., whichever is the later;  ( c ) in the event proceedings on the Public Health (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill 2026 conclude before 6.30 p.m., the sitting shall stand suspended until 6.30 p.m. when the order of business shall resume with the Motion re Proposal approval by D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann of a Council Decision to resume Vehicle Registration Data exchange with the United Kingdom for the prevention and investigation of criminal offences;  ( d ) any motions to be taken without debate shall be taken on the conclusion of proceedings on the Health Information Bill 2024; and  ( e ) the weekly division time shall be taken on the conclusion of proceedings on any motions without debate;  2. the Statements and Q&A post European Council meeting of 19th March 2026, pursuant to Standing Order 133, shall not exceed 1 hour and 58.5 minutes, and the order of speaking and allocation of time shall be as follows:  (a) the arrangements for the statements, not including the Ministerial response, shall be in accordance with the arrangements contained in the table immediately below (to be read across);  (b) following the statements, questions and answers shall be taken for 20 minutes;  (c) on the conclusion of the questions and answers, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed five minutes; and  (d) members may share time.          Gov      SF      Lab      Gov      SF       Mins    15    10    5    9    3.5           SD      Gov      SF      IPTG      Gov       Mins    5    8    3.5    5    8           SF      ITG      Gov      SF             Mins    3.5    5    8    5           Total: 1 hr and 33.5 mins                          3. the proceedings on the Second Stage of the Public Health (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill 2026 shall, if not previously concluded, be interrupted and stand adjourned at the end of the first speaking round and the following arrangements shall apply:  ( a ) the first-round speeches, not including the Ministerial response, shall be in accordance with the table below (to be read across);  ( b ) where speeches conclude before the 3 hours and 24 minutes have elapsed and no other member is offering, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a speech in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes; and  (c) members may share time;          Gov      SF      Lab      Gov      SF       Mins    20    20    20    12    4           SD      Gov      SF      IPTG      Gov       Mins    20    12    4    20    12           SF      ITG      Gov      SF      OM       Mins    4    20    12    4    20       Total: 3 hrs and 24 minutes                          4. the proceedings on the Second Stage of the Public Health (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill 2026 shall, if not previously concluded, be interrupted and stand adjourned at the end of the first speaking round and the following arrangements shall apply:  ( a ) the first-round speeches, not including the Ministerial response, shall be in accordance with the table below (to be read across);  ( b ) where speeches conclude before the 3 hours and 24 minutes have elapsed and no other member is offering, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a speech in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes; and  (c) members may share time;  the proceedings on the Motion re Proposed approval by D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann of a Council Decision to resume Vehicle Registration Data exchange with the United Kingdom for the prevention and investigation of criminal offences shall be taken no earlier than 6.30 p.m. and shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 60 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply thereto:  (a) the order of speaking and allocation of time shall be as follows:-  opening speech by a Minister or Minister of State \u2013 10 minutes;  speeches by representatives of Sinn F\u00e9in, the Labour Party, Social Democrats, Independent and Parties Technical Group, and Independent Technical Group \u2013 7.5 minutes per party or group;  speeches by non-party\/group members \u2013 7.5 minutes in total; and  a speech in response by the Minister \u2013 5 minutes; and  (b) members may share time;  the proceedings on the amendments from the Seanad to the Health Information Bill 2024 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 1 hour, and any amendments from the Seanad not disposed of shall be decided by one question which shall be put from the Chair, and which shall, in relation to amendments to the Seanad amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Health;  the proceedings on the Motion re Bye-Election for Dublin Central shall be taken without debate and any division claimed thereon shall be taken immediately; and  the proceedings on the Motion re Bye-Election for Galway West shall be taken without debate and any division claimed thereon shall be taken immediately.  In relation to Thursday's business, it is proposed that:  notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders:  ( a ) topical issues shall be taken immediately following the SOS for not more than 120 minutes and up to ten topical issues may be taken; and  ( b ) Parliamentary Questions to the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science pursuant to Standing Order 47(1), that were due to be taken on Tuesday 24 March, 2026 shall be taken today for 96.5 minutes immediately following Topical Issues, with consequential effect on the commencement time for the Second Stage of the Education (Medical Emergencies in Schools) Bill 2026 and on the time for the adjournment of the D\u00e1il. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Are the proposed arrangements agreed to? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Not agreed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  The former leader of Fine Gael let the cat out of the bag in recent days. He said out loud what has been whispered by senior Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael personnel for many years - this divide-and-conquer approach between urban and rural Ireland. People in rural Ireland see the carbon tax as a penalisation of them for choices they do not get to make.  They have to heat their homes with home heating oil. They need to use petrol and diesel to get by in rural Ireland. I want clarity from the leaders of Fine Gael and Fianna F\u00e1il in the D\u00e1il. I want respect for people in Ireland. The Government must stop using this approach of divide and conquer on our people. It is fooling nobody. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  Since November, the Government has been acutely aware of the exponential growth in the number of children who require an additional needs school place for the coming academic year. While I welcome the fact that over 430 classes have been made available, the exponential growth in demand means that nearly 600 special classes are required. The Taoiseach, the T\u00e1naiste and the Ministers have been aware of this since November. We are six months in now. We need statements in the D\u00e1il on how we are going to deal with this exponential growth. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  Inclusive education in this country has been limping from one disaster to the next. In September, there were not enough school places. In November, the portal closed, meaning that parents could not notify the NCSE of their children's needs. In February, we had the situation with the SNAs. Now, in April, we have a new inclusive special education system. Does the Government actually have a plan for special education that is fully thought out? We need a proper debate on special education in this Chamber. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  We need urgent explanations and statements from the Ministers on the use of Shannon Airport and Irish airspace by the United States military while it is conducting with Israel its brutal and illegal wars against Iran and Lebanon and the ongoing genocide of the people of Gaza. This is particularly needed given that the number of US overflights has increased by 56% since the Iran war started and that, incredibly, the Department of foreign affairs undercounted US military flights through Irish airspace by 250 flights. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  In 2016, when the Taoiseach was in opposition, he said:  ...political parties should not think Parliament is their possession and that they can control anything that happens. To date, we have had such an experience, where Deputies have been removed from committees because they voted against the Government's line.  Why has he now done a 360\u00b0 turn in trying to remove Deputy Danny Healy-Rae from the agriculture committee at 3 p.m. because he voted against the Government? This decision has to be reversed and we need a debate on the issue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  A Cheann Comhairle, under----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call on the Chief Whip to respond. I am sorry but Deputy Healy-Rae is not entitled to speak. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  Under Standing Order 35(3)----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  Justice for the Kilgarvan one. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  Under Standing Order 35(3), I believe I am entitled to say a few words. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  No, Standing Order 35(3) allows Members to move amendments to the Order of Business. Does the Deputy have an amendment? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  I have. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I ask the Deputy to state his amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  My amendment is that I be allowed stay on the committee on agriculture. My understanding is that I was appointed as an Independent member rather than a Government or Fianna F\u00e1il member. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  That is fine. I call on the Chief Whip to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  Just so that all Deputies are aware, I will clarify that they do not need to be a member of a committee to attend meetings. I note the comments made and the requests for statements. These will be considered at the meeting of the Business Committee on Thursday, as normal. The Order of Business stands. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Is the Order of Business agreed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Not agreed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  Justice for Danny. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael attempted a shameful plan to cut SNAs, with some schools facing a loss of as many as six or seven SNAs with absolutely devastating consequences for children and young people. Of course, they were forced into a U-turn by the anger from parents, children, young people and, of course, SNAs. This cannot happen again. Our motion this evening calls on the Government to immediately engage with the Save our SNAs campaign and advance and implement its updated and improved circular on the role of SNAs. This is all to ensure that every child and young person gets the supports they need. Will the Taoiseach agree to engage with the campaign and support the new circular? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I introduced the whole concept of special needs assistants to education back in 1998. The numbers have grown expediently since. We are now at 25,000 SNAs. In any honest way, how can the Deputy suggest there are cuts in the number of SNAs when it is the opposite direction? In fact, the Government today approved further investment in education, which will mean more special needs assistants above the 25,000 for the 2026 to 2027 school year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Will the Government engage with the campaign? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The campaign is a flawed campaign. It is a false one. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  It is what? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We do not need to save SNAs because we are expanding the number of SNAs. We actually have more SNAs. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  It is a very real campaign. I am asking the Taoiseach to engage with it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We have more investment. The Deputy is searching for votes. I understand that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Taoiseach. I call Deputy Bacik. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We are actually investing more. The Government has approved more investment in SNAs today. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  The Government will not engage with it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  Today, a survivor of a mother and home, Rosemary Adaser, along with human rights barrister, Caoilfhionn Gallagher, were in Leinster House meeting TDs, including my Labour Party colleague, Deputy Ahern. They met with the special advocate for survivors, Patricia Carey. They are seeking clarity on Philomena's law. They want to ensure justice for mother and baby home survivors who are now resident in Britain - 13,000 people from Ireland. There are welcome guidelines in place since 9 April but survivors are still concerned that without statutory unpinning in particular that there may be an issue about the retrospective effect. They fear that 700 survivors who have already applied to the redress scheme in Ireland may lose out on benefits in England.  I raised this last year with the Taoiseach on the visit to the D\u00e1il by Liam Conlon, the MP for Beckenham and Penge in England, who had brought forward Philomena's law in Westminster. The Taoiseach issued a joint communiqu\u00e9 with the British Prime Minister from the Cork summit in March on this but we just need to ensure the Government can work with the British Government to ensure clarity for the survivors. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy. Time is up. I ask the Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  There comes a time when one has to accept the bona fides of the Government on this. We have worked with Keir Starmer's Government on this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  I acknowledge that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We had a very good outcome on this, thankfully, when we got the British Government to agree. We are very confident that they will receive redress and that they will not be disadvantaged on receipt of redress in terms of whatever welfare or benefits they may be on in the United Kingdom. That was a good outcome of the UK-Ireland summit that we had in March. That is what we want to do. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  It is the retrospective effect----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Please, Deputy. We do not do back and forth in questions like this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Liam Quaide  There is a shocking double standard in how mental health services for young people with intellectual disabilities are staffed compared with mainstream CAMHS. In mainstream CAMHS, multidisciplinary staffing is treated as basic good practice. Yet in CAMHS-ID teams, for a group of children with even more complex needs, there is a far lower standard set by the Government. There is not a single CAMHS-ID team in the country staffed to the level set out in the HSE's own model. The services overall are funded at only 43% of the recommended level. In some parts of the country, such as Cavan-Monaghan, these specialist services do not exist at all. Elsewhere CAMHS-ID services exist only in the most threadbare form with a psychiatrist working with one or two other colleagues. This matters enormously in light of Kerry CAMHS where children with intellectual disabilities and autistic children were among those most badly failed with little or no meaningful multidisciplinary intervention alongside extreme overprescribing and polypharmacy. How can the Government justify this lower standard of support for some of the most vulnerable young people in mental health services? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy's time is up. I ask the Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising the question. We are increasing investment incrementally year-on-year in this area. We started from a low base in respect of CAMHS-ID. I think there is an extra \u20ac2 million for that specific area in this year's budget. We are going to increase that. Recruitment has been challenging but we are going to expand it and are going to continue to expand it. There are about 45 people working in that area at the moment but we need more obviously. We are going to continue to invest and expand. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  I ask the Taoiseach to make a public statement directed at the German Government in support of Daniel Tatlow-Devally who is an Irish citizen who has been incarcerated along with four other fellow activists in a German high security prison for 11 months. He is going on trial next Monday because he was involved in a direct action against Elbit Systems that produces weapons in Germany for the Israeli regime and its genocide against the Palestinian people. He is being tried under legislation which is normally reserved for organised criminals. His treatment and the treatment of his fellow activists is outrageous.  It was direct action but it was a peaceful protest. They even filmed themselves and in no way resisted arrest. They are being treated shockingly. They are on trial. It starts next Monday. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank the Deputy. The Taoiseach to reply. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  The Irish Government should speak up in support of these activists, including our Irish citizens. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call on the Taoiseach to respond. The Deputy's time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  My understanding is that consular services are being made available to those involved in this. The Deputy has not defined what he means by direct action. We will do everything we can to uphold the human rights of any Irish citizen in any jurisdiction. That will continue. We will continue to do that. The courts and the legal system in a given country will also have to take their course. We do not have the capacity to interfere or intervene in the court processes and the hearing of a particular case, but we can and do advocate for citizens so that their basic human rights would be respected in all circumstances. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  They are not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  In my constituency a family have already buried one child due to Friedreich's ataxia and their second child is now in a wheelchair due to the same disease, which is advancing. A treatment called SkyClarys is clinically approved and has been shown to slow the progress and the State refuses to reimburse it. Let me be clear: this is not about science or availability; this is about a decision not to fund. What does the Taoiseach say to parents watching their child's disease progress in real time while a treatment exists but is withheld? I want to ask him a direct question. Will he instruct the Minister for Health to fast-track a reimbursement decision for SkyClarys and define the timeframe? Yes or no. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  First, it is not a simple decision not to fund. That is not a fair way of putting it. I have spoken to the Minister for Health on this issue. As the Deputy knows, there is a legislative framework governing the reimbursement of medicines, particularly for rare conditions. This is a very sad case with very difficult circumstances for the family. I have spoken to the Minister and I will continue to engage with her this week. I cannot promise anything today. The health technology assessment was not positive in terms of how they do their work. It is an area on which I will come back to the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul McAuliffe  I want to raise with the Taoiseach a fairly harrowing incident that took place in my constituency over the weekend. Mary, a 91-year-old lady, fell and injured her hip at 2.15 p.m. and despite an ambulance being called, none attended to her until 6.15 p.m.. She was waiting, lying on the ground, for over four hours for an ambulance. A member of the Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na was there to assist her, and members of the public were there. This has caused widespread consternation in our community and led to other people worrying. Will the Taoiseach help me get to the bottom of what has happened here? Will he make sure that we have continued investment in our fire-based emergency service in Dublin, of which we are very proud? Will he also help bring an end to the practice whereby ambulance drivers have to wait at acute hospitals for long periods to transfer patients from their care into the care of the hospital? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank Deputy McAuliffe. I certainly will try to help him to get the background to what happened here if he could feed more information and details to me. As he is aware, the Dublin Fire Brigade ambulance service covers the Dublin area. It is unacceptable that a woman would be lying on the ground for four hours. I will get a response from the ambulance service for the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Grace Boland  Our airports and ports are the front door to this country, but we are making public transport unnecessarily difficult for visitors from the moment they arrive. Visitors still need a Leap card or the exact coins to use a Dublin Bus service. As we know, contactless tap-and-go is not expected to be fully rolled out in Dublin only until 2028. Leap cards are regularly sold out at Dublin Airport at the few retail outlets that sell them. There are regular reports of people being unable to buy Leap cards. There is a clear lack of visible information for passengers arriving at the airport on where they can purchase them. The reality is that visitors can land in Ireland and still struggle to pay for a simple bus journey into the city. It is not rocket science. Will the Taoiseach please talk to the Minister for Transport and ask him to instruct the NTA to liaise with both Dublin Airport and Dublin Port to make sure that we install Leap card machines so that visitors to our country can easily access the city? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  In fairness, the NTA and the airport regularly engage, and resources have been made available. However, I will speak to the Minister in respect of the general area. He is well aware of it. Again, the airport authorities and the NTA have a lot of resources. They have a lot of their own resources, or the airport certainly has. There are times too when these agencies need to get on with it. It is not always at the Minister's desk. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Brady","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Brady  Last Friday, a constituent of mine from Wicklow presented at St. Vincent's University Hospital A and E after suffering a suspected mini-stroke. He was vulnerable and afraid but after being seen was told nothing would happen over the weekend. He was told to go home and come back on Monday. He did exactly that. Yesterday morning, he went back as instructed but then had to wait for hour after hour. Morning turned to night, and at midnight he was still left sitting in the A and E, which was absolutely bursting at the seams. Then the reality of it came. After being admitted, there were no beds, not even a trolley. He was given a chair and placed in a shower room in the A and E, with four other men and a woman, all of whom were patients. All were left sitting because there was nowhere else to put them. They were left there for several more hours. That is not care or dignity, and it is totally unacceptable. Under the Taoiseach\u2019s watch, as this is happening, what is he doing in the here and now to address this crisis within our A and Es, not just at St. Vincent's down the road but also right across the State? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  There has been a huge investment in the reform of A and E services. We need to focus in on the management of the resources within given hospitals. The Deputy said the person had a stroke. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Brady","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Brady  A mini-stroke. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Any person with a stroke should not be sent home in the first instance. That is a clinical issue. That is what would jump out at me immediately. Having to come back a couple of days later is a worry from a clinical-outcome perspective. I do not know whether the person has made a complaint or whether the Deputy has done so on his behalf. That should happen because then we could track and get answers and responses. That should not happen. There is no excuse for that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed  It was good to welcome the Taoiseach to Fairview yesterday for the Land Development Agency, LDA, sod turning at Richmond Village, which involves 779 homes within a close shout of the city centre. The tenancy mix has not yet been determined. Does the Taoiseach agree that affordable homes for purchase is probably the best way to give citizens a stake in their communities? Does he agree that while the LDA has this mandate, in theory it probably could be strengthened further, although it will involve resourcing? Will he encourage the LDA to work towards a maximum amount of affordable-purchase housing at the Richmond Village site? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I do not want to get into specific interventions in terms of mixed tenure or the approach at any given site of the LDA. We have indicated to the LDA that it can do more than social and affordable housing and move into the private-provision area as well to get a broader mix. It is a very good development, with 779 homes. Many big developments are now coming under the aegis of the LDA. It really is the key national intervention in housing at the moment. Thousands upon thousands of houses are under its stewardship right now, and thousands more are in the pipeline. As it evolves, I see as flexible and broad a mix as possible. I am sure the LDA will take on board what has been said in respect of the Richmond Village site. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Ardagh  I previously introduced right-to-be-forgotten legislation as a Private Members' Bill. The Central Bank (Amendment) Bill was adopted by the Government and obviously was part of the programme for Government. However, we are still waiting on the Government amendments so that legislation can be progressed to Committee Stage. So many cancer survivors are waiting for this legislation to give them certainty, especially when seeking to buy a home. The right-to-be-forgotten legislation allows cancer survivors to move on from their cancer diagnoses so that after a period of five years or so, these diagnoses will not be considered when they are seeking life cover to purchase homes. I ask the Taoiseach to find out when the Government amendments will be published so the right-to-be-forgotten legislation can move to Committee Stage and be progressed further because there are a lot of people waiting for it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy very much. I pay tribute to her on her initiative on the legislation, which she introduced. I will talk to the Minister, Deputy Harris, and the Minister of State, Deputy Robert Troy, about when they expect the amendments to come forward. I will revert to the Deputy because I believe it is important legislation, particularly for those with cancer and survivors of cancer. This Bill will be of great benefit. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy R\u00e9ada Cronin  The dire condition of another school in my constituency in of Kildare North, this time in Celbridge, is causing distress to students and teachers. Scoil na Mainistreach has had an ongoing issue with a roof over the past few years, and it is only getting worse. The school has had contractors out and they said it should not attempt another patch job after numerous patch jobs given the poor construction of the school in the first instance. The contractors are also concerned that the internal structure of the school has been damaged.  The school decided to apply for funding under the emergency works scheme as it was too late for the summer works scheme but it was rejected by the Department as it does not fall under the category of emergency works. To parents in Celbridge who are sick and tired of their schools being disregarded by the Department of education, this is just pedantic. I ask the Taoiseach to speak to the Minister and her Department to cut through the red tape and ensure the school gets a new roof over the summer, ensuring no further damage to the building. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  A new roof probably does not fall under emergency works but probably falls under some project. An entire new roof would be substantial----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy R\u00e9ada Cronin  I know but----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----but I will talk to the Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy R\u00e9ada Cronin  Come on, lads. Get----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I know but the minor works scheme is for lesser works. I am not going to get into that but I think it is a project in itself. I do not know where the project is in terms of the various stages with the Department but I will talk to the Minister for education in respect of it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  Many people got packages over the past week or so. People with machines involved in the construction industry and the provision of services, whether pipelaying for water, electricity or telecommunications, use a lot of green diesel. To my understanding, they have not been included in any package. The cost of building and construction is going up every day but this has been exacerbated a lot further. I ask the Taoiseach to consider looking after those involved in services provision and the construction industry because rollers, diggers, cranes and every kind of machine is run on green diesel. That has gone up by over 80 cent and has only gone down, as far as I can see, by only 5 cents. A lot more needs to be done. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I appreciate the Deputy raising the issue. Certain aspects of construction are covered by the schemes but not machinery yet. However, I will ask the various Ministers covering agriculture and transport to have a look at this. Again, we have made progress on a number of fronts. We have to await the detailed development of the schemes in terms of contractors and farmers. The transport scheme is nearing completion. I will talk to the relevant Ministers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  The recently announced results of the primary school survey indicated some very interesting results. Sixty percent of parents in the denominational schools would like to retain their ethos and 73% of parents in single-sex schools wanted to move to a co-educational model. Eighty seven percent of parents with children in English-medium schools wanted those schools to retain that medium and not move to Irish. The results are very interesting but they are only part of the results. The results from the cohort of parents with children from age zero to school age have not come out, and neither have those of the educators who were able to fill in that information. They have not been published. What is the timeframe for publication?  Unfortunately, divestment is moving at nought miles per hour. The move to co-educational is very welcome. It is bringing us into the present as opposed to keeping us in the past. The result on the Gaeilge is a little disappointing. When will the results of the full survey be published and what process will be put in place to ensure divestment and other things move a little bit quicker? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy very much for raising the issue. It is a very interesting survey which will inform policy development in time. There has to be significant consultation. I will talk to the Minister and ask her to perhaps engage with the Deputy on the next steps.  I did not quite get the point the Deputy made about Gaeilge. We will talk later. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  A total of 87% want their schools to stay English-medium schools. Only a small number want to move to Gaeilge-medium schools. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Gaelchol\u00e1ist\u00ed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  Would the Taoiseach live in a shed? The Government's plan to allow landlords to rent out modular units risks subjecting renters, vulnerable young people and migrants to this very phenomenon. This is potentially opening the door to the exploitation of vulnerable renters in the private rental market. Yes, we need more flexibility for exempted development but allowing landlords to rent these units out is not acceptable. This will lead to poor-quality expensive rental accommodation. It is absolutely outrageous, in my view, to rent these out on the open market and to treat tenants as licensees with very few protections. Will the Government at least pause this until a full review of licence arrangements is completed and basic protections for tenants are put in place? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  They are not sheds. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  They can be. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy is just playing politics by calling them sheds. If they were not for rent, they would be not sheds. It is so hypocritical. If we came in and said planning exemptions for relatives or for sons and daughters for buildings outside, such as residential units in the back garden, would be introduced, they would not be sheds any more according to the Deputy, but the minute we said they would be for rent, they are sheds. This is what he is saying. It makes no logical sense. There are potential costs of up to \u20ac80,000. Those are not sheds. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  Some of them are. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy is already making up his mind before anything is built. Does he care about supply at all? Does he really care about it? Is housing just a game in here where we keep on shouting names across at each other? I think the planning exemptions are good. They will release planners from all the small stuff that goes on such as attics and Velux windows, which people go on and on about. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  The proposed development of a respite and day service support for individuals with an intellectual disability and an autism centre in Dunmanway is a live project. It is a project that has been discussed for over ten years. While it moves at a snail's pace, sometimes it stops. The former Minister of State, Anne Rabbitte, did a lot of work on it - I give her credit where credit is due - and had progressed it to the point of moving faster. In recent months, John and Mary McCarthy in Dunmanway donated the grounds so now it is up to the HSE to make the next move but it continues to go from person to person because somebody moves to another area and then another area. Jim O'Mahony and the rest of the Kilbrittain committee are extremely frustrated at the way it has dragged on. They are all doing voluntary work dragging in funds as best they can so this project can go ahead. Will the Taoiseach look into it and find out where it is at and how we can we progress it to the point of it going to planning? That is a very important stage and it is not there at this present time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I think I might have met with people at the very beginning and I did outline that the initial work had to be done to make sure that current funding was available and that it was aligning with existing plans because the land has been donated voluntarily and freely and a huge amount of voluntary fundraising has taken place. I will ask the HSE what the state of play is now to make sure we get this moving. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"An tOrd Gn\u00f3 - Order of Business"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_8","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/38","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/38\/dail\/1","houseCode":"dail","stage":"1","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Life Annuity (Ireland) Bill 2026: First Stage (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Life Annuity (Ireland) Bill 2026: First Stage","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Ardagh  I move:  That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to provide for the establishment and regulation of Life Annuity agreements for homeowners, to provide for consumer protections, and to provide for related matters.  This Private Members' Bill comes from a very practical place. It comes from my work as a public representative and a solicitor dealing with people who are trying to navigate their financial situation later in life at a time when they are arguably vulnerable and should be able to enjoy those years and not have to worry about financial challenges and risks. Time and again, I have seen people who own their homes and have worked hard all their lives to do so but find themselves with very limited options when it comes to accessing the value of their assets when they need it. They are in many cases asset rich but cash poor. When they look for solutions, the options available to them are not always suitable. In reality, the main option currently available on the table is the traditional equity relief scheme. Many people will know of seniors' money products, which often have very high compounding interest rates and complex terms and which can over time significantly reduce the value of the person's home or wipe it out completely.  Crucially, those products do not provide people with a steady income to support their day-to-day lives so this Bill is about offering an alternative to those who need it. It is not about encouraging people to release equity from their homes and it is not about replacing existing products. It is about creating an additional regulated option that will be suitable for many. This regulation introduces a framework for what is known as a life annuity model. Similar systems have been operated successfully in other countries, including France. Many people would be familiar with a viager scheme. Under this model, a homeowner can receive a lump sum and an ongoing income in exchange for transferring an interest in their property while retaining a legally protected right to remain living in their home for the rest of their life. The financial terms are determined in a structured way with actuarial input ensuring that arrangements are fair and reflective of individual circumstances. It is important to say that arrangements like this are already happening. They are happening informally and privately and without any real regulatory oversight and this is where the risk lies. People are entering into agreements without clear protections, without standardisation and without safeguards we would expect in any modern financial system.  What this Bill seeks to do is bring those arrangements into the open to regulate them and to ensure they are fair, transparent and properly overseen. At its core, it is about giving people certainty - certainty that they can remain in their home, certainty that the terms they are entering into are fair and certainty that proper protections are in place. The Bill includes a number of safeguards. It requires independent financial legal advice, provides for a cooling-off period and clear disclosure requirements and ensures that these agreements are subject to proper regulatory oversight. Most importantly, it protects the homeowner's rights to remain in their home for life. This is a central principle of this legislation.  This Bill also recognises the broader reality that people are living longer, that the costs of living are increasing and that many people are looking for practical ways to support themselves financially while remaining in their own homes. For some, this type of arrangement may be the suitable option, while for others it will not be. This is entirely as it should be. The Bill does not prescribe a solution. It merely creates a framework. It provides a choice and I hope that regardless of political perspectives, Members of this House can engage with that principle because, ultimately, this is about dignity, independence and giving people financial options later in life. I commend this Bill to the House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Is the Bill opposed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Mary Butler)  It is not being opposed. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Since this is a Private Members' Bill, Second Stage must, under Standing Orders, be taken in Private Members' time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Ardagh  I move: \"That Second Stage be taken in Private Members' time.\" "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Life Annuity (Ireland) Bill 2026: First Stage"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_9","debateType":"#bill.2026.38.dail.1","bill":null,"showAs":"Eleventh Report of the Standing Committee of Selection: Motion","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Mary Butler)  I move:  That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann, pursuant to Standing Order 33, and with effect from 21st April, 2026, approves the Eleventh Report of the Standing Committee of Selection, copies of which were laid before D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann on 17th April, 2026. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Eleventh Report of the Standing Committee of Selection: Motion"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_14","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Organisation of Working Time (Reproductive Health Related Leave) Bill 2021: Motion","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_14","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marie Sherlock  I move:  That notwithstanding the Order of the D\u00e1il of 1st May, 2025, Deputy Marie Sherlock be designated the member in charge of the Organisation of Working Time (Reproductive Health Related Leave) Bill 2021. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank the Deputy. Before we move to Taoiseach's Questions, I welcome Shillelagh National School to the Gallery. You are most welcome. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  What is the name? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Shillelagh, County Wicklow, guests of Deputy Brian Brennan. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Organisation of Working Time (Reproductive Health Related Leave) Bill 2021: Motion"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_15","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna - Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna - Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_16","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Child Poverty","counts":{"speechCount":15,"speakerCount":9},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_15","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","showAs":"Ceisteanna - Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_16","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_16.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I would like to take the opportunity to welcome Shillelagh National School pupils to D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann. They are very welcome indeed.  I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 16, inclusive, together.  Reducing child poverty is a key priority for this Government, as set out in the programme for Government. In September 2025, the Government agreed a new and ambitious child poverty target to reduce the child consistent poverty rate to 3% or less by the end of 2030 from the current rate of 7.8%. This target is guiding decisions, action and investment across government.  In budget 2026, the Government prioritised targeted supports for those impacted by poverty. Some \u20ac28.9 billion will be spent on social protection this year, including over \u20ac1.15 billion of new measures to assist households and more than \u20ac320 million in targeted measures designed to tackle child poverty. Key measures include the largest ever increases to child support payments, higher income thresholds for the working family payment and expanded access to the fuel allowance and the back to school clothing and footwear allowance. These measures are in addition to cross-government initiatives under way, such as free school meals, free schoolbooks, free GP visit cards and enhancements to the early childhood care and education schemes, including the development of our new DEIS strategy. This will include DEIS plus, which includes more targeted measures for schools with severe disadvantage. It is very encouraging to see the effects of these measures starting to take hold.  Recent data from the Central Statistics Office's Survey on Income and Living Conditions 2025, published on 11 March, shows a welcome reduction in the child consistent poverty rate in 2025 from 8.5% to 7.8%, demonstrating the impact of Government measures to date. However, of course, we know we have to do much more to deliver our target and enhance long-term outcomes for children and society generally.  While consistent poverty is a very important metric, it is not the only way we have of measuring how children are doing. The programme office on child poverty and well-being has compiled a dashboard of indicators that will be used alongside the new child poverty target. This captures the multidimensional nature of child poverty and well-being, as alongside income supports, we are also advancing actions in housing, employment, childcare and public services.  The Government\u2019s new housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities, recognises that homelessness is the single most pressing social issue that we face. It provides dedicated capital funding of \u20ac100 million, which will be ring-fenced to support local authorities to acquire properties to tackle long-term homelessness. This funding will be used specifically to acquire suitable units to exit families who are the longest in emergency accommodation and for Housing First units for individuals with complex needs who are experiencing homelessness. Given the importance of this issue for child well-being, the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of housing are working together on a new action plan on child and family homelessness, supported by relevant Departments and State bodies. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  We have 16 Members offering. I propose a minute each. I call Deputy Catherine Ardagh. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Ardagh  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an gCeann Comhairle. CSO data show that one-parent families make up around one in four families nationally but this rises to over one in three in Dublin city. These households, predominantly led by women, are far more exposed to deprivation and lower incomes. In areas like Dublin South-Central, where disadvantage is more concentrated, what targeted measures will be introduced to specifically support lone-parent families and reduce child poverty? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Connolly  Among the priorities of the child poverty and well-being programme in the Taoiseach's Department is to enhance participation in culture, arts and sport for children and young people affected by poverty. In many of our disadvantaged communities, there is an absence of active and passive recreational spaces where children can congregate, come together, enjoy each other's company and generate some positivity from each other. Last year, the Government provided \u20ac500,000 spread across all local authorities, a maximum of \u20ac20,000 per local authority. We need to increase that funding.  Yesterday, I was in the Headford Road part of Galway city. It is an area of significant population with one of the biggest DEIS schools in the city. It has no playground and very little by way of play spaces or active recreational spaces.  We need to look at this area in terms of disadvantaged communities, and enhancing and further providing facilities for the children of those communities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aidan Farrelly  I fully support the measures the Taoiseach has outlined. The target of 3% is commendable. Ultimately, we should be working towards a complete eradication of child poverty. While that is aspirational, it should be the target. This time last year, many rumours abounded about the inclusion of a second tier of child benefit as part of budget 2026. Ultimately, it did not make the cut. Can the Taoiseach can confirm what plans there are within his Department, alongside that of the Minister, Deputy Dara Calleary, to ensure that we will see a second tier of child benefit payment introduced in budget 2027 as a real, concrete measure to tackle child poverty? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  The Taoiseach mentioned child poverty. There are a quarter of a million children in forced deprivation, 8% in consistent poverty, and one in five workers is low-paid in an economy that has vast wealth and a budget surplus. The Taoiseach mentioned DEIS plus. In Dublin 15 and much of the constituency I represent, there is huge anger among principals that so many schools have been left off the DEIS plus list. Earlier I raised the two primary schools in Corduff left off DEIS plus even though it is an area where principals have described gangland crime and criminality. I refer also to Blakestown Community School. Not one secondary school in Dublin 15 was included on the list, despite us having the youngest population and huge areas of poverty. All of the orange parts of the map I am holding up are in these areas I am talking about. Blakestown Community School has very disadvantaged status. It has problems with educational attainment, employment issues, criminality and lone parents. A significant number of children live in care or emergency accommodation. There are English language learners, a huge number of pupils of heritage status other than Irish and children with Traveller identity who do not want to identify as Travellers. The school experiences so many of these issues. If we look at the overall population of schoolgoing age, it is absolutely baffling that one primary school, Ladyswell National School in Mulhuddart, and no secondary school made the DEIS plus list. There is a superleague of poverty now that the Government is forcing schools to compete in. All schools should be getting these supports. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  The latest figures on child poverty are showing exactly what we feared. Over a quarter of children aged under 16 are growing up in poverty. The Government has received warning after warning and it did not listen. I want to talk about the Clondalkin Equine Centre in my own area. It is a wonderful place. It is in an area of high deprivation as the Pobal index will tell us. It is like an oasis of calm in a really disadvantaged area. Last Thursday, we had a wonderful visit from President Catherine Connolly to the equine centre. It was fantastic. The kids were absolutely brilliant in showing the President around the area. The equine centre does not receive any core funding. It has 20 stables and it is not able to be self-sufficient. It is in danger of closing. What supports are in place for a centre like this in an area of high deprivation that has high levels of child poverty? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  Last weekend, I listened to constituents in apartment dwellings who are struggling with the rising cost of energy, particularly single parents. A singular plug-in solar system would have a payback period, depending on grant size, of between 12 and 24 months. In conjunction, if we used 500 W and 800 W, it would really help people who do not have access to rooftops to reduce their energy bills. Is there any update from the Department of the Taoiseach? I welcome the work of the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien on this issue of plug-in solar. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  The issue of child poverty can be exacerbated by disability. I want to bring up the case of 14-year-old Harry. He is non-verbal and has been diagnosed with ASD, ADHD and general moderate learning disability. He has been in University Hospital Limerick, UHL, since 30 March. He is in a state of extreme distress and is engaging in daily self-injurious behaviour. He is confined to a single hospital room under 24-hour supervision by security guards. This is a medical setting. Timber blocks have been installed on windows to prevent escape. This is a repeat of a 2022 incident where Harry was similarly marooned in UHL due to lack of appropriate HSE disability provision. He has been in a full-time disability service run by RehabCare for the past four years. He was put in a temporary Red House facility in Limerick on 11 February 2026. On 30 March, he escaped this, barefoot, releasing fire exits and climbing gates. He was on the main road. He was, and is, in a situation that is not appropriate. The family cannot get sufficient communication from the HSE. We need a solution to this situation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Understandably, it is not necessarily a child poverty issue but the Taoiseach might address it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I appreciate all the questions that have been asked. The Deputies have raised some important issues. Deputy Ardagh raised the issue of lone-parent families. It is correct that they can be particularly vulnerable at times to higher levels of deprivation or poverty. Child support payments are a very effective way to give additional supports. The latest budget saw a record increase of \u20ac8 for under-12s and \u20ac16 for children aged 12 and over, I think. We are going to continue to do that.  That relates to the question about a second-tier payment. There are a number of mechanisms to get there. I will engage again with the Minister, Deputy Calleary on this for the next budget. The child poverty unit in the Department of the Taoiseach is engaging with all Departments but particularly the Department of Social Protection in terms of how we can increase income supports. The child support payment is a very direct and effective way to support. There are also means test thresholds we can look at as well to facilitate lone parents who are working to receive higher payments. The free books scheme and hot school meals scheme also help and facilitate lone-parent families. In some instances, the DEIS scheme is significant as well as DEIS Plus. We will continue in terms of the child support payments, higher income thresholds, access to fuel allowance, back to school clothing and footwear allowances. They were all expanded this year to about an extra 50,000 people. Some of those were lone parents. The free GP visit cards for everyone under eight, and better enhancements to the early childhood care and education schemes will all be supportive. We will engage with the organisations representing lone parents to see what more we can do to improve that situation.  Deputy John Connolly raised a very important issue. I think \u20ac500,000 is too low. That probably came under the Department of children. It is too low. For years there have been problems in terms of children's playgrounds coming under different Departments. I absolutely agree that recreational space is vital to the well-being of any child. The Deputy mentioned Headford. Some areas of our cities historically never had enough green area provided. We can do more and can do better on that. I will keep an eye on that in the context of the next budget to enhance that fund. I will talk to the relevant Ministers, both in terms of children and disability but also in terms of allocations to local authorities more generally. Some of these initiatives suffer from pass-the-parcel between different Departments. The point is very well-made in terms of availability of play facilities. Play is key to child development. Children learn far more through play at an earlier age than through formal education so it is critically important.  On the two-tier child benefit, we had a lot of discussion on it last year and I engaged with the Department of social protection, the Minister, Deputy Calleary and the Secretary General. One of the challenges was that under the model, a lot of existing families could lose out. We do not want that to happen. A lot of design work is under way. It is an open question as to whether we will go for a ring-fenced second tier or will continue to enhance child support payments, which have a very positive and immediate impact on child poverty rates.  We are also looking at the cost of disability. The Minister has convened stakeholders' groups to consult on how a cost-of-disability payment would work, the extent of it, the limits and so on and who would benefit. That is not unrelated to child poverty either and could be a particular support to families of children with disabilities.  In terms of DEIS plus, I do not like the phrase super league of poverty; that is unfair. We have the DEIS programme which is quite extensive and which we expanded significantly about two and a half years ago. It means a significant reduction in the pupil-teacher ratio in those schools, additional financial supports and other supports. The DEIS plus was set up with a view to having a targeted approach for very severely disadvantaged schools, even more than the DEIS itself. By definition it is not for every school. Targeting is important in the allocation of resources. There is actually something wrong if everybody gets it because that is not actually helping children who need it most.  Politicians did not decide the list; it was independently decided. We can look at the methodology. I accept that sometimes we look at it and wonder how a particular school did not get in when another school did. We can look at the research and those who did the research to identify the schools that qualified for DEIS plus. There are significant issues in many communities - not all Government-created. We have to respond to and deal with them, and help the children who suffer as a result of particular background issues or whatever. DEIS plus is one further measure to assist children who are in very difficult situations to enable them to learn properly and to have some chance in life. That is what we are doing with the DEIS plus scheme.  Deputy Ward asked about the equine centre in Clondalkin. I am a strong believer in equine centres. They can have positive therapeutic and recreational impacts for young people, in particular children. I am not sure if the Deputy was saying there an issue with the funding there. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  There is no core funding for it at the moment. It is trying everything. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I know the HSE is funding some equine centres but they may be of a different kind than the one in Clondalkin. I think the one in Clondalkin is more generally directed at youth so the Department of Education and Youth should be dealing with that. I will take that back to the Minister for Education and Youth to see what we can do there.  Deputy Heneghan spoke about the plug-in solar system. The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, is very open to that. Anything that enhances the ability of people to reduce their energy costs is something we should be doing and investing in because it leads to a permanent reduction in their costs. I know the Deputy has been a very strong advocate for novel approaches to energy efficiency, such as the private wires Bill and plug-in solar. The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, is very open to this and I will ask him to meet the Deputy to pursue this and to engage on it.  Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa raised a very distressing and sad case. I am always somewhat reluctant to discuss individual cases of children in the D\u00e1il or in public. The HSE should develop capacities to help children in situations like this to avoid having a child locked up in what seems to be a mental health unit in a hospital. It is Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, is it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  No, it is in Limerick. Deputy McGettigan gave me the details and I can send them on to the Taoiseach afterwards. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  If the Deputy sends me the details, we will pursue that. It is a very distressing case indeed. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Child Poverty"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_17","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Disability Services","counts":{"speechCount":26,"speakerCount":8},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_15","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","showAs":"Ceisteanna - Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_17.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I propose to take Questions Nos. 17 to 25, inclusive, together.  Improving the lives of disabled people, advancing their rights and enabling them to reach their full potential, is a core focus and priority of the Government. The Budget 2026: Spotlight on Disability report was published by my Department in December 2025. This is the first budget spotlight report prepared by the disability unit in the Department of the Taoiseach, which was established to bring a renewed focus, urgency and weight to disability issues.  Drawing on inputs received from Departments, the report outlines new or enhanced disability-related measures introduced in budget 2026 that will support the implementation of the Government's overarching strategy for disability, the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030.  The report finds that budget 2026 had a particularly strong focus on investment in both disability and mainstream services. A record \u20ac3.8 billion allocation to the Department of Children, Disability and Equality for specialist disability services represents a 20% increase in funding for disability services, which will improve both the sustainability of the sector and the delivery of residential, respite and therapy services for children and adults.  The disabilities workforce is growing year on year. From the end of December 2019 to September 2025, the disabilities workforce in HSE and section 38 providers grew by over 21%. Building on growth achieved in 2025, budget 2026 will allow for further targeted expansion in the workforce across key services. In 2026, funding has been allocated for an additional 945 whole-time equivalents, which will bring the disability workforce to almost 23,600 by the end of this year.  Budget 2026 is not just about investing in recruitment but retaining the people we already have in the sector. This includes investing in pay and pay-related costs, such as those associated with recent pay deals and providing funding to meet the costs of the pay deal agreed with workers in section-39-funded services in the voluntary sector.  Last year the HSE appointed an assistant national director for the disabilities workforce to drive disability workforce initiatives with particular emphasis on enhancing recruitment and retention in children\u2019s disability network teams. Additionally, a first-ever dedicated national director for disability will be recruited in the HSE, as well as six new regional disability leads in the health regions.  During 2025, the HSE has focused on analysing retention challenges to inform the development of meaningful retention actions. A disability workforce strategy will be developed by the HSE in 2026 to meet growing service demands and address recruitment and retention challenges across specialist disability services, including children\u2019s disability network teams.  Special education also saw record investment under budget 2026, totalling \u20ac3 billion, which will see an additional 860 special education teachers appointed along with over 1,700 special needs assistants. In February this year, the Minister, Deputy Naughton, announced the phased roll-out of the new education therapy service, which will see occupational therapists and speech and language therapists placed in schools. The first 45 special schools to benefit from this service have been selected and are based in clusters in Carlow, Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kildare, Kilkenny, Louth, Laois, Limerick, Longford, Meath, Monaghan, Tipperary, Westmeath, Wexford and Wicklow. The Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, and the Minister, Deputy Naughton, intend to have a further roll-out of the service on a phased basis with a wider roll-out to special schools commencing in the 2026-2027 school year.  The current assessment of need system is not working as it should for children, many of whom are on long waiting lists for services. Work continues to fully resource children\u2019s disability network teams to enhance capacity. It is important to note that children do not require an assessment of need to access health services, including primary care, children\u2019s disability network teams and mental health services.  Since June 2024, over 7,700 clinical assessments have been commissioned privately through the assessment of need, AON, targeted wait list initiative to support the delivery of AON reports, at a cost of \u20ac27.8 million. Budget 2026 allocated a further \u20ac20 million to this initiative to deliver up to 6,000 additional clinical assessments, with a specific focus on autism assessments.  Other initiatives outlined in the report include increased investment in housing adaptation grants and in the public transport retrofit programme, along with enhanced supports for employers for the employment of disabled people.  In addition, budget 2026 also contained targeted and mainstream social protection measures which will support households with disabilities, including increases in weekly rates, expansion of eligibility to schemes and amendments to income disregards for carers. Budget 2026 is a first step in the Government\u2019s ambition to deliver the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030. I believe we have made a strong start in year one of our programme of work and investment. Future budgets are expected to build on this progress to ensure disabled people are supported, empowered, and enabled to fully participate in their communities and society. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Connolly  We all very much welcome the introduction, as the Taoiseach mentioned, of the new therapy and education service that will be implemented in special schools from next September. I very much welcome this for two schools in my constituency, \u00c1balta Special School and St. Joseph's Special School. One other commitment of the programme for Government - I think it is also included in the strategy in the Taoiseach's Department for tackling child poverty and supporting well-being, which the Taoiseach spoke about earlier - is to implement a single point of access for children referred to primary care, disability or mental health services. We are all familiar with the frustration of parents who are referred for a particular service and, when they visit that service, are advised that it is not the appropriate service for their child. People will be familiar with terms like CAMHS, CAMHS-ID, community psychology, disability network teams and assessments of need. It is crucial that we actively seek to implement a service such that there is no wrong door for the parent, that whatever referral they receive can act on the needs of their child and that these services work together and co-ordinate together to make sure that the child receives the appropriate service they need in a timely manner. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  Budget 2026 unforgivably made some people in receipt of disability payments up to \u20ac1,400 worse off. People with disabilities want to contribute to society and want jobs in their communities. They have the same ambitions in life as everybody else. Ireland has one of the lowest disability employment rates in the EU, at between 32% and 33%. That is nearly 20 percentage points below the EU average. The wage subsidy scheme, which financially supports employers who employ people with disabilities, has facilitated the participation of many disabled people in the workforce. However, disabled entrepreneurs are excluded. Therefore, employers are financially supported to hire disabled people but disabled people are not supported to employ themselves. As the Taoiseach's Government has said that it will prioritise disability, will he examine how the wage subsidy scheme can be expanded to include disabled entrepreneurs? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Liam Quaide  Does the Government accept that disability service delivery in this State has become extraordinarily fragmented and that this fragmentation is making it impossible to guarantee equity, to plan services properly or to ensure public money is being used in the most effective way? I ask this because a recent response to a parliamentary question of mine shows that the HSE now has approximately 1,172 service arrangements or grant aid agreements with over 494 organisations providing disability services on its behalf. This includes 226 private, for-profit companies. On paper, we talk about integrated, standardised, person-centred community services; in practice, what we have is a disjointed system that is haphazard, dispersed and, essentially, ungovernable. When services are channelled through hundreds of separate organisations, it becomes much more difficult, if not impossible, to ensure a similar standard of support regardless of where a person lives. It also inevitably means waste through duplication, administration and contract management. What will the Government do to move towards a genuinely direct public provision of disability services, proper workforce planning and genuinely standardised rights-based support for disabled people and their families? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  Two years ago the parents of Dublin 15 took to the streets, or took to autism-friendly protests in parks, to highlight the dire situation whereby they could not get proper education for disabled, neurodivergent or autistic children. Two years on, we had a special task force in the area, which, as the Taoiseach well knows because it has been raised several times, did a huge review, but that review has not been published. We have 19 secondary school students who do not have school places in the area as well as many primary students. I want to mention one school that has written to me and all TDs, namely Hansfield Educate Together National School. It says it will have to consider putting students on----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Again? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  Hansfield, in Ongar. It will have to consider putting students on shortened school days, which is reprehensible. The school knows it will get flak for it but feels it has no alternative. It asked for an ANA and SNA review for an increased allocation and it was refused. It has seven new students who need SNAs. Only one student left. It also has 13 emerging students who need support and it has two autism classes in which at least two students have been told by the professional care team that they need one-to-one SNA support. The Government is not providing basic SNAs to the schools that need them. Why is that? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  I welcome the improvements for disabilities that were highlighted but I would like to raise some issues I would love to be addressed as well. We would love some more attention in Dublin Bay North for Stapolin Educate Together National School. I have raised this multiple times. It has great staff. I visited again recently and it has a fantastic campaign on behalf of the children I represent in Dublin Bay North. The school is looking for a modular building so it can have a special class sanctioned. Speaking to the SNAs in that school----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Sorry? It has a sanction? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  It has not had the special class sanctioned because it has no room in the school, so it needs a modular building. I have spoken to the SNAs across my constituency as well and they----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  What is the name of the school? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  Stapolin Educate Together National School in Baldoyle. I have spoken to those SNAs and some of them are involved in the Save our SNAs campaign, which has developed an alternative circular.  Also, last week we had the residential placement for people with intellectual disabilities in north Dublin from the Before We Die campaign.  I am sorry for raising two matters with the Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I was contacted by somebody, like the Taoiseach, who might have an interest in the all-Ireland final on 19 July, before anyone mentions the county I am from, which is doing quite well at the moment. The fact is that the free travel option they would have on the basis of their disability was not available in the rail options that were open to them. They wanted this highlighted as a point.  I agree with Deputy Conway-Walsh, and we have spoken before about the need for a cost-of-disability payment, but we need to increase supports for those in work too. The work and access programme and the wage subsidy scheme need to be looked at. The latter definitely needs to be applied to those who are also self-employed and entrepreneurs.  I will give one example of another specific issue:  I am writing to ask for your assistance regarding an issue I'm experiencing with the current taxi licensing system. I have a long-term spinal condition which limits my ability to carry out heavy manual handling. Under the current regulations, new taxi licences are restricted to wheelchair-accessible vehicles and standard saloon taxi licences are no longer being issued. As I am not in a position to safely operate a WAV due to my condition, I find myself effectively without a viable pathway into the taxi profession.  Obviously, this is an unintended consequence, but it is something we need to look at. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Deputy John Connolly was the first to ask a question. The schools therapy programme is working well. On the issue of the single point of access, the HSE has embarked on the idea of a one-door approach. The outgoing CEO, Bernard Gloster, was very focused on this. All last year at the Cabinet subcommittee on disability, he gave a very clear undertaking on behalf of the HSE that there would be a single point of access. Culturally and every other way, that is now being rolled out across the HSE. Deputy Connolly is absolutely correct when he says that children should not be moved from pillar to post. There should be one point open and there is now. It has been established. I will ask the HSE to get a report to the Deputy in terms of an update on it, but obviously a big change like that will take some time to bed down and be uniform. It is not disconnected from school places or the broader area of looking after children with disabilities such that we can move faster to provide the services the children require as opposed to being put from pillar to post. I will ask the HSE if we can get an update on that for the Deputy. He is absolutely correct that it is the only way to go. Up to last year, the situation was not acceptable. We had a debate about the therapy in schools service. I undertook prior to the election that it was a red-line issue for us that we wanted a schools-based therapy service. In many ways, that flowed from the inadequacy of what was happening within the health service in respect of therapy services and provision.  To Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh, I would say that the budget allocated \u20ac3 billion to special education alone. There was \u20ac130 million for grants to adapt the homes of older people and disabled people. There is a \u20ac10 increase in the disability allowance and the expansion of the wage subsidy scheme. There was a \u20ac375 increase to the income limit for carer's benefit and we increased the monthly domiciliary care allowance by \u20ac20. There is a lot of long-term, permanent, positive measures for disability. The Deputy is correct in raising the wage subsidy issue. I have spoken to the Minister, Deputy Calleary, on this. Improvements were made last year but we are open to more radical improvements. In particular, I will speak to the Minister about disabled entrepreneurs. I do not see any reason they should be excluded from the wage subsidy scheme. We also need to look at the facility and capacity of people with disabilities to participate in the workforce without losing their disability allowance immediately. There are lots of issues around that. There are limits to how much a person's income rises. We need to be a bit more radical in that respect. Workplace participation will be an area of focus in the next budget. People with disabilities are not being given enough opportunities to enter the workplace. We have a poor record on this as a society and as a country. We have to do far better in that respect. The public service has made a lot of progress but needs to make more progress in facilitating employment.  We have various employment schemes, such as Deaf Enterprises in my own area. We have made good progress with the HSE in that regard but for a long time there was no clear structure to support highly qualified craftwork such as upholstery and the repair of furniture, which is a great circular economy solution to the wider community that benefits. They were very skilled people but the financial sustainability and underpinning of it was not what it should be, so every now and again they would come looking for a bailout or some supports. We have improved upon that. Those are the areas. There are many other kinds of enterprises of that kind that we will do better on.  I agree with Deputy Quaide that it is fragmented. We have inherited a system long before the State became involved in the seventies in disabilities where many of what we now call section 38 and section 39 organisations emerged from a period before State intervention, when organisations were set up to look after people with disabilities. We have come a long way since then but it is still problematic. There have been lots of improvements, including service level agreements, regarding complementarity with the State but the sustainability of quite a number of the organisations is an issue. In the long-term evolution of services for disabilities, there will have to be greater State involvement but that can only happen through an evolutionary process. There is a lot of expertise in these bodies as well, which we cannot lose. There is great voluntary endeavour and community and family engagement attached to it, all of which are positives when channelled and supported in the right direction. We do need to work hard at that. I think the Deputy said there are 1,172 grant-aided organisations providing services. Some are small and some are very large. We need to improve and streamline the relationship with the HSE regarding accountability and strategic future planning. I have an interest in this area. It is one of the reasons we have brought the ETBs in more on special education. Over time, the ETBs will have to develop capacity and experience, which they may not have had. At least now they have a wide range of resources and administrative capacity that can support the establishment of new special schools at primary and post-primary level. Perhaps we could have new campuses in education which would involve what we might call mainstream primary and secondary and special education schools all on the one campus. Ideally, that is where we should head in future school development so that there is proper integration on the campus overall. However, I do not disagree with the Deputy's fundamental point regarding the fragmentation.  To Deputy Coppinger, I will seek out where that report is. There is no reason it should not be published. In terms of Hansfield and Ongar, we will engage. We will have 25,000 SNAs this year. We might now have more because the Government took a decision this morning in terms of the inclusive special school model, which will mean significantly more teachers and SNAs. This is because of the increased numbers who availed of the portal that was opened early last October. I cannot go into detail on every specific school but I do not know whether they have appealed that decision by the NCSE in respect of the number of SNAs they have sought.  Deputy Heneghan raised the issue of the modular building. I will ask the Minister for education to respond. I do not know if the Deputy has talked to the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, about this or not. Regarding the Save our SNAs campaign, I will meet the group and anyone who wants to meet me. My main point was that we are not in the zone where we have to save SNAs, because the number of SNAs is expanding. We will have a workforce planning framework for SNAs. Redeployment means that there will be employment security. I have a great commitment to SNAs. I introduced the concept in 1998 when I was Minister for education, and the number has grown exponentially. I see it increasing. The school therapy service is very important. I also think we have to look at other methods and supports that schools may require, such as behavioural therapy over time. There is not a one-size-fits-all model for how we approach children in need.  On the Before We Die campaign, I have met the group. At the next meeting of the disability committee, we will be looking specifically at that shelter issue. I have spoken to the Ministers for housing and disability. It will take a whole-of-government approach to make sure that we can provide adequate sheltered housing and supported housing for adults with disabilities so as to relieve their parents of the stress and anxiety they are currently experiencing.  Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa referred to the wage subsidy campaign and the all-Ireland, did he? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  It was about all-Ireland tickets for the person who could not get the free travel option for the all-Ireland final date. They have tried to book it but they are not able to get the free travel option. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  For the all-Ireland? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  Exactly. They are getting ahead of themselves, but you know----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  There must be a lot of them from Cork, are there? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  There may be. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I will follow that up. It is not available on the date, is it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  No, it is----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It rarely is though for the special services, is it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  No, but these are not even the extra services that are put on. Usually this would be available but it is not available. The other thing was the guy with the spinal injury. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  He cannot get to the match. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  No. The guy with the spinal injury has been knocked out of the taxi industry because he has to buy a wheelchair-accessible vehicle and he is not able to operate it. I understand how this has happened. I will send it on. It is an unintended consequence. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa, I am sure the Taoiseach will follow up with you. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Disability Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_18","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_19","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Tax Rebates","counts":{"speechCount":12,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_18","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_19","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_19.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Obviously, the priority questions were submitted before the announcements last week, which the Government was forced to make by people pressure and by parties in opposition like Sinn F\u00e9in, but we know that half measures do not cut it. Still we see so many people, particularly hauliers, who are locked out of the rebate scheme. There are reasons for this, such as if they are transporting livestock, their own product or if they do not have a haulage licence. There is a serious issue with cash flow. I have argued time and again with the Taoiseach that the direct reduction needs to be given at the fuel pumps. That would benefit not only hauliers but also everybody else who relies on petrol and diesel and who are paying extortionate prices during this time of crisis. Will the T\u00e1naiste finally listen, see sense and actually cut fuel prices to affordable levels at the pumps? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Finance (Deputy Simon Harris)  I have looked at this issue in terms of both access and cash flow in relation to the diesel rebate scheme. As the Deputy knows, the diesel rebate scheme is a state aid that provides qualifying road haulage and passenger transport operators with a partial repayment of mineral oil tax paid on auto diesel. The scheme operates in accordance with the EU's energy tax directive, as it must, and with the general block exemption regulation on state aid. In 2025, almost \u20ac40 million was paid out under the scheme, providing targeted support to the road haulage and passenger transport sectors.  The diesel rebate scheme rate of repayment is linked to the average retail price of auto diesel, based on data from the CSO. A 7.5 cent rebate has applied to all claims over the period from quarter 1 of 2021 to quarter 4 of 2025. In response to the current fuel crisis, I recently increased the repayment cap from 7.5 cent per litre to 12 cent per litre. This enhanced repayment rate applies to claims in respect of fuel purchased from 1 January to 30 June this year.  The Deputy raised a genuinely interesting point regarding the point at which the rebate is applied. I have been looking into this. I am advised by Revenue that the operation of the diesel rebate scheme on a remission basis at the pump is not compatible with the legal basis of the scheme as repayment rates are determined on an ex-post basis. I looked at whether the scheme could be redesigned but, even if the scheme were redesigned, the application of mineral oil tax reductions at the pump to qualifying transport operators would require the introduction of complex real-time validation systems and shift compliance risks to fuel retailers. For these reasons, Revenue considers that improvements are more appropriately focused on administrative efficiencies to lead to faster repayments. Revenue encourages customers to file claims immediately when the period to claim opens, which I believe many do, and to ensure that claims are completed correctly and that supporting documentation is available if requested by Revenue.  Revenue is mindful of the financial impact of the current increase in fuel prices and the importance of the rebate scheme to licensed operators. It will work with claimants who are unable to obtain tax clearance on a case-by-case basis. Where a claimant has tax clearance and yet has some tax liabilities, Revenue will process any claim and offset any refunds against liabilities. I will have another chance to come in but, as is always the case with cash flow issues, it is important that there is engagement with Revenue. I know that Revenue will be constructive in that regard. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  The T\u00e1naiste is missing the point here. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I am trying not to. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I do not know if he is doing it deliberately or not. If you cut excise duty directly at the pump, it benefits the hauliers, transport operators and bus companies that need that measure for cash flow, but it also benefits everybody else. It benefits carers, nurses, doctors, teachers, street cleaners and everybody else in society. That is what should be happening here. That is the best way to cut costs for the hauliers, who would then not have to wait three months and deal with more paperwork and red tape as they fill in applications to the rebate scheme. What people are demanding and took to the streets for, although the T\u00e1naiste refused to listen to them, is a cut to excise duty at the pumps. They wanted costs driven down. There is still capacity to do some of that because we are still not at the minimum levels of excise duty on petrol and diesel. A carer who rocks up to the petrol station tomorrow will pay \u20ac2.07 per litre. He or she is paying more excise duty on that litre of diesel than is required under EU law. That is a fact and that is wrong. It is wrong at a time of huge surpluses in this State and when the Government now has \u20ac4.1 billion extra that it did not expect to have. People are really suffering but the Government is still refusing to listen, refusing to understand and, what is worse, refusing to act appropriately. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I will make a couple of points. We are not refusing to listen and we are certainly not refusing to act. We have brought in one of the largest packages of support in the European Union. That is a statement of fact. That is the right thing to do because our economy enables us to.  Second, I do not say this to be argumentative but, on diesel, the advice available to me is that we have actually gone further than the energy tax directive allows. We have had to write to Europe to seek a derogation in that regard. That is genuinely advice that has been made available to me. We have gone further than we should have under the EU energy tax directive, such is the scale of the challenge around diesel.  Third, I am answering the specific question the Deputy tabled, No. 231, which relates to the diesel rebate scheme. This is a very valuable scheme. Hauliers value it and farm contractors sought it. The sector sees value in the scheme. The Deputy asked me what I thought was a very legitimate question and I am endeavouring to answer it in good faith. He asked whether there is a better way of administering the scheme. The specific question I was asked was whether we should look at trying to provide the benefit of this scheme as a direct cut. The advice available to me suggests that would not be the most effective way to go about it and that it could actually lead to a greater administrative burden.  Cash flow is a real issue and the Deputy is right to highlight it. I have asked the Revenue Commissioners to try to identify further administrative efficiencies to further improve this scheme from a cash flow perspective. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Does the Minister accept that the nurse pulling up to a petrol station, putting diesel into her car and paying \u20ac2.07 per litre, the price I was seeing last night, is paying more excise duty on that fuel than is required under EU law? It is a simple question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  Is the Deputy asking about excise duty on petrol or on diesel? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I am asking about diesel. Under European law, the minimum excise duty to be imposed on her diesel is \u20ac330 per 1,000 litres. She is paying more than that. That is the reality. The issue here is that the resources are in the State. The Minister knows that. The money is there. The money is there to help people. It is there to help hauliers, nurses and garda\u00ed. It is there to help the people but the Minister is refusing to do that. His head has been seriously stuck in the sand for the past two weeks. People power had to be employed in ways it had never been before to get Deputies Simon Harris and Miche\u00e1l Martin to wake up and listen. These half jobs are not good enough. Some \u20ac2.07 is far too high when it comes on top of everything else, including all of the pressures and the withdrawal of various supports from families last October. That is what the Minister is missing and what he is failing to understand. This question was very simple. The Minister can do this in a different way, which would benefit everybody but he does not want to do it because he is penny-pinching. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  We really are not. Significant lessons have been learned from the past number of weeks. The Deputy and I might agree on some and completely and utterly disagree on others. I was disappointed to see his support for blockades. I was not disappointed to see him joining protests. In fact, I would expect him to do so. That is fine in a democracy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I was disappointed when you threatened them with the Army. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I was genuinely disappointed to see several of the Deputy's colleagues refuse to condemn illegal action. I do think that is genuinely disappointing. We have to pull together and do our best. What I would say to those the Deputy has highlighted in this House, the nurses and those in other professions, is that the actions we have taken are real. There is \u20ac750 million worth of measures. The Deputy knows this brief well so he will know that not only will this package have a particular benefit in reducing the price of diesel and petrol compared to what it would have been and do things like extending the fuel allowance period and putting in place a diesel rebate scheme for hauliers and a package for farmers, but that it will also have the effect of reducing the inflation rate by about 0.6%. That is the advice of the chief economist. Although the inflation we will end up seeing in supermarkets will be too high as a result of this war, the rate would have been 0.6% higher were it not for this package. That also has a real and genuine benefit in trying to insulate people. We also have to keep some firepower for the winter. I have no doubt but that the Deputy will, quite rightly, have many ideas on what we should do to help people through a winter challenge. An energy crisis in the winter is even more challenging than one in the summer. This is a balance. I think the step-by-step approach is genuinely the right one. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Tax Rebates"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_20","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Tax Data","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_18","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_20","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_20.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  Will the T\u00e1naiste give us an account of his Department's assessment of the shortfall in revenue from the deferral of the carbon tax increase? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  The estimated cost of delaying the carbon tax increase on home heating fuels until October is \u20ac22 million. This represents approximately 2% of the overall carbon tax revenue allocated for expenditure in the last budget, which was over \u20ac1.1 billion. While there will be different views and perspectives on the carbon tax - I know the Deputy's view - I will be very clear that the carbon tax remains a core part of Ireland's climate policy, which aims to reach net-zero. The Deputy will agree that the need for society and the economy to decouple from fossil fuel dependence is even more apparent now, given the volatility in the international fuel markets. However, you also have to apply a degree of common sense. I am not suggesting the Deputy would not; I am just saying I had to. When we were limited in what we could do on the likes of home heating oil, allowing a carbon tax increase to proceed would have pushed up costs further. I did not believe that to be the right thing to do at this moment in time.  While we are not discussing it enough, the best way to insulate our economy and society from fuel price shocks is to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. Carbon tax funds are allocated for expenditure on measures that will achieve this such as the continuation of the national retrofitting programme, investment in community energy efficiency measures and funding for greener farming practices. I reassure the Deputy that the full amount allocated from that sum of just over \u20ac1.1 billion in budget 2026 will still be spent on the intended measures. In other words, the \u20ac22 million deferral will not come off the climate action fund or other climate measures. It will be met from running a smaller budget surplus. The allocations set out in budget 2026, which were approved by this Oireachtas, remain the voted amounts for the year. This includes carbon tax funding commitments incorporated into the national development plan, which provides medium-term certainty for sectors and communities supported by these measures. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  On the evening we voted on the financial resolutions, I noted that the T\u00e1naiste's decision to defer that increase shattered that coalition that had existed in this House across Government and some parts of the Opposition where difficult votes to support the carbon tax had been taken. I genuinely have to ask why. As the T\u00e1naiste pointed out, the value forgone is actually very small in terms of the overall package, \u20ac22 million out of \u20ac505 million. It is 4.3%. I spoke to a number of Fianna F\u00e1il backbenchers the next day and they made the point that for six years, they had gone out and batted for the carbon tax and the T\u00e1naiste's action had really pulled the rug out from underneath them in terms of the case they were making. By deferring the increase, the T\u00e1naiste has ceded the ground to those who say the carbon tax is the root of all evil, and he has lost that case for that constant expansion of that pool of money for ACRES, the warmer homes scheme and retrofits, and ultimately it has not won the T\u00e1naiste one iota of thanks from the people who have always opposed this particular measure. Again, I have to ask the T\u00e1naiste why he did it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I do not look for thanks in politics and I certainly do not look for thanks from political opponents. It is not why I do this job. I do look for ways of assisting people and you have to bring the people with you too. While the Deputy obviously supports the carbon tax, I appreciate that many in opposition stand by the carbon tax too and do not engage in populism on this. It is an important form of tax revenue. However, we do have to look at the reality in terms of the cost of a fill of home heating. We had to look at the reality in terms of green diesel. It did not make sense to decide to tell people that we were going to further increase the cost of their home heating oil.  There also needs to be a sense of perspective in relation to this. That decision has not resulted in any reduced amount of money being spent on the climate action fund or on the retrofitting programme or on the fuel allowance because it is \u20ac22 million. It is 2% of the total amount that we expect to take in. I would also make the broader point that when the carbon tax was legislated for, I think, in 2020, the war in Ukraine had not happened and the war in Iran had not happened. I support the carbon tax. Some in the Opposition do not and some in the Opposition do; that is fine. However, these are realities in terms of the impact on the energy market and you can believe in a carbon tax and also believe that now might not have been the right time to further increase it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  The T\u00e1naiste has spoken about common sense and it not making sense now to allow these increases to take place but he has to recognise the precedent that he set he it suspended the carbon tax increase because of the blockades in our streets. The T\u00e1naiste has to understand that the people who have seen him bend and break now will anticipate that he will do it again and will look to put that same level pressure on it when it comes to the next set of decisions coming in October of this year.  When it comes to October of this year, can the T\u00e1naiste set out what his starting point is in respect of the carbon tax? Is he committed to continuing to grow that pot of money that is available for ACRES to support farmers, to support the further roll out of the warmer homes scheme and other retrofit schemes, and to have additional money so social protection payments like the fuel allowance can be increased, or is it a wait and see matter? Are we just going to wait and see until October and see what level of pressure is going to deployed against him? Will his common sense mean that he will actually duck the decision again? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I do not think that is a fair portrayal. We have managed as a country to introduce a carbon tax. We have managed to bring in over \u20ac1 billion in it. We have managed to legislate for it on a multi-annual basis. We did not bomb Iran. We did not disrupt 20% of the world's energy supply. The Government has to use the levers at its disposal.  If we want to engage in real and meaningful climate action, we have to try to bring people with us, and the centre of Irish politics has to try to bring people with it as well. This measure needs to be seen in the round. It is 2% of the total amount we are expecting to take in carbon tax this year. It does not have an impact in reducing the climate action fund, and all taxation measures - and I say the same no matter what taxation measure I am asked about - are a matter of consideration at the budget. The tax strategy group in my Department looks at all things and I am committed to the carbon tax. I am committed to the legislation behind the carbon tax and committed to the carbon tax growing as part of our climate action in this country. However, I am also committed to looking at how we can assist people with their energy costs in the here and now, and there are some areas where there are limited tools available because there are no other excises on the fuels. Deputy Doherty and I had this debate. Carbon tax was on the kerosene. Some wanted me to reduce it. Instead, I just did not proceed with the increase, and I thought that was a balanced approach. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Tax Data"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_21","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Tax Reliefs","counts":{"speechCount":18,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_18","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_21.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  The Minister steadfastly refused to cut excise duty on green diesel, despite all of the evidence and the knowledge that farmers are under serious pressure. The reason is that the excise duty on green diesel is carbon tax. It is the carbon component. Does the T\u00e1naiste know something? A farmer does not care what it is called. He does not care whether it is excise, carbon or whatever else. He just knows that the price has gone from 97 cent a litre up to \u20ac1.80 and, as Minister for Finance, the T\u00e1naiste is refusing to cut it at the pumps. He has the ability today to still support farmers in a way that really matters, right here, right at the pumps, by actually removing carbon tax from green diesel. Why will he not do it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  If I adopt the approach as Minister for Finance of abolishing taxes and increasing spending, it does not get us to a good place as a country. That is why. It is not a sustainable economic policy to abolish that tax and increase public spending. We know where that will get us.  There are legitimate conversations we can have around windfall receipts and surpluses and around how to deploy them but the Deputy and I know that it is done in a one-off space. You do not do that in relation to more consistent measures and eroding the tax base would be doing a disservice to people in rural and urban Ireland as well.  The Deputy made the point - and I take it - that the farmer could not care whether it is carbon tax or not carbon tax; they just quite rightly care that the cost of green diesel is just too high. I accept that point but I would say back that they do not particularly care what lever we use to help them only that we help them. That is why is addition to the NORA levy and in addition to deciding not to proceed with the increase, we did also put in place a scheme. I accept the point from farmers and others that there needed to be a scheme and needed to be assistance. As the Deputy knows very well, we brought in a specific scheme - a fuel subsidy support scheme - under the Minister for agriculture's remit to assist farmers, agricultural contractors and fishers facing unprecedented increases in fuel payments. The payments will cover the months of March up until the end of July, which, as the Deputy knows, coincides with the peak fuel usage on farms. The scheme will provide around \u20ac20 million per month in supports, and it is worth approximately 20 cent per litre of marked gas oil, MGO. When that is combined that with the other measures, it is a significant, important and proportionate response as well. We have done some elements in relation to excise. Other than the carbon element, I admit there was not much to do. We did take action on the excise and on NORA and we have supplemented that with a 20 cent scheme that is worth roughly 20 cent per litre of MGO. That is the balanced approach we have taken to try to help. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  It would cost \u20ac14 million a month to actually remove carbon tax from green diesel, the cost of which has gone through the roof for farmers. Talk to agricultural contractors and talk to ordinary farmers. Talk to the farmers who are telling me that this scheme, which we have not seen as the applications are not even open yet because this a Government that dithers, delays and only acts when it is pushed into things, is going to create more paperwork. What the Government will not listen to is that it has the ability to reduce the excise duty on green diesel at the pump for the farmer right now. It would cost \u20ac14 million a month in the context of a surplus of over \u20ac9 billion, money we are going to take in this year, and we are not going to spend.  The T\u00e1naiste should not give me his guff about this breaking the economy. Supporting farmers is the right thing to do. It will not break the economy. Supporting farmers is what any responsible Government should be doing. The ability is here to support people in terms of the scale of this crisis but the Government is refusing to do it, and the reason it is refusing to do it is for the simple reason it is called carbon tax. Is that not the truth? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  No, the truth of the matter is that Sinn F\u00e9in is isolated on this issue. We heard a lot about the united Opposition. We had a vote in the D\u00e1il on this issue. Labour, the Social Democrats, the Green Party, the Government parties, the Government-supporting Independents, an overwhelming majority in the D\u00e1il, believe that the Sinn F\u00e9in position is short-sighted, short-termed and populist----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  The people backed me and----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  The Deputy is getting like----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy Doherty----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Talk to the people and the T\u00e1naiste will get that message very clearly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy Doherty, allow the T\u00e1naiste to conclude. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  You are living in this bubble too long, Simon. Go and talk to ordinary people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  If the people backed Sinn F\u00e9in, the Deputy would not have been the Opposition's spokesperson on finance for 16 years. The people do not back Sinn F\u00e9in, so stop speaking----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  For the past two elections, we have had more seats that Fine Gael. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy Doherty, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  The Deputy is over there shouting and roaring for 16 years. He must be exhausted but while he is over there shouting and roaring, we are working with constructive people in opposition and constructive people in government to try to pull this country together. While Sinn F\u00e9in wants to cause chaos, we have taken measures to help farmers.  I think the Deputy would accept that the IFA represents farmers. It has been in the room and has welcomed this scheme. He can pooh-pooh it. He is not a farmer and neither am I. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  The Minister needs to get his head out of the clouds and sand and talk to ordinary people. He can pontificate all he wants, point fingers at me and say I am isolated and people do not back me in here. I do not give a damn because I know that I am on the side of ordinary Irish people. I know that people are being pushed to the pin of their collar. I have met them on the streets and in homes across the State over the past number of weeks. I know they need action and leadership and they are not getting it from the Minister. That is what I am doing here. I am giving them a voice and I do not care who else is on my side because I know the side I am on. The Minister is on the wrong side.  The question people will ask me after this exchange will be how the fella across from me justifies \u20ac9 billion of a surplus. Last night I spoke to an elderly person in Galway who has no fuel in her tank to heat her home. Carers told me the old woman apologised to them because the house was so cold. At a time the Exchequer's coffers are bursting, people are going cold. That is not a republic that is worthy of the name. The Minister has the opportunity to change that and make a real difference for people, but he refuses to do so because he is too long in this bubble and is out of touch with ordinary people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  The Deputy is in a so-called bubble longer than me, but his anger might be making him forget that fact. He is in the bubble a long time. I am not sure who he thinks elects me to D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann, but he should come to Wicklow and meet the people who have never not elected me. He should not give me guff about who represents the ordinary people. Everybody in here has a mandate and people who vote for everybody are ordinary people. The Deputy does not have a monopoly on that.  He likes to suggest that the Government has not acted. Objectively, and ordinary people know this, the Government has put in place one of the largest packages in Europe. We have reduced the cost of diesel at the pump by 32 cent per litre. We have reduced the cost of petrol by 27 cent per litre. We introduced a scheme for farmers, hauliers and fishers. We cannot just see this crisis through the today and tomorrow because the Deputy and I know it will not end today or tomorrow. We have to prepare for the time ahead and that is why we published a series of economic forecasts that show how the economy will grow and inflation will impact in three different scenarios. That allows us in here - constructive ideas are welcome - and outside of here to frame budget 2027 and begin to put in place measures to help people. We will do so and we will get through this and do more to support people.  We cannot do everything in the here and now. We certainly cannot abolish every tax. The Deputy does not want to just abolish the carbon tax. He wants to abolish the property tax. If we abolish, abolish, abolish, how do we fund public services and make sure we have the resources we need in the future? He cannot ask me to abolish every tax that he does not like and increase public spending. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I am not asking the Minister. He should not be stupid. He should not be silly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  We cannot do both. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Tax Reliefs"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_22","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Tax Code","counts":{"speechCount":36,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_18","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_22.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I am sure the Minister will not listen to this either. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I always listen. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  He always listens. The last time the Minister listened the Government was trying to turn the Army on our own people. That is the listening. That is the reaction we got from Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  There is one army. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Let me just say this here----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Can both of you please address your remarks through the Chair and we might get through the questions? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Some 750,000 households across the State rely on home heating oil to heat their homes. Last night, at a public meeting attended by hundreds in Galway to discuss the cost-of-living crisis, I spoke to a carer who went into a home of an elderly woman. She worked all her life, paid her taxes and did everything right and apologised for the house being so cold because the heating had run out. The Minister refuses to cut excise duty on home heating oil to support household like hers, along with 750,000 other households. We have record surpluses of over \u20ac9 billion, yet the Government refuses to introduce a measure that would cost \u20ac14 million per month. Why is the Minister so out of touch? Why is he acting so Scrooge-like when he knows people are cold in their homes today because they cannot afford to heat them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  The Deputy cannot come in here and spend the surplus and then pursue a policy agenda that would have resulted in us never having it. We would not have had a surplus if we had followed his economic plan. It has been hard-won and earned by the Irish people and is there to be deployed in an appropriate manner and to make sure that the Deputy's children and mine never experience the austerity we experienced. It is there as an intergenerational support. The Deputy knows that. We put it into funds. They are not rainy day funds; they are funds to prepare for the changes and challenges the country will face in terms of demographics. They are funds to deliver infrastructure and climate projects. They are funds that are making a real difference.  The cost of home heating oil in this country is too high; of that there is no doubt. The energy crisis caused by the war has had a real impact. We have decided not to proceed with the carbon tax increase to assist in not making that situation worse. It is a fair comment. The Deputy asked me to suspend it and we did so because it is a proportionate response. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I do not want it suspended; I want it cancelled. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  Fair enough. Once we do one thing, the Deputy wants us to do the next. He originally asked us to suspend it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle. It is my time so I am going to speak. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Go ahead. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I have been very clear that we do not rule out the need to make further energy interventions. An energy crisis in the months of April and May will be very different from an energy crisis in the months of October, November and December. We have to prepare for that period too. The fuel allowance is being provided to 470,000 households. I do not know the circumstances of the pensioner's home the Deputy was in last night, but I know many pensioners, including those most at risk of fuel poverty, people with a disability, carers and low-income working families now more than ever qualify for the fuel allowance. A typical household receiving the fuel allowance will have received \u20ac1,216 over the course of the fuel allowance season.  The carbon tax makes up 10% of the total cost of home heating oil based on figures from 16 April. We have extended the fuel allowance season by a further four weeks to assist people who are struggling to pay for their home heating oil and those most at risk of poverty and to help them offset some of those costs. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  This is the problem. The Minister does not understand the scale of the crisis or the lived experience of many people across the State. Before we had a fuel crisis, 320,000 families could not pay their electricity bills. Families were pushed to the pin of the collar because of increases in grocery prices, rents and insurance and childcare costs that were like a second mortgage. A generation felt home ownership was outside of the reach because of Government policies. The fuel crisis, brought on by external factors, has tipped people over the edge. People expect the Government to respond.  I spoke to the Minister about an old woman to wear an extra jacket because she has no heating in her home. This is not an isolated incident. A young woman wrote to me to tell me she had no home heating oil for two weeks because she could not afford it on top of medical and childcare expenses. She wrote to me on the day the Government announced its latest package of half measures. She said for the first time in a long time she felt a sense of hope, like maybe the pressure might ease even slightly, but by the time she finished work and saw the news, that small glimmer of light was gone again. She said it is hard to describe how it feels. The Minister sits there and pats himself on the back. He said our budget surpluses have doubled. We have \u20ac4 billion extra that we never thought we would have, but an elderly woman has to put on a jacket because our house is cold and a woman who is married to a fella who works every hour that God sends cannot afford heat in her home. There is something seriously wrong in this republic when people are left like that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  The Deputy suggests the Government does not take action to endeavour to assist people. That is his mantra. That is air enough. That is what he says but it is not true. There are other facts.  We are presiding over a country where the average weekly wage is over \u20ac1,000. They are not my figures; they are from the CSO. Every working day in this country 200 new jobs are being created. The long-term unemployment rate is at around 1%, an historic low. We announced a package of \u20ac750 million to directly help people, including the person to whom the Deputy referred. We have reduced the cost of filling a car relative to what it would have been, extended the fuel allowance, supported key sectors of the economy and, crucially, introduced measures that are reducing inflation. It would have been higher by 0.6% a month were not for the measures we have taken.  In our latest budget we provided the largest ever increases in areas such as the child support payment. We are prioritising those most in need. The Deputy said I do not understand the scale of the problem. I am not sure he understands it. No government in the world can fully insulate its country from the economic impact of this war. We cannot look at this through the prism of today or tomorrow. We have to look at this in terms of preparing for the time ahead because if we do not keep our powder dry and instead do everything that comes into the Deputy's mind today or tomorrow that might make us popular in the short term but it sure as hell will not keep the people of this country safe in the months ahead. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  The T\u00e1naiste's mantra again speaks to me of the fact that he does not understand where people are at. Does the T\u00e1naiste think the woman who wrote to me does not know what she is earning? Of course she knows what she is earning but she also knows that the cost of electricity has gone through the roof. She also knows that the weekly shop is a lot more expensive than it was last week, that the cost of childcare is another mortgage and that rents are increasing. Now she also knows that her house is cold for two weeks because she cannot afford to heat her home.  I am not asking the T\u00e1naiste to spend all of the \u20ac9.1 billion surplus. Rather, I am asking him to do what a responsible Minister for Finance would do when he or she sees that citizens are suffering and in crisis - to show leadership and act to support them. The T\u00e1naiste can do that. He can cut excise duty on home heating oil today. It would cost \u20ac14 million - not billion \u2013 per month. The T\u00e1naiste refuses to do it, however. It would make a real difference to her and so many others like her but the T\u00e1naiste refuses to do it. He is seriously out of touch with where public opinion is at on this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  The Deputy is seriously out of touch in terms of the scale of the economic challenge facing the world right now. The Deputy\u2019s position on this is to ask for more and more money to be spent every day. Maybe that is what one does when one is in opposition. In fairness, not all Opposition parties do that, but maybe that is what the Deputy\u2019s party does when it is in opposition. The Deputy is ignoring the fact that he would not be able to speak to any of my European counterparts who has done more. If he brings in Rachel Reeves or asks the finance ministers in Germany, France or Italy - he can pick any country - he will learn that we have taken more action than almost any other European country per head of population, and rightly so because we have run the economy well. If the Deputy were sitting on this side of the House - thankfully the people have not put him here the last number of times they were asked \u2013 we would not have the surpluses that he now demands we spend. We have to take this step by step. That is not a mantra; it is a fact. It is the best advice available to me. Asking me to do more on heating during the summer months when I have to prepare for the winter months is not a sensible thing. This is about actually----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  What is she supposed to do? Should she wear another jacket or tighten her belt? What advice do you have? Should she put on another coat? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  If you accept that the fuel allowance is a payment, albeit one you want to blow a hole in through the carbon tax----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  That is nonsense. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  Ignoring that, if you accept that the fuel allowance is an important way of helping the people most at risk of fuel poverty, which I think is your position in the North----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Are you saying they are just stupid and not managing their budgets? What are you saying? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  The only step the Sinn F\u00e9in Minister of Finance in the North has taken is a very small step towards a smaller version of the fuel allowance. You are in government in the North. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  They cannot afford their heat. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  You have the First Minister, the Minister of Finance and the Minister for the Economy----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  They cannot afford their heat. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  -----but you are not doing anything to help in the North at all. People need to look at how you say one thing down here and you do another thing up there. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  You need to have a bit of cop-on. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  It is complete hypocrisy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  You know that excise duty cannot be reduced in the North. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  There is lots you could do. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Do not be stupid. You know that. Do not let yourself down. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  There is lots you could do. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  For God's sake, you know that the North does not have taxation powers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy Doherty, address your remarks through the Chair. Have a bit of respect for other Members in terms of how you address them. There is an appropriate way to do that. You might engage with and check the Standing Orders as well so that when you come in here, you understand that you are governed by certain Standing Orders. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Tax Code"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_23","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Tax Appeals Commission","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_18","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_23","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shay Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_23.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shay Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shay Brennan  My question concerns the proposed changes to hearings of the Tax Appeals Commission, particularly the removal of the taxpayers' automatic right to a private hearing. It will instead become a matter of discretion for the commissioner. Is the T\u00e1naiste concerned that this change will deter taxpayers from exercising their right to appeal a Revenue assessment? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I thank both Deputy Brennan and the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach for their engagement on this matter. The revised general scheme of the finance (tax appeals and fiscal responsibility) Bill was published in November of last year. Head 5 of the general scheme concerns necessary amendments arising from the 2021 Supreme Court judgment. In this case, the Supreme Court held that the fact that all hearings before an adjudication officer were not held in public was inconsistent with the Constitution. A number of amendments are necessary to ensure the Tax Appeals Commission complies with that judgment.  It is important to say that the proposed changes will not remove the possibility of private hearings at the Tax Appeals Commission. Appeals commissioners will have discretion on whether to accept a request for an appeal to be heard in private, but they must consider whether privacy is necessary for that appeal to proceed. As such, there will remain the option of a private hearing where this is necessary for the appeal to proceed on a fair and just basis. I can think of many examples where it would be necessary for an appeal to be in private.  The finance (tax appeals and fiscal responsibility) Bill remains under pre-legislative scrutiny at this time. I assure the Deputy that we will consider the matters raised by stakeholders \u2013 I have met a number of them through the Irish Tax Institute - and those of the members of the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach in advance of publication of the Bill.  The proposed Bill seeks to give appeals commissioners discretion to direct whether an appeal hearing is held in public or in private. This amendment is being proposed based on advice received from the Office of the Attorney General. It is anticipated that a greater number of appeals will be heard in public following the enactment of this Bill. However, appellants will still be able to request that an appeal is held in private. The grounds for that will include maintaining the confidentiality of sensitive information and protecting an individual's right to respect for their private and family life.  As I stated earlier, I am open to further engagement on this. I do not wish to prejudge what the pre-legislative scrutiny might say but I imagine it may require further legal engagement with the Office of the Attorney General. If there is a way of nuancing this or providing further clarity, I am very open to that because I want to get this right. I must, however, be truthful about the Supreme Court consideration. I am open to engaging and trying to get this right. I look forward to the report from pre-legislative scrutiny. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shay Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shay Brennan  The T\u00e1naiste will appreciate that the right to challenge a Revenue assessment is a fundamental protection for every taxpayer, but this right has little value if exercising it carries an unacceptable personal or commercial cost. If public exposure alone is enough to deter a taxpayer from pursuing a legitimate appeal, we risk undermining the entire system.  It is worth noting that 20% of determinations of the Tax Appeals Commission were found in favour of the appellant. Those taxpayers were of course correct to appeal. Under the proposed change, they would likely forgo their right to do so. Is the T\u00e1naiste able to confirm whether the Department plans to carry out any assessment of the impact of these changes on taxpayers\u2019 rights before this is progressed further? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  The position as of now is that we have been endeavouring to comply with the Supreme Court judgment. Following that judgment, the view from the Office of the Attorney General was that there were proposals that we needed to make changes to the tax appeal system, specifically around the request for appeals to be held in private as well as the determination of appeals in the absence of a hearing. It is important that there are clear safeguards in place and clear grounds that an appeals commissioner must take account of. No one wants their sensitive and private information in the public domain; I understand that. There are issues that could cause harm to the public interest, such as sensitive information or information relating to public order and national security. The anticipation is not to have a significant jump in appeals being heard in public, nor do we wish to make it a deterrent. The right to appeal is important. The Revenue Commissioners have significant power and there must be a right to appeal.  While I do not wish to pre-empt the process, from following the hearings and listening to what is being said during the pre-legislative scrutiny process, including from stakeholders such as the Irish Tax Institute, I hope to give further consideration to this Bill, which includes engaging further with the Office of the Attorney General from a legal point of view to determine whether there is an ability to nuance further. I have to be cognisant of the Supreme Court judgment, however. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shay Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shay Brennan  The T\u00e1naiste might appreciate that there is potentially a significant and expensive unintended consequence of this. As he is fully aware, Ireland\u2019s attractiveness as a location for multinational investment depends significantly on our tax policy, particularly the certainty and fairness we apply to taxation matters. The T\u00e1naiste may be aware that a risk review of 20 EU member states showed that all provided rights to private tax appeal hearings. The changes proposed in Ireland would leave us very much exposed as an outlier. For multinational companies weighing up where to invest, the confidentiality of their business affairs and tax proceedings matters greatly. A system that risks public exposure for disputing a Revenue assessment is unlikely to be viewed favourably by these multinationals. Given the magnitude and importance of corporation tax receipts to our public finances, how has the T\u00e1naiste considered the significant risk to Ireland\u2019s reputation as a competitive tax jurisdiction if this change to our tax appeals process is progressed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  Obviously, making sure Ireland remains a competitive location for foreign direct investment, FDI, is an important consideration. I will reflect further on that on foot of the Deputy raising it. In looking at what other parts of the world do, we see that Canada, England and Australia operate in a similar environment to what the current legislation, as currently drafted, proposes for our tax appeals system. New Zealand is an exception where tax appeals are not open to the public. Across the EU, there is a significant variety across tax appeals bodies but it is certainly not uncommon to have a system where appeals are public in the first instance and then held in private at the discretion of an appellant for a stated reason.  In 2025, 1,192 new appeals were received and 1,286 cases were closed. A total of 237 appeals were scheduled for hearing in 2025, of which 93 subsequently proceeded.  It is very common for appeals to be settled, withdrawn or consolidated with other appeals, or indeed, dismissed in advance of any hearing taking place. We will give this further consideration. We will take the recommendations seriously from pre-legislative scrutiny. However, the question is how we can be compliant with the Supreme Court ruling and how we get that balance right. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Tax Appeals Commission"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_24","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_25","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"EU Directives","counts":{"speechCount":19,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_24","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_25","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_25.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I raised the crisis in people's homes in terms of their electricity bills with the Minister on numerous occasions. If we were to visualise this, it is 300,000 families. How many times would we fill Croke Park and the Aviva Stadium over and over again with the families who cannot pay their electricity bills? It is absolutely scandalous that people have been left in this situation. Time and again we have put forward the arguments that it was wrong to withdraw energy credits at a time of a cost-of-living crisis. It was wrong to leave people without those supports. Will the Minister make the argument at a European level to allow for zero VAT rate to be applied to residential electricity to give us the options to provide additional support beyond just energy credits to these families? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I propose to take Questions Nos. 236 and 298 together.  I thank the Deputy very much. The EU VAT directive, which Irish VAT law must comply with, generally holds that all goods and services are liable for VAT at the standard rate which must be set at a minimum of 15%. If a good or service is listed under Annex III of the VAT directive, a reduced or zero VAT rate may be applied. It is important to note that Ireland applies more reduced and zero rates than every other member state. Some member states prefer not to introduce greater variability in VAT across the EU.  The last amendments to Annex III were agreed in 2022 after four years of negotiation. Unfortunately, electricity was not included in these amendments and, therefore, the lowest rate that may be applied to VAT in Ireland is the second reduced rate of 9%. The application of the 9% VAT rate on supply of gas and electricity was introduced from 1 May 2022. This measure was extended on a number of occasions. In the most recent budget, we decided to extend it out to 31 December 2030. The total estimated cost of the reduced VAT rate for gas and electricity from its introduction on 1 May 2022 to the end of this year will be over \u20ac1 billion.  We are actively engaging at an EU level. There is to be an informal European Council meeting this Thursday or Friday in Cyprus where the EU will bring forward proposals around energy affordability. My understanding specifically in relation to VAT is that there would be unanimity required for any changes to the VAT level. I do not see that as a likely outcome. I am just saying that to be honest. At present, there are no proposals at a EU level to reopen the VAT directive regarding zero rates for electricity. However, officials in my Department and across Government continue to engage with our European counterparts and with the European Commission in relation to energy affordability measures. The European Commission is working with member states on the EU-wide response to the crisis. That is why we have chosen to extend the maximum lowest rate of VAT we can currently apply to electricity and gas bills until the end of 2030. We are very eager to see if Europe wishes to go further on that. I am not detecting that there is any such unanimity at a European level in relation to reopening the VAT directive. However, I will ask. I will keep the Deputy and the House updated should that position change. Of course, the fact that VAT change requires unanimity as opposed to other measures Europe may decide to bring forward is a challenge. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I thank the Minister for his response. When he rises again, will he clarify for the House whether he has written to the Commission and asked it for this to be part of its tool? Has he asked the Commission to consider and agree a zero percent rate of VAT on domestic electricity? As he knows, the Commission has published its draft. It said it wanted to engage with member states. I am sure it engaged with the Minister in relation to this. Did the Minister ask the Commission and formally put that proposal to it in relation to the zero percent? In the absence of the Commission's agreement - the mechanisms in terms of member states having to agree - there are other measures that can be introduced. Energy credits is a way of supporting families and, indeed, the Minister brought it forward for many years himself. Does he not recognise that given the scale of the crisis, where people are at, that so many households cannot pay their electricity bills and that one in four households cannot pay their gas bills, there needs to be an intervention now? People simply cannot wait. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  We have not formally made a request in relation to zero percent VAT. The reason we have not is that my genuine feedback from engagement with the European Commission is that it is unlikely to have unanimous support. I am not against formally seeking further discretion on VAT but we have tried to target our asks to areas that we hoped we could make progress on, including seeking a temporary derogation from the minimum rate of taxation applied to auto diesel because the Deputy has been asking me to go further on diesel. I do not mean just because of the Deputy but many people, including him, have been asking me to do that. We have gone beyond what the energy tax directive allows us to do. We sought a derogation in relation to that. The reason we have not formally asked is that it is not possible to seek as a member state just a derogation from the functioning of the VAT directive. We would have to have unanimity in relation to that. The feedback we have been getting from the Commission is that is unlikely to be the case. However, I am happy to further pursue that with the Commission in terms of seeing if there will be such unanimity but I do not want to create a false expectation. It is my genuine view that it is unlikely to be something forthcoming from Europe.  In relation to energy credits, I said yesterday and today that I do not think anything can be off the table. It would be foolish for us to rule in or out anything. The Deputy has heard me say this before but it is my genuine view that an energy crisis in the winter is very different from an energy crisis coming into the summer months. Therefore, we need to keep these things under review as we approach the autumn and winter in terms of budgetary plans and what is the best thing to do to assist people should the energy crisis persist.  We also have to have other options and, indeed, I have heard interesting suggestions here about how we can help people with their own measures in terms of their own homes, whether that is retrofitting or solar panels and whether there is more we can do in that space to make that easier and more generous. I would be interested in engaging on that. I will keep an open mind on further energy interventions in the time ahead. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Sometimes I am lost for words in here. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I try to be constructive. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I know. I hear what the Minister is saying but, seriously, I do not know what more we need to do here. These are families. There are 300,000 plus of them who cannot pay their electricity bills. The Minister saying that if the Commission allows us to have a zero rate, we would be happy with that but the Government has not even asked. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  That is not fair. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  It has not even bloody asked the Commission to put this on the table. Last week the Commission asked the Minister and his Department what else they think it should do in this toolbox. The Minister has not even asked. There are families today who cannot pay their electricity bill, and these are people who are working and two income households. The level of arrears they have has increased. We have record numbers in the history of the State who cannot pay electricity bills. The Minister has not even asked. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  That is not true. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  There is a serious problem here. I do not want to repeat it over and over again but the Government needs to get down from the ivory tower. It needs to understand where people are at. People expect more from a government. People expect the Government to have their back and fight their corner. The Government is not even asking. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  People expect more from an opposition. At a time of a national crisis when a Minister stands up and is trying to constructively engage, the Deputy just wants to give me the lines to take back. I explained to the Deputy very clearly. I said we are happy to go back and further engage with Commission. Hang on for a second. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  The decision was made in 48 hours. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  Just for a second, Deputy. Our Taoiseach - yours and mine and the Taoiseach of this country - will engage with his European counterparts when he attends an informal meeting of the European Council. Up for discussion at that meeting will be what more measures can we take. Ireland will make its position clear. The priority of my Department has to be to ask for things that individual member states can seek. Individual member states can seek a derogation under the energy tax directive. Individual member states cannot seek a derogation under the VAT directive. Therefore, the only way the VAT directive can be change is by unanimity. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I agree. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  It is not about asking the Commission. It is not a member state. When we have engagements at the likes of the European Council, which the Taoiseach will have, it is about establishing whether there is unanimity. I am giving the Deputy an honest view in this House that I do not believe that unanimity is there. Do not give me the palaver about ivory towers here. This is about truthful debate. The Deputy asked about energy credits. I did not rule them out. I gave other views in relation to solar panels, retrofitting and things we can do. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  The Government withdrew them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I talked about \u20ac750 million package. Just because I do not agree with every position the Deputy adopts or because I point out legal and technical difficulties around them does not mean the Deputy cares and I do not. It just means I am being honest. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I did not withdraw them. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"EU Directives"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_26","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"State Savings Schemes","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_24","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_26","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_26.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  I ask the Minister to update the House on his plans for a new savings and investment scheme for retail investors and if he could enlighten the House as to what he anticipates the estimated cost to the Exchequer in terms of tax forgone in the first five years of the scheme might be, and if there is, in fact, an assessment already done on that basis. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I thank Deputy Nash very much. The starting point here, on which many of us agree, is that Ireland does not have a sufficiently diversified savings and investment culture. I am quite conscious that we are having this conversation against the backdrop of significant economic challenges for people right now. I fully get that. However, even against that backdrop, I am also quite conscious that there is a lot of money on deposit in Ireland today. Even this week people are putting relatively small amounts of money aside to try to build up their own buffers insofar as they can for the times ahead. A lot of them are in low-yield deposit accounts where inflation is eroding their value over time. That is just the truth. Deposit accounts are right for many people. I understand the role deposit accounts have to play, and for many will be their source for putting money by for a later date, but they should not be the only practical option. Investment in capital markets can offer households another path to long-term financial well-being. It can also support growth and competitiveness in the wider economy. I have announced the Government's intention to introduce a legislative framework for an investment account this year as part of the finance Bill. We want to make investment simpler, clearer and more accessible for ordinary people. We want to help to make some of their hard-earned money work harder for them over time. The aim is to legislate for the framework in 2026 to allow for accounts to be offered from 2027, but it will also be a key part of a broader rethink of the taxation of retail investment. I would welcome the views of Deputy Nash and others in relation to that.  In recognition of the importance of encouraging retail investment, budget 2026 did provide for a reduction in the rate of taxation on returns from Irish and equivalent investment funds and Irish and certain foreign life assurance policies from 41% to 38%. In addition, the budget also included a commitment to publish a roadmap in 2026, setting out the intended approach to simplify and adapt the tax framework to encourage retail investment in future finance Bills. The roadmap will be published in the coming months in advance of the budget. It will take into consideration developments at an EU level in respect of a savings and investments union, including the recommendation on savings and investment accounts. The actual cost of this in the initial years will depend on the specific parameters of the account. That work is still ongoing and costs will be prepared as part of the budget process. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  I welcome the debate on this. I accept that we need reform in this area. I have no difficulty with that. There has been a lot of focus on the deemed disposal rule. There is no doubt that how it operates is an anachronism and reform is needed. That should not sideline us from the need to develop alternative routes to allow people to plan for their future. I am glad the T\u00e1naiste referred to the context of what people are experiencing at the moment. Investment is very much a minority sport. Most people are concerned with surviving and not how they are going to invest relatively substantial amounts that they have on deposit on schemes and accounts that may deliver more for them. I accept that this does need to be part of the solution in terms of preparing people for the future.  Mention has been made by ourselves in the Labour Party, and by the other parties, of the need to develop some products that might enable Irish people to invest some of their hard-earned savings in, for example, housing development in Ireland and in assisting high-potential start-ups, and so on. Is that the kind of area that the T\u00e1naiste expects people to be able to invest in at a reasonable rate? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I thank Deputy Nash for his comment on the deemed disposal rule. I agree that there is, rightly, a lot of debate in this House about the rate of it. He made the broader point about the purpose it serves - or does not serve - any more. We need to have a substantive examination of what the policy intent was and if it is still valid today. The truth is that I do not believe it is. How do we unwind that? Can we do it in one go - just take a number - and what is the roadmap? We need to come back and have a conversation around that.  I fully accept the point about the cost of living. I am very conscious of it. I am also conscious that we are among the best savers in Europe. We talk about building up our own financial resilience. The country has to be able to help ordinary workers, as they are often referred to in this House - everyday people - to build up their own financial resilience as well.  My intention, to be very honest, in the first instance is to set up as simple an account as possible to get this up and running. Many other European countries have done this. I have heard constructive ideas from Deputy Nash and others on whether this could be used to help to invest in start-ups or housing. That merits consideration. The question is whether we would do that in the first tranche or if we would just get an account up and running. I think we would just get it up and running in the first instance. I am also conscious that there are other savings bonds. The NTMA, for example, runs the prize bonds, etc. We can look at whether there is a way of overhauling that too. It is worthy of further exploration. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  I understand that people are risk averse because people have been burnt before. There are always risks to investing. Any model or scheme that is developed has to be very clear on that. I understand why the T\u00e1naiste might want to dip his toe in the water in a tentative fashion in the first instance, and then maybe move from there. The T\u00e1naiste has been quoted as favouring the Swedish model. It is one that people will be familiar with. On the basis that he has an understanding of the Swedish model and his officials may be going in that direction, has any assessment been done at this point on the tax implications for the Exchequer on the tax expenditure side in terms of tax forgone? It would be relatively easy to come to some kind of a conclusion - at least on a desktop basis - as to what the implications would be if we were to introduce a very simple straightforward model like the Swedish one. The T\u00e1naiste seems to be moving away from the UK ISA-type model. Could he put his thinking on that, and what is informing it, on the record? In the available time, could he also indicate what engagement he has had on this with the Central Bank and if it has been helpful in assisting the Department? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  Yes, there has been very helpful engagement with the Central Bank. We held the savings and investment forum in the Central Bank. The Governor of the Central Bank opened the meeting, which was very useful. We want to take the feedback from that. The point about the tax forgone is something I am very conscious of. I do not have that information yet but once I have it, I will be very happy to share it at an early stage with Deputy Nash and with the House.  Deputy Nash and I were in government together. I remember in my earlier days in the Oireachtas trying to copy the Dutch healthcare system. What I quickly learned is that the Irish people are not Dutch. The Irish people are not Swedish either. The Swedish model has many advantages. It is generally seen as best in class, but there is no off-the-shelf model, we will have to take what is best practice and adapt it for our own national culture and environment. The Swedish model is one we are looking at. The UK model is to be commended too but it does have a very high cash level that I think has a significant drag. I am not sure we necessarily want to replicate that element of it as well. We had a good forum with several hundred people from a whole variety of backgrounds. They fed in their views. I will be back to them with the next iteration. I am very happy - indeed eager - to have Opposition engagement on how to get this right in the times ahead. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"State Savings Schemes"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_27","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Financial Instruments","counts":{"speechCount":9,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_24","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_27","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shay Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_27.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Grace Boland  The Funds Sector 2030 review recognised that exchange-traded funds, ETFs, sit at the centre of Ireland's ambition to increase retail participation in capital markets - people who are planning for the future and parents who are planning for their children's college education. The current tax framework, in particular the eight-year deemed disposal rule, is a material barrier to that objective. Could the T\u00e1naiste confirm if his Department has assessed abolishing the rule, what the estimated cost to the Exchequer would be, and when he might make a decision on it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shay Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shay Brennan  My question is very similar. It relates to the so-called \"deemed disposal\" tax on ETFs, which requires Irish investors to pay gains every eight years, even where no sale takes place. The programme for Government has committed to an implementation plan to address this anomaly. Like Deputy Boland, I wonder if we could get an update on the details of this and the current timeline. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I propose to take Questions Nos. 238 and 245 together.  I thank Deputies Boland and Brennan very much for raising this matter. Their questions relate to the rules governing the taxation of indirect investments such as investment funds and life assurance products. As referenced by Deputy Boland, chapter 7 of the funds review focuses on enabling and encouraging retail investment. It does make a number of recommendations including the removal of the deemed disposal rule. Deputy Brennan reminds us of our programme for Government commitments. These recommendations are being given careful consideration. We are looking at the existing regime and how it operates. The specific change raised by both Deputies is the removal of the deemed disposal rule. There is a specific reference to its application to exchange-traded funds. There is no separate taxation regime specifically for ETFs.  We need to remind ourselves why deemed disposal was introduced. It was introduced at that point in time as an anti-avoidance measure that applies to investments in Irish-domiciled investment funds and life assurance products, as well as equivalent offshore funds and certain foreign life assurance products, in order to prevent the indefinite roll-up of income and gains, and the associated loss of tax to the Exchequer. That is the history, if you like, to remind us all but the world has changed a lot since then and our policy and thinking need to change too. Under deemed disposal, taxes are levied eight years after an investment is made, and every subsequent eight years, regardless of whether a disposal has in fact occurred. The tax is levied on any gain in the value of the investment from the date of the acquisition to the date of the deemed disposal. On the ultimate disposal of the investment, any tax paid is allowed as a credit against the final tax liability.  The funds sector report noted that changes were needed. It did say that changes to deemed disposal would require guardrails to protect the Exchequer and ensure that appropriate taxation is paid. That is important. I think we all agree on that.  The most recent budget committed to publishing a roadmap for the taxation of retail investment, setting out an approach to simplify and adapt the tax framework to further support retail investment while retaining necessary and important anti-avoidance protections in a proportionate manner. The relevant recommendations of the funds review, including deemed disposal, are now being considered as part of the work under way in the Department of Finance on this roadmap. We will be publishing this in the coming months and in advance of the budget.  As I announced at the first annual savings and investment forum, on 31 March, a key aspect of the roadmap is the development of a new Irish investment account that aims to reduce the complexities related to retail investment taxation and allows Irish people to grow their savings more efficiently. That complexity is one of the real issues keeping middle Ireland out of investing in this country.  The cost estimate of changes to deemed disposal is the challenge. The information available to Revenue does not allow it to isolate the tax returns due to deemed disposal rules from other events that could give rise to a tax liability. We need to work our way through this. If it were assumed that all relevant retail investment exit taxes were as a result of deemed disposal, which of course they are not, removing deemed disposal could give rise to a potential cost of \u20ac284 million, based on tax paid over the past eight years.  As the Deputies know, we took some steps in this area in the most recent budget. An estimate was prepared of the Exchequer impact of deemed disposal not applying, assuming the deemed disposal was closer to 50% of the total tax paid. This assumption results in an estimated full-year cost to the Exchequer of \u20ac142 million for the removal of deemed disposal. However, I am being truthful in saying there is not an exact science because of the complicating factor.  I reiterate the point that we took steps in the last budget to reduce the rate to 38%. That was important. There is, however, the broader issue of whether the policy is fit for purpose. I am not convinced it is. It is somewhat outdated. We need to have a conversation about how it could be overhauled, with new, appropriate guardrails put in place. Alongside that, though separate and distinct, is the question of how we develop a new investment account that reduces complexity, has one point of tax and puts the responsibility for collecting that tax on the provider of the account, the institution, not the person making the investment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Grace Boland  I thank the T\u00e1naiste. I very much welcome that update. It is good to hear that the roadmap will be published in advance of the budget, though it is disappointing to note that the Revenue Commissioners cannot actually track the amount of revenue to the Exchequer.  On the issue of removal, the reality is that under the current regime, a retail investor in an ETF faces a much higher tax rate and earlier taxation and cannot offset losses compared with someone investing directly in shares. Low-risk, diversified investing is taxed earlier and more heavily than speculative stock picking. Therefore, we really need to do something for parents who are looking to the future and those who weathered really bad times in the 1970s and 1980s and know how important it is to put money away for a rainy day but who are seeing the value of their savings eroded through inflation and very low deposit rates. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shay Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shay Brennan  I too thank the T\u00e1naiste for his clear answer. The core issue here is one of fairness within our own tax system. An investor in individual shares pays capital gains tax at 33% and then only when they eventually sell those shares. However, an investor who chooses a diversified ETF, which is arguably the more prudent investment choice for an ordinary saver, pays a higher rate on the gains they have not yet realised. As was mentioned, they also cannot offset their losses in these, and they face a tax settlement every eight years, regardless of their intentions regarding the underlying ETF. This creates a disparity that is very hard to justify. I appreciate that the Minister gave a detailed explanation as to how this came about by way of trying to justify it. I agree that there are complexities but does the Minister in turn agree there is a very strong case for removing the rule in the near term, not just because it is part of the programme for Government but also because it is the fair thing to do for Irish savers? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  The short answer is \"Yes\" and the next word is \"but\". Yes, I see the policy challenge here. I do not like a situation where the world has evolved and policy has not caught up. Therefore, I would like to see an overhaul in this area. I am quite committed to that and to reforming retail investment. The only reason I say \"but\" is in relation to the near-term aspect. No matter what question anyone asks me on tax, I do not want to tie our hands, as a collective government or Oireachtas, in terms of decisions we may make in the time ahead. However, the Irish people can judge this Government, in its current form, on what it did in its first budget. It reduced the rate associated with the rule from 41% to 38%. That was a statement of intent by my predecessor, the then Minister Paschal Donohoe.  Second, we said we would publish a retail investment roadmap for overhauling this sector and roll into that the recommendation of the funds sector report, which deals very much with deemed disposal, among other areas.  Third, we have given a commitment that we are not just going to say we are going to champion the savings and investment union at a European level but are also going to make sure there are practical benefits for citizens in Ireland in terms of establishing an investment account.  I have no doubt we will be able to make progress on this together in the time ahead. I would hope we can make progress on this in the near term, but let us work through that. I am learning it is important when you are a finance Minister to say tax matters are a matter for budget day, and I am quite comfortable with that. That is the appropriate way to proceed.  Deputy Boland's point on parents and others is important. I have heard some ill-informed comments \u2013 Quelle surprise \u2013 on the investment account. First, you would swear we were the only ones doing this. We are certainly not the first. It is the right thing to do. It is a recommendation of the European Commission. We cannot just talk about financial resilience at a macro level; we have to bring it into people's households.  I have heard it asked whether this is just something for the wealthy. The wealthy are well able to look after themselves. They do not need our help. They are not the people being blocked out of investments. The people being blocked out of investment are parents, the garda married to the nurse, the teacher, the civil servant, the small business owner and the person trying not just to get by but also to get ahead. This is an opportunity, over the longer term, to help families, or middle Ireland, to build up resilience. I am extraordinarily committed to that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Grace Boland  I appreciate the Minister's comments. I look forward to seeing the roadmap and having discussions in the House on it. I thank the Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shay Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shay Brennan  There is another dimension to this. Ireland's position as a major ETF hub in Europe is something we should rightly be very proud of, but there is a contradiction at the heart of that success. Ireland is one of the best places in the world in which to manage and distribute ETFs but one of the most difficult places in Europe for an Irish resident to actually invest in them. Foreign investors in Irish-domiciled ETFs enjoy growth with no deemed disposal obligation, while Irish investors investing in the same products do not. Does the Minister acknowledge that this anomaly undermines or may erode our reputation as a well-functioning financial centre? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I would put it in a slightly different way, but I agree with the broader point. Given our country's huge success in financial services, the considerable revenue, jobs and prosperity this has resulted in and the fact that we have in many ways become a global hub for financial services, there is an irony in our being a major global financial services centre when, at the same time, we have locked so many of our citizens out of meaningful participation. \"Ironic\" is probably the diplomatic word. We have to challenge ourselves, and I have to challenge myself, to see how we can ensure the tax regime in this country is not getting in the way. It is the Government's job to help where it can, but it is also sometimes the Government's job to get out of the way. Our tax regime is in the way of people being able to invest and to access ETFs and their like.  Deputies Brennan and Boland quite rightly made a point on the differential between the exit tax and CGT. In fairness to former Minister Donohoe, there was a step made in the right direction with the decrease from 41% to 38%. However, CGT is at a different level.  We have made it clear as a Government that we are committed to making progress on this, ensuring Ireland has a much more diversified savings and investment offering, ensuring that is accessible to all our citizens and not just the wealthy, and ensuring the tax system is fair and that politics is not just a reductive debate about how to hand out public money but a more sophisticated and informed one about how to ensure hard-working families are able to get ahead, and not just get by in life, by making sure the tax system works in that direction. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Financial Instruments"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_28","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Fiscal Policy","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":5},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_24","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_28","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_28.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I thank Deputy Murphy for this question. As somebody who would like to see a united Ireland in my lifetime and as somebody who is proud to lead a party that has \"the United Ireland party\" in its full title, I very much welcome the question. I want to engage constructively with Members across the House on this. The Government of Ireland is committed to the unity of the Irish people.  We are committed to that with a focus on reconciliation and developing the three sets of relationships recognised in the Good Friday Agreement to unlock the full potential of our island. Through the shared island initiative, the Government is prioritising the work of building co-operation and reconciliation with an ambitious agenda to deliver progress and to remain steadfast in fully implementing the Good Friday Agreement.  Obviously, the principle of consent and the possibility of change in the constitutional status of Northern Ireland are fundamental elements of the Good Friday Agreement endorsed by the people North and South and accordingly the Government's approach with regard to Irish unity is guided by Article 3 of the Constitution. Thus, in the event of a future referendum within the consent provisions of the Good Friday Agreement, the Government will make all necessary preparations in accordance with the terms of the Constitution and the principles and procedures of the agreement.  To date, the Government has advanced the largest ever programme of all-island investment to build a more connected island through the shared island initiative, backed by a \u20ac2 billion shared island fund. Last April, the Government launched a new phase of a joint research programme with the ESRI, which is really the nub of the Deputy's question, focusing on strategic policy and co-operation considerations for the island. Much of what the shared island unit has been doing, which we all support, has involved investing in really meaningful projects. The ESRI strand is particularly interesting because it looks from a policy point of view at the compatability elements between how things are done in the North and here and where the differences are. Within days of coming into office, I was very pleased to launch a new annual ESRI series entitled \"Assessing Economic Trends in Ireland and Northern Ireland\". At the launch of this report, I highlighted how valuable the series is, especially its deeper data comparisons and economic indicators, which together offer important insights and food for thought and help inform us of the policy we need to develop. I will return to some of that in a moment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Murphy  For me, it is really about ensuring that citizens are properly informed. Any decision must be grounded in credible, transparent and accessible financial analysis. I know various independent academic studies are being carried out and some already exist but I do not think there is any single authoritative, State-led body of work. There are a number of areas where clarity is essential, including taxation; the difference between tax bases North and South around income tax, corporation tax and indirect taxes; public spending around health; social protection measures; public services; and the complex area of fiscal transfers, such as the extent of subvention currently provided by the UK. These are complex issues. Other jurisdictions facing future constitutional or structural change have invested in serious, evidence-based preparatory work and there is no reason we should not do the same so that citizens can make that informed decision at the appropriate time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I agree completely with the Deputy on this question. It is really welcome that this has come down. I acknowledge the T\u00e1naiste's comments on this. We all acknowledge the shared island unit and the work it is doing but the question we need to ask ourselves is whether we believe we are enablers of bringing about constitutional change in a system that operates under the Good Friday Agreement and with consent, and most if not all of the people in this House believe we are. Therefore, we have to do the preparatory work.  These are complex issues and it should not be left to academics, the ESRI or others to do this. We have to find a way and a space and we must recognise the space we will occupy in doing this but we must find a space to carry out some of this work. I think back to when Simon Coveney was competing for leadership of Fine Gael. He spoke about setting up a committee to look at this and talked about papers, and I thought it was a very good argument. We have lost time. This is coming down the tracks and we have to be prepared so I really welcome this debate. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  I certainly welcome that question and would welcome answers even more. Deputy Currie will know what I am talking about when I talk about what was agreed at the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. That was cross-party. It involved perspectives on constitutional change concentrating on finance and economics. We have a number of agreed recommendations that really need to be implemented. We heard it was reckless not to prepare. It is reckless not to do this work, regardless of one's constitutional preference or how people will decide to vote at the end of the day. One of the recommendations was that an Oireachtas committee be mandated, adequately resourced and dedicated to preparation for a united Ireland - for doing the preparation. It is reckless not to prepare. The T\u00e1naiste will probably be Taoiseach in a number of months' time. I ask him to please implement these recommendations. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I welcome this rare moment of unity. It is really good. We all have different political traditions that we can debate and that is fine, but Deputy Conway-Walsh would like to see a united Ireland in her lifetime and I would like to see a united Ireland in my lifetime. I agree that the shared island unit is doing good work - really good work. I notice that across the community, as I am sure Deputy Conway-Walsh does. Regarding Deputy Michael Murphy's question and the constructive contributions of Deputies Doherty, Conway-Walsh, Currie, Connolly, Shay Brennan and Cooney, the economics of this are important. I will send the remarks I made at the launch of the ESRI report to Deputy Conway-Walsh. Looking at this from a financial and economic point of view will ultimately be an important part of any debate whenever it arises and we have a responsibility to be prepared to engage on it. I often grapple in my own head with what the best way of creating that space is. Perhaps the Good Friday Agreement committee would be a good opportunity for us to engage on that report. I take the point that it is not all about the ESRI but there is ESRI-funded work with which all of us might want to familiarise ourselves. I am very happy to have an engagement with the appropriate committee on this matter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Murphy  It is important to acknowledge that a lot of analysis has already been done and is likely to be done but it is fragmented and very technical. It comes back to that overarching point I am making, which is that it is not easily understood by the general public. It is so important that information is collated in a way that is coherent and user-friendly and uses easy-to-understand language. Should we commission some kind of centralised, cross-departmental assessment that would publish regular updates and ensure that information is presented in a clear and non-specialist way? It is really about informing democratic discussion. It is not about prejudging any outcome. Without this, there is real risk that the public debate becomes shaped by partial information or competing claims. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Currie  I also welcome this debate. We have had great engagement on the Good Friday Agreement committee in our work examining the constitutional future of this island. Everybody has a voice. I welcome research and information from anywhere to contribute to this debate.  Two things that have not been referenced are the productivity gap that exists North and South and the difference in educational attainment. There are great opportunities on an all-island basis. I am thinking about mid-Ulster, where I am originally from, in the engineering and manufacturing sectors so there are learnings across the board. Engagement is key and there will be no regrets on an all-island basis in progressing a financial and economic strategy that benefits anyone but that ultimately, from my perspective, bring us to a united Ireland. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  We clearly need to have a longer debate in this House and the Whips and others should work out a way to faciliate this discussion. We should not fear it because, as Deputy Michael Murphy said, it is about information, facts, getting as much information as possible and identifying where there are information gaps.  My Department published \"Shared Island, Shared Economy\" in 2024, which examined the macroeconomic performance, broad sectoral structures, fiscal structures and linkages between the two economies. It found that overall economic connections between Ireland and the North have continued to deepen, supported by increasing cross-Border trade, labour mobility and joint investment initiatives. The economy in this part of the island is significantly larger, with GNI* per capita around 25% higher than GDP per capita in Northern Ireland - a gap that has remained broadly stable. Productivity levels are higher on this part of the island, although that gap narrows considerably when multinational activity is stripped out, with Northern Ireland performing broadly in line with Ireland's Border and midlands region.  Sectoral structures differ greatly. Ireland has a greater concentration in this part of the island in knowledge-intensive services, while the North has higher public sector employment and greater reliance on social welfare spending. There is also other data. There was a 2025 study by DCU and Ulster University, looking at the initial net fiscal cost of reunification. There is a debate around that. The Institute of International and European Affairs also looked at it, and suggested a much larger cost. The point is that we should not fear discussion, we should not fear facts and we should not fear preparedness. There is a responsibility on all of us to see how best to take that forward. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Fiscal Policy"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_29","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"EU Presidency","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_24","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_29","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shay Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_29.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shay Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shay Brennan  I am seeking an update on the Department's preparations for Ireland's EU Council Presidency and, in particular, how the Minister intends to approach the negotiations on the next multi-annual financial framework, which Ireland will chair. Can the Minister advise how he intends to safeguard Ireland's fiscal interest in these negotiations? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  The Presidency is taking place in a few short months\u2019 time, as the Deputy said, so I thank him for highlighting this. The Presidency of the Council of the EU is a critical focus for all of us in government, the Oireachtas and my Department this year. It represents an important opportunity for our country to shape European policy priorities, including the EU\u2019s economic and financial agenda.  I am pleased to say that our preparations are well under way across both policy and operations. Our Presidency priorities are being prepared in line with the EU strategic agenda for 2024-2029. Of course, those priorities will depend on the progress of the Cyprus Presidency, which comes before ours. We will take stock of this and stakeholders' views before we publish our final Presidency programme in June. However, driving progress on the post-2027 multi-annual financial framework will be an important focus.  The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and I jointly lead the development of Ireland's positions on the MFF. This involves close co-operation with other Government colleagues. During our Presidency, Ireland will progress various elements of the wider MFF package, from overarching negotiations to sectoral files. The precise tasks for Ireland will depend on the state of play at the end of the Cyprus Presidency in June.  The overarching negotiations on the MFF are advanced through the General Affairs Council, GAC, where we are generally represented by the Minister of State, Deputy Thomas Byrne. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, in consultation with all relevant Departments, is preparing for these meetings. The Economic and Financial Affairs Council, ECOFIN, which I will chair during Ireland's Presidency, focuses on the revenue side of the EU budget - own resources - and the management of the annual EU budget process. The European Council, attended by the Taoiseach, provides strategic guidance throughout the negotiations and will ultimately reach political consensus among member states on the file.  Ireland, as Presidency, will ensure close and constructive co-operation with the President of the European Council. The European Parliament will also be required to give its consent to the regulation for the MFF after the European Council reaches a political consensus. Our intention, during our Presidency, is to act as an honest broker and to lead negotiations in a manner that protects the interests of the EU. Intensive preparatory work is under way. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shay Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shay Brennan  During our Presidency, Ireland will chair and oversee the MFF negotiations, and will do this while simultaneously facing a reduction in our own allocations under the new framework due to our continued economic growth. I am not saying that is a bad thing. In one sense, we are in an advantageous position as we get to set the agenda and we are present at every negotiation. However, given the expectation that we act as impartial chair, does the Minister accept that this could work against us when it comes to pursuing our own fiscal interests? If so, how does he intend to manage that? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  It is a key question, and one the Government has been considering. We took a decision earlier this year, during my time as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, to outline Ireland's MFF budgetary priorities much earlier in the cycle for that very reason. The Deputy is right. When you take up the Presidency, there is an advantage to that, of course, and it is an influential and important position to have, but you are also expected to act as honest broker. Ireland took a decision, and the Government agreed, to formally agree our budget priorities for the MFF and communicate them to the Commission at an early stage. We have also had a number of Commissioners here, including the budget Commissioner, the agriculture Commissioner and others, to engage with me, the Taoiseach, the Minister for foreign affairs, the Minister for agriculture, the Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs and others. We have used the period in early 2026 to set out our priorities to work with other member states that share a like-minded view.  The challenge with the European budget, not too dissimilar from this place on occasion, but maybe on a larger scale, is that everybody has ideas on what to spend money on but people are less enthusiastic about funding it. That is also the challenge. Europe has a long list of ideas it would like to spend money on but the real substance of the debate is how we manage to prioritise those ideas. We have all heard a whole variety of things. Ireland, as an experienced member state in its eighth Presidency, will play an important role. I assure the Deputy that protecting our own national interest has been a priority in the early part of this year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shay Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shay Brennan  There is an expectation that the agreement on the MFF will be reached before the end of 2026. Ireland effectively carries the responsibility for delivering one of the most complex and contested negotiations in recent EU history within that six-month term. These negotiations involve deeply-held national interests across 27 different member states. There are significant disagreements on spending priorities. Overall, there is a total budget of approximately \u20ac2 trillion. Does the Minister believe that agreement is genuinely achievable within that timeframe? What commitment can he give that Ireland will do everything in its power to deliver a deal, given the significant reputational dividend that success would bring for Ireland within the EU? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I think it is doable but it is extremely ambitious. For the Council of the European Union to reach an agreement at a relatively early stage, in other words, by the end of this year, provides a degree of certainty in a world that is craving certainty. There is a real premium on trying to reach agreement because there is so much uncertainty in the world right now. It is not inevitable that that will happen. The Deputy is right that the process is tedious in its various parts. It ultimately becomes a matter for the President of the European Council, President Costa, to seek that consensus or agreement among European member states. The Taoiseach, who is very experienced in his area, will represent our country at that, and I know it will be a priority for him as well. Ireland certainly will not be found wanting. Obviously, there are elections in different member states, and although I will not comment on them, they will have an effect. There has been a change of government in some member states, or there is due to be very shortly.  We have outlined our own priorities. As a significant net contributor to the EU budget, as the Deputy pointed out, but which is often forgotten by others, it is right and proper that our voice is heard. We have outlined the areas that we want to see a real focus on. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"EU Presidency"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_30","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Enterprise Policy","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_24","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_30","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_30.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Connolly  I ask the Minister for an update on the fiscal measures currently in place to support enterprise development and investment in regional towns and rural communities; the further tax-based initiatives being examined to promote balanced economic growth; and if he will make a statement on the matter "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  As the Deputy knows, the Government is committed to balanced regional development and supporting rural communities, as outlined in the programme for Government. Regarding fiscal supports, a range of tax-based enterprise supports are available to businesses and enterprises across the country, in particular SMEs. These incentives complement more regionally specific direct expenditure measures and schemes overseen by the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment and its agencies. At a taxation level, the measures available are generally available nationwide but when they are coupled with the specific expenditure programmes available through the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Enterprise Ireland and others, we can see a compelling opportunity for investment in the regions.  Examples of incentives for SMEs include the employment incentive scheme, start-up relief for entrepreneurs and start-up capital incentives. These reliefs are key supports that help provide SMEs and start-ups with alternative funding sources by incentivising investment in SME start-ups. Another example is the revised entrepreneur relief, which provides a reduced 10% rate of capital gains tax on chargeable gains on the disposal of a qualifying business asset up to a lifetime limit of \u20ac1.5 million, a limit that was increased in the last budget. There has also been an increase in the rate of the research and development tax credit from 30% to 35%, and that is being used by many SMEs as well.  As part of budget 2026, we saw the living city initiative, a tax incentive that offers tax relief to regenerate and convert homes and vacant properties. We have expanded that to Athlone, Drogheda, Dundalk, Letterkenny and Sligo, and it is already in place in Galway, as the Deputy knows. The much talked about reduction in the VAT rate for the hospitality sector will disproportionately benefit many rural and regional communities by reducing the cost base for the hospitality sector, which is an important part of the tourism sector. From an IDA and Enterprise Ireland point of view, we continue to promote balanced regional development in every way we can. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Connolly  The T\u00e1naiste will be aware that the national planning framework proposes to distribute the future population growth of the country equally between the greater Dublin region, the regional cities and the metropolitan areas that surround them. To facilitate that, we need enhanced infrastructure development, and we need to increase housing options for people in those locations. We also need to look at enterprise and fiscal measures to promote the development of industries at home and attract greater foreign direct investment into those regional cities.  I do not think we should rule out targeted fiscal measures at those locations.  There is one other thing I would like to get the T\u00e1naiste's opinion on. We have seen it recently with Dublin City Council. In fact, I think Galway City Council made the initial invitation to or request of the Department of Finance to introduce some type of tourism tax, where the regional or local authority could benefit from additional revenues generated by people coming to spend time in the cities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  Personally, I am very positively disposed to that once it is a matter for the local authority. As the Deputy rightly said, I am a big believer in empowering local democracy. If you run in your community and get elected by your community, you should have real powers. A revenue-raising power is one. If you happen to be a member of Galway or Dublin City Councils - they are two examples - and you say, \"Hang on a second, we want to bring in a small tax on a hotel room or the like\", that should be considered and people should be given an opportunity to ring fence it. That is very much a matter for local government and I think national government should, if at all, be an empowerment in relation to that.  Infrastructure delivery is key. I am delighted to see the Galway ring road, as I am sure the Deputy is. We have got to get better at delivering critical infrastructure more quickly, particularly in the regions. We now have a very ambitious capital plan but making sure we cut through bureaucracy and planning processes that take too long is going to be key to delivery.  However, unlike we often hear in this House, I think regional Ireland and regional cities are going well. Cities like Galway are doing well. We have got to just make sure we support them from an infrastructural point of view and continue to keep the focus of State agencies on them too. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Connolly  I very much welcome the T\u00e1naiste's support for the initiative. My understanding of it is that while the local authorities would be the gatherers of the tax, it does require Department of Finance legislative change to try to make sure it is possible and feasible for them to do so. There is a sincerity and a genuine need for it in those cities or regional towns where there are significant numbers of tourists. There is an increased need for services, such as street cleaning at festivals, and all the types of services that visitors expect to see when they come to enjoy these occasions. I am delighted to see the T\u00e1naiste is open to the idea. I hope that we can progress it and allow the local authorities to include it as part of their budgetary framework in terms of revenue generation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I am very much up to the idea. Generally, people come to this House and come up with ideas on how to spend money. It is refreshing to have people come into this House and come up with ideas on how to generate money. A tourism tax or levy at the very least merits consideration. I say \"tax or levy\" because they are obviously very different. A levy is something that may not necessarily involve my Department or the Revenue Commissioners; a tax would. There is a whole series of issues that needs to be worked through. The next natural point should be the completion of the review on the powers of local government and local democracy. That might be a useful point at which we can have further engagement. I am happy, in the context of Galway, Galway City Council and the issues the Deputy has raised, to have further engagement or meetings with him on this matter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank the T\u00e1naiste. We have run out of time and cannot take any further questions. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Enterprise Policy"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_31","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Special Education: Motion [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":46,"speakerCount":40},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_31","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Brady","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tom Brabazon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gillian Toole","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gillian-Toole.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Gillian-Toole.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Denise Mitchell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dessie Ellis","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  I move:  That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann:  recognises that:  \u2014 the State is systematically failing children with additional educational needs, their families, and the professionals who support them;  \u2014 there is a chronic and worsening shortage of appropriate school places, denying children access and forcing other children to travel excessively long distances, often outside their own communities;  \u2014 special schools for children with Mild General Learning Disabilities (MGLD) are being redesignated in practice and by stealth;  \u2014 early intervention classes are being closed at a time when demand for early support has never been higher;  \u2014 the vast majority of new special classes announced have been allocated to autism or Autism Spectrum Disorder, reflecting a continued pattern of concentration of provision in one category of support, despite the fact that students across the country present with a wide range of learning needs, including MGLD and language disorders, that require different educational supports and approaches;  \u2014 the proposed changes in relation to access to school places based on assessment and diagnosis have the potential to further redesignate classes and or schools, dilute expertise in special education teaching and support;  \u2014 access to essential therapies, both in school and in the community, is disgracefully lacking;  \u2014 the inclusive special classes announced by the Government last week are no such thing, offering the same level of support with larger class sizes, they are a further diminution of support, introduced with no consultation;  \u2014 Ireland has the largest class sizes in Europe, a reality that affects all children and particularly children with additional educational needs;  \u2014 the decision to remove \"complex needs\" from the Special Education Teaching (SET) allocation criteria was a deliberate act of rationing, designed to reduce access to support under the guise of reform;  \u2014 access to Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) remains restricted by an outdated Circular that ties support narrowly to \"primary care needs\", denying access to children with behavioural, sensory, emotional and communication needs;  \u2014 the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has an impossible task, and is forced to function as a rationing and gatekeeping body;  \u2014 the Minister for Education and Youth has failed to provide the exact number of children with additional needs still awaiting an appropriate school place for the 2026\/2027 academic year, disaggregated by county and educational setting (primary\/post-primary, special class\/special school); and  \u2014 the system of inclusive education in Ireland is fundamentally broken, and as demand continues to rise, the State's response has been to ration access to essential supports in order to save costs, rather than to meet needs;  condemns the Government for:  \u2014 its abject failure to strategically invest, plan, and deliver appropriate school places and supports for all children with additional needs;  \u2014 effectively denying children access to education based solely on their additional needs, thereby violating their fundamental rights; and  \u2014 creating an environment where parents are forced to resort to legal action to vindicate their children's basic right to education;  calls on the Government to:  \u2014 establish an all-party Oireachtas Committee on the future of inclusive education, by June 2026, mandated to hear from all education stakeholders in a full public forum, and to report back with legislative and policy recommendations within 12 months;  \u2014 immediately publish the exact number of children with additional needs still awaiting an appropriate school place for the 2026\/2027 academic year, broken down by county and educational setting (primary\/post-primary, special class\/special school);  \u2014 ensure that additional funding is provided to meet the unanticipated demand for school places for September 2026, to guarantee it does not reduce resources and funding elsewhere in the Department of Education and Youth;  \u2014 immediately engage with the Save Our SNAs campaign to advance and implement their updated and improved Circular, ending the current cruel and arbitrary restriction of SNA access;  \u2014 advance the SNA Redeployment Scheme and SNA Workforce Development Plan, in consultation with SNAs, to ensure recognition of their invaluable and expanded role;  \u2014 immediately stop the cuts by stealth, redesignations and initiative announcements without consultation;  \u2014 guarantee an appropriate school place, not merely an offer of a place, for every child with additional educational needs for September 2026;  \u2014 reaffirm that genuine inclusion means the right of every child to attend their local school, alongside their peers, neighbours and friends;  \u2014 expedite access to essential supports, including speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and psychological services within the school setting;  \u2014 initiate an independent review of the role, function, and resourcing of the NCSE and Special Education Needs Organisers to improve efficiency, transparency and performance;  \u2014 review and immediately increase the Special Education Teaching allocation model, to reverse the removal of complex needs from the qualifying criteria, and to ensure allocation is based on need rather than artificial caps or historical ratios;  \u2014 commit to a multi-annual programme of class size reduction, reducing the average class size to at least the European Union average, beginning in Budget 2027, recognising that smaller classes are a prerequisite for inclusive education;  \u2014 establish a time-bound school building delivery task force, with a mandate to ensure the expeditious and priority delivery of special schools and special classes, this task force must include relevant technical and departmental expertise and incorporate continuous engagement with local school communities and parents; and  \u2014 to immediately reverse the decision to reintroduce Leaving Certificate and Junior Cycle fees, and to roll back the hike in school transport fees, including the doubling of fees for secondary students and the 33 per cent increase for primary pupils, in recognition of the ongoing cost-of-living crisis; and  resolves that the current model of inclusive education is a failure, rejects the Government's rationing-by-stealth approach, and demands an immediate shift towards a properly resourced system, that guarantees equal access and opportunity and where no child is left behind, this shift will be well informed through the hearings of an all-party Oireachtas Committee on the future of inclusive education.  Across the State, thousands of families have been failed, ignored and exhausted by a system that claims to offer inclusive education but instead delivers ration, denial and despair. The State is systematically failing children with additional educational needs. That is not hyperbole; that is the lived reality of parents forced into legal action to vindicate their child's most basic right, the right to an education. It is the reality of children travelling impossible distances outside of their own communities because there is no school place for them at home. It is the reality of children who are lucky to have a school place but who are there for an hour a day because the support simply is not there. It is also the reality of professionals, principals, teachers, special needs assistants, SNAs, and therapists who are forced to work in a system that fails children and who themselves are not adequately supported.  Time and again, whether it be access to SNAs, language disorder classes, mild-general learning disability special schools or early intervention classes, the Government's response is diminution, cuts by stealth and reduction or withdrawal of support - in some cases, withdrawal of support before that support even materialises. It is cutting corners and it is cutting children off. The removal of complex needs from the special education teaching allocation criteria is another example of this - a deliberate act of rationing disguised as reform.  The Government and the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, restrict SNA access through an outdated circular that ties support to narrow primary care needs, ignoring behavioural, sensory, emotional and communication needs. They force parents to the courts to vindicate their children's rights and spends millions of taxpayers' euro in the process. We have the largest class sizes in Europe. For children with additional needs, that really is devastating. The Minister, Deputy Helen McEntee, as Minister, did nothing about this. Will the Minister, Deputy Naughton, be the same?  Sinn F\u00e9in condemns this Government's abject failure to plan, invest and deliver. It is violating children's fundamental rights but condemnation is not enough; we need action. We need a guarantee of appropriate school places for every child for September 2026, not merely an offer of a place but a real place. We need expedited access to speech and language therapy, SLT, occupational therapy, OT, and psychological services within schools. We need an independent review of the NCSE and special educational needs organisers, SENOs. We need the special education teaching, SET, allocation model reviewed and increased, reversing the removal of complex needs.  We need a multi-annual programme to reduce class sizes to at least the EU average, starting in budget 2027. We need a timebound school building delivery task force. We need an all-party Oireachtas committee on the future of inclusive education to be established in June 2026. This would be a Sl\u00e1intecare committee for inclusive education to build a cross-party consensus on the long-term vision for inclusive education in Ireland and to make policy recommendations. We need the exact number of children without a school place for September published immediately. We need the cuts by stealth stopped. We need an end to the cruel restriction of SNA access. I ask the Minister to please engage with the Save Our SNAs campaign and advance their updated circular now. In this cost-of-living crisis that the Government seems so oblivious to, we need to reverse the reintroduction of exam fees and the hike in school transport fees.  The current model of inclusive education is broken. Rationing by stealth must end. No child should be left behind. I ask the Government to please support this motion and let us begin the real work of building a system that guarantees equal access and opportunity for every single child. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh  This is not the first time we have brought forward proposals on special education during this D\u00e1il term, nor is it the second or the third. This is Sinn F\u00e9in's fourth Private Members' business on special education. Despite our best efforts, every time we have brought forward solutions, the Minister and her Government have consistently let families and their children down. The issues are only getting worse. The recent SNA crisis, the closure of early intervention classes and having the largest class sizes in Europe show that this Government is failing our children.  Tonight, in the Public Gallery, a young woman named Grace and her father are here. Her father has tirelessly advocated on her behalf and has lived experience of our special education system. She sent me a letter where she explains how her mild-general learning disability school has done so much for her educational and personal development. I really want the Minister and Minister of State to hear this. Grace wrote:  Everything changed when I started at this school. I was finally given the space to learn at my own pace. This support has allowed me to thrive. I feel safe, happy and positive about my future. I have a great circle of friends and I feel welcome every day. However, I am worried that if you redesignate our school, other children who are just like me will not receive the opportunities I have. I am proof that this school works. Please protect our school's designation so that the children coming after me can also find their confidence.  I agree with Grace. It is shameful that mild-general learning disability, MGLD, schools are being redesignated by stealth. The State can protect children like Grace tonight by supporting our motion, which calls for these redesignations to stop immediately.  Over the weekend, I spoke with Linda in Kildare, who told me she could not get an appropriate school place for her child. She spends seven hours of her day in her car just to get her children to school and home again. Linda's children are considered the lucky ones because they actually have a school place. Meanwhile, there are children doing additional years in preschool because they have no school place and then there are children who the Government has completely abandoned. They have no choice but to remain at home, like Zoe. Her mammy, Rachel, wrote to me and told me her story. Zoe was in an inappropriate school place that did not meet her needs. She should be in first class now but has been homeschooled by Rachel for the past few years. She has told me that she has joined every possible waiting list but just cannot get a place for Zoe. Does Zoe not deserve to be in school, learning and playing with her peers?  This is just another example of how children with additional needs are being treated as less than. Ar\u00eds is ar\u00eds eile, this Government is failing to deliver. Mar sin iarraim ar an Rialtas anocht n\u00ed hamh\u00e1in chun tac\u00fa leis an r\u00fan seo, ach chun gn\u00edomh\u00fa air gan mhoill. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 thar am ceartas a thabhairt do na p\u00e1ist\u00ed seo agus d\u00e1 dteaghlaigh. D\u00e9anaig\u00ed an rud ceart. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  The Government is sleepwalking children, families and schools into a crisis in September. It surely can see what is coming, yet for whatever reason it continues to fail children with additional needs. Across the State, children are still waiting for appropriate school places. In Waterford, I am in touch with so many parents crippled with worry, deeply angry that they are being forced to fight to secure a basic right to education. Educators are being forced to fight to protect their roles, out on protest to be allowed to continue supporting children. In their own words, I will tell two stories from constituents in Waterford. Sabrina is a mam. She told me her youngest is seven and non-verbal. They have no speech and language therapy. They cannot get equipment because there is no senior therapist to sign it off. They even had to take the HSE and the Department to the High Court just to get a school place. Katie, an SNA, said it is heartbreaking to see children still waiting for placements. She said they are severely understaffed and underpaid. The job is physically, emotionally and mentally demanding. There is no risk pay, even when staff are injured. They support safety, learning, communication and care all at once without the support needed to do it properly.  We in Sinn F\u00e9in and parents and educators across the State have been warning of this for years but the Government has failed to act. Classes are being redesignated without consultation. Supports are being diluted. Children are being denied access based on need. The Government has failed to plan, failed to invest and failed to deliver. It is a political choice and it has always been a political choice but the Ministers have always made the wrong one. It needs to be reversed now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Brady","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Brady  As Cathaoirleach of the Committee of Public Accounts, last week I exposed that in recent years, the Department of education has spent over \u20ac2 million on legal costs and court settlements in cases involving families seeking appropriate school places. That is in addition to the \u20ac10.5 million spent by the State on legal defences to challenges by parents regarding assessments of need. This is an absolute insult to every parent fighting tirelessly for their child's basic right to education and to every child left without supports they need. This money was not spent on classrooms, special classes or additional supports but on defending the indefensible. This is public money wasted on adversarial legal battles against families who, as a last option, have to take legal action to vindicate their children's rights. Instead of planning effectively and investing adequately to ensure sufficient school places, the Government has chosen to meet vulnerable families in the courtroom. Parents are exhausted. They are frustrated. This will be another kick in the teeth to those who are already facing immense pressures. This situation lays bare the fundamental failures at the heart of special education provision. It is reactive. It is not proactive. It is adversarial and not supportive. This money should have been invested in additional special classes, SNAs and meaningful supports within our schools. The Government and the Minister must change course. They must commit to long-term planning and genuinely engaging with families and school communities because all our children deserve better. The Minister must support this motion and start proactively dealing with special education and putting the supports in place. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  The way children with disabilities and their families are treated in this State is an absolute disgrace. We are here not just every year, talking about school places and appropriate school places for children with disabilities. We have tabled countless motions on a range of issues from school places to assessments of need to therapies children are being deprived of and are not getting. We do not see any action from Government. Parents are at their wits' end. They are tired, frustrated, angry and they see a broken system and a Government that is simply not fixing it. Worse than that, they feel gaslit when it comes to special classes. They are told to contact their local SENO. They contact the local SENO and get a list of so-called special classes and are told in each and every case that the classes are full or there is no availability. In some cases, they get 14 or 15 refusals. It is heartbreaking for a parent not to know if their child will have the appropriate class come September. I received dozens of emails and phone calls in advance of the debate today, from parents I have dealt with in the past and now unfortunately parents I have not dealt with before. They are coming into a system that they have seen fail so many other children. They are asking me why this is the case. It is not only that their child cannot get access to a special school place. The same children are on waiting lists for assessments of need, where the State is breaking the law in not providing a diagnosis, and waiting lists for therapies. The waiting lists are going nowhere. They are only getting bigger and children are waiting longer. That is the reality of what this Government has done. I do not know if the Ministers know the level of frustration and anger those parents have. They want the best for their child. They want an appropriate school place. They want their child to have the full developmental supports. They say to me that they are battling and battling the system every single day with no support. That is why we are here again today with our motion. We will keep coming back with motions until the Government gets it right and until children and families with disabilities are properly respected. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  I make the point again that the whole fiasco in relation to SNAs was symptomatic of a wider attitude. An awful lot of SNAs and parents viewed it as the Department and the Government trying to pull a fast one, failing to recognise the manner in which the role of the SNAs has changed, even though it was apparent to everyone. It was entirely obvious to anyone who took the time to examine what an SNA how much the role has changed and how much more complex it is now, with the huge responsibilities they have now. The Government was trying to change the goalposts and doing things back to front, instead of evaluating correctly the current role. That is symptomatic. So much of this is back to front.  I want to take the opportunity to mention once again, and I know the Minister of State will be particularly aware of it, the issue in relation to Carrigaline special school. I welcome the additional resources but more is needed, particularly in terms of the multidisciplinary piece. Like my colleagues, I think many issues need to be addressed. The issues with therapies are enormous. The waiting lists are getting bigger and bigger and the CDNTs are absolutely buckling under pressure, in Cork particularly but also across the State. I know there are excellent, very committed therapists in all of them but they are under incredible pressure to try to keep up. We are here yet again debating the issue of school places. I do not know how it is, the way it has been an annual occurrence every April, May and June that we have debates of this nature instead of it being resolved at the start of the year. It is totally unfair on parents who are trying to figure out what is happening in September.  I will give one example of a girl, Tessa. I was speaking to her mother Jenna earlier. They have applied to eight schools, all of which refused or added her to waiting lists. They have since applied for three more. Her daughter is a flight risk and she is non-verbal. She is a single mother with two other children. She is under huge pressure and stress, trying to understand where her child is going to be. She is already in the system. She is in Sonas, a special education early years facility. She has two other children. She made the point to me that if they were missing for 20 days from school, she would be put under pressure but the State is not holding up its responsibility. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  The existence of any school place is not the same as the existence of an appropriate placement. For autistic pupils, placements must be based on assessment of need, sensory profile, communication supports and the capacity of the receiving setting to provide a structured, autism-informed environment. Placing a child in an unsuitable setting can, as the Minister will know, lead to severe anxiety, regression in learning and school refusal. I have had many pieces of correspondence over the past week or so when people knew this motion was being put forward. I thank Deputies O'Rourke and N\u00ed Raghallaigh for bringing this motion forward. I want to read out what I received from one teacher.  She states:  \"As a teacher, a principal and a parent of a child with additional learning needs, Ireland has gone backwards when it comes to inclusive educaiton in schools. The Government brandishes the words around but inclusion without resources is only neglect. Who usually receives the brunt of the disillusionment from parents of these students? Us teachers. Twenty years ago, a child with additional needs was allocated resource teacher hours. They were allocated SNA hours, given ICT, etc. Now everything is given under a general allocation model.  The scramble to create a cluster takes away the energy we have to condemn the miserable few hours we are presented with. SNA allocations have not changed for the next year. However, if like us you are screaming and begging for an increase in hours, you're told no can do. Will we still be begging this time next year? I want you to answer that question. I absolutely love teaching. I love the fun interactions with students in my class. I love watching children in my care progress even if that is slowly. I love the light bulb moments. I love the enthusiasm, the creativity. I love teaching but teaching has become more and more frustrating lately. We are implementing a brand-new curriculum starting next September. The curriculum has become more vast and diverse. Trying to share so much knowledge is not going to work especially when you add a varied class of students in the mix. It is nigh impossible to cater for everyone single-handedly, especially in multilevel classrooms. We try our best.  I ask the Ministers to please listen to that teacher and parent. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  As an elected representative, I can think of nothing more frustrating than every single year dealing with parents and families desperately trying to get what most of us take for granted, an adequate school place for their children. Every single year Ministers come to his House to tell us they are making changes and it will be better next year, but every single year, if anything, the situation gets worse. Every spring we are dealing with questions coming from not only parents and families, but also schools in many instances to get a clear image in terms of how many children are going to be catered for in each school, in each class, in each special school the following September. Invariably after all the turmoil and all the interactions, every September some children will be left behind. Every September and October we are still chasing either to get the SNA support or to get a place in the class that is appropriate to the needs of the children. It just has to stop and cannot go on.  We have heard enough of the rhetoric. I am sick of the press statements. I am absolutely sick to my hind teeth of the responses I get from the Department when I make representations on behalf of individual students, real children with real needs, and I get this bland response telling me about the extra SNA resources, the extra school places and whatever but no specific detail that the family needs. It has to change. There has to be a complete change of approach within the Department and within the NCSE. We need to realise we are talking about human beings here. They are asking for what most of us take for granted, a place in the school that is appropriate to the needs of their children.  I am asking the Government to support this motion but, more importantly, I am asking it to implement the provisions within it. We need to ensure that children get the education that they deserve and that they are entitled to. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Education and Youth (Deputy Hildegarde Naughton)  I welcome this evening\u2019s debate. It is important that we continue to shine a light on the area of special education to ensure that our children and young people with additional needs are supported in school to help them achieve their full potential. I appreciate and accept that some families and young people believe the system is not doing enough for them, but supporting young people with special educational needs is a priority for me as Minister for Education and Youth, and for my colleagues across government. Our track record is testament to that.  In 2026, more than \u20ac3 billion will be spent on special education. This is the highest ever annual provision and represents a 58% increase over the funding provided in 2020. Since 2020, we have almost doubled the number of special classes in our primary schools, going from 1,319 to 2,629. We now have more than twice the number of special classes in our post-primary schools, going from 517 to 1,112. Some 16 new special schools have been opened and four more will open for the next school year, 2026-27. Special school enrolments have increased by 20% since 2020. More than 40% of special schools have benefited from new or upgraded buildings. We continue to invest in our special education teachers and SNAs, and there will be close to 22,500 SETs and approximately 25,000 SNAs in our schools by the end of the year.  We are progressing the establishment of a new education therapy service, which will be introduced in 45 special schools to begin with. The first of these new therapists will be in post in the National Council for Special Education next month.  Earlier this year, the Government also confirmed that there would be no reduction for any school in its allocation of SNAs for the coming school year. Separately, work is progressing to finalise a workforce development plan for SNAs, an SNA redeployment scheme and a new circular letter outlining the role of the SNA. Along with the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, I recently hosted a day-long engagement with SNAs and stakeholders on these issues and I want to see progress made on these matters as quickly as possible.  I know that an alternative circular on the role of the SNA is in circulation, and I appreciate the bona fides of those who have drafted it. However, it is important to note that any changes that I or my Department will bring forward in this regard will be made as a result of close consultation and co-design with the trade union F\u00f3rsa, the recognised representative body for SNAs, in addition to SNAs and relevant stakeholder groups. This consultation will be reflected in the three key documents relating to SNAs that I plan to publish shortly, documents which have been co-designed with SNAs working in schools across every community in the State.  Many more developments and initiatives are under way to support our children and young people with special educational needs and the Minister of State will speak to some of these in his contribution. It is worth highlighting that demand for education services has grown significantly in recent years, with 38,000 additional students added to the system in the past five years. Today, one in four children, or around 240,000 children, require extra supports. This has led to a very large expansion in special education services. Around 30,000 require specialist provision in special classes or special schools.  There has also been a major increase in the number of children with additional needs, both in Ireland and internationally. To ensure these children receive the supports they need and to meet increased demand, the Government this morning agreed to additional funding for the provision of special education services for children across the country. This money will fund SETs, additional SNAs, increased capitation, access to school transport for children in special education settings and start-up grants for schools opening new special classes and inclusive special classes.  For the balance of time remaining, I want to touch on two issues. The first one is to the forefront of the minds of many parents at present and that is the provision of school places for September. The second is plans for developing a more inclusive education system.  My Department and the NCSE have engaged intensively on an ongoing basis over recent months with schools and stakeholders to plan for the provision of more special class and special school places for the coming school year. As Deputies will be aware, budget 2026 provided funding for up to 433 new special classes and up to 400 new special school places. As of last week, the NCSE had sanctioned 432 new special classes, a number of months ahead of last year.  Utilising the additional funding secured at Cabinet, my Department and the NCSE will work to ensure that further new special classes can be confirmed as soon as possible. These new special classes will be mainly made up of regular special classes and some new inclusive special classes. These new inclusive special classes, five of which were announced last week, will receive the same level of resources and funding as regular classes and can support more children and young people to attend their local school with their peers. These new classes should also facilitate schools to support students to access mainstream classes for large parts of the day, something that is already happening in many of our schools, particularly at post-primary level.  The inclusive special classes are supported by management bodies from the post-primary sector. My Department and the NCSE met with special education advocacy groups and parent representative bodies to discuss these new inclusive special classes last week and a further engagement is planned for tomorrow. I ask schools that are opening new special classes to progress now to run admissions processes and offer places to students.  My Department's policy has long been to ensure that children's needs are met in the most inclusive school environment possible. For the vast majority of children and young people, this means they are supported to engage with education in mainstream classrooms every day.  However, some children and young people with complex needs require much greater levels of support. My Department and the NCSE have worked very hard to ensure there are sufficient places in special classes and special schools in order that those students' needs are met.  It is acknowledged that there is a significant body of work to do to ensure that greater opportunities are provided for inclusion for those students in particular. My Department is conscious, for example, of the obligations on us as a country arising from the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This aligns with the previous policy advice published by the NCSE which challenges us to ensure the progressive realisation of a more inclusive education system. In that regard, a number of very significant developments will inform how a more inclusive education system can be developed. Following the review of the EPSEN Act, which was published last year, my Department has been finalising an implementation plan arising from that review.  My Department has also been working to finalise a roadmap for inclusion that has been prepared by the European Agency for Special Needs and Inclusive Education on foot of a successful application to the EU's technical support instrument programme. This roadmap seeks to address the recommendations contained in the NCSE's policy advice on inclusive education. As mentioned earlier, my Department is also working hard to finalise and publish a workforce development plan for SNAs.  I now intend to establish a forum of key stakeholders, including parents, advocates, representatives from schools, unions, patrons and interested parties, to deliver a high-level action plan on the next steps. This plan will be led by our stakeholders and by those with lived experience. It is intended that this forum will be independently chaired to ensure it can deliver the reforms required in a way that will bring cohesion to the system and provide stakeholder confidence in a robust and child-centred process that can be delivered to meet the needs of children and young people with additional needs. I will provide further information on this forum in due course.  I appreciate that there is a significant body of work ahead of us, working together to agree a common consensus on the future of special education provision. To be clear, the Government is unwavering in its commitment to special education. It is committed to ensuring that young people with additional educational needs are helped to thrive and to prosper. Our track record and the next steps I have outlined are a testament to that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  On the 13th of this month a boy in my constituency turned six. Boys and girls his age organise parties, but there was no one to come to his party, only his family. He has been without a school place for a year. I contacted the NCSE about him last August and still he has no school place. It is nearly May and they still do not know whether he will have a school place in August.  He is not alone; there are hundreds of other children like him. Every single year children - boys and girls - are forced to watch their friends, their family and their neighbours go down the road in their school uniforms with their schoolbags on their backs while they are left at home. It is a sin. It is a sin on these poor children to be left at home without a school place. Not alone is it a sin; it is illegal. It is illegal what this Government and what Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael have been doing to these children for years. This did not happen today or yesterday. For six years I have come in here every year fighting for children. I see mothers who have to be like warriors outside the doors of Leinster House and who walk the streets of Cork and Dublin and every town and village looking for places for their children. How can that be right?  Every child has a right to an education. It states in the 1916 Proclamation that \"all the children of the nation\" will be treated equally. It does not say \"except if you have additional needs\", \"except if you have a disability\" or \"except if you are autistic\". Every child should be treated the same.  I come in here and listen to Ministers. The Minister's speech here in my hand outlines all the Government is doing. I will tell her what it is doing. There are children who have no school places, and that is the Government's responsibility. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in  Before starting here, I taught in schools for 34 years, the last ten years in special education, but I have never seen things so bad in terms of the shortage of appropriate school places and SNA provision for those with behavioural, sensory, emotional or communication difficulties. The State is systematically failing these children, their families and the professionals I worked with. This week I have been contacted by school principals from the Wicklow-Wexford area, many distraught, with harrowing stories of struggles they face to get their children the education and the services they need and deserve. We have the new Gorey Hill School for students with special needs, which I know the Minister has visited. I met her there. That has a temporary building which is expanding into the grounds of the adjacent Gaelscoil, where I used to work, and that is now full. It will not be able to take a single student in September. It needs a new greenfield site for a bigger school. Some children cannot get school places in my area. Others may have to stay at home and wait another year, which is absolutely shocking, as my colleague pointed out. Public transport is a huge issue. Others said it would prevent them from actually going to school. The principal in Bearna Chl\u00e9, Johnstown, spoke of a shocking shortage of help in assessing assessment-of-need applications, with an allocation of just three hours per day. I also had a Kilmichael parent of three autistic children on to me. Another mother has to get a solicitor to get an assessment of need and had to travel to Cork. How did it come to this? I have been working for the past year on transport and I feel we have Groundhog Day coming up this summer. I am working with parents from the Castletown, Camolin, Bunclody and Gorey Educate Together areas, working with the Minister's Department and working with parliamentary questions and everything else. I have a feeling we will be back to square one in a couple of months' time. Lastly, there is Our Lady of Fatima School in Wexford being re-designated in a very underhand way. This has to stop. I ask the House to support the motion and guarantee that anyone who needs additional support will receive it in September. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Maurice Quinlivan  Across the State, we do not know how many children with additional needs are waiting for an appropriate school place for the coming academic year, and that is deeply worrying. I note that in the Minister's opening statement she did not give us those figures, even though she probably knew we would ask her for them. I urge the Minister and the Minister of State to provide us with these details. They are really important to plan for anything.  In the run-up to each academic new year I, along with other TDs, I am sure, get calls in my office from parents who have not received a school place, or, if they have, it is often in a setting that is not suitable for their child. It is wrong that parents must contact their local TDs on this matter. It is even more wrong that parents are compelled to take legal action to ensure that a child's right to an education is met. As we know, 22,000-plus children are waiting for an assessment of need alone. The Government looks at this challenge and opts out without appropriate consultation with disability groups to establish inclusive special education classes. There are simply larger classes with the same level of supports as previously, with no commitment to increase staffing. We have a broken system, and the Government seems determined to compound the failures in the system. The Government seems to be unaware that we face a crisis when the school holidays end. It seems that at every turn a parent of a child with additional needs must fight. It is battle after battle after battle. It is only a few short months ago that many of these parents rallied across the State in the Save Our SNAs campaign. Their advocacy forced the Government to change course.  The Joint Committee on Disability Matters, which I chair, recently published a report on inclusive education for persons with disabilities. I urge the Government to read that report and to look especially at the Sky is the Limit programme, which operates in Corpus Christi Primary School in Moyross, in my constituency of Limerick City. It is a programme that embeds counselling, therapy and family support services within the school environment, thus allowing pupils and parents to access help that would otherwise be difficult for them to navigate. It is a model that could be looked at as part of the needed changes to how we deal with the issue of special education. We cannot keep rinsing and repeating this tired and outdated approach to special educational needs. We need to do much better. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy R\u00e9ada Cronin  Every year, year in, year out, we are at this, where parents scramble for places for their children with special educational needs, and every year it becomes clearer and clearer that this State is abjectly failing in its duty to these children. Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael have repeatedly failed children with additional educational needs, their families and the professionals who support them. The Government says it is spending more. Of course it is; our population is growing. An appropriate school place for children with additional needs is essential for their long-term development in order that they can become functioning adults.  The last time I was speaking about special education I spoke about how some of these children are ending up in prisons. I spoke about one person in particular in Kildare who did.  He is not costing the State any more money because the poor man is dead. He was denied the special education he needed and he ended up in jail. We have children who are travelling long distances to other schools outside their communities. Many children really struggle with this. I know of children from Meath coming to Kildare and vice versa . Children deserve to have their education in their local area, where they are making friends and they can go out an play on the road. Last year, we had a massive outpouring from parents who thought there was no other option but to sleep in tents on Marlborough Street, outside the Department of education. This is an absolutely desperate situation for these parents to be in. We have a great special school in Maynooth. I visited it recently and it is a great facility, but like most things the Government does it did not finish it. The car park is unsafe for the children. It is a gold-standard building, but it needs to be finished. The capitation grant does not meet the needs of children with special educational needs. Saplings Special School in Kill is struggling massively in its current premises, which is an old, dilapidated building, with toilets and sensory rooms that are well below par. Despite the fabulous staff, the schools are simply not fit for purpose. Toilet seats are broken and the capitation grant does not meet what these schools need. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  This Government and this State do not cherish all the children of the nation equally when it comes to education. We are here discussing appropriate school places, inclusive education and ensuring that children have the correct supports they require. Unfortunately, we keep having this conversation because there is a continuity of failure to deliver. I will start with one example, but we could all probably list 50:  Hi Ruair\u00ed, my name is Lisa, and I'm emailing regarding my son Matthew who attends an ASD class in a primary school in Dundalk. He's going to secondary school in September. I could not get him a place in an ASD class as they are so full he has to go to mainstream. My problem is that an SNA co-ordinator has told me that she can't promise him SNA access as they only have six between first and sixth year. Matthew is only coming 12 and still a flight risk. He can't even go out and play on the street without fear of him wandering off. He is a very trusting wee boy and would go off and speak to anyone. I don't think that he would be able to be left alone and go looking for classes or go to lunch on his own. He would wander off and would need constant supervision.  She was told to contact a TD. That is what everyone gets told to do because we are not delivering the service required. My son, Turlough, who I have mentioned before, would not have stayed in school in St. Joseph's or in \u00d3 Fiaich College, where he is absolutely thriving, without that support.  I will also talk about another mother who has a seven-year-old child with Down's syndrome and autism who is non-verbal. I have been talking to the NCSE for the last two and a half months about the big issue that she has no appropriate place at present. She is too special for a special school, so that is a problem. Children are falling between stools all the time. We need to get serious and we need to offer a solution across the board, and not an absolute disaster of Private Members' motions and then an absolute mess every September. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  The Labour Party will be fully supporting the motion. I thank Deputy Darren O'Rourke for tabling it. It is important to remember that behind all the statistics we discuss are children and families who are waiting, worrying and, too often, struggling to be heard. Special education is not an niche issue or an add-on to our system. It is a fundamental test of whether our education system is fair, responsive and genuinely inclusive. At present, that test is not being met.  We are facing unprecedented demand for special classes and special school places for next September. The Department is aware that approximately 600 new special classes are required. While it is welcome that just over 430 classes have already been opened, there remains a shortfall of roughly 170 classes. That is not a marginal gap. It represents hundreds of children who, as we stand here today, do not know whether they will have an appropriate school place in a matter of months. The reality behind that shortfall is stark. It is parents ringing school after school - often dozens of schools - searching for a place for their child. It is families being turned away repeatedly, left navigating a fragmented and inconsistent system with no clear answers. It is stress, uncertainty and a sense that the system is simply not working for those who need it most. That cannot be allowed to continue. When I raised this issue at the Committee of Public Accounts in February, the Department indicated that a memo would be brought to the Cabinet outlining how this situation would be addressed. When representatives from the Department again appeared before the committee last Thursday, the memo had still not been sent. This raises a fundamental question about urgency. For the Department this may be part of the process, but for families it is their children's future. Every delay matters and every week without a clear plan adds to the uncertainty parents are already facing.  We cannot simply remain in the cycle of criticism, followed by crisis response. What is required now is a shift in how we plan and deliver special education. We need to move from an ad hoc reactive approach to one that is ambitious, structured and forward looking. That is precisely what we have sought to do within the Labour Party. In our alternative budget, we proposed an additional \u20ac26.1 million in capital funding to accelerate the delivery of special classes and special schools. This is about ensuring that provision keeps pace with demand and that places are available locally at the start of the school year, not months into it. Alongside this we allocated funding for additional special education teachers and a significant number of special needs assistants, recognising that increased capacity must be matched with adequate funding and staffing.  However, investment alone is not enough if the system through which places are allocated remains fragmented. One of the most consistent themes we hear from parents is not just the lack of places, but the absence of a clear, co-ordinated process to access them. No parent should have to call 20 or 30 schools, let alone 40, simply to secure a school place for their child. That is not a system; it is a burden that has been unfairly shifted onto families. This is why the Labour Party is proposing the introduction of a centralised application system for school places, covering mainstream and special education provision. We already have an example of how such a system can work on this island. In Northern Ireland, school admissions are managed centrally by the education authority through a single online portal. Parents submit one application and outline their preferences, and the system co-ordinates the allocation of their school places, including special provision. The value of that approach is not simply administrative; it is about fairness and clarity. It provides parents with a transparent process, clear timelines and confidence that the state is taking responsibility for ensuring their child has a school place. It also provides us as policy makers with real-time data on demand, allowing for more accurate planning and earlier intervention where gaps are emerging. We do not need to replicate that model in its entirety but we should certainly adopt its core principle: that the State, not parents should carry the responsibility for allocating school places, A centralised system in Ireland would allow for better co-ordination, earlier identification of demand and a far more efficient experience for families. It would move us away from our current situation, where those with more time, resources or knowledge are better able to navigate the system, while others are left behind. This speaks to the broader issue within special education. We are too often operating in a reactive mode. We respond when a crisis emerges, scramble to create additional places and attempt to resolve issues under pressure. What we need instead is forward planning, supported by robust data and clear structures, so that we are anticipating demand rather than chasing it.  That same principle applies when we consider special needs assistants. The recent proposals that would have effectively removed SNAs for some children based on revised criteria led to a significant public outcry and rightly so. Any approach that appears to pit one child's needs against another undermines the very idea of inclusion. SNAs are not an optional support. They are essential to ensuring that many children can access education in a meaningful way. In our alternative budget, the Labour Party has not only proposed to increase the number of SNAs, but also proposed improvements to their working conditions and professional development. This includes the phasing out of the 72-hour obligation, supporting SNAs to achieve QQI level 6 qualifications, and ensuring that workforce planning reflects the realities within our schools. If we want a system that works, we must invest in the people who deliver it every day.  We are also proposing the introduction of special educational needs co-ordinators as a formal post of responsibility within our schools at assistant principal level. One of the recurring challenges identified by schools is the lack of dedicated co-ordination for special education provision. Teachers and principals are managing increasingly complex needs alongside their existing responsibilities. A dedicated, co-ordinated role would improve planning, strengthen communication with parents and ensure that supports are delivered more effectively.  Finally, I want to address autism provision. There are significant concerns about proposed changes to the autism class model. Organisations such as AsIAm Ireland have raised legitimate questions about whether these changes risk diluting specialist supports. Inclusion is a goal we all share, but it must be meaningful and properly resourced. It cannot come at the expense of the tailored supports that many children rely on.  Labour's approach is to strengthen both inclusion and specialist provision. We propose an autism-friendly audit of every school building over a four-year period alongside investment in autism-specific training for all school staff and a full expansion of therapy supports, inclusive of occupational therapy and speech and language therapy, through the educational therapy support service for all of our schools. Education does not happen in isolation. Children must have access to the full range of supports they need to thrive. When we look at the system as a whole, the challenges are clear. There is a shortage of places, uncertainty for families and a structure that is too often reactive. The solutions are also clear, however. With proper investment, better co-ordination and a commitment to forward planning, we can build a system that meets the needs of every child.  Ultimately, this comes down to responsibility. At present, too much of the burden is placed on parents, who are left to navigate an unclear and inconsistent system. That is not where the responsibility should lie. It is the role of the State to ensure that every child has access to an appropriate school place and the supports he or she needs. If we are serious about inclusion, we must move beyond ad hoc measures and short-term fixes. We must be ambitious in our planning, clear in our delivery and committed to building a system that works for families. Every child deserves not just a place in our education system but the opportunity to fully participate and to reach his or her full potential. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert O'Donoghue  I agree with Deputy O'Rourke. He said that every week his office is contacted by parents who simply cannot secure appropriate special education places for their children. It is the same in my office. I had such a contact just an hour and a half ago. When parents cannot access local provision within Dublin Fingal West, they are told to go into Dublin or to the adjacent counties of Meath and Louth. I would love to see the emails the Ministers receive. I am sure that people around the country are in similar situations to those I hear about in Dublin Fingal West. It is simply not acceptable that parents are asked to put children with special needs on a bus for 90 minutes in the morning and in the afternoon just to access education.  Every child should have the right to attend school in their local area with their siblings and friends and in their own community. In my own constituency of Dublin Fingal West, parents come to me who are desperately trying to secure appropriate places for children with Down's syndrome. Parents were recently told there were three places available in one school but there were 57 applications. That is the stark reality that families are facing. I thank Ruth and Fidelma from Down Syndrome Ireland, who met with me on this issue last month.  I will try to put forward a solution. I raised this last year with the T\u00e1naiste. Children in early education are in ASD pre-school settings where the access and inclusion model, AIM, is in use. Those figures can be used to plan ahead and ensure that supports are in place for primary schools. There is a clear two-year window there before the transition and it should be used. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy George Lawlor  I will speak about the impact of the Ministers' proposals on moderate general learning disability schools. The future of children relies on schools like Our Lady of Fatima School in Wexford town. The Government's proposal to remove its MGLD designation threatens to dismantle the very support system that these children depend on. I am delighted to see Darryl, chair of the parents association, and his daughter, Grace, a student at Our Lady of Fatima School, in the Gallery this evening. People across County Wexford have said plainly that this proposal is misguided and will be harmful. It disregards the lived reality of families, the expertise of teachers and the needs of children, who deserve the specialised, consistent and compassionate education provided by Our Lady of Fatima and schools like it right across the country.  We must be absolutely clear about what this designation means. MGLD status is not just a label; it is a lifeline. It ensures that children with mild general learning disabilities receive tailored teaching, smaller classes, specialised resources and an environment built around their strengths and challenges. Removing this designation does not modernise education or streamline services. Instead, it strips away protections that were put in place because the children in these schools needed them. Parents have said repeatedly that this school is not just a building but a community that understands their children in a way that mainstream settings simply cannot. Teachers have warned that removing the designation will scatter vulnerable students to environments that are not prepared, resourced or trained to meet their needs. On behalf of the children in Wexford and across the country who will be affected by the removal of these designations, I urge the Ministers to review and reverse this decision because it will have such a great impact on the affected children. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  I believed the Ministers when they told me several times in this Chamber that they would work with me. I believed them when they said several times that they had the solutions. I believed the NCSE. I believed lots of people but that might be my political naivety. I am really disappointed. I have come to the Ministers several times both here and outside the Chamber, the committee has been on to them and I have submitted umpteen parliamentary questions. I have written letters pleading with them to do something on behalf of my constituents and people around this country, their children and the schools they work in. These people are coming to me because I am our education spokesperson. I have had the quickest grinds ever on the subject of how inclusive education works in this country. It is an omnishambles beyond belief. I do not normally get cross. I try to be very constructive. However, I really am pushed to the limits of my patience now. Those on the Government side constantly say that the Opposition does not put forward solutions. This is a solution. We have put forward several. I literally cannot ask the Ministers any more times for the things that need to happen.  In September, we had an issue with appropriate school places. We did not have enough of them. In November, the portal was closed and no one figured out what to do for those parents who were promised they were going to be able to notify the parental portal afterwards. The portal was shut and they were not able to make that notification. We had to contact the Minister individually. That is not an appropriate use of her time. This system should work properly. In January, another Department announced that there would not be assessments of need in schools. I do not know how schools are going to figure out what support services they need. That was done without any consultation with any education providers whatsoever. That is also an affront to the Ministers' Department.  Two things happened in April. Inclusive special education classes were announced. It is beyond me why those words were used. I do not know why someone would come up with that phrase. Does that mean that the rest of the classes are not inclusive? We then had the Relate document. It is an absolutely excellent document. It is not all bad news. I will give praise where it is due. The Relate document is excellent and that framework should be rolled out. It is now going to be rolled out to training for SNAs and teachers but through a \"train the trainer\" model. That was not decided in consultation with teacher unions or any other unions and it is also not acceptable.  I welcome my lovely colleagues from Scoil Eoin in my own constituency. It is a mild general learning disability school. I believe the Minister has visited. It is an absolutely wonderful school. The fact that its designation is facing death by a million cuts and what will happen to those children is actually frightening.  I listened to the Minister's speech in full. I was upstairs in my office. It was full of numbers, which is great. I like hearing numbers. However, I also think those numbers do not actually relate to the children behind them and where they are. I will ask one question. The portal was supposed to give the Minister a great deal of information. Did it actually tell her the needs those children had? If it did, has she addressed all of those needs? I hope she will tell me that it has. There is no point in collecting data and then leaving it on a shelf. With regard to those five inclusive special classes, is that specifically what those parents said they needed for their children through that portal?  Therapists are going to come into schools in May, one month before the end of yet another academic year. They should never have been cut in the first place. I do not know whose hare-brained idea that was. The idea that children with disabilities would not have therapists is just beyond me.  Today, the Taoiseach stood in his place and said the Save our SNAs campaign was a flawed campaign. What was flawed was the Government's approach to SNAs. The campaign has been fighting for years because SNAs were not respected. They have again not been respected. The Taoiseach has completely insulted a pile of people in this country. It is unfathomable. The reason they are so frustrated and that there is a difficulty with SNAs is that it has taken years for the Ministers' Department to get redeployment going, to undertake workforce planning and to get any idea of what the circular would be able to do.  I asked the Minister if she would meet the group. She said \"Yes\" and that we could negotiate. I offered the NCSE. Deputy O'Rourke and I were part of that committee, and we asked if we could do it. We are handing the Minister stuff on a silver platter to make her life easier, so that intern can make the lives of those children easier. The EPSEN Act, which the Department reviewed last year, was written in 2004 and sat on a shelf for years.  I want to mention two things that I thought were really heartbreaking over the last while. Visually impaired and blind students came into the committee last week. One young person told us that he had applied for his Braille books when he was in transition year, and he got them a week before his leaving certificate. They were his senior cycle books. That is how we are treating a child who needs to have Braille books. I am speechless.  We are spending gazillions of euro. I do not even know the number. The Minister knows the number and she still has to go to borrow more money for the future next year due to the overspend the Department has. I know she is trying to do her best, but the reality is that it is not what is in the wallet but how it is spent. It is clearly not being spent properly if we cannot even get a child books in Braille for the leaving certificate. What is that saying to him as an individual? Is it saying we do not value him because we did not bother getting him his Braille books? It would not happen in another country.  I recently met with parents of children with intellectual disabilities who are becoming adults and are going to leave education and go somewhere else. What I heard was that there is no vision whatsoever for those young people. I know they are going to be adults, but there is no vision for what they will do with their lives in the future.  I met somebody from the Before We Die campaign this morning. I hope that campaign contacts every TD in this room and those who are not present also, and that we listen to them because waiting until someone dies and then figuring out what is going to happen to their adult child is just disgraceful.  I am sure that the Minister and the Minister of State have not heard me this annoyed before because I tend to come into this House quite balanced, but today I am afraid I am not. I am not able to listen to the constant complaints from people because the system does not work. I thought the Minister would believe me, and I know that is what parents in this country thought. They thought they could believe the Government before the last general election or local election - any election - that it would get this right, but it has not, and it is now going to have another talking shop that asks people this, that and the other. The information and answers are there. The Government does not have to make everything up. It works in other countries, so copy and paste from where it works well.  The education committee also went to Finland. We looked at what that would be like. There are so many solutions but, again, if we are not able to get it right for any child in this country, this is what the difficulty is. The Government has let people down. It has let people in this House down, it has let people outside this House down, and if there were another motion of no confidence, it would be about this issue, in my opinion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Liam Quaide  I thank Sinn F\u00e9in for bringing this motion to the House this evening. Early intervention classes are a pivotal part of the continuum of support for children with additional needs and autistic children who are not yet ready to transition to a special class or into school more generally, yet an insidious pattern is emerging in the treatment of early intervention classes. They are being slowly but surely phased out under the guise of inclusivity.  A reply the Department recently gave to a parliamentary question of mine on this issue clearly shows what is happening. It stated that the Department of education and the National Council for Special Education are pushing for early intervention classes to be repurposed to meet wider special class demand. Incredibly, we are told that this is about inclusion and about meeting need. In reality, it means that one essential form of educational provision is being scaled back to meet need elsewhere - a classic case of robbing Peter to pay Paul.  The Government is getting away with this because it is happening gradually, under the radar, and because the group of children affected at any given time is relatively small. Presenting this as inclusivity is not just misleading; it is deeply cynical. A class that should be there for a new cohort of young children is instead being absorbed into the primary school system to patch over shortages there.  Early intervention classes serve a distinct purpose. They can be the bridge into education for children who need intensive support at the earliest stage. These classes can help children develop communication, regulation, routine and many of the core skills needed to engage with school life. Investment at that stage can yield enormous benefits later in a child\u2019s education and development, and I have heard that directly from primary school teachers and principals, who are deeply concerned by this quiet phasing-out of early intervention classes. Crucially, they are often essential for children who are not yet ready to transition into a special class. If we hollow out that provision, we will leave some of our most vulnerable young children without the support they need at the very point when early intervention matters most.  The national figures point in the wrong direction. After previous growth, the total number of early intervention classes fell from 157 in 2024-25 to 149 in 2025-26 and Cork shows that pattern very clearly. Instead of strengthening early intervention provision, there is a clear reduction over time, with six fewer early intervention classes now in Cork than existed in 2020. That trend needs to be reversed.  The Government should not preach about inclusive education while quietly reducing access to the early intervention provision that many children depend on in order to get into education in the first place. It is crucial that the Government acknowledges the distinct and irreplaceable value of these classes and commits to protecting them from routine redesignation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  There is a huge concern among parents of children with additional needs, autism and disabilities that what is happening now is an undermining of the minimal resourcing that is there already. The truth is we have created an education system that is more exclusionary than it is inclusionary, and we need to create an inclusive education system.  In my constituency, Finglas Parochial National School was promised autism classes that were to be delivered by September. It is now not clear if that will happen, although I know the Minister has been out to visit.  Similarly, I have been working with a parent for over a year whose child only goes to school for one and a half hours a day. A six-year-old child goes in for one and a half hours a day because the school cannot handle it as it does not have the resources, and the parents are taking the child home. This is a child with autism.  We are failing too many children, too many families, too many parents and I am very surprised at the Taoiseach's response to the SNA campaign. What is the Minister's response to the proposed circular from the SNA campaign? I have read it. I do not see what is wrong with it. It is actually excellent if you read through it. It states that the purpose of the SNA role is to enable access to the curriculum for the students, support participation, promote independence, support emotional regulation and facilitate communication and social inclusion.  To me, this new circular proposed by the SNA campaign is at the heart of creating an inclusive education, and I ask the Minister to seriously engage with them and to make the changes needed to create a genuinely inclusive education system for all our children. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charles Ward  Every Member of this House knows that families are at breaking point, struggling to access supports for children with additional needs. Behind every policy discussion are parents trying to hold things together in a system that is not holding them. This motion is right: the State is failing children with additional educational needs and their families.  An upsetting example is how families are treated when they apply for the domiciliary care allowance. Picture a mother at the kitchen table late at night filling in the application. She describes her real life: constant supervision, safety concerns, emotional regulation and the exhaustion of caring every hour day in, day out. She sets this out hoping it will be recognised. Instead, a decision is made at a desk, and the conclusion is reached that the child does not have the needs substantial and in excess of what is expected.  In that moment, families are left with their reality and their reality is denied. Families are experiencing the lack of need and a system that does not translate into what they need - recognition. They feel rejection. They feel abandonment. In Donegal and across the north west, families are carrying even more due to the CDNT network's delayed services, yet this is not reflected in the decisions. Families are carrying everything, and they are being told it is not enough. This is injustice. We need to reform the domiciliary care allowance so the lived experience is properly weighed, decisions reflect the real care burden and families are not forced into costly legal battles they cannot afford. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  I want to start with the Dublin 15 special education task force that was clearly set up to box the issue off the agenda during the general election. The report has not been released. It is becoming like the third secret of Fatima. Will the Government release it? Many parents had to take to the streets and we want to see the recommendations and what the Minister will do about them.  Who dreamed up the inclusive special schools the Minister announced? Why would the Minister announce a new model of special classes without talking to Inclusion Ireland, AsIAm, special education teachers, unions, SNAs or parents, that is, the people actually affected by this? The Minister only spoke to the managerial bodies of schools.  Is this model more inclusive because there will be more students in the classroom? The numbers will increase from six to 12. The Minister can clarify this point, but it appears that instead of an autism-specific or dedicated additional needs class, part of the day will be spent in mainstream classrooms of 30 where students will struggle and part of the day in a new special model the Minister has created. That will be considered to be the creation of a special class. It is a stroke to sort out the problem of waiting lists for special classes.  I have been told of 19 students in Dublin 15 who do not have secondary school places. What the Minister has proposed seems to be the solution to this, but children are entitled to what is best practice. They should not be pushed into a reduced form of education. I want to lend my support to the Save our SNAs campaign. I will raise the idea of an alternative circular at the education committee. I fully support the women fighting for this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  I am glad the Minister and Minister of State are here. The latest figures in County Laois for the number of children with special needs and disabilities under the age of 14 is 2,302. All of us have a responsibility to ensure they get the best possible education. New classes have been announced for Laois, which is well and good and I welcome that. However, we also need physical space in schools. In St. Francis School in Portlaoise, demand continues to far outstrip the availability of classrooms. The Department has washed its hands of Saplings, as has the Department of justice. It is regarded as a private matter even though it is a public school. It has a roll number and teachers paid for by the Minister's Department, but apparently the Department has no role in the school. I will come back to that on another day.  Our Lady's Meadow in Durrow is getting two new ASD units, which is excellent, but it needs three. I urge that one of the prefabs that are in a good condition is left in place. I have raised with the Minister and departmental officials the issue of Mountrath boys' national school, which is badly in need of an extension to incorporate ASD classrooms, sensory rooms, etc.  The numbers waiting at primary and second level in all counties are not published every year so that we can see them, and I cannot for the life of me figure out why. This information could be used to ascertain the level of need and the classroom space available, but this never happens. Why not?  On SNAs, the Government's definition was too narrow, which it has accepted. That is good. It is okay to accept that. The Government must now work with SNAs to ensure that the policy encompasses the full range of duties and responsibilities SNAs take on. It is important that the role of the SNA is properly fulfilled. I urge the Minister to ensure this consultation is done properly and to give SNAs their proper place in our schools. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  The Government must stop failing children with additional needs. At the end of 2025, 20,209 children were on the waiting list for assessments of need. The majority have been waiting over two years and almost 95% have been waiting longer than the legal six-month limit under the Disability Act 2005. The Government is breaking the law every hour of every day. The Government threatened the Army on peaceful protesters, but it breaks the law willy-nilly.  The waiting lists for therapy are also horrendous. Well over 40,000 children are on various waiting lists for CDNTs, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and psychology. There is a chronic shortage of appropriate school places, some 170 classes short, representing hundreds of children. Many children are forced to accept school places outside of their communities. In my experience, children are travelling up to 25 miles to school. A special school in my constituency had 38 applications for eight places, meaning 30 disappointed children and 30 very frustrated and distressed parents. We must do better.  The recent announcement of inclusive special classes is not the answer and is another display of arrogance by the Government. There was no consultation with parents, children, disability organisations, teachers or unions. Inclusive Ireland and AsIAm have very serious misgivings about the proposal. It increases class sizes for children with additional needs without adequate or, indeed, any provision for additional special education teachers, SNAs or support and should be stopped. It must be subject to full consultation, consideration and evaluation by and with all stakeholders. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  I thank colleagues in Sinn F\u00e9in for bringing forward the motion. In my constituency, Dublin West, we have seen sustained challenges over many years in respect of parents being able to secure appropriate places for their children in local schools. I know the Minister and Minister of State are aware of that. Right now, there remain children who I know do not have an appropriate place assigned to them for September at primary and secondary level. The Minister said on the radio last week that no child would be left without a place this September, but that deadline is getting closer and closer. The opportunity for these children to acclimatise to their new school setting is a transition that is often significantly more challenging for a child with autism. That opportunity has been lost. I appeal to the Minister and Minister of State to engage with the NCSE and make sure that necessary school places are delivered in Dublin West. Where schools are being asked to open new autism classes at short notice, they should be fully supported in doing so.  I want to raise the case of Hansfield Educate Together National School. An ANA review sought by the school resulted in no additional staffing being provided. The school has seen a significant increase in the number of students with the highest care support needs joining in September of this year, yet it has not received an equivalent increase in ANAs. The school management is desperately concerned about the ability of the school to meet the needs of existing students and the new students who will be joining the school in September.  When will the Minister and Minister of State publish the report of the Dublin 15 schools task force? It was handed over to their predecessors in July last year. We have now been waiting over eight months for the report to be published and for officials to deal with it. A huge amount of work went into it and more and more it appears to be the case that there is an effort to ignore or sideline the report's important recommendations. The Minister and Minister of State urgently need to publish the report. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  At a meeting of the budget scrutiny committee today, we were informed by the Department of public expenditure that there will be an extra \u20ac640 million for the education sector. Officials explained that was largely to do with special needs. To me, what that says is that were it not for the protests of school communities, including parents, teachers, principals and SNAs, the Government would, at a minimum, have given \u20ac640 million too little to special needs. It would have short-changed children in terms of their right to an education and the educational supports they need.  Of course, that is on top of the failure of the Government to deliver on assessments needed by children who are left on waiting lists. When they get assessments, they never ever get the services they need. The legal and moral rights of our children are not being honoured. Only because of a crisis and the protests of school communities has the Government been forced to find some additional money. It will almost certainly not be enough to address the issue. Extra money has been allocated because school communities revolted against the intent of the Government to implement swingeing SNA cuts in many schools.  We are not getting clear guarantees that everybody will get the special class places they should have in September. We are not getting a clear commitment that the alternative circular has been put together. It appears the circular that led to the crisis will be adopted by the Government. There will be serious engagement with the SNA campaign.  Parents, who are stressed and have to deal with all these hardships, had to go to all the effort of putting together an alternative circular on special needs because the Government had failed so catastrophically. Give the parents and children the commitments they need that they will have their places and resources and that the Government will engage with the circular and vindicate the rights of children to education. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  I thank Sinn F\u00e9in for bringing this motion forward. As I do not have much time, I will just touch on some of the requirements in this motion. It looks to me as if people with additional needs are always the people who are suffering in this country and fighting to get basic rights. Special needs assistants are being treated unfairly and families are paying the price. The current system is rigid, cold and completely out of touch with what is happening on the ground. In schools, children who need support are left waiting and SNAs are being pushed to the brink. That cannot continue. The Minister must engage properly with the Save our SNAs campaign and implement a fair and improved circular that works for children, parents and schools.  SNAs are doing far more than they were ever originally employed to do. It is long past time their role was recognised through a proper redeployment scheme and a workforce plan designed with SNAs themselves. At the same time, the Government is bringing back exam fees and hiking school transport charges. It is the wrong decision at the wrong time. Bus fees for secondary students are being doubled and they are being hiked by a third for primary students, pushing ordinary families, who are already stretched, to breaking point. Education should not come with barriers like this. It should be fair, accessible and based on basic decency.  I wish to raise the pressures facing CoAction in west Cork and other communities and the families who rely on its services. CoAction supports hundreds of adults and children across west Cork, providing residential care, supported living, respite and vital disability services. Demand for these services is growing year on year, yet the organisation is being held back by chronic under-funding and uncertainty. There is a vacant residential bedroom that cannot be used because of a lack of funding to staff it. New residential respite developments are planned in places like Skibbereen, Bantry and Clonakilty but without guaranteed revenue funding, these projects cannot open, even when the buildings are there. Families are crying out for respite. Centres have capacity to do more but staffing, short-term funding and recruitment challenges are limiting what can be delivered. The lack of a multi-annual funding model is creating constant uncertainty for service users, their families and front-line staff. The Government must give providers like CoAction proper, secure funding so existing services can run at full capacity and planned services can open. People with disabilities and their families deserve certainty, not promises that depend on next year\u2019s budget.  There is one vital disability service project that deserves urgent Government backing. CoAction west Cork, working in partnership with the Kilbritten Tractor Run and the local community, has put forward a strong, well-planned proposal for a new respite and day service facility in Dunmanway. This project responds to a clear and growing need for autism-focused and intellectual disability services across west Cork. The proposal includes a purpose-built community hub, adult day services, respite centre and supported living apartments, all located within walking distance of Dunmanway town. This is about keeping people in their own communities, supporting independence and ensuring continuity of care as young people transition into adulthood. What makes this project stand out is that the land has been generously donated by local people, John and Mary McCarthy. Funding has already been raised by the community and the service model aligns fully with the national disability policy and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, UNCRPD. What is needed now is certainty from the State. Capital and guaranteed revenue funding must be provided so this project can move from paper to reality. Families have waited long enough. This is the right project in the right place at the right time. It needs to be urgently brought ahead.  Deputy Jen Cummins mentioned the Before We Die campaign. I certainly do not need to be educated on it because I know all about it. I spent a number of years on the board of CoAction and I see the need for people to live independently. Parents are now getting to an extremely worrying time in their lives where they are growing elderly and are concerned about where their children will end up. There are no services available, nor is there a solution. People are being told that the disabled person said they are okay, but that is not a decision they can make. We need to be looking at that. I was involved in a community project in Skull where we built 12 houses recently. Two people in CoAction were able to move into these houses, but I had some fight to get them in there. No one understands the situation. This can be a solution in many towns and villages. It needs to be worked on. I would appreciate if the Minister and Minister of State could help us along that line. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  First, I support the motion brought before us today by Sinn F\u00e9in.  Every year there is a scramble for families of children with disabilities to access special educational places, which is their constitutional right. In Mayo, it is no different. Many families are panicking, chasing SENOs and ringing school principals and the NCSE. That is what it is happening. The level of anxiety is frightening. Such families attend my clinics, but what should I say to them? It is devastating. These are our most vulnerable children who are being forgotten about. It is so upsetting. The problem is not an information problem; the Minister and the Department have the data and statistics. The gaps are visible, yet every year there is a scramble.  The most recent reports outline that up to 1,200 children could be without a place. I urge the Minister to ensure that she has a workplace plan in place because, clearly, there has not been one in the Department. That is fundamental. The Department needs to get a grip of the data. It needs to ensure that it knows what is coming down the track for next year and the year after and plans and prepares accordingly. For the children entering school this September, it is quite clear that the Government up to now has no provision or plan in place. I urge the Minister to ensure that she gets a handle of the situation and the data. She must ensure there is a plan, rather than a scramble, in place for children this September, as well as those children starting in September 12 and 24 months from now. The Minister must be able to say to families that there is a place for them and that the Government will look after them. These are our most vulnerable children and if we cannot do that in this day and age, we should hang our heads in shame.  I will speak about the SNA situation. The current circular is completely outdated, restrictive and cruel. It is incredible that it took people - SNAs and families with disabilities - protesting outside Leinster House to make this Government realise what was happening. A review was being undertaken which would have seen on-the-ground cuts, essentially, and it took families standing on Kildare Street and raising their voices for this Government to realise what was happening. The same happened with the protests last week. I urge the Government to listen to the people. The people of this country should not have to blockade infrastructure or spend hours outside Leinster House to get this Government to wake up and listen. I am asking the Minister to ensure that the circular is updated, that the invaluable contribution SNAs make is recognised and that there is a move away from this restrictive model dictated in the 2014 circular.  I also ask the Minister to advance the SNA redeployment scheme. It is fundamentally important. It happens in a range of other professional sectors and for professionals across the country. It should also happen for SNA cohorts as well. SNAs are looking for increased continuing professional development, CPD. They want training as their role is expanding massively. They want to professionalise. They want job security and clear contracts. It is important the Minister ensures that happens.  Finally, I will raise the important issue of assistive technology for children with special educational needs. I ask for the attention of the Minister in this regard. The family and school of a young child who is in primary school have applied for assistive technology.  His occupational therapist and language therapist have outlined that he needs it. The report clearly states that this is essential for this child to access the curriculum. It does not state that this is helpful. It does not state that this is preferable; it states that this is essential. However, the application was rejected and refused by the Department. The refusal ultimately cites two things: first, insufficient evidence of a specific language disorder, despite the fact that the child has such immense difficulties; and, second, it appears that it is necessary for a child to have an IQ above 90. Here is the catch. The speech and language disorder is one route to access this under the 2013 curricular, but to be assessed for a speech and language disorder a child must have an IQ of above 90. This child's IQ is in the region of the fifties. He is not going to meet that threshold but two therapists have said that it is essential for the child.  Down Syndrome Ireland has confirmed to me that is not an outlier or unique case. I have submitted parliamentary questions to the Minister. She has stated that a review is under way. This is a review for a basic grant that is essential for a child to access the curriculum. What is going on? When will the review happen? When will this child be able to access assistive technology that he so desperately needs? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Albert Dolan  It is something that I have raised with the Minister. Roisin and Peggy from Down Syndrome Galway had a fantastic meeting with the Minister. I wish to reiterate the issue that exists in that circular regarding the special speech and language disorder classes and having accessibility for everyone to them. I will use my two minutes - not that the Minister is not aware - as a reminder of how important the role of education, and particularly the role that special education, plays. I know the work the Minister and the Minister of State put in and how hard they are working to see every child in this country have an opportunity. We had the Department of Education and Youth before the Public Accounts Committee last week. We were asking the officials about why almost an extra \u20ac500 million would be spent trying to ensure that we meet the need that exists. I encourage the Department to spend as much money as possible in this domain. As a country, we are not going to regret spending this money. This is something for our children and future. It is something that I will fully support so long as I am a Deputy.  There are three key priorities and focuses going forward for special education. The first is a guarantee of a school place for every child in the right school place and right setting that is fitting for the child. The second is a fast track for special classes. I compliment the Ministers. There are over 400 special classes set to open this year across the country. That is welcome. As the Ministers, all Deputies and I know, we need more. The third is to speed up the rate of which assessments take place so that supports can be unlocked and identified for those who need them. If we have not identified the need and not identified what is needed for people there, how can we ensure that they get the support they need? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Carol Nolan  I support the motion, particularly its call to establish a time-bound school building task force with a mandate to ensure priority delivery of special schools, and indeed, special classes. As a former school principal and teacher with a masters degree in inclusive and special education, I fully recognise, and I have seen first hand, the invaluable and indispensable role that SNAs play in our schools throughout this State, particularly in preparing children in enabling them to access mainstream education, supporting them to thrive alongside their peers and dealing with their care needs and well-being. It is absolutely invaluable. Our SNAs are vital in our mainstream primary schools. They deserve to be respected and recognised for the great work they do.  I acknowledge that Ireland has built one of the most dedicated SNA schemes in the European Union. We are supporting over 23,000 SNAs in the current school year. However, the fact remains that demand continues to outpace supply. The rising diagnosis of autism, ADHD and complex needs have placed unprecedented pressure on the system. We also see that in the massive numbers struggling to access the children's disability network teams. I see that first hand in my constituency of Offaly. It has been a problem for years. It is unfair that parents have to fight all the time and battle for vital access to basic services. The recent NCSE allocation review, although paused, and the additional \u20ac19 million in funding, exposed the limitations of an outdated care needs criteria. Schools and families across Offaly and beyond experienced real anxiety at that time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  I thank Sinn F\u00e9in for bringing forward the motion. It is the biggest wonder of the world when a baby is born to a loving couple. They look forward to raising the baby, bringing them up and giving that child the very best. Equally, it is devastating when they discover that something is the matter and that the child needs an assessment or whatever, and they have to wait so long. That is very hurtful for them because they have to fight for everything. They have to fight for primary school education and special needs teachers. When they move on to post-primary school, they have to do it again. Surely, the powers that be and the education system should recognise at that stage that they need SNAs and more of the same in secondary school.  Another problem arises that the Department says it has X number of SNAs places and that the country is covered. In many cases, they are not there. Long distances between schools and families create a huge problem for people. Many children with complex needs are still without SNAs and necessary school places. Parents all over the country are worn out from fighting for a school place for their children. They should not have to fight for the one basic right of education. It was very hurtful when the Department tried to take four SNA teachers out of Fossa National School in County Kerry. I am glad that the Department saw the light because these people are doing tremendous work. They should be allowed to continue. Some Department official went into that school, sat aside in another room and drew up the idea of taking away four SNAs. That is wrong. They did not see what was going on in the school. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  Aonta\u00edm le go leor ruda\u00ed agus Teachta\u00ed a labhair sa Teach seo inniu. Is g\u00e1 go dtabharfaidh muid, mar Rialtas, an deis do gach uile p\u00e1iste sa t\u00edr seo. Every single child deserves the chance to thrive. I welcome and thank the Minister for visiting schools across Dublin Bay North, including St. Michael's House Special National School, Baldoyle. St. Michael's House Special School Foxfield in Raheny would also love the Minister to visit. They are brilliant and hard-working staff. The Minister also visited Stapolin Education Together National School, which has run a very successful online campaign. Speaking to the principal of that school, they are being told that they cannot get a sanctioned modular building for a special education classroom. The NCSE is telling them that the Department is telling the council that it cannot sanction the classrooms. There are clearly communication issues. I ask for that to be looked into because the school needs it. It has the staff and it is willing to open it.  Regarding SNAs across the country, I thank the hard-working men and women for everything that they do. I refer to the save our SNAs campaign. I welcome that there has been some engagement, especially with the Taoiseach confirming to me today in the Chamber that he will have no problem meeting with the campaign group. The alternative circular that they have developed is very good. It takes in all of the roles that SNAs perform in a real scenario.  I thank the Minister for visiting those schools and for the hard work she has done. I acknowledge that more than 430 special classes have been opened across the country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  The Deputy must conclude. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  She knows there is a lot more to do. I will continue to work with her as she does so. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tom Brabazon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tom Brabazon  At its core, education is about providing opportunity and allowing every child to reach their full potential. This is no different for children with special educational needs. Across my constituency in Dublin Bay North there is significant demand for additional special classes in schools. One school in particular, Stapolin Educate Together in Baldoyle, has been working tirelessly to secure approval for an additional special class. I urge the Minister to impress upon the NCSE the very real demand that exists and to recognise the willingness of Stapolin Educate Together to deliver this class.  Since being elected to this House, I have had the privilege of visiting schools and meeting with teachers and principals in the constituency. Just yesterday I visited another school. Time and again, I hear the very same story of children with special educational needs being placed in mainstream classrooms that are simply not suited to their needs. The level of stress and anxiety this puts on families is unimaginable. These children need to be in an appropriate classroom with wraparound supports so that they can thrive.  I acknowledge the Minister's huge commitment to special education. Last year she visited a number of schools in our community and she heard at first hand the issues from principals, teachers and students alike. We are seeing progress, with more special classes and special schools being established. We need more special classes and more special schools and we need them urgently. The progress that we are seeing is welcome but it must continue and it must match the urgency on the ground. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gillian Toole","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gillian-Toole.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Gillian-Toole.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gillian Toole  The highest priority within the programme for Government is the whole area of special education, and the work that has been done to date by special needs assistants, special education teachers, the whole school community and indeed the parents and guardians supporting children throughout. It is fair to say that listening did need to improve and that is happening. It is of the utmost priority to find a way for SNA alternative circular to be integrated into the NCSE review of the role of the special needs assistant. The sanctioning today of additional budget for additional special education classes is most welcome as well.  I wish to highlight the work of the Joint Committee on Disability Matters. It is a number of weeks since we signed off on the report on inclusive education, which has been passed to the Departments of education and health and the Department of Children, Disability and Equality. Within that, there are 33 very strong recommendations that encompass most of what has been discussed this evening. Pivotal to that is co-creation and the co-ordinated long-term needs-based planning for children with additional needs as well as the establishment of the unit for future planning and multi-annual funding. Some tangible examples can be implemented perhaps with a more prudent use of funding, even for school meals and mindfulness, sensory and nurture rooms within schools. That could even be done in collaboration with the HSE through the use of alternative respite funding for integrative therapies. These are things that some CHOs already do around the country, particularly in the Limerick area and in CDNTs 5 and 7. Where it is known that children are on waiting lists for assessment, they could be allowed to access such facilities. I did it as a councillor with the municipal district allocation, and provided small amounts of funding for equine therapy and art therapy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I thank the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gillian Toole","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gillian-Toole.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Gillian-Toole.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gillian Toole  It can be done in the short term. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Education and Youth (Deputy Michael Moynihan)  I thank the Deputies for the opportunity to speak in the debate. I thank everybody who has contributed so sincerely and genuinely this evening. They can rest assured that both the Minister, Deputy Naughton, and I will take due recognition of each and every one of the points that has been made.  The old Irish saying that it takes a village to raise a child is never truer than when a child has special needs. It takes an extraordinary school community to ensure that a child can flourish. I want to use this opportunity to put on the record of the House my deep appreciation for every school principal, teacher, SNA, bus escort, bus driver, secretary, caretaker, and other school staff members around the country who support children with additional needs and ensure they can flourish.  I meet every week with parents, schools, patrons, advocacy groups and other education stakeholders to discuss special education, both what is working and where there is room for improvement. Members mentioned that pinch points often arise at the transition points from early years to primary school, from primary to post-primary, and from post-primary on to life after school. This is something that comes to the fore when it comes to the provision of special education placements, whether in a special class or in special schools.  It is important to remember that the majority of children and young people with special educational needs are supported to access mainstream classes with their peers. Where children have more complex needs a special class can be provided and for children with the most complex needs a special school place can be provided. At the start of this school year, through the accelerated provision of new special class and special school places over recent years, we had 31,000 specialist places. For each of the past five years, we have provided approximately 400 new special classes with six places in each and 300 special school places. For the coming year, based on the additional funding approved by the Cabinet this morning, we will go well beyond that in terms of provision for the next school year. It has been noted in the House tonight that more than 330 special classes have been approved this year, with more to follow in the coming weeks.  As Minister of State with responsibility for special education and inclusion, I continue to meet officials of the National Council for Special Education, along with senior officials in the Department of education on a weekly basis to track the progress being made in providing new specialist places. This work is ongoing. As always, the NCSE continues to monitor and review the level of need and how many children and young people are being offered places. There are many moving parts to all of this as our school admissions process happens at a local level. I pay tribute to the members of the council and the officials from the Department who work with me each Wednesday morning to make sure that we monitor the situation.  The motion refers to a wide range of issues. I want to touch on some of them now and the work that is being progressed. I have a deep appreciation for every single SNA who works in our school communities. When I meet them on school visits, I always say that we have built special education on their backs. I know full well the importance of the SNA to families and in particular to children to ensure they have access to education that allows them to flourish. In September 2026, we will have the largest number of SNAs, at almost 25,000, ever available in schools. Funding for approximately 500 additional SNAs is being provided. As previously agreed by the Government, all schools reviewed by the NCSE and allocated additional SNA resources will receive them. No SNA reduction will come into effect in the 2026-27 school year. The SNA redeployment scheme, the SNA workforce development plan and changes to a 2014 circular outlining the role of an SNA will be advanced before any further decisions are taken. As the Minister said, we did a full day of consultation on those key pieces - the SNA redeployment scheme, the SNA workforce development plan and the changes to the circular. Many Members offered opinions on them. We have been very clear in that regard. Ongoing work is at an advanced stage. We fully understand that has to be done as a priority.  The priority remains to ensure that the child-centred approach to the provision of special education is retained and enhanced in these policy developments. These policies will ensure special education into the future. In relation to the development of a circular on the role of the SNA, my Department has concluded a comprehensive review of the role of the SNA as part of ongoing work on the SNA workforce development plan.  This work was supported by working groups comprising a wide range of stakeholders, which have met a number of times over the past year or so, providing input from their perspectives.  The Department has also conducted significant focus group research, as well as a national survey of SNAs to ensure everybody in our school communities was given the opportunity to provide input. The result is a draft circular that provides a detailed description of the range of duties and responsibilities of the evolving SNA role and that is a product of meaningful collaboration with all those in school communities. F\u00f3rsa, the recognised trade union representative body of the SNAs, and the Department will continue to work and engage on this.  I am very pleased that, over the past 12 months, the Government took a decision to put the education therapy service back into our schools. This was committed to at election time. A huge amount of work has been done over the past year. I truly believe this will be a game-changer for children and young people with additional needs and also their schools and families. This will supplement existing children's health and disability services. The initial focus is on educational therapists and speech and language therapists. In time, other disciplines, such as physiotherapy, will be included.  The first tranche, 45 special schools, has been announced and it is intended to roll out the remainder of the special schools over the 2026\u201327 school year. The NCSE recently completed a recruitment campaign for senior and staff-grade occupational speech and language therapists for the initial counties. Panels have been created for the first recruitment campaign and posts are currently being offered, with an expectation that the therapists will be in situ in May 2026. This education therapy service will provide a multi-tiered model of support for children, parents and school communities. The service will focus on education-relevant goals, supporting children to fully participate in their school environments and maximise positive outcomes.  During the debate, legal cases were mentioned. The Department's aim is to ensure no child will ever need to take a case against the State. Where it happens, the Department continues to work with parents to ensure solutions are found as quickly as possible and cases are settled before they go to court. It is important to continue to do that.  Over recent months, particularly since Christmas, we have worked nearly every Monday night. The Minister and I have worked collaboratively across government to ensure the best possible outcomes for children in September 2026. Owing to the portal deadline of 1 October, we have better sight of the number of children. Additional classes were announced months earlier than last year and work is continuing with the NCSE. The Department is continuing daily to ensure more classes will be sanctioned over the next while.  Inclusive special classes were mentioned, including the five announced last week. We are not cutting back on staff. We are supporting them and the ratio is exactly the same. It is a matter of encouragement and ensuring that, as far as is possible, inclusion is at the very heart of special education provision.  Many school communities, particularly at post-primary level, are doing an excellent job, as was evident in a number of places we visited. They are all saying that if they had the resources in terms of teachers or SNAs, they would be able to do more. Those resources have been put in place. We have to ensure we are embracing all models of education to have better outcomes for children. It will save us in the long run. The investment in special education that the Minister and I are presiding over and have fought for over recent months will make a real difference to children, families and society in the long run. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Denise Mitchell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Denise Mitchell  One of the main issues raised in my constituency office is the lack of appropriate school places for children with additional needs. Every year, it seems to be getting worse, with more parents upset and worried about their children's future.  Recently we had the announcement of the new inclusive special classes, which appears to be a plan to increase class sizes without a similar increase in staff, funding and support. I find that very worrying.  I want to raise with the Minister the case of Strapolin Educate Together National School in my constituency. This school has been a leader in inclusive education. It has the space to accommodate additional autism classes on campus but it needs modular classrooms to do this. The community is left with a bizarre situation: the NCSE has agreed there is demand for two additional classes, but when the latest list of additional special classes was released by the Department last week, they were not included. The school authorities say one of the reasons it has been told the modular units will not be sanctioned is that the school building is too new. Seriously, how can the age of a building have anything to do with the level of demand in our area? I urge the Minister and Minister of State to examine this case, in particular.  On the overall motion, let us be clear: we need to see this problem solved. Children need to be put first because this is an issue on which we cannot wait any longer. We need to see the additional funding and resources for September. In the long term, we need a comprehensive plan that will deal with staffing, SNA supports, class sizes and funding. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I am aware that the Taoiseach said this morning a memo is going to Cabinet that will call for additional supports for special education. When will we see the details of this proposal? Many schools in my area are waiting for special education supports. Gaelscoil na Cam\u00f3ige, as I have mentioned a few times, has been operating out of prefabs for over 30 years. Currently, the building of the new school alongside the new school for Gaelscoil Chluain Dolc\u00e1in is progressing; however, the schools were notified that the ASD classes will not now be built. The ASD expansion was agreed and given the go-ahead in 2024. It is simply common sense for it to go ahead.  As we speak, Lucan Community College is holding a meeting. I cannot attend because I am here advocating on its behalf. One of its asks is that the agreed and much-needed special needs unit be provided. This would allow the school to open four special classes and it could be delivered on time if there were political will.  St. Kevin's Community College is earmarked to become a 1,000-pupil school but it is not being supported with the appropriate infrastructure. It is still waiting on a much-needed second ASD class and an upgrade to the current one.  Several parents of children attending Holy Family National School in Rathcoole have contacted me. Like many schools in my area, it does not receive the appropriate SNA supports.  I am really concerned that Sacred Heart School, Sruleen, did not receive a home-school community liaison officer despite demonstrating the need, so I must ask again when we can expect the details of the memo to be published. Will the likes of Lucan Community College, Gaelscoil na Cam\u00f3ige, Gaelscoil Chulain Dolc\u00e1in, St. Kevin\u2019s Community College, Holy Family National School and Sacred Heart School be supported on foot of the memo? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dessie Ellis","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dessie Ellis  There is a deepening crisis in the provision of educational facilities for those with special needs. This is compounded by a crisis in both teacher recruitment and retention, particularly in Dublin, which is one of the most severely affected areas in the country.  The most vulnerable students are impacted the most, especially when schools are unable to fill teaching positions. Special education teachers are moved from support roles to teaching mainstream classes. Additionally, the lack of sufficient funding for additional special needs classes means there will be a significant shortfall in such classes come September.  Every year, my office receives representations on behalf of parents who are seeking to place their children in a special needs class. Christian, a young boy in my constituency, will be seven this year. His mother, Holly, has been struggling in recent years to find a place for him in a school that would provide the educational supports he needs. She is at her wit\u2019s end as yet again she has no confirmed school place for him for the coming September. Christian has significant additional needs and has been recommended for a special school placement. Holly is a single parent with four children. She has made multiple applications to schools that could provide Christian with the supports he needs. However, to date, he has not been offered a place, leaving him without access to an education, which is his right. This has been deeply frustrating for both Holly and Christian. Having exhausted all avenues, parents like Holly feel isolated, forgotten and ignored.  My constituency has also experienced unacceptable delays in the construction of urgently needed ASD units and special needs classes. It is very distressing for parents who expected that a special class or ASD unit would be open for the new school year to be told they have to wait another year before construction ever begins. To make a serious impact in Dublin North-West, resources and funding need to be sped up. The delivery of these badly needed facilities that are long outstanding needs to be sped up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sorca Clarke  Reading through some of the messages and emails that I got before this motion, I was struck with the very real thought, namely, what exactly does the State have against children who require additional support? The fact that the Taoiseach called the Save our SNAs campaign flawed has done nothing but make that thought concrete in my mind. These are children who are denied school places and bused out of their own communities past their local schools for hours because the Government failed to plan. In Longford-Westmeath, families are exhausted. They are exhausted by a system that treats their child's additional needs as an inconvenience and exhausted by a special education system being redesigned by stealth. The Government has removed complex needs from a set of allocation criteria. This was not reform; it was rationing. The Government restricts SNA access through outdated rules. This is not efficiency; it is cruelty wrapped in bureaucracy. The Government announced inclusive classes that are larger yet have the same level of supports. That is not inclusion; it is dilution. The Government refuses to publish the true number of children who are still without places for school in September 2026. Why does it not do so? It is because the truth would expose the scale of Government failure.  Children and families do not need another announcement or review. They need accountability and action. The Government must establish that all-party Oireachtas committee on the future of inclusive education and bring parents, teachers, SNAs, therapists, school leaders and educators into a public forum. It must reverse the restrictions that block children from accessing SNAs, recognise SNAs and the roles they play, reverse the junior and leaving certificate fees because it is penny pinching, row back on the school transport scheme fare increases at a time when the cost of living is biting families and guarantee every child a real school place, real support, real therapies and real equality. There should be no more spin, no more cuts by stealth and no more hiding behind announcements and re-announcements. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  I thank those who contributed to the debate. The Government is not opposing the motion but this is only welcome if it actually acts on the proposals contained in it. The reason we brought forward this motion is because of a failure to predict and respond to the demand for special education. There are ample examples of Government failure. This year, it was a case of establish a portal, close a portal and lock people out of the system. There was a supplementary budget, a supplementary to the supplementary budget and delays. Delays mean access denied.  We have a significant number of contributions of evidence and opinion, including the EPSEN review, the report of the Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters, any amount of hearings of the Oireachtas education committee and the Department's own roadmap for inclusion. F\u00f3rsa and the teachers' unions know exactly what needs to be done. Across the board, and it is certainly my experience, we have a Department and Government that do not listen. If ever we needed an example of that, all we have to do is look at the Taoiseach. The last time we were here with a Sinn F\u00e9in motion talking about the SNA debacle of the Government's own making, the Taoiseach said we have to be careful if we look for extra SNAs. Today, he said that the Save our SNAs campaign was a flawed campaign. That is to completely deny the fact that communities across the country - families, parents, SNAs and school communities - know exactly what needs to be done. It is now time for the Government, the Department, the Minister and the Minister of State to listen. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Special Education: Motion [Private Members]"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_32","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_32","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_33","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Ambulance Service","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_32","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_32","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_33","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_33.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  My question concerns potential industrial action by ambulance paramedics, particularly pre-hospital care professionals, which would include emergency medical technicians, EMTs, paramedics and others. They voted overwhelmingly to take industrial action, as the Minister knows, on 12, 19 and 26 May. I imagine that the last thing paramedics and EMTs want is to be on strike. A number of votes were taken in recent times, including one last year, on the roles and responsibilities changes that paramedics voted against, so clearly there are issues. These are votes of no confidence in the system and no confidence in action that should be taken being taken, so what is next? What action will the Minister take to avert industrial action? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Health (Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill)  I do not think anybody wants to be involved in strikes of any kind. That is not how we do things, which is why we have the very comprehensive industrial relations architecture we have painstakingly built over some time. The HSE and my Department have engaged extensively, constructively and in good faith, as have the National Ambulance Service representatives, for more than two years to address the issues raised within the National Ambulance Service. That engagement has taken place through the State\u2019s established industrial relations machinery, including the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, and the Labour Court, and within the framework of the public service agreement.  A comprehensive and independently brokered set of proposals emerged from that process. These included significant pay improvements for staff, of between 3% and 14% on top of the 9.25% pay increases already provided for under the public service agreement. Crucially, those pay increases were linked to agreed reforms and I can go through some of the detail of those reforms, which would generate a more comprehensive ambulance response service for everybody and an easier working life. The HSE and my Department accepted the proposals and the subsequent Labour Court recommendation in full, and both SIPTU and Unite recommended them to their members at the time.  The difficulty now is that the unions are seeking to secure all the pay increases while there has been a reluctance to deliver the accompanying reforms. Those reforms are essential because they deliver real benefits for patients and service delivery, including faster response times, more ambulances available through modern crewing arrangements, greater flexibility across the service, stronger assurance of ongoing regulatory compliance and the ability to treat more patients safely in the most appropriate setting. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  The problem is that the National Ambulance Service is massively understaffed. I put down a parliamentary question to which the Minister's office responded a number of weeks ago. In 2025, the HSE target was to have 4,162 whole-time-equivalent paramedics working in the National Ambulance Service. The number for this year is 2,657. By 2026, the target was to have 4,780. The number is estimated to be 2,920 by the end of the year. By 2028, it is meant to be over 6,000. At best, we are going to hit 3,500. We are somewhere between 2,000 and 2,500 paramedics short of what we need. That is leading to burnout and fatigue, which is why there has been vote after vote where paramedics, EMTs and others have said that they have had enough and cannot take any more. As far as I can see, they do not have confidence in the management of the National Ambulance Service because clearly if there are votes coming back all of the time where they are voting against recommendations and for industrial action, there is a problem. The problem is burnout and fatigue and can only be fixed by more capacity and better resources. I appeal to the Minister to do everything possible to support our paramedics and avert industrial action. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  It is important to acknowledge that there has been 30% growth in the staff of the National Ambulance Service, which is a larger proportional increase than the health service received overall. We have invested an additional \u20ac75 million in the service since 2022 and staff members have increased by 761 since 2022. The total workforce is now 2,500.  Further investment planned for 2026 will deliver 21 extra crewed ambulances at peak demand. I understand that 134 of 168 posts have been recruited, so recruitment is progressing reasonably well so far this year.  My overriding priority, of course, like the Deputy's, is the safety of patients and the continuity of the emergency services. It is important to discuss the reforms that have been suggested and agreed in the industrial relations architecture, and I can do that. However, we cannot just increase capacity anywhere without introducing reform as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  The paramedics that I have spoken to, and I have spoken to many, are all in favour of reform, but they also want to know that the Government has their backs and is putting in place the capacity. The Minister is right to say there has been an increase in the number of paramedics, but the objective was to double the number of paramedics over a five- to six-year period because that is what was estimated was needed. I gave the Minister the figure that, for 2026, the target is 4,780. The Department and the HSE are telling me that, at best, it will reach 2,920. We are going to be somewhere between 2,000 and 2,500 paramedics short.  In 2023, the Government cut the target response times for categories purple and red from 80% to 50% and from 75% to 45%, respectively, within the specified time period, but those targets are still not being met. The targets that were set are not being met in relation to response times, and the number of paramedics that we need is not being met. It is falling back on those paramedics who are in the system. They are clearly crying out to the Government, the Ministers and the HSE to say they are voting for strike action and voting no confidence in the management of the health service and the National Ambulance Service because they do not see the concrete actions that they need being taken. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  I am very invested in resolving disputes, and that is why we put so much effort into the industrial relations architecture that we have. It is important to highlight some of the models of the proposed reforms under the agreement reached between union representatives and State representatives in those structures, for example, a modernised pay and allowance structure, which replaces a complex pay arrangement dating back to the late 1970s with a simpler, transparent structure aligned to wider HSE norms. It standardises overtime arrangements to HSE rates and incorporates rostered working requirements, including weekends and night working, to core pay structures. These are important reforms.  It is important that we discuss reform in the health service because while we can set a target of 4,000, if we are at 2,500, the Deputy and I both know that we have to deal with the practicality of today. There are 134 already in place out of the 180 posts that were funded towards the end of last year. We are desperately trying to recruit into all parts of the health service. However, it is not a realistic conversation for the Deputy and I to say that we are going to go from 2,500 to 4,000 within six months. We have to recruit where we can, and implement the reforms to make sure that everybody is working in different ways, including in a much more modernised structure. We cannot stand over one that comes from a pay structure from the 1970s. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ambulance Service"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_34","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Hospital Transfers","counts":{"speechCount":20,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_32","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_32","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_34","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_34.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marie Sherlock  I want to ask about delayed transfers of care. As the Minister knows, there is an enormous number across the acute hospitals at the moment. On 23 consecutive days between March and April----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  I am sorry. I have this question as \"not submitted\". "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marie Sherlock  Is this question not related to delayed transfers of care? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  It is Question No. 116. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  I do not have a Priority Question from the Deputy. I will try to get an answer for her, but we have this question as \"not submitted\". "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marie Sherlock  I believed I had resubmitted a Priority Question but, clearly, there was an issue with regard to it appearing on the Questions Paper. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  To be clear, the question is on the Questions Paper. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  I will do my best to answer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marie Sherlock  On 23 consecutive days between March and April, the number of delayed transfers of care exceeded 500 across our acute hospitals, and again over the last six days. This has a major impact, not only on the people who are caught in hospitals who should no longer be there, but also on admissions. We saw that 129 people were waiting over 24 hours on Sunday night for admission to our emergency departments, 16 of them over the age of 75. It also has an impact on hospital activity, particularly with regard to the staggering reliance on surge capacity at the moment. What is being done with regard to step-down facilities across the health system at this point in time? There is a strong focus on the trolley numbers but, to my mind, insufficient focus on the step-down facilities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  My apologies for the mix-up, whatever the source. I will get the Deputy a full and more official answer. Nevertheless, I will speak from my own experience.  The focus on delayed transfers of care is an integral part of the focus on trolleys - the whole thing goes together. What we are really talking about is patient flow. Hospitals that experience ongoing delayed transfer of care, DTOC, problems include Letterkenny University Hospital, for example, where the number was in the 40s, but is now down in the 30s and moving towards 25. Directly across the road, there is a 100-bed community nursing unit that will open in 2026 and take some of the pressure off.  It is also about the management of this. For example, in Galway, we have gone through a deliberate reset. This speaks to the Deputy's example. The last week in Galway hospital was not good. It lost some of its private capacity for egress or transferring out of the hospital, and because that happened, the trolley numbers built up, and it has had seven very poor days. In the previous 25 days, it had only two red days, 22 green days and one amber day. In the 25 days before that, that was essentially inverted, and it was all red and maybe one green. Patient flow matters, and it matters all the time. It matters because of the impact on people in emergency departments, but it also matters to the hospital's ability to bring in inpatient day cases. As the Deputy highlighted, the use of surge means hospitals cannot do endoscopy investigations and so on. They cannot bring in non-time-critical electives. Of course, they bring in time-critical electives like cancer surgery, but not non-time-critical electives.  That is why the focus on urgent and emergency care, UEC, is important. It is a complete piece. There is no point in focusing on UEC without making sure they have a full awareness of what is available in the nursing homes. University Hospital Waterford does that particularly well. It has visibility in its patient control room of all of the passages out of the hospital. There are others that could do it dramatically better, such as Letterkenny University Hospital, and many of those have a DTOC problem, except for St. James's Hospital, which is a weird one that I will come back to. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marie Sherlock  The Minister referred to beds and management. When I talk to a number of the hospitals that are experiencing some of the worst problems with transferring those patients, there is a huge absence of neurorehabilitation beds and dementia-specific beds. In particular, we know that in Cherry Orchard, two wards have been closed for almost the past two years, supposedly for fire remediation works. The Killarney Community Nursing Unit was ready a year and a half ago, but has yet to be opened. We know that at South Infirmary, there are beds closed that should be open. We know that at a facility that is due to open in Blarney, as I understand it, the governance is due to lie with the Mercy Hospital, which has no neuro responsibilities because they are with Cork University Hospital.  The question concerns the decision-making and the management. It makes no sense to me that the sole responsibility for this lies with the hospital itself. What is the community element? In particular, what is the IHA doing to try to address these issues? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  The Deputy is 100% right. It does not necessarily lie with the hospital management. For example, in Cork, with the IHA managers, there is no governance element to this. They are not CUH beds or Mercy Hospital beds, and nobody had better tell me that they think they are. They are beds for the south west, and they have to be managed from a single centre, which happens to be in CUH at the moment, but we will see about that. They have to have visibility over what is the situation in Blarney, Bantry, Mallow, South Infirmary and other places. It is their whole responsibility to be able to move people through.  As for the hospital managers' responsibility, I do not want to hear from consultants who say they cannot move X patient because they need to be in CUH instead of the very good care in Mallow. There needs to be an understanding that every hospital sits within a region, and patient flow works in that way. That is the only way this can possibly work. I am glad to hear the Deputy highlight that because it is the sort of reinforcement I need, particularly in the south west, to make sure that the patient flow experience is fully understood and that every bed is opened.  As regards the Killarney unit, I am told that will be in the next couple of weeks. There was a HIQA registration problem and there is engagement with the union but, frankly, it is not good enough that those beds and other beds have not been opened. Mallow's 24 beds were supposed to be opened in quarter 1. It will now be very shortly but it should have been done. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marie Sherlock  When I look at the Minister's letter of determination to the HSE this year, or arising from the budget, I see the big emphasis on home care support and very little emphasis on the construction of new step-down beds. We know that the vast majority of those being constructed at the moment are replacement beds. I think there are many reasons there is a need for step-down beds. I know my colleague, Deputy Conor Sheehan, had figures with regard to those who were exiting into homelessness.  One other issue I want to introduce to the conversation regards under-65s with dementia and other acquired brain injuries in hospitals who have nowhere to go. When I asked the Minister's Department last week about care of the under-65s in nursing homes, I was told that this was not the responsibility of the Department of Health. If it is not the responsibility of the Department of Health - of course, the Minister sets the funding for the HSE - then whose is it? I do not accept that it is fully the responsibility of the Minister for disability because she does not control the HSE budget but we need to be very clear to those families out there who want an alternative to nursing homes for their children under the age of 65 who are adults. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  I understand. For example, I visited a facility very like that. Please forgive me; I do not have the name in front of me but it is in the north of Dublin, an acquired brain injury----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marie Sherlock  An Saol. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  That is exactly it. Forgive me. It is looking to build the facility adjacent to the primary care centre. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marie Sherlock  It is residential there. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  Exactly. What we can do is work with an approved housing body, AHB, to build that residential. The HSE is for delivery of healthcare and we try to make it work as well as we can but here are the things we are not: we are not a transport company and we do not build homes. What we can do is partner with AHBs to make sure we are developing long-term residential that is adjacent and appropriate for needs of that kind.  On that site in particular, what we are looking at is what capacity we can have for people who need to come to that facility and that form of residential. We are trying to work with the sites we have adjacent to a primary care centre. I used that example because I happened to be there so recently.  The Deputy is right about acquired brain injury and dementia but the HSE has to focus on healthcare and partner with bodies like approved housing bodies that are experts in building housing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marie Sherlock  There is HSE money going to nursing homes. They are residential facilities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  I would rather it did not. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Hospital Transfers"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_35","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Healthcare Policy","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_32","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_32","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_35","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_35.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  I am seeking an update, if I can, on the Sl\u00e1intecare programme board and how that will operate, given that we have a new CEO of the HSE and, indeed, a new Secretary General in the Minister's Department. I wish to take the opportunity to thank Mr. Bernard Gloster and Mr. Robert Watt for their many years of service, two people I have worked closely with and have a very high regard for. I also want to wish Ms Anne O'Connor and Mr. Derek Tierney the very best as well. We obviously want them to succeed. They are two highly professional people who I have a lot of faith in and I know they will do lots of good things.  During the previous D\u00e1il, the leaders of the Sl\u00e1intecare programme board were the heads of the Department and the HSE. Will that continue? I also refer to the implementation plan, which I think ended in 2025. We need an updated implementation plan with clear timeframes and targets so that the new CEO and the Department head actually have a plan to work to. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  I thank the Deputy, and I join him in thanking the Secretary General, Mr. Robert Watt, and the previous CEO of the HSE, Mr. Bernard Gloster, who both did outstanding work in the Department of Health and the HSE in different ways. They have really stabilised and improved the service more broadly since 2022 in particular and I thank them for that. I also wish both the new Secretary General, Mr. Derek Tierney, and the new CEO, Ms Anne O'Connor, well in their new roles, which are very significant roles for everybody.  Notwithstanding those changes in personnel, there is no change to the programme of work. That needs to continue. We remain fully committed to the Sl\u00e1intecare vision. The next meeting of the Sl\u00e1intecare programme board will take place on 28 April. At that meeting, progress across all of the Sl\u00e1intecare projects will be reviewed in respect of the action plan for 2026, the second of three action plans under Path to Universal Healthcare: Sl\u00e1intecare & Programme for Government 2025+. The Deputy knows what they are. For quarter 1 alone, this includes 90 actions across 12 Sl\u00e1intecare projects. In total, the programme board oversees 23 projects with approximately 400 actions. What does that mean? It relates to reforms being driven through, for example, with the enhanced community care programme, the public-only consultant contract, POCC, and, crucially, the implementation of the POCC, the digital health transformation and women's health. It is envisaged that the same structure will be co-chaired by the new Secretary General and the HSE chair, so there will not be a change there, which I think is very welcome. That is really the answer to the Deputy's question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  I welcome some of what the Minister said but the problem is there are not clear deliverables and timeframes in the current Sl\u00e1intecare action plan. That is something that has to change. I want to see, for example, changes to the medical card and GP card thresholds. There have not really been any substantial changes to medical card eligibility in a long time. The big reform that the health service needs, from an acute hospital perspective, is delivering the elective hospitals. If you really want to deal with waiting lists, then build the four elective hospitals as quickly as possible. I guarantee that that will give us capacity to deal with lots of the planned procedures that need to be done, separating scheduled from unscheduled care.  I am big believer in a seven-day-week health service. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  I know. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  I know the Minister is. When she is pushing forward those reforms, I will be supporting them, as I did with the public-only consultant contract because we needed it. We have to get bang for our buck. I agree that we need reforms and efficiencies but we also need capacity. If we do not have the diagnostic capacity, the bed capacity and the staff in our hospitals, then it is more difficult to reach our targets and actually get the reforms. It is a combination of all of that, and all of that is obviously part of Sl\u00e1intecare. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  I agree and I thank the Deputy for his support on these reform programmes. He is right about the elective hospitals but before then, we have the opportunity with the surgical hubs, which will be delivered in 2026. The delivery of the surgical hubs is going to create all sorts of different waves. We are looking at what procedures need to go there immediately and what that will free up in the hospitals where they would otherwise have been done. How is that going to be staffed and when? I am looking at the National Treatment Purchase Fund, NTPF, buying capacity in our own hospitals but I am also looking at underutilised capacity in our own hospitals, like the endoscopy suite in Bantry. There are two of them. One of them is used a half a day per week. We have appointed additional people specifically to Bantry but how can that be, and why are we buying any endoscopy action in that area? Why is there endoscopy happening in Roscommon when there is a very good suite there that does not operate after a certain part of the day? How are we using our own resources and how are we going to collectively, as the political leadership in health here, make sure that we are using the assets we have as we build? The elective hospitals are entirely necessary but we have capacity that is not being used. There is room after room in different hospitals and we are not using them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  I could not agree more. I have been saying this for a long time. I am a big supporter of the surgical hubs. There is one coming in my own constituency adjacent to University Hospital Waterford, so I know the difference that will make. I fully agree that we have to look at how to take pressure away from our acute and major hospitals, for example, more off-site rooms for outpatient activity where we can free up clinical space. I am in favour of all of that. I am fully on board with a seven-day-week health service. I want all of that to happen, but for the efficiencies to happen, there also have to be the resources.  While the surgical hubs will be a game-changer, I can tell the Minister for a fact that the elective hospitals will be an even bigger game-changer. I am saying that to her because there will be push-back from consultants. I have got it in relation to the elective hospitals. They want the low-lying fruit still in public hospitals. It is why insourcing was so profitable and something they were trying to protect. We have to protect public patients, get value for money and efficiencies but also reduce waiting times. I guarantee that if the elective hospitals are built, the Minister will see some of those wait times in orthopaedics and other areas come down rapidly. It will be the biggest reform that could be made in the health service. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  I totally agree with the Deputy and I think we will get there with Galway and Cork much more quickly. I would like to discuss with all Deputies options around Dublin because clearly we have the option in relation to Connolly hospital. The Deputy may have noticed that we put in some high-dependency unit, HDU, beds in advance because that is really going to be an important enabler. We did that in the past number of weeks. We put the staff in to have significantly expanded HDU capacity in Connolly hospital with a view to where that goes for the elective.  It is well worth us considering constructively the best other use of brownfield space that is available within other Dublin hospitals, how we might consider that as alternative elective capacity and what we do with Crumlin. It is a useful open conversation that we should have. More than anything else, I need Deputies' help with the implementation of the public-only consultant contract and five over seven.  I cannot have the NTPF buying activity in hospitals from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and not have consultants rostered at those times. That intersection is going to be really important between surgical hubs, the NTPF and the actual rostering. I am going to need Deputies' help. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Healthcare Policy"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_36","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Assisted Human Reproduction","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_32","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_32","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_36","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_36.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  I begin by welcoming the commencement of section 232 of the assisted human reproduction Act which took place yesterday, and the changes to the Children and Family Relationships Act that resulted. This provides a pathway to parentage for some donor-conceived children. I know there were celebrations in many households across the country who benefit from those changes, which are welcome. When does the Minister intend to commence the rest of the Act and what is the update on the supplementary legislation that is required? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  I thank the Deputy for his ongoing engagement on this. As he knows as well as I do, this makes a huge difference to families around the country. Much progress has been made now. The Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Act 2024 was signed into law by the President in July 2024. I have a difficulty with a definitive timeline as to the complete commencement of the AHR legislation as there are a number of interdependencies and considerations involved, not least the timing that I do not control over a Supreme Court case. On the full commencement of that and the full application of the legislation, there is an interdependency there that is outside of my hands. The others include the second Bill, the AHR amendment Bill being enacted, and the regulatory authority being fully operational. I can give the Deputy an update on what is happening with that, but there is also an important relevant Supreme Court judgment pending. I understand the case is due for mention on Monday, 27 April but it will be very difficult for us to get to Committee Stage without that having been resolved. That is really important.  As the Deputy is aware, our formal drafting of the AHR Bill is at an advanced stage. It is very substantive. It is on the priority list for publication. Department officials in my Department are scheduled to meet with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel tomorrow to discuss what is expected to be one of the final drafts and I expect to be in a position to introduce it to the D\u00e1il this term.  Some administrative sections of the 2024 Act have been commenced, specifically to establish the Assisted Human Reproduction Regulatory Authority, as the Deputy knows. The Deputy mentioned that three subsections of section 232 of the 2024 Act have been commenced. It is complex and there are very many slightly competing and multifaceted perspectives to be considered. We are going to have to think about the sequencing of some of it but I hope to advance it as quickly as I can. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  I thank the Minister. I welcome the commitment to advance it because the pace of change has been far too slow. It is now 26 years since the commission on AHR, four years since the Oireachtas Committee on International Surrogacy, and seven months since the health committee published our report providing pre-legislative scrutiny of the legislation. There is real frustration about the delays here. We need to see urgent progress.  In relation to the case, and I mentioned this to the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, when we debated this in December, the State's failure to legislate has resulted in these cases. In the absence of legislation, people had no option but to go to the court to try to vindicate their rights. This will continue. We will have more people going to the courts trying to vindicate their rights in the absence of legislation. We need to pass the Bill. I have no doubt that, in some cases, there are people threatening the Minister with legal action who would withdraw that, but it is the absence of legislation. We have created this mess by delaying the legislation and by not progressing it in the 26 years since the commission published its report. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  The Deputy is a practical person, as am I. If a court case is before the Supreme Court, then there is a court case before the Supreme Court and there is nothing I can do about that. I would be in breach of my own responsibility not to cross over in the separation of powers were I to do anything other that wait for the outcome of that. I do not have any discretion in relation to that. As for people threatening to take legal cases, people are entirely entitled to take legal cases if they wish to do so. That is the essence of being an Irish citizen. There is no quid pro quo in relation to it. I am dealing with what I am trying to get resolved now. The reality is that we are advancing the legislation. We will not be able to take it to Committee Stage until the Supreme Court case is determined. It is not that I wish to be in that situation; I do not wish to be. That is simply the factual reality of that situation. There is nothing I can do about that but I will do everything that I can control as quickly as possible. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  I do think it is a situation of the Government's making. People absolutely have the right to take cases but people do not want to go before the courts. These families do not want to have the legal costs and the stress imposed on them by going before the courts. I think the Minister would agree with me that we need to expand personal freedoms generally in this republic. We need to vindicate the right to procreation, the right to private and family life and reproductive freedoms. There is much work left to be done, in particular the rights of the child, the rights of their parents and greater equality more broadly. This is a key part of that. I really hope that we get this legislation enacted and commenced, and that we are not waiting and waiting because we have waited long enough. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  I agree with the Deputy. Indeed, this is something I have been involved with in different ways since working in the Department of children and since advancing the Children and Family Relationships Act, as I did when I worked in the Department of justice in 2013. I have been working on this for a really long time and I share the Deputy's frustration. I want to see people having access to families where they can.  We need to speak about rights in totality, however. Yes, there is a right to family, a right to procreate and all of those different things. There is also a right, and we have an obligation as an outward-looking country, to make sure we are doing everything we can to protect everyone else. I am not saying this specifically to this but I do remember questions, when I started working here and we were dealing with, for example, adoption, the Hague Convention and the restrictions that were put in place because some of our actions at that stage were, frankly, exploitative or potentially exploitative. That was pulled back and for good reason. It changed the adoption rules for the future and they were very significant changes that were made. There were people who felt that they had a right in a particular way, but those rights always have to be balanced and because we are an outward-looking, humanitarian society, we have to take the rights of everybody into account. I know the Deputy will be at the front of that, having advanced looking at things through a human rights lens. There is more than one human involved in these and we have to be careful and balanced. I am not trying to limit anybody but I just have to say it as well. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Assisted Human Reproduction"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_37","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Mental Health Services","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_32","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_32","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_37","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_37.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  I am looking for an update on the replacement of the existing adult mental health 44-bed unit at University Hospital Waterford with a 50-bed single bed unit. I acknowledge the work of the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, in making sure this was on the current capital plan recently. I was criticised in one local newspaper for doing so. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  I heard that, too. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  I think the criticism was because there was frustration that developments can be glacial and it takes a long time for these projects to get over the line. There are other projects I want to talk about, which I will later. On this particular project, it is important to have timeframes as to how quickly we can expect this development might be delivered, which I think we all accept would be massive and a game-changer for mental health services in Waterford. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Mary Butler)  I thank the Deputy. The frustration that many people feel I have felt as well for quite a while. When it was announced initially in 2020 or 2021, we were in the middle of Covid. It was then held up for three years by the clinicians. At the time, I was very frustrated with them but I agree with them now. They did not want the new approved centre, the new department of psychiatry in UHW, to be, as was proposed, on the site adjacent but not connected to it. It is now going to be connected.  I have allocated over \u20ac40 million for capital projects this year, including for the next stages for the acute mental health unit at Waterford. The project will move to design feasibility this quarter when a design team will be appointed for the new unit. Most importantly, because of delays, we are now moving from a 50-bed unit to a 60-bed unit. There is going to be an extra ten beds for psychiatry of later life. We have an ageing population and it is really important for people who have enduring mental health conditions, as they age, that they would also be able to get those supports if needed.  It will be built immediately behind the Dunmore Wing, which the Deputy knows very well. He visited it with me previously. It will come out immediately behind the Dunmore Wing as part of the department of psychiatry that is there at the moment. The current car park will be lost but I spoke to the general manager of the hospital about that and he said it was a small price to pay for this new development. We expect it is going to cost in the region of at least \u20ac50 million. I met with HSE estates recently in St. Otteran's campus. I was visiting psychiatry of later life there and we went through it. We can discuss the other pieces shortly. The good news is that the design team will be appointed very shortly, I am hoping in the next few weeks, and we will finally make the progress. The funding has been provided. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  I very much hope that the new adult mental health unit will progress as quickly as possible. I agree with the location and I want to see it developed as fast as it can be. There was also a promise for a 96-bed ward block over five storeys at University Hospital Waterford, and a multi-storey car park. The Minister of State issued a press statement a number of years ago where she said there was a proposal for a two-floor vertical extension over the existing outpatients department, to provide an additional 36 consulting rooms, four treatment rooms, four measurement rooms and two virtual consultation rooms.  I do not know the status of that plan at the moment. I have been tabling parliamentary questions seeking updates on all of these projects. We need the additional 96 beds, we need the underground car park and we need the two-storey extension to the lab, but we also need the vertical two-storey extension that the Minister of State talked about and all that additional space. The frustration is that these projects are listed in the capital plan, or maybe some of them are not now listed. People do not know if we are going to get them, if they are funded or how quickly they will be delivered. We all want the best for our regional and local hospitals. I raise these projects because they are really important in the context of University Hospital Waterford. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  The question the Deputy asked was about the HSE capital plan for Waterford and the south east in relation to mental health and mental health beds. I can speak to that. In relation to the other issues the Deputy mentioned, I do not have the relevant information but I discussed it when I had the meeting with HSE estates. On the two-storey vertical extension, the vertical overhang as it is called, my understanding is that the management at the hospital has made a different decision in relation to that and thinks that it should be a stand-alone building on the hospital grounds. I understand the new consultant-only contract is the reason for that.  I was delighted to secure funding for a ten-bed unit in the Wexford area. As the Deputy knows, since St. Loman's closed in 2010 or 2011, we have been getting patients from the Wexford area, which was a long journey for them. We are also looking at putting in a new ten- or 12-bed unit in Wexford. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  I raise these issues to illustrate the point that when announcements are made, people expect things to be delivered and then ask how quickly they will get them. If there is an announcement regarding additional health capacity, that is really good news. It is exciting, and people want it. When people hear about the announcement of an additional 60-bed ward block over five storeys at University Hospital Waterford but then do not see it and when I am putting in parliamentary questions and cannot get answers on the timeframe for it to happen, that causes frustration. There was a clear announcement of a proposal for a two-floor vertical extension with all of those consultation and treatment rooms to come with it. We are now being told there is a change to that. We still do not know what that means and when the facility will be built, which also leads to frustration.  It is the same with the multi-storey car park. In fact, it is the same with the mental health unit as well. I do not doubt that the Minister of State is pushing these issues; I accept that 100%. All I am saying is that there is frustration that when announcements are made by local Ministers or senior Ministers, they then seem to either fall off a cliff or take far too long to go anywhere. That causes frustration, particularly when we cannot get answers to parliamentary questions when we table them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  It is important acknowledge the surgical hub. Earlier, the Deputy said he is a fan of surgical hubs. Some \u20ac90 million in capital investment is being spent on the surgical hub. I was delighted to be there last year, along with the Minister, to turn the sod on it, even though it was well under way at the time and will be open before Christmas, which is really important. Another piece of good news is that a site has been identified in Waterford city for a new ambulance base, which is also really important. I do not have any detail on the 96-bed unit the Deputy mentioned. I guarantee that I have also raised everything he has raised here. It is really important that we see progress.  I want to put this on the record of the D\u00e1il. Improving capital infrastructure for mental health services a key priority for me. I was delighted to work with the Minister recently to secure an unprecedented \u20ac470 million in capital investment for mental health over the next five years under the National Development Plan 2026-2030. That has never happened before, and I think everybody will welcome it. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Mental Health Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_38","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_38","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_39","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Ambulance Service","counts":{"speechCount":9,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_38","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_38","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_39","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_39.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa)  T\u00e1 ceist Uimh. 120 in ainm an Teachta Carthy \u00e1 glacadh ag an Teachta Bennett. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  The Dublin North and East region, which includes Cavan and Monaghan, has benefited from recent investment, with 12 additional paramedics in 2025 and a further 12 scheduled for this year. Six additional emergency medical technicians are planned for Cavan. This will help to preserve front-line ambulances for emergency calls. I highlight this because the National Ambulance Service is focused on addressing areas where there is a clear need for greater resourcing. A particular emphasis is on targeting potential applicants in areas of need, including the Cavan-Monaghan area, where there have been challenges with recruitment in the past. That is the only reason I set some of that out. I acknowledge that there have been challenges with recruitment, notwithstanding our desire to recruit more people in the area.  The HSE has informed me that the National Ambulance Service's response performance in the region between 2023 and 2025 met the key performance indicator, KPI, targets in the HSE service plan. However, it is acknowledged that at times of high demand, some lower acuity patients have waited longer for a response. I also acknowledge that we would like the targets for purple and red calls to be higher in the first instance. I am not saying that KPIs are any sort of panacea; I am simply acknowledging that the performance in the north-east region has been better than the target. That is something, but we have a way to go to build on it.  The Government is committed to the continued development of the National Ambulance Service in the context of both capacity and strategic reform. Since 2020, we have increased the budget for the National Ambulance Service by 60%. We have increased the personnel by 30%. This year, as I informed Deputy Cullinane, we really are trying to recruit. We have a targeted recruitment campaign. We have posts available. I will speak more to that, because, as Deputy Bennett is aware, we need to have better response times, "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  I welcome that additional staff have been employed. It is still not enough, however. More needs to be done. The National Ambulance Service used to make data available to help inform policymakers in coming forward with constructive solutions. Data indicates that the number of people who died by the time an ambulance actually reached their homes was up 70% in the eight years prior to 2024. There were over 95,000 instances in 2022 of people waiting more than one hour. However, when Sinn F\u00e9in recently sought updated information, the National Ambulance Service told us that there is no operational imperative to do so and that there is little or no clinical evidence underpinning response-time targets. That is despite coroners having found evidence of ambulance service capacity being the root cause of a person's death. Does the Minister think this information is relevant and important and that it should be made available to Members? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  It is difficult to answer in light of some of the circumstances involved. The Deputy raised an individual case where somebody identified a specific reason. While I acknowledge that, in other cases it is not clear whether a patient, for example - it is awful to speak about it in this way - was going to die irrespective. I can understand the clinical constraints in providing broad data when dealing with many individual circumstances.  It is because of the increased response times and the availability that we are trying to recruit. The recruitment competition in 2025 brought the highest number of applicants ever with over 1,000 people applying. I take some comfort in that. It will help fill the additional 263 posts that we have in the National Ambulance Service this year. It will provide for 21 additional crewed emergency ambulances for new intermediate care services on a 12-over-seven basis and a range of other investments. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  I find it hard to believe that there are 263 posts that we cannot fill. I do not know if this is down to how we are advertising these posts that they are not being filled. As stated, this information, which I asked for previously, is very important in order that we can inform policy decisions. We cannot fix what is not measured. In terms of what needs to be done in order that the right people across the State have the ambulance service that they deserve and need, however, a few things are apparent. Our dedicated and highly educated newly qualified paramedics need a clear pathway to permanent employment in the National Ambulance Service.  They are well needed because the service, by its own admission, is massively short-staffed by 2,000 workers. In Cavan and Monaghan, we need a 24-7 advanced paramedic. At a time when we have seen an overwhelming vote by National Ambulance Service workers for industrial action, up to strike action, will the Minister intervene on these matters? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  I appreciate that the Deputy may find it difficult to see that we cannot fill posts but I assure her that it is true. Of last year's posts, there were 180, and 134 have been filled. I would like it to be 180 filled. This year we have provision for 263, which is obviously a considerable increase on last year, so the direction of travel in terms of our investment is very clear. This is not unique to the ambulance services; we have this difficulty across home support, we have it across recruiting into the medical profession generally and we have it with GPs. Across the board, we have posts that are unfilled and to which we are trying to recruit. I would welcome these positions being taken. As I said, there were 1,000 applicants. I take great comfort in that, that people want to do this, but it is also important to highlight that we are trying to have alternative care pathways as well. About 40% of patients now do not require, because of that intervention, subsequent conveyance or subsequent transfer to an emergency department, so those pathways are working well and we need to invest more in that as well. There is emergency department in the home, for example and all the different alternative emergency pathways. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  Could I just ask about the 24-7 advanced paramedic that was taken away from Cavan and Monaghan? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  I am sorry, that is not----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  Sorry. That is okay. I will table a parliamentary question to the Minister. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ambulance Service"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_40","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"General Practitioner Services","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_38","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_38","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_40","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_40.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Neville  I ask the Minister if her Department has considered introducing initiatives such as refundable tax credits on costs of new GP practices or extensions to GP practices to try to address the current GP shortage and incentivise more GPs to extend their practices; and if she will make a statement on the matter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  I thank the Deputy for his question. He has highlighted this in the context of the difficulty in new GP practices opening in his area. The region has had very significant population growth but not a corresponding rise in the number of GPs available for either GMS or private patients and I acknowledge that. I also acknowledge the efforts the Deputy is trying to highlight as to what we can do to support GPs to expand their existing practices and to open new practices. That is a very fair question because everybody in this House wants more GP practices to be able to be opened.  It is important for me to say that the State - I think people forget this sometimes - provides a significant level of financial support to GP practices. We work in partnership with GP practices both within the GMS scheme and more broadly. Among the more notable supports available are practice staff supports and subsidies towards the employment of a practice nurse, an administrator or a practice manager. The 2023 GP agreement increased the rates of those subsidies and introduced further staff supports. Specific supports are available for rural practices and, since 2019, in urban areas of disadvantage.  The strategic review of general practice, which is currently under way, is examining the ways in which this can be better and differently supported. We have reached agreements with GPs, for example, on chronic disease management, all of which is really improving people's outcomes. It is a different way of delivering care but it is also a financial partnership with GPs.  In relation to the Deputy's specific question about refundable tax for setting up new GP practices, that would be a budgetary matter for the T\u00e1naiste and Minister for Finance, but I assure Deputy Neville that I will raise it with the Minister. I know he would like to see greater GP practices around the country, and this is certainly something I have heard from GPs that would be helpful. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Neville  I thank the Minister for her very positive reply. This has an impact especially in my constituency of Kildare North, where we see a huge need for more GPs, but I have also been very aware that it is not just commuter belt areas where we have this issue. There are also areas where there are rural sustainability challenges and indeed urban deprivation strategies. Analysis shows that it is in those three areas that we have the biggest issues. For the rural areas we have put in place a rural practice grant. For the deprived areas we have a deprivation grant. However, the one thing we have not really focused on as much is the need to help the GPs in the commuter belt. I look at the town of Maynooth. It had five GP practices 15 years ago. The population has expanded probably from about 11,000 to closer to 17,000. It now has only four GPs. That is why I am really focused on this for the commuter belt area. Maynooth is just a mirror image of what I see across the constituency. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  The supports for newly establishing GPs are an important part of the strategic review of general practice, as surveys by the Irish College of General Practitioners have shown that concerns about the costs and risks of opening new practices are important considerations. Essentially, it is a matter of establishing a business and that is a challenging thing to do.  Whatever about new practices, however, we also have to think about how existing practices, which might make it easier for a new GP rather than having to establish their own practice and their own business, could work more easily within the capacity of an existing practice and how that can be expanded through the addition of better or bigger premises or through the use of satellite surgeries to enable local access.  The exact nature of these supports has not been finalised but it is under consideration. This could include supports with business education and training, provision of subsidies or grants, and potentially through the taxation system, as I have highlighted, subject to consultation with the Minister for Finance. Then there is also the growing network of primary care centres, from which GPs can practice. That is a really important part as well that may be complementary. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Neville  There is a lot of information in the Minister's reply and I will take on a couple of the points. I have seen the benefit of the new primary healthcare centre in Celbridge, and we have one in Kilcock. It is about maximising the outputs we can get there. I am very conscious as well that in areas like Maynooth - and this is something we have mirrored all across the country - we might have seen a GP practice in the middle of a housing estate. That would have been very common years ago. Now the new GPs may be unwilling. Will they be able to set up a practice? Will they get planning permission? These are all serious complexities for those people. Extensions, as the Minister said, are really important. If we could get those extensions, that would be phenomenal because we could have more GP services, and it is probably easier. At the same time, I am just offering the opportunity to look across the board because the more GPs we can get back the better. I know that GP services are working really complementarily with the Department and I get that feedback from them, but it is just about that chronic shortage we see in the commuter belt. We are putting in the housing, the wastewater and the roads, and it is just that social infrastructure of the likes of GPs to go with it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  Exactly, and it is a totally practical suggestion. We want to enable GPs to have their practice as quickly as possible. I have no view as to where they should practice necessarily. Of course, we would like to employ them into the HSE, but private practice is also so important. Whatever we can do to enable more GPs, it has come up again and again in this House, correctly, and I can point out all the new GPs that have been registered by the Medical Council, all of that work to clear the backlog of people looking to restore their practices and people looking to come to Ireland. If they do not have a place to work within the community that people can access, it is very challenging. I recall going to a GP practice. There was one or two in every big housing estate. It was a very natural thing and it was often a front room. Now it is a slightly different model, and that is true. There may be an opportunity to extend those premises. Just look at the changes we have made today, for example, in relation to planning permissions and so on and exemptions and what we are trying to do to encourage more and more use of space. This is a hugely important piece for any community.  I thank the Deputy for his suggestion. We will come back to it within the Department of Health but it is also an important budgetary matter for the Minister for Finance. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 122 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"General Practitioner Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_41","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Hospital Waiting Lists","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_38","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_38","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_41","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_41.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa)  T\u00e1 muid ag dul ar aghaidh go dt\u00ed Ceist Uimh. 123. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 in ainm an Teachta O'Dea, ach t\u00e1 an Teachta Daly \u00e1 ghlacadh ar a shon. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Daly  This fits in with the rest of the debate going on here. It is to ask the Minister about the targets for the inpatient waiting times. I acknowledge her focus on productivity and reform within the health service. Deputy Neville has pointed out that with all these things it is an ecosystem and they are interconnected. If you cannot have an efficient admission and discharge policy for both elective and acute, you will end up with long waiting lists. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  I propose to take Questions Nos. 123 and 136 together.  Improving access to healthcare in our hospitals is an absolute priority for me. As the Deputy knows, we have very good outcomes in our healthcare system. Our challenge is making sure we have access as quickly as possible. That is the focus, on making sure we are using our resources in the best way possible. We are focusing on a public healthcare system in which everybody has timely access to high-quality scheduled care where and when they need it.  I refer to the waiting time action plan for 2026.  This used to be the waiting list action plan, until we all realised together that the length of time spent waiting is more important than the number of people on the list, obviously. This builds on the progress to date. It includes significant reductions achieved in the length of time patients are waiting. The plan takes a multifaceted approach in achieving it, setting out six overarching and interconnected targets focused on patients waiting the longest. The plan aligns with the national service plan, NSP, targets for planned care, including targeting increases in the proportion of patients waiting within Sl\u00e1intecare maximum waiting times and outpatient and inpatient day-case waiting lists. Those targets represent steps towards our ultimate shared goal of all patients being seen or treated within the Sl\u00e1intecare target times, namely, ten weeks for outpatient appointments and 12 weeks for inpatient and day-case procedures.  The devolution of responsibility to the regional executive officers is an important part of this reform. The REOs have complete visibility over what is happening with their acute hospitals, their model 4, model 3 and model 2 hospitals and everything that is happening in the community and in their primary care centres. There has to be a complete synergy between the different model hospitals and primary care to use this. We now have tools that we did not have before. We have the outpatient toolkit, which is showing what the actual room utilisation is in every hospital. There should be no resistance to the application of the outpatient toolkit. It is not tenable that some hospitals have room vacancy rates of between 4% and 9% during the week and 24% on a Friday afternoon. I have not yet seen what the room vacancy rates are on Tuesday evening or Sunday morning, but we do not need to build more capacity and more rooms until those rooms are filled and being used. They are being heated and insured. All of these things are there and available. The utilisation of the outpatient toolkit is, therefore, enormously important. It means that we are scheduling according to the most efficient use of time. We are not asking people to change the length of their consultations or change the nature of their medical practice. We are simply taking the length of time they normally use and reorganising so that things are done differently and delivered differently, including in primary care centres.  This really matters because we have opportunities between the outpatient toolkit and now the surgical hubs in respect of inpatient day-case procedures - or a certain proportion of those - and also freeing up the corresponding activity in the home hospital. The first real application of that, of course, will be with the Dublin north-east surgical hub. This is a huge opportunity to test how the public-only consultant contract is being used or not used, rostered or not rostered, how the five over seven roster is complementing that and how that is being used by all the different hospitals in the Dublin north-east region.  We have these different opportunities but it is important that they are delivered. I want to highlight the importance of clinical leadership in this. Every single person in this House is calling for and looking for the same thing. It has to be implemented and there is a responsibility on clinical leadership to stand up and make sure the clinical community is doing everything it can to adapt and change its ways of working within the contractual parameters its members have signed and that have been set in agreements to make sure we are delivering for the patients of Ireland. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Daly  There are brilliant people working in the public health service who do their work very well but we can acknowledge, and I think the Minister acknowledges, that there are some hospitals in areas of the country where that productivity is not apparent. I will speak about the HSE West and North West region. In the past, at the health committee, the Minister acknowledged there are issues around discharge and management of patient flows. The west and north west is the poorest region of the country, with the highest proportion of the population in receipt of disability payments and the highest proportion of the population in receipt of a full medical card. We have a situation where we cannot discharge patients from a level 4 hospital, namely, UHG because there are not any step-down beds and not enough rehabilitation beds or enough home-help hours. In addition, we have a level 4 hospital that is purporting to carry out all the services of a level 4 hospital without having that capacity. We need a commitment to a new hospital in the west, at UHG in Galway.  In addition, we have a situation where there has been an over-reliance on the private developer-delivered primary care centres and also an over-reliance on individual GPs to deliver that infrastructure. If we are completely serious about the interconnectivity of our health service, we need to get some of that investment into primary care. The vast majority of the very considerable investment by the State over the last five years has continued to go into hospital care and acute care and not enough has gone into developing primary care. We have the longest waiting lists for speech therapy, psychology, community physiotherapy and speech and language therapy in the community. Unless we fix that capacity in the community in tandem with the acute service, we will not see the end of these waiting lists. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  I agree. That is what we are trying to do. On the primary care centres, we have 181 at the moment, with eight under construction and 21 more in early planning stages. However, if people do not use them and if they are not used for outpatient procedures to relieve pressures on hospitals, we are going to keep having the same conversation. There is an excellent outpatient centre in Merlin Park right beside UHG. It is one of the few that is being used on a three-session per day basis. Good work has been done in that primary care centre but a lot more can be done.  This is as much about how people are working as about where they are working. I have talked about the physical capacity increases that we have but we cannot keep building more physical capacity if people are not going to use it differently. There is no point in concentrating consultant work between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday to Friday with all of this additional capacity. I would rather spend money hiring more people to fill the spare space. However, how can we be sure that will happen if the clinical leadership does not make sure we are implementing the contract such as it is? We have to see evidence of that and the trajectory in relation to it.  I agree with the Deputy on all the fantastic people doing fantastic work but we cannot keep saying that in the knowledge that many of them also have to work differently to make sure we are using the space that we have all paid for by making it available for the benefit of patients. We cannot have primary care centres closing at 5 p.m. They have to be open and serving the community until 8 p.m. or 10 p.m. That is what they are for. This is about building capacity, as it always will be with a growing population, but at some point we will reach a juncture where we have built so much capacity and if we have all of this evidence of it not being used or not being used in the most balanced way across the week, we will have to start asking ourselves decent questions about it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Daly  I have a case involving a patient who has critical ischemia of her leg. She is a hard-working woman in her 60s. Twice she has had to be admitted to hospital and twice she has been sent out. She needs a procedure done. She has now been sitting for two weeks in a bed in UHG because they cannot get theatre time to do the procedure she requires. That is simply not a productive system. We have people who have given up on certain specialties, such as dermatology, rheumatology and others, in the west because they cannot get access. I completely agree with the Minister and she has my full support for any productivity reforms.  We also need to deal with the fact that our health service has not been digitalised. We are off the record. The EU 2030 Digital Compass requires that patients will have fully digitalised records in every country in the European Union. Ireland is so far off that chart. Countries like Estonia, Malta and Lithuania can do this, and we cannot. We need to focus on enabling productivity.  The Minister is right that we should be using our physical resources insofar as we can. However, there is an issue with UHG, and we need a new hospital there over the next ten years in order to make sure it functions properly as a level 4 hospital. That is the type of specialty treatment that some people need but they are competing with people who go through the emergency room, elderly people who need care in the hospital setting and people who might be better cared for in a community setting. We have to deal with primary care. We need to get over the culture that because it is a contract-led service by GPs, the infrastructure should be borne only by GPs. If we are completely serious, we should be building State-led primary care centres and have five-year, rent-free zones to attract young GPs into those centres. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  I agree. As I said, we have 181 primary care centres, with eight under construction and 20 more at early planning stages for precisely that.  Regarding the Deputy's constituent who could not get surgery, let us count up the different things we have said here.  It was said that they cannot get theatre time for her. There is a theatre utilisation project. I would very much like to know the nature of her procedure and to test this case against theatre utilisation across the hospital. The Deputy says that we need a new hospital. I remind him that we are building both a surgical hub and an elective hospital precisely to provide additional theatre time. Let us stay aligned to exactly what is going on, which is the delivery of full utilisation of all of the theatres in University Hospital Galway, a surgical hub and an elective hospital. Can the Deputy imagine the number of surgeons it takes to run those all of the time? If we are to run them seven days a week, how many surgeons would it take? How many surgeons does it take to run a surgical hub all of the time, recognising that they will not all be working all of the time and that there will be two or three shifts? How many are required to run an elective hospital and all of the theatres that are already in UHG? How many surgeons does all of that take? I strongly recommend to the members of the Committee on Health who are here that they should invite the team that has done the theatre utilisation project and the OPD toolkit before the committee and interrogate them as to their findings and the use of theatres so that they can see this for themselves. We can then come back and seriously look at the number of surgeons it takes to fill six surgical hubs, four elective hospitals and every theatre in the country.  When we were doing the urgent project to deliver more endometriosis surgeries, I was looking for an additional 100 surgeries in the final quarter of 2025. One of the responses I got from a surgeon, who really is invested in this and who really is working hard, is that one of the barriers was that he had been told elective work could not be done after 5 p.m. in the theatres in the maternity hospital he was working in. I said \"I am sorry, what? Says who?\" These are some of the barriers we have to overcome. We have a lot of space. We have to use it. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Hospital Waiting Lists"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_42","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Pharmacy Services","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_38","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_38","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_42","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_42.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aindrias Moynihan  Pharmacies have a very strong position in their communities. They have close relationships with their customers and are very much trusted. They are the first point of contact for many people who want to discuss a health issue. There is a large network right across the country. They are found in almost every community. They are open long hours and are very much available. They are ideally situated for the delivery of health and wellness hubs. Will the Minister outline the efforts being made to expand the role of pharmacies into the area of health and wellness hubs? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  I completely agree with the Deputy. They are a phenomenal asset and support and a major part of our health infrastructure. We need to think about them more as a fundamental part of our health infrastructure. Community pharmacies are right where people live. Some 85% of the population is within 5 km of a pharmacy. They are embedded in their communities. They are the first, and often easiest, place to go for trusted advice and practical support for patients.  Of course, pharmacists are medicines experts, but their role goes way beyond that now and we would like it to go further. They deliver prevention and public health every day. This extends to flu vaccines, Covid vaccines and school-based programmes. Of the 26% of children who got vaccinated last winter, 56% got their flu vaccine from a pharmacist, which is remarkable. I am delighted to say that, from May, pharmacies will provide pneumococcal vaccination for eligible healthy adults over 65 who have a medical card. Pharmacies deliver services like health checks, blood pressure management, weight management, and smoking and vaping cessation programmes and help people to live with long-term conditions. All of this demonstrates the ability and willingness of community pharmacies to be an essential part of health infrastructure.  A big part of the future is the 2025 community pharmacy agreement, which seeks to expand that role. This gives us the opportunity to expand the role of pharmacists in areas such as bowel screening, contraception, prescribing and medicines optimisation. Pharmacies also have an important role in improving access to contraception through the national condom distribution services. Crucially, they also provide a common conditions service, which I will speak about in my next response. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aindrias Moynihan  I acknowledge last year's community pharmacy agreement, which recognises the role of the pharmacy as primary care. I also acknowledge the commitment to advance the health and wellness hub side. There is a proposal, which is currently being moved on, with regard to three programmes that are to be rolled out as part of advancing these hubs. While I acknowledge these campaigns, they seem fairly limited. There is to be a week on men's health, a month on alcohol in pregnancy and a winter vaccination campaign, which many pharmacies would already be providing. I feel there is greater capacity and that there should be greater ambition. Has the Minister set out targets for the number of different campaigns that should be run or for the participation rate among pharmacists? Will she outline the rate of participation in the campaign running this month, which is on alcohol and pregnancy? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  I am sorry but I do not have that figure. I will get it and come back to the Deputy, if he will forgive me. As part of the community pharmacy agreement, the Irish Pharmacy Union has agreed to support the HSE health and well-being campaigns. The Deputy has highlighted three of them. Following a consultation between the pharmacy union and the HSE, three campaigns were agreed for activation across the community pharmacy network. The Deputy has outlined them. Of course, I would like them to be doing even more, recognising how important their role is.  One of the biggest changes in health is going to be the common conditions service and where we can go with it. As the Deputy is aware, 95% of pharmacists have signed up to it at this point. Community pharmacists will be able to manage eight common conditions, offering self-care advice and, where appropriate, prescribing prescription-only medications. That is a first for pharmacy in Ireland. I would very much like to see it succeed. I hope people will use it and that we can extend beyond these eight conditions to the next eight, whatever they might be. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aindrias Moynihan  Pharmacists have considerable knowledge and expertise. As the Minister has mentioned, this extends well beyond the pharmacological side of things, for example, into lifestyle. One would expect the wellness hub concept to expand into the area of lifestyle. Will further non-pharmacological campaigns be made available with regard to vaping, mental health, positive ageing, fitness and many other areas?  It is also vital that there be prior engagement with pharmacists to identify the kind of campaigns to be run and to prepare for their roll-out. Will the Minister outline the level of engagement with pharmacies, the IPU and the various different organisations in the preparation, identification and roll-out of campaigns to ensure they are successful and have a meaningful impact in communities? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  As the Deputy highlights, this is done through consultation and agreement between the pharmacy union and the HSE. My own Department engages regularly with the pharmacy union. I will ask my officials and the HSE about the nature of that engagement because I am not party to those detailed discussions. I will get a much better answer and provide it to the Deputy. The important point is that there is a measure of consultation and agreement in relation to it. Pharmacists are very excited about this expanded role and about working to the top of their professional medical training. That is what I want to enable. I want to make them a genuine alternative to a GP, where appropriate, as they will be in many, although not all, cases. I want it to be a really natural place to get a prescription and to expand the use of community pharmacies alongside every other part of our health infrastructure. I hope the Deputy will forgive me for not having a better answer than that for him at the moment but I will get him an appropriate answer. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Pharmacy Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_43","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Dental Services ","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_38","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_38","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_43","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_43.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  There is a deepening crisis in dental services. Last week, the Committee on Health produced a report setting out 19 recommendations as to how this crisis can be tackled. Has the Minister had a chance to consider the report? Will she implement the recommendations? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  I thank the Deputy and the Committee on Health for their work on oral health and I welcome their report. I have read it and it aligns with many of the frustrations being brought to me. I understand the frustrations of families and individuals who are experiencing this with the current service. To be really clear, the current position on dental services is not good enough. Too many people cannot get timely care and too many of those are children. We have to do two things at the same time. We have to take practical steps to improve access now and we also have to deliver lasting reform. The model of services we operate is largely rooted in the 1990s and it really needs to be modernised to meet today's needs.  While that reform is being progressed, however, I am determined to ease the pressure people are facing now. What that means is improving access through the public system, especially for children and adult medical card holders. My Department and the HSE are finalising a more focused two-year programme to attempt to do just that.  The plan is going to be delivered by a dedicated governance group with progress monitored closely and aligned to wider HSE and departmental priorities. It will aim to respond to sustained service pressures, workforce constraints and long waiting lists. It will focus on a small number of very clear priorities: cut waiting lists in the school dental programme and orthodontics, strengthen and expand the special access programme, review and improve the dental treatment services scheme, support recruitment, education and training, and then really lean into whatever innovations are appropriate for different ways to deliver care.  Over the next two years, our aim is to stabilise services, reduce waiting times and make access measurably better while at the same time laying the groundwork for longer term reform. This will be achieved by initiatives such as utilising the newly available capacity with the new surgical hubs. A small proportion of cases, but not all, will be suitable because some will require general anaesthetic. My Department and HSE officials have already initiated engagements on this with many of the stakeholders, but it is important that they brief the committee as well when the plan is better finalised. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  I thank the Minister. It is welcome that progress is being made because it is now seven years since the national oral health policy, Smile agus Sl\u00e1inte, was published and we still do not have that implementation plan. I was not impressed by some of the excuses we received from officials at the committee, one of which was to blame Covid-19 for the failure to do this over the last number of years.  We have been here before. Previous Ministers have promised an implementation plan, but it was never delivered. I hope that the current Minister does so, with clear actions, targets and timelines.  Crucially, we need a new dental Act. The Dental Council is currently toothless. It needs powers to investigate, inspect and regulate. We have heard of cases of an unregistered person convicted of a sexual assault who may be practising as a dentist, as well as an unregistered dentist offering dental treatments, including X-rays, from a sitting room in an apartment in Dublin. We have also heard about three unregistered dentists offering pop-up clinics in Munster. We want to see a new dental Act and for the Dental Council to be given the real powers that it needs and has been calling for since 2008. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  We are committed to updating the Dentists Act 1985, but we have spoken separately about the practicalities of some of those individual cases, some of which relate to legislative reform and some of which relate to completely different things. The Deputy is correct in relation to the need for a new dentists Act, but there is also a lot of policy development needed to underpin that.  A recognition of the length of time that it would take in real terms has led to an agreement with the Dental Council to bring forward interim amendments such as continuous professional development, CPD, for dentists so that reforms can commence sooner. However, we need to make measurable and meaningful progress. I would like to have the opportunity to finalise that two-year plan, to present it and to have an implementation plan for it. This is not about planning for something in perpetuity. Rather, this is in recognition of very meaningful problems for a number of individuals who need a very specified intervention. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  Children in particular are being failed here. Too many children are leaving primary school without receiving a screening. We know that children should be screened in second, fourth and sixth classes. Some of them are not being screened until fourth year in secondary school or later. We know that, in 2023, only 104,000 out of an eligible 208,000 children were screened, so half of them were not screened that year. There are real issues with workforce planning and having adequate staff in place to do that. It is a real failure by the State that we are not providing those services  to children.  Equally, the medical card scheme is not working. Dentists are leaving it. The number of dentists in the scheme has halved over a decade, which is a real signal that there are failures in this scheme. It is too limited, with a limit on the number of fillings but no limit on the number of extractions. There needs to be engagement with the Irish Dental Association to develop a scheme that works for patients, dentists and the public purse. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  I will point out that the fees were increased by an order of 40% in that scheme. While I appreciate what the Deputy is saying, the fees were also increased by 40% and there is more complexity. I attended the dental association's conference. There is more complexity to the full range of practice that many dentists are engaged in and the other routes of practice, including aesthetics. I do not just mean aesthetic dentistry, which is important and was well defended at the dental association conference by its president. I just needed to make that point as well.  The Deputy highlighted schoolchildren, who are a particular concern of mine. We have engaged with the dental association, the Irish Dental Hygienists' Association and the Dental Council to look at how we are going to deliver near-term improvements in the school programme in particular, how we can use the complete workforce, including hygienists and dental nurses, and how we can broaden the ways in which they are trained. We are engaging with the Department of further and higher education on that so that we can get the best out of our complete dental workforce. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 126 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Dental Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_44","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Youth Services","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_38","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_38","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_44","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_44.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa)  T\u00e1 ceist Uimh. 127 in ainm an Teachta Ardagh \u00e1 glacadh ag an Teachta Daly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Daly  I would like the Minister to reflect on the support for the Planet Youth model, which covers about five different regions in the country and dwells on youth mental health, well-being and the maintenance of that well-being, including through repeated surveys of youth to find out what makes them tick. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Mary Butler)  I am taking this on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Murnane O'Connor. She sends her apologies. I thank Deputies Ardagh and Daly for their interest in the prevention of drug use among young people in Ireland and for the opportunity to provide an update to the House on this very important work.  As Deputy Daly will be aware, the Minister of State published the draft national drugs strategy in early February. The successor strategy will seek to further the progress made under the previous drugs strategy and emphasise the importance of effective and evidence-based drug prevention. Significant support is currently being provided for drug prevention. In 2023, a first-of-its-kind funding programme to support evidence-based drug prevention initiatives was launched, providing \u20ac1.5 million to date. This funding has supported five programmes and represents a significant step in developing our approach to drug prevention in Ireland.  As Deputy Ardagh will be aware, the first strategic pillar in the draft strategy prioritises prevention. It will seek to protect individuals, children, families and communities from the harmful effects of drug and alcohol use and will contain several actions aimed at preventing the onset of drug use among our citizens, with a particular focus on young people. Upon publication of the finalised strategy, these actions will provide targeted responses to groups that are faced with high levels of risk, such as children living with parental drug use and experiencing hidden harm. Any new initiatives on drug prevention will be considered in the context of the finalised strategy, which will develop a coherent, co-ordinated and quality-based national drug prevention system.  The health and well-being of all citizens is of vital importance and reducing health risk factors for our young people is a priority for this Government. I will speak about Planet Youth in my next contribution. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Daly  I am glad that the Minister of State recognises the value of the Planet Youth project, which is based on the Icelandic model of intervening early to try to identify the reasons young people may fall into lifestyles that will be deleterious to their health.  One of the Planet Youth reports, which came out from Galway, Roscommon and Mayo in 2024, identified the fact that things such as unsupervised time for young people on the street gave them nine times more risk of smoking cannabis. Being unsupervised in a friend's home makes a young person five times more likely to engage in drinking at an early age. Other things that came out included that 18% of young people under the age of 13 had viewed pornography. These are really important pieces of data that allow us to target schemes at those young people to try to prevent them for getting into trouble. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  Planet Youth Ireland is an initiative to promote, as Deputy Daly said, well-being among our children and adolescents. It takes a ground-up approach whereby local regions enter into a process that researches local government agencies, the education sector and young people themselves. Planet Youth is not an intervention, though, rather a data collection exercise that provides evidence to inform interventions.  The Icelandic prevention model refers to efforts made in Iceland to address adolescent drugs and alcohol use.  Iceland has also significantly invested in professional parent councils and networks. It has expanded that out. Officials from the drugs policy, tobacco and alcohol control unit and health and well-being unit met representatives of Planet Youth Ireland from across Ireland on 9 March in departmental buildings. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Daly  The value of having repeated data collection means you get an evolving picture of how things are on the ground. In the Ballinasloe area, for example, if your parent had an alcohol problem, you are something like five times more likely to have taken alcohol by the age of 14. If your parents were permissive around the use of alcohol, the risk of having a problem with drink in later life is three times higher. These are important parameters that allow us to plan health services based around health and well-being and working upstream so that we avoid the problems that develop in later life. Alcohol, drug abuse and the viewing of pornography lead to unsafe and sometimes dangerous practices for young children and adolescents. Data allows us to intervene earlier with measures that will prevent future problems. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  Planet Youth Ireland communicated that it intends to discontinue its links with Planet Youth as it was felt the work done by Planet Youth could be done in Ireland at a lower cost. Planet Youth Ireland is separating from Planet Youth while continuing to do the work. For example, a number of regular surveys capturing information on youth drug and alcohol use patterns, risks and protective factors have been implemented in Ireland. These include European school survey projects on alcohol and drugs every four years, with the last wave of findings being published in 2025, the health behaviour of school-aged children, which monitors the health behaviours, health outcomes, drug and alcohol use and social environment of school-aged children every four years, and the Growing Up in Ireland study, which includes research on drug and alcohol use. The model is still being used, but Planet Youth Ireland has separated from the cost factor and is investing the money saved in drug prevention instead. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Youth Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_45","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Hospital Inspections","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_38","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_38","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_45","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_45.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  Will the Minister to outline her plans to invest in Our Lady's Hospital in Navan in view of the recent HIQA report and will she make a statement on the matter? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  I thank the Deputy. I reaffirm that the Government is committed to investing in Navan hospital. Since 2020, the number of whole-time equivalent staff has increased by 17.5%. During the same period, the budget increased by 51%. Under the acute hospital bed expansion plan, a total of 46 new and replacement beds will be delivered at Our Lady's Hospital in Navan by 2031, which includes 31 beds delivered between 2021 and 2024 and another 15 beds between 2025 and 2028. A new minor injuries unit is planned for Navan hospital. I am advised by the HSE that this is progressing through the detailed design and procurement phases. Construction is expected to commence in quarter 4 of 2026, with an indicative operational date of 2027, which is good for the area.  As part of its statutory role, HIQA conducted unannounced inspections of Our Lady's Hospital in Navan in June 2024 and November 2025. It is important to note that, at the follow-up inspection, HIQA recognised that the hospital had made progress since 2024, even where the formal compliance ratings did not change. It is important that I state that.  I would also like to outline the suite of service and safety enhancements being implemented in Navan hospital. I am informed by the HSE that additional staffing across primary care and older person services has enhanced the management of chronic conditions. Consultant-led chronic disease teams for respiratory and cardiology services will be developed in 2026. The new Navan patient quality and safety board was established last year to provide enhanced oversight of the safe and effective transition of care between Navan hospital and the HSE Dublin and North East region generally, as is the case for many hospitals. That led to the development of different and robust policies and procedures which will be further improved this year.  Several risk mitigation strategies have also been implemented, including the utilisation of the orthopaedic unit during periods of high activity and the implementation of surge capacity. In addition, acute surgical services are maintained to allow for patient stabilisation prior to transfer, as is the case in many other hospitals, along with integrated bed management solutions which link community and acute bed services. There are also ambulance bypass protocols, to which I will come back. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  I welcome every euro invested in Navan hospital, as does the entire community in the county. The national standard 3.1 states that service providers protect service users from the risk of harm associated with the design and delivery of healthcare services, and the hospital was non-compliant in that regard in June 2024 and November 2025. Essentially, what management said at a follow-up inspection was that decisions regarding the transformation of the hospital on a national level were still outstanding and the hospital continued to operate as a model 3 hospital without the provision of acute on-site surgical services. That is stating that it is a model 3 hospital in name. In effect, it is a model 2.5 hospital because it does not have on-site surgical services. Is the Minister satisfied that the investment plan she has will address the risks identified in the HIQA report? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  On the HIQA report, of the 43 actions in the compliance plan, I understand 18 have been completed and the rest are under way. It is important to highlight that. I want to look at the region in a very interesting way because it is a region that will have a new surgical hub opening shortly. It is a region where we are planning an elective hospital, in Connolly. It is a region where the hospitals are geographically concentrated. I am not yet convinced what all of the different pathways are and what the different specialisms are and how they intersect. It is a region of particular opportunity and Navan has a strong role to play within that.  On the immediate safety issues, ambulance bypass protocols are in place to ensure that patients receive the right care. For example, patients are stabilised and, if necessary, transferred to other hospitals. Patients classified as categories 1 and 2, including cardiac and stroke patients, are not brought to Navan hospital by ambulance. Beaumont and the Mater, which are specialist centres for both of those cohorts, are very close. That is what I mean by looking at the region in a different way. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  I am certainly open to that. It would be welcome. It is an argument we have made. The starting point is that we have to protect our emergency department at Navan hospital. There has been a significant increase in population in the region. If there is an opportunity in terms of a surgical hub, the population base, infrastructure and potential are there for enhanced services at Navan hospital. That could work alongside Connolly, Our Lady of Lourdes, Beaumont and the Mater. There is potential there. The HIQA report needs to be the basis of increased investment and addressing the risks that may be present. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  Of course the HIQA report needs to be implemented. Where there are issues within the control of the hospital, the HSE is required to deliver sustained improvement. Where risks relate to the broader intersection of the region, that is what I am trying to work out at the moment.  On 17 February, I met the regional executive officer and regional clinical director for the HSE Dublin and North East region and the integrated area healthcare manager for Louth and Meath to discuss the overall demand profile for the region, the pressures in Navan, the pressures on neighbouring hospitals, the different specialisms and their interoperabilities, and the ideal design of all of those hospitals, recognising the elective hospital, surgical theatre and capacity that that frees up. We have possibly examined this in a way that has been too individualised as regards the different hospitals. I am interested in the best interoperability and how we achieve that while, at the same time, implementing the compliance requirements identified in the HIQA report. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Hospital Inspections"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_46","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Medicinal Products","counts":{"speechCount":3,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_38","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_38","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_46","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_46.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marie Sherlock  My question relates to the regulation of the administration of dermal fillers in this country. Obviously, millions of euro is spent each year on beauty and cosmetic treatments. The vast majority are topical external treatments, but some are medically invasive. Unfortunately, there is something of a wild west out there in terms of who can administer these treatments.  The incorrect administration, particularly of dermal fillers, can literally be the difference between life and death. Certainly, we have a lot of stories coming to us of people developing sepsis, permanent scarring and other impacts. What is the Government doing to regulate and protect people accessing these treatments? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  In the short time that I have, I will say that dermal fillers are regulated as medical devices. There are rules to ensure that devices placed on the market are safe and perform as intended. That means a dermal filler must have a CE mark before it can be legally sold anywhere in the EU.  It is important to be clear about what current EU legislation does not do. While it regulates the product, it does not regulate who can administer it. The Government recognises there is a need to strengthen regulation in this area. That is why it is in the programme for Government that we will only allow this to be undertaken by trained healthcare professionals. Work is under way in my Department on the options to strengthen controls on the use of dermal fillers.  The Health Products Regulatory Authority, HPRA, as the competent authority, previously provided my Department with a policy paper setting out the different options. In addition, we have commissioned research through the Health Research Board to look at the national policy and legislative and regulatory measures used in other countries. We expect that report in the coming period. We will engage with stakeholders to try to bring this piece of work forward. The final regulatory policy determined will be informed but all of those important pieces of evidence. We will progress it as quickly as we can thereafter. I recognise what the Deputy is saying. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marie Sherlock  There seems to be a legal lacuna in this regard. The HPRA does not regulate the administration of clinical practice, and HIQA is obviously not looking at this either. I am conscious there are people out there \u2013 many of whom are in my constituency - accessing these treatments for a little as \u20ac60, whereas other practices charge in excess of \u20ac250. A lot of people are being lured in by the prices. It is a potential question of life or death or of serious injury. We need to see the report. It was commissioned in 2025 and I have been submitting parliamentary questions about it. I ask for a bit of urgency in publishing that report. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Is f\u00e9idir teacht ar Cheisteanna Scr\u00edofa ar www.oireachtas.ie. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Written Answers are published on the Oireachtas website. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Medicinal Products"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_47","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_47","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa)  I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case:  Deputy Emer Currie - To discuss the need for a competitive funds industry in Ireland.  Deputy Albert Dolan - To discuss battery energy storage systems and solar planning guidelines in rural Ireland.  Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan - To discuss the capacity of childcare provision in Cork North-Central.  Deputy Michael Collins - To discuss the delay in publishing the short term letting and tourism Bill 2025.  Deputy John Paul O'Shea - To discuss the provision of bus connections to and from Charleville train station.  Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail - To discuss junior cycle certification processes for students in special schools.  Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher - To discuss the inclusion of a side-by-side construction option in the revised defective concrete block scheme schedule.  Deputy Barry Ward - To discuss the need to promote an increase in the uptake of flexible work practices.  Deputy Malcolm Byrne - To discuss the planned new Courtown Coast Guard building.  Deputy Louise O'Reilly - To discuss the need for out-of-hours GP services for Fingal West.  Deputy Maurice Quinlivan - To discuss the ongoing crisis of capacity at University Hospital Limerick.  Deputies Natasha Newsome Drennan and Conor D. McGuinness - To discuss the challenges facing front-line youth workers.  Deputy Rory Hearne - To discuss the number of affordable purchase homes delivered in Dublin city.  Deputy Joanna Byrne - To discuss the exclusion of schools in disadvantaged areas of Drogheda from the DEIS plus scheme.  Deputy Colm Burke - To discuss Mayfield library and community centre.  Deputy Shane Moynihan - To discuss supports for children with dyslexia, dyspraxia or apraxia of speech.  Deputies Se\u00e1n Crowe, Paul Murphy and Ciar\u00e1n Ahern - To discuss challenges facing Scoil Maelruain JNS and SNS.  Deputy Paul McAuliffe - To discuss the provision of ambulance services and response times in Dublin North-West.  Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire - To discuss delivery of a permanent school building for Owenabue ETNS, Carrigaline, Cork.  The matters raised by Deputies Emer Currie, Pat the Cope Gallagher, Natasha Newsome Drennan and Conor D. McGuinness, Michael Collins, and P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan have been selected for discussion. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_48","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_48","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_49","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Youth Work Supports","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_48","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_48","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_49","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan  I am grateful for the opportunity to speak on the vital work that Youth Work Ireland is carrying out in communities across the south east. This is also a time to speak on the pressing challenges facing youth workers. Youth Work Ireland represents 20 youth services across the State. They are our front-line services. They are in our communities working as mentors and positive role models in the lives of children and teenagers who are missing those crucial factors. They tackle the root cause of antisocial behaviour rather than simply punishing it. This is the principle of diversion in action, that is, giving a young person a second chance rather than a criminal record.  Despite this vital work, these groups are left scrambling for funding from left, right and centre, year after year. How can any group effectively plan for long-term development when working off 12-month funding cycles? The Government needs to stop viewing youth service as a cost or expenditure. It must view it for what it really is; an investment. It is an investment with significant short-term supports but enormous long-term returns. It builds social cohesion, reduces antisocial behaviour, guides young people towards contributing positively to the community and reduces the burden on An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and the fire services.  I will use Ferrybank, not far from my home, as an example. Last summer, the fire service was called out almost daily to deal with antisocial behaviour activities. I do not need to remind the Minister about how stretched our front-line services are. Whatever we can do to ease that pressure must be explored. Proper funding to deal with rising costs and a statutory pay scale for all State-funded youth workers are two measures that would make a meaningful impact. Has the Minister\u2019s Department looked at these proposals? Is she willing to implement them? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  Front-line youth workers are being asked to carry more and more of the burden with less and less. They are dealing every day with the real pressures facing young people, such as mental health challenges, online harm and misinformation, social isolation and increasingly visible antisocial behaviour. In Waterford, we are seeing that play out in very real terms with the lighting of fires in parts of Waterford city, and most recently in the Gallowshill area of Dungarvan, along with the growing misuse of nitrous oxide, an issue that is being consistently flagged by my colleague, Councillor Kate O\u2019Mahoney, and Deputy Mark Ward, who has moved legislation in this regard.  These are symptoms of a deep failure by a Government that frankly no longer gives a crap. Youth work is one of the most effective tools we have to intervene early, build trust and empower and equip young people with the skills and confidence to navigate the world they are growing up in but it is being undermined by Government failure. Recruitment and retention is now a serious problem. Skilled, committed youth workers are leaving because pay and conditions do not reflect the value or demands of the role. That is not sustainable. Services are also struggling under chronic underfunding. Rising costs, increased demand and the uncertainty of funding streams are making long-term planning almost impossible.  There is a clear deficit in infrastructure. Too many communities do not have proper youth spaces and that has been allowed to persist for years. Youth Work Ireland set this out clearly when I and many other Deputies met it last week. Proper funding, fair pay through a statutory scale and a capital programme for facilities are needed. The Minister will no doubt point to strategy in her response but strategy without delivery or funding does not support a single young person. We need investment, certainty and a recognition that youth work is not optional. In fact, for many of the communities that I and many other Deputies in this House represent, it is utterly essential. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Education and Youth (Deputy Hildegarde Naughton)  I thank the Deputies for raising this issue. Supporting youth work is a critical aspect of what we do as a Government to support our young people. I thank both Deputies for the opportunity to set out the position with regard to youth work provision and funding provided to Youth Work Ireland from my Department.  Youth work services deliver high-quality youth work and non-formal developmental opportunities to young people aged between ten and 24 across Ireland every year. Approximately 450,000 young people participate in youth work services annually.  Since 2020, Government investment in youth services has risen from \u20ac62.3 million to \u20ac90.1 million in 2026. Under the national development plan, \u20ac4 million in capital funding will be allocated annually to youth services from 2026 to 2030, providing multiyear certainty for the first time. This allows better long-term planning, investment and value for money.  Youth Work Ireland is a key organisation in the sector. It provides youth work to tens of thousands of young people across the country. Its importance is reflected in the support provided by the Department of Education and Youth via multiple funding streams. Over \u20ac2.8 million has been allocated to Youth Work Ireland under the youth services grant scheme in 2026, representing a 28% increase since 2020. Youth Work Ireland has also received funding for specific projects under the youth climate justice fund, the volunteer activation fund, and the youth services capital fund.  Youth Work Ireland and its member services play a key role in the delivery of targeted youth work interventions. Over \u20ac12 million has been allocated to Youth Work Ireland member organisations to deliver targeted youth work in 2026 under the UBU Your Place, Your Space scheme.  With this funding, the Department of Education and Youth continues to support existing youth services and youth organisations, including Youth Work Ireland, while also enabling the expansion of both targeted and universal services for young people. Youth workers and volunteers are essential to the delivery of quality youth services. The Department is also progressing a workforce development strategy in recognition of the need to support the workforce and the youth work sector to ensure that they can continue to provide high-quality, accessible and inclusive youth work opportunities for young people.  I sincerely thank youth workers and employers for the high level of participation in the workforce survey process. The analysis and responses will be extremely useful in informing the strategy's development. Consultations are scheduled to take place in multiple locations around the country during May and June to engage further with youth workers and employers in order to build on the data available through the youth workers and employers survey. Just this week, my officials presented some top-level findings from the surveys at the Inspiring Future Youth Workers seminar that was organised by the National Youth Council of Ireland and funded by my Department under the Bonn process. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan  There is a double standard in the area of youth work that cannot be ignored. In Dublin, staff are on a far better wage agreement. Youth workers outside Dublin are being left behind despite doing the same job, often in more isolated areas and for significantly less pay. Many are trained up by the local services only to leave for other agencies because of better pay standards. How can the Minister stand over this double standard and treatment? If someone is doing the work, they should be treated and paid equally, regardless of where they are based. Instead, many outside of Dublin receive increments only once every three years if they are lucky. Will the Minister commit to ending this geographic double standard? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  I note the Minister's response and thank her for it. The difficulty is not the absence of strategy, it is the absence of delivery. We see the results of the workforce survey. There is also the workforce development strategy that is taking place at the moment. This is another case of too little too late. The issues in terms of recruitment and retention are not new. In many cases, they have always been thus. However, they have accelerated and worsened since the economic crash in 2008 and 2009 and the years of austerity that followed. Youth services have never fully recovered from all the cuts that were imposed by successive Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael-led Governments since then. What we need to see now is parity between the remuneration offered to youth workers working in the community in voluntary organisations and that of employees doing similar work, and, in many cases, with similar qualifications and similar demands on their time, in the public sector. That is a method we can use to maybe keep people in jobs where they are at the coalface and are doing front-line work that is so valuable in all our communities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  I thank the Deputies for raising those issues. Youth workers are employed directly by individual youth organisations. They are not public servants. Their terms and conditions, including pay, are set by those organisations. My Department provides grant funding for the provision of youth services to the organisations in question to meet the needs of young people. It does not directly employ youth workers or set the terms and conditions of employment.  My Department is aware that pension provisions across the sector are inconsistent. Some youth organisations have established pension schemes but others have not. The additional current funding that is being provided as part of budget 2026 will help youth organisations to manage the pressures on them, including the costs arising, for example, from pension obligations. Current funding of \u20ac90.1 million will be available this year. That represents a 5%, or \u20ac4.5 million, increase on the 2025 allocation.  The results of the survey will be analysed. My Department is progressing the workforce development strategy in recognition of the important work that the workforce does within the youth sector. There is also a fund relating to volunteerism, and there is the activation fund. There is \u20ac20 million in capital funding allocated to youth services as part of the national development plan. My Department is working with other Departments, including the Department of Children, local authorities and the ETBs, in the area of capital projects.  The workforce survey will be really important in the context of informing our work. The consultations will form a key part of that work. I assure the Deputies that this is a key priority. We have increased capital and current funding. I want to continue to do that and to work with and listen to the sector. I know the importance of youth work across the country. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Youth Work Supports"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_50","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Fiscal Policy","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_48","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_48","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_50","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Currie  Over recent months, I have been vocal in this House and elsewhere in supporting the Government's proposals for personal investment accounts and calling for further tax reforms to ensure that existing investors will not be not left behind. I have pushed the need to abolish the deemed disposal rule. As long deemed disposal exists in Ireland, it will discourage international funds, including many domiciled in Ireland, from being offered to Irish retail investors. This is because funds would have to create a complicated additional layer of accounting to make their offerings available to Irish investors.  I want to talk about the industry we have in Ireland and the one that we could have. It is nearly 40 years since the International Financial Services Centre, IFSC, which has been a phenomenal success, was established. It was not just about the small geographical area off the docklands that we call the IFSC; the whole country benefited from the spirit of the centre. The Irish funds and asset management sector currently employs 20,000 people in every region of Ireland. Forty years on, we should not be complacent and take Ireland's historic attractiveness to international finance and investment for granted. One of the main things that made Ireland attractive was its dynamic, legislative and regulatory framework that promoted innovation and fostered competitiveness and growth.  As the EU is pushing for greater market integration, Ireland must work even harder to stay ahead of the curve in order to remain attractive and have offering which is compelling. It is only by doing this that we can protect and grow Irish jobs. There is a need for urgency in this regard. The updated Ireland for Finance offers a timely opportunity to deliver on the urgency needed on two fronts in particular. First, greater proportionality in how the State integrates regulation and supervision, with a focus on competitiveness and innovation. Ireland's financial rule book must be at the cutting edge of supporting the development and issuing of innovative new products. The principle of proportionality is embedded within EU financial services legislation. We must ensure that Ireland, therefore, does not fall behind other EU states that are subject to the same rules but that manage to move faster, avoid gold plating and overlapping regulation and, quite simply, offer a more compelling ecosystem within which to operate and innovate.  Second, there is a need to update legislation and regulation to keep pace with the digital transformation which is occurring in international funds management. Digitalisation is a key Government priority, yet I fear that Ireland could fall behind other countries when it comes to the establishment of digital fund structures, also referred to as tokenisation. There is an urgent need for clarity and certainty on the legal basis under which tokenised funds and other digital fund structures can be established and operate in Ireland. If changes are needed, they should be expedited. Why is this important? It is important because it will ensure that Ireland's funds offering and ability to deliver solutions digitally, which is the direction of travel across the economy more generally, keeps us in the game. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Thomas Byrne)  I thank the Deputy for raising this issue at a time when Ireland's contribution to the global financial ecosystem has never been more vital or more visible. I welcome the opportunity to discuss the importance of the funds industry in Ireland and the need for competitiveness.  I apologise; copies of my script are on the way. We thought they had already been sent down.  The latest estimate from IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland indicates that just over 20,000 people are directly employed in the funds sector. Furthermore, in terms of those working in the financial services industry - domestically and internationally focused - in Ireland, there are over 120,000 people employed, and these jobs are regionally spread throughout the country, employing highly skilled workers in almost every county. We know how important this sector is to our economy.  Work is under way on a successor strategy to Ireland for Finance, the whole-of-government strategy for the development of the international financial services sector in Ireland. Anticipated for launch later this year, the new strategy will be informed by a wide range of national and international stakeholder engagement, public consultation and research. The funds sector will be a key aspect of this new strategy.  The Department of Finance undertook a review of the funds industry in 2023 and the resulting funds review 2030 was published in October 2024. The review issued 42 recommendations to continue to grow this important sector of our economy. An implementation plan was published in October 2025. This includes a full breakdown of the recommendations and those responsible for their implementation. Of the 42 recommendations, the most substantive were categorised into four cohorts. The first was to grow exchange-traded funds, ETFs; the second was to grow private assets; the third was to grow retail investment; and the fourth was to address the risks and enhance transparency in structured finance.  The recommendations to grow ETFs have been delivered by the Central Bank. The recommendations to grow private assets involve legislative, regulatory and tax changes. These are on track for completion this year. There is ongoing engagement in train with the industry and the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment on changes sought to the Limited Partnerships Act.  On retail investment, the T\u00e1naiste has announced the Government's intention to introduce the legislative framework for an investment account this year. We want to make investing simpler, clearer and more accessible for ordinary people and to help their hard-earned money work harder for them over time. The aim is to legislate this year to allow accounts to be offered next year.  In budget 2026 we provided for a reduction in the rate of taxation on returns from Irish and equivalent investment funds and Irish and certain foreign life assurance policies from 41% to 38%. This took effect from 1 January this year. In addition, in the same budget we committed to publish a roadmap in 2026, setting out the intended approach to simplify and adapt the tax framework to encourage retail investment. The roadmap, which will be published in the coming months, will take into consideration developments at EU level in respect of the savings and investments union. This is a major project for the Presidency this year.  As home to the second largest funds industry in the EU and the third largest in the world, lreland does not just facilitate capital flows, we help to shape the architecture of the EU's savings and investment future. This is all-the-more crucial given the current challenges faced by the EU. These funding demands will continue to grow as we look to address our common goals, including security, competitiveness, digitalisation and a just and equitable green transition. It will be our responsibility to ensure we have the tools required to meet these challenges and continue to thrive. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Currie  I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive response, including the reference to growing exchange-traded funds, which is something I want to see. I welcome the reduction in the exit tax, but the issue that remains is the deemed disposal rule and taxing unrealised gains, which interrupts compounding and undermines long-term savings behaviour. That is something the T\u00e1naiste is looking at. The Minister of State spoke about it earlier.  I also note that new polling by Am\u00e1rach highlights the resounding public support for Ireland's investment industry, with 90% saying it is important that Ireland remain competitive within the EU investment industry. The people of Ireland understand the value of attracting high-quality, regionally dispersed international jobs and investment. The funds sector has been one of Ireland's real success stories in terms of exports. I ask the Government to commit to action to support and protect this important sector.  Further to recent parliamentary questions I tabled, will the Minister of State provide an update on the transposition of the EU alternative investment fund managers directive in Ireland? This is particularly important in enabling the funds sector to continue to evolve and to develop new retail investment products for Irish savers. If he does not have an update on that now, perhaps he could seek one. In practical terms, Ireland's regulatory system has meant we have the products and solutions investors need and the environment for companies providing these to operate to high standards with commercial success and agility. This has helped transform Ireland into a leading funds management centre in Europe, supporting the export of Irish domiciled funds around the world. This was hard won and is the envy of many other countries. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  On the alternative investment fund managers directive, the UCITS directive, the transposition was due to be done today but I am very sorry to say that this was not done by the Minister today. There will be a slight administrative delay. Work is continuing to finalise the draft statutory instruments. We hope the delay will be short and they will be ready for signature in the coming weeks. Everybody has to take responsibility for late transposition because it is a legal obligation on the State to transpose directives. One of my functions as Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs is to encourage Ministers to transpose directives on time. It is disappointing that this has not happened. The industry is rightly frustrated with this delay. I am grateful that Deputy Currie raised it. I agree it is essential that this directive is transposed as soon as possible. I will personally take that up with the Minister for Finance in the morning.  A lot of people are starting to realise and be concerned about the issue of the deemed disposal rule on ETFs, which was also raised by the Deputy. That is something the Government could do. I have no doubt the Minister of State, Deputy Troy, and the T\u00e1naiste will work towards that. I strongly encourage people to examine ETFs on the basis that perhaps Governments will look at this in the coming years and certainly within the relevant period from now. It is something the Government wants to do, as the Minister of State, Deputy Troy, and the T\u00e1naiste have said.  Our position in Ireland at the centre of the European funds ecosystem is a privilege and responsibility. By working together to support innovation and embrace opportunity while ensuring that our frameworks are robust, we can be confident that Ireland will remain a driving force in Europe's capital markets going forward. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Fiscal Policy"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_51","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Defective Building Materials","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_48","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_48","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_51","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pat the Cope Gallagher","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pat-the-Cope-Gallagher.D.1981-06-30","memberCode":"Pat-the-Cope-Gallagher.D.1981-06-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pat the Cope Gallagher","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pat-the-Cope-Gallagher.D.1981-06-30","memberCode":"Pat-the-Cope-Gallagher.D.1981-06-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher  I am pleased to have the opportunity to discuss the issue of side-by-side housing within the defective concrete blocks remediation scheme, particularly in light of where we now stand with the legislation having been progressed. We had amendments towards the end of last year. We had regulations on the increase from \u20ac420,000 to \u20ac462,000 and the extension of time to 130 weeks but, lo and behold, there were no regulations to deal with side-by-side buildings. What is that? It is not simply an optional extra, it is an essential support for many families, particularly for those who have a person with a disability who requires specialised equipment within the home. For these householders the prospect of vacating their home during demolition and reconstruction is just not viable. It is necessary to allow them to live in their defective homes and to build a new home side by side and then to transfer the necessary equipment into the new home. Those people could not go down the town and find a house where this equipment could be provided. It is crucial that the scheme is inclusive and reflects the full spectrum of disability, not only physical disability but intellectual disabilities, and also neurodivergent conditions such as ADHD, which can significantly impact a person's ability to cope with disruption, displacement and changes to their environment. For that reason, there must be sufficient flexibility within the regulations that will underpin the scheme. A narrow or overly rigid approach risks excluding families who genuinely need this option. That cannot be allowed to happen.  I warn the Minister of State to ensure he speaks with his officials as the regulations are due in a matter of days. Let there be flexibility.  The measures must be practical, compassionate and grounded in the lived realities of those they are intended to support. This is now a matter of urgency. This should have been done months ago.  A number of families are currently unable to move forward due to the ongoing delays and they remain in limbo. They are facing continued stress, uncertainty and disruption to their daily lives, not to mention the psychological effects of all of this.  I acknowledge the ongoing commitment of my local authority, Donegal County Council, and the crucial role it plays in the defective concrete blocks remediation scheme. What is required now is delivery. The signing off of the regulations must be finalised without delay and the legislation must be signed off so families can finally move forward with certainty, security and dignity. These families have waited long enough. What they need now is action. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan)  I thank Deputy Gallagher for raising this issue in the House. He represents a constituency and county that was very badly impacted by defective blocks. He has championed and represented the people in his constituency for many years, fought for the remediation scheme and continuously fought for the side-by-side construction amendment.  The good news is that the regulations on side-by-side construction are in the final stages of drafting. We should see the completion of the drafting of the amendments within the coming weeks, after which they can be implemented.  As the Deputy is aware, the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks (Amendment) Bill 2025 was initiated in D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann on 2 December 2025, passed in both Houses of the Oireachtas and subsequently signed into law by the President, thereby becoming an Act, on 23 December 2025. A number of amendments came into operation on 25 February 2026, with related regulations also adopted on the same date. These changes provided that the increase in the grant scheme cap and rates from October and November 2024 can retrospectively benefit certain homeowners and they extended the period that applicants have for completed work from 65 to 130 weeks, along with reducing the time within which an applicant may apply for an extension from 12 to two weeks.  The second set of regulations is currently at an advanced stage of drafting in relation to additional scheme improvements contained in the 2025 Act. These include the amendment that provides for an application for an adjacent remediation option in particular circumstances. Those are the ones Deputy Gallagher outlined so well.  It became apparent that certain relevant owners who had received an option 1 demolition determination from the Housing Agency and who previously had their homes specifically adapted for use by persons with a disability were facing severe difficulties in finding suitable alternative accommodation that met their specialised requirements. The 2025 Act and forthcoming regulations will provide a possible remedy to this situation. Where the approved remediation option is the demolition of the relevant dwelling and its reconstruction, a relevant owner may be able to avail of funding under the scheme for the building of a home adjacent to the existing dwelling. Relevant owners can apply to the designated local authority for approval to construct a new dwelling in the curtilage of the relevant dwelling to replace the approved remediation option, subject to certain eligibility conditions. As this provision is an exemption from the normal rules of the scheme, which is fundamentally a scheme to remediate existing homes, the Deputy will appreciate that consideration had to be given to its drafting. This has meant some additional time was required to finalise the regulations.  Local authorities have responsibility for the administration of the scheme and will process the applications. On the Deputy\u2019s point and question, we are in the very final stages of drafting the regulations. Drafting will be within the next couple of weeks, after which implementation can proceed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pat the Cope Gallagher","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pat-the-Cope-Gallagher.D.1981-06-30","memberCode":"Pat-the-Cope-Gallagher.D.1981-06-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher  I thank the Minister for the response but all that is new in it is that the regulations are in the final stages of drafting and will be available to the Minister to sign within the next couple of weeks. Back in committee last year, I was told completion would be in quarter 1, but it is now quarter 2. I was told completion would be in the middle of April. This is not what my constituents want to hear. I want something definite. I appreciate that officials will be drafting but all hands have to be on deck over the next couple of weeks. By the end of this month, or certainly by the early days of May, the regulations have to be finalised. It does not mean that those who have already received planning permission for a side-by-side build can start immediately. They have to make the application. Somebody will decide who qualifies and who does not.  There has to be flexibility. It is not just about a physical disability alone. Other factors have to be taken into consideration. I hope we are not back in the House on the second week of May debating this. I plead with the Minister of State to impress upon the officials that this matter is vital to the individuals concerned. It is urgent because families cannot progress without the provision being signed into law. They are left in limbo and they are waiting for clarity. The ongoing delays are causing stress, uncertainty and disruption to their daily lives.  This has already been a multi-year issue. I hope this is the last time it will be discussed in the House. I hope that when the guidelines and regulations are signed off, we will not be back here again requesting that they be amended. They should be all-encompassing and cover all individuals I have referred to. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan  I thank Deputy Gallagher again. I absolutely take his point and I appreciate the urgency of this. The families and constituents the Deputy represents right across the board have been severely impacted by defective blocks. They have had their lives turned upside down and have experienced significant upheaval.  Regarding the amendment we are talking about and the regulations we are introducing on side-by-side construction, there is another layer of complexity and difficulty when it comes to those who may have had their houses formally adapted for mobility and the fact that it is not as straightforward as upping sticks and going to another home that is not adapted, as the Deputy quite rightly outlined. The latter is just not a possibility, which is why we agreed recently to introduce the amendment to change the existing arrangement. However, there are complexities. Drafting was not straightforward and simple. It is not something that can be done overnight. However, I absolutely take the Deputy\u2019s point that there is urgency. The Deputy wants to be able to go back to constituents in Donegal and say that what he is requesting is happening. However, I am here with good news: the regulations are in the very final stages. I cannot give an exact date as that would be unfair, but within the next few weeks the regulations should be signed by the Minister and, therefore, implemented. I sincerely hope this is the last time the Deputy has to raise this in the Chamber. I cannot give a date but the regulations are in the final stages. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Defective Building Materials"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_52","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Tourism Policy","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_48","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_48","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_52","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  I want to raise serious and growing concerns regarding the proposed short-term letting and tourism Bill, and in particular the manner in which it is being progressed. The Bill has not yet been published, yet significant changes have already been signalled to thousands of small operators, family businesses and rural communities. Can the Minister of State clarify when the legislation will be published in full and why stakeholders have been asked to prepare for compliance in the absence of clear statutory text? Second, will he outline whether the Government intends to allow proper pre-legislative scrutiny and meaningful engagement with affected groups, or whether the intention is to fast-track or rush the Bill through the Houses, despite the scale of its impact on tourism, rural employment and local economies?  Many of the concerns being raised are coming directly from the grassroots, small accommodation providers, self-catering operators, mixed-use homeowners and rural hosts, who are telling us very clearly that the approach is not going to work.  Does the Minister accept that legislation without clarity, buy-in or realistic implementation timelines risks repeating the mistakes we have seen with poorly handled policy roll-outs, where public anger and non-compliance followed instead of constructive outcomes?  There remains a complete lack of clarity around development and planning. Will the Minister explain how the proposed registration system is intended to interact with planning law, particularly in circumstances where properties were never intended for long-term residential use, where planning permissions were granted decades ago or where accommodation consists of cabins, extensions, converted outbuildings or holiday units? Will the Minister confirm whether people will be required to seek retrospective planning permission, what criteria local authorities will apply and whether national planning guidelines will be issued in advance of any enforcement? At present, constituents are being told they may not be able to trade but nobody can tell them what rules they will actually be assessed against.  Will the Minister explain how this Bill is expected to support tourism policy, particularly in rural and coastal areas where hotels and large-scale accommodation simply do not exist? What assessment has been carried out regarding the impact on local jobs, seasonal employment and the viability of tourism outside major urban centres?  Will the Minister commit today to publishing the legislation in full, ensuring adequate scrutiny and providing clear guidance on development and planning, and genuinely engage with those affected before asking them to comply? People do not object to regulation. What they object to is uncertainty, unfairness and being kept in the dark. Will the Minister address it? It has been well over 12 months or more since this legislation was first discussed. These are genuine people who are from all over my constituency. My mother ran a bed and breakfast in the 1970s so I know well the benefit it brought. It basically fed us. Those are the basics. These are hard-working people, mainly women. These are hard-working women who work at home and can run an Airbnb. The legislation as it was meant to be brought before us was scandalous. I attended the Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment and I heard the planners inside saying \"tick away the box that you have no planning and don't worry at all\". When I asked them whether they would put that in writing so I could hand that out to my constituents, they would not do it because the Minister of State knows as well as I do. Regarding anyone telling me or the Minister of State here to tick a planning box and then they will say we are fine if we are not complying, the bottom line is that all these people's businesses have survived down through the decades with the planning that was there already. What we're saying is that there should be registration but no planning guidelines are needed for anyone unless he or she is a new Airbnb operator setting up tomorrow morning. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  In April of last year, the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment obtained Government approval for the general scheme of the short-term letting and tourism Bill. Once enacted, this Bill will provide a statutory framework for regulating the short-term letting sector, including the establishment of a national register. The register will operate in compliance with the EU Short-Term Rental Regulation (EU) 2024\/1028, which comes into effect on 20 May 2026. The register will be operated by F\u00e1ilte Ireland and will commence following the enactment of the necessary legislation. While the Minister is charged with the establishment of the register, the planning elements and requirements fall under the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.  Tourism is a vital part of the Irish economy, supporting 227,000 jobs and generating \u20ac6 billion in 2024. I fully recognise concerns about the impact on rural tourism and local economies of reducing short-term let, STL, availability. F\u00e1ilte Ireland estimates that approximately 34,020 STL properties were advertised online in the State in October 2025 based on screen-scraped data from four major booking platforms. Up to 64% were listed as entire houses or apartments. This represents a 26% increase from an estimated 26,960 units in October 2022. In Cork, around 3,300 STL units were listed in October 2025, of which 63% were advertised as entire properties. This represents a 22.6% increase from an estimated 2,690 listed in October 2022.  On 9 February last, the Cabinet committee on housing agreed planning conditions for short-term letting activity as part of a broader Government strategy to tackle the housing shortage. This agreement provided that, following the introduction of the short-term letting register, accommodation providers based in towns with a population of 20,000 or less at the last census based on the census town boundaries defined by CSO will have two years to meet planning compliance requirements, and accommodation providers based in towns with a population of more than 20,000 at the last census will need to confirm planning compliance on registration with no further lead-in period if they wish to register with F\u00e1ilte Ireland.  The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is finalising a national planning statement under the Planning and Development Act 2024. This will be brought to Government shortly and will provide a clear overall policy approach both at national and local authority level to enable planning authorities to determine planning applications for short-term lets across the country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  The Minister of State is saying here that people will have to have complied by 20 May 2026. I spent the past seven or eight weeks in the D\u00e1il trying to bring the Minister before us. I mean no disrespect to the Minister of State. He is not the correct Minister to be here because he has nothing to do with tourism. I am not disrespecting the Minister of State. He has to do it. He is busy enough without being dragged into this. It is a disgrace that a Minister for tourism in the course of seven or eight weeks has failed to come before the D\u00e1il to talk about something that affects tens of thousands of people's lives in this country and that has to be signed up to by 20 May. It is outrageous. That is what it is. The Minister of State cannot be carrying the can for it but he is certainly being forced to carry the can.  Is this a tactic the Government is using now and is it another attack on the people of rural Ireland? I have mentioned it several times in the D\u00e1il and the Taoiseach has said to me there will be no problem at all, not to worry at all and that it is all in my head. God almighty, what the Government is going to do is down here in a document. People are being given two years to be planning compliant. That is wipeout in two years. It is a case of kick the can down the road for a few months - that is all it is - instead of understanding the crisis we have at present, which is that the Government is going to wipe out tourism. We got two years out of it and that was a hell of a struggle, but that is not good enough.  I pay tribute to Sarah Cronin. We have held public meetings on this with rooms full of people who are seriously concerned about the little bit of side income they had but the Government never listened and never sat down with them. The Government did not give a damn, basically. I live in an area that totally depends on this income. I spoke to the Taoiseach here about the lady in Courtmacsherry and others who walked out because they could not cope with the pressure being put on them. There would have been no need for that if the Government had sat down and spoken to the people who were running the businesses down through the years and come up with a solution, but not this, which is a can-kicking exercise and then ruin in two years' time. That is basically what is written down here. I do not do Airbnb but the Government knows damn well that if I had to get a planning officer to come out for compliance, it could cost me \u20ac100,000, \u20ac150,000 or \u20ac200,000. The Government is going to wipe out the industry. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  I set out the position and the increase in the number of short-term lettings, even since 2022. The regulation the Deputy mentioned does impose obligations on the State to provide a register. That was passed with almost nobody voting against it in the European Parliament. Nearly 500 members of the European Parliament supported that.  As set out in the A New Era for Irish Tourism document published last December, the introduction of regulatory controls for short-term letting is intended to ensure that tourism develops in a manner that recognises and complements the broader economic and social needs of local communities. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is currently finalising the national planning statement on the Planning and Development Act for short-term lets. That will establish a clear and coherent policy framework at national and local level.  There are currently 34,000 short-term lets in Ireland, which is a huge increase since 2022. I acknowledge what the Deputy is saying about the income dependency in certain parts of the country. The Government has acknowledged that but there has been massive growth in the sector in the past three years, so it is necessary then to use regulatory measures to provide appropriate oversight and to ensure a balance between the needs the Deputy is rightfully describing and the needs of the long-term rental market.  The Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment recognises that short-term lets play an important role in the tourism sector, especially in regional and rural areas where there is limited accommodation for tourists - we get that - and where the development of accommodation at scale might not be economically viable. The Deputy mentioned properties that are not suitable for long-term letting. We know that, but the Minister is continuing to work with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to ensure clarity can be provided and a lead-in time for operators can be agreed to so that we get that balance between the needs of the people the Deputy is talking about, whom we all represent, and obviously the needs of people who are looking for long-term housing in the country. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Tourism Policy"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_53","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Childcare Services","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-21\/debate\/dbsect_48","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_48","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_53","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan  I thank the Minister of State for attending. I know this does not involve his own area, so I appreciate him taking this Topical Issue. As the Acting Chair said, I want to speak about childcare. It is probably one of the top three most prevalent issues in my own area of the city in Glanmire. If the Minister of State is not sure where Glanmire is or does not know much about it, it is a strong, growing suburb. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  I was there with Deputy O\u2019Sullivan at least twice. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan  You have, to be fair. It was after the flooding. The Minister of State is familiar with it. In the last 15 or 20 years, there has been unprecedented development of residential housing there. In the current city development plan proposals, further residential zoning is earmarked. Recently, the Minister, Deputy Foley, announced \u20ac135 million for State-led early learning and childcare services. It is a very welcome scheme and, in time, will prove to be a landmark announcement if we build upon it.  I stand here today to make the case for Glanmire and why it needs to be among the first tranche to benefit from the announcement. As I said, Glanmire is rapidly growing. Over the past decade, it has seen significant growth and, with recent zoning, the population is forecast to double in the next ten years, yet its childcare infrastructure has not kept pace. In Glanmire, I can count at least four premises that were designated for childcare services that were never delivered, specifically because of the non-enforcement of planning conditions by the local authority. More recently, we face the further closure of another two settings, which exacerbates problems locally. This is a barrier to work in some cases but, most importantly, it is detrimental to the well-being of our children.  The Government's forward-planning unit has acknowledged the need to focus on areas where childcare places have not kept pace with housing development. We have built 157,000 homes nationally since 2020, but the community in Glanmire is feeling the strain of that housing development. The State-led programme will step up and step in where the need is greatest targeting areas with unmet demand and low levels of existing childcare. Glanmire ticks that box. It has growing demand, limited existing community provision and families who would benefit enormously from an affordable, high-quality facility run on a not-for-profit basis. Again, Glanmire ticks that box. The initial phase of the programme will acquire and refurbish places that can provide in excess of 100 childcare places and facilities that can open in late 2026 or early 2027. Again, Glanmire ticks that box. I recently brought Cork City Childcare to Glanmire, with the owner of a proposed building and a proposed proprietor. It reckons that it can deliver up to 150 affordable childcare places in that building.  The majority of the criteria were laid out in the Minister\u2019s announcement some months ago. Glanmire ticks the majority of the boxes. I am sure that other Deputies will make the same pleas over the coming months in pitching for this \u20ac135 million fund. I know we will not be able to satisfy everybody's demands, but I am trying to put forward the case for Glanmire. I heard initial feedback that it is expected the scheme will be oversubscribed. In many ways, that is indicative of the demand that is out there. However, we are talking about hard-pressed, working families, especially in the context of the last few weeks, many of whom feel disenfranchised and feel that we could do more for them. This is particularly the case where young families are just trying to send their children to affordable childcare while they go about their daily business. As I said, I believe Glanmire can put its best foot forward. I hope it is given due consideration in the coming months. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  I will not forget my visits to Glanmire. The Deputy will remember that I was quite active on the issue when the Sarsfields Hurling Club suffered a disaster. In that case, we established a unique fund so that Sarsfields and other clubs got funding because of the flooding disaster. Another project in Glanmire, unfortunately, escaped my abilities to sort out although, as the Deputy said, it was not my responsibility but that of another body. I am certainly very familiar with Glanmire. I would be only too happy if I were in a position to deliver what the Deputy is looking for. I am sure the Minister, Deputy Foley, will do her best. Unfortunately, she cannot be here tonight, and I am here in her place.  Improving access to quality and affordable early learning and childcare remains a key priority for the Government. Based on the data available from the annual early years sector profile, the estimated number of enrolments has increased by 25% over the last three years. While the supply of places has increased, there remain indications that the demand, especially for younger children, is higher than the available supply in certain parts of the country. Living in the commuter belt myself, I know only too well the situation.  The Department continues to support the ongoing development and resourcing of core funding, which has given rise to a significant expansion of places since its introduction in 2022. Now in its fourth programme year, core funding funds services based on the number of places available. Core funding provides stability to services and reduces the risk associated with opening a new service. The increased investment in core funding will allow for the natural growth of the sector driven both by new services joining the sector and existing services increasing their hours.  A forward-planning model has been developed and will be central to the Department's plans to achieve the policy goals set out in the programme for Government to build an affordable, high-quality, accessible early childhood learning and childcare system, with State-led facilities adding capacity. The model quantifies the nature and volume of different types of early learning and childcare places across the country and assesses alignment with the number of children in the corresponding age cohorts at local area level.  The Government is also supporting the expansion of capacity through capital funding. The building blocks extension grant scheme is designed to increase capacity in the one- to three-year-old pre-ECCE age range for full daycare. Core funding partner services could apply for capital funding to physically extend their premises or, in the case of community services, to construct or purchase new premises. The scheme will deliver up to 1,500 full daycare places for one- to three-year-olds. Four applicants from Cork were approved for funding under the scheme.  Following on from the success of that scheme, the Minister today launched a new capital scheme, the building blocks extension grant scheme, phase 2. The scheme will make available \u20ac10 million. It will open for applications this year and will focus on offering community and private providers funding for extensions to their existing premises. The Minister also recently announced \u20ac135 million in capital investment in buildings for high-quality, accessible State-led early learning and childcare. The process will begin in 2026, with investment in buildings in what will be a groundbreaking initiative for the Government. Capital funding will be used to acquire and-or fit out the building, depending on requirements. There will be a particular focus in the new State-led facilities on providing places for one- to three-year-old children because this is where the need is greatest, with scope for these children to progress in the service until they start school. A suite of appraisal tools has been developed, including a forward-planning model, in order to select projects that align with our objectives. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan  It was remiss of me to forget that the Minister of State was in Glanmire when people were in the depths of despair after that flooding incident. I know they were most grateful at that time. They were also grateful to the Taoiseach and the then Minister, Michael McGrath, who was also there at the time. It was remiss of me to forget that, but I know the community in Glanmire certainly will not.  In the brief time that I have, I want to make the case again. There will be dozens of these projects across the country. We will all have them in our constituencies. We will all be putting our best foot forward to try to get one of these over the line in each of our areas. I want the Minister of State to relay the message to the Minister, Deputy Foley, that Glanmire is unique in many respects, especially on the northside of Cork city. It is probably the single biggest area where new housing developments are being built on the north-eastern side of the city. There has been a large influx of young families but, unfortunately, many of them have nowhere to send their children locally and they are sending them further afield.  In the last couple of weeks, an announcement was made to close one of the na\u00edonra\u00ed, which is one of the only language provision childcare facilities that we have. Many of those parents have to go to Mayfield and other parts of the city to avail of childcare. That discommodes people because it might not be part of their normal route to work and given the traffic and having to ferry children left, right and centre across the city, it is often difficult to make the journey. In one fell swoop, we can secure 100 to 150 childcare places, which would be a massive boost for an area where primarily young, working families are situated. The building owner is on board and Cork City Childcare is supportive. It is one of two applications that have come forward from my side of the city. I am pleading with the Minister of State to take the message back to the Minister that Glanmire needs its slice of that \u20ac135 million. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  I will bring it back to the Minister. Up to eight buildings will be selected this year for the State-led initiative.  That will provide places. The level of investment will ramp up during the lifetime of the Government. The initial approach is to purchase and refurbish buildings, given that that is a faster route to delivery, while the option of building new facilities will also be considered. Services will be offered on a not-for-profit basis by third parties.  Where a project is being considered without an operator already in place, the Department will run a process to identify an appropriate not-for-profit operator with capacity to operate a high-quality service, where works are required to manage a capital project. The Department is assessing sites and buildings and, where required, will seek expressions of interest from operators to deliver these services. Local city and county childcare committees will be supporting the development of projects, so in the first instance, community early learning and childcare operators, local authorities, developers and others who might have suitable premises and projects should contact their local committee. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar athl\u00f3 ar 10.41 p.m. go dt\u00ed 9 a.m., D\u00e9 C\u00e9adaoin, an 22 Aibre\u00e1n 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The D\u00e1il adjourned at 10.41 p.m. until 9 a.m. on Wednesday, 22 April 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Childcare Services"}]}}]},"contextDate":"2026-04-21"},{"debateRecord":{"house":{"showAs":"34th D\u00e1il","committeeCode":"","houseCode":"dail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/house\/dail\/34","chamberType":"house","houseNo":"34"},"chamber":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/def\/house\/dail","showAs":"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann"},"lastUpdated":"2026-07-04T02:17:07+00:00","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/main","formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/mul@\/main.xml"},"pdf":null},"date":"2026-04-16","counts":{"contributorCount":119,"divisionCount":0,"debateSectionCount":45,"questionCount":30,"billCount":4},"debateType":"debate","debateSections":[{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_2","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_3","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Departmental Expenditure","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_2","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_3.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell  As the Aire would be aware, there was an overspend in the Department of education. I wonder if he can give us an update on that. As he will know, the Department of education has projected a \u20ac600 million overspend that will be paid for by cuts to the Department of education and other departmental budgets. To be honest, it is further evidence that the Government cannot be trusted with public finances. I ask the Minister to give us an update. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (Deputy Jack Chambers)  Budget 2026 set out an expenditure ceiling of \u20ac117.8 billion. This reflects a significant uplift in expenditure to support the delivery of our programme for Government commitments. Expenditure figures from March were published on 7 April as part of the fiscal monitor. This is published monthly and sets out the spending position for each ministerial Vote group. It compares expenditure to the profile set out by Departments and to the previous year. Quarter 1 showed total gross expenditure was \u20ac26.4 billion. This was \u20ac1.6 billion, or 6.4%, higher than the same period last year.  At an overall level, end-of-March spending is broadly in line with the plans submitted by Departments, with the aggregate variance from profile showing an underspend of 1.6%. Budget 2026 provided total capital spending of \u20ac19.1 billion, a record level of investment. This will work in tandem with reforms to support the delivery of critical infrastructure in electricity, transport, housing and energy.  Capital spending at the end of March was \u20ac2.7 billion, showing an increase of 8% on the same period last year.  The largest year-on-year increases were in the Department of Education and Youth, which was up \u20ac89 million; the Department of Transport, which was up \u20ac57 million; and the Department of housing, which was up \u20ac56 million. Capital spending, as the Deputy knows, tends of ramp up as the year progresses, with the highest spending levels in quarter 4.  Budget 2026 also provided for a significant increase in the level of current expenditure, advancing key priorities in health, social protection and public services. End-of-quarter 1 spending was at \u20ac23.7 billion, or an increase of 6.2% on the end of March last year. This reflects budget 2026 measures such as social protection rate increases and front-line health and disability services. \u00a0The Vote groups with the largest year-on-year increases were the Departments of Social Protection and Health.  Current spending is \u20ac0.2 billion or 0.9% behind the plans set out by Departments.\u00a0 The majority of Vote groups are under profile. My Department actively monitors spending developments and is in ongoing engagement with all Departments to identify any spending risks and mitigations. There are other areas. I will continue on them in my next contribution. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell  My question is where exactly the cuts will be. The reality is that these cuts are the direct result of the Government's decisions. Anybody who read the budget book at the last budget will know that the sums do not add up. We know that Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael Governments have underbudgeted and overspent for years and this Government is the exact same. Budget after budget, the Government failed to allocate the necessary funding for essential public services and relied upon Supplementary Estimates to cover its back. This overspend is not exceptional; these things seem to happen every year under the Minister's watch. Yet, the Minister has decided to scrap the practice of using Supplementary Estimates to cover overspends. To be honest, I think that is quite shortsighted. It also shows the poor budgeting that we have seen. I have never seen anything like the last budget, to be perfectly honest. The public deserves to know exactly where those cuts are going to come into effect. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  To be clear, the expenditure ceiling increased to \u20ac117.8 billion, a significant expansion of public services and investment infrastructure in the economy. All I hear from the Deputy is to massively increase spending, which would significantly undermine the public finances. What we are seeking to do is moderate the overall growth in expenditure.  In regard to the Department of education, in fact, there was a significant expansion year on year. It increased funding compared to the 2025 Revised Estimates Volume, REV, allocation funding increase, by 10%, reflecting a clear expansion for the Department of education specifically. My Department is in ongoing discussions on funding for the Department of Education and Youth. That discussion and engagement is ongoing across Government relating to any further allocation for 2026. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell  The issue here is the question in relation to the \u20ac600 million. That is just a simple question; I do not think it is any more difficult than that. It is in relation to that \u20ac600 million. I have to be honest; I have never seen a budget like I saw this year. The sums do not add up. Anybody who can take out a calculator and take a look at the budget book will see that. If the Minister wants to publish something where the figures do not add up, that is fair enough but it causes huge confusion. I do not really know exactly what is happening in regard to budgets in this Government but, obviously, there are issues there. Perhaps it is something the Government could look at for next year but the question on the \u20ac600 million remains. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  There is ongoing engagement with the Department of education. No decision has been made within Government on any additional funding at this point. There is a specific demand, particularly around special education, the demand of which was bigger than the budget forecasted and allocated. We are working constructively with the Department of education on that. When that concludes, I will be able to set out the broader context from a budgetary perspective.  Some of the statements the Deputy has made are unfair. If she takes the quarter 1 position, as I have said, the aggregate variance from profile on spending shows an underspend of 1.6%. In fact, we are on profile or below profile across many Government Departments, which shows there is a much closer relationship between what was budgeted for and how Departments are spending, notwithstanding the challenge that exists within the Department of education and we are working with it on that. I will provide full, detailed information to the D\u00e1il when that matter concludes within Government. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Departmental Expenditure"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_4","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Legislative Process","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_2","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_4","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_4.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  I ask the Minister to outline when the Critical Infrastructure Bill will be enacted and how it is going to comply with our obligations, as they currently stand, under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act, given that section 15 of this Act is going to be disapplied under section 7 of the new Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  The Critical Infrastructure Bill is a central pillar of the Government\u2019s broader infrastructure acceleration agenda. The need for a Bill to fast-track a limited number of strategically important projects through approval processes was identified in the Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan published last December.  This Bill has been drafted and introduced. It passed Second Stage only this week. Its primary aim is to allow Government to designate certain projects or programmes as critical. This then requires all public bodies that may have an authorisation function for these projects or programmes to prioritise consideration of them within their approval processes. In practical terms, this means that relevant bodies will be required to prioritise, avoid delay, reduce timelines, parallel processes and co-operate to fast-track designated infrastructure but, other than modifying the application of section 15, the draft does not undermine or change any existing statutory processes or rights.  The Bill and associated explanatory memorandum were published and, as I said, Second Stage progressed on 14 April. It is my intention to bring the Bill through both Houses of the Oireachtas before the summer recess and then commence the Act without delay. I propose to disapply section 15 of the climate Act to designated projects because of the delays this section may give rise to. It has opened up and risks a new channel for judicial reviews of the decisions of public bodies. The impact or risk of this is that it could slow the pace of infrastructure development and introduce additional uncertainty.  Delays to infrastructure roll-out are, in my view, a key reason, in many instances, why we are not building the low-carbon economy we all want to build, particularly in the climate and renewable space. The report by Mario Draghi on EU competitiveness, for example, specifically identified Ireland as having the slowest approval process across the entire EU for renewable electricity.  Designated projects or programmes will still have relevant climate considerations built into their development. Every Exchequer-funded project, for example, is already required to measure and price its greenhouse gas emissions under infrastructure guidelines. Under this Bill, climate and environmental obligations will still apply, such as the use of low-carbon cement in construction and many other areas. Disapplication simply removes an unnecessary layer that could drive further judicial reviews that undermines the development of critical infrastructure. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  First, I will go back to what I said on Second Stage. I am disappointed that we could not do even some limited, quick pre-legislative scrutiny on this Bill. I think we could have teased through some of these things.  I want to go back to a point the Minister made there. He was talking about building the low-carbon economy but in his concluding remarks on Second Stage he referenced, for example, the ring road in Galway which, in my view - and I know there are many views on it - is hardly the best example of climate-sustainable development. In particular, could the removal of section 15 stop a piece of critical infrastructure from being prioritised because it could have, for example, positive climate benefits? I am talking about a new train line and potentially a new Luas line. Could that apply to data centres under the Minister's definition of \"critical infrastructure\"? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  I do not have the legislation in front of me right now but if the Deputy looks at the Bill itself, the infrastructure definition refers to State-funded projects, for example. The designation is clearly around State-funded or supported infrastructure. I hope that clarifies that point. I know it was raised; I referenced that in my closing remarks on Second Stage as well.  What we are trying to do here is remove this ambiguity and broad statutory interpretation that could emerge from section 15 relating to critical infrastructure projects. I used the example of the ring road simply because in the aftermath of it receiving permission, we already had NGOs saying they were going to use section 15 to try to get it caught up in more knots in the courts.  It is my point that this has gone through all the approval stages and has been going on for decades, and we should get it done and built. We should not have further legislative ambiguity in a piece of legislation which potentially undermines a critical piece of infrastructure. Most of the infrastructure that we are seeking to build out is in public transport and our grid development, all to build a low-carbon future. For regions in the west of Ireland and elsewhere, we do need to build out important strategic road projects which also enhance connectivity and growth. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  I do support in principle what the Minister is trying to do here, even though I may have some issues with the way he is trying to do it. There is a piece in the infrastructure task force report on the Minister for justice seeking to put the judicial review process on a statutory basis. Surely that would address the issue the Minister is talking about in terms of judicial review. I have concerns here, which the Minister did not address when he responded to me, on what exactly could be defined as critical infrastructure and whether the State could define something. We have seen a worrying precedent in the Dublin Airport passenger cap and the LNG terminal. I am just concerned at this proposal to give the Executive power to disapply a public body duty under the State's climate Act to perform actions that are consistent with our climate goals. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  We want to lift the passenger cap. I do not believe it is a matter for broad deference to the courts to decide on that matter. We are very clear in our objective within Government to lift the passenger cap and to grow passenger numbers at Dublin Airport. I do not believe the climate legislation should be used to undermine that. It is an economic necessity for Ireland to do that. Similarly, we have critical infrastructure which should not be undermined because certain NGOs can take cases in respect of it, or anybody can bring uncertainty. People have a right to take judicial reviews but we as legislators should seek to remove ambiguity within our legislative framework. This presents risk within our legislative framework. That is the context around critical infrastructure. When it comes to what the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, is doing on LNG, there are also energy security concerns which have been brought to light in recent weeks which we have to respond to and be honest about. He is working on that separately. We are very clear that the definition in respect of infrastructure relates to State-funded projects or programmes. Obviously there would be a limited number which are designated in that context, which we brought to the D\u00e1il as well. We have to get momentum in this. If we continue to be deferential, provide ambiguity and have multiple legal avenues and judicial reviews, no matter how much spending we put aside for infrastructure, we will not improve delivery. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Legislative Process"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_5","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Strategic Infrastructure","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_2","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_5","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_5.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  The programme for Government set out the clear prioritisation for the NDP review to ensure that investment can be maximised in the coming five years for strategic infrastructure. This includes the key energy, water\u00a0and transport networks on which all future development relies. This is critical to allow Government to meet the additional targets in terms of building more homes and also to support our competitiveness.  My Department\u2019s Build Report 2025 identified cost volatility and capacity constraints as key risks to NDP delivery and the recent fuel price developments accentuate these risks. While construction inflation in Ireland moderated through 2024 and 2025, recent fuel price increases are reintroducing cost volatility and will impact in a number of ways, including on direct construction costs, materials manufacture and the wider supply chain.  Global fuel prices have increased sharply, driven primarily by geopolitical conflict in the Middle East and disruption to oil and gas supply chains, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz. International Energy Agency analysis indicates that this represents the most significant oil supply disruption in decades, with severe short-term volatility in crude and refined product prices. The OECD and IMF have both warned that sustained high prices will place upward pressure on inflation and weaken growth prospects across energy-importing economies, including Ireland. That is why, over the last number of weeks, we implemented a significant cut in excise duties, reducing the price per litre of both diesel and petrol. We have also extended the fuel allowance. That package was \u20ac250 million, and a new package of measures on fuel costs has been introduced in support of particular sectors. This is all about keeping supply chains moving, supporting jobs and making sure our economy continues to function.  In 2023, my Department introduced a suite of amendments to the public works contracts\u00a0to address the risks. I will return to that when I come back in. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell  The Minister and Deputy Sheehan were just talking about the approval of the ring road. In Galway we have been waiting decades for the approval of the Galway ring road. We also have a chronic infrastructural deficit across Galway city and county. People in Galway have been waiting decades for the approval of the ring road. This is the kind of infrastructure that has been desperately needed to reduce congestion within the city, particularly for those who may be travelling to hospital appointments from Connemara. That is always the way I see it. Similarly, the Galway harbour development has just been approved after 12 years of planning delays. We want to see this happen but there is a real fear now of the impact of global fuel prices delaying these projects further. Can the Minister reassure the people of Galway that the current increase in fuel prices will not slow down the delivery of infrastructure projects across Galway city and county? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  I was about to say that we introduced a suite of amendments to the public works contracts to address risks relating to the price inflation of materials, fuel and energy in public works contracts. These amendments introduced a risk-share approach to price inflation of materials, fuel and energy prices. We utilise specific indices published by the Central Statistics Office which address the main input cost categories that are common to most construction projects. Price movements in the specified indices above a predetermined threshold result in an adjustment to each interim payment to reflect inflation, taking into account the weightings applied to the different materials and fuel categories. The amended price variation provision represents a proportionate and balanced approach to the risk posed by inflation to the delivery of critical public works projects. Like the Deputy, I want to see that project move quickly. It has been going on for decades. It is hugely important for housing supply in Galway and also for wider industrial development, in addition to other public transport objectives which we want to achieve in the west of Ireland. I know all of us want to see it move quickly now over the period ahead. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell  It really has been decades that we have been waiting. I do not remember a time when we were not talking about the Galway ring road. It is also about people being able to access services through a gridlocked city, which is incredibly difficult. I was talking to one mother who said that to get to a 9 a.m. appointment in Merlin Park hospital from Connemara, really she would have to stay the night before but the prices are expensive, so she was leaving the house at 6 a.m. That is the reality of it. The Minister mentioned public infrastructure and public transport as well. We have had some delays on that as a result of waiting on the decision on this. It should have always been done in tandem, from the 1990s onwards. It was always a matter of waiting for that decision to be made. Do the Government's cost estimates for infrastructure projects such as the Galway ring road provide leeway for the type of cost increases that are currently happening? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  We have significant immediate volatility in pricing but the inflationary context is something that takes a more sustained impact. There is still wider uncertainty on that. Next week we will publish the annual progress report, where the Department of Finance will set out updated forecasts on the inflationary environment and the predictions around that, and will also provide a scenario analysis depending on how this evolves. We have good flexibility within the public works contracts, which are important.  We want to proceed with our national development plan and with a lot of the priorities we have. Transport, in particular, has one of the biggest allocations for the next five years, with over \u20ac24 billion or just under one in four euro going to transport. Notwithstanding what was raised earlier, and earlier in the week, many of the projects from a transport perspective are in public transport, in low-carbon projects in terms of bus, rail and others that we want to see advanced over the next five years. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Strategic Infrastructure"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_6","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Public Procurement Contracts","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_2","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_6","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_6.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  Ba mhaith liom ceist a chur ar an Aire faoi thionscadal t\u00f3g\u00e1la poibl\u00ed. When multiple parties contribute to a project but only one still exists years later and when something goes wrong, that party can be held liable for 100% of the cost even if it is only 1% responsible. Developers nearly always use special purpose vehicles and then wind them up, which means they are let off the hook, meaning architects and engineers are sometimes left to pick up the bill that could put them out of business. Has the Minister looked into this structural issue? Does he have any plans to address it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  A special purpose vehicle is a separate legal entity established for a specific, predefined financial objective. From a public sector perspective, there can be risks with regard to long-term liabilities for defects, maintenance failures or operational issues. The Government has already taken action to address some of these risks. With respect to public works projects, SPVs are extensively used in the area of public private partnerships. They occasionally arise in conventional delivery models in the form of subsidiaries or joint ventures. They may also feature in housing delivery models such as turnkey or development agreements where private developers establish SPVs for specific developments. However, these agreements are contracts to purchase, rather than what would be considered a traditional construction contract.  While SPVs are a legitimate means to limit a business\u2019s liability, careful scrutiny is required in the procurement process so as to ensure that the successful tenderer has the capacity to undertake the contract to completion and to bear the liability that is placed upon them under the contract. Where public private partnerships are concerned that liability can extend to 20 years or more beyond construction of the asset. The PPP company is liable for the maintenance and operation of the asset as well as its handover upon completion to a predetermined standard.  The financial standing of the PPP company and individual members of any joint venture are assessed and minimum financial thresholds for individual members of a joint venture may be specified. In the case of a member of a joint venture or a tenderer who is a subsidiary, if they are unable to meet the financial requirements of the tender, they would normally be required to provide a parent company guarantee. The terms of the contract define the extent of liability that the successful tenderer is required to bear. Under the standard public works contract, that liability may extend to a period of six to 12 years after completion of the asset. The choice will normally be predetermined by the level of complexity associated with the project. The terms of the contract also specify the levels of insurance that the successful tenderer is required to maintain for the duration of the contract.  The standard form of public works contract requires the contracting authority to set a financial cap on liability. Contracting authorities may specify a lesser or greater amount depending on the risk or complexity of the project. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  I know this issue has been looked at and some work has been done on it, but it has not been addressed to the degree that is necessary for architects, engineers and small firms. They are still being caught by this. They are still not able to go in for projects, cannot get insurance and insurance costs are prohibitive. I recently met with representatives of the Association of Consulting Engineers of Ireland who told me how this is driving up costs and driving small firms away from public projects. As the Minister knows architects and engineers do not operate using special purpose vehicles to avoid accountability. They are usually small to medium-sized businesses and are being pushed to the brink because of crippling costs. These costs are ultimately passed on to the taxpayer when it comes to these big public projects if they are not able to bid or if their costs have increased.  Insurers already exit the Irish market because of this exposure. The insurer AIG told an Oireachtas committee that the 1% rule was the key reason it withdrew from engineering professional indemnity cover. The result is higher premiums, reduced competition and engineering firms avoiding these public contracts. I urge the Minister to act on this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  I might conclude what I was about to say. I appreciate the points the Deputy has raised. The standard form of public works contract requires the contracting authority to set a financial cap on liability. That depends on the complexity of the project. There are also number of other requirements that are designed to mitigate the risk of non-performance, including holding back a specified percentage of each interim payment - half the total retention sum held is released upon completion with half retained over the defects liability period. It is only released if all the recorded defects are addressed or it may be paid to a different contractor where the original one fails to address the defects.  On most public works contracts, there is also a requirement for a performance bond, normally 10% of the contract sum. This is also reduced in half upon completion with the remaining portion held in place for 15 months post completion.  We have a government contracts committee for construction, ensuring we develop the model with construction and manufacturing expertise so that there is a collaborative approach at the design phase in terms of the projects which are advanced. This issue has been related to me and particular sectors have raised it. It is about striking a balance and ensuring that there is respective liability. We also need to ensure we do not crowd out competition in the wider sector. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  I think, based on the Minister's comment, that he accepts there is a problem here and I ask him to look into it further. The engineers are not raising this for no reason; it is because they are experiencing a very real problem. There is a solution to this which is to insert net contribution clauses into public contracts. That would not increase risk for the State and would simply prevent smaller contributors from being forced to absorb the full cost of defects caused by others. It would not remove any liability but it would ensure fairness in how liability works.  England, Scotland and Northern Ireland use these clauses routinely. The Civil Liability Act already allows for it. Section 35(1) explicitly recognises that parties may enter contracts limiting liability to their just share. The legislative basis is there but we need the Government to put it into action. Net contribution clauses would make public contracts more attractive, stabilise insurance costs and help ensure that engineering firms remain willing to tender. It would really help us to deliver the housing and infrastructure that we need. Will the Minister look further into this? Does he accept that there is a problem here? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  I have had this relayed to me and we have integrated some of the OGP procurement team into the infrastructure division so that there is wider industry engagement in terms of delivery. However, it is about the balance. There is a need for a framework which attaches liability and responsibility to how contracts are delivered, while ensuring we drive competition. The Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, will be publishing a national procurement strategy in the coming weeks to drive more SME involvement in the broader procurement process for the delivery of infrastructure but also in the wider economy for public contracts. I have had that relayed to me by engineers and others in the community. There is always ongoing engagement with my Department relating to this matter. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Public Procurement Contracts"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_7","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Proposed Legislation","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_2","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_7.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell  The Critical Infrastructure Bill is currently going through the Oireachtas, but it does not provide a full definition of critical infrastructure and seems to leave it up to the Minister of the day as to what is and what is not critical infrastructure. I ask the Minister to provide some clarity on what he means by critical infrastructure. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  Allowing the Government to designate certain projects or programmes as critical infrastructure is the core of the Critical Infrastructure Bill. In response to a designation, all public bodies involved at any stage in the authorisation process must prioritise and accelerate the authorisation process applied to the maximum extent possible. By establishing a clear legal basis for prioritisation, the legislation will reduce ambiguity and ensure that critical projects and programmes receive focused and co-ordinated attention across Departments, regulators and agencies. It will address the unacceptable delays in our infrastructure-approval processes by mandating whole-of-State co-operation and create a fast-track pathway for critical projects and programmes to drive delivery.  Section 3 of the Bill deals with the designation process. The text of the Bill has been published in full along with an explanatory memorandum. This section of the Bill allows the Minister for public expenditure to make a recommendation to Government that a designation order be made in respect of a project or programme. There are a number of matters that I may have regard to in making a recommendation. They are set out in section 3 of the Bill. They include: the need to ensure effective and efficient delivery of a project or programme; whether delay or failure to deliver a project or programme may have adverse economic or social consequences for the State; whether a project or programme may impact in a positive or negative manner on the delivery of any other project or programme; the national development plan; and such other matters in relation to infrastructure as I may consider appropriate.  Project and programme are defined in section 1 of the Bill. A project means a project, the purpose of which is the delivery of infrastructure and that is funded by capital investment, by or on behalf of the State or by or on behalf of a public body.  Infrastructure is also defined in the section. The definition refers to any infrastructure that enables essential facilities and systems of the State to function effectively and includes, but is not limited to, energy, transport and water systems.  Following a recommendation from the Minister for public expenditure, the Government will, by order, designate projects or programmes as critical infrastructure. Every designation order will be laid before D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann, which may nullify the order within 21 days.  The process of considering which programmes or projects I may recommend to the Government will commence after the Oireachtas has passed the----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy David Maxwell)  Thank you, Minister. I call Deputy Farrell. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell  I understand that the Minister is giving me the layout of the Bill and exactly how it will work. My interest is in what he would deem to be critical infrastructure. Obviously, we have serious issues when it comes to the delivery of critical infrastructure. I think of the likes of homes and houses, hospitals, public transport and infrastructure of scale. At the moment, what is being built an awful lot of the time is private student accommodation which is then rented at extraordinarily high prices. We see empty office buildings and that type of construction happening. I understand that the Minister is saying it is through the public system and not private, but it would be interesting to hear what he considers and deems to be critical infrastructure. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  As to what we have tried to do, the Deputy and others will appreciate that if we were to list a load of projects in primary legislation, there may be another project which will emerge and which is of a critical nature. The other challenge is that this particular list then gets caught in 2026. In four years, or when a future government wishes to update the national development plan, there needs to be an ability to utilise this legislative framework to continue to designate projects appropriately. That is why we have established the statutory framework around how projects will be designated. Obviously, they are connected to the national development plan. It relates to State-funded projects, and I have set out the broad legislative framework as to how the decision will be made. It is important to have flexibility around it being an enabling framework to allow future governments to drive delivery. That is why we have not specified the particular projects or programmes in the Bill. I have set out the broad definition, as the Deputy mentioned, regarding how the designation process will work and what is defined as infrastructure within----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy David Maxwell)  Thank you, Minister. I call Deputy Farrell. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell  My party colleagues and I want to work constructively with the Minister on this Bill. We understand that our people and our communities need critical infrastructure to be delivered with urgency. We want to engage with this legislation and scrutinise it in order that it is fit for purpose because, as the Minister says, the critical infrastructure that is built by this Government will be in use for decades. Therefore, it is essential that this Government gets critical infrastructure delivery right. It has been incredibly disappointing that this Government has so far tried to evade scrutiny and limit the opportunity for TDs, relevant experts and stakeholders to look at and improve this Bill. Conversation is always better when we are looking at legislation. Will the Minister make a commitment that this Bill will get a full hearing on Committee Stage? That would be incredibly important. I do not sit on that committee. I understand Deputy Sheehan does. I have party colleagues who do. Giving it that time would be incredibly important. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  Absolutely. What we have tried to do in the first instance is build the evidence base as to where the issues were, which we did last year. There has been strong stakeholder engagement. The report was published last July. There has been engagement with the Oireachtas committee on the challenges and the delivery gaps which exist. There has been a co-ordinated response from the stakeholder community and others in what has informed the drafting process around this Bill. The issue with doing pre-legislative scrutiny is that there is a risk this would lapse into the autumn, and we want to use the Bill to get projects done. Nearly everybody in the Opposition would share the objective of getting them delivered, whether it is critical grid infrastructure, which we need to build our low-carbon, renewable future, whether it is some of the public transport projects that have been referred to, or I can list some of the other areas as well. The Bill is a very clear enabling framework, and I want to be able to enact it quickly. Again, I want to work with everyone to get it right as well. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Proposed Legislation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_8","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Public Procurement Contracts","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_2","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Frankie Feighan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_8.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Grace Boland  Public procurement is one of the State's most powerful levers for delivering quality infrastructure and services, yet it is also where we see repeated cost overruns, delays and failed delivery. Good procurement is not about spending more money; it is about spending it wisely. We have to have robust processes in place. The Minister might update us as to what reforms are planned or under consideration to strengthen value-for-money considerations, risk allocation and cost control in the State. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Frankie Feighan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (Deputy Frankie Feighan)  Reform of procurement is specifically called out under action 25 of Accelerating Infrastructure: Report and Action Plan. There are also a number of actions focused on improving the visibility of the pipeline and providing greater certainty around the timing of the delivery stage of critical infrastructure.  Government policy with regard to public works procurement continues to require comprehensive definition of the brief and detailed description of the scope as this represents the most efficient means of delivery. There has been a significant move to rebalance the level of risk that consultants and contractors are expected to bear when engaged on public works projects. Liability caps and index-based price adjustment mechanisms have been introduced in the consultancy and construction contracts. Further reforms that are highlighted in the action plan include formalising dispute avoidance and early warning provisions; the development of an early engagement model to enable collaboration at the earliest point to drive efficiencies; the introduction of lean principles; and further adoption and promotion of digital technologies.  There is also a focus on training and supports for contracting authorities engaged in works delivery through the commercial skills programme. Through the construction sector group, there is ongoing engagement between the Government and industry on building the capacity of the sector itself through a range of supports and productivity measures. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Grace Boland  I very much welcome the references to frameworks, guidance and training. That is all very important. We repeatedly see at the public accounts committee systemic failures in procurement processes. I have worked in this space. I am a lawyer. I have advised in this space. Unless we have people who understand the business case and who put in place appropriate milestones, and unless we have appropriate legal protections in place to mitigate the risks and make sure that delivery is pegged to payment, we are setting ourselves up for failure. We see it time and time again. We have a SUSI grant project with \u20ac6.4 million paid that is at pre-project phase. The national train control centre will see a \u20ac40 million overrun and more. We have to have the confidence and capability, and the Department has to assess budget versus delivery. We need to make sure with the projects for which we are awarding contracts that we award them on the basis that they have the competence to deliver them on time and on budget. I very much hope the Department will request that all Departments and agencies will provide annual reports on budget versus outturn. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Frankie Feighan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Frankie Feighan  There are ongoing reforms, as the Deputy knows, on the capital works management framework. It is an integrated set of contractual provisions, guidance material and technical procedure. It covers all aspects of the delivery process of a public works project, from inception to final project delivery or review. The structure of this strategic framework is closely aligned with and complements the infrastructure guidelines developed by the Department of public expenditure and reform. A key theme of the review of the capital works management framework, CWMF, is the development of high-quality information to enable better informed decisions, reducing risk on construction projects. We need to secure value for money. It is an ongoing priority for the Government. It is at the heart of all decision-making at every stage of policy or programme life. There is a lot of good work going on. I thank the Deputy for her question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Grace Boland  I appreciate that. The Minister of State is right to say that we absolutely have to have the data to ensure that our procurement process is robust and is delivering value for money. It is essential. We are here representing the taxpayers and we have to make sure that the taxpayers are getting value for money for services, not only capital projects but also IT projects.  This is where we are seeing systemic failures right across the board. I hope the Minister of State will be able to provide an update as to what evaluation processes the Department has been undertaking in recent months across all Departments and agencies. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Frankie Feighan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Frankie Feighan  Building information modelling, BIM, provides a structure for information generated in respect of a construction project. There is now a high-level implementation plan for phased adoption of the BIM on public works projects. In three years' time, all public works projects will have BIM requirements incorporated. As of 1 January last, milestone 6 of the Irish BIM mandate for CWMF has been reached. These requirements now include the contractor and supply chain on applicable projects up to \u20ac10 million. The Government continues to provide support to the industry to adopt all these areas through the Build Digital Project. There is a lot of good work going on, and we need to continue it. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Public Procurement Contracts"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_9","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_10","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"National Development Plan","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_9","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_10","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_10.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  I would like an overview of the progress made to date under NSO 5 of the National Development Plan 2021-2030. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  As Minister for public expenditure I am responsible for setting the overall capital allocations across Departments and for monitoring monthly expenditure at departmental level. Responsibility for the management and delivery of the wider investment and sectoral policies within the allocations agreed under the national development plan involves working with Ministers and other colleagues across Departments. Each Minister is responsible for deciding which programmes and projects will be delivered under the national development plan. The latter contains expenditure commitments for a range of strategic investment priorities which will contribute towards the achievement of national strategic outcomes, including NSO 5, which relates to a strong economy supported by enterprise, innovation and skills. This aims to maintain and enhance Ireland's status as a competitive, innovative and resilient enterprise base, providing high quality jobs and employment opportunities for people to live and prosper in all regions.  Under the plan, \u20ac3.68 billion was allocated in respect of enterprise and skills, including \u20ac400 million of additional funding to Irish start-up enterprises. Over 15,300 new jobs were created from the 323 investments in IDA Ireland-supported client companies in 2005. The numbers directly employed in the multinational sector in Ireland in 2025 were 312,400. The existing base of FDI has shown continued resilience, and more than half the investments went into regional locations. Employment in client companies of Enterprise Ireland increased to a total of over 234,000 in 2025, which is the highest number ever reported. The total number of jobs created was over 12,600. Some 69% of new jobs created in 2025 in companies supported by Enterprise Ireland were located outside the Dublin region.  In the higher education sector, \u20ac4.5 billion in capital funding was allocated to the Department of further and higher education as the number of projects and programmes continued to be advanced and deliver on the ambitions of Ireland's higher education sector. These projects will expand capacity in higher education institutions and support a pipeline of talents and skills aligned with national and regional needs. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  I welcome the update on the progress made under NSO 5. The key issues for communities across the midlands is whether this is translating into real delivery on the ground. For counties like Offaly and towns such as Tullamore, Birr, Edenderry and the surrounding rural areas, balanced regional development must mean more than policy commitments. It must mean visible investment, meaningful jobs, improved infrastructure and stronger public services. People want to see tangible progress in areas such as transport connectivity, housing delivery, enterprise investment and town centre regeneration. They want to know that regional Ireland is genuinely being prioritised. Will the Minister outline the specific progress that has been delivered under NSO 5 for the midlands region to date and what future investment is planned to ensure that counties like Offaly continue to grow and will retain vibrant communities in which people can live and work? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  I do not have a specific breakdown for the enterprise sector. All I say is that if we look at wider job creation, the prioritisation that has emerged on the part of both IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland and the facts that have emerged in 2025, we can see that there has been significant growth in job creation outside of Dublin. This reflects our broad strategy and shows the huge resilience in the Irish economy, notwithstanding global conflict and major geopolitical pressures. There is continued investment and positivity around Ireland's economic proposition for many companies that want to build their base in Ireland, many of them are SMEs but there are also FDI companies.  I have been with the Deputy in Offaly. He knows the huge importance of regional connectivity from a roads' perspective, which the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, has restored in the context of the national development plan. There are also objectives around other capital investment projects for the midlands region, and that is a continued focus of Government. We want not only to match the capital investment which we have set aside but also to get things done and accelerate delivery across the board. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  One of the most important tests of NSO 5 is whether it helps regional towns to retain populations and attract sustainable employment. For areas in the midlands, keeping our communities vibrant depends on meaningful local jobs, strong services and infrastructure that supports family life and business growth. Will the Minister outline how progress under NSO 5 is being measured in terms of employment creation, population retention and local service provision in regional towns? How will the Government ensure that counties like Offaly receive their fair share of future national development plan investment? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  The critical foundation of employment growth, house construction and industrial development is what we have sought to prioritise in the national development plan in terms of building out our energy system - where there will be opportunities for the midlands - ensuring that transport connectivity is enhanced, which is reflected in the national development plan, and that water and wastewater infrastructure is also advanced. These are the key enablers of wider social and economic development in the context of the infrastructure deficit we have in our economy. I am confident that with what has been set aside in the national development plan, we will see increased house construction in the Deputy's part of the midlands and also upside benefits in terms of job creation by SMEs and FDI companies. When that infrastructure gap starts to close, it should yield further opportunities across the Deputy's region. I am confident that will occur. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"National Development Plan"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_11","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"National Development Plan","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_9","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_11","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brendan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","memberCode":"Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_11.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brendan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","memberCode":"Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brendan Smith  As the Minister knows, chapter 15 of the national development plan is titled \"Access to Quality Childcare, Education and Health Services\". With an increasing demand for places across those three sectors, it is absolutely essential that we have that increased investment put to use as quickly as possible. We need increased facilities in rural and urban Ireland. I sincerely hope that the money allocated can be spent as quickly as possible and that we do not have the type of interminable delays which have occurred over the years in respect of so many worthwhile projects. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  In the 2021 review of the national development plan, the Government originally committed to \u20ac165 billion of investment out to 2030. Subsequently, in March 2024, it agreed to an additional \u20ac2.25 billion out to 2026. The revised development plan sets out over \u20ac275 billion of public capital investment out to 2035, the largest and most significant capital injection into the economy in the history of the State. Following the agreement in July 2025, gross capital expenditure ceilings have now been set out. While we have prioritised investment towards critical growth-enabling sectors of housing, energy, water and transport, all Departments have prepared sectoral plans for the five years out to 2030. They have set out detail around projects to be progressed.  NSO 10, as the Deputy mentioned, refers to quality childcare, education and health services. The Government has allocated over \u20ac7.55 billion to education projects over the next number of years, with \u20ac795 million to the Department of children and \u20ac9.25 billion to the Department of Health over the next five years. This will be hugely important to build the social infrastructure the Deputy mentioned, which is so important to communities across our country. We have set out the detail around that in the context of the health service, building out many of the education projects, particularly in the special education area, and also the Department of children, which the Minister, Deputy Foley, is advancing. NSO 10 is reflected in the capital investment tracker, which provides a comprehensive update of the progress of all major investments with an estimated cost of greater than \u20ac20 million. It sets out the county-specific basis, specifically for investments in schools and health facilities relating to NSO 10.  It is not only about what we allocate, but also about what we deliver and how quickly we can deliver it. That is why I am putting as much focus on reforming how we deliver infrastructure as I am on what to allocate to where. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brendan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","memberCode":"Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brendan Smith  I thank the Minister for his reply. I heard him speak at the recent meeting of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly. He said that in far too many instances over the years process won out over delivery with regard to the capital programmes for different Departments. I refer to the childcare sector in particular. With the Minister's approval, the Minister, Deputy Foley, recently introduced the building blocks grant scheme towards the provision of new childcare places and the upgrading of existing facilities. That is a very worthwhile programme. The Minister, Deputy Foley, recently visited my constituency, where she met some of the providers who have availed of the building blocks grant scheme and others who urgently need to increase capacity or to upgrade existing capacity. That scheme needs additional investment. The Minister may recall that, between 2004 and 2008, his predecessor in Dublin West, our colleague the late Brian Lenihan and I were both were both Ministers of State with responsibility for children. At that time, we were providing grant aid in excess of \u20ac1 million for new childcare facilities. During that four- to five-year period, massive and necessary development took place in the country to build a whole new infrastructure of childcare facilities, both through the community sector and private providers. We need a repeat of that today. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  I know about the significant work undertaken by that Government. Even in more difficult economic times, the then Minister of State, Barry Andrews, introduced an important initiative on the affordability of childcare, which has been built on in recent years. That was a central part of the work undertaken with the Minister, Deputy Foley, as part of the revised national development plan. The \u20ac750 million allocated to the Department of children is aimed at enabling the Minister to do more in the context of capital investment in childcare. There is a need to work with childcare and education settings. In light of the demographic shift that is happening in Ireland in the medium to long term, there is an important opportunity to use our school facilities. That is happening in many communities. We need to co-ordinate capital investment from the Department of children for separate community childcare facilities and to work with schools to utilise existing facilities. That co-ordination is ongoing. I share the Deputy's objective of doing more. That is why the Minister for children, Deputy Foley, received a significant allocation under the national development plan. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brendan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","memberCode":"Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brendan Smith  The need for additional childcare places is replicated in small areas. I am working with groups in small parishes and villages such as the Denn Toddlers Playgroup in Crosskeys, County Cavan, and Happy Days Childcare in Belturbet, County Cavan. Crosskeys is a small village and Belturbet is a small town but they have huge demand for additional places, as the Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach will know. It is therefore extremely important that the building blocks scheme be expanded, if at all possible.  There is a similar situation in disability services. There are two particular needs in my constituency. There is a need to considerably expand the Drumlin House Training Centre. I am very glad that substantial capital funding has been approved in respect of that development. In addition, there is the day activation unit in Cavan town, which provides day services for young adults with complex needs. At present, it is in totally unsuitable accommodation. Again, I am very glad that the HSE, in conjunction with the Department of children, is advancing that project. However, again and again, despite the best efforts of HSE officials at local level, it takes far too long to get projects to construction. I sincerely hope the Minister can get that message through to every Department and agency. Process must not win out over delivery. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  I absolutely agree. That is central to what we are doing in reforming infrastructure delivery. We are aiming to cut out as much process as possible and to put delivery at the centre. That is why 34 of the 35 actions set out for implementation in the first quarter as part of our infrastructure reforms have been delivered. The other is to be delivered imminently. It is the same in the second quarter. We are working every day to drive improved delivery, to reduce process, to rebalance regulation and to ensure that delivery is at the centre of everything we do in every area of social and economic infrastructure. That will yield improved delivery in childcare and in wider areas across the economy. I will work with the Minister, Deputy Foley, to ensure her sectoral investment plan in the Department of children is advanced quickly. I know she has worked extensively to ensure the \u20ac795 million allocated across the next five years yields that improved delivery of childcare across communities and across the country. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 9 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"National Development Plan"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_12","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_9","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_12","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kevin Boxer Moran","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_12.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  Is there an update on the provision of a much-needed new Garda station at Northern Cross in Dublin? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kevin Boxer Moran","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran)  The Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration published its sectoral investment plan on 4 December 2025. The second half of the sectoral investment plan will focus on bringing the projects for Dublin metropolitan region north to construction in 2028.  Given the commitment in the Department of justice's NDP sectoral plan, the Office of Public Works is now working with An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na to confirm and refine specific requirements in north Dublin. An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na is continuing to develop a detailed brief of requirements for Dublin metropolitan region north in collaboration with the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration. Once this process is complete, the Office of Public Works will engage with An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to support them in identifying and appraising the most suitable site to support their objectives.  I sincerely acknowledge the persistent and constructive engagement of Deputy O'Callaghan and other Deputies. I assure them that the matter remains a priority for my Department and the wider Government. I recognise the frustration caused by the lack of visible progress, and I share the Deputy's concerns about the timeline.  The Office of Public Works is actively collaborating with An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and the Department to finalise requirements and conduct a thorough site identification and appraisal process in line with infrastructure guidelines. While an initial market trawl has been completed, the next steps involve refining requirements and selecting the most suitable site for all those requirements, with construction targeted for 2028.  I assure the Deputy that the funding is ring-fenced and the commitment is clear. The OPW, the Garda and the Department are working together to ensure momentum is maintained. The Deputy should have no doubt that I will keep him and all public representatives involved informed as the project advances. I welcome ongoing engagement to ensure the community's needs are fully met. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  It is welcome that we are making some progress in that there is a commitment that construction will start in 2028. Is the Minister of State confident that timeline will be adhered to? If construction begins in 2028, what is the timeline for finishing? I am concerned that we are still talking about identifying a suitable site for this new Garda station when it was announced not by the last Government, but by the Government before it in 2019, and when a site had been identified for it at that time. I do not really understand that part of it because a site was identified and even announced seven years ago. Why are we still talking about identifying a suitable site when one was identified seven years ago? Is the Minister of State confident that construction will start in 2028? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kevin Boxer Moran","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran  I am not being critical when I note that the Deputy puts down this question every month. I wish the project would move at the same pace. I recently met with the Minister for justice and asked him for a meeting with him and his officials with a view to speeding up this process. Like the Deputy, I would like to see this delivered. It has been announced and has been going on for quite some time. As I have said in the past, politicians announce things but it takes time to deliver them. Just as a flood scheme takes 11 years, a Garda station normally takes ten, believe it or not. Since this was announced, things have changed in respect of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. We have to get the development of this site right. It is a highly populated area. The Deputy knows that better than I do. He is there. I have been inundated with contact from Deputy Brabazon, from my colleague, Deputy Heneghan and from Deputy O'Callaghan himself. I assure the Deputy today that I will work with him and those other colleagues to try to deliver this on time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  I welcome his work on this, his commitment to it and his interest in it. That is very welcome. It is also welcome that genuine attempts to move this on are now being made. The Minister of State is right that this is a growing community with a huge population. That community was bitterly disappointed that this was announced in 2019 and that nothing then happened for seven years. The fact that we have the date of 2028 is positive, as is the fact that the Minister of State is engaging with the Department of justice on it. I welcome that. However, I urge that we all collectively keep at this and get this much-needed new Garda station delivered.  The area needs other facilities and community infrastructure as well but this is a key component of it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kevin Boxer Moran","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran  I can assure the Deputy that I have put a lot of work and effort into this since I spoke to him and my colleagues since he raised this with me before. The commitment is there from the Government in terms of the money. It is about getting the site and the other parts right, and making sure we deliver, as the Deputy said, for the people in the area. They are waiting a long time for that, but I am working within the Departments to make sure we deliver this and get it to construction. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_13","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Legislative Measures","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_9","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_13","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_13.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  I want to ask the Minister, Deputy Chambers, about his intentions through the Critical Infrastructure Bill, particularly section 7, in terms of the removal of the climate duty, a duty on all public bodies to assess the climate impact of infrastructure projects they are advancing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 17 together.  The Critical Infrastructure Bill is a central pillar of the Government\u2019s broader infrastructure acceleration agenda. The need for a Bill to fast track a limited number of strategically important projects through approval processes was identified in a report and action plan published last December.  The Bill has been drafted and introduced on a priority basis. Its primary aim is to allow the Government to designate certain projects or programmes as critical. This then requires all public bodies that may have an authorisation function for these projects or programmes to prioritise consideration of them within their approval processes. In practical terms, this means that relevant bodies will be required to prioritise, avoid delay, reduce timelines, parallel processes and co-operate to fast-track designated infrastructure.  I have proposed to disapply section 15 of the climate Act because of the risk of delays that this section gives rise to. The provisions in section 15 of the Act have opened up a new channel for the judicial review of the decisions of public bodies. The net effect is that it could slow the pace of infrastructural development. Delays to infrastructure roll-out are a key reason we are not reaching much of our climate and renewable energy targets. The report by Mario Draghi on EU competitiveness, for example, specifically identified Ireland as having the slowest approval process across the EU for renewable electricity.  Designated projects or programmes will still have all relevant climate considerations built into their development. Every Exchequer-funded project, for example, is already required to measure and price its greenhouse gas emissions under the infrastructure guidelines. Under the Bill as drafted, climate and environmental obligations will still fully apply. That is important to state because that is not being reflected in what the Deputy has said so far. Disapplication of section 15 simply removes an unnecessary layer that risks driving judicial reviews, and we need to remove all risks around judicial reviews in the legislative framework when it comes to infrastructure delivery.  Ireland will still be bound by climate and renewable energy targets. That is part of the Government's wider work to transition to a climate-resilient, biodiversity-rich and sustainable climate-neutral economy by 2050. All that will change in practical terms is the ability to challenge decisions of public bodies as they relate to how they have considered the impact of an individual project or programme against that particular section of legislation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  Mario Draghi may have rightfully highlighted real challenges in our planning system but I do not think he placed the blame on the climate action Act or section 15. As I said in the Chamber on Tuesday, we are talking in a context where the previous Government signed up to legally binding international and European targets but the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, announced over Christmas that we would not reach those targets. The climate Act was central to our ability as a state to reach those targets and now the Government is systematically trying to take out one of the central elements, the climate duty under section 15. It has been systematic. It is seen in this legislation, it is seen in the airport cap and it is in the strategic gas Bill.  I asked the Minister to name the judicial review cases taken on the basis of section 15. Can he name cases that have been taken on the basis of section 15? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  I have read judgments that relate to section 15 and some of them do have a chilling effect on infrastructure delivery. I am not going to set out the judgment here - I do not have it in front of me - but I have concern with how the interpretation of section 15 as it relates to the infrastructure system presents a risk in overall delivery. There have been a number of judgments relating to section 15 that present risks, and I need to be clear about that. The deference to creating a legal avenue and risk to infrastructure delivery relating to section 15 has to be addressed in the context of delivery.  To take the most recent example, last week we had a permission validly given by An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la relating to the ring road in Galway and we already have a particular NGO saying it is considering a case under section 15 for that particular infrastructure project. It has already gone through all of the statutory processes and has already gone to An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la. The growth, the deference and the risk of all of these projects ending up in the courts bring a risk to infrastructure delivery.  There is a whole other extensive area of reforms that we are doing and we are trying to make it more efficient, but a lot of what we are trying to do here relates to building a low-carbon economy in terms of our grid, which has to be developed, and many of our transport projects, which are actually in public transport. We want to derisk appeals that are taking through judicial reviews. This is one element of it. Others relate to the work that the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, is doing and the work that the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, is doing around environmental legal fees as well. The judgment that was set out and the test that is given around that judgment presents risk and that is why are seeking to disapply section 15. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  The Minister continually puts the blame for judicial reviews on environmentalists and on people who are concerned about climate action but let me cite three actual judicial review cases. Not the hypothetical ones that the Minister continues to cite, but actual cases that took place on three major public transport projects. There was the judicial review on DART+ West in our constituency that was taken by a landowner. There was the judicial review on the BusConnects project to Blanchardstown in our constituency that was taken by a landowner. There was the judicial review taken against the Luas Finglas project that was again taken by a landowner. In each of those cases, section 15 of the climate Act, which the Minister wants to disapply, would actually have strengthened the case of the National Transport Authority, NTA, the State agency looking to take the particular project, just as section 15 strengthened the case of An Bord Plean\u00e1la in the Coolglass case.  The Minister is getting this wrong. He is not looking at the implication of what he is going to do. The Minister should read the Coolglass judgment and understand that he is weakening the State's hand in defending judicial review cases on major projects that will actually help reduce our carbon emissions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  I am against all judicial reviews whether it is environmentalists, landowners or anybody in the economy. When a decision is made by An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la, we need to allow it to be built and respected. We have seen the enormous deference to allowing this system and industry of judicial reviews to build up. It is undermining delivery systems right across the board. I am against landowners taking judicial reviews, I am against developers taking judicial reviews, I am against anybody taking judicial reviews, but I respect the statutory process and appeals systems that we have.  What we are trying to do is remove the risk of a particular legal avenue that is there. That is what I am saying. I have a similar view on anybody who wants to take a judicial review. I just gave last week's example because it happened to refer to section 15 and how it related to an infrastructure project that we wanted to deliver as a Government. I have read the judgment, and it sets out a particular test relating to individual projects, which present risks.  Public bodies should and do climate assess projects. That is set out in the infrastructure guidelines. We need ensure that continues and there is no change to that in the context of publicly funded projects. We should allow public bodies to do that and adhere to the infrastructure guidelines. They already set that out in a transparent way and do it properly. At the end of all that and when a particular project has received permission, we should not present a legal risk to that project being delayed for two or three years. That is something that all of us need to address in the context of reform.  Section 15 brings that risk in terms of overall delivery.  On the Deputy's point, I get frustrated with anybody taking a judicial review on any project we want to deliver. The Deputy and I share the same views around ensuring DART+ West and many other public transport projects can advance. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Legislative Measures"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_14","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Departmental Bodies","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_9","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_14","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_14.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  Will the Minister report on the new infrastructure regulatory simplification unit in his Department and make a statement on it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  On 3 December 2025, the Government published the accelerating infrastructure action plan. The report sets out a comprehensive programme of actions designed to speed up the delivery of critical infrastructure across the State and includes 30 actions across four key areas. The second pillar is regulatory reform and simplification. This means identifying where regulation leads to excessive process rather than improved outcomes. It also means examining the structure of our regulatory environment, the practices applied by regulatory bodies and how they communicate with one another and applicants.  It is important to note that regulation also brings important benefits. It protects consumers and society as a whole through the application of safeguards, such as environmental protection. However, it also implies a cost and quicker and more simplified regulation can help balance this cost with the benefits.  The overarching objective of pillar 2 reforms is to reduce unnecessary regulatory burden, thereby minimising time and cost impacts on infrastructure delivery and speeding it up. The establishment of the infrastructure regulatory simplification unit, as I announced in February, marked the commencement of action 9 of the report.  The new unit is conducting a risk-based review of the current regulatory landscape, analysing and mapping existing processes and engaging with the bodies involved in consenting, permitting and licensing to identify and remove bottlenecks. The unit will also seek to identify opportunities to enhance co-operation and streamline processes for more effective delivery of the national development plan. It will focus on simplifying and improving the complex regulatory processes across critical infrastructure sectors, namely, housing, energy, transport and water infrastructure.  Progress on this has commenced at pace and a new circular issued on 26 March. It seeks to embed the principles for better regulation of critical infrastructure. It includes a series of regulatory process reforms that must be implemented by public sector bodies with statutory, regulatory, operational or delivery responsibilities for critical infrastructure. It outlines eight principles for better regulation that public sector bodies are required to implement in their own regulatory processes. These are necessity, effectiveness and proportionality. I will detail them more in a moment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  I thank the Minister. I welcome the establishment of the regulatory simplification unit and the clear focus on accelerating the delivery of critical infrastructure. For too long, overlapping consenting, permitting and licensing processes have delayed progress on vital infrastructure projects. This is particularly evident in key sectors such as transport, energy and water services, all of which are essential to housing delivery, economic growth and balanced regional development. Communities across Offaly and regional Ireland want projects to move more quickly from approval to delivery. Will the Minister outline what specific reforms will be prioritised by the unit to remove duplication, improve co-ordination across Departments and agencies and shorten the time it takes for critical projects to commence? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  Some of the principles of better regulation are necessity, effectiveness, proportionality, coherence, efficiency, being time-bound, transparency and accountability. The reforms and principles outlined in the circular will drive better co-ordination between bodies. We seek to simplify many of the overlapping and unduly complex regulatory frameworks. The unit will use these principles to drive reforms across many of the bodies involved in regulation for critical infrastructure to shorten timelines and simplify processes to ensure we better deliver across the infrastructure system.  The circular is a direction and agreement we brought to Government. Some agencies, which I will not name, have come before the infrastructure task force and are advancing some of the regulatory reforms, reducing timelines and being part of the solution. All agencies and bodies involved in infrastructure need to reduce timelines because they are, in many instances, resulting in slowing delivery across the board. We have had good, constructive and productive discussions with bodies and reforms are advancing. I can go into more detail on the specifics. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  While the creation of the unit is welcome, what people want is delivery. We in the committee on infrastructure and the national development plan voted not to have pre-legislative scrutiny because we realised this needed to be done and we needed to set an example. We need to move this fast. Will the Minister provide a clear timeline for when these reforms will begin to have an impact? What measurable reductions in approval and commencement timelines does the Minister expect to see in the coming years? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  One reform that has already happened is that of the infrastructure guidelines. We have removed the need, in many instances, for the external assurance process, which saves at least 20 weeks. We have cut the decision gates from three to two. A lot of process-related work goes into an additional decision gate where a matter is brought to Government. That process has been removed, which saves multiple weeks. The update from the joint utilities and transport clearing house is that there are about ten significant critical regulatory barriers across the utilities and infrastructure sector. The team in my Department is working to remove them.  We have a specific team doing specific work on removing barriers across the infrastructure system. It is also conducting a wider review of the regulatory landscape in our country. It is all about improved speed. We seek to apply the reforms on a Gantt chart so that we can try to truncate the project timelines that exist in transport, energy and water infrastructure and other areas to yield better delivery. The infrastructure guidelines were an initial reform. Other extensive work is ongoing in the Department and by the unit on changing the process and practice within regulators, which will make a significant difference in improving delivery. We will be able to set them out in the coming weeks. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Departmental Bodies"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_15","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Legislative Measures","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_9","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_15.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  On the Critical Infrastructure Bill, it is good that there is a focus on trying to speed up these processes. We have heard from the Minister with responsibility for the OPW that it takes about ten years to deliver a Garda station. That is just one of many examples of how slow these processes are. It is not just about legislation, though. The Bill would give the Minister significant powers in terms of designation. What safeguards, oversight mechanisms or process would be in place to ensure that those significant powers the Minister is assigning to himself will be exercised in a transparent, proportionate and accountable manner? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  I thank the Deputy. As I said, the Critical Infrastructure Bill is a central pillar of the Government\u2019s broader infrastructure acceleration agenda. The need for a Bill to fast-track a number of strategically important projects through approval processes was identified in the action published last December. The Bill has been drafted and introduced on a priority basis to respond to this need. Its primary aim is to allow the Government to designate certain projects or programmes as critical. This then requires all public bodies that may have an authorisation function to prioritise them within their approval processes. This will avoid delays, reduce timelines, parallel processes, and introduce a duty to co-operate across the board.  In terms of the safeguards, I will make a recommendation to the Government that a designation order may be made in respect of a project or programme. The decision as to whether to designate the project rests with the Government. Where the Government decides to exercise the order, it must be laid before D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann and if a resolution annulling the order is passed by D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann within the next 21 days on which D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann has sat after the order is laid before it, the order shall be annulled. This ensures that the power to designate projects or programmes ultimately rests with\u00a0the Oireachtas.  In addition, under section 5, I may request a relevant body to provide certain information. That is set out in terms of strengthening project performance across the board. Section 6 of the Bill provides that I may give directions to a particular body to improve performance anchored in its duties and functions. Again, that is to ensure it is on board with broader infrastructure delivery.  Many of these critical projects are known. Many are in the national development plan or relate to a State body. There is no mystery about which projects will be involved. Within that, we will have to prioritise to ensure that the projects that are of critical importance receive prioritisation in the infrastructure system. They then need to be fast-tracked through existing approval processes.  Separately, we are working on emergency powers to try to skip stages but that will have a much higher legal threshold because it would involve skipping potential stages. That is not in this particular piece of legislation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  I accept there is no mystery about these projects. They are all good projects. I cannot see why anyone would want to bring a motion to the D\u00e1il to annul prioritisation of any of the projects under consideration. That is not really the issue. The issue is the bit of mystery about how the prioritisation will be carried out. What will and will not be prioritised? How will that be decided? That is the bit the Minister and the Cabinet will have information on but the D\u00e1il, Oireachtas and public will not. That is the missing part. How will prioritisation be carried out? Where is the transparency in that regard? The Bill is silent on this. It gives the power to the Minister, subject to Cabinet approval and laid before the Oireachtas but there is no information about how that decision will be made.  It does not work if everything worthwhile is prioritised. Decisions have to be made. I accept that but we will be in the dark as to why one good project was prioritised and another was not. If there is no transparency around this, it will lead to a situation where people will question why one project was picked over another important project. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  We have a framework set out in the legislation detailing the factors the Minister in my position will consider when designating particular projects. Obviously, I will be accountable to the House as to why a particular project is picked and prioritised. I always respect my duties to the House in that regard. I can already see the political risk in how this will be managed in the House where Deputies will question why certain projects are not being prioritised over other projects. If this is how the Bill is used, it will undermine infrastructure delivery. The key element is that we have a limited number of strategically important projects we can seek to advance. If it becomes too big and if everything is prioritised, nothing will be prioritised.  I am very much anchored to many of the strategically important sectors that are critical to Ireland\u2019s future, such as the energy, water, transport sectors. All of those sectors are involved in building more homes and contribute to the wider social and economic development of our country. I take that national responsibility carefully, and it is grounded in how we make decisions around this. I hope, as an Oireachtas, we all get on board with that because, ultimately, if we bog it down with too many projects, the upside of this legislation gets undermined. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  The point I always make about legislation is that it has to be drafted not just for this Government but the governments that come after. It has to be drafted for Ministers who will take these responsibilities in the absolute public interest but also for Ministers who may not do that. My concern is having that concentration of power without information around the process. If we have information as to how the decisions will be made on each project, at least we will be able to understand the rationale as to why a certain project was prioritised and another was not. Without that information provided to the Oireachtas, the D\u00e1il and the public, it will lead to people questioning why a project in Cork, for example, was prioritised but one in Galway was not. It will create a problem. If people see how and why the decision was made, it provides a bit of protection to both the Minister and the Government, as well as proper accountability and transparency. We will obviously look at this on Committee Stage but I ask the Minister to consider what I am putting forward. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  We have set out a framework on the factors the Minister can consider in the context of designating projects. Anchoring decisions around those are important. I assure the Deputy and anyone in this House that any decision I make on designation will be fully in the public and national interest, yielding overall delivery. I will be accountable to the House in that regard.  Prioritisation always creates winners and losers in any scenario, whether it is capital projects or in a budgetary context. Trade-offs happen. For example, we have referenced programmes or projects in the energy sector. We have a programme of investment with ESB Networks and EirGrid that must be carried out. It is fairly clear that it will be a necessary national programme. It is nationwide anyway. There are other well-documented projects that are critical for Ireland. That is what I will be grounded in and the basis on which I will make decisions. We have a framework in place. I will be accountable to the House and transparent about how we come to particular decisions. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 14 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Legislative Measures"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_16","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Strategic Infrastructure","counts":{"speechCount":9,"speakerCount":4},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_9","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_16","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_16.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  What action has the Minister taken to overcome the key barriers to infrastructure delivery? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  As Minister, I am responsible for setting the overall capital allocations across Departments and monitoring monthly expenditure at departmental level. The programme for Government set out clear prioritisation for the national development plan review to ensure that investment can be maximised in the coming five years for strategic infrastructure.  Last year, my Department worked on the identification of barriers to infrastructure delivery. In December, it published the Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan, aimed at removing those barriers. This is critical to allow the Government to meet the increased supply of homes and support competitiveness.  The plan sets out 30 targeted actions grouped under four pillars, each addressing a key area of reform. A key achievement in the first quarter has been the publication of the Critical Infrastructure Bill. Core regulatory foundations have also been put in place through the establishment of the infrastructure regulatory simplification unit; the issuance of cross-Government circulars on better regulation and reaction to legal precedent; and strengthened engagement with regulators and EU institutions to support legislative simplification.  Progress has also been made on delivery and co-ordination with the completion of the national development plan review and sectoral investment plans; revised infrastructure guidelines approved and issued; enhanced National Development Finance Agency support arrangements for sponsors; and improved focus on priority projects. The removal of bottlenecks has been progressed through the joint utilities and transport clearing group. Capacity and productivity reforms within the construction sector have been advanced through publication of the workforce and skills plan and the restructuring of the construction sector group to drive procurement, innovation and digitalisation.  Engagement to support leadership and public acceptance has intensified, and that work is ongoing.  In quarter 2 of 2026, the focus will be on advancing priority legislation, progressing planning, regulatory and EU-related reforms, strengthening oversight of delivery risks and bottlenecks, embedding procurement and productivity initiatives and further improving co-ordination on utilities, land availability and public engagement to support timely delivery of critical infrastructure. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  I thank the Minister for the response. One of the key issues facing communities is the length of time it takes for major projects to move through the system. At present, pre-planning stages for major road projects can exceed one year, while electricity, water and wastewater infrastructure can take three or four years before delivery even begins. These delays are having a direct impact on housing and enterprise development and the ability of communities to grow and remain vibrant. Will the Minister outline the immediate actions being taken to reduce these timelines, as well as the new target timeframes he expects for roads, energy and water infrastructure? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  There are a few changes being made. I referenced the infrastructure guidelines earlier, and that is an important change. They will save significant time and they have already advanced. Separately, we are seeking to put in place a standardised template on business case development. We know a business case can take a short time with particular agencies and utilities but, in certain instances, it drifts into years. The wider public discussion often focuses on judicial reviews and reforms in that space - we need to advance that reform - but there is also a lot of time wasted at the early phase of a project around concept design. That is why the National Development Finance Agency is being stood up. It is broadening its remit to reduce the time at all elements of the project lifecycle.  The Critical Infrastructure Bill will also help fast-track projects through the respective permitting, licensing and approval processes. The infrastructure task force is already bringing about reforms and changes to some of the regulatory functions that exist within regulators in respect of how they deliver infrastructure and how their processes need to be reformed to better enable infrastructure delivery. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  Communities want certainty that these delays are being tackled with urgency and that the providers of these utilities, especially in water, electricity and transport, are capable of doing the work that is needed. Will the Minister confirm when people can expect to see reduced timelines in practice, particularly for projects linked to housing and regional growth? How will the Department ensure that the acceleration of infrastructure delivery is felt across County Offaly, and indeed, across the whole island of Ireland? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  To build homes, we have to have transport, energy and water systems in place. That is why the work with utilities to build that enabling infrastructure is absolutely critical. There will be wider co-ordination with the housing activation office, which is working on this at a local level, for example, in Offaly. What are the opportunities to advance housing supply and growth at a local level? Where is there particular road or water infrastructure or a need from an energy perspective to advance housing supply? That work is happening with the housing activation office. What we are doing in my Department is with the utilities at a national level to remove the blockages, barriers and constraints to overall delivery, which they have. All of that will yield improved delivery, improved timelines and ultimately strengthen housing supply. We know from local authorities and developers that the infrastructure gap is something that constrains overall housing supply. All of this reform will help speed up the housing supply. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy David Maxwell)  We are moving to the last question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Burke  I indicated that I wanted to ask a supplementary question, which I am entitled to do. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy David Maxwell)  There are no supplementary questions. There is only six and a half minutes per question and there are no supplementary questions. That rule was made about three weeks ago. It was communicated to all TDs. Supplementary questions are out unless the TD asking the question gives time to the other TD.  We move now to the last question, and we only have two minutes. Deputy Burke can ask his question, but I can only allow him back in once. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 16 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 17 taken with Question No. 11. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 18 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Strategic Infrastructure"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_17","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Flood Relief Schemes","counts":{"speechCount":9,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_9","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kevin Boxer Moran","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_17.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Burke  My question is in relation to the Blackpool flood relief scheme. It has been going on for 13 years, going into 14 years. The OPW sent the report in to the Minister of State's Department nine or ten months ago. I do not understand why we still do not have a decision on this matter. Why is it taking so long? On the previous occasion, the Department sat on the report. By the time it came to a decision, the environmental report was out of date, so it had to go back to drawing board. When will this project proceed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kevin Boxer Moran","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran  I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 28 together.  I am not going to go and read it. The Deputy knows the story in relation to this. It is with the Department, but we are working together collectively. I am working with the Deputy as----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Burke  It is here for 12 months. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy David Maxwell)  I ask the Deputy to allow the Minister of State to answer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kevin Boxer Moran","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran  The Deputy comes in here and gives out the whole time, but he rarely engages in a proper manner to try to constructively deliver this for the people of the community. He comes in and says, \"This is delayed. That is delayed.\" We have to work together for the betterment of those people and protect them. The Deputy knows the objection that was placed on this. He knows exactly the people who placed the objection. He knows what I am doing with him and the people trying to deliver on this. It is unfair of him to come in and accuse us of not working and trying to deliver on that. It is very unfair. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Burke  The report is in for over 12 months. Why is there not a decision taken on it to proceed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kevin Boxer Moran","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran  When the report comes out, we will constructively come back to the Deputy and we will work together to deliver it. I cannot interfere with the process. I can bring it to where it is today. If I could interfere, I would do it, but I cannot. The Deputy will just have to wait. While it is annoying for him, as it is for me and the people, I have to wait for that to come in. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Burke  It is 12 months that we are waiting for the response from the report. The environmental impact study will again be out of date unless a decision is made on this matter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kevin Boxer Moran","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran  I fully concur. I know the frustration that the Deputy has. I know people are on to him. I assure him that I am doing everything I can to deliver on that. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Flood Relief Schemes"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_18","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_19","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Energy Policy","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_18","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_19","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_19.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment (Deputy Darragh O'Brien)  I thank the Deputy for this timely question.  The allocation of the carbon tax is a matter for the Minister for public expenditure and reform, who took questions just before this. There has been no change because of the pause in the increase in the allocation for 2026. That was published as part of the Revised Estimates Volume, REV, last December and approved by the D\u00e1il on 26 March 2026. Within my Department's 2026 allocation, there are three areas that received funding from the carbon tax. First, in the residential community retrofit programme, the budget allocation is a record \u20ac641 million this year, including \u20ac558 million from the carbon tax. We are planning for this to support the home energy upgrades of 73,000 homes this year, including solar PV. The target includes 11,500 fully funded home energy upgrades under the warmer homes scheme, which we discussed yesterday at some length, for households at risk of energy poverty. A record of over \u20ac340 million of the budget has been provided for this year. There has been a significant investment and year-on-year growth in home energy upgrades. From 2019 to December 2025, about \u20ac1.7 billion was provided in support for homeowners. We have done about 244,000 homes under that, including almost 33,000 fully funded upgrades, particularly focusing on homes at risk of energy poverty through the warmer homes scheme.  To answer the Deputy's question directly, the budget and allocation this year is not affected by not increasing the carbon tax this year. I will come back in on a couple of other areas that we are funding, such as the just transition fund and the green climate fund. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  There were any number of interventions that we felt that the Government could have made to alleviate and reduce the cost of fuel for hauliers, farmers and everyone else. It is very disappointing that the one climate-friendly measure here has been undermined, and that the Government has chosen to jettison this over other subsidies, direct payments and excise cuts. These are all measures that we want to support. Our fear here is that the Government has deferred this amount and it was scheduled to come on in May because, as it was put in the budget, the increase on home heating fuels will take place in May, after the winter heating season. It has now been deferred to the winter. The fear is over whether it will be deferred again. Is it realistic to think that the Government is going to implement it in October as people are filling up their tanks again? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  It is a good question. What we have tried to do regarding the support package of about \u20ac750 million is to make sure that it is balanced and targeted. We have done decreases in excise duty. We have also brought forward specific schemes of support for vital sectors. For example, the haulage sector has been provided \u20ac40 million per month for three months in targeted payments and there is \u20ac100 million for the agriculture scheme. That is to help with the fuel price spikes and increases we have seen because of the outbreak of the war in the Middle East.  Specifically on the Deputy's question, I will defend the carbon tax. To be fair to the Deputy, colleagues in the Labour Party and other parties in the Opposition, with the exception of the main Opposition party, support the carbon tax because it brings forward specific ring-fenced funding in order that we can protect households and businesses against future shocks. This is a deferral of this increase.  That is all it is. We will target resources in specific areas, reduce costs and certainly ensure there are no further increased costs because of Government tax in the middle of this year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  It is a central plank of addressing climate change in this country. It is a crucial funding source if we are ever going to move away from our dependence on fossil fuels. I take the point that it is for the Department of Social Protection but the Minister was not able to give me any figures for how much this deferral will cost. I would appreciate if the Minister's Department or the Department of Social Protection could get back to me on exactly how much it will cost. On an ongoing basis, will this be made up from general taxation? Are we giving up on the polluter-pays principle or is the Minister determined to ensure the carbon tax increases that have been legislated for will happen? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  This is not a cancellation of an increase; it is a deferral. The cost is approximately \u20ac22 million in paused tax receipts. To put that in context, the overall investment from 2019 to now is over \u20ac2 billion. Our budget for this year, I assure the Deputy, is unaffected. We have also changed the retrofitting grants for households and seen a significant uptick in applications there. We want to bring forward a retrofit passport to make it more accessible, particularly to middle-income earners. We are seeing a significant increase in applications for heat pumps because we upped that grant to \u20ac12,500 - the cavity wall grants as well.  We had a good debate on solar yesterday. The Social Democrats brought forward some ideas around that. I want to accelerate solar further. We did 33,000 solar installations last year and can do more this year. We want to target those who are at energy security risk or energy poverty risk. We will protect the carbon tax because it is a clear mechanism for us to be able to protect households and businesses into the future. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Energy Policy"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_20","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Electricity Grid","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_18","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_20","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_20.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  EirGrid, the national grid operator, has issued a stark warning that blackouts are almost certainly on the cards because of the negligence of the Government. It is not the first time; it has been making these warnings for ten years and Governments have refused to listen. The red carpet is being rolled out for data centres, yet we cannot build houses or connect public transport. We are told the lights could go out. What steps is the Minister taking to eliminate any risk of blackouts due to the threat to grid stability posed by data centres? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  That is not what EirGrid said. We have to put the facts on the floor of the House. EirGrid is the transmission system operator responsible for managing our power system at all times. It is independent of me as Minister but I meet and engage with its representatives regularly in the exercise of their functions. They are accountable to the regulator, CRU.  Fault ride through is what the Deputy is referring to. It is a growing grid stability and electricity security risk for energy system operators worldwide. We are not the only country looking to mitigate potential risks, regardless of how small they are. We saw what happened on the Iberian Peninsula and in Virginia in the United States. Every system operator is looking at its risks, regardless of how small. We are not in a situation whereby we are at risk of a blackout, I assure the Deputy.  In line with EirGrid's licence obligations, it has been proactively managing this issue but, similar to other jurisdictions, believes additional measures are needed to ensure grid stability is not compromised in the short term. That is being looked at right across Europe. EirGrid has submitted new timebound requirements for large energy users to CRU for assessment and a decision. I have engaged directly with the sector as well. There has been a good collaborative approach. It is just risk mitigation. It is not that there is a risk of blackouts, as the Deputy said. Systems operators always have to look at what could happen in the future and look to mitigate risk. That is the appropriate and sensible thing to do. The sector has been collaborative and constructive in its approach. This is a short-term measure to mitigate small potential risks. It is the right thing to do. CRU will determine how the fault ride through and the new grid operation pertains to the application from EirGrid. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  I see what the Minister is saying, but will there be a prioritisation framework so, for example, housing and public transport can be prioritised ahead of data centres? It is one third of our electricity and it is predicted to go much higher. It is already causing grid interventions and higher household bills. In the midlands in particular, it is preventing housing being built. Data centre demand has skyrocketed and gone out of control. It could not have been anticipated five or six years ago how high it would go - up by over 500%. EirGrid has been concerned about it and has introduced new emergency protocols. The risks to the economy are more than that. There are risks to economic stability and to societal trust, in that ordinary people see the percentage of the bills they are paying and see proportionally lesser charges being paid by data centres. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  That is not the case. Industrial and economic growth is not in conflict with growth in housing output. In the past five years, we have delivered 135,000 new homes; last year, over 36,000 new homes. That is good and is what we need to do. In PR6, the grid investment programme that has been published and that is there for everyone to see, there are about 520 capital projects. As part of that, it states what this investment will support. It supports large energy user growth, housing growth and other industrial and economic growth. That is right and proper.  In this discussion, data centres are treated by some as a negative. They underpin tens of thousands of jobs in this country. We are at the leading edge of new technologies and cloud technologies and should continue to be at the leading edge. That is why the grid investment programme and capital projects like the North-South interconnector are so critically important and we are going to get on and do those. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  The Construction Industry Federation has said housing delivery is being held back by significant delays in electricity connections. Last year, while 60,000 homes were commenced, completions remained far below what is needed. The Minister is saying housing is a national priority but the energy policy allowed massive developments to absorb grid capacity first. We are not, contrary to what the Minister says, anti-tech or anti-business. It is about sequencing, fairness and priorities. The data centres can wait for their connections; housing and families cannot. Homes must come before hyper-scale electricity demand from the large energy users.  The bottom line is this. Housing is not failing because builders cannot build, but there is a threat to it. What specifically is the Minister doing to prevent that? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  We need a plan-led approach to this and that is why we have published the large energy user action plan. The final decision has been given on that, which is very clear. It involves a planned approach to where and how we deploy electricity and energy resources to enable large energy users to grow and to enable us to continue to attract increases in domestic indigenous business and in foreign direct investment. That is critical. One is not in conflict with the other. The measures for which EirGrid has sought approval from CRU are appropriate and are risk-mitigation measures. Many other TSOs across Europe are doing the very same thing and it is right, proper and responsible that we do that. Housing growth and industrial growth are not in conflict. We need to continue to accelerate delivery of our grid investment programme, which we will do. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Electricity Grid"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_21","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Energy Prices","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_18","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_21.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  What steps is the Minister taking to shield households from the energy crisis, which has been triggered by the US and Israeli attacks on Iran? Will he make a statement about it? He will have seen that over the past couple of weeks, the Government lost the confidence of the people, even one of its own Ministers. The Government has not done enough, particularly for people whose home heating oil bills have effectively been doubled. There are 750,000 households affected, often in rural areas, often in single dwellings, and often with older people. What are they supposed to make of the Taoiseach saying he hopes they will have a good summer while the cost of filling their tank has nearly doubled? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  As Ministers and as TDs, we fully understand the pressures households and businesses are under due to the price increases because of the outbreak of the war in the Middle East. It is a global situation that every country is grappling with. By any fair assessment, the intervention that the Irish Government has made on behalf of its people amounts to multiples of the value of others made in the EU. It is about 7. 5 times greater, per capita , than that of Germany. It is the largest one that any state has actually made to support businesses and households.  I refer to the reductions in excise on diesel, including agricultural and green diesel, and petrol, and also to the reduction to the National Oil Reserves Agency levy. All of these add up to a significant saving. People are still under pressure, absolutely. We get that, and that is why the measures we bring forward have to be targeted.  One quarter of Irish households, or about 470,000, receive direct supports through fuel allowance payments. We have extended these for a further month. We increased the payment per week in the budget. We have increased that further in a time-bound manner, effectively by extending it for a further month.  We are not going to be able to protect every sector from every price increase. Obviously, what we want to see is a de-escalation of the conflict and a return to normality. What it does speak to as well is the absolute need for us to continue to accelerate energy generation from renewable sources.  On a positive note, we saw last month, in March, that 49% of our electricity was generated through renewables. We are continuing to accelerate the deployment of renewables to reduce our dependence on fossil fuel, which is a risk for this State and many others. We are dependent on other countries for the energy that we use. This conflict, in particular, means we need to accelerate the deployment of renewables further. I assume I will receive the support of the Opposition in doing that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  We saw yesterday the Taoiseach clapping himself on the back because, since 2022, the worst of the rises in electricity bills had been cushioned by supports given by the Government. In this regard, there were electricity credits promised in the run-up to the election. However, the supports have been stripped away, leaving ordinary householders even more exposed. Compounding matters was the dismissive attitude of the Taoiseach. The Minister may or may not wish to comment on the Taoiseach\u2019s comment that he hopes there is a good summer ahead for people.  Would the Minister consider removing the excise duty on home heating oil, decreasing it by \u20ac200 per tank, and introducing more concrete measures to deal with what is effectively a doubling in price, particularly for people in rural areas? We are already paying the highest electricity prices in the EU. There has been a failure by the Government to deal with this. Electricity credits have been stripped away and the response does not go far enough. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  The Taoiseach has not been dismissive in any way, nor has the Government as a whole. Maybe the Deputy could explain why his party was the only one on the Opposition benches to vote against every excise reduction when the first round of packages was introduced, on 25 March? It did that again this week. It voted against the measures introduced by the Government in the D\u00e1il by way of financial resolutions to reduce costs for households and businesses. Sinn F\u00e9in was the only Opposition party on 25 March to vote against the initial package, worth \u20ac250 million. I do not understand that.  Sinn F\u00e9in is for abolishing the carbon tax. The carbon tax retrofits homes and businesses to protect them, reduce their energy use and make them more efficient. It is a good climate measure, but it is also a really good cost-saving measure. Sinn F\u00e9in has never explained where it would get the \u20ac660 million or so that we are going to invest this year to retrofit 73,000 homes, and also the carbon tax revenue that deals with the agri-climate environment scheme, other such schemes and business support grants. Where is that money coming from? Where would Sinn F\u00e9in get the money for a proposed further cut in excise to the tune of about \u20ac200 million? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  Unfortunately, last time I checked it was oral questions to the Minister and not questions for the Opposition. Unfortunately, the Minister has not dealt with my questions. That he answered a question with a question makes me wonder whether he is from Kerry, by any chance. He has not answered any of the questions we have asked. What specifically will he do to ease the burden on rural householders posed by the price of home heating oil?  The protests over the last week are the tipping point. They are the final straw for people who are already struggling from week to week, often in households with dual incomes. I have spoken to a lot of people who have been working in farming or in factories. Their partners might also be working, maybe in the HSE, but those people are struggling and unfortunately the measures have not been enough. The package the Minister spoke about was half baked and was not complete. It did nothing, and the people's response will show that it did nothing to address the matter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  It is not a fair assessment to say we have done nothing. Ours was the largest intervention that has been made in the EU. I simply asked the question of Sinn F\u00e9in, as the main Opposition party and the one that presents itself as the potential alternative Government after the next election, in 2029, where it would get the money from? How would it pay for the retrofitting of houses and businesses? How would it pay for solar grants and heat pump grants? How would it pay for all the things that ensure the 244,000 homes already retrofitted are protected from aspects of price increases because they are using renewable sources? It has just never been explained to me. It is important that Sinn F\u00e9in do that.  I could go through all of the measures. Sinn F\u00e9in knows all the measures that we introduced, because it voted against them all. I really do not understand its position in this regard either. Sinn F\u00e9in was the only Opposition party to oppose decreases in costs to consumers, including households. It just does not stand up. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Energy Prices"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_22","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Energy Prices","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_18","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_22.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  Could I have an update on the CRU price-gouging investigation that the Minister called for with regard to energy and electricity prices? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment (Deputy Timmy Dooley)  I thank the Deputy for the question. I understand she wants clarification specifically on the review of the pass-through from wholesale electricity prices to retail electricity prices that the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, requested the CRU to undertake. As the Deputy knows, retail electricity prices are influenced by several factors, including wholesale energy prices, system operation costs and supplier hedging. The latest data from Eurostat shows that, in nominal terms, Ireland ranked fifth for household electricity prices among European countries in the first half of 2025. When adjustments are made for purchasing power parity, Ireland is about mid-table in terms of affordability, with its electricity prices being the 12th highest among European countries.  In a report from last October, the International Energy Agency, IEA, observed that Irish retail prices had not adjusted at a pace comparable with that of the decline in wholesale prices, with the energy component of retail prices remaining up to three times that of wholesale prices. While the CRU has found no evidence of market failure or windfall profits in the retail sector in its market monitoring role, the IEA findings underline the importance of progressing the programme for Government commitment to commission an independent review into the speed and the level of pass-through from wholesale prices to retail prices.  The Minister wrote to the CRU to request that it commence the independent review, building on the work of the previous CRU investigations, reviewing the competitiveness of the Irish retail energy markets, examining supplier costs, including hedging and pricing practices, and providing price analyses to compare with other EU member states. This will also assess whether measures are warranted to enhance market responsiveness to wholesale price changes and make recommendations to ensure the benefits of lower wholesale prices are felt by the consumer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  We are all aware that hundreds of thousands of households are finding it difficult to pay their energy bills and what we saw last week is a direct result of that. An estimated 315,000 people are in arrears on their electricity bills. Many of them have been in arrears for more than 19 months. These are people who are still not able to catch up with the incredible price shocks we experienced after the Ukraine invasion.  One of the roles of the CRU is to protect customers. The Minister has asked the CRU to look at the pass through of wholesale prices. Right now, wholesale prices are 72% cheaper than they were at the peak in August 2022. They are 72% cheaper, but our retail prices are not 72% lower. In fact, they are higher. We have not seen any reduction, and I do not think hedging can be used as an excuse. Will the Minister of State provide an update on what the CRU has done and when it will it be publishing its report? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Timmy Dooley  The Minister and the officials in the Department have been engaging with the CRU to emphasise the importance of this. We all know the impacts that people are feeling. We know that the cost-of-living crisis is a result of significant increases in inflation in recent times. Of course, we all desire to try to resolve this. As the Deputy knows, the Minister commissioned a report on the national energy affordability task force. The first phase of that work came through prior to the budget last year. That is ongoing work to try, in so far as the Government can, to intervene to get that pass through on prices and to ensure that electricity is affordable to our citizens. We recognise where we are at in the international table. With the departmental officials working with the CRU, it is very much our desire to get to a point where we can get parity in that situation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  It is clear that the Minister of State has had no update from the CRU on this. He provided no information or timeline on its examination of price gouging. It is incredible that six months after the IEA highlighted that wholesale electricity price reductions were not being passed on to Irish consumers at the same rate as other consumers across Europe and that five months after the Minister wrote to the CRU asking it to conduct an investigation into price gouging, the CRU cannot even give the Minister of State an update as to what it has done or when it will conclude that investigation.  What is the CRU doing? It is meant to be protecting consumers. Irish consumers are facing another energy shock when it comes to electricity prices. They are still trying to get over the incredible electricity prices that resulted from the Ukraine war. The CRU is asleep at the wheel here. I ask that the Minister of State meet with the CRU and direct it to immediately conduct this investigation into price gouging. We cannot wait any longer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Timmy Dooley  The Deputy is aware that the CRU is independent entity. It is answerable to the Oireachtas through the Oireachtas committee, so there is an opportunity there for the Deputy. In fairness to her, Deputy Whitmore is a very vocal and hard-working member of that committee. The Minister has written to the CRU, and the officials are in contact. We want to bring this to a conclusion, but we must also recognise the independence of the CRU. As already stated, the commission is answerable to the Oireachtas. Price setting by energy companies is a commercial and operational matter for the companies concerned and not something that the Government or the Department could or would be able to interfere with or influence. My suggestion, as I said at the outset, would be to engage with the CRU through the committee. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Energy Prices"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_23","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_23","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 88 and 89 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_24","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Climate Change Policy","counts":{"speechCount":20,"speakerCount":4},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_23","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_23","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_24.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  This Government has signed Ireland up to a number of binding carbon targets which carry enormous fines for the taxpayers of this country. Will the Minister and Ministers of State provide an update on where Ireland stands with regard to those targets and on the potential fines that this State will face in 2030? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  The Government is committed to delivering on Ireland's responsibility to address the climate crisis. Work remains ongoing across Departments to carry out climate mitigation efforts every day. The roll-out of retrofitting, renewable energy and more affordable electric vehicles, EVs, continues at pace. Ireland now has the lowest level of greenhouse gas emissions in over 35 years, despite a population increase of more than 1.5 million, an additional 1 million new homes and 1 million extra vehicles on our roads.  The Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, compiles Ireland's national greenhouse gas emissions inventories. As the data requested by the Deputy covers a ten-year period, and given time constraints, I will provide him with a tabular statement setting out the exact emissions data for each year, as requested, and confine myself now to highlighting the most significant trends from the data.  The year 2024 marks the second successive year that our national emissions have fallen below the 1990 baseline. The 2024 figures follow a substantial 4 Mt CO2 equivalent reduction in 2023, the largest annual reduction since 2010 to 2011. This demonstrates that our climate policies are taking effect. The delivery mechanisms underpinning these emissions reductions include a fivefold increase in renewable capacity since 2005 and a rapid uptake in EVs and retrofits. Furthermore, the Government has approved an investment of \u20ac18.9 billion in our electricity grid which underpins our continued roll out of clean energy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  It is really important that the Government understands that the targets Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael have signed the Irish taxpayer up to carry with them significant fines. According to the Climate Change Advisory Council, CCAC, and the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council, IFAC, the fines involved range from \u20ac3 billion to \u20ac28 billion. The Minister of State has responsibility for this. I am asking him about the fines. What are the factors that will determine whether we face fines of \u20ac3 billion or \u20ac28 billion? The Government is accountable for this. It signed the Irish taxpayer up to these incredible fines. Where are we in relation to this? What are we likely to pay in fines? What cost-benefit analysis has been done? What are the Department's current projections in relation to these fines? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  As I said earlier, we are making significant progress and we need to continue that pace and ensure that we have full delivery of all planned measures in regard to our legally binding targets. That is exactly what we are intending to do. Let us be clear, we have the policies and the necessary funding in place and the governance is being strengthened. The Government has continued to remove blockages and accelerate projects. We have focused on the -impact actions. We have a climate action plan that is more focused, covering the carbon budget period. We will also have implementation oversight. We want to ensure that we continue to upgrade homes, bring more renewable generation on stream and have cleaner transport. That is our focus and that is responsible government. That is what we are trying to achieve together, and it is making a significant impact. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  A responsible Government would be able to answer basic questions on the fines that we are going to face and that Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael signed us up to. The Minister of State mentioned significant progress and stated that policies are in place. Policies should have been in place before the Government signed us up to these measures. We have been laggards in relation to this. In fact, when the Government signed us up to these targets in 2023, it accepted an increased target of 42%, when Ireland was already missing its original target of 30%. What was the basis for that decision? The Minister of State talks about responsibility. I am asking him basic questions. Can he outline the level of fines we will face? Is it going to be on the lower end, at \u20ac3 billion, or the higher end, at \u20ac26 billion? What are the factors that will determine that? What are the policies that the Government is implementing today? I ask the Minister of State to give an update in relation to this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  Just to address the rhetoric and some of the----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  No, the fines----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  ----- issues that the Deputy is raising. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  Not the rhetoric, the fines. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Sit down. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  Answer the question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Allow the Minister of State to answer it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  Relax. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Go ahead, Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  We are trying to have a civil conversation on oral parliamentary questions. As I said earlier, we have reduced our CO2 emissions below 1990 baseline figures for the second consecutive year, and we are making significant progress on expanding home retrofits and bringing more renewable energy on stream. The best response we have made in recent years is that our emissions are falling. That is the reality. Our investment is unprecedented, and we want to do even more. Our policies are being implemented across all sectors, including energy, homes, transport and land use. Most importantly, in the here and now, we have not paid 1 cent in EU fines, absolutely not. Not \u20ac1 has been diverted away from public services. No cheques have been written by the Government in that regard. That is because we have chosen to act, not to delay or deny. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  What about IFAC, the climate advisory council and the \u20ac26 billion? Has the Minister of State no idea? Come on. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  We will not dismantle our climate policy. We have continued----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  The Minister of State should conclude. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  Those warnings were calls for compliance. Check out the facts. They are the facts. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  The Minister should address his remarks through the Chair.  With the permission of the Members, we will go back to Priority Question No. 87 in the name of Deputy Byrne. He has brought a note and has apologised for being late. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Climate Change Policy"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_25","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Nuclear Plants","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_23","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_23","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_25","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_25.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Timmy Dooley  I know of the Deputy's interest in this area as he and I have discussed this on a number of occasions. Currently, the Department has no plans for the development of nuclear power, including small modular reactors, as part of Ireland's electricity system. As the Deputy is aware, there are two specific legislative prohibitions on nuclear power in place in Ireland. Both the electricity legislation, in section 18(6) of the Electricity Regulation Act 1999, and the planning legislation, in section 182 of the Planning and Development Act 2024, prohibit the development of nuclear fission for electricity generation. Those provisions would need to be replaced as a first step if we were to plan for the introduction of domestic nuclear fission energy generation.  The reality is that, as things stand today, it is not clear to us that public opinion is in favour of removing those legislative bans on the development of domestic nuclear power plants for electricity in Ireland. Building that majority would require an extensive conversation with the people of Ireland. There have been a lot of conversations about who represents the people of Ireland in recent days. Nonetheless, I think there is probably a consensus across the House that the notion of moving ahead with the introduction of the generation of electricity with a nuclear base to it, regardless of the system, would not gain a social licence in the current climate.  I am conscious, in my daily life as a representative of the people of Clare, of the pushback that is currently in existence regarding wind energy and the permissions for wind turbines. They are hotly contested, objected to in every possible way and then taken to judicial review. I do not think there would be too many at a public meeting in support of a nuclear reactor, regardless of the setback distance. I think we have a way to go in that regard. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  The reality is that we are already using nuclear energy in this country, as the Minister of State knows, because we have to import through the interconnector. The level of that import has grown in the past few years from 10% of our energy in 2023, to 15% in 2024, and to 17% in 2025. Of what we are taking already, a lot of the energy is provided through nuclear energy. I know the Minister of State is a strong supporter of the Celtic interconnector with France, and we know the majority of energy that is produced in France is produced through nuclear energy.  I do not believe we are going to see an overnight change. This is not something that is going to happen immediately but to completely rule out a discussion on using this form of energy is wrong. As part of the long-term strategy for the State, it is something we have to consider. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Timmy Dooley  Nobody wants to rule out the discussion but from a Government perspective, for us right now, it is about action and about meeting our targets on the demand for energy. Our efforts are concentrated on capturing wind to bring the electrons ashore. Of course, we take electricity from France that has its source in nuclear energy. Nobody has a problem with that. The French have a lot of expertise in that area. I think we are better concentrating on an area where we have an abundance of electricity off our shoreline. We are developing expertise in that area, and we can bring that on relatively quickly.  I am conscious that many nuclear plants have been in production for decades at this stage, and they are still not generating electricity. Our targets are towards 2030 and 2040. We are heading in the right direction with the strategy that we have. As for a conversation about it, we are all open to that but at the moment, the Government is moving beyond just talking about stuff. We want to get things done, and we are getting it done in that regard. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  Our transition to renewables is critical. The Minister of State knows that I strongly support all of the investment that we are seeing in wind and solar, and I want it to happen much more quickly. The question is around future capacity, when we are looking to 2040 and beyond, and whether enough will be generated even at that stage by renewables. Given what we have seen with the types of models we are talking about, I specifically asked about small modular nuclear reactors with regard to being able to fuel our future digital infrastructure, for instance, data centres, in the context of this being a digital economy. I believe it is something that needs to be considered. I accept this is not something that is going to happen immediately, but when we are looking at Ireland's future energy needs going to 2040 and 2050, this green technology, which it is, has to be part of the discussion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Timmy Dooley  Absolutely. While the debate and discussion are somewhat academic at the moment, it is appropriate that we are looking that far ahead because we do not want to find ourselves in the situation that we currently do - reaching a point where there are constraints on our grid. The lesson we have learned from that is that we now have to get the generation piece right. I really believe in what we are doing on the renewables side, in solar, wind and offshore wind. There are opportunities for floating offshore wind as we move forward, which will bring an even greater quantum of electricity onshore. We are also looking at the smart use of the grid. With interconnection, I think we are in a good space with the plans, which will get us to 2040 and, I believe, 2050 and beyond in terms of the quantum of electricity that can be bought ashore. There is the potential for us to be net exporters, particularly in relation to green hydrogen and ammonia, which can form part of the storage component of that offshore wind electricity. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Nuclear Plants"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_26","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Nuclear Plants","counts":{"speechCount":13,"speakerCount":4},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_23","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_23","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_26","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_26.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  It is clear from the last priority question, and from the comments from TDs, MEPs and the Taoiseach himself, that Fianna F\u00e1il has gone nuclear, probably in more ways than one, in the past 24 hours. I wonder if the Government is going nuclear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Timmy Dooley  I thank the Deputy. His sense of humour, as always, is timely and appreciated. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  We are also renewable. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Timmy Dooley  We can all be renewed.  The two questions were separate but we have the opportunity to follow one with the other. It is very clear that other countries have a considerable advancement in relation to the use of nuclear energy as a method of driving their economic activity and producing electricity. They have been doing it for decades and have made certain advances in that area. We have not been in that race due to decisions that went back to the early 1970s on Carnsore and other matters. It has been very clear that no social licence really exists among the general public for that.  What we have been doing in recent years is concentrating on capturing clean energy.  That is the one thing about wind and solar; they are absolutely clean. Nobody really talks about the storage of the by-product or the waste product from nuclear energy, which is, in most cases, dumped at sea, albeit, we believe, in a very safe environment. We would be better to concentrate on what we have and the fact that would not have to import all that much by way of equipment. We have the knowledge and experience, which we are developing, and there is a great opportunity for employment, particularly in coastal communities away from the centres, which would have had a greater level of employment in the past.  Pardon the pun - I do not like the phrase - but there is a double win or a win-win here as opposed to a \"wind-wind\". There is a win-win with the wind, and we need to continue to advance that. We are planning ahead with the designation of sites around our shoreline and offshore from now to 2040. We are also looking to 2050. We will have completed the programme of designation by the end of 2027. That will provide significant clarity to those investing from outside. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Aire St\u00e1it. I appreciate his response. I wonder about this new focus on nuclear energy. There has been a lot of commentary and priority questions in respect of it. I mentioned the newspaper headlines which state that the Cabinet is considering it. I am deeply concerned about this matter from a number of perspectives. The Minister of State touched on it when he referred to the waste involved, public support and, more importantly, the fact that Ireland's strength needs to be in the delivery and advancement of renewable technologies, particularly offshore wind. That is our great strength. Others have strength, well-developed for decades, in the area of nuclear energy, and we will use some of that. I do not see a contradiction in that regard. We need to play to our strengths. The real risk here is that we get distracted, go down a rabbit hole and continue to miss the really important milestones that we have to reach. That is where the focus needs to be. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Timmy Dooley  I agree. From a departmental perspective, we are not losing focus. We are absolutely targeting this. We are looking at interconnection as well. As the Deputy knows - the North-South interconnector is kind of in his area as well - we will have the Celtic interconnector. We want to build a more complex grid right across the European Union, which will help to balance the load, the demand and the generation, and we can do that. However, there is nothing wrong with accepting an academic debate. I do not say that in a throwaway manner. Of course, it always good to have checks and balances and if there is an academic debate going on, we will facilitate that and participate in it but our action-oriented plan is about capturing the wind, both onshore and offshore. It is about putting in place a structured grid that will allow electricity to be used without constraint across the State. We want to connect North to South, which is an important one, and then there is the Celtic interconnector. We also need to look then to other storage opportunities, which we have at the moment in relation to battery, but we need to do more than just an academic conversation around hydrogen because there is demand for that and for ammonia right across Europe at the moment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  On the opportunity to innovate, I had correspondence this week on how we are further developing and innovating in our existing offshore projects, and how they are coming back and refining their proposals in a really innovative, progressive and environmentally considerate way. Of course, we need to think of the potential implications of nuclear energy, particularly in terms of waste but also in the context of planning consent. We need to think about base-loading. We have renewables. We should have more and a lot more but we also need to look at battery technology.  On data centres, I am fundamentally opposed to the idea that we would bring nuclear power plants here in order to further expand our data centres. The opposite needs to be the case. Our data centres need to play a helpful role in advancing our renewables and balancing our grid, not the opposite. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Timmy Dooley  I am in broad agreement with the Deputy, but I am a big supporter of data centres. They are like the advanced factories that were there in the seventies. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  Not with nuclear power plants. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Timmy Dooley  In fact, I read a report recently which suggested that the use of data centres will reduce the use of electricity----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  Not if you put a nuclear power plant beside one. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy O'Rourke, allow the Minister of State to answer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Timmy Dooley  -----rather than having racks in isolated locations all over the place. You commingle and co-share a resource and, ultimately, you reduce the amount of electricity used. We have to be in control of our own data because there are other energy-rich countries that would be delighted to have the opportunity to store European data. If we do not get our act together, somebody will steal our clothes and that will be a loss. There are a lot of tech companies that want to be close to where the data centres are in the context of the resilience of the communications systems, etc. We have a job to do and, of course, we have to build houses, etc. I am all for advancing what we have to do in regard to offshore and wind. We must of course recognise that gas will be an important transition fuel as we move towards renewables, but we have got to do it at a pace and maintain the economic growth and control of our data at the same time. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Nuclear Plants"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_27","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Legislative Process","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_23","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_23","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_27","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_27.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  Can the Minister outline how he is going to ensure that the integrity of and the intention behind the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 are preserved in light of planned legislation such as the Critical Infrastructure Bill, which seeks to undermine it, and will he make a statement on the matter? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  The Critical Infrastructure Bill is a central pillar of the Government\u2019s Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan and represents a significant step forward in strengthening delivery across all key sectors, including energy, which I will turn to in a moment. Accelerated delivery of infrastructure does not disapply our climate commitments or our targets at national level, but recognises an urgent need for the completion of major infrastructure projects in the State. Many new infrastructure projects, including critical electricity infrastructure and public transport projects, are themselves absolutely essential to supporting climate, environment and other social and economic objectives.  The Bill provides for the disapplication of section 15 of the amended Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015, which the Deputy referred to, in very limited circumstances for designated critical infrastructure. Climate impact will still be one of the influencing factors when decisions are made and will continue to be accounted for through decision-making processes, particularly through the planning system where climate impact is already woven into the policy hierarchy, as confirmed recently by the Supreme Court in the Coolglass case.  I assure the Deputy that climate impact and considerations will remain absolutely central to the ambition of this Government, though they must be balanced against other critical factors like housing shortages and energy security particularly, and when it comes to these projects of national importance. I assure the Deputy that I will continue to work across government to ensure climate impacts of projects are well-evidenced and incorporated into proposals at the appropriate time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  No one can argue that we do not need to speed up infrastructure in this country. We have had a huge infrastructure deficit for decades and there are major infrastructure projects that we need to move on very quickly. Many of them will have a climate-positive outcome. However, it is incredible that while the Government is saying that climate obligations will remain central to those projects and the assessment of them, the Minister and the Government are bringing in a Bill that will disapply the climate Act. It essentially sets it aside and says that it will not be part of the process in the designation and the assessment of it. What the Government is doing by doing this is completely eroding the strength of the climate Act and the need for it. The Minister knows how difficult it was to get that climate Act through in the last D\u00e1il and how important it is. All the climate Act says in section 15 is that a relevant body \"shall have regard to\". It is not a large or high bar for this Government to meet when it comes to building infrastructure. Why is the Government trying to undermine it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  If the Deputy takes our offshore wind projects that are in planning right now as an example, she will see that many of them are the subject of requests for further information. We have already had groups say to us that if and when they are granted, these projects will be subject to a judicial review, JR, and will be brought to the High Court or the Supreme Court. That is not acceptable either. We are talking here today, and rightly so, around energy security and the acceleration of renewables, which, thankfully, we are doing really well. If you even look at solar, just over ten years ago, we had 2 MW of solar in our grid; we have 2,400 MW now.  It shows what can be done. That does not even include over 1,000 MW of rooftop solar. The Deputy and I know that there are critical projects that need to be delivered, particularly on the energy side. Energy is really where a lot of this is going. If we can reduce our dependence on fossil fuel, it is good for the climate, for the economy and for people. In some instances, we have very small groups or individuals who have been holding up these projects and have been weaponising a good climate Act and its purpose to slow and stall development. We cannot have that any more. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  Being able to object to developments is a core part of our democracy, it absolutely is. The projects need to be able to withstand those objections. The projects need to get those balances right. Oftentimes, the objectors are highlighting key flaws in the plans. It cannot be that we just throw them away because otherwise what is the point of the climate Act? Why bother bringing it in and why have it in legislation if the Government is just going to decide to set it aside whenever there is a project it wants to get through? Look at liquefied natural gas, LNG. This is exactly what the Government tried to do in relation to the strategic LNG legislation. It tried to disapply the climate Act there and essentially said that legislation would meet the obligations of the climate Act.  This is completely eroding the strength and the purpose of the climate Act at a time when we need to double down on climate action. It just beggars belief that the Minister is actually going to do this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  I do not think it does. I respect what the Deputy says but I disagree with it. Take the example of the floating gas reserve - the floating storage and regasification unit, FRSU - which we absolutely need. That is consistent with the climate Act in relation to the energy security of this country. That needs to happen. It will be debated in the D\u00e1il and we will see whether it receives the support of the D\u00e1il. It needs to happen. We are in no way setting aside the climate Act. What we are saying is, for critical infrastructure projects, what an acceptable length of time for objections to go on for is. I was the Minister responsible for planning in the last Government. I got rid of things like the fast-track planning system that went straight to what was An Bord Plean\u00e1la and brought it back to a two-stage planning process through the local authorities and the board. Decisions should be made by planning authorities, not by courts. That is my view and I have always said that very clearly. I fully respect and will defend the right of people to make observations, be they objections or observations in support of a project. What we cannot allow as a country is the continued use of methods by a very small number of people to delay critical infrastructure projects and the weaponisation of very good legislation, which is the climate Act. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Legislative Process"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_28","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Energy Policy","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_23","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_23","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_28","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_28.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  All across Europe, community energy is thriving, in places like Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and Scotland in particular. Communities are building wind and solar farms, district heating systems and energy co-operatives. They are lowering bills, keeping profits local and accelerating the transition, doing exactly what Irish communities want to do. Here, in respect of the small-scale renewable electricity support scheme, SRESS, we are told it is up and running but there are difficulties. I want the Minister of State to outline the problems it is having because only eight projects have qualified and not a single one has actually been built. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  The programme for Government commits to promoting the SRESS to simplify market access for communities, SMEs and farmer-owned solar and wind projects. The SRESS export tariff is designed for community, SME and farmer export-only projects above 50 kW to 6 MW. SRESS offers a simpler route to market for those groups, with fixed tariffs for solar and wind. All export projects up to 1 MW can also apply to SRESS, and need not be community, SME or farmer-owned projects.  To further support communities, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, provides a range of supports to develop renewable energy projects, including free access to specialist technical advisers and free comprehensive guides, available on the SEAI website. These guides cover various issues such as community groups and governance, stakeholder engagement, business planning and grid connection. The SEAI has also undertaken 13 county-level grid studies to help communities identify economically viable connection areas.  In 2025, my Department published an assessment of barriers and potential of development of renewable energy communities, as required by the renewable energy directive. My Department has also secured funding under the European Commission's technical support instrument to further assess barriers and propose recommendations to further support community energy development. This assessment is being carried out by the OECD, with initial policy recommendations due this year, which will help inform future policy approaches.  In February 2026, my Department commenced a review of the tariffs available under SRESS. This review is being undertaken to ensure the scheme continues to provide appropriate support. It is expected that the review will be completed later this year. In the meantime, the existing SRESS rates continue to be available and apply until the review process is complete. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  I know the review is taking place, but will the Minister of State tell me exactly when it is expected to give its findings? As I said earlier, and as the Minister of State acknowledged, there are barriers. Only eight projects have qualified and not one has been built. While it looks okay on paper, there are serious problems with the scheme in practice. There are massive delays in the enabling grant. There are huge ESB network connection costs. These projects are made almost impossible financially. Having access to the SRESS tariff is another difficulty. It only matters when you are exporting electricity to the grid. It seems to be mired in bureaucratic difficulties and delays. What exactly has the Minister of State mandated the Department review to come up with? Is he trying to remove the barriers or what exactly is he trying to do to make sure that the progressive advances we have seen across Europe can be brought into play here? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I fully accept that the uptake must increase. I know there is one project in Kerry and there is also a project in my own constituency of Mayo. That is exactly what we are working to do, to unlock the barriers.  In terms of our commitment, we are reviewing whether 100% community ownership remains the right model. We are also examining options of partnership between communities and developers, and also aligning the tariffs and supports for projects, that they are deliverable, bankable and compliant. We have to do this within the parameters of getting state aid rules right, to ensure we are not putting communities at any financial risk. The Government is very much working to ensure that we can have more viable projects in the pipeline and that they can be delivered faster and with certainty, protect communities and are designed to be simple in nature while having maximum impact. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  The Minister of State has not really answered the question, though, as to when exactly the review will take place. Is there a deadline on it? Let us be honest, the problem is that in Ireland there is only one community-owned renewable energy project above the 50 kW level, that is, in Templederry, and that was built more than a decade ago. Since then, there has been a huge demand out there and a huge hunger for sharing the benefits of renewable energy properly within communities. I see it is in the programme for Government, but 18 months later, there seems to be serious stagnation about it. Maybe with a new leader there might be more impetus in getting these kinds of project over the line. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  Is the Deputy trying to get rid of me? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  When will the review be completed so that things can be pushed forward and the bureaucracy and problems can be ended? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  To answer the question, we met as recently as yesterday in regard to it. We hope to have the review published before the end of the year. I understand the urgency around it. We listen to the frustration from communities that are giving their time and energy in trying to get these projects off the ground. We are very much committed to the community-enabling grants.  That has not changed and we want to ensure that anything we implement is legally sound and can be delivered safely. That is why we have an independent technical review - the tariff review - under way. Once that is complete, processing enabling grants will be a priority. We will have clarity and certainty for the communities that want to deliver these projects because we know how beneficial they are and we know what impact they will have locally. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Energy Policy"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_29","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Climate Action Plan","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_23","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_23","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_29","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_29.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  Today is 16 April and we are almost a third of the way through the year. When will the Department publish the climate action plan for 2026? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  I propose to take Questions Nos. 94 and 151 together.  We are committed to delivering on Ireland\u2019s responsibility to address the climate crisis and work remains ongoing across Departments to carry out climate-mitigation efforts every day, as evidenced by the roll-out of retrofitting, renewable energy development and deployment, and more affordable electric vehicles. All that continues at pace and is progressing well. These ongoing efforts are supported by the Climate Action Plan 2025, in tandem with its predecessor, the 2024 plan, both of which remain in place and provide a strong framework for continued delivery of climate action across all sectors, given that many of the measures and actions in these plans are multi-annual in nature and effect. Work remains ongoing across Departments to deliver on these commitments and carry out climate-mitigation efforts every day, supported by recently enhanced governance and delivery arrangements.  Progress is being made. Ireland now has the lowest level of greenhouse gas emissions in 35 years, which is notable given concurrent demographic and economic growth, including a population increase of approximately 1.5 million people, more than 1 million new homes and over 1 million extra vehicles on our roads. Those are extraordinary growth figures, which we have been able to underpin by reducing emissions.  We are making very significant strides towards our target of 80% renewable energy by 2030. Last month significantly, nearly 50% of our electricity was delivered by renewables. We have reached a milestone of 8 GW of onshore renewable electricity generation. We have more than doubled our wind energy capacity in just ten years. I mentioned last month's record 50% of our renewable electricity generation. We are now also prioritising the development of our offshore wind capacity. We had another successful auction with Tonn Nua. Underpinning this is the investment of \u20ac18.9 billion in our electricity grid for the period from now to 2030, which is critical to the electrification of homes, businesses, transport and our society.  On the Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland, ZEVI, front, we reached our target for electrical vehicle sales of 195,000 in October 2025, with sales now at 212,000. I have recently announced an unprecedented package of new and enhanced grants for homeowners, which I am glad to say have been really well received and we are seeing a significant uptake in grants by bringing forward the retrofitting passport committed to in the programme for Government.  Work on the next climate action plan, CAP, 26, is under way. Following the extensive recommendations delivered by the Oireachtas joint committee on climate late last year, the Government is taking the necessary time to carefully finalise the carbon budget process. We will be doing that. I am of the view that the next climate action plan should reflect the outcome of that process. In that regard, my Department is working towards bringing a draft of the new climate action plan to the Government later this year. I also want to look at how we report on it.  The ongoing transition to a climate-neutral economy has profound implications for our economy and society. In formulating the next plan, the Government must carefully consider a wide range of factors to ensure the approach is ambitious, feasible and sustainable. It is vital that our climate policies and emissions-reduction pathways deliver the best possible value for money while maximising the net benefits to society. We must protect the long-term competitiveness of the economy, maintain the State\u2019s attractiveness for investment and maximise employment opportunities while ensuring a just transition that supports communities right across the country. That is central to it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  I specified the date today because last year the climate action plan for 2025 was published on 15 April. At least last year there was there was some excuse for delay - there was a general election followed by the formation of a new Government, and the Minister needed to get a sense of his new Department. This year, those excuses do not exist and it starts to look like a lack of interest, a lack of urgency. With the Minister saying, as he has just done, that the plan will be published later this year, that sense of urgency is not coming across to me. By his own admission, Ireland will not meet its 2030 targets. I know he has been trying to reverse what he said over Christmas since then.  The climate action plan for 2026 is vital not just for this year but also for the next five years. Beyond trying to convince me about the importance of these steps for the Government, how can the Minister convince the Irish people if the central policy document for what happens next is delayed? He has given me a list of what brought us to here. Where we are is that we are behind our targets. The next big steps we need to see have to be set out in the climate action plan. The 2026 one is particularly important because it is the start of the next carbon budget cycle. We know we are a long way off and it needs to see some really big ideas, really big policies and how they will be funded within it. We are a third of the way through the year. We are losing time and we are losing the opportunity to implement these policies. Can the Minister give me any better sense of when it will come in? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  I fully accept the need to provide clarity on timeframes. I just want to explain what is happening on this. The last two climate action plans for 2024 and 2025 are still in place and the actions within them are still being worked through. I want to enable us to set climate priorities. The Deputy has previously asked me in the House about our climate targets. I have just said very clearly that while our projections and carbon emissions are going in the right direction, it does not look like we will hit our 2030 target. Having said that, we need to see how we can bridge that gap between the projected reduction and the target itself. That is why CAP 26 is so critical.  I want us to look at the most impactful measures that we can make and to get off an administrative hamster wheel on this whereby one plan is being produced while the actions of the previous year's plan are still being worked through. I have had this discussion with the Climate Change Advisory Council, CCAC. I have met it in plenary. A new chair, Alex White, has been appointed to the CCAC. I meet the environmental pillar regularly, including just couple of weeks ago, and they understand that too. What are the most important measures we can take in CAP 26 to help us bridge the gap and continue the progress that has been made in many areas, no less so than on the energy generation piece? That is a genuine thing and I want people to understand what CAP 26 is and for it to be a readable document. Notwithstanding all the really good work across government on the publication of the plan, it is fair to say, as is acknowledged by the environment pillar as well, that what is really important is how many people actually know what is in the plan itself. I want to bring that down to a grassroots level. That is the level of work that we are doing.  We are not looking to delay it at all. I intend to bring options on climate priorities to the Government in the coming weeks and that will flow into CAP 26. That is the timeframe. We are talking a matter of weeks for the climate priorities and following from that will be the climate action plan. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  I will not get into a back-and-forth over what was said at Christmas because I do not think it is useful at this stage. However, given how far off track we are at this current time, the climate action plan for this year, which sets out the priorities for the next five years within the carbon budget, is absolutely crucial. The Minister spoke about priorities. He will need to take some really big extra steps. It is not just about ticking the box and puttering along from where we are now.  I see the focus that the Government is putting on the Critical Infrastructure Bill, as this is going to be some big part of it. Deputy Whitmore made some points about it earlier and I have made some points to the Minister, Deputy Chambers.  I think what the Government is proposing there is actually counterproductive, but we will have that debate another time. In terms of the big step that was taken last week with a huge package of additional funding to deal with the emergency crisis to end the protest and the blockades, does the Minister believe the Department will get the financial backing across the Government to take some of these really big steps, steps beyond what have been budgeted for previously and steps that might make eyes water in the Department of public expenditure and in the fiscal council, but steps that are now necessary when we see for the second time in four years the vulnerability of our economy to its addiction to fossil fuels and the consequent impact on our emissions? If this climate action plan does not contain some big, bold and new ideas to decarbonise and does not provide greater energy security or affordability for Irish people, and if it does not have a clear financial commitment behind it, it will not be worth anything. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  I will take a couple of examples of where the commitments are. I agree with the Deputy. The next plan has to question how we can look to bridge the gap. We need to recognise the progress that has been made by our people and by successive Governments in this regard. That is why, looking at our retrofit programme, we have made some very significant changes to the grants to make them more accessible. People are responding to that already, just short of two months since we made those changes. We can do a lot of things to improve our resilience, reduce our energy use and make our homes more climate friendly and healthier. We can also do the same for business. We are looking at a suite of business grant measures to reduce energy use in business. Again, I agree with the Deputy on this. The reliance or over-reliance in certain areas on fossil fuels and our dependency on imported fossil fuels are a risk and a weakness, and we need to move away from that.  I will take two areas. I refer to grid investment and the \u20ac18.9 billion. PR6 is critical, and I know Deputy O'Gorman knows that. It is a matter of our taking more renewables into our grid. We are already the number one country in Europe in the integration of renewables into our grid, but it is a matter of our expanding that further and bringing more storage so that we can deploy and dispatch energy at the appropriate times. We have over a gigawatt in storage now. We can now trade in the electricity market, which is a good thing, too. We need to increase our storage and our renewable capacity. The projections in that regard to the end of the decade are good, while not hitting 80%. In the CAP 2026, for example, on energy, we will see how we can get to 80% without the offshore renewables because the offshore will not be electrified by 2030. The focus there is getting it into construction.  On transport, \u20ac2 billion of the climate and nature fund, as the Deputy knows, has already been deployed to MetroLink, which would be one of the biggest decarbonising projects from a transport perspective. That is backed with money. I want the CAP 2026 to be a real plan that people understand. It has to be ambitious and has to be backed financially, and I intend that it will be. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Climate Action Plan"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_30","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Electricity Transmission Network","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_23","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_23","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_30","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_30.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Timmy Dooley  I know Deputy Byrne is taking this for Deputy Ardagh. As he may be aware, the Department and the Minister do not have a role in respect of the delivery of the offshore electricity grid. That is handled by EirGrid as the transmission system operator. I will endeavour, on Deputies Byrne and Ardagh's behalf, to ask EirGrid to communicate with both of them in relation to the projects and where they are at. I am very conscious that our interconnection projects and those that are envisaged will be an integral part of the stabilisation of our own electricity grid and will assist us in continuing our pathway towards removing the need for fossil fuels as part of our generation mix. We are very strongly in favour of that, as Deputy Byrne knows.  The Celtic interconnector with France is under way and significant works are already in place there. I think it was the Taoiseach, or perhaps it was the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, who recently signed a memorandum of understanding, MOU, with Spain. The Taoiseach certainly had been involved at a stage in the discussions on that. I think at one of the events last year, I had conversations with Spanish representatives. We really believe in the necessity to connect ourselves in an important way with the rest of the European Union. Of course, the North-South interconnector is such a fundamental part of that all-island electricity market so, of course, that is important. I will have EirGrid communicate with the Deputies on that, on those projects. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  I am rather concerned. This has been described by EirGrid and others as the biggest infrastructure project this decade, which it is. The timeframe has already slipped, with commissioning meant to happen in 2026 but now happening in 2028. I am kind of concerned that the Minister of State says that he does not know on the floor of the D\u00e1il and that he will have to get EirGrid to let us know. This is a critical piece of infrastructure for the State, as he says. It is important that we know the timeframe as to when it will come on because one of our concerns in terms of energy demand for the State is about having the infrastructure in place. I am concerned, as the Minister knows, that we have been pushing out some of the deadlines with regard to some of our targets on offshore renewables to 2031 or 2032. It is critical that the commitment that was made that it would be in 2028 will actually be delivered, and the House is entitled to hear that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Timmy Dooley  In reality, none of us is happy that there are potential delays. From a departmental perspective and from the Minister's perspective, we are very clear on the importance of getting it done. What I am saying to the Deputy is that EirGrid is independent of the Government. It is established in that way as a TSO and it is responsible through the CRU, which has the potential to be brought before the committee. We are very anxious to do that.  Just a slight correction: the Minister reminds me that, in fact, the MOU with Spain has yet to be signed and will be done next week.  I will ensure that EirGrid communicate with the Deputies. I will ask that it update me as well in that regard. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  I am sorry but I have a problem with that. Yes, there is a reason EirGrid, in terms of operational activity, is independent, but EirGrid is responsible to the State. Deputy Dooley is a Minister of State responsible for energy with regard to a critical piece of infrastructure. We should know in this House about progress on this critical piece of infrastructure. I say respectfully that it is not good enough to say that EirGrid will tell us when it will have this critical piece of infrastructure finished. It is not for the benefit of EirGrid; it is for the benefit of every citizen, every business, every home in this State in order that we can have reliability of energy into the future. We should know and we are entitled to know in this House about progress on major infrastructural projects such as this. EirGrid is doing it on behalf of the State. I appreciate that the Minister of State will send me on the answer, but people are entitled to know if it will be finished in 2028, at the postponed date, as was originally committed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Timmy Dooley  I hope the Deputy does not think I am being evasive but I am just providing him with the information I have. I am aware that the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, meets with EirGrid monthly. He seeks to get an update on projects and he is very anxious that in all those instances he communicates to EirGrid the Government's priorities in this regard, and the Government's priorities have not changed. We are accelerating the development of infrastructure. There are State agencies that are established with their own independence, their own governance and their own boards of directors, so there is a limit in those circumstances as to what the Government can do other than to set out what policy is. We must be mindful, too, that we must follow the democratic principles that are established. EirGrid is answerable to its board, to the CRU and, ultimately, to the Oireachtas through the committee.  We represent the citizens of the State. We recognise the importance of this and we will continue to pursue that. In fact, I am meeting with Errol Close and a number of other people from EirGrid today, albeit in relation to separate projects, but I will communicate again the discussion here, and rest assured, I will continue to drive that. It is a recognition, too, that the Taoiseach has even established a clearing house in relation to offshore wind, of which the grid becomes part as well as an action-oriented plan to get delivery on these projects. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Electricity Transmission Network"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_31","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Energy Policy","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_23","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_23","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_31","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_31.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  Go h\u00e1irithe sna laethanta at\u00e1 inniu ann, t\u00e1 na ruda\u00ed at\u00e1 ag tarl\u00fa timpeall an domhain thar a bheith suimi\u00fail agus t\u00e1 s\u00e9 soil\u00e9ir gur g\u00e1 d\u00fainn athr\u00fa an-mh\u00f3r a dh\u00e9anamh ar \u00e1r gcuid fuinnimh. With the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the risk to global security, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz, how are we positioning ourselves to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels? I have been pushing for, and I mentioned it yesterday, plug-in solar. Is there any update from the Department on allowing plug-in solar? I represent a large area of north Dublin with a lot of apartment dwellings and this will ease their energy costs. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Teachta as a smaoint\u00ed ar an \u00e1bhar an-t\u00e1bhachtach seo.\u00a0 Aonta\u00edm leis go bhfuil s\u00e9 f\u00edorth\u00e1bhachtach agus go gcaithfimid athruithe breise a dh\u00e9anamh ar son fuinnimh in \u00c9irinn agus fud fad na hEorpa go h\u00e1irithe. I agree with the Deputy. We need to accelerate the changes we are bringing in given the existing crisis. Ireland has been to the forefront of many of the renewable energy generation initiatives. The past ten years have been good. Last year was particularly good but we need to accelerate this further. If ever there was a reason we need to continue to reduce our dependence on the importation of fossil fuels from other states, it is now. With the Middle East crisis, we do not want to lose sight of the fact - and it know it is not lost on the Deputy, in particular - that, while we are feeling it as an economic crisis and are feeling price shocks, we also have to be very mindful that it is a humanitarian crisis. Thousands of people have been killed in this war, following on from the brutality we saw with Israel's actions, its attack on Gaza and its continued attacks on the West Bank and the whole Middle East. It is a very uncertain situation right now.  I attended a virtual meeting of EU energy Ministers on 31 March to discuss an EU-wide response to rising costs caused by the conflict in the Middle East. The European Commission is due to provide additional details on specific proposals. I do not mind saying that we expected to get them last week, so the EU needs to act as a bloc. We are bringing forward changes in Ireland. We have deployed resources of about \u20ac750 million. It is still really difficult for our people but the EU response needs to be immediate in terms of what can be done at an EU-wide level. I have fed into that and I will come back to it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  Aonta\u00edm go hioml\u00e1n leis an Aire. It is definitely unprecedented but the price shock is not limited to the oil markets. It is also spreading rapidly through global gas markets in Europe and Asia. That just proves the importance. Roughly one fifth of the global LNG trade normally passes through the Strait of Hormuz. Qatar remains one of the cornerstone suppliers to the world's markets, which means any disruption tightens gas balances. Energy shocks also ripple into agriculture, as we have seen, beyond higher diesel prices, because natural gas and hydrocarbon liquids are key inputs in the production of fertilisers. We obviously note that this is all coming from the Strait of Hormuz but it feeds into the price of fertilisers. Can that also be looked into at EU level?  Has there been any reply in relation to the plug-in solar development? I have a lot of apartment dwellers in my constituency. To install a small-scale system on balconies to reduce bills would be very welcome to the Irish people, go h\u00e1irithe na laethanta seo. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  Aonta\u00edm leis an Teachta ar\u00eds. Next week the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and I are meeting the EU transport Ministers. We have already taken measures in respect of our supply chains. There has been no direction or unified approach by the European Union, which is regrettable. It is also regrettable that we are still waiting for the details of the toolbox - as it is now referred to - of what the European Union can do on behalf of its citizens. That needs to be done now and I will be reflecting that.  On plug-in solar, I know the Deputy has another question. Solar has expanded greatly in Ireland. Already we have 2.4 GW of solar in our system, with over 1 GW of rooftop solar as well that is not grid connected. I am very open to plug-in solar. Some safety concerns were flagged at official level but Germany and other countries deploy it well. On foot of the question that was tabled in this regard, the team in the Department is looking at this. If we can deploy more solar, then we should. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  T\u00e1 s\u00e9 an-mhaith go bhfuil an tAire ag r\u00e1 sin, go h\u00e1irithe inniu. It is a very interesting concept. If something is not safe, the Germans would not be doing it. The government there has been definitely allowing it and there has been a huge uptake of it. North Dublin, which I represent, has apartments. These apartment dwellers cannot use their rooftop. The plug-in solar systems which can be bought and installed within 15 minutes are a simple fix that would reduce their energy costs. Right now we need faster delivery of grid infrastructure and a welcome the Minister's engagement regarding private wires but, ultimately, it is about national security and affordability. One of the solutions that I am continuously shouting for, and I will continue to do so until it is done, is plug-in solar. Obviously, we can go with the private wires, long-duration energy storage, gravity storage and green hydrogen. We have so much potential and I do welcome the fact the Department is moving as fast as it is on it. I look forward to working constructively with the Minister on this matter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  I will keep the Deputy informed of the progress. We are trying to make it easier to deploy renewables. That is why the critical infrastructure legislation on bigger projects will be really important. There are things that households and communities can do. We have seen the growth, with 33,000 solar grant applications granted last year. We will accelerate that further this year, with about 73,000 retrofits. Plug-in solar is not an extremely new technology but there might have been some concerns with it. However, it is not being dismissed. I can assure the Deputy of that. We have a more detailed response on it in the written parliamentary question the Deputy has submitted. I will keep him directly informed on it. I made changes to the SEAI grants at the start of March in terms of making things more accessible for people to support. We have seen a really significant increase in applications for things like heat pumps, solar, wall cavity insulation and attic insulation as we have made it easier for people to do so. We also have to look at solar storage and battery storage in homes and at utilising our car batteries through EV and solar. I will come back to the Deputy. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 97 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Energy Policy"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_32","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Energy Policy","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_23","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_23","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_32","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_32.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  Over the last number of months, I have been asking the Minister about the issue of plug-in solar to ensure that more households in Ireland can benefit from cheap solar power. Will the Minister give me a timeline on when we will have a clear decision from him and the Department as to whether plug-in solar can be used in this country? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Timmy Dooley  Plug-in solar systems are very small PV energy systems, usually two or three modules, and less than 1 kW in total per installation. They are connected to a micro-inverter and plugged directly into the normal household socket. This then feeds the house's internal electricity system. These low-cost panels can be put on balconies and outdoor spaces. The use of plug-in mini-solar technology has grown in some EU countries in recent years as consumers search for ways to save on high energy bills. It has seen particular growth in Germany. Officials from our Department have engaged with stakeholders on the optional provisions in the 2024 electricity market design directive, including the provision relating to plug-in mini solar systems and through a consultation that ran from September to October in 2024. Respondents to that consultation raised potential safety issues, so it is important that the introduction of the technology is given appropriate consideration. Some form of regulation may be needed before plug-in mini solar is promoted. Officials are currently engaged with the relevant agencies and regulators, including ESB Networks in its role as the system operator. Our officials are also in contact with officials from the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero in the UK relating to the recently announced intention for the UK Government to regulate for the sale and use of plug-in mini solar systems. EU guidance on the matter is also being considered. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  The issue here is a question of speed. One million households in Germany use plug-in solar right now. There has been an 18-month consultation on this issue here. I agree that safety issues have to be addressed but the Minister has suggested that there may be a need for some form of regulation. We need some speed on this. Look at what the UK Secretary of State, Ed Miliband, did. He brought in the manufacturers, providers and installers to ask them about the specific issues and the regulatory challenges that needed to be addressed.  What are the regulatory challenges we need to address? As I have said, this matter has been going on for 18 months. Irish people, particularly those living in apartments, are being denied the opportunity to benefit from free energy in the midst of the worst energy crisis we have seen in this country. An assurance was given to Deputy Heneghan. I ask that I also be kept informed about the timeline for the delivery of this measure. Action needs to be taken now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Timmy Dooley  I thank the Deputy very much. He is right. Both he and Deputy Heneghan have continued to raise this matter. The Department is actively engaged on it. It is not good enough to just continue to say there are potential safety issues. We have got to address them, recognising that others have found methods to address those safety concerns. As I have said, we are engaged with our UK counterparts and we are also discussing the regulatory issues in relation to safety with our German counterparts, recognising that they have had a very successful roll-out. There are some grid issues. I do not offer that by way of excuse but, with regard to distribution, our grid is managed and constructed somewhat differently. Notwithstanding that, it should not be beyond our capabilities to find a pathway forward that is safe and that gives capacity to those who have the opportunity or potential to use these small-scale pieces of equipment. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Is f\u00e9idir teacht ar Cheisteanna Scr\u00edofa ar www.oireachtas.ie. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Written Answers are published on the Oireachtas website. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Energy Policy"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_33","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions","counts":{"speechCount":56,"speakerCount":8},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_33","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Denise Mitchell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Sula dtosa\u00edm, tabharfaidh m\u00e9 aitheantas do bh\u00e1s an-bhr\u00f3nach bean as Gaoth Dobhair i mo chontae f\u00e9in, D\u00fan na nGall, Moya Brennan. Ba bhean iontach \u00ed Moya a raibh cro\u00ed m\u00f3r aici. Bh\u00ed s\u00ed ar dhuine de na daoine ba dh\u00edlse agus b'fh\u00edrinn\u00ed a bh\u00ed ann riamh. Cara a bh\u00ed inti fosta. Ba dhuine de chairdi\u00falacht agus de chine\u00e1ltas do gach duine a raibh aithne acu uirthi. Ar nd\u00f3igh, bh\u00ed gl\u00f3r a th\u00e1inig \u00f3 na haingil aici. Chuir an gl\u00f3r sin D\u00fan na nGall ar an l\u00e9arsc\u00e1il dhomhanda. Ar dheis D\u00e9 go raibh a hanam d\u00edlis. Cuirim mo chomhbhr\u00f3n \u00f3 chro\u00ed in i\u00fal do Tim, Aisling agus Paul, do chlanna Jarvis agus U\u00ed Bhraon\u00e1in uilig, d\u00e1 teaghlach, d\u00e1 cairde agus do gach duine at\u00e1 faoi chian ina diaidh. N\u00ed bheidh a leith\u00e9id ar\u00eds ann.  After weeks of turmoil, protest and public anger over soaring fuel prices, what is most striking is that the T\u00e1naiste's Government is still not listening. Right across the State, over 750,000 households rely on home heating oil to keep their homes warm. For them, this crisis is not abstract. It is immediate and it is punishing. It is the difference between heating their home or going without. Despite everything that has happened over the past number of weeks, the protests, the pressure and the clear message from workers and families right across this State, the Government still has not reduced excise on home heating oil by a single cent. There is nothing. The T\u00e1naiste now expects a pat on the back for not increasing the carbon tax on home heating oil in a fortnight's time. Instead, he will impose that increase in the very depths of winter. For families already stretched to the brink, that is no relief at all.  What does it say about the Government that, after weeks of anger and hardship, it still does not get it? The Government still simply does not understand the lives people are living. It does not understand the fear of a bill landing that cannot be paid, the quiet dread of a cold home or the constant calculations required just to get through to the end of the week. There is a complete lack of urgency, of empathy and of basic understanding from the Government.  What we have seen is not just inaction, but a pattern of behaviour that poured fuel on this crisis. Last week, members of the Government chose to insult, demean and even threaten those who took to the streets. These are people who were left with no choice but to rise up out of desperation because their livelihoods are being decimated. That is the reality. They are seeing cut after cut and price rise after price rise and they felt they had no other option but to take a stand. Now, to add insult to injury, many of those same workers are returning home to find parking fines landing through their letter boxes. This is the wrong response. It is a response that punishes people who are already pushed to the brink. These are people who did not have money last week and they are now being asked to fork over hundreds of euro for parking fines.  For goodness' sake, where is the common sense in all of this? Has the Government learned nothing over the last week? It is it not listening to where people are at? Is it any wonder that this Government is so detached from people's lived realities? It is staggering. The Government refuses to act on the issue of home heating oil. It dismisses and belittles those in hardship. It makes life even harder for many of those same people. I will ask the T\u00e1naiste a direct question. How does he justify the decision not to decrease excise duty on home heating oil by a single cent? Given all that he knows about people being pushed to the pin of their collars and going without heat in their homes, why does the T\u00e1naiste, as Minister for Finance, simply ignore those people, refuse to listen to them and refuse to act on their behalf on the issue of home heating oil? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I join with the Deputy in extending sympathies to the family, friends and community of Moya Brennan. She was a musical icon, a unique voice of extraordinary talent and somebody who played no small part in bringing Irish music to an international audience. May she rest in peace.  I thank the Deputy for the question. This has been a very challenging period of time for the people of this country. The pressures that people are feeling are real. We are working constructively to endeavour, as best we can, to assist people at a time of huge global turmoil. There is sometimes an effort to divide society into different groups. Everybody will benefit from the energy package we have put in place. That is because, as the Deputy knows, when you take measures to reduce energy prices, that has a positive effect in moderating the likely increases in the rate of inflation. While there has quite rightly been much discussion on fuel this week, we hope the measures we have been putting in place will have a broader positive impact in suppressing, insofar as possible, what is likely to be a growing rate of inflation. That is passed through directly when it gets to the supermarket floor. That is the first thing I would say.  I will get to kerosene in a moment but the second thing I will say is that this is not a small package by any fair or objective measure. I presume the Deputy would acknowledge that. It is a package of a total of \u20ac750 million in supports. It is either the largest or one of the largest packages in the European Union. I am holding up a table that proves that. This Government has taken action on behalf of the people of Ireland, introducing one of the very largest packages in the European Union. The details of the package are well known. There are reductions in the excise duty on petrol, diesel and green diesel. There is a package for farmers, farm contractors, agricultural contractors, hauliers, bus contractors, fishers and many important supply sectors of the Irish economy.  The Deputy is also right that there is a real issue when it comes to the cost of home heating oil. On that much, we agree. However, we disagree on how to respond. We have taken steps to help people with home heating oil. We took a conscious decision to expand the fuel allowance season. The fuel allowance season was meant to be over by now. It was not meant to be available to people this month. It is worth \u20ac152 per household as a result of that extension. That is costing \u20ac71 million. The Deputy will know that the households that are most in need from a fuel poverty point of view get that. He will know such households in his own constituency. We all know them. They include many pensioners, carers, people with disabilities and, crucially, many low-income working people who are in receipt of the working family payment. About a quarter of all households in the country now receive that payment. I ask the Deputy to let people know that.  This is a targeted measure. I am watching what is likely to happen in Northern Ireland today, which the Deputy's party will know well through its role in the Executive. The measures Sinn F\u00e9in is likely to bring in today with respect to home heating oil will also be targeted measures and not universal measures.  On the second thing we have done, it is important to listen and we listened when people in this House said that we should suspend the increase in carbon tax on kerosene and green diesel. We support the carbon tax, as do most of the Opposition although Sinn F\u00e9in does not, because it plays a very important role in funding the climate transition and in supporting farmers, retrofitting and those in fuel poverty. We introduced that suspension.  Sinn F\u00e9in's solutions are not as easy as the Deputy suggests. I looked at one of those solutions. We should all look at people's ideas and be willing to engage on them. I had my officials look at Sinn F\u00e9in's proposal to return the carbon tax to the 2023 rates and to backdate this reversal to 1 May. I have been told that Revenue does not hold records of any individual end-users. Therefore, any retrospective adjustment is unlikely to be possible and could result in the unjust enrichment of suppliers, substantial administrative burdens and unanticipated costs to the Exchequer. This is not a question of a lack of empathy but one of making sure that the solutions we come up with together are practical and workable.  We have a large package of measures in place and we will continue to work our way through this challenging time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I really do not understand why the T\u00e1naiste is not listening to ordinary people. There has been an outpouring right across the country. The T\u00e1naiste can wave his graphs all he wants, but he needs to really listen to ordinary people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  It matters. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  A young woman wrote to me and lots of other people this week. I think it is important for me to read out what she said. Listen to this. She said:  My own situation is becoming unbearable. Despite being in a dual-income household, I haven't been able to afford home heating oil for three weeks - three weeks without heat, not because I have been irresponsible but because I simply cannot afford it anymore. At the same time, I'm paying extortionate rent for a home that I can't even properly live in. Damp is setting in because I can't afford to heat it. I feel trapped. I am being squeezed from every angle with no relief and the future feels completely out of reach.  She went on to say:  I will never own my own home in this country despite working full-time and doing what I was told - going to college, getting the degree. As a working-class child of two working-class parents, that dream is gone. There is no pathway forward, only increasing pressure and diminishing hope.  They are the people the T\u00e1naiste needs to be listening to, not waving his graphs. He should listen to ordinary people and respond. What was the Government's response this week? It would not cut a single cent of carbon tax from home heating oil. She is in a house that she could not heat for three weeks. She works full-time and her partner does the same, and the Government ignored her this week because it is not listening and it is completely out of touch. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  No, it is quite the opposite, in fact. People are living through very tough and very challenging times but Deputy Doherty has got to be honest with that person who wrote to him as well. The Deputy can talk about waving graphs, but facts matter. I had Sinn F\u00e9in's measures assessed by officials in my Department, and they came back and said it was not doable. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Cutting carbon tax? Of course, it is. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Hang on a second. May I speak, please? Thank you. Revenue does not hold records of individual end users when it comes to home heating oil. If we did what Sinn F\u00e9in proposes, and I am accepting----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  We are not looking for retrospective----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  You are. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  That is nonsense. On home heating oil. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  With regard to a proposed amendment for solid fuel carbon tax, the Sinn F\u00e9in amendment proposed reverting to 2023 rates and backdating the reversal to 1 May 2023. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  We did not ask for backdating. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I am going to write to the Deputy and explain to him the practical challenges with the Sinn F\u00e9in's measures. There are practical challenges. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Cut the carbon tax on home heating oil, simple as. The T\u00e1naiste knows he can do it if he wants to. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Can I say something else? The Deputy had his time and I think the people deserve better than shouting and roaring. We cannot get through this global economic crisis if every week we come into this House----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  She cannot get through the week, never mind the crisis. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  -----and the proposal is to abolish taxes and spend more. That is not a sustainable way through this. Abolishing taxes and spending more would not steer us----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  What does the T\u00e1naiste say to her? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy Doherty, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  What I say to that person is we have her back. We put in one of the largest packages in the European Union. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Ah here. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Denise Mitchell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Denise Mitchell  Come on. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  We have reduced excise. They are benefiting from that at that pump. We have extended the fuel allowance and we will work through this together----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Is the T\u00e1naiste telling me that he has her back? She cannot heat her home. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  -----while Sinn F\u00e9in refuses to condemn intimidation against garda\u00ed this week. It refused to stand by----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  She did not intimidate anybody. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  She did not but you refused and your leader refused----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  She is sitting in a cold house. She is working every hour that God sends her. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy Doherty. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  She did not intimidate anybody. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Time and time again, Sinn F\u00e9in refused to condemn the blockades. It is now in favour of blockades. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  The T\u00e1naiste is diverting. There are people sitting in cold homes and the Government refuses to cut carbon tax. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Hang on, Deputy Doherty. You put the question and the T\u00e1naiste has attempted to answer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I am sorry. I am deeply frustrated. I apologise to the Leas-Cheann Comhairle but not to this fella over there who is completely out of touch. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  You are out of touch. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  For the last 10 years, Fine Gael and Fianna F\u00e1il Governments have been lucky enough to preside over very healthy public finances. How they have spent \u2013 or misspent - our great wealth is another matter, though clearly the anger and frustration that we saw on our streets last week means that, even with the vast resources at the Government\u2019s disposal, it clearly is not getting it right.  It has been in its gift to splash the cash whenever its wants. There were tax breaks for big developers and burger barons in the last budget and more sectoral handouts this week, but where is the bailout package for PAYE workers to protect their incomes, to reduce their bills with targeted energy credits and measures to adopt solar and retrofitting at scale? Too many people simply cannot afford to even consider getting SEAI grants.  If successive Governments had taken our climate commitments seriously, we would not be in the cost-of-living crisis that we are now, with some of the highest energy prices in Europe. We have a budget for our emissions in this country. We have legally binding targets to reduce our emissions, or at least I thought we did. Our carbon budget is very much in the red and the Minister has admitted that we are going to miss our 2030 emissions targets by as much as 50%. The climate change and fiscal advisory councils have warned us that fines are going to come in, ranging from \u20ac8 billion to \u20ac26 billion by 2030. Who is the Government going to ask to pay for it? It will be PAYE workers again who will have to shoulder that burden.  Yesterday was overshoot day. If the rest of the world consumed at the rate that Ireland has since 1 January, we would have run out of resources globally on 14 April. That is a month earlier than it would have been last year. Would the T\u00e1naiste tolerate this lack of budgetary indiscipline when it comes to our public finances? He has just said that we cannot keep spending more. Of course, he would not tolerate this but the manner in which this Government approaches everything to do with climate, environment and biodiversity gives the impression that we have loads of carbon budget to spare for all these highly polluting new projects that it wants to pursue. New private wires laws are going to turbocharge data centre expansion and imported fracked gas through the new liquefied natural gas reserve will power them. Once again, it will be ordinary PAYE workers who will pay the price for all of this in their energy bills.  Most worryingly, we see the Government deciding that it just does not want to bother with the climate Act at all when it comes to large critical infrastructure projects. This Government has consistently scapegoated environmental concerns arising via the planning process or judicial reviews as the root cause of its inability to deliver anything meaningful, but none of the delays relating to the new children\u2019s hospital, for example, were due to environmental objections. There are any number of reasons it takes time to deliver large projects but dumping on environmentalists and environmental law is just dishonest.  We all want to see critical infrastructure delivered and delivered quickly, but will the Government reverse this decision to disapply the climate Act from the Critical Infrastructure Bill and can he tell me when PAYE workers are going to get a break from the Government? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Ahern for his question. I will reiterate my point that while there has been much discussion this week about various sectors that are vital to the Irish economy, whether they are farmers or fishers, hauliers or the likes, the fundamental point here is that this Government's package supports everybody because the PAYE worker and everybody else in this country needs food on the shelves. They need the ports operating, not blockaded. They need to make sure that our supply chains work. Many of the PAYE workers pulled up at petrol pumps this morning where the cost of petrol and diesel, while still too high, is lower than it was before we voted. In fairness, the Labour Party supported the cut on the excise this week as well. Crucially, measures that we take to try to somewhat contain - because no Government can fully insulate - the impact of very significant rising costs caused by the war in Iran help keep inflation down or at least moderate the growth of inflation. That does genuinely have a benefit for all of us in society, including PAYE workers.  I am really pleased that there is a meeting taking place tomorrow at the Labour Employer Economic Forum, LEEF. As the Deputy knows, it is the body that brings together trade union representatives, employer representatives and senior members of the Government, including myself and the Taoiseach. It is more important than ever that we have really good and intensive engagement. I mean this sincerely: at challenging times in the history of this State, the trade union movement has stepped up time and time again and played a positive role. That does not mean, by the way, that we always agree on everything. I do not want to kill their street cred and I certainly do not agree with them on everything but having constructive engagement in process at times of challenge is something I value. This Government values it and I think this Oireachtas values it. I heard the comments of the general secretary of ICTU this week as well in relation to that. We should challenge ourselves, after the week that this country has had, to make sure we have very robust and constructive structures in place for ongoing engagement. I want to say that too.  In relation to renewables, I will start with a positive. Half of all electricity generated in this country in March came from renewables. It was the first time. I think it was 49%, just under half. We are making some progress. We need to do more and we need to do it faster because - and I agree with the Deputy on this point - as long as we are dependent on dirty fossil fuels from abroad, there is a security issue in every sense, including an economic security issue. However, we are making some progress under the work of the Minister, Deputy O'Brien. We saw 58,000 homes retrofitted last year. We have seen a record demand this year, with over 29,000 applications already in. We have improved the grants. I am sure that the Deputy was hearing from his constituents that it was cumbersome to have to do everything together. I was certainly hearing it from mine. As a result of those changes, the approval of the grants for heat pumps is up 95%, roof insulation is up 81% and cavity wall insulation is up 62% as well. In fact, in March alone there were more than 6,000 grant applications for windows and more than 6,000 grant applications for doors. These are encouraging signs.  On the issue of critical infrastructure, critical infrastructure can include renewable energy as well. I genuinely think that we can have different perspectives on this. It is taking far too long to deliver transformational projects, including transformational projects from an energy point of view. The Critical Infrastructure Bill tries to get that balance right. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  I thank the T\u00e1naiste. We welcome the LEEF meeting next week and the Labour Party will be supporting our trade unions here when they are looking for pay rises, when they are looking for remote and flexible working rights.  We are calling for free and cheap public transport and an expansion of those types of schemes. The T\u00e1naiste did not indicate that the Government will continue to abide by the climate Act when it comes to our critical infrastructure. There are reasons other than those relating to environmental laws for projects in this country being delayed. A lack of resourcing of planning authorities, regulatory bodies and the courts over the past ten years has resulted in projects being delayed. It is not fair to dump on environmental laws.  It is not as if our rivers and waterways are in pristine condition or that our biodiversity is in a strong position. We need the climate Act. The whole point of section 15 of that Act is that public bodies can be held to account in the context of performing their duties in conjunction with our climate obligations. That should not get in the way of the construction of critical infrastructure. I ask the Government to look at this again and to reverse the decision in relation to the Critical Infrastructure Bill and section 15 of the Climate Act. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  At least your politics are honest in the sense that we can either agree or disagree on certain policy areas and you can criticise us and we can criticise you. You do not come into this House and constantly suggest the abolition of significantly important taxes and come up with a load of new spending ideas at the same time. That is not a sustainable position. It was very interesting earlier in the week that the House did not divide when it came to some of these issues. It did not divide along the lines of the big bad old Government over here and all of the Opposition together over there. We were better than that, or at least many of us were, in terms of trying to engage constructively. I appreciate that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  They voted no confidence in you. You may forget that. Are you serious? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Deputy Doherty, you had your go. It is their time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  This is Simon and his wee----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Stop, please. Go ahead, T\u00e1naiste. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  This week the Sinn F\u00e9in Party took to social media to criticise Labour and the Social Democrats. I thought that was pretty pathetic. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  You must be more worried about Miche\u00e1l than we thought. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Come on, Pearse, give everybody a chance in this House. No bully-boy tactics, please. We support the Critical Infrastructure Bill. We will be happy to tease through the detail of it. The Deputy is right in that there are lots of factors involved. At times, environmental law can be a factor when there are projects we need to deliver at real speed. This is not about all projects; it is about those that are deemed to be critical. As the Minister takes the Bill through the House, he will engage constructively and tease through the detail. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  It has been a bad week for the Government; it is been a good week for people power. The fuel protests caused the resignation of a Minister of State and the sudden appearance of the young Turks of Fianna F\u00e1il. Those protests led to the majority of the Government being reduced and the Government being destabilised. That is before we get to the by-elections in just over a month's time.  It is often said that power comes from the barrel of a gun, but in this country it often seems to come from the cab of a tractor. The message that people will take, correctly, from the Government's response to the protests is this: if you do not take militant protest action and if you are not representing landlords or big business, the Government will ignore your demands, no matter how reasonable or justified they are. The fact that five years into a cost-of-living crisis the Government is still ignoring the demands of workers, carers and disabled people on the cost of living is truly outrageous. Prices have gone up by almost a quarter in the past five years, but the Government decided that the cost-of-living crisis was over as soon as the general election was. That is why it used the budget to withdraw the cost-of-living measures that it used to buy the general election. That included a cruel \u20ac1,400 cut for disabled people. That was a targeted measure.  Since taking over as Minister for Finance, the T\u00e1naiste has ignored the very reasonable and modest request for \u20ac400 emergency payment in order that people can pay their winter heating bills. He has lectured workers, disabled people and carers that he has to be responsible and careful with the State's finances. Of course, that did not stop him finding \u20ac700 million for tax cuts for fast food chains and the hospitality industry, \u20ac400 million for property developers and \u20ac300 million for Google. It has not stopped him from finding \u20ac220 million down the back of the couch to give to hauliers and farmers.  Some of the excise cuts will trickle down to workers, which is welcome. It would not have happened without the protests. We have called for a price cap for years and we introduced legislation in that regard over two years ago. Without a price cap, the cuts will be quickly swallowed up by the further increases in oil prices caused by Trump and Netanyahu's illegal wars, which the Government still has not condemned despite all of the talk of standing up for international law.  It is the same old story. Fine Gael and Fianna F\u00e1il have plenty of money for business but when it comes to workers and carers, out comes the poor mouth. The trade unions need to take heed. We are in a new period at home and abroad and a new phase of militant protest is needed. Workers do not need tractors to force the Government to listen. The most effective form of disruptive protest is the strike, a power that all workers have. It is clear that the Government can take emergency measures when it wants to or is under pressure to. When will it introduce universal measures to protect ordinary people from the cost of living crisis? It has cut the price of petrol and diesel. Will it make public transport free immediately? Will it bring in a \u20ac500 energy credit for every household paid for by a levy on data centres? Will it levy the owners and operators of private jets so that they do not benefit from the excise cuts? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  We have to acknowledge that real wages in this country are rising. We also have to acknowledge that we made very significant increases, quite rightly, in the disability budget this year, albeit with a big focus on service provision. Those increases totalled over \u20ac600 million. The Government is committed to the introduction of a cost-of-disability payment and a lot of very good work is being done by the Minister, Deputy Calleary, my colleague the Minister of State, Deputy Higgins, and others. The consultation on that has closed. There was very good engagement from stakeholders, including people with disabilities and their representative bodies. I thank them for that.  I need to keep saying, because it is true, that the measures we took have benefits for some sectors but they also have an overall economic benefit that helps everybody. There is nothing that triggers inflation more than commodity prices. If we cannot take measures to try to suppress energy prices, insofar as anyone can during a war and the knock-on impact on supply to which it gives rise, inflation will increase even further. That will have a detrimental effect on the people to which the Deputy referred. I accept his bona fides in highlighting their cases.  The Deputy mentioned Google and others. That is fine; that is his politics. I must point out that \u20ac109.3 billion is expected in total tax revenue this year, about \u20ac34 billion of that, or 31.1%, is expected to come from the same corporate taxpayers the Deputy demonises. That is before we even get to the income tax benefit of the many thousands of people who work in those communities, some in Dublin and many outside it in terms of regional development.  The Deputy's views on protest are well known. We can have a debate on his a loose enough definition of what constitutes a protest. He and I have different views as to where peaceful protest starts and ends. Lots of genuine, decent people protested this week. There were also people who crossed the line in terms of legality. I saw people saying pretty horrific things to Deputy Murphy about his support for LGBT people in this country. I agree with him on his support for those people, and we have common cause in that regard. It worries me slightly that he is willing to perhaps adopt common cause with people who abhor much of what he champions. He may agree or disagree with that. I am not saying this to be provocative or rude, but the Deputy sees the bigger prize as mass protest. That merits reflection. Many people leading the protests oppose and abhor everything Deputy Murphy stands for, whether people think that is right or wrong.  On the VAT cut in the hospitality sector, which is supported by some but not all of those in opposition, people can refer to beef barons and name large fast food change chains. The vast majority of people who benefit from the reduced rate of VAT on hospitality are small restaurants and caf\u00e9s and rural pubs that serve meals in the middle of the day. They are the backbone of the domestic Irish economy. They employ a hell of a lot of people directly and provide benefits to more people indirectly. It is a measure that becomes more important than ever now in terms of supporting the domestic economy and reducing the cost for SMEs at this difficult time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  I do not think the Government gets it. If it got it, we would not have seen the scenes we saw over the past ten days. That is a result of the Government not listening and not acting. One in five people is at risk of poverty. Two in five parents have skipped meals or cut back on what they are eating in order that their kids can have enough to eat. Hundreds of thousands of people are in arrears in on their electricity or gas bills. That is what drove the protests. The common cause I and People Before Profit make is with people who are fighting for action on the cost-of-living crisis. The core demand that emerged from the protests related to price caps.  We were the only party calling for price caps. We introduced a Bill precisely two years ago in which we called for price caps. We will not allow ourselves to be intimidated from supporting protests by the presence of some far-right agitators with their own agenda who are simply trying to hijack and misuse people\u2019s anger. We make no bones about supporting effective protest.  I have heard the T\u00e1naiste say on multiple occasions that the package brought forward the other day had nothing to do with the protests. I do not think there is a single person in the country, including the T\u00e1naiste, who believes that. No one believes it. The message the T\u00e1naiste sent out on foot of his actions is that protest works and achieves results and concessions. That is a message to everyone. We want to see that built on by mass, effective \u2013 including disruptive \u2013 protest to force universal action for everyone. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  The Deputy used the term \u201cdisruptive protest\u201d. I will not speak for Deputy, but I will say that I do not support the blockade of critical infrastructure or the idea that someone can tell me whether I can move freely around this country. I do not support some of the comments online last night from the so-called self-appointed leaders that if anyone on these benches on this side of the Chamber attends an agricultural show, we will be dragged out of it. I do not think the Deputy supports that either. We should condemn that, because we are better than that.  On price caps, the Deputy has a view. We have a different view. We do not believe they work. Liz Truss tried a version of this. We believe that price caps transfer the cost from the forecourt to the taxpayer. It does not disappear; it is just transferred. Price caps have significant budgetary implications in terms of the delivery of public services because they do not reduce the cost; they just transfer it from the forecourt to the taxpayer. It is not free money. It has a real impact, and it would cost many billions.  There are challenges in this country, but figures from the CSO now show that the average weekly wage is over \u20ac1,000. We are creating 200 jobs every working day. We have an ability to make real progress on key issues and help people to work through the challenges they are facing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  I want to spend some time addressing an issue I have referenced before, namely the growing crisis of so-called parking wars and the service charge-related instability that is turning home ownership into a nightmare in many of our new communities. I give the examples of the Clonburris and Adamstown strategic development zones, SDZs, in my constituency, with which my independent colleague Councillor Helen Farrell, who I welcome to the Public Gallery, will be all too familiar, as will the Minister of State, Deputy Emer Higgins. There are other large-scale developments in respect of which people were sold the promise of sustainable living but, instead, residents who can afford to pay for housing or those offered places on choice-based letting, end up being trapped in a planning vacuum. The guidelines have slashed parking ratios to the bone. There is often fewer than one space per unit on the basis of the fantasy that our public transport is already world class. As we know, it is not. There is absolute chaos in many estates in Adamstown central, Seven Mills, Kilcarbery and Citywest.  Traffic index data from January confirms that Dublin is the third most congested city in the world. Residents in the SDZs are at the centre of this gridlock. It might be argued that it is counterintuitive to call for more car parking spaces, but there is a difference between owning and using a car. We should by all means discourage car use, but with a lack of public transport, people do not have the ability to get from A to B. They are often stuck because public transport in their areas is not yet a viable alternative. Reports from March show that the Connolly-Adamstown rail line is at full capacity, with over 200 people boarding at single stops and commuters literally pinned to the doors. We know that the DART+ South West is promised.  In Citywest and Kilcarbery, for example, residents have been forced into rotational parking apps that limit parking to three days. People can book it in advance. This causes issues because people who have designated spaces are seeing other people park in their spaces. Rented houses in which there are three people working in jobs that require them to travel means that vans are parked all over the place. A lot of the time, the owners feel that they do not have any other choice.  The other issue is the skyrocketing service charges in some Dublin estates, which have increased by more than 53%. A recent report from the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland, SCSI, confirms that three out of four owners' management companies, OMCs, have inadequate sinking funds for long-term repairs.  I have two questions. First, will the Government immediately review the parking ratios in Clonburris and Adamstown SDZs to facilitate overspill parking spaces? We cannot build car-free developments while the National Transport Authority admits that we do not have sufficient corridors. Second, will the Government finally complete the transfer of the Multi-Unit Developments Act to the Department of housing so we can have a regulator with teeth and stop the type of two-tier citizenship whereby homeowners are forced to pay for their own roads, lights and security on top of record property taxes? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Gogarty for raising this matter. I am grateful to have the Minister of State, Deputy Higgins, beside my for some local knowledge on some of these issues. I was in Clonburris not that long ago. I will get to some of the infrastructural challenges but I must say, being honest, that I was pleased to see the number and quality of homes being built and the partnership model that seems to exist \u2013 certainly from my visit - between the Land Development Agency, developers and the local authority. That is an important template for others to learn from.  We all know we are living through a housing emergency. We are all under pressure as the people\u2019s representatives to see more homes built. We have set a very ambitious target of 300,000 homes by the end of 2030. We have to get there. Quite frankly, that means all of our communities and constituencies taking more houses. I am encouraged to see the increase in this regard in Lucan, Clondalkin and more generally across the Deputy\u2019s constituency of Dublin Mid-West.  It is also true that those increases are putting real pressure on infrastructure. The Deputy highlighted the example of parking today, but there are a variety of issues in this regard, including public transport, schools and pitches. That is one of the reasons we set up the housing activation office because we need our local authorities to be able to work with central government. We need them to inform us about the key pieces of infrastructure they need or the things they need to be unblocked in order to deliver these homes, because we need to build communities as well as houses.  I live in a constituency that is not vastly different from that of the Deputy, especially the northern half where there is a significant number of additional houses being built, which we are glad to see. The challenges around ratios, parking spaces and the need for people to have a car are real and present too. On foot of the Deputy raising this issue, I will talk with the Minister, Deputy Browne. Some of these are matters for the local authority. Others are matters that central government can work through.  I am hearing about service charges a lot. This is a real issue for people. I need to check with the Minister for housing on this. We are committed to that transfer taking place and the completion of the Multi-Unit Developments Act. Let me try to get the Deputy an accurate timeline as to when that is likely to happen. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  The council is only implementing the legislation it is told to implement. When I tried to get a major department store into the Adamstown SDZ, council officials refused and said it would upset the retail hierarchy because Tallaght and Liffey Valley are the two main retail centres. Therefore, anyone living in Adamstown has to go to Liffey Valley. Buses on the L51 and L52 routes do not turn up half of the time, so people are going to have to drive to do a proper shop. Unfortunately, they cannot get the train to Liffey Valley. These are the kind of real-time issues that arise. People in the social houses at the Crossings in Adamstown are being told they have no parking spaces. We have seen situations where people are parking on footpaths and in bus lanes. For someone like me who lives the green lifestyle, is vegan, etc., the obvious reality is that people need to have access to cars. We have to revisit this issue and ensure that there is some form of parking spaces are designated for people in these areas. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I do not doubt the Deputy\u2019s green credentials, in fairness. The Deputy makes a fair point. All of this is always a balance. We are in a housing emergency but the point is that we want people to move into those houses and for them to become homes. Practical requirements about where people park their cars are not issues that should be dismissed. The Deputy\u2019s community is, perhaps, a good example or case study for Government to reflect on. In many parts of the country, we are not seeing enough homes being built. In other parts, including in the Deputy\u2019s constituency, we are seeing a significant number being built. Maybe that needs to be reflected in terms of some of the specific challenges there might be in areas like Adamstown and Clonburris where particularly high densities of housing are going in. On foot of the Deputy raising the matter, I will discuss it with the Minister for housing and ask him to come back and have further engagement with the Deputy on it. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_34","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 na Comhalta\u00ed Eile - Other Members\u2019 Questions","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_34","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gillian Toole","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gillian-Toole.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Gillian-Toole.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gillian Toole","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gillian-Toole.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Gillian-Toole.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gillian Toole  Cos\u00fail le Contae Chill Mhant\u00e1in, t\u00e1 a l\u00e1n fadhbanna \u00e1 r\u00e9iteach againn i gContae na M\u00ed. Prior planning prevents poor performance. You cannot manage what you cannot measure. We are snowed under with data sets.  Yet in Meath East, parents are alternating between commuting to work and campaigning alongside public representatives for childcare and school places. Students switch from study to work to keeping social connections trying to navigate disconnected, under resourced modes of transport. Examples include the 103 bus service. It is full leaving Ratoath before it gets to Ashbourne. The 109A has a reduced service to and from DCU. The M3 Dunboyne to Navan rail line is without a timeline or ring-fenced funding. Water supplies in Dunshaughlin and Dunboyne are at their limits in advance of much-needed home building.  There is a scarcity or a complete lack of social infrastructure, such as parks in Ashbourne and Ratoath. Currently, there is anxiety, fear and frustration among parents and school teams in Duleek, Dunboyne and Dunshauglin. All are awaiting childcare places, school places, classrooms and appropriate resources not diluted in special education, but provided in line with will and preference. All of these issues have been compounded by numerous escalating costs of living. I try to be solution focused. I cannot see why these issues - similar to Deputy Gogarty, they are not just in my constituency, but in any rapidly growing area - are not anticipated and planned for.  I have questions for the T\u00e1naiste that are in adherence with the programme for Government. What intergovernmental State or semi-State communication and collaboration has taken place? What plans have been or are being prepared for County Meath, which is in the programme for Government, to \"ensure accurate estimates of the demand for essential services\", including but not limited to school places, public transport, water supply and social infrastructure? What is the current status of the unit for future planning? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank the Deputy very much for her questions. I know from our engagement to date on a variety of issues and her own professional background that she is data driven in terms of the questions that puts down in this House and, indeed, in the discussions that we had around the programme for Government. I thank her for that because what she is raising today, as she rightly said, is a commitment in the programme for Government.  I will ask the Minister, Deputy Chamber, as the Minister with responsibility in this area regarding the unit for future planning, because it will be based in the Department of public expenditure and reform, to engage directly with the Deputy to make sure that we get her the most up-to-date information about where that unit is and when it will be established. I am told that the work is now ongoing through a unit for future planning. There is a unit there across a number of key areas. The purpose of the unit is to look at how we can integrate long-term strategic planning more systemically into policy-making in line with the policy document - better public services. So far, the work has not got to the point that the Deputy is rightly raising here. It would be useful if it could in terms of that county-by-county basis because it is not. Even in a country the size of Ireland, some of the issues are common but there can also be very significant differentials. The housing example Deputy Gogarty gave us is an example of that too. In some parts of the country, we are seeing a very significant number of new homes and in others, not nearly the levels that we need.  We are engaging now on work to try to strengthen long-term planning right across the Government. The unit for future planning with the Minister, Deputy Chambers, is an example of that. There are also other examples. The decision that we took to publish a medium-term expenditure framework to effectively outline what levels of spending we have, not just for today or tomorrow, this year or the next budget, but out for five years on capital and current is quite important. That framework is based on analysis of past trends. The piece of work I am most proud of - it gets a bit of talk in here but not enough - is Future Forty. It is a really good piece of work done by officials in the Department of Finance. It looks ahead at demographic, technological, social and environmental trends. It basically says that if Ireland did not do anything in terms of policy and we were operating on a no change policy basis, what would our country look like by 2040? It is the antidote to short-termism. We are having a Cabinet committee on this very shortly. It will be discussed at the National Economic Dialogue. How we embed that treasure trove of information systemically in public policy, not just for the Government but everyone in the Oireachtas, agencies and State agencies is an important point.  The national development plan has \u20ac275.4 billion set out in public capital investment until 2035. This is beyond the lifetime of this D\u00e1il. This again gives agencies an ability to respond beyond the short term. I did not get a chance to come back on childcare and school places but I will in my next contribution. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gillian Toole","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gillian-Toole.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Gillian-Toole.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gillian Toole  I welcome the update that the Minister, Deputy Chambers, will be in contact with me. Another point that is related is the different Cabinet committees across those key areas I mentioned. I ask for an update in due course. It is interdepartmental and intergovernmental communication. Are there changes taking place from the perspective of team training? Knowledge, skills and attitude are one part of running a business. I consider running the country is effectively the most important business to be run. Taking people on that journey is also critical. I appreciate I am asking this now and had not given advanced notice. I would appreciate an update of the type of team training that is taking place. It is about working towards improvements. I do not particularly like the word \"change\" for change\u2019s sake but it is about working to improve situations. That is why I came in here. That is why I am collaborating and signed up to the programme for Government. Regardless of who the Government is or was at the time in December 2024, that is the commitment that I made. We have a lot of problems but I have solutions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I appreciate that. That has always been my experience in dealing with the Deputy. Politics is about a number of things. One of them is that we are here representing our constituents and bringing forward the issues and what we hear. Second, we are obligated to do a bit more than just diagnosing the problem as the Deputy has gone further in her questions to begin to explore what the solutions look like and how can we constructively engage across political backgrounds.  On childcare, we have recognised as a Government that relying entirely on the market is not a viable option. It is not going to work. That is why we have now taken a decision and already an allocation for the very first time to have publicly-funded childcare facilities in terms of a call. That needs to be the start. On the big issue around how we reduce the cost of childcare, we are fully committed to delivering that commitment over the lifetime of Government. However, we have to build a system to make sure that we got the places.  Similarly on school places, there are a number of school projects under way in County Meath. Meath's population is not too dissimilar to my county's population in Wicklow is growing at a very fast rate. We will continue to engage on this.  On the issue of training, I truthfully do not have the answer but it is an important point in making sure we have that continuous professional development within the public service and support our public servants. I will ask the Minister, Deputy Chambers, to engage with the Deputy on it. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 na Comhalta\u00ed Eile - Other Members\u2019 Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_35","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Pholasa\u00ed n\u00f3 ar Reachta\u00edocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation","counts":{"speechCount":63,"speakerCount":22},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_35","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel McCarthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Clendennen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Cahill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  The Government is closing down ten beds at St. Vincent's Hospital, Fairview, for children in mental health crisis at a time when so many of our young people are crying out help and left in awful situations. We are talking about children in some cases with severe depression, anxiety, self-harming, eating disorders and suicidal. It is real pain. It is real suffering here. Their poor parents are at their wits' end and sent from pillar to post desperately seeking services for their children and banging on doors of a broken system. Waiting lists continue to grow and grow. We only have 50 CAMHS beds right across the State. That is half of what is needed. The lives of children and young people in mental health crisis are on the line. Every single bed counts. We need more and now the Government is closing ten of them.  The head of the Psychiatric Nurses Association of Ireland calls this decision \"inconceivable\". I call it dangerous. It is dangerous for children who need urgent help. The Government cannot close these beds. These children need them and more. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. I heard Peter Hughes, who the Deputy referenced, on the radio this morning. The Government is very happy to engage with him and the union he represents. The note available to me is that the use of the beds in Fairview was intended to be a short-term measure while other CAMHS beds were temporarily closed. There were always limitations around the beds. I do not say this in any way to disrespect the staff who do a good job. Admissions are restricted primarily to 16- and 17-year-olds. There were no out-of-hours or weekend admissions. There was not a dedicated eating disorder pathway. There were significant staffing constraints and unsuitable physical infrastructure with the current building no longer fit for purpose. This was to fill a gap while they were waiting to open additional beds, including 11 additional beds in the state of the art 22 bed facility in Linn Dara in Dublin. I will ask the Minister of State, Deputy Buter, to come back to the Deputy with more information and that we engage directly on this important matter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  We need them all. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  There is some logic in that.  My notes suggest it is not a question of like for like in terms of the beds but let me check further. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  Yesterday we saw the announcement of new special classes across the country and, for the first time, the introduction of these new so-called classes or hubs which will be in our schools and in which schools can enrol up to 12 students. I welcome proposals and reform but they do not negate the need for appropriate classes. I note the name of the proposed model is \"inclusive autism classes\". All autism classes are inclusive - I think the T\u00e1naiste will agree with me on that. Was any consultation done with stakeholders or schools about this? How will schools be supported? It is my understanding there will be no increase in staffing. Will there be an opt-out facility? It also raises serious questions about the apparent contradiction in the Minister, Deputy Foley, stating diagnosis will not be required for primary school while introducing classes that appear to rely on an autism-specific threshold for access. Will the T\u00e1naiste please clarify? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Absolutely. I thank Deputy Kenny for raising this issue and for raising the word \"reform\". If we are to have - as we are having - an honest discussion about special needs education, reform will have to be part of that. We cannot have a system that is designed around the system rather than around the child. We are constantly, quite rightly, opening more classes and more schools - we should, we must and we will. We are constantly increasing resources. We had the debate around SNAs and worked to fix that. We also have to make sure the model is right.  My understanding of these five inclusive special classes at post-primary that have been sanctioned is there was engagement between the schools and the Department. I thank the schools for that. This is an effort to try to address an acute and worrying situation. I heard Deirdre Matthews from the joint managerial board on the radio this morning. She was very positive about this model. There will be engagement more broadly with stakeholders, including disability stakeholders.  This is an honest effort to make a positive addition to the range of supports available. I do not wish to say these five schools have put up their hand. I am not sure that is correct but they have engaged constructively. I thank them for that. We should learn through this process and keep an open mind on it. It is a positive development. I will ask the Minister, Deputy Naughton, to come back to the Deputy with the specifics. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  Reports of double- and now triple-tap strikes are coming through from southern Lebanon. This is when the site of an initial air strike is hit again while medical personnel are in attendance. Four medical personnel were killed yesterday in Mayfadoun. These included two paramedic volunteers: a young man of 22 and a boy of just 16 years old. These are war crimes being committed by Israel and they are chillingly familiar as the tactics it has used in Gaza for the past two and a half years, with the death toll now rising to 72,000. Meanwhile, this globe fails to hold Israel to account.  Why is the Government not speaking up more? When did it last push for the suspension of the EU-Israel association agreement? What is it actively doing towards that? Will the T\u00e1naiste stand in support of Prime Minister Pedro S\u00e1nchez as he raises his voice louder than ever before in calling out Israel's war crimes? And where oh where is our occupied territories Bill, which the T\u00e1naiste promised would be on the D\u00e1il floor last November? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I condemn outright the actions of Israel and the actions of Hezbollah. Israel is breaching, in my view and the view of the Government, international law. The Minister, Deputy McEntee, has been extremely vocal on this and is working with European counterparts. She has joined a number of statements and the likes speaking very clearly in relation to our foreign policy position around this. We must also condemn Hezbollah. I was in Lebanon not that long ago and welcome the Lebanese Government's very constructive efforts.  In relation to the occupied territories Bill, the Minister, Deputy McEntee, has received updated information and advices from the Attorney General and I expect her to be in a position to update this House shortly. I think we all want an urgent ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel. I hope these peace talks get back under way. I hear some of talk of that, potentially, today. I am conscious there are many Irish troops stationed in Lebanon who serve with absolute distinction as part of UNIFIL. I am pleased the Minister has informed me they are all safe and accounted for. We thank them for their service. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charles Ward  The continued delay in I.S. 465 means families are still being exposed to defective materials with devastating financial consequences through no fault of their own. Following an EU complaint by Donegal homeowners, quarry audits were carried out and the Government is confident there have been no market surveillance failures since 2021. That claim is deeply questionable. FOI material released to me raises serious concerns about these audits, including the reliance on incomplete sulphur testing and clear compliance gaps. This points to failure in oversight and enforcement. Will the T\u00e1naiste act to ensure accountability and strengthen legal protections, including legislative change? Have these issues been raised with the European Commission? When will I.S. 465 be delivered? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Ward for raising this matter. He raised it with me in the House relatively recently, as he rightly should. I gave him the latest update then. I believed that process was drawing to a conclusion. I do not have any further information today but I will make sure the Minister, Deputy Browne, comes back to him on the timeline for the conclusion of that and any contact we have had with the European Commission. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  In the past month, Ireland has seen the damage we have done to our own economy by not being energy independent. We import fossil fuel and now we know how delicate this is. One major disruption and Ireland goes dry. We all know we must steer away from fossil fuels and towards renewables but the T\u00e1naiste knows for today, tomorrow and far into the future, tractors, lorries and hi-macs will need fossil fuel to keep the country going.  Since I came into the D\u00e1il, I have been calling for the exploration of the Barryroe oil field. Minor checks look positive and indicate it has the potential to create 45% of our gas and crude oil, which could even be more. This could be a chance to accelerate towards renewables and meet all the targets, which are not realistic at the present pace we are going. In 2021, the company sought a licence to do exploratory drilling. This was refused by the then Minister, Eamon Ryan. Now that we are in a time of crisis, will the Government meet with the company and hear its proposals? I am not asking the T\u00e1naiste to say yes to drilling - just to meet and see how we can tie renewables into the proposed plan for Barryroe and how the State can benefit. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Collins for raising this matter. I will ask the relevant Minister, Deputy O'Brien, to consider his request for a meeting.  From a factual point of view, the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 sets out changes in relation to not accepting new applications for petroleum authorisations or for future petroleum exploration licensing rounds. There are a number of existing licences - 13 across the country. If the Deputy is talking about a renewable element of this, I will ask the Minister to consider engaging and to come back to him directly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shane Moynihan  I raise the need for increased oversight and accountability with regard to owners' management companies, OMCs. It is an issue in my constituency where we have larger estates that are delivered on a phased basis. Parts of the developments are occupied while other parts are still under construction. The developer of the estate can retain control of the OMC for extended periods, which is against the spirit in which OMCs are set up. In addition, the current model allows for a voluntary resident director to take on significant legal and fiduciary responsibilities. That can cause difficulties regarding transparency of who sits on the board and in terms of understanding decision-making process.  Under the programme for Government, we have committed to transferring regulation of the OMCs and the Multi-Unit Developments Act to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Will the T\u00e1naiste provide an update on when that transfer will take place? Are there any plans to review the MUD Act 2011, to create regulations providing for the establishment of a register for OMCs and their directors, to increase accountability and transparency relating to them, to support the residents who live in these areas, to make sure they understand decision-making processes in their developments, to honour the spirit of the legislation and to truly make these companies into owners' management companies? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Teachta. I thank him for raising this issue, which is a growing issue in a number of constituencies. Perhaps his constituency is very prominent in that considering the volume of homes and apartments built and the number of multi-unit developments in place. Of course, that is very welcome but it means we need to put ourselves under pressure to keep the laws of the land and the regulatory structures up to date. It is utterly unacceptable that owners have no access to their OMC and that where concerns are raised around AGMs and the likes, people often cannot straight answers. That is not good. The programme for Government commits to transferring these functions to the Department of housing. The Government remains committed to that. I need to check the exact timeline and come back to the Deputy. My personal view is there is a compelling case to review more broadly the existing law. I will discuss that with the Minister for housing and ask that he liaise with the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Brennan  I want to talk to the T\u00e1naiste about one of my constituents, Eimear Byrne. Eimear is a 30-year-old from Arklow, a primary school teach in a Gaelscoil and a very talented and popular young woman but she needs our help. She has an extremely rare genetic disorder which led to open-heart surgery at the age of just ten.  Three years ago, Eimear had again to undergo emergency heart surgery. The surgery saved her life but there were complications and she suffered a severe stroke. Recently, she was told there were three more aneurysms that required immediate surgery, which is highly complex. She has been advised by multiple hospital consultants that this operation cannot be carried out in Ireland and can take place only in Baltimore, USA.  Eimear has worked with the HSE. I have been in touch directly with our Minister on a treatment abroad scheme application. The wonderful community of Arklow and beyond are fundraising. Eimear is running out of time and we must do everything possible to ensure she gets this life-saving critical surgery. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Brennan for raising this issue with the usual passion, empathy and decency he brings to all matters on the floor of the D\u00e1il. Our colleague the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, who is present, is working with the Deputy on this. I will certainly work with him on it, too.  We are all thinking of Eimear. We send our very best wishes to her and her family. None of us can even begin to imagine how difficult the last number of years have been.  A factual point to make is that the HSE operates the EU treatment abroad scheme for people entitled under what is called EU Regulation 883\/2004. I am putting that on the record to be helpful. The scheme is consultant led and allows for a public consultant based in Ireland to refer a public patient who is normally resident in Ireland for treatment in the healthcare service of another EU member state, the UK or Switzerland. There is no statutory framework for the referral of patients outside of that. I do not say that to be difficult; I just say it to be honest. However, the HSE has informed officials in the Department that it has received an application in relation to Eimear's situation this April. The HSE is now trying to evaluate that. It has sought some further information, and when it has received that documentation, it will work its way through it and engage further with the family. The Minister for Health will continue to seek urgent updates on the status of that application, and of course she will engage directly with the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  I want to raise today the issue of St. Cecilia's School, Sligo. It is a special school that takes children with special educational needs up to the age of 18, and it is a lifeline for many children. However, we have been contacted by parents, many of them very frantic and frustrated because they are unable to get a place in the school. This is because the necessary funding cannot be sanctioned. I spoke to the principal of the school. She is very frustrated. It is the first time this has happened. There is a feeling that there is an attempt to try to get the children to go into special classes in mainstream schools, which would be totally inappropriate due to the severity of their disabilities and special needs.  I submitted a parliamentary question this April and the reply I got basically stated how many new special schools had been built and what had been done here, there and all over the country, including in places like Cork and Dublin, but stated nothing about the specific school I had asked about. This is totally frustrating. One of the issues with parliamentary questions that needs to be brought up is that often when we ask about a specific thing, we get an answer about general matters. That needs to change, but that is a separate point.  I appeal to the T\u00e1naiste to intervene in this case to ensure the children get the special classes they need in St. Cecilia's special school. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Kenny very much for raising the issue concerning St. Cecilia's School. It is absolutely the position of the Government that it is a matter of providing appropriate school places. The Government has shown that through investing in special schools. There was a view in the past, perhaps, that everybody could be mainstreamed. That is not practical for some children. Every parent would like to see it, I am sure, but some children will always have additional needs that mean they require special provision, and that is fine.  On foot of the Deputy having raised the specific situation with St. Cecilia's special school, I will speak directly to the relevant Minister, Deputy Naughton, and the relevant Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, and ask that they revert to her on the specifics and see what can be done. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel McCarthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Noel McCarthy  I wish to raise again the issue of low water pressure in the village of Ballyhooly in my constituency, Cork East. I have spoken on several occasions in this Chamber about the need to repair and upgrade the water network serving Ballyhooly because daily disruptions to water supply have persisted for years. Low water pressure in certain areas of Ballyhooly continues to disrupt daily household practices and this only gets worse as we approach the summer months. While some repairs are being conducted by Uisce \u00c9ireann, funding is needed for a complete upgrade of the local water network. This would improve the pipework from the reservoir to the village and eliminate the low pressure problem. With more housing development due in the area, I ask the T\u00e1naiste to liaise directly with Uisce \u00c9ireann on the possibility of a full upgrade of the network being facilitated. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy McCarthy for raising this issue concerning Ballyhooly in Cork East. As he has reminded us, it is not the first time he has raised issues around the water network and the need for an upgrade.  I am informed that Uisce \u00c9ireann has introduced a number of measures to try to address the issues with the Ballyhooly network. I believe it has put in place a programme of mains monitoring. A leak find and fix was carried out to reduce the leakage levels. Uisce \u00c9ireann tells me this has increased pressure at properties where customers had experienced low pressure. It has also implemented pressure management to help maintain pressure levels across the village. However, its work is not yet done. It needs to do more. Its network management team is continuing to examine the issue of leak detection, whether more can be done in that area, and whether further flow arrangements can be put in place to improve the reliability of the service. On foot of the Deputy raising this here today and the very significant additional investment of the Government in Uisce \u00c9ireann, I will follow up directly with the body and ask it to communicate with the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan  It will not surprise the T\u00e1naiste and Minister for Health that at another session of Questions on Policy or Legislation, I have another question about rare diseases. Like Deputy McCarthy, I am going to keep raising this until I see some action. The programme for Government commits to an early access scheme. It also commits to a review of the reimbursement process, which numerous Deputies have raised here over the past few months. We have had people with Friedreich's ataxia and different types of muscular atrophy and dystrophy. The list goes on. Dr. R\u00f3n\u00e1n Collins was before the health committee and I asked him about vaccinations. Vaccinations are subject to the same assessment process as drugs, from the most simple form of application to the most complex. We have an archaic, outdated system. Can we please knock heads together and undertake to carry out what is committed to in the programme for Government, or at least begin to do so? It is going to take a significant period to carry out the reviews. Can we please get on task and do the job at hand? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Health (Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill)  I thank the Deputy for raising this again. I was very pleased to have the opportunity to meet many of the people with Friedreich's ataxia whom he brought to the D\u00e1il. I want to highlight to Deputies that, importantly, our drugs budget has increased significantly this year, being well up at 9%. This is what the Department expected it to be. We made provision in the overall budget for a 7% uplift, and we are now at a 9% increase. We will make decisions more quickly. We are working on the reimbursement process more quickly, but Deputies need to be aware of the scale of the growth of the drugs budget and where that is going. That is because of people living longer and access to drugs of very good quality. As we make decisions on reimbursement and rare diseases in a shorter period, which is a really important part of what the Deputy is talking about, we need to be aware of the very significant additional costs we are already incurring in this period of 2026.  I assure the Deputy that the Department is considering every aspect of an early access scheme. We will continue to work with the Deputy on that, but I do need to flag the important budgetary consideration to all Deputies. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  The Irish Coast Guard is launching an enhanced aviation service from Waterford Airport today. I fully support and welcome it because it is a really important service. We all know that the search and rescue service has huge support right across the State, but particularly in the south east. Unfortunately, there were tragedies in the past and colleagues were lost, but it is great to see an enhanced service.  I want to raise a wider issue in relation to Waterford Airport because there is now a real opportunity to develop it. It is still a very sore point that the Government dragged its feet for too long on funding a runway extension. As the T\u00e1naiste knows, a very wealthy private investor is now going to come in with money and extend the runway. We want to see that happen. If it happens \u2013 I think it will very quickly \u2013 it will create huge opportunities economically, in addition to enhancing connectivity with, I hope, Britain and the rest of Europe. The Government will then have a role in supporting the airport. It has not got State funding for so long because there have not been commercial flights, but with the enhanced service from the Irish Coast Guard and the runway extension I hope will be built, there are real opportunities. I hope that when the extension is built, the Government will come with money and support and enable us to have a fit-for-purpose airport that I believe can transform the south east region. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  For a rare occasion, I agree with the Deputy. I agree with everything he said about the very important work done by the Irish Coast Guard service. We think of all of those who have lost their lives in the service of others, and also of their families and communities.  I am really pleased to hear today about the enhanced service for the Deputy's community and constituency.  I agree that there is a wider issue in relation to the development of Waterford Airport. I am pleased - I am going from my memory of a discussion - that reference to Waterford Airport is in the regional airports policy as well, which is important. This is an island nation. We need to do more in terms of capacity at Dublin Airport, including lifting the cap. All of that is true, but we will still need our regional airports and there is a real chance to help to develop the south east if we can get this right. The Government will continue to work on this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  At a time when the Minister for communications, Deputy O'Donovan, was calling for a review of RT\u00c9's coverage of the public protests, it is reported that he also approved a \u20ac20,000 pay increase for the CEO of RT\u00c9. This raises legitimate concerns around Government transparency and the potential of undue influence. In a separate matter, the former Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe, approved an additional \u20ac10 million for the International Monetary Fund, IMF, prior to subsequently taking a role with the organisation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Simon Harris  That is the wrong organisation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  This has given rise to the question of conflicts of interest. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  That is wrong. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  Will the T\u00e1naiste confirm whether the matter has been referred to the Standards in Public Office Commission for examination for potential breaches of ethics? If not----- "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  Please do not heckle me. If not, does the Government intend to make such a referral in order to ensure accountability and maintain confidence in the ethics and standards of public office? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Clendennen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Clendennen  Disgraceful. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Simon Harris  The Deputy's comments are disgraceful and inaccurate and that has become the norm. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  They were questions, not comments. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Simon Harris  No, sorry, excuse me----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy O'Flynn, you have asked a question. Allow the T\u00e1naiste to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Simon Harris  The Deputy will shortly be required----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  It was not a comment----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Allow the T\u00e1naiste. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Simon Harris  The Deputy will shortly be required to correct the record of the D\u00e1il because I think the organisation----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  No, I will not. That is not true. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Simon Harris  Allow me to speak. This is not a blockade. The organisation that the Deputy is referring to is the World Bank, not the IMF, first of all. I ask him to please correct the record because he did not even bother to do his research. It was the World Bank. The second point is that as the current Minister for Finance, I provided to the Oireachtas committee all relevant documentation, which proves that the then Minister, Paschal Donohoe, followed the recommendation of his officials. He did not have to, by the way, because he was the Minister and he made the decision, but he followed the recommendation. They are all published and available to the Deputy as a member of the Opposition, but he did not read them. He just came in to slur him. That is the way the Deputy operates. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  And the other question? The T\u00e1naiste did not answer the rest of the question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Simon Harris  The answer to the other question is that the Deputy should read how State companies actually operate in terms of the role of boards and responsibilities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  You are missing the first part of my question, T\u00e1naiste. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Simon Harris  You referenced the IMF incorrectly. You should correct the record of the House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Sorry, but address your remarks through the Chair. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  I correct that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Simon Harris  Correct the record and get your facts right. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Okay. The record is corrected. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  There are 60,000 households, many of them families with children, in receipt of the housing assistance payment, HAP. They are classed as having their housing needs met but I want to give the T\u00e1naiste a case of one person in my constituency. Last night, I met a father with two young children who told me that he was sick with worry about being able to afford the weekly shop. He got to the Lidl counter and his debit card was declined. He had to walk away and explain to his kids why they had to leave the week's groceries behind. He lives in a private rental property that is riddled with mould and damp but he cannot complain for fear the landlord will evict him. Where would he go? He receives the HAP and now faces rent increases from Dublin City Council that will push him over the edge. He told me his story last night with incredible dignity but in the end, he broke down and cried. He feels hopeless but he is doing is best to keep going for his kids and his community.  The social contract is broken for this father and for thousands of families in Finglas, Ballymun and across this country who cannot afford the rent hikes from private landlords or, now, from city councils, too. They face eviction. They live with mould and damp, which is damaging their and their kids' health. What is the Government going to do to support these households to ensure that they are not going to face eviction and that councils have enough funding to deliver maintenance so that tenants are not living with mould and damp? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Simon Harris  First, I thank the Deputy for sharing that story with the D\u00e1il. If the Deputy sends on the details to my office, I will be very happy to engage directly with Dublin City Council. People should not feel that fear if they are in a damp and inadequate property that - I say this not to be disrespectful - the taxpayer is helping to fund. They should not be expected to endure substandard accommodation. Dublin City Council, which is one of our largest local authorities, must intervene there.  I would argue that, when it comes to the issue of the social contract, fair rents being set for social housing is an important part of that, too. It is an important part of getting that balance right. There are significant supports, as there should be, available to help people in need in relation to housing but it is also very important that the rent levels reflect reality. Local authorities, generally, exercise significant restraint in relation to that.  There is obviously a very difficult and very upsetting case there of a man doing his best for his children. If the Deputy is happy to send me the details, I am happy to follow up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy George Lawlor  The T\u00e1naiste will be aware that since Brexit, Rosslare Europort has seen an increase in freight of some 350%, which is obviously very welcome. However, Rosslare Harbour village is inundated with trucks parking right across the village. This is despite the existence of the old customs post. When I say old, it was fully refurbished, resurfaced and lined out and has capacity for approximately 50 trucks. However, it is locked and inaccessible, and in the meantime, people in the village have to endure trucks parking all over the place. I ask that a bit of common sense would be used and this old customs post, which was totally refurbished prior to the massive investment in the harbour at Rosslare, be made available to allow trucks to park up while they wait to board ships. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Simon Harris  I thank Deputy Lawlor for raising this matter, which I know has become a real issue around Rosslare Harbour. I have been engaging with Revenue officials in relation to this and they have informed me that the old customs facility is being used to facilitate truck parking but, to the Deputy's broader point, the site is owned and managed by the Office of Public Works, OPW. What I will do, on foot of Deputy Lawlor raising it, is ask the Minister, Deputy Chambers, and the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, to engage with him on this. I will also ask that the OPW engage with Revenue and see if we can make progress on this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Burke  The Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI, has highlighted that over-65s already account for more than 60% of inpatient bed days and that this group will grow from one in seven of the population to one in five by 2040. The national immunisation advisory committee has recommended respiratory syncytial virus, RSV, vaccination for those aged 75 and over and also for high-risk groups. The programme for Government committed to expanding RSV vaccination. I ask the T\u00e1naiste to outline the steps the Government will take and the timeline for deciding whether an RSV vaccination programme for older adults will be implemented as part of managing future pressures on the health system and protecting the health of the older population. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  I thank Deputy Burke for his question. It is certainly true to say that we have had enormous success with the RSV vaccination programme for infants, which significantly reduced infection, mortality and very severe illness for infants. I can confirm that we have sought a health technology assessment, HTA, for RSV immunisation by HIQA. The outcome of that will inform the policy decision that I make as to the most appropriate RSV immunisation strategy for infants but also for adults aged 65 and older. That HTA is due in the coming weeks. It is always the case with vaccinations that we take the World Health Organization's advice as well as the advice of our expert groups. We do that on an annual basis because, of course, circumstances change every year. I expect that HTA in the coming weeks and we will base our decision on that and on the intersection of the HSE's pathfinder as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Cahill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Cahill  What is happening in schools across County Kerry is simply not acceptable in 2026. I wish to be clear from the outset that we do not have a minor works problem; we have a systemic underinvestment problem. Nowhere is that clearer than in Scoil Iogn\u00e1id R\u00eds in Daingean U\u00ed Ch\u00fais. The school is located in what is considered to be one of the most affluent towns in the country, yet the conditions in the main boy's national school are, in the words of the principal, \"archaic\". We are talking about children tripping on broken concrete and sustaining injuries requiring stitches, a basketball court from 1980 that is now unsafe and crumbling, a roof and window structures at risk of collapse, no proper toilets, no corridor, no hall, and no entrance space. There was a situation recently where a stranger was able to walk into the school unchallenged. That is not just outdated, it is dangerous.  I am calling for a comprehensive assessment of all primary and secondary school buildings in Kerry to properly identify the scale of refurbishment and modernisation required. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Simon Harris  I thank Deputy Cahill for raising this important issue. Of course, he will know I am going to say that, at the macro level, we are significantly increasing the capital budget for education, and quite rightly so. However, at the level that he rightly raises of his own county of Kerry and the specific issues he highlighted for an individual school, I will ask the Minister, Deputy Naughton, come back to him directly on that, but also on his request more broadly that we would look at the school footprint across the county of Kerry and the plans that could be put in place in relation to schools.  I will ask the Minister to come back to the Deputy on that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  I recently met with the parents of an adult child with an intellectual disability. They told me that they were involved with the Before We Die campaign. Over 2,000 parents over 70 years of age are caring for adult children with intellectual disabilities, a rise of 20% since 2020, and there are nearly 500 who are in their 80s. These are parents who are mentally, physically and emotionally stressed as to what is going to happen to their children after they pass away. It is woefully under-resourced.  People with disabilities are people with rights too. Will the Government commit to delivering more residential places for adults with intellectual disabilities? Respite services are closed. There is little support from housing and little tie-in with local authorities. It is causing enormous stress. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Daly for raising this issue. I will get him the numbers, but there is a commitment to increase the number of residential places and respite services this year in the HSE service plan. Allow me to ask the Minister, Deputy Foley, to write to the Deputy on that.  On the broader issue, Before We Die is an excellent group. I look forward to meeting them directly. I know they met the Minister of State, Deputy Emer Higgins, recently as well. They are raising a lot of very important issues, including how the State needs to get much better from a planning perspective, and the stress and worry it is causing people. I think they have had good engagement with the Government so far. I look forward to sitting down with them shortly myself, too. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  What we have in Laois and Offaly in relation to services for children with special needs and autism is a black spot. There are roughly 900 children at any one time on a waiting list for assessment of needs. There is no occupational therapy, OT, in primary care for children and young adults in Laois, and the latest information I have is that there is no approval to recruit such an occupational therapist. Four OT posts are vacant in children and young people's services. I asked the HSE on 17 February to confirm if approval had been given, but I still have not received an answer. The Minister for Health is sitting beside the T\u00e1naiste. Is there approval from the Department of Health and the HSE management to recruit occupational therapists for young persons and children in Laois and Offaly? What progress is being made on that? Is the answer \"Yes\" or \"No\"? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Stanley. I know that much of this is the responsibility of the Department of disability, which, obviously, works with the HSE. The Deputy raises an important issue. My understanding is that there is now approval for 11 therapy posts in the midlands. Let me follow up with the HSE on that. Deputy Clendennen reminds me of this. I will come back to the Deputy directly on the OT piece.  There is also the broader body of work that I hope we can get right, as an Oireachtas, in terms of the assessment of need legislation that we are looking at together. I believe that pre-legislative scrutiny at the committee is due to conclude shortly. We need to look at the legislative structures that we have in place to make sure everybody has a right to an assessment of need, absolutely, but that the structures work much better. That is a really important thing.  With regard to the therapy posts, let me get the Deputy a note in relation to the midlands. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  I ask that it be followed up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I will follow it up. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar fionra\u00ed ar 1.24 p.m. agus cuireadh t\u00fas leis ar\u00eds ar 2.04 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Sitting suspended at 1.24 p.m. and resumed at 2.04 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Pholasa\u00ed n\u00f3 ar Reachta\u00edocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_36","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2025\/52","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2025\/52\/dail\/2","houseCode":"dail","stage":"2","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Air Pollution (Amendment) Bill 2025 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Air Pollution (Amendment) Bill 2025 [Seanad]: Second Stage","counts":{"speechCount":16,"speakerCount":11},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_36","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment (Deputy Timmy Dooley)  I move: \"That the Bill be now read a Second Time.\"  I am very pleased to introduce the Air Pollution (Amendment) Bill 2025 to the House. The Bill completed its passage through the Seanad with some constructive engagement. At its heart, this Bill is about safeguarding public health, protecting our environment and ensuring that Ireland's air quality remains among the best in Europe. However, notwithstanding our compliance with all existing EU air quality standards, air pollution is a silent killer, including in this country. It is a fact that about 1,700 premature deaths in Ireland each year are linked directly to poor air quality, largely from solid fuel burning. That is approximately ten times the number of fatalities on our roads each year.  The personal cost to families is immeasurable. The economic costs are also stark. The Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI, has estimated that between 2016 and 2019 treating just five air pollution-related conditions cost the State over \u20ac56 million. Furthermore, research now shows that long-term exposure to fine-particle matter is linked to many conditions, including depression and anxiety. This is why improving air quality is essential. Cleaner air means healthier, longer lives, fewer hospital admissions and lower costs to our health system. The importance of improving our air quality is clear. Indeed, it is highlighted in the programme for Government, which commits the Government to continuing efforts to raise air quality standards, especially in urban areas, ensuring healthier environments for all.  In regard to the threats to our air quality, the two main sources of air pollution in Ireland are the burning of residential solid fuel and emissions from the transport sector. We are making progress through investment in public transport, active travel and retrofitting homes. However, we must also continue to reduce the impact of solid fuel on the quality of the air that we breathe. We are currently compliant with existing EU air quality standards and our national clean air strategy, and our programme for Government commits us to doing more as we acknowledge that any level of air pollution has a negative impact on our health and environment.  In addition, new, more stringent air quality limits have been agreed at EU level that will apply from 2030. As set out in the second clean air strategy progress report, there are specific areas of the country at risk of exceeding the new limits specifically as a result of the pollution caused by the burning of residential solid fuel. Failing to meet new EU air quality standards will mean that we have failed the people living in those affected areas, not to mention the potential for infringement proceedings for non-compliance with EU law.  One of the key tools to improve our air quality to date has been the solid fuel regulations of 2022, which focus on improving the standards of solid fuels placed on the market to ensure they emit lower levels of pollution, remembering that there is no such thing as a non-polluting solid fuel. The existing regulations require that a solid fuel must conform to the relevant requirements, depending on the type of solid fuel, including a maximum smoke emission rate, a minimum sulphur content and a maximum moisture content. There are also existing requirement on producers, retailers and transporters of solid fuel to ensure solid fuel meets certain technical standards or, in other words, is an approved fuel.  The Air Pollution Act 1987 has served us well but its enforcement provisions need to be updated. The solid fuel regulations of 2022 were a huge step forward in reducing the impact of solid fuel on our health and environment, but experience has shown that local authorities lack sufficient powers to enforce them effectively to ensure that only compliant solid fuel is being made commercially available for sale. That is what this Bill is about.  I wish to be clear on the new provisions being introduced under this Bill. First, it does not create any new restrictions on householders. That is really important to emphasise. I took this Bill through the Seanad and there was an attempt by others to suggest that it would be introducing all sorts of draconian laws that would impact negatively on homeowners. Nothing could be further from the truth. The Bill is not about punishing householders. It is about giving local authorities the powers they need to ensure that they can enforce the rules that apply to the production, transport and sale of solid fuel. It is about ensuring that householders can be confident that the fuels placed on the Irish market meet the proper standards. It is about creating a level playing field for compliant commercial operators. It is something that has been asked for by those in the retail sector. They want to have a fair and balanced approach to commercial activity. Second, it does not change turbary rights. The Bill does not change the current rules in respect of turf. People with turbary rights can continue to cut, gift or sell turf as before. The focus is only on the commercial sale and supply of solid fuels.  The primary aim of the Bill is to strengthen the enforcement toolkit available to local authorities and provide greater regulatory clarity. Its main provisions include: the reintroduction of fixed payment notices, also known as on-the-spot fines, for breaches of the solid fuel regulations by commercial producers, retailers or transporters, ensuring quick and proportionate enforcement; the ability to serve compliance notices, requiring corrective action to be taken within a specified timeframe, encouraging compliance; seizure and forfeiture powers, and the ability to remove non-compliant material from a commercial or retail premises.  This allows enforcement action to have an immediate impact on air quality and gives the consumer confidence that only compliant fuels are available for sale. Currently there are no powers within the 1987 Act to provide for the seizure and forfeiture of non-compliant materials relating to the commercial sale and supply of solid fuels and it is worth noting that such powers are available to enforcement personnel under the Waste Management Act 1996.  Another important measure is the provision of enhanced solid fuel registers for producers, retailers and transporters, ensuring that only compliant operators can legally trade. The Bill provides greater clarity about the function, appointment and powers of a registration body and the processes for registration, removal, appeals and transparency of information regarding the register. The Bill also provides clearer processes for registration and removal from the register, including appeals mechanisms, to improve transparency and accountability. Finally, there is a provision in the Bill to allow bodies to share data, where appropriate, to support enforcement. This is to ensure clarity in relation to any GDPR concerns that might have existed. These measures will strengthen compliance and ensure consumers can trust that the fuels they purchase are less harmful and less polluting.  I will now outline the provisions of the Bill section by section to clarify its content. The Bill comprises 23 sections. Section 1 gives the Act its formal name and allows different provisions to be commenced at different times by ministerial order. This is standard practice, giving flexibility so that complex parts, such as the new registers, can be rolled out in stages. Section 2 confirms that the principal Act being amended is the Air Pollution Act 1987. Section 3 repeals certain outdated provisions in the 1987 Act and in related environmental legislation from 2011 and 2015. The purpose is to remove redundant material so that the law is clearer and easier to apply. Section 4 expands the legal definition of \"air pollution\" so that it now also covers situations where emissions cause damage to property or create a nuisance. This makes the law more comprehensive and responsive to real-world impacts.  Section 5 further updates and rationalises definitions across the 1987 Act. This is mainly a technical clean-up to ensure consistency with modern usage. Section 6 creates a mechanism for imposing additional ongoing fines where an offence continues over time, for example, if false information is repeatedly provided, or if records or labels are persistently missing. This prevents operators from sitting out the system without consequence. Section 7 reintroduces the system of on-the-spot fines for breaches of the solid fuel regulations by commercial operators. These will be set at \u20ac1,000 and are designed to provide a quick, proportionate enforcement tool without the need for lengthy court proceedings.  Sections 8 to 10, inclusive, provide for the appointment of authorised officers by either the Minister or local authorities, and expand enforcement powers to include entering premises, with warrants expressly required for entry to private dwellings where the consent of the occupier to enter is not forthcoming; the ability to stop and detain vehicles, but only with An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na or Revenue present; as well as serving compliance notices and inspecting fuels, documents and records. These sections also include safeguards such as applications for warrants, appeal processes, and indemnity for officers acting in good faith.  Section 11 allows the Minister to establish registers of persons engaged in producing, selling, or transporting solid fuels. This section provides the legal backbone for the new system of registration and compliance monitoring. Sections 12 to 20, inclusive, are a restatement of some of the existing provisions of the current Act but also provide strengthened enforcement powers for local authorities, including the creation of clearer offences and penalties for smoke emissions that exceed legal limits, ignoring notices served by local authorities to limit emissions or failure by an operator to notify a local authority of an incident that creates air pollution. These sections also provide that air quality management plans prepared by local authorities are subject to ministerial direction, to ensure national consistency.  Section 21 inserts a new Part VA in the Act of 1987. Part VA of the Act covers fuel regulations and registers and is replacing and updating the current Part IA of the existing Act. The main changes from the original are that Part VA now establishes clear offences and penalties for contravening those regulations; provides for the appointment, criteria and potential removal of registration bodies; and sets out rules for oversight. The Minister may issue directions or guidelines, and registration bodies must comply. Part VA includes provisions for funding, fees, obligations and offences where a registration body fails to meet its duties; sets out the process for applying to be registered, how applications are considered, grounds for refusal, and notification and appeal procedures; requires registration details to be published online, increasing transparency; provides for removal from the register in cases of non-compliance, with rights to make submissions and appeal; and provides a powerful tool to immediately remove non-compliant fuels from the market, helping to protect consumers and air quality. Authorised officers can seize fuels, containers or even vehicles if they are connected with an offence and there are provisions for a court-based process for determining whether seized items should be forfeited or returned, with an appeal mechanism.  Section 22 allows for the sharing of information between local authorities, registration bodies, authorised persons, and other relevant entities, subject to data protection safeguards. This ensures enforcement is joined up and more efficient and effective. Section 23 provides for amendments to the First Schedule, which updates the list of pollutants covered by the legislation, bringing it into line with modern science and EU requirements.  In summary, Part 1 of the Bill tidies up the legislative framework, commencement, definitions and repeals. Part 2 of the Bill strengthens enforcement and local authority powers; introduces a modern regulatory regime for solid fuel operators with registers, compliance notices and seizure powers; enables proper data-sharing; and updates pollutant definitions.  In conclusion, this Bill is about ensuring that the fuels available on the Irish market meet required technical standards and are less polluting so that we reduce the impact of burning solid fuel on our health and our environment. It is about protecting lives and reducing the number of premature deaths associated with air pollution, while also reducing the burden on our health service and meeting our air quality commitments under both national and European law. It is about preserving Ireland\u2019s reputation of having among the best air quality in Europe and avoiding the reputational and financial damage of non-compliance with imminent stricter air quality standards.  I think it is fair to say that cleaner air is something we all want for our families, our communities and our future generations. This Bill provides the necessary tools to help achieve this. I look forward to Deputies\u2019 contributions and welcome the opportunity to engage in productive discussions on the Bill on Committee Stage. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  I thank the Minister of State for his speech. We support the intent and objectives of this Bill. Cleaner air is something that every one of us wants for our families and communities, and for future generations. We agree that local authorities do need stronger powers. We all know that the main sources of air pollution are solid fuel burning and transport emissions. While air pollution is often framed as an urban issue, it is very much a rural problem too. Across my own county, families depend on solid fuel for their heating. The open fire and the range are not just appliances, they are part of our culture also. While I fully support the aim of the Bill to ensure that the fuels being sold are cleaner and safer, we must also recognise the cost pressures that people are under. Not every household can afford more expensive, higher standard fuels. We cannot create a cliff edge where people already struggling to heat their homes are pushed into deeper hardship. We must have a just transition to renewables. Cleaner air cannot come at the cost of those who can least afford it.  As is the hallmark of recent years, there has been a plethora of new rules and set targets without outlining the pathway to get there. Many ordinary people have seen cliff edges that see them punished because they cannot afford to access an alternative. The local authorities need to be resourced to enforce the new rules. There needs to be a just transition for solid fuel homes and local retailers, more protection from the carbon tax for many rural and elderly homes that have no choice but to continue using solid fuels, for whom it is unrealistic to expect them to transition over. With the approach we have seen, it is not surprising that illegal smoky fuel imports have increased, which has to be dealt with.  Behind the technical language and all the amendments, people have been left behind, people on solid fuels. Energy poverty is spiralling. We need an all-Ireland strategy on it or we will never get to grips with air pollution. It is a public health crisis. Over 1,600 premature deaths, as was mentioned by the Minister of State, occur every year in Ireland due to air pollution.  It must be addressed but balanced with the fact that energy poverty harms people too - older people, rural households and low-income families. A record 320,000 households are in arrears on energy bills. As substantial as that is, it obscures the scale of the problem and it does not capture the hundreds of thousands of families on hardship pay-as-you-go meters who regularly get cut off for one, two or three days at a time. Nor does it capture the 750,000 households reliant on home heating oil who cannot afford to fill their tank because the price of home-heating oil has doubled over the past five or six weeks and the supports have not been there to address that.  Importantly it does not capture the households the length and breadth of the country that have no other option than to use solid fuels but have been hit by price hikes since the introduction of the carbon tax. In the past week in particular, we have seen the Government, Labour and Social Democrats cosying up to each other, holding hands and dancing around the carbon tax bonfire but without more accessible grants, it is a double tax. It is a wealth transfer sometimes for people in wealthier households. Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael have left these households behind.  There is a crossover between those who live in energy poverty and those who are reliant on solid fuels. The very people who most need the SEAI retrofitting supports are the ones who cannot afford them. At the climate committee yesterday morning, we heard about the two-year waiting list for the warmer homes scheme. One third of grants for electric vehicles are given to people who buy cars that are worth \u20ac55,000 or more. Is that acceptable? Does someone who can afford a car costing that much really need a grant of \u20ac5,000?  We have been warning about this for years. The Government's failure to support solid fuel homes is putting people at risk. It cannot talk about a just transition when designing schemes for the well-off. It cannot criminalise people for heating their homes when the alternatives are not there. We need to make retrofitting work for everyone not just the well-off. We need targeted supports for rural houses and solid-fuel homes, and we have been calling for that for years. Phasing it out without providing alternatives is madness.  Measures on air pollution that target solid fuels have to be accompanied by affordable schemes and targeted supports. For too long, local authorities have been asking for a task force to enforce environmental regulations. They simply have not been provided with the tools or the resources and then the Government blames them for the regulations not being upheld. This Bill finally gives them the ability to issue on-the-spot signs, the ability to seize non-compliant fuels and clearer authority to tackle illegal trade. They are positive and will protect honest law-abiding fuel merchants who register properly, meet the standards and sell clean, compliant products. They should not be undercut by those who ignore the rules and sell cheaper, dirtier fuels.  Local authorities which are already stretched very thin also need personnel. If the Government is serious about enforcement, it needs to fund and staff local authorities as otherwise we will be setting the councils up to fail, just like announcing all the new SNA posts and then not filling them.  I am glad the Bill does not interfere with turbary rights. We also need an all-island strategy. The Border of this island is once again exposed as unnecessary and harmful. We need to think beyond county lines, beyond the Border and take a united-Ireland approach. Air pollution does not stop at Newry or Aughnacloy, as we have long said. We need co-ordinated regulations, co-ordinated enforcement, co-ordinated public awareness and an all-island strategy. My colleagues in the North are already advancing policy in this area. Linking up with them is not just sensible; it is obvious and essential.  We support the intent of the Bill and we support cleaner air. I would like to make one point and we may come back to this on Committee Stage. The original 1987 Act states that owners of non-domestic houses shall use the best practicable means to limit or if possible, prevent air pollution. Given that the consequences of allowing pollutants from non-domestic operators are so serious, perhaps we could look to tighten that up. If a prosecution is taking place, does it not give a polluter, who is allowing microparticles to go into the air, too much leeway by just referring to \"the best practicable means\"? Should we look at moving to more of a strict liability situation in improving the Bill?  We support stronger enforcement but it must be fair and must be affordable. Local authorities need to be properly resourced. Rural communities must be protected. The strategy must be all-island in nature. Cleaner air cannot come at the expense of those who can least afford it. We must have a just transition. This Bill is a step forward to it. We look forward to working with the Minister and the Department in advancing it as quickly as possible. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy R\u00e9ada Cronin  I support the intentions and objectives of the Bill. Clean air was one of the first issues I brought up under Questions on Policy or Legislation so it is extremely important. As my colleague An Teachta Daly said, air does not know any borders. I am sure the Minister of State, Deputy Dooley, as a strong united-Irelander, knows that too. It is absolutely pivotal to our health and our well-being. It is something that many of us might not think about on a day-to-day basis but it is absolutely essential to our way of life.  Air pollution has a serious impact on public health and the environment. Indeed, it is the biggest environmental risk to our health. The European Environment Agency estimates that over 1,600 premature deaths occur annually in Ireland due to air pollution from causes, including respiratory illness, stroke and cardiovascular disease. That is ten times the number of people who died on our roads last year. It really is a huge figure. It is a public health emergency and I really welcome this Bill because those numbers are staggering. These deaths are also impacting on our healthcare services which cannot afford any more strain. These conditions require treatment that costs healthcare providers around \u20ac56 million. Polluting our air makes no sense for our health or our pockets.  The pollutants of most concern to us are to be found in the burning of solid fuels for home heating, such as coal, turf and wet wood. Even though bans have been in place in Ireland for these smoky fuels for many years and the 1987 Act restricts the distribution and sale of smoky fuels, there has been little or no enforcement. The local authorities are responsible for enforcement and have been hindered in their ability to enforce the law due to some deficiencies in the 1987 Act. Under-resourcing and the erosion of power within local authorities under consecutive Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael governments means that local authorities find it increasingly difficult to do their job in all these sectors. It is all very well to amend older Acts to empower local authorities but if they are not resourced properly, how can we expect them to properly carry out their job? This is something that comes up time and again at the climate committee. We really have to look at proper funding for local authorities. We need resourcing of the local authorities as they are currently underequipped to enforce environmental regulations.  I also welcome that this Bill will not interfere with turbary rights or impose new restrictions on households. It will protect those who register and sell their fuels properly, who meet standards, and who sell clean and compliant products, which is very welcome. Those who act properly within the confines of the laws should not be undercut by those who ignore the rules and sell cheaper, dirty fuel. Having said that, it is important to recognise that there are communities where families depend on solid fuel for their heating. Not every household can afford to buy more expensive, higher standard fuel. In 2022, some 54% of households were using solid fuels to heat their home with 16% using them as their primary source of heating. People have had to turn to these sources of fuel because of the rise in the price of home heating oil which is only set to get worse as we have discussed at length in this Chamber.  Sinn F\u00e9in has repeatedly called for investment in renewables. However, what is the point in investing in renewable energy if it will only be used to facilitate the insatiable energy demands of data centres? I know this is about local authorities but we cannot turn a blind eye to this. Now is the time to invest in renewable energy to ensure lower electricity prices for households and to shield them from a volatile market.  We must be sure that this energy is not directly funnelled into expanding data centre capacity. Sinn F\u00e9in has been consistent about this. I have been consistent about it at the climate committee as well. We cannot keep up with the demand for data centres. We cannot keep building more data centres and giving them half the price of electricity that everyone else gets and that ordinary households pay.  We are not just running to stand still; we are running and we are still going backwards. We have to move on that. We have always stated our opposition to the likes of the carbon tax, for example, until proper alternatives are available for people. That is also something I have always spoken about. Carbon taxes can work only where there is an alternative. If people can afford clean energy, I have no problem with their being taxed for using dirty energy but the alternative simply is not there. I have said before that when the CFCs were in our aerosols, the Government and the EU did not put a tax on aerosols or on the CFCs that were in the aerosols; they banned them. We have to make sure we have clean energy because the carbon tax, while there is no alternative, simply will not work. We are only punishing those who are worse off when they have no alternatives at their disposal. That same logic that we applied when we were protecting the ozone layer must be applied here.  We need support measures and affordability schemes alongside this legislation to help those people make that transition and not penalise them for circumstances beyond their control. Tens of thousands of homes across rural Ireland are not connected to the gas network. Even in my constituency, right next to Dublin, Maynooth and Leixlip have gas but Prosperous and Clane do not. They do not have affordable alternatives. They cannot simply switch energy at the stroke of a pen. We already have 320,000 households and counting in energy arrears across the State, a number which will only increase with Trump's illegal war and Israel's illegal war on Iran. Therefore, while it is important we keep reducing our air pollution for our own health and well-being as well as the State's coffers, it is important we do not punish those who are already to the pin of their collar for simply trying to keep warm. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  We in the Labour Party welcome this Bill. It can be a small step towards an important aim, which is tackling air pollution and improving the quality of the air we all breathe in every city, village or rural area across our country. We all have a right to clean air. I pay tribute to groups like Irish Doctors for the Environment, which play an important role in fighting for this right across our country and educating us all on both the physical and the mental health effects of air pollution, and we can reduce them. The effects of air pollution are well documented. The EPA in its Air Quality in Ireland 2024 report found that around 1,700 premature deaths occur in Ireland each year because of poor air quality. The ESRI estimated in 2023 that between 2016 and 2019, a four-year period, acute healthcare costs for treating five conditions associated with air pollution, including asthma, cardiovascular conditions and things like that, amounted to \u20ac56 million. The costs of air pollution, therefore, in terms of both money and lives, are known.  What is also well documented are the drivers of air pollution, in particular the role that the burning of solid fuels plays in driving down air quality in our towns and rural areas. The EPA has identified nitrogen dioxide and fine particulate matter as the two pollutants most responsible for poor air quality in Ireland. The burning of solid fuels in homes is the primary source of one of these, PM2.5. That means there can be no excuse for burying our head in the sand and denying the clear link between solid fuels and air pollution and, in turn, no excuse for failing to recognise the link between air pollution and its effect on the health of our citizens.  What is more, this is an area that international actors have moved on in recent times. In October 2024 the EU introduced its new ambient air quality directive, with much stricter pollution limits due to come into force in 2030. In doing so, Europe was aiming to gradually align its regulations with the WHO's more stringent air quality guidelines, which were published in 2021. The limit for fine particulate matter, PM2.5, would be cut by more than half between 2026 and 2030. The aim is to reduce premature deaths linked to pollution in Europe by 55% by 2030.  We know how important it is to meet our EU and international obligations, whether it is in this area of air pollution or on broader questions of climate and emissions. The consequences of failing to meet them are something we have discussed in this House many times. Just as we need to reduce our carbon emissions to meet those binding EU targets, it is vital that we tackle air pollution to meet our newly agreed EU targets by 2030. That will be a challenge. Our air quality in Ireland is generally good, and we meet all the current EU requirements, but we fall well short of the WHO guidelines. The EPA itself has raised its concern that we will really struggle to meet the new 2030 EU limits.  If there is cause for hope, however, it is that we know that this is an area where good regulation by central government can make a real difference. I can remember back to the Dublin smog of the 1980s, when I was a kid, and how that seemingly intractable problem was fixed by Government action. After campaigning by communities across the city, smoky coal was banned in the capital and we saw an immediate, dramatic improvement in air quality. That resulted in roughly 350 fewer needless deaths every year. I did not grow up in a PD household - far from it - but Mary Harney was always respected in our house because of the stand she took on smoky coal in Dublin back in 1990. Thousands of lives have been saved. It was our Labour Minister, Alan Kelly, who extended the ban on smoky coal nationwide in 2015, a ban which came into effect in 2018. The health benefits of these things are overwhelming.  That progress has, thankfully, continued. The national air pollution control programme report in 2024 shows fine particulate matter, PM2.5, dropping 33% from the 2005 baseline to 2021. Regulation has worked in this area but, again, we can and we must go further. The clean air strategy committed to reaching the WHO's various targets. The Irish Heart Foundation estimates that there would be almost a thousand fewer premature deaths annually from air pollution if we could reach the WHO targets. That is definitely something worth pushing for.  It is, therefore, welcome to see a Government taking this issue on and giving it the attention it deserves. This Bill is, of course, far from a silver bullet but ahead of the new EU regulations in 2030, local authorities and the EPA have identified gaps in the existing legislation, and the Government has moved to plug them, and that is certainly to be welcomed. By strengthening enforcement with reintroduced on-the-spot fines and the introduction of compliance notice, seizure and forfeiture powers, and clarifying regulatory processes through the registers being introduced, we will give meaningful powers, we hope, to local authorities.  These powers will be used to tackle what is a real driver of air pollution in this country, which is the sale and supply of non-compliant solid fuels. The EPA has warned us of the catastrophic environmental damage that large-scale illegal peat extraction is doing across this country. Some 300,000 tonnes of peat is being illegally extracted on a commercial basis annually, nearly all of which is being exported, and it is worth about \u20ac40 million per year. This is - the Minister referred to this earlier - completely separate from anyone's personal turbary rights, which, of course, we support, but the illegal extraction and commercial sale of thousands of tonnes of turf is decimating vital ecosystems and biodiversity. It is destroying the country's natural carbon sinks, precious boglands that absorb greenhouse gases and are important in the fight against climate change. While I note that this Bill does not apply to illegal extraction, I hope the new enforcement powers under this Bill relating to the sale and supply of non-conforming solid fuels will have a material effect on the enforcement against this illegal trade in peat.  We should note the Bill is backed by the industry's representative body, Solid Fuel Merchants Ireland. It recognises how unfair it is if some sellers try to get around the laws that are there for everyone's good and undercut their law-abiding competitors by importing substandard fuels from Northern Ireland or elsewhere. In its words:  Honest, tax-compliant fuel merchants across the country have made major investments in cleaner fuels .... But they continue to be undercut by smuggled, high-sulphur products that evade carbon tax and harm our health. This legislation, if backed by real enforcement, can change that.  This Bill will not revolutionise our air quality on its own but it is a welcome step in the right direction. It needs to be accompanied with resourcing for local authorities and the EPA to carry out these new enforcement and regulatory powers. Unfortunately, this is an area that has been neglected before, and if we are to have any hope that the measures we are discussing today will have a tangible impact, local authorities need to be backed to succeed on them.  This is certainly something we learned from our discussion at the climate committee on this matter a number of months ago.  A 2023 report by the EPA on the enforcement performance of local authorities stated that air and noise enforcement had the lowest level of dedicated resources, with only 10% of staff assigned to this area in 2022. In the context of the five national enforcement priorities for air and noise, only 61% of local authorities achieved the required standard for enforcement of the solid fuel regulations in 2022. These powers need to go along with the resourcing needed to make them effective.  I would question the time it has taken to get this Bill here in view of the fact the general scheme was published in August 2024 and the Bill was published in July of 2025. It is disappointing that it only reached the Seanad in November and is only coming to this House now, almost two years after the general scheme was published. I understand that pre-legislative scrutiny was waived and that there was no open public consultation prior to the Bill being published. It seems that there was plenty of time to do those kind of things and to look closely at the Bill. It does not seem to have needed to be rushed in order to get to this point.  The legislation is important. It is important that we get it right and have full and informed debate on all of these things. As with any debate on enforcement legislation, it is important that we pause and make clear that enforcement can only be part of the picture. Eliminating smuggled, non-compliant fuels from our supply chains is an important step. If we want to have any hope of reaching our targets on air pollution, however, we need to have carrots to go along with the sticks. That means taking the energy revolution seriously and turbocharging retrofitting and the roll-out of renewable heating systems. It also means protecting people from fuel poverty by targeting households on the lowest incomes for retrofitting grants and programmes and, as others have said, providing a just transition. It further means - in this week of all weeks - finally recognising that we need to invest as a matter of urgency in making this country the renewable energy superpower it can be.  Ireland has a target of installing 400,000 heat pumps by 2030. The previous target was to install 45,000 by the end of 2025. The numbers being installed are nowhere near that. We need to reform the SEAI's grant scheme and aim for a rural energy revolution. The carbon tax plays an important part in financing just transition. That is why I was disappointed at the backsliding in respect of it this week. There are plenty of other measures this Government could have brought in to protect hauliers, farmers and everyone else who has to use oil and gas to get around the place. It could have used direct subsidies, direct payments and excise duty cuts. The Labour Party has supported all of those. Backsliding on the carbon tax sets a dangerous precedent, and the Government has made a rod for its own back when it comes to the budget in October. We all know that the carbon tax increase was set for May because that is when people are least likely to be filling up their home heating tanks and things like that.  Investing properly in clean energy infrastructure both on the macro level and through individual household supports will not just help us reach our climate targets, it will help to tackle fuel poverty, safeguard our energy security and, pertinently for this debate, improve our air quality and save lives in doing so. We also need to recognise the other activities that can affect our air quality. Maybe it is the long shadow of the smog of the 1970s and 1980s, but we tend to think of air pollution in terms of billowing clouds of smoke from small houses or businesses. Of course, any additional activity that puts pressure on our energy grid consumption inevitably contributes to air pollution. As capacity is put under pressure on the grid, clean energy sources are displaced by fossil fuel sources. As An Taisce has pointed out, the rapid expansion in the number of data centres in Ireland is having direct and indirect effects, increasing both the cost of electricity supply and total resultant air pollution. The latter would not have happened in an alternative scenario in which no new data centres would have been allowed. If we are serious about air quality and clean energy in general, we need a moratorium on the building new data centres until we can be sure they will not strain the grid, inflate household bills or derail climate targets. The Labour Party has long called for this.  The new private wires legislation going through pre-legislative scrutiny at the moment is only going to serve to expand the number of data centres around the country, which are likely to be fuelled by gas because of the lack of renewable energy sources at present. The cost of all of this will appear on to the energy bills of ordinary households and PAYE workers who are ultimately the people who are going to be paying for all of this.  This Bill is a small step towards a goal that will be difficult to reach without more ambition. We welcome the measures in the Bill and we recognise the importance of tackling air pollution. It will have real effects on the health of many of our citizens. However, if we are serious - as we should be - about reaching the goals set out by the EU, we need to see more ambition than just what is in this Bill, but as I said, the Labour Party welcomes it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  I will start by welcoming the Bill. Given that it amends the Air Pollution Act 1987, it is somewhat overdue in terms of updating a lot of the terminology. I have looked through it.  While I welcome the Bill, its contents and the idea behind it, I want to start with a criticism. This is a criticism that I frequently make of legislation, particularly updating or amending legislation of this sort. When we look at the table of contents of this Bill, it amends the 1987 Act. Every section refers to things like,\"Amendment of section 15 of the principal Act\". I understand how that works, but when this becomes law, a layperson will not be able to read it because it makes no sense in isolation. A person would have to find the 1987 Act, look to see what section 15 says, see which particular part it amends and then apply the amendment themselves. We do this all the time, and what we are doing is creating greater distance between citizens and their ability to understand what the law says. There is no need to do it either. When we have amending or consolidating legislation, what we should be doing is taking section 15 of the 1987 Act, repealing it and completely restating it in its totality in the amending Act. That way it is all there for everybody to see and everybody can be clear on what is involved.  With air pollution, there is not a huge amount of change in the legislation in that over the number of years, but if we look at things like taxation Acts finance Acts, social welfare Acts, road traffic Acts, there have been multiple amending pieces of legislation. This means that if a person wants to look up what the law says in a particular area, it is absolutely illegible. I am a lawyer. I read legislation, and I have been doing this for a while. This is difficult for me to penetrate. If it is difficult for me, it will be even more difficult for people who are not doing this all the time. It is incumbent on the House to say that we want to pass legislation that people can access. When they cannot, it is a waste of everybody's time. Worse than that, it is isolating ordinary citizens from an ability to see what we are doing.  That said, I have gone through the Bill and I welcome the provisions it contains. Air pollution is hugely important. It is the biggest environmental risk to human health, certainly in Europe. The number of unnecessary deaths that result from environmental and air pollution is enormous. This is hidden because people's actual cause of death is often not ascribed to air pollution. However, we know there is a growth in rates of asthma, particularly in kids. We know that there has been a growth in numbers of respiratory conditions. We know from statistics that there is a growth in deaths as a result of poor air quality and air pollution. It is appropriate that we should be doing whatever we can to address that. That is why I welcome, for example, the reform of section 4 from the 1987 Act to expand the definition, for example, of \"air pollution\" to make it clear that it covers myriad things that were not necessarily even envisaged when the legislation was passed in 1987. Such is the vintage of that particular legislation, it predates many of the things that are causing air pollution now.  Deputy Ahern mentioned data centres. I do not know if this problem is necessarily a justification for a moratorium on data centres. I understand where he is coming from in terms of a policy perspective, but I think there are much more proximate issues that are addressed in this that are very important. In particular, the enforcement measures in this Bill are very helpful from the point of view of empowering the State to take action where needed. That is the most important thing in this Bill. The fact is that there are scenarios we are allowing to slip through the cracks now. We need to plug those cracks in order to ensure that air quality issues are not going undressed because of a lack of legislative footing to do so. The revision of the 1987 Act is most important in that regard. Putting in place the things that we need to do to stop all of those threats to all of us in terms of air pollution is hugely important, and in line with the 2023 clean air strategy for Ireland. Providing those updates is really important. However, I also agree with what has been said by other speakers in this debate about providing resources to implement clean air and not just providing the systems and structures to allow us to prosecute those who are causing problems in the context of air pollution.  That is important, but if we really want to tackle this issue, there is a general environmental aspect that goes beyond air pollution. Water pollution is another issue, although I know it is not part of this Bill. If we are serious about addressing those issues, we must also be serious about resourcing the agencies that carry out enforcement at the local level. We must ensure that they can carry out their duties and that they have the resources to carry out investigations and to put in place the remedies that need to be put in place.  We should also be looking at putting in place schemes or systems to allow those industries or systems that are likely to fall foul of the air pollution legislation to do the best they can or to do more to ensure that citizens are kept safe from bad air quality. That goes beyond what is in this amendment Bill but a Government policy decision needs to be made so that those industries that create air pollutants are incentivised to do what they need to do and to act responsibly even before they meet the thresholds that result in criminal or administrative liability. Those companies should be incentivised to do something more to ensure they are reducing air pollution from their industries. They should also be aided in putting in place systems that might reduce their absolute contribution to diminishing air quality. I think this was referred to as a carrot and a stick earlier in the debate. I absolutely support that idea. This Bill is more about the stick. That is fair enough because the stick has to be strong enough to bring prosecutions to bear, where appropriate. That is hugely important.  I said that there are wider issues here and that air pollution is the biggest environmental threat to human health in Europe. However, there are greater environmental threats. Water quality is one. While it may not be specifically addressed by this Bill, the reality is that we benefit from a nitrates derogation in this country, which puts a greater obligation on us to ensure improved water quality. If we continue the way we are going, we are not going to do that. I recognise the need for that derogation but I also recognise the fact that there is much more we can do to improve water quality, whether in our inland waterways, in what is discharged into the sea or in the water around our coasts. That is also true of air pollution. There is always more we can do to ensure that we are reducing the number of toxins we are putting into the atmosphere and, perhaps more importantly, the number of toxins we are allowing industry to put into the air, whether as a byproduct of generating electricity or of generating other products.  There are a range of issues that are already affecting human health. This Bill will go some way towards addressing those and ensuring that the 2023 clean air strategy can be implemented in a way that benefits the population. The modernisation of the recognition of the legal framework for enforcing air pollution standards is really important. That is what the Bill does.  I know the reality is that most citizens will never read this legislation and that it will be dealt with by enforcement officers within State agencies and by people working in compliance within industries generating electricity or producing products. I know that but I still think this is an example of how we repeatedly pass legislation in this House that is not accessible to ordinary citizens. It should be possible for a citizen to read this legislation. In fairness, that is possible with the 1987 Act. For example, section 6 of that Act refers to \"Industrial plant and existing industrial plant\". You know what that means. Section 7 of this Act is about amending section 12A of the principal Act. I just do not think that means anything to people outside of the industry and those dealing with compliance and enforcement of the Act. In the scheme of things, would we not be much better off letting citizens know what the Bill and the Act actually do to make their air cleaner and safer to breathe? Would we not be better off bringing them into the conversation about what is happening rather than creating legislative and legal jargon that isolates them from the process? I support the Bill and what it does. It is very important to modernise the framework for air pollution regulation but there are better ways to draft it. However, I support the substance of the Bill and welcome the Bill as it continues its passage through the Houses. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  I welcome this Bill and the opportunity to discuss it and the subject of air pollution with the Minister of State this afternoon. I am glad to see that the Government is strengthening the enforcement of air pollution law and that authorised officers will now have enhanced powers of inspection, sampling and intervention. The introduction of fixed payment notices and compliance notices for more efficient enforcement is a positive change. I am very pleased to see the establishment of fuel registration systems and, I hope, tighter oversight of the fuel supply chain. I also welcome the move to update our definition of air pollution to align it with EU law. These changes are essential and very welcome. This Bill should lead to the fuel market being more tightly controlled and to illegal and high-pollution fuels becoming harder to sell. In turn, this should lead to air quality improvements if, and only if, enforcement is effective.  The issue of air pollution sits across many sectors and many Departments so it is important that our approach to it is cross-departmental and that it links climate action, transport, housing, energy and agriculture. This Bill is a positive step but, with its primary focus being on solid fuels and supply chain regulation, we risk ignoring the significant pollution that comes from transport emissions and agricultural activity. That is why a cross-departmental approach is so essential. I ask that further consideration be given to that point when the Government is looking at future legislation on air quality and pollution.  Earlier this year, I had the honour of hosting the Climate and Health Alliance in the audiovisual room, where it launched its policy paper, Clean Air - Healthier Ireland. What struck me most about that paper was not simply the quality of the research, which, as I am sure the Minister of State is aware, was exceptional, but also the clarity of the message. Air pollution is not an abstract environmental issue. It is a public health emergency and it is already having a real and measurable impact on people's lives, particularly the lives of those who are most vulnerable. The Climate and Health Alliance is a group of health professionals, researchers and advocates who see the consequences of poor air quality every day. They reminded us that air pollution contributes to respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, cancer and adverse pregnancy outcomes. As a result, investment in cleaner air not only has a positive impact on the nation's health, but also reduces demand on already stretched health services and supports longer and healthier lives. The group also highlighted how air pollution worsens existing inequalities, with children, older people and low-income communities bearing a disproportionate burden. This is not only a health and environmental issue; it is also a social justice issue.  It is worth stating clearly that cleaner air is one of the fastest health wins available to us. Unlike some policy areas, where benefits take decades to materialise, improving air quality delivers immediate and tangible results including fewer hospital admissions, fewer asthma attacks, fewer missed school days and fewer families dealing with preventable illness. Despite all of this, air pollution is often overlooked and there is very little public awareness of the true health impacts of polluted air. Many people in Ireland assume that air pollution is not a problem here because we do not have too much heavy industry. While we do meet EU limits in respect of air pollutants, Ireland did not meet the most recent World Health Organization air quality guidelines, which are considered to be much more in line with what is actually a safe level of exposure to air pollution. The WHO air quality guidelines represent the most robust evidence on the levels required to protect health. Ireland should really be looking forward and moving towards these standards. I ask the Minister to look at that.  In 2021, during the term of the previous D\u00e1il, I introduced the Protection of Children\u2019s Health (Idling of Mechanically Propelled Vehicles in Vicinity of Schools) Bill or, put simply, the no idling Bill. The legislation was based on the very simple idea that children should not have to breathe in toxic exhaust fumes at the school gate. The Bill sought to ban the unnecessary idling of cars within 100 m of schools across the country. Emissions from cars, particularly when idling, increase the levels of nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter in places where children spend a significant portion of their lives. Particulate matter has been linked to suppressed lung growth in children and the development of asthma, heart disease and even type 2 diabetes later on in life. An idling engine can produce as much pollution as a car in motion and, in some cases, more. The Asthma Society of Ireland has repeatedly highlighted that children are more vulnerable to air pollution than adults not only because of their developing lungs, but also because of their height, which places them closer to exhaust pipes. One in five children in Ireland experiences asthma at some point and poor air quality is a significant contributing factor.  The EPA has estimated that approximately 1,300 premature deaths in Ireland are caused or are attributable to air pollution. That is a shocking figure.  As we all know, enforcement is limited without public awareness and education. I do not think people idle their cars out of badness. They just do not think about it. As a parent, I did it as well. You are cold in the car. You are driving between different school car parks for pick-ups, and you are just sitting there. It is just more that people do not think about it. They do not think about the consequences and it not just for health. It is not practical to sit and idle your car because it costs a fortune, particularly nowadays. People do not realise that switching off their engine for even short periods can reduce emissions, save fuel and improve air quality for everybody around them. I ask that the Minister of State look at public awareness in relation to this.  I introduced this Bill in 2021. I hoped at the time that I would get support because Fine Gael, Fianna F\u00e1il and, indeed, the Green Party had all stated that they supported a ban on idling outside schools, so I was quite confused as to why no one picked it up. It is a good piece of legislation. It is a practical piece of legislation. It is still in the system if the Minister of State wants to progress it.  There are a number of benefits with this particular Bill. It is simple. It is manageable. The people who asked me to do this were usually primary school children because they recognise its importance. They are the ones who are walking past car exhaust fumes and breathing this in. They know it is not healthy; they know instinctively it is not good for them. The parents who walk with them and the school community also know.  This Bill has serious merits and I would appreciate it if the Minister of State would consider looking at it and working with me on it. It would be important progress. It is the same with any of these Bills; it is not a panacea but it is an important step towards doing something not only for public health and the environment but also as a show of support to school children and a sign that we are listening to them.  While this overarching Bill we are discussing is a major step in the right direction, air quality will only improve if legislation and enforcement is backed up by proper resources to ensure that compliance is met. While enforcement powers are strengthened in this Bill, their effectiveness will depend heavily on the capacity and the resourcing of local authorities. Without sufficient funding, staffing and monitoring infrastructure, there is a risk that these new powers may not be fully utilised in practice.  Clean air should not be a privilege; it should be a given. While I really welcome this Bill and while it is a strong step forward on enhancement and regulatory clarity, there is a lot more work to be done in the area. I hope the Minister of State will work towards introducing further and broader measures to fully address the air quality challenges we face in Ireland. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  When preparing for today, I read a document that is for secondary school teachers to use with students to educate them. Just as my colleague, Deputy Whitmore, said, it is about education. The students who will use this programme will learn all about how air pollution happens and what needs to be done to mitigate it. It was a fascinating read but I will come to that in a second.  I am a TD for Dublin South-Central. I am sure Members know that because I have probably mentioned it about 3,000 times since I have been in the D\u00e1il. It is a city constituency, and cities have a particular challenge when it comes to air pollution because of the density of population living in them, cars, businesses and all of the different things that contribute to it. It is very difficult then to mitigate it when it is such a built-up urban area. However, there are things being done in the constituency by people trying to mitigate it, and I will come to them.  The area I represented on Dublin City Council when I was a councillor was the south-west inner city. That part of the constituency has the lowest amount of green space per square metre per person in the entire country. It is so urban, so built up and so concrete. There is not enough green space and the need for something to be done in that regard was one of the biggest things that came to my door as a councillor and, indeed, that still comes to it as a TD.  The document I mentioned earlier was fabulous, and I have it here. It talks about what air pollution actually does and the fact that it is a public health issue. When we see the detrimental effects of air pollution on the human body, it is quite frightening. The document states it causes headaches and forms of anxiety and it impacts on the central nervous system. It causes irritation to the eyes, nose and throat as well as breathing problems. Problems with asthma increase and it causes chronic bronchitis, lung cancer, reduced lung function, infections and cardiovascular disease. It impacts on the liver, spleen and blood. I do not know why I was surprised by this but it also impacts on the reproductive system. It is obviously part of the body but I was quite surprised to read that. If you are living in a very densely populated area that is polluted, it makes sense.  I have to agree with Deputy Whitmore. I was not a TD when she brought that legislation forward. I have a number of children and I spent quite a lot of time going to schools, doing collections and going sport and all of the different things they go to. I remember the idling of cars and being half-choked. When I had a lot of kids, I brought them all in the back of the car because we did not have those cool cargo bikes. They did not really exist then. My eldest is now 22 years of age and people did not really like cyclists going around with a trailer on the back, which we saw used in other parts of Europe. When they got older, we went around on bikes.  When you cycle with children in the city, you realise how polluted it is. You see how difficult it is through the eyes and lungs of your children, so I was very thankful to see Deputy Whitmore's Bill. I thought it was great. Being naive, because I was not involved in politics like I am now, I thought it would be in by that September but, of course, I heard today that she introduced the Bill in 2021 and it has still not been passed. I echo her plea to pass that because there are still mammies and daddies going around on bikes. Deputy Ahern is here and I know that he is a cyclist and has small children. It is really important to cycle around and to bring your children to various places. It is also important for the schools in a city constituency, which are built on a kind of postage stamp space and do not have a lot of green spaces.  I am talking about my constituency but I know it happens in other parts of the country too. There are organisations that are really trying their best to offset the detrimental impacts air pollution has on their environment. I want to namecheck them because it is really important. These are people who spend their Saturday afternoons, their evenings and their Sundays doing things for the rest of us in the city. They are trying to increase biodiversity. They are trying to increase the number of trees, for example. In Dublin 8, in particular, the number of trees is shockingly low. Anyone who drives through Dublin 8 on their way to Leinster House will know that it does not have a huge number of trees. I am not talking about Phoenix Park; I am talking about the city part of the constituency.  One of the groups is the Trees for Tenters, which I am part of. We look at how we can increase the number of trees in the area, and not just any old trees but native trees. There is Blooming Crumlin in Dublin 12. It handed out trees recently to people in the area. It means that people now have a tree in their garden. They are the appropriate size for a city garden. We do not all have acres to plant big trees. This is really helping the air quality in the city.  There are also clean-up groups. I know we are talking about air pollution but part of the difficulty with air pollution is the amount of rubbish that is often left about the city and it is having a detrimental effect on people. There are environmental groups like Inchicore Environmental Group and the Liberties Litter Pickers. I could probably spend the rest of my time talking about all the different groups but these groups spend their time trying to offset the lack of green space and the air pollution that is in our area in Dublin 8, Dublin 10, Dublin 12 and parts of Dublin 20.  This Bill is very welcome and while it is great to have legislative measures, if they are not enforced, they are not really any use. When this Bill is passed, whenever that will be, I ask that the measures in it are enforced. I also plead that Deputy Whitmore's Bill is progressed to the next stage. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Air Pollution (Amendment) Bill 2025. This is legislation we have been promised for a fair couple of years and attempts to respond to a very real public health challenge that often does not get as much attention as it should. It also updates a framework that we have not kept pace with in terms of the scale of the problem across the country. The EPA air quality in Ireland 2023 report reminds us that air pollution, according to those figures, causes an estimated 1,700 premature deaths every year, needless and preventable deaths as others in the Chamber have outlined.  Our legislation is a little bit archaic at this stage. The Bill strengthens the Air Pollution Act 1987 and modernises, on paper, enforcement in line with the commitments set out in the 2023 national clean air strategy. It gives local authorities new powers for fixed payment and compliance notices, enhanced authority to regulate the sale and distribution of solid fuels and the ability to seize non-compliant products. All of that is positive on paper. As an Opposition TD who wants to be constructive rather than overtly critical, though, I also want to point out that the road to hell is paved with good intentions in so many pieces of legislation. We can have all of the strong wording we like, but if we want the Bill to deliver cleaner air and healthier communities and society, we must ensure the enforcement system is fit for purpose.  The evidence shows that, right now, the capacity is uneven, in some cases less than optimal, and under real strain. The best example is in my constituency, where the EPA's 2022 local authority environmental enforcement performance report, published in 2023, reported on various local authorities. Regarding my home area of South Dublin County Council, the EPA found that while the council ticked a lot of the boxes and met the required standards in many areas, it also identified specific weaknesses that were directly related to the Bill, including a reliance on an archaic and ageing compliant management system, backlogs of open environmental cases and the need for improvements in the enforcement of solid fuel regulations.  The regulations bit I get. The staffing and training levels are different issues. They will show whether the Bill will work in practice. I understand there are five litter wardens in south Dublin trying to police the area. Such work is pointless without staff. The Bill is not related to litter wardens, but it is related to enforcement. South Dublin is not alone, in fairness. The EPA has showed a pattern of staffing capacity constraints across multiple local authorities. That is why the Bill needs to be strengthened. I mentioned staffing and training. IT systems and inspection capacity are also necessary.  Without all of these things, the Bill will be a paper tiger. In that context, I want to emphasise the need to revisit the level of fines and what constitutes an effective deterrent. The Bill is good on emphasising proportionate penalties and one can understand that at one level. However, our State has a history of non-compliance on a range of issues. We have to ensure that the fines are meaningful enough to deter illegal fuel sales. If penalties are lower than the profit margins associated with selling non-compliant fuels, it is pointless legislation. Enforcement data from the EPA shows that repeat non-compliance is an ongoing challenge, so agencies have to get real teeth.  Enforcement is only one side of the equation. As my colleagues referenced, the other angle is affordability and practical support for our hard-pressed systems. The SEAI national heat study in 2022 pointed out that many households, in particular lower income households, relied on solid fuels because they had a lack of affordable alternatives. This is why retrofitting for public housing is so important. If we strengthen enforcement without strengthening the supports, all we are doing is placing a further burden on those least able to absorb it.  The Bill should be accompanied by a comprehensive package of measures that, in fairness, are already directly relevant to the latest fuel crisis. We are dealing with an emergency situation right now. We had a debate on the motion of confidence where the Government was, rightly, accused of not responding quickly enough and not doing enough. In the medium term, we need proper strategies in place to help people reduce their fuel bills and move on to alternatives. We need expanded retrofitting and heating system supports, targeted in particular at those at risk of fuel poverty. The warmer homes scheme national retrofit programme is important. The SEAI progress report shows, unfortunately, that demand exceeds capacity and waiting times are way too long. If we want households to move away from smokey fuels, we must make cleaner alternatives accessible.  We also need supports for businesses impacted by the Bill. We need public information campaigns that talk about the damage caused by air pollution. On weather apps, I have often seen that the air quality in some rural areas is worse than in Dublin because of the burning of certain types of smokey fuel. We need to show how that has a direct impact on people's health. The EPA's annual air quality reports highlight the need for greater public awareness, especially in areas where pollution spikes in the winter.  We should also consider establishing an enforcement support unit. Other countries have a hybrid model whereby local authorities carry out the day-to-day enforcement and a national inspectorate supports investigations and ensures consistency in enforcement and compliance. This might be valuable for councils like south Dublin where the EPA audits have identified the capacity challenges I mentioned. We should have better annual public reporting by local authorities of inspection fines, compliance rates and enforcement outcomes to compare by local authority on an annualised basis.  While the Bill is a welcome and necessary step in tackling pollution from mainly solid fuels, we cannot ignore the fact that air quality in Ireland is not just damaged by home heating alone. The air quality in Ireland 2023 report points out that alongside solid fuel burning, transport emissions and industrial activity are major contributors of harmful pollutants like nitrogen dioxide and fine particulates. Vehicle emissions, in particular from diesel cars, vans and heavy duty vehicles, are well known as a source of urban air pollution.  Localised hotspots in urban areas need to be diminished near busy roads. I am thinking of the M50, N4, and N7, which fall outside the scope of the Bill. If we are serious about clean air, we need complementary legislation that addresses the issues. Low-emission zones, stronger standards overall and better investment in electric vehicles and public transport alternatives are broad issues. While not related to the Bill, smaller industrial and commercial sites are another area. The big-ticket companies are addressed, but some smaller sites fall through the cracks. We need to strengthen oversight and improve monitoring technology.  While the Bill strengthens enforcement on solid fuels, we have to have parallel action on transport and industry. I do not have time to go into the massive investment required in electric vehicles and giving people the ability to charge electric vehicles outside of their homes or adjacent to them using a domestic tariff. The more electric vehicles are on the road, the less pollution we would have. It is an absolute no-brainer. It is also a no-brainer in terms of rising fuel costs if we can get homegrown renewable energy stored properly and converted to green hydrogen in some cases.  I welcome the Bill. It is just one Bill but important legislation. Complementary legislation is essential to protect public health and meet our obligations. In summary, if we want to succeed, we have to match enforcement powers with enforcement capacity. We have to match the regulations with support for households and businesses. The legislation has to be strong enough to do that. We need complementary supports. In general terms, I welcome the Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  It is interesting that this Bill is being discussed in the D\u00e1il in the middle of a fuel crisis for so many people. The Bill will focus on air pollution while many family businesses and small business will struggle simply to keep their houses warm in this fuel crisis. I received an email from a constituent during the week. She is a carer. She called in to see one of her clients, an elderly gentleman. He was sitting in front of his electric oven to keep warm because he had run out of oil and sticks to be able to heat the house. That is an incredible image. Pensioners who worked all their lives in this country are now forced, due to the lack of affordable fuel, to sit in front of an electric oven to keep warm. In many ways, it puts this discussion into perspective.  There is a slow-motion leadership challenge happening within Fianna F\u00e1il. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  Cop on. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  While Fianna F\u00e1il wallows in never-ending dysfunction, older people in this country struggle to keep warm. The country cannot wait for Fianna F\u00e1il to get its act together. I agree with many of the Fianna F\u00e1il backbenchers, in that Miche\u00e1l Martin has to go. All of these decisions the Government is involved in have significant consequences. Some of those consequences are unexpected.  I agree that we must become a country with far cleaner air. No one wants to see individuals lose their lives prematurely due to poor air quality or people developing diseases of the lung, etc., as a result of poor air quality. This legislation does not exist in a vacuum, however. It must exist in the real world in which people live and are struggling. The baseline is that we have 320,000 Irish households currently in fuel poverty. The issue we are hearing on the doorsteps and in our constituency offices is that people are struggling to keep the lights on, their houses warm and their businesses going. The unaffordability of fuels is the biggest issue people are experiencing.  In reality, fuel poverty and the lack of fuel also cause deaths in our country. It is estimated that approximately 2,800 people die in our country per year as a result of a lack of fuel. That is a very serious issue. In a scenario where fuel is getting harder to secure, reducing access to other fuels leads to poverty, people being unable to heat their homes, and deaths. That is not being understood enough by the Government.  There are people around the country, especially in regional and rural Ireland and older families who do not have the technology to use sustainable energy, who are dependent on turf. They cannot come about turf, however, because the local fella up the road who used to cut half an acre of bog cannot sell it to them any more as a result of Government law. One of the big problems is that the Government\u2019s attitude to energy is Dublin centric. The fact the Government was not willing to give a real relief on kerosene - home heating oil - which is the basis of home heating in most of regional and rural Ireland, shows the disconnect of Ministers in this Government. They do not see beyond the M50 when developing policies.  This is quite a hardcore Bill, with \u20ac500,000 in fines and search and seizure powers to be provided in certain situations. At the other end of the scale, we have individuals who, for want of turf, sticks and coal, cannot heat their homes.  My difficulty with this Government is its reliance on the stick rather than the carrot to change people\u2019s behaviours. The shocking level of taxation put on fuel, for example, is a stick to move people out of fossil fuels but many people simply do not have an alternative. Behaviours are not changed when there are no alternatives. This simply enforces a punitive tax on people that they cannot afford to pay. There is a massive cost barrier in switching from coal, turf or sticks. These people do not desire to pollute or create unhealthy breathing air for individuals, but they have no option because they have no other fuel source.  The Government must use the carrot. This approach is harder. Competency is needed for the Government to be able to deliver it, and competency is in short measure in this Government for sure. Alternatives need to be offered to people. We heard about cars idling, for example. I will attend a public meeting tonight in Castleknock Lawn Tennis Club at 7.30 p.m. If the Minister is around, he might like to attend. It is not too far from him. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  What is it about? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  It is about fuel prices, the M50, traffic congestion and public transport, which are all reasonable and important issues.  I am told a freedom of information, FOI, request was submitted to the Department of Transport. This was reported in The Sunday Times this year. The FOI asked whether more public transport capacity would be provided in the Department\u2019s budget this year. That report said that there would be no extra capacity in public transport this year despite the level of funding going into it.  A lot of people are travelling from the likes of Meath. Some 60,000 people are forced to use their cars because there is no rail line. It has been promised since 1994. It is going to happen in, maybe, 2036 if no judicial review or anything else happens. These people would give their right arms to be able to get out of the car and sit in a train rather than the four-hour, desperate commute they have. The carrot I mentioned is the provision of public transport, including extra bus capacity as well as train capacity, to get cars off the road in order to clean the air so that people can live healthier and longer lives. That is the frustration that exists among people.  Deep retrofitting of homes is still inordinately expensive. It is incredibly expensive for those who live in a semi-detached or detached home, even with the grants provided. It is not available to most income classes at the moment. The provision of solar panels is still incredibly expensive. It costs between \u20ac7,000 and \u20ac12,000, depending on the level of rooftop solar panels and the type of battery you choose.  We have never been as rich but we also have never had as much of a squeezed middle as we do now. Middle income families often fall off a social welfare cliff. They are given no supports. They are too rich for energy social welfare supports but too poor to be able to provide the alternative sources needed to get out of carbon fuels.  I will mention something of interest to the Minister. This Government has competing objectives. One of them is the building of extra homes. Highly rated homes are obviously an objective in terms of reducing our energy policy, but they have a negative effect on the supply of homes. It costs an extra 12% to build an A-rated home compared with a normal home. We know there is a viability problem. Every time the price of a home increases, it becomes less viable to build, causing fewer builders to build and a reduction in supply. We know every time the price of a home increases, it also costs more to rent and makes it less accessible to people. While we might achieve the objective of fuel efficiency with A-rated homes, it costs us in the provision of homes on the other side. I still believe that the provision of homes is the most important issue facing the country.  The Minister must have seen this report recently that outlined that people who were spending more in A-rating their homes were not necessarily reducing their energy consumption by the same amount. That is a significant problem. If we are spending big chunks of money on the deep retrofitting of homes but it is not leading to the practical, real-world reduction in the consumption of fuels, then that money is going to waste in reality. We are not meeting the objectives and we are paying the money on it. I would like to hear the Minister\u2019s views on how we can square that circle in achieving those objectives.  We want to see the reduction of pollution and particulates in the air as well as the amount of carbon emitted into the atmosphere, but we want the Government to realise that there are other objectives that need to be achieved as well. One of the main objectives is fuel and energy affordability and security for families. That has been ignored, which is why we had the big crisis that led to the omnishambles last week on the streets of our country. That is one of the objectives that have been ignored.  The other objective that we have to look at is the provision of proper public transport. Hundreds of thousands of people are living in commuter hell at the moment. They undertake two- or three-hour journeys in and out of Dublin on a daily basis just to be able to work. That objective is not being achieved either. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  I welcome the chance to speak on the Bill. I also welcome Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn recognising that people need financial supports and that we need a stable government to bring them in in the next few months. It is great to see that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  Stable. Show me the stable government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  I would not be looking for a few seats to make the Irish people worse off at a time of geopolitical turmoil. What we need right now is people who are going to stand up and lead. I will give the Minister solutions. I welcome that he referred today to the progression of plug-in solar. Has the Department investigated the cost of a temporary free public transport scheme? What would the estimated cost be? A lot of people who are using public transport are on subsidies at the moment. At the moment, we need people to be able to commute and reduce their energy costs.  This Bill is about air pollution but when we speak about plug-in solar and how it will help reduce the use of fossil fuels, I welcome that the Minister said that in 2022 someone had submitted that plug-in solar was unsafe. I am on the climate and energy committee. I have requested and will continue to request information on who deemed it unsafe. If I was betting man, I would say it was someone who installs solar systems on the top of roofs that said it was unsafe. I refer to giving people an easy option. People in apartment dwellings in my constituency want to reduce their bills. We need to make it possible for them to buy a system that is a lot cheaper than the installation of a permanent system on their roof and allow them to plug it into their house. The Germans did it. There are examples. There is no complex planning and no major installation. We could even get a demonstration and do it within an hour. The Germans have over 1 million of these systems installed. That is just through their official scheme. That is not mentioning how many people were using their own kits that they were buying from online suppliers. These new units cost as little as \u20ac500 for a basic set-up. It is ordinary people who I represent. It is renters. It will help with air pollution because we are giving them a renewable source. At this moment in time, it is a renewable source that will reduce their bills and benefit their pockets. Each system is small but, together, they are cutting down emissions and reducing pollution. It is estimated that they are preventing hundreds of thousands of tonnes of CO2 emissions in Germany. The installation of these systems is very simple. It does not require major infrastructure and it will give people immediate savings. I raised this yesterday. A lovely constituent of mine called me and said they would love to be able to avail of this. They have three children and they are struggling with their bills. That extra few bob in their pocket would help them right now. It is exactly the kind of policy we should be working for - low cost, high impact and quick. Regarding everything else, we are talking about housing, healthcare and the cost of living, and rightfully so, but the quiet thing that we have not been discussing but will be going into now is air pollution. I always talk about Dublin Bay and water pollution, so I welcome the opportunity to speak on this issue.  When I was younger I had asthma. Thankfully, I grew out of it. From studies, I know air pollution is a huge cause of juvenile asthma. There is also a huge number of premature deaths. We are above EU levels, but there are areas that have bad air pollution. What other countries are doing is something that we should follow. We could look at the Japanese and the Germans. I would say the members of the energy committee are fed up with me citing Germany as a guide for how we should do it, but the reason I mention it is because the German Government follows practical and logical solutions, whether it be plug-in solar or the moss that is used on the outside of buildings and is brilliant for absorbing PM2.5 particles. The 3D printing that can be used for this moss can also be used for nature-based solutions for flood defence in Dublin Bay North. We can bring in these systems of artificial reefs that encourage marine life and biodiversity in the waters. We should be using these nature-based solutions. Their installation is low cost and they are low maintenance. We would be using nature's base that is already there and established. In D\u00fan Laoghaire they are using oyster beds to combat water pollution, which is a brilliant idea. It is purifying the water. When we come the issue of air pollution, there are solutions we can use to retaliate against it.  For local pollution in Dublin, we could look into bringing in alternatives, such as planting more trees. That is a very simple one. When I was researching for this speech, I came across a study in the UK on the use of trees in heavily polluted areas - areas with traffic lights. The study indicated trees can reduce air pollution in such areas by between 20% and 40%. There are high-density plants that are known for reducing the level of pollutants in the air.  Members of this House are often contacted by constituents regarding issues they would like us to raise. One of the solutions that was mentioned to me was put in place in the Netherlands and France. The Minister might be laughing at me now but it is a very simple fix. It is a type of paint that can be used on roads and, in direct sunlight, it absorbs pollutants. I had not been aware of this previously. The person who rang me is doing a PhD in air pollution. I was blown away by the idea and looked into it further. There are a few videos on it. It has been shown to succeed. It is low cost. It is called photocatalytic road paint. Surfaces are treated with titanium dioxide, which breaks down air pollutants using sunlight. I was blown away when she rang me. It reduces nitrogen oxides, which are the main pollutant coming from traffic. It is a passive system with no maintenance once installed, just like nature-based solutions. It has been successfully used in other European cities. I will always come to the Minister with solutions. This is one that I would love him to look at. We could even paint the road ourselves. It would be nice to see a north Dublin road that is reducing pollutants. What we are trying to do is to use small areas of nature-based or scientific innovation, such as that paint, to benefit people and reduce air pollution.  The data is clear. I will go back to the start - solid fuel burning. Deputy Gogarty mentioned it. For example, there is smokeless transport emissions. These are the main drivers. To reduce solid fuel burning, let us give them the option of plug-in solar. To reduce transport emissions, let us give them the option of reduced fare or free public transport during this economic crisis. Let us accelerate the transition into cleaner heating systems.  Yesterday, the SEAI appeared before the climate and energy committee. I welcome that some Deputies have criticised the SEAI. However, the reality is that the SEAI and the grants it has made available have been studied by other European cities and countries as a result of the success rate and the high level of uptake. I would love for the initial cost of some of the schemes to be examined because there is not such a high uptake among those on lower incomes due to the cost. There are some contractors that will give you the work in lieu of the grant. We need to look into that if we are going to encourage people to participate, particularly those who are under economic strain.  The findings of the research are clear. Real-time pollution alerts are being used in other European cities. We are very lucky that we do not have that level of pollution in Dublin city. Another constituent told me he recalls a time when it was not possible to see from one side of O'Connell Street to the other. That was not in my time.  I wish to acknowledge a few groups that have been working with me since I have been in this House. They include the EPA, Dublin City Council and community groups, such as Tidy Towns, which are bringing in biodiversity products and encouraging it. Driving in today, I saw that one of the bus stops in Fairview, which is in my constituency, has a planter on top of it. I would love to see that rolled out more, with a few flowers and a bit of this. It would also reduce pollutants. It is a biodiversity spot.  My message is clear. I would love the Minister to look into the 2022 analysis of plug-in solar and see who deemed it unsafe. It is definitely something that we need to look into. It is a quick fix. The people would benefit from it now. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Debate adjourned."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Air Pollution (Amendment) Bill 2025 [Seanad]: Second Stage"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_37","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_37","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case:  Deputy Barry Ward - To discuss Garda powers relating to criminal and antisocial behaviour by juveniles.  Deputy Shane Moynihan - To discuss specialist supports for children with dyslexia, dyspraxia or apraxia of speech.  Deputy Maurice Quinlivan - To discuss the ongoing crisis of capacity at University Hospital Limerick.  Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern - To discuss the proposed relocation of the An Post Edmondstown sorting office to Lucan.  Deputy Robert O'Donoghue - To discuss a school building at St. Mary's, Oldtown, County Dublin.  Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan - To discuss the capacity of childcare provision in Cork North- Central.  Deputy Malcolm Byrne - To discuss the need for a new building for Gorey Hill special school, Gorey, County Wexford.  Deputies Dessie Ellis, Paul McAuliffe, Rory Hearne - To discuss the proposed new school on the grounds of St. Aidan's CBS, Whitehall, Dublin.  Deputy Jen Cummins - To discuss plans for a new multidenominational secondary school in Dublin 8.  Deputy Jennifer Whitmore - To discuss animal welfare and the progress of the puppy farming Bill.  Deputy Emer Currie - To discuss the need for a competitive funds industry in Ireland.  Deputy Louise O'Reilly - To discuss the need for an increased number of garda\u00ed in Dublin Fingal West.  Deputy Roderic O'Gorman - To discuss the new national drug-related deaths index, NDRDI, published by the Health Research Board.  The matters raised by Deputies Louise O'Reilly; Barry Ward; Robert O'Donoghue; Malcolm Byrne; and Dessie Ellis, Paul McAuliffe and Rory Hearne have been selected for discussion. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_38","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2025\/52","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2025\/52\/dail\/2","houseCode":"dail","stage":"2","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Air Pollution (Amendment) Bill 2025 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Air Pollution (Amendment) Bill 2025 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed)","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_38","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question again proposed: \"That the Bill be now read a Second Time.\""},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment (Deputy Darragh O'Brien)  I thank all Members who were here earlier and contributed to the debate. A number of good examples have been raised of improvements to air quality. I will give my own area and local authority of Fingal County Council a plug. A scheme was brought in in 2019 called school streets. It was brought in by Councillor Eoghan O'Brien, who was mayor at the time and who happens to be my brother, on a pilot basis in one school, St. Oliver Plunkett National School, Malahide, one of the largest national schools in the country. They closed the road between 8.30 a.m. and 9.15 a.m. and then, in the afternoon, between 1 p.m. and 2.45 p.m. Initially, people were not overly happy at the idea but it is still in place and the air quality around the school improved 20% year on year in the first period. There is a 43% reduction in school-related traffic. Again, that reduction is continuing to grow - if that is not an oxymoron and Deputies understand what I mean. There is a 50% increase in active travel to school. It works. We have rolled it out to Pope John Paul II National School in Malahide and other schools around Fingal. While some are calling for legislation and I am happy to look into that, the local authorities are actually doing that in consultation and it really works. It is particularly good for national schools. These are young kids so we do not want idling cars around schools. It changed behaviour and people got used to it. Once there is good consultation, there are those types of measures. We do not need to legislate the hell out of everything. Common sense can prevail many times.  A lot of good matters were raised today. The Bill is important. I thank my officials again. They are why we have moved forward with this legislation. I see there is broad support for it across the House, maybe with the exception of Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn, which does not surprise me. The Minister of State and I have taken note of all the contributions, as have my officials. This is about improving enforcement and bringing in a more comprehensive suite of enforcement capabilities, like fixed-payment notices, compliance notices, powers to seize and the establishment of solid fuel registers - which, by the way, those in the retail of solid fuel trade really welcome. It is to try to take rogue operators out of the system as best we can. In a nutshell, it is about giving local authorities the tools they have asked for to enforce the rules fairly, consistently and effectively.  I appreciate colleagues' remarks and input into the legislation today and look forward to working with them on Committee Stage. Go raibh m\u00edle maith agaibh. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Air Pollution (Amendment) Bill 2025 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed)"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_39","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2025\/52","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2025\/52\/dail\/motion\/referral","houseCode":"dail","stage":"motion","isBillStage":false,"showAs":"Air Pollution (Amendment) Bill 2025 [Seanad]: Referral to Select Committee (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Air Pollution (Amendment) Bill 2025 [Seanad]: Referral to Select Committee","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_39","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment (Deputy Darragh O'Brien)  I move:  That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy pursuant to Standing Orders 103 and 188. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Air Pollution (Amendment) Bill 2025 [Seanad]: Referral to Select Committee"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_40","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_40","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_41","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_40","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_40","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_41","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  I thank the Minister sincerely for being here. I have often stood in the Chamber and given out about the fact the senior Minister is not here so I should, as a matter of course, record my thanks to the Minister for taking this Topical Issue.  The issue relates to the need to increase Garda numbers in my constituency of Dublin Fingal West. The reason we need increased numbers is historically we were low on Garda numbers and our population has increased while the number of garda\u00ed serving the region has not. A number of issues are now putting strain and stress on the communities I represent. The Minister can imagine how it made people in my constituency feel when they opened the newspaper on 1 December 2018 and heard the joyous news from then Senator James Reilly that a final sign-off had been given on the works required at Rush Garda station and it was understood that the contractor should be on site in quarter 1 of 2019. The Senator said he was delighted the work would commence to refurbish the Garda station with contractors on site very quickly. He said he would press the Department to have the station manned and operational with adequate Garda resources in 2019.  Here we are now and it is 2026. Rush Garda station is still, to all intents and purposes, closed and the population all around it has increased. We now have a petition. A young woman by the name of Ciara has started a community petition for the people of Lusk - Rush and Lusk are beside each other. She has said there are more than 1,000 signatures on that petition. She says she has lived in Lusk since 2004. Her children were born there and go to Lusk Community College. Lusk has quadrupled in size and the population is still increasing but there is no Garda station serving it so all the pressure is being put on Balbriggan Garda station.  The Garda station in Rush was closed. It is now functioning as - I do not know what. When you look through the windows, all you see are boxes and boxes of files. There are never cars in the car park and I can tell the Minister for a red-hot fact there are no garda\u00ed in it serving the people in the surrounding area who really need it. Lusk is the very same; there is no Garda station there. We have a problem because there are rising rates of antisocial behaviour and crime. My office is contacted weekly - sometimes more than that- by people saying they are having trouble contacting the guards. The Minister knows and I know the best deterrent against antisocial behaviour or any form of crime is a visible Garda presence and we do not have that in north County Dublin.  More and more pressure is being put on Balbriggan Garda station and the numbers in the station are not sufficient for the 200 km radius it has to cover. The garda\u00ed in the station do a fantastic job but are put to the pin of their collar trying to cover an ever-expanding area and ever-increasing population. The number of garda\u00ed is not commensurate with the number of people in the area and most definitely is not keeping pace with the number of people living in Dublin Fingal West. We need Rush Garda station reopened. We need a Garda station to serve Lusk. We need Skerries Garda station back open properly, if the truth be told. We also need more garda\u00ed for Balbriggan Garda station. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  If the Minister indulges me for a moment, I will welcome all the former Members of the Icelandic Parliament who are in the Gallery. They are most welcome. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Jim O'Callaghan)  I thank Deputy O'Reilly for putting down this important Topical Issue. If I am available for Topical Issues in the justice, home affairs and migration area, I will do them. I am happy to be here to respond to the Deputy's query.  It is repeatedly the case - and it is very fair - that Deputies want more garda\u00ed in their communities and constituencies. That is a good sign. It shows the constituencies and people of Ireland have faith in and are supportive of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. That is not universal throughout the world. In some places there can be a negative relationship between the police forces and the communities they police, but it is not so in Ireland.  Dublin Fingal West is covered by the Dublin metropolitan region north division. It also covers Dublin Fingal East and parts of Dublin Bay North. At the end of February, the latest date for which published figures are available, there were 764 Garda members of all ranks assigned to the division, supported by 70 Garda staff and 23 Garda reservists.  The allocation of garda\u00ed represents an increase of 13% since the end of 2016, when there were 676 in the division. The Garda staff number has increased by almost 63% in the same period, from 43 assigned in 2016, which in turn has freed up more garda\u00ed to undertake front-line policing duties.  The request I get most of the time is for more garda\u00ed in communities. As people will be aware, I have a policy to have high-visibility policing in our cities and towns and throughout the rest of the country. We have already been able to see that in Dublin, Cork and Limerick there has been a very noticeable increase in high-visibility policing. That is as a result of a policy of the Government that is being implemented by the Commissioner.  It is extremely important that communities have visible policing. The presence of garda\u00ed is very much dependent on there being a pipeline of reserves and recruits and resources available to the Commissioner. Last year, 619 garda\u00ed attested from the Garda College to take up positions across the country, beginning a career of service to their communities and the people of Ireland. Another 167 new garda\u00ed attested in February this year, bringing the number to 786. I look forward to the attestation of new garda\u00ed in two weeks' time, on 1 May next. Seven probationer garda\u00ed were assigned to Deputy O'Reilly's division in February and 39 probationers were assigned in 2025.  Overall, since the reopening of the Garda College in 2015, 496 probationers have been assigned to Dublin metropolitan region north, which is almost 9% of all probationers attested since 2015. Just under 800 trainees entered the Garda College in 2025, which is the highest number since 2018. Recruitment is extremely important to ensure we get more garda\u00ed into Deputy O'Reilly's constituency, Dublin Fingal West, and indeed throughout the country. We are seeing success in this regard at present.  Deputy O'Reilly also raised the issue of Rush Garda station and how she would like to see it reopened. I cannot give her an update in respect of that at present. I am here to talk about the numbers but I will certainly engage with her in respect of those issues. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  That is very welcome. I have a wee suggestion, if the Minister does not mind. It comes from the petition that Ciara has circulated. As I said, it has been signed by more than 1,000 people. What they are seeking is a formal assessment by the Department of justice and An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na of the policing needs of the Rush\u2013Lusk area. The Minister will understand that while the number of garda\u00ed working in the Dublin metropolitan region is fine and big, I am talking about the men and women working out of Balbriggan and Skerries, where the numbers are not sufficient to cover the entire area they are in charge of.  The petition is also seeking the provision of a permanent full-time Garda station to serve the community. I am more than happy to take the Minister up on his offer. I will absolutely engage with him, with his officials and his office because I want to see a visible garda presence. His former colleague, former Deputy Farrell, has said Rush Garda station's closure has damaged the local community, leaving it feeling significantly less safe and less secure. The Minister should not take my word for it; rather, he should take that of his former colleague in government. I can refer to it not just because I live in the local area but also because the people who contact my offices in Balbriggan and Rush tell me so. It is true that people want additional garda\u00ed and that very often TDs call for them in the D\u00e1il, but I am seeking additional garda\u00ed, additional infrastructure and the reopening of the Rush Garda station. Indeed, I am also seeking a station to serve Lusk. I have information on population growth to back that up. It is not simply the case that I want more garda\u00ed for my area simply because I know that it would be good. I have the statistics to back it up. I can show the Minister that there has been population growth. The increase in the number of garda\u00ed has not matched that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  Ciara's petition is probably trying to do what many other communities seek to do as well. In effect, she and the Deputy are looking for a formal assessment of the policing needs of the Rush area. I want the Deputy to know, however, that when the Commissioner sits down to decide where the new garda\u00ed coming out of Templemore should go, he does it on the basis of a particular plan. In the past year, it has been for the purpose of achieving high-visibility policing, predominantly in the cities of Dublin, Cork and Limerick. However, he is now having new probationer garda\u00ed put into suburban areas and rural areas as well. I suppose he has to decide on the basis of the needs of the country as a whole. We would all prefer it if the Commissioner put a significant number of recruits into our own constituencies, but he has to adopt a fair basis for all communities. He also has to take into account where the needs are. It is a complicated issue to determine where garda\u00ed should be placed. As the Deputy will probably agree, there is no point in putting garda\u00ed where they are not needed and where there are not high crime levels. Communities have to have a garda presence but there are areas where you need to focus garda\u00ed, and that will be based on the Commissioner\u2019s assessment as to where the needs are greatest.  The Deputy has very eloquently advocated a permanent Garda station in Rush, in her area. What is more important to me is actually seeing garda\u00ed out in the community. We have many Garda stations but it is not the stations that give people a sense of safety. Rather, it is the fact that there are garda\u00ed on the streets or in the vicinity of the station. I will seek to prioritise the continued presence of garda\u00ed in the community. People want them visible. I hear what the Deputy is saying about Rush Garda station. I will consider the matter and discuss it within my Department. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_42","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Antisocial Behaviour","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_40","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_40","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_42","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  The issue I want to raise with the Minister today has some similarity to the last issue in that it relates to Garda action, particularly in respect of juvenile antisocial behaviour cases. \"Antisocial behaviour\" is an umbrella term that covers many different activities. Some will say that antisocial behaviour is just that, antisocial, but of course it encompasses criminality as well. I fear there are certain young people who are behaving antisocially, but by extension criminally, with impunity. They are not being held to account for what they are doing, for the impact they are having on local communities and specific residents, and in terms of their criminal actions.  The Minister knows I have been practising in criminal law for nearly 20 years and have dealt with juvenile cases. I would be the last to suggest we should increase the criminalisation of young people. Doing so is unhelpful in many ways. I will allude briefly to the dysfunctionality of our current Children's Court system and the delays in implementing all the progressive measures that were put into the Children Act 25 years ago. However, on the flip side of that coin, you cannot have a situation in which young people, teenagers, are doing whatever they want to whomever they want without any fear of consequence. That leads to considerable lawlessness in communities and massively interrupts the ability of ordinary people living in them to enjoy their property, get on with their lives, go to work, bring their children to school and even send their children to the shop. I have met people in the D\u00fan Laoghaire area who tell me they will not let their 12-year-old children go to the shop on their own because of kids in the area who might intimidate them, intercept them or even rob them. We cannot allow that to continue.  I have raised this with the Garda. We are lucky in south Dublin's F and W districts, namely D\u00fan Laoghaire and Blackrock, to have garda\u00ed who are on top of their brief, who are working incredibly hard, who liaise with the communities and who are plugged into the situation. However, the problem is that they do not feel they are equipped with either the resources or, perhaps more importantly, the powers to deal with this issue. For example, a 14-year-old who engages in criminal activity in the local area, maybe at a low level, gets arrested by the Garda and is brought down to Blackrock or D\u00fan Laoghaire Garda station cannot be left in a cell on their own, first of all. When they are there, they cannot be with one adult on their own. Two garda\u00ed have to be with them. That takes two garda\u00ed off the streets. They cannot be out doing the work we need them to do at a particular time. In due course, a parent is called. I acknowledge that many of these problems often stem from a lack of parental control. When the parent or guardian is called, he or she comes down to the station and the child is released into that person's custody. They are brought home and they are not even kept in the house for the rest of the night sometimes. No prosecution may flow from that. Whatever about there being no prosecution, the reality is there is a deficit at the moment in what garda\u00ed can do to deal specifically with juvenile misbehaviour, juvenile antisocial behaviour and juvenile criminality.  Obviously, the further up the scale of seriousness it goes, the greater the power of garda\u00ed to act. At the moment, however, people in the D\u00fan Laoghaire constituency, which is a lovely place to live and one that does not generally suffer from major crime problems, tell me that there is a growing problem with juvenile antisocial behaviour. This is a problem that exists in parks and housing estates and on main streets. In Deansgrange recently, the windows of many shops were broken overnight. That was done by one particular offender who, I understand, has been apprehended by garda\u00ed. I do not know the details, but I am sure it will take its course within the courts.  Further up the scale, garda\u00ed may have the powers to act. That is fine. However, in terms of the stuff that impinges on ordinary people and prevents them from the peaceful enjoyment of their properties and their neighbourhoods or from going to work, school or to the shops, there is a major problem. I would love to hear the Minister's proposals for how we are going to deal with that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I thank Deputy Ward for raising this very important issue. Obviously there is a complexity to how society should respond to criminality by people under 18 years of age but my starting point is looking at the impact it has upon victims. From the victim's point of view, as Deputy Ward has described, it is cold comfort that the person who is perpetrating the criminal act or the antisocial behaviour is, in fact, under 18 years of age. The impact of the offence or the antisocial behaviour on the individual is as significant as it would be if it was being carried out by an adult as opposed to by a child. That is why I start, as I am sure Deputy Ward does, by looking at the impact on the victim.  When it is the case that criminality is being carried out or antisocial behaviour engaged in by a person under 18 years of age, as Deputy Ward will be aware from experience, we have a different statutory procedure in terms of dealing with people who are defined as children under the Children Act. Since the enactment of the Children Act a quarter of a century ago, Ireland's approach has been to divert children from the criminal justice system, with detention being, as it says in the Act, an option of \"last resort\". That does not mean, however, that detention is not sometimes necessary. Regrettably, sometimes the detention of children is necessary. I am pleased to say that when it comes to Oberstown, we have been able, through consultation with the Minister for children, Deputy Foley, to increase the number of spaces available for boys in Oberstown. That was done as a result of consultation I had with the Minister, Deputy Foley.  An essential pillar of the child-focused approach is the Garda youth diversion programme, and that is effective. It provides a statutory basis for the Garda youth diversion programme. The intention of this programme is to divert children aged 12 to 17 years who have been engaged in such behaviour away from the criminal justice system and towards more positive, pro-social behaviour and life choices. Children who commit criminal offences are considered for admission to the diversion programme. Each such case is assessed and the director of the Garda diversion programme, the Garda superintendent, decides if the case is suitable for inclusion in the programme.  I recently had the pleasure of being out in D\u00fan Laoghaire Garda station with Deputy Ward's colleague Deputy Devlin. I met officials and the superintendent there and was extremely impressed by their commitment to policing the area. Obviously, the challenges they face when it comes to dealing with juvenile offenders is consistent with the problems that exist around the country.  Young people deemed suitable by the director of the Garda youth diversion programme may be referred to the local youth diversion projects where, in collaboration with a Garda juvenile liaison officer, these projects provide supports to children to address their behaviour and engage positively with their communities. People sometimes that youth diversion programmes are not effective or successful, but there is success in respect of them. If we look at the statistics in terms of the number of people being referred to youth diversion programmes, we can see that notwithstanding the year-on-year population growth, the number of children coming to the attention of the diversion programme has generally decreased.  I appreciate that this might not be of much comfort to the victim suffering from the criminality or antisocial behaviour of a person under 18 years of age but there does need to be a Garda response. If the individual child does not want to go along with the youth diversion programme, then the force of the criminal justice system must operate in the way that it should in respect of children. If we want to put in a different statutory regime that does mean amending the Children Act and having a broader conversation about whether we wish to change the way we deal with children or whether want to redefine the age beneath 16. These are very complicated issues that we need to carefully consider. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  I thank the Minister for his acknowledgement of the work garda\u00ed in D\u00fan Laoghaire and Blackrock are doing. I was delighted to welcome him to Blackrock when he visited recently. I appreciate his attention to the issue. I also acknowledge what he said about the progressiveness of the Children Act. That is important but if we are relying on Oberstown or incarceration for children, the system has already failed at that stage. There are people locally who tell me that there are young children who will say to them when they are confronted about their criminal behaviour that they cannot be touched or be arrested or face the consequences that would apply to an adult. The younger they are, the more they believe that and as long as they believe it, they will continue to act with impunity. They will continue to disrupt the lives of lawful and law abiding citizens in our communities.  It may be that a legislative response is required, but I also think that we should be having a conversation about this and asking ourselves what we need to do to ensure that there is some kind of an arrest to the antisocial behaviour that is creating victims in our local communities. As I said, the spectrum of activity ranges from bad behaviour, shouting or whatever in a local area to much more serious things like property damage to businesses, theft, robbery, assault and more serious matters. If only for the reason that we want to protect those children from the consequences of getting on a slippery slope to more serious criminality as adults, it is incumbent on us a legislature and as a State, on the Department and on An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na to put a stop to this. We need to make sure the message gets out to those kids that if they are going to behave antisocially and criminally, there will be consequences and they will suffer them. I recognise what the Minister said about the juvenile liaison system. It has yielded results. There is no doubt about that. Maybe it needs more resources and maybe we need to make it more effective and more commonly used but there cannot be a message to young people, or children in particular, that they can behave with impunity because they cannot. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  Obviously, the youth diversion programme does not mean that children cannot be arrested, convicted of offences or apprehended by garda\u00ed. If garda\u00ed come across youths who are involved in criminal behaviour or breaches of public order, they can apply the law in respect of them and it may be necessary at times for them to be arrested. The Deputy is right to say that this does result in further bureaucracy within a Garda station because arresting a child is treated differently to arresting an adult. That said, it still can be done and I want to assure the general public that garda\u00ed can arrest juveniles who are involved in the commission of criminal behaviour. However, that does not mean that subsequently, after their arrest and once they go through that process, they cannot then be put on the pathway of the youth diversion programme.  Deputy Ward will know that generally criminal behaviour is committed predominantly by boys and men between the ages of 14 and 30. Once they reach the latter age, they cop on and they stop engaging in criminal behaviour. The Deputy is absolutely right that we are doing a disservice to people between the ages 14 and 18 if we do not try to stop or divert them. If they are committing criminal behaviour on the last day of their 17th year, once they turn 18 they are inevitably going to end up in the adult system and will probably be incarcerated.  I should have mentioned that I recall being with Deputy Ward out in D\u00fan Laoghaire. I was impressed by what is going on out there but policing of youths is complicated. I want to try to ensure that there are greater resources for garda\u00ed but also for young people. If youths are hanging around, which sometimes happens more in the summer months, we need to ensure that we have the services available as well so that they can do things like play football or get involved in sport and be diverted away from the criminal behaviour. However, if they are involved in criminal behaviour, the law should come down on them relatively hard because if it does not, we are doing them a disservice. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Antisocial Behaviour"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_43","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Schools Building Projects","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_40","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_40","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_43","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert O'Donoghue  A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to visit St. Mary\u2019s in Oldtown, which is in my constituency of Dublin Fingal West. I want to begin by sincerely thanking Julie, the principal, for making me feel so welcome. What stood out to me immediately was not just the dedication of the staff but the strength of the entire school community. The teachers, SNAs and the board of management are deeply committed and compassionate and are working tirelessly to support every child under their care.  However, it is impossible to ignore the reality in which they are doing this work. The building is over 80 years old and is under immense pressure. Much of the school operates out of outdated temporary accommodation. There are storage heaters instead of proper central heating. There is damp and mould present in classrooms. There are leaks, the floors have holes in places and the temporary building is warped. These issues give rise to real safety concerns.  This is not just inconvenient; it is unacceptable. There are 78 children in the school, including 12 in the special autism class. These children, some of whom have additional and complex needs, are learning in conditions that are cramped, cold and not fit for purpose. The facilities available to them do not reflect the care, dignity and support they deserve. This raises a fundamental question about equity. How is it fair that some children in our education system are taught in warm, modern and well-equipped buildings while others are expected to learn in environments that are deteriorating around them? What message does that send? From where I stand, it communicates something deeply troubling: that some school communities are valued less than others. The same applies to the staff. Teachers and SNAs in this school are on the Department\u2019s payroll, just like their colleagues elsewhere. Why should some educators have to work in cold, inadequate conditions, while others do not? Their dedication should be matched with basic standards of safety and comfort.  The school is currently at stage 2a of the planning process for a new building, but progress has been slow. In the meantime, the conditions remain the same or worsen. The reality is that delays have real human consequences. They affect children\u2019s learning, well-being and sense of belonging. They affect staff morale and their ability to deliver the high-quality education they are striving to provide. I also want to acknowledge and thank those who have been supporting the school and advocating on its behalf.  I am asking for two things. The first is that the Department acknowledge the reality that the accommodation currently being provided at St. Mary\u2019s Oldtown is substandard and not acceptable for any child or staff member. The second is that urgent action be taken. This means progressing the long-delayed building project to the next stage without further delay, and in the interim, providing funding for essential works to address the most immediate issues, such as heating, safety and basic infrastructure in the school. Ultimately, this is about fairness. It is about dignity. It is about ensuring that every child, regardless of where they live, has access to a safe, warm and supportive learning environment. St. Mary\u2019s Oldtown is a school full of potential, care and commitment. It deserves a building that reflects that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Deputy Robert Troy)  I thank the Deputy for raising this matter as it gives me the opportunity, on behalf of the Minister for Education and Youth, to outline to the D\u00e1il the current position in relation to the school building project for St. Mary's Oldtown, County Dublin. This project was approved to enter the Department of Education and Youth\u2019s pipeline under the additional school accommodation scheme and is devolved for delivery to the school authority.  The project will provide three mainstream classrooms, one special education tuition room and a two-classroom special educational needs base. The project is currently at stage 2a, detailed design, of the architectural design process. The stage 2a report has been submitted to the Department and is currently under review from both a technical and cost perspective. All projects, including this one, are subject to the full due diligence requirements set out in the Department\u2019s infrastructure guidelines.  Although this project is not within the first tranche of school building projects recently published in the NDP sectoral investment plan, it remains part of the Department\u2019s overall pipeline of school building projects. The NDP sectoral plan involves a very strong emphasis on maximising existing capacity and prioritisation of school building projects to meet the most urgent needs. In this regard, there will be a strong special education dimension to the project roll-out.  The Department will continue to build on the progress made over recent years by continuing to roll out projects on a prioritised basis to meet the most urgent needs in terms of provision of additional capacity and modernisation of existing facilities. As part of planning ahead for the next tranche of projects to progress to tender, the Department-led prioritisation process will continue over the course of 2026 and 2027 in order to assess and evaluate the progression of individual projects through the design pipeline, having regard to the continual need to maximise existing capacity and determine the prioritised needs going forward. This process will involve engagement with key stakeholders and individual schools and will ultimately inform the next tranches of programme roll-out to tender. The Department-led energy and condition survey of the school estate, which will be finalised later in 2026, will provide an additional evidence base for assessing priorities.  Based on the ongoing prioritisation process, some projects may be added to the list over the course of 2026 and 2027, having regard to their prioritisation and urgency of need, and taking account of the ongoing ability to progress them to tender and construction within the parameters of overall funding. Where appropriate, the Department will also assess opportunities to undertake advance enabling works for the most urgent and complex projects to facilitate a smooth progression to construction in 2028 and beyond. Any interim accommodation requirements will continue to be assessed and considered by the Department on a case-by-case basis to determine the prioritised needs and approach for addressing same. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert O'Donoghue  I accept that due diligence needs to be carried out, that everything needs to be ticked off and that the boxes need to be ticked. The year 2028 would mean a long time waiting for the next tranche, so I thank the Minister of State for clarifying that additional projects may be taken on in the interim if the school reaches significant progression within the project stages. In the spirit of moving this on, the school has recently requested a meeting between the Minister, Deputy Naughton, and the board of management. While an agenda was sought by the Minister's office, a meeting has yet to be confirmed. I would strongly urge that this engagement takes place without further delay. I would be happy to invite the Minister, Deputy Naughton, to the school and would be happy to facilitate such a meeting with the school community and board, should that be necessary. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  Deputy O'Donoghue will appreciate that I am answering on behalf of my colleague. He has made a strong and compelling case for additional works at this school in the very near future. We were all disappointed when the announcement was made some months ago if schools that we articulate on behalf of in our respective constituencies were excluded. The amount of resources is always finite, so there has to be prioritisation. From my perspective, and even from the Deputy\u2019s perspective, I am happy to see in this reply that the Department is not cutting out the possible inclusion of other schools depending on the need in 2026 and 2027. It is helpful that it allows for the opportunity for enabling works to be done that would allow it to go to construction in 2028. To me, that indicates a Department that is willing to work with the school authorities to ensure that any additional works that can be done in 2026 and 2027 will be done, which is welcome. There is also an acknowledgement that, at a time of resource constraints, it may be possible to do enabling works so that shovels are ready to hit the ground in 2028.  The Deputy has made a case on behalf of the school in question. I undertake to relay what he has said to the Minister, Deputy Naughton. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Schools Building Projects"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_44","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Schools Building Projects","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_40","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_40","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_44","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  I want to raise the case of Gorey Hill school in Gorey, County Wexford. This is a school for learners with complex learning needs aged between four and 18. It was officially opened only at the beginning of 2025, although it had been in operation from late 2024. Part of the reason the school was opened was that there was so much pressure on St. Patrick's Special School in Enniscorthy that there was a need for additional places in counties Wexford and Wicklow for young people with complex learning needs.  In fairness, through co-operation between the Gaelscoil, An Foras P\u00e1tr\u00fanachta, the patron body, Waterford Wexford Education and Training Board and the Department, this school was very quickly able to get off the ground using a number of areas within the Gaelscoil that were not in use. There is also on the site a very successful na\u00edonra, a preschool provision, operating through the Irish language.  This school is extraordinarily well run. I pay tribute to all the staff there. It is among the first schools that are going to be rolling out the new educational therapy services. However, we are already we are into a situation where this new school is full. The school has to inform parents and others as to how many places will be available. For the 2026-27 school year, there are no new places for admission into the school and that is because the school is already full.  There is a proposal to expand the school. There is a modular development being set out. There is a concern, and rightfully so, among some of the parents in regard to the Gaelscoil and the na\u00edonra and the potential impact it may have on play areas if a modular building is put in place, thereby limiting the number of play areas and parking spaces within the facility. There is strong support for the school, but consideration has to be given to the impact on the existing Gaelscoil and na\u00edonra.  What guarantees are in place in the context of additional places? For those who want to have places in the school from this September, if the modular building is proceeding, has there been consultation with the parents, the na\u00edonra and others who are going to be impacted if it goes ahead? Will the building require planning permission? What is the timeline in that regard? More importantly, the intention in respect of this provision was that it was to be an interim measure. The long-term goal was to have a specially built, fully functioning new special school on a greenfield site. The reason we know this - the Minister of State knows it as well - is that north Wexford and south Wicklow is one of the fastest growing areas in the country. There is a huge demand for special education. We already know, and I know from talking to primary school teachers and parents, about the demands for places within this school.  Our long-term goal is that we get the commitment that was made - a very clear commitment and timeframe for the building of a school for those with complex learning needs. It is important right now, in the immediate term, that we spell out exactly what is going to happen to ensure there is sufficient provision within the immediate community. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  I am taking this matter on behalf of Deputy Michael Moynihan, Minister of State at the Department of Education and Youth, who sends his apologies because he cannot be here today. I thank the Deputy for raising the matter and giving me the opportunity to outline the Department of Education and Youth\u2019s plans to address the accommodation needs for Gorey Hill School.  Gorey Hill School is one of four special schools established for the 2024-25 school year. The school operates under the patronage of Waterford and Wexford Education and Training Board, ETB. The school currently supports 37 young people aged between four and 18 who have a diagnosis of autism and-or complex learning needs, with a professional recommendation requiring the support of a special school setting. The staffing comprises an administrative principal, administrative deputy principal, seven class teachers and 18 special needs assistants, together with ten post primary co-operation hours per week.  The school is based in a Department-owned school property in Gorey. Surplus capacity in the building was repurposed to make it suitable for special school purposes and to facilitate the opening of the new school. The repurposing project was delivered under the Department\u2019s special educational needs reconfiguration and modular accommodation programme, which facilitated the school opening as quickly as possible. The programme involves the use of project management supports which is designed to enable the accommodation to be provided as quickly as possible and help ease the administrative workload for school authorities in relation to the management and delivery of projects. This is a collaborative process between the project manager, school authority and the Department of Education and Youth.  The property provides an opportunity to facilitate a co-location arrangement with other schools, which is consistent with the Department\u2019s approach of maximising existing capacity and enabling local unmet needs for special school places to be met. The school is now at capacity and additional accommodation is required to facilitate further enrolments. The site at Gorey provides a good location for expanding capacity with a permanent modular extension for the school.  The Department of Education and Youth regards the current repurposed school building as the permanent location for Gorey Hill School. It is intended that the permanent capacity at the school will be expanded through the provision of the proposed modular accommodation project. This detail is currently being worked through and the Department is engaging with Waterford and Wexford ETB during this process.  The modular accommodation framework is a key part of the Department\u2019s strategy for the provision of good quality functional accommodation to meet the permanent accommodation requirements for prioritised individual schools. Between 2020 and 2025, the Department of Education and Youth has provided \u20ac174.6 million in capital funding for Wexford schools. Over this period, a total of 58 schools have been upgraded either through provision of a new school building, a large-scale extension or provision of modular accommodation.  There are currently seven school projects in Wexford under construction. One school project will go to tender or construction in 2026-27, and this summer, eight schools are approved to undergo works as part of the summer works scheme. In addition, since 2020, a total of 80 special classes have been opened in Wexford, ten of which were sanctioned for September next. Budget 2026 has secured funding for 3,000 new specialist places and the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, is currently examining where these places are best located for the 2026-27 academic year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  I thank the Minister of State. I appreciate that he is taking this on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, who has indeed visited Gorey Hill School. There is an acknowledgment in here that the school is already at capacity and that there is greater demand.  The concern I have in regard to the answer that has been provided is whether regard has been had to the potential impact the proposed modular construction will have on the play area, car parking and ancillary services that exist on the site already, and if there has been a sufficient level of consultation around this. Everyone wants to see the school grow, but this should not be at the expense of either the Gaelscoil or the na\u00edonra. I would encourage that there should be consultation with the parents who are concerned about that but, as I said, they are incredibly supportive of the school in the long run.  This is in an extremely busy area of the school. We have a second level school, Creagh College, with 1,000 pupils in the area, as well as not just the Gaelscoil but two other primary schools, all within a couple of hundred metres of this site. It is already an extremely busy educational campus. There are obviously concerns that if we are looking at expanding educational facilities on the same site, some of that will have a knock-on impact. I certainly support and want to see the development of the school. As an interim solution, the modular solution is what may be necessary and the creation of the school was done at breakneck speed, for which I really praised the Department. It was what it needed to do.  I am concerned, given the projected growth in population plus the demand within the area, that in the long term this modular extension is potentially seen as the long-term solution. We in north Wexford have been told many times that when we get a new school, that is the last school the area will get and yet, the population continues to grow and we eventually get an additional school. The Department needs to go back to the drawing board and have a long-term plan to ensure that we have a greenfield site for the building of a new special school in the area. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Paula Butterly)  I thank the Deputy. I call Deputy Ellis. Apologies; I call the Minister of State. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  That is fine. I reiterate that it was very welcome and helpful that he arranged a visit by the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, to the school, where he saw first hand the challenges that are there. The challenge is to ensure the additional demand is met with additional capacity in a timely way as well. The one point I will have taken from the original reply is that there is ongoing engagement between the education and training board and the Department to ensure we can meet that demand, while at the same time not compromising the facilities that are currently there. I will bring the Deputy's message back to the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, loud and clear that the consultation needs to continue but also needs to conclude in a timely fashion to enable that modular unit to be delivered, increasing capacity for the children with special educational needs.  Ultimately, that is what we need to do. We need to ensure that children who have special needs have the opportunity to attend school in their own locality rather than being transferred for miles, because that is not in anybody's interests either. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Schools Building Projects"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_45","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Schools Building Projects","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":4},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_40","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_40","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_45","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dessie Ellis","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dessie Ellis","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dessie Ellis  St. Aidan's CBS Whitehall first opened in 1964 and is part of the very fabric of our community. It has provided an excellent education for generations of boys from around Whitehall, Glasnevin and Ballymun. Over the years, substantial amounts of money have been spent on maintaining the school buildings and 60-year-old prefabs. The demand for secondary school places and applications for admission to St. Aidan's are high and the school is always hugely oversubscribed.  There are two phases to the proposed new development. The first phase will be the construction of the new, modern school into which the students will decamp from the old, dilapidated prefabs. The second phase will be the removal of the old prefabs and the building of much-needed ASD units, which will include a sensory room as well as special educational needs classrooms. The project was granted permission by An Bord Plean\u00e1la on 24 February 2025. However, the school, the parents and the community are dismayed that, to date, St. Aidan's is not listed among the 105 projects specifically highlighted as moving to tender and construction by 2026 and 2027 in the first tranche of the 2026 NDP roll-out. This oversight needs to be addressed, and St. Aidan's should be included on the NDP priority list. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul McAuliffe  As Deputy Ellis has said, this is an incredible school. It is incredibly popular and it does an amazing job. Unfortunately, the principal of that school recently met Deputy Hearne, Deputy Ellis and me to ask the question, \"To be, or not to be\". The school is at stage 2B and the question is whether it will progress. What is proposed is fantastic. We are talking about 15 classrooms and 15 other rooms, including science labs, construction rooms, technology rooms and special education facilities. It is disappointing that the school is not on the priority list. The T\u00e1naiste has given some indication that other projects will be funded. St. Aidan's and a number of other projects in our area need to be on the list the Department is progressing. We also need to make sure that there is no delay in terms of the school's ability to plan and design the project. Can other elements of the project be progressed while they are waiting for the final construction phase? The school community, the principal and the parents are really passionate about this project. They want it to happen because they know the difference it will make. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  To follow on from my fellow Deputies in Dublin North-West, we are highlighting this issue today because St. Aidan's CBS in Whitehall is at the centre of the community. It provides excellent education. We met the school principal and deputy principal recently, who outlined their very real frustration with the lack of progress on promises of new school buildings. T\u00e1 foirgneamh scoile nua ag teast\u00e1il \u00f3 St. Aidan's agus \u00f3 phobal Whitehall, Glasnevin and of course the wider area up to Ballymun where students come from. The community needs a school. T\u00e1 siad tar \u00e9is fanacht r\u00f3fhada. They are waiting too long. What really is causing frustration is the need for clarity from the Department of education as to why St. Aidan's is not on the priority list. It should be. It is urgently needed. We look forward to hearing the Minister of State's response. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  I thank the Deputies for raising this matter. I am taking it on behalf of the Minister for Education and Youth. I know that Deputy McAuliffe has engaged directly with the Taoiseach on this but it is very positive to see such cross-party support on an issue.  The school was approved to enter the Department's pipeline for a project under the additional school accommodation scheme, ASA. The project will provide 15 general classrooms, five special education tuition rooms, a two-classroom special educational needs base, one music room, one multimedia room, one art room, one construction studies room, one technology prep room, two project stores, two science labs, one prep area, one design-computer graphics room, and ancillary services. The project was devolved to the school authority for delivery.  This project is currently at stage 2B. The stage 2B report was submitted to the Department in January of this year and is currently undergoing a comprehensive technical and cost review. All projects, including this one, are subject to the full due diligence requirements set out in the Department\u2019s infrastructure guidelines. Although this project is not within the first tranche of school building projects recently published in the NDP sectoral investment plan, it remains part of the Department\u2019s overall pipeline of school building projects. The NDP sectoral plan involves a very strong emphasis on maximising existing capacity and prioritisation of school building projects to meet the most urgent needs. In this regard, there will be a strong special education dimension to project roll-out. The Department will continue to build on the progress made over recent years with the continued roll-out of projects on a prioritised basis to meet the most urgent needs in terms of provision of additional capacity and modernisation of existing facilities.  As part of planning ahead for the next tranche of projects to progress to tender, the Department-led prioritisation process will continue over the course of 2026 and 2027 to assess and evaluate the progression of individual projects through the design pipeline, having regard to the continual need to maximise existing capacity and determine the prioritised needs going forward. This process will involve engagement with key stakeholders and individual schools and will ultimately inform the next tranches of programme roll-out to tender.  The Department-led energy and condition survey of the school estate, which will be finalised later in 2026, will provide an additional evidence base for assessing priorities. Based on this ongoing prioritisation process, some projects may be added to the list over the course of 2026 and 2027, having regard to their prioritisation and urgency of need and taking account also of the ongoing ability to progress them to tender and construction within the parameters of overall funding. Where appropriate, the Department will also assess opportunities to undertake advance enabling works for the most urgent and complex projects to facilitate a smooth progression to construction in 2028 and beyond. Any interim accommodation requirements will continue to be assessed and considered by the Department on a case-by-case basis to determine the prioritised needs and approach for addressing same. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dessie Ellis","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dessie Ellis  I understand the Minister, Deputy Naughton, is not here to take this really important issue. I appreciate the Minister of State taking it. I hope this does not lessen what we are saying and what we are looking for. The urgency of this and of prioritising it is crucial to the people in the area and to the school itself. They have done tremendous work on this. Everything is in place and ready to go. We need a commitment. I know the Minister of State said there might be a possibility of some other schools being included. We are urging that they be included as soon as possible to get this moving forward. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul McAuliffe  I echo what Deputy Ellis has said. To reinforce the point, this is a very constrained site. It is quite compact. There is a portion of it that is owned by the religious order where housing is actually being developed. In the wider Santry area, it is very positive that we have more housing supply but there is an increasing population. Around the corner on the Swords Road, the Department of education has planned two 1,000-pupil secondary schools. This morning at the Committee of Public Accounts, the Secretary General of the Department of education said there were opportunities to include additional projects. St. Aidan's should be one of those. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  It is important that St. Aidan's is included in the new list and is prioritised. I again express the frustration from the school. The principal and deputy principal outlined that they had submitted the developed design to the Department in January of this year but they were still waiting to get a response on that. The Minister of State set out that it was undergoing a comprehensive technical and cost review. It would be good to get a very clear timeframe for when the Department is going to give its response in terms of that review, and to give the school some indication of when this is going to be developed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  I thank the three Deputies again for giving me an opportunity to update the House regarding the accommodation at St Aidan's CBS Whitehall.  The Department is committed to ensuring appropriate accommodation is available for all school pupils and will, in the wider context outlined, ensure that each school project under the school building programme is subject to due diligence required under the Government's infrastructure guidelines. The Deputies made a very strong case for the school this evening. Deputy McAuliffe has confirmed what was said at the committee today. It is possible for additional schools to be included in 2626 and 2027.  I assure Deputy Ellis that it is no less relevant that I am taking the debate this evening. I will relay the strong points that the Deputies have made this evening to my colleague the Minister, Deputy Naughton, to reinforce the message that this school has a priority to be included in 2026-27. Even for those that are not included in that, the Department is looking at ways to ensure that enabling works can be done so that when a further tranche of money becomes available in 2028, further schools will be added at that stage. The Department has been as flexible as it can be to ensure the maximum amount of construction work happens in 2026, 2027 and on into 2028.  The Deputies have made compelling cases this evening for St. Aidan's and I undertake to bring that back to the Minister, Deputy Naughton, on foot of their representations here in the House. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Schools Building Projects"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-16\/debate\/dbsect_46","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2025\/40","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2025\/40\/dail\/2","houseCode":"dail","stage":"2","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Disregard of Historic Offences for Consensual Sexual Activity Between Men Bill 2025: Second Stage [Private Members] (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Disregard of Historic Offences for Consensual Sexual Activity Between Men Bill 2025: Second Stage [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":10,"speakerCount":8},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_46","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  I move: \"That the Bill be now read a Second Time.\"  Is iontach gur shroich muid an Stad seo leis an mBille seo. Bh\u00ed s\u00e9 seo foilsithe ach n\u00ed raibh muid ag s\u00fail go roghn\u00f3fa\u00ed \u00e9 go tapa is a bh\u00ed don d\u00edosp\u00f3ireacht ar an Dara Ch\u00e9im. The Bill states:  ...it is declared and recognised that all those, whether applicants or otherwise, who were prosecuted or convicted of offences arising from consensual same-sex sexual activity between persons of full capacity are entitled to and hereby receive an apology and an acknowledgement that maintaining such offences was, on the part of the State, improperly discriminatory and contrary to human dignity and that it infringed human rights including in particular the right to personal privacy and autonomy.  That is the basis of the Bill I move today. T\u00e1 \u00e1thas orm an Bille um Neamhaird a Thabhairt ar Chionta Stairi\u00fala i dtaobh Gn\u00edomha\u00edocht Ghn\u00e9asach Chomhthoili\u00fail Idir Fir, 2025 a bhogadh ar an Dara Ch\u00e9im tar \u00e9is don D\u00e1il glacadh leis an Ch\u00e9ad Ch\u00e9im d\u2019aon guth nuair a foils\u00edodh \u00e9 i m\u00ed I\u00fail 2025. Gabhaim m\u00edle bu\u00edochas leis an LGBT restorative justice campaign, go h\u00e1irithe na daoine a bhunaigh \u00e9, lena n-air\u00edtear Kieran Rose, Karl Hayden agus Brian Sheehan. Bh\u00ed siad ag br\u00fa na ceiste seo chun tosaigh. They addressed TDs and Senators in the audiovisual room of Leinster House earlier this week. Throughout the process, they have been in contact with me and other spokespersons on this issue. Some of them are here in the Gallery this evening.  Gabhaim m\u00edle bu\u00edochas leo si\u00fad who contributed to the drafting of this legislation, which in many ways I plagiarised from them: C\u00e9ile Varley, Cillian Bracken and the law firms, Goodbody and Clifford Chance. Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis na Teachta\u00ed eile a sh\u00ednigh an Bille seo \u2013 Teachta\u00ed Ged Nash, P\u00e1draig Rice, Paul Murphy, Roderic O\u2019Gorman agus iarTheachta D\u00e1la agus Uachtar\u00e1n na h\u00c9ireann reatha, Catherine Connolly. Is \u00e9 seo an Bille deireanach a thionscain s\u00ed agus tr\u00e9asla\u00edm l\u00e9i as an \u00e9acht at\u00e1 bainte amach aici \u00f3 sh\u00edn. Is Bille \u00e9 seo a chuirfidh deireadh leis an \u00e9ag\u00f3ir a rinneadh ar fhir leis na gl\u00fanta de r\u00e9ir g\u00e9arlean\u00fana coil\u00edn\u00ed.  The fact that this Bill has been co-sponsored by TDs from Sinn F\u00e9in, the Labour Party, the Social Democrats, People Before Profit, the Green Party and the Independent Catherine Connolly before her election as President indicates the groundswell of support and consensus across this House on this issue. Not alone was the Opposition united on the need for a disregard process, but the Minister, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan, indicated at the time that he was not opposed to this. He has also indicated that he will not oppose the legislation on Second Stage and, in fact, intends to bring his own proposals forward in the very near future. I know he has promised that before, but he promised me that it would be within weeks this time. I hope we can then get the Government's approach to the need for this legislation before us and then we can deal with the amendments shortly. This will allow us to put to an end once and for all the wrong committed for many years. Every day wasted is a day where we are failing to account for the nation's dark history when it comes to the persecution of gay men.  That persecution can be traced way back to Act for the Punishment of the Vice of Buggery (Ireland) 1634, which was imposed by a British colonial regime. That law remained on the books in this State until 1993 along with the other draconian laws from the Victorian era that criminalised men who engaged in consensual sexual activity with other men. The first law stated it was for \"the detestable and abominable Vice of Buggery committed with Mankind or Beast\". Consensual same-sex activity was lumped in with bestiality. It also stated that offenders shall suffer such pains of death and losses as felons be accustomed to.  When the Free State was founded, this homophobic bigotry was enshrined in law again in the running of our Defence Forces where consensual activity was deemed a military offence subject to court martial. That was reinforced as late as in the Defence Act 1954.  When the Government of the day was finally dragged kicking and screaming into decriminalising consensual sex between men in 1993 following the famous case taken by our good friend in these Houses, David Norris, who took the case all the way to the European Court of Human Rights, there was little acknowledgement then or since of the lives that were utterly destroyed by the horrific penal system that existed for generations or of the lived reality of being gay in this State and the climate of fear in which gay men lived or left Ireland to escape. There was no space for people who did not conform.  This was also the time of the Magdalen laundries, the industrial schools, forced adoption and record incarceration in psychiatric hospitals. For gay men, the State was against them, the church was against them and in many cases their communities were against them. At the very least, they feared that their own families were against them. The criminality associated with gay sex meant that there was little support during the AIDS crisis and sometimes homophobic violence was normalised in our society, which meant that they lived in fear of their life with nowhere to turn.  Decriminalisation came ten years after the brutal murder of Declan Flynn in Fairview Park, which sparked the first Pride march in Dublin in 1983. In the ten years leading up to the decriminalisation, the State commenced criminal proceedings in 309 cases, resulting in 94 convictions. Dozens more cases of buggery were known to the Garda in 1993 and more men could well have been prosecuted. We must remember that the mere threat of prosecution was used to blackmail gay men. They would be named and shamed in the newspapers. They might lose their jobs or their families. In some cases, they faced judges whose unbridled homophobia was plain for all to see as they spoke openly about how they would have given a higher sentence if they could.  Some local garda\u00ed also demonstrated particular vindictiveness. Of the 68 criminal proceedings commenced in 1969, 20 were charged in Tullow, in County Carlow, alone, including teenagers aged 15, 16 and 17.  So much for protecting children, when children were in fact being criminalised by the State. Imagine the fear that was felt by those largely working class men and juveniles whose sexual activity became the talk of the town. It was talked of as a crime, and they were expected to pay extortionate bail bonds.  I have done a bit of research since I embarked on this legislation and the passage of First Stage. It is only a cursory snapshot through the papers that are online. These are the files here in my hand, and each one of them is just one story out of one paper, a snapshot in time, but they reflect the attitudes of the day. The attitudes from the first one I have, from 1929, remain the same right up to the last one I have found at this stage. My work is not complete. I am missing two decades of research. This is only from a search for \"gross indecency\", which was what most men were charged with. I can and will continue, but I hope in all this that we look at this and that when the Minister produces legislation, we get into looking at funding a piece of research to see the level of persecution in the State and the effects it had on people.  In the Irish Independent , on 26 October 1929, it says the following. It is short enough because these were very short notices.  Exemplary Sentence .\u2014Judge Davitt sentenced Victor Furley, who pleaded guilty to a large number of counts of gross indecency, to 15 years' penal servitude, and in commending Det. Officers Madden and Cryan, who had assisted in bringing the accused to justice, said it was revolting that police officers and Irishmen should have to be employed in detecting such crimes.  That is from 1929, and it does not stop there. As I said, this is a cursory glance through snippets in time. I go up to one that I found quite horrendous in The Nationalist & Leinster Times on 25 March 1950. It records the following case. It is quite a substantial report, which usually is not the case. They were usually one or two lines, but this one went into quite some detail.  His Lordship [that is, the judge] said to the accused that it was sad to see a man of his stamp in court in a case of this kind. As Counsel said, his case was one more for scientific medical treatment than one for ordinary imprisonment.  \"Dempsey, are you determined to make a manly effort to cure yourself of this trouble?\" his lordship asked.  Prisoner [who was obviously scared to death of what was in front of him]\u2014I am.  That is the type of fear there was. I will not read out any more but I have done a job of work and, as I have mentioned, there was a piece of work done in relation to Tullow. It just shows that, in certain areas, certain garda\u00ed or certain judges had a specific bent towards convicting and persecuting those who they felt were criminal. That was their approach.  This Bill does not accomplish everything that was set out in the report, which was to address our failings. The justice Minister at the time, Charlie Flanagan, and the Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, issued apologies on behalf of the State in June 2018 to those affected, but the criminal records of the convictions still remain. A first effort and progress to expunge those convictions using confidential Garda email addresses failed utterly as nobody came forward. It is unsurprising that victims of injustice would feel that they would have to go back to the perpetrators to seek their help.  Between 2021 and 2023, the working group was set up to examine the disregard for convictions. It produced a comprehensive report outlining the harsh realities of this gross human rights abuse. It proposed 95 recommendations for a disregard scheme. As I said, this Bill does not address all of those. It cannot. There are restrictions on us as Opposition TDs. We cannot put a charge on the Exchequer. Such practical things like resourcing and counselling supports cost money. We will hopefully get into some of that when we deal with the Minister's amendments. We address the need for research and redress to find out what the consequences are. Ours is not the only country in the world that has gone down the road of trying to address this hateful persecution. This Bill establishes a process for applying to the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission for a disregard of one's conviction as well as an appeals process and a review of the process within three years, along with annual reporting of the performances of that function. A disregard will provide clarity that there are no grounds for dismissing or prejudicing a person from office, profession, occupation, employment or any other right or privilege which citizens are entitled to on the basis of such conviction.  Acceptance, recognition, justice: no less is deserved by the generation of men who did nothing but take part in the love that dare not speak its name. In this, the land of Oscar Wilde, it is time that love spoke freely and those men were heard. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Jim O'Callaghan)  Ar dt\u00fas, ba mhaith liom mo bhu\u00edochas a ghabh\u00e1il leis an Teachta \u00d3 Snodaigh as an mBille seo. Is Bille f\u00edorth\u00e1bhachtach \u00e9. An bhliain seo caite, bh\u00ed d\u00edosp\u00f3ireacht idir an Teachta \u00d3 Snodaigh agus m\u00e9 f\u00e9in sa D\u00e1il ar an gceist seo. Tar \u00e9is sin, chuaigh m\u00e9 ar ais chuig an Roinn agus d\u00fairt m\u00e9 leis na hoifigigh gur mhaith liom Bille nua a fheice\u00e1il go tapa. I thank Deputy \u00d3 Snodaigh and the other Deputies who have co-signed this Bill for their consistent work on this issue. Last year, Deputy \u00d3 Snodaigh raised this in, I think, an oral parliamentary question to me and I said I would go back to the Department and try to see whether I could expedite the process of introducing legislation. I was aware at the time that there were plans within the Department to bring in legislation, but, as a result of Deputy \u00d3 Snodaigh raising it, it catalysed that further engagement. After our engagement on the floor of the D\u00e1il, I wanted to see what could be done to speed up the process. I am very conscious that the men who are alive who are affected by this - the numbers may be small, but the point is still very significant - will be of a considerable age, and I think a legislative measure should be introduced as quickly as possible to ensure that a disregard scheme can apply for them.  After our engagement in the D\u00e1il, I went back to the Department. I was thinking at the time whether some simple type of scheme could be introduced, in a similar way to a scheme that had been introduced in the UK in respect of the Post Office dispute and scandal that arose over there. There were issues in respect of how that type of scheme could not operate, but one of the benefits of my raising it was that I was able to instruct officials that I wanted to get the legislation enacted as promptly as possible. The effect of that was that I instructed that I wanted it to go as a Committee Stage amendment into the miscellaneous provisions Bill. A lot of work had been done on the Bill already, but my saying I wanted to have it in on Committee Stage in the miscellaneous provisions Bill expedited it, and I acknowledge Deputy \u00d3 Snodaigh's role in contributing to that expediting of the Bill.  The Government will not oppose this legislation. There are some issues with it that I will discuss presently. As to where we are, I got approval from the Government a number of months ago - I think two or so months ago - to introduce Committee Stage amendments to the miscellaneous provisions Bill, which has already gone through Second Stage here, that would establish a disregard scheme. It was very good news that approval from the Government had been put in place and that a general scheme for the Committee Stage amendment had been drafted. The drafting is ongoing in the Attorney General's office and the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel.  I am not opposing this legislation.  In fairness to Deputy \u00d3 Snodaigh, I know that neither he nor I cares which legislative instrument gives effect to the disregard scheme, provided it works. The scheme being drafted in the Department at present is more robust. Once that is ready to be introduced on Committee Stage in the D\u00e1il we can move promptly after that to get it enacted and to get the scheme up and running. I did indicate to Deputy \u00d3 Snodaigh yesterday that I hoped Committee Stage would take place next month. I am putting pressure on my officials to do so and the fact that I have now said it in the D\u00e1il will put even further pressure on them. This is something I will seek to actively work upon.  We are here to discuss Deputy \u00d3 Snodaigh's Bill. It sets out an application-based statutory process for the disregard of historic convictions relating to consensual sexual activity between men. It assigns to the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, IHREC, the responsibility for reviewing applications and for issuing disregards. In the scheme for which I have approval from Government to introduce, it is not IHREC doing it. It will be another person appointed by me who will be solely focused on the disregard scheme. The objective of Deputy \u00d3 Snodaigh's Bill corresponds with Government policy and specifically the programme for Government commitment to implement legislation to disregard specific historical offences related to the criminalisation of homosexuality. As such, this Bill is consistent with the Government's policy and that is why I will not be opposing it.  However, while the intention of the Bill has obvious merit, there are legal, policy and operational issues with this Bill as drafted, which I will outline shortly. As I said, I am working on the scheme to be introduced on Committee Stage. It is also important as Minister for justice that I again acknowledge that the laws which criminalised consensual sexual activity between adult males in Ireland, as in innumerable other jurisdictions, are now widely recognised as a historical injustice, motivated by ignorant and prejudicial societal attitudes. Those laws were introduced under British rule but persisted for some 70 years after the establishment of the Irish State, before finally being repealed in 1993. However, while over 30 years have passed since the applicable offences were abolished, their malign effects continue for all those who were unjustly rendered criminals in the eyes of the State. To this day, consenting adults who were convicted under these laws still bear the unmerited stain of criminal record. It is true that history cannot be rewritten and we cannot change the fact that although convictions occurred, nor undo the hardship, humiliation and lasting pain they caused. What we as legislators can do, however, is find a means by which a conviction of this kind can, in effect, be nullified, such that the person who incurred it is, to all intents and purposes, treated in law as if it never happened. A legislative scheme to enable the disregard of these convictions is long overdue and, as I have said, the Government is committed to its introduction. Unfortunately, this cannot be achieved by way of a simple blanket disregard of all such convictions. That is because the applicable common law and statutory offences did not distinguish in any way between consensual and non-consensual activity, nor between adults and minors. In the eyes of the law, two adult men engaging in sexual activity in the context of a loving relationship were not only committing a crime, but committing precisely the same offence as that of a predatory male who committed the same act with a boy. This further illustrates how deeply inequitable these laws were, but it also has the unfortunate legacy that an across-the-board expungement of convictions under these laws is clearly not viable. Any given case must therefore be assessed on its own merits by reference to whatever records are available. It was in this context that in 2021 the working group was established to examine and make recommendations on an application-based scheme for the disregard of eligible convictions. The working group met on 11 occasions with follow-up research, legal analysis and stakeholder outreach occurring between each meeting.  In late 2022, my Department held a full public consultation on key issues relating to the development of a scheme to disregard relevant convictions. This consultation yielded about 150 submissions from individuals, LGBT and other non-governmental organisations, trade unions and political parties and representatives. These submissions were of great value to the working group in its deliberations and helped to inform its final recommendations. The working group's final report, published in summer 2023, contained 95 recommendations on how to establish, operate and promulgate such a scheme, and on key matters such as the range of offences that should be included, the proposed eligibility criteria for a disregard, the legal effects of a disregard, and procedures for applications, record retrieval, decisions and reviews. The report was subsequently referred to officials in my Department to inform the development of legislative proposals that would align as closely as possible with the report's recommendations, while ensuring that the scheme would be legally sound and as accessible as possible. The number of recommendations in the report and the many procedurally and legally novel aspects of the proposed scheme have necessitated a lot of care being taken in the process of legislative analysis, consultation and drafting. However, as I said earlier, the legislation is now in an advanced stage of development and I intend to very shortly bring it before the Houses by amendment to the Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026.  Turning to the Bill under consideration today, its Short Title specifically states that it is for the purpose to provide for a disregard scheme. However, the qualifying offences set out in the Bill include the relevant offences that were repealed in 1993, but also any other offences pursuant to statute or common law where the behaviour constituting the offence consisted of consensual same-sex sexual activity. As worded, this would encompass offences which are still in force and hence are not legally appropriate for inclusion in a disregard scheme. More broadly, it would encompass a wide range of public order, morality and indecency laws under which heterosexuals were also liable to prosecution for inappropriate conduct. Even if the scope were restricted to repealed offences, it would be extremely difficult to determine whether a given conviction occurred purely because the conduct at issue happened to be of a homosexual nature. A further issue with the Bill is that it does not clearly or explicitly set out the criteria that are to guide the decision on whether to grant a disregard or an appeal of a refused disregard. While the definition of consensual same-sex sexual activity in section 2 of the Bill appears to be an attempt to set out such criteria, this term is not subsequently used in relation to the consideration of applications. The definition also fails to take due account of various circumstances that might still render a conviction unsuitable for disregard, such as evidence of payment for the sexual activity or evidence that the activity involved a vulnerable person or took place in the presence of a child.  Furthermore, the Bill does not make any provision for case records to be obtained from relevant public bodies to inform assessments and decisions on applications. The Bill does contain some well-considered provisions, including measures to support awareness of and access to the scheme. These include the requirement for a public information campaign and an explicit provision that applicants will not incur a fee when making an application. That said, and while there is much merit in the objectives of the Bill and I commend the drafters for the fact that it has catalysed and expedited Government action, I am advised by the Office of the Attorney General that it is not currently of a standard to have it enacted as it is and it would clearly need significant work.  Notwithstanding the policy and legal issues with the Bill that I have outlined, I want to reiterate my appreciation to Deputy \u00d3 Snodaigh and others for their work in bringing it forward and for helping to further raise awareness of this important matter. I too want to commend Kieran Rose, Karl Hayden and Brian Sheehan for their consistent campaigning in respect of this issue. They, along with us, will want to ensure that we get legislation on the Statute Book as quickly as possible that can be of benefit to those men who are still alive. Obviously the scheme I am drafting will also apply in a posthumous way and people will be able to apply for disregards in respect of deceased relatives. I am very conscious that those who were unfairly criminalised by these anti-homosexual laws and their loved ones have waited a long time for a scheme by which their convictions can be disregarded. It is clearly a goal that is widely shared in this House. I believe that the legislative scheme I will shortly be bringing forward offers the speediest route to achieving this in a way that is workable, equitable and accessible. It will clearly set out the offences in scope and will be comprehensive in setting out the disregard criteria and legal effects, along with the procedures for making, considering and determining applications, and for independent reviews of refused applications, among other essential matters. As mentioned, I will be bringing forward the scheme as an amendment on Committee Stage to the Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026. I know I will get the support of Deputies when these amendments come through and obviously Deputies may want to put forward their own further amendments in respect of it on Report Stage or even on Committee Stage when they see the amendments coming through. The establishment of the scheme will serve as recognition of the moral wrong that these laws visited upon so many gay men. For those who unfairly incurred criminal records as a result it will provide a basis to finally remove this wholly undeserved stain on their good name.  I again thank those who moved the legislation. Deputy \u00d3 Snodaigh's question last year prompted a motivation on my part to ensure the legislation could be enacted as quickly as possible. The best vehicle to do that is the miscellaneous provisions Bill. As I have said before, miscellaneous provisions Bills have huge advantages. You can get a lot of provisions into them. Once this provision comes in, it will provide the remedy that is so needed in this area. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  I thank my colleague, an Teachta \u00d3 Snodaigh, and the LGBT+ Restorative Justice Campaign for all of the work they have done on this. I will read a newspaper article. It is very brief.  A 24-year-old Blackrock man was remanded on his own bail today on a charge of gross indecency.  He was arrested by Garda John McCormack in Fairview Park on January 6 and charged with \"committing an act of gross indecency\" with an Englishman in the park.  Solicitor Maurice Walsh told Judge Thomas Fitzpatrick that there was no injured party as such, but that his client was \"most abused\" in the incident.  The defendant was remanded to February 10 for reports and the DPP's direction.  That was on 27 January 1992. It is quite hard to imagine this was so recent in our past. That was my first year in college. I was 18 years of age. That young man was 24. For most of his adult life he has had to carry and endure that stain. I hesitate to use that word because it should not be a stain or a stigma but that is effectively what was done to him. That was in 1992. Although it is historical, we are not talking about something that is ancient history. It is in our very recent past. It is very shocking to contemplate the fact that homosexuality was only decriminalised in 1993 and yet we have taken so many strides. However, when we take a step forward, we do not always look back to ensure we have tidied up and dealt with all of the consequences. In this instance, we clearly have not.  I welcome the fact that the Minister has responded to the pressure put on by an Teachta \u00d3 Snodaigh, by the campaign groups and by other parties here. It is very good that he is bringing forward his own legislation. However, if it is the case that his legislation is delayed or that there are blockages, there is legislation that can be worked on because that legislation was introduced this evening by an Teachta \u00d3 Snodaigh.  We will all remember the campaign for same-sex marriage in 2015. I know I do. I walked the legs off myself. We knocked on doors and we talked to people. In the main, I found that people's attitudes were good and positive. It surprised me that there were still some conservative elements and some people who had a lot of hate in their heart and who were not able to make that change. However, love is love, or however you want to put it, and there was a majority decision on that day. I was in the city centre and the celebrations were absolutely fantastic. Everybody hugged each other and we all said \"We did it.\" However, it was not done and it was not finished. We need to ensure that we bring everybody along and that we do not leave people like that young man behind or leave them with that stain, stigma or whatever word we might want to use. As we often say, there is still unfinished business.  The discussion we are having this evening, prompted by an Teachta \u00d3 Snodaigh and the campaign group, is very timely given that there has been a noticeable rise in homophobic attacks and abuse. That can be heard in the coarsening of language and seen online, including in that awful place, the manosphere. You also see high-profile people like Brendan Courtney talking about their own experiences. Mr. Courtney was attacked last year and he has talked about the rise of an anti-gay rhetoric. He said that there is anti-gay rhetoric building. We should do everything and anything we can, collectively as a Parliament and as a people, to call a halt to that. Passing this legislation sends a very clear signal not just to those people who are impacted and members of the LGBTQI+ community, but also to those people who seek to participate in the rise of homophobic rhetoric, anti-gay activity and all of that hate and awfulness.  A pardon is not good enough. There must be a disregard. There was never any offence committed so there is nothing to be pardoned. There must be a disregard. We have to be absolutely unequivocal about that. There is cross-party support for this legislation. That can be seen. Other parties have signed it, which is really welcome. The Government has also indicated support for the legislation. If the Minister is going to introduce his own Bill, that is grand. Let him do it quickly and we will work with him to ensure it is passed quickly. If he is not going to introduce his own legislation, I ask that he work with us on our legislation.  It is rare to stand in the D\u00e1il Chamber and find that everyone is agreeing with each other. However, we might look around afterwards and ask, even though we all stood here agreeing with each other, what was the end result? The end result has to be the quick passage of meaningful legislation so that what we all agree was a grave injustice can be righted for those people who were wrongly convicted. An apology is fine but the disregard is what people want. There was never an offence committed so there is no need for any pardon. A disregard is what is needed. I commend an Teachta \u00d3 Snodaigh, the members of all of the campaign groups and the other parties that have signed this legislation. I really do hope that this time next year, or even in a couple of months' time, we will have this legislation passed and that the work will be done. We are all in agreement so there is literally nothing stopping us from doing this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy M\u00e1ire Devine  It is time Bill was dealt with. It is good to see that the Minister has acted on the prompting of my colleague Deputy \u00d3 Snodaigh. It is good to have this debate in the Chamber. I thank everybody who has got it to this stage, including the guys up in the Gallery who have pushed for it. The Minister promised this would happen in February but he has acknowledged that he is a few weeks behind. I hope he is going to rectify that and get it to Committee, Report and Final Stages.  This about putting wrongs to right and lifting State-imposed burdens that destroyed lives. As a member of the rainbow caucus within the Oireachtas, I will state we seek a speedy resolution to this and urge that the Bill be passed. It is but one of the 95 recommendations set out in a report published in 2023. Today, we are focusing on the establishment of a legislative scheme to enable the disregard of relevant criminal records.  There was violent persecution and entrapment of those suspected of male same-sex intimacy. They were deliberately hunted by the State authorities. They were hunted to humiliate them and their families, to put their jobs in jeopardy, and to cause their landlords, local churches, clubs and so on to learn about them. Every aspect of life was threatened by the State authorities. They were interrogated and fired from their jobs. Moral panic was enthusiastically encouraged, aided and abetted by State agencies. This fuelled further moral panic.  The decriminalisation of sexual acts between men was officially achieved in 1993. As was said earlier, this removed the colonial-era laws of the Brits that had previously been in force here. Among the activists involved was a man with whom I served a term, the bold former Senator, David Norris. He took the legal challenge. He worked on it for 16 years and took the challenge in 1987.  His tenacity and his boldness have to be acknowledged, as do the guys in the Chamber from the LGBT+ Restorative Justice Campaign. They did not let go and did not back down.  We need to acknowledge what happened prior to 1993 and the suffering that the secrecy brought. It is known too well in many sectors in Ireland. We are good at secrets, we are good at hiding, we are good at locking away, we are good at humiliating and we are good at isolating and hunting others who may be perceived as different.  There were 900 odd convictions. Those included young 15- to 17-year-olds who were convicted for intimate behaviour. It was under the British occupation and their rules at the time, but it was also carried on with our own rules within this State. We did not seem to be bothered about having a look at them and trying to change them to make things better from a human rights perspective. It seemed like a throwback to Victorian era, but it is recent and, as Deputy O'Reilly said, it is within easy living memory.  We also had members of the Defence Forces who were convicted in military courts for having same-sex sexual relationships. To be discharged dishonourably and shamed must have been horrific for them.  Like many working class inner-city girls in the 1980s, I did not feel that I had a future in this country. I left and started nursing in Brighton. I did not know about this stuff, but Brighton was like a Mecca for gay and bisexual people to gather and feel safe. It was a safe enough haven. There was a lot of different hatred towards them, but it was a safe enough haven. I was a young student nurse, a Dub from Dublin 8. I told my friend Ciar\u00e1n about me being present in an admissions ward and the British police came along. They were not arresting me at that time but they came along with a young man who was from the country in Ireland. He was from Tipperary. He was bound by his hands and feet. They literally threw him in the door of the hospital. He had fled from Ireland, as so many others that I met in the small Irish community in Brighton had, because there was nothing there for them. They could not live their lives as they wanted to. They were a shame on their families. As Deputy O'Reilly said, a stigma existed. They fled and were disregarded. They were sent away and exported.  It was also the time of the very beginnings of the HIV epidemic, and it was that double whammy. Some of the poor young men who were struggling with being far from home and being disregarded by home also contracted HIV. The fear that was around at the time was just enormous among all the population. They did not have anybody to turn to. They did not have the comforting warm embrace of a mam, dad, brother or a sister. They survived very much alone and that was an absolute tragedy when I think back on it. I was very upset by it at the time but I did not know what to do because none of us were sure what this epidemic would bring. It brought a lot of sadness to already isolated and emotionally impoverished people.  I have a couple of asks of the Minister of State. The first is that we progress the Bill whatever way we can. The Minister said he would. Whatever way we can, let us progress it urgently. Second, can we please find funding for research into historical cases and the social history - the wrong history - of what occurred in this country prior to 1993?  We need to be very proud when this Bill passes because it will have repercussions internationally. It will reverberate around those countries that still have this criminalisation and show us in a positive light as did the marriage equality referendum. It will send a message to a very disturbed world, a world that has recently risen up with much hate and a lot of chaos. I urge the Minister of State to act with urgency. Let us get this across the line. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 in am. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Donnelly  I really just wanted to be here to show my support for this Bill and to thank Deputy \u00d3 Snodaigh and everybody who participated in this Bill, as well as the people up in the Gallery. It is incredibly important in this day and age. I am really saddened that we are in a situation that there has been a kick back against such a positive move over the past number of years towards understanding and accepting difference. That is really sad. I find it really difficult when I hear some of the horrific language being used by people on protests against immigration, the LGBTQ community and educating children. We are really going down a very dark road and it is something that everyone of us needs to stand up against. This Bill is part of that.  I find it really difficult to understand. I grew up in the north inner city as a teenager in the late 1970s and 1980s. I remember Fairview Park. I was a teenager when a man was beaten to death by people I knew and went to school with. We did not understand because we had been programmed and given information all our lives that this was a horrible thing that these men were doing. A lot of people of my generation and the generations before that believed it. It led to the situation we are in now.  We lived in an extremely oppressive and regressive State for many decades from the reds under the bed with Jimmy Gralton, the only Irishman ever to be excluded from his own country because he a communist, and young working class people, boys and girls, were sent to institutions for the most minor of things. They were sent away from their families for years into the likes of St. Joseph's industrial school in Clonmel and Letterfrack. There were many places. We had the Magdalen laundries as well where some young girls were locked up for the rest of their lives, and for what? That is the regressive and the oppressive State. We should never forget that because the minute we try to gloss over that, that is when we start to have these regressive people coming back and we need to stand up against that.  I Iistened to and read the Minister's statement. I welcome the fact that there has been movement on it, but why do these things take so long? Why did it take a parliamentary question from Deputy \u00d3 Snodaigh for the Department and Minister to say that we need to deal with this? This should have been dealt with.  I read the working group's report. It was one of the main recommendations in the working group. As the Minister said, the number one recommendation was \"...a legislative scheme be established to enable the disregard of relevant criminal records and this Bill seeks to deliver on that recommendation\". Why did it take so long for us to get something like this done?  It is really important that we get it done as quickly as we can. It is the least that we can do as a Legislature. It is the least that we can do in this country to send the message out to those people who are left and to those who have passed away who did nothing wrong.  It was the State that was wrong, and the State needs to apologise. I hate to use the word \"convictions\". They need justice. They did absolutely nothing wrong and that is why the State needs to make their voices heard. I appreciate everybody who has taken part in this debate and those who have been part and parcel of bringing the Bill to where we are now. We really need to move on. Some people do not have the time to hear the words that they have been vindicated. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  I start by thanking Deputies \u00d3 Snodaigh, Nash, Rice, Murphy and O'Gorman and former Deputy and now Uachtar\u00e1n Catherine Connolly for sponsoring this important Bill. I thank the LGBT Restorative Justice Campaign, in particular my dear friend, Brian Sheehan, for its incredible campaigning on this over many years. I also want to acknowledge the Minister and Department's commitment and urgency to pass legislation that will realise the aims of the Bill. For that I thank them sincerely.  The Bill is named as a disregard for historic offences for consensual sexual activity between men and aims to clear the names and records of men who historically engaged in sexual activity and were convicted of a crime for doing so. It should be noted by all good-minded people that nothing these men did then in Ireland or now anywhere was immoral or criminal. It hurt no one. Sexual relationships between consenting adults are a normal, natural and healthy part of the human experience, regardless of gender or sexual orientation. By contrast, it was the State that acted criminally and immorally, passing laws to persecute those who loved and celebrated each other and did the normal and natural things that all humans do and have done since the dawn of time.  It should go without saying that the criminalisation of sexual relationships between men has an awful history and, just as awfully, still has support in other parts of the world. Thankfully, Ireland, on the whole, has moved past those times. Thankfully, we recognise that love between adults in all its incarnations is something we should not just tolerate or legalise but embrace and celebrate. Thankfully, we play a major role on the world stage for gay rights. I pay particular tribute to the courageous campaigners who did so much to help Ireland realise that, including people like former Senator David Norris, former Uachtar\u00e1n Mary Robinson, Tony Walsh, and all of the campaigners for marriage equality in Ireland in 2015.  In 2015, a group of friends and I got together to raise funds for marriage equality between Irish citizens in New York city. We thought it would be a small quiet affair, a humble table quiz, but crowds of people showed up. Companies sponsored prizes and we raised thousands of euro for marriage equality, doing our small bit from 3,000 miles away. I want to pay tribute to my friends Tara Copplestone, Simon McDonnell, Quentin Fottrell and Orla Tinsley for doing this work, among other campaigning, to make marriage equality a reality.  I remember weeks later watching a TV screen in a pub in Manhattan in the early hours as the results rolled in from Dublin Castle, watching the cheering crowds as Ireland proudly declared the to the world that love is love and all you need is gr\u00e1. It pains me immensely, as it does many others, to think of the generations of people who went before us and did not hear those roars of acceptance, those cheers of jubilation and victory over a law and system that had too long denied them. I think of the men, young and old, who had to hide a part of themselves from society, family or friends and found solace only in private places. The light they shared in those private places kept a light burning for so many that came later, even when it seemed like there was no light at all. It was their courage, fortitude and unapologetic actualisation that led the way for so many. We, as a State, are indebted to them and to the lives they led under a State that treated them so badly.  As the Bill shockingly lays bare in its Schedules, Ireland has had a law against these acts on the books as far back as 1634, by edict of the Parliament at Westminster in England. At many times since then it was a capital offence, punishable by death. Most in this House know it was only decriminalised in 1993. Shockingly, military law still refers to the old 19th century criminal laws which state it is an offence in the Defence Forces under the Defence Act 2007, although in 1993 the then defence Minister, David Andrews, affirmed in the House that it would not be considered in breach of the regulations of the Defence Forces.  Let me be very clear. I unequivocally condemn every administration - British, Free State and Republican - that enacted, defended, enforced and supported these heinous laws over a 359-year time period. To date, no apology for those in the Defence Forces who were stripped of medals, discharged, court-martialed or otherwise isolated or persecuted by their superiors has been forthcoming. No meaningful disregard has occurred. No restoration of good name, military status or military decoration has occurred. That must change with the Bill or other legislation and it must change as soon as possible.  For those men whom these historical laws affected I want, for my part, to extend my sincere apologies that the State has not granted you and your families restitution for the normal act of being gay. It was beyond any human decency to have persecuted you in any way, not to mind in the profession of serving your country. A 2023 report from the Department of Justice specifically pointed out that should a person have been discharged with ignominy from the Defence Forces as a result of any of the above offences, subject to the eligibility criteria, the Department of Defence and Defence Forces consider whether any medals awarded that were withdrawn as a result of this discharge with ignominy may be returned to the affected person or their family if deceased. I strongly support that view as not just a symbol of restitution, but a recompense on behalf of the State for the individuals and their families who served the State so well yet were treated so poorly. As former defence Minister David Andrews said at the time of decriminalisation, the Defence Forces would modify regulations in light of the repeal of anti-gay laws. It stands to reason that any disregards under the Bill or other legislation would also apply to relevant offences under military legislation and rules of conduct. This Bill does that and it is critical that it does. It is of the utmost importance that these crimes of the State against those who served it are remedied. I would be grateful if the Minister and Department would confirm in the remarks at the end of the debate whether, through support of the Bill on Committee Stage or by other means, he and others in his Government will commit to such actions of restitution.  I am conscious that behind each of these laws and convictions there are stories of real human beings living in the world, just being who they were born to be, being human and part of the natural order of things, yet they were forced to undergo horrendous treatment by the State in terms of criminalisation and punishment that no human should have to endure just for being human. It is in sombre recognition of those people and all of that painful history that I support the Bill and commend it to the House for urgent enactment by the Oireachtas. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  I begin by thanking Sinn F\u00e9in and Deputy \u00d3 Snodaigh for all of their work on this. I was delighted to cosign the Bill on behalf of the Social Democrats. It is now 33 years since homosexuality was decriminalised, but some men are still living with the negative impacts of criminalisation. Let us be clear. The prosecution and conviction of gay and bi men for consensual sex was a gross violation of their human rights and did immeasurable damage. These arrests and convictions destroyed lives. These laws also had a negative impact on those who were not convicted because the mere threat of prosecution was used to harass people in the community.  The archaic laws also had a major impact on the provision of public services, including HIV and AIDS prevention. The State must right the wrongs of the past and we are running out of time for some of these men. The Government must act urgently to disregard these historical convictions and deliver true equality for LGBT people in Ireland. I welcome the remarks of the Minister that the Government will make progress on this because we have delayed far too long.  As others have mentioned, there is a very long history when it comes to these laws in Ireland - almost 400 years of history.  The Act of the Punishment of the Vice of Buggery Ireland 1634 was the first Act of an Irish parliament to punish the sexual act between adult men. Under that Act, sex between men was a capital offence punishable by death. This act was repealed by the Offences against the Person (Ireland) Act 1829, which retained the death penalty on conviction of buggery. This 1829 Act was subsequently repealed by the Offences Against the Person Act 1861, which removed the punishment of death upon conviction and instead classified buggery as an offence by penal servitude for life. It also introduced the offence of attempted buggery, which was punishable by a sentence of penal servitude of up to ten years. The Criminal Law Amendment Act 1885 criminalised gross indecency between adult men with a maximum penalty of two years imprisonment with or without hard labour. The 1885 Act subsequently extended criminalisation to all sexual acts between men. The 1861 and 1885 offences dealing with buggery and gross indecency applied to both consensual and non-consensual acts. These laws remained in place following the foundation of this State and, in many ways, the new Irish Government doubled down on them. They remained in place until they were repealed by the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 1993. That is within most of our lifetimes. These leave a long legacy of structural and systemic homophobia. I shudder to think about the number of people who suffered under these laws over 400 years.  In 2018, on the 25th anniversary of decriminalisation, the Taoiseach at the time, Leo Varadkar, issued an apology to the LGBT community on behalf of the State. Subsequently, a process was commenced to right the wrongs of the past. It is great to see we are moving forward in that regard with both this Bill and the Minister\u2019s commitments. This disregard scheme should be open to anyone who believes the law was used unfairly to police, arrest, charge or convict them because of their sexual orientation.  There are various accounts of how people were targeted by these laws. People were targeted by public order, vagrancy and lodging laws and other police operations. There may be the need for future work as to how the laws impacted on women and trans people, particularly in the context of their treatment through the family courts. We must not forget them. It is important we make this scheme as inclusive as possible for the wide breadth of the LGBTQI+ community.  It is important that any effort made by the Government must ensure people are encouraged to participate in this scheme. There are a number of ways in which participation in the scheme can be encouraged. First, it must be acknowledged that many people will be hard to reach. It is important, therefore, that the scheme is promoted widely, is open and accessible and ensures confidentiality. A large number of LGBTQI+ people left Ireland to find safer places to live. Efforts should be made to promote the disregard scheme abroad, including in countries such as the UK, US, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. Irish embassies and consulates must promote the scheme once established. In addition, the Irish LGBTQI+ community abroad should be funded to promote the scheme within their own communities. At home, community groups across the island should be supported and funded to participate in the scheme and encourage local communities to take part. Any scheme set up by the Government will not be worth it unless we ensure participation and make it possible for people who suffered under these laws to meaningfully participate. It is important that this process is as accessible as possible and that the person appointed by the Minister undertakes a trauma-informed approach in line with international best practice.  It is important that if there is any onus to provide information or documents, it rests with the State rather than the individual. If information or documents are not available, the person\u2019s testimony should be accepted. Care must be taken not to retraumatise people during the disregard process. The disregard working group set out an extensive list of human rights and equality principles. In its next step, it should set out how the principles will be put into practice. For example, all staff working in the scheme should be trained in the areas of trauma and human rights. In addition, we should look abroad to see how this is best carried out in other countries.  Most importantly, for the disregard to be effective, it must be placed within a broader context. We must consider the full impact that criminalisation has had on LGBTQI+ people, communities and wider societies.  Many of our current LGBTQI+ community organisations across the country are under-funded. They struggle to support people and communities who were hurt by these anti-LGBT laws, policies and practices. Additional State funding must be provided to create and sustain services, particularly for older people. That level of funding and support is currently not in place. Parts of the country have no existing services. The State has failed to provide these services, and I have no doubt that criminalisation is one of the key reasons the State has never stepped in to support the community during those 70 years under criminalisation. These community organisations have fallen behind. They do not receive the same level of support that other community organisations receive. That wrong must be righted. We must provide additional supports. There are whole counties across the country that have no dedicated community services and supports. I ask TDs from those counties to start advocating for those services for the communities they represent.  If truly restorative justice is to be adopted, it must address a wider set of policy issues. These include but are not limited to access to timely trans healthcare; banning conversion practices; robust hate crime prevention; improved sexual and mental health services; and commencement of the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Act. It has sat on the books for far too long. The Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, needs to get her finger out and commence and introduce a second Act because people are waiting. LGBT families exist today who are waiting for their rights. We are waiting far too long and I am getting very frustrated with the delays.  We also need to have a discussion about intersex rights, and the list goes on. We have raised these issues repeatedly and I frankly feel ignored by the Government when we raise them. I do so time and again. On the last occasion I spoke about this, it was with the T\u00e1naiste. I reminded him that Ireland is ranked 15th in Europe in terms of LGBTQI+ human rights and policy protections by ILGA-Europe, an international body that ranks all the countries across Europe. We have been stuck in the mid leagues on LGBT rights for far too long. We are not making progress. I ask the Government to come out and set an ambitious goal in this regard. The Social Democrats have called on the Government to set a policy goal of being the best place in Europe to be LGBTQI+. It should set that as a goal and take the steps over the remaining years of this Government to achieve that. If the Government truly means what it has said around the disregard scheme and supporting the community, it will set that as a policy aim. It will put a policy in place and try to achieve that goal and move up through those rankings. I ask the Minister of State, in his concluding remarks, to make that commitment to the community tonight. The only way we are going to achieve true restorative justice is by tackling the issues faced by the community. Today, there are people who are left on waiting lists for trans healthcare and experience hate crimes out in the community. We have issues today. This is not just about the past; it is about the present and the future. I urge the Government to take action on it.  Finally, I thank the campaigners on this - Karl Hayden, Kieran Rose, Brian Sheehan and Ciar\u00e1n Brady - as well as the Gay Project in Cork which partnered with the legal firm, Clifford Chance. I also thanks its barristers, Ms C\u00e9ile Varley and Mr. Ciaran Bracken, and the whole team of people involved in this campaign over a very long period of time. They put in a lot of work, effort, research and campaigning. They reached out to people and went through historical records. The amount of work that has gone into this has been phenomenal, and I commend them on doing all of that work. I know some of the same individuals are involved in many of the other campaigns I mentioned, and they continue to advocate for those as well. I thank everyone who paved the way for the Ireland we have today. I commend the campaigners and activists who continue to call on the State to do better because the State can do better. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  To begin, I express my deep appreciation to Deputy \u00d3 Snodaigh for bringing this Bill forward and continuing to put his experience and passion behind this particular issue. I also thank those Deputies who are cosignatories of the Bill as well as the Deputies who have spoken and joined this debate tonight. I appreciate the openness of both the Minister, Deputy O\u2019Callaghan, and the Minister of State, Deputy Troy, to engage with the core principles of this particular Bill and their commitment to bring forward amendments to it. As a cosignatory of the Bill, there is real openness to have a constructive debate on this Bill and look at amendments to see how we can strengthen elements of it.  It is important this is done quickly. While recognising the real achievement of being here and debating this Bill today on the floor of the House, this has taken a long time. It has taken too long. I hope, in the spirit the Minister and Minister of State have come into this House and made commitments to move this swiftly, we see that brought forward.  The reason we are here today with the Bill finally arriving at the floor of D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann, despite the elapse of time, is because of the tireless efforts of a number of campaigners over many years. Some of them are here in the Gallery and many are watching online.  I wish to recognise that tireless work on this, and indeed, many issues. The rest of us across the LGBTI+ community and I owe them many, if not all, of the rights that we enjoy today as citizens - rights that had to be fought for. I am deeply grateful to their work over many years.  The consequences of a legal conviction are very real. There is the direct impact on the person who has been convicted in terms of a fine or maybe a prison sentence. There is a social stigma. We know that stigma is one that will continue very often for a long time after a person has served their time and has been released. There is the impact on families. There are very practical issues around the loss of income. There is the practical necessity of separation when somebody is incarcerated. Again, the stigma that attaches to somebody who has been convicted can often attach to their wider family. They can see exclusion within their local community. That power of the State to officially sanction its own citizens has real meaning and real strength. It is one of the true defining factors of a state that it has that power to punish its citizens.  In my time as equality Minister, I had the opportunity to travel to Poland and meet with leaders of Polish LGBTI+ groups. This was at the time when the Law and Justice party was in government there. They were telling me how that party was co-opting and marshalling apparatuses of the state. I was struck by what they said about how the government there had used the ombudsman for children in Poland, as an organisation, and had used the sanction of the state to target LGBTI+ groups that were working with young people. It was casting that work as some sort of act of child abuse or grooming. I know the role that the Office of the Ombudsman for Children plays in this country. Yes, it can be a real thorn of the side of a government, but always in a good sense. It is always trying to make things better for all children, particularly the most vulnerable children. What I learned on my trip to Poland illustrated to me what happens when the weight of power of a state is aimed against someone for something that is so basic and intrinsic for them. The power of the State is very real. That is why a process for lifting or removing State sanction, when that sanction was implemented for the wrong reasons, is so important.  I think we all accept that a person's sexuality is an innate part of their humanity and that the expression of that sexuality is part of a body of rights protected by human rights and constitutional rights. In that context, we have to recognise that Irish law made being gay a crime in this country. It made being in love with another man and acting on that love a crime. It made taking a fancy for a guy and acting on that fancy - something as basic as that - a crime. It criminalised those very basic elements of humanity. The Bill we are debating seeks to make some reparation for that treatment. What we are doing today is entirely consistent with a set of actions that Ireland has taken over the past 15 or 20 years to recognise, and try to make some recompense for, how our State treated other minorities and other vulnerable groups after we gained our independence. We can think of our treatment of women who became pregnant outside of marriage. We can think of our treatment of the children of those women. We can think of our treatment of members of the Traveller community. For each of those groups, certain steps have been taken. There are other groups that the State probably needs to do more to recognise, particularly those who were institutionalised for a disability or for having a mental health illness.  Deputy Donnelly rightly drew our attention to the increasing levels of homophobia and transphobia in our society. Deputy Rice spoke to that issue as well. While it is positive to be here today looking to advance important legislation, it is sad to say that Dublin and Ireland today are less safe for members of the LGBTI+ community than ten years ago. I have seen that retreat in safety in my own lifetime. One naively assumes that progress and enhancement of rights is always going to be one way, but that it is not the case. I saw that in Poland. Hundreds of thousands of Hungarians saw that in their own country, but hopefully the pendulum of progress can begin to swing back now after Sunday's election results. We have seen a retreat in safety for members of the LGBTI+ community in our country. That is a source of real concern to me and many people in this House.  Bearing that in mind today, with the law that is before us we have an opportunity to clearly restate our values as an Oireachtas and as a country. We have an opportunity to recognise and right the wrong that was done to hundreds of our citizens over many decades. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Jim O'Callaghan)  I thank the Deputies who have contributed to this important topic. It is important again to state that there is agreement across the House that we should introduce a disregard scheme to ensure that the unfairness of these convictions that were imposed upon Irish men in the 20th century can be removed and disregarded. As has been indicated, the disregard scheme is different from a pardon. In effect, it means that there should never have been convictions at all. While I accept what Deputy O'Gorman has said, I am very disappointed and disturbed to hear that Ireland is a more threatening place now in terms of potential attacks on gay people. That is a matter of extreme concern to me. I have heard it from others before. We need to emphasise repeatedly that attacking people or targeting people because of inherent characteristics within their personality, sexuality or make-up is completely unacceptable. In a republic, that type of behaviour is abominable. We must completely re-emphasise that.  I thank Deputy \u00d3 Snodaigh for introducing the Bill. The next time we will be discussing this issue in the D\u00e1il will be when I am down in the committee room for Committee Stage of the miscellaneous provisions Bill. I want to try to get that legislation enacted as quickly as possible. I want to see the disregard scheme up and running, so that people are aware of it, can be informed about it and can avail of it. We will then be able to respond to the unfairness of those convictions.  I want to make one other point. Maybe I am trespassing on territory that is not my responsibility as a legislator or a member of the Government. The Supreme Court decision in the case of Norris v. Ireland is a decision of the Supreme Court that remains standing. The narrow interpretation of the constitutional right to privacy that was set out in the Norris judgment is an issue of concern to individuals. Obviously, that is not a matter for me to look upon. It is a matter for another arm of government if the circumstances should ever arise.  I thank Deputy \u00d3 Snodaigh and the other Deputies who have put forward this Bill. Responsibility is now on me to ensure I can bring the Committee Stage amendments promptly before the D\u00e1il to ensure we can get the scheme up and running as soon as possible. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  I wish it was this good all the time. I thank the Minister for his positive comments throughout - from the get-go when I asked the parliamentary question to the First Stage, when I talked to him afterwards and the debate today. I thank all of those who took part, including na Teachta\u00ed Louise O'Reilly, M\u00e1ire Devine, Paul Donnelly, Eoin Hayes, P\u00e1draig Rice and Roderic O'Gorman agus, dar nd\u00f3igh, an tAire f\u00e9in.  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leo mar, go minic, b\u00edonn s\u00e9 deacair daoine a fh\u00e1il chun p\u00e1irt a ghlacadh i nd\u00edosp\u00f3ireachta\u00ed tr\u00e1thn\u00f3na D\u00e9ardaoin. Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leo si\u00fad a sheas an f\u00f3d agus a bh\u00ed anseo. Is l\u00e9ir \u00f3n oiread daoine a bh\u00ed anseo don d\u00edosp\u00f3ireacht c\u00e9 chomh t\u00e1bhachtach is at\u00e1 s\u00e9 mar \u00e1bhar. Nuair at\u00e1 seans againn ceart a dh\u00e9anamh nuair at\u00e1 ciapadh tar \u00e9is a bheith d\u00e9anta ar dhaoine, ba ch\u00f3ir go dtapa\u00edmid an deis chun ceart a dh\u00e9anamh agus an rud sin a chur i gceart.  It has been a good debate. I thank those who contributed today and those who have been raising our awareness over the years, in particular the LGBT+ Restorative Justice Campaign. I mentioned Brian, Kieran and Karl earlier. Some of them are with us today. There are also the drafters, C\u00e9ile and Ciaran.  I draw people's attention to the booklet they produced, Disregard and Redress . It is a useful introduction if there are people listening or looking in who are interested in the topic. In its few short pages, it outlines the effects much better than I can on the people affected by the criminalisation of homosexuality in this State and, when people went before the courts, what they were faced with. Mention was made of Declan Flynn. There are a number of them in Rathmines and so on in the seventies. I was a very young child at that stage but I remember the eighties, similar to Deputy Donnelly. The one I remember is when Charles Self was stabbed to death in 1982. It was not the fact of the horrific death. That was bad enough but it was the glee - I do not know whether I am using the wrong word - with which the garda\u00ed took it upon themselves to seek out nearly every gay person in this city, interrogate them, visit their workplaces and hound them day in and day out until they gave their fingerprints or accounted for their movements, just by virtue of the fact they had got it into their heads that a person who was gay had committed the killing and stabbing of Charles Self. I do not think that murder has ever been brought to a conclusion but its effects are explained in this booklet.  The booklet was put together to encourage us as parliamentarians to address this issue. That is when, in many ways, I came to this issue. A redress or disregard process is not something that happens all the time. We have a relatively new State. It is 100 years old and still grappling with the legacy of colonial laws. Every couple of years in this Parliament, we have legislation repealing hundreds or thousands of old colonial laws. We do that but the legacy here is still live. My colleague, Deputy O'Reilly, quoted from a case in 1992. There are probably more.  I have taken a cursory glance through files and shared some of the documentation with others. If people want them, I am happy to share. It is just what is available in this new modern age in the archive of newspapers online. You put in a search and, all of a sudden, get results. I was only searching for two words: \"gross indecency\". I did not search for the other charges that might have been brought. I have not finished. I have about 80 pages - one page per newspaper article. I have 30 more years to do since the founding of the State. That is me, an amateur historian, throwing in a word.  We need to find out the full effects and we will when the disregard scheme is up and running. We will hear people's stories or, maybe more so, become aware of them, especially those who, as my colleague, Deputy Devine, said, emigrated. There are so many people. I and probably everybody in this Chamber know people who feared prosecution and the persecution that came afterwards, and sometimes before. Even my cursory glance showed people not turning up in court. It is obvious they got the hell out of Dodge before their whole world collapsed. In many cases, it did collapse. They had to leave their jobs and had their full details published in local newspapers and endured the scandal that drew upon them. They then became open to being targeted by conservative elements in small communities. The Valley of the Squinting Windows springs to mind. There was definitely that kind of view in small-world Ireland, not rural Ireland but Ireland as a whole. You had it in urban communities as well. That persecution, prosecution, marginalisation, isolation and ostracisation went with it. We are trying to right that in a small way.  This is not the end of this. There were 95 recommendations. Many have been addressed. There are still some we need to address. By us having this debate today, I hope it sends the message we will not stand by and allow the comments that Deputies O'Gorman and Donnelly referred to. There is now an increase in homophobia again. As a Parliament, we are united on that and will not stand for that. It is not just coarseness in debate or discourse. It goes beyond that to physical attacks now. It seems to be becoming acceptable to attack people who stand up for gay rights or LGBTQ rights or even speak about it. I know that on my Facebook tonight I will be targeted just for having the gall, in their eyes, to stand up and raise an issue. It is easy for me; I just delete, hide, block. I am not the one who has to move around the city and make a display of affection with another man or another woman. That can draw physical attacks from some of these idiots. We have to stand against that type of attitude. We have seen it in other countries in the EU and we will not tolerate it here. We have come a long way and need to stay well away from that which gave us the title of a conservative society. We are not. We are a welcoming society and always have been but there have always been elements which have wished to make us a close-minded, conservative and retrograde society.  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas ar\u00eds le gach duine as a bheith liom sa d\u00edosp\u00f3ireacht, go h\u00e1irithe iad si\u00fad a thug taca\u00edocht dom leis an mBille ar an gC\u00e9ad Ch\u00e9im. T\u00e1 a fhios agam n\u00e1r ch\u00f3ir dom labhairt faoin Uachtar\u00e1n ach bh\u00ed s\u00ed anseo nuair a bhog muid an Bille seo ar an gC\u00e9ad Ch\u00e9im. T\u00e1 s\u00fail agam go mbeidh s\u00ed i l\u00e1thair nuair a th\u00e9ann an Bille os comhair an Uachtar\u00e1in. Beidh s\u00ed an-s\u00e1sta go raibh s\u00ed mar chuid den phr\u00f3iseas, idir th\u00fas agus dheireadh an phr\u00f3isis. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar athl\u00f3 ar 6.10 p.m. go dt\u00ed 2 p.m., D\u00e9 M\u00e1irt, an 21 Aibre\u00e1n 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The D\u00e1il adjourned at 6.10 p.m. until 2 p.m. on Tuesday, 21 April 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Disregard of Historic Offences for Consensual Sexual Activity Between Men Bill 2025: Second Stage [Private Members]"}]}}]},"contextDate":"2026-04-16"},{"debateRecord":{"house":{"showAs":"34th D\u00e1il","committeeCode":"","houseCode":"dail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/house\/dail\/34","chamberType":"house","houseNo":"34"},"chamber":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/def\/house\/dail","showAs":"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann"},"lastUpdated":"2026-06-19T02:11:10+00:00","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-15\/debate\/main","formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-15\/debate\/mul@\/main.xml"},"pdf":null},"date":"2026-04-15","counts":{"contributorCount":165,"divisionCount":10,"debateSectionCount":22,"questionCount":32,"billCount":9},"debateType":"debate","debateSections":[{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-15\/debate\/dbsect_2","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case:  Deputy John Paul O'Shea - To discuss the need to expand WWTP capacity in Kanturk.  Deputy Albert Dolan - To discuss battery energy storage systems and solar planning guidelines in rural Ireland.  Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern - To discuss the proposed relocation of the An Post Edmondstown sorting office to Lucan.  Deputy Robert O'Donoghue - To discuss a school building at St. Mary's, Oldtown, County Dublin.  Deputy Louise O'Reilly - To discuss the need for a full-time Garda station in Rush.  Deputy Tom Brabazon - To discuss the LDA's plans for the development of Clongriffin.  Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail - To discuss junior cycle certification processes for students in special schools.  Deputy Rory Hearne - To discuss the new school building at St. Aidan's CBS, Whitehall, Dublin 9.  Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan - To discuss the capacity of child care provision in Cork North-Central.  Deputy Jen Cummins - To discuss plans for a multidenominational secondary school in Dublin 8.  Deputy Malcolm Byrne - To discuss the need for a new building for Gorey Hill special school, Gorey, County Wexford.  Deputies Conor D. McGuinness, David Cullinane - To discuss the situation of sheep farmers in the Knockmealdowns in County Waterford.  Deputy Thomas Gould - To discuss the crisis building in Cork\u2019s nursing home waiting list.  Deputy Ruth Coppinger - To discuss the exclusion of St. Patrick's Junior and Senior National Schools, Corduff, Dublin 15, from DEIS plus.  Deputy Shane Moynihan - To discuss the expansion of specialist supports for children with dyslexia, dyspraxia or apraxia of speech.  The matters raised by Deputies Thomas Gould, Tom Brabazon, John Paul O'Shea, Ruth Coppinger, Conor D. McGuinness and David Cullinane have been selected for discussion. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-15\/debate\/dbsect_3","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-15\/debate\/dbsect_4","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Nursing Homes","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-15\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_4","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  As the Minister of State and I both know, a 19-bed unit in Heather House was first announced in 2022. Four years later this special dementia unit has not been opened and all we are getting is excuse after excuse and no date for when it will be open. The latest update from the HSE is that following HIQA's inspection, it is now looking to make amendments to the building. There is still no opening time. I was told in response to a parliamentary question last October that this was ready to go. I was told it again in November and in December. Then I was told that all the Government was waiting for was a licence from HIQA to open it.  I want to outline to the Minister of State just how serious the situation is with the special dementia unit not being opened. I have a lady who is living in the nursing home in Cloyne. Cloyne nursing home is doing a great job but this lady and her family are all from the northside of Cork city. The lady has dementia, and what the staff tell the family is that on the days when they go out to visit her they can see an improvement in her. The problem is that she has two elderly sisters who do not drive. She has family, but they have their own families and jobs. Cloyne is a fair spin from the northside of Cork city. We are talking about 45 minutes, depending on traffic, and it could be even longer. If Heather House was open they would be in to her every day, sometimes multiple times a day. Family members and other family friends who live in the community could also call in. People should get nursing home care in their communities. That goes to the heart of looking after older and more vulnerable people. We do not have answers.  I have another gentleman who is in Ballincollig. His sister and his two granddaughters try to get in to see him. The girls are working. His sister is looking after the family. Heather House is from here over to Dawson Street away from where those families live. There is also another family.  We were successful in saving Mount Cara. I was also involved with successful campaigns to make sure that Sarsfield Court dementia unit and nursing home was not closed down. It is really important that we get Heather House dementia unit open. The thing about it is that it is a brand new purpose-built building that cost millions. It is ready. It is unbelievable - we are looking at a building that is ready. It is fully equipped. What I cannot understand is how after four years HIQA is now coming back looking for more to be done. HIQA was asked in January and it came back to the HSE four months later. Is there a reason that Heather House is not being opened?  We have people with dementia in inappropriate settings. This is the unit that was designed and built for them. That is where they should be. I am not sure if the Minister of State understands the situation. We need compassion from the Government, the HSE and HIQA. We need to get this nursing home open. There is a huge crisis with nursing home spaces on the northside of Cork city. People from the northside are going all over Cork county to get nursing home spaces. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  That is not right. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kieran O'Donnell)  I thank Deputy Gould for raising this important matter. Heather House Community Nursing Unit, CNU, provides important and valued services for the people of the northside of Cork city and surrounding areas. There is a typo in the reply. I understand the significant role the CNU plays in the community and the importance of the facility.  Heather House Community Nursing Unit was opened in 2011, and a 60-bed extension was added in 2023. The CNU is currently registered with HIQA to accommodate a maximum of 60 residents in two units, namely, Poppy and Lily, which are located in the new extension. The two units in the original building, Daisy and Primrose, are currently closed. The HSE informed me today that the new 17-bed dementia-specific unit is at the final stage for application to register with HIQA. Deputy Gould name-checked 19. HIQA has come back and said that there are two twin rooms and they want them to be single, so it is going from 19 to 17. The HSE advised that the final works, as agreed with HIQA, are in progress and will be completed in the coming weeks.  I want to see this unit opened as quickly as possible as well. I am getting directly involved, as Minister of State, to ensure we get it open as quickly as possible. I assure the Deputy that I am committed to working alongside HSE South West to get Primrose, the new dementia-specific unit, opened in Heather House as soon as HIQA registration is obtained.  I wish to inform the Deputy that the 25-bed Daisy unit located in the original building is currently undergoing essential fire upgrade works and the HSE advised me that it is scheduled to reopen at the end of 2026. I am going to look at that as well to see if we can expedite the opening of the 25-bed unit.  HSE South West has been working to increase the quantity of public nursing home beds in the region to offer further long-term residential care capacity and choice for older people living in Cork city and county.  The HSE continues to focus on providing a residential care service focused on quality and safety while also meeting the needs of individual residents. HSE South West continuously reviews the community\u2019s needs in line with population health planning and Sl\u00e1intecare principles. To this end, it is committed to ensuring that optimal services will continue to be provided and developed for older people in Cork. Older persons' services in Cork will soon be enhanced by the opening of two new community nursing units. St. Finbarr\u2019s in Cork city will have a total of 105 beds and Midleton CNU will have a total of 50 beds. With specific regard to dementia, I advise the Deputy that 30 dementia-specific beds will form part of the bed complement at St. Finbarr\u2019s CNU.  I assure the Deputy that I am committed to working alongside the HSE to address all concerns in respect of the residential care of older people in Cork city and county over the coming years. I will give him a commitment that I have already made direct contact with the HSE and with my officials and that this is something I am going to personally follow up on myself. I am going to see what the reasons for the delays are and how we can expedite the opening of the new dementia unit. I also want to look at including the 25-bed unit in the Daisy wing. The key element here is that, if they are all opened, there would be 102 beds within Heather House. That is hugely significant in terms of increased capacity. That is the up-to-date position. I will listen to the Deputy's follow-up and then come back with a closing statement. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  I appreciate that the Minister of State has said he is going to look into this personally but I am really disappointed because four years on it is still not open. The 25 beds in the nursing home are also really important but people with dementia are really vulnerable. They are scattered around nursing homes all over County Cork when there is a purpose-built nursing home at Heather House.  I was hoping that the Minister of State would be able to give me a date today. Regardless of whether it is June, July or August, I would like to have a date for those families. There is one gentleman who is in a special unit at Cork University Hospital because there is nowhere for him to go. His family are afraid that he is going to die in hospital. He comes from the area. He comes from Church Street. This unit is at the top of Gurranabraher, right next to Church Street. The family are saying they want to bring him home or as close to home as they can. For too long, the HSE and HIQA have not been giving answers or a date. I want a date so I can go back to the people of the northside. I could fill that dementia unit. Does the Minister of State see this notebook I am holding? It contains the details of people who could enter this dementia unit. I could fill the whole unit with people who are looking to get into it. I appreciate what the Minister of State is saying but we need a definite timeline for the opening of the unit. People on the northside are sick and tired of being the last to get anything and the first to lose services. Why is it that the northside must always fight? Why must I come in here every week to stand up for the northside? Heather House has been built and the funding is supposed to be there.  The Minister mentioned units at St. Finbarr's and in Midleton. I do not think they will be open before the end of the year. The Minister of State has said they will be opening and that those beds will be available but I have fierce doubts about that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kieran O'Donnell  Community nursing units such as Heather House form an integral part of local communities and provide invaluable service to the people who live in those communities as they age. I have already outlined that there are currently 60 beds open in Heather House CNU. I will once again reiterate that the new 17-bed dementia unit is at the final stage of applying for registration with HIQA. The HSE advises that the final works agreed with HIQA are in progress and will be completed in the coming weeks. I have to work within a process. The process is that the HSE applies to HIQA and HIQA has to give approval. The unit cannot be opened until HIQA gives its approval. I cannot give the Deputy a final date today because I have to work through that process. However, I will give another commitment. I want to see the unit open as quickly as possible and I am going to get directly involved with Department officials and the HSE to see how it can be expedited. This redesigned Primrose unit will offer a choice in long-term residential care for people with dementia. I agree with the Deputy that dementia units are hugely important. As I have already outlined, the Daisy unit located in the original building is currently undergoing essential fire upgrade works and is scheduled to reopen at the end of the year. I want to see if that can be expedited. When complete, this will bring the total capacity of the Heather House CNU to 102 beds.  I am committed to maximising the number of beds for older people. As already mentioned, older persons' services in Cork will soon be enhanced by the opening of two new CNUs, St. Finbarr's in Cork city, which will have 105 beds, and Midleton CNU, which will have a total of 50 beds. I want to see those opened as quickly as possible. I am working with the HSE and the Department to make that happen. I think the Deputy will find they will be opened relatively soon. The HSE continually reviews its services in line with population health planning and Sl\u00e1intecare principles to ensure adequate and appropriate residential care is available for our older population.  I will be following up on Heather House. I ask the Deputy to keep in contact with my office for updates. I will come back to him with a direct update. Any updates I get, I will provide to the Deputy. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Nursing Homes"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-15\/debate\/dbsect_5","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Wastewater Treatment","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-15\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_5","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Paul O'Shea  I will today highlight an issue of critical importance to the people of north Cork, namely, the urgent need to upgrade the wastewater treatment plant in Kanturk. Kanturk is a proud and growing town with a strong community spirit, vibrant local businesses and enormous potential for future development. However, that potential is being held back by infrastructure that is no longer fit for purpose. The current wastewater treatment plant in Kanturk is operating at or beyond its capacity. This is not just a technical issue; it has real and tangible consequences for the town. It is restricting housing development, limiting business expansion and placing unnecessary pressure on local planning decisions. Quite simply, without adequate water infrastructure, Kanturk cannot grow in the way it needs to. At a time when we are facing a national housing crisis, it is deeply frustrating that towns like Kanturk, which are willing and able to accommodate growth, are being constrained by outdated infrastructure. We cannot continue to speak about balanced regional development while allowing bottlenecks like this to persist. Local families are also feeling the impact. Young people who want to build or buy homes in their own communities are facing delays and uncertainty. Developers are also hesitant to proceed with projects due to capacity concerns and businesses are also limited in their ability to expand and create jobs within the town of Kanturk. This is not acceptable and it is not sustainable.  Investment in wastewater infrastructure might not always grab headlines, but it is absolutely fundamental in delivering housing, supporting economic growth and protecting our environment. An upgraded treatment plant in Kanturk would unlock significant opportunities, enabling new housing developments, supporting local enterprise and ensuring compliance with environmental standards. I acknowledge the work of Uisce \u00c9ireann in the area to date and the engagement that has taken place with Cork County Council and the EPA with regard to putting in some bridging infrastructure and modular infrastructure alongside the current treatment plant. However, what is now needed is a clear commitment and prioritisation in respect of delivery. The people of Kanturk need certainty. They need to know that this project is not just being discussed, but that it is being actively progressed. We must ensure that Kanturk is included as a priority in the capital investment programme. Funding must be allocated, timelines must be set and the project must move forward without any more unnecessary delays.  This is about more than pipes and plants; it is about the future of a town and its people. It is about giving communities the tools they need to thrive. Kanturk has a great deal to offer. It is strategically located, well served by a strong community network and ready for growth. However, without the necessary infrastructure, that growth will remain stalled. I call on the Government and Uisce \u00c9ireann to recognise the urgency of this issue and to act decisively. Let us remove this barrier and invest in Kanturk's future. Let use ensure the town can realise its full potential. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy John Cummins)  I thank the Deputy very much for raising what is a very important issue for the area of Kanturk - an area that the Deputy is exceptionally passionate about.  The operation of public wastewater treatment, together with the operational issues locally, are matters for Uisce \u00c9ireann, which has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services, planning, delivery and operational at national, regional and local levels. Neither the Minister, Deputy Browne, nor I have a function in the matters which the Deputy refers. However, that being said, I have made inquiries with Uisce \u00c9ireann on foot of the Deputy's Topical Issue being submitted. I have been informed that there are, obviously, capacity constraints on the wastewater treatment plant at Kanturk. This is currently under review.  Any proposed development requires engagement with Uisce \u00c9ireann to assess feasibility on a case-by-case basis. In other words, connection applications need to be assessed on an individual basis considering their specific load requirements. Engagement with Uisce \u00c9ireann\u2019s connections and developer services team ahead of planning a project is recommended and required. Uisce \u00c9ireann recognises the need to enhance wastewater treatment capacity in Kanturk and a planned upgrade is under way. This project is currently at the strategic assessment stage, where Uisce \u00c9ireann develops the project rationale and objectives, project outcomes, lists of potential options and an indicative range of costs. This work will continue in 2026 as the project progresses to a preliminary business case, which should be completed by quarter 1 of 2027. This involves undertaking a detailed analysis, developing a shortlist of solutions and finding a preferred option for the shortlisted projects.  That should be achievable in a shorter period of time. I will take that back to Uisce \u00c9ireann because the Deputy is correct. We cannot have a situation where we cannot have development in an area. The Deputy said it is not acceptable or sustainable and I agree with him in relation to that. There may be elements of bridging infrastructure that may be possible. I also point to the new developer-led wastewater services infrastructure initiative, which took effect on 4 March 2026. This might be an option for housing development in the interim. This developer-led infrastructure enables developers to design and construct wastewater infrastructure, in conjunction with Uisce \u00c9ireann, to agreed standards with the infrastructure owned by Uisce Eireann upon completion.  In areas such as Kanturk where capacity is currently constrained, an application under the developer-led infrastructure initiative may provide a pathway to support development in advance of planned network upgrades, subject to meeting the relevant technical, environmental and planning requirements. Uisce \u00c9ireann is available to engage with developers at an early stage to assess proposals and support the progression of suitable projects. Uisce \u00c9ireann has made investments in upgrading wastewater treatment infrastructure across County Cork since 2014 and remains committed to doing so under the future investment plans, which the Government has funded under the national development plan to the tune of \u20ac11.7 billion. This investment is going to support the delivery of key projects in cities and regions to deliver additional water services capacity for the new housing targets. That is what we expect Uisce \u00c9ireann to do with the capital allocations that we have made as a Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  I thank the Minister of State for the Kanturk update. Deputy O'Shea has two minutes to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Paul O'Shea  I thank the Minister of State for his correspondence and response on the issue with the wastewater treatment plant in Kanturk. I particularly welcome the opportunity of maybe having some bridging infrastructure which would take place. There are serious discussions ongoing with Cork County Council, the EPA and Uisce \u00c9ireann on this matter. I certainly hope that in his position as Minister of State he will follow up with Uisce \u00c9ireann and try to urge the continued push on this because the situation on the ground in Kanturk makes this even more stark than ever before. There are houses that have already been built in good faith but cannot be occupied now because they cannot secure a wastewater connection. Families are in limbo. Homes have been completed yet are still sitting idle.  At the same time, there other sites in and around Kanturk that have secured planning permission but cannot proceed to construction because a connection to the system cannot be guaranteed. This is a deeply frustrating and unacceptable position for homeowners, developers and the wider community to be in. It represents not only a waste of time and investment, but a missed opportunity to deliver much-needed housing. Local families are feeling the impact. Young people who want to build and buy homes in their own community are facing delays and uncertainties. Developers are hesitant to proceed with projects due to capacity concerns and businesses too are limited in their ability to expand and create.  There are plenty of options available for Kanturk. It is good to see that Irish Water has it on its priority list. It is important that we work collectively with Uisce \u00c9ireann to make sure that the \u20ac12 billion that has been given to it by the Government is spent and spent wisely and rapidly to ensure towns like Kanturk can continue to develop into the future. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Cummins  There is no question that our water and wastewater systems require substantial and sustained investment over a number of cycles to be able to bring it up to the quality required for a modern service. On the upgrading of plants, there have been many plants across the county that have been upgraded over the past number of years. I compliment Uisce \u00c9ireann for its work in that respect. However, there is a hell of a lot more work to be done. That is why the Government is investing record sums of money in Uisce \u00c9ireann.  The Deputy mentioned points on bridging infrastructure, the piece that I mentioned around the developer-led infrastructure, and of course, there is the overall upgrade of the plant, which is necessary. In the interim, as the Deputy rightly pointed out, there may be options worth exploring. I will take it away from this Topical Issue debate to write formally to Uisce \u00c9ireann in that respect to see what may be done in the interim period. I recognise that a town of the nature of Kanturk and many equivalent towns right across the country have to be able to be developed if we are to achieve our housing targets. It is one of the reasons we have introduced that developer-led infrastructure initiative and are learning from the mistakes of the past where substandard infrastructure was put in place. There is now a very clear framework that is in place between Uisce \u00c9ireann and the EPA that projects would be delivered to a set standard and specification and on completion will be taken in charge and operated in perpetuity by Uisce \u00c9ireann. That may be an option. I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Wastewater Treatment"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-15\/debate\/dbsect_6","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Land Development Agency","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-15\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_6","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tom Brabazon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tom Brabazon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tom Brabazon  I wish to raise the Land Development Agency's phase two plans for Clongriffin. A lot of these issues will also affect the neighbouring area of Belmayne. On the phase two plan that the LDA has consulted with locals on, locals are telling me - and I agree with them - that this is not being handled correctly. There is a huge investment in housing in this area. It is unprecedented. We all agree that we need housing. However, at the same time we must put together the surrounding infrastructure in terms of parking, community facilities, transport, health facilities and proper policing facilities. This is not being done.  One of the big concerns in relation to parking is that the LDA told me that as a result of its consultation with one of the statutory consultees, the National Transport Authority, that the NTA is dictating to the LDA that there would be 0.4 of a car parking space per unit. We have seen this type of policy before, where people are allocated housing on the basis that they do not have a car, but they do have a car and the car parking overspills into neighbouring communities. It pits neighbour against neighbour. It does not bode well for future development or future sustainable community and neighbourly relations.  Regarding the NTA, this is the same NTA that is unable to provide a regular 15 bus service to Clongriffin. I could tell the Minister of State the countless representations I have made in relation to ghostbus services and, while I know it is not his portfolio, it is all highly relevant to the proposed development. This is also the same NTA that cannot build a bus shelter to keep people who want to use public transport on the Hole in The Wall road out of the rain. I passed it this morning and there were about 40 people standing at the bus stop cowering under umbrellas.  There is a huge gap in this programme. There have been ongoing discussions between Dublin City Council and the LDA in respect of provision of community facilities. None has been provided to date by DCC or the LDA. We need to plan for successful communities. There is no agreement between DCC and the LDA in respect of those community facilities. I could stand here all day and talk about those needs but in four minutes, I do not have the time.  Transport is a major issue. Residents are dealing with problems with transport every day of the week, between traffic congestion and no clear plan for any additional capacity alongside this development for buses and additional DARTs. I know we have the DART+ coastal plan, which was recently passed, but that is probably going to take ten years to start delivering. That means we are just doing a box-ticking exercise.  With policing, Coolock Garda station, which is the local station, got three extra garda\u00ed under the latest tranche, despite the fact the population in this area is burgeoning and growing on a daily basis with new residents moving in. Policing resources are stretched beyond capacity and none of the design and safety concerns I raised with the LDA in respect of crime prevention has been taken on board. I asked it if it consulted the crime prevention office and I was told it had but I do not see any evidence of that. Any points that have been made to the LDA it robustly bats off and does not acknowledge. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Cummins  I thank the Deputy for raising this matter in the House today. As the Deputy knows, the Land Development Agency, LDA, acquired land beside Clongriffin train station from the market with existing permission in 2023. It subsequently sought and was granted approval for a revised planning application, broadly similar to the existing planning which took into account the new objectives and policies in Dublin City Council's development plan 2022-2028.  The development on the site has an overall potential for more than 2,000 homes upon full completion. Construction of Phase 1 commenced in February 2025 and will provide for a total of 408 apartments, comprising 367 cost rental and 41 social housing homes to be delivered across two blocks. I note the Deputy said there is a deficit in community infrastructure but my notes say that in addition to the much-needed homes, a cr\u00e9che to cater for up to 99 children, together with community and arts space, along with landscaped public areas and a new public park, are also planned for delivery within this phase of the development.  The Land Development Agency has advised officials in my Department that phase 1 of this project is on course for delivery of new homes from quarter 4 of this year, which is obviously a positive development. Subject to planning permission, which is the thrust of the Deputy\u2019s Topical Issue this morning, phase 2 will see the delivery of over 700 new homes. My understanding is that will comprise of 630 affordable and 70 social units across a whole range of housing typologies, together with the provision of a second cr\u00e9che space and other cultural amenities.  I understand that the commercial focus during this phase will be the strategic distribution of amenities, such as retail and other services across Main Street, Market Street and Station Square, and consolidating activities around Station Square to create a real town focal point, providing for both day and night-time uses. Furthermore, the Land Development Agency is also advancing engagements with Dublin City Council and other agencies on the provision of consolidated multi-purpose community space for the Clongriffin area, to be delivered in phase 3 of this scheme.  As noted previously, the development of this site has an overall potential for more than 2,000 homes and its completion will assist in meeting our housing need in this part of north Dublin, the Deputy\u2019s constituency, which I know he represents with distinction. I am assured the Land Development Agency will continue to prioritise the delivery of the much-needed social and affordable housing, along with the provision of the other amenities on this site. However, I note some of the Deputy\u2019s comments regarding the engagement, which I will perhaps take up in my follow-on. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tom Brabazon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tom Brabazon  I thank the Minister of State for the response but it appears the LDA has given him its party piece in respect of this particular development. I know there has been engagement but the engagement has been more or less window dressing. The plan has not changed in any way as a result of the consultation with the local community. I attended a meeting before Easter with some of my Oireachtas colleagues and several councillors from the area, and there was palpable anger among all the public representatives in respect of the lack of flexibility shown by the LDA. It was its way or the highway as far as we were concerned. The LDA refused to listen to the issues and the problems.  I subsequently engaged with Dublin City Council, which is doing its level best to provide community facilities and which may in fact be given charge of some of the community facilities that are going to be there. However, the Minister of State says there are going to be 2,000 homes there, and it is absolutely crucial we get the community infrastructure correct.  One thing I will say for the LDA is it is providing cr\u00e9che facilities. That is absolutely welcome and is necessary, and I will not fault it on that. However, the local scouts group, for example, needs a hall-type of area but the facilities being provided are on the ground floor of the apartment block, so there are pillars in the middle. This renders it unsuitable for the scout group. There has been no flexibility shown by the LDA in respect of that. It is talking about a green landscaped area. To me, that is going to turn out to be like a mugger's alley. I am very fearful for the future of this area if the LDA and the Department of housing do not start sitting up and listening to the genuine concerns of the people of this area. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Cummins  I thank the Deputy. Obviously, the successful delivery of projects of this scale are certainly dependent on a number of factors and that includes engagement with the community. Certainly, I know the Deputy would have written to his colleague, the Minister, Deputy Browne, in this respect and I am informed that there has been consultation meetings which have included meetings with local councillors, drop-in clinics for members of the public, meetings held with the community association there, as well as engagement with Oireachtas Members and Dublin City Council.  I take the Deputy's point as regards the meaningful nature of that and trying to shape the community and plans that are required and obviously meeting the needs of the community in the area. The Deputy mentioned the scout group. Having been involved in scouts all my life, I understand the needs but I also understand that scouting organisations, by their nature, are well able to adapt. In my days in scouting, we were in a very small area. That being said, I understand the need for community facilities.  Cr\u00e9ches are obviously important for a growing community like this one which has the potential for 2,000 homes. However, I will take back the Deputy's comment to the Minister who engages with the LDA on a regular basis. It is important when we are developing new communities of scale that we get it right and that we learn from issues of the past. Certainly, the Deputy, as an Oireachtas Government representative, Deputy \u00d3 Muir\u00ed and others will continue to engage on this matter. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Land Development Agency"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-15\/debate\/dbsect_7","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"School Funding","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-15\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Frankie Feighan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  I am raising the issue of DEIS plus, which is a new scheme announced to give enhanced supports to the most disadvantaged schools in the country. Obviously, I am all in favour of enhanced supports for schools, but there are a number of problems.  I bring to the attention of the Minister of State the Corduff area of Dublin 15. I have been contacted by the principals of St. Patrick's Senior National School and St. Patrick\u2019s Junior National School in the area. They will be in the DEIS band 1 scheme but have been excluded from the DEIS plus scheme. One of the principals, Mary O\u2019Riordan, spoke to The Irish Times about this. For example, she said the area has been beset by a vicious feud involving local rival gangs in recent years. There was absolute devastation at the school when they learned they were not included in the new scheme. She has worked in the area for 26 years. The level of disadvantage is massive, with issues such as addiction, poverty and crime. While I do not know whether crime is a criterion for the scheme, I do know that trauma is a criterion. It is mentioned that up to 50% of children in the schools under the DEIS plus scheme will have experienced trauma. One of the issues in Corduff, which is frequently in the news for all the wrong reasons, is that gangs have historically been located there.  The principals of the schools in question say that a lot of parents are doing a brilliant job but that others are struggling. The schools have put additional supports in place. For example, both schools are currently paying a trained counsellor and play therapist to work at each school one day per week, at a cost of \u20ac350 per day. They used to pay for four days but they can no longer afford to maintain that level of support. Both schools need a counselling service five days per week. Children often come to school and it is noticed straight away that something has happened to them. The schools want to open nurture rooms but they need to pay staff members to staff such rooms. That is something for which the DEIS plus scheme would provide. It would provide a well-being co-ordinator and extra teaching support.  In general, the way this scheme has been implemented is a bit strange. While I am all in favour of the scheme, it seems that a super league is being created whereby schools will nearly have to compete to get on it. As the Minister of States knows, or maybe he does not, Dublin 15 is one of the fastest-growing areas in the country. One in four people there is under 15 years of age. Only one school in Dublin 15 has got onto the DEIS plus scheme. It does not make any sense given the population and social profile of the area. Not one of the 25 secondary schools got on the list, despite having massive diversity. Corduff, Tyrrelstown and Mulhuddart in particular are the fastest-growing areas in the whole of Fingal. Other schools in Blakestown and Mountview, which are currently in the scheme, have also not been included. That seems a bit bizarre. These schools are dealing with the huge and complex social issues of crime and drug addiction that have historically been experienced in the area. In the statistics and data, Corduff is described as very disadvantaged. In the Pobal HP deprivation indices, there is colour coding on maps for the area. Corduff is marked by the strongest orange colour. In fact, it is even more deprived than some other areas that have been included in the scheme. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Frankie Feighan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (Deputy Frankie Feighan)  I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Naughton. The Deputy\u2019s raised issues relating to a vicious feud and rival gangs, as well as issues around addiction, poverty and trauma. The latter have caused serious problems in Corduff and many other areas. I am familiar with Dublin 15. Addressing educational disadvantage and ensuring that every child and young person can reach their full potential is a key priority for the Minister for Education and Youth, Deputy Naughton, and the Government.  The DEIS plus scheme, as the Deputy is aware, will commence this year as part of the DEIS strategy to 2035. It represents the most significant expansion of targeted educational supports since the establishment of the DEIS programme. It is designed to provide enhanced, evidence-based support to a cohort of 121 schools with the very highest concentrations of children and young people experiencing persistent and intergenerational disadvantage, which the Deputy outlined. This forms part of a wider full-year investment of \u20ac48 million, with approximately 30,000 children and young people nationally benefiting from inclusion in the scheme.  The Deputy raised the question about St Patrick\u2019s Junior National School and St Patrick\u2019s Senior National School in Corduff not being included in the targeted DEIS plus scheme. I acknowledge, as the Deputy did, the exceptional commitment of the school leadership and staff, who work day in and day out to support children and families facing significant and huge challenges. Their work is critical. It is important to stress that a school not identified through the DEIS plus model does not in any way imply that the Department of Education and Youth is saying that disadvantage does not exist within that school community.  DEIS plus schools were identified using a refined, rules-based model built on nationally available student-level administrative data. The model draws on a range of indicators associated with persistent and intergenerational disadvantage, including small-area deprivation, lone parenthood and unemployment, Traveller and Roma identity and children living in State-funded emergency accommodation or international protection accommodation. The Deputy said that she felt trauma should be included as an indicator as well. These indicators are applied consistently across all schools using enrolment data from the past three years.  Schools can and do show significant levels of disadvantage while still not falling below the statistical threshold required for inclusion in the scheme. A school-led application or self-reporting model would inevitably introduce inconsistency, inequality and inequity, which is why a transparent, data-driven and nationally comparable approach is essential. An independent OECD review of the DEIS identification model in 2024 highlighted the strengths of this approach, noting that it is multidimensional, respects GDPR principles and places no administrative burden on schools.  The Department also recognises that some schools are operating in the context of particularly complex local pressures within their wider communities. While these challenges are often well understood locally, they are not always captured in data sets that can be fairly and consistently applied across the entire school system. A rules-based national model must rank all schools on the same basis. It cannot substitute locally held knowledge for data that are not available or comparable nationwide.  St Patrick\u2019s junior and senior national schools are recognised as serving very disadvantaged school communities. While they fall outside the threshold for inclusion in the DEIS plus scheme, they continue to benefit from enhanced supports through the DEIS programme. Under the new DEIS strategy, both schools will receive increased DEIS grant funding and enhanced home school community liaison provision, HSCL, with each school now having access to their own full-time HSCL co-ordinator from the start of the 2026-27 school year. Schools will have the opportunity to appeal the decision not to include them in the DEIS plus scheme. An appeals window will open in the coming weeks. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  Obviously, the schools should appeal the decision. Hopefully, they will be brought up to the level of supports needed. There has been a huge problem in this regard. There has been a 500% increase in the number of schools contacting the financial support services unit of the Department because of the rising cost of living. It affects every school. In areas of severe disadvantage, parents do not have the same resources that more middle-class areas have. Are the schools supposed to drop the nurturing and well-being support they are providing because they cannot afford it any longer? I understand the Minister of State is saying they will still get supports from the DEIS scheme.  There is one other matter I wish to follow up. The Minister of State mentioned that there is new enhanced data and a way of analysing same. I am all for a scientific approach but the Minister of State said:  While these challenges are often well understood locally, they are not always captured in data sets that can be fairly and consistently applied across the entire school system. A rules-based national model must rank all schools on the same basis. It cannot substitute locally held knowledge for data that are not available ...  Where do locally held factors that are specific to an area come into it?  We hear about the Westies and about gangland crime over the years in Corduff. It has those historical local problems, and that should be considered. On the same day that the schools got the news they would not be included in DEIS plus, five members of a local organised crime group were sentenced to jail over an attack which the judge involved said bypassed any notion of humanity and which involved beating, burning, stabbing and branding their victim with the word \"rat\".  Children in these schools are being groomed into crime. They are not able to learn because they come into school having suffered trauma. Those factors have to be taken into account somewhere in the system. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Frankie Feighan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Frankie Feighan  The DEIS plus scheme has a clear specific purpose, which is to target a relatively small number of schools with the very highest concentrations of children and young people who are experiencing persistent and intergenerational disadvantage. As the Deputy knows, it uses an evidence-based identification model. Applying this model fairly means that not every school serving a disadvantaged community can be included at this time. We have all been in this situation over the years. I would have questioned why some schools were not included even in the DEIS programme. I found that difficult to understand, but the new system seems to be very transparent and open. As the Deputy rightly stated, this does not diminish the very real challenges faced by St. Patrick's junior and senior national schools. Both schools serve disadvantaged school communities and continue to benefit from the enhanced support from the DEIS programme. This reflects the need of the supports needed in those communities.  Through the DEIS strategy to 2035, the Department of Education and Youth remains committed to continue reviewing how educational disadvantage is identified and addressed in order to ensure that supports are targeted in a fair, consistent and evidence-based way, which is what we all want. The appeals window will open in the coming weeks and schools will be given the opportunity to update their school enrolment data and whatever other data is there.  I encourage the schools to do that as quickly as possible. I want to show the Deputy that supporting children and young people in Corduff to enable them to reach their full potential through education remains an ongoing commitment, not just on the part of the Government but also on that of their parents, teachers and community. I thank her again for raising this very important issue. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"School Funding"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-15\/debate\/dbsect_8","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Land Issues","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-15\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  Sixteen hill farmers on the Knockmealdown Mountains in west Waterford are facing the imposition of rent increases of 900% by a British absentee landlord. This increase will put them off the land. These are generational farmers; families who have farmed the mountains for generations and centuries. I have met them several times. Only last week, Deputy Cullinane and I were up on the mountains with them.  What is happening is a stark injustice. It has echoes of darker times when absentee landlords, British aristocrats, pushed Irish farmers off the land. That is a comparison that should concern all of us, and it certainly should concern the Government. It is 2026 not 1846, yet farmers in Waterford are being forced off land that their families have farmed for generations. The Government is making matters worse. At the very moment that these farmers are under the most pressure in this land dispute, their farm payments are being withheld. The Government is holding them over a barrel and is strengthening the landlord's hand. The Government and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine are taking a side in this and are pushing these farmers towards the edge. I raised this issue previously with the Minister of State's colleague the Minister, Deputy Heydon. There have been protests. There has been strong public support. This has been raised by Congressmen and MPs in the United States and Britain, but there has been no action on the part of the Government. That is not acceptable. This cannot continue.  These farmers are doing everything they can to remain on the land. Will the Minister of State ensure that these payments are released to them? Will he meet the farmers to hear their concerns and stories? Will he clearly support their right to remain farming on the land in question and make a statement in the D\u00e1il in the interests of supporting them and other hill farmers and sheep farmers in maintaining their way of life and agricultural activity? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  I do not know of any farmer, business or individual who could take a 900% increase in rent. This really is an injustice. I met with the hill farmers in question, as did Deputy McGuinness. In fact, we were there a number of weeks ago when \"Prime Time\" was interviewing some of them. The sense of injustice that they have relates to the fact that their ancestors, their parents, grandparents and great-grandparents, farmed that land for generations and that a British absentee landlord - a multibillionaire who owns thousands of acres of land in Waterford, Cork and elsewhere - is coming in and imposing a 900% increase. The farmers are outraged. They simply want to farm. That is all they want to do. They have no interest in getting involved in any disputes. The difficulty is that because of this stand-off with the so-called Duke of Devonshire, their farm payments are being withheld. That is really problematic.  The Department has to be creative. I echo the call from Deputy McGuinness that the Minister, or the Minister of State, if he is in a position to do it, should meet with these hill farmers to try to find a way to get around this and support these farmers. There obviously has to be some arrangement made on the rents and the absentee landlord has to be made to see sense, but the Government also has to come to the table and make sure that these people get their farm payments.  There is real anger out there. We saw what happened in the streets over the past number of weeks. When people see an injustice, they will respond to it. We are seeing it already. Deputy McGuinness and I are getting it in Waterford, where people are saying that this is wrong. People can see what is wrong. It is black and white. This is wrong. It should not be happening. These farmers should be just farming and doing what they want to do rather than having to talk to politicians, talk to the media, engage in protests simply to be able to secure their livelihoods. The injustice here is even bigger when we consider that it is a legacy of our colonial past. I ask the Minister of State to meet the hill farmers and for the Department to intervene. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Timmy Dooley)  I thank Deputies McGuinness and Cullinane for raising this issue. The farmers to whom they refer have been farming on the area in question for generations, indeed some of the families involved have had hundreds of years of continuous farming in the same area. However, I am informed by the Department that the land in question is, as the Deputies identified, owned by a third party. Regardless of how that came about or the historical dimension to it, it has to be accepted that it is a third party who owns the land. That third party has requested substantially increased rents for use of the land. Therein lies the problem for everyone. Unfortunately, the Department has no role in how farmers and landholders agree rental prices. This is clearly something that must be arranged between the landowner and the farmer renting the land. I do not see that situation changing in the future either; it is a private commercial transaction between two parties.  The Department routinely corresponds with farmers to establish that they have land at their disposal and that they are actively farming the lands declared on their applications. I understand that the farmers involved here are also concerned about payments that the Department administers which are dependent on the right to farm this rented land. Deputy McGuinness raised this issue during oral parliamentary questions a few weeks ago and requested that the Department waive the requirement for the farmers to have this land at their disposal.  It is a core principle of Common Agricultural Policy funding that farmers have the right to farm the land they declare; in other words, that the land is at their disposal. Unfortunately, in this case it is clear that these farmers will not have the land involved at their disposal as a result of all of the issues the Deputies raised as long as the disagreement over the rental price continues. The Department is constrained by the terms and conditions of the Common Agricultural Policy. It is not, therefore, within the gift of the Department to make payments to farmers who are not able to assert a legal right to be on land. I fully get the situation here, but, unfortunately, it is no different to circumstances where the Deputies might be renting land from me or where I might be renting land from them.  The historical context to this of course makes it challenging and emotive for all of us. I am aware that this has happened in other parts of the country as well. There is the infamous case of the Shirley Estate in Carrickmacross, which was the subject of protracted battles in the courts.  Through the Deputies' colleague, Deputy Matt Carthy, they may be able to ascertain some information as to how those challenging issues were addressed. I see this as somewhat similar, from my own observation rather than from a departmental perspective.  It is challenging for all of us to grapple with it but I accept and recognise that it is most challenging for the 16 farmers whose lives and livelihoods depend on this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  The Minister of State and this Government need to make a clear intervention here. I am more than happy to say that what is happening here is wrong, that the demand of a 900% rent increase by a British absentee aristocratic landlord on Irish farmers is wrong. I would urge the Minister of State to make that statement and for his colleague, the Minister, Deputy Heydon, to make a similar statement. That would carry an awful lot of weight.  To return to the farm payments issue, it is important to put on the record here again that all farm payments are being withheld from farmers who are unable to produce this commonage letter from the aristocratic absentee landlord. Effectively, the proof that Government requires to show that these farmers are actively farming, on these lands that are in dispute and on all other lands they are farming, is a commonage letter from the landlord with whom they are in dispute, and that is an unfair burden. It is an unfair intervention into this dispute and it is not necessary. There are creative means by which the Department can establish that these farmers are actively farming land and ensure that they have some kind of income rather than holding them over a barrel while this dispute continues. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  There are sometimes cases where there is a grey area but I think this one is black and white. The people whom I have spoken to, including the hill farmers but also people in the wider west Waterford area and in Waterford city, are outraged that a British absentee landlord who goes by the name of the Duke of Devonshire, who owns tens of thousands of acres of land and is a billionaire as far as I can see, is imposing a rent increase of 900% on 16 hill farmers in the Knockmealdown Mountains who just want to farm. They say they are being driven off the land.  What they have asked the Minister of State, through us, is for him to meet them to try to see if there is some resolution. That is a reasonable request. That would be a big step forward if the Minister of State were to agree to that. That, in turn, could put pressure on the landlord, because the landlord needs to move. I accept that. This is an issue that the landlord has to step up to the plate on as well. It is greed that is at the heart of this.  I appeal to the Minister of State to meet these hill farmers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Timmy Dooley  I am aware of this issue, obviously, but I am also conscious of the constitutional rights of property owners. Deputy Cullinane says that there is often a grey area and this is black and white. Emotionally, it is black and white. For any of us and for any member of society, the picture that the Deputies paint is black and white in terms of what should transpire, but from a departmental perspective and from a Government perspective, we have to be conscious of the Constitution and the laws and be seen to uphold those and also uphold the terms and conditions of the Common Agricultural Policy, and that puts very significant constraints on what the Minister, Deputy Heydon, and I can do. However, I am more than happy to meet the 16 hill farmers as soon as possible and I will go through it with them, and if the Deputies or others can come up with a greyness or find a route through it or a solution, I am happy to look at that. As I said, I am more than happy to meet the 16 hill farmers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Land Issues"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-15\/debate\/dbsect_9","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Tackling Soaring Energy Costs: Motion [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":36,"speakerCount":35},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ann Graves","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Mythen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Mythen.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Mythen.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Keira Keogh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  I move:  That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann;  notes that:  \u2014 energy prices in Ireland are already among the highest in Europe and prices are continuing to rise rapidly;  \u2014 the cost of home heating oil rose by nearly 70 per cent last month alone, the largest month-on-month increase ever recorded;  \u2014 kerosene is the main heating fuel for 700,000 households across the country;  \u2014 the prices of petrol and diesel have exponentially increased in recent weeks, putting huge pressure on commuters as well as the transport and agricultural sectors;  \u2014 households in Ireland pay \u20ac360 more a year for electricity than the European Union average;  \u2014 gas prices in Ireland are now double what they were in 2021;  \u2014 there are 315,000 households in arrears on their electricity bills, up 20 per cent in just 12 months, and 180,000 households are in arrears on gas bills; and  \u2014 prices are also soaring across the economy, for groceries, housing, transport and insurance costs;  further notes that:  \u2014 sky-rocketing energy prices have been coupled with huge increases in other household costs, like groceries and rent, and are putting a huge strain on low-and-middle-income families;  \u2014 according to a 2025 Credit Union Consumer Sentiment survey, 15 per cent of Irish consumers would be unable to cope with a financial emergency costing \u20ac1,000;  \u2014 a Barnardos report last year found 75 per cent of parents had to cut back or go without essential items because of cost-of-living increases;  \u2014 a Child Poverty Monitor last year found the number of children living in consistent poverty nearly doubled, to more than 100,000; and  \u2014 Children's Rights Alliance Chief Executive Officer Tanya Ward has described the cumulative impact of continued soaring costs as \"a landslide effect\" for low-income families, meaning providing basic necessities like nutritious food or a warm home has become increasingly difficult;  agrees that:  \u2014 wholesale electricity prices have fallen by more than 70 per cent since their 2022 peak, but retail prices have only fallen by approximately 20 per cent during the same period;  \u2014 in fact, as electricity wholesale prices continued to fall last year, all but one commercial provider hiked their prices, most by double digit figures; and  \u2014 wholesale prices have continued to fall this year, but retail prices have not been cut;  further notes that:  \u2014 the Government consistently says it wants to target supports where they are needed most, but there is a huge gap between what they say and what they do;  \u2014 according to the Parliamentary Budget Office, the Government's recent budget reduced the incomes of the poorest households by over four per cent and massively increased poverty rates among elderly people from 13 per cent to 19 per cent;  \u2014 according to the Disability Federation of Ireland, Budget 2026 also cut the incomes of disabled people, among those most at risk of poverty, by up to \u20ac1,400 per annum; and  \u2014 the inadequate support measures the Government announced in March 2026 provided no support for households that rely on home heating oil and do not receive the Fuel Allowance; and  calls on the Government to:  \u2014 provide emergency relief to struggling individuals and families by immediately introducing a \u20ac400 energy credit, targeted at families earning up to \u20ac70,000;  \u2014 adopt the Social Democrats \"Solar for All\" plan which includes a doubling of grants for solar installation to \u20ac3,600, and the inclusion of solar panels in the \"Warmer Homes Scheme\" to help families cut electricity costs by an average of \u20ac450 a year;  \u2014 introduce a supplementary mileage scheme for essential workers like nurses and carers, who depend on their cars to travel for work; and  \u2014 increase the rebate scheme for the transport sector, to cover unsustainable increases in fuel costs, and introduce a rebate scheme for green diesel that can be availed of by agricultural contractors and others who use that fuel.  There is something in the air at present. You can feel it. It feels heavier. I can feel it in conversations every day, on the doors, in the shops, and when I stop and talk to people on the street. It is a level of pressure and of desperation that I have not witnessed since the period of austerity. People are not just worried any more; they are stretched completely to the limit. They are choosing between heating their homes and feeding their families. They are juggling bills, putting things off and hoping nothing else goes wrong because if it does, they have nothing left to give. People feel completely on their own while the Government is trying to tell them everything is fine.  We had Ministers and backbenchers yesterday pointing to record surpluses and offering platitudes while thousands of households were living in deficit and struggling just to get through the week. They are completely disconnected from the reality of what people are going through and this week showed that in the starkest of terms.  Wholesale electricity prices have fallen by more than 70% since their 2022 peak. Retail prices have fallen by approximately 20%. While this is happening, all but one commercial provider increased their prices, most by double-digit figures. That gap is not an accident. It is a choice of a Government that has failed to intervene. It is a choice that has been made at the expense of every family simply trying to get through the week.  The Government says that it wants to target supports where they are needed most but in the previous budget, it reduced the incomes of the poorest households. It cut the incomes of disabled people by \u20ac1,400 a year. The measures announced in March provided nothing for households relying on home heating oil that were not in receipt of the fuel allowance. That is exactly why we are bringing forward the motion today.  Our proposals are straightforward. They include a targeted \u20ac400 energy credit for households earning up to \u20ac70,000. In over 1 million households, people are working, contributing, doing everything right and still being left behind. We recognise that for our most vital workers, people without whom the country would collapse, the pressure is even higher. I refer to nurses, carers, people who cannot work from home and people who rely on their cars to do their jobs. Right now, and I wish this was hyperbole, many of them are effectively paying to go to work. We are proposing a supplementary mileage scheme for essential workers and targeted support for those people who need their cars to provide the service that we ask of them.  These are necessary responses to an immediate crisis but they are not sufficient on their own.  Fossil fuel energy appears cheap up front but when you are buying gas and oil forever, you have no control over the price set in global markets. Every few years, first with Ukraine and now Iran, we are reminded with brutal clarity of just how exposed it leaves us. Renewable energy works the other way. Admittedly, there are high upfront costs but once it is running, the fuel is free and the maintenance is low. That is the logic behind our Solar for All plan. The upfront cost is a barrier and that is precisely where the State must act. Research from UCD estimates that all homes in Ireland have the potential for solar. If realised, it could meet a quarter of all residential electricity demand. A typical installation saves a household over \u20ac400 a year. Ireland generates just 1.5% of our total energy from solar. Denmark, similar in size, population and weather, is at 5%. That is not a geographic difference. That is a political choice. We are proposing to double the solar installation grant to \u20ac3,600, to include solar panels in the warmer home schemes and to introduce a \u20ac1,000 battery storage grant. We are asking a straightforward question. Why did this Government cut solar grants while we lurched from one energy crisis to the next? The lesson was there but was clearly not learned. A credit will help families now, they need it now and we are not walking away from that, but solar investments help families for a lifetime. The State may not always have the fiscal room it has today. The question is whether we use this moment just to spend or whether we use it to invest, and we are choosing to invest.  Right now, there is an opportunity and a space for leadership. During the oil crisis shock in the 1970s, Denmark chose to invest in its renewables. That is why it has offset the worst pain for its citizens being experienced today during this crisis. What we need now is a Government of vision - people who will listen to the concerns of those who they meet on the streets and at the doors and respond to them with urgency, clarity and compassion - but we also need people of vision who will stand up and say that we are going to invest so that never again will we be in this situation. That is why we are bringing our motion today. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  First of all, I thank Deputy Gannon for all of his work on this motion.  No matter how hard people work, it is becoming more and more difficult to stay afloat. People are holding their breath before opening their energy bills.  Small businesses are staring at their accounts wondering how much longer they can keep going, and workers who rely on diesel to do their jobs are trying to figure out how they can absorb another price shock. That deep crushing anxiety is what brought people onto the streets.  What the protests alongside the war in Iran have made clear is just how vulnerable we are to sudden and dramatic price spikes because we have not built the energy resilience we need at home. Successive Governments have failed to invest in renewable energy and to protect from exactly this kind of crisis. Ireland should be a leader in climate action. We have the resources to build an energy system that is cleaner, cheaper and more secure. Take solar energy. There are close to a million homes in this country suitable for solar panels, yet only a fraction have them installed. Why? For too many people, it is still too expensive. That is why the Social Democrats have put forward the plan Solar for All. It would double grants, expand access and make solar a real option for ordinary households, not just those who can afford large upfront costs. It would cut bills by hundreds of euro each year and give people real protection from future energy shocks. I refer to real solutions that, if implemented, could meaningfully help people. That is what we need and what climate action should look like. It should be practical, fair and focused on improving people's lives. This transition must bring everyone with us.  The pressure being placed on farmers right now is unbelievable. The nature of the job means that the weight on their shoulders is immense. There is responsibility for livestock and a job that never lets up, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Alongside that, there is often loneliness, isolation and a mental health crisis that we do not talk about nearly enough.  When I meet representatives of Macra na Feirme, one of the core issues they raise with me is generational renewal, which is hardly surprising if you imagine being a young person who is thinking right now about taking over the family farm. Imagine how they have felt for the past week, seeing the crushing effect rising costs have had on farmers, their own families and their loved ones, seeing the toll that they are taking on people's mental health and hearing the Government patronise and dismiss people who have been driven to the brink. People are not protesting because they want to; they are protesting because they feel they have no choice. The protests are a symptom of a larger problem. The protesters deserve to be listened to and deserve a Government that is finally willing to act. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Liam Quaide  The cost of energy is one pressure among many bearing down on families already dealing with soaring costs of rent, groceries, insurance and transport. For many families, there is simply no give left in the monthly budget. The Government's response to the energy crisis so far amounts to a very expensive, broad-brush set of measures that leave clear gaps and whose modest effect will evaporate quickly if the situation in the Middle East becomes more entrenched. If you reduce fuel taxes, everybody who buys fuel gets some minor, short-lived benefit. That includes people under real strain, but it also includes people who are much better able to absorb rising costs. If you extend the fuel allowance, it matters for those in the scheme but it leaves out many households just above the threshold who are also struggling.  When the Government says it is targeting support, it is worth noting that it is spending substantial sums in a very diffuse manner. That is where the Social Democrats motion takes a better approach. It proposes a \u20ac400 energy credit for households earning up to \u20ac70,000. That is more direct because it is aimed at low- and middle-income households facing significant and increasing pressure with bills. It proposes a supplementary mileage scheme for essential workers such as carers and nurses. Again, that is more targeted because it recognises that some workers cannot simply reduce their amount of driving. Their transport costs are built into their jobs. The motion proposes stronger rebate supports for transport and green diesel users. That measure recognises the sectors where fuel inflation has the most considerable knock-on effect. Crucially, it includes Solar for All, which would double the solar grant to \u20ac3,600 and bring solar panels into the warmer homes scheme. That matters because it is not just about getting through the next few months. It is also about reducing bills on a lasting basis. That is a better use of public money than repeatedly spending large sums in ways that only shave costs off for everyone temporarily and so meagrely that nobody is satisfied.  There is also a wider point here. The Parliamentary Budget Office found that when temporary cost-of-living measures were withdrawn, the poorest households were hit hardest, with average losses of 4.5% for the poorest tenth of households. That same analysis also made the point that broad measures like the reduced VAT rates on gas and electricity were untargeted and benefited low- and high-income households alike, while more targeted options would be preferable. The issue is not whether the Government has spent money, because it has, but whether that money has been directed well enough and with a sustained benefit for those who need it most.  This motion argues for a more deliberate approach, direct support for households under genuine strain, specific help for workers and sectors with unavoidable fuel costs, and longer term investments that reduce bills rather than simply soften them for a short period. That is a more focused response, a fairer response and a better use of public money. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  I canvass regularly in my constituency, Dublin South-Central, and I hold clinics on a weekly basis. I can tell the Minister that people are far from all right in Dublin South-Central. When we set aside the issues with housing and also that of appropriate school places \u2013 I am the education spokesperson \u2013 we see that the next biggest issue in my constituency is affordability. When it comes to the energy crisis and what is going on in people's homes, I note that renewables, solar and all these things are absolutely beyond the budget of many of the people I speak to regularly.  People are telling me that they cannot afford their groceries or get an appointment with the doctor. They also tell me that they cannot get a hospital appointment or are left on a waiting list for a very long time. Children and young people with mental health difficulties cannot get an opportunity to meet staff from child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS. There are no appropriate school places for children and people cannot afford rent. All of this is creating a lot of crisis and a lot of difficulty for people.  The Social Democrats are not just a party that points out what is wrong. We also give solutions. We have done this regularly since I joined D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann. Indeed, the parliamentary party did this before I became a member of it. I am not taking all the credit. Today, we are bringing forward another motion that outlines our proposal for how the people of Ireland can be supported with regard to the energy crisis we are in.  We need a timely conversation about the fact that we really need to move from fossil fuels to renewables. People cannot afford to do so, so we need to do what we can to make sure every household is able to access renewables. My colleague Deputy Jennifer Whitmore has introduced the Solar for All plan, and that plan includes a doubling of the grant for solar installation to \u20ac3,600 and the inclusion of solar panels in the warmer homes scheme. That will yield an average benefit of \u20ac450 for a family. That is what it will save. It is a practical plan and something that we need to implement in order to reach our environmental targets and help people throughout the country with energy costs.  What we see is that only people with additional incomes are able to afford solar panels. Solar panels are so easy to install and they give immediate results, so we need to harness that. We are an island. If the Minister has ever gone to the west of Ireland, as I am sure he has, he will know that if you stand on a cliff edge there, you will nearly be blown over. I am really at a loss as to why we do not use that wind power to power our schools, homes, businesses and hospitals.  Every day, I am contacted by families worried about costs. As education spokesperson, I really do have to say that although we have primary and secondary school education systems that are supposed to be free, people are worried about the increased cost of school transport. I am absolutely delighted to see that there are free books at primary and secondary levels, but people are now having to fork out for tablets that cost up to \u20ac700. We had the college fees debacle in September and October, but I will not go back into that today.  This motion is very practical. We have solutions, and I ask the Minister to listen to us. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aidan Farrelly  I thank the Minister for being here. The collective complacency of this Government has truly been astonishing. It might have survived the confidence motion yesterday but it certainly lost something. It lost some credibility. When we look back on yesterday, we will regard it as the beginning of the Government losing its mandate.  Less than two years ago, the Government went to the people of Ireland promising change and meaningful action on the issues that affected people's lives, but in truth things are getting worse. The Government told us that when it came to the cost of living, housing, homelessness, healthcare, education and childcare, change would happen and that it would listen. While the Government has gone about prioritising the EU Presidency and chasing policy ambitions that it has never campaigned on, it has wilfully ignored promises it made and the people to whom it made them. Somehow, the Government tells us to have patience with its social policy as it continuously fails us, while in tandem working to ensure investment funds have the perfect conditions to maximise profit. It seems that the Government only listens to them.  The Government does not listen to us. It pretends to listen on the doorsteps. It continuously ignores academic and organisational expertise.  It has been an expensive week for this Government but every week is an expensive week for people in our country. The Government's latest \u20ac500 million package will leave no legacy. It will make very little to no difference at all to families who have to continue choosing between heating and eating. Once again, it proves who this Government is actively listening to and who this Government chooses not to listen to.  I am asking the Government to listen to the Social Democrats today. The Minister could introduce an emergency relief for struggling people and families by way of an energy credit. He could listen to the merits of Deputy Whitmore's Solar for All plan. My worry is that while there are many things the Government could do to follow through on those long-forgotten election promises, many players in this Government are too busy fighting among themselves. They are no longer the parties that have their ears to the ground, but instead have their heads buried in the sand as to what reality is. Targeted measures for those who need them most, for those whom we all claim to represent, for those whom the Government claims to govern, are what are needed now, but this Government is not listening, exacerbating even further our worsening collective complacency. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  The stories on the front pages of the newspapers this morning were not about ordinary people dealing with the cost-of-living crisis. No, there are no front pages given to the pensioner at home struggling to keep their home warm, the disabled person taking the now hours-long trip to a hospital for dialysis because they can no longer afford to do it at home, the single mother skipping meals to feed her children or the dad tearing his hair out as he sees rent drain his family's bank account yet again. These stories are nowhere to be seen today. They are drowned out by the lamentations of a Minister of State who presided over all of it, who voted for all of it, and at the last moment resigned from the Government to get his moment on the front page of every newspaper in the country. People say they are cynical about politics. Too often, they have every right to be. A budget in 2026 cutting disabled people's incomes by \u20ac1,400 was not enough for the resignation of a Minister of State. A repeated refusal to introduce an emergency payment for disabled people was not enough to lose that former Minister of State's vote. Nor was it enough for the Government to adjust its spending by 1 cent.  The repeated callousness and hypocrisy of this Government extended to its failures t introduce targeted measures in its package yesterday. There are no energy credits for the most vulnerable. There is no strong progress on domestic renewable energy. There are no plans that reverse poverty, only plans that deepen it. Of the \u20ac750 million fuel packages announced in the last four weeks by this Government, less than 10% was targeted at the most vulnerable, with a \u20ac150 extension of the fuel allowance in a time when electricity and gas bills were climbing by hundreds of euro. That is why we have brought forward this motion - to bring targeted relief to ordinary people across the country, including a targeted \u20ac400 energy credit for families earning less than \u20ac70,000 and helping people cut their energy costs with increased solar grants.  The Government has repeatedly said it wants to target the most vulnerable, yet it has been lacking. It has repeatedly said it cannot do everything, yet it pulled out all the stops yesterday. It has repeatedly ignored the pleas of 320,000 households in energy bill arrears, of disability organisations and of the most impoverished. What should I say to those people now, Minister? What should I tell them about their Government? What should I tell them about their representatives? Should they buy a tractor and blockade a port and then they might be listened to? Should they join with a despicable far-right rhetoric to be taken seriously? Should they threaten a rising in Kerry to take the scalp of a Minister of State? When will this Government listen to the most in need in our society? When will it act for them? I urge the House to support this motion to alleviate energy costs for the people who most need it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment (Deputy Darragh O'Brien)  I move amendment No. 1:  To delete all words after \"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann\" and substitute the following:  \"notes that, the Government:  \u2014 remains deeply concerned about the conflict in the Middle East and Gulf;  \u2014 affirms Ireland's long track-record of support for international law and the United Nations;  \u2014 continues to seek de-escalation through dialogue and diplomacy so that these issues can be resolved;  \u2014 is acutely aware of the impact on households and businesses of the recent increases in fuel prices, and is actively monitoring the current geopolitical situation and developments in energy markets;  \u2014 affirms that energy affordability is a priority for this Government; and  \u2014 highlights that action has been taken to help households and businesses with the cost of fuel and energy by introducing one of the most comprehensive support packages in the European Union;  affirms that:  \u2014 the practical measures introduced by Government on 12th April include:  \u2014 a reduction in excise on diesel by a further 10 cent (including Value-Added Tax (VAT)) bringing the total reduction on diesel to 32 cent;  \u2014 a reduction in excise on petrol by a further 10 cent (including VAT) bringing the total reduction to 27 cent (including VAT);  \u2014 a reduction in excise on marked gas oil (green diesel) by a further 2.4 cent bringing the total to 7.4 cent (including VAT);  \u2014 a deferral of the planned increase in carbon tax, scheduled for 1st May until October 2026; and  \u2014 the reductions in excise include the National Oil Reserves Agency levy reduction (announced in March) and will take effect from midnight on 14th April and run until 31st July, 2026;  \u2014 Government will also be establishing a new Road Transporters Support Scheme as well as supports for coach operators providing local link services, at a cost of \u20ac40 million per month for three months;  \u2014 a comprehensive \u20ac100 million Fuel Subsidy Support Scheme to assist farmers, agricultural contractors and fishers will be put in place;  \u2014 this package of supports is in addition to the measures announced in March, which included:  \u2014 an expansion of the diesel rebate scheme, backdating it to January, to help sectors of the economy most impacted by the rise of fuel costs; and  \u2014 an extension of the fuel allowance season to help the most vulnerable with the cost of home heating;  \u2014 a range of protections are in place for customers experiencing difficulties in paying their bills, anyone who is struggling with their bill is strongly encouraged to engage with their supplier and suppliers will not disconnect customers that engage with them;  \u2014 the four biggest energy retailers have confirmed that hardship funds and focused measures are in place for any customers in difficulty;  \u2014 switching supplier or plan could save the average electricity customer up to \u20ac500 annually; and  \u2014 the Department of Social Protection can also provide support through the Additional Needs Payment to help households meet expenses, including those who face difficulties with fuel bills; and  further notes that:  \u2014 successive Budgets have provided targeted support to help households with cost-of-living pressures;  \u2014 on 11th March, Ireland agreed to participate in an International Energy Agency (IEA) release of international strategic oil reserves to address supply issues resulting from the conflict, Ireland's contribution to the IEA 400-million-barrel release is 1.6 million barrels (equating to approximately 10.5 days of supply);  \u2014 in Budget 2026, key measures included the largest ever increases to Child Support Payments, higher income thresholds for the Working Family Payment, and expanded access to the Fuel Allowance and Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance;  \u2014 recent data from the Central Statistics Office's Survey on Income and Living Conditions 2025, published on 11th March, shows a welcome reduction in the child Consistent Poverty rate in 2025 from 8.5 per cent to 7.8 per cent, demonstrating the impact of Government measures to date;  \u2014 Government has also established the National Energy Affordability Taskforce (NEAT) to identify, assess and implement measures that will enhance energy affordability for households and businesses while delivering key renewable commitments and protecting security of supply and economic stability;  \u2014 a dedicated NEAT subgroup is being established to monitor global and national energy supply, with a separate subgroup to advise on appropriate demand-side responses;  \u2014 the Solar PV Scheme operated by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland has gone from strength to strength in recent years, with increased budget allocations from carbon tax revenues year on year allowing for more households to avail of the support available;  \u2014 the Government remains committed to ensuring that low-income households benefit from Ireland's renewable energy transition and will continue to explore how best to integrate solar and other technologies into our energy poverty retrofit programmes;  \u2014 in the long run, the best way to protect Ireland from the impact of international fossil fuel prices is to reduce our dependence on them;  \u2014 Ireland is undergoing a renewables-led energy transformation, electricity generation from renewables has increased fivefold since 2005, the milestone of over 2GW (gigawatts) of installed solar capacity was achieved in November;  \u2014 offshore wind capacity is also being prioritised, with the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, announcing the acceleration of the National Designated Maritime Area Plan (DMAP) for offshore renewable energy, which will identify sites for additional renewable energy development; and  \u2014 \u20ac3.15 billion of the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund is being provided to help achieve carbon reductions and environmental and nature objectives, this includes funding to the Department of Transport to support low-carbon transportation, and \u20ac500 million to the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment to support climate mitigation and renewable energy development.\".  I thank the Social Democrats for tabling this motion. It is undoubtedly timely and a lot of this was debated yesterday. The Government won the confidence motion, but I just want to assure Deputies that no one in government is telling people everything is all right. That is not the case. People and families are struggling, unquestionably, and not just in Ireland. It has been recognised as a global crisis.  I would like to address some of the specific items raised in the motion. I recognise it as a genuine attempt to feed into the debate and policy in this area. I assure Deputies that I have listened and I am here to listen to what is being brought forward.  In my response I would like to tell Deputies about the changes, particularly in renewables, and where we are going because I am wedded to the acceleration of renewables and we are seeing good progress in that space. To Deputy Hayes I would say that I am not responsible for who writes headlines, so I am not responsible for the media. He was lamenting the fact that certain things were covered in the newspapers today. That is one thing that the Government cannot be blamed for.  We all know the consequences of the conflict in the Middle East, and we have seen a greater shock in relation to oil and gas prices than we have seen since the 1970s. That is on top of what we have seen in the war in Ukraine and the massive spikes in inflation and elevated prices that we have seen since then. Again, these issues are not unique to Ireland. This Government is charged to respond in kind and endeavour to lessen the impact of those cost increases on families and citizens across the country. We recognise very clearly that this crisis for families and businesses is a very severe one, and that is why we have to deploy our resources in a sustainable and targeted way.  I want to run through some of those measures. Practical supports were brought forward on 12 April. These were: a reduction in excise and diesel by a further 10 cent to an overall reduction of 32 cent; a further 10 cent with regard to petrol, 27 cents in total; a reduction in excise duty on marked gas, 7.4 cent in total; a deferral of the planned increase in the carbon tax scheduled for 1 May until October and reductions of a further 2 cent in the National Oil Reserves Agency, NORA, levy up to 31 July. The supply chains are critical and these are normal businesses. I engaged directly with the hauliers and the coach sector in advance of any of the protests. I have been working through this with them for a number of weeks. I met the Irish Road Haulage Association, IRHA, on Good Friday and engaged directly with its representatives. We have now been able to establish a scheme of \u20ac40 million per month in fuel supports for the next three months that is very targeted at the SME sector within our supply chain. That is \u20ac120 million over a three-month period. There is another \u20ac100 million in a fuel subsidy support scheme to assist the very farmers, agricultural contractors and fishers Deputy Cairns spoke about. That has also been announced and will be deployed to give real cash payments to assist productive sectors, particularly food production, but also in the supply chain that are critically important to that. They are on top of additional measures that were taken, such as expansion of the diesel rebate scheme. The extension for a further four weeks of the fuel allowance, which has been referenced, is very important. What has not been referenced heretofore is that a quarter of the households in the country receive a direct payment through the fuel allowance scheme because we have expanded that to the working family payment. We are talking about 470,000 homes of those who need it most.  If we look at the overall package, these are big numbers and we have to see how they are deployed down. It is a fact that the intervention we have made of \u20ac755 million on behalf of our people is the largest in Europe on a per capita basis and is actually numerically one of the largest, too. It is about seven times that of Germany and nearly 15 times that of Poland. It is significant, but we do retain the flexibility to respond further.  On budget measures, critically, a raft of social welfare changes were made, particularly to support carers on child support payments. I will not go through them all here, but on carers allowance the income disregard has increased from \u20ac375 to \u20ac1,000 for a single person and from \u20ac750 to \u20ac2,000 for a couple. The income limit for carers benefit will increase by \u20ac375 to \u20ac1,000 per week.  That change takes effect from July this year. They are measures that many campaigned on. We campaigned on them and were elected and are part of Government and we will make good on those on those commitments.  We also saw broad increases in the last budget of \u20ac10 per week to maximum personal payment rates benefiting pensioners, people with disabilities, carers and lone parents. There were proportional increases for people receiving a reduced payment rate and qualified adults. These changes took place from January of this year. That was in advance of the outbreak of this war. Most will understand that we have to manage the resources of the State in a careful and sustainable way. We have also increased fuel allowance by \u20ac5.35 per week and extended it to those on the working family payment.  I am pleased today to be able to have this discussion around renewables. Ireland has got to accelerate renewables further. We are the number one in Europe at integration of renewables into our grid. It is fine to be critical. I get that and that is political discourse but we also need to recognise how quickly we have moved. In 2015, just over ten years ago, 19% of our electricity came from renewable sources; last month was 49%. Solar is up to about 4% and that is increasing at a really significant rate. The suggestion for the expansion of solar is a good one that I am happy to look at in more detail.  With effect from 1 March, I have made significant changes to the retrofitting grant. Many of the Deputies and their colleagues were at the briefing I gave along with the SEAI in the audiovisual room. The purpose of that is to make sure that the grants are accessible to people, particularly those on middle incomes. Those on lower incomes can access the warmer homes scheme, which I will talk about in a moment. Looking at how we have broken those grants down, it is now a retrofitting passport. For the 250,000 homes that have already been retrofitted, including 53,000 in 2025, that provides resilience for those households against future energy shocks and reduces dependency on fossil fuel.  I agree with what the Deputies have said in the debate that we need to do more on that, and I intend to. This year I am targeting 73,000 homes with the money we have from the carbon tax. To be fair, the carbon tax is something the Social Democrats believe in because it is ring-fenced for retrofitting measures, not just for households but also for businesses. There were 4,000 business grants last year for retrofitting of businesses to improve energy efficiency and reduce costs. Households are making permanent savings of up to \u20ac500 per annum.  I got the most up-to-date figures in advance of this debate. These figures just came in in March. Since we changed them, many more people are accessing them. Between March 2025 and March 2026, roof insulation increased by 81%. There has been a 95% increase in heat pump applications. That is because we have increased that grant to \u20ac12,500. That is a major cost reduction for people once they get the heat pump working in their home. There has been a 62% increase between March 2025 and March 2026 in cavity wall insulation and we need to do more.  On the warmer homes scheme, we have done about 33,000 homes. I want to see us, through the SEAI, reducing the turnaround time from application to completion of work. They are 100% grant aided. It is for those in energy poverty or at risk of energy poverty and it works very well. It is a deep retrofit which entails a lot of work but I think we can improve the timelines and I am committed to doing that.  On the solar grant side of things, over 8 GW of renewable energy is integrated in our grid. Over 1 GW of rooftop solar in this country is not grid connected. Last year 33,000 homes accessed grants for solar and I want to increase that further. If I can accelerate that by changes to it, I am very open to looking at it. They are permanent savings, reducing our dependency on fossil fuel. By any fair assessment, we are doing well on that. Last year was good and we will have a significant increase this year. If we need policy changes to accelerate that, I am open to that. Grants for solar for medically vulnerable people are available. We have seen that deployed in the hundreds last year. I want to do that in the thousands.  I thank the Social Democrats for the motion, giving us an opportunity to debate this in a calm and civilised way. I appreciate that too. I have moved the countermotion but I am certainly open to looking at other aspects of the solar scheme to see how we can deploy more. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  I want to be really clear. The Minister talked about the increase we have seen in renewables. I accept we have seen a large increase but the reality is that is not going to households. That renewable energy is going straight into data centres which are paying half what domestic users are expected to pay for their electricity. So, this is not a good news story for Irish households. It means the Government is prioritising large corporations accessing energy at half the price that individuals have to pay and risking energy security at the same time. Let us not paint this picture that Ireland is a renewable heaven for domestic users; it really is not. The benefits of renewable and the benefits of investment are going straight to data centres. The Government is trying to assist them even further by bringing in the private wires Bill which would essentially set up an alternative private electricity grid to enable data centres to access more renewable energy while leaving domestic homes at a loss. Let us be clear about that.  One million homes in Ireland are suitable for solar panels. A mere ten panels could save the average home \u20ac450 a year in electricity costs. It is really simple to put solar panels on a home; it takes a matter of hours. When talking about energy poverty and providing energy resilience, solar panels are really a no-brainer for a government to deploy. I do not understand why the Government has not done more in this space. At the moment approximately 150,000 homes have solar panels installed and that is welcome. However, the reality is that those 150,000 homes are homes that could afford to install solar panels. They are probably the homes that can afford to withstand the energy shocks as a result of what is happening in Iran and Ukraine much better than many other homes. The Social Democrats want every person in this country to be able afford to access solar panels so that they can benefit from having cheaper electricity and be protected from energy shocks as the global system turns upside down.  That is why we have brought in our policy, solar for all. Really importantly with our policy we want to give free solar for people who are on the warmer home scheme. These are people currently at risk of energy poverty. They are people who get disability allowance, carer's allowance and fuel allowance. The Government needs to roll out an intensive scheme to assist those homes.  We also want to see the doubling of grants for households. Many working families are struggling just to keep their head above water even where both partners are working. They are doing everything right and they still cannot get ahead. It is really important that those people can access schemes like the solar panel scheme. For the life of me, I do not understand why the Government cut the grants to those schemes which were so beneficial to people.  We also want to see the grants for batteries reinstated because that means that people can actually charge up the batteries when electricity rates are cheaper at night. It just makes sense. We also need to see plug-in solar for apartments. Thousands of people are living in apartments in this country and they have no access to solar. I ask the Minister to look at our policy. He should take it at face value and actually consider it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  I thank the Minister for being here this morning. I am very proud to support this motion. It embodies what the Social Democrats stand for - targeted supports which support the people in society who most need them at this point of crisis right now, and a long-term vision for how we can work our way out of these crises and inoculate ourselves as a State against the next one to come along.  While I appreciate the Minister acknowledging our calm and civilised manner in the delivery of this motion, I can tell him that we are as enraged as the constituents we represent at this Government's continued failure to deal with the cost-of-living crisis that is reaching is every single life in this country.  I am going to read to the Minister something from my inbox this week.  Many, including myself, are living from one wage to the next with little financial security. As a single mother, I do not qualify for support such as the fuel allowance or back to school schemes due to strict means testing criteria that do not reflect the true cost of living after tax. People in my position are working hard yet still struggling daily to afford basic necessities such as food, electricity and heating. We feel overlooked and forgotten despite our efforts to contribute positively to society.  The Minister in his statement spoke about a task force for the renewables space, which is welcome, of course, but people are sick of hearing about task forces, strategies and reports. They want meaningful change in their lives and it is not coming. Another thing that was lacking in the Minister\u2019s statement was mention of energy poverty. That was something the Department spoke about a number of years ago but all we hear now is energy affordability. The Minister is denying the lived reality of many people in society who simply cannot pay for heating anymore - the 300,000 households which are in arrears. Those people are not being helped by the many, many statistics the Minister quoted. Yesterday, I listened to the contributions from the Minister\u2019s benches on both the motion of confidence and the financial resolutions. In particular, I listened to the Minister, Deputy Calleary, who spoke about the real harsh realities that we as a State and we as a globe facing. Despite the constant narrative from this Government that we do not understand, we are well aware there is no magic money tree. It is not about what we are spending as a State that we are so enraged at but how we are spending it. The Government simply relies on market solutions. Where it spends money is easing it for private sector contributions which it expects will help citizens but which is failing again and again to do so. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  It is extremely frustrating to come back in here and put forward these proposals. We put forward key, targeted proposals for the budget last year and the Government completely ignored them. The Government has thrown its hands up and said the cost-of-living crisis is down to an international situation. It is blaming global oil prices for the cost-of-living crisis but the reality is core aspects of this cost-of-living crisis are down to the Government\u2019s own policies.  What did the Government do just two months ago in the middle of this cost-of-living crisis? It allowed rents to be increased further for institutional investors and corporate landlords. Record rents were allowed to be increased even higher. After households pay their bills, rents and mortgages, in this country, how many children are in poverty? One in four of every child in this country is living in poverty after their family pays their rent or their mortgage and the Government says its policies are working and it is doing all it can. This is an absolute failure. In one of the so-called wealthiest countries in the world, 320,000 children live in poverty and the Government has increased rents. It has done nothing to stop house prices rising even more and acts as if this cost-of-living crisis has nothing to do with it when fundamental parts of it are because of its policies. We in the Social Democrats have put forward solution after solution which the Government has ignored. That is why people across this country are so angry and frustrated and we are too.  We need a policy change - a dramatic change - and we need investment in our future so that we do not leave ourselves in this situation again. We need investments in solar panels and in renewable energy, and not hand it over to the private market and leave it to the private market in terms of who can and who cannot afford it. The State has to lead because there is massive inequality in this country between those who can afford the solar panels, renewable energies and the EV cars and those who are stuck in mouldy, damp properties. They cannot afford the rent or solar panels. It is not acceptable and the Social Democrats do not accept it. We believe there is a much better way. That is why we put forward this motion and we will continue to push it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  I thank the Social Democrats for introducing this motion here today. We know energy prices have risen by 11% in a single month and 12% over the past year but the Government\u2019s response to that has been nothing short of paralysis. At the same time wholesale energy prices have collapsed. They are 72% lower than their peak in 2022. With the commercial mandate, as sure as night follows day, price gouging is inevitable but the Government has left the regulator toothless. It refused to regulate the standing charges and it refused to rein in the hedging.  We have had legislation on this for the past four years but the Government has completely ignored it. In the middle of a cost-of-living crisis the energy credits were pulled. That is not a mistake - it is a political choice by this Government. At the same time, the price of petrol and diesel have surged. People, particularly rural areas, who rely on home heating oil have been left to hang out to dry because the price of that home heating oil has doubled.  Let us be clear about who has been protected. Households are fleeced but data centres are getting sweetheart deals. Families are paying 6% to 8% more in network charges while the biggest energy users are let off scot-free. That is clearly unfair. On top of this, people who cannot afford renewable alternatives are punished by the regressive carbon tax which, no matter what anyone says, is not working. The cost of home heating oil has spiked by 70% in the past month alone.  There is another path. Sinn F\u00e9in has laid it out clearly: reintroduce the emergency electricity credits; scrap the carbon tax increase; cut excise on petrol and diesel by 25% a litre at the pumps; remove excise entirely from home heating oil; strengthen the regulator to end the price gouging once and for all; and make data centres page fair share. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  Energy poverty is on the agenda now. It is really welcome to see that other parties now recognise what Sinn F\u00e9in has been saying for a very long time but that is why I was really disappointed to see the Social Democrats and the Labour Party back the Government last night in locking in carbon tax increases right up to 2030. In the middle of a cost-of-living crisis and energy poverty crisis, the very least that people should be able to expect of their representatives is that they will not use their vote in here to make matters worse for ordinary people who are really struggling.  Yesterday afternoon we heard the cost of energy prices being attributed to the US, Israel, Iran and even the pandemic but the reality is that Government has had the means to insulate vulnerable people from this shock. It simply chooses to give the money to data centres, developers and anyone else it thinks is big enough to warrant a tax break or support but it is certainly not for the ordinary man and woman. Before there was even a mention of the US and Israel declaring war on Iran or access to the Strait of Hormuz being limited, over 340,000 households were in energy arrears. Figures from EnergyCloud show the full picture which is there are an additional 220,000 households which are cold in their homes. They turn off their heating and are terrified of getting into debt. They remember what the crash feels like and they turn off their heating. They are cold in their homes. The Minister knows this because he sees them as well as I do.  People are sick to the back teeth of his excuses. He blames the Opposition, the global economy and you blame the protesters. He should get a mirror, have a look in it and see where the blame lies. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I make no apologies for voting no confidence in this Government last night. It was the right thing to do. There is never a wrong time to do the right thing. It is a pity that some Independent TDs put their own political ambitions before the needs of ordinary workers and families. Ordinary workers and families have lost confidence in the Government. The Government is not listening. It still has not taken the necessary steps to make fuel affordable at the pumps.  It did nothing on home heating oil. The ordinary workers did not want to protest over the last couple of weeks. They did not want to take to the streets. They wanted to be able to get to work, but the Government left them with no choice. It did not listen. It refused to engage. Instead of de-escalating the situation, it made things worse. All they wanted was dialogue, but the Government threatened ordinary citizens with the Army.  Yes, the protests were about fuel and the Government's mismanagement of the cost-of-living crisis, but the cost-of-living crisis is only the tip of the iceberg. When the cost of living is put on top of the multitude of Government failures, it was the straw that broke the camel's back. We have record homelessness, rents and house prices are going through the roof, and people with disabilities are \u20ac1,400 worse off this year than they were last year. Children are waiting on life-changing interventions like scoliosis surgery, assessments of need and mental health supports in CAMHS. The Government promised \u20ac200 per month for childcare. Where is it?  I only have a couple of minutes to speak today, but I could go on and on about Government failures. Last night, Sinn F\u00e9in proposed an alternative, fairer solution to tackle rising energy costs, but again, the Government chose half measures. This Government is out of touch and running out of time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  I stood with the people yesterday, and I voted no confidence in the Government. People protesting over fuel prices appreciate that the Irish Government is not responsible for the international crisis. People were protesting because when a crisis occurs, they expect their Government to have their backs. Twice now, Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael, alongside the so-called Independents, have made an absolute hames of it, and the country is so disappointed in them. They could have cut diesel by the maximum amount possible, but they did not. They could have removed excise, including the carbon tax on home heating oil, but they did not.  That is where that frustration is coming from. People are struggling to heat their homes. Farmers, hauliers and coach operators simply cannot afford to absorb this shock within already very slim margins. The frustration has already been fostered by the Government because even for the paltry measures it has taken, it had to be brought kicking and screaming into this Chamber. Petrol and diesel are set to hit record prices, and home heating oil is already there. Energy credits have been pulled for over 300,000 households already in arrears on electricity bills. There has been a \u20ac1,400 cut for people with disabilities, who are not getting their energy credits.  Despite the miserable measures, does the Minister think the people have it easy? The time for half measures is long past. If the Government wants farmers to be able to produce food, hauliers to be able to bring food to our villages and bus operators to bring people to the shops, then we need the Government to stand up and stand with the people. Sinn F\u00e9in has outlined how we could achieve the cuts to fuel prices that we have advocated for. The question for Fine Gael and Fianna F\u00e1il TDs is: why not? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ann Graves","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ann Graves  The Government may have won the confidence vote yesterday, backed by Independents, but I can assure the House that I and the public have lost all confidence in it. The Government still has not taken the necessary steps to make fuel affordable at the pumps, and it did nothing on home heating oil. This is despite the fact that heating oil has hit the highest price on record. The last-minute proposed package does not go far enough. Coach companies do not know what the support scheme offers them. Where are the details of the direct payments? Households are struggling. They have to deal every day with a cost-of-living crisis. Fuel, food, rent and heating have all spiralled out of control. There has been an increase in school bus prices, which are up from \u20ac50 to \u20ac100 for primary students, and from \u20ac75 to \u20ac100 for post-primary students. Families look to the Government during tough times for leadership, and there is none. Some 320,000 people cannot afford their electricity, and 25% cannot afford to pay their gas bills. Everyone else is running just to stand still.  Sinn F\u00e9in brought forward legislation over a month ago to reduce the cost of petrol, diesel, green diesel and home heating oil. We called for the maximum reduction for everyone, directly at the pumps, but the Government opposed these common-sense measures. We needed an immediate 25 cent off the price of diesel and petrol. The Government\u2019s miserly offer was swallowed up in days. Sinn F\u00e9in proposed the removal of excise, including the carbon tax, on home heating oil. We also called for the maximum cut to excise, including the carbon tax, on green diesel.  The Government created a situation where people felt ignored, so they took to the streets in protest. This was like the Right2Water mark II, but they were met not by a government willing to engage, but with pompous lectures and finger-wagging. The Taoiseach totally underestimated the level of anger towards this Government. Every day in my constituency office, I have individuals and representatives calling in. It is the Minister's constituency as well. He needs to do better. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  I thank the Social Democrats for bringing forward the motion and allowing us the opportunity to speak about the people who have been left behind. The Minister is still not listening. He is certainly not listening to the people in rural Ireland. I will tell him about the plumber I met at the protest on Monday morning in Ballina. These are the same protests that the Government is trying to condemn, and write to Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n about to tell it to reel them in and to cover this differently, and all of that, in order to control the media in relation to the protesters. That plumber told me that he has been called out time and again each day, when oil tanks in houses are airlocked. The reason they are airlocked is that people have to buy drums of oil for \u20ac30, put that in to last a day or two, and then go back and get another drum. He asked how he can charge them a callout fee when they barely have the \u20ac30 for the drum of oil to keep the house heated. That is the reality for too many people in rural Ireland. We absolutely feel it. There are over 700,000 people who are reliant on home heating oil. They feel completely left behind because they cannot heat their homes. That is why I support this motion.  Regarding the energy credit, how the Government managed to spend \u20ac9.4 billion in the last budget and still leave so many people behind, and leave people with disabilities \u20ac1,400 a month worse off, is mind-boggling. Then, the Government hits them again. Energy credits have to be given to people, not least the 320,000 people who are already in arrears with their electricity bills. The Minister needs to listen, and he also needs to listen to the home helps. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  The reality is that this Government is not into listening, and there is no confidence out there. It should be very worrying for the Government if any of them were on the protests. We had supporters of Independents and some people who probably never voted before, but also a huge number of people who would have supported the Government partners over generations. You could feel the anger of people who felt they had been absolutely let down. The only way to say it is that the Government, in particular the Taoiseach, managed to put fuel on the fire and stoke the whole thing up in the middle of last week. It showed an element of ineptitude in not realising just how angry people were. These are people who did not want to be out on protests.  Let us look at the reality. It is about the cost of fuel. We all accept that this was started by Donald Trump and genocidal Israel, but it is about what the Government did not listen to and did not do. It is about not realising that there are 700,000 households across this State that use kerosene, yet there is nothing in the package for them. We all know the issues for agricultural contractors, farmers and hauliers. They would say that they have had issues for years, and this was the straw that broke the camel\u2019s back. Bus and coach operators would say that there are supports for some but not for others. None of this is good enough.  There has been an absolute failure to do at the pumps what needs to be done. It is about green diesel, petrol and diesel. None of it was sufficient. We could have seen a 25 cent reduction in diesel and petrol, but the Government was not interested and did not listen. It is absolutely out of time in relation to where the people are at the present. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Donnelly  If we ever needed evidence that the Government is out of touch, then the protests, supported by a huge majority of people in two polls over the weekend, are a wake-up call for this Government.  Unfortunately, the vote is over. However, the fight for fairness for workers and families goes on. We know from yesterday's vote that this Government is not for the people. Here is a message for the people: the next chance they are going to get is in the upcoming by-elections. They will have a chance to give their view and use their voice. I ask everyone to turn out and show how sick and tired they are of this Government.  The Minister is one of the main people talking about solutions. When motions like this are put forward, solutions are put forward time and again. Does the Government ever take them on board? It never does, but the Minister still goes on about how there are no solutions from those on this side of the House. We will give them - 25 cent off the price of diesel, the complete removal of excise duty, including carbon tax, on home heating oil, and a maximum cut to excise duty, including carbon tax, on green diesel. In the medium to long term, we will talk about renewable energies. The Government is going to do what it always does, namely sell it off to private industries. What will those industries do? Like the energy companies and all the developers in this country, they will profiteer. If the Minister really wants to solve the problem, he should keep renewable energy in State ownership and make sure that the people profit rather than the profiteers.  The Minister talked about how we are going to pay for this. Under the sweetheart deal agreed by Fine Gael, the banks paid less than 1% on over \u20ac3 billion in profits last year. Taxing them would cover it. The Government gave developers \u20ac250 million for apartments they were already building. The State had a \u20ac12.5 billion surplus last year, \u20ac2 billion over what the Government had projected. There is where the money is coming from, and this so-called magic money tree. It is there. Support the people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Mythen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Mythen.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Mythen.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Johnny Mythen  I thank the Social Democrats for tabling this motion. Many of the measures in the motion align with proposals Sinn F\u00e9in has previously brought before this House, including energy credits and supports. At present, the Irish people are facing unprecedented challenges. They are trying to make ends meet in the face of an ever-expanding cost-of-living crisis. Workers and families the length and breadth of the country are being hammered by soaring prices. If it is not rents, student fees, voluntary contributions or insurance, it is energy bills. Households are bracing themselves for a round of energy price hikes, just like the 700,000 households who depend on kerosene to heat their homes. Over 300,000 people are in arrears on their electricity bills, while the number of people who cannot pay gas bills has soared to over 183,000. This crisis is putting more people in debt, at risk of poverty and in a state of continued anxiety. Ireland already has the eighth highest electricity prices in Europe.  Ireland's crippling energy prices are not inevitable. Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael have repeatedly ignored, pushed back against and rejected Sinn F\u00e9in's and the Opposition's proposals to get prices under some control. They dismissed our calls to overhaul the Government's regressive approach to network charges and the public service obligation levy in order that data centres would have to pay a fair share. Not only have they totally failed to accelerate renewable transition at a pace required, they also continue to prioritise private interests of corporate developers overseas over the interest of people on this island. It does not have to be this way. The Government has shown whose needs it is going to prioritise and who it favours. It is not ordinary citizens.  Enough is enough. The Government cannot detach itself from the reality that the decision to withdraw energy credits and the failure to deliver an effective cost-of-living package is causing hardship and leading to more people falling into arrears. The reality is people are having to work overtime just to keep up with the cost of living because every week things are getting more expensive. The Government must accept that the most vulnerable people, especially people with disabilities, need an immediate cost-of-living package and a reintroduction of energy credits as an emergency measure. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  Since the start of this fuel crisis, and even long before that, the Government has been totally out of touch with the reality that households are facing with rising costs. It has failed to support them. Last week, we saw farmers, contractors and hauliers - ordinary men and women - assemble to peacefully demonstrate their desperation with the rising cost of fuel. They were people who did not want to be out protesting. Many had never protested before, but they felt they had no choice. What was the reaction from Government? It decided to enflame tensions, it refused to talk or engage and it even threatened to send in the Army to deal with peaceful protests. It brought representatives from Galway up to Dublin for talks and then locked them out of the meeting. Those people were told their names were not on the list. It was schoolyard stuff. Every time the Taoiseach and Ministers spoke with disrespect toward ordinary people, the protests grew in size. That is what I experienced in Galway last week. The question I was constantly asked was how the Government could be so clueless and out of touch with those who told it they cannot keep their businesses going or cannot afford to keep their homes heated.  The Government had the chance to reflect on this failure during yesterday\u2019s confidence motion. All we saw, however, was the pure arrogance of the Government when it comes to this crisis. It still does not get it and still is not listening. Those in government stood up in the Chamber yesterday to pat themselves on the back, but the reality here is that they are still continuing with half measures. They had the opportunity to cut the excise duty on home heating oil, but they did not do so. This means that the more than 700,000 households which rely on home heating oil across the State will continue to receive no support, even though the price has doubled. There were half measures in respect of petrol, diesel and green diesel, and carbon tax increases have been locked in until 2030. Has the Government learned absolutely nothing from this? It is clear that it is completely out of touch with the lived reality that households are facing right now. It is totally incompetent when it comes to facing these challenges. The best thing this Government can do is to follow the lead of Deputy Michael Healy-Rae and stand down. It has lost the confidence of the public. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis na Daonlathaithe S\u00f3isialta as an tairiscint seo a chur chun cinn. Tac\u00f3idh P\u00e1irt\u00ed an Lucht Oibre leis.  One of the greatest risks we face as a country is our overdependence on fossil fuels. The climate crisis is existential. Even if we leave the fact of our dying planet to the side, the surge in prices over the past number of weeks due to Trump and Netanyahu's illegal wars has illustrated in no uncertain terms the financial costs associated with our continued dependence on oil and gas. Maybe we finally have an argument for a switch to renewables that even the climate sceptics will listen to now that their pockets are being impacted.  Time and again, workers here have been expected to absorb the consequences of global geopolitical upheaval through higher petrol prices, higher home heating costs and more expensive commutes. The eruption in frustration and anger that we saw on our streets last week was the result of years of what feels like a perpetual cost-of-living crisis. Unfortunately, the Government has offered next to nothing to households that are struggling to keep up with their energy bills. We know that there are 320,000 households in long-term arrears on their electricity bills. That is 320,000 people unable to cope with the mounting costs of keeping their home running. Figures released to me by the CRU recently have shown that the total value of debt held in arrears by these households is about \u20ac185 million. To put that in context, the Government package yesterday for the haulage and farming sectors was worth almost three times the amount it would cost to write off that debt. There was virtually nothing in that package for regular PAYE workers. As usual, they have been left high and dry by Fianna F\u00e1il, Fine Gael and the Independents who remain in government.  The events of recent weeks must serve as a reminder to the Government of the urgency with which we need to transition our economy away from its reliance on imported, intermittent and expensive fossil fuels and towards clean, indigenous renewable energy. Where is the urgency when it comes to developing our offshore wind capacity? We are being left vulnerable to an increasingly unstable geopolitical arena and it is ordinary households that are paying the price. The Government and, in particular, the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, talked a lot about energy security, but it is interesting that the approach they have landed on to achieve energy security is to import more LNG - a highly polluting fossil fuel - and drive a stake through our climate and planning Acts in the process. We will not reduce our dependence on fossil fuels by importing more fossil fuels. We will not ensure our security of supply by continuing to rely on volatile and increasingly intermittent fuels. Moreover, the European benchmark price for LNG soared by 60% in the days following the launch of Trump and Netanyahu's illegal war on Iran.  We have been told that developing an LNG facility would cost about \u20ac1 billion over the course of a decade, and we need an updated figure on that now from the Minister because, presumably, the Department had not accounted for price fluctuation of as much as 60% when it was doing the maths. We also need transparency from the Government regarding who is going to pay for that. It will not be large energy users like data centres. It will not be our biggest polluters. It will be ordinary households funding it through higher network tariffs and higher bills. They will be paying for it, as always.  Opposition Members on the climate committee have called on the Government to halt this proposal and carry out a new energy security review. In light of the recent events, I reiterate that call in the strongest possible terms. Fundamentally, the only way we are ever going to end this cycle of energy crisis after energy crisis is by ending our dependence on fossil fuels. We cannot perpetually tax cut our way out of them. I spoke last night of my deep disappointment and disgust that of the many different policy options open to the Government to alleviate the cost of energy, it has decided to jettison and dump carbon taxes and the polluter pays principle. I do not know how the Government has not gotten this yet. The only urgency we have seen from the Government from an energy perspective is the attempt to run roughshod over our planning laws in order to speed up the development of the proposed LNG terminal.  Where is that level of commitment when it comes to renewables, developing offshore wind infrastructure and solar energy? Look at what the UK is doing with plug-in solar panels? Where is the necessary level of commitment when it comes to decarbonising our transport sector, electrifying our haulage fleet and making electric cars more affordable for low-income households? This most recent crisis is further proof of the case for moving away from our reliance on fossil fuels. If this Government will not do it for the good of the climate and our environment, it should do it for the good of our constituents - our people who are feeling the consequences of the dependence to which I refer in their pockets. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  I thank the Social Democrats for tabling this motion. It is a really good motion. I want to say something to Sinn F\u00e9in. Its Deputies have left the Chamber. Last night, those in Sinn F\u00e9in, including Deputy Thomas Gould, engaged in an attack on our party. Deputy O'Reilly has done so again this morning in the context of the motion. Those in Sinn F\u00e9in did not support the measures that were brought forward to help people who are struggling across the industry last night, which is ironic. They are criticising us for doing so. I do not get that. They are engaging in voodoo economics, and espousing no carbon tax ever, no USC, and no local property tax. Where in the name of God are we going to get taxation revenue from? This is voodoo economics, and it needs to be called out. When seeking an alternative government and partners to serve in such a government, this is a very strange way of going about it.  I do not want to repeat many of the things that have been said. However, I have to say that, politically, the past two weeks have been disastrous for the Government. The Minister of State would probably agree. The measures that were brought in respect of industries that involve high fuel usage were absolutely necessary. How it was not seen that this was necessary previously is beyond me. Where is this going? I will tell you where it is going. It will lead to ordinary workers getting pay increases, and the Labour Party will support them 100% in that regard. The trade unions of Ireland need to be knocking on the Government's door today and saying that people cannot sustain this. Workers, those on fixed incomes and the vulnerable cannot sustain it. The signal that the Government was going wrong started with the budget last year when it took out all the necessary payments to those who are vulnerable and to workers.  The commentary is to the effect that the Government is out of touch. I would like to tweak that. In order to be out of touch with something, you have to be knowledgeable and in touch in the first place. The Government has been neither for a long time. The only people it has been in touch with are those who pressured it into making some ridiculous changes in taxation in the budget. Those who are really affected, who have to deal with grocery inflation of 6.5% and growing, those who have to deal with all the energy issues, including that relating to kerosene, which has been spoken about so often, those who have to deal with higher education costs, which, unbelievably, the Government is pushing through, those who have to deal with increasing medical bills and a range of other issues and those who are rearing families are the ones who I absolutely guarantee will be knocking on the Government's door.  While there were thousands out protesting and while the changes that were brought about relate to high fuel users in particular sectors - and the downstream impact across all other industries in Ireland is so important - it must be remembered that the majority of those who were protesting are just ordinary people. There is literally nothing for them. Any small changes as regards fuel costs will be absorbed within weeks. What is the Government going to do for them? How will it ensure that they are protected? The anger of people will get much worse. They will mobilise - we and the trade unions will help them to mobilise - and they will be knocking on the Government's door. It will not just be a couple of thousand people; it will be hundreds of thousands who will be expressing anger like has never been seen before. It reminds me of the end of the Government that held office between 2007 and 2011, which the Minister of State will remember quite well. That is the level of anger I have seen.  We will need pay increases for workers. We will need energy credits. We will need changes in the context of working from home. We will need changes with regard to public transport costs. We will need maximum price orders. We will need to deal with grocery inflation in a way that it has not been dealt with already. We will need to look at all the extra costs that have been brought in by this Government in the past few months. When a Government believes that bringing in the Army is the solution, rather than dealing with ordinary workers' and ordinary people's concerns, that is not a Government that is out of touch; it is a Government that has lost its mandate. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  The reason we are experiencing an energy price crisis in our country is because of Ireland's over-reliance on fossil fuels. Until the Government takes decisions that will break that over-reliance, our economy and our people will continue to be vulnerable. The war in Iran has shown for the second time in four years how our economy is at the mercy of the whims of Putin, of Trump and the Ayatollah. Yesterday's ESRI report reiterates that point. Our high electricity prices are driven by our disproportionate reliance on natural gas, but it also found that renewable energy provides protection against fuel price volatility. Speeding up that move to renewables will give us energy security, it will protect families from higher prices, and it will help our country to decarbonise. On Sunday, the Government announced a huge package of over \u20ac500 million to address the fuel price spike being experienced right now. The Green Party believes that Government needs to take similar big, bold steps to ensure that this is the last energy crisis that Ireland ever experiences. Let the response to this crisis be more than just being about getting the blockades lifted.  I want to highlight measures across three broad areas. First, the Government needs to speed up the delivery of offshore wind farms that were successfully bid for during the term of the previous Government. An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la and the Marine Regulatory Authority need additional expert staff so they can more quickly decide on planning applications for offshore wind. The Government also needs to speed up the investment and development of our ports. Right now, Belfast is the only port that could sustain the development of offshore turbines. That needs to change.  We know solar panels on people's roofs and balconies provide immediate savings for households. The Green Party has proposed the introduction of a scheme to provide six free solar panels for every household that gets the fuel allowance, immediately cutting electricity costs for some of the most vulnerable households. As a short-term measure, the Government needs to allow for plug-in solar to be used in Ireland just as it is in the UK and across the EU, giving people without a roof access to the savings of solar energy.  I have two brief points on electric vehicles. The Government should cut VRT on imported electric vehicles. We are developing an industry here. Let that continue to roll out. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  People do not protest because they like protesting. They protest because they feel they have no choice and because their backs are against the wall. That is clearly why the hauliers, contractors and small farmers came out and protested. Their backs are against the wall because they have faced absolutely gigantic hikes in the cost of being able to earn and maintain an income. Because they protested, and only because they protested, the Government has been forced to make some concessions to them, although these are still far short of what the protestors actually asked for, namely price controls. People Before Profit are the only people in this D\u00e1il, even to this day, who have said that we need price controls. I reiterate it and remind the Minister of State that it was a Fianna F\u00e1il Government, in 2007, that brought in the Consumer Protection Act, which states that in a situation of emergency, the Government can act to impose orders to control the price of goods that are affected by that emergency. If this is not an emergency, with the hikes in petrol, diesel, home heating oil, gas, and electricity, then I do not know what an emergency looks like.  This is self-evidently an emergency. It will potentially get worse because of the warmongering of Donald Trump. I seriously hope the people who were cheering on Donald Trump are thinking about it now. The signs were there. He is a property speculator. He made his money from property speculation and now turns out to be a bloodthirsty warmonger as well, whose warmongering is leading to farmers and workers in this country suffering economically as well as death and destruction raining down across the Middle East.  We need the Government to use the legislation that Fianna F\u00e1il introduced in 2007 to impose price controls. The Government cannot leave workers behind. Some 320,000 people are in electricity and gas arrears. The number of those arrears has doubled in the past few years. Workers will fight in the same way as the hauliers did if the Government does not do something serious to address their concerns. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  I want to remind the Government that the group which led the way on the cost-of-living struggle until the past week or so was disabled people. Outside the D\u00e1il they again led the Affordable Ireland campaign protest a few weeks ago. Why were they to the fore? It was because they were the ones who were hit hardest in the budget with \u20ac1,400 worth of cruel and targeted cuts. For months, despite all of the pleading, protest, argument and stories about people having to choose between heating and eating, the Government ignored their request for a \u20ac400 emergency payment so that they could pay their winter heating bills. Instead, the Government lectured disabled people and carers that it had to be responsible and careful with the State finances.  Now suddenly the Government, on a Sunday night, found over half a billion euro down the back of the couch. Some of that will trickle down to workers, disabled people and carers, which is welcome. It would not have happened without the protests. The Minister of State said on \"Morning Ireland\" that the cuts will be wiped away by the international price of oil going up further, which is as result of Trump and Netanyahu's illegal wars. This cowardly Government has still not condemned Trump or Netanyahu for their wars despite the claptrap about standing up for international law.  It is often said that power comes from the barrel of a gun. In this country, it seems that power comes from the engine of a tractor. The message from the Government is very clear. If people do not take militant protest action, it will ignore their demands no matter how reasonable and justified they are. It does not want to know. The trade unions have to take heed of this as they enter into pay talks. We are in a new phase of militant protest. Workers do not need heavy machinery to force the Government to listen to them. The most effective form of disruptive action is the strike and that is the power that all workers have. If they use that, they can fight not just for higher wages but for universal free public services, real rent controls, increases in social welfare payments and universal measures on the cost-of-living crisis, including breaking with the reliance on fossil fuels which is what has gotten us into this crisis in the first place. The most immediate thing that can be done is free public transport. That could be done tomorrow. It needs to be done. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  This is the most serious fuel crisis since the 1970s. I contacted the Minister's office last week and spoke to his good secretary about this, and she passed my concerns on to the Minister. The level of preparedness has been shown to be awfully poor. The response and reaction has not been what was required. There is no mechanism to deal with price gouging. The CCPC needs to be abolished or given some powers because its report this week stated that controlling prices in a competitive market is outside the scope of competition and consumer protection law.  The steps that can be taken have been outlined during this debate. Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Austria have made a call for a joint EU windfall tax, the funds from which could be used to ease pressure on consumers in the face of high energy prices. They also say it would send a clear message to those companies making a profit from the consequences of war. Ireland is not one of the names on that list. I urge the Minister to put Ireland's name to that call and push for this.  Greece went one step further and has put a limit on the amount of profit that can be made at retail and wholesale level. At retail level, the limit is 12 cent per litre. Greece has done that legally; it is a member of the European Union. It has put a five cent per litre limit on wholesale profits. I understand the argument about price gaps and the taxpayer ending up with a big bill. This is a way around this. This can be done. It is a practical measure at no cost to the Exchequer. The Government needs to sort that out.  The move to renewable energy is painfully slow. We have zero offshore wind. Anaerobic digestion is minuscule. Hydro is non-existent. Solar is only starting up. I support the call to improve the grants for solar panels on homes. Progress needs to be made in all of these areas.  Last week, one Minister after another made things worse. The Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, said he would bring in the Army. People envisaged troops on the streets with guns but what he actually needed was a tow truck. He did not need a big tow truck to move a few pallets on the bridge in Galway. As I said yesterday, a Massey Ferguson 35 with a front loader would have moved the bundle of pallets on the bridge. The comments of the Minister put fuel on the fire. The Government needs to be more careful in future and listen to people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  I appreciate Minister of State is here but I thought the Minister for energy would be before us today because the Minister of State, Deputy Dooley, is before us every day of the week on every issue. He will soon become Taoiseach of the country. He had a great go at us on RT\u00c9 yesterday. That is part of the game.  This is a very serious issue. I am very critical of the Green Party because it spent four or five years in government and did not move us properly towards renewables and we are now left in a crisis situation. People are in a desperate situation. I received a message last night from a fisherman who told me he was out at sea for 14 days, which cost him \u20ac31,000 in fuel. The Minister knows the crisis situation with regard to fisheries. The few days fishermen can go out costs them more. The same person to whom I referred employs 33 people and is worried about how they will pay their workers never mind pay for fuel.  Fuel protests over the past few weeks should tell us that people all over the country are hurting. People cannot afford the never-ending taxing of everything. We need to do something about the cost of heating. There needs to be some type of package for the regular householder, the middle man and woman who cannot fill their oil tanks. People who used to get a fill or half a fill are now buying five gallon drums of heating oil. I ask the Government to seriously consider something for these people.  The Government has spent years piling tax on to diesel, and telling us we have to meet our climate targets and that is climate action while doing very little to reduce harmful emissions. People who depend on diesel have to earn a living. It is about survival. Farmers, hauliers, fisherman and contractors are being punished for using the only fuel that will do the job while practical solutions are ignored or quietly parked.  Hydrotreated vegetable oil, HVO, is a renewable diesel made from waste oil. It works in existing engines. It cuts emissions immediately and does not require people to scrap vehicles or machinery that have years of life left in them. That is common sense climate action but good luck trying to get HVO in Ireland. There is no domestic production, almost no availability and no urgency from the Government to make it accessible to the sectors that need it most.  Separately, there are engine based technologies like hydrogen on demand systems. These are not fuels and do not replace diesel. Rather, they are devices designed to make engines burn cleaner and more efficiently. Whether they succeed or fail should be decided by a proper independent assessment, not by indifference or refusal to engage. People are sick of new ideas being waved away while carbon tax goes up without hesitation.  If this is really about emissions, the focus should be on enabling cleaner fuels like HVO and seriously evaluating technologies that could reduce pollution. This morning, I read that the Chinese are making a plane that can be flown with water instead of fossil fuel. That tells us the world is moving on but Ireland is a laggard in terms of movement on renewables. Technologies could reduce pollution and stop the habit of using taxation as a substitute for solutions. Right now people see more tax, more lectures and very little practical help.  I spoke to the Taoiseach about the Barryroe oil field on Leaders' Questions in 2022 when Eamon Ryan was wagging the tail. In 2026 he says Ursula von der Leyen is wagging the tail and he cannot reopen it. Parties in here say that we cannot have fossil fuels. They are all living in a different space age than I am.  The fact is that, as we have seen in the last few weeks, if anything happens to the link from Moffat in Scotland, we would cease to operate in about a week without fuel. That is the bottom line. What I have always suggested is that we drill off Barryroe and any oil that we get from there would pay for renewables in this country. We could tax them to the hilt to pay for it - not the people but those who are drilling out there - and then put in our renewables. Where are our wind energy and solar panels? If it costs \u20ac20,000, you get \u20ac1,800 back in a grant. We are not on the real planet here. We are out of touch completely when it comes to solar, retrofitting, HVO, and hydrogen on-demand systems. The price of electric cars is astronomical. Manufacturers promise that cars will do 450 km but when you speak to the service mechanics, they tell us that you would be lucky to get 350 km. We also need to look at battery trucks. The problem is that we are laggards. Countries like China and New Zealand have lorries that run on batteries. They have battery chargers that take ten minutes. I know a gentleman in my area in Schull who has experienced that and worked with it. He keeps asking why we have to wait for the rest of Europe to do it before we might consider it in 15 or 20 years\u2019 time. Where was the vision when the Green Party was in government? It did not deliver for renewables as it was supposed to do. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  I want to raise the comments in relation to the Minister with responsibility for the media. When the media covered the protests, they covered the ordinary men and women. The Minister responsible, who holds the purse strings for the media, called for an investigation into the media. What an abuse of ministerial power. This is the most authoritarian thing that we heard in recent days. The truth is that this Government introduced a rescue package in excess of \u20ac700 million last year for RT\u00c9 to bail it out. Is this what he paid for - this level of control that he is trying to exert? The truth is that this Government tried to blacken the names of protesters. Then the Government looked to the media to try to support it and spread that propaganda. They were ordinary men and women. That was deeply wrong. I have written to the Chair of the Oireachtas committee on media. The Minister should be hauled in to account for his comments.  The truth is that the Government, and the previous Government of which Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael were a part, have pursued a policy of high energy costs. In fact, embedded in the carbon tax was the intention to increase fuel prices year on year. It was baked into legislation irrespective of the cost. That was the policy, and now it is starting to unravel.  The Minister condemned the protesters for blocking fuel, but it was his Government that banned oil and gas exploration. It made us reliant on the international markets and now it is blaming those international markets for the cost of fuel even though it was the Government's policy to begin with.  We should be focusing on incentivising small-scale renewable energy generation like solar and biodigestion, but there are significant issues in relation to that. Just the other week, I spoke to a farmer who had a biodigester. Even after several months, he still cannot get connected to the grid. Other farmers have applied for the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme, TAMS, grant for solar generation, but just 10% of applications have been successful.  One arm of the Government does not know what the other arm is doing. The Government's policy is totally wrong. It has created this crisis and now it is complaining that the people are raising concerns. It is time that the policy of high energy costs is reviewed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  We are moving the focus in the debate towards solutions for people to reduce their energy bills. I welcome this motion. As I said before, we need to be moving towards giving better grants for solar in households, including in the very short term plug-in solar. You can now go into Lidl in the UK and get some of these, which would cut your bills straight away.  The focus of much of the debate has been on the short-term pressure and how the Government did not respond enough or fast enough to it. We have said that. I first referenced Ronald Reagan's term \"voodoo economics\" in 2002, talking about the bubble. I said bubble bubble would lead to toil and trouble, and it actually did with the demise of the Celtic tiger. Money does not fall off trees. You only have a certain amount of revenue coming in and you have to work within those constraints.  We have had arguments on different sides of the House about protecting the most vulnerable and where the money should go. The renewables debate is a wartime situation because we are so dependent on fossil fuel imports. The next crisis down the road is going to result in more pain for people. We need to be looking at a wartime situation where we are putting our windfall assets into upgrading the grid and investing in offshore wind, tidal energy, solar and other capacity so that we are net exporters of energy through battery storage and green hydrogen. I am going to say this 50 more times during the lifetime of this D\u00e1il, but we are not actually doing that. We are not ramping up. The Ukrainians could ramp up drone technology because it was an existential crisis for them. It is an existential crisis for the people of Ireland to be so dependent on foreign actors to heat our homes. We need to get real and start putting in that long-term investment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Keira Keogh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Keira Keogh  I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Dooley, for being here today. Like many of the first-time TDs, I have been elected for 16 months. In that time, I have made 1,400 representations on behalf of people all across Mayo. I have met people at weekly clinics in Westport, Achill, Belmullet and Bangor Erris, and more are planned. We have helped people to get the fuel allowance. I welcome the extension into May of the fuel allowance, which means an extra \u20ac152. For some people, that fuel allowance is not enough, so we have helped them with the additional needs payment or the supplementary welfare allowance. We have also had many people in who we are helping with the SEAI grants. I am really seeing the difference that new windows and doors or pumped insulation can make.  This past fortnight, I met with different people, ones who have not come to clinics or the office and who have not emailed - families, farmers, hauliers and small business people. They are people I knew were struggling with the cost of living but I did not know just how much they were to the pin of their collar. People were emotional when they were talking to me about the fear at the shop checkout, the petrol pump and when the electricity bill came in.  I acknowledge David Heraty and John Scanlon who, on behalf of 500 people, came to my office this week with a petition with 500 signatures. Those men said they had never been in a TD's office before. I am here today to say I am listening. I understand. I hear the frustration. I hear the fear. I also welcome the many people who took to the streets legitimately. For many, it was the first time that they ever protested because they felt that their voices were not being heard. We hear them loud and clear. We have to ensure that at the next available opportunity, we go further than the \u20ac770 million package for working people and small business owners.  Everybody knows this is not a crisis that is only affecting Ireland; it is affecting the whole word. Geographical tensions are causing crises everywhere. We can go back to the invasion of Ukraine and now we have what is going on in the Middle East.  We are under pressure to support our citizens. I acknowledge that the \u20ac770 million package is a huge amount of money. For some people, they hear the budgets in terms of billions and \u20ac775 million does not sound that much. Speaking as the Chair of the Joint Committee on Children and Equality, I acknowledge the lack of childcare and how much that is causing people to struggle in their households. There was a recent announcement of \u20ac135 million over the lifetime of this Government to deliver State-led childcare. When we compare that \u20ac135 million with the \u20ac775 million, it is going to be swallowed up pretty quickly. It is just putting the amount of money into context. I think \u20ac775 million is similar to the whole budget for disability services, so it is a huge amount of money.  In saying that, for some it is still not enough. We must be responsible in trying to respond. The farmers are happy to hear that there is \u20ac100 million in this package for them and the hauliers. I hear that they are worried that it is going to be another scheme similar to the agri-climate rural environment scheme, ACRES, or TAMS and it is going to be hard to access. We need to make it easy for them.  At the next available opportunity to give back, we have to look at our income tax bands and other ways to give back to the hard-working people of this country. As a Government backbencher, that is what I will be doing for the people of Mayo. I will call for this at every single opportunity.  However, we must insist on responding in a targeted, sustainable and responsible way in the midst of what we are facing globally. Lots of people have come to my office and had conversations with me about solar panels and how they are working. People got grants for solar panels last summer and are now starting to see the bills reducing. We have to keep working to support people to access those kinds of grant.  We must acknowledge that we have made progress. Last month, 45% of our energy was from renewable sources. However, to avoid another crisis like this, we have to push to get that to 80% by 2030. We need to make homes and businesses all across Ireland more sustainable, warmer and cheaper to heat.  I will keep speaking to use the time we have left, if that is okay. I want to talk about public transport. People in Mayo and elsewhere in rural Ireland do not have the luxury of switching off our cars when the price at the pumps gets expensive. We cannot leave the people in rural Ireland exposed. A fantastic initiative was rolled out in Achill this year, TFI Anseo. I want to see that rolled out across Mayo, in Erris, Louisburgh and all rural parts of Mayo. People can use this app or make a phone call to access public transport in real time where there are not bus services every five minutes and where we do not have the Luas and so on.  The Government and its backbenchers have learned an awful lot about communication in the last fortnight. Sometimes, we are doing things well but do not communicate that well. We may also not be communicating well enough how we are using the people's taxes. People are asking us to scrap carbon tax but then you sit down with them and speak about how carbon tax is used for the fuel allowance, the living alone allowance, the working family payment and ACRES. There is an education gap here. People see us talking about millions and billions of euro. We have to make more of an effort to communicate clearly to people and to listen to them.  Every time an international crisis causes prices to spike, it is rural Ireland that takes the hit first and hardest. Speaking for my constituency of Mayo, we have to be at the centre of Ireland's energy future but that energy future cannot just happen to Mayo; it has to benefit Mayo. If turbines are going up, the community should see their bills go down. People in rural Ireland will support change if they see a return for themselves. I will keep pushing for short-term supports and long-term solutions for the people of Mayo. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  T\u00e1imid i gc\u00f3na\u00ed ag caint faoin rud seo. Is \u00e9 an rud n\u00e1 nach bhfuilimid ag d\u00e9anamh an rud is fearr gur f\u00e9idir linn, go h\u00e1irithe agus muid ag smaoineamh faoi curtailment and dispatch down. I have spoken about this before. One of the biggest solutions introduced by the German Government, which was a quick fix, was to allow plug-in solar. I have raised this in the Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy and was told that, in 2022, a consultation was done and plug-in solar was deemed dangerous. I have requested details on who said it was dangerous. I presume it was rooftop solar installers who would not like to lose their business. It is a simple fix for the apartment dwellers in north Dublin whom I represent. They could clearly install a system on their balconies, plug it in and have an in-built system that would reduce their energy costs.  I will always give solutions. I will not just say things that can never happen. That is one thing that will help the Irish people regarding our energy security and help with surging costs. At the moment, while we have huge amounts of solar and wind energy, the grid cannot take it. The Minister of State is well aware of this. I welcome the fact that we had a meeting on this. Long-duration energy storage systems, including battery energy storage systems, gravity pumps and green hydrogen, are being established across Ireland. Dr. James Carton, who was a professor of mine, was one of the founding pushers of this and has consulted with the Government but it is not happening fast enough. At the moment, we see a mix of green hydrogen being introduced in the UK. We can establish such a system to reduce carbon emissions and also to reduce costs. If any other country had the seabed and the potential that Ireland has, it would use them to benefit its people. Before the crash, we had huge ambitions to fast-track offshore renewable energy and other renewables. Due to the crash, that all fell through. We are now getting foreign direct investment, FDI, in it but we need to do it in a way that benefits the Irish people. We need to invest more in national security.  If the current energy crisis shows us anything, it is that we need to move away from being a petro-state to being an electro-state. The Germans are doing this way faster than us. We should look at the model they are employing across the board. The Irish people are screaming out for a decentralised grid. They understand that a decentralised grid reduces demand on the grid and that reducing demand on the grid reduces energy costs. In the response to a parliamentary question I recently submitted regarding the dynamics of energy costings, it was shown that, while we had higher grid input from renewables and the customer should be seeing that happening at a faster rate, they are not. The people of my constituency are screaming out for quick solutions. I hope the Minister of State will respond to my point on plug-in solar. I know a lot of countries are looking at small modular reactors to reduce the burden on their people.  I will refer to the private wires Bill. The Government's private wires Bill is welcome but we do not need two regulators. The CRU should be the single sheriff in town to determine if a private wire should be allowed. That is the difference between my Bill and the Government Bill. There are other differences in amendments. I will continue to work on my Bill. I look forward to constructive engagement with the Government, which I have had so far, in this regard. It is a key priority for me and would benefit the Irish people. We cannot allow our energy to be wasted. We cannot allow solar farms in Waterford or Wexford to turn off generation at 11 a.m. and lose energy. We should use everything we can to benefit the Irish people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment (Deputy Timmy Dooley)  I thank the Deputies for raising very important issues and matters. I welcome the opportunity to discuss the pressures that households are facing as a result of high energy costs. It is important to say that the Government remains deeply concerned about the conflict in the Middle East, including the Gulf. Ireland has a long track record of support for international law and the UN and we continue to seek de-escalation through dialogue and diplomacy so that these issues can be resolved. The Government is also very aware of and concerned about the pressures placed on households and businesses by the high energy costs arising due to the conflict. Providing supports to alleviate this pressure has been, and will continue to be, a priority.  Recent days have shown more evidence of the Government taking action to help households and businesses with the cost of fuel and energy through the introduction of an additional package of measures. These measures come on foot of Ministers holding a series of constructive meetings with representative groups, culminating in this further significant support package to address the ongoing crisis. As somebody who was involved in those discussions on the Government side, I will pay tribute to the representative bodies, which did their business efficiently and had remained in contact with the Government since the first package of measures was introduced. When that package of measures was introduced, it was hoped it would address the significant impact being felt at the time. However, we all know that international energy prices moved in the intervening period.  The package we introduced on Sunday, which was voted through the House last night, is in addition to the previously allocated \u20ac250 million in targeted supports to assist those experiencing real and immediate financial pressure. It is also in addition to the range of measures introduced in budget 2026 that aimed to help households with energy costs. These measures included: an extension of the 9% VAT rate currently applied to gas and electricity, saving households up to \u20ac100 million per year; enhanced social protection measures, including an increase in the fuel allowance rate of \u20ac38 per week with an expansion in the eligibility rules, which I know from experience in my constituency office brought a lot more people into that support scheme; and a record allocation of \u20ac640 million for SEAI retrofit schemes, allowing us to target 73,000 home energy upgrades this year. This includes about \u20ac340 million for the warmer homes scheme, which provides fully funded upgrades for those in energy poverty.  While there has not been any increase in the price of household electricity or gas since the conflict began, I note that there are a range of protections in place for customers experiencing difficulties in paying their bills. Anyone who is struggling with their bills is strongly encouraged to engage with their supplier. Suppliers will not disconnect consumers who engage with them. The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, has engaged with the four biggest energy retailers in recent months to ensure that hardship funds and focused measures are in place for any customers who are in difficulty. That is why I find it difficult to accept the suggestions of some, including a contribution made on the radio this morning, that it was a toss-up as to whether people would heat their home or charge their wheelchair. The situation is stark and grave but we all have a responsibility to share with constituents, consumers and customers that there are supports available, including hardship grants, and that the Department of Social Protection can provide exceptional needs payments in those crisis situations.  Even when things were less complex, those measures were still there. There were people in better times who ran into difficulties for all sorts of reasons. The Department of Social Protection on the ground has flexibility. We need to encourage people who find themselves in those really straitened circumstances to seek the help that is there. In addition, the Department of Social Protection can provide support through that additional needs payment to help all who seek to meet expenses, including fuel bills but also at a wider level.  Structural factors impact on our energy prices. Ireland is import dependent on energy, making it particularly vulnerable to price volatility in the wholesale gas market. Ireland's isolated island location, low levels of interconnection, widely dispersed low density population and reliance on fossil fuels are also important price determinants. Retail prices are also influenced by factors other than wholesale prices, including supply or hedging. This is the practice of purchasing energy in bulk ahead of time, protecting customers from the day-to-day volatility of the energy markets but also having long run effects on retail prices. This, as well as the current conflict, highlights why Ireland must reduce its reliance on imported fossil fuels, accelerate the deployment of renewables and expand interconnection with trusted European partners. I suggest that is a better route to go than spending time, money and energy in looking back at the Barryroe opportunity, which nobody can quantify as to whether it has the perceived bounty that is being suggested. Considering the regime that existed here before in terms of very much encouraging developers of facilities like that over the past decades, nobody advanced in any real way there. I doubt that it is the bounty some would seek to suggest.  I agree with many Members this morning who talked about advancing the case for renewables. The Government is very committed to that and has already begun a scheme. We saw the first wave of the south-east coast area that been identified with the Tonn Nua site back in December, auctioning 900 MW with three other auctions to come soon after. We are also developing a national DMAP towards our commitments for 2040, so we identify by the end of 2027 key sites that will be used for the capturing of offshore wind. We have invested very significantly in our grid. Between \u20ac3 billion and \u20ac4 billion has been set aside to allow our grid infrastructure to spend up to \u20ac18 billion by 2030.  We are also working to ensure that households benefit directly from the renewable transition. Since 2019, SEAI schemes have provided almost \u20ac1.7 billion in support to homeowners delivering 250,000 home energy improvements, including almost 32,700 fully funded upgrades for households at risk of energy poverty under the warmer homes scheme. In 2025, nearly 5,000 businesses and community groups received grants to retrofit their properties and install solar. In fact, a rooftop revolution is under way across Ireland. A total of 155,000 homes have received grants to install rooftop solar and free solar panels have been provided to 2,000 schools across the country. This reduces energy bills. Where excess energy is produced, it can be sold into the grid under microgeneration. The national energy affordability task force will play a key role in how we address energy affordability in the period to come. The task force was established by the Government to identify access and implement measures that will enhance energy affordability for households and businesses while delivering key renewable commitments and protecting security of supply and economic stability. This will be a crucial element of the Government's work to improve competitiveness, complementing the action plan on competitiveness and productivity.  The first report of the task force published last November set out measures for consideration in budget 2026. A key output of the task force will be an energy affordability action plan, which will identify a comprehensive range of solutions, including measures targeting households and, indeed, energy poverty as so many Deputies identified today. The plan is currently being developed and is due for publication in Q3 of this year.  I reiterate that this Government is aware that people are concerned about energy security and energy costs at this unprecedented time. As the geopolitical situation continues to evolve, we will remain focused on ensuring that Ireland's energy security remains robust while endeavouring to assist those experiencing real and immediate financial pressure.  I wish to address another issue raised by a Labour Party colleague, Deputy Ahern, in relation to the LNG facility that the Government is moving ahead with. That is a critical piece of infrastructure that is necessary to give us energy security. It is not about another source of fossil fuels into our grid. It is about providing resilience to ensure that in the event of a significant rupture to our current gas supply, we are able to provide gas to our key infrastructure, such as hospitals, and that we have the capacity to do that. I hope that all would see that. The whole programme behind it is about the State controlling it and with it being a floating facility, we are not building key infrastructure that we would beholden to in the decades ahead. It is aimed at providing that energy security.  I thank the Deputies from across the House for their contributions. However, we cannot accept the motion and I support the Government's countermotion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  I thank my colleague, Deputy Gary Gannon, for bringing forward this motion and, indeed, everyone who has contributed to the debate. The price increase for every day basics are relentless. Rents, food, heating, electricity, petrol and diesel are all through the roof. People's wallets do not stretch indefinitely when their wages stay the same. We are reaching a breaking point. People contact me every day who are unable to cope. Could the Government not see that the country was already in crisis before the tractors had arrived in Dublin? Home heating oil jumped nearly 70% in a single month - the biggest increase ever recorded. Irish households are paying some of the highest electricity and gas prices in Europe. People are stretching every euro just to heat their homes, drive to work, keep the lights on and put food on the table.  There are home care workers protesting outside the D\u00e1il right now who are at the coalface of this cost-of-living crisis. Workers from Northside Home Care Service do long and hard hours taking care of our sick and elderly. They provide professional and compassionate care but are not paid properly for their Trojan work. Most are paid just above the minimum wage. This is simply not enough to survive on. They deserve a fair wage for the essential role they play in our community. I urge the Minister of State to speak to his Government colleagues and ensure this pay dispute is resolved. There must be a sectoral wage for care workers and there must be full pay restoration.  The Northside Home Care Service workers are just one example of hard-pressed workers struggling to keep their heads above water. People are crying out for help from the Government but are being ignored. There is a real prospect of continued energy price shocks over the coming months and years. This means that to make the best use of possible resources, the response from the Government must be to target resources to help those who need them most and, crucially, to build resilience and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.  Our proposals get to the root of the cost-of-living crisis. A \u20ac400 targeted energy credit would provide much-needed relief for those who need help most. A supplementary mileage scheme for essential workers is also needed as well as a roll-out of solar panels across the country. Every home, every business and every farm building in Ireland should have solar panels. The Social Democrats' solar for all plan put forward by my colleague, Deputy Jennifer Whitmore, would bring down people's bills while also helping us to reach our climate targets. Our proposals are targeted, fully costed and would make an immediate impact while protecting us from future shocks. If the Government is serious about this crisis, it would adopt our proposals. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  I wish to make three points on this. I hope the events of the past week have been a wake-up call for the Government because people across the country are under huge pressure with the rising costs of living. The Social Democrats have put forward real solutions to that, including a targeted \u20ac400 energy credit. I urge the Government to implement that as soon as possible. I hope the Government understands that we have to have better energy security, energy independence and move away from imported fossil fuels.  The Minister of State talked about people being able to access help from the Department of Social Protection but there are huge barriers to people accessing help. There is so much bureaucracy there and people struggle to access some of the supports he mentioned. The Government needs to look at that and make the supports the Minister of State says are there more accessible and more available for people.  The key point is we need a green energy revolution. We need to stop burning imported oil, gas and fracked gas and to move to domestic solar and wind energy. We need to make this as accessible for people as possible, which is why we have put forward solar for all proposals. We have to do this to avoid a climate catastrophe but I do not get a sense of urgency from Government on this. The Minister of State talks about identifying sites by 2027. We are not seeing the urgency that is needed to have the huge transition to a green system of energy produced domestically.  While we have these failures we have to support people in the here and now. It is not just farmers and agri contractors as there are people right across society who need support. As health spokesperson for the Social Democrats, I support the call from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation for supports for nurses and midwives working in the community who are using their own cars to travel across communities to support people. These nurses and midwives support people from cradle to grave. I am thinking of public health nurses, community midwives and palliative care nurses who are driving around in their own cars. Some are covering up to 400 km a week to support people and we need to support them with an increased mileage allowance. We call for that in our motion and I call on the Government and the Minister for Health especially to support the nurses who are under particular pressure, as well as other essential workers, with the increased cost.  The overall message is I want to see a change of direction here. We have to move to a green economy. We need green energy production here at home and we need to support people in the here and now who are massively struggling with the huge cost of living. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  It is a shame the Government will not be supporting this Social Democrats' motion that provides solutions both immediately and for the future. I assure the Minister of State we will not be supporting the Government amendment. In three pages of testimony, basically, it is just telling us we will just continue as we are. Continuing on as we are is not acceptable any more. People are hurting too much. It is palpable. Government needs to listen, intervene and act.  As part of our motion we talked about an enhanced supplementary mileage scheme for healthcare and essential workers. The Government amendment does not even reference that fact. I sat in this Chamber yesterday while a continuum of Ministers talked about how people were not able to make their appointments during the protests last week. I also listened to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation three weeks ago when it told us there were healthcare practitioners - nurses and midwives - who simply could not get to their patients when using their own cars because of the cost of fuel. That is why we made that proposal and it is lamentable in the extreme that the Government has simply averted its gaze from it. It is an insult to the healthcare workers we rely on.  We proposed a \u20ac400 energy credit for households earning under \u20ac70,000. We did that because people are struggling. The Minister of State told us this Government has given the largest package in Europe but he stopped there. He did not say that Ireland has the highest energy prices in Europe or that we have 315,000 households in energy arrears as we speak. Most frighteningly of all, that figure has increased by 20% in the last 12 months. Can the Minister of State tell me that in six months\u2019 time that number will not have increased again? There are families who are genuinely terrified about another bill coming through their letterbox, so we are asking for that \u20ac400 credit. Also, in Ireland we pay on average \u20ac360 more than the EU average for electricity so the \u20ac400 we propose just brings us to parity, yet the Government has averted its gaze from it. We understand we need solutions both immediately and in the long term so we also proposed a solar power for all initiative. We need leadership, vision and a commitment that never again will we be in the situation we are in now. It is because of global factors and we appreciate that but at this moment we need vision, leadership and intervention. Ministers disgraced themselves last week with their reactionary tone. They inflamed tensions.  What we need here is people who provide solutions. The solar power for all initiative that is being developed by my colleague, Deputy Whitmore, is one that is cost-effective, evidence-based and enables the Irish State to say \u201cNever again\u201d by investing in our communities. It is a capital investment. It could be paid for through the excesses of the carbon tax and it will also mean that when these shocks come again, which they will, Irish households will be inoculated against the worst extent of the crisis. We are asking for bold intervention, an acknowledgement - by listening to the people we meet on the doors - that they are hurting and intervening with a \u20ac400 energy credit accompanied by a belief that never again should we be in this position by removing ourselves from fossil fuel dependency. That starts by recognising we can intervene here and we have a role to play. During the oil shock of the 1970s Denmark invested in renewables and it has inoculated its citizens from the worst effects of this particular crisis. I am sick and tired of hearing about how we are a wealthy country and that we have surpluses. Every single day I knock on doors of citizens who are operating on a deficit. That is a crying shame. There is capacity here and the Government will have support across the Chamber if we invest in people\u2019s immediate needs and also in the solutions of tomorrow. That should be a solar power for all initiative and that is achievable. It could make a huge difference. We will be opposing the Government\u2019s amendment and it is a damn shame it is not bringing forward the necessary solutions. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  In accordance with Standing Order 85(2), the division is deferred until the weekly division time this evening. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Tackling Soaring Energy Costs: Motion [Private Members]"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-15\/debate\/dbsect_10","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions","counts":{"speechCount":128,"speakerCount":24},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_10","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Brady","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel Grealish","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kevin Boxer Moran","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Unusually, we are somewhat over time and there will be no red clocks during Leaders' Questions. If Members have not prepared within their time, that is their problem. I call Deputy McDonald to begin. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Go raibh maith agat. The Government may have survived the confidence motion yesterday but the Taoiseach should be under no illusion. The Government has lost the confidence of the people because of its arrogance, because it does not understand their lives and because it refuses to listen. Yesterday, even as one of its Ministers of State walked away, the Government still would not listen and indeed we got hours of backslapping and self-congratulation. However, self-praise is no praise. This is a Government that makes things harder for people. There are increased school transport fees, exam fees are back for the leaving and junior certificates and there are eye-watering rents.  Why have Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael councillors hiked up rents for Dublin City Council tenants? Some people have seen their rents double. These are families stretched to the limit. They are workers, carers and pensioners. They are hit hard by the cost of fuel, gas, electricity and food but Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael councillors decided to squeeze them even more. The Taoiseach might not know this but us Dubs are very house-proud and none of us more so than those from my home neighbourhood of Cabra and those from the inner-city communities I am proud to represent, especially people who live in complexes of flats. These are the finest of people. They go out to work every day, they look after their children and their neighbours' children, they hold their communities together and they do everything to keep the show on the road. Many of them are out the door to work from 5.30 a.m. They are very resilient people because their communities have faced real hardship. Government after government - Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael - have left them behind. They pay their rent but they are left to live in conditions that frankly you would not believe exist in the year 2026. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I am sorry to tell those in the Gallery that applause is not allowed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  There is damp, mould, broken windows and doors and crumbling walls. Entire blocks of flats in this city are riddled with dampness. If the Taoiseach went to places like Sheriff Street, Seville Place, Ballybough or East Wall, or the flat complexes of Clarion Quay, Chancery House, Island Quay and Longboat Quay, he would find that out for himself.  Families are crying out for very basic and long overdue maintenance but they now believe they might be fighting a losing battle because the Government does not listen. People are fobbed off again and again and this has been going on for decades. Dublin City Council is not meeting its responsibilities and that is a fact. Central Government is not funding Dublin City Council to provide a decent, acceptable standard of housing and that is a fact too. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  To add insult to injury, along come the Government's councillors to hit people with rent hikes. Now that takes a brass neck, arrogance and disrespect. I want the Government to know that people are not taking this lying down. It is not just the hauliers and the farmers who are standing up. These families and communities are standing up too and they are demanding these rent hikes be scrapped. They are demanding maintenance for their homes. They are demanding respect. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy. The Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Why does the Government treat decent people in this way? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy's time is up. The Taoiseach to respond. While I welcome everybody in the Gallery, there are rules to be complied with and if they continue to interrupt, I will have to ask for the Gallery to be cleared. I am sorry. The Taoiseach to speak. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Government won a confidence vote in D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann yesterday by a substantial 14-vote majority. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  You lost the people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That is the reality, despite the Deputy's description of what transpired yesterday. The truth is that I am extremely disturbed that Deputy McDonald has not yet, as the main Opposition leader in this House, had the courage of her convictions or the decency to separate what is right from what is wrong. Yesterday, one of her Deputies could not condemn threats or intimidation against An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. On a programme last night, Deputy Kerrane was asked a straight question----- "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----\"Do you condemn the threats and the intimidation of garda\u00ed?\"----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Maurice Quinlivan  That is a question for you. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----and the Deputy said, \"I do not condemn the protesters.\" "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Maurice Quinlivan  That sort of question is for you, Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  On what happened, I fully respect the right of people to protest, even the people in the Gallery in terms of the Dublin City Council situation in regard to rent. People are entitled to protest. In my view, you seem incapable of saying it is wrong to blockade our only oil refinery. You cannot say that is wrong, even though it would have led to a scarcity of oil supply and an increased fuel crisis. You cannot say that it is wrong to blockade ports, even though it would destroy our economy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" A Deputy","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" A Deputy  You are avoiding the question, now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  You cannot say it is wrong to intimidate bus drivers. You do not have the courage. You are weak as a political party. Absolutely. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy M\u00e1ire Devine  Oh, that is nasty. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Brady","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Brady  That is not true. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  Nasty Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  You could not do it. You tried to jump on board. That is the sad----- "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I did not interrupt you, Deputy. I would appreciate----- "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I have a few things to say . "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  What about the flats, Taoiseach? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I fully respect the rights of people to protest. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel Grealish","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Noel Grealish  They do not like the truth. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy M\u00e1ire Devine  What about the flats? There is one minute to go. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I fully respect the right of people to protest----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputies. Exactly, what about----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I fully respect the right of people to protest but surely it is possible in this House for us to get agreement on basic rights and wrongs in terms of what should and should not happen. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That is something you have not been prepared to do. I regularly engage with people in terms of protest.  I am not a member of Dublin City Council. We have a system of local government in this country and there is a differential rent system. It is a critical piece of the State's system of local government which, as you know, is far better than the private rental sector or anything near it. It is subsidised housing costs and supports households. I believe Dublin City Council should do far more in terms of regeneration. We have funded local authorities up and down the country in terms of regeneration and they should do more----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  The Government underfunds them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----in terms of refurbishing flat complexes, in particular, which I have been in in recent years and which I accept are not acceptable. A lot of capital money has been allocated to Dublin City Council and, essentially, there is a huge issue of housing maintenance. The city council obviously has a revised rent structure now. It is a matter for Dublin City Council, the executive and the council itself to explain and defend that. We do not run the councils. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  But the Government underfunds them. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Let us not pretend we do. I know the by-election is coming and I accept that but we do not run councils from D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann and it is disingenuous and dishonest of the Deputy to say----- "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy McDonald to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----that I could not care less. We have eight councillors in Dublin City Council out of 60. The Deputy is in attack mode. That is what she does generally speaking. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Taoiseach. Your time is up. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  I condemn all forms of intimidation. Anybody who has known me in any part of my life knows that while I may lack many things, I do not lack courage. I do not lack courage. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  What about this specific one? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Let me tell the Taoiseach this. He has shown us again exactly who he is. I have asked him to address the lived reality of people from Cabra, Sheriff Street, Seville Place and East Wall. I have named all of the neighbourhoods and told the Taoiseach about the conditions people are living in. They are like something from Strumpet City . I could not describe to the Taoiseach how bad the living conditions are. There are families, women and men, who week after week and month after month paint over mould, scrub mould off their walls and who panic because their children have asthma or other medical conditions because they live in conditions that are not acceptable. Does the Taoiseach know that it is the norm in the inner city not even to have room to have a kitchen table? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  That is what the Taoiseach has presided over. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy McDonald. The Taoiseach, please----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  The Taoiseach is now trying to gouge these people for more rent. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy McDonald, your time is up and I have said we will have no red clocks today. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  I want the Taoiseach to tell them those rent hikes will be cancelled. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Dublin City Council is responsible for housing policy. Government funds local authorities the length and breadth of the country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  Obviously not enough. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sorca Clarke  You underfund them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Sorry, it funds them very substantially, and funding has increased----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Allow the response. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  It was obviously not enough. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Funding to local authorities has increased very significantly over the past five to six years. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  No. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joanna Byrne  It has not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  It was obviously not enough. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  There is no question about that. Also, the number of social houses we are building that are of a very high quality is the highest since the 1970s. There were close to 12,000 social houses delivered last year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  You did nothing for decades. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  There is the highest number of direct builds ever built in our country - 8,500. There is a lot of work going on in social housing. I am not specifically responsible for what transpires in Dublin City Council and it is a matter for the council. Again, I have to go into the details of what is proposed. I do not have the details of the specific differential rent scheme the council is introducing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Taoiseach. Deputy Ivana Bacik "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  Go raibh maith agat. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Claire Kerrane  On a point of order. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Ivana Bacik. I am sorry this is Leaders' Questions, so resume your seat Deputy Kerrane. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Resume your seat, Deputy. You cannot play to the Gallery. I will have the Member----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Claire Kerrane  I have never heckled. Sorry, I have never heckled. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Brady","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Brady  That is not fair. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Resume your seat. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Resume your seat. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Interruptions."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Claire Kerrane  I will not----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Resume your seat, Deputy, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Claire Kerrane  Never have I----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  If you want me to suspend, we will waste further time. I call Deputy Ivana Bacik. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  The Government has been weakened and damaged over its inadequate response to the energy crisis and fuel protests, with further challenges to come. The Government has now lost a Minister of State, and a backbencher - two Healy-Raes for the price of one, and a high price indeed.  The Government won the vote last night but the pressure for hard working families and households in this cost-of-living crisis has not gone away. For hundreds of thousands of PAYE workers, struggling to pay soaring bills, where is their support package? For those who turned up at the office, the shop or the factory or who logged on at home for work this morning, what message has the Taoiseach for them?  The budget last October delivered no relief for working people. Energy credits and one-off payments were withdrawn. The Government gave tax breaks to developers and fast-food chains \u2013 tax breaks paid for by workers. The Government could instead have taken the progressive step of indexing income taxes, as the Labour Party sought, but it did not. At the behest of business interests, the Government delayed the living wage and an increase in statutory sick pay while voting down our Labour Party Bill to give workers a real right to remote work.  There is real suffering across our communities. Households are facing rising bills. Grocery prices, already increasing, are set to soar further as food security is impacted by global shocks. There are rising rents and mortgages, and electricity and gas bills that families are struggling to pay. All of us are hearing this, that people simply do not know how they are going to manage.  The only relief the Government has given is a few cent off petrol and diesel. Over two emergency packages now, we have seen special supports for those that shouted loudest but nothing to relieve the real pressure on PAYE workers and families.  They are left with no option now but to seek pay rises in the months ahead. We will support the trade unions in that endeavour because more support is needed. In recent days, I have spoken to parents in Galway and Dublin desperate to see their children stay here rather than emigrate. I have spoken to young adults who see no future for themselves here. What help can the Taoiseach offer them? What is he going to do for the 320,000 households in arrears on their electricity bills, the highest number ever, or the 180,000 in arrears on gas bills? Yesterday, an ESRI report confirmed that Ireland has the highest energy prices in Europe. Yes, they were relieved in recent years by VAT reductions and energy credits but that took us down to eighth highest, and those credits are now gone. We know there are no easy answers to the global energy shock but the Taoiseach must heed the advice of the IEA. We need radical action now to harness more renewables, bring down energy costs, tackle climate emissions and ensure fuel security. Will the Government publish a national fuel security plan? Will it promise PAYE workers it will bring forward targeted supports for them and help the desperate households now in arrears on energy bills? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I fully accept people are under enormous pressures, in particular because of the war in the Middle East. People have had to endure a range of shocks going back to Covid and right through the war in Ukraine which had a severe impact on oil and energy prices and fed into general significant inflation in those years. Then we hit the tariffs a year ago, which is having an impact on a number of our companies, and now there is a war in the Middle East which has had a severe impact on oil prices again and is feeding into inflation. There is no question that people and families are under huge pressure. The ESRI also said successive Government measures shielded people substantially but could not cover everything. I would say no Government in the European Union has provided as many cost-of-living supports over the past five years as this Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  You got rid of them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That is the reality but it still does not mean that people are not under pressure. We introduced some fairly radical schemes that would not have been thought possible five years ago, like free book schemes for every child going to school and free hot school meals. Across the board, we have brought in measures such as extending free GP care and many other measures in health in particular and in transport to try to ease the pressure on people in a systemic way. I would welcome a conversation because I think the Deputy has a responsible approach to politics although I thought last week she was noticeable by her silence. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  We came out on Wednesday morning. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The reason being----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Allow the answer. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I understand why and I think we need a discussion about it in this House. There is a lot of what went on that the Deputy would not have agreed with, if she is honest. That was evident in the voting pattern last evening. I think the Deputy got a glimpse of what sidling up to Sinn F\u00e9in can mean for her party and the damage it can do to it in the time ahead. I would welcome a debate in terms of priorities or a discussion and engagement on priorities. The Deputy's party opted not to go into government; that is fair enough. That was her decision and she opted not to go into government because she was afraid of the people alongside her. We are in government----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  You wanted Michael Lowry. The Healy-Raes just left you. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kevin Boxer Moran","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran  You did not look to go into government; you went on holiday. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  You have had your turn. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We are in government. I will accept any constructive proposal on the cost of living, a sustainable way in terms of climate and also energy security. Thankfully, we have national oil reserves. Last week, we had a round-table meeting with those involved in NORA and in energy security. I can share that with the Deputy if she wishes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  With respect, the Taoiseach has got to stop rewriting history about Government formation. As he well knows, he had done the deal with the Lowry gang and the Healy-Raes before----- "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  -----the engagement with us. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel Grealish","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Noel Grealish  That is not true. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kevin Boxer Moran","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran  You were last in line. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  Indeed, that deal is now unravelling, as we saw with the departure of half a Healy-Rae. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy deserves to be heard. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  Also, the Taoiseach has to stop rewriting history about last week. The Labour Party in my name issued a statement last Wednesday morning calling on the Government then to engage with the representative organisations. It took the Government until Friday afternoon to do that. We also called for the lifting of the blockades on Wednesday morning. We had a very clear position and I will not accept the Taoiseach's claim on that. On the ESRI report, yes, it acknowledged Government supports had helped, but those supports are gone. The ESRI also pointed out that Ireland has such high energy prices because we have never diversified sufficiently into renewables where other counties have. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy. The Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  What is the Taoiseach going to do------ "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  That is it Deputy, your time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  -----to ensure radical action on climate and renewables that we need for energy security? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach to respond, now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We are going to diversity more into renewables. We have diversified substantially into renewables in this country. Over 40% of electricity generation now is onshore wind generation. We have had two successful auctions for offshore wind. I actually agree that the only way to avoid these types of global shocks is by having more renewables as they contribute to the grid. There is no other way. If one looks at all the shocks from the 1970s onwards, they were shocks because of wars or fossil fuel shocks. They have dislocated economies and caused pressures on families and jobs. We know that from various recessions we have had to encounter in previous decades. Therefore, it makes logical sense that we would invest in the resources we have. As the Deputy knows, we had auctions for offshore wind, which is a significant opportunity. I set up a clearing house from my Department to try to remove barriers and obstacles to the development of offshore wind because----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Taoiseach. I call Deputy Cairns. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----I think it is essential------ "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Taoiseach, thank you. The clock is in red. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----to decrease our dependence on imported fossil fuels. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  This Government was totally unprepared for the protests that swept the country last week, but how? After all, this did not erupt spontaneously overnight. The signs were there. They were not even subtle. There is a lack of empathy at play. I know the Taoiseach will take great exception to the fact that I am saying this. He will claim we do not have a monopoly on empathy or compassion but I ask him to reflect on what happened last week and his Government's reaction to it. There was, unquestionably, a deficit of empathy and a lack of foresight. What transpired what foreseeable, predictable and avoidable. The fact that the Taoiseach did not foresee, predict or avoid it calls into question his competence.  The Government talks about the cost-of-living crisis as if it suddenly emerged six weeks ago when Trump invaded Iran. There seems to be no understanding of the level of stress and worry people have endured for years. Week after week, we come in here and highlight the need for an emergency payment for disabled people, for investment in renewable energy and for targeted supports to the people struggling the most because the cost of simply existing in this country is growing and growing and it is crushing people. There is no let up, no relief and little to no help from Government. That is why people were on the streets last week.  Everybody understands that the Government does not control international oil prices but these fuel price shocks were a tipping point for so many people. The package of measures the Government brought forward will be of very little comfort to many of them. Incredibly, it does nothing to bring down the cost of home heating oil. Some 700,000 households are reliant on home heating oil. The cost has soared by 70% in just a month and nothing has been done to bring that cost down. The Taoiseach constantly says we have no solutions but the Social Democrats has been consistently asking him to introduce targeted supports to those who need them the most. Today, we gave the Government another opportunity on our proposals. The D\u00e1il debated a Social Democrats motion this morning which proposed a targeted \u20ac400 energy credit for low and middle income earners, the creation of a supplementary mileage scheme for essential workers and a doubling of solar grants to help people reduce their energy costs by hundreds of euro per year. The Government is voting against those proposals, refusing to listen and refusing to act. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy. The Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  Why will the Taoiseach not introduce targeted supports for people who need the most? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Government, before any blockade, was in discussions with the Irish Road Haulage Association, the IFA and farm contractors.  In fact, we had introduced a \u20ac250 million package three or four weeks ago in the House. As I said earlier, we have been introducing cost-of-living packages on an ongoing basis. The budget had some significant measures, including the DEIS plus scheme, for example, to help low-income families in particular, the fuel allowance and so on. Everybody accepts that people are under enormous pressure - everybody in the House does - because of global crises. The war in particular has exacerbated matters and prices have shot up. That has really caused concern.  I do not think the Social Democrats predicted what happened last week. They said very little last week at all, which is fair enough. They said nothing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  Deputy Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl did, apparently. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Last Sunday was Deputy Cairns's first speech, and that is fine. I am just making the point. I accept fully the point on more investment in solar. We have invested a lot in solar, and we will do more.  There is a \u20ac750 million package on top of the budget. We have a further winter to go. We do not know where the war is going to go, what the trajectory will be or what is happening in the Strait of Hormuz. There are two dimensions to this. One is supply, which is critical. That is why I could not understand the blockade of an oil refinery and why we could not get consensus. That makes no sense, because it leads to a scarcity of fuel and to more prices going up. Surely we can all agree that this is not the correct way to protest because you damage jobs and the economy. That is a reasonable point to make, and I should not be condemned for making it.  I am not condemning anyone other than saying protest absolutely. It is important we have protest. It is important that we have people advocating and agitating for change in society. I believe passionately in that, but I also believe in human rights for people. I received an email earlier in terms of people belonging to a particular group who said they had to leave the protest at Whitegate because they could not believe what happened. A lot went on that no one here is prepared to call out. I refer to lorry drivers being intimidated, a GAA club being targeted online because buses were parking there and the bus company involved being targeted and intimidated. These are elements. The vast majority of those involved are reasonable, decent people who, correctly, were highlighting and identifying fuel protests, but it is disturbing.  I accept fully that the Opposition wants the Government to get a kicking. I do not expect the Deputy to defend the Government. That is accepted. However, it is disturbing that she does not have the courage of her convictions in calling out that. There is an element of people out there - not even in politics but in communities - who are afraid to say that and who feel intimidated to articulate it. That is, unfortunately, where we are. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  It is undoubtedly welcome that the Government engaged with the hauliers and farmers. That was obviously desperately needed. What is unbelievable is that the Government still does not seem to be listening or engaging with people who are struggling. I asked about home heating oil. There are 700,000 households reliant on home heating oil, the price of which has gone up 70% in the space of a month. I asked about disabled people who are out protesting because they simply could not afford to live before any of this happened. I asked about single parents and ordinary families who are so hard-pressed, but all the Taoiseach does is come back and try to attack the Social Democrats. He talks about investment in solar. It is unbelievable that the Government is not focusing on investment in solar. Never before has it been so exposed how vulnerable we are because we are so reliant on fossil fuels. The Government's investment in solar predominantly benefits data centres as opposed to ordinary people. There are 1 million homes eligible for solar. Only 10% have it. They are the households that can afford to meet the impact of price shocks. We are asking the Government to extend grants to people who need to be protected from price shocks. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I welcome constructive proposals in respect of solar. We are investing in solar. Solar is doing very well and is growing very fast as a contributor to energy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  For people who can afford it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  There is very strong potential in solar. We are supporting ordinary people in terms of the installation of solar panels on their roofs. We created a retrofitting industry in the past five years in this country through successive investments and commitments, and that remains.  On the cost of disability, the Minister, Deputy Calleary, is working in consultation with stakeholder groups, to have, once and for all, a proper programme and provision in respect of a cost-of-disability payment. It is not simple, and it is better that we do it systemically and embed it in the budgets of the future. That is what we are committed to doing; just as we significantly increased the thresholds around the carer's allowance, which was a substantial measure in the budget, and just as we put an extra \u20ac500 million into disability to improve services for people with disabilities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  Last week, the Taoiseach told Radio Teilif\u00eds \u00c9ireann that he was open to all forms of energy supply. He also acknowledged the fragility of Irish dependence on imported fuels. That admission is important - and it is important to the House - because Ireland imports approximately 86% of its energy, which is one of the highest dependence rates in Europe. At the same time, the Government made a deliberate decision in 2021 to ban oil and gas exploration. This was not a forced decision or an inevitable decision; it was a policy choice on the part of Fianna F\u00e1il, Fine Gael and the Green Party. Does the Taoiseach accept that the banning of domestic exploration, while remaining overwhelmingly dependent on energy imports, has left Ireland dangerously exposed? As he knows, this country is sitting on a potential offshore resource, including the Barryroe field off Cork, close to the Taoiseach's constituency and mine, which independent assessment suggests could contain up to 1.6 billion barrels of oil. This is probably \u20ac157 billion worth of oil.  Can I put it to the Taoiseach that he is saying that all energy options are open while some are actively prohibited by law? In that context, will the Government reverse the 2021 ban on oil and gas exploration and allow Ireland to at least give access in order that it might develop its own resources? Will he commit to reviewing and repealing the legislation that prohibits nuclear energy, which was first introduced in this House in 1999 and the provisions of which were continued in the development Act of 2024? The State's position in this regard is not credible. Ireland bans nuclear-generated energy at home and, yet, through the Celtic interconnector, we import the nuclear energy directly from France. I put it to the Taoiseach that the latter is not climate leadership; it is a policy contradiction.  Does the Taoiseach accept that Ireland's exposure to this crisis is not just global in origin but domestic in design? Norway operates in the same markets and the United Kingdom faces the same pressures, but they produce energy. We import it. They have options. We have none. This is about not abandoning renewable energies. I see the importance of the latter, but this is about realism. We know that renewable energy meets is a very small share of the total energy demand in this country. We have to face the reality that oil and gas are here for decades to come. Even if we speed up reducing our dependence and increasing the development of wind energy, wave energy and the rest, we will still have to use oil and gas for at least this generation if not the next. I have a simple question for the Taoiseach. Will Ireland produce some of its own energy or will we continue to import energy that comes at a market price? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Ireland will continue to produce its own energy, but it will be in renewables overwhelmingly. We have a very poor record in terms of oil and gas exploration over the decades. Kinsale gas was first brought onshore in the 1970s, and we have had Corrib. Barryroe never showed any prospects. Barryroe could have been exploited if it had the prospects which Deputy O'Flynn said it had decades before any legislative prohibition on oil and gas exploration.  We are overly dependent on imported fossil fuels. I accept that. There needs to be a strong grid connection with Europe and the UK. The interconnection with France will be a significant milestone. I hope it will come on stream next year. I met the Spanish Prime Minister recently, and we agreed that we would explore a grid connection between Spain and Ireland. There is potentially strong European funding for greater interconnection and grid connection across Europe. That is a key strategy of the European Union. The reason our Anglo-Irish summits are so important is because we have a very strong economic relationship but we also have a strong energy relationship. We have the gas interconnectors with the United Kingdom. We are exploring with the UK further combined work in terms of offshore wind in particular and how we can complement supply chains in the context of the generation of energy through offshore wind.  In terms of nuclear, again, the investment in nuclear is enormous. We are putting about \u20ac18 billion into the grid over the next five years' investment to both absorb additional demand and also to further integrate renewables into the grid expertly, which we do very well as a country. I see solar as a very significant growth area. Solar has grown exponentially over the last two to three years in terms of rooftops and so on, but a lot of companies are using solar, which is reducing their dependence on imported fossil fuels. In companies like Eli Lilly in Kinsale, for example, 25% of its energy is powered by a solar farm in the environments of the factory. There is rooftop solar in PepsiCo in Carrigaline. Many other companies are moving in that direction. I suggest the direction of travel has to be in the renewables area. I do believe in climate change. I know a lot of people do not; I do. It is interesting. I take the Deputy's point about nuclear----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank the Taoiseach. Time is up now. Deputy O'Flynn to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  ----- but the energy source that did most damage to the planet was actually fossil fuels. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  I thank the Taoiseach for his reply but he is in contradiction with exactly what he said on RT\u00c9 over one week ago when he said he was open to all forms of energy supply. I asked him quite clearly whether he is willing to look at the policy where the Government said in 1999 that we are going to ban nuclear. The Taoiseach has come to the House and told me. I assume he has read the independent analysis and independent report in Barryroe as well because I did not realise, along with the other expertise he has, that he has expertise in oil refinery and finding oil. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I did not advise the Deputy of that either. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  I have invested enough of it. It is all very well to talk about renewable energy, and I do see the importance of renewable energy. I witnessed renewable energy when the grid in Spain took out Portugal, all of Spain and most of France just up to Paris, if the Taoiseach remembers that. That was an oversupply, and we never got to the end of that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank the Deputy. The Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  There are, therefore, challenges when it comes to renewable energy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  There are challenges, yes. That is why we have to invest in storage as well. That is a technology that is developing fast as well. I was at a recent investment in the midlands in Offaly. I believe Offaly and Laois can become a real powerhouse for energy into the future with a lot of industrial development alongside of it. That investment was from a Korean company partnering with an Irish company in terms of storage. On the integration of renewables into the grid, we have a good record in that respect in this country. We need to keep striving to do more of that. There are other forms like anaerobic digestion. I put it to the Deputy, however, given his capacity for campaigning for any group that develops an opposition to something, if a nuclear facility was proposed for Cork North-Central, I am not so sure what side of the coin he would be on. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  I would send it over to the southside. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-15\/debate\/dbsect_11","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 na Comhalta\u00ed Eile - Other Members\u2019 Questions","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_11","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Carol Nolan  Despite the fact that we are in the middle of a crippling fuel crisis where energy prices remain the highest in the EU, this Government continues to enforce a ban on the commercial sale of turf - our own natural, affordable fuel. As I said recently in my own constituency, there is no better time to reverse this ban.  Rural communities in County Offaly and, indeed, across the midlands have relied on turf for generations. It is not just fuel; it is part of our culture and our heritage and for many families, it is the only realistic way to stay warm this winter. The current policy is absurd and self-defeating. We are importing thousands of tonnes of peat and briquettes into this country every year, while at the same time banning Irish people from buying turf. Former Minister Charlie McConalogue previously outlined that 32,000 tonnes of peat were imported into this country in 2022 and, staggeringly, over 30,000 tonnes of this came from Northern Ireland. Therefore, we can ship in peat from the Baltic states and from counties around Belfast, but people cannot buy it from a shop in Banagher or, indeed, sell it. Instead, we criminalise the sale of our own domestic resource. This is economic madness. The contradiction does not stop there.  The recently enacted Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025 and, in particular, the changes to section 99 have made the situation even worse. As I understand it, by expanding regulation to cover past and potential activity, small-scale peat producers operating under 30 ha are now being reclassified as part of larger historic bog areas. As a direct result, most of the remaining domestic suppliers will be pushed over the planning and licensing thresholds and forced to close. This is catastrophic for Irish horticulture. The horticultural sector depends on these small producers for peat. Without them, domestic supply will collapse. Growers will be forced to rely on imported peat that is of inferior quality and it will cost approximately double the price because of transport and supply constraints. That threatens jobs, raises food prices and undermines the viability of Irish food production. Enough is enough. Will the Taoiseach immediately suspend the ban on the commercial sale, advertising and retail of turf so that rural households can access affordable fuel this winter? Will he work with me and, indeed, the small peat producers to introduce a practical, fair and legally robust framework for sub-30 ha operations, including the reintroduction of targeted exemptions so that we can maintain a sustainable domestic peat supply that protects both our environment and the future of Irish horticulture and food production? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I appreciate the Deputy's concern on the issue and thank her for raising it. As she knows, there has been a long-standing policy in terms of peat extraction because of the impacts it has in terms of both biodiversity and climate perspective. In the last iteration of this policy in the previous Government, my understanding was that small and turbary rights domestic users of turf would not in any way be impacted. It is still my view that they are not impacted. I think the Deputy is talking about smaller commercial extractors, or what she would describe as small, which would be 30 ha. That is not quite small. The trajectory of travel has been trying to wean ourselves off commercial extraction of peat.  As I said earlier, Bord na M\u00f3na has transformed its operations very effectively. I believe we are on the cusp, hopefully, of something significant in Offaly and Laois and the midlands, in particular, around a new form of energy, new types of initiatives and new types of investments that can create jobs in the area. Just as we set up Bord na M\u00f3na decades ago when the State needed employment in the midlands, it is our objective that we now reposition Bord na M\u00f3na and turn its land and its assets into opportunities for economic development. I have been at a number of investments around the energy field in the area, Shannonbridge on the last occasion, which was quite exciting and interesting. Just transition is there, then, to try to help people who are impacted by the change. I acknowledge that. I will have to engage with the Ministers concerned in light of the points the Deputy has raised and I will try to get a more updated position for her in terms of the detail of the situation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Carol Nolan  Go raibh maith agat, a Thaoisigh. I thank the Taoiseach for his response but I feel that a more practical common-sense approach is now needed. The real impact of this ban on the commercial sales of turf is people being cold in their homes. Older people have the ranges and they depend on fossil fuels like turf. When we look at the emissions, we are talking about imports coming in from Baltic states here, which is causing environmental issues. We are talking about a small number of people who want to extract peat and we are talking about our horticultural sector. In Offaly, we have lost too much already. We bore the brunt of the unjust transition, as I would call it. We really bore the brunt of that. We cannot afford to lose one more job, be it in the horticultural sector or any other sector. I ask the Taoiseach to please adopt a common-sense, practical and logical approach because the real impact is not addressing this issue. I feel that we have to allow peat extraction. We have to allow it and we also have to be fair with people in terms of this issue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  As I said, our objective was never to impact on domestic or, indeed, smaller operations involved in peat extraction. The funding for just transition was designed to try to support people who had lost out with the closure of power stations of an older hue, namely peat-fired stations and so on. I will engage with the Minister. I will ask him to perhaps meet the Deputy and see where we can take the issue from that perspective. Notwithstanding all the various policy directions that people have moved in, the Deputy is saying that practicality or pragmatism are in order here. I will engage with the Minister and ask him to engage with the Deputy. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 na Comhalta\u00ed Eile - Other Members\u2019 Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-15\/debate\/dbsect_12","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Pholasa\u00ed n\u00f3 ar Reachta\u00edocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation","counts":{"speechCount":87,"speakerCount":21},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_12","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":" A Deputy","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aisling Dempsey","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aisling-Dempsey.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aisling-Dempsey.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Keira Keogh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Geoghegan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I remind Members that questions and answers on Questions on Policy or Legislation are limited to one minute. If Members cannot make their points, they are asking their questions at the wrong forum. I call Deputy O'Rourke. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  The Government committed to 400 new special classes for September. Over 300 have been sanctioned at this stage, and that is welcome, although very few of them are ready. The related major concern is that 400 new special classes will be far too few. By how many, the Government knows but will not tell us. It is reported that we could be 200 classes or 1,200 places short. It is simply unconscionable that 1,200 children would be left without appropriate school places. Representatives of the Department of Education told the Committee of Public Accounts that a memo would go to Cabinet to provide extra school places. When will that happen? Will every child have an appropriate school place come September? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Some 420 new special classes have been sanctioned. There will be more. Our objective is obviously that every child will have access to an appropriate school place. There has been exponential growth in the past two years, and the decision by the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Moynihan, and the Minister, Deputy Naughton, to extend the deadline has resulted in applications from a higher number of children than was anticipated. We are now working flat out to meet that additional demand, which is far above what applied, for example, last year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  I commend the amazing Lelia Doolan, the long-time neutrality activist and human rights campaigner. She is outside the gates of Leinster House right now having completed a mammoth 220 km walk from Shannon Airport. Lelia is 91 years of age and has been walking in a gentle, peaceful protest for a fortnight. She is protesting the use of Shannon Airport by the US military. She has asked for a meeting with the Taoiseach and Government TDs. I think she is right. I want to express the support of the Labour Party for her. As we all know, and as we have seen in recent weeks, Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu have unleashed a rain of death and destruction across the Middle East. They have launched an illegal war. The Government has so far failed to condemn that war. The commander-in-chief of the very military forces that transit through Shannon Airport threatened just last week to wipe out an entire civilisation in Iran. That was genocidal rhetoric. Will the Taoiseach meet Lelia Doolan today as she comes to Leinster House? Will he stop allowing US military use of Shannon Airport in the face of the war-mongering we have seen? Will he guarantee that the US military and, indeed, Israeli forces are not benefiting from the use of Shannon Airport? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I was not aware that Ms Doolan is seeking a meeting. I will see what I can do. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  I will bring that back. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I have the greatest of respect for her, given her views, commitment and perseverance. It was an extraordinary journey to make in the context of her views on Shannon Airport. However, we need to be clear that Shannon Airport is not a US military base. Spain and Italy have US military bases, but Ireland does not. We need to be very careful that we do not mischaracterise Shannon Airport. That would damage the airport. I have concerns in that regard. Throughout the war in Gaza, there have been attempts to mischaracterise Shannon Airport as some sort of military base. It had no role, good, bad or indifferent, in respect of Gaza, nor does it have a role in respect of the war between the US, Israel and Iran. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  Right across the country, people are being pushed to the pin of their collars. They are struggling to pay for basics, such as food and fuel. They are also struggling because of the Government's inability to provide basic health services. This is most evident in the dire state of primary care services for children. Figures released to me show that in just 11 months, the number of children waiting more than two years for an initial speech and language therapy assessment rose by an alarming 149%. Some 1,200 children have now been languishing on the waiting list for over two years. Even once assessed, these children just move straight from one waiting list to another, this time for their first speech and language session. At the end of February, nearly 7,000 children were waiting for their first speech and language therapy session. Over one third, almost 2,500, have been waiting for over a year. This is indefensible. Decent healthcare services for children should not be too much to ask for. Families are under enough pressure. They should not have to watch their children fall behind, denied the opportunity to reach their full potential. What is the Government going to do to address this crisis in our primary healthcare service? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We are doing a number of things. We are recruiting more therapists. We are changing the system. There were too many therapists involved in the assessment of need process and not enough in the provision of therapy services. We are also creating a new school-based therapy service, starting with special schools. There will be speech and language therapists and occupational therapists in the special schools and we will extend that into the mainstream as we progress. The Minister for education received funding this year from the Government with a view to implementing in-school therapy services in our special schools and we hope that the first phase of that will conclude in the next school year. We are committed to doing that and to building it up. That will be key because it would mean regular interaction for children with particularly severe needs on a regular basis with speech and language therapists. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  Four short months from now, the scramble for school bus places will start again. There is going to be a shortage of drivers, as has been the case over the past two years. I welcome the announcement by the Government over the Easter period that it will allow those aged up to 72 to drive eight-seater vehicles. I take that to mean that there will be eight seats plus the driver's. Some companies use such buses, particularly for children with special needs. I acknowledge that this is a small step in the right direction. It is a very small step, however. The Government needs to go two steps further. It needs to be practical. It needs to allow such drivers to drive buses with up to 16 seats. It should also bring the age limit up to 74 or 75, provided there is a strict medical test, which has been announced. I heard the Minister say two weeks ago that such tests will take place twice yearly. The Government has built that in, and it deals with the concerns around health and ability. Extra drivers will be needed in September. Laois has lost several drivers over the past two years because when they hit 70 years of age, they are gone. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  We need to put in practical, sensible steps----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank the Deputy. Point made. The Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  -----and move two steps further. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I advocated strongly with the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, although it was the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, who responded. This is a matter for CI\u00c9 and Bus \u00c9ireann. They have responsibilities too, and the board has responsibilities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  The Government writes the cheque. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We write the cheque, but when it comes to health and safety and the protection of children, there are balances. The buck stops with the company, if we are honest. I hope that this initial breakthrough, whereby up to eight children can be driven by people up to 72 years of age, will be expanded. Perhaps we will learn lessons from this and see how it works, with a view to being in a position to expand it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  I want to concentrate on the senior management in SouthDoc and their appalling treatment of a doctor and her patients in Clonakilty and its surrounds. Dr. Fiona O'Reilly has run an excellent practice in Clonakilty for many years. For health reasons, she is unable to do SouthDoc hours. Instead of SouthDoc working with Dr. O'Reilly, it has decided, in its wisdom, to punish her and her patients. Today, if you ring SouthDoc with an out-of-hours emergency, you are asked who your doctor is. SouthDoc will not attend to you if you say that you are a patient of Dr. O'Reilly. It will direct you to 112 or 999, or to an overcrowded accident and emergency department. This happened recently to a 16-year-old and an 84-year-old, among others.  SouthDoc has written to Dr. O'Reilly's patients - I have such a letter with me - telling them not to call if they are ill. This is nothing short of bully-boy tactics from SouthDoc management. It could well lead to a loss of life. I ask the Taoiseach to intervene on behalf of every patient in Clonakilty who is under the excellent care of Dr. O'Reilly and to demand of SouthDoc management that the people of west Cork be treated like every other person in the country and be entitled to out-of-hours medical services if they are required. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  An inquiry needs to be set up----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  -----as to who made this shocking decision. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  First of all, I introduced SouthDoc to west Cork, so I am a great believer in SouthDoc and that whole model. I thank Dr. Fiona O'Reilly for the work that she is doing. We are not responsible here in the D\u00e1il for every management decision at local level or in the various co-ops. This is the first time that the Deputy has brought this to my attention. The Minister is here as well and she will follow up on the case.  We should avoid language like \"bully boy tactics\" because the Deputy is impugning the character of people in management in a given organisation. It is not the kind of language----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  That is not good enough. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It gives licence to people to do things. We need to watch our language when we are talking about public servants. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  That is not good enough. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That is all I would say now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  I am sure the Taoiseach agrees with me that the men and women of our fire services, defence services and the Garda provide vital services to the State and to all our communities. In a welcome move two years ago, the retirement age for people in those services was increased from 60 to 62 years. I know from responses to parliamentary questions that 122 personnel in the Defence Forces and 112 garda\u00ed have since remained in the force beyond the age of 60. Can we look at extending this further? It is a particular issue. I could not get the figures for the fire service, but this is being asked for in the fire service. If someone wants to work and can pass the tests that are required for their fitness to work, they should be able to continue to work. There is incredible institutional memory among these people. They can contribute in an enormous way. Is it possible for us to look, having done the extension from 60 to 62 in 2024,----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  -----at allowing continuing past that age limit? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. It is interesting that more and more people now want to continue their careers into their 60s. That is a positive story about lifespan. We are living more healthily with a better quality of life. As the Deputy is aware, the legislation allowed it to 62 years. He is ahead. He has all the detail. As he said, 112 garda\u00ed have availed of the opportunity to continue working since the September 2024 increase to the mandatory age of retirement from 60 to 62. The Garda Commissioner may, with the Minister's consent, go beyond that age of 62 for retirement. To date, the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, has already consented to a number of such requests from the Commissioner and will continue to do so when requested. However, I will talk to the Minister. What the Deputy is saying is a good idea. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  And for the fire services. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  For the fire services, we have had 629 new recruits since the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, agreement of 2023, but----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----I am generally in favour. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We have to reflect the----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Joe Neville. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----increased lifespan with increased working time and give that option to people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach and Deputy can engage further. I call Deputy Joe Neville. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Neville  I note the Minister is here. As the House knows, there is an urgent need to address the issue of GP access across Ireland. Last night, I spoke on the Critical Infrastructure Bill. We need to view GP care as critical infrastructure in its way and incentivise its creation and extension. I see this in my area of Kildare North, which is one of the hardest places in Ireland in which to get a GP, where people move into the county from other areas and are stuck using the GP from those areas before they can access new ones in north Kildare. I have met doctors in my constituency who want to extend their practices and others who want to set up new practices, but we need to make it financially feasible. In the upcoming budget, will the Government put in place a refundable tax credit for a significant percentage of set-up costs or extension costs for premises fit-out, medical equipment and digital systems to assist in setting up and extending GP services? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Health (Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill)  I thank Deputy Neville. He highlights an important thing, which is the practicality of setting up and extending GP practices. The State supports GP practices to the tune of approximately \u20ac1 billion per year. However, we need more. In the Deputy's area, where there has been particularly concentrated population growth at a quick pace, more GP practices are needed. I will discuss the idea of a refundable tax credit with the T\u00e1naiste and Minister for Finance. We need to look at every creative way to expand GP care. We are trying to recruit GPs to the HSE, but the State and private GP practices have a direct relationship - an important symbiosis - and we need to look at every lever we can use to increase GP capacity, either by extending or setting up new practices. I will discuss the Deputy's suggestion of a refundable tax credit with the T\u00e1naiste and Minister for Finance for the upcoming budget. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  I attended a protest in Dungarvan on Sunday, which was one of many that took place across the State. Hauliers, farmers, fishers and rural contractors, such as agri-contractors, were present, but people from other walks of life were also there protesting against the fuel cost increases and about the need for action. There were older people who were rationing heat; families who were making the invidious choice between putting fuel in the car, paying off some of their electricity bill arrears or feeding the adults in the family; disabled people who were struggling to get to appointments and keep their homes warm; and students and apprentices who told me they were borrowing money to put fuel in their cars to get to their training centres or colleges. What will the Government do for those people? The 10 cent announced yesterday is not anywhere near enough and the fact that home heating oil has been left out of the package in any meaningful way is nowhere near enough. We need action to look after all sections of society who are suffering and hurting because of the fuel cost crisis at the moment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  First of all, it is 32 cent on diesel that the Government has reduced prices by, and 27 cent on petrol. If the fuel package scheme is taken along with the green diesel reduction, you are up to 20-plus----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  It is not reflected in the----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Sorry, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy described it as 10 cent. It is 32 cent. If we can have factual analysis, that would be fine. If we did not do it, petrol prices would be 32 cent higher now. Sinn F\u00e9in has voted against reductions twice now. The key is that we have to----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  That is not true. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" A Deputy","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" A Deputy  It is true. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Neville  Shocking. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  ----- provide measures, as we did in the budget, to try to cushion, first of all, low-income groups. We felt we had to target prices there. The child support payments and so on were significantly increased, and we will in the forthcoming budget have a very strong focus on the cost of living. We will try to do it in an embedded way, not as just a one-off, but we will examine all options.  The Deputy mentioned third level colleges. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you. I call Deputy Aisling Dempsey. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Minister, Deputy James Lawless, has done a lot in terms of access. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Taoiseach, but time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  Borrowing money to get to college. For God's sake, Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy McGuinness, your time is done. I call Deputy Dempsey. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aisling Dempsey","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aisling-Dempsey.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aisling-Dempsey.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aisling Dempsey  I wish to ask about Boyne Community School in my hometown of Trim, which was granted an extension well over a decade ago now. The Department is well aware of the situation and the need for the school to grow. It is so aware that it has granted 24 prefabs over the years to accommodate the growing school community. A few years ago, a site was purchased for the only girls secondary school in the town and the Gaelscoil to co-locate on a state-of-the-art campus. It somehow has jumped ahead. It is at stage 2B, whereas the Boyne Community School languishes at 2A. My question is really about the policy around the school building list. It is not transparent. If a school goes on that list, why it is not done in the order it goes onto it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  First of all, I thank the Deputy for her long-standing advocacy and work on this project. It is a large-scale project involving both refurbishment and extension of Boyne Community College. It is actively progressing through stage 2A, with work ongoing. As the Deputy knows, stage 2A involves a design team, developing designs, full cost planning of the campus project, and preparing documentation to facilitate the lodging of statutory approval applications to Meath County Council as part of stage 2B. There are complexities on the site in terms of design. Work is ongoing to bring this stage to a conclusion as soon as possible. The Deputy is correct that significant modular accommodation has already been provided to the school. The next step is obviously to complete this stage 2A process. The issue then from a funding and policy position is to get it funded once we get through stage 2A to stage 2B. That is an issue that the Government is considering more generally in respect of school accommodation. A number of projects have been sanctioned, but there is a big----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Taoiseach. Deputy Keira Keogh. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Keira Keogh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Keira Keogh  Will the Taoiseach advise me of any supports for ferry operators in light of the increased operating costs due to the fuel crisis? I am thinking of the ferry operators operating ferries to Clare Island, Inishturk and our other islands. As we know, ferries are vital to get islanders to their healthcare appointments, education and other things. I welcome the packages for farmers, hauliers, contractors and so on, but we also must look at ferry operators. Government policy recognises the importance of sustaining island life, but recognition will not be enough here. We must engage with ferry operators, listen to them and make sure that we provide practical and sustainable solutions to make sure it does not affect the islanders. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  To be fair, the Minister, Deputy Dara Calleary, alerted all of us to the ferry companies operating to the islands when we were discussing the package at the weekend. It will be covered under the transport package. The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, will ensure the ferry companies operating to the islands are covered.  I appreciate the Deputy raising the question because it is an important one and Government was very happy to be in a position to do that. It is an important form of connectivity to our islands, which are a treasured part of our heritage, but also people need these ferries as their lifeblood. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I agree with Deputy Byrne when he spoke about firefighters and the need to be able to work beyond 62. A firefighter, a retained station officer, spoke to me recently and I think he has written to the Taoiseach. He is about to turn 62, so that is an issue we need to resolve.  I want to bring up the issue of Scoil Bhr\u00edde in Sheelagh. I was in it in the last while. It has been engaging with the Department for a number of years. In 2022, there was a new teacher. In 2024, an autism class and another teacher were added. Then the school got another one because its numbers have risen. It is on the Border and the school has done huge work in getting more children from the wider area in. You are talking about a staff of three becoming a staff of ten in 2025, but you are also talking about classrooms, one where there are two teachers and 40-odd students along with a whole pile of other issues. We really need to see when we will get additional accommodation, be it even modular. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It is a specific school project. Obviously, it has grown very fast from what the Deputy is saying. Has it gone from a three-teacher school to a ten-teacher school? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  Ten staff, including SNAs. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  There are special classes and so on. We have a very large school expansion programme on the way. Huge funding has been allocated to it. I will alert the Minister to the fact the Deputy raised it here this morning. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Wall  Every day, housing is the biggest issue in my office. Today, I want to talk to the Taoiseach about social housing income limits. It was in January 2023 that the then Minister for housing announced new limits for social housing. In my own area of Kildare, the limit went up by \u20ac5,000. That was the first time in ten years. It was also mentioned then that there was ongoing work to look at income limits.  The reason I raise this today is over the past number of weeks, I have had a number of cases where people, upon review by Kildare County Council, have been struck off the housing list. One of the biggest issues is the working family payment, which is included in that review. As we all know, that is for the lower paid. In my opinion and the opinion of many, it should not be included in that review. Can the Taoiseach tell us whether the social housing income limits be reviewed? Will they be upgraded? Will the working family payment be excluded from that assessment into the future? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  First of all, I will engage with the Minister in respect of this issue. I have in the past. It was increased, I believe, two or three years ago. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Wall  It was in 2023. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I am sympathetic to an increase in the threshold because there is a cohort of people working whose income limits are not high enough to sustain a mortgage or cannot get a mortgage and who would like the opportunity to access social housing. We need to try to seek ways to accommodate people in that cohort. I will talk to the Minister about that. We have an open view on it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call Deputy Coppinger. My apologies, as I had skipped her. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  That is okay.  Before the break, I raised at Leaders' Questions the toxic, misogynistic culture in the National Ambulance Service and I have spoken further to workers and clients of the service, including another worker who was raped and sexually assaulted and whose career was ended by complex post-traumatic stress disorder as a result. Inappropriate conduct and grooming on the degree course in Tallaght between older tutors and younger students reported to me. Very worryingly, two people have told me about the unnecessary use of 12-lead electrocardiograms, ECGs, on female patients deemed attractive. In other words, you have to pull up a woman's clothing to put these leads on.  I have been told that men are gods in the National Ambulance Service. The bullying and harassment procedures are not followed. It is not good for men either. A noose was left in a colleague's locker after they had just dealt with a suicide case. This is a very dangerous environment. Will the Minister investigate this? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Health (Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill)  I thank the Deputy and acknowledge the number of times she has raised different issues in different sectors in relation to misogyny and questions of harassment. I want to make it very clear as the Minister for Health that in every healthcare setting, all people are to be protected and respected - men, women, people of any race and people of any gender. People are to be respected in all contexts. While I do not want to speak about any individual cases on the floor of the D\u00e1il as Minister, as the Deputy will understand, I very clearly hear what she is saying in the case of all workers. There are close to 170,000 people working in the healthcare sector in different ways and every one of them is deserving of respect and dignity in their workplace, as every other person is. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  Will the Minister investigate? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  Let me express my deep gratitude and support for An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na for clearing the disruption and blockades last week. On 17 December, the Taoiseach told me in this Chamber that it was \"not fiscally sustainable\" that the Government change any of its spending plans in order to accommodate basic, targeted measures to help with winter fuel costs. Now, we see a raft of measures costing way above the meagre ask I was making at that time for a winter emergency payment for disabled people.  Of the \u20ac750 million in fuel packages announced over the past four weeks, less than 10% was targeted at the most vulnerable population in a fuel allowance extension. The package is welcomed but let me ask the Taoiseach something directly. If this package is fiscally sustainable, in his words, why is the payment for disabled people not fiscally sustainable? I never accepted that logic. Will the Taoiseach explain to me why he is so against targeted payments yet he is willing to give massively bigger amounts away in universal measures? Will he now support the Social Democrats' proposed \u20ac400 energy credit for all households earning less than \u20ac70,000? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We actually did do targeted measures. The fuel allowance in the first package----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  Less than 10%. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Sorry, it is not less than 10%, actually. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  It is. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  No. The bulk of the last measure is for the general reduction of excise on diesel and petrol, which will impact on everybody. That is far greater than the \u20ac100 million package for agriculture and \u20ac120 million for transport. By the way, transport is the lifeblood of everybody. We are not doing haulage for the sake of hauliers alone. We are doing it because we want to get goods and services across the country. We want to put stuff on supermarket shelves. We want to export goods that are produced by workers.  It is a bit inaccurate, to be polite, to do these simplistic calculations. Food production is very important for the economy. Both food and production and the haulage industry are engines for all of us to keep our economy going and workers going to work and so on like that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  That is not going to pay the energy bills. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We are working on the cost of disability issue in terms of the budget. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail  The school transport scheme is a vital support for families across the country and demand has grown sharply in the past number of years. There is a planned increase in fees in September. First, I ask for this to be reconsidered. Second, another issue around it is that for families living just inside the distance threshold, they have to apply for concessionary seats, pay the full free up front and still have no guarantee of A place. There is an additional issue with this. One family came to me and told me their child had a valid medical card and they were still required to pay because the exemption did not apply to concessionary applicants. It creates a gap where financial needs are recognised but not reflected in the fee structure. I ask that consideration be given to changing this and for a reconsideration of the planned increase in fees in September. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I will talk to the Minister concerned. We are looking at an additional \u20ac700 million increase in the current budget of the Department of education. It is largely around increased teacher allocation. That is over and above the budget that was passed only in October last. School transport costs will increase very substantially because the numbers are increasing all of the time but I will talk to the Minister. I will talk specifically about that issue of the distance threshold for the concessionary applicant and ask the Minister to engage with the Deputy on it. I will talk to her as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Geoghegan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Geoghegan  Over the past week, there has understandably been a lot of focus on the blockades of the refinery in the Taoiseach's own county, the blockades of the port and the blockade of O'Connell Street that lasted for days. Does the Taoiseach agree with me that when it comes to the policing of blockades, there must now be a zero-tolerance approach. It cannot be the case that O'Connell Street, the main thoroughfare of our city centre, could be blocked off. People were refused access to the Rotunda Hospital. I received phone calls in my office from people who had missed exams. The level of disruption that was caused cannot be tolerated.  What we saw from the Garda when it carried out its enforcement actions in all of the places I have just mentioned was very limited conflict and a very positive outcome. As we look and review the situations that took place over the past week, can the Taoiseach agree that there will be a zero-tolerance approach and when it comes to blockading and the prevention of public transport such as the Luas and buses, this simply cannot be tolerated in a democracy? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I do not believe the main street of the capital should be shut down for a week. I do not believe motorways should be blockaded for a week because it is an infringement on a basic human right - the right of free movement.  It is a very basic right. I have problems with that form of protest. I have articulated that from the very beginning. It is regrettable that others in the House cannot accept that the right to free movement should not be restricted by self-appointed groups. There are legitimate ways to protest - no issue with that - but the idea that you cannot drive on a motorway because of a blockade is a terrible restriction. I read in the newspaper this morning that a mother of a child with a life-limiting condition had to cancel a hospital appointment in Temple Street because of the blockade and conveys. That is not acceptable. There was a cancer consultant who spoke to a friend of mine. The consultant spent a week counselling cancer patients whose appointments for chemotherapy had been postponed. The cancer patients were worried about not getting that appointment, is it going to grow, etc. There needs to be some balance here and we need to have a discussion and some consensus as to what is right and what is wrong. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Carol Nolan  Having spoken to many farmers, there is deep scepticism about the Department of agriculture's capacity to deliver timely payments under the Government's \u20ac100 million fuel subsidy support scheme for farmers, agricultural contractors and fishermen and fisherwomen. The reason there is scepticism is that there were significant delays in payments under the agri-climate rural environment scheme, ACRES, which left many farm families waiting months. I have seen one family left waiting a number of years for an ACRES payment. Obviously, this money was promised and they had budgeted for it. It was not an isolated incident. Farmers have had long experience, unfortunately, of the Department announcing schemes with great fanfare only for there to then be delays and chaos. Will the Taoiseach confirm that additional staff will be allocated to the Department of agriculture to ensure that these payments will be made in a timely manner? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  There had been issues with the administration of ACRES, which is a \u20ac1.5 billion scheme. By the way, a lot of the funding from this Government for ACRES comes from the carbon tax. It is 60% funded by the Government and 40% by the European Union Common Agricultural Policy.  I would take the Deputy's point. The Minister is doing everything he can to improve and enhance the administrative capacity of ACRES. The scheme that is announced is an important scheme of \u20ac100 million in value. There has to be a degree of working out of that both in terms of farmers, usage of fuel - some categories of farming have a higher usage of fuel than others - and then the farm contractors as well. We are fully aware of the need to have a seamless and a proper delivery system in place. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Pholasa\u00ed n\u00f3 ar Reachta\u00edocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-15\/debate\/dbsect_13","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna - Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_13","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna - Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-15\/debate\/dbsect_14","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements","counts":{"speechCount":32,"speakerCount":8},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-15\/debate\/dbsect_13","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_13","showAs":"Ceisteanna - Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_14","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-15\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_14.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 11, inclusive, together.  I travelled to Beijing and Shanghai in early January, the first official visit by a Taoiseach since 2012. While there, I met with key political figures and Chinese leaders in a variety of fields, including business, tourism and education, with the aim of strengthening our political, economic and cultural links. Ireland\u2019s economic and trading relationship with China is informed by our support for accelerating the market diversification agenda as a means to encourage competitiveness and resilience. The latest available data from 2024 shows that Ireland's goods exports to China were valued at \u20ac10 billion and goods imports at \u20ac11.8 billion. Services exports to China in 2024 are valued at \u20ac12.7 billion and services imports \u20ac4.7 billion. My programme in Beijing included meetings with Chinese President, Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang, and Chairman of the National People\u2019s Congress, Zhao Leji. In my bilateral meeting with President Xi Jinping, we discussed the strong political, economic and cultural relationships between Ireland and China. We discussed EU-China relations, particularly our trade relationship and Ireland\u2019s upcoming Presidency of the EU in the second half of this year. We agreed the importance of international rules and open dialogue, as well as constructive and predictable relations on trade. We also discussed global issues and conflicts, including in Ukraine and the Middle East.  I also had a bilateral meeting and a working dinner with Premier Li Qiang, during which we discussed ways to improve collaboration between Ireland and China through our membership of multilateral organisations. I stressed the importance of a strong multilateral system to promote peace and security and to ensure a fair global trading environment. We also discussed political, economic and bilateral relations, including exploring the potential for increased collaboration in areas such as education, tourism and culture.  In all of my meetings, I raised a number of human rights issues, including Jimmy Lai\u2019s sentencing, the situation of minorities in Xinjiang, and the human rights situation in Tibet. My meeting with the Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party, was similarly positive.  While in Shanghai, I met with Mayor Gong Zheng, discussing economic developments in the region and links between Cork and Shanghai, which recently celebrated 20 years of being twinned. We also explored the potential for further co-operation between Ireland and China in a range of areas, including connectivity and transport. While in China, I also had meetings with state agency clients in the tourism, research and innovation, pharmaceutical, and food and beverages sectors. I attended an education showcase where several partnership agreements between Irish and Chinese higher education institutions were signed. These agreements will expand our education collaboration with China, benefiting both Irish and Chinese students. My visit was an important opportunity to strengthen our bilateral relations with China, and I hope these will be built on in the coming period. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  The Chinese regime has condemned Trump and Israel's bloody war against Iran as irresponsible, reckless and dangerous. That is something coming from that regime. Deputy Geoghegan was talking about zero tolerance against blockades. China has that. For example, in 1989, when students blockaded and demanded democracy, it sent the tanks in. It sent the army in and mowed students down with tanks. It persecutes people in Hong Kong fighting for democracy, people in Tibet, the Uyghurs, the Falun Gong. You name it, they get crushed in China. I would be interested to know what China had to say about its human rights record, but frankly it looks like a pussycat compared to threats to destroy civilisations coming from Donald Trump and what Israel is doing in Lebanon. I have just come from a protest outside for Lelia Doolan coming from Shannon on her march, a woman in her 90s marching saying the Irish Government should not be facilitating Trump's warmongering by allowing the US military through Shannon Airport. Given what Trump is doing to people in this country, in the Middle East and in Palestine, does the Taoiseach agree with Lelia Doolan? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  The backdrop to the wars, the genocides and the interventions we have seen over the past number of years is the rivalry between the declining power of the US and the emerging power of China. That is the context in which the Government has tried very vigorously to draw Ireland more and more openly into the US-led NATO camp. We can see now in terms of the war crimes being committed in Iran what that means. It is why the vast majority of people defend our neutrality, want to protect our triple lock and do not want to see us involved in US-led wars. It is why people will be on the streets at 1 o'clock on Saturday demanding the protection of our neutrality.  The rubber hits the road when it comes to the question of Shannon Airport. The Taoiseach said, when he was in the US, that there was no strong evidence that Trump was using Shannon Airport to pursue the war in Iran. What does he mean by that? Has he inspected any of the planes? Has he evidence? Every single day, there are US military plans going through Shannon. Where does the Taoiseach think they are going? They may not be going directly to Iran. They are going to the Ramstein air base in Germany and then on from there into the Middle East.  It is time to follow the example of other European countries, some of which are even NATO members, and stop allowing the US to use our airports. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Mark Daly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Daly  I welcome----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Apologies, Deputy Martin Daly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Daly  Thank you, a Cheann Comhairle. He is a good man. I welcome the Taoiseach's visit to China. It is an extremely important visit strategically and economically for Ireland in an increasingly uncertain international climate. It is absolutely clear that there are, as has been pointed out, two superpowers in this world at the moment but that the European Union and other like-minded trading nations need to keep their options open and develop new trade and new ties based on international rules of trade and politics.  It is clear that, as a small trading nation, we must keep our options open at all times and develop new markets for our industries that we grow here. In addition to that, with the growth of more indigenous industries we need to create links to China, which is a huge market. I am also happy the Taoiseach has taken the opportunity to point out the deficiency in human rights in China because that is extremely important and something that would be expected by the Irish people of our Taoiseach in visiting China. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  The Taoiseach said he had conversations in relation to multilateralism and, obviously, questions in relation to economics. I understand this was very early on in January and, with Donald Trump's regime, we are not entirely sure what the future holds other than it goes from terrible to even worse. We have since had an illegal war with Iran, we have the fact that the Israelis are continuing with their genocide in Palestine and what they are doing in Lebanon is utterly unacceptable in any way, shape or form.  Many of us were outside the gates of Leinster House with Lelia Doolan and would commend her for what she has done. I would like to think I will make it to 91 years of age and still be fit to do half of what she is doing. She has to be commended. It is about how there has never been more need for us to maintain international law and an independent foreign policy. That is why people will be on the streets with the Irish Neutrality League on Saturday. It is a matter of us not falling into the issues that exist now in this age of empires and where might is right. We must do our part to stand against that, given our history of anti-colonialism. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  It is often said that in the past century the global economy has lifted billions of people out of poverty. China's economic prosperity was responsible for more than 60% of that figure and it has been based on very different models to the ones we have here in Europe. While, of course, we must condemn human rights abuses in China, it is also true that China now has more renewable energy than Europe, is a leader in electric vehicles and has built more homes for its people. The question of energy security is of particular interest, given the current geopolitical instability. China has managed to insulate itself relative to the EU and others.  Did the Taoiseach's recent visit to China cause any reflection on the improvements to energy policy we might see here in Ireland, particularly in terms of developing renewables as our best chance of securing a domestic supply, insulating ourselves in a similar way and for how the State can be more actively involved, as is the case in China? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  I would like to ask the Taoiseach about the consistency of his approach to world leaders and dictators. While the Taoiseach was in China, which was some time ago, the attack on Venezuela took place. The Taoiseach condemned the terrible regime in Venezuela while he was actually in China, which I did think was somewhat ironic. China is not a democracy and there is severe repression.  The Taoiseach mentioned the solicitor representing Jimmy Lai being targeted. Were Irish journalists who were part of the Taoiseach's delegation prevented from filming while he was there? Is that the case? This is an example of the Taoiseach staying silent on human rights issues when he is in front of global powers, as he did with Trump. Would the Taoiseach agree that, when comparing world leaders, the most dangerous leader in the world right now is clearly the US leader? The psychopathic tendencies in Trump have accelerated since the Taoiseach visited on St. Patrick's Day and the dangers for the world are just incredibly pronounced. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank all the Members for their comments. With respect to Deputy Boyd Barrett and others, in terms of the human rights issues, we do raise them. China has no issue with foreign leaders raising human rights issues. Deputy Martin Daly emphasised the importance of raising them. However, one gets a robust response. They defend their position on the Jimmy Lai case. It was quite a lengthy conversation with the Premier in respect of that case and in respect of the Uyghur people in Xinjiang. They invited us to go down, which they do with all ambassadors in particular. It is my understanding that our ambassador was going to go down. Some ask if one can have freedom to move around and so on. However, our ambassador indicated to me that he would go down in terms of having an assessment of the situation as best one can given that it is, as Deputy Hayes said, a different model in terms of how it works as a society and as a system. We have expressed very strong concerns. I asked that he be released, even on humanitarian grounds, given his age and so on but there was quite a robust response, to be honest, and they defended it strongly. Our embassy is following that very strongly. We have a consulate general in Hong Kong. We also raised the issue of Tibet. We do that at the UN, in our work with the European Union and so on.  In terms of our relationships globally, we have a twin-track approach essentially. That is a values approach, a multilateralism approach and also looking at interests. Ireland cannot resolve every system in the world. It cannot fix every system. We have to engage and we have to have dialogue. A lot of the dialogue was positive.  There are huge issues between Europe and China in respect of manufacturing. Europe feels that there is a lot of excess manufacturing in China that is being dumped in Europe and that the renminbi is devalued and so on. These are ongoing issues. It was interesting that President Xi was anxious that Europe and China would develop a better relationship on trade that would be less susceptible to a ping-pong battle on given sectors, for example, critical rare earth metals and things like that, which could become a choke point for European industry. It is extremely important economically that we have these engagements because there is an interdependence between countries all over the world. It is true that there is greater polarisation happening with the growth of both the US and China. It is very important that the US and China get on for world stability. The world is in a very difficult space right now.  In terms of Lelia Doolan, who Deputy Bacik raised earlier, I admire her and pay tribute to her commitment to her views and her cause. I do caution Deputies Boyd Barrett and Murphy about this mis-characterisation of Shannon Airport. It is not a military base. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  Would you stop. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It is not a military base. If you want to see a military base go to Spain, go to Italy, go to Germany. We need to be accurate with our commentary. This kind of denigration of Shannon Airport will damage Shannon Airport, will damage the economy of Shannon and will damage jobs in Shannon Airport. Charter planes are used to bring soldiers home or whatever. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  Just home, is it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  There is no US military base in Shannon Airport. It is wrong to characterise it as such. Go and look at what a military base is - structure, logistics and everything. That is not what Shannon Airport is. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  Not officially. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I think we need a small bit of cop on in respect of it. That is my view on it. Deputies may disagree and they are entitled to disagree.  Again, we are committed to military neutrality. We are not joining any military alliance. Deputy Murphy is wrong in endeavouring to use the triple lock amendments. I do not believe Russia should have a veto on whether we involve ourselves in a peacekeeping operation or not. I do not believe the United States should have a veto. I do not believe China should have a veto on whether or not we participate on peacekeeping missions.  I think the D\u00e1il, the Oireachtas and the Government of the day should, because it is utterly ridiculous otherwise. The problem is that the UN Security Council is paralysed. It is not functioning. It is dysfunctional. That is a big problem for the world, but that is the reality of it. In terms of peacekeeping, we should have greater freedom. That is all we are saying. We are not getting involved in any wars. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  Sure they are using Shannon Airport for a war right now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I am sorry, but we are not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Murphy, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Look, it is so dishonest to say----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  We are involved right now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  This is not the forum for a back-and-forth discussion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We are not involved in any war right now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  Of course we are. They are using our airport and our airspace. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  They are not using our airport for the war. They are not using it for the war. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Taoiseach, there are other Members to speak. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  How do you know that? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Murphy, this is not the forum. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I just want to make one important point. Deputy Martin Daly referred to us being a small trading nation. We need to export what we produce and make. I gave the figures earlier. What was interesting was that I spoke to Prime Minister Mark Carney yesterday. In the context of there being polarisation between two major powers, China and the US, there is now a growing movement from the European Union, Canada, Australia and other like-minded powers with similar values, rooted in multilateralism, to come closer together. I welcome Canada's pivot to Europe. Under our Presidency, we are going to advance that relationship with Canada and the European Union. That is why Deputies in the House should vote for the CETA trade deal, which will create additional jobs for Irish people. It has already created additional jobs for Irish people, and there has been about a 30% increase in exports for Irish companies. It beggars belief that people oppose it.  I apologise, but I did not get Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa in. The war must end. The sooner that war in the Middle East ends, the better. What is happening in Lebanon is appalling. I welcome the talks, by the way, but Israel is undermining the Lebanese Government, which is the first government in a long time in Lebanon that has the capacity to get some order and structure in Lebanese society and the Lebanese economy. Hezbollah should cease firing rockets. It should stop. It is causing immense damage to its own people and has done so for far too long. Iran should stay out of Lebanon and stop being a malign force in Lebanon also.  In terms of the economy, the relationship and air connectivity, a Cork-Shanghai flight is, hopefully, coming. There is also the Dublin\u2013Beijing flight and so on like that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Did the Taoiseach cover the question from Deputy Hayes? I am not sure he did. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I covered a lot of people. I am sorry but I did not cover Deputy Hayes\u2019s point about renewable energy. We did actually discuss that with President Xi. They are very conscious of our offshore wind exploration and that we are putting a lot of focus into the offshore and onshore aspects. China manufactures wind turbines at an extraordinary rate. It more or less commands the global market in solar panels.  If we can get good multilateral relationships, there will be a benefit. There was a time when people felt we would not have enough supply and the supply chains would not be strong or resilient enough to deal with everybody going after offshore energy at the one time. China actually offers a bit of a solution to that, I think. Some in Europe are negative about that, but I think it does do because it manufactures a sufficiency of material for windmills and solar equipment that can help us make the energy transition. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-15\/debate\/dbsect_15","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Cabinet Committees","counts":{"speechCount":60,"speakerCount":12},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-15\/debate\/dbsect_13","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_13","showAs":"Ceisteanna - Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tom Brabazon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-15\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_15.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 to 32, inclusive, together.  The Cabinet committee on justice, migration and social affairs oversees the implementation of programme for Government commitments that relate to matters under those areas. It was established in February 2025 following the appointment of the new Government in January. Its first meeting was on 10 April 2025 and it met most recently on 9 February 2026. The next meeting is scheduled to take place in due course.  The Cabinet committee covers a range of policy areas, including domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, DSGBV; policing and justice reform; migration; and initiatives tackling local area disadvantage. The Government has taken unprecedented action to tackle domestic, sexual and gender-based violence through significant investment, legislative reform and the implementation of the zero-tolerance strategy. Overall, our approach seeks to create a society where DSGBV is prevented, victims are supported and perpetrators are held to account. Under budget 2026, almost \u20ac80 million was allocated to support Cuan and organisations working to address DSGBV and implement the zero-tolerance strategy. This was an increase of \u20ac12 million compared with the previous year. This funding will accelerate the delivery of additional refuge spaces and safe accommodation, while strengthening supports for those affected by violence.  Among other items, the Cabinet committee also oversees the development and delivery of the whole-of-government response to migration and integration, including through a national migration and integration strategy. The new International Protection Bill 2026 will give effect to the measures of the European Union migration and asylum pact. Enactment of the Bill and commencement of the Act is required by 12 June 2026. To prepare for its introduction, a phased transition that mirrors elements of the pact is currently under way. As part of this, applicants from designated safe countries of origin, including Nigeria, and in the context of the Dublin III regulation and inadmissible cases, are being processed under these new processes, with some minor exceptions. As of 24 March 2026, 1,280 applications were received under the accelerated process. Of these, 80% have received a first instance decision. Decisions were negative in 88% of cases, with an 11% grant rate and a number of withdrawals. Of those with a negative decision, 48% appealed and 86% of appeals were refused. A total of 482 deportation orders has been issued, with seven enforced removals and 42 voluntary returns having taken place. The median timeline from application to enforced removal was 24 weeks, and 15 weeks for voluntary return. This indicates the pact programme can meet the future timelines for the border procedure.  The number of international protection applications has been rising over the past number of years, reaching 18,500 in 2024. In 2025, application numbers reduced by approximately one third. In 2025, the International Protection Office delivered over 20,200 first decisions compared with approximately 14,000 in 2024, which is a 44% increase. The International Protection Appeals Tribunal more than doubled the number of appeals closed, from 3,100 in 2024 to nearly 6,320 in 2025.  In addition to meetings of the Cabinet committee, I have regular engagements with Ministers at Cabinet and individually to discuss issues relating to their Departments. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  A lot of Members are seeking to contribute. They have one minute each. I call Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  Louth County Council is trying to update its tenant engagement and antisocial behaviour strategy, and I sat in yesterday for a short period on a consultative event. We can imagine the conversation. It is all about having a multiagency approach, strengthening community safety, embedding tenant engagement for the first time, improving well-being and neighbourhood cohesion and ensuring fairness, transparency and accountability. That is all sound. This is a continuation, however, of an issue I have brought up before. I think we have to be really serious in relation to the complex issues involved. I am sure many of us will have dealt with local authorities, the Garda and others in this context. The fact is we have to get very serious. I do not believe the community safety partnership is going to quite bridge the gap, however much I would like to think it would. I am thinking of Barrack Street in Dundalk. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Is there a question? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  Yes. This is about how we can get to having a proper, multiagency approach to deal with the complexity and early intervention and policing aspects. The big worry when we are talking about drugs and all that causes that problem is the national drugs strategy and the fear of moving away from the drugs and alcohol task forces and such community involvement. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tom Brabazon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tom Brabazon  I welcome the recent introduction of Grace\u2019s Law, the intention of which is to make scramblers illegal in public places. However, these vehicles are still causing havoc in my community and in communities across the northside of Dublin. I am inundated with correspondence from constituents who are sick to their back teeth of these vehicles speeding up and down roads and footpaths in a reckless and dangerous manner, putting the lives of the riders and other people at risk.  To combat this, I am asking that a statutory indemnity be introduced for garda\u00ed pursuing scramblers and acting within reason so they can carry out their duty without fear or favour to ensure our communities can be protected. Will the Government now commit to introducing a statutory indemnity or some other statutory mechanism so members of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na who are going about their work in a reasonable way will be protected from prosecution? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  One of the most controversial elements of the omnishambles of last week was the threat of the Garda and the Army. The Government was actually calling in the Army when TDs like me were trying to negotiate a peaceful resolution of the situation. There is also chaos within the Government.  The Minister, Deputy O\u2019Callaghan, spoke to the T\u00e1naiste and Taoiseach about utilising the Army for Whitegate refinery on Wednesday, 8 April. The next day, the Minister made public that a request was being made to the Defence Forces. The Minister, Deputy McEntee, was not informed until just before the request went in. Deputy McEntee is the Minister for Defence. She is the line manager when it comes to the Army. Why is it the case that we have this level of chaos within the Cabinet that the Minister, Deputy McEntee, is not being consulted? Did the public know about the Army being called in before the Minister for Defence knew? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  I attended a large public meeting in Kells last night, called for by the community in the wake of a spate of burglaries, attempted break-ins and break-ins. There is a lot of concern in the community. It was a very well-attended meeting, hosted by Oliver Figgy Curran and Councillor Michael Gallagher. Representatives of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na were present and took questions. A key concern that I said I would take to the D\u00e1il today is the number of garda\u00ed in Kells and County Meath. The figure is the lowest in all of Ireland by population. What measures are the Taoiseach and the Government taking to address the low number of garda\u00ed in County Meath and Kells in particular? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  I welcome the Northside Home Care Services workers in the Gallery. Deputy Murphy will be raising issues on their behalf, and I absolutely hope the Taoiseach will listen to them.  I want to raise another issue. The Taoiseach probably will not know about it but I ask him to raise it with the Minister for justice. Four years ago, Ned Connors died in prison. He died of alcohol poisoning. How the alcohol got into the prison and so on is a question. There was a report done by the prison inspector into the circumstances of his death, but it still has not been published. As of today, there was supposed to be an inquest happening. His family solicitors said the inquest should not go ahead until the prison inspector\u2019s report was published. Apparently, the Minister has for some reason prevented the report from being published. This is fuelling deep concern among the family. If the Taoiseach could ask about Ned Connors and the report into his death on behalf of his family, it would be appreciated. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy O\u2019Rourke has the opportunity to ask another question if he wishes to exercise it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  Related to the public meeting last night to which I referred, another area is the roll-out of community CCTV, that is, the roll-out of CCTV in communities. There were restrictions in the past in terms of data protection and data management. What is the current position in relation to the roll-out of community CCTV across the State, the role of central government and the funding potentially available for that? Also, what is the role of local government in this regard? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I apologise, Deputy Murphy was next. Deputy O\u2019Rourke is ahead of him now anyway. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  I thank the Ceann Comhairle. I have raised with the Taoiseach before the Northside Home Care Services workers who have been taking industrial action since January. Some of them are in the Gallery. He knows what the issue is here; it is about pay equality. Some of these workers have worked for 25 years and are getting just over \u20ac15 an hour. Others are on minimum wage and getting 30% less than others for doing the same job of providing vital care to approximately 500 people on a daily basis. What I raise today is the outrageous victimisation of their shop steward, Sonya Borwick, simply for standing up for the workers she represents. She was suspended yesterday on utterly spurious grounds. Supposedly she breached GDPR by asking people to sign a petition. She did not use any information she had about their data as a result of working there; she was simply talking to clients who support them, given the support they provide for them, asking them to sign a petition and for their address on a petition. Supposedly that is a breach of GDPR. That is blatant anti-union victimisation. I ask the Taoiseach to condemn this victimisation. Ms Borwick is in the Gallery. That she should be suspended is an action that should be utterly condemned by the Government. The Minister for Health needs to meet with these workers and instruct the HSE to treat them properly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy is absolutely taking liberties. I call Deputy Conway-Walsh. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  The recent case and indeed the resilience and courage of former Garda Margaret Loftus exposed the systematic and institutionalised failures in addressing domestic, sexual and gender-based violence in Ireland, particularly when the alleged perpetrators are members of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. Reliance on self-disclosure leaves systematic blind spots, allowing potential perpetrators to maintain investigative authority over other victims. Without statutory oversight, independent monitoring and systemic reform, Garda structures can shield perpetrators and undermine public confidence. I welcome the recent setting up of the dedicated domestic violence unit, but does the Taoiseach agree that the mandatory reporting of barring and protection orders is now necessary? Does he believe it is right that a garda who is convicted of breaking the law should still serve in An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  It would be impossible to talk about the next meeting of the Cabinet committee on justice, home affairs and migration without discussing the absolute disaster that was last week. I am going to preface my comments by answering a question I know the Taoiseach will probably ask, because he asked it of my party leader earlier. Yes, I absolutely condemn the blocking of critical infrastructure and the threats to garda\u00ed. However, does the Taoiseach endorse the tactics employed by his own Minister for justice last week, in particular the press statement that went out on Thursday morning, in advance of \"Morning Ireland\", stating that the Army would be on the streets and that vehicles would be damaged and nobody should complain? The Minister went on to further antagonise and accelerate an already difficult situation by saying the protesters were being manipulated by some idiot in the UK called Tommy Robinson.  The C70 form sent by An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na to the Defence Forces is an essential part of our security system. To politicise that, as the Minister for justice did on Thursday morning, is absolutely out of bounds. Does the Taoiseach endorse that? Should we see further protests on the streets, what lessons will be learned and how can we ensure it is not Government Ministers who inflame intentions? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  There are calls today for an all-island response to the epidemic of gender-based violence. In Northern Ireland, 30 women have been killed since 2020. It is one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a woman. A woman is more likely to be killed by her own son than by a stranger. The family and the home are very dangerous places. ROSA in the North has called a protest in Belfast for Saturday, 25 April to respond to the fact that 30 women have been killed and to say not one more should be killed. Two women were murdered in three weeks recently. This was at the same time as the Natalie McNally trial which showed a very premeditated killing by her former partner. In relation to gender-based violence in the South, the Taoiseach mentioned legislative reform but there has been very little such reform that I can think of. The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission has added its voice to the call for access to counselling notes to be banned in gender violence trials. We need to see that legislation moved and we need to see what survivors want. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  I could not believe my eyes when the Minister for justice outlined recently that it was his intention and the intention of the Government to introduce legislation to remove several proposed IPAS centres from the planning process entirely. I have raised this planning circumvention with the Taoiseach on a number of occasions. Both he and the T\u00e1naiste have led the House to believe this was a temporary, emergency measure and would be removed imminently. Now we read it is the Government\u2019s intention to make this planning exemption permanent. The IPAS system is the only accommodation system that currently avails of a planning exemption. I want the Taoiseach to be clear. What is the intention of this Government in relation to the IPAS planning exemption? Is it going to ensure that all citizens and communities are treated equally or is it going to try to continue this policy of running roughshod over communities? Is the Government going to make this planning exemption permanent? I refer to Government Deputies and backbenchers. Every time this has broken in local communities across the country, the Taoiseach has outlined that the Government wants to see community engagement and consultation with communities. This is the Taoiseach\u2019s opportunity.  What is the Taoiseach going to do? Is he going to make this permanent or will he allow communities to have a say in relation to what happens to them? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputies for raising a range of issues. Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa was first in terms of antisocial behaviour and a multi-agency approach in County Louth. I agree with the Deputy that the most effective response is a multi-agency response. I support the drug partnerships approach that we had in earlier periods. The local community safety partnership has been effective. It is working in certain locations but we need to look at further initiatives in terms of community-based partnerships on the ground that are well resourced by the State. That is a view I have. I am advocating that from my position as Taoiseach and from talking to the Ministers concerned.  I thank Deputy Brabazon for raising the issue of Grace's law. It is extremely distressing and unacceptable that the Deputy and the people he represents are witnessing appalling activity by individuals using scramblers who are recklessly endangering life, causing the loss of life and so forth. I accept the rationale behind the Deputy's call for statutory indemnity to be introduced to protect members of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na who reasonably try to stop this activity. I do not think it is acceptable that a garda should be prosecuted if he or she is endeavouring to stop people endangering the lives of others through the illegal and reckless use of scramblers. The Minister for justice is bringing forward some form of review of the legislation in this area. This is a very important issue because if something is not done, the potential is that we will paralyse the Garda in terms of protecting people. I will talk to the Minister for justice. I know he is minded to do something in this area in light of recent court cases. I will liaise back with Deputy Brabazon on this.  I heard what Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn had to say. In the first instance, C70 requests made very regularly. About 140 were issued last year. Last week, a request was made with a view to calling in the Army to tow big lorries and trucks away from vital critical infrastructure. I do not know whether the Deputy condemns or agrees with the blockading of an oil refinery. I saw his posts all week. He supported the blockade of the oil refinery----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  It was not----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy did so. He went on the platform----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  You are not telling the truth. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  You went on the platform and you supported the blockade of the motorway. The Deputy supported the blockades of ports. All I would say to him is----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  There is a weakness in your argument. If you cannot tell the truth, then it is a weakness. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, do not use that type of inference. You can write to the Taoiseach. This is not a forum for back and forth; this is Taoiseach's questions. You ask a question. If you do not like the answer, you write to the Taoiseach. End of story. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  It is not that I do not like the answer; it is untrue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  That is i t. End of story. We conform to the rules. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  It is not the truth. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I did watch the Deputy's social media posts. He described it as mediating, but who gives him authority to decide who gets oil in this country? Who gives him authority----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  The Taoiseach is asking me a question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  No, he is not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I am asking a rhetorical question. I do not need a response right now. I am making an absolutely fundamental point with regard to parliamentary democracy. The Deputy does not have a right to decide who gets access to work. He does not have a right to decide who gets access to a hospital. He does not have a right to----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  There are nearly 1 million people on the hospital waiting lists. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Every other Member needs a fair amount of time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It was wrong of the Deputy to do what he did last week. I say that respectfully to him. No self-appointed group gets that right and no TD gets that right. A number of TDs were at that. Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn, more than most, stated that he had negotiated this or negotiated that. That is not right. For God's sake----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  We negotiated----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----we need freedom of movement for people. The Minister for justice and the Minister for----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  Did the public know? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, that is enough. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----Defence engage with each other in respect of this issue.  Deputy O'Rourke raised two issues on the concerns in Navan----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  In Kells. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  In Kells. My apologies. The Deputy raised concerns about break-ins and burglaries. I will relay that to the Minister for justice. I am sure the Garda will tackle that in a concerted way. That is very disturbing for the people concerned. Garda numbers are improving every time a new intake goes through Templemore. As a result, I expect that we will be able to get there. We have done good work in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and other locations. As more garda\u00ed come through, we are trying to get to as many areas as we possibly can in sufficient numbers, not just giving dribs and drabs, in order that we get good solid allocations.  The Deputy also raised the issue of community CCTV. I will have to get an update on that. It continues to be very effective and impactful in combating crime.  Deputy Paul Murphy referred to the Northside Home Care Service workers, as did Deputy Boyd Barrett. I am not familiar with the background to the suspension of the shop steward. I will ask for that to be investigated and checked by the Minister for Health. I am not saying that this justifies suspension, but I would be wary of using clients to sign petitions. I understand how it happens, because people need the service and people want the service to be supported. I will talk to the Minister about the general issue. Those involved were here a number of weeks ago as well, and this issue needs to be resolved. The process should be deal with through labour relations in order to get it resolved. Meanwhile, the atmosphere around this should be one that allows engagement and so forth.  Deputy Boyd Barrett also raised the issue of Ned Connors, who died in prison through alcohol poisoning. That is very disturbing. The Deputy said \"Apparently, the Minister has for some reason prevented the report from being published.\" The Minister for justice, Deputy O'Callaghan, is a fair-minded person and is scrupulous----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Something has stalled the report. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  No, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Minister is scrupulous in terms of the application of the law. I do not know what the background is to this. Maybe they do not want to prejudice the process. I do not know. I will check with the Minister for justice in respect of the report. I think the inquest is due, is it not? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Yes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Deputy Conway Walsh raised the issue of a former garda, Margaret Loftus, and members of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. Again, there has to be clear rules in terms of our uniformed services, particularly our Garda and our military. There are rules in respect of people who are convicted of crimes. They should not serve. When people are charged, they are sometimes suspended pending the outcome of the investigation and so forth. I salute the courage of Margaret Loftus.  On the mandatory reporting of barring orders, I would like a report back on that. I think the Minister is working on something in that regard.  To be fair to him, Deputy Gannon condemned blockading. With regard to the decision that was made, we had to remove those vehicles from Whitegate. We simply had to. I got a phone call to say that the refinery was closing. That would have been ruinous for the country because one cannot restart a refinery straight away. How bad would that have been. The Minister for justice made the correct decision in asking the Army in because it has the equipment to remove big lorries, tractors and other machines. It would have been crazy if we ended up stopping the export oil from Whitegate. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  There are two more Deputies, Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It just would not have made any sense, and that is why it was done.  On Deputy Coppinger's question, through the shared island initiative, we support an all-island response to domestic and sexual violence. It is shocking, and Northern Ireland is a particular problem. I have discussed this with the First Minister and deputy First Minister at meetings of the North-South Ministerial Council. It was a theme and a topic at our most recent meeting. There is active co-operation to the effect that there should be a joint approach between our Government and the Executive in respect of domestic and sexual violence. It is a big worry. Deputy Coppinger reminded us of the 30 women who have been killed. That is shocking and wrong. With regard to the counselling notes, the Minister for justice is bringing forward legislation in which he will go as he possibly can to place real conditions on the use of counselling notes.  On Deputy Lawless' question, the Government has huge pressures. I gave the figures earlier. We are making a lot of progress in terms of a more rigorous, timely and efficient response to those seeking asylum. Nonetheless, people come into the country to seek asylum. They are legally entitled to seek asylum and our job is to process applications as quickly as we can. If people are entitled to asylum, they get it. If they are not, they should be deported or asked to leave. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  The question is----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  No. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The question is this. I am asking the Deputy his view. As they come into the country on a daily basis, where should people stay?  Should they be on the streets? What is the solution? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  No, we are out of time. The Deputy can request the information in writing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We are under international legal obligations. This is a challenge----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy can write to the Taoiseach.. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  The question relates to planning. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Taoiseach. We are out of time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We do not have time now to discuss it, but I would gladly discuss it with the Deputy again. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  That concludes Taoiseach's Questions. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy is fully entitled. We are finished. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar fionra\u00ed ar 2.10 p.m. agus cuireadh t\u00fas leis ar\u00eds ar 3.10 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Sitting suspended at 2.10 p.m. and resumed at 3.10 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Cabinet Committees"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-15\/debate\/dbsect_16","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions: Motions","counts":{"speechCount":2,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_16","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Dara Calleary)  I move:  That, notwithstanding anything in the Order of the D\u00e1il of 5th February, 2025, or in the Order of the D\u00e1il of 24th March, 2026, setting out the rota in which Questions to members of the Government are to be asked, Questions for oral answer following those set down to the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, shall be set down to Ministers in the following temporary sequence:  Minister for Health  Minister for Education and Youth  Minister for Children, Disability and Equality  Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment  Minister for Social Protection  Minister for Transport  Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport  Minister for Defence  whereupon the sequence established by the Order of 5th February, 2025, shall continue with Questions to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Dara Calleary)  I move:  That, notwithstanding anything in the Order of the D\u00e1il of 5th February, 2025, setting out the rota in which Questions to members of the Government are to be asked, Questions for oral answer following those set down to the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, shall be set down to Ministers in the following temporary sequence:  Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitisation  Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade  Minister for Finance  Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht  whereupon the sequence established by the Order of 5th February, 2025, shall continue with Questions to the Minister for Education and Youth. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions: Motions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-15\/debate\/dbsect_17","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Tenth Report of the Standing Committee of Selection: Motion","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Mary Butler)  I move:  That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann, pursuant to Standing Order 33, and with effect from 16th April, 2026, approves the Tenth Report of the Standing Committee of Selection, copies of which were laid before D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann on 27th March, 2026. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Tenth Report of the Standing Committee of Selection: Motion"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-15\/debate\/dbsect_18","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/6","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/6\/dail\/seanad_amd","houseCode":"dail","stage":"seanad_amd","isBillStage":false,"showAs":"International Protection Bill 2026: From the Seanad (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"International Protection Bill 2026: From the Seanad","counts":{"speechCount":92,"speakerCount":6},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Jim O'Callaghan)  Before we start the debate on the amendments on the cream list, I draw attention to four errors of a formal or typographical nature that have been identified in the Bill following its passage through the Houses. Pursuant to Standing Order 203, I ask that the Leas-Cheann Comhairle direct the Clerk to make the following corrections of a formal nature to the Bill. I will set out those four minor changes.  First, in respect of section 117 of the Bill version as passed by D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann, in page 97, line 30, I ask that the Clerk be directed to insert a missing comma between the words \"State\" and \"without\". Second, in respect of Seanad amendment No. 104 in subsection (1) of the inserted section 110, I request that the Clerk be directed to insert the word \"in\" between the words \"referred to\" and \" section 109 \", so that it will now read as \"referred to in section 109 \".  Third, in respect of Seanad amendment No. 111 in paragraph (f) of the inserted section 117, the cross-reference to \" paragraph (a) \" should read as \" paragraph (d) \". I request that the Clerk be directed to correct this erroneous reference. Finally, in respect of Seanad amendment No. 258 contained on the first substitute list of amendments dated 14 April 2026, in paragraph (a) clause (ii) the cross-reference in the inserted paragraph (b) to \" section 144(e) \" of the Bill should read as \" section 144(1)(e) \". I request that the Clerk be directed to insert this missing reference to subsection (1). "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Pursuant to Standing Order 203, I hereby direct the Clerk to incorporate the four corrections requested. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The D\u00e1il went into Committee to consider amendments from the Seanad."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 1:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2: In page 17, between lines 6 and 7, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c \u201cAct of 1995\u201d means the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995;\u201d."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I propose that amendments Nos. 1, 6 to 8, inclusive, 18 to 20, inclusive, 22, 23, 117, 141 to 145, inclusive, 147 and 148 be taken together. Those amendments relate to the introduction of legal counselling for applicants for international protection as is required by the Asylum Procedures Regulation and the Asylum and Migration Management Regulation.  A key factor in creating a more effective international protection system is ensuring that from the earliest stages of the process applicants are sufficiently informed about asylum procedures and their rights and obligations. The Bill will achieve this through the delivery of legal counselling. Legal counselling is the provision of information, guidance or assistance to applicants on matters related to the application procedure. This will help applicants to be informed about legal issues that may arise in the course of the procedure and ensure they know what to expect during the process. Legal counselling is not a replacement for legal advice or legal representation, which applicants may still choose to avail of just as they can under the existing system.  I have brought forward amendments to provide for legal counselling on Committee Stage in the Seanad following extensive consultation with the Office of Parliamentary Counsel, the Office of the Attorney General and the Legal Aid Board. The definition of legal counselling will ensure that legal counselling will be provided in line with the regulations of the European Union while not being limited to only being provided by a solicitor or barrister. The Legal Aid Board shall appoint persons that it considers to be sufficiently knowledgeable and experienced in asylum procedures to deliver legal counselling. The definition for legal counselling I have provided will enhance the effectiveness of the system of legal assistance we currently have in place without disturbing it, and it ensures that procedures under the Asylum Procedures Regulation and the Asylum and Migration Management Regulation are fully accounted for. I also state that the pact already provides that legal counselling is to be provided free of charge.  Amendment No. 23 will introduce a new section establishing an applicant\u2019s right to consult legal representatives. Applicants may obtain legal advice at any stage during the procedure in respect of their application to determine the member state responsible under the Asylum and Migration Management Regulation or in respect of an appeal. Legal advice is given the same meaning as it has under the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015 and may be provided by a practising solicitor or barrister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I will make a couple of broad remarks that I think have been emphasised by the fact that at this Stage, the last Stage in the Oireachtas, the Minister has to bring forward further, albeit technical, changes to this legislation. The Minister's entire approach to this legislation has verged on the reckless. It is absolutely reckless in terms of his refusal to allow proper scrutiny of a piece of legislation that he has described as the most comprehensive legislation dealing with migration in decades. The approach has been guided not by what is in the best interests of the Irish people or delivering an international protection system that works and resolves the dysfunction that the parties of Government have created, but has been directed solely and entirely by the need to live up to the provisions of the EU migration and asylum pact.  This is a pact which Sinn F\u00e9in told the Government there was no need to sign up to and which undermines Irish sovereignty and our ability to manage our migration system. It is a pact that takes no account of the unique circumstances of this nation, which is a nation divided, with one part within the European Union's structures and the other part operating outside them. It is a pact that takes no account of the fact that we operate within a common travel area with a state that is not part of the EU framework or part of the pact.  In its efforts to through bull a Bill with the sole intention of adhering to the terms of the EU pact, the Government has been absolutely haphazard in its approach. It has undermined the role of Oireachtas at every turn. I will remind the House of that approach. The first stage was the heads of the Bill being brought before the Joint Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration. In an effort to try to facilitate the Department with what is comprehensive legislation, the committee tried to deal with it as quickly as possible. The testimony and written submissions of all the witnesses may have come from different perspectives, but they all agreed that the Government\u2019s approach was shambolic, that the heads of the Bill were incomplete and that this would not allow proper scrutiny to take place. The pre-legislative scrutiny report agreed across party lines set out very clearly that the decision of the Government to tie us in, lock, stock and barrel, to the EU migration and asylum pact was completely wrong, called on the Government parties to try to reconsider and set out very clearly that the gaps in the heads of the Bill meant it was not possible to carry out pre-legislative scrutiny.  The Government ignored all of that and brought forward a comprehensive 200-page Bill. Before the D\u00e1il had even finished the Second Stage debate, the deadline for amendments had already passed. As a result, Second Stage counted for nothing. It did not matter what any Member of this House contributed to that debate, including, perhaps, inspiring amendments from either the Government or the Opposition. It was all just a box-ticking exercise.  The list of proposed Committee Stage amendments was as comprehensive as you will see, but the Government guillotined the debate and refused to allow the amendments to be discussed and analysed in the place where they should have been, which is the committee rooms of these Houses. The Government guillotined and curtailed the debate on the legislation. This was despite the fact most of the amendments to the Bill, which had just gone through Second Stage, were put forward by the Minister. Despite there being numerous important amendments that this House should have had the opportunity to discuss, the Minister refused to allow that to happen and, indeed, criticised Members of this House for spending too long, as he saw it, discussing some amendments. Those amendments, if I may remind the Minister, related to community engagement, community impact assessment and to the gross profiteering taking place within the international protection and accommodation system and the obscene amount of being spent on that accommodation. Last year alone, \u20ac1.3 billion, for which there is no transparency or accountability, was spent on IPAS accommodation. There were amendments to address the failings of the legislation and the EU pact and to address the glaring black hole that is the common travel area and its implications for the Bill. The Minister criticised Members for spending time discussing those amendments when it was he who refused to allow them be debated in committee, and he then imposed a guillotine.  The Bill then went to the Seanad. It is now back here for a debate that will last just three hours. What has the Minister brought forward? There are 90 pages of amendments. Who are they from? Some 267 of them have been tabled by the Minister. This is the final part of the debate on the Bill. Once again, rather than detailed scrutiny, that debate is to be limited to three hours. That is absolutely disgraceful. The Minister has brought forward technical amendments, but there is no way the public can be confident that there are not other gaps in the legislation. The difficulty is that after today, the next gap or gaps - and they will probably be glaring gaps - will be identified not by an elected representative of the people but by a judge in the High Court. I have predicted on every Stage that this legislation and the Minister\u2019s approach to it are going to result in High Court cases. I believe some of them will be successful. There is no way anybody can say that there has been proper democratic scrutiny of this legislation because the Government has prevented it. Ultimately, this will result in infringement proceedings at European Commission level because the Minister has included provisions in this legislation that he has no ability to deliver. There is no confidence regarding the time it takes to process applications and to do so fairly. All the evidence in this regard points to a dysfunction that is embedded in the IPAS system. There is not a chance that anybody can have confidence in decisions being enforced. As for any prospect that the matter of the obscene sums of money that have been spent and, I would argue, wasted as a result of the Government's mismanagement will be addressed, nobody can have confidence that this will happen because it has refused, time and again, to put in place mechanisms that will allow transparency in the form of the publication of IPAS contracts and to allow communities to have a real say in what happens.  Something incredibly interesting from the past couple of weeks was seeing Simon Harris - he was actually having a go at the Minister - saying communities should have a say in what happens in their areas in the context of IPAS centres. He voted against amendments to that effect in this House just a number of weeks ago, but the good news is that, if we get to it, there is an amendment today that will allow that very provision. What he says is his affair, but it might be just another case of Simon says one thing and Simon does the exact opposite. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Address the amendments, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  This is verging on a charade. There has been no democratic scrutiny of this Bill. It is the Minister\u2019s Bill and his alone. He has been locked into a position by the previous Government to sign us up to a pact with no consideration whatsoever for its implications. Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael signed us up to the EU migration and asylum pact not because they thought it would lead to a more efficient system or resolve the dysfunction in the system but simply so they could say in advance of a general election they were doing something about migration when they are doing absolutely nothing.  The Minister has concentrated his entire Department\u2019s resources on a single Bill. He is forcing staff and officials to rush from one Stage to another. On every Stage, the legislation has required substantive change. The difficulty is that after today, whatever changes are going to be made will not by made by representatives acting on behalf of the Irish people but by officials within the European Commission or by a High Court judge.  I wanted to put those things on record because it is crucially important and the public deserves to know the Government is adopting the exact same shambolic approach to the international protection legislation as it has to the international protection system. That system has led to serious disquiet and division within communities and enriched a very small number of people at the expense of those who are seeking international protection and the communities affected by decisions made by this Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  This Bill has the potential to not only be a disaster but to be a disaster in a way that impacts the lives of people in this State who are very vulnerable. I want to make it clear right from the off that when this fails - and I have no doubt it is going to fail - it will be the Minister's failure and his alone. This is without question some of the most important legislation we will deal with in this D\u00e1il term, but from the very first moment the Minister has behaved in a way that was dismissive of the justice committee and has been extraordinarily vague about some of the most important aspects of the Bill. During pre-legislative scrutiny, I sat aghast while NGOs and legal bodies talked about the omissions from the Bill. On Second Stage, we tried to make it somewhat better but the Minister brought it into the D\u00e1il rather than give proper select committee scrutiny of it. He knew that the implications of doing so were that we would not get to discuss all the gaps or all the amendments.  I had more than 100 amendments and I think we got to two of them. That is grossly insulting to the process and to the importance of the issue. There was a point where we could have had a really engaging and constructive debate on this in the Chamber. Deputy Carthy would probably disagree on a lot in terms of our approach to this area but what we will agree on fundamentally is that this was an incredibly undemocratic way to approach such important legislation. The Minister has tabled 90 amendments in a three-hour debate. In the Minister's estimation, how many of these amendments does he think we will get to and that are worthy of being scrutinised? The people elected us to assess laws and carry out proper scrutiny but, once again, on this Stage, when the Bill has come back from the Seanad, there are 90 amendments and three hours for debate knowing full well we will never get to discuss them.  Even if we talk about legal counselling, which the Minister brought up in the first amendment, it is still incredibly watery and vague and mostly undefined. There is no clarity on standards, on who will deliver it or on accountability. This has been raised time and again. In the Seanad, Senator Patricia Stephenson set a very basic and reasonable standard, in that legal counselling should be delivered by a qualified legal professional, individually and in-person and, crucially, that it was not to be a substitute for legal representation. These amendments were the bare minimum but we are still struggling.  There are factors such as family reunification. Refugee family reunification is genuinely one of the cruellest aspects of these measures. In all of the time we have had to discuss this Bill in the D\u00e1il, we have never gotten around to discussing an amendment relating to this or the policy itself because there has been so little time. I heard the Minister speaking in the media and he talked about the fact we had three different sessions and everybody had an opportunity to contribute but he knew full well that was not the case. There was not proper scrutiny of legislation. This is not a way of doing business and when this fails, it will be the Minister's failure. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  The Minister has had a bad oul week and a half. This is bad as well. He will not have to bring in the Army for this one but you never know. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  An army of lawyers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  He will have an army of lawyers coming in. I jokingly suggested to the Minister before that he may prove to be the Manchurian candidate for the legal profession because, I will be honest with him, I do not think there is a hope in hell of this Bill working in the manner in which it has been presented. It is deeply confusing at times. Even with the some of current amendments, you could read through them and get a different view of what they mean the more you read them. That is just bad legislation. I have been knocking around here for nearly 20 years and this is one of the worst pieces of legislation I have ever seen drafted and it is because of political direction, not because of the people who are doing the drafting. That is on the Minister's head.  We will be repeating what we have been saying here in the not too distant future because my colleagues who have spoken before me - I will not stress it again - have said how this has disregarded the democratic process, how we have not gotten through amendments and how the whole way in which this has been brought before the Houses has been a disgrace. That is all true but the ultimate thing is that this is the Minister's legislation and it is on his head. It is bad legislation. It is not going to work.  There are so many people who have contacted probably all of us here. They are pointing out that they do not understand many components of this legislation and how they will work them. The Minister cannot say he has not been warned and time will tell whether he will be playing back what the three Deputies here, including myself, have said, that this is not good legislation. This is not the way to treat the Houses of the Oireachtas. It was impossible to scrutinise this and to go through all of its components. Definitions are confusing. The make-up of the Bill itself is even confusing. If we are confused, I do not know where it will go outside.  When it comes to the issue of legal counselling, as I said before, my party is not shy of the legal profession either, and the Minister would know many of them. Essentially, they believe, with the amendments coming forward and the definitions, that it is even more confusing now. It is watery. As to where the legal parameters are as regards legal advice and legal counsel, I do not know why it was continued with and why we even bother with legal counsel. Why do we have this makey-uppy thing? We all know how to define legal advice but legal counsel is not defined in a way that it understandable. It is a makey-uppy term and we know the reasons for that but it is not acceptable. It will ensure there are huge legal challenges across the many stages for people who are seeking protection and it will make a lot of money for a lot of people in the Minister's former profession. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I want to thank the three Deputies for their contributions, which I listened to very carefully. At the outset, I wish to say that the Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, and I realise this is extremely challenging and complicated legislation before the Houses. Nothing we can do can remove the complicated nature of the legislation. It just is the case that with the international protection system, the asylum system, that is operating not just in Ireland or in other EU countries but throughout the world where many asylum applicants come from, there is an enormously complicated legal system in place for the purpose of dealing with those asylum applications. Part of the reason for that is that we are dealing with the rights of individuals and we want to try to ensure there is fairness for individuals who have applied for international protection and asylum. At the same time, we have to ensure there is balance as well in protecting the interests of the state that is receiving those applicants.  We know from the international protection system we operate at present under the 2015 legislation that it is also extremely complicated legislation. It is not anywhere near as lengthy as this but the reason this legislation is lengthy is that we are trying to consolidate in one piece of legislation how Ireland will respond to people who come to make an application here for international protection. One of the reasons the Bill is very lengthy is that we have decided to include within the legislation, for instance, the reception conditions directive and the requirements that are on Ireland as a State when a person comes into Ireland claiming asylum. Previously, that was dealt with through secondary legislation. It was not debated in the House; it was just a statutory instrument that was signed by the Minister. I could have done that again but I believed it was more appropriate to have it within the main body of the primary legislation.  I do appreciate the complexity, length and detail of the legislation and it is challenging for all of us. It is challenging for the Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, for me and for officials in my Department and I appreciate it is challenging for Opposition Deputies. I do not say this in a patronising way but I commend the diligence of the three Deputies from the Opposition who have been here all of the time as the legislation has gone through the House.  Deputy Carthy stated at the outset that the fact I am bringing forward technical changes at this final stage is an example of the recklessness and flawed nature of the legislation. I think that is excessive, and I do listen to what Deputy Carthy has to say. Remember this Bill is around 270 pages long and has over 313 sections. The four technical changes I am making are as follows: first, I am putting in a comma; second, I am inserting the word \"in\"; third, I am changing the letter \"a\" to \"d\"; and finally, I am inserting the number \"1\" after section 144. I do not think that is reckless.  I will not go back to them but Deputy Carthy mentioned issues about the pact. I have set out my views in respect of that before.  No matter whether we are in the EU migration pact or not, we still have to deal with individuals coming into Ireland who claim asylum. We saw that the UK decided to get out not just of the pact but out of the EU and its issues in respect of international protection have not in any way been reduced. However, we did - I commended the Deputy and the other Members here before - have a very thorough pre-legislative scrutiny process. We had a Second Stage debate here that went on over three days. I accept that the Committee Stage hearings were truncated because they were held on the floor of the House as opposed to the committee room. I am not asking the Deputies to agree with this but everyone in this House knows that if it had gone to Committee Stage in the committee room, it would have taken weeks if not months to get through.  We can discuss important issues that are dealt with in the amendments. For instance, the amendment we are talking about now concerns legal counselling. All three Deputies said that this would end up in the courts. As sure as night follows day, it is going to end up in the courts. There is no doubt about that but the success or effectiveness of a piece of legislation is not measured by whether it ends up in the courts. The reason it will end up in the courts is this is a highly litigious area and it is new legislation. When there is legislation of this complexity and length, Deputy Kelly is right - lawyers will be parsing it to see if there are any inconsistencies or failings. If the test was not to introduce legislation if it was going to be brought before the courts, we would do nothing in this House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  No. You have to play the percentages. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  The current legislation is much shorter. In fact, I think Deputy Kelly was in government when the International Protection Act 2015 was enacted. If one looks at the judgments of the superior courts, there are endless judgments on the international protection system that operates in Ireland at present - people challenging it by way of judicial review and challenging the executive operation of it. It is a very litigious area because of the large number of people coming in and the very high proportion of refusals. There would not be any legal challenges if nobody was refused. There is a high level of refusals and because of that, people challenge it.  On legal counselling, I am conscious people may say it is inappropriate that legal counselling is not provided by qualified solicitors or barristers. I disagree. There are very many people able to provide legal counselling in respect of the procedures that apply in an area in which they have expertise. I believe this is one of them. If one looks at the definition set out in a later amendment, No. 7, there is a very clear definition of what legal counselling is. It means \"any guidance, information or assistance given to an applicant on matters relating to the application procedure by a person appointed under\" the legislation. It sets out that it will be guidance on the procedure and assistance with the lodging of an application, guidance on the different procedures, rules relating to admissibility, legal issues arising in the course of the procedure, guidance on and explanation of the criteria and procedure for determining the member state responsible, and issues such as that. That will be provided through Legal Aid Board. If they are not qualified solicitors or barristers, they will be very well trained paralegals who will be able to provide that assistance. That is something we provide to people bringing applications and as it gets to people appealing, there is an obligation to provide more by way of legal services. I recall we had a lengthy debate on Second Stage about legal counselling. Deputy Gannon understandably asked what it was about and where the term \"legal counselling\" came from. I have now set out a definition. It is a good definition of how information and counselling can be provided in circumstances where applications are being made. In many instances, although it is an area of great complexity in the law, the process of applying for asylum is relatively straightforward. A person has to recount the reasons they are fleeing persecution or war and why Ireland should provide them with asylum. Those are the basic tenets of it. One does not need to be an extraordinarily qualified lawyer to explain that to the individual or to advise them of the procedures. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Amendments Nos. 2, 4, 9, 21, 28, 224, 230 and 260 are related and will be discussed together. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 2:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2: In page 17, between lines 11 and 12, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c \u201cAct of 2018\u201d means the Data Protection Act 2018;\u201d."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  What we are doing here is putting in a definition of the Data Protection Act 2018. As I indicated, some of these are very minor technical amendments. The main amendment in this group is amendment No. 230, which proposes the insertion of a new section 224 to provide for the sharing of information by relevant bodies. The purpose of the new section is to make clear provision for the sharing of information, including personal data by public bodies for the purpose of carrying out functions under this Bill. Provision is made for necessary safeguards. Information may be shared under the new section only to the extent that it is necessarily and proportionate and subject to suitable and specific measures being taken to safeguard the fundamental rights and freedoms of data subjects in processing the personal data. Where information is shared under the new section, the relevant body with which it is shared may only use the information for the purpose of the performance by it of its functions and only to the extent necessary and proportionate for that purpose.  The proposed new section will enable the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to make regulations in relation to information sharing for the purposes of this Bill. Relevant principles and policies to govern the exercise of the regulation-making power are included. The Minister will be required to have regard to the need to safeguard the fundamental rights and freedoms of data subjects and to specify suitable and specific measures to safeguard these fundamental rights and freedoms of data subjects in the sharing of personal data. Relevant bodies will be permitted to enter into data sharing agreements subject to safeguards corresponding to those in the Data Sharing and Governance Act 2019. The sharing of personal data relating to applicants for international protection and beneficiaries of temporary protection is governed by a number of existing enactments. It is clearly stated that this new section is not intended to affect the operation of other enactments that permit or require data collection or data sharing.  The other amendments in this group are consequential on amendment No. 230. The purpose of these amendments is to ensure consistency in the references in the Bill to the Data Protection Act 2018 and the general data protection regulation. These amendments also clarify the definitions of information and data as used in the Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call Deputy Gannon. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  This might be the last time the Minister answers the question here. One of the problems I have with the Bill in its totality is the fact the Minister has accepted and said previously that some 90% or more of people who claim asylum here come through the common travel area. In a scenario where somebody is coming through the common travel area, that person does not tell us where the first nation he or she is fleeing from is. What information would be used to establish where that person may have come from previously if he or she came through the common travel area but has not given any other information beyond that? That is particularly relevant when it comes to detention. How would the Minister establish where that person came from, if he or she came through the common travel area, and how would that work for the purpose of detention? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I thank the Deputy very much for his question. Obviously, in the first instance, when people arrive into Ireland claiming international protection, they are checked on Eurodac and they are screened. In respect of those processes, they are required to give biometric data. They get their fingerprints taken, they get their faces photographed and other information is taken in respect of them. They set out where they have come from. That is their objective. They have to say where they have come from. They have to set out the narrative of which country they came from but also in terms of the countries through which they travelled. The advantage of having Eurodac is that it will provide us with information as to whether or not an applicant was, in fact, in another EU country. The UK does not have access to Eurodac. It is not on it, although it is very interested and keen to gain access to it. However, there is going to be the sharing of some information with the UK and, in many instances, we will be able to identify whether the person has come from the UK. If a person comes from the UK, it can be the case that we determine his or her application to be inadmissible but there is a process in that to determine the inadmissibility of it. Then, even if we do determine inadmissibility, there is the issue about trying to return the individual. However, the way we would get the information is through asking the person the question, and we assume that the information we are going to be given is accurate and honest. The systems we also have access to include Eurodac. There are other systems as well that will provide information in respect to the individuals that will give us an indication as to the pathway of their journey through Europe. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  In respect of the amendments regarding the Data Protection Act, of course, it is imperative that the full information in terms of decision-making in respect of individuals applying for international protection is known to the Department and that there is the ability to fully appraise the history insofar as it matters for an application of the applicant. As the Minister knows, that is why I have supported signing up to the Eurodac regulation. In that sense and in that instance, it makes sense that we would have the ability to share information with other EU states.  The Minister has highlighted a glaring deficiency, in that, as Deputy Gannon has said, it is broadly accepted that the majority of IPAS applicants at this stage probably come through the common travel area. However, we cannot say with any certainty in what proportion. As I say, the Minister's analysis assumes that everybody who does not claim international protection at one of our ports or airports must have come through the common travel area. There is a fundamental flaw with that. International evidence suggests that a portion - which varies, and sometimes the variations can be quite big - of international protection applicants who arrive to the State with a valid visa but for another reason, in the first instance, subsequently claim international protection, as is their right under international law. It is nonsensical and hard to believe that the Minister's Department does not compile information on the numbers of people who enter the State visa-free or with short-term travel visas, student permits or employment permits. We need that information. If we are talking about having a managed migration system, we need to understand all of that. The Minister seems to be indicating he has that information but he will not share it with me. I have asked him plenty of times by way of parliamentary questions. His Department tells me that the information is not available and, while it is compiled on individual applications, it is not collated. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I ask the Deputy to stick to the amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I am. This is in respect of data. There are a number of amendments there. If the Ceann Comhairle wants to go through them all, she can figure it out while I ramble on. I was coming to an end anyway.  Of course, none of us, nor the public, need to know personal information, but the Department needs to have it comprehensively. In terms of general information and data, the Government needs to be much better at sharing it with the public. The Minister made a statement. He or his predecessor said that 90% of applicants were coming through the common travel area. Will he acknowledge that there is no way he can say that unless he has the information that I sought and that his Department told me does not exist. Is the Minister going to ensure that information is going to be collated and published, and, if so, when? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  The Deputies have accurately summarised the basis on which we think that 90% of applicants come in over the Border with Northern Ireland. These are people who apply at the office and do not apply at our ports. It is, therefore, a reasonable assumption that a significant majority are coming over the Border.  Deputy Carthy makes the point that individuals who were given work visas to come here might then subsequently claim international protection. That is correct. It is important to point out, obviously, that the State has that information about an individual. If an individual came to Ireland on a student application or visa application and was granted that visa and then when it came to an end, the person were to claim international protection, the persons in the IPO determining the decision would be aware that, previously, he or she was granted a visa and came here to study or work, and will see the narrative of the basis upon which the application for that visa was granted. That information is available. It is important that we retain that information on an individual basis.  We can try to accurately specify the exact numbers coming in over the Border. However, as Deputy Carthy knows, the only way we are going to be able to do that is by checking people at the Border. I know he does not want that to happen. The only way this State is going to know how many people are coming from Northern Ireland into the Republic and claiming asylum is by stopping people and checking and by asking to see their passports. If they are Irish citizens, there is no issue. We could get information that way but no one in this House wants that. It is a consequence of partition. The way we resolve it is to say that the UK, including Northern Ireland, which is a part of it, is a safe third country. When this legislation is enacted, I will, based on the information I have already and that will be presented to me, I assume, be designating the UK as a safe third country. That is the procedural mechanism by which we seek to deal with the numbers coming over the Border. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  As it relates to the amendment relating to sharing data, if a person flies from his or her home country outside the EU straight to the UK and then arrives here through the common travel area, he or she is not going to feature in any Eurodac database. What information would potentially be shared with the UK and under what regulation or law would that be done as it pertains to this legislation? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  To fly from a country outside the EU into the UK, you would need a visa to enter the UK. If you are coming, say, from an Asian or African country, where there are a lot of international protection applicants, in general, you will need a visa. There are some countries for which the UK provides lots of visas. You can see that in our numbers. I am not going to start naming countries now because people will say I am picking on one country, but there are certain countries to which the UK readily gives out visas. The numbers of people from those countries applying for international protection in Ireland are quite high and we believe there is a correlation in respect of that.  To answer the Deputy's question, there is a lot of co-operation between the Home Office and the Department of Justice. They have access to some information in respect of EU applications, but the Deputy's question was about somebody who does not initially go near the EU but goes from a country outside the EU into the UK and then across the Border. If somebody comes down here and indicates that he or she has come from the UK, there is a mechanism for us to apply to the UK to find out information about that person. There is sharing of information. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  The Minister is missing the point I was making about the collation of data. On one hand, he is saying that when applicants make an application and give their background and history, we take them at face value. The initial assumption is that they are telling the truth. On the other hand, he is saying that we cannot know unless there is control on the Border.  The point I am making is that if we are to have a properly managed migration system, which I think everyone agrees we need even if they disagree about what it might look like, it means that in respect of international protection, it is important that to the best of the State's ability we get the personal information that is required to process the applications and the general information and statistical data to inform public policy. Therefore, it is, insofar as it is possible, important to know what states people have come from and what states they have transited through, and then the issues in respect of returns regulations and safe third countries can apply. It is equally important that we would have the information in respect of other mechanisms by which people apply for international protection. As I say, I have submitted quite a number of parliamentary questions. I have, as one must when one is dealing with the Minister's Department, tried rewording things in 15 different ways before the Department answers the question that it knew was being asked in the first place. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I also made a freedom of information, FOI, application after I asked those 15 or 20 different parliamentary questions. I got a response yesterday to my request for the number of IP applicants who had transited through another mechanism. The reply to the freedom of information request stated the Department does not have that information and that it would be too burdensome to collate it. Is that the truth? Does the Minister have the information on the number of IP applicants who previously came on other types of visas? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I do not think that information is relevant to the amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  It absolutely is. If we are talking about----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  We are not asking for that today. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  This is not the first time I have asked for the information. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I appreciate that, but this is not the place to ask. We are speaking to the amendments. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I know, but----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I appreciate the Deputy did not get an answer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  -----we are not going to get to all the amendments because the Minister has guillotined this Stage, as he has all other Stages. I am asking this at this point. I would like clarification.  Does the Minister agree that information would be helpful for guiding public policy and, if so, will he ensure it is collated and published? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I will deal with something Deputy Carthy said at the outset. He said we take at face value what applicants say. I am conscious that could be misrepresented. It is not correct. What people put down on their forms is part of the information processing, but we do not just accept, because they say they have come from Syria and are fleeing persecution, that they are fleeing persecution. The whole process is to probe that. It is important to say we do not take at face value what they say and accept it; it is tested. However, a lot of the information we rely upon and interrogate is provided by the applicant.  On the issue Deputy Carthy raised about whether we should be collating information to try to find out how many Irish visa holders claimed international protection, we know the general scheme. The general assessment is that it is about 90%. We know that a significant majority of people claiming international protection----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  How do you know? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  We know because there is a lot of information in the Department and for a wide variety of reasons. We know individually. If people have a visa application in Ireland, when they apply for international protection we will know they had a visa previously. We have access to the information, but what Deputy Carthy is asking us to do is to set up a process of collating all that information. There is a huge amount of work going on and we have to be selective about which information we collate. Let us imagine I issue an instruction for that information to be collated and we get it. It will tell us that a significant majority of people are coming in over the border. We know that. I need to deal with that as opposed to trying to confirm what we know already. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  On that point, the Minister said we know it is 90%. We do not know that. I accept that it is probably the case that a large proportion, if not a majority and perhaps even a substantial majority, of people who claim international protection come via the common travel area. It is one of the reasons we tabled amendments in respect of the common travel area, which the Minister rejected. I have been rightly critical - and will be vindicated as such - of the fact that the Minister is prioritising this legislation rather than pursuing a bilateral agreement with Britain.  However, we need to know exactly, percentage-wise, year-on-year, because that is how public policy is decided and developed. Likewise - and I hope I am not too far out because I am trying to think from memory - my understanding is that in one year in Britain, for example, it transpired after analysis that 3% of international protection applicants had previously entered the British state with an education visa. That allowed its Parliament to examine the education visa system to ensure it was robust and could not be used as a back door to bypass employment visa regulations or the international protection system.  The Minister says we know whether people originally came on an education, employment or tourism visa, but the fact he will not collate that makes it more difficult for the Houses of the Oireachtas to analyse whether there are areas in public policy that need to be addressed to ensure we have a migration system that is fit for purpose. It is one of the very many areas in which the lack of information and due diligence on the part of the Minister's Department means that public discourse takes place in a vacuum. People can go on Facebook and say that 80% of people who come as tourists from a particular state subsequently seek international protection and no Member of this House can say with certainty that it is downright false because we do not have the information because the Minister's Department will not publish it. I ask again. Will the Minister ensure his Department collates that type of information and publishes it to Members of this House so we can be better guided in public policy discourse? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Is Deputy Gannon speaking on the same point? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  No. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Would the Minister like to answer that? No, go ahead Deputy Gannon. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  Do we have data for how many people arrive and claim asylum here, presumably from the common travel area, who do not feature in the Eurodac database? Presumably we at least have that information. This will become quite important when it comes to which data we share with the UK.  The Minister said a few minutes ago that he will soon legislate to make the UK a safe third country. I appreciate he can legislate all he wants for that, but the UK has been explicit that it will not take returns of migrants or refugees. That will create a significant lacuna in the law which I worry about the consequence of because, we will get to it shortly, but we are legislating for detention here also and detention of minors, so that will create a real gap in the law that none of this is addressing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I thought one thing Deputy Carthy and I agreed on was that the overwhelming majority of people who claim asylum in the Republic come through the common travel area. I thought we agreed on that. Yes, we do not have the exact specifics on it----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  But I want the exact specifics and the Minister should as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I thought we agreed on it. Is he now saying that is not correct, that it is not the case that the majority of people come through the common travel area? We strongly believe it is. We do not have the data he is talking about collating. I will talk to senior officials in the Department about it but I suspect it will be a huge amount of effort to collate information which ultimately will not have a huge impact on public policy because it will not undermine the fact that the significant majority of people - probably more than 85% to 90% - come through the UK.  This leads me on to Deputy Gannon's question. If he looks at the nationalities of the people coming to Ireland - each week I publish details of the numbers of people coming in - they are coming predominantly from four or five countries which are consistently near the top. I will not name them here again. In assessing those applications, work is done to determine whether they are from people who previously had visas granted to them by the UK. Many of them do not appear to be people who were granted visas because we know the nationalities. There is one exception. There is one country, where the UK hands out a lot of visas to people from those countries for study and that may have an impact. They may be coming here as a result, but for the other main countries it is not usual for the UK to give out large numbers of visas in respect of them.  On what Deputy Gannon said about returns, the point he emphasised emphasises to me the need for Ireland to be part of a returns regulation that at present is the subject of a proposal by the Commission. It is important that we have a mechanism to deal with individuals who have claimed asylum and have been adjudicated not to be entitled to it. That is a problem no matter what we do. For it to work efficiently - and it does not at present - there must be a returns process as provided for under the Dublin III regulation. Every European country says that Dublin III does not work. That is why work is ongoing in the Commission to put in place an effective returns regulation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I know the Minister does not listen to me, but------ "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I do listen "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  -----I would love for him to listen to himself sometimes, because he has just set out a paradox in terms of his position. He said his Department publishes the nationalities of people seeking international protection on a weekly basis and, on the other hand, he said it would be too burdensome for his Department to collate and publish their origin in terms of visa route. The information would be in exactly the same place. It would be in the application that was made. When people make an application, they state whether they have been in the State on another visa or come through a third country and what the country of origin was. It is just a matter of changing the software so the information is collated. If there is a logical reason - other than it being too much hassle - not to publish this information, the Minister should just say so. This is the problem.  With no disrespect to anyone in the Minister's Department, the Irish public does not trust the Department to manage migration. They certainly do not trust it to manage international protection and the more areas the Minister hides from accountability and transparency and the divulging of information, the more it is so. No one wants information about individuals or families; of course not. That is not what we are talking about. We are talking about general information to inform public policy. I have said it again. The Minister clearly does not listen to me because I have said about six times during the course of all these debates that I accept it is very likely that a significant proportion of international applicants come through the common travel area.  I accept it is probably a majority and potentially a substantial majority. I accept all of those things. However, the truth of the matter is I cannot say that for sure because the Minister will not give me the evidence that would allow someone to say that for sure. I am not the person who points and says figures like 90%, 85% or 80%. It is the Minister for justice and different Government Ministers who repeatedly cite different figures, which is a bit bizarre in itself. The Minister keeps repeating that but will not provide the public with the data. He says, \"Oh well, we can deduct that, take A from B and end up with C\", which allows us to think this is probably the situation.  It just points to the dysfunction. It points to a haphazard approach that has been the hallmark of how this system has been managed and has led to all the public distrust in the system. What I am trying to do is encourage the Minister to change the approach. Get away from the secrecy. Get away from building walls between information and the public and start building trust again in this area. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Does the Minister wish to respond? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I do not wish to respond but I will take it on board. I listened to what Deputy Carthy had to say. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  We move now to Seanad amendment No. 3. Amendments Nos. 3, 10 to 12, inclusive, 15, 24, 57, 61, 124, 125, 149 to 156 inclusive, 171 to 174, inclusive, 203, 204, 207 to 211, inclusive, 220 to 223, inclusive, 225 to 227, inclusive, and 265 to 267, inclusive, are all related and will be discussed together. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 3:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2: In page 18, line 3, after \u201c2013\/32\/EU\u201d to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c, as amended by Regulation (EU) 2026\/463 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 February 2026 and Regulation (EU) 2026\/464 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 February 2026\u201d."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  They are technical drafting amendments to improve the clarity of the text and correct cross-references and minor errors. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 4:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2: In page 20, line 4, after \u201c \u201cinformation\u201d \u201d to insert \u201c, other than in section 224 ,\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Seanad amendment Nos. 5, 13, 14, 29 to 56, inclusive, 116 and 229 are related and will be discussed together. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 5:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2: In page 20, between lines 11 and 12, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c \u201cinternational protection guardian\u201d has the meaning that \u201cguardian\u201d has in the Qualification Regulation;\u201d."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  Amendment No. 5 defines the phrase \"international protection guardian\" for the purposes of section 2. Later proposed amendments to the Children First Act 2015 and the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012 will rely on this definition. Amendments No. 13 and 14 are technical amendments that provide for updated cross-references within the Bill. Amendment No. 29 provides for the designation of the competent authority in respect of representatives for unaccompanied minors. Amendment No. 30 is an amendment that clarifies the notification procedure when it comes to the attention of a relevant body that an applicant may be an unaccompanied minor.  Amendment No. 31 is a technical amendment. The provision for presumption of minority for the purposes of the Child Care Act 1991 is no longer necessary due to amendment No. 242, which provides for the amendment of the Child Care Act 1991 to insert a provision for a presumption of minority. Therefore, the current section 42(5) is no longer necessary.  Amendments Nos. 32, 34 and 36 are technical amendments related to the improved layout of the chapter. The text proposed to be deleted is now provided for more coherently as a part of the revised section 47 set out in amendment No. 44. Amendments Nos. 33 and 35 are technical drafting amendments to improve the clarity of the text.  Amendment No. 37 recognises section 44 to clarify the procedure for representative organisations to appoint provisional representatives and representatives. Amendments Nos. 38 to 41, inclusive, is a technical amendment which adds clarity to section 44.  Amendment No. 42 facilitates the work of representatives by providing them with access to the unaccompanied minors file. Amendment No. 43 is related to amendment No. 42 and facilitates the work of representatives by ensuring they are provided with the decisions and determinations sent to unaccompanied minors.  Amendment No. 44 replaces section 47 with a clarified text that more effectively describes the functions of provisional representatives and representatives. The text now emphasises the central function of the representative in safeguarding the best interest and well-being of the unaccompanied minors as well as setting out the case load, independence and training requirements to be applied. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 6:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2: In page 20, to delete lines 14 and 15."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 7:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2: In page 20, between lines 15 and 16, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c \u201clegal counselling\u201d means any guidance, information or assistance given to an applicant on matters relating to the application procedure by a person appointed under section 11B(1) of the Act of 1995 to provide legal counselling and shall include:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) guidance on, and explanation of, the procedure in respect of an application, including information on the rights and obligations of the applicant during that procedure;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) assistance with the lodging of an application;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(c) guidance on:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(i) the different procedures under which an application may be examined and the reasons for the use of those procedures;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(ii) the rules related to the admissibility of an application;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(iii) legal issues arising in the course of the procedure under which the application is examined including information on how to make an appeal (within the meaning of Part 6 or section 82, as the case may be);"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(iv) guidance on and explanation of the criteria and procedure for determining the Member State responsible in accordance with Part 4 and the Asylum and Migration Management Regulation, including information on rights and obligations during all stages of that procedure;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(v) guidance on and assistance with providing information that could help determine the Member State responsible in accordance with the criteria set out in Chapter II of Part III of the Asylum and Migration Management Regulation;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(vi) guidance and assistance on the template referred to in Article 22(1) of the Asylum and Migration Management Regulation;\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 8:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2: In page 20, line 16, to delete \u201cmeans a practising solicitor or a practising barrister\u201d and substitute \u201cshall be construed in accordance with section 28 \u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 9:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2: In page 20, between lines 32 and 33, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c \u201cpersonal data\u201d means personal data as defined in Article 4 of the Data Protection Regulation;\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 10:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2: In page 21, line 13, to delete \u201cor\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 11:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2: In page 21, line 16, to delete \u201cdeclaration;\u201d and substitute \u201cdeclaration, or\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 12:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2: In page 21, between lines 16 and 17, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(f) an application by a person under Regulation 4 of the European Communities (Eligibility for Protection) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 518 of 2006) in respect of which the Minister has determined that the person is not a person eligible for subsidiary protection;\u201d"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 13:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2: In page 21, line 25, to delete \u201csection 44(a)\u201d and substitute \u201c section 44(1) \u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 14:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2: In page 22, line 17, to delete \u201c section 44(b) \u201d and substitute \u201c section 44(2) \u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 15:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 3: In page 24, line 1, after \u201c 18 ,\u201d to insert \u201c 41, 87 ,\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Seanad amendments Nos. 16, 17, 59, 62, 90, 91, 101 to 115, inclusive, and 158 are related and will be discussed together. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 16:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 5: In page 25, line 12, after \u201c15,\u201d to insert \u201c20,\u201d."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  Amendment No. 16 is a technical amendment that repeals section 20 of the International Protection Act 2015 which provides for the detention of applicants in certain limited circumstances. Following the commencement of this Bill, any applicants under that Act who are to be detained will be subject to the detention provisions of this Bill in accordance with the reception conditions directive. Therefore, it is necessary to repeal section 20 of the International Protection Act 2015.  Amendment No. 17 seeks to ensure an applicant is fully informed of their obligations to co-operate with a member of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na or an immigration officer for the purposes of section 23 of the Bill and the consequences for failing to do so. Amendment Nos. 59 and 62 are technical drafting amendments to correct cross-references and improve the clarity of the text. The proposed new Part 5 of the Bill gives effect to the provisions of the reception conditions directive relating to restrictions of freedom of movement, detention and alternatives to detention.  Amendment No. 90 describes the categories of applicants to whom the new Part 5 will apply. Amendment No. 91 lists the specific grounds under which an applicant may be considered at risk of absconding. These include the presentation of false or misleading information and failing to co-operate with competent authorities or procedural requirements. The procedural requirements an applicant must adhere to are also listed in this amendment.  Regarding Deputy Carthy's amendment to amendment No. 91, I do not propose to accept it. The purpose of this amendment appears to be to require the Minister to lay a report before both Houses of the Oireachtas, setting out particular relevant statistical information relating to applicants for international protection where the question of the risk of absconding is assessed under the new section. The collection of the type of data the amendment seeks to capture would require scoping by my Department as it is possible not all of this information is currently systemically captured by its IT systems in the manner specified in the amendment. While I cannot accept the amendment, I can inform Deputy Carthy that the International Protection Office publishes monthly statistics on applications for international protection that are publicly available on its website. It is also possible for material to be sought by way of parliamentary question.  Amendment No. 101 transposes Article 10.1 of the reception conditions directive and provides the grounds for the prohibition of detention, which includes the fact that an individual is an applicant, or on the basis that he or she is an applicant of a particular nationality. This amendment specifies that detention under Chapter 3 of Part 5 will not be punitive in nature. Amendment No. 102 transposes Article 10.4 of the reception conditions directive, which provides the grounds for the detention of an applicant.  These grounds include to determine or verify the identity or nationality of the applicant, to ensure transfer procedures are carried out in accordance with the asylum and migration management regulation and to determine the elements in which the application for international protection is based, which could not be obtained in the absence of a detention, in particular where there is a risk of absconding. Where the grounds under amendment No. 103 apply, an immigration officer or a member of the Garda may apply alternatives to detention following an individual assessment of the applicant. Such requirements can include an obligation to reside at, or attend a specified place, or to report to an immigration officer or member of the Garda at a specified time or at reasonable specified intervals.  Amendment No. 104 provides that in exceptional circumstances an immigration officer or a member of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na may make a requirement under amendment No. 103 for a minor who is an applicant. This may occur where the parent or primary care giver of an accompanied minor is the subject of a requirement under amendment No. 103 where such a requirement safeguards the minor or where it has been established that making the requirement of the minor is assessed to be in his or her best interests.  Amendment No. 105 outlines that requirements made under amendment No. 103 must be based on an individual assessment to ensure applicants are kept fully informed of any requirements being placed on them. This amendment specifies that this information will be notified to the applicant in writing and will inform him or her of the reasons for this decision. In order to take the changing circumstances of an applicant's situation into account, amendment No. 106 provides that an immigration officer or member of the Garda may vary a requirement under amendment No. 103 where the circumstances relating to the making of the requirement change, and in such other particular circumstances as I may prescribe. To ensure that robust legal remedies are in place for applicants, amendment No. 107 provides that an applicant may avail of an appeals procedure to the District Court in relation to a requirement made under amendment No. 103 while the requirement is in force.  Amendment No. 108 provides for the arrest and detention of applicants, with the exception of minors, for as short a time as possible, where it is determined that other less coercive alternative measures cannot be applied and where detention is deemed to be necessary. This amendment will provide legal protections for applicants by ensuring they are informed of the reason for their arrest and detention and that they are entitled to seek free legal assistance and legal representation, consult a legal representative and challenge the detention. The grounds for the detention of an applicant will continue to be monitored, and where it is assessed that these grounds no longer apply, be brought before a judge of the District Court who will order the release of the person.  Amendment No. 109 provides for a very limited set of circumstances in which a minor may be detained. These are for the purposes of determining or verifying the identity or nationality of the minor where less coercive alternative measures cannot be applied effectively and where detention has been assessed as being in the child's best interests. All of these requirements must be met before a minor can be detained. Minors may only be detained for the shortest possible period and in a place which is appropriate to their needs. Any individual detained under this amendment will be able to seek free legal assistance and legal representation, consult a legal representative and challenge the detention order. I reiterate that this Bill does not permit the routine detention of minors, as has been suggested by some, and this will not become a feature of our international protection system.  To ensure the safety of applicants and those responsible for helping them during the international protection process, amendment No. 110 places an obligation on the applicant to ensure that he or she does not endanger his or her safety, or the safety of others, or obstruct or hinder an immigration officer or a member of the Garda for performing their duties under this part of the Bill.  Where an applicant is detained under amendment No. 109, amendment No. 111 provides for the rights of the applicant and ensures they are able to avail of effective legal protections under this Bill, including access to legal assistance and legal representation. To ensure that persons with special reception needs are treated with care and consideration during the international protection process, amendment No. 112 provides that such applicants are not placed in detention where this might have serious negative impacts on the physical and mental health. Where applicants assessed as having special reception needs are placed in detention, the health of the applicant will be of primary importance, and robust supports and protections will be provided for them.  In the interests of protecting minors during the international protection process, amendment No. 113 provides for the Child and Family Agency to be notified where an applicant is detained under amendment No. 108, and the minor is in the custody of the detained applicant. Amendment No. 114 provides that for the purposes of the grounds of detention under amendment No. 108, any delays in administrative procedures that cannot be attributed to the applicant should not justify a continuation of detention.  Amendment No. 115 seeks to ensure that applicants who have been detained under this Part are provided with safe and secure conditions of detention. This includes the need to separate detained applicants from ordinary prisoners and other third country nationals who have not lodged an application for international protection. Provisions also made to allow detained applicants to contact with family members, legal representatives and persons representing relevant NGOs, and for access to open-air space.  Finally, amendment No. 158 provides for the insertion of a reference to the new Part 5 of the Bill into section 126, which deals with restrictions and freedom of movement during the asylum border procedure. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I wish to speak to amendment No. 1 to Seanad amendment No. 91 in my name. It is important to state very clearly what the Minister is opposing here. This amendment calls on the Minister \"to record, and publish in anonymised and aggregate form, annual statistical information on the routes of entry of applicants to whom this section applies, including -  (a) the number of applicants presenting at a port or airport,  (b) the number presenting inland,  (c) the number reporting entry via the Common Travel Area, and  (d) the number whose route of entry could not be established,  and such information shall be published not later than 31 March each year.\u201d.  I still do not think the Government has come to realise just how deep the public's mistrust is in its ability to develop an international protection system that works. There is a flippancy in terms of any discussion of any proposals coming from the Opposition. It is crucially important the public knows how international protection applicants enter the State. It is also crucial, just to repeat the point, what permissions were granted prior to that. It is imperative that we have reliable information on entry routes in order to plan effectively and maintain the public confidence that we have spoken about. We also need to have better information in terms of data with regard to Britain and that is why I repeat that we need to have bilateral arrangements in terms of information sharing, returns and a very clear position on how we deal with our nearest neighbour and the source, as has been acknowledged here, of likely the largest number of international protection applicants. I have asked the Minister on a number of occasions. If I was a Minister and I was told there was information available in the Department that does not and could not prejudice, I would be saying to the Department that we needed to wise up here, get this information, pull it together and publish it. It is certainly nothing to do with personal data, and nobody is seeking that, but I am referring to general aggregated data. I know the Government loves commercial sensitivity as a reason not to provide any information in respect of IPAS but it cannot cite international sensitivity here.  If, on the off chance, we get to amendment No. 1 to amendment No. 91, I will be pressing it because it is really important. We hear members of the Minister's party and of Fine Gael talking all the time about wanting to have transparency, accountability and a clear process that works and how setting out the EU migration asylum pact allows everybody to understand how the system works. Yet, every single time the Minister is asked to be open with the public, he refuses. Therefore, if I get an opportunity, I will be moving this amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  I have a very brief question. Just to confirm, when the Minister says \"places of detention\", does he mostly mean prisons? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  It does generally mean that at present. I have indicated this to the Deputy before - or I do not know if it was him - but he knows this puts pressure on prisons. I have looked before but I am going to have to start trying to identify a secure location where detention takes place but which is exclusively for immigration. That may be something at which I have to look. I am not giving a commitment to it but at present detention under the migration laws is detention within our prisons.  What Deputy Carthy wants to achieve in terms of his amendment is for me to publish annual statistical information on the routes of entry. There are four requirements in his amendment. The first relates to the number of applicants presenting at a port or airport. That information is available. You can find out about individuals who have presented at the IPO office and there is sometimes information about people who present at ports or airports. We have that information and I think it is available. The second requirement relates to the number presenting inland. By that, I think the Deputy means the number presenting at the IPO. I assume that is what the term \"presenting inland\" relates to. Information in this regard is provided already; the statistics that come out show the numbers who apply at the IPO and at the airports and the ports. The third requirement relates to the number reporting entry via the common travel area. In effect, this applies to people who say they have come here from the UK. One would have to ask individuals about that to get that information and collate it. The fourth requirement relates to the number whose route of entry cannot not be established.  As I said to Deputy Carthy, the collection of the type of data he is seeking to capture would require inquiry within the Department because it is possible that not all of this information is currently systematically captured by its IT systems in the manner specified in the amendment. I will look at it, but I cannot accept the amendment. I can inform the Deputy that the IPO publishes monthly statistics on applications. There is a huge amount of information contained within those statistics. However, the Deputy is correct that in terms of that primary information, it is guiding in terms of the policy that we have. However, it is overwhelmingly the case that the majority of people coming in and claiming international protection are doing so having come over the Border. The reason I can say that confidently is because if people were coming in through the airports, they would apply at there, as they are obliged to, and if they were coming through the ports, they would have to apply there.  Deputy Carthy offered one example whereby people who are in Ireland already on visas could subsequently apply for international protection. I would have thought that would be a small cohort. That may reduce the numbers we can say are coming from Northern Ireland.  I will look at it. Ultimately, there is no point in setting up a very complicated IT system for the purpose of telling us something that we know already. However, I will look at it and discuss it within the Department. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  When we speak about places of detention, we are speaking about our prisons. The Minister knows, because we have had this conversation countless times, that our prisons are already overwhelmed. We have a scenario where there are people in our prison system who are awaiting deportation. That, in turn, is leading to a scenario where we are adding a burden to a system that is already broken. I appreciate that the Minister said we may have to look at something in the future. I would very much want to be over the scrutiny of that in terms of what type of building it is. Until that point, however, it would be impossible for me to vote in favour of what is proposed in light of what we already know about our prison system. I will be calling a vote. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  If we do not have a system that allows us to detain people who are to be deported, we can never have deportation flights. I just have to be realistic about it. We could never have these flights because people are obviously not going to turn up and ask \"What time is the flight leaving at?\" The realistic situation is that in order to ensure that people can be subject to enforced deportations, you have to detain them in advance. It is not the preferred way of doing it. The numbers in terms of voluntary returns are increasing quite significantly, but we would have a meaningless system if we could not have enforced deportations. In order to have enforced deportations, regrettably, we do need to have detention. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  Nobody is disputing that for a second. Given the fact that we have a broken system of incarceration at this moment, however, the number of people being placed there is also adding exponentially to the suffering that is being experienced by the prison population and by people who are in prison are awaiting deportation. Until we have a solution - potentially the one the Minister outlined, although that would require oversight - this is going to place an extra demand on a system that is already broken. This is another aspect of this rushed accommodation.  We also have another scenario that I am very concerned about whereby when somebody comes through the common travel area, we cannot establish to where they should be returned while awaiting deportation. You are going to have a person in almost indefinite incarceration awaiting deportation to a place we cannot determine because we do not have in place the arrangements with the UK that we should and that the Minister says we potentially will. We are going to have a system where somebody is indefinitely incarcerated in an overwhelmed prison system and the impacts that will have on that person and all of us. This is one of the reasons I am against the Bill in its entirety. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I hear what Deputy Gannon says. I am not going to repeat what I said earlier. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  There are no further contributions. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 17:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 24: In page 33, between lines 15 and 16, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" \"Obligation to inform applicant "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"24. Where an applicant (other than an applicant referred to in section 22(6)(e) ) refuses or fails to comply with a direction under section 22(2) or a requirement made for the purposes of alternative arrangements under section 23 , a member of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na or an immigration officer shall inform the applicant of\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) the obligations to cooperate referred to in sections 25 and 63 ,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) the grounds for implicit withdrawal of an application under section 67 , and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(c) the powers under Part 5 .\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 18:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 26: In page 35, line 30, to delete \"shall inform an applicant\" and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\"shall inform the applicant concerned, as soon as practicable after the making of an application, and at the latest when the application is registered,\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 19:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 26: In page 35, line 34, to delete \" section 38 , and\" and substitute \" section 38 ,\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 20:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 26: In page 35, after line 36, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\"(iii) the right, for the purposes of his or her application, to legal counselling in accordance with section 27 ,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(iv) the right, for the purposes of his or her application, to consult a legal representative in accordance with section 28(1) , and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(v) the right to apply for legal advice and legal aid in accordance with the Act of 1995,\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 21:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 26: In page 36, line 9, to delete \"Data Protection Act 2018\" and substitute \"Act of 2018\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 22:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 27: In page 36, between lines 26 and 27, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" \"Legal counselling "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"27. (1) An applicant may request legal counselling at any stage\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) during the procedure in respect of an application and, without prejudice to subsection (2) , until the Determining Authority has made a decision on his or her application, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) during the procedure to determine the Member State responsible in accordance with Part 4 and the Asylum and Migration Management Regulation."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(2) Where an applicant makes a request under subsection (1)(a) , legal counselling shall, subject to subsection (4) , be provided to him or her as soon as practicable and in accordance with Article 16 of the Asylum Procedures Regulation."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(3) Where an applicant makes a request under subsection (1)(b) , legal counselling shall, subject to subsection (4) , be provided to him or her as soon as practicable and in accordance with Article 21 of the Asylum and Migration Management Regulation."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(4) The provision of legal counselling may be excluded where the applicant is already assisted by a legal representative."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(5) Where an applicant has been provided with legal counselling in accordance with this section, or where legal counselling has been excluded in accordance with subsection (4) , the Minister shall record such provision or exclusion in the applicant\u2019s file.\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 23:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 27: In page 36, between lines 26 and 27, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" \"Consultation with legal representative "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"28. (1) An applicant may consult a legal representative for the purpose of obtaining legal advice\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) in respect of his or her application, at any stage during the procedure in respect of an application,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) during the procedure to determine the Member State responsible in accordance with Part 4 and the Asylum and Migration Management Regulation in respect of the application of that procedure, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(c) in respect of an appeal within the meaning of Part 6 or an appeal under section 82 , 105 or 157(1) ."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(2) The functions of a legal representative under this Act shall be performed by a practising solicitor or a practising barrister."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(3) In this section, \"legal advice\" shall be construed in accordance with the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015.\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 24:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 27: In page 36, line 28, to delete \" (7) \" and substitute \" (7) ,\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Amendments Nos. 25 to 27, inclusive, may be discussed together. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 25:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 28: In page 38, line 24, to delete \"The results\" and substitute \"Subject to subsection (4) and section 31(1)(e) , the results\"."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  The purpose of this amendment is to ensure that section 28 reflects the requirements of the reception conditions directive. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 26:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 28: In page 38, to delete lines 31 to 35 and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\"(5) Where the Minister considers that the applicant requires special procedural guarantees referred to in subsection (1)(d) , the Minister shall make arrangements to provide such guarantees in such form and manner as the Minister considers appropriate.\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 27:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 28: In page 38, line 38, to delete \"under Article 25 of the Reception Conditions Directive\" and substitute \"under section 77 \"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 28:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 31: In page 42, line 19, to delete \"Data Protection Act 2018\" and substitute \"Act of 2018\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 29:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 41: In page 49, between lines 33 and 34, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" \"Competent authority (   Part 3   ) (   Chapter 2   ) "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"41. The Minister shall by order designate a person to perform the functions of the competent authority under this Chapter.\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 30:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 42: In page 50, line 19, to delete \"an applicant\" and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\"an applicant, in relation to whom neither a provisional representative person nor a representative person has been appointed or designated, as the case may be\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 31:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 42: In page 50, to delete lines 22 to 24."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 32:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 43: In page 50, lines 28 and 29, to delete \"with the necessary skills and expertise\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 33:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 43: In page 50, line 32, to delete \"that is the subject\" and substitute \"who is the subject\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 34:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 43: In page 50, lines 36 and 37, to delete \"with the necessary skills and expertise\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 35:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 43: In page 50, line 40, to delete \"that is the subject\" and substitute \"who is the subject\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 36:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 43: In page 51, to delete lines 1 to 6 and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\"(2) The function of a representative organisation shall be to appoint individuals under section 44 to perform the functions set out in section 47 .\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 37:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 44: In page 51, between lines 28 and 29, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" \"Appointment of provisional representative persons and representative persons "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"44. (1) Where a representative organisation has been designated under section 43(1)(a) in respect of an unaccompanied minor, the representative organisation shall, as soon as possible, appoint an individual to provisionally act as a representative (within the meaning of the EU acts) for the unaccompanied minor (in this Act referred to as a \"provisional representative person\") until a representative person has been appointed."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(2) Where a representative organisation has been appointed under section 43(1)(b) , the representative organisation shall, as soon as possible, and within the period referred to in section 43(1)(b) , appoint an individual to act as a representative (within the meaning of the EU acts) for the unaccompanied minor (in this Act referred to as a \"representative person\").\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 38:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 45: In page 52, line 6, to delete \" section 44(a) \" and substitute \" section 44(1) \"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 39:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 45: In page 52, line 9, to delete \" section 44(a) \" and substitute \" section 44(1) \"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 40:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 45: In page 52, line 11, to delete \" section 44(b) \" and substitute \" section 44(2) \"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 41:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 45: In page 52, line 13, to delete \" section 44(b) \" and substitute \" section 44(2) \"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 42:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 46: In page 52, between lines 29 and 30, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\"(b) ensure that the unaccompanied minor\u2019s file is accessible to the provisional representative person or representative person, as the case may be,\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 43:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 46: In page 52, after line 41, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\"(4) Any decision, determination, direction, information, notification, report, warning or document (howsoever described) required under this Act or the EU acts to be sent, provided, given or otherwise made available to an unaccompanied minor by any person shall also be sent, provided, given or otherwise made available to the provisional representative person or representative person designated or appointed, as the case may be, in respect of the unaccompanied minor.\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 44:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 47: In page 52, after line 41, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" \"Functions of provisional representative person and representative person "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"47. (1) The functions of a provisional representative person or a representative person in respect of an unaccompanied minor in relation to whom he or she is designated or appointed shall be to represent, assist and act on behalf of the unaccompanied minor, as applicable, in order to safeguard the best interests and general well-being of the unaccompanied minor in a manner that enables the unaccompanied minor to benefit from his or her rights and to comply with his or her obligations under this Act or the EU acts."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1) , for the purposes of performing his or her functions under this Act or the EU acts, a provisional representative person or a representative person shall, in respect of an unaccompanied minor in relation to whom he or she is designated or appointed, exercise, as required, and where appropriate together with the unaccompanied minor\u2019s legal representative (if any), the following powers:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) to meet with the unaccompanied minor and take into account the minor\u2019s views regarding his or her needs where those views are relevant to the performance by the provisional representative person or the representative person of his or her functions in relation to that unaccompanied minor;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) to assist the unaccompanied minor in the provision of information that is relevant to the assessment of his or her best interests by the minor to any person for any purpose under this Act or the EU acts;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(c) to provide the unaccompanied minor with information relevant to the procedures provided for in this Act or the EU acts and to assist the unaccompanied minor in understanding the information relevant to the procedures provided for in and under this Act or the EU acts;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(d) where applicable, to assist the unaccompanied minor in relation to the provision of biometric and other data under section 15 including providing the minor with information relevant to the provision of the data;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(e) where applicable, to assist the unaccompanied minor in relation to screening procedures carried out in accordance with Chapter 2 of Part 2 ;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(f) where applicable, to assist the unaccompanied minor with an age assessment carried out in accordance with Chapter 3 ;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(g) where applicable, to assist the unaccompanied minor with the registration and lodgement of an application, or to register and lodge an application on behalf of the unaccompanied minor in accordance with sections 37 and 38 and to submit elements and documents in accordance with section 39 ;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(h) where applicable, to assist with the preparation of, and be present for, the unaccompanied minor\u2019s personal interview and to inform the unaccompanied minor about the purpose and possible consequences of the personal interview and about how to prepare for that interview;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(i) where applicable, to assist the unaccompanied minor in relation to any measure applied in relation to the unaccompanied minor, or any related review or appeal, under Part 5 ;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(j) where applicable, to assist the unaccompanied minor in relation to procedures under the Asylum and Migration Management Regulation including preparing, and being present for, an Article 22 interview (within the meaning of Chapter 2 of Part 4 ) and appealing a transfer decision;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(k) where applicable, to assist the unaccompanied minor in relation to an appeal (within the meaning of Part 6 ) to the Tribunal, including preparing, and being present, for an oral hearing;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(l) where applicable, to support the unaccompanied minor in any engagement with family tracing procedures carried out in accordance with the Asylum Migration Management Regulation or the Reception Conditions Directive."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(3) A provisional representative person or a representative person appointed in relation to an unaccompanied minor shall\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) be independent in the performance of his or her functions,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) not have any interests that conflict, or potentially conflict, with the interests of the unaccompanied minor,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(c) subject to section 49 , be appointed in respect of no more than 30 unaccompanied minors at any one time,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(d) have the necessary qualifications, training and expertise to perform the functions of a provisional representative person or representative person, as appropriate, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(e) treat any information received in his or her capacity as a representative person or a provisional representative person as confidential and not disclose such information to any person except\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(i) for the purpose of the performance of his or her functions under this Act or the EU acts,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(ii) when required, by an order of a court of competent jurisdiction, to disclose the information in civil or criminal proceedings, or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(iii) where otherwise required to do so in accordance with any enactment.\"."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I move amendment No. 1 to Seanad amendment No. 44:  After subsection (3), to insert the following:  \u201c(4) A provisional representative person or a representative person appointed in relation to an unaccompanied minor shall, in the performance of his or her functions, comply with child specific safeguarding standards, and in particular shall\u2014  (a) ensure that all actions taken in respect of the unaccompanied minor are guided by the principles of child protection, child welfare and the best interests of the child,  (b) have due regard to the minor\u2019s age, maturity, gender, cultural background, developmental needs and any indicators of trauma or vulnerability,  (c) take all reasonable steps to ensure that the unaccompanied minor is protected from harm, exploitation, re-trafficking, secondary victimisation or any treatment that may adversely affect the minor\u2019s physical, psychological or emotional well-being, and  (d) ensure that any interviews, assessments, procedures or engagements involving the unaccompanied minor are conducted in a child appropriate, trauma informed and culturally sensitive manner.\u201d.  The amendment seeks to strengthen protections for unaccompanied minors by requiring that all provisional and full representatives meet clear, child-specific safeguarding standards. This ensures that every action taken in respect of children is grounded in child protection principles attentive to age, culture, trauma and vulnerability. It obliges representatives to actively protect minors from harm or exploitation and guarantees that all procedures, interviews and assessments are carried out in a child-appropriate, trauma-informed way, reinforcing the best interests principle through the process. It is an important provision that strengthens the legislation and ensures there is no doubt but that there is a child-centred approach when we are dealing with children.  There is a broader piece of work around unaccompanied minors. Particularly with younger children, there is clearly often a hidden hand in terms of exploitation of the children entering the system, and we need to be very robust in dealing with that hidden hand and the individuals involved in trafficking minors.  For the minors themselves, it is crucial that we have a child-centred approach. That approach must ensure that, in Tusla accommodation in particular, we do not have people claiming to be minors where that is disputed in the same facilities as actual, verified minors. This is where there is a huge question mark around the capacity of Tusla to manage the additional responsibilities this legislation will put on them. I raised this matter with the Minister of State, who said that Tusla would be fine even though Tusla very much is not fine at the moment. There are huge question marks over its ability to undertake the responsibilities it currently has. If we are in a situation where we need a three-tiered system, and two-tiered regarding unaccompanied minors where we have verified children and people for whom there is a dispute over their age - clearly with this latter category, we do not want them in adult-only accommodation either - this creates a big challenge. Tusla is an organisation that is stretched and there has been no clarification from the Minister\u2019s Department or its sister Department that has oversight of Tusla that additional resources, capacity and supports are going to be provided to help it carry out what could become a very difficult task, particularly given that Tusla is currently engaged in quite a number of for-profit contracts for the provision of accommodation for children. That is completely unacceptable. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I thank Deputy Carthy for tabling his amendment to Seanad amendment No. 44. Section 50(a) of the Bill as passed by the D\u00e1il provides for a regulation-making power that specifies the standards to be applied to representative organisations, provisional representative persons and representative persons. I do not believe this particular amendment is necessary. Moreover, section 50(b) provides that I, as Minister, shall make provision for the training of staff of representative organisations, provisional representative persons and representative persons. This will ensure that training is kept up-to-date and relevant and that representatives are fully aware of the applicable child safeguarding standards. Additionally, the best interests of the child are specifically stated to be a primary consideration in Chapter 2 or Part 3 of the Bill and in other Parts of the Bill.  Considering this, the provisions already in this Bill provide a solid basis on which to ensure that minors are treated appropriately in the international protection process. Provision is already made throughout the Bill for safeguards and protections for minors in the processing of international protection applications, with obligations and responsibilities being placed on the determining authority to ensure these.  Deputy Carthy has mentioned the problem that can arise if a child ends up in accommodation with an adult. It is a really difficult and complicated area. I would ask for a bit of - \"sympathy\" may be the wrong word - appreciation of the challenges that Tusla and other State authorities face.  If a person arrives at the International Protection Office, claims asylum and says that they are 17 years of age, if there is then an issue about their age or if there is a question mark over it, there obviously has to be some process put in place. The Deputy would be criticising the State if the State put somebody into child accommodation because they had said they were 17 in circumstances where it transpired that they were 19 or 20. All I ask colleagues to do is appreciate how difficult this can be for Tusla or, indeed, the determining authority, as it will be after 12 June, or the IPO now. It is a real challenge if somebody says they are an unaccompanied minor and yet the State thinks that is not the case. People can criticise the State all the time by saying we got it wrong by putting adults in with unaccompanied minors, but we are very much dependent on people being honest and stating accurately what their age is. In circumstances where people provide documentation that suggests they are minors and it subsequently transpires they are not, there should be some appreciation of the difficult position the State finds itself in. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Is the Deputy pressing his amendment? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I will just make a couple of comments on that. The Minister's rationale for refusing to accept the amendment is, I believe, that there is no need for it. I would contest that.  On the Minister's latter point, I do not think there is any suggestion that people do not appreciate the challenges that are involved. We have had quite an amount of discussion on this at the Oireachtas justice committee. For sure, the committee members fully appreciate that this is a very difficult situation to manage. In the first instance, we need to ensure that verified minors are not housed with adults. The point I am making is that there needs to be a secondary tier, as it were, for disputed minors because we do not want to have a situation where somebody whose age is disputed ends up in adult accommodation only for it to transpire that they were, in fact, children. It is not that we do not accept or appreciate the challenge. It is just that we do not have confidence in this Government to actually meet that challenge and deal with it. The evidence suggests that Tusla is not meeting its obligations, not only in respect of international protection, but in terms of vulnerable children generally. That creates the issue that needs to be addressed. Therein lies the problem. Tusla will have specific legal obligations as a result of this legislation. I asked the Minister of State, Deputy Colm Brophy, a number of times on Committee Stage what additional resources and measures would be put in place to assure that Tusla had the capacity to deal with the additional obligations it would have. The Minister of State simply answered repeatedly that he was satisfied that it would. That is not good enough and that is not an assurance to this House. I hope the Minister can give us a more substantive reassurance. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  We will put amendment No. 1 to Seanad amendment No. 44----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  Will the Minister respond to the question I asked in terms of Tusla? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  He has responded already. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  We are talking about the Deputy's amendment. I have given my response to the Deputy's amendment. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 44 agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 45:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 48: In page 54, to delete lines 10 to 16 and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(a) in relation to a provisional representative person designated or appointed in respect of a relevant person and where the relevant person is an unaccompanied minor, a representative person is appointed for the relevant person,\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 46:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 48: In page 54, lines 17 to 19, to delete all words from and including \u201cis\u201d in line 17 down to and including \u201cappointed\u201d in line 19 and substitute \u201cnotifies the competent authority that it is satisfied that the relevant person\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 47:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 48: In page 54, to delete lines 24 to 31 and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(c) the Determining Authority notifies the competent authority that the relevant person is a beneficiary of international protection, granted by the State or by a Member State other than the State, and an international protection guardian has been appointed for the relevant person,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(d) the Determining Authority notifies the competent authority that the relevant person has ceased to be an applicant,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(e) the Determining Authority notifies the competent authority that the relevant person has left the State without the consent of the Minister,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(f) the relevant person is a minor and the Determining Authority notifies the competent authority that an accompanying family member has become responsible for him or her such that the Determining Authority is satisfied that the relevant person is no longer unaccompanied,\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 48:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 48: In page 54, line 34, to delete \u201cperson,\u201d and substitute \u201cperson, or\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 49:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 48: In page 54, to delete lines 35 to 39 and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(h) the designation or appointment of the provisional representative person or the appointment of the representative person is terminated by the competent authority in accordance with regulations made under section 50 \u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(i) because the provisional representative person or representative person has not adequately performed his or her functions under this Act or the EU acts,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(ii) on foot of a complaint that is made, and deemed to be well-founded, in accordance with regulations made under section 50 , or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(iii) because the competent authority is no longer satisfied that the provisional representative person or representative person complies with the requirement set out in paragraph (a) or (b) of section 47(3) .\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 50:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 48: In page 55, to delete lines 1 to 3."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 51:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 48: In page 55, between lines 3 and 4, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(2) The designation or appointment of a representative organisation under section 43(1)(a) or 43(1)(b) in respect of a person (in this section referred to as a \u201crelevant person\u201d) shall cease on the earliest of the following occurring\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) the individual appointed by the representative organisation under section 44(1) or 44(2) has ceased being a provisional representative person or a representative person, as the case may be, for the relevant person concerned arising from one or more of the matters referred to in paragraph (b), (c), (d), (e) or (f) of subsection (1) ,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) the competent authority notifies the representative organisation that the competent authority is no longer satisfied as to one or more of the matters specified in paragraph (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) or (f) of section 43(3) ,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(c) the designation or appointment of a representative organisation is terminated on foot of a complaint that is made, and deemed to be well-founded, in accordance with regulations made under section 50 , or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(d) the competent authority appoints a different representative organisation in accordance with section 43(1)(b) in respect of the relevant person concerned."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(3) Where the designation or appointment of a representative organisation ceases under paragraph (b), (c) or (d) of subsection (2) , any appointment by the representative organisation of\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) a provisional representative person under section 44(1) , or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) a representative person under section 44(2) ,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"shall also cease.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 52:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 48: In page 55, line 5, to delete \u201cparagraph (g), (h) or (i)\u201d and substitute \u201cparagraph (g) or (h)\u201d ."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 53:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 48: In page 55, line 7, to delete \u201cunder\u201d and substitute \u201cin accordance with\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 54:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 48: In page 55, between lines 7 and 8, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(3) Where the designation or appointment of a representative organisation ceases under paragraph (b) or (c) of subsection (2) , the competent authority shall make an appointment under section 43(1)(b) in respect of a relevant person in relation to whom the representative organisation was designated or appointed, and section 43(1) shall apply as if the relevant person was the subject of a notification referred to in that section.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 55:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 48: In page 55, line 8, after \u201csubsection (1)\u201d to insert \u201cor (3)\u201d ."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 56:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 49: In page 55, line 39, to delete \u201csection 43(3)(e)\u201d and substitute \u201c sections 43(3)(e) and 47(3)(c)\u201d ."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 57:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 53: In page 58, line 40, to delete \u201c section 53\u201d and substitute \u201c section 54\u201d ."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Seanad amendments Nos. 58, 60 and 157 are related and may be taken together. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 58:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 61: In page 64, between lines 13 and 14, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" \u201cAuthorisation to enter State "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"61. (1) Following the screening carried out in accordance with Chapter 2 of Part 2 , an applicant shall, subject to subsection (2) , be given an authorisation by the Minister that operates to allow the applicant to enter the State for the sole purpose of the examination of his or her application, including an appeal to the Tribunal in relation to the application."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(2) The Minister shall refuse to give an authorisation under subsection (1) to an applicant\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) to whom section 64(a), 64(b)(ii) or 130(3) applies, or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) whose application is being examined under the asylum border procedure within the meaning of Chapter 6 of Part 5 , unless section 118(4) or 125(3) applies."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(3) Where, following the giving of an authorisation under subsection (1) , the Determining Authority forms the opinion that section 120 applies in respect of an application, the Determining Authority shall inform the Minister and the Minister may revoke the authorisation."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(4) Where an authorisation is revoked under subsection (3) , the authorisation shall be deemed never to have been given.\u201d."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  The purpose of Seanad amendment No. 58 is to give further effect to procedures regulation provisions relating to non-entry to the State of applicants subject to the asylum border procedure. Article 43.1 of that regulation provides that the asylum border procedure may be applied only where an applicant has not yet been authorised to enter the state. It is necessary to provide in the Bill for the distinction under the asylum procedures regulation between asylum border procedure applicants and other categories of applicants.  Subsection (1) provides that following the screening carried out under Part 2, I as Minister shall give applicants an authorisation to enter the State for the sole purpose of having their application examined. This provision is very similar to the current provision in section 16 of the 2015 Act.  Subsection (2) clarifies that an authorisation to enter shall not be given to applicants who no longer have a right to remain in the State because they made subsequent applications to delay or frustrate their removal from the State or because they are considered a danger to public order or national security, or those applicants who do not have the right to remain pending their appeal to the tribunal. The other category of applicants who shall not be authorised to enter are those whose applications are being examined under the asylum border procedure. There are exceptions to allow for an applicant to be permitted to enter the State when the deadline for the asylum border procedure expires and the applicant has not received a final decision on their application and for those applicants for whom the inadmissibility of accelerated procedure no longer apply. Exceptions apply also for applicants whose special reception or special procedural needs cannot be met in the border procedure or where there are medical reasons for not applying the asylum border procedure.  Subsection (3) provides that the Minister may revoke an authorisation given to an applicant where the determining authority becomes aware an applicant poses a national security or public order threat. In such cases, once the authorisation is revoked the applicant will be deemed never to have been given an authorisation. This is to ensure that even if an applicant was initially authorised to enter the State and their application is being examined under a different procedure, when information relevant to public order or national security comes to light at a later stage that applicant can be placed in the asylum border procedure with its associated restrictions of freedom of movement.  Seanad amendments Nos. 60 and 157 are technical amendments introduced to clarify cross-references to the new section proposed to be inserted by Seanad amendment No. 58. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 59:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 61: In page 64, to delete lines 22 to 27 and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(c) comply with such conditions as may be notified in writing to him or her under Part 5 by an immigration officer, a member of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na or an officer of the Minister.\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 60:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 62: In page 64, between lines 32 and 33, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(a) an authorisation given under section 61 ,\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 61:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 62: In page 65, line 2, after \u201cremain\u201d to insert \u201cin the State\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 62:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 67: In page 67, line 38, to delete \u201c section 61(2)(c)(ii)\u201d and substitute \u201c section 99 or section 109(1)(c)\u201d ."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Seanad amendments Nos. 63 to 89, inclusive, 127 and 226 are related and may be discussed together. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 63:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 69: In page 69, between lines 13 and 14, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201cPART 4"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"RECEPTION CONDITIONS"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"CHAPTER 1"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Definitions and application"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Definitions (   Part 4   ) "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"69. In this Part\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201caccommodation centre\u201d means any place in which applicants are collectively housed in accommodation allocated under section 72;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201cclothing allowance\u201d means the clothing provided to an applicant by way of supplementary welfare allowance under section 201 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201cdaily expenses allowance\u201d means that part of the material reception conditions that constitutes a weekly payment made, under a scheme administered by the Minister for Social Protection, to an applicant in order for the applicant to meet incidental personal expenses;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201cfamily member\u201d, in relation to an applicant, means the following persons who were members of the applicant\u2019s family before the applicant arrived on the territory of the Member States and who are present in the State during the procedure for international protection:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) the spouse or civil partner of the applicant or the applicant\u2019s unmarried partner in a stable relationship;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) the minor children of the couple referred to in paragraph (a) or of the applicant;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(c) the unmarried adult dependent children of the couple referred to in paragraph (a) or of the applicant;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(d) where the applicant is a minor\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(i) the applicant\u2019s father or mother or another adult responsible under law for the applicant, including an adult sibling of the minor, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(ii) the minor children of the applicant\u2019s father or mother;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201chouse rules\u201d means the house rules made under section 79 ;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201cmaterial reception conditions\u201d means\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) accommodation, food, personal hygiene products and associated benefits provided in kind,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) a daily expenses allowance, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(c) the clothing allowance.\u201d."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  The proposed new Part 4 of the Bill gives effect to the reception conditions provisions of the reception conditions directive. Seanad amendment No. 63 provides for the definition section of Part 4 to include definitions of \"accommodation centre\", \"clothing allowance\", \"daily expenses allowance\", \"family member\", \"house rules\" and \"material reception conditions\".  Seanad amendment No. 64 proposes that the provision of material reception conditions and the monitoring of reception conditions in Chapters 2 and 3, respectively, will apply to an applicant who is present in the State and not the subject of a transfer decision or a return decision. As the reception conditions directive is applicable to all international protection applicants, this amendment will ensure applicants who have made an application under the 2015 Act will also be able to avail of material reception conditions under this Bill.  Seanad amendment No. 65 aims to ensure material reception conditions are provided to applicants to guarantee they have an adequate standard of living while in the State. It is essential applicants receive this while ensuring those with the financial means pay for themselves.  Deputy Carthy's amendment to Seanad amendment No. 65 has been ruled out of order but I did not intend to accept it as it is overly restrictive to say such services cannot be provided by any for-profit provider, may significantly hinder the provision of material reception conditions to minors and therefore negatively impact the very people the system should be aiming to protect.  I am proposing the introduction of Seanad amendment No. 66 to ensure the adequate organisation of the State's reception system. This amendment provides that certain matters must be considered before allocating accommodation, including family unity, gender- and age-specific concerns, the special reception needs of the applicant, the efficient consideration of the applicant's application and the prevention of assault and violence to the applicant.  Regarding Deputy Carthy's amendment to Seanad amendment No. 66, my Department operates a high degree of transparency in relation to IPAS and centres. Any restriction on publication is based on residents' security, safety or privacy or commercially sensitive information the publication of which would damage the State's ability to achieve good value for money. My Department publishes figures detailing the number of residents in centres, with a breakdown of numbers of emergency accommodation centres on a weekly basis. There is full transparency from the Department in terms of providers receiving payments, with details of all payments over \u20ac20,000 and the recipients published quarterly on gov.ie. Inspection reports from all IPAS accommodation centres are published either on hiqa.ie or gov.ie and therefore it is not necessary to accept the Deputy's amendment.  The treatment of minors and their well-being during the international protection process is of importance to the Government. As such I am introducing Seanad amendment No. 67 which provides for key considerations to be taken into account when dealing with the reception needs of minors. This amendment provides that the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration with regard to the reception needs of minors. As with the previous amendment, this Government wants to ensure minors going through the process can avail of services that will help their development and provide education.  Seanad amendment No. 68 provides that minors are provided with the same access to primary and post-primary education and other supports.  To ensure applicants are provided with the opportunity to integrate, Seanad amendment No. 69 permits the Minister for further education to make arrangements to ensure applicants have access to courses.  Seanad amendment No. 70 is a substantive amendment that seeks to ensure applicants have access to adequate levels of healthcare.  To ensure special reception needs are identified as early as possible I am introducing Seanad amendment No. 71.  I cannot accept Deputy Carthy's amendment to Seanad amendment No. 71 as there are currently no nationally prescribed applicable qualifications to be an interpreter in Ireland, regardless of whether those interpretation services are provided to international protection applicants or to other persons. Interpretation services are made available to applicants by translation and interpretation companies contracted by the IPO. Such companies are contractually obliged to ensure interpreters possess the qualifications and competence appropriate to the tasks for which they are employed.  It is important applicants receive access to information on their entitlements to material reception conditions as soon as possible. As such, I am introducing Seanad amendment No. 72, which states the applicant must receive this information within three days.  To ensure there is a clear set of rules for IPAS accommodation I am introducing Seanad amendment No. 73, which provides for the making of rules in relation to an accommodation centre.  Seanad amendment No. 74 provides that a travel document may be issued to an applicant where there are serious humanitarian reasons or other reasons that require the applicant's presence in another state.  Seanad amendment No. 75 provides for the definitions of \"material reception benefits\" and \" section 82 decision\".  Seanad amendment No. 76 provides the grounds on which I can reduce or withdraw an applicant's material reception conditions or the Minister for Social Protection may reduce or withdraw an applicant's daily expenses allowance.  Seanad amendment No. 77 provides for the requirements that must be adhered to where I or the Minister for Social Protection make a decision under amendment No. 78. This includes the need to inform the applicant of the reasons for the reduction or withdrawal of supports.  Seanad amendment No. 78 permits me or the Minister for Social Protection to restore or partially restore an applicant's material reception benefits after a determination that the applicant's conduct has ceased.  Seanad amendment No. 79 creates a regulation-making power for an appeal of a reduction or withdrawal.  Seanad amendment No. 80 provides the definitions for the terms used in Chapter 4 of Part 4 of the Bill. I am introducing amendment No. 81 which provides for the designation of a public body to be the monitoring body for the purpose of monitoring accommodation centres. HIQA is designated as the monitoring body until another public body is designated and it is the one that has responsibility under the 2018 reception conditions.  Seanad amendment No. 82 provides that I may set national standards for accommodation offered to people in IPAS. Regarding Deputy Carthy's three amendments to amendment No. 82, I do not propose to accept them. The Department received offers of international protection accommodation on an ongoing basis from external commercial providers. All offers are reviewed by the Department under a standardised appraisal procedure which aligns with processes in place for the award of State contracts across Departments and sectors. A team appraises each offer to accommodate people seeking international protection and the Department does carry out due diligence. All properties are subject to pre-occupancy inspections to ensure they adhere to standards. All new centres are supported by the community engagement unit. The engagement process is co-designed with the local authority. I am committed to ensuring local communities' access to accurate information and that structures to plan for the provision of essential services support are in place.  Seanad amendment No. 83 provides for the monitoring body may require a service provider to provide it with any information it considers necessary in order to determine the level of compliance by the service provider with the standards.  Seanad amendment No. 84 provides that the monitoring body may appoint employees to be authorised persons for the purposes of Chapter 4 of Part 4 of the Bill to ensure applicants are living in safe and adequately managed accommodation.  Seanad amendment No. 85 provides for the inspection of centres used to house those seeking international protection. An authorised person is permitted to enter and inspect a premises with the consent of the occupier or pursuant to a warrant. An accommodation centre that is subject to an inspection may need to give the authorised person information that is reasonably required for the purposes of the functions of an authorised person.  Seanad amendment No. 86 provides that an individual who prevents an authorised person entering such a dwelling is guilty of an offence.  To ensure high standards are upheld in the provision of accommodation, I am introducing amendment No. 87 to allow for a report to be prepared by individual who inspect accommodation centres.  Seanad amendment No. 88 provides that the monitoring body shall be notified within 21 days of applicants being allocated to an accommodation centre.  To ensure the well-being of applicants, amendment No. 89 provides for a requirement for notifying the monitoring body of any serious incident that takes place in the centre. Where such an incident or event occurs in an accommodation centre, the service provider must notify the monitoring body within three days of the date on which the incident occurred. In the case of an unexpected absence of a minor, the service provider concerned shall notify the monitoring body within 24 hours of becoming aware of the absence of the minor.  Seanad amendment No. 127 is a technical amendment to correct reference to new sections that give effect to the reception conditions directive.  Finally, I proposed Seanad amendment No. 226 to propose to reflect the fact that a body other than HIQA can be designated as the body responsible for monitoring accommodation centres and that this should be reflected in the provision for membership of the advisory board for the chief inspector of asylum and border procedures. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  As we are approaching the end of the debate and are about to reach the guillotine I will speak to several of the amendments at once. The Minister used the term \"family unity\" in his contribution, which gives me the opportunity to speak about his family reunification changes. Of the measures contained within this Bill, that one is not based on any evidence and seems purposely designed, in the Minister's own words which he has reiterated time and time again, to send some form of message, but I am not sure the recipients of the message he is trying to send are deserving of the cruelty that is contained with it. Family reunification is provided for in international law precisely because it enables a scenario where somebody who has not only come here in search of sanctuary but has actually been given refugee status can be reunited with an immediate family member. The current process involves about 18 months on a waiting list and a year. The Minister is changing what was previously three to two, meaning a person will have to wait the best part of three or three and a half years, if they are given refugee status, to be reunited with a child or an immediate family member. This has never in any way had a great impact on the system. The numbers are fairly minuscule. When the Minister tried to explain the policy he is announcing to me in the Chamber a couple of months back he seemed to be confusing different types of family reunification with the one specific to what we are speaking about now, which is refugee family reunification. Even at this late stage, I ask the Minister to reconsider that. It is something that actually aids not only the person who has received refugee status but also the communities in which he or she has start to rebuild his or her life.  I also implore the Minister in respect of Seanad amendment No. 76, pertaining to healthcare. Has the Minister taken a trip to Safetynet on Amiens Street? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  Where? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  Safetynet on Amiens Street. It is a front-line service that deals with the most marginalised vulnerable groups and provides immediacy in terms of healthcare. The staff down there have stories that would send a shudder down most of our spines about providing healthcare to people who were previously in the asylum process but had then received deportation orders and lost access to all medical treatment, including mental health supports, and cancer supports in some scenarios. That is a grisly policy that has ramifications beyond the people who are losing their healthcare support because it means they are left in a community devoid of mental health supports and the medications that go with them. I will ask two things of the Minister. First, I ask him to reconsider family reunification and, second, to visit Safetynet on Amiens Street and hear the testimony. It might be very eye-opening in terms of some of the issues we discussed in the Chamber and the issues that stem from them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  You wait for a long time for a bus and then a number of them come at once. A number of my amendments are in this grouping and I will restrict myself to them, considering the timeline. I know amendment No. 1 to Seanad amendment No. 65 has been disallowed but I want to make the case very strongly that we need to end the use of for-profit providers of accommodation for those in Tusla care. That is what this amendment sought to do. A judge in Dublin District Court recently hit out at what he quite rightly described as the profiteering by private operators providing unregulated placements for the most vulnerable children. He described it as wrong and shameful, and he was right. Special emergency arrangements are unregulated placements provided by private operators. They are not compliant with national standards, they are not inspected by HIQA and they are typically in rented buildings. We know from recent reports that up to a quarter of staff working in special emergency arrangements last year did not have the documentation required to work with vulnerable children There is clearly a problem with those providers and whether the amendment is accepted or not, I hope it is something the Government will work on.  How is it that every time there are vulnerable people who need accommodation involved, the Government figures out a way whereby a few lads will make a lot of money on it? It is just unbelievable. That could be Tusla and the provision of care for children but where it is absolutely most blatant is in the IPAS system. There is continuing and ongoing failure not only to address the profiteering within the IPAS system but, on the Minister's part, to even acknowledge that it is happening. We know that a small number of private operators have made millions of euro from the Government's dysfunctional approach. What is worse is that there is no transparency, including around what actually qualifies some of these providers to provide these services.  The amendment to Seanad amendment No. 66 is simply about ensuring there is some transparency. We have called for a full review of every IPAS contract. The reason for this is that everybody who has looked at these issues objectively and every journalist who has carried out an examination of any IPAS contract has found blatant wastage of public money and a number of scandals have emerged. We do not have to ask politicians or journalists. The Comptroller and Auditor General, the Government's own watchdog, has found major weaknesses in IPAS contracting. The Minister tells us that this cannot happen again or will not happen again but there is nothing in policy form to provide a bit of transparency on that. This is an amendment that the Minister could accept that would send out the message that the Government is learning the lesson when it comes to the lack of transparency within the IPAS system.  In the context of my amendments to Seanad amendment No. 82, I am surprised because I clearly heard Simon Harris, the T\u00e1naiste and the leader of a main party in government, say that communities have to be engaged. The Government cannot proceed in the way it has up to now, namely where communities are disregarded and the only criterion to determine where an IPAS centre is located is that an operator has a building and is willing to use it for that purpose. Simon has an opportunity tonight to direct his party's Deputies to vote in favour of this amendment in order to make it clear that IPAS centres should only be placed in areas where the resources are in place to accommodate them and that communities have a real say in what happens to them. That would be better for everybody. It would be better for residents of IPAS centres and local communities.  Amendment No. 2 to Seanad amendment No. 82 deals with the absolute lack of due diligence and information regarding beneficial owners of those companies that have received IPAS contracts. Any information on scandals - and there have been plenty - has never come from the Department; it has always come from journalists or independent voices, and sometimes from residents who have raised serious questions. The pre-legislative scrutiny report we talked about earlier warned that due diligence processes for international protection accommodation were completely inadequate. It highlighted the incomplete checks in respect of planning permission, ownership, safety compliance and provider suitably. It concluded that weak oversight and inconsistent verification created financial, legal and operational risks within the accommodation system. If there is nothing to hide, there would be no reason to oppose this amendment. I have to make that point strongly.  Amendment No. 3 to Seanad amendments No. 82 states, \"The Minister shall, by regulation, prescribe a maximum daily amount payable by the State for accommodation provided to applicants\". Again, everything is being done to avoid any kind of transparency. On the notion of commercial sensitivity, as if there is anybody in the private sector going around with \u20ac1.3 billion to spend on accommodation. There is nobody in competition with you when it comes to this type of contract because nobody else would spend the amount of money the Department of justice is spending. Anybody else, even if it was devolved to local authorities, would get better value in the morning in terms of the money being spent.  There has been a lot of talk about price gouging in recent weeks. There has been serious price gouging going on over the past number of years. The average rate paid per bed rose by 68% from 2022 to 2024. This amendment would empower the Minister to take this by the reins, set a maximum daily rate and ensure it is adhered to. Cases have been throughout this debate and unfortunately the Minister has just refused to listen. It has been the narrative of the past couple of weeks. This Government refusing to listen. The protests in recent weeks were about its refusal to listen with regard to the cost of living and the soaring cost of fuel. When it comes to the international protection system, the Minister has been refusing to listen. He just put all his cards into the EU migration pact basket. He has refused to engage in any constructive way with the Opposition on this Bill. We have repeatedly tried to engage with him in the context of increasing increase transparency and accountability, ensuring community engagement and resolving some of the problems he created in the context of mistrust between the public and Government on this issue. We have also sought to ensure that we get value for money and, ultimately, have an international protection system that works for everyone, namely applicants, local communities and the taxpayer. The Minister has refused time and again to engage, and now we are trying to talk about a number of important amendments in a matter of minutes because, once again, the Government has guillotined the debate on the Bill. The Minister has done himself, his Department, this system and the legislation a disservice with the way he has approached matters from start to finish. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I thank Deputies Gannon and Carthy for their contributions. As an overview, when it comes to legislation like this, I, as Minister - I presume this is also the case for the House - have to try to balance conflicting rights. When dealing with international protection legislation, on one hand, we have to take into account the interests of the applicant claiming they are fleeing persecution or war to seek refuge in Ireland. On the other hand, I have to try to balance the interests of the State because, as Deputy Carthy indicated, there are huge costs involved in providing accommodation for individuals who seek international protection.  The primary driver of the costs involved is the number of applicants coming in. In 2024, 18,500 people applied for international protection in Ireland. I have openly stated that I want to try to reduce the number of people coming into Ireland claiming asylum in circumstances where many are subsequently found not be entitled to it. The point I have made is that there are too many people claiming asylum who are not entitled to it. That has been subsequently adjudicated to be the case. That is my objective. I have tried to shift the balance in a particular way in favour of the State.  That brings me to the first issue raised by Deputy Gannon, namely family reunification. Family reunification is an issue very much premised on the rights of the asylum applicant or in this instance the refugee who has been granted status. In Ireland, there are two or possibly more methods of achieving family reunification. The first is via the non-EEA family reunification policy. I updated and changed that last year. The policy applies in circumstances where people come to Ireland to work as nurses, carers or doctors and, having been here for a number of years, apply for family reunification. Under that process, they have to be able to show that if they bring their relatives over from the other country to live in Ireland, they will be able to pay for the upkeep of their relative once they have arrived in Ireland. That is reasonable. It is the balancing of rights. I have to ensure the State does not end up picking up the cost of looking after individuals who have come here and will then require many of the services we all know are under pressure. That is the non-EEA family reunification process. It requires people to show an ability to pay for and look after the individuals who have arrived here as part of their family.  Separately, there is the refugee application for family reunification. This is not governed by the EU migration pact; it is a sovereign decision we can make if it is decided to support it. The change I am proposing is that individuals granted refugee status in Ireland will have to wait two years to apply to bring their family over to Ireland. Similarly, like people in the non-EEA mechanism, they will have to be able to show they have the means to pay for and care for them. That is not an unreasonable position for the State to adopt. We are an extremely generous State in terms of granting asylum but it is too much to say that family members brought over should be paid for by the State as well. That is why the proposals set out which state they have to wait to years and show they have the financial wherewithal to support their family if they want them to be reunified in Ireland is a reasonable proposal.  Asylum policy in Ireland must also take into account what is happening in the UK. I cannot ignore what is happening in the UK. It has a significant impact on what happens in Ireland. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  You have ignored it completely. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  In terms of family reunification, on 4 September last year the UK on suspended refugee family reunification.  They suspended it in the UK. An aspect of UK policy I have to be conscious of is that if something is changed in the UK which makes Ireland a more materially attractive place for persons to come, it is a factor I have to take into account. It may not sound virtuous, but I want to try to reduce numbers of people coming into Ireland claiming asylum because I know from the statistics that there are too many people coming here claiming asylum who are found not to be entitled to it. I am not asking anyone to comment on the matter or agree with me, but that is the policy objective here.  One of my concerns was that if Ireland had a family reunification policy for refugees that was more attractive than in the UK it could become a pull factor in Ireland. The Oireachtas is entitled to objectively set out what we think is reasonable when it comes to family reunification. It is a big obligation to place on a State that when it takes somebody in who is a refugee, it will also take in their family. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  Immediate family. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I know, but it is a big obligation and it comes at a big cost. I am entitled to try to - and the Oireachtas is entitled to say that we are going t -, shift the balance slightly towards the State on those scales. It is also the case that for family members who are already here it does not apply, and, obviously, it does not apply for an unaccompanied minor who is granted status here.  I will deal with Deputy Carthy's point on the cost of IPAS. I agree with him. I want to reduce the amount of money the State is spending on IPAS. It is too high and it needs to be reduced. Deputy Carthy has got to acknowledge that the driver of the cost is the number of people coming in. That is the main driver behind it. I hear what he says about contracts that were entered into. I have said previously that contracts were entered into too highly. At present, I am making savings in the area of IPAS. In any renewal that has been done I am saving money and I am cutting down costs. I am being very careful with the amount of money that is being spent. I never heard anyone in the House say they disagreed with the reception conditions directive, which requires us to provide accommodation to international protection applicants. If people want to say we should not do so - and there are people in Ireland who say that we should not do so - then say it, but if it is the case that people are----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  Transparency is what the amendment asks for. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  If it is the case that people in the House are going to say that we should stick with the reception conditions directive and should provide accommodation, it necessarily means that we are going to have to spend money on accommodation. I am trying to get State accommodation to provide it. I am actively cutting down costs. I have cut down the numbers of people who have come to Ireland claiming asylum. As I said, in 2024 there were 18,500. In 2025, the number was 13,000. I want to seek to reduce it further. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The time permitted for the debate having expired, I am required to put the following question in accordance with an order of the D\u00e1il of 14 April: \"That the Seanad amendments not disposed of are hereby agreed to in Committee and agreement to the amendments is accordingly reported to the House.\" "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendments reported."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Agreement to the Seanad amendments is reported to the House. A message will be sent to Seanad \u00c9ireann acquainting it accordingly. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"International Protection Bill 2026: From the Seanad"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-15\/debate\/dbsect_35","debateType":"statement","bill":null,"showAs":"Football: Statements","counts":{"speechCount":67,"speakerCount":46},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_35","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tom 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Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cormac Devlin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":" A Deputy","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Clendennen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Frankie Feighan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Before I invite the Minister of State to take the debate, I welcome Professor David Burn, who is president of the world Parkinson's association. We are hosting a three-day international conference here in Powerscourt. He and his members are most welcome. Deputy Grealish is hosting them this evening. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport (Deputy Charlie McConalogue)  I very much welcome the opportunity to address the House this evening on matters relating to football, the most popular team sport in Ireland. Football can take us from the absolute peaks of delight, such as when Troy Parrott's toe-poke delivered the miracle of Budapest, to the absolute depths of disappointment that we all know too well too recently. It brings whole communities together. It provides social and emotional networks and a common language that we can all understand. It is hugely important for physical well-being and good mental health and is also usually great fun. That is why we all care so much about it and I hope that today's discussions will be beneficial to growing the game further.  At the outset, I pay tribute to the Irish senior women's and men's teams for their truly inspiring performances over the past few months. The double success of the men's team against Portugal and Hungary during one of the greatest weeks in Irish football history last November gave supporters a tremendous lift. While the recent World Cup play-off semi-final against the Czech Republic in Prague ended in defeat, I am sure I speak for all in the House in congratulating Heimir Hallgr\u00edmsson and his troops on those performances. They have lifted the nation and breathed new life into Irish football, reconnecting with supporters through their honesty, passion, never-say-die attitude and pride in the green jersey.  The senior women's Nations League play-off victory over Belgium last October was equally inspiring. While they recently suffered narrow defeats to France and the Netherlands in the World Cup qualifiers, their performances against higher ranking teams gives us much to be optimistic about. Under manager Carla Ward and captain Katie McCabe, the team is transforming women's football, serving as inspirational role models for young girls, as was once again demonstrated by their wonderful performance against Poland last night, winning 3-2 away from home. We wish them well in the return fixture on Saturday, 18 April, in the Aviva Stadium.  The Football Association of Ireland, FAI, is the recognised national governing body for association football in Ireland. The Government, through my Department and Sport Ireland, the statutory agency for the development of sport, has a long-standing funding relationship with the FAI to support the development of football in Ireland. In recent years, the FAI has made significant progress in reforming its operations, including through implementation of the recommendations and conditions set out in the memorandums of understanding, MOUs, between the Government and the association. Following the financial collapse of the FAI in 2019, the Government and the FAI, in January 2020, agreed an MOU that included an enhanced funding package of \u20ac5.8 million per annum for the period 2020 to 2023, underpinned by 163 governance reform recommendations and conditions. During the lifetime of this agreement, the FAI made significant progress on reform, with 159 of the 163, or 98%, MOU recommendations and conditions either completed or phase 1 completed.  As the FAI's financial position remained challenging, a second MOU was signed in December 2024, which increased State funding to the FAI to \u20ac6 million per annum for the period from 2024 to 2027. The bulk of this funding goes towards the FAI's youth field sports grants, which are aimed at encouraging and creating more opportunities for young people to participate in football through coaching and games development supports. The youth field sports programme is based on an ethos of developing the grassroots of the game, growing participation numbers, embracing communities outside of the traditional base of the sport and improving coaching and playing standards.  The current MOU contains 16 recommendations and conditions for the FAI, including completing any outstanding recommendations and conditions from the previous MOU; maintaining governance reforms introduced under the previous MOU; providing information and reports to Sport Ireland to facilitate oversight of the MOU; and cascading governance reform to affiliates and grassroots. While the FAI has introduced significant governance reform at a national level, the broader football ecosystem remains complex and fragmented, with large representative structures, multiple committees and inconsistent governance models across its affiliates, leagues and grassroot clubs.  I very much welcome the FAI's commitment to cascade good governance and structures throughout the entire football ecosystem. To achieve this, a comprehensive review of league and affiliate governance will be undertaken by the association, including a review of grassroots league structures to deliver stable and geographically logical leagues for women, men and children. Training and resources will be provided by the FAI throughout the football pyramid to support this reform.  The FAI continues to strengthen governance, safeguarding and operational standards across Irish football through two interconnected national accreditation frameworks. The FAI club mark is a national accreditation system for governance, safeguarding, club administration, volunteer services and structures, and long-term player development. The FAI league mark is the complementary accreditation programme designed to raise governance and football operations standards at league level. The FAI has significantly expanded its governance support infrastructure across both programmes.  Sport Ireland and my Department continue to engage with the FAI on progressing the recommendations and conditions set out in the current MOU. The first MOU provided the association with financial stability but also brought about the necessary governance reforms to allow it to rebuild itself. The current MOU will allow it to further progress its corporate governance reform agenda while at the same time giving it the financial support needed to continue to develop football across the country.  Continued Government investment is essential to further increase participation levels in all sports across all sectors of society. In 2018, total funding to sport from my Department was \u20ac111 million and the national sports policy committed to doubling that figure by 2027. That target was actually achieved in 2025. In 2026, we will invest over \u20ac300 million in sport, an increase of \u20ac67 million or 28.7% compared with 2025. The Government has invested well over \u20ac1 billion in sports infrastructure and development in Ireland since 2018. The return on this investment in terms of community participation, inclusion, integration and physical and mental well-being is substantial. It is important to note the sizeable financial support directed by the Government to the FAI and to football more generally over the past few years. The State allocated approximately \u20ac80 million in current funding to the FAI between 2019 and 2025 to support football development and grow participation. This included a total of \u20ac33.7 million in Covid-specific supports in the period from 2020 to 2022. It also included \u20ac1.3 million under the sports energy support scheme to help alleviate the impact of increased energy costs for clubs.  In addition to its core funding grant of \u20ac6 million, the FAI was allocated \u20ac300,000 in 2025 under the Government and Sport Ireland's women in sport programme to enhance the delivery, recognition, promotion and development of participation and leadership initiatives and opportunities for women and girls in football. It also received \u20ac200,000 in 2025 in dormant accounts funding to support participation programmes for those who are economically, socially or educationally disadvantaged, or people with disabilities.  Significant capital funding has been granted to football projects across the country in recent years. My Department operates two capital funding programmes for sport, namely, the community sport facilities fund, CSFF, and the large-scale sport infrastructure fund, LSSIF. The CSFF, formerly known as the sports capital and equipment fund, is the primary means of providing Government funding to sport and community organisations at local, regional and national levels. The fund aims to foster an integrated and planned approach to the development of sports and physical recreation facilities and assists the purchase of non-personal sports equipment. The LSSIF was established under the national sports policy, published in 2018, to provide Exchequer support for larger sports facility projects, typically those requiring investments greater than the maximum available under the CSFF. Since 2015, approximately \u20ac192 million has been allocated to football projects under all sports capital programmes to support the development of grassroots soccer facilities nationwide. Just over \u20ac96 million of this was allocated under the LSSIF and almost \u20ac96 million was allocated to over 1,500 football projects under the CSFF. Over \u20ac250 million was allocated to more than 3,000 community sports clubs and facilities in 2024 from the 2023 round of the fund, representing the largest ever investment in sports facilities in communities across the country. Over \u20ac50 million of this was allocated to football clubs and a total of 536 football projects. This funding has facilitated improvements in the quality and quantity of football facilities in virtually every village, town and city.  In line with previous rounds of the fund, a review of the current funding round has been undertaken and will be finalised shortly. I have asked my Department to prepare for a further round of the CSFF in 2026, which I expect to open early in the summer. I encourage all football clubs to prepare for this and to ensure applications are fully aligned with the goals and guidelines of the fund. It is anticipated that this next round will particularly target areas and sports that have been underinvested in over the years.  A total of \u20ac297 million has been invested through LSSIF across 68 projects. The 2018 round awarded \u20ac124 million to 33 of those, with \u20ac173 million awarded in November 2024 to 35 projects following record demand. Of the \u20ac297 million allocated under the LSSIF to date, \u20ac96 million was awarded to 18 football projects that are either directly sponsored by the FAI or incorporate football elements. Under the LSSIF round in 2018, eight football projects were allocated \u20ac11.8 million in funding. They included Atlantic Technological University, iRos, Cavan Regional Sports Campus, Thurles Regional Sports Campus, Dalymount Park, East Galway Sports Campus, Finn Harps and the Munster Centre of Excellence in Glanmire. Under LSSIF 2024, \u20ac84.3 million was awarded to ten football projects, which were Dalymount Park, Sligo Rovers Stadium Development, Atlantic Technological University Letterkenny Regional Sports Activity Hub, Cork Northwest Community Sports Hub, Wexford Football Club Hub, Tallaght Stadium, Marlay Sports Hub, Cavan Regional Sports Campus, Mayo Community Sports Campus and Seafield Sports & Community Facility. All projects under LSSIF 2024 are currently being progressed in accordance with the infrastructure guidelines set out by the Government. Regarding a future round of the LSSIF, our current focus is on ensuring project delivery under the first two rounds, but we intend to open a new round later in 2027.  The programme for Government confirms that we will maintain sports funding to get more people participating in all levels of sport, particularly targeting cohorts in society where there is a lower than average participation level, including people with disabilities and older people. In this context, and having regard to other relevant commitments in the programme for Government, it is important we take a strategic approach to capital investment. In the context of the development of the next ten-year national sports policy, a process I recently initiated, capital investment must deliver on the emerging policy priorities. This could take the form of more targeted investment while allowing for some demand-led funding. Such targeted funding, for example, prioritises the delivery of swimming infrastructure as highlighted in the recently published Swimming Pool Gap Analysis Report. Other areas for prioritised investment could be socially deprived areas of our inner cities and facilities therein. We should also consider priority funding for historically underfunded sports such as boxing and sporting organisations that do not own or that lease their land or premises.  There may also be a need for an enhanced role for local authorities as we seek to provide sporting facilities proximate to new housing developments, while also taking account of the sporting preferences of our new and emerging communities. Given the challenges of increased demand and a growing population, I consider there is real merit in the development of municipally backed, shared, multi-use facilities and I encourage national governing bodies, NGBs, of sports and local authorities to collaborate in this regard.  As part of budget 2026, I was pleased to announce a \u20ac3 million multi-annual allocation to support the development of a modern and professional football academy system that will provide the structures and pathways required to support future generations of Irish players, male and female, and maximise the potential of Irish football. This is on foot of the programme for Government commitment to exploring new mechanisms for the creation of football academies. This builds on the additional funding of \u20ac1 million provided by the Department to the FAI in 2024, which enabled it to produce a detailed report on the League of Ireland academies system. That funding also enabled the appointment by the FAI of an academies administrator to support the development of new academy programmes and to track their impact.  The League of Ireland Academy Global Findings Report benchmarked Irish football academies against international standards based on an audit of existing academy structures and needs and provided a basis on which to commit to multi-annual funding support. The report revealed that Irish football talent development is significantly behind international standards, particularly when compared with nations ranked 51 to 100 by FIFA. The report outlines 50 recommendations which, if implemented in the coming years, should create a strong academy system that would underpin a sustainable domestic football league and, ultimately, strengthen the quality of players coming through to the national teams. As well as consolidating key insights, the report presents strategic recommendations to guide future progress aimed at building a robust, performance-driven environment where the next generation of Irish footballers can thrive. The report will enable informed decision-making and long-term strategic planning for elite player development and will guide future, long-term investment rather than short-term fixes.  Alignment between the FAI, the league, clubs, the Government and other stakeholders, is crucial to the successful implementation of the report\u2019s recommendations. To deliver proper oversight of the ongoing development of the League of Ireland academies, the FAI proposes to establish an academy oversight committee, a subcommittee of its national leagues committee. The FAI has invited a Sport Ireland representative to join this committee. I am pleased to update the House on the significant progress made to date on the League of Ireland academy investment since the announcement of funding in budget 2026. There has been an exceptionally strong response from across the football community to the League of Ireland academy recruitment panels. The FAI received almost 300 applications for the roles of academy director and head of academy coaching. This demonstrates both the scale of interest and the growing confidence in the League of Ireland academy system. Following the initial screening process, 50 applicants were shortlisted for the academy director role and 74 applicants for the head of academy coaching role. From this highly competitive process, 24 candidates were successfully appointed to the academy director panel and 32 candidates to the head of academy coaching panel. It is particularly encouraging to note that a significant proportion of applicants are young Irish coaches who have previously had to pursue opportunities abroad due to the limited domestic football industry. This investment in League of Ireland academies is now providing a credible pathway for these individuals to return home and build their careers within Irish football.  The panels have now been formally communicated to eligible League of Ireland clubs, many of whom have already commenced their recruitment processes using these panels. This represents an important step in strengthening the overall academy structure and ensuring a consistent, high-quality approach to talent development across the league. The first appointees will be in position before the end of this month with others coming on stream throughout the year.  However, the FAI wishes to highlight one area of concern. The number of female applicants across both roles was low, with a total of six applications received, representing approximately 2% of the overall applicant pool. The association has engaged with Sport Ireland on this matter and has provided feedback gathered from potential candidates who chose not to apply to better understand the barriers that may exist. While it is encouraging that one female applicant was successfully appointed to the academy director panel, this remains an area that requires focused attention.  The FAI has also put in place a comprehensive programme of training and guidance for clubs to ensure they fully understand both the requirements and the expectations associated with delivering recruitment processes to the highest possible standard. This investment in capacity building has not only enhanced the quality and consistency of recruitment practices across clubs but has also strengthened the overall foundations of the wider football ecosystem, embedding better governance and professionalism at club level.  Alongside the recruitment process, the FAI has developed a robust and comprehensive grant agreement framework. This sets out clear conditions for funding, including performance milestones, reporting requirements and governance standards. It ensures that public funding is subject to strong oversight, with clear accountability at club level and mechanisms in place to monitor delivery and intervene where necessary. This is a key safeguard for the Government and ensures that investment will translate into measurable outcomes. I am confident that the measures being implemented by the FAI will leave a lasting impact on the growth of the game nationwide.  The continued growth of the League of Ireland is a credit to the FAI and the clubs. Growing on an annual basis, the league is thriving, with soaring popularity and attendance at games. Its competitive nature means that for fans in the stands and watching from home, every fixture now feels like it carries significant weight. It boasts a strong mix of exciting young talent and experienced older heads, which makes for some great games. Clearly, the League of Ireland is on the up and I have no doubt this positive trend will continue.  In January, Mason Melia made the switch from St Patrick\u2019s Athletic to Tottenham Hotspur, while Josh Honohan joined Lincoln City from Shamrock Rovers. While it is a loss for the League of Ireland to lose such potential, it proves that the division boasts serious quality. The return of 36-year-old James McClean to Derry City from Championship side Wrexham will also be a draw for supporters keen to see players who have performed on some of the biggest stages. One of the positive aspects of League of Ireland football is that it is still very much true to its roots and boasts a strong connection to its communities. While some competitions abroad may have lost their magic as commercialism takes them over, supporters of League of Ireland clubs can still enjoy an authentic matchday experience that perhaps cannot be found elsewhere.  I am particularly pleased to see how the women\u2019s domestic game has grown in recent years in the League of Ireland and generally. The FAI\u2019s strategic cycle from 2022 to 2025 saw a 79% increase in participation among women and girls compared with the previous strategic cycle, which is a tremendous achievement.  The FAI has been at the forefront in growing female participation in sport, building on the legacy of the women's national senior team competing at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup and underpinned by its women and girls football action plan and targeted programmes like the In Her Boots campaign. There are now more women and girls playing football than ever before.  Female participation in sport is an important element of our national sports policy and represents a core priority for me and my Department. The Government is committed to eliminating the gender participation gap in sport, which has been reduced to 2.8%, and to promoting a \"sport for all\" approach, aimed at ensuring that all persons can partake equally in sport regardless of gender. Sport Ireland\u2019s women in sport policy supports national governing bodies as well as local sports partnerships, clubs, schools and communities in championing women and girls in sport, regardless of role or level or ability. Significant progress is being made in this regard, with increasing numbers of women and girls participating in sport and greater female participation and representation in the governance and leadership of sport in Ireland.  Our women in sport funding programme has been in place since 2005 and over the past two decades, over \u20ac30 million has been invested in promoting gender equality in sport. In the past three years alone, Sport Ireland has allocated over \u20ac1 million to the FAI to support its women in sport participation programmes, from grassroots participation and coaching to leadership, officiating, volunteering and high performance. As Minister of State with responsibility for sport, I will continue to tackle issues to ensure that women\u2019s sport reaches parity with its male equivalent and that females do not drop out of sport due to a lack of adequate training facilities or access to opportunities. I am steadfast in my commitment to continue to increase women\u2019s sustained involvement across all sports and at every level, from grassroots to high performance.  Media representation of women in sport remains uneven and greater efforts are needed to ensure women\u2019s performances and stories receive equitable coverage. Sport Ireland recently provided the first insights from its gender representation in Irish sports media research, a comprehensive analysis of sports media in Ireland examining how women in sport are represented. Analysis of more than 30,000 sports news stories across television, radio, print and online media last year showed women remain significantly under-represented in Irish sports media. Sport Ireland has previously supported several initiatives to support former athletes transitioning to a career in the media, including training, workshops and internships. The research showed women accounted for just 15% of all sports journalists and that they were 1.5 times more likely than male journalists to cover women in sport.  This landmark research serves as a powerful reminder of the visibility gaps that still exist and highlights the need to amplify women\u2019s sport across every platform. I believe there is substantial public interest in women\u2019s sport, and this is illustrated, for example, by Kate O\u2019Connor being the third most visible athlete in media coverage in 2025, with Sarah Healy and Leona Maguire also featuring in the top 20. We have made significant strides with regards to participation and governance and the next barrier is visibility. Ultimately, coverage decisions are matters for the media and broadcasting organisations concerned and I am aware that the Future of Media Commission has called for the development of a diversity and inclusion strategy for sports reporting and broadcasting. It is essential that we increase the visibility and profile of our female athletes. Shining a spotlight on the achievements of women in sport is crucial as the heroes of today will inspire young girls to follow in their footsteps.  The Sports Action Plan 2024-2027 contains a commitment to increase participation in sport among those with long-term illnesses or disabilities to 40% by 2027. Despite recent progress, there is an enduring participation gradient between persons with either long-term illnesses or disabilities and those without such illnesses or disabilities. The Irish sports monitor survey reports that this participation gap stood at 22% as of 2024. Both the Government and Sport Ireland are extremely committed to making this participation gap in sport a thing of the past. I was pleased that increased funding secured for sport in budget 2025 enabled Sport Ireland to appoint a disability in sport lead in February 2025. The role has the potential to be transformational and the disability in sport lead will work with national governing bodies, local sports partnerships and other sporting bodies to develop and promote the inclusion of people with disabilities in sport.  Sport Ireland allocates \u20ac1.2 million at local level to fund a national network of sports inclusion disability officers, aligned to each of the 29 local sports partnerships in the country. The sports inclusion disability officers work in a co-ordinating capacity with all relevant stakeholders to increase and sustain participation opportunities for all people with disabilities. Sport Ireland has also allocated an additional \u20ac2.4 million for supporting disability sport-focused national governing bodies to continue their work in this area. This investment will help to ensure that anyone with a disability at any level, grassroots and above, can avail of their absolute right to enjoy and reap the benefits of sport and physical activity. We need to ensure that every person with a disability can step into a club, a pool, a pitch or a gym and feel that it is a place for them. A person\u2019s disability should not be an obstacle to being physically active.  The FAI has led this space for many years, beginning with the recruitment of a dedicated national lead in 2002 and the launch of its Football for All strategy in 2017. Football for All is a national programme using football as a tool for social inclusion, well-being and community development, ensuring participation is not limited by physical, sensory, intellectual or social barriers. With around 3,800 participants across 82 clubs, the programme provides a pathway from grassroots to elite level for various disability groups, including cerebral palsy, CP, amputee, deaf, blind and powerchair football. In January, I was delighted to join Muscular Dystrophy Ireland and the FAI in presenting six new wheelchairs to the Association of Irish Powerchair Football. It was truly inspiring to see the great work being done by the FAI in this regard and it was a pleasure to promote a project that so clearly demonstrated what sport could achieve when inclusivity was at its core.  A new international sports diplomacy framework for enhancing the country's international engagement through sport was published last year. The resulting strategy was launched earlier this year and provides a comprehensive basis to advance Ireland\u2019s sports diplomacy objectives. The hosting of major international sports events, such as the Ryder Cup in 2027 and the Euros in 2028, will be central to the implementation of the strategy by establishing Ireland as a sporting hub and building a global reputation as a premier sporting nation, fostering opportunities for international partnerships, cultural exchange and diaspora engagement. Major international sports events can play a key role in increasing sports participation, encourage domestic and international tourism and promoting Ireland as a destination for education and business opportunities. They present a wonderful opportunity to showcase Ireland and our world-class tourism and sports offering to Europe and the world. Last September\u2019s first ever American National Football League game to be held in Ireland was a great example of this and provided a tremendous boost to the Irish economy.  Through structured initiatives, the Government aims to leverage international sports events, like the UEFA Euro 2028 tournament, to boost participation levels in sport, together with building a lasting social, economic and sporting legacy for future generations. At the launch of Euro 2028 last year, it was confirmed that Ireland would host seven games during the tournament, including a quarter final. The Government will invest just over \u20ac92.9 million in supporting the event and it is anticipated that the tournament will generate \u20ac449 million of socioeconomic benefits for Ireland. This will be the one of the largest sporting events Ireland has ever staged. The hosting of the tournament is a unique opportunity for effective collaboration to realise a meaningful legacy for wider society and I am determined to ensure that there will be a lasting benefit to all communities.  Ireland\u2019s national legacy plans for the tournament are being developed in collaboration between my Department and the FAI. These plans will have targeted initiatives that are designed to increase participation, broaden access to football, positively impact behaviour at all levels of football and deliver for wider society. In addition to these legacy plans, there is an opportunity to work collectively with our hosting partners around key projects to deliver an impact that is beyond what is possible individually. In this regard, a community programme is being developed that will connect the participating nations and leverage the power of a UEFA Euro tournament to create additional impact for communities and drive meaningful benefits.  Euro 2028 can also be a platform to amplify key national policies, such as using an event as an exemplar for sustainable practices. It is important that the tournament enhances the sustainability and legacy benefits for sport and related sectors, such as tourism, while minimising associated climate impacts, such as transport emissions and waste generation. My officials continue to work closely with their counterparts in the other host nations and all key stakeholders to ensure that Euro 2028 is delivered in a co-ordinated and cohesive manner that meets the objectives of all partners.  We have seen the benefits of hosting major international football events most recently when the UEFA Europa League final was held in Dublin in 2024.  The event played a significant role in stimulating economic growth, job creation and tourism in Dublin while also highlighting the city\u2019s cultural heritage. The final attracted a substantial global audience of 49.5 million viewers and generated a total gross added value contribution of \u20ac17.4 million to the economy. It saw 47,000 spectators packing out the Aviva stadium with over 25,000 attendees coming from overseas, and it is estimated to have supported almost 300 jobs. It gave us a significant taste of what it will be like when we host EURO 2028 games in Dublin. Another potential major football event that is under consideration for support by my Department is the UEFA Women\u2019s Champions League final in 2029. The FAI recently submitted a preliminary bid to UEFA to host the final. The potential hosting of this event represents an opportunity to promote the growth of women and girls' football in Ireland and to build on the momentum of co-hosting EURO 2028.  Sports tourism delivers great value and hosting major international sports events enriches the tourism and hospitality sectors all across the island. These events stimulate trade, foster community pride, and contribute significantly to our ongoing economic development. They can also inspire a sense of national pride and shape both how we see ourselves as a nation and how we are perceived internationally. Guided by the Government policy and strategy framework for the hosting of major international sporting events, we will continue to support the hosting of major football events in Ireland and to explore further hosting opportunities.  The true value of sport goes beyond the playing fields and courts. Sport brings people together, fosters mutual respect and drives positive change across societies, inspiring us to be our best selves. It helps to build communities that stand together, where co-operation and mutual support are a given and our shared passion is mirrored in our individual achievements. It is a celebration of diversity and breaks down barriers, especially for the vulnerable, such as children, migrants and people with disabilities. From grassroots participation to elite and high-performance athletes, the Government is committed to supporting our sporting ecosystem and improving Ireland\u2019s standing as a sporting nation. The support that continues to be provided for football is a key example of that commitment in action. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joanna Byrne  I sincerely welcome these statements on football as an opportunity to talk about the sport I have always, and will always, love. Some of my fondest memories are of growing up in the terraces among the fans, come hail, rain or shine, supporting our home team of Drogheda United through the good times and the bad. If the emotion and love of football supporters - League of Ireland supporters, crucially - have for their teams was manifested in infrastructure, we would have more than 20 state-of-the-art stadiums around the country, an adequate academy structure and enough community football pitches for the hundreds of grassroots teams and the tens of thousands of girls, boys, women and men who play. However, this Government and every Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael government prior to it have never adequately supported Irish football. Their own real concern has been where to show up for a photograph when the senior men's national team is performing well. Government TDs could all probably name the men's team from the World Cup in the USA in 1994 but I have every confidence most on Government benches would struggle to name many of the players in the current senior women's national team. Roy Keane was good but, by God, he is no Katie McCabe. If Ireland is ever going to have success on the international stage, we need to support every local team and every local community from the small team format at under six and seven right through to senior men's and women's teams in the League of Ireland. If we want the League of Ireland to be competitive and, very importantly, self-financing, then we need to support the FAI's carefully put together plans. If we want the League of Ireland stadiums to be adequate for use and safe for fans, we need to back the FAI's facilities and infrastructure vision and strategy. No one expects anything to happen overnight - that plan is a 15-year investment plan to address chronic underinvestment in Irish football - but sufficient investment has to start now.  That is the positive outlook for the future of football but it is not the reason for these statements today. We are here solely as a consequence of the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan's public denigration of the League of Ireland and its fans in recent weeks. His solo run, plague upon all their houses, collective punishment, sneering and classist approach to the League of Ireland after the Dundalk versus Drogheda match was utterly shameful. The Minister had to utilise Google Maps to even find his way to a League of Ireland ground to open the new AstroTurf pitch in Oriel Park and to watch the highly anticipated live derby between Drogheda and Dundalk. The Minister posted a video that showed fan's pyrotechnics prior to kick-off to highlight what a great occasion it was. That video clearly showing pyro is still in his social media today. It was all fun and games until it was not. Is it any wonder he is a gift to Waterford Whispers News ? Regrettably, the new pitch was damaged by significant scorch marks caused by a small minority of fans throwing flares onto the pitch, which Drogheda United paid to repair in full. The Minister's response was to mete out collective punishment by announcing a pause in all AstroTurf funding for League of Ireland clubs. As the Minister of State, Deputy McConalogue, who is responsible for sport, confirmed, he was not made aware of this and stated here in the Chamber that he did not agree with it. Not only did the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, succeed in vilifying the many great supporters of the League of Ireland for the actions of a few, he also succeeded in undermining his colleague in his capacity as Minister of State for sport.  I have never condoned the use of pyro or flares at matches. Any right-minded football supporter at the League of Ireland would strongly condemn what happened in Oriel Park, and so do I. There is no justification for any damage to facilities, particularly when investment in infrastructure is sparse and hard won. I tell the Minister of State here now, and I hope the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, is watching from wherever is more important to him this evening, I am a League of Ireland fan all my life and I am not a plague on anybody's house. My family hails from deep in League of Ireland history and none of them are plagues on anybody's houses. Neither are all the good people and volunteers who keep the League of Ireland clubs running in spite of decades of underfunding from this and previous governments. Sadly, pyro is not a new problem for our league and it has posed challenges across the board in recent years for both the FAI and clubs to individually try to curtail. As somebody who has volunteered in a club for many years, I can attest to the challenges all clubs have in trying to make their grounds more secure. However, instead of jumping for the sake of headlines, I remain steadfast in my commitment to working with the league and other stakeholders to try to strengthen our resolve against this mindless behaviour. Government, on the other hand, has done nothing for decades to tackle this problem.  The FAI and the League of Ireland office in particular have a long history of working with clubs to highlight the dangers of pyrotechnics and making sure stadiums are safe. This is made increasingly difficult by the poor infrastructure and lack of support from successive governments, including this one. From 2013 right up to this year, the League of Ireland has run a series of education and awareness events supported by An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. I have attended many of these myself, so I know at first hand the conscious efforts made to try to curtail this growing culture. The League of Ireland men's Premier Division clubs collectively spent over \u20ac2.7 million last year in safety and security for their games. This is a significant spend and highlights the fact that all clubs take safety and security very seriously. The Government, by its own track record, does not and it has little or no interest in investment in infrastructure to aid clubs or the League of Ireland in their endeavours. The Government's only interest sparked was an opportunity for a Minister to make himself relevant in a sport that one week did not know who he was to its supporters the following week displaying banners at matches telling him not so politely where to go. The Department of education in 1996 published a code of practice guidance document for safety at sports grounds, and there has been no updated version since despite all the changes in society, technology, infrastructure and, in more recent years, a growing culture of pyro. Before Government decides to vilify League of Ireland supports ever again, it should practise what it preaches and update its own code of practice for safety at sports ground into this millennium.  We all want safer stadium facilities. We want places where players young and old can play and thrive. The game is growing and attendances and support are growing. Overall last year, in competitions featuring League of Ireland teams, there was an 11.7% rise in spectators with a total of 1.1 million attending games. They achieved all this despite being underfunded. The momentum is there and it could be the easiest win of the Minister of State's Ministry to invest in the future of Irish football and take the credit for watching it bloom. To realise the full potential of football in this country, facilities have to be key. The FAI-branded League of Ireland facilities are archaic with only one stadium reaching more than 10,000 capacity, while Ireland is among the lowest in the EU for stadium projects. While average attendance has risen to over 4,000, many grounds rely on temporary structures and outdated stands. My own club is the same and has not been updated since my own grandfather built it by hand in the 1970s with the help of tradesmen in the town on their evenings and weekends. Yet, despite infrastructural constraints, the League of Ireland contributed \u20ac1.64 million to the Irish economy in 2023. Just imagine what that could bring in if significant investment by the Government was channelled into facilities. The future of Irish football lies in the Minister of State's hands and I implore him to take a realistic reflection of Government's investment in our sport. We need genuine tangible investment in the stadiums and academies if we want to see glory days again.  I wish to touch on comments made recently by me in my capacity as Sinn F\u00e9in's spokesperson on sport opposing Ireland playing Israel in the upcoming UEFA Nations League match. This, as everybody is aware by now, came at huge personal cost to me and led to me being removed from my role as chairperson of the football club I have grown up in and spent my life loving. Although this broke my heart and is something I am still trying to process and rebuild, I proudly and staunchly reiterate Sinn F\u00e9in's opposition, and my own, I might add, to Ireland playing Israel in this fixture. Israel is an apartheid state which has engaged in ethnic cleansing and genocide. Its slaughter of footballers and bombing of football pitches cannot be accepted and normalised. Front-line Israeli soldiers with blood on their hands lining out against our international team cannot be accepted or normalised. Sportswashing cannot be accepted or normalised. I am proud to have stood up and to speak up despite the consequences. Any representative of this Government who endorses this game proceeding needs to give themselves a good shake and be aware that they are going down on the wrong side of history. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  We only have to look at how we got behind Rory McIlroy at the weekend and his back-to-back Masters win to know the Irish people are sports mad. It was an absolutely tremendous achievement but I would argue that nothing lifts the nation like a successful Irish soccer team. It lifts the mood. I congratulate the Irish women's soccer team last night for a wonderful result away in Poland. We also saw how Troy Parrott and his team lifted the mood of the nation over the last couple of months and how the mood dropped after the agonising penalty shoot-out in Czechia.  The Government is very quick to take photo opportunities with the national team but you need to put your money where your mouth is. Population-wise, Ireland is very similar to Croatia. Croatia regularly qualifies for major tournaments and goes far in them. Ireland does not. Croatia has 190 full-time academy staff. Ireland has ten. There is a message in there somewhere. The Government has allocated \u20ac3 million for League of Ireland academies. That is welcome but it does not go far enough, particularly with the onset of the new national league, which will be the third tier of the League of Ireland. I want to congratulate Lucan United and St. Francis FC from my own area for achieving this status. I believe Letterkenny Rovers FC, in the Minister of State's neck of the woods, has achieved this status. Clubs like that will need assistance.  I am a passionate League of Ireland fan. I am at my happiest in Richmond Park cheering on St. Pat's. I travel to games up and down the country. However, the FAI has branded the stadiums in the League of Ireland as archaic, and I have to agree with it. There is only one stadium in the whole country in the League of Ireland that has a 10,000-plus capacity. When I was mayor of South Dublin County Council I had the honour of cutting the ribbon on Tallaght Stadium. It was a bit of a bittersweet moment for me as a St. Pat's supporter cutting the ribbon on a ground for Shamrock Rovers but it goes to show that, with the vision of a local authority like South Dublin County Council and the necessary backing, something like that can be achieved. All stadiums right across the country should be like that. We could have funded this through a simple 1% increase in the betting levy tax. The fact that the Government did not access the Brexit equalisation fund for League of Ireland clubs was a missed opportunity.  Like all sports, we have some bad supporters. This is true in the GAA, in rugby and in any other sports. I want to contribute my thoughts on what my colleague, Deputy Joanna Byrne, talked about. The handful of bad actors - bad Drogheda United supporters in Dundalk - were rightly condemned and nobody condemned them more than my friend, Joanna Byrne. However, the response of the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, response was absolutely disproportionate. In fact, it was snobbery towards soccer fans. It was like putting a plague on all our houses. Threatening to stop the funding for a whole league because of the action of a few is collective punishment. How dare he? As a League of Ireland fan, I find this totally unacceptable.  I also want to stand in solidarity with Deputy Joanna Byrne on her principled and moral response to Ireland playing Israel. As a season ticket holder for Ireland matches, I will not be attending this match. We should not play ball with genocide.  Grassroots soccer is something I have been involved in since I was a kid. I have been involved in it all my life. Grassroots clubs in my area are the mainstay of our communities. They keep our young people on the right road and they do not get enough credit or support. In my area the Coldcut land was recently bought by a speculator who is hoping to develop that and get the land rezoned. I am again calling on South Dublin County Council to compulsorily purchase this amenity so clubs like Collinstown FC and Palmerstown FC can have a place to call home and grow.  Finally, I congratulate Quarryvale FC for starting an under-sevens' academy in Quarryvale Park. It is the first time in over a decade that we will see kids playing football in that park and the club needs to be commended. However, like all grassroots soccer clubs, it needs to be supported as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  I am standing here as a GAA person. However, in my community I see the power and the work that soccer teams, soccer clubs and soccer coaches have done. I have seen over the last 40 years how the number one sport in Cork was hurling. The number one sport now in Cork is soccer. There are a number of reasons for that but I have seen it taking off. The amount of young people playing the game is unbelievable but some of the sporting facilities are horrendous. They are shocking. How this Government has failed soccer over the years is wrong.  I look at the community in soccer and how important it is. This Friday night there is the Togher el cl\u00e1sico . It is a soccer game that has been organised. I send my sincere condolences to the family of Eileen O'Leary following her tragic passing. She was buried this week. What happened was a real tragedy. Five other houses were damaged. Soccer teams are coming together - Pearse Celtic and Greenwood FC - and on Friday night they are staging the game as a fundraiser. That shows how soccer is at the heart of local communities. I wish them the very best with that.  I want to talk about the amount of clubs in my area. It is unbelievable. There is Castleview AFC, Temple United FC, Rockmount AFC, St. Mary's AFC, Mayfield United AFC, Blackstone Rovers FC. My problem is that if I start naming them I am going to miss some, like Blarney United FC and Ballincollig AFC. There are so many, but they need support.  I will give the Minister of State some figures because sometimes it comes down to figures and funding. Cork received, on average, \u20ac50 per capita in sports funding in 2023. That is \u20ac20 less per capita than the national average. That shows that Cork is not being supported the way it should be, and I believe the figure nationally is way too low.  It affects the smaller clubs. There is a club in my community, Knocknaheeny Celtic. Over the last year it has had no dressing rooms. Through work by local councillors, Michelle Gould and Kenneth Collins, Cork City Council and Ross O'Callaghan, the club now has temporary accommodation, but it has no fencing. We are trying to get more people playing soccer but the smaller clubs in the most disadvantaged areas are always the ones that lose out the most. Four soccer clubs on the northside of Cork city applied for funding in 2023. Not one of them got the full allocation. I will explain. If clubs from working-class areas or clubs from areas that are not as socially successful as others do not get all the funding they request, they will not be able to deliver the projects. That needs to be taken into consideration. We know that when kids are playing sports, especially kids from disadvantaged areas, it makes a huge difference to the outcomes in their lives.  We are very proud of the women who won the other night. Denise O'Sullivan from my community is a true leader and role model for everyone. The soccer boys did us proud. We should not be playing any games with Israel and I stand by Joanna Byrne 100%. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  Anyone with any interest in the League of Ireland knows there has been a huge increase in attendances at League of Ireland games over the past few years. In my county, Kerry FC has started from a low base and it has added so much to the fabric of the town. It is a place to go, even socially, every second Friday night. Those spectators are part of the more than 1.1 million people who attended games last season, an overall increase of 8%. There is no doubt, as we heard earlier, that the League of Ireland is severely underfunded. Facilities are not up to standard. However, despite that it contributed over \u20ac164 million to the local economy in the last year that we have numbers for.  Facilities are poor, especially when it comes to infrastructure and academies. Comparisons have been made to Croatia and Serbia. Croatia has 190 full-time academy coaches and Ireland has ten. Our budget is comparable to those in San Marino or Andorra. In fact, our youth set-up trails behind countries which are ranked 51 to 100 in men's and women's FIFA rankings. There was a plan to give \u20ac140,000 to each academy but now only \u20ac93,000 will be awarded to the 26 clubs. That is pennies compared with the money given to other sports. There should be a 1% increase in the betting tax and more should be given to soccer clubs because an awful lot more of the betting goes on football than on anything else. Last year the FAI presented a plan over 11 years of just over \u20ac7 million per year. Sinn F\u00e9in had suggested \u20ac5 million per year to build the infrastructure and return it to the top tier.  I, too, want to congratulate and stand with Deputy Joanna Byrne on the stand she took about the Israel game. The fanbase support her, the people of Drogheda support her and we support her.  I want to pay tribute to the club that is closest to my heart, Tralee Dynamos AFC. I pay tribute to the volunteers, the coaches and the players. It is Kerry's oldest club, at over 65 years old.  I learned so much from Frank Sheridan and Noel Hegarty. Running an extra lap around the low field stood to me in the years to come. I also pay tribute to the AstroTurf facility, and the people who did the work on it, and the girls in the women\u2019s club. Those clubs have been reaching out into the communities more than anybody else and deserve to be supported. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh  Ireland\u2019s upcoming fixture against Israel should not go ahead. I want to state clearly that I condemn UEFA for its handling of this issue, a handling that shows a flagrant disregard for its principles. When Russia invaded Ukraine, UEFA acted swiftly to sideline it from the competition. Yet in the face of Israel\u2019s devastating and ongoing assault on Gaza, we see no such action. Why the double standard? Why is one state sanctioned and another afforded impunity?  In November, the FAI passed a motion calling for Israel to be banned from UEFA competitions. That was a principled position reflecting the views of the grassroots. Yet by February, that stance was abandoned, with the FAI confirming that this fixture would proceed as scheduled. I condemn the FAI for that decision and for failing to stand up for justice when it mattered. It seems it has lost its moral compass. The Irish people have consistently shown that we would rather stand on the right side of humanity rather than be complicit in the oppression and destruction of another people.  Sport does not exist in a vacuum; it never has. There is always a political context and choices to be made about what kind of behaviour we are willing to tolerate on the international stage. On the pitch, we accept rules because there are consequences when these rules are broken. What message does it send, however, when a state that persistently breaks international laws faces no consequences at all? If this were a football match, Israel would be shown the red card. In the case of the Eurovision last year, RT\u00c9 made the right call, reflecting public sentiment and Ireland\u2019s long-standing commitment to freedom and self-determination. We need that same courage now. The people of Palestine deserve nothing less than our continued support. Trump\u2019s so-called peace agreement, which excluded Palestinians, has done nothing to address the structural violence they face nor to advance any meaningful or just resolution. Illegal occupation continues with impunity. Ireland should have no hand, act or part in normalising that reality. Seasaim go br\u00f3d\u00fail le mo chomhghleaca\u00ed Joanna Byrne a bhaineadh go h\u00e9agothrom \u00f3na post mar chathaoirleach ar Drogheda United tar \u00e9is di seasamh suas don rud at\u00e1 ceart. I support the grassroots call for the GAA to end its sponsorship agreement with Allianz, a company with strong links to Israel. Thousands of GAA members have campaigned for ties to be cut and I commend their efforts.  I take the opportunity to congratulate Newbridge FC for joining the FAI National League this year, the first team in County Kildare to do so since 2009. My son played for the team and many of his friends still do. I look forward to supporting the team and I hope to see other clubs join in the future. For our local and national teams to succeed, we need adequate investment in the League of Ireland and its academies from this Government right here, right now. If the Government can prop up industries steeped in animal cruelty, surely it can invest in the League of Ireland. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  The League of Ireland and the GAA have undeniably done tremendous work over recent years. This is clearly borne out by attendance figures, especially for the League of Ireland, which saw over 1.1 million people attend games. There has been more than an 11.7% rise in the number of spectators year on year. Soccer and GAA clubs have innovated in how they raise funds and how they support their local communities in all sorts of ways. I wholeheartedly commend everybody involved in football clubs. They deserve credit, especially the very many volunteers.  While Government figures will always be willing to put out social media posts during a national team campaign, the fact of the matter is that the successes of the League of Ireland have been in spite of the Government rather than because of it. The League of Ireland severely lacks investment and proper infrastructure. There have been a lot of League of Ireland jerseys outside the Chamber today. Unfortunately, while County Monaghan does have many fantastic clubs, the only professional team in my county folded back in 2012 because of debts of just \u20ac6,000. There is no League of Ireland club in County Cavan. I ask the Minister of State to put more funds into encouraging that happening in Cavan and Monaghan. We all know how beneficial it is to children and young people growing up. Instead, as a TD from a Border county, today I had to wear a Derry City jersey, which is reflective of my ambition that we would see an all-Ireland league and national team.  What we would like to see from the Minister of State is an update of the code of practice for safety and the putting in place of funding to help clubs to meet it. I also ask him to fulfil his party\u2019s commitment to increase the betting tax by 1% and put that money into sports funding, and to commit to multi-annual funding for facilities and infrastructure while working with organisations to become self-sufficient.  I also commend and show solidarity with my party colleague, Deputy Joanna Byrne. As chairperson of Drogheda United, she was central to the fantastic work that has taken place there. I note some Government figures were very quick to express opinions that the Ireland-Israel game should take place. I also welcome that the Minister for foreign affairs only recently launched a sports diplomacy policy. Let us be real, however. The Government does not have a sports diplomacy strategy for the love of the game. It is diplomatic soft power, sport being inherently political. I invite the Minister of State to reflect on his party's support for that game and perhaps consider his Government\u2019s role in supporting the soft power and sportswashing of the genocidal Israeli regime. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert O'Donoghue  As someone who worked in soccer refereeing for 15 years, I was probably called every name under the sun twice, and that was before I got into politics. I saw first-hand during that time the vital role that football plays in our society. It is far more than just a game; it is an anchor to local communities. It is a source of pride and a powerful force that connects people across generations, from young people taking their first steps in academies to older people representing their clubs and towns. The sense of identity and pride that football fosters is truly remarkable. It brings people together in a way that very few other activities can.  However, if we are to sustain that and grow this impact, we must commit to a greater investment in football from the ground up. Grassroots clubs are the lifeblood of the sport. They need the resources to thrive. In my constituency of Dublin Fingal West, there are clubs such as Rush Athletic FC and Skerries Town FC - both of which I played for, but I can only wear one jersey - Lusk United AFC and Glebe North FC in Balbriggan. These local football clubs are doing incredible work, but they cannot do it alone. They require sustained support and investment to continue serving communities and we must support them in doing this. At the same time, investment must go hand-in-hand with strong governance. Clubs, and not just soccer clubs, must be inclusive, transparent and open to all. Robust safeguarding policies, adult safeguarding policies and welfare policies are essential to ensuring that every person who participates in sport feels safe and respected and State funding to sporting organisations should be cut if they are not adhering to those codes of conduct.  We must also be clear in our stance against any form of discrimination, bullying or harassment. Football, as well as all sports, should be a space where everybody belongs. We have seen a concerning level of online abuse which also needs to be stamped out. We must also support and develop those who give their time to the games - the volunteers. Whether these are coaches or committee members, they are the backbone of our clubs. They deserve proper training and support to ensure the highest standards and best practices are taking place across not just soccer clubs but all clubs. We need to invest not just in facilities but in people, values and community. Football will continue to unite and inspire for generations should we do this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  In the long history of this D\u00e1il there have only been two debates on football. This is the second, and the first was in 2023, put forward by the Labour Party. This debate is only happening because of a request from the Labour Party to put football front and centre in terms of much-needed funding. Our colleague, Deputy Ged Nash, is convening a cross-party group on football in the coming weeks, which we hope will have input from Members on all sides, to push the agenda of grassroots League of Ireland men\u2019s and women\u2019s football throughout this country.  That is how important the Labour Party believes football to be. When these statements were originally scheduled a couple of weeks ago, the Ireland men\u2019s team was two games away from the type of summer that many young people have never experienced and would never forget. However, there is still a bright future ahead for our men\u2019s team. There is a huge, bright future for our women\u2019s team.  Luckily - I say luckily because it is not as a result of support from the State - we have the most vibrant and exciting offering in all sport on this island, namely the League of Ireland, which runs right through the summer. Again, it is hampered from investing in itself by the rules of funding and schemes such as the large scale sports infrastructure fund, LSIF, which is very difficult for a League of Ireland club to avail of in relation to upfront funding costs. We need to invest in our stadiums in order to harness, attract and increase the numbers of people, some 1.1 million, who came through the turnstiles last year. The League of Ireland needs the support of Government, a change in the funding model and real commitment.  What was really revealing was the response of the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, a few weeks ago to the scenes in Oriel Park. Funding, such as it is, for the League of Ireland and football in this country seems to be hung and swung over the heads of those in the football community by this Government. They have to meet a bar that is so high that even a slight digression will result in the withholding of funding and support. That is just not on. It is unsustainable and proves to the football community in this country that it does not have the full support of the State. It is a feeling the football community has had forever. Those in that community have always been the poor men and poor women of Irish sport in the context of structured funding.  An independent audit completed last year found that youth football facilities in Ireland lag well behind those in another countries. Of youth facilities in the 100 countries surveyed, those here were ranked 51st by FIFA, football's world governing body. Only 4% of our clubs here have a full-time head of coaching. This compares with 46% in associations of equivalent rank. No League of Ireland club has a minimum of four full-time academy coaches. In the aforementioned FIFA-ranked countries, the figure is 36%.  I ask the Minister of State to work with the FAI, grassroots clubs and the League of Ireland. They have pulled themselves up without structured help from the State to provide the best offering of sport in this country. They need further support. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marie Sherlock  It has been a long time since our international teams gave us such pride and pleasure. I want to pay tribute to our international women\u2019s team in particular, which pulled off a great win last night. Good luck to the team next Saturday, and indeed to the men as well for the future.  The visceral sense of excitement in the north inner city over recent weeks, particularly because of Troy Parrott, has been something to behold. I am very proud to stand here as a member of Bohemians FC. The turnaround we have seen with that club over the past number of years, which previously faced bankruptcy, which now has a high level of demand among its fans to attend matches week after week and whose the women\u2019s team reached the FAI club final last year, has been nothing short of incredible.  I want to use my time to talk not about where players are now but where they came from. That is not in any way to take away from the conversations that are desperately needed, particularly in the context of women's football, and the large disparity that exists in terms of resourcing and respect for women. It will be ten years next year since the international women's team had to go on strike.  With regard to grassroots football, across the city and beyond, football leagues in catch-up mode because vital weeks were lost in January and February as a result of weather conditions. There were teams that could not play because of the rain. This was a cruel reminder of how poorly served boys and girls in this city and beyond are because of a lack of playing facilities such as all-weather pitches.  In the time I have left, I want to make the point about how badly designed the capital sports programme funding is and how it is very much designed for rural clubs as opposed to urban clubs, many of which cannot buy sites or access long-term leases. I know of one club, namely Drumcondra AFC, which has a very proud tradition and which is more than 100 years old. That club had to partner with a private sports club and a school in order to put forward a sports capital funding application in the most recent funding round. Those involved applied for \u20ac200,000 to convert defunct tennis courts into all-weather soccer pitches for their teams. They got approximately half of what they requested in their funding application. When that happened, the private sports club withdrew its co-operation. As a community, we do not have those all-weather soccer pitches now. When I rang Killarney and said that this was problem because the private club got funding for one purpose and is using it for another, I was told \"That's the way it is.\" That needs to change. If clubs are being allocated money for specific purposes, it needs to be used for such purposes. If I had more time, I could talk about much more about sports capital funding. We need to overhaul the way in which that funding is used in order that clubs, particularly those in disadvantaged communities, get the benefits they need. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Wall  I am glad the Minister of State is here. I want to start by paying tribute to my colleague Aodh\u00e1n \u00d3 R\u00edord\u00e1in MEP, who was something of a lone voice in the previous D\u00e1il when it came to football in this country. As my colleague Deputy Smith said, this is only the second time we have discussed football in this Chamber, which is simply not good enough.  I also pay tribute to the Irish women and their terrific win last night against Poland. They are role models for a growing sector of our communities, and young girls are looking up to them. However, there are issues around that which I will refer to. Unfortunately, Kildare County FC is no longer with us, having folded in 2009. I welcome the fact that Newbridge Town FC will form part of the new third division of the League of Ireland when it gets up and running.  I am an avid follower of football in this country and of the League of Ireland. It is absolutely brilliant to see the levels that clubs here have achieved, particularly in Europe. I do not think enough credit is given to our League of Ireland clubs for their achievements in Europe over the past couple of years and for what they have done in terms of putting Irish football on the map. As has been said, we need to invest in the stadiums. Some of those stadiums are sheds. They are simply not fit for purpose and will not encourage younger people to get involved in the game or thousands of people to come out and support their clubs.  In the time remaining, I want to talk about grassroots football, because that is where it all begins. The Minister of State knows from his area the terrific growth there is in grassroots football. In my hometown of Athy, we have two wonderful clubs, namely Athy Town AFC and Clonmullion AFC. Both of those clubs struggle for facilities. For the growing population of my town, there are very limited opportunities for new people to join those clubs because of limited facilities. I have raised with previous Ministers for Sport and I raise with the Minister of State tonight the need for local authorities and Government to invest in shared facilities. I will provide an example in this regard. In Athy, 13 acres are zoned for a shared facility, yet we are not able to progress that. We have 13 acres that would make a difference to both of the clubs I mentioned and to other sports clubs in the town. What should be happening in every local authority area is that the Government should be investing and local authorities should be managing matters in order to that there are facilities and that clubs which are so desperate can grow by being provided with access modern facilities. This is something that previous Ministers for Sport said was a great idea. Unfortunately, it stopped at that. I plead with the Minister of State to investigate this idea, which we in the Labour Party have brought forward previously. Shared facilities are the way forward. The cost of land is preventing so many clubs from expanding. If we have shared facilities, that could make a difference to the football clubs of this country, particularly those in my wonderful county of Kildare. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  I thank my colleague Deputy Smith for working tirelessly to get these statements on the agenda of the House. I pay tribute to the senior women\u2019s team on their win last night.  Soccer is often seen as the sport of the working class. From the outset, when clubs and teams were established by workers in industry and in working-class communities, up to the present day, soccer clubs have played a pivotal role in communities. Modern professional soccer may be dominated by money and the wealthy, but it is ordinary working people who make the sport what it is. Whether it is in Cork, Dublin or Belfast, soccer has deep roots in Ireland. It continues to be the most participated in team sport in the country according to Sport Ireland\u2019s Irish Sports Monitor 2024. At a push, all you need are two hoodies and some semblance of a ball to kick around the street and you have yourself a game.  The recent utterances of the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, about collective punishment for the League of Ireland exposed the clear dissociation and neglect the sport is often the subject of in Ireland.  The funding made available through the Department each year must be fairly distributed as it is often the case that soccer clubs are the ones scrambling for a pittance while others thrive. As with many sports, it is the community at grassroots level that keeps soccer alive and thriving. We can see it all over Ireland. In my constituency and in my town we even have two clubs, Mallow United AFC and Mallow Town Football Club. The prosperity and success of community clubs is reliant on the volunteering and fundraising of dedicated members of our communities. Clubs like Mallow United host \"Strictly Come Dancing\" type events to raise funds for their facilities, like the one in the Charleville Park Hotel on Saturday, 18 April to which I will be lending my dancing skills, or lack thereof, in support. Not only do we see this positive reflection on community at grassroots level, we also see professional clubs like Cork City Football Club and their community kit room initiative that provides good condition goalkeeper gloves, jerseys, training gear, boots, used footballs, training bibs and cones at no cost, supporting those in the community who otherwise would go without. That is what soccer is: the people's game, a unifier, and the world's game.  I want to touch on the Nations League fixture between Ireland and Israel. I will not waste anyone's time by asking the Minister of State with responsibility for sport to do anything here, but I will say that this game should not be going ahead. Israel should be banned from participation in FIFA and UEFA competitions. The Israel Football Association has breached multiple UEFA and FIFA statutes. Six Israeli clubs play on occupied territories - Palestinian lands. There are reports that over 500 people associated with the Palestinian FA have been murdered by Israeli forces. The governing bodies are failing the sport with Israel's continued inclusion. No Irish player should be put in a position where they have to compete against a team representing a state like that. Any player who feels in good conscience that he or she cannot participate should be fully supported by the association and by the Department of sport. One thing is for sure, the fans will support them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I thank the Deputy. Before calling the Minister of State, Deputy Murnane O'Connor, I extend a welcome to the Flemish minister for agriculture and environment, and the ambassador, who are here with the Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan. You are very welcome.  For those in the Public Gallery, it is good to see so many in attendance. I mention in particular the representative from Taiwan, Daniel Diann-Wen Tang, his wife, Stephanie Chang, and Christina Hong, here with Deputy Barry Ward. You are very welcome. I must also mention that Deputy Timmins is in the Gallery with some visitors. You are all very welcome. It is good to see the representative here from Taiwan and the Flemish delegation too.  We now move to the Minister of State, Deputy Murnane O'Connor. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor)  I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle. Football is one of Ireland's most popular sports and we as a Government are proud to back it at all levels, from grassroots clubs where our youngest players take their first kick to professional academies that will shape the next generation of our Irish international players. Football is a hugely popular sport in Carlow and I could take up my entire time slot here naming every football club in the county. The work our football clubs do within our community is extremely important. They bring our local communities together for social occasions and for physical activity. Any evening of the week, or any day or at the weekends we see children, young people and adults out training on football pitches across the county. I give particular mention to the football teams, both men's and ladies, at the South East Technological University, SETU. We are blessed to have such an amazing sporting facility in Carlow thanks to SETU. It is also wonderful that the young people in our communities are able to witness such high-quality football being played in our county in such fantastic facilities. We saw how much joy and excitement the Irish team brought to the country recently as they pushed for the World Cup qualification. Sadly, they did not make it but the whole country was behind them. I also mention our Irish women who won last night against Poland. We hope they can recreate their run to the World Cup. We all remember the excitement of seeing them play in the last World Cup in Australia. I hope as many people as possible turn out to support them this weekend in the Aviva Stadium.  The Government's commitment to Irish football is reflected in the numbers. From 2020 to 2024, over \u20ac71 million was awarded to football-specific projects under the community sports facility fund. A further \u20ac52.4 million was directed to football under the large-scale sports infrastructure fund, giving clubs across the country the modern, high-quality facilities they need and they deserve. A total of \u20ac6 million per year is provided to the Football Association of Ireland to support football development programmes at every level of the game. In budget 2026, the Government provided a landmark investment into the League of Ireland academies, providing multi-year funding to professionalise all 26 League of Ireland academies. This will create full-time coaching roles across the country to provide our most talented young players with the high-performance training they require to fulfil their potential. As the saying goes, \"If you can't see it, you can't be it\". This is why under the large-scale sports infrastructure fund the Government has ensured there will be equal access to funding and facilities for men and women. Our investment in grassroots girls' programmes, the FAI women's and girls' action plan, and the development of female coaches at all level of the game, reflects our belief that women's football must be supported as a priority.  Football is more than just an elite level sport. As a Minister of State with responsibility for public health and well-being, there is a lot of great work going on in my Department to promote physical activity throughout the country. Under our walking tracks fund, \u20ac400,000 was provided to football clubs last year to develop walking tracks in the clubs' grounds to make facilities as accessible as possible for the whole community. Healthy Ireland also provides funding each year to promote physical activity. This includes park runs, which are huge successes and which continue to go from strength, and the active schools' flag programme. Funding is also provided to promote walking football, which I know is a valuable outlet for so many of our older adults who still love the game and want to stay active.  I thank the Minister of State for his commitment. He has been visiting a lot of clubs around the country. It is hoped the grant scheme will be ready. The Minister of State is committed to providing the supports needed to ensure that we have top-class facilities throughout Ireland. It is so important. Everybody's health and well-being is so important. Being active and seeing communities involved in so much sport gives exceptional benefits. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere  I appreciate the opportunity to be here this evening to speak and make statements related to football. I have a couple of points I would like to make, My initial point is to say a massive thank you to all the clubs in the country, especially in my constituency of Carlow-Kilkenny, to all the volunteers, all the executive, all coaches, all parents and all players. It is a fantastic asset to have for a community. I have seen at first hand incredible developments in Kilkenny and in Carlow in soccer facilities, soccer infrastructure and increased participation in sport and soccer, particularly among females. It is fantastic to see. A huge amount has been done but we need to continue to do more to encourage participation in sport, especially among our females.  It is in that context I want to talk a little bit about the sports capital grant or the community sports facilities fund, which will be announced shortly. The total allocation of that has increased significantly over the last terms. It had gone from \u20ac70 million to \u20ac170 million, and the last tranche was \u20ac270 million. There is a fantastic opportunity here now for all sports clubs but for soccer clubs in particular to really increase the infrastructure and the capacity of their sports facilities, whether it be dressing rooms for girls, AstroTurf pitches, floodlights or walkways around them. There is a significant pot of money going to be made available. I would encourage every sporting organisation and every soccer organisation in Kilkenny and in Carlow to get their applications ready, to give me a shout, and we will make sure we get as many of those over the line as possible.  In relation to the FAI and the proposals for the summer league, which was a very hot issue around 12 months ago, I acknowledge and thank the FAI for its openness in discussing it and in allowing every county to decide what is best for itself. I am from Kilkenny and we are a massive GAA county. We love our hurling but we love our soccer as well. The summer calendar would not have worked because people would have picked one sport over the other. They can co-exist. I commend the FAI on allowing each county to decide what is best for itself. In Kilkenny and Carlow we have a fantastic situation where, in the winter months, our soccer is played brilliantly and we have the facilities for it with AstroTurf and floodlights, and in the summer the GAA takes over. They can absolutely co-exist. In the context of the sports capital grant or the community sports capital fund, I encourage the Department to support joint applications.  We have a lot of situations where communities and areas have come together, and the local GAA club and soccer club are side by side. I encourage that applications involving a soccer club and a GAA club be prioritised in this round in order to make sure that amount of money involved is as high as possible.  I pay particular tribute to a group of girls involved with Highview Athletic in Graiguenamanagh, which is my club. The first girls\u2019 team was formed approximately five years ago. They have been campaigning and playing. Two weeks ago, they won the league. It is a great story of resilience. It was the first girls\u2019 soccer team ever in the history of the club. There is now a girls\u2019 soccer team at every single age group. They went on and won the league, but it is not about winning the league. It is about the friendships they have made and the spirit the group has formed together. It is about the coaches and the work they have done. It is about the parents. I commend every person involved in that group, from the coach to the grannies who dropped girls to training and the whole soccer community, because that was an incredible achievement. It goes to show the importance of sticking together, the importance of sport and the importance of resilience and the life lessons learnt.  We need to continue to invest in sport and in football. I encourage the Minister of State to fight as hard as possible to make sure that as much funding as possible is made available to the FAI and the football sector and to the grassroots. That is really important. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  I welcome this debate on support for football throughout the country. I welcome the Minister of State's commitment to invest in football. I also welcome the investment in academies that was announced for this year. We have seen new leadership within the FAI. The vision those people have for our national teams, the League of Ireland and grassroots football is critical. As others have said, the investment we will see as part of the next round of the sports capital fund is very important in that regard. Clubs that work in partnership with other clubs and local authorities and that are the backbone of the communities we all live in must receive support. I know this from speaking to people from many of the clubs I meet with regularly in my community.  I echo the comments about how it is often difficult to get access to land in fast-growing areas and urban centres. There must be regard for fast-growing communities and the pressure they are under. I represent one of the fastest growing constituencies in the country. I look at Gorey Rangers, which my dad was involved in founding in 1962 and which is attracting so many young people who are coming into the town and playing on the schoolboys\u2019 and schoolgirls\u2019 teams. They need the support to be able to develop more pitches. It is similar with Gorey Celtic. There is also Courtown Hibs. Courtown Riverchapel is now the fifth largest urban settlement in County Wexford. Courtown Hibs is by far the largest sporting club in that community. It is incredibly inclusive, particularly in what it is doing for those with disabilities. I look at Arklow Town FC, founded in 1948, which is the backbone of Arklow and supported by people within the community. There is also St. Joseph's in Kilmuckridge, which is a huge club in a rural and strong GAA area. Yet, this is a club with over 500 members that works closely with Col\u00e1iste an \u00c1tha, the secondary school in Kilmuckridge. There is Tombrack United in a really small community, but everybody is involved because in many of our communities they are not just involved in the soccer clubs or the local school. They are involved in every aspect of what happens.  Soccer clubs are not just for playing football. It is about how they contribute toward community life. What we have to be about as a Government and as a society is not just building housing, which we really need, we must also communities. That is about investing in community, sports and cultural facilities, and providing soccer pitches is critically important. I look forward to working with the Minister of State on the next round of sports capital grants, which will be announced in the coming months, and, in particular, on supporting the clubs that are doing so much to build our communities and grassroots football. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tom Brabazon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tom Brabazon  Like everyone here, I was disappointed that our boys in green did not qualify for the World Cup on this occasion, but they made us proud and reminded us of what it is like to dream. I wish the girls in green the best of luck as they progress in the campaign for the qualifiers. They are inspiring young girls up and down the country. The key to this debate is investment in our young people, our clubs and our communities. Throughout my constituency are a number of excellent soccer clubs that are very well organised. There are Kilbarrack United, St. Malachy's FC, St. Paul's Artane, Killester Donnycarney, Raheny United, Howth Celtic and Baldoyle United to name a few.  Across the constituency, there are not enough facilities. I refer, in particular, to all-weather pitches. We have had a sodding wet winter, and the spring has not been much better. Ordinary grass pitches are not playable for periods of the year, and training is impossible. The solution to this is all-weather pitches. Unfortunately, we have had an issue with the habitats directive. Where there have been applications for all-weather facilities, there have been hiccups with regard to the brent geese. We are beginning to break through that particular problem, but it will certainly restrict the numbers of all-weather facilities that will be available to us. Unfortunately, given our weather patterns, there will be a continued demand for all-weather facilities.  We have burgeoning numbers in clubs. We have burgeoning female participation. It is skyrocketing and it is brilliant that it is. These all-weather pitches are life savers to our clubs. Teams can train longer into the evening and the surface allows them to have training sessions and games right throughout the year. These teams want to play throughout the year. They do not want to just be playing when the sod is dry. Clubs in the area they tell me that female participation is exploding. That is fantastic to see this. I have heard countless stories from clubs that they do not have changing or toilet facilities for their girls' teams. This is unacceptable in this day and age, and it has to change. I urge that this be prioritised in the upcoming round of sports capital funding and will be made available particularly in tandem with local authorities. I think of St. Anne's Park in Raheny where a lot of clubs play and where there are no facilities for the female participants in particular. Our clubs take young people off the streets where they could otherwise get involved with the wrong things and go down the wrong road.  Investment in soccer and in sport is really important. Like Deputy Cleere, I thank the volunteers who get up early to set out the cones and hang the nets, who stay late planning training sessions and formations, who wash the kits and fill the water bottles and who give lifts in order that players and supporters can get to games and training. They are the backbone of our clubs. They do Trojan work that often goes unnoticed. This is really an opportunity for all of us in this House to thank them for the work they do. The grassroots are the most important part of any sport. It is not enough to praise our teams and players when they succeed. We have to support them long before they pull on the green jersey and have a senior cap. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  I welcome the opportunity to speak on these statements. I am a lifelong football fan. I am wearing a Bohs jersey. I am a supporter, a season ticket holder and a member there. The work they do not just on the pitch but also in communities is second to none.  I played a fair bit of football. In truth, it was an experience to change on the side of a pitch. Pitches were a set of goals, and a pitch marked out on a flat piece of agricultural land. Sometimes, it was not flat. We often had to clear dung off the pitch before a game. In the late 2000s, I played in the top division in Meath and Louth. We could not use our home pitch for games because it was just not up to standard, like so many others in the competitive league. In our case, our home pitch was where a decent farmer had let us use his land,. There were no changing rooms or any other facilities. That was the reality. While it is better now, there are still many clubs in Meath, Louth and across the State that do not have anywhere near appropriate facilities.  The standard of coaching has progressed light years from where it was. There are players from Meath, men and women, boys and girls, who are making progress like never before. All you have to do is look at the national team, the League of Ireland and elsewhere. Players who hail from Meath are right up there. The interest and the talent are there, but they are being let down by a lack of facilities, a lack of resourcing and a lack of investment. The Minister of State has to invest, particularly for our youngsters, both boys and girls, and in our academies. By any reasonable measure, he is coming up way short.  We are light years behind. Croatia is a reasonable comparator. It has 190 full-time academy staff whereas we have just ten. I ask the Minister of State to please invest in academies. They are the places our future internationals learn their trade but they are being short-changed. The Government allocated just \u20ac3 million compared with an ask of \u20ac4.45 million.  My final message is on Ireland versus Israel and Israel versus Ireland. Netanyahu is a war criminal. His regime is genocidal. We cannot facilitate this attempt at sportswashing. Stop the game. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ann Graves","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ann Graves  I begin by acknowledging all the great work done by thousands of volunteers who ensure our young people have an opportunity to play football every week. We owe a deep gratitude to all the coaches who turn up week in, week out in all weathers to train our young players to be the best they can be both on and off the pitch.  The Dublin schoolboy league is the biggest football league in Europe and without the volunteers it simply would not function. I have seen the great work done by the coaches and board, with a special mention to \u00c9oin Sherlock in my local football club Swords Manor. I am proud to wear its jersey as a mark of respect to the club and what it does for our community. Its impact is felt way beyond the football pitch. Swords Manor was founded back in 1995 and now boasts 600 members, 550 players, 30 teams and 75 volunteers. I also want to acknowledge the other local clubs in Swords. Swords Celtic was founded in 1962 and is one of the oldest clubs in Fingal. River Valley Rangers have 300 members with 22 teams in four different leagues. This is just a snapshot of the amazing work done by soccer clubs in Swords but it is also reflected across the length and breadth of Fingal east. Every club is making our communities better, healthier and safer places for everybody but they need support. They need additional pitches, including all-weather pitches. Many teams are making long journeys just to get to a playable pitch. They also need access to facilities and funding. The positive experience gained on football teams is priceless, so we need to invest more in our clubs.  I acknowledge my comrade Deputy Byrne. She grew up with Drogheda United and literally learned how to walk on the football pitch. She went on to become the first and only female chair of a League of Ireland team and I stand in solidarity with her. I also applaud her strength of character and the way she has dealt with an appalling situation over the last couple of months. There is no place for genocide in sport. The Irish football team should not play Israel.  I will finish by congratulating the Irish women\u2019s team and wishing them the very best at the weekend. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  Picking up on the last speaker's comments, I too express my solidarity with Deputy Byrne and acknowledge the very difficult period she has been through and how well she has held herself throughout. I congratulate the Republic of Ireland women\u2019s team on their win yesterday against Poland in the World Cup qualifiers.  I will speak about sportswashing, grassroots facilities, the League of Ireland and supporting the women\u2019s game at this critical juncture. Football is the largest participation sport in the world and the largest participation sport in Ireland. It has such potential for good in our world but sportswashing is a blight on the game and has been rampant over the last period. FIFA and UEFA permitting Israel\u2019s Nations League participation while a genocide is carried out is both abhorrent and damaging. It is also wrong that the decision was made by the FAI to participate in the Nations League Israel fixture. However, it has been heartening to see our domestic football community\u2019s response to the genocide and to sportswashing. In November, a resolution was passed by FAI members to submit a motion to UEFA to ban Israel from its European club and international competitions. The resolution requested the immediate suspension of Israel from European competitions and cited violations by Israel\u2019s football association of two provisions of UEFA statutes, the first being its failure to implement and enforce an effective anti-racism policy and the second being Israeli clubs playing in occupied Palestinian territory without the consent of the Palestinian Football Association. Some 63% of our domestic league players who are members of the Professional Footballers' Association of Ireland voted against Ireland fulfilling the Nations League Israel fixture and celebrated managers like Brian Kerr and Stephen Bradley have used their voices to condemn the sportswashing being carried out - and this is sportswashing. Week in and week out, fans at games hold Palestine flags in the stands to call for solidarity with the people of Gaza and the West Bank. This response by so many involved in Irish football is truly something to be proud of in the face of unprecedented attempts at sportswashing.  As the Social Democrats spokesperson on sports people come to me with their many concerns about the funding and governance of sport here, including football and including my constituency of Dublin Rathdown. Pitch space, especially in urban areas, is increasingly difficult for clubs to secure. Rosemount Mulvey Football Club in Dundrum have had to fight so hard for a second pitch and have told me of the very real fear of having to turn kids away because they simply cannot accommodate more members. While I am confident Rosemount\u2019s particular issue will soon be resolved, other clubs around the country are experiencing the same pitch issues. Many clubs struggle with a lack of facilities for playing, changing and conditioning, and in Ireland only 34% of clubs at grassroots level have female toilets. We know what the dropout rates are for girls in sport so basic facility provision is an absolute must.  We have to meet the moment when it comes to football in Ireland. It is fantastic to see crowds making their way to Dalymount after work for evening fixtures or families making the trip to watch a Rovers game in Tallaght Stadium at the weekend. The growth in our domestic game is undeniable. Viewership is up, attendance is up and participation across demographics is up, as are the crucial gifts to society delivered by football and sport more widely, like community, respect, solidarity, integration, friendship, health and well-being. However, in order to harness this growth, we must invest in it through the community sports facilities fund, the large-scale sports infrastructure fund and every avenue we have.  The women\u2019s game is certainly an area that needs continued and further investment. As a staff member of a League of Ireland club said to my office yesterday, you cannot grow the game from success; you have to prime it for success. We have the potential to be a top-tier nation in the game and we are at an important and exciting time with growth in women\u2019s football, so let us deliver for our domestic league, elite pathways and our national side and be vanguards for equality in football.  Media coverage is another area that is important for the women\u2019s game. It is great to see increased coverage of our women\u2019s fixtures over the last number of years but we need to see this in broader media coverage. Niamh Tallon, founder of Her Sport, highlighted recently that the FAI and RT\u00c9 both put out messaging that the men\u2019s World Cup qualifiers could lead to the first World Cup qualification by Ireland in 20 years, which ignored the fact that the women\u2019s squad competed in the 2023 World Cup. These standards and recognition matter in coverage. I mention also League of Ireland women because there really is something magic with that league. Today, I am proud to wear the kit of my local club, DLR Waves. The standard of football and incredible athletes we have in DLR Waves and across the league as well as the fan communities building around the country are phenomenal and I urge everyone here to get to a fixture.  I add my condemnation of the Minister\u2019s comments and reaction as classist, divisive and harmful to people and to a sport that is the lifeblood of so many of our most deprived communities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  I am wearing my Shelbourne top tonight because that was my boyhood club where I spent a lot of my Friday nights both as a kid and an adult. A couple of years ago, the fans of Shelbourne were at risk of losing Tolka Park, which the club had grown in, and embarked on a campaign to save the ground. It was an inspiring campaign that was fan-driven and culminated when Shels won the league. It was genuinely heartwarming, so I pay tribute to the fans of Shelbourne FC.  A couple of embarrassing statements have emanated from the Minister of State's Department, though admittedly not from him. A few weeks ago, even I had to step back when I read in the newspaper that the launch of Kerry FC's pitch, which had received \u20ac380,000 in well-deserved funding, had to be delayed because the Minister could not attend. It turns out that the Department has a policy requiring clubs receiving over \u20ac100,000 to give a month's notice so Ministers can attend openings. This is neither the Minister of State's money nor the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan's money but the people's money. Launches do not necessarily need to be delayed so that Ministers can attend. It led me to have a little step back because while Ministers are very quick to go cut ribbons, they are not so quick to show up when things are a little more difficult. It is more difficult to launch pitches in an urban city centre environment because the clubs do not have the space. They do not have the space from public land. They do not have the long-term leases by which they could avail of the sports capital grant.  That is a structural failure that has huge consequences. I have raised in the Chamber on any number of occasions that kids in the north and south inner city of Dublin have literally nowhere to play an 11-a-side football game. I raised this during Leaders' Questions a few weeks ago and highlighted the fact that, per capita , Dublin received only \u20ac26.50 per person under the sports capital grant. The national average is \u20ac54 per person and counties like Leitrim, which are very deserving, get over \u20ac100 per person from the sports capital grant. Dublin city, the place where Troy Parrott learned to play sports and where we have any number of national heroes, does not have an 11-a-side football pitch.  I understand that the Pobal deprivation index was designed to weigh applications for capital sports grants but you cannot weigh an application that has not been submitted. The application cannot be submitted if clubs do not own their own land or have long-term leases. My appeal to the Minister of State is based on grassroots football. It does not matter to me if a kid goes off and plays for Ireland, lifts cups or anything like that. Football is my sport, but sport in general is the means by which we can galvanise a young person, give them the confidence, get them to do teamwork and have the role models like I had in Sheriff YC, and the managers who made sure many years ago when I was a kid that I was home on a Friday night for the match on a Saturday. When you have pitch bookings that are consistently being called off because they are water damaged or because the pitches you are playing on miles away from where you live are overbooked, it means we lose the capacity to give those kids the same chance to just play a game on an AstroTurf pitch the way they can in so many other communities around the country. We need to really look at how we allocate the sports capital grant and give more weighting to clubs that do not have the capacity to own their own land or have leases, or even moreso, invest in municipal facilities.  If Dublin City Council were to avail of the sports capital grant, which it has done, it has to give 30 cent on every euro it receives. I want Dublin City Council to be building houses. I want it to be confronting dereliction. If I am constantly on to Dublin City Council to build municipal sports infrastructure and if it were to avail of those grants, that money would be taken away from other immediate needs of the city.  I understand that an evaluation of the sports capital fund is going on. We need innovation and a somewhat different approach to level the playing field. Communities that I represent in Dublin Central, that Deputy Jen Cummins represents in Dublin South-Central and, I am sure, other communities, particularly in urban environments, do not have the leases and do not own the land. That creates a problem with huge deficits. I raised this matter with the T\u00e1naiste a couple of weeks ago and he understood the issue and said we would arrange a meeting together. Understandably, I am waiting for that meeting as there have been other things going on. If we could sit down to see how best we could achieve that aim, it would be to the benefit of kids who simply love football and do not have anywhere to play it at the moment. I understand the Minister of State would be open to that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aidan Farrelly  I thank the Minister of State for still being present. I join with the congratulations offered to the women's national team on their heroic victory this week. I wish them the very best. I join with my colleagues and friends in offering our full solidarity to Deputy Byrne this evening.  I would like to speak to the Minister of State about Tadgh, Nathan, Cian, Jack, Sam, Morgan - bear with me - Damien, Donal, Luke, Dominic, Finn, Sean, Niall, John, Enis, MJ, Fiachra, Hugh, Liam, Ronan, Evan, Kyle, Ois\u00edn, Heidi, Conor, Rory and Ryan. These young people have been heroes to me since becoming their football coach for the under-7s at Prosperous United AFC about eight years ago. Like most other coaches, we just volunteered as parents. We had no coaching badges and we had no experience, just the best of intentions. Since then, we have spent most Thursday nights together and most Saturday mornings together and, in truth, it is the highlight of my week. We have experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows together.  The other coaches - Damien, Tommy and Diarmuid - and I made a commitment to this group many years ago that we wanted to teach them as much about life as we did about football. During that time, we have proudly watched them transition from children to fine young adults. They have learned about discipline, teamwork, integration, honesty, loyalty, belief, hard work, resilience and just so much more. I commend every volunteer coach involved with underage football in this country, whether it is marking pitches, washing jerseys, hanging nets, organising games, pumping footballs or doing training courses, all for the love of the game, or the players for love of the club and their community.  As I see it, there are two important problems facing grassroots football in this country. One lies at the feet of this House and one at the feet of the FAI and the leagues. For those who get to play football, our league starts in early August and ends in May. That is the best part of ten months and during that time we have played ten league games this year. We have had more games called off than we have played. Ireland is simply not equipped for winter football. I know others in this House disagree but some clubs might have an AstroTurf pitch; most do not. We need to have an open conversation from a health perspective and from a climate perspective as to whether the future lies in AstroTurf pitches at all. What happens year after year in our league is that we end up cramming two or three fixtures into every week during late April and May just to get the season finished. There is very little enjoyment to that, as the Minister of State can imagine. I understand there would be significant criticism, and there has been, of the calendar season moving to summer football. If we act in the best interests of the children we are volunteering with, then I struggle to see how we can be opposed to that. There will be pressure with competing sports but, in truth, that is happening already. The GAA season has expanded for many young people in the county and they manage to compete in other sports right throughout the year. Until national and regional sporting bodies start talking to one another in the best interests of the young people, that will continue to happen. There might be availability issues during the summer, whether it is for referees or pitches, but we need to get around that because I am not alone in being sick of calling off games and waking up on Saturday at 7.30 a.m. and waiting on a phone call or text to say, \"No game again\" or \"No training again.\" It is just really frustrating. A reality check is needed between the FAI, the leagues and those who we are working on behalf of.  What about the children who do not play football or who cannot play football? During the past couple of years of having the privilege of being spokesperson for children and young people, I have come to the conclusion that we are pricing children, young people and their families out of sport. It is happening quietly, but it is happening. Clubs are not rolling in cash. The ever-increasing cost of keeping a club going have resulted in the need to bring in huge sums of money annually. My understanding is the best-resourced clubs are those with someone on the committee who is adept at filling out grant application after grant application, or a crew that is willing to go to great lengths to fundraise every year to keep the pitches and doors open. If it costs \u20ac100, \u20ac150, or \u20ac200 to join the club before you even buy your boots, socks and shorts and pay for travel, what that results in is a cohort of children and young people simply never making it to the pitch. I ask the Minister of State again to support the Social Democrats' call for a \u20ac100 sports and culture voucher in budget 2027. What that would do is effectively guarantee access to sport for every child in this country. It would mean they could choose football. They might choose something else. It is a no-brainer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathal Crowe  I am glad of the opportunity to speak on these statements tonight. Soccer gives this country great joy, similar to all sports. In fact, I attended the opening of a new stand at Cratloe GAA Club in County Clare the other day. I had to deliver a speech and I asked the crowd, if we did not have sport, what would we have. It is such a way of life for people, whether they are playing it, being actively involved or volunteering at the local clubs. Then there are those whose playing days are over. They may be bringing their kids to training and they are getting immense joy from that, whether it is watching the local teams or the county teams. Then there is soccer and the joy it has brought to us, particularly recently, because there have been bad days in Irish soccer. I was born in 1982 and grew up thinking Ireland would always reach World Cup quarter finals. It was not so but the joy it has brought again in recent times has been absolutely incredible.  It is lovely to see children going around wearing jerseys with \"Parrott Number 7\" written on them and Katie McCabe jerseys as well. What is wonderful is that, when I was growing up during the eighties and nineties, there was just men's sport. There was only one Irish football team to get behind. There has always been an Irish women's team but it is televised now. The names are household names. My daughter and her friends know the players and are behind them. Men are watching them and women are watching them. It is a sport for all, and long may that continue. Yet there is still a long journey to go in terms of women's sports. I ask that, when the Minister of State has any budgetary opportunities, whether it is on budget day or within his Department with allocations of sports capital funding, that he take cognisance of that journey that players, their parents and their coaches are making to bring women's sports to a level playing field.  As I mentioned on budget day, on the most recent budget day, the Minister of State made a positive announcement that there would be \u20ac3.5 million allocated to academies affiliated with League of Ireland clubs. That was fantastic. I do not know how the dates aligned but there was bad news around then that club development officers were being given redundancies. All except development officers affiliated with the women's senior, men's senior and men's under-21 teams were offered redundancy. The package to have academies affiliated with League of Ireland club was significant. It allows the next generation of Troy Parrotts and Katie Taylors to start at grassroots level. I am concerned, though, because League of Ireland is the elite structure of club football in Ireland but there are many counties, my own included, that do not have a League of Ireland club. There is Treaty United down the road, Galway and clubs in neighbouring counties. Not to take from that budget announcement, which was fantastic and long may it stand, but it would be great to have an additional layer of local development teams funded by the Government or local authorities leading out the counties as well. I am not going to get into naming all clubs or players; my young lads played with Corbally United up until recently. It is a fantastic club. There are so many clubs across Clare. In the southern belt of the county, some play in the Limerick district soccer league while many more play in the Clare league and even in the Tipperary league. It is fantastic to see youngsters on Saturday and Sunday mornings kicking the ball up and down the field, learning skills from coaches who give up their time. Like others, I commend the volunteerism. I ask that, going forward, we might have some budgetary package for that. For any clubs watching, the man I am addressing these comments to is the Minister of State with responsibility for sport, Deputy Charlie McConalogue - may it be repeated again and again over the coming months. He will be visiting clubs throughout County Clare and other counties. I look forward with my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Dooley, to bringing him to the clubs of County Clare. I hope he will deliver for a lot of us as the year goes on. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail  Football and sport more widely in Ireland, particularly at grassroots level, are some of the strongest forces we have in building communities. Many Deputies were brave enough to wear the football kits of their local clubs today but I could not be seen to be wearing one club over another, particularly in Kildare North where we have so many clubs like, in my own hometown, Maynooth Town Football Club, Celbridge Town AFC, Leixlip United AFC, Confey FC, Kilcock Celtic FC, Ballyoulster United AFC, Straffan AFC, Kill Celtic AFC, Naas AFC, Sallins Celtic FC, Caragh Celtic FC, Clane United AFC and BBC United FC in Broadford. That shows the level of football throughout Kildare North. A lot of those clubs were established in the 1970s and 1980s when Kildare North started to expand and the population was increasing. They deliver so much to their communities. I want to mention in particular Maynooth Town Football Club because Maynooth Men's Shed was at a difficult point last year when it had to vacate the premises it was in. My colleague, Councillor Donna Phelan, and I were contacted by the men's shed and were looking for a new site for it. Councillor Phelan approached Maynooth Town Football Club, as did I, and it was extremely welcoming. Now, a brand new shed, supported by Kildare County Council, is on Maynooth Town Football Club's grounds. That shows the level of community involvement by these football clubs.  I also want to mention Klub Kildare. There has been talk of League of Ireland and its expansion. Klub Kildare has the potential to enter senior leagues and become a League of Ireland club. I initially thought that the then Maynooth University Town FC between Maynooth University and Maynooth Town Football Club could be that club, but Klub Kildare, encompassing the entirety of the county, is really the way forward. Two or three years ago, we had St. Patrick's Athletic FC and I thought \"St. Brigid's Athletic\" would be an apt name for a football club in Kildare. If we get the pathway right for clubs to enter the League of Ireland, it will be able to expand in a sustainable way.  We have seen the success and increased numbers attending matches. This is really positive for the homegrown game and for the future. In women's football in particular, there has been an explosion, with Katie McCabe and all the senior women's football team being really inspiring in their match against Poland.  On sports capital grants, a lot of clubs are crying out for all-weather pitches. Celbridge Town AFC is looking at an all-weather pitch, as is Ballyoulster. Ideally, every club would have one but we will try to be as constructive and strategic as possible working with these clubs. The most important thing is that, by investing in our sports clubs, be they soccer, GAA, rugby or whatever, we are investing in community infrastructure and the very fabric of our communities.  I commend the Minister of State on his work. I thank the volunteers, parents and everybody who contributes to clubs around Kildare. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cormac Devlin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cormac Devlin  I welcome the opportunity, like others, to contribute to this debate on football. I begin by acknowledging what we all felt in recent weeks - the excitement, unity and sheer emotion our national team brought to Ireland. An estimated 1.6 million people tuned in to watch the match against Czechia. That figure alone tells you everything you need to know about the reach and power of football in Irish life. The result in Prague was not what we wanted or hoped for but the journey reminded us of something important - football does not just entertain, it connects. Like others, I congratulate the women's football team on their result against Poland. I wish them continued success. Football connects communities, generations and parts of the country that sometimes feel forgotten by other sports. I know this first-hand from my own constituency in D\u00fan Laoghaire. We are fortunate to have a network of clubs that are the backbone of community life. Cabinteely FC is a very large club in south County Dublin with over 60 teams and has been part of the community since 1967. Granada FC in Blackrock is one of the largest in the constituency. It has had generations of young people pass through its doors for more than 50 years. Shankill FC, with over 30 teams and three academies, operates in one of the fastest-growing residential areas in the country and is crying out for more resources; I know the Minister of State is aware of that. Dalkey United Football Club, which Paul McGrath played for as well as Pearse Rovers in his earlier days, is working closely with Cuala GAA on plans for a new clubhouse at Hyde Park in Dalkey, a great example of sports working together. I want to mention TEK United and Valeview in Shankill, which has a long history and tradition in the borough as well.  All of these clubs face real challenges, though. Sallynoggin Pearse Rovers have been waiting years for a clubhouse and are engaging with the local authority. St. Joseph's AFC, or Joey\u2019s, in Sallynoggin is seeking a new all-weather pith. Like every grassroots club in the country, they are all short of pitch space, particularly in Dublin, and these are not isolated problems. The FAI's own data tells us that only 34% of grassroots clubs have female toilet facilities and only 10% have access to indoor facilities. At a time when female participation is growing rapidly, that is simply not good enough.  The investment case is overwhelming. Grassroots football delivers an estimated social return on investment of \u20ac1.8 billion, almost \u20ac18 returned for every single euro invested. The League of Ireland contributes \u20ac165 million to the economy. The Aviva Stadium alone generates \u20ac832 million annually in the economy. The Government has made a strong start. The \u20ac3 million multi-annual funding in budget 2026 is welcome and the \u20ac10.8 million in extra current funding for Sport Ireland is significant but the FAI has been clear that \u20ac8 million or more is needed to close the gap with other nations. The football facilities investment vision identifies a requirement of \u20ac860 million over 15 years to bring our infrastructure up to standard. Only one of 20 League of Ireland stadiums meets UEFA category 4 standards. That means our clubs cannot host European competition games in their own communities. With Euro 2028 on the horizon, an event projected to generate an estimated \u20ac450 million in socio-economic benefits, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to invest in legacy infrastructure that will serve communities long after the final whistle. I urge that the upcoming round of the community sports fund and the large-scale sports infrastructure fund be prioritised and expedited. Football is Ireland's most played sport alongside GAA, with 245,000 registered players and 80,000 volunteers, whom we thank. Let us make sure we continue to back it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul McAuliffe  I thank the Minister of State with responsibility for sport for being with us today. Earlier I heard Ministers being criticised for turning up at high-profile events. In the past I have also heard Ministers being criticised for not turning up at high-profile events. It is the work that happens at local level that I am most pleased with. I thank the Minister of State for coming to my constituency where he visited McKelvey Celtic and Tolka Rovers. There was no press or hoo-ha; it was about informing the clubs of what was available to them in terms of supports and grants and talking to them about the challenges they had. I thank the Minister of State for that and I know his predecessors in the role, Deputies Chambers and Thomas Byrne, made similar visits to different clubs. I will not get into naming all of them because I will forget some.  David Courell of the FAI circulated a statement in advance of this debate. The number of people involved speaks for itself, with 245,000 registered players, 80,000 volunteers and 1.5 million fans engaging. There is no doubt of the benefit that soccer provides to Ireland and to communities throughout the country. Other Deputies have spoken about the issues of sports capital grants, land and the opportunity to develop facilities. It is really important, and the Minister of State said it when he was out with us, that clubs do not have to own land to apply for the sports grants. There are equipment grants available to clubs and I would say to every club not to believe the myth that they need to own their land. There is some funding available to them. It might not be the greater capital amount but the lower-level equipment grant is available.  This is where the city council and other local authorities need to step in. There need to be more municipal facilities. The Minister of State's predecessor, Deputy Thomas Byrne, was out in Kildonan Park where Finglas Celtic and Finglas United both use a new fantastic all-weather facility put in by the city council. The council needs to be developing more of these throughout the city. I encourage the Minister of State to contact the office of the chief executive in Dublin City Council to ask whether there will be all-weather pitches for Dublin city this year. There are no planning applications ready at this point. The question is whether it would be ready even if an application were to be successful. I am really worried that we have an opportunity to provide more municipal all-weather soccer facilities in our public parks, animating our public parks, and we should be doing this.  I am passionate about football at school-age level. I have met many clubs involved at this level. I am concerned about the proposed merger of the north Dublin schools league with the North Eastern Regional League. Many of the clubs would like to be in the Dublin and District Schoolboys League, DDSL, so they play other clubs in their own areas and do not have to travel to Louth, Monaghan or Meath. It does not make any sense for clubs from my area to be travelling that distance given the cost. The issue is that the DDSL is under pressure for referees and resources. It is under pressure with regard to how many teams can come in. If the Minister of State could intervene with the DDSL, and if there could be a way of providing some funding through the FAI, I would appreciate if the Minister of State could try to make sure that children in these clubs can play with their own school friends in their own areas. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in  We all know that grassroots soccer in the League of Ireland is severely underfunded, particularly in regard to facilities, infrastructure and academies in comparison with other countries such as Croatia. Countries smaller than Ireland boast of having 190 full-time club academy staff in comparison to Ireland's ten. Our budget for League of Ireland academies is comparable to those of Andorra or San Marino, which are very small.  Our clubs cater for the youth of Ireland and therefore need proper supports. It all starts at grassroots level. I am thinking of so many fantastic grassroots clubs in my area, such as Gorey Rangers, Gorey Celtic, Arklow United, Arklow Celtic and Arklow Town. There is huge demand for places in these clubs but they lack pitch space. There are also Courtown Hibs, Carnew FC and Camolin Celtic. There is a really good club at Avonmore FC in Rathdrum. There are also Aughrim Rangers, Coolboy Rangers and Killenagh Wanderers. We also have Ferns United, Tombrack United and Shillelagh United. There are also other clubs in the south, including St. Joseph's AFC in Kilmuckridge, Bunclody FC and St. Cormac's AFC in Boolavogue. Wexford schoolboys represented Ireland in the Gallini Cup last week. This was a great achievement for Ireland. All the fundraising was local with no support through statutory funding. These are all fantastic clubs that need greater Government support and investment in facilities, including clubhouses, pitches and AstroTurf. This is an investment in our youth. Sport is crucial, as we know, for people's mental and physical well-being.  I will support any application by such clubs in the upcoming round of sports capital funding, which will be coming after the summer. As a country we owe massive credit to the management and many trainers in all of these local clubs, the ticket sellers, those who fundraise, those who get pitches ready, those who fill the bottles and those who give lifts. The fabric of Ireland is held together by an army of volunteers who give of their time so selflessly. The Government really needs to up its game in this regard and match the public support with proper funding for facilities as we see in other European countries. We need to see far more project support through the large-scale sport infrastructure fund. We see \u20ac400 million committed to projects related to the Ryder Cup in Adare. I am not knocking it but the Government's attitude towards the working-class sport of soccer is another story and this needs to change. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Donnelly  The Minister of State will be relieved to know I am not going to name all of the football clubs in Dublin West because there are too many. It shows the strength of football in our community. The clubs exist not because of Government funding but in spite of it. Most of the money they use in their clubs is received through fundraising. They have to go through hoops to get every cent. Some of the figures are staggering, with 245,000 registered players, 80,000 volunteers and 60 clubs, and there will be 100 clubs next year with regard to Football for All.  As a lifelong Bohemians supporter I have visited most stadiums in Ireland and I hope that one day in a united Ireland we will have a united league. I am genuinely shocked that the Minister of State can talk about the growth in the League of Ireland without being deeply embarrassed. Yes, the growth in attendance across the League of Ireland has skyrocketed but this is in no way accredited to anything the Government has done. Most grounds are in dire need of refurbishment and some need to be completely knocked down and rebuilt. Only one ground in the Twenty-six Counties can hold a European match. The credit for the massive increase in interest lies solely with the clubs.  The Minister of State spoke about the massive increase in women's and girl's football, and it is fantastic, but the lack of facilities is shocking. We have girls and boys in our public parks with zero toilet facilities. We have many clubs still using steel containers as changing rooms and club facilities. This year due to the bad weather many grass pitches were closed for months on end, putting massive pressure on the all-weather facilities. Some are lucky to have them and most are not.  Beyond national pride, football also delivers a significant economic and social value. Grassroots football has shown a \u20ac1.8 billion social return on investment, with \u20ac17.64 for every \u20ac1 invested in the sport. Last year the FAI presented an \u20ac80 million plan over 11 years to build infrastructure. Think about the fact that greyhounds and horses got a 2026 budget allocation of \u20ac99.1 million for one year and think of the statistics I listed at the beginning.  The vast majority of the people oppose the upcoming Ireland-Israel game. It is beyond comprehension, given the team with members of the murderous Israeli army and I will not insult the victims of genocide by calling it a defence force. I will do my utmost to prevent that game from going ahead. I will leave the Minister of State with this. On 16 July 2014 at approximately 3.30 p.m. Israeli forces fired three missiles that killed four boys while they were playing football on Gaza City's fishing beach. I will never forget that and I believe most people will never forget the scenes of those four young boys playing football. How dare the Government stand here and allow the game to go ahead? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  I echo the comments about grassroots football and the dire lack of funding. The way the clubs manage to provide a service is incredible. I will start by condemning the carry-on of the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, in stopping the funding for the entire League of Ireland based on one event, which was a flare being thrown on a pitch. He thinks that flare is a declaration of war but he is fine with what the Israelis are doing apparently.  I will focus my comments on the Ireland-Israel game. Of all the things that have happened in recent times, it is absolutely disgusting that the Irish Government, which is meant to be a neutral anti-imperialist country, is meant to support the ICJ case against Israel and is meant to support the Palestinian state and people, would not only consider that the game is appropriate but would actively insist and put pressure on the players and the team to play it.  Oscar Wilde said that a cynic is someone \"who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing\". That exemplifies the Government and the people leading it. They have got absolutely no moral backbone whatsoever. The Government is out of touch on this like it was on the fuel issue and the cost of living. It is way out of touch with where people are on this issue. This game should not happen. It will not happen, in my opinion, because I think people are going to mobilise. I think they will protest and will stop this game. I noticed that at 6 p.m. tonight, a campaign was launched online to stop the match. This is the beginning; it is the opening salvo in it.  Simon Harris said we should decouple sports and politics. We would love to. That is an absolutely facetious thing to say. The Minister of State knows there is no separation. Presumably, the Minister of State is okay with Russia not participating in FIFA. It is, therefore, a political entity. Miche\u00e1l Martin said it should go ahead and, obviously, we have already talked about the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, saying that the team has no connection to the genocide. This is where the Government is absolutely and utterly wrong. The Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, said the same thing.  First, let us have a look at the destruction of sports facilities. Let us have a look at the destruction with 1,007 athletes, at least, being killed in the genocide including 421 footballers, most of them kids; 90% of the infrastructure in Gaza destroyed; and 288 facilities destroyed. The cruelty has not stopped. This is not a normal football federation. I will give the Minister of State the facts again. Six Israeli teams currently play in occupied Palestinian territory in direct contradiction to FIFA and UEFA's own rules but, of course, FIFA and UEFA, being so corrupt, do absolutely nothing about it. Amnesty has noted that UEFA and FIFA are providing funding to the Israel Football Association, which is then giving it to clubs in the illegal settlements. Three of the biggest teams in Israeli football, namely, Beitar, Maccabi and Hapoel have a horrendous history of racism against Palestinians and a lot of the players playing on the national team play for those clubs. A popular chant for Maccabi is, \"Let the IDF win and fuck the Arabs\". Another one is, \"Why is school out in Gaza? There are no children left there.\" Does the Minister of State think that is appropriate? Does he think that is normal? Yet, the Government is insisting on normalising this team. It is going to give them visas. They do not even need visas - Palestinians need visas; they do not - to come to this country with their entourage, which is actively participating in a genocide in Palestine and now in Lebanon, and the Minister of State thinks that is okay and that is moral. It is absolutely despicable.  I also want to mention that Beitar, the team Netanyahu supports, has never signed an Arab. In the children's game, they separate Arab and Jew on the basis of apartheid. Members are in the IDF and one of the players is putting up videos about his participation in the attack on Lebanon as well. The women's team put their IDF jerseys on and so forth.  I do not want to run out of time; I just want to finish with a couple of things. The Palestine solidarity movement is one of the most positive things that has happened in this country and in the world because it is an antidote to the hate, racism and misogyny we have seen in society. I am appealing and have confidence in this regard but this movement and trade unions and grassroots clubs need to build a massive rank-and-file campaign to stop this match from happening. We need to organise meetings in areas. We need to organise meetings of clubs. It is unbelievable that we have to put Bertie Ahern up as an example. Bertie Ahern refused to issue visas to the Yugoslav team because of the Balkans war at the time. Charlie Haughey intervened about South Africa and apartheid. It is not that they are great; it is just that the Government is so pathetic in comparison and that is really saying a lot. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  First, I wish to say that I am personally very grateful to grassroots football and youth football in my area and to all the people - the managers, coaches and officials - who put in their time, as is the case in area after area in town, city and county across the country. These amazing people put their time and energy into me and my teammates on a voluntary basis. I played for nearly every club. Cabinteely Football Club was my first club. They were a tiny club then. Now, they are up in the League of Ireland. Then, St. Joseph's in Sallynoggin had a fantastic team in the schoolboy leagues. They were just wonderful people and it is still a really brilliant club. Both clubs have produced players for the English leagues and internationals. I played for Ballybrack Football Club, again, another great club. I have a great memories of them. I played for Dunedin football club and St. Joseph's, Glasthule, in the Leinster Senior League. I played for UCD. There were all of these amazing people and so many other clubs in the area. Joey's had a better clubhouse than most but in many cases, people were often getting changed in the rain under streetlights in pretty poor facilities or in containers in pretty awful situations. A shower was fairly unheard of when we were playing football. The thing about it is, that situation has not changed for lots of clubs, as has been said. I was playing 30 years ago. Sallynoggin Pearse, which was mentioned earlier, which was originally Pearse Rovers, was the first team that Paul McGrath - one of our greatest ever players - played for. It is a small club now with two senior teams. They have been fighting since 2007 for a new clubhouse because the old clubhouse is gone. It was a tin can. They have been fighting since 2007. They got planning permission but the council has basically not delivered for them. They are now in an arrangement with Granada, which was also mentioned earlier, which is primarily girls' football teams. It is an amazing success story for girls' football in our area. They have just two senior teams but they are twinned with Granada and they share the same pitches. I was just talking to Richie, one of the main officials in the club, on the phone, who said the people in Sallynoggin are really angry and annoyed as are, obviously, the club officials, that the young women have to change in the open in the fields because there is no clubhouse.  As has been mentioned, the lack of all-weather pitches is totally unacceptable. Teams are not able to play for weeks because of the lack of all-weather pitches. Often, we will say things when the national teams do well and, absolutely, give plaudits to the women's national team and in respect of the renaissance we have seen with Troy Parrott and all that in Irish soccer. Let us hope it continues. However, these things do not spring out of nowhere. We have to put in the resources and support. All those volunteers and people are putting enormous work into our young people because it really matters to the young people. I was not an angel when I was when I was young - far from it, actually - but if it was not for football----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" A Deputy","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" A Deputy  He is still not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  If it was not for football, it could have been a lot worse, let us put it that way. It is true that the team ethic, the discipline and all that kind of stuff people are taught by football really stands to them for the rest of their lives. It creates friendships and networks and does things for the community. We cannot measure the value of these things. They are so important. However, we need to put the resources into ensuring that clubs I mentioned like St. Joseph's, Dalkey United, Granada, Pearse and all these teams that are fighting for all-weather pitches have decent facilities. As we are building residential development all over the place, we need to provide the facilities and amenities.  In the last minute, I want to talk about the Israel-Ireland match. In 2016, a young man called Muhammad Khalifa visited Ireland. I was involved in it - Gaza Action Ireland organised the tour. He was then 12 years old. He was from Gaza.  Ballybrack Football Club hosted his team from Gaza, Al Helal FC. The young Gazans beat our team, Ballybrack FC, 2-1, but it was a great day and a great event. He went on to play for the Palestinian youth team. Last year, he was murdered by an Israeli air strike with his brother and seven members of his family. His life was destroyed.  I was talking to my friend Dr. Abdul Fattah Abu Srour. He works in Aida refugee camp and is involved in the football pitch that the Israelis are trying to destroy in that camp. It is just a small five-a-side or seven-a-side pitch. The UN experts have said that Israel should be boycotted at international level for its breaches of international law. Other teams are doing it. Russia was thrown out of international competition for what it was doing in Ukraine. How can our Government not demand that this game is boycotted, that Israel is thrown out of international competition and that this game does not go ahead? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Clendennen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Clendennen  I welcome these statements. Football can be a cornerstone of our lives and memories. It can bring the goodwill to bring communities together. I think back as far as Italia 90 and the heartbreak caused by the likes of Schillaci and so on, and what they did to bring a nation to a stop and then break our hearts. More recently, in Prague, we thought we were on the cusp of achieving World Cup qualification. Some 1.6 million viewers tuned in for that game. That just shows how much interest there is in our national team.  Our ladies have been doing us very proud. They won last night and I wish them the best of luck at the weekend. Acording to the FAI figures for the numbers of players and volunteers, there are 250,000 players and 80,000 volunteers, yet only 34% of females have access to a toilet and 10% have access to indoor facilities. In my area, midlands soccer looked to come together to have a centre of excellence for schoolboys and schoolgirls to be able to play on multiple pitches but did not get planning permission. They are back to square one. They are already on the meter and are spending money that could have been put into lights, Astroturf or whatever the case may be. Instead, the money is going into bureaucracy. That should not be the case. We need to figure out how to work with such organisations to ensure their money is going directly to the sport rather than the bureaucracy along the journey. That is a matter we will have to address.  We also need to look at multi-use facilities. I know this is something that the Government is referencing in the context of sports capital funding and that it is considering how we can bring multiple sporting codes together. That would be very much welcomed. There is also an added layer in respect of community facilities. In my constituency, Moneygall has a state-of-the-art playing pitch and has applied to the Department of Community and Rural Development for funding to develop a community facility that could also be a changing room. We have to look at multiple layers of joined-up thinking at government level so there is not just a reliance on sports capital grants and we do not put on the blinkers and go down a tunnel. Let us try to expand it and see can we look across all aspects of government to bring funding together so that we can maximise that impact and make sure it has a real significance across all sporting codes.  I look at the facilities and see the impact. I then look at larger, high-appeal matches and see the prices for which tickets are going. We have done nothing to address ticket touting. Where there is crime and where we see communities that have been affected by crime, we are taking the funds of criminals identified by the Criminal Asset Bureau and putting them into those communities that need them the most. We should do something similar in respect of ticket touting. We should go after touts by applying additional resources and ensuring that where they are identified, any funds are used to improve local facilities. That would be a productive service in supporting the likes of football.  Where we are at in relation to facilities is that we have made an awful lot of progress but certainly need to do a lot more. I would welcome an announcement of sports capital funding. I look forward to working with groups right across my constituency to ensure we can maximise delivery for us on the ground. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Neville  I pay tribute to Republic of Ireland captain, Nathan Collins, who, like me, is a native of Leixlip. We both went to the same school, Scoil Bhr\u00edde. That is where the similarities end. On the football pitch, we were very different. Nathan is a lovely fella. He has been around the town and is a brilliant role model.  I was also lucky enough to grow up on the same estate as Emma Byrne. I was across the green from her. She is another brilliant role model for Ireland. She was excellent with Arsenal. She was the year below me in school. I know the impact she made on women's sport, not only on the pitch but also off it. She has been transcendent and we have seen how the game of football has grown and developed for women in this country.  Andrew Omobamidele is also from my estate in Leixlip. We in Leixlip have been very successful when it comes to football in my lifetime.  When I think about football, I think about people such as Larry Kenny and Ray McCauley, the men who were there for me when I was six, seven and eight and went along with my brothers to the local football pitch at Leixlip United. Those were the lads who coached and inspired us, and inspired a generation of people. I also think of my other coaches and have the opportunity to think of them today. People such as Colm Harper, Liam L'Estrange and Tony Ryan are no longer with us but also made a huge contribution. That is where I want to think about the volunteers and how we can support them here today.  North Kildare is a growing area with a need for growing infrastructure across all our football clubs. I look at Leixlip United, with Paul Martin in charge. I look at Liffeybank FC, with Jim Keating, who was in my office recently looking for facilities. There are also Fiachra Kirwan at Maynooth FC, Debbie Morone at Ballyoulster United AFC and Derek Meaney at Celbridge Town AFC, which recently launched a new campaign for Astroturf in Celbridge. Those are the football clubs that are closest to me. I know there are other football clubs looking for even more, and we need to support them. I look forward to supporting them through the capital grants, which I know will be coming soon.  We can see in the areas where we are building houses - and in north Kildare we have been fortunate to have built houses and apartments - that we have been slow to develop the social infrastructure behind them. We have been completely reliant on volunteers in the area. We must ensure that we have the facilities for the pitches.  Liffeybank was sharing with Confey Celtic. It does not even have toilets that children or the ladies' team can use in close proximity. I am consistently having discussions with Kildare County Council to get that resolved. It is a basic facility. Deputy Boyd Barrett referred to the issue in the clubs in his area.  While we are building the houses, we have other sports and facilities. As Deputy Clendennan alluded to, we must ensure we have multi-use facilities. Kerdiffstown has been a model. There are football pitches laid out and AstroTurf. With development levies in councils, that should be the place to which we are going. Deputy Quinlivan is in the Chamber. In Limerick city, there is not necessarily space to develop but we need to have pitches for hurling, soccer and rugby in a multi-use facility. That is key, as we look towards the sports capital grants and, indeed, how we run things in the future. Ultimately, we need to have facilities for future generations. We need to have the places from which the next Nathan Collins will come. Just as important as the next Nathan Collins, we need to think about the children who might not necessarily have that talent but who want to be able to play with their friends. They want to turn up, whether for the first team, the second team, the blue team, the red team, the yellow team or the fifth team. We need to ensure there is space for them and their parents. All that most of us are trying to do is to make sure we have the best community possible. Football has helped to shape many of those communities, including, as I have laid out, my own. I want to be part of that and I welcome the opportunity to speak on the issue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Miche\u00e1l Carrigy  I welcome this discussion with the Minister of State. The comments by Deputy Clendennen brought me reminders of years ago. The World Cup in 1990 was after my first year in college. I flew to Germany to work for the summer. We arrived where we were due to work for the summer and the first thing we looked for was a place to watch the match before we even went to where we were staying. I recall the quarter-final game against Italy going to extra time. I was meant to go back to work at the hotel. I was doing a split shift. I remember ringing, trying to talk in German and explain to them that I could not come back because I had to watch the penalty shoot-out. Luckily enough, I kept my job for the rest of the summer.  I am delighted to have an opportunity to speak. Football, like all sports, gives us great memories and we need to praise the work being done by the FAI, in recent years in particular, in bringing footfall. I think of Longford Town FC. I had not realised I could not wear a jersey here, but I am a proud supporter of Longford Town Football Club, which has strived in difficult times in a small county to make sure we stay in the League of Ireland. We have had our successes down the years of winning cups and getting into the premier division. I pay tribute to Jim, Caroline and everyone involved in the club for the work they do to keep the fantastic facilities. A wall was blown down in a storm last year. The club came together with some funding from the FAI and made sure the wall was built. It was great that supporters got involved to make sure that facility got back up and running.  We have seen the significant investment by the Government in the academies. If we want a strong future for Irish soccer at an international level, we need to continue to invest more. I am supportive of us increasing that investment over a number of years to bring it up to a level equal to that in other countries to make sure we have success. We need more 5G pitches to be available for the clubs that feed into our league clubs. It is important we identify areas where there is a lack of facilities and make sure we have enough facilities to play underage games.  We got information from the FAI about our stadiums. Some of the infrastructure in some areas is probably some of the worst in Europe. We are coming up to Euro 2028 and we are talking about a legacy from that, which has to be proper infrastructure, academies and proper facilities, particularly for ladies'. There are limited facilities for ladies' football. That legacy also has to be making sure that men and women have the facilities and opportunities to maximise their potential on the football field and give us far more memories in the future. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Brennan  I congratulate the Irish team on last night. It was a wonderful success and I wish it well at the weekend. More important to me on a local level, Ferns United is in the Leinster Football Association, LFA, final this Sunday and I wish them well - Tiny, Terry, Paul and the girls. I went to see them a few weeks ago and I was taken aback by the family and community spirit there. The club is not even in the town of Ferns - it is on a crossroads - but the level of engagement of the team on and off the field with the people who were there after the game and what they are giving back to the community has to be commended.  Regarding football as a whole, when Ireland are doing well, the whole nation is lifted. It really is. I come from a hospitality background. I was working in 1990 and for all the world cups and it brings so much business and prosperity. People are in good form. I remember visiting some people in hospital at the time in 1990 and it did not matter how sick they were. They were glued to the television when the Irish lads had the jersey on. We should never underestimate that. What happens on the pitch is important, but that shows a need for more support on the pitch and funding. Let us start at grassroots. We need to continue. The sports capital fund is incredible. It gets to the little clubs like Ferns United, which are heavily reliant on fundraising. I see them shaking buckets on the street in Bunclody. It is still going on. They still sell lotto tickets every Sunday night, but we need to continue a bit of both, with support from the Government, including local councils, and the clubs will do their fundraising.  On facilities and infrastructure, I was interested to listen to James McClean talking recently about how he felt and what a product we have now. We are right there. We are climbing up, but do we have the infrastructure? Do we have the pitches to match it? Not yet. We are definitely not yet there. If we want the new Katie McCabes or Troy Parrotts, we will have to continue this investment.  I will make a point about investment and large foreign investors coming in and buying clubs. I have seen my colleague Deputy Joanna Byrne up front in operation and I have to commend her on the work she has done. I have met friends of hers she does not realise I have spoken to and they could not speak more highly of the work she has done for the club. We might not agree on everything, but I have been up there and involved in matches with her and I know her heart and soul are in the club. If people like her are being removed from the FAI and the club scene, it will be our loss.  Volunteers are the backbone. We can talk about money all we like. I remember in my youth jumping over the wall in Gorey and going to the pitch. There is a guy there now, Joe Cullen, from Gorey Rangers. He is not in great health. He was my first manager and I will never forget the joy I got. I was a sub for the first seven games, but at my eighth game he gave me the jersey and it was a great lift. There is also the likes of Dano Kinsella, the current chair of the club, who is not in good health. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Brennan  Those people have to be recognised and we wish them well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Maurice Quinlivan  We all hoped to be making these statements while looking forward to Ireland being in the upcoming 2026 World Cup. Unfortunately, despite the heroics of the boys in green, they fell just short. However, to give credit to them, their coaches and especially their fans, the journey gripped the nation and has enthused thousands, especially young boys and girls. I am hopeful that their efforts will be the catalyst for another rejuvenation of Irish football.  In recent years, there has been tremendous growth in the number of women and girls participating in football. A lot of credit for this has to go to the women's national team. In recent years, they have given us tremendous highs with their World Cup journey and while the current European qualifiers may not be going as well as they or we had hoped, they remain incredible role models for aspiring young athletes across the island. The fact they have performed so well is even more impressive considering how underfunded and neglected football has been in the State for years. The biggest problem we face is the lack of infrastructure and facilities and until we address this, we will be on a hiding to nothing. Many sports grounds are not fit for purpose. For instance, many still do not have changing rooms for women players, basic stuff.  Supporting grassroots football is important for integration and cohesion. In working class areas I represent across Limerick, clubs such as Ballynanty Rovers, of which I am a lifetime member, Geraldines AFC, Star Rovers, Moyross United and many others offer a hub of community activity. It is the volunteer men and women coaches, groundspeople and unsung committee members who keep our local leagues thriving. However, if local clubs are to continue to develop the champions of tomorrow, they need support today. If we want to develop our homegrown talent, we must invest more in football academies. The Government has left football academies short by allocating \u20ac3 million instead of the \u20ac4.5 million requested. More investment is needed. Government party manifestos and that of Sinn F\u00e9in commit to increasing betting tax by 1% and this should be put into large-scale sports infrastructure.  Before I conclude, in the short time available to me, it would be remiss of me not to mention my local team, Treaty United. It has done incredible work over the years promoting the sport in Limerick. The women's and men's academies continue to attract promising talent. Many have ended up in the Irish team. While the results for the men's team have not gone our way yet this year, I have no doubt that under the leadership of Tommy Barrett, the boys can turn it around. The women's team have started well this year and their 3-2 win over Cliftonville has pushed them right up the table.  Irish football has solid foundations. Our national team have reignited our passion for the game----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Maurice Quinlivan  -----but we must do much better and that improvement will require investment and State support. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I will repeat what everyone else has said, that if we are to get serious about soccer - we have seen the absolute success of the League of Ireland lately - we need to put the money required into academies. We all know about the deficit in infrastructure. Many of us see it on a weekly or bi-weekly basis and it is not good enough. It is not good enough for all those who attend.  The Minister of State and I had an interaction recently about what the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, said about a plague on all your houses. While an issue needed to be dealt with, particularly what happened in Oriel Park and flares in general, that was an absolute slap in the face of all those who put the time in and volunteer for clubs, everything from grassroots up to senior clubs in the League of Ireland.  If we are going to talk about that element of volunteerism, recently, Muirhevna M\u00f3r Football Club was awarded a Louth County Council civic award on the basis of 50 years of real work. As much as the club is having success at the moment, it has had some recent tragedies. We remember Martin \"Gilser\" Gill and Ciar\u00e1n \"Skinny\" Bond, people who put in a huge effort over a long time and will be badly missed.  We all welcome what we saw with Heimir Hallgr\u00edmsson and Troy Parrott and we almost thought we were back to Jack Charlton and Ray Houghton - not this time. Obviously, it is different for the women's senior team who are absolutely flying. Long may it last. We will need to see large scale sports infrastructure funding and Oriel Park will need to see it more than anywhere else. We are finally some good days, having had our recent problems. I thank and commend the club and I hope it continues with Ciar\u00e1n Kilduff, Daryl Horgan and all of the rest of the team.  I could talk about multiple teams. I could talk about everybody from Glenmuir FC to Bellurgan, and I have to mention Castletown Belles or I will not be forgiven by Mackers and Erin. I could talk about Bay FC, Quay Celtic and Woodview Celtic. I even played in Rock Celtic the other week and Bellurgan FC. Bellurgan actually allowed me play on a proper team. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy's time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I know that. Everyone here has properly commended Joanna Byrne----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy must do it in his time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  -----for standing by the Palestinian people and the Lebanese people----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call Deputy Gogarty. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  -----and it is a disgrace what has been done. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  She has paid a price but we have to commend her volunteerism and her commitment to justice. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa, you divil. I call Deputy Gogarty. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa is out of time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  I am a great sports fan. I play GAA. I play five-a-side, six-a-side and eight-a-side in Celbridge and Leixlip. Some might have seen me with a crutch in here which I lent to another Deputy. Of course, some rag put it all over social media. The reason I had the crutch in the first place is because my knee is damaged from playing eight-a-side last Friday when I went in full belt in a tackle and someone's knee went through the side of my knee. I would do it 100 times over to be able to play football. That is what so many men, women, boys and girls get so much enjoyment out of. Long may it continue.  I was playing on an AstroTurf pitch and that is the first point I want to get to: the shortage of AstroTurf facilities around the country. You could compare it with Iceland, which has top class indoor and outdoor facilities. You might say it is snowy or icy in Iceland but it rains incessantly in Ireland. With climate change, we need to revisit our policy towards grade 3 and 4 AstroTurf pitches and the elite level ones.  There are quite a number of clubs in my constituency. I will not try to mention them all, but on the men's side the biggest one is Lucan United and on the women's side it is Peamount United. They are both fantastic clubs and Lucan United will be playing in the new FAI national league shortly and I wish them all the best. One thing Lucan United mentioned directly to me as an elected representative is the shortage of all-weather pitches for youngsters coming up. It is impacting the GAA as well. During the Clonburris SDZ debate, I pointed that out. Unfortunately, for various reasons I will not get into, Sinn F\u00e9in, People Before Profit, the Labour Party and the Social Democrats voted down motions to move housing towards the train station, go up a level or two and create space for all-weather pitches. That did not happen. It was appealed to An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la which said not to worry, all of these things will come. Through successive governments, these things have not come and they are not going to come. South Dublin County Council has one shared GAA, rugby and soccer AstroTurf pitch in the Clonburris SDZ and a couple of smaller, across the pitch facilities for a population that could be in excess of 25,000. That is not sufficient. We have to start looking at all-weather pitches or properly drained grass pitches. There will have to be multi-use for different sports. There is one in Adamstown where there are two soccer pitches and a GAA pitch across and so many people get great use out of that. Japan is one of the world leaders in pitches that are for the more casual type of sport.  We need to encourage people to get involved in sport at all levels, especially promoting sport for women. Women have lacked basic toilets in so many clubs, even at elite level, for many years. That type of investment needs to be redoubled. I note the FAI has a new 2026-2029 strategy and it is to be hoped the old days of financial mismanagement have passed by. We need a combination of national funding for the elite side of things and I pay tribute to the women's team. I hope they repeat the double against Poland this weekend and in relation to the men's team, but we need to keep investing in sport. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  We are talking about something I am very passionate about myself, being a soccer fan since I was four or five years of age. I have the luck or misfortune, whichever way you look at it, of following Arsenal Football Club. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Maurice Quinlivan  Likewise. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  It started when Liam Brady, David O'Leary, Frank Stapleton and Pat Jennings played there. There were I think seven Irishmen playing with at the time so it was like watching Ireland play instead of watching Arsenal play. We are suffering at the moment but I think we are holding out Sporting CP at the moment. It is 0-0 and we are 1-0 up on aggregate so it looks like we are heading to a semi-final, but at the same time, we were suffering a bit the previous weekend.  I listened to a lot of the debate. As I have said, I have a serious interest in this all of my life. We are always talking about separating church from State but we should certainly separate sports from politics to a degree. Obviously, there is funding needed or whatever. I have very serious concerns about that upcoming game people do not want the Republic of Ireland to play. We obviously know what would happen if that was the case. We would be kicked out of every tournament that is coming up. That would have to be a decision made by UEFA, not a decision made by the FAI. If it did, it would probably be the end of Irish soccer as we know it for the next ten years. We cannot let that happen. I will not go into the details of the shocking wars that are out there. We know where they are but I would certainly never agree with anyone saying we should sideline our international team from playing with anyone. That is not a decision the FAI can make, it is a decision that UEFA has to make. If UEFA make it then, we know that, going forward, our football teams can take part in other competitions and not be thrown out of them. I respect other people and some people here in the D\u00e1il have been treated poorly because of their honest opinion. I am certainly not having a personal go at anyone but that is my view. I am just looking at the bigger picture of soccer in general.  I look at the League of Ireland. I watch it and have an interest in it. I do not get a chance to go to games. Coming back to local level, I worry about how we develop. If you look at Max Dowman playing for Arsenal. He is 16 years of age and the youngest kid who had ever scored a goal in the English premiership. How does the club mature that guy? It has had him since he was he was 13 or 14. I look at people in west Cork like David Hall and others who put every human effort they can to promote young people - I would say literally out of their own pocket - to try to get them from where they are to where they could be. Some of these people can be superstars if they get the right supports, training and funding. I know there is a lot of money spent on sports capital projects. I am not here to criticise anybody about sports capital projects. The money is out there but I just wonder are we really looking at huge talents out there, promoting those talents and taking them from where they are to where they could be? Can we get another Max Dowman? Can we get another Katie McCabe? I know I keep thinking of Arsenal players here, but anyway. Katie is an incredible soccer player for the Irish women's team and she is really passionate and has drive, along with other great soccer women out there. Last night was proof of that with our 3-2 victory. I always throw my eye on a match and it is a bad habit. If I am with somebody, it goes out the window because I keep looking at the television if there is a soccer match on. I was watching, with a bit of delight, Leeds United beat Manchester United the other night but we will not go too strong on smiling at other teams because I might be in a bit of bother myself with my own.  It is a good debate. People ask why are we talking about football here? It has given people a lot of enjoyment. I myself try everything, no matter what is on, to try get home to watch Match of the Day. I do not have Sky because there is no point, I am never at home. I get a chance to watch Match of the Day every Saturday night. It is a religion for me to watch the matches.  There is a lot of discussion here about sports and sportspeople. Deputy Paul Lawless is not here so I will keep talking away. There are sportspeople out there. We saw what happened at the weekend with Rory McIlroy's fantastic victory. At the bottom of our hearts, it gives us great pride. We saw what Troy Parrott and the Irish team did a number of weeks or months ago. It lifted the spirits of a nation. Sometimes when the nation is down, it needs that kick. We saw it before with Jack Charlton's team. We can remember Ronnie Whelan's volley against the Russians. It was probably one of the finest goals that was ever seen. He never got much praise for it. Ray Houghton got great goals as well. They seem to give a lot of praise to certain people but I just remember Ronnie's volley from well outside in the field and lifted straight into the top of the net. That lifted the nation. I was there at that time. I was there as part of the celebrations. We nearly got there again. Unfortunately, it did not work out for us this time but we needed that. The country needs that bit of a boost. No matter how good the country is going it still needs that bit of a boost.  My own local team, Bunratty United, has been very successful down through the years and given passionately. So many volunteers in that Schull club took it to the top level for many years. Then you look down at Drinagh Rangers. They have new facilities put in there and I commend the Government on funding that. That is what it is all about. That is where we can get the talent. I see Liverpool stars have gone down and played there through the years. Even if they are retired, if the Ray Houghtons - or back to the Ronnie Whelans again - and others turn up, people will travel to see them. It gives them a bit of happiness.  I heard somebody mentioning community facilities here a while ago. I live myself in a community and I am on the community council in the last parish in Ireland, a place called Goleen on the Mizen Head Peninsula. We built a community facility where both soccer and GAA are played. That is a focus that we need in this country. When funds are spent, everyone in the community should be able to use the same facility. Let the GAA and the soccer work together because the GAA is doing so much huge voluntary work in this country and probably do not get commended on a lot of it.  We need to invest more. We need to invest in academies and in bringing the youth soccer players, whether they are women or young men, to their potential. They have potential and that is where we have slipped up in this country. We have not followed it up. Players need money. Parents cannot just fork it out all the time. If you really have a committed parent, they are talking about driving their kid around to all sorts of clubs, training and games all over the place and it is all coming out of the same pocket. We have a young lad in west Cork, a kickboxer, Evan Collins, and he is trying to do the same. He is trying to travel around the world but the funds are not there. We have talented young people who can take it a step further and maybe represent us at the Olympics or whatever but the parents are trying to find the money and they are fundraising. We need to look deeper into where moneys can be put to see how we can bring the very best out in these young people. It is the greatest thing ever. If kids up here in Dublin or wherever are focusing on a bit of sport, they are focused away from the bad things that are going on in the world, whether it is the drugs or the drink. That is where we need to spend our money. I support that any time going forward. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Frankie Feighan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (Deputy Frankie Feighan)  It is a great honour to speak here as somebody who is enthusiastic about Gaelic games and soccer and played those games all my life. We have come an awful long way. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  Just to interrupt for a second, can I say it was great to play against the Minister of State in Boyle? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Frankie Feighan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Frankie Feighan  I thank Deputy Gogarty very much. We also played in Old Trafford for Ireland against England.  I grew up in Boyle and I was treasurer of that club. Many years ago we played on pitches with wooden goalposts, dry lime, long grass, bushes you togged out in, nets made of rope and cow dung. Things have come on an awful long way. I remember coming up here in 1987 with the then Fianna F\u00e1il Deputy, Se\u00e1n Doherty, to meet Frank Fahey who was the new Minister for sport. I remember we got \u00a320,000. It was worth nearly \u00a3200,000. That built our clubhouse and we have come a long way since that. I thank the lotto but also the Department of sport for the amount of great work that has been done to provide facilities not just for soccer and Gaelic games but for all sports around the country. It has made a huge difference and it is great to see.  It is great to see Deputies in the St. Pats, Waterford, Limerick, Dundalk and Drogheda jerseys. I will hop a few balls here; I am a big Rovers supporter. There is only one \"Rovers\" and that is Sligo Rovers. I understand there is a team in Dublin called Shamrocks. I will get in trouble for this. We got \u20ac16.4 million through the sports capital grant for Sligo Rovers. It is a community club. Money went to Bohemians as well. That is what it is about. If you want to get funding in this sports capital grant, you have to have good data and good governance. That is when the money will come out. Again, I thank Tommy Higgins and all in Sligo Rovers. They have a really professional group.  I ran a double-decker bus to Germany in 1988. We beat England 1-0. It cost us \u20ac295 for two weeks, food kitty and drink kitty, but beating England was priceless. We went 32 years before England beat us again in Wembley in 2020. The victory in 1988 brought on the Celtic tiger because of the amount of pride it gave to Irish people, especially those living in London, Birmingham and around the world, as well as in Ireland. We beat England at their game and no blood was spilt. That is what sport is about. That is what it is really about.  The only shareholding I have is 1,000 shares I bought when Fergus McCann was rebuilding Parkhead for Celtic F.C. in Glasgow. They are worth about \u20ac2,000 but I am very proud of that club, which has huge Irish connections. I put on record that Ray Houghton, the man who put the ball in the English net, is probably one of the greatest ambassadors we have for soccer. He is a lovely guy and he represents himself really well around the world.  A lot of great work has been done and I thank the Minister of State. I thank the then Minister of State, Deputy Thomas Byrne, for the \u20ac16.4 million that came. I particularly thank Catherine Martin who was the Green Party Minister at the time because she ensured that got over the line. That has made a huge difference. Sligo Rovers will be celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2028 and the Minister of State who is very close to us will come down and visit that day. Again, it is great to see everyone here. It is good to see Joanna Byrne as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  I join with other Members who have talked about the value of football and what it does for communities and for the nation. I congratulate both our men's and women's teams for their successes on the one hand and their disappointments on the other but their effort in both cases. Beidh l\u00e1 eile acu. We have a great foundation to build on despite the disappointment in Czechia recently.  I will focus on football at a local level. In D\u00fan Laoghaire, we are blessed to have more than a couple of really excellent local football teams and clubs. I think of places like Joey's in Sallynoggin, St. Joseph's AFC, which is not just the place where I cast my vote at the general election but also an enormous community organisation. People like Ollie Crilly who are involved in running the club there are part and parcel of the community providing a facility particularly for young kids and a feeder than to more serious soccer at older level. Within Sallynoggin, the club is a huge outlet for kids in the area. It is a huge source of competition but also an opportunity for them to build skills and community and become part of teams, which is so important.  I understand that Granada F.C. in Blackrock - its name is a portmanteau of Granville and Ardagh, the two housing estates either side of Newtownpark Avenue that originally put together the team - is the largest youth club in the country. It is so active. I am privileged to have been at many of its matches but also to praise it. Its chair, Ciaran Kane, and all the people involved in running the club have taken up opportunities that have been presented to them. For example, D\u00fan Laoghaire-Rathdown, and specifically Blackrock, created a friendship agreement with Vincennes, which is a suburb of Paris, and now every year a junior team from Granada will go to Vincennes to play in a tournament there and they will often win. I think they surprised people a couple of years ago when they did as well as they did. They are competing with teams from all over Europe in some instances and from all over Paris and all over France. That is an indication of something that soccer, football, can use to build bridges between people.  TEK United is another hugely important club with an interesting history. It is named after Sutton's T.E.K., which was a dairy in that area.  The founder of that dairy had fought in the battle of Tell El Kebir in Egypt in 1882 and on the crest of the football club there is the sphinx, the year of the battle and the word \"Egypt\". It is a hugely historic name. It was founded in 1946. It is a hugely important club just next to Stradbrook. In fact, Emily Bolger in my office plays for them as well. We have a great connection to TEK United. There are also Cabinteely FC and Dalkey United FC who colocate with Cuala GAA club. I attended Cuala this morning as it announced an new sponsorship deal with Amgen. Both of those teams have huge community involvement and the local area is so lucky to have so many people who give their time, effort, blood, sweat and tears for the club, as well as the players who commit so much. That is also the case with clubs like Ballybrack FC and Seaford Rock United.  There are so many of these teams. They contribute so much. There is no amount of money that would actually supplant what they do for a community. The value they add for a community is enormous in terms of the networks, the comradery, experience, sportsmanship and team-building. All of these things are vital aspects of it.  I want to comment specifically on women's involvement because among all of the clubs I have mentioned some are very strong in youth, some are very strong in terms of their success and where their players go on to play but all of them have also committed to women's sport. One of the things that has really blossomed in the past few years is not just women's sport, because it was always there, but our understanding and recognition of women's sport, which was not always there. I attended the club final last year in Tallaght. The feeling at a club match with women is much better than it is with men. There is a much greater family atmosphere and the competition is more fierce. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Connolly  Ar an \u00e1bhar sin, ba mhaith liom t\u00fas a chur le mo chuid focail le bu\u00edochas a ghabhadh leis na daoine at\u00e1 ag obair go deonach sna clubanna ar fad sa t\u00edr agus at\u00e1 ag d\u00e9anamh an-obair le daoine \u00f3ga agus ag cur spraoi ar f\u00e1il do na daoine. Is d\u00f3igh go bhfuil siad ag obair chomh maith ar son \u00e1r gc\u00f3ras sl\u00e1inte toisc go bhfuil siad ag tabhairt aire do na p\u00e1ist\u00ed agus ag tabhairt deis d\u00f3ibh a bheith acla\u00ed ina bpobail f\u00e9in.  I commend all those who volunteer in our clubs throughout the country in whatever sport. Tonight we are talking about soccer. My first sport of preference is GAA - Gaelic football and hurling- but I am a big soccer follower as well. If I am not wrong, it is the game that is most played across the country throughout communities. Tonight, when we are talking about the game we should think of all those volunteers who put their time into the coaching and administration of clubs and who keep the show on the road.  It is fantastic to see the revival of our national team. That has been noted by many Members. Both national ladies teams and our gents teams are doing well. That has had an impact on attendances at League of Ireland games. I have gone to a number of Galway United games recently and attendances are high. The club is making great efforts to try to generate further interest. It recently had a night where they invited all the juvenile soccer clubs in the community to attend a game and it was very well attended. Unfortunately, Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, is gone. One of the games I recently attended, Galway United beat Sligo Rovers 1-0. That was a Connacht derby so it was a very well received result in Galway.  One of the issues I am concerned about in terms of the League of Ireland is that there does seem to be a significant gap between the resources available to clubs in Dublin compared to provincial clubs. Most of the provincial clubs are in the lower division - the first division - be they Treaty United in Limerick, Cork City, etc. Cork is a big city. There are a certain number of clubs that go between both leagues but it seems to be dominated by the Dublin clubs and that might be because they have greater resources.  Unfortunately, Galway United does not have its own training facilities and it has been a League of Ireland club since the late 1970s. It relies on the junior clubs like Salthill Devon FC, Mervue United AFC and others throughout the city to provide it with training facilities. That is a great concern in terms of the future of the club and how it continues to operate. Similarly, it does not own Terryland Park, even though there might be a change in that. It has a long-term lease and use of the facility. We might need to look at how we support League of Ireland clubs in provincial towns more. I say that in the full knowledge that in the latest budget the Minister of State secured significant investment in League of Ireland academies, which was welcomed by all the clubs.  We possibly have not utilised soccer to the full degree as a mechanism or tool for inclusion and integration of new people who have come to the country. It is a universal game. It is played internationally. It does not recognise boundaries. Everyone is familiar with the rules. Maybe we should look at soccer as a vehicle for the enhancement and further integration of different nationalities of people who come to make Ireland their home. There is a great opportunity for us to do that in soccer.  In the programme for Government we have committed ourselves to an audit of all urban areas in the country to see the availability of playing space for all sports in those urban areas. It is crucial we do that as soon as possible. One of the communications I receive most frequently from soccer clubs is a lack of playing facilities. That is particularly the case in the west where it rains much more significantly that in the east of the country. It is a winter sport. A lot of the playing facilities that the local authority has must be closed on regular occasions during the winter. That limits the opportunity for games and for children and adults to play.  We need to work closer with local authorities. In my local authority there is a soccer club, Knocknacarra FC. It uses the local authority facility. The facility was upgraded around eight or nine years ago. It was a fantastic new facility. It was an all-weather facility and floodlit. There was a significant investment. However, the club is paying for that investment. It was supported by the Department but the club is paying in the region of \u20ac40,000 a year to the local authority to use that facility. For the type of relationship that should exist between a club and a local authority, that amount is excessive.  That is an objective for the programme for Government. We need to do it. We need to look at where in the country we are limited in terms of sporting facilities, particularly in urban areas, and see where we can access land because there is not a wide availability of land in those urban areas. We all know that it is difficult for a voluntary club to try to get the necessary finances to purchase land. We need to look at more municipal facilities. We need to look at the local authorities and we need to encourage local authorities to provide more facilities in the areas where there is high demand.  The performance of the national teams has led to an increased interest in the game and that can only be good for our communities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  T\u00e1 s\u00e9 go hiontach go bhfuil an d\u00edosp\u00f3ireacht seo ar si\u00fal. Is s\u00f3rt r\u00e1itis at\u00e1 i gceist agus caint faoi ruda\u00ed seachas d\u00edosp\u00f3ireacht. Is trua nach bhfuil r\u00fan os \u00e1r gcomhar gur f\u00e9idir linn ar fad tac\u00fa leis, mar shampla go dtaca\u00edonn Tithe an Oireachtais le gach uile iarracht chun an sp\u00f3rt seo a chur chun cinn le cinnti\u00fa go bhfuil infheisti\u00fa ceart ann ar gach leibh\u00e9al. Mar at\u00e1 cloiste agam \u00f3 th\u00e1inig m\u00e9 isteach sa Seomra agus fi\u00fa roimhe sin, t\u00e1imid ag tabhairt aitheantais don obair lean\u00fanach at\u00e1 ar si\u00fal acu si\u00fad at\u00e1 gafa le clubanna sacair, clubanna peile agus gach uile s\u00f3rt clubanna timpeall na t\u00edre. Mar Pharlaimint, t\u00e1imid ag tabhairt an aitheantais sin d\u00f3ibh agus cloisimid iad nuair at\u00e1 siad ag lorg cabhrach agus c\u00fanaimh. T\u00e1 an oiread sin ruda\u00ed gur f\u00e9idir linn a dh\u00e9anamh chun cuidi\u00fa leo ach go h\u00e1irithe sna sp\u00f3irt \u00e1it a bhfuil mn\u00e1 ag teacht chun cinn i bhfad \u00c9ireann n\u00edos m\u00f3 n\u00e1 mar a bh\u00ed agus ag r\u00e1ta n\u00edos tap\u00fala. N\u00edl na seomra\u00ed feistis acu, n\u00ed f\u00e9idir leo gl\u00e9asadh agus t\u00e1 easpa leithris agus sin ann. Is jab m\u00f3r \u00e9 sin le d\u00e9anamh nuair at\u00e1imid ag cur leis na h\u00e1iseanna at\u00e1 ag na clubanna seo.  T\u00e1 ceantair timpeall na t\u00edre nach bhfuil aon ph\u00e1irceanna f\u00e9ir acu cos\u00fail leo si\u00fad at\u00e1 bainteach le Sporting Liberties. Chuala m\u00e9 Teachta\u00ed \u00f3 thuaisceart na cathrach ag caint faoi seo chomh maith. Caithfimid cinnte a dh\u00e9anamh de nach bhfuil ceantair ann nach bhfuil p\u00e1irceanna peile - p\u00e1irceanna f\u00e9ir n\u00f3 AstroTurf - cearta acu. T\u00e1 fadhb agam leis an astro agus bh\u00ed orm labhairt leis an Aire faoi sin cheana gur ch\u00f3ir go nd\u00e9anfaimid cinnte de go bhfuil an stuif ceart \u00e1 chur isteach ann seachas an stuif a thugann ailse do dhaoine.  Tap\u00f3idh m\u00e9 an deis seo chomh maith chun c\u00e1ineadh beag tapa a dh\u00e9anamh ar FIFA. B\u2019fh\u00e9idir gur ch\u00f3ir don FAI glaoch ar FIFA anois agus gur ch\u00f3ir an duais don ts\u00edoch\u00e1in a thug s\u00e9 don demi-God nua sin at\u00e1 ann, Trump, a tharraingt siar de bharr an chogaidh at\u00e1 \u00e1 fh\u00f3gairt timpeall an domhain; n\u00ed s\u00edoch\u00e1in at\u00e1 s\u00e9 ag cur chun cinn. Tap\u00f3idh m\u00e9 an deis chomh maith tac\u00fa go huile is go hioml\u00e1n le mo chomr\u00e1da\u00ed an Teachta Joanna Byrne as an seasamh a ghlac s\u00ed ar son na Palaist\u00edne. N\u00edor ch\u00f3ir go mbeadh muid ag imirt an chluiche sin agus ba ch\u00f3ir don St\u00e1it taca\u00edocht a thabhairt don fhoireann n\u00e1isi\u00fanta agus seasamh ceart a ghlacadh seachas an seasamh at\u00e1 \u00e1 ghlacadh go dt\u00ed seo.  N\u00edor ch\u00f3ir go mbeadh Iosrael ag glacadh p\u00e1irt in aon sp\u00f3irt idirn\u00e1isi\u00fanta ag an stad seo tar \u00e9is an \u00e1ir a dhein s\u00e9. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  I join my colleague an Teachta \u00d3 Snodaigh in paying tribute to our comrade and friend, Deputy Joanna Byrne, who stood up not just for the grassroots of football, as she does every single day of her life, but also stood up for Palestine and paid a heavy price for it. We thank her for her advocacy.  I would not claim to be the biggest soccer fan. I would not dare to. I am here in my Bohs jersey in honour of my grandad who played for the team, although I am reliably informed that I live in a Rovers house, apparently, so good luck to me going home this evening. My grandson, who is also a massive Rovers fan, plays for Corinthians down in Cork. I have seen at first hand with him the benefits that come from soccer and football. He plays soccer, Gaelic football, hurling and everything. I have seen the benefits of sport and specifically the benefits of soccer. I often wonder to myself why it is that it does not get the attention it deserves.  I would like to give my own local clubs a shout out: Glebe North, Balbriggan FC, Rush Athletic, Lusk United and Skerries Town. They are never ever done fundraising - Skerries Town has just launched a buy-a-brick fundraiser - and the volunteers are busy, busy. We see millions of euro raised by the betting tax, but this seems to find its way in big numbers into horse racing and big golf tournaments. It does not, though, seem to get down to the grassroots. The danger in this is that the grassroots will not thrive. We all want to see the grassroots game thrive because from our grassroots come the men and women who will grow up to play for their country and do us all proud. They will play for the local team and they will play for the country. That is really important and will be lost unless the Government changes the way it funds soccer and sport in general and actually put the funds where they are needed, that is, into the grassroots and into the academies to get our young people out and playing sport and ensuring they stay and stick with the game through their teenage years. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  Aonta\u00edm le go leor ruda\u00ed a bh\u00ed daoine sa Teach ag r\u00e1. While I fundamentally disagree with the policies of Sinn F\u00e9in, I commend two of their Deputies on record. First, I commend Deputy Pa Daly on his invitation to the football match in Mountjoy. It was a very good match. Now, I could not hit snow off a rope and we did lose the match. I am more of a rugby player by build. I would also like to acknowledge Deputy Joanna Byrne. I saw what she went through and I think it is important that we recognise the principle at stake. It took courage when she spoke out with passion and conviction on Palestine, especially given the repercussions. Anyone, particularly those standing for something they believe in, should be able to stand over their views without facing pressure from external forces out of their roles. I place on record my support for Deputy Byrne and I commend her on standing by her principles on such an important issue.  At the same time, I would like to say we did have a good match in Shelbourne FC when her team was visiting. We were sitting beside each other. Thankfully, we won that game. I am a Shels fan. Football would not be the sport of choice but it is definitely a club I have so much admiration for, including the men, the women and the dedicated staff volunteering at a youth level and throughout the club. Progress is being made. A lot of the clubs feeding into Shels, which I represent, are facing challenges around facilities and funding. As for the work being done in Shels on and off the pitch, the additional needs team established by Finian McGrath and Ann Murray is a brilliant example of what football should be about, namely, inclusion, community and opportunity for every child. I look forward to welcoming them to the House in two weeks' time. I commend Ann Murray on all she has done. It does not get enough recognition. She recently invited me to a briefing on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, ADHD, in sports and how we should encourage young people and change our coaching methods for them. One of the best things I took from that was that when coaches across the north Dublin area asked how they could better teach children, the response was to just let them play, not make them be doing something that puts too much on them and let them enjoy the sport. It was very much taken on board by everyone. That is what grassroots football at its best is about.  Going back to what multiple Deputies said, we need to get serious about academies. If we are going to get serious about the grassroots, we need to do so for our men's and women\u2019s teams. I commend them both on how they are getting on. Obviously, we did not get on as well in Prague as we would have liked, but we definitely believed for a good few minutes anyway. The truth, if we are being honest and we have been saying this for years, is that we are not delivering. I welcome that the Minister of State held a meeting with me and other Deputies on this issue. Right now, football in Ireland is upside down. I reached out to the chairs of multiple clubs in my constituency over the past three days. One text I got back said that exceptional weather pitches of clubs that do not have the same form of ownership should be prioritised by Dublin City Council. AstroTurf pitches are closed consistently. The recent success of the men\u2019s and women\u2019s national team started at the grassroots level. It is important to provide facilities that will develop boys and girls at the grassroots level and that will lead to them representing our country with pride. Very simply, that is what everyone has been saying across the board. Grassroots football is the largest participative sport in the country and yet receives nowhere near the capital investment it deserves. This is the reality on the ground.  I am blue in the face talking in here about Kilmore Celtic and how its pitches were taken over by another professional club. I have asked the Minister of State to look into this and I would love to see if anything was coming back. There is not only Kilmore Celtic, but also Clontarf, St. Kevin\u2019s, and, on the edge of my constituency, Belvedere, Raheny United, Bayside, St. Malachy's and Ayrfield United FC. Many parents are dedicating their mornings but the facilities are not good enough. If we improve the facilities and get in the toilets in order that young men and young women are not discouraged from playing football, that would really help to keep young people active, build their discipline and provide structure. N\u00edl siad ag lorg go leor ruda\u00ed nach bhfuilimid in ann a dh\u00e9anamh. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 an-\u00e9asca leithreas a chur in \u00e1iteanna a bhfuil p\u00e1ist\u00ed ag iarraidh peil a imirt. Facilities across the board are inadequate and inconsistent.  With regards to AstroTurf pitches, sometimes I think Brent geese have more rights than young kids in this country. We have a huge problem with mental health and with obesity but the majority of the pitches in north Dublin have been waterlogged, especially at the start of this year. I understand that we need to protect nature, but sometimes we need to work together, collaboratively and in parallel to both allow young people to have access to playable pitches and protect nature.  The strategic decisions are made from the top down. I am going to do something here I do not do regularly. I am going to mention a club outside of Dublin Bay North, and actually outside of Leinster. Moyne Villa has shown how investment in artificial surfaces can transform participation. Since 2022, there has been more training and more sessions and more players staying involved. Recently, I visited the club\u2019s facilities. I thank PJ Walsh for the invitation. We need to follow up on this and bring this model into place across the board.  Bringing back what I saw in Moyne Villa to the context of the clubs in the constituency I represent, and I have said this before in respect of Kilmore Celtic, the toilet facilities on the Oscar Traynor Road need to be properly addressed. Hundreds of kids do not have a toilet. They have to cross the road and knock on someone\u2019s door to go to the jacks. There is a long-standing need for all-weather facilities in the Coolock area. The youth club there should be opened immediately and not delayed and not discussed. An all-weather pitch in Memorial Park has not been touched for five and a half months. That is not a delay. It is a loss of time for young people. They missed training. We had the highest levels of rain in the first three months of this year than we have ever had before. We are all asking about this issue. When we ask clubs to navigate complex grant systems on top of all that, we have to be honest. The grassroots clubs do not have the administrative capacity in some cases to chase these funding streams. I welcome that the Department is bringing the sports capital grant forward. I ask that the clubs get a clear demonstration from the council on how to apply. The bottom line here is that I represent north Dublin and I will always stand for what is right but these clubs are not asking for much. T\u00e1 siad ag lorg gn\u00e1th ruda\u00ed agus t\u00e1 s\u00e9 an-\u00e9asca d\u00fainn na ruda\u00ed at\u00e1 siad ag lorg a dh\u00e9anamh. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport (Deputy Charlie McConalogue)  I start by acknowledging and thanking Deputy Duncan Smith for requesting these statements.  We have seen three and a half hours of statements and a really good, positive debate. The spirit in which the contributions have been made stand in very stark contrast to many of the other debates we have on the floor of the House. That reflects the fact that sport and football in particular brings out the best in everyone and brings people together. We have seen that here today.  Through many of the contributions from TDs across the House we have also seen the impact that taking part in sport has had on their lives. It has played such a fond part in their lives and has had a positive impact. One of the contributions that struck me most was that of Deputy Farrelly. He outlined the role he has played with other people in his community, working with a group of young people from the age of seven years old right through as they grew up, in the capacity of coaching them. He spoke not only about the impact it made on him and the people who coached them, but on those kids from a sporting point of view, and also the opportunity it provided for those kids to grow and have leadership provided through sport and the positive impact on their lives. That was my experience as well as I grew up. Like everyone here, I am grateful to the people who played and contributed over the years through volunteering their time to giving me an opportunity in sport. I think back to my time at Scoil Naomh Buad\u00e1in and the work that Brian Harris, for example, would have done, giving his time as I played underage with Culdaff Football Club. I think of the role Hugh Diver played and the great example of volunteers.  I think back to how football brought together our local community and parish. While we might have had European Championships and World Cups as tournaments which everyone followed, the most important tournament in our parish every year was the parish cup, where each townland would have put in teams. That seven-a-side competition was the highlight of the summer season. The local town land of Cashel even managed to put in two teams, Cashel A and Cashel B. I was glad to be able to make the Cashel B team, which was the highlight of my football career.  That tournament was played on a pitch which had a slant on it in Glenealy. There were no dressing rooms at that stage but there was great participation and enjoyment. As an example of how we have seen football grow and develop over that period of time, this past Saturday in Glenview Park, which is now the football pitch in Glenealy and which does have a dressing room and a clubhouse, the under-16 girls won the SFAI under-16 semi-final against Granada, a team from Dublin, in a 1-0 victory, getting to the SFAI under-16 cup final. That speaks not only to the development of the facilities but also the wonderful journey we have seen in relation to female participation and how that has significantly grown and continues to grow in a really exciting way.  It also speaks to the fact that we are on a journey that continues, and one that we as public representatives and particularly as a Government must make sure we are supporting ever more strongly, because while our clubs are very much based on the commitment and dedication of volunteers who make such an impact on the lives of those they support and train and the communities in which they are involved, it is really important that we, from a Government and State point of view, support that through investment in facilities and equipment. We have seen a very significant increase in investment in facilities over the years and decades, and we see it in our local communities. That is something we have continued to prioritise and develop very strongly in recent years. A few contributors outlined how over the past six years, in the previous three rounds of sports capital, that six years ago we invested \u20ac70 million in the community sports facilities round, four years ago it was \u20ac170 million and in the most recent round in 2024, it was \u20ac270 million, seeing more than 3,000 clubs and projects being supported through grants. That is something we now need to continue, and we will continue through the community sports facilities fund which we will be launching this year. That is something that can make a real impact and continue the journey that we are seeing at grassroots level in terms of providing the facilities and supporting the work of volunteers. We all know there is pressure because the increase in participation we are seeing across all sports and indeed, in relation to football, is putting pressure on facilities. Where we build those extra facilities, they will be used. They will not be idle; they are very much needed.  I very much take the feedback from many across the floor tonight on the importance of all-weather surfaces and prioritising them within the community sports facilities fund. The past three and a half hours, and I have listened very carefully to everyone, has been a really good opportunity to get a sense from people who are very much involved in their local communities and clubs of what the key priorities are, and how best we as a Government can work to support their needs through Government investment.  We are seeing a renaissance and real momentum behind football within the country. We have all spoken about how that has been very much led by, and the great energy we get from, our national teams and the escapades and achievements recently. We are also seeing that come through in the League of Ireland, and that is something we want to support and underpin and which we are underpinning through the development and investment we are putting into the academies. That is something we are seeing real progress in over the course of this year. It is something we want to continue to invest in and develop, because it is going to give our young people the capacity to be able to be the best and develop into the best players they can be, and also to see our national league be very much strengthened through those players coming through.  A really good development and something we look to support is the development of a third tier in the League of Ireland. I am glad to see three clubs from my own county, Cockhill Celtic in Buncrana and Letterkenny Rovers and Bonagee United in Letterkenny, two in Letterkenny, being among the 15 nationally. Many Deputies mentioned their own clubs which are going to be part of that third tier as well. It is an opportunity to see our league grow. It is all going to be underpinned by us working collectively to support the work at grassroots level and to make sure everyone at local level has that opportunity to participate in sport.  I assure Deputies I look forward to working with all of them here in relation to the next community sports facilities fund, which will be opening this summer and which we hope to have concluded by the end of this year to work to support clubs throughout the country in football, but also through all sports. We all appreciate the value of sport of all types in our lives, and wish to support that through that fund over the course of the year ahead. I thank all of the Deputies for taking time to participate in this debate. The fact it has been three and a half hours and so many have contributed shows the importance of sport to our national Parliament. This has been a very worthwhile and valuable use of our national Parliament's time. Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an gCeann Comhairle and everyone in the House for their contributions and their work in communities to support clubs within their respective constituencies. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Yes, full participation. Thanks to all. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Football: Statements"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-15\/debate\/dbsect_36","debateType":"billReport","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2025\/74","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2025\/74\/dail\/4_sub","houseCode":"dail","stage":"4_sub","isBillStage":false,"showAs":"Arbitration (Amendment) Bill 2025: Report and Final Stages (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Arbitration (Amendment) Bill 2025: Report and Final Stages","counts":{"speechCount":48,"speakerCount":7},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_36","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  We move now immediately to the Arbitration (Amendment) Bill 2025: Report and Final Stages. Members need to indicate should they wish to speak. Amendment No. 1 in the name of Deputy Smith is out of order. Amendment No. 2 is ruled out of order. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendments Nos. 1 and 2 not moved."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Amendment No. 3 arises out of committee proceedings. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  I move amendment No. 3:  In page 3, to delete lines 11 to 13.  I will be pressing this amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  This amendment will delete section 2. Section 2 inserts a number of references to the new section 25A which would be inserted into the Arbitration Act 2010 under section 4 of this Bill. A separate amendment to delete that subsection itself has, unfortunately, been ruled out of order. The new section 25A provides that awards made pursuant to Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, CETA, and the Chile-EU Advanced Framework Agreement would be enforceable in Ireland in the same manner as a judgment or order of the High Court.  We in the Labour Party have been clear throughout the passage of this Bill through the Oireachtas, and indeed before, that we were opposed to trade agreements that include investor court systems, which have a massive potential to undermine social and environmental regulations. We recognise the importance of an outward-looking Ireland trading with the world, particularly in the midst of global uncertainty as we have seen in recent years in the face of tariffs, war and other major disruptions. Trade agreements with the wider world are, of course, important but we need to recognise that CETA has been successfully implemented on a provisional basis for years now without the investor court. It is worth noting at the outset, in the short time we have for the debate this evening, that Canada has agreed to remove the investor court system from the renegotiated North American Free Trade Agreement with the United States and Mexico. Investor courts are an outdated system and are not needed between modern trading blocs and modern states. It is a one-way system. States cannot sue companies in investor state arbitrations.  The first question that needs to be answered is why EU and Canadian investors would not trust their own local court system. This was well aired on Committee Stage and has had huge interest from academics, politicians and civil society questioning, without a proper answer, why the investor court system remains so implacably defended by this Government. We have discussed this at length during the Bill's passage but we know from experience that investor court state claims have the effect of inhibiting the ability of domestic governments to pass legislation addressing public concerns such as health, environmental protection, labour rights and human rights. Examples like this were seen in Canada in 2013 when Lone Pine Resources Inc. filed a $250 million Canadian dollar damages claim against Canada under the North American Free Trade Agreement, NAFTA, over Quebec's moratorium on fracking. These claims have a regulatory chilling effect on governments, leaving them hamstrung. That is what a Canadian mining company has done under the previous NAFTA agreement when an investor court system has been in place. Now we are going to walk headlong into the same system, putting our State's economic, social and environmental security at risk. This is at the heart of our opposition to this and at the heart of our opposition to the amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  I want to put on record my disappointment and frustration at the fact that this debate is being guillotined. This has to be taken in the context of the Government and the Government members of the committee having moved to avoid pre-legislative scrutiny of this legislation, which was crucial. We in the committee have all cited international authorities, and will likely do so here tonight again, outlining the manner in which the investor courts have huge potential implications for the environment, for workers' rights and for sovereignty fundamentally. This is about sovereignty, to some extent, and how that is undermined. The fact is that there was no pre-legislative scrutiny and there was no opportunity. There was no scope for the public, public representatives or the media to hear that kind of evidence. I want to pay tribute to my party colleague Lynn Boylan MEP and my colleagues here from across the political spectrum who attended the alternative pre-legislative scrutiny session that was held in the European Commission building. Ultimately, it was a huge failure that the pre-legislative scrutiny did not proceed, and that is compounded by the fact the Government is restricting the debate tonight to a single hour. This is despite the fact we have dozens upon dozens of amendments and that this is very significant legislation that has huge ramifications. We should remind ourselves that this was the subject of constitutional challenge. The Supreme Court recognised there was a clear issue here in ensuring Irish courts had clarity around when they could set aside the decisions of investor courts. That is the fundamental point here.  Similar to what my colleague Deputy Smith has outlined, momentum internationally is moving away from these courts. UN-appointed experts are saying that the investor-state dispute settlement mechanism, ISDS, is beyond reform. It is being removed from the North American Free Trade Agreement. Ireland and other countries are looking to resile from the Energy Charter Treaty because it is recognised that it is asymmetrical and it gives huge advantages to courts that states, legislatures and governments simply do not enjoy. I have no problem with - in fact, I think it is right - a decision about a company being upended if it is arbitrary, if it undermines its reasonable and legitimate expectations or if a government is interfering with how the company might conduct itself. However, we have more than ample legislation on our own Statute Book for our courts if there is a decision that is unfair to a company, an individual or a trade union or anything like that. Our courts absolutely have the legislation to ensure they have a remedy, and the Government should be satisfied with that as well.  This Bill is not necessary to ensure that trade between Ireland and Canada can continue to grow. It has grown and that is important. It does not mean, by any stretch of the imagination, that we do not respect the fact that Canada is clearly a democracy. It is clearly a country we want to have good relationships with but this legislation goes much further than simply Canada. This is opening the door to this system potentially being used for trade deals with any number of countries around the world, and trade deals that are not even anticipated. It clearly opens the door for that and undermines our own domestic court system. That is very serious and dangerous. It could potentially lead to the State being significantly liable. We have amendments later on asking the Government to publish annually any costs that might be incurred by the State through this court system into the future. We are rushing the legislation and that is profoundly wrong. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  Sadly, I too would like to start by expressing my absolute disgust that this debate will be guillotined after just an hour. It railroads any meaningful analysis of the Bill. I am under no impression that most of our amendments are going to go undebated tonight and undiscussed. That a mere hour has been dedicated to discuss what will ultimately be a transformative agreement for this economy and for our future trading partnerships is deeply disturbing. From the beginning, this Government has demonstrated carelessness in the oversight of the ratification of CETA. We have seen that through the constitutional challenges. The lack of pre-legislative scrutiny for this Bill is scandalous. The D\u00e1il select committee and the joint committee have heard no independent expert advice as part of the legislative process for this Bill. The Government continues to rush ahead despite expressions of concern from two Supreme Court justices, one sitting and one former, Mr. Justice Charleton and Mr. Justice Hogan, respectively. Indeed, Mr. Justice Charleton has said that CETA has \"...unlimited powers of interpretation of a vague set of principles within the treaty.\" This is a pretty concerning statement, but this Government does not seem to care and is instead ploughing ahead with a Bill that could have extreme consequences for us all. We should not be surprised, however, because it is an action befitting of this Government. It is trade at any cost, which leads to deregulation and rash decisions made in the pursuit of wealth, with no thought given to the long-term economic health of this country . If  these concerns alone do not demonstrate that this agreement requires far more intense Government scrutiny than a discussion tucked away for an hour before home time, I do not know what does.  This amendment, and many of the amendments we are looking at this evening, seek to strengthen the safeguards and the obligations of due diligence on any Minister in the handling of treaty negotiations and trade negotiations. All we are trying to do is bulwark against what I see as handing over our sovereignty willingly to arbitrary investor courts that will haul us over the coals. It will have a chilling effect on this House, on the parliamentary procedures of this country and on our ability to build any sort of just transition or build into our policymaking any social or ethical concerns. I was at a round table today discussing AI and the regulatory gap because I see this same deregulation under the banner of simplification and harmonisation across all Government policy right now.  I heard a European expert describe the EPP, the Minister of State's European grouping, as uncritically pro-business "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  That is not my group. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  For me, that is exactly what is happening here, so I support this amendment and look forward to debating further. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  I will say that I am not an EPP member. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  That is a point of clarity. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Thomas Byrne)  As a point of clarity I am in Renew Europe, and I am proud to be part of Renew Europe.  At the outset I return briefly to first principles and set out the reasons behind this legislation. The Arbitration (Amendment) Bill 2025 seeks to put Ireland, which is a country that greatly benefits from international trade, in a position where it can decide to ratify the range of EU trade and investment agreements we massively benefit from as EU member states. There is a bit of a misconception in what Deputy \u00d3 Laoghaire says because he says there are so many ramifications from this Bill. There are no ramifications from this Bill if we do not ratify the treaties to which it refers. It is important to remember there is a separate ratification process under the Constitution if we are to ratify CETA. This Bill guides us from the Costello case as to how we do so in a constitutional way. However, this Bill does not ratify CETA. That is a separate constitutional procedure in this House. There has been no shortage of debate on the issue and this is a debate, which is not rushed. The EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, CETA, has been scrutinised rigorously and at length in a number of forums, including in the Oireachtas, the courts and at national, international and European level over the past ten years. I think this is my third time to debate the Bill in the Oireachtas and many amendments have been considered and discussed to date. They are all important amendments, but many are on the same issues and are variations on the same theme.  Free trade benefits the Irish economy. At a time of global turbulence, it is an important signal for Ireland to seek to ratify these agreements with Canada and Chile, which provide Irish companies and exporters with new opportunities to expand and grow trade overseas. Our trade and investment relationship with the friendly, democratic state of Canada is deep and growing, with over \u20ac12 billion in trade in 2024 and direct employment in each other's economies of approximately 20,000 people. Our trade with Chile is more modest but it is growing, and I am convinced that a fully ratified agreement can support more trade and more jobs, most importantly of all. I am conscious of claims that we should not be concerned with ratifying CETA, as has been said at committee, because the parts which provide for more open trading are already provisionally applied. Provisional application is an important mechanism that allows companies, consumers and the State to benefit from the trade agreement at an early stage, but it is not the same as ratification.  On the subject of investment dispute resolution, there is again a misconception. We keep hearing in the D\u00e1il and the public media about the ISDS system, the investor-state dispute settlement system. This is not the same as that. This is the investor court system, which has been developed in response to concerns that many people raised about the previous system, which Members keep referring to. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  It is effectively the same. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  It is not the same. It is a different system and people keep quoting the previous system, which the Canada trade agreement has actually worked to improve and to make it more transparent. That is important. Irish companies need access to effective international remedies abroad and companies investing in Ireland want similar reassurance. The Irish Government is working to make the economy more competitive and resilient to economic shocks, and the Government\u2019s approach in bringing forward the legislation has been questioned as to why we are doing this. The reality is that this legislation stems from the decision of the Supreme Court in the Costello case. It identified concerns, but the judgment of the Supreme Court identified the legislative path for us. That is what we are doing in bringing forward this Bill. We are following the judgment of the Supreme Court and that is all this legislation is doing. We acknowledge the Costello case. It happened, but the court gave a path for us to be able to ratify CETA in a constructional way.  Again, we keep hearing, and Deputy Gibney spoke, about how we will not be able to do the just transition, we cannot regulate anymore, and we cannot do anything now because these companies decide. None of that is true. It absolutely does not prevent us from regulating on public policy, protecting public health, workers, the environment and the rental market. This type of talk about the Canada trade agreement is scaremongering, it really is. It is not believable scaremongering either. It is scarcely believable. These agreements include articles, which affirm that the parties preserve their right to regulate for public policy purposes. This is stitched into the CETA agreement, which again we will have another debate about after we pass this legislation because we will have to have a D\u00e1il resolution about it. The trade agreement also provides that the investment protection provisions shall not be interpreted as a commitment from governments that their legal frameworks will remain unchanged. The D\u00e1il and the European Union can change legislation. The agreements further clarify that the fact a measure may negatively affect an investment or an investor's expectations of profits is not sufficient to say the measure is inconsistent with the agreement. I draw the Deputies' attention to the commitment to preserving the right to regulate as reflected not only in the substantive articles addressing this issue but also in the preambles to the agreement, the general treaty structure and, in the case of CETA - again to address concerns that have been raised - the joint interpretive instrument.  The negotiators, the member states of the European Union and Canada, have gone far to address any concerns on this. The joint interpretive instrument says that CETA preserves the ability of the European Union and its member states and Canada to adopt and apply their own laws and regulations that regulate economic activity in the public interest to achieve legitimate public policy objectives such as the protection and promotion of public health, social services, public education, safety, the environment, public morals, social and consumer protection, privacy and data protection and the promotion and protection of cultural diversity. Yet, Deputies from across the floor of the House come in to tell me that black is white and that it is not the case even though that is what the member states have agreed in the joint interpretive instrument. I think that is wrong and that is misinformation and fearmongering that does not stand up to any scrutiny.  CETA also clearly defines indirect expropriation. It specifies that non-discriminatory measures to attain legitimate policy goals, for example, regarding labour, health and the environment, are not deemed to be indirect expropriation unless they are manifestly disproportionate. Concerns have been raised that despite all of this, the affirmation of the right to regulate would not be effective in practice. Just to reassure everyone, these agreements include provisions which provide guidance to investment dispute resolution tribunals, including in relation to the application of the right to regulate. For example, Article 8.9(2) of CETA provides that \"the mere fact that a Party regulates, including through a modification to its laws, in a manner which negatively affects an investment or interferes with an investor's expectations, including its expectations of profits, does not amount to a breach of an obligation\". These agreements include clearly defined investment protection standards, including fair and equitable treatment on expropriation, and provide clear guidance to tribunals on how these should be applied. There is no danger to the State's right to regulate. We have crossed the t's, dotted the i's and done absolutely everything and it is still the case that Deputies opposite do not believe what is written in front of them in the treaties and in the guidance to it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  It is worth clarifying that we know the difference between an ISDS system and an investor court system. There is not much of a difference. The investor court system really formalises the previous ISDS system, but in effect they do the same thing. We have had this at committee. It was an absolute disgrace that we did not have pre-legislative scrutiny on this. It was remiss of me to not commend Lynn Boylan on the briefing she arranged a couple of months ago, as referred to by Deputy \u00d3 Laoghaire, which Deputy Gibney and others were present at. That should have taken place in a committee room as part of pre-legislative scrutiny of this Bill. The Minister of State keeps saying that we are scaremongering when we can point to examples of where Canadian companies have sued states. We can point to examples within Europe where a German energy company sued the Netherlands for its decarbonisation policy and the impact that was having on its business. We can also point to the fact that there is a threat here because Canadian pensions funds are heavily in the Irish energy system, not just in renewables but in oil and gas in Corrib and Whitegate. The Canadians are heavily invested in the Irish energy sector in fossil fuels. That is not to take into account hypotheticals that could come with regard to our housing system if that changed towards a more public system and Canadian pension funds had investments in private housing, which some of them do.  The Minister of State accuses us of scaremongering even though we have seen the investor court system in action being used by Canadian mining companies and others.  He is saying we are saying black is white but we can throw that right back at him because we have the examples and we are highlighting a valid threat from what is an outdated, outmoded system that is not needed between two modern trading blocs. It is absolutely unbelievable. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  There is a difference between the ISDS and the investor courts system but it is in form rather than substance. Ultimately, the Irish courts or the Irish government will have the same difficulty, potentially. It is true there are permanent judges and more transparency in the sense of openness and so on but in terms of the power they have when they make a decision against an Irish government because of some policy decision it takes we will still be in the same position. Again, I ask for the Minister of State's opinion on why the world is moving away from this. Why are the Canadians and the Americans moving away from NAFTA? Why is this Government proposing to move away from it in the form of the Energy Charter Treaty? A number of difficulties have been raised with the current system. It does not require claimants to exhaust domestic remedies and there is still the issue of the sovereignty of our courts. There are multiple examples. Deputy Smith gave some. The Antin case is a significant example as well. I would be very surprised if this managed to sustain itself through the courts because it does not make it sufficiently clear. What the Costello judgment called on the Government to do is to make it very clear in what circumstances Irish courts could set aside decisions of an investor court - ISDS, ICS or whatever you want to call it. It must be clear in what circumstances it can set those aside but that is not at all clear and consequently I am concerned about the implications of that for the sovereignty of our courts and their ability to make decisions. We have more than adequate remedies for companies, individuals, trade unions and representative organisations that feel a decision that has been arrived at that is unfair. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  In response to the Minister of State's comments on Deputy \u00d3 Laoghaire's remarks, a single vote under Article 29.5.2\u00b0 is sufficient to ratify and the Government planned to do that on CETA after less than two hours of debate in a situation where such a ratification would have had multiple breaches of our Constitution. The Supreme Court, in response, identified a potential but unvalidated path to ratify, but not to protect Ireland. I agree with others that the Minister of State's allegations of fearmongering are completely unfounded because we have seen time and again and have detailed examples of where these investor courts have been problematic. He should consider instances like France and the Canadian oil and gas company Vermillion. In 2017, Vermillion produced 75% of France's oil and lobbied alongside several other companies against the Hulot law, which was a progressive French policy that sought the end of fossil fuel extraction and banned the renewal of exploitation permits. The mere threat of awards was enough to make the French Government backtrack on its policy and instead it allowed all current exploration and exploitation projects by oil companies to continue being developed without any constraints for more than 20 years. I could go on listing the many human rights abuses ISDS schemes have caused or the moments big corporations took money from taxpayers like with Lone Pine Resources versus Canada, a case that has been unresolved since 2013 that could see Canada lose more than \u20ac100 million. The ICS, which is the body through which companies will seek award from this State via CETA represents a mere repackaging of the ISDS systems that have been denounced across the world by human rights groups and academics alike. As such, there is plenty of evidence and we are not misinterpreting what the ICS is. We know full well the difference between the ISDS and the ICS and we are not fearmongering. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  With the malevolent Trump Administration, we need to closer links with Canada through the EU and this legislation is clearly facilitating what is essentially a trade-off with pluses and minuses. The question is not about whether we are losing sovereignty but whether sovereignty is worth giving up in certain situations, and I believe it is. We have agreed to pool sovereignty at EU level in multiple areas. The Supreme Court decision stated CETA created a parallel system of justice but it did not say the ICS was unconstitutional and required a referendum. Instead it suggested amending legislation would be needed to meet the threshold and that is the Bill before us. I said on Second Stage it struck a reasonable balance to meet the threshold so I do not have a problem with it. The old-style ISDS system has been improved in the ICS. The ICS will have open hearings, independent decision-making processes, judges appointed who cannot engage in outside activities and some, admittedly limited, facility for NGOs, civil society, trade unions, etc. It is a trade-off some will hate and others will reluctantly see as necessary. EU companies, as has been mentioned, can sue Canadian companies and Canadian companies can sue EU companies so while Ireland can be sued without recourse to Irish courts, the action cannot be spurious and must show a company has been affected detrimentally in some way because of a breach of the agreement. We might not like it but companies have a right to be compensated for loss of expected earnings and the threat is overemphasised because making such amendments would not in itself be in breach of the agreement. States still have the right to amend policy on environmental matters, consumer protection, public health and labour laws. Threats will happen and there is always the risk of a chilling effect but the EU is starting to take on the IT companies and it is through the EU we shout down these threats.  However, I am concerned about the lack of proper Oireachtas scrutiny on Committee and Report Stages. We had the confidence motion on Tuesday where the anger of ordinary people was expressed in a robust way by Deputies on this side of the House. The Government was accused of being out of touch and not listening to the people. A day later, after having a good Second Stage debate on CETA, we scheduled statements on football. I am a football fan and it was a great debate, which I welcomed, but it could have been deferred for another week. We could have had several more hours of discussion and proper amendments debated. The Government has the numbers anyway and, like I said, there is a trade-off here, but I will not be voting for this as is because it has not been given the proper scrutiny it deserves by this House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  The Minister of State is saying we should just trust this Government on the basis the investor court system is now better than ISDS and all we know that is wrong there. The Energy Charter Treaty and the fact that everyone with any element of sense is moving away from it has been mentioned by many. The Antin versus Spain case relates to giving big business the ability to take a state to the cleaners. That is the reality. The Australian case is the always the first one brought to people's attention and while I accept Australia eventually won, it is about the idea of big tobacco in the form of Phillip Morris even taking that case. Even though Australia won, it did so at a huge cost and the case ran from 2011 to 2015. Let us not pretend that did not impact on other countries, and even on Australia, by chilling it from taking necessary action be it on environmental, health, workers' rights or human rights grounds. That is the problem.  What are we getting? What is the advantage of this investor courts system? Am I wrong in thinking CETA is already in operation with respect to the trade elements, which are the parts the Government keeps saying are wonderful? We are all in favour of free trade and of building up those necessary relationships and ensuring we facilitate business across the board but what is the advantage of the investor court system? Most people would ask why we should take a chance on this. I do not see any advantage in any way, shape or form. If any company is found to be in a circumstance where it has been wronged by rule changes and there has been an element of unfairness is the Minister of State telling me Irish or European law does not have the capacity to deal with that? Is he saying a company from here would not be able to deal with that through the Canadian courts? Is that what we are talking about? From what I see the Government is literally giving the power to big business and big corporations and not even from a point of view of screwing over the small guy but from screwing over us as a State. We are talking about the fact the Government could literally have its lights put out, or have the absolute fear of having its lights put out.  We know for sure that many governments, and we could even possibly say it about this Government, have obviously been impacted by the fear of taking action on particular legislation and how it would go down in Washington or anywhere else. I am certainly not talking about the occupied territories Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  No, unless it relates to the amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  That is the reality. What I am saying is that the one thing we have seen, and whether we call it ISDS or the investor court system, with all the nuances, changes and added bells, it is still a rose or a briar by another name. That is all we are talking about here. I am asking the Minister of State whether he can ensure us that all the worries on this side of the of the House will not happen. Can he tell me the advantage to us in passing this legislation and in relation to the investor court system? Can he assure us in respect of all the worries he says we are over-egging? Everyone would trust anything this Government told them anyway, and you could see that over the past period of time. This was the Government that said it was not going to provide any sort of supports or mitigations at the start of the week but by the end of the week, having dealt with its backbenchers, some of the Independents and the pressure put on by people, it moved. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Speak to the amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  That is all I am saying. I suppose it had a chilling effect of sorts.  I want to know from this Minister of State what advantage there is to us, the Irish people, to this Government or to any future Irish Government of having the investor court system in play. With other treaties, we have seen states walking away. Do we intend to do it ourselves in relation to not being shackled by what you can only say is corporations being facilitated to \"chill\"? I was going to use a term that I probably should not use in the House. I refer to forcing a government into a situation where it may not go ahead with legislation that may be beneficial to the people out of fear that a major corporation using this leverage of the ICS will put its lights out from a financial point of view. This is the first time the Ceann Comhairle will have seen me do this. I am handing my speaking time back with a minute and 44 seconds on the clock. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  There is a God. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  I do believe. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Minister to speak. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  Deputies have raised a number of cases, none involving Ireland. In fact, there was a letter in the newspaper today which criticised me for describing these cases as relatively rare and then it went on to give the reason in the same letter why we have relatively low numbers of cases involving Ireland. We have very few. The cases that have been talked about are not related to CETA. Even the example used of the Canadian company is not under the CETA agreement. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  How could there be? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  Exactly. That is my point. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  It has not been established yet. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"An Ceann Comhairle: Deputies, please."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  That is my point. These examples have been given as if they are directly related to the ratification of CETA or the passage of this legislation. The cases the Deputies mentioned have not been decided under the investor court system. They have been decided under the old, long-standing system of investor state dispute settlement, ISDS. I have already outlined the difficulties with that. We felt there was a lack of consistency and predictability, a lack of transparency and the issue of the right to regulate, which I have spoken about at length already, was not there. In the Vermillion case Deputy Gibney spoke about, none of the provisions I am talking about that apply under CETA were there and it was not under an investor court system but under the ISDS system. It was not under CETA. There was no provision allowing for the right to regulate under that particular treaty that the Vermillion case was concerned with in France. Because of those concerns were raised, we have collectively, as a European Union of member states and Canada, decided to change the way we do things, which is to ensure we have a right to regulate and ensure we have an investor court system that works and recognises the role of the sate in regulating and doing social good, but also gives predictability, certainty and transparency to business in order that we can develop important trade ties. I know that many people in the development sector are concerned about trade agreements in general but this is between Canada and the European Union. It is a totally different circumstance. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa has two minutes left. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I get what the Minister of State says about the right to regulate and having certain protections. He has already stated that he believes the investor court system is an improvement on the old ISDS but I still have not heard anything that settles me in regard to the fact that there is any advantage to us signing up to this and that it does not leave this State open to the possibility of big corporations being able to put its lights out from a financial point of view and to have a detrimental impact on everything from regulation to legislating from a point of view of improving people's lives, whether we are talking about everything from housing to the environment to health. It is basically encompassing the entirety of the work done in a Chamber like this and beyond. That is my problem.  My particular issue is that I do not see any advantage to it. My understanding is that those trade elements that we are all benefitting from are in operation at this point and there is nothing negatively impacting on them. Look at where we are talking about. We are talking about Canada and this State within the European Union. Somebody is going to tell me that there is not a sufficient amount of legislation or a sufficient number of frameworks to deal with issues that may exist if a company feels it is wronged. I do not believe, however, we need to give them a battering ram from the point of view that it can put its lights out and make us think twice or three times about not going ahead with necessary legislation or regulation. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared lost."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  I move amendment No. 4:  In page 3, to delete lines 14 to 18. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment, by leave, withdrawn."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Amendments Nos. 5 to 10, inclusive, have been ruled out of order. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendments Nos. 5 to 10, inclusive, not moved."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  I move amendment No. 11:  In page 4, to delete lines 3 to 13.  This amendment would delete subsection (2) of the new section 25A, to be inserted to the Arbitration Act 2010 under section 4 of the Bill. The purpose of the amendment is to allow us time to consider whether subsection (4)(2) of the new section 25A is compatible with agreements such as CETA. If CETA or any other international agreement like it was to be ratified by Ireland and all other member states, it would then become EU law. We cannot then rely on our own constitutional protections as Article 29.4 makes clear. This subsection therefore does not make sense. It is asking us to rely on a constitutional protection that ultimately will not be there. What is more is that investors will be able to simply step outside of the jurisdiction without going to the lengths of arguing whether there are any legitimate limitations as the enforceability of their claims and that is why we are proposing the deletion of subsection 4(2) with this amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  I will pick up on a couple of the comments from the previous debate which apply to this amendment as well. I am still dumbstruck that we had no pre-legislative scrutiny. There is virtually no debate tonight, or not enough. I agree with Deputy Gogarty in that as much as I value the debate on football, it could have been pushed back for a week and we could have had more opportunity to properly analyse this. We should have had experts giving their opinions on this. We have had so many expressions of concern regarding all of this.  Putting aside the fact CETA will expose the State to investor state dispute claims and awards with relatively little protection, the Government's proposed section 25A will allow the Minister to make trade details with barely any Government scrutiny, so with hardly any due diligence.  This is in particular when we consider that the new section 25A(1) is not limited to the ratification of CETA but also includes the advanced framework agreement between the European Union and its member states and the Republic of Chile and, alarmingly, any other international agreements. To be clear, this involves rewriting our entire approach to trade. These amendments are set out to build in those better safeguards and the due diligence we believe is appropriate for any such activity by any Government. It is in that spirit that these amendments are put forward. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  I had nothing to do with the scheduling of the debate on football. I presume that is a matter for the Business Committee. As Deputies are aware, the Costello judgment prevented Ireland's ratification of CETA and other mixed EU trade agreements containing similar investment provisions. The Supreme Court in the Costello case not only identified constitutional concerns that prevented the ratification of CETA but the court then identified a legislative path to allow us to cure the concerns that had been raised. The Government, working with the Attorney General, has considered the findings of the Supreme Court. This legislation is the response, having looked at what the Supreme Court said and the guidance the Supreme Court gave us, which we are now implementing. The Bill before us amends the Arbitration Act, introduces a procedure into Irish law for the enforcement of awards rendered by tribunals established under CETA and similar international agreements, addresses the concerns of the Supreme Court and specifies the applicable grounds on which an award may not be enforced. The concerns the Supreme Court raised could not be met if amendment No. 11 were accepted. Therefore, we cannot accept it. I think it was said from across the floor that we are rewriting our whole approach to that trade and trade agreements can be brought in without scrutiny but that is not the case. There is a whole procedure involving the Commission, member states, the European Parliament and national parliaments, maybe, to do this. Trade agreements do not happen overnight. If the State were ever to rely on the provisions of this Bill, first of all we would have to ratify a trade agreement. Every signatory has to ratify it for the investor courts force to come into force anyway. There then has to be an award against the State in the investor court. If the State does not like it, it then has the remedy under the legislation - let us remember this legislation is extremely short, on a very net point and is not directly related to CETA. The State is then essentially challenging the enforcement of the award in the State. That is what the Bill is about. The enforcement is prevented if enforcing the award would compromise the constitutional order of the State or the autonomy of the legal order of the European Union. That gives the Supreme Court and the High Court the ultimate say on any award an investor court might theoretically make. I stand over my assertion that this would be incredibly rare. The way this would work is the State says no, it will rely on the arbitration Bill to prevent this because it believes enforcing the award would compromise the constitutional order of the State or the autonomy of the legal order of the European Union and then the Irish courts would decide. That is what the Bill does. Setting it out in such simple terms is a challenge to all of the scare stories put forward by the Opposition. Our task is to ratify CETA in a way that passes constitutional muster. Fortunately in this case we have guidance from the Supreme Court. That is all the Bill tries to do. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  We did not have much time to debate this even on Committee Stage. The Minister of State accused us of putting forward hypotheticals to scaremonger even though we are basing them on a number of cases that have taken place internationally. He has constantly told us that X, Y and Z have to happen, ultimately this is really rare and probably will not happen anyway so what is the big worry but this is going to happen. The ICS will come in under this and we will be vulnerable. It is a risk we do not have to take because we have a modern, trusted Judiciary that is well capable of determining cases if a company feels the State has acted with a degree of malevolence to impact its ability to make profits. There is a system for a grievance to be taken against the State, should a company want to do so. That is the system in which we believe. We do not believe in an investor court system. We are not scaremongering; we are basing it on evidence of a system that is rooted in a mid-20th century system where the rich global north was exploiting the poor global south and did not trust their judiciary systems so they set up the ISDS system, which ultimately became the ICS. The corporates have codified and formalised that and have put enough pressure on the EU, Canada and everyone else to ensure that this system must be included in trade deals. It is a system that is fundamentally wrong especially when we have modern, trusted, transparent judiciaries like we have in this country. That is where we are coming from. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  Does the Minister of State understand the ability of the CETA joint committee to amend the text of CETA, which is effectively what Mr. Justice Hogan described as \"quasi-legislative\" capacity bypassing the Oireachtas? If the Minister of State is wrong, we will be exposed for 20 years even after we signal withdrawal and possibly more given that the whole EU may need to withdraw. The CETA joint committee can amend elements of the text, adding to interpretations on areas where we will be exposed. I will read from paragraph 17 of Mr. Justice Hogan's judgment in the Costello case:  Would the ratification of CETA be unconstitutional inasmuch as Article 25 CETA allows for the Joint Committee to give interpretative decisions which bind the CETA Tribunals, thus compromising the democracy guarantee in Article 5 of the Constitution? Answer: Yes. An interpretative ruling of this kind is really a form of quasi-legislation which in practice amounts to a de facto amendment of CETA. Even though such an interpretative decision might well \u2013 and probably would \u2014 involve a (potential) charge on public funds in the course of what might well amount to the de facto amendment of an international agreement, there would be no procedure whereby the prior consent of D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann could be obtained in the manner required by Article 29.5.2.  That is Article 29.5.2\u00b0 of our Constitution. The killer point is that the defence provided in section 25A of the Bill only works if the claim comes before our courts. This is a false protection the Government is putting forward under section 25A. It is a scurrilous vehicle to bypass the constitutional protection we all treasure. It leaves our State exposed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  The Minister of State he had nothing to do with the scheduling of the football debate. I am sure that is true albeit it is an important debate. It is a pastime enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of people. Perhaps he can tell us if he had anything to do with the decision to propose a guillotine or did he encourage it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  You might wait to answer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  I will answer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  I can take a nod or something like that either. I suspect the Minister of State and certainly the Government very much supported the clear party line vote of Government TDs to not proceed with pre-legislative scrutiny within the committee. He might not have had much to do with the football decision but I think he has something to do with the decision to rush this and not allow pre-legislative scrutiny, which is probably a bigger issue than the guillotine but that is profoundly wrong as well. We are getting to three or four amendments out of dozens; it is utterly unacceptable. The Minister of State talked about the fact that there were no decisions concerning CETA and Ireland. There could not be because the court system is not in place in any event but there are cases against Ireland currently under the Energy Charter Treaty with potential amounts, if found against the State, of hundreds of millions of euro. They are significant cases. I do not understand the logic when the world is turning against this, the expert adviser to the UN is talking about how the ISDS cannot be reformed, in other words, no reform is adequate for the investor court system with the North American Free Trade Agreement moving away from it and the Irish Government moving away from it. What makes the Irish Government think somehow this would be different? The point made by Deputy Gibney is crucial. There is no protection under this legislation for an award made against Ireland in the investor courts when an attempt is made to enforce it in another court.  I would also make the point that in our estimation the Bill does not do even the minimum required by the Supreme Court and, potentially, we have concerns, which we address in a later amendment that we probably will not reach, that CETA tribunals could undermine decisions taken by the people in referendums. Mr. Justice Charleton, in his description of it, said the proposed changes would breach EU law and so are likely to be undone by the EU courts, leaving us with no protection.  To come back to the fundamental point because we do not have a lot of time left, ultimately one of the most interesting parts of the Constitution comprises the guiding principles on social policy. They are non-justiciable but they give a very high-minded and ambitious sense of the importance of the ability of the State to intervene in terms of the social good. They talk about the manner in which private property ultimately must be balanced with the need to recognise the public good. The ambition in this recognises the fact that the State has to be able to intervene, make policy and make decisions to ensure the good of the Irish people. We are outsourcing the ability to make decisions or at least undermining our ability or the ability of our courts to have the final say on this kind of thing.  Where a public policy decision is arrived at by an Irish Government and is challenged by a company, and a decision is made against it at an investor court, in our view there is nothing in the legislation that makes it clear in what circumstances this can be set aside. It talks very clearly about the enforcement, but it is the non-enforcement that is the issue we are most concerned about and in what circumstances it can be set aside. The legislation is far too vague in this regard and, as I have said, I would be very surprised if it does not end up before the courts again. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I will not take very long. There is an element of repetition at this stage. I would ask, as Deputy \u00d3 Laoghaire has, that there would be an answer on how we ended up with a guillotine at the close of business. A lot of us enjoy playing soccer and wanted to talk about volunteerism and the need to invest in football but we could have done that at any other time. This is legislation with incredibly worrying aspects. The Minister of State is going to talk about protections that were put in place on the basis that the ISDS and investor court systems leave us open and susceptible to corporations that will be able to take action against the State and may have a chilling effect on governments from the point of view of acting in pursuit of what is the social good, or any sort of good, in a wide range of particular issues. We all accept that we are not in an age of absolute national sovereignty but we would like to think that we would maintain as much power as we could from the point of view of being able to regulate, legislate and do the best for our people. In saying this, I do not think governments have always done this but they should have the capacity and the ability to do it. I do not see the advantage and I do not see what gain we get. When we are talking about trade, as far as I can see all of the positives of CETA are in operation as we speak. The framework exists for corporations to get their absolute rights vindicated in the court systems that exist here, in Canada and throughout the EU. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  The nub of the issue is that the Bill is before the House because of a Supreme Court decision and the Costello judgment. We are going to have differences of opinion on it. There was a 4:3 split in the judgment but a 6:1 majority said that while it is unconstitutional, it does not require a referendum because the State can change Irish law to put in place strict safeguards to make sure Irish sovereignty and EU sovereignty are protected in the context of the Bill. This is why we have the arbitration amendment in section 25.  The fundamental point, as I said earlier, is that it is a trade-off. On balance, following Mark Carney's speech a few months ago, and I reiterated it when the Canadian ambassador was here when we gave our commiserations for the tragedy that had recently happened there, we have to collectively get together in this new type of world where alliances are what will help small- and medium-sized countries. Ireland is only strong as part of its EU membership. Canada and the EU collectively are only strong by working together in a world where we cannot rely on historic partners. In this context, maybe five years ago the risk might have been judged to have been greater but now there is a trade-off. There is a certain level of risk. The Minister of State is doing his best to go through why these risks are overstated by members of the Opposition and civic groups, and maybe they are.  I agree with the Minister of State on a lot of aspects but I want a response tonight as to why, given that the Supreme Court put it in the Minister of State's hands to go through this legislation with a fine-tooth comb so the concerns of the courts were reflected through the legislation, the legislation is not being allowed to have as long as is possible. We have had much longer debates on other legislation. As an Independent I will not say I have specific expertise because I cover a wide range of areas, but there are spokespersons here who are particularly focused on tabling amendments and want to have those amendments discussed. I wanted to see them discussed because I was listening to debate all night before I came down here. It is totally unfair to the people of Ireland not to be seen to have this scrutiny. It might be laborious for the Minister of State's advisers and for him but we should go through everything step by step and amendment by amendment over a period of hours and then come to the vote. At least we could say the House went through it the way it should have. I do not believe that it has gone through it the way it should have. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  To be clear, as one Deputy said, there is an element of repetition. That is what happened on Committee Stage when there was no time limit whatsoever and yet, quite frankly, the debate ran out of steam. This is a Bill that is not even two pages long in total. It is a very short piece of legislation. It is a very net point. We have not seen much debate on the individual amendments tonight to get through them. We have heard the overall points that have been made time and time again.  I want to be clear about one thing. We have heard about 6:1 and 4:3 majorities but we do not have an American-style Supreme Court. We have decisions of the Supreme Court and the Government has to go with the decisions of the Supreme Court. I want to be clear, to counteract some more misinformation, that the Supreme Court found the joint committee system in CETA does not breach the Constitution. This is what the Supreme Court found. In fact, the joint committee system is a procedure that is designed to preclude the possibility of the development of jurisprudence beyond the scope anticipated by the parties. This is another protection. The joint committee system is another protection. These investor courts are not for big business only. Small and medium enterprises have very much been a focus of trade agreements in recent times in particular, and there is specific provision for them here.  Here we are developing trade relationships with Canada. It is not to do with the Third World and it is not to do with development of poor countries. It involves two large powers trying to engage with each other in a fair way that benefits people. To be clear, the Bill seeks to follow the Supreme Court decision to allow us on another day to ratify the CETA agreement. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The time permitted for the debate having expired, I am required to put the following question in accordance with an order of the D\u00e1il of 14 April: \"That Fourth Stage is hereby completed and the Bill is hereby passed.\" "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Arbitration (Amendment) Bill 2025: Report and Final Stages"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-15\/debate\/dbsect_41","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2025\/42","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2025\/42\/dail\/2","houseCode":"dail","stage":"2","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Organisation of Working Time (Leave for Health Screening Purposes) Bill 2025: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members] (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Organisation of Working Time (Leave for Health Screening Purposes) Bill 2025: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_41","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I must now deal with a postponed division relating to Second Stage of the Organisation of Working Time (Leave for Health Screening Purposes) Bill 2025, taken on Thursday, 26 March 2026. On the question, \"That the Bill be now read a Second Time\", a division was claimed and in accordance with Standing Order 85(2), that division must be taken now. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Organisation of Working Time (Leave for Health Screening Purposes) Bill 2025: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members]"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-15\/debate\/dbsect_46","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Fuel Prices: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_46","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The following motion was moved by Deputy Pearse Doherty on Tuesday, 14 April 2026:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"recognises that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 unsustainably high energy and fuel prices in this state further compounded a pre-existing cost of living crisis;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the duty of the Government is to protect people from severe energy shocks to the greatest extent possible; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government has the ability to cut the cost of fuel;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"notes that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 home heating oil has hit the highest price on record going back 30 years;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 petrol and diesel are on course to exceed their highest price on record this month; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the price of green diesel and other fuels are at unsustainably high levels;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"condemns the Government for:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 not reconvening the D\u00e1il last week and not introducing emergency supports;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 delays and half measures that abandoned many households and left sectors of the economy badly exposed; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 not engaging directly with the protestors that has made the situation worse; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"calls on the Government to:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 take the maximum action necessary to cut fuel prices so they are affordable for the workers, families and sectors that rely on them."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Debate resumed on amendment No. 1:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"To delete all words after \"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann\" and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\"notes that the Government:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 remains deeply concerned about the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and Gulf;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 continues to seek de-escalation through dialogue and diplomacy so that these issues can be resolved;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 recognises and understands the pressures that have arisen due to rising fuel costs as a result of war in Ukraine and the Middle East, on all families and businesses;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 affirms that energy affordability is a priority for this Government, and highlights that successive Budgets have provided targeted support to help households with cost-of-living pressures;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 remains committed to decarbonising our society, increasing investment in renewable energy sources, and using revenues raised to protect those most vulnerable to fuel poverty through targeted welfare interventions;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"recognises that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 carbon tax is a key pillar underpinning the Government's Climate Action Plan to halve emissions by 2030, and reach net zero no later than 2050;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 analysis undertaken using SWITCH, the ESRI tax and benefit model, to simulate the impact of the carbon tax increase, and the compensatory welfare package estimates that the net impact of the combined measures is progressive and that half of households are better off due to the measures part-funded by additional carbon tax funds, with households in the bottom four income deciles benefitting the most; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 in the long run the best way to protect Ireland from the impact of international fossil fuel prices is to reduce our dependence on them, which will be achieved through the progressive decarbonisation of the Irish economy and society, and through the steps that will be taken to meet the Government's commitment to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"further notes that the previous package of supports announced by Government on 24th March, included measures that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 reduced the Mineral Oil Tax applying to petrol, diesel and Marked Gas Oil (MGO) by 15, 20 and 3 cents, respectively, on a Value-Added Tax (VAT) inclusive basis, until 31st May, at a cost of \u20ac150 million;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 reduced the National Oil Reserves Agency (NORA) levy by nearly 2 cents, at a cost of \u20ac20 million in income forgone to NORA;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 reduced the cost of petrol, diesel and MGO at the pump by 17, 22 and 5 cents in total, on a VAT inclusive basis;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 provided targeted relief to haulage and bus passenger operators, by increasing the maximum repayment allowable under the Diesel Rebate Scheme from 7.5 cent up to 12 cent per litre of diesel, for the first two quarters of 2026, at a cost of \u20ac10 million; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 extended the fuel allowance season by four weeks, to provide essential support to those most vulnerable to fuel poverty, at a cost of \u20ac70 million;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"highlights that newly introduced measures will extend the duration of the reduced mineral oil tax rates from the end of May until the end of July, and apply further reductions to these rates by, on a VAT inclusive basis, 10 cent per litre on petrol, 10 cent per litre on diesel and 2.4 cent per litre on MGO, at an estimated cost of \u20ac260 million; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"furthermore, notes that the combined effect of the measures announced on 24th March, and on 12th April, are to:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 reduce the cost of diesel by 32 cent;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 reduce the cost of petrol by 27 cent;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 reduce the cost of MGO by 7.4 cent;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 postpone the increase in carbon tax scheduled for 1st May, until the Budget in October, at an estimated cost of \u20ac22 million;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 enhance the Transport Support Schemes for all haulage operators, local link and school transport providers, and some commercial operators, at a monthly cost of \u20ac40 million;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 introduce a Fuel Subsidy Support Scheme for farming and fisheries, at a cost of \u20ac100 million, to ensure that those most exposed to fuel price increases will receive meaningful assistance at the most critical time of year;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 be a significant response to real pressures being felt here, and globally;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 be one of the most comprehensive support packages in the European Union; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 directly help people impacted by this unprecedented global crisis in energy supply resulting from the war in the Middle East.\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Deputy Alan Dillon)"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I must now deal with a postponed division relating to the motion regarding fuel prices. On Tuesday, 14 April 2026, on the question, \"That the amendment to the motion be agreed to\", a division was claimed and in accordance with Standing Order 85(2), that division must be taken now. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Fuel Prices: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members]"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-15\/debate\/dbsect_55","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Tackling Soaring Energy Costs: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_55","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The following motion was moved by Deputy Gary Gannon on Wednesday, 15 April 2026:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"notes that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 energy prices in Ireland are already among the highest in Europe and prices are continuing to rise rapidly;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the cost of home heating oil rose by nearly 70 per cent last month alone, the largest month-on-month increase ever recorded;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 kerosene is the main heating fuel for 700,000 households across the country;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the prices of petrol and diesel have exponentially increased in recent weeks, putting huge pressure on commuters as well as the transport and agricultural sectors;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 households in Ireland pay \u20ac360 more a year for electricity than the European Union average;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 gas prices in Ireland are now double what they were in 2021;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 there are 315,000 households in arrears on their electricity bills, up 20 per cent in just 12 months, and 180,000 households are in arrears on gas bills; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 prices are also soaring across the economy, for groceries, housing, transport and insurance costs;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"further notes that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 sky-rocketing energy prices have been coupled with huge increases in other household costs, like groceries and rent, and are putting a huge strain on low-and-middle-income families;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 according to a 2025 Credit Union Consumer Sentiment survey, 15 per cent of Irish consumers would be unable to cope with a financial emergency costing \u20ac1,000;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 a Barnardos report last year found 75 per cent of parents had to cut back or go without essential items because of cost-of-living increases;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 a Child Poverty Monitor last year found the number of children living in consistent poverty nearly doubled, to more than 100,000; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Children's Rights Alliance Chief Executive Officer Tanya Ward has described the cumulative impact of continued soaring costs as \"a landslide effect\" for low-income families, meaning providing basic necessities like nutritious food or a warm home has become increasingly difficult;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"agrees that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 wholesale electricity prices have fallen by more than 70 per cent since their 2022 peak, but retail prices have only fallen by approximately 20 per cent during the same period;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 in fact, as electricity wholesale prices continued to fall last year, all but one commercial provider hiked their prices, most by double digit figures; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 wholesale prices have continued to fall this year, but retail prices have not been cut;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"further notes that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government consistently says it wants to target supports where they are needed most, but there is a huge gap between what they say and what they do;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 according to the Parliamentary Budget Office, the Government's recent budget reduced the incomes of the poorest households by over four per cent and massively increased poverty rates among elderly people from 13 per cent to 19 per cent;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 according to the Disability Federation of Ireland, Budget 2026 also cut the incomes of disabled people, among those most at risk of poverty, by up to \u20ac1,400 per annum; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the inadequate support measures the Government announced in March 2026 provided no support for households that rely on home heating oil and do not receive the Fuel Allowance; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"calls on the Government to:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 provide emergency relief to struggling individuals and families by immediately introducing a \u20ac400 energy credit, targeted at families earning up to \u20ac70,000;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 adopt the Social Democrats \"Solar for All\" plan which includes a doubling of grants for solar installation to \u20ac3,600, and the inclusion of solar panels in the \"Warmer Homes Scheme\" to help families cut electricity costs by an average of \u20ac450 a year;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 introduce a supplementary mileage scheme for essential workers like nurses and carers, who depend on their cars to travel for work; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 increase the rebate scheme for the transport sector, to cover unsustainable increases in fuel costs, and introduce a rebate scheme for green diesel that can be availed of by agricultural contractors and others who use that fuel."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Debate resumed on amendment No. 1:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"To delete all words after \"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann\" and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\"notes that, the Government:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 remains deeply concerned about the conflict in the Middle East and Gulf;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 affirms Ireland's long track-record of support for international law and the United Nations;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 continues to seek de-escalation through dialogue and diplomacy so that these issues can be resolved;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 is acutely aware of the impact on households and businesses of the recent increases in fuel prices, and is actively monitoring the current geopolitical situation and developments in energy markets;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 affirms that energy affordability is a priority for this Government; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 highlights that action has been taken to help households and businesses with the cost of fuel and energy by introducing one of the most comprehensive support packages in the European Union;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"affirms that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the practical measures introduced by Government on 12th April include:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 a reduction in excise on diesel by a further 10 cent (including Value-Added Tax (VAT)) bringing the total reduction on diesel to 32 cent;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 a reduction in excise on petrol by a further 10 cent (including VAT) bringing the total reduction to 27 cent (including VAT);"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 a reduction in excise on marked gas oil (green diesel) by a further 2.4 cent bringing the total to 7.4 cent (including VAT);"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 a deferral of the planned increase in carbon tax, scheduled for 1st May until October 2026; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the reductions in excise include the National Oil Reserves Agency levy reduction (announced in March) and will take effect from midnight on 14th April and run until 31st July, 2026;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Government will also be establishing a new Road Transporters Support Scheme as well as supports for coach operators providing local link services, at a cost of \u20ac40 million per month for three months;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 a comprehensive \u20ac100 million Fuel Subsidy Support Scheme to assist farmers, agricultural contractors and fishers will be put in place;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 this package of supports is in addition to the measures announced in March, which included:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 an expansion of the diesel rebate scheme, backdating it to January, to help sectors of the economy most impacted by the rise of fuel costs; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 an extension of the fuel allowance season to help the most vulnerable with the cost of home heating;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 a range of protections are in place for customers experiencing difficulties in paying their bills, anyone who is struggling with their bill is strongly encouraged to engage with their supplier and suppliers will not disconnect customers that engage with them;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the four biggest energy retailers have confirmed that hardship funds and focused measures are in place for any customers in difficulty;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 switching supplier or plan could save the average electricity customer up to \u20ac500 annually; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Department of Social Protection can also provide support through the Additional Needs Payment to help households meet expenses, including those who face difficulties with fuel bills; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"further notes that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 successive Budgets have provided targeted support to help households with cost-of-living pressures;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 on 11th March, Ireland agreed to participate in an International Energy Agency (IEA) release of international strategic oil reserves to address supply issues resulting from the conflict, Ireland's contribution to the IEA 400-million-barrel release is 1.6 million barrels (equating to approximately 10.5 days of supply);"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 in Budget 2026, key measures included the largest ever increases to Child Support Payments, higher income thresholds for the Working Family Payment, and expanded access to the Fuel Allowance and Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 recent data from the Central Statistics Office's Survey on Income and Living Conditions 2025, published on 11th March, shows a welcome reduction in the child Consistent Poverty rate in 2025 from 8.5 per cent to 7.8 per cent, demonstrating the impact of Government measures to date;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Government has also established the National Energy Affordability Taskforce (NEAT) to identify, assess and implement measures that will enhance energy affordability for households and businesses while delivering key renewable commitments and protecting security of supply and economic stability;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 a dedicated NEAT subgroup is being established to monitor global and national energy supply, with a separate subgroup to advise on appropriate demand-side responses;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Solar PV Scheme operated by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland has gone from strength to strength in recent years, with increased budget allocations from carbon tax revenues year on year allowing for more households to avail of the support available;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government remains committed to ensuring that low-income households benefit from Ireland's renewable energy transition and will continue to explore how best to integrate solar and other technologies into our energy poverty retrofit programmes;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 in the long run, the best way to protect Ireland from the impact of international fossil fuel prices is to reduce our dependence on them;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Ireland is undergoing a renewables-led energy transformation, electricity generation from renewables has increased fivefold since 2005, the milestone of over 2GW (gigawatts) of installed solar capacity was achieved in November;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 offshore wind capacity is also being prioritised, with the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, announcing the acceleration of the National Designated Maritime Area Plan (DMAP) for offshore renewable energy, which will identify sites for additional renewable energy development; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 \u20ac3.15 billion of the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund is being provided to help achieve carbon reductions and environmental and nature objectives, this includes funding to the Department of Transport to support low-carbon transportation, and \u20ac500 million to the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment to support climate mitigation and renewable energy development.\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment)"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I must now deal with a postponed division relating to the motion regarding soaring energy costs. Earlier today, on the question, \"That the amendment to the motion be agreed to\", a division was claimed and in accordance with Standing Order 85(2), that division must be taken now. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar athl\u00f3 ar 11.43 p.m. go dt\u00ed 8.47 a.m., D\u00e9ardaoin, an 16 Aibre\u00e1n 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The D\u00e1il adjourned at 11.43 p.m. until 8.47 a.m. on Thursday, 16 April 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Tackling Soaring Energy Costs: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members]"}]}}]},"contextDate":"2026-04-15"},{"debateRecord":{"house":{"showAs":"34th D\u00e1il","committeeCode":"","houseCode":"dail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/house\/dail\/34","chamberType":"house","houseNo":"34"},"chamber":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/def\/house\/dail","showAs":"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann"},"lastUpdated":"2026-07-04T02:17:04+00:00","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-14\/debate\/main","formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-14\/debate\/mul@\/main.xml"},"pdf":null},"date":"2026-04-14","counts":{"contributorCount":172,"divisionCount":5,"debateSectionCount":10,"questionCount":0,"billCount":2},"debateType":"debate","debateSections":[{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-14\/debate\/dbsect_2","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Gn\u00f3 na D\u00e1la - Business of D\u00e1il","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I ask Members to remain standing. I want to make a short announcement. I would like to acknowledge the recent loss of two distinguished former Cinn Chomhairle of D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann, Mr. Rory O'Hanlon and Mr. Se\u00e1n Barrett. I would like to advise Members that expressions of sympathy from party and group leaders will be arranged in the coming weeks. At this juncture, on behalf of the Houses of the Oireachtas, I extend our heartfelt sympathy to their families, friends and colleagues who feel their loss most deeply. Ar dheis D\u00e9 go raibh a n-anamacha d\u00edlse. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Gn\u00f3 na D\u00e1la - Business of D\u00e1il"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-14\/debate\/dbsect_3","debateType":"orderofBusiness","bill":null,"showAs":"An tOrd Gn\u00f3 - Order of Business","counts":{"speechCount":32,"speakerCount":8},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  In accordance with Standing Order 35 I must now call on the Chief Whip, Deputy Butler, to move the arrangements for this week's business. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Mary Butler)  I move:  Tuesday's business shall be:  - Motion re Confidence in the Government ( not to exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes; any division claimed to be taken by roll-call )  - Financial Motions by the Minister for Finance [2026] (Financial Resolution Nos. 1, 2 and 3) ( three separate motions to be debated together and brought to a conclusion within 60 mins, with separate questions put on each motion and any divisions claimed to be taken immediately )  - Critical Infrastructure Bill 2026 (Second Stage) ( to conclude at the end of the first speaking round; not to exceed 3 hours and 34 minutes )  Tuesday's private members' business shall be the Motion re Fuel Prices, selected by Sinn F\u00e9in.  Wednesday's business shall be:  - Motion re Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions (1) ( without debate and any division claimed to be taken immediately )  - Motion re Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions (2) ( without debate and any division claimed to be taken immediately )  - Motion re Tenth Report of the Standing Committee of Selection ( without debate and any division claimed to be taken immediately )  - International Protection Bill 2026 (Amendments from the Seanad) ( to conclude within 3 hours )  - Statements on Football ( to be taken no earlier than 5 p.m. and to conclude within 3 hours and 32 minutes )  - Arbitration (Amendment) Bill 2025 (Report and Final Stages) ( to conclude within 1 hour )  Wednesday's private members' business shall be the Motion re Tackling Soaring Energy Costs, selected by Social Democrats.  Thursday's business shall be:  - Air Pollution (Amendment) Bill 2025 [ Seanad ] (Second Stage) ( if not previously concluded, to adjourn at the end of the first speaking round; not to exceed 3 hours and 34 minutes )  Thursday evening business shall be the Second Stage of the Disregard of Historic Offences for Consensual Sexual Activity Between Men Bill 2025, sponsored by Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh.   Proposed Arrangements for this week\u2019s business:   In relation to Tuesday\u2019s business, it is proposed that:  1. notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders:  (a) the Order of Business shall be taken immediately;  (b) Leaders Questions and Questions on Policy or Legislation pursuant to Standing Orders 36 and 38 shall not be taken and the rota for Leaders Questions for this week shall be unaffected by that change;  (c) Oral Parliamentary Questions to the Taoiseach pursuant to Standing Order 47(1) shall not be taken;  (d) the Motion re Confidence in the Government shall be taken immediately following the Order of Business;  (e) the time allocated to Government business shall be extended in accordance with the arrangements for that business and the D\u00e1il may sit later than 10.48 p.m.;  (f) private members business may be taken earlier than 6.12 p.m. and shall in any event be taken on the conclusion of the Financial Motions by the Minister for Finance [2026] (Financial Resolution Nos. 1, 2 and 3);  (g) Second Stage of the Critical Infrastructure Bill 2026 shall be taken on conclusion of private members business;  (h) Parliamentary Questions to a Minister other than the Taoiseach pursuant to Standing Order 47(1) shall not be taken; and  (i) topical issues pursuant to Standing Order 39 which were to be taken on Tuesday, shall be taken on Thursday, 23rd April, 2026, and the D\u00e1il shall adjourn on the conclusion of proceedings on the Critical Infrastructure Bill 2026;  2. the proceedings on the Motion re Confidence in the Government shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 2 hours and 25 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply thereto:  (a) the arrangements for the speeches shall be in accordance with those contained in the table immediately below (to be read across);  (b) following the speeches, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a speech in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes; and  (c) members may share time; and  (d) any division claimed thereon shall be taken immediately;          Gov      SF      Lab      Gov      SF       Mins    25    15    10    10    3           SD      Gov      SF      IPTG      Gov       Mins    10    10    3    9    10           SF      ITG      Gov      SF      OM       Mins    3    9    10    3    5       Total: 2 hours and 15 mins                          3. notwithstanding anything in Standing Order 217, in relation to the Financial Motions by the Minister for Finance [2026] (Financial Resolutions Nos. 1, 2 and 3), the following arrangements shall apply:  (a) the proceedings on the motions shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 60 minutes;  (b) the three motions shall be debated together, with separate questions put from the Chair on each motion: Provided that where any amendment is not disposed of within the 60 minutes, the question on each motion shall also dispose of any amendments tabled to that motion;  (c) the order of speaking and allocation of time shall be as follows:-  - opening speech by a Minister or Minister of State \u2013 10 minutes;  - speeches by representatives of Sinn F\u00e9in, the Labour Party, Social Democrats, Independent and Parties Technical Group, and Independent Technical Group \u2013 7.5 minutes per party or group;  - speeches by Other Members \u2013 7.5 minutes; and  - a speech in response by the Minister \u2013 5 minutes;  (d) members may share time; and  (e) any divisions demanded shall be taken immediately; and  4. the proceedings on the Critical Infrastructure Bill 2026 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 3 hours and 34 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply thereto:  (a) the first-round speeches, not including the Ministerial response, shall be in accordance with the table below (to be read across);  (b) on the conclusion of the first speaking round or where speeches conclude before the 3 hours and 24 minutes have elapsed and no other member is offering, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a speech in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes; and  (c) members may share time.          Gov      SF      Lab      Gov      SF       Mins    20    20    20    12    4           SD      Gov      SF      IPTG      Gov       Mins    20    12    4    20    12           SF      ITG      Gov      SF      OM       Mins    4    20    12    4    20       Total: 3 hours and 24 minutes                             In relation to Wednesday's business, it is proposed that:  1. notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders:  (a) the SOS pursuant to Standing Order 25(1) shall be taken immediately following Taoiseach\u2019s Oral Parliamentary Questions pursuant to Standing Order 47(1), which shall be taken at the time when the SOS would normally be taken;  (b) any motions without debate shall be taken immediately following the SOS pursuant to Standing Order 25(1)  (c) in the event proceedings on the International Protection Bill 2026 conclude before 5 p.m., the sitting shall stand suspended until 5 p.m. when the order of business shall resume with the Statements on Football; and  (d) the time allotted for Government Business shall be extended in accordance with the arrangements for that business, with consequential effect on the commencement time for the weekly division time, which may be taken on the conclusion of proceedings on the Arbitration (Amendment) Bill 2025, and the D\u00e1il shall adjourn on the conclusion of the weekly division time;  2. the proceedings on the Motion re Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions shall be taken without debate and any division claimed thereon shall be taken immediately;  3. the proceedings on the Motion re Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions shall be taken without debate and any division claimed thereon shall be taken immediately;  4. the proceedings on the Motion re Tenth Report of the Standing Committee of Selection shall be taken without debate and any division claimed thereon shall be taken immediately;  5. the proceedings on the amendments from the Seanad to the International Protection Bill 2026 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 3 hours, and any amendments from the Seanad not disposed of shall be decided by one question which shall be put from the Chair, and which shall, in relation to amendments to the Seanad amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration  6. the Statements on Football shall be taken either at 5 p.m. or on the conclusion of the International Protection Bill 2026, whichever is the later, and shall not exceed 3 hours and 32 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply:  (a) the statements, not including the Ministerial response, shall be in accordance with the sequence contained in the table immediately below (to be read across);  (b) following the statements, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes; and  (c) members may share time; and          Gov      SF      Lab      Gov      SF       Mins    35    25    15    15    5           SD      Gov      SF      IPTG      Gov       Mins    15    15    5    12    15           SF      ITG      Gov      SF      OM       Mins    5    12    15    5    8       Total: 3 hours and 22 mins                          7. the proceedings on Report and Final Stages of the Arbitration (Amendment) Bill 2025 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 1 hour by one question, which shall be put from the Chair, and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade.  In relation to Thursday's business, it is proposed that:  1. notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, topical issues may be taken earlier than 7.24 p.m. with consequential effect on the commencement time for Second Stage of the Disregard of Historic Offences for Consensual Sexual Activity Between Men Bill 2025, and on the time for the adjournment of the D\u00e1il; and  2. the proceedings on the Second Stage of the Air Pollution (Amendment) Bill 2025 [ Seanad ] shall, if not previously concluded, be interrupted and stand adjourned at the end of the first speaking round and the following arrangements shall apply:  (a) the first-round speeches, not including the Ministerial response, shall be in accordance with the table below (to be read across);  (b) where speeches conclude before the 3 hours and 24 minutes have elapsed and no other member is offering, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a speech in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes; and  (c) members may share time.          Gov      SF      Lab      Gov      SF       Mins    20    20    20    12    4           SD      Gov      SF      IPTG      Gov       Mins    20    12    4    20    12           SF      ITG      Gov      SF      OM       Mins    4    20    12    4    20       Total: 3 hours and 24 minutes                          "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Are the proposed arrangements agreed to? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  Not agreed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  They are not agreed. As per usual, each Member indicates. I call Deputy Mac Lochlainn. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  Absolutely not agreed. It has been three weeks now since the Taoiseach was accountable to these Houses - 20 days this D\u00e1il did not sit and he would not reconvene the D\u00e1il when we asked him to deal with this crisis, to have this place sitting. He would not do it. Arrogance and entitlement seems to be the mentality here of Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael. Will the Taoiseach start listening, will he do his job and will he stick with the original schedule and take Leaders' Questions, Questions on Policy or Legislation and Taoiseach's Questions today? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  Will he just do his job? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call Deputy Smith. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  It is unacceptable, after three weeks, that the Taoiseach is not having Leaders' Questions, Taoiseach's Questions or Questions on Policy or Legislation when we need scrutiny more than ever, given what we have had over the past week. It is utterly unacceptable. It is absolutely unprecedented that all we are going to have today is a proper spectacle when we should be having accountability. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  The country was brought to the brink last week and it is extraordinary that the Taoiseach will not answer questions today after the D\u00e1il being in recess for three weeks. Why will the Taoiseach not take questions from TDs and party leaders in the D\u00e1il today? Why does he think that is a good precedent to set? Has he learned nothing from the past week and from the mishandling of it in terms of the need for accountability and listening to people? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  The D\u00e1il agenda has been obliterated to minimise the Opposition's chance to question the Taoiseach about what happened last week, his inept and arrogant handling of the protests and also to debate the package of measures that his Government brought in.  We all feel huge sympathy for the Healy-Raes. I do not know if Danny is back from the top of a tractor somewhere. We all feel for the suffering of Michael having to resist the temptation to join him. We have an absolute obligation on behalf of the workers and the disabled to question why the Government has not brought forward one single measure to deal with the suffering people are feeling around the country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy. Your time is up. I call Deputy Michael Collins. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  Eighteen days ago the Irish Haulage Farming Construction Contractors Amalgamation, IHFCCA, wrote to the Taoiseach, the T\u00e1naiste and every Minister in this country outlining the crisis that we had and asking them to speak with it. The Government refused to speak with it. A few days later Independent Ireland asked to reconvene the D\u00e1il and the Taoiseach refused to speak with us. Now the Taoiseach is here today saying he will not take Taoiseach's questions or Questions on Policy or Legislation. What is wrong? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy Collins. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  What is the silence about this? It is time to speak out and give us our opportunity to ask questions about the disgrace that went on in the past week. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Chief Whip to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  When the D\u00e1il schedule was circulated last September nobody in the House objected to it. This is the first point. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Allow the answer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  It is normal practice for the Government to put forward a motion of confidence when a motion of no confidence is tabled by the Opposition. It is important that this happens at the earliest opportunity. It supersedes all other business so that the D\u00e1il has the opportunity to express its confidence in the Government and get on with the important business. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  On a point of order. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  There is no point of order until the Chief Whip has finished speaking. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  This will then be followed by the financial resolutions to underpin the significant package of supports announced by the Government on Sunday so these important reliefs are implemented immediately. The Order of Business stands. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  To be very clear the record needs to be corrected. Leaders' Questions were not scrapped previously. Taoiseach's questions were not scrapped previously. Questions on Policy or Legislation were not scrapped previously. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, I am going to ask you----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  It is completely untrue to say this is normal. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I am standing and I ask Deputy Mac Lochlainn to resume his seat. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  This is not normal. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, resume your seat. I will put the question and the procedure will carry on. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  This is immunity from accountability. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  If the Deputy cannot resume his seat and respect the Chair, we will move the proceedings on. Are the proposed arrangements for the week's business agreed to? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Not agreed. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"An tOrd Gn\u00f3 - Order of Business"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-14\/debate\/dbsect_8","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Confidence in Government: Motion","counts":{"speechCount":520,"speakerCount":77},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David 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Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Fitzmaurice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Lowry","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Lowry.D.1987-03-10","memberCode":"Michael-Lowry.D.1987-03-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dessie Ellis","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  This is a very important debate for the public looking in at proceedings. I will briefly outline how the debate will proceed for their benefit. Speaking times have been agreed by the House and are displayed on the clock. If the clock turns red, a Member's time is up. When a Member rises, their time begins. Where time is shared, the Chair will indicate this. All contributions must be made through the Chair. These arrangements are governed by the rules of the House. As Ceann Comhairle, I am obliged to implement them. Equally, all Members are obliged to comply with these rules. I ask that they do so. Every Member speaking is entitled to a fair hearing. Our constituents expect that this debate will be conducted in a respectful manner, and I ask that all Members co-operate.  I call on the Taoiseach to move the motion. He will be sharing time with the T\u00e1naiste and Minister for Finance and the Minister of State, Deputy Canney. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I move:  That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann reaffirms its confidence in the Government.  I welcome this debate and the opportunity to again discuss important issues facing our people. Each of us here has a mandate and a duty to show respect for others and conduct a debate that shows respect for the people by acknowledging the full range of concerns at this deeply challenging moment in history. We need to talk about the huge impact of rising oil prices, but also the wider context of protecting jobs, funding services, investing to get costs down and getting Ireland through a period of international turmoil.  Wars and a pandemic have led to sustained pressure on costs faced by families and businesses for nearly five years. The Government has had to act on a wide range of fronts, including securing basic supplies. There are structural issues which have to be addressed. I will be happy to return to the D\u00e1il to discuss our investment plans for permanently reducing the upward pressure on key costs, especially energy costs.  I welcome an honest debate about getting electricity prices permanently down in international terms. The House will note a report published this morning which explicitly states that since 2022, Government measures have shielded consumers considerably. However, today I will focus on the immediate issue of recent major increases in costs arising from rising oil prices. The Opposition claims that nothing has been done to help people, that other countries are helping more and that the Government could easily sort out everything. This is manifestly untrue and directly ignores the fact that we are implementing significant action, that it goes beyond anything being done elsewhere and that the core concern pushing up oil prices is an international conflict, namely war in the Middle East between the US, Israel and Iran.  From the first days of this latest conflict, we have been directly taking action to reduce the impact on Ireland and have held ongoing discussions with representatives of the full range of groups impacted. The first intervention we implemented last month helped by cutting duties, benefiting everyone, and directly helping families. It amounted to \u20ac250 million.  The latest measures go further and are based on detailed discussions with different sectors about their specific needs and they are designed to very directly help protect jobs and keep costs down. At \u20ac500 million, it is a comprehensive package. It is not about helping special interest groups. We all depend on transport, food production, haulage, fisheries and other fuel-intensive industries. That is why we are implementing specific measures tailored to these critical areas. These reflect the ongoing open and constructive discussions and interaction we have had with representative bodies.  I will not attempt to address all of the false claims by Opposition Deputies but I will reply to a clearly untrue statement by Deputy Carthy. He claimed the Irish Government is the biggest profiteer - his words - on oil prices and that budget coffers were being swelled. The Deputy is intelligent enough and has enough access to research to know this is flat out untrue. As the publicly available facts show, the Government is already spending dramatically more on measures to help people with fuel costs than it is receiving in extra taxes. Before today, the measures provided by Government was costing close to \u20ac28 million a week while the additional revenue has averaged \u20ac4 million.  Our actions also amount to proportionately the largest assistance package of any European country. The closest any country comes is Spain, where the support package is over one quarter smaller. The packages in Germany and Poland are roughly 90% lower than the supports we are implementing. As for Northern Ireland, the actions taken by the Executive and the British Government combined are a fraction of what we are implementing. The basic, core claim that we are doing nothing and are falling behind other countries is simply untrue.  One thing the Opposition never does is respect the fact that we have to fund social services and investments. We have to secure basic energy and food supplies and keep open trade and exports - exports which are responsible for 90% of what we produce in any one year. We have to protect our ability to overcome new shocks which may arise. The measures we are implementing involve a very significant amount of public resources and directly support those being hit by the shock of increasing world fuel prices. They go further than other governments and combine both general and targeted assistance. As I have said, I am happy to return to the House to discuss prices in general and action on affordability. A combination of immediate and long-term actions is required but any politician here who pretends there are no hard choices to be made is being dishonest, and they know it. What the people have a right to is sustainable supports, combined with sustained action, to tackle the structural drivers of rising costs. This has to be the focus.  Today, it is of course important to address events of the past week. Our action and engagement on fuel prices was ongoing before the blockade and will continue well after the blockade. This is a country which ranks in the top ten in the world for freedom of speech, the right to protest and the right of democratic participation. Every week, the streets outside of Leinster House are filled with groups passionately advocating for their cause. People speak up looking for funding for local services, special education supports, childcare, disability services, pensions and many other political, environmental and social issues. These demonstrations often involve closing roads in co-ordination with An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. The general public and businesses accept the inconvenience as part of what comes with living in an active democracy. The blockade of critical infrastructure of last week went far beyond this. It was a destructive blockade which threatened to cause much deeper damage.  Everybody has a right to protest but nobody has a right to appoint themselves as the voice of the people and to threaten the jobs and livelihoods of many thousands of families. Nobody has the right to prevent people from getting to cancer treatment, to be visited by their carer or to distribute vital supplies. The House needs to face up to the fact that these actions were very directly threatening the basic fuel supplies of the country. This went far beyond the drying up of fuel pumps which people saw throughout the country. We were informed in Government that our only refinery was in danger of being closed and export-dependent companies were about to start sending workers home. The ports and refinery blockade meant that at the very time when global supplies are scarce, oil intended for Ireland was about to be diverted elsewhere.  I absolutely understand the pressures people feel and the need for measures to reduce the impact of rising oil prices. That said, no group has the right to say to the rest of the country that it will decide who gets fuel to go to work or who gets fuel in general or that it will block Irish firms from exporting the goods which pay workers' wages.  No action by the Government was taken in haste. Time was given for people to make their point, but action was required and was taken. Garda\u00ed acted with the utmost professionalism under often extreme pressure, and with the specialist support of the Army, lifted the blockades. I thank them again for their work. I also thank the officials and Ministers in various Departments who worked tirelessly to make sure that essential services, particularly health services, remained available in the face of extreme challenges.  There is another deeply important point arising from recent weeks concerning the nature of political behaviour in our country. There are many extreme groups which claim to speak on behalf of the people without ever securing the support of the people. It is standard practice for people to shout in the streets and online that they are the real people of Ireland and that the D\u00e1il and the Government are a non-representative elite who know nothing and care less about this country. Parliamentary democracy is something we should all affirm and defend. The great majority of people who have protested have done so reasonably and democratically. We all saw that this was not the case for some other elements. Everyone here should understand that you cannot share platforms with them, express your support for them, call them the voice of the people and then deny your responsibility for legitimising them. I condemn utterly the sinister targeting of garda\u00ed and of oil lorry drivers. I have told the Garda Commissioner that we will fully support his efforts to find and prosecute those involved. I also condemn the direct and indirect threats to Deputies and Ministers. The online threats against homes and offices should be condemned by everyone here. We should all be concerned with the attempts to import extreme ideologies here, something we saw with the number of online social media accounts which originated in America, Britain and elsewhere and which were spreading inflammatory comments about the blockade. In reality, we are in a period of dramatically escalating angry rhetoric in politics. The escalating rhetoric of Opposition here too is unprecedented.  The Government has a clear democratic mandate. We have an ambitious programme for investment and services to support people and protect our country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you. The T\u00e1naiste, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  On this issue and on the fundamental challenge of getting our country through a period of deep and rapidly evolving international challenges, I can say that as Taoiseach and as a Government----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  Time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----we are clear-sighted, resolute and determined to do what we need to do to protect and defend our social and economic progress. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Finance (Deputy Simon Harris)  I join with the Taoiseach in moving this motion of confidence in the Government. This Government came together to form a stable majority with a clear mission to work hard to build a secure and prosperous future for the people of this country across five budgets. We are guided by that mission today as much as we were on the day we took office.  Let me be direct about what is actually happening here. Sinn F\u00e9in decided to table a motion of no confidence before it even saw the details of the Government's package of supports. It is a package of supports which, factually, is far more comprehensive and strategically responsive than anything its members have proposed or are working on in the Northern Ireland Executive. Were Sinn F\u00e9in's motion to tear down this Government successful, the financial resolutions which we will pass in this House later this evening would fall away and the measures we agreed on behalf of the Irish people over the weekend to try to help hard-pressed people - the very same people Sinn F\u00e9in purports to represent - would not take effect. In other words, the motion of no confidence was just another one of its stunts. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  Threats do not work. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  In the cold light of day, people know that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  You are so out of touch. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  A fair hearing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  We are in a position to take this additional set of measures because of our budgetary strategy and the position of the public finances. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  You were forced into it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  It has enabled us to do many things which are helping people in the here and now and things which are in place for the long term. One million children are getting free school books. There are hot school meals in our primary schools. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  How many of those cannot----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  The fuel allowance worth----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  Bus transport. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Their mums and dads were on the streets last week. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  -----over \u20ac1,000 per winter, with one in four households qualifying, including those on working family payments. VAT on gas and electricity has been cut to 9%. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  Homeless figures. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Three hundred thousand people can access free HRT. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  And 17,000 are homeless. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  Or in energy arrears. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  There are increased weekly payments for pensioners, carers and people with disabilities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  How many children are in poverty? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  The minimum wage is up 40% since 2020 to make sure work pays. Back to school allowance has been expanded to preschool children. There has been the largest ever increase in child support payments. More than 55,000 families with children in third level pay no contribution fee at all, and that number is growing. Auto-enrolment has been introduced, supporting 763,000 workers to build retirement security and, for the first time, public investment in a public model of childcare to build and overhaul our childcare systems. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" (Interruptions) "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  That never happened. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" (Interruptions) "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Ceann Comhairle, when the noise stops----- "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  The energy price shock does also highlight the importance of reducing our dependence on imported fossil fuels and accelerating the climate transition. As long as we remain, in this country, dependent on fossil fuels from imports we risk our economic security and well-being.  We are implementing the largest infrastructure programme in the history of the State and capital investment is projected to exceed \u20ac200 billion over the next decade. Thankfully, we are seeing clear progress now with almost half - 49% - of the country's electricity generated from renewables in March, 58,000 homes retrofitted last year and recent changes we have made to State schemes have seen a strong surge in applications, applications which are of course being funded by carbon tax, which some in this House seek to abolish. We are seeing record demand - over 29,000 applications already this year----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  Record rents. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  -----across SEAI schemes because the Government has made it more attractive and more financially possible than ever before for households to upgrade their homes. We are seeing applications for heat pumps surge by 95%, roof insulation by 81% and cavity wall insulation by 62%. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  People cannot pay their bills. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  We are accelerating delivery----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  You are so out of touch. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  -----particularly for those most in need, while continuing to support tens of thousands of Irish homeowners with upgrades. We are also delivering at scale for the most vulnerable, with over 8,100 homes completed last year under the warmer homes scheme, which is the highest number ever.  There is always more to do and challenges will always come but in a time of enormous and rapid change, the one constant has been a Government working to secure the well-being of the Irish people. We did it through the Covid-19 pandemic. We did it together through the war in Ukraine. We have done it together through the cost-of-living crisis. We have done it through the tariff induced uncertainty and we will respond and work together again while others seek to just tear it down. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" (Interruptions) "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  We have provided financial and other supports to households and businesses in a range of ways. We have deployed the State's balance sheet to maintain jobs, livelihoods and incomes. Each challenge the world has thrown at us we have emerged stronger from, despite it. The strength of the Irish economy is clearly evident in our labour market. Unemployment has remained below 5% for 16 consecutive quarters. This is a remarkable achievement given the global headwinds. That means that over 450,000 more people are now in employment that just before the pandemic. Around 57,000 of those jobs were added in the past 12 months alone: over 200 jobs every working day.  The strength of our labour market mirrors developments across the wider economy. Business investment is up and consumer spending is resilient. These are signs of continued confidence in our economy among firms and households despite a more uncertain backdrop.  As well as steering the economy through the challenges of recent years, our public finances are in good shape. The choices that matter most often get the least attention. In 2012, Ireland's public debt stood at 163% of national income. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  Why was that? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Today it stands at 62%. That reduction did not happen by accident. It happened because successive Governments, including this one, have run structural primary surpluses, have treated windfall corporate tax receipts as temporary rather than permanent revenue and have made deliberate decisions to sterilise those receipts into long-term saving funds. Our positive fiscal position----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  Clapping yourself on the back when people cannot pay bills. This is outrageous. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  -----has given us the ability to respond to the energy price shock and other countries and other executives, including in Northern Ireland, have not been in a position to respond similarly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  How many more bouquets are you going to throw at yourself? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  We benefit from having acted----- "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" (Interruptions) "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Control your contributions, please. Fair hearing. Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  -----to address the structural challenges that lay on the horizon. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I would sit down if I were you. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  You are embarrassing yourself. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  You need to get out of the bubble. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Excuse me. Fair hearing. Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  To enhance our economic resilience we have established two long-term saving funds, the Future Ireland Fund and the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Some of your backbenchers are cringing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  They really are. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  We now have the fiscal power to respond to external shocks. That was not always guaranteed. The external environment that we face is clouded in considerable uncertainty. Whatever the developments are in the Middle East over the coming days, the economic fallout of the conflict is likely to persist given the lasting a real damage to energy infrastructure. As a result, the supply-demand imbalance in energy markets is likely to continue for some time.  Although we cannot, of course, know the scale of the imbalance, it will depend on an array of factors. Ireland, as a small open economy, will always feel these global shocks but we are better prepared than we have been in the past. We entered 2026 from a position of relative economic strength. We expect the Irish economy to continue to grow, albeit at a slower pace than previously envisaged. My Department will shortly publish its updated economic assessment.  At moments like this, it has always been abundantly clear that we have an Opposition that has no shortage of spending plans but no strategy for growth. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  It is all our fault, is it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  No thought is ever given to how it would fund its endless commitments. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  Here we go again. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  For a week, the airwaves were filled by those who shout the loudest and command the most attention online. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  The ordinary working people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  When are Ministers----- "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  He did not like that. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  In an age shaped by social media algorithms----- "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Brady","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Brady  So is the news. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputies, you will listen? I ask for respectful discourse. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  -----and 24-hour news cycles, it is easy to mistake that volume for consensus. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  People feel real pressures but no one in this republic gets to restrict the right of anyone else to move or go about their business. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Beneath the noise, we have the cancer patients who could not get to their chemotherapy----- "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  There are a million workers----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  Therapy sessions are being cancelled. The T\u00e1naiste has some brass neck. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  We had the expectant mothers who did not get to their check-ups----- "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputies, save it for your contributions. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  We had the man who did not get to his dialysis appointment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  The Government is not even meeting its own cancer targets. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  We had the worker who lost a day\u2019s pay because they could not get to their job. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  Spare me. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Through the Chair. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  We had the parents stuck in traffic with screaming kids. We had the business owner who could not open because of a lack of stock. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  Kids in emergency accommodation----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  Talk about fair. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  While we might not have heard from these people much, we know too----- "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputies, please. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  -----that they are feeling the pressure. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  You will expect a fair hearing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  These are people who feel the pressure every day. They get up in the morning, they go to work and they try to get on with it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  They are made up with the Government. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  There are genuine, hard-working people concerned----- "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  You will expect to get a fair hearing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  -----who joined the protests too because they are feeling the pinch, decent people who need our help and assistance. They will remain our focus. They will remain our focus every day, including in our resolutions tonight. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  That is where the demonisation----- "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Please, Deputies. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Civility is not a weakness but it is mandatory. Please, Deputies. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  That is what fairness looks like. It is what a strong economy can deliver: real outcomes, a good job and security for you and your family. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  The T\u00e1naiste cannot believe that. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  This Government has acted. It has acted decisively and it is using its economic strength wisely. Together, we will get through this challenge----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  Is the only way----- "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  -----but we will not get through it by seeking to sow division and tear our country apart. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  If the T\u00e1naiste says it again, he might actually believe it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  Tone deaf. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I ask Deputies to have a respectful discourse. I call the Minister of State, Deputy Canney. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  Here we go. The Independent voice. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  Arrogance personified. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Canney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Transport (Deputy Se\u00e1n Canney)  I thank the Ceann Comhairle. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" A Deputy","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" A Deputy  How did the Minister of State get on with the bridge in Waterford? "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Canney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Canney  Over the past number of weeks, fear and uncertainty have been caused by the war in the Middle East. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sorca Clarke  No. It is caused by you. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Canney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Canney  I understand why people are worried and the pressures they are facing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sorca Clarke  They cannot pay their bills. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Canney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Canney  The hugely volatile situation is ever evolving and has meant there is a lack of certainty for people that is causing worry and distress. This Government has been working hard to ensure that supports are put in place to ease that burden on people. As soon as the conflict in Iran began, we stepped up the engagement with stakeholders across all sectors. Engagement is key to developing any support and hearing from the official representatives of stakeholders and organisations, so we can put supports in place that are driven by evidence and that help where they are needed most.  We announced an initial package in March that totalled \u20ac250 million. As Independents in government, we have constructively been involved in the process from the beginning. Within my own Department, the Minister, Deputy Darragh O\u2019Brien, and I have been engaging with all stakeholders in the logistics and supply chain areas, which are impacted severely by this fuel crisis. We have been doing this regularly since the war began.  We made it clear at the time that what we initially announced would be under constant review and we would step up with additional support if and when it was needed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  You went on holidays when it was happening. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Canney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Canney  Engagement and dialogue continue with stakeholders and representative groups to ensure that any additional measures that need to be put in place would benefit these key sectors within the economy, such as transport, logistics, school transport operators and more. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  Did you engage with them by postcard? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Canney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Canney  Within agriculture, the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Healy Rae, and the Minister of State, Deputy Noel Grealish, along with their colleagues, the Minister, Deputy Martin Heydon, and the Minister of State, Deputy Timmy Dooley, have been engaging with various farming organisations to see where this help is most needed. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Please, Deputies. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Canney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Canney  A further package of measures was confirmed on Sunday night following engagement across key sectors. This has been outlined already. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  Following a week of protest. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Canney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Canney  There will be an extensive reduction in excise duties until 31 July; a further reduction of 10 cent in the price of diesel, bringing the total reduction to 32 cent per litre; a further reduction of 10 cent in the price of petrol, bringing the total reduction to 27 cent per litre; and a reduction of 2.4 cent in marked gas oil, green diesel. A comprehensive new \u20ac100 million fuel subsidy scheme to assist farmers, agricultural contractors and fishers across unprecedented increases in fuel has also been confirmed.  The transport support scheme we have put in place amounts to \u20ac120 million. It is important to say that these combined packages have brought the total support to \u20ac775 million, the largest package in the EU per capita .  As Independents, we entered government to effect change. We made the decision to enter government so that we could be central in making key decisions to help our economy and citizens. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  You failed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Canney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Canney  The war in Iran is affecting every single citizen in this country. The State cannot handle every element of this pressure, but we have worked collectively and in partnership with other Government parties to introduce key supports to ease the burden.  Over the past week, we have seen some members of the Opposition actively encourage obstruction, which is not acceptable. Key infrastructure was placed under threat. This does not help anybody. We need to work together in these unprecedented times. I ask the Opposition to reflect on what it is trying to do today. If the Opposition succeeds in its aim to----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  Hold the Government to account. Imagine that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Canney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Canney  -----put this Government out of business, that \u20ac775 million of support will not be in place for the people of Ireland----- "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Please, the Deputies will have their opportunity. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Canney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Canney  -----and the issues will become immensely more difficult for everybody. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  More difficult for you. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Canney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Canney  It is time to show leadership----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  I agree with the Minister of State there absolutely. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Canney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Canney  -----and that we have the courage to put the measures in place. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  Support the no confidence motion and show some real leadership. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" A Deputy","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" A Deputy  Show some backbone. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  The Minister of State is finished as an Independent. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Is the Minister of State finished? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Canney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Canney  Yes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  He is finished in every sense of the word. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  Game over. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call Deputy McDonald. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kevin Boxer Moran","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran  We start----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  No, the Minister of State will not. Please, respect the discourse. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  Has the Minister of State woken up? I wondered where he was. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Civility is not a weakness on anybody\u2019s behalf but good manners on everybody\u2019s. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" A Deputy","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" A Deputy  We can only take so much of this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Is \u00e9 seo bun agus barr an sc\u00e9il. An bhfuil muin\u00edn muintir na t\u00edre tuillte ag an Rialtas seo? Tar \u00e9is m\u00edonna de chostais ag ard\u00fa, neamhaird a dh\u00e9anamh ar na fol\u00e1irimh, buis\u00e9ad a thr\u00e9ig oibrithe teaghlaigh, c\u00faram\u00f3ir\u00ed agus daoine le m\u00edchumas, is l\u00e9ir nach bhfuil. Rinne an Rialtas an gh\u00e9arch\u00e9im seo n\u00edos measa. T\u00e1 an caighde\u00e1n maireacht\u00e1la ag titim agus t\u00e1 daoine faoi bhr\u00fa ollmh\u00f3r. T\u00e1 an Rialtas seo ag teipeadh. N\u00edl muin\u00edn na D\u00e1la seo tuillte aige.  Today, Fianna F\u00e1il, Fine Gael and the Independents ask us to vote confidence in their Government, in their judgment, in their competence and in their ability to protect people in the crisis. It is a very brazen ask----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  -----from people who have abandoned the Irish people, from those who have stood idly by while workers, families, communities and key sectors, the backbone of the Irish economy, struggled hard. This is a Government that tried to short-change people with half measures, one that sent the D\u00e1il home for 20 days in the middle of this crisis and refused and refuses to listen. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  This is a Government that at every turn acted only to inflame an already desperate situation. There is global instability. The illegal war by the United States and Israel against Iran has driven oil prices upwards and that war must end, but it is the Government's own arrogance, its lack of judgment, its lack of any empathy that have left people with no conclusion other than this: its time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Let us be honest - all of this did not start last week. The seeds were sown in the budget in October, a budget of \u20ac9.4 billion that still managed to leave people worse off. In that budget, the Government claimed that the cost-of-living crisis had passed and it turned its back on reality. It was a budget that looked after developers, corporate landlords and the banks, but left workers, carers, people with disabilities and families behind. The Government pretended everything was fine while people knew it was anything but that. Since then, things have only got worse.  People feel it every single day. They live it in the supermarkets, at the petrol pumps, when the bills land on the kitchen table, as workers head out the door in the morning wondering how they will afford to fill their car, as families ration heat and decide which rooms they can afford to warm, and as carers and people with disabilities face the choice of heating or eating. That is their lived reality.  What did the Government do as this pressure built? Well, it sent out bills to parents to increase school transport fees. It reintroduced exam fees for leaving cert and junior cert students. Prices continued to rise. The warnings came, too. The Government was told, but it ignored every last one of us. Its half measures three weeks ago only tinkered at the edges. A modest cut in excise was wiped out almost immediately. There was absolutely no action on home heating oil and no meaningful support for workers. We told the Government clearly that its half measures would not cut it. Remember, we also provided it with an alternative that would have made fuel affordable and would have supported people, but the Government walked away. It sent the D\u00e1il home for 20 days while people struggled. That was 20 days while costs surged and families were left to cope alone. Taoiseach, I wrote to you----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  You did, yes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  -----and I asked you to convene the D\u00e1il immediately, and you ignored me. You ignored me because you were completely out of touch. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  That is the truth. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  You went on your holidays. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  People have had enough. Workers across the State know exactly what has happened here. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  You were on holidays. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  They know that they are paying more and getting less. They know that life has become unaffordable. They know that Fianna F\u00e1il, Fine Gael and the Independents are not on their side. Now people are demanding real measures. Yes, it has been the farmers, the agricultural contractors, the hauliers, the bus companies and others who have led the charge----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" A Deputy","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" A Deputy  Did you meet any of them? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  -----but people everywhere now are calling for real action and real leadership. The Government does not provide that. On the contrary, its attitude over the past week was the arrogance of this Government writ large and its message to the ordinary people whom it sneered at was like it or lump it. The Government demeaned peaceful protesters. It insulted them, and it insult them here again today. It refused to meet them because it decided that doing so was beneath it, it seems. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Transport (Deputy Darragh O'Brien)  Did you meet them? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  Lots of them. They were looking for you. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  It was beneath the Government, as if it has any great lofty standard about who it will sit down with. Give me a break. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" (Interruptions). "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputies, please, whether you like what she is saying or not----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  We only have to look to the Government's grubby deal with Deputy Michael Lowry to see how very far from the truth that is. It will do deals, when it suits it, with anyone. It will negotiate when it suits it, but when ordinary, decent people raised their voice----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Timmy Dooley  Those threatening----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  -----it turned its back. Incredibly, it then escalated the situation through its rhetoric and refusal to engage, and then it threatened people, including with talk of sending in the Army. That is not leadership.  Even after all of that, the pressure and the protests, the Government come back with more half measures, not the comprehensive package that it brags of today. A small cut in excise, which does not make fuel affordable----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  Sinn F\u00e9in voted against the last excise cut. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  -----and only a delay in the carbon tax increase do not meet the scale of this crisis. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Do the Deputies not want to listen to their own leader? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  That cut would be gone with the next price spike. There is no removal of the excise or carbon tax still on home heating oil. There is no real relief for households. The Government completely ignores carers and people with disabilities for whom fuel is essential, not a discretionary spend.  Today, as Government Members back-slap, congratulate and flatter one another, just know that beyond their bubble, people see a Government that is out of touch, refusing to listen or act in their interests, and unable to understand their lives. They have had enough. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Trust between Fianna F\u00e1il, Fine Gael, the Independents and the people is shattered. Big promises made at the general election were broken one after the other. They promised income tax cuts every year. They broke that promise in their first budget. There was not one red cent for working people. Developers, landlords and banks were looked after though. They promised affordable childcare. Where is it? Parents are still waiting. They promised to abolish student fees and then increased them. They promised to abolish the means test for carers but at their pace that will take decades. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  It will take 50 years. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  They promised cheaper energy. Bills have gone up and they took away the energy credits. They promised support for renters and then changed the law and threw renters to the wolves with the potential massive hikes for new tenancies. There is then that promise from the T\u00e1naiste, Simon Harris, that no child would wait more than four months for spinal surgery, which was broken again and again. These are the hallmarks of a Government with no vision, no direction and no leadership at a time when our country desperately needs all of those things.  To Fianna F\u00e1il, Fine Gael and their Independent backers I say their time is up. They must listen to the voices of those decent working people who were out on the streets peacefully demonstrating and calling them out. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail  Were you with them? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  By God, they do not like the people calling them out, do they? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail  You were not with them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  They were telling the Government that they have had enough. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Lahart","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Lahart.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Lahart.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Lahart  What were they going to do? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Today we, on their behalf, reiterate that stance and tell the Government that it is time now for an election. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" A Deputy","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" A Deputy  They ran straight to the radio. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Let the people have their say because this Government no longer commands the confidence of the D\u00e1il or of the Irish people and it is time to go. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  N\u00edl an Rialtas seo ag \u00e9isteacht le gn\u00e1thmhuintir na t\u00edre. N\u00edl s\u00e9 s\u00e1sta an gn\u00edomh a dh\u00e9anamh le c\u00e1in a ghearradh ar bhreosla sa d\u00f3igh is go mbeadh s\u00e9 ar phraghas r\u00e9as\u00fanta. I gceantar tuaithe na h\u00c9ireann fud fad na t\u00edre, t\u00e1 oibrithe, teaghlaigh, feirmeoir\u00ed agus comhlachta\u00ed beaga faoi bhr\u00fa ollmh\u00f3r, gan rogha ar bith acu ach praghsanna arda a \u00edoc. Nuair a labhair daoine amach agus nuair a chuaigh siad chun na sr\u00e1ide, chuir an Rialtas seo a gc\u00e1s ar leataobh agus bhagair s\u00e9 orthu in \u00e1it \u00e9isteacht leo. Fi\u00fa anois, t\u00e1 na bearta at\u00e1 \u00e1 dtabhairt chun tosaigh ag an Rialtas i bhfad r\u00f3lag. Is Rialtas \u00e9 seo a bhfuil teipthe air, agus n\u00edl muin\u00edn ghn\u00e1thdhaoine na t\u00edre seo ann. Caithfidh s\u00e9 imeacht.  A government that does not listen does not have the confidence of ordinary people and, by God, this is a Government that does not listen. I lost count, but maybe the Ceann Comhairle might inform us, of how many pats on the back the T\u00e1naiste gave himself earlier? I tell you that I have never heard such an out-of-touch speech in this D\u00e1il. This is a Government that still refuses to make fuel prices affordable at the pumps. If the T\u00e1naiste were listening he would know that the cost-of-living crisis is crushing ordinary people. Fuel prices have surged. Still more than half of what people pay at the pumps is taken away in taxes. Week after the week prices rose and pressure mounted. What did Fianna F\u00e1il, Fine Gael and the Independents do? They did nothing of substance. There was no urgency, no real intervention and no leadership. They stood back while people were being pushed to the brink. Their first response was an insult and any benefit was wiped out almost immediately. There was no action on home heating oil and no meaningful support for households or rural communities. It did not come close to addressing the problem.  Then what happened? They walked away and refused to recall the D\u00e1il, which did not sit for 20 days. All the while, households faced soaring bills while workers struggled to get to work. Farmers and contractors face rising prices and input costs with no support from Government. We have seen businesses being pushed closer and closer to the edge. It was a failure and dereliction of duty, leaving people with no option but to rise up and take to the streets.  Instead of listening, what did Fianna F\u00e1il, Fine Gael and the Independents do? They dismissed them. They talked down to them. They refused to meet them. They threatened them. They threatened the Army on their own people. These are families struggling to heat their homes for God's sake and workers struggling to get to work. Farmers and rural communities are trying to keep going and this Government's instinct was not to help them but it was to threaten them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  That is not leadership; that is arrogance. That is a Government that is out of touch. What are people being asked to have confidence in? A package that still does not make fuel affordable. A 10-cent cut in excise gone with the next price increase. The Government outright refuses to cut carbon taxes, there is no removal of excise on home heating oil at all, nothing that fundamentally changes things for ordinary households or rural communities, no real relief for workers, farmers or families and no support at all for disabled people. This is not a solution; it is a holding operation designed to contain the anger, not solve the problem. Do you know something? People see right through it.  Let me say what would actually build confidence. Cut excise on diesel to a level that makes it affordable and hold it there. Match that reduction with petrol. Remove carbon tax from home heating oil and do the same on green diesel to support our farmers and contractors----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  Like you did in the North? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  -----and deliver real supports to households as well as sectors. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  Do you want to cost that? Try to cost it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Include in that the energy credits to make sure that people are supported with the sky-high electricity costs. That is what real intervention looks like, folks. That is what leadership looks like. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Cummins  How much? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I say to the so-called Independents over there and to the backbenchers opposite in Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael that they know damn well what is happening in their communities. They are hearing it every single day. People are angry and people are struggling and people are being pushed to the limit here. Sinn F\u00e9in has brought their voice into this Chamber and now all the Independents and backbenchers over there have a choice to either stand with Miche\u00e1l Martin and Simon Harris or stand with the ordinary Irish people. Confidence is not something you demand; it is something you earn----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  -----and this Government has not earned it. It has ignored the warnings, it has allowed the crisis to escalate, it has responded too late and even now it refuses to act decisively. I was elected by ordinary people, I speak out for ordinary people----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail  So were we. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  -----and today I stand with ordinary people----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail  How dare you? Who do you think you are? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  ----- in voting no confidence in this Government. It is time for it to go. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Enough. Deputy Ivana Bacik. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  A Cheann Comhairle, Labour has no confidence in this Government. This Government has failed to tackle the cost-of-living crisis. Its members have shown a total disregard for the mounting pressures facing households and businesses across the country. The Labour Party warned in March when the first package of measures was announced that workers and families would continue to face impossible cost burdens. We warned then that Government needed to adopt robust policies on renewable energy, transport costs and remote working. The events of last week and the support from the public for the aims of the protests were not just about fuel prices but the Government has patently failed to recognise this. It has failed to recognise why so many people across the country are so angry with it. It is about energy bills but it is also about exorbitant rents and mortgage costs, house prices, childcare, education and healthcare costs, waiting lists and more. It is about a budget last October that did nothing for working people. It is about a housing crisis only getting worse as more and more young people choose to leave this country because they see no future here. It is about the thousands stuck on waiting lists for treatment, therapies, disability services and assessments of need. It is about a lack of special education supports for children with additional needs, and so much more.  Last week, Labour recognised the deep distress and frustration felt by so many. Last Wednesday morning, we called on the Government to engage urgently with representative groups to ensure a resolution. We also called for the lifting of blockades to limit disruption to families, lives and businesses and ensure fuel reached those who needed it. We rejected the intimidatory tactics of some while absolutely respecting the right to peaceful protest of many. We watched all week in mounting dismay as Ministers of this Government responded by going on the airwaves and pouring petrol on the flames of anger. Instead of de-escalating, they inflamed the situation. The meeting the Government eventually convened on Friday afternoon could and should have been held sooner. Government could and should have acted more swiftly to address the real and genuine concerns of so many.  The Government\u2019s actions over the last week alone have shown it is incapable of handling crisis situations. This Government is worn out, tired out and zoned out from the reality of people\u2019s lives. After too many years in office, this Government of Fianna F\u00e1il, Fine Gael, the Lowry group and, it seems, half the Healy-Raes just did not get the message. In the week before Easter, the message should have been received loud and clear about the growing fuel and energy security crisis resulting from Trump and Netanyahu\u2019s illegal warmongering in Iran and Lebanon.  However, Government leaders were more focused then on talking about tax cuts for the rich. In the week when grocery inflation was reported at over 6%, the T\u00e1naiste was on a media blitz for his new investment savings scheme. While 320,000 households are in arrears on their electricity bills, the Taoiseach was ruminating on inheritance tax cuts in the next budget. That is where the Government\u2019s priority was - totally out of touch. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  As protests began, there followed a week of dithering, confusion and mixed messages. Bombastic statements were issued by the Taoiseach and the T\u00e1naiste on Wednesday night, but with no real follow through. On Thursday morning the justice Minister ratcheted up the tension by announcing that the assistance of the Defence Forces had been requested. In his rush to get on the airwaves, it appears he neglected to consult with the Minister for Defence. His intervention only inflamed the situation further.  Not to be outdone, of course, the Minister for media announced yesterday that he wants Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n to investigate media coverage of the protests. Goodbye Viktor Orb\u00e1n, hello Patrick O\u2019Donovan. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  I would say there was a sliding tackle from Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n earlier on. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  At best, one might hope this was a cynical attempt to distract from a disastrous week for the Government, but at worst, and in seriousness, it is a Minister resorting to sinister threats against the national broadcaster because it was doing its job of reporting fairly on events around the country.  Yet as bad as last week was, the real crisis has yet to properly hit us. The International Energy Agency, IEA, has been warning for weeks that the world now faces the most severe energy crisis ever recorded, a supply shock that has yet to properly hit Ireland or Europe. So Taoiseach, where is our national fuel security plan? The crisis of last week shows a shocking unpreparedness if we end up facing a fuel rationing situation.  The Labour Party has no confidence in this Government to bring forward the radical proposals that need to be introduced, as the IEA has advised, such as proposals that Labour has made for remote working, making public transport free and taking serious measures to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. Ireland needs real action now to invest in renewable energy, retrofitting and solar and wind installation in order to reduce energy costs, curb emissions and tackle the climate crisis.  That is another reason why Labour has no confidence in this Administration, because by its deeds and actions it has shown itself to be the most conservative and ideologically right-wing Government in a generation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  With all the money we are spending? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  It has consistently rowed back on climate action commitments. It has arrogantly dismissed and consistently voted down constructive proposals from Labour and others in opposition on taking action on housing, workers\u2019 rights and on the cost of living. The Government stopped sick pay increases and rowed back on a living wage. It voted down our Labour Party Bill on the right to remote working. It sneered at calls for stronger State action on housing or the development of a State construction company. The budget last October provided no relief for working people. It failed to index income taxes, removed vital once-off supports and at the same time committed millions of euro to untargeted VAT cuts for construction and hospitality - big builders and burger barons.  The value of those VAT cuts will be washed away in the inflation likely to hit us over the next six months. The price of construction of a house is already reported to have increased by between \u20ac25,000 and \u20ac30,000. The VAT cut on hospitality was never going to be passed on anyway and would have been better spent on targeted supports for those now in fuel and energy poverty. This Government cannot be trusted to manage the public finances. There is a \u20ac600 million deficit already forecast for the Department of education. The Government managed to spend nearly a billion euro on fuel supports without any new measures that will tackle energy poverty or address the near \u20ac200 million of arrears on household gas and electricity bills.  As our Labour Party finance spokesperson, Ged Nash, has said, the measures the Government announced on Sunday are designed to placate sectoral interests, effectively abandoning PAYE workers - low and middle-income earners who have no option other than to pay taxes but whose pay packets that are under increasing pressure in this cost-of-living crisis. There is pressure from rising energy bills but also from skyrocketing grocery prices as we face food insecurity, and from escalating housing costs. We need substantive engagement from Government at the upcoming LEEF talks, substantive engagement with the trade unions, and Labour will strongly support the trade union movement in seeking pay rises for hard-pressed workers and working families.  We all know who caused outbreak of this most recent fuel crisis, yet this Government has failed to condemn the illegal war launched by Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu.  We know that our economy, our energy security and our society are being threatened because of the actions of the US and Israel. The Government must now call in the US ambassador, challenge them on their illegal warmongering, their threats made just a week ago to wipe out a civilisation and their ongoing blockade of ships. We must recognise the United States is not acting as a friend any more and the fuel protests result from the US and Israel's war on Iran. The Government must press the EU to sanction Israel as it seeks to conquer southern Lebanon. We are watching in horror as Israel erases villages from the map, colonises the West Bank and continues to destroy Gaza and entrench its system of apartheid. When will the EU act to end the trade agreement with Israel? When will the Government act to pass the occupied territories Bill it committed to in the general election but walked away from once office was secured? Now is the time, and the Taoiseach would have Opposition support to send America and Israel a real message on this and pass the occupied territories Bill in full to cover trade in goods and services, and to work with Spain and other progressives across the EU to force the EU to suspend the Israel trade agreement. These are real things that could be done but we know the Taoiseach will not do them because his conservative Government lacks the courage to do so. Taoiseach, you have failed PAYE workers, struggling households and hard-pressed families. We in the Labour Party have no confidence in you. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Helen McEntee)  I join colleagues in supporting this motion of confidence in the Government today. We are living through a period of profound global instability. Across the Gulf, we are seeing not only disruption to energy supply and vital shipping routes but we are witnessing the further appalling and unacceptable loss of life, the human cost of which cannot be overlooked. It is essential that we progress and engage with colleagues to urgently de-escalate and sustain our diplomatic engagement. I will continue with Government to engage with colleagues and counterparts across the Gulf and the Middle East with our ambassadors on the ground, our colleagues in the EU and of course with our counterparts in the US. The partial closure and blockading of the Strait of Hormuz has had immediate and far-reaching consequences, sending shockwaves through global markets. As we all know, it is directly impacting families and businesses here in Ireland. We can see it at the pumps, in our bills and in the cost of living people are facing every day. We are all, in government, listening to the concerns of people, to our constituents and beyond.  Despite the global uncertainty, this Government has acted. We were among the first governments to respond in recent weeks, responding at a greater level than many other countries. We intervened early with an initial package of \u20ac250 million, making it clear at the time that we would continue to engage with those most impacted, but also recognising the evolving nature of this crisis, including the possibility that fuel costs might ease in the event of a ceasefire. This has not been the case and so engagement has continued. The Opposition does not have monopoly on engagement. We have all spoken to those in our constituencies - hauliers, farmers, bus operators and farm contractors. We have engaged over the past number of weeks with those hardest hit by the increase in fuel costs but we are also recognising that everybody is being hit by this global crisis. That is why a further package of \u20ac525 million was agreed by Government this week. This is a direct response to the engagement and the concerns raised with all of us. I wonder will the Opposition support this package or will it reject it in the way it did the previous \u20ac250 million.  Peaceful protest is a fundamental part of our democracy. It must always be respected and, indeed, we must all protect it. However, preventing fuel from reaching communities during a fuel crisis, at a time when supply chains are under pressure, only risks shortages and places further strain on communities. I again stress that the strains and pressures we are experiencing are driven mainly by global events, conflict, instability and supply chain disruption far beyond our shores. What we can do as a Government, and what we are doing, is to mitigate those impacts. We will continue to support people in whatever way we can as a Government to protect jobs and livelihoods and support our communities the length and breadth of this country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (Deputy Jack Chambers)  The conflict in the Middle East and the global energy crisis have created major challenges for economies around the world. The Government fully understands the significant pressure rising costs are placing on so many families, workers and businesses across our country. All Deputies in this House are listening to people and businesses who are struggling. Listening, engaging and understanding is what has informed the significant intervention the Government has been able to make. However, the sum of the actions in the past week - blockading critical infrastructure, restricting free movement of people, disrupting critical supply chains and threatening An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na - is reckless, irresponsible and deeply concerning for our society.  In the space of six weeks, more than \u20ac700 million of support has now been made available to workers, households, businesses and the sectors most exposed to the increased fuel prices. Following specific engagement we have provided supports in transport and agriculture but, unlike what Deputy Bacik said, the majority of workers across the economy will benefit from the reduction in excise in terms of the price at the pump and also from the significant support that has been made around the expansion of the fuel allowance. While all countries are impacted, none have responded on the scale we have been able to respond to provide for our citizens, with the largest per capita support package of any EU member state. T\u00e1imid ag obair de sh\u00edor, ag \u00e9isteacht le daoine agus ag d\u00e9anamh \u00e1r nd\u00edcheall an br\u00fa at\u00e1 ar dhaoine a laghd\u00fa. \u00d3n gc\u00e1inaisn\u00e9is amach agus \u00f3 thosach na bliana, chuireamar pac\u00e1ist\u00ed cabhracha don phobal chun cinn.  The reason Ireland is uniquely placed to make such a timely, timebound and targeted intervention is because of the strength of our economy and public finances. We have run budget surpluses every year since 2022, we have record employment levels and 500,000 more people working in our economy than at the start of the decade. We continue to reduce our debt, we are delivering record expansion of public services and by the end of this year we will have put \u20ac24 billion aside into two long-term funds. This is why have been able to respond to the sudden global economic shocks. Our economic strength has not been created by chance; it is because of the hard work of Irish people and the responsible and sensible decisions taken by Government, grounded in a pro-enterprise approach, being careful in how we expand expenditure. All I hear from the Opposition is a model of higher tax, higher spending, more expansion and continued populism in every decision it seeks to promote. The decisions we take at all times have been responsible and always in the national interest, building resilience. Our response to the challenge of today must allow to be able to respond to the unknown challenges of tomorrow. As we speak here, huge uncertainty remains about the conflict in the Middle East and the knock-on long-term impact of that conflict on prices and inflation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Education and Youth (Deputy Hildegarde Naughton)  At no point over the past week did any member of Sinn F\u00e9in speak about the impact the blockades had on ordinary people - sick people trying to get to hospital appointments, workers trying to get to work, families visiting relatives or business owners losing customers. Instead, they spoke about how the Government was not doing enough. Not once did they criticise the blockades which caused such misery to people across this country. Their response today is to table a no confidence motion in a Government working hard every day to deliver on commitments we made to the Irish people.  Since being appointed as Minister for Education and Youth last November, I have been working with the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Moynihan, and delivered a number of important programme for Government commitments. These will have a real impact on our education system, help students and young people and support teachers and school staff. I will inform the House of what my Department has been doing over the past number of months. On special education, we announced the opening of four new special schools and detailed the roll-out of the new education therapy services which will see therapists working with children, teachers and SNAs in our special schools. To help tackle educational disadvantage, we announced the biggest ever investment in a single year, of \u20ac48 million, in the new DEIS strategy and the DEIS plus scheme, which includes targeted supports for 121 schools with the highest level of educational disadvantage. We have begun accepting applications for supports for survivors of abuse in residential institutions such as industrial schools and reformatories. To ensure our education system continues to deliver world-class outcomes, we launched the national conversation on education and the national convention on the future of education. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for children, young people, parents, educators and wider society to help Ireland's educational system for decades to come. I could go on to speak about the \u20ac7.55 billion in capital investment. I have full confidence in this Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy James Browne)  I welcome this discussion today and the opportunity to speak in full confidence in the Government and its leadership. There is no doubt the D\u00e1il and every single one of us here, all of us elected representatives, are experiencing in our constituencies the impact of global political uncertainty on real people, families and businesses. Events that seem so far away geographically have a very immediate impact on everyday costs for people, from food to fuel and the very basics. We can all acknowledge this is a deeply challenging period but it is also a period that demands that we work together in the House rather than against each other to ensure we protect the State and our people to the best of our ability.  If we ever needed reminding as to our status as an open economy on the edge of Europe, the war on Iran has once again confirmed it for us all, even after Ukraine, Brexit and Covid. This Government has been elected with the task of managing these impacts and being responsible in our response to them as they arise but also with an eye to how each and every action and measure we take has consequences. We have to manage as elected representatives the impact of rising oil prices. We need to act robustly to protect jobs and futures to ensure we fund our key services and supports, to deliver safe and secure housing for our people and to invest proactively and sustainably to get costs down for ordinary people. This is our job. It is one each of us has been elected to do and to take seriously.  We have the resources. It is due to the stewardship of our country by this Government and previous governments that we have been in a position to act decisively with financial supports. Over the past five years our State has experienced the effects of global wars in Ukraine and on the edge of Europe, the war in Iran and the pandemic, which have, in turn, placed systemic pressures on how we do business. The Government has responded robustly but we must do so in a sustainable way. As Minister for housing and local government, I thank our fire services and our local authorities, which stepped up in very difficult circumstances over the past couple of weeks. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  Finally the Minister for housing says something about housing at the end of his speech. There was nothing to say about housing by the Minister for housing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  For all the Government's arrogance and backslapping, the truth that Ministers have not divulged is that their TDs are under more pressure today than they have been in a political lifetime. This pressure is not coming from Sinn F\u00e9in or any other party but it is coming from their constituents. Yes, Sinn F\u00e9in tabled the no confidence motion but we are just the messengers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Timmy Dooley  Before you saw the package. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  The message has been sent loud and clear; the Government has failed and it has lost the trust of the people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  It refused to listen or to acknowledge the financial pressures faced by workers, carers, people with disabilities and families. It ignored small businesses, farmers, contractors, bus drivers, hauliers and virtually everyone else. It introduced a budget that made people worse off and then it had to be dragged kicking and screaming to act, and when it did it introduced half measures.  Those who have been making their voices heard are the salt of the earth. I have spoken to them. They are hard-working people, most of whom had never protested before in their lives. They were the same people we turned to when the parties in government crashed the economy. They were the people who lost businesses and then rebuilt them. They are the people who went without meals in order to save their farms and their homes because the Government bailed out the banks instead. They are the backbone of the domestic economy, the lifeline of every town, village and rural community in the State, and their voices have been heard loud and clear. The question today is whether the Government has listened.  Is Teachta\u00ed Dala muid. When the revolutionary generation established the first D\u00e1il it made a significant decision. Elected representatives would not simply be titled \"Members of Parliament\". Instead, those returned by voters would be given not so much a title but an obligation as Teachta\u00ed Dala, messengers of the people. Today is the day for every Member of the House to bring the message of the people to this Government. Will Fianna F\u00e1il TDs bring the message they have been receiving from their constituents? Will Fine Gael TDs do so? What about the Independents, those who pretend to be champions of the people? Will they act in the interests of those who elected them or will they act in their own self-interest? The truth is that if TDs are to live up to the promise of those who established an ch\u00e9ad D\u00e1il, and if they are to fulfil the pledge to be messengers of the people, then this Government will be gone tonight. It is time to pick a side. They are either on the side of those whom they pledged to represent or they are on the side of this debacle of a Government. I will be bringing the message of my constituents to the D\u00e1il this evening. I will be voting no confidence in this shambolic Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Timmy Dooley  What a major revelation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  We are here today because this Government does not listen. It does not listen to the Opposition, it does not listen to its own backbenchers and, most importantly, it does not listen to the people. The cost-of-living crisis did not suddenly emerge six weeks ago when Trump attacked Iran but it has been growing and growing for years. This Government has had the resources to provide meaningful support to people but refused to do so. Instead people have watched while it wasted countless billions and failed to deliver critical public services, housing and infrastructure, all while giving sermons about the importance of fiscal prudence. That is the backdrop to these protests.  Life in this country has become totally unaffordable for an ever-increasing number of people. People working long hours every week, barely seeing their families, are really struggling just to pay for the basics. Pensioners spend long evenings in freezing homes because they cannot afford to turn on the heat. Disabled people choose between heating their homes and charging their mobility aids. The pressure is relentless and it is draining. The cost of groceries, energy and housing have all skyrocketed with no end in sight. For many the fuel increases were a tipping point and these protests were a way to express that.  I want to be clear that the Social Democrats do not agree with blockades of critical infrastructure but I do understand people's frustration and their growing sense of desperation. Last week, as protests began to grow, instead of recognising that frustration and that desperation and engaging with people, the Government refused to listen. A succession of senior Ministers issued combative, patronising and dismissive statements. The Minister for justice spoke about sending out the Defence Forces before anyone had even spoken to the protesters. That is not leadership; it is a failure of leadership.  The vast majority of protesters are farmers, hauliers and ordinary people who simply cannot keep up with the rising cost of living. One of the most stressful things is the thought of not being able to put food on the table. The mental health impact on people who rely on diesel to do their jobs does not seem to register with this Government. People are terrified. They do not want to be out on the streets; they want their Government to listen to them and to help them. The Government's failure to do so created a vacuum that has allowed a small number of far right actors to try to hijack the protest for their own agenda. The Taoiseach played right into their hands.  Now, instead of reflecting on its complete mishandling of this crisis, the Government is engaged in a blame game. The communications Minister is even blaming the media. The Government has come in here today, the first occasion the Opposition has had to ask questions, and ripped up the D\u00e1il schedule to prevent us from doing so, showing contempt for this House as well as for the people who elected us to hold the Government accountable. It is shameful. It shows the complete arrogance of the Government and its complete inability to read the room. It is proposing a package of measures that will be of little assistance to the vast majority of people. There are 700,000 households all over the country reliant on home heating oil. The cost of it has soared 70% in just under a month. There is nothing in the Government's proposal to address this. It is further evidence, not that we needed it, that no lessons have been learned.  We all know these latest price shocks are the fault of Trump and his illegal war with Iran.  However, the scale of the impact here is not inevitable. It is the result of political choices: a political choice to cut the incomes of disabled people by \u20ac1,400 per year; a political choice to sit back while 315,000 households go into energy arrears; and a political choice to fail to make sources of renewable energy like solar accessible. This Government's political choices have failed to protect people from exactly this kind of price shock. That is a failure of vision. That failure is all the Government's.  The Social Democrats have an alternative vision for this country and a plan for immediate targeted financial supports for those who are struggling the most right now, which would deliver a \u20ac400 energy credit for households earning up to \u20ac70,000, and a real, tangible solution to help people who are struggling the most, including a solar for all scheme to double grants to \u20ac3,600 and cut people's bills by \u20ac450 each year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Time is up, Deputy. It is Deputy O'Callaghan's time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  These are proposals that we are not just talking about; we will be bringing them to the D\u00e1il tomorrow. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  Gach l\u00e1, gach seachtain, feicfimid Rialtas at\u00e1 caillte agus nach bhfuil c\u00faram air do ghn\u00e1thdhaoine. This is a Government that does not listen. It does not listen to the people or the Opposition. It also does not listen to its own backbenchers. Having ignored all the warnings, the Government stumbled into a full-blown crisis last week. When calm leadership was required, we got chaos. Instead of pursuing a strategy of de-escalation, Ministers decided to fan the flames. GI Jim O'Callaghan arrived on the scene thinking that he was Rambo. C\u00e1 bhfuil s\u00e9 anois? The last thing the country needed was that approach. Thankfully, a very effective professional policing response from An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na brought the country back from the brink.  As the dust settles, people really struggling with the cost of living remain left behind, forgotten by this Government. These are people who cannot get their demands high up on the agenda by parking their trucks on O'Connell Street. They are people with disabilities who are already \u20ac1,400 worse off after this year's budget. A woman in my constituency had to make a choice this winter between heating her home and recharging her electric mobility aid. This meant she was virtually housebound for the winter. That is what this Government is doing to people. The words of a nurse sum up what so many people around the country are experiencing. She states:  I am working with the HSE for 16 years. My paycheck goes straight to my account to pay bills, rent and childcare fees. I am in huge debt.  The Taoiseach and T\u00e1naiste should listen to this. She also stated:  I cannot get a deposit for a mortgage together. I cannot afford a small wedding for myself and my fianc\u00e9. I cannot afford to go to the doctor or the dentist when I am sick or ill and by the end of the week, my fridge is almost empty. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy's time is up. I call Deputy Whitmore. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  It is clear from listening to the speeches this afternoon that the Government still does not get it. The Taoiseach essentially listed out all the Government's so-called achievements and told people how good it really is. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  No, I did not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  You did. The Government is trying to get a message across to people that it has done so much for them. The reality is that it has not been listening. That is really clear. Last week was desperately difficult for the country. I do not think anyone would think that what happened was an easy thing to resolve. The people I spoke to in the constituency that I and the T\u00e1naiste represent were deeply conflicted because many of them did not agree with the blockades or with people being blocked from attending appointments. They did not necessarily agree or align themselves with some of the people who were leading the protests. However, they could understand why those people were doing it. They could understand why those people were doing it, why they had left their homes and why they were living out of their tractors and trailers on O'Connell Street and could empathise with them because they are also living through it. They know how difficult it is. The people I spoke to in County Wicklow were not necessarily talking about fuel costs; they were talking about disability services, education and childcare. they talked about their lived experience and the difficulties they are facing with energy and food costs. Those costs are piling up.  The reality is that the strikes and protests last week were not necessarily just about fuel. They were about a Government that has frittered away billions, that has not listened and that is leaving huge numbers of people struggling to keep their heads above water. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank Deputy Whitmore. Her time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  I ask that the Government pay attention to them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call the Minister, Deputy Foley. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Children, Disability and Equality (Deputy Norma Foley)  This is a time of global uncertainty. It is a time of great difficulty and anxiety for all of society. I am more than conscious of the impact that a series of geopolitical shocks have had on people's earnings and their spending power. Inflation hurts everyone. Each crisis - Brexit, Covid-19, Ukraine, Gaza, US trade tariffs and the military action by Israel and the United States against Iran - has had a damaging impact on the price of everyday items, ranging from the weekly shop to clothing prices to topping up at the fuel pump. T\u00e1 a fhios againn, \u00e1fach, in aimsir na g\u00e9arch\u00e9ime, go bhfuil g\u00e1 le Rialtas daingean agus sl\u00e1n s\u00e1bh\u00e1ilte a chuirfidh ar f\u00e1il, n\u00ed buis\u00e9ad amh\u00e1in ach dh\u00e1, tr\u00ed, ceithre agus c\u00faig bhuis\u00e9ad de r\u00e9ir a mhand\u00e1id dhaonlathach \u00f3n bpobal.  We know, in times of crisis, that there is a need for a stable and secure Government that will deliver not one but two, three, four and five budgets in line with its democratic mandate from the people. This Government is providing supports to cushion the inflationary blow insofar as is possible within the limits of responsible management of the public finances, always mindful of the unpredictable and volatile nature of global affairs, which could lead to further economic shocks at any time in the future. Mar a deirimid, n\u00ed h\u00e9 l\u00e1 na gaoithe, l\u00e1 na scolb. In these challenging times, responsible, stable and measured government is what is required. This Government is delivering just that. For that reason, I will support the motion of confidence this afternoon. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Brophy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Justice (Deputy Colm Brophy)  In two minutes, it is very difficult to make a substantive contribution on such an important topic. I just want to focus on one particular aspect. We are all, as someone stated, messengers of the people. We all need to listen to everybody. There is a real problem with the way in which those in opposition, particularly in this Parliament, have behaved in that they listened to the people who shouted loudest in respect of this matter. That is not the entire population of our country. There is a whole section of our world and our society - ordinary people, particularly older people and senior citizens - who last week could not get medical appointments. I met one woman at the weekend who was absolutely distraught about the fact that having spent five hours to get to her appointment, the consultant and doctors she was due to see could not get to the hospital. As a result, the appointment could not happen. She said to me that she does not know how to post on Instagram or go on Twitter and that, as a result, no one will hear her side of the story.  I fully recognise that people have a right to protest. I fully recognise that people feel real pain over the costs they are experiencing. However, they do not have the right to destroy someone else's life. There has to be a balance. We, as parliamentarians, do not have the right to clearly decide to pick one side because it shouts loudest and people think they can get a political stunt out of it. That is not what democracy should be about. That is not representing all the people. That is choosing, very selectively, who to represent. Unfortunately for us, this is the worst of representation. It states that if people have access to social media and if they can shout the loudest, then certain parties will weigh in behind them but will not listen to what is happening to other ordinary people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  The Government just gave \u20ac500 million to them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Deputy James Lawless)  People are under real pressure. That is understood. The frustrations we have seen in recent days did not appear overnight. They reflect something far deeper and more primal; a sense for many that everyday life has become harder, more expensive and more uncertain. We need to acknowledge that sincerely and respectfully. However, we also have a duty to be straight with people. Government does not control the price of global oil. As an island nation with an open economy, we are exposed to shocks that originate far beyond our shores. We are exposed in terms of our dependence on imported fossil fuels that are shipped to our shores from regions across the globe. We are vulnerable in terms of our supply chains and our just-in-time delivery model in the context of which our fast-moving economy expects and demands goods and ingredients to keep flowing and our society expects the delivery of everything from clean water to animal feed to medical supplies to happen at pace.  We need to build resilience and safeguard those critical ports and arteries. I saw first hand two years ago the devastation as Holyhead Port was taken out by a storm. I never thought we would see that happen in a deliberate, man-made fashion.  What we are doing today in response is controlling what we can control and reducing the impact with the tools available to us. The package we have announced mitigates the worst of this by cutting costs, deferring the carbon tax, cutting excise duty and providing targeted supports for targeted sectors. In fact, per capita , it is five times the size of the equivalent package in Germany. It stands out across Europe. It is also true that we must level with people that we cannot buy our way out of every problem. We have to take sustainable and repeatable steps that support everything we need to do.  Within my Department, I am strengthening research, apprenticeships and education to build out the knowledge economy of the future. I am also commissioning research, through the science and research mandate, to explore options around energy mix to ensure that energy security policy can be approached from an evidence base. That is real, responsible government, providing solutions and not slogans. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Dara Calleary)  We very much acknowledge the pressures that people, small businesses and many communities are under at the moment. Families are working hard and doing everything right but continue to experience huge uncertainty and challenge. We hear that and have acted, not just with the package this week and the other package a number of weeks ago, but also in the budget. Some 470,000 people now receive the fuel allowance. For the first time, working families receive the fuel allowance. We have increased that payment by four weeks this year.  We have also supported farmers, contractors and transport companies against the worst of the excesses. However, we must also be honest and say that we cannot support them through every challenge that will face them. Interventions are important and necessary but we cannot be false with people and tell them that we can get them through every challenge they face.  I not only have confidence in this Government but, more importantly, have confidence in our country and the people of the country. We have faced challenges previously. We have faced a succession of challenges over the past ten years, in particular, which have put enormous pressure on people's incomes and businesses. We will continue to work with them to get through those challenges.  T\u00e1 muin\u00edn agam, n\u00ed hamh\u00e1in as an t\u00edr seo, ach as muintir na t\u00edre. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 t\u00e1bhachtach go seasaimid ar son agus leis na daoine sa t\u00edr seo, go h\u00e1irithe ag an bpointe seo. It is important that we stand with and support people. It is important we hear them but in hearing them, we have to be honest about the challenges that are ahead. This is the biggest energy shock, not just in respect of supply but also in respect of cost, in over 50 years. The conversation must be honest. Yes, it is important that we support and stand with people but we must be honest as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Transport (Deputy Jerry Buttimer)  Gan amhras, t\u00e1 na daoine go l\u00e9ir faoi bhr\u00fa, ach t\u00e1 an Rialtas ag \u00e9isteacht. T\u00e1imid ag caint go m\u00f3rmh\u00f3r leis an gn\u00e1thdhuine, agus ag obair ar son gach duine.  This debate is nothing but a charade. If the Members opposite wanted to have questions, they would not have put forward a motion of no confidence and would have had question time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  That is nonsense "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  The reality is that people want us to govern. People are under pressure. That is why the Government has intervened twice. I have been a Member of the Houses of the Oireachtas for 19 years and I will make a comment to Members of both Houses. Our language and words matter. Deputy Cairns spoke about leadership but leadership is not about sticking your finger in the air and wondering what way the wind is blowing. It is about acting on behalf of the people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  The Government would be lost without it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  If the Government did not listen and did not engage, we would not have had a second package worth \u20ac750 million. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  The Government was forced "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  Language matters. It is critical. People watch and listen.  I thank the men and women of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na for their leadership over the past seven days. I have met and spoken to them. Some of them are friends of mine. Behind the Instagram and TikTok videos, there is truth and reality. To the men and women of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, let us say \"Thank you\", irrespective of our political ideology because without them, we would be a poorer State. All of us in this House have a mandate. We are elected by the people. We go before the people in an election. Our Constitution preserves that right. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Denise Mitchell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Denise Mitchell  I have no confidence in this Government. I never had confidence in this Government. Over the years, I have watched as the concerns of ordinary people and workers take a back seat so Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael can please big businesses, lobbyists and vulture funds. The thing that gets to me is the unfairness of it all. Thousands of children are homeless. At the same time, we have seen this Government throwing families to the wolves with its rent hike Bill. We have seen houses and apartment blocks being snapped up by vulture funds that pay little or not tax and then rent them to hard-working people at outrageous prices.  Families in my constituency are struggling with their ESB bills. Elderly people are terrified to turn on their heating because of the cost. Meanwhile, in Clonshaugh, there are data centres paying half of what households do for their electricity. How is that fair?  We had promises from the Government of a cost-of-disability payment and for an end to the means test for carer's allowance. Those are more broken promises. Instead, the Government left them worse off after the budget. What ever happened to standing up for the people who get up early in the morning? Do we remember that phrase, of which Fine Gael was so fond? Those people got nothing. I cannot be the only TD in Dublin Bay North who is hearing about the unfairness of it all. I am sure the Deputies from Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael, and Deputy Heneghan, are hearing it, too. If they are, I must ask them if they care. People want a Government that will listen to them and will make decisions to make their lives easier. As usual, we have too little too late, with half measures coming from Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael, all backed by the so-called regional Independents, including people such as Deputy Heneghan, who is in my constituency. He told voters he would be an independent voice and would be free from party restrictions. The reality is that he and the rest of the Lowry lackeys take their orders from Fine Gael and Fianna F\u00e1il. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  That is scandalous. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Denise Mitchell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Denise Mitchell  They are still giving the two fingers to the ordinary people. I do not have confidence in Fianna F\u00e1il or Fine Gael and I do not have confidence in the so-called Independents. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  The T\u00e1naiste and Taoiseach have left the Chamber. It is an insult to the D\u00e1il and proof positive that not only will they not listen to the Irish people but they will not listen to TDs in this House. We have a cost-of-living crisis on top of a cost-of-living crisis, and that crisis has been deliberately worsened by Government policy, which favours the rich and powerful in our society and doubles down on the ordinary, decent working people and their families.  In the teeth of a cost-of-living crisis, the Government abolished energy credits in this year's budget. It abolished social welfare supports, leaving thousands of families worse off by up to \u20ac1,400. It hiked up income tax on PAYE workers. To add insult to injury, at the same time it gave hundreds of millions of euro to big developers and corporate landlords, and gave the guts of \u20ac690 million to the burger barons of the big fast-food chains. On top of that, the Government is presiding over a housing crisis, a disability crisis and a health crisis. Ordinary, decent, hard-working people are put to the pins of their collars to make ends meet.  In the past week, the Government's arrogance insulted, abused and threatened peaceful protestors. That threat to call in the Army was absolutely shameful. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call Deputy Charles Ward. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  Did the Government call in the Army to deal with the far-right violent thugs on O'Connell Street in Dublin in 2023? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, your time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  I have no confidence in the Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charles Ward  It is a disgrace that the T\u00e1naiste and the Taoiseach are not here. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charles Ward  It is an absolute disgrace. It sums up their arrogance and ignorance, particularly regarding the many issues we have in Donegal. I was elected to the D\u00e1il 17 months ago on a mandate of trying to deliver 100% redress for the people of Donegal. I have tried to engage with those in government, but it is like talking to a brick wall - pardon the pun. They do not want to listen. They do not care about the people of Donegal. They never have. We have seen people in Donegal die as a result of suicide because of defective concrete. Those in government do not give a damn about us. They have left us abandoned for many years. Fourteen years we have waited. We have had two schemes that failed, and now we have this.  Last week was the final straw when the Government turned on its citizens on the streets and put out propaganda about certain elements. People are fed up. They do not have the money to heat their houses. We in Donegal have been left abandoned for years. The Government is absolutely at the end. In Donegal, we have had it. The people of Donegal voted for me. Today, I will vote no confidence in this Government. I urge the Independents - Lowry's group - to do the same and to do the right thing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  It has been excruciating listening to the Government talking about misery and missed hospital appointments. The housing Minister has left the House. There is a tsunami of evictions in my constituency. Two thirds of the under-35s are living with their parents. Need I go on? This Government leaves vast wealth untapped and untouched. Eleven billionaires own 85% of the wealth in Ireland.  The protests last week were peaceful. They were certainly forceful and impactful. On the idea that critical infrastructure should be left untouched, how does the Government think we won the right to vote and other basic rights in this country? How does it think Fine Gael and Fianna F\u00e1il were formed? The majority of people supported the protestors because someone was having a go. That was it. Although I do not have a connection with rural contractors, that was the feeling of most people. This began with the budget and continued with the package the Government brought in. It would not listen to those in opposition who said it did not deal with the fundamental problem that there is a cost-of-living crisis and that people have huge arrears in the context of their electricity bills. What has the Government introduced today to deal with that? What about home heating oil? How will people heat their homes? What about mortgage arrears, rent arrears----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  -----and all the problems facing ordinary people? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Roderic O'Gorman. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  This will not deal with the issue. Workers needs to step into action now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  The Green Party has no confidence in the Government, and I will vote against the motion. Over the course of the past week, the actions of the Government continually made a difficult situation worse. Ministers caused confusion, unnecessarily raised tensions and ultimately failed to protect the Irish people's ability to move and go about their business for five long days. Hospital appointments were missed, emergency vehicles were delayed, people could not get to work and, vitally, access to fuel was disrupted, and continues to be.  The origins of the energy price crisis lies in our country's over-reliance on fossil fuels. The war in Iran has shown for the second time in four years how our economy is totally at the mercy of the whims of Putin, Trump and the Ayatollah. Yet, as part of its response, the Government is undermining the very actions that will reduce our dependence on foreign fossil fuels, measures like the warmer homes scheme and retrofitting. The funding for these measures has now been put at risk by the deferral of the carbon tax. Our country will remain vulnerable to energy shocks until we transition our entire economy to renewable sources of energy and across the past 15 months, the Government has demonstrated it does not possess the belief in that transition to be able to make the case for it to the Irish people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  It looks like this Government will hang on to power for now with the votes of the Lowry lackey Independents. There is an important lesson for everyone in that. Do not trust these fake Independents. They are sheep in wolves' clothing. They are people who pretend to stand for the ordinary person, but in reality just seek to get into bed and into government with Fianna F\u00e1il or Fine Gael. That is why we want a general election and a left-wing Government.  There is another lesson here----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel Grealish","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Noel Grealish  Who wants you in government? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  -----and it is a lesson for those in government. The people on the streets are more powerful than the people who are supposedly in power. We have seen the power of ordinary people in the past week, and this must now be the start of a new phase of militant, effective protest involving trade unions and communities----- "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  -----mobilising for action on behalf of everyone in the context of the cost-of-living crisis. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  In 1913, Ireland's greatest revolutionary, James Connolly, whose statue is behind us in this building, led the Dublin working class out for a year of disruptive strike action that shut the city down. That is how the trade union movement in this country was formed. It was done in a fight against deprivation, poverty and economic inequality and because of the refusal of the rich and powerful to understand the pain, hardship and suffering that working people were enduring at the time. That is a great tradition. The people who went out protesting last week did so because the Government refused to listen to repeated calls for price controls and effective action to deal with the hardship and suffering affecting people with the cost-of-living crisis. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  They were right to protest. Protest works, and we need more protests. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  The Government's handling of the fuel price issue has been appalling. It refused to listen to the Opposition. Week after week we told it what was happening. It refused to listen to the representatives of the various sectors and various bodies. I wrote to the T\u00e1naiste in March and told him that people I had met were running at a loss and could not continue to operate as things stood.  Instead, the Government threatens ordinary working people who are trying to make a living. In Laois, it was not the far right. There was no far right involvement. It was ordinary, hard-working people who work 60 or 70 hours per week. The Government only moved to put supports in place when the protests escalated. Then it was threatened that the army would be brought in. For what? For one Army truck to move pallets that could have been moved with a Massey Ferguson 35 with a front loader on it. There was a big hoo-ha about the Army. We thought we were going to see the Army on the streets. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  Instead of listening and working towards a solution with people----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call the Minister of State, Deputy John Cummins. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  -----the Government threatened them, which was wrong----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Everybody else ----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  -----and left people out. I will be voting no confidence in the Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy John Cummins)  Let us be clear about what is happening today. At a time of real global uncertainty, when families are worried about the cost of living and when businesses are planning for an unpredictable future, the motion of no confidence is not about stability or solutions; it is about opportunism. Sinn F\u00e9in is seeking to collapse the Government because it thinks it can benefit from chaos. It offers noise but not clarity, disruption but not delivery. While Sinn F\u00e9in tries to create instability, the Government is getting on with the job at hand.  We are helping people through an array of supports and targeted measures to back workers and families through continued investment in schools, hospitals and communities. We were given a mandate to govern. We are working hard every day to deliver on that responsibility. That mandate matters and should not be cast aside lightly, just for political manoeuvring. We have never been found wanting in financial difficulties, such as during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Ukraine war and other shocks caused by global factors. That is why we took steps to intervene prior to the Easter break and now to support our people again. It is because we recognise more needs to be done and we will do more, particularly at budget time, to support workers, families and businesses. Now is not the time for the Government to stop its work. Now is the time to continue delivering, especially on housing.  Last year, we delivered 36,000 homes. That is real progress. We are determined to build on it and not abandon it for political theatre. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  Tell that to families who are homeless "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Cummins  On planning, we are simplifying the system to ensure timely decisions are made, red tape is cut and that people have a reasonable expectation of receiving planning permission for a home, particularly in rural Ireland, where they want to continue to put down roots and support their local communities "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Donnelly  The garden sheds you built. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  There is nothing new, record rents, record house prices. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Cummins  This Government will----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Timmy Dooley)  I welcome the opportunity to address the House. I was born on a small farm in east Clare. I know the struggles of my community. I know what it is like for farmers, particularly those with small farms, who have to provide for their families.  That has not changed since the time I was going to school.  I live among my people. I believe nobody in this House has a monopoly on empathy and nobody has a monopoly on the understanding of the struggles faced by the rural communities. However, there has been an attempt by some this week to usurp all of the knowledge, mar dhea, of that and have sought to present those of us on this side of the House as being somewhat deficient in our capacity to understand the challenges that are being faced. Together with the Minister, Deputy Heydon, and the Ministers of State, Deputy Healy-Rae and Deputy Grealish, we have worked with our stakeholders under the Department of agriculture since the crisis began and since the price of oil has gone out of all proportions following the invasion of Iran. We continued to remain in contact with them.  It was not really a surprise to me at the weekend, as we worked through Easter and again through this weekend in trying to develop a package of supports to assist them through their most difficult time, that Sinn F\u00e9in early on Sunday decided to put down a motion of no confidence in the Government before a package of measures was even announced. I know that is how politics works and I know that is the role of the Opposition. However, I was somewhat taken, too, by the approach of Independent Ireland. Indeed, one of the Deputies, who happens to be in the House, went on public television and explained what they were letting through the various different ports. We are elected to do certain things in this House but I do not think we are elected, or that anybody has the right, to usurp the authority of the State in terms of deciding who gets what through the ports. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  Timmy do little. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Michael Healy-Rae)  I have listened to the protestors. I have listened to the workers. I have listened to the people of Kerry - the canvassers who soldiered on long days and bad nights with me over the years. I have listened to my family and my friends, to the office staff in Kerry - Fiona and Kevin - and to the Department of agriculture people, such as Jacquie Casey and all of the people I adore. I have listened to my son Jackie, who has been my side all of the time.  I have always looked at myself as a gauge of the people of rural Ireland, and I really believe that I am. When I see people begging on the side of the road, when I see grown men crying, and last night inside in the Plough Bar when I met tractormen, lorrymen and farmers who were telling me how unhappy they were, the leader of the country should have listened. Since I believe this Government has let the people of Ireland down, I will be voting no confidence in the leader of the country and I will be tendering my resignation as a Minister of State from now.  I ask that future Governments, and this Government, listen, be kind and be understanding. There are farmers who are really suffering so much at present. There are agricultural contractors who are really suffering. There are people who cried at the protests. These were workers. These were respectable people. They are the people I have represented since the first day I started. Any day I get up, I do not mean to hurt, offend or do harm to anybody. When I canvassed in the election of 2016, people asked me in Kerry whether if I got an opportunity to go into government, would I. I said I would if the opportunity was right and it was good for the people of Kerry, but now the people of Kerry are telling me that they are unhappy with this Government. They do not want to see me or any other Healy-Rae supporting it.  I remember my late father today. He supported Governments when things were bad and things were tough. Last night before I went to bed, I asked him what I should do. The feeling I have is the Government, and its leader in particular, has not listened. It is a lesson for people----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  The Minister of State should conclude. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Healy-Rae  Sorry, just one second. It is a lesson for people in the future. I adored being a Minister of State in the Department of agriculture because I felt I was able to do good and I was passionate about my job. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I thank the Minister of State. He has to finish. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Healy-Rae  I am sorry, and I thank you all very, very much. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Deputy Robert Troy)  I do not believe the people want to see us playing Punch and Judy politics here this evening. The Government will secure a majority in the vote when the vote is taken but it would be both foolhardy and wrong for us not to acknowledge the level of fear, anxiety and frustration felt by many of the people we represent. Like many of my colleagues, I am in continuous engagement with the people whom we represent, despite what some in the Opposition might like to portray. The Government has acted. We now have a cumulative package of \u20ac750 million, one of the most comprehensive in Europe. The reason we have been able to go as far as we have, further than any other EU country, is because of the strength of our economy.  The Opposition has the luxury of coming forward with uncosted proposals that have the potential to damage our economic model. Earlier, we heard a list of what the Opposition would do but no mention of the cost of that or how that list would be funded. The root problem is there is a war in Iran and a reduction in the production and supply of oil, which has left us dealing with the most severe energy crisis of modern times. No government can alleviate all of the impacts of this but what this Government must do is trust the people, keep them informed and always work with their best interests in mind. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Children, Disability and Equality (Deputy Emer Higgins)  As I stand here, I am really conscious of the pressures people are under. At petrol stations, people are paying more and more for their fill. At supermarket tills, people are paying more and more for groceries. The cost of living is rising and the cost of doing business is rising. That is why the Government has acted with the largest support package in the EU. For those with disabilities and their families, there is an extra layer of cost, namely, the cost of disability. That is why the Minister, Deputy Dara Calleary, is developing a framework for a specific cost-of-disability payment.  What people are feeling in their pockets, at the forecourts and at supermarket tills is a direct result of geopolitical instability. That is exactly why stability has never been as important as it is now here in Ireland - stability in government, stability in the economy and stability in our society. That is what Fine Gael in government has always provided, whether it was through Brexit, Covid or now, and we will continue to do that.  As the Minister of State with special responsibility for disability, I work day in and day out with my senior Minister, Deputy Norma Foley, to support people with disabilities and their families. We have the largest ever budget for disability services and we are working hand in hand to transform that into improved outcomes for people. Disability is our top priority but it also needs to be a priority for every Minister across Government because people do not live in Government Departments or silos. Rather, they live in communities, villages and towns around Ireland. That is why disability now sits at the heart of Government in the disability unit in the Department of the Taoiseach to drive progress for people with disabilities right across Ireland. We do that through cocreation and collaboration with people with disabilities under our national strategy for disabled people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  Over the past month, we have seen the Government drop ball after ball. It has been unwilling to talk, slow to make a decision, refusing to listen and unfit for Government. When it allows a situation to run out of control, it panics and it talks about bringing in the Army and putting it on the streets and it attacks the media. The time has come for TDs to make up their minds. Do they believe the Government has handled these situations well in general? It is not just last week, since 28 February or the presidential election, but back from when the election deal was done and the carve-up was completed. Are the Government and its supporters able to deal with a crisis and react to it? We have already seen that some people are running from Government.  People do not feel supported. I have seen the proposals and the reaction to the housing crisis. There is little or no affordable housing, long waiting lists, record numbers in emergency accommodation and spiralling rents but at the same time, there are grants in the form of tax breaks to huge developers to build expensive for-rent apartments in the larger cities. Landlords and large property owners are favoured but people need a home they can call their own. There is not enough funding for early intervention classes and ASD units, and parents of adult children with additional needs are being ignored and left to fend for themselves. Even the weakest are ignored. For years, there has been a refusal to extend the child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS, compensation scheme and the boarded out children are still left behind. However, there have been plenty of statements, announcements and publicity videos that we were obliged to fact check. Were college fees reduced? No, they actually increased. Was there more money for the local improvement scheme, LIS? No, there was actually a decrease. Was there more money for roads in Kerry? Again, this was not true. Funding for local and regional roads in Kerry actually decreased by \u20ac2 million this year. It was said housing targets are being met - another lie. Energy credits were granted not because the Government believed they were effective in dealing with a cost-of-living crisis but to buy the election. After the election, there was nothing.  Earlier on, I heard the Taoiseach refer to a report today that Government measures had shielded people from energy bills. Those are the same energy credits that the Government stripped away, and we have already seen the reaction to that.  No wonder Danny Healy-Rae called for Fianna F\u00e1il to oust the Taoiseach when you cannot believe a word that is being said.  After St. Patrick's Day, the Government reacted to the Sinn F\u00e9in pressures with a half-baked package but we knew it was too little too late. I spoke to constituents over the last week, working people angry at Government waste, two-income families, small farmers, factory workers, HSE employees, some of the 750,000 people who are using home heating oil and struggling with their energy bills. These people cannot afford electric vehicles. They cannot afford the retrofitting scheme. Now was a chance to tell people where the Government TDs stood. They should follow the lead of their colleagues in government and the advice of their former supporters, leave this Government and vote no confidence in this Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  In the ten years since I came into the D\u00e1il, I have never seen such a shambolic disgrace of a Government across the way. Its TDs should all be ashamed of themselves. Every one of them. They do not have the decency---- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Timmy Dooley  Ah, will you stop. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  Do not say be saying anything to me. You ruin fisheries and you are there chanting that you are a great man----- "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  I gave you your time to talk and I did not interfere. I travelled the country to try to make peace----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul McAuliffe  Through the Chair, the Deputy was told----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Denise Mitchell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Denise Mitchell  Ah, pipe down. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Just wait for a minute. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  Sorry. I hope the Leas-Cheann Comhairle will mind the clock for me. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  The Government Members will have their chance to speak, if they have not already. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  I never interfered when they were talking. The clock is----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  The clock can start again. I will not tolerate this. The Ministers of State in particular should be giving a good example. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  I travelled to a meeting in Portlaoise up to 20 days ago. The people there wrote to the Taoiseach. They wrote to every one of the Ministers - not just the Taoiseach, but also the T\u00e1naiste - to try to make sure that there would be no protest, to sit down and have dialogue, and to see whether we could come to a solution for the hauliers and other sectors out there. The Government turned its back on them. We asked for a reconvening of the D\u00e1il. It turned its back on us there, so there was no way the people of Ireland could express the concerns. Today, the Government has lost them. Today, it has lost two TDs at least. Is there an honourable Independent TD over there? There is a Minister over there who said he would bring the Army in and break up the protestors' vehicles. Good God almighty, what in the name of God is the State we are living in? Is the Government there for the people? Who elected you? The Minister of State, Deputy Canney, should show his face and stand up here with the people who elected him. His people are ringing me telling me to ask him that. That is the crisis we are in. That is the crisis the Government has left us in. He should stand with his fellow Independent who made that decision a while ago.  It was a disgraceful carry-on. The Taoiseach said we needed debate and to talk to the people. He would not talk to anyone. He said Ireland was giving the most. That is because the Government is taking the most. It is taking 65% in the fuel it takes. Parliamentary democracy? There was no democracy because the Government would not come back. It would not speak to the people. The Government gave out to Sinn F\u00e9in for a vote of no confidence before seeing the package. God damn in hell, the Government would not speak to people. What choice did we have? We are in the crisis we are in thanks to the Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Well done. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  The Taoiseach and T\u00e1naiste have left the Chamber but they have also left the people of Ireland with the arrogance and the disgust they showed towards the real working people of Ireland. I have been accused of standing on a picket with the people of Ireland; I am guilty, but I stood there and negotiated with them to make sure nobody was affected. The waterways were not affected. The farmers were not affected. The fuel was not affected because we went down and met them to hear their concerns and we actually worked with them. I have met the finest people and have friends for life, and if I had to do it all over again tomorrow, I would be with them because they are the real people of Ireland. They were from Clare, Kerry, Tipperary, Cork and Limerick and when we finished up below at 1 o'clock and said we would walk out peacefully, what did they sing? They sang \"Sean South of Garryowen\". There was not one dry eye there because they were real people. There were children from two years of age. I met men and women, the strongest people I have ever known and who have never wanted for anything, crying and saying that there was no future. That is what I stand for and if I am guilty of that, well, so be it, but I will do the same thing tomorrow and the day after. They said to Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael that the pen was mightier than the sword. Timmy Dolittle was mentioned at the protest. He will be gone the next time and he will never again return. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Timmy Dooley  Good man, Richard. The people of Ireland have a great representative. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  This Government has let down those in plant hire, those farmers, taxi drivers, the hauliers, contractors and fishers, and the ordinary people who this Government says it represents and lives among. The reality is it has blamed Trump for absolutely everything. We have heard Government Members getting up and speaking about Trump. Donald Trump is not in charge of the National Oil Reserves Agency, NORA. He is not in charge of the carbon tax in this country. He is not in charge of VAT in this country and he is not in charge of excise. What did Se\u00e1n Canney do? He told people to go out and walk or cycle. What did big Jim - James Bond himself - go out and do? He said we would turn the Army on our own citizens, which was reminiscent of something you would hear in South America. It is reminiscent of a Peronist. Then we have the man who turned away from the woman in Kanturk not so long ago during the last election and who did not want to hear, and all of a sudden he is gaslighting the country saying he is concerned about the 900,000 people on waiting lists. He is concerned about the 60,000 people on housing lists and about the 116,000 people who are waiting for housing assistance payment, HAP. That is what this Government is concerned about. It is concerned about nothing only serving itself. I applaud Deputy Healy-Rae. I say \"Well done\" to him for having a bit of backbone. If any of those TDs from Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael who turned up at the protests down in Whitegate or anywhere else in the country and said they were with the protestors and were going to get rid of Miche\u00e1l Martin in a couple of weeks had any bit of backbone, they should join with Deputy Healy-Rae, vote against this Government and let us call the election. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Fitzmaurice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice  The night the first measures were announced here, a blind man would have known that when you could buy white diesel at a price within 3 cent of green diesel, the writing was on the wall. I gave a speech in here but no one would listen. It was the usual stuff. The Government TDs are on their phones, not listening to someone who comes from the sector. I have those black hands all my life with grease and oil. I know what it is to be an agricultural contractor and the Government, its civil servants and the people in here turned around and thought they knew more. People are paying \u20ac1.70 for green diesel when your machine to cut a meadow costs the price of a house in Dublin. There are financial pressures on those contractors. But no, they will not listen.  The IFA warned the Government a week beforehand. The dog on the street knew there was discontent. What was the difference in bringing the measures in the Sunday before to try to solve this? But no, the Government TDs will not listen to the people who elected them. I have been here for a lot of debates and never in my life have I got more emails off people who were disgusted. Do you know what? I went up to the people in Galway, people who had voted for the Government parties - for Fine Gael and Fianna F\u00e1il - every time. They are decent people, and let no one say that they are far right either. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  The Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael Government is a government of chaos. It has done more damage to fuel prices in this country than the war in Iran. The intransigence of Miche\u00e1l Martin and Simon Harris has actually brought this country to a standstill. Their stubbornness has seen petrol pumps run dry for the first time since the 1980s and I have never seen as much political stress on the streets since the right to water protests. The Government should not forget that its democratic authority comes from the citizens with whom it refused to converse last week. For too long, there has been an arrogance in the Government and it is pulling down the shutters between it and the people. The fact that it escalated the protest last week is unbelievable, with threats of physical force from garda\u00ed and from the Army as well. It has kept blackening the names of those protestors since. It is incredible that we have had the Minister, Deputy Patrick O'Donovan, threaten press freedom in this country, probably the first time since Eoin O'Duffy himself. The Government is giving out about the protestors closing down businesses. These are the businesses that the Government was closing down that were protesting as well.  There is another issue here. The Government talks about people not being able to make hospital appointments. There are a million people on hospital waiting lists at the moment. There are a dozen children on scoliosis lists across the country at the moment who cannot get operations. Some of them have lost their lives because of the decisions the Government has made. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  It is absolutely astounding that the Government refused to meet the protestors yet was so quick to blacken their names. In fact, every single intervention this Government made over the past number of days has added fuel to the fire. It threatened the use of the Army and the public order unit, it threatened to revoke licences and it even accused a Minister of being far right. That is not leadership; that is provocation and it is deeply wrong. The Minister for justice even called in the Army without engaging with his Fine Gael colleague and now the Government is threatening an investigation in the media for daring to even cover this protest.  Let me be very clear, this is the policy of Fianna F\u00e1il, Fine Gael and the ghost of the Green Party to drive up fuel. It is incremental increase after increase to the carbon tax. Last week, the Minister of State, Deputy Alan Dillon, just a few days ago when businesses were on their knees----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  Sit down, you fool. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  -----outlined to the Mayo media that he was going to increase carbon tax again on 1 May. \"A modest increase\", is what he said, when the people were struggling. He should be listening to the people, he should be engaging with the people and he should not be blackening their name. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  Good electioneering there, Paul. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  It is no surprise to hear me say that I will not be voting confidence in this Government. As I said just after the election, the Government's the programme for Government and the groups it did deals with to keep it in power did not inspire any confidence or show any vision. It's choices during the last budget favoured wealthy developers, left vulnerable people in the lurch and the Government's lack of urgency on the need to ramp up our energy security has been frustrating. People in my constituency cannot get affordable homes and those that do are consigned to congested areas with no facilities, no infrastructure, no reliable public transport services and many of them are now fighting for basic parking spaces.  I said a few weeks ago that more was needed to be help people suffering to an even greater extent during the current cost-of-living and fuel crisis, caused by Trump and Netanyahu. We know the Government did not cause the problem but it needed to listen to the people faster and be part of rapid, meaningful, short-term solutions. If the Government survives this vote I will comment on some of the wider issues in later debates, but I want to put these views on the record in a respectful way.  The T\u00e1naiste and his colleagues are not the devil and the Opposition are no angels but, to be clear, the Government has not responded quickly enough or gone far enough. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Jim O'Callaghan)  I welcome the fact that I follow on from Independent Ireland to speak because I want to mention a group of Irish people -Irish men and women- that they never once mentioned. That is the men and women of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  -----who stood by this State. I want to thank the garda\u00ed who, over the past week showed outstanding professionalism, commitment and courage in guaranteeing the safety and security of the State and its citizens throughout the period of blockades of critical infrastructure. We all know in this House, on the Government's side, that in any liberal democracy the right to peaceful assembly, the right to express disagreement with the people who govern, is a central right. It is a right that all of us in this House support and the Constitution of this country expressly guarantees it. I have no doubt there are many people from across the country who are exercising that right due to the great concern they had for their livelihoods, and that is to be respected.  The Government has now acted to seek to address those concerns. However, let us get one thing straight in this House; the right to protest is not unlimited. Our Constitution states, \"The right of the citizens to assemble peaceably\" is subject to public order. What we witnessed last week at certain sites, where the blockading of fuel and goods occurred, was not a peaceful assembly in line with public order. In those circumstances An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na were required to restore order. That is what they did and I commend them for doing so. It is a credit to the garda\u00ed that they not only managed to remove the blockades at both ports and fuel depots in a swift manner following a number of days of engagement, but did so without any notable injury to the individuals at the blockades or any member of the force.  I also want to commend the Defence Forces, who provided assistance to An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na in the provision of equipment required to remove vehicles forming parts of the blockade. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Fitzmaurice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice  What was it they removed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, which Member's opposite should appreciate, has a proud record and history of defending and securing the people or Ireland and their democratic institutions from harm against those who have tried to undermine them. They did so again on this occasion and that is to be commended by everyone in this House.  I am, however, concerned about the unacceptable levels of hatred and vitriol directed at members of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, sometimes in person, but mostly from faceless cowards on social media, the majority of them from outside this State. I want to put on the record of the House that harassment of members of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, online or in person, will not be tolerated. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I have already spoken to the Commissioner about this and he has assured me that, where offences have been committed, prosecutions will follow.  The work of this Government in the area of justice has just begun. It is vital that work continues. As such, I commend the motion of confidence before the House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  No apologies for threatening the Army, Jim? No apologies, no? Do you stand by it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  You should recognise and respect our Army. You respected another army for long enough. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  You were threatening the public with them. Do not threaten the Irish people with them. Many of the families were not happy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (Deputy Peter Burke)  I rise to support the motion of confidence in this Government and the accumulative package of \u20ac750 million of an intervention to support citizens right across our country. I do so while acknowledging the huge pressure that many families are under, families who play by the rules in our society. That is why this intervention, together with the one a couple of weeks ago, is very significant. When we look at the scale of it, for a fill of petrol of 60 l, for ordinary families up and down the country, we are giving \u20ac16 per fill. For diesel, we are giving \u20ac19.20 per fill and for contractors who use marked gas oil, MGO, together with the intervention negotiated with my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and the Marine, Deputy Martin Heydon, we are bringing forward \u20ac55 for every fill of MGO for workers right across the economy. Also, the Minister for Transport, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, is bringing forward a package of \u20ac40 million a week to support supply chains to ensure groceries are getting on shelves for our workers and mitigating the increases of inflation. That is the bread, the milk, that so many of our hauliers bring. That is a key mitigation factor.  There were hugely disingenuous narratives being put forward over the last week and more saying that the Government was profiting from this crisis. That is absolutely false. It is disingenuous, it is disgraceful and it should not be allowed take hold considering the measures we have introduced and we will further introduce.  The final thing I want to say is that actions have consequences. A motion of no confidence in a Government was brought forward, due to an unprecedented international crisis through the Iran shock, that would leave a country, vulnerable citizens, without a Government, without the capacity to make key interventions to support our families right across the State----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  We are without a Government anyway. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  We know one thing about the Opposition: it cannot agree on anything. We brought forward a \u20ac250 million----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  We agree that you are useless. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  ----- package here a few weeks ago and the whole Opposition could not support that. It was a simple, \u20ac250 million package----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  Half measures. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  -----to support vulnerable families right across our country. It proves the point, time and time again, that the Opposition cannot agree on anything, but it wants to tear down a Government and leave the country without a Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  You just had a resignation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  The key thing that shows this is the motion that Sinn F\u00e9in brings forward today. How does it solve a complex problem? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  If I ran my business like you I would not be in business. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  Look at the one line in the Sinn F\u00e9in motion that says, \"take maximum action necessary to cut fuel prices\". My God, what a shambles. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  Exactly, that is what you are. That is what you are. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Thomas Byrne)  S\u00e9 sheachtain \u00f3 shin, dh\u00faisigh muid go l\u00e9ir san Eoraip agus trasna an domhain le radharc nua is dr\u00e1mata de bhuama\u00ed agus cogadh sa Mhe\u00e1noirthear. D\u00e1 bharr seo, t\u00e1 taith\u00ed ag gach t\u00edr san Eoraip le m\u00e9ad\u00fa ar phraghas an ola mar aon le ganntanas. Baineann s\u00e9 seo le gach duine. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 seo ag tarl\u00fa na m\u00edlte m\u00edle \u00f3n t\u00edr seo, ach t\u00e1 \u00e9ifeacht l\u00e1idir aige ar phobal, ar ghn\u00f3tha\u00ed agus ar theaghlaigh na h\u00c9ireann. Mar Aire St\u00e1it a bhfuil freagrachta\u00ed na ngn\u00f3tha\u00ed Eorpacha orm, t\u00e1 a fhios agam, \u00f3 bheith ag labhairt le mo chomhghleacaithe Eorpacha, nach bhfuil \u00c9ire l\u00e9i f\u00e9in sa gh\u00e9arch\u00e9im seo. San Aontas Eorpach, t\u00e1 an pac\u00e1iste is cuimsith\u00ed agus is m\u00f3 de thaca\u00edocht airgeadais ar f\u00e1il in \u00c9irinn n\u00e1 mar at\u00e1 in aon t\u00edr in Eoraip chun cabhr\u00fa le teaghlaigh agus le gn\u00f3tha\u00ed \u00c9ireannacha d\u00e9ile\u00e1il leis an ng\u00e9arch\u00e9im. Is \u00e9 seo an pac\u00e1iste is suntasa\u00ed, is cuimsith\u00ed agus is m\u00f3 san Eoraip. M\u00e1 \u00e9ir\u00edonn le r\u00fan Shinn F\u00e9in, n\u00ed bheidh deis ag an D\u00e1il an pac\u00e1iste seo a chur i bhfeidhm.  A bhu\u00ed leis an mBunreacht, is t\u00edr daonlathach muid. Chonaic muid an tseachtain seo san Ung\u00e1ir an bua ar Viktor Orb\u00e1n. Chuir s\u00e9 na polasaithe de shaghas Independent Ireland i bhfeidhm, ag dul ar aghaidh agus ag iarraidh gach rud a dh\u00e9anamh chun freagra\u00ed simpl\u00ed a thabhairt do mhuintir na t\u00edre sin. Is rogha don t\u00edr seo \u00e9 an dam\u00e1iste a rinne s\u00e9 don Ung\u00e1ir a bheith ag tabhairt na bhfreagra\u00ed simpl\u00ed sin. Is \u00e9 an dearcadh a bheidh againn n\u00e1, uaireanta, b\u00edonn na fadhbanna seo an-deacair agus ba cheart d\u00fainn d\u00edosp\u00f3ireacht ioml\u00e1n a bheith againn sa D\u00e1il agus i measc an Rialtais faoin mbealach ar f\u00e9idir linn d\u00e9ile\u00e1il le fadhbanna na t\u00edre seo. Is t\u00edr daonlathach muid. Ba mhaith liom freisin aont\u00fa go hioml\u00e1n leis an Aire dl\u00ed agus cirt as gach a rinne s\u00e9 le linn na seachtaine seo caite. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor)  We are facing a global crisis in the supply and the cost of fuel. This is the reality here in the Chamber. The situation in Iran is unpredictable. Nobody knows. It is global. The Government did introduce the package aimed at easing the impact of the cost-of-living increases with cuts to excise on fuel and further supports for those to get their fuel allowance.  This was only ever going to be the first package of supports, and I welcome the further packages announced by the Government this week. The total package of over \u20ac750 million is the largest in the EU. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Fitzmaurice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice  They were not taking as much tax in the EU. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor  The Government is really showing support. It wants to work with our hauliers, our farmers, our agricultural contractors and our bus operators. It is important that people have certainty, particularly those involved in businesses and who are the hardest hit.  I know that some are struggling. We all know that. Some people in my constituency of Carlow-Kilkenny have come to me over the past few days about the cost of heating oil, and that is a concern. This is why it was important to delay the increase in the carbon tax----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Ah, Jesus Christ almighty. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor  -----and I understand more supports are needed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Come on. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor  I spoke----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  The Minister of State does not know. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor  I spoke to my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Dara Calleary, today----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Quiet, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor  There are supports for energy bills there through the local enterprise offices----- "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor  -----but the Deputies do not want to hear that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  The Minister of State does not know what she is talking about. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor  Why would they not want people to get help and support? "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Quiet, please. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  The Minister of State----- "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Quiet, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  Let her speak. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor  As a Minister of State in the Department of Health, there are real concerns. We had several meetings over the past week. We were working as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  The Government was forced to have several meetings by the people of Ireland. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor  We had several meetings. We had meetings with the Department----- "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor  We have seen the impact----- "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Allow the Minister of State to speak. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor  We had people waiting to go to hospital appointments and people waiting to get their cancer treatment and we were making sure there was fuel to get nurses and carers to the homes where they needed to be. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor  This is about everybody working together. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  No. It is about you working together against the Irish people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor  As I said, we all need to work together----- "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor  -----to sort this out. We need to help those most vulnerable people in Ireland with all of us working together but----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  The Government has forgotten the most vulnerable in Ireland. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor  We are absolutely working. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  Chair. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  Chair. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aidan Farrelly  Chair, a bit of order. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I call Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":" A Deputy","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" A Deputy  Bully the women. That is it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Hold on. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aidan Farrelly  A bit of order, Chair. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Just have some order, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  It is coming from that corner. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I ask the Deputies to give the speaker a chance to address the House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  Out of respect for the Chair. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Yes. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":" A Deputy","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" A Deputy  That is disgraceful. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I call Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell  People took to the streets in a way that we have not seen before. People left their homes, their families and their livelihoods to stand up for themselves and for their communities, demanding a better Ireland, and how dare the Government ignore the people again here today. The Government talks about Sinn F\u00e9in but it does not talk about the people. It was the people who went out and said enough was enough. It was the people who had to take to the streets to demand action and it was the people who said they have no confidence in the Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" A Deputy","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" A Deputy  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell  Not one of the Ministers here spoke to the people today. Instead, they spoke to and about themselves. The Government has in no way heard the message that came from the people of Ireland, a message that they could not have given to the Government any louder or any clearer. Coming in here today, I had thought that maybe a little bit of humble pie had been eaten after the arrogance of last week but, no, I was completely mistaken. Nothing has changed. All of this, of course, happened because the Government refused to talk, refused to engage, refused to listen and refused to act. The Government refused to represent people like they demanded it represent them.  When I thought about the Government\u2019s disastrous response last week, I thought it could not get any worse. The fact that it locked Galway representatives out of a meeting is absolutely shameful. Does the Government even realise how disrespectful that was? Does it understand the blind arrogance that it showed? It was like something out of a schoolyard. The Government was saying it would talk to some people but not to them. It was absolutely and utterly unbelievable.  I spoke to people in Galway, to people who were at the protest and to other Galwegians who were not at the protests but who were vehemently supportive of the protesters' demands. All those people said to me that it is time for this Government to go. It is a Government so immune to the realities of its people. Having spent time on these protests in Galway, I had perhaps thought that a sense of clarity might have descended on this D\u00e1il, a sense of clarity that the people had, but obviously this has not happened.  The Government has doubled down. It has spent its time during this debate with its chest out and beating the same old drum of how great it is but the people are wise to it. They know exactly what it is at. They heard the words of the Taoiseach, the T\u00e1naiste and the Minister for justice last week, words that showed how out of touch they are with the realities of people\u2019s lives and the contempt they show for the realities of people\u2019s lives. They have shown a lack of awareness of the struggles of ordinary working people, these struggles they face daily. I will tell the Government now that the people know whose side it is on and they know it is not on their side. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  Well said. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Lowry","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Lowry.D.1987-03-10","memberCode":"Michael-Lowry.D.1987-03-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Lowry  I am not going to shout but I would like to be heard. This has been a very difficult week for the country and its citizens. People are suffering and under enormous financial pressure due to the cost-of-living increases in the price of fuel due to the war in Iran. It has to be acknowledged that all of us across Government failed to respond effectively in a timely fashion and failed to listen and understand the extent of people\u2019s worry and frustration. We all have encountered anger, resentment and outright hostility, which, in my view, arises from indecision, slow intervention and failure of communications.  The protest started out with many aggrieved, hard-working, decent and respectable people who were worried sick about their future. It was later infiltrated by undesirables whose only agenda was to cripple the country and bring down the Government. Over the past week, as Independents, we have used our influence for the introduction of specific financial supports for key sectors of the economy, such as haulage, distribution, logistics, school transport, bus operators, farmers and agricultural contractors. In particular, I am happy that sole traders in these sectors can access the support funds. Our Independents, together with Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael backbenchers, battled strongly and successfully for a reduction in the Government tax take on fuels and the deferment of the planned increase in carbon tax. This gives a measure of respite at the pumps for the general public who depend on fuel for their daily activities.  While the country faces the most serious crisis in recent history, with oil supplies disrupted in the Middle East, energy markets in turmoil, there are those in our political system who shamefully are looking to exploit the situation for their own benefit, rather than provide solutions to us to get through this dangerous time. Sinn F\u00e9in, and others on the left, have inflamed a very volatile situation. They wanted to cause the country further suffering in a point scoring exercise against the Government.  I want to put this on the record today. Sinn F\u00e9in is the most hollow, cynical----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dessie Ellis","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dessie Ellis  Ah, give over. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  So says the corrupt politician in the corner. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Lowry","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Lowry.D.1987-03-10","memberCode":"Michael-Lowry.D.1987-03-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Lowry  -----destructive political imposters we have ever witnessed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  We will take up the violin for you, will we? "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Lowry","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Lowry.D.1987-03-10","memberCode":"Michael-Lowry.D.1987-03-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Lowry  Let me repeat. Sinn F\u00e9in is the most hollow, cynical----- "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Cynical? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Lowry","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Lowry.D.1987-03-10","memberCode":"Michael-Lowry.D.1987-03-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Lowry  -----and destructive political imposters I or this State have ever witnessed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  The last time the Deputy was on those benches, he was taking backhanders. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Lowry","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Lowry.D.1987-03-10","memberCode":"Michael-Lowry.D.1987-03-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Lowry  While the Government works for the Irish people, Sinn F\u00e9in uses their hardship as a political weapon. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Lowry","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Lowry.D.1987-03-10","memberCode":"Michael-Lowry.D.1987-03-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Lowry  It seized on this moment because it has nothing else to offer other than contrived outrage. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Ah, give over. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Lowry","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Lowry.D.1987-03-10","memberCode":"Michael-Lowry.D.1987-03-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Lowry  They are performers on stage. Time and again, they have proved they have no ability to govern, no ideas and no credibility. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Seriously. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  With a straight face. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Every one of them voted to censure you because of the corruption. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Lowry","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Lowry.D.1987-03-10","memberCode":"Michael-Lowry.D.1987-03-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Lowry  In a moment of global instability----- "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Please, Deputies. I call Deputy Lowry. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy Doherty, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  Lads, everyone has a right to speak, even if you do not like them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Lowry","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Lowry.D.1987-03-10","memberCode":"Michael-Lowry.D.1987-03-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Lowry  In a moment of global instability, when we need responsibility, unity and a collective effort, Sinn F\u00e9in has chosen division, disruption and political opportunism. To bring down a Government at a time like this would have far-reaching consequences for the Irish people. Legislation would stall, vital supports would be delayed and the certainty families, workers and businesses desperately need would be thrown into limbo.  Disruption has been Sinn F\u00e9in\u2019s modus operandi from the very beginning of this Government. From the day this coalition has been formed, it sought to undermine and sabotage it for the sake of its own political advantage. It is a group of people who would rather see other people fail than build something positive themselves.  Then, of course, we had the usual from Sinn F\u00e9in. It followed the usual social media hit list. Politicians were named and targeted for the Sinn F\u00e9in army of online bots. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Lowry","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Lowry.D.1987-03-10","memberCode":"Michael-Lowry.D.1987-03-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Lowry  They were directed to target, pile on and to encourage others to mount verbal assaults. Is this what is taught in Sinn F\u00e9in? This is no way to act in a democracy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Cop yourself on. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  Is this a comedy? Maybe he will do stand-up next week? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Lowry","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Lowry.D.1987-03-10","memberCode":"Michael-Lowry.D.1987-03-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Lowry  Again this week I have seen Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn, for whom I have huge respect, drop the mask of pious virtue and show his true colours. He egged on frustrated people to harass and intimidate and posted the names and numbers of representatives in our Independent group. This form of intimidation is not acceptable in a democratic society. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  Talking to citizens is not intimidation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Lowry","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Lowry.D.1987-03-10","memberCode":"Michael-Lowry.D.1987-03-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Lowry  This is a time when Ireland needs----- "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Lowry","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Lowry.D.1987-03-10","memberCode":"Michael-Lowry.D.1987-03-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Lowry  This kind of toxic politics is doing real damage. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  You have some nerve to utter the term \"toxic politics\" - this from the person adjudged to be the most corrupt individual in Irish political life. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Lowry","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Lowry.D.1987-03-10","memberCode":"Michael-Lowry.D.1987-03-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Lowry  It is discouraging thoughtful, talented young people from stepping forward to serve their communities. The Opposition is poisoning the well of potential candidates. This is a time when Ireland needs the best and brightest to help shape our future. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  This is beyond comedy at this stage. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I call the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Lowry","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Lowry.D.1987-03-10","memberCode":"Michael-Lowry.D.1987-03-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Lowry  Let me say today, as an elected representative----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy Lowry should conclude. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  Time is up, Deputy Lowry. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Lowry","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Lowry.D.1987-03-10","memberCode":"Michael-Lowry.D.1987-03-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Lowry  -----I have no confidence in Sinn F\u00e9in. I have no confidence in your ability to----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  How dare you. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  You do not get to vote on that----- "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy Lowry, please conclude. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Lowry","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Lowry.D.1987-03-10","memberCode":"Michael-Lowry.D.1987-03-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Lowry  I will be voting confidence in the Government, confidence in our country and confidence in our people. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Resume your seat, Deputy Lowry. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  Sit down. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" A Deputy","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" A Deputy  The Chair needs to get a hold here. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Health (Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill)  Today we stand here for respectful debate on behalf of the people we represent at a time of maximum geopolitical uncertainty. It is impacting globally and it is impacting our people. We know that, we see that and we feel that because we are elected representatives in a small, democratic State and we are connected to our people. We know in Ireland we are more impacted than so many others because of the small and deeply internationally interconnected nature of the very stable and successful State that, together, everyone with every perspective has built. This means two things: we have to continue to protect the stable strength of our people and we have to move to defend the country's weaknesses. We know we have to keep our people's lights on without dependence on abroad and without the price shocks we have seen from the actions of totally unpredictable players. The time, if it ever existed, for objecting to the development of our infrastructure, however politely, is now long gone. Energy security is central to the functioning of our society. We have seen that this week. Fortunately, we are a small island in the North Atlantic so we can build it, and we can built it well. We have built this State together on predictability, stability and consensus in our courts, in our social partnership and in our democracy. As Minister for Health, I thank all of those who turned up to provide a stable and predictable health service for our patients in the face of real difficulty last week. Those who work in our healthcare face challenges turning up to work and doing their job, but they turned up and kept clinics open longer for patients who themselves had difficulty getting there. They turned up for each other and I thank them.  As a public representative, I embrace protest. In our democracy, I welcome protest. I will defend it and freedom of expression for all. These are parts of our constitutional politics. We fund civic society in this House in many ways to enable an even more vibrant civic debate. However, when protest flips and steps across to become something else - to risking deliveries of chemotherapies in our hospitals, as it did, to risking timely deliveries of refrigerated medicines and blocking people getting to time-sensitive medical appointments like cancer treatments and dialysis, that is not protest that we enable and embrace. That is something I do not believe our very decent people and our very decent society want us to make any part of this State.  We may now have to face even bigger challenges ahead because of the continuing instability in the Middle East. We have to decide now to protect the strength and the stability we have created together and protect ourselves from the type of crossing over of protest that we saw last week. When this is finished, we will all go back as Ministers to our Departments, except for the Minister of State, Deputy Healy-Rae, to whom I pay tribute for his contribution and hard work on behalf of the Government and the Independent group more broadly. I know the Minister, Deputy Heydon, will speak to that. The Ministers of State, Deputies Butler, Murnane O'Connor and O\u2019Donnell, and I will go back to the Department of Health to work on behalf of the people, to expand capacity, improve access and support the people who are delivering our health service on all days no matter what. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Mary Butler)  We have heard a lot from Sinn F\u00e9in and Independent Ireland about ordinary hard-working people. They say this Government will not listen to hard-working people. They say this Government has lost touch with hard-working people. They seem to think they have a monopoly on hard-working people. Well, I am a hardworking person. I worked a counter and managed a family retail business for 17 years, through good times and bad. My family are hard-working people. Since the day he started working shifts at the age of 16, my husband has worked on the ground for 44 years. I come from a community of hard-working people in Portlaw. I got into politics to represent ordinary hard-working people.  Last week, Sinn F\u00e9in and Independent Ireland shamefully blurred the lines between peaceful protests and illegal blockades. Peaceful protest is a cherished----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" A Deputy","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" A Deputy  How dare you say that? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  That is a disgrace. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  -----cornerstone of our democracy and always will be. It is one of the many rights we enjoy in a free society. Sinn F\u00e9in and other agitators on the Opposition benches try to frame the illegal blockades of critical public infrastructure as a legitimate form of protest. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  The Minister of State is digging a hole. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  Members of Independent Ireland used wardens to determine who got healthcare in Limerick hospital. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" A Deputy","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" A Deputy  And what happened? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" A Deputy","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" A Deputy  That is incorrect. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  Sandra Broderick, the regional executive officer of HSE Mid West, had to issue correspondence to politicians to allow people who did not have their appointment letter in the car to access the hospital.  Last week, Sinn F\u00e9in publicly endorsed illegal blockades which infringed upon the fundamental rights of ordinary hard-working people in this country. Sinn F\u00e9in supported hard borders on this island of Ireland - the ultimate hypocrisy. These discriminatory blockades threatened fuel supplies and food security. They denied free movement and they denied access to healthcare for ordinary hard-working citizens throughout this Republic. I witnessed it first hand as a Minister. The illegal blockade supported by Sinn F\u00e9in and Independent Ireland meant ambulances had to determine and triage who they answered to. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  That is not true. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  We never blocked anything. Even the Minister of State cannot----- "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  The Minister of State is not listening. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  The Minister of State should conclude. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  Elderly people in west Clare were denied home care. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I call the Minister, Deputy Heydon. I thank the Minister of State. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  I sat with a family whose 12 hours of support at the weekend for a child who is autistic were reduced because the people did not have petrol in their car to visit. That is the reality of Independent Ireland and Sinn F\u00e9in. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" A Deputy","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" A Deputy  The Minister of State should check out what----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Some families are waiting 12 years for help for their disabled children. They are waiting 12 years, not 12 hours. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":" A Deputy","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" A Deputy  The Deputies only shout over women in this Chamber. They only shout over women. I will ask----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" A Deputy","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" A Deputy  She is right. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  I never blocked anything. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" A Deputy","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" A Deputy  It is a disgrace. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  That is all that was needed to negotiate. You should have done the same if you were representing your people. Shame on you. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" A Deputy","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" A Deputy  Chair, they had their slot. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  We came into the D\u00e1il in Independent Ireland----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy Collins, resume your seat. You will be asked to leave the Chamber. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Sit down. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy Collins, resume your seat. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  Sorry. I will. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  A Leas-Cheann Comhairle, if they do not want to listen to the women of the D\u00e1il----- "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  We want to listen to everyone. Please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" A Deputy","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" A Deputy  They are only shouting down women. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" A Deputy","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" A Deputy  They shout over every one of the women. It is an absolute disgrace. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" A Deputy","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" A Deputy  It is shameful. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  It is so obvious it is only the women. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Please. I ask Deputies to please respect the speakers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  The Minister of State was misleading the D\u00e1il and that needed to be corrected. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  They listened to Deputy Collins. I ask him to listen to everyone who is making a contribution. This is a democracy, as he said. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  Two minutes of this debate have been lost as a result of this interruption. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Martin Heydon)  I regret the decision of Michael Healy-Rae today. I acknowledge his role as Minister of State with responsibility for forestry and as a good colleague in the Department of agriculture over the past 15 months.  As a sector, we in agriculture face plenty of challenges. It is my job to fight for and defend agriculture in the best interests of our farmers, fishers and agrifood sector and because of its importance to our overall economy, and in particular our rural economy. I do this in my Department and at Cabinet and with the support of my colleagues across government. This Government recognises the vital role our farmers, fishers, foresters and farm contractors play across Ireland. The vulnerability of our farmers and fishers to a massive energy shock has greatly concerned us all. However, with Government support, our agrifood sector will endure.  We grew up as young children on our farms being told there would be no future in farming, because of the impending Maastricht reforms of the early 1990s, but farming endured. We were told that the Fischler reforms, greening, Covid, Brexit and the high cost of imports following the Ukrainian war were each going to be the end of the world for agriculture. However, farming endured and continued, and it will continue to do so into the future with the support of the Government, like it has in the past.  We recognise the exceptional pressure that rising fuel costs are placing on our agrifood sector at such a crucial time of the year. I have heard it from friends, neighbours and in my ongoing engagements with representative bodies. Green diesel has almost doubled in price, from less than \u20ac1 per litre, in a matter of weeks, right at the time when farmers and contractors are in the middle of spring work and facing into a busy silage season. That is why this Government has approved a substantial package of support. It includes the full removal of all non-carbon excise on green diesel, totalling 7.5 cent per litre, and a further support of 20 cent a litre through a \u20ac100 million fuel subsidy support scheme for farmers and farm contractors. This support of 27.4 cent a litre will be to the benefit of both farmers and contractors, recognising their central role in sustaining essential food production. This is about much more than just one sector. It is about support for every citizen in this State because when input costs rise, it puts pressure on the price and availability of food for all consumers.  Energy shocks without support would lead to significant inflation, particularly in respect of food, on which we all depend. Unchecked, it would have a direct impact on the cost of living for all. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I thank the Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  By supporting the agrifood sector and our hauliers and all those reliant on fuel who play a role in getting food from farm to fork, we support everyone. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  The Minister should conclude. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  We have a choice to make here. Those in opposition can attempt to either dismiss or ignore these supports and try to prevent their introduction or they can choose to engage with me and my Department on their roll-out to those who need them most. The choice is theirs. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I call the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  I do note that the bully boys in the corner never said a word when I was speaking, unlike their interventions when my female ministerial colleagues were speaking. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  The Minister, Deputy O'Brien. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  I obviously want to support the motion of confidence in the Government. I want to commence my remarks by thanking the Garda, our bus drivers, the public sector, and all the front-line workers who had to put up with a lot over the last week or so. I am a TD in Dublin. I and all my colleagues on the Government side know our constituents. We understand the difficulties that people have and the pressures they are under. We also understand that this is a global crisis. We here in Ireland are grappling with a global crisis, as is every other country in the world.  I actually despair today, again, to listen to some of the political discourse that has been a political pantomime. What we have seen from some, though not all, in the Opposition is them abrogating their responsibilities as TDs and legislators here. They have a responsibility to work together to help our people and our country through this unprecedented crisis. On 25 March, when we brought the first package of measures forward, all of the Opposition, with the exception of the main Opposition party, voted against every excise cut that day. They voted against the actual support----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  That is not true. On a point of order----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  They voted against the whole system----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  On a point of order, we tabled an amendment and you voted against it. That is why the people took to the street. Just get your facts correct. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  N\u00edl m\u00e9 ag \u00e9isteacht leis an fear----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Continue, Deputy O'Brien. There is no point of order. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Point of order. You are telling fibs here. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy M\u00e1ire Devine  Withdraw that remark. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  What I would say is that is a fact. Check the record. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  It is not a fact. Sorry, you cannot make up your own facts. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  There is no point of order. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  A Leas-Cheann Comhairle, we put forward the proposal to reduce it with the first vote that day. They voted against it. We would not accept their half measures and that is why people rolled up. That is why people took to the streets. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  There is no point of order, Deputy Doherty. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  Correct the D\u00e1il record. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Tell the truth. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  I will move on, in the interests of this. What I have heard----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy M\u00e1ire Devine  Say sorry. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  That I am not. What we have heard here from Pearse and others is an example of Sinn F\u00e9in's behaviour today. What we have heard from some on those benches, though not all, has been literally despicable. What they have done is that any time a female Deputy or Minister stood up here they shouted them down. Ken O'Flynn should have a look back at what he has done. What I am conscious of is the people outside, the very people we all represent, who are really concerned about what is happening all the way across the world and in this country, about how they pay their electricity bills, about how they put food in the table and whether they will keep their jobs. If they are looking in at this debate today and some of the behaviour, the misogynistic behaviour, the nasty----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  That is absolute rubbish and you know it is rubbish. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy M\u00e1ire Devine  How many female TDs do you have sitting on that side? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  The nasty and vicious----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  Do not be calling me misogynistic----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  The nasty and vicious language----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  -----after the way your party treated me. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Please, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  It was homophobic. The whole lot of ye. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  It was nasty----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  The Minister, Deputy O'Brien. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  You stop telling lies about me and I will stop telling the truth about you. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  A Leas-Cheann Comhairle, if I may proceed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Go ahead, Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I think that none of us in government, and I hope none of you in opposition, have failed to grasp the gravity of the global crisis that we are in. It behoves all of us to do everything we can to protect our citizens, our businesses and the vulnerable as best we can. Are we going to be able to resolve every problem that is visited upon our citizens through one or two packages of financial support? No, we are not, but we are doing our level best to assist. To be fair to some members of the Opposition, I listened to contributions from the Labour Party, the Social Democrats and others such as Deputy Paul Gogarty. There are people who are actually really trying to put forward cases and ideas and, yes, to criticise the Government constructively, which is fine, or not to do so. Then I look at the main Opposition party, however. What did it actually bring forward? The Minister, Deputy Peter Burke, mentioned one line from the Sinn F\u00e9in motion referring to do everything we can on energy prices. Sin an m\u00e9id.  The fact of the matter is----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  That is nonsense. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  Absolute nonsense. That is wilful nonsense. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  This will be my final question. This evening we will bring forward financial resolutions to cut fuel bills and to bring forward measures, such as for the road hauliers, which is \u20ac40 million per month in support. The question, and it will be on the D\u00e1il record, will be who will support that and who will actually vote for it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  How much more time does he get? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  I think----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  We have an amendment that will actually do the business. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  I am not going to be shouted down by Pearse Doherty, who is a late bloomer to democracy----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  A late bloomer to democracy? I took your party to the High Court because you denied democracy. Miche\u00e1l Martin was found guilty in the High Court of trying to stop the people of Ireland having a by-election. Do not lecture me about democracy----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  The arrogance and smugness of the Minister----- "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  We have very serious matters to deal with in this House----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Seriously, do we, Darragh? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  -----and measures to bring forward to support our people. I hope----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  Every house in the country has serious matters to deal with. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  I hope that those on the Opposition side will discharge their responsibilities appropriately and stop trying to just consistently score political points. They could not care less about the people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Is that it? The comedy is over. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Confidence in Government: Motion"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-14\/debate\/dbsect_13","debateType":"financialResolution","bill":null,"showAs":"Financial Resolution No. 1: Mineral Oil Tax","counts":{"speechCount":64,"speakerCount":19},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_13","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  We now move to financial resolutions from the T\u00e1naiste and Minister for Finance. Before I call on the T\u00e1naiste to open the debate, I wish to remind members that there are three separate motions being debated in this slot, namely those relating to Financial Resolutions Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive. The motions will be moved separately, debated together and decided by separate questions. I call on the T\u00e1naiste to move the first motion and open the debate. The opening speaking slot is for ten minutes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Finance (Deputy Simon Harris)  I move:  (1) THAT for the purposes of the tax charged by virtue of section 95 of the Finance Act 1999 (No. 2 of 1999), that Act be amended, with effect as on and from 15 April 2026\u2014  (a) by the substitution of the following for Schedule 2 to that Act:  \"SCHEDULE 2  RATES OF MINERAL OIL TAX           Light Oil:  Rates per 1,000 litres        Heavy Oil:  Rates per 1,000 litres                        Liquefied Petroleum Gas:  Rates per 1,000 litres              With effect as on  and from:    Petrol    Aviation gasoline    Used as a propellant    Used for air navigation    Used for private pleasure navigation    Kerosene used other than as a propellant    Fuel oil    Other heavy oil    Used as a propellant    Other liquefied petroleum gas    Vehicle gas:  Rate per megawatt hour at gross calorific value      10 March 2022    \u20ac474.11    \u20ac474.11    \u20ac413.51    \u20ac413.51    \u20ac413.51    \u20ac84.84    \u20ac118.01    \u20ac120.55    \u20ac118.27    \u20ac54.68    \u20ac9.36      1 April 2022    \u20ac465.98    \u20ac465.98    \u20ac405.38    \u20ac405.38    \u20ac405.38    \u20ac84.84    \u20ac118.01    \u20ac120.55    \u20ac118.27    \u20ac54.68    \u20ac9.36      1 May 2022    \u20ac465.98    \u20ac465.98    \u20ac405.38    \u20ac405.38    \u20ac405.38    \u20ac103.83    \u20ac141.12    \u20ac111.14    \u20ac130.52    \u20ac66.93    \u20ac9.36      12 October 2022    \u20ac483.34    \u20ac483.34    \u20ac425.45    \u20ac425.45    \u20ac425.45    \u20ac103.83    \u20ac141.12    \u20ac111.14    \u20ac130.52    \u20ac66.93    \u20ac9.36      1 May 2023    \u20ac483.34    \u20ac483.34    \u20ac425.45    \u20ac425.45    \u20ac425.45    \u20ac122.83    \u20ac164.23    \u20ac131.47    \u20ac142.76    \u20ac79.17    \u20ac9.36      1 June 2023    \u20ac532.12    \u20ac532.12    \u20ac466.10    \u20ac466.10    \u20ac466.10    \u20ac122.83    \u20ac164.23    \u20ac140.28    \u20ac142.76    \u20ac79.17    \u20ac9.36      1 September 2023    \u20ac589.03    \u20ac589.03    \u20ac506.75    \u20ac506.75    \u20ac506.75    \u20ac122.83    \u20ac164.23    \u20ac149.09    \u20ac142.76    \u20ac79.17    \u20ac9.36      11 October 2023    \u20ac606.39    \u20ac606.39    \u20ac526.83    \u20ac526.83    \u20ac526.83    \u20ac122.83    \u20ac164.23    \u20ac149.09    \u20ac142.76    \u20ac79.17    \u20ac9.36      1 April 2024    \u20ac638.91    \u20ac638.91    \u20ac551.22    \u20ac551.22    \u20ac551.22    \u20ac122.83    \u20ac164.23    \u20ac163.96    \u20ac142.76    \u20ac79.17    \u20ac9.36      1 May 2024    \u20ac638.91    \u20ac638.91    \u20ac551.22    \u20ac551.22    \u20ac551.22    \u20ac141.82    \u20ac187.34    \u20ac184.30    \u20ac155.01    \u20ac91.42    \u20ac10.13      1 August 2024    \u20ac671.43    \u20ac671.43    \u20ac575.61    \u20ac575.61    \u20ac575.61    \u20ac141.82    \u20ac187.34    \u20ac199.17    \u20ac155.01    \u20ac91.42    \u20ac10.13      9 October 2024    \u20ac688.78    \u20ac688.78    \u20ac595.68    \u20ac595.68    \u20ac595.68    \u20ac141.82    \u20ac187.34    \u20ac199.17    \u20ac155.01    \u20ac91.42    \u20ac10.13      1 May 2025    \u20ac688.78    \u20ac688.78    \u20ac595.68    \u20ac595.68    \u20ac595.68    \u20ac160.81    \u20ac210.45    \u20ac219.50    \u20ac167.25    \u20ac103.66    \u20ac11.48      8 October 2025    \u20ac706.14    \u20ac706.14    \u20ac615.76    \u20ac615.76    \u20ac615.76    \u20ac160.81    \u20ac210.45    \u20ac219.50    \u20ac167.25    \u20ac103.66    \u20ac11.48      25 March 2026    \u20ac584.18    \u20ac584.18    \u20ac453.15    \u20ac453.15    \u20ac453.15    \u20ac160.81    \u20ac210.45    \u20ac193.06    \u20ac167.25    \u20ac103.66    \u20ac11.48      15 April 2026    \u20ac502.88    \u20ac502.88    \u20ac371.85    \u20ac371.85    \u20ac371.85    \u20ac160.81    \u20ac210.45    \u20ac172.14    \u20ac167.25    \u20ac103.66    \u20ac11.48      1 August 2026    \u20ac706.14    \u20ac706.14    \u20ac615.76    \u20ac615.76    \u20ac615.76    \u20ac160.81    \u20ac210.45    \u20ac219.50    \u20ac167.25    \u20ac103.66    \u20ac11.48      14 October 2026    \u20ac723.49    \u20ac723.49    \u20ac635.83    \u20ac635.83    \u20ac635.83    \u20ac179.81    \u20ac233.57    \u20ac239.83    \u20ac179.49    \u20ac115.90    \u20ac12.84      1 May 2027    \u20ac723.49    \u20ac723.49    \u20ac635.83    \u20ac635.83    \u20ac635.83    \u20ac198.80    \u20ac256.68    \u20ac260.16    \u20ac191.74    \u20ac128.15    \u20ac14.20      13 October 2027    \u20ac740.85    \u20ac740.85    \u20ac655.90    \u20ac655.90    \u20ac655.90    \u20ac198.80    \u20ac256.68    \u20ac260.16    \u20ac191.74    \u20ac128.15    \u20ac14.20      1 May 2028    \u20ac740.85    \u20ac740.85    \u20ac655.90    \u20ac655.90    \u20ac655.90    \u20ac217.80    \u20ac279.79    \u20ac280.49    \u20ac203.98    \u20ac140.39    \u20ac15.56      11 October 2028    \u20ac758.21    \u20ac758.21    \u20ac675.98    \u20ac675.98    \u20ac675.98    \u20ac217.80    \u20ac279.79    \u20ac280.49    \u20ac203.98    \u20ac140.39    \u20ac15.56      1 May 2029    \u20ac758.21    \u20ac758.21    \u20ac675.98    \u20ac675.98    \u20ac675.98    \u20ac236.79    \u20ac302.90    \u20ac300.83    \u20ac216.23    \u20ac152.64    \u20ac16.91      10 October 2029    \u20ac773.25    \u20ac773.25    \u20ac693.38    \u20ac693.38    \u20ac693.38    \u20ac236.79    \u20ac302.90    \u20ac300.83    \u20ac216.23    \u20ac152.64    \u20ac16.91      1 May 2030    \u20ac773.25    \u20ac773.25    \u20ac693.38    \u20ac693.38    \u20ac693.38    \u20ac253.25    \u20ac322.93    \u20ac318.45    \u20ac226.84    \u20ac163.25    \u20ac18.09     \",  and  (b) by the substitution of the following for Schedule 2A to that Act (as amended by section 27(2)(d) of the Finance Act 2020 (No. 26 of 2020)):  \"SCHEDULE 2A  Carbon Charge         Light Oil:  Rates per 1,000 litres        Heavy Oil:  Rates per 1,000 litres                        Liquefied Petroleum Gas:  Rates per 1,000 litres              With effect as on and from:    Petrol    Aviation Gasoline    Used as a propellant    Used for air navigation    Used for private pleasure navigation    Kerosene used other than as a propellant    Fuel oil    Other heavy oil    Used as a propellant    Other liquefied petroleum gas    Vehicle gas:  Rate per megawatt hour at gross calorific value      1 May 2021    \u20ac77.52    \u20ac77.52    \u20ac89.66    \u20ac89.66    \u20ac89.66    \u20ac84.84    \u20ac103.23    \u20ac90.81    \u20ac54.68    \u20ac54.68    \u20ac6.06      13 October 2021    \u20ac94.87    \u20ac94.87    \u20ac109.74    \u20ac109.74    \u20ac109.74    \u20ac84.84    \u20ac103.23    \u20ac90.81    \u20ac54.68    \u20ac54.68    \u20ac6.06      1 May 2022    \u20ac94.87    \u20ac94.87    \u20ac109.74    \u20ac109.74    \u20ac109.74    \u20ac103.83    \u20ac126.34    \u20ac111.14    \u20ac66.93    \u20ac66.93    \u20ac7.41      12 October 2022    \u20ac112.23    \u20ac112.23    \u20ac129.81    \u20ac129.81    \u20ac129.81    \u20ac103.83    \u20ac126.34    \u20ac111.14    \u20ac66.93    \u20ac66.93    \u20ac7.41      1 May 2023    \u20ac112.23    \u20ac112.23    \u20ac129.81    \u20ac129.81    \u20ac129.81    \u20ac122.83    \u20ac149.45    \u20ac131.47    \u20ac79.17    \u20ac79.17    \u20ac8.77      11 October 2023    \u20ac129.59    \u20ac129.59    \u20ac149.89    \u20ac149.89    \u20ac149.89    \u20ac122.83    \u20ac149.45    \u20ac131.47    \u20ac79.17    \u20ac79.17    \u20ac8.77      1 May 2024    \u20ac129.59    \u20ac129.59    \u20ac149.89    \u20ac149.89    \u20ac149.89    \u20ac141.82    \u20ac172.56    \u20ac151.81    \u20ac91.42    \u20ac91.42    \u20ac10.13      9 October 2024    \u20ac146.94    \u20ac146.94    \u20ac169.96    \u20ac169.96    \u20ac169.96    \u20ac141.82    \u20ac172.56    \u20ac151.81    \u20ac91.42    \u20ac91.42    \u20ac10.13      1 May 2025    \u20ac146.94    \u20ac146.94    \u20ac169.96    \u20ac169.96    \u20ac169.96    \u20ac160.81    \u20ac195.67    \u20ac172.14    \u20ac103.66    \u20ac103.66    \u20ac11.48      8 October 2025    \u20ac164.30    \u20ac164.30    \u20ac190.04    \u20ac190.04    \u20ac190.04    \u20ac160.81    \u20ac195.67    \u20ac172.14    \u20ac103.66    \u20ac103.66    \u20ac11.48      14 October 2026    \u20ac181.65    \u20ac181.65    \u20ac210.11    \u20ac210.11    \u20ac210.11    \u20ac179.81    \u20ac218.79    \u20ac192.47    \u20ac115.90    \u20ac115.90    \u20ac12.84      1 May 2027    \u20ac181.65    \u20ac181.65    \u20ac210.11    \u20ac210.11    \u20ac210.11    \u20ac198.80    \u20ac241.90    \u20ac212.80    \u20ac128.15    \u20ac128.15    \u20ac14.20      13 October 2027    \u20ac199.01    \u20ac199.01    \u20ac230.18    \u20ac230.18    \u20ac230.18    \u20ac198.80    \u20ac241.90    \u20ac212.80    \u20ac128.15    \u20ac128.15    \u20ac14.20      1 May 2028    \u20ac199.01    \u20ac199.01    \u20ac230.18    \u20ac230.18    \u20ac230.18    \u20ac217.80    \u20ac265.01    \u20ac233.13    \u20ac140.39    \u20ac140.39    \u20ac15.56      11 October 2028    \u20ac216.37    \u20ac216.37    \u20ac250.26    \u20ac250.26    \u20ac250.26    \u20ac217.80    \u20ac265.01    \u20ac233.13    \u20ac140.39    \u20ac140.39    \u20ac15.56      1 May 2029    \u20ac216.37    \u20ac216.37    \u20ac250.26    \u20ac250.26    \u20ac250.26    \u20ac236.79    \u20ac288.12    \u20ac253.47    \u20ac152.64    \u20ac152.64    \u20ac16.91      10 October 2029    \u20ac231.41    \u20ac231.41    \u20ac267.66    \u20ac267.66    \u20ac267.66    \u20ac236.79    \u20ac288.12    \u20ac253.47    \u20ac152.64    \u20ac152.64    \u20ac16.91      1 May 2030    \u20ac231.41    \u20ac231.41    \u20ac267.66    \u20ac267.66    \u20ac267.66    \u20ac253.25    \u20ac308.15    \u20ac271.09    \u20ac163.25    \u20ac163.25    \u20ac18.09     \".  (2) IT is hereby declared that it is expedient in the public interest that this Resolution shall have statutory effect under the provisions of the Provisional Collection of Taxes Act 1927 (No. 7 of 1927).  In accordance with what the Ceann Comhairle said, I will later move the other two financial resolutions. I will begin by outlining the detail of the most recent actions which have been taken by the Government to endeavour to support people through what is an extraordinarily challenging time and an extraordinary energy shock. These decisions that we are putting before the D\u00e1il this evening will reduce the cost burden at the petrol pump, support those most at risk of energy poverty and assist key sectors that are critical to keeping our economy moving.  Financial Resolution No. 1 provides for the extension of the excise rate reductions which were introduced in March and which are due to run until 31 July. It also introduces a further reduction in excise rates, bringing the overall level of excise reduction to 30 cent per litre for auto diesel, 25 cent per litre for petrol and 5.4 cent per litre for marked gas oil, MGO, in addition to the specific agricultural package that the Minister, Deputy Heydon, has brought in. All of these are on a VAT inclusive basis with the reduction in the National Oil Reserves Agency, NORA, levy pending further relief. Financial Resolution No. 1 defers the 1 May carbon tax increase on MGO, kerosene, heating oil and other relevant fuels until 14 October next.  Financial Resolution No. 2 provides for the deferral for the planned 1 May increase on natural gas carbon tax, also until 14 October. Financial Resolution No. 3 provides for the delay of a planned 1 May increase on solid fuel carbon tax, also until 14 October.  As we stated at the outset of our response to this fuel crisis, our initial package of measures in March was temporary and targeted. At the time, we also stated that it was a first step and that the Government would continue to monitor and review this situation on an ongoing basis and would respond further as required. There has been much engagement between then and now, and then and the Easter period with representative groups, including a lengthy meeting with the Minister for agriculture and I had with both the Irish Farmers Association, IFA, and Farm Contractors Ireland, and the significant engagement the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and the Minister of State, Deputy Canney and others had with the haulage sector.  Sunday's announcement builds on the March measures to provide a comprehensive and far reaching package of support. It is objectively a comprehensive and significant package of support well in excess of what many other European countries have done per head of population. In March, as colleagues know, we legislated for excise rate reductions of 15 cent per litre for petrol, 20 cent per litre for auto diesel, and 3 cent per litre for MGO. In addition, the NORA levy was reduced by 2 cent per litre for liquid fuels such as auto diesel, petrol, MGO and kerosene. Further to this diesel rebate scheme, the maximum repayment for road haulage and bus passenger operators was also increased to a maximum of 12 cent per litre.  Today's financial resolutions provide for a second layer of intervention that I will now outline. We will reduce excise on auto diesel by a further 10 cent, VAT inclusive. Taking the 2 cent NORA levy reduction into account, this brings the total reduction on diesel to 32 cent per litre, VAT inclusive. We are also reducing the excise on petrol by a further 10 cent. Inclusive of the 2 cent NORA levy reduction, this brings the total reduction on petrol to 27 cent per litre, VAT inclusive. We will also reduce the excise on MGO, or green diesel, by a further 2.4 cent, VAT inclusive. Talking the 2 cent NORA levy reduction into account this brings the total reduction on MGO, or green diesel, to 7.4 cent per litre. As I said, this needs to be read alongside the specific sectoral package of supports brought in for those who use and are dependent on green diesel. All of these reductions will run until 31 July.  The estimated cost of these further excise reductions and the extension of the initial reductions until 31 July 2026 is of the order of \u20ac260 million. In addition, the Government has decided to defer the planned increase in carbon tax scheduled for 1 May until 14 October. This will provide further support to consumers of green diesel, kerosene, natural gas, solid fuels and other relevant non-propellant fuels. It has always been our policy to delay carbon tax increases on home heating fuels until 1 May each year. This allows for the passage of the winter heating season with the vast majority of fuel purchased between October and April, but in light of the extraordinary energy situation we feel it is now prudent to defer that planned May increase until later in the year. The estimated cost of this deferral is in the region of \u20ac22 million. In terms of the overall carbon tax revenue allocated for expenditure in budget 2026, which was over \u20ac1.1 billion, this represents approximately 2% of the allocation.  Because I genuinely believe in the carbon tax and the benefits it provides in terms of retrofitting and the move away from fossil fuels, and I note support from genuinely significant numbers of Members of the Opposition for the benefit of that as a policy, we intend the spend the same amount this year on these measures as was profiled and we will do that by running a smaller surplus. This is the first time the Government has postponed any carbon tax increase since the introduction of the carbon tax trajectory in 2020. It is genuinely not something we do lightly. As we have consistently stated, the carbon tax is an important part of our county's climate action strategy. The decision on this temporary postponement is not taken lightly, and the carbon tax trajectory does provide incentives to industry to decarbonise. It also assists in addressing energy poverty. It supports our farmers. That is a point which is often lost in the debate. A significant amount of carbon tax goes into supporting our farmers, as the Minister, Deputy Heydon, knows, and also helps with retrofitting our homes. Deferring the increase on a temporary basis does recognise a significant turbulence we see in energy markets which has led to extreme price increases in fuels, such as kerosene and MGO, and therefore it seems to be a prudent thing to do.  It is not possible to offset all of the recent increases, which are driven by market factors, using the tax system, and we have got to be honest about that as well. That is why we also have to look at what supports we can provide outside of the taxation system. It is why we took the decision, for example, to expand the fuel allowance scheme, which provides assistance to not far off 500,000 households, in recognition that not everything can be done through taxation. If you believe in the importance of funding the retrofitting, farming and fuel poverty schemes, you will see that carbon tax does play an important role and that, therefore, we have looked at other ways of supporting people with home heating costs by means, for example, of the extension of the fuel allowance.  In addition to the tax measures being discussed, the Government has also announced a comprehensive \u20ac100 million fuel subsidy support scheme to assist farmers, agricultural contractors and fishers facing unprecedented increases in fuel costs. Farmers and agricultural contractors will benefit from a support rate equivalent to approximately 20 cent per litre on MGO use on the basis of verified fuel consumption in 2025. This is in addition to the excise changes I have already announced. The funding will be distributed proportionately, a point that was strongly emphasised in our ongoing engagement with the representative groups of farmers and farm contractors. This targeted and practical support package does ensure those most exposed to these increases will receive meaningful assistance at the most critical time of the year. I appreciate the welcome that the IFA, the Irish national representative organisation for farmers, has given to this package. I thank it and the many other farming organisations for engaging over many hours at the weekend and prior to that and for their work.  To support the haulage and coach sectors, the Government will be establishing a new road transporters support scheme, RTSS. This will be modelled on the licensed haulage support schemes of 2022 and 2023. Similar to the schemes that were deployed following Russia's brutal and illegal invasion of Ukraine, it will be deployed to assist the sectors with the higher fuel prices. The RTSS will provide direct payments to the haulage and coach operators. Payments will be graduated with smaller businesses receiving a proportionately greater level of support. That is important. For coach operators that provide Local Link and school transport services, a separate support measure relating to the contractual arrangements of those operators will be introduced.  I know there has been significant concern around the issue of school transport services. The combined cost per month of these supports to the transport sector is estimated at \u20ac40 million. I also want to thank the representatives bodies from that sector and the likes of the Irish Road Haulage Association and many others which extensively engaged over the weekend, and well in advance of the weekend too, for their constructive engagement. These further measures will also be in place for a defined period of time. As was the case in March, the Government reserves the option to adjust our approach as the circumstances globally evolve and as needs require.  These supports are timely and necessary. In responding to the shock, objectively, the Irish Government has done more than most governments but this has only been possible because of the strength of public finances. That fiscal resilience has not happened by accident. It reflects decisions taken by this Government to rebuild fiscal buffers, focuses on strengthening the foundations of the economy and represents the really hard work and resilience of the Irish people and businesses the length and breadth of this country which we acknowledge today as well. The package announced on Sunday is a further significant response to the real pressures being felt across the country. It will directly help people impacted by the unprecedented global crisis in energy supply. We have always indicated we will keep the situation under review and act again if necessary. That remains the position of the Government but this is a significant response to real pressures being felt by Irish households and businesses. It is one of the most comprehensive support packages in the EU. I support the three resolutions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I move amendment No. 1:  In paragraph (1)\u2014  (a) in subparagraph (a)\u2014  (i) by the substitution of the following for the row dated 15 April 2026:  \u201c     15 April 2026    \u20ac381.00    \u20ac502.88    \u20ac250.00    \u20ac371.85    \u20ac371.85    \u20ac0.00    \u20ac210.45    \u20ac21.00    \u20ac167.25    \u20ac79.17    \u20ac11.48     \"  and  (ii) by the deletion of the rows dated 1 August 2026 to 1 May 2030,  and  (b) by the deletion of subparagraph (b).\u201d.  When I stood at the protests right across this State with the ordinary Irish people, I pledged to them I would have their back. I told them that I would fight their corner and I am not going to let them down. That is exactly what we are doing here today. We are the only party in the D\u00e1il tabling an amendment to the Government's proposal that would actually reduce the cost of petrol and diesel and end the carbon tax on green diesel and the same on home heating oil. That is the type of leadership and action people at the protests - ordinary people the length and breadth of this State - have told me they are demanding and need. We are not going to accept half measures. We did not accept the half measures from the Government the last time. Simon Harris stood there and he sneered at me. He said we were on our own and isolated. Well, by God, Simon, you got your answer because the people of Ireland were right behind us and they were calling you and your party out for your inaction over and over again. They forced you into the situation where you are today, a place you did not want to be but you still ignore them, insult them, look down at them, sneer and jeer at them. That is what you are doing. You spoke for ten minutes earlier on and you spoke again but not once did you recognise the hardship facing ordinary Irish people across this State----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I did. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  If you did, you would understand that your measures simply do not go far enough. How could you stand up, understanding where people are at, and decide to say you are just doing nothing on home heating oil and you are just going to leave people to paddle their own canoe in relation to that issue? Simon, I stood in the homes of these people. They invited me in. They have shown me their tanks running dry. They told me they have had to put on an extra coat at night. I have been in homes where somebody opened their wallet at the start of the week and had \u20ac50 left. I talked to a plumber who was called out to a house because the plumbing system was airlocked because they ran out of oil. He could not charge them the call-out fee because the only thing that house had was a 25-litre drum because they could not afford any more. You decide to come in here with an insult to those individuals - a complete and utter abdication of your duties in saying you are doing nothing on home heating oil. It is absolutely disgraceful. If you listened, you would understood where people are at. Talk to the farmers. I spoke to a farmer - a late night call. Somebody who was in a desperate situation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I represent farmers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  He and his father stood in a farming shed that evening in the middle of the protests. It was lambing season. The father is well beyond pension age but cannot retire because he cannot afford it. He said he and his son cannot even draw a wage from the farm now yet there is a 4 cent cut to green diesel - private jets get a 24 cent cut under Fine Gael, Fianna F\u00e1il and the Independents. It shows your priorities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  You are wrong. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  You can yap all you want. Why do you not go and yap to the people? Why do you not go and talk to ordinary people? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  It is 27.4 cent on a litre. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Talk to the fisherman who came to me. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  You are misleading people. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  You are the ones on the Government side who preach to this side. I am asking you to practice what you preach. Likewise with you, Deputy Doherty. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  It works both ways. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  It works in both directions. Let Deputy Doherty finish and I will say it to him as well. He needs to behave not just now but----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Talk to the fishermen who will tell you that the diesel went up \u20ac10,000 in a fortnight. That boat is tied up; the crew is out of work because of inaction from your Government. We will not accept half measures and we will vote against this resolution for that purpose but also because you are asking us to lock in increases in carbon tax every year to 2030. That is what this resolution states. I say to every party that stood on the protest line and talked about carbon tax, by God do not be voting for it tonight because that is what you will vote for if you support this Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  Five months into his tenure as Minister for Finance, the T\u00e1naiste, is bringing forward a second batch of emergency financial resolutions just four weeks on from the initial \u20ac250 million package. On balance, we in the Labour Party support the decision to reduce excise duties on petrol and diesel but the Government is quickly running out of road on further reductions when the price shock from the disruption to oil supply is yet to fully hit. We know there are dangerous and volatile times on the way; this is far from over. All in, this Government has pledged nearly \u20ac800 million mostly in tax cuts and fuel subsidies. The only social spending measure to date is four extra weeks of fuel allowance. This is indicative of the priorities. The Government has managed to provide sectoral support in the shape of a \u20ac100 million package for the agrifood sector and even more for the haulage sector but until now - the T\u00e1naiste put some details on the record - there have been few public details announced on the enhanced transport support scheme and how it will work but at a cost of \u20ac40 million a month, on top of the previous diesel rebate scheme and excise and levy cuts on fuel that will be absorbed almost immediately by price increases.  All of this being said, it is PAYE workers across the country who are left wondering what is in this for them, when their discrete package of cost-of-living measures and supports will arrive. Where are the targeted energy credits we sought to design along with colleagues in the Social Democrats, whose party policy it also is? They are targeted energy credits for people earning under \u20ac80,000. We have been arguing for that for several years. Where is the right to remote work? It would greatly help to reduce the cost of the commute. Where is the plan to reduce grocery prices or introduce more transparency in a system dominated by international players? Where is the plan to cut the cost of public transport?  The budget last year did next to nothing for working people other than keep the show on the road for the country. A point was made earlier by somebody else in this Chamber that you have managed to develop a budget with \u20ac9 billion of additional spending but the position of working people, people on low and middle incomes, is materially deteriorating. There was a budget last year that did nothing for working people. It is not news to the T\u00e1naiste that I am saying this; I said it that day and the evidence is there. Instead, the Government committed to spending nearly \u20ac500 million this year and over \u20ac1 billion next year on VAT cuts for construction and an economically illiterate VAT cut for a hospitality sector that is adding jobs by the day. Any savings on the newbuilds the T\u00e1naiste says he wishes to support in terms of the construction VAT cut are now gone with the increase in construction inflation. It will make no difference to the price of meals for the public in the context of the hospitality VAT cut or the wages of low-paid workers in a sector that is addicted to low pay.  In the coming weeks, there may be a situation where the supply of fuels will be disrupted and further measures may be needed. The Government is also setting a dangerous precedent by delaying carbon duties used to fund measures to decarbonise our economy and support those who need help the most to decarbonise with their fuel needs. Other interventions like reducing the applicable VAT rate should have been considered instead. Four weeks ago when we were debating the first round of measures in the House, I asked the T\u00e1naiste to speak to the European Commission on the prospect of reducing the VAT rate on home heating oil, for example, from 13.5% to 9%.  In the meantime, over those four weeks, our socialist colleague in Spain, Pedro Sanchez, cut VAT on fuels from 21% to 10% and Poland cut VAT on fuels from 23% to 8%. The EU has expressed concern about these VAT cuts but the Commissioner has also advised governments to reduce excise instead. It is really a technical matter related to the VAT directives. We have seen in the past that the EU has moved to reduce VAT or have a zero VAT rate on a range of products over the years.  At a time of crisis the EU simply cannot be allowed to tie itself up in bureaucratic knots while people are struggling. For the sake of the credibility of the EU, in the middle of a crisis facing every citizen, business and household in the European Union, it needs to act fast. It needs to show pragmatism and it needs to show flexibility. This is what the idea of a social Europe should be all about.  There were other options available to the Government that should have been explored outside of reducing the carbon tax. Reducing the VAT rate on fuels on a temporary basis must be on the table if this crisis continues to escalate. On balance, we will support the reductions to excise but other options were available and would have been preferable rather than undermining the principle of carbon taxes and what they are ultimately trying to achieve.  For far too many of the people I represent there is a permanence about this cost-of-living crisis. If the Government and everyone else in the House are serious about democracy and value the democratic culture and the State that my party and others helped to found and cultivate, they will not want to see ever again the kind of scenes we saw last week on our streets. Most working people I know and represent are no political allies of the extremist elements that set about the blockades last week but they are so worried about making ends meet, and so broken and despairing at the end of the week or the month, that they, against their better judgment and instincts, gave them a hearing. This is a challenge to the Government and it is a challenge to the Opposition also.  Doing little for working people in the last budget has had political consequences. Workers saw the package on Sunday and they quickly concluded there was nothing in it for them. No tax indexation in the last budget means lower take-home pay this year than last year for anybody who might receive a pay increase of 2% to 3%. The Government turned its back on a modest statutory sick pay scheme. It has delayed the delivery of a real living wage. Any change we in the Labour Party propose on remote work or paid sick leave is shot down and dismissed simply as a cost to business. The working public sees this. Sunday's package was a sectoral carve out. Working people are getting more militant and so will the trade union movement. Stand over and promote good deals that give people back their dignity, or people who have seen what happened last week could end up taking their own legitimate grievances about their own standards of living in an altogether different direction, and nobody wants to see that. This House and the Government need to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  I want to start by saying to the T\u00e1naiste that the Government has lost a Minister of State who said clearly that the leadership of the Government was not listening. When I was talking to the T\u00e1naiste and the Taoiseach earlier during the confidence motion and reading out the experience of the cost-of-living crisis of a nurse who had worked for years for the HSE in this country, he and the Taoiseach were having a grand old chat rather than----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  That is not fair. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  Well, it is true. A couple of people have been in contact with me and I want the T\u00e1naiste to listen when I outline their experiences. A constituent who contacted me this morning said:  Now what about the rest of the people  Pensioners like myself  Every time l go into the supermarket items are going up.  I can't afford to buy meat anymore.  Maybe you could ask Michael Martin to walk around the supermarket with me to see the price of food.  This is her experience. For the first time in her life she is not able to buy the very basics in the supermarket. She wants to know what the Government is going to do to address the cost-of-living crisis for her and for people like her.  I want to read the words of another nurse who, despite doing everything right, cannot keep her head above the water.  I work on average 60 hours a week for the last 3 years.  I haven't taken a week off in that time as I work agency shifts during my annual leave.  My commute to work is 100km each way.  I have \u20ac200 in my bank account to do me until the end of the month but will need \u20ac400 just to drive to work.  I'm contemplating sleeping in my car between shifts just to save some money.  I don't know what to do, me and my partner are very frugal.  We only buy our meat from the 75% off section and freeze it,  We don't eat out,  We've cut our food portions smaller,  We've agreed that when we run out of oil we won't be refilling it.  I look online and see my fellow nurses living it up in Australia wondering if we made the right decision to stay and work in Ireland.  These are real people who are massively struggling with the cost-of-living crisis. A full-time nurse, who has not taken holidays in three years as she uses her annual leave to do agency work, should not be in this situation regarding buying food, turning on the heating and meeting friends.  For some time now, the Social Democrats have been putting forward proposals and asking the Government to implement them. We have been asking for a \u20ac400 energy credit for the 50% of households with lower incomes. This measure would help people who are really squeezed. Even before the current crisis, there were already 320,000 households in electricity bill arrears. Disabled people were up to \u20ac1,400 worse off after the budget. I really would ask the Government to look at these and at our proposals for rolling out solar panels. Every home, farm building and small business in the country should have them. Our proposals to double the grants for these should be taken on board. N\u00ed fol\u00e1ir don Rialtas \u00e9isteacht. N\u00ed fol\u00e1ir don Rialtas gn\u00edomh\u00fa. The Government must listen and the Government must act. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  We voted no confidence in the Government today because from our perspective, from what we see and from what our constituents tell us, people are struggling and suffering. They are being devastated by a cost-of-living crisis. What we are being told about the reality of people's lives is that they cannot cover the basics. There are people in this country right now who are choosing whether or not to turn on the heating. I was in Artane in my constituency last week, talking to people at the doors. Elderly people told me they were looking at when they turned the heat on because they did not have enough money and they could not cover it. This is the reality. There are elderly people and disabled people, and I know the T\u00e1naiste knows this.  There are also young people who are trying to save for a deposit to buy a home. The cost of living is eroding their dreams even further. We have 320,000 people in arrears. We have families who are deciding whether they can afford to go to the GP this week. I call out the Government's failure to achieve its commitments on free GP care for children. It would be a measure that would help families. This is not all about short-term measures. There are fundamental changes needed in how we deliver public services and their affordability in transport and in childcare. These are all eating into people's weekly wages and their income.  We have a fundamental problem in this country. Our cost of living is 34% higher than the EU average. There are many reasons for this and one of them, which the Government has acknowledged, is the price gouging and profit gouging that is going on. I call it cute hoor capitalism in Ireland. It goes on and we know it. People try to get as much as they can and they try to make as much as they can, and people feel it. They ask why prices are increasing so much. We need action from the Government to stabilise prices, and when people are price gouging, they should be fined properly. This is not happening enough because there is a gap between the amount by which wholesale gas, wholesale electricity and wholesale food costs are going up and what people are actually being forced to pay. The gas prices people are being charged have increased 100% since 2021.  What we also need to talk about, and what was not mentioned enough at all last week, is inequality - the gap in respect of those children who are in poverty in this country. We have one in five children living in poverty. In some form, they are affected by poverty. We have, shamefully, almost 5,500 children living in homelessness. They are in a form of poverty. People cannot afford the rent. They cannot afford the house prices. The cost-of-living crisis is hitting them as well. We have an economy that is deeply unequal. I spoke before about how, in a way, we have two Irelands. We actually have many Irelands but there is a deep division between those who can afford this high-cost economy and those who cannot and who are really struggling. This Government is not doing enough for them and needs to structurally change our economy so people can afford to live in this country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  The Minister of State, Deputy Dooley, was on the radio this morning and he was explaining why the Government has introduced this new package. He claimed, of course, that it has nothing to do with the protests or blockades; nobody believes that. Instead, he said it is because the measures that we introduced a number of weeks ago were wiped out by the international price of oil going up. How could he have known that this would happen? How could the Government have known? We warned the Government. We warned it in that debate that unless it introduced price controls, precisely that would happen. What will happen with the meagre 10 cent and nothing that has been given in terms of kerosene? What will happen to that? Quite likely, that will also be wiped out by an increase in the international price of oil. What is the alternative? The alternative is to have price controls to give people security and to stop profiteering and to let people know this is going to be the price. That is what we need to do. The Government has the power to do it. We have a Bill that we introduced two years ago to do it. People were on the streets over the past week demanding it. That has to be matched with universal measures like a \u20ac500 energy credit and measures to stop our reliance on fossil fuel immediately. We need to have free public transport. The force to do that is ordinary people. What the Parliament does, the streets can undo. That is what we have seen over the past week and that is what we need to see in the coming weeks to force meaningful action on costs of living to protect people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  In the six years I have been a TD and for much of the decade before that, there was a coalition in this House - a coalition that existed across Government and Opposition that supported the carbon tax. There was a coalition that recognised the arguments that a dedicated, predictable and increasing fund of money was necessary to fund the changes needed to transition our economy away from fossil fuels. There was a coalition, again, across Government and Opposition, that took difficult votes against populist amendments and spoke against populist motion and a coalition that recognised that sometimes, in this House, we need to genuinely look towards the long term and not just towards the next election. Today, with these financial resolutions, the Government has smashed that coalition. It has bowed to the pressure of populists. It has provided fodder for those who argue falsely that the carbon tax - a tax that only brings in 1% of our country's tax revenue - is the source of all ills. Now that the Government has demonstrated that the carbon tax is negotiable and that when pressure is applied, it will bend, how can we expect to see the next increase take place in October? The people who blocked public transport and who prevented workers from moving are watching. They know that the Government cracked in April and it will crack again in October. A Rubicon has been crossed today and the Government has lost the argument for us all. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  While the measures that were introduced will bring some relief, they do not go far enough. There are too many left out, including families, commuters, taxi drivers, home help staff, public health nurses and people who depend on home heating oil. The majority of rural houses in County Laois depend on home heating oil. They are facing double whammies and triple whammies. Workers and families on a medium income who do not get fuel allowance have been left out. The price of diesel has gone up by 70 cent. Five EU states are calling for a windfall tax to be put on the wholesale price and for that tax to be used, namely, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Austria. Where is Ireland? Ireland needs to join that. Five large EU countries are calling for it. The Irish Government should join that and use that money to bring in reliefs for people. The backers of it say that it would make it possible to finance temporary reliefs for consumers and curb inflation and send a clear message to the profit-making companies that is what needs to happen. Ireland should back that. Greece brought in its own measure. It brought in a three-month limit on the profit margins, not on the cap. I understand the argument around the cap. It put a limit in terms of the profit margin people can have. It is 12 cent for retailers and 12 cent for wholesalers. The Government here should do the same thing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  I have a feeling that this is a very important week and a turning point in the life of this Government. Militant protests and blockades have taken place in the context of an ever-worsening cost-of-living crisis. People were threatened with repression. They got some repression as well, actually. Yet, a high level of the population supported those protests. Why does the T\u00e1naiste think that is? Also, in opinion polls, people blamed the Government and they blamed Donald Trump and Netanyahu. By the way, the T\u00e1naiste has never once condemned the illegal war on Iran and Lebanon that has fuelled this. I have not heard it. Verbal gymnastics have come from the Government to avoid apportioning blame. I believe that the resolutions the T\u00e1naiste is proposing tonight will not cut any mustard. None of the issues is resolved even for the sector that protested never mind for the general population. The likelihood is that the cost-of-living crisis is going to get worse. We have psychopaths are running the population. We need workers and trade unions to step into the picture here. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  The protesters who were on the streets were there, by their own explanation, because their backs were up to the wall to the extent that they simply could not sustain the fuel price hikes they were enduring. That is on top of a cost-of-living crisis that is absolutely crushing people in terms of the cost of accommodation, energy price hikes, the cost of childcare and so on. It should be obvious to the T\u00e1naiste that the Government has utterly failed to address that crisis. The demands that were made by those who were on the streets, which the Government is refusing to bow to, were for price controls. That is what they asked for. In fact, price controls they asked for on petrol, diesel, home heating oil and green diesel were almost exactly what we put in a Bill we brought into this House two years ago and that we brought in again a number of weeks ago almost word for word. They would actually bring down the cost of fuel, green diesel and home heating oil to levels that are affordable and where there would be certainty because all of the measly concessions the Government has given, which are totally inadequate, can be wiped out virtually overnight. Price controls are what is needed. I do not know why the T\u00e1naiste set his face against it because when it comes to handouts, as we saw in the budget, they were given to big business on research and development tax credits or, for example, \u20ac1 billion last year in excise cuts to the aviation industry to a few very profitable airlines. How can it give it to the big corporate sector but it will not give it to ordinary people who are being crushed with the cost-of-living crisis? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  The Government has created some omnishambles this week. It is incredible that within the space of a week, the Government has done both the country and itself enormous damage. In many years' time, when perspective returns to this, the T\u00e1naiste will definitely rue the decisions the Government makes today. In future, the only advice I can give him is to always talk to people in relation to any of these difficulties. The problem stemmed from the inability of elected representatives to talk to people. One issue here that people are not discussing at all it is that high energy prices are bad for the economy. I do not think I have ever really heard any political party in this country make that statement baldly in the past number of years. They make the costs of production go up. They make their exports go up. They make it more difficult to trade internationally. They put pressure on jobs. They make the food on the shelves more expensive to pay for. They are the biggest addition to the rip-off Ireland in which so many people are living.  In the high energy cost country we are living in at the moment is the issue of carbon tax. It is problematic because it increases tax two, three, four or five years ahead of time, irrespective of the economic situation that people, families and businesses are in. You can only tailor a tax on the basis of where the economy is at and where people's pockets are at. This particular tax ignores all of that and that is why it is so problematic. We were the only political party in Leinster House that voted against the introduction of the carbon tax in the first place. It is at the moment hurting families, teachers, older people and all the different elements of society that keep our society going. It is hurting them horrendously.  There has been a postponement. The Government stated that such a postponement could never happen but it has. We now need a proper discussion about carbon taxes. Other European countries have carbon floors and other issues to ensure they nudge people towards non-fossil fuels in the future. This tax is a hammer in relation to people's behaviour. Carbon tax is, we are told, planned to achieve a price to move people away from carbon use. However, if the market has already achieved that price, carbon tax is just punitive. Carbon tax is, we are told, intended to change behaviours but people have no alternatives. They cannot take in the silage with an electric car. They cannot spread slurry with an electric car. The Government needs to ensure that people with no alternatives have a break that allows them to function. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  It looks like my colleagues are not here so I will take their time until they arrive, if that is okay with the Leas-Cheann Comhairle.  I and others were looking at the financial resolutions. In respect of the carbon tax, it looks to me as if it will be ring-fenced over a certain period, going forward. It has now been put off. I have serious reservations. I would find it very difficult to vote for anything that would have that effect, if I can prove it. I am looking into it and if that is the case, I will not be supporting this resolution. The Government may say \"Yes\" tomorrow. Look at all the things it refuses, as such. There are other areas that have been forgotten about. People cannot fill their home-heating oil tanks this evening. The Government might say they can go to their local social welfare offices but many people fall between the cracks. They are telling me they are cold at home and are finding it very difficult. They do not have the funding to do that. Plant hire people are not going to get any relief from the recently announced package. The road builders and those in the building sector are saying to me that they have not got it. I have a letter here from the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers' Organisation, ICSA, representatives of which the Government shamefully locked outside the door the other day. They attended the same protest as I did in Dublin the other day and on that basis, they got booted out. That is not a way to do business. Our way of doing business is to try to talk to people.  The Minister of State, Deputy Butler, who I wish was still here but she is no longer, was wrong when she said that I blocked people. I went to Whitegate and never blocked anybody. I spoke to people and asked them to step down. I said that if there was a reasonable package, we should step down and work together. I went to Dublin and said the same thing. It was unfair to say that I blocked something but we all say things in the heat of the moment, and I accept that.  In the past week, there was a lot of what they call \"gaslighting\", or whatever, and enflaming the situation. The Taoiseach made a serious mistake - he will not agree with me, as is his entitlement - instead of talking to people. Even if he could not talk to people, he could have easily found someone who would and got around this. There were ways around this. I found that on the first day of the protests in Dublin, the protestors were willing to talk but not on the third or fourth day. People got deeply entrenched and there was no point in trying to negotiate in a very difficult situation. The Minister of State, Deputy Canney, did not help the situation by telling people to use bikes instead of cars. That is fine. He is thinking of a city environment. I would love to think that I could tell people to go to work on a bike in the morning but I cannot tell people to cycle 13 km to work in the morning. Some people where I live are driving 80 km or 90 km per day back and forth to work. They are finding it difficult. The Government is saying to us that the carers of our country are being blocked from going to work. They cannot afford to go to work and that is the bottom line.  The Government cannot resolve everything. I said that at each protest. This is a war that is outside the Government's control. The Government said it had given the most. The bottom line is that it has already taken the most. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I ask the Deputy to conclude. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  I will conclude on that, which is the point the Government needs to remember. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  I will be supporting these resolutions. It is constructive to do so. I said in a contribution a few weeks ago that the Government was not acting fast enough, which was fair comment. It has responded this time, although some will say it has not responded sufficiently, and that is also fair comment. The Government might disagree.  I agree with the Government about the overall picture. There is only a set amount of revenue. The pharmaceutical industry and IT windfall is not going to last forever so the Government needs a broad tax base, despite what is said by some of the self-appointed leaders. Some of the misogynistic, criminally convicted, rape-endorsing, tax-defaulting so-called appointed leaders are jumping on the backs of the ordinary people who have real concerns. They seem to think you can suddenly scrap the excise duty and the carbon tax, and everything is going to be hunky-dory and you are still going to have money to spend for vulnerable people where it is needed. I have been critical of the Government for the apartments tax break that could have gone to help people with disabilities and make their cost of living more manageable but it is within the confines of trying to be fiscally responsible. People are being hit by an international conflict caused by Trump and Netanyahu. It is not of the Government's creation. It is also restricted by certain EU regulations. However, I still think that in the short term, over the next six months, the Government must respond quicker and put in the measures that will bring prices back to the level they were. This issue may last for six or 12 months and the Government must be seen to respond. It won the confidence vote but still has a responsibility because people out there are hurting. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  I am glad of the opportunity. It has been an awful time for the people of Ireland and it is not getting much better. Indeed, it has been an awful time for elected politicians, their families and workers. We were pegged around the place by friends and people of whom we thought a lot and people who thought a lot of us. We have been working for them for many years. I think it was what happened here on 24 March that kicked it off. There was a reduction of only 3 cent to help people with the cost of green diesel, which had gone up by 80 cent. There was only a reduction of 2 cent on kerosene, which had gone up by 80 cent, too. To throw petrol on the fire, some time around April Fool's Day, the Minister, Deputy McEntee, went to Ukraine and gave it \u20ac40 million. People started to go mad and they are mad. They are hard-living and hard-working people, including nurses and carers. It was a cross-section of the community. It was coming from every angle. That is the God's gospel truth. People are still very hurt. What I said that day was that however much more oil was costing, I knew it would have to be paid but the Government would have to forgo the extra taxes at the pump where people were paying for it. I said the Government should reduce it and not make work for itself with applications. The people were going to be in trouble filling out application forms, as they are with every other application. Many people are denied after going to the trouble of applying and the Government is giving them false hope. I said to the Government to give that money back at the pumps.  People complain about all the money that is wasted. They are right to do so. A lot of money is being wasted. We went down for \u20ac1.9 billion of a loan for the Ukrainians to keep the war going. That was on top of the \u20ac125 million that was given to President Zelenskyy. People say to me that RT\u00c9, when it was in trouble, got \u20ac725 million from the Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  The Deputy's time has expired. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  The Government's response to all the people of Ireland who are in trouble is to provide \u20ac755 million. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy Healy-Rae, your time is----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  RT\u00c9 is only one organisation or one company. It is not fair what is happening, or what has happened, to our people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  I welcome these measures and recognise that they are not enough to cushion everybody in this country from the effects of the greatest global energy crisis we have ever seen. It is unrealistic to tell people that the Government is in a position to do that. Let us be honest with people.  Deputy Collins and I were on the radio this morning talking about this and he said he did not block anyone. I am not saying he did, but he supported people who did. Let us be honest about it, because those blockades stopped people getting to work and hospital, and carers getting to elderly people. I do not really want to get involved in recriminations and playing the blame game. What is much more important is that we look at it through a lens of realism. Something has just been said about the Minister, Deputy McEntee, going to Ukraine and giving a certain amount of money. I have heard this from constituents as well. One person asked me in D\u00fan Laoghaire yesterday why we are giving money to Ukraine and what Ukraine has ever done for us. That is to fundamentally misunderstand what it is to be part of a global community. If the shoe were on the other foot and we were in a bad place, it might not be Ukraine helping us, but there would be other countries, particularly in the European Union----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  Did they help us when we were in trouble starving in the Famine? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  -----we would be calling on. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy Healy-Rae, you have had your say. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  They have helped us in the past. We have relied on them in the past. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  Brexit. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  When the economic crash came, we relied on the international community to keep us afloat and ensure Irish workers could put the country back where it was. Let us be honest about this. Being part of an international community is not only about taking and taking. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  See after our own people first, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  It is give and take. I am very proud of the work we have done as a country to help to provide for Ukraine. I have been there and seen what they have come through. The same argument could be made about Irish Aid and the work we do in much more under-developed countries, where children are starving. Is the Deputy saying we should take away their money as well? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Thank you. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  Why does he not go over and join Donald Trump's USAID cuts as well? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  I am saying enough is enough. We are not in the war with Russia. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  Let us be realistic and honest and get on with the fact that these are resolutions that will do the people of Ireland good and that is why we should support them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  This is a global energy crisis we are facing and we need to see it in those terms. Showing solidarity to those who are victims of war right now is a good thing. While I support these measures, the challenge has been that many of those who are out on the protest - and I know a lot of them - are hard-working and decent people and this was seen in many ways as being the last straw.  I genuinely feel that in the last budget we did not do enough for workers. We did not index link the tax bands, though that is something we should always do. We should always make work pay. It is of concern to me when I hear employers talking about the fact that people are reluctant to work more than 19 hours because they will lose certain benefits. The challenge we saw is because a lot of workers, particularly in my constituency, commute. The T\u00e1naiste will know many of them. An estimated 6,500 people commute from my constituency to work and college every day. Not alone did they not see sufficient benefits - there were some in the budget, but they were not sufficient - but once fuel prices increased, it became a significant problem for them.  What we have to do in the context of the coming budget, and in prioritising resources, is to look after those who work hard and contribute to the community as well as to protect the vulnerable with our disability strategy and looking after older people. It also requires, from an energy security point of view as well as an environmental one, that we move much more quickly on our investment in renewables. It is absolutely essential for wind and solar energy and indeed that we see the clearing house. That is happening at Government level, but it has to be a top priority that we start to see offshore wind being developed to a far greater extent.  This is one of the concerns. People are not afraid of contributing to the State if they can see their money is being spent well, but I worry that we are seeing a situation where public expenditure is getting out of control in many cases and people are not seeing sufficient return on their investment. We are fortunate the economy is so strong that we are able to deliver this package, which cannot be done anywhere else in Europe, but we may not always have that luxury. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy. I call the Minister, Deputy Heydon. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Martin Heydon)  In responding to the debate, I thank Deputies for raising the points they did. I will go through some of them. Deputy Doherty started off with a fascination with ordinary people. I am not sure who the extraordinary people are who he is not talking about. There are only ordinary people. They are all ordinary people. Somehow he has a monopoly on understanding what ordinary people have to go through and do not. He talked about standing in the farmers' kitchen and understanding how much pressure they were under and about the fishers and how much pressure they were under. One thing struck me. In his discussions with them, did he point out to the farmer the \u20ac100 million package that is being delivered this week or the 7.4 cent cut on excise this week that Sinn F\u00e9in seems opposed to that is there to help? Did he explain to the fisher about the \u20ac5 million per month of support there will be from March to July as part of the package that has been agreed and that there is no mineral oil tax on fuel for fishers because the State heavily subsidises mineral oil because we value what fishers do? No, he did not, because what he prefers to do as an Opposition spokesperson, as Sinn F\u00e9in wants, is to keep everyone whipped up, keep telling them there is a bogeyman over there and someone to blame.  It is great to see Deputy Doherty back in the House. I was just highlighting how he misled the D\u00e1il when he said a 4 cent cut will not wash for farmers when the cut on green diesel for farmers is 27.4 cent, comprising the 7.4 cent we are agreeing in these motions and the subsidy of 20 cent per litre on green diesel there will be in the coming months. The Government has the back of farmers, fishers and foresters and we will support them.  Deputy Nash raised that there is nothing here for the ordinary worker and Deputy Cian O'Callaghan talked about individual workers he deals with and the constituents who have come to him and the real impact on people's lives. One of the workers he referenced could not afford meat. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  She is a pensioner. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  It was a pensioner who could not afford meat as part of her diet. The Deputy specifically mentioned food on a number of occasions. If we do not intervene with the support of our \u20ac100 million package for the agrifood sector, it will have a direct impact on the cost of inflation. Energy is the biggest driver of inflation. Food inflation will absolutely have an impact on workers, so telling workers that these measures will not help them is not true. The measures supporting farmers and our package to support hauliers with a \u20ac140 million intervention to reduce the cost of logistics services that bring the food from farm to fork directly benefit everyone. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  I did not say it would not help anyone. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  I am making the point. I am not attacking. I am making the point that the interventions the Government has brought in, and the packages beyond the excise measures we are voting on here, will directly support all people in their lives and will help to avoid the cost-of-living crisis that impacts on everyone. Things do not happen in isolation.  Deputy Hearne talked about people not being able to cover the basics. It is the same point with where people are struck there.  Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn talked about the inability to talk to people and to listen. I have been engaging with the farmer representative bodies, the fishers and others for weeks on developing schemes. There are constraints and this is the challenge for the Government. We have to explain the constraints around the energy directive, how it needs to work around state aid rules with the EU and how that takes time. We were not in a position to do more on green diesel in the first intervention, but it has taken me time here to explain that, as it would in an interview. I cannot make a short, snappy TikTok video, which I suspect was the intention of Deputy Doherty when he was here earlier putting on the record that the intervention on green diesel was only 4 cent, wherever he got that figure from. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  The excise duty is 4 cent. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  He might correct the record. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputies. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  It is in your table. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  Deputy Collins talked about frustration. Yesterday on \"Morning Ireland\" he spoke to farmers at a volatile time. I absolutely accept how angry people have been and how many people have felt the challenge of the energy shock. After a volatile week when our country has been in a bad place, we all have responsibility. Everyone in this House has a mandate and was elected to help people. That is what we are here for. I do not question the mandate at all, but I do question why someone, after such a volatile weekend when a serious package had been agreed by the Cabinet on the Sunday evening, which Deputy Collins was well aware of, would go on \"Morning Ireland\" on Monday morning and try to tell people it is only 2.4 cent per litre on green diesel and try to keep the protest going and to make people who are upset and hurting more upset and hurting. That does not say compassion to me.  No one in this House has a monopoly on compassion. The Opposition talks about ordinary people as though we do not. It is clear what they are doing. The use of language matters, as a colleague said earlier. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Do not be a numpty all your life. It is in your table "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  From that perspective, these interventions matter and that is why we oppose the amendment put forward by Sinn F\u00e9in. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  As we are about to reach the 60 minutes, I will put the question on amendment No. 1 to Financial Resolution No. 1. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Financial Resolution No. 1: Mineral Oil Tax"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-14\/debate\/dbsect_22","debateType":"financialResolution","bill":null,"showAs":"Financial Resolution No. 2: Natural Gas Carbon Tax","counts":{"speechCount":2,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Finance (Deputy Simon Harris)  I move:  (1) THAT for the purposes of the tax charged by virtue of section 67 of the Finance Act 2010 (No. 5 of 2010), that section be amended, with effect as on and from 15 April 2026, by the substitution of the following for the Table to subsection (1) of that section (as amended by section 28(a) of the Finance Act 2020 (No. 26 of 2020)):  \"TABLE  RATE OF NATURAL GAS CARBON TAX     With effect as on and from (1)    Rate of tax per megawatt hour at gross calorific value  (2)      1 May 2021    \u20ac6.06      1 May 2022    \u20ac7.41      1 May 2023    \u20ac8.77      1 May 2024    \u20ac10.13      1 May 2025    \u20ac11.48      14 October 2026    \u20ac12.84      1 May 2027    \u20ac14.20      1 May 2028    \u20ac15.56      1 May 2029    \u20ac16.91      1 May 2030    \u20ac18.09     \".  (2) IT is hereby declared that it is expedient in the public interest that this Resolution shall have  statutory effect under the provisions of the Provisional Collection of Taxes Act 1927 (No. 7 of 1927). "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I move amendment No. 1:  In paragraph (1), to delete the table proposed to be inserted by subparagraph (a) and substitute the following:  \"TABLE  RATE OF NATURAL GAS CARBON TAX     With effect as on and from (1)    Rate of tax per megawatt hour at gross calorific value (2)      1 May 2021    \u20ac6.06      1 May 2022    \u20ac7.41      1 May 2023    \u20ac8.77      1 May 2024    \u20ac10.13      1 May 2025    \u20ac11.48     \". "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Financial Resolution No. 2: Natural Gas Carbon Tax"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-14\/debate\/dbsect_27","debateType":"financialResolution","bill":null,"showAs":"Financial Resolution No. 3: Solid Fuel Carbon Tax","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_27","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Finance (Deputy Simon Harris)  I move:  (1) THAT for the purposes of the tax charged by virtue of section 78 of the Finance Act 2010 (No. 5 of 2010), that Act be amended, with effect as on and from 15 April 2026, by the substitution of the following for Schedule 1 to that Act (as amended by section 29(b) of the Finance Act 2020 (No. 26 of 2020)):  \"SCHEDULE 1  RATES OF SOLID FUEL CARBON TAX     With effect as and from (1)        Description of Solid Fuel Rate of Tax per tonne                  Coal    Peat Briquettes    Milled Peat    Other Peat      1 May 2021    \u20ac88.23    \u20ac61.42    \u20ac30.44    \u20ac45.65      1 May 2022    \u20ac107.98    \u20ac75.17    \u20ac37.25    \u20ac55.87      1 May 2023    \u20ac127.74    \u20ac88.93    \u20ac44.07    \u20ac66.10      1 May 2024    \u20ac147.49    \u20ac102.68    \u20ac50.88    \u20ac76.32      1 May 2025    \u20ac167.24    \u20ac116.43    \u20ac57.70    \u20ac86.54      14 October 2026    \u20ac187.00    \u20ac130.18    \u20ac64.52    \u20ac96.76      1 May 2027    \u20ac206.75    \u20ac143.94    \u20ac71.33    \u20ac106.98      1 May 2028    \u20ac226.51    \u20ac157.69    \u20ac78.15    \u20ac117.21      1 May 2029    \u20ac246.26    \u20ac171.44    \u20ac84.96    \u20ac127.43      1 May 2030    \u20ac263.38    \u20ac183.36    \u20ac90.87    \u20ac136.29     \".  (2) IT is hereby declared that it is expedient in the public interest that this Resolution shall have statutory effect under the provisions of the Provisional Collection of Taxes Act 1927 (No. 7 of 1927). "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and declared carried."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Financial Resolution No. 3: Solid Fuel Carbon Tax"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-14\/debate\/dbsect_28","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Message from Select Committee","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_28","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Select Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration has completed its consideration of the International Co-operation (Omagh Bombing Inquiry) Bill 2026 and has made no amendments thereto. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Message from Select Committee"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-14\/debate\/dbsect_29","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Fuel Prices: Motion","counts":{"speechCount":81,"speakerCount":37},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_29","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Fitzmaurice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gillian Toole","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gillian-Toole.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Gillian-Toole.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Keira Keogh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I move that:  That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann:  recognises that:  \u2014 unsustainably high energy and fuel prices in this state further compounded a pre-existing cost of living crisis;  \u2014 the duty of the Government is to protect people from severe energy shocks to the greatest extent possible; and  \u2014 the Government has the ability to cut the cost of fuel;  notes that:  \u2014 home heating oil has hit the highest price on record going back 30 years;  \u2014 petrol and diesel are on course to exceed their highest price on record this month; and  \u2014 the price of green diesel and other fuels are at unsustainably high levels;  condemns the Government for:  \u2014 not reconvening the D\u00e1il last week and not introducing emergency supports;  \u2014 delays and half measures that abandoned many households and left sectors of the economy badly exposed; and  \u2014 not engaging directly with the protestors that has made the situation worse; and  calls on the Government to:  \u2014 take the maximum action necessary to cut fuel prices so they are affordable for the workers, families and sectors that rely on them.  T\u00e1 daoine ar fud an St\u00e1it seo faoi bhr\u00fa millteanach agus t\u00e1 s\u00e9 ag \u00e9ir\u00ed n\u00edos measa.\u00a0 T\u00e1 costas breosla ag ard\u00fa agus t\u00e1 an costas maireacht\u00e1la ag goilli\u00faint.\u00a0 Le sc\u00e9al fada a dh\u00e9anamh gairid, n\u00edl aon sp\u00e1s f\u00e1gtha ag oibrithe agus teaghlaigh na praghsanna seo a iompar.\u00a0 T\u00e1 gn\u00edomh cinntithe de dh\u00edth orthu \u00f3n Rialtas seo ach in \u00e1it sin fuair siad moill, lag-iarracht agus freagra n\u00e1r shroich an m\u00e9id at\u00e1 de dh\u00edth ag daoine. The reality facing people right across this State is stark. In rural Ireland and in communities right across the country, people have no alternative to the car. There is no reliable public transport network and there is no option but to pay. Right now, that cost is crushing people. Fuel prices have surged and families are watching the cost of filling the tank as it spirals week after week. For those relying on home heating oil - and there are 750,000 of a million of them - the situation is even worse.  This is not an abstract situation. This is about people wondering how they are going to get to work. This is about parents deciding which bill does not get paid. It is about older people and carers rationing heat in their homes. All the while, Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael have delayed and dithered. They refused to act as costs spiralled out of control and pressure mounted. Now, after weeks of delay and public anger forced their hand, they are bringing forward a package that still falls far short of what is required. It does not match the scale of the crisis. It does not provide certainty to workers who rely on their cars every day. It does not address the reality facing households that are dependent on home heating oil. Once again, it leaves far too many people behind. We again see a familiar pattern of limited measures focused on particular sectors while ordinary workers and families are expected to carry the burden. That is the core of this failure.  Even in the context of today\u2019s announcement, the choices made will not cut it. There were real choices to be made, and we have put them forward in the amendments. The Government could have removed excise duty from home heating oil, but it did not. It could have cut the cost of diesel to bring the level to a more affordable one, but it chose not to. It could have done the same with petrol, but it decided to turn its face against that. It could have gone further to deliver real, immediate relief, but it refused. Instead, it produced a package that will not even keep pace with rising prices. No amount of spin regarding today\u2019s figures changes that reality for anyone.  Let us be honest about how we got here. I cannot for the life of me understand why the Social Democrats and the Labour Party voted against the Sinn F\u00e9in amendments to help people keep their homes warm, get from A to B, drop their kids to school and go to appointments. I was shocked to see them voting with the Government and voting against the sensible proposals we put forward. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  This Government is not acting and is not listening. It was dragged to take action by public anger and by pressure, because people could not take any more. Even now, after all that, what has been brought forward falls far short. As if that was not enough, the Government is turning its fire not just on the protesters but also on the media. We have had a Minister question RT\u00c9\u2019s coverage of the protests. That is, as has been said by others, a sinister intervention. It is an attempt to lean on journalists, to second-guess editorial decisions and to signal that coverage of political protest should somehow be policed. That strikes at the heart of a free media. We have been here before in this country and Sinn F\u00e9in suffered the consequence of it. The Minister seems to want to bring us back to the days of section 31, when Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael censored our political party and prevented us from being allowed to even talk on the national airwaves.  This crisis is not about media rows, however. It is about ordinary people. It is about those who have no choice but to drive to work, who are trying to heat their homes today and who are struggling with the wider cost-of-living crisis. They needed decisive action and real relief. They are not getting it from Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael. When Ministers quote the figures relating to today\u2019s package, they need to understand one thing. They need to understand that for the people living through this crisis, those figures do not change their reality. They do not change the pressure in a meaningful way. They do not match either the scale of the crisis or what is needed. This is why today\u2019s amendment from Sinn F\u00e9in matters. It is because the D\u00e1il has a choice to accept a late, limited response that leaves people behind or to demand real action and leadership that meets the scale of this crisis. The Government failed to act when people needed it. It is now refusing to act at the scale required. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  Last October, when we debated the multibillion euro budget brought forward by the Government, we warned that people had been put to the pin of their collars. The Government brought in a budget - and the Minister of State supported it - which gave billions of euro to corporate landlords, banks and the wealthiest in the country, but very little to most working families. They were promised tax cuts and childcare cost cuts that they never got. What they actually got were increases. College fees went up. People looked on as groceries and insurance costs rose. Rents are going up. More people are homeless, and more people are facing homelessness. We warned the Government that this was getting close to a tipping point and that people were really stretched. The Government ignored us. We told it that the anger of people, because of a multibillion euro budget that left them high and dry, was simmering, and it ignored us.  A number of weeks ago, when the Government brought forward its first package of measures, we again warned it that this was coming close to a tipping point. Deputy Pearse Doherty brought forward alternative measures that could have avoided the protests, avoided the disruption we saw, given leadership and given supports to families, and again the Government ignored us. It got to a point where people had enough. That is why I had people the length and breadth of this country contacting me to say they were proud of Ireland and proud of the people of Ireland and of the truckers, farmers, hauliers, small contractors and others who were taking to the streets because of the failure of this Government. They were looking on and they were applauding because they know that they are also being shafted by the same Government.  That is why we are back here again. When we debated this issue a number of weeks ago, the Minister of State and his Government colleagues told us that the package was enough, and that was it. The Government is back now with its tail between its legs. It has come back with more, but, again, these are half measures. The Government comes back every time a day late and a dollar short. It leaves people behind, and people are sick and tired of it. They are sick and tired of this do-nothing Government that does not represent ordinary working people and that just leaves them high and dry over and over again. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  I am conscious of how deeply disappointed many people across this country are that this do-nothing Government is still in place. These are people struggling to get by. They are people who cannot afford to heat their homes, families, people with disabilities, children pushed into poverty, people who cannot afford to put fuel in their cars, the carers, the home help and other workers and small businesses struggling to survive. I assure them that Sinn F\u00e9in has their backs and will continue to fight on their behalf. The message I want to send to them this evening is not to lose hope.  I come from a rural constituency. I know all too well that homes there are reliant on home heating oil. Once again, the Government has abandoned these people with its half measures. There are 750,000 of these households across the country. Over a month ago, Sinn F\u00e9in proposed the complete removal of carbon tax and excise duty on home heating oil.  Instead, the Government reduced the National Oil Reserves Agency, NORA, levy by 2 cent per litre. That is even before we consider the hardship of people with defective concrete blocks who are watching their homes crumbling and looking at the cracks in the wall with the wind coming through them.  I went to the fuel protests in Mayo and did not see any Government TDs there. Instead, the Minister for justice threatened to send the Defence Forces against our own people. These were ordinary, decent, working people and their families - farmers, hauliers, bus drivers, contractors, people with disabilities, carers, and home help workers. They were participating in peaceful protests, having been forced into taking drastic action to save their businesses. They did not want to be there. They do not want to be on these protests. What were they supposed to do to get the attention of the Government and have their pleas heard? They are deeply disappointed about people who are supposed to be independent voices in here who continue to prop up this Government.  The groups the Government decided were worthy enough of a meeting last week are not the only people who suffered during the fuel crisis. People providing meals on wheels, community workers and the carers I spoke about covered huge geographical areas in Mayo. One of the workers told me that it felt as though community health workers had been largely overlooked and abandoned by this Government. People with disabilities were left high and dry in the last budget; they were left \u20ac1,400 worse off. Sinn F\u00e9in has been calling for a cost-of-disability payment to help the most vulnerable in society through the prolonged cost-of-living crisis. Now these people are faced with soaring fuel costs and no support from Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael. These carers cannot afford the fuel to put in their cars to go and see the patients who rely so deeply on them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  The Government survived a vote today but the Minister of State should not kid himself - public confidence has not been restored. The Government limped through, shedding some of its own along the way. People will draw their own conclusions about the motivations behind those changes of heart.  What is clear is that the outcome of today does absolutely nothing to change the reality that workers, families and businesses across the State are facing. People have lost confidence because this Government is not listening and has not listened. It has failed to act in any meaningful way on the fuel cost crisis hitting households. The Government still has not taken necessary steps to make fuel affordable at the pumps and has done nothing on home heating oil despite it reaching the highest prices on record. This is the Government\u2019s second attempt, and once again, it has come up short. Last month, it was half measures. This month, it is just more of the same. Petrol and diesel are still on course to exceed record highs and home heating oil remains completely untouched.  Across Waterford and the rest of the State, the reality is dark. Green diesel has nearly doubled in price in a matter of weeks, rising from 97 cent a litre in February to \u20ac1.80. For farmers, fishers, hauliers and small businesses, fuel is not optional. It is a core cost of them staying in business. That was the message that I heard clearly this weekend in Dungarvan and across Waterford more widely as my colleague Deputy Cullinane and I spoke with protesters, listened to them and heard their concerns, something that the Minister of State and his colleagues in government have failed and refused to do. Much better to denigrate and demonise than to actually listen.  For workers and families, it is about the cost of getting to work and keeping the light and heat on. I have heard from disabled people, home care workers, health workers, apprentices and students who are all suffering. What do we see from the Government benches today? We see self-congratulations and back-slapping. Government TDs are telling everyone and anyone who will listen just how great the Government is and how well it is doing. They have said it so often that they probably even believe themselves, but people are not fooled. They see a Government that is arrogant, refuses to listen and is wilfully blind to the real hardship being experienced.  The solutions are clear. We set them out for the Government three weeks ago and again today. A minimum 25 cent reduction on petrol and diesel at the pumps, maximum cuts to excise on green diesel, the complete removal of excise, including the carbon tax on home heating oil, and direct support for households in the grip of this crisis. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  The depth of disappointment was evident in people across the length and breadth of the country over the past week, and that developed into anger as time went on. People say the Government is out of touch, but for some reason, it seems to be choosing to be out of touch and to walk away and not listen to ordinary, decent people. People can throw up all sorts of stories that some of the protesters were this, that and the other, but the fact of the matter is the vast majority of people who went out to voice their concerns were hard-working people with their tractors or buses. They are people we all know in all of our communities and whom our communities depend upon. When you are stuck, they are the ones you turn to. These are the people who were so disappointed with Government.  This conflict started out in the Gulf when Israel and America bombed Iran and all of a sudden the price of oil went up across the world. Of course the Government cannot control that, but it can control the taxes it takes on it. It can do something to help people. People simply could not understand and still cannot understand why it took so long for the Government to realise it had to actually sit up and listen. It took people blockading the whole country, coming out on the streets, marching around pushing babies in prams and asking the Government to please listen to them because they were suffering and needed help. The Government refused to listen. We are now in a situation where the Government comes with these measures, which are too little, too late. That is what most people feel. The Government needs to recognise that because there is a huge sense of people being frustrated and annoyed but also deeply disappointed. The vast majority of people I met on those protests were people who voted for the Government parties, not for us. Those people are absolutely gutted and cannot understand why the Government chose to turn its back on them in this way. It not only chose to turn its back on them and not listen to them, but to insult them and say it would bring the Army out and clear them out of the way. That smacks of something so high-handed that the Government really needs to have a hard look at itself, at the leadership of both parties and at the Independents supporting it.  We need to recognise that we have a distance to go, but the Government has not gone that distance and what it has done here is too little, too late. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joanna Byrne  How much noise needs to be made before the Government snaps out of its slumber and legislates for all of the people affected by the huge fuel price increases? It has selective hearing, sight and amnesia. It has selectively chosen who is to receive the most minimal cuts to fuel costs in some sectors while the general public and those in many industries who have to be on the road daily are forgotten.  Was the Minister of State nice and warm when he woke up in his house this morning? I will tell him who were not: the people who rely on home heating oil and have to choose between heating and eating. What has the Government done for them? Nothing that makes a single iota of a difference. Private bus and coach operators that are not contracted to Bus \u00c9ireann are feeling the pressure and watch on as those with State contracts only receive cuts and rebates. Some of them are sitting in the Gallery as I speak this evening, so worried about the longevity of their livelihoods that they are still watching this debate. Home help carers and disability workers on the road from morning to night performing an essential role in every city, town, village and townland in this country have been left behind. How long before we hear of them being told to modify their travel or cut back somewhere due to the ever-rising fuel costs? Incredibly, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage issued a circular on 10 April telling the fire services not to automatically roll out with the ambulance services as per normal due to rising fuel costs. They are instructed not to conduct training unless it is essential and to only perform essential checks on their fire tenders. In all the back-slapping I listened to today from Government, it forgot to mention to the people of this country all of those people in services it had left behind, many of them crucial in their own ways and some even life-saving.  The Government's failure to act has crossed a line with the people and there is no going back. It knows that itself deep down because its backbenchers have been in hiding for the past week. I am unapologetic for not accepting second best for workers, families and all the services the Government has left behind in its clamour to cling to power. I am unapologetic in voting no confidence in the Government because I know whose side I am on, and that is that of the people of this country. The Government may live to survive another day in this Chamber, but out there where it matters, its time is up. It has lost the confidence of the people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  The fact is the Government did survive today, but that was not down to any conversation anybody had out there with people who were actually at the pin of their collar. It has been said by many but I am going to repeat it.  Out at the protests were people who had never been seen on a protest before and who did not want to be anywhere next or near a protest. We are talking about agricultural contractors, farmers and those involved in the bus and coach industry. As Joanna Byrne has said, some of them are here today. There is some confusion and displeasure in relation to those who have the Bus \u00c9ireann and school bus transport rebate schemes, but these people have never got anything. They will tell us about the whole period during Covid when they were not looked after in any way, shape or form.  We have had nothing but disrespect from the Government and the absolute denigration of those who, as a last resort, went out to put the pressure on. We have seen the impact of the pressure. We have had a ministerial resignation. We would like to think that we may see more of that into the future as people are held accountable by their own electorates and by the people they know because, to date, we have had a Government that has not listened to the severe pressure that people are under.  The Minister of State, Deputy Troy, is no different than me. He is a constituency operator who has had people come into his office, including carers and those working as community nurses, who long before this period arrived spoke of the serious pressure they were under and that they were not sure how they could make it through or how the necessary work they were doing was going to wash its own face, because it would not. We had 320,000 people who were not able to pay their energy bills and were in arrears.  Then we have this. As Deputy Kennedy has said - actually, I meant Deputy Kenny; it is not the first time I have got that wrong - we do not hold the Government responsible for the madness of genocidal Israel and for Donald Trump, but we do hold the Government responsible for not listening, for not taking action and for the utter ineptitude of putting fuel on the fire in relation to the protests and what was going on during the week. Reference was made to those who were discommoded, and they were, but it could have been ended by the Government much more easily. What we need to see is real action. The Government survived today but it will not survive into the future because we need to see a real Government that delivers for people. What we have seen to date is failure. It is failure to listen and failure to act in real terms. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  On diesel, petrol, home heating oil----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy, you should conclude. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  -----not enough has been delivered. It is too little, too late. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I call the Minister of State, Deputy Troy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Deputy Robert Troy)  I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I will keep my voice at a reasonable level. I do not feel that just by shouting it makes a point any more valid.  I welcome the opportunity to discuss the Sinn F\u00e9in Private Members' motion on fuel this evening. I will start off by saying that, as a Government Minister of State, I engaged with the people who were protesting. I went out and met the people on the M4 in Mullingar. I recognise that those people were decent, honourable and hard-working people who did not wish to be there. They conducted the protest in Mullingar in a very responsible manner, which facilitated the free movement of people. They engaged respectfully with the Garda to ensure that people could move freely. That, however, is not a true reflection of what happened everywhere. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  It is what we had in Dundalk. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  That is not a true reflection of what happened everywhere and we need to acknowledge that also.  The Deputy is right that the Government won the confidence vote in the D\u00e1il. As I said in my contribution on the confidence motion, we would be extremely foolhardy and wrong as a Government if we did not acknowledge the anxiety, fear and frustration out there of the people we represent. Sinn F\u00e9in does not have a monopoly on representation of people. Nobody does. Each one of us has received our own democratic mandate to be here for a period of five years. We may disagree in terms of how we address certain issues but this Government is acutely aware of the current fuel crisis faced by all sectors of our society. That is why we have responded with the second sizable package in the space of a number of weeks to alleviate some of those pressures. This is not a half measure as asserted in the Sinn F\u00e9in motion. When we combine the two packages, this is the most comprehensive package of any country in the EU.  It is important to state that, as a Government, we do not have the luxury of coming forward with uncosted proposals. We have the responsibility not only to respond in the short term but also to manage the long-term economic stability of this country. If it were not for the proper and prudent management of the economy over the last number of years, we would not be in a position to make the interventions at the rate we have been able to do over the last weeks.  I note that Sinn F\u00e9in's motion is quick to state that the prices of fuels are high, but it fails to state the reason the prices of fuels are high. I wish to state unequivocally that the spikes in the price of fuels are not, as the Opposition would lead you to believe, solely and exclusively due to taxation. The price of fuel is determined by a number of factors, most of which are outside of the Government's control, including the wholesale market price, international market dynamics, international exchange rate impacts, distributional costs, and retail pricing policy. Excise duty is calculated on a volumetric basis, meaning that the cash value of the tax collected remains the same regardless of the price on the forecourt. In the context of excise reductions, this means that the State will collect significantly less excise for every litre of fuel sold. While VAT operates as an ad valorem tax and, therefore, VAT receipts do increase as the price of a commodity increases, the figures that have been quoted in the D\u00e1il and in the media by certain members of the Opposition have been disingenuous and off the mark. This was done in a calculated way to instil fear, sow division and exploit the legitimate fears and concerns of members of our community.  The Government does not seek or want high fuel prices. Higher energy prices create higher business input costs. This creates higher prices for goods and services, which impacts everybody. Previously, we had calls from Opposition benches for things like price caps. That would be an extremely expensive and untargeted measure. Price controls below the market price for any goods or services would impose costs on retailers. In some cases, this could be absorbed by a reduction in profitability, but in most cases this would result in losses for the retailer. Given the very large increases in fuel prices, imposing price controls on fuel retailers would render most unviable and they would exit the market. This would result in the State having to subsidise fossil fuel consumption directly at an enormous cost to the taxpayer. Introducing a price cap on fuel to the level some Opposition Deputies have been suggesting could cost billions of euro. That money is being spent on essential services such as health, education and housing, all things that various members of the Opposition seek further expenditure on. For those who suggest that the Government introduce a piece a price cap on fuels, I ask those very same Deputies to provide a list of the public services they suggest cutting to pay for this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  There is \u20ac12.5 billion of a surplus. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  There is no magic money tree out there. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  There is a \u20ac12.5 billion surplus. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  We must underline and understand that what we are seeing at the moment is a large increase in the wholesale market price of oil as a result of the supply shock caused by the conflict in the Middle East. This is compounding the supply issues we faced at the beginning of the war in Ukraine.  That is what is driving the increase in fuel costs. Sinn F\u00e9in\u2019s motion on fuel prices fails to mention that fact. This is an enormous challenge, not just for Ireland, but for every country around the world facing into the energy crisis. It is the Government\u2019s job to strike an appropriate balance between keeping our economy moving and our public services funded while shielding the most vulnerable from the worst impacts of the energy shock. It is fair to say that the measures taken by the Government are to support the sectors most adversely affected and those at risk of fuel poverty. Public funds are not infinite, nor should they be spent on uncosted general measures as Sinn F\u00e9in has suggested in its motion.  I will not go through the list of supports that the Government has announced, between the initial announcement over three weeks ago and the most recent announcement voted on in the past hour. The overall cost of the Government-supported packages is in the region of \u20ac750 million. As I said already, it is per capita the biggest and most comprehensive intervention of any country in the euro. These supports are timely and necessary. Just as we said when we made the initial announcement, these supports will be monitored and kept under review. The truth is that nobody on that side of the House and nobody on this side of the House can say with certainty what is going to happen with the war in the Middle East and when we will see a return to the normal production and supply of oil in a global sense. That is why we have to ensure we remain agile and responsive to the needs of the people we are honoured to represent in this House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan  Ministers spoke earlier about Government measures and responsibilities, and how they have the best interests of the people of Ireland in mind. Will the Minister of State tell me this? In the most recent budget, the Government gave a generous tax break to the highly profitable fast food giants like McDonald's and Burger King. How is that in the best interests of ordinary working people? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  You supported that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan  Sorry? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  You supported it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Do not interrupt the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  You supported it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  Is this a questions and answers session? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan  The question I asked was how that was good for ordinary working people, the people we were out on the protest with. The Government's tax breaks ensured that the profits of big developers pushed the average profit of an apartment from approximately \u20ac50,000 to \u20ac80,000, yet when ordinary working people try their best to get by, go to work, raise a family and find a home and ask for a break and supports, they are given crumbs like a handful of cent off the price of green diesel and home heating oil. Average prices for a home continue to run away from the reach of ordinary people.  I am proud to have spent so much time with those on a protest in Kilkenny, ordinary people from every walk of life who are tired and just want a break from the struggles of everyday life. What I found so uplifting was the constant support coming from the public and from local businesses who wanted to stand with those on the picket line. There is the sheer volume of people who have emailed me over the past few weeks and shared their own personal stories of how the cost-of-living crisis has been suffocating their lives. However, they have been suffering before now. It has not just been because of the war. They have been suffering because of the Government. I got emails from older people and people with disabilities who wanted to be out with the protesters, but they could not because they were at home trying to stay warm, in their beds for longer than they needed to because they could not afford heating oil. It is as simple as that.  I met workers in their 20s and 30s who felt helpless. They asked me what the point was in paying taxes in this country as they would never be able to afford a house. They did not know if they would be able to afford to have children. Parents I met are worried about the future of their own children. There were grown men who cried because their businesses were going under. The political decisions of Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael have only added fuel to their fire.  I stand with the ordinary people of Ireland, who have absolutely no confidence in the Government. The volume of emails I got have stated that quite clearly. Ministers say, as one did today, that some of the people on the protest were their friends. You do not treat your friends like that. I can go back to Carlow-Kilkenny and hold my head high. I know whose side I am on. The Minister of State and the Government have failed to listen to the people. They have failed time and time again to hear the people. It is shameful. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh  T\u00e1 an mhuin\u00edn caillte agam agus ag muintir na h\u00c9ireann as an Rialtas. T\u00e1 cosmhuintir na t\u00edre ag streachailt agus ag fulaingt le costais mhaireacht\u00e1la le fada agus n\u00edl an Rialtas tar \u00e9is d\u00f3thain a dh\u00e9anamh chun an br\u00fa a laghd\u00fa. T\u00e1 an Rialtas scoite \u00f3 shaol an ghn\u00e1thdhuine agus caithfidh s\u00e9 imeacht.  My office has been inundated with messages from hundreds of people in Kildare to express their lack of confidence in this Government to handle the current crisis and deliver a decent quality of life for people. The bottom line is that working people are crippled by rising costs and have been for a long time. The Government has consistently decided to sit back and do nothing. Prices at the pumps have skyrocketed since America's illegal war on Iran began. That is on top of soaring grocery prices, electricity, housing, childcare and insurance costs. None of this was inevitable. The Government has failed to act to reduce what are the highest electricity bills in Europe, leaving more than 300,000 in arrears. The Government has failed to do anything about price gouging in big supermarkets. It has failed to cap childcare costs, as promised, in its first year. It has made it policy that renters will face thousands of euro in rent hikes in the next couple of years. Now, it has short-changed households across the State with a set of half measures on fuel costs and a small cut in excise duty that will not make a dent in making fuel affordable for Kildare commuters who are already paying more than \u20ac100 per week for petrol. It has done nothing on home heating oil, leaving carers, elderly people and people with disabilities to choose between heating or eating. A woman in Athy told me she was rationing oil and using extra blankets to keep her two-year-old grandson warm at night. This is wrong.  Incredibly, in the middle of this crisis, the Government raised school transport costs and brought back State exam fees. People are struggling and living pay cheque to pay cheque while the Government sits idly by. One man in Kildare town told me that this was affecting not just his quality of life, but his sense of security and stability. Not only are our leaders out of touch but they regard ordinary people with arrogance and disdain, as we saw on full display when the Taoiseach refused to meet with protesters to hear their concerns. T\u00e1 athr\u00fa de dh\u00edth. This Government was only saved today because of a bunch of self-serving, spineless Independents. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  The first thing I want to say is that I am really disappointed in the Labour Party and the Social Democrats tonight and how they voted. I cannot believe they voted with the Government and against Sinn F\u00e9in when we tried to bring down the price of fuel and home heating oil. We are supposed to be united together in opposition against the Government. We stood against it, and we voted that we did not have any confidence in it. We stood and did that together. At the same time, the Social Democrats and the Labour Party break and vote with the Government tonight. It is unbelievable on a night when the Government betrayed the people of Ireland.  The people were betrayed in this Chamber tonight with the vote of confidence in this Government because no one outside Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael and those Independents have confidence. Shame on them tonight. Shame on them for what they have done to the people. They have driven people to barriers and out to protest. They have united the people against this Government, against fuel taxes, against driving people into poverty and against driving people into being cold and hungry. How is it that a person can work all week long and have no money left at the end of it? The reason is that Fianna F\u00e1il, Fine Gael and the Independents are more interested in looking after themselves.  What happened here tonight will be remembered. People will not forget what the Government has done. If its members think this is over, I can tell them it is not. The people's voices will be heard. We saw the Healy-Raes broke ranks tonight because they heard it in Kerry. They were told in Kerry that if they voted for this, they should not come back to Kerry. I tell the Government's members that if they keep going with what they are doing, not one of them will be back here after the next election. They have betrayed the people. They have put the interests of the party ahead of the people. How can that be right? In the last budget the Government gave nearly \u20ac700 million to speculators on apartments that were already profitable when people cannot put a roof over their heads and thousands of children are in homeless accommodation. I was talking to a man on the train up today. He, his wife and child came up here to protest. He said \"Tommy, we never go to protests. Where is the future for my child? Where is the future for my family?\" That is what people are saying. I was down in east Cork and met people. There were fellas who could not afford to go to work because it was costing them more to work than they were making. This Government has betrayed the people. When the show \"Reeling in the Years\" is on in years to come this will be remembered as the night Fianna F\u00e1il, Fine Gael and the Lowry Independents put themselves ahead of the people of Ireland, but the people of Ireland will not rest until they are gone out of government. They should be gone. They should hang their heads in shame. They should stand up and be counted. If the Minister of State believes the Government is right, let us have an election because the Government will be run out the door. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  The Opposition cannot even agree what government we would have. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  The Government will be run out the door. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  The events of the last week have betrayed this Government's inability to grasp the level of desperation and frustration that is out there among people who feel they cannot keep their heads above water. The impetus behind these protests and blockades had been fermenting long before last week and long before Trump and Netanyahu\u2019s illegal war on Iran, which is just the latest thing to give rise to a fuel shock and price shock. This is an issue that has been brewing for years. These protests last week became something far bigger than just a protest by farming and haulage sectors; they are about the level of desperation felt by workers and households who have for years been put to the pin of their collar by a spiralling and seemingly perpetual cost-of-living crisis that includes energy bills, rent, house prices, grocery prices, childcare costs, education costs and the cost of disability. I could go on. The frustration being aired on O\u2019Connell Street, on the M50, in Whitegate and in Rosslare \u2013 that cry for help \u2013 had been coming from households and small businesses long before the escalation last week. The Government was warned about this. While the Labour Party might disagree with others in the Opposition on the details, we have consistently and as a united bloc said the Government is not doing enough to support working people and vulnerable people who feel they are on the brink.  Time and again, this Government has shown whose side it is on. It has consistently put corporate interests and big businesses above the urgent needs of ordinary hard-working people. Workers and households up and down the country feel abandoned by this Government. It should have responded far sooner to the protests and blockades last week. What we saw was a Government flailing. It was a Government with no principles or values guiding its actions. It was a Government without a clue what to do. It had a leadership in the Taoiseach and T\u00e1naiste that only spoke down to protesters without hearing or understanding the genuine grievances at the heart of the protests. It had a justice Minister playing the big man and threatening to deploy the Defence Forces, which served only to inflame tensions even further. This is not how to listen to genuinely held pleas for help. This is not how to manage a crisis.  Last week we saw critical infrastructure blocked and serious disruption caused to working people and families in Dublin and across the country. We value protest and we must protect it, and protests by their very nature must be disruptive, but it was the Government that allowed the blockades at critical infrastructure sites to develop and to fester through its inaction, its inflammatory rhetoric and its failure to get around the negotiating table with the representative bodies. Working people, small businesses, small farmers and so on are at the sharp end of the cost-of-living crisis and very much have just cause to protest. I think we all - or certainly those on this side of the House - felt a considerable degree of support for the protests among the general population. I have received countless emails from constituents in Dublin South-West expressing their solidarity with those protesting and I found it telling that very few people contacted me who were annoyed at the protests despite the disruption. Despite some very questionable people leading the protests, fair-minded people can see there is a serious issue at the heart of these protests and blockades. Again, such is the desperation of so many people and such is the perpetual struggle with the cost of living that many workers and families joined the protests and there was a hope among many that the protests, as imperfect as they were, would lead to better outcomes for everyone. However, those regular PAYE workers have been left high and dry once again by this Government. As my colleague, Deputy Nash, has said, the package of measures announced on Sunday has been designed to placate narrow sectoral interests and has abandoned PAYE workers in the process even though they are the ones who will end up footing the bill for it. There is little or nothing in this package for the low- and middle-income workers under increasing pressure from rising energy bills, skyrocketing grocery prices and escalating housing costs.  The Labour Party has advocated for time-limited supports to keep exposed sectors running, such as the small farmers and hauliers who play a vital part in our economy and are feeling the pinch. This Government has some real explaining to do to the 320,000 households in long-term arrears on their electricity bills who were looking to this package in the hope some respite would be forthcoming. Let us put this into context. Figures released to me by the CRU have shown the level of debt held in arrears on energy bills is about \u20ac185 million. The package of supports for the farming and haulage sectors announced on Sunday is worth almost three times the cost of giving an amnesty to those who cannot afford to keep up with their energy bills and are choosing heating and eating. Again, there is no doubt supports were required for these struggling sectors that rely on fuels like diesel and petrol, and we supported the Government\u2019s Financial Resolutions because something is better than nothing and we understand the pressures facing those industries and ordinary people. However, the Government has decided once again to sideline ordinary workers and households who are barely able to keep their heads above water. These are people who have been crying out for help for years. The message that has been sent by Fianna F\u00e1il, Fine Gael and the Independents is they will only listen to your concerns if you close the country down, and that is an incredibly dangerous precedent to set.  I also raise the carbon tax delay. There are any number of interventions the Government could have made to reduce the cost of fuel for hauliers, farmers and everyone else. It is deeply disappointing and depressing that it is this climate-positive measure the Government has chosen to jettison over any other option to alleviate the energy price crisis we are facing. The Government could have done subsidies, direct payments or additional excise cuts. I find it ironic that, on the week the Government has finally agreed to the long-held Healy-Rae and Sinn F\u00e9in policy of undermining the carbon tax, Sinn F\u00e9in chose to bring a motion of no confidence and Michael Healy-Rae chose to resign from Government. We need clarity from the Government on the impact this delay - if it is just a delay - is going to have on the funding of our vital climate measures the carbon tax pays for and is ring-fenced for.  I refer to measures like retrofitting grants that are helping people to improve the energy efficiency of their homes and reduce their bills, measures like ACRES and other agri-environmental schemes that are helping farmers to decarbonise and therefore protect them against exposure to fossil fuel crises like the one they are experiencing at present and measures like the just transition fund and poverty supports.  The carbon tax is a crucial funding source for the very measures that will help to move us away from our dependence on fossil fuels and protect us against future energy crises. Funding from the carbon tax has already been allocated to all of the measures in budget 2026----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy R\u00e9ada Cronin  Forty per cent of it was not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  -----but was done so under the assumption that an increase would be happening next month. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy R\u00e9ada Cronin  Keep up, like. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  We need clarity from the Government now on whether this delay will amount to a cut in the budget for climate measures or whether the funding gap will be made up by general Exchequer funding. I am pleading with the Government to ensure this move on carbon tax does not adversely impact on our already meagre just transition funding. Anything less would be a final nail in the coffin of this Government's commitment to meaningful climate action.  If the Government decides it is going to use general taxation to make up the shortfall to fund these climate measures, funding that has already been allocated by the now abandoned carbon tax increase, then it Government needs to be honest with every taxpayer in this country that it has given up on the polluter pays principle and everyone is now subsidising the continued use of polluting fossil fuels which have brought us to this point. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  I thank my colleague, Deputy Ahern, for allowing me to share time with him. I am extremely disappointed that those who criticised my party have not waited for a response. I did not want to speak about this tonight but if people want to stand here and criticise my party, scrapping the carbon tax would have allowed a \u20ac1 billion hole in the public finances. I am not sure what I would say to an elderly person who has made an SEAI application to retrofit their house or to get their house wrapped if I was a hypocrite and did not support the financial measures that have been implemented by the Government. Do not criticise my party and then not stay around to hear the reason we voted in support of the somewhat practical measures that were outlined. We do not support the carbon tax reduction Deputy Ahern spoke about.  The protests we have seen in recent days reflect something very real. At the centre of this anger is the rising cost of fuel. It is the cost of simply getting to work, getting children to school and keeping daily life moving. There is deep frustration among the public and, as Deputy Ahern said, it is hardworking ordinary families who are put to the pin of their collars trying to make ends meet. PAYE workers and ordinary members of the public are being squeezed and for many there is no alternative. They have to drive and they are being asked to absorb costs they simply cannot afford.  I also believe some of the language used by the Government last week was completely wrong. It did not fully grasp the depth of anger that exists. When people feel unheard, that frustration only grows. The Minister of State, Deputy Troy, said that the majority of those who were protesting were hardworking decent people and they absolutely were. However, we cannot condone some of what we saw during the protests and I do not believe it is appropriate to engage with self-appointed representatives who do not speak for the wider public.  This situation should have been de-escalated long before it reached this point. The Government did not have to put our garda\u00ed and Defence Forces into very difficult situations. I have great sympathy for them. They are members of those communities they had to go into and they found themselves in such difficult circumstances.  We cannot ignore what is driving this. Families across this country are at breaking point. People are doing everything right and are still falling behind as the cost of fuel, groceries, energy and housing continue to rise faster than their incomes. That is where our focus must be. If we are serious about being constructive, we must bring forward real, costed solutions.  Let us be honest, some people have been good at protesting and posting online but slow to offer any credible costed proposals. That is not good enough. Costed proposals must ensure we have targeted fuel supports for workers and rural families who have no alternative but to drive. It means targeted energy supports for PAYE workers. It means intervening when prices are spiralling, including in the cost of home heating oil. It means reducing energy costs and ensuring excessive profits are used to support households.  Fuel may be the spark to these protests but this has exposed a deeper pressure on working families. People are looking for leadership, fairness and the chance to build a decent life through hard work. Our job is to listen and is to act and it is the Government's job to deliver. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  I will not stand here and shout and have a back and forth because there has been far too much shouting this week already. There has been far too much chest beating and too many instances of people not listening, not engaging and of parties becoming so entrenched that we were at real risk last week of the country collapsing. I was so worried about where those protests were going to end up.  I want to commend the work of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. The work garda\u00ed did across the country was incredible. They went in and spoke to the protesters. They had those discussions and the hard conversations and they managed to de-escalate a situation that unfortunately the Government had escalated to a huge degree during the previous days. What we needed was dialogue at that point and not dismissing people. We needed to show them a level of respect and to be prepared to listen. You do not necessarily have to agree with people. You do not have to like them. A lot of the values that were expressed by people on those protests were not values I would hold.  However, as there are so many people who feel left behind in this country, there is a real risk that there is very much a fertile ground there for bad actors to come in and manipulate that and use it for their own political means and agenda. There is a real onus on and need for the Government to provide a leadership.  I know things have changed. The structures of how we engage and how we dialogue have changed. There might be a need to look beyond the more traditional structures we have relied on to date. With the advent of social media, there is the ability to quickly put information out there and get people really wired up. It happens so quickly.  One thing really struck me last week when I was driving and came across a blockade in County Wicklow. Two artic lorries blockaded the N11 and I would say there were maybe three of four tractors. There were probably only ten people at the blockade and it was a very stark image of how quickly and easily the country can be shut down. It did not necessarily need a lot of people. We have all had these discussions today and I ask that the Government takes them on board and listens because there is a much bigger issue at stake here than just dealing with the fuel protests.  It was so interesting that people who would normally not align with or support protests of this kind were so supportive of them. I was really surprised when I was talking to people. The reason they supported these protests is that they could understand. They have felt it in their own lives. It was like these protests became an extension of what their lived experiences were and how they were struggling. The reason they were struggling may have been different and may not necessarily have been due to fuel costs but families are struggling and we have been trying to get that message across to the Government for years now. I do not think this issue has just popped up this week or last week. There has been this undercurrent of families who are finding it really difficult. We all know these families. They are in our constituencies. They are the ones who do not protest. They are the ones who do not shout. They are the ones who just take it all on board themselves but they are under huge pressure. It is those people I am worried about and who I feel are really being left behind.  When we look at the facts when it comes to the different pressures, electricity costs are just skyrocketing. Unfortunately, we will see a lot more of that happening. The initial impact of this energy shock is on fuel, on the petrol and diesel pumps and on green diesel but in a number of months, it will move into gas prices and electricity prices.  There are 315,000 people who are in arrears at the moment and who are struggling and trying to catch up with the problems we experienced after Ukraine. They are chasing their tails, and 8% of them have been in arrears for longer than 90 days. They are going to be unable to pull themselves out of that hole. That is why the Social Democrats have for a number of months been calling for a targeted energy credit of \u20ac400 for families and households that earn less than \u20ac70,000 in order to try to give those people a bit of breathing space. We are very clear in all our policies - they need to be targeted because we do not have an endless bucket of money and we do not know how long this crisis will go on for. It could go on for years. We need to protect our resources while protecting those struggling the most. We have a motion we will be bringing forward tomorrow which contains a proposal for an energy credit. I hope the Government will give it serious consideration.  The other part of the proposal we will discuss tomorrow relates to solar. The Government tends to lurch from crisis to crisis. A crisis happens, people struggle, there is huge outcry, the Government has found money and given money out in untargeted measures such as the previous energy credits. That cost billions of euro. I think \u20ac100 million was given in credit to the electricity meters of holiday homes during the previous D\u00e1il term. At that time, it was very much stated that this was an emergency measure and that we needed to get it out quickly, but there was no acknowledgment that we needed to change how we do things and ensure the systems, structures and infrastructure were in place to make us more resilient to these energy shocks, to make households, businesses and the country in general more resilient. That has not been done. A huge amount of money has been set aside for retrofitting. I understand why that is necessary, but it is costly. Many people are not able to afford it, and it is also very disruptive. We have seen studies that show that when people retrofit they do not necessarily cut their emissions or energy usage. It makes their homes more comfortable but does not really impact on spending on energy. I have asked the Minister previously to look at solar. You can get solar panels up on your home in a few hours. I left for work one morning at 8.30 a.m. and I got a message from my husband at 12 noon to say that we were completely off the grid; we were pulling in enough solar to run the house. It is so quick to do, relatively cheap compared with retrofitting and can be rolled out across every house. One million homes in this country are suitable for solar panels. Part of our solar for all plan is to expand the warmer homes scheme to include free solar panels for those at risk of energy poverty and double the grants for all other households. I ask the Minister to do that. The battery grant needs to be brought back in and plug-in solar needs to be looked at as well as more supports for businesses. They are simple measures but they are sustainable. They will help homes to be more resilient against future energy shocks. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  This is a cost-of-living crisis that has been going on for almost five years. The lack of self-awareness on the part of the Government is really frustrating and disappointing. What we saw last week was an expression of how people are struggling. It was one section of society but so many people are struggling. At the time of the most recent budget, we in the Social Democrats put forward an alternative budget that included targeted measures but the Government ignored us. We put forward a proposal for an emergency cost-of-disability payment in March which was ignored by the Government. We put forward a proposal, and will bring it forward again tomorrow, for a targeted energy credit of \u20ac400 per home to help those with an income of \u20ac70,000 or under. The Government has ignored it. The Minister of State might understand why it is extremely frustrating for people across the country and for us here that the Government says it is listening, doing what it can, it hears us and is making changes. I just listed a number of targeted measures that would make a real difference to people's lives. Those measures are costed and the money is available to do them. Why is the Government not doing it? A targeted energy credit and an emergency cost-of-disability payment are two things the Government could do. I have racked my brain to understand why the Government is not doing it. Surely, as a Government, it wants to get re-elected and understands it has the money. I think it is a question of political priority. As a result of the budget, there was a \u20ac1,400 cut for disabled people. They effectively received a cut in the budget. It is vulnerable people who lose out and this Government has not and does not prioritise them.  It is the same in the area of housing. I have made the point over and over and we have highlighted it. We are talking about a cost-of-living crisis. Imagine being evicted from your home. You cannot afford to get somewhere to rent so you go into emergency accommodation, which is an expense to the State. Young people are essentially having to emigrate because they cannot afford to rent, and this Government just stands by and says it is international issues, inflation hurts everyone and it can only do what is fiscally sustainable. Yet, it had no issue in giving over \u20ac1 billion in tax cuts to fast-food giants and the VAT cut to developers, investor landlords and funds in the budget - \u20ac1 billion each year will go to them yet when it comes to disabled people or children in poverty, the Government says it is not fiscally sustainable and we have to wait. This Government has its priorities all wrong. It is not listening to the people struggling in this cost-of-living crisis that has been going on for many years. We will continue to push for these measures and to push this Government until it listens and makes the changes needed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charles Ward  People are at breaking point. They are struggling every day just to get by. Many of these people took to the streets last week to voice their concerns and engage in their democratic right to protest. What did the Government do? It vilified and threatened them. What kind of democratic republic are we living in when, instead of listening and engaging, our Government vilifies and threatens its citizens and treats them with contempt? It is simply despicable. The people of this country deserve better. They deserve a Government that listens to them, truly values them and works for the people and not against them. The citizens are crying out for help and to act instantly, not delay.  I am getting hundreds of emails from my constituents. They are a cry for help. It is desperate and it is getting worse. We are dealing with a real issue and it is not getting any better. I will read out some of them. The first states:  The prospect of owning our own home feels completely alien to use. It feels out of touch and out of reach. We are struggling. The both of us are working. I am a healthcare worker and my husband is in construction. We cannot afford to keep heating oil in our tank. We have two kids. What can we do?  This is just the start. A third-year nurse also contacted me. She said, \"I feel like I made the wrong decision to go back to nursing. I wish I went to Australia two years ago.\"  Another one said:  I got married last year. I have been working in a family-run business in the agricultural sector for the past 20 years. Myself and my wife both work full time to provide for our family - our two kids. Every week it is getting harder and harder. Neither of us smoke or drink. We do not go out socialising. We had to give up our pastime hobbies and we are constantly having to dip into our savings. There is no help. There is no future for us in Ireland.  This is what they are saying. This is what is going on. People have given up hope. In Donegal, heating oil is used to heat 85% of homes. Over the past month, people have had to find an extra \u20ac700 which they simply cannot get.  The oil has run out. They are sitting in damp homes. They are letting their kids go to bed holding hot water bottles and wearing extra layers. They are doing so in this day and age. Shame on the Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  There are 320,000 people in this country who are in arrears with their energy bills because they just cannot pay them. We have about 700,000 people who are living in poverty, and we have hundreds of thousands of people - and this is what was expressed in the streets - who are absolutely crucified by a cost-of-living crisis that started before Trump's and Israel's disastrous war commenced. It was already crushing people and producing arrears, hardship and suffering. We can add to that the exorbitant rents and accommodation crisis leading young people to leave this country because they cannot afford to live here. Trump's war makes it even worse, and the Government throws crumbs to people that will make almost no difference.  Compare what the Government has given in its total package with the headline \"Irish tax relief on jet fuel for airlines operating here to hit \u20ac1bn this year\". That was last November. A few commercial airlines get an exemption on excise of \u20ac1 billion. Profitable companies get more by a significant margin than all the tens of thousands of people who are being hammered with the fuel and energy increases that are crucifying them. It is the Government's priorities that are the problem. Trump and Israel have made this mess worse. Some of those who cheer them on should think seriously about that because this war is costing not just lives, it is also hitting people in their pockets. The Government has failed to protect people because it prioritises corporations that are making massive profits rather than struggling working people and households in this country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  The warnings from us on the Opposition benches were ignored. In the context of the protests in Laois that I attended, there were decent hard-working people who work 60 or 70 hours a week present. Truckers told me that they are losing \u20ac6,000 per month. They can only do that for a couple of months. The fact is that they could not get a week's wages and were sinking below the waterline. While the measures proposed may bring some relief, a lot of people, including commuters, have been left out. There are 12,000 people in Laois who commute out of the county to work. Many of them do so by car out of necessity. There are taxi drivers, home helps and public health nurses. There are 700,000 people who rely on home heating oil. Many rural households in Laois rely on home heating oil; the majority outside of Portlaoise. These are low- and middle-income families who are been crucified. They do not get the fuel allowance. They are not entitled to it. They are left out. This is on top of a cost-of-living crisis. There are 320,000 households that are in arrears with their electricity bills and 180,000 households that are in arrears on their gas bills. If we look rents in Laois, there are cases of more than \u20ac2,000 month being sought in rent. One family has childcare costs of \u20ac1,400 a month. School transport fees are up and leaving certificate fees are back and being levied. This is a very tough situation, and further measures are needed for people.  A budget was introduced last October. In the budget before that, which was just before the general election, helicopter money was dropped out of the sky on top of people, including on top of us and those who did not need it. Developers, landlords, hoteliers, McDonald's, Supermac's and Starbucks were all looked after. What happened with ordinary workers? The tax bands were frozen. What happened as a consequence? Joe and Mary Soap who are paying tax and are registered workers are paying more tax than they did last year. Not alone did they not get zero, they are in reverse. That is not good enough. What the Government did in 2024 was cynical. Last year, following the election, the Government totally turned its back on ordinary working people. That cannot continue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  We have just seen very militant protests that were widely supported in society because of the acute nature of the cost-of-living crisis and the fact that people were supporting those who were having a go. A marker has been laid, and we need workers to do the same.  In the couple of minutes I have, I want to highlight that there were some issues with these protests. It was noted by many people that some far-right individuals and far-right talking points emerged during the protests. There are some who should not have been let near a microphone, never mind allowed to crawl out from under the rocks they were under. Christopher Duffy, for example, used the words \"F- around and find out\" when Ren\u00e9e Good, a young woman in America, was shot dead by ICE, cheered on a rape threat against Greta Thunberg, used anti-migrant hate and is an out and out misogynist. He was involved in these protests from the outset. James Geoghegan has been widely reported as spreading anti-migrant hate. He is a tax defaulter and an animal abuser. He said the Government was bussing asylum seekers to vote in the elections in 2024. He is a climate denier. A councillor in Kildare, Tom McDonnell, said women need to breed more. That is his history. He is blaming this crisis on people in IPAS centres rather than Donald Trump and Netanyahu and the imperial adventures they are engaged in.  Then there is reportedly a character, Michael McCarthy, who said that Hitler needs to be understood and that he was not all bad. He launched a GoFundMe to raise money for food and drink for the protesters. There is \u20ac150,000 in that fund, and a lot of people want to know how somebody like him was allowed to set up a GoFundMe. He has called for mass deportations. He is linked with the far-right and an organised far-right group. That GoFundMe needs to be taken down. Fascists such as Niall McConnell were interviewing some of these protesters. There is the whole issue of the far-right channels being used to promote the protests and far-right individuals controlling WhatsApp groups and pages, apparently, such as the Dublin fuel protest page. These are people who have absolutely nothing to do with rural contractors. One of them lives in Dublin 15. I know her. These people should not be allowed anywhere near a protest movement that wants popular support in society. We should call them out. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  This is an arrogant Government. It has not listened and is not listening. It has not listened to representative organisations, the public, TDs or Opposition parties. Several motions for a cost-of-living package have been debated in the House. My Private Members' motion in December calling for price controls on electricity, gas, fuel and food was arrogantly voted down. The recent packages are too little and too late. White diesel now costs 36 cent more per litre than it did at the start of the illegal US and Israeli war. Green diesel is through the roof, heating oil has almost doubled and petrol is substantially higher. There is nothing in the package for PAYE workers. They have been abandoned.  The Government could and should have introduced a much bigger package. The claim that it does not have the money does not wash. In budget 2025, which was introduced October 2024, the Government found \u20ac2.2 billion to buy the general election which took place seven weeks later. It also has a \u20ac20 billion rainy day fund. It is pouring rain now, and it is time to use the fund for a proper cost-of-living package. Government decisions which continue to make this country dependent on fossil fuels mean we are very badly affected by energy shocks such as that we are currently experiencing. Trump and the US-Israeli war in Iran are directly responsible for this fuel shock. The Government's failure and refusal to stand up to Donald Trump, that far-right unhinged madman in the White House, means that he has been emboldened and now believes he can do what he likes. He has threatened to wipe out a whole civilisation.  He has engaged in a genocidal war on Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon and Iran----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I thank Deputy Healy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  -----and he has even attacked the Pope. It is time to stand up to him----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I call Deputy Gogarty.. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  -----pass the occupied territories Bill and stop----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy Healy, resume your seat. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  -----military planes going through Shannon. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  I want to follow up on what Deputy Healy said. Our Government obviously has to maintain diplomatic relations with the Trump Administration, but we need to be a good bit stronger in highlighting this illegal war. In this Chamber in January, I asked the Government to do more in terms of the vile, oppressive theocracy in Iran and how it has stamped on its own people and executed so many. What Trump and Netanyahu have done will set cause of the freedom of the Iranian people back for a considerable period. They deserve a place in hell for that. I said in the earlier debate that those in government are not the devils in this issue, just as those in opposition are not the angels. Sometimes, we play politics and are populist. The Great Satan, as the Iranians would say, is Trump, because Trump is the one who caused this whole mess and put us into this crisis.  We have seen fuel protests throughout Europe and elsewhere. We have to listen to our population and give them the help they need as quickly as possible. That is why the motion of no confidence arose. People were of the view that the pain they were feeling was not being responded to or not being responded to quickly enough. Maybe the Government should have gone out on some of the protests and engaged with people. I want to call out the fact, as others have said, that there were so many disorganised groupings involved. Some of them are far right. Some of them are conspiracy theorists, climate change deniers and Trump supporters. They have self-appointed leaders, including the one I mentioned earlier who said he did not care if a woman was raped. These are the nut jobs who were calling themselves the leaders of the people. We have to listen directly to the people and to respond to them and be seen to respond. Otherwise, these nut jobs will jump on any bandwagon and try to make hay while the sun shines. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  I listened to Deputy Gogarty with interest, and he is right. There were, unfortunately, a lot of self-appointed leaders involved in protests. However, there were very decent people involved in the protests I attended. They tried their best to weed out those, I call them thugs, who try to get involved. They get involved in everything that is going on. They think they can save the world from their homes, but that is not usually the case.  There is a lot of stuff we are going back over here today. In relation to home heating oil, there was no decrease in the home heating oil and people are suffering at present. Use of the word \"heating\" is becoming widespread in the context of the fact that there are 300,000 people who cannot pay their electricity bills. That is a major issue that has been constantly spoken about in here. Unfortunately, those who mentioned it were never listened to. It is a very serious issue. The Government should have moved on it.  In relation to other issues, there are very small things like cancer clinics, although they are probably not small in some respects. A discussion took place on C103FM yesterday morning in relation to the success of the cancer clinic in west Cork, but the fuel crisis is hitting it hard. This is a voluntary service that takes cancer patients to and from parts of west Cork and other areas across the county into Cork city every day. Everything is organised to perfection, except for the costs. There needs to be a budget set aside for those people here too.  I spoke to a plant hire person in the road building and building sector. They have all been exempted from this package that is being provided. They are all suffering. Someone who is in the plant hire business is out every day of the week with heavy machinery. That is something that needs to be looked at again.  In relation to the fishing industry, we have two types of fishers. We have the inshore fishermen who are working most of the day. They have no choice but to use petrol. They have been speaking to me about how they have to use pump petrol. They do not get a rebate for pump petrol. They go up to the pump and fill the drums----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Fitzmaurice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice  They go and fill the drums and come back. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  They fill the drums and put it into the boat and go out for the day and then go back and do the same thing. It is a continuous situation. I also then have those who are out there in the bigger trawlers throughout the country. I have correspondence from one of them. It states:  Hi Michael,  No word from our leaders. We have serious trouble with diesel. We have burned 2,500 in 24 hours. Our son was out on his last trip for 14 days. It cost him \u20ac31,000. It is not possible to keep going at that. We need help now, immediately, not in a month. We have 33 people working, all need money every week.  This is the crisis in which people find themselves. They are paying bills left, right and centre. There are reliefs for some of these but people are not sure how to get their hands on them or whether it will be another month or another six or eight weeks. Some of these people are in trouble right now and need those reliefs this very minute.  The Minister of State could throw back at me the fact that I did not support the package, but the reason was because the Government has tailored the carbon tax and all the increases in the carbon tax into it. I will never support anything that will hurt the Irish people. The Government has a programme scheduled whereby we can kick the can down the road until October and then hit people with a double, triple or quadruple increase. That is not the way to go. It is not a sign of a caring Government. It is a greedy, grabbing Government that wants projects and that maybe wants specialised projects. We have to look at projects. Some of the projects that can wait have to be sidelined, such as, maybe, the greenways and double cycleways. I was  with Noel Thomas in Galway recently. Everyone in every house I visited in the housing estate there was livid about these double cycleways as opposed to single cycleways. They asked where the money is coming from and how we are spending that type of money. It is wasted money as far as they were concerned. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Fitzmaurice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice  I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate. We need to look at sectors that have been left behind. On home heating oil, I know there were a good few proposals in relation to hydrotreated vegetable oil, HVO. The statistics I am hearing are that HVO would cut emissions by 90%, but there is still a lot of taxes on it. That needs to be looked at. There is nothing there for people right around the country who are using home heating oil.  The other side, which was brought up earlier, relates to plant hire. The first thing that goes into every house is a digger and either a dump truck or a dump trailer. It relates to every part of that including all the ground works, the water, the sewers and the roads. The Minister of State knows it from his county. The big contractors are down there. There is a problem with the price of diesel for all those jobs and what they are priced at. Maybe there are clauses in some of those contracts with the councils or roads authorities but there are ordinary contractors who build houses and they are left out of this loop altogether.  The second part, and I have talked about it a number of times, is that we still have lorry drivers who have, say, a quarry and who do not need the haulage licence. There was a fund brought in over \u20ac1.57 plus VAT  in relation to a war emergency fund, but there is nothing in the rebate for them. They are as important as people bringing meal from a mill who have their own lorries. People do not need a haulage license to carry their own product. That sector seems to still be forgotten about. I ask the Minister of State to re-examine that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  The people of County Mayo and the rest of the country are desperate in terms of the costs of fuel. This Government has acted with complete impunity when it comes to accountability. First, it blamed the protesters. Then it blamed the media for covering the protesters and threatened an investigation. Then it blamed Trump. Earlier, I heard Ministers blaming international markets, international pricing structures, etc., but who made us reliant on international markets? It was the Government in terms of its policy. The previous Government, of which the Minister of State was a member, banned oil and gas exploration. It stripped away any ability for us to be energy independent. It created this dependency and then, when prices escalated, it blamed the dependency that it created. That is a fact. It is time that this Government accepted accountability, not just for the mishandling of the crisis but also for the situation in which we find ourselves in terms of our energy reliance.  The fact is that the infrastructure for renewable energy, as the Minister of State well knows, is not there at the moment. In relation to the escalating costs, it was the previous Government's policy to actually drive up costs.  The Government introduced the carbon tax. It was designed to drive the cost of energy. The Government did it in such a way that it was legislated for and baked in several years ago irrespective of the costs in the future. That is why the Minister of State's comments about carbon tax last week were tone deaf. The carbon tax was designed to try to move people away from fossil fuels. If you are a farmer in Mayo who is seeking to spread slurry or fertiliser, or cut silage, you do not have an alternative. The Minister of State should know that. This escalation of prices has unravelled the Government's policy on carbon tax and its desire for high energy costs. That is the truth of the matter. It is the Minister of State's desire and that of his Government. It is time that they wake up, accept it and change that policy because it is hurting rural Ireland and the Irish economy. Who knows where the cost of fuel is going to go over the next number of months and years? I opposed and voted against that Bill. The reason I did so was because I will not vote for a carbon tax into the future. It is wrong to penalise our Irish citizens who have no alternative.  The taxation of fuel is incredibly excessive. The vast majority of what we pay is on Government taxation. Over the past ten years, the Government has taken in \u20ac35 billion. In 2020 alone, it took in \u20ac4 billion and that tax take is rising, year on year. The Minister of State made an argument for carbon tax but he should know that reliable and regular public transport does not exist in Mayo. If you want to commute from Ballyhaunis or Ballinrobe to Castlebar or Westport on a daily basis, you cannot do so. The Minister of State knows that.  Is it right and just that the farmers, hauliers and contractors are, in the main, paying the carbon tax that is going, in many cases, to retrofits, etc.? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy Lawless. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  We need to have a conversation on this. The Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI, came out with a report recently that outlined there is a minimal difference----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  You should conclude, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  -----between an A-rated house and a G-rated house in terms of energy consumption and yet Fine Gael councillors in Mayo are seeking to spend----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy Lawless, you should conclude. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  -----over \u20ac2 million on a council chamber. I heard a councillor last week justifying this----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Shouting does not get you anywhere. The Deputy is over his time and should end. I call Deputy Callaghan. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Callaghan  I acknowledge on the record what people are feeling across the country right now. I understand that families are anxious. Older people are worried about heating their homes. Farmers and small businesses are watching costs rise, week by week. Their concerns are genuine and they deserve to be treated with seriousness, respect and empathy.  The war in Iran has destabilised global energy markets. This is a reality that none of us in this House can change but what we can control is how we respond at home. The Government has responded with the largest and most comprehensive support package in the EU to help cushion the impact of the conflict in the Gulf. The fuel disruption we are seeing is a direct consequence of that war in Iran and the disruption of global supply routes. That is not something Ireland caused but it is something that this Government has acted in targeted ways, on a sector-by-sector basis, to help to offer some much-needed relief to the citizens of Ireland.  To manage expectations, there is no government in the whole world that can insulate an entire country from the financial impact of a global war. This war is showing no signs of ending so we need to focus on longer-term thinking. That is why, as a backbench TD for Carlow-Kilkenny, I am asking, in particular, for the Government to look towards giving further relief to householders by providing a targeted emergency fuel allowance for people who do not currently benefit from the fuel allowance to assist in the increasing price of kerosene. I would like employers who have remote-capable roles allow people to stay at home and work from home, thereby easing the pressure on commuters. I would like an SEAI retrofit blitz for Carlow-Kilkenny and an expansion of Local Link, demand-responsive transport in rural areas with little or no bus service. Farmers, agricultural contractors and hauliers are paying higher diesel costs now so we need to ensure that the fuel subsidy support scheme that has been introduced will be paid out quickly. From speaking with the Minister, Deputy Heydon, I understand that will happen. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gillian Toole","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gillian-Toole.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Gillian-Toole.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gillian Toole  As others have said, the crisis and the knock-on cost of living, which has arisen because of variables completely outside of our control in this country, have brought us to this point. They have also brought us to the point where we have to collaborate and co-operate, and engage in serious problem solving across the Chamber to try to alleviate the stress, anxiety and financial pressure that everybody is under at this point.  There has been criticism of tax breaks. I point out that excise duty on petrol is down by 36%. On diesel, it is down by 47.7%. On green diesel, it is down by 30.8%. Our overheads in northern Europe are not the equivalent of those in southern Europe. Wages, etc., differ by 30% to 50% so we are not comparing like with like. I welcome the pause on carbon tax but at this point, a full review of carbon tax and the proportionality of it and the apportionment of it is required. There are opportunities for us. There was an excellent conversation on EnergyCloud and the targeting of the surplus energy to those in fuel poverty, and I think that is a matter we must examine as a matter of urgency.  Accountability and efficiency are required to achieve balanced budgets, going forward. We all have needs and demands. The people who have put us into the House have charged us with those. Whether in respect of education, special education or healthcare, we must remember that budgets are limits and not targets. While we want to give more to people, it has to be done in a balanced manner and with a view to the evolving needs. However, the situation we are in at the moment is an uncontrollable variable beyond this country. It has to be managed on a day-by-day basis to ensure the outcome for everybody. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  I know where this motion comes from. People are under real pressure. Energy prices are too high and families and businesses in my constituency are contacting me daily. I will be clear about today's motion of confidence and why we need a functioning Government to bring in these measures. I heard people across the Chamber say that Independents have betrayed the people. Betraying the people would be political point-scoring for a few extra seats for a party and causing disarray in the Government at the time of highest geopolitical risk that has existed in my lifetime. We need a stable Government right now to bring in the financial supports that we brought in tonight. That was not relayed to the public. When I was on the phone to people who were asking me to vote no confidence in the Government, I told them that if the Government were to fall, it would be unable to bring in financial supports. That information was not relayed by political parties that were screaming for this. There would be no legislation or reform to our energy system. The private wire legislation, which is in the programme for Government and will help the Irish people, would not be able to progress. Every single solution we are discussing today would not be able to progress. Without a functioning Government, nothing would be happening. There would be no reform to infrastructure or to delivery. The people of Ireland would not benefit. Some people would say that Independents are lining their pockets, but we are not. We are benefiting our constituents and the people of Ireland by creating a stable Government that will benefit them.  The decision I made today might be seen as bad by my constituents but they will know it was from the bottom of my heart and that I did it for the best reason to allow them to benefit from financial measures that will come in the coming weeks. We do not know where this current geopolitical situation will go. We must benefit the vulnerable and build a resilient system that protects Irish people and does not expose them.  There is global instability with the conflict and the attacks on energy. We have seen what Trump and Netanyahu have done in the past two days, and it needs to be addressed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Carol Nolan  At the fuel protests in Offaly, I was delighted to stand with my constituents, hard-working, decent people who have worked hard and are very frustrated. I met groups in Birr, Tullamore and Cloghan. Many self-employed people told me they just cannot keep going. Only today, I met a young businessperson who told me his business will be gone next week. This is shameful. The Government has neglected the working people of this country and squandered Irish taxpayers' money. When they want some of their own money back, they have to come, kicking, begging and screaming, for their own money and for assistance. What the Government has done is disgraceful. I do not understand it. We know that billions are being thrown at the asylum system. We know that \u20ac840 million went out in overseas aid. That was highlighted in budget 2026. It is disgraceful. Yet we have Irish people kicking, begging and screaming. People are in my offices every day of the week at absolute breaking point.  I am ashamed of what the Government has done. I am glad to say I am not part of it. It has gone in the wrong direction entirely. It is squandering money where it should not be squandered. Let us look at the children's hospital, overseas aid or the asylum system where we have unvetted migrants coming into the country all the time. That is fact. The Government is squandering money. It needs to stop. The Government needs to stand up for the hardworking Irish people, the farmers, hauliers, agricultural contractors and small businesses. They should not have to come kicking and screaming for money. The Government needs to listen to them. Why was the Government not out meeting them? Why was the Taoiseach not out in Cork meeting his constituents? That would have been true leadership. I am absolutely appalled. I am here to stand up and serve my constituents in Offaly. This is certainly something that will never be forgotten. The Government will reap the benefit at the ballot box. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  I stood here on 24 March when the Taoiseach and Government announced just 3 cent of a reduction in the cost of green diesel and 2 cent on kerosene. I begged the Government from where I am standing now to listen to me and to come in and address it the following week. I said if it had forgotten or did not understand, I was pleading with it to rectify it. It was allowed to carry on and it went from bad to worse when a Minister gave \u20ac40 million again to Ukraine in the middle of it. It was like throwing gallons of petrol on the fire because people are feeling the pinch like never before. There is a package and the Minister of State can listen to me or not but there will be another occasion like today and maybe more than that.  In the package being given out, there is no mention of the cost of the diesel or doing anything about the diesel for construction machines that are involved in the building of houses, such as the high rise cranes, the diggers digging the foundations or putting in the services underground, whether they are mini-diggers or larger diggers. There is something, though not enough, for farmers and agricultural contractors but there is nothing at all for civil contractors. I am asking the Government not to ignore me and not to forget it because there is much consternation that it has not been addressed. I feel the reason it has not been addressed is that the Government kept a lot of people out of the talks who had things to say. There were plenty of rooms around D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann for the Government to talk to them in and it just did not want to. Will the Government give the people down the country the feeling that the D\u00e1il appreciates them, that they are wanted and needed and that they will be looked after properly because that has not been happening? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Brennan  I welcome the package presented on Sunday and recognise we are living in unprecedented times. We simply cannot forecast where this is going or predict where it will end. When the first fuel package was released, the response to the agriculture sector was simply insufficient and an insult to a critical cornerstone of our economy. Many members of the agriculture sector were on their knees long before this fuel crisis. Will the Minister of State please reassure farmers, contractors, the haulage sector and the fishing industry that this package will be continually reviewed in light of the fluid and volatile situation in the Middle East? On the supports available, can he ensure there will be a simple, swift and effective claims process so our constituents will not be weighed down by additional paperwork and bureaucracy? We pride ourselves on the quality of our agrifood. We are known all over the world for the high standard of the food we produce. What about the producers, the farmers, fishermen and contractors? Are we supporting them enough and do we respect the work they do? Based on the conversations I have had with many in this sector, long before this fuel crisis, the answer to that question is \"No\". We need to act on this and we need to act swiftly. On home heating, I acknowledge there has been an expansion of the fuel allowance payment scheme but we need to do more. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Deputy Alan Dillon)  I move amendment No. 1:  To delete all words after \"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann\" and substitute the following:  \"notes that the Government:  \u2014 remains deeply concerned about the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and Gulf;  \u2014 continues to seek de-escalation through dialogue and diplomacy so that these issues can be resolved;  \u2014 recognises and understands the pressures that have arisen due to rising fuel costs as a result of war in Ukraine and the Middle East, on all families and businesses;  \u2014 affirms that energy affordability is a priority for this Government, and highlights that successive Budgets have provided targeted support to help households with cost-of-living pressures;  \u2014 remains committed to decarbonising our society, increasing investment in renewable energy sources, and using revenues raised to protect those most vulnerable to fuel poverty through targeted welfare interventions;  recognises that:  \u2014 carbon tax is a key pillar underpinning the Government's Climate Action Plan to halve emissions by 2030, and reach net zero no later than 2050;  \u2014 analysis undertaken using SWITCH, the ESRI tax and benefit model, to simulate the impact of the carbon tax increase, and the compensatory welfare package estimates that the net impact of the combined measures is progressive and that half of households are better off due to the measures part-funded by additional carbon tax funds, with households in the bottom four income deciles benefitting the most; and  \u2014 in the long run the best way to protect Ireland from the impact of international fossil fuel prices is to reduce our dependence on them, which will be achieved through the progressive decarbonisation of the Irish economy and society, and through the steps that will be taken to meet the Government's commitment to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050;  further notes that the previous package of supports announced by Government on 24th March, included measures that:  \u2014 reduced the Mineral Oil Tax applying to petrol, diesel and Marked Gas Oil (MGO) by 15, 20 and 3 cents, respectively, on a Value-Added Tax (VAT) inclusive basis, until 31st May, at a cost of \u20ac150 million;  \u2014 reduced the National Oil Reserves Agency (NORA) levy by nearly 2 cents, at a cost of \u20ac20 million in income forgone to NORA;  \u2014 reduced the cost of petrol, diesel and MGO at the pump by 17, 22 and 5 cents in total, on a VAT inclusive basis;  \u2014 provided targeted relief to haulage and bus passenger operators, by increasing the maximum repayment allowable under the Diesel Rebate Scheme from 7.5 cent up to 12 cent per litre of diesel, for the first two quarters of 2026, at a cost of \u20ac10 million; and  \u2014 extended the fuel allowance season by four weeks, to provide essential support to those most vulnerable to fuel poverty, at a cost of \u20ac70 million;  highlights that newly introduced measures will extend the duration of the reduced mineral oil tax rates from the end of May until the end of July, and apply further reductions to these rates by, on a VAT inclusive basis, 10 cent per litre on petrol, 10 cent per litre on diesel and 2.4 cent per litre on MGO, at an estimated cost of \u20ac260 million; and  furthermore, notes that the combined effect of the measures announced on 24th March, and on 12th April, are to:  \u2014 reduce the cost of diesel by 32 cent;  \u2014 reduce the cost of petrol by 27 cent;  \u2014 reduce the cost of MGO by 7.4 cent;  \u2014 postpone the increase in carbon tax scheduled for 1st May, until the Budget in October, at an estimated cost of \u20ac22 million;  \u2014 enhance the Transport Support Schemes for all haulage operators, local link and school transport providers, and some commercial operators, at a monthly cost of \u20ac40 million;  \u2014 introduce a Fuel Subsidy Support Scheme for farming and fisheries, at a cost of \u20ac100 million, to ensure that those most exposed to fuel price increases will receive meaningful assistance at the most critical time of year;  \u2014 be a significant response to real pressures being felt here, and globally;  \u2014 be one of the most comprehensive support packages in the European Union; and  \u2014 directly help people impacted by this unprecedented global crisis in energy supply resulting from the war in the Middle East.\".  I acknowledge this is very real for people across the country. The pressures, stress and genuine financial strain arising from fuel costs are putting enormous pressure on households, businesses and key sectors. As a Mayo TD and a member of the Government, in recent days, I have met people across my constituency and beyond. Many other Members have also referenced those hardworking people. Certainly, I have listened carefully and respectfully to those who have expressed deep frustration publicly and privately. They are asking simple and legitimate questions, such as why the costs are rising so sharply and what the Government is doing in response. They have a right to ask these questions and they deserve straight answers. That is why we are here today to implement a number of financial resolutions but also to give some further detail.  The fact remains that we are living in an unprecedented global energy crisis. This is not abstract. It is not theoretical and it did not happen somewhere else. It is real. It is immediate and it is being felt in every household and every sector of our economy. That is something many on the Opposition benches have failed to recognise tonight.  We live in a small, open economy and we are particularly exposed to global price shocks, especially during periods of geopolitical instability. The volatility we are seeing in international fuel markets is driven by events far beyond the borders of Ireland. The ongoing conflict and instability in the gulf and the Middle East are a real result and no government anywhere can fully insulate citizens from the shocks and the scale of this crisis. It is also important to recognise that we need to be honest with people about these realities, what the Government can do and what this Government has done in response, in a way that is timely, proportionate, reasonable and fair.  I welcome the opportunity to respond to the motion put forward by Sinn F\u00e9in this evening on fuel prices. It calls for maximum action to reduce costs and support workers, families and key sectors. Let us be clear. This is exactly what the Government has done. It has not ignored this problem. We have not delayed. We have not hidden behind slogans. We have acted decisively, responsibly and on the basis of the evidence put forward.  In March, we introduced an initial \u20ac250 million package. That included targeted supports designed to shield the households and businesses most exposed to the rising energy and fuel costs. Importantly, we were clear at that point that the measures would be kept under constant review. We did not pretend that one intervention would be enough in a volatile and fast-moving, global environment. We have continuously monitored developments in international energy markets.  In the past week we have seen, as a result of the escalating geopolitical instability, petrol prices have increased by approximately 4% to around \u20ac1.92 per litre. Diesel prices have also risen by approximately 12% to around \u20ac2.16 per litre. In response to those developments, the Government has acted again. We are now delivering a second package of supports costing more than \u20ac500 million, a substantial, comprehensive and far-reaching intervention. This package includes excise reductions on petrol, diesel and marked gas oil alongside targeted supports for the transport, farming, fishing and haulage sectors, which are the sectors that quite literally keep the country moving and functioning. These measures are practical, measurable and immediate in their impact.  While they are targeted, they also provide relief right across society as a whole. This is not about choosing between households and businesses. It is about supporting both because both are under pressure and both are essential to a functioning economy.  It is important to contrast this approach with what often is heard from the Opposition. Instead of slogans, the Government has taken a balanced, evidence-based approach. We are monitoring developments closely, we are engaging directly with affiliated sectors and we are responding, not once, but twice, with substantial and credible supports. This is what responsible government looks like. It is also important to be honest about the constraints within which we operate. The Government does not act in a vacuum. While we can determine national taxation policy, policy options concerning fuel support measures must comply with the EU legislative framework. That includes the energy tax directive, VAT rules and the state aid regulations.  We are actively engaging with the European Commission to maximise the relief we can provide within these frameworks. That engagement matters and reflects the seriousness with which this Government approaches its responsibility - not promising what cannot be delivered, but delivering what we can, both lawfully and effectively.  Let us be clear about where pressure at the pump comes from and the one core driver of fuel pressure inflation, that is, global international crude oil markets, which dictate the prices. It is not this House and not this Government. Pretending otherwise might be politically convenient for some but it does not help families who are trying to make ends meet. The public deserves honesty and not easy soundbites.  Despite the global headwinds, Ireland is facing this period of uncertainty from a position of economic strength. Unemployment rates have remained below 5% for over four years, our economy continues to grow and we have run budget surpluses in recent years and expect to continue doing so over the medium term. That strength did not happen by accident. It is a result of careful economic management, disciplined public finances and responsible leadership. It is precisely because of that careful stewardship that we are able to act decisively now to support households, protect jobs and sustain critical sectors of our economy during a period of global disruption.  However, we are also being honest with the public. No set of measures, no matter how extensive, can fully shield everyone from a global crisis of this magnitude. The longer international instability continues, the greater the pressure on inflation, growth and household incomes. The reality should not be denied and should not be politicised. Responsibility requires telling people the truth even when it is uncomfortable.  At the same time, this crisis reinforces an important lesson for the future, namely, that we must reduce our dependency on fossil fuels and strengthen our own energy independence. That is why the Government remains committed to the transition to a decarbonised economy. We all recognise that reality. That transition takes time and we are in the process of that journey - we are not at the end of it, but we are getting there. In the meantime, there are sectors that remain heavily reliant on fossil fuels and they are particularly exposed to this crisis. That is why the Government is acting with targeted, temporary and proportionate measures to alleviate pressures now while continuing to invest in a more secure and sustainable energy future.  I want to conclude by acknowledging the challenging and uncertain times we are living in. These are not easy times for households, businesses or the Government but leadership matters most when circumstances are difficult. The Government has acted and we will continue to act, not with rhetoric, but with delivery, not with populism, but with responsibility, and not with noise or instability, but with stability. For these reasons, I cannot accept this motion before the House and I instead present the Government's amendment. The motion ignores the facts, disregards the extensive actions already taken and offers no credible and costed alternative. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy R\u00e9ada Cronin  I will give the Minister of State the truth. The truth is that people are at breaking point and this Government is standing idly by, completely failing them. After a disastrous, stingy budget, families have been hit with soaring fuel prices. Filling the car or heating the home is simply unaffordable. This is not just pressure any more. We are at a crisis point now.  When people took to the streets to say enough was enough, what did this Government do? It ignored them, it refused to listen to them and it looked down its nose at them. The Government also ignored the people who could not protest like the carers and people with disabilities. The Government gave a disastrous response. The Government threatened the use of the people's own army against them to show just how out of touch it was. Home heating oil is at a 30-year high. Families are dreading their oil tanks running dry because they cannot even afford a partial fill. Petrol and diesel are heading for record highs. Meanwhile, workers, families, farmers, fishers and small businesses are being squeezed to the limit.  We know that Trump and Netanyahu's illegal war has caused this crisis in fuel prices but the truth is this is the Government in Ireland and it has a choice. It could give a decent cut to fuel costs, such as 25 cent off petrol and diesel, it could scrap excise on home heating oil and it could deliver real relief, but it will not. Instead, it sits on a massive surplus while our people are struggling to get by. Confidence in this Government is gone. I could not believe the number of phone calls my office got today from the most surprising people who were fuming with the Government. This motion is about standing with those people who have been ignored and left behind, including those who could not protest like the carers and people with disabilities. We have given the Government the solution and it should not forget whose money this is. This is the people's money and their taxes. What we are missing here is leadership. All that people can see is an arrogant Government that is completely out of touch with its people.  I want people to stop misleading the D\u00e1il. The Comptroller and Auditor General stated that carbon tax was not ring-fenced the way people were led to believe, yet we have TDs coming into this Chamber who are still talking about it as if it is ring-fenced. Sinn F\u00e9in knows the carbon tax is a sop. It is just another revenue stream when the Government could take real action and commence the mass retrofitting of homes, ensuring supports are fair and equitable for people who cannot afford the expensive retrofits. However, when we have TDs in here misleading the D\u00e1il and not even knowing that the carbon tax is not ring-fenced, what hope do we have? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Crowe  I do not think it is a radical statement to say that the duty of any government is to protect its most vulnerable citizens from severe shocks to the greatest extent possible. I genuinely do not believe in this case that that is what happened. Unsustainably high energy and fuel prices in the State have made a pre-existing cost-of-living crisis even worse. I believe that the Government further compounded its failure to its citizens by not reconvening the D\u00e1il last week and not introducing emergency supports. I agree with the words of my union, SIPTU, leader, John King, when he said, \"Despite the cost of these measures, they contain little to no relief for the vast majority of workers and households, who are left completely exposed to a cost-of-living crisis and mounting inflation.\"  The question we ask here tonight is if this is fair? As we heard, home heating oil is the most expensive it has been in a generation. Petrol and diesel are on course to exceed the highest prices on record. Ordinary PAYE workers and their families are now bearing the brunt of the \u20ac500 million package but will see little benefit as their euro buys less food and other essential staples, like fuel and energy costs, continue to rise beyond their wages.  The protest last week should be a wake up call but there is no sense that the Government is listening. As one woman said to me during the week, the Government says it is listening but does not seem to hear anything. That seems to be the problem. The Government says it is listening, but is it? Can it hear the pain people are going through?  I agree with others that we must break the back of our dependency on fossil fuels by going all in on renewable energy but where is the just transition that was promised?  Why are data centres that are sucking the national grid dry not being forced to introduce district heating systems? That is something that could be done. It would not cost the State anything. It is happening in one of the data centres in my area. Why are ordinary households paying more for energy than the data centres? Why are we turning off renewable energy at night-time when vulnerable citizens are freezing in the homes? Will the Minister of State answer these questions at some stage? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in  I was really proud during this past week to stand alongside so many sound people from Wexford and Wicklow - men, women and children - the finest of people who took to the roads out of sheer desperation in peaceful protest at a Government of Fianna F\u00e1il, Fine Gael and Independent TDs that simply was not listening to them. They demanded meaningful supports and real change. They got neither in the Chamber today. The Government survived but its days are numbered, judging by the anger on the street this evening. I met many of them outside. I have listened to many farmers, contractors, bus operators, taxi drivers, lorrymen, elderly people who cannot heat their homes, and couples commuting to Dublin every morning, of whom there are 6,500 from my area in the Wicklow-Wexford constituency. I have met many young lads on tractors who cannot make a living and may be driven out of this country. It is shameful that they would be robbed of a future in their own country while there is any amount of money available for data centre preferential policies. They get tens of millions of the people's money wasted on all sorts of pet projects while the people who need it cannot get it. The Government could have cut diesel and petrol prices by the maximum amount at the pumps as we proposed. It could have scrapped excise on home heating oil instead of leaving prices at double what they were before. It could have completely scrapped the carbon tax increase. It could have listened to all of these fine people struggling with the cost-of-living crisis, but it just did not do so. Obviously, Trump and Netanyahu's war on the Middle East has caused huge chaos for the Irish people, as well as the slaughter of people in the Middle East, but the Government compounded the problem. The fact that it is taking \u20ac40 when someone puts \u20ac60 of petrol or diesel into their car is compounding the problem hugely.  During the week, nobody I met wanted to be out protesting on the roads. It was the Government's failure to act and listen to them that forced them into desperation. The Government showed huge arrogance, demeaned people and threatened to call in the Army, which was really shameful. We are approaching the anniversary of the Easter Rising on Friday week and it is worth remembering the famous Pearse quote. He wrote:  Beware of the thing that is coming, beware of the risen people,  Who shall take what ye would not give.  I know whose side I am on. The Government won the vote in the Chamber today but the battle is only just beginning. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy M\u00e1ire Devine  \"Responsible\" seems to have been the mantra from the other side all throughout the day as well as talk of how great those TDs all are but the Government did not read the room. It hid, it dithered and it ignored for months on end people who were trying to get it to listen to them about the hardships they were going through. The fuel issue last week was the straw that finally broke the poor camel's back. It certainly broke the back of the Minister of State earlier today. Years of Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael incompetence and indifference have landed the whole of Ireland in an unenviable position of needing to flood the streets in rage in protest at what has not been done. Working people, families, and elderly and disabled people cannot afford to heat homes and gas up their vehicles while the Government grants data centres lower energy costs at a time of record profits for big oil and gas corporations. Trump's illegal war on Iran has exacerbated higher fuel prices and taxes, yet An Taoiseach remained silent on this despicable war and the chaos it imposed on the world when sitting face to face with that man. Trump's God complex may have had the Taoiseach in awe. However, more than this, the Government removed the cost-of-living supports and refused to bring prices under control. It voted down every Opposition proposal to help everyday people, including Sinn F\u00e9in's legislation a month ago to reduce the cost of petrol, diesel, including green diesel, and home heating oil. Now, when finally faced with the ire of the people and with the electorate awoken to its lack of governance, it brings forward insulting half measures that just do not cut it. It spends taxpayers' money slapping plasters on all of Ireland's problems rather than fixing the root causes.  The country is unsettled and demands leadership. People are sending a very loud message that they reject the Government's feeble attempts to deflect, pat itself on the back - that is what I have heard all day - and to twist the narrative, especially when it comes to Sinn F\u00e9in and what we heard earlier about the carbon tax and the obfuscation on that. It is a display of ignorance, I would imagine. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Keira Keogh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Keira Keogh)  Go raibh maith agat, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy M\u00e1ire Devine  The Government has lost the confidence of the people. Certainly, it lost the confidence of this side of the House a long time ago. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Keira Keogh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Keira Keogh)  In accordance with Standing Order 85(2), the division is postponed until the weekly division time on Wednesday, 15 April 2026. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Fuel Prices: Motion"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-14\/debate\/dbsect_30","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/37","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/37\/dail\/2","houseCode":"dail","stage":"2","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Critical Infrastructure Bill 2026: Second Stage (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Critical Infrastructure Bill 2026: Second Stage","counts":{"speechCount":40,"speakerCount":30},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_30","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sean Fleming","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Fleming.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Fleming.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cormac Devlin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Clendennen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Fitzmaurice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (Deputy Jack Chambers)  I move: \"That the Bill be now read a Second Time.\"  I welcome the opportunity to bring the Critical Infrastructure Bill 2026 forward for consideration by the D\u00e1il today. The Bill is a central pillar of the Government\u2019s infrastructure reforms. While its impact will be wide-ranging, it is a very clear and focused piece of legislation that is to the point. Its objective is to accelerate the provision of infrastructure in energy, transport, water and other sectors to get more housing built, make progress towards our climate objectives and support the continued social and economic development of our nation. Its rapid development and progression serve as a tangible demonstration of the Government\u2019s commitment to meaningfully accelerate those strategically important projects that are essential to the State\u2019s economic and social development.  The events of recent days have reinforced and underscored the central importance of critical infrastructure to the very functioning of our economy. We have also seen the severe consequences across our society when infrastructure fails. Ireland has long struggled with an infrastructural deficit. We have made some progress in closing this gap, with the difference between Ireland and our EU neighbours estimated to have halved over the past 30 years. A gap still remains, however, with most experts, international and domestic, suggesting the gap is equivalent to a 25% to 30% deficit in capital stock compared to our peers. What this means in practical terms is not enough housing to provide accommodation for our people, it means not enough renewable electricity to reach our climate targets and it means more time spent by many commuters frustrated in traffic. If we cannot build the infrastructure fast enough, this deficit will increase as our economy and population continue to grow. The risk this poses to our society is unacceptable. The global economic uncertainty makes the need for strong and resilient infrastructure even greater.  Our domestic and international competitiveness is the key to our continued economic success. Nationally, the single greatest challenge we face is delivering housing and housing-enabled infrastructure. According to the International Institute for Management Development, IMD\u2019s world competitiveness rankings 2025, we are one of the most competitive economies in the world. However, under the heading of infrastructure, our performance continues to lag behind some other developed nations. Within a few short years, we will face critical shortages of power and water alongside congestion across our transport networks. At a time when decarbonisation is among our highest priorities, we have the slowest approval processes for renewable electricity in the EU.  The case for change is clear. It is urgent and, as evidenced by the publication of this critical legislation in addition to the extensive package of reforms we are progressing, it is the Government\u2019s highest priority. The pace of infrastructure delivery over the coming years will determine our economic success, our climate resilience and the quality of life enjoyed by communities across the country. The effective and timely delivery of new infrastructure will be the single most important determinant of our future prosperity. Ireland is at a critical juncture. The pace of infrastructure delivery over the years to come will determine our economic competitiveness.  In terms of the guiding principle, the work undertaken to accelerate the deliver of infrastructure its to create the conditions where the essential goods and services people need are plentiful and where the focus is on what is delivered. Over the past 20 years, we have had lots of layering of new regulations and processes that have been designed to improve infrastructure delivery but many of them are having unintended consequences because of the sheer weight of them. If we want infrastructure to move, we must strip away what is unnecessary.  Essential protections remain vital, but progress requires accepting some risk and being clear about priorities so we can reach a position where our future is defined by possibility rather than constant constraint. That requires the relevant water, power and transport infrastructure to fuel the needs of our economy and to supply the scale of housing that our population requires.  Since I was appointed Minister for public expenditure, I have made accelerating infrastructure my number one priority. An infrastructure division was formed in my Department in April last year, including staff from key semi-State agencies. We formed the a task force to provide strategic guidance and expert input. Six independent experts, experienced in infrastructure delivery, combined with six members, taken from those commercial semi-States at the front line of infrastructure development and the local government sector worked with my officials to identify the barriers to infrastructure and the solutions needed to overcome them. This was complemented by a public consultation launched in June. This consultation laid bare the huge concern over the pace and quality of infrastructure delivery in Ireland. Overly long timelines, fragmented governance and misalignment with climate and environmental goals all featured heavily in the views expressed.  In July, I published the Department 's assessment of the 12 most pressing barriers to infrastructure. This was not an exhaustive list; rather these 12 barriers were considered by the Department to represent the most impactful problems, delaying infrastructure provision. This assessment of barriers laid the foundation for the next phase of work, and in December last year, I published the Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan. This sets out a comprehensive programme of actions designed to speed up the delivery of critical infrastructure across the State. The plan sets out 30 targeted, time-bound actions grouped under four pillars, each addressing a key area of reform. The measures provide for a whole-of-government approach to ensure that capital investment translates into timely, co-ordinated delivery of the infrastructure. Legal reform is the first action pillar listed in the report and enacting legislation to accelerate the provision of critical infrastructure is the second.  This leads me on to the Bill we are discussing. I will briefly summarise what the Bill will do. It will allow the Government to designate certain infrastructure projects or programmes as critical. In response to this designation, all public bodies involved at any stage in the authorisation process for this infrastructure must prioritise and accelerate the authorisation process applied to the maximum extent possible while still meeting their other statutory duties. It also disapplies section 15 of the climate Act to their consideration of designated projects or programmes. By establishing a clear legal basis for prioritisation, it will reduce ambiguity and ensure that critical projects and programmes receive focused and co-ordinated attention across Departments, regulators and agencies. It will address the unacceptable delays in our infrastructure approval processes by mandating whole-of-State co-operation and creating a fast-track pathway for critical projects and programmes without skipping steps in the approval process or weakening any safeguards.  The Bill forms a central pillar of the Government\u2019s broader infrastructure acceleration agenda, signalling a significant shift toward fast-tracking strategically important projects deemed essential to the State\u2019s economic and social development. The Bill is focused, and I will through it section by section.  Section 1 is the interpretation. It notes that infrastructure is anything that enables the essential facilities and systems of the State to function effectively and includes, but is not limited to: transport facilities, including ports and airports, and transport systems, including roads and railways; energy generation, transmission and distribution systems; and water supply, wastewater and waste management systems. It further sets out that a project is something the purpose of which is the delivery of infrastructure, and is funded by capital investment, by or on behalf of the State or by on behalf of a public body. A programme is simply a collection of two or more projects that are intended to achieve a common purpose. Finally, it is worth noting that the section defines an authorisation as an award, approval, decision, licence, consent, permit or other authority required, granted or made, by or under an enactment or otherwise, to enable a project or programme to proceed in whole or in part.  Fundamentally, this section sets out the necessary underpinning terms that describe the specifics of what the provisions in the Bill apply to. As I have consistently stated, the focus for acceleration will be on the critical infrastructure necessary to underpin the development of all other infrastructure in the country. Every development, regardless of purpose, needs energy, water and a transport link to operate. If we can accelerate the provision this fundamental network infrastructure, it will lead to broader momentum and acceleration across all other types of development, particularly housing. To be eligible for inclusion, this infrastructure must be built by or on behalf of the State.  Section 2 simply notes that nothing in the Bill will affect existing or future obligations of the State under EU law. This is included to demonstrate that the Bill will not interfere in any way with our EU commitments, whether they relate to environmental protection or climate change targets or more broadly.  Section 3 deals with how projects or programmes will be designated as critical infrastructure. The Minister for public expenditure will make a recommendation to Government in respect of an individual project or programme. The Government will consider the recommendation and, if approved, an order designating a project or programme as critical infrastructure will be laid before this House. The section also lists those factors that the Minister may have regard to in making a recommendation to the Government. An administrative process will be put in place to facilitate those recommendations but I do not plan to commence this process until after the Oireachtas has approved this legislation. As such, I reiterate that my priority will be on recommending those projects or programmes that facilitate critical infrastructure across the energy, transport and water sectors with a particular focus on infrastructure that will support additional housing but the legislation specifically does not preclude other infrastructure types.  Section 4 determines who the provisions of this Bill apply to. In short, a relevant public body is any public body which has a role in the approval process for designated infrastructure. This means anyone in the development chain who must give an approval, licence, consent, permission or any kind of authorisation for the infrastructure. This is a deliberately wide net to ensure that the acceleration process will be comprehensive.  Section 5 is the core aspect of the Bill. It sets out the specific duties that will be applied to relevant public bodies. There are six core duties that they will be required to perform on the enactment of this Bill.  First, public bodies will be required to prioritise any functions they must perform in relation to designated critical infrastructure projects or programmes above their other duties. Next, each public body must take all necessary steps to accelerate their consideration of the designated project or programme and avoid any undue delays. Followed by this, the relevant public body must reduce the time required for any decision in relation to a project or programme. They must make every effort to parallel their processes with the authorisations that may be required by other public bodies. Next, they are required to co-ordinate, prioritise and sequence their functions in respect of managing risks and constraints. Finally, a public body must allocate the resources that may be required to fulfil its duties under the Bill.  The Bill does not dictate the decision that public bodies must reach. Instead, it sets out a clear articulation of the number of projects or programmes that the Government considers vital to the public interest and mandates that public bodies need to accelerate their decision-making processes with regard to these projects. This idea has been developed following on from the engagement I have had with respect to many of these public bodies. Specifically, they have been clear that a focussed articulation of what the most important projects are will be beneficial. I am confident that providing this and giving public bodies the obligation but also the vires to accelerate their decision-making processes will lead to much faster decision making in respect of identified projects.  Section 6 allows the Minister for public expenditure to issue directions to any relevant public bodies. These directions may require the provision of information on the measures that the public body has adopted and the outcome of these actions. The purpose of this is to allow for a tracking and evaluation of the actions taken by each public body and the impact these actions may have had on the approval timelines for a designated project or programme. The provision also allows direction to be issued requiring a public body to adopt such measures as may be deemed necessary for the purposes of carrying out its duties.  Section 7 disapplies section 15 of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 from designated projects and programmes. This is the only substantive change that is being made to existing legislation and I will shortly outline the reasons for this.  Section 8 provides for regulations to be issued under the Bill when enacted. The only power for regulations is to allow additional public bodies to be designated in the event of any other legal change that might mean a body has a function in relation to a designated project or programme but is not captured within the definitions.  Section 9 is a standard provision that allows for any expenses incurred in the administration of the Bill when enacted to be paid out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas.  The final section of the Bill sets out the Short Title and commencement of the Bill. We want to advance this as quickly as possible.  The Bill effectively disapplies section 15 of the climate change Act from those projects and programmes that are designated as critical infrastructure by the Government. It does not mean that climate considerations will be set aside in these projects.  Every Exchequer-funded project is already required to measure and price its greenhouse gas emissions under the infrastructure guidelines. Similarly, every individual project is also required to undergo a climate adaptation assessment to ensure it does not give rise to undue risks. All other climate and environmental obligations will still apply, such as building regulations and the use of low-carbon cement in construction.  It was never intended that the climate action Act would be used to allow the decisions taken by public bodies in relation to individual projects or programmes to be challenged in the courts. Disapplication of section 15 removes an unnecessary layer that is driving a wider increase and risk around judicial reviews. It is abundantly clear that some of these reviews are being taken for ideological reasons, often steeped in a degrowth agenda that seeks to frustrate the delivery of critical infrastructure, some of which can be connected to renewable projects. That is not an agenda that is supported by this Government. The accelerating infrastructure report and actions also commit to the development of a robust emergency powers framework that can meaningfully accelerate the delivery of critical infrastructure. The work on this legislation is proceeding in parallel this year.  The Government\u2019s prudent management means there is money to deliver across an ambitious capital investment programme. In the past five years, more than \u20ac65 billion has been invested in capital infrastructure projects across our country through the national development plan, NDP. Over the next ten years, that will rise to \u20ac275 billion. Total capital investment in 2026 alone is expected to reach \u20ac19.1 billion. This is the largest capital investment programme the State has ever seen. However, if this funding is to be delivered and if its outcomes are to be as expected, funding needs to be matched with reform. The accelerating infrastructure report is one of the most ambitious reform agendas ever adopted by the State. It is a cornerstone across this legislative agenda today, but also in the context of the emergency powers framework we are working on.  The Bill is all about accelerating the delivery of critical infrastructure for our country. It will do so by prioritising those projects that the Government identifies and this House endorses above all others. It will create a fast-track channel for these projects through existing authorisation processes. Relevant public bodies will have to consider how each of them can reprioritise within their organisations and work better with other agencies while still undertaking the respective due diligence required for each project. There will still be public participation at each stage of the development process, and the legislation will not change this. With regard to the changes in the climate Act, the only practical impact of this Bill will be to remove an avenue for judicial reviews, one that, in my view, is being used to delay rather than accelerate climate action in some instances.  The Bill is ambitious, but ambition is what is required if we are to meet the infrastructure needs of our population. I hope that we can have a robust debate and engagement today on the Bill. It will not weaken climate protections and it will not diminish public participation in infrastructure development. Rather, it allows the Government, with the endorsement of this House, to identify the most critical infrastructure projects and provides public bodies with the vires to treat these projects with the urgency they absolutely need. I look forward to working with everyone in this House in bringing forward and advancing this legislation in the coming weeks. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell  Is \u00e9 buninfreastrucht\u00far ceann de na ruda\u00ed is t\u00e1bhachta\u00ed d\u2019aon cheantar n\u00f3 pobal at\u00e1 ina gc\u00f3na\u00ed i gceantar tuaithe ach go h\u00e1irithe, \u00e1it go minic nach bhfuil an buninfreastrucht\u00far ann. Mar gheall air sin, ar nd\u00f3igh, is maith an rud \u00e9 go bhfuilimid \u00e1 phl\u00e9 seo agus ag breathn\u00fa air. T\u00e1 s\u00fail agam go gciall\u00f3idh s\u00e9 go nd\u00edreoidh an Rialtas ar ch\u00farsa\u00ed infrastrucht\u00far, ach go h\u00e1irithe sna ceantair cos\u00fail leis an gceantar in at\u00e1 m\u00e9 f\u00e9in i gConamara. Critical infrastructure is something I have been raising with the Minister for a long time, specifically basic infrastructure, something we often just do not have in the west of Ireland. Critical infrastructure is the bedrock of a strong, functioning economy. Housing, health, transport, water and energy are the essentials - the necessities - to be able to work, to be able to be healthy and to be safe. We desperately need critical infrastructure to be delivered.  This is a deficit created by chronic underfunding and a lack of ambition from successive Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael governments. I am keen to engage with any proposals from the Government to address this infrastructural deficit, but, to my mind, this Bill in front of us falls at the first hurdle. It is a Critical Infrastructure Bill without a definition of \u201ccritical infrastructure\u201d. Under this legislation, it would solely be at the Minister\u2019s discretion to designate projects as critical infrastructure. In practice, this means that a Minister could decide that a new data centre, a premium office block or a new stadium is critical infrastructure and, as such, would be fast-tracked through that delivery pipeline, while real critical infrastructure, including homes, hospitals, roads, railways and bridges, i gConamara ach go h\u00e1irithe, are not guaranteed critical status and could be left by the wayside and not sped up at all. To be honest, I believe this omission is a huge oversight. Clearer guidelines have to be included in this legislation as to what actually constitutes \"critical infrastructure\". I will be putting in amendments in relation to this aspect.  S\u00edlim gurb \u00ed an fhadhb is m\u00f3 at\u00e1 ann mar gheall ar ch\u00farsa\u00ed infrastrucht\u00fair n\u00e1 nach bhfuil muin\u00edn ag daoine go nd\u00e9anfaidh Fine Gael agus Fianna F\u00e1il beart de r\u00e9ir a mbriathar. The Government just simply cannot be trusted on infrastructure delivery. The infrastructure that has been prioritised by Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael over the last decades has failed people. It has served big business over the interests of working people and families. We are the data centre capital of Europe. Brand-new office blocks are sitting empty and our cities are full of new hotels instead of new homes. Yet investment in the critical infrastructure really needed has been delayed or discontinued. There has been inaction, delays and bad value for taxpayer\u2019s money. This is the track record of critical infrastructural delivery by Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael, a record best known by the projects that have still not been delivered, not least the national children\u2019s hospital.  All the Government\u2019s attempts so far to speed up infrastructure delivery have had the opposite effect. The disastrous strategic housing development legislation introduced in 2017 caused havoc in the planning system, only to be replaced by the equally ineffective large-scale residential development legislation. Every single time the Government tries to speed up delivery, it slows it down. The biggest obstacle to delivering critical infrastructure with urgency has always been Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael in government.  Before the recess, the Government used its majority in the infrastructure committee to waive this legislation from having necessary pre-legislative scrutiny. We did push a vote on this, and it was very disappointing that pre-legislative scrutiny could not have been accommodated on something as important as this legislation. This was done without providing the committee with a finished copy of the legislation. I think that was totally and utterly unacceptable. It meant we did not get a chance to hear from experts in relation to the legislation. We did not get a chance to hear from Uisce \u00c9ireann, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, the HSE, environmental groups, housing associations and many other groups that have been suffering as a result of the lack of critical infrastructure being delivered.  I hope that this legislation is not rushed now on Committee Stage, and that it will be given the time needed. We must make sure that critical infrastructure is actually done right. We are going to engage on Committee Stage and, of course, bring in our amendments in relation to this legislation. We are going to scrutinise this legislation with our eyes totally and utterly wide open. It was really unfortunate, though, that pre-legislative scrutiny was not allowed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  Sinn F\u00e9in will support measures that genuinely speed up the delivery of critical infrastructure, and there is no question that this State needs urgent investment and delivery at scale. This Government has a clear problem with delivery. Communities are repeatedly told that projects are coming, funding is allocated and plans are in place, but what they experience instead are delays, stalled timelines, missed deadlines and a lack of urgency.  The infrastructure deficit we face today has been built up over decades. Communities across the State have been left waiting while projects are delayed, scaled back or abandoned altogether. You cannot build on top of announcements. You cannot drive on announcements. You cannot grow an economy on announcements or on plans and strategies. This Government cannot be trusted on infrastructure delivery. Its record is one of inaction, delay and poor value for money time and time again. We now have legislation that does not even clearly define what \u201ccritical infrastructure\u201d is in its own title. It does not define the term and that is a serious weakness. It gives the Minister, and whoever is the Minister of the day, wide discretion to designate projects, creating a real risk that developments will be fast-tracked without proper scrutiny, while the infrastructure that people actually rely on continues to fall behind.  The Government can designate and announce as much as it likes, but it will all be judged on whether it delivers. Nowhere is the failure to deliver starker than in Waterford and across the south east.  The south east has 9% of the State\u2019s population yet receives just 1.8% of major capital spending. It now has the lowest level of per capita investment of any region in the State. None of that is an accident. It reflects a clear and sustained pattern of neglect that cannot be ignored. The consequences of that neglect are visible across Waterford. The urgent safety upgrades to the N25 in Waterford are stalled, while the N24 has not progressed. Public transport investment lags far behind demand. The Waterford to Rosslare line has been shelved and there have been cuts to wider rail services, including the Waterford to Dublin route. As the Minister knows, Waterford Airport was left without proper State backing, to the point that a private investor had to step in to fund the runway extension.  In healthcare, University Hospital Waterford still does not have full 24-7 cardiac care. In education, the South East Technological University continues to receive the lowest level of funding of any technological university. Water and wastewater infrastructure is acting as a direct barrier to housing and development, with urgent upgrades needed in Lismore, Bunmahon, Crook, Passage, Portlaw and beyond, yet these projects are repeatedly deprioritised. In Dunmore East, the fishing harbour requires development to support the local industry. The wider harbour has clear potential for tourism, while c\u00e9 Helvic i nGaeltacht na nD\u00e9ise remains effectively unusable due to the lack of dredging there. In housing, targets have been missed to such an extent that people are now struggling to live and remain in their own communities. Entire villages and towns are facing a demographic cliff edge.  That is the lived reality of infrastructure failure in Waterford. For rural communities, the impact is even more acute. When infrastructure is delayed or denied it is rural towns and villages that feel it first and hardest. Without roads, public transport, water and wastewater capacity and healthcare provision, there is no foundation for growth. If this legislation is to have any credibility, it must focus on prioritising the infrastructure that communities actually need, alongside clear accountability for delivery and fair, balanced regional investment. Waterford and the south east and rural communities across the State deserve the same level of ambition, investment and delivery as anywhere else. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  I hope the Critical Infrastructure Bill will not represent yet another failure for rural Ireland, which for too long has been left behind with regard to investment in infrastructure. Nowhere is that more evident then in the state of our regional and local roads, which are in urgent need of investment, and also our wastewater treatment plants and water infrastructure. In Mayo, our roads are lifelines for our communities. However, years of underinvestment have left many of these roads in poor condition, placing a daily burden on residents and undermining economic development.  Many times in this House, I have asked for the R312 connecting the Erris region and Castlebar to be designated a strategic regional road so that it receives the necessary funding to be upgraded and improved for the many people who rely on it daily. A friend of mine was travelling on the R312 a couple of weeks ago when the Fitbit device on her wrist hand went off to indicate she was working out. This is the absolute truth. Anyone who has travelled to the R312 will know exactly what is meant by that. The road from Belmullet to Castlebar, the R312, is absolutely horrendous and we have asked for years, if not decades, to have it strategically designated. There is no point in having a Wild Atlantic Way and all kinds of advertisements if we do not have the basic infrastructure. The R312 is the main road connecting Castlebar hospital with Erris. We talked here a number of weeks ago about Stephen Lavelle from Belmullet who lost his life while waiting for an ambulance. The R312 was the last road he travelled. It is just crazy. Rural Ireland cannot reach its full potential if its infrastructure continues to lag behind.  Households wait for years on end to get funding for roads under the local improvement scheme, LIS. We are talking about critical infrastructure. For people who need to access their homes, it is critical that they have a road to drive on. They pay property tax and other taxes, yet they are denied basic access. I was in Belderrig in north Mayo a couple of weeks ago and one of the roads I drove on was covered in huge potholes. I was embarrassed, but if I had been in government all these years, I would be absolutely ashamed. No one takes responsibility. People have to wait and wait for repairs which never come. The list of LIS roads gets longer and longer. Where is the accountability and funding? We are not looking for highways, just roads that are fit to drive on.  I raised the issue of maintenance and repairs for piers with the Taoiseach. The tragic death of Joachim McNulty, who drowned when his car slipped on algae on Belderrig pier, would have been avoided if the proper maintenance and safety features were done on the pier. That is critical infrastructure.  If we take, for example, Mayo University Hospital and Belmullet hospital, every time there is an election there is announcement, and then another, while people wait for projects that are never delivered and are critical to communities.  The Minister is familiar with the Newport sewerage scheme. We are now told we will have to wait until 2030 for that. For heaven's sake, these are vital pieces of infrastructure that need to be done for the people of Newport. The crazy thing about it is that businesses in Newport have to pay for the sewerage going into the bay. It is just wrong and cannot continue. I hope that in some way this Bill will serve to address that. The strategic development zone, SDZ, around Knock Airport has to be done as well and it must be speeded up. We cannot wait any longer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joanna Byrne  Hear hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  The situation with regard to infrastructure around the country is poor, to say the least. In rural areas and the north west it is extremely poor. I will mention a few of the issues. The south Leitrim water scheme, which provides water for more than two thirds of the population of County Leitrim, is currently operating at more than 100% capacity. It is meant to operate at 80% capacity so there is little spare capacity, but it is operating at over 100%. If someone in the region looks for planning permission to build 100 houses, and one of the key infrastructural issues is housing, they cannot get a letter from Irish Water to say they will get water because the water is not available. That is just one example of a major infrastructural problem that is blocking progress and people having some chance of having a home to live in. They cannot build because the infrastructure is not in place.  One of the key pieces of infrastructure along the west coast is the western rail corridor. We have been talking for years about what can be done and the positive impact reopening that rail link from Sligo right down that corridor would have on the entire western seaboard. That project needs to be prioritised. Reports have been done but the problem with many of the reports on the western rail corridor is that they look at the issue in a very narrow way. When they check how many people would use the rail line, they use the number of people living within 5 km of the line. The rail line to Dublin goes past my house. Most people travel 30 or 40 miles to get to the railway. It is a much bigger piece of infrastructure that could service a lot more people than those living within a narrow corridor around it. It is critical that that infrastructure is put in place.  Health is another major issue. In Sligo University Hospital we have serious problems with overcrowding, insufficient bed numbers and the age of the infrastructure. The roof of the theatre for orthopaedics leaked last summer. When the roof was fixed it was then discovered there was another problem with the heating. For the past year, the theatre has been closed more often than it has been open. That is because that particular piece of infrastructure has aged out. It is not fit for purpose and needs to be built out anew. We have a similar problem with regard to renal services. People attend the hospital for dialysis but again, the services in place are totally inadequate. Promises have been made but nothing has been delivered.  We have serious problems with road infrastructure in my constituency and everywhere else. The problem seems to be that Governments continually look at where the crisis is rather than planning long term for the future, which is what needs to happen. We need a Government that will plan for the future and provide services and critical infrastructure for people in order that we have an economy that functions. Most of the west, including my part of the country, has the greatest potential because it has the least investment. The eastern seaboard is bursting at the seams. Nobody can get a house to rent in Dublin, yet in other parts of the country where there is ample space and opportunity, there is no investment.  That is what we need to get balanced right. We need to get proper rail and road infrastructure in the regions, we need to get proper investment into the regions, and we need to ensure we can do that by having investment from the Government. These are not costs the taxpayer will bear and are then gone forever. They are investments that will pay off dividends in the long run. This is why it is absolutely critical the Government recognises the need to provide the maximum amount of funding for key projects in areas where we have the most potential, particularly in areas in the north west, throughout the midlands and throughout the western seaboard where we have the same issues.  People always say to me that when they educate their children, most of them will be getting jobs for graduates and a lot of those graduate jobs are elsewhere, not back in their own region. The main reason is that they do not have the infrastructure to get those jobs to move into the region. One example was presented to me the other day and when I saw it, I wondered what was wrong. We meet the Atlantic Technological University every year as part of our engagement with IBEC. The university has for years been looking for the Government to allow it to borrow money to build its own student accommodation on its own land. That is what it has looked to do. Probably for the last five or six years, every time we have met the university, it has asked, \"Can you please lobby the Government so that we can have the right to borrow money to build the houses so we can have them into the future and we can rent them out to the students?\" It would be an income source for the university. Last week, the Minister announced that there is going to be a public private partnership. A private corporation or company is going to come in and build those houses, rent them out to the students and make the money on them, with land owned by the university. It is again back to this thing of providing an opportunity for the well-connected rather than providing something that would provide a piece of critical infrastructure for the people who need it, the students in that region and everywhere else.  This is one of the problems this Government has. Everything it does, all of the time, is to look after the well-connected rather than the people who elected them and who they should be looking after, up and down the length and breadth of this nation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  I welcome the opportunity to speak on this important Bill. I will be sharing time with my colleagues Deputies Conor Sheehan and George Lawlor. It is a short Bill at just ten pages and comprising ten section, but it is of real and critical significance to our economy and our society. The infrastructure deficit in our country is perhaps the biggest single economic challenge we have. As the Minister recounted earlier, the IMF has estimated that Ireland is looking at an infrastructure deficit, or physical infrastructure gap, of about 32% relative to the economies that we compare ourselves against. The quality gap is 27%. To make a political point, that is the legacy of underinvestment from successive Fine Gael and Fianna F\u00e1il Governments and it has left us lagging behind. Successive Governments over the last ten years have, frankly, been crippled by their own conservatism and they have shown a risk aversion to engaging in the kinds of developments we require to move our economy along, to address our climate challenge and to improve our society.  Nobody here needs a history lesson. We know that we have had at least ten years of real problems where, due to the economic collapse, we simply did not have the resources to provide the infrastructure this country requires, but we have had the resources since 2016 and few efforts were made to address that deficit and the gap. Those chickens are coming home to roost. I said before the last election, and it was not a pithy throwaway remark, that based on our experience the biggest threat to the Irish economic model was not the return of Donald Trump to the White House but the re-election of Fine Gael and Fianna F\u00e1il. I am pleased to see, however, that there is at least a new impetus and a new focus on the delivery of the infrastructure we require in this country. We have managed to waste a boom over the last decade. A lot of the social and economic problems we are experiencing now, and the challenges that households and businesses are facing, are a direct result of that. We are sitting on record tax receipts but we have allowed our infrastructure gap to widen and widen.  This is not an abstract point or an abstract debate. The infrastructure gap and its implications are something that every citizen of this country sees and experiences every day, such as the hospital wings that have been promised but not delivered, the bridges that are never built, the renewable energy resources that were promised and have yet to materialise, and the houses that will not be completed because the necessary water systems are not there. An infrastructure deficit is, more than anything else, what holds people back from living the best lives they can. I say it time and again that this is what makes Ireland a rich country that at the same time feels so poor. This is the Irish contradiction and the Irish dilemma: a rich country that feels so poor. We are very poor when it comes to the infrastructure that we have available. We are entitled to expect better in this rich country but we do not have it.  It has been encouraging in the last few months to see a Government that is finally engaging on this issue and getting serious about infrastructure. It is long overdue but the analysis of the problem and the solutions proposed in the accelerating infrastructure report did show a Government that is getting serious about tackling this problem. As the Minister will know, that initiative was welcomed by the Labour Party. It would be easy for those of us in opposition to decry every Government report and every Government initiative and use the routine response that not enough is being done and so on. That initiative was evidence that there was a renewed interest in developing infrastructure and taking a new approach. As a party that cares about this country and is genuinely patriotic, we know that if this works and if the Government manages to deliver the housing, the health services, the critical infrastructure and the renewable energy we need, our country will do better and the Government will be judged on delivery.  That brings us to today's Bill. The idea proposed here is a simple one, that the Government should be able to point to a certain project and say, \"This project is very important for all of our society\", and therefore direct its various agencies and Departments to prioritise and work together to get a particular project over the line. On the face of it this simple idea seems like a sensible one. A citizen watching us today spending several hours debating this Bill might very well ask, \"Well, why is this not happening already?\". They would certainly be entitled to wonder whether it really requires primary legislation for the Government to be able to tell public bodies - the public bodies that are our accountable to this House and accountable to the Minister and funded by the taxpayer - to prioritise a certain project. What we have seen today is actually a failure of politics, a failure of leadership, a failure of governance and a failure of management. People will be entitled to ask if this is the answer to the problems and whether this is really the Government's solution to one of the most pressing challenges we face as a country by making a law to allow itself to ask or request public bodies to hurry up a bit. If this is the extent of the ambition on infrastructure we will see over the next three years, then many citizens are entitled to be worried. They might also ask whether, if this Bill had been passed five years ago or ten years ago, we would have an open and fully functioning national children's hospital by now. Would we be able to step outside Leinster House and get onto a metro to the airport, or would the systemic issues hampering and delaying these projects and so many others have remained in spite of this legislation?  I will turn now to a serious point that my colleague Deputy Sheehan will elaborate on later. Buried in this Bill are potentially significant constitutional issues that may arise, and in our view will arise, which risk leaving this legislation exposed to challenge. I am talking about section 7, which disapplies section 15 of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act from designated projects and programmes, as the Minister outlined earlier. I looked very carefully at some of the countervailing measures and legislation in terms of publishing orders and bringing all those orders to the House, effectively putting them in the Oireachtas Library, and procedurally trying to make sure that the Minister follows a particular process to try, insofar as he can, to make this legislation bulletproof. I suspect, however, that it is not possible to do that in this legislation and I think there are flaws here. This is a step beyond simply instructing public bodies to prioritise and co-ordinate the fast-tracking of projects. It seems that what the Government is proposing here is to give the Executive the power to disapply the public body duty under the climate action Acts to perform public functions consistent with achieving the State's climate goals. Taken with the backsliding we have seen today, for example on the collection of carbon duties, this Government's commitment on climate action is very much in doubt.  We could see the State's biggest and most significant infrastructure projects being exempted from climate considerations altogether, despite what the Minister said in his remarks and his claims to the contrary with regard to other sections of the legislation. In effect, this legislation would undermine the letter, spirit and tone of the 2015 Act itself. It is not clear to me where this proposal has come from. Maybe if pre-legislative scrutiny had not been waived, we could have got to the bottom of this. I can only conclude there was a fear that if pre-legislative scrutiny got under way, this aspect of the legislation would be exposed and brought to further public attention.  It is not a measure that was recommended in the Accelerating Infrastructure report. In fact, that report speaks glowingly of our commitment to climate targets, as it should. We should not allow ourselves to fall into the trap of thinking we can prioritise either climate action or infrastructure delivery. We can do both. I have been critical before of the way this Government is thinking about its infrastructure agenda. We are repeatedly seeing this type of binary thinking that pits climate against delivery and that should not be the case. I have said it in the House to the Minister and others that there appeared to be in the Accelerating Infrastructure report a fixation on judicial review and clouding of the picture. There was intense media interest in the judicial review aspects of the report as well. What seems to be proposed here is something that involves a risk that could deny citizens their rights to access justice under binding international agreements like the Aarhus Convention. That is something we need to be extremely mindful of. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  Cuirim f\u00e1ilte i bprionsabal roimh an mBille seo. Mar a d\u00fairt an tAire, t\u00e1 moill ollmh\u00f3r againn sa t\u00edr seo maidir le c\u00farsa\u00ed bonneagair. Ceann de na fadhbanna is m\u00f3 at\u00e1 againn maidir leis an ng\u00e9arch\u00e9im tith\u00edochta n\u00e1 an gh\u00e9arch\u00e9im n\u00f3 an mhoill leis an mbonneagar. Sa t\u00edr seo, t\u00e1 fadhb mh\u00f3r againn i gceithre r\u00e9imse th\u00e1bhachtacha: c\u00farsa\u00ed tith\u00edochta, sl\u00e1inte, iompair agus leictreachas. I welcome this Bill in principle and I would like us to work constructively on it. I am disappointed, as a member of the infrastructure committee, that a decision was taken to waive pre-legislative scrutiny on this. I would like a commitment from Government that the legislative guillotine will not be used for amendments on this legislation because this is really important. We have to get this right. The slow pace of infrastructure delivery is a huge barrier to the provision of housing in particular.  When it comes to legislating for critical infrastructure, I take a bit of a Victorian view on these things. I believe the Legislature should authorise major infrastructural development by statute, as was done in 1925 for Ardnacrusha. In relation to this Bill, I think there is an outsized reference to or emphasis on judicial review as the primary blockage or bottleneck, when the primary bottleneck for the delivery of infrastructure in this country is the planning system and the plethora of complicated planning and consenting processes that were not actually simplified by the 2024 Planning and Development Act. Sometimes it feels like the planning system in this country is a bit like a multi-stage obstacle course as opposed to a facilitator of national development. The Draghi report highlighted that we have some of the longest permitting processes in Europe for onshore wind projects for example. The thing identified as a key bottleneck for renewable energy was the long and complex permitting process. I see in the infrastructure Bill that public bodies will be required to do everything in their power to accelerate approval of projects designated as essential by the Government. I have no issue with that in principle. The issue I have is that we have not really had clarity in real terms as to what that will actually mean.  We know that our economy places significant pressure on water. We have a lot of water-intensive industries like pharmaceuticals and data centres in particular. I do not want to see a situation where fossil fuel infrastructure or data centres could potentially be designated as critical infrastructure. While I welcome the intention of the Bill to deal with fragmented decision-making and the imposition of binding duties on public bodies to prioritise, co-ordinate and resource critical projects I have significant concerns about the disapplication of section 15 of the 2015 climate Act. Judicial reviews for climate have a high degree of success because of real procedural flaws by regulatory bodies in complying with their climate obligations. It brings me back to the 2020 Supreme Court judgment, which deemed that the 2017 national mitigation plan for climate was quashed for being too vague.  The decision to bypass pre-legislative scrutiny for this really undermines our ability as legislators to ensure it is legally sound and robust. I would like the Minister to address how this Bill intersects with our obligations under Aarhus. It seems to me from a lot of the media commentary and utterances from Government that it is excessively focused on judicial review and limiting public participation and legal challenges, as if they are the main or only cause of the failure to deliver infrastructure in this country. The fact is that we have the slowest regulatory and planning processes in the European Union. That is not a new problem. That is the Government's problem. It is a direct consequence of this Government's more than ten years in power. Six years have passed since Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael effectively consummated their marriage. In that time, we have had budget overruns and delays. We have had a national development plan that was published without listing the projects, yet the Bill itself talks about listing critical infrastructure projects.  As a member of the infrastructure committee, we have met with countless witnesses over the past 11 months, and they have all said the same thing. There is a need for multi-annual funding, the need to give way to the common good, the need to speed up decision-making and there is a shortage of properly trained construction workers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy George Lawlor  We know that the explanatory note for this Bill says that its purpose is to allow Government to designate specific infrastructure projects or programmes that it considers to be critical. The Bill does not reference specific projects or programmes. It provides Government with the power to designate projects or programmes as critical infrastructure. Section 3 provides the Government the statutory powers to designate a project as a critical infrastructure project or programme, done in this case by Deputy Chambers as the Minister for public expenditure.  In practice, it represents a major shift towards speed and centralised co-ordination in infrastructure delivery. However, there are major concerns with this Bill given the history of infrastructure and the parochial nature of politics in this country. There are many concerns in terms of the reduction in transparency. We have seen pre-legislative scrutiny waived and a limitation on public participation. Overburdening of agencies is another issue. We have seen that MARA is totally overrun given the amount of regulatory work to be done there.  It creates opportunities for political influence over project prioritisation. We as a nation have seen the damage political influence has caused when it comes to major infrastructural projects. In my constituency a number of critical pieces of infrastructure simply need to be fast-tracked, which have been neglected over the years. These included the Oilgate to Rosslare motorway, which is the final piece of the jigsaw from Larne to Rosslare Harbour. Rosslare Europort has seen an increase of 350% in freight traffic since Brexit. Families have been left waiting almost two decades for movement and development on this. Their land has been sterilised and stigmatised. I have dealt with families who for the want of 2 yards to maybe build a home on their land have been told it is part of the overall project for the motorway, and I have dealt with people whose homes and businesses have been left. Despite this, these critical pieces of infrastructure have been delayed and delayed.  We see the offshore renewable energy potential off the coast of Rosslare. It is critical if we are to meet our 2030 commitments. This week we have seen that if we are to break our dependence on fossil fuels, we need offshore renewable energy as part of critical infrastructure.  There is also the area of education and my colleague from Waterford spoke about the South East Technological University. We need the development of the Wexford campus as part of that. The money was made available in 2015 to purchase the site and it was only concluded in the past six months. Wexford is one of the largest counties in Leinster. It is bigger than Waterford or Carlow in population terms but it is left behind. In principle, this Bill is excellent but it leaves the door open to parochial politics whereby certain Ministers can pick certain projects and leave the rest behind. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sean Fleming","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Fleming.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Fleming.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sean Fleming  I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Bill. As Chairman of the Joint Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery, I welcome this particular discussion and look forward to this legislation going to the committee. As Chairman, I will ensure we have a thorough, effective and detailed discussion on Committee Stage. We will have ample time for any issues that need to be raised, discussed or teased out at the committee where we can get into the specifics of the legislation.  I welcome and support this important Bill that creates a new fast track approval process for critical infrastructure. Under this new legislation, every public body will be required to do everything within its power to accelerate approval of any designated project to the maximum extent possible. Public bodies will also be required to co-operate with each other. That is going to be a new process for many organisations but that is essentially how the Bill will operate. They will be able to co-ordinate, prioritise and sequence their duties with other public bodies and allocate any administrative, technical or decision-making resources necessary for a rapid approval of a project or programme. The Bill specifically identifies critical infrastructure in the energy, transport and water sectors as a priority. This infrastructure is necessary to underpin all other development in the State from housing, which is the most important infrastructure we need, to other economic and social investments.  A recent Government circular established a mandatory cross-government process for the rapid reporting of court decisions that may affect the delivery of critical national infrastructure. This ensures early identification of judicial decisions that could influence how future infrastructure projects are planned or assessed and delivered. That is important because not every Government agency watches what every other agency is doing and there could be a court decision that could be relevant across the board and it is important we have a centralised area to keep a close eye on and have the information on these matters.  The Government will designate individual projects or programmes as critical infrastructure by order to be laid before D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann, meaning every specific project will have to be laid before this House and if a resolution annulling the order is passed within the next 21 sitting days, the order shall be annulled. There will, therefore, be an opportunity for these to be debated in the House. I stress this is about national infrastructure to help in the three areas I have mentioned. We cannot get into fixing every pothole using this legislation. That is not the intention. Everybody in the House, including me, could draw up a list of two dozen critical pieces of infrastructure that are required in our counties but if this legislation is to be effective, we cannot swamp these public bodies with 50, 60, 70, 80 or 100 critical projects because which of them would the public bodies prioritise? The essence of successfully implementing legislation will be to strategically concentrate on key projects that will help delivery of housing and other infrastructure such as water services that have been mentioned. If we are focused on what we do, we can get a lot done but it is important we do not overstretch all the public bodies beyond their ability to deliver these projects.  It is also important that we simplify and streamline the regulatory and consenting process. Many Deputies have mentioned this and they must work together collectively. For example, in a recent report I read, there was reference to several consenting bodies and regulatory bodies, and they have to work together in co-operation rather than in individual silos. The ones in that report were the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, Environmental Protection Agency, Maritime Area Regulatory Authority, An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la and National Parks and Wildlife Service. Every one of those has a specific role to fulfil backed up by legislation, but part of what is behind this is to make them sit down together on projects that can affect those various agencies, not for each one of them to do it in sequence so that in five years we have reached the end of an approval or consenting basis. That is important.  Through our engagement with the business community, I understand many people are furious at the delays and the time major capital projects take. Many people cannot build a home because of the lack of infrastructure. Motorists are stuck in traffic jams for hours when they need to get to work on time or get children to school and we need the infrastructure for all these areas that are very important for the delivery of these services. The accelerating infrastructure task force report found successive reforms over many years have significantly increased the complexity of modern infrastructure delivery. Every time we set up a new agency, it is an independent body that is only responsible to itself and its board or its line Department. It is important we have co-ordination between these bodies on an ongoing basis. In the coming months and years, Ministers will be watching all these and it is important that there will be ongoing reporting by the Minister for public expenditure to ensure they are all delivering as they are required to by the Government. That will be as a result of matters laid before this D\u00e1il. The Government is not going to do this behind the public\u2019s back. We have various frameworks in place for consenting agencies, all of which have a value. They would not be there otherwise but we need to ensure complex and overlapping consents do not prohibit essential works being undertaken. The recent infrastructure action plan covers a lot of legal reform and regulatory simplification and I acknowledge the Minister\u2019s work in bringing that in. The House and its Members love to complicate things when they get into detail but sometimes there can be a simple approach. We have over-complicated our lives.  Every one of us knows that at local level, not to mind here at national level. We want to have co-ordination between all of these bodies. This action plan will lead to regulatory simplification, acknowledging the laws and the environmental laws that are there. Every time we delay a project, time is money. A delayed project costs more money. Whose money is it? It is the taxpayers' money. It is not in the interests of this House or the people who elected us to this House to delay things unnecessarily. It is important we look after the taxpayers' money wisely in all of these areas.  This issue of judicial reviews has been mentioned. The number of such reviews has increased substantially in recent years. We are all familiar with that. Wind farms and renewable energy have been mentioned. We have been all been at meetings where objectors, who have the right to object, say that their approach will be to object at local authority level and to An Bord Plean\u00e1la, and then, regardless of what happens there, to go for a judicial review and go to the High Court. They hope that this will take seven or eight years and the developers will have gone away by then. Most of us, if we are honest, will say that we have attended meetings where people have said openly and publicly, before a single plan has been put on the table, that they will delay it for seven or eight years and then they will go away. That is no way to run the country. What has been proposed here is proportionate and reasonable in the circumstances.  I am very pleased that the National Development Finance Agency, NDFA, will have a key role in providing advice to various Government bodies, rather than each Government body when it has a project having to go away and get its own consultants to do it. There will be a repository of information available to the NDFA, which is appearing before the committee I will chair tomorrow as part of this ongoing work. We have a specific Oireachtas committee dealing with infrastructure, which we have never had before, so there is an opportunity there. Any Member of this House or the Seanad is welcome to attend any of our meetings, which happen every week. We have had a series of meetings with agencies such as Uisce \u00c9ireann and Bord G\u00e1is. All of the organisations mentioned today have appeared and given their views to our committee over the past several months. That will continue so there is an ample forum in this House to grill any one of those organisations. I encourage people who are of a mind to do so, and have the time to do so, to come to tomorrow's meeting with the NDFA, which will have a key input to make to this entire process. It will be more efficient to have a centralised repository of skills in an area rather than every Department having to go it alone.  I expect that the Committee Stage debate next week will be thorough, detailed and very effective. I look forward to it. There have been legitimate comments that we did not have pre-legislative scrutiny on this Bill. It has already been said by people in this House that it is a very short, simple Bill. That has already been said by Members of the Opposition during the past hour, and I agree with it. As Chairman of the committee, it is my honest belief that if we had done pre-legislative scrutiny, we would be inviting people in to listen to them from now until the recess in June or July; we would come back next September or October for a draft report; we might have a final report by next October; and all of this could delay the critical infrastructure legislation by six months. I believe this legislation is important. We need to get on with it, with proper Oireachtas scrutiny, but we do not need to delay it unnecessarily. As has been said here, we can quote all the delays we like all over the country and we can refer to everybody who causes those delays. If the Oireachtas started its work on this legislation by delaying its implementation by six months, it would not send a good signal. We are better to do our detailed work as we would normally do on Committee Stage. Every organisation that could have been expected to come in as part of pre-legislative scrutiny has already appeared, or will be appearing, before our committee in the normal course of events in the weeks and months ahead. I am satisfied that the legislation, when it is passed, will be effective. All I will say to the Government is that when the legislation is completed I ask the Minister, Deputy Chambers, to monitor progress on a monthly basis to make sure he is satisfied all the targets are being delivered on. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  Under the helm of Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael, critical deficits have opened across almost all sectors from transport to housing, water, energy infrastructure, healthcare and our digital systems. Successive Governments have allowed dangerous gaps to open between the Ireland this Government claims we are and our critical infrastructure that we just cannot rely on. Under Fianna F\u00e1il, Fine Gael and the remaining Independents who support them, critical deficits are far from being the exception. They are visible, they are the norm and, increasingly, they are putting ordinary people and their health at risk. Successive Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael Governments have produced critical infrastructure, much of it designed and constructed decades ago, that has totally failed to keep pace with Ireland's growth and has, to date, squandered most of its potential. The reality is that we are asking systems that were built for a smaller, slower, less complex Ireland to carry too heavy a load. Those systems are already buckling under the pressure and they are starting to fail.  I will take transport as an example. Congestion is not a rush-hour issue; it is the result of structural failures of this Government, no matter what part of the transport network you examine. Roads are in a state of disrepair. They are over capacity and not safe. Rail networks are operating at the absolute limits of what ageing signalling and rolling stock can handle. Commuters are regularly packed like sardines on platforms as they wait for overcrowded trains that cannot be relied on to turn up on time. Public transport projects, where they exist, have often been delivered late and over budget, or else scaled back to get them across the line. For many parts of rural Ireland, public transport is totally non-existent. The result is lost time, lost productivity and a daily tax on people's lives, especially those who have no alternative but to commute for long distances because housing is unaffordable near to where the jobs are.  This brings me to housing, which in itself is a form of critical infrastructure. Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael have treated housing as a market problem for far too long, rather than as the right it should be. The fundamental difference between the attitude of the Government and our attitude to housing is that the Government feels it must incentivise large developers to have very expensive, for-rent apartments on the quays in Dublin whereas we believe more social and affordable housing is required. What we need, and what people need, is a home they can call their own. It is quite simple.  When people cannot live near schools, work or transport, every other system is strained: water networks, roads and emergency services all absorb the cost of that failure. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the electricity grid or in water and wastewater infrastructure. Capacity on the electricity grid has been gobbled up by data centres, leading to a ticking time bomb. Our ageing pipes leak vast quantities of treated water every day. They are operating far beyond capacity. All around County Kerry, villages like Castlegregory, Fenit, Duagh and Ballyduff - I could go on - have, in effect, what is called an Imhoff tank, which is basically a hole in the ground that has probably been there for 60 years. In all of these villages, you cannot now have infrastructure or housing built because of the age of this infrastructure, if you could call it that. Development cannot take place and communities cannot grow. In an era where one-off housing in rural areas, particularly under significant urban influence, is more difficult than ever to achieve, people cannot move into towns and villages and they cannot develop because the necessary investment in the infrastructure has not been made by this Government.  I am running out of time. If we do not get this right, things could deteriorate even further and that is something Ireland cannot afford. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  I want to respond to a couple of points made by Deputy Fleming. Alarm bells ring for me when the explanation for why we cannot do pre-legislative scrutiny is because we cannot do it efficiently and it might take us six months, when we are talking about a Bill that aims to make processes efficient. I did pre-legislative scrutiny in the previous D\u00e1il when it needed to be done quickly on the housing committee and it was done in a matter of a couple of weeks. We were able to do it quickly and efficiently. The Government is saying to us that we will have an efficient process around critical infrastructure but we cannot even manage the pre-legislative scrutiny efficiently. It does not really speak to confidence in the Government's ability. I do not buy that, to be frank.  Deputy Fleming said that the designations the Minister makes will be laid before the House and there will be an opportunity to debate them in the House. That is technically correct but it is a bit of stretch because to be able to debate in the House, we have 21 days to get a motion in. Most Opposition parties and groups may not have any Private Members' time in those 21 days and if we did, as the Minister knows well, we have hundreds of competing strong demands for that one time slot. To get a slot to actually debate any of these designations in the D\u00e1il, while technically possible, will be extremely difficult to exercise.  Before I get into the detail of the Bill, I will make a point about critical infrastructure. It is not just about process being more efficient. While that is important, it is also about the overall strategic priorities of the Government. The Government's overall strategic priorities when it comes to critical infrastructure have been wrong. T\u00e1 na tosa\u00edochta\u00ed m\u00edchearta ag an Rialtas. I will give an example. If you fly into any airport, you get a good sense of the priorities in that country or city. If you fly into Vienna, you see a lot of affordable housing. If you fly into London at night-time, you see a lot of lights around all-weather sports facilities they have invested in. If you fly into places in Spain, you see all the wind farms which mean they have cheaper electricity bills and are not as impacted by the energy crisis now as other European countries. If you fly into Dublin Airport, what you see? If you are coming up from Wicklow into Meath, Kildare and west Dublin, what really strikes you as the things that have been developed in the past ten years or so? What has been the priority of the country? You will not see it in other countries; it is data centres. The Government in its addiction to over-provision of data centres has shown where its priorities lie. That has resulted in higher energy prices for people and small businesses and in part in the crisis we are in at the moment. A more efficient process in terms of legislation is important but the priorities of the Government are important as well. Not only was there no pre-legislative scrutiny of this Bill, there was no regulatory impact assessment. Why would you want to bother with a regulatory impact assessment for a Bill like this on critical infrastructure that is all about regulation and regulatory processes? The Government just does not bother to do one. Pre-legislative scrutiny was brought in as a reform after the crash to make this Oireachtas much better at doing its job because there was a recognition across the D\u00e1il and the Oireachtas that we needed to do our job as legislators better yet here we go - we will not bother doing it. Either you will not bother doing it or you do not want the assessment to be done.  Overall, we strongly support the intention of the Bill. It is very important that we deliver critical infrastructure as efficiently and effectively as possible. We absolutely agree with that intention. For housing, healthcare, education, the climate infrastructure we need, public transport and reducing the cost of living and of doing business, it is important that critical infrastructure is delivered efficiently. However, what rings more alarm bells for me is the section to exempt public bodies from climate laws. There has been no scrutiny of this so far. It really says something stark about the Government's approach in terms of climate action. Why is it that Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael in the previous D\u00e1il were all for this but now they are no longer in government with the Green Party, they think they can ditch these provisions? It shows a real lack of ongoing commitment to climate action.  I found the Minister's comments quite extraordinary in his opening remarks. I am paraphrasing but my read of what the Minister said was to not worry because the Government will be doing the climate stuff anyway. He did not get into the point that it will not be required by law and if the Government does not do it or make serious mistakes, there will be no recourse to the courts or justice system. When the Minister gave a rationale for that exemption, he said it is because the Government does not agree with the motivations, beliefs and ideology of some of the people taking challenges in the courts. He stated \"It is abundantly clear that some of these reviews are being taken for ideological reasons\". That is quite an extraordinary comment for the Minister to make and I would like to know the basis for that. Who decides what is an ideological judicial review and what is not? Obviously the Minister has decided. I think there is an over-provision and over-concentration of data centres in this country but I would not say that if people engaged in data centre lobbying or businesses wanted to have access to justice, they should be denied it because of their ideological position. I would not say that about anyone. Who decides what is an ideological position that is acceptable or not? The Minister has decided that some of the people taking court cases have ideological positions and therefore should not have these provisions in law. That is quite an extraordinary approach to take. Access to justice is a fundamental part of our process. Independent judicial arbitration and who has access to it should not be decided on by the Minister withdrawing these rights because he thinks some people have ideologies. That is very arbitrary. Judicial activism has been given a bad rap by this Government. As for a lot of the rights we enjoy, such as workers' rights, equal pay for women, equality for the LGBT community, disabled people, the environment and the clean air we breathe, some came from civil society campaigning over the years. Some came from the Oireachtas but some were driven by judicial activism. We live in a better country and a better world because of it and we should not try to write that out of our history.  In this legislation there is a lack of transparent process around designation of what is or is not critical infrastructure. This is an issue with the Bill. I am a fan of quite simple legislation. It does not always have to be incredibly long and complex. That does not necessarily serve us well but some of the key challenges in this legislation seem to have been sidestepped by the Government. It is as if it does not know how it will define them or lay out the criteria strongly or clearly or have transparency around the decision-making process and so just will not cover them in the Bill at all. I am not asking for a complex process but there are no provisions or safeguards in the Bill, for example, to stop a Minister prioritising projects that would benefit their own constituency over other projects that serve the national interest. It is critically important that legislation holds water no matter who is in government or what sort of a Minister we have. We have had decades of Ministers favouring projects in their constituencies - not all Ministers but we have had decades of it. This Bill does not give any safeguards and there is no real transparency around designation. Laying it before the Oireachtas does not give proper democratic insight or input. The lack of safeguards needs to be addressed. We have not had any analysis from the Minister, and of course we did not have pre-legislative scrutiny, on why previous critical infrastructure legislation has not worked so there is a lack of potential learning. It was promised, for example, that the strategic housing development legislation would fast-track housing; it did the opposite. It created delays. The Bill fails to address many acute challenges and fundamental problems such as the need to build up State capacity. Of course it is not all about the legislative process but outsourcing so many functions to the private sector has reduced State capacity and has been costly and inefficient. Alongside this Bill, it is important that much stronger capacity is developed in really good community engagement. If there is efficient legislation and good community engagement, we could do much better in delivering the critical infrastructure we desperately need. We will table amendments. I hope the Minister considers them constructively. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  I am extremely concerned by what the Minister and this Government are doing in the area of climate action and now in the area of climate law. They are dismantling years of work and future generations will bear the cost. Section 7 of the Critical Infrastructure Bill provides for a disapplication of section 15 of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 in specific cases. Simply put, this means now that large infrastructure projects carried out in transport, energy, water and wastewater will no longer have to comply with section 15 of the climate Act.  This is an incredible thing to put into legislation. Section 15 places an obligation on public bodies to prioritise climate concerns while carrying out their functions, so the Critical Infrastructure Bill will exempt transport infrastructure, energy systems and water and wastewater projects from climate obligations. It will disapply climate law from some of the biggest potential sources of long-term emissions and the most emission-intensive projects that are carried out by the State.  The climate Act was introduced because there is an acceptance that Government decisions have consistently failed to deliver emissions reductions without legal obligations. We all remember how difficult it was, the amount of work that went into it in the last D\u00e1il and the amount of consultation involved in bringing together the climate Act. Now, with the stroke of a pen, the Minister is going to disapply it for large-scale projects. What the Minister is doing is saying these climate considerations are no longer an option and he will override them when they no longer fit the Government's agenda. What the Minister is doing with section 7 is gutting the core purpose of the climate Act. While every day public bodies will be expected to cut emissions and meet their climate objectives, as they should and as is intended in the climate Act and was the intention of the then Government and every Deputy who voted for that Act in the previous D\u00e1il, huge infrastructure projects will now be given a free pass.  This is not about paperwork or simplifying procedures. Transport infrastructure, energy systems and water and wastewater projects all shape our emissions for decades. They lock in carbon pathways long after Governments move on. How can the Minister propose setting aside climate laws for these projects? We cannot have a climate Act that is optional for big projects. That just will not work. Climate change will not stop because big projects must advance. What comes next? If this Bill becomes law, what is to stop the Government exempting housing projects, agriculture infrastructure or industrial policy from climate law in future? If the Minister creates a precedent for climate law to be disapplied for strategic reasons, the integrity of the whole Act is undermined.  To make matters worse, the Bill is being progressed without pre-legislative scrutiny by the infrastructure committee. This is a slap in the face to Members of the Oireachtas and a serious undermining of parliamentary processes. The Government is constantly talking about future proofing and climate resilience. The Taoiseach, Deputy Miche\u00e1l Martin, is constantly talking about how climate change is an existential crisis we are facing, yet day in, day out the Government is acting completely contrary to this. It is sidelining climate action and hollowing out our climate law. This will be felt for generations to come. Ireland will fall further behind in its climate obligations and the public will pay the economic and environmental price. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  I have been researching and critically analysing Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael's infrastructure policy for almost 20 years. In fact, I did my PhD on it, specifically on infrastructure and how it was developed during the Celtic tiger period. Back then, 20 years ago, the key policy of Fianna F\u00e1il was to have public-private partnerships deliver infrastructure through new ways which were, essentially, handing our public infrastructure over to big global infrastructure providers that saw infrastructure as a commodity through those public-private partnerships in wastewater, social housing and transport. It utterly failed and we then had a decade of austerity, during which the Government failed again and cut back capital projects. In this new Bill there is no step change away from this outsourcing and the overreliance on the private model of delivery of infrastructure. Why are we in the situation we are with the children's hospital? Why are we in the situation we are with the lack of infrastructure? It is in large part because the State has handed over the delivery of infrastructure to the private sector. We have local authorities and we can go through our State agencies.  The Bill is incredible to me, and in reading through it and the explanatory memorandum I wonder whether the Minister is having a laugh. He is saying that what this is about is getting public bodies to prioritise critical infrastructure, and the other part is about getting public bodies to co-operate and co-ordinate with each other. For crying out loud, Fine Gael has been in government for 15 years, Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael have been in government together for six years, and this is what the Minister has, a Bill to get public bodies to prioritise critical infrastructure. Why are they not doing that already? Why does the Government not have public bodies doing this? I believe this is a smokescreen. It is a fig leaf to put across the idea that it is doing something. It is not going to fundamentally change how infrastructure is delivered in this country. It is going to be the same model of reliance on the private sector, the same model of reliance on outsourcing and the same chronic underfunding of infrastructure.  A message came from my constituency office today about creches, with regard to parents trying to find creches in the constituency but not being able to do so. Where is the increase in funding for cr\u00e8ches in this? The Luas to Finglas is a transport project in my constituency. It is delayed and not due to be delivered by 2030. This is not because of a lack of prioritisation by public bodies; it is because of a lack of funding allocated to the project. The Minister should be honest. This is not a step change in how we are going to see critical infrastructure delivered in this country. As I said, to a certain extent the Bill appears to be a smokescreen to allow the Government to pretend it is doing something. Nothing has fundamentally changed, however. If we want to deliver critical infrastructure, particularly housing, rapidly, why do we not set up a State construction company with the capacity to directly deliver, rather than relying year after year on a private sector that is failing to deliver, that is not being prioritised and that is taking the State for a ride in terms of value for money? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  It should be lost on no one, today of all days, that climate change and the associated issues in energy security, water infrastructure and transportation infrastructure are of paramount importance for the future of our country. I welcome the Government focusing on the acceleration of the delivery of such infrastructure so we can meet this climate century and navigate it more securely for the shared prosperity of our people. However, the Bill may enable travel in the opposite direction. I thank in particular the Oireachtas Library and Research Service for the comprehensive Bill digest, through which I was able to scrutinise the legislation and specifically section 7 of the Bill, which allows for the provisions of section 15 of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 to be disapplied. As the Bill digest states, contrary to the Minister's opening remarks, this in effect would mean exempting critical infrastructure projects from being consistent with the most recent climate action plans and strategies, adaptation frameworks and plans, and national climate objectives, including mitigating greenhouse gas emissions.  It is notable that the infrastructure in the Bill is circumscribed to energy, water and transport but it further defines infrastructure as any that enables essential facilities and systems of the State to function effectively and is not limited to these areas. Combined with the powers of section 3 to entrust the Government with designated orders, this definition effectively allows the Government, or any future Government, to designate any project or programme as a critical infrastructure project, public or private. Additionally, should the fast-track, one-stage planning process in the Planning and Development Act 2024 not yet executed be executed, we may be in the extraordinary situation where this Bill effectively allows the Government to unilaterally designate any piece of infrastructure, private or public, in the State as a critical infrastructure project to be fast-tracked beyond all normal processes, entirely exempt from climate requirements, with virtually no oversight or recourse by the Oireachtas or anyone else. This seems problematic. I will even go so far as to say it may be constitutionally suspect and may be challenged in the courts. In practical terms, this would mean the Government could fast-track a data centre, an industrial farm or an oil rig. Could the Bill perhaps be used to override all normal processes for the proposed LNG terminal in Kerry? If that is the case, it is deeply concerning. I hope the Minister, the Department, the committee on Committee Stage and others consider the balance of climate action carefully before proceeding with the Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cormac Devlin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cormac Devlin  I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate. I begin by acknowledging the events of the past week. A lot of people have been in contact with me and my office and I acknowledge their concern. People are understandably worried. The ongoing war in Iran is having real and serious consequences for households and businesses across the country and the pressures of energy costs, fuel costs and supply chains are being felt everywhere. It would be wrong to pretend otherwise. I welcome the Government's \u20ac750 million support package approved by D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann today.  For context, it is one of the most significant responses in Europe and more than ten times the level of support being provided by the Northern Ireland Executive, for example. The package is a meaningful intervention that will help shield families and businesses from the worst of what is coming. However, we have to be honest. The months ahead will be difficult and challenging. There are no easy solutions to a crisis of this scale, and people deserve straight talk rather than false reassurance.  I also want to say something about the protests we have seen. The right to protest is fundamental, and I respect it absolutely. I thank the garda\u00ed who had to operate in challenging environments trying to balance legitimate protest with the need to ensure critical supplies continued to move. I also thank our front-line workers, the retail workers, transport workers and many others who quietly kept things going over the past week. Their contribution should not go unnoticed.  Clearly, we all want to see this war end. Every day it continues brings more suffering in the region and here at home. If this crisis has underlined anything, it is how exposed we remain as a country when critical infrastructure is not in place at the scale we need it. That is why this Bill matters and that is why I support it. The case for accelerating offshore wind development has never been stronger. We need to move quickly and with urgency. I am on record in this House as saying I felt that the previous Minister with responsibility for energy did not treat energy security or, indeed, expanding public transport with the urgency it required. This is an opportunity to correct that. We need to be ambitious. There is an undeniable case for enhanced supports for solar, which needs to be deployed quickly and deliver real resilience at household and community level. We also need to have a serious national conversation about what happens post-Corrib gas, for example. When Corrib runs out, possibly next year, we are simply going to become completely dependent on imported gas with no domestic alternative whatsoever. That is not a credible energy policy. We need energy security and certainty and we need a robust plan. Legislation alone will not get us through this. What will, though, is willingness across the House and across the country to face hard choices honestly together. This Bill is a step in that right direction. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Clendennen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Clendennen  I welcome the opportunity to speak on this important Bill as a member of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery. I welcome some of the initiatives the Minister has taken such as the introduction of an accelerating infrastructure task force and the work it is doing to try to ensure we highlight this at every single level. It is important we hold every public body to account on this and that there is co-operation. It is a major cultural shift, however, and I hope we can achieve that cultural shift because, in many ways, culture is intangible. It is immeasurable until we see delivery. Unfortunately and regrettably, in this country today, when we talk about infrastructure delivery, we talk about decades rather than years. That is simply unacceptable. I see it across the board in my constituency, whether it is a library in Edenderry, a hospice in Tullamore or a primary care centre in Birr. We really need to change that attitude. We see today the need we have to think differently and innovatively wit the likes of modern methods of construction and abnormal loads. We have a conflict where local authorities are preventing abnormal loads and not building plans for roads to specification to accommodate them. That is something that has to be addressed with urgency.  Other speakers mentioned and referenced energy. We saw what happened at the weekend. I understand the pain and difficulty and the challenges many have with the cost of living today. It is a real highlight and alarm for us that we now need to treat energy as critical infrastructure. In terms of its importance, the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, has done exceptional work in this area, but we really need to apply urgency from all of government in this area. We have been to the fore on renewable energy in my county and we have delivered. We generated more energy in January alone than any other county. However, we cannot take it for granted that there will be continuous buy-in from communities in this area. Community benefit funds must be modified in order that they can leave a lasting legacy and are not just investing in the likes of jerseys and scoreboards in local sporting clubs. If that is not sorted out and clarified and wind energy guidelines provided, we are going to lose the people on this one. That is my concern. I ask the Minister and Government to prioritise this in relation to guidelines.  On private energy investment, the feedback I receive from the regulators with oversight of energy in the country is that they are not working with private investors. They are not coming to the table and collaborating with them. We need to move away from this culture of what people cannot do to advising private investors and private developers of what they can do. If that does not happen, we are going to continue to see decades for a window of development.  On the grid update, what we are doing with buildings that are put aside for PR 6 is very important. However, maybe separately, Deputy Devlin mentioned our reliance on gas internationally. We are essentially relying on international nuclear power from other states. In reality, we need to start that discussion now because every day that we can move away from a dependence on fossil fuels and develop our renewable infrastructure will reduce our dependence on it and have an impact on price.  One area that has become an absolute minefield and disaster in terms of development is the use of climate compliance as an effective tool to hamper progress. Far too often, whether it is on a local authority level or in the judicial courts, we hear about snails, mussels and bats and how important they are. I have no issue with any of those, but when it floods a town or delays development from an economic perspective or delivery of an industrial site, housing development or water infrastructure, it is simply not acceptable. We really need to find a way of overcoming these challenges so that we can get on with very serious development. If that does not happen, we are still going to be here in a number of years talking about decades rather than years. This is very important legislation and I welcome it. We have to keep the momentum going and delivering this much-needed infrastructure when we have the funding and finances to work on it. I welcome and I fully support it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Currie  I was elected for the first time in 2019 as a councillor in Dublin West in the election after the Minister. In preparation for tonight, I looked back over some of my leaflets on transport and infrastructure from that year. One referenced \u20ac1.5 billion that was ring-fenced for BusConnects that would cut journey times by 40%. Another referenced a \u20ac2 billion investment in rail to electrify and upgrade the Maynooth line to a DART service in line with the national priority to double frequency and triple capacity by 2027. Both highlighted Project Ireland 2040 and the national development plan of 2018 and how the funding had been secured and they were major infrastructural wins at the time. I talked about having the vision, the plan and the budget to finally deliver an integrated transport system for Dublin West, and it was right. The Government did have the vision, the plan and the budget. However, what my leaflet and the Government of the day both failed to appreciate were the barriers and blockages that would then emerge. BusConnects has been stuck in a legal challenge since 2024. DART+ West got planning in 2024 but two judicial reviews delayed progress. They have since been reviewed and work is to begin in late 2026-2027.  Seven years on from my first political leaflet, therefore, our major transport projects have not been delivered. I am frustrated, commuters are frustrated and communities are frustrated. I know the Minister, too, is frustrated. The only acceptable response to frustration is meaningful action. That infrastructural deficit is not due to money and it is not due to a lack of strategic planning but to slow and unreliable delivery systems. We have to act to remove the systemic blockages delaying infrastructure delivery across housing, energy utilities and transport. We have to act to tackle delays due to slow and unpredictable legal and planning frameworks. We have to speed things up. We have to meet the needs of the nation from building homes to hospitals and rail lines to power lines. We have to secure Ireland's competitiveness by addressing Ireland's infrastructural deficits. These are national imperatives. For every Member of this House, they are also local imperatives.  Last year, over 1,300 new homes were delivered in Dublin West, but too many residents are left waiting on infrastructure. I want BusConnects delivered. Journey times in Dublin West will only reduce if speed increases for the buses. That will only happen with the construction of a core bus corridor. Right now, it can take up to two and a half hours on the 39A for a student who lives in Ongar to get to UCD. The number 38 bus departing the city at peak times travels an average of 12.5 km\/h. A professional walker might match or even beat many of our primary commuter routes. I want DART+ West delivered and more capacity in the meantime. I want 2,500 homes in the new area of Dunsink, Dublin 15, delivered by 2029. It is not under the category of critical infrastructure, but I want the Royal Canal greenway delivered. It also featured in my 2019 leaflet and has been submitted to An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la this year. I also want to see an astro pitch in Martin Savage Park.  Going forward, I want to see projects such as a new train station at Porterstown to support the new area of Kellystown, beside Clonsilla, which was also in my 2019 leaflet. I also want the proposed Blanchardstown and Tyrrelstown Luas lines envisaged under Luas 2050, the Glasnevin MetroLink station connecting DART+ West to the wider network and the expansion of grid capacity supporting businesses in the Dublin enterprise zone. All of this depends on our ability to deliver infrastructure at pace and at scale. That is why I support this Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan  It is as clear as day to me and my constituents that Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael cannot be trusted to deliver critical infrastructure across this country. I listened to the Taoiseach last week when he spoke about the protestors putting our clean water supply at risk. He said that could not be tolerated and was against the law. I have never heard the Taoiseach speak so resolutely about the thousands of people in Kilkenny and Carlow, in places such as Castlecomer, who have gone years without clean water. How many more years must these families endure dirty water flowing through their taps every day? Those taxpayers are being treated like second-class citizens.  Deputy Fleming spoke about people kicking the can down the road and delaying wind farms. The same could be said of the Government with the wind farm regulations. This Government refuses to bring out wind farm regulations at any speed, while areas are being hampered. In 2025, approximately 13% of the country's wind-generated electricity was wasted because the grid was not strong enough to carry all the power being produced. Over \u20ac1 million per day is paid back in curtailment payments. The amount of wasted renewable energy in the 13 months leading up to 31 January 2026 was estimated at a retail value of \u20ac559 million. The Government is putting the cart before the horse while communities suffer. Some \u20ac1 million or more is wasted per day. How has the Government let this happen? It is no wonder that we are paying among the highest electricity prices.  All we see with Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael is short-sightedness, no ambition and little to no accountability. As a result, our housing, health, water and transport are all suffering because critical infrastructure projects, vital projects for our economy and the quality of life of people across Ireland are moving at a snail's pace. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy R\u00e9ada Cronin  We have a chronic lack of infrastructure in our country. The basics, such as housing, transport, school places, hospitals, grid capacity and an effective high-quality water supply, are all completely lacking in the second richest country in all of Europe. Where does the money go? It is the people's money, the tax that people pay for their work, the solidarity contributions they make to their fellow citizens in the running of the State.  A graphic made by Sin\u00e9ad O'Sullivan went viral over the weekend. It showed Ireland's massive wealth relative to our lack of delivery and infrastructure at a European level. Unfortunately, we are in a league of our own. We are the red dot on the chart, out on our own and well below both poorer and wealthier countries.  Ireland is by far one of the richest countries in the EU, yet our infrastructure delivery is worse than that of Greece, Romania, Bulgaria and Hungary, all of which are poorer on the GNI metric. All we see is the Government clapping itself on the back about fiscal prudence and running a budgetary surplus, year on year. People keep hearing from the Government benches that we are a rich country, but no one feels it. They see a country crippled by a housing crisis exacerbated by a basic lack of infrastructure. That is why I welcome measures that will speed up delivery, but experience tells me I should be very doubtful about it. The record of Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael on critical infrastructure delivery is categorised by inaction, delays and bad value for people's money. The shining example is the children's hospital, which has been delayed 18 times and counting. The DART+ West project will run to Kilcock in my constituency, and not to Maynooth, as I like to remind people. I am on the infrastructural committee. I wanted pre-legislative scrutiny of the Bill. We were prepared to meet often and to meet over the holidays to do it quickly. As the chair of the committee, an Teachta Fleming, said, we have had the experts in. They tell us that it is not because of judicial reviews or environmental reasons that we are not getting infrastructure. It is the result of the Government's lack of action. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  Section 7 of this Bill represents a fundamental attack on the provisions of the climate action Act passed in this House in 2021 with the support of 129 Members from the Green Party, the Labour Party, the Social Democrats, People Before Profit, Sinn F\u00e9in and, crucially, Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael. Now, five years later, this Critical Infrastructure Bill means that any project that is designated as critical infrastructure will no longer have its climate impact examined. Today, the Government is seeking to repeal, by the back door, a central aspect of the climate action Act.  Let me set out how the Critical Infrastructure Bill does this. Section 15 of the climate action Act 2021 puts a legal duty on public bodies to perform their actions in a manner that is consistent with the climate Act. It places a climate duty on all public bodies, including the National Transport Authority, NTA, An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la and the Department of public expenditure. It places that duty on all public bodies. Under section 7 of this Bill, when the Minister designates a project or programme as critical infrastructure, that climate duty no longer applies. To put this in context, over Christmas, the Minister for climate, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, announced that the Government was giving up on achieving Ireland's 2030 emissions targets four years before the deadline. Today, this Bill proposes to remove the climate duty from public bodies when they are undertaking assessments of major projects in the areas of water, transport and energy. Those are the very projects that will be the most consequential to our ability to meet those climate targets. The real-life implication of section 7 is to specifically deny bodies, such as An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la, the ability to take the climate impact of major projects into account when making decisions about granting them planning permission. It applies irrespective of whether the project has a potentially positive climate impact, such as the wind farm in the Coolglass judgment, or a negative impact, such as a new liquefied natural gas, LNG, terminal. Section 7 of the Bill will, ironically, prevent the climate benefits of some projects counting in favour of whether that project should be granted planning permission.  Let us take an example. Say the NTA is trying to advance a new Luas line and there is a judicial review challenge to it on the basis that somebody does not want his or her garden to be the subject of a compulsory purchase order, CPO. The argument that in deciding to advance the project, the NTA was fulfilling its climate duty under section 15 of the climate action Act will no longer be available to the NTA because of section 7 of this Bill. While projects that will have a negative climate impact will be shielded by this Bill, the big projects that will have a positive climate impact will lose the additional legal protection that they enjoy as a result of the climate duty.  Considering how damaging section 7 is, why is it being proposed? This Bill is being promoted by the Government on the basis of cutting timelines and eliminating delays. We need to speed up our planning system and there are elements in the Government's accelerating infrastructure plan that I welcomed last December. If they were in a stand-alone Bill, I would have no problem supporting it.  However, the Government has produced no evidence that the climate duty is delaying infrastructure delivery. When the Minister launched the Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan in December, there was not one single reference to the climate action Act as a source of delays. I put the question to civil servants at the transport committee and the climate committee whether removing the climate duty would speed up the process and, on both occasions, the relevant civil servants were unable to say, \"Yes, this will speed up the process.\" This evening, the Minister has indicated he is advancing section 7 because of judicial reviews. Can he enumerate the judicial reviews that have been taken on the basis of section 15 to date? Will he list them for us? Section 7 is not about speeding up the delivery of infrastructure. It is about repealing the climate action Act by the back door and protecting carbon intensive projects, the very projects that have caused our existing high levels of emissions as a country, from public scrutiny.  No pre-legislative scrutiny was permitted on this Bill, despite its huge implications for climate and planning policy. Therefore, in place of PLS, I will ask the Minister a few questions. Can he confirm that a strategic infrastructure project can only cover a project being proposed by a State body or agency and cannot cover a privately-funded project? Will he state whether he intends for data centres to fall within the definition of what could be designated as critical infrastructure? Can he confirm that a direction under section 6(2) of the Bill cannot include a direction to a local authority or An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la to grant or reject planning permission for a specific project?  In his conclusion, the Minister spoke about judicial reviews being taken for ideological reasons. This Bill represents an act of gross irresponsibility but I recognise it is entirely consistent with the approach the Government has taken since it assumed office last January because there is ideology at play here. A clear ideology is articulated across Fianna F\u00e1il, Fine Gael and the Independents. It is to lessen, undermine, defund and reverse climate action whenever it gets the opportunity. As I said when I spoke on the confidence motion and on the Government's retreat from the carbon tax earlier today, this Government has demonstrated it does not possess the belief in our energy transition and the decarbonisation of our economy to make the case for the change convincingly to the Irish people. This Bill is one more articulation of that ideology which lies at the heart of this Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  The supposed purpose of the Bill is to speed up the delivery of infrastructure and get various different bodies to work together. I would welcome any genuine attempt to simplify planning and speed up infrastructure delivery, which takes forever and a day to get moving, to deliver it on time and at the target cost while environmental laws and regulations are not ridden roughshod over. However, the Bill has all the hallmarks of being about that. It is important that infrastructure delivery be accelerated and that it be brought in on time and on budget but sections 2, 3, 5 and 6 provide that the Minister can give directions to relevant bodies. Section 7 is the eye-opener where it disapplies section 15 of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act to designated projects. When we had previous infrastructure legislation back in the 2000s, it was declared that it was only for public projects, but it turned out to be for private projects so it looks like data centres and everything else are included. That is no way to put public infrastructure in place. We need to do everything efficiently, but not at the cost of everything else and of rubbing out local democracy and riding roughshod over good environmental laws. It does nothing to improve any of that. In fact, it is quite the opposite.  I will turn to County Laois for a moment. The Minister for local government notified the local authority in Laois that he wants 5,000 more homes in the county. That is grand, but what he did not say was what infrastructure would be put in. Portlaoise, which has been targeted for a lot of that growth, needs a new primary school, which Ministers have told me in the House we do not need, despite the fact that hundreds of children are being bussed all over the county to school because there are no school places for them in Portlaoise, including the children on the estate where I live.  Laois is a relatively small county but 12,000 people are commuting out of it every morning to work, according to a local authority survey. Childcare cannot be accessed. Childcare places simply are not available in most of the county. We need one of the centres the Government has planned to deliver directly urgently in Laois. We could do with all eight in Laois and we would have just about enough. On wastewater facilities, I outlined in the House a few months ago that a number of towns and villages need wastewater and water treatment facilities and for water supply to be accelerated if we are going to have houses in them. Towns and villages such as Ballinakill, Borris-in-Ossory, Durrow, Ballylynan, Rathdowney, Mountmellick, Graiguecullen and so on are all short of infrastructure. The courthouse in Portlaoise has not been delivered. We are still one of the nine counties without a domestic abuse refuge in 2026, and families and particularly women and children are being sent all over the place because we simply do not have the facility for them in the county. This is not good enough. The Bill does not address any of that.  I have real concerns about this. Critical infrastructure legislation was brought in in the 2000s and I recall arguing on local radio with Deputy Se\u00e1n Fleming about it at the time. I was a local councillor and I recall pointing out what was going to happen and what it would do to destroy local democracy and ride roughshod over good planning rules. The Bill is being presented without pre-legislative scrutiny. I have huge concerns about this.  I would like the Minister to bring one issue to the attention to the Minister for local government. If he is going to demand all these houses are built in Laois, we will need infrastructure. There is no orbital route in Portlaoise. The Portlaoise northern orbital route is the number one priority, along with the Mountmellick link road, which will shorten the route for commuters so that people and particularly trucks will not have to travel as far. They are needed. We cannot have houses without that infrastructure. Where will the houses be built in Laois? Are they going to be built in fields with boreens going up to them or something? That number of houses cannot be put in without infrastructure.  I have outlined some of what is needed. It is grand for the boys and girls in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in the Custom House to draw up these figures and send them down to the county manager and tell him to get the councillors and officials to provide this. It cannot be done if we do not have the infrastructure. This is where we are falling down. A funding package was announced for the national development plan a few months ago and Laois was ignored in it, despite all the promises before the election. That is where we are. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa)  Bomaite amh\u00e1in. We have lost the clock. The Deputy has six and a half minutes. I will indicate two and one minutes with my fingers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  In principle, the idea of getting State bodies to co-ordinate to accelerate the delivery of critical infrastructure and removing unnecessary obstacles to its development is a good one. I have concerns about the legislation but I would love to know whether it might be helpful in dealing with an issue in my constituency. This gets to the heart of my anxieties and concerns about what the Government's real motives and objectives are.  I have raised a number of times the town centre in Cherrywood, which is the biggest residential development in the country. The entire development was really predicated on there being a town centre so you did not have to get in your car. You could walk everywhere in ten minutes because there would be community facilities, shop facilities and all of the rest of it. The developers built all of the houses and made a lot of money. They are still flipping properties and they are still getting rezonings and changes to the SDZs. Whatever developers ask for, they get from the State. They have made a lot of money but for the town centre, which the people who have moved in there need, as well as the amenities and critical structure, there is nothing. Well, sorry, there is one Tesco Express and a big hole in the ground.  The developers do not want to build the town centre because it is not really profitable for them. They are building houses and flipping properties after they got planning permission. They have started to sell properties again after getting a recent upzoning of the SDZs at higher densities. That is more money for them but they do not want to build the town centre. The Minister should tell me whether this will help get the developers to deliver the town centre. They will not even build a bridge from one part of Cherrywood to the other part, which is needed to link the two together, because it is not profitable for them. They are allowed to get away with this. We have been screaming about it, the residents have been screaming about it and they are allowed get away with it. That is the sort of knocking heads together and getting Departments together I would like to see. Will the Government do something about that?  Here is another bit of co-ordination. In the same area where there is all this residential development, we need AstroTurf pitches and sports facilities. The clubs are crying out for them. They cannot get money or AstroTurf pitches for love nor money from the council, even though there is all of this residential development. Then, I hear that private developers have decided in the Cherrywood site that they want to build two ice hockey rinks and a convention centre for about \u20ac240 million. They want rezoning for it, which they got. Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael councillors voted for it and the developers have asked the State for I do not know how much and the State will not even tell me. I have asked two parliamentary questions and the Department will not tell me for how much it has been asked for a private development for an ice hockey stadium.  Nobody in the area is asking for an ice hockey stadium. They want a town centre. They want AstroTurf pitches. They want their bridge. They want the affordable housing they were promised. They did not ask for a ice hockey rink. I am not against ice hockey, do not get me wrong, but the Government's councillors voted to give the developers the zoning they wanted and the Government will not even tell us how much money they have asked the Department for but the rumour is \u20ac60 million to \u20ac80 million. Football clubs cannot get an AstroTurf pitch, which costs less than \u20ac1 million, but we might be giving a private consortium \u20ac60 to \u20ac80 million to build ice hockey rinks that nobody asked for.  That worries me but it speaks to whom the Government prioritises. When the Government says about this legislation that it wants to remove obstacles, it does not seem to be anything about that but instead it is about the objectors. The objectors are the problem and the people who put in submissions to developments are the problem and not the 90,000 planning permissions that have been given and granted for houses in this country. Property developers sit on them, however, and do not do anything with them because it is profitable to sit on them and wait for the prices to go up, stay up or they flip the properties. No, there is nothing done about that but the Government is giving out about the objectors and it does not want oversight in respect of climate obligations, that is, the disapplication of section 15.  To me, that smacks of LNG. That is what I hear in respect of LNG. We do not want any of the obligations under climate legislation to impact on our ability to develop liquid natural gas infrastructure. I seriously ask the question if this will apply to private, for-profit developments? We need renewable wind resources but why is it the Government has given away all of the sites to private companies? When the wind energy and our marine resources are developed for wind energy, we get nothing from it. We are giving to international consortiums. Even the French state will own more of the wind produced off the east coast of Ireland than the people of Ireland will because the Government has given away the sites to the French state energy company.  I seriously worry what the Government's motives and objectives are here. I would like to hear some soothing words of reassurance that it will actually deal with the issues but the fact is the Government hands over responsibility to private developers for so much of the infrastructure, whether it is housing, energy and of course the data centres. I mean, Jesus, by 2030, it is estimated 30% of the electricity in this country will go to the data centres. They are hoovering up the energy we are creating for the benefit of some of the wealthiest companies in the world but doing very little for employment and serving no real purpose other than to make profits for these companies.  Yes, the Government should knock heads together, remove unnecessary sequential planning decisions and so on but I am seriously concerned the Government is actually just trying to remove climate obligations through the backdoor and its over-reliance or prioritisation of private developers' interests mean it will be them who benefit from it rather than the public interest. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Neville  I speak here tonight on a fascinating day in its own way. In here in the D\u00e1il Chamber, we saw many different things happening. At the same time, this ultimately is really important legislation before us here tonight. I have seen many contributors from different sides, some positive and some negative, but it really speaks to the importance of infrastructure for us and within our own areas. Many people spoke about their own towns and their own villages because ultimately, that is the infrastructure they are all aware of. Whether it was towns like Oranmore that was mentioned, towns in Cork or the aforementioned in south Dublin, the need for infrastructure with housing all across their areas is key.  As a country, one thing we probably have failed to keep up with is the delivery of key infrastructure in Ireland. We have been an economic success story and indeed, an industrial powerhouse for our size but we do not have the infrastructure we deserve. This legislation may be one small step on the road to helping deliver that infrastructure. Hopefully, this Bill will be the start of that infrastructure being delivered into the country. As a public representative in north Kildare, I see all too clearly the lack of infrastructure, be it the lack of a second bridge in Celbridge, be it the DART+ not having gone out so far or be it a need for a second bridge in Clane for which there already is a need, not to mind the need for the type of social infrastructure Deputy Boyd Barrett spoke about. There is a need for more GPs, new astro pitches and the schools we all know too well but what we are talking about here specifically is the critical infrastructure and the difficulties we have in the State in delivering it.  In fairness, I heard Deputy O'Gorman asking key questions as well. All of those will be looked at and focused on. Deputy Boyd Barrett asked similar questions about the environment but at the same time, we have seen that as a country, we have got bogged down in judicial reviews and public authorities delivering what they should do. I think it was Deputy Hearne when I listened to him earlier on who said these should be basic things that should already be in place and about the idea and concept that public bodies are not speaking to each other as a matter of course and are not working each other as a matter of course. Ultimately, we are all finding to our cost they are not doing so, hence the reason there is a need for this legislation.  We all know the need for key infrastructure. Indeed, we have seen the impact of where there have been difficulties with infrastructure. Only in the last week, we have seen how quickly the country can grind to a half if that infrastructure is not in place in certain ways. What we are doing here is to deliver even more of that same infrastructure.  Obviously, as someone on the infrastructure committee, I have seen many of the aforementioned groups who have come to us, be it from a building perspective, a planning perspective, local authorities, Uisce \u00c9ireann or whoever they may be and we all know the range of difficulties they face in delivering their own key infrastructure. We need to ensure they have the best way of delivering it. This Government has put forward \u20ac102 billion to be spent in the next four years. That is a significant amount of money in a country that has a significant need for infrastructure. Hopefully, we will be able to deliver that in the term of this Government.  I know it is a significant pressure. A key factor that ultimately will decide the fate of many of us who are on this side of the Chamber is whether we can deliver that infrastructure for the country. I hope to do so. I also hope this Critical Infrastructure Bill, not to mind its impossible imperfections or whether it does enough, is ultimately a step in the right direction. I hope it will have faster and better delivery and ensure the co-ordination and the streamlined nature of improved projects in the years ahead. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed  I join colleagues in underlining just how important it is that we get this Bill right. The Critical Infrastructure Bill is really important legislation for this D\u00e1il. We in Ireland are living with the legacy of many years of underinvestment in capital infrastructure, as my colleague has said. We see it very clearly in the lack of essential flood defences in particular in so many constituencies across Ireland. My colleague, Councillor Clodagh N\u00ed Mhuir\u00ed, has highlighted the need for climate adaptation projects at local authority level to be classified as critical infrastructure projects so that they just get done. Storm Chandra inflicted huge damage on communities. We were fortunate at the time that this storm occurred at low tide. We will not always be that lucky when it comes to flooding. Looking at the numbers, of 54 large flood defence projects deemed critical in 2018, 31 remain at preliminary design stage. How is that acceptable? Forget about climate, how is it acceptable that of 54 large projects, 31 are still in design? Ignoring the climate crisis, that is just not acceptable. When you put the climate crisis on top of it, it is even worse.  We are not alone in facing those challenges. Countries across the world are recognising that we have to get a fundamental reset between planning regulation and timely delivery of really important flood defence infrastructure. Bad weather has potential to wreak havoc on communities, as we have seen, and the longer we drag our feet, the more people will suffer. Flooding is now a recurring reality for many communities in nearly all parts of this country. Homes are damaged, businesses are destroyed, victims of flooding have to put their lives back together piece by piece with some support from the State - sometimes without some support - and insurance then, of course, disappears. It is unachievable. I also agree with other speakers regarding the climate implications of the Bill. It is really important that we meet our climate obligations and we do not sidestep those. We have to square up to decarbonisation. Finally, I ask that the Aire ensure climate adaptation projects are classified as critical infrastructure so that projects and communities finally get the defences they have been waiting for for so long. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Maurice Quinlivan  For the day that is in it, it may have won the vote of confidence but I can assure the Minister that his Government has lost the support - if it ever had it - and the confidence of the people. Public services are under huge pressure. Many services do not work properly and we see billions of hard-earned euro wasted, often due to poor planning. Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael are serious wasters of public funding. Never has so much been spent to deliver so little. Much of our infrastructure is crumbling. Our housing crisis continues with 17,000 people in emergency accommodation and we have a broken planning process. A total of 22,200 children are waiting on their legal entitled assessment of needs. Critical infrastructure is not planned for or delivered. This is the legacy of Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael for 100 years.  On this Bill in particular, waiving the pre-legislative scrutiny is a mistake. Given the Government's record of failure to deliver value for money, the Opposition is right to be critical of that. Bills should face all opportunities for scrutiny in order that we strengthen them and are not correcting a mistake after the Bill has been enacted. A concern of mine is that the Bill does not define what critical infrastructure is but rather leaves that to the gift of the Minister. When we talk about infrastructure we all have our own projects in our own areas, but talking about Limerick and the Munster region, we obviously look at the Limerick to Cork motorway. It is long promised and not delivered. They are probably the only two regional cities or second and third cities across western Europe that are not connected by motorway and it will be years before that is done. In Limerick, we recently opened the Coonagh to Knockalisheen road. It is not completed but that was over 20 years in planning and was hard fought for by the communities in Moyross in particular to get it over the line. Another piece of infrastructure that is needed in Limerick is the northern distributor road. Businesses will say they need this, as will IBEC and universities, whether the Technological University of the Shannon on one side or University of Limerick at the other side, to relieve the pressure on the north side of Limerick and south-east Clare, where it is particularly needed. It would really be an extension of the Coonagh to Knockalisheen road, and that is not even in the national development plan. It was pulled by the Green Party in the previous Government and there is no sign of it in this Government. It is an economic artery for Limerick. As I have said, it would service both universities and the business park in the Castletroy area, which are struggling. Traffic is unbelievable and we need to sort that out soon. We have people backed up on the Mackey roundabout and they cannot get off on the M7 or the motorway to access Limerick.  Bus services in Limerick, where they do exist, are unfortunately sometimes not reliable. Sometimes they are non-existent. One example of that is the Condell Road in the city. I have raised that before. We have a bus lane in that area. The bus lane has been there for a number of years but there is actually no local bus service on it. We have built hundreds of local authority houses and affordable houses through approved housing bodies in the area but there is no bus connection. Rail services, where they exist, are very slow and very sparse. For instance, we have the Castleconnell to Limerick city service and, for some inexplicable reason, we cannot deliver extra capacity and extra services on that. It is a no-brainer.  Then we come to the issue of offshore wind. We have the unique opportunity in the Limerick area, particularly with the Foynes Port, the deepest port in the island and a huge stretch of river. As the world is moving into critical danger, if we do not deliver to make our country energy secure with the opportunity to do it through offshore wind, we will be buying that from abroad. We have the opportunity to buy our own, make ourselves energy sufficient and export wind or we can buy it back in ourselves.  The HIQA report launched on 30 September had three options in it. We still do not know if we are going to build a second hospital in the mid-west. While this is committed to, there is no plan for it and no management committee set up. There is no progress on that and we do not know where we are. Trolley numbers in Limerick this week have been some of the highest we have seen across the State. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  Critical infrastructure gaps in this country are probably the worst legacy of the Government over the last number of years. This country is really poorly served by infrastructure. The Government's friends in the IMF say that Ireland lags by 32% behind our peers in terms of infrastructure delivery. The biggest cost on society is the fact that this Government cannot deliver infrastructure. For ten years after the crash, the Government spending was second-last from the bottom in terms of infrastructure. Only Romania spent less on infrastructural development than this country. Therefore, there was massive capital depreciation in Ireland as a result of the lack of investment by Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael. All of that has had enormous human consequences. The national children's hospital, promised by Leo Varadkar by 2020 save an asteroid hitting the planet and to be delivered for \u20ac700 million, is still not open and has been delayed for the 18th time by the Government. A total of \u20ac300 million has been spent on metro north and not a shovel has been put in the ground as of yet. It is 20 years in the making. The Navan to Dublin rail line was promised in 1994 by the Minister's colleague, Noel Dempsey, and it will not be built any earlier than 2036. People will have started work when that project was announced and they will have retired before that project will be delivered. The damage the Government is doing to people's lives is an absolute disgrace.  The lack of infrastructural development in this country is tearing at the very fabric of communities and lives. I will give an example of this in the Navan to Dublin rail line. Right now it is taking between two and three hours for people to get to and from work. I was listening to all the debates about the blockages of roads and how long it was taking for people to get around the country. I was just thinking people should just travel from Navan to Dublin for work every day and they would know exactly what it means to not be able to get to work on time. This means children are growing up with anxiety at the moment because they do not see their parents from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Their parents only have about 20 minutes to half an hour to put their children to bed every night. Football clubs are going without volunteers because there is simply nobody around in the evenings to be able to train their kids because of these difficulties.  The lack of infrastructure has had an enormous impact on the human fabric and the community fabric right through Ireland.  It was interesting that the day it was announced the national children's hospital was going to be delayed for the 18th time was the day the Government decided it was not going to have any pre-legislative scrutiny on this particular Bill. We had the enormous catastrophe that is the national children's hospital, an example of the Government getting everything wrong, and then the Government announcing a Bill and saying, \"No, we don't need to actually to do pre-legislative scrutiny on this; it is not necessary.\" I do not know whether it is incompetence or laziness from the Government's perspective but that is what happened. It is interesting that at that moment in time the Minister for Health was asked when the hospital would open and she said the opening date is in the hands of BAM. The Minister is getting \u20ac200,000 a year in wages and she is not in control of the biggest infrastructure project delivery in Ireland. That is startling. I have read through this Bill. I do not see anything in this Bill at the moment that would speed up the national children's hospital. There is nothing in the Bill, when a project is in situ, that would actually make it happen faster.  The other thing I was struck by when I read this Bill was that it looks like an Opposition party's Bill, which has no capacity to draft a Bill and put detail in it. All the Opposition parties, every now and again, introduce a Bill to generate a debate on an issue. They know it is never going to be good enough because they do not have the ability to do it. This looks exactly the same. I am amazed by how light it is, by the lack of detail and the lack of elements in it. If we cut to the key element of the Bill, it will prioritise some projects over others. This Bill will raise some projects up the queue, which will mean other projects will go down the queue. There is no net development.  If we look at what is happening at the moment and the real problems - and the Minister knows this too - we have the slowest planning processing, the slowest permitting, the slowest licensing, the slowest tendering and the slowest procurement in the EU, and judicial reviews are among the slowest and most held in this State. Nothing in the Bill that changes that.  There is marginal stuff about judicial review. It could be said that the climate Act change could affect some judicial reviews, but there is nothing in this Bill that, outside of that, will change the speed of that process. There is no net change in the speed of progress in the delivery of all those aspects. There are issues about co-operation and issues about different Departments. I welcome that and it is probably a good thing that is actually on a statutory legal level. I admit that, but there is no penalty if it does not happen. If the Minister tells a Department that it has to co-operate and do X,Y and Z in terms of co-ordination and it does not do it, what happens in that scenario?  All of those issues are really departmental management issues anyway. There is nothing stopping a Minister in a Department addressing the elements of the planning process in more co-ordinated fashion, making sure that, for example, a planning application does not need to have 30,000 pages and does not need a van to bring it to the local authority or saying we do not need four different versions of the planning application and that we need one version of the planning application that is suitable for all the different agencies that are necessary for it to go through.  There is no net capacity being put into this system in relation to this. What extra resources are going to be added? An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la officials came before the committee and said they did not have enough staff to do the job they have to do. They did say that and the Minister should not shake his head. I was sitting in front of them in that committee. They have delays still on the applications going through. I know of builders who are waiting 20 months for their application to go through. Why? Because it is not a priority application and therefore it is not getting through.  Uisce \u00c9ireann officials were in front of the infrastructure committee a little while ago. I asked them how long it is going to take Uisce \u00c9ireann to fill the gaps in the water infrastructure in this country that are currently putting blockages on the building of homes. They said 2050 is the hold up. I do not see anything in this Bill that is going to change that necessarily, other that the prioritisation, which means it is a zero-sum situation. One project moves up and another project moves down. What resources will be added to the likes of An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la? We had representatives of the local authorities in front of the infrastructure committee and we asked did they have enough planners within the planning offices. They said they did not and that they needed another 500 planners in the system.  Those are the practical elements. This is a lightweight Bill that, if we look at the enormity of the infrastructural deficit in this country and the damage it is doing to people, is an insult to that problem in reality. I am not confident. For example, most regulations are the same here. Yes, the climate Act is one change. There is no change to the habitat regulation in the context of the legislation. It is European. The Government will hold the Presidency of the European Commission for six months shortly. I have spoken to the Minister's junior Ministers and they are telling me that this regulation is a major block in the building of homes.  Midleton flood defences were promised in 2015. There is an elderly gentleman at the moment in Midleton who, when it rains heavily, stays awake at night as a human water gauge to make sure the water does not get to a certain level that people die. This is not going to speed up Midleton. Midleton is a habitats directive issue. Most of the flood defences in this country are habitats. The pearl mussel in Enniscorthy is going to be comfortable on the riverbed in Enniscorthy for another 15 years. The livelihoods of the people of Enniscorthy are not going to be comfortable and this Bill is not going to make a blind bit of difference to that.  The Government is going to need regulatory changes, which will need European changes too, to make sure we can get the infrastructure built in this country as well. I laughed out loud when I heard the Minister's statement about not weaponising the climate Act because it is an admission that the climate Act has been weaponised against development in this country, but who passed the climate Act? It is an admission that the Government parties did something really damaging to the development of this country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Fitzmaurice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice  I welcome the opportunity to speak on this. I want to be very clear that I am all for speeding up any infrastructure in the line of what Government needs to do, be that roads, rail or housing. There are a few issues. I am trying to get my head around parts of this Bill. Is this Bill solely for Government and semi-State bodies? I am asking whether some wind developer somewhere that is tormenting some community will be able to avail of that in some part of the country or is it just for Government projects, be they roads or hospitals? It would be great to get clarification on that from the Minister and his officials if that could be explained. I just cannot get my head around that.  I have no problem if, in a Bill, the State needs to be able to build hospitals or build roads or whatever it needs to build quicker. However, there is one part I worry about that has been mentioned, and which I have spoken to the Minister before about, and that is the Bill seems to push the critical infrastructure up to the top of the pile to get looked at. That is my understanding of it and that is fine, but I see ordinary people out there. We need quarries, whether people like it or not, to be able to build infrastructure. Let nobody cod themselves about that. There are people waiting who have applications in with An Bord Plean\u00e1la and all they get is a letter saying it is another few months gone, and another few months. The way they treat ordinary, private persons that way is disgraceful. With the best will in the world, we get that when an application for planning is put in, it is good to get it to the top of the pile.  If we continue with the habitats directive in its present form, God help any Minister because there is a rigmarole they will have to go through.  I have been dealing with the habitats directive for the last 20 years or more. What has happened with the habitats directive is that it started off as a directive. It then started going into the European Court of Justice, ECJ, and it started to put us in straitjacket after straitjacket. With the best will in the world to any Department, we get frustrated when things are not delivered.  If we go back a few years ago and down to Lough Talt, when Jerry Grant was in Irish Water at the time, we had to go to Europe for an Article 6(3) or Article 6(4) imperative reasons of overriding public interest, IROPI, exception. No matter how you go about it, it is going to take three or four years, and it will continue unless we get some legislation put in place. I have mentioned this before to Ministers. I remember when Eamon Ryan was here, at the time we needed the jet engines to basically keep the power on or to have backup. I remember it was the Bord na M\u00f3na Bill, I think, that came in here one night. It was a Bill that basically went over all the habitats directive, and you could drive on. I think it was for three years and it could be renewed again, or whatever. Environmental impact assessments, EIAs, appropriate assessments, AAs, and all this craic we have to go on with would not have had to be done. He was able to get that legislation through because, obviously, there was an amber light on our electricity situation at the time. The legislation was put through here one night.  For a Government seeking to build housing projects, and for the likes of Irish Water if it needs sewers and water, if we do not have sewers, water and roads, we are not going to build anything. That is what will happen if we do not go down that road. It will probably mean a clash with Europe, because even in Germany a snail was holding up things. I remember what happened at Lough Talt that time. There is the madness that is going on in some of this. A certain type of snail was supposed to have been in Lough Talt. I do not know how many years it had been gone for, but it was still necessary to do all the rigmarole. The project was being blocked. This was even though the pipe was coming out and Sligo County Council at the time was putting out the water daily. Irish Water was turning that pipe not near the lake, but 800 m away. It was going using the water, but it had to get an extraction licence. It was being blocked from getting that extraction licence. I spoke to Jerry Grant one evening across the road in Buswells. We went through it. That type of situation is costing money and slowing jobs by three and four years. It is ferocious. It is one thing I would ask all the Ministers to do something about. It is the bane of our lives now. It impacts when we try to extend an airport or a port. Galway Port was impacted. It impacts when there is an attempt to do a road. No matter what infrastructure is being done, it impacts, even in the case of youngsters. The designated area within 15 km of a place is now basically being called a screening-out area.  I saw a place in Clonberne where there was a young couple building a house. There was no designation near them. It was sent out that they needed an EIA, a screening out and all this. We were asking why. The drain near the back of that house was going into the Sinking river, up through Sliabh and heading to Dunmore to another river. It was going up to the River Clare and into the River Corrib, some 40 miles away. That is what frustrates me. I get so frustrated over watching things like that. It cost that young couple a couple of grand more to do all that, at least. That was at the time, but it would be way more now.  I will explain the problem. When we were in the bogs, we were on our ground. We were able to stand our battle. Even though people accused us of all types of things, we were able to say that was our ground. A government has to adhere to whatever legislation is in front of it, rightly or wrongly. In my opinion, unless it does that, it is pointless. We can put something to the top of the heap, but to get to the top of the heap, in the midst of EIAs, screenings out, appropriate assessments and all of that, is where I fear there is a major problem.  As I said, on principle, I would like clarification on that aspect for private operators. That is the one part I would like the Minister to clarify, if his officials get the chance. I am not putting him on the spot tonight. I would like to know that. For the likes of Irish Water, the ESB and all the semi-States and Government bodies, I think we need to be able to deliver stuff faster. In a lot of cases, the money is there, but we cannot build it. That is sickening altogether. One time ago, we did not have the money, but we would have been able to build it. Now, we have gone vice versa . I ask the Minister if he could do that. I thank him very much. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  I have been listening to the debate and it has been astonishing to hear the variety of opinions, concerns and misapprehensions about this Bill. On the one hand, I think it does represent progress. I remember when the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act was passed in 2006 and how that was a step forward in terms of bringing those strategic infrastructure projects into An Bord Plean\u00e1la, as it then was, rather than having them always going through local authorities and being delayed that way. In many ways, the 2006 Act was a step forward, but it did not really work, because we have found ourselves in a situation where we are still being delayed with those important strategic applications being made.  On the one hand, I recognise the potential progress that comes from this Bill and its necessity in terms of moving these critical infrastructure projects along. On the other hand, I have listened to what people have said about their concerns regarding what the impact of this legislation might be, specifically the modification of the way section 15 of the climate action Act will operate. Some Members have, essentially, catastrophised about the notion that suddenly we will be throwing out the door any concerns about climate action or taking cognisance of the fact that this is an existential threat for us, not just in this country but throughout the world.  If I thought that was the case, I must say I would have a real problem with this legislation. I think, however, that two things hold for me. First, and most importantly, European law is still supreme to this legislation. This means the safeguards people are concerned about are still there at a European level, and challenges will still be possible in that context. The second thing is that there was a suggestion that I think is grounded in the notion that we cannot trust the Government to do the right thing. I fundamentally reject that. I know this is a week in which many people in this Chamber are suggesting that, but there is not actually a basis for that view. There is not any evidence to back it up. In my lifetime as an adult, if I can put it that way, the Government has consistently acted responsibly. I know we had a crash 15 years ago and there was irresponsibility that led to that, and that is fine, but in terms of corruption, all the indicators internationally are that this is a country in which we have gone away from corruption. We have moved away from the corruption we saw in the 1990s, which resulted - regressively, I think - in the removal of all these powers from local authority members. That is for another day\u2019s debate. I do not think there is any basis now on which people should be suspicious about the operation of policy by the Government, which is elected by the people.  There was talk about a lack of transparency. I note, for example, that section 3(4) requires that any orders made under section 3 would be laid before the D\u00e1il within a reasonable period of time. There is, therefore, transparency there. People will know what orders have been made, what the basis of those orders is for and what the impact of those orders would be. I kind of feel that any of those concerns that have been outlined are assuaged by what is actually in the Bill. I think the safeguards that are there mean we do not need to catastrophise about this legislation. It does not represent some kind of catastrophic or disastrous relinquishment of the important laws in relation to climate change and the safeguards that exist for climate change.  I have heard other colleagues complaining about snails, frogs, bats, mosses and all that kind of thing. Those are important things, and we should not downplay the importance of biodiversity and the protection of that biodiversity. When I look at this legislation, I also think about the strategic progress that needs to be made in terms of what we actually deliver for people in this country. At the moment, we have a situation where the types of projects that I anticipate will be covered by this legislation are, on average, taking 63 weeks to get to first-stage approval. This is before any challenges that might arise by way of judicial review or anything else. That is nearly two years. It is an astonishingly long time and an unnecessarily long time. The system at the moment is broken insofar as it is not delivering those projects.  The examples that spring to mind when we talk about climate, for example, are renewable energy projects, including wind farms.  It takes a long time to get a wind farm up and running and, as we stand here, there is not a single operational offshore wind farm in Ireland. That is a shameful statistic. As we look at solar projects, wind projects, onshore as well, and wave projects we hope will come in the future, we need to be able to action them much more quickly than we are. In an ironic way, they are the very tools that will help us combat the climate crisis, reduce our carbon emissions and replace dirty energy with clean and renewable energy. What this Bill does makes perfect sense to me. We will be supporting legislation that is actually going to implement a change in the manner in which we create this critical infrastructure and make it available to the people of Ireland to help them solve problems into the future. God knows we have enough problems to solve. Many significant infrastructural problems have been allowed to languish over a generation, in essence. We need to take action on them.  I think of my own area in D\u00fan Laoghaire. I am forever harping on about water quality. We have a Victorian sewer system that means that when there is a high rainfall event or a lot of water, the run-off goes into the sewer system, down to the back of the West Pier in D\u00fan Laoghaire, and an under-seabed pipe pumps the sewage from the West Pier pumping station to the Poolbeg sewage treatment plant, where it is treated and then discharged into the sea. That is fine, but the pipe only has a given capacity. When there is a lot of rain and the run-off also goes into that sewer system, there is overcapacity at the pumping station. There is an attenuation tank that is 70,000 cu. m. It fills up. That is fine, and it holds the sewage until such time as it can be pumped through to Poolbeg, but when there is a lot of rain it fills up. When it is full, there is nowhere for the material to go but into the sea. We have many videos of this big, black slick coming into Dublin Bay off the back of the West Pier when that attenuation tank is full, and more raw sewage flows into it and there is nowhere for it to go but into the sea, in which we fish for our food and swim for recreation and have water sports. The same water that people swim in and eat from is having raw sewage pumped into it. There is no real justification for that except for the fact we have not taken the infrastructural solutions and implemented them to ensure there is a second attenuation tank at the back of the West Pier. That is a relatively straightforward, simple, implementable solution to that problem.  The longer term, much more complex, essentially multigenerational and multibillion euro project is to reform our sewerage and water systems so that we recycle water within homes, use sustainable urban drainage systems and ensure we minimise the use of water in real terms. That is a longer term project but we could build a second attenuation tank next to the West Pier pumping station at the gut at the back of the West Pier in D\u00fan Laoghaire, which would solve that problem in the short term. At the moment not only is that overflowing into the sea but the time lapse in informing people who are swimming in the sea is so slow that they will already have swum in their own discharge - I do not know what the right word to use for that is - and they will not know about it until a day later when the tests come back to show there is bacteria in the water. If that is not something from a different age, I do not know what is, and it is solvable. It is exactly this kind of legislation that will help us solve it in the short term. That is a project that will be caught up in the 63-week delay before we can start construction, and that is provided there is not a challenge.  On the subject of challenges, I heard some speakers speaking about how there is an attempt to shut down those using the courts to be activists for better standards and regulation and to stop things happening that should not happen. I agree with them that it is important to allow that to happen. I do not think the answer is to cut out judicial review. The answer is in two forms. The first is to have the judicial reviews but to speed them up. We should use a commercial court-style system, as was used in Ireland in the 1990s to speed up commercial cases. That can also be done for judicial reviews against planning systems. However, that also requires an investment in the Judiciary and more judges to hear those cases so they actually happen more quickly. There are cases where the litigants should be told, \u201cThis is the way it's going to happen. Here is your timeline. This is when it's going to be heard and if you're not ready, you're the one who loses out.\u201d That can be done to make judicial review more efficient and thereby not deny people their rights of access to the courts to challenge decisions they have a problem with. As we know because they succeed, they are often right about the challenges they bring. The practical import of the challenges they bring is that they slow down the delivery of infrastructure, and there is no need for that process to restrict or inhibit the production of the critical infrastructure that is named in the Bill.  Something else that springs to mind, which I frequently speak about, is the notion of an underground metro system for Dublin. The reality is that we need to start it. Because of massive infrastructure projects that have overrun and become problematic, the obvious one being the children's hospital, to a large extent politicians and the public service in Ireland are afraid of large-scale infrastructure projects. This is because they can prove so problematic and are so complex and, to a large extent, because the expertise is not there in the public service and we rely on external services to deliver them, which does not always work.  In terms of building the metro, we do not have to implement a 100-stop metro in the morning or something the size of that in Paris, London or somewhere like that. We can do what they do in Paris, which is to build a short line with a small number of stops. This is the first project. For example, if I think of Paris, the line 14, which was built in the past 25 or 30 years, started off with four stops in central Paris. The project is called M\u00e9t\u00e9or. It is a driverless train that is deeper, cleaner and fully wheelchair accessible. They built four stops and it now runs all the way from Saint-Lazare in north-west central Paris to Orly Airport. Initially they built a small line and added on a station at each end and then another station and another station. Instead of having a behemoth of an infrastructural project, they had smaller, bite-size projects that were more manageable. Even if such smaller projects do go pear-shaped for some reason, there is a way in which they do not impact on the delivery of the overall ambition over a period of years.  These projects can be done, but in order to do them and deliver 21st-century water treatment facilities for people in Dublin, and in order to deliver 21st-century or even 20th-century public transport systems, we have to approach this with some purpose. The Bill is the first step of that process, to my mind. Notwithstanding the concerns some Members have, and these can all be managed and we can look at the safeguards that are there, this is the way in which we get rid of the delays. We target certain projects and at governmental level we identify them and say a certain project is critical, and that for another one we will make the order under section 3 and make it happen. If we can do that, it is a good thing for people in Dublin and throughout the country. If we can deliver those projects that make their lives better and easier and reduce our carbon emissions and delays, it will create a better infrastructural society for us all. If the Bill can do this and if it is a step down that road, then it is a good thing. On this basis alone, I will welcome the Bill and support it as it goes through. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I agree. We all know where there have been deficits in infrastructure. We know the issues that have existed where people have played the system. That is undoubted. We have also seen situations where we have not seen perfect engagement, be it from the State or developers. We have all seen it in our constituencies. We have seen where pre-consultation and consultation have been done well, where they have removed some of the fears there can be in relation to projects, and then we have seen them progress better.  It goes without saying we are talking about areas where we cannot necessarily deliver clean water or a sewerage system that is fit for purpose, and we are talking about this in 2026. Irrespective of the absolutely rightful arguments there were earlier on the fuel crisis and the ineptitude of the Government in dealing with it, at the end of the day there has been abject failure in dealing with our infrastructural deficits and we all need to see this improved 100%.  I agree with what many have said, that we are somewhat worried about the fact that pre-legislative scrutiny was waived. I would like to think there will be sufficient time on Committee Stage and that we will not be looking at guillotined legislation from the point of view of working through all of the necessary amendments and arguments that need to be made. Every time the Government has come up with the ultimate legislative solution in relation to infrastructural deficits, it has not changed anything to date. If we look at the Planning and Development Act, planners who spoke to me said it was more sentences, more paragraphs and more words that would be dissected in courtrooms.  That was their belief. We need simplicity in this. There is nobody who does not want to see this sort of critical infrastructure being delivered and to reduce and streamline. We constantly talk about streamlining. We know the issues that have existed in the planning system. Obviously, we need to be able to get to grip with the circumstances. We are pretty late in getting into this game, or the Government is anyway. We need to know what exactly is going to fall into the sphere of critical infrastructure. I know people have asked about anaerobic digestion and renewables. Are we talking about State projects or is there room for manoeuvre in relation to other projects? Again, that is about making sure we do not undermine the piece I spoke about where we need to make sure we can at least have decent consultation with people.  I could talk about the rail infrastructure in County Louth and the need for more stations but I would start with Dundalk's Clarke Station. We are all talking about the absolute need for public transport, particularly this week, but we do not have enough parking spaces at that station. We have fewer than we had because they were taken away. We are awaiting some sort of solution on that. Even simple solutions like that are not being delivered.  We talk about water. It will be years before we see the CFRAM plan delivered in County Louth. We are talking about five projects. As I have said many times before, I live in the Bay Estate and we have a joint sewerage and rainwater system----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell)  Go raibh maith agat. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  -----and any time it rains heavily we are in danger of flooding. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell)  Go raibh maith agat, a Theachta. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  It will be years before this is upgraded. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell)  Go raibh maith agat, a Theachta. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  The Chair is putting pressure on me. I was in Scoil Bhr\u00edde in S\u00edolach the other day. It is an absolutely fabulous school. It has been okayed for two extra teachers but not okayed in any way, shape or form for the two extra rooms that are needed, and that is before the second sanctioned ASD class. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell)  Go raibh maith agat, a Theachta. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I would probably need about 25 minutes to go through all of this and I would still leave some projects behind. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (Deputy Jack Chambers)  Fair play to Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa. He always gets a lot in during the few minutes. I thank all Members of the House for their contributions to this evening's debate. We look forward to further engagement on the Bill as it progresses to Committee Stage. It is clear from the broader contributions that there is a consensus on the need to really reform how we deliver infrastructure. As I said at the outset, the publication of the Bill achieves one of the many actions in the Accelerating Infrastructure report. Really it is about the cumulative implementation of this, which will drive a much quicker and transformative approach to accelerating infrastructure.  I have set out why radical change is necessary. We have a persistent infrastructure deficit, the consequences of which we in this House have to deal with and which are articulated by Members daily. Without radical reform we simply will not close the gap, leaving our people stuck in traffic and with too few homes to house our population, and build the infrastructure to bridge and affirm the wider ambition we have for economic and social infrastructure for the State.  The Critical Infrastructure Bill places obligations on the Government. It requires us to take hard decisions about prioritisation and to identify a small number of those projects or programmes that are fundamental to everything else we wish to achieve. Others have said that and Deputy Fitzmaurice mentioned it. Water, energy and transport systems are the foundations that drive overall delivery and economic development, whether it is in housing or other areas. By doing this we send a clear and unambiguous signal to the entire system that the projects and programmes are of strategic importance and in the public interest. It allows public bodies to reallocate the resources necessary to prioritise the consideration of these projects. The net effect of this should be a significant acceleration of these critical projects and programmes. This will in turn enable the acceleration of all other economic and social infrastructure necessary for society to thrive.  The Bill is short and carefully targeted legislation. It does not reference specific projects. It will provide the Government with the statutory power to designate projects or programmes as critical infrastructure by order. We have had some questions about whether it is all projects, public and private. It is clear in the definition of a project in the Bill that it is a project the purpose of which is the delivery of infrastructure and that is funded by capital investment by or on behalf of the State or by or on behalf of a public body. I think that clarifies this matter, which was raised by Deputies. Any such order will be laid before D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann, and if a resolution annulling the order is passed by D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann within the next 21 days on which D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann has sat after the order has been laid, it can be annulled accordingly. The Government will consider specific projects or programmes that may be designated as critical infrastructure following my written recommendation.  It is important to consider that the process of designating projects can only work if restraint is exercised in the designation. Designating too many projects will not allow the licensing, consenting and planning bodies to effectively prioritise. It is intended that the process of identifying which projects or programmes are designated and subject to accelerated consideration will commence quickly after the Bill has been enacted. Once the Government has designated a project or programme, every public body that is involved in a licence, consent or permission associated with the critical infrastructure will be required to prioritise, avoid delay, reduce timelines, parallel processes and co-operate to fast-track critical infrastructure through their existing processes. It also allows and mandates whole-of-state co-operation and ensures critical projects and programmes receive co-ordinated attention across Departments, regulators and agencies. Establishing a clear legal basis for this prioritisation ensures that it receives the fast and co-ordinated attention across the system. The legislation gives the Minister power to issue a direction to any of the public bodies involved in the process, and this will be used to drive improved timelines and performance and, if necessary, mandate all public bodies to take the necessary steps to accelerate their processes.  Deputies will be aware, and it was mentioned by a number of Deputies, that I was granted exemption from pre-legislative scrutiny, but this request was not made lightly. We have set an ambitious timeline for implementation because we want to drive delivery and it is in the overriding public interest that we find the means of accelerating certain critical projects and programmes that are fundamental to our provision of social and economic infrastructure. This is why the waiving of pre-legislative scrutiny is important in that context. I value and welcome a thorough and robust discussion on the legislation at the committee as well. I will engage constructively with all Deputies on that to get this right. It has been argued by some in this House, and there were many mentions here, that the solution to delays is more resourcing or staffing for public bodies. In fact, that is not the issue in many instances. An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la has almost doubled its staffing in the last ten years while staffing in the Environmental Protection Agency is up nearly 50% in five years. Fundamentally, what we need to do is reform, simplify and accelerate much of the bureaucratic practice that has seen the development process for infrastructure double in the past 20 years.  There has also been reference to section 15 of the climate Act. The disapplication of it means that public bodies can no longer be challenged on how they have assessed these considerations in their decision-making processes and it removes an avenue for judicial review, nothing more. I take the example of the reaction to the Galway ring road only last week and the concern by certain interest groups that they will not be able to use section 15 to try to use the courts to block a piece of critical infrastructure for the west. There are already many comments from Friends of the Environment wanting to use section 15 to stop a piece of critical infrastructure. I have canvassed in Galway and in the west, as have Deputies across the House. Every second door I knocked on wanted to see that happen. If we want the industrial development to happen in the west and if we want to see housing built in the west, then we cannot have the weaponisation of the climate Act for a piece of critical infrastructure. That is just one example in the context of the wider reform piece, which is why it is important to disapply section 15 in the context of critical infrastructure for the State.  The Critical Infrastructure Bill seeks to fast-track the process for designating projects and programmes through the existing processes, but more fundamental reform of our legal and regulatory systems is still necessary. That is what is happening in the context of my Department's regulatory simplification unit.  Deputy Fitzmaurice mentioned other areas that require attention, which they do. Some of that has a European context that we are working on in the context of the EU Presidency. There is also the wider simplification agenda where there are unnecessary layers and fragmented processes that have come from Europe. We are doing what we can achieve within our own legislative framework but there is a need for further reform. My wider point is that taking the 30 actions and interventions and reforms cumulatively is what builds momentum in the infrastructure cycle. That is why in other areas we are simplifying and streamlining the regulatory environment and we are currently working with key regulatory bodies and Departments to identify such reforms with a particular focus on consenting, permitting and licensing processes across sectors such as the energy, water and transport sectors. This infrastructure is necessary to support the development of all other social and economic infrastructure right across society. It is expected that reforms introduced as part of this process will not simply benefit critical infrastructure projects but will also serve to simplify regulatory processes for infrastructure more generally. If timelines can be reduced and systems paralleled, all projects will move quicker from conception to final delivery, thereby allowing them to open up and be delivered in a more accelerated way for people across the country.  We have taken note of the wider debate this evening and as we look to the coming decade the choices and the reforms we make about infrastructure delivery will determine our economic competitiveness, our climate resilience, housing construction and the quality of life enjoyed by communities across the country. I look forward to working with colleagues as we advance this legislation through the House. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Critical Infrastructure Bill 2026: Second Stage"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-04-14\/debate\/dbsect_31","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/37","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/37\/dail\/motion\/referral","houseCode":"dail","stage":"motion","isBillStage":false,"showAs":"Critical Infrastructure Bill 2026: Referral to Select Committee (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Critical Infrastructure Bill 2026: Referral to Select Committee","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_31","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (Deputy Jack Chambers)  I move:  That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery pursuant to Standing Orders 103(2)( b ) and 188(1). "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar athl\u00f3 ar 12.03 a.m. go dt\u00ed 9 a.m., D\u00e9 C\u00e9adaoin, an 15 Aibre\u00e1n 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The D\u00e1il adjourned at 12.03 a.m. until 9 a.m. on Wednesday, 15 April 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Critical Infrastructure Bill 2026: Referral to Select Committee"}]}}]},"contextDate":"2026-04-14"},{"debateRecord":{"house":{"showAs":"34th D\u00e1il","committeeCode":"","houseCode":"dail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/house\/dail\/34","chamberType":"house","houseNo":"34"},"chamber":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/def\/house\/dail","showAs":"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann"},"lastUpdated":"2026-06-09T02:15:38+00:00","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/main","formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/mul@\/main.xml"},"pdf":null},"date":"2026-03-26","counts":{"contributorCount":137,"divisionCount":0,"debateSectionCount":47,"questionCount":30,"billCount":1},"debateType":"debate","debateSections":[{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_2","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_3","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Library Services","counts":{"speechCount":14,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_2","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_3.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  My question relates to the development of a new library for Cork. In March 2021, the Taoiseach announced that \u20ac50 million would be spent transforming Grand Parade by providing a new public library, plaza and boardwalk. Staff at the library do a fantastic job but the building is not fit for purpose. It does not reflect the services and it is not befitting of the second city. We are five years later and we have no new library. Even more concerning is that there is very little information about this project. We urgently need an update because the people of Cork want a new city library. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (Deputy Jerry Buttimer)  I thank Deputy Rice for raising the matter. I concur with him that we have an extraordinary dedicated library staff in Cork city right across all sections of our library service. As the Deputy will be well aware, the current libraries capital programme 2023-2027 is investing \u20ac22.6 million in 11 state-of-the-art library infrastructure projects around the country and a further \u20ac2.6 million in 12 next-generation mobile library vehicles across Ireland. Funding of \u20ac8.3 million has been provided by our Department to support Cork City Council's public library services since 2019, through the libraries capital programme and the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund. Details of this expenditure will be provided separately to Deputy Rice as requested.  As the Deputy will be aware, the provision of library services is primarily a matter for local authorities - in this case, Cork City Council - in their capacity as library authorities under the Local Government Act 2001.  The Cork city library is one element of the overall Grand Parade quarter project, which is being funded through the urban regeneration and development fund, administered by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. My officials are in regular contact with colleagues in the URDF unit in that Department on the matter. In line with a commitment in the national public library strategy, the libraries development unit in our Department issued updated public library standards and benchmarks to all library authorities, including Cork City Council, earlier this year.  We all share the ambition to have a state-of-the-art library in Cork City Council. I got involved in politics campaigning for my own local library in Bishopstown, where we had none. Thankfully, we have a magnificent library now adjacent to Wilton Shopping Centre. Like Deputy Rice, we in this Department, with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, share the ambition to have a modern state-of-the-art library for Cork city. That is a project we will all support. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  We can have the ambition but we need the delivery and it has now been five years since the Taoiseach came to Cork and announced there would be a new city library, and there has been no development. The issue here is that nobody is taking responsibility for the project. The Government says it is the responsibility of the council. The council says it is waiting on the Government. This passing of the buck must stop. I have tried really hard to work with everybody constructively on this. During my time as a councillor, I submitted multiple questions and a motion to the council on it. My party colleague Councillor Niamh O'Connor has done the same. I had multiple meetings with librarians and council staff. We have submitted questions and got identical answers. For over a year now, Cork City Council has been giving us identical answers and no new information. We resorted to submitting freedom of information, FOI, requests to the council. They have all been refused. I have asked questions to the Taoiseach here and not got an answer. I understand a business case has finally been submitted to the Department of housing and local government. Has that been reviewed? Has the Minister of State's Department looked at that business case? We need a working group, the various Departments and the council to come together to work on this project and deliver the world-class library the people of Cork were promised over five years ago by the Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  To clarify for the Deputy so that he knows, it is not our Department that is responsible; it is the Department of housing. To help him again, Cork City Council is the responsible local authority. I think Deputy Rice was at the briefing we had as Members of the Oireachtas with the chief executive of the city council before Christmas, where we believe the city council identified a site. Work is ongoing. Our Department is committed in terms of our responsibility. The Department of housing is equally committed, as Deputy Rice will know. It should be put on record that this Government has been supportive and has funded Cork City Council and the regeneration of Cork city. I hope the Deputy understands that the element we speak about today, the library, on which we agree, is one element of the Grand Parade project and has been allocated funding under the urban regeneration and development fund. That funding has been provided. Equally, the Minister, Deputy Calleary, and the previous Minister, Heather Humphreys, provided moneys under the URDF to Cork County Council, and we committed to and have built two libraries in Macroom and Youghal. I agree that our library staff are fantastic in Cork city. Our library needs to be that flagship for the part of the city we are regenerating. I look forward to working with the Deputy and with Cork City Council to develop that project. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  The Minister of State's Department is responsible for libraries. My point here is that his Department and the Department of public expenditure and reform, the Department of housing and local government, and the city council need to work together to deliver this project, which was promised over five years ago. The real frustration here is the lack of information and the lack of public consultation on this key project. A campaign group has been set up to push for action on this project. It has set out its vision for how public authorities could engage in a public consultation. It has also set out a clear vision of what the library should look like, namely, a world-class library, a cathedral of learning in the heart of the city, and it has shared that with the Department. The lack of progress on this library is really frustrating. We have just seen delay after delay. It is not the only capital project that has been delayed in Cork city. It has now been ten years since the sod was turned on the event centre; and there is still no event centre. It has been five years since the library was announced, and there is no library. No funding has been allocated for the Luas, BusConnects is still delayed, and there is no safe injection facility and no homeless hub. The list goes on. The Government promises capital investment and projects for Cork city and it fails to deliver them time and again. We really need to see progress on a new city library in the heart of Cork city. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  Deputy Rice comes in here and speaks about a cathedral of learning and it is wonderful rhetoric. I share his view. I am equally ambitious for Cork. I have been involved in public life for 21 years as a member of Cork City Council and as a Member of the Oireachtas and the library will be transformative for our city. The chief executive outlined at his briefing with us that the project in the library is one element of the overall Grand Parade project. The funding has been allocated and is ring-fenced. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  Five years. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  The funding is ring-fenced. It is very easy for the Deputy to come in here. I have met Colette Kelleher, the chair of the action group, and I am as committed as the Deputy is. Again, it is not our Department that is responsible. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  No one is. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  The Deputy is certainly not responsible, and it is very easy to speak to the papers and come in here and shout and roar every day but he delivers nothing but rhetoric. That is all he delivers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  I call the Government to account for its promises. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  Our Government will deliver a library, working with Cork City Council, which is the lead agency. The Deputy knows that himself. He was a member of Cork City Council. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere)  I thank the Minister of State. We are out of time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  We agree on the final point. We need to have a city library that is fit for purpose and our staff are the best in the country. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Library Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_4","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"C\u00farsa\u00ed Tith\u00edochta","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_2","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_4","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_4.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  T\u00e1 br\u00f3n orm as bheith beag\u00e1in\u00edn d\u00e9anach. Ghlac an D\u00e1il seo le cinneadh nuair a bh\u00ed r\u00fan os comhair na D\u00e1la maidir le c\u00farsa\u00ed tith\u00edochta. Laistigh den r\u00fan sin bh\u00ed c\u00e1ineadh ar an gcur chuige a bh\u00ed ag an Rialtas \u00f3 thaobh na tith\u00edochta sa Ghaeltacht go dt\u00ed seo. Cad at\u00e1 chun tarl\u00fa d\u00e1 r\u00e9ir? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (Deputy Dara Calleary)  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Teachta. Is fi\u00fa a thabhairt faoi deara go dtiteann freagracht as c\u00farsa\u00ed tith\u00edochta ar bhonn ginear\u00e1lta ar an Roinn Tith\u00edochta, Rialtais \u00c1iti\u00fail agus Oidhreachta agus nach bhfuil ach r\u00f3l t\u00e1naisteach ag mo Roinn f\u00e9in i mbeartas tith\u00edochta. \u00c9 sin r\u00e1ite, t\u00e1 sol\u00e1thar tith\u00edochta d\u00f3ibh si\u00fad at\u00e1 ina gc\u00f3na\u00ed agus ag obair sa Ghaeltacht thar a bheith t\u00e1bhachtach dom. Go deimhin, t\u00e1 tith\u00edocht riachtanach chun an teanga, seirbh\u00eds\u00ed, fosta\u00edocht, fiontra\u00edocht agus deiseanna eile sa Ghaeltacht a fhorbairt. Agus \u00e9 sin san \u00e1ireamh, t\u00e1 c\u00e9imeanna taca\u00edochta \u00e1 dt\u00f3g\u00e1il chun na cr\u00edche seo.  T\u00e1 an Bille um \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta (Leas\u00fa), 2024 le t\u00f3g\u00e1il ar Ch\u00e9im na Tuarasc\u00e1la go gairid. C\u00e9 gurb \u00e9 athbhun\u00fa toghch\u00e1n bhord an \u00fadar\u00e1is pr\u00edomhchusp\u00f3ir an Bhille seo, ar mhaithe le tac\u00fa le sol\u00e1thar tith\u00edochta sa Ghaeltacht d\u00e9anfar leas\u00fa sa Bhille ar alt 8 den Acht um \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta chun cead a thabhairt don \u00fadar\u00e1s talamh a dh\u00edol le comhlacht tith\u00edochta ceadaithe n\u00f3 le h\u00fadar\u00e1s tith\u00edochta n\u00f3 a dhi\u00fascairt ar shl\u00ed eile chun tith\u00edocht a shol\u00e1thar sa Ghaeltacht. T\u00e1 m\u00e9 f\u00e9in agus mo chomhghleaca\u00ed, an tAire, an Teachta Browne, ag obair go dl\u00fath lena ch\u00e9ile ar an gceist seo len\u00e1r gcuid oifigeach agus t\u00e1 obair shuntasach d\u00e9anta ag an Roinn ag forbairt r\u00e1iteas plean\u00e1la n\u00e1isi\u00fanta don Ghaeltacht. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 beartaithe go bhfoilseofar an r\u00e1iteas plean\u00e1la n\u00e1isi\u00fanta don Ghaeltacht sa ch\u00e9ad leath de 2027 ach beidh s\u00e9 ag tarl\u00fa roimhe sin.  I bplean tith\u00edochta an Rialtais a fhoils\u00edodh le d\u00e9ana\u00ed, gealltar an r\u00e1iteas a fhoilsi\u00fa agus moltar scr\u00fad\u00fa a dh\u00e9anamh ar fh\u00e9idearthachta\u00ed \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta oibri\u00fa le hUisce \u00c9ireann agus le h\u00fadar\u00e1is \u00e1iti\u00fala chun tac\u00fa le tith\u00edocht a th\u00f3g\u00e1il do phobail labhartha na Gaeilge. Re\u00e1cht\u00e1il m\u00e9 cruinni\u00fa le gairid idir \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta agus Uisce \u00c9ireann chun a chinnti\u00fa go nd\u00e9anfar dul chun cinn gan dua maidir leis an fh\u00e9idearthacht seo a scr\u00fad\u00fa. Is fi\u00fa a n\u00f3t\u00e1il go bhfuil obair th\u00e1bhachtach ar bun ag \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta chun fosta\u00edocht a chur ar f\u00e1il do phobal na Gaeltachta. N\u00ed bheadh s\u00e9 cu\u00ed b\u00e9im agus f\u00f3cas na heagra\u00edochta i gcomhl\u00edonadh an r\u00f3il sin a laghd\u00fa. Beidh r\u00f3l t\u00e1naisteach ach t\u00e1bhachtach ag \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta maidir le sol\u00e1thar tith\u00edochta sa Ghaeltacht i dteannta r\u00f3l na Roinne Tith\u00edochta, Rialtais \u00c1iti\u00fail agus Oidhreachta agus go h\u00e1irithe r\u00f3l na n-\u00fadar\u00e1s \u00e1iti\u00fala. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  T\u00e1 s\u00fail agam go mbeidh Bille \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta ag teacht chugainn ar Ch\u00e9im an Tuarasc\u00e1la gan mhoill mar t\u00e1 obair f\u00f3s le d\u00e9anamh ar an mBille sin le cinnti\u00fa go mbeidh, \u00f3 thaobh an r\u00f3il a luadh maidir le tith\u00edocht, r\u00f3l ceart ag an \u00fadar\u00e1s amach anseo maidir leis na su\u00edomhanna at\u00e1 aige ach chomh maith leis sin \u00f3 thaobh chuir chuige. T\u00e1 r\u00f3l ag \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta maidir le plean\u00e1il teanga, n\u00ed d\u00edreach tionscla\u00edocht. D\u00e9anann daoine dearmad go minic ar an r\u00f3l l\u00e1rnach sin at\u00e1 aige. N\u00ed g\u00e1 an talamh at\u00e1 ag an \u00fadar\u00e1s a dh\u00edol le AHB; s f\u00e9idir leis an \u00fadar\u00e1s an talamh sin a ligean ar l\u00e9as. Luaigh an tAire cruinni\u00fa le hUisce \u00c9ireann le d\u00e9ana\u00ed.  Mar chuid de r\u00f3il \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta, t\u00e1 su\u00edomhanna aige. T\u00e1 tionscla\u00edocht ar chuid de na su\u00edomhanna sin ach d\u2019fh\u00e9adfadh an chuid eile de na su\u00edomhanna a bheith ina n-east\u00e1it thith\u00edochta d\u00e1 mbeadh cead aige, n\u00f3 ag dream \u00e9igin eile, an c\u00f3ras s\u00e9arachais at\u00e1 aige don east\u00e1t tionscla\u00edochta a \u00fas\u00e1id do thith\u00edocht chomh maith. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  Aonta\u00edm leis an Teachta. T\u00e1 an obair sin ar si\u00fal. Bh\u00ed cruinni\u00fa agam le pr\u00edomhfheidhmeannach an \u00fadar\u00e1is. T\u00e1 liosta d\u00e9anta agus t\u00e1 muid ag d\u00e9anamh oibre ar an liosta sin faoi shu\u00edomhanna cos\u00fail leis sin. N\u00edl s\u00e9 chomh \u00e9asca sin, \u00e1fach. I roinnt de na su\u00edomhanna sin, t\u00e1 c\u00farsa\u00ed s\u00e9arachais agus uisce r\u00e9as\u00fanta l\u00e1idir, ach n\u00edl aon seirbh\u00eds\u00ed i su\u00edomhanna eile.  Maidir le cead\u00fanais plean\u00e1la sa Ghaeltacht, i mbliana, bh\u00ed 53 teach nua ceadaithe as 62 iarratas i nGaeltacht na Gaillimhe. I nGaeltacht Mhaigh Eo, sa bhliain seo, bh\u00ed 25 iarratas agus gan aon teach di\u00faltaithe. I nGaeltacht Phort L\u00e1irge, i nD\u00e1ilcheantar an Teachta McGuinness, n\u00edor di\u00falta\u00edodh aon cheann as tr\u00ed iarratas go f\u00f3ill. Anuraidh, bh\u00ed 25 iarratas ceadaithe sa Ghaeltacht sinn agus di\u00falta\u00edodh dh\u00e1 iarratas. T\u00e1 a l\u00e1n oibre ar si\u00fal. T\u00e1 daoine ag iarraidh a r\u00e1 nach bhfuil aon rud ag tarl\u00fa ach t\u00e1 a l\u00e1n ruda\u00ed ag tarl\u00fa. Ag f\u00e9achaint ar na deontais le haghaidh na dtithe folmha, t\u00e1 ruda\u00ed ar si\u00fal ansin freisin. T\u00e1 obair le d\u00e9anamh againn leis an \u00fadar\u00e1s agus t\u00e1 muid ag d\u00e9anamh na hoibre sin sula dtiocfaidh an Bille os comhair na D\u00e1la, rud a tharl\u00f3idh roimh an samhradh. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  N\u00edl m\u00e9 ag r\u00e1 nach bhfuil aon rud ag tarl\u00fa. Aithn\u00edm go bhfuil nithe ag tarl\u00fa. T\u00e1 siad ag tarl\u00fa i gceantair ar leith ar luas r\u00f3mhall, \u00e1fach. Caithfidh muid strait\u00e9is a bheith againn sna h\u00e1iteanna ina bhfuil na scoileanna i mbaol de bharr easpa p\u00e1ist\u00ed. M\u00e1 aithn\u00edonn muid \u00e9 sin anois, is c\u00f3ir go mbeidh strait\u00e9is ann. N\u00edl de dh\u00edth ach dh\u00e1 n\u00f3 tr\u00ed theach le teaghlaigh iontu chun scoileanna a choime\u00e1d oscailte i roinnt de na ceantair seo. N\u00ed m\u00f3r d\u00fainn dul isteach agus f\u00e9achaint ar l\u00edon na su\u00edomhanna at\u00e1 ann agus, mar a d\u00fairt an tAire, l\u00edon na dtithe at\u00e1 tr\u00e9igthe agus iad a chur ar ais in \u00fas\u00e1id. Muna bhfuil strait\u00e9is ann, f\u00e1gfar \u00e9 seo. Beidh na h\u00e1iteanna seo tr\u00e9igthe. Beidh na scoileanna agus na clubanna CLG d\u00fanta d\u00e1 r\u00e9ir de dheasca nach bhfuil aon dream ag teacht isteach. T\u00e1 tithe samhraidh sna ceantair seo, agus b\u00edonn siad ar d\u00edol. Ba ch\u00f3ir go mbeadh strait\u00e9is ag an gcomhairle, ag an St\u00e1t n\u00f3 ag \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta na tithe seo a cheannach lena gcur ar an liosta tithe s\u00f3isialta n\u00f3 inacmhainne le ligin do theaghlaigh bogadh isteach sna ceantair sin. N\u00ed hamh\u00e1in go bhfuil g\u00e1 le tithe nua a shol\u00e1thar agus na cinn at\u00e1 tr\u00e9igthe a chur ar ais in \u00fas\u00e1id, ach n\u00ed m\u00f3r d\u00fainn na tithe samhraidh at\u00e1 ar d\u00edol faoi l\u00e1thair a aistri\u00fa ina dtithe teaghlaigh. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  T\u00e1 muid go l\u00e9ir le ch\u00e9ile air seo. Is \u00e9 sin an f\u00e1th nach ndeachaigh muid i gcoinne an r\u00fain mar t\u00e1 s\u00e9 t\u00e1bhachtach go bhfuil guth l\u00e1idir sa D\u00e1il seo faoi thith\u00edocht sa Ghaeltacht. T\u00e1 muid ag oibri\u00fa uirthi. T\u00e1 a l\u00e1n freagra\u00ed ann, agus t\u00e1 s\u00e9 sin t\u00e1bhachtach. Bh\u00ed cruinnithe agam leis na pr\u00edomhfheidhmeannaigh sna h\u00fadar\u00e1is \u00e1iti\u00fala. Chuir m\u00e9 br\u00fa orthu agus chuir m\u00e9 an sc\u00e9al seo os a gcomhair leis na sonra\u00ed sin a fh\u00e1il. D\u00e9anfaidh m\u00e9 obair eile maidir leis na sonra\u00ed at\u00e1 leagtha amach ag an Teachta \u00d3 Snodaigh faoi na scoileanna at\u00e1 faoi bhr\u00fa sna ceantair Ghaeltachta. D\u00e9anfaidh muid staid\u00e9ar air sin le feice\u00e1il m\u00e1 t\u00e1 su\u00edomh in aice l\u00e1imhe ina mbeidh muid in ann ruda\u00ed a dh\u00e9anamh. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 thar a bheith t\u00e1bhachtach go bhfuil an infreastrucht\u00far sin iontu, lena n-\u00e1ir\u00edtear infreastrucht\u00far oideachais, sp\u00f3irt agus saoil do dhaoine sa Ghaeltacht. T\u00e1 muid, mar Rialtas, tar \u00e9is infheist\u00edocht mh\u00f3r a chur i scoileanna. T\u00e1 muid d\u00edrithe air seo. Beidh muid i dteagmh\u00e1il leis an gcoiste tar \u00e9is na C\u00e1sca mar caithfidh muid na c\u00e1il\u00edochta\u00ed a ligfeadh do dhuine teach a th\u00f3g\u00e1il sa Ghaeltacht a phl\u00e9. N\u00ed m\u00f3r d\u00fainn na caighde\u00e1in teanga agus c\u00farsa\u00ed mar sin a phl\u00e9. T\u00e1 muid ag s\u00fail leis sin a phl\u00e9 leis an gcoiste. T\u00e1 muid ag oibri\u00fa air seo. T\u00e1 muid ag oibri\u00fa go d\u00edreach agus t\u00e1 m\u00e9 ag cur an-bhr\u00fa ar mo chomhghleacaithe Air\u00ed. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"C\u00farsa\u00ed Tith\u00edochta"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_5","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Fuel Poverty","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_2","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_5","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_5.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  T\u00e1 m\u00e9 ag t\u00f3g\u00e1il na ceiste seo thar ceann an Teachta O\u2019Reilly. I am taking this question for Deputy Louise O'Reilly. It is to ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the way in which he intends to assist rural communities, both households and local civil society organisations, amidst rising oil prices and general trends indicating a rise in energy poverty, and if he will make a statement on the matter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I thank Deputy McGuinness for raising this question.  We are very aware of rising energy costs, which are being driven by the global uncertainty caused by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. These are affecting everybody in society, including communities and civil society organisations. This week, the Government agreed on a \u20ac250 million package to alleviate the impact of the rise in energy costs caused by this conflict. These measures, which include measures administered my other Department, the Department of Social Protection, will assist those most in need of financial support.  As regards the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, significant levels of financial support are currently being provided by Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, to community organisations under a number of different programmes and schemes. With a budget estimate for the Department totalling \u20ac611 million, funding of \u20ac260 million is available for community development programmes in 2026. A particular focus of community development is to support marginalised and disadvantaged communities and those who are most likely to be hit hardest by rising energy costs. An allocation of \u20ac74 million is being provided to the social inclusion and community activation programme, SICAP, and other social inclusion measures in 2026.  The community services programme, CSP, currently supports the delivery of 445 local services via 426 organisations, and we have announced new funding for CSP this year. The scheme to support national organisations, SSNO, currently provides multi-annual funding towards core costs of 82 organisations that address poverty, social exclusion and promote equality. The local enhancement programme, LEP, is providing small grants to community groups to enhance their facilities, with supports available to community centres, local development associations, social clubs, senior citizen groups, men\u2019s and women\u2019s sheds.  The financial package introduced by the Government will reduce the pressure being experienced by households and communities. At present we do not have any plans at present to introduce additional funding supports for community and voluntary organisations but we continue to monitor the situation very closely. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  On the package of measures announced this week, the general consensus among the public, and certainly on this side of the House, was that it was much too late and far too little. It does not go anywhere near the kind of intervention needed in our society at present, in light of the current crisis and illegal war in the Middle East and the ensuing increase in fuel and energy costs but also in light of the broader context of increasing energy poverty and an increasing cost-of-living crisis. It does precious little for households across the State but many of these crises are being felt particularly in rural communities.  The dependence on diesel and petrol for transport is more pronounced in many of these communities, and there is a particular dependence on home heating oil in rural communities. The fact home heating oil was not included in that package of measures in any meaningful sense has left people agog and deeply disappointed as well as angry.  I will put an additional question to the Minister. Will the fairly mean extension of the fuel allowance be paid out as a lump sum or will that be paid out on a weekly basis? People really want to know if that will be cause for intervention in a meaningful way in their lives. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  There was consensus on the vote and Sinn F\u00e9in was the only party to oppose the reduction in excise duty. Every other party in the House supported it. A total of 467,204 people will get fuel allowance and there is an extension of four weeks. That is an investment of \u20ac71 million. The majority of the recipients of the fuel allowance payment live in rural counties. That is \u20ac152. My understanding, which I will clarify for the Deputy, is that it will be paid weekly. We want to get it to people as quickly as possible. That \u20ac152 extra will make a difference and will bring in fuel allowance season right to the week ending 1 May. There was a \u20ac5 increase this year as well.  For the first time, just under 50,000 families in receipt of the working family payment will also get the fuel allowance. Again, the working family payment is right across the country, including in rural Ireland.  We have said we will keep the position under review. Were we to adopt Sinn F\u00e9in's position and react to every crisis by throwing cash at it, we would not have the capacity to deliver, keep things under review and put further investments in if this situation in the Middle East continues. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  Some 750,000 people are dependent on home heating oil. Many hundreds of thousands of families are already in significant energy arrears with bills. People are going cold and rationing heat and electricity in their own homes because of the wider cost-of-living crisis that existed before the war against Iran. This is the reality the proposals and the measures are not tackling and not facing up to. Nobody would criticise \u20ac152 extra paid out over four weeks to bring people up to May but it is not nearly enough. It does not address all those not receiving fuel allowance who are struggling and does not come anywhere near addressing the huge backlogs and arrears that people are in. We need to see more action.  On the community civil society organisations, many are already struggling. I was talking to SICAP and LEADER companies yesterday. They receive no core funding to implement those programmes, so they are already pinned to their collars in terms of overheads and costs to keep themselves running. It is putting those programmes and the myriad of other schemes, projects and programmes they operate in real jeopardy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  In relation to the LEADER companies, I assure the Deputy that they have substantial administration budgets. We are working with them closely to make sure they invest it. As I said, we continue to monitor the position and we will continue to do that. We can do that because we have a strong economy. We can do that because we have made decisions that are sensible and evidence-based over many years. The \u20ac250 million investment is one of the biggest in Europe when we look at what is happening in the UK where they have invested, I think, \u00a335 million. This gives us a sense that we are doing this in a targeted way. Those 467,000 people are families on fuel allowance, and this makes a big difference to those families. For the first time, fuel allowance has been extended to working families. They are spread right across the country, in rural areas and in cities, and this is making an immediate difference. Our economic policies that are focused and ambitious mean we are in a position to put \u20ac250 million in at this point. We continue to keep the position under review. The Deputy\u2019s party\u2019s position is to throw money at everything. Were we to follow that position, we would not have the resources available that we have now. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Fuel Poverty"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_6","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Departmental Funding","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_2","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_6","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_6.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  I am taking this question on behalf of Deputy Peter Roche, who unfortunately cannot be here. His brother, Vincent Roche, passed away yesterday evening. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy John Paul O'Shea)  This is Question No. 4. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  Yes, I am taking it. It was originally a question put down by Deputy Roche. He cannot be here today because his brother passed away last night. I extend my sympathies to the family at this sad time. This question relates to the idea that we would have community assistance officers in local authorities to help community groups to apply for funding and short-circuit the administration and bureaucracy involved in making those applications and help them to get what they need for the local communities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  I join with Deputy Ward in sending our condolences to Deputy Roche. I thank the Deputy for taking the question.  Our Department's mission is to promote rural and community development and support vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities throughout Ireland. A number of programmes provide funding for staff resources to engage with and support communities, including building their capacity to access Government funding schemes. The social inclusion and community activation programme, SICAP, is the State\u2019s primary social inclusion programme. It provides supports to disadvantaged communities and individuals to improve their life chances.  The SICAP initiative supports collective community engagement, providing direct supports to local community groups, LCGs, and networks. This includes developing their capacity to better engage with other groups, improve outcomes in their communities, and address social exclusion issues. In 2025, SICAP supported over 2,500 LCGs and networks in this way. Additionally, the empowering communities programme, ECP, enhances access to key services and supports communities to respond to area-based poverty and social exclusion. Community workers act as a local resource, as Members will know, including supporting groups with activities such as funding applications and administrative requirements.  Separately, our Department\u2019s LEADER programme is a community-led approach to local development delivered in rural areas across the country by a network of local action groups, LAGs. The funding provided by our Department supports eligible projects relating to community groups and rural businesses, and also contributes to LAG administration costs, in terms of the budgets there, as the Minister said, to support work such as engaging with prospective applicants regarding their application.  I assure the Deputy that work remains ongoing in our Department to look at the best ways to ensure that disadvantaged communities are provided with the support they need to underpin their sustainable development. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  I acknowledge what the Minister of State said about the amount of funding and supports there. The Minister of State and I know that Deputy Peter Roche, in particular, has done a huge amount of work in this area. He has worked particularly in the context of helping to support community organisations in his area. The difficulty he has identified, and other colleagues tell me they see it all over the country, is not a lack of funding, because there is a huge amount of funding there for the very communities the Minister of State mentioned, but a difficulty accessing it. Sometimes very bureaucratic and onerous processes have to be gone through. The idea behind this question is that there would be a community support officer in the local authority in the local area with the institutional knowledge and memory of how these forms need to be done, what systems need to be put in place and which boxes need to be ticked to ensure local community organisations get the most they can out of the SICAP funding the Minister of State mentioned and any of the other streams of funding available. The money is there. This is about ensuring that local organisations, which may not have a very strong organisational basis themselves, get every opportunity they can to access the funding and do good things in local communities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  The Deputy is right. The Minister and I are very much committed to making it easier for people and groups to apply, whether that is the local development group or the LEADER programme. I will be answering another question from Deputy Currie in a minute with probably the same replies. It is about working, in our case, with Pobal, as an example, to make it easier for people to apply and get that online guidance and support in the context of an application.  If I can use the phrase, there should be no wrong door in an application process. Having been involved in my own community association and GAA club and going through a myriad of funding applications, I fully concur with the Deputy that it should not be a complex process. If a process is started, it should not be necessary to go back to the beginning and start again. In many cases, applications should not have to be declared invalid. We should be able to work with and assist, as the Deputy rightly said, community and voluntary groups in respect of building their capacity to empower and enhance their own local areas. I look forward to working with the Deputy and Deputy Roche in putting in place an administrative pathway to make applying for grants easier. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  I welcome what the Minister of State said about there not being a wrong door. He is absolutely right. Applications should not be cancelled because of an administrative error or something like that. At the same time, we both recognise that this is public money, and there needs to be transparency and things need to be done right. That is important too.  Even in relation to what the Minister of State said about online applications, very often we are dealing with small community groups. There might be one person or a small committee involved in making the application, and it can sometimes be very onerous on them. The idea here is that there would be somebody in the local authority who knows exactly how the applications work, and who might be able to look at a group's application before it is submitted online or in paper format and advise the group where there might be a problem or where something might need to be changed, such as opening a bank account or whatever it might be. For example, many local authorities have officers who deal with European funding because of the same administrative and bureaucratic burdens on organisations in getting funding in this context. Is there a role for a community support officer to do the same thing in relation to national funding for community groups? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  I would make the point to Deputy Ward that we already have a range of programmes on the ground that provide support and offer dedicated staff access and a pathway for applications, whether this is for SICAP, ECP or LEADER. They are assisting communities and working to engage with funding and services. For me, and I know the Deputy is the same, a core feature of what we do is not just about providing support and capital investment but about ensuring we can strengthen local areas. The Deputy is right that there is the Government\u2019s piece and a transparency piece. For me, however, it must be about how we can help and assist community groups, as an example, to navigate and be aware of the different programmes. I think the local community development groups and the LAGs provide that kind of signposting and a roadmap. We will discuss further the question the Deputy asked, and the question Deputy Currie will ask in a second.  It is about ensuring we work with all groups to provide clarity but also that navigability should not be too complex. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Departmental Funding"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_7","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_8","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Rural Schemes","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_7","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_8.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Liam Quaide  How can the Minister of State ensure that funding from his Department is shared fairly across regions, especially in areas of major population growth? Is there any clear formula for matching that funding to population growth? I ask this with particular reference to Midleton and Carrigtwohill where major population increases are projected over the next decade, but where local amenities are plainly not keeping pace. By 2034, the population of Midleton is expected to grow by 100% from where it was in 2022, while the estimate for Carrigtohill is in the region of 172% in that 12 years. That is a doubling and almost tripling of the population of those two towns. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  I thank the Deputy for raising the matter. He is right that there is a complete need for clarity and certainty around the issue of funding. The community and voluntary sector is quite diverse and receives, as he said, financial support from a wide variety of Government agencies, including our Department. The Deputy has highlighted a growth population projection of Midleton and Carrigtohill, and it is important that from a whole-of-government perspective; while working with local authorities, we get it right. That is going to be the next big part of Cork that is growing.  The Government strategy to support the community and voluntary sector, Sustainable, Inclusively and Empowered communities, published in 2019, sets out a long-term vision for communities in Ireland and provides a strategic framework across government for engaging with the sector, as well as support for a range of programmes and initiatives. It included a commitment to promote multi-annual funding for community and voluntary organisations. Our Government is currently developing a successor strategy that will build upon the achievements, structures and programmes established under the previous strategy, while also responding to new challenges and contexts.  Across the community development area of our Department, funding of \u20ac260 million has been provided this year, consistent with that commitment and the strategy for the community and voluntary sector. The most significant funding programmes provide support on a multi-annual basis, including the social inclusion community activation programme and the scheme to support national organisations. Some \u20ac74 million is being allocated to the SICAP and other social inclusion supports this year, which also includes \u20ac12 million in support for community integration work, helping to support new arrivals into our country. The community service programme also supports 426 community-based organisations with a budget of \u20ac59.4 million last year to provide services through the social enterprise model. Our Department will continue to work with the Deputy and all stakeholders, including community and voluntary and representative organisations and local development companies, to provide sustained financial support to community organisations throughout the country. The Deputy\u2019s points are well made. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Liam Quaide  What people see in towns like Midleton and Carrigtohill is residential development moving ahead much faster than amenity provision. New houses are being built at pace and more families are moving in, but the facilities which are core to community life are lagging badly behind. There is a sense that many families describe of being in a town that is thriving but impoverished in respect of the most basic communities that matter families on a daily basis, such as youth facilities, playgrounds and skate parks. Does the Minister of State accept that if funding is not systematically matched to population growth this is exactly what happens? We get housing estate after housing estate but not the facilities needed to build a connected community. We get long, frustrating drives to other towns or even villages to have basic community needs met. In Midleton, for instance, we drive to Mogeely to use the playground. Can the Minister of State say his Department has any clear way of matching funding to population growth so that we have a predictable, systematic spread of amenities or will our towns and villages still be left to fend for themselves through piecemeal schemes? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  We as a Department and Government are committed to funding and working on a variety of schemes, whether through the community central investment fund which the Minister, Deputy Calleary is announcing a call later today on, or as we have done in the past, with the community recognition fund. The Deputy referenced the issue of the playground. We have the very proactive outdoor recreation investment scheme as well as the town and village renewal scheme and the rural regeneration and development fund. We work as a Department with Cork County Council but also with Avondhu Blackwater and the SICAP in developing the piece the Deputy referenced.  The key point for us is that it is about ensuring the allocation of funding delivers. Last year we provided almost \u20ac12 million in financial support for Cork and I can give the examples of MyPlace Midleton and the Cork Cloyne Diocesan youth services, and I can quote a myriad of other examples as the Deputy knows quite well.  His point is that we must ensure that at the very heart of what we do is people, place and giving people that sense of buy-in to their local community. It is about ensuring we work collaboratively to develop not just housing estates, which are very important and necessary, but a community where people can put down roots. We can have the piece the Deputy referenced coming off that as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Liam Quaide  Under the current disjointed system, families are having to spend years campaigning for basic amenities. They are being forced to become fundraisers, social entrepreneurs and project managers trying to patch together one disconnected grant after another while their town or village expands around them, and their children often outgrow the project before it is finally delivered, as in the case of playgrounds. That is not a serious way to provide basic amenities. Like so much about public service delivery, it is not fair, strategic or timely. These amenities need to be planned as part of the development of a town or village.  In towns like Midleton and Carrigtohill, housing and population are growing quickly but local provision is lagging far behind. Does the Minister of State accept that the stop-start piecemeal approach is not working? Will he commit to a clearer, fairer system - a more integrated way of funding in order that when population growth is projected, the amenities needed for community life are planned in line with it and not dependent on the remarkable innovation and drive of particular community groups? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. There is no doubt that it takes local action groups to work and get things moving, but there is a county development plan as we know well that sets out the blueprint and roadmap for investment. Everything the Deputy has spoken about this morning in terms of provision of playgrounds, community centres, you name it, the Minister, Deputy Calleary and I are very committed to. We have met with a variety of organisations in terms of demographics and projecting future needs and is critically important that we as a Department and as a Government continue to invest. That is why we have programmes such as CL\u00c1R, LEADER and the community centres investment fund, CCIF.  I make the point that it is incumbent on the local authority as the lead agency on the ground working with the development companies to deliver and put in place that blueprint and road map. As I said in reply to Deputy Rice earlier, I got involved in politics because we had no library in Bishopstown. There will always be local activism but leadership needs to be provided by the local authority and Government. In our case, we are providing the funding and working with the council. I look forward to continuing to work with the Deputy in delivering because he is right that Carrigtohill and Midleton are pivotal to the development and growth of our county. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Rural Schemes"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_9","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Tourist Accommodation","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_7","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_9.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  I am taking this question on behalf of Deputy Carthy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  The Deputy is a super sub today.  Under my Department\u2019s rural development investment programme, a range of schemes provide capital funding with a focus on the economic and social development of our rural areas. The schemes do not, however, include a specific focus on the provision of hotel accommodation. A limited number of projects have been supported by the rural regeneration and development fund, RRDF, and the town and village renewal scheme, which have seen short-stay accommodation facilities included, as part of a wider, multifunctional project. Similarly, while LEADER does not generally support hotel-based projects, it has supported projects related to tourist accommodation, for example, through support for glamping projects and other tourism-focused initiatives.  In all cases in terms of funding, many of those tend to be towards community, co-operative-based initiatives. More widely, the sustainability of rural businesses including tourism and hospitality is clearly enhanced by the provision of public and community infrastructure. The funding made available by my Department through a range of schemes such as RRDF and the outdoor recreation infrastructure\u00a0scheme, ORIS is clearly having positive impacts in this regard.  At cross-governmental level, responsibility for business enterprise and tourism resonates with my colleague, Deputy Burke, Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment. This includes responsibility for the national tourism policy statement, A New Era for Irish Tourism, which was published in December 2025 and sets out the Government's long-term approach to the development of tourism. I can confirm as part of my Department's ongoing work developing the successor policy to Our Rural Future, my officials are engaging with the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment in respect of its remit.  My officials are engaging with the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment in respect of its remit. The next iteration of Our Rural Future will include a focus on both rural tourism and rural enterprise generally. Work on the development of the policy is ongoing. It is drawing on a wide-ranging consultation process and I hope to be in a position to publish it before the summer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  It is very welcome that this issue is under consideration and forms part of the Minister's engagement with the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment. This issue is impacting rural communities in particular. The lack of tourist accommodation, be it hotel, hostel accommodation or other kinds of accommodation such as glamping pods, is hampering economic development and economic diversification in rural areas that come under the remit of the Minister. It is also adding to the rural housing crisis that is of concern for many Departments. It is of concern to all of us here in the House but it has a particular resonance with the Minister's responsibilities. The move to short-term lets because of the absence of suitable hotel accommodation in many areas is having a disproportionate impact on those rural and coastal communities that are already under huge housing pressure. I am thinking of Gaeltacht areas such as Ardmore in my constituency. The measures that were announced a number of weeks ago to address the mushrooming of short-term lettings do not cater for towns such as Dungarvan and Tramore that are under the 20,000 threshold. We need to see action on this. I welcome that there is an understanding of the seriousness of the situation but we need to see action. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  We want to try to promote enterprises and improve and promote the attractiveness of rural areas so we have developed the specific outdoor recreation infrastructure scheme. This is one of the schemes for enhancing the attractiveness of trails and of visitor attractions that in turn make a rural area more attractive or more feasible for hotel investment. Since 2020, we have invested \u20ac110 million in over 1,300 outdoor recreation projects across the country. Through LEADER, we invested over \u20ac52 million across the country, and over \u20ac9 million of that was invested in tourism-related projects and rural tourism and recreation projects.  We are having discussions with the Department of tourism in the context of the preparation of the next Our Rural Future. F\u00e1ilte Ireland has a very strong capital programme to role out at major visitor attractions. For instance, in the Deputy's constituency, the Waterford greenway is seen as the standard for greenways nationally. That has probably opened up a huge number of opportunities in the more rural parts of his constituency. That is the kind of thing we want to do. The investment in infrastructure opens up the investment for enhancement and attractiveness for tourism investment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  The Minister is right that the attractions are there. The greenways are of really high standard and the greenway in Waterford is a classic example. Unfortunately, the availability of tourist accommodation has not kept pace. On top of that we also see the use of tourist accommodation, and particularly hotels, for the State's responses to the various refugee crisis over the years. The Minister for justice has signalled a move away from that approach in the coming time. There is a concern, however, that many of the hotels that have been used will not return to tourist accommodation. There are examples of that in Dungarvan and in other areas. There has also been no recognition for the economic impact of the loss of tourist accommodation. We have the community recognition fund, for example, and many great things have come from that scheme, but there is no similar scheme to address the enterprise loss or the difficulties that have been experienced because of the loss of tourist accommodation. Perhaps it could be a conversation worth having between the Minister and the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Deputy Peter Burke, to see if a similar scheme could operate on that basis that would somehow support this tourist accommodation coming back on stream when possible to do so, and that there would be some recognition for those tourism operators and people operating in that space who have lost business over the last years. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I agree with the Deputy. In our engagements with the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment we are looking at how we can maximise it. Deputy McGuinness referred to making an area more attractive as tourism accommodation comes back on stream. I do not see the Department getting involved in investing in commercial hotel projects. I would not like to create an expectation that there will be that kind of investment. Many hotels have reinvested the proceeds they received under the various international protection contracts back into facilities. What we will do is invest in the community-led infrastructure that makes it attractive for an operator to invest. I am looking and I am interested. We have a number of projects that are community-led and community co-operative-led. The Deputy mentioned glamping. We are looking at that kind of process, which might work in terms of social enterprise in the more rural areas. I am certainly anxious to do more in that space around community-led tourism projects and community-led tourism conservation projects. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Tourist Accommodation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_10","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Community Development Projects","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_7","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_10","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_10.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Currie  The Minister and the Minister of State will both be familiar with this question because I have met them previously. When it comes to funding streams and Dublin West, our Dublin 15 villages are too big for the likes of town and village renewal scheme or are too small for the urban regeneration and development fund, URDF. I would like an update on our discussions on that please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I thank the Deputy for her question and her ongoing interest in this area. In line with commitments in Our Rural Future, my Department supports a wide range of strategic capital investment schemes, ringfenced under the rural development investment programme, to transform rural towns and villages, making them thriving places to live, work, raise families and build enterprises. These schemes include the rural regeneration and development fund, LEADER, and the town and village renewal scheme. The scheme was introduced in 2016. It is designed to rejuvenate rural towns and villages throughout Ireland. Since the launch of the scheme, more than \u20ac210 million has been allocated to over 1,900 projects. While applications for towns with populations of up to 15,000 people are accepted in certain circumstances, the scheme specifically targets funding at rural towns and villages with populations of less than 10,000. I am anxious to ensure that the design of schemes such as the town and village renewal scheme ensures that we are using available funding in the most efficient and effective manner. With this in mind, the terms and conditions of each scheme are reviewed each year. In advance of the launch of the next iteration of the town and village renewal scheme, I will examine the approach to eligible towns, including smaller villages in the Dublin West region as referenced by the Deputy.  I also of note that, under the umbrella of the town centre first policy, funding is also available to local authorities to support larger and more urban settlements. This includes the Thrive scheme and the towns and cities regeneration investment fund, which was recently announced by my colleague the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. This fund, which is currently open for applications from those towns with populations of over 9,000, builds on the success of the previous URDF.  We have also been in a position to fund some of the rural parts of Dublin, in Fingal in particular, through the town and village scheme and through the outdoor recreation investment scheme, ORIS. I would be happy to engage with the Deputy, with South Dublin County Council and with our colleagues in Fingal County Council around how we are able to do that and the kinds of projects that we fund, which goes back to our previous discussion on enhancing town centres . "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Currie  I thank the Minister and the Minister of State genuinely for engaging with me on this because I feel they understand the challenge we have. Our Dublin 15 villages are falling between two stools. I am talking about villages like Castleknock, where the Minister was yesterday for which I thank him, along with Clonsilla, Blanchardstown, Mulhuddart and Corduff. These are distinct communities. They are not just traffic through ways and they are not just part of urban sprawl. They want to support their businesses, they want to protect their heritage and they want to promote their village centres. What we are really lacking is that place-making ability for these villages that do have their individual sense of identity. When we support businesses and bring footfall into villages it contributes to that sense of community. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I agree with the Deputy. While the primary focus of the rural development scheme is going to remain on rural areas we have funded projects in Fingal and in south Dublin under the outdoor recreation scheme. Under the town and village scheme in Fingal, we were able to fund the development of new walking and cycling facilities and associated streetscape enhancement measures.  In Balrothery, Donabate, Rush and Ballyboughal we approved over \u20ac218,000 for village centre seating enhanced public lighting and the creation of a wayfinding strategy to include a new Fingal camino route. Where local authorities in Dublin engage with us and with the ethos of the schemes we are more than happy to engage with them. Given that Castleknock is in the Fingal area, there is huge potential particularly in the more rural parts of Dublin West, of which there are some. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Currie  Those villages are entitled to apply under the town and village renewal scheme but our villages in Dublin 15 currently are not. I will touch on what our communities are doing. The Castleknock business forum was set up at the beginning of last year. The members have done a survey that points to traffic issues. They are diagnosing the problems but do not have the funding to come up with the solutions and to activate those. In Corduff, we have just launched a standard 2 report about place-making, and 146 residents and organisations took part. Again, the problems are being identified but we need the funding stream to activate the solutions. Fingal County Council is totally on board with what I am bringing to the Minister's attention. It realises there is a problem. It will facilitate our villages in Dublin 15 like Blanchardstown and Castleknock with a town centre first health check, but it brings us back to the same issue. If we do not have the specific funding streams like the town and village renewal scheme, then we are not being given the same opportunities to activate those solutions to bring people into the village, promote village life and give them that identity and the place-making they truly deserve. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  The more the Deputy can engage under town centre first principles, the stronger the case, and we will work with her. The Minister of State, as a Deputy in a city constituency with similar villages, is strong on this. Working collectively, we will work with the Deputy, Fingal County Council and our colleagues. If it can be done under the town centre first principles, something we align funding to in a lot of rural areas, the more it can be done with community ownership. I welcome the initiatives undertaken in Castleknock and the other areas. If there is community ownership rather than it coming top down from the local authority or from this House, then all the better. We will engage with the Deputy. We are currently reviewing the town and village renewal scheme for 2026. It will more likely be a 2027 initiative, but we will engage with the Deputy on it. I point her and the groups she is working with to some of the good work being done in rural parts of Fingal to get examples of protecting traditional villages amidst the growth of the city. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Community Development Projects"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_11","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Rural Schemes","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_7","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_11","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_11.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  The rural regeneration and development fund is the major capital investment programme to support large-scale ambitious projects to achieve sustainable economic and social development in rural areas. To date, the fund has allocated over \u20ac614 million to 273 projects across the country, which includes over \u20ac43 million since 2018 allocated to 27 projects located throughout County Cork. These projects are being delivered by the local authority and other publicly funded bodies including our local development companies and \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta.  Ten of the 27 projects have been completed in County Cork to date. Examples include the first phase of the Kanturk regeneration plan and the Ballydesmond village public realm and place-making enhancement project. There are 17 active RRDF projects, which includes four projects in Castletownroche, Crosshaven, Skibbereen and Fermoy, which were successful in the latest category 2 call for proposals announced in October 2025. Last month, we were delighted to announce a call for proposals for category 1 applications. This call will focus on strategic, large-scale build projects that are ready to commence. These projects must have a lasting impact on the towns and villages and deliver on the objectives of Our Rural Future, which is our rural policy. We are inviting applications for well-developed proposals from our local authorities and other State-funded lead bodies that work in partnership with local communities and stakeholders. Full details of the call are available on my Department's website. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Paul O'Shea  I thank the Minister. It is great to see that more than \u20ac43 million has been invested in 27 projects across County Cork to date since 2018 when the RRDF came into existence. There have been many in my area, as the Minister of State outlined. The first one was the Kanturk relief road, which was funded many years ago in 2018 and 2019 and has provided a great opportunity for the town to enhance. It has allowed the new national school to open up and has allowed the lands across the relief road to open up to development. It has made a huge difference to the mart, which is located on that road. Likewise, in Ballydesmond in north Cork there is a fantastic public realm project and a pocket park being opened for the community. It was great to see former Deputy, Heather Humphreys there when she was Minister to officially open it. We look forward to the Minister, with the Minister of State, visiting many projects across Cork North West and the Cork county in the coming years. It is also important to outline that category 1 proposals are also coming up and there is no doubt projects will emerge from north Cork and Cork North West during that time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I thank the Deputy for that overview. I acknowledge that Cork County Council and the team that deals with our Department's delivery of projects, is one of the stronger performing local authorities. The delivery by our partners on the ground can be a frustration generally in relation to RRDF. It is not in Cork. To that effect, we are engaging with local authorities and delivery bodies around the country on delivery of RRDF projects. As we have an open call, the advice needs to go out. It is all very well preparing an application. We have been having the discussion this morning about the pressures of preparing an application. We also have to be able to deliver the application if it is successful. We are engaging with local authorities on that. We may have to make some tough calls on projects that have been on the books a long time. I have funding for counties such as Cork, which are hungry and anxious to succeed. I encourage every Deputy, particularly those in rural areas, to engage with the current call and with information programmes on that. There may be communities that want to engage in a major programme and the facilities are there to do that. I also thank the Deputy for his support and for the committee's support for these projects. It is important that we have cross-party support. We get that from the committee. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Paul O'Shea  It is great to see collaboration between the Minister's Department and Cork County Council and an acknowledgement that we are hungry for more. We will always accept more money when it is available. I am sure there will be applications for the category 1 call. I am sure the 17 active projects under way in Cork county will be completed as quickly as possible. I will mention one, which is the Charleville RRDF project. Over \u20ac6 million was allocated for that project and it is finally coming to the stage where we are starting the first phase of that shortly. I look forward to the Minister's continued engagement with his Department, Cork County Council and me as a public representative from that area to push that project forward. It is in a number of phases. There is a town centre refurbishment. There is public realm. There is allocation of public toilets and there is also a redevelopment of the courthouse in Charleville. It is a wonderful project for the town and the highest ever allocation for a town like Charleville to get \u20ac6 million from Government for community investment. We appreciate it and look forward to welcoming the Minister and the Minister of State when that project is in train. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  That is exactly the kind of project we want to do under the RRDF. It is a project that would not have been done previously and for larger towns of 9,000 plus, there is the URDF and its successor scheme. It is important that project is done in conjunction with the community and that there is community engagement in it. One of our challenges with projects such as this is that sometimes the communities may not have been involved at the outset and as the project rolls out, there can be challenges with parking spaces and other issues people need to be informed about. We have a significant investment in what we call our capital delivery team that works with local authorities to deliver on this projects. We also have our own quantity surveyor in the Department. That examines all of the applications to ensure the costings are adequate and relevant to the current market. We also have systematic engagement to ensure delivery. There is no point in the Minister of State and I announcing projects such as that in Charleville unless they happen. We will be with the Deputy in Baile Bhuirne in April for the opening of the Col\u00e1iste \u00cdosag\u00e1in campus, which is a significant investment. It also shows what can be done in rural Ireland with support from the RRDF and other bodies coming together. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Rural Schemes"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_12","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Community Development Projects","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_7","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_12","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Clendennen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_12.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Clendennen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Clendennen  I thank the Minister for taking this question. I ask him to provide an update on Offaly projects since the introduction of the LEADER programme. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I thank the Deputy for his question. LEADER, as he knows, is a community-led approach to local development that has been operating for just over 35 years. We marked the 35th anniversary of LEADER just last weekend. It was introduced by the EU under the then Commissioner Ray MacSharry. The programme has evolved through successive programming periods and in 2007 it was mainstreamed into the Common Agricultural Policy and became a key intervention within Ireland\u2019s rural development programme.  Since 2007 the total amount of EU and Exchequer funding allocated to LEADER on a national level has been over \u20ac876 million. Of this, the local action group in Offaly has received a total allocation of approximately \u20ac27.5 million. This total allocation is broken down over a number of programming periods with the most recent allocation in Offaly totalling \u20ac6.2 million in respect of the current 2023-27 LEADER programme. In keeping with the multi-annual nature of LEADER, all allocations are made at the start of each programming period and funds are drawn down from my Department as projects are completed. This approach ensures local action groups have the flexibility to manage LEADER support flexibly and in line with specific local needs. To date, 49 projects have been approved in Offaly under the current programme and I expect further projects to come on line as we progress through the programming period.  LEADER has a commendable track record in delivering locally driven projects that have delivered real benefits in Offaly and all across the country. I continue to advocate for a strong and well-funded LEADER programme. l am working closely with the Minister, Deputy Heydon, on the future of LEADER in the context of the CAP talks at the moment. I am confident the bottom-up approach of LEADER can continue to support valuable projects in Offaly for years to come. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Clendennen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Clendennen  I have seen at first hand, through applicants and through involvement in the LCDC how this initiative is so important to developing a county. I acknowledge Offaly Local Development Company for the work it has done to ensure the effectiveness of the programme. Offaly is one of the most counties in relation to LEADER. I also acknowledge both the Minister and the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, for their visits this year to Moneygall Development Association and the Offaly Volunteer Centre where they saw the progress that has been made under the likes of LEADER. Offaly Search and Recovery has got a new boat and St. Brigid's Boxing Club in Edenderry has got new solar panels. This is a critical funding model for rural areas. It provides an opportunity to advance and I emphasise that this should remain front and centre through the CAP negotiations as we take up the Presidency of the EU. It is something that needs to be protected and maintained for rural development. The important part it plays cannot be underestimated. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I agree with the Deputy. When the Minister of State and I visited Moneygall, the local development company put on a fantastic display. During the ploughing championships last year, it really showcased what LEADER can do across a county and the interventions it can make. On the future of LEADER, we are working, as I said, with the Minister, Deputy Heydon, and his Department. The CAP consultative committee includes my Department and other rural stakeholders. I am also engaging with Irish MEPs to discuss a range of issues. I encourage Deputy Clendennen and every other Deputy to engage with MEPs in their respective groups to ensure LEADER is properly funded within the next multi-annual financial framework. We are under no illusions. The CAP budget is under particular pressure given the competing demands. We must ensure, within those competing demands, that LEADER is progressed. It has a really strong basis. As I said, we marked 35 years of LEADER the weekend before last. The impact it has had has been transformative and we need to make sure we continue with it and it continues to grow. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Clendennen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Clendennen  I thank the Minister. Previous speakers have mentioned the likes of town and village renewal and rural recreation development funds. In many cases it requires an input from the local authority and the community. The likes of the local development company also need to get involved to fund the initial feasibility plans or design plans to ensure the projects are ready to progress to the next stage. We need to ensure we try to protect LEADER as much as possible. We probably need to look at exploring how we can identify the likes of EU funding officers in each local authority. If there is going to be a potential void on the basis of LEADER being impacted - I do not want to look at this in a pessimistic way whatsoever - there is an opportunity from an EU perspective to resource funding officers through local authorities or local development companies to ensure we are maximising our benefit. A study probably needs to be done to make sure we are maximising what is available from Europe and see if there is more potential to be gained from it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I do not disagree with the Deputy's analysis. That would be a good investment of EU funds. LEADER is not the only show in town. Since 2020 my Department has allocated in the region of \u20ac65 million in funding to Offaly. In 2025 alone we invested \u20ac1 million under the LIS, \u20ac1.2 million under the town and village renewal scheme, \u20ac1.4 million under the community service programme, \u20ac420,000 under CL\u00c1R and \u20ac440,000 under ORIS. We are investing \u20ac12 million under the RRDF to redevelop a site in Edenderry as an art space, community library and youth space. We were with the Deputy in Moneygall for the community centre investment fund investment of \u20ac1.8 million. It shows the impact of LEADER, which was the forerunner of many of these funding programmes. The important thing is it has community involvement. It is a bottom-up approach and it is important we protect that ethos. I reiterate the necessity of every Deputy being involved with their MEP colleagues in ensuring LEADER is prioritised in the MFF discussions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy John Paul O'Shea)  With the indulgence of the House, we will go back to Question No. 7. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Community Development Projects"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_13","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Sc\u00e9imeanna Taca\u00edochta","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_7","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_13","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_13.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell  Is \u00ed an cheist at\u00e1 agam ar an Aire n\u00e1 an mbeidh ard\u00fa ar an bhf\u00f3irdheontas do theaghlaigh agus col\u00e1ist\u00ed c\u00f3naithe Gaeltachta faoi sc\u00e9im na bhfoghlaimeoir\u00ed Gaeilge i mbliana. An mbeadh s\u00e9 in ann r\u00e1iteas a dh\u00e9anamh ina thaobh? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  T\u00e1 sc\u00e9im na bhfoghlaimeoir\u00ed Gaeilge \u00e1 riar ag mo Roinn ar mhaithe le tac\u00fa le deiseanna sealbhaithe agus saibhrithe teanga sna r\u00e9igi\u00fain Ghaeltachta do fhoghlaimeoir\u00ed, idir scol\u00e1ir\u00ed dara leibh\u00e9al, mic l\u00e9inn tr\u00ed\u00fa leibh\u00e9al agus daoine f\u00e1sta \u00f3 \u00e1iteanna ar fud na t\u00edre. Tagann an sc\u00e9im le cusp\u00f3ir\u00ed an Rialtais i leith na Gaeilge, mar at\u00e1 leagtha amach sa Strait\u00e9is 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge 2010-2030, agus is \u00ed an sc\u00e9im an pr\u00edomhbhealach ina dtaca\u00edonn mo Roinn le hearn\u00e1il na gcol\u00e1ist\u00ed Gaeilge.  Is ar na teaghlaigh Ghaeltachta a chuireann l\u00f3ist\u00edn ar fail don ch\u00f3ras a bh\u00edonn c\u00fanamh na Roinne d\u00edrithe, mar is iad na teaghlaigh sin cn\u00e1mh droma an ch\u00f3rais. Cuireann mo Roinn c\u00fanamh suntasach ar f\u00e1il ar bhonn lean\u00fanach faoi sc\u00e9im na bhfoghlaimeoir\u00ed Gaeilge agus t\u00e1 an taca\u00edocht seo \u00e1 cur ar f\u00e1il le tamall de bhlianta anuas chun tac\u00fa tuilleadh le hearn\u00e1il na gcol\u00e1ist\u00ed Gaeilge. T\u00e1 ard\u00fa ceadaithe ar an bhf\u00f3irdheontas a \u00edoctar le teaghlaigh Ghaeltachta agus col\u00e1ist\u00ed c\u00f3naithe a chuireann l\u00f3ist\u00edn ar f\u00e1il le roinnt blianta anuas. Go deimhin, anuraidh cheadaigh m\u00e9 an cheathr\u00fa ard\u00fa \u00f3 2022 ar an bhf\u00f3irdheontas nuair a d'ardaigh m\u00e9 an deontas aon-o\u00edche do theaghlaigh \u00f3 \u20ac13 go \u20ac14.50, agus an deontas aon-o\u00edche do bhr\u00fanna agus col\u00e1ist\u00ed c\u00f3naithe \u00f3 \u20ac9.50 go \u20ac10.50. Is ionann \u00e9 seo ar fad agus ard\u00fa 45% ar an r\u00e1ta f\u00f3irdheontais a \u00edoctar le teaghlaigh agus m\u00e9ad\u00fa i gcomhth\u00e9acs na mbr\u00fanna agus col\u00e1ist\u00ed c\u00f3naithe \u00f3 2022 i leith.  Anuas air sin ar fad, t\u00e1 ard\u00fa tagtha ar na tionscnaimh eile a cheada\u00edtear faoi sc\u00e9im na bhfoghlaimeoir\u00ed Gaeilge, lena n-\u00e1ir\u00edtear an sc\u00e9im DEIS Gaeltachta. Cuireadh maoini\u00fa \u20ac900,000 ar f\u00e1il don sc\u00e9im DEIS Gaeltachta in 2025. Is ard\u00fa suntasach \u00e9 seo ar an gciste DEIS Gaeltachta \u00f3 2024, le leithdh\u00e1ileadh de \u20ac400,000. T\u00e1 ard\u00fa tagtha chomh maith ar an bhf\u00f3irdheontas a \u00edoctar faoi na beartais sc\u00e9im Erasmus Gaeltachta. Leis na beartais seo, t\u00e1 muid s\u00fail le gach cine\u00e1l cabhrach a chur ar f\u00e1il do theaghlaigh sa Gaeltacht. Mar at\u00e1 leagtha amach sa chl\u00e1r Rialtais, leanfaidh m\u00e9 ag tac\u00fa leis an earn\u00e1il seo le linn th\u00e9arma an Rialtais. Mar is eol don Teachta, fuair m\u00e9 an t-ard\u00fa is m\u00f3 i mbuis\u00e9ad Roinn na Gaeltachta sa bhuis\u00e9ad is d\u00e9ana\u00ed. Rachaidh an t-ard\u00fa sin i dtreo infheist\u00edocht i sc\u00e9imeanna cos\u00fail leis an gceann seo. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell  N\u00edl a fhios agam an f\u00e9idir i nd\u00e1ir\u00edre labhairt faoi ard\u00fa de 45% \u00f3 2022 i leith nuair at\u00e1 ard\u00fa de \u20ac1.50 i gceist \u00f3n mbliain seo caite go dt\u00ed an bhliain seo. T\u00e1 a fhios againn go bhfuil mn\u00e1 t\u00ed ag streachailt cheana f\u00e9in agus go bhfuil \u00e9ileamh ollmh\u00f3r ar na col\u00e1ist\u00ed samhraidh seo. D\u00edoladh na sp\u00e1sanna sna col\u00e1ist\u00ed samhraidh i dtr\u00e9imhse de dh\u00e1 n\u00f3im\u00e9ad mar gheall go raibh an t-\u00e9ileamh chomh m\u00f3r sin. Muna bhfuil maoini\u00fa ceart ann do mhn\u00e1 t\u00ed, n\u00ed bheimid in ann daoine a mhealladh chun \u00e9 sin a dh\u00e9anamh. Mar gheall air sin, n\u00ed bheimid in ann an t-\u00e9ileamh sin a sh\u00e1samh. Is \u00e9 sin an rud at\u00e1 i gceist leis seo. Ba ch\u00f3ir d\u00fainn an maoini\u00fa at\u00e1 ag teast\u00e1il \u00f3 mhn\u00e1 t\u00ed a chur ar f\u00e1il. Tuigim nach bhfuil an tAire in ann na cinnt\u00ed seo a dh\u00e9anamh go d\u00edreach agus go gcaithfidh s\u00e9 an maoini\u00fa sin a fh\u00e1il ach, m\u00e1 t\u00e1imid d\u00e1ir\u00edre faoin sprioc 20%, beidh ar na daoine sin dul chuig col\u00e1ist\u00ed samhraidh. Beidh an t-\u00e9ileamh ag \u00e9ir\u00ed. Teasta\u00edonn n\u00edos m\u00f3 maoinithe anseo. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  T\u00e1 s\u00e9 soil\u00e9ir \u00f3n ard\u00fa a bh\u00ed ann anuraidh go bhfuilimid d\u00e1ir\u00edre faoi seo. T\u00e1imid d\u00e1ir\u00edre faoin 29,000 scol\u00e1ire agus beagnach 530 teaghlach Gaeilge a aithint. T\u00e1imid ag obair leis na mn\u00e1 t\u00ed agus leis na col\u00e1ist\u00ed. Anuraidh, d'fh\u00f3gair m\u00e9 sc\u00e9im aonuaire do theaghlaigh sheanbhunaithe chun tac\u00fa tuilleadh leis an gcostas chun trosc\u00e1n nua a cheannach. Is deontas suas le \u20ac2,000, n\u00f3 80% den chostas, a bh\u00ed i gceist leis sin. Fuair n\u00edos m\u00f3 n\u00e1 200 teaghlach an taca\u00edocht seo. Is sl\u00ed eile \u00e9 sin ina bhfuilimid ag cuidi\u00fa. T\u00e1imid ag staid\u00e9ar le haghaidh na bliana seo. Mar a d\u00fairt an Teachta, t\u00e1 suim mh\u00f3r sna col\u00e1ist\u00ed samhraidh. T\u00e1imid ag ceapadh go mbeidh 29,000 scol\u00e1ire ag dul chucu i mbliana. T\u00e1imid ag staid\u00e9ar \u00e9 sin. T\u00e1imid ag obair le CONCOS. Tuigim go m\u00f3r an br\u00fa costais at\u00e1 orainn. T\u00e1im an-d\u00edrithe ar an taith\u00ed sin a chosaint. Is taith\u00ed an-t\u00e1bhachtach \u00e9 do scol\u00e1ir\u00ed dul go dt\u00ed an Ghaeltacht agus a bheith ina gc\u00f3na\u00ed inti. T\u00e1im ag obair chun an taith\u00ed sin a chosaint agus a fhorbairt. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell  Imp\u00edm ar an Aire staid\u00e9ar g\u00e9ar a dh\u00e9anamh ar an gceist seo. In iarthar na h\u00c9ireann, t\u00e1 formh\u00f3r na ndaoine ag brath ar ola. T\u00e1 a fhios againn c\u00e9 chomh daor is at\u00e1 ola anois mar gheall ar an gcogadh san Iar\u00e1in. T\u00e1 na praghsanna sin ag ard\u00fa agus t\u00e1 s\u00e9 sin ag cur tuilleadh br\u00fa ar mhn\u00e1 t\u00ed, a bh\u00ed ag r\u00e1 cheana f\u00e9in go raibh n\u00edos m\u00f3 airgid ag teast\u00e1il. Chomh maith leis sin, t\u00e1 orthu brath ar pheitreal agus ar dh\u00edosal chun taisteal \u00f3 \u00e1it go h\u00e1it, rud eile a chuireann br\u00fa ar mhn\u00e1 t\u00ed. Imp\u00edm ar an Aire breathn\u00fa air seo go g\u00e9ar. Imp\u00edm ar an Rialtas ar fad breathn\u00fa air seo. T\u00e1 a fhios agam go dtuigeann an tAire c\u00e9 chomh t\u00e1bhachtach is at\u00e1 mn\u00e1 t\u00ed ach t\u00e1im buartha nach bhfuil an tuiscint ch\u00e9anna ag daoine eile ar bhord an Rialtais faoi c\u00e9 chomh t\u00e1bhachtach is at\u00e1 s\u00e9 na daoine seo agus an tsl\u00ed bheatha seo a chosaint m\u00e1 t\u00e1imid d\u00e1ir\u00edre faoin nGaeilge agus faoin nGaeltacht. Imp\u00edm ar an Aire labhairt leis na daoine eile ar bhord an Rialtais ionas go dtuigfidh siad c\u00e9 chomh t\u00e1bhachtach is at\u00e1 s\u00e9 seo. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  T\u00e1 tuiscint ag gach cuid den Rialtas ar c\u00e9 chomh t\u00e1bhachtach is at\u00e1 an taith\u00ed seo agus c\u00e9 chomh t\u00e1bhachtach is at\u00e1 an Ghaeltacht. T\u00e1 an t-\u00e1dh linn go bhfuil an tAire caiteachais phoibl\u00ed ina iarAire St\u00e1it sa Roinn seo. Tuigeann s\u00e9 c\u00e9 chomh t\u00e1bhachtach is at\u00e1 s\u00e9. Bh\u00ed s\u00e9 sin an-t\u00e1bhachtach agus muid ag iarraidh buis\u00e9ad na Roinne a ard\u00fa. N\u00ed fi\u00fa ard\u00fa m\u00f3r sa bhuis\u00e9ad muna bhfuil s\u00e9 \u00e1 chaitheamh ar an nGaeltacht. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 ar intinn agam \u00e9 a \u00fas\u00e1id chun infheist\u00edocht a dh\u00e9anamh, go h\u00e1irithe sa saghas taith\u00ed is fearr, is \u00e9 sin taith\u00ed shaoil sa Ghaeltacht le teaghlach Gaeltachta le haghaidh dh\u00e1 n\u00f3 tr\u00ed seachtaine. Beidh m\u00e9 ag obair le CONCOS ar an infheist\u00edocht sin agus ar an sc\u00e9im sin a chosaint. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Sc\u00e9imeanna Taca\u00edochta"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_14","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Departmental Schemes","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_7","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_14","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_14.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Burke  I know an announcement was made on this matter this morning. When will applications for the next round of the community centre investment fund open? Will it be for new builds or refurbishments? Will the Minister make a statement on the matter? I know he made an announcement on the matter this morning, but the issue is about new builds. Will the Minister give some clarification on that particular issue? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I thank Deputy Burke for his question. The community centre investment fund, CCIF, was introduced by the former Minister, Heather Humphreys, to provide high-quality community facilities that are available to all groups in both urban and rural communities. Through the CCIF, to date some \u20ac111 million has been allocated for the enhancement and refurbishment of existing community centres and the construction of new centres where such a need has been identified. This is an unprecedented level of investment but there continues to be a need for further investment. The programme for Government makes a commitment to do this. I am delighted to say that this morning, my Department launched the 2026 CCIF, which will support the refurbishment of existing community centres.  There are two categories of funding under the 2026 scheme. Category 1 will provide funding up to \u20ac25,000 and category 2 will provide funding of up to \u20ac100,000. The scheme will open for online applications at the end of May and all successful projects will be announced before the end of the year. I encourage any community group interested in enhancing its community centre to use the coming weeks to decide on its funding priorities and begin preparing its applications. To that effect, there are a range of resources available to assist potential applicants. There will also be a number of information sessions provided, the first of which will be held on 8 April. Full details of these resources, information sessions and the fund are now available on the Department's website.  In regard to new builds, we are currently trying to complete the programme of new builds that was announced in 2024. I hope, subject to budget allocations, to have a new-build allocation in 2027. Our priority at the moment is to complete the 12 projects that were announced in 2024 and we are working through that as we speak. There is such a demand for refurbishment. The indications we have to date are that some of the community centres that have had investment in refurbishment have seen activity levels increase by up to 90% and we want to continue to do this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Burke  I thank the Minister and accept that the announcement this morning was very welcome. I come from a parish where 11 acres were purchased 50 years ago, and we now have 45 acres of sports and community facilities involving the GAA, the rugby club, soccer facilities, a playground and a walkway. That has been developed over the past 50 years as a result of community efforts and with the help of sports capital grants. Likewise, in the area where I served as chair of a community centre in Blackpool, more than 40 organisations use the facility there, which is extremely important for the local community. Therefore, it is important to make decisions about providing refurbishment. The issue I have in regard to new builds is that there are challenges in Glanmire, which is a new town in real terms, with over 25,000 people. Likewise, there will be huge development in Blarney. The need for planning for proper community facilities is so important for those areas and that will involve new builds. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I know from speaking to those involved that one of the motivations behind the approach taken during Heather Humphreys' time in office was the need to help the exact kind of community that Deputy Burke has spoken about. There was massive development back in the seventies and eighties. Perhaps there are three of us in the Chamber who are old enough to remember AnCO. I will not say which three people I am thinking of. Through AnCO and through the skills of the people involved at the time, many community centres were built across the country in the seventies and eighties. When it became very apparent that they needed substantial investment in terms of energy and facilities, that was the initial intention of the CCIF. Some \u20ac30 million was then approved for 12 new community centres in nine counties. Eight of those projects have construction workers on site and the remaining projects are going through tender and design. I hope that, subject to budget, we will be in a position in 2027 - the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer shares this priority - to focus again on new builds and on new communities such as those referred to by Deputy Burke. It will be competitive. One of the biggest topics we hear about in terms of community centre investment is the need for new builds. We will have a very competitive process. New communities that do not have facilities and need the kinds of facilities that a community centre can give and the kind of hub that a community centre can give will be the focus. Subject to budget, I can assure the Deputy that will be the focus for the 2027 scheme. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Burke  In relation to new builds, a big challenge is sufficient land being set aside where a large amount of housing is being built. The planning authorities are falling down on this. I have seen this in the Glanmire area, for instance, where over 25,000 people live and a proper community centre has not been developed. Sarsfields GAA club has provided really good community support. Without it, there would not be a community facility in real terms. We need to do more forward planning on this issue. Likewise with Blarney, there are over 3,000 houses to go in there over the next few years. Land needs to be set aside now. There should be communication with local authorities to make sure that is part of the planning process. The Department cannot give the money if the land is not there to build the facilities on. Without those facilities, there is a huge gap in the community. When I was in Blackpool as chair in 1994 and 1995, I had 30 people employed under a community employment scheme in the community centre. There were huge challenges in employment there at the time. It made a huge contribution to the area. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I was out yesterday with Deputy Currie and the Minister, Deputy Chambers, in Castleknock at the community centre to see the work it is doing with community employment and T\u00fas. A community centre is not just a building; it is a hub and a magnet for activity. It is really the heart of activities. That is why we want to support the programme to ensure facilities are improved in existing centres as well as new ones. Some 190 CCIF projects have been approved in Cork since 2022. The Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach, the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, and I were in Rylane in December to see the sod-turning of a new build. I endorse what Deputy Burke said in relation to local authorities and their responsibilities particularly in areas that are growing. We had this discussion earlier, which the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, led. They should be identifying in their development plans space for recreation and community centre activities. We have the funding streams in place. They should work with us to do that. We will be happy to engage - we are engaging with local authorities. I praise what is happening in Cork with the proactive local authority working with us. We work with them to provide the funding. If they provide the sites, we work with them in relation to the funding. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Departmental Schemes"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_15","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Community Development Projects","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_7","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_15.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  The Minister will be aware of many community organisations around the country which focus on social exclusion. Are better supports available for them, conscious of the supports already available? Social exclusion is an issue that permeates society and has a massive effect. It is incumbent on us to deal with it. If we do not, it creates all kinds of other problems. Can we create greater supports and funding for those organisations? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  I thank Deputy Ward for his ongoing advocacy, targeting, commentary and genuine commitment to the delivery of community-led supports. He has raised this matter on numerous occasions privately and in the D\u00e1il. The Minister and I share the Deputy's view on tackling social disadvantage. The social inclusion and community activation programme, SICAP, is our country's primary social inclusion intervention programme, overseen by our Department. It is a national programme delivered in rural and urban areas by local development companies, LDCs, to help those in greatest need. SICAP supports people and community groups that face disadvantage providing targeted supports in areas such as employment, mental health, education and community engagement, improving quality of life for those facing social exclusion and inequality. The Minister and I are very much aware of the ongoing need. We are committed to the provision of supports and structures. That is why as a Government and we as Ministers in the Department were delighted to have secured an additional \u20ac1.5 billion in the budget this year, bringing annual funding for SICAP to over \u20ac50 million. We are also of the view that supports should be provided to staff of local development companies in local communities which use community centres as a hub. Our Department's CSP currently supports 426 community-based organisations with a budget of \u20ac59.4 million, an increase of \u20ac4 million from last year to provide 445 local, social economic and environmental services through a social enterprise model. We will have further news on the CSP in light of the programme for Government commitments later in the month. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  I thank the Minister of State. We in Ireland consider ourselves to be a fairly happy nation. Even the happiness index published recently shows that we are up there. Yet, report after report shows that loneliness in Ireland and other countries in the western world is growing all the time. Organisations such as men's sheds, community groups and church groups do amazing work bringing people together, avoiding social exclusion, providing a vehicle for people to communicate with each other and build networks and friendships which is important. Are they predominantly focused, as we live longer and better lives, on people in the older cohort? Is there more we can do for people in the younger cohort? We have pubs and cafes, of course, but they are not always the best place for people to come together. Will the Minister of State consider enhanced supports particularly for groups that deal with social exclusion, loneliness and isolation for younger ages groups? Is there something to be said for increasing supports in that regard? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  Deputy Ward raises an interesting point. Sometimes we miss that cohort of young people. Rightly, we focus on men's sheds, women's sheds, older people's social services and that integration piece. As we saw today in the announcement by the Minister, Deputy Calleary, of the CCIF, the community centre is the hub and the visible piece that leads to the ongoing delivery of integrated supports, which directly reduces social exclusion for older people, in particular. The Deputy made a good point. Perhaps working with the Ministers, Deputies Foley, Calleary and Naughton, we can look at a further model in terms of what we are already doing. Let us be honest - we need to listen and engage all the time. We have an ongoing conversation around online safety for young people but there is a piece in particular post-Covid where demand continues to grow in our Department, reflecting the complexity of life today in communities. I am open to the conversation around what structures and supports we can put in place for that younger age group, perhaps working at a cross-department level. The Deputy's points are very well made. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  I acknowledge all of the supports available already. The bodies that tend to be supported by SICAP funding and some of the other funding streams the Minister of State mentioned tend to be community organisations, which is welcome. In the context of what I was saying about the younger age groups, sports clubs also have a role, and they are successful, but they are not really in the remit of what the Minister of State has been talking about. I mention places where people can gather socially. For example, we know we have a problem with the nighttime economy and the availability of spaces for people to mix outside the pub culture. Is there any role for this kind of funding not so much for commercial supports but to facilitate the existence of caf\u00e9s particularly after 9 p.m., places where people can gather? I mention supports for them perhaps in the context of a sports club or another community group or organisation. Is that outside the remit of the Department or can it be considered? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  What Cork City Council has done on the nighttime economy with no-alcohol caf\u00e9s for young people is an example the Government as a whole must look at. Our Department has a variety of schemes and programmes that reflect the whole ethos of what the Deputy is trying to achieve. I am open in terms of eligibility criteria in the new call for applications under a variety of schemes, such as the CSP or SICAP, to looking at how we can broaden the remit while mindful that we do not have an infinite budget and will have loads of applications. We need to have a conversation as we emerge from Covid and in a new world around our attitudes to alcohol and online. What the Deputy is saying reflects a new Ireland. We must open to engaging and putting a new structure in place. I would be happy to sit down with the Deputy further and engage on that. I do not want to speak for the Minister but I am sure he would also be open to having that conversation.  We must look at how we can allow these young people to make a contribution and have them involved and engaged in our community networks and, as Deputy Ward said, not just forget them, think they are all being looked after and that they have migrated to an online space that is very difficult, truculent and complex. The points Deputy Ward has made are worth considering and I certainly look forward to further engagement with him on it. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 13 to 20, inclusive, taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Community Development Projects"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_16","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Social Enterprise Sector","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_7","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_16","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_16.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  We are almost two years into the implementation of the national social enterprise policy for 2024 to 2027 and a number of key milestones have been missed. What actions are being taken to ensure no further targets are missed? We have had engagement on this before and I have met SERI, a group representing a number of social enterprises in the State. It is about ensuring we have a framework that works. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  I thank Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa for the question. In July 2024, prior to my appointment, the Department launched Trading for Impact, the national social enterprise policy, which was developed in partnership with the social enterprise sector. It has five key objectives, which are to build awareness of social enterprises, help them grow their financial sustainability, contribute to the green transition, deepen alignment from local to international level, and improve our understanding of social enterprises and their impact.  A stakeholder engagement group was established in June 2025, including public and private stakeholders, to co-ordinate delivery of the policy. Three working groups have now been established to address social financing issues and gaps, increase participation in public and private procurement, and raise awareness and make their impact more visible. Through these structures, work is continuing to support and grow the sector. The Minister, Deputy Calleary, and I were pleased to secure \u20ac400,000 of additional funding through the Estimates process to support this work.  Areas of focus include a new Dormant Accounts Fund scheme to grow financial sustainability, which I expect to launch very shortly, and engagement with stakeholders, including the Office of Government Procurement, to increase procurement and sustainability for social enterprises through traded income. They also include phase 2 of a pilot voluntary quality mark for social enterprises to help build their visibility, and the census of social enterprises, which will be launched in the coming weeks, to better understand and support the sector and help to set the direction of future policy.  While there was some delay in commencing implementation of the policy in late 2024, and I remind Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa that there was an election and a Government needed to be formed, significant work has been undertaken since my appointment and that of the Minister. We are committed to seeing this policy delivered. I assure Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa that the officials in our Department and other Departments, in partnership with the stakeholders, are working to ensure that all of the actions will be implemented over the lifetime of the policy. Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa mentioned SERI and I congratulate the former Minister, Richard Bruton, on his appointment as chair of SERI. We look forward to working with him to further develop the issue Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa has outlined. I have met many social enterprise groups since I became a Minister of State and I can tell Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa that I am very excited about this sector. I look forward to working with him to see it succeed further. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I accept there was a busy period in 2024 but work has to continue through the public service, the Civil Service and the Department. I will take on board the Minister of State's commitment to delivering on these targets because it is absolutely necessary. I assume from what he has said that he will have, and I hope there will be, engagement with SERI. I was approached on the fact that it had a number of questions. It is looking for an ecosystem where social enterprise can flourish, from local start-ups to those that have a capacity for international expansion. At the minute, they cannot access enterprise supports through LEOs, Enterprise Ireland or Skillnet. An amount of \u20ac340,000 per year is allocated to deliver 57 actions, which were set previously under the national social enterprise policy. Will funding be committed to the programme for Government seed fund? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  I look forward to working with Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa in this particular area. Since my appointment, when I assumed responsibility in this area, we have engaged extensively. I have visited and met many stakeholders and social enterprises. To say the least, I am absolutely excited by the work being done. The objectives will be met. The stakeholder engagement group has met and it has a programme of work. It is committed to engaging on this and engaging with us further. I assure Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa the officials in the Department are engaging with colleagues on this matter on an ongoing basis. Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa should feel free to raise any issues with me. It is important to recognise that the Trading for Impact policy was developed in partnership with the sector. It is about partnership, le ch\u00e9ile and working together. Implementation of this policy must be done in partnership for it to succeed. I look forward to the stakeholder engagement group continuing its work. It has met four times since it was appointed and it has established three expert working groups to provide recommendations and advice and to help it implement the individual actions under its remit. I look forward to working with Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa because this is a brilliant, breathtaking and refreshing area to be in. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Social Enterprise Sector"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_17","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Message from Select Committee","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy John Paul O'Shea)  The Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade has completed its consideration of the Arbitration (Amendment) Bill 2025 and has made amendments thereto. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Message from Select Committee"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_18","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_19","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Legislative Programme","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_18","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_19","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_19.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  This question has been frequently debated in recent months and years. The Government was elected on the basis of both parties committing to pass the occupied territories Bill, not a watered-down version of it. In any event, the progress we have seen on any occupied territories legislation has been quite halting since the election of this Government. When are we going to see that Bill on the floor of the D\u00e1il? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Helen McEntee)  I thank the Deputy for raising this question. He is right that this something we have debated and discussed many times, and not just the Bill itself but the ongoing devastating conflict in Gaza in the Middle East. That conflict has now, unfortunately, escalated and widened and is now including many more innocent civilians. Everything that this Government and the previous one have done and everything the people of this country have done has been with the sole intention of making sure we can bring about a lasting peace. It is about making sure that those innocent civilians who are impacted by this ongoing conflict are protected and assisted in every way possible and that we have a pathway towards a two-state solution. That is something that we all agree on here and that we all want to achieve. Whether it is the recognition of Palestine, decisions we have taken at European level, the humanitarian assistance that has been provided or progressing this legislation, every objective here has been to ensure a lasting peace and to protect civilians on the ground.  The Bill itself is not straightforward and we have always been very clear in saying that, given the need for any legislation to be implementable on the ground but also the fact that requests on the legislation and the possible scope of it have changed and varied. In June 2025, the Government approved the general scheme of the Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory (prohibition of importation of goods) Bill. The main purpose of the Bill is to prohibit the importation of goods into the State from Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, in line with the programme for Government commitment. Legally, the regulation of external trade in services is considerably more complex than is the case with goods at EU level. Obviously, the Oireachtas committee itself had done a body of work on this and had asked for this to be looked at. There is greater complexity when it comes to implementation than is the case when it comes to trade in goods.  The Government has received the Attorney General\u2019s advice on the question of whether the inclusion of services in the Bill is permissible under EU law. As the Deputy can appreciate, I cannot discuss here advice provided by the Attorney General to the Government but what I can say is that the advice reflects the very significant difficulties that going beyond our programme for Government commitments and adding a prohibition on services to the legislation would entail. Following detailed consideration by my Department, clarification has been sought from the Attorney General on a number of legal issues related to the advice provided and I expect to receive that very soon. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  My concern and that of a lot of people is that we are going to continue with this dance whereby the Attorney General sends something across to the Government, the Government looks for clarification, the Attorney General sends something back and we are at this slow-bicycle race forever. The urgency of this is very clear. For all of the talk of the ceasefire, the Board of Peace and so on, the situation on the ground is desperate. The Minister is quite aware, I am sure, that at the minute aid organisations are being restricted from going into Gaza and that settler violence is on a scale we have not seen in quite some time. Torture is being used. There is the appalling story of a two-year old child being tortured in front of his father with a view to extracting who knows what. There is talk of sexual abuse in forms of interrogation and many other appalling stories are coming out of Gaza, all because there has not been accountability. It is important that there is accountability.  There are actions Ireland can take. I would not overstate our influence but we should use what leverage we have and this is clearly one instance of it. We need to get this Bill onto the floor of the D\u00e1il and debate it. Let us have the debate on the amendments. We currently have no clear sense of when this is going to come forward and that is not acceptable. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I agree with the Deputy that what is happening is appalling. I fully agree that what we are seeing is appalling. The ceasefire is not a proper ceasefire. Over 400 people have been killed since then and proper aid is not being let in. I visited the area myself at the beginning of the year and saw that goods that are by no means, or could ever be described as, a threat are not being let in. Enough food is still not being let in. We are doing our utmost. Our focus, and my priority at the outset, is to ensure that aid gets in because that is the most immediate need. Parallel to that, we need to determine how we stop what is escalating in the West Bank. I fully agree we are seeing an increase in settler violence and displacement. What I also know, from talking to my European colleagues and from the actions we have taken in the past that have helped to lead us the ceasefire, albeit an imperfect one, is that we are most effective when we act in unison and work together at a European level. A number of European countries are progressing legislation and looking at what we are doing as well. We are engaging with them, and where we make movement together and where we are looking at legislation that can actually be enacted and be impactful, we can make a bigger difference. That does not mean we are not doing anything in the meantime. We are providing assistance and increasing our assistance in ways other countries are not. We are also calling at every opportunity for progress on the peace board, the board that has been put in place to try to develop and ensure that people on the ground are starting to see a normal way of life again. However, a lot more work needs to be done and I appreciate that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  The manifesto commitments were different from the programme for Government commitments but both Government parties had access to the Attorney General's advice at that point, which was that while it is challenging to do, there is no particular obstacle to acting on services as well as goods. The Minister talked about other European countries. Ireland is now but one of five that are examining this. One of those, Spain, has effectively completed the action and another, Slovenia, is quite well advanced, as I understand it. Spain has been able to bring services into the ambit of the legislation, albeit in relation to advertisements. The fact that Spain has been able to do that and that there have been much less successful infringement proceedings against the Spanish Government demonstrates that it is possible to do this under EU legislation that there is no obstacle to acting on services. What I want to know from the Minister, first and foremost, and I ask her to be as clear as possible, is when a Bill is going to come before these Houses. When are we going to be able to debate it and pass it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  In terms of the programme for Government commitment, it was relating to goods and we were very clear on that. The Oireachtas committee then asked that we would look at services and it is important that we engage with the committee and its recommendations on any legislation. That was the advice that was asked of the Attorney General and that was the advice that I received soon after coming into the Department, just before Christmas. Questions needed to be asked and those have been asked of the Attorney General. I expect to get a response from him soon. Once we have that response, we will progress the legislation. It is not the case that we receive a Bill and it moves straight into the Houses. There is always engagement with the Attorney General. I would again stress that where we have made real progress for people on the ground and seen the ceasefire progress and where pressure has been put on Israel and other parties, it is where we have worked together, not where one country has moved forward on its own but where we have moved forward collectively.  I agree with the Deputy that what is happening on the ground is appalling. It is not acceptable and it is not in line with the ceasfire or what has been agreed. In fact, when I met with colleagues in Washington from all sides of the houses, both Republican and Democratic, they all agreed that what is happening in Israel, and in the West Bank in particular, is illegal and is not appropriate and they want it to stop as well. We are all on the same page. The question is how we exert pressure and make progress? It is by working together, in unison. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Legislative Programme"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_20","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"United Nations","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_18","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_20","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_20.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  Staying with the issue of Gaza, I accept the Minister's point that we all want to work together and make progress towards peace but what we have now is Trump's odious, so-called Board of Peace, which is anything but that. Would the Minister and the Irish State support the calls from the Colombian President, Gustavo Petro, for states to invoke UN Resolution 377, the UN's uniting for peace mechanism in relation to Gaza? If we are to work together, the UN remains the best place to do that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I agree with the Deputy that the UN is the best place for all of us to work together and Ireland, as a member and a partner, will always stand up for and advocate for the UN and its structures. We understand how important it has been, not just in this conflict but in many conflicts and, most important, in its resolutions over decades. In relation to the uniting for peace resolution, Ireland will always take part in and be a part of any structure or grouping with member states that can provide a way forward. The resolution itself provides for an emergency session of the General Assembly to be called on matters where a lack of unanimity in the Security Council prevents action in relation to international peace and security.  Since 1997, there has been an emergency special session dedicated specifically to the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory. The fact that it has been resumed over 20 times since it was established, including on multiple occasions since the outbreak of the war in Gaza on 7 October 2023, is a reflection of the importance that the international community and the UN give to the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory. Ireland will continue to actively participate in this special emergency session.  It is important, however, to acknowledge what the uniting for peace resolution can and cannot do. The resolution itself does not create any obligation on the Security Council or any other body of the United Nations to act, nor is it binding on any UN member state. No effective mandates for action in the areas of peace and security can be created by the General Assembly. It is not possible for the General Assembly to authorise a peacekeeping mission, for example, as it would lack the robust mandate required for such a mission to function effectively. Nevertheless, as we have seen in relation to the situation in Palestine, the consideration of any issue by the General Assembly is an important and impactful opportunity for each member state, including Ireland, to speak in defence of the protection of the fundamental values of the United Nations, as we have done, and to outline the horrors that have been happening and continue to happen in Gaza. In addition to our participation in this, we take every opportunity to reiterate our support for that just and sustainable peace by always intervening. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  I thank the Minister. I am fully aware of the limits and obligations of the uniting for peace resolution. However, we are in a desperate situation. The ceasefire is Gaza is a ceasefire only in name. Bombardments continue. People continue to be killed daily. Aid continues to be blocked. Earlier this week, three planned UN convoys to collect supplies from the crossing had to be cancelled after the Israeli authorities informed the UN that only fuel would be let in that day. Most crossings into Gaza remain closed. Only Karem Abu Salem, Karem Shalom, is opened with some regularity. That presents a major bottleneck. Close to 20,000 patients are in dire need of medical care outside Gaza and cannot get out. Settler violence in the West Bank continues apace.  We are in a desperate situation. The UN is paralysed. The Security Council is paralysed. I know the General Assembly has been in emergency session but it is not pushing hard enough to provide some kind of alternative to Trump's Board of Peace. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I agree with the Deputy. My biggest concern is that the ongoing conflict in the wider region of the Middle East will take away our focus on our priority, which should be trying to find a way forward for the civilians in Gaza. We are, and I am, absolutely determined to ensure that will not be the case. At every meeting we have had, even where it related specifically to the ongoing conflict in Iran, I have raised the situation in Gaza and the need for us to make progress. I have raised what is happening in the West Bank. I have raised what is now, unfortunately, happening in Lebanon, where there is clearly an annexation happening in the south. I have said consistently that we need to do more.  While I believe that some progress has been made through the Board of Peace and the new board that has been established to try to bring about a structure in Palestine, it is not happening quickly enough. People are not able to get in. Many of them are still situated in Cairo. On top of that, as the Deputy has mentioned, in regard to the number of aid trucks and the amount of aid that is getting in, while my understanding from talking to ambassadors on the ground is that the situation has slightly improved, it is nowhere near where it needs to be. If we can, through the General Assembly and the UN structures, continue to raise these issues, we will. We need to do everything we can to bring about action. That is what we need. We need more trucks and openings and more progress on the Board of Peace. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  That is what I want. What is the Irish Government's position on the Board of Peace? Are we in favour of it? Are we backing this board or are we remaining silent and seeing what, if anything, it manages to achieve? It seems we are paralysed in terms of calling it out.  The Government needs to support Resolution 377 A at the UN. We need to pass the occupied territories Bill in full. Deputy \u00d3 Laoghaire articulated that clearly and eloquently a few moments ago. We must pressure the Israeli authorities to enable full, safe, sustainable humanitarian access and movement into Gaza and the West Bank with the complete opening of all border crossings. We must pressure the Israeli authorities to reverse the annexation and end the unlawful occupation of Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, with the dismantlement of settlements.  The UN Security Council is paralysed. Our voice has always been powerful in the UN. We need to bring it, as loudly as we can, to the UN General Assembly. I believe that although it is in a weakened position, it is the best avenue towards some kind of resolution. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  We have not joined the Board of Peace and have been clear in our reason for not doing so. We do not believe that any other structure should be mirroring the work of the UN at all. It is doing work with a particular focus on Gaza. That is why it was established. That was the UN resolution for which we and everybody else voted so that a structure would be put in place to support the redevelopment of Gaza and so that we could provide a clear pathway and future with a ceasefire for people on the ground. We support the structure that has emerged from the Board of Peace. What we really need is to ensure that the Palestinian Authority and Palestinian people are included in the work that is progressing. While they are not on the board in the way we want them to be, a number of structures have been put in place to try to ensure that they are consulted and engaged with, and that they are very much a part of any future that is decided. The problem is that it is not happening quickly enough. We have met the chair and those who are leading this. It is not happening quickly enough. As this conflict in the Middle East continues, we need to ensure that a focus is retained. At every opportunity that I have with my colleagues at the Foreign Affairs Council, that the Taoiseach has at the European Council and that my other colleagues have, we are trying to keep that pressure on to ensure that while work is progressing, albeit wholly imperfectly, we do more in terms of aid and access. We will continue to provide that. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"United Nations"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_21","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Ukraine War","counts":{"speechCount":9,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_18","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_21.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  In the four years since the start of Russia's appalling war of aggression against Ukraine, there has been a wide range of sanctions against Russian individuals and companies, and against the Russian Government. In recent days, we have, unfortunately, seen an easing of sanctions on oil and gas by the United States. I am sure that is something the Minister regrets. That move makes it all the more important that Europe maintains a robust approach to sanctions. It is remarkable that four years in, given the centrality of atomic energy to the Russian economy and the Russian war effort, the Russian atomic agency, Rosatom, has not been sanctioned. I want the Minister to raise the issue at the European level and encourage action. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  Ireland has consistently supported strong sanctions in response to Russia's illegal war of aggression in Ukraine, which, as the Deputy said, has been ongoing for more than four years. The sanctions adopted in response to Russia's actions in Ukraine are the most expansive and hard-hitting sanctions in EU history. Over 2,700 individuals and entities are now subject to EU restrictive measures. An unprecedented range of sectoral measures against Russia have been adopted, including measures targeting the trade, finance, energy, technology, defence, media and maritime sectors. These measures are agreed on the basis of unanimous decisions of the Council of the European Union. They are carefully targeted to ensure maximum impact on Russia while avoiding unintended consequences, including for civil nuclear safety. To date, the EU has negotiated and adopted 19 packages of sanctions, all of which we have supported and have been keen to see progress as quickly as possible. Work is advancing on the 20th package of sanctions, which we hope can be agreed soon. We have had challenges in that regard, but hope we can make progress soon.  Since the extension of sanction measures introduced in 2022, the question of restrictions relating to Rosatom has not received unanimous support from EU member states. This is a complex issue, and the reason it has not received that support is that it touches on the energy supply chain for a number of countries. That is a matter that has been taken into consideration for any of the packages that have been agreed in recent years. We have supported successive rounds of sanctions against Russia and will continue to do so under our Presidency because we know they are having an impact. The clear feedback from our Ukrainian colleagues, and from what we can see in terms of the economy in Russia, and other actions we have taken, is that the sanctions are having an impact. We will continue, however we can, to press for and ensure that no sanctions are eased off if there is no peace agreement or peace deal moving forward.  The other way we can provide support is by making sure we agree a support package and continue to support Ukraine. I again highlight the fact that colleagues in this House, including the Deputy, did not vote for a \u20ac90 billion package that was intended to support people in Ukraine at a time when they desperately needed it. Sanctions are one thing, but we need to ensure we are providing financial and defence support, and any other kind of support, to Ukraine. If any future vote comes up, I urge the Deputy to do the same. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  The Minister will be well familiar with our support for civilian, humanitarian and infrastructural aid. That has been the case for several years, continues to be the case and will be the case in the future.  I welcome what the Minister has said about the sanctions. The package continues to be worked upon. The issue of sanctions against Rosatom is a very clear priority for the Ukrainian Government, as was articulated by President Zelenskyy in mid-February.  He has called for sanctions, given the centrality of the atomic agency to the Russian economy and the war of aggression. The Minister talked about the issue of nuclear safety. There is also the issue that nuclear infrastructure has been targeted in a way that is very dangerous to the civilian population in Zaporizhzhia. There have also been attacks on the protective shell at Chernobyl. Obviously, that will cause a huge amount of concern for people, when they cast their minds to the potential ramifications of that, so that is all the more reason.  I appreciate this is agreed at European level. The Minister talked about countries being vulnerable in terms of the supply chain. Ireland is not one of those countries. There is no reason Ireland should not push it. Will the Minister commit to using her voice to specifically call at a European level for such sanctions? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  We have supported and will always support further sanctions. The Deputy can be assured we will continue to support any sanctions package that is brought forward. There are considerations that have to be taken into account. In this particular instance, there are very clearly concerns that have been raised by a number of member states in terms of their own energy security. Nonetheless, even with those issues, 2,700 different individuals and-or companies have been sanctioned. It has had a huge impact. We want to see that continue.  On the \u20ac90 billion package, we are providing humanitarian assistance. To date, Ireland has provided \u20ac492 million in support of Ukraine, including \u20ac198 million in humanitarian assistance and stabilisation. Ukraine is saying to us that is not just what it needs. Of course, it needs humanitarian support, but it needs defence systems. The only way Ukraine has been able to withstand this brutal invasion for four years is it has been able to stop drone attacks because of air defence systems. Europe and Ireland need to continue to invest in it. That is what the \u20ac90 billion was about. It was not just humanitarian aid or aid for Ukraine's critical infrastructure at a time when subzero temperatures were impacting people's day-to-day lives. The fact drones have stopped this war from ending on Russia's terms is because we are providing that assistance. I again urge the Deputy, if the opportunity arises, to support this type of funding. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  I say again to the Minister that civil, humanitarian and infrastructural aid is important. It should continue and Ireland should continue to support that.  I will raise the issue of Aughinish Alumina in County Limerick, which provides alumina. In recent days, a report in The Irish Times highlighted the fact that smelters supply aluminium to a Moscow-based trading company, which in turn supplies Russia's military industry. That is obviously a concern. The Russian smelters and Aughinish are owned by Rusal, a company with deep connections to the Kremlin and Moscow's arms industry. It is important, when we are considering how to ensure sanctions are effective, that issues like this are taken into account.  I will again ask the Minister specifically. She talked in generalities about the need to support sanctions. I agree with her but I ask her specifically, and I want a clear response in relation to this, whether it is her intention to raise the specific item of Rosatom, which is a priority for the Ukrainian Government. Will she specifically ask that this be included in the next package? That is not a difficult question to answer. I want a clear answer to that and not on the Government's support for sanctions generally. I am aware of that. I appreciate and welcome it but will she call for that specifically? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  Apologies; I thought I was clear. We have already supported that. However, there was not unanimity. My understanding is that will not change. We have already supported the progress of sanctions in all instances but there is not unanimity. It is not Ireland's choice at the end of the day. We are one of many member states. We have supported all the packages that have been agreed unanimously over the past number of years. We will continue to support and push for the twentieth sanctions package that is currently on the table. We know it is making a difference and having an impact. There may be more we can do. In the same way, as the Deputy mentioned, Aughinish Alumina has a significant role in supply chains across Europe, there are many similar pieces of infrastructure that have implications beyond the sanctions themselves for European member states. All of these have to be taken into consideration when any sanctions are being put forward. There was not unanimity when it came to this particular plant. I am clear on that----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  I ask the Minister to please clarify----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  -----but we are focused on the twentieth package. We have a package that we have been working on. We are focused on that and have been pushing for it. While we have not had success at the most recent Council, I hope we will be able to make progress. The sanctions are having an impact and are impacting on Russia's ability to continue this war. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy Nolan apologises that she cannot be here for Question No. 73. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 73 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ukraine War"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_22","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_23","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Dublin-Monaghan Bombings","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_22","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_23","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_23.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shane Moynihan  I have raised this question before in the House. It relates to the British Government's response to the State's ongoing request for full disclosure and access to all relevant documentation concerning the Dublin and Monaghan bombings of 17 May 1974. We had the summary report of Operation Denton in the past few months but there is still a general frustration, despite the multiple calls by this House for disclosure of all documents relating to those terrible events of 1974. Will the Minister make a statement on the matter? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I thank the Deputy for raising this. I know he has raised it on a number of occasions. We all agree there is no doubt that the families and survivors of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings have waited far too long for answers. We all want to get to that point for them.  The Government has long-standing requests in place to allow access by an independent, international judicial figure to all original documents held by the British Government relating to the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. These requests arise from successive all-party motions adopted by this House, which is testament to the continued importance placed on the maximum possible disclosure in the interests of providing truth to victims of these atrocities and their families. In that context, the delay in the publication of the full report of Operation Denton, a review of the Glenanne gang cases, including the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, which was expected last year, is extremely disappointing. I understand, however, that legal issues, in particular in relation to legal proceedings currently under way in Northern Ireland, have prevented that report from being published.  Officials from my Department remain in regular contact with the head of Operation Denton, Sir Iain Livingstone. They will continue to follow up on the publication of the full report. We hope the report can be published within a reasonable timeframe and that its findings may shed light on what happened on that absolutely awful day for those involved and their families. The publication of the report would also help to maintain momentum on our broader work on legacy, particularly in the context of the implementation of the joint framework, which was agreed last year by the two Governments, and where legislation is currently going through the Houses in the UK and the Minister, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan, is progressing legislation on our side.  What is essential and at the heart of getting truth for families is having that reciprocal co-operation. That is very much at the heart of the joint framework, which commits the British Government to provide \"cooperation to Ireland for investigations, inquiries and inquests\" in this jurisdiction. It is vice versa in that we co-operate in the same way. During any of my discussions with the Secretary of State, Hilary Benn - we have met on a number of occasions and he is absolutely committed to finding peace and truth for so many families - it is that culture where we have the most possible disclosure. This is essential for public confidence in finding truth. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shane Moynihan  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Aire as an bhfreagra sin. As she said, the Dublin and Monaghan bombings remain one of the single darkest days of the Troubles. Constituents of mine are members of the families of victims who lost their lives in those bombings. More than 50 years on, those families are still waiting for the truth. As the Minister said, this House has been unanimous in its multiple calls for full disclosure from the British Government. Yet, it is ironic that in the same week we had the discussion and debate on the Omagh bombing inquiry Bill, where we are making our contribution to full co-operation with regard to the discussion and discovery of legacy, the same level of co-operation is not as forthcoming with regard to the findings of Denton.  While the summary report was there, what we have seen from the likes of the publication of Kenova is the importance of disclosure and openness, and the allowance of closure for families where they can see what happened in the case of their loved ones. We will then look forward to understanding our shared history and, more importantly, building that shared future. Will the Minister raise this in her next engagement with the UK Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and push for full disclosure? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I will absolutely speak with the Secretary of State on this. The British Government is in no doubt of the desire, not just of this Government but successive Irish governments, to see the release of relevant documents to help the families of the Dublin and Monaghan bombing victims to get the truth of what happened to their loved ones. I and other Ministers have raised this regularly in our engagement with the British Government and our counterparts. At least nine letters have been sent over the past number of years specifically seeking this information. Again, the joint framework we are both working on agrees and commits to reciprocal co-operation. Once these mechanisms are in place, we will again pursue the information we have requested from the British Government.  The hope and anticipation was that we would get some of those answers through Operation Denton. We regret the fact that report has not been published. We are told the ongoing legal situation in the North is the reason it has not been published. If that can be resolved, the sooner that report can be published the sooner we can identify and get some form of clarity. If that is not provided, we will continue to engage with the UK Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shane Moynihan  As the Minister said, the findings of Denton and Kenova demonstrated the real and acute need for full transparency from the British Government, the importance of access to these records and the ongoing impact for victims' families, in particular, of withheld material on truth and recovery.  I also draw attention to the fact that in the resolutions from this House, we asked for an independent judicial figure of high repute to address and investigate the documents in question. I urge the Minister to ensure that aspect of the call from this House is also heard to build trust in this overall process and ensure we have confidence in the findings thereof.  I thank the Minister for her engagement with the Secretary of State on this matter so far. I urge her to continue to put that pressure on them and ensure they understand the importance of transparency, truth and of closure, especially. For many of these victims' families who are entering their senior years, they would like some closure and understanding of what has happened to allow them to look with hope to the end of their lives. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I thank the Deputy and he can be assured that I will engage with the Secretary of State on this. We have been very clear in setting out and making sure there was trust in our request and we asked that it would be an independent, international judicial figure who would look over this information and would receive the original documents. To date, we have not received them. The focus had been on Operation Denton to see what information would be provided in it. The information that emerged from the Kenova Report was quite shocking; in fact, it was appalling in many instances. It is important that the information that was provided there that has provided some clarity for people that Operation Denton will be able to do the same.  Everybody in this House is not just of the same view but we have the same objective here: how do we bring some form of clarity? I am not sure there will be ever closure for families given it was such an appalling tragedy that happened to them. However, there might be some form of clarity that can be provided so they understand and know what happened to their loved ones. That is our objective and it is my priority. I will continue to work with the Deputy and colleagues on that. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Dublin-Monaghan Bombings"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_24","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Trade Promotion","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_22","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_24.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Question No. 75 is in the name of Deputy James O'Connor and is being taken by Deputy McCormack. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  As the atmosphere grows here in Ireland but also out in Prague, I wish the Irish team and the management all the best as they try to qualify for the world cup. We all remember the previous competitions we qualified for and the pride it brought to our great country. I am back to the day job now so I would like to ask the Minister what progress has been made in implementing the market diversification action plan and the measures being taken to support Irish exporters in accessing new international markets? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  From what I have seen, it looks like half of the island has left without a ticket but I am sure they will enjoy the match either way. I wish best of luck to our team, of course.  The Government Action Plan on Market Diversification was developed jointly by my Department and the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, with input from other Departments and agencies. It was developed with input from the business sector, most importantly, through the Government trade forum as a direct response to helping Irish business diversify their markets globally. In particular, given the challenging and uncertain environment we are all working in, it is very much about deepening and strengthening our economic relationship with our core partners such as the US, UK and EU but also about exploring new and emerging markets, of which there are many.  It was published last August and we have already published the first implementation update, together with the two lead Departments. There is an implementation plan, which is led by a headquarters market team. My colleague the Minister, Deputy Burke, and I update the Cabinet committee on economy, trade and competitiveness and the implementation of the plan every six months. The first report was a very positive report in terms of work that has been carried out. To give an example, we have held a successful first joint economic mission with the United Arab Emirates. This was held in the UAE in December with three Ministers from here in attendance undertaking detailed trade promotion activities. We have had our largest ever St. Patrick's Day programme, which many colleagues were on, and it saw 36 representatives visit 47 different countries. While the focus was on our diaspora and our cultural connections, there was a huge enterprise and trade focus looking at how we can explore and expand our markets.  I was in Boston and had an opportunity to meet with the representatives of some fantastic Irish companies who are expanding in the US but also to look at some of the large US companies we have here as well and how we can convince them to expand and do more here. There were significant early results on expanding our State agency footprint as well. There are new representatives for IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and Tourism Ireland in Seoul, Zurich, Dubai and Deli. There are new innovation attach\u00e9s as well who are in Boston. I met my own just in the past week in San Francisco. Other trade missions are also being expanded and developed for the year ahead. I will come back but there is a lot already happening and a very positive plan. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  I thank the Minister. I welcome the continued focus on market diversification, particularly given the increasingly uncertain global trading environment in which Irish businesses are operating. Recent progress on the EU-Australia trade agreement demonstrates the opportunities that exist for Ireland to broaden its international trading relationships. However, this must also be viewed in the context of ongoing uncertainty around tariffs internationally and continued volatility in oil and gas markets, all of which create real risks for a small, open and highly export-dependent economy like ours.  Ireland's growth model has been strongly export-led for decades. While this has delivered enormous benefits, it also leaves us particularly exposed to geopolitical and economic shocks. In that context, the diversification is not simply desirable; it is essential for safeguarding long-term economic stability, employment and investment.  Can the Minister outline how the Department is actively positioning Ireland to benefit from new EU trade agreements and emerging global markets, while also mitigating the risk arising from tariff instability and energy market volatility? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I too will take this opportunity on the floor to welcome the agreement of the EU-Australia trade deal this week. This is something that will open up Irish markets to a substantial economy and one where we are very much aligned. We see Australia as trusted trading partners. There is further exploration happening and we are looking at other trade deals across the globe. Of course, we hope to ratify CETA as well this year in its tenth year. The Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, is bringing forward that legislation and we will visit Canada in the next few weeks to highlight just how much progress has been made and how valuable it is. It has been worth about \u20ac10 billion to our economy over the ten years.  There is more we can do outside of trade deals and I am very conscious of the fluctuation and changes that have happened in the tariff environment, particularly with the US. That is why during our Presidency, we will particular focus on what we can do within the European Union. The Deputy will know three of our priorities are competitiveness, security and our values from a competitiveness perspective. This will be about completing the Single Market. There are barriers within the Single Market that are preventing us from doing better and more business. It will be about making sure we focus on the capital markets union and banking union so we open up more finance. I will come back to the Deputy on the rest. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  While strategy for diversification is welcome, the reality is that Ireland remains highly concentrated in terms of trade exposure. Around one third of exports go to the United States and Ireland holds over \u20ac1 trillion in foreign investment stock, the majority of which originates from US-based multinational firms. At the same time, the UK and the European Union collectively remain by far our largest overall trading partners. This level of concentration creates a significant vulnerability in periods of global economic or political disruption.  Can the Minister outline what measurable progress is being made in reducing Ireland's exposure to a narrow set of markets and sectors? How will the Department ensure that diversification efforts translate into real and sustained growth in trade with new partners rather than remaining at the level of policy ambition? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  It is connected to what I was saying about the work we are doing in the EU, such as focusing on competitiveness and simplification so we can reduce some of the barriers, being honest, that we have imposed on ourselves that are adding cost to business. We are still focusing on the main trading partners we have. The EU is one of them and the US is a critical one. A huge amount of our focus and my time is making sure we can get absolute clarity on what the tariffs are and the implications for the various different sectors that are important to us.  We know there are certain industries, particularly agrifood and medical technology, where we need to make greater progress because of the current tariffs. That work is under way because no matter what we do and how much we diversify, the EU, US and UK will be our most important trading partners. With all of these other opportunities, be it through China, Australia or India, where we have a market that is hugely untapped, or in Canada, where we believe we can make much more progress, we still need to make sure that we are getting the most out of the relationships that are closest and most important to us.  While there are challenges there at the moment, I believe, particularly through our Presidency, there is an opportunity for us in our relationship with the UK in trying to bring that closer again with the EU and breaking down those barriers in the EU along with creating stability with the US that will benefit our businesses in so many different ways. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Trade Promotion"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_25","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Diaspora Issues","counts":{"speechCount":10,"speakerCount":5},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_22","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_25","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel McCarthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_25.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Question No. 76 is in the name of Deputy Noel McCarthy and is grouped with question No. 160. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel McCarthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Noel McCarthy  Like the previous speaker, I also wish Ireland well tonight and hope we will be in the Aviva Stadium on Tuesday night for the next stage of it. With the Leas-Cheann Comhairle's indulgence, I will also welcome a school to the Visitor's Gallery today. The school is in my own constituency of Cork East, the national school in Coolagown, and I welcome the pupils and teachers who are there today. I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle.  I ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the progress made to date by her Department on the development of an updated diaspora strategy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Neale Richmond)  I propose to take Questions Nos. 76 and 160 together.  I thank the Deputies for raising this question. As they know, the Government is committed to deepening our ties with the Irish communities overseas and to ensuring that the welfare of the Irish abroad remains at the heart of our diaspora engagement. In line with the commitment in the programme for Government, the next diaspora strategy is at an advanced stage of drafting and will be published in late April, to coincide with the next global Irish civic forum that will take place on 30 April and 1 May in Croke Park. This strategy will be the third of its kind and was drafted following a wide-ranging consultation process that engaged Irish community, welfare and cultural organisations, as well as business social networks across 28 cities in 19 countries, including formal diaspora consultations in Britain, the United States, Canada and Europe, as well as in the UAE, Australia, Argentina, Singapore and Kenya. I also met with Irish stakeholders in Dublin and Galway as well as a very productive meeting with Oireachtas Members in Iveagh House last June. Further meetings were also held with relevant Departments and State agencies. These engagements were supplemented by the global Irish survey, the first ever online survey of the Irish abroad, which I launched last July and was available for several weeks throughout the summer of 2025. This survey was open to individuals and organisations and received over 10,000 responses. Respondents also had the option to submit position papers, of which over 40 were received.  While work on finalising the strategy is ongoing, the well-being of the most vulnerable of our diaspora remains a key focus for us. I am also committed to enhancing our outreach to the next generations of the diaspora, strengthening our networks across the globe in order to embrace the experiences and perspectives of the Irish abroad, and supporting those who wish to return to Ireland. I can confirm that the emigrant support programme, ESP, will remain the primary vehicle to manage the Government\u2019s commitments to our diaspora in the next strategy. As this House will be aware, since its establishment in 2004, the ESP has assisted more than 900 charitable and Irish community organisations in 53 countries with over \u20ac265 million in grants. The majority of this funding, some 60%, is granted to front-line welfare service providers working with elderly Irish emigrants and other vulnerable members of our communities. These organisations working closely with our embassies and consulates, particularly in Great Britain, the US, Canada and Australia, provide crucial support, often at times of crisis, in areas such as elders lunch clubs, advisory, counselling, mental health support, advocacy, information and outreach services for our citizens abroad, including on immigration matters and status. This work is vital, particularly for those from marginalised backgrounds and those with complex needs. The 2026 budget for the programme is \u20ac17.5 million, which is the highest amount committed to date. I look forward to publishing the strategy in the coming weeks and ensuring Ireland continues its broad and inclusive engagement with our diaspora over the next five years. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel McCarthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Noel McCarthy  I thank the Minister of State for his response. I thank the Ministers for their hard work and dedication in the area that is of major importance to Ireland. The diaspora across the globe represents the very best of our country on a community, cultural, business and sporting basis. I acknowledge that the ESP is a very important support for Irish diaspora groups and has proven to be enormously popular. Almost 600 applications were received before the ESP deadline in early February. With that in mind, I ask the Minister of State when successful applications are expected to be announced and funding allocated? In addition, the recent EU trade deal with Australia and the Government action plan on market diversification with no doubt only further expand Irish communities and businesses abroad. Taking this into account, will the Minister confirm whether the Department plans to extend our diplomatic reach to new areas by opening new embassies or consulates in countries or areas in which Ireland has not previously been represented? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Neville  My question was grouped with Deputy McCarthy's. The Minister of State has partially answered it. I asked what the status of the diaspora strategy is and if the Minister or the Minister of State would make a statement on the matter, considering both of them are there. I know the Minister of State has specific responsibility for the diaspora. Coming on the heels of St. Patrick's Day, we know how important the footprint that Ireland has and that the people have had through multiple generations. As was said, it is not just about the first generation; it is about several generations and how we continue that work on through these. If we look at the US, I had a national chamber of commerce group in yesterday. We have direct flights into Nashville, not necessarily a place known for its Irish emigrants but, at the same time, a huge proportion of people have Irish or Scots-Irish ancestry. We need to ensure we get them here from a tourism perspective but also from a business perspective, which is really important. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl  I am proud of what the Minister and the Government is doing in continuing the work in the past of engaging with the diaspora. When we have thought in the past about the diaspora, we have tended to talk about the kings of industry around the world and then the disadvantaged and how we might support them but in recent times, we have large concentrations of highly skilled young people who have emigrated and concentrated in places like Australia and Canada. As part of any diaspora policy, does the Minister of State envisage some systems being put in place or some strategies being adopted whereby we can actively engage with those young people and encourage them to consider a return home where they are badly needed to fill many of the vacant positions that exist? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  I thank the three Deputies for their supplementaries and I will try to rattle through them as quickly as possible. Regarding the emigrant support programme, as I laid out, this year the budget will be \u20ac17.5 million. That is the biggest it has ever been. Part of that is to reflect inflationary costs on certain areas but there is always increased demand and need for the services provided. Deputy McCarthy rightly cited the economic opportunities of EU-Australia trade deal, as was laid out by Deputy McCormack as well. Just this year, the Government has opened a consulate in Melbourne to complement the consulate in Sydney and the embassy in Canberra, while Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland have also expanded their teams. That is just in Australia, but around the world we see increasing economic opportunities through our diaspora. It is something I hope the new strategy will have a very distinct emphasis on, particularly in the United States where about 36 million people claim Irish ancestry, be Irish, Ulster-Scots, or Scots-Irish. That is why the Government launched a strong programme marking the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence, which was signed by many Irish people and has a strong connection to Ireland, both for the cultural and political ties but also the tourism and business ties.  Deputy Neville and I are two of the biggest fans of American football in the House. We see the power of the college football classic every August in Dublin as it brings \u20ac130 million into the economy. Equally, with the NFL, we see the opportunities there in terms of sports diplomacy.  In response to Deputy \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl's question, the Government has laid out a number of programmes, not necessarily though the Department, looking to attract some of our highly skilled emigrants back home from places like Australia, Canada but also the Middle East. There are a number of obstacles that we will cite in the strategy or that we will look to overcome. We hope to conclude a reciprocal driving rights arrangement with the state of New York in the coming months, which will complement arrangements with Canada and Australia. We will also be looking at areas in terms of recognising qualifications and experience gained. Insurance companies are now quoting Irish people who have been driving abroad. We also have banks giving specific packages and programmes. I will elaborate in due course. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Neville  I am delighted that the Minister of State referenced college football because we have seen the tremendous impact that has had. Not only are we bringing the games but we are bringing people over. A lot of those people spend a lot of time in Ireland. The game offers a window to Ireland in America with huge numbers watching the games. They see the best of what Ireland has to offer from a sporting facility perspective but it also gives us the opportunity to promote ourselves the week before the season starts. The college football has been a tremendous boon to the economy and to how we promote ourselves. The Minister of State has referenced the sports but another way he has really reached out is through the promotion of the Gaelic games abroad and how we tie that in. The GAA really is a foundation stone for so many people who go abroad. The first thing they often do is look for the GAA clubs. However, we can bring the GAA under that umbrella and however that works best, it is important to keep those live connections between the people who might have just recently gone and the multiple generations in America. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel McCarthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Noel McCarthy  I thank the Minister of State for his reply. He is a rugby man himself but as my colleague Deputy Neville said, the GAA is very important. What is the Department doing to promote the GAA overseas? How much money has been allocated to this in recent years?  Finally, we have a very important statue in Midleton in my constituency of Cork East, which is the Kindred Spirits monument.  This represents a donation by the Choctaw Nation to the people of Ireland during the Great Famine. It is a fantastic monument that showcases the very best of overseas aid and how historical partnership endures. Should the Minister of State have any availability soon, my colleague, Councillor Rory Cocking, and I would love to show him the statue in person. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  Regarding the references to sport more generally, the Minister, Deputy McEntee, launched the latest iteration of the sport diplomacy strategy in Boston at the famous Fenway Park. This is a key policy provision not just for the Department of sport, but also for the Department of foreign affairs, because sport brings people together here and abroad. We often see the real economic opportunities associated with the College Football Classic and the NFL coming to Ireland, but we also see where that ties in with tourism and higher education opportunities. There are great opportunities for Irish third level institutions to partner with American institutions for investment and research.  At the heart of our sports diplomacy policy is, of course, the global games development programme, which we support with a direct grant, parallel to the emigrant support programme, of about \u20ac7 million per annum to the GAA. That money supports staff, training and governance in GAA clubs around the world. In February, I met the Simba Wolfhounds GAA Club in Uganda, which was set up by a Galway man who works with young children in very deprived areas. I have met GAA clubs in Coventry, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, New York and Pittsburgh, but there are also other sports as well. I would have played for the Toronto Irish rugby club and the Brussels Celtic rugby club. These are all a part of this as well.  GAA is very much at the heart and soul of this. When we look at both participatory and elite level sports, we see Irish people who have had to go abroad, perhaps to play Premier League football, like those currently in Prague, while others are at the highest level of collegiate athletics in the United States. Eamonn Coghlan, a former colleague of ours in these Houses, made his name in the United States and was able to represent the Irish abroad multi-generationally at the Olympic Games and the World Athletics Championships.  To conclude, any visit to Midleton is a good visit. I would be more than happy to join Deputy McCarthy and Councillor Cocking. The tie between the people of Ireland and the Choctaw Nation is something we cannot stop reminding people about. It is very important and historic. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Diaspora Issues"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_26","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"EU Agreements","counts":{"speechCount":11,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_22","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_26","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_26.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy Newsome Drennan will introduce Question No. 77 on behalf of Deputy O'Hara. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan  On Monday, the EU told Mercosur countries that the trade deal would be provisionally applied from 1 May. What engagements has the Minister had regarding the EU-Mercosur trade agreement? Has she told the Commissioner that forcing through this trade deal is not acceptable? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I propose to take Questions Nos. 77, 90, 119, 132 and 144 together.  In the 2025 programme for Government, the Government very clearly committed to working with like-minded EU countries to respond to the very real concerns of Irish farmers and to defend our interests as regards the Mercosur trade deal. On 9 January 2026, EU member states voted on the EU-Mercosur agreement. This vote was carried by a qualified majority. Ireland voted clearly and unambiguously against the approval of the agreement. I and other Government Ministers, along with officials, have engaged extensively at EU level to voice our concerns about the agreement. This engagement was sustained over time and took place across multiple forums and in both formal and informal settings, with fellow EU member states and the European Commission. These included European Council meetings; sectoral Council meetings, including the Foreign Affairs Council for trade ministers; bilateral engagements in EU member state capitals; numerous phone calls at ministerial level; working party meetings; and ongoing direct dialogue with the European Commission.  Along with my Government colleagues, I have consistently emphasised Ireland\u2019s requirements for credible, legally binding commitments on matters relating to trade and sustainable development, including climate, biodiversity and deforestation protections, as well as clear protections and assurances with regard to incomes of farmers in Ireland. As a result of this engagement and efforts made by Ireland and like-minded member states in the Council of the EU, it is important to state that hard-won improvements have been made to the overall agreement package, including a new legal Act to operationalise bilateral safeguards to protect sensitive products; a financial safety net for farmers; strengthened sanitary and phytosanitary, SPS, controls, along with a 50% increase in audits and checks; and commitments on the alignment of production and SPS standards, notably on pesticides and animal welfare. The Commission also committed on 7 January to enhance the availability of CAP funding to farmers and rural communities under the proposed new multi-annual financial framework, MFF.  The Government takes note of the decision of the European Parliament to refer the deal to the European Court. The Government also takes note of the statement of the European Commission President, as the Deputy has said, that the Commission will apply the EU-Mercosur trade agreement on a provisional basis. Speaking after the European Council meeting in January, President von der Leyen indicated that a decision on provisional application of the agreement would not be needed until at least one Mercosur country had completed its ratification procedures. In late February, Argentina and Uruguay both secured parliamentary approval in their respective parliaments. Brazil and Paraguay have now followed suit with their own internal ratification procedures. While the Council of the EU voted in January to grant authority to the Commission to apply the agreement on a provisional basis, which it is entitled to do and is legally allowed to do under the treaties, Ireland made it very clear that it did not support that vote. It is important to note that President von der Leyen emphasised the \"provisional\" aspect of this announcement on application. In line with the EU treaties, the agreement can only be fully concluded once the European Parliament has given its consent. Obviously, it cannot consent, and it has said it will not consent until that legal process is concluded.  Along with my Government colleagues, I will continue to engage with the European Commission and other EU member states in the time ahead to ensure the full implementation of the commitments obtained from the Commission to address our concerns with the agreement, including the safeguard provisions we fought for and which many MEPs made clear were necessary to support and protect the interests of our own farmers. It is important to stress that we have just had conversations about the need to diversify and to focus on other markets. We are an open trading economy and we have always supported trade agreements. However, we have to make sure when it comes to our sensitive industries and our most important sectors, like the agrifood sector, that our farmers are not penalised because of the standards we have set ourselves at a European level. These are the very clear reasons we voted against the Mercosur trade deal and had significant concerns with the deal. We wanted to find a way forward, but it was not possible at that time. We have been very clear in our objection to the Mercosur deal in its current format. That has not changed, even with its implementation on a provisional basis. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan  There are very real concerns for consumers and farmers regarding the risk this trade deal poses. We have seen the recall of Brazilian beef over the presence of banned cancer-linked drugs. God only knows how much more drug-riddled beef has been sold in Ireland and across the EU, because the levels of laboratory testing are an utter embarrassment. Does the Minister know the percentage of laboratory checks that are carried out? Would she like to hazard a guess? It is 1.7%. Is it the Minister's position that this is an acceptable amount of testing, especially considering all the recalls last year? To me, there is an air of secrecy about it all. Last year, 172 tonnes of beef came in from Brazil. When I asked where it went, the trade data did not even summarise the destination or the end user, so there is no record. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  We have been clear in our objection to this for the reasons the Deputy has outlined, and for many other reasons also. It is very clear that this Government, our farmers and consumers have real concerns about the type of product that may be entering into the EU. It is for that reason that we opposed this. As I have said, as a country we are in the economic position we are in because we are an open trading economy. This is not the position we would normally take. However, we had real and genuine concerns, as did our farmers, and that is why we voted against it. The position of the EU - this is the way it works - is that we cannot stop this from moving ahead if there is a qualified majority. The Taoiseach voted against this at the European Council meeting where President von der Leyen made it clear that she wanted to move ahead with the temporary or provisional implementation. We made our position clear at that time, as we have done throughout all of this engagement and process. However, we were not successful and the vote itself passed for the reasons I have outlined.  At European level, we have pushed- as have our MEPs, particularly Fine Gael MEPs and Government MEPs - to make sure there are more safeguards in place to try to respond to some of the concerns the Deputy has raised and farmers have rightly raised.  I will go into more detail about those mentioned. We have key commitments, including enhanced monitoring. The Commission will follow market trends closely. It will be able to identify any risks ahead of time, allowing more space to react. There will be full transparency. The Commission sends a monitoring report to the Council and the European Parliament every six months to assess the impacts of imports. Swift action to launch an investigation is progressing. In most cases, the Commission will launch an investigation within five days if there is more than a 5% increase in annual imports of a product or if import prices are at least 5% lower than prices of the same or competing EU products. Clarity on possible measures can consist of a temporary suspension of the schedule of tariff reductions of the product concerned, whether it is beef or any other product, or a reduction of the tariff preference back to the MFN or base rate, whichever is the lowest level.  On top of that, we have a new unity safety net for crisis measures. Essentially, this is a fund with a total capacity of \u20ac6.3 billion. This effectively doubles the current agricultural reserve. This reinforced support will help to safeguard our farmers, particularly at times of market diversification, market disturbances and growing geopolitical uncertainties, of which we know there are many. In practice, the European Commission will monitor market developments closely once the agreement is being gradually implemented, particularly with regard to the agricultural sector. We are very specific and focused with regard to the agricultural sector. On 7 January, the Commission also committed to enhancing the availability of the CAP as well, which I think is absolutely essential to fund our farmers and our rural communities under the proposed new multi-annual financial framework, MFF. As the Deputy will know, with the upcoming Presidency, Ireland will be playing a significant role in progressing the multi-annual financial framework, or budget, for the EU, and the CAP and support for our farmers and our rural communities will be an absolute priority for us. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan  The Commission clearly holds the D\u00e1il in low esteem. It has consistently failed to reply to concerns raised by me through the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food. We have written to the Commission on a number of occasions since November, which was the first time, then in January and then again as recently as yesterday. We have been seeking answers and clarity, and silence is all we have been met with. The European Parliament voted to refer this deal to the European Court of Justice because of concerns around its legality. This was a democratic vote from representatives of the people of the EU. The Commission has opted to ignore elected representatives here in Ireland and across the EU and pushed on with the deal regardless. Is the Minister not concerned at the blatant disregard for the democratic process?  I am a suckler farmer. These are the farmers who are going to be selling weanlings. Their product will not get to the shelves for another year, so they are the ones who are going to be caught. I have asked for the Commission to write back to us but it is just ignoring us. To me, this smells something rotten. Nobody seems to be answering the questions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I cannot respond in respect of who the Deputy might have engaged with. I do not know who the Deputy has engaged with. There are certainly many different channels available, even through Sinn F\u00e9in\u2019s own MEPs, at European level where questions can be asked and responded to. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan  It was trade and agriculture. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  While there has been a practice in terms of the Parliament voting for and consenting to a treaty, the EU treaties do not require European Parliament consent before the application of a trade agreement. Whether that has been the case in the past, the decision was taken in this instance, given the size of the deal itself, to move forward with a provisional application of the trade agreement. Again, under the EU treaties, the Council of the EU can decide to apply an international agreement provisionally before it is concluded and enters into force. The decision taken by the Parliament to send it to the court or to put it through a legal process has, in effect, delayed the Parliament\u2019s ability to be able to vote on it. The decision was taken by the Commission to implement this provisionally because we do not know the length of time it will take before it comes back to the Parliament.  When this was put to the European Council, our Taoiseach and this Government voted against it. I cannot be any clearer in saying that. We have been clear from the outset that we were not happy with the measure put in place, albeit I believe it is much better and stronger because of the influence of Government MEPs at a European level. We have, however, been consistent in saying it has not gone far enough. Notwithstanding that, because the Mercosur countries have implemented this in their own countries and their own parliaments, the EU treaties do allow for the Commission to move forward with the provisional application, and that is what it is doing now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan  I have huge issues with the fact that it does not come back to us. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I can check that. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"EU Agreements"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_27","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Passport Services","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_22","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_27","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ryan O'Meara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_27.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ryan O'Meara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ryan O'Meara  After a miserable winter here, many of our constituents are looking forward to their summer holidays and perhaps a bit of sun if they are lucky enough to get abroad. With that, comes a need for many people to renew passports or to apply for new passports. What are we looking at in terms of turnaround times for new passport applications and for renewals? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I hope it will not be just our constituents who will be able to get away. Maybe we might all get a break during the summer as well. The Deputy is right that this is the time of year when we need to highlight the need for, and encourage, people to get their applications in if their passports are out of date or if they need time on their passports for wherever they are travelling. This is particularly the case in situations where people have new small children who do not have a passport. They should get those applications in as soon as possible.  Notwithstanding that, I have to say the passport service is successfully responding to quite a high level of demand. It has already issued 224,000 passports this year. The service does phenomenal work, and I have no doubt that it will issue many more passports in the months to come.  The advertised turnaround times for passport applications are ten working days for simple online adult renewals. I would hazard a guess that anybody who has done their application online for a renewal will have received their passport within a matter of days. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ryan O'Meara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ryan O'Meara  Yes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  Ten working days is not the experience I and many others have had. It is 15 working days for complex or child online renewals. Again, the time taken tends to be somewhat shorter but these are the average lengths of time. It is 20 working days for first-time online applications and eight weeks for passport assist applications.  We have seen many of the challenges where first-time applications for children are being put in on paper. Those are certainly the queries I get and that I am sure the Deputy gets as well. This is particularly the case where there are challenges, where pictures are not correct, something has not been signed or there is an issue with the paperwork itself. It is much more difficult to deal with these applications in a quicker way. I use this opportunity to encourage anybody looking to apply for a passport to do it online because it can be done 24-7. It does not have to be done within office hours. The turnaround times I mentioned apply to applications that are fully complete and correct, and begin from the time the supporting documents are received by the passport service. It does not begin from the date the online application is made. Where applications are incorrect or incomplete, it is naturally just going to take a little bit longer.  Since 2022, the passport service has operated a document management system whereby incomplete applications that require further supporting documents are prioritised once the additional documents are received. These are processed within 15 working days. Huge progress has been made in recent years and hopefully people will be able to apply. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ryan O'Meara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ryan O'Meara  I acknowledge the work of the team in the Passport Office. The numbers the Minister gave are incredible. All of us as public representatives see how hard they work and how responsive they are to helping people under pressure to get a passport. There is also the rapid turnaround time if people are going for a simple adult renewal. The passport could be arriving in the letterbox a day or two after people apply.  I also acknowledge the Minister and the two Ministers of State here in the Chamber, and their staff. I particularly acknowledge the Minister of State, Deputy Thomas Byrne, and his staff for the assistance they regularly give to me in securing passports when there are these more difficult cases.  I echo some of what the Minister said. I encourage people to check their passports right now if they are travelling this summer> People should apply online, where possible, to avoid paper applications. We see so many issues arising from paper applications. I also believe this message should be communicated to our Garda stations to ensure that if somebody comes in with a paper passport application, garda\u00ed will know they can guide them towards using an online application to avoid these issues happening. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I thank the Deputy. I fully agree. Some of the challenges have been around the paperwork, where certain things have not been signed or where there have been follow-ups and it has not been possible to engage with certain people. If people are going to a Garda station or to get a signature from anybody, it is important they know they will be in a position to be able to follow up with the Passport Office when it re-engages.  The reason we have been able to increase the number of passports being provided while reducing the timelines involved is because of the significant investment that has gone into the Passport Office in recent years. Over the past five years, the passport service has increased its staffing resources by 75%. The Passport Office has gone from having 468 people working there to 822 people working there now, which is a significant response and increase. Year on year, we are seeing a workforce that is expanding and growing, and that is also looking to the future too. In my next contribution, I will point out the changes that are going to take place this year. While we do have an award-winning passport service, we are looking to do even more for people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ryan O'Meara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ryan O'Meara  To conclude, I believe communication with the public would help us in those final tricky cases we are seeing.  To be fair, as public representatives there are fewer and fewer passport issues coming to us because most of them are being sorted, as the Minister said, because of the investment the Government has put into the Passport Office and the increase in staffing numbers.  In relation to the witness for the photographs or the parents\u2019 consent to a passport, people need to know they should go to a 24-hour Garda station. Someone will always be there to answer the call to verify and make sure the pictures are taken correctly. Parents should ensure they do not miss an email if they are queried on something. So they know, again I stress they should always apply online where possible. That should be communicated in a campaign and people should be directed towards those Garda stations which, to be fair, have a lot more to do in their job than just passports but are going to get that job when they are 24-hour stations. Members of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na need to know those key facts to be able to advise people to avoid the issue before it even has to come to us and then we have to go and hound the three Ministers for passports. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  We do not mind at all. That is what we are here for. I agree and urge all Deputies to advise on their social media channels or in whatever way they can to encourage people to check their passports to make sure they are in date and to give enough time for a new infant or child getting a passport for the first time. I mentioned some of the changes which are going to take place this year. We are looking at some complex transformational projects which are trying to future-proof the service overall to provide a better customer experience, business continuity and safeguarding of the integrity of the Irish passport, which is probably one of the most secure passports in the world. Particularly post-Brexit, we are seeing an increase in the number of people seeking to have the Irish passport, which has resulted in some of the increase in numbers as well. We are looking to deliver customer relations solutions projects and facial recognition technology as part as our overall service. We have a passport redesign project and a passport online project as well. These will be integrated with the new passport processing systems. There is a lot of work being done to improve what I believe is already a very good system. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Passport Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_28","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Middle East","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_22","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_28","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_28.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  There have been some very interesting newspaper headlines today particularly, such as \"Czechia \u00e1r l\u00e1.\" I think we can all say we trust in Troy, Caoimh\u00edn, their teammates and manager, Heimir Hallgr\u00edmsson, who I was lucky to meet at Oriel Park at a Dundalk game recently. \u00c1dh m\u00f3r and good luck to the Irish team.  I ask the Minister to give an update on her interaction with the European Union following the United States illegal attack on Iran alongside genocidal Israel and the chaos that has created. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. For many people it has been a huge concern over the past number of weeks and has added to the significant instability in the region, not just in Gaza and Palestine and the conflict with Israel and Lebanon, but also the wider region itself. Responding to the crisis caused by this ongoing conflict following the military action by Israel and the United States against Iran, and Iran\u2019s military action in response, is a priority for this Government. We remain in close contact with our EU partners. I attended an emergency video meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council on 28 February and again on 5 March, the latter including foreign Ministers from the Gulf countries themselves. The situation was further discussed at the regular Foreign Affairs Council on 16 March and the European Council on 19 March.  EU member states including Ireland have been very clear that we are deeply concerned by the developing conflict in the region and have highlighted the need for urgent de-escalation. Ireland, with other member states, has expressed extreme concern about breaches of international law, the need for solidarity with Gulf states which are the subject of direct attacks, and the risk of further widening and escalation of the conflict which we are starting to see in other parts of the region. EU member states have also expressed concern at the situation in Lebanon following Israeli military action and the impacts for Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.  As I mentioned earlier, every discussion we have had focused on Iran. I raised the dire and deteriorating situation in the West Bank, Gaza and Lebanon. At the Foreign Affairs Council, FAC, and the European Council, member states condemned the targeting of civilian infrastructure and the bypassing of international law and the UN charter. It is regrettable, or more than regrettable, that time was not allowed for dialogue and diplomacy. It has been made clear to us that the Friday before this attack happened, progress had been made. It is regrettable that further talks did not continue. The EU must now use all of our channels to encourage de-escalation and a return to diplomatic processes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  We all want to see de-escalation and an end to this illegal attack. We must all be incredibly worried about the wider chaos it is creating. Obviously, the chaos is impacting us in relation to fuel prices, but there are incredibly serious circumstances. Israel has used this from a point of view of continuing its attacks on Gaza and the West Bank, and it looks like it is looking to build a cordon sanitaire beyond the Litani River in Lebanon. I wrote to the Minister and I appreciate the reply, regarding the issue brought to me by family members of those serving with the 27th infantry battalion which is on peacekeeping duties in south Lebanon. I accept the Minister cannot comment on issues of security, but can she ensure that alongside the UN there is a monitoring of the circumstances and absolute support is provided to our peacekeepers, who are out there doing absolutely necessary work, as these families are incredibly worried? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  In relation to the situation in Lebanon, it is not acceptable what is happening. It is essentially a ground invasion. The Israeli defence forces and army are trying to annex the south part of the region. Unfortunately, that is where many of our troops are, though not all. What I can assure the Deputy is that I am in regular daily contact with the Chief of the Defence Forces who provides me with updates of our troops and how they are. I am pleased to inform the House that all of our troops are safe and accounted for, and these are situations which are kept under continuous monitoring. There are times they have to go into groundhog, which is when they are underground in very confined small spaces for a long period of time. There are other days when that is not happening and they are out patrolling. They are obviously working very closely with their international partners and battalions. I can assure the Deputy, families and those at home who of course are concerned about their loved ones that these operations through the UNIFIL HQ are kept under continual monitoring. The role of the peacekeepers however is to be there on the ground in these types of situations. The desire for peacekeepers to be there on the ground monitoring what is happening has been made very clear to me. Of course, we need to make sure that if situations change or escalate, that is taken into consideration. I have full belief in UNIFIL HQ and the decisions it takes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  It highlights the situational circumstances and danger that peacekeepers have in their particular work and job. I commend them. It is absolutely necessary that we maintain a monitoring eye on what is a constantly escalating situation. We are not entirely sure whether the US President is negotiating with himself, getting presents from Iran or going to unleash hell. All we know is that any further escalation will lead to far more difficult circumstances. It shows the chaos in the American lack of strategy. No matter what we might think of it, the Iranians had a strategy, and it was about impacting oil supply and hurting US assets throughout the region. We need a de-escalation; none of this is good enough. I do not believe the Government or the European Union has been sufficiently strong. I accept we are dealing with a president who does everything without listening to anybody and we can see the abject chaos. It looks like he has bitten off more than he can chew. Not only do we have to protect people as regards home heating oil, petrol and diesel, we need to make sure we play our part in standing up for international law. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  We have been absolutely clear as a Government that de-escalation is the only way forward. The longer this conflict goes on the more lives are lost, the more innocent civilians are caught up in this, the more impact it has on the region itself and destabilising the region and the wider the impact for all of us. We know the impact we are seeing already, whether at the petrol pumps, in heating our homes or in other areas. That is why we brought in a \u20ac250 million package this week in a way that other countries have perhaps not been able to do to respond to the needs of those who are filling their car and heating their homes, and to the needs of those who are most vulnerable. However, the longer this goes on the more challenging that becomes. My priority and that of all of our colleagues in government has been, through whatever avenue possible, be it through European Council meetings or trips in the past week for St Patrick\u2019s Day, to raise the need for de-escalation. That can only happen when all parties come to the table. It is very clear there was not a UN mandate or sanction for this.  All parties, the US, Israel and Iran, need to come to the table to negotiate. That is what we will continue to advocate for. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Middle East"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_29","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"EU Meetings","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":4},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_22","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_29","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_29.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Question No. 80 will be asked by Deputy Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Fearghail. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl  I congratulate the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, on having been the person dispatched by the Government for the St. Patrick's Day celebrations in Poland. I wish to ask him if while there his meeting with Secretary of State, Mr. Niemczycki, was successful and enabled him to build on the wonderful person-to-person relationships that exist now, and existed for many years, between Ireland and Poland? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Thomas Byrne)  I met my Polish counterpart, the Secretary of State for European Affairs, Mr. Ignacy Niemczycki, in Warsaw on 13 March. This was the first of many engagements I had during my three-day St. Patrick's Day programme in Poland, which was followed with a visit to Ukraine and then to Moldova. The Secretary of State, Mr. Niemczycki, and I discussed the excellent bilateral relations between our two countries, including growing economic ties and the outstanding and wide contribution the large Polish community is making in Ireland. The Secretary of State and I had a very useful and constructive meeting where we addressed major files on the European Union agenda. We looked ahead to Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second-half of this year and we discussed our main priorities, including competitiveness, security, and European values. We also discussed the enlargement of the European Union, on which there seems to be strong momentum at the moment.  The Secretary of State and I had good exchanges on competitiveness and simplification, including better regulation. There was a very welcome discussion on the importance of the rule of law. Obviously there has been a change in perception and a change in view in Poland with the change of Government there. We both welcomed the work on the European Democracy Shield, which has been brought forward by Commissioner Michael McGrath. I highlighted the Blue Star programme to the Secretary of State, which is a programme we have here in Ireland to help increase awareness of the European Union among young people in Ireland.  Over the past several months, I have endeavoured to travel to each European Union capital in advance of our Presidency as part of our Presidency preparations, setting out our priorities and listening to my counterparts' concerns and perspectives. Such visits have been very valuable and are making a significant contribution to our preparations. I thank the Irish ambassador, Mr. Patrick Haughey, and his team in Poland for the excellent organisation of the visit and for the excellent regard in which they are held by the Polish system. Ambassador Haughey is very well known in Poland and he and his staff are doing an excellent job representing us in that country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl  It is quite extraordinary the manner in which the relationships have developed between Irish people and Polish people. Polish people were among the first major wave of immigrants that came to work in this country during the Celtic tiger. They demonstrated a fantastic work ethic and they built a relationship with Irish people. There has been a lot of intermarriage. I think Polish is now the third most frequently spoken language in this State. I heard only yesterday from the Minister of State that the Poles are the second highest consumers of Irish whiskey after the Americans, so that is all very good in terms of what we may do as far as trade is concerned.  We share this passion for supporting Ukraine. Was it the Minister of State's experience that the Poles are equally enthusiastic about supporting the early advancement of Ukraine's application for EU membership? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  What the Polish people have done in supporting refugees from Ukraine, as well as giving military support, has been extraordinary. At the start of the war people arrived off trains or off transport and were met on the platforms by Polish residents and brought to their homes. We can account for millions of people who have benefited from that. There is a strong desire in Poland to see Ukraine accede to the European Union. I have had much conversation on this topic with counterparts, with the charg\u00e9 d'affaires here, and with our ambassador.  The Deputy is right to emphasise the strong links between Ireland and Poland. We have about 96,000 Polish people living in Ireland but I think there are about 100,000 people living in Poland who used to live in Ireland. There are at least 10,000 children in Poland who have Irish citizenship. It is quite extraordinary that there is a St. Patrick's Day parade in a place like L\u00f3dz, which is one of the biggest cities in Poland. To see the celebration of St. Patrick's Day in L\u00f3dz and in Warsaw really brings a new meaning to the word \"diaspora\". The Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, has been doing work on this too. It is a reverse diaspora of people who were here, who have exceptionally fond memories of this country, and who want to continue to build the links. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl  Could I take it that the Minister of State is very satisfied that Donald Tusk is someone who will be able to ensure Poland remains very much at the centre and at the heart of the European movement? I wish to ask also about their other neighbours. How do Polish people feel about, and are they supportive of, Moldova joining the EU? What, if anything, was said to the Minister of State about the situation in Belarus where the Lukashenko regime continues to harangue its own people, continues to support Putin, and continues to imprison over 1,000 political activists in a shameful disregard for democracy? Was there an opportunity to discuss that particular matter? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  Belarus is an issue of considerable concern to the Polish Government. The Deputy is right. It is a major security concern for them. I think pretty much all of the major figures in the Belarusian opposition are based in Warsaw at the invitation of the Polish Government, so there is a strong link between them. At all levels of government, be it with Prime Minister Tusk, the Taoiseach, Deputy Prime Minister Sikorski, the Minister, Deputy McEntee, the Secretary of State Mr. Niemczycki, and myself, we have a very good relationship with Poland. That relationship has been brought to a new level by Ireland taking part in the Nordic-Baltic meetings before the European Council. Poland is now a part of this and it is now called the Northern Nine. Ireland chaired those meetings in the latter half of last year and Prime Minister Tusk was in the Irish delegation room meeting the Taoiseach as part of that. There is a really good relationship. There is a lot to build on and a lot to work on.  There is one thing we want to see that is lacking. There are not enough flights to Warsaw from Ireland. I know both ambassadors are working very hard on this. There are flights to lots of other places in Poland but at times it is quite difficult to get a flight to Warsaw. This is a concern to us all and we are working on it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  They are too expensive. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"EU Meetings"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_30","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Trade Relations","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_22","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_30","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_30.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Erin McGreehan  In what ways is Ireland working with EU partners and international organisations to ensure trade flows, market access, and regulatory stability are maintained during the global economic uncertainty? Will the Minister make a statement on the matter? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  We can agree that in an increasingly volatile environment it is really important that we focus on what we can predict and what we can work on, not just within the EU market but with our international partners such as the US, the UK and beyond. There are a number of things I am doing, working closely with colleagues in government. At home we are meeting with companies to understand what the impacts are of a lot of the changes, be they tariffs or the regulatory environment more broadly. We are meeting with our companies. I also host the trade forum where we bring together representative organisations on a regular basis to understand the impacts of what is happening and to get feedback from them as to what more we can do. At an EU level we are diversifying and strengthening our economic resilience by reducing our overdependence on some of these particular markets.  We have a number of new free trade agreements. Just this week we agreed the Australia agreement, which I very much welcome. It is an open and very much welcome agreement. We are also looking at negotiations with the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates. There are lots of new markets we want to work on.  In relation to EU-US trade relations, the most important thing is that we have clarity and the stability we thought we had last year with the Turnberry agreement and the US-EU joint statement. We are advocating to get back to that point. We also want to make progress on some of the further exemptions we need specifically for some of the key Irish sectors.  The simplification agenda will be a priority for me and the Government during the Presidency. This is about some of the barriers we have perhaps imposed on ourselves and making sure that we make it easier for businesses to do business within the EU. I am really pleased to see the EU's 28th regime, which is going to be led by our own European Commissioner Michael McGrath, and which was brought to the Commission and to some of our Council meetings today. Hopefully, we will make progress on this. It is about making sure that if a company does business in Ireland, it is easy then for it to do business in France, Germany, Poland and in every other member state. At the moment such companies have to go through individual processes for each country. It is about looking out beyond the EU and what more we can do within the EU to support and enhance business at a time of huge uncertainty. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Erin McGreehan  I thank the Minister. It is really good to hear about all the work that is going on in Ireland and the EU. We know the Minister is in agreement that our economic future and our social cohesion really depends on how we maintain those strong trade relationships and how we respond to real pressures that people are facing on the ground with energy costs and food security. I am very glad to hear that the EU Presidency has a clear focus on this. We need a strong focus on diversification to cushion our economy from shocks.  The latest energy crisis is only the latest, and there will inevitably be another one ahead. Before the next crisis, Ireland and Europe really need to stand up to make sure we protect our economy and citizens from the whims of global leaders. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  Everything we do is interconnected. Any of us who travelled in the past week or so, or indeed anyone who has been on any of the visits we make as parliamentarians, will have seen that our economic interests are supported by our cultural ties and what is happening in other regions and other parts of the world. All of this can have a significant impact on the quality of life citizens have here. While there is huge instability in the world, knowing the impacts it can have on our economy and people's quality of life, we need to make sure we can control the controllables and take away some of that uncertainty businesses and communities are feeling. That is what the trade forum is about and it is why I chair it every six or eight weeks. It is why our focus and one of key priorities during the EU Presidency will be competitiveness. It is about that simplification agenda and looking to see how we can further strengthen the Single Market and break down barriers within the EU and seek more trade deals. I have mentioned that at least four are in the pipeline and that will hugely benefit our economies. Beyond that, whether it is China, India or other sectors we have not explored in the way we should, there are huge opportunities for business and citizens and communities because of that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Erin McGreehan  It is important that we do. With the EU Presidency, Ireland has a real opportunity to be a leader. Ireland is an economic success story, but with Ireland's Presidency of the EU let us make sure that we are cushioning ourselves and that we have a strong Europe, a strong Ireland and a strong economy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I believe the EU Presidency is an opportunity to make sure we can make further progress on our relationship with the UK. It is still one of our most important trading partners and closest neighbours. The relationship with the UK now, with Keir Starmer as Prime Minister, has changed and transformed. We can see that happening with the EU as well and we all benefit when that relationship gets stronger. There are a lot of opportunities, and we obviously want the Presidency to be a successful one. That is exactly what we will be working towards. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Is f\u00e9idir teacht ar Cheisteanna Scr\u00edofa ar www.oireachtas.ie. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Written Answers are published on the Oireachtas website. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Trade Relations"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_31","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions","counts":{"speechCount":66,"speakerCount":8},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_31","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel Grealish","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Tonight at 7.45 p.m. the country will come to a standstill to cheer on the boys in green in Prague. It is wrong that so many people in the North who share the same passion and identity may be unable to watch their national team free to air because it is geoblocked. This is something the Government urgently needs to address. I was a young lad when Donegal's famous son Packie Bonner made that save to set Ireland up for victory in Italia '90, and that memory stays with me. Let us hope the lads can do the business tonight and take us a step closer to our first World Cup in 24 years. The nation believes and the nation is right behind them.  I l\u00e1r gh\u00e9arch\u00e9im breosla as cuimse, t\u00e1 an Rialtas i ndiaidh teaghlaigh at\u00e1 ag brath ar ola teasa t\u00ed a fh\u00e1g\u00e1il ar l\u00e1r. N\u00ed fhaigheann formh\u00f3r acu an li\u00fantas fuinnimh go f\u00f3ill. Caithfidh siad dul i ngleic le costais ag dul in airde agus in airde agus roghanna dodh\u00e9anta \u00e1 nd\u00e9anamh acu. N\u00edl faoiseamh ar bith \u00f3n d\u00e1 cent at\u00e1 ceadaithe. Teasta\u00edonn f\u00edorthaca\u00edocht \u00f3 na teaghlaigh seo agus teasta\u00edonn s\u00e9 anois. Rud a dh\u00e9anfadh difr\u00edocht l\u00e1ithreach n\u00e1 chun a fh\u00e1il r\u00e9idh leis an gc\u00e1in charb\u00f3in ar ola teasa t\u00ed.  Let us talk about fairness because the T\u00e1naiste spoke about fairness yesterday. Where is the fairness for the 750,000 households relying on home heating oil? The vast majority of them do not get any fuel allowance. They have seen their costs to fill soar to eye-watering levels and the Government's response is a reduction of 2 cent per litre and \u20ac20 in the cost of a fill. Incredibly, the Government is going to take back this measly \u20ac20 in a couple of weeks when it jacks up the prices by increasing carbon tax. That is not fairness. It is insulting and people know it.  Let me tell the T\u00e1naiste what this actually looks like. A support worker who contacted me is working constant overtime trying to keep two children in college and one in school. She told me she is exhausted and burned out and still cannot get ahead. Electricity is up, food is up and fuel is up. She is now sitting with no heat on, asking what the point is. Another women who contacted me in the past day is 67 years of age. She is still working. She told me she only turns on the heat when her grandchildren visit. She is saving the last little oil she has for them. Think about that for a second. People are denying themselves basic heat in their own homes. That is the reality of the T\u00e1naiste\u2019s decisions, whether he likes it or not.  Sinn F\u00e9in put a clear proposal to the T\u00e1naiste this week to remove excise duty and strip out carbon tax from home heating oil - real, immediate relief - but he refused and dug in. I again ask why. Why, when he knew that these measures are not enough, did he choose to leave people short? The T\u00e1naiste should be bringing a financial resolution before the House today. We should be reducing excise duty on home heating oil tonight and giving the maximum reduction possible on diesel and petrol. He needs to recognise he has made a serious mistake, because from today this place will not sit for 20 days and families will be left high and dry to fend for themselves, trying to stretch whatever is left in the tank and making impossible choices.  Again, my question is simple. Will the T\u00e1naiste act now to do the right thing? Will he recognise the mistakes he has made and stop abandoning the 750,000 households that rely on home heating oil to heat their homes? Will he bring the resolution and cut excise duty on that fuel, or is he going to continue to abandon those households and leave people to struggle knowing full well that his measures do not come close to cutting it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Let us start where we can agree in a rare moment of unity in this House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  It seems to be working well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Which is working well? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  The football team. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel Grealish","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Noel Grealish  We hope they work well tonight. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  It is kind of bringing us together. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  It has started off that way anyway. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I might lean into that, to start in a moment of harmony. I genuinely join all Members in this House and people right across the country in supporting the Irish national soccer team tonight as they take on Czechia. At a time of real challenge in our country and our world, of turmoil and uncertainty, the Irish team have really lifted our spirits. There is a real sense of belief, from the youngest to the oldest person in this country, that Ireland can do this. I wish the best to our manager, Heimir, the entire team, the many thousands of fans who have travelled to Czechia to be there and the many millions who will tune in tonight. We are all behind our team and in the truest possible sense of the phrase, come on you boys in green.  This week we brought in one of the largest interventions of any EU member state, based on population, to help people in the here and now, at the petrol pump, with the price of diesel, to help our hauliers, our coach operators and to help those at most risk of fuel poverty, including those most at risk when it comes to the cost of things like their home heating oil. Deputy Doherty knows that as well. He knows that from as soon as next week, nearly 500,000 households in this country will benefit from the decision we took to increase the fuel allowance. I want to provide clarity in this House. I do not know about the Deputy's office, but I certainly got queries from people wondering whether, if they had opted in to the lump sum payment for the fuel allowance, they have that opportunity to receive the four-week extension in the same format and the same lump sum. They do, and that can be paid from next week too.  We have taken real, practical measures. There is \u20ac70 million worth of additional fuel allowance, which I think everybody in this House supports. It is a measure that is targeted and helps those most in need. It helps many working families, by the way, because we have extended it to the working family payment. It helps many pensioners and older people, many people with a disability and many carers. It factually helps those most in need of assistance with the cost of fuel. Extending that into the summer period, considering the level of volatility around fuel, is the right thing to do.  We also took practical and more universal measures to help everybody in the area of excise. There was general and widespread support for that too in this House. Sinn F\u00e9in did not vote for it in the end. It had a different set of proposals. When push came to shove pretty much, every other political party in the Opposition, while they might have different ideas and might have wanted a different package, still pressed the \"T\u00e1\" button in favour of cutting excise on petrol and diesel. Sinn F\u00e9in were too partisan and too involved in performative politics. So much for the united Opposition. They were left on their own when the rest of the Opposition decided that, maybe on this one occasion, they would take off their party jersey and vote with the Government because this package of measures will help people in some way. I thank people who constructively engaged on that.  There clearly is a constructive Opposition in this House, and then there is Sinn F\u00e9in.  On carbon tax, there was a document published on budget day on the use of carbon tax funds. Deputy Doherty is at this a long time - 16 years, in fact. He is the longest serving Opposition spokesperson on finance in the history of our State. The carbon tax allocation clearly goes to those most in need and it clearly shows it is helping people most at risk. It is helping people when it comes to the fuel allowance, it is helping people with the living alone allowance, it is helping people in our farming communities, it is helping with the transition in the form of EV grants and infrastructure, it is helping with the peatland rehabilitation and it is progressive and helps those most in need as well. Sinn F\u00e9in opposes it. I think it is nearly on its own. It might have a few others but of the main Opposition parties I think it is on its own in opposing carbon tax. It is no longer Opposition versus Government but most parties in this House versus Sinn F\u00e9in when it comes to the policy rationale here. It party cannot resist this populist tendency to just oppose everything for the sake of opposing everything. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Thanks, T\u00e1naiste. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  There are real challenges and we may well need to intervene again, but the package we put in place was the right package for the right moment and we will remain nimble and agile on any further interventions that are needed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  More spin and more deflection from the Minister. What he says is nonsense. Everybody knows what happened. We have led on this issue. We put forward an amendment that would have seen the maximum reduction in the price of diesel for people and the same reduction for petrol and would have seen excise duty completely removed from home heating oil, the cost of which has nearly doubled in four weeks. What did the T\u00e1naiste do? What did his colleagues in Fine Gael do? What did Fianna F\u00e1il and the Independent lackeys who support the Government do? They voted it down. They left 750,000 families in the lurch. That is what they did. They abandoned them. I put it to the T\u00e1naiste directly, what does he say to people, the majority of whom do not get fuel allowance? What does he say to that woman who was talking to me, who is sitting in her home and cannot put on the heating? What does he say to her? What does he say to the woman I spoke about last night in the D\u00e1il, who was wrapped in a blanket with a disabled son and is afraid to turn on the heating? The T\u00e1naiste abandoned those people and I am telling him we can do the right thing now. He can recognise he has made a mistake and bring a financial resolution forward, as Sinn F\u00e9in have proposed, to cut excise duty to the maximum amount on home heating oil and give people real support at this time of crisis. That is what the T\u00e1naiste should be doing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  T\u00e1naiste. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  That is leadership and that is what we will continue to fight for on behalf of hundreds of thousands of people right across this State. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy Doherty. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I hope that when the Deputy meets somebody at risk of fuel poverty and brings their case into the D\u00e1il, as well as just reading them out in here, he helps them get the financial assistance our system provides in terms of the fuel allowance. I would like to see the data, and please send it to me, showing that the majority of people in the country at risk of fuel poverty do not receive any assistance from the State with fuel costs. The fuel allowance----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  He did not say that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  He does not need your help. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I did not say that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  The fuel allowance is paid to almost 500,000 households. There are people----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  What do you say to that woman who does not get it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  -----who do not qualify for the fuel allowance----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  What do you say to that woman who does not get it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  -----and I say to people who do not qualify for fuel allowance that this Government is making a number of interventions to help, not just with the NORA levy but also through petrol and diesel measures. I also say to those people that we stand ready to intervene further but we must remain nimble and agile. Did the Deputy hear the Central Bank this morning? Has he read the Central Bank's report? If this conflict goes on for a prolonged period, we may need to intervene further.  The Deputy talked about mistakes. He has made three this week. First, he said the State was taking in \u20ac38 million a week extra in taxes----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Business Post authors said that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  -----but we are not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  The Business Post ----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy Doherty. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  After 16 years of being Opposition spokesperson on finance----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Are you calling out the three journalists in the Business Post? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  -----presumably you do not just take------ "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Is that what you are doing? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Presumably----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Is that what you are doing? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  -----you actually know the facts. We have not taken in \u20ac38 million. That is your first mistake. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  It is not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Second, you have called on us to remove excise on home heating oil but there is no excise on home heating oil. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  There is. Do not be stupid. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  There is not. Third, you said your proposals----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Will I show you the manual? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  -----would cost \u20ac100 million a month but they would not. One week, three mistakes. We need to actually engage constructively. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Do you not know that mineral oil tax is excise? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Thank you, T\u00e1naiste. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Many people across here are trying to operate constructively----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Are you serious? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  -----but what has happened this week is Sinn F\u00e9in has been left isolated not just by the Government parties----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  You should conclude, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  -----but also by the Opposition parties because it is engaging in populist, performative politics----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy Sheehan. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  -----at a time of serious national challenge. Please grow up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I might try to go back to football----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  We started well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  -----to wish Troy Parrott and our boys in green all the best of luck tonight in Prague. We are all hoping for a hat-trick.  T\u00e1 cruach\u00e1s na gcostas maireacht\u00e1la ag \u00e9ir\u00ed n\u00edos measa, go h\u00e1irithe \u00f3 thaobh tion\u00f3nta\u00ed de. The cost-of-living emergency is getting worse. The measures the Government announced mean the cost of living will remain stubbornly high for workers and families who cannot make ends meet. Renters are not immune from this crisis and are in fact the worst hit as they face double-digit rent increases under the Government\u2019s rent hike Bill and sky-high energy and grocery bills. We are also seeing a growing wave of evictions - in fact, the highest rate of evictions since the Famine. There was a 41% increase in evictions in the last quarter of 2025. Today we learn house prices are up again, this time by nearly 4% in the year to March, which pushes home ownership further out of reach. This rolling series of mass evictions is the result of the housing policies of Fine Gael and Fianna F\u00e1il. We have had 20 families in Limerick, 14 families in an apartment complex in Ballybane in Galway and six incredibly vulnerable households in a retirement village in Sligo, including Frank, an 88-year-old wheelchair user with dementia, and his wife Elizabeth, aged 84, who has been his carer. Is the eviction of an elderly couple with dementia from a retirement home the housing policy the T\u00e1naiste stands over?  While the Minister and his Department roll out the red carpet for institutional investors in Cannes with the promise of higher rents and higher returns, 41% of renters are at risk of poverty and a growing number spend 50% of their income on rent. Tomorrow the homeless figures will set another shameful record and there has been nearly a decade of foot-dragging on the regulation of short-term lets. The housing crisis is being paid for by renters, who have nowhere to go when evicted, and Fianna F\u00e1il told us six years ago it would solve the housing crisis and Fine Gael said the same thing a decade ago. We are still waiting and the problem is getting worse. In Spain, as part of its response to the crisis, the S\u00e1nchez Government has extended rental agreements by two years, which will stop evictions and freeze rents, while here in Ireland, Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael are facilitating a wave of mass evictions and allowing landlords to hike the rent to the market rate in between tenancies.  As rents surge and a tsunami of evictions gets under way, will the Government intervene to protect renters? Will it freeze rent increases like Spain has and will it put a moratorium on evictions? What new cost-of-living measures will this Government bring forward for renters? Will it at the very least double the renter\u2019s tax credit, as Labour has called for? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Sheehan for raising the matter and the impact of the real cost-of-living pressures, the current conflict and how, for the purposes of his question, they are having a particular impact on those renting as well. I will make a couple of points. One of the reasons the Government this week provided a package of \u20ac250 million for a time-bound period was a recognition that the economic medicine we are endeavouring to administer now may need a different type of prescription in the time ahead. I say that genuinely with humility because I cannot predict - respectfully, no one in this House can, and I am not sure there are many people in the world who can - where the scale of economic challenge will go and where the key areas of pressure may be in the time ahead. The Deputy has not done this, but I certainly would not want the Government's position to be misrepresented to suggest we are talking about the end of May and then we will see an end to this moment of economic challenge. That is not looking likely, based on what we see now. We may well have to come back to the House at future moments and indeed in budgets in the time ahead and have conversations about further assistance and interventions to support our economy and our people, should this conflict go on for a prolonged period. I know we all hope it de-escalates and ends because the quickest way to provide economic stability and move through this period of economic challenge is, of course, for this awful conflict to stop. That is before we even get to the humanitarian impact of war, which we should never be numb to in this House.  I disagree with the Deputy on how investors are presented. Even the Housing Commission report recognised that while the Government has to continue to invest more in housing, private investment will also be required. We need people to come to this country and invest privately in building and providing homes too. That is good and I think all parts of this island, and the Administrations in both parts of this island, were represented in trying to attract investment at the event in Cannes.  On short-term lets, the Deputy makes a fair point that this has been going on for quite a while. It is important we get it right and we are moving towards legislating on this. I have had very good meetings with the Ministers, Deputies Burke and Browne, in recent days on it.  We want to make sure we can provide additional housing stock but also protect housing stock for the tourism industry, particularly in rural Ireland. We almost have a way forward on that.  We have a different view when it comes to protections for renters. I genuinely believe the Bill we brought forward does bring in a suite of measures to protect tenants, the likes of which we have not seen in this country before. There will be six-year tenancies for the first time ever. The RPZs will be done on a nationwide basis for the first time ever. I recall when this D\u00e1il was first convened many in the Opposition thought the Government was going to get rid of the RPZs. Not only did we not get rid of the RPZs, we made them nationwide. As well as that we brought in what are effectively bans on no fault evictions for future tenancies.  I am concerned about what the Deputy said about the case in County Sligo. There are clear rules but there is also basic compassion and decency. If the Deputy sends me further details, I would be very happy to look into it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  The T\u00e1naiste selectively quoted from a number of sources, including the Housing Commission. The fact of the matter in regard to short-term lets is the Government is already talking about weakening the legislation by increasing the population cap and putting in exemptions that were not there when the original legislation was mooted.  The housing crisis has become so severe that an 88-year-old with dementia is being evicted in County Sligo as we speak. That is how bad it has become under the watch of this Government. In his response, the T\u00e1naiste did not actually address the question I asked, which was: what new cost-of-living measures will the Government bring forward to protect renters? Will the Government look at increasing the renter's tax credit? At the very least it is something the Government could, and should, do because this cost-of-living crisis is impacting renters the most. They are the most vulnerable people in the housing system at the moment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  We brought in measures this week that benefit everybody in terms of the cost of fuel at the pump. That was the important and right thing to do. What the Deputy is highlighting in this House today concerns renters. I say this respectfully; I hear other people highlighting different aspects in media and newspaper commentary. We have to be very careful with the economic interventions we make. There is an annual budgetary process. We will have an annual budget. We have a rent tax credit in place and have funded that tax credit for the years ahead. We will no doubt have a debate and discussion, and there are commitments in the programme for Government on the scale of the renter's tax credit as well. I have to be very honest with the Deputy. We need to have a comprehensive understanding of the depth and duration of this economic challenge. Tomorrow, I will attend a special Eurogroup meeting on this specifically, because we also need to continue to engage and see what other countries are doing too.  On the issue of the short-term lets, I do not accept there is a watering down. There is a change but it is not a watering down. We have to get the balance right here. I do not think anybody intended, or certainly I did not - I not sure the Deputy did - that there would be a situation where crucial rental properties in small rural communities would be taken out of the tourism sector so we have to get that proposal right and arrive at a balanced way forward, and we will. Renters, people who own homes and all people in the country will benefit from the \u20ac250 million intervention and the Government will remain nimble, agile and willing to act further should this economic crisis globally deepen in the time ahead. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  I will start on football by wishing our lads the very best of luck tonight. I will also stay on the issue of sport more generally because in that welcome, we see a disparity between those who have and those who have not in this country. One of the players carrying the hopes of the nation on his back tonight is Troy Parrott. Troy comes from Portland Place in the heart of Dublin's north inner city, a community that has produced extraordinary supporting talent, not because of what the State has provided but in spite of what it has not. We are very good in this country at celebrating our sporting heroes with the jerseys, the flags and even, I hope, the open top buses soon. What we are less good at is being honest about the gap between how loudly we celebrate these athletes and how we little we invested in the communities that produced them.  There is not a single full-sized football pitch available to children in Dublin's inner city, north or south. That is something I have raised on numerous occasions in the House. The only full-sized pitch in the locality at all is Croke Park and that very much remains behind closed doors for most people in this Chamber. That is a predictable result of a funding model that was never designed to reach communities like Dublin's north inner city. The ESRI identified nearly 20 years ago that sport funding in Ireland is structurally regressive, flowing to clubs that already have facilities in communities that already participate at scale.  Today, the Irish Sports Monitor shows a 19-point gap in participation between higher and lower socioeconomic groups. The main Government parties have invested over \u20ac1 billion in sport since 2018 and that gap has not changed in two years. Where is the money going? The Parliamentary Budget Office has answered that question clearly. Dublin received \u20ac26.50 per person under the sports capital programme. The national average is \u20ac54. County Leitrim received over \u20ac100 per head. This is not about urban versus rural; it is about fairness. The most densely populated county in the State with the highest concentration of disadvantaged communities gets less than half the national average per head and we know exactly why.  To access the sports capital programme for capital work, communities need to own their land outright or hold a lease of at least 21 years' duration. The communities that already have facilities get more and the communities that have nothing remain locked out. That is exactly why golf clubs in this State apply at for this funding exactly three times the rate of boxing clubs, not because golf matters more but because golf clubs and the like have the cultural capital to access the system.  The Pobal deprivation index was designed to weight applications towards disadvantaged areas but an application that has not been submitted cannot be weighted. A community with no land, no lease and no 21-year title cannot be prioritised. Tonight we will cheer on Troy Parrott and the rest of the team and tomorrow morning the Government will return to a funding model that makes the next Troy Parrot less likely, not more likely. When will the Government will commit to direct State investment in public sporting infrastructure in disadvantaged urban communities? A situation where Dublin's inner city, north and south, does not have an 11-a-side pitch is not sustainable. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank the Deputy. I acknowledge his community and constituency have done more than its fair share for moments of incredible national sporting pride, no more so than Troy currently. I acknowledge that it is some community he represents in terms of the scale of national heroes it is producing. If I can be slightly parochial, in terms of a Bray woman, I hope that Katie Taylor might get that retirement fight in the large Croke Park facility in the Deputy's constituency as well, but maybe that is for another day.  The Deputy made a serious point. I will not say I agree or disagree with it but I do take the point about needing to ensure the funding is getting to those most in need. The Deputy was not intending to do this but disadvantage can be both rural and urban and in fairness, the Deputy acknowledged that. Indeed the cost sometimes of providing facilities in more sparsely populated communities can also be greater. While the figures produced by the Deputy are validated and I do not disagree with them, it is not always comparing apples for apples and oranges for oranges. However, the broader point the Deputy makes about the lack of a full-sized pitch for the use of children in the inner city, north or south, is a very valid and real one and one I will commit the Government to working constructively with the Deputy's community, constituency and Dublin City Council on.  We are planning on opening a new sports capital round of funding shortly. I do not have the exact date but I expect it to open in the coming weeks. I will speak with the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, and the Minister of State, Deputy McConalogue, about the points the Deputy made on that. We are increasing the level of funding for sport in a very real way. Part of the Deputy's question to us is whether we can make progress in bridging some of that funding gap. I am certainly up for that challenge and I know Government colleagues are as well.  The Deputy mentioned golf. I am not suggesting the Deputy is, but sometimes these debates can become zero-sum games. There is an opportunity to get the model right for everybody. Golf has brought great success to this country also. We will host the Ryder Cup. There are communities and young people I hope that will inspire. There are young people I hope soccer will inspire. We had the Olympics recently and the inspiration Kellie Harrington in the Deputy's community provided. If the question is whether we can do more through our sports funding to target disadvantage, urban and rural, and specifically the issues in relation to a full-sized pitch in the Deputy's own community, the answer is, \"Yes\". I will genuinely work in good faith with the Deputy and with colleagues to make progress on the matter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  The heart of this issue for me is not about the success. Very few children will ever reach the scale of Troy Parrott or Kellie Harrington. All too often I have to take a phone call from a coach who is dealing with kids who are oftentimes coming from overcrowded and disadvantaged backgrounds, to tell me that their pitch booking has been cancelled or they do not have playing facilities.  The inability to play on a pitch has an impact on their ability to be inspired tonight by somebody like Troy Parrott and take up a ball and head out on a Saturday morning. There is a disparity in simply being able to access sport. That impacts in a way that will not only be felt in medals, trophies, buses or jerseys but in the way that kids will not have access to a role model, to be just able to go out and release the energy kids get to do in sport. This is not just about medals or world cups. It is actually about giving the capacity to young people in disadvantaged communities to play at a scale experienced by other kids in more affluent areas. That is why the sports capital programme needs to involve direct State investment into infrastructure. Anything else is a failure of the same people we will be celebrating tonight and those who will come after them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I agree fully with what the Deputy said. I used to play underage soccer for Greystones United; I think I let seven goals in in one game. I was never allowed in goals again. I knew soccer was not going to work out for me. The Deputy's broader point is right because it is about the sense of community, providing our children and young people with focus, purpose, a sense of belonging and place and health and well-being. The return on investment is manifold. I say this in good faith; I would like to understand more why there is that situation with the lack of a full-size pitch. I am not making excuses but there may be lack of green space. I do not know. I am happy to engage with the Deputy, the city council and the relevant Ministers. Let us see if some good can come from this discussion. Some things are political and some things just make sense to work on together and I am happy to do that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charles Ward  This issue I raise remains unresolved and it is distressing people across Donegal. We have acknowledged the defective concrete crisis is in private homes but even that scheme is deeply flawed and continues to leave many families struggling to get onto it. At the same time there is still no dedicated scheme for social housing, which we are waiting on. Critically, there is no scheme at all for public buildings such as schools and cr\u00e8ches affected. In Donegal alone, we know of 25 cr\u00e8ches and a number of schools impacted. In communities like Raphoe, Ardara, Letterkenny and across Inishowen, this is the daily lived reality for these families. They are living in houses with cracks and damp and mould. Their children are going into creches and classrooms facing the very same structural issues. It is an unsafe teaching environment. Where their schools were once safe, steady buildings, they are crumbling down around them. There is no scheme in place and no clarity on when there will be a timeline for a scheme for public buildings, schools and cr\u00e8ches. This has created a two-tier response to the crisis relating to defective concrete blocks. Where it is unacceptable in a home, it should certainly be unacceptable in a building where children go to learn. That is the reality they face. The State has a duty of care. It cannot stop at the front door. I have raised this countless times and I raise it again because the situation is getting worse, not better. The reality for children in Donegal is they are being asked to learn in buildings that are not fit for purpose. Eventually, they will be dangerous. At what point does this move from failure to act to failure in the State's duty of care to these children? Will the Government act to put in place a dedicated scheme for public buildings affected by defective concrete and address the gaps that continue to exist for social housing in the affected communities? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank the Deputy for raising this issue; in fairness to him, he raises it on an ongoing and, quite rightly, intense basis. The pace at which the defective concrete blocks scheme is operating has clearly accelerated over the past two years. More than \u20ac155 million was spent in 2025. This compares to just under \u20ac60 million in 2024. As the scheme ramps up, additional funding will be provided as required. The overall cost of the scheme is expected to be in excess of \u20ac2.2 billion. That excludes inflation, which has become a very topical issue. We are working to make sure the scheme is designed and delivered in a manner that meets the real needs of homeowners in an efficient and effective way. That work is ongoing.  The Deputy raised quite a few issues so I will go through them. I am being honest - the Deputy represents Donegal but from any of my visits to Donegal I always leave with the clear impression that there are going to be issues outside of the scheme that need to be addressed. That is just a statement of fact. Specifically in relation to schools, the Department of Education and Youth has said it will work with schools impacted by mica. My understanding is it is aware of 16 schools all based in County Donegal, which have submitted emergency works applications for funding related to testing for the presence of mica. The Deputy might have better information than me but that is what I have been told. The Department is working through a mica strategy for schools, which it will develop this year. This will involve adopting a programme approach to the issue but will provide a pathway for schools currently waiting on remediation of mica issues and any schools affected into the future. I am told it is doing this in partnership with Donegal Education and Training Board. As part of this programme approach, an assessment will be done on overall accommodation requirements in each of the relevant areas to determine what scale of accommodation is required over the medium to long term to cater for local demographics. The Department will undertake site visits during the current school year to further inform that remediation approach. More broadly the Department has provided \u20ac225.65 million in capital funding for Donegal schools since 2020.  On childcare which the Deputy has raised with me in the House before, as it relates to mica, Letterkenny Community Childcare was approved for a building blocks grant of \u20ac750,000 in May last year. I am familiar with Raphoe Community Playgroup. I accept collective responsibility for this but I am irked we have not found a way forward yet. It received funding in 2025 to procure an external expert to assess relocation options. It was approved for further sustainability funding to cover rental costs for a temporary premises for 2025 and 2026. I know it applied for the building blocks grant scheme. I think those criteria need to be looked at. It engaged in good faith and the criteria did not allow that application to progress. I was told very recently that it is now through the County Donegal childcare committee in contact about the State-led childcare programme. Perhaps that could be a way of making an intervention. TDs and Senators in Donegal work on this together. The State-led programme might be an area worth having an engagement with the Department of children and the Minister on. It might be an opportunity to try to rectify some of these issues. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charles Ward  A defining feature of the defective concrete crisis has been the delay process. It is delay, delay, delay. We are currently waiting on the revision of IS 465 due this quarter, which is up on either Friday or Tuesday. This is the biggest scheme in the State so one would think the NSAI would make the T\u00e1naiste aware if it is going to be published this quarter. Will it be published this quarter? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I will get the very best information I can and write to the Deputy. The information I have here tells me the NSAI, as the Deputy correctly said, is carrying out the review of IS 465. It carried out a consultation last year, which closed on 11 July. There were over 640 submissions and the technical committee is reviewing them. That is at an advanced stage. I am advised the review will be completed in the month of April. The NSAI will then publish an update on its website when the review has been completed. The month of April is what I have been told. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charles Ward  It will be quarter 2. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Based on this, it will just nudge into quarter 2 in that it will be in April instead of March. The Deputy raised a very specific number of days; I will see if his information is even more detailed than mine but the most important point is the review is almost complete. It will be completed by the month of April and published swiftly thereafter. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_32","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 na Comhalta\u00ed Eile - Other Members\u2019 Questions","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_32","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Callaghan  I would like to use my time to suggest a way to improve cancer care outcomes in counties Carlow and Kilkenny. In figures given to me by the Irish cancer Society, excluding non-melanoma skin cancer, in 2024, 47% of Carlow people diagnosed with cancer died from the disease. In the same year, 47% of Kilkenny people diagnosed with cancer died from the disease. We have made significant progress in improving survival rates and expanding access to cancer care. I pay tribute to the men and women who support oncology patients as well as volunteers in the likes of \u00c9ist in Carlow and Cois Nore in Kilkenny among other services available in my constituency. However, 365 men, women and children from Carlow and Kilkenny died from cancer in 2024.  That is almost one person per day. As somebody elected to represent these people and their families, I find this quite upsetting. This is why today I want to make the case for a decisive and necessary step in Ireland's fight against cancer. This is the introduction of next generation sequencing, NGS, testing as a core part of cancer diagnostic and treatment services.  While traditional NGS relies on tissue biopsies, blood-based NGS is a critical tool in modern oncology. In other words, it is a simple blood test that is capable of detecting more than 50 types of cancers simultaneously. To quote a medical consultant I spoke with recently, a publicly available blood tests to detect multiple cancers simultaneously and to detect inherited cancer risks will be a game changer for cancer care in Ireland. This game changer will only happen if we choose to integrate NGS fully in our public health service. This blood test would allow us to reduce delays, improve accuracy, provide equitable access to patients regardless of geography and guide targeted therapies that depend on understanding the genetic profile of tumours. This is precisely the sort of early detection and precision medicine our national cancer strategy envisaged when it set out its outcome goals of detecting cancer earlier, reducing inequalities and improving patient outcomes.  In 2022 the HSE launched Ireland's national strategy for accelerating genetic and genomic medicine, which sets out a clear vision for bringing genomics into routine care. This strategy emphasises improved disease prevention, better diagnostics and more targeted treatments for patients and families across the country. To deliver this vision the HSE then established the national genetics and genomics office in 2023 to build national capacity for genomic testing and to ensure Ireland can retain and expand accredited testing. We can see that a lot of the ground work has been done but to deliver fully on the promise of genomic medicine we must now make NGS the standard platform for cancer testing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Callaghan for raising this issue. She is right to say there is not a family or community not impacted by cancer. We all have to do more and challenge ourselves and our system, and support our health service, researchers and scientists in terms of what more we can do to prevent cancer and to earlier identify cancer. I think of our colleague, Deputy Peter Roche, who lost his brother Vincent in the early hours of this morning, and I extend my sympathies to him.  I met the Irish Cancer Society last week and we discussed a range of issues, including this in the context of developing the next national cancer strategy. I thank Deputy Callaghan because raising this is timely as we prepare to develop the next national cancer strategy. Deputy Callaghan has been a vocal advocate for cancer care, cancer prevention and cancer treatment. We are absolutely committed to improving cancer care. As I have said, we must also continue to see what more we can do in terms of being innovative in better early identification and better prevention.  The current national cancer strategy identifies the need for genomic testing and hereditary cancer care management. The national cancer control programme hereditary cancer model of care highlights the need to further improve access to genetic testing for patients with cancer and their relatives. We are committed to ensuring this happens. Where a cancer patient is suspected of having an underlying cancer predisposition syndrome, they are typically offered multigene panels to look for changes in relevant genes, if identified, and there is testing for close family members also. It is important to note the HSE does this in line with best international practice rather than through broader population screening programmes. A genomic test directory for cancer is constantly being developed in the health service as well, and the national cancer control programme is now funding a number of tests in adult cancer, including colorectal, melanoma, lung, ovarian and other cancers. Tests have been developed, I am pleased to say, at CHI Crumlin for all known significant mutations in paediatric and young adult solid cancers. On foot of Deputy Callaghan raising this today, I will specifically speak with the Minister for Health and ask that she further engages with Deputy Callaghan and anyone she has been working with in Carlow and Kilkenny on this. There is an opportunity to try to progress this in the next national cancer strategy.  The hereditary cancer steering group oversees the implementation of the hereditary cancer model of care. They are now working to mainstream genetic testing as part of the hereditary cancer model of care. They hope to have this in place in a number of cancer centres in our health service by the third quarter of this year. This will make pre-test counselling and genetic testing available through the treating oncology team for certain patients with a diagnosis of cancer, including breast cancer, which will be a significant step forward. We have also provided funding for posts to include two genetic counsellors, three service support staff, four advanced nurse practitioner posts and two consultant medical oncologists with a special interest in genetics. This is the immediate move that will take place this year as we begin to develop the next national cancer strategy and the next steps forward. I will speak to the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, and asked that she engage further with Deputy Callaghan. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Callaghan  I want to be associated with the expression of sympathy to Deputy Roche and his family.  My proposal to introduce a publicly available blood test for detecting multiple cancers at once is scientifically sound, economically sensible and morally necessary. Every delay in adopting this technology represents a missed opportunity to detect cancers early, to treat them more effectively and to save lives. As the T\u00e1naiste has outlined, we have the strategy, the structures and the investment almost ready. I am looking forward to working alongside the T\u00e1naiste and the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, to see this genetic testing progressed in the next strategy.  I urge the Government to commit to the nationwide roll-out of NGS in the HSE to ensure every patient, no matter where they live, benefits from the most advanced cancer diagnostics available. Patients in Carlow and Kilkenny deserve nothing less than the best that modern medicine can offer. The blood test will help us deliver exactly this. Today my thoughts are with a friend of mine in Thomastown, without whom I know for certain I would not be standing in this Chamber. As long as I am in this Chamber representing the great people of Carlow and Kilkenny, I will fight for better cancer care outcomes for those people. I look forward to working with the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Callaghan and I send my thoughts and best wishes to her close friend in Thomastown. Deputy Callaghan's experience and story is one we in the House all share. It is something that touches and impacts all of us in our lives, our work, our communities and everybody in this country. We have made good progress as a country. Our doctors, medics, scientists, nurses and healthcare system have made good progress in our cancer survival rates but, as I say this, there can be no room for any sense of complacency. We have to continue to see how we can do more and do better in terms of prevention and early detection. Deputy Callaghan is quite right to be bringing forward ideas as to how we use the best innovations and best science, and what is recommended by international evidence, to do better in our health service. I know the Government, Deputy Callaghan, and the Minister, Deputy Caroll MacNeill, are fully committed to this. I take heart from the fact the hereditary cancer model of care will be rolled out by quarter 3 of this year in a number of cancer centres. This is a big step forward in terms of offering genetic testing and pre-counselling to those at most familial risk. I will talk to the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, and ask that she engages with Deputy Callaghan and we will keep in touch on this. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 na Comhalta\u00ed Eile - Other Members\u2019 Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_33","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Pholasa\u00ed n\u00f3 ar Reachta\u00edocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation","counts":{"speechCount":98,"speakerCount":22},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_33","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kevin Boxer Moran","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brendan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","memberCode":"Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  The Minister for Finance bizarrely claimed, in an attempt to defend abandoning 750,000 households who rely on home heating oil, that there is no excise duty on home heating oil. The Leas-Cheann Comhairle may remind the same Minister for Finance what he told the D\u00e1il just a few weeks ago, which was that liquid fuel for motor or heating purposes is subject to excise duty in the form of mineral oil tax. If the Minister for Finance is not aware of these basic facts, I will send him the Revenue manual later.  On the issue I want to raise today, the people of Donegal are being abandoned once again. On Sunday we will lose our midday flights, which are crucial for connectivity between Donegal and Dublin. Cancer campaigners have fought bravely to get the Government to see sense after it entered into a contract with an airline that will see the ending of these flights on Sunday. The campaigners were given to believe in commitments from the Government that decisions would be made last week but this can has been very firmly kicked down the road for a number of more weeks. On behalf of all of those, in particular cancer patients, who rely on these midday flights that will not now operate, when will the Government make a decision? Will the Government commit that the midday flights will return to Donegal and that the aircraft will be grounded overnight in the county? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  On a point of clarification, I have a table I can show Deputy Doherty which states mineral oil tax non-carbon, in other words what we refer to as----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  You are caught out. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  It is zero euro and zero cent. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  You are caught out. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Carbon tax, which Sinn F\u00e9in wants to abolish----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  You are caught out. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  -----but the rest of the Opposition does not and the NORA levy, which we have got rid of----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  You are caught out. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I will send Deputy Doherty a copy after Leaders' Questions because this is one of three errors he has made this week. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Admit when you are wrong. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Quite frankly, a little bit of competency after 16 years as our country's Opposition spokesperson on finance would be helpful. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  You are the Minister for Finance and you do not even know what the Revenue----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Doherty for that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Admit when you are wrong. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  It is there for anybody to read that it is zero euro and zero cent. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Blame all you want. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  The Deputy is protesting too much now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Simon Harris  I will make it available to the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I am blushing for the T\u00e1naiste. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Bring back in the football; that is all I can say. Deputy Lawlor, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Simon Harris  Sorry, on the very important issue of Donegal----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy George Lawlor  Thank you, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Simon Harris  Sorry. My apologies to Deputy Lawlor but there was also a very important issue in relation to Donegal. I just needed to correct that issue. In relation to the Donegal-Dublin ----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Donnelly  What about the time? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Simon Harris  Please, this quite an important----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Donnelly  The T\u00e1naiste is eating into every one else's time----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Simon Harris  I think Deputy Donnelly's colleague would like me to answer the question that has been raised about Donegal. It is a very important issue and one I want to acknowledge. I thought people in Donegal, in terms of the politicians in this House, were working together on it. I know that my party colleague, Senator Manus Boyle, along with Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher, the Minister of State, Deputy McConalogue, Deputy Doherty and his colleague Deputy Mac Lochlainn, and Deputy Charles Ward, have all engaged on this issue with the Minister and the community. I met with the Irish Cancer Society on this issue and we discussed it last week. This is a very serious issue for people in Donegal, particularly but not exclusively for cancer patients. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Thank you, T\u00e1naiste. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Simon Harris  Just bear with me for one second. I spoke to the Minister in relation to it. The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, has confirmed that he anticipates that next week he will be in a position to announce the reinstatement of the midday service and the overnighting of the aircraft in Donegal. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy George Lawlor  I want to raise with the T\u00e1naiste the urgent and rapidly evolving situation with coastal erosion in Rosslare Strand. County Wexford is suffering more than many counties with coastal erosion as we move along. I am glad to see that the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, is also in the Chamber. Perhaps he could also give a response to this. We have a crisis in Rosslare Strand at the moment, particularly in the area adjoining the famous and iconic Kelly's Hotel. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Simon Harris  I know it well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy George Lawlor  This family-run hotel has been in existence for 131 years. Mr. Bill Kelly has said that the hotel will come under serious pressure if we endure another bad winter. It has to be said that \u20ac7.5 million was made available in 2018 for coastal protection works on the strand, but that is still at the planning stage. The strand and this particular area of the strand will not sustain another winter of storms, and we will be in a situation of economic catastrophe for the area of Rosslare Strand because of the impact on Kelly's Hotel. I ask the T\u00e1naiste and the Minister of State to give a commitment that emergency works will take place before the summer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kevin Boxer Moran","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran)  Before I take that question, I want to raise an issue with Deputies continuously referring to us in this Chamber as \"lackeys\". If I stood up in this House and called anyone a lackey, he or she would feel it and I would have to apologise. We represent a group that went into government. I represent the people of Longford-Westmeath who elected me as a TD, not as a lackey. I ask the Leas-Cheann Comhairle to correct Deputies when they refer to us like that in the House. The name calling has to be called out. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Simon Harris  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I will bring it to the attention of the Ceann Comhairle. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kevin Boxer Moran","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran  In relation to the issue Deputy Lawlor has raised, I have met with Wexford County Council in recent weeks. My team met with the council again in the last few days to discuss the emergency on the coast at Kelly's Hotel. We have asked the council to fast-forward a minor works scheme that we will fund in the near future. This will happen imminently. The application will be back into my Department and we will rescue the area of the beach in question. I know the level of vulnerability, I know what is at stake in terms of the hotel and I know the suffering that people are enduring but I can assure the Deputy that in the next few weeks he will see action on the ground. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  After more than \u20ac2 billion of public funds and a decade of construction, we still have no idea when the national children's hospital will open. When we were told yesterday at the Oireachtas health committee that the 18th completion deadline will be missed, it was not a surprise. I am beginning to wonder why we get project deadlines from BAM at all. We would be better off asking Mystic Meg at this point. BAM is giving the run-around to the Government, the hospital development board and ultimately, the Irish people. The Minister for Health was told at a meeting earlier this month that more construction workers would be put on site to get this essential project finished, but this has not happened. The Minister now tells us that she is going to write to BAM again. I am sure it is shaking in its boots. This farce has gone on long enough. The only way this project will be completed on time is if BAM provides enough workers on site to do the work but it has repeatedly reneged on its commitment to do this. Why is the Government not in the High Court today to seek an urgent undertaking from BAM that it will deliver on its own promise? This would not be a lengthy court action. It would be quick and on that net issue to ensure that the hospital can open as soon as possible in order that children across the country who desperately need it can be treated there. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Simon Harris  The Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, is doing a lot more than just writing letters. She is taking a very hands-on approach in relation to this issue. She has the full support of the entire Government in getting this project over the line. It is a project that will transform children's health in this country. The Minister is continuing to work hard on this. She met with the international company, Royal BAM, recently so it is unfair to suggest that she is just writing letters. She is doing a hell of a lot more than that. The other thing that the Minister has worked on with the Department, the HSE and CHI is early access. I am sure Deputy Rice heard about that at the committee yesterday. This has enabled CHI to have access to the hospital which has meant that 3,245 pieces of equipment have been deployed to the new hospital, 930 pieces of ICT equipment and 1,100 pieces of electronic health records. While we are continuing to do everything we can to protect the taxpayer and to keep the pressure on in relation to BAM, I am pleased that in parallel to that, the early access is allowing the hospital to begin to be actually equipped so it can be ready to treat the children of this country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  I want to raise the pain and suffering being caused to people doing essential work in this country due to the massive backlog and delays in issuing Irish residence permit, IRP, cards. Some people who had to leave for funerals or because of family illness in India and elsewhere have not been able to get back into the country. I also want to raise the family reunification rules and to mention a woman called Iby, who is working as a healthcare assistant in our country. She applied for visas for her two children some time ago. Iby has been diagnosed with breast cancer and is undergoing oncology treatment. Due to this, she has been medically unable to travel to India and has not seen her children for three years. Her husband had to come over here to support her recovery so both parents are away, causing terrible trauma and depression for the two children in India. She is continuing to work in our system. In a further twist, because of the fall in her income due to having no sick pay, she is under the financial threshold now for her children to come here. I am asking the T\u00e1naiste to look at her case on compassionate grounds. We cannot inflict such suffering on workers who are here caring for our older people and expect them to be able to survive here. Do we just want guest workers in this country or do we want human beings who have rights, who have community and who are not forcibly separated from their children? I ask the T\u00e1naiste to look into this and to clear the IRP backlog as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Simon Harris  I thank Deputy Coppinger. I will certainly raise the IRP backlog with the Minister for justice, Deputy O'Callaghan.  I will also ask the Minister to look at Iby's case on compassionate grounds, as she has asked. Without knowing the details of the case, obviously my heart and feelings go out, as do those of Deputy Coppinger, to Iby and her family at this time, in terms of her own cancer journey. I will ask the Minister to look at that.  More broadly when it comes to the rules, it is perfectly within the right of a Government, if not the responsibility, to make sure there are clear rules in place in terms of who can come into this country. We want people to come to Ireland, to work here and to make a positive contribution and many do. I fully acknowledge that our health service would fall over if it was not for people coming here. We need to have absolute clarity in relation to issues like family reunification. The reforms the Minister is bringing in are sensible in terms of asking people to show an ability to be able to support their family before they come to the country. That is common sense and is in line with what happens in many other countries. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  It is a disgrace. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  Yesterday the health committee heard that the national children's hospital will not be open, possibly, until autumn 2027. The opening of the hospital has now been delayed 18 times. The hospital that the T\u00e1naiste signed off on is record-breaking for all of the wrong reasons. When the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, was asked recently when the hospital will open, she said that the opening date was in the hands of BAM. This is a startling admission. The Minister admitted that she has no control over the delivery of the biggest infrastructure project in the country. Yesterday, at a meeting of the Oireachtas infrastructure committee, Government TDs voted against pre-legislative scrutiny of the new critical infrastructure Bill. On the day that the national children's hospital was postponed for the 18th time, the Government voted against pre-legislative scrutiny of the new critical infrastructure Bill. Does the T\u00e1naiste not recognise the jaw-dropping irony here? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Simon Harris  No, I do not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  Given the billions of euro in waste and the wholesale incineration of taxpayers' money by the Government on the national children's hospital, does the T\u00e1naiste not think that pre-legislative scrutiny would be a good idea for critical infrastructure in this country? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Simon Harris  I do not. It might sound reasonable to people listening at home, based on how the Deputy has framed it, but the critical infrastructure Bill is very straightforward legislation that is urgently required to give the Minister and the Government of the day the ability to prioritise certain projects. It is enabling legislation and it is extraordinarily straightforward.  There is urgency around building homes and water and wastewater facilities. Energy is an issue we are talking about right now. If the Deputy wants to sit around and talk about it for months, that is fine, but we do not. We want to get on with it. To draw comparisons is just misleading. It sounds good in a clip, but there is no link whatsoever with a Bill that will enable the Minister to say that a flood relief project or a wastewater treatment plant in a particular town is urgent and to ask people to get on with assessing it. There is no link at all. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  There is no link between critical infrastructure and the national children's hospital problem. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  There really is not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brendan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","memberCode":"Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brendan Smith  The T\u00e1naiste and other members of the Government indicated clearly on Tuesday that the introduction of other relief measures would be kept under constant consideration in light of the serious difficulties facing households and businesses due to the increase in energy costs. I suggest that the omission of the farming community and agri contractors from meaningful support in that announcement should be addressed as a matter of urgency.  I understand that three weeks ago, green diesel cost 96 cent per litre. Today, it costs at least 163 cent per litre, which is an increase of upwards of 70%. The excise rate of green diesel needs to be revisited quickly. The silage season is less than two months away. We know that with present prices, the cost of making silage would increase substantially, impacting farmers and agri contractors who would be spreading much dearer fertiliser. Making silage and spreading slurry will be key and essential farm activities over the next number of weeks and the increases will put huge pressure on farm costs and incomes. This is at a time when the prices paid to farmers are stagnant, if not falling, for some sectors. The significant increase in fuel costs is a cause of great anxiety and concern for farmers and agri contractors. We all know that increased energy costs adversely impact other essential farm inputs. For the consumer, food prices will also go up. In his role as Minister for Finance, I ask the T\u00e1naiste to revisit this as a matter of urgency. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I would make the point that there are limitations on what it is legally possible to do to excise duty. This week, the Government took measures on excise duty, fuel allowance and the diesel rebate. Some members of the Opposition are asking me to reduce the non-carbon excise element of home heating oil, which does not exist. I cannot do that. There are also rules around the energy tax directive. There is a limit - I am just being honest - to how much we can do in relation to the excise duty on green diesel. However, farmers will benefit from the reduction we made and the pause of the National Oil Reserves Agency, NORA, levy. The total benefit will be around 5 cent.  I recognise that farmers and the agrifood sector may, like other sectors in the economy, require assistance in the time ahead. The Government will remain nimble and agile in respect of those issues. This week was about excise duty and doing what we could to alleviate the cost increases in petrol and diesel, to help those most at risk of fuel poverty and to provide crucial assistance for the supply chains in our economy around the haulage sector. I am aware of the pressures that other sectors of the economy are under or may come under in the time ahead. That is one of the reasons that the Government has brought in these measures for a time-bound period. It will give an opportunity to come back. I will keep in touch with the Deputy because I know it is an important issue that impacts his community and many people across the country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed  The proposed new Garda headquarters for DMR north at Northern Cross is a project has been in the works for several years now. In my first speech in this Chamber, I raised this issue as a priority for the growing communities on the north side, in Belmayne, Balgriffin and Clongriffin. Despite the money being allocated in the sectoral investment plan in December, which I welcomed, it seems we are no closer to getting all our ducks lined up. We have been told again and again this year that the Office of Public Works, OPW, is in the process of identifying a site for this new station. The T\u00e1naiste knows the area. It is growing rapidly and the need for a strong and visible Garda presence is clear. Can we get negotiations between the OPW and Dublin City Council on site acquisition over the line? It is important for our community. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank the Deputy for again raising this issue. I am conscious that, as he rightly said, he has been raising this issue since his first day in this House, and indeed even before that. I know it is an important issue to his constituents and communities across Dublin north. I assure him that real progress is now finally being made. Following the review of the national development plan, the Minister, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan, secured over \u20ac2 billion for a justice sectoral investment plan out to 2030. Some \u20ac911 million of that money is allocated to Garda projects. That is a significant level of investment. It includes the completion of new Garda stations and a new headquarters for the Dublin north region. I am pleased that there is now a timeline against this commitment, and the project will go to construction by 2028. The OPW is now actively working with the Garda and the Department to identify and appraise the most suitable site. The funding is now there. It is ring-fenced and clear. We now need to see the momentum so the project can go to construction by that time at the latest. I will ask the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, and the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, keep the Deputy closely apprised. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  Gaelscoil na Cam\u00f3ige has been operating out of prefabs for over 30 years. It is a school I know very well as my three children attended it. The building of the school building, alongside the new school for Gaelscoil Chluain Dolc\u00e1in, is progressing, and that is welcome. However, the schools were notified that the autism spectrum disorder, ASD, classes will not now be built. The ASD expansion was agreed and given the go-ahead in 2024. Planning permission was in place. In January, the schools were informed by the Department that they had broken their agreement on the ASD classes. The school is due to open in September. This is unacceptable. Gaelscoil na Cam\u00f3ige is moving to a two-stream intake this year. It projects that it will be up to full capacity in three years' time. The Department might save \u20ac2 million today, but it is going to cost a hell of lot more in years to come. No doubt, I will be back here and arguing the same case. I ask that a common-sense solution is found so that our most vulnerable children can have their educational needs met. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I will talk directly to the Minister, Deputy Naughton, and the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Moynihan, about the issue. At a time when we are seeking to open more classes and there is a school, and indeed a new school building, willing to accommodate those classes, I would be supportive of that proceeding. I will talk to the Minister, Deputy Naughton, and the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Moynihan, and ask them to come back to the Deputy to see if we can make progress on the matter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shane Moynihan  I associate myself with the comments of Deputy Ward. I raised the same matter on the floor last week. I hope we can get a common-sense solution.  I pay tribute to uniformed organisations that work with young people in Ireland, including Scouting Ireland and the girl guides across the country. I congratulate the conN\u00c8CKt team from Lucan Girl Guides on their victory at the first Lego league national final this week. They won the best team placard award. This victory and the work of these organisations, as I know from my experience in my constituency in Lucan, Clondalkin, Neilstown and Rathcoole, showcase the best in youth innovation and show the value of the non-formal education, leadership skills and resilience which they provide. I know that Scouting Ireland has been on a journey to ensure it is a safe organisation for young people. It became one of the first scouting organisations in the world to be awarded the global Safe from Harm standard. This afternoon, will the T\u00e1naiste join me in ensuring that organisations such as Scouting Ireland and the girl guides are supported and engaged with appropriately by the State to ensure they can avail of funds, such as the community centre investment fund that was announced this morning, in recognition of the value of the non-formal education and resilience they provide for young people? We want that to be recognised by the State in its engagement with them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank the Deputy. I will ask the Minister to further engage with him and Deputy Ward. I know the Deputy previously raised the issues of the Gaelscoileanna and those autism classes in his community. We will try to make progress on that together.  D\u00e9anaim comhghairdeas le Lucan girl guides on their success and the pride they brought to their community. The Deputy is right to highlight the hugely positive work that is carried out in communities across Ireland, including his own constituency of Dublin Mid-West, by girl guides organisations and scouting groups. We all had an opportunity to see that in a very visible way during the St. Patrick's Day parades that took place in all of our communities. We need to support them. I am pleased to say that the community centre investment fund, which has already had a transformative impact in communities across Ireland, was opened this morning by the Minister, Deputy Calleary, for the fourth round of applications. The 2026 fund is going to focus on the refurbishment of existing facilities in communities across the country. Scouting and girl guides groups that can satisfy the conditions can, of course, apply. The conditions require that they are not-for-profit organisations, under which requirement the two organisations qualify, must be in existence for at least years, which I imagine many of them have been, and must currently manage an existing centre and be open to the wider communities. Those are the criteria, and scouting groups and girl guides can certainly apply on that basis. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Miche\u00e1l Carrigy  I wish to refer to the capital investment programme for fire stations throughout the country. I highlight the work of over 60 firefighters, both full-time and part-time, throughout all the stations in County Longford. I thank them for all their good work. They are highly trained and committed to keeping us safe in our communities.  I am seeking investment for a new fire station in Ballymahon. There is a population of over 3,000 in the town and the station serves over 10,000 people in the wider community. It is home, as the T\u00e1naiste will know, to Center Parcs, a \u20ac230 million tourism investment. I spoke with the general manager in the past couple of days. By the end of this year, another \u20ac100 million will be invested. Hundreds of thousands of people will come to stay in the over 500 lodges in that area.  However, we need investment into a new station. I am looking for a commitment in the capital budget for 2026 that we will secure funding to deliver that new station to the people of south Longford. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I join with him in praising our firemen and firewomen, firefighters across the country and all those involved in our fire services for the vital work they do. It is important we show our gratitude, not just in words but in investment in them and their facilities. I thank the Deputy for raising this. He has been a consistent advocate for Ballymahon fire station. I know how important this is to the community in south Longford for all the reasons he mentioned, including the many people who now visit Longford as part of the incredible success that Center Parcs has been. Providing fire services is a statutory responsibility of individual fire authorities, or local authorities, under the fire Acts. The good news is that in planning for the next capital programme, Longford has reiterated that Ballymahon is a priority project for the county in terms of fire services. I understand the fire service is now actively working on identifying a preferred site. I have clear indications from conversations I have had very recently that this project is moving in the right direction. There could be positive developments on it very shortly. It would be premature for me to get ahead of the finalisation of the new programme, but I assure the Deputy that the Minister, Deputy Browne, will keep in close contact with him on this. I will keep a close eye on this as well because the case the council has made is compelling. It has been clear in relation to Ballymahon being priority project number one. We have given a significant allocation to the fire service capital programme. I expect progress on this very shortly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Donnelly  Next weekend, many of us will be at the 1916 Easter commemorations honouring those who fought and died for Irish freedom. The Proclamation references \"cherishing all the children of the nation equally\". Just last week, I met the local management committee for school completion at Blakestown Community School. Like all school completion committees, it works with the most vulnerable and disadvantaged children in our communities. It has not had an increase in funding in years, with larger numbers of students leading to effective cuts every year. Yesterday, the Government announced the DEIS plus scheme, a new set of additional plans and funding for schools in very disadvantaged communities. The feedback I have got from schools is one of utter shock and dismay. One school has been selected for DEIS plus for the entire Dublin 15 area. Rath Dara Community College is a post-primary school that is a stone's throw away from the only primary school that was selected, Ladyswell National School, but it is not on the list. Blakestown Community School and Scoil Mhuire, which are both DEIS schools, did not make it. Is this just a box-ticking exercise to claim the Government is doing something for disadvantaged students? If not, will the Minister commit to revisiting the allocation? At the end of the day, it is not just Dublin 15. There are communities all over that are absolutely baffled as to how their local schools were not selected for DEIS plus. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Any local TD will always have a view that their constituency should or should not receive additional things. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Donnelly  It is one school. One. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Hang on a second. The Deputy used very emotive language when he asked whether this is \"a box-ticking exercise\". Let me be very clear that as of yesterday, for the very first time in the history of this State we now have a DEIS plus programme. I do not usually do this, but I remember Aodh\u00e1n \u00d3 R\u00edord\u00e1in looking for this when he was in this House. He is now Labour Party MEP for Dublin. This is something that has been called for across this House for a long time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Donnelly  Absolutely. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  The former education Minister, Deputy McEntee, worked on it, as did the current Minister, Deputy Naughton. This Government delivered it yesterday. There are 121 schools - 96 primary schools and 25 post-primary schools - that will get enhanced support. They are the most disadvantaged of the disadvantaged, factually. This is a start. It is an important start that will make a real difference in tackling educational disadvantage. There will be more than 400 additional roles, 350 extra teaching posts benefiting 700 schools nationwide and the expansion of the home school liaison programme to 130 additional schools. The Deputy should please continue to advocate for more schools in his community----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Donnelly  What were the criteria? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  -----but he should not be so populist. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Donnelly  What were the criteria? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Sinn F\u00e9in should not be opposing for the sake of opposing. This is a really positive development. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Donnelly  It is not about opposing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  It is a really positive development. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Donnelly  I ask the T\u00e1naiste to withdraw that. This is not about opposing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Some 700 schools will benefit overall and 121 will get enhanced supports. It is not box-ticking; it is transformational. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Donnelly  Will you publish the criteria as to how these schools were selected? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  The criteria are very clear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Donnelly  They are not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Do not try to taint a programme that has so much scientific support behind it in terms of educational advantage. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marie Sherlock  My question relates to auto-enrolment. From January this year, all employers in the State have to make the payment on behalf of their employees. Yet, employers providing services on behalf of the State are not consistently funded to pay this vital payment. I say \"consistently\" because some Departments are making provision and some are not. The Department of justice has made specific provision, particularly through Cuan and the Probation Service, for auto-enrolment. When I asked every other Department and Government agency, they completely washed their hands of making provision for that auto-enrolment payment. The Department of Social Protection and Tusla said \"No\". The Department of Health said \"No\" but also said it would be gathering data this year. I raise this because it is an enormous issue for home care providers, family support organisations, child support organisations and many section 39 organisations across this country. There was a pay deal last year but it was a pay deal - it had nothing to do with making provision for pensions. Will this Government ensure that services funded by the State are given proper provision for that auto-enrolment payment year on year? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank the Deputy for flagging this important issue. I will make some further inquiries on foot of her raising it with me. My initial sense and awareness of this issue is that the Department of Social Protection was extraordinarily proactive in promoting auto-enrolment, not just with private sector employers but also with the public service. There was a very long lead-in time for individual Departments and agencies to make their preparations and necessary resource allocations for this through the normal budgetary process that every Department has. The Deputy has got data that suggests some Departments have given different answers than others. I will certainly make my own inquiries and come back to the Deputy directly. I would also appreciate any information she has. I will ask the Minister, Deputy Calleary, to look at that. I will come back to the Deputy with a more considered response. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  I will raise the issue of evictions, which I raised last week. The T\u00e1naiste has probably heard that a number of people are facing eviction from a retirement village in Sligo. I am completely shocked by this. It is described as involving people in their 80s and couples. One couple in their 80s have a child with disabilities in his 50s who is facing eviction from this place, which is a retirement home. There is another example in Galway, with a mass eviction at C\u00fairt \u00c9igis in Ballybane, where 14 households have received a termination to quit their home. We are seeing thousands of these cases across the country. I am really concerned that the lack of action from this Government to prevent these evictions is leading to huge misery and trauma. People cannot find properties within the housing assistance payment, HAP. The tenant in situ scheme has been cut. The new measures do not apply to hundreds of thousands of existing rental households. What is the Government doing to prevent more evictions, to prevent these people from being evicted and to ensure these people have somewhere to go to? Where are these elderly people going to go? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. It has also been raised by my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, who represents Sligo. There are a specific set of circumstances in that a private owner of a facility has decided to sell. I do not mean to call it a facility; it is people's home. It would be worth inquiring whether there are any solutions that can be explored through local authorities or State agencies to assist there. I am not yet apprised of the full facts but it seems to be a particular set of circumstances. More broadly, and we have different views on this, I will make the point that the rental reforms we brought in aimed to create a balance in increasing the supply of tenancies and rental markets, and providing a suite of new protection measures for tenants, including the six-year tenancy and the extension of rent pressure zones nationwide. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  What about all these people now? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  There are clear rules and laws that need to be followed. There is also the Residential Tenancies Board, RTB. We have seen some examples of where people tried to deviate from the law. That cannot be allowed either and was not allowed in the case that was highlighted in this House recently. The RTB has a very important role to play in this too. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  I would like to raise the continued delay in reinstating full An Post services at Doolan's in Blue Ball, County Offaly. This matter has been ongoing since Christmas. It is causing real hardship, particularly for elderly and vulnerable residents who rely on having essential services available within their community. While An Post has indicated that the outlet will be reinstated, the length of time this process is taking is increasingly difficult to understand. This is especially the case given that An Post has acknowledged that the level of business previously conducted there exceeded that of many of its own full post offices nationwide. My concern is that this prolonged delay may be a tactic to have people become accustomed to travelling elsewhere only for a decision to be taken not to reinstate the service. Will the Government now facilitate urgent engagement with the relevant Minister to ensure this outlet is restored without further delay? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy McCormack for raising this issue about his constituents and Blue Ball, the impact that is having on them and his concerns regarding the delay in terms of the restoration of the service and the understandable anxiety that is creating in the community as to whether the service will be reinstated. On foot of the Deputy raising it here today, I will ask the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, who has ministerial responsibility for our postal services, to engage with An Post and come back to the Deputy directly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Neville  The issue I wish to bring up today is something I have raised a number of times since I was elected. Like the T\u00e1naiste, I believe that an Irish savings and investment account model, especially for young people, can make a huge difference. However, I also continue to believe that tax reform for ETFs would offer an effective and impactful means too for those people who already might be in a position to invest.  The goal we have as a Government and one I know the T\u00e1naiste has been really pushing is to transform investment behaviour in Ireland and assist personal wealth growth. This would complement the auto-enrolment scheme that we have already put in place but this would have minimal cost to business and the Exchequer, too. It would also help counter the growth in Irish deposits and provide an opportunity for personal wealth creation.  One thing I want to highlight with ETFs is the deemed disposal rule that it only really exist in Ireland. It further acts to discourage international funds from being offered to Irish retail investors. Can we work towards ensuring the abolition of the deemed disposal rule forms part of the Government's retail and investment plans in the coming term? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank the Deputy for raising this issue again. I know it is one he is very keen to see progress on - as am I - and I assure him that work is under way to ensure this. We cannot be in favour of a savings and investment union at an EU level, which we passionately are, and not make sure our citizens are able to benefit from that here. There are so many people in this country who are trying to do the right thing and put away small amounts of money for themselves, their kids and a rainy day. I am talking about small amounts of money here and middle Ireland. People are playing the rules and are not getting any return on it. In fact, it often loses value in real terms too. I am very keen to establish those investment accounts in Ireland. Work is ongoing on this. The first annual savings and investment forum will take place next Tuesday, where we will begin to parse through with stakeholders how that might be developed. I am looking at what other countries have done and I think Sweden has done well with this. The Deputy is also right that we need to look at what we can do around existing taxation structures on retail investment. He will know we took a first step last year in reducing the rate of tax applying to investments in Irish and offshore funds to 38%. The overall policy rationale for deemed disposal is the issue here that we need to explore and try to make progress on. I am very confident we can make progress together in the time ahead. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sorca Clarke  I raise with the T\u00e1naiste the decision of Government to reintroduce the leaving certificate and junior certificate fees at a time when families are under such immense financial pressure, between energy arrears and struggling with the rising cost of food and fuel. This is also the week when the annual direct debit for the local property tax came out of many people's bank accounts. One parent put it to me that the last thing her family needs is another bill coming through the door and that they simply cannot get blood from a stone. These fees are a tax on learning and they are hitting most working, struggling families and hitting them the hardest. At a time when households are at breaking point, this is tone deaf, quite frankly. Will the T\u00e1naiste please review this decision? Families simply do not have this money. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  For families who are most in need, the protections remain in place and I want to say that. The protections are in place for any student with a full medical card, anybody covered under their parent's or guardian's card will continue to be fully exempt----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sorca Clarke  Not all will. What about the others? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I get confused sometimes as to the Sinn F\u00e9in economic position. Is it everything must be free or is it that we should we target supports at those most in need? If it is that we should target supports at those most in need----- "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Do not tut-tut at me, please. If it is that we should target supports at those most in need and if it is Sinn F\u00e9in's position that every cost-of-living measure that was in place pre-Covid should remain in place post-Covid, that is a very different sort of Ireland. We made it very clear we were moving to sustainable, permanent reductions in core areas; the permanent reduction in college fees, the permanent progress we want to make on childcare and making targeted interventions here as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sorca Clarke  There is no childcare. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  These fees were last charged in 2019. They will be at the same level they were since 2012 which means in real terms, they will be a lot less. Crucially, protections for students in need financially, through that medical card system which means they are fully exempt, remain in place. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sorca Clarke  The T\u00e1naiste knows that is not true. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  It is 40 years this year since Knock Airport opened in County Mayo. At the time, it was thought impossible to build an airport on a foggy, boggy hill but such was the determination and vision of Monsignor James Horan. Since then, it has been incredibly successful and a really key piece of infrastructure for Mayo and the west of Ireland.  It is at somewhat of a crossroads at the minute. It is due to exceed 1 million passengers this year, having already handled 950,000 passengers last year. Under the regional airport support scheme, once an airport exceeds 1 million passengers, it triggers a tapering off of funding. However, this funding scheme is vitally important and has been critically important for the airport in previous years. The management team is incredibly successful and it has many more ambitions for capital infrastructure and to expand passenger numbers.  My question to the T\u00e1naiste is: what steps will he take to ensure Knock Airport is not penalised for growth? What steps will the T\u00e1naiste take to ensure we continue to the investment in the west of Ireland? This airport is really important and I want to see it continue to be supported. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  So do I and so does my colleague the Minister of State, Deputy Dillon, sitting here beside me. I know Deputy Lawless does too. When I think of Knock Airport, I always think of two things. One is the visit I had there during the election campaign. It was a very good visit with Deputy Dillon, former Taoiseach Enda Kenny and others. I think it was also the place where the late Pope visited when he came to Ireland and I think he said \"Mayo for Sam\". Sure look, the dream lives on.  These are the things in my mind but I know it is an incredibly important part of the airport infrastructure in this country. We are an island nation. Our airports play a massive role, as too does Knock Airport. We should never, ever have a situation in this country where we think it was a choice between growing what happens at Dublin Airport or the regional airports. We will need that capacity right across the network. That is why we have invested over \u20ac20 million in capital funding in Knock Airport over the past few years.  Under the regional airport programme, I really believe we will able to make progress and along the lines that the Deputy, the Minister of State, Deputy Dillon, and others are discussing. We are fully supportive of the growth and development of Knock Airport. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  The CAMHS service in west Cork is now in a state of crisis. The entire service is operation with just one psychiatrist and there is no psychologist. There is no mental health nurse, no social worker and no therapist on the team. These roles are essential to any functioning CAMHS service. For years, the HSE has claimed to be recruiting. Yet, no staff have ever been appointed. The situation now is so serious that the sole psychiatrist, who is due to retire in the coming years, may retire early due to the overwhelming pressure. That would leave no CAMHS service at all in west Cork.  Recently, a GP urgently referred a 14-year-old experiencing suicidal thoughts, only to be told that the psychiatrist already had 17 emergency cases ahead of them with no timeframe for assessment. What immediate actions will the Government take to stabilise CAMHS in west Cork, ensure urgent recruitment across all professional roles and guarantee that vulnerable children are not left without any mental health services? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Michael Collins for raising this important issue, which I know he regularly raises. I will specifically speak to the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, about the issues in west Cork and what further actions can be taken there on the issues the Deputy raised. Evidence shows that around 2% of children and young people should require the support of CAMHS but referrals are continuing to increase every year for the service. Referrals to CAMHS increased from 17,436 children in 2020 to over 29,000 in 2025. It is an increase of almost 70% in referrals in six years. That is an insight into the level of pressure and challenge that exists as well.  We have seen CAMHS very significantly increase its acceptance of referrals. It accepted about 16,600 referrals last year, which was 14% more than the previous year. There are now 81 community teams which delivered over 231,000 appointments last year. There has been an increase in funding as well. There was \u20ac181 million allocated last year and a further \u20ac10 million has been allocated this year, leading to a ring-fenced budget of \u20ac190 million.  I know there are real challenges. Sometimes, those challenges are on recruitment. On foot of the Deputy raising it here today, I will specifically ask the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, who I know is very passionate about this area, to engage directly with the Deputy too. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar fionra\u00ed ar 1.29 p.m. agus cuireadh t\u00fas leis ar\u00eds ar 2.10 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Sitting suspended at 1.29 p.m. and resumed at 2.10 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Pholasa\u00ed n\u00f3 ar Reachta\u00edocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_34","debateType":"statement","bill":null,"showAs":"Development at Bessborough: Statements","counts":{"speechCount":17,"speakerCount":16},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_34","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"S\u00e9amus McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Miche\u00e1l Carrigy)  I now call on the Minister, Deputy Foley, to make her opening statement. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Children, Disability and Equality (Deputy Norma Foley)  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an gCeann Comhairle as ucht an deis a thabhairt dom labhairt anseo inniu. I appreciate the opportunity to speak today on developments at the site of the former mother and baby institution at Bessborough. The legacy of the mother and baby institutions is a deeply sad one that continues to be a source of profound hurt and pain for many people across this country. I am very conscious of the sensitivity of this issue, particularly for survivors and former residents of the Bessborough institution, as well as for their families. Indeed, there may well be members of the public in the Gallery today who were born in Bessborough or who had family members there.  The Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes was established in 2015 to investigate and report on a range of issues associated with mother and baby institutions. One of those was Bessborough mother and baby home. As the commission\u2019s report documented, the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary had been invited to set up a mother and baby home in Cork by the head of the Cork Board of Guardians. The congregation decided to purchase Bessborough House, a large Georgian house on 210 acres, and opened Bessborough mother and baby home in 1922. While it was owned and run by the congregation, it was largely paid for by public funding.  Inspections of Bessborough mother and baby home were carried out by the Department of Local Government and Public Health. One diligent and determined inspector, Alice Litster, raised the alarm about the fact that 70 of the 114 children admitted to Bessborough in the year ending 31 March 1943 had died. All but one of the infants were under one year old. As the commission\u2019s report documented, Ms Litster identified the unsatisfactory milk supply to the home and the failure to breastfeed as the main causes of the high death rate and the unhealthy condition of the children. She later recommended that Bessborough be closed to new admissions for at least three months.  Up to the start of 1945, no serious steps were taken by the congregation, the South Cork Board of Public Assistance or the Department of Local Government and Public Health to address the problem, but finally, in January 1945, the Department of Local Government and Public Health decided to implement Ms Litster\u2019s recommendation to close Bessborough to new patients for a period. The mother superior in charge of Bessborough was subsequently replaced. In December of 1945, the Department of Local Government and Public Health wrote to county councils and boards of public assistance to inform them they could resume sending pregnant mothers to Bessborough. This is just one aspect of the decades-long history of Bessborough examined in the final report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes. In total, 9,768 mothers and 8,938 children were admitted to Bessborough until it closed in 1998, which is not that long ago.  The Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes had wide-ranging powers and conducted extensive inquiries, searches and test excavations at institutional sites in an effort to locate the burial places of children. It made extensive efforts to establish where the children who had died at Bessborough were buried. The commission examined the records of the deaths in the institution and cross-referenced these with information provided by the General Register Office. It also reviewed the records compiled in the institution and confirmed that there was no information about burial arrangements there.  The commission was particularly concerned that none of those who had been involved in the running of the institution were able to identify the burial place of the children who had died there. Given the lack of documentary evidence, the commission engaged forensic archaeologists to carry out cartographic assessment of possible unrecorded burial arrangements in the grounds. The forensic archaeologists and the commission\u2019s researchers reviewed all available cartographic sources and aerial images. A site survey was also conducted. While there are a number of locations within the grounds where burials could have taken place, no evidence was found of burials anywhere except the congregation burial ground, which is not nearly large enough for the number of children involved.  The commission also examined aerial photography taken by the Irish Air Corps in 1951. This is interesting because the large majority of child deaths at Bessborough occurred before this date and the commission\u2019s view was that if there had been burials in the grounds, high-resolution aerial photographs would show some ground disturbance or anomaly on the landscape to give some indication of where remains might be located. However, no visible features on the Bessborough landscape indicated any obvious site of the remains of such a large number of children.  In addition, the commission issued a national public appeal seeking information from individuals who might have had information about the burial places of children who died in Bessborough. All information was followed up. The locations identified as possible burial sites, some of which have now been built on, were assessed by forensic archaeologists but no evidence was produced to suggest any of the identified sites contain human remains. The commission also actively investigated the possibility that former residents of Bessborough might have been buried in other locations. It examined the burial records of burial grounds that had been in operation in the area. While it identified some burials, it was unable to establish the burial location of the majority of children who had died while resident at the institution. The commission considered that it is likely that burials did take place in the grounds of Bessborough but, despite its extensive investigations, was unable to find any evidence of a location. It considered that the only way that it can be established whether burials had taken place in the grounds is by an excavation of the entire property, including the parts of the former 200 acre estate that have now been built on, which it did not consider feasible. While I understand there have been calls for further investigations, it is really important to note that there are very differing views among survivor groups about how the site should now be treated.  I am aware planning permission has recently been granted for the building of apartments on a portion of the privately owned land at the Bessborough site. For the record, I must be clear the State does not own the land in question. The Government's response to the legacy of mother and baby institutions is set out in the Action Plan for Survivors and Former Residents of Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions. On foot of the action plan, in November 2022, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage wrote to local authorities, including Cork City Council, requesting that development plan processes give adequate consideration to incorporating appropriate measures to ensure the protection of unrecorded burial sites associated with an institution. While planning decisions are a matter for the relevant planning authorities, the circular issued by the Minister noted that, in assessing planning applications at such locations, evidence of unrecorded burial sites should be treated as a material consideration and that appropriate conditions may be attached to potential developments.  My predecessor, Deputy Roderic O\u2019Gorman, also brought the findings of the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation to the attention of Cork City Council and An Bord Plean\u00e1la, highlighting the unresolved questions with regard to the location of burials on the site and, where any development takes place at the site, the need for that to involve archaeological investigation and ongoing monitoring. I note that in the permission that was recently granted, Cork City Council has attached a number of conditions, including requirements to have a forensic archaeological monitoring strategy and a forensic archaeologist in place to monitor excavation at the site every single day. It is also specified that if human remains are located, all work on site should cease and relevant authorities should be informed. Forensic archaeologists are professionals who work on the recovery of human remains, including in the context of modern crime scene investigations. It is important to state here that if the development commences and remains are uncovered during excavation for building purposes at the Bessborough site, it may then be appropriate for those remains to be excavated under the provisions of the Institutional Burials Act 2022.  The profound importance of both local and national memorialisation is clear from engagements with survivors and former residents.  The Government's action plan contains commitments relating to dignified local memorialisation of known or agreed burial sites. The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage established a working group of departmental and local authority officials to advance the commitment to local memorialisation. Officials in the relevant Departments will work together with a view to bringing forward proposals to support inclusive, survivor-led local memorialisation.  Another key commitment in the Government\u2019s action plan is the development of a national memorial and records centre. In March 2022, the Government approved high-level proposals for a national centre for research and remembrance to be located on Sean MacDermott Street in Dublin. It will stand as a site of conscience to honour equally all those who spent time in industrial schools, Magdalen laundries, mother and baby and county home institutions, reformatories and related institutions, and all those who have lived experience of lreland\u2019s historical adoption and boarded-out systems. The national centre will stand as part of our national institutions and will comprise a museum and exhibition space, the development of which will be led by the National Museum of Ireland, a research centre and repository of records related to institutional trauma in the 20th century, which will form part of the National Archives, and a garden space for reflection and remembrance.  There has been significant progress on the development of the centre. In July 2023, the Government approved the master plan for the national centre campus and the preliminary business case for the main national centre buildings. In March 2024, the Government approved further key project documents, including the preliminary business case for the full national centre campus. An application for planning permission was submitted in November 2024, and planning permission was granted by Dublin City Council in February 2025. Enabling works are under way at the site and main works are expected to commence later this year.  Survivor members were recently appointed to the steering group that is driving the overall co-ordinated development of the national centre campus. In addition to survivors, the steering group membership includes the special advocate for survivors and representatives of the relevant State bodies. While physically situated in Dublin, the national centre will be accessible for all survivors and affected persons in other parts of Ireland and abroad. This will be made possible through the provision of digital access to some records and exhibits. In addition, it is envisaged physical presences will be developed elsewhere, including in conjunction with some local museums, to enable survivors to visit more easily.  I fully acknowledge the trauma that must come with not knowing the burial location of one\u2019s family members. I acknowledge that the application to build on lands at Bessborough, and the granting of planning permission for that application, has reawakened much of that trauma. I would like to express my sincere understanding of how difficult this has been for mothers who stayed in Bessborough and for the children who were born there. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Miche\u00e1l Carrigy)  I thank the Minister for that. I also welcome to the Chamber any persons in the Public Gallery who are associated with the Bessborough development. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  I am going to talk about Bessborough, but I will also talk about the entire system of mother and baby homes, industrial schools and county homes. We have had many apologies in this House, and rightly so; they are welcome. Too often, however, the State has failed to truly get to grips with what was actually in place in this State, that is, an entire system that was integrated between county homes, Magdalen laundries, mother and baby homes and industrial schools. To say it was a dark period of our history is an understatement, and I will return to that because it is not merely history. This was an entire system that had the imprimatur of the State and that the State was entirely complicit in. The State's response has always been to treat it as piecemeal and a bit of wrongdoing by institutions here and there, instead of really confronting the fact the State fully endorsed and was part of this system, and to a large extent relied on the system.  There has not been a frank and honest recognition of the pain that was caused. The most obvious example of that was the heartlessness of the six-month limit for compensation under the mother and baby home scheme, as if the trauma of separation was any less for those who fell under that bracket. We know now very clearly that trauma exists right from birth and that separation would have been created. That was one of the most callous proposals and decisions adopted by any Government in recent years.  Bessborough puts it into stark relief. We can all acknowledge maternal health in the forties and fifties in Ireland was not what it should have been, but to say the standards in Bessborough fell below that does not even begin to cover it. Public health reports looking at this saw an infant mortality rate of 82% in some years in the forties. The cause of death of some 20% of the deaths in Bessborough in the forties and fifties was marasmus, a form of severe malnutrition. People were dying in Bessborough in Cork in the forties and fifties for want of food and nutrition.  It is also important to say this is not only history, and we would make a profound mistake in treating this as only a period that can be looked back on and examined in a historical context. There are people in the Public Gallery and watching on whose brothers, sisters and mothers were in Bessborough. For those people, this is profoundly real. This is about being able to identify where their loved ones were buried; that is what we are talking about. I was at an oral hearing for one of the previous applications, which was thankfully refused, and I remember a debate between esteemed, capable people who had different opinions on how to interpret old ordnance survey maps. One set of experts was trying to say, \"Well, the marking there for a burial ground represents the order's burial ground over here\", while another expert was saying, \"No, very clearly, this burial ground could potentially have been there.\" Which of them was right?  The point of this, and what has stayed with me since then, is that this was no ordinary housing application. This was a housing application talking about whether or not children had been buried there. That was the fundamental point. It is no ordinary planning application that we are discussing now. It is profoundly wrong and hurtful to build there. The Government will say it cannot interfere in planning locations, but there could have been a Government intervention in the Institutional Burials Bill. It is not only in Bessborough but also in Sean Ross Abbey and other locations across the State, and the Government should have recognised that. We have been talking for some time in this House about this issue as regards the institutions and where children were buried. Some 700 children who died at Bessborough are unaccounted for. We do not know where they are buried. It is absolutely appalling.  I have talked about the State's complicity in this. A story just reported today that the State's Chief Medical Adviser, James Deeny, communicated to Bessborough that they would put aside their investigation if the death rate continued to decline. That is what we are talking about here, the potential burial place of children. The Government needs to find some legislative mechanism to ensure sites such as this and across the State are protected, because this is not the only location. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sorca Clarke  The decision to grant planning permission for a residential development on the site of the former Bessborough mother and baby home in Cork is deeply wrong. It is deeply troubling and profoundly disrespectful to the women and children who lived there, who suffered there and who died there. Bessborough is not just another development site; it is a place of trauma, loss and gross injustice. It is a place where women were confined, where children died and where families are still searching for the truth. We cannot discuss planning at Bessborough as if it is comparable to any other planning application in the State, as if it is simply another zoned map. This is about history, accountability, human dignity and the real impact that Bessborough still has on those who were there. This decision risks erasing history and erasing the often horrific lived experiences of women and their children. These are not distant, abstract stories.  The Minister mentioned 1998. I was a mother in 1998. These are real people who suffered real injustices at the hands of both the State and the church.  They are sisters, aunts, daughters, mothers and children. They are families who were failed and who continue to be failed. We know that hundreds of mothers and children died in Bessborough during its years of operation. We know there are no records for some of those who died there. We know that the commission itself said it is highly likely that burials took place on the grounds. In that context, how can any development proceed in good conscience without first establishing the full truth? I acknowledge the Minister's opening statement and the recognition of a forensic archaeologist but that is simply not good enough.  This week, academics and human rights experts warned that allowing large-scale development on this site risks undermining Ireland's obligations to properly investigate locations connected to mother and baby homes. They raised serious concerns that the full extent of burials may not yet be known and that construction could proceed without questions being answered. These warnings cannot be ignored. They must be taken seriously by the Government and the planning authorities.  Sinn F\u00e9in has been clear and consistent on the legacy of mother and baby homes: survivors and families must come first. The record of successive Governments on this issue has been one of delay, exclusion and avoidance. From the commission of investigation established ten years ago and the sealing of the records to the redress scheme that excluded survivors, there have been repeated failures to confront the truth. Once again, we are faced with a decision that appears to prioritise moving on over finding out what really happened and attempting to bring some level of closure to those women who suffered so horrifically within those walls.  There is no doubt that we need housing, and Sinn F\u00e9in supports developments, but we support the development of homes in the right place at the right time and not at the cost of covering up the truth or stripping dignity away further. We cannot build over sites where there are still unanswered questions about unmarked graves, missing records and the fate of children who died in State-supported institutions. If this development proceeds without a full investigation, without proper consultation with survivors and without ensuring that all burial grounds are identified and treated with respect, the State will be failing these women and children all over again.  There must be immediate action to safeguard this site and a full and thorough examination of the grounds is required. Survivors and families must be consulted and listened to. Local memorialisation must be provided and no development should proceed until the truth is fully established. The Taoiseach himself has said the State failed mothers and children in these institutions, but words must mean something. If we allow this site to be built over without first establishing what lies beneath, not only will history just be neglected, it will be actively erased.  Survivors have endured unimaginable trauma. I cannot imagine the trauma of not knowing where a loved one is buried. They should not be retraumatised by decisions taken without them about their history and against their wishes. A grave injustice was done. It cannot and must not be covered over. Sinn F\u00e9in is determined to secure truth and justice for survivors of mother and baby homes and for those who did not survive. They have strength and resilience, but what must seem like an ever-ongoing reopening of scars and traumatic events cannot continue to be inflicted upon them by the State or any arms of its apparatus. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  Some 18,000 women and children went through or spent time in Bessborough. It closed in 1998. This is not just a historical wrongdoing; it is a modern one right up to today. There are people who still bear the scars and the trauma. To give a feel of it, John O'Brien died on 3 November 1922. He was ten months old. He was a young little baby, who was probably laughing and able to clap and what have you. He was the first child to die in Bessborough. Zoei Bonny died on 10 August 1994. She would have been 32 this year. She was only two days old and she was the last baby to die in Bessborough. From John to Zoei, 921 other children died on that site. I do not have the time here, unfortunately, to name each and every one of those children, but the stories of Zoei, John and all those whose lives were lost too soon cannot be erased from history. The State owes it to them to make sure that does not happen. They were not given dignity in life, but they should at least be given dignity in death.  Over 923 children died. There are 64 graves. Only 64 have been found. It is hard to wrap your head around the number of children, babies and mothers who died in Bessborough. It is unbelievable. Three children died on this date, 26 March, over the years. There was John Coughlan, one month old, who died in 1923; Kieran Lennon, who was six months old and who died in 1945; and Vincent Joseph Finn, who was two days old when he died in 1959. There are no graves to visit them today to remember them and no headstones to mourn them. There is no dignity in their death. The atrocities inflicted on them in life, continue in their death.  People use the phrase, \"to sweep it under the carpet\", about Ireland's approach to mother and baby homes throughout the 20th century. Now, instead of sweeping it under the carpet, it is going to be swept underneath apartment blocks and concrete. How can that be right? What is planned is wrong and must not go ahead. This Government must step in. The solution is to properly investigate where these babies are buried, to find their graves and to give them peace in death. We will make a submission to appeal the planning permission granted. I want to say strongly here on the D\u00e1il record that I object to it. I object to any development on this site until all investigative means have been used to identify where every child and mother is buried. I object on behalf of Zoei and John and all of the hundreds of babies who have had their chance of dignity in life and in death robbed from them. I object on behalf of Nellie Sweetman, who was 86, when she died after decades in Bessborough, and Josephine Larkin, who was only 20 when she died of shock after extensive burns on her body.  The mother and baby homes commission of investigation did not use all means necessary, and neither Cork City Council nor An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la can see the results of the investigation. That is wrong. How can a decision be made without seeing the investigation? Planning should never have been approved, and it must now be refused. The Government should CPO this site and carry out the investigations. I attended a vigil recently and the level of upset was just indescribable. It is hard to imagine the heartbreak people had when they heard apartments were going to be built on this site.  I take my final moment to thank those who have made sure that Zoei, John and every other baby in Bessborough will never be forgotten. In particular, I mention Carmel Cantwell, whose fight for William has shown what an excellent sister she is. There is a vigil there every summer. I encourage anyone to go to it to listen to the stories of the people, the mothers and the children, of Bessborough. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  When we speak about Bessborough, we are not speaking about an abstract planning file or a routine decision before a local authority. We are speaking about a place that goes to the very core of who we are, or who we claim to be, as a republic. There are moments when politics must step back from process and confront conscience. This is one of those moments. The history of mother and baby homes is not distanced or detached. It is raw and painful, and remains unresolved for far too many families.  Bessborough, in particular, stands as one of the starkest symbols of that legacy. Nearly 19,000 women and children passed through its doors. That is not just a figure. It is a measure of suffering on a scale that is difficult to comprehend fully. We must be honest about what this means. These were women and children who endured conditions that no person should ever have to face. Their experiences were marked by stigma, silence and a profound absence of compassion from the State and society alike.  When proposals come forward to develop this land, we cannot treat it as just another site. This is not simply about housing supply or zoning decisions. It is about moral responsibility and memory and whether we have truly learned anything from our past. More than 900 babies are believed to have died at Bessborough. As my colleague, Senator Harmon, pointed out, the majority of these children remain unaccounted for, and the site itself may in fact contain a mass grave. That is the crux of it. Truth matters to survivors and relatives, and it must matter to us as legislators.  To proceed with development in the absence of a full and thorough investigation would not just be premature; it would be wrong. It would risk closing off avenues to truth which have already been denied for decades, and send a message that expediency can have precedent over dignity.  My colleague on Cork City Council, Councillor Peter Horgan, has been extremely clear on this. This is a deeply painful and shameful chapter in Ireland\u2019s history and any future of the site must be guided by sensitivity, transparency and respect. It should, most importantly, be conscious of the pain and suffering of survivors. We in the Labour Party have urged the Minister for housing to use powers under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act to protect places like Bessborough from development, yet he has failed to do so. That is why Councillor Horgan has lodged a planning objection against the site.  We have to ask ourselves difficult questions. What does it say about us if we build over ground that may contain unmarked graves? What does it say to those who lived through these institutions or who lost loved ones there? For many, Bessborough is not history; it is a lived experience, a grief that has not yet found closure, and questions which remain unanswered.  Let me be clear; this is not an argument against housing. We all recognise the urgency of the housing crisis, particularly in a growing city like Cork. However, the issue is not whether we build, it is where and how we build. There are alternatives. There are vacant and derelict sites which can and should be prioritised. What is being asked here is not unreasonable; it is simply that we approach this particular site with the care, sensitivity and respect it demands. Ultimately, this comes down to respect for the women who were sent there, the children who never left, and the families who are still seeking truth.  We have a choice. We can face our history in full, however uncomfortable that may be, or we can turn away from it. If we choose to turn away, we diminish not just our past but our integrity as a society. Bessborough is not just land; it is a memory and deserves to be treated as such. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  I express my solidarity with the survivors of the Bessborough mother and baby home and of all mother and baby homes as we broach this issue. We are talking about a matter of great sensitivity relating to the disappearance of hundreds of women and babies. This is a matter of basic human dignity for survivors and for the babies and mothers who did not survive. We are also talking about what exactly it means when the State makes an apology for something. The State is making plenty of apologies these days but what do they mean? We all know what a hollow apology sounds and feels like. How do we know, and how does the State express it is actually sorry when it comes to survivors of mother and baby homes? There always tends to be a focus on the financial redress side of a State apology but true justice requires a much broader and more holistic approach than simple financial restitution. That is the easy part, and we are not even getting that right by putting up arbitrary barriers based on time spent on institutions if one wants to apply to these things.  A genuine apology requires self-reflection and changed attitudes and behaviours towards people who may previously have been excluded and looked down upon and changed approaches to how the State conducts its business so that the failures and sins of the past are not repeated. It requires truth-seeking and truth-telling, reflection and memorialisation.  We know that of the 923 babies who died at Bessborough, 859 are entirely unaccounted for. The location of the remains of 19 mothers is also unknown. The commission of investigation reports it is highly likely burials took place on the grounds of Bessborough. The absence of certainty around the location of the remains of those who died at Bessborough is precisely why planning permission was refused for a redevelopment there by An Bord Plean\u00e1la in 2021. Nothing has changed in the interim.  We cannot atone for best Bessborough, this national shame, by bulldozing it and paving over the memories of those who lost their lives there. Special advocate for survivors, Patricia Carey, has spoken about how this proposal has been retraumatising for survivors. I am sure the Minister has seen the letter written by a number of human rights lawyers and academics from the University of Galway to An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la today regarding this site, and is aware that the State has failed to comply with its obligations under European human rights law with regard to deaths and disappearances. We need to heed the calls from the survivors. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  I thank the Government Chief Whip for facilitating time for this debate at my request. I was struck by something my colleague, Deputy \u00d3 Laoghaire, said earlier in relation to the tendency of the State to treat issues of institutional abuse as piecemeal and individual. If we look at industrial schools, Magdalen laundries and mother and baby homes, the fact of the matter is this was incarceration funded by the State and facilitated by a corrupt institution, the Roman Catholic Church.  I was struck by some aspects of the Minister\u2019s speech in relation to there being no information about burial arrangements. While the Minister stated that there are a number of locations in the grounds where burial could have taken place, no evidence of burial was found anywhere except the congregation burial ground. That brings me back to an experience in my own family. My grand aunt was in a mother and baby home in the 1950s. Her child was taken from her and sent to Australia. We only found this out approximately ten or 12 years ago. She could not make contact with her biological daughter for decades afterwards. There was no paperwork surrounding her daughter\u2019s birth or registration of birth; it was extremely difficult to obtain.  I note the previous application was for a SHD but this was ruled by An Bord Plean\u00e1la as being unsuitable. The fact of the matter is that the Bessborough site requires a national intervention to prevent development. The State has obligations under the ECHR to investigate this and it should be responsible for surveying and protecting the site itself. It should not be something that is left to any private entity. Some of the rhetoric coming from Government in relation to this is markedly different and departs from what the official policy position is. The Taoiseach said Cork City Council should have purchased it, the T\u00e1naiste said he was deeply uncomfortable with the situation, and the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, said the solution was not to CPO the site.  The State needs to step in here. This should be a site of conscience and national commemoration. The way survivors have been treated here, as survivors are consistently treated by the official mechanisms of the State, is absolutely appalling. The fact of the matter is that only two people, Carmel Cantwell and my colleague, Councillor Peter Horgan, bothered to lodge a formal objection to this. The Minister for housing has powers under section 28 and can issue ministerial guidelines. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"S\u00e9amus McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy S\u00e9amus McGrath  At the outset, I thank the Minister and Government for facilitating these statements today. They are absolutely necessary. As we all know, Bessborough represents a very long dark chapter in our past. It extended from 1922 to 1998. It was a very recent chapter. It is not that long ago since Bessborough closed its doors. Some of the history of what went on in Bessborough is known and some is unknown but certainly there were horrors in relation to it. Some of that is documented but much of it is not. As we have outlined here today, 9,768 women and girls went through Bessborough, and 8,938 children also experienced it.  That is over 18,000 human beings, as Deputy Gould referred to earlier. A total of 923 children died in Bessborough. We know that only a very tiny number of those are accounted for. These facts are stark and very significant. I acknowledge that the commission of investigation undertook work on the Bessborough site. It also concluded that it is likely there are further burial sites relating to Bessborough. The fact that the commission said it has found no evidence as to where these may be located should not in any way be used as a reason to suggest the Bessborough site can be developed. We absolutely need to err on the side of caution on this. The 923 figure is stark in terms of our past as a country.  With regard to the role of Cork City Council, a unanimous motion, as I understand it, has been passed regarding the compulsory purchase order, CPO, of the site. I do not understand how the council has not been more proactive over the years on the site. As someone who served on the council for many years I know that councillors have a lot of powers in the development plan over the zoning of land and designating and categorising of land. I genuinely do not understand how the Bessborough site was not protected in various city development plans over the years. That was a mistake and that was unfortunate but that is where we are now. As we know, there is planning permission in place.  As housing spokesperson for my party, I speak week in and week out on the need for housing supply and on the housing crisis, and how that is impacting on our citizens in an acute way. We need housing but there are limits and exceptions to that. This situation is an exception to that. I have no difficulty in saying, as a housing spokesperson, that this site should not be developed. I may come in for some criticism on this given my role but I absolutely stand over it. There are exceptions to everything and this is one of them given the very dark past that occurred in Bessborough. I ask that the Government does everything to find a different way forward here. It is possible to find an alternative way forward. As public representatives, we all know the reality when there is a planning permission and it is appealed to An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la. If that is allowed to follow through on its course, there will be a decision. There is a window there for the Government to consider what it can do on this. I acknowledge that the options are limited but there is scope to examine this. I thank the Minister for being here and for listening to us today. Family members of survivors and survivors are with us here today in the Public Gallery. I acknowledge them making the journey from Cork to listen to the debate, which is so important. It is a large site. As a Deputy said earlier, it should be a site of conscience. It should be a site that is protected and preserved in respect of those who experienced Bessborough and in respect of their family members. We have a duty as public representatives to work together and collectively to try to find a way forward here that meets those needs better. I ask that the Government does this. We need to err on the side of caution and that is what I ask to happen. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  Today's statements on Bessborough are welcome and very important but they will be meaningless unless the Government takes action on foot of the debate today. I urge the Minister to listen to the contributions from across the House, including by Members from her own party, who are calling on the Government to intervene. The bottom line is that apartments should not be built on what is very likely a mass grave. It would not be accepted anywhere else and we cannot accept it here. N\u00edl s\u00e9 ceart.  Last week I spoke at a protest outside the gates of Leinster House. I want to say directly to the Minister what I said to the survivors and their supporters at that gathering. Recently I attended a vigil organised at the Bessborough site in Cork. Afterwards I took time to look at the death records from the institution: 923 children died in the care of the nuns in Bessborough. The scale of the suffering cannot be overstated, yet only 64 burials are accounted for. The commission of investigation into mother and baby homes found that it is very likely the remains of infants are buried on this site.  During the 1940s in Ireland, the infant mortality rate was 6.5%. In Bessborough, it was nearly 61%, which is ten times higher. The State knew this and it turned a blind eye. Officials in the Department of Local Government and Public Health at the time recognised that should Bessborough deaths be leaked to the public it would result in a \"public scandal\". All these years later all we have is a decision to grant permission to build apartments on the site that saw so much tragedy. Some of those in power think that this is an issue of the past. They could not be more wrong. The survivors of Bessborough have never received justice. Families are still looking for information and answers. This is not just about Bessborough. If the planning permission goes through here, it sets a precedent for the use of other grounds and other institutions such as those in Sean Ross Abbey and Castlepollard where burials also remain unaccounted for.  These children matter, the survivors matter and our history matters. The Government cannot treat this like a normal planning application and sit idly by as concrete is poured over graves. Despite what the Government might say, our reckoning with this dark period of our history is not over. It is crucially important that future generations understand what happened here and elsewhere. We need a full investigation of the grounds of Bessborough. This should be followed by sensitive excavation of the site, which should then be subject to a CPO to establish a memorial for all those who suffered. The Minister mentioned the museum in Dublin but survivors elsewhere across the country, including in Cork, also need a space, not just an apartment complex. Every attempt to reckon with this period of our history has been deeply flawed. Time and again successive Governments have failed survivors. This cycle must end. That starts with the Minister intervening to stop this planning application at Bessborough. Abuse cannot, and must not, be cemented over. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  I welcome to the Public Gallery people who were incarcerated in Bessborough and other institutions. I particularly welcome Councillor Noelle Brown who was born in Bessborough and who has been an activist in this area for decades. Noelle has tirelessly highlighted the wrong done in this country.  We are at a tipping point in how we acknowledge and make amends for our history and the large-scale human rights abuses that took place in mother and baby institutions. The incarceration of women and the forced disappearance of their infants and children, either through death or forced adoption, has left a legacy that affects not only survivors but us as a nation. Thanks to Catherine Corless, we finally have a sensitive excavation taking place in Tuam. It has signalled to survivors that these children mattered not only to their families and mothers but also to this country. The news that planning permission was granted at Bessborough, the site of another mass grave, caused deep pain for survivors of that institution and sent shock waves to survivors of other institutions where thousands of children's burials were also unaccounted for. The recent protest outside the D\u00e1il and the phenomenal public support that followed illustrates clearly that the people of Ireland want the remains of the children in Bessborough dealt with equally sensitively as those at Tuam. The stories told by survivors were absolutely heartbreaking and they have been retraumatised by this planning permission.  A second protest by students and teachers from Larkin Community College was a tender and sincere questioning of why the Bessborough children do not matter. These young people, students from the college, made paper hearts with the names of the 923 children whose remains are disposed of at Bessborough and the cruel way that each one of them died. It would take me 45 minutes to read out the names of every one of those 923 children. The children of Bessborough were not buried; they were disposed of in the hope that they would be forgotten and never recovered. The plan to build on that mass grave is a double cruelty at a time we should know better. This is not who we are as a country. This is not who we are as a nation. It is not what we want as a country to see happen. The children of Larkin Community College have been very clear in what they want. They want to make sure that every one of those children is valued and loved and remembered, not only by their families but by us as a country.  It is well-documented that Bessborough was a cruel and cold place for every mother and every child incarcerated there. To have them subjected to that cruelty at their most vulnerable can never be forgotten.  To leave a mother grieving the loss of her child for decades with no grave to visit, and then to decide to pour concrete over a sensitive site is a modern cruelty that has no place in Ireland in 2026. It is not who we are as a nation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  I am conscious that this will be my last contribution, and I am sure that of others, before we head off for the Easter holidays. The Easter celebrations have a particular resonance in Ireland because we celebrate the parts of our history where we were valiant. We will probably visit commemoration sites and read testimony on walls about a nation that proudly professed that it would cherish all of its children equally. I hope those of us at those commemorations can reflect on the motion before us and think about the 923 children who were not held to that standard. They are children whose names and the fact they existed is known through birth certs, but we know nothing of how they died and where they were laid to rest. We all know that history is a continuum. When we go to those commemorations and speak of being part of a republican ilk, we know each one of those lines. The failures that befell babies in Bessborough were similar to those of the women and children who were incarcerated, were forced to engage in vaccine trials and forced adoptions, and were cruelly treated. They were failed but we become part of that failure when we become complicit in the cover-up and when we pour cement to ensure we can never establish the facts. We may never be able to find their little bodies. In becoming complicit, we in this Chamber become part of the continuum of failure that has not yet led to a true reckoning of ourselves as a State. As a nation, we are defined not only by what we choose to commemorate but also by how we choose to commemorate it. In the coming two weeks we will talk about the parts of our history where we were valiant but at the same time we will be complicit in a scenario where we pour cement over a place where 923 babies are buried. That is a failure of our own history. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  The nub of the issue, in terms of the outrage currently being experienced within the survivor community, is the treatment by this Government and successive Governments of victims of State wrongdoing. The Government needs to display compassion, humility and understanding, but that is not coming through and has not come through in the context of the survivors of industrial schools, Magdalene laundries and symphysiotomy. The list goes on. Instead, what we see is a litigious, legally minded and legally focused response to victims of State wrongdoing and ultimately an attitude of waiting for people to die out and for the problem to simply die. In my role in a previous organisation, I advised the interdepartmental working group on the redress programme for the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes. One of my main messages within that forum was that there was too much dominance of legal thinking and too little humility and compassion. In that exercise I listened to survivors of mother and baby homes. I was struck by how many of them have shaped their lives around their experiences. These people have got qualifications in human rights so they can argue their case. They have fought for decades for justice and to be seen and heard, and many of them will die before they ever see it. This current development is just another demonstration and display of this Government's failure to grasp that concept. When we as a State have so brutally failed a group of people, the Government and all of us must show utter humility and absolute compassion when we engage with people and deal with all of these issues. Building and concreting over the site of a mother and baby home is so far from that that it really is horrific. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Paul O'Shea  This matter goes to the heart of how we as a State reckon with our past and respond to those who continue to live with its consequences. The focus today is on the history of Bessborough and the wider legacy of mother and baby institutions in this country. Bessborough was one of a network of institutions that operated for decades in Ireland by taking in women and girls, many of them very young, who found themselves pregnant outside marriage. Those women were often sent there in circumstances not of their choosing. Once they were inside, they experienced a system that was harsh, isolating and in many cases deeply traumatic. They were separated from the families and communities and in many cases from their children. Their voices were not heard. Their rights were not respected. For far too long, their experiences were hidden from public view. Children born in Bessborough, like those born in similar institutions across the State, faced their own stark realities. Many were adopted, often without full or informed consent from their mothers. Others remained in the institution for periods of time. Tragically, many in Bessborough did not survive. For decades the story of these women and children was not spoken about openly. There was silence at a societal and institutional level. Silence was imposed on those who lived through those experiences. It is only in more recent years, through the courage and persistence of survivors, that the full extent of what happened in places like Bessborough has come to light.  The establishment of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes was a significant step in that process. Its final report provided an important record and acknowledgement of what occurred. It documented the conditions within those institutions and the experiences of those who were there. As we know, reports alone cannot answer every question or address every concern. The legacy of our mother and baby institutions remains one of the most painful chapters in our State's history. While the Government's action plan for survivors and former residents is a step in the right direction, we must say honestly that it does not go far enough, particularly when it comes to the protection of unrecorded burial sites. The request from the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to local authorities, including Cork City Council, to consider these sites within their development plans is welcome but consideration alone is not enough. These are not ordinary planning matters; they are sacred sites, places of memory and in many cases the only resting place of vulnerable people, children and women whose dignity was denied in life. We need stronger and clearer protections to ensure that no unrecorded burial site is ever disturbed, overlooked or lost to development. The State must lead here with urgency and compassion because how we treat these sites today reflects how seriously we take the injustices of the past. We must remember that this is not simply about land or surveys. It is about people. It is about mothers who were denied agency over their lives. It is about children who were separated from their families. It is about those who died and those whose resting places may not be fully known. It is about trust in the State to do what is right even when it is difficult, trust in our institutions to engage honestly with the past and trust that the voices of survivors will continue to be heard.  The Government's action plan rightly recognises the importance of dignified, local memorialisation of known and agreed burial sites. This is not simply a policy commitment; it is a moral obligation to those who were lost to the families and communities that have carried that pain for generations. While I welcome the establishment of the working group by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, what is now needed is urgency and delivery. Survivors have waited long enough for recognition, respect and tangible action on the ground. We must ensure this process is truly inclusive, is led by survivors, and has survivors' voices at the centre of the decision-making process. However, consultation alone is not enough. Clear timelines, adequate resources and visible progress are essential. I urge the Government to move swiftly from commitment to implementation, to support local communities in creating appropriate memorials and to ensure these sites are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve. I am aware that planning permission has recently been granted by Cork City Council for a housing development on the Bessborough site. While I acknowledge that a number of conditions have been attached to this permission, including a requirement to have a forensic archaeological monitoring strategy and the presence of a forensic archaeologist during excavation, my clear personal view is that proceeding in this manner is fundamentally wrong. If there is even the slightest possibility that burial remains may be located on the site for which planning permission has been approved, assurances should have been confirmed as part of the planning process that no burials took place on that portion of land.  That did not happen here and that is a serious concern for me. The conditions provide the work must cease if remains are discovered and that the relevant authorities must be notified but we should not be relying on discovery during construction. We should be ensuring beyond doubt, before any permission is granted, that such deeply sensitive issues have been fully examined. It is now a matter for An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la to determine how this application proceeds from here. I urge that body to take the utmost care and to ensure respect, dignity and due process are at the heart of any decision made.  This is not just a planning issue but a matter of historical responsibility and human decency. The history of Bessborough is not just local history but is a part of our national story. It reflects a time when vulnerable women and children were failed by the very systems meant to protect them. Acknowledging that history is essential, as is learning from it, but so too is ensuring we continue to respond to its legacy. We cannot change what happened in the past but we can decide how we deal with it now. We can choose to listen, we can choose to act and we can choose to ensure no legitimate concern is left unanswered. In doing so, we honour those who lived through those experiences and those who did not live to tell their stories. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  It is an outrage that planning permission would be given on this site where over 900 children, that we know of, died but where only 64 graves have ever been found. It has happened despite all the campaigning of survivors and the groups connected with them.  I will mention something the Minister for justice said here the other day when this was raised with him. He basically acted like the Government was powerless and that it was terrible altogether. He used the words \"... the Government cannot interfere in respect of planning applications\" but of course it can. The Government could object to the application via a Minister, for example. Has it done that? As well as that, this is just part of a pattern of Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael, the two parties that were in power for the hundred years when all this happened, allowing the church off the hook because they do not want the history of their role in all this examined. That is the conclusion we have to draw. As for the idea the Government is powerless, it was in here passing emergency laws for the hauliers over the past couple of nights and it could have passed emergency laws on this.  That land should never have been allowed to be sold by that congregation. The Government should have made sure of that. Which congregation was it? It was the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. As of last year the congregation is involved in ongoing discussion with the Government regarding financial contributions to a redress scheme for survivors with reports indicating they have resisted demands for payment on the grounds they did not act in an untoward manner. This is despite the fact there was an 80% death rate in some of the years of the home\u2019s existence. Obviously it was not like that in all the years. The congregation was asked for \u20ac96.5 million. They have assets of \u20ac37 million. I am rounding the figures up. They have almost \u20ac2 million in cash in the bank. The nuns sold this site in 2021 and they pocketed \u20ac6.85 million. That is the Government\u2019s fault. That never should have happened. Fianna F\u00e1il let them away with murder on this since the 1990s and it could have intervened to put a law into effect so no congregation could sell any site where there were potentially graves. This is an outrage.  The Clann Project has pointed out the Government is legally bound by the European Court of Human Rights to find any bodies that exist and bring them back in a suitable manner for the families of those affected. Bessborough was a site of systemic oppression, and the Government has made sure that that has not actually happened. In the letter the Clann Project pointed out that planning permission was refused a number of times, so the Government knew this was going to happen eventually. I would say the Government is happy to have this built over, so it is another chapter finished for it. The Clann Project also pointed out that under the European legislation investigating deaths of children, mothers ascertaining the whereabouts of the disappeared and returning the remains to relatives is part of the State\u2019s human rights obligations which it has not complied with.  I was not in the D\u00e1il when the report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes came out but I remember reading that and thinking \"Here we go again, another whitewash\". That report should not be cited. It should have been voted down by the Government because so much of it was so mild in its manner towards the people running the homes. It did not use all reasonable means to search for the disappeared children, so let us put that one away. Some of those means would be geophysical surveys, radar, electrical resistivity and magnetometry. I will finish by saying the Special Advocate for Survivors has called for the Government to stop. That is someone the Government appointed. Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael are trying to bury the truth here and they are happy a private developer is putting this out of the way for them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  I pay tribute to Carmel Cantwell, Noelle Brown who I see in the Gallery, and other survivors and those affected by the crimes committed at Bessborough Mother and Baby Institution. I called it a \"home\" at the protest last week and I was rightly rounded upon and told it should be called an institution because these were institutions of brutality and oppression that traumatised, stigmatised and brutalised women, and of course led to the deaths of 923 children. It is a horrific stain.  Over the next few weeks we will be celebrating the Irish revolution - the 1916 Rising. One of the greatest - and in my opinion the greatest - Irish revolutionary, whose bust is behind us, was James Connolly. He was a revolutionary as well as a socialist and warned that if the country was partitioned it would lead to a \"carnival or reaction\" North and South. Connolly was very consciously an advocate for women's liberation and believed that if the Irish struggle for freedom did not liberate women it would be a hollow victory. When he was warning about the carnival or reaction that would result from partition, he was very specifically worried about what would happen to women in a partitioned Ireland where reactionary forces gained dominance in the State. It is appropriate then that Bessborough was set up in 1922 - the year of partition - as part of a policy by the new State of outsourcing the care of women and children to the Catholic Church which then ran institutions where, in one year, three out of four children died, many of them of starvation. I was reading an article I was sent by Donal O'Keeffe in The Echo about the fact in 1947 the State\u2019s Chief Medical Officer\u2019s papers have revealed a threatened investigation by the State into 700 deaths at the time in Bessborough was abandoned if there was a commitment to reduce the number of deaths of children to single digits. It is horrendous what was going on. They did not investigate at the time and the deaths continued, though they reduced.  The dark stain we are talking about on the history of this State is due to its treatment of women and children, its stigmatisation of women because they did not comply with a twisted notion of morality and then the actual deaths of children, the burial place of hundreds of whom remain unaccounted for. It is unbelievable. The idea we would go from that to prioritising the interests of property developers says it all about the carnival of reaction Connolly warned of. We go from this killing of children, effectively, this starvation of children who were buried in unmarked graves \u2013 the disappearance of children \u2013 to property developers profiting.  We cannot do anything about it even though we are trampling on the sensitivities of people who have been brutalised in these horrific institutions.  I was saying at the protest last week that I was born in a mother and baby home. I recently went with my mother to try to find the place. It had been in Highgate in north London and we could not find it. I have been reunited with my mother and the outcome has been a good one. I met somebody at the protest, Sarah - she said it was okay to mention her name - from Cork. She said to me afterwards that she was born in the Highgate mother and baby home, which we did not manage to find. That mattered to me and it matters to her. I got some messages from other people who said they were born in Highgate. We were disappeared to England and then quietly brought back to be adopted. Our outcomes were okay but Sarah was born in Highgate and then was in Bessborough. She is out there protesting; a second generation of people affected by all of this.  The thought that we will build on this site, and that the Government will not intervene to make up and compensate for this State's failure of the hundreds of women and children who lie buried in unmarked graves, and for the trauma that has afflicted on the survivors and those affected, is horrendous. The Government can do it. As has been said, it could lodge an objection. Deputy Coppinger was absolutely right. The Government should intervene and prevent the crime being compounded for those who have suffered in these institutions. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Development at Bessborough: Statements"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_35","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_35","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case:  Deputy Michael Cahill - To discuss funding for improvement and refurbishment works to older school buildings across County Kerry.  Deputy Barry Ward - To discuss information and communication for families seeking advice related to the fair deal scheme.  Deputy Michael Murphy - To discuss the crisis in public dental and orthodontic services in south Tipperary.  Deputy Sorca Clarke - To discuss Cloontagh national school.  Deputy Brian Stanley - The discuss the number of publicly accessible EV charging points in County Laois.  Deputy Conor D. McGuinness - To discuss the rents dispute affecting hill farmers ar Shl\u00e9ibhte Chnoc Mhaoldomhnaigh i gContae Phort L\u00e1irge.  Deputy Marie Sherlock - To discuss the buy and renew funding for local authorities to bring derelict homes back into use.  Deputies Paul Murphy and Liam Quaide - To discuss the classification of long Covid as an occupational injury for a cohort of healthcare workers.  Deputy Malcolm Byrne - To discuss the need for a new building for a school in Gorey, County Wexford.  Deputy Darren O'Rourke - To discuss delivery of a new school building at Dunboyne junior and senior national schools.  Deputy Jen Cummins - To discuss public health nursing in Dublin 8 and Dublin 12.  Deputy Conor Sheehan - To discuss the progress of a new Garda station in Castletroy.  Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney - To discuss the maintenance of social housing in D\u00fan Laoghaire-Rathdown.  Deputy Rory Hearne - To discuss the significant increases in evictions nationally.  Deputy Louise O'Reilly - To discuss the need for a full-time Garda station in Rush.  Deputy Gary Gannon - To discuss the delivery of a permanent school building for Gaelscoil Chol\u00e1iste Mhuire, which remains in temporary accommodation.  Deputy Cathy Bennett - To discuss a Government response to rising energy prices.  Deputy Jennifer Whitmore - To discuss the national development plan for education and provision for Wicklow.  Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed - To discuss the issue of ghost buses and the roll-out of the new NGAVL system.  The matters raised by Deputies Marie Sherlock, Sin\u00e9ad Gibney, Michael Murphy, Paul Murphy and Liam Quaide, Brian Stanley, Sorca Clarke, Darren O'Rourke and Cathy Bennett have been selected for discussion. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_36","debateType":"statement","bill":null,"showAs":"Development at Bessborough: Statements (Resumed)","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_36","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Deputy Robert Troy)  I thank all my colleagues for their contributions today.  As the Minister, Deputy Foley, set out earlier, the investigation of burial arrangements in mother and baby institutions, including Bessborough, was an important part of the work of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes, an independent, statutory body that was established in 2015. One of the key reasons for its establishment was to examine the burial practices and arrangements in various institutions. The commission was given the necessary powers to conduct a thorough investigation of the matters covered by its terms of reference, including the power of compellability and the power to inspect private premises. The initial contribution set out the extensive investigations undertaken by the commission in an effort to locate the burials of the children who died while resident in Bessborough. The commission\u2019s investigation into burial practices extended to many other institutions beyond Bessborough. This included the former institutions at Castlepollard and Sean Ross. These two institutions were run by the same order that ran the institution at Bessborough. However, unlike Bessborough, there were designated child burial grounds in Castlepollard and Sean Ross. The commission found that there was no legal requirement to keep a register of burials in such private burial grounds and that no such register seems to exist. The commission\u2019s investigations at Castlepollard included a review of an archaeological assessment of the Castlepollard burial ground that was carried out in 2017 on behalf of the HSE, which currently owns the site. The assessment concluded that there was sufficient space in the burial ground for the number of children who died there.  The commission also investigated burial arrangements at Sean Ross. It used its investigative powers and issued a warrant so that a forensic investigation of the burial ground could be undertaken. It did this in response to information it had received that the graveyard, when still in use, had drainage works inserted through it and that, based on this assertion, there may be no remains at the site and it may never have been used as a graveyard. Site surveys, reviews of planning files and an independent drain inspection were followed by a forensic-standard test excavation, with multiple trenches opened in areas across the site where anomalies were identified by the surveys. The investigation found that coffined infant burials were located across the designated burial ground and that these had not been impacted by drainage works. The commission concluded that no further investigation was warranted. The report of the investigation was published in full in the commission\u2019s final report, with the survey and drain inspection reports included as appendices. Following publication of the commission\u2019s report, the former Minister for children engaged with a local group in Sean Ross and provided funding for them to conduct a survey of land beside the institution\u2019s burial ground; land that was not investigated by the commission. That survey showed no clear evidence of burials.  We are outlining all of this information today so that Deputies are aware of the extent of the work undertaken by the commission into burial practices at mother and baby institutions across the country. I can understand how traumatic and frustrating the continued uncertainty regarding the burial place of children who died at Bessborough must be for the families of those children. Indeed, it is troubling for the whole of Irish society and highlights, in a particularly emotive way, the disregard with which women and children were treated in this country throughout most the last century. I believe it is crucial that there is respectful memorialisation at the Bessborough site so that we never forget what happened there. I expect that Cork City Council is giving due consideration to this matter and I would urge that survivors and family members are centrally involved in any process around this. If a location of burials at the Bessborough site is uncovered in the future, the Government already has the necessary legislation in place to deal with such findings through the provisions of the Institutional Burials Act 2022. This provides for forensic standard excavation of those remains or for appropriate memorialisation in line with the wishes of survivors and family members.  Earlier, the Minister, Deputy Foley, mentioned a number of actions in the Government\u2019s action plan to respond to the priority needs and concerns of survivors, former residents and their families. These include actions relating to national and local memorialisation, protection of burial grounds, the implementation of the Institutional Burials Act and the appointment of a director to oversee the excavation, recovery, analysis, identification and reburial of the children\u2019s remains at the Tuam site. Other actions in the plan where there has been significant progress include the introduction of the Birth Information and Tracing Act, the appointment of a special advocate for survivors and the opening of the mother and baby institutions payments scheme. Access to records, in particular, is consistently highlighted as an important issue in ongoing engagements with survivors and affected people.  A person\u2019s right to their identity is an important human right and every person should have full access to all of his or her information, where available. In this regard, the landmark Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022 introduced a full and clear right of access to birth certificates and birth and early life information for all persons who have questions in relation to their origins. More than 17,500 applications for information have completed since services opened in October 2022. The new law also contained provisions in respect of access by a next of kin to records of a child who died in an institution. In addition, it established a statutory tracing service, a contact preference register, new powers to ensure the safeguarding of relevant records and a range of new bespoke measures to address issues arising for people affected by illegal birth registrations. The Department has also published information indicating what personal data it holds and how to request access to it via a subject access request. A dedicated phone line provides information for callers on the subject access request process, and information on this is also regularly communicated to survivors and former residents via quarterly updates on the action plan.  Further legislation to provide for the preservation of privately held records related to Ireland\u2019s institutional past came into force in 2024. This was introduced in response to calls from survivors and affected persons, their families and advocates, who want to ensure that records, which support understanding of their identity and the institutional systems which shaped their life experiences in such significant ways, are preserved. While the legislation does not provide for access to privately held records, by mandating preservation, it ensures that future access to the records is not rendered impossible.  I hope this shows the Government's clear commitment to implementing actions that respond to the priority needs of survivors and the legacy of Ireland\u2019s institutional past. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Development at Bessborough: Statements (Resumed)"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_37","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_37","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_38","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Vacant Properties","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_37","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_37","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_38","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marie Sherlock  I thank the Minister of State for taking this matter. My question is about central government support to local authorities for bringing vacant and derelict properties across our towns, cities and villages back into use, and specifically the buy and renew programme that has been in place for a period. In the constituency I represent, Dublin Central, there is an absolute scourge of dereliction. Across every community there are long-standing examples of derelict properties for which there has been no responsibility, accountability or action. There are a few examples of where the local authorities have acted, such as 19 and 21 Connaught Street in Phibsborough, but that tells the sorry tale of how our State deals with dereliction. It has been almost 20 years since it first went on the derelict site register. It came off the register when a bit of work was done, went back on it and eventually was purchased under a compulsory purchase order in 2019. In all that time since then, those two houses have not been brought back into use. The final nail in the coffin happened last year when there were significant changes to the buy and renew scheme by this Government.  There is no doubt there is an exceptional cost to bringing many of these properties back into use and making them homes. I think we all recognise that and there is huge pressure for volume and to build lots of houses at the moment. I totally understand that but it is not acceptable that there are streets in our communities where the blight of dereliction continues. That is a problem for the whole community, not only because of illegal dumping but also for the adjacent houses and the community overall.  Another example is 8 and 10 Ferguson Road, Drumcondra. Twenty years ago last year, the process of putting it on the derelict site register began. It finally went on the derelict site register in 2011 and was purchased under a compulsory purchase order in 2018. Those houses remain derelict to this day. When I talk to Dublin City Council, it tells me it has a huge problem in renovating these houses because it costs a lot of money. There is also a sense, however, that there is not Government support for local authorities in bringing these houses back into use.  We can talk all we want about the war on dereliction and the move to the derelict levy, which will come in and be collected by the Revenue Commissioners next year and is welcome although much belated, but there needs to be a serious financial commitment and recognition by the Government that bringing these houses back into use costs money and a special scheme needs to be put in place. It is not acceptable for any community in the Minister of State's county, Mayo, or in my constituency of Dublin Central to be looking at these derelict houses any longer. We need a specific Government fix. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment (Deputy Alan Dillon)  I thank Deputy Sherlock for raising this matter and for the opportunity to update the D\u00e1il on the modification and expansion of the buy and renew scheme. I am taking this question on behalf of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.  The Department has a number of schemes in place targeted at increasing the supply of social housing and working towards ending dereliction. That is a key priority of the Government\u2019s housing policy, Delivering Homes, Building Communities. We are all aware of the existing schemes in cro\u00ed c\u00f3naithe around the vacant refurbishment grant. The Department is finalising specific details on the updated buy and renew scheme, and it is expected a circular will be issued to local authorities in the coming weeks. In the interim, I welcome the opportunity to update the House.  It is timely to bring this to the fore because the buy and renew is an important scheme but in its implementation we want to change it in two key ways. First, the buy and renew scheme, which is currently led by local authorities and approved housing bodies, AHBs, is being expanded to include a contractor-led approach. That will have multiple benefits. The aim is to bring forward an additional option for local authorities and approved housing bodies to tackle long-term vacancy and dereliction. It will also provide a potential workstream for local contractors and a stepping stone for tradespeople to move into contracting, bring extra resources to bear in tackling vacancy and dereliction, and give certainty to contractors prepared to bring vacant and derelict properties back into productive use. It will also ultimately increase the supply of social homes. As a further provision, the modified scheme mandates that properties must be both vacant and derelict to be considered for the scheme. This modification will ensure that local authorities and approved housing bodies tackle the most challenging properties first, which may not be easily addressed by any other means.  The expanded buy and renew scheme has enormous potential to unlock development that might not otherwise progress in the absence of an assured purchase agreement approach by local authorities or approved housing bodies. This will involve the local authority or approved housing body entering into a fixed-price purchase agreement with the contractor, providing certainty of an end purchaser for the contractor and the provision of new social homes for the local authority or approved housing body once works are completed in accordance with the terms of the purchase agreement. Of course, properties developed under the buy and renew scheme must be in compliance with all other statutory requirements and with the housing regulations around standards for rental properties.  This is an important update. It is important that we maximise the benefits of all schemes to bring more properties back on stream. With local authorities identifying these properties and engaging with contractors through the buy and renew scheme, there is huge potential for greater momentum in repurposing and refurbishing existing stock. That has environmental and sustainable advantages compared with building new properties. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marie Sherlock  It is very welcome to hear this update. If I interpret correctly what the Minister of State said, we are moving from a buy and renew scheme to a renew and purchase or renew and sale scheme. It is slightly turning it on its head. That is not a bad thing, but the critical point is the amount of money that will be allocated for these projects.  We know that 40,000 units of Dublin housing stock was built before the 1940s. Much of this is redbrick stock and some of it is in areas of architectural conservation. There are real issues with regard to how we bring these houses back into use, short of demolishing them.  My concern ultimately is that while the scheme is potentially very welcome, the question is how much the Department and the Custom House are going to put behind it. There has to be recognition here, and I would be the first to talk about how costly it is for the State to buy turnkey homes and how costly can be in terms of Part 5 purchases, which we support. This will also be costly in terms of bringing stand-alone housing back into use. We need to see greater thinking with regard to how it will be financed and, perhaps, the use of some of these homes. Could we turn a two-bedroom or three-bedroom house into two apartments or some such innovation? The reality is that we cannot continue to have these houses remaining derelict.  I look forward to the day when the scheme will be announced. My appeal is that we make sure it is properly resourced. We look forward to the detail on the contractor-led approach in terms of who will take it up and how exactly it will be taken up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I thank Deputy Sherlock for the constructive points she has raised this afternoon. Certainly I feel there are many good local authorities that engage in these types of schemes very proactively. There are also local authorities that fall behind and do not promote them. The modified and expanded buy and renew scheme is a positive and the new parameters are very welcome. The inclusion of the contractor-led approach will give certainty to many local authorities and approved housing bodies. There is a challenge to get small builders and SMEs involved in this type of refurbishment. Many of them are on greenfield sites or involve other large-scale developments. There is a certain niche market for contractors and tradespeople to do this. It is a challenge to bring them into these types of programmes. Along with the derelict property tax, however, it will certainly create an enhanced pipeline for a lot of these types of projects and will inevitably support this scheme. That is what the Department is hoping will happen when we roll it out over the coming weeks.  I take Deputy Sherlock's point on how much funding will be allocated to this. We await the detail in the circular that will be delivered to the local authorities in the coming weeks. Measures such as the buy and renew scheme, the vacant refurbishment grant and the urban regeneration and development fund are all programmes we speak about, but action and delivery are now paramount for many town centres that need this refurbishment and need to have new life breathed into their areas. I welcome the discussion today and hope the information is presented in a swift manner. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Vacant Properties"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_39","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Housing Schemes","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_37","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_37","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_39","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  I welcome the opportunity to raise the issue of the maintenance of social housing in D\u00fan Laoghaire and Rathdown. I am a TD for the Rathdown constituency and there is often an assumption it is an affluent area only. I have to say I have made it my business to make sure those living in deprivation in my constituency know I will represent them in D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann as the only Opposition TD and a new TD in the constituency, because many people in the community are simply forgotten.  My team and I have got a huge number of queries about this and I have visited some of the homes to see for myself. I have genuinely been appalled at the standard of accommodation that some of our social housing residents live in. The key issue is that they are simply living in substandard conditions and I would like to get into some of the detail around it. There are blocks of flats all with the same issues of damp and mould but tenants are sometimes told it is their fault when clearly these are structural issues. I have spoken to families who have been told that while their living conditions are inadequate, they are not eligible for transfer because they are in arrears. We all know the complexity and difficulty that people go through to get to a point of being in arrears and how difficult it is to get out of arrears. To compound this by stating their accommodation crisis cannot be fixed really is hugely problematic. Their health and well-being are severely impacted because they cannot pay rent for flats that are covered in mould and damp.  I will bring this to life for the Minister of State, because when I went for these visits, I spoke to some of the families involved. There were lovely moments with the children, speaking to them about their experiences. Despite all the odds, they really are thriving in various ways, but they are facing such awful challenges. Some children cannot bring their friends around to play. Their parents cannot have their friends around for a cup of tea. They have to time activities because the smell can be so unbearable at various times of the day that they cannot use certain rooms. They have to recycle clothes and toys because they get so damp and covered in mould. This is one of the areas where we really see the price of poverty; because they cannot fix these issues, they end up bearing multiple additional costs. We have massive housing lists but it is absolutely crucial that we have the funding available for local authorities to maintain the housing stock they already have. This does not mean we need to jack up the rents, as happened recently with Dublin City Council, but by funding it centrally as a core part of what local authorities do and should do.  I want to say from a human rights perspective how problematic this is. Obviously, we do not constitutionally recognise the right to housing, but if we accept there is a right for people to have a roof over their heads, if we do not provide for this and for adequate accommodation, it is so hard to realise the other rights that are fundamental to us, such as the right to education, the right to employment and the right to health. They are all impacted by the right to housing. Without a roof over our heads, it is impossible to realise them.  I want to name-check specifically St. Nathy's in Churchtown, which I found to be in a particularly dire condition. I also want to call out the work of local groups, including the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, that help families in the area. They see the situations that people live in, which are simply not mirrored in the private tenancies people enjoy in the same neighbourhood. This is simply not good enough for me. The State and the local authority as a landlord have to acknowledge this. It drives people into places of shame and stigma. As I have said, there are so many other ancillary and knock-on issues that people experience because of this.  We need to look at how local authorities can provide for adequate standards of social housing in the portfolio of offerings they have. Instead of saying we will wait for the next tranche of social housing, which again is an answer that some of these tenants get as they are told they will be available in the next tranche, we need to fix the conditions that people are living in right now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I thank Deputy Gibney for raising this important matter and giving me the opportunity to update the D\u00e1il on behalf of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Critically, the management and maintenance of local authority social housing stock is, first and foremost, a matter for the respective local authority, in this instance D\u00fan Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, in accordance with section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. This includes activating and funding pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, implementing a planned maintenance programme and carrying out responsive repairs. Local authorities must also ensure their tenanted properties comply with the requirements of the Housing (Standards For Rented Houses) Regulations 2019.  Notwithstanding what Deputy Gibney has outlined on the statutory obligations, the Department also provides annual funding to local authorities, including D\u00fan Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, to complement the local authorities' own management and maintenance programmes. This funding is provided through the recent planned maintenance and voids programme, the energy efficiency retrofit programme and the disabled persons grant programme. These programmes, together with the Department's local authority estate regeneration programme, will provide \u20ac260 million to complement local authority social housing management and maintenance activities this year. This is an increase of almost \u20ac60 million on the amount provided to these programmes in 2025.  Ultimately, the selection of homes and the nature and prioritisation of works for inclusion in the programme is a matter for the local authority itself. In the past 12 years, the Exchequer has provided more than \u20ac31 million to D\u00fan Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council for its own social housing management and maintenance programme.  A further \u20ac6.3 million will be provided by the Department in 2026. This includes \u20ac1.3 million for the revised planned maintenance and voids programme, which was rolled out to the local authority earlier this month and will support bringing more than 70 vacant social homes back into productive use in D\u00fan Laoghaire-Rathdown. Critically, the new programme will build on the strong progress made in tackling local authority vacancy levels. As I mentioned in reply to Deputy Sherlock earlier, we have the enhanced buy and renew scheme which will be coming on stream in the coming weeks, the vacant refurbishment grant, and significant funding through the URDF for vacant and derelict properties.  The planned maintenance and voids programme now takes a more evidence-informed planned maintenance approach and the local authority has updated its management systems, with a further \u20ac4.2 million being provided through the Department of climate, energy and the environment through the SEAI retrofit programme. That will see an additional \u20ac800,000 being fed through the disabled persons' grant programme.  The management and maintenance of housing stock is a statutory requirement and a matter for the local authority itself. My Department will continue to complement the efforts of the local authority through a strategic approach to ensure that the management and maintenance of such stock is kept to a high standard. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  I thank the Minister of State for those details. I appreciate that funding is important but I assure him that the \u20ac31 million is not reaching some of the families that I am speaking to. I want to emphasise, as I did in my initial contribution, that this is not just about funding. The way in which some of these families are being treated is also an issue. There are complex ways in which people arrive into situations of deprivation and poverty. They do not want to be in arrears and for them to then be penalised for being in arrears and not be able to access other accommodation that is more suitable, which will then help to lift them out of all of the other elements of poverty, is problematic.  I am careful about what I raise in the Chamber as Topical Issues because I appreciate that a lot of this responsibility falls to the local authorities. However, in my previous role in the rights and equality space, I did some work with a group that was involved in a case that went to Europe. I want to reference that case because the obligation lies on the Government and does not just sit with the local authorities. The European Committee of Social Rights in 2017 found that Ireland violated Article 16 of the European Social Charter due to substandard social housing. The issues that I am seeing in St. Nathy's and other places in my constituency are exactly the same as the issues faced by the 20 different social housing estates that were involved in that case. They were dealing with damp and mould and with local authorities who simply failed to fix it. The knock-on impacts and the generational poverty that we are baking in those communities and those families is hugely problematic. This is something that the Government must take into account. It is not just about the local authorities. While I appreciate that it is their responsibility, ultimately, to carry these things through, they need to be given the support, with both a carrot and stick element, by the Department to actually deliver for these families. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  Again, I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter and for her contribution. We are in agreement that the standard of social properties being rented out by local authorities should be such that tenants have a good quality of life and their well-being and mental health are being protected. It is not acceptable for anyone to live in damp, mouldy or substandard conditions. That is why the Government has stepped up with additional funding for 2026, with the provision of an extra \u20ac60 million for the planned maintenance and voids programme. It is really important that we have access to good quality homes that provide the required comfort levels for the occupants. These homes must meet the standards set out within the rented standard regulation. That is critically important and non-negotiable from the Government's perspective.  As I said earlier, as public representatives we all have an obligation to engage with local authorities and their housing sections, especially when these concerns are raised to us. We need to respond and I accept that point. We have taken steps to improve the system but the local authorities themselves have the reserved function to allocate their own resources to these types of programmes and to enhance the housing stock within their areas. I am sure that D\u00fan Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council has a lot more resources than we have in the west, in County Mayo, for example, in regard to property tax and resources generated on the ground. That said, I take the Deputy's point. We will continue to complement the work of the local authorities on stock improvement programmes. As elected representatives, we need to continue to hold the local authorities to account regarding the condition of their existing stock and to make sure it is up to standard. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Housing Schemes"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_40","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Teachtaireacht \u00f3n Seanad - Message from Seanad","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_40","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Seanad \u00c9ireann has passed the National Oil Reserves Agency (Amendment) Bill 2026, without amendment and has passed the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2026, without amendment. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Teachtaireacht \u00f3n Seanad - Message from Seanad"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_41","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala (At\u00f3g\u00e1il) - Topical Issue Debate (Resumed)","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_41","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala (At\u00f3g\u00e1il) - Topical Issue Debate (Resumed)"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_42","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Dental Services","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_41","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_41","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala (At\u00f3g\u00e1il) - Topical Issue Debate (Resumed)"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_42","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Murphy  As if the crisis that exists in the provision of ophthalmology services across the south-east was not enough, we have an even greater crisis in the provision of orthodontic treatment for children across the region. I can only describe the state of orthodontic services in County Tipperary, in particular, as deeply worrying and shocking following new information that I received from the HSE. Figures reveal that 546 children are waiting for critical orthodontic treatment, some of whom have been waiting for up to 82 months, or almost seven years. There are another 312 children waiting for an initial assessment. Children in my constituency of Tipperary South are being left to wait for the best part of their childhood for essential orthodontic care. This is not a delay but a systems failure. The HSE has confirmed to me that there are no waiting list reduction targets for 2026 or 2027. The service is operating with just 0.1 whole-time equivalent consultant orthodontist cover for assessments in Clonmel. A specialist orthodontist post has effectively been reduced from full time to 0.6 whole time equivalent and vacancies remain unfilled dating back as far as 2021.  It is extraordinary that in the face of such extreme waiting lists the HSE has set no targets whatsoever to reduce lists. This points to a lack of urgency and a lack of accountability. Even more concerning is the admission that waiting lists will continue to grow over the next two years. This means children who are now only being referred may not be treated until they are well into their teens. The HSE acknowledged to me that demand is exceeding capacity, with more patients joining the waiting list than can be treated. Urgent action is now required. We need immediate recruitment to fill long-standing vacancies, a clear recovery plan with measurable targets and additional capacity put in place without delay.  I am sure the Minister of State will agree that no child should be left waiting years for care that is critical not just to their health but also their confidence and development. What we are looking at here is not just pressure on a service but the effective absence of a functioning orthodontic service across the south-east and particularly in my constituency. Seven years is not a waiting list but a denial of care. The most shocking element is not just the delays but that there are no targets at all to reduce them. The HSE has openly admitted that waiting lists will continue to grow over the next two years. We are talking about children missing the critical window for treatment that can have life-long impacts on their oral health and confidence.  Parents are being left with an impossible choice: either pay privately or watch their children wait for years. By the time some of these children are seen, the clinical need may be more complex and, indeed, more costly. This is a classic example of a service where demand is known and predictable but not planned for. There is no credible explanation for having no reduction targets in the face of such a crisis and such extreme delays. If this were happening in any other part of the health service, it would be treated as an emergency. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment (Deputy Alan Dillon)  I thank the Deputy for raising the important issue of the HSE's public dental and orthodontic service in south Tipperary. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Health.  The HSE oral healthcare service aims to provide an oral examination and necessary treatment for children at ages approximating to second and sixth class and, in some cases, fourth class. Emergency care is provided for children of all ages up to 16 and for those with complex and additional needs. The HSE provides orthodontic treatment to patients with the most severe and complex treatment needs.  The Minister for Health is aware that there are currently backlogs in the HSE's child oral health examination programme, which have meant that the sixth-class groups are being prioritised. In relation to orthodontic services, targeted investment is delivering meaningful improvement. On top of the \u20ac240 million that the Government invests annually in oral healthcare, over \u20ac20 million has been allocated to waiting list initiatives for contracted orthodontic care, resulting in more than 5,200 removals from waiting lists since 2020. This includes a dedicated orthodontic surgery programme that has delivered treatment for an additional 266 patients to date. This funding will continue in 2026 with a further \u20ac2.8 million being provided.  The HSE has advised that there are staffing challenges in the public dental service in south Tipperary and that the healthcare area manager for south Tipperary is currently reviewing staffing levels and waiting list times to replace one specialist in orthodontics based in south Tipperary. To support capacity nationally, \u20ac2 million was awarded in 2025, increasing to \u20ac4 million in 2026 for an additional 15 HSE dental staff to deliver oral healthcare in the community. The HSE advises that Carlow, Kilkenny and south Tipperary have been allocated one of these posts, which have been difficult to fill.  With regard to immediate and long-term reforms, the Minister acknowledges that the current system, which was developed in the 1990s in response to the identified oral healthcare needs at that time, must be modernised and aligned with current needs. The Government is committed to addressing the immediate difficulties that patients are experiencing in accessing oral healthcare services. The Department of Health is working with colleagues in the HSE and other relevant stakeholders to address the immediate backlogs in the public dental system while long-term reform is under way.  The national oral healthcare policy sets out the vision for oral healthcare services in Ireland and has two key goals: to provide the supports to enable every individual to achieve their potential best oral health and to reduce oral health inequalities across the population by enabling vulnerable groups to access oral healthcare and improve their oral health. Reform of our services is vital and I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter to ensure that people of all ages can have access to modern, prevention-focused care. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Murphy  I thank the Minister of State for the reply, but there was nothing in it to give any comfort whatsoever to those children on the waiting list across the south-east, and in particular south Tipperary. I am thinking of those children who have been waiting for up to 82 months for a critical intervention. The solution is not complicated. It is about filling those posts that have been vacant since 2021. We need a targeted recruitment drive for orthodontists in the south-east. We need them now. Relying on staff travelling from Waterford to Clonmel a few days a month is not a sustainable model of care. What is needed now is a clear recovery plan with timelines, targets and accountability. It is important that we look at interim measures, including outsourcing or additional clinics, accessing capacity that is in the private sector in the same way we are doing in the context of ophthalmology to bring waiting lists down quickly. This has to be treated as a priority within the regional health structure. The Department of Health needs to intervene. This is beyond a local staffing issue. I want to see a clear plan published for how we can bring down these waiting lists. We know there are pressures nationally, but the situation in south Tipperary is more than acute and cannot be normalised. Even in a stretched system, a seven-year waiting list for a young child awaiting critical orthodontic care is indefensible. No child should spend his or her time on a waiting list. That is the bottom line. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I have listened to the Deputy and taken on board the points he has made. I will bring them back to the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. The Deputy has advocated for his constituents to ensure they have better dental and orthodontic treatment services. I assure him that improving access to dental care for children is a priority. We need an accelerated response to the staffing deficit that Tipperary is experiencing. We must also ensure that waiting lists are reduced significantly over the time ahead.  The Government is investing heavily in oral health policy. This is part of the modernisation of our health service. We need transformation in how we deliver the care at a regional level and not just at national level. Sometimes that is forgotten. There should not be inequality across the east, west and south. Everyone should be on this journey at the same time. We are committed to ensuring that patients who are experiencing real difficulties have access to services.  I will take this issue back to the Minister and thank the Deputy for raising it. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Dental Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_43","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Covid-19 Pandemic Supports","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_41","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_41","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala (At\u00f3g\u00e1il) - Topical Issue Debate (Resumed)"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_43","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Paul Murphy is down to share with Deputy Quaide, who has not arrived. The floor is his. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  Deputy Quaide sends apologies. He was able to make it on Tuesday but not when it was rescheduled. He has been raising this issue consistently so I thank him.  We all clapped in this Chamber, or perhaps it was in the convention centre, for our healthcare workers. I recall going outside my house, like people all across the country, to clap for our healthcare workers and thank them for standing on the front line during the Covid-19 pandemic, for putting their own health at risk for the rest of us and telling them we had their backs. However, it turns out we did not have their backs. Those workers are being abandoned by the Government. It is absolutely shameful. Healthcare workers got Covid and then long Covid, likely because of the work they were doing. They have had serious impacts on their health, which I will go into, and have been abandoned by the Government. The special payments they were on were discontinued in December. They are now on standard public service leave, which gives them full pay for three months and in April, their payments will be halved. They will be left unable to pay their mortgages and their basic bills because the Government refuses to recognise long Covid and Covid as occupational illnesses. That is the answer here. If nurses were to get hepatitis or HIV as a result of their work, they would go on the occupational illness scheme. That is what should be happening to those healthcare workers who got long Covid.  I will give some testimony from a woman, Fiona, who was in touch with me. She is a healthcare worker who has long Covid. She said:  I can not put into words how debilitating Long Covid is. I will be sick 5 yrs come January. 3 ... friends will be sick 6 years come March. My life as my knew it has changed dramatically. My career and health is now in ruins. I suffer from severe debilitating fatigue. Some days it is choosing between going for shower or cooking dinner as well as fatigue I have tachycardia, brain fog, joint pain, muscular pain ,nerve pain, shortness of breath,headaches, nausea [and] vomiting, recurring mouth ulcers and tinnitus. I am doing my best to recover but unfortunately I'm not there yet so I need my pay protected till I am able to return. As well as being physically unable the brain fog a huge barrier. Right now I couldn't provide safe care to patients. As nurses we are accountable for our practice. If I return to work and made a error or omission that caused harm to a patient that would be entirely on me. And I dont think anyone wants a nurse with brain fog looking after them!  I have dealt with a number of people and campaigned on the issue of long Covid in general as well as on the issue of occupational illness. It obviously has a hugely debilitaring impact on people. The costs are immense. Again, to quote Fiona, she said: \"I travel to Dublin from Cork every 6 months to see Prof Lambert. All these appointments are between \u20ac200 - \u20ac250. I am grateful I have health insurance but all these consultant fees add up.My monthly meds are \u20ac80 every month. I'm very grateful though the DPS cover all my meds so there capped at \u20ac80. Gp visits are up to \u20ac75 a visit.\"  What are these people supposed to do? What is the idea here? Is the Government trying to force people who are still very sick to go back to work when they are incapable of working and when, as Fiona pointed out, they could make mistakes in their work as a consequence of that illness, due to brain fog in particular, which would have negative consequences for patients? Does it want to force them to live in poverty by not providing them with a living income? We should remember all the thanks we had for healthcare workers and all the sacrifices they made for keeping our health service afloat, and support them by the simple measure that is in most European countries of recognising Covid and long Covid as an occupational illness. Why does the Government not agree to do that? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I am taking it on behalf of the Minister for Health. It is great to get an opportunity to provide an update and acknowledge the extraordinary role played by healthcare workers in protecting us during the pandemic.  In recognition of those exceptional circumstances, a special scheme was introduced in July 2022 to support eligible public health sector staff who developed long Covid. This was a temporary and exceptional measure, unique to the health sector, designed to acknowledge the particular risks faced by staff working in high-exposure environments before PPE, vaccination and widespread community transmission were established. While the scheme was extended on several occasions at the request of the Minister for Health, the Labour Court recommended a final extension in June 2025 and the scheme concluded on 31 December 2025. By that point, employees remaining on the scheme had received support at full pay for almost five years through a combination of special leave with pay and the special scheme itself.  Importantly, and I want to be very clear on this point, the conclusion of the special scheme does not mean that supports have ended. Staff who remain unfit to return to work have moved into the public service sick leave scheme, ensuring continuity of both care and financial protection. Since the conclusion of the special scheme, 104 employees have transitioned to the public service sick leave scheme, while a further 57 have returned to work, including through phased return arrangements. Under the public service sick leave scheme, staff may receive full pay for three months, followed by half pay for a further three months. They then have the option to apply for temporary rehabilitative remuneration, which can provide up to an additional 547 days of paid leave. In addition, the critical illness protocol may provide supports for up to three years, where the relevant criteria are met.  Beyond financial supports, staff are also entitled to reasonable workplace accommodations to assist with their return to work. This may include modified duties or adjusted working patterns during rehabilitation. These measures are intended to ensure that staff are supported, not only financially but also in practical terms, as they recover and reintegrate into the workplace. All illnesses are treated equally under the public service sick leave regulations. This equity is a fundamental part of the public service sick leave scheme and avoids any perception that one illness or condition is more serious than others.  The Minister for Social Protection has responsibility for these regulations and schemes. He has reviewed the EU recommendation on recognising Covid-19 as an occupational illness and has determined that it does not meet the criteria required for recognition under the social welfare Acts. While many other countries did recognise Covid-19 as an occupational illness, this related to Covid-19 itself rather than long Covid. From the information available, it is not clear that any country provided sustained full-pay supports for long Covid comparable to Ireland\u2019s special scheme.  While many staff members have already returned to work, the Minister is conscious that others continue to face difficulties. As such, she will meet with the Minister for Social Protection with a view to exploring what supports, if any, may be accessed by those facing long-term challenges in returning to work. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  The Minister responded by saying that this does not mean the Government will not support workers. He said that staff may receive full pay for three months, which is correct but we are coming to the end of that, followed by half pay for a further three months. People have their childcare bills, their mortgages and the costs of just existing in this cost-of-living crisis. They have a lifestyle based on their pay and will not be able to survive based on half pay. The Minister went on to say that they have the option to apply for temporary rehabilitative remuneration. That is capped at 37.5% of salary. You go from full pay to half pay and then down to just slightly more than a third of pay.  There was a reference to the critical illness protocol, which \"may provide supports for up to three years, where the relevant criteria are met.\" The problem is that many healthcare workers have been turned down for the critical illness protocol, with the HSE citing that long Covid does not meet the criteria. The employer needs to approve it. It can be dressed up in whatever way the Government wants but by shutting down the special scheme and not doing the long-term solution, which is making long Covid an occupational illness, it is throwing these workers who were on the front line, whose health was sacrificed for all our benefit and who put themselves at risk, to the wolves. We really are putting them in an awful situation.  On the rationale for not recognising long Covid as an occupational illness, it seems the Government makes a distinction between Covid and long Covid. The reason people have long Covid, however, is they got Covid, likely in the workplace. All illnesses are not treated equally. We have an occupational illness scheme that is different. As I said, if you contract HIV or hepatitis as a result of your work, you are treated in a certain way, as these are occupational illnesses. Long Covid should be treated the same. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I acknowledge the extraordinary service of our healthcare workers during the pandemic. The temporary special scheme for long Covid was an exceptional measure that was introduced in recognition of the unique risk faced by staff in those early days and uncertain times. It provided sustained support for nearly five years, which was a level of protection unmatched in any other sector. The Deputy is dressing this up in another way that is not reflective of the level of support that has been provided to date. Although the scheme has concluded, it is important to reiterate that staff will not be left without support. Those who remain unfit to work will transition into the public service sick leave scheme with continued access to a full range of supports, including temporary rehabilitation remuneration, the critical illness protocol and reasonable workplace accommodation. This approach ensures that there is fairness and equity across the public service and that we continue to provide meaningful and appropriate support for those affected.  I want to reassure the Deputy and the House that the Department of Health will continue to work with the Minister, Deputy Calleary, in the Department of Social Protection and the HSE, staff representatives and those across Government to ensure those supports are delivered effectively and compassionately to those who are affected. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Covid-19 Pandemic Supports"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_44","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Electric Vehicles","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_41","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_41","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala (At\u00f3g\u00e1il) - Topical Issue Debate (Resumed)"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_44","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  I raise the issue of charging points in Laois - or the absence of the charging points in most of the county. We have a situation where there are 21 publicly available charging points in the county. That is the latest information I can get. I have a map of Laois which shows the charging points run down the centre of the county. That is fine because there is the N7 and N8 but there is the N80, the R44 and many other roads. The whole east and west of the county have been left out of it.  The biggest barrier to getting people to move to electric cars is range anxiety and access to charging points. If drivers have to travel to charge or they have to queue, that deters them. Laois has them in the middle of the county. It is a county with a population of almost 100,000. There are none in the east of the county. There is nothing the whole way from Portlaoise to Carlow town. There is nothing in Stradbally, Ballylynan, The Swan, Newtown or Graiguecullen. In the south and west of the county, Durrow has none along with Borris-in-Ossory, Castletown, Camross, Errill and Clonaslee. In Rosenallis, there are none. Mountmellick has a population in the region of 5,000 and has just one charging point.  While 75% to 80% of charging will be done at home, I think the Minister of State will agree that we need public charging points. I welcome the chargers that have been put down through the middle of the county and there is a need for more. However, the east and west of the county is completely blank, according to the map and the documents I have.  As the Minister of State and I know, people in rural areas are car-dependent. There are a few Local Links but for work and at other times, people need to use a car. This week has shown that we need to try to move away from fossil fuels. They will become more expensive so people will go electric. We have to make it easier for people to get children to school and to get work, get to hospital appointments and do their business in local towns and villages. There is not a bus going up every road, even though rural transport has improved. You cannot have one on every boreen and I think we accept that.  As I understand it, the number in the State is in the region of 2,500 but we have only 21 public charging points in Laois. According to information given in answer to previous parliamentary questions, I see the aim is for between 3,200 and 6,210 public chargers. That is a huge variation and the Minister of State might just address that. Is there a target and timeframe for that? They need to be better distributed.  We cannot have a situation where the price of petrol and diesel will go up and up in the coming years. We know that with Donald Trump and Israel's crazy war in the Gulf fuel prices will not go back down to what they were at before that. We know that. It was the same in Covid. Prices went up but they never went back to pre-Covid levels. It will be the same with this.  We need to provide the option and make it easier for people to move to electric vehicles, including people in rural areas. The Minister of State is from a rural constituency and so am I. He understands what I am saying to him. If people in the far corners of the county have to travel to work or beyond that, we need to ensure there are those charging points. What is the plan to increase the number in the State? What is the plan to increase the number in County Laois? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I thank Deputy Stanley for raising this important matter of EV charging points in Laois. I am taking this on behalf of the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, Deputy Darragh O'Brien. The Government is fully committed to supporting a significant expansion and modernisation of the EV charging network over the coming years. Having an effective and reliable charging network is an essential part of enabling drivers to make the switch to electric vehicles. A significant challenge to EV uptake by consumers is perception around availability and suitability of charging infrastructure. While over 80% of charging is expected to happen at home and will address most users' charging needs, there is a need for a streamlined public charging network to provide for situations or instances where home charging is not possible.  Currently, there is an obligation on charging point operators and owners to publicly share charge point data under the EU alternative fuel infrastructure regulation. Data from January 2026 shows that in County Laois, there were approximately 20 publicly accessible charging pools - locations with at least one charging point - with 67 charging points across these pools. There is an aggregated power output of 5 MW across these pools. It should be noted that this data is provided by charge point operators, CPOs, and there are some small differences in approach across CPOs in relation to the format of data provided. Zero emission vehicles Ireland, ZEVI, an office in the Department of Transport, is finalising a data strategy and associated data platforms that will, once in place, enhance the Department's ability to monitor this infrastructure more accurately. This strategy is being finalised following consultation and will be published shortly.  The system will enable measures to be put in place to enhance accuracy of data provided by charge point operators in relation to charge points in near real time and provide this comprehensive data on an open data basis. The new draft national EV charging infrastructure strategy 2026-2028 was published on 26 February and aims to further accelerate the delivery of EV infrastructure across lreland. It includes a comprehensive plan to expand and future-proof the national EV charging network, ensuring that charging infrastructure continues to keep pace with the growing demand for electric vehicles. The strategy will build on previous ZEVI publications, such as the regional and local EV charging network plan and the national road EV charging network plan.  The national road EV charging network plan sets out targets for en route charging across the national road network, whereas the regional and local EV charging network plan focuses on neighbourhood and destination charging locations that will be led by local authorities in partnership with both public and private sectors. Laois has been identified under region 2 with counties Longford, Roscommon, Westmeath and regional lead Offaly. Local authorities will be funded to develop local and regional EV charging network strategies and implementation plans. This process will identify the number of charge points required in each area, including on-street chargers to serve residents without access to private off-street parking. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  I thank the Minister of State for his answer. The strategy being developed needs to look at the reality on the ground and at the geographic locations. You cannot have a situation where there are chargers down the middle of the county but nothing either side of it. If you travel the 28 miles to Carlow from Portlaoise, there are none. On the other side of the county, if you travel down the Slieve Bloom side of it and into Roscrea, there are none. I am highlighting the fact this needs to be included.  I agree with the Minister of State that up to 80% will be done at home and I understand that. In a lot of the locations where there are chargers, such as in towns like Abbeyleix, Mountrath and Rathdowney, there is just one charging point. Mountmellick with its population only has one. That needs to be looked at. They are all expanding towns. In all of those towns, the population has gone up in recent years. It is important there is that service.  I listened to the Minister of State's response and Departments will talk about strategies, phases and all of that.  Some things need to be kept simple or they do not happen. In short, what I am saying here is that this does not take a genius to work out. When you have large geographical rural areas, like the east and western sides of Laois and parts of the south of the county, left out, we need to fix that. I think the Minister of State will agree, given the debates we had in the House this week around fuel costs and the challenges we are facing there, we are going to be moving more to electric and the easier we make it the better. Let us try to make it easy for the motorists, the people in rural areas, who will continue to have to use their cars. Rural transport is shown to be a success. We need to make this a success as well. It will not happen if we leave out rural Ireland. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I thank Deputy Stanley for his advocacy and for raising this matter on the floor of the D\u00e1il. It is not the first time he has raised it and it is an important issue for those who have EVs. They do need more security and predictability in regard to charging networks and facilities. There are three ongoing schemes, LDV1, LDV2 and LDV3, being administered by the Department of Transport and these will ensure Ireland meets its EU targets for a publicly accessible EV charging network. For LDV1, a total of 131 high-powered recharging points will be built across 17 charging pools providing over 24 MW recharging. One of these is located in County Laois at Portlaoise Plaza on the M7. Regarding LDV3, which comprises of 192 high-powered recharging points, there will be three locations in County Laois under this phase, each location with the minimum capacity of 100 KW that will be installed. The majority of the EV infrastructure delivered under each of these schemes is expected to be operational by the end of this year.  In addition, ZEVI is also running a scheme in conjunction with the Department of the Taoiseach and using funding for the shared island fund. Deputies may be aware that this scheme provided funding to install a network of publicly accessible chargers in communities nationwide and there were five eligible clubs in Laois for new charging points, namely, the Heath Golf Club, the Heritage Golf Resort, Park Ratheniska GAA club, Clonaslee St. Manman\u2019s GAA club, and Annanough GAA club. I will take the Deputy's points back to the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, as regards an accelerated programme to try to meet our EU targets with an emphasis on ensuring the Deputy's constituents in County Laois are supported. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Electric Vehicles"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_45","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"School Facilities","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_41","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_41","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala (At\u00f3g\u00e1il) - Topical Issue Debate (Resumed)"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_45","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sorca Clarke  I wish to raise with the Minister of State the situation of Cloontagh National School in County Longford. This is a rural DEIS school between Ballymahon and Longford town where the children and the staff are being asked to learn and work in conditions that are simply not acceptable in 2026. I visited this school recently and I was struck by the artwork on the walls, the colour, the kids out in the yard having the craic as all kids should be, and the passion that the teachers and the staff brought. However, that could not and will not hide the reality of the condition of the buildings in which the children are being taught. There is constant damp. There is mould on the walls, the ceilings and even on the floors. Dehumidifiers are running constantly. Equipment and laptops in use by the teachers have been replaced due to moisture damage.  The principal wrote to the Department in November outlining how the school was in crisis mode and had genuine health, safety and well-being risks. A photograph I am showing here from an engineer's report was also sent to the Department. It shows glue sticks black with the mould from being in that classroom. This is simply not good enough from any school, never mind a primary school.  The biggest concern that was outlined to me was the prefab structure that is also on-site. It is decades old and it is clearly failing. That engineer's report from February of this year shows visible deterioration of the external walls, mould growth inside the toilet area, water ingress through the ceiling, and even lifting floors and peeling walls inside the teaching space. The accommodation itself in the prefab is a small lobby, a toilet and a classroom and the only way I can describe the floor in certain areas of that prefab is that it is squishy when you walk on it. No prefab floor should be squishy when you walk on it but that is exactly what is happening. There is also significant and concerning signs of structural instability in that prefab and that is the reality for those kids today.  The principal wrote to the Department last year describing persistent damp mould, maggots and flies appearing inside the classroom, heating that cannot keep the building warm and the damage to the ICT equipment because of the moisture level, clearly stating how the school was in crisis mode and that the building is no longer fit for purpose. She is not exaggerating. She is pleading for help because this school was already approved for a new building in 2022. The agreed designs were of the Department's standards and were well above what the school itself had originally asked for. Land has been purchased, designs prepared, engineers paid and plans drawn up but today those children are still in that same prefab and the building is simply not fit for purpose.  I asked a parliamentary question as to where this school was on the timeline for additional school accommodation and I was told that no timeline can be given for when construction will begin. That answer may satisfy a file but it certainly does not satisfy the parents and the staff nor does it meet the needs of the children who have to sit in that school every day. This is not a luxury project by any stretch. This is not a wish list. This is a basic requirement for a safe, dry and modern school building.  Cloontagh National School may be a small school but the children who attend that school deserve the same standard of facilities as any child anywhere else in the State. Will the Department recognise that this case is urgent? Will it be prioritised? When will the project move to construction and, in the interim, will a full health and safety audit be carried out on the exiting facilities? This current situation cannot continue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I thank the Deputy for raising this matter and giving me the opportunity on behalf of the Minister for Education and Youth, Deputy Hildegarde Naughton, to update the House on the current position regarding Cloontagh National School in County Longford. Cloontagh National School is a two-teacher school based in Killashee parish. The school is under the patronage of Bishop Paul Connell and a Catholic ethos is upheld. School enrolment has decreased from 23 in 2021 to 2022, to 14 in 2025 to 2026, reflecting the national decline in primary demographics. At a national level, primary enrolments are projected to decline by 100,000 over a ten-year period. In 2022, on foot of an application, accommodation was approved for this school under the additional school accommodation scheme. This project will provide one mainstream classroom, one special education needs classroom and ancillary. A stage 2 report was submitted to the Department officials in quarter 3 of 2025. This report is currently under review from both a technical and cost perspective. All projects, including this one, will undergo the necessary due diligence outlined in the infrastructure guidelines. Given the detailed nature of the evaluation process, the need to ensure full cost compliance, and the requirement to align the project with the prioritisation framework under the national development plan, this review process is necessarily thorough.  In July 2025, the Government announced an allocation of over \u20ac7.55 billion for the Department of Education and Youth for a period up to 2030 under the national development plan. As part of the NDP allocation, the Department will place a strong emphasis on provision for children with special educational needs, with a particular focus on meeting annual school place needs. Regarding project roll-out for large-scale projects and additional school accommodation scheme projects, the approach will be to continue to maximise the capacity of the existing school estate as much as possible in the first instance and also provide the necessary additional capacity through targeted and prioritised project roll-out over the course of the 2026 to 2030 period to meet the most urgent and prioritised needs.  The sectoral plan for the education and youth sector will be published shortly. The first tranche of projects to progress to construction will be published at that time.  This national development plan, NDP, implementation plan will optimise ongoing outputs from the NDP allocations, with a strong focus on maximising existing school capacity, progressing priority projects where local capacity across schools in the area is insufficient and ensuring delivery that is affordable, offers value for money and meets functional needs. All existing school building projects and applications for accommodation will be considered in this context, with a particular focus on ensuring existing capacity is maximised.  The Department had recent engagement with the school and will continue to work with it to ensure current and future school place needs are prioritised. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sorca Clarke  I thank the Minister of State for his response, which is very similar to a response to a parliamentary question I received. He emphasised special educational needs. The school in question has a child waiting to start in the special class promised in 2022. The class has not materialised and the child is still waiting.  The Minister of State also referred to cost capacities and value for money. Department officials came to the school and told it what should be built, which was far in excess of what the school itself had asked for. Today, there are children sitting in a classroom with walls that show signs of structural instability. I certainly would not accept one of my children being in a school like that. Would the Minister of State? I do not think any parent should have to do that.  I will give another fact about this school. In the concrete part of the school, there is one classroom and a multifunctional room, and I use that term lightly. This multifunctional room is the principal's office, the secretary's office and the staff room. It is also where children with special educational needs are taught. That part of the room is divided from the secretary's workplace by a row of filing cabinets.  The school build, as it stands, is simply not fit for purpose. The school was given a commitment that this build would be done. Now, almost four years later, there is still no sign of it. The staff are doing the best they can in inappropriate facilities. Pupils are learning in unsuitable conditions and members of the school community feel they have been left behind. I am very disappointed that there is nothing in the Minister of State's response that would indicate they are wrong to feel that way. The \u20ac7 billion announced means nothing to them; they are not included in it. Their children are still going back to a cold, damp, squishy floor in a mould-covered school tomorrow and after the Easter break.  I want to bring it back to this issue because it is what is important here. This school is in the children's community. It is the local school, and the six teachers and staff are doing fantastic work. These are not just my words that I am putting on the record here. Everything I have said has been confirmed by an engineer's report and in correspondence sent to the Department. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I thank the Deputy again for raising important points regarding a school in her constituency. I will ensure I take those points back to the Minister for education, Deputy Naughton. I emphasise again that the Department is fully committed to ensuring there is appropriate accommodation available for all school pupils and will, in the wider context, continue to engage with Cloontagh National School and ensure the building project for the school is subject to the required diligence under the Government's infrastructure guidelines.  We all understand that the construction environment is challenging across all sectors, not just in education but also in housing. The Department is required to manage the timing, scope and cost of individual projects within its budgetary requirements. As I said, further engagement is required and I am sure the Deputy and many of her Oireachtas colleagues in her area will engage further with the school management on how we can progress and enhance the school environment to ensure that pupils have appropriate conditions and that any refurbishment or existing emergency works are implemented in a speedy manner, while progressing the project itself as required and approved. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"School Facilities"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_46","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Schools Building Projects","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_41","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_41","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala (At\u00f3g\u00e1il) - Topical Issue Debate (Resumed)"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_46","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this important Topical Issue. I raise the issue of the need for a new school building for Dunboyne junior and senior national schools. This is, in the first instance, an excellent school. The principal there is J.J. Brennan. There are 470 pupils in the senior school, while the junior school has in the region of 450 pupils, so it is a large school. The principal says the staff are very dedicated. It is the only school in Meath that has a platinum STEM award for science and technology. It is one of only 25 schools in the State with that award. The school is involved in local history projects, and clean air and pollinator projects. It also has a tremendous new drama club, with over 80 people involved. However, the condition of the hall has recently been commented on.  The staff are absolutely excellent and dedicated, but the building is letting them down. The principal stated that while the school has a large number of accolades and awards, staff are working in terrible conditions, which is bad for the morale of staff and not fair on students. The chair of the senior and junior national school parents association, Karen Gunning, stated that while the staff handle the situations with professionalism and calm, the stark reality is that young children are being educated in infrastructure that is visibly failing. Hundreds of children continue to learn in an ageing building that no longer meets the needs of a modern primary school. The staff are excellent, incredible and innovative, but they do not have the facilities to match.  The junior school is 30 years old but the senior school was built in 1971 and some of the prefabs are 20 years and older. The conditions are dire. The school has leaking roofs in five classrooms and uneven flooring. In one portacabin, the floor collapsed recently and the class had to be relocated. There are infestations of rodents - rats, mice and more. It is simply unacceptable. There are nine portacabins housing ten classes, and there is an autism class in one of the prefabs. There are proposals for another autism class in the senior school but there is a question regarding what space will used to accommodate it.  Since the announcement of the first tranche of NDP funding, we know there are many disappointed schools which are not on the list. I make the case to the Minister of State that not all schools waiting to get onto the list for the next tranche of funding, or even the existing one, are equal. I make a specific case for Dunboyne junior and senior national schools. This project has been in the offing since 1995 and in planning, in some shape or form, since 2008. Its ten-year planning permission for works will expire in August. I have told the Minister of State this is an excellent school. I have also told him about the conditions staff and pupils are living with at the minute. The school's ten-year planning permission is about to expire and we need to get works commenced on this school before it does. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I thank Deputy O'Rourke for raising this matter and giving me the opportunity, on behalf of the Minister for Education and Youth, Deputy Naughton, to outline to the House the current position regarding the school projects for Dunboyne junior and senior national schools, Station Road, Dunboyne, County Meath.  These school building projects will deliver a new 24-classroom primary school, with additional classrooms for children with special educational needs for the senior school, and the construction of an eight-classroom extension planned refurbishment, with classrooms for children with special educational needs for the junior school.  The school was authorised to proceed to stage 3, tender, in December 2020 and in May 2021, it was authorised to issue a letter of intent.  The tender report relating to reserved specialist contractors was received from the design team and sent to the Department for review in July 2021. Due to the passage of time and in light of the increased construction costs, a decision was made in November 2021 to reprice the tenders. These were returned in quarter 1 of 2022. Following a review of the tender report, the authorisation to issue the letter of intent was issued in October 2022. In June 2024, a decision was taken to collapse the tender to allow for an increased scope of works, which, following consultation with the design team, was deemed necessary. Decarbonisation measures were included in the revised project scope in line with climate action objectives.  The Department of Education and Youth received the revised stage 2b submission report for the senior school from the design team in June 2025. Department officials will carry out a full review of the stage 2b report, and the school and design team will be kept informed of the next steps. The Department is currently engaging with the design team regarding the process of removing and replacing the temporary accommodation at Dunboyne Junior National School. In July, the Government announced its largest capital allocation of over \u20ac7.5 billion for the Department of Education and Youth under the national development plan, NDP. As part of that allocation, we will see a strong emphasis on the provision of accommodation for children with special educational needs, with a particular focus on meeting annual school placement needs.  In relation to the roll-out of largescale projects and additional school accommodation scheme projects, the approach will be to continue to maximise the capacity of the existing school estate as much as possible in the first instance, and to provide necessary additional accommodation through targeted and prioritised projects. The NDP implementation plan for education has seen its first tranche announced, and that will be progressed this year and next. It will be revised on an ongoing basis. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  I think the Minister of State has made my case for me. One TD after another will say that their local school or a school in their constituency should be included when it comes to funding under the NDP. Very few - I would suggest none - would say that the planning permission is about to expire and that the project, through no fault of the school, has been to the brink and back on two occasions. Covid interrupted this project. It was interrupted again in light of other circumstances. This school is in desperate need. Very particular circumstances obtain in the context of Dunboyne junior and senior national schools here. Will the Minister of State bring those circumstances to the attention of the Minister, Deputy Hildegarde Naughton? The Minister of State has the details of how far advanced the project was before it was pulled back and of how far it was advanced again before demands were made by the Department in relation to decarbonisation. It is almost back to square one again. If this project does not proceed, there is a risk that the planning permission will expire in a handful of months.  I have a written response from the Minister which states, \"My department is conscious that the planning permission for the project ... will expire in August 2026 and the Department will work with the school authorities to identify an appropriate pathway forward\". Will the Minister of State please explain what that means? As he will appreciate, the real concern is that the planning permission will expire, and then the whole school community will be back to square one. In the context of all the additional information on how we are going to spend funding in the future and identify priority projects for further tranches, this project will not be considered. I am asking that this project be put on the list of tranche 1 funding in light of the particular circumstances involved. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I again thank Deputy O\u2019Rourke for bringing this important matter to the floor of the D\u00e1il. I certainly agree with him regarding the time dependency relating to this project. I will take the points he has raised back to the Minister, Deputy Naughton, in the context of her consideration of the needs of Dunboyne junior and senior national schools and ask that they be considered as part of the ongoing Department-led prioritisation process. The consultation with the school patron and the school authority will continue.  Notwithstanding that, any interim accommodation requirements will continue to be assessed and considered by the Department on a case-by-case basis. This project certainly deserves merit in that regard, particularly if it is at stage 2b and planning permission is already in place. The level of need has been identified, but there is then the prioritisation need and the approach the Department has taken in selecting the initial projects to progress. It is no different in County Mayo. Many schools there were not selected. I am sure many other Deputies would reflect the same situation in their constituencies. It is certainly reflected in the number of education Topical Issue matters that have been raised today. I will take the points raised by the Deputy back to the Minister. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Schools Building Projects"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_47","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Energy Prices","counts":{"speechCount":19,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_41","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_41","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala (At\u00f3g\u00e1il) - Topical Issue Debate (Resumed)"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_47","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  As I said earlier this week, people understand that the Government is not responsible for the international energy crisis that has emerged. What people hold the Government responsible for in the first instance is the framework it had in place in advance of the crisis. In the second instance, they hold it responsible for its response. I contend that said response has been delayed, minimal and not of sufficient substance to meaningfully protect, as best we can, the people in our communities who need support.  Ordinary families, workers, businesses and farmers have been struggling with out-of-control energy prices. More than 320,000 households are in arrears with their electricity bills. One in four households are in arrears with gas bills. When the Government withdrew the energy credit supports as part of budget 2026, it justified its action on the basis of a projected inflation rate. That rate has proven to be 50% lower than projected. The decision it made was based on fundamentally wrong information. As a result, I contend that the Government made a clearly and undeniably the fundamentally wrong decision. Does the Minister of State dispute that inflation projections were wrong and that the Government\u2019s decision to withdraw energy credits was fundamentally flawed? If so, what is the Government going to do to redress the terrible impact of its clearly ham-fisted decision?  I would appreciate it if the Minister of State could give an explanation as to why nothing seems to have been done more than 400 days after the Government gave a commitment to divert surplus renewable energy to households living in energy poverty. In that period, the Government has allowed surplus renewable energy valued at \u20ac560 million, or \u20ac1.3 million, to go to waste every day. This is equivalent to 512 million tanks of hot water that could have been used by households.  The Government has been very prone to saying that it would welcome constructive ideas from the Opposition. My party colleague Deputy Pa Daly, Sinn F\u00e9in\u2019s spokesperson on climate, introduced legislation to enhance the power of the energy regulator to hold energy companies to account and to tackle price gouging. Will the Government commit to supporting that legislation? Sinn F\u00e9in has brought forward proposals to ensure that data centres pay their fair share through a restructuring of the PSO levy. Is the Government content that households pay six to eight times more than data centres? If the Government is not content with it, will it agree to support the Sinn F\u00e9in proposal? I ask this because, to date, it seems that the Government\u2019s policy on energy is predicated on supporting data centres at all costs while ensuring that any measures to support ordinary families are minimal and as temporary in nature as it thinks it can get away with. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I thank the Deputy for raising this important topic. The irony here is that Sinn F\u00e9in voted against yesterday\u2019s cut in excise duty, which will make the cost of fuel at the pumps cheaper and reduce the cost of energy and fuel for households and families. The Deputy is about blaming the Government for its lack of action, when we actually took action. Sinn F\u00e9in was the only Opposition party to vote against the cut.  It looks like Sinn F\u00e9in is making it up as it goes along every single day. Even the Private Members' Bill it brought forward last week had no mention at all of the fuel allowance with regard to the 470,000 households impacted, or the measures we have introduced which are targeted and supportive of those who are at risk of fuel poverty and on the lowest income deciles.  Energy affordability is a priority for this Government. The increase in energy prices in recent weeks is a real concern. What we have seen are not just normal price fluctuations, but a real geopolitical shock that has immediate consequences across the world. Military action in the Gulf is impacting crude oil prices significantly, and market volatility is certainly causing a risk of supply and huge disruption. The energy security group met on 8 March to assess the implications of the conflict, and that ensured the Government is fully informed of the ongoing developments as regards global energy markets. The group reviewed the current supply and price conditions across oil, gas and electricity, and heard from fuel industry representatives. On 11 March, Ireland agreed to participate in the International Energy Agency to release international strategic reserves to address any supply issues which may result from the conflict. Indeed, Ireland has contributed to the IEA 400 million-barrel release, with 1.6 million barrels in place. The Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment is also liaising with the National Oil Reserves Agency, NORA, on the operational element of that release.  The Minister, Deputy O\u2019Brien, chaired a meeting of the national energy affordability task force on 15 March. That focus was very much on ensuring that the Government is informed of the ongoing developments. We also had a subsequent meeting on 26 March, this afternoon, with regard to the Government taking action to help households and businesses in respect of the fuel and energy crisis. Earlier this week, the Government introduced temporary and targeted measures, as I outlined earlier, cutting diesel by 22 cent, petrol by 17 cent and marked oil by 5 cent. These measures will have a significant impact in terms of the diesel tax rebate scheme, supporting the haulage and bus passenger operators who are also exposed. We are very worried about heating oil and have extended the fuel allowance for those who would have seen an end to it at the end of this month. That has been extended by an extra four weeks, with an additional \u20ac152 to support those in receipt of it. We have allowed those on the family working payment to be included in the fuel allowance, which affects an additional 50,000 households. Overall, the Government will continue to actively monitor the geopolitical situation and continue to make adjustments as we see fit over the weeks and months ahead. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  Sinn F\u00e9in voted against Fine Gael and Fianna F\u00e1il\u2019s tax reduction----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  Sinn F\u00e9in voted against the cut. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  -----because it did not do enough. The Minister of State knows it did not do enough. He is fooling nobody; not the families, farmers or haulage workers. Everybody knows. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  People will see. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  The limited resources the Government did introduce via the National Oil Reserves Agency will see the cost of home heating oil reduced by only two cents per litre. Is that a joke? This was wholly inadequate in terms of households reliant on home heating oil in and of itself, but it will also be negatively affected by the Government\u2019s planned increase in carbon tax on 1 May. Why in the name of God does the Minister of State think it is a good idea to increase the cost of petrol, diesel and home heating oil in the midst of an energy crisis? Government Ministers are fond of saying it is funding needed for farmers, but I suggest the Minister of State go back to the Comptroller and Auditor General who makes it patently clear it is not farmers who are getting paid from that fund.  The carbon tax was meant to be a behavioural tax to encourage people to change behaviours, but people do not have the choice of public transport or any alternatives to using their car to drop their kids to school, go to work and about their daily life like many others. Many people in my constituency of Cavan and Monaghan do not have choices and cannot change behaviour. All this tax can do is screw over people who are already struggling. My final question to the Minister of State - I appeal to him to answer this - is will he postpone further planned increases in carbon taxes on petrol, diesel and home heating oil while the energy crisis persists? He said that tax is to happen on 1 May. I hope the Government is not going to do it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I thank the Deputy for raising the points she has. On this side of the House, we do not agree with them. The carbon tax has been one of the most progressive taxes we have introduced. It has contributed----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  Farmers have not seen it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  -----more than \u20ac4.7 billion to the Exchequer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  I asked the Committee of Public Accounts. Farmers have not seen it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Paula Butterly)  I ask the Deputy to let the Minister of State respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  It has allocated more than \u20ac170 million----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  It was not used for farmers. It was put into the central pot. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  ------to the ACRES scheme. That is a programme that has a direct impact on rural communities across the country. It is the Sinn F\u00e9in model to spend fast, wide and worry later. How would we replace the revenue streams that support these vital programmes----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  Look after the most vulnerable. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  -----not just ACRES but also the fuel allowance and the expansion of the fuel allowance? It supports the fuel allowance. How would we generate the revenue that supports 470,000 households and indeed the likes of the home retrofitting programme? It has made a substantial difference. That is why we have expanded it for four weeks. It is targeted to those who are most impacted. We have also put in measures to reduce the cost and we have been very upfront that we cannot cover all sectors and households----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  Cover the data centres. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  -----but the \u20ac250 million package announced on Wednesday will be of enormous benefit by any yardstick.  If we look at what Sinn F\u00e9in is doing up the North, it is introducing a measly \u20ac30 that will not be introduced until 1 July. Its hypocrisy in telling us down here when it stands still in the North when it has a Minister for the economy and finance doing absolutely zero, shines in the face of its lack of responsibility or urgency in regards to these needs. We have put the measures in place and legislated for them, and we will see that reduction at the pumps over the next 24 hours. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar fionra\u00ed ar 5.08 p.m. agus cuireadh t\u00fas leis ar\u00eds ar 5.13 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Sitting suspended at 5.08 p.m. and resumed at 5.13 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Energy Prices"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-26\/debate\/dbsect_48","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2025\/42","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2025\/42\/dail\/2","houseCode":"dail","stage":"2","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Organisation of Working Time (Leave for Health Screening Purposes) Bill 2025: Second Stage [Private Members] (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Organisation of Working Time (Leave for Health Screening Purposes) Bill 2025: Second Stage [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":5},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_48","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Guirke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  I move: \u201cThat the Bill be now read a Second Time.\u201d  I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Alan Dillon. I acknowledge his endurance this afternoon after taking eight Topical Issue matters in advance of this debate. I also thank Edel O'Shea, a constituent of mine, who worked with me on this Bill. I thank the Irish Cancer Society, which as many of us in this Chamber will know has always been fantastic with providing data and detail on all things related to cancer services, cancer treatment and cancer screening in this country.  This Bill is simple. It would stop workers having to take annual leave for hospital appointments for national screening programmes. Better still, it would encourage those workers particularly who are in insecure or low-paid employment, giving them protections to take part in and take up national cancer screening programmes. It would be a Bill for people who cannot afford to take a day or some time off, whether that be due to insecure work or fear of missing out on any part of their much-needed pay cheque. Ultimately, it is about equity for people so that nobody suffers from developing cancer just because they could not afford to take some time off to catch and detect it early.  There are four national screening programmes: BreastCheck; CervicalCheck; BowelScreen; and Diabetic RetinaScreen. BowelScreen is a home check so the practicalities of this Bill would not apply to it but it would apply to the other three. This is not to say that we are failing in terms of take up. BreastCheck, for example, exceeds the 70% take-up target, which is the standard for screening programmes. There has also been a 36% increase in the number of women who will be completing mammograms this year, and an 18% increase in the number of women who will have cervical screening tests. These are all massively positive and this Bill is not about criticising the Government about the take up of the screening schemes, it is just an opportunity to work together, to work better and to continue to strive for improved take up. As we know, we can always do more.  Important research was conducted for the HSE by Sophie Mulcahy Symmons at the end of 2023 on the take up of national screening programmes. The research indicated, among other things, that people and workers in lower socioeconomic groups are less likely to take up a national screening programme appointment. The majority of people in lower socioeconomic groups are likely to be in vulnerable, insecure or low-paid work. We know that these types of jobs come with fewer safeguards, fewer entitlements and fewer protections. The take up of trade union membership and trade union cover in these areas is also lower.  With this Bill we believe there are no losers. There would be no way to take advantage of the day's leave without having to take part in a screening programme. Safeguards and protections would be included. We do not believe this type of leave would be manipulated or used for any other reasons. As the Minister of State, Deputy Dillon, will know, on a purely financial level it is more cost effective for the State if a cancer diagnosis is caught early and if treatment can be administered as early as possible. It is important to acknowledge in the financial costings for businesses, in that people are not going to be going to a screening every year. This is a facilitator for the year when someone does go to a screening.  As the Minister of State can appreciate from representations in his own constituency, some screening checks involve a geographic distance. For those of us in Dublin or in major centres, the distance can be quite short and workers may only need a short period off in a morning or afternoon. People who live in more remote parts of the country may need to take a full day off work to take part in a screening programme. This should be seen as an investment for each employer to ensure their employees are getting checked through the national programmes as early as possible. If there is an anomaly or, God forbid, someone does receive a cancer diagnosis through the screening, we know that early detection means earlier treatment and the earlier the treatment the less invasive it is and the healthier people can remain. This means they can remain in work for longer and continue to be able to engage in other parts of their lives. We believe this makes sense. It is something that would not have too much of a cost impact on employers or on the Exchequer. In fact, it would be an investment.  We also believe that morally, and from a leadership point of view, it is the right thing to do. It sends the right message that as a State we are placing positive health policy front and centre and that we support people to take part in these programmes to safeguard their health and their ability to be able to continue in the workforce and with their lives.  The Irish Cancer Society estimates that approximately 40,000 people get cancer in Ireland each year and approximately 30% of all deaths per year are from cancer. We know through our own history of screening programmes, and unfortunately the scandals that have brought screening programmes to the fore of people's minds, that the earlier people get checked the greater their chance of survival. We are now in a situation where we have increased trust in our screening programmes and the trajectory of these programmes and their take up is going in the right direction. Trust has been hard won and it is a credit to organisations like the Irish Cancer Society, the clinicians, the practitioners and the people who run these schemes that we are trending in the right direction after so much hardship and tragedy.  We do, however, have an opportunity to progress more. We must do everything we can to reduce every barrier in people's way to ensure they can take up these screening programmes. We believe this is a truly common-sense measure. It is a pro-health measure and the type of measure the Government often claims the Opposition does not offer. We believe it is constructive. We have just had this year's Daffodil Day where the right to be forgotten was supported by this Government in what is a really good piece of legislation. It is the Government taking a really positive step. This Bill, either in its current form or through an amendment, would be a win for the Government.  I will work with the Ministers for Health and enterprise, and with the Minister of State currently in the Chamber, to get this through. In 12 months, on Daffodil Day 2027, perhaps this Bill or the core principles of it will be something we can celebrate going into Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (Deputy Alan Dillon)  I thank Deputy Smith for introducing this Bill. It is understood that this Bill seeks to amend the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 to create a statutory entitlement to leave with pay from employment in order to enable an employee to avail of cervical, breast or colon cancer screening programmes provided by the national screening service or any other screening programme recommended to employees by his or her medical practitioner. Improving participation in the HSE\u2019s national screening service is something we all recognise as a public health priority and while the intention to support participation in the service is understood, and while it is constructive, the Government opposes the Bill for two key reasons. First, the Organisation of Working Time Act is not the appropriate legislative mechanism for introducing a new health-related leave entitlement. Second, increasing access to screening services is considered a more sustainable and equitable solution than legislating for paid leave.  I will outline these reasons in further detail. Government is of the position that the Organisation of Working Time Act is not the appropriate legislative vehicle to provide for such entitlements. The Act is a statute with a specific and narrow function. It gives effect to the EU working time directive, and in doing so, it regulates maximum weekly working hours, rest periods, night work and paid annual leave. It is a framework for managing working time and not a framework for health-related entitlements. The Bill would extend the Act into areas that relate to public health screening, which are matters that the Act was never designed to address. The Act is not aligned with Departments or agencies responsible for public health. Placing a medical entitlement within a horizontally applicable working-time statute creates a structural misalignment between the nature of the entitlement and the purpose of the legislative instrument. Irish law has consistently located health-related and care-related leave such as maternity and parental leave, adoptive leave, medical care leave and carer\u2019s leave in stand-alone Acts or within broader family- or care-related statutory frameworks overseen by the Departments of Health or of Children, Disability and Equality. These frameworks reflect the medical, care-based and equality-based nature of those entitlements. Placing health screening leave into the Organisation of Working Time Act would represent a major departure from these long-established approaches, and the Government is therefore satisfied that the Act is not the appropriate legislative home for such an entitlement.  My colleagues across government and I believe that enhancing access to the HSE\u2019s national screening service is a more sustainable, equitable and inclusive solution than legislating for employer-paid leave. This work is already under way across all four national screening service programmes, which are BreastCheck, CervicalCheck, BowelScreen and Diabetic RetinaScreen. The service\u2019s equity framework is designed to ensure that population-based screening programmes in Ireland are accessible, inclusive and effective for all eligible individuals, regardless of their background, socioeconomic status or employment situation. Screening eligibility is based on age, gender and clinical criteria and not employment status. This ensures that people who are unemployed, self-employed or in insecure work are not disadvantaged in being invited or receiving care. The national screening service carries out a range of programmes and projects to support accessibility and equity, and the outcome of these efforts is clear. Recent data from quarter 1 to quarter 3 of 2025 show strong and often above average participation, including that BreastCheck achieves an uptake rate in the region of 74.7%, exceeding the 70% target Deputy Smith outlined. CervicalCheck screened 74.8% of eligible women within a five-year period, against a target of 80% and BowelScreen reached 52%, above its 45% target. These results show that the public is highly engaged with preventative health programmes, which is an essential factor in early detection and reducing cancer mortality.  I will briefly explain some of the accessibility and equity programmes and projects which the service has developed, in addition to some recent improvements in the delivery of the programmes themselves. The national screening service has developed a wide range of initiatives aimed at improving equity, access and participation, including the community champions health promotion project, which trains community health workers to provide practical information and support about screening services, an intervention toolkit to support community workers to encourage screening uptake, a pregnancy-specific eye screening pathway for women with diabetes, accessibility training for staff to better support people with disabilities, a cancer prevention and screening project with the Traveller community, a literacy-focused initiative to support diabetic eye screening among Travellers, improved access to cervical screening within Limerick female prison and dedicated breast screening initiatives for Ukrainian women.  While increased flexibility of appointment times remains a key objective of health service policy, the national screening service is committed to actively promoting its service and ensuring that screening is accessible, inclusive and effective for everyone across Ireland. This approach not only aligns with national priorities but also guarantees equitable access, empowering individuals to take charge of their own health. Recent developments in each of the four screening services have also improved equity and accessibility for users. BreastCheck is currently offered through a network of 24 mobile and four static units nationally, enabling women to be screened close to where they live. These additional mobile screening units have been added since 2020. The service is also upgrading the mobile fleet and has identified three new sites for additional static units. BreastCheck now sends text reminders and appointment details through the HSE health app, making it easier for users to confirm, change and consent to appointments, helping to ensure that no screening slot goes unused. CervicalCheck is delivered by over 6,500 sample takers providing screening nationally through GP practices and clinics. There are 15 colposcopy clinics nationally providing follow-up testing and treatment for women who need it, also close to where they live. BowelScreen is now offered to people aged between 58 and 70. The number of BowelScreen units nationally has increased and the newest unit opened in late 2025 in Cork University Hospital, bringing the total number of units to 16. BowelScreen is accessible with a home test, making it widely accessible and flexible to people. Diabetic retina screening is provided through 146 screening locations nationally and a network of eight treatment centres for onward referral and treatment. A new screening mechanism is being piloted, meaning people will be able to drive to and from appointments, increasing accessibility.  In 2026 appointment information will also be provided through the HSE app to make it easier to confirm, change and consent to appointments.  Considering the breadth of existing initiatives under the national screening service, including ongoing improvements in accessibility and service delivery, the Government believes these measures represent a more sustainable and equitable approach than creating a new statutory entitlement to paid leave for employees. It is also important to be very clear the Organisation of Working Time Act is not the correct legislative vehicle for introducing a health-related entitlement of this type. For these reasons the Government is opposing the Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Guirke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Johnny Guirke  I thank Labour for bringing this Bill forward. As usual, the Government is opposing anything constructive that comes from the Opposition.  Paid leave for health screening purposes should be a must for workers. I recognise the employers that already pay their workers for time off for screenings and cancer-related appointments. This is done through their good will. The Government must recognise the significance of this legislation in protecting workers\u2019 rights and ensuring they have access to essential healthcare and screening without being punished financially for taking time off work. Sinn F\u00e9in firmly believes no worker should have to choose between their health and their income. This Bill, which proposes as statutory entitlement to paid health screening leave, is a step in the right direction. It allows employees to attend cervical, breast and colon cancer screenings without the fear of losing pay or facing repercussions at work. This is especially important as we know early detection can save lives, particularly with the cancers targeted by this Bill. We support the introduction of fully-paid health screening leave but we must also acknowledge the cap of three days per year may not be sufficient. Many screening appointments require travel and preparation and if multiple screenings are needed workers could easily exceed this limit. Many screening appointments require travel and preparation and if multiple screenings are needed workers could easily exceed this limit.  We must ensure health screening leave reflects the reality of people\u2019s lives and the complexities of healthcare needs. While this Bill focuses on specific cancer screening types it is vital that, if possible, we broaden the scope of this leave to include other important preventative healthcare appointments. Workers should not only have access to screenings but also to follow-up care. The ongoing cost-of-living crisis and economic volatility make it more urgent than ever to strengthen worker protections. This Bill helps eliminate the grey area whereby workers might previously have felt compelled to use their annual or sick leave for health screenings. For this Bill to have the intended impact, the Government needs to address capacity constraints and reduce waiting lists for HSE screening programmes to allow for timely screening appointments. Every worker deserves access to healthcare when they need it. This Bill is a significant step forward but is just one piece of a larger puzzle. We will continue to advocate for comprehensive healthcare solutions and robust worker protections. Together, let us ensure every worker can prioritise their health without fear of financial repercussions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  I thank my colleague, Deputy Smith, for bringing forward this Bill. If the Organisation of Working Time Act is not the appropriate vehicle by which to legislate for this proposal, I ask whether it could be done through the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023. I am very disappointed by the attitude the Government has taken to this Bill because it is a practical one the provisions of which would cover HSE cancer screening programmes and other screenings recommended by a doctor based on age or health status. Workers must currently use their annual or sick leave to attend appointments, which can create financial and workplace barriers to early detection. Many EU countries include preventative health check-ups within their broader paid sick leave regulations and studies have shown that when paid sick leave is mandated and used often for screening, cancer screening rates are higher compared with areas without such mandates.  We have problems with cancer screening and we should not kid ourselves we do not. The European Union\u2019s Beating Cancer Plan, which we have signed up to, ensures 90% of the target population is offered screening but in many ways the country is going in the wrong direction. BreastCheck has missed its attendance target for a number of consecutive years up to 2026. Approximately 40% of first-time screening appointments are missed. If we look at BowelScreen things are even more concerning and we are going in the wrong direction. Our figure is 65% and it is also declining. This is something that disproportionately affects people who are in lower-paid jobs in front-line industries like hospitality, retail and manufacturing. They have rigid rotas and cannot just nip out for an hour or a couple of hours. It is a fact that most of our screening services operate day-time appointments only and clinics rarely operate at the weekend or late in the evenings. This legislation is also something to benefit those who are in precarious work because employees on casual, temporary or zero-hours contracts may, because of the imbalance that is there with their employer, fear requesting time off for a non-urgent medical appointment will lead to them, for example, being offered fewer hours or affecting perception of their reliability to attend their job. There is no legal entitlement to paid leave for cancer screening and employees are often forced to choose between using annual leave or taking unpaid leave, which many people cannot afford, especially given the cost-of-living crisis we are in. There is also an issue with employers not allowing people to take a partial day off or a few hours off for an appointment. This means some people have to take an entire day of annual leave for a 15-minute test. There is an imbalance between the person in low-paid and more precarious work and their employer. These people are often younger and from working-class and migrant backgrounds. There is a real fear there of being perceived as unreliable or of receiving unfair treatment for asking for time off for health-related reasons, especially if they have already used their statutory sick leave.  As I said, this is a practical proposal. It merits much more consideration than being thrown out, essentially, by the Government. If the Organisation of Working Time Act is not the appropriate vehicle through which to legislate for this I really hope the Minister of State can find out if we can do it through the 2023 work life balance Act. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (Deputy Alan Dillon)  I acknowledge the contributions from those present. I reiterate the Government appreciates the intention behind this Private Member's Bill and the contributions that have been made. We are all in agreement that increasing the participation rates within the national screening service is something we recognise as vital to our public health priorities. Early detection saves lives and the commitment of the Bill is to supporting better health outcomes and ensuring people live a lot longer and that is very clear.  However, it remains the Government's position that the Organisation of Working Time Act is not the appropriate legislative vehicle to provide health-based entitlements. Most of the entitlements the Government has in place, such as maternity leave, parental leave, care leave, medical care leave, etc., are very much in stand-alone Acts. For that reason it is not appropriate that we would promote and increase access to the national screening service. Moreover, even the definition of what a national screening service encompasses is not clear. It is considered more sustainable and equitable that it would be legislated for as paid leave by the employer.  I explained earlier the fundamental purpose and structure of the Organisation of Working Time Act. It has always been a statute designed to regulate work hours, rest periods and paid annual leave in line with the EU working time directive. That provides a framework on how time is managed in the workplace, not a framework for clinical entitlements or health-related benefits. That is where we have the misalignment in regard to this Private Members' Bill. Also, introducing a health screening leave entitlement into that Act would cut across the long-established legal framework, which would certainly create inconsistencies for both employers and employees.  Second, it is clear that increasing access into the national screening service can be done more sustainably through measures other than legislating for paid leave. I have spoken about the current targets that are being met across many of the current programmes. On the evidence presented by the Labour Party, I am not sure how paid leave will actually increase achievement of the current targets, even for those who are marginalised or who are not in employment. This measure is specifically for those who are in employment. The national screening service equity framework is designed to ensure that the programmes are inclusive and accessible and that everyone is eligible regardless of their background or even their employment status. The data shows that those initiatives have improved accessibility and equity and are succeeding, even though there are one or two we could improve on. The data is positive, as I explained. The national screening service has undertaken a range of additional measures to improve the accessibility of the service, such as the introduction of mobile screening units and the extension of the age cohort. The use of technology through the HSE's health app has also been an important element in this regard.  These improvements benefit not only employees but also people who are outside employment, those who are self-employed, those who are retired and those who are in casual or insecure work. Legislation that applies only to employees cannot be the main tool for addressing a wide population with public health challenges. For those reasons, and while fully recognising the positive intention the Labour Party is putting across within this proposal, we cannot accept or support the Bill. Nonetheless, our focus remains on promoting and strengthening the national screening service to ensure it is accessible and equitable to all. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  I am deeply disappointed by the response. We believe the Organisation of Working Time Act is the correct legislative mechanism for this. What makes this different from carer's leave, maternity leave or paternity leave is that this is a short period of leave of no more than a day, sometimes a morning. This is not extended leave. This is not leave for weeks or months. The Minister of State feels differently. That is very disappointing.  We all agree with the Minister of State \"increasing access into the national screening service can be done more sustainably\". We have acknowledged the need for an improvement in this regard. Everyone is supportive of that across the House in terms of access to these programmes. We define within this legislation that it is the HSE national screening programmes. There are four of them. They are tightly defined. It is an evidence-based approach. I referred to the Sophie Mulcahy Symmons research which we are basing this on.  We are talking about workers in retail, service workers and workers in insecure low-paid employment. This legislation is not for self-employed people. It is not for retired people. It is for workers in low-paid and insecure employment. If it were applied, it would have a marginal to low impact, but it would have an impact. It would increase the number of people availing of screening. Through word of mouth, it would create a culture of doing so among workers where there is a low density of trade union representation. This word of mouth element would ensure workers know their entitlements in terms of being able to take a few hours off to take part in these screening programmes.  I am aghast that the Government is opposing this Bill on Second Stage and not allowing it to go through for further discussion. There is a constituency out there listening to the debate on this Bill about this potential entitlement who will be disappointed and will make that known to their local Government representatives. I am disappointed the Minister of State did not respond to Deputy Sheehan's question about whether it could be done through the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023. I thank Deputies Guirke and Sheehan for contributing to this debate. I am disappointed with the Government's response to this. While it is not unexpected for the Government to oppose Opposition legislation, I am surprised - and not just because it is my legislation - that the Government is opposing this Bill. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Louise O'Reilly)  In accordance with Standing Order 85(2), the division is postponed until the weekly division time on Wednesday, 15 April 2026. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar athl\u00f3 ar 5.46 p.m. go dt\u00ed 2 p.m., D\u00e9 M\u00e1irt, an 14 Aibre\u00e1n 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The D\u00e1il adjourned at 5.46 p.m. until 2 p.m. on Tuesday, 14 April 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Organisation of Working Time (Leave for Health Screening Purposes) Bill 2025: Second Stage [Private Members]"}]}}]},"contextDate":"2026-03-26"},{"debateRecord":{"house":{"showAs":"34th D\u00e1il","committeeCode":"","houseCode":"dail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/house\/dail\/34","chamberType":"house","houseNo":"34"},"chamber":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/def\/house\/dail","showAs":"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann"},"lastUpdated":"2026-06-09T02:15:35+00:00","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-25\/debate\/main","formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-25\/debate\/mul@\/main.xml"},"pdf":null},"date":"2026-03-25","counts":{"contributorCount":167,"divisionCount":11,"debateSectionCount":26,"questionCount":0,"billCount":5},"debateType":"debate","debateSections":[{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-25\/debate\/dbsect_2","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case:  Deputy John Paul O'Shea - To discuss the provision of bus connections to and from Charleville train station.  Deputy Joe Cooney - To discuss the regular reporting of the defective concrete block appeals board.  Deputy Maurice Quinlivan - To discuss wandering and malnourished horses in urban areas of Limerick.  Deputy Sorca Clarke - To discuss Cloontagh national school.  Deputy Alan Kelly - To discuss the need for greater capital investment in north Tipperary schools.  Deputy David Cullinane - To discuss defects at an apartment complex in Waterford city.  Deputy Roderic O'Gorman - To discuss the evaluation of the community safety wardens pilot under the north inner city community safety partnership.  Deputy Malcolm Byrne - To discuss the need for a new building for a school in Gorey, County Wexford.  Deputy Albert Dolan - To discuss battery energy storage systems and solar planning guidelines in rural Ireland.  Deputy Darren O'Rourke - To discuss delivery of a new school building at Dunboyne junior and senior national schools.  Deputy Colm Burke - To discuss making Ryeqo - relogulix, oestradiol and norethisterone - available under the GMS scheme.  Deputy Jen Cummins - To discuss public health nursing in Dublin 8 and Dublin 12.  Deputy Louis O'Hara - To discuss the new school campus for Gaelscoil Riada and Col\u00e1iste an Eachr\u00e9idh in Athenry, County Galway.  Deputy Conor Sheehan - To discuss the progress of a new Garda station in Castletroy.  Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa\u00b7 - To discuss mileage and travel allowances for community healthcare staff.  Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire - To discuss delivery of a permanent school building for Owenabue ETNS, Carrigaline, Cork.  Deputy Thomas Gould - To discuss the voids return programme and the need to return vacant boarded-up homes to use.  Deputy Pa Daly - To discuss the upcoming carbon tax increase in home heating oil.  Deputies Catherine Ardagh, Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh - To discuss progress on school buildings for St. Seton's, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10.  The matters raised by Deputies Maurice Quinlivan, Colm Burke, Joe Cooney, Catherine Ardagh, Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh and Alan Kelly have been selected for discussion "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-25\/debate\/dbsect_3","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-25\/debate\/dbsect_4","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Animal Welfare","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-25\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_4","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Maurice Quinlivan  Here we go again. I have raised the issue of wandering ill-treated horses many times over the years. It remains an ongoing and worsening concern in Limerick and other areas. Recently a horse was euthanised in a green area on a local estate in Limerick city. The very ill horse was abandoned on Friday, 13 March, unable to rise from the ground. A vet finally arrived on the Sunday and euthanised the horse, and the carcass of the horse was removed on the following day, Monday, 16 March, four days after the horse was abandoned. This incident started on Friday with a horse clearly dying, abandoned on a green area in the middle of a housing estate full of families. It was an ugly sight, particularly for children, to witness. While I appreciate the animal was finally removed, the incident highlights the plight of these animals, their mistreatment and the lack of enforcement of chip and pin and other urban horse legislation.  There are no consequences for those who mistreat their animals. Legislation that is not enforced is not worth having. The Control of Horses Act is under review and has been for some time. I have submitted parliamentary questions on this, including one four years ago and one in October 2022. One response stated the Control of Horses Act is under review with a view to simplifying and further improving the legislation and that plans are advanced. Another response thanked me for raising the important topic and stated it is one the Minister takes very seriously but here we are, four years later, with no progress. I urge the Minister that when the legislation is amended that an enforcement mechanism is included. Allowing those who abuse, misuse and assault their animals to simply replace a dead horse with new foal must not be allowed to continue. Allowing people, often young children, to ride these horses on our national road network, delaying traffic and causing distress to the animals, must end. Allowing people to purchase horses and ponies without adhering to chip-and-pin legislation must end.  Equine legislation requires that all horses are micro-chipped, have adequate land to graze on and are kept in a safe environment. This simply is not the case in many urban areas and has been ignored. The issue was raised in the D\u00e1il almost 50 years ago by the late Limerick TD Mick Lipper, and it is this extremely disheartening and depressing that I have had to raise this issue myself on many occasions since I was first elected more than a decade ago. We have not got to grips with this challenge. The mistreatment of these poor animals has been tolerated for far too long.  Some months ago I drove through three of Limerick's urban estates and during a 45-minute drive I encountered 50 horses. Many times since, I have noticed that the number of horses on the public green spaces has not changed whatsoever. The placement of horses in public spaces in more affluent areas would simply not be tolerated. Can we imagine a dead horse remaining in situ in a more affluent area? It would not have happened and it would not have been tolerated. It would not have been there for four or five days. Why are we expected to tolerate this in working class areas? Why is this acceptable? Green spaces should be available for all. They should be spaces where children can kick a ball and play. We need to reclaim our public spaces for everybody in the community. What we have in many urban estates are limited green spaces being claimed by a small few, who allow horses to graze on these public spaces. They often destroy them and prevent other children and other people from using them. These are community spaces and communities must be allowed to reclaim them.  There is an important role for the local council and the Garda to play in addressing the issue of wandering urban horses but overall responsibility for the issue ultimately lies with the Minister and the Department. It is time to get heads together so a permanent solution can be found, and the people in these estates can reclaim their public spaces and we finally deal with the issue of urban horses being mistreated, wandering and causing stress and chaos in many parts of our cities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Martin Heydon)  I thank Deputy Quinlivan for raising this important matter. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is responsible for all policy and legislation in relation to the Control of Horses Act 1996. Operation of the Act comes under the remit of local authorities. Any report of welfare issues received by my Department, including breaches of the animal welfare legislation, is acted upon and investigated. Appropriate enforcement action where breaches or shortcomings are identified is undertaken by my Department and authorised officers are appointed under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, including but not limited to An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, customs agents, local authorities and the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, NSPCA.  Primary responsibility for protecting the welfare of equines rests with the owner or keeper. Under the Control of Horses Act 1996, local authorities may take a range of actions in relation to equines, including prohibiting horses in certain areas, issuing licences and seizing horses in contravention of the Act. These powers can be used in respect of straying horses, which includes horses put on land without the owner's permission, including public land as Deputy Quinlivan has described. Local authorities may also prosecute offenders. While my Department provides financial support to help local authorities with the costs of these seizures, local authorities are responsible for the operation of the Control of Horses Act. My Department collects information from local authorities on a quarterly basis in respect of the overall number of equines seized by them. The number of horses seized in Limerick in 2025 was 70. This number is down from 2024, when the number of horses seized was 87.  The Government is fully committed to supporting sustainable initiatives in line with the programme for Government and Working Together for Animal Welfare, which is Ireland's animal welfare strategy for 2021 to 2025, with work progressing on the replacement strategy. As part of this commitment, my Department has continued to support urban horse projects nationwide, working with local authorities, charities and community stakeholders. These projects have proven very successful and are aimed specifically at equine welfare and marginalised communities. The projects can foster community leadership and education in responsible horse ownership for young people. An exemplar project of note is one which Deputy Quinlivan is familiar with. This is the Moyross project, which has been in operation since 2016 and has helped so many young people from disadvantaged communities.  From 2015 to date, over \u20ac2.1 million has been spent on urban horse projects by my Department, with \u20ac170,000 allocated for these projects in 2026. The urban horse projects greatly benefit the welfare of equines and of young people from disadvantaged communities or backgrounds. There are seven live projects and my Department would welcome new submissions from local authorities to develop urban horse projects in their respective areas. In December 2025, my Department awarded funding of almost \u20ac6.5 million to 94 animal welfare charities throughout the country, under the animal welfare grants programme. Of that figure, just over \u20ac4 million was awarded to charities involved in the care and welfare of horses. More generally, in 2025 my Department published a report by Professor Paddy Wall on equine traceability and welfare, and has also prepared an action plan to implement its recommendations.  The report by Professor Wall, which has 22 actions, is greatly advanced.  I am working closely to ensure its implementation across a whole range of measures relating to urban horses and equines, and otherwise. What happens in this area is important.  We completed a public consultation on the Department's animal welfare strategy in January. I am collating the many submissions we got on that. Equine welfare has featured in some of those points. That will feed into our new animal welfare strategy for 2026 to 2030. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Maurice Quinlivan  I thank the Minister for his response. I will seek clarification on the number of horses collected, year on year. The reason they are not being collected is that the local authorities have, in many cases, simply stopped collecting them. They will say that themselves. When we collect horses in Limerick, for example, we need to ensure we have garda\u00ed available and that the pound is available. The pound is only able to collect four horses. Garda\u00ed tell us it is not worth their while coming out to collect four horses so the collection of horses has simply collapsed. It is not that there are fewer horses there. Unfortunately, there are far more horses there. The Minister will have to come to see it for himself to believe what is going on.  I have tried to bring people together on this issue. I recently attended a meeting with the directly elected mayor and the director general and their staff to discuss this issue. I provided them with the detail of the numerous parliamentary questions I have asked over the years on this ongoing issue. I am sure the mayor, like the rest of the council, wants to see this matter addressed, but the direction and leadership must come from the Department. It comes back to providing resources to ensure the enforcement of the legislation. The level of impunity can be frustrating for so many people.  I know that many urban horse owners do not mistreat their animals and care for them. There are some fantastic urban horse projects, as the Minister mentioned, across the State where those with an affinity for animals can learn how to care for them and do so with pride. I have no issue with those good horse owners whatsoever. However, I take massive issue with those who abuse their animals, leave them shackled day and night and unable to roam, often with no water or food, regardless of the weather. I take issue with the legislation that is there to protect these animals not being enforced. Some will argue that the keeping of ponies and horses is a tradition but, to be clear, riding horses through our public spaces and wrecking them is not a tradition or culture. It is a display of lawlessness and an affront to those who abide by the rules. We need a solution. We need to bring together all the stakeholders, such as horse owners, An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, Limerick council, animal welfare organisations, projects such as My Lovely Horse and the Department of agriculture, to work to set a timeframe - I would suggest six months - after which horses will not roam in public areas in Limerick. We need a change of direction here. The hands-off approach has not worked. We must take the reins and ensure we finally address this issue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  I thank the Deputy for his dedication to this topic. He has raised it on more than one occasion. I absolutely agree that this issue merits attention. From my perspective, there is no shortage of resources being put in from my side. I take on board the Deputy's points about co-ordination. I am happy to work with other stakeholders - the Deputy mentioned An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, the county council and the different entities - to ensure we have a targeted response in key areas.  I agree that there are as many people who are passionate about their horses in urban areas as there are in rural areas and they care for them greatly. However, in normal, everyday society, we need to have a clear understanding of what is acceptable activity and what is unacceptable activity in our urban areas, where many people live and share common spaces, and beyond. More important than that, and the legislation is clearly set down and comes under my Department, is the welfare of animals. We have lead responsibility for that issue. I take animal welfare seriously and committed to the policy that animal welfare standards are rigorously applied in a fair and even-handed manner. It can sometimes be about the need for additional measures to be legislated for in this House. It is sometimes about the implementation of legislation that exists. With the local authorities, the other relevant authorities and the Garda, there is a key role to play.  My Department keeps animal welfare legislation under review with respect to the developments in the area of animal welfare and the practical lessons learned from operating the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013. As the Deputy will be aware, my Department also operates a confidential animal welfare helpline, through which members of the public can report incidents of animal cruelty or neglect for investigation. We work with all the relevant stakeholders in that regard. I thank the Deputy for raising these points. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Animal Welfare"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-25\/debate\/dbsect_5","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Medicinal Products","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-25\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_5","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Burke  I thank the Minister of State for making himself available to deal with this matter. March, this month, is endometriosis awareness month. I am raising this issue to highlight a drug to which I will refer in this matter, namely, Ryeqo. It is available in over 27 countries across Europe. While it is available to purchase in Ireland, it is not available under the general medical services, GMS, scheme.  In October 2025, the Minister for Health launched a national framework for the management of endometriosis in Ireland. The HSE, together with the Department of Health, has established a number of centres around the country, including in Tallaght University Hospital, Cork University Hospital, the Rotunda Hospital, the Coombe hospital, University Hospital Limerick, Galway University Hospital and the National Maternity Hospital. We have developed all of these centres to provide care for women. It is estimated that one in ten women will be affected by endometriosis.  I know of the case of a 20-year-old girl who has undergone surgery. Two different consultants have recommended that she use the drug Ryeqo but she cannot afford it because it is not available to her under the GMS scheme. She is 20 years of age. She has gone through the surgery and the drug is not available.  In 2022, the drug was submitted for approval under the drugs payment scheme, but it was turned down on the basis that it would not be economical to have it in the GMS scheme. I would argue with that. A huge number of women require care. It is not just surgical care. They also require the use of medication. This particular medication is not available but is being recommended by consultants. If you are lucky enough to have the income, you can purchase it, but if you do not, you are in difficulty, and in many cases there is no alternative. I ask for this matter to be reconsidered and given the priority it deserves.  I fully understand that each year, there is a budget for the purchase of pharmaceuticals and drugs. However, 27 countries across Europe have this drug available under their health schemes but it is not available here in Ireland. In October 2025, the Minister set out a clear timeline to try to make all care available to women who had this medical condition. We have developed the surgical approach. For instance, we now have specialist units in Cork and Tallaght to deal with the condition, and other units are providing care across the country. It is wrong that we are able to provide surgical care now but are not prepared to provide the medication that is required either before the person is identified as requiring surgery or after surgery is completed. I ask that the matter be reviewed. We should go back into the negotiating process so that an agreement can be reached to have this drug made available. I ask for that to be done at the earliest possible date. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan)  I thank the Deputy for raising the important issue of endometriosis. It is something that for too long we have not spoken about. There still is not enough awareness of what it is and the challenges and difficulties that women across Ireland face when they have this condition. There are women across Ireland living in severe pain because of endometriosis. There are woman across Ireland who experience heavy bleeding. There are women who have to undertake serious surgery to treat endometriosis, which is very painful and has a long recovery time.  There are couples right across Ireland who, because of endometriosis, are facing incredible challenges with reproduction. These are all things that for far too long we have not spoken enough about publicly. We have not raised enough awareness about it. I am really heartened that Deputy Burke has raised the issue here today and that women right across Ireland are speaking out about it and about the necessity to treat it and, more important, to get access for women to treat this condition. That is the most important point. I commend the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, on tackling this issue head-on and putting it front and centre as something she wants to address. I just wanted to say that at the outset.  In 2025 and earlier this year, the Minister engaged directly with women on a one-to-one basis through the patient voice forum and listened to their personal experiences of endometriosis. The national framework for the management of endometriosis in Ireland was published in October 2025. This marks a milestone in the evolution of women's healthcare in Ireland. The framework establishes, for the first time, a defined clinical care pathway for women and girls living with endometriosis. In conjunction with this framework, the Minister has written to all GPs, consultants and other clinicians to raise awareness of endometriosis in their clinical assessments. Moreover, the expansion of endometriosis services provided in Ireland is supported through the HSE's national service plan.  Regarding Ryeqo, I will provide some background for our colleagues and then address Deputy Burke's question. Relugolix, estradiol and norethisterone acetate, marketed under the trade name Ryeqo, is a medicine used for the symptomatic treatment of endometriosis in women of reproductive age with a history of medical or surgical treatment for their endometriosis.  The European Medicines Agency, EMA, granted marketing authorisation for this product in July 2021. The company marketing this medicine made an application for addition to the HSE's reimbursement list in May 2024. The HSE has statutory responsibility for medicine pricing and reimbursement decisions. HSE decisions on which medicines are reimbursed are made on objective, scientific and economic grounds on the advice of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics, NCPE. Formal processes govern applications for the pricing and reimbursement of medicines, and new uses of existing medicines, to be funded or reimbursed. The HSE commissioned a health technology assessment, HTA, in July 2024. Just under a year later, in July 2025, the applicant submitted a full HTA dossier to the NCPE. Further engagement between the NCPE and the applicant has taken place in the interim, and the application remains under consideration. The HSE cannot make any comment on possible outcomes from the ongoing process.  The Deputy can see from those milestones that it took considerable time for the State to receive the necessary dossier. We cannot progress reimbursement applications without timely engagement. We strongly encourage all pharmaceutical companies to apply for reimbursement here in Ireland and to submit fully prepared HTA dossiers in a timely fashion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Burke  I thank the Minister of State. My information is that it was in February 2022 that the NCPE concluded that there was insufficient evidence of cost-effectiveness for the drug to be approved for reimbursement by the Health Service Executive. Obviously, there is a new application in. The Department of Health has taken decisions previously where the NCPE turned down a particular drug because of its cost-effectiveness, but it is about far more than just cost-effectiveness. There is also the issue of patient care. Sometimes when we look at cost-effectiveness, we look at the immediate cost of the drug rather than the long-term benefit. If having a drug available means we will reduce the number of times a person has to go to their general practitioner or consultant or to hospital, then that is a cost saving in real terms. All the evidence that has been presented to me clearly indicates that if this drug was made available, it would be beneficial to women who have this medical condition.  The example I gave is a true and accurate one of a 20-year old who has no other drug available except ordinary painkillers, which are not really adequate for the difficulty she has. She has gone through surgery. This is the recommendation of two consultants but she cannot get access to this drug. This is a time when we need to be really pragmatic about taking a decision on something. Sometimes an issue may cost more than what it seems on paper, but in real terms there is a real saving for the State. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan  As I said, the HSE cannot comment on the outcome of this application. That is fair enough. There is a process to go through. I can probably comment more freely. I agree with Deputy Burke. There are obviously different levels of endometriosis but the surgery is costly and painful and there is a long recovery time. I am not a doctor, but the surgery does greatly increase the success rate for reproduction. Nevertheless, endometriosis can come back. If there is a treatment that can prevent that, it should be looked at and it should be accessible. I agree with Deputy Burke in that regard.  In fairness, the statement says this is under consideration. The HSE probably cannot comment any further on the outcome, but I agree with the Deputy's request that the result of this application should be made known as soon as possible so that women like his constituent and women right across Ireland know where they stand, and so that we can address this hidden condition, which for too long has meant women have lived in severe pain with excessive bleeding and reproductive challenges, and address it head-on. I again thank Deputy Burke for raising this issue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Burke  I thank the Minister of State. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Medicinal Products"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-25\/debate\/dbsect_6","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Defective Building Materials","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-25\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_6","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Cooney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Cooney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Cooney  The defective concrete block issue is causing huge concern for those affected. The process is long, complicated and stressful. Those who have been approved but who have appealed that decision also find themselves in no man's land, with no information on how their appeal is being dealt with.  In January I submitted a parliamentary question asking for the number of appeals made to date under the defective concrete blocks scheme, the number of appeals that had been heard by county and by year, and the current timeline for determination on appeals lodged. All of these would appear to be a reasonable ask of a body tasked to do this work. Nobody asked for personal details, just a breakdown of the work of the panel on a regular basis.  The reply I received was not good, which is why we are here today. While I fully agree the appeals panel should be independent of the Minister, the Department and the Housing Agency, that does not mean they should not ask for and receive regular updates on the work being delivered. When elected Members such as me ask for that information, I should get it without any delay. The fact that I do not raises questions.  I understand there were up to 180 appeals at the end of 2025, with a number of them coming from my county of Clare. Some of them have no idea as to when they will get a decision, which is disappointing. One family who were in touch with me lately are ready to start but can do nothing until their appeal is heard. They surely have a right to know when that will happen so they can make plans. It is in the interests of the people who have appeals in the system to have them dealt with as fast as possible. It is not too much to ask that they might have some guideline as to how long the appeal will take. It is also in the public interest to know that a body doing work on behalf of the State is held accountable for it. We cannot manage what we do not measure. If there is no obligation for the panel to provide such regular updates, then there is little hope this work will be delivered in a timely manner.  I am not asking for a State secret to be shared. I would just like for the work of the panel, the number of appeals submitted and decided and the length of time taken to reach the decisions, which is important, to be published on a monthly or quarterly basis, as the affected householders deserve. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan  I thank Deputy Cooney for representing the people of his constituency in Clare who have been affected by this issue. I appreciate the issue of defective concrete blocks is particularly emotive for households and sympathise with all who are caught up in this distressing situation.  The establishment of the appeals board was an important step in offering those affected by decisions made by the Housing Agency and local authorities an opportunity to have their cases assessed by an independent group of industry experts. The chair of the panel and the rest of the panel members have undertaken to examine each case thoroughly. It should be noted that the appeals panel is statutorily independent in the performance of its functions of the senior Minister, Deputy Browne, the Department of housing and the Housing Agency. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage provides administrative support during the initial stage of the process, in that appeals submitted by homeowners are forwarded to the panel. Recently, in recognition of the challenges facing the panel, the Department provided additional funding for the engagement of a direct staffing resource to work directly with the appeals panel chair. I understand this is now beginning to pay dividends, as evidenced by the recent issue of determinations by the panel.  The powers granted to the appeals panel are outlined in legislation under section 39(10) of the Act. The appeals panel may either affirm the decision that is the subject of the appeal, or annul it. In the case of an annulment, if the appeals board considers the Housing Agency has made a serious error in law or fact that amounts to a serious or significant error, it can direct the Housing Agency to reconsider its decision in accordance with such directions as the appeals board may consider appropriate, or replace the decision with such other decisions as it considers it appropriate to make in accordance with the Act.  Like in any appeals process, there is a continued focus on the further roll-out of determinations. Importantly, in line with statutory commitments, the panel operates within the legislation. The chair and panel must be allowed to continue their work. There is no role under statute for the Minister, Deputy Browne, or me as Minister of State in this regard. We hope that continued engagement with appellants will take place with a view to properly assessing appeals so those who still suffer the awful weight of their experiences can be satisfied. We are aware of the urgency of this work and I recognise the vulnerability of a particular group of homeowners. It is an absolute priority for the Department. It is my understanding that in recent weeks a number of determinations have been issued to homeowners and I expect this process to continue to accelerate as the appeals panel continues its work.  The main point is that we have to, at all points, respect the independence of the appeals board. It cannot be under any influence in any way, shape or form from the senior Minister or the Department. However, I take the Deputy's point. He is seeking pretty important and basic information in the specific details he has asked for. I will go back from this discussion to find out if we can get access to any of that information, as long as it does not unduly influence any of the decisions. I do not see why we cannot make that request and get some of the specific answers the Deputy looked for in his opening contribution. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Cooney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Cooney  I thank the Minister of State. I agree that we must respect the independent appeals board but it is important that people get the information, at least get updated information about what is happening in the appeals board. I am aware of householders who have been waiting almost 12 months and have heard nothing whatsoever. Their appeals went in. They were notified they were received but did not get any further information whatsoever. That is not good enough. These people are under enough stress at the moment without having this stress, with the cost of inflation. The cost of building materials is increasing and it is putting additional pressure on them. When they get the result of their appeals, they will have to get a contractor. There is a lot of work to be done going forward and they are concerned about the costs and whether they will be able to afford to rebuild or redevelop their house, as the case may be.  There is also a serious concern about the technical review that is going on at the moment. When will that be published? That could also be holding up these appeals. Will the Minister of State give the House an update on when the outcome of the technical review will be published? Also there are a number of people living in houses in social housing schemes, which are unfortunately badly affected. Is there an update on a scheme to carry out work on those houses going forward?  We have a serious issue on our hands. Unfortunately, in the time of a housing crisis, it is putting a lot of pressure on families and it is time for more action and to try to get these families confident going forward. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan  It is my understanding that the appeals panel is aware of the understandable desire of applicants to have their cases dealt with in as expeditious a manner as possible. The time taken to assess appeals has in many cases been longer than originally envisaged. We have to accept that. However, I understand some of the time taken to consider applications and issue decisions has been taken up by requests for further information, either from appellants or other stakeholders. I am informed the panel has taken this approach to allow appellants to have the full facts of their situations properly assessed. A corollary of this inclusive and holistic approach is that it has added time to the overall process.  The programme for Government commits to undertaking the planned review of the defective concrete blocks scheme. This refers to the fact that the legislation mandates the Minister to review the scheme within three years of the Act's commencement and the appeals process will form part of this review. The Deputy asked for the specific time it will be published and I will get that information for him. Key here is that we have to keep that independence but time and the access to information are the major issues the Deputy is addressing. We have already given the panel additional resources to get appeals decisions out in a more timely manner. Requests for further information can sometimes take a bit of time with the back and forth. I am sure the people the Deputy represents are so anxious to get their decisions that they will get information to the appeals board as quickly as possible. I do not think there is an issue with that. If it is the case we need to resource the board further, we will look at that.  I assure the Deputy I will come back to him on his specific question about the technical review with a specific time. There will be officials listening to this response and they will issue him with information about when it might be expected. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Defective Building Materials"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-25\/debate\/dbsect_7","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Schools Building Projects","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":4},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-25\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  Bogfaidh muid ar aghaidh chuig an ch\u00e9ad \u00e1bhar eile in ainmneacha na dTeachta\u00ed Ardagh agus \u00d3 Snodaigh. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Ardagh  I raise St. Seton's Secondary School in Ballyfermot, which the Minister of State is very familiar with because his late uncle, Brother Paul Moynihan, was a former principal of the school. The school was awarded DEIS plus status and that in itself tells a clear story about the level of need in the area and the level of support needed by the young people who attend this school. Despite that recognition, the school is still waiting for something basic, a permanent building for the children.  We in this Chamber all know that these children deserve a new school. St. Seton's was formed from the amalgamation of three schools on the clear understanding that a new, modern, single-site campus would be delivered. That commitment was given to the school community at the time of the amalgamation. Yet, it is fair to say that commitment has not been honoured. Instead, the school continues to operate across two sites and that brings real, day-to-day challenges, not only for students, but also for staff and the wider school community.  The school is doing everything right. It is inclusive to the core. It has multiple autism classes. It supports children with additional needs. It supports children from marginalised backgrounds and communities and a wide range of backgrounds. Nothing is too much for this school. I acknowledge the board of management and the principal, Ms Sarah Green, and her staff who are doing exceptional work in challenging circumstances. I have visited the school where I had the pleasure of participating in a podcast and I really enjoyed it. It highlights the welcoming culture of the school and the pride these students have in their school. However, pride is not enough and this is not what they deserve. We cannot ask the school to just continue with these amazing achievements and fantastic projects.  We know they are doing great stuff. It is great that they have been recognised with DEIS plus status, but what they really need to absolutely thrive is basic infrastructure. I ask the Minister of State to please go back to the Department and look at this project and see what can be done to ensure the school is first on the list for a new building when the time comes around next year. It is so important for the people of Dublin South Central and for the children in this area. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  Like Deputy Ardagh, I also commend the school community and in particular, those students who are attending the school who have had to put up with two campuses, which is a very difficult thing when a person is trying to concentrate on his or her studies and education. I commend Sarah Green, the school principal, and the whole team and the board of management on their work in trying to hold this together. This project is an amalgamation of three schools: Caritas College, St. John's College De La Salle and St. Dominic's College. This was sold - and that is the word I am using - to the school community and the public at large as a step forward. They were told that a single campus would be best and would serve the educational needs of Ballyfermot and the children best and would also address special needs education on a single campus. Yet, despite the fact that the planning for this started well before Covid and the amalgamation happened in 2023, there is no sight of any progress of any type in relation to the new build that was promised and the special education units and classrooms, six of which were promised. Despite the fact that parents were told by Catholic Education In Irish Schools Trust, CEIST, along with Le Ch\u00e9ile, that it would only initially be over two campuses and that this was the best thing for students into the future, they were told that progress had already been achieved. When we look at where they are now in terms of a school build, that seems to be a lie. There was no movement. There is still no movement. At this rate, it will be 2030 before any new build will be completed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Education and Youth (Deputy Michael Moynihan)  I thank the Deputies for raising the issue in relation to the secondary school in Ballyfermot. From childhood, I have heard of the St. John's College on Le Fanu Road, Ballyfermot, so it is no stranger to me. I know the school. I have been in the school a number of times in a private capacity, and I have also met with some of the team there in different roles over the past 12 months. I take the opportunity of thanking the Deputies for raising the issue. They spoke about the three colleges coming together, St. John's, St. Dominic's and Caritas College, and amalgamating two sites and bringing them to St. John's College and Le Fanu Road site as the planned location for the new school building, which has the junior element of the amalgamated schools, and St. Dominic\u2019s College, which is the senior element. The Minister, Deputy Naughton met recently with the school principal and representatives and both Deputies have been engaging constantly with the school management on this issue. This is a hugely innovative, proactive and exciting project for Ballyfermot, St. John's and indeed, the entire region.  My commitment to the Deputies is that the school building project is currently planned to be delivered as part of phase 2 of the Department's ADAPT 4 innovative programme. I take their points on when the amalgamation was coming forward. It is always fiercely exciting when the Department comes in and says, \"If you do an amalgamation, we will ensure the project is moving forward at pace.\u201d We need to make sure that does happen and that in terms of getting school boards of management and communities to amalgamate together, we follow up with decisions in a timely manner.  This campus is aimed at providing over 1,000 places for second level education, which is hugely important. My commitment is that we will go back and re-engage, and I will take the concerns the Deputies raised. I will also take my own personal commitment to and involvement with the school. I could nearly name some of the teachers who taught in St. John's over many years, including people from my own community. I know the expertise, commitment and determination of the people involved in relation to it, and how they want to see this through. They are true educators and people who are really seriously committed, not just about making sure they have the day-to-day running but having the future education requirements of the greater Ballyfermot area at heart. l undertake, as a result of this Topical Issue this morning, to re-engage with the Department to ensure decisions are made in a timely manner, to ensure this project can move forward and to give substance to the commitment that was given at the start of the amalgamation process, that this would be dealt with in a timely manner. I would love to see this project moving forward for a variety of reasons, but most importantly, for the communities and people and future direction of education for the people of Ballyfermot. I take into consideration the commitment the community has to special education. I will make a few more comments in my closing remarks. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Ardagh  I really appreciate the Minister of State\u2019s genuine response. He has a family connection to the school. As I said, I do not know how the school fell so behind on the list when it was promised a new building. Let us hope we can change that and do something to ensure that St. Seton's is a priority school when it comes to the Department's school building programme. We would love to have the Minister of State out to visit St Seton's Secondary School and to see first hand the amazing work the school community is doing. I thank him again. I really appreciate the effort he has promised to make to the school. Hopefully, we can follow that up in the next few weeks.  I thank my colleague also for supporting this. Both of us are working together to ensure this happens for Ballyfermot. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  Cos\u00fail leis an Teachta Ardagh, ba mhaith liom mo bhu\u00edochas a ghabh\u00e1il leis an Aire St\u00e1it as d\u00edri\u00fa isteach ar an gceist seo.  It is important the message goes out here that progress will happen. It is pity that it did fall well behind because we still do not have even the integrated project team in place. For anything to happen that has to be in place, and planning permission has to be sought, along with tenders for that building. I do not wish to be dismissive in some ways, but given the answers I have received in recent times, it does not look like any building works will be on this site for at least the next two to three years. We want that to be fast-tracked to ensure those pupils who went in for first year in 2023 see some progress, rather than continuously, year after year, going in and being spread over two campuses. The reason they got DEIS plus status is along with the pressures on the community already, there is additional pressure because this build has not happened. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  I certainly will take up the invitation to visit the school as soon as is humanly possible. I know there is a lot of great work going on at all levels of education within the school campuses. On foot of this debate, we need to make sure that the practical steps are being taken as regards the project team and planning permission, and on to other work. We need to make sure that we have sight of this and that there is meaningful engagement between the Department and the school communities. There is always huge excitement with amalgamations but we must follow that up with actions. There are particular building blocks to make sure a project is completed or started so we need to make sure that those blocks are in place and that there is real, tangible movement. I give a commitment to go back to the Department and engage very seriously with the officials and my senior colleague to make sure this project moves forward.  I give an undertaking as well to visit the school for a variety of reasons. I have a personal interest in it. I would like to see Ballyfermot moving forward as well. It is the right thing to do, not just for the school communities who have amalgamated and the school authorities who have engaged in a very good faith way to amalgamate but also for the education of the communities in Ballyfermot into the future. I undertake to visit and also to engage seriously with the Department to try to make sure this project moves forward and that there are tangible and measurable steps taken to ensure we bring it to amalgamation and to construction. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Schools Building Projects"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-25\/debate\/dbsect_8","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Schools Building Projects","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-25\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  I was very disappointed, as were the people of north Tipperary, that in the recent capital announcement under the national development plan of 105 schools, only one in the area got funding. St. Anne's School in Roscrea got funding for an extension, which is very welcome as it is a brilliant school. However, a range of schools, and four in particular that I will mention, received considerable correspondence from the Department that to my eyes said they would be included. All are ETB schools. The correspondence is very detailed, they had been advancing these four projects for many years and to say the volume of school projects announced in the likes of Galway when compared with north Tipperary looks skew-ways would be an understatement.  I commence with Col\u00e1iste Phobal Ros Cr\u00e9. Roscrea has many socioeconomic issues but fantastic people. This is one of the largest schools in Tipperary and has needed a new school building for many years. I believe it has been in the capital plan for over a decade. It received confirmation it was getting a new school in 2021. I have the letter here. The school had gone for planning for a new replacement 800-pupil school with a 4-class SEN base on the existing site. It was expected this would be an absolute priority given the catchment area and socioeconomic context but it was not included.  Col\u00e1iste Mhuire Co-Ed in Thurles was built in 1981 and the school building is in terrible shape. It has a fantastic principal and fantastic people. The school had approval to build seven mainstream classrooms, a music room, two multimedia rooms, two science labs, a preparation room, an art room, HSCL tuition rooms and a 2-class SEN base. The school building is leaking in many different locations. There was a meeting about this recently in the Department. The school needs a complete rebuild. The idea that you can stick some modular units on this site is a joke; with the modular units at the moment, you could stick your hands through them.  Newport College has received planning approval for its development, which will be a mix of one-, two- and three-storey buildings with a total floor area of over 3,500 sq. m in 20 rooms. It will include 13 classrooms, eight specialist rooms, an SET room, two SEN units and an outdoor play area. Newport is one of the fastest-growing towns in the mid-west. It is a stone's throw from Limerick. It has taken an awful lot of change in the past 30 years given the issues in relation to regeneration in Limerick. An awful lot of social issues have been dealt with hugely by people in the area and by my councillor there, Fiona Bonfield, yet this school was left out.  Finally, Nenagh Community National School has approval for three classrooms, staff and children's toilets. It bought the GP surgery next door. This school is in a situation where it does not have a classroom for sixth class and those students are going to have to use the gym. The Department is telling the school there is enough capacity in other schools. Say that to my wife, who is a teacher in the school next door to it. This is the only non-denominational primary school of large scale in Nenagh and it has been turned down for funding. There was nowhere for the sixth class to be educated last year, bar a gym. It was a big undertaking by the ETB to take on this school, which used to be the boys' national school, yet it has been left out of this funding. Why are these four schools not in the capital plan and is there any plan to put them in it in the coming weeks and months? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. We published the plan indicating the amount we will put into the NDP and the sectoral plan on education over the next three or four years. While we have the large figures and a huge amount of capital investment in it, and we announced which schools would be going over the next while, there is continuing engagement in the Department. The Deputy has raised four schools and the challenge we have is to ensure that when commitments are given by the Department to build, extend and refurbish schools, those commitments are honoured. We must either give commitments to say we are doing it or hold back on them until such time as we can meaningfully deliver on them.  The Deputy raised Col\u00e1iste Phobal Ros Cr\u00e9, Col\u00e1iste Mhuire Co-Ed, Nenagh CNS and Newport College. He outlined the issues in relation to Nenagh. I do not know the exact issue as I have not been there, but he mentioned the issue of using the gym as a classroom. I have serious concerns about the challenges we have in the education system. We are not looking at the halla\u00ed, as they are called in most schools, or the gyms to turn them into classrooms in the short term. That can only be a short-term solution because all these buildings are important infrastructure for the education of young people. We have spent a huge amount in north Tipperary over the past number of years, in terms of the projects that have been delivered. There is also a huge number of other projects we are doing. We are upgrading, over the course of 2026-27, about 10% of the school estate. There is serious investment by Government in the form of capital expenditure. We are spending money and we must ensure we get the best possible value for it.  I will endeavour to go back to the Department about the schools the Deputy mentioned and try to come back with some meaningful discussion on what is happening with the four schools. We visited north Tipperary some time earlier. If I had a second I could nearly put a date on it, but we had a very successful visit to north Tipperary that day. It was, dare I say it, one of the great moments I have had since being appointed. I note the schools the Deputy has raised and will endeavour to go back to the Department. I will report back to him fully on those schools. On the overall side we have put a huge amount into the national development plan to invest in education because we believe every penny invested in education is the right thing to do. We have ongoing work in the Department on school projects. The commitment I will give is to go back and try to get direct answers on the four schools the Deputy raised. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  I thank the Minister of State and do not doubt his sincerity. I will ask one question very quickly. Will he meet me, and dare I say it, Deputies Lowry and O'Meara along with the ETB about these four schools? Will he please ask the Department to do that? This is not about politics and I want the other two Deputies included. These four schools are in serious trouble. The ETB is very worried, annoyed and angry about what has happened here. In his reply, will the Minister of State also confirm whether any supplemental funding will be available for capital projects or will the school projects I mentioned be pushed out until after 2027?  On Col\u00e1iste Phobal Ros Cr\u00e9, I believe there is discrimination going on against Roscrea. It is not a political priority. It is a huge school. The enrolment is dropping. More students are being bussed to Thurles because of the condition of the school.  There is an excellent board of management and an excellent chair of that board of management. This is totally wrong. The management of Col\u00e1iste Mhuire in Thurles has been managing roof leaks and suspended ceilings, which are health and safety issues, for years. This will be a health and safety issue, if it is not dealt with. Newport College cannot sustain where it is going. It does not have the capacity to manage the volume of students. Let us look at the population index for that area and wonder where the students are going to go if this project does not proceed.  Finally, I am going to say it straight out. There are young students in Nenagh who have no classroom facing into September and sixth class, one of the most formative years of their education. They have no classroom. It is as simple as that. A huge amount of investment and time has gone into the school over the years. I know because I helped with it. Those are the four schools I am referring to. Will the Minister of State please come back to me? Can we have a meeting with all three Deputies on these four schools? Will more money be coming before 2028? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  There is ongoing engagement. We have given information in terms of the projects that are going to go ahead. As always, there is constant engagement with all parties to make sure we understand and deliver. We want to constantly deliver in terms of education in respect of our projects moving across the country. Deputies from all sides of the House have identified challenges that we have, no more so than in the previous Topical Issue matter I dealt with. There is ongoing engagement in the Department at all times in relation to how we can move other projects on. I will give a commitment that we will organise a meeting with all Deputies. I take the point that the Deputy has taken this issue out of the political domain and that he wants to have the entirety of the constituency involved in it. I take that point, so I will organise that meeting.  The Deputy also again very forcibly raised other issues in Roscrea, in Col\u00e1iste Mhuire, in Newport and in relation to the school in Nenagh. I will go back, and then endeavour to come back to the Deputy directly on those issues. We will undertake to get a meeting as soon as possible. The education and training boards, ETBs, are doing huge work in terms of being the project managers for many projects across the country, and I thank them for that. I also thank the school communities the Deputy mentioned, and school communities the length and breadth of the country, for the amount of work they are doing. I refer to the leadership in the schools, the boards of management, and how they are trying to make sure they are giving the best possible education to their school communities. I thank the Deputy once again for raising these issues in relation to north Tipperary, and we will engage further on them. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Schools Building Projects"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-25\/debate\/dbsect_9","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Teachtaireacht \u00f3n Seanad - Message from Seanad","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  Seanad \u00c9ireann has passed the Protection of Employees (Employers' Insolvency) (Amendment) Bill 2025, without amendment. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Teachtaireacht \u00f3n Seanad - Message from Seanad"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-25\/debate\/dbsect_10","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na: Motion [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":42,"speakerCount":34},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_10","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ann Graves","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tom Brabazon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  I move:  That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann:  notes that:  \u2014 there are still fewer serving members of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na in 2026, compared to six years ago, with 14,187 available members at the end of January 2026, in contrast to 14,235 members in 2020;  \u2014 accounting for population growth, this fall in numbers means that there are now 10 per cent fewer Garda\u00ed per capita than there were five years ago;  \u2014 the Programme for Government committed to recruiting at least 5,000 new Garda recruits and additional Garda staff by 2030;  \u2014 trainee intakes remain far too low to achieve adequate policing levels, with just 619 Garda\u00ed attesting from Templemore in 2025;  \u2014 during 2025, 29 per cent of Garda Divisions, and 46 per cent of Garda Districts, either lost Garda members or saw no change in numbers;  \u2014 the numbers of Garda\u00ed unavailable due to suspension has rapidly increased in recent years, with 107 Garda\u00ed suspended at the end of 2025, versus just 39 in December 2018;  \u2014 over 2025, the number of Community Garda\u00ed fell from 700 to 615; and  \u2014 there were just 308 Garda Reserve members as of 31st January, 2026, down from 1,164 in 2013;  recognises that:  \u2014 over a year since the formation of the new Government, no new plan has been put in place to increase Garda recruitment and expand the size of the force, in line with public commitments;  \u2014 morale within the force was severely damaged under the tenure of the previous Garda Commissioner, with the high-profile mistreatment of serving members, and a steady trend of Garda\u00ed leaving the force or retiring early;  \u2014 serious questions remain about the conduct of the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation and senior Garda leadership towards serving members in the Limerick region, and in the Garda bike loan case;  \u2014 further serious questions remain unanswered about the procurement and use of inappropriate gun holsters, and the storage of firearms, live scan fingerprints, drugs and cash at Garda Headquarters; and  \u2014 the Government failed to declare, over seven years, that the previous Garda Commissioner was provided with rent free accommodation through the Office of Public Works, that underwent \u20ac400,000 worth of renovations before being made available in 2018;  further notes that:  \u2014 the then Garda Commissioner, Drew Harris, appeared before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport and Communications in May 2024, and stated that an additional 150 Garda\u00ed would be allocated to Roads Policing over 2024 and 2025;  \u2014 on 31st December, 2023, there were 632 Garda\u00ed allocated to Roads Policing, while on 31st December, 2025, there were 647 Garda\u00ed allocated to Roads Policing, an increase of just 15 members, or 10 per cent of the Commissioner's stated aim;  \u2014 40 per cent of the Garda vehicles fleet is over six years old;  \u2014 significant concerns have been raised regarding the impact of the new Garda Operating Model (GOM) implemented from 2019 onwards, which breaks the link between Garda\u00ed and local communities, in particular in rural areas;  \u2014 in response to an Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors survey in 2025, 90 per cent of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors indicated that high visibility policing has not increased since the introduction of the GOM, and that the GOM is \"unsuitable for rural policing\", while 98 per cent of respondents called for an urgent review of the GOM; and  \u2014 the Policing and Community Safety Authority assessment of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na's policing performance throughout the first half of 2025, found that 11 of 18 performance indicators were \"at risk\";  acknowledges:  \u2014 the crucial role played by An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na in protecting and serving communities across Ireland;  \u2014 the critical importance of a locally embedded, well-resourced, modern police service, in enabling communities to flourish;  \u2014 the crisis of low morale that has been allowed to develop among rank-and-file Garda\u00ed under successive governments, due to consistent under-resourcing and a failing operational policing model, and the impact that crisis has on the ability of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na to perform its critical functions; and  \u2014 that selective internal investigations within An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na have been weaponised against members of the force who raise legitimate concerns, submit protected disclosures or act as whistleblowers;  calls on the Government to initiate a public inquiry into the conduct of internal Garda investigations during, and subsequent to, the tenure of the former Garda Commissioner, Drew Harris; and  in order to address recruitment shortfalls, improve morale, and strengthen policing in Ireland, further calls on the Government to:  \u2014 urgently publish a funded plan to ensure at least 1,000 new Garda\u00ed are trained every year;  \u2014 review the current GOM, and where it is not consistent with effective rural and community policing, to halt its implementation;  \u2014 enhance the community policing model to standardise rostering in line with other Garda\u00ed, introduce appropriate promotional opportunities, and increase the use of pedal cycles in urban community policing;  \u2014 increase the Garda training allowance to the equivalent of a starting salary, and review pay and pension issues for serving staff;  \u2014 provide each Garda District and the communities living there with a clear timeline of when increased numbers of Garda\u00ed will be deployed to address safety concerns and anti-social behaviour, and roll out domestic abuse coordination teams across every region;  \u2014 commit to a measurable plan to increase roads policing, and invest in the vehicle fleet and Garda equipment;  \u2014 invest in expanding Templemore Training College and the Garda lands and facilities at Dromard, Clonmore, to ensure at least 1,000 new recruits are trained per year; and  \u2014 introduce an occupational supplementary pension to the Single Public Service Pension Scheme, as a key retention measure for uniformed service personnel.  I will be sharing time with my colleagues. This motion is one of the most important I have ever brought forward as a TD. As the Minister knows, I have been man-marking him for the last year and half as spokesperson on justice. I wanted this role, and one of the reasons I wanted it is because I believe An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na needs complete support. It also, though, needs to be supported in a way where change is managed. I have a deep concern in this regard.  Our commitment in the Labour Party to An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na is demonstrated by this motion. I have got huge support from members of the force across all ranks. We need to change how we police in a positive way. I acknowledge that some of the actions the Minister has taken are positive, but there are many other issues that have not been dealt with and many legacy issues.  We need to change how we recruit and retain our garda\u00ed and serving garda\u00ed, and, indeed, how we use our retired garda\u00ed. For the fourth time, I had an email this morning from a lady whose son left An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na about four months after graduating, after actually qualifying to be a garda, because he could not live here in Dublin. He has now sought to see if he can rejoin because he has found accommodation, and he was told that he will have to start all over again. That is not common sense. I will give the Minister the details.  I am also worried about the Minister\u2019s Department, and I have said this directly to him before. My worry is that I think there is a need for a reboot in relation to how this Department relates to An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na because, in many ways, I think it is dysfunctional. The Minister has had to apologise to me more than once for the answers and information he has given me relating to policing matters. I have a deep concern about the answers I get from the Minister\u2019s Department. I have a deep concern about the answers I do not get from the Minister\u2019s Department. I have a deep concern about the questions I put in to which answers are refused. I have a deep concern about the Minister's Department\u2019s relationship with An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and certain aspects. I want to say that on the record here.  In real terms, we have fewer garda\u00ed. There has been a 10% drop in real terms when we do a pro rata comparison between where we are as a population now and where we were a number of years ago. The programme for Government commits to recruiting 5,000 new garda\u00ed. I do not believe there is a hope in hell of that happening. Equally, the Minister keeps quoting the fact that 11,000 people applied to join An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. A total of 11,000 people put their name in. Were they asked why they pulled out? Were they asked why they did not proceed? Were they exit interviewed? I have spoken to many of them and they have told me why, and it is not good.  Trainee intakes are too low in Templemore. We also need huge investment in Templemore. I acknowledged and thanked the Minister for the investment that has been announced. The simple fact of the matter is that this group has been set up a second time round to look at the requirements for recruitment in our country. Why is the Minister not dealing with the fact that we have a huge piece of land out the road from Templemore, in Dromard in Clonmore? The Minister made a commitment to me that he will look at it. Templemore needs to keep every aspect of its training for wholesome purposes, and any failure to do so will be an indictment of the Minister's Government.  In relation to the districts, 46% of Garda districts lost garda\u00ed or stood still in 2025. The number of garda\u00ed suspended in 2025 was 107, compared to 39 in 2018. That is worrying. Why has there been this increase? The Garda Reserve has collapsed. There were 1,164 members in 2013 versus 308 now. The Garda Commissioner, Drew Harris, told the Oireachtas committee in May 2024 that an additional 150 roads policing garda\u00ed would be in place by 2024-25. In 2023, there were 632 roads policing garda\u00ed. At the end of December 2025, there were 647. That is a total of 15 new members from 150. I ask the Minister to do the maths. We all talk about road safety and road issues, but this shows that commitment was not honoured. A total of 40% of the Garda fleet is over six years old.  The operating model of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na is a bloody joke. Garda\u00ed from east Clare are having to cover Roscrea. It is impossible. Garda\u00ed are leaving Newport to go down to cover Roscrea. This is a major town with many significant issues and a closed Garda station.  I hear an awful lot about visibility. The Minister talks about high visibility working. I agree 100% with him. Why can we not have it in Roscrea, Templemore, Thurles, Nenagh, Newport and Ballina, and not just in Dublin? If I walk out of here, I will fall over garda\u00ed all the way up to Grafton Street. I might turn up in the Minister\u2019s direction or down onto O\u2019Connell Street. If the Minister were to come down to north Tipperary, he would see how many garda\u00ed are around the place, even in Templemore.  We have huge issues that need to be dealt with. The Policing and Community Safety Authority, PCSA, assessment of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na's performance found that 11 out of 18 performance indicators were at risk. That is not good. We need to deal with how we can make a Garda career a better one. I have some suggestions, because the Minister often challenges others to put forward their own proposals.  So, here we go. The training allowance should be linked to pay to show garda\u00ed what they will be earning initially. We need more investment in Templemore to show garda\u00ed the infrastructure they are going to be using. We need to introduce an occupational supplementary pension to the single public services pension scheme to ensure that those who operate in these services, particularly in An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, will see it as a worthwhile career. That is so important. Another thing is that if someone takes up another job when they retire from An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, in many cases, depending on when they retired, a significant portion of their pension is taken off them. Why can we not use these garda\u00ed to do up to 20 hours a week of work in Garda stations as civilians, given their expertise? I have said this to the Minister before.  Finally, we have to deal with legacy issues. The Minister has to deal with legacy issues. He can never say to me he does not know enough about these because I have raised hundreds of parliamentary questions with him. I have spoken about this in committee with him, I have spoken on the floor of the D\u00e1il and I have spoken publicly when it comes to the disgraceful way in which Limerick garda\u00ed have been treated and the fact that the Taoiseach and the T\u00e1naiste believe it needs to be investigated but for some reason the Minister does not. When it comes to the issue of the holsters and the way in which that issue is being dealt with, the loss of fingerprints, the bike scandal, all of these legacy issues and many more need to be dealt with. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  Time and again we have seen Women's Aid and other organisations criticise the Garda response to domestic violence. Last year, almost half of survivors surveyed described their Garda experience as unhelpful. The issue here is not all garda\u00ed; the issue is some garda\u00ed and an inconsistency in their approach. We need more consistent mandatory and specialised training to properly protect survivors of domestic abuse. The 2024 Garda ombudsman report sets out very clearly what the issues are in relation to training. It is not trauma-informed or responsive. The shift to online training has removed opportunities to enhance learning through discussion and sharing of operational experience, and domestic abuse support services are no longer involved in developing and delivering training. To address these weaknesses, the inspectorate recommends the Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na develop a domestic abuse-related training plan in partnership with relevant agencies and support services.  Recently a constituent of mine, who was a survivor of domestic abuse, told me that when she called An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na to the home she shared with her ex-partner more than a year ago, she was told by the garda who attended the scene that they \"did not get involved in domestics\" and she was effectively ordered to leave the home. When she refused to leave, she was threatened with arrest, so she left the home and her two children with her ex-partner, and this was after he pulled her down the stairs by her hair in the home they shared. The inconsistency in the approach between different members of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na is something that needs to be addressed. I welcome the work that is being done in relation to Cuan but I have had a number of these cases come to me in the past year or so and it is frightening.  Regarding what my colleague, Deputy Kelly, said about the suspended garda\u00ed in my own city of Limerick, that was completely unacceptable. How can you have a case where \u20ac3.5 million of taxpayers' money is spent on a near decade-long prosecution leaving Garda morale in Limerick on the floor and the officers stripped of their dignity? Even when the Taoiseach himself and the T\u00e1naiste both agree on the need for a review, I note the Government's countermotion has completely ignored this.  On high-visibility policing, I welcome the additional Garda high-visibility policing plan in Limerick and the additional probationers but we need a permanent funding solution for live monitoring of the CCTV. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  I thank my colleague, Deputy Alan Kelly, for bringing this extremely important motion forward. I start by acknowledging the garda\u00ed on the ground, particularly in my own area, who do extraordinary work in very difficult circumstances. They deal daily with antisocial behaviour, drug intimidation, thefts, public disorder and repeat offenders, and they are doing so often with limited numbers, limited resources and increasing pressure. We need to be honest about every situation that is facing An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. Recruitment and retention are serious problems. We are losing experienced garda\u00ed faster than we are replacing them and morale in many stations is not where it should be. Many garda\u00ed feel overstretched, frustrated and, in some cases, abandoned by a system that is not working.  We also need to talk about antisocial behaviour and repeat offenders. Garda\u00ed are arresting the same individuals over and over again. We regularly see people before the courts with 100, 200 or even 300 previous convictions and yet they are back on the streets within days. That is simply not good enough. It is not fair on victims, it is not fair on our communities, and it is certainly not fair on the ordinary member of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na who arrests someone on a Monday morning and could be dealing with the same person again by the weekend. Our court and sentencing structures must support law enforcement and protect the public, and supports must be put in place to keep people out of crime.  We are also seeing far more young people becoming involved in crime. Our juvenile liaison officers can only do so much. Funding must be provided to this specific area so that we see far fewer young people being dragged into crime which they never had any intention of being part of in the first place. If proper supports, opportunities and activities were provided effectively, particularly in poorer socioeconomic areas, we would see far fewer younger people becoming involved in the crime in the first place. Prevention must be taken as seriously as enforcement.  I wish to raise the issue I previously put to the former Garda Commissioner, Drew Harris, regarding the stay of a chief superintendent and his wife in a five star Dublin hotel during the visit of the former US President, Joe Biden. I did not receive what I consider to be a satisfactory answer on this. As a member of the public accounts committee, where I first raised the issue, I have now requested the committee write to the Commissioner to outline the findings of this investigation, to explain how thorough that investigation was, and, importantly, to establish where the money for these hotel stays came from. Public money must be accounted for and there must always be transparency and accountability, particularly in An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na.  In conclusion, garda\u00ed are doing their job but the system is not always doing its job for them. We need more garda\u00ed, better retention, stronger morale, proper resources, youth intervention funding, and a justice system that supports garda\u00ed and protects communities. Until the Minister addresses these issues properly, he is asking garda\u00ed to do an increasingly difficult job with one hand tied behind their back. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy George Lawlor  This motion addresses a crisis that has been allowed to deepen within An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, an institution that is fundamental to the safety and well-being of communities across this country. The facts outlined in this motion are stark. Garda numbers have fallen, morale has deteriorated, and confidence, both within the organisation and among the public, has been eroded. This motion seeks not only to diagnose the problem but to set out a credible path towards rebuilding a modern, community-centred police service worthy of the trust placed in it. There is no doubt that the tenure of former Garda Commissioner, Drew Harris, left deep scars across An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. Many garda\u00ed will tell you quietly and privately that they felt targeted, undermined and treated with suspicion rather than respect. This week, Wexford-based retired superintendent Denis Whelan, one of the best, most effective and diligent garda\u00ed I have ever encountered----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy George Lawlor  -----stated in a media interview that \"a culture of fear\" had been created within An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and that an environment had been created where \"garda\u00ed are working with one arm tied behind their back\". This was from a brilliant now retired cop in his fifties. That is what the Harris era defined, with, it must be said, the acquiescence and forelock-tugging of a number of former Ministers for Justice from Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael. Instead of leadership that inspired confidence, garda\u00ed experienced leadership that bred resentment. Instead of support they felt surveillance. Instead of empowerment they felt intimidated. What was the result? A mass exodus of experience, early retirements, resignations, and a force that is haemorrhaging talent at the very moment communities are crying out for more garda\u00ed on the streets, like my own town of Wexford. This is a legacy that many garda\u00ed associate with that period of leadership and unless we confront it honestly we simply cannot begin to repair the damage.  The crisis does not end there. The influence of GSOC, now rebranded as Fiosr\u00fa, has cast a long shadow over front-line policing. Oversight is of course essential, as is accountability, but what we have now is very different. We have a system that many garda\u00ed believe is weaponised against them, a system where even the most routine interaction can spiral into a multi-year ordeal and a system where a single complaint, no matter how trivial or unfounded, can hang over a garda's head like a noose. That produces fear and paralysis with garda\u00ed second-guessing themselves at every turn, often afraid to intervene or act and afraid to do the very job we expect them to do for fear of sanction for the most minor of diversions. I have witnessed this first hand in Wexford. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  Policing by consent is a hallmark of how An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na has operated in this State. That model is breaking down as visibility of garda\u00ed on the ground thins out, resulting in a dangerous chasm between garda\u00ed and the communities they are pledged to protect. On-the-ground policing builds trust and relationships and safer communities. Every Member of this House will testify that the number of cases crossing our desks every day reporting antisocial behaviour in communities across the country is on the rise. I suggest that to describe it as \"antisocial behaviour\" minimises it. It is mostly insidious criminal behaviour.  Like many public services under the watch of the governing parties, Garda numbers and resources have failed to keep pace with our growth in population and need to catch up. Fine Gael is as much the party of law and order as it is of fiscal responsibility. It is interesting the stories that parties tell themselves. The Government is falling short of its own commitments on this issue and has to do better if the link based on the principle of consent between our communities and the garda\u00ed who police them is to be restored. The numbers are clear and are laid out in this motion. It is an objective fact that there are fewer serving members of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na today than there were six years ago. In the same period, the population of the country has increased. The Government is now running to stand still when it comes to Garda numbers. The programme for Government, if the Minister needs to be reminded, committed to recruiting at least 5,000 new Garda recruits and staff by 2030. Current trainee intake is far too low to achieve that aim. Only 619 recruits came out of Templemore in 2025 and almost half of Garda districts around the country have lost garda\u00ed or stood still during 2025.  A locally embedded, well-resourced and modern policing service is of crucial importance in enabling communities to flourish. That model is under threat, as Deputy Kelly and others have said, like never before. It requires urgent action on behalf of the Government. There is no point outsourcing this to the Garda Commissioner or senior Garda staff. Leadership needs to be shown at governmental and ministerial level. In order to address recruitment shortfalls, improve morale and strengthen policing in our communities, we need a real plan to deliver at least 1,000 new Garda recruits every year. The current operational policing model, as colleagues have said, needs an urgent review. Where it is found to be undermining the principle of community policing instead of enhancing it, its implementation must be halted. The Labour Party, not today or yesterday, has long argued for an increase in the Garda training allowance. That must be delivered to aid recruitment. We recommend the allowance more or less matches the Garda starting salary. That is the kind of extent to which we need to go. For existing garda\u00ed, we want to see a review of pay scales and pensions. Every Garda district in the country needs a clear timeline for increasing numbers to address community safety concerns and tackle the blight of insidious antisocial behaviour we are seeing across the country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Jim O'Callaghan)  I move amendment No. 1:  To delete all words after \"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann\" and substitute the following:  \"recognises:  \u2014 the crucial role played by An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na in ensuring the security of the State, protecting and serving communities across Ireland through the maintenance of law and order, and upholding the principles of justice;  \u2014 the commencement of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, in April 2025, providing an extensive new framework for policing and community safety in Ireland, and the subsequent establishment of new bodies critical to the governance and delivery of policing services by An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na;  \u2014 that Central Statistics Office data shows a decrease in the majority of offence groups in the year to September 2025, the latest period for which data is available;  \u2014 that, in particular, homicide and related offences fell by 25 per cent, reflecting, in particular, the significant success of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na in combatting organised crime groups;  \u2014 that robbery, extortion and hijacking offences fell by 13 per cent in the same period;  \u2014 that burglary and related offences fell by 12 per cent, reflecting the continued evidence-based success of Operation Thor by An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na;  \u2014 the critical importance of a visible, locally embedded, well-resourced, modern police service in building stronger, safer communities, supporting community wellbeing and enabling them to flourish;  \u2014 that, through the promotion of crime prevention and visible policing, An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na foster a sense of security, especially among the most vulnerable in our society;  \u2014 that our communities rely on the Garda\u00ed to respond to emergency calls, patrol our neighbourhoods, prevent, detect and investigate crimes;  \u2014 that An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na play an important role in the recently established Community Safety Partnerships, 35 of which are established and operational around the country;  \u2014 that overall funding for An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na has increased by almost 50 per cent since 2020, with investment of over \u20ac2.74 billion for 2026;  \u2014 that through successive budget increases the Government has ensured that An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na has the resources, leadership and technology to deliver on its mission;  \u2014 that a major capital plan is being implemented, including the construction of Divisional Headquarters in Clonmel and Macroom; and  \u2014 that \u20ac69 million has been allocated to further expand and modernise the Garda fleet over the next five years, which represents a 38 per cent increase on the allocation for the previous five years;  further recognises that:  \u2014 in line with Programme for Government commitments, the Garda Training Review Group is working to identify delivery options to increase the scale and capacity of high-quality education, training and continuous professional development in An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, and this will help ensure that the skills needs of the organisation are met over the next decade;  \u2014 the proportion of Garda resignations remains very low, with the resignation rate currently between 1 and 2 per cent;  \u2014 significant measures have been taken to boost recruitment and retention in recent years, including increasing the Garda trainee allowance to \u20ac354 per week, increasing the age of entry from 35 to 50, and raising the mandatory retirement age to 62;  \u2014 the vast majority of Garda\u00ed serve with integrity and work tirelessly to keep our communities safe;  \u2014 the Garda Commissioner is committed to ensuring the highest levels of integrity are maintained across the organisation, and that there are robust procedures in place under the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, to allow him to deal with any allegations of misconduct;  \u2014 the introduction of a modernised statutory disciplinary framework under the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, will help to ensure more timely resolution of conduct proceedings and cases involving Garda suspensions;  \u2014 statutory Standards of Professional Behaviour and associated Conduct Regulations now provide clear mechanisms to examine allegations concerning the conduct of Garda members; and  \u2014 significant and sustained investment in equipment for Garda\u00ed is delivering real benefits, including through the rollout of mobility devices to all frontline members, the rollout of body-worn cameras, the acquisition of two water cannons, the expansion of the fleet and the purchase of three new state-of-the-art aircraft;  welcomes that:  \u2014 there are 14,529 attested Garda\u00ed serving with An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na as of end February 2026, reflecting that Garda recruitment is now accelerating following the forced closure of the Garda College during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, and subsequent alterations to training as the pandemic continued;  \u2014 this represents an increase of almost 1,500 Garda members since 2016;  \u2014 the overall Garda workforce has increased from 15,980 in 2016 to 18,276 in 2026;  \u2014 the Government has committed in the Programme for Government to funding the recruitment of 5,000 Garda\u00ed and additional Garda staff by 2030;  \u2014 interest in a career in An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na is high, with almost 11,000 applications to join the Service received in 2025;  \u2014 223 Garda Trainees entered the Garda Training College in Templemore in November 2025, the largest single intake to the Garda College since 2014, and overall, 794 trainees entered the Garda College in 2025, the highest number since 2018;  \u2014 a further 215 Garda Trainees entered the Garda Training College in February 2026, with three further intakes planned across the remainder of the year;  \u2014 194 Garda\u00ed attested in November 2025, the highest number since 2019;  \u2014 the Government is committed to increasing the Garda Reserve with a recruitment competition planned for 2026, and further intakes planned this year; and  \u2014 the introduction of the Garda Operating Model, which makes Garda Divisions the central unit of policing administration, has provided for a more comprehensive and inclusive policing service and helped strengthen the focus on community policing, while also introducing increased local specialisation in the investigation of a range of crimes, including sexual crime, domestic violence, cyber-crime, and economic crime; and  notes the Government's commitment to:  \u2014 continue to invest in ensuring that An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na has the resources it needs to keep people safe;  \u2014 support the Garda Commissioner in ensuring the wellbeing and job satisfaction of the members and staff of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na;  \u2014 continue to provide funding to recruit 5,000 new Garda\u00ed over the next five years;  \u2014 modernise the statutory basis for certain Garda powers, through the enactment of the Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na (Powers) Bill 2026;  \u2014 further enhance the detection and investigation capabilities of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, through the enactment of the Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na (Recording Devices) (Amendment) Bill 2025, which builds on the Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na's ability to use body-worn cameras, enabled through the Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na (Recording Devices) Act 2023;  \u2014 continue to invest in additional measures to support the Garda College to increase capacity for up to 1,000 Garda Trainees per year, including those detailed in the An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na Recruitment Training Capacity Group Report, published in September 2025; and  \u2014 continue to support the work being done by An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na with international partners to deal with organised crime gangs and the related issue of drugs in our communities.\".  I welcome the opportunity offered by the Labour Party motion and the Government countermotion to talk about the outstanding work carried out by members of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and the extraordinary commitment they show on a daily basis. I commend them on the work they do to protect our communities and keep all of us safe. Since taking up office over a year ago, I have sought to ensure we can deliver a vibrant and strong policing service that is highly visible in our communities. I am committed to ensuring An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na has the resources, technology and systems it needs to prevent crime and keep us safe. The Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration is delivering a complex and effective programme of policy development, legislative change and the resources needed to deliver on those commitments in every county.  The criticism of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na by some Members of this House does not reflect the very positive view of the Garda held by the people of Ireland. The repeated references to Garda morale being low are not supported by evidence and ignore the vibrancy and success of the organisation, which the vast majority of its members are proud to serve in. The proof of this lies in the fact that the annual resignation rate within An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na is approximately 1% or less of attested members. That is a low number by any standard and contrasts very favourably with figures in the broader public and private sector and particularly when compared to rates experienced in the PSNI, police services in the UK and police services in other jurisdictions. That over 11,000 people applied to be members of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na last year shows that being a garda is seen as an attractive career and a valuable way to give back to your community.  A hugely positive central role is played by members of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na in communities across the State. We have an admirable and long tradition of policing by consent in Ireland. That remains at the core of our policing service. It means that policing work here is done thanks to and because of the strong links that exist between garda\u00ed and the communities they serve. People in Ireland recognise and value those links and the positive impact that An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na has on people's day-to-day lives. The most recent public attitudes survey demonstrated that 88% of people who took part trust An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and 70% were satisfied with the service provided in their local communities.  Since becoming Minister, I have been enormously impressed by the senior leadership of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. They have played a pivotal role in reforming our national police force while tackling organised crime with unprecedented results and dramatically reducing the incidents of burglaries across the state. The Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, which I commenced in April of last year, provides a modern legislative structure for a police service fit for the 21st century. I commend the work of Commissioner Justin Kelly and the senior leadership personnel in putting the organisation on such a strong footing. His dedication and professionalism in modernising the organisation means we have a policing service we can all be proud of. As Minister, I am happy to engage with Members of this House, with the Garda associations and with the Commissioner on measures that can be taken to improve our policing service. I value the important engagement I have had with the four Garda representative organisations. Commissioner Kelly has also engaged in a comprehensive manner with the organisations. I understand he will attend their annual conferences and will engage to resolve, as will I, any issues raised by their membership as best he can. The Government has set a high bar for An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na in the programme for Government and is making ongoing strides along with the Commissioner and all his team to achieve the commitments.  On a daily basis, I see on our streets the commitment and dedication of the Garda and the work undertaken to keep us safe. Over the past decade, garda\u00ed have made over 1,000 arrests for organised crime offences. Many of these individuals have been prosecuted and convicted and are now off our streets. Last year, there were no gangland gun murders in Ireland for the first time in over three decades. This is not due to good fortune; it is due to the dedicated work of the Garda in making our country safer. It has done an excellent job in ensuring that the presence of guns in Ireland is very low. Over the same period, Operation Thor was introduced with the aim of detecting and preventing incidents of burglary and associated criminal activity. This operation has delivered a truly remarkable drop in the number of residential burglaries of approximately 75%, particularly during the winter months. This initiative continues to have a positive impact on the reduction of property crime in Ireland.  A more recent development I would like to highlight is the introduction of the high-visibility policing plans first in Dublin and latterly in Cork and Limerick. I acknowledge the comments of colleagues from the Labour Party who recognise the presence of high-visibility policing. When I listen to people all over the country, what I hear most is that people want to see more garda\u00ed on our streets where they are most needed. This Government is committed to delivering on the commitment to see more garda\u00ed on our streets. There is a high-visibility policing plan in Dublin city centre. It will be rolled out throughout the country. During the first six months of the roll-out in Dublin, there were increased proactive policing detections for a range of offences, including public order offences, drunkenness and drugs for sale or supply. Arrests, charges and summonses have considerably increased. At the same time, thefts and robberies have decreased. The Government and the Garda have demonstrated the effectiveness of this approach. It is now being extended to Cork and Limerick and will be extended to other parts of the country as well.  We all agree we need a larger Garda organisation. That is why the Government is committed to recruiting at least 5,000 new Garda recruits by 2030.  I have stated numerous times that supporting the Garda is my number one priority.  At the end of February this year, there were 14,529 attested garda\u00ed. More broadly, the overall Garda workforce has increased from 15,980 in 2016 to 18,276 in 2026. Some 2,287 people have entered the Garda college since it reopened in 2022 after the pandemic. Just under 800 trainees entered the Garda college in 2025, the highest number since 2018. In the first intake of this year, 215 recruits entered Templemore. This is the third intake in a row with over 200 recruits. This is making a difference.  As more garda\u00ed are trained and the organisation grows, Garda management will have greater resources to increase the numbers allocated to specialist units. While the training college in Templemore will always be the primary centre for training garda\u00ed, we can all acknowledge its capacity limitations and that is why work is under way to increase capacity in the short term with the support of the Office of Public Works, OPW. It is anticipated that additional capacity will become available this year, providing capacity for a total of 500 Garda trainees on site. While much of our focus is on the work of the Garda, we must remember that ensuring people are safe and feel safe requires a broader response. That is apparent in terms of the local community policing partnerships that have been rolled out.  There has been public discourse regarding Garda discipline and suspensions, something that has been raised by colleagues from the Labour Party, and I want to address this. I must be mindful, of course, that some matters have been before the courts and that internal Garda discipline comes under the remit of the Commissioner. Therefore, I will not comment on individual matters. It is critical to acknowledge that the vast majority of garda\u00ed serve with integrity and do their duty with commitment and dedication. Public confidence in An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na depends on garda\u00ed demonstrating the highest level of personal and professional standards of behaviour. At the end of January, there were 101 members of the Garda on suspension. That represents just 0.6% of the total number of Garda members in the State.  I will also stress that a suspension from duty is not a finding of guilt or wrongdoing. Suspension is a step in the process; it is not the final judgment. It is a mechanism to ensure public confidence in the police service while any allegations are investigated. There are robust procedures in place to allow the Commissioner to deal with any allegations of misconduct in a proper manner and I brought forward regulations last April to give effect to that. There are now separate regulations for dealing with misconduct, as opposed to performance. We have also streamlined investigations for Fiosr\u00fa.  However, the criminal justice system and the law apply to everyone. Wearing a Garda uniform does not grant anyone immunity from proper scrutiny, investigation or prosecution. Equally, the fact a person who may be accused of a criminal offence is a member of the Garda is not, in and of itself, a finding of guilt. Our system operates on the presumption of innocence and that applies to everyone, be they a member of the public or or a member of the Garda. Anyone who is brought before the courts has a right to defend themselves and their reputation. That is the system operating in the proper independent manner. It is not open to me as Minister to intervene in investigations or the deliberations of the DPP and certainly not in the operation of the courts. Our system is designed to be a set of independent yet interlinked bodies with defined roles and responsibilities so that political intervention or interference in the administration of justice cannot occur.  Calls for independent inquiries for every single court case brought against garda\u00ed cannot become the norm, in particular in cases where the accused has been subject to prosecution, has had access to a defence and has been acquitted by a jury of their peers. In particular, it cannot be the norm in a system like that which we are lucky to enjoy and in which I am proud to serve, where the administration of justice is conducted openly and transparently.  We are rightly proud of the relationship the Garda has with the public in this country and we need to maintain that. That trust has taken many years to build up and I will not allow it to be damaged. I want to ensure that An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na goes from success to success. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  I commend Deputy Kelly on this Labour Party motion. I believe it is the first on policing in the lifetime of this D\u00e1il. It reflects our long-standing interest in criminal justice, including my personal interest in criminal justice, and our concern to ensure a robust policing system for our country. I want to pay tribute, as did the Minister, to the vital work of garda\u00ed across our communities and the country and in my constituency and that of the Minister. I welcome the high-visibility policing plan in Dublin city centre, which has made an enormous difference.  However, the Government's countermotion is deeply disappointing because it fails to acknowledge the reality, which is that serious structural issues in An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na need addressing. Instead of massaging the numbers upwards, as the Minister has done, and providing such a poor response with barely any mention of domestic violence, community policing or the drastic failure to increase roads policing, the Minister has given us a somewhat idealistic countermotion that does not address the serious omissions.  As the Minister knows, communities across the country are crying out for higher visibility community policing. Community policing needs serious investment. We need to ensure that community garda\u00ed are not relegated but are instead seen as vital to the task of policing across the country.  On domestic violence, our motion calls for a clear timeline for the roll-out of domestic violence co-ordination teams across every region. We know there is an epidemic of violence against women at present. We see how many murders are linked to domestic violence, yet Women's Aid has found that nearly half of women who go to the Garda for help in domestic violence situations find the response unhelpful. That is deeply concerning.  I have submitted a parliamentary question to the Minister to establish the number of complaints made to Fiosr\u00fa since the establishment of a new unit to tackle complaints against garda\u00ed regarding allegations of sexual and domestic abuse. I have not seen any reporting in the annual reports of GSOC or Fiosr\u00fa on this. I would welcome a response. We have the courageous example of Margaret Loftus, who came forward to describe her experience of how garda\u00ed closed ranks against her when she made allegations, which were absolutely justified, that her garda partner had been violent towards her. This shows the systemic problems in An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na.  This is the sort of example the Minister needs to take seriously in seeking to rebuild trust among communities in the Garda in respect of domestic violence, community policing, road safety and so much more. Our motion seeks to present to the Government constructive solutions to tackle those systemic issues and ensure that trust is rebuilt in communities and that An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na can operate effectively and with community buy-in. I urge the Minister not to oppose our motion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  T\u00e1 an Teachta Kelly ar dhuine de na cosant\u00f3ir\u00ed is m\u00f3 ar son na ngarda\u00ed sa D\u00e1il. T\u00e1 muid go l\u00e9ir i bP\u00e1irt\u00ed an Lucht Oibre ag iarraidh feabhas a chur ar choinn\u00edollacha oibre na ngarda\u00ed agus cur ar a gcumas an pobal a choinne\u00e1il sl\u00e1n.  I will focus my remarks on the area of roads policing. As the Minister knows, 190 lives were lost on Irish roads last year, the highest number in over a decade. Thirty-nine people have been killed on our roads so far this year, seven more this time last year. We are going backwards when it comes to road safety. Is it any wonder when the Government has failed to properly resource our primary enforcement mechanism of the rules of the road, namely, the Garda traffic corps? Bad driver behaviour will not change until the rules of the road are relentlessly enforced. It is like the wild west on our roads at times. There is speeding, red-light running, driver distraction from the massive iPad displays in cars or mobile phones, texting, watching Netflix on the M50 or recording Snapchats or voice notes while driving. I ask the Minister to look at the Bad Drivers Ireland account on TikTok, which will scare the bejesus out of him and give him a sense of the lunatics out there on our roads putting lives at risk with their recklessness. They will keep doing it unless they think there is some chance they will be caught.  The Garda is essentially hamstrung on this. We have a road safety strategy, but we have seen next to no urgency in increasing the resources available to garda\u00ed in terms of people power and the tools at their disposal such as traffic cameras. We have only nine static speed cameras in the country, three average-speed cameras and one red-light camera at Merrion Gates. In terms of numbers of traffic garda\u00ed, before the recession we had a force of about 1,300 garda\u00ed policing our roads, which was then absolutely decimated and cut in half to just 623 in 2018. There are now about 500,000 more cars on the roads than when the cuts were made.  As noted in the motion, the then Garda Commissioner told the transport committee that over the course of 2024 and 2025, 150 new garda\u00ed would be allocated to the roads policing division. What was actually delivered falls far short of this. At the end of 2023, there were 632 garda\u00ed in the traffic corps and at the end of 2025 there were 647, a net increase of just 15. In other words, it was 10% of what was promised. We need to get a grip on this. We need urgent investment in the Garda roads policing division to bring the numbers up and enforce the rules of the road.  We can talk all we like about road safety strategies, speed limits and penalty points, and they are of course necessary measures, but unless the rules of the road can be vigorously enforced, nothing will change. We will continue to see driver behaviour deteriorate and more and more people will be killed and seriously injured on our roads. We need to see greater investment in the Garda and investment into the traffic corps cannot be treated as an optional extra. It can quite literally be a matter of life and death.  While we talk about high-visibility policing, it is great to see it. However, I cannot help noticing as I cycle into the D\u00e1il every morning that I see lots of high-visibility garda\u00ed in the Minister's constituency, but I get reports from my constituents and people all over Dublin that the same visibility is not elsewhere. While we support the measure, we would like to see it somewhere outside of Dublin Bay South as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Wall  I welcome students from the National Learning Network in my home town of Athy who have joined us for this very important debate. I also thank Deputy Kelly for all of his work in this area.  I join with the Minister in thanking all of our serving Garda members for the job they do on behalf of all of us day in and day out, 24-7. It is most welcome and the Labour Party, in particular, wants to welcome and thank them, as the Minister has done. Unfortunately, however, morale among garda\u00ed is as low as I have ever seen it and as low as many serving Garda members have seen it for a very long time. This is directly related to the recruitment of garda\u00ed.  In my own constituency of Kildare South, the number of garda\u00ed has remained the same since 2020 despite repeated PR attempts to convey a different story. Currently, there are 147 garda\u00ed across the Kildare division in Athy, Castledermot, Kildare town, Monasterevin, Newbridge and Rathangan. Since 2020, the number of garda\u00ed in Kildare town has decreased by one, Athy remains unchanged at 34 and Newbridge has only increased by one. The overall figure across all stations in County Kildare is still 147. This is in addition to 37 retirements across the Kildare-Carlow division from 2021 to 2025. More worryingly, in recent months community policing across the Kildare-Carlow division decreased from 31 in May 2025 to only 21 in December 2025. Kildare is a county that has had a population increase to 250,000 and the lack of Garda visibility in that county is creating serious problems in our large towns and our villages. I welcome the fact the Minister is concentrating on visibility. It is the key to Garda policing and community policing into the future but it needs to be sped up and include the counties that border Dublin. That needs to happen very quickly.  I also want to mention roads policing. In December 2025 we had 647 garda\u00ed in our roads policing division, compared with 1,046 in 2009. The reason I bring that up, and not for the first time, is the traffic and commuter chaos that happens every morning on the way into the capital and the lack of visibility of garda\u00ed on those stretches of road is very worrying. I have spoken to garda\u00ed in County Kildare on this matter over the past six months and they all tell me that once an accident happens, their personnel are tied up for hours on end. This is happening almost every day, so we need to see an increase in Garda numbers in our roads policing division. We need to see visibility on our commuter routes into Dublin each morning.  I also support the calls regarding domestic violence. In 20 years of public service, in my office, I have never before seen such worrying growth in domestic violence on a daily basis. We need to do more. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I commend the Labour Party on bringing forward this motion and Deputy Kelly on his persistent work in this area. It has been more than a year since the Minister took office so this motion is a timely opportunity to assess the progress that has actually been made on Garda numbers in the time since. Last year, as the Minister alluded to, there were two high-profile and much-lauded Garda recruitment campaigns. There were 11,000 applications to join the force. That is a very positive story. However, looking at the output, 619 garda\u00ed were actually attested last year. That raises serious questions around the ability to meet the targets of 5,000 new garda\u00ed over the term of the Government or the fact that interest in joining the Garda is not translating into increased numbers. The truth is that no new or innovative measures have been taken since the Minister took office that would increase the number of trainees or encourage existing members to remain. We have had nothing in terms of the Garda allowance or pay progression. Nothing has been done, for example, to encourage those garda\u00ed who have left the force to rejoin. In fact, many of those who have sought to rejoin have found it incredibly difficult to do so.  Last autumn, I produced a series of proposals from Sinn F\u00e9in that included things like increasing the Garda training allowance to the equivalent of the minimum wage, increasing the maximum capacity per intake at the Garda training college, introducing a return-to-policing grant to incentivise those who have left the force to rejoin, removing points on the Garda pay scale so that garda\u00ed can progress faster on it, introducing an annual long-service payment and increasing the mandatory retirement age to 65. Each and every one of those proposals could have made an impact but none has been taken on board.  This is important because the issue of Garda numbers is not an abstract debate. All of us are aware of situations of unmanned Garda stations or stations that are open for minimal hours. We are all aware of the lack of Garda visibility in many of our communities and on our streets. Those of us who are at the coalface of communities are very much aware of the lack of community garda\u00ed to build relationships with young people and deal with diversion from crime. We are very well aware of the fact we do not have enough roads policing garda\u00ed to ensure safety on our roads. We are all very well aware of the over-dependence on overtime to carry out routine police work. I have spoken to the Minister on a number of occasions about how we are coming into a period in the second half of this year when, in my view, the Garda will be overstretched with big events such as those following from the EU Presidency and so on. In the past, garda\u00ed have been pulled from communities into Dublin city centre for those large-scale events. When we have quite a number of them taking place, I have a genuine fear, which has not been addressed, that we will see under-policing in many of our communities.  We need more garda\u00ed but we also need those garda\u00ed to be trained and held to the highest professional standards. We need to look at how we train, educate and pay garda\u00ed if we want to ensure we have the best police service possible. We need to ensure garda\u00ed have access to education and training on an ongoing basis, given the complexities of new laws and technology they are expected to deal with. The public has to have confidence in the governance and management of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and that requires fully addressing the number of garda\u00ed who are working on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence as well as ensuring the organisation responds to such cases properly. We need to listen to people like Margaret Loftus, a former garda herself, and address how garda\u00ed are handling or sometimes mishandling internal complaints and allegations of criminality and how members who challenge wrongdoing within the organisation are treated. We have seen in the Garda, as elsewhere, that protecting whistleblowers is not always considered a priority.  We want to ensure garda\u00ed are held to the highest standards and that internal Garda investigations are fair and transparent. We want to have a police service that has the confidence of our communities. I commend and thank the garda\u00ed in my constituency on their ongoing work under very difficult circumstances because the truth of the matter is that, just as in every other constituency, there are not enough of them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I thank Deputy Kelly for bringing forward this motion. I listened to him on the radio this morning when I was on my way in and I was in full agreement with him that the further you move away from Leinster House, the fewer garda\u00ed you will see.  High-visibility policing is effective. I have noticed an increase in the visibility of garda\u00ed on the beat in Dublin city and that is to be welcomed. However, as you move out from the city, you do not see anywhere near the same numbers of garda\u00ed on the streets. When you get to areas like mine in Dublin Mid-West, that visibility is even less.  In fact, in Dublin metropolitan region west, which covers Clondalkin, Lucan, Ronanstown and Rathcoole Garda stations, there are fewer garda\u00ed today than there were in 2024. That is despite a huge increase in population in the area, with the building of Clonburris and the Adamstown strategic development zone. On 31 December 2024, there were 754 garda\u00ed assigned to my area. As of February 2026, last month, that had dropped to 742. Therefore, despite the Minister's rhetoric that he was to increase Garda numbers, the reality is that in areas like mine, things are going backwards. There has actually been a reduction.  The public knows that the high visibility of garda\u00ed in areas works to deter and detect criminal activity. So-called antisocial behaviour, which is the bane of many a community, decreases simply by having a Garda presence in an area. I will give an example of how effective it can be. Last year, I was inundated by residents from a particular part of my constituency contacting me. They feared for their safety and that of their children. The area was under siege. Gangs had repeatedly committed violent acts of intimidation and had done criminal damage. I received countless emails and phone calls and many people visited my constituency office in fear. Residents told me they were receiving death threats. They were crying out for additional Garda resources. At the time, I raised this directly with the Minister and the Garda Commissioner, and I raised it at the justice committee. Because of the pressure put on me by members of my community, the superintendent was able to allocate a four-garda team for the area. It was like someone had turned off a switch. Overnight I stopped getting as many phone calls to my office. Residents were able to get on with their lives, start living in safety again and breathe.  I know this does not address the underlying issues that cause all this behaviour in the first place, but it allowed my community to get on with daily life. I thank the Garda, including the superintendent, and most of all the members of my community who contacted me about this matter.  The four-garda team was just a temporary measure, however. The garda\u00ed are due to be redeployed very soon for another operation, so I imagine I will be contacting the Minister again and calling for the retention of the team in the area. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  I welcome the opportunity to speak on this motion and again raise the fact that County Meath has the lowest number of garda\u00ed per population in the State. This is the case by a long way and has been the case for years. As a direct result, community safety in Meath is being sacrificed. In recent days alone, I could point to a spate of burglaries in Kells, car break-ins elsewhere and constituents being turned away from their local Garda station in Ashbourne, unable to make a statement because the station does not enough members. These are not just statistics; they are breaches of the basic contract between the State and its citizens.  This Government's failure has direct consequences. How can communities feel safe when their local station's long-term future is in doubt, like in Kells, or where it barely opens, like in Dunshaughlin, Dunboyne, Duleek and Laytown?  In early 2022, the then Minister for Justice, Deputy Helen McEntee, promised a new Garda station for Laytown. The problem is that she did not say which decade it would be delivered in. The latest indication from the current Minister's Department is that it will not be this one anyway. This would be laughable if it were not so serious. It is not a laugh; it is a disgrace.  Garda numbers are lower now than in 2020. With population growth, we have 10% fewer garda\u00ed per capita than five years ago. The Government can no longer ignore this.  I welcome this motion. In addition, Sinn F\u00e9in has published a comprehensive plan to tackle the recruitment and retention crisis in An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. The Government should heed both. Community safety cannot wait any longer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell  T\u00e1 fadhb lean\u00fanach sna ceantair Ghaeltachta maidir le garda\u00ed agus a gcumas Gaeilge. D\u00fairt an Coimisin\u00e9ir Teanga nach bhfuil ach duine as gach tri\u00far garda in ann Gaeilge a labhairt. Is fadhb ollmh\u00f3r \u00e9 sin i gceantair Ghaeltachta. Ag an am c\u00e9anna, \u00e1fach, t\u00e1 garda\u00ed le Gaeilge i gceantair \u00e9ags\u00fala at\u00e1 s\u00e1sta agus ag iarraidh bogadh chuig na ceantair Ghaeltachta sin, \u00e1it ar f\u00e9idir leo clanna a th\u00f3g\u00e1il tr\u00ed Ghaeilge sa Ghaeltacht, ach n\u00edl siad in ann \u00e9 sin a dh\u00e9anamh. M\u00e1s rud \u00e9 go bhfuil muid d\u00e1ir\u00edre faoi gharda\u00ed sa Ghaeltacht, caithfear a chinnti\u00fa go bhfuil Gaeilge acu ionas go mbeidh siad in ann d\u00e9ile\u00e1il le daoine ina dteanga f\u00e9in. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 f\u00edorth\u00e1bhachtach go mbreathn\u00f3far air seo le teacht suas leis an mbealach ar f\u00e9idir n\u00edos m\u00f3 daoine le Gaeilge a earc\u00fa, chomh maith le h\u00e9asca\u00edocht a dh\u00e9anamh ar gharda\u00ed reatha a bhfuil Gaeilge acu bogadh chun na Gaeltachta.  It is important that we ensure there are garda\u00ed who speak Irish in Gaeltacht areas. We know that only one in three garda\u00ed in Gaeltacht areas can speak Irish. An Coimisin\u00e9ir Teanga found that An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na is in breach of its own legal obligations as a result of that. It is incredibly important that people be able to speak to garda\u00ed in their own language. It is about building trust and confidence.  Community garda\u00ed play an incredible and important role in Galway, but in the last year we have seen an increase of only one community garda in the area. We need to increase the number. There are many instances where the local community garda will know exactly what is going on in an area before anybody else. Community garda\u00ed have knowledge of the people, communities and issues, and they need to be assisted by there being more of them in order that they can fulfil their role. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ann Graves","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ann Graves  I acknowledge the work done by serving members of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, particularly community garda\u00ed, who do their jobs under very difficult circumstances.  Tackling the causes and consequences of crime is not just about law and order and it cannot be left entirely to garda\u00ed. It is about having sufficient Garda numbers, adequately resourced, to work within the communities they serve.  Community safety requires whole-of-government responsibility and an inter-agency approach. Garda\u00ed have to battle not only against crime but also for better pay and conditions. Starting pay is less than \u20ac40,000. Garda\u00ed are competing in a housing market that is pricing new recruits out of Dublin and indeed most areas, all while working in conditions that are simply not good enough.  In my constituency, Dublin Fingal East, Swords needs a new Garda station that is fit for purpose. The existing station was built to serve what was then a village. It is now serving a population of over 41,000 and growing. The Minister is aware of this because I met him to speak to him about it in October of last year. The station serves Swords, Donabate, Portmarnock and most of Dublin Fingal East. The garda\u00ed provide the best service they can with limited resources, but the station is simply not fit for purpose. There have been planned upgrades since 2005 and the public and the garda\u00ed deserve better. We deserve a new, fully functional Garda station that meets the needs of the community, with its growing population, and satellite stations to serve the other growing towns served by Swords.  Swords is currently part of a large district with headquarters in Coolock. The area includes Coolock, Malahide, Swords, Donabate and Rolestown, and the area all the way out to Coolquay. With the ever-growing population, future policing in the area requires the creation of a new Garda district with Swords as its centre point.  The Minister has agreed to visit Swords station and see for himself the conditions that the garda\u00ed are working in. I again extend my invitation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sorca Clarke  My constituency is split across two separate Garda divisions. If I look at the numbers on a spreadsheet, I can tell the House that the number of garda\u00ed in Meath\u2013Westmeath is 551. That area is 4,200 sq. km. Roscommon\u2013Longford has 581 garda\u00ed and that area is over 9,000 sq. km. I do not need a spreadsheet to tell me that we do not have enough garda\u00ed in our towns, villages and rural communities. I will give a very good example. There was recently a meeting in Rochfortbridge, Westmeath, on road safety and roads policing. The garda who attended, a very dedicated garda heading the traffic corps, came from Navan, which is 50 km away. What does that say to the people of Rochfortbridge? What does it say to the people of a very small rural community if the head of the traffic corps has to travel 50 km from a major town to their little rural village? It says their concerns are not being heeded and will always be of lower priority than those of other areas. That is incredibly unfair.  It is also incredibly unfair for the people living in Longford, who, when they call the Garda station to get a response to an incident, are told the garda\u00ed cannot go out because they cannot leave the station unstaffed. That is not a functioning Garda model; that is a broken Garda model. It is also very unfair on our garda\u00ed. Mullingar garda\u00ed secured the first conviction for human trafficking in this State. That did not come about by chance. That came about through dedication, good policing and an absolute determination to see that to the end. This needs to be fixed. Sinn F\u00e9in has put forward proposal after proposal but the Minister needs to act on them because my constituents deserve better. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Donnelly  There is not a community that believes the Minister has a handle on the policing issues that they face every single day. I commend the garda\u00ed in Dublin 15. They work hard under huge pressure. I hear from them all of the time that they are under-resourced in terms of equipment, but also in terms of back-up. Can the Minister imagine how the general population feels? Last Sunday, I was sent a picture of our local park by local residents. About a dozen people were hanging around the place. There were six to eight scramblers flying around the park. Millions of euro have been spent on that park, yet a lot of people fear that they cannot use it if this issue is not dealt with. Work has been done on scramblers, which I acknowledge. The problem is there is very little enforcement because An Garda does not have the resources. It does not have the numbers. The Minister has failed every year to reach the target. Even today, he parrots the line about more garda\u00ed on the streets. People just do not see them.  I will give him an example. Bizarrely, recruits are coming out of their nine-month or two-year long training unable to drive cars with the blue lights on. They can march, because I have been down there and have seen it as part of the passing out of a relative. They can march. They spend hours practising how to march, yet they come out of there not being able to drive cars with the blue lights on. That is absolutely ludicrous. They are taunted on a daily basis by people on scramblers, yet they do not have the resources to be able to address them. I have raised time and again the resources in Britain are used for a dedicated anti-scrambler unit. The Minister needs to ensure that it is resourced and that the legislation is in place to enforce what we need to see on the ground, which is people tackling this. The buck stops with the Minister. People want to see action. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I agree with Deputy Donnelly. There was a recent incident in Dundalk where an eight-year-old was stopped on an e-scooter. Garda\u00ed have told me about the particular issues that they have that they are not sufficiently resourced to deal with this issue, which is causing danger, not only for those who engage in dangerous behaviour on e-scooters and scramblers but also for those whom they interact with. We need to see not only guidelines and legislation; we need to make sure that An Garda is given the powers that are required. It goes without saying that high-visibility garda operations can make a huge difference in preventing crime. I commend the community garda\u00ed whom I have interacted with, particularly in Dundalk. The late night leagues with the youth diversion programmes have been running on a Thursday night for the past number of weeks. They are successful. It is about building relationships with kids and hopefully engaging with them from a point of view of ensuring that they can find that better road map themselves for their life.  I also commend the garda\u00ed who with me have met those on Barrack Street who are very worried about the ongoing destruction of property, anti-community action and open drug dealing. There is a Dublin Simon Community facility that probably has bad legacy issues. It is all about those powers that are needed. There is planning permission for 21 units there. Louth County Council would have to make some promises in relation to allocations, but a huge body of work needs to be done. From my discussions with Dublin Simon Community, it is hopefully up for it. It is between it, Louth County Council and An Garda. It is making sure that would happen.  I was contacted by a long-serving member of the Garda Reserve. He had a number of asks relating to the absence of formal recognition of the 20th anniversary of the Garda Reserve, which needs to be dealt, consideration of a long-serving medal for Reserve members and progress on enabling greater operational responsibility for experienced reservists. We need more garda\u00ed but we should also deal with the issue of the reserve. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  The Minister's opening statement started off in a way that was almost expected. He acknowledged the outstanding work of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and phrased it in a way that somehow what everybody else was about to say was somehow challenging An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, as opposed to challenging his Department, his policies and his responsibility. Across this House, all contributors have said that An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na does incredible work, but that work is being impacted and made more difficult by the policies, resourcing and the inability to listen to those on the ground whom we ask to serve. That is the Minister's and his Department's failure. My contribution will be aimed towards his Department, not any individual member. I acknowledge Deputy Kelly and the Labour Party for bringing forward the motion and the diligence that Deputy Kelly has brought to the committee.  This morning, the Irish Penal Reform Trust published a report that every Member should read before they speak, especially the Minister. It found that children are being drawn into criminality from the age of six - not 16, not 12, but six years of age. When the Minister opened the debate by talking about the fact that we have not had a gangland murder in whatever length of time, of course that is welcome. I know what it feels like when bullets make loud noises that everybody responds to. When a child is groomed into criminality through physical or sexual exploitation and that child has to become a runner of drugs or stand on a corner, it is very difficult to convey the extent to which that is so insidious in so many communities because gangland crime has adjusted. Gangland criminals have learned that the resourcing of the State will come when noise is made.  There has been a transformation on the streets. That transformation is being felt in the destruction and annihilation of a child's life. The manifestations of that are felt in parks, for example, in many constituencies. In my constituency, the Diamond Park off Gardiner Street is about a three-minute walk from O'Connell Street. Such is the extent to which criminality has taken hold in that park, dealers are using a saw to cut the slides because they do not want children and families in there given that is one of the places where they like to be able to sell their drugs. That is what happening. It is happening in Diamond Park and in Liberty Park. It is not only happening in parks in the inner city, it is also happening in St. Anne's Park and the length and breadth of Dublin city. That is happening without any degree of Garda presence or intervention. It is so insidious. These are the tactics - shut down public resources and squares so they cannot be used so that gangland figures who are exploiting young people into crime could take advantage of them. There is not a concerted effort on the Minister's part to tackle it, combat it and get in front of this.  I often talk about where his priorities lie. For example, last September, the State flew 79 garda\u00ed on a deportation flight that had 24 people on it. Is there a Member who would not like to see 79 garda\u00ed somewhere in their constituencies at any one point? No, the Minister's priorities were for that at a cost of \u20ac500,000 to the State, excluding Garda overtime, at the same time that police stations are lying empty, community parks are being closed and children as young as six are being groomed into criminality. Where is the focus? We have seen deaths of children from arson attacks and I have not seen an appropriate response. The Minister spoke about a high-visibility plan for Dublin city. I walk down O'Connell Street every morning, including today and at night. I did not see a single garda there. There is a pernicious, insidious level of criminality and exploitation of children in this country and the Minister is not in front of it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  I thank Labour for bringing forward the motion. Over the past number of weeks, community safety fora meetings have been happening in Dublin South-Central. It has been very interesting to see, over the number of years I have been attending, the waning of Garda numbers. At the moment, however, we are on a high where people are saying there is higher visibility in Dublin South-Central for garda\u00ed, particularly in the Crumlin area, where there is a concerted effort for garda\u00ed to be present there. This is highly welcome.  That is not withstanding what I hear from residents and garda\u00ed themselves at those safety forum meetings that sometimes there are challenges for the garda\u00ed in doing their job - that there are not enough numbers and they are not able to respond to phone calls because there is not enough of them. With the level of need in Dublin South-Central \u2013 an urban area with great disadvantage where there is a huge level of crime in some instances with domestic violence in particular having increased since Covid-19 \u2013 we have seen garda\u00ed are not able to respond as they would like. They do not have the numbers.  I have been to visit schools which have asked me what is happening around e-scooters. Garda\u00ed need real clarity on that law and it needs to be hurried up. They are ruining parks and communities in the area. It is dangerous. Older people and people with disabilities are particularly nervous about e-scooters.  I want to commend the garda\u00ed on the work they are doing in schools and youth services. When I have a public meeting, they turn up. They really are doing their best. As Deputy Gannon said, when we see young people being groomed into crime, when there is a good relationship with the garda\u00ed that can help to offset that. The difficulty is that Fagan\u2019s law is there but nobody is being prosecuted under it. As far as I know, there has only been three prosecutions in the past while. That is not good enough because we know it is happening and it needs to stop. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  As the Minister said, we are lucky to live in a country where our police force, An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, is lauded by the vast majority of society. I want to pay particular tribute to the excellent garda\u00ed in our constituency of Dublin Bay South and here in Leinster House and, in particular, to the incredible work of community garda\u00ed which I see first hand in my work as a constituency TD. They do great work with vulnerable youths. I want to state my very strong support for increased resources in this area. However, the number of community garda\u00ed fell in 2025 by about 12%, as the Labour Party motion states. Alarmingly many constituents report to me they do not know who their community garda is anymore. Community garda\u00ed play a critical role in the development of communities and preventing criminality, particularly among youth as young as six, and it is of upmost importance that they are supported at every turn and resources are allocated to them.  I met a detective in our constituency recently who felt as if there was no support for his work in regard to resources or pay and conditions. He also lamented the lack of public understanding about the importance of good policing and the effects it has on those who fulfil a vital role in protecting society. These things also contribute to morale which I am sure the Minister will agree is a huge concern for garda\u00ed. In the Garda, and across the public sector, many new entrants are at extreme disadvantage to their older counterparts when it comes to pensions. The superintendent in my constituency described how her pension package was far in excess to what was available to the community garda across the table from here. That kind of unfairness breeds dissatisfaction among the rank and file and must be remedied if we are to attract high-calibre people to serve the public not just in the Garda but across the public sector. I hope the Minister takes all these things as matters of the upmost importance to his colleagues in the Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  I represent the constituency of Dublin North-West. The communities of Finglas and Ballymun have some of the highest deprivation in this country. The Minister has been out to visit us in Ballymun. I was at a community safety meeting in Ballymun just two weeks ago where members of the community outlined how there are primary school children walking to school past drug dealing. There is open drug dealing going on outside a school while children are walking to school. These children are not safe. These communities are not safe. It is the Minister\u2019s responsibility and that of this Government to ensure that children can walk to primary school without having to pass open drug dealing. Those communities are not safe and they do not feel safe. People cannot go to the shops.  What is the core of the issue? It is inequality and entrenched deprivation and neglect. To tackle it now we need community policing. We need increased levels of community policing and visible garda\u00ed. The community says that as soon as garda\u00ed are visible, standing there, the drug dealing moves off somewhere else. There is not enough policing there or community garda\u00ed. We need it.  The Irish Times today has a report showing that children as young as six are being groomed into drug dealing. I know it is happening \u2013 it is happening in my own community, in the inner city and in communities across this country. It is not acceptable. I know the Minister does not think it is acceptable but what is he going to do about it? Is he going to ensure that communities that are suffering deprivation like Finglas or Ballymun are as safe as anywhere else? Those children have a right and a need to be safe. If that was in Foxrock, does the Minister think walking past open drug dealing to get to a primary school would be allowed? It would not be tolerated for a second and we should not tolerate it anywhere. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  I welcome this debate. I want to speak in particular on the aspect of the motion on low morale, internal investigations in An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and how people who make disclosures or whistleblowers end up being the ones whose careers suffer. They often end up out sick, being bullied or shunned within An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na for speaking out. I would also like the Minister to clarify whether the Fiosr\u00fa investigation he established into gender-based violence within An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na will cover sexual harassment.  I spoke to a currently serving garda who made a complaint about sexual harassment and it is being mishandled. It began when Carol \u2013 I will not use her real name \u2013 reported sexual harassment by a male sergeant. Carol was on duty in the Dublin morgue minding a dead body when her senior male sergeant came in and behaved in a sexually inappropriate manner. He propositioned her and sat on the sofa, right next to her, spread his legs out and made comments to the effect that he could tell people now that he had slept with her. He basically made it clear he wanted to engage in sexual activity. Any woman listening to this will understand the absolute fear of being alone in a room with somebody like that where they are also blocking the exit. He also picked up her phone and started sending her messages. That meant she did not have access to her phone if she needed help. Carol managed to get out of that room and waited about an hour and a half for him to leave. She did not make a complaint initially but she did speak informally to a sergeant, so that she might not have to work with that person. She well understood that women who make complaints often lose out. We all know that.  The complaint was completely mishandled. Confidentiality in the Garda\u2019s own procedures was breached. This is something the Minister should be very concerned about. The person Carol confided in spoke to the accused person and a whole load of other people in the station unbeknownst to the victim of the sexual harassment. That is absolutely outrageous conduct in a safeguarding process. Eventually Carol was shunned and bullied for making that complaint. The sergeant who engaged in this harassment did plead guilty after 22 months only minutes before Carol was to give her evidence thus depriving her of giving her testimony. He was fined, she thinks, about two weeks wages. He is back working as a sergeant supervising young female probationers and sitting in cars with them. It is Carol, the woman complainant, who is out sick whose career has suffered. She said that she destroyed her career and life the day she reported the wrong-doing. She followed the procedures. An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na did not. Like Margaret Loftus, she said, her reputation and credibility were destroyed.  There is a deep culture of sexism within An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na which the Minister should be very concerned about. I spoke to Carol about this in depth. Carol told me about other women who were afraid of this sergeant and other incidents with him but no woman is going to make a complaint since he is back in action with no repercussions. She also told me about comments that she had been told of comments that were being made in stations about Margaret Loftus. They are absolutely sickening sexist comments.  Boasts were made by a garda about beating his wife with a frying pan. This kind of sexism means that garda\u00ed who are meant to deal with gender-based violence are at the coalface. The first person any woman or any victim, be they male or female, but it is more so women, or a child, is going to come into contact with is probably a garda. If they have these attitudes, how can people feel safe? Are women safe within An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na? Somebody like Carol who is a long serving garda with an excellent record and loved her job but is now being edged out.  The other issue relates to the Workplace Relations Commission. This applies in general. The Garda breached the procedures in this case. The WRC said that was okay. What is the point in having procedures then? The WRC is where people go. Why is sexual harassment not a criminal offence? It is not taken seriously at all. Sexual harassment is a marker for much more serious violence that will happen. If the case of Gis\u00e8le Pelicot in France, her husband was initially found out on a much less serious charge of upskirting as it is called. We should take sexual harassment very seriously.  I do not know what the Minister would say to somebody like Carol. She is still serving within the Garda. Obviously, she is out sick. She is being bullied and shunned by other garda\u00ed because she reported somebody who is claiming that they were completely innocent and that she fabricated it. I imagine we want to keep women within the Garda to have a diverse police service in this country. I would love the Minister to look into how An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na are handling sexual harassment complaints. I would like him to confirm that he will include it in the new Fiosr\u00fa investigative team. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  I invite the House to think about An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and the unique monopoly services it provides to the Irish people. Its ability to deliver those services affects us all on a daily basis. I commend our local An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. Since 2008 when I entered public life, I have had relationships with community garda\u00ed and local sergeants and superintendents who do tremendous work on the ground, go beyond the call of duty, attend the community meetings and go out there and give up their own free time continuously to our community. The tremendous work that goes on voluntarily, as well as part of our their duty of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, needs to be put on the record.  An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na is a key national institution. It is there to protect and serve. Such an organisation deserves the best leadership culture. The quality of the service delivered by An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na over the course of the leadership of former Commissioner, Drew Harris declined dramatically. His tenure as Commissioner was built on myth, smoke and mirrors and cloak and dagger. Let me address the myth of Drew Harris, the great disciplinarian. There is a world of difference between being a good disciplinary, which requires impartiality, objectivity, proportionality and respect for human rights and what we truly got, which was an autocrat, oppressor and petty peevish management style. The public inquiry that is occurring in respect to the Limerick situation with Superintendent Eamon O'Neill and colleagues, which the Taoiseach and T\u00e1naiste have agreed to, will demonstrate a radical difference between Drew Harris, the myth and Drew Harris, the lived reality.  A number of weeks ago, I raised questions in this House regarding the case of Mr. John Barrett. I am sure that this will refute the myth of Mr. Drew Harris and the question of being a disciplinarian. It will lead to serious questions that will land at the doors of Cabinet and the Minister's desk. In the case of the bicycle gate and how the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, NBCI, seized bicycles from pensioners, will also discredit and destroy the current myth of Drew Harris, the disciplinarian.  Let me address the prudent management myth of Drew Harris. Mr. Harris left us with a weakened policing infrastructure, fewer garda\u00ed per 100,000 of population despite a 70% increase in the budget of policing in the course of his service of this country, mid-career resignations at the highest level never seen before in this country, a Garda Reserve that is practically non-existent and a sop called community safety wardens, which was given on a whim by the Minister's predecessor, Deputy Helen McEntee, and not integrated into the policing model. Was the former Minister \"Svengalied\" by Drew Harris? Was she manipulated or did she act as a willing accomplice? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  The Minister's legacy will be what he has delivered. At this present time, if we look at the garda allocations that were released in February, there was not one extra garda given to west Cork. The Minister has to stand before the D\u00e1il and give us the reasons for that. He cannot say that there is not enough garda\u00ed. There were 176. Obviously, there needs to be far more than that coming through. Garda\u00ed have retired in west Cork over the past number of years but since 2022 zero garda\u00ed have been sent to the Bantry division. That is an astonishing attack on the people of west Cork. There are no garda\u00ed in Drinagh, Drimoleague, Kilbrittain, all these places and probably in Kealkill. There are garda\u00ed coming out of the main divisional headquarters like Bantry and Skibbereen to try to cover those areas. That is not good enough. They need replacements similar to what has happened for generations. Why are these people being victimised?  Like everybody else, I praise the garda\u00ed who are out there because they are under massive pressure. I have been communicating with them. They run the Garda youth awards. It would be great to invite the Minister down and to be there sometime to see how good the young people are and how the garda\u00ed can get the best out of the youth, including people like Damian White, Don Davis and Bridget Hartnett. We are very lucky to have some garda\u00ed, but we do not have enough. It is a problem. The problem that we have now is that even if the Government is no longer closing the Garda stations, it has effectively closed them because there is no light on and there is no garda there anymore. Why have no garda\u00ed been allocated to west Cork? The Minister needs to answer that question. There has to be a reason. There was only one deployed in the previous allocation. There is a real serious problem out there. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  The fall in the number of garda\u00ed in this country is one of the worst legacies of the Fianna F\u00e1il, Fine Gael and Independent Government. It has enormous effects throughout society. I will focus on one of the effects, which relates to road traffic accidents. Mia Lily Keogh O'Keeffe was a young 16-year-old girl going about her daily life on a Saturday in Navan in February. She was killed at a pedestrian crossing while walking her dog. When Mia Lily was born in 2009, there were 1,046 garda\u00ed assigned to traffic policing in this State. In the year she was killed, there were 618 garda\u00ed assigned to road traffic policing. In January, another 16-year-old girl, Grace Lynch, was killed when she was struck by a scrambler in Finglas. The Government had the power to ban scramblers since 2023, but it did not until after the death of Grace Lynch. Today, a Garda representative body claimed that garda\u00ed are neither trained sufficiently to pursue scramblers nor do they have the legal protections to do so.  Ireland has witnessed a significant increase in horrendous road deaths. All of us have been stopped in our tracks over the past few months witnessing this but there is a direct correlation between the number of garda\u00ed policing our roads and road deaths. If the Minister is going to allow for the number to fall into the future, we will have more road deaths. Unfortunately, people's behaviours turn for the worst when they know that they are not going to be stopped or checked on the road for bad driving behaviour. It is true for crime as well. We have seen a massive spike in the number of violent and serious crimes in many parts of the country in recent times.  If we look at what is happening to the Garda, it is incredible. Resignations over the past number of years have never been as high. Garda\u00ed are voting with their feet, and they are leaving. Garda\u00ed are being attacked on a daily basis. A parliamentary question reply that I received shows a significant number with at least one garda being physically attacked on a daily basis in this country. Garda have been on sick leave.  A total of 35 garda\u00ed were on sick leave last year due to poor mental health and ill health - 300 in total over the past six years. Garda numbers are still falling. Incredibly, in 2024, Australia recruited more garda\u00ed net than this State. If the Government is not willing to give the proper pay, terms and conditions to garda\u00ed working in this State, they are not going to be able to remain in office. With the spike in costs, especially fuel costs, garda\u00ed are unable to pay to fill a tank with fuel. I am calling for the Minister to invest significantly in pay, terms and conditions to make sure we have the garda\u00ed necessary to police the roads and streets in towns and villages throughout this country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  I welcome this brief opportunity to talk about Garda resourcing. I spoke very recently about how the actual number of garda\u00ed per head of population is lower now than it was in 2008, which is a shocking indictment of the system. The Minister needs to get more garda\u00ed into the system and obviously that means paying them, along with other public sector workers, a fair and decent wage and getting rid of the yellow-pack pay and conditions that were brought in during the times of austerity. Equally, we have to provide opportunities for garda\u00ed to live and work in communities. We can possibly look introducing a Dublin allowance for people living in very expensive areas. In my constituency, the cost of affordable housing keeps going up because of demand. I have spoken about that before as well. We do not have public sector workers living in areas where they are able to see what is going on in their daily lives as opposed to their working lives.  When I raised the issue of antisocial behaviour in a Private Members' motion last year, the Minister gave a commitment that he would look at freeing up Garda time. I gave the example of a school where stones were being thrown at the school by people who are trying to rob bikes and the Garda response was \"sorry, the car is in at the courts\". Obviously, for antisocial behaviour orders, a sergeant or someone of a higher rank is needed to go in but a lot of Garda time is spent in court testifying when it could be done more efficiently through video. This would free up garda\u00ed to operate on the ground. The key element of this motion is the reduction in community garda\u00ed. They are the ones at the forefront identifying problems as they arise and we need to resource that particular grouping in particular. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tom Brabazon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tom Brabazon  I welcome the opportunity to speak on this vital issue. Garda resources are one of the most consistent and pressing concerns raised with me by constituents. Day in, day out I hear from my community that the Garda presence in our communities is simply not strong enough or visible enough. Across my constituency of Dublin Bay North, there are areas crying out for more garda\u00ed. These are areas whose populations are increasing on a daily basis. People are telling me they do not see the same presence on the streets anymore. They are worried and frustrated. They want to feel safe going about their daily lives and right now, too many do not feel safe. Our garda\u00ed do fantastic work, often in very difficult circumstances, but they cannot do the impossible. There are stations in my community that are stretched to their limits. Garda\u00ed cannot be everywhere and they cannot meet the needs of communities without proper staffing and resourcing.  I welcome the increase in Garda numbers that was announced recently. We need to keep this up if we are to reach the numbers that are so badly needed. We are on the right trajectory but we cannot sit back. We need to create additional critical momentum in this regard. What people want is quite simple - more garda\u00ed on the beat, on our streets and in our communities. They want the reassurance that when an issue arises, there is a Garda ready to respond. That visible presence is what builds trust and confidence and keeps people safe. I am asking the Government to go further and faster in increasing Garda numbers and to support our communities by ensuring that sufficient numbers are deployed to areas that need them most. People deserve to feel safe where they work and where they live. Right now, too many people do not feel that. That must change and it is our responsibility to create that change "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathal Crowe  I welcome the opportunity to speak in this debate. I start by commending the Minister, who has really grasped the nettle here with the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration. We are down to core policing issues because that is what really matters to people. People do not want fluff; they want to know that there will be garda\u00ed on the street, that people feel safer and that there is high visibility so all of that is important.  I really welcome the fact that in the past year, 794 new recruits have gone through the gates of Templemore with many of them already attesting and joining the ranks. I also welcome more visible patrols, which I have seen in my county. One sees garda\u00ed on the street. That is where people really want them. We do not want them behind desks doing administrative work. We want them out there doing core policing duties.  A lot of good stuff is happening. I would love the Minister of State to outline a proposal in the programme for Government - one I would have submitted at the time negotiations were under way to form a Government - to reintroduce the electronic tagging of prisoners. It was there in the past and the legislative basis for it is there. It flopped. It was costly, was not used properly and was not used effectively in the past but I think it can have a real place now because it is devastating for victims of crime to see people walk out of the court system or worse again go into prison for a few hours only to be sent out the back door and home in a taxi. That is not good enough. Other jurisdictions use electronic tagging of prisoners very effectively and we should be doing it too. I would love to hear from the Minister of State when he makes his concluding remarks what kind of timelines we can expect in that regard.  I also want to speak about some geographical imbalances. A few years ago, Garda divisions were realigned. The Garda division that covers my county also covers County Tipperary and six of the superintendent positions are based in Tipperary with just one in County Clare. Similar imbalances can be seen across the country. We need to be cognisant of that going forward.  I have often risen to my feet in this Chamber to speak about the 108 garda\u00ed who were at one point suspended. That figure has dropped a little bit now. We need to know at all times that this Government and this country has their back. The processes are under way but I think an inquiry is required to look into how it was that garda\u00ed, particularly in the Limerick division, which covers part of Clare, were suspended. They have all been acquitted. It has been costly to the State but there needs to be a deeper drilling down into that issue to understand how we got to that point. That should have been an internal disciplinary matter. It should not have blown up in the courts. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  My father was a Garda, as were my grandfather and my great-grandfather. I will not be supporting the motion, not because I do not think there are real issues but because I believe they need to be looked at by An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na itself and I believe a lot of good things have happened in An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na since the formation of this Government. I acknowledge the garda\u00ed themselves; the men and women who put themselves on the line day in, day out. The vast majority of garda\u00ed are dedicated professionals who are deeply committed to the communities they serve. As other Deputies have mentioned, they need more support. Support has been growing but we need to do it faster.  I know from speaking to garda\u00ed and members of the public in Dublin Bay North that there is a clear imbalance between areas in north Dublin and other parts of the city. With the recent announcements of extra garda\u00ed, people in my constituency can see it and would love to feel it. We would love to see more garda\u00ed on the beat but to get more garda\u00ed, we need more people to apply for the job. We need more support for all critical workers, for example by exploring housing supports, rental assistance or something similar to what has been done for public servants in London. If we brought in essential workers such as teachers, garda\u00ed and nurses and gave them financial supports, particularly at the beginning of their career, it would help. Outside the D\u00e1il today, we see another group of essential workers - Northside Home Care Services - on strike. They do not have pay parity and that needs to be looked at as well.  If we do not address this, we will see more struggles with recruitment, retention and building trust in the community. There are issues and gaps but we need targeted investments, a fair allocation of resources and practical supports for An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. I commend An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na on its work across communities in Dublin Bay North over the weekend of St. Patrick's Day. Its work involving all the parades was brilliant and I thank it for that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  I am glad to get the opportunity to speak about An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na today. I thank it for its great work in Kerry. It is a massive county and the distances are very great around all the peninsulas and everything. We have to thank it especially for making progress in connection with the murder of Michael Gaine. We welcome this and hope that it continues to bring this to the conclusion desired by many people because Michael Gaine was loved and appreciated first of all by his own family but also by the vast number of friends he had. It upset the whole county when this tragic episode took place around 12 months ago.  It was very regretable that Garda stations like in Lauragh and Sneem do not have a Garda presence all the time.  This is not helping the elimination of drugs. We know that there are drugs are coming into the small harbours and piers. There is no proper monitoring of what is going on along the bay. There are drugs coming in every day. They are visible in every town, village and community now. They are coming from somewhere and more needs to be done to stop this.  What is also happening now is that there are people renting houses around our local areas. Previously, the local garda knew who every one of these people were, wherever they came in from and whoever they were. As soon as they landed, the garda usually visited them to see who they were and what they were at. That is not happening now. I see fellows - not in our locality, where I know a lot of people - in parishes local to me and we do not know who they are. No one seems to know what they are doing. You will not see some of them all day. They are inside in houses. You might not see them for a week. We do not know what they are doing. Certainly, it is not the Ireland that we used to know previously. It is not that I want to know everyone's business or anything like that. That is not the point. There are things happening. I do not think the Garda has the ability now to follow these people up before they do untold damage, carry out robberies, or bring in drugs or whatever. We do not know what these people are doing. There needs to be more command over people from different countries who come in. We do not know what they are doing or where they came from, or if they have ever been vetted. We do not really know for sure what is happening around us. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan)  I thank the Deputies for their comments and contributions on the Labour Party motion today. I particularly note many of the complimentary comments in relation to the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, who obviously has a vast knowledge and deep understanding of this area and, indeed, the workings of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. Like others, I want to express my thanks to An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na for the excellent work it does on a daily basis.  Over the next couple of minutes, I will outline the impact of the work that An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na does in Ireland. The 2025 Global Peace Index outlined that Ireland remains ranked overall the second most peaceful country in the world, after Iceland, and in the top ten in the societal safety and security category. That is very much down to the work of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. Long-term trends continue to demonstrate an ongoing and sustained reduction in recorded crime. An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na recently highlighted that CSO figures show that Ireland recorded a 7% reduction in crime between 2019 and 2024 while undergoing a 9.3% increase in population - that is significant - and an even greater reduction in crime between 2002 and 2024 while experiencing a 37% increase in population. As the population has gone up, the work of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na has led to a situation were crime is reducing. While crime levels are relatively low, the Government is not complacent and will continue to invest in An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na to enhance its ability prevent and detect crime. In this regard, I am pleased to be able to outline further supports this Government is providing to An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na.  In order to ensure that the needs of the organisation are met over the next decade, the Garda training review group has been established. The group is tasked with identifying options to increase the scale and capacity of high-quality education, training and continuous professional development in An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. The group will also consider specifically the case for a second training college and the role that the tertiary system could play in the delivery of Garda training for all members of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. This work will also recognise that there will be increased training needs right across the organisation as it continues to meet new challenges and deliver on its mandate.  Late last year, following the review of the national development plan, the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, secured \u20ac2.18 billion for a justice sectoral investment plan out to 2030. There is \u20ac911 million of this allocated to Garda projects, including the completion of new Garda stations. This investment will see the completion of new Garda stations in Portlaoise, Newcastle West and Bailieborough, in 2026 and early 2027. It will also support work on new stations in Macroom, Clonmel, Castletroy, Carndonagh and a new HQ for the Dublin north region. The Garda College in Templemore will also receive a significant investment, as the Minister mentioned earlier. Importantly, \u20ac35 million in funding is also provided for a rolling programme of minor refurbishment works at Garda stations around the country. I will have to mention my local station in Clonakilty, which will avail of this investment. This investment will ensure that stations across the country receive the improvements they need.  I also want to highlight the \u20ac69 million the Minister has allocated through the sectoral investment plan to expand, modernise, diversify and electrify the Garda fleet over the next five years. Following sustained investment in air assets, a second new helicopter will be delivered in 2026, significantly enhancing surveillance, search and public order capabilities. Funding is also provided to An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na to further develop its drone technology as well as accommodation for the equine and canine units. There has been \u20ac460 million allocated in the national development plan to increase Garda capabilities in the areas of digital transformation, technology and cybersecurity. We have seen the benefits of funding in this area in recent times. All garda\u00ed are now equipped with mobile devices which allow them to, among other things, access the PULSE system, scan driver licences to check for validity and disqualifications, and verify insurance, tax and national car test, NCT, details for road users. As a result, garda\u00ed can quickly and efficiently identify offenders and issue fixed-charge notices for a range of traffic offences.  Additional funding to support the full nationwide roll-out of body-worn cameras for An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na is critical to protect front-line garda\u00ed and prevent criminal activity. There has been \u20ac19 million allocated as part of budget 2026 to support this. Highly successful pilot projects have been operating in Dublin city, Waterford and Limerick. Body-worn cameras are curbing public aggression and preventing crime, and the evidential value of footage is helping to secure convictions in court.  This Government is also working to support the garda\u00ed by bringing through legislation which allows An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na to respond to the challenges it faces. The Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na (Recording Devices) (Amendment) Bill 2025 is progressing through the Houses. Once enacted, this legislation will save Garda time associated with reviewing vast amounts of video footage and images. It is not acceptable that garda\u00ed are spending hours on end combing through footage for evidential material when we can make use of a technological solution. This Bill will also provide for biometric analysis which conducts searches of general characteristics, unknown individuals and known individuals. It is intended that biometric analysis may be carried out retrospectively on documents gathered in the course of an investigation by garda\u00ed in the context of the prevention, investigation, detection or prosecution of an arrestable offence; in the search for missing persons; and for the protection of the security of the State. There will, of course, be protections and oversight mechanisms put in place, including a code of practice and oversight by a High Court judge, who will report to the Taoiseach annually on the operation of biometric analysis. The Government is also progressing the Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na (Powers) Bill 2026. The primary aims of this Bill are to provide a clear and transparent statutory basis for the existing police powers of search, arrest and detention, supported by statutory codes of practice; subject to those powers, place the fundamental and procedural rights of suspected and accused persons on a statutory basis; and rationalise and modernise the powers to take account of developments in modern technology and best practice in policing.  The Garda operating model has also introduced a number of new ways in which the Garda organisation is administered. These changes reflect the fact that policing has changed at the same time as our country has changed. Transformation in our way of life, in our work, in our communities, in technology and in our infrastructure have meant changing demands on Garda resources. What has not changed is the ethos and mission of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. The new operating model has changed the way in which Garda work is managed and has enabled An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na to free up policing resources to do police work. It takes account of the fact that there are newer types of crime, such as cybercrimes, that require specialist resources.  Domestic and sexual violence has also been a focus of the Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and of Government in the past number of years, and the roll out of divisional protective services units across the country is welcome. This is to say that the garda\u00ed should be able to change the way they work, the way they are structured and the way in which resources can be deployed to adequately serve the community. The operating model is facilitating these changes so that all policing services can be delivered locally. There are assertions that rural areas in particular feel the operating model does not work, and that it breaks the link between communities and their garda\u00ed. However, the model has realigned Garda functions so that there is at least one dedicated community engagement superintendent in every division. In larger divisions, there are two or three, each over a community engagement area.  The model removes the administrative load from these senior garda\u00ed to other functions within the division such as business services, so that they can focus on delivering front-line policing, which is what we want our garda\u00ed to be doing.  An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na plays a crucial role in ensuring the security of the State, protecting and serving communities across Ireland through the maintenance of law and order and upholding the principles of justice. All of the work and investments made by this Government are making a difference to the ongoing development of that service, and will ensure that communities across Ireland can be confident in the policing service they receive from An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, now and in the years and decades to come. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  I thank Deputy Kelly for bringing this motion forward today. It is very important. One of the biggest failures of successive governments has been the failure to invest in our garda\u00ed, Garda resources and Garda stations. It is an absolute scandal and it is vitally important we are talking about this today.  Our Garda numbers are very far down. I will talk about road traffic garda\u00ed in a few moments but if we look at the resources and the places where garda\u00ed are working, I live in the third largest town in Ireland by population, Swords, and our Garda station is not fit for purpose. For one month during the winter, it was without heating and hot water. Imagine if they turned the hot water taps off in this building for ten minutes. There would be absolute uproar. We had garda\u00ed investigating delicate and sensitive murder cases and having people in custody without hot water and heating. The conference room where neighbourhood watch meetings take place suffered a leak and has been out of commission for weeks. Garda\u00ed will not transfer to that station because of the working conditions. Donabate, a town that has gone up to 20,000 people, is a huge town, yet there are no plans to deliver a Garda station there. There is nothing in the Garda Commissioner's plans to deliver there.  On road traffic policing, we continue to have an absolute epidemic and a disaster in deaths on our roads. I am 22 years driving this year. In my first couple of years driving, I remember running into static breathalyse checkpoints. They were not uncommon on Collins Avenue, Glen Ellen Road and Holywell. They are ones that come to mind. I drove between Monaghan and Cavan once and to Kinsale and in the first three or four years I was driving, it was not uncommon to bump into a checkpoint. I have not been breathalysed at a random checkpoint in years. Why is that? It is because we are 40% down in road traffic policing. It is no coincidence. There is a correlation between that and the deaths on our roads, of that I have absolutely no doubt. It is another failure of investment and strategy from this Government.  This is an absolute crisis. This motion speaks to the collapse in morale within our garda\u00ed. Our garda\u00ed have not been supported by senior management and that is having an impact on the policing levels on our streets, and it has to end. I commend this motion. I wish Government would withdraw its amendment and get to work in improving and fixing An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marie Sherlock  I want to start by thanking my colleague, Deputy Kelly, for bringing forward this motion, and to express my disappointment in the Government's proposal to amend it today because we very much need to acknowledge the incredible work An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na is doing across our country. As a Dublin Central TD, the Dublin riots will be an image and experience that will forever condition my approach to how we need to police in Dublin. There was a very strong sense in the wake of that event that things would never be the same again. It exposed the city and An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na to awful events. In the three years since then, there has been a major effort by garda\u00ed to improve visibility and to engage with communities but they are effectively doing this by running to try to stand still. While we are very grateful there is a significant chunk of the recruits coming out of Templemore being allocated to the Garda stations, in particular in the north inner city, the reality is we have fewer garda\u00ed now than what we had pre-pandemic. We have four garda\u00ed fewer compared to December 2019. During that time, we have had a significant increase in population, and that is the challenge the garda\u00ed on our streets are currently facing.  Unfortunately, the garda\u00ed locally are accused of being soft on kids on scramblers and I want to reject that. The garda\u00ed have a very delicate balancing act between not making martyrs of teenagers or children and maintaining the trust of the local community. Work has been done to try to confiscate scramblers but we know so much more has to be done, and there is a clear need by Garda leadership, particularly by the Commissioner, to ensure that message is sent to garda\u00ed on the ground. They must intervene to a much greater extent. We also need to see the deployment of technology, like in Manchester where drones were deployed, to try to take scramblers off our streets.  Ultimately, when we look at the resources garda\u00ed have for dealing with those underage and with children, the number of juvenile liaison officers, JLOs, in our community does not inspire confidence. We have only four across DMR north central, and we cannot get away from the fact we have too few people dealing with the children on the ground.  In regard to domestic violence and the very real concern about the inconsistency across the country, across the 21 Garda divisions, only seven have domestic abuse co-ordination teams. There are 13 in Dublin and one in Dundalk, and none for the rest of the country. We have to change that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  In conclusion, it would have been respectful if the Minister from the Department of justice, Deputy O'Callaghan, was actually here. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan  He was here for almost the entire debate. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  He was not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  There are three Ministers in the Department of justice. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy can continue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  Can I have that time back please?  In the remaining time, I want to deal with the legacy issues. You cannot move forward unless you deal with legacy issues, and there is a huge number of them, particularly in the period of the previous Commissioner. I urge this Government to read the article in the Irish Independent yesterday by Denis Whelan, former superintendent, in which he talked about a culture of fear in An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. It was one of the best and most honest articles I have ever read from a garda who has just retired. He was a superintendent in Wexford, somebody whom my colleague, Deputy George Lawlor, knows very well, and who was brilliant at his job. He talked about a culture of fear.  When I talk about legacy issues, I could talk about the importation of firearms under false instruments; defective ammunition; repair of privately owned guns by An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na; the storage of firearms in Garda headquarters, which was a mess; the drugs that were found in Garda headquarters; and the lack of proper governance of DNA samples. I could talk about a whole range of other legacy issues. I could talk about the disgraceful way in which An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na went after a garda because he lent a bike during Covid. That has now cost the State \u20ac400,000, and there was no bloody warrant to take the bike. Nobody seems to be acknowledging this. There was no warrant, and that farmer has never got retribution for the fact his property was entered without a warrant. That is on the record of the D\u00e1il.  I could also talk about the fact 17,000 live fingerprints have been lost, which means prosecutions have been lost across this State, yet An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na will not acknowledge this has happened. I could talk about the dysfunctional nature of the Department of justice working with An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and the fact that I, as an opposition TD, had to ring the Minister for justice, Deputy O'Callaghan, to tell him the guns that were put in the car Evan Fitzgerald was in were put in by An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. He did not know. I had to tell him. What sort of a functional relationship is it, where I have more intelligence than the actual Minister for justice? That whole case, that tragic case which should never have happened, will need to be investigated.  I could also talk about the fact that, as I stand here, three garda\u00ed who were suspended for years, are having their suspensions and the whole issue withdrawn in court in Limerick.  That is 11 garda\u00ed. The Minister for justice says there will not be an independent inquiry despite Deputy Crowe saying there should be, despite the Taoiseach saying there should be and despite the T\u00e1naiste saying there should be. Who pulls rank? There has to be an inquiry in relation to these 11 garda\u00ed. The Minister says calls for independent inquiries for every single court case brought against garda\u00ed cannot become the norm. This is not an individual. This is 11. What happened here was a disgrace and will have to be investigated.  Most of all, I can also talk about what I have raised here and in committee on numerous occasions in relation to how garda\u00ed were given faulty holsters, the impact that has had on the lives of serving garda\u00ed and the tragedy it has caused. This will haunt this Government and the previous Government. It will haunt this Minister, and it will haunt the Minister, Deputy McEntee. What will also haunt them is the manner in which they did not deal appropriately with protected disclosures that were made to them. I guarantee that it will come back to haunt these Ministers. I guarantee it. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  In accordance with Standing Order 85(2), the division is deferred until the weekly division time this evening. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na: Motion [Private Members]"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-25\/debate\/dbsect_11","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions","counts":{"speechCount":65,"speakerCount":12},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_11","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":" A Deputy","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel Grealish","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  We welcome three people, the Rev. Karen Sethuraman, Ben Collins and Claire Mitchell, who gave a fascinating presentation today on Protestant perspectives on constitutional change. They are very welcome here today.  The measures the Taoiseach brought forward yesterday to address soaring fuel prices are not good enough. He has short-changed working people, people with little or no support, working every hour that God sends and still struggling to get by. He short-changed them on diesel, he short-changed them on petrol and he completely abandoned the 750,000 households who rely on home heating oil. Most of these families do not receive the fuel allowance. They have seen the price of home heating oil double in a matter of weeks. What was the Taoiseach's offer to them? It was a 2 cent reduction per litre and a lousy \u20ac20 off a fill of oil that has skyrocketed to around \u20ac1,700. That is what families are dealing with in the here and now. That took some neck, all the more so given that this lousy \u20ac20 will be taken back when the Government increases carbon taxes in a couple of weeks.  Last night, the Taoiseach had the opportunity to change course and to do right by these households, but instead he dug in. Sinn F\u00e9in proposed an amendment to the financial resolution that would give proper relief on petrol and diesel, completely remove excise and strip carbon tax from home heating oil, but the Government voted that solution down. It would not budge.  Clearly, households being able to afford to heat their homes is not a priority for Fine Gael or Fianna F\u00e1il. Their actions yesterday revealed their true priorities. For all the lip service, for all the tea and sympathy, yesterday, they had a real chance to make a big difference for hundreds of thousands of households hammered by soaring prices, and they chose to leave them behind.  Previously, I have told the Taoiseach about a 94-year-old woman on a fixed income whose heating oil bill doubled in days. She is now faced with paying an extortionate bill or being cold. I have also told the Taoiseach about the mother who received a quote for her fill of oil and did not know if she would have enough money left to get that week's shopping. These are the people the Taoiseach has abandoned. What has he to say to them today? Yesterday, he told them that they were on their own. Remember that almost 500,000 households already could not afford electricity or gas bills, yet with his eyes wide open the Taoiseach will push many households who rely on home heating oil into desperate situations - more stress, more pressure, more hardship.  T\u00e1 teaghlaigh a bhraitheann ar ola teasa t\u00ed tr\u00e9igthe ag Fianna F\u00e1il agus Fine Gael. D'fh\u00e1g an Rialtas na teaghlaigh seo i gcruach\u00e1s gan aon fhaoiseamh. N\u00edl s\u00e9 maith go leor.  Households who rely on home heating oil matter. They need support, but the Taoiseach has thrown them under the bus. How could he think it is good enough to treat these families in this way? It is not right. It is not fair. Sinn F\u00e9in has provided the Taoiseach with the solution: to completely remove excise duty and strip out carbon tax from home heating oil. That is what the Taoiseach should do to give these families real relief because he cannot leave them on their own. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  N\u00ed aonta\u00edm leis an Teachta. Mar a d\u00fairt m\u00e9 inn\u00e9, t\u00e1 an Rialtas ag d\u00e9anamh gach aon iarracht cabhair agus taca\u00edocht a thabhairt do dhaoine, go h\u00e1irithe na daoine is boichte agus ar ioncam \u00edseal sa t\u00edr seo. Sin a dhein muid inn\u00e9 leis an bpac\u00e1iste a d'fhoils\u00edomar.  I disagree fundamentally with the Deputy in her assessment. The bottom line is that Sinn F\u00e9in voted against a reduction in diesel of 20 cent per litre last evening. Sinn F\u00e9in voted against a 15 cent reduction in petrol and a 3 cent per litre reduction in green diesel, and also voted against the NORA levy, or will, in terms of its commitment. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  No, they did vote against it last evening. They voted against the reduction. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" A Deputy","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" A Deputy  We are voting against something we do not even know about. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  If they had won last night, there would be no reductions at all. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  We did win last night. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That is the logical conclusion of their position. No attempt this morning is going to change that fact. We put forward measures last evening by resolution to reduce the cost of petrol and diesel, and Sinn F\u00e9in opposed it and voted against it. That was the wrong thing to do. It sums up their approach. In Northern Ireland, they cannot make up their minds. Two Sinn F\u00e9in Ministers are in charge of this area. There is an absolute absence of any decision-making, an absence of any clarity. They cannot make up their minds on how to allocate the money to help people in Northern Ireland. It is pathetic, absolutely pathetic, and they blame somebody else, of course, which they always do.  The bottom line is that there is a war which is having enormous implications for energy supply. It is well documented. No government in the world can compensate every single person in society as a result of that war. All of the advice is that you target the resources you are allocating to a crisis of this kind, and that they are temporary measures. It is also to keep in mind that things could get worse over the next number of months, and that we need to hold in reserve our resources, both for the budget for next year and for making sure we maintain investment in services like education and health, but that we do our best now to ease the pressure on people. Extending the fuel allowance by four weeks enables us to reduce the pressure on working families, and up to 470,000 families will benefit from that extension over four weeks of the fuel allowance. Most people will also benefit from the reduction in diesel and petrol that Sinn F\u00e9in voted against and opposed, and people will benefit from the NORA levy also. In the broader area, of course, in the last budget, we increased way above inflation the social protection measures, pensions and the household benefits package - quite substantially.  Deputy McDonald keeps talking about carbon tax. God knows, over the last number of years, it has been incredibly difficult to find out where Sinn F\u00e9in stands on carbon tax. Every year, when we do a budget, Sinn F\u00e9in does its alternative budget. What is in its alternative budget? All the revenue from carbon tax. So, when it suits Sinn F\u00e9in for performative and demonstrative purposes, such as this crisis, it suddenly wheels out its supposed opposition to the carbon tax. However, when it comes to the budget next October, it will have a budget alternative to ours, and it will include carbon tax revenue. It is so hypocritical about it. That is the damage that it would do. Carbon tax is essential to guarantee ring-fenced funding for the retrofitting of homes, the warmer homes initiative and the retrofitting of local authority housing, all of which will help working people to permanently reduce their bills into the future.  This year alone, \u20ac173 million will be allocated out of that fund to farmers on environmental farming schemes under the ACRES programme, which is 60% funded by the Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  N\u00edl an Rialtas ag d\u00e9anamh faic. N\u00edl s\u00e9 ag \u00e9isteacht ar chor ar bith. We could not be clearer in our position. For the avoidance of any confusion, the Government's half-baked measures are not enough. We will not support measures that leave 750,000 households high and dry. They are real people, real families, who today now worry about how they will pay their home heating bill. The Taoiseach has no answer for them. We had the answer. We provided him with the opportunity to do the right thing, yet he failed to do so.  We see a rerun of the Taoiseach's politics again. For all the auld guff and his performative efforts, he does not care about working people. In the budget he spoke about, he spent \u20ac9 billion and not a shilling for working people - not a shilling for the people who do not get the supports he claims. They have been left high and dry.  I put it to the Taoiseach again: we have given him a specific measure in respect of home heating oil that affects hundreds of thousands of households. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  I ask him again to adopt our proposal. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  You are way over time, Deputy. The Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Adopt the Sinn F\u00e9in solution and give these families the relief and support they deserve. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Sinn F\u00e9in's solution is billions, billions and more billions every month of the year. No matter what crisis arises, throw billions at it. That is its response. It has no substance as a party, absolutely none. Whatever issue arises, it just throws money at it. That is the answer to it. That is the incoherence of its response as a party - hopelessly incoherent, no substance to its policy, no clarity. There is an absence of any decision-making capacity, as demonstrated by the Deputy's party in Northern Ireland, and she controls it all. She has made that very clear. That is exactly what happens. She blames somebody else. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  You. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That is the position of Sinn F\u00e9in and has been----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  That is absolute waffle. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  What will the Taoiseach do for people on home heating oil? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  ------during the Ukrainian crisis, likewise, where it has a similar destructive approach also. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  Why do you not answer the question? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, please, have respectful discourse. Appreciate that your time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I am asking him to answer the question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It will be a long time before Deputy Carthy will ever be leader of Sinn F\u00e9in and this is not his moment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Answer the question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Deputy Carthy had his opportunity with his counterpart. We came forward----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  With nothing "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----with a package last evening which will reduce the cost of petrol and Sinn F\u00e9in voted against it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  The Taoiseach voted against the proposal. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Sinn F\u00e9in voted against the reduction in the price of diesel and petrol, which is quite extraordinary. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel Grealish","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Noel Grealish  God help us if Sinn F\u00e9in ever gets the cheque book. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Maurice Quinlivan  It is not Deputy Grealish's money. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  I welcome the northside home care workers in the Public Gallery today. They do incredible work in the local community looking after sick and elderly people and they must be paid a decent and fair wage.  Parents and carers from Before We Die visited the D\u00e1il recently to highlight the housing needs of adults with intellectual disabilities. The name of their campaign group sums up the grim reality of what they are fighting for. They are loving parents who want to be sure their daughters and son will be cared for after they are gone. This should not be too much to ask for in a country where the Government has billions at its disposal. They need more than sympathetic words; they need action to be taken, funding ring-fenced and plans put in place.  These are the words of a parent who contacted Newstalk recently:  We're an elderly couple, both struggling significantly with health issues. We've been told by a very good day service that there are simply no places ... We will, sadly, die sooner rather than later because we get zero respite and never get a chance to recoup our energy. We've been told [our son] could be put anywhere in the country.  This parent is not alone. Parents have no idea what will happen to their son or daughter after they die. They have no plan because there are no options - no gradual transition, no certainty about where they will be housed and nobody left to advocate for their son's or daughter's well-being.  Only after parents die, when there is an emergency situation, will the State finally step in. A vulnerable person is then put up for tender to private contractors. What sort of a care system is this? What sort of a country treats its citizens like this? An bhfuil aon rud \u00e1 dh\u00e9anamh ag an Taoiseach chun \u00e9 seo a shocr\u00fa? What will the Taoiseach do to fix this?  When I raised this with the T\u00e1naiste in February, he admitted there had not been enough progress. \"Not enough progress\" is a monumental understatement. The disability capacity review in 2021 identified the need for an additional 3,900 residential places just to catch up with pre-recession levels. Four years later, we still have thousands of families where elderly parents are working as full-time carers in their 70s, 80s and even 90s - four years of record budgets and little to show for it. When a parent dies, an adult with an intellectual disability is left stranded. They will lose their mum or dad, their carer, their advocate, their home and their community, all at the same time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  This is incredibly traumatic and distressing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Time is up, Deputy. The Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  This is cruel. There needs to be ring-fenced funding in next year's budget to build enough new residential places for adults with intellectual disabilities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy O'Callaghan, your time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  Taoiseach, will you commit to doing this? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  It is unacceptable to be that length over time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising a very important issue. I met with the Before We Die campaign well over a month ago in Cork and listened intently to what they had to say about their personal situations. Their personal situations could be amplified with many more. There are 1,389 active applications for residential services, with 281 assessed as priority 1. We are investing and there are investment plans in the current budget, with an extra 20% to create additional places in new residential developments and so forth. I have put it on the agenda of the next Cabinet subcommittee on disability because it involves more than just the allocation of funding, though we will have to allocate funding.  How this has evolved is unacceptable. The focus is on emergency solutions all the time. Many elderly parents are very distressed and anxious, understandably so, about what will happen to their loved ones if they pass from this life.  There needs to be proper co-ordination between section 39 providers, local authorities, the State, the Government and the Departments of disability and health. The Minister of State, Deputy Higgins, and the HSE met with the group last week. The Minister, Deputy Foley, also met with the group. What is happening at the moment is there is a siloed approach to understanding the overall housing needs of adults with intellectual disability. It is not just about what we might traditionally call residential places; there must be a much more holistic approach. In some instances, people are being sent to local authorities to apply for housing in the ordinary way. That is not good enough.  With any application for housing from someone with an intellectual disability, there is a continuum. Some will need some levels of support and others will need greater levels of support. It cannot be a siloed approach saying it is a local authority problem or challenge. It is not. It has to be one where the care aspects are integrated with the housing solution. That is where I want to take this. It will take a bit of reorganisation in terms of how Government operates, as well as local government, section 39 providers and everybody involved here. The priority has to be on those waiting. Over the last number of years, there has been a huge investment in decongregation, which has taken up lot of resources. We need to work through the prioritisation of those in need. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Taoiseach. You will come back in. I call Deputy O'Callaghan. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  In my view, those most in need are those without housing and whose parents are getting older. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  I welcome the fact the Taoiseach recognises this needs to be addressed. Losing your mum or dad, your carer, your advocate, your home and your community at the same time is incredibly traumatic.  For people then potentially to be offered a place hundreds of miles away from where they have lived all their life and everything they have ever known is deeply inhumane. That cannot continue and the Taoiseach must act on it. Will he commit sufficient funding that is ring-fenced to address this? I welcome the other approaches that are being taken but funding must be ring-fenced to address this issue. Will he commit to that? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Certainly, as I said, this is an issue I am going to deal with personally, as Taoiseach, with the Minister, Deputy Foley, the Minister of State, Deputy Higgins, and others, including the Minister for Health. It needs an integrated response, without question. We certainly will provide the necessary funding but, again, we have to get the design and the structures right. In my view, there is funding available within housing in a lot of instances but it cannot be that we just pass it over to the local authority to deal with. It is not a sustainable or proper response to say it is somebody else's problem.  There have been capacity issues within section 39 bodies in terms of dealing with this housing and residential issue. We need to engage with the different authorities and bodies responsible and get moving on it. We must engage proactively with local authorities to say we want particular cases dealt with and particular priorities set. That needs to be done in a proactive way as opposed to dealing with an issue when it becomes an emergency. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Taoiseach. Further engagement is certainly required. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The HSE has to be involved in that process as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  The ambulance service is absolutely essential. Paramedics are the first on the scene and they do incredible work, as I know from my own personal experience. However, this week, we have seen further reports of a misogynistic and toxic culture in the National Ambulance Service, NAS. Will the Taoiseach investigate this issue?  I have spoken to Kathy - that is not her real name - who has reported a paramedic who drugged, sexually assaulted, coercively controlled and raped her on multiple occasions. He apparently stole controlled drugs, namely, midazolam, which is a strong sedative, and Penthrox, a powerful painkiller, which he used against her. Despite the NAS being fully aware for over a year of a rape investigation into this man, he was recently promoted into a senior position in the service. For years, this predator has sexually harassed without consequence. At least five women suffered misconduct from him, including one he locked in a shed. Four women contacted their line managers but their complaints were not progressed.  Kathy could have been spared the horrific ordeal she has endured over a period of time at the hands of this person had the complaints procedures and sexual harassment policies in the National Ambulance Service worked. It seems a bit like what happened in the church, with offenders being moved from base to base after complaints. Paramedics are the first to the scene of emergencies. They may be on their own with very vulnerable people for a long time. A sexual predator with authority and access to drugs is a very dangerous mix. Will the Taoiseach investigate why the HSE has promoted this man and why the procedures are failing?  In July 2025, The Journal Investigates did a survey on this issue. It found that in the past five years, 85 complaints were raised with NAS management about bullying and sexual harassment. Only ten of those complaints made it to disciplinary level. In 2020 alone, there were 20 complaints. The National Ambulance Service Representative Association, NASRA, has called for an independent inquiry into the service and into these issues. In a survey of NAS staff in the north east in May 2025, 56 out of 65 women responded. One in two had experienced sexual harassment, comments or unwanted touching by ambulance personnel. One told of how a paramedic made the comment, \"If you need a hand with the breastfeeding, let me know\". Others experienced unwanted physical contact. One woman, Hope, who has ten years' experience in the service, was dry-humped by a male colleague. No woman should have to put up with this in the workplace and, in addition, this behaviour is a danger to the general public. Why is it being allowed? Will the Government set up an independent investigation into the ambulance service? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising this very serious issue in the House. I do not have the full background to the case to hand. I have read some reports in the media in respect of it. Clearly, I do not want to prejudice anything that may be in train but it is very difficult to comprehend how somebody against whom these complaints and charges have been made could be promoted. I do not have the full background to the case but it is extremely difficult to comprehend.  No woman should have to suffer such harassment or suffer, as in this case, sedation and rape. The Deputy is correct that there absolutely should be a zero-tolerance approach within the ambulance service to misogyny, sexual harassment and the undermining of women in any shape or form in their daily work. I will ask the Minister for Health to apprise me of the background to this case and also, if necessary, to initiate a review into it. Without having the specific details of, or background to, the case, one would expect there to be norms and protocols within an organisation like the National Ambulance Service whereby when allegations of such a severe nature are made, certain actions would automatically follow.  These matters are being investigated. It would seem to be highly unusual in the public service that someone would be promoted while such substantive and serious allegations remain to be investigated. Given the gravity of what has been alleged and that it seems, from what the Deputy has said, that others have also suffered at the hands of this individual, promoting a person in that context would, in my view, represent an outlier in terms of how the public service more generally deals with situations like this when they arise. I will ask the Minister to get back to me and to the Deputy in respect of this issue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  To be clear, I highlighted a particular case but this is not about one case, as shown by the statistics I gave, the survey that was done in the north east and The Journal Investigates findings. This has been going on for more than a year. It is time for the Minister for Health to intervene. An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, the health service and the Army should not be safe havens for perpetrators. Unfortunately, the policies that are designed to deal with complaints of sexual harassment and violence are failing utterly to do so. Neither internal procedures nor the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, are really holding perpetrators to account. In fact, the complainants, who often are women, are the people who end up suffering in their career, in their education, as we saw with the case in UCD, or in terms of their health. In the Private Members' debate earlier, I referred to a case where a garda made a complaint of sexual harassment against a colleague. The sergeant is working away and she is off sick.  We need intervention in relation to sexual harassment. It should be a criminal offence, not just something that is dealt with through the Employment Appeals Tribunal. We need action now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Fundamentally, in any organisation, it is about the culture. In all of the work that has been done within the Defence Forces, the one word that kept emerging in terms of all the analysis, inquiries and so on was \"culture\". There are numerous policies in respect of these issues but the biggest difficulty and challenge is around culture. Changes are occurring in the Defence Forces, which should be acknowledged given what has happened, and also within An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. Interestingly, there was a lot of resistance from those organisations to utilisation of the word \"culture\" and to highlighting the fact there is a problem with the culture. There was a lot of resistance at times to even articulating that in any documents pertaining to the Defence Forces. That has been my experience. To me, however, culture is the fundamental issue that underpins behaviour like this occurring on a regular basis.  It is something that has to be worked on on a consistent, constant basis to change the culture of organisations. I will revert to the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  The price of home heating oil has shot up by 85% in recent weeks. Last month, the price of 1,000 litres of home heating oil was about \u20ac950. This week is retailing for \u20ac1,750. This country saw the biggest increase in home heating oil in the whole of the EU. Very few families have the colour of \u20ac1,750 lying around the house. Hard-working families, nurses, teachers, garda\u00ed and small business owners simply do not have that money available at any one time. One nurse contacted my office and said she has not been able to refuel her home because of the price of it and her family is simply going to bed early to keep warm at night-time. She said that the family do not smoke or drink. They do not go out and do not get takeaways. She said she is embarrassed because she cannot afford the basic necessities for her children at the moment.  She is not alone. At the moment about 2 million people across the country are dependent on home heating oil. In the likes of counties Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim, there is no connection at all to the national gas grid and as a result, many of these homes are locked into that fuel source. What did the Government do for these families? It took 2 cent off a litre of home heating oil. In the jaws of an energy crisis when home heating oil has increased to record levels, the Government\u2019s amazing solution to this has been to drop the price of a litre of home heating oil by 2 cent. A fill has gone from \u20ac1,750 to \u20ac1,730. It is an atrocious insult to hard-working families in this country. It is an absolute disgrace but it is not the full picture either here because in a few weeks, the Government plans to raise the price of a litre of home heating oil by 2 cent. In the teeth of this hardship on families, the net results of its tax actions in a month will be to marginally increase the tax on home heating oil in this country.  Families are crushed by this energy crisis. Small businesses are going to the wall. Carers cannot afford to drive to mind the people they care for. Workers cannot fill their tanks to get to work. Farmers are actually seeing their costs spike while the price of their produce is falling, and the Government\u2019s policy is to increase the net tax on home heating oil. The heart of the problem here is that the Government\u2019s plan is to increase taxes on fuel. For sure, the war in Iran has accelerated hardship on families but the Government was taking 65% in tax on a litre of petrol and diesel before the war. Some 320,000 families were in energy arrears before the war. The price of electricity in this country was at the highest in Europe before the war. The painful reality is the Government is tax gouging families. The question I have for the Taoiseach is: will the Government cut carbon tax on home heating oil? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy\u2019s assessment is not correct in the sense that he ignored the extension of the fuel allowance for four weeks, which will help about 470,000 people to deal with the rise in the price of home heating oil. There is no doubt that there is huge pressure on families and people across the country. The price of home heating oil has increased very significantly because of the war, not because of what the Government did. The price shock that is occurring because of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz as well as the bombing of gas and oil installations in Iran and in the Gulf states. That is the fundamental cause of the current crisis. It still has not reached the levels that we reached at the time of the Russian invasion of Ukraine when we also had an oil price and energy crisis.  Government has to act. This is March and we have another winter to come. We do not quite know what is around the corner and what measures might be required from Government in response to potentially a further deterioration in the future. Hopefully this war ends very quickly; it should end very quickly. That is what we want but we do not know what might happen in respect of that. We also have to prepare for a budget and keep our resources in reserve.  I know the Deputy is against the carbon tax; I think he would abolish it in total. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  When prices are surging it is not----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Yes, he would. Honesty is what we want here because the Government would then need to find \u20ac1 billion to do what the Deputy wants us to do. That means taking money from farmers. It means taking money from the retrofitting programme because we would not be able to do the retrofitting programme without it. The retrofitting programme helps people to reduce their costs over time and is a far more effective energy-efficient approach to the allocation of resources. About \u20ac173 million this year will come from that fund and go to farmers across the country. The Opposition will say, \u201cDon\u2019t do that. Find the money elsewhere.\u201d We also have to try to invest in education, health, children and disability for the next budget. We want to maintain existing levels of public service but also increase them. This morning, we announced the DEIS plus scheme, which allocated further resources to the schools most in need and with huge challenges. It affects about 120 schools and also provides more home-school liaison. We want to make a reserve to make sure we improve services for everybody in the country.  Yesterday\u2019s allocation of about \u20ac250 million is probably the largest package across Europe. The fuel allowance is a good, targeted measure that helps about 470,000 families, which will help them with their home heating oil expenses. The general reduction in petrol and diesel prices will definitely help families across the length and breadth of the country. We also have the reduction in the NORA levy. The Deputy cannot just isolate one from the other; they will all help to some degree. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  First, working families do not get the fuel allowance. The working families that I am talking about who are in energy crisis at the moment are suffering significantly from this. Second, the war in Iran is a shocking situation, which has had an enormous effect on the price of fuel but Government taxes have a larger effect on the price of fuel. The majority of the price of diesel, 65%, comes from taxes at the moment. The Taoiseach spoke about the Government\u2019s \u20ac250 million package. He should look at it like this. The Government has actually taken in about \u20ac140 million in extra taxes because of VAT going up on the higher prices in the past four weeks. Carbon taxes will take in an extra \u20ac160 million over the rest of the year. When the two are put together, the Government\u2019s package is smaller than the extra taxes it will take this year. That is an incredible situation. It does not need the carbon taxes at the moment to retrofit. It squirrelled away \u20ac10 billion in windfall taxes last year. The Government could use some of that money to invest in retrofitting homes to bring down the cost of deep retrofitting from \u20ac40,000 to a lower amount so that people could actually afford it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy is wrong in his assessment of the Government\u2019s increase in revenue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  It is \u20ac40 million a week. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That is absolutely wrong. The Deputy is raising the general issue of taxation overall. He cannot have both ways. What he is really advocating for is a cut in public services. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  No. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Of course he is because if you reduce taxes on one front, you are reducing your revenue and resources to pay for public services in education, health----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  Fuel taxes are not progressive and hurt low-income families most. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach, without interruption. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  However, they are a revenue source. The Deputy would either increase income tax or increase taxes elsewhere \u2013 he should tell us what he would do - to offset----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  Progressive taxes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  ------the significant reduction in excise duty that he is proposing because he would have to find the money from somewhere. We cannot have everything we want. We cannot have our cake and eat it, which seems to be the Deputy\u2019s response. The Government is targeting its resources and 50,000 extra families on the working family payment are in receipt of the fuel allowance. We introduced that in the latest budget and they will gain from the extension of the fuel allowance. He is wrong in saying that working families will not benefit from that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  The Taoiseach knows that most working families are not in receipt of that. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-25\/debate\/dbsect_12","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 na Comhalta\u00ed Eile - Other Members\u2019 Questions","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_12","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Cooney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Cooney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Cooney  I want to raise an issue that is a real worry for people, not just in County Clare but across the country. I hear every day from older people and their families who are struggling to get home care or a place in a nursing home. Clare has the longest home-support waiting list per person in the country. Even though the Government is spending more on home support nationally, Clare is not getting its fair share. This needs to be fixed so waiting times can be brought down quickly.  Because of this, more people are going into nursing homes, unfortunately, but nursing homes in the county are also under severe pressure. Private and voluntary homes, which provide most of the beds in rural counties like Clare, face real financial problems. The fair deal rate does not match the rising cost of care, unfortunately, and smaller rural homes are struggling the most. People in Clare are stuck with a problem. There are not enough carers to let them stay at home and there are unfortunately not enough nursing home beds available for those people to go into. Families are under huge pressure. People in Clare want to grow old at home where possible and have dignified care in a nursing home when the time comes. The Government has the power and the vision to make that happen. I ask that Clare be not left behind. Will the Taoiseach commit to a plan to increase home support in counties like Clare where waiting lists are the longest and putting serious pressure on families? Will he commit to providing support for existing rural nursing homes so they can cope with the rising demand and encourage new entrants into the market to ensure there are enough beds into the future? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue. It is fair to say that we are ageing as a society. Our lifespan has improved dramatically compared to 20 years ago. Irish lifespan has increased more than most in the European Union, which is a good thing for all of us, potentially. On the other hand, it creates more challenges in terms of care costs, health costs and so on. Every year, there are substantial increases in the budget as we try to provide for an ageing population. The budget for home support in 2026 is the largest ever at \u20ac914 million. That is an increase of over 87% on 2020. That illustrates how services are expanding to meet the needs of a population that is ageing and living longer. That investment will see additional support, and complex home support hours will increase to approximately 26.7 million. That will support about 62,000 people by year end.  In the Clare and Limerick county integrated healthcare area, in 2025, 1.38 million hours of home support were delivered. That exceeded the target of 1.35 million hours and represented an increase of over 500,000 since 2024, just two years ago. That is a massive increase in the number of hours we are providing. The Deputy is correct, however, that there are still challenges. There are about 694 people on the waiting list for home support services in the Clare and Limerick county integrated area, down from 748.  The service has expanded so much that there has been a challenge in recruiting home carers. The HSE, private providers and others have undertaken a lot of external overseas recruitment initiatives endeavouring to get more in. That is an international challenge. A strategic workforce advisory group on home carers is working with the Department of Health on exploring options. We are also using assistive technology in home support initiatives to directly address rural home support provision. The Health (Amendment) (Home Support Providers) Bill 2025 has passed Second Stage. That will improve the regulation of the sector. More importantly, it is the first step in ensuring that home care will be provided in the context of a statutory home care scheme. We are also providing additional funding to meals on wheels, with about 3.3 million meals a year being provided. A total of 313 day centres will be resourced to support nearly 16,000 people in 2026.  I might respond to the Deputy's comment on the fair deal scheme after the supplementary question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Cooney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Cooney  I thank the Taoiseach. Clare is a county with one of the fastest growing older populations and avoiding serious challenges for those elderly people is very important. Its rural nature and the remoteness of many of its areas are especially challenging to provide home help to older people, given the travelling distance. In addition, support for more home help and nursing homes in Clare would help in a big way to alleviate the overcrowding in UHL. I am aware of families who have been told patients in the hospital could have to travel, 30, 40 or 50 miles to get a nursing home bed, which is not good enough for those families and those people. It is a serious concern and a serious issue in our county and it needs to be addressed. We have a rural county and we have serious problems as regards the elderly, nursing homes and home help. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I fully appreciate the Deputy's advocacy for his home county. In terms of home care, day care and meals on wheels, there are very significant extended resources all working together and they are particularly effective in rural areas. I am sure the Deputy will agree what is needed is additional resources, particularly in County Clare. That is what he is advocating for.  The fair deal scheme supports people to access nursing home care. The more people have, the more they pay in terms of income levels. It is structured that way. The less they have, the less they pay. Again, there are huge costs involved here. There are about 24,000 people on that scheme, with 80% supported in private nursing homes and the remainder in HSE-run facilities. The cost has gone from \u20ac968 million to \u20ac1.2 billion in 2025. That will continue to rise. I take the Deputy's point about the need to try to improve that to give people access closer to home. That is accepted. People generally want to stay at home for as long as they possibly can. There comes a stage, I accept, when a nursing home is required. Obviously, the closer to the family home for the family the better in those situations. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 na Comhalta\u00ed Eile - Other Members\u2019 Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-25\/debate\/dbsect_13","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Pholasa\u00ed n\u00f3 ar Reachta\u00edocht \u2013 Questions on Policy or Legislation","counts":{"speechCount":51,"speakerCount":21},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_13","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Canney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Edward Timmins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Cahill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  The name of Harvey Morrison Sherratt, a child catastrophically failed by Children's Health Ireland, CHI, was very sadly joined by another name last weekend. That name is Chloe Maher, from Coolock, a 23-year-old who died on 4 March last. Her death was caused by health complications from her untreated scoliosis. Chloe never got the treatment she required when she was in the care of CHI and then she aged out. Chloe was just 14 when Simon Harris promised that no child would wait longer than four months for spinal surgery, but while she waited and waited, Chloe's condition worsened and like too many other young people, and in the words of her heartbroken aunt Orla, they are left until it is too late to operate and then they vanish from the system because they age out. Will there be an investigation----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call on the Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  -----into how Chloe was failed as a child and a young adult? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Will the Taoiseach ensure----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, your time is up, and if you cannot ask a question in the time allowed, you are in the wrong forum. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  -----that the cases of children who age out of CHI are included in the public inquiry? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call on the Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  My sympathies go to the family of Chloe Maher, who died recently. She was formerly, as the Deputy said, a patient at CHI's spinal services. I offer my deepest condolences to Chloe's family and friends at what is a very sad time for them.  As the Deputy knows, the Minister has announced that Mr. Remy Farrell has been appointed as the facilitator for the scoping exercise in terms of an inquiry into the spinal services at CHI and paediatric services more generally. Mr. Farrell will engage with patients, families and advocates to assess and consider what steps and what actions may be appropriate in terms of the inquiry and the format of an inquiry. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Taoiseach. These questions are one minute each. I call Deputy Bacik. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  Yesterday Conor Gallagher in The Irish Times , working with the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, revealed shocking details about the supply chain linked to the Aughinish Alumina plant in Limerick.  His report outlined how significant quantities of alumina from this facility are being exported to Russia, where they are being used to make aluminium, which is then sold to a trading company supplying over 100 Russian weapons manufacturers. It is deeply alarming to see that shipments of Irish alumina to Russia have increased significantly since Putin's brutal full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. It is horrific to see this. It is unconscionable that a plant operating in Ireland could be contributing to materials used in the destruction of so many communities and so much civilian infrastructure in Ukraine and can be used to kill children in Ukraine. This is appalling to see and I do welcome the Taoiseach's commitment to review this report, but the question is clear: what urgent action will the Taoiseach take to ensure that no Irish-based industry or business is complicit in supporting Russia's war machine? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Ireland has been very strongly adherent to the EU sanctions framework and principles. The Aughinish plant is not subject to EU sanctions, and there is no proposal at EU level to sanction it. Alumina is not a sanctioned commodity and so under the current framework that is the position. There were reasons for that in terms of the complex supply chains in the modern era where different industries in different countries are interdependent. Some member states depend on the output of the production in Aughinish for their industries. Of course, as I said yesterday, I view with great concern the report in The Irish Times and the assertion that the Aughinish product went, via intermediaries, to Russia, to help in many ways to facilitate Russia's war machine. That is a matter of great concern and I will ask the Minister for enterprise to examine the matter and get back to the Deputy on it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  Come back to me on it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  Over the weekend, violent Israeli settlers rampaged through the West Bank. They blazed a trail of devastation, burning down homes and public buildings and injuring dozens of Palestinians. In a separate attack last week, masked settlers sexually assaulted a Palestinian man in front of his family. They beat him with clubs, tied him up, stripped him naked and zip-tied his genitals. That attack was so horrific that it finally hit the international press but only because two human rights activists, an American and a Portuguese, were present to corroborate it. Palestinians in the West Bank are being terrorised every day by racist, violent Israel settlers and we rarely hear anything about it. In February alone, there were 511 attacks by settlers, who murdered five Palestinians. Now we see Israel invading and occupying southern Lebanon. The IDF is killing with impunity there, bombing civilian infrastructure, and forcing the displacement of 1 million people. My question is: how can the Taoiseach watch what is happening, not just in recent weeks, but for years, and continue to do nothing? When is the occupied territories Bill going to emerge from the black hole it has been hidden in? When is this Government going to act and not just think against Israeli violence? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It is an outrageous assertion that we have waited and watched for years and done nothing. That is just wrong. The fact of the matter is that Ireland has strongly articulated on the West Bank issue for many years. We have taken a range of measures with the other EU member states in terms of sanctions against violent Israeli settlers in the West Bank. We have deplored and condemned the behaviour of Israeli settlers in the West Bank. We have taken legal action in international courts. I do not know why the Deputy says things like that just to attack the Government. She seems to be more interested in attacking the Government than Israel. I can never get my head around that sort of orientation and that view. What is happening in the West Bank is horrific. The Deputy does not have a monopoly on horror and condemnation of what is happening in the West Bank. She just keeps doing it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  I just want an answer. I do not claim to have a monopoly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  I joined my Green Party colleague Niall Murphy in Galway last weekend, and buses were a central concern of the people we met. The NTA has announced that it expects 60 double-decker, electric buses to be used in Galway by the end of 2027, which is about a year away now. That represents an increase of capacity on individual buses. The important question is: are these going to be new buses, or are they simply going to replace decommissioned buses? Are we going to see more buses on the roads? Will commuters see an improved and more regular timetable? I cite one route, the 424 Galway-Lettermullan service as a clear example of a route that requires extra services but as the Taoiseach knows, there are many more. Will he speak to the improvement of the services in Galway? In particular in the year before those new buses arrive, will commuters in Galway see any improved capacity? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We are constantly investing in public transport and public buses as well. I do not have the specifics of the breakdown between replacement and additional buses arising from the very significant investment in 60 double-decker buses. I will revert to the Minister of State with responsibility for transport who is here and who is from Galway as well. I will get the full details and background on the breakdown of those 60 buses. We need to continue to invest more in public transport. This will be additional and also important in terms of emissions reductions and so on it will be impactful. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  I was contacted directly by families affected by this issue who felt that they had no other avenue to go to have their concerns heard. Will the Taoiseach address the situation in Carrigaline Community Special School, which closed its doors for six days following an incident involving one child and reopened, excluding a different child and a parent who were not involved in the event that caused the closure without lawful basis or a breach of procedures? Does he accept that families are being pushed towards reduced school hours and that Cork Education and Training Board, ETB, has stated that it cannot meet its needs when it comes to some of the children enrolled in its care, despite its statutory obligations? In those circumstances, does he consider that Cork ETB is fit for purpose as patron of that particular school and does he stand over the actions of the school? Will he commit to an urgent independent intervention, including full-time orthopaedic supports, and outline the immediate steps that are being taken to restore proper provisions to ensure that no child is denied their appropriate education? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I do have confidence in Cork ETB in respect of special education. A number of years ago, it stepped into the breach to establish the school to provide desperately needed places in an area where children could not get places at the time. We had to take action. For the long term ETBs have a very significant role in special education across the country. That is my view. If we look at how it is evolving, some of the section 39 bodies have pulled back from education so the State has to get more involved in this particular area. The structures of ETBs are such that they have flexibility in providing resources.  On the specific case in Carrigaline, I have been in touch with the ETB and I am fully aware of the difficulties and challenges that have occurred there. We are working with the ETB to provide additional resources to enable that school to operate as optimally and effectively as it can for the benefit of the young people who attend it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail  Scoil na Maighdine Mhuire in Broadford, County Kildare, an exceptional national school with 60 pupils, is typical of a lot of rural national schools around the country that have a reduction in school numbers and therefore a reduction in capitation. This is posing a challenge for many rural schools. The Financial Support Services Unit has engaged with the school and has essentially used it as a best-case example of a national school doing the most it can with the capitation it has. However, there is a clear issue with capitation funding for rural schools with declining school numbers. I ask that the Department of Education and Youth review the capitation funding for small rural schools to ensure their longevity and that they do not have to continue fundraising year in and year out for vital services such as electricity. It is important to state that this is an exceptional school, with exceptional teachers and exceptional students. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. He is saying it is an illustrative example of the challenges when numbers are reducing and then the impact on capitation. We did increase capitation by a record amount of \u20ac20 in the latest budget, which is unprecedented in terms of the scale of the increase. The Deputy has raised a very interesting point that I will bring to the attention of the Minister in terms of the next budget. He is essentially proposing a tiered structure that would take into account the impact of declining numbers in rural schools. That is certainly food for thought and I will talk to the Minister in respect of it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Currie  I want to raise the issue of driving test waiting times. Nationally, the average waiting time is back up to 12 weeks. Last year, the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, who is present, instructed the RSA to bring the average times down to ten weeks.  We need to bring them down and we need to keep them down. The policy should be to stabilise and sustain them at ten weeks. The centre with the second highest waiting time in the country is that at Mulhuddart. This waiting time has consistently been one of the highest and now stands at 20 weeks. That is double the national average. Our waiting times have stayed consistently high since the autumn. A woman who contacted my office this morning said that it took her eight months to get her first driving test. She now has to repeat the test and that will take an additional six months because the lists have now been put together and there is no longer a shorter waiting time for repeat tests. I am looking for an updated plan that targets measures such as longer opening hours and more testers at the centres that need increased capacity. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Canney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Transport (Deputy Se\u00e1n Canney)  I thank the Deputy very much. The waiting time has reduced from an average of 27 weeks. It is down to 12 weeks this year. The problem in Mulhuddart is that we are waiting to open a new centre in Sandyford, which will take some of the pressure off. The number of driving testers has increased. We are at 196 right now. We need to get to 200. There has been an increase in the number of tests as a result of a regulation I introduced to stop people applying for tests and not showing up. People now have to sit the test. That has added a little bit of pressure to the system. That is being dealt with. Last year, we had 8,000 no-shows because people were just applying for tests so they could renew their learner permit. That provision is gone from next October. There is a bit of pressure there. I got the figures only yesterday. I am talking to the RSA and meeting with its board in the coming weeks to discuss all of that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  At a recent meeting, members of Louth County Council heard of an expected rise of 25% in the cost of tar, which is obviously a key material for road surfacing. This will obviously lead to huge issues for the roadworks programme. We also hear of the possible impacts of additional costs relating to retrofitting and upgrades, which are absolutely necessary. What engagement has there been? Louth County Council has applied for extra funding to address the impact of recent flooding. It is looking for somewhere around \u20ac1.5 million, although that figure probably will not cut the mustard at this point in time. Donald Trump and genocidal Israel's illegal war are causing huge issues. Supports will be needed. I would like to think there is good engagement with local authorities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The implications of this war are widespread. The danger is that there will potentially be secondary effects on the wider economy. Governments cannot chase inflation. We cannot compensate for every price increase everywhere. That will not work. We have to try to target our resources as best we can at those most in need. There are concerns about the inflationary impacts of this crisis, which may feed into the wider economy. It could affect all areas and sectors of the economy. The ECB has already downgraded its economic growth forecasts for the European Union. It was predicting growth of 1.4% for 2026 but it has now reduced that to 0.9%. We will also have to look at our growth figures. I would say there will be some decline in what is expected and anticipated as a result of this crisis. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Edward Timmins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Edward Timmins  I will raise the issue of flood damage to roads in County Wicklow caused by Storm Chandra. The recent floods caused severe damage to many rural roads. The council has costed the repairs needed at several million euro. Wicklow County Council has submitted a detailed report to the Department seeking emergency funding assistance to facilitate the timely delivery of the required remedial works and to ensure continued safety and serviceability of the county's road network. I have seen the extent of the damage. It is truly shocking. The roads budget does not cover one-off events like this so I ask that special consideration be given to supporting these repairs. This would represent a much-needed investment in the roads and would actually save money in the long term. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. Bohernabreena Road opened yesterday, which was some help. We welcome that. The flooding as a result of Storm Chandra was quite shocking. As the Deputy will know, it has had a significant impact. The Minister sought submissions from all county councils in respect of the damage done to the roads. We announced various investments in February. Some \u20ac718 million for regional and local roads was announced. The Department is liaising with the affected counties, including Wicklow, which was significantly impacted. Approximately 300 local roads were damaged with over 50 left impassable across eight counties. Working with the local authorities, we will see what we can do to respond. Local authorities are advised to set aside a minimum of 10% of the grant given to them as a contingency to deal with severe weather events and damage to the network. We will follow up on that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  The recent drowning of Joachim McNulty from Belderrig in County Mayo when his vehicle slipped off a pier is a stark reminder of the urgent need to prioritise pier maintenance around the country. This happened on the anniversary of a similar drowning off a pier in County Donegal. I extend my thoughts and sympathies to Joachim's family. Along with Darren Forde, they are now starting a campaign for the maintenance and proper improvement of piers because dangerous moss-covered pathways and piers and inadequate protections pose real and preventable dangers to the public. They need Government support. Will the Taoiseach commit to funding local authorities properly to carry out this work, to launching a nationwide pier maintenance programme and to introducing a public awareness campaign on the risks of slipways and piers? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  My sympathies go out to Joachim's family. It is quite a shocking event and very distressing and traumatic for the family. There has been extensive investment in piers over the last number of years. A significant amount of Brexit adjustment reserve funding was allocated to piers. I am of the view that we should continue to invest in piers the length and breadth of the country. We are an island nation and safety is paramount. Local authorities have obligations in this regard as well, as do some port authorities. The consistent annual provision of funding is key in getting to grips with the numerous inlets and piers, including smaller piers, around the country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  The Taoiseach will recall that last November I brought the Wind Turbine Regulation Bill 2025 before the D\u00e1il, partly to get the Bill through and partly in an effort to move the Government on this issue. I have been receiving replies to parliamentary questions on this matter for a decade and a half now. The most recent one, from the start of this month, says:  My Department is currently undertaking a focused review of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines ... The review is addressing a number of key aspects of the Guidelines ... [Blah, blah, blah.] That is the same reply I have been getting for a decade and a half. When I introduced that Bill, the Government said it would bring forward guidelines within three months. The Taoiseach, the Government and I all know that, given the subject of debates in the House this week, we need to increase our supply of renewable energy and to become more energy self-sufficient. We cannot depend on Trump and the boys. Nearly a decade and a half has passed. There have been four governments. Who is blocking it? We need to sort it out. It cannot take 15 years to get guidelines in place. I think the Taoiseach would agree with that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It is a tribute to the Deputy's longevity in the House----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  I have grey hairs from it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----that he has been getting a consistent reply from the Department for a decade and half. I understand the issue but let us be honest: when these guidelines emerge, they will probably lead to a reduction in the number of wind farms. We cannot dress it up and say that the guidelines will help to expand the supply of onshore wind energy because all of the impetus from Deputies and others has been aimed at restricting the growth of onshore wind farms.  Let us be honest: we have had incredible expansion. That is why I think offshore is where we need to go now for the next decade. That said, onshore wind farms have made an enormous contribution to electricity generation. We kind of shield ourselves from the hard choices as a society. I said yesterday that I was in this House when people were against onshore wind, gas generation and solar. We have a huge challenge in terms of energy independence, and we probably need a greater discussion on that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Liam Quaide  I have had a couple of adversarial exchanges with the Taoiseach in this House, but I will be the first person to applaud him if he intervenes in the situation facing healthcare workers with long Covid. He met a group of these workers last June. He knows that their case is genuine and that they have suffered terribly not just with their symptoms but also with being on a financial cliff edge every six or 12 months as their special Covid leave with pay was due to end. Their circumstances are extremely difficult. They are about to transition onto half of their basic salary on the standard sick leave scheme, and they are facing not being able to pay their mortgages soon. Providing these workers, who sacrificed so much on all of our behalf, with financial security would be a minimal cost to the State but would make a profound difference to their lives and to their peace of mind. The group that met the Taoiseach last June urgently needs to meet him again. I know the Taoiseach has been extremely busy recently, but I implore him to make time for that soon. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. It is a very difficult and challenging issue, primarily for those who got long Covid, and they did incredible work in the healthcare service during Covid-19. I met them last June and that resulted in the extension to last December. As the Deputy knows, there was then the Labour Court recommendation. It recommended a final extension and that got expanded. They are now in the public service sick leave scheme and the Deputy has indicated that the full payment will come to an end. I will talk to my colleagues again to see what can be done in endeavouring to support them given the circumstances around their particular case. I will come back to the Deputy on it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  I want to raise an issue in Mallow General Hospital, which is in my home town. Over the past six months, the day ward has been closed on several occasions to facilitate overcrowding in Cork University Hospital, the Mercy Hospital and Kerry University Hospital. It is entirely unacceptable that day procedures would be halted for several days to facilitate overcrowding. People in genuine need of these day ward procedures have often been told on the morning of their procedure that it has been cancelled. This issue has been highlighted to me by members of staff in Mallow General Hospital and by patients. I am not placing blame here, and I commend the Government and previous Governments on the significant investment in Mallow General Hospital. We are very proud of our hospital. Will the Taoiseach provide a specific date for the opening of the 24 inpatient beds? I want an actual date, and no more \"quarter 1\" or \"quarter 2\" predictions. On 3 December 2025, I was told that it would be the end of quarter 1 2026. We are very much near the end of that now. These beds will help with overcrowding in our larger hospitals. They will keep day ward services constant and continue to upgrade the services in Mallow General Hospital. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Deputy Stanley spoke about waiting for a decade and a half. I have waited about three and a half decades for a Member from the Opposition to compliment the Government on its investment in Mallow hospital, so I will take it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  The previous Deputy, Se\u00e1n Sherlock, would have as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It is a very significant moment. People have used that for their campaigns for about 50 years. To get praise for the investment in the hospital is a major watershed moment politically. I jest, but Deputy Kenny makes a very serious point. Mallow General Hospital, Bantry General Hospital, Cork University Hospital, Mercy University Hospital and South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital all have to be used now as part of integrated care model. Cork University Hospital covers the entire region. If there are huge pressures on its emergency services, it makes sense to use Mallow hospital every now and again if there are spare beds to alleviate the pressure at Cork University Hospital. I take the Deputy's point, however. Optimally, we want the day procedures operating all of the time, 24-7, if possible, for throughput, and also getting that further project completed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  Will the Taoiseach provide a date on the opening? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach will have to come back to the Deputy in writing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I will come back to the Deputy with a date. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Brennan  I seek an update on the applications from Wexford County Council and Wicklow County Council for emergency funding for urgent road repairs following Storm Chandra. I strongly commend both councils' teams on their work to date. I welcome the Taoiseach's visit to many of the affected areas in days following the storm. However, this week, almost two months on from the storm, many roads remain closed or simply impassable. There are damaged or collapsed roads the length and breadth of Wicklow and Wexford from Kilanerin to Enniskerry, and from Coolkenno down to Kilmore Quay. Many of the potholes are now mini craters. When we factor in the combination of darkness and rain, these roads are a serious risk to commuters. We do not need a quick-fix solution. The roads need to be completely resurfaced and drainage must be addressed, or we will be back here again in 12 months. The CEO of Wexford County Council, Eddie Taaffe, and the CEO of Wicklow County Council, Emer O'Gorman, have submissions on the desk of the Minister, Deputy O'Brien. Two months on, we simply need to sign off on this long-overdue critical funding. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Canney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Transport (Deputy Se\u00e1n Canney)  The Department of Transport has been liaising with all of the local authorities on foot of the flooding that happened. They have done a schedule and survey of all of the roads that have to be done. Preliminary costings have been prepared. Our Department is working with each local authority to put in place a plan for executing these works. As the Taoiseach said earlier, some discretionary money has been allocated to local authorities. Of course they will need support in carrying out these works. Our Department is working closely with each local authority so we can put in place a programme to get the works done as quickly as possible. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Cahill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Cahill  I again raise the CAMHS scandal in Kerry. Will the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, provide updates on the north Kerry look-back review and the compensation scheme? I thank the Minister of State for visiting Kerry recently and meeting with individuals and their families. She has always made herself available to the families. I was in Leinster House on a number of occasions over the years when the Minister of State met with them and listened to their concerns. I want to ensure that all of these children, many of whom are young adults today, are adequately compensated and that all services are regularly available to them. These individuals and their families suffered greatly. They were misdiagnosed and mismedicated. I want to ensure that everything possible is done to make their lives some bit easier. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Mary Butler)  I thank the Deputy for raising this really important issue. I compliment him on his advocacy for the families and the children over many years. As he knows, a report relating to another group of children who unfortunately were harmed by the mental health services in Kerry was published recently. I visited and met with some of the families. At that time, I said that I would be coming forward very soon with a new compensation scheme. I will be able to announce the details of that tomorrow. Again, it will be a non-adversarial scheme. The Taoiseach was very conscious that we had to continue the same approach that has worked really well for 230 of the previous 240 children who have availed of the scheme. I will also announce details of the further look-back report. Over the recess at Easter, I will visit Kerry and meet some of the families that the Deputy asked me to meet and that I was not able to meet the last day I was there. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Claire Kerrane  Of the 1,800 children in Roscommon and Galway waiting to see a psychologist, over 1,000 have waited for one year. A business case is being submitted for a dedicated CAMHS team in Ballinasloe this year. The CAMHS service that was there previously was closed, and parents have to trek an 80 km to 90 km round trip to Roscommon for appointments. When this business case is submitted, will the Minister of State reinstate the dedicated CAMHS team for Ballinasloe as quickly as possible? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  I thank the Deputy for raising this really important issue. Primary care psychology and the CAMHS teams are two separate services, as the Deputy knows and understands. The majority of the children on the waiting list are for the primary care psychology team. They are not for the CAMHS team. We are trying to reduce the number of children waiting for CAMHS. I visited over 21 teams in the past six months to see what we could do to support the teams on the ground. There are a lot of culture issues and different challenges across different teams. No two teams are the same. In relation to the Deputy's question, there will be a waiting list initiative this year for primary care psychology to try to remove as many children as possible from that list. Believe it or not, it does not technically come under the mental health budget. I am putting a complete focus on it because it has a knock-on effect on the CAMHS teams. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  We have had a discussion about the immediate measures needed to help with the fuel crisis. We have also talked about the longer term investment in the grid network. I am talking about a couple of quick wins. Yesterday the issue of plug-in solar, which would put it into the household, was referenced. I would like to add to that by talking about the solar panels that you can put on your balcony and use to charge your devices. There should be some sort of a discount on them, or some sort of a grant should be available, so people can save those little costs that add up over a period.  Second, in relation to EVs, at the moment a lot of newer estates do not have their own driveways. They are trying to put a cable underground. I have raised this before. It is massively more expensive to charge using these on-street chargers rather than using the domestic tariff. Could that be looked at in this context? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for his constructive, low-hanging fruit-type ideas. I will talk to the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, in respect of those issues and how we can incentivise or trigger a greater uptake and utilisation of them.  On the EV question, something has to be done there. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Pholasa\u00ed n\u00f3 ar Reachta\u00edocht \u2013 Questions on Policy or Legislation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-25\/debate\/dbsect_14","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"An Bille um an Aon\u00fa Leas\u00fa is Daichead ar an mBunreacht (Ceart chun T\u00edth\u00edochta), 2026: An Ch\u00e9ad Ch\u00e9im","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_14","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"An Bille um an Aon\u00fa Leas\u00fa is Daichead ar an mBunreacht (Ceart chun T\u00edth\u00edochta), 2026: An Ch\u00e9ad Ch\u00e9im"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-25\/debate\/dbsect_15","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/34","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/34\/dail\/1","houseCode":"dail","stage":"1","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Forty-first Amendment of the Constitution (Right to Housing) Bill 2026: First Stage (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Forty-first Amendment of the Constitution (Right to Housing) Bill 2026: First Stage","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  Tairgim: \u201cGo gcead\u00f3far go dtabharfar isteach Bille d\u00e1 ngairtear Acht chun an Bunreacht a leas\u00fa.\u201d  I move: \u201cThat leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Constitution.\u201d  This is my first Bill to be brought forward in D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann. The Forty-first Amendment of the Constitution (Right to Housing) Bill 2026 seeks to put a right to housing into Bunreacht na h\u00c9ireann. The housing crisis is the most serious issue facing our country. It is an emergency and a social catastrophe. The most shameful thing is that it is the Government's policies that have created this crisis. I refer, for example, to the way it has turned housing into an investment asset and failed over and over to treat it as a human right. Housing is a human right. Is ceart daonna \u00ed an tith\u00edocht. A home is a fundamental need and a fundamental right, yet not once in policy, in our laws or in our Constitution is housing described or treated as a human right. The fundamental change in housing that is so urgently needed will be achieved when we fundamentally change how the Government and the State treat and deliver housing. It needs to be delivered and treated as a human right.  Is \u00e9 seo mo ch\u00e9ad Bhille i nD\u00e1il \u00c9ireann. Is \u00ed aidhm an Bhille um an Aon\u00fa Leas\u00fa is Daichead ar an mBunreacht (Ceart chun Tith\u00edochta), 2026 n\u00e1 cearta tith\u00edochta a chur i mBunreacht na h\u00c9ireann. Is \u00ed seo an cheist is tromch\u00fais\u00ed in\u00e1r dt\u00edr. Is \u00e9igeand\u00e1il agus tubaiste s\u00f3isialta \u00e9. Is riachtanas bun\u00fasach \u00e9 teach, agus is ceart bun\u00fasach daonna \u00e9, ach f\u00f3s n\u00ed chuirtear s\u00edos air n\u00e1 n\u00ed dh\u00e9antar \u00e9 a ch\u00f3ire\u00e1il mar cheart daonna uair amh\u00e1in in\u00e1r mbeartais, in\u00e1r ndl\u00edthe n\u00e1 in\u00e1r mBunreacht. Bainfear amach an t-athr\u00fa bun\u00fasach i dtith\u00edocht nuair a athr\u00f3imid go bun\u00fasach an chaoi a gcaitheann an Rialtas agus an St\u00e1t le tith\u00edocht agus \u00ed a sheachadadh; is \u00e9 sin \u00ed a ch\u00f3ire\u00e1il go cinnte agus \u00ed sheachadadh mar cheart daonna.  Hundreds of thousands of people in Ireland lack a secure, affordable home. A safe, secure home at a decent standard is central to our very existence, our physical health and our psychological well-being. It is necessary to facilitate child development and full citizen participation in society and the economy. A home is central to the dignity of each and every person and is the foundation of every person's life. It provides the secure base from which to carry out all of life's functions.  The impact of housing is most clearly visible in the devastating physical and mental health impacts of homelessness on children in particular. Hundreds of thousands of people in Ireland do not have access to the right to housing and do not have access to adequate housing. I refer to renters living in insecure housing who are paying rents that leave them in poverty, to younger generations living in overcrowded accommodation who are unable to leave the family home because of a lack of affordable housing, and to those who are homeless. Homelessness is described by the United Nations as \"the most egregious violation of the right to housing\", yet homelessness in Ireland has become normalised. It has become an entrenched social problem whereby children are left homeless for years in emergency accommodation. Over 2,500 children have spent more than one year in emergency accommodation.  Many European countries, such as Finland, Belgium, Portugal and Sweden, include the right to housing in their constitutions. The Constitution is the ultimate repository of our national values. Indeed, there is no legal right to housing in Irish law, in our legislation or currently in the Constitution. The Housing Commission was given the job by the previous Fianna F\u00e1il-Fine Gael Government to develop recommendations in relation to a referendum on the right to housing. It brought forward a proposal two years ago and recommended in its report that a right to housing should be inserted in our Constitution. What I have done with this Bill is bring forward its recommendation to amend Article 40 to insert in the Constitution a very clear right to housing. The new Article 40A of our Constitution would provide that the State recognises that having a home is of fundamental importance to quality of life and that access to adequate housing by facilitating the development of family, social and community relationships promotes the common good. The second part of the proposed new article provides that \"the State therefore guarantees to every Citizen a right of access to adequate housing and pledges, as far as practicable, by its laws, to protect and vindicate that right.\" Inserting that right into our Constitution would provide a clear obligation on the State to deliver housing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Is the Bill being opposed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Mary Butler)  D\u00e9anaim comhghairdeas leis an Teachta Hearne as a ch\u00e9ad Bhille. The Bill is not opposed. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Cuireadh agus aonta\u00edodh an cheist."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I ask the Deputy to move that Second Stage be taken in Private Members' time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  Tairgim: \"Go dt\u00f3gfar an Bille in am Comhalta\u00ed Pr\u00edobh\u00e1ideacha.\"  I move: \"That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time.\" "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Cuireadh agus aonta\u00edodh an cheist."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar fionra\u00ed ar 1.27 p.m. agus cuireadh t\u00fas leis ar\u00eds ar 2.27 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Sitting suspended at 1.27 p.m. and resumed at 2.27 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Forty-first Amendment of the Constitution (Right to Housing) Bill 2026: First Stage"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-25\/debate\/dbsect_16","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/32","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/32\/dail\/2","houseCode":"dail","stage":"2","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"National Oil Reserves Agency (Amendment) Bill 2026: Second Stage (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"National Oil Reserves Agency (Amendment) Bill 2026: Second Stage","counts":{"speechCount":75,"speakerCount":37},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_16","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Clendennen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Fitzmaurice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment (Deputy Darragh O'Brien)  I move: \"That the Bill be now read a Second Time.\"  I welcome the opportunity to bring this Bill forward today. I thank my officials for the work they have done in a very short space of time as well as the Whip's office and the Opposition for facilitating this just the day after it was approved by the Government. I am acutely aware of the pressures being faced by Irish businesses and households.  This Bill is being progressed as a critical response to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, where the sharp and ongoing disruption to oil and gas production has resulted in higher global energy prices. Around the world, including here in Ireland, we have seen customers face higher prices for transport and home heating fuel. I know the House will share my concern at the immense human cost of this conflict and my desire to see an immediate de-escalation of the conflict and the resumption of normal activity in the Strait of Hormuz.  The amendments being made via the Bill are part of a targeted package of support by the Government to address the pressure faced by consumers. The Bill gives the necessary legal basis for a reduction in the National Oil Reserves Agency, NORA, levy from 2 cent per litre to a nominal amount, effectively zero, for a two-month period. The reduction will come into effect from 1 April until 1 June 2026. The Government has reduced the rate of mineral oil tax for petrol, diesel and marked gas oil by 15 cent, 20 cent and 3 cent, respectively. These measures were passed by financial resolution last night, with near unanimous support from across the House. I will not labour the point, but I thought it was opposition for opposition\u2019s sake when Sinn F\u00e9in opposed the reduction in excise duty yesterday evening. I hope the House can work in a constructive way today and be unanimous on this additional support, which is time-bound and targeted.  Supports for haulage and passenger bus operators have also been introduced and the fuel allowance has been extended by four weeks, protecting the most vulnerable in society. About 470,000 homes are now in receipt of the fuel allowance. The changes being made to the fuel allowance will mean those eligible households will receive additional financial support of \u20ac152.  Looking at it in the round it is a package of about \u20ac235 million in initial supports. We have retained the flexibility to be able to go back at this should we need to. The Bill also provides scope for the Government to amend this period by way of order at a later date, if required.  Currently, the NORA levy is a charge of 2 cent per litre applied to most petroleum products sold in the market for the purpose of funding the operations of the agency and the Climate Action Fund. The reduction in the NORA levy for a two-month period is estimated to result in a reduction of levy income accruing to NORA of approximately \u20ac20 million and will remove this cost from consumers. The agency has operational responsibility for the day-to-day management of the State's strategic oil reserve. It currently holds 90 days of oil stocks. Stock may be released from Ireland's stockholding in the event of a shortage of refined product on the domestic market, or as recently happened to participate in an International Energy Agency, IEA, collective action, to alleviate a global oil shortage.  Temporary and targeted measures to reduce fuel prices for households and businesses, with additional supports for key sectors of the economy are being introduced and may be adjusted as the situation evolves.  Since the outbreak of this conflict, the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment has met on a regular basis to assess the implications for the energy sector. Last week, I again chaired a meeting of the national energy affordability taskforce specifically focussed on this ongoing crisis. The group heard from the IEA's chief energy economist, Tim Gould, who provided sobering insight into the scope and impact of this conflict. On the basis of this presentation, it was clear that the conflict has already had a significant impact on the global supply of oil in particular, and that the nature and scale of this impact can increase exponentially as the conflict goes on and if there is additional direct damage to oil and gas facilities. A couple of the facilities that have been damaged and nearly destroyed will take a number of years to be restored into use. Because of the nature of shipping times, we are likely only beginning to see the full impact of the Strait of Hormuz, and while markets have priced this in to some extent, the effect on prices will be more severe if transit through the trait remains restricted.  Our policy response must therefore be responsive to the conflict, and it is clear that there are still myriad scenarios as to how this unfolds. For this reason, I have requested that the national energy affordability taskforce establishes a dedicated expert advisory subgroup to monitor global supply and, in particular, supply to Ireland and to advise on appropriate demand-side responses. This group will be stood up in the coming days and will provide expert insight into me as Minister and to the Government. Supplies in Ireland remain sufficient, but there have been significant price increases arising from the market pressures. While it is clear that Ireland will be affected by this global supply chain, there is an obligation on suppliers to treat Irish consumers with fairness and respect. On this basis, I have written to retail electricity and gas suppliers, as well as the CRU and fuel suppliers, to emphasise the importance of reducing the exposure for Irish consumers from the price shocks that global uncertainty has created. In addition, the taskforce has been established by the Government to identify, assess and implement measures that will enhance energy affordability for households and businesses while delivering key renewables commitments and protecting security of supply and economic stability. The first report of this group was brought forward in advance of budget 2026, and a range of measures were adopted on foot of that work. This included increased rates of payment and widened eligibility for social protection payments, a reduced rate of VAT to 9% on electricity and gas through to 2030, as well as the largest ever retrofitting budget. A key output of the taskforce will be the energy affordability action plan, which will identify a comprehensive range of solutions, including measures targeting households in energy poverty. The plan is currently being developed and will be finalised in advance of budget 2027.  As Minister for Climate, Energy and Environment, this crisis has only strengthened my resolve to drastically improve Ireland's energy resilience by building our domestic renewables. This reduces our dependence as a country on imported fossil fuels, thereby reducing our exposure to the inevitable fluctuations and volatility in the market. To the end of 2024 we saw 40% of our electricity being generated from renewable sources, more than double the amount of renewables that were in our system in 2015 - all while demand for electricity has grown. We are building on that strong base with successful auctions, both onshore and offshore, with simplifying planning processes in order to accelerate the delivery of new projects, and by providing \u20ac3.5 billion in equity into the grid. At individual household level, retrofitting is one of the very best measures which a household can take to reduce their energy bills permanently. This year, I secured a record allocation for fully-funded and granted-assisted retrofits of \u20ac640 million which allows us to target 73,000 home energy upgrades this year. That will be added to in excess of 240,000 that have already received grants to retrofit their homes to make them warmer, their energy more efficient and to reduce their energy bills permanently. We need to accelerate the deployment of those grants as well as the grants to businesses. Last year alone, we saw 4,000 businesses avail of energy retrofit supports which reduces their energy use and to look to alternative uses of energy too and reduces their energy bills. These are permanent changes. That is why it is so critically important that the carbon tax remains in place. It is that tax that is ring-fenced to carry out the works we need right the way across residential and business sectors to improve people\u2019s homes and reduce energy use.  Energy affordability remains an absolute priority for this Government. Times are particularly difficult in what is a global crisis on the energy side, particularly with regard to supply and price increases. These are situations that Ireland is not grappling with on its own. The measures we have brought forward - which are immediate, short-term flexible measures - can be compared with our nearest neighbour which has deployed about \u00a353 million, or \u20ac60 million, in its initial response. We have done it in a considered and practical way that can be sustained. We have to ensure that any measures we bring forward are affordable and sustainable but that we also retain the ability to respond further should this crisis accelerate and should the issue of price inflation in relation to fuel and electricity worse. It has the potential to increase more later on this year as many of our energy companies are hedged through this immediate crisis and we may see the pass-on effect of the price increases we are seeing now coming onto our electricity retailers to users in coming months. That is the reason we have to ensure the measures we bring forward are flexible and time-bound and that we retain the opportunity to respond as necessary.  If we look at the number of crises this country has faced in recent times, from Brexit to the illegal invasion of Ukraine, the cost-of-living crisis and Covid, at every stage the Government has brought forward measures that by any fair assessment have worked and protected our economy and society. It is to ensure we can come through this particular crisis in the same manner we have to use appropriate supports that are sustainable and we will retain the right and the ability to be able to respond further should we need to. I commend the Bill to the House.  I thank colleagues for their time today and I look forward to hearing their contributions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  Across the State there are families standing in cold kitchens looking at empty oil tanks. Workers are seeing the fuel gauge drop on the school run unsure of how they are going to pay for the next fill as prices at the pump spin out of control. For four long weeks, ordinary people watched with increasing anxiety while prices skyrocketed with the price of diesel up 55% and home heating oil, which was the source of the largest number of complaints I received in the constituency of Kerry, doubling in costs. One bill I saw went from \u20ac473 to over \u20ac800 in the matter of a week or so.  Meanwhile, the Government sat and twiddled its thumbs monitoring the situation. In truth, the Government was perfectly content to ride this one out leaving workers and families high and dry. However, relentless pressure and massive public anger forced it to act. The package had to be dragged out of the Government yet the Minister has come to the table with only half measures.  Once again, the Government has failed to back the people. It has failed to provide the maximum support that people needed and demanded. This is a political choice - a choice to abandon millions of workers and families crippled under the weight of this crisis, a choice to offer tokenism when real support was needed and a choice that tells ordinary people exactly whose side this Government is on. It is definitely not theirs.  While people cannot afford to heat their homes, the Government sits on a \u20ac12.5 billion surplus. While the cost of fuel has gone through the roof, the Government's tax take rises with it because, as the Minister knows, 60% to 65% of every litre goes straight to the Exchequer. When ordinary families came knocking, the cupboard was bare. However, as we saw in the budget when the bankers and the developers came knocking, there was never a shortage. All of this comes on top of a cost-of-living crisis that was crushing people even before fuel prices spiked. A total of 320,000 people and rising cannot pay their electricity bills. Arrears are growing every month. People are choosing between heating and food. Workers are trapped in cars that they cannot afford to fill because there is no alternative. We see that one third of the grants for electric vehicles are given to cars that are worth \u20ac55,000 or more and over half are given to cars that cost \u20ac40,000 or more. If someone can afford to buy a car that is worth \u20ac55,000, he or she does not need an untargeted measure or if it is targeted, it is targeted at people who can afford it. The answer here was a four-week extension to the fuel allowance, a measure that the Government's figures show cannot keep pace with rising costs. Families needed a government of action, but they got a do-nothing government that hoped the crisis would simply blow over.  The 2 cent cut on home heating oil is particularly insulting. It is a slap in the face to the 750,000 households that have seen their prices more than double in the past few weeks. A lot of them are more rural houses, one-off houses and houses that are owned by people who are older. Of all the Government's half-baked measures in response to the crisis, this is the biggest failure because households are now forced to fork out over \u20ac1,700 for a tank of home heating oil and all the Government offers them is a temporary reprieve of \u20ac20. If this was not insulting enough, the Government is pulling a fast one and taking the public for fools. The 2 cent reduction will be completely wiped out by yet another hike in the regressive carbon tax. Earlier, the Taoiseach said that he does not know what our policy is on that. He obviously has not been monitoring the news too closely over the past year or so.  The Government is giving with one hand and taking away with the other. Those who rely on home heating oil to keep warm, many of them in my own county, have been completely abandoned. You would think that the people of Kerry could rely on some of the loudest critics of the carbon tax during the previous D\u00e1il term to have their back but this is not the case. After all, the carbon tax is neither ring-fenced nor is it a behavioural measure, as the Comptroller and Auditor General report stated as did the Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI. There was a better and fairer way. We gave the solutions. We have been consistently giving them, including remove all excise on home heating oil, which will save \u20ac182 on a \u20ac1,000 fill, cut petrol and diesel by the maximum permissible amount, extend the fuel allowance by 13 weeks, not the paltry four, scrap the carbon tax increases, and deliver proper, fair, accessible climate action to address our over-reliance on imported fossil fuels and achieve Irish energy independence by seizing on our incredible renewable potential.  A just transition does not equate to regressive taxes that punish people who have no alternative. These are affordable and responsible proposals. It is simply not true to say that our proposals on carbon tax would mean no money for retrofitting. Every year in our alternative budget, Sinn F\u00e9in's shows how the Government could invest more in retrofitting without punishing people who have no other choice. Our fairer retrofitting plan also had targeted measures at those who needed it the most, rather than having it be the preserve of those with considerable means. There is no just transition if ordinary people are locked out of it and punished as a result. Sinn F\u00e9in showed how there could be meaningful interventions, but the Government chose not to listen.  The Government then told people in the South what it cannot do. It tried to deflect blame onto Sinn F\u00e9in in the North where we do not have control of excise duty, do not control taxation and where the Westminster cuts have gutted public services for over a decade. That is absurd. If the Government wants to address a united Ireland in a meaningful way, it could go about it, but it clearly is not. Sinn F\u00e9in will continue to demand meaningful action, not tokenism or half measures. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  This Government led by Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael has abandoned hundreds of thousands of households who rely on home heating oil in the middle of an energy crisis. It has turned its back on the very people who are being hit hardest - families who have seen the cost of heating almost double in a matter of weeks. The Minister should make no mistake about it, there is real anger out there. People who are already stretched to the limit simply do not know how they will afford their next fill of oil. The Government's message to them, whether it admits it or not, is that they are on their own.  Let us strip it back. A 2 cent cut in the middle of an emergency is not help. It is not relief. It is an insult. To add insult to injury, in a matter of weeks the Government will claw it back through another carbon tax hike. It gives with one hand and takes with the other. Let us think about how that looks for families out there sitting in cold homes tonight. At a time other countries are scrambling to bring down energy prices, the Government is preparing to increase taxes on home heating oil, gas and even on a bag of coal. It is staggering and it is completely out of touch. Last night was a cold night. It was cold in homes right across the State. What people were waiting for was Government action. What they got was a Government that abandoned them. It voted down proposals we tabled to remove excise duty completely from home heating oil and to cut the excise on diesel by the maximum amount with the same for petrol. As the Government did that, a grandmother reached out to me devastated. She said:  Pearse, I'm a granny with a disabled son at home. I have taken on an extra job onto my full-time job just to support myself and my son. Even with the second job, I'm emailing you tonight with a blanket wrapped round me because I have no heating oil. I don't care about me. It's my son whom it is affecting more due to me only being at home one day a week. On that day, I have to do my shopping, clean my house, do the laundry, as I have no other time to do it. I'm sore. I'm exhausted. I have no quality of life.  That is what the Government's decisions mean in real life. That is the human costs of its inaction. She is not alone. There are hundreds of thousands of families just like hers doing the right thing, working hard, cutting back and still being pushed to the brink. What people need is real action, and I am going to continue to fight for them. I am going to continue to have their backs. They cannot put up with more delays from this Government because people need a complete removal of excise duty from home heating oil, the maximum cuts in diesel and the same for petrol. They need the Government to abandon its mad idea and reckless plan to jack up prices by increasing carbon taxes in the middle of this crisis.  Here is the truth. There is nothing stopping the Government from doing it - nothing at all. Right now, families are sitting in cold homes under real pressure and being left behind. That is on the Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  The 2 cent cut on home heating oil is an absolute slap in the face for people as it is. The fact that the Government is going to take it back off them in a couple of weeks makes it worse. It is going to give a very meagre amount with one hand and it will take it back in a couple of weeks knowing, as it does, that going into this latest crisis that 320,000 people are in arrears on their electricity bills, knowing that people are already under a severe amount of pressure and knowing that we are in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, whether the Government acknowledges it or not. That cost-of-living crisis is very real. The Government's energy affordability taskforce has advised that the cost of fuel would increase by \u20ac321. This does not even touch sides of that. Do not take our word for it; the Minister can take the word of his own taskforce. It is telling him what is needed. We have told him what is needed. We have brought forward solutions. We have brought forward a plan that would make a real and meaningful difference in the lives of people who are worried that they will be cold in their homes.  That should be a wake-up call for any Government but even the worst Government - the most out-of touch, tone-deaf Government - would not make things worse. It would not charge people even more in a couple of weeks' time. It would not jack up the costs even further but that is what the Government is proposing to do. The Minister's speech stated that any fair assessment of the Government's plan would see that it is the right thing to do but he should not take my assessment for this. I am going to read out a message I got from a woman who I will call Mary. She said:  In brief I'm a full time career to my son who was very complex needs. My husband works full time, we have a mortgage and we need two cars. My son needs an electric bed, an air mattress, a feed pump, a suction machine, eight nebulisers on two different machines, a ceiling track hoist, a power chair and obviously needs the heating on all night.  She said, \"... it is disgraceful for the Government to act like we are being looked after. I just felt I needed to express our disappointment at the announcement of this emergency package and I'm hoping that you can bring it up.\" Well I will bring up it but what is the Minister's answer to her assessment of his plan? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  Let us call out what happened this week. Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael TDs voted against Sinn F\u00e9in proposals that would have substantially cut the cost of petrol, diesel and home heating oil. Instead they brought in measures that fall far short. Now we are arriving with a 2 cent cut in the NORA levy and the Government expects applause. That is not leadership. It is actually damage control. It is far too little far too late. The reality is simple though. In a few weeks, today's tiny reduction is going to be wiped out by another carbon tax increase. It is classic Simon Harris - give with one hand today and take back with the other tomorrow - but people see through it, especially in rural communities, people in communities who have no choice but to use their cars and families who are depending on home heating oil just to keep their home warm. For these people, what the Government has announced is not relief; it is downright insulting. It is the same for farmers who are already under huge pressure facing soaring costs for green diesel and fertiliser. The Government's response does not even come close to recognising the scale of the challenge they face. What is most telling in all of this is that even as the limited measures are being introduced, we have Ministers already talking about how they are going to take them away and when. That tells us everything we need to know. The Government is out of touch with the real pressures people face every day. That has long been evident but I want to make it absolutely clear that the battle is not over. Sinn F\u00e9in forced the Government to introduce the bits it introduced this week but alongside workers, families, businesses, carers and farmers, we are going keep pushing for fairness. We are going to force the Minister to deliver the type of support the families we represent desperately need. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  Two cent per litre is \u20ac20 for a 1,000 litre fill when people are afraid to turn on their heating - this Government will be remembered as the Government of fuel poverty and energy poverty. It is pushing people into energy poverty. To add fuel to the fire, it is incredible that the Government still plans to proceed with the next carbon tax hike in May. At a time when people are already stretched to breaking point, this decision defies all logic.  This measure is an insult to the people of Mayo who make up some of the 750,000 households that are reliant on home heating oil to keep warm or to have some hot water. We talk about rationing and the possibility of rationing into the future if we have shortages of oil but I can tell the Minister one thing. There are many households across this country tonight who are self-rationing - doing without heat or hot water because they cannot afford it. It is no surprise once again that it is rural households like my own in Mayo that are being left behind.  What does the Government think it is like for the people living in the houses affected by defective concrete blocks when they see the houses crumbling around them? There are cracks in the wall and they are trying to heat them. The Minister was the previous housing Minister and now he is the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment. Can he imagine how cold it is? I got calls from Mayo this morning to say how freezing cold it was.  The Government could have adopted Sinn F\u00e9in's legislation to completely remove excise on home heating oil, which would have provided meaningful and immediate relief. Let us be honest about the Government's measure to extend the fuel allowance for four weeks. It cannot even be dignified by being described as a half measure. It is completely tokenistic. It is too little and it is too late. People need decisive action now. They need somebody to have their back and I am telling them here today that Sinn F\u00e9in and I will certainly have the back of the people in Mayo because they deserve it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  Today, 500 litres of home heating oil in Cork cost \u20ac900. That is less than half a tank. What the Government has proposed is a \u20ac10 cut. How insulting is that? The Minister is an intelligent man. Does he not think that this is insulting to people who are struggling to keep the heating on? Does he accept this is not good enough? If he does not accept it, I cannot believe him. The way the Minister is treating people with home heating oil is horrendous. There are people, especially older people, who are afraid to turn on the heating because they do not know how they are going to pay their bills.  The Minister came in here earlier and said the Government is going to write to the energy companies. Forget about writing to them; drag them in here and tell them no more price gouging because price gouging is the same as robbing ordinary workers and people. The minute the war started, they put up the prices even though the price of oil and diesel had not gone up. What is the Minister doing? People are struggling and the Government is giving people crumbs off the table. The Minister needs to get energy companies in here. We have the highest electricity bills in Europe and over 300,000 people in arrears. Does the Minister know what is going to happen on the back of his announcement? More families are going to go into arrears on their electricity and gas bills and people are going to be cold because they will not have money to fill their tanks with home heating oil. People are struggling. A young girl who is going to college said to me yesterday that she is going walk to college because she will not have the money to put diesel in her car. She is going to college and working part time. There are pensioners who are putting extra cardigans on and people who are walking because this Government failed to deliver. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy R\u00e9ada Cronin  It took four weeks into this global crisis created by a warmonger in Israel and his boor in the US for this Government to take some action. The reduction in excise duty was a welcome step but it did not go far enough. People will still be paying more for petrol and diesel than they did before the start of this war. On top of that, the carbon tax increase is going to offset every measure the Government is bringing forward. We already know that carbon tax cannot change behaviour unless there is an alternative. The Comptroller and Auditor General reported to the Committee of Public Accounts a few months ago that only 61% of what the Government has ring-fenced has actually been used to help people out. The Government has been found out trying to con the people with more than 320,000 families already in energy arrears.  This legislation looks to protect more than 750,000 households that rely on home heating oil by reducing the price by a whopping 2 cent per litre. That is a reduction of about \u20ac20 on fuel that now costs almost \u20ac2,000. The Minister is taking the mick. Thousands of people in my constituency in north Kildare rely on home heating oil to heat their homes and have been left high and dry by this do nothing Government. Sinn F\u00e9in's legislation would have reduced the cost of a 1,000 litre tank by \u20ac183 instead of the measly \u20ac20 the Government has proposed here today. These are the protections that people need. Sinn F\u00e9in is calling on the Government to scrap the increase in the carbon tax, introduce proper measures that we have handed to it to protect those using home heating oil and invest out in solar and wind to protect families from future actions by warmongers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  I begin by cautiously welcoming the short-term reprieve brought about by the Government's decision to reduce excise duty temporarily; to cut the NORA levy, a measure to which this legislation gives effect; and to take on board one of the Labour Party's proposals, which was to extend the fuel allowance by four weeks. The Labour Party voted in support of the introduction of these measures last night and we will support today's legislation as well as it is going some way to ease the financial pressure on working people across the country but, of course, we believe that more can and must be done. We have seen a huge degree of uncertainty and anxiety as fuel prices skyrocketed following Trump and Netanyahu's illegal and bloody misadventure in Iran began, particularly among vulnerable households that rely on liquid fuels to keep their homes warm and those who need to drive to work.  This crisis has left no one untouched. In every part of the country, ordinary households are feeling the pressure of rising energy costs in an immediate and seemingly relentless way. All of us in this House will have heard from our constituents over the last number of weeks about the effect this is having on them, about how anxiety-inducing a trip to the petrol station has become and about how heating bills feel like a looming threat. For so many households, the cost of getting to work or bringing the kids to school has now become a financial calculation. We are talking about the lived experiences of working people, older people and families who are struggling to hold things together in the midst of what the International Energy Agency has described as the \u201cgravest energy shock of all time\u201d, and that is on top of our existing cost-of-living crisis. I sincerely hope that the measures announced yesterday by the Government provide some relief to people who are really feeling the pain in this energy crisis but we should not kid ourselves into thinking that these measures are anything more than sticking plasters. They are short-term and limited and they do not provide anyone with any real certainty. The energy market is so volatile at present - determined, it would seem, by whichever side of the bed Donald Trump wakes up on - that any benefit arising out of the temporary reduction in excise duty and the small cut to the NORA levy could be wiped out by the end of the week or even sooner.  The reality is that the measures the Government has introduced do not go far enough. They will not provide much reassurance to households and commuters, only a temporary reprieve that is vulnerable to further price increases. What happens if this war rages on beyond May and energy costs continue to pile pressure upon consumers? These new measures are not a long-term strategy to protect households and they certainly are not about building a more secure future in our energy systems. They are a short-term instrument that the Government has belatedly brought in to get people off their back. As I have said, we support the individual measures, but the overall package is, in the words of my colleague, Deputy Nash, \"timid, anaemic and underwhelming\".  The Government could and should have gone further to support households and commuters in the short to medium term. The Labour Party has long championed strengthening our remote and flexible working legislation, and that is now more important than ever in the context of the diesel and petrol price crisis. During recent yellow weather warnings, workers were encouraged to work from home where possible. The same logic and support must be provided to workers at this critical time. Remote work is no longer only a workers' rights or quality-of-life issue; it is a real and effective way to protect many people from this present energy crisis. The Government must urgently reconsider its position on the Labour Party's Work Life Balance (Right to Remote Work) Bill 2026. It must institute a genuine right to remote and flexible working, not the tepid right-to-request model that we have at present. In effect, that has been a licence for employers to refuse requests. It should be obvious to the Government that by reducing people's need to travel to and from their workplace, it is shielding them from the sky-high prices we are seeing at the garage forecourts. The Minister does not even have to take our word for it. The International Energy Authority has explicitly said that people should be encouraged to work from home so that the cost of commuting is mitigated. This is a no-brainer - something that can bring relief to many workers without a direct cost to the State - and I have not heard any justification for not doing it.  There are other measures that could be taken in the short term to protect people against prices at the pumps. We should be looking at implementing an emergency reduction in public transport fares by at least 10% and identifying all opportunities to increase the capacity and frequency of services. More broadly, this crisis has exposed the fundamental issue in our transport system - our over-reliance on private car use. That is something that we desperately need to change. I acknowledge improvements that were made over the course of the previous Government, particularly with regard to the roll-out of Local Link buses. We need to double-down on that progress. It has been disheartening to see any momentum that had built up during the previous Government in terms of our commitment to public transport expansion being squandered by this Government. The 2:1 spending ratio in favour of public transport and active travel has been done away with. The national development plan, NDP, review's sectoral investment plan for transport was a damp squib that pushed back the start dates of vital transport projects. The reality is that too many people in Ireland remain dependent on their cars because they have no viable alternative. Public transport is simply not good enough in many parts of the country. Services are infrequent, routes are limited and reliability is often lacking.  While we can take short-term measures to try to reduce the cost of public transport and encourage people to leave the car at home to avoid increasing fuel costs, the bigger picture is that we need to reduce the need for expensive car journeys in the first place. That is the longer-term solution to high costs at the pump but it means investing in a public transport system that is affordable, reliable and accessible. It means expanding bus services, increasing rail capacity and ensuring that rural communities are not left behind. It means creating a network that people can depend on in their daily lives. It means going further in terms of our active travel network.  Cycling is the cheapest, healthiest, cleanest and often most efficient way of getting around. The Leas-Cheann Comhairle may have seen a piece by RT\u00c9 yesterday in which they timed three people making a journey from Knocklyon, in my own constituency of Dublin South-West, into town - one driving, one taking a bus and one cycling. Those of us who make that journey into work in the city centre every day will not have been surprised by the finding that cycling is the fastest option. That said, and notwithstanding the significant improvements that have been made in recent years, the cycle network along that route remains a patchwork, for instance where the incredible Dodder greenway ends at the Rathfarnham Road as you head into town and you are abruptly spat back out onto the road alongside cars. As the RT\u00c9 presenter said, it does not pass the test of whether you would allow your child to cycle on that route. It is a real safety concern, and it is the sort of thing that discourages more people from leaving the car at home and getting them or their families on their bikes. People should not feel like they are taking their life into their hands when they decide to cycle to work.  Returning to my main point, I hope this fuel crisis will serve as further evidence for this Government of the pitfalls of a transport system built primarily around private car use, not only for climate and health reasons, or to deal with the chronic traffic issues and congestion around our cities, but also for how vulnerable it leaves people when petrol and diesel prices shoot up. There will always be a need for private cars, of course, but when people are forced to rely exclusively on cars it leaves them exposed to fuel shocks like the one we are experiencing at present. The solution has to be further and urgent investment in public transport and active travel expansion, improved bus services in our rural communities, light rail for cities such as Cork and Galway and the DART+ projects. I am delighted to see that the MetroLink for Dublin's north side is progressing, but we want to see its expansion out to Dublin South-West and elsewhere as well. We need a well-connected active travel network across our major cities and between towns and villages in rural Ireland. We need to see a renewed commitment, a real vigour, from this Government to get these vital transport projects over the line sooner rather than later.  As I said in the Chamber last week, this crisis must also serve as a reminder to the Government of the urgent need to wean ourselves off imported fossil fuels. Our economy remains far too reliant on them. We are 20 years behind where we could have been in terms of offshore wind generation. We have a wealth of renewable potential off our coasts that is almost entirely untapped. We have literally one offshore wind farm, in Arklow, built more than two decades ago, and it is no longer generating any energy. I have serious questions about our target of 5 GW of offshore generation by 2030, given the pace of developments so far. It is clearly not going to happen.  I was left baffled in many ways by the Taoiseach's performance during Leaders' Questions yesterday. He said at one stage that Ireland is a \"renewables success story\". While I acknowledge we have made some good progress in terms of onshore generation, I do not see how failing to utilise our greatest asset, which is our offshore potential, can be characterised as a success story. It is not a success to be so far behind in our transition to clean renewable energy that the Taoiseach's predecessor once called our country a \"climate laggard\", and he was right.  In any case, any new renewable energy that we are generating is not going towards decarbonising important sectors of our economy; it is being gobbled up by the huge energy demands of data centres. Essentially what we are seeing is the good work that we are doing in terms of renewables benefiting not ordinary households or small businesses, but faceless multinationals. That is not a success story; it is an outrage, and it is only going to get worse with the continued data centre proliferation that is being enabled by this Government without putting the necessary safeguards in place. The Government's large energy user action plan has utterly failed in that regard and the proposed private wires law will only further the expansion of data centres and their continued expansion and use of fossil fuel generation.  I acknowledge that data centres have a role in our economy and our society in terms of enabling our access to modern technologies, but we have to be honest: they are huge sources of pollution and they are placing an unbelievable strain on our energy grid. Alongside soaking up all of our renewable energy, it is anticipated that they will account for more than 30% of our total energy consumption within the next couple of years. Even the former finance Minister, Pascal Donohoe, has warned in his new role of the huge water consumption issues that data centres bring and the dangers for countries that go along with that.  I was left further baffled yesterday when the Taoiseach continued to insist on the Government's plans to import liquified natural gas, LNG, a highly polluting fossil fuel, for energy security purposes, given that he later acknowledged that every energy crisis since the 1970s has been due to a crisis in fossil fuels arising out of a conflict.  I appreciate the Taoiseach\u2019s acknowledgement that the source of market volatility, and the reason people are currently being fleeced, is the crises in oil and gas, but I cannot fathom how anyone would think the solution to ensuring energy security in future is further entrenching fossil fuels in our system through the construction of new fossil fuel infrastructure. This Government should seriously reconsider its plans for its strategic gas reserve. We need a new energy security analysis in light of this most recent crisis. This was recommended by the Joint Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy in its pre-legislative scrutiny report on the Government\u2019s LNG bill. The European benchmark price for LNG soared by as much as 60% in the days following the start of Trump and Netanyahu\u2019s illegal war in Iran, following the shut-down of a major LNG facility in Qatar. The Government has estimated that its proposed LNG terminal will cost almost \u20ac1 billion, paid for of course by ordinary bill payers. The likely increase in that cost arising out of conflicts like the one we are seeing at present underscores the irresponsibility of going ahead with this proposal. We simply cannot secure our energy supply by further exposing ourselves to price shocks like this. We are already vulnerable to an increasingly unstable geopolitical arena, and ordinary households and commuters are paying the price. Charging ahead with the introduction of even more fossil fuels to Ireland will only make matters worse. As I said previously, the solution to our energy security needs lies off our coast. Government inertia in building up our offshore capacity can no longer be tolerated. The urgency we have seen from the Government in rushing through the legislation for this LNG terminal needs to be redirected towards meeting our 5 GW offshore target and getting the projects currently in the pipeline delivered.  I want to touch briefly on the issue of price gouging. The case for an investigation by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, CCPC, is clear. Within hours of this war beginning, we saw prices soar for home heating oil and at the petrol pump despite the fact that, as we know, fuel stocks are bought well in advance. The fuels being supplied in the hours immediately after the outbreak of the conflict would have been bought at a much lower rate, but they were being sold based on the present wholesale price. The fuel providers - never ones to waste a crisis - saw an opportunity and went for it. It was frankly insulting to hear Fuels for Ireland, the industry lobby group, tell consumers the other day not to expect a reduction in their fuel costs immediately following the cuts to excise duty and the NORA levy. Its excuse was that the fuels being sold would have been purchased in advance at a higher rate. I would be willing to accept that argument if it did not imply that for some reason, fuels bought in advance of these cuts cannot be charged at a lower rate, but the fuels bought prior to the outbreak of the war had to be charged based on the wholesale price at the time consumers were filling up their cars. It is absolutely outrageous. I welcome the instruction given by the Minister for enterprise to the CCPC to conduct a review of the retail energy market. On many occasions in this House, I have called out the poor behaviour of energy companies and the dysfunction of our supposedly competitive market. However, it must go further than a simple review. The Minister must instruct the CCPC to conduct a stand-alone investigation into potential price gouging in the hours after this latest conflict in the Middle East began, and the failure to immediately pass on any cuts in excise duty.  I will conclude by cautiously welcoming this legislation, which will temporarily reduce the excise duty, cut the NORA levy and extend the fuel allowance, but the Government could and should have gone further. We know we cannot tax-cut our way out of our over-reliance on fossil fuels and our overexposure to the whims of a warmongering US President. We need to look ahead towards real solutions to shield ourselves from future oil shocks to the greatest extent possible, and that means building up our renewables capacity. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  I will pick up on what my colleague, Deputy Ahern, was speaking about. We are living in an era in which shock events are becoming more regular due to irrational, unpredictable and, quite frankly, dangerous leadership among the big powers. The world's reliance on fossil fuels has become the source of global conflict. The ultimate impact of this is not only that it causes deaths in those regions where the wars are taking place, but also that it has an economic shock on ordinary workers and ordinary households elsewhere in the world. In this country, we have reacted to the Russia-Ukraine war, to this current conflict and to the Covid crisis by introducing a suite or basket of emergency measures which are then subject to debate, controversy and discussion across this House. There are commonalities emerging in these shock events in terms of how they impact our people and communities. We need to prepare for these events better. We are still overly reliant on fossil fuels, so we are going to have to be able to react quicker to these events.  We do not need new legislation to facilitate a maximum price order, for example, because it is something that the Government, along with a price freeze at the fuel pump, can implement overnight with the stroke of a pen. That can be done based on current legislation, without introducing new legislation, when America, Russia or another power starts a war or escalates continuing conflicts. The Minister's Government has not chosen to do this. Three and a half weeks later, as my colleagues Deputy Ahern and Deputy Nash and the Opposition more generally have said, a suite of measures is being brought in which, quite frankly, does not go far enough. We are not preparing.  We know that work practices in this country are over-reliant on fossil fuels. Too many people have to get into their cars in the morning to go to work because we have not invested enough in public transport. There are improvements and exciting projects on the way, including DART+ and MetroLink in my constituency, but there are still too many people getting into their cars in the morning who do not have to do so. They could stay at home and work productively, efficiently, effectively and happily in the public or private sector. We need to look at the rules in this State. Obviously, we have proposed legislation that would empower people to work from home and give them real rights and protections. Given that the Government seems intent on not supporting that legislation, when shock events happen the Government should impose work from home orders to enable people who can work from home to do so at a moment's notice without fear of repercussions from their bosses.  The suite of measures that are being announced in other European countries, such as Spain, Greece and the UK, go further and deeper. They have reacted a little more quickly than we have. Nobody is perfect and no government or State is reacting perfectly to these shock events, but we have to adapt our responses to the reality of the world as it exists now. There are many articles about a show currently on Netflix that is set in the 1990s that are about how it seems like a much calmer time. Compared to where we are now, it was like another world. We are now in the 2020s, when fossil fuels are being fought over. We have a klepto-fascist in the White House who is engaging in what seems to be, among his many crimes, the manipulation of the markets for profit and the use of the office of the United States President for personal and familial gain. We are in a territory we never thought we would be in, but I think we are still playing by 1990s rules, almost. We are not adapting and we are not flexible, despite all these shock events, conflicts and wars. Despite all the things that are becoming more familiar, and the impact they are having on home heating oil, fuel pumps, congestion and climate, we are still reacting as if it was 30 years ago and not as if it is the 2020s. We need to look at how we are shaping our State to react to the actions of the disastrous leaders of the most powerful states who are tearing the world apart at present. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Clendennen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Clendennen  I thank the Minister for his time here today. I welcome this legislation - the National Oil Reserves Agency (Amendment) Bill - and its important and timely measures. It is being introduced in a moment of real pressure on households, businesses and our wider community, when we need a measured response. In recent months, as other speakers have alluded to, global energy markets have been significantly disrupted by conflict in the Middle East and the Gulf, a conflict I hope can be brought to an end. That is fundamentally the element of uncertainty here. When we wake up every day, we hope we will see the end of this conflict and we can bring some sort of normality back to our economies and the likes of our fuel prices. They are far beyond our shores, but nonetheless they have real consequences here at home.  We have seen a rapid and sharp increase in the cost of fuel at the pumps, increased transportation costs and increased costs of home heating, all placing a real strain on our day-to-day expenses.  This Bill is necessary as part of the suite of measures announced by the Government yesterday, measures that I support. I fundamentally believe they will help people as they go to work today and try to heat their homes, and will make a material difference from a Government perspective, considering the unpredictability that we talk about. The reduction in the NORA levy in the next two months will work alongside the reduction in excise duty, the expansion of the diesel rebate scheme and the extension of the fuel allowance.  I support the element of flexibility provided by the Minister in the Bill. While we hope the conflict can be resolved, and hope for market stability to return, we simply do not know what the future holds. The Bill proposes a targeted and practical intervention, a temporary adjustment that reduces the levy for a defined period but also allows the flexibility for the Minister to extend it, should that be necessary. Today, we can directly lower the cost of fuel at a time when we need relief most. However, this is definitely not a long-term solution to energy challenges, nor does it replace the need for continued investment in sustainable and secure energy systems. If anything, these recent weeks and months have highlighted how important it is that we pursue long-term climate and energy goals and strive for more energy independence. The Bill maintains balance and provides relief now. It does not dismantle the framework that ensures Ireland's strategic oil reserves remain robust and secure. Ultimately, the Bill is about being responsive and ensuring stability. It recognises the pressures facing our citizens by taking clear steps to ease them, while preserving our capacity to plan for tomorrow. Under NORA, we are obliged under EU law and International Energy Agency rules to hold at least 90 days' worth of oil imports in reserve.  Many constituents who contacted me this morning expect the prices at the pump to reduce overnight. If some of these companies were half as smart in reducing the price as they were in increasing it, they would do a service to consumers today. It is irresponsible how they are behaving. We are seeing price gouging. What we need to see is the CCPC being given more powers and resources to equip it with the necessary tools to address this as quickly as possible. I would like the message to go from here today that, regardless of the commentary from Fuels for Ireland, we need to see the prices reduce and be passed on as soon as possible at the pumps.  Where we are today is a similar position to the one my county found itself in five or six years ago, when, overnight, a decision on a planning application showed that we could no longer rely on fossil fuels and carbon fuels. The Minister has visited County Offaly in recent times and has seen the progress we have made. That did not happen by accident. We took brave, ambitious and plan-led decisions at times when other counties decided not to because that was the easiest thing to do. We need to plan for tomorrow now. Essentially, what that will entail is reducing our dependency on fossil fuels.  As for what we have done in Offaly, we have seen the development of a significant infrastructure of wind turbines, solar farms and battery storage. In January alone, with only 2% of the country's landmass, Offaly was the top generator of renewable energy in the country. Many speakers come into this Chamber and tell us what we should be doing as a country. Maybe they should take that message back to their own counties. Everyone should step up to the mark and follow the lead that we have taken as a county. That did not just happen on bogland or vast fields. It started in primary schools, with initiatives led by bodies like Midlands Ireland and Offaly County Council, and by individuals like Ray Bell in his work on STEM initiatives, such as VEX Robotics. Less than ten years ago, in Offaly, there was not one primary school engaging in any element of engineering in the curriculum. Today, we can proudly say that every primary school is competing in VEX Robotics. We have a situation where multiple schools every year are competing on a global stage at the VEX Robotics world championships.  We need to invest in education and ensure that we invest in engineers for the future. That needs to continue right through from primary school to postgraduate. Even today, in committee, we heard from some of the engineering representative groups that we need a greater level of funding for postgraduate courses so we continue to see a steady flow of new graduates in the engineering space. One thing that should not stand in the way of this development is funding. In recent years and months, I have dealt with schools that qualified to go to Texas for the world championship of VEX Robotics but they did not have the funding, and they had to go to local companies or the local authority. It should be a no-brainer. We should ensure there is a scheme in place where such a scenario arises. Where extracurricular activities and subjects are contested at the global level, we need to get behind those schools and classes, and ensure that Offaly is excelling at the highest level. I recognise those schools like Tubber National School, the Sacred Heart in Tullamore and Col\u00e1iste Choilm, which made it to Texas and represented the county and the country so proudly.  I also look at what we have done with regard to home energy upgrades. In the past five years, we have seen almost 5,000 homes across Offaly upgraded for home energy. This is a county where, in the last census, up to 50% of homes outlined that they had a dependency on fossil fuels. We are taking those steps. There is a step change in Offaly, and we are doing this in an ambitious way. However, we cannot leave communities behind. All too often, where we have designated spatial planning for renewables, we are seeing companies come in where we have not designated spatial planning. That is a total kick in the face for people who took a very ambitious step in recent years to ensure we could meet our ambitious targets.  I ask that the wind energy guidelines be produced and published as soon as possible. With regard to home heating, I ask the Minister to look at measures like the blending of HVO, with a view to increasing that to a level that is sustainable and achieves our emissions targets, and also works for the sector, communities and homeowners. With regard to reducing our dependency on carbon fuels, I ask the Minister to look at a boiler scrappage scheme. There are hundreds of thousands of boilers that have been in circulation for ten years or more, and they are simply inefficient. Yes, the dream is to get everyone to an earth water heat pump or district heating but that is not feasible in many situations. I ask the Minister to seriously consider a boiler scrappage scheme in the time ahead. Greater recognition for wood pellet stoves is another option that needs to be considered. I am not overlooking what the Minister has done in the whole area of deep retrofit grants, where the increased grants have been very welcome. However, they cause disruption, particularly to older people. That is where I would see something like a boiler scrappage scheme, wood pellets or HVO being an intermediary as we move to where we want to go with this whole objective.  As I said, communities cannot be left behind from a benefit fund perspective. In Offaly, there is \u20ac50 million in the pipeline for a renewable energy community benefit fund scheme in the coming years. We do not want to spend it all on sports jerseys or scoreboards. We want to see long-lasting legacy projects like community centres and swimming pools developed in towns and villages across the county. The Minister should use Offaly as a pilot. We are ahead of the curve. We are pioneering in this space to ensure we get it right for the rest of the country.  In Offaly, coming from the bogland heritage that we have and the relationship we had with Bord na M\u00f3na and the ESB, we are proud of what we have done. We have stepped forward in the national interest. When I hear of companies looking to invest further in renewables, and they talk about the delays with EirGrid, the lack of response and the need to get it done faster, that should not be happening. We are in a state of emergency. We need EirGrid, as much as anyone, to step up to the mark to ensure that investment in the grid is developed at an expedited rate. We need to engage with companies that want to invest, whether that is in further renewable energy development or data centres. I am not going to stick my head in the sand and think that we can just move on and let this data go elsewhere. We see tens of billions of investment in other countries, while we are missing an opportunity to develop ecosystems in places like Rhode Green Energy Park in Offaly. If we can get the planning permission sorted there, and if we can get companies to row in behind it, we can create an ecosystem of economic benefit and job creation in our local communities.  I recognise the \u20ac1.1 billion the Government has put together already in relation to budget 2026 in the area of energy. I recognise the significant billions of euro in investment the Government has committed to the grid. There is also the increase in allocation and eligibility of the fuel allowance and the backdating of it to January.  When I talk about the national interest, I have to ask what Sinn F\u00e9in's purpose has been in recent weeks. Has it been to increase its ratings in the polls or is it genuine? I recognise the likes of the Social Democrats and Labour, which voted with the Government last night. However, Sinn F\u00e9in has proposed nothing in relation to the fuel allowance and has done nothing to support hard-pressed households in Northern Ireland. It has done nothing to get its calculations right. To come into this Chamber and claim a cost of \u20ac38 million per week when it was actually \u20ac3 million is irresponsible. Sinn F\u00e9in Members need to get their act together and realise we need to work together in this Chamber for the best interests of this nation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  He has left now, but I want to acknowledge Senator Wilson and the officials he brought visiting here, representing Taiwan in their Dublin office. They are very welcome and I hope they enjoy their day in D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  While Government backbenchers might not wish to acknowledge it, workers and families are being hammered under the watch of this Government. Petrol and diesel prices are rising sharply and the Government response is too late and nowhere near strong enough. Households are already stretched and we see it not just in energy but across the board: food costs and school costs are up. The costs of getting to work, doing the school run, caring for family and just living in rural Ireland are increasing.  The Government has choices and it chose not to deliver the maximum fuel cuts available. What we saw last night was meanness laid bare - too late, stingy, divorced from reality and frankly insulting. Over 750,000 households rely on home heating oil and they are being left behind. The cost of a fill has surged to between \u20ac1,600 and \u20ac1,800, depending on what day it is and where in the country you live. The Government's response has been tokenistic: a short fuel allowance extension that will be wiped out by rising prices and a measly 2 cent reduction on heating oil.  The Taoiseach's response yesterday during Leaders' Questions was illustrative when he joked that it is okay because it will be May soon. People are in energy arrears and are struggling to heat their homes. There are cold snaps at the end of March and people rely on home heating oil for hot water, including people looking after older or unwell family members at home. It is not good enough for the Government and the Taoiseach, as Head of Government, to make jokes about these things. Energy poverty and child poverty are growing and people are rationing heat. We have heard some of the stories. Some of us engage with our constituents in constituency offices and clinics. I know it might be uncomfortable for some people on the opposite side to do that from time to time but those of us who engage and listen hear those stories every day. I am not talking about the Minister but many of his colleagues do not operate clinics or offices. The Government could have removed excise on home heating oil and delivered real relief but once again chose not to act.  This crisis is hitting those who produce in our economy. Fishermen and other primary producers face soaring fuel costs without any meaningful support. The impact spreads through coastal and rural communities. When coastal and rural enterprises are squeezed, their local economies suffer. It is kicking a sector when it is already down. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan  It has been nearly a month since Israel and its proxy, the United States, began their war on Iran. For the past month, people across Ireland have been hit with what can only be described as rip-off fuel prices. In some cases, Irish fuel prices have increased at eight times the rate of other EU states. It is only now, after nearly a month, that we have seen any action from the Government. To be frank, its measures are an embarrassment compared with the actions of other EU states. While the Government sat on the fence, it quietly cashed in at the expense of ordinary workers trying to get to work or the vulnerable trying to heat their homes. This is appalling conduct from the Government. Let us talk about the measures it announced yesterday. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  Give me some examples of what they did in Europe. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan  Three cent off the price of green diesel is not support; it is a slap in the face to farmers and fishermen across Ireland. The Government may as well have just told them to shut up and get on with it. These are the people who go out day in, day out to produce top-quality Irish food and to ensure we have food security and our shelves do not go empty. While the reduction will be welcomed by those in haulage, do not forget who produces the food to fill those trucks. Not using farm machinery or trawlers is not an option. Does the Minister expect ponies and traps and carts to be rolled out to cut down on the cost? Is that what he wants them to do? We have seen over and over from Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael that our farmers and fishermen are always an afterthought. The announcement yesterday is just the latest insult to them. It is simply a kick in the teeth. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  Politics, for better or worse, has made me occasionally suspicious of things. When things happen suddenly or without warning, I wonder what exactly is happening. I am a bit of a nerd, I have to admit. I like maths, numbers and researching things I am interested in. After a few hours of researching this amendment and looking at the Bill, I find what the Government is doing deeply troubling. I want to be really clear here. We in the Social Democrats have supported the Government on reductions in excise and on relief for hauliers. We are even willing to support half of this Bill to relieve two months of the levy. However, it turns out this Bill also authorises something the Minister did not acknowledge in his opening remarks. I am severely disappointed by the lack of transparency from the Minister, his Department and the Government. What he is proposing is the authorisation of a 20-month raiding of the climate action fund. That is what this Bill does. It would be better called the climate action fund reversal Bill.  I will take Deputies through how I came across this. It was deliberately obfuscated from the D\u00e1il. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  It is not a very long Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  It is not, but it is a very significant provision that the Government has put into it. Let me take Deputies through how I came across it. The Government has deliberately obfuscated this from the D\u00e1il and it is a very serious matter for Government backbenchers, in particular.  On the face of it, the change to the Order of Business to add to the agenda an amendment to the National Oil Reserves Agency Act 2007 does not seem like a big deal. Any reasonable person recognises the fallout of the illegal war initiated by the United States and Israel against Iran and its people would have consequences in Ireland. It is far-reaching. Therefore, maybe we needed to do something with the national oil reserves, but when I read the amendment proposed within the past 24 hours and put on the agenda this morning, it did not refer to releasing oil reserves. That power is already granted by the 2007 Act. It did not talk about increasing supply to provide relief to hard-pressed families. No, it had something about pausing a levy of 2 cent per litre. Again, that does not seem like a big deal given excise went down by 17 cent per litre last night, which we in the Social Democrats supported.  I dug a little deeper. That 2 cent is the total funding for the National Oil Reserves Agency, coming to about \u20ac120 million in income for the agency in 2024, according to its financial statements. The Bill proposes in the first instance to effectively get rid of that levy for the next few months, which is reasonable - laudable, even. We are in an energy crisis, after all.  But then there is this other measure in the Bill, section 1(b). This provision says the Minister can suspend the levy after those two months for a while if he wants. Maybe that is reasonable. The question is for how long, how much it costs and what effect it has. The amendment says he can suspend it to December 2027, a potential 18-month additional suspension of the levy. That is strange. We did not do that for the excise taxes or hauliers last night. It is quite an odd thing to do. What is also odd is that the Minister can do it at his sole discretion. That is interesting. Ministers can do things at their sole discretion all the time through statutory instruments but it is strange to create a brand new statutory instrument within 24 hours, so it made me a little more suspicious.  The Minister will have to forgive me. I decided to look at the finances. It turns out the run rate for the levy is about \u20ac10 million per month.  Two months would cost \u20ac20 million, which means 18 more months would cost a whopping \u20ac180 million. A potential \u20ac200 million reduction in the public finances is worrying. With this Bill, the D\u00e1il is being asked, in effect, to pre-approve a tax cut of up to \u20ac200 million at the sole discretion of one Minister. It is very strange.  Last night, the D\u00e1il sat until 11 p.m. to authorise a package of \u20ac250 million. Today, it seems the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, can just change the fiscal position of the strategic oil reserves by \u20ac200 million with the flick of a pen and with no oversight by the D\u00e1il, no authorisation from the Cabinet and absolutely no one else involved. Not even the Minister for Finance can bring in a tax cut without the Taoiseach authorising it. A \u20ac200 million tax cut is a very big deal. It has consequences for the fiscal and financial position of the State.  According to its financial statements, the National Oil Reserves Agency collected \u20ac120 million in 2024. It did something with that money. Can the Minister tell me what it was? I will yield 30 seconds of my time under Standing Order 61 if the Minister can answer that question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy Hayes should continue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  Can you tell me the answer, Minister? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  I could do so but I will wait until the end to respond to the debate. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  The National Oil Reserves Agency gave \u20ac100 million, or more than 80% of the levy, to the climate action fund that was set up by an amendment to the legislation in 2020. It turns out that is virtually the entirety of all funding for the climate action fund. The fund was set up to support a few really important things, as detailed in its 2024 annual report. In that year, it gave \u20ac8 million to a community climate action programme for local authorities, \u20ac10 million to the school photovoltaic programme to fund solar panels for schools, \u20ac17 million to the B\u00f3rd na M\u00f3na bog rehabilitation scheme, some of which was perhaps spent in County Offaly, and \u20ac58 million to the public sector energy efficiency scheme to reduce energy demand, which one might think would reduce prices.  This is not about strategic oil reserves, relief for consumers or good governance. It is an open raiding of the climate action fund in the middle of an energy crisis. The Government gave a tax cut to developers and fast food chains in the latest budget but that was not enough. Now the Minister wants to steal the future of climate action while he is at it, with no oversight and no transparency. Everything is being hidden from the Oireachtas and even from the Government's own backbenchers. The Minister's actions will deprive this country of the climate action this crisis has shown it desperately needs. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  I will return later in my contribution to the aspects of the debate my party colleague has raised. The 2 cent reduction in the NORA levy is a drop in the ocean for homeowners and householders who are relying on home heating oil, the hundreds of thousands of people who are not going to benefit from the excise cuts, which the Social Democrats supported, and the people who will continue to find it very difficult to put a half-fill or a fill of oil in their tanks. The Social Democrats have repeatedly acknowledged that we are in the middle of a crisis that will require emergency-type solutions in the short term that can offer some level of respite to people. This reduction of 2 cent is the absolute bare minimum and it really will not make much difference to people.  Instead, what the Minister should have done is target the use of public money to support people who are most in need. We have repeatedly asked him to bring in a \u20ac400 electricity credit targeted at the people in the lowest 40% of the income distribution. That would assist 800,000 people in this country with their energy bills. We are not calling for a broad-brush energy credit because that would not be targeted. This was consistently our position in the previous D\u00e1il. There is a huge wastage of public money in the non-targeting of such measures. The best, simplest and quickest way to assist every person who is really suffering from the high cost of electricity and gas following the Ukraine crisis, and now the high cost of petrol, diesel and home heating oil as a result of the current war, is to provide a targeted energy support. It is unfortunate that the Government has not done so. We in the Social Democrats hope that at some stage in the very near future it will bring forward that energy credit.  This crisis did not start four weeks ago. There are many people still trying to recover from the impact of the high energy costs incurred as a result of the Ukraine crisis. The ESRI has advised against the approach of introducing measures that are not targeted. It has shown that the last time this approach was used, 50% of the cost of the measure went to the top 40% of households. The statistics are there to show this is not the best way to deal with these issues. A targeted approach is certainly the preference of the Social Democrats.  In the absence of that, we have supported the excise reduction and we will support the 2 cent reduction in the NORA levy. However, as my party colleague has stated, we have concerns about this Bill. It is much more far-reaching than what was originally proposed, which was just a two-month cut. The Social Democrats have consistently supported carbon tax because we understand we need to move away from fossil fuels and fossil fuel subsidies and ensure people who are least able to do so can transition away from those fuels. The revenue collected from carbon tax offered the Government an opportunity to ensure a just transition. There was a chance to use that money to ensure lower income families can have warm homes, lower energy costs and an opportunity to avail of solar panels and electric cars. These are the changes we all need to make but lower income families will find it much more challenging to do so. That is why the Social Democrats have always supported carbon tax.  However, I find it bizarre that at the same time the Government is being critical of Sinn F\u00e9in for not supporting the carbon tax on the basis that the money is ring-fenced and will go to energy and climate action measures, it is, in essence, doing the exact same thing with the NORA fund. It is just called something different. A lot of people do not understand where the money from the NORA levy goes and for what it is used. The Government is using that to its advantage and is really just playing with words here. It is incredibly disappointing that the Bill includes a mechanism for ministerial discretion to extend these provisions for 18 months.  The climate action fund plays an incredibly important role in supporting communities, small businesses, households and the public service to implement climate action measures. The ESB availed of the climate action fund to put in charging stations all across the country. Schools are using money from the fund to put solar panels on their buildings. A huge range of very important measures are being supported by this fund. Why would the Minister want to take money out of those programmes? Why would he decide this is the best place to find State funding to support people who are facing huge difficulties because of the war in Iran?  Why is the Government sticking so closely to carbon tax, stressing how important that is and being very critical of other parties for not supporting it while at the same time doing exactly the same thing? When talking about extending this to 18 months, it is important that the Minister explain to us the programmes he is planning to cut. Will he cut community climate action projects, retrofitting of public buildings, electricity charging infrastructure, solar PV and district heating projects? Will he cut all those? Will he cut the climate officers in the local authorities? Which local authorities will he pull climate officers from? These projects are all fundamentally dependent on the revenue streams from NORA.  There has to be some honesty in this discussion and it is unfortunate it has not been there so far. We are only on Second Stage and we have tabled an amendment to that effect. We would ask the Minister to seriously consider that amendment because this provision does not need to be extended beyond two months, in the same manner that the excise reduction has not been extended for longer than two months. So, we would ask that you actually seriously consider this, Minister. Minister? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  T\u00e1 m\u00e9 ag \u00e9isteach. I can walk and chew gum at the same time. I am actually explaining to the Minister of State, Deputy Dooley, what Deputy Whitmore is saying so that he understands the Social Democrats\u2019 position. I am trying to be helpful. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  I will speak to both Ministers then. I would ask that they look at the amendments we put forward and not use this Bill to extend this provision to 18 months and essentially pull all the funding that is going into the climate action fund for things like solar PV for schools, EV charging units, the community action funds, and the community and climate officers in the different local authorities. Many really important projects are funded by this scheme. Please do not use this as a way to pull the funding for 18 months. This is \u20ac200 million that should be going to climate action and to support communities so that they can actually move away from fossil fuels, which apparently is an aim of the Government. Please do not pull that money from them.  We will be debating this later on but I would ask----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  We will helpfully respond to that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  I thank the Minister.  I also want to talk about price-gouging. The CRU was mentioned earlier. The CSO reported this week that wholesale electricity prices have dropped by 72% since the peak in August 2022. We have not seen a 72% reduction in retail prices here in Ireland and indeed many people are still really suffering from the incredible costs of electricity and gas as a result of the invasion of Ukraine. The Minister has called on the CRU to look into aspects of price-gouging in the energy sector and to consider what level of pass-through is occurring from wholesale to retail. That was a recommendation of the task force last year. I have not heard anything back from the CRU yet. Within its legislation, the CRU has the provisions to be able to do this anyway. It is something it should be doing on a regular basis and not waiting for a Minister to direct it to do so. It has responsibility for ensuring fairness in the energy markets for consumers. It should have the wherewithal to use the legislation that is available to it and to do this when it deems it fit. However, it seems very lax when it comes to these kinds of matters. It waits for there to be a public outcry and for a Minister to direct it. I do not understand how it does not see it as a normal part of its remit. Anyway, we have not seen any response or any report from the CRU and it is really important that that happens.  Alongside that, the CCPC also needs to investigate price-gouging by petrol and diesel retailers. It was very clear, pretty much immediately after the war in Iran started, that forecourt prices would skyrocket and that has continued. We all suspect that there has been price-gouging and there has to be accountability for it because if there is not accountability, we will not stop them from doing it every time there is an issue like this. It is really important that that happens and that it happens quickly.  We also need to ensure that any of the excise cuts and now the NORA cut are passed on to consumers. It needs to go directly into people's pockets and not into the pockets of the retailers. I ask the Minister of State to ensure that happens because it is fundamentally important when it comes to not just these measures but the trust the public have in the implementation of these measures. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere  I welcome the opportunity to speak on the measures announced by the Government to address the ongoing fuel and energy cost crisis, which continues to place real and sustained pressure on households, families and businesses right across the country.  I cannot but comment on the pure hypocrisy of Sinn F\u00e9in on the far side of the House, whose previous speakers unanimously opposed last night\u2019s motion to help families and businesses right across the country. Last Thursday in this Chamber, the deputy leader of Sinn F\u00e9in called for a 20 cent reduction in excise duty. Last night he and his colleagues voted against a 22 cent excise duty reduction. It is all spin and bluster. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  Did the Government do the 22 cent reduction then? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere  The only thing we ever get from Sinn F\u00e9in Members is a permanent \"No\". That is their contribution to Irish politics, a permanent \"No\". There is nothing to them and nothing in them. They would want to start coming forward with proper, credible policies instead of just going against everything. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  Did the Government do the 22 cent reduction? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere  When you are against everything, you are for nothing and Sinn F\u00e9in is for nothing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  Did the Government do the 22 cent reduction? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere  They are going out and whinging with no credible proposal being brought forward. Last week they said they would bring forward a 20 cent reduction. Why, five days later, do they go against a 22 cent reduction? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  Did the Government do the 22 cent reduction? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere  Why did they all vote against it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  Did the Government do it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  The people in the Deputy's constituency want it. Did the Government do it? No. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere  The Deputy is talking out of both sides of her mouth as usual. The country can see through it and we are all sick of listening to her and her colleagues. They are going at it the whole time, left, right and centre. There is nothing to them. There is absolutely no substance and they have no credibility. Everybody can see through it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  I am sure all the Deputy's constituents are delighted to see----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere  It is important to acknowledge that action has been taken and that action is absolutely welcome. The reduction in excise on petrol and diesel alongside a significant cut to the NORA levy will provide immediate and tangible relief at the pumps, not just \"No\" politics for the sake of \"No\" politics. For many working people, particularly those in rural areas, who rely heavily on their cars, that relief cannot come soon enough.  Equally the decision to extend supports for home heating, particularly for more vulnerable households, is a recognition of the very real concern and anxiety that people feel when faced with rising energy bills. These are practical steps and they will make a real difference. I welcome the additional four weeks on the fuel allowance, which will make a huge difference to families right across the country.  We must also recognise the targeted supports for key sectors of our economy. Hauliers, bus operators and those who keep goods and people moving have been under enormous strain due to the rise in diesel costs. Increasing the diesel rebate and backdating it is a sensible and necessary intervention to protect jobs, to make sure our economy is strong and to make sure we have a pot of money so that when we are hit with a crisis, we can actually put measures in place to help Irish families. If we have a surplus and keep taking out of it, we will end up with a deficit. I do not know if the Sinn F\u00e9in economic policy recognises that, but that is the reality of the situation.  While we all hope that stability will return, the reality is that uncertainty still remains. That is why it is equally important to focus on longer term actions being taken and indeed a lot of work needs to be done. We have seen significant progress in renewable energy in recent years.  The growth in solar capacity, from just 2 MW in 2015 to over 2,400 MW today, is remarkable. It shows what can be achieved with the right policy focus and investment. Similarly, the increase in the share of electricity generated from renewables, now exceeding 40%, demonstrates that we are moving in the right direction. The expansion of rooftop solar, with over 155,000 homes supported and schools benefiting from insulations, is helping to reduce bills and empower consumers to generate their own energy. This is a positive development and one that should continue to be scaled up.  The supports for haulage and road passenger operations being introduced and the fuel allowance being extended by four weeks are protecting the most vulnerable in society. The extension of the fuel allowance season means that eligible households will receive additional financial support totalling \u20ac152. This Bill also provides scope for the Government to amend the time period by way of order at a later date if required. It is also important to note that temporary and targeted measures to reduce fuel prices for households and businesses, with additional supports for key sectors of the Irish economy, are being introduced and may be adjusted as the situation evolves. This is an evolving situation and has been since the crisis broke a couple of weeks ago.  In addition, the level of investment in retrofitting and energy efficiency must be acknowledged. Since 2019 over \u20ac1.6 billion has been provided to support hundreds of thousands of home energy upgrades. These measures not only reduce emissions but, crucially, reduce costs for households over the long term. However, we have to ask the question, are we moving quickly enough? Is there more that can be done? For many people who will be watching this debate, the reality is simple: bills are still too high and the cost of living remains a constant worry. While progress is being made, the benefits are not being felt evenly or widely enough. That is why I welcome the targeted measures that were introduced yesterday.  We also know that Ireland remains heavily dependent on imported fossil fuels. This leaves us exposed to geopolitical shocks, price spikes and uncertainty that is beyond our control, like the situation we find ourselves in at the moment. The current situation has only underlined that vulnerability. While we acknowledge the steps taken, we must also call for greater urgency: urgency in accelerating renewable energy projects, particularly offshore; urgency in upgrading and expanding our electricity grid in order that supply can meet demand; urgency in reforming planning processes to ensure that critical infrastructure can be delivered without unnecessary delay; and urgency in ensuring that supports reach those who need them most when they need them.  There is also a clear lesson from this crisis. We must ensure that our response as a State is agile, responsive and prepared for whatever challenges may come next. The reality is that global energy markets can shift rapidly due to conflict, supply disruptions or economic shocks. We must be in a position to act quickly to protect Irish consumers and Irish businesses. That means building flexibility into our policies, maintaining contingency measures that can be deployed when needed and ensuring that the Government has the tools to respond in real time. We cannot afford to be reactive; we must be ready. This is not about responding to a crisis; it is about building resilience for the future and ensuring that Irish households and businesses are not repeatedly at the mercy of global energy shocks.  The measures that have been recently announced are a step in the right direction. They will provide short-term relief and they demonstrate that this Government is responding to the challenges at hand. However, we cannot stop here. We have to be agile and flexible and we have to continue to act decisively, ambitiously and with a clear focus on delivering a more secure, more sustainable and more affordable energy future for all. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  Ordinary families and workers understand that the Irish Government is not responsible for international energy crises. Where the frustration lies, however, is that what it is responsible for is Ireland's response, and its response has been lethargic, it is lacklustre and it has not been nearly good enough. Not only is it a delayed response but our starting point is actually worse than it need have been, given that the Government pulled the energy credits only a few months ago based on inflation figures it got wrong. With more than 300,000 households already in electricity arrears and a new crisis emerging, what people would have expected is a Government response that prioritised them and looked to protect them from the worst impact of price shocks. Instead they got a wait-and-see response, and now they get tokenism: on fuel allowance a paltry four-week extension, and limited intervention on petrol and diesel that simply does not cut it. It is not good enough. There is not even tokenism for those without a clue how they will pay for home heating oil. There is nothing at all. With all the credibility of snake oil salesmen, the Government continues to tell farmers and rural people that they benefit from the carbon tax, a claim report after report has found to be completely baseless.  Sinn F\u00e9in's proposals would have delivered a \u20ac183 reduction on 1,000 litres of home heating oil; the Government's proposals do not. Sinn F\u00e9in has advocated a 25 cent reduction on the tax the Government raises from petrol and diesel. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, you are in Deputy O'Hara's time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere  You are against everything, Cathy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Excuse me, Deputy Cleere. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  These are measures that would have meaningfully supported ordinary workers, families and farmers----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  You are over time, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  -----but what the Government introduced yesterday did not do so. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  This crisis began at a time when households across the State were already bearing the brunt of a severe cost-of-living crisis, with 320,000 households in arrears on their energy bills, having been totally abandoned by the Government in the last budget. The half-measures announced by the Government yesterday are too little, too late. The Government has sat on its hands for the past four weeks, and only now has it brought forward limited measures to respond, very reluctantly and after sustained pressure from Sinn F\u00e9in and the general public.  The Government, however, went only halfway. It decided against the maximum excise cut on petrol and diesel. It decided to knock only a lousy 5 cent off a litre of green diesel, with another insulting reduction in the price of heating oil, just 2 cent per litre. It has not gone unnoticed that those in rural communities, farmers and households who rely on home heating oil and fuel for farming or to get from A to B have in particular been failed by the Government and thrown to the wolves when it comes to these measures. Some 750,000 households across this State rely on home heating oil. To make matters worse, the 2 cent reduction will be wiped out in a few weeks' time when the Government proceeds with its carbon tax increase. It could have removed the excise completely. It could scrap its carbon tax increase. That would have given meaningful relief to families struggling to heat their homes. The Government did not do so, however, because it is completely out of touch.  I appeal to Government Ministers to stop gaslighting the public when it comes to the carbon tax, saying the revenue is essential for climate action and ring-fenced for that purpose. That is absolute rubbish. The Government does not have a notion where that money is being spent, with hundreds of millions unaccounted for, according to the Comptroller and Auditor General. The Government's grant schemes represent a massive transfer of wealth from low-income to high-income households, according to researchers in Trinity College. The Government should stop spoofing, stop the carbon tax increases and support households. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  This is a mean Government. We knew it was a mean Government already because we saw the last budget, which was a giveaway budget for the developers, a giveaway budget for Google and a giveaway budget for the fast food giants but it took money out of the pockets of ordinary people and targeted disabled people, in particular, with swingeing, mean cuts of over \u20ac1,400 per person per year. We therefore knew this was a mean Government already and we had that in our mind when we were thinking, \"What will the Government do when under massive public pressure to do something to protect people from the renewed cost-of-living crisis?\"  Looking at this proposal, however, this measure in particular, it is hard to imagine something meaner. There is a crisis out there. Close to one in five households uses home heating oil. The price of home heating oil has gone through the roof, almost doubled.  Many people are at a stage of needing to fill their oil tank after they have been through the winter but obviously still need to use their heating. The Government's response to the surge in oil prices caused by Trump and Israel's imperialist wars in the Middle East is to take off 2 cent per litre. This will then be wiped away in a month and a half by an increase in the carbon tax. It is hard to imagine something more mean and inadequate. People will get \u20ac20 off for a full fill of home heating oil. Instead of paying the guts of \u20ac2,000 they might pay \u20ac1,980, so \u20ac20 off. I do not really know why the Government is bothering because it is so utterly inadequate in resolving the crisis that people face. We know that people have entered into a new cost-of-living crisis that has come on the back of an existing cost-of-living crisis. We know the impact of that. Four in ten parents are either passing up meals or reducing their portion sizes so their kids can eat. This is incredible in one of the richest countries in the world in 2026. Over 40% of renters are in poverty or are at risk of poverty and over 300,000 people are in energy arrears.  How does all of that translate into people who are using home heating oil? A person cannot go into arrears on home heating oil. People cannot fill their tank and say that they will pay the supplier later. They have to pay them to get home heating oil. What all that means is that people do not fill up their tanks and they do not heat their homes. It means people, in 2026, living in cold homes, struggling to get by in cold homes. This will be predominantly poorer people and older people at this time when the Government has a massive budget surplus and refuses to use it to protect people. It is incredible. It stands in stark contrast to what went through last night for the hauliers where the Government backdated the reduction to 1 January, forward dated it to the end of June, while any of the measures being talked about for ordinary households are ending much sooner than that and none of them is being backdated. Fundamentally, what does his come down to? Why is the Government taking this approach? There are two reasons. One is the Government represents those who profit from the various crises such as the housing crisis, the cost-of-living crisis and the health crisis. The second is that the Government is tied to the idea of the market. It cannot use the massive financial resources that we have to protect people because that would mean interfering with the market. The fossil fuel market that the Government is responsible for keeping us so reliant on is not working for ordinary people. Now is the time to interfere with the market in a major way to protect people. The answer here is so clear. It is in our Bill that we introduced two years ago to provide price controls. On the issue of home heating oil, in our Bill, there would be a \u20ac1 per litre price cap. The cap would be \u20ac1.75 a litre for petrol and diesel, 25 cent per unit for electricity and 8 cent per unit for gas. That is the answer, combined with giving energy credits to people paid for by the data centres and targeted measures for disabled people, those on fuel allowance and social protection payments. The core of it is to say, \"We are going to set the price and we are going to give people certainty.\" Then we ensure that the price is met and that the flow of petrol, diesel and home heating oil continues by doing two crucial things. One is to empower the CRU to ensure profiteering is not taking place with people taking advantage of this crisis as they took advantage of the previous one. The second is to adjust fuel taxes accordingly to ensure that fuel can continue to be supplied. That is the answer and that is what would give people certainty at this moment.  The other thing we need to do is get away from our reliance on fossil fuel. There are also longer-term issues. The Government should please stop allowing more and more data centres. Please do not have the Taoiseach going to Donald Trump and the US and saying data centres are our priority when it has emerged that fewer than 2,000 people are employed in data centres, which use more electricity than all the homes in the State combined. Let us have State investment in renewable energy and a renationalisation of the energy system to give people affordable electricity and to have a rapid transition.  There are immediate things that could happen. We have been calling for free, frequent public transport for a long time. The Government might not be able to, at the drop of a hat, get the frequent part or provide for the expansion that we are calling for, although there are buses and storage that could be brought out. However, we could immediately have free public transport, or at the very least, if the Government will not do that, a 50% cut in public transport fares. People are struggling to get the money to put the petrol or diesel into their car to get to work. They should be given the option of getting on public transport at a significantly reduced rate, which would also create the habit in people of knowing that they could use public transport. These are the kinds of measures that we need to have immediately to break our reliance on fossil fuels. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charles Ward  People across the country are waking up to the fact that in moments of real need, the Government again has failed to show up. It is completely unwilling to provide meaningful support where it matters the most. People have been abandoned and left to face the spiralling costs alone. What should have been a moment of leadership, compassion and decisive action instead has been a bluster of hesitation, and the people have suffered. They are met with a Bill that has very little to offer people in their real time of need. The Bill will do nothing for the people struggling in County Donegal. It could have given more but the Government has chosen not to. It has chosen not to help the people and they are already on the brink. They are facing a sudden, unexpected surge in costs that they could never have seen happen.  I know the Minister of State is receiving the same kind of calls and emails that I am receiving. People are absolutely desperate and in complete disillusion. They are wondering how they are going to make ends meet, pay their bills, feed their families and heat their homes, which are the basic needs of a human being. People are riddled with anxiety every time a letter comes through the door or the notification goes off in their banking app to tell them that there is less than \u20ac1 left in their account. I have had multiples of calls like this from people. My constituents are living basically down to their final pennies because they trying to feed their families and heat their homes. What am I meant to say to them?  The Government is taking 2 cent per litre of home heating oil. At the end of the day, it is frustrating. The Government is giving with one hand and when the carbon tax comes in the next month, that will be taken away and we will be faced with the same crisis again, and the Government has offered them no solution. That to them equals no hope and people are in despair and overwhelmed by their circumstances. They cannot control their circumstances because they are trying to meet the basic needs of a human being. Last month in Donegal, 1,000 litres of home heating oil cost \u20ac940 while today it costs \u20ac1,650, which is a difference of over \u20ac700 in 20 days. The Government solution is to take 2 cent off a litre and give them \u20ac20 back from the \u20ac1,000 fill. It is crazy stuff. With that, it still costs \u20ac1,630 to fill a tank, which is still a \u20ac690 difference in 20 days. The \u20ac20 difference is a drop in the ocean that families cannot survive on, and the Government pretends that this is completely out of its control. Everybody says to the Government, \"Look at what is happening in the North.\" In the North, 500 litres of home heating oil is \u20ac633 whereas it is \u20ac800 in Donegal. The truth is the Government can do more but it has chosen not to and the people are being abandoned. Households have seen their bills spiralling out of control. We have the highest electricity costs in Europe and now the highest heating costs as well. It is unfortunate and devastating for my constituents to be left in these situations. A mother phoned me today saying that she put \u20ac5 worth of fuel in her car to allow her to do three journeys to take her children to school six miles away. That will allow her to do so today, tomorrow and the day after and that is it, until she gets paid next Wednesday.  That is what we are down to. People with disabilities cannot afford to travel. They are stuck and isolated because there is no proper public transport to serve them. They are suffering because they still have to heat their houses, as do people who are living alone. The heat goes straight out the door for the owners of homes affected by defective concrete. They have to have the heating on all the time to keep the house warm. As everyone knows, with what is going on up in Donegal, the houses are riddled with damp. This is just putting more of a burden on them. Homeowners face impossible decisions every day. It is not getting any better. The families are working hard to provide a good life for their kids but it is now a question of eat or heat. That is what it has come down to. They feel abandoned.  I ask the Minister of State to please consider this because we are going to be back here in a month. There will be mass protests about this. There is no doubt about it. This 2 cent on a litre of fuel shows the Government does not feel what is going on on the ground and does not understand it. Hundreds of thousands of people rely on heating oil. They need help, not 2 cent. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Hundreds of thousands of people in this country are being impoverished and having hardship imposed on them because of the deranged lunatic in the White House, Donald Trump, and the psychopaths who run the Israeli regime and their bloodlust and warmongering. People in this country cannot pay their bills, cannot turn on their heating and, in some cases, cannot travel when they have disabilities because of the mad dog, Trump, and because of Netanyahu and the Israeli regime. Despite this, our Government still cannot condemn what Trump is doing. It cannot impose sanctions on the regime in Israel he is doing it with.  As we speak, there are people outside asking where is the occupied territories Bill to impose sanctions on Israel for its illegal occupation and its genocidal campaign against the Palestinians. There is now another reason to pass the Bill, which is that people in this country cannot pay their bills because of what these psychopaths are doing. We still treat them as normal states. Has the Minister of State ever seen anything like Trump boasting about the murder of people? Whatever we might think about the Iranian regime, boasting and saying you will kill them all is the behaviour of a psychopath. If you wanted to define \"psychopath\", that is a psychopath and he is running the most powerful government in the world and collaborating with a regime that is in the dock for genocide.  By the way, the genocidal campaign against the Palestinians continues, including in the West Bank, and is being expanded into the ethnic cleansing of Lebanon, the explicit plan to occupy another country's territory, southern Lebanon, and waging a criminal war against Iran, which has now inflamed the entire Middle East and which is costing every single person in this country to the extent that some people cannot turn on the heating. Despite this, the Government cannot condemn it. It is not only that but it is also facilitating US troops, the people who are doing this to our people, at Shannon Airport. Never mind raining death and destruction on people in the Middle East and setting the world on fire, they are immiserating people here and yet these troops are going through Shannon Airport.  I know how forceful the Minister of State has been about Russia's illegal war in Ukraine. Imagine anybody suggesting that a representative of this country should go and give shamrock to Vladimir Putin, or to meet him at all, and say nothing about what he is doing in Ukraine and allow his troops to go through Shannon Airport. There would be outrage, yet the Government quietly allow US troops go through Shannon Airport while Trump and these psychopaths in the White House and in the Israeli regime continue these crimes. People here are suffering for those crimes, yet the Government continues to take no action whatsoever. It then throws back this pittance, 2 cent on the litre. It is absolutely pathetic. It is an insult. Of course, people, Trump's friends, are speculating on all of this. People are getting rich out of it while all this cost-of-living misery has been going on since 2021.  We are not Johnny-come-lately when it comes to addressing the very issues we are discussing. I have been looking back at our motion, which was the first motion on the cost of living to come before this House at the beginning of the cost-of-living crisis. We moved it on 6 October 2021. It referred to the need for price controls on electricity, fuel, petrol and home heating oil. It also referred to the need to boost the retrofitting of homes so that people could bring down their bills. It mentioned the cost of disability and addressing the poverty crisis that exists in this country and the number of people in energy poverty. Six years later, we are still dealing with the same issues. They have just got worse.  In all of that time, the profits of the energy companies of this country have gone through the roof. They have gone up and up. ESB profits, Energia profits and Bord G\u00e1is profits have all gone up and up. People are speculating on oil and all of that kind of thing and they are all making profits at the expense of ordinary people who are suffering cost-of-living misery and who are unable to turn on the heating. Some 700,000 people in this country are living in poverty. They are living in poverty in one of the richest countries in the world. Despite all this, this is the best the Government can do.  The Government can do other things but refuses to do so. I honestly do not understand why unless it is because, as Deputy Murphy said, that the Government is not willing to stand up to these corporations. It can introduce price controls. Has that been done anywhere else? It has been done in Hungary, the Czech Republic and Croatia. Forms of price control have been introduced in Spain and I think that has also been done in Italy. It can be done. The prices of these goods can be controlled to give security to people.  How do you pay for that? Just look at the profits that are being made. We should put a bit of a levy on the profits of the data centres, which are sucking up all of the electricity, or on the record \u20ac300 billion that was made in corporate profits last year. In fact, it was more than \u20ac300 billion. Profits have gone up by 200% to 300% over the past decade while ordinary people are being absolutely crucified. The Government will not do that, however. It is okay for those companies to profiteer while ordinary people suffer with this cost-of-living crisis.  The Government will not even call out the people who are choosing to make it worse, like Trump and the Israeli regime. It is fairly obvious to me. The double standards are clear. We cuddle up to the warmongers and the psychopaths. We refuse to sanction or condemn them. We grovel before them with shamrock and let their troops go through Shannon Airport. Might these people use a nuclear weapon if things do not go well for them? Some of them would. Some of the Republican senators who support Trump are actually suggesting the use of nuclear weapons. That is just how mad these people are. At what point do we call a stop to this madness and stand up to assert this country's noble tradition of opposition to empire? This country's struggle for freedom started with a struggle against empire, colonialism and the First World War. We should remember that history and heritage and show it some respect, along with showing respect for the ordinary people who are being crushed by this cost-of-living crisis. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail  The world is quite a scary place right now from the war in the Middle East, including in Iran and Gaza and the West Bank in Palestine, to what we are seeing in Somalia and Russia's continuing onslaught on Ukraine. We experienced hikes in the prices of various goods and services, particularly energy, after the invasion of Ukraine. What we are seeing now is a multiple of that because the Strait of Hormuz plays a crucial role in the supply of oil worldwide and in the supply of rare earth minerals that are crucial to the manufacturing of components we use every day. In many circumstances, it is not just about the crude oil.  What the Government has announced needs to be welcomed. Members across the House acknowledge the difficulty people have been experiencing, particularly commuters in Kildare North going to and from work. There has been an increase in public transport and in the use of public transport but there continues to be a demand and a need for private transportation, particularly for people living out of town and for people with young children. This House needs to acknowledge that public transport works for some people but it does not work for a lot. For example, a family might have two or three children with different drop-off and pick-up times, as well as parents trying to get into work. These are considerations for people using private transport. It is not as simple as trying to ensure everybody uses public transport. However, it should be encouraged and recommended for everybody in the context of trying to take people off the roads and reduce congestion in our towns and villages. Maynooth, Celbridge, Naas, Leixlip, Kilcock and Clane are all choked with traffic. Public transport is one of the only means for us to move out of that particular scenario. I am also thinking of things such as ring roads like the one being constructed in Maynooth at the moment.  In terms of the measures being introduced, it has to be acknowledged that they are targeted, and we have to be cognisant that this is very fast changing situation in the Middle East. It makes sense to extend the fuel allowance by four weeks. It makes sense that community welfare officers are liaising and working with families that are hard pressed and struggling at the moment.  What I would say to anybody listening, particularly in Kildare, is to please reach out to a community welfare officer if you are finding things difficult. If people are not sure how to contact a community welfare officer, feel free to contact me and my office. We will be more than happy to help, as we have been helping many families throughout Kildare.  When we discuss the entire package, it is important to put it into context that we did not take a knee-jerk reaction. There was a month of consideration and looking at how things were playing out and things are yet to play out. It is likely that the price of oil will increase drastically again. What are we to do in that circumstance? The State cannot intervene in every single circumstance. It can only do so much and go as far as possible. We have to think about further down the line when there may be a particular and a desperate need and more of a need. I am not saying that there is not a need now but during the winter months in particular is when the need for home heating is most prevalent. I am not saying it is not prevalent and needed now but we have to be prepared for what might come and is likely to come later this year. We cannot use all of the finances and abilities at our disposal at the beginning of such an event. We have to be cognisant of this and think strategically and long term about how to look after the welfare of the people of this State not just in the days and weeks ahead, but in the months and years ahead. That is what this proposal does. It looks at the situation strategically and the Government is trying to be cognisant of that fact. It is also acting responsibly. I make that argument strongly. It was not a knee-jerk reaction. It was done in line with European Central Bank, ECB, and International Monetary Fund, IMF, advice. If we are to do things in an international context, we have to do what is best practice and what is recommended not only by experts in this country, but international experts such as the ECB and the IMF.  This brings me on to the entire issue around energy and energy security in this State. There is a debate ongoing. We went through the pre-legislative scrutiny of the proposed liquefied natural gas, LNG, terminal in Shannon and there is a lot of opposition to it. I understand some of the opposition because we are trying to decarbonise our economy and I completely appreciate some of the arguments. However, we have to live in the real world. In the real world, if anything was to happen to the gas supply in this country, we would be in serious trouble. We have only ten days supply in this country. Never mind industry, many people's homes in this country are heated by gas. We are speaking in this House today about home heating oil, many houses, particularly in the commuter belt in Kildare, Dublin, Meath and Wicklow, are heated by gas.  We have to be completely honest with the public. When we talk about energy security, it is not just home heating oil that we are dealing with in this circumstance, we need to be cognisant of all types of energy moving forward. That is why the LNG terminal in Shannon is crucial to the energy security of this country. God forbid if something was to happen to the gas pipeline between the UK and Ireland. We would be in serious trouble. We need to get real around what we are doing about our energy security.  We also need to look at the mix of the energy being used, particularly carbon-based energy. Biodiesel and hydrotreated vegetable oil, HVO, offer alternatives, particularly when we look at home heating because, by and large, it is kerosene. HVO and biodiesel can play a role in terms of the mix people are using at home. It is a little bit more expensive, and that is something that has to be considered, particularly when a lot of hard-pressed families have to pay an increased cost for home heating oil.  HVO and biodiesel can, however, deliver fuel to this country that is sourced primarily within the European Union. When we look at what is happening in the Strait of Hormuz and Iran, for example, we are being impacted by global oil supply chains. If we can source far more of our energy in Europe, particularly our fuel, it will help with energy security into the future.  I have raised the question of nuclear time and again in this House with the Minister of State and the Minister, Deputy O'Brien. I have also raised it in other places such as the Joint Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy, which I sit on. Many people in the media and in this House have questioned how France, for example, has been able to keep its energy prices so low. The short answer is it is because it has nuclear. As soon as I have ever mentioned the word \"nuclear\", people literally go nuclear. They completely cut me off. We need to have an honest conversation. I have not called for us to go building huge nuclear plants in this country. I have asked for a reasoned debate and reasoned consideration by the Department and everyone in this House regarding the viability and the possibility of nuclear power in this country. I am not talking about huge nuclear power plants. I am talking about small modular reactors, SMRs. They are about the size of a house but when we compare that to large nuclear compounds throughout the world, they are quite small. This has been adopted by many countries in Europe and by Canada. It is seen as the way forward and the way to address most energy concerns. We are looking to electrify the vast majority of our lives with electric cars and all of the electrical devices in our homes.  Electricity and the generation of energy is already one of the biggest issues globally. We need to ensure our energy security. We are a small island. We have to import most of the stuff. We are doing a lot around renewable energy, particularly onshore wind, but we have a lot more to do with offshore wind energy. We need to open our minds and perspectives into how we can ensure that we have energy security moving forward. It is about having a mix. We want to decarbonise, and we are doing as much as we can to decarbonise but we should do a lot more. We have seen the success of Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, and the retrofitting schemes. A lot of people come into my office in Celbridge and I meet people in clinics throughout Kildare. We are helping these people apply for SEAI grants. The grant schemes for windows and doors have been a great success, as has the wraparound grant scheme. It is about extending that. Older people have been able to avail of it with a bit of savings. I am always conscious of the people who do not have some savings there and the need to provide additional supports for them as well.  When we speak of vulnerable people in relation to the home heating oil situation, as well gas and energy security, it is crucial that in any future supports package, we look at a living alone allowance. When two older people live together, they have the ability to combine their pensions, whatever type of pension it is. It is far more difficult for an older person living on their own - their spouse may be deceased or they could be separated - to pay for a fill of oil or for their rising fuel costs.  It is crucial that we articulate that supports are there for people who are experiencing difficulties. What the Government is doing here is being reflective and being cognisant of the impact on people's day-to-day lives by reducing the cost of petrol and diesel and by ensuring that we have the flexibility and the bandwidth as things change - because things will change, and there is a likelihood that things will get worse - to step in. We will have the financial mechanism and the ability to support the citizens of this State not just in the days and weeks ahead, but in the months and years ahead. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I will start by giving my two cents, because 2 cent is all the Government believes people who use home heating oil are worth. A scabby cut of 2 cent on home heating oil is insulting. It will save a person \u20ac20 on a fill of a tank, a fill that now costs around \u20ac1,700. Not only is it scabby; it is also underhanded. Very soon, the greedy hands of Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael will yank this measly 2 cent back off ordinary people by hiking up the carbon tax. They give with one hand and will take back with the other. It is smoke-and-mirror tactics.  The Government voted down Sinn F\u00e9in's proposals to completely remove the excise duty on home heating oil. This would have provided real, meaningful relief. Government measures are nowhere near good enough. Half measures avail us of nothing. Even before the conflict in the Middle East began, Ireland was top of the charts. We had the highest prices of petrol and diesel in Europe. We are top of the league. We had one of the highest prices of petrol and diesel in Europe, and we are top of the league in electricity and gas prices. This is a league nobody wants to be top of.  Last week, Sinn F\u00e9in gift-wrapped the Government the solution to bring down the cost of petrol and diesel. We handed it to the Government on a plate. It dithered while the prices at the pumps went up and up. Right when people needed the Government, it let them down. It allowed companies to price-gouge and increase prices at the pumps. What amazes me is how quickly garages can put up the prices of petrol and diesel. Straight away, up it goes. It also amazes me how slow they are to reduce them. They were not reduced this morning when I came into work. They were not down at all. This is on the watch of Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael.  I will use my time to discuss the fuel allowance. The criteria have to be looked at. The extension does not go far enough, but the criteria for the fuel allowance need to be looked at. A number of people have contacted me recently in relation to fuel allowance, who, as a consequence of the housing crisis, are no longer eligible. Their adult children may have got an eviction notice and had to move back into the family home. Where their parents would have been previously eligible for fuel allowance, they are no longer eligible for that because a working adult has re-entered the home. That is something that needs to be looked at.  As I said already, gas and electricity prices have gone through the roof. The prices are, as I said, some of the highest in Europe. The Government, in its wisdom, decided to do away with the energy credits which would have helped hundreds of thousands of people across the State. There are 320,000 people at this very moment who cannot afford to keep up with their energy bills. Two thirds of people in this country have less than \u20ac5,000 in savings. Talking to the people whom I represent on a daily basis, that little nest egg they have of less than \u20ac5,000 has been eaten away. If something comes up with an unintended price, they are unable to deal with it, such as a medical bill. People have contacted me in relation to bills for their vets. They are unable to deal with the things that they would have been able to deal with over the last number of years. As I said, the Government should have done better, could have done better and decided not to do better. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  The fuel allowance gave a good rebate and relief to people who receive it. I will always acknowledge something that will yield some relief for people who are under serious pressure, but what went on yesterday leaves a lot to be desired. I spoke to Councillor Declan Geraghty. He has lorries and is one of our councillors in Galway. He told me that while the reductions in excise are welcome to everyone on white diesel and petrol, there is a clear difference between the IRHA and the private operators. Fuel companies, quarry operators, hardware companies, manufacturing companies, retailers, etc., that operate trucks for their own collections and deliveries have been left to one side. That does not require a haulage licence. They do not qualify for the rebate scheme. It is totally unfair and will also lead to an increase in costs for the consumer and will have untold consequences for those companies as sole traders. The many companies that use green diesel in the manufacturing of products have also been forgotten, namely, steel manufacturing, quarries, concrete manufacturing, building, groundworks and civil engineering companies, who are large users of green diesel. This is not good enough going forward, especially for housing and commercial development within our nation.  I have to call the Minister of State out on this one. The fishermen are very angry. He is Minister of State with responsibility for fisheries, so this is where he should have come in. They are calling me to tell me they have been forgotten also, on top of the farmers. I am not sure. There was a rebate with fuel for fisheries in Europe one time. I am not sure whether that is still available. The previous Government would not look at it because it was a green Government and they had this assumption in mind that you did not use fuel, which is a crazy assumption, but look. God help people who have that mindset. They are not living in the real world. We would all love to think that we could move into a different kind of world where we would not need fuel. We are nowhere near that in this country at this time.  We do not even have wind energy offshore, something I raised with the Taoiseach in 2022 during Leaders' Questions. I spoke about the Barryroe oil field and the chance that it should be explored and looked at. It was kind of shrugged off and laughed off as a joke. I mentioned in 2022 that we could face serious problems. We have and we are because we have no energy independence. We are depending on every country in the world to look after ourselves. We could well look after ourselves without any other country. We are surrounded by water. That is where wind energy comes into play.  We could have strong potential of an oil field off Barryroe. That was not researched, and when I spoke to the Taoiseach yesterday, he said von der Leyen told him not to do it. Von der Leyen is telling us how to run our country. We should be in collaboration with Europe by all means, but we certainly should not be dictated by Europe on how to get our fuel independence in this country. We should have explored the Barryroe field. We should have further explored the Kinsale field. We will throw all our resources out of this country and now we are totally dependent on fuel coming in from Scotland. God help us if anything goes wrong there, because that will close down the country within two weeks, maybe less. There are ways.  We saw what happened with the home heating. A lot of people are very angry about that. We are talking about the fuel allowance, but still 1.5 million people do not get fuel allowance. They are the squeezed middle. They are the people who get up early in the morning and work in this country to put bread and butter on our table, on the tables of their neighbours and the tables of this country. They have been forgotten. Someone said yesterday that the package the Government put together is better than any package in the world. They are totally forgetting that the Government is robbing 65% taxes out of people's pockets every time they go to the filling station. The Government is taking the most tax in the world. It is easy to say it can give something a little extra back, but it has been forgotten that there may be a way to stop the charges from the toll bridge for a while. There are ways and means around facing the crisis we are in right now.  Let us be honest: public transport, where it is being delivered, is fine. For a number of routes in my own constituency, and I presume throughout the country, people have been told there is no more money in the NTA's purses. Routes that they tendered for in Clonakilty, Dunmanway, Timoleague and Grange six months ago have been pulled out. Imagine. Now they are told there is no money. We will just pass away the time now and call the Government again. People in Kealkill have no transport. Not one iota of transport service is passing their doors in Drinagh and Caheragh. I could keep talking for here forever. It is all right to talk about public transport, but it is not there. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Fitzmaurice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice  I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill. First, any reduction is welcome. I was looking for figures with regard to NORA. Between \u20ac2 billion and \u20ac3 billion was supposed to be paid into it since 2007 or 2008. My understanding is that the oil reserves are not just in Ireland, but we have a deal with someone else. The way NORA is set up needs more explanation, to be quite frank about it. The levy going is a good thing.  We welcome the reduction in the price of fuel for white diesel and petrol, but green diesel has totally been left behind. I remember the day myself, Deputy Collins and a few others went into government talks. When we brought up the carbon tax, we were told \"No, it can\u2019t be touched; that\u2019s from Europe and that\u2019s it\". I have got information from Europe on what is mandatory on all EU states. They must participate in the EU emissions trading system, ETS, which is an EU-wide system that puts a price on carbon for power plants, heavy industry and aviation. The Government decided not to go near aviation but instead to tax the person driving up and down the country. The ETS market works on a \"cap and trade\" basis. It is not a fixed tax. Every EU country must price carbon in these sectors. This is the only compulsory carbon-pricing mechanism in the EU. What is not mandatory is a national carbon tax. It is actually optional. If you can look at some of the different countries in Europe, you will see that in Sweden it is very high, whereas Germany basically has nothing. The Government has constantly said we have to do this because it is EU law, but there is no law to state that you cannot reduce the carbon tax. I ask if anyone can give me information contrary to that. We were led to believe that this was all a requirement of the EU. If we can bring in legislation today to basically get rid of the NORA levy, there is no reason we cannot do the same for the home heating sector and the agricultural and building sectors.  I spoke to a groundworks contractor in Dublin this morning who is working at houses. Every month, it is costing them \u20ac240,000 more now in diesel than a month ago. Is that sustainable? What is that going to do? It will put up the price of a house. Every one of the main suppliers has sent out messages saying that tar, concrete and all the materials are going up. House builders are deciding whether they need to pull back. Those are the facts of what is going on. If the Minister of State wants me to verify that, I will do so. If you go to a site, you will learn that it is \u20ac120 a day extra for the digger now in green diesel. You can multiply that by the number of plants that are on the site. Even a generator on a site is on green diesel. When you are finished on the site, you have to go to the quarry to bring stones. The crusher, the loading shovel and every part of the quarry bar the lorry on the road will be on green diesel. These are the facts. We cannot see we are driving up the price of houses because we are leaving the price of green diesel at its current level. The excuse that was used about carbon tax was that we cannot stir it. I have looked for the full breakdown of the carbon tax receipts. It needs to be put on the record. Yes, agriculture gets some of this money. Those who talk about environmental schemes say that the money is going to AEOS and REPS, but the fact is that as much money, or more, was going to environmental schemes when there was no carbon tax as there is now. Those are the facts on that.  We heard about insulating houses and doing all of that. Everyone agrees with that but if we look at the figure to see what was spent, we will see that it was \u20ac450 million to \u20ac500 million. We are taking in \u20ac1.1 billion or \u20ac1.2 billion. We paid for everything else all down through the years before there was any carbon tax. What has been brought in is another tax like the USC. I am not saying that the Government should scrap it for good but I am asking that at least while people are under pressure, it should be dropped for a few months to try to give people breathing space. Green diesel is \u20ac1.61 today. I got the prices earlier. Kerosene is up there as well. That was being bought at 96 cent or 98 cent, including VAT. Those are the facts. The Government needs to have a real look at this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  I do not think the Minister of State really understands how hard people are hurting at the moment or how disgusted citizens of this country are about the damage being done to their lives by the tax policies of this Government with regard to fuel. I do not think the Government has an iota of understanding. This is one of the most disconnected governments from the real existence of so many people I have seen. There is a chasm between the Minister of State\u2019s experience and that of teachers, nurses, doctors and garda\u00ed working in this country. So many people are forced to work in Dublin, for a start. They cannot afford to live in Dublin because they cannot afford a house there. They are forced to live 40, 50 or 60 km away. Because of that, they are forced to pay massive prices for fuel to commute back and forth on a daily basis. Those individuals - the people who get up early in the morning and make this country work - are the ones who are now struggling. Two-income families are struggling to be able to make ends meet because of the policies of the Government.  Let us be honest about what is happening here. There is a view that the Government is a bystander when it comes to the fuel crisis in this country. This Government is the primary engine of inflation in fuel and its cost in this country at the moment. For sure there is a war, but there was a fuel crisis before the war even started. There were 320,000 people in energy arrears before the war even started. The Government was taking 60% to 65% of the cost of petrol and diesel out of people\u2019s pockets before the war even started. The Government has been robbing the people of this country in terms of fuel prices for many years and is looking to increase the price of fuel year-on-year.  The Taoiseach accused Aont\u00fa of being populist earlier because we are calling for a cut in carbon taxes. He does not get it. The Government just does not understand this. You cannot levy a tax on people for a product they cannot afford. There is a social contract when it comes to taxation. That is why we have progressive taxes. People pay taxes based on what they are able to pay but the Government is levying it on a staple - a product they cannot live without - at a rate they cannot pay. It is levying it as if it is a luxury good and its purchase is a form of conspicuous purchasing. It is not. This is the difference between individuals being able to get to work, or not; businesses being able to function, or not; and farmers being able to produce food, or not. The Government is levying it at a rate where people cannot afford to pay it. I do not think the Government understands that. That is the key problem with its approach to this.  We have had an understanding on taxation for many years that we do not over-tax the staples of life, such as children\u2019s footwear and food. Now the Government is going down the road of purposely over-taxing these staples. One of the reasons it is doing so is because it is still imbued with the Green Party agenda of using a stick to get people out of private transport. It is as if the Greens have never left the Government at all. The ghosts of the Green Party are still determining the taxation policy on fuel. I suggest that if the Government wants to get people out of private transport, it should use a carrot rather than a stick. It should provide the public transport that hundreds of thousands of people are crying out for. It should help them to retrofit and get the solar panels on their roofs. People want to get out of fossil fuels - they are dying to do so - but they cannot because of the cost barrier.  I listened to Deputy \u00d3 Cear\u00fail on this matter. Most of the world has realised that you cannot keep taxing energy. Europe even realises that it has become flabby and competitive in the last 20 or 30 years vis-\u00e0-vis the rest of the world because it is putting so much taxation on energy at the moment. Europe has suffered economically significantly over the last ten years and is changing direction but this Government is the slowest government to change direction on this. He said the Government cannot step in every time prices are rising. The Government is in the middle of the fuel crisis. It took \u20ac4.1 billion out of the pockets of people in 2024 in fuel. Carbon tax, which did not exist ten years ago, is now topping \u20ac1 billion.  The Government\u2019s response to people who have seen the price of home heating oil double in the last four weeks is to give a 2 cent reduction in the NORA levy. That is astounding. It has gone from \u20ac1,000 up to \u20ac1,750 and the Government\u2019s response is to drop it by \u20ac20.  In four weeks, it will introduce another carbon tax hike, which will wipe out that 2 cent. The Minister of State must realise that is an abomination. It is an insult. It is a disgusting response to a whole section of society. I am talking about people who do not get the fuel allowance. These are people who are too rich for the fuel allowance but too poor to survive this Government's tax policies. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  It is good to have a few extra minutes to talk about this. Obviously, this legislation is about the National Oil Reserves Agency 2 cent levy suspension. That makes it 22 cent in total on diesel, 17 cent in total on petrol and another 2 cent reduction on home heating oil. As I have said and others have said, it is simply not enough in the current crisis. I know it is a geopolitical issue, but geopolitics hits people very hard, especially the most vulnerable. We had calls earlier in the year for a \u20ac400 support for people with disabilities who face additional costs. Imagine how they are faring right now with this. The excise duty cuts are not going to make up for the fuel price increases. The most vulnerable in our society are going to be affected by it. We need to do more. In that context, I welcome the suspension of the NORA levy, but we need to do more on the excise duties in the short term. In the medium term, we have to move away from our addiction to fossil fuels. As I have said to the T\u00e1naiste, the Taoiseach and now the Minister of State, it is happening way too slowly.  Looking to 2040 and 2050 is simply not sufficient. We should be treating it like a wartime situation and moving at a rapid pace. There are people in local authority houses who are crying out for insulation and proper air handling systems that will reduce their fuel costs. That could be done a lot faster than is happening. The types of grants out there are insufficient to encourage people to move away. We need to have more measures whereby if a person is going to save \u20ac800 in a year, those \u20ac800 savings could go to the cost of their retrofit, even if it is over a 30-year period. We have to be creative about this.  The bigger picture is the fact that our planet is warming at an exponential rate. We are going to face massive costs and massive increases in the costs of living if we do not something. Obviously, that is a collective global cost. While little old Ireland is is per capita a high contributor, we are relatively small in the big picture, so we need to move at EU level. We also need to get the likes of Trump out of power, but that is up to the American people. We have to look at our climate measures. The most effective climate measure is a just transition by making sure that we have alternatives to importing fossil fuels and that people can heat their homes from home-grown production, be it from green hydrogen from excess electricity production, better insulated housing or public transport powered by hydrogen, electricity produced at home or biofuels.  I have said this 100 times and I will say it 100 times more. We have the potential to be a net exporter of energy rather than an importer of \u20ac6 billion plus, as we are. That is going to cut costs for our people. With the surpluses we have, we need to support people in the short term when they are getting these price hikes, but in the short to medium term, we need a massive investment in retrofitting and home-grown energy. It is too long to spread it out. We have to say that by 2035 we will double the volume of renewables and storage. We have to look at private wires. We have to look at grid improvements, but we are not. We are just doing little incremental bits, which is not enough in the context of the prices that people have to pay at home but also our long-term contribution to the sustainability of the planet.  We need to get real. I fully support measures, and I want to double the measures being introduced in the short term to help people. We have to start putting in the investment that will pay back in a very short period of time on the grid. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Brennan  We are all deeply concerned about this escalating conflict and the scale of the damage we are witnessing. Now is the time to focus on de-escalation, and this can only be done through dialogue and diplomacy. Only yesterday, we learned that 23 sites of both gas and oil have been destroyed in Iran. These are sophisticated structures and will take time to be rebuilt. This will prolong the fuel crisis we are going through. No government can shield any country from this level of volatility. Therefore, I welcome the targeted measures that are being introduced in such unprecedented times. I note the value of these targeted measures of almost \u20ac250 million. I welcome the 22 cent reduction in the price of diesel and the 17 cent reduction in the price of petrol. The fuel allowance will be extended by four weeks. This will have a huge effect on pensioners, carers, people with disabilities and those of low incomes throughout Ireland. It will affect almost 400,000 households. I welcome the news that hauliers and bus companies will benefit from the diesel tax rebate scheme. I encourage the public to contact the CCPC if they are not satisfied that these reductions are being passed on.  We need to look at the agriculture sector. These measures are simply insufficient, especially for the hard-pressed tillage sector. The rising cost of fertiliser, up by over \u20ac200 per tonne, is also a major concern. It is as clear as night follows day that this will lead to food price inflation as farmers simply try to recoup their fuel price increase. Many experts estimate that this will lead to a 10% increase on the supermarket shelves.  If there is one thing that we have learned from this crisis, it is that we must expand our move to renewable energies. Our goal is 80% by 2030. This crisis highlights our dependence on imported fossil fuels. We simply need more renewables. We need to expand our capacity, protect our consumers from the volatile markets and accelerate our output of renewable energy. That will entail looking at our planning laws, which must have local consent, and we must also invest in the grid. I welcome the key initiatives that have been introduced to date, especially in relation to the SEAI grants for residential solar panels, heat pumps and intensive offshore wind developments. Ireland is hoping to have 5 GW of offshore energy by 2030. The benefits are clear in that we are going to have energy security. We are going to have reductions in emissions and there will be huge financial savings.  We have been here before with major crises through Brexit, Ukraine and Covid. We will get through this crisis by supporting those who need it most while remaining financially prudent, as we simply do not know how long this will last. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  I certainly welcome the measures that have been brought forward, which are quite comprehensive and are targeted at the most vulnerable. I wish to highlight two issues that have been raised by others. One is the case of those who are involved in agriculture. Given the costs our farmers are facing, particularly with regard to fuel and the increasing cost of fertiliser, we need to find a package somewhat similar to that which we rightly found for those in the haulage sector and, indeed, in coach travel.  The other area related to heating that is an issue of concern is regarding schools. One of our challenges is that we pay the same level of capitation to all schools, but depending on the quality of the school building, the cost of heating it can be far more significant. If there is an old school building dating from the early years of the last century or even beforehand, often the costs of heating that are significantly more than is the case for some of the modern and well-insulated buildings, yet we continue to pay the same levels of capitation. A review on the capitation side is needed.  In the long run, we need to look at investing in renewables. We are still too reliant on imported fossil fuels in this country. Even in the case of energy coming into the country, far too much of it is imported. Last year, 17% of the energy used in Ireland came through the interconnectors. It was imported energy. That was up from 15% the previous year and up from 10% the year before that. I am very conscious of the multibillion euro investment in the grid, which is really needed. We need to move as quickly as possible on the private wires Bill, which colleagues have mentioned. We have to have a step change in our investment in renewables. At Cabinet level, there is the clearing house for offshore energy. However, we have to talk about what we are doing with regard to onshore wind and solar and how we can make sure we have a more transparent but expedited planning process in that regard.  Of course, we need to fund it. It is incredibly dishonest on the part of those who claim that they are in support of renewable energy while at the same time, they want to get rid of the carbon tax. There are climate-sceptic parties in this House. They are entitled to hold that particular view but we know that climate change is real and that we need to address the challenge. We need to fund that investment in retrofitting and the move to green energy so it is critical, therefore, that we maintain the carbon tax to be able to fund that. That may be an unpopular thing to say but we are going to continue to experience some of these shocks. We have seen it following Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine and we are seeing it in terms of what in happening at present in west Asia. Once we see any of these disruptions, those difficulties are going to be faced here in Ireland so we have to stand strong and explain exactly where the carbon tax is being spent. That said, the short-term measures that have been taken are the correct measures to provide support - people are hurting - but I do ask that additional consideration be given to those engaged in agriculture and the school community. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John McGuinness  I welcome the measures that have been introduced. They were timely and perhaps they could have been introduced earlier if we were agile enough as a State to turn around, identify where the problems are and then deal with them but, unfortunately, we are not. It signals that there is a clear dysfunction at the heart of administration in this country and that we do not plan for the future. I hope the measures are a first step because when we look at what was given to the hauliers, and I put on the record that my background is in transport, much more needs to be done and we have to be able to change what we have been doing very quickly if something else should happen to push prices up because the cost to hauliers will simply be passed on to the consumer. It ends up at the door of the consumer anyway. Similarly, farmers produce our food yet they did not get the type of support they should have got in this basket of supports. Again, if they do not get support with their costs, it ends up with the consumer or it ends up in the pocket of some of the bigger supermarkets all over the country. We all know this from previous experiences but we are not translating it properly into the type of financial support that is needed quickly and immediately.  I have my view on renewable energy and wind farms. I think we are destroying the countryside with them. Where are the regulations that were promised way back in 2016 or 2013? Where are they? We were told we would have them in the first quarter of this year but we do not have them. As long as that happens, the bigger companies push ahead with their agenda but the Government, which is responsible for the direction the country is taking, simply stands idly by and does not engage with this House here or with the communities that are affected in any sort of meaningful way.  I have great concern for the elderly, those living in poorly heated accommodation, young families and individuals living in substandard apartments who must fork out more and more money for the heating systems in their apartments and are not getting a direct support in these measures. In reviewing all of this because it will remain under review while the war continues and the uncertainty is there, I ask the Minister to look at and support those that we know need greater support than what was given to them today.  We should have a debate about nuclear options - about nuclear power and what is happening right across Europe. We are prepared to import it because it was produced that way but yet we are not prepared to examine it fully in terms of the State and how we should be preparing for the future.  The carbon tax is another example of being driven down a particular route to suit Europe. We have a war across many countries that is affecting the world and I would say that in wartime, we should be willing to look at every option that is central to the upkeep of the well-being and coffers of the State and be prepared to make the changes that are necessary to make the lives of people much better.  Reference was made to the retrofitting of homes. If somebody does not have the money to do it up front, it is a nightmare as far as red tape and bureaucracy are concerned. If somebody goes through the likes of SSE Airtricity and avails of its home inspection scheme, which costs \u20ac650, he or she will find that at the end of it, he or she will have a nice bit of paper but nothing else. What is being recommended is so expensive that there are many households that simply cannot afford it so let us look at those who do not have something and give it to them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in  If a driver pays \u20ac60 for petrol or diesel, this Government takes roughly \u20ac40 off that so before the crisis hit, Ireland had some of the highest fuel costs in all of Europe. The Government could have chosen to deliver the maximum excise cut possible on diesel and petrol and remove excise entirely from home heating oil but it chose not to do that. Instead it chose to short-change people basically - to give with one hand and take it back with the other. Four weeks into the crisis, it only acted after a lot of relentless pressure from Sinn F\u00e9in and a very angry public that is desperately crying out for support. We got a package of half measures that had to be dragged out of the Government.  I see commuters absolutely livid over this - travelling every day to from Wexford and Wicklow to Dublin and getting fleeced. We are talking about farmers getting fleeced while workers, drivers, bus operators and taxi drivers are still being hammered. Regarding home heating oil, the weather has taken a very cold turn today and sleet has been forecast. Two thirds of households in rural Ireland, including Wexford and Wicklow, rely on home heating oil to heat their houses but the Government even plans to increase the upcoming carbon tax. The price of a fill has doubled in a matter of weeks. A measly cut of \u20ac2 is basically an insult. We are talking about maybe a \u20ac20 reduction in a fill that can cost up to \u20ac1,700, which is a massive amount, so this is really a drop in the ocean compared with the surge in prices that workers and families are being forced to pay as well. The Government could have adopted Sinn F\u00e9in's proposal to completely remove excise on home heating oil because people are really struggling. We are talking about 320,000 people who are now saying that they cannot afford to pay their electricity bills. One in four people are saying they cannot afford to pay their gas bills. What the people need really are meaningful supports. I was contacted today by bus and coach operators----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in  I think I have another half minute. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy does not. Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa is up next. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I agree with Deputy John McGuinness, which is not the way I expected to start this speech. I agree with him that there has been a lack of flexibility and agility on the part of Government. I do not accept that enough has been done with regard to the cuts to diesel and petrol. I do not think it is sufficient for those out there who are suffering. As little as that was, it would have been better if this had been introduced three weeks, two weeks or one week ago but we could not and we were waiting or the Government was assessing and people already were under severe pressure because of the cost-of-living crisis that is affecting many. If we're talking about particular cohorts that are under pressure, they include those with disabilities, who had \u20ac1,400 taken off them from one budget to another, so these are the sort of things that need to be dealt with. Again, I do not think enough has been done.  We do not know what is going to happen. Donald Trump may be negotiating with himself at present. He may intend to bring this to an end or he may intend to start some sort of invasion, and I cannot even imagine what other chaos that is going to bring. The Israelis are quite happy to continue bombing and causing destruction. Whether that is what they have done in Palestine or what they are doing at present in Lebanon or in the wider field of the Middle East, none of it is good.  This Government had one job, and that was to look after the people in Ireland who are suffering. We have all spoken about coach operators. We have spoken about those in agriculture. We have also spoken today about community nurses that are under pressure. This is not going to be enough to facilitate them doing the work they do. The same goes with home carers. None of it is good enough.  Carbon tax is also about dissuasion and that does not matter if you have alternatives. The fact is the Government is taking away as it gives. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  The Bill is about security and I am blue in the face screaming and asking for quick changes to this.  I also concur with Deputy Byrne about the possibility of using nuclear power, particularly for its efficiency. I propose that we put it in his constituency, because the problem with most issues in this country is the Nimbyism. No one wants it in their own constituency, even though it would benefit the Irish people.  I also concur that we are importing from France and we are going to make ourselves more dependent. I have said before and will say again that during the world war Churchill tried to limit the amount of coal coming to Ireland to force Dev's hand and end our neutrality and one of the worst things a country can be is energy dependent and to not have security of supply and security of infrastructure. Ultimately, this is the truth for the Irish people and for Irish businesses. We have seen that in the past few days.  We are debating oil reserves. We are continuously discussing the LNG terminal proposal at the climate and energy committee. We saw, in 24 hours, a sharp rise of nearly 23% in the global cost of LNG. Does this show that this proposal to add energy security is not doing that at all? Would we be putting it into a decentralised grid? If adding one more point of failure to add energy security is what we are proposing, adding multiple points of failure is what we should be doing. Let us consider what the Germans are doing. They are moving from a petrostate to an electrostate. This is happening across Europe but it seems that we are not acting fast enough.  I welcome some of the work that ESB and EirGrid have been doing and I welcome that there was a huge amount of work done on the system before they started. There are amazing engineers working there who I have met. It is just not happening fast enough. The Government's proposed private wires Bill will speed up the process and I hope that my Bill will get drafted before it passes.  I mentioned the Laffan facility, one of the most important LNG hubs, previously and how it has driven up the price across the globe. Through higher bills, higher costs for businesses and a loss in competitiveness, we are importing the vast majority of our energy. However, if other European countries had the potential that we have on our seabed, with offshore renewable energy, ORE, and with wind, they would be grabbing it and supplying it. They would be a producer of green hydrogen. They would use gravity storage. They would be use everything and benefit their people as much as possible.  What happened to the majority of our oil and gas? We gave it to a foreign country to benefit their people. There are people in these countries who were benefiting from Irish oil and gas.  We still are not building quick enough. I welcome some of the developments from ESB in respect of ORE but it is not being done fast enough. Ireland is reliant on foreign direct investment, FDI, and if it leaves us exposed, it is not good. We cannot build an energy system based on dependence.  At a meeting of the climate and energy committee earlier, I was reading the recent data comparing energy prices across Europe. We had representatives of Engineering Ireland before us. It was a great discussion. The other Deputies and the Senators on the committee were talking about the cheaper countries, Sweden and Finland, and the most expensive, the UK, but who is coming in near second only Ireland? The conclusion is unavoidable. If that gap continues, business people are the people who are struggling but we can protect them.  As I always say, I do not like to come in here and give out; I like to offer a few solutions. We all know there have been some changes to port marshalling where now we can invest in ports. I, again, welcome the investment in Cork Port that has allowed for possible more ORE to be developed but I know from replies to my recent parliamentary questions that other ports are being examined. This needs to be done. Belfast has a backlog of free bookings for its ORE for another country. Why cannot we have more ports that can develop ORE?  Onshore wind facilities are much easier to build but it is not as efficient. It has a longer lifespan, though.  We are still in many ways a petrostate. We are dependent on imported fossil fuels. Now we were going to be spending close to \u20ac1 billion on energy security, which will last us how many days if we did lose connection? It is one more point of failure.  What we need is private wires, of course, but also a simpler system that gives the regulator, the CRU, the authority to approve projects whether they make sense without the unnecessary barriers or certain exemptions, because we see how that happens. We need a single regulator as the decision maker. We have seen it across planning, for example. When there are too many people making decisions not in parallel but systematically, it delays everything. If we put one person in charge of this decision-making for our energy system, it will benefit the Irish people.  It is all about resilience. We are saying that, whether it is invested in our long duration energy storage so we stop wasting renewable energy - millions of euro is being lost by solar farms and wind farms when there is too much sun and too much energy - the acceleration of our offshore wind, which I have spoken about, marine energy or green hydrogen, which we could speak about. Professor James Carton, my old engineering professor, has spoken to the Department about this. He might have persuaded me while he was teaching me in college to be pro-green hydrogen.  I spoke about the delivery of port infrastructure and, crucially, the decentralisation of energy production.  Another issue that we have constantly referred to, and other Deputies have mentioned in the debate, is a very quick solution. People in apartment dwellings who do not have access due to a management company owning their apartment building cannot build their own solar systems. A plug-in solar system scheme implemented by the German Government has had a brilliant uptake, so much so that it is doing it again. When I asked why plug-in solar was not allowed in Ireland, I was told by the Department that there was a consultation done in 2024. I have asked who gave the bad reviews, because I presume that it is solar installers who do not want someone to be able to plug in a system in their apartments. In north Dublin, I represent people who are financially struggling and living in apartments who would love to lower their energy bills. This is a quick simple fix that needs only a regulation change that we can provide. Constituents have been crying out for it since I have been in here, for instance, renters and single mothers who are struggling at the moment who can lower their bills. Plug-in solar is a clear option. If it was not safe - one of the answers I got back from the Department was that due to EU regulations it cannot be done - how are the Germans doing it? It is low cost, it is scalable and it empowers people. That is the best part. We are still behind and if we are serious about energy independence and reducing people's bills, it is a quick fix.  Another issue we need to discuss is how we are still relying heavily on gas. I understand, and think it is funny, when people say, \"the energy transition\". It is more like the energy demolition and rebuild, because the changes that we need in the State to be energy independent are going to be huge.  I welcome the investment that the Government has committed to ESB, but the speed at which things are being done is the reason the private wires Bill is being proposed and why we are missing out on investment opportunities. Foreign multinationals, when they are coming to Ireland, cannot believe the delays in building small-scale infrastructure for renewables to power high energy users, industrial users or someone who requires energy. The problem is we are within a system where expensive gas is setting the price of electricity even when most of the power generated is far cheaper and we need separate low-cost renewables from the expensive fossil backup and we need to expand long-term contracts, which was mentioned at the committee, and reward storage and flexibility.  It would allow consumers to benefit from cheap electricity when the price changes. We should not have a fixed price, but we should also not be averaging low-cost energy into permanently high bills. The Irish people should benefit when the Irish system built by us is producing energy. We also need to rethink the grid and building more infrastructure.  I have to let Deputy Danny Healy-Rae in. I wish to conclude by saying this Bill matters, but it is only part of the answer. The real challenge is bigger. It is about moving out of dependence and into independence. I welcome the development of the Minister, Deputy Chambers' critical infrastructure Bill. I hope Government will use that to benefit the Irish people and to make a change as fast as possible. I have given the Minister of State one solution about plug-in solar, and I would love to see that implemented.  We can go back to private wires and long duration energy storage another time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  I am glad to have the opportunity to speak again on this very important and emotive subject. While I thank the Government for the positive elements with the increases and the help it is giving to some of the haulage industry, a great portion of hauliers will not benefit from the tax rebate because they do not have a haulage licence. Even the live exporter members who were in our committee a while ago will not benefit from the rebate. They will benefit, of course, from the reduction at the pump, and I asked for that here last Wednesday. The people who are paying at the pump should benefit at the pump.  We are told the Government is benefiting by almost \u20ac40 million extra each week since the price went up. For the next ten weeks, the extent of what is being spent is around \u20ac25 million a week. Of course, we welcome whatever we are getting but the talk on the phone today, and every Deputy's phone is busy, but mine is exceptionally busy today because of the number of people with tractors who are up in arms and who are saying they are going to do this and that and that they will have to be heard. Three cent, when the price of diesel has been increased by 70 cent, is not sufficient and is not good enough. The people with kerosene or home heating oil are also very hurt by this. Two cent a litre for them is not enough either.  I spoke twice last night but I am here tonight to ask Government to go back and if there is no way to give a reduction, it must give a subsidy. The Government must do something for these people. We were able to do it for the Ukrainians and for many other things but we have to do this for our own farmers who are producing food. Some of them are small farms and some of them are big enterprises, but they are all paying a massive sum now for diesel. It was 98 cent per litre before the bombs and now it is \u20ac1.68. There is no change in that.  One fellow told me he had ten tractors and he is a contractor. When he fills them in the morning, it cost \u20ac6,500 for one day. That is the extent and amount as they are tractors to do big work. The Minister of State will know, as Clare is no different to Kerry, that since Christmas and before it, no farmer could go outside the gap to spread slurry or to do anything. Most of it is there to be done now, and many fellows are wondering whether they will bother planting the grain now. I ask the Government to get together to come up with some formula for next week. It is more important than anything else to ensure this important sector of our community.  There are many industrialists coming and going, and we wish them all the best, but every farmer tends to stay where he is. None of them is going to emigrate and they are not thinking of doing anything else. If they start their farm and get stuck in, they generally finish up. They were proud to get the places they inherited from their parents or grandparents or whatever but they want to hand it back in the same fashion or better than they got it. They want to hand it down to their sons and daughters but they are having trouble with that because of generational renewal problems at present. Many young fellows are now asking why should they be working the weekend when all the fellows they went to college with - because all these farmers' sons and daughters went to college - and all their friends are not working the weekends. When they see something like this happening with fellows going around with their caps in their hands and who do not know what they are going to do, how they are going to continue or pay the oil man, people will stop up. I ask the Government not to let this go farther than next week and to do something positive together to help these people.  Some people are saying that because there was no excise on green diesel, they will not get it back. We must give them a subsidy; there is a way around it. There is now 70 cent of a difference since they were working away and farmers were under pressure enough to keep going with all the rules and regulations they have at the present time. The price of diesel was dear enough before it went to that and before it finished up at that price. It was only 39 cent per litre back in 2020, which was a short five years ago. They are worried now that this will be the same, where they could finish up at \u20ac1.40 or \u20ac1.50, and it will not work that way. I am not fighting. I have no gripe in the world, personal or otherwise, with the Minister of State but I am explaining it to him here and to tell the Government clearly that this cannot continue without being addressed. The cut of 3 cent was a proper insult, as well as the 2 cent cut to the home heating oil. Not everyone is getting the fuel allowance as many people who should get it are not getting it for one reason or another. The home heating oil is all they have.  As I have said to the Minister of State previously, the cost of electricity has gone up day by day since the day Bord na M\u00f3na was scrapped. We have no control in the world; we have no regulator. There are different ESB companies that are charging different amounts and putting it up by so many percent, and others are bringing it down. There is no law and order with these ESB providers and the regulator must be brought to task. I do not know whether it was by design or whatever but on what I will call the day before last night, all the pumps jumped to \u20ac2.28. It is not only one or two here and there, but it is every pump along the road that went to \u20ac2.28 and I am worried about that. Did this happen to the Minister of State on his journey here? That is what I have seen. That is very unfair if what I think has happened is happening.  I appeal to the Minister of State. We are trying to work together here for the benefit of the country but a whole lot of people are very dissatisfied with what came out of here last night. I ask the Minister of State to address it next week and as soon as possible. If the Government cannot refund or take money off it, it must give them a direct subsidy towards it whereby when they show you a receipt, they will get so much back. I appeal to and urge the Government to do that, on behalf of the farmers and the tractor men all over the country. On another small thing they do, which is not a small thing really, last Sunday, about 50 tractors landed into the sports field in Barraduff to fundraise for the cancer link bus from Kerry to Cork. They do all that kind of fundraising out of their own pockets. We would not have the cancer link bus if it were not for those fundraising efforts, which mean so much to people who get sick in Kerry.  The Government should think of that in its deliberations. That is happening Sunday after Sunday, week in, week out. The Government should think of what that means in real terms to real people who are sick.  My main focus when coming up here last week was to look for help for hauliers and tractor men. That is the greatest demand I have today. I will be back again next week, asking the same things. I appeal to the Government to work to do something about the price of green diesel and to lower the price of heating oil. It has to be done, one way or another. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment (Deputy Timmy Dooley)  I appreciate the contributions of all who spoke in the debate today, some down standard political lines, but others fully understanding and cognisant of where the Irish economy and the various sectors are at. They are really negatively impacted by the massive disruption to the supply of oil from the Middle East to the Irish economy.  At the outset, I thank Deputy Danny Healy-Rae for his comments. I know where he is coming from. As the Minister of State with responsibility for the fishing sector, I know there is no immediate solution because the oil that is used does not carry the same taxes as petrol and diesel at the pumps, so there is a difficulty. I take the Deputy\u2019s point with regard to the subsidy. The difficulty with subsidies is that they have to be paid for from somewhere else, and it is a challenge to try to burden some other sector of society. It is a transfer, effectively, or a tax that would have to be raised elsewhere, so that is a challenge.  What the Government did this week was to look at the tax model through the excise. I know that some have sought to represent that as being mean or not being an appropriate response, but it was the only response that could have been taken, unless we were to start looking at raising taxes elsewhere. Others have sought to undermine the carbon tax. In fairness, Deputy Healy-Rae did not go down that road. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  I am against that as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Timmy Dooley  I accept that. The reality is that the carbon tax funds significant investment in reducing aspects of our economic dependence on fossil fuels.  Some Deputies talked about a weakness in the SEAI grants scheme. We have brought forward simplification measures, which I am sure we will get to in due course. We are bringing in a grant scheme for windows and doors to help people to upgrade the energy efficiency of their homes, so their dependence on fossil fuels is thwarted in the best possible way. We have to continue that, notwithstanding the price shock that is there at the moment. It is the appropriate way. There are good grants for wall and attic insulation, and increased grants for heat pumps. We have to drive that ahead. The funding for that comes from the carbon tax.  I sat on the committee. I managed to get the party that I represent, from an Opposition perspective at the time, to support the introduction of the carbon tax. There was a political challenge, frankly, but the members of the party bravely took the decision at the time. We did not suffer electorally for it because the public actually wanted to hear how we take difficult decisions. It is not always possible for the Government to rectify issues that are from a different source. This shock to the oil system comes from outside our shores. It is beyond our control. Yes, we can reduce certain excise duties or try to assist people who are in greatest need in a targeted way, but that comes at a significant cost.  Nearly everybody had an ask this evening. I respect and understand that, because my phone rings too, my office is busy and we hear the concerns of people. However, it is beyond the capacity of the Exchequer to resolve every aspect or facet of this. We hear how the European Union intends to address the consequential rise in interest rates. They will rise as a result of this, inflationary pressures will increase and it will have an impact on food stocks. There has been a kind of knee-jerk reaction by some to immediately get in and address the price increase on fuel alone, but there will be other consequential impacts that will have reverberations throughout the economy. The Government cannot carry all of that. The only way to do that is to raise taxes elsewhere, which will further add to the burden. We have to be careful. With any measure that we bring forward, we have to be able to sustain it. All of us in the House, regardless of which side we are on, know that there is no clarity as of today on where this ends. We would like to hope that this issue will come to a head shortly, that the Strait of Hormuz will be opened up and that oil and gas will start to move around again. However, there are backlogs in the system, refineries have been taken out and the entire supply chain has been disrupted, so there is a significant way to go.  Others sought to have the standard go at the data centres and said they only create a small amount of money. Data centres create a very significant reduction in the use of energy, when we see, in a co-located environment, the racks that would ordinarily sit in offices or other buildings dotted around the country. That consolidation leads to an energy reduction. Some on the hard left seek to set that at naught.  I want to pick out Deputy Gogarty, who, in fairness, is on the message here. Carbon taxes are about reducing our dependence on fossil fuels, and we have to move ahead with them.  Deputy Whitmore had a concern that the funding that comes from NORA and is used for significant other investment streams would, somehow, be lost as a result of this. NORA is significantly well funded and has the capacity to meet all its demands in that regard. The Deputy talked about bringing forward amendments because she felt that, somehow, the reduction of moneys going to NORA would go on for 18 months. That is not the case. My understanding is that the provision in the legislation gives the Minister the flexibility to retain this in exceptional circumstances, if there is sufficient necessity, but it is just for the initial period of time, as set out. However, rather than having to go back to primary legislation in the event of any further uncertainty, this provision is there. My feeling is that the Government is aligned with Deputy Whitmore, but rather than having to burden the House again, flexibility is created there.  As the Deputies are clearly aware, the Strait of Hormuz is a key transit route for approximately 20% of global oil supply, but this has effectively been closed since 20 March. That is the cause of all of this. Together, we have a responsibility to the economy as a whole to try to hold our trajectory.  I know that people have identified that this is the transport sector versus the tractor men, as Deputy Healy-Rae would have said. We support farmers in so many different ways. However, by also supporting the haulage sector, we are supporting employment and supporting the capacity of our productive sector to get goods to the market. I know that farmers and fishermen will rightly make the same claim, and we will have to look at that in due course.  With regard to home heating oil, again, because it does not carry the same taxation model, it is not possible to adjust it in the way that was done for petrol and diesel. However, we have looked at targeting the most vulnerable by a further month\u2019s extension of the fuel allowance. That is significant, particularly at a time of year, May, when we would hope the weather has improved, and there is not the same dependence on oil or gas to heat the home.  We have tried to bring a proportionate response. We are trying to be responsible with taxpayers' money. When anybody is looking for more money to be spent here, it is taxpayers' money and money that has already been allocated in the budget. Some political parties have the stock answer that there is a surplus. Multiples of that surplus get spent on a daily basis here and we must be careful about that.  We have to continue with the transition away from fossil fuels. The Leas-Cheann Comhairle indicated a desire to look a nuclear reactors. That may or may not be something the Government will look at. I have my worries about it. In my constituency it is a phenomenal challenge to get a wind farm built. There is a lot of push-back. I regularly ask constituents if they would take a nuclear reactor instead. I have to say the response is not all that positive. Maybe it is different in Kilkenny, or is it Carlow the Leas-Cheann Comhairle has in mind? In all seriousness, we have to respond appropriately, with compassion and in a way that is sustainable. We also have to show, as a Government, flexibility to the vagaries of what is going on in the Middle East. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"National Oil Reserves Agency (Amendment) Bill 2026: Second Stage"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-25\/debate\/dbsect_17","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Message from Select Committee","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  The Select Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport has completed its consideration of the following Revised Estimate for Public Services for the service of the year ending 31 December 2026: Vote 33. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Message from Select Committee"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-25\/debate\/dbsect_18","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 (Section 4(2)) (Scheme Termination Date) Order 2026: Motion","counts":{"speechCount":39,"speakerCount":15},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Brophy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cormac Devlin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Brophy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Colm Brophy)  I move:  That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann approves the following Order in draft:  Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 (Section 4(2)) (Scheme Termination Date) Order 2026,  a copy of which was laid in draft form before D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann on 23rd February, 2026.  I thank the Members of D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann for making time today to discuss this motion concerning the order the Minister, Deputy Jim O\u2019Callaghan, and I propose to make. The motion is to extend the termination date of the financial contribution scheme for hosts of temporary protection beneficiaries from Ukraine, known as the accommodation recognition payment, ARP, scheme. The extension of the scheme is the only item for consideration today.  The ARP scheme was introduced at the outset of the greatest crisis in Europe since the Second World War, which has seen 125,000 people from Ukraine seek temporary protection in Ireland. Sole reliance on accommodation procured from the hospitality sector was not a sustainable response to the needs of those seeking accommodation. Thousands of Irish households generously offered shelter, safety and warmth to those fleeing conflict in Ukraine. The ARP scheme was introduced in July 2022 to recognise the valued contribution of those who opened their homes to provide shelter to people seeking temporary protection in Ireland. It involves a tax-free monthly payment of \u20ac600 per property used to accommodate beneficiaries of temporary protection from Ukraine, irrespective of whether the property is vacant or shared with the host. The scheme\u2019s monthly rate is not linked to the costs incurred by the person providing accommodation. It is merely intended to recognise the valuable contribution of those who host. It should be noted that the ARP scheme does not apply where there is a rental agreement in place and is not intended to substitute for rent.  When the ARP scheme was introduced, the monthly payment rate was set at \u20ac400 per property. The rate was subsequently increased to \u20ac800 from 1 December 2022 to coincide with the introduction of the offer-a-home scheme. The offer-a-home scheme is administered by local authorities in conjunction with the Local Government Management Agency and has been invaluable in making mainly holiday homes available as accommodation for beneficiaries of temporary protection. As we have moved from a crisis response, we have had to consider and taper our supports. As a result, the monthly payment rate was reduced from \u20ac800 to \u20ac600 in June 2025. This policy change was intended to mitigate the scheme\u2019s perceived impact on the private rental market. The ARP scheme is due to end on 31 March 2026. However, it is intended to extend the scheme by ministerial order to 31 March 2027, subject to Oireachtas approval. This would mirror the extension of the application of the temporary protection directive to the war in Ukraine. It will also provide certainty to hosts and to those accommodated in hosted arrangements.  This scheme is not only a means of recognising the part played by hosts, but has also been instrumental in supporting Ukrainians to integrate within local communities nationwide. It has been pivotal in diverting Ukrainian individuals and families away from State-contracted accommodation, which is often in hotels and guesthouses, allowing these beds to be returned to the hospitality sector. The scheme is also far more cost-effective for the Exchequer. The average cost of the ARP per person per night is \u20ac11, compared to \u20ac50 per night in commercial contracted accommodation. The scheme has allowed the Department to move away from a total reliance on tourism and hospitality settings. This has enabled the Department to consolidate its contracted accommodation portfolios. As the number in hosted accommodation has increased, the number in State-contracted accommodation has fallen from a high of almost 60,000 at the end of 2023 to under 20,000 at present. Since quarter 4 of 2024, the number of beneficiaries in hosted accommodation has exceeded those in contracted accommodation and continues to do so. To date, approximately \u20ac438 million has been paid to almost 28,000 recipients in respect of hosting over 64,000 temporary protection beneficiaries. Currently, some 42,000 Ukrainian citizens are being accommodated in more than 23,500 properties with the support of the scheme.  I acknowledge the concerns previously expressed in this House about the potential impact of the ARP scheme on the private rental market. I recognise that it could be the case, particularly in some rural areas, that \u20ac600 a month tax-free may be more beneficial to an owner than making the property available on the rental market. However, a survey from the Irish Red Cross found that the vast majority of hosts, 91%, are not landlords and have no plan to become landlords. For many, the primary motivation has been solidarity with Ukraine. Rather than interfering with the rental market, the ARP scheme has been, I believe, responsible for introducing a stream of accommodation that would not otherwise have been available. That is a view expressed by a number of support organisations in submissions to the Department regarding an extension to the scheme.  I reiterate that the payment is not a rent subsidy and is not available where there is a rental arrangement in place. However, I am aware of Deputies' concerns regarding the scheme\u2019s potential impact on the private rental market, and steps have already been taken to address this. The Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2026, brought forward by my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Browne, was recently enacted. Part 3 of this Act introduces changes to the eligibility criteria for the ARP scheme which are intended to safeguard rental properties for tenants. From 3 March 2026, properties that were registered with the Residential Tenancies Board at any time since 4 March 2022 will no longer qualify for the ARP scheme. Tenants will also no longer be eligible to apply for the scheme. This legislative change is intended to mitigate any impact the scheme may have on the private rental market. Should the scheme be extended, it is our intention to plan for a phased and orderly exit from the scheme.  As I indicated in this Chamber last week, and subject to agreement at Government level, it is our intention to reduce the monthly payment rate to \u20ac400 later this year, returning it to its original rate. This should enable an orderly and gradual winding-down of the scheme with due regard to all those involved. Further steps will be considered in due course to ensure an orderly exit. More broadly, I can confirm that planning for the conclusion of temporary protection is actively under way.  That work is being advanced by the senior officials group reporting to the Cabinet committee on justice, migration and social affairs. In addition to extending the directive, member states are considering measures for a co-ordinated transition out of temporary protection when the directive is no longer in force. Department officials are considering proposals made by the European Commission on these matters.  While the ARP scheme is not without issues, an extension is required. Otherwise, it would risk placing significant pressures on an already strained private rental market. The potential loss of hosted accommodation risks displacing Ukrainian citizens, many of whom would be forced to compete in the private rental market or face precarious living conditions. Part 2 of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 introduced the scheme with a termination date of 31 March 2023. That date reflected the duration of temporary protection under the 2001 Council directive. The directive has subsequently been extended a number of times and, each time, the ARP scheme has been extended to mirror those extensions. In a continued spirit of unity and support for Ukraine and its citizens, the European Commission has extended temporary protection until March 2027.  It is therefore appropriate to make an order to extend the ARP scheme to the end of March 2027. Section 4(2) of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 allows us to make such a change to a date considered appropriate following consultation with the Ministers for Social Protection and public expenditure and reform. The Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, and I have undertaken those consultations and both those Ministers have expressed their support for the scheme's extension. In considering that extension, I was mindful of the need to continue to make provision for a financial contribution to assist in maintaining the availability of accommodation for beneficiaries of temporary protection. I want to be clear that the motion relates only to the extension of the scheme for a further year and nothing else.  The 2022 Act requires a draft order to be laid before and approved by both Houses of the Oireachtas. Approval of the motion before D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann today is essential to ensure the continuation of the scheme beyond March 2026. Should the scheme's extension be approved by the Oireachtas, we will continue to monitor it to ensure it remains fit for purpose and to allow for an orderly wind-down of the scheme to commence.  I take this opportunity to thank all those who have been involved in hosting. They have done more than provide a room; they have provided a sense of belonging. I acknowledge the great work of the Irish Red Cross, the International Organization for Migration and the local authorities and other organisations that have supported hosting arrangements. I also recognise the great work done by local communities in how they have actively supported families to integrate through access to employment and education. The scheme has been a very effective instrument of public policy that we cannot afford to abruptly lose. Approval of this motion will provide certainty to all involved in hosting arrangements. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I move amendment No. 1:  To insert the following after \"23rd February, 2026\":  \", provided that this Order shall take effect only after the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 has been amended to provide for the Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) scheme termination date to be extended, only for the following:  \u2014 existing recipients, with respect to the beneficiaries of temporary protection currently benefitting from the scheme, where those beneficiaries of temporary protection have satisfied a means test, similar to those applicable for other housing assistance payments;  \u2014 new applications, who propose to host a beneficiary of temporary protection in their property, which is also their own primary residence, and who have not availed of the Rent-a-Room Relief scheme in the previous 24 months, ensuring that the ARP does not further distort the rental sector; and  \u2014 recipients who are not in receipt of any additional or 'top-up' payments from a beneficiary of temporary protection.\".  The accommodation recognition payment was originally introduced in July 2022 at a rate of \u20ac400 per month, tax free, in the months following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. It was designed as an emergency measure to support those who opened their homes to provide accommodation to beneficiaries of temporary protection arriving in Ireland. Sinn F\u00e9in has commended, and I commend again, all those who opened rooms in their houses to accommodate people fleeing war.  Since then, however, the scheme has morphed into something entirely different. It has impacted on rents in the private rental sector and has enabled landlords to evade their usual tenancy obligations while getting a tax-free payment of, at some points, up to \u20ac800 per month, plus top-ups. The rate, which had been increased to \u20ac800 in September 2022, was reduced to \u20ac600 in the middle of last year. Now the Government is talking about changing it again.  The ARP provides a non-means-tested housing support to Ukrainians that is not available to anyone else in need of housing. That is unfair because those who receive this support could be in well-paid employment and may be working alongside others who receive no housing supports but might need them. Repeated warnings about the impact and unfairness of the ARP were ignored, and that is a real problem. The Government failed to listen and to act. The Minister of State is being entirely disingenuous in citing a survey he knows no landlord would complete. Any measures the Government has taken to address potential impacts have been too little and too late.  We know that because a report published by the Department of housing tells us so. The report states that the payment \"still represents a substantial incentive to divert properties from the private rental sector to the ARP scheme\". The report points out that the tax-free nature of the ARP means it is more attractive than rental returns in some parts of the country, including the maximum levels of the housing assistance payment available to some households nationally. I could have written the report myself because it says exactly what Sinn F\u00e9in has been saying. Ministers have serious questions to answer about their failure to be honest with the D\u00e1il about the impact of the ARP. Opposition parties that have taken the Government at its word should also reflect on their position. This scheme should not be extended without the significant amendments Sinn F\u00e9in has proposed.  To recap, the accommodation recognition payment was introduced as a payment for people who housed Ukrainians in their own homes after the Russian invasion. However, it has morphed into something very different. It is uniquely a tax-free payment to landlords who can then get top-up payments that are completely unregulated. Uniquely, the landlord is completely exempt from all the rules that would apply for any other tenant. It is a landlord's charter. It is not surprising that Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael came up with it but it is surprising that other Opposition parties have backed them all the way. Uniquely as well, those who are accommodated under this scheme are not means-tested. There are precisely zero other housing supports from which families can benefit regardless of their income or wealth. The fact the payment is available to Ukrainians and nobody else means it is exactly the type of policy that leads to resentment and division. Again, it is hard to understand how it has had such support among members of parties on both sides of this Chamber.  The ARP distorts the rental sector. Sinn F\u00e9in has stated this time and again and the Government has dismissed us time and again. Indeed, Opposition party Members have stood in this Chamber and accused Sinn F\u00e9in of all sorts simply for stating what is now an absolute fact. The amendments we put forward that would have addressed that problem have been rejected time and again. All the while, the numbers of properties in the ARP scheme continued to grow, with an increase of 5,000 properties last year alone. Now we have confirmation of what we have been saying all along by way of an explicit confirmation in a Government report. It states categorically that the ARP scheme is having a negative impact on the private rental sector, yet the Government's answer is to extend it for another year. It is absolutely crazy stuff.  Once again, Sinn F\u00e9in is moving an amendment that would resolve the deficiencies in this scheme. There is an opportunity this evening for every Member of this House to let the public know whether lessons have actually been learned. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I commend Deputy Carthy on the amendments he has tabled and his steadfast challenging of this scheme, which is deeply unfair. The amendment he has tabled today would remove that unfairness. The scheme should not be extended without the amendment being accepted. For more than two years, we in Sinn F\u00e9in have been raising concerns about the accommodation recognition payment. It was brought in, as Deputy Carthy outlined, as an emergency measure following the brutal invasion of Ukraine. It was about supporting people to host Ukrainians in their own homes, which Sinn F\u00e9in supported. That happened throughout the State, including in my constituency of Donegal.  However, it morphed into something completely different and we have been telling the Government that for two years. We have been saying it is having a serious impact on the private rental sector. We have been telling the Government the scheme is unfair in the way it has been framed. It is unfair for five different reasons, First, it is only available to Ukrainians. Second, it is the only situation wherein the State pays a tenant's full rent. Third, no means test is applied to the individuals for whom the State pays rent. Fourth, landlords in the scheme receive a tax-free payment. Fifth, landlords have no obligations whatsoever in relation to the Residential Tenancies Board, RTB, or tenants' rights. These incentives are why the scheme has exploded in the two years during which we have been raising these issues.  Despite the concerns we have raised time and again, the Government has persisted in extending the scheme and it is doing the same again today. Since I stood up here two years ago and warned that the extension of the scheme should not go ahead without our amendments, I have seen the impact of it in my county of Donegal. It is a county that is under huge pressure in terms of accommodation.  It is a county with so many houses with defective blocks, it is really hard to find a place to rent. The number of properties hosting Ukrainians has gone from 608 to 2,159 - one in ten such properties in the State are in Donegal. How can the Minister stand up there with a straight face and say that this is not impacting the private rental sector in that county? I do not need him to tell me that because we have been saying it for two years. The Government has hidden the evidence from the RTB report on the effects of the ARP. It was buried and was denied under freedom of information, but now we have it in black and white stating that this scheme is having a negative impact on the private rental sector. It is an incentive to divert properties from the rental sector to the ARP. It is deeply unfair.  The amendments that Deputy Carthy has tabled will remove the unfairness from it. The Government should not be extending this scheme, which embeds that unfairness. I challenge the Opposition parties to call out this unfairness. Of course, we need to support Ukrainians but it should not be in this way, which seriously impacts the private rental sector. We would not stand for it in any other situation and we should not stand for it here. The amendments are sensible and should be supported by the House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  Following the brutal invasion of Ukraine by Putin and Russia, I was proud of our country and the way we reacted. There has been a change of narrative since then and it is something we should all reflect on. Obviously, there is still a brutal war going on but on top of that, we need to be reflective, as a country and as a people, of both the huge contribution we have made to help Ukrainian people and the need for us to continue to support them in a way that is accommodating and compassionate.  I have to wonder about some of the commentary that I hear across various different political classes in relation to this. It is all very well saying that they will support Ukrainian people and that they support those of us who oppose the brutal war but actions speak louder than words. Nothing is ever perfect and we have to react to a war like this in a certain way and tailor the measures we bring in. The reality is that we make mistakes but we also learn from them. At its core, what we do has to be based in compassion and has to recognise that our contribution to support them is in that fashion, rather than through any form of military support. Obviously, we are not in NATO or any military alliances and obviously we have not contributed in any way from a force point of view when it comes to countering the war effort from Russia.  I am uniquely positioned to know about the impact that this war has had on the accommodation situation when it comes to tourism and hospitality because I think I am the only person here who ever worked for Bord F\u00e1ilte and F\u00e1ilte Ireland. I know exactly the impact it has had across the country, whether in Donegal, Kerry or any other place. Some of the decision-making around that certainly was imperfect. Across a range of different areas, I believe we have to minimise taking out any form of tourism accommodation. Privately, people working in F\u00e1ilte Ireland and people who work in tourism will say that. Tourism is a critical industry for our nation. It is also an industry that has geographical distribution in ways that others do not. We need to support that and we need to do so in a complete fashion.  We are also losing sight of the contribution that Ukrainian people have made. My wife is from south Kerry and the contribution to hospitality down there has been incredible. In fact, without them, I think it would just stop. It is as simple as that. I know of young lads who are picking up glasses and washing dishes in hotels and pubs. Because they come from an agricultural background, they were driving tractors the day after they turned 16 years of age. I think the contribution that many Ukrainians have made to the Irish economy and also socially has been lost. I fundamentally believe that has been huge.  The differential between the \u20ac39 we were paying a night for tourism accommodation versus the ARP is hugely significant and something we need to bear in mind. I appreciate the volume of properties that have been used in different geographical locations has been spread disproportionately. That is probably something we could have looked at in a different way in how we were co-ordinating things.  It is obvious that there have been impacts on the rental market. Nothing is ever perfect, as I said at the outset. If we end this just like that, the impacts on the rental market in reverse will be a flood of new people coming onto the rental market. We need to bear in mind that it works both ways. When thinking about this, we need to consider how that would be managed or else people will be standing up here, shouting and roaring - rightly so - about more people being homeless.  In his contribution, the Minister said further steps will also to be taken. It is a pretty generic statement as regards to the wind-down and this being the last year. We are extending it for one more year and then we are changing the amount but there will be further steps taken in the next year. I presume these are interim steps as regards the wind-down. He might give more information as to what those are. He has obviously changed the amount and he has told us the date for closing it, but is there something additional in between? I am a little bit lost about what he said about the additional measures in the interim.  In all of this we need to consider that we are not in control of all the variables here. What happens if this war goes to a different level? What if the EU has to respond in a different way? What happens if this war escalates? It is impossible to know where the temporary protection order is going to go at an EU level. I do not expect the Government to know either. I am saying this out straight. The Minister is saying on the floor of the D\u00e1il and in the media that this will be it in a year's time. I know other countries have acted but they may all have to reverse course. We do not know where this is going to go. We need to be quite nimble and think about how we are going to react on this because there could be unintended consequences if we bring the shutter down in the manner the Government proposes.  I welcome that the order has been extended but there are very many unknown variables here. We need to think very deeply about the consequences of this decision if we are to close it in a year's time, because there could be many unintended consequences, some of which are not being taken on board by some Members of the Opposition or indeed by the Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  The Social Democrats will be supporting the extension of the accommodation recognition payment from 27 March. We would like to do so at its current rate. I am conscious that in his contribution, Deputy Carthy spoke about the Opposition needing to reflect on our continued support of this scheme and we do. I reflect constantly. I reflect on the fact that today a court case was taken by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, which demonstrated in a court of law that over 2,500 asylum seekers were forced to defecate on the street, such was the lack of accommodation and how horrendously this is being handled by the Government. I reflect on the fact that private accommodation operators who entered an agreement with the State but provided no accommodation to a single refugee or asylum seeker in the country have been paid millions in settlements in recent years.  I reflect on the fact that there are people who have come to this country in search of sanctuary who were placed on the foothills of the Wicklow Mountains in all sorts of weather. We have seen tents on the Grand Canal. I reflect on the fact that a scheme like this, imperfect as it may be, also sees huge numbers of people who came to this country following a horrific invasion of their country placed in the homes of Irish people. Questions have been raised about the data with which the Irish Red Cross demonstrated that over 91% of the people providing accommodation under the ARP scheme had never been registered with the Residential Tenancies Board and had never been private providers, but that is data from the Irish Red Cross. I appreciate that not everybody took part in it but this year and last year I met numerous host families in Ireland who have opened up their doors to Ukrainian families who have become part of the make-up of their communities and their households. The scheme is imperfect, but there is no perfection here. In fact, it is all horror.  I listened to Deputy Carthy's contribution and have seen his amendment. We will certainly consider it, but I did not see what we would do differently in that regard. We are not in charge here. The Government has made these decisions. This payment is reflected far better than the giving of millions of euro over to private operators, which I am sure the Deputy will also not be in agreement with.  As regards the families I have met who have benefited from a payment such as this, I hosted a meeting in the audiovisual room a couple of weeks ago with the Irish Red Cross. There were a number of families present who had come to Ireland. One woman, whose daughter is now five, has been here since her daughter was one. She is in her school, she was in her cr\u00e8che, she is perfectly integrated in our communities and she has an amazing relationship with the family that have been able to host them. It is very difficult for me to say I would like to take that away. What happens then? Where do the thousands of people who are still here in search of sanctuary while a war still rages in their country go? I genuinely do not know where they would go. I certainly do not want them to go onto the street. I do not want them to go into private accommodation. Having them in families getting payments of \u20ac600 therefore makes sense to me. I do not really know what the alternative being suggested here is. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  Read the amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  I have read the Deputy's amendment but I also listened to his contribution. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  The Deputy should have listened to it----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  Yes, I listened to the Deputy's contribution.  The Social Democrats will support the continuation of the payment because, imperfect as it may be, it is better than the alternatives that exist. The Government does not seem to have a plan at all for the ending of the temporary directive. I listened to the Minister of State's opening contribution earlier and he talked with such vagueness about the ending of the temporary directive: something will be planned and something will happen. However, we heard the exact same speech last year and probably the year before that. There will come a time when the temporary protection directive comes to an end. It is scheduled for March 2027. All the while we talk of that, however, Russian tanks still go through Ukraine, Russian drones are still firing on cities and Russian missiles are still landing in Ukrainian cities. I would like to see a plan. I would like to see the Minister lay out to us what is actually the plan for the payment for the status of the Ukrainian community, whose members have contributed hugely in their friendship and in how they have engaged in our communities, towns and villages. They need some degree of certainty, and that needs to be provided by the Minister's Department. We need more than rhetoric. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  When the war in Ukraine broke out four years ago, one of the few pieces of hope and light in that time was the warmth, the generosity and the solidarity many people showed to those fleeing. They opened up their homes and provided those who had lost everything with somewhere they could feel safe. We talk about integration in this country and this scheme is a brilliant example of it. It formed the basis of bonds, friendships and involvement in communities in every corner of this country. These bonds meant that just last week we saw Ukrainians marching in local St. Patrick's Day parades up and down the country, celebrating the communities they are now a part of. One family my office spoke to told us about the bonds they have formed with the Ukrainian family they host. An elderly woman has hosted a mother and son these past years, and if this payment ceases, her property will not go back on the market because she did this not to be a landlady but, as the Minister of State pointed out, out of solidarity. This family spoke about the vulnerability their Ukrainian guests face as they do not have the means to rent privately. They spoke about how this mother and son's home in Ukraine is rubble now and that they have nowhere to return to. They rightly pointed out that the war is not set to end anytime soon.  C\u00e9n f\u00e1th, mar sin, a bhfuil an Rialtas ag cur deiridh leis an taca\u00edocht seo? Stopping this payment means putting an additional 40,000 people into an already dire housing market. Every month we are faced with spiralling homelessness figures, and instead of addressing that crisis, the solution being put forward by the Government is performative cruelty and pandering to the far right. This will not put properties back on the rental market for \"native Irish\", which seems to be the goal here. This will not make anyone's lives better. We will see many people's lives made much worse. All the words we have heard in the Chamber in recent years about unwavering support for Ukraine ring hollow when we see a measure put through that is deliberately hurting Ukrainians in Ireland. These are real people and real families involved in both hosting and being hosted. They are part of our communities, and the removal of this support means they will all be worse off. We will have more pressure on the private rental market and more homelessness. It is beyond frustrating and disappointing that we see this Government turn its back on those who have fled an ongoing war and who have no home to return to. I feel the need to say it is deeply wrong.  I too have hosted somebody, not from Ukraine. This was a young man from Ethiopia who had aged out of the Tusla foster system. Tusla seeks out people who will rent out rooms at a nominal rate in order that they can get on their feet essentially in readiness for a horrifically competitive private rental market which few are ready for. I know the value it brought to him and to his life and I know what it brought to me. It just makes me so sad that this is what this Government is thinking of doing and that it wants to phase this out, when we know that it works and we know that those families who host have got so much out of this. In my previous role, I warned that there would be a two-tier response because of the temporary protection directive and how much better its terms and conditions are compared to the international protection system. However, all this Government seems to do when it is presented with that problem is go to the lowest common denominator. There is a way we can make the system better for everybody without simply going to the lowest common denominator. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  It is a bit ironic that the Government is putting a halt to this scheme in 2027 and reducing the amount now when it boasts and brags about the support it gives to Ukraine, pumping money in at EU level, some of which is potentially going in a military direction. We have a scheme here. I am not in favour of ending any scheme housing anybody in this country during a housing crisis. That should be perfectly clear. Where are people going to go? That is a serious question anyone opposing this scheme has to answer.  I will cite the Red Cross survey again because Members were taking issue with it during the previous debate. A total of 91% of hosts had not rented out rooms or their home in any way before participating in this scheme. As has been said, it was an act of solidarity for most people. We do not know what will happen when this is cut. Currently 42,000 Ukrainians are being hosted by Irish families. The cost amounts to about \u20ac11 per night, compared to \u20ac50 a night if the State were to provide that accommodation, paying commercially to hotels or other private operators. I therefore do not see how anyone can oppose this on a financial basis. A minority of the hosts have asked refugees for top-up payments. It is not a perfect scheme by any means, but one of the advantages of the scheme is that at least people are integrating into local communities and into society. They are not stuck in a huge building somewhere away from the local population. The cost of this will shoot up.  Yes, it is performative cruelty, moving in the direction that the Minister has been moving since he got in, bowing down to the far right. It is shameful that Sinn F\u00e9in is punching down. That is what it is doing. There is no proof that this is having an impact on the housing market----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  Yes, there is. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  -----because of the figures that have been presented. The Deputy can shout all he likes; I am telling him now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  It is in the housing document. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  Punching down is pathetic of Sinn F\u00e9in, and it will not get any votes----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  The Deputy is supporting a landlord's charter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Allow Deputy Coppinger to speak. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  This is to give Sinn F\u00e9in something to say on a doorstep when somebody says something racist: \"Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, we opposed that.\" That is all this is about. It is----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  The Deputy is supporting a landlord's charter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  These are not landlords. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  You have to conclude, Deputy Coppinger. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  Yes, they are. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  A total of 91% per cent of them are not landlords. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  I will sit down now but I would have liked to finish my point without being interrupted. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  I welcome the renewal of the ARP this evening and I will vote in favour of it.  It will offer clarity to the 42,000 Ukrainians in ARP-supported homes but also to the thousands of Irish families who are actively supporting them. It is very important that the Minister provide clarity on what was being briefed in the papers in terms of the move from a payment of \u20ac600 to \u20ac400. It is important that the Minister bear in mind the cost-of-living crisis that is unfolding. The Minister will reply that the payment was never a direct monetary compensation. That is correct but it is undoubtedly part of the calculus for some families who have properties supported, particularly when they are actively involved in supporting a Ukrainian family. We took important steps to support families across the country yesterday and it has to be borne in mind that we may well see a continued cost-of-living spike later this year when the Minister is considering reducing that payment. I ask him to bear that point in mind. We also have to remember that in terms of value for money, the pledged accommodation system supported by the recognition payment is one of the most cost-effective ways of supporting vulnerable people. The pledged accommodation by the Irish Red Cross and the offer-a-home accommodation by the local authorities is a model of good practice across the European Union. That was not the case at the start, when there were teething problems, but supported by the ARP, this programme has become hugely successful. We should be looking to replicate it for other vulnerable people. Maybe for people leaving international protection accommodation, we should be looking at doing more with this model, not doing less with it.  Finally, I agree with other speakers who have said that if the temporary protection directive concludes next year, there needs to be a pathway for the 80,000 Ukrainians here. Others have spoken about merging them into the IP process. That would be a disaster as it would flood the IP process. There needs to be a pathway. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  Fine Gael's manifesto for the last election states:  Fine Gael will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes. We will unequivocally support Ukraine.  I presume Fianna F\u00e1il's manifesto said something similar. The Government supports them as long as it can use them to drive an agenda of militarisation and undermining of neutrality. However, when it comes to Ukrainian people who have fled Putin's imperialist invasion to this country, the Government is happy to use them as a scapegoat, to impose cuts on them and to have the spectre of homelessness in front of them. It cut the payment for accommodation providers, which does not go directly to Ukrainians, from \u20ac800 to \u20ac600. There are reports that the Government is going to cut it further to \u20ac400 as a step towards winding down the scheme. The result of this, if the Government follows through and if there is not a significant change in terms of the number of people who are here, will be loads of people thrown into homelessness. It will make the housing crisis worse. If this is what happens, do not worry. We will be clear in terms of who has been calling for this and who is responsible for it which is both the Government and Sinn F\u00e9in, if they actually throw all these people onto the housing market and worsen the crisis. We know from the research by the Irish Red Cross that the ARP is not squeezing renters; trying to find a place to rent is. It is disappointing to hear Sinn F\u00e9in amplifying that misleading narrative, which comes from people on the far right who are opposed to all immigration. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  It comes from the Department of housing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  The Deputy can look at the figures. It does not make any sense for landlords to use this scheme. I am not saying we will not find the odd case here or there. It does not make any sense because people can make more money in other ways. They can make up to \u20ac1,166 a month tax-free from the rent-a-room scheme. They can get \u20ac600 from this, and they are going to be able to get \u20ac400 in the future. The vast majority, 71% are people living in host homes so they do not have a whole property to go. If they have a whole property, obviously, they could get much worse than that. If the Government proceeds with the cuts, the result will be people exiting the scheme. We know that 86% of people say they could not continue to host without the ARP. We know this is because we are in a cost-of-living crisis that is getting worse.  If it is ended, there could be 35,000 people suddenly trying to find private rental accommodation. The vast majority are women and children who would end up homeless, sleeping rough or trying to access totally overstretched emergency accommodation. We have a scheme that is cheap for the State and is providing accommodation for people. The idea that the Government needs to cut it back and try to bring it to an end makes no sense whatsoever. It just serves to pit ordinary people against each other and it would make the housing crisis worse. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  This scheme has been in operation since 2022 and has been extended multiple times since its introduction. It has involved a significant financial commitment from the State, with approximately \u20ac438 million issued in payments. Around 23,500 participating households are currently receiving support through the programme, providing accommodation for an estimated 42,000 individuals. The scheme represents an ongoing monthly cost of approximately \u20ac14.5 million. There is a clear and growing problem with the way the current rental support schemes are structured. The tax treatment available to landlords renting to beneficiaries of the temporary protection directive creates a significant financial advantage over renting to Irish tenants. Under the standard system, a landlord renting a property for \u20ac1,200 per month to an Irish tenant may pay roughly \u20ac400 per month in tax. However, under the temporary protection scheme, the first \u20ac600 per month is entirely tax exempt, leaving tax payable only on the remaining \u20ac600. In practice, this reduces the tax burden to approximately \u20ac150. It is obvious why many small landlords are opting for the scheme. The tax incentives heavily favour one route over the other. While Ireland acted swiftly and generously to support those fleeing the war in Ukraine, something we can all stand over, we are four years into this and it is increasingly clear that elements of the scheme are having unintended but very real consequences for Irish renters. The current set-up places Irish tenants at a structural disadvantage in a market where supply is dangerously limited. I have consistently argued that small landlords should receive a universal tax relief, such as a \u20ac1,000 per month tax-free allowance to keep the properties in the wider rental market and ensure fair competition for all owners. Unless the Government addresses this imbalance, more landlords will continue to exit the traditional rental system in favour of the more financially attractive option, worsening access for Irish households. The support scheme has delivered strong benefits for those it was designed to help but as it stands it creates an inequitable situation that must be corrected if we are serious about protecting fairness, supply and balanced access in the housing market. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  We have to differentiate between those who need our help and those who do not. We have made a commitment to the Ukrainian people, some of it because we are not supplying weaponry as a militarily neutral country to help the Ukrainians in their fight against the illegal Russian invasion and onslaught that has killed so many of their people. We have made a commitment and if we make a commitment, we have to continue to follow through with it. That is why I welcome the extension until 2027. The Irish Red Cross in its previous work had highlighted that a lot of the properties coming in under the ARP would not have been put onto the rental market and that remains the case. That does not mean that there are not some properties that would otherwise be rented out. However, when looked at in an holistic way, abolishing the ARP will put more people under pressure and put more pressure on the housing market. In essence, a lot of the properties here are providing a cheap way of accommodating those who need help. I recognise no new properties are being brought into it, so it is a balance.  On the wider level, under UN conventions we have recognised consistently our need to protect those who are fleeing from persecution from elsewhere. Despite a small minority in this House and a vocal minority outside this House, we have lived up to our obligations to provide refuge to those coming here. The Minister said that we need to tighten up the process. I fully support that and the quicker processing of claims, within the six-month period. It is tied into the Ukrainian side of things purely because of the number of people who will need accommodation. Anyone granted refugee status in this country needs accommodation. However, I reiterate that the vast majority of those coming into Ireland seeking international protection have been found on appeal to be economic migrants. We do have certain areas of work where people from abroad can make a valuable contribution, but the asylum process is not the way to go through it. We need to speed up people coming in and then going back out again. We need a moratorium for people who have been here for a long time, especially children because it is inhumane to send them back after a prolonged period.  I am saying that in the knowledge that there are people in this country who have abused our welcome. People in this country who were free to come to Ireland because they are EU citizens have abused our welcome. I know there is free movement, but there are certain criteria in that regard. If the Minister is talking about sending people out of Ireland, I would be thinking about the scammers who threw a man out of a taxi or the individual who ejaculated upon a woman on the Luas. Are these sorts of people who are being told after they get a sentence - if they get a sentence - that they are no longer welcome in this country? Are they being told to get out and stay out? They are the sorts of people who should not be in this country. We should be seen to be extremely tough on them. However, the Ukrainians who are fleeing an ongoing war need our continued support. There are also people who are fleeing war and persecution in other parts of the world. We have seen the conflict in Syria and the ongoing genocide in Gaza. These sorts of people also need our ongoing support. We have obligations and we should live up to them.  I take on board what has been said about the pressures the housing crisis is putting on people. With regard to my constituency, 20% of software companies are employing people from overseas in non-essential jobs. These are all high-paid jobs. These people want to locate in the suburbs because that is where the software companies are. We need to look again at our policy as to where software and pharmaceutical companies locate. They should be in the golden triangle between Athlone, Mullingar and Tullamore. If people are commuting, they should be heading westwards rather than eastwards. I have said that. There is a pressure on housing and we need to address it. However, we will not address it by looking at making it harder for vulnerable people coming here from Ukraine, Syria, Sudan and other conflict zones. We have to protect those people while at the same time getting tougher on those who, nice as they may be, are economic migrants seeking a better way of life. That should be done through the work permit system. I welcome the extension to 2027. It is the right thing to do. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cormac Devlin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cormac Devlin  I support this motion and will speak in favour of it. Four years on from Russia's brutal and illegal invasion of Ukraine, Ireland's solidarity with the Ukrainian people remains as strong as ever. The Government rightly played a central role in mobilising Ireland's response to the largest movement of refugees in Europe since the Second World War. While this presented challenges, it has largely been successful. People have been accommodated and integrated into communities right across Ireland. We all hope for a conclusion to this brutal conflict, which has claimed so many lives. A lasting peace settlement and Ukraine's speedy accession to the EU are essential.  The motion before us extends the ARP until March 2027, in line with the EU temporary protection directive. Since the scheme launched in July 2022, almost \u20ac438 million has been paid to approximately 28,000 hosts across the country, supporting 64,000 beneficiaries. As of this month, more than 23,500 active claims remain in payment, covering 42,000 people at a cost of around \u20ac14.5 million per month. Of course, this is a very significant cost to the taxpayer. It reflects the commitment of Irish support for the Ukrainian people who call Ireland their home. Behind every claim is a family who opened their home and a Ukrainian family finding their feet in a new community. In my own constituency of D\u00fan Laoghaire and across every county in Ireland, hosts have shown extraordinary generosity. This motion honours that contribution.  I note that, alongside the extension, the monthly payment is to be reduced from \u20ac600 to \u20ac400, returning it to the rate originally set when the scheme was initially launched. I understand the rationale for this. There are legitimate concerns about the ARP's interaction with the private rental market. It is right that we manage this carefully. An orderly gradual wind-down is preferable to an abrupt end to the scheme. However, I ask that the position of the hosts be kept under close review. Many of them have taken on real costs. The reduction in the payment should not result in hosts withdrawing accommodation prematurely. The risk of displacing thousands of Ukrainian beneficiaries into an already pressured private rental market is a real concern and must be avoided at all costs.  Planning for the conclusion of temporary protection is under way and I welcome the work of senior officials and the engagement with the European Commission on transition arrangements. Ireland should play an active part in shaping a co-ordinated humane EU-wide approach.  I support this motion. Ukrainians living in Ireland are a valued part of our community. Our job is now to provide as much certainty and stability as possible for them and for the hosts who have done so much. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Jim O'Callaghan)  I thank colleagues for their contributions to this debate. I acknowledge and welcome the fact that the majority of the House will be supporting the order to extend the ARP until 2027. It is important to acknowledge that this was a very innovative and successful mechanism, introduced back in July 2022, to respond to the fact that Ireland held itself out as a very welcoming place for Ukrainian people who were fleeing the war in Ukraine and who were entitled to apply to be beneficiaries of temporary protection under the temporary protection directive. Approximately 23,500 claims are currently in payment in respect of 42,000 persons who are beneficiaries of temporary protection. It is having a very significant impact in providing accommodation to people who need it. Over the history of the scheme, since July 2022, approximately 64,000 beneficiaries of temporary protection have had the benefit of accommodation provided under the ARP.  In many respects, one of the great imponderables about this debate is that we simply do not know what is going to happen in the war in Ukraine over the next year or so. As has been indicated, temporary protection has been extended until 2027. There will obviously be discussions later this year and early next year in respect of what should happen to the temporary protection directive. To a large extent, I suspect it will depend on what happens in the war over the summer. I also believe there is a recognition among my fellow home affairs ministers within the European Union that the temporary protection directive cannot be seen to be a permanent directive. There will have to be some recognition of its temporary nature.  When the ARP scheme was originally introduced in 2022, it was very much welcomed that there was a payment of \u20ac400. That payment was predominantly for the purposes of recognising the charity of Irish people who opened their homes to Ukrainian people. It was very effective. The payment was subsequently increased to \u20ac800 and the numbers involved did rise. However, as my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, has indicated and as Deputies will be aware, from 1 June last year, the monthly payment was reduced from \u20ac800 per property per month to \u20ac600. At the time, there was concern on the part of the Minister of State and myself that this could have a very destabilising impact on the accommodation that was provided. In fact, officials indicated that could happen. Fortunately, that has not been the case and 42,000 beneficiaries of temporary protection are still being accommodated in connection with the ARP. As has been indicated, we are now going to extend the scheme until 2027, subject to the approval of the House. We will also be discussing with colleagues the proposed further reduction of the payment back to its original statutory limit of \u20ac400. The Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, and I will carefully consider that, discuss it with colleagues and come back in due course.  We will not be supporting the Sinn F\u00e9in amendment. It is interesting that Sinn F\u00e9in has very much sought to rely upon the impact the scheme has had on the rental sector. While I know they are tax-free, when you look at the payments involved and the location of the units, the properties provided pursuant to the ARP have predominantly been properties that had not previously been used in the residential tenancies market. Last year, of course, we changed the law.  In fact, it was this year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  It was this month. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  The change ensures that Part 3 of the Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2026 precludes properties from the scheme that were registered with the Residential Tendencies Board at any time since March 2022. The concern that Sinn F\u00e9in has and had is now alleviated by the change in the statutory regime that was brought in by my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Browne. I thank people for the debate and I look forward to their support when it comes to voting on the motion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Is the Sinn F\u00e9in amendment to the motion agreed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  Agreed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  Not agreed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  V\u00f3t\u00e1il. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  The vote will be taken at the weekly division time this evening. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 (Section 4(2)) (Scheme Termination Date) Order 2026: Motion"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-25\/debate\/dbsect_19","debateType":"billReport","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/20","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/20\/dail\/4_sub","houseCode":"dail","stage":"4_sub","isBillStage":false,"showAs":"Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2026: Report and Final Stages (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2026: Report and Final Stages","counts":{"speechCount":16,"speakerCount":7},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_19","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gillian Toole","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gillian-Toole.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Gillian-Toole.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy Quaide is not here to move amendments Nos. 1 to 8, inclusive, in his name. In any event, amendments Nos. 2 and 3 and amendments Nos. 5 to 7, inclusive, have been ruled out of order. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendments Nos. 1 to 8, inclusive, not moved."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Amendment No. 9 arises out of committee proceedings. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I move amendment No. 9:  In page 5, between lines 11 and 12, to insert the following:   \u201cAmendment of section 146 of Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015   2. The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 is amended by the substitution of the following section for section 146:  \u201c146. (1) The Minister shall, in consultation with the Minister for Health cause a review of the functioning of this Act (other than Part 8) to be carried out before the 5th anniversary of the date of enactment of this Act.  (2) A review carried out under subsection (1) shall:  (a) consider if the process of exiting wardship of court allows for maximum engagement with the ward;  (b) include engagement with relevant stakeholders including, but not limited to:  (i) families and\/or representative organisations;  (ii) health, mental health and disability service providers, so as to ensure that maximum capacity can be allowed for taking into account where existing daily supports are already enabling wards of court to make decisions;  (c) consider allowing for the revisiting of decisions made as court wardship was exited, if capacity wasn\u2019t sufficiently allowed for, and ensure that assisted decision making representation and co-decision making should be used only where necessary, and that decision making representation is used preferably for the period of important single decisions including, but not limited to major health and financial decisions.\u201d.\u201d.  The Minister of State, Deputy Higgins, is hardly shocked to see this amendment in front of the House. It gives the D\u00e1il an opportunity to deal with some of the issues. In explaining why I am making this proposal, I will start at the beginning. I was contacted by St. John of God intellectual disability services in relation to particular issues that it had at the time around wards of court. For legacy reasons, people who had some sort of inheritance or whatever were made wards of court. When they were going through the operation of being discharged, the disability service believed that these were people with a decent element of capacity and assumed that they would have been discharged altogether without the need for co-decision making or a decision-making representative.  This issue relates to the decision-making representative, DMR. The example I have used previously relates to an instance in which someone wanted to go shopping in Newry. Obviously, I am dealing with a disability service that operates in Dundalk. When a person wanted to go to Newry, the service would have had to go through their DMR. This seemed to create a huge level of difficulty. There was a fear that there may have been an element of being overprotective as the discharge process was ongoing.  The big issue here, and the reason the Minister of State looked for pre-legislative scrutiny to be waived, is that a number of people will not be discharged in time for the change that was due to come into effect on 26 April and would therefore fall into legal limbo. None of us want that to happen. I am relatively pleased to say that I have spoken to representatives of St. John of God intellectual disability services and they have engaged with a number of officials from the Courts Service. They were highly impressed and really appreciative of the engagement. They have come up with some methods. An independent assessment has to be made on a ward of court who is to be discharged, obviously. St. John of God would like certain information, such as the mitigations and the support factors surrounding these people, to be in front of the court. It about making sure that all the information it knows is passed on. In fairness, there seems to be an improvement in relation to that. There were some very straight conversations around these supports. There will be continued engagement from here on in. That is all very positive.  The other piece of positivity that I spoke to previously is the fact that the entire Bill is being reviewed. Obviously, there was insufficient capacity to deal with all of the wards of court who needed to be discharged. We need to ensure we deal with discharging those wards of court within the next 18 months. We do not want to be back facing this circumstance again. The review is all important for a number of reasons. We know there are huge issues in relation to using banking services that have become more difficult. St. John of God is one of the groups that brought that particular issue up. Families have issues in relation to the engagement. We need to make absolutely sure that the Bill is focused on those who need the support. In addition, there must be real engagement with those who are wards of court at the moment or those who will fall under these parameters in the future. In some cases, we are talking about some of our most vulnerable people, such as those who need disability services, mental health services and whatever else. We get the idea that it is about ensuring that people are given the maximum support they need, while assuming as much capacity as possible from the point of view of allowing them to live their lives. This created difficulties in the beginning for some of the disability services that I spoke to. They were probably too protective in how they operated, and then they had to free up how they operate to some degree. Like us, they learned from their mistakes. I have seen some positives where previously I would have been worried. Again, the big thing is that it is about engagement with all of the stakeholders such as the disability, healthcare and mental health services. It is about engaging properly with families and parents so they do not feel left out. It is absolutely about engaging with those people we are attempting to give support to.  The big thing is that we ensure the review is comprehensive and deals with a number of these sets of circumstances. We must also address some of what is in the public domain to a degree, whether it relates to the banking sector, to families or to the issue I have brought forward. The interaction between St. John of God intellectual disability services and the Courts Service, following on from the meeting between the Department, the Courts Services and ourselves when we agreed to waive pre-legislative scrutiny, has been positive. I am not going to put this to a vote, but it is worthwhile that we air these particular issues. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gillian Toole","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gillian-Toole.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Gillian-Toole.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gillian Toole  Similarly to an Teachta \u00d3 Murch\u00fa, I commend the Minister of State and her team for the work that has been done to date. I laud the fact that the review process will be brought forward. That is important. I will not be pedantic and repeat what has already been said. There has been that offer of collaboration from Professor O'Flynn in University of Galway. I have passed on the details of the relevant person in the Department. We would have received some correspondence from Justice for Wards. The review process will be timely and highly beneficial to all parties. It will also be an opportunity to measure the progress as well, given the extension that has been enabled for due process to continue. We must encourage trust and engagement from those who might have been a little reticent heretofore that people are brought along in a spirit of collaboration and in the best interests and to achieve that will and preference for those who are vulnerable and concerned. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Does Deputy Quaide wish to come in? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Liam Quaide  I came in just after Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa started. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Quaide can speak to Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa's amendment, but I am afraid we have gone past the Deputy's amendments. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Liam Quaide  Is this amendments Nos. 1 and 4? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  We are discussing amendment No. 9. The Deputy has seven minutes if he wishes to speak. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Liam Quaide  I have lost track a little bit here. I will pass over. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Children, Disability and Equality (Deputy Emer Higgins)  I thank all Deputies in the House and on the disability matters committee for their constructive and robust engagement on this important Bill, both to date and on Second Stage and Committee Stage. I know there is widespread agreement on the need for this Bill to ensure that wards of court who are due to transition out of wardship have the legal certainty that they require and they are enabled to move through the discharge process in a fair and an orderly manner. It is crucial that both wards and committees are supported as they move through this process of transitioning out of wardship and into the new rights-based framework of decision support arrangements. A key issue that was raised throughout discussions, and both Deputies \u00d3 Murch\u00fa and Toole raised it again today, was around the need for meaningful consultation and engagement with stakeholders, including wards and committees. I reiterate my commitment to continued engagement with a wide range of stakeholders, including those with lived experience of the provisions of the assisted decision-making legislation. As Deputy Toole has done earlier, I reiterate and reaffirm my Department's commitment to bringing that wider review of the legislation forward earlier than planned. We are beginning preparations with a view to starting that this year.  I thank Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa for what he has said in relation to St. John of God's. It is great to hear that they were highly impressed by the meetings and consultations that happened afterwards. That is down to the Courts Service, and to three of my officials, who are here today, namely Jane-Ann Duffy, Melanie Campbell and Orla Cooper, who put a lot of work in following our discussions. I acknowledge them today. I acknowledge that productive meetings were held and specific cases were raised at them and have been discussed. I thank everybody for their engagement on this. It is an important Bill. We will move tomorrow to the Seanad through all Stages, we hope, with a view to getting this moved as quickly as possible so we can provide legal certainty to our wards as they move out of wardship. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  As I said previously, it is vital legislation in the sense that we find ourselves in this place. I could make the argument that we should not have found ourselves in this place. Enough time should have been put aside. I have, once again, put on the record some of the issues and the worries I had. I will commend the interaction that there has been. The big thing for all of us is that idea that we review and make sure we deal with those anomalies that exist where those with a disability who are in disability services and previously could have got a bank account with two signatories, that this has now become at times a near impossibility. In cases, people have gone to the credit union or other institutions to try to work around it, but that is not good enough.  I reiterate that idea that we need to make sure that we have the maximum amount of engagement with the stakeholders, the likes of disability services such as St. John of God's and others, but also good engagement with families and those relations who have been involved in the care of their children, in an awful lot of cases, for all their lives. We need to ensure at the core of it is, in this case, the ward of courts, and then all those people who will fall under this particular bracket. Because we are going through courts, I am always worried about logjams and everything else. We need to make sure we have the adequate resources and that we do not have hold-ups that are not necessary. The big one is about supporting those who need support, but also providing those that have capacity with as much freedom as we possibly can. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Liam Quaide  I echo the point made by Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa. Research undertaken by the National Disability Authority has indicated that people have not been supported sufficiently to understand what the end of the wardship system means for them and those supporting them. We must ensure that all those who come within the scope of the original Act, namely, disabled people, older people and people with severe mental health difficulties have a legal right to accessible information, meaningful engagement and practical supports, including independent advocacy. That is a crucial point in terms of upholding human rights. The National Disability Authority research notes that despite information efforts by public bodies, many wards and committees experience what was described as an \"information vacuum\" and confusion about roles and responsibilities within the system. That tells us that issuing information is not the same as ensuring understanding to a reasonable degree.  In the transition to rights-based in practice, accessible formats, practical navigation supports and independent advocacy must be consistently available. Where extensions are granted, the additional time should be used actively to support informed participation. There has been a failure to appropriately resource the public bodies most involved in the implementation of the Act, such as the Decision Support Service, Legal Aid Board and National Advocacy Service in order to achieve that goal. I am calling on the Minister of State to commit to providing further resources to the public bodies involved in implementing the legislation to ensure that those impacted have their human rights fully upheld. This includes additional resources to the bodies I mentioned. It is important that we have that concrete commitment as we proceed with this legislation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  A lot of the amendments are along the same theme and are similar to Committee Stage and the Second Stage debate, which I contributed to. I do not know if the Minister of State is accepting amendments, but what is more important is the principle that she is hearing what is being said and showing a willingness to engage and be responsive to what she is hearing. I have a number of questions and queries in relation to the system as it exists from people affected. For example, what is the complaints mechanism for bringing a complaint against the DSS if one has a complaint? What is the degree to which IHREC is assessing the legislation, if it is doing that? If it is not, why not? There is concern, and this was raised with me at a constituency clinic, that assessments are being done without notification being given to families where it applies, such as in the case of wards resident in nursing homes.  It seems the system is not working in a joined-up way that allows it to communicate effectively with whomever it needs to communicate with. Regardless of whether she is accepting amendments or not, the Minister of State is hearing clearly what is being said about the willingness to engage, meet and ensure that the system is robust and responsive. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Higgins  On Deputy O'Rourke's question, the Department briefed IHREC on the proposed amendments in advance of taking the legislation through the Houses.  In the context of Deputy Quaide\u2019s question on resourcing, the decision support services received an uplift in their budget this year for that reason. We trust that the services will use that money accordingly.  We all agree that consultation is the name of the game here. That is something the Department has done. When we first got Cabinet approval for thism we immediately went out and consulted with key stakeholders. We did that online and in person. We had a key consultation meeting earlier this month in relation to this Bill.  Some of the issues that were raised related to the parameters of financial agreements. Ultimately, a number of people stated that they thought there should be better support from a financial perspective. That is something we are taking on board. I have written to the Minister for Finance to see if there is any support he can provide to people in this situation and to the committees going forward.  We are on the same page when it comes to consultation. That is why we will be starting our consultation on the review of the legislation ahead of schedule. As I said, preparatory work has already been done and we will be starting that later this year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  There is a certain consistency regarding what was stated on Second Stage and on Committee Stage. There is the idea that we want a framework. We want something that works. Everybody accepts that the legislation is necessary. There is a logjam. There are a number of people who were not going to be discharged as wards of court, and nobody wanted to see them left in limbo. It is about making sure that the review can look at all the weaknesses that exist in the assisted decision-making legislation. It is also about ensuring that the discharging process works as well as it possibly can.  I reiterate the absolute necessity of engagement with families and with the person who is in need of support, as well as the wider stakeholders like disability services. What I saw with St. John of God intellectual disability services and the level of engagement involved was great. I appreciate the efforts of the officials from the Department and the Courts Service who were involved in that regard. The Minister of State indicated that there will be a number of events in which they will be involved. That is absolutely necessary. We need to make sure the issues that exist across banking and so on are dealt with. As I said, the really positive thing I got when speaking to the representatives of St. John of God disability services was that while it had been very worried about assisted decision-making at the outset and had thought they would not be able to protect those who needed protection, when the organisation stretched itself and put supports in place, both it and those in its care benefited. We need to see more of that. It is about allowing someone the maximum freedom to be everything they can be. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment, by leave, withdrawn."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Bill received for final consideration."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question, \"That the Bill do now pass\", put and declared carried."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2026: Report and Final Stages"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-25\/debate\/dbsect_20","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/32","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/32\/dail\/3_sub","houseCode":"dail","stage":"3_sub","isBillStage":false,"showAs":"National Oil Reserve Agency (Amendment) Bill 2026: Committee and Remaining Stages (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"National Oil Reserve Agency (Amendment) Bill 2026: Committee and Remaining Stages","counts":{"speechCount":13,"speakerCount":5},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_20","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"NEW SECTION"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  I move amendment No.1:  In page 3, between lines 10 and 11, to insert the following:   \u201cAmendment of section 34 of the National Oil Reserves Agency Act 2007   1. Section 34 of the National Oil Reserves Agency Act 2007 is amended by adding a new paragraph after paragraph (2):  \u201c(3) The Minister shall, within three months of the reduction of the NORA levy during the period identified in section 37(1A)(b) coming into effect, prepare and lay before D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann a report examining the impact of providing this reduction. The report should assess the impact on cost and affordability across different sectors of the economy including but not exclusive to households, carers and people with disabilities, those living in rural Ireland, SMEs and road hauliers. The report should conduct the analysis on a county-by-county basis, particularly focusing on counties with a large proportion of their population dependent on home heating oil. The report should also explore alternative measures that could be applied to absorb price shocks.\u201d.\u201d.  We want to amend section 34 of the 2007 Act such that it will state that the Minister shall, within three months of the reduction of the NORA levy during the period identified in section 37(1A)(b) coming into effect, prepare and lay before D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann a report examining the impact of providing this reduction. The report should assess the impact on cost and affordability across different sectors of the economy including but not exclusive to households, carers, people with disabilities, those living in rural Ireland and SMEs. The report should conduct the analysis on a county-by-county basis, particularly focusing on counties with a large proportion of their population dependent on home heating oil. The report should also explore alternative measures that could be applied to absorb price shocks.  Earlier today, the Minister mentioned the national energy affordability task force. Clearly, half of the meeting must have been taken up with introductions because they would have probably forgotten each other because they have met so few times over the past year. The task force was established to identify and assess measures that will enhance energy affordability for households and businesses, but the plan in that regard is still being developed. The necessary urgency is not there. Having spoken to people locally who are dealing with renewable energy, I am aware that there are amendments that need to be made across the board.  Recently, I met two people in Ballyheigue who had just bought electric vehicles, EVs. They are exempt from petrol and diesel increases, obviously, but there needs to be a more targeted approach. One third of the money that is set aside for EVs goes to people who have bought cars worth more than \u20ac55,000. A lot of money is being given to people who do not necessarily need it.  Retrofitting needs to be targeted, as outlined in the amendment, to address more houses. There should be an assessment of the position of people who live in rural Ireland on a county-by-county basis.  A lot of older people do not want to move out of their houses for a deep retrofit. They do not want to have the hassle of it and they do not have the money to expend on it. They continue, therefore, to use solid fuel and oil. While the warmer homes scheme is a good scheme, there are huge delays in it. I am hoping this amendment will keep minds focused in a way they have not been over the past year.  In his opening statement, the Minister mentioned that an expert advisory subgroup monitoring global supply, etc., was being established. We are concerned that there will be extra delays with this group. The Minister said he had written to retail and electricity and gas suppliers, as well as the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, and fuel suppliers, to emphasise the importance of reducing the exposures to consumers. Sinn F\u00e9in produced legislation on this, which we moved only a few weeks ago, to give the CRU more powers to and strengthen the energy regulator's powers to investigate hedging strategies, anti-competitive behaviour and unjustified pricing practices. It would impose a duty on the energy companies. If the Minister has spoken to those companies, I hope he asked them to disclose detailed pricing data to the regulator, on which the regulator can then report to regulate the standing charges that are often used as an excuse by the energy companies. Last summer, we saw one energy company raise its prices twice, using the excuse of the network and standing charges. However, when one analyses how much these charges are, the increases amount to much more than the standing charges. What is often missed in debates such as this one and with the insurance companies, for example, is the need not only to make profit in the current year but to make additional profit the following year. That is the real motivation. These companies need to be held to account and there should be a prioritisation network. The purpose of this amendment is to keep minds focused in the task force and to have the Government hold the companies to account within three months of the reduction of the NORA levy. It could be reviewed one way or the other, but we should at least have a review. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment (Deputy Darragh O'Brien)  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Teachta as an leas\u00fa. Labhr\u00f3idh m\u00e9 ar an leas\u00fa. N\u00ed f\u00e9idir liom glacadh leis. Ba ch\u00f3ir don Teachta a bheith cinnte go bhfuil muidne ar an gcoiste inacmhainneachta ag obair ar na taca\u00edochta\u00ed is f\u00e9idir linn a thabhairt isteach go luath. T\u00e1 an obair sin \u00e1 d\u00e9anamh againn anois. Rinne an coiste a l\u00e1n ruda\u00ed roimh ch\u00e1inaisn\u00e9is 2026. T\u00e1 ruda\u00ed isteach sa dl\u00ed anois mar gheall ar an obair sin. N\u00ed f\u00e9idir liom glacadh leis an leas\u00fa sin.  I cannot accept the amendment. I assure the Deputy that the national energy affordability task force will keep this matter under review. The committee meets on a regular basis. I chaired it last week and it is meeting again tomorrow. The subcommittee the Deputy referred to is simply advisory. It is specifically focused on the Middle Eastern supply and the breakdown of energy supply. On the specific matter regarding the NORA levy, there is a 2 cent reduction, which is a temporary measure to help to affray costs, plus the excise duty reduction and we are also backdating the diesel rebate scheme for the haulage sector until 1 January. This will be of assistance.  I thank the Irish Road Haulage Association for its constructive engagement with us on this. All of the measures we have brought forward are targeted and temporary. We will keep them under active review. Of that, the Deputy can be absolutely assured.  While the suggestion from Teachta Daly is a good one, I assure him that the committee and I will keep this matter under regular review. I am conscious that the levy we are now removing will mean there will be less funds going into NORA. That is a short-term measure to try to affray cost increases. Mar a d\u00fairt m\u00e9, n\u00ed f\u00e9idir liom glacadh leis an leas\u00fa sin. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared lost."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"SECTION 1"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  I move amendment No. 2:  In page 3, to delete lines 24 to 31 and in page 4, to delete lines 1 to 3.  As we discussed earlier, the substance of this amendment is to remove section 1(b) from the amendment Bill. The Minister should take that under consideration. In contrast to every other energy measure announced by the Government this week, all of which had a time limit of two months, this Bill authorises another 18 months in potential tax cuts which gut the Climate Action Fund. I have serious concerns about that. If I look at the 2024 Climate Action Fund report to see what the Government might defund, it includes the community Climate Action Fund for local authorities, bog rehabilitation, solar panels on schools and improving the energy efficiency of public buildings. This is potentially giving the Minister the unfettered power to stop all that climate action for 20 months in the middle of an energy crisis and when we are supposed to making progress on climate action.  People may ask what planet the Minister is on. It seems as if he wants to burn this one. I wish to be clear with my colleagues and the public. This is what is called non-voted expenditure. That means that the levy is created by legislation and ring-fenced for NORA, which is then authorised by the Minister to transfer the funds to the Climate Action Fund. In that process, there is no D\u00e1il vote, no budget set by the Minister for Finance and voted on in October and no Cabinet discussion required. It is completely at the discretion of one person. Even the 2020 Act authorising the Climate Action Fund does not allow that kind of action with no oversight. It specifically states:  ... the Minister may, in each financial year commencing with the financial year in which the National Oil Reserves Agency (Amendment) and Provision of Central Treasury Services Act 2020 is commenced, following consultation with the Agency, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and the Minister for Finance, give a direction to the Agency to pay into the Climate Action Fund in that financial year the amount specified in the direction.  Even the original transfers to the Climate Action Fund require consultation with someone else. However, by crazy contrast, this Bill requires no consultation with anyone for a tax cut of up to \u20ac200 million. The Minister did not tell us this in his opening remarks. His Department's memorandum on the Bill did not describe this dynamic. Either the Minister and his Department did not realise what they were doing or they have hidden something from the D\u00e1il and the public. That is a very serious matter in either instance. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  That is a serious charge. The Deputy should withdraw it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  I am not withdrawing it. The Minister was not transparent on it.  We have put forward this amendment, which would require the Minister to at least seek further approval from the Oireachtas, as he would be required to do in the case of any other emergency energy measure. That is only reasonable. It is only in keeping with the Government's commitments on excise taxes and haulier rebates, which were authorised last night and have a deadline of two months' time. What is most shocking about this Bill is that the Government has not been upfront and honest about it. It has done it an underhand way with 24 hours' notice, asking the D\u00e1il to grant it unprecedented financial power. It is an unprecedented reversal on climate action. The Government thought no one would notice. Some of us do notice. We do our homework. This potential raiding of the Climate Action Fund for a year and a half, by a single Minister without Oireachtas or Cabinet oversight, at the expense of future generations should not stand.  No Member of the Oireachtas who believes in climate action should stand for unlimited power this year and the next to raid the Climate Action Fund. Earlier today, the Minister said he wanted to do more to support families during the energy crisis. Then he should tell me what community groups that are reliant on the community climate action funding he will deprive if he pushes this through in the future. He said his resolve to support renewable energy has never been stronger. Then he should tell me exactly which schools will not have solar panels if he continues with this relief beyond the two months. He spoke about Ireland doing far more than the UK. Is the UK authorising a potential reversal of any bog rehabilitation and climate action? What will the Minister say to the people in the boglands of Offaly about that? What will be his response to Deputy Clendennen, who spoke eloquently about Offaly leading in climate action? How will he explain to him that he is stripping millions from his constituency with this measure if he continues with it? This is not good enough. It is obfuscation, it is a rush and it is a power grab. The real question is how committed is this Government to climate action so I urge the Minister to support our amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  A figure of \u20ac200 million is a huge amount of money. I know the Minister may say that he has no intention of pulling this money from the Climate Action Fund but the potential is there using this particular piece of legislation. That in itself is very concerning.  One of the reasons I am really worried about this is because climate action always plays second fiddle to every other required or necessary spend the State makes. It always finds it really hard. It is difficult to get money for climate action and so when money has been identified and reserved for a particular purpose, it is really important that it is used for that purpose. To dip into it could essentially be the thin edge of the wedge when it comes to that particular fund. That is the reason the Social Democrats do not believe in reducing or stopping the carbon tax. It is because we recognise that setting aside money to ensure that people who are finding it difficult to make the transition to a fossil fuel-free future and need to be supported by the State will have the same opportunities when it comes to climate action as wealthier residents in the country. This fund, which is facilitated through the NORA levy for climate action, is very important and fulfils a very important function.  The Climate Action Fund is not just for emission reduction measures. It is not often as an Opposition TD that one can say one influenced legislation but an amendment I put forward in the previous D\u00e1il on the NORA legislation was to ensure that biodiversity projects for nature-based solutions could also be funded through the Climate Action Fund because I thought that was a really important aspect of it. If we are about talking about climate action and climate resilience, using nature to build that resilience is very important but, again, there are always problems finding funding for biodiversity measures or nature-based solution measures. To be able to get that done through the legislation with the assistance and support of the previous Minister, Eamon Ryan, was important.  It is unfortunate that it looks like one of the very few funds that is available for biodiversity and nature-based solution measures could potentially be significantly reduced without the Minister having to come back and seek approval from the D\u00e1il. It needs to be a democratic decision and there needs to be transparency about it and that is why we think signing this legislation as it currently stands and has been proposed by the Government gives far too much scope. This is not necessarily about the Minister. It is any Minister who could be taking that role. That is why we have serious concerns. We do not believe that this aspect of the Bill is necessary. It has not been done with the other emergency measures. We would ask the Minister to remove that aspect of the Bill and agree to our amendment and that in the event that a Government decision is made to continue a reduction in the NORA levy, it has to come back to be debated in and be a decision of the D\u00e1il. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis na Teachta\u00ed as ucht an leasaithe. Labhr\u00f3idh m\u00e9 i gcomhth\u00e9acs an leasaithe anois. N\u00ed f\u00e9idir liom glacadh leis. N\u00ed aonta\u00edm leis na ruda\u00ed a d\u00fairt na Teachta\u00ed. I do not agree with what Deputy Hayes said. I understand it and will take it at face value that his concerns are genuine. I have no reason to think otherwise. There is nothing underhand about this at all. It is a bit of a stretch. Deputy Hayes spoke about a raid of the Climate Action Fund. That is not it at all. This is a short-term temporary measure to reduce costs to households and businesses. It is on a two-month basis. It is very clearly set out. If it was underhand, it would not be printed in the legislation. It is not a very long Bill. It is not that it was hidden anywhere. One can read it very clearly in about three minutes. Homework is not three minutes but fair play for picking up something that is very clearly set down in the Bill itself so I commend the Deputy for that  I have no intention of extending this for 18 months. There is a sunset clause within it so it means within that period of time. If the situation got worse and we had to extend it, it gives the ability in this to extend it but that decision would be a decision that I would bring to Cabinet. I can assure the Deputy that Members would be informed of that. The Climate Action Fund is in surplus to the tune of \u20ac265 million that is unallocated. We are continuing and accelerating measures around retrofitting and biodiversity restoration. The Deputy mentioned bogland restoration. A total of 33,000 ha have been restored over the last period of time. Some incredible work is happening there. There has been incredible work on the community side on climate action so I am not trying to in any way cut into that. I have responsibilities as environment Minister to ensure that we do that.  I will not be accepting the Deputy's amendment. That is not the intention of what is here. The Deputy read it in a different way. That is fine. That is his wont. That is not what we are going to do. This is a measure to affray increases in costs that people are suffering because of an international situation. NORA itself is in surplus and needs to retain a surplus as well. The cost of this over the two-month period is approximately \u20ac20 million - probably less because the NORA levy receipts vary month by month. The clause is a sunset clause. This dies off after that period of time. It does not give a Minister the ability to extend but I can assure the House that I will bring any extension to this to Cabinet and that decision will be made by Cabinet. It is not something we would do lightly. It does not in any way impinge on the climate action worker funding we are providing for groups right across the country. I could go into all this but it is more for an environmental debate. We have done over 2,000 schools, 240,000-plus homes have been retrofitted and 4,000 businesses last year alone. We are targeting 73,000 homes this year. We have amended the grants. The Deputy's concerns are obviously genuine. I am telling him that this is not the intention of it and as we do with everything, we will do that in a transparent way. If we were to extend it, that would be a matter I would bring back to Cabinet and we will inform the House in that way. I will not be accepting the amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  I thank the Minister for committing to bringing it to Cabinet. He did not have to do that so I appreciate it. Bringing any other oversight to it involving the D\u00e1il or committees is laudable and I am glad to see the Minister engage on a good faith basis on that.  I also acknowledge the climate action that is ongoing. Retrofitting, solar panels and the rehabilitation of bogs are very positive and the Social Democrats are very supportive of that. The fear is that if the Minister continued with a reduction in the levy to the Climate Action Fund, those things would stop and there would be no further bog rehabilitation and no further schools photovoltaic programme.  That is a very real concern and that is what this Bill allows. Importantly, the Minister said that it was specified in the Bill. I see no reference in this Bill to the Climate Action Fund - not one. It does not articulate the fact that this levy goes to climate action. It goes to the Climate Action Fund. That is not in this Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  It goes to NORA and then an element of it is forwarded. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  Yes, and then 80% of it goes to the Climate Action Fund. The entirety of the Climate Action Fund, or 99% of it, is funded by this levy so the Minister cannot tell me he is being transparent. The Minister cannot tell me that he was totally upfront with the D\u00e1il here; he was not. The Minister did not mention it in his opening remarks. It is not in the Bill. It is not in the explanatory memorandum from the Department. It is important that the Minister be upfront with people on this, that the levy is, in fact, the only major funder of the Climate Action Fund in the State and that, without it, we will strip \u20ac10 million a year from schools for solar panels. That is what we are talking about here.  The Minister is correct that the levy is approximately \u20ac10 million a month. It goes up and down, as the Minister said. It was approximately \u20ac120 million, as it was, in 2024 and it is forecast in the explanatory memorandum as being approximately the same for this year. That is a very significant chunk of money over a very long period of time.  What we are saying is that it is fair enough to give relief for two months, as it is in excise and as it is in haulage, but to say that the Minister should have the power to extend it by another \u20ac180 million and strip the Climate Action Fund of all its funding for this year and next is an insane proposition. The proviso that allows the Minister to do that in this Bill, which, by the way, does not mention the Climate Action Fund and is not transparent on that, should stand, and so I will be pressing the amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  I do not understand the difference between the Climate Action Fund and the NORA levy that funds it and the carbon tax. It is really important that the Government has stood strong with the carbon tax and it is being very clear that it is to be ring-fenced for climate action. Only today, in the D\u00e1il, the Taoiseach was highly critical of Sinn F\u00e9in and the fact that Sinn F\u00e9in continually asked for the carbon tax to be scrapped or reduced. Indeed, what the Taoiseach said was that it \"is essential to guarantee ring-fenced funding for the retrofitting of homes, the warmer homes initiative and the retrofitting of local authority housing, all of which will help working people to permanently reduce their bills into the future.\" The Taoiseach described Sinn F\u00e9in as being \"hypocritical\" to call for a reduction in carbon tax. It is hypocritical of the Government to say that the carbon tax is fundamental to our climate ambitions and our climate action while at the same time reducing the NORA levy in a way that it could possibly be done over 18 months without bringing it back to the floor of the D\u00e1il or without bringing it to a committee. It is a decision for the Government, through the Cabinet, that the Minister could do that and take up to \u20ac200 million out of the Climate Action Fund. I cannot square that circle.  They are very similar funds, in my opinion, and it is important to protect both of them. I can understand, as a short-term two-month measure, reducing the NORA levy, but this could potentially extend it. I know the Minister says that is not his intention, that is not the point and this is a sunset clause, but the effect of this sunset clause will mean that we will not have to debate this again. The Minister will not have to report back to the D\u00e1il and that is concerning. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  D\u2019fhreagair m\u00e9 ceisteanna an Teachta. N\u00edl aon rud f\u00e1gtha le r\u00e1 agam faoi sin. N\u00edl m\u00e9 ag glacadh leis an leas\u00fa. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 1 agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2 agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Title agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Bill reported without amendment, received for final consideration and passed."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Bill will now be sent to the Seanad. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"National Oil Reserve Agency (Amendment) Bill 2026: Committee and Remaining Stages"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-25\/debate\/dbsect_25","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Estimates for Public Services 2026","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_25","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Transport (Deputy Darragh O'Brien)  I move the following Revised Estimates:   Vote 1 \u2014 President's Establishment (Revised Estimate).   That a sum not exceeding \u20ac6,198,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2026, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Secretary General to the President, for certain other expenses of the President's Establishment and for certain grants.   Vote 2 \u2014 Department of the Taoiseach (Revised Estimate).   That a sum not exceeding \u20ac36,290,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2026, for the salaries and expenses of the Department of the Taoiseach, including certain services administered by the Department and for payment of grants.   Vote 3 \u2014 Office of the Attorney General (Revised Estimate).   That a sum not exceeding \u20ac30,709,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2026, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Attorney General, including a grant.   Vote 4 \u2014 Central Statistics Office (Revised Estimate).   That a sum not exceeding \u20ac116,053,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2026, for the salaries and expenses of the Central Statistics Office.   Vote 5 \u2014 Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Revised Estimate).   That a sum not exceeding \u20ac82,119,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2026, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.   Vote 6 \u2014 Office of the Chief State Solicitor (Revised Estimate).   That a sum not exceeding \u20ac59,881,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2026, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Chief State Solicitor.   Vote 7 \u2014 Office of the Minister for Finance (Revised Estimate).   That a sum not exceeding \u20ac58,165,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2026, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Finance, including the Paymaster-General's Office, for certain services administered by the Office of the Minister and for payment of certain grants.   Vote 8 \u2014 Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (Revised Estimate).   That a sum not exceeding \u20ac12,349,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2026, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General.   Vote 9 \u2014 Office of the Revenue Commissioners (Revised Estimate).   That a sum not exceeding \u20ac610,728,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2026, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Revenue Commissioners, including certain other services administered by that Office.   Vote 10 \u2014 Tax Appeals Commission (Revised Estimate).   That a sum not exceeding \u20ac4,090,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2026, for the salaries and expenses of the Tax Appeals Commission.   Vote 13 \u2014 Office of Public Works (Revised Estimate).   That a sum not exceeding \u20ac801,313,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2026, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of Public Works; for services administered by that Office and for payment of certain grants and for the recoupment of certain expenditure.   Vote 16 \u2014 Tailte \u00c9ireann (Revised Estimate).   That a sum not exceeding \u20ac100,872,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2026, for the salaries and expenses of Tailte \u00c9ireann and certain minor services, and that a sum not exceeding \u20ac579,000 be granted by way of the application for capital supply services of unspent appropriations, the surrender of which may be deferred under Section 91 of the Finance Act 2004.   Vote 20 \u2014 Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na (Revised Estimate).   That a sum not exceeding \u20ac2,619,421,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2026, for the salaries and expenses of the Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, including pensions, etc. for the payment of certain witnesses' expenses, and for payment of certain grants, and that a sum not exceeding \u20ac17,310,000 be granted by way of the application for capital supply services of unspent appropriations, the surrender of which may be deferred under Section 91 of the Finance Act 2004.   Vote 21 \u2014 Prisons (Revised Estimate).   That a sum not exceeding \u20ac569,122,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2026, for the salaries and expenses of the Prison Service, and other expenses in connection with prisons, including places of detention, and for payment of certain grants.   Vote 22 \u2014 Courts Service (Revised Estimate).   That a sum not exceeding \u20ac180,459,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2026, for such of the salaries and expenses of the Courts Service and of the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal, the High Court, the Special Criminal Court, the Circuit Court and the District Court and of certain other minor services as are not charged to the Central Fund, and that a sum not exceeding \u20ac5,047,000 be granted by way of the application for capital supply services of unspent appropriations, the surrender of which may be deferred under Section 91 of the Finance Act 2004.   Vote 23 \u2014 An Coimisi\u00fan Toghch\u00e1in (Revised Estimate).   That a sum not exceeding \u20ac11,940,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2026, for the salaries and expenses of An Coimisi\u00fan Toghch\u00e1in.   Vote 24 \u2014 Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Revised Estimate).   That a sum not exceeding \u20ac2,614,134,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2026, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Probation Service staff and of certain other services including payments under cash-limited schemes administered by that Office, and payment of certain grants.   Vote 25 \u2014 Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (Revised Estimate).   That a sum not exceeding \u20ac10,483,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2026, for the salaries and expenses of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission and for payment of certain grants.   Vote 27 \u2014 International Co-operation (Revised Estimate).   That a sum not exceeding \u20ac865,199,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2026, for certain Official Development Assistance, including certain grants, and for contributions to certain International Organisations involved in Development Assistance and for salaries and expenses in connection therewith.  Vote 28 \u2014 Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised Estimate) .  That a sum not exceeding \u20ac414,027,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2026, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, and for certain services administered by that Office, including grants and contributions to International Organisations.   Vote 29 \u2014 Climate, Energy and the Environment (Revised Estimate).   That a sum not exceeding \u20ac1,061,119,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2026, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment including certain services administered by that Office, and for payment of certain grants, and that a sum not exceeding \u20ac77,011,000 be granted by way of the application for capital supply services of unspent appropriations, the surrender of which may be deferred under Section 91 of the Finance Act 2004.   Vote 30 \u2014 Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Revised Estimate).   That a sum not exceeding \u20ac1,817,835,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2026, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, including certain services administered by that Office and for payment of certain grants and subsidies and for the payment of certain grants under cash-limited schemes, and that a sum not exceeding \u20ac29,091,000 be granted by way of the application for capital supply services of unspent appropriations, the surrender of which may be deferred under Section 91 of the Finance Act 2004.   Vote 31 \u2014 Transport (Revised Estimate).   That a sum not exceeding \u20ac4,740,219,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2026, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Transport, including certain services administered by that Office, for payment of certain grants and certain other services.   Vote 32 \u2014 Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (Revised Estimate).   That a sum not exceeding \u20ac1,308,265,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2026, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, including certain services administered by that Office, for the payment of certain subsidies and grants and for the payment of certain grants under cash-limited schemes, and that a sum not exceeding \u20ac21,315,000 be granted by way of the application for capital supply services of unspent appropriations, the surrender of which may be deferred under Section 91 of the Finance Act 2004.   Vote 33 \u2014 Culture, Communications and Sport (Revised Estimate).   That a sum not exceeding \u20ac1,327,007,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2026, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport including certain services administered by that Office, and for payment of certain subsidies and grants.   Vote 34 \u2014 Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Revised Estimate).   That a sum not exceeding \u20ac8,946,300,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2026, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage including grants to Local Authorities, grants and other expenses in connection with housing, water services, miscellaneous schemes, subsidies, grants and payment of certain grants under cash-limited schemes.   Vote 35 \u2014 Army Pensions (Revised Estimate).   That a sum not exceeding \u20ac312,477,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2026, for retired pay, pensions, compensation, allowances and gratuities payable under sundry statutes to or in respect of members of the Defence Forces and certain other Military Organisations, etc., and for sundry contributions and expenses in connection therewith; for certain extra-statutory children's allowances and other payments and for sundry grants.  Vote 36 \u2014 Defence (Revised Estimate) .  That a sum not exceeding \u20ac1,154,067,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2026, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Defence, including certain services administered by that Office; for the pay and expenses of the Defence Forces; and for payment of certain grants.   Vote 37 \u2014 Social Protection (Revised Estimate).   That a sum not exceeding \u20ac14,066,335,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2026, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Social Protection, for certain services administered by that Office, for payments to the Social Insurance Fund, for certain grants and including payments under cash-limited schemes administered by that Office.   Vote 38 \u2014 Health (Revised Estimate).   That a sum not exceeding \u20ac26,940,403,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2026, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Health and certain other services administered by that Office, including grants to the Health Service Executive and miscellaneous grants.   Vote 39 \u2014 Uisce \u00c9ireann (Revised Estimate).   That a sum not exceeding \u20ac2,250,000,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2026, for payment of grants to Uisce \u00c9ireann.   Vote 40 \u2014 Children, Disability and Equality (Revised Estimate).   That a sum not exceeding \u20ac7,032,057,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2026, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, for certain services administered by that Office and for the payment of grants, and that a sum not exceeding \u20ac9,000,000 be granted by way of the application for capital supply services of unspent appropriations, the surrender of which may be deferred under Section 91 of the Finance Act 2004.   Vote 41 \u2014 An t\u00dadar\u00e1s P\u00f3il\u00edneachta agus S\u00e1bh\u00e1ilteachta Pobail (Revised Estimate).   That a sum not exceeding \u20ac6,546,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2026, for the salaries and expenses of An t\u00dadar\u00e1s P\u00f3il\u00edneachta agus S\u00e1bh\u00e1ilteachta Pobail and for the payment of certain grants.   Vote 42 \u2014 Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (Revised Estimate).   That a sum not exceeding \u20ac576,767,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2026, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht including certain services administered by that Office and for the payment of grants, and that a sum not exceeding \u20ac21,800,000 be granted by way of the application for capital supply services of unspent appropriations, the surrender of which may be deferred under Section 91 of the Finance Act 2004.   Vote 43 \u2014 Data Protection Commission (Revised Estimate).   That a sum not exceeding \u20ac32,763,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2026, for the salaries and expenses of the Data Protection Commission.   Vote 44 \u2014 Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Revised Estimate).   That a sum not exceeding \u20ac3,799,071,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2026, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for certain services administered by that Office, and for the payments of certain grants.   Vote 45 \u2014 Fiosr\u00fa (Revised Estimate).   That a sum not exceeding \u20ac24,205,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2026, for the salaries and expenses of Fiosr\u00fa. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Votes put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Estimates for Public Services 2026"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-25\/debate\/dbsect_26","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Consideration of Estimates by Committee: Motion","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_26","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Transport (Deputy Darragh O'Brien)  I move:  That, notwithstanding the Order of the D\u00e1il of 3rd day of March, 2026 and, pursuant to Standing Order 223(1), the following Committee may complete its consideration of the Estimates for Public Services for the year ending 31st December, 2026, standing referred to them pursuant to Standing Order 222(2), later than the eightieth day and not later than the one hundred and thirty-fourth day, being the 30th day of April, 2026, after the Estimates had been so referred:  \u2014 the Select Committee on Education and Youth (Vote 26). "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Consideration of Estimates by Committee: Motion"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-25\/debate\/dbsect_27","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Energy and Fuel Costs: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_27","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The following motion was moved by Deputy Pearse Doherty on Wednesday, 18 March 2026:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"recognises that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 workers and families have been hit by an unrelenting cost-of-living crisis;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government have failed to act to end this rip-off, and get prices under control;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the turmoil in international energy markets, as a result of the unjustified attacks on Iran, is compounding an existing cost-of-living crisis, and risks causing severe hardship for many people;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 inflation was running far above the Government's projections, even before the most recent shock in energy markets;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 record levels of people were already unable to pay their electricity bills, with 319,459 in arrears, and one in four people unable to pay their gas bills, with many more struggling to keep from falling behind;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the number of people at risk of poverty increased in 2025; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government got it badly wrong when they decided to withdraw cost of living supports;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"notes with concern that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 in this context, the rapid rise in the price of petrol, diesel and home heating oil has placed more pressure on workers and families; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government has legislated to increase the price of home heating oil in a matter of weeks; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"calls on the Government to:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 scrap plans to increase taxes on home heating oil on May 1st; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 immediately reduce the cost of petrol, diesel and home heating oil, by implementing Sinn F\u00e9in's Mineral Oil Tax (Emergency Cost of Living Reduction) Bill 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Debate resumed on amendment No. 1:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"To delete all words after \"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann\" and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\"notes that, the Government:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 remains deeply concerned about the escalating conflict in the Middle East and the Gulf;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 affirms Ireland's long track-record of support for international law and the United Nations;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 continues to seek de-escalation through dialogue and diplomacy so that these issues can be resolved;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 is acutely aware of the impact on households and businesses of the recent increases in fuel prices, and is actively monitoring the current geopolitical situation and developments in energy markets;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 affirms that energy affordability is a priority, and highlights that successive Budgets have provided targeted support to help households with cost-of-living pressures; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 remains committed to decarbonising our society, increasing investment in renewable energy sources, and using revenues raised to protect those most vulnerable to fuel poverty through targeted welfare interventions;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"affirms that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the T\u00e1naiste and Minister for Finance, with Department of Finance officials, is monitoring international and national developments in fuel markets, alongside the latest macro-economic impacts;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government is working to calibrate an appropriate response, to be brought forward in the coming days, to ease the burden on affected households; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 engagement at European Union level is continuing, including at a meeting of the European Council this week;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"recalls that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Carbon Tax revenues are ring-fenced for climate action and just transition measures;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Budget 2026 provided over \u20ac1.1 billion in advancement of these goals, with \u20ac350 million of those funds allocated to targeted social protection interventions;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Budget 2026 extended the 9 per cent Value Added Tax rate for gas and electricity until the end of 2030;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Budget 2026 increased the weekly Fuel Allowance payment by \u20ac5; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Budget 2026 broadened the Fuel Allowance eligibility, such that an additional 50,000 working families will now be eligible for this allowance; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"further notes that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Ireland operates an open market economy, which generally means businesses are permitted to set and change their own prices, however, any behaviour that breaches consumer protection or competition law falls within the remit of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) and will be investigated and enforced accordingly;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment has initiated the process of further strengthening the powers of the CCPC in both its consumer protection and competition functions;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government's Climate Action Plan commits to halving emissions by 2030, and reaching net zero no later than 2050;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 in the long run, the best way to protect Ireland from the impact of international fossil fuel prices is to reduce our dependence on them;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Ireland is undergoing a renewables-led energy transformation, electricity generation from renewables has increased fivefold since 2005, and the milestone of over 2 gigawatts of installed solar capacity was achieved in November;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 offshore wind capacity is also being prioritised, with the Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy and Minister for Transport, Darragh O'Brien TD, announcing the acceleration of the National Designated Maritime Area Plan for offshore renewable energy, which will identify sites for additional renewable energy development, and \u20ac3.15 billion of the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund is being provided to help achieve carbon reductions, particularly environmental and nature objectives, and this includes funding to the Department of Transport to support low-carbon transportation, and \u20ac500 million to the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, to support climate mitigation and renewable energy development;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 home retrofitting is scaling up, with supports improving to bring more people in, especially those at risk of fuel poverty;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 analysis undertaken by the Economic and Social Research Institute, using the Simulating Welfare, Income Tax, Childcare and Health (SWITCH) tax and benefit model, to simulate the impact of the carbon tax and the compensatory welfare package, estimates that the net impact of the combined measures is progressive and half of households are better off due to the measures part-funded by carbon tax funds, with households in the bottom four income deciles benefitting the most; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the National Energy Affordability Taskforce has been established to identify, assess and implement measures that will enhance energy affordability for households and businesses, while delivering key renewable commitments and protecting security of supply and economic stability, and the Interim Report of the Taskforce was published last November, with an Action Plan for Energy Affordability to be published in Q3 of this year.\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"- (T\u00e1naiste and Minister for Finance)"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I must now deal with a postponed division relating to the motion regarding energy and fuel costs. On Wednesday, 18 March 2026 on the question, \"That the amendment to the motion be agreed to\", a division was claimed and in accordance with Standing Order 85(2), that division must be taken now. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Energy and Fuel Costs: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members]"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-25\/debate\/dbsect_36","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Structural Reform of Child Welfare Governance: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_36","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The following motion was moved by Deputy Ken O'Flynn on Thursday, 19 March 2026:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"notes that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 child protection and welfare represent one of the most fundamental constitutional obligations of the State;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, operates as a statutory agency at arm's length from direct departmental control, funded by the Exchequer, but structurally separate from the Department of Children, Disability and Equality;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 this governance model has resulted in:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 blurred lines of accountability between the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, and Tusla;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 delays in political responsiveness; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 ongoing difficulty for elected representatives seeking urgent intervention in serious child welfare matters;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 over the past decade, repeated reviews and audits have highlighted:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 delays in child protection assessments;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 social worker recruitment and retention challenges;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 a backlog in referrals; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 inconsistent case management standards;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Tusla's Annual Report and Financial Statements 2024, confirms that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 451 organisations were funded under Section 56 arrangements;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 121 additional organisations were funded through the Education Support Service; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 a total of approximately 572 external organisations received funding in 2024;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the scale and fragmentation of these funding arrangements raises legitimate questions regarding:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 administrative overheads;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 governance duplication;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 financial transparency; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 strategic coherence; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 in a number of comparable jurisdictions, child protection functions are directly embedded within Ministerial Departments, ensuring clearer democratic accountability;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"acknowledges that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 frontline social workers, and child protection professionals, perform critical and demanding work under significant pressure;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 any reform must protect service continuity and safeguard vulnerable children; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 structural reform must be carefully phased, and evidence based; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"calls on the Government to:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 commission an independent governance review, examining the feasibility of dissolving Tusla as a separate legal entity, and transferring its statutory powers directly to the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 publish, within 12 months, a White Paper outlining options to:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 establish a child protection directorate within the Department of Children, Disability and Equality;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 consolidate policy and operational authority;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 streamline funding and procurement structures;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 enhance direct Ministerial accountability;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 develop a phased transition plan, if recommended, over a 12 to 24-month period, to ensure uninterrupted service delivery; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 strengthen financial oversight mechanisms, including unified budgeting and improved reporting transparency to the Oireachtas; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 establish or reinforce an independent statutory inspectorate to ensure robust oversight under any revised governance model."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Debate resumed on amendment No. 1:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"To delete all words after \"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann\" and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\"welcomes that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, operates as the single dedicated agency with a clear statutory remit;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Tusla is held to account through robust governance and oversight arrangements;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Tusla is served by well qualified staff who are committed to delivering essential child protection and welfare services to vulnerable members of society;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 staff in Tusla enjoy statutory independence, necessary for the performance of their duties in assessing and providing essential services to children and families;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Tusla has initiated a significant integrated Reform Programme in 2026, which is:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 promoting equity in service availability, through more equitable Regions and Areas, consistent structures and spans of control, and transparent resource allocation;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 promoting capacity, through targeting resources where most needed, scaling capacity in line with demand, and using evidence-based data for service planning; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 promoting quality, through more consistent, integrated, digitally enabled services, leaner business processes, multidisciplinary teams, and a focus on face-to-face time with children and families; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 these reforms provide for the creation of a single record for each child and young person, which will support integrated working, including a more streamlined referral and allocation system for residential care, improved communications, accurate data to improve decision making on an individual level, improved resource allocation and enhanced monitoring of performance on a local regional and organisational basis;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"notes that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Tusla has experienced a 46 per cent increase in referrals since 2021, and a 500 per cent increase in separated children seeking international protection in Ireland since 2022;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 in the almost 12 years since its establishment, Tusla's annual budget has more than doubled, going from \u20ac609 million in 2014, to over \u20ac1.3 billion for 2026;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Tusla has seen budget increases in most years, with significant investment annually since 2020, including a 14 per cent increase in 2026;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the increased funding for 2026 includes a capital budget allocation of \u20ac35 million, which will be directed to increasing Tusla-owned residential care settings, including special care, thereby reducing its requirement for privately operated Special Emergency Arrangements;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 investment in recent budgets has allowed Tusla to, amongst other things:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 increase supports to foster carers;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 hire additional staff including social workers;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 begin to increase capacity in residential care and special care; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 improve Internet Technology systems;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 notwithstanding the increased demands, the good work of Tusla is evidenced by:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the overwhelming majority of referrals to Tusla resulting in children and parents being supported in their homes;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 99 per cent of children in care are assigned to an allocated key worker;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 retention of high levels of children in care who are in foster care, as 87 per cent of all children in care are in foster care;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the increasing number of foster parents signing up to support children;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Central Statistics Office finding that approximately nine in ten children who left care since April 2018, aged 18-23 years by January 2024, were in substantial employment, enrolled in school, or in Further or Higher Education for each of the years 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the staff retention rate is 95 per cent; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 innovative solutions to recruitment challenges, including its work with the Higher Education sector in developing pathways to social work and social care work, and with CORU, in developing an apprenticeship pathway; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 so many community and voluntary groups nationwide carry out great work, funded and overseen by Tusla's Commissioned Services team, in providing essential services to vulnerable people, and this includes Family Resource Centres, counselling services and area-based childhood programmes; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"further notes that Tusla, as an organisation of over 5,000 people, was established to have a specialist management team with a deep knowledge, experience and understanding of operational service delivery in the area of social work and social care, as opposed to the Department's more general focus on advancing policy and legislation, which extends to the important areas of Disability Services, Early Learning and Care and School Age Care and Equality.\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"-(Minister for Children, Disability and Equality)"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I must now deal with a postponed division relating to the motion regarding flexible structural reform of child welfare governance. On Wednesday, 18 March 2026, on the question, \"That the amendment to the motion be agreed to\", a division was claimed and in accordance with Standing Order 85(2), that division must be taken now. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Structural Reform of Child Welfare Governance: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members]"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-25\/debate\/dbsect_45","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Cancer Services: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_45","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The following motion was moved by Deputy David Cullinane on Tuesday, 24 March 2026:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"notes that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026 is due to end this year, and a new strategy is needed to drive improvements in access to, and the quality of, care from 2027;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 in 2025, 15 per cent of chemotherapy, and 23 per cent of radiotherapy, patients did not get access to treatment in the target timeframe;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 in 2025, 45 per cent of breast cancer surgeries and 39 per cent of lung cancer surgeries, and in 2024, 61 per cent of prostate cancer surgeries, did not happen within the target timeframe;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 a postcode lottery exists in access to care, with access within target timeframes ranging from as low as 60 per cent in some areas, to upwards of 95 per cent in other communities;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 this State has below European Union average levels of diagnostic and imaging equipment, such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Computerized Tomography, and Positron Emission Tomography scanners, which is leading to significant delays in access to care, particularly surgeries, and this is caused by a combination of a low density of equipment, out-dated equipment, and poor utilisation of existing equipment;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 there has been a highly concerning shortfall in the number of women screened for breast cancer, with BreastCheck only screening 75 per cent of the anticipated number of women in 2025, which already assumes a 30 per cent fall off from the number of women invited for screening; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the most recent implementation review found that only 1 of 23 National Cancer Strategy objectives had been met;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"considers that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 cancer services need a clear roadmap and guaranteed funding levels for the next decade to deliver key enablers, detailed planning, and turn gold standard targets from aspirations into real deliverables;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the mission of the new cancer strategy must be to improve standards, timely access to care, patient outcomes, quality of life, efficiencies, and innovation;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 a new strategy must include a strong emphasis on prevention, early detection, and proactive treatment of primary drivers, as well as of cancers themselves;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 a new strategy must address access to care, workforce challenges, equipment and infrastructure deficits, research, innovation, all-island planning, and the post-code lottery which currently exists for services;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 a new strategy presents a significant opportunity to drive all-island collaboration in improving cancer care and outcomes, and all-island planning, training, and delivery should feature prominently in a new strategy; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 clearly identified, protected, and guaranteed new developments funding should be provided to underpin a new strategy, through a multi-annual funding framework averaging \u20ac30 million a year, each year, in additional new developments funding;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"condemns the failure of Government to provide and clearly identify ring-fenced new developments funding for the National Cancer Strategy in 5 of the 10 Budgets over the lifespan of the current strategy;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"resolves that a new cancer strategy should:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 guarantee timely access to cancer diagnosis, treatment, recovery, and follow up care;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 end postcode and income-based inequality;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 provide multi-annual funding certainty;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 expand capacity in line with projected demand;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 strictly manage expenditure to ensure cost-effectiveness without losing sight of the critical social and economic benefits of health investment;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 strengthen all-island cancer cooperation;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 reduce the financial and social burden of cancer; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 position Ireland as a leader in research and innovation; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"calls on the Government to:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 commit to a new cancer strategy, to cover the period 2027 to 2037;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 guarantee \u20ac30 million in additional new developments funding each year, to underpin delivery of the new strategy;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 end the postcode lottery in access to cancer care, through targeted investment;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 implement a specific campaign to increase uptake of BreastCheck, catch up on women who did not attend screening invitations, and provide the option for information on breast density through BreastCheck;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 implement a managed programme for replacing outdated equipment;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 mandate Health Service Executive Regions to implement site specific equipment utilisation plans, including roster reform agreed with workers, to maximise use of existing equipment;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 extend service hours in the evening and over weekends, following constructive engagement with workers, for diagnostic imaging, laboratories, and treatment options, and ensure a commensurate increase in staffing levels, to maximise utilisation of equipment and capacity;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 fund additional training places in areas of strategic need in the health workforce, and work with graduates to ensure employment in the Irish health service;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 abolish hospital car parking charges for patients and visitors;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 immediately increase medical card thresholds in line with GP visit card thresholds, and increase funding for discretionary medical cards, to widen compassionate access;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 increase the health capital budget to \u20ac2.5 billion per annum for the remainder of the National Development Plan, to ensure sufficient funding for all of the Government's infrastructure commitments in Health;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 adopt a systematic approach towards clinical trials and life sciences innovation, aiming to make Ireland a world leader in clinical trials and the development of new medicines and therapies; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 place Sl\u00e1intecare wait time targets into law."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Debate resumed on amendment No. 1:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"To delete all words after \"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann\" and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\"notes that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 while a large proportion of cancers are preventable, our growing and ageing population is a key driving factor behind the increase in cancers;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 today, over 220,000 people in Ireland are living with or after cancer, a 50 per cent increase compared to a decade ago;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the National Cancer Registry predicts that 1 in 2 people will receive a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 fortunately, survival rates for patients after receiving a cancer diagnosis have continued to improve, with 65 per cent of patients living five years after a cancer diagnosis in 2014-2018, compared to 44 per cent in 1994-1998;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development data shows that cancer mortality rates in Ireland are falling faster than the European Union average, and faster than our economic peers;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 these improvements were achieved under reforms delivered by three consecutive National Cancer Strategies, dating back to 1996, and these Strategies provided a clear, evidence-based, approach to cancer control, taking a whole-of-population perspective;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the current strategy was launched in July 2017, setting out an ambitious set of actions to be completed within 10 years, and an evaluation of the strategy will be conducted this year, and the outcome of this will inform the development of the next strategy;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the new strategy will provide an important opportunity to plan for the introduction of new therapies and treatments across the cancer continuum from prevention, screening, treatment, survivorship and palliative care;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the current strategy contains 52 recommendations, with 43 of these having been implemented, and the National Cancer Control Programme is continuing to progress implementation of the remaining nine;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the National Cancer Control Programme plays a key role in the planning and oversight of cancer services, setting national standards, monitoring regional performance and driving service reform;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 cancer services are delivered by a large and dedicated workforce, who strive to provide the best possible care for their patients;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 while services have improved overall, unfortunately, there are periodic regional variations in the performance of some services, and the transition to the new regional health structure, with greater autonomy and stronger performance accountability at local level, is designed specifically to address regional inequality and to improve patient outcomes;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 since the beginning of the current National Cancer Strategy in 2017, the Government has allocated \u20ac105 million to the National Cancer Strategy to support cancer services and improve outcomes for patients;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 this has enabled the recruitment of over 670 staff to our national cancer services, including the recruitment of an additional 180 staff to national cancer screening and treatment services as of the end of 2025;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 between 2021 and 2024, approval for reimbursement by the Health Service Executive (HSE) was given for 74 drugs for cancer, and the total spend on cancer drugs in this period exceeded \u20ac645 million;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 capital funding of over \u20ac140 million has been used to provide state of the art radiation oncology facilities in Galway and Cork, to establish a National Cervical Screening Laboratory, and to update cancer infrastructure in chemotherapy wards and lab facilities;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 more widely, the 2025 National Development Plan (NDP) review secured the largest ever capital investment plan in the history of the State and largest investment ever in health infrastructure in the State, and the NDP Health capital allocation is \u20ac1.56 billion for 2026 and the enhanced NDP provision for the health sector for 2026\u20132030 is \u20ac9.25 billion;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government is progressing multiannual budgeting across the health services, and capital investment is already on a multiyear basis;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 since 2020, total staff working in Government funded HSE services has risen by over 22,000 Whole Time Equivalent (WTE), from 107,000 WTE to 129,600 at the end of January 2026, an increase of 21 per cent;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the HSE continues to focus on service expansion and improvement, and the National Cancer Control Programme has developed a number of programmes to improve capacity at specialist cancer centres, and to support patients in avoiding Emergency Departments;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government has provided significant investment in cancer screening programmes in recent years, and funding of \u20ac2.9 million was provided in 2025, to support the recruitment of 22 WTE posts, 15 additional WTE posts were also approved to help expand and futureproof the programme to meet increasing demand, and in 2025, 173,000 women participated in screening, the highest number in BreastCheck's history;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Programme for Government contains a commitment to extend the Laura Brennan Programme to anyone under 25 who missed it, and in January 2026, it was announced that the Laura Brennan Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Vaccine Catch-Up Programme would be reopened, to offer an additional opportunity for students in fifth and sixth year of post-primary school to receive HPV vaccination in 2026;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Productivity and Savings Taskforce is advancing improvements in equipment utilisation, diagnostics and theatre capacity, including through roster reforms and extended hours where required;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the expansion and rollout of the Public Only Consultant Contract, alongside the revised 2025 Framework Agreement with health sector trade unions, provides a strong platform to support the extension of services;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 through the National Plan for Radiation Oncology, a major equipment replacement and expansion programme is being progressed, including replacing 14 linear accelerators at St. Luke's Radiation Oncology Network and adding two at Beaumont, with associated diagnostic upgrades;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 new advanced services including CAR-T cell therapy and advanced radiotherapy have been introduced, removing the need for certain cohorts to travel abroad;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 significant Government investment is being provided to expand healthcare education, and within the last training year, the total number of doctors enrolled in training programmes has increased by 7 per cent, with the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science recently announcing a \u20ac28.5 million investment to support the delivery of more than 1,100 additional healthcare training places annually over the next three years across medicine, nursing, therapy professions, pharmacy and dentistry;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 almost 1,600 first year students now enrol in medicine each year, along with 2,200 nurses; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 in June 2025, the Government approved a significant expansion in training places for Health and Social Care Professions, and this saw up to 310 additional student places created in 2025, and a further 151 in subsequent years, including 23 additional places in radiotherapy and 80 additional places in radiography across 2025 and 2026.\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"- (Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Kieran O'Donnell)"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I must now deal with a postponed division relating to the motion regarding cancer services. On Wednesday, 18 March 2026, on the question, \"That the amendment to the motion be agreed to\", a division was claimed and in accordance with Standing Order 85(2), that division must be taken now. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Cancer Services: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members]"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-25\/debate\/dbsect_54","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_54","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The following motion was moved by Deputy Alan Kelly on Wednesday, 25 March 2026:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"notes that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 there are still fewer serving members of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na in 2026, compared to six years ago, with 14,187 available members at the end of January 2026, in contrast to 14,235 members in 2020;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 accounting for population growth, this fall in numbers means that there are now 10 per cent fewer Garda\u00ed per capita than there were five years ago;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Programme for Government committed to recruiting at least 5,000 new Garda recruits and additional Garda staff by 2030;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 trainee intakes remain far too low to achieve adequate policing levels, with just 619 Garda\u00ed attesting from Templemore in 2025;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 during 2025, 29 per cent of Garda Divisions, and 46 per cent of Garda Districts, either lost Garda members or saw no change in numbers;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the numbers of Garda\u00ed unavailable due to suspension has rapidly increased in recent years, with 107 Garda\u00ed suspended at the end of 2025, versus just 39 in December 2018;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 over 2025, the number of Community Garda\u00ed fell from 700 to 615; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 there were just 308 Garda Reserve members as of 31st January, 2026, down from 1,164 in 2013;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"recognises that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 over a year since the formation of the new Government, no new plan has been put in place to increase Garda recruitment and expand the size of the force, in line with public commitments;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 morale within the force was severely damaged under the tenure of the previous Garda Commissioner, with the high-profile mistreatment of serving members, and a steady trend of Garda\u00ed leaving the force or retiring early;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 serious questions remain about the conduct of the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation and senior Garda leadership towards serving members in the Limerick region, and in the Garda bike loan case;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 further serious questions remain unanswered about the procurement and use of inappropriate gun holsters, and the storage of firearms, live scan fingerprints, drugs and cash at Garda Headquarters; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government failed to declare, over seven years, that the previous Garda Commissioner was provided with rent free accommodation through the Office of Public Works, that underwent \u20ac400,000 worth of renovations before being made available in 2018;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"further notes that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the then Garda Commissioner, Drew Harris, appeared before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport and Communications in May 2024, and stated that an additional 150 Garda\u00ed would be allocated to Roads Policing over 2024 and 2025;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 on 31st December, 2023, there were 632 Garda\u00ed allocated to Roads Policing, while on 31st December, 2025, there were 647 Garda\u00ed allocated to Roads Policing, an increase of just 15 members, or 10 per cent of the Commissioner's stated aim;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 40 per cent of the Garda vehicles fleet is over six years old;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 significant concerns have been raised regarding the impact of the new Garda Operating Model (GOM) implemented from 2019 onwards, which breaks the link between Garda\u00ed and local communities, in particular in rural areas;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 in response to an Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors survey in 2025, 90 per cent of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors indicated that high visibility policing has not increased since the introduction of the GOM, and that the GOM is \"unsuitable for rural policing\", while 98 per cent of respondents called for an urgent review of the GOM; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Policing and Community Safety Authority assessment of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na's policing performance throughout the first half of 2025, found that 11 of 18 performance indicators were \"at risk\";"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"acknowledges:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the crucial role played by An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na in protecting and serving communities across Ireland;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the critical importance of a locally embedded, well-resourced, modern police service, in enabling communities to flourish;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the crisis of low morale that has been allowed to develop among rank-and-file Garda\u00ed under successive governments, due to consistent under-resourcing and a failing operational policing model, and the impact that crisis has on the ability of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na to perform its critical functions; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 that selective internal investigations within An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na have been weaponised against members of the force who raise legitimate concerns, submit protected disclosures or act as whistleblowers;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"calls on the Government to initiate a public inquiry into the conduct of internal Garda investigations during, and subsequent to, the tenure of the former Garda Commissioner, Drew Harris; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"in order to address recruitment shortfalls, improve morale, and strengthen policing in Ireland, further calls on the Government to:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 urgently publish a funded plan to ensure at least 1,000 new Garda\u00ed are trained every year;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 review the current GOM, and where it is not consistent with effective rural and community policing, to halt its implementation;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 enhance the community policing model to standardise rostering in line with other Garda\u00ed, introduce appropriate promotional opportunities, and increase the use of pedal cycles in urban community policing;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 increase the Garda training allowance to the equivalent of a starting salary, and review pay and pension issues for serving staff;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 provide each Garda District and the communities living there with a clear timeline of when increased numbers of Garda\u00ed will be deployed to address safety concerns and anti-social behaviour, and roll out domestic abuse coordination teams across every region;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 commit to a measurable plan to increase roads policing, and invest in the vehicle fleet and Garda equipment;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 invest in expanding Templemore Training College and the Garda lands and facilities at Dromard, Clonmore, to ensure at least 1,000 new recruits are trained per year; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 introduce an occupational supplementary pension to the Single Public Service Pension Scheme, as a key retention measure for uniformed service personnel."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Debate resumed on amendment No. 1:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"To delete all words after \"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann\" and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\"recognises:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the crucial role played by An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na in ensuring the security of the State, protecting and serving communities across Ireland through the maintenance of law and order, and upholding the principles of justice;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the commencement of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, in April 2025, providing an extensive new framework for policing and community safety in Ireland, and the subsequent establishment of new bodies critical to the governance and delivery of policing services by An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 that Central Statistics Office data shows a decrease in the majority of offence groups in the year to September 2025, the latest period for which data is available;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 that, in particular, homicide and related offences fell by 25 per cent, reflecting, in particular, the significant success of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na in combatting organised crime groups;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 that robbery, extortion and hijacking offences fell by 13 per cent in the same period;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 that burglary and related offences fell by 12 per cent, reflecting the continued evidence-based success of Operation Thor by An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the critical importance of a visible, locally embedded, well-resourced, modern police service in building stronger, safer communities, supporting community wellbeing and enabling them to flourish;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 that, through the promotion of crime prevention and visible policing, An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na foster a sense of security, especially among the most vulnerable in our society;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 that our communities rely on the Garda\u00ed to respond to emergency calls, patrol our neighbourhoods, prevent, detect and investigate crimes;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 that An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na play an important role in the recently established Community Safety Partnerships, 35 of which are established and operational around the country;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 that overall funding for An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na has increased by almost 50 per cent since 2020, with investment of over \u20ac2.74 billion for 2026;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 that through successive budget increases the Government has ensured that An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na has the resources, leadership and technology to deliver on its mission;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 that a major capital plan is being implemented, including the construction of Divisional Headquarters in Clonmel and Macroom; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 that \u20ac69 million has been allocated to further expand and modernise the Garda fleet over the next five years, which represents a 38 per cent increase on the allocation for the previous five years;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"further recognises that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 in line with Programme for Government commitments, the Garda Training Review Group is working to identify delivery options to increase the scale and capacity of high-quality education, training and continuous professional development in An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, and this will help ensure that the skills needs of the organisation are met over the next decade;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the proportion of Garda resignations remains very low, with the resignation rate currently between 1 and 2 per cent;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 significant measures have been taken to boost recruitment and retention in recent years, including increasing the Garda trainee allowance to \u20ac354 per week, increasing the age of entry from 35 to 50, and raising the mandatory retirement age to 62;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the vast majority of Garda\u00ed serve with integrity and work tirelessly to keep our communities safe;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Garda Commissioner is committed to ensuring the highest levels of integrity are maintained across the organisation, and that there are robust procedures in place under the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, to allow him to deal with any allegations of misconduct;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the introduction of a modernised statutory disciplinary framework under the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, will help to ensure more timely resolution of conduct proceedings and cases involving Garda suspensions;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 statutory Standards of Professional Behaviour and associated Conduct Regulations now provide clear mechanisms to examine allegations concerning the conduct of Garda members; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 significant and sustained investment in equipment for Garda\u00ed is delivering real benefits, including through the rollout of mobility devices to all frontline members, the rollout of body-worn cameras, the acquisition of two water cannons, the expansion of the fleet and the purchase of three new state-of-the-art aircraft;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"welcomes that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 there are 14,529 attested Garda\u00ed serving with An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na as of end February 2026, reflecting that Garda recruitment is now accelerating following the forced closure of the Garda College during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, and subsequent alterations to training as the pandemic continued;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 this represents an increase of almost 1,500 Garda members since 2016;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the overall Garda workforce has increased from 15,980 in 2016 to 18,276 in 2026;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government has committed in the Programme for Government to funding the recruitment of 5,000 Garda\u00ed and additional Garda staff by 2030;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 interest in a career in An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na is high, with almost 11,000 applications to join the Service received in 2025;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 223 Garda Trainees entered the Garda Training College in Templemore in November 2025, the largest single intake to the Garda College since 2014, and overall, 794 trainees entered the Garda College in 2025, the highest number since 2018;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 a further 215 Garda Trainees entered the Garda Training College in February 2026, with three further intakes planned across the remainder of the year;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 194 Gardai attested in November 2025, the highest number since 2019;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government is committed to increasing the Garda Reserve with a recruitment competition planned for 2026, and further intakes planned this year; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the introduction of the Garda Operating Model, which makes Garda Divisions the central unit of policing administration, has provided for a more comprehensive and inclusive policing service and helped strengthen the focus on community policing, while also introducing increased local specialisation in the investigation of a range of crimes, including sexual crime, domestic violence, cyber-crime, and economic crime; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"notes the Government's commitment to:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 continue to invest in ensuring that An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na has the resources it needs to keep people safe;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 support the Garda Commissioner in ensuring the wellbeing and job satisfaction of the members and staff of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 continue to provide funding to recruit 5,000 new Garda\u00ed over the next five years;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 modernise the statutory basis for certain Garda powers, through the enactment of the Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na (Powers) Bill 2026;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 further enhance the detection and investigation capabilities of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, through the enactment of the Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na (Recording Devices) (Amendment) Bill 2025, which builds on the Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na's ability to use body-worn cameras, enabled through the Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na (Recording Devices) Act 2023;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 continue to invest in additional measures to support the Garda College to increase capacity for up to 1,000 Garda Trainees per year, including those detailed in the An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na Recruitment Training Capacity Group Report, published in September 2025; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 continue to support the work being done by An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na with international partners to deal with organised crime gangs and the related issue of drugs in our communities.\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"- (Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration)"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I must now deal with a postponed division relating to the motion regarding An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. On Wednesday, 25 March 2026, on the question, \"That the amendment to the motion be agreed to\", a division was claimed and in accordance with Standing Order 85(2), that division must be taken now. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members]"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-25\/debate\/dbsect_63","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 (Section 4(2)) (Scheme Termination Date) Order 2026: Motion (Resumed)","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_63","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The following motion was moved by the Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Deputy Colm Brophy, on Wednesday, 25 March 2026:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann approves the following Order in draft:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 (Section 4(2)) (Scheme Termination Date) Order 2026,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"a copy of which was laid in draft form before D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann on 23rd February, 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Debate resumed on amendment No. 1:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"To insert the following after \"23rd February, 2026\":"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\", provided that this Order shall take effect only after the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 has been amended to provide for the Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) scheme termination date to be extended, only for the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 existing recipients, with respect to the beneficiaries of temporary protection currently benefitting from the scheme, where those beneficiaries of temporary protection have satisfied a means test, similar to those applicable for other housing assistance payments;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 new applications, who propose to host a beneficiary of temporary protection in their property, which is also their own primary residence, and who have not availed of the Rent-a-Room Relief scheme in the previous 24 months, ensuring that the ARP does not further distort the rental sector; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 recipients who are not in receipt of any additional or 'top-up' payments from a beneficiary of temporary protection.\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Deputy Matt Carthy)"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I must now deal with a postponed division relating to the motion regarding the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 (Section 4(2)) (Scheme Termination Date) Order 2026. On Wednesday, 25 March 2026, on the question, \"That the amendment to the motion be agreed to\", a division was claimed and in accordance with Standing Order 85(2), that division must be taken now. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Is f\u00e9idir teacht ar Cheisteanna Scr\u00edofa ar www.oireachtas.ie. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Written Answers are published on the Oireachtas website. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar athl\u00f3 ar 9.11 p.m. go dt\u00ed 8.47 a.m., D\u00e9ardaoin, an 26 M\u00e1rta 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The D\u00e1il adjourned at 9.11 p.m. until 8.47 a.m. on Thursday, 26 March 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 (Section 4(2)) (Scheme Termination Date) Order 2026: Motion (Resumed)"}]}}]},"contextDate":"2026-03-25"},{"debateRecord":{"house":{"showAs":"34th D\u00e1il","committeeCode":"","houseCode":"dail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/house\/dail\/34","chamberType":"house","houseNo":"34"},"chamber":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/def\/house\/dail","showAs":"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann"},"lastUpdated":"2026-06-18T02:12:19+00:00","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-24\/debate\/main","formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-24\/debate\/mul@\/main.xml"},"pdf":null},"date":"2026-03-24","counts":{"contributorCount":166,"divisionCount":4,"debateSectionCount":16,"questionCount":23,"billCount":3},"debateType":"debate","debateSections":[{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-24\/debate\/dbsect_2","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions","counts":{"speechCount":34,"speakerCount":10},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":" A Deputy","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  We are four weeks into a crisis that has seen fuel prices skyrocket and only now has the Government brought forward limited measures to respond. It has taken relentless pressure from Sinn F\u00e9in and massive public anger to force it to act. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  The Government watched on as fuel prices spun out of control. It has sat back as working people struggle to heat their homes and fill their cars. When households needed a government of action, they got this do-nothing Government. Clearly its plan was to ride this one out. Its package today had to be dragged out of it. Still the Government comes to the table with half-measures. It could not bring itself to provide the maximum support that people need. The reductions in motor fuel do not go far enough.  The Government has it in its power to deliver the maximum excise cut possible on diesel, a similar cut for petrol and to remove excise entirely from home heating oil. Motorists have been hammered for a month at the pumps and the Government could have done more, but instead it chooses to short-change people. However, its standout failure is on home heating oil. It has literally abandoned the 750,000 households that rely on home heating oil. The price of a fill of home heating oil has doubled in a matter of weeks. A measly cut of 2 cent a litre is an insult. It amounts only to a \u20ac20 reduction on a fill that now costs around \u20ac1,700 - a drop in the tank.  Of course, in any event, the Government will take this back from people anyway when it hikes up carbon tax in just a few weeks. It gives with one hand, only to take back with the other. It could have removed, and should completely remove, excise on home heating oil. That would provide these households with a meaningful relief but instead it chooses to leave them high and dry. Once again when it comes to the crunch, the Government sells working people short with weak half-measures but that is Fine Gael and Fianna F\u00e1il all over. The Government's measure on fuel allowance is paltry. Extending the payment by four weeks will not make a dent in these massive fuel price hikes.  Chuir Sinn F\u00e9in iachall ar an Rialtas bogadh. Faraor, t\u00e1 beartas Fhianna F\u00e1il agus Fine Gael maidir le d\u00edosal agus peitril i bhfad r\u00f3bheag i gcompar\u00e1id le cad at\u00e1 ag teast\u00e1il. I gc\u00e1s teaghlaigh at\u00e1 ag brath ar ola theasa t\u00ed, t\u00e1 siad tr\u00e9igthe. Beidh Sinn F\u00e9in ag br\u00fa le haghaidh f\u00edorghn\u00edomh anocht.  These soaring fuel prices are a real emergency for households requiring real action, not the half measures the Government presents today. We will not watch on as the Government lets people down again. These are people who have to get to work in the morning, carers who have to get to the people they look after and people with disabilities, who, it should be remembered, were left \u20ac1,400 worse off in the Government's budget.  We will therefore move an amendment to the Government's financial resolution to deliver the maximum excise cut possible for diesel and a similar cut for petrol and to completely remove excise and strip away carbon tax from home heating oil. That is the difference between the Taoiseach and me. I believe that when families are put to the pin of their collar and when the Government can intervene, it should - no delays, no excuses, just action. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  N\u00ed aonta\u00edm leis an Teachta. Is \u00e9ard at\u00e1 faoi chaibidil ag an Rialtas n\u00e1 cabhair agus taca\u00edocht a thabhairt do dhaoine ar ioncam \u00edseal agus do na daoine is boichte sa t\u00edr. Sin \u00e9 an f\u00e1th go bhfuil, \u00f3 thaobh c\u00farsa\u00ed leasa sh\u00f3isialaigh de, cabhair agus taca\u00edocht \u00e1 dtabhairt againn. T\u00e1 n\u00edos m\u00f3 cabhrach agus taca\u00edochta \u00e1 dtabhairt don tionscal haulage chomh maith mar t\u00e1 s\u00e9 riachtanach \u00f3 thaobh c\u00farsa\u00ed geilleagar na t\u00edre.  This is a moment of great instability and uncertainty in the world, and the war in the Middle East has created without question the greatest oil supply shock ever in the history of the markets. That is a very sobering and significant reality that has to be taken on board by any responsible government. We have no intention of being reckless or irresponsible with this crisis. We want to be flexible and to give supports to people. Every government is limited as to what it can do in situations like these. All the international advice from the ECB, the IMF and so on is to target temporary, affordable measures because we do not quite know what is around the corner as to how this will unfold, not only in terms of the war itself but also in terms of the Strait of Hormuz and the impact on oil and gas installations that have already been destroyed. There will be a lag time now of a couple of years before some of those are restored to capacity. The wise thing to do, therefore, is to introduce measures of the kind we have introduced today, that are targeted and that give some degree of universal support in terms of the reduction in excise and petrol duties. That is important. Then there is a very specific measure for the haulage industry, which Sinn F\u00e9in would not support and which it was warning us against doing yesterday. The reason we are doing that is that the haulage industry is absolutely central to our trading and to our economy. It is extremely important that over the mid-term we make sure structurally that we create a sustainable haulage industry into the future to underpin what is a very strong exporting economy. That is the targeted nature of this.  The fuel allowance has been extended for four weeks, which will take us up to 1 May. I think any reasonable person would say that by that stage - yes, climate and the weather change and so on - we will be in a warmer situation. It is logical to target about 470,000 families on low incomes. I know Sinn F\u00e9in opposes that. It believes in allocating about \u20ac2 billion to \u20ac3 billion right now. What do we do in October, what do we do in December, if the consequences of this crisis continue?  We have a budget coming up. We want to protect investment in services, education, health and children right across the board. These are real choices we have to make. I am sure the Deputy herself must realise that. It is probably one of the more generous packages being developed across Europe. I do not know what instructions she has given to her own Ministers in Northern Ireland. I think a total of \u00a330 is the only benefit towards upcoming bills that it is giving. It cannot decide where an additional \u00a317 million that is available is to go. Sinn F\u00e9in has two Ministers in charge of this brief in Northern Ireland, and I ask the Deputy to compare their performance with what we are doing here.  There is no comparison. There has been poor enough leadership from those in Deputy McDonald's party who are in charge of that operation. From our point of view, these are temporary measures. We do need to retain some degree of flexibility in terms of how this situation unfolds in the coming weeks and months. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  The Taoiseach is always so shocked and outraged when it is a case of families and working people needing support. That is such an \"outrageous\" thing to say. That is so \"unsustainable\". It is always so \"unaffordable\", even when the Government coffers are full. Of course, he takes a take a very different view when it is developers or big bankers or big corporate interests. Mind them every day of the week, but when the families come knocking on the door and when they are under pressure, that is a different story. How very telling and how very Fine Gael and Fianna F\u00e1il. It is not wise to leave 750,000 households who rely on home heating oil in the lurch. It is not wise to short-change workers, carers and people who have to get out and about to do their business. These are families and people who are already to the pin of their collar in a cost-of-living crisis. Where is the wisdom of that? Not alone is it stingy and mean and detached but above all else, it reveals the Government's political priorities and, by God, those are not the working men and women of this country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  With the greatest respect, the only party of late that has been courting bankers and developers and every sort of corporate financial operation is Sinn F\u00e9in, particularly in the United States, where the party has raised a hell of a lot of money from developers and builders. Spare lecturing everybody else about fundraising from developers and bankers and everybody because Sinn F\u00e9in has been doing it on a serial basis for many years in the United States, Northern Ireland, the UK and elsewhere. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  And Australia. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Deputy McDonald speaks out of both sides of her mouth when it comes to all of that playbook that she just regurgitates every time there is an event or a crisis in the world. We do not take Sinn F\u00e9in's approach. Exactly what we are doing here is targeting our measures on the fuel allowance, which would help poorer families and low-income working families withstand the impact of the increases in home heating oil and other energy products. That has been our focus and, indeed, in the budget it was our focus. The ESRI bears out that we had a very strong budget in terms of the low-income deciles. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  It does not. You cannot keep on lying. It does not. It is not true. I will send it to you. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  You are not leader yet, Deputy. I keep on saying you are not leader of the party; do not be interrupting. The bottom line is that the evidence is there that we looked after the lowest income groups and through the household benefit scheme as well, which was successfully improved as a result of the budget. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  The illegal war on Iran launched by Trump and Netanyahu is now in its fourth week. Households across the country are reeling from the energy crisis. Petrol and diesel prices are now well over \u20ac2 per litre and those reliant on home heating oil are particularly badly affected. They are facing massive price increases, with the cost of refilling a 1,000 litre tank getting to \u20ac1,800. In the face of this, the Government's package of measures to support struggling households, which the Taoiseach has described as generous, is simply not enough. It is too little and very late. True, the excise and levy cuts to fuel prices will give relief to some, as will the extension of the fuel allowance, but hundreds of thousands of households are already in arrears on energy bills. There is no real reassurance here for far too many. Just before I came in here, a woman emailed me to convey what she described as her disgust and deep unhappiness. As a working single parent, her last electricity bill was \u20ac637 and she said there is nothing in this package of measures for her. For her and for so many more, we need longer term thinking and measures from the Government that will ensure energy security and tackle climate change.  Labour has championed a real right to remote and flexible working and the International Energy Agency, IEA, is telling us we need to pivot to this and to real investment in cycling and public transport to decarbonise our economy and society, as Deputy Ged Nash has said. This is imperative in the week when the World Meteorological Organization says 2025 was the worst year on record for climate change. Last Thursday, the Taoiseach attended the European Council in Brussels. There he would have heard the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro S\u00e1nchez, speaking about how Spain is less exposed to this huge energy shock than other European countries. Why? Because Spain pivoted early to renewables. Last week, 60% of Spain's energy electricity was generated through renewables. The price of electricity per kilowatt-hour is well over \u20ac100 here.  The equivalent price in Spain is just \u20ac14. That is an extraordinary difference. When I was in Brussels myself last Thursday, I spoke with S\u00e1nchez and with the climate Commissioner, Teresa Ribera. The Spanish left Government has shown robust leadership within the EU, strongly condemning the US and Israel for their attacks on Iran and showing real leadership on climate action. That is what we need from the Taoiseach's Government - real leadership. It is clear the best way to address the crisis is to stop the war. European leaders should now unite to condemn the war, to challenge Trump on his so-called little excursion and to stand up to this erratic and dangerous leader, not hand him a bowl of shamrock in the White House.  While the war continues, however, the Government must ensure that struggling households are protected, and we must strive harder to shift away from fossil fuels. Will the Taoiseach join with the Spanish socialists in condemning the US-Israel war? Will he work with EU leaders to stand up to Trump, this bully, and to seek an end to the war? Will he ensure that struggling households are really supported through this crisis and that we now move urgently to end our reliance on fossil fuels? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I acknowledge that people are under a lot of pressure in terms of the impact of this crisis and the cost of energy as a result of this war. There is no question about that. The Government is limited in how comprehensively it can respond. Governments cannot compensate every single person in society. I am sure the Deputy would acknowledge that. We need a realistic assessment of this and a realistic discussion about it. However, we can try to protect those on the lowest incomes and to protect people in general by providing some supports to reduce the impact of this crisis. The reduction in excise duty does that. It does not address the issue totally, but at least it helps and takes a bit of pressure off people. We fully acknowledge that it does not deal with the scale of the increases in the cost of home heating oil or petrol. The focus on the fuel allowance does help with home heating oil, as does the reduction in the NORA levy. It should be remembered that there is a substantial household benefits package of \u20ac420 a year for electricity and gas. The supplementary welfare allowance is available for people in real need. The Minister for Social Protection has spoken to community welfare officers and to his Department to make sure they are responsive to anybody in need. We are looking towards the autumn budget and the development of mechanisms to connect what we do on fuel poverty allowances with arrears. We have to focus and work on developing a direct connection so that we can get those arrears down for people.  In terms of the renewable story, Ireland has been very fast in recent years. We are probably the fastest growing in terms of renewable energy. Spain and Portugal have a higher level of renewables. Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, they managed to get a separate agreement from the EU in respect of the structures governing energy prices on the Iberian Peninsula. There was a lot of discussion about that at the EU Council meeting last week. The Commission's assessment is that gas's connection to the defining of pricing levels is not easily broken. That is a challenge for Europe more generally because it is a key determinant of the overall price of energy.  The Deputy will know the four component parts. We have acted on one of those four component parts, namely, taxes and levies. The ECB spoke to the EU Council meeting, as did the chair of the Euro Summit, and they recommended, as per IMF advice, targeted, temporary and affordable measures. They warned that we do not know what is around the corner and therefore have to keep something in reserve in case things deteriorate even further over the next couple of months. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  Of course, the Labour Party supports the introduction of short-term measures to support struggling households. I think everyone does. Everyone here acknowledges that but this package is just not enough. The Government could do more. Look at it this way: the full-year cost of the tax cut the Government gave to the hospitality sector, the burger barons Deputy Nash speaks about, in last year's budget is \u20ac680 million. That is the three times the value of the package the Government is now offering struggling households in what the Taoiseach himself has said is the biggest energy shock we have seen in the world.  It is just not enough, and the Taoiseach has acknowledged the reality of fuel poverty for far too many households across the country. This is the reality for the hundreds of thousands of households in arrears already on electricity and gas bills. The Taoiseach must acknowledge the desperate overexposure of Ireland on the liquified natural gas, LNG, front. We are so reliant on LNG. We are so reliant on fossil fuels and we are simply not acting fast enough to roll out renewables in the way we should.  We know that takes a little more time, but we need to see commitment from Government on this. Here is one very quick ask the International Energy Agency, IEA, has called for: move now to a real right to remote and flexible working. That is one way to support struggling households. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  There is a lot of flexible remote working in our economy already and----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  A real right for remote and flexible working. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----particularly in the public service, the degree of remote working in quite significant and prevalent now. The Deputy again attacked the reduction of VAT for hospitality. That supports a lot of minimum wage workers in our economy, people the Labour Party should be supporting and defending. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  They are on minimum wage. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Not everybody in the hospitality sector is on the minimum wage but, nonetheless, it was about protecting jobs in an important sector of our economy. With changing job profiles with AI and everything else, it is particularly important that tourism and hospitality are protected and looked after, and that is what we did in the budget.  In terms of LNG, Deputy Bacik referred to energy security, the LNG facility is required from an energy security perspective. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" A Deputy","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" A Deputy  That is nonsense. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It is not nonsense. It is rubbish to suggest that we should not put in an LNG facility in this country. It is absolute nonsense in terms of----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  It is not the way to manage it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I am sorry; if anything happened the gas connectors linking this country to the United Kingdom, this economy would not survive beyond ten days. That is the reality. That is the advice we received from an energy security perspective. The Opposition has to twist it - not the Deputy personally - but it gets twisted, it gets spun as an anti-climate measure. It is anything but that. It is an energy security and economic security matter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  It is nearly a month into this crisis and the Government is finally acting but the measures announced today do not go far enough. A temporary cut to excise duty to provide some relief at the pumps is long overdue but where are the targeted supports for those who need them most?  The Government, having spent weeks and weeks reviewing the situation, has come into this House and done the bare minimum. It is extending the fuel allowance for a few weeks but it barely scratches the surface of what is required to support people who are struggling the most. There is almost nothing in this package for low-income households who are reliant on home heating oil and unable to pay the 80% spike in prices. The Government seems to think that it does not have to help because we are now in March, but people must still heat their homes in spring, and there are vulnerable people all over the country who cannot now afford to turn their heating on, including elderly people, sitting in freezing cold homes, whose pensions just will not stretch far enough, disabled people, whose incomes were already cut by \u20ac1,400 in the Government's budget, and are making choices between heating and eating, and families at breaking point who do not know how they will be able to keep the lights on.  The Social Democrats have repeatedly asked the Government to introduce a targeted \u20ac400 energy credit that would be paid to 800,000 households who are struggling the most. The Taoiseach said again that we need targeted and affordable measures. This is a targeted and an affordable measure. This would help hundreds of thousands of low-paid workers who do not receive the fuel allowance and it would provide a much greater level of support for pensioners, carers and disabled people. It would not go far enough to cover the spiralling price rises we have seen but it would be a big help and represent meaningful support. The Government has not even bothered examining this proposal, so the Taoiseach is already in here today announcing half measures instead of the comprehensive package that should be introduced.  We listen to lectures from the Taoiseach and his Ministers all the time on the importance of targeting supports for those who need them most but there is a huge gap between what they say and what they do. The Government's budget reduced the incomes of the poorest households by more than 4% and massively increased poverty rates among elderly people from 13% to 19%. That is not me saying that; that is the Parliamentary Budget Office.  The Taoiseach comes into this House today, when people desperately need real support, and all he has to offer them is a measure that excludes hundreds of thousands of households who are drowning in skyrocketing bills. Why are there no targeted supports for low-paid workers? Will the Taoiseach examine the Social Democrats' proposal for a targeted energy credit of \u20ac400? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I appreciate the Deputy raising these issues in a constructive light. It is not just the Deputy that has made the comment that the Government has waited for weeks and weeks. We are in a war for three weeks. We need some perspective here. The Government does not have billions and billions to allocate on a monthly basis, which is the implication one could draw from all of the protestations from the Opposition today. We need a bit of reality and flexibility in terms of the fiscal situation and in terms of thinking out to the end of the year and making sure we have enough in reserve to cushion and to make sure we can support people if things get worse. That is a consideration.  We also have to protect services. There are increasing costs in education, in health and in other services, and I am very anxious that we have enough in reserve to protect those also. The easiest thing for us to do would be to announce a \u20ac2 billion package today, and people would say that is great, but this is only March. We have to be relatively cautious and responsible, acknowledging that people out there are under a lot of pressure. There is no question about that because of the impact of the war on energy markets and because of the unprecedented nature of the supply shock. That has not yet filtered through, by the way. It has not filtered through globally or to our economy. I would disagree with the Deputy's assessment on the budget. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  It is the Parliamentary Budget Office's assessment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  What we did for child support payments was the most significant - record increases of \u20ac8 per week for children under 12, and \u20ac16 per week for children over 12. As part of the child poverty unit in my own Department, with the Minister, Deputy Calleary, we have focused on that child poverty package, which is permanent. Today, DEIS plus was approved by Cabinet. We have taken a series of measures that have worked on the child poverty issue and that will bear dividend in the coming years. Of that I have no doubt, because of our focus on those key areas.  The working family payment cohort of people who, up to the last budget were excluded from the fuel allowance, have now been included. That is an extra 50,000 working families. That means about 470,000 families or people overall are now benefiting from the fuel allowance. The extension will be welcomed by all of those families as a targeted measure. It is an instrument or mechanism we have within the Department of Social Protection to enable us to pay people and to give them additional allowances to help them to try to cope with the very large increases that have occurred over the last number of weeks. That will take it out to the end of April, in addition to the reduction in excise on diesel and petrol. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  The Taoiseach can disagree with my assessment all he likes but I was quoting the Parliamentary Budget Office, which is independent. Is the Taoiseach saying he does not accept its independent analysis of the budget? The proposal that we have put forward is fully costed - \u20ac362 million. It is targeted and affordable, as the Taoiseach says measures need to be. That would leave plenty of room for further measures later in the year, if, when and as they are required. Why is the Government not adopting our proposal? The Government is doing nothing extra for low-paid workers who do not receive the fuel allowance at all. Does the Taoiseach not see the difficulty they are in? If you are on low pay, do not qualify for the fuel allowance and your home heating oil bill to fill the tank has gone up by 80%, what are you meant to do? Are they invisible to the Taoiseach? Why are there no measures for them? In terms of people who have disabilities, carers and pensioners, why does the Taoiseach think the increases of just a few weeks to the fuel allowance is sufficient? It does not make a dent. A huge number of them were already in arrears before this crisis began. A total of 320,000 households were in arrears. Why is the Government not taking the targeted measures it needs to support them? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The working family payment was generally designed with low-income workers in mind. They are now included in the fuel allowance, which I think is a significant targeted measure by the Government, and the correct one. It is a framework that exists already. This package is about \u20ac250 million. I am not sure what the Deputy is saying he would take out. I am not clear on his costings, and I would need to get it costed properly by the Department of Social Protection and others in respect of that but we have an alternative suite of measures that cost about \u20ac250 million.  In the United Kingdom it is \u00a353 million. If the Deputy goes around the European capitals, he will not see a packet as big as this one. As I said earlier, we have to think ahead in terms of other potential challenges that may come our way in respect of this crisis. It is now only March. We need to be cautious, notwithstanding the pressures that are on people and will manifest themselves in other parts of the economy as well if this continues. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  Ireland has walked blindfolded into an energy crisis, not by accident or misfortune but because consecutive Governments chose to leave our country exposed and dependent on others for the most basic lifeline we have \u2013 energy. The price of those choices is now hammering every single household and business in this country. In 2022, during Leaders Questions to the current Taoiseach, I raised the Barryroe oilfield and demanded that Ireland build real energy independence. Later that year, I spoke of a floating gas terminal off Cork harbour. I warned that relying on imports was reckless and dangerous, and the Government laughed off my warnings saying it is fine. Well, it is not fine. The people of Ireland are paying dearly for that Government arrogance. Fuel prices have jumped again and again in recent weeks. Hauliers are warning they cannot keep the wheels turning. Farmers, tradesmen, fishermen, home help, carers, school bus drivers, ordinary squeezed-middle families and 1.5 million elderly people are being squeezed until they break. What does the Government do? It tells people to wait. Last week we were told by the Government there will be no knee-jerk reaction and to be patient. Even yesterday, a coalition source said that the Government cannot shield people. While it cannot shield people from everything, the complete green agenda of the previous government is coming home to roost, which was to make sure to never prepare our country for the future but tax the living daylights out of every citizen in this country with 65% fuel taxes, like VAT, the NORA levy and carbon tax, making the motorists of this country a cash cow for the Government like no other country in the world. This is a total failure of planning, leadership and responsibility by this and other Governments. A country that imports nearly all its energy, taxes fuel at 60% to 65% and blocks practical solutions for security is not transitioning; it is stumbling.  While Irish families struggle, other countries are securing their futures. Europe and the rest of the world is planning. Ireland is panicking and being called the laggards of Europe. In 2022, I spoke to the Taoiseach about the Barryroe oilfield because it represented something bigger \u2013 not just an oilfield but a political system that refused to even access its own resources while continuing to rely on foreign fuel. It is complete neglect by government. Beyond Barryroe, Ireland still has no clear, credible path to energy independence. Imagine after a Green Party in Government, solar systems cost up to \u20ac20,000 to run a home only gets a measly \u20ac1,800 grant. This is not transition; it is a slow motion collapse and the Government is participating in what is happening. People are paying more because of the choices made at the Cabinet table, choices based on ideology instead of practicality and choices that have left Ireland more rather than less vulnerable. We did not just leave ourselves open, we left ourselves defenceless. Today\u2019s announcements help those on fuel allowance. That must be welcomed but the squeezed middle gets 20 cent a litre off diesel, which is the same amount as it went up last week. There is 2 cent a litre for the farmer and fisherman, which leaves the country in a very angry state and both those sectors furious. Ireland needs an immediate, urgent national plan for energy independence and not in 2050. Will the Taoiseach outline this plan today? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We do have an energy plan. At the European Council meeting last week, there was a very interesting presentation by President von der Leyen, which went back from the late 1970s through every decade to the present day. The one constant was that every energy crisis was a fossil fuel crisis generated through war and conflict with the most recent being the Russian invasion of Ukraine before this war. The Deputy attacked the wind and solar energy agenda and so on. He is actually creating a scenario where there would be more energy dependence into the future and an energy dependence on fossil fuels, which would be a disaster for the country. If this teaches us anything, it is the necessity to double down on our focus and investment in renewables. There are hard choices to make on this. I was in the D\u00e1il recently when a Deputy, in one contribution, complained about a gas generation station, a wind farm and a solar farm in one location. I asked the question: \u201cHow are we going to turn on the lights?\u201d  We do need a societal discussion about this because the bottom line is we are importing a lot of fossil fuel, which is subject to volatility in the markets and to various crises that can occur.  The Barryroe oil field has been a long time - long before 2022 - handled by, or dealt with, within the private sector. It never really bore fruit, even prior to any decisions that we took both as a Government or as an Oireachtas in terms of any new fossil fuel developments. The recent 2025 energy in Ireland report showed that about 41.3% of our electricity demand in 2024 was being generated by renewable sources. That is very good progress. We have made a lot of progress in the past decade or so and beyond. We have a target of 80% of electricity demand to be made by renewables in the near term and to go to net zero out to 2050. We are a renewable success story. That is the trajectory of travel. We receive more of electricity from onshore wind farms than anyone else in Europe. We are among one of the global leaders in integrating variable renewables onto the electricity grid. That is something that runs contrary to the narrative that the Deputy was representing.  Regarding the carbon tax, \u20ac175 million of that went to farmers through ACRES. In 2026, \u20ac173 million is going to the Department of agriculture for farmers. We have 55,000 farmers in ACRES. That improves best outcomes on climate, air and water quality, biodiversity, green agricultural pilots and so on. Deputy Collins would be the very first Deputy coming in if any farmer in west Cork had reduced funding as a result of the carbon tax being removed and he would be singing a different tune if that turned out to be the case. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Taoiseach. Deputy Collins to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  I will be a singing a different tune because the farmers of west Cork were disappointed this morning that they are only going to get 2 cent off the green diesel. Those are the facts. The facts are that the Government made these promises to me in 2022 about renewable energies. It has not delivered. That is the bottom line here. Ireland's energy security is hanging by a thread. We cannot keep relying on imported diesel in global markets we have no control over. The Government's promise in 2022 was more offshore wind farms but the only one we have has sought a decommissioning licence. When will the first of these offshore wind generating plants be developed in Ireland?  I am bringing forward a proposal for Ireland's first zero emission freight corridor pilot scheme from Cork Port to west Cork, not alone as a climate measure but as a real energy security solution. We have the experts to do this. Electricity heavy duty trucks supported by a battery swapping and hybrid charging depot in filling stations would slash our dependence on foreign fuels. Every diesel truck on this route today burns fuel that Ireland does not produce and cannot guarantee. Battery swapping turns trucks around in about five minutes powered by local renewable energy keeping supply chains stable even when a global fuel market goes wild. This protects family run haulers by giving them a secure affordable energy source. This is not experimental. This system is already fully operational in New Zealand, Hong Kong and Japan and works. This deserves full support from the Government. Will we get it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  On the offshore wind, we held the onshore RESS 5 and the offshore Tonn Nua auctions, which have delivered wind energy projects at competitive prices for consumers. The Department expects the five projects that bid into the offshore one auction to be in construction by 2030, marking a new phase in electricity generation in Ireland. The second offshore auction was the first to be held under the new spatial plan for offshore renewable energy development in the south coast designated maritime area plan and so forth. We are making progress. It is challenging. I have established a clearing house within my Department involving industry, regulators and Departments to drive this forward and accelerate it as quickly as we can. I think it is vital for the future of country's economy in terms of that particular agenda.  By the way, I never laugh at anything the Deputy proposes or suggests. He has a good old turn of phrase where he says he was laughed out the window, or he was laughed out of something three or four years ago. The point is that we have had a very poor record historically on fossil fuel discovery in this country. We have Kinsale and Corrib. That is about it. Independence in terms of energy in----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Time is up. Thank you, Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----this country will be grounded in renewables, wind, solar and battery storage. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-24\/debate\/dbsect_3","debateType":"orderofBusiness","bill":null,"showAs":"An tOrd Gn\u00f3 - Order of Business","counts":{"speechCount":76,"speakerCount":22},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Geoghegan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donna McGettigan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Before I call on the Chief Whip, I welcome all the people in the Gallery this afternoon. I hope they are enjoying our robust debates, especially St. Anne's National School from Rathangan and their teacher Ms Cunningham. I call the Chief Whip under Standing Order 35 to move the arrangements for this week's business. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Mary Butler)  I move:  Tuesday's business shall be:  - Motion re Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions (without debate)  - Motion re Proposed Approval by D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann of the Data Protection Act 2018 under (Section 60(6)) and (Section 51)(3)) Regulations 2026 (without debate)  - Motion re Report of the Committee on Standing Orders and D\u00e1il Reform (without debate)  - International Co-operation (Omagh Bombing Inquiry) Bill 2026 (Second Stage) (to conclude after the first round, not to exceed 3 hours and 34 minutes)  - Financial Motion by the Minister for Finance [2026] (Financial Resolution No. 1 (to be brought to a conclusion within 60 mins, and any divisions claimed to be taken immediately)  Tuesday's private members' business shall be the Motion re Cancer Services, selected by Sinn F\u00e9in.  Wednesday's business shall be:  - National Oil Reserve Energy (Amendment) Bill 2026 (Second Stage) (to conclude after the first round, not to exceed 3 hours and 34 minutes);  - Motion re Proposed approval by D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 (Section 4(2)) (Scheme Termination Date) Order 2026 (to be taken no earlier than 5.30 p.m. and to conclude within 60 mins)  - Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2026 (Report and Final Stages) (to conclude within 60 mins)  - National Oil Reserve Energy (Amendment) Bill 2026 (Committee and Remaining Stages) (to conclude within 60 mins)  - Motions for Revised Estimates for Public Services 2026 [Votes 1-10, 13, 16, 20-25, 27-32 and 34-45] (back from Committee) (to be moved together and decided by one question, and any division claimed to be taken immediately)  - Motion re Consideration of Estimates by Committee (without debate)  Wednesday's private members' business shall be the Motion re An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, selected by the Labour Party.  Thursday's business shall be:  - Statements on the Bessborough Development (not to exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes)  Thursday evening business shall be the Second Stage of the Organisation of Working Time (Leave for Health Screening Purposes) Bill 2025, sponsored by Deputy Duncan Smith.  Proposed Arrangements for this week\u2019s business:  In relation to Tuesday\u2019s business, it is proposed that:  1. notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders:  (a) the time allocated to Government business shall be extended in accordance with the arrangements for that business and the D\u00e1il may sit later than 10.48 p.m.;  (b) private members\u2019 business shall be taken on the conclusion of proceedings on the Financial Resolution; and  (c) Topical Issues shall not be taken and the D\u00e1il shall adjourn on the conclusion of Parliamentary Questions to the Minister for Further and Higher Education;  2. the proceedings on the Motion re Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions shall be taken without debate and any division claimed thereon shall be taken immediately;  3. the proceedings on the Motion re Proposed Approval by D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann of the Data Protection Act 2018 under (Section 60(6)) and (Section 51)(3)) Regulations 2026 shall be taken without debate and any division claimed thereon shall be taken immediately;  4. the proceedings on the Motion re Report of the Committee on Standing Orders and D\u00e1il Reform shall be taken without debate;  5. the proceedings on the Second Stage of the International Co-operation (Omagh Bombing Inquiry) Bill 2026 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at the end of the first speaking round and the following arrangements shall apply:  (a) the first-round speeches, not including the Ministerial response, shall be in accordance with the table below (to be read across);  (b) on conclusion of the first speaking round, or where speeches conclude before the 3 hours and 24 minutes have elapsed and no other member is offering, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a speech in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes; and  (c) members may share time; and          Gov      SF      Lab      Gov      SF       Mins    20    20    20    12    4           SD      Gov      SF      IPTG      Gov       Mins    20    12    4    20    12           SF      ITG      Gov      SF      OM       Mins    4    20    12    4    20                       Total     3 hours and 24 minutes     6. notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, in relation to the Financial Motion by the Minister for Finance [2026] (Financial Resolution No. 1), the following arrangements shall apply:  (a) the proceedings on the motion shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 60 minutes;  (b) the Question on the motion shall dispose of any amendments not disposed of tabled to that motion;  (c) the order of speaking and allocation of time shall be as follows:  opening speech by a Minister or Minister of State \u2013 10 minutes  speeches by representatives of Sinn F\u00e9in, the Labour Party, Social Democrats, Independent and Parties Technical Group, and Independent Technical Group \u2013 7.5 minutes per party or group  speeches by Other Members \u2013 7.5 minutes; and  a speech in response by the Minister \u2013 5 minutes  (d) members may share time; and  (e) any division demanded shall be taken immediately.  In relation to Wednesday's business, it is proposed that:  1. notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders:  (a) any motions to be taken without debate shall be taken on the conclusion of proceedings on the National Oil Reserve Agency (Amendment) Bill 2026; and  (b) the weekly division time shall be taken on the conclusion of proceedings on any motions without debate;  2. in relation the proceedings on the Second Stage of the National Oil Reserve Agency Bill 2026, the provisions of Standing Order 181 shall not apply and the proceedings shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at the end of the first speaking round and the following arrangements shall apply:  (a) the first-round speeches, not including the Ministerial response, shall be in accordance with the table below (to be read across);  (b) on conclusion of the first speaking round, or where speeches conclude before the 3 hours and 24 minutes have elapsed and no other member is offering, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a speech in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes;  (c) members may share time; and          Gov      SF      Lab      Gov      SF       Mins    20    20    20    12    4           SD      Gov      SF      IPTG      Gov       Mins    20    12    4    20    12           SF      ITG      Gov      SF      OM       Mins    4    20    12    4    20                       Total     3 hours and 24 minutes     3. the proceedings on the Motion re Proposed approval by D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 (Section 4(2)) (Scheme Termination Date) Order 2026 shall be taken no earlier than 5.30 p.m. and shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 60 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply thereto:  (a) the order of speaking and allocation of time shall be as follows:-  opening speech by a Minister or Minister of State \u2013 10 minutes;  speeches by representatives of Sinn F\u00e9in, the Labour Party, Social Democrats, Independent and Parties Technical Group, and Independent Technical Group \u2013 7.5 minutes per party or group;  speeches by Other Members \u2013 7.5 minutes in total; and  a speech in response by the Minister \u2013 5 minutes; and  (b) members may share time;  4. the proceedings on Report and Final Stages of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2026 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 60 minutes by one question, which shall be put from the Chair, and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality;  5. the proceedings on Committee and Remaining Stages of the National Oil Reserve Agency (Amendment) Bill 2026 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 60 minutes by one question, which shall be put from the Chair, and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment;  6. the following arrangements shall apply to the proceedings on the Motions for Revised Estimates for Public Services 2026 [Votes 1-10, 13, 16, 20-25, 27-32 and 34-45]:  (a) the motions shall be moved and decided together by one question which shall be put from the Chair;  (b) the proceedings thereon shall be taken without debate; and  (c) any division claimed thereon shall be taken immediately; and  7. the proceedings on the Motion re Consideration of Estimates by Committee shall be taken without debate and any division claimed thereon shall be taken immediately.  In relation to Thursday's business, it is proposed that:  1. notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders:  (a) topical issues may be taken earlier than 7.24 p.m. with consequential effect on the commencement time for the Second Stage of the Organisation of Working Time (Leave for Health Screening Purposes) Bill 2025, and on the time for the adjournment of the D\u00e1il: provided that up to ten topical issues may be taken; and  (b) the D\u00e1il on its rising today shall adjourn until 2 p.m. on Tuesday, 14th April, 2026; and  2. the Statements on the Bessborough Development shall not exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply:  (a) the statements, not including the Ministerial response, shall be in accordance with the sequence contained in the table immediately below (to be read across);  (b) following the statements, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes; and  (c) members may share time.          Gov      SF      Lab      Gov      SF       Mins    25    15    10    10    3           SD      Gov      SF      IPTG      Gov       Mins    10    10    3    9    10           SF      ITG      Gov      SF      OM       Mins    3    9    10    3    5                       Total     2 hours 15 minutes     "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Is that agreed? It is not agreed. I call Deputy Doherty. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  The agenda that has been presented here is outrageous. The Government expects us to debate the major burning issue. The Government might think it is not an issue but for four weeks, people have been pushed to the pin of their collar. Diesel has gone up by 55 cent while the Government has delayed and dithered. When it now brings forward a motion that is a half-baked idea that does not go far enough, it says that it has to be dealt within 60 minutes. Crucially, the key issue is that the Government is afraid of the amendment that we will bring forward tonight. The Government will not even allow that amendment to be voted on, according to the agenda here. What is the Government afraid of? We will put down an amendment that will remove excise from home heating oil and reduce tax on diesel and petrol. Let us have a vote. What the Government is doing is a disgrace. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  I register my utter dissatisfaction with how business is being operated. Eight minutes before we were due to sit today, we got a new agenda that will give us just an hour to discuss the financial resolutions on the only thing that people have been talking about over the past couple of weeks. It is utterly unsatisfactory and we register huge objection. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  The cost of living in this country is skyrocketing. Before the war in Iran, 320,000 households were in electricity arrears. People are choosing between heating and eating. The cost of living is impacting more than just energy, though, because there is now the price for education. Exam fees, which had not been in place since before the pandemic, are being reintroduced without warning to parents. The cost of living needs to be discussed this evening. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  It is clear that Donald Trump and the Israeli regime are criminal warmongers that could do anything. If they start to bomb more energy infrastructure in Iran, and there are reports suggesting that they are already doing this having said that they would not, the miserable concessions the Government has made to address the spikes in the cost of living could be wiped away overnight. We need serious time to discuss how the Government is going to actually protect people in this country from the cost of energy spikes resulting from Trump's war. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  I agree with my colleagues that 60 minutes is not enough time to speak about the crisis this country is going through at the moment. We need a proper debate in here and I call for that proper debate. Farmers, the hard-squeezed middle, fishermen and other people are facing a serious crisis. People cannot put heating oil into their home heating tanks this evening. They expected a proper break but they did not get it and we need a proper debate on that this evening. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  I will offer some clarity about what will transpire later today. There will a motion regarding Financial Resolution No. 1 this afternoon from the Department of Finance. Sixty minutes have been allowed and we are votable immediately afterwards so I expect there will be several votes at that time. I want to be clear on that.  There has been a change to tomorrow's Order of Business. The National Oil Reserve Agency (Amendment) Bill 2026, which will be allowed 204 minutes and a ten-minute wrap-up, will be taken instead of the statements on sports so there will be plenty of time for debate tomorrow.  I wish to inform the Ceann Comhairle that there is every possibility that I will be returning with a second updated Order of Business this afternoon with regard to the second financial resolution. The Order of Business stands. People want to know exactly what is happening. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Are the arrangements for the Order of Business agreed to? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  On a point of order----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  What is the point of order? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  The point of order is looking for clarification on the motion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  A point of order arises where a Standing Order has not been complied with. I ask the Deputy to resume his seat. There is no point of order. We will vote on the Order of Business. Is the Order of Business agreed to? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I ask for----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  There is no point of order. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  -----clarity on what we are asking people to vote for. The proposal before us provides that all amendments will be disposed of and the only vote will be on the Government's proposal. The Government Chief Whip has just stated that there will be numerous votes after the 60-minute debate. I am looking for clarity. If the Government is accepting that there will be numerous votes on the amendments, I accept that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Does the Government Chief Whip wish to respond? If not, we will move on. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  The Order of Business stands. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Order of Business stands. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  What is it? Which one is it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Are the proposed arrangements for dealing with this week's business agreed to? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Are you getting rid of all the amendments? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  She is not telling us. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I will put the question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  \u201cViolence against women and girls is the shame of our society and we must do everything possible to end it.\u201d These were the words of Natalie McNally's heartbroken brother Declan yesterday after Stephen McCullagh was sentenced to life in prison for her horrific murder. It is a sharp reminder of the dangers women face. Today violence against women and girls is at epidemic levels across Ireland. The first government strategy was delivered 15 years ago this month. Progress is far too slow - a judicial system that does not work for victims, court cases taking too long, support services underfunded and overstretched. Despite Jennie's law receiving Cabinet approval last October, we still do not have a register of domestic abusers to protect women from repeat offenders. When will we see a step change from Government to deliver change and bring the determination required to eliminate violence against women and girls? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The level of domestic and gender-based violence is a tremendous stain on our society. There has been a step change in Government responses in the past number of years. Funding is now at about \u20ac80 million under the last budget. The establishment of Cuan has been an important step change in terms of dedicated, focused provision of services and the representation of the zero-tolerance strategy. There has been a \u20ac12 million increase year on year so the financial resources have been significantly step-changed in respect of this issue. The acceleration of additional refuge spaces and safe accommodation is an important aspect of that. The target is to provide about 282 safe spaces by the end of 2026. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  There is a whole range of other measures as well that we have outlined. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  We will be on time, Taoiseach. I call Deputy Bacik. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  Less than four weeks into the Government's new rental regime, we are already seeing the effects. The Government is now presiding over the highest level of evictions since the Famine. Last week, Residential Tenancies Board, RTB, data showed the number of eviction notices issued rose by 41% in quarter 4 of 2025. Just over 20,000 people received a dreaded notice of termination through their letterboxes last year as landlords were already leaving the market in anticipation of the new reckless rent rules. Now we are seeing mass evictions at a higher scale again: 14 families in an apartment complex in Ballybane in Galway city; 20 families in Lord Edward Street in Limerick; and in my constituency too, I am hearing it. Renters are vulnerable and need protection. The Labour Party has offered constructive solutions. I ask again if the Taoiseach will institute a ban on no-fault evictions now to protect families and children, in particular, from homelessness. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy seems very confused in her presentations on the rental market. On one level, she is complaining about evictions she suggests are caused by recent reforms of the rental market, which were all about protecting tenants and the six-year term. Which is it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  Landlords are confused. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  If the Deputy banned evictions, she would cause greater churn and a greater loss of landlords. The facts do not bear out what she said. The latest RTB data shows continued growth in quarter 4 of last year with 243,598 tenancies, the highest on record. There were 104,687 private landlords, broadly unchanged year on year. Churn is normal but overall numbers are stable and, actually, rising. A total of 17,342 new tenancies were registered in quarter 4 of 2025. The residential tenancies Act of 2006 ends no-fault evictions, essentially----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Taoiseach. I call Deputy Whitmore. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----for larger landlords, places stronger restrictions on tenancy termination and caps rent increases at inflation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Whitmore is on her feet. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  When global energy crises hit, there is one certainty in Ireland and that is that energy prices shoot sky high like a rocket and then take years to drop.  We saw it happen when Russia invaded Ukraine. In fact, there are still people suffering the consequences of that, with 320,000 remaining in arrears on their electricity bills. We are still facing sky-high electricity prices despite the CSO reporting yesterday that wholesale electricity prices are down by 72% since the peak. People in Ireland have not seen a 72% reduction in electricity prices, as we know well.  We are seeing the same happening as a result of the war in Iran, with a near immediate increase in prices at the pump. We welcome the excise reductions the Government is bringing in but how will it make sure there is pass-through such that people see a reduction in petrol and diesel prices from when the measures are introduced and that there will be absolutely no opportunity to price-gouge people in this instance? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission is there to ensure fair play in the marketplace. The Government certainly will be keeping a very watchful eye on this issue. If there is not pass-through, that will have implications for any potential future measures we might take in the energy market itself. We will be keeping a weathervane eye on this in the coming days. I take the Deputy's point that prices went up very quickly and they need to come down once the excise duty change works its way through. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  A task force on special education in Dublin 15 was set up in October 2024. Why, eight months after its final report was handed to the Minister, has it been buried and still not published? Dublin 15 is a fast-growing area with an acute crisis in school provision for children with additional needs. Three parents, all of whom have children with additional needs, gave up their time voluntarily to be part of the task force. They pushed for the strongest possible recommendations, many of which got diluted in the drafting. Among the recommendations were forward planning, a central database, good communication, a disability support hub and \"substantial additional capital funding for appropriate places\". They also asked for action on the teacher supply crisis.  Why is this report being buried? What is the Government afraid of in publishing it and being held to account? Was it just done to take this issue off the agenda in Dublin 15 before the general election? We need an additional special school in Dublin 15 and one more children's disability network team, CDNT, area as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I will check with the Minister of State with responsibility for special education in respect of that report and timelines for its publication. There is forward planning now. We brought forward the date by which parents and students apply for places in our schools. That has happened this year, as the Deputy must be aware. The establishment of a central database has to happen but I acknowledge it is not there yet. There have been substantial capital funding increases for education, particularly special education, which takes up a huge portion of the education capital budget. That provision for special education will continue this year. Special education is growing exponentially in terms of resources, whether they be special needs assistants, teachers or buildings. That is the story of where we are in terms of special education and it will continue to be the case. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  The Taoiseach may have seen the latest figures from the Health Products Regulatory Authority, HPRA, which are a cause for concern. Last year, for example, more than 750,000 units of illegal or fake medicines were seized and the number of individual packages separately purchased by members of the public rose by a whopping 180%. There was a 30-fold surge in fake glucagon-like peptide-1, GLP-1, weight loss products, for example, and also a sharp rise in seizures of pregabalin, which is a drug with legitimate applications, such as for epilepsy, but which can kill when misused. The HPRA, to its credit, has shut down thousands of online listings but the problem is still escalating. With this serious and growing public health threat, what additional measures and resourcing will the Government provide to curb the online sale of dangerous medicines, protect vulnerable people and ensure safe and affordable access to legitimate treatments? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising what is a very important issue. I will talk to the Ministers for health and enterprise and others who can have an impact. It is a very serious issue because fake drugs can do real harm to people and damage their health.  It is an area that perhaps needs a higher profile focus. I will certainly take away the fact the Deputy has highlighted the issue. I will come back to him with the views of the authority and others. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aindrias Moynihan  Last night the EU and Australia came to a trade agreement. As a small open economy, trade is hugely important to us in Ireland. The agreement looks to be a fairly good opportunity for Ireland but I want to draw attention to farmers' needs. They are under pressure with milk prices, fertiliser prices and diesel. Increasing competition at this time is much more challenging for them. What assurances are there for farmers that there will be similar standards in this trade agreement, and that milk and beef farmers will be able to compete on a level playing field following this trade agreement? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Government has welcomed the agreement and will be supporting it at EU level. Ireland's agrifood exports will benefit under the deal through easier access to the large Australian market. We believe this will give us more opportunities to sell our products due to tariff elimination. Tariffs will go down to zero on key EU export products such as cheese over three years. There will be recognition for iconic Irish geographical indications, such as Irish whiskey, Irish cream and poit\u00edn. There will be preferential rules of origin for Irish whiskey. Exports of prepared foodstuffs and Irish dairy products, including cheese, will also see tariff reductions. European Union dairy exports to Australia are estimated to have the potential to grow by 48% under the deal.  There are issues with the importation of beef; that will be over a ten-year period. However, mechanisms have been put in place to deal with an unacceptable impact on markets where the EU can intervene. The figure is much less than what the Australian side was seeking. It will be phased in over a ten-year period. It represents about 0.5% of European Union domestic consumption of beef. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Geoghegan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Geoghegan  On Friday, I met Denise from Tiernans Nursery in Rathmines. She has been operating it for over 35 years. Unfortunately, she has had to take the decision to exit core funding to make ends meet. She has had to notify parents of that. This is not a person who is looking to make loads of money; she is just trying to continue to provide the service she was already providing. Since I was elected as a TD, I have met lots of childcare providers in my constituency who have had to make this difficult decision to exit core funding. They do not want to tell parents that they are going to have to increase their fees, and obviously the Government is trying to reduce the cost of childcare for parents. My question is on the level of engagement the Department can have with providers that do exit. From responses to parliamentary questions, I know the overall figures are relatively small. However, we want to get them back into the system. We do not want people exiting core funding because we cannot control the fees if they do so. Some of this is bureaucracy and the various funding schemes that they have to operate under. Could we be doing more for providers that exit core funding so that we can keep the costs down for parents and support providers at the same time? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I do not have the background to the specific case. Core funding now exceeds \u20ac436 million, up 62% since 2022, with 93%, or 4,590, of providers signed up, which keeps fees at 2021 levels. I will speak to the Minister on this. It is a matter that is kept under constant review. As the Deputy said, we do not want to lose anybody from the core funding framework. People may feel they can do better outside it, but it is not great for parents in terms of costs when that happens. I will let the Minister know that the Deputy raised this. We keep it under constant review to make sure it is accessible and that it makes sense for people to be participants in the core funding programme. The increase in numbers in the system over the past four years has been pretty impressive. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joanna Byrne  I would like the Government to urgently address a serious situation facing a primary school in my constituency that has the potential to impact hundreds of children and families. Despite providing the first breakfast club of its kind in the State, St. Paul's National School is hugely concerned that because it does not fit the new model for school meals, it is at risk of losing this vital service. Its funding is in limbo. It has sought clarity from the Department to no avail. I have raised this privately with the Minister, Deputy Calleary, and have not yet received a response.  This school is at the heart of a proud community in Drogheda that has felt the brunt of organised crime feuds. Its breakfast club, school meals and canteen are lifeline to many. In 2016, the Government clearly agreed with this when its new Bill rightly ensured that fully fitted kitchens and dining spaces were included in the plans. Its model, which was lauded as best practice for school meals at the time by Fianna F\u00e1il Ministers, must now be facilitated within the new hot school meals programme. The funding must be provided without delay and, more importantly, the school needs to be given clarity. Will the Taoiseach ask the Minister to at least visit this school and see the model at work at first hand, and allay the concerns of the principal and the wider community? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Again, I do not have the full background to the case here. Obviously, the Government has funded the building very well. The hot school meals programme has been rolled out very quickly and effectively on many fronts. There is a lot of debate around improving nutrition. However, fundamentally over the last three years, it has been rolled out at considerable pace across the length and breadth of the country. I will talk to the Minister, Deputy Calleary, in respect of the issue the Deputy has raised. The Departments of education and Social Protection can reflect on whether there is flexibility in how the allocation, which every school gets, is spent and I will come back to the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Erin McGreehan  I acknowledge the temporary measures that have been introduced to help address the rise in fuel and energy costs. They will offer some short-term support at the time when many households and businesses are feeling real pain. I have spoken to many Louth hauliers, coach operators and households who are desperately worried about what is to come. This conflict in the Middle East is the latest supply chain shock for energy markets. Uncertainty around supply chains is creating real fears about what lies ahead. In Louth as in the rest of the country, families are already finding it difficult to manage heating and everyday living costs. Small businesses are affected. Coach operators and hauliers along the M1 corridor continue to face fluctuating fuel costs. We need a real plan to start reducing the cost of energy in this country, which is unsustainable, as the Taoiseach knows. Given these global pressures and local challenges, will the Government keep the situation under close review and ensure the supports can be adjusted if it worsens? Can we start front-loading investment into alternative energy sources, advancing our critical infrastructure plan and extending our retrofit programmes to help future-proof these problems? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. The haulage industry is a key industry whose role in our modern economy has been underestimated in terms of getting goods from ports to shelves and from manufacturing facilities to the ships for our export markets. I am very interested in making sure that we have a sustainable haulage industry into the future. The Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, has engaged with the industry over the last number of weeks and today's measures reflect part of that engagement and will provide some ease of the pressure. I acknowledge the pressures on the industry are still very significant. More generally, the Deputy is correct about the need to drive forward with the retrofitting programme and energy efficiency programmes. Through front-loading solar energy and insulation, we will continue to do everything we can to support businesses and households in terms of any energy efficiency measures they can take to help in the short term. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Callaghan  I wish to raise the state of our local roads in my constituency of Carlow-Kilkenny. While the recent spell of persistent heavy rain has thankfully ceased for the moment, the damage done to our roads in the flash floodings of January this year, particularly in rural parts of Carlow and Kilkenny, is still very evident and is causing grave disruption and inconvenience, disproportionately affecting rural dwellers. I commend Carlow and Kilkenny county councils, which have worked hard at making our local roads passable, but they are a long way from being sufficiently repaired. The reason for that is not the lack of will of both local authorities but the delay in receipt of the emergency funding that was promised from the Government. Following the surveys that have been done, it is estimated that Carlow County Council needs approximately \u20ac4 million and Kilkenny County Council needs an estimated \u20ac5 million to return those severely damaged roads to pre-flood conditions. Where is the promised funding for local authorities and when will it be released to Carlow and Kilkenny county councils? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Minister has sought submissions from local authorities across the length and breadth of the country in respect of damage done in recent storms and flooding that occurred.  The Minister is assessing those submissions now with a view to allocations to try to help the county councils concerned. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donna McGettigan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donna McGettigan  I recently sent the Taoiseach a parliamentary question which he declined to answer. The question was to him and was about the decision-making process behind the recent announcement of a 200-bed hospital unit in Raheen, Limerick, which is option B, part of the HIQA recommendations. People in Clare are asking, when were the Taoiseach and the Cabinet made aware of this? It seems some of his own TDs and Senators in the local area were not aware of this announcement being made. People in Clare were told to stop suggesting sites by one of his Government Ministers. Did this mean it was a done deal? How did the procurement process come about? Did the Government approach the landowner or vice versa ? This plan will not solve the problem in Clare that the Government caused in 2009. People in Clare are asking, was this a Fine Gael announcement or a Government announcement? If you look at this announcement on \"Reeling in the Years\" down the line, you will see it is all Fine Gael elected reps at this. Does the Taoiseach believe that this will solve the issues for those in Clare, particularly those out west and in north Clare, well outside the golden hour? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  First, I did not decline to answer any question, and it is wrong of the Deputy to suggest that I did. She knows full well that questions about hospital sites go to the Minister for Health. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donna McGettigan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donna McGettigan  But I was asking the Taoiseach, not----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, there is no interaction. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I am sorry, no, I am not responsible for every individual Minister's decision-making. It is a well-known practice in the D\u00e1il and the Oireachtas that questions go to the Minister who is accountable to the House in respect of the matter. Of course, I was aware of the decision, and the Minister would have informed me very early on, along with the T\u00e1naiste, the Minister of State, Se\u00e1n Canney, and other Ministers as to what, overall, is a positive decision, given the congestion in UHL. Now there is a pathway forward in terms of health facilities in Limerick and in the mid-west, to be complemented by further services for Ennis and Nenagh. It is a positive development overall. The Deputy is obviously against it but----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donna McGettigan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donna McGettigan  I am not against it. It is positive for Limerick but----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Taoiseach. The next speaker is Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett. Your time is up, Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Yes, but it is positive overall for healthcare, I would have thought. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Over the past week I had parents of children with intellectual disabilities from the Before We Die campaign in with me. They pointed out that about 2,000 adults with intellectual disabilities are living with parents who are over 70, and about 500 of those people are living with parents over 80. Their parents are extremely worried about what will happen to their children when they pass away and are asking, \"Where is the plan?\" They are saying there should be a plan, a framework. The number of houses being delivered, supported housing they need, is pathetic. They give me a figure of one transition for 2026 so far, with thousands of people needing it. Will the Taoiseach respond to the Before We Die campaign's call for a plan, for a framework and for urgent action to provide the transitions necessary for children with intellectual disabilities? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I am responding to the issue. I met with the Before We Die group some weeks ago. This is on the agenda of the next Cabinet subcommittee on disability. I have spoken to the Minister for housing, the Minister for disability and the Minister for Health. What is needed here is a concerted, collective approach. I acknowledge that the current situation is not sustainable or satisfactory and creates undue pressure on parents, particularly parents of citizens and people who are of senior age and who need independence. The idea that some of the section 39 organisations would just say, \"Go and apply to the local authority, and it's up to yourself\", is not on, and I have made that very clear to the system. The bottom line is that we need people joined up together and we need to have supports if someone gets housing. There is a varying continuum of need, so some will need less support, some will need substantive supports and so forth. This is an issue I am seized of. It is a very serious issue for the families concerned and society more generally. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  The Taoiseach, like me and probably many people in this Chamber, probably learned to swim in a local authority or community pool. Fingal has no local authority pool. The closest we have to one is the not-for-profit pool provided by Portmarnock Sports and Leisure Centre. Due to extensive works needed for the pool roof, the pool is closed indefinitely. This is not only threatening jobs and the viability of the leisure centre but also removing a vital resource, that is, the ability to learn to swim, from people in Portmarnock, Malahide, Swords and all over the Fingal area. The Minister, Darragh O'Brien, is aware of this. We need funding to repair the roof for this pool. There is no local authority funding stream any more for pools from the Government, but there needs to be an investment in the repair of the roof. It is the only community pool available in Fingal and it needs to be repaired at the earliest possible opportunity. I ask the Taoiseach to engage with the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, me and the board of Portmarnock Sports and Leisure Centre to ensure that this can be repaired. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I do not have the background to this. I learned to swim in the sea, actually, down in west Cork, or maybe Robert's Cove or somewhere like that, but we had a baths long ago. We used to call it the baths, the swimming pool----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  We used to have one too. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  We still have not got it back. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----next to City Hall, and the craic was good. I passionately believe in swimming opportunities for young people and children in particular to learn how to swim, as Deputy Smith says, because water safety is essential and it can be a very joyous and healthy discipline for the rest of your life. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  And vital. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I will talk to the Minister, Deputy O'Brien. He is fairly innovative when it comes to projects in Fingal. I will see what can be done. I take the Deputy's point. The Minister of State with responsibility for sport is here. We will see what can be done in respect of the roof on the swimming pool in Portmarnock. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aidan Farrelly  A review of income used by Naas General Hospital under the National Treatment Purchase Fund has found that consultants were paid \u20ac2 million between 2022 and 2025. Of this, close to \u20ac500,000 was paid to two external companies, in which a director in each company also works as a consultant at Tallaght hospital. The audit found that consultants were paid significantly higher levels under the fee-per-patient structure than they would have been through standard contractual or overtime arrangements. More importantly, there was no evidence of approval being sought by hospital management for a derogation from standard public procurement procedures. First, what are the consequences if and when reviews find such misappropriation of NTPF funds? Second, is it time for a national review of the NTPF programme to make sure that this is not a widespread issue in hospitals throughout the country? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  There has been a HSE review of the insourcing programme and practice. There has been huge investment since 2025. The Minister undertook a detailed survey of all insourcing activities within the HSE in light of concerns about an over-reliance in the system on supplementary capacity. That report was submitted and published by the Minister in July of last year. That led to a number of measures being taken, stricter control measures, to reduce reliance on inappropriate third-party insourcing while maintaining all options for the provision of care to patients. Those controls are now in place to restrict the use of third-party insourcing. We are moving away from our dependence on the model to fully use the internal under-utilised capacity we have within our core health service. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  Yesterday the UK Government announced it would make plug-in solar panels available in the near future to British households. Plug-ins are low-cost solar panels that families can put on balconies or outdoor spaces. Retailers and manufacturers are working with the UK Government to make them available in shops within months. They would save people money on their bills in the UK and they could do the same here as well. However, when I got a reply to a parliamentary question I put to the Department of energy in February, the Department told me it had been considering plug-in solar for 18 months and still needed more time for consideration. In the middle of an energy crisis, the luxury of time has gone past us. Will the Taoiseach move on this? Will he look to make plug-in solar panels available in Ireland immediately? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I will talk to the Minister about it. What the Deputy has said sometimes illustrates - I will not say the futility of asking parliamentary questions, but you do tend to get standard replies from time to time. That was last February. The Minister has a huge capital budget. I am not saying capital is required here. I will talk to the Minister about this. I would be favourably disposed to it. Anything that can accelerate people getting familiar with the utilisation of renewables and solar is good. One of the complaints about the existing grant schemes we have is their inaccessibility to people on low incomes, for example. I will talk to the Minister about this. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"An tOrd Gn\u00f3 - Order of Business"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-24\/debate\/dbsect_8","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Message from Select Committee","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Select Committee on Disability Matters has completed its consideration of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2026 and has made no amendments thereto. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Message from Select Committee"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-24\/debate\/dbsect_9","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/33","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/33\/dail\/1","houseCode":"dail","stage":"1","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Planning and Development (Material Interest) Bill 2026: First Stage (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Planning and Development (Material Interest) Bill 2026: First Stage","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  I move:  That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to prevent certain objections to grants of planning permission by requiring, subject to exceptions, that an objector must have a material interest in the development to which the objection relates; and to provide for related matters.  I am very glad of the opportunity here to introduce and move the Planning and Development (Material Interest) Bill. This is a very important piece of legislation and I hope it will speed up the planning process across the country. The objective of the Bill is to ensure that people with a genuine and local stake in a development can participate in the planning process and make observations and objections if they see fit. However, we want to prevent a scenario where individuals or groups who have no connection to a local area and who are in some cases acting in bad faith can submit objections to critical infrastructure, housing, etc.  At the moment it is quite extraordinary that objectors to developments can come from right across this country. For example, if a farmer is applying for a slatted shed in Donegal, it is currently the case that objections can be submitted by individuals from Kerry, Cork, Dublin and right across the country who have no interest, no awareness or no local material interest in that planning application. We believe this is wrong, and we want to ensure the planning process is speeded up, that efficiencies are introduced, and indeed that we prevent the bogus objections happening currently.  Under this Bill, people will be barred from objecting if they live more than 10 km from the site, or indeed if they own land farther than 5 km away. This is about supporting local democracy and it is fundamentally important local communities and local people have the opportunity to build houses, sheds and infrastructure that is needed in local areas.  The Bill does not extend to State agencies or public bodies. However, it is important to state that individuals or groups can still object as long as they are doing so with the support of, and in conjunction with, local individuals in the community. That is fundamentally important because in this country it has been the case where environmental NGOs have submitted planning objections to housing developments and other applications and they were doing so on the basis of making a quick buck and to hamstring contractors to ensure those developments were delayed. Those individuals were then essentially seeking ransom money through consultation fees. It is extraordinary what is happening in the State at the moment.  We have put a great deal of work into this Bill. We have a major problem in relation to vexatious planning objections from people right across the country who have never seen or never set foot in some of these local areas. This Bill balances the right of people to object with the need to prevent abuse in the planning system. As I mentioned, we have seen scandals in the past where environmental NGOs were objecting to developments and then offered to withdraw those objections if the developer paid them the fee. It was absolutely scandalous what was happening, with an NGO operating purely for profit with no genuine environmental concerns whatsoever. In one case, two brothers set up an NGO and objected to housing developments at the other end of the country claiming environmental grounds and then only withdrew those objections if the developer paid the so-called consultancy fee. Essentially, they are demanding to be to be paid off and situations like this make a mockery of our planning system.  Our Bill protects the rights of communities to object to developments. It protects the rights of people to lodge objections on behalf of residents within an area and it protects businesses whose interests may be affected. It is fair, reasonable, and proportionate and we would urge all Members of the House to support it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Is the Bill opposed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Mary Butler)  It is not opposed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Since this is a Private Members' Bill, Second Stage must, under Standing Orders, be taken in Private Members' time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  I move: \"That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time.\" "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Planning and Development (Material Interest) Bill 2026: First Stage"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-24\/debate\/dbsect_10","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions: Motion","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_10","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Education and Youth (Deputy Hildegarde Naughton)  I move:  THAT, notwithstanding anything in the Order of the D\u00e1il of 5th February, 2025, setting out the rota in which Questions to members of the Government are to be asked, Questions for oral answer following those set down to the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, shall be set down to Ministers in the following temporary sequence:  Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment  Minister for Defence  Minister for Education and Youth  whereupon the sequence established by the Order of 5th February, 2025, shall continue with Questions to the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions: Motion"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-24\/debate\/dbsect_11","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Data Protection Act 2018: Motion","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_11","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Mary Butler)  I move:  That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann approve the following Regulations in draft:  Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 60(6)) (Scoping Exercise in Response to Requests from Dignity4Patients) Regulations 2026,  Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 51(3)) (Scoping Exercise in Response to Requests from Dignity4Patients) Regulations 2026,  Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 60(6)) (Children's Health Ireland Inquiry into Spina Bifida and Complex Scoliosis Services Scoping Exercise) Regulations 2026, and  Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 51(3)) (Children's Health Ireland Inquiry into Spina Bifida and Complex Scoliosis Services Scoping Exercise) Regulations 2026,  copies of which were laid in draft form before D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann on 23rd March, 2026. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Data Protection Act 2018: Motion"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-24\/debate\/dbsect_12","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Report of Committee on Standing Orders and D\u00e1il Reform: Motion","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_12","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Mary Butler)  I move:  That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann adopts the Report of the Committee on Standing Orders and D\u00e1il Reform entitled \"Oral Questions to the Taoiseach, and Divisions and Weekly Division Time\", copies of which were laid before D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann on 23rd March, 2026. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Report of Committee on Standing Orders and D\u00e1il Reform: Motion"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-24\/debate\/dbsect_13","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna - Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_13","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna - Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-24\/debate\/dbsect_14","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Ukraine War","counts":{"speechCount":49,"speakerCount":12},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-24\/debate\/dbsect_13","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_13","showAs":"Ceisteanna - Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_14","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shay Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-24\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_14.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 10, inclusive, together.  On 24 February, I attended an online meeting of the coalition of the willing to mark the fourth anniversary of Russia\u2019s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The meeting was co-chaired by British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, and the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, and was joined also by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine, as well as other leaders, some of whom were attending commemoration events in Kyiv.  The meeting reaffirmed the coalition\u2019s resolve to continue to support Ukraine until a peace agreement is achieved, including protecting and repairing its energy infrastructure, and through increasing pressure on Russia to encourage it to engage in meaningful negotiation through imposing further sanctions and disrupting its shadow fleet. The meeting was an opportunity to take stock of negotiations involving the US, Russia and Ukraine, and President Zelenskyy offered us Ukraine\u2019s perspective on progress. During the meeting, we discussed how the coalition of the willing can support these efforts to secure peace, and how the coalition can ensure that Ukraine is in the strongest possible position in those talks. I conveyed Ireland\u2019s strong commitment to supporting efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace and security for Ukraine, as I did directly to President Zelenskyy during his visit to Ireland last December. I also underlined Ireland\u2019s consistent position that it is for the people and Government of Ukraine to determine their future and to agree to the terms of any peace agreement.  I reiterated Ireland\u2019s strong support for Ukraine\u2019s path towards EU membership and said that the accession negotiations should be accelerated, emphasising that EU membership is an important security guarantee for Ukraine and fulfils the objectives of the vast majority of the Ukrainian people. I joined other leaders in strongly condemning the continued attacks on civilians and critical energy infrastructure. These attacks have left millions without electricity during the harsh winter months and have forced Ukraine to declare a state of emergency in the energy sector. Over the past six months, Ireland has contributed \u20ac27 million to provide support for Ukraine\u2019s critical energy infrastructure and to help alleviate the humanitarian crisis inflicted by Russia\u2019s aggression. Ireland continues to consider opportunities to bolster Ukraine\u2019s energy security. Work will continue within the coalition to ensure that, in the event of a peace agreement, Ukraine has the security guarantees it needs. Such measures would be in accordance with respective legal and constitutional arrangements of participating countries.  Ireland' s consistent position has been that it is for the Government and people of Ukraine to determine their future and to agree to the terms of any peace agreement. It is crucial that it is a just and lasting peace, respecting the principles of the UN Charter. The fundamental principle that borders cannot be changed by force must be upheld. Any agreement must also protect Ukraine and Europe\u2019s security. That means strong, credible guarantees that ensure Ukraine can defend itself going forward to avoid a repetition of the past. Ireland will continue to support these efforts as part of the European Union and through participation in the coalition of the willing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  It seems that, as dangerous as we think the world is, it keeps getting worse and worse. We have seen the war in Iran, which is obviously an absolutely illegal action by genocidal Israel with the absolute backing of America. We hope the American President, Donald Trump, has bitten off more than he can chew but we do not know what the future holds. It has also meant a lifting of restrictions on the sale of Russian oil. What engagement has the Taoiseach had with others on this? I reiterate what was said here earlier, in that while we obviously want to see reductions in the price of diesel and petrol, we cannot avoid dealing sufficiently with the huge costs people are paying for home heating oil. We have to protect ourselves. We also need to eventually play our part in developing a roadmap to a better world where we will not have to deal with this madness. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  I welcome the fact that Ireland will continue to contribute in whatever way we can to addressing Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine. We need to co-operate in a number of specific areas. One such area I want to instance is cybersecurity. Like many other European countries, Ireland is regularly on the receiving end of cyberattacks emanating from Russia. At our meeting of the Committee on Artificial Intelligence today, the Courts Service highlighted the fact that Russia is the source of many of the cyberattacks on that service. I also want to know how we are going to continue to address the problem of the shadow fleet operating in Irish waters. I refer both to Russian sanction-busting with regard to oil and to Russian submarines and naval vessels operating in those waters. It is critical that we operate in partnership with other European nations and learn from their experiences. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail  This morning, The Irish Times reported on work done by Conor Gallagher and the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, OCCRP, in relation to Aughinish Alumina in Limerick and how product from that facility is being used in the military industry in Russia. This afternoon, I spoke with the Ukrainian ambassador, Larysa Gerasko, who expressed her deep fears about this news. What is the Government doing and, to the best of its knowledge, what can it do in relation to this work at Aughinish Alumina to stop the sale of products from Ireland for use in the war in Ukraine? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shay Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shay Brennan  The Middle East conflict is having wide-ranging repercussions. Two of these impact directly on Ukraine's ability to defend itself. The first is that Russia was selling Urals oil at approximately $40 dollar in the past few months, towards the end of last year. This price has obviously risen substantially since the outbreak of the conflict in the Middle East. There are two reasons behind this: the rise in global oil prices and the US sanctions waiver that is now allowing India to purchase Russian oil. It is estimated that Russia takes in about $370 million per day from oil. President Zelenskyy has said that this rise in oil prices and Russia's ability to now sell to India is worth approximately $10 billion to the Russian war effort in Ukraine. What discussions is the Taoiseach having at EU level on this matter? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  The full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation under Vladimir Putin began four years and one month ago. I remember when Zelenskyy was here in the Chamber late last year. It seemed as if the whole world was upon his shoulders. It is something I will never forget. In the context of the recent geopolitical events and spreading of warfare, it is clear that tougher sanctions will be required to counter Putin's warmongering. Combined with the alarming reticence of the Trump and Orb\u00e1n Administrations to join the coalition of the willing, there is a substantive question about how the coalition will impose tougher sanctions, steadfastly uphold existing sanctions on oil and gas from Russia in the midst of an energy crisis, and enforce the robust security guarantees sought by Ukraine to end the war. Will the Taoiseach make a commitment here and now that Ireland will not participate in the lifting of sanctions on Russia, including those sanctions on Russian oil and gas, that we will pursue tougher sanctions on the Russian Federation and that we will do so even in the absence of US support? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  The Taoiseach has rightly and repeatedly condemned Putin for a criminal, barbaric and imperialist attack on Ukraine. Will he do the same when it comes to what Trump and the Israeli regime are now doing to Iran and Lebanon? They are bombing the hell out of civilians and infrastructure in Iran. Israel is now ethnically cleansing south Lebanon. Will the Taoiseach condemn Trump's suggestion that he might \"take over\" Cuba, attacking another country in exactly the same criminal, entirely unjustified and illegal way that Putin attacked Ukraine? Is the Taoiseach consistent in his principles? Will he condemn it and call it out when it is done by the United States and the regime in Israel? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  On 5 March, the Fianna F\u00e1il Minister of State, Deputy Robert Troy, told the D\u00e1il that:  Ireland's position on the use of force where there is no UN mandate or authorisation is well established and known. For fear that anyone is in any doubt, let me be clear: it is wrong and it is illegal.  He said that the use of force without UN mandate or authorisation is wrong and illegal, which is absolutely correct. How can the Taoiseach square that with his support for the coalition of the willing in Ukraine? How can he square it with continuing to try to abolish the triple lock? The use of force is illegal unless done with a UN mandate. That is absolutely clear. It applies whether it is for peacekeeping or \"strengthening international security\", as it is put in the heads of the defence (amendment) Bill. Is there disagreement in Fianna F\u00e1il over this? The Taoiseach wants to abolish the triple lock that enshrines the principle that we will only engage in the use of force with a UN mandate while a Fianna F\u00e1il Minister of State is correctly saying that violating that principle is illegal. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  I too want to raise the report by Conor Gallagher in today's edition of The Irish Times , which was carried out in conjunction with the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project. It is very concerning. It is reported that Russian smelters supplied by the Limerick Aughinish Alumina plant are selling vast amounts of aluminium to a trading company that supplies dozens of Russian arms manufacturers. Is the Taoiseach's Government aware of any links between companies receiving aluminium from Aughinish Alumina and the weapons industry in Russia? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  Many of the Ukrainian nationals who came to Ireland following the invasion of Ukraine did not speak English. To assist them, the State provided significant additional funding for English for speakers of other languages, ESOL, classes through the ETB network. This year, the Government has decided to remove this additional funding for ETBs. As a result, Galway and Roscommon ETB has had to inform 25 teachers that they are being let go and that roughly 150 classes will be cancelled. This cut is affecting classes across the board. It is mainly English language and literacy classes but it is also Irish language classes and other areas. Many of the staff affected were only weeks away from receiving permanent contracts, having almost completed their four years. As we speak here, staff and students are protesting these cruel cuts outside the GRETB facility in Athenry. I want a commitment from the Taoiseach that he will engage with the Minister in relation to this and advise him to reverse these cuts. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I am not sure this is pertinent. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It is the wrong area to ask about. We are on the coalition of the willing here. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  It is in the context of Ukrainian people coming here following the outbreak of the war. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  We will leave it to the Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  My question is also about Ukrainians living here and what we need to do. It has been brought to my attention that many Ukrainians who are living here are having major difficulties in renewing their Ukrainian passports. Those who fled the Russian invasion and sought refuge here now find themselves unable to renew their passports in Ireland. The Taoiseach will know that, when Ukrainian children reach the age of 14, they have to get a passport of their own. Otherwise, they are fined. The current online process repeatedly times out and kicks them out of the system. Other countries, such as Spain, Italy and Poland, have put in place an in-person appointment-based DP document service to allow Ukrainians to renew their passports efficiently and without unnecessary stress. However, Ukrainians in Ireland have told me they are now forced to travel to Poland, Spain or Italy at significant financial cost. Does the Taoiseach know about this? Will he ensure it is rectified? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The question relates to my attendance at the meeting of the coalition of the willing. It is striking that quite a number of Members just avoided any reference to my attendance at that meeting, which is illustrative, and not really good enough. If specific questions are tabled, we should concentrate on those during Taoiseach's Questions because we have the Order of Business for half an hour or 40 minutes on general issues like ETBs, education, health or whatever. We also have the Leaders' Questions for a range of other issues.  Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa referred to the restrictions on the sale of Russian oil. We were seeking to impose a further round of sanctions last week. Hungary is objecting. The Hungarian position is outrageous in terms of both stopping any new round of sanctions and the \u20ac90 billion package for Ukraine. The Deputy's party opposed it as well. It is in good company with Viktor Orb\u00e1n in opposing----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  For God's sake. The Taoiseach should not be obtuse. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Conway-Walsh, allow the answer please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That is not obtuse. That is a fact. Sinn F\u00e9in has opposed the \u20ac90 billion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  It is an easy shot the Taoiseach has taken. Can we move on? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I want to finish my point. There is a view abroad----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputies, excuse me. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  We are either neutral or we are not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  It is about neutrality and the Taoiseach knows that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  This is not allowed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Hungary has a view. Orb\u00e1n has a view. Sinn F\u00e9in has a view. It is basically saying that Ukraine should surrender because if the Ukrainians do not get that budgetary package and a package to support them defend themselves, it is surrender. There is no other option for Ukraine----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----but to surrender if we do not get that \u20ac90 billion package across. I am shocked at Sinn F\u00e9in's position on it----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  I am shocked at the Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----but it is reflected in its questions. When I talk about the coalition of the willing, it is about Ukraine. All Sinn F\u00e9in can offer is one question on that and another on the ETB in Athlone, which has nothing at all to do with it. It just suggests that as far as Sinn F\u00e9in is concerned, Ukraine really does not matter and that has been its position---- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  That is just not true. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----since 2014. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  Continue on. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy will have to take it up in another forum. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We want more sanctions and there could be challenges down the line if the global crisis continues.  Deputy Byrne raised the issue of cybersecurity. It is a huge issue, and many private sector organisations are under fairly regular attack. A lot of them are occurring from within Russia. There could be third country backers that back certain hackers or people involved in cyberwarfare, or there can be criminal entities, but that are known to the authorities in Russia. The Conti group is believed to have caused the attack on our health services during Covid-19. It is inconceivable that it would be allowed operate with the freedom that it does in Russia without some tacit acknowledgement or support from the administration or the government there.  The Deputy also referenced the Courts Service. It is a very significant source of concern for us. We have to build up. We discussed this with the United Kingdom Government the week before last when we met with Keir Starmer and the ministers. It is a big concern for them. We want to co-operate more with them on knowledge around technology and how best we can resist cyber-attacks. Collaboration is the name of the game in countering cybersecurity attacks, which is about learning from the experiences of others that have had them and about trying to pool our best brains to counter such attacks into the future.  With regard to the shadow fleet, legislation is being passed that will enable Naval Service personnel to board them or our naval vessels to intercept them. They will also be able to put queries to the operators of these ships regarding their legality and a whole range of other issues. There are a lot of environmental concerns around the shadow fleet. Many of them are potential maritime disasters if there were leakages of oil and so on, which would have devastating impacts on the marine environment. They have been disrupted by a number of EU member states. They have been boarded and so on. The idea was to try to disrupt the modus operandi of the shadow fleet and to make it less efficient in terms of its service to Russia during these times.  Deputies \u00d3 Cear\u00fail and Whitmore raised Aughinish Alumina. It is a very significant employer in the mid-west and it supports hundreds of jobs directly and indirectly. It also has a connection to the supply chain within Europe in terms of steel and its products. That is why there has been a general principle at European level that we should not damage ourselves disproportionately, particularly given that it is an industry that is under attack anyway from broader issues around how the global economy operates today in terms of some countries giving more protections, subsidies and so on. However, I am concerned about the report because that was never on the agenda. The report states that it supplies to intermediaries who are then supplying it on to Russia to be used for armaments. That is a concern, and we will examine it to try to get the background to it. It is not just about Ireland. It has a relevance to other EU member states in terms of its production.  In response to Deputy Boyd Barrett, I made it clear in my speech at the White House about Ireland's adherence to UN nations, the need for a UN mandate and its adherence to the international rules-based order. I articulated that strongly, as I did about the need for the war to end and for a peaceful resolution. We are dealing with a very repressive regime in Iran that has been conducting a surrogate war for years on an ongoing basis against many countries. In the Middle East, it is particularly----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Is it more repressive than Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Boyd Barrett, please do not engage. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Yes, I would argue that Iran is much more repressive than Saudi Arabia. We do not have a precise number, but thousands of their citizens who went on the street to protest were mowed down. I am not defending any other regime but this is a particularly----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  I do not know why the Taoiseach is saying this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, it is not a back and forth. Respect other members. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  UAE, Cuba. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The contrast with Ukraine is very different, but the Deputy will never acknowledge that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  It was always different from Iran. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Deputies Boyd Barrett, Murphy and others will never acknowledge that point. President Zelenskyy executed nobody before Ukraine was invaded. I believe in dialogue. I believe in the international rules-based order and a UN mandate, although the UN is paralysed. The reason we are doing the triple lock is the UN Security Council is paralysed. It is going to be very hard to get a peacekeeping mission going and because of the Security Council, UNIFIL will end at the end of this year. The opportunities for Irish peacekeepers, which is something we have been doing uninterrupted since 1958, is very much in the balance, but no one seems to care about that on the Opposition side in terms of our future role in peacekeeping.  Cuba should be resolved by dialogue. It is another regime that has a certain glorified narrative around it here but it has been quite a repressive regime as well and it has oppressed its people for far too long. It needs to get with it in the modern era and engage in a sensible dialogue to try to get a resolution. It does not need any external interventions. I have been to Cuba. When I was the Minister for Foreign Affairs, I was one of two or three European ministers in the 2007 to 2010 period who visited Cuba in the hope of getting a more liberal view of things, but, even then, it did not release the political prisons that we had sought the release of. President Castro and his brother, who was his successor, ruled with an iron fist. That was wrong and the consequences for its citizens have been fairly dire. Hence many left and went to the United States or elsewhere. No one case is simple. There is a complexity and history to a lot of these issues that defies simplistic sloganeering. I dealt with the questions about the triple lock and UN mandate. I dealt with Deputy Whitmore's question. That is our take on it and we will examine it.  In response to Deputy O'Hara's question about the ETB----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  Was the Taoiseach aware of this? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  No, not at all.  In response to Deputy O'Hara, that is a matter for the Minister for education. There are plenty of routes to try to source an answer to that question. I will reference that the Deputy raised it, but it is not appropriate to raise it in the context of the coalition of the willing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  Some 25 jobs have been lost. People were protesting today. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I know, but this is a different set of questions.  In response to Deputy Conway-Walsh, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is aware of this issue. I will talk to the Minister and come back to her. There have been challenges all around. Because of the war in Ukraine, there are lots of issues and public services that have come under pressure. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ukraine War"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-24\/debate\/dbsect_15","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Departmental Reports","counts":{"speechCount":20,"speakerCount":11},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-24\/debate\/dbsect_13","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_13","showAs":"Ceisteanna - Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-24\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_15.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 to 23, inclusive, together.  The Department of the Taoiseach's statement of strategy 2025-28 was approved by the Government on 7 October 2025 and laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas on 10 December 2025. The statement of strategy outlines the Department\u2019s vision, mission, values, core responsibilities, key activities and policy priorities over the period from 2025 to 2028. The Department's mission is to support the Taoiseach and the Government, including in the implementation of the programme for Government, through principled leadership and joined-up governance; by co-ordinating Government activity to ensure effective, inclusive and timely decision-making; by providing impartial, high-quality policy advice in the national interest; by upholding democratic integrity, Civil Service values and public trust at the centre of government; and by promoting a strategic, sustainable and long-term perspective that safeguards Ireland\u2019s future prosperity, cohesion and resilience. The core responsibilities and key activities of the Department encompass executive leadership and Government co-ordination; legislative, parliamentary and constitutional duties; policy coherence and whole-of-government perspective; State protocol and commemorations; public communications and information, emergency management and civic engagement; and Civil Service and public service leadership and renewal.  Supporting implementation of the programme for Government is at the core of the Department's mission. The policy priorities outlined in the statement of strategy, which align with the commitments contained in the programme for Government, include housing; infrastructure; disability; children and education; economy, trade and competitiveness; climate action, environment and energy; health; justice, migration and social affairs; EU and international affairs; Northern Ireland; national security; and water quality. In 2025, the Department provided the secretariat for 46 Government meetings, which dealt with 1,233 memos to the Government. It supported me as Taoiseach with nine meetings of the European Council, ten meetings of the coalition of the willing on Ukraine and a significant programme of inward and outward visits, including the AI summit in February, the EU-Africa summit in Angola in November and the visit of President Zelenskyy in December 2025. The strategy sets out how the Department will progress work in all the areas I have mentioned, including through the Cabinet committee structure and its related senior officials' groups. The Department's annual reports over the period from 2025 to 2028 provide a mechanism to report progress made on the policy priorities outlined in the statement of strategy. The statement of strategy is published as Gaeilge agus as B\u00e9arla. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathal Crowe  Last November, I brought the Taoiseach to the University of Limerick, where he visited the centre for robotic and intelligence systems, better known as CRIS. The CRIS laboratory is led by Professor Dan Toal. When we were there, he saw the huge array of cutting-edge and cost-effective technology, including submersibles, drones and all sorts of equipment. On the day we were there, from that laboratory in the University of Limerick, they were monitoring with an robotically powered undersea vehicle a wind turbine off the Portuguese coast. There is huge potential here. This potential transcends many Departments. There is the potential to monitor shadow fleets, subsea cables, gas lines and offshore wind energy; to survey ecological and habitat areas; and to tackle the trade of illicit drugs. That is only the start of it. This is a very cost-effective way to operate. I think it is strategically important for Ireland. I hope the Taoiseach might be able to accede to the request for him to convene the various Departments to lead out a group that could look at this. Unfortunately, we are currently the outliers in Europe as the only EU country without a national laboratory for robotics. This is strategically important to Ireland Inc., to the Department of the Taoiseach and to many other Departments. I ask the Taoiseach to work with Professor Toal's group and co-ordinate a cross-party interdepartmental group to lead this forward. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  A constituent sent me a letter. It states:  I am writing to you to highlight the serious and immediate impact that rising fuel prices are having on community nurses and their ability to provide essential healthcare services.  Community nurses depend heavily on travel to reach patients in their homes, often covering large rural areas every day. Unfortunately, the current travel and mileage allowances no longer reflect the true cost of fuel. As prices continue to increase, the reimbursement provided does not cover the actual expenses incurred while carrying out our duties ...  Ultimately, it may also affect the continuity and quality of care that patients receive in their own homes.  I urge you to raise this issue with the Minister for Health and the Government and to support an urgent review of mileage and travel allowances for community healthcare staff so that they accurately reflect the real cost of fuel and travel.  Community nurses play a critical role in keeping people out of hospital and supporting patients in their homes. It is essential that they are not financially penalised for carrying out this vital work.  I restate what was said earlier, which was that an insufficient offering is on the table in relation to the reduction in the cost of fuel. This needs to be addressed. I get that the Government cannot do everything, but I am saying that there needs to be further action in relation to the cost of home heating oil because people are under severe pressure. That is before we talk about the cost-of-disability issues and the wider cost-of-living crisis. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Albert Dolan  The Taoiseach's reply highlighted a number of priorities. One area of key focus is disability. The Cabinet committee on disability is going to try to push forward with the national rights strategy for disabled people 2025-30. One key area the Government needs to focus on is accessibility in our towns, particularly towns like Athenry, Tuam, Gort and Loughrea. These are towns in Galway East where, in the last year, we have seen progress toward greater accessibility, but we need to see more. What is the Department going to do to focus on accessibility around our towns so that everyone has an equal opportunity to experience our lived spaces? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  The Taoiseach said today that the proposed LNG plant is necessary from an energy security perspective. I have spent many hours going through the documentation for that argument, and I cannot see how this plant is required from an energy security perspective. There are alternative ways of dealing with energy security. This plant will lock us into fossil fuel infrastructure and it will be an incredibly costly exercise, with a cost of \u20ac1 billion over ten years. If an alternative and evidence for that alternative are provided to the Taoiseach, will he give it serious consideration? There is another way of dealing with this energy security issue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Liam Quaide  The mental health strategy, A Vision for Change, is now 20 years old, but the State is still nowhere near providing the specialist multidisciplinary teams it promised for older people in that document. There are large parts of the country, including Dublin south-west, Limerick city-Tipperary north, Cork north and east, and Cork south and west, where the HSE has approved no occupational therapy posts at all for older adult mental health services. There are no approved psychology posts in Kildare-west Wicklow or Donegal. These are essential therapies to help to support older people and their families as they face mental health challenges in the context of ageing. What makes this even more serious is the lengths to which the HSE went to obscure these shortfalls. In January, I was told that the HSE did not maintain data on approved posts for these services, which is frankly farcical. The HSE's 2019 model of care for older persons, which contained clear staffing targets, disappeared offline shortly after I submitted my first parliamentary question, only to reappear immediately after the media queried its absence. What commitment can the Taoiseach give to the funding of multidisciplinary posts for older adult mental health teams? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  The Taoiseach mentioned that there is a focus in the strategy on housing and on the delivery of affordable housing. In my area, the average house price is now \u20ac680,000. The limit for the first home scheme for affordable housing is \u20ac500,000. In other words, if it is a new build, it cannot be more than \u20ac500,000. The Government's affordable housing schemes simply do not apply in D\u00fan Laoghaire. Ordinary workers in D\u00fan Laoghaire do not earn more because they earn in D\u00fan Laoghaire. If you are a nurse, a teacher, a bank worker or a council worker, you do not earn more because you live in D\u00fan Laoghaire. The Government's schemes are completely non-applicable. That is true in many parts of Dublin, by the way, where house prices are way in excess. What is the Taoiseach going to do? The local infrastructure housing activation fund, LIHAF, funding, which was given out in the millions to developers, was supposed to be conditional on giving back houses of \u20ac300,000 or less when it originally came out.  That was abandoned. In places like Cherrywood, where \u20ac15 million in LIHAF funding was given out on the condition that there was supposed to be some affordable housing, we got no affordable housing and the houses are coming in at \u20ac600,000 and \u20ac700,000. How are ordinary workers supposed to pay for houses at that price? What is the Taoiseach going to do to deliver them some affordable housing because his schemes do not apply in huge swathes of Dublin? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  On the policy priorities in the Government\u2019s statement of strategy and the priority of children in education, the Taoiseach has told us repeatedly that he is doing everything he can to ensure there is an appropriate school place for every child. Why then does a school that comes forward because it wants to provide additional classes face so many road blocks? I have raised Stapolin Educate Together National School with the Taoiseach before. It is doing its absolute best to provide two badly needed new and additional autism classes but the Department of education has not sanctioned them. There are 50 children on a waiting list who need these additional classes to be provided. These children need the Taoiseach and his Government to step forward and act on this. Why has the Taoiseach not given the go-ahead? Will he ensure the go-ahead is given for these two new additional classes? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  On 5 March a large public meeting was held in Dunshaughlin, County Meath on the shortage of mainstream junior infants classes for September 2026. I was there with my colleague Fionnan Blake. The Taoiseach\u2019s party was represented by a local councillor, as was the Minister's party. An Independent TD was there. There is a commitment from the Department in written responses to me that families can be assured that all children who require a school place will be provided with one but, three weeks on, despite repeated correspondence and repeated requests, there is no indication at all when that plan will be in place or what the detail of it will be. A number of clear proposals were put forward by local principals and the local community at the Gaelscoil and the community national school. Will the Taoiseach contact the Department and the Minister for education to ensure a response issues to this local community? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  I want to bring to the Taoiseach\u2019s attention the condition of Gaelscoil Riada in Athenry, which is a fantastic school. It is the only Irish-medium primary school in Athenry but the school building is totally inappropriate. There are a number of issues, including toilets frequently blocking and overflowing due to ongoing sewage drainage problems. Raw sewage is overflowing and spilling onto the school yard. The sewage is flooding at the main entrance to the school, and the entrance was inaccessible in recent weeks as a result. These deplorable conditions pose a real and serious health and safety risk to the entire school community. They have been waiting since 2006 for a new school campus alongside Col\u00e1iste an Eachr\u00e9idh. They have been included on the NDP list for 2026-27 but still have not received clarity on a likely timeline and start date for construction. In light of the circumstances, will the Taoiseach engage with the Minister to ensure clarity is provided as soon as possible in order that the project can be accelerated and support can be provided to the school in the meantime to deal with these issues? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  The effectiveness of our national security framework depends not only on the capabilities of our security services but also on maintaining the trust and confidence of the public. That trust must be grounded in transparency, accountability and proper democratic oversight. At present, the mechanisms available to this House to scrutinise national security policy remain limited in scope and visibility. Strengthening the oversight role of the Oireachtas while at the same time fully respecting the need to protect sensitive and operational information would bring Ireland more closely in line with international best practices. This issue takes an added importance as we prepare to take over the EU Presidency in July. Our EU partners are looking to us for reassurances that their officials will be safe while visiting Ireland. Will the Taoiseach commit to expanding democratic oversight of our national security within the Oireachtas in order to strengthen public confidence and trust in this area? I also want to ask about the investigation into the drone incident during President Zelenskyy\u2019s visit. When will it be completed and reported on? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank all the Deputies who raised questions. Deputy Cathal Crowe raised the CRIS centre in University of Limerick, which I have visited. I saw at first hand the excellent technology in respect of underwater remotely controlled drones which can observe critical undersea infrastructure, such as subsea cables, gas interconnectors and eventually offshore windmills. Such key infrastructure is vital to our economy and society. When I came away, I said that we need to build on this. I think we need a national centre that can develop this technology. We can see all over the world how advanced drone technology has become and how effective it is in many different manifestations and uses. The entire area of monitoring subsea cables with others and monitoring gas infrastructure or indeed other interconnectors \u2013 we will shortly have one with France which will be live next year \u2013 is very critical for our economy. I have spoken to the Minister, Deputy Lawless, about it, as well as other Ministers. I have alerted them to the potential of this centre. We will do some more work on that. Part of the role of An Taoiseach is to co-ordinate and drive certain initiatives. I commend the Deputy for visiting it and raising the issue. It is one I intend to pursue with colleagues to see how we can advance the investment in that centre. The buildings and so on are fairly rudimentary, if I may say so. As the Deputy said, there is huge potential there and a cross-government approach is required to support it.  Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa raised a specific case in highlighting the role of community nurses in the context of rising fuel prices. Community nurses have an essential role in community-based healthcare and providing services to people on the ground. We are three weeks into this war and we are continuing to keep everything under review, in particular the cost issues for people. We have announced a package of measures which is probably larger than most other packages of measures across Europe but it is very much targeted and temporary. We will keep monitoring the situation to see how this unfolds. We need to keep resources in reserve for any potential worsening of this situation. We need to keep an eye on impacts on the economy. It is now March and we have some distance to go to the end of the year, so we are being cautious and retaining flexibility. We are very conscious of the pressures many people are under. I hope the package will help to alleviate some of those pressures for people across the board.  Deputy Dolan raised accessibility and he referenced Athenry, Gort, Tuam and Loughrea. I agree 100%. I have set up a disability unit within the Department to make sure every single Department is seized of the importance of disability services and in particular the implementation of the human rights-based disabled persons strategy, which we launched last year. We had a very good meeting with many of the groups on the action plan and its implementation. We need to work with local authorities, TII, the NTA and others to ensure comprehensive accessibility for people with disabilities along with other measures we are contemplating, particularly the replacement of the existing mobility transport schemes in a way that will benefit people and make them more flexible and accessible as grant schemes for people who want to adjust their cars. Maybe it will not be at the same level as the older scheme, but there will be a tiered approach. I hope we will be in a position to launch it next year. We will bring proposals to the Government shortly on it and then get it worked up.  Deputy Whitmore did not outline, or even whisper, what the alternative is to the LNG floating reserve infrastructure we have decided to provide. The advice is very strong. There is enormous vulnerability to our energy security if anything was to happen to the interconnectors. We know that the Yantar and other parts of the Russian shadow fleet have traversed over those pipelines. Our own undersea divers had to go down with British undersea divers to check and make sure there was nothing untoward happening. These are very real threats. In other seas there has been disruption of pipelines.  I am very worried about it. It is a significant vulnerability and hence the decision to proceed with the LNG floating infrastructure reserve. It would never in itself have a sufficiency in terms of meeting the wider economic needs. It is not going to in any way stop us from driving forward with the renewable agenda. I outlined earlier in the House the degree to which we have made a lot of progress in terms onshore in this country and the degree of electricity generation that is caused by renewables now. If the Deputy has an alternative, we are always open to alternatives and ideas. Certainly, we look forward to the Deputy submitting that to us.  Deputy Quaide raised specialist multidisciplinary posts in respect of senior citizens. Again, we are in favour of providing multidisciplinary supports across the board. It is the most optimal way of providing healthcare at all levels, be it primary, community, or indeed, inpatient services. I will talk to the Minister for Health and the Minister of State with responsibility for mental health in relation to these issues. There has been a lot of progress made on some fronts, such as dementia on a range of community-based supports that were not there five years ago that are there now. That said, however, the need is there. We will certainly see how we can progress that even further.  Deputy Boyd Barrett raised the very high house prices in D\u00fan Laoghaire in his constituency. I acknowledge that. It is a very significant issue. In an unprecedented way, we have provided a lot of State investment in housing, particularly in certain schemes not just in the first home scheme but in terms of the help-to-buy scheme, which has helped a lot of people to be able to buy homes, and cost rental. We need to do more. Shanganagh was the first major development by the Land Development Agency, LDA, which had a broad mix of housing from social to affordable. The LDA is accelerating its work. Only yesterday it was announced that 550-odd houses will be provided on the Naas Road. Again, it is a mix of housing which will be affordable to people and involves cost rental also. However, the most important way to deal with housing overall is to get supply up. That means both public sector investment at unprecedented levels, which we are doing, but it also means substantial private sector investment to get to the levels of house building that are required to deal with population growth and the needs of the young people to be able to get houses they can afford.  Deputy O'Callaghan raised school places. I do not have the answer to every specific request at every specific location in respect of special classes. The allocation to special education will be significantly up on last year. The Minister will be responding to requests for special classes. The numbers are way ahead of last year because of the early date. It seems to have opened up a level of applications that was not anticipated. There is a lot of work needed and required to drill into that to make sure we have appropriate placements for children. The Minister, Deputy Naughton, and the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, will be doing everything they possibly can to secure places for all children. They have the resources to do that.  Deputy O'Rourke raised the shortage of mainstream junior infant classes. I did not get the location. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  Dunshaughlin. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Again, I will speak to the Minister in respect of that. There was a commitment there to provide school places. I am sure that will be realised and fulfilled. Particularly in areas of high population growth, there is a need to have interim measures to make sure children get access to the places that they are entitled to and that they need.  Deputy O'Hara raised Gaelscoil Riada. Admha\u00edm go bhfuil deacrachta\u00ed agus d\u00fashl\u00e1in an-mh\u00f3r ann \u00f3 thaobh bhainist\u00edocht na scoile. N\u00edl an strucht\u00far oiri\u00fanach agus t\u00e1 an-chuid le d\u00e9anamh. There is sewage and flooding and there are a lot of issues with the building. Again, I will talk to the Minister in terms of clarity around that particular project.  Deputy Conway-Walsh raised the national security framework. This was the first D\u00e1il where we have a committee covering security and national security. I want to see democratic oversight. It has to protect sensitive information. If we are honest, there is a big question mark over the capacity of the Oireachtas to do that. Most committees can be fairly loose with documents but that is the nature of modern democracy. Some of the forces and services can let information out as well. There is a review on the way about the committee's remit. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  Yes, there is. Obviously, we are constrained. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  There is a review of the----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  It is not happening for another six months. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I have discussed it with the Chief Whip. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  It is happening in the summer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We will come back to the Deputy. I accept the basis principle of democratic oversight of national security measures. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Is f\u00e9idir teacht ar Cheisteanna Scr\u00edofa ar www.oireachtas.ie. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Written Answers are published on the Oireachtas website. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Departmental Reports"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-24\/debate\/dbsect_16","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/28","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/28\/dail\/2","houseCode":"dail","stage":"2","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"International Co-operation (Omagh Bombing Inquiry) Bill 2026: Second Stage (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"International Co-operation (Omagh Bombing Inquiry) Bill 2026: Second Stage","counts":{"speechCount":11,"speakerCount":11},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_16","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cormac Devlin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niall Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Jim O'Callaghan)  I move: \"That the Bill be now read a Second Time.\"  I am pleased to introduce the Bill to the House. This Bill has a single purpose - to assist the Omagh Bombing Inquiry established by the Secretary State for Northern Ireland in February 2024 to investigate whether the bombing could have been prevented by the United Kingdom's state authorities. Its terms of reference are set out in the Schedule to the Bill for ease of reference. The Government has made clear its commitment to facilitating and supporting the work of the inquiry to the greatest extent possible. The Bill before the House is another important step towards delivering on that commitment. The Bill deals with the taking of oral evidence before our courts and will sit alongside the measures I have already put in place to facilitate the disclosure of documentary materials to the inquiry. Colleagues may recall that in April of last year I entered into a memorandum of understanding with the inquiry to provide it with relevant documents held by the State.  The bombing of the town of Omagh on 15 August 1998 was the single worst atrocity of the Troubles. It was a senseless, brutal terrorist attack resulting in the loss of 31 lives and at least 220 people were injured. The Government has condemned the abhorrent criminal actions of those who planned and perpetrated the attack and planted and detonated the bomb. I do so again today. The families and survivors in their eloquent testimony to the inquiry's commemorative hearing last year gave voice to the enormity of that loss and its enduring toll. The formal decision taken by the Government on 9 July 2024 to assist the inquiry and to authorise officials to engage with the inquiry to explore mechanisms for working together was taken in recognition of the importance of the inquiry for families and survivors and their quest for truth and justice. The programme for Government also clearly reiterates our commitment stating that we will \"play our full part in legacy processes ... including facilitating and supporting the Omagh inquiry\".  Delivering on our commitment to assist an inquiry established by another sovereign state is not without its challenges. There are legal complexities that must be navigated to ensure constituency with the laws of Ireland and the Government's duty to safeguard the essential interests of the State and the constitutional and other rights of citizens. Successive Governments have navigated similar challenges in the past, including assisting the Northern Ireland courts during the civil proceedings taken by the families and enacting primary and secondary legislation to support cross-Border co-operation with United Kingdom authorities.  I have referred to the actions we have already taken to support the Omagh inquiry. These include agreeing a memorandum of understanding with the chairman of the inquiry last April to guide the disclosure of State materials and implementing measures to support the disclosure of sensitive personal data. These measures are in operation and working well with a very significant quantity of State materials, principally Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na materials, disclosed to the inquiry with more being disclosed on a rolling basis.  I understand that to date approximately 20,000 pages of material have been provided by the Irish State to the Omagh bombing inquiry. I welcome the acknowledgement by counsel to the inquiry at its hearing last Thursday of the \"considerable efforts that have been made\" by Irish authorities and the \"effective progress\" that has been made to respond to the inquiry's requests. My Department and the Garda Commissioner have dedicated resources in place to support the disclosure process to ensure that it is conducted with rigour and that all potentially relevant material is made available to the inquiry in line with the memorandum of understanding. This is vital and the Government is at one with counsel to the inquiry when he said, on announcing that the first evidential hearings will now start in September, that it is important that the inquiry is not rushed and that it is as comprehensive as it can be in addressing its terms of reference.  The Bill before the House provides a bespoke legal mechanism to facilitate the taking of sworn evidence from State bodies and former ministerial officeholders before a judge of the High Court at the request of the chairman of the inquiry. The approach is modelled on the mechanism contained in the Criminal Justice (International Co-Operation) Act 2019, which Deputies will be aware was enacted to enable the taking of oral evidence from An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na for the purposes of UK Troubles-related inquests such as the Kingsmill massacre inquest.  Importantly, this Bill includes some new features. These take account of the nature of the inquiry and its broader terms of reference and are aimed at maximising the evidential opportunities available to the chairman and enhancing transparency. As I go through the key sections of this relatively short Bill - 12 sections in all - I will touch on these new features. The Bill is a stand-alone Bill concerned solely with the provision of assistance to the Omagh bombing inquiry. The mechanism it provides will be available to the chairman of the inquiry over the lifetime of the inquiry and will allow for assistance to be sought as matters arise in the course of its work. This single focus recognises the significance of the bombing and also the need for speedy enactment. As the House will be aware, I intend to bring forward separate legislative proposals before the summer to progress implementation of the Government's commitments in the joint framework on addressing the legacy of the Troubles that was agreed with the United Kingdom Government last September.  Part 2 of the Bill contains the substantive provisions detailing the application and operation of the bespoke legal mechanism to enable co-operation with the inquiry and the safeguards that will apply. As referred to earlier, it is premised on the taking of evidence in this jurisdiction before the High Court. This mirrors the bespoke mechanism first developed in 2019 and safeguards both the essential interests of the State, including its sovereignty, and the rights of Irish State witnesses while seeking to maximise evidential opportunities for the inquiry. As I have said, the bespoke mechanism is triggered by a request from the chairman of the inquiry for assistance. Such a request may be made to An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. However, section 4 allows the Minister to designate other bodies at the request of the chairman. Those other bodies include Departments of State and the Defence Forces. This is a new feature compared with the 2019 Act and recognises that bodies other than An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na hold records that are potentially relevant to the inquiry.  Section 5 deals with how the chairman may request assistance from a State body, be that An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na or another designated State body, and the steps to be taken by the head of the State body on receipt of such a request. The head of the State body could be the Garda Commissioner, the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces or the Secretary General of a Department. An important development on the 2019 Act is that a request may, in addition to specifying the questions the chairman is requesting be asked, specify current and past officeholders, be they members of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na or officials, from whom the inquiry wishes to hear. The head may accede to a request in full or in part but must refuse a request where to do otherwise would be likely to prejudice the sovereignty and security of the State and other essential interests of the State, would be likely to prejudice a criminal investigation of criminal proceedings in the State or would otherwise being inconsistent with the functions, whether statutory or otherwise, of the designated State body. I emphasise that the assessment requires an individual consideration of each question and the potential evidence concerned. No classes of records are automatically excluded from being put into evidence using this mechanism. I also emphasise that the decision by the head of the body is subject to an important check. Prior consultation is required with me as the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, and where relevant the line Minister responsible for the body, before a decision may be taken not to accede to a request in respect of a particular question. The head of the body is required to make the decision as soon as is practicable. This is important to ensure that momentum is maintained and the inquiry is not subject to any delay. The section also ensures transparency around decision-making by requiring the reasons grounding any refusal to be notified to the chairperson.  Section 6 is similar to section 5 but concerns requests for assistance from former ministerial officeholders, that is, those who have held the office of Taoiseach, T\u00e1naiste, Minister or Minister of State. This extension seeks to take account of the inquiry's terms of reference, which include investigation of the approach taken by United Kingdom state authorities to security normalisation before and after the Good Friday Agreement. In the event the inquiry forms a view that a former ministerial officeholder has relevant evidence to give on the approach taken by the UK authorities, it is appropriate that the State would have in place a suitable mechanism to facilitate the taking of such evidence.  As I have outlined, sections 5 and 6 make provision for past members of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na or the Defence Forces or former officials and holders of ministerial office to be requested to provide assistance. Their participation will be voluntary and subject to their written consent. This consent-based approach arises from such persons being private citizens who cannot be compelled to give evidence for the purposes of an inquiry outside of the State. However, I expect co-operation from all concerned who are requested. They may, of course, of their own volition decide to attend such an inquiry. If they were to choose to do so, they would remain subject to certain residual obligations in respect of sensitive information acquired during their service but with none of the benefits of the privileges and immunities to which they are entitled under Irish law. The Bill seeks to provide a means for those retired members and officials or former ministerial officeholders to provide evidence to the inquiry under Irish law.  Section 7 deals with the designation of witnesses. It is for the head of the State body, having come to a decision as to whether the request for assistance may be acceded to in full or in part, to designate those who will give evidence before the High Court. In the case of those no longer serving, their prior consent will be required.  Section 8 deals with the nomination of the High Court judge who will act as the conduit for the evidence to be taken under sections 9 and 10. The request to the President of the High Court must be made as soon as is practicable. Again, this is intended to avoid any undue delay to the work of the inquiry.  Sections 9 to 11, inclusive, deal with the taking of the evidence. Section 9 provides that the nominated judge shall ask the agreed questions of the designated person, while section 10 enables the chairman or counsel to the inquiry to ask follow-up questions for the purposes of clarification. This is a new feature compared with the 2019 Act and is intended to allow for minor matters to be clarified on the day rather than by way of a fresh request for assistance under section 5.  Section 11 sets out that the evidence is to be taken on oath, with the witnesses having the benefit of the privileges and immunities available before the High Court. The evidence is also to be taken otherwise than in public. This is appropriate as it does not involve the administration of justice. That said, I draw the attention of the House to the provision that enables core participants and their legal representatives to attend along with the chairman and the inquiry team.  Those with core participant status before the inquiry include many families and survivors, along with United Kingdom state bodies. Enabling the families and survivors to attend the High Court and hear the evidence at first hand is an important new feature to ensure as much transparency as possible. The section also makes clear that the nominated judge may issue directions in relation to the arrangements for the taking of the evidence. I draw attention to the explicit reference to any arrangements necessary for securing the safety of the person giving the evidence. Once the evidence has been taken, it will be a matter for the nominated judge to certify the transcript and make it available to the chairperson of the inquiry. The dissemination and publication of the transcript will be a matter for the chairperson of the inquiry.  That brings me to the close of how the bespoke mechanism is intended to operate. As I have said, it will be open to the chairman to use the mechanism as needed over the course of his work. The Government, through a representative at the opening hearing of the inquiry on 30 July 2024, committed to doing everything in our power to support co-operation, including putting in place new legislation if that was what was required. This Bill will deliver on that commitment.  The inquiry has announced that it will commence its evidential hearings on 21 September. As I have said before, I am committed to having this Bill on the Statute Book before the start of those hearings. I hope, with the support of this House and the other House, to see it complete its passage before the summer recess.  Before concluding, I take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank those on the Joint Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration for the decision to grant my request for a waiver from the requirement to undertake pre-legislative scrutiny on the general scheme. I also acknowledge the intensive engagement between the inquiry team and my officials over the past months and thank the inquiry for its constructive approach as we seek to work together to support the inquiry to fulfil its terms of reference.  I commend the Bill to the House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  Cuirim f\u00e1ilte roimh an deis seo. I apologise to the Minister for being for missing some of his speech and also apologise to the House that I have to leave immediately after my own because this debate is clashing with a meeting of the Oireachtas justice committee. That affects a number of Members. I ask the Minister to engage with his officials to try to ensure that justice debates in future will not clash with meetings of the committee because a number of members of the committee would like to be here for the duration of the debate.  The purpose of this Bill is, as the Minister has outlined, to provide a specific legal mechanism for the taking of oral testimony before a High Court judge in this jurisdiction for the purpose of the Omagh bombing inquiry. That Omagh bombing inquiry was established by the northern Secretary of State in February 2024 to investigate whether the bombing in the town of Omagh, County Tyrone, on 15 August 1998 could have been prevented. The Irish Government made commitments to assist with the inquiry and this Bill is to facilitate this assistance. Sinn F\u00e9in fully supports this co-operation.  Last year, the inquiry heard four weeks of what could only be described as heart-breaking testimony from the victims and survivors of the Omagh bombing. It was important to do that at the very beginning of the inquiry, in my view.  Sinn F\u00e9in had supported the demand of the families of the victims of the 1998 Omagh bombing for a cross-Border public inquiry. The families, who have campaigned for 27 years for that inquiry, deserve full transparency and full disclosure about the events that led to the killing of their loved ones. The Government declined to establish a parallel independent inquiry in this jurisdiction, something a number of the families had been calling for, but in the absence of that, the fullest co-operation possible with the existing inquiry is needed.  The Bill allows the Irish authorities to take sworn evidence from Garda members, Defence Forces personnel, civil servants and former Ministers to support the Omagh bombing inquiry. It sets procedures for requesting, giving and protecting such evidence, provides judicial oversight and amends existing international co-operation law to facilitate the process. The mechanism provided for in the Bill is modelled on that contained in section 3 of the Criminal Justice (International Co-operation) Act 2019 for the taking of oral testimony from members of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na for the purposes of Troubles-related inquests and this legislation follows on from a memorandum of understanding that was agreed in April 2025.  Under the Bill, any provision of oral sworn evidence to the inquiry by former members of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, former members of the Defence Forces, former Ministers and former officeholders of Departments of State will be done on a voluntary basis, and there are some concerns regarding the voluntary nature of this evidence and how that might work in practice.  Concerns have also been raised that national security limits could restrict disclosure because governments, and particularly that of our nearest neighbours, often protect intelligence services and operations. Under the terms of this Bill, officials may decline to provide evidence and broad security claims could be used to justify withholding sensitive or potentially embarrassing information. Far too often in the past we have seen the British Government, in particular, misuse these type of provisions in relation to national security for failing to disclose information related to collusion, for example. I want to say clearly that national security must not be used to conceal failures or wrongdoings. While every jurisdiction has lawful national security issues - we all recognise that - the question is how wide or narrow these are and how they are defined in law. We have seen national security clauses used as a vague, undefined concept by the British Government to effectively veto the release of information that it did not want to release, so the way the concept is applied here is of paramount importance.  The families and survivors of Omagh also have genuine concerns that the current draft may give rise to difficulties that could undermine its intended purpose, and these concerns need to be addressed. I was taken aback and surprised when a representative for the families told me the Minister is refusing to meet with the families at this stage. I remind the Minister that in December last, when he announced the drafting of this legislation, he stated that \"the legitimate needs and expectations of victims\u2019 families and survivors who have long searched for truth and accountability\" would be at the heart of this approach. I would question how the Minister can marry making such a statement with refusing to meet with members of families and survivors. I urge the Minister to listen to the families directly in relation to concerns they have about this legislation.  The families were also taken aback at the fact they were given no sight of the legislation before it was published. The unfortunate consequence of that is that it has left families in some cases feeling unimportant to a process that should have had them at the core, which would have been trauma informed. I would make that case to the Minister to reconsider that position. The list of people the Minister is refusing to meet seems to be getting longer and longer. That is unfortunate, especially because I can point to instances where people who have been campaigning have met the Minister and those engagements have been productive and worthwhile.  The Minister mentioned that the justice committee co-operated with his office in waiving pre-legislative scrutiny to allow the Bill to move swiftly through the Oireachtas, because at the end of the day we all want a system in place that has the full support of the families and victims of the Omagh bombing. That decision to waive pre-legislative scrutiny might not have been the same had members realised there was going to be an issue in terms of engagement with the families. I appeal to the Minister to ensure that meeting takes place before we get to Committee Stage because we want to make sure that the legislation is fit for purpose and, just as importantly, that the voices of the families of the victims of the Omagh bombing are listened to.  As this legislation makes its way through the Oireachtas, we are reminded of how the British Government has hidden behind national security concerns for its failures to disclose vital information to Troubles-related victims. We saw, for example, the refusal of the British Government to establish a public inquiry into the 1997 murder of Sean Brown. The First Minister, Michelle O'Neill, rightly described the British Government's behaviour in that case as disgraceful and accused it of showing deep disrespect to the Brown family and the fine, clear High Court and Court of Appeal rulings.  We are also reminded of how little co-operation this State has got from the British Government on incidents of collusion in this State.  I am minded, as we approach the 52nd anniversary of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, of the continued lack of co-operation from the British Government in handing over papers and files relating to the atrocities, despite the repeated demands from this House. Again, this is completely unacceptable.  Prior to this legislation being brought forward, the Irish Government reached a memorandum of understanding with that inquiry, which included commitments on disclosures to the Omagh Bombing Inquiry. The reason I am raising other cases is that the priority now should be to get similar commitments on disclosure regarding events in this State from the British Government. We need to ensure all families and victims have recourse to truth and justice. We have seen several reports being published and limited investigations have been carried out but, again, this State has never delivered a full public inquiry with statutory requirements to compel all relevant evidence relating to Dublin and Monaghan, particularly in respect of material held by British authorities. There has never been a sustained diplomatic or legal pressure applied to force disclosure from the British Government in cases like that, and that has to change. It is absolutely right that the Irish Government co-operates in respect of inquiries, such as the Omagh Bombing Inquiry. That is unanimously agreed across this House.  We should also have the right to state that we expect the same level of co-operation from the British Government, which has not been the case up to this point. The British Government must release all information relating to not only that attack but to all others that were perpetrated by the so-called Glenanne gang, and in all instances where British state actors or agents colluded in attacks and murders on this island, be it in the North or South.  Before I conclude, I wish to make a couple of observations on the need for this State to deal properly with historical investigations, including but not solely narrowed to, the cases related to the legacy of the conflict and collusion I raised with the Minister last week. To be honest, I found his response quite dismissive. If we are serious - and I think we have every right to - about challenging the British Government on its failure to provide truth and justice or to provide an avenue for legacy issues to be addressed, then we also have to look at the record in this State.  In addition to State cases related to collusion and the legacy of the conflict that has been mentioned, there are far too many unresolved cases of historic investigative failures. I have mentioned the issue and legacy of the Garda Heavy Gang, which has never been addressed and for which there has been no accountability for the number of miscarriages of justice that group was involved in, yet nobody has been held to account. It was incredible for the Minister to state there has been no accountability in terms of the facts we know. Agents of this State framed people for crimes they did not commit, including by coercive confessions, with one case resulting in the death of a person who was framed for a crime they did not commit. Nothing or very little has been done for cases related to the legacy of the conflict where there is evidence of collusion, such as the cases of Eddie Fullerton, the Dublin Airport bombing, the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, the case of John Francis Green and the case of Martin Doherty.  We also have cases with clear investigative failures that have been raised several times in this House, including the case of Fr. Niall Molloy, the case of Terence Wheelock and the case of Shane O'Farrell. All those cases continue to cast a dark shadow over the criminal justice system in this State. The reason I raise all those cases is that we have to mean what we say when we say victims of historical injustices have a right to answers, truth and justice. That is why I believe there is a very strong case for the establishment of a historical inquiries unit in this State, along the lines of what has been proposed by the Irish Council for Civil Liberties and the Committee on the Administration of Justice. I will say it again: we have all been rightly critical of the approach of British governments relating to issues regarding the legacy but our own record and the record of this State also needs to be addressed.  I will say again in my closing remarks that we have to and should co-operate with legacy investigations in other states, particularly where there is pertinent information within State bodies here, as with the Omagh bombing. We also need to ensure we can say, hand on heart, that the outstanding cases in this State are fully investigated.  I commend the victims and survivors of the Omagh bombing on the dignified manner in which they have campaigned for truth and justice. Those of us who engage with families across the board, and from different perspectives, are never but overawed and inspired by the way and manner in which they ensure the memory of their loved ones is protected and held in esteem. Their ability to secure truth and justice never wavers. Finally, the principle we should agree on is that all those who have been bereaved as a result of conflict on this island, from whatever perspective, whether their family members were killed by British state agents, republicans, loyalists or loyalists in collusion with the British state, regardless, they all have the same right to truth and justice. We should make that a principle we all agree to and that we agree this House will do whatever is necessary to create the mechanism for which that will happen. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  As the Minister is aware, we fully support what the legislation we are discussing here today is trying to achieve, which is to form a situation where the State can co-operate fully with the Omagh inquiry to ensure there is a complete transparency around what happened in Omagh. I remember that incident very well. In my home area of Cloone, County Leitrim, we were commemorating 200 years since the French came through it in 1798. There was a weekend of commemorative events but there was this shadow over it because of what happened in Omagh and the terrible tragedy of the many people who lost their lives in the most tragic of circumstances. At that time, we, as a society, were trying to move to a peaceful process and to move forward. Thankfully, the peace process was strong enough to withstand what happened in Omagh and the many other incidents similar to it.  What we are dealing with here today is very clearly a situation where we need to ensure we get maximum co-operation from the State in every way possible. The Minister mentioned the process that is set out and how that process will work. He mentioned how there will be a judiciary overseeing all of this and that this will be done in a transparent and clear way. The Minister also mentioned that in section 5, there are some robust checks in regard to a possible non-acceptance of a request. I would hope that would not come to pass, and I am sure that is the Minister's position. I hope we would not see any prospect of any section of the State refusing to co-operate in any way with this process.  The families of those who lost their lives on that day and those who were injured deserve to get full co-operation from this State and from everyone involved that can possibly throw any light on this subject. At the time, I remember the RUC chief constable, Ronnie Flanagan, said he was putting a special task force in place to assist the local RUC to investigate the situation in Omagh. There are very many who doubt what the role of that was and how it was facilitated, if it actually assisted or if it was an obstacle in trying to resolve the situation and to have a full and complete investigation.  However, we are where we are. We have a robust inquiry in place, and we have to ensure the State responds to it adequately. As we in this State put processes in place to ensure there is an adequate and robust response to the request from the Omagh inquiry to get full and accurate information of everything this State knows about what happened with that atrocity, we also have to look at what the British state has done with regard to similar situations and how there has been a huge reluctance in the British state to provide information.  The Dublin and Monaghan bombings were mentioned, and there are many other instances similar to that, where there are families who want to get answers, clarity and transparency as to what happened and how the circumstances came about where they lost their loved ones. All of us have a responsibility to try to do everything we possibly can to ensure that happens.  In particular, the sovereign state, whether it is the British State or the Irish State, has a unique and central role in ensuring that full transparency is delivered to everybody in respect of that. While we, of course, want to see the full rigour of the inquiry brought to bear on all of this, it is probably a year since a memorandum of understanding was set in place, and we are now following through with this legislation. The Minister will have the full support of everyone in the Houses to deliver this and ensure it is in place before the inquiry comes back into session in September.  I fully support what is being done here. All of us commend the families of the victims of Omagh, and the many other families who are also looking for justice and transparency in regard to all of this. There is some difficulty with part of the legislation. For instance, if a set of questions is put forward by the inquiry, and those questions are answered and then generate other questions, it has to go back over the same process again. Perhaps more space needs to be made for cross-examination, or if that is not the right term, then we must ensure there is a full means of assessing the outcome of a particular piece of information if it creates other questions. That can be done without having to revert to the beginning of the entire process. There needs to be a way of ensuring that can happen. It is one of the concerns that representatives of the families have regarding the legislation.  In general, we are all on the same page. We want to ensure that this is delivered, and that the families of those who tragically lost their lives in Omagh, the victims and the survivors, get a sense that this State is going to co-operate fully. That will put further pressure on the authorities in the North to ensure they also co-operate and provide the information that is required. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  I very much welcome this Bill, which is highly necessary. It provides a legal mechanism for testimony before a High Court judge with regard to the inquiry.  At the initiation of the inquiry, the families were given time to speak about what happened and the aftermath in relation to their loss and those who were injured. It was harrowing. I remember the day that happened. I remember exactly where I was. I remember watching the television. I think the news was extended for another hour, and it kept going on. I remember listening. Back then, there was not the same amount of radio and television, and there certainly was not Internet at a high level. I kept listening to the news and watching for television updates. The number of people who had been killed or were passing away kept going up and up as the evening went on. I remember waking up to a new number the following morning. It was horrendous.  We talk an awful lot about what is going on in the world, especially at the moment. This was mass murder on our island. It is something that needs to be said in here because it was not said by the first two speakers. The people who carried this out are the lowest of the low. The people who covered it up are equally the lowest of the low and, without a shadow of a doubt, the worst kind of human beings that ever existed on this earth. I would love to use some other language, but I will not because of where I am, but that needs to be said in here, and that has not been said yet. There are people who covered up what happened. We all know it.  I very much welcome the trajectory of where the Minister has gone with this, although I have some concerns. In July 2024, the Government committed to assisting the Omagh bombing inquiry to the extent permissible under the Constitution. I know there are limitations, and that is why we are bringing in this legislation. It was in the programme for Government that we would do so. We have to bring in bespoke legislation in this regard. It is locked in under section 3 of the Criminal Justice (International Co-operation) Act 2019, which has been used previously.  The new features of the Bill include extending the mechanism to State bodies other than An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, including both serving and former members of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, and the Defence Forces, which is necessary and welcome. From a historical point of view, this is more wide-ranging than just those two State bodies. There is also the extension in relation to Department officials and ministerial office-holders. Facilitating core participants, particularly survivors and family members of victims, to be present to hear the evidence given first hand is very welcome. That the inquiry will be able to ask questions to clarify evidence is also welcome.  I have some concerns. The lead counsel said on 19 March 2026 that the new phase of hearings will take place six months later than scheduled. That is a concern. Chapter 3 is the next stage of the hearing, and it will include how the bomb was constructed, warning calls, claims of responsibility, arrests and subsequent court hearings. The delay is due to material originating from the Republic of Ireland not being available. I am taking this as a delay based on volume rather than anything else because the volume of material being brought forward has been so extensive.  The most important thing is that this inquiry, and how we are legislating for our component of it, is survivor-led and independent to progress meaningful truth and reconciliation for victims and survivors of this atrocity. That will take significant work across a breadth of different issues. In recent D\u00e1il statements on Operation Kenova, we commended the body\u2019s rigour, independence and emphasis on survivors. At this juncture, other tragedies, such as the Dublin-Monaghan bombing, must be investigated with the same rigour and independence.  Of course, a single Bill or a joint framework will never come close to dealing properly with our past. That is obvious. This has to be about the people who have been hurt, who have suffered and who have been bereaved. The right to truth and justice is absolute. It cannot be partial or selective. We need to be committed to dealing fairly with the past, and to justice and legacy mechanisms that meet the relevant standards and the European Convention on Human Rights.  While we in the Labour Party welcome this Bill, several questions require consideration and clarification. Under section 5, it is for the head of a designated State body to make a determination as to whether the information they are being asked to provide should be privileged from disclosure on grounds of sovereignty, security or essential interests of the State. Section 6 does largely the same thing for former ministerial office-holders and officials. These categories under which co-operation can be refused are so vague that they are meaningless. Given the way this is drafted in the Bill, I fail to see how the head of a designated body is supposed to make such a determination. It is subjective and customisable to their own opinions, rather than giving a confirmed, direct provision for determination by the designated head of any body that is requested to do so. It is really at their will. This needs to be more defined.  I am not alone in saying this. Others who have looked at this are saying the same thing. It is too open-ended. It is not defined enough. That is a serious concern because it is at the core of everything in it.  That is before we ask the fundamental question of this process, which is whether it allows for full and frank disclosure to get to the truth of what happened. Of course, there should be safeguards for those giving evidence, which is essential, but whether the Bill will allow for fulsome investigation is an open question, based on what I just said. The Bill seems to only make provision for oral questions, which must be submitted in advance of vetting. There is no provision for access to records. Will that be sufficient to represent real access to justice for victims and survivors? Will that get to the truth they have been waiting for for so long?  It is not prescribed enough or detailed enough. There are so many outs for those who, though they have to be protected under the Constitution, need to give evidence and give access to information, records and data. We will not get all the information these people desperately deserve and require.  I hope the Minister takes on board what I am saying. We will consider amendments on Committee Stage to deal with this. We did not do pre-legislative scrutiny as a committee; maybe that was a mistake. I know there are time pressures. However, this is very generic and needs more emphasis and focus. Let us remember the bombing took place in 1998, almost 28 years ago. Most officials will probably have retired in the years since. I assume nearly all of them will, especially if they were at a senior level yet the Bill will apply to retired officials only with their advance written consent. Will these provisions give affected families reassurance we can get to the truth? With these open questions, it is deeply concerning the Minister has not met with the families and survivors to discuss the outworkings of this important legislation.  In his reply, he might provide the D\u00e1il with an update on his stance on this. Will he be doing so in the coming weeks? If not, why not? Is there a legal, constitutional basis for not doing so? Is there an updated response as to why he has not done this or will not do it? We have a Bill published. There is something for the families and those affected by this to critically analyse and give their thoughts on. In a dignified way, they have earned, which is the wrong phrase to use, as they deserve the right to a meeting with the Minister to discuss this. The Minister is a reasonable person. He has met others and has had very good meetings with others who requested them. He has dealt with one or two of them in a way I commend him on. Why will he not do it in relation to one of the largest atrocities , if not the largest, on this island ever? I do not understand it. Will he explain why? Is there something we are all missing? This legislation is published, so why will the Minister not do it? Is he being advised not to? There are some times when he has to be brave and say to his officials, \"I don't agree with you and I'm willing to do this.\" Sometimes standing up for what is right is more important than being perfect as regards taking on board advice.  The families have serious questions that deserve to be analysed. They have critically examined the legislation. They did not have prior knowledge of it. It was not given to them beforehand but now they have had time to observe it and have been in touch with me and many others in the House. This does not just raise questions about the basic dignity and respect these families deserve; it inevitably raises questions about the efficacy of the Government's approach to the legislation. If the Minister is not willing to meet with the families, it raises further questions regarding how we can be confident in the Government's proposals and legislation. Will he please answer that in his reply? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cormac Devlin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cormac Devlin  I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Bill. I thank the Minister and his officials for bringing forward this important and necessary Bill, which I support. It is an important step in delivering on our programme for Government commitment to facilitate and support the Omagh bombing inquiry. It reflects the seriousness with which this State must approach the search for truth and accountability in relation to one of the darkest atrocities of the Troubles.  The Omagh bombing took place on 15 August 1998, just four months after the Good Friday Agreement had been signed. It was an act of appalling evil, and those who orchestrated and executed that bomb are pure evil as well. A total of 29 people were murdered, including a woman pregnant with twins, and hundreds more were injured. The trauma of that day did not end with the explosion. It has lived on for survivors, their families and entire communities ever since.  As Chair of the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, we have met with victims and survivors and have heard directly of the pain they continue to carry, but also the dignity, persistence and courage with which they continue to seek answers. Their call is not unreasonable or excessive; it is a basic call for truth, accountability and respect. Peace on this island was not inevitable; it was built painstakingly through courage, compromise and public leadership. It was hard-won and if peace is to endure, our commitment to truth, justice and accountability must endure too.  We cannot say we honour the Good Friday Agreement if we turn away from the unfinished business of legacy. We cannot say we support reconciliation if victims and survivors are left carrying unanswered questions decade after decade. This Bill matters because it provides a statutory mechanism for the State to assist the Omagh bombing inquiry in a more structured, transparent and legally robust way. It builds on the steps taken by the Government, including the memorandum of understanding, which the Minister and the chairman of the inquiry signed, on the disclosure of State materials. It also reflects the data protection regulations introduced to enable the lawful disclosure of sensitive personal data.  The Bill does adds a further layer of practical co-operation. It creates a bespoke legal mechanism to facilitate the taking of sworn testimony before a judge of the High Court for the purposes of the inquiry. It provides a framework that seeks to maximise the assistance that can be given while safeguarding the essential interests of the State and the rights of witnesses. That balance matters.  Assisting an inquiry established under the law of another jurisdiction is legally complex. It raises serious issues around sovereignty, security, due process, witness protection and the integrity of criminal investigations. It is, therefore, right that the legislation is careful, structured and grounded in law but we should also be clear on the principles. Complexity cannot be an excuse for delay and legal difficulty cannot become an excuse for inaction. Families have waited far too long.  I welcome the provisions in the Bill that strengthen transparency and ensure that the core participants, families and survivors can hear evidence directly before the High Court. That matters because this process must remain accessible and grounded in the experiences of those affected.  The processes must not become remote or abstract exercises. They must remain grounded in the lived reality of those who have borne the consequences of this atrocity for nearly three decades.  I also note the provision to extend the mechanism, on a voluntary basis, to former ministerial office-holders, as referred to by the Minister. This is a significant measure that reflects the breadth of the inquiry's work and the need to ensure that where relevant evidence exists, there is an appropriate lawful pathway for that evidence to be heard.  More broadly, the Bill speaks to something bigger than one inquiry alone. It speaks to the bona fides of the State in relation to legacy itself and to the credibility of our commitment to cross-Border co-operation. The Minister indicated that more than 20,000 documents have been handed over, which is welcome. The Bill speaks also to our understanding that lasting reconciliation requires openness, honesty and a willingness to confront difficult and sometimes painful truths.  The Good Friday Agreement was not just a political settlement. It was a moral turning point on our island. It asked people to choose democracy over violence, hope over hatred and partnership over permanent division. The Omagh bombing was a direct assault on that hope. Supporting this inquiry, and supporting the search for truth in respect of Omagh, is part of defending what the agreement made possible. It also creates confidence around co-operation between Ireland and the UK. It underpins our support for legacy issues. The State must be as transparent as possible and so too must the UK Government.  I welcome this debate and the support for the Bill. I do so in solidarity with the victims, survivors and families who have campaigned for so long and with such dignity. I do so in the belief that truth and accountability matter and in the hope that the hard-won peace can be protected, the truth will be revealed, justice can be delivered and the work of reconciliation between the two traditions on this island can continue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  Before I discuss the legislation and the legal mechanisms of co-operation between states, it is important to pause and remember exactly what we are about today. This is by no means just another Bill. It is about the 29 people and two unborn children killed in Omagh, the 220 people injured and the families who, nearly three decades later, are still searching for answers. It can be too easy for atrocities to become a moment in history, a date or an event. That should never be allowed to happen. For the families, this atrocity is their present and something they carry with them every single day. Sometimes the scale of loss is so overwhelming that it risks becoming abstract. We must never allow that to happen.  I will name just a few of the victims of that day. Alan Radford died helping his mother to do the weekly shopping. The deaths of Avril Monaghan, her 21-month-old daughter Maura and her mother, Mary Grimes, saw three generations killed in one horrific moment. It was Mary Grimes's 66th birthday that day. Avril was 33 years old and heavily pregnant with twins, Eimear and Evelyn, whose lives never even got a chance to begin. Avril's daughter Aoibheann put it more powerfully than any of us ever could when she said:  The pictures of Eimear and Evelyn's scan are a reminder of the futures that never became a reality. The loss that we as a family have experienced cannot be measured and there is no replacement for the time we would have had with our mam, Maura, Eimear, Evelyn and granny.  That line alone should stop every single one of us in our tracks because it shows how the Omagh bombing took entire futures.  As we discuss this Bill, we must be very clear that the process must always come back to people. Michael Gallagher's son Aiden was killed that day. He was 21 years old. Michael Gallagher did not just grieve; he fought. For 25 years, he fought through the courts, against institutions and against every obstacle placed in front of him. His legal challenge produced the 2021 High Court ruling that found there was a plausible case that the bombing could have been prevented and that directed the establishment of a human rights-compliant investigation. Without Michael Gallagher, there would be no inquiry. It is important to state that clearly in the House today. The inquiry we are legislating to support exists because a bereaved father refused to accept that either state could simply move on. That is what citizenship looks like at its most determined. We owe it to him and to every family affected to match his determination with our own.  The Omagh bombing inquiry is examining whether this atrocity could have been prevented. It is a profound and difficult question but a very necessary one. For the families, the question has never gone away as to whether something more could have been done, whether the bombing could have been stopped, whether lives could have been saved and whether those murderers could have been prevented from doing their dastardly deed. To answer that question, the inquiry needs access to evidence, co-operation and transparency. Crucially, it needs the full participation of the State.  We need to be honest about what the inquiry is actually examining. Its terms of reference include alleged intelligence-sharing failures between the UK Government and the Irish authorities in the period leading up to the bombing. That is not a peripheral issue. In fact, it goes to the heart of why the co-operation of the State matters so much. There may have been information held on this side of the Border. There may have been decisions made or not made at the highest levels of the State. I certainly am not making any allegations of such but I am saying the question exists, is live and it goes through the thoughts every day of family members who lost their loved ones in Omagh. It is a question that must be answered.  That is precisely why the voluntary participation of former office-holders is not an abstract procedural matter. It is potentially central to getting to the truth. This legislation creates a mechanism to allow sworn oral evidence to be taken in this jurisdiction before a High Court judge from members and former members of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, the Defence Forces, senior officials and former Ministers. I absolutely welcome that. Without their co-operation, the inquiry simply cannot do its job and, without the inquiry doing its job, the families will not get the answers they deserve and for which they have fought for so long.  I note the architecture that preceded this Bill. It includes the memorandum of understanding on disclosure of state materials, the data protection regulations that enable transfer of sensitive personal data and the directives to the Garda Commissioner to support co-operation. They were meaningful steps and they deserve acknowledgement. It is important to be honest about what this Bill does and does not do. Two issues sit alongside the legislation and cannot be ignored. The first is the delay in proceedings. The inquiry's evidential hearings examining the days immediately before and after the bombing were due to begin on 9 March but have been pushed back six months to 24 September. The families were informed of the delay on 6 March, three days before hearings were due to begin. Part of the reason for the delay is the sheer volume of state material still being processed. The lead counsel to the inquiry has confirmed the full Irish disclosure will not be complete until June. I want to be fair here. The inquiry's own counsel has praised the efforts of the State and An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na in meeting deadlines. That is to the State's credit but the process is still at an early stage. For families who have waited nearly 30 years, early stage simply is not good enough.  The second issue is the special advocates dispute, which is a live issue before the courts. Michael Gallagher is judicially reviewing Lord Turnbull's ruling that the inquiry has no power to appoint special advocates. The latter exist to represent the interests of excluded parties at closed hearings held in private because of national security sensitivities. The argument being made on behalf of the Gallagher family is a serious one, namely, that without special advocates, families could be entirely shut out of hearings where, in effect, findings about state failures are made. It simply cannot be right that a father who forced this inquiry into existence through decades of legal struggle could be excluded from the room when the most sensitive evidence about what the states knew is being heard. This Bill does not and cannot address that dispute, which is a matter for the courts. However, the House should put it on the record that the rights of families to meaningful participation in the process should never be negotiable. I ask the Minister to clarify the Government's position in this regard.  I move to the voluntariness question. The consent requirement in the Bill runs through the entire mechanism for former office-holders of any kind; not just former Ministers but also former Garda Commissioners, senior Defence Forces officers and departmental officials. Any of them can decline to give evidence. I understand this is constitutionally necessary because we cannot compel sworn testimony before a foreign inquiry. The law has limits in that regard. Will the Government actively encourage relevant former office-holders to participate? Will it make clear that non-participation where someone holds potentially relevant evidence is not an acceptable posture?  Creating the mechanism, and leaving its uptake entirely to an individual's conscience, should not be sufficient. If former officeholders have relevant evidence, they should give it, and this Government should say so plainly.  This Bill was granted a waiver from pre-legislative scrutiny by the Joint Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration. That was the right call, given the urgency of the legislation, and I do not criticise it for a moment. However, it means that this House bears a responsibility today to ask questions that would ordinarily arise at the pre-legislative scrutiny stage. That is what I will try to do. I encourage the Minister to engage with these questions substantively as the Bill progresses. Complexity cannot become an excuse. Two jurisdictions, sensitive material, legal constraints and constitutional limits are all real but none of that is a reason for delay or half-measures. Every delay is felt by the families. Every bureaucratic obstacle is a reminder that they are still waiting. We are a Republic and claim to value accountability, truth and the rights of citizens. The families of the victims of the Omagh bombing are citizens of this island and they deserve that the State bring the full weight of its co-operation, its institutions and its political will on their behalf.  We in the Social Democrats welcome the Bill, but we will judge it not by what it enables but by what it delivers. I want to put three specific questions on the record. Will the Minister commit to a timeline for the completion of full Irish State disclosure to the inquiry? Will the Government publicly encourage former officeholders who hold relevant evidence to participate and not merely make mechanisms available? Will the Government set out its position on the special advocate's judicial review and on the rights of families to meaningful representation at closed hearings? For the families of the victims of the Omagh bombing, this is not about politics, legislation or frameworks, but is simply about the truth. It is about whether this State played any part, through action or inaction, in what happened on that hideous day. It is about whether after nearly 30 years we finally have the courage to find out. The families deserve that. Michael Gallagher deserves that. Aoibheann deserves that as do Eimear and Evelyn, lives that never even got to begin.  When we speak about the brutal and horrific tragedy in Omagh, it is incumbent on me also to mention the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. I have met families living in my constituency who experienced the most profound tragedy on the day of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. They lost loved ones and were left disfigured. They also still wait for truth. So many families in so many walks of life in Ireland have asked these simple questions. What happened on that day? Why has nobody been held responsible? The families of the victims of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings are asking for the exact same thing that we are potentially delivering today, which is some degree of co-operation and truth from a jurisdiction that is not their own. For the sake of all those families, it is incumbent on us all that we demonstrate the urgency and resolve to give them the truth, however long they may have waited and had to fight. Everybody deserves to know what happened on days when their loved ones were lost, lives were changed, and cities and communities were torn apart. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shane Moynihan  Is m\u00f3r agam an deis seo a thap\u00fa labhairt ar an mBille seo, Bille a bhfuil f\u00e1ilte ann d\u00f3. T\u00e1 a fhios agam go gcuirfidh clanna na n-\u00edobartach f\u00e1ilte roimhe. Cabhr\u00f3idh s\u00e9 leis an bhfiosr\u00fach\u00e1n a bheidh ar si\u00fal. I welcome the opportunity to speak on the International Co-operation (Omagh Bombing Inquiry) Bill 2026. I strongly support this Bill, which is an essential step in honouring our commitment as the Fianna F\u00e1il Party in the programme for Government to fully facilitate and support the Omagh bombing inquiry. It is also an important signal of our commitment to the victims, families and survivors, people who have endured unimaginable loss and have waited too long for truth, transparency and accountability.  The Omagh bombing on 15 August 1998 stands out as the single worst atrocity of the Troubles with 29 people murdered, hundreds injured, families absolutely shattered and a community traumatised. The horrific irony of this is that it happened four months after the Good Friday Agreement was signed, at a moment when hope was finally emerging across the island. I still remember where I was when I learned of the awful atrocity that had been committed. When I watched the news, we had a visitor from overseas staying with us. She turned to me and said, \"I thought all this violence had ended.\" A horror and sadness filled the entire country when we saw what happened in Omagh. The then President, Mary McAleese, captured that pain but also the determination and hope emerging across the island when she spoke in Drogheda later in 1998. She reminded us that our duty is not only to remember victims but also to ensure that their memory guides us to a future where such horrors can never happen again. She also drew attention to the fact that we needed to be mature and open, and embrace the shared histories that brought us to where we are today. Those words remain as true now as they were then.  Part of that need for maturity, openness and embracing those shared histories is bringing this Bill to the D\u00e1il and I commend the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan and the Minister of State, Deputy Collins, on that. The Bill augments the suite of measures already implemented, including the memorandum of understanding which the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, signed with the chairperson of Omagh bombing inquiry last April on the disclosure of Irish State materials and the data protection regulations signed by the Minister last month to enable the disclosure of sensitive personal data to the inquiry.  Despite multiple investigations over the years, no one has been held fully accountable for the Omagh bombing. There have been legitimate questions during this time, questions around intelligence handling, cross-Border co-operation and whether more could have been done to prevent this atrocity. As these questions persist, closure evades the families of those who lost their lives. The current Omagh bombing inquiry, established by the British Government in 2024, is explicitly tasked with determining whether the bombing could reasonably have been prevented by British state authorities. I have on many occasions discussed in this House the importance of the need to address the legacy of the enormous impact of Troubles-related violence and the legitimate needs and expectations of victims' families and survivors who have long searched for truth and accountability. We have a responsibility, whether it be moral, political or legal, to ensure that no delays arise from the Irish side with regard to what we can do to facilitate and support the inquiry into the Omagh bombing. This Bill gives us the mechanism to do just that.  By establishing a robust statutory framework to honour our commitment to assist the inquiry to fulfil its terms of reference while also protecting the essential interests of the State and the rights of witnesses involved, this Bill creates a bespoke legal mechanism allowing all evidence to be taken under oath here in Ireland before a High Court judge for transmission to the inquiry. Importantly this is not a brand new innovation; it builds on the model used in the Criminal Justice (International Co-operation) Act 2019 but goes significantly further by extending participation to An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, the Defence Forces and departmental officials; by allowing family members, survivors and their legal representatives to be present during evidence taken before the High Court judge; and by allowing the chairperson of the Omagh bombing inquiry or their counsel to ask clarifying questions directly, thereby maximising the evidential value of every session while also protecting necessary safeguards, Irish national security, the rights of witnesses and the essential interests of the State. Participation by former Ministers is voluntary but the mechanism is now there. That is important because it is something that the inquiry specifically asked for. This Bill is about delivering steps towards transparency, towards accountability and towards fulfilling our commitments in good faith.  In recent months we have had a lot of discussion on the issue of legacy with the publication of the Kenova report and the summary of the Operation Denton report. They have exposed deeply troubling patterns of collusion, failure to act on intelligence and decisions that cost innocent lives. The Kenova report showed British state collusion across the board. Operation Denton showed collusion with loyalist paramilitaries. These revelations underline a simple truth: legacy investigations can uncover new and vital information when there is co-operation, when there is courage and when victims' families are represented and respected as partners in the process. Both reports recognised the constructive role played by the Irish State, by our Departments and by An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na in assisting cross-Border investigations. This Bill strengthens that tradition of co-operation, a co-operation which has been at the core of Ireland's engagement with the United Kingdom on how we address the issue of legacy. It clearly signals that we will not shy away from difficult truths, including truths that may touch on our own institutions. As An Taoiseach has said, \"If you are sincere in wanting to build a real peace ... you cannot with any honesty deny so many people truth and accountability for the terrible crimes committed against their communities\".  I cannot let this opportunity pass without again drawing attention to the fact that there is still an unmet need for openness and accountability relating to the 1974 Dublin and Monaghan bombings, something called for by multiple resolutions in this House.  It is deeply regrettable that the full Denton report has not yet been published. Survivors and families have waited far too long. This House has on three occasions sought access for an independent, international judicial figure to all original British files relating to the 1974 Dublin and Monaghan bombings, and I repeat that call today. Openness and accountability are not merely standards we should demonstrate ourselves; we should ensure we call for them from our partners as well.  I realise there are those who will say this Bill does not go far enough, who wanted extra powers of compulsion and who wanted a parallel inquiry here. I understand where those perspectives come from. This Bill does what is legally possible under our Constitution while still ensuring that substantial assistance - real, meaningful assistance - can be provided to the inquiry as it unfolds. The Government has made clear that it will keep this under constant review and that if additional steps are required either during or after the inquiry, they will be considered.  The Omagh families have waited more than a quarter of a century. They deserve answers, they deserve honesty and they deserve full co-operation from every public institution on this island. This Bill is a significant, carefully constructed and necessary step towards achieving that goal, honouring a commitment made in the programme for Government and honouring our commitment as a State under the joint framework on addressing Troubles legacy issues. Most importantly, it honours the memory of the 29 people who left their homes on a warm August day in 1998 and never returned. I am proud to support the Bill and commend it to the House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  The Omagh bomb was the deadliest atrocity of the Troubles in the North of Ireland. It was second only to the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, which killed more people in the seventies. On 15 August 1998 the Real IRA, a group opposed to the IRA ceasefire and to the Good Friday Agreement, killed 31 people, including two unborn children, and injured 220 others. Confused telephone warnings were made which did not specify the location of the bomb, and the police mistakenly moved people towards its location. The Real IRA denied that the bomb was intended to kill civilians and apologised, but this has to be one of the most damning and reckless actions ever to have taken place during the Troubles. The victims included people of all ages and backgrounds. Catholics, Protestants, Spanish tourists, southerners, women and children, nationalists and unionists were all killed on that day.  In 2013 a legal case started to try to understand if it was possible for the security forces to have prevented the Omagh bomb. Five years ago, in 2021, Mr. Justice Mark Horner at the Belfast High Court stated that there was a \"real prospect\" that the 1998 Omagh bomb could have been prevented by the security forces. That is an earth-shattering sentence for a judge to say. The idea that a corporate decision was possibly made by the British security forces to allow the bomb to proceed is deeply shocking. Did the British security service prioritise the protecting of informants over the protecting of citizens? Was there a failure to connect intelligence? Were there political reasons for not stopping the bomb going ahead?  It is also incredible that the wheels of justice are so slow in grinding forward. It has been 28 years since that bomb ripped through Omagh. I remember that in 2021 Miche\u00e1l Martin said he would consider if the South could facilitate information being disclosed and evidence being taken in the South of Ireland. That is five years ago. It has been five years since the Taoiseach made that statement, and it has taken that time to get the necessary legislation in front of us.  I welcome this Bill and the Minister's role in making it happen, but it has taken an age for it to happen. The Bill allows for oral testimony to be taken before the Irish courts for the purpose of the Omagh bombing inquiry. It allows a specific legal mechanism to facilitate the taking of sworn testimony from State bodies and former ministerial officeholders before a judge in the High Court. It is modelled on the Criminal Justice (International Co-operation) Act 2019, which allowed oral testimony to be heard for the purposes of Troubles-related inquests outside of the State. Family members and survivors and their legal representatives will be allowed to attend as regards the evidence given before a High Court judge, and the Bill will allow for counsel to the inquiry to ask questions to clarify evidence given by a witness to the judge.  There is a bigger truth we need to focus on as well, welcome and all as this Bill is. We need to focus on the bigger issue of the unresolved investigations where families are searching for truth and justice and have been refused them for many years. We have to look at how we can resolve this on this side of the Border. For years and years the British Government has refused to tell the truth, refused to give evidence, protected informants, protected collusion and refused to let information be known about what happened under its authority. However, we should not let that paralyse us in terms of the actions we need to take in this State. We need to create structures ourselves for all-Ireland investigations and public inquiries. Atrocities and wrongdoings do not recognise the Border; they need an all-Ireland approach. The Border is actually a competitive advantage for the perpetrators of these killings.  In 2023 Aont\u00fa introduced the Commission of Investigation (Collusion of British State Forces) Bill to provide for public inquiries into collusion between British state forces and other groups and individuals between 1968 and 1998. It passed First Stage in the D\u00e1il. If the Bill were to pass all Stages, it would see an inquiry constituted in this State to investigate the British state either where it committed murder or if it assisted in the committing of murder or prevented prosecution in certain serious offences in Ireland, North and South.  Interestingly, in that same year, 2023, the former Minister for justice Charlie Flanagan commented in relation to the Omagh bombing that the Republic should have a parallel inquiry into that atrocity and that the public need to be able to see vital evidence held in this State given over to allow for the truth to be known. Victims and survivors are entitled to know who did what and who was responsible for what. If this Aont\u00fa Bill were to pass, it would institute an investigation into what happened. We know that the British state forces had a role in so many killings and so much loss of life in Ireland, North and South, and many of those cases were covered up. They were covered up at the time but the British state distanced itself from that cover-up. The recent legacy Bill is the son and heir of that cover-up and, in fact, the British have their fingerprints all over that Bill. The new iteration of that Bill is extremely problematic as well because it still allows for the British Secretary of State for the North of Ireland to prevent the holding of investigations and inquiries. The Secretary of State for the North of Ireland has previous on this. He has fought the family of Sean Brown in all the courts of the land in Britain to prevent them from having a proper investigation into the murder of their father. It is incumbent on this Government that it does not allow the British to pass a law whereby a politician determines whether an investigation can be had. The Minister or I should not have an opportunity for an investigation concerning ourselves be determined by a politician. It should be determined by the Judiciary and the Judiciary alone.  There are many ways we can allow for evidence to be taken and heard abroad and documents that have already been used by the Police Ombudsman in the North of Ireland or many of the different investigative tools in the North of Ireland to be used in an investigation into the South in order that we can bring forward truth and justice to the families that need them. It is beyond time the Government started to institute that process in this jurisdiction. The Government has gone some way in doing that in this Bill to allow for information to be collected here for an inquiry in the North of Ireland, but the opposite can be done as well to make sure we get to the truth. That truth is needed. So many families have now waited 50 years since the killing of their loved ones while the immediate family - their mothers and fathers or even their brothers and sisters - have passed away, with the fight for justice in the hands of grandsons, granddaughters, nephews and nieces. This Government has an opportunity to draw a line under that and make sure there is access to justice. I urge the Government to take that opportunity. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  We supported the demand of the families of the victims of the 1998 Omagh bomb for a full cross-Border public inquiry.  Obviously, the Government has declined to establish a parallel, independent inquiry in this jurisdiction. In the absence of that, we need to see that we would have the fullest level of co-operation. Families have many grievances not only about the heinous act that occurred in 1998 but also in relation to the investigation. Many questions need to be answered about what information was known previously. I think that is only right.  On some level, we are dealing with what has been a failure in the past. We also know as we do this that there is an absolute demand from across this House that we ensure that our engagement with the British Government is about ensuring it stands up to the promises it has made about a decent legacy framework and a step back from the protection that has been provided for British state forces, which is in no way acceptable to basically anyone on this island. I have yet to hear from somebody who is in support of it. That is an absolute requirement.  We have been through a period where the only positive I can say is that there is at some level a greater level of understanding of the dirty war that went on in the North. I would like to draw attention to two particular cases. We have just commemorated the anniversary of Dundalk bombing of 19 December 1975, in which 62-year-old Jack Rooney who worked for the council and 60-year-old tailor Hugh Watters were killed. That was a bomb attack at Kay's tavern. That is a family that has been abjectly failed by the State over many years. That happened on the same night that Trevor Brecknell, Patsy Donnelly and Michael Donnelly were killed by the same outfit, the Glenanne gang, in Donnelly's bar in Silverbridge. We know there have been significant inquiries and we know what has happened in relation to Operation Denton, but we need to see the full outworking of that inquiry and the full information. We know there are other families that have been failed. That is right through, whether we are talking about Castleblayney, Belturbet or the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. We need to make sure we provide a framework and delivery for those who have been abjectly failed.  I would also bring up the case of Seamus Ludlow, a forestry worker who was killed in Dundalk. This happened 50 years ago, on 2 May 1976. The family has recently met with the Garda. I put it to the Minister of State that there is a need for real engagement on this case. We know that the Glenanne gang was a UVF gang which obviously had cross membership of British state forces and a number of other engagements. What we are talking about here is a gang that literally was members of the British Army who killed Seamus Ludlow, a man who was not involved in anything. Not only do we talk about the failure of Governments at the time - particularly Liam Cosgrave's Government - but we have had families who did not get the investigation that was required. We have had families to whom disinformation was provided at times even by garda\u00ed. We have had families at each other's necks. There has been further information in relation to this particular case. The families were quite happy that, as I say, an investigation was ongoing. They engaged recently, and were told that despite the fact that there are witnesses and new information, this case is not going anywhere. I ask the Minister of State to bring it to the senior Minister from the point of view that I think we need to make sure this State ensures no stone is left unturned. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Carol Nolan  I welcome this Bill. It is certainly a long and overdue step that will allow Irish State bodies, serving and former members of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and the Defence Forces, civil servants and even former Ministers to give oral evidence before a High Court judge to assist the Omagh bombing inquiry. However, I want to be clear that this legislation arrives almost 28 years after the horror of August 1998 when 29 people, including a woman who was nine months pregnant and her unborn twins, were murdered in Omagh. For nearly three decades successive Governments made up of Fianna F\u00e1il, Fine Gael, the Labour Party and the Green Party have failed those families, with delay after delay, broken promises and a shocking lack of political urgency. Even after the UK inquiry was established in February 2024 and Ireland gave its commitment in July 2024, it has taken until 2026 to bring forward this Bill.  I want to take this opportunity to pay special tribute to my colleague and friend, Deputy Mattie McGrath, who is very vocal on this issue. Since 2013, Mattie has stood shoulder to shoulder with the Omagh families. He organised a delegation from the Omagh victims support group to brief Members of the Oireachtas on 1 May 2013. Just days later, on 8 May, he stood in this House during Leaders' Questions and called directly on the Taoiseach for a cross-Border public inquiry. He spoke of the courage of Michael Gallagher, who lost his 21-year-old son Aiden, and of all the families who have fought so bravely for truth and justice. Deputy McGrath has never wavered in that support and today the House should acknowledge his work on behalf of the victims.  Justice delayed is justice denied. The families of Omagh have waited long enough. I support the passage of this Bill but I urge the Minister to ensure it is implemented without any further delays or foot dragging. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niall Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Niall Collins)  I thank the Deputies for their productive engagement during today's debate. I will convey the many assurances of support for the passing of this Bill to the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan. My belief and that of the Government is that we must do all we can to assist the inquiry so that its investigation into the fundamental question of whether the bombing could reasonably have been prevented is as comprehensive as possible. Actions speak louder than words, and the Government has demonstrated its commitment through the concrete measures the Minister has already taken. The measures relating to the disclosure of materials are working well, with a significant quantity of materials having been disclosed to the inquiry and further disclosure continuing on a rolling basis. The bona fides of the Minister's Department and An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na have been acknowledged publicly by the inquiry, most recently at its hearing last week, and that is welcome.  There is of course much more to be done. As the inquiry made clear, the volume of potentially relevant materials held by An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and other State bodies should not be underestimated. It is important that the process is conducted in a rigorous manner rather than being rushed. The fixing by the inquiry of a date for its first evidential hearings to start in September is welcome. It was disappointing that the original date set for this month was postponed, particularly for the families and the survivors. I note that the inquiry, at its hearing last week, identified a number of contributing factors, including the scale of disclosure by our authorities, as making the original date unviable. The Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, and the Garda Commissioner have dedicated resources in place to ensure timely handling of all requests from the inquiry.  The Bill will complement the measures already in place by enabling the taking of sworn testimony for the purposes of the inquiry. Some may query why it is necessary to provide for a bespoke mechanism whereby the evidence will be taken before our courts and not before the inquiry in the UK. The reality is that there is an undeniable tension between the Government's desire to assist an inquiry established under the law of another sovereign jurisdiction and the duty of the Government to work within the laws of Ireland and to safeguard the essential interests of the State and the rights of citizens.  The Minister has sought to go as far as possible, using the 2019 statutory mechanism as a template but adding to it in some notable respects, not least in facilitating the families and survivors to be present in the High Court to hear any evidence at first hand. The Government is satisfied that this bespoke approach is legally robust and will maximise the evidential opportunities available to the inquiry.  The Bill is focused on the terrible atrocity that was the Omagh bombing but there were many others committed over the course of the Troubles. Many were the subject of the Kenova report, which we debated in this House last month. Reaching agreement on the joint framework to address the legacy of the Troubles last autumn was a major step towards providing routes to truth and accountability for those many other families and survivors. The Government is committed to giving effect to its commitments under the framework. The Garda legacy liaison unit has already been established to act as a single point of contact for victims in relation to unresolved incidents in this jurisdiction.  The Government has also committed to putting in place the arrangements necessary to facilitate the fullest possible co-operation with the UK legacy commission, once it is established. The UK Government has made a reciprocal commitment in respect of legacy investigations and inquiries in this jurisdiction.  Legislation is required in both jurisdictions. The progress on the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill in the UK Parliament is to be welcomed. While our legislation can only be published and proceed through the Houses once the UK Bill is in place, the Minister hopes to be in a position to publish his proposals before the summer and to bring them before the Houses as quickly as possible once the UK Bill is law.  Deputy Alan Kelly asked whether the disclosure process by the Irish State was to blame for the six-month delay to the inquiry. I will put on record that the decision by the inquiry last December to postpone its March evidential hearing was disappointing, particularly for survivors and for victims' families. At its procedural hearing on 19 March, the inquiry announced that the postponed hearings will now begin on 21 September. The announcement of a date for the rescheduled hearing is welcome. The inquiry referred to the disclosure of Irish State materials as being only one of several reasons the March hearings were postponed and did not seek to assign blame to anyone, least of all the Government of Ireland and our authorities. I refer Deputy Kelly to the published transcript of the inquiry's hearing of last Thursday, 19 March, where counsel to the inquiry felt the need to correct inaccurate media reporting on this matter. He said:  can we be clear, anyone who has based their reporting of the proceedings ... on the basis that ... [the inquiry] suggested that the government of Ireland was the sole cause for the need for the postponement, anyone who has reported on the basis ... that the government of Ireland was being blamed, has made a serious error and must correct it.  Returning to the Bill, I have listened to the contributions here today since taking over from the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, here in the Chamber. I will brief him on those contributions. He looks forward to working with Deputies to ensure this Bill makes its passage through this House and the other House as soon as possible. We thank the Deputies for their contributions. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"International Co-operation (Omagh Bombing Inquiry) Bill 2026: Second Stage"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-24\/debate\/dbsect_17","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/28","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/28\/dail\/motion\/referral","houseCode":"dail","stage":"motion","isBillStage":false,"showAs":"International Co-operation (Omagh Bombing Inquiry) Bill 2026: Referral to Select Committee (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"International Co-operation (Omagh Bombing Inquiry) Bill 2026: Referral to Select Committee","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niall Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niall Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Niall Collins)  I move:  That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration pursuant to Standing Orders 103(2)(b) and 188(1). "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar fionra\u00ed ar 6.07 p.m. agus cuireadh t\u00fas leis ar\u00eds ar 6.11 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Sitting suspended at 6.07 p.m. and resumed at 6.11 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"International Co-operation (Omagh Bombing Inquiry) Bill 2026: Referral to Select Committee"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-24\/debate\/dbsect_18","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Gn\u00f3 na D\u00e1la - Business of D\u00e1il","counts":{"speechCount":15,"speakerCount":7},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I call on the Government Whip, the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, to make a statement. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Mary Butler)  I move:  Notwithstanding today's Order of Business, that the financial motion by the Minister for Finance, Financial Resolution No. 2, shall be taken on the conclusion of the Sinn F\u00e9in Private Member's Business. It shall be brought to a conclusion after 60 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply:  The question on the motion shall dispose of any amendments not disposed tabled to that motion.  The order of speaking and allocation of time shall be as follows:  - Opening speech by a Minister or Minister of State - 10 minutes;  - Speeches by representatives of Sinn F\u00e9in, the Labour Party, Social Democrats, Independent and Parties Technical Group and Independent Technical Group - 7.5 minutes per party or group;  - Speeches by other Members - 7.5 minutes; and  - A speech in response by the Minister - 5 minutes.  Members may share time and any division demanded shall be taken immediately;  and that the arrangements for the motion for the Revised Estimate on 25 March 2026 shall include Vote 33.  Oral parliamentary questions from the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science will be removed from this evening's Order of Business and will be rescheduled. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Is that agreed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  It is not agreed. The Government has had weeks now to respond to this crisis. There has been a lack of communication to the Opposition. We have been frantically trying to get clarification on votes to allow us to prepare amendments. This is no way to do business and we strongly object to the way this has been handled today. We will push a vote on this matter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  I want to put on record my serious concerns about the way in which business has been conducted today. At the end of the Order of Business and the Chief Whip's short contribution earlier today, she mentioned that there may be other resolutions this evening. We were in the dark about this. We want to be a constructive and responsible Opposition. There are people watching in who are concerned about their everyday livelihoods and the challenges they face, and now this is being sprung on us with a limited amount of time to prepare. This is no way to do business. We expressed our concerns about that earlier today through our own Whip, Deputy Duncan Smith. This is just a repeat of that. It is completely unacceptable. There is a better way to do business and this is not it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  I agree with the points that were made. We need proper notice to be able to do our jobs. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  I understand the Deputies' concerns about the way business is being conducted, but I flagged on the Order of Business that I would potentially be coming back in this evening. Notwithstanding the importance of what the Government is doing, Financial Resolution No. 2 means hauliers, who are at the pin of the collar at the moment, will see an increase from 7.5 cent per litre to 12 cent per litre, backdated to 1 January. If the Deputies believe they cannot support this because I was a little bit late bringing this motion forward----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  That is not the point. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  It is extremely important and the order stands. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  That is disingenuous. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  It is so important that the Government did not even----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  It has been trailed through the media for days that hauliers are going to get a rebate. That is fine. We will consider that. It does not mean anybody opposes it. Everybody accepts that hauliers require support. That is not the point. The Government knew earlier today that this was going to happen. It could have provided the Opposition with the information in a constructive fashion, and we could have worked on a collegial basis to get this business done. People are watching. They are worried about their livelihoods and businesses. Why can we not do this properly? It is sharp practice. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  The Minister of State has moved the proposal. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  The Minister of State should not misrepresent what we said. The way this has been handled today is completely disrespectful to the Opposition. We had no chance to prepare amendments. We are frantically trying to get information from the secretariat and there is a vacuum. We are calling a vote in protest at the way the Government handled this today, considering it took it weeks to get to this point. It also briefed all the journalists in recent days. It knew what it was doing. It just did not have this organised today. It is not an acceptable way to do business. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  I did not brief anyone today. I did not brief any journalists. I have not had time to bless myself. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Gn\u00f3 na D\u00e1la - Business of D\u00e1il"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-24\/debate\/dbsect_23","debateType":"financialResolution","bill":null,"showAs":"Financial Resolution No.1: Mineral Oil Tax","counts":{"speechCount":36,"speakerCount":18},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_23","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Fitzmaurice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cormac Devlin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Finance (Deputy Simon Harris)  I move:  (1) THAT for the purposes of the tax charged by virtue of section 95 of the Finance Act 1999 (No. 2 of 1999), that Act be amended, with effect as on and from 25 March 2026, by the substitution of the following for Schedule 2 to that Act (as amended by section 52 of the Finance (No. 2) Act 2023 (No. 39 of 2023)):  SCHEDULE 2  RATES OF MINERAL OIL TAX             Light Oil:  Rates per 1,000 litres                        Heavy Oil:  Rates per 1,000 litres        Liquefied Petroleum Gas:  Rates per 1,000 litres          With effect as on  and from:    Petrol    Aviation gasoline    Used as a propellant    Used for air navigation    Used for private pleasure navigation    Kerosene used other than as a propellant    Fuel oil    Other heavy oil    Used as a propellant    Other liquefied petroleum gas    Vehicle gas:  Rate per megawatt hour at gross calorific value      10 March 2022    \u20ac474.11    \u20ac474.11    \u20ac413.51    \u20ac413.51    \u20ac413.51    \u20ac84.84    \u20ac118.01    \u20ac120.55    \u20ac118.27    \u20ac54.68    \u20ac9.36      1 April 2022    \u20ac465.98    \u20ac465.98    \u20ac405.38    \u20ac405.38    \u20ac405.38    \u20ac84.84    \u20ac118.01    \u20ac120.55    \u20ac118.27    \u20ac54.68    \u20ac9.36      1 May 2022    \u20ac465.98    \u20ac465.98    \u20ac405.38    \u20ac405.38    \u20ac405.38    \u20ac103.83    \u20ac141.12    \u20ac111.14    \u20ac130.52    \u20ac66.93    \u20ac9.36      12 October 2022    \u20ac483.34    \u20ac483.34    \u20ac425.45    \u20ac425.45    \u20ac425.45    \u20ac103.83    \u20ac141.12    \u20ac111.14    \u20ac130.52    \u20ac66.93    \u20ac9.36      1 May 2023    \u20ac483.34    \u20ac483.34    \u20ac425.45    \u20ac425.45    \u20ac425.45    \u20ac122.83    \u20ac164.23    \u20ac131.47    \u20ac142.76    \u20ac79.17    \u20ac9.36      1 June 2023    \u20ac532.12    \u20ac532.12    \u20ac466.10    \u20ac466.10    \u20ac466.10    \u20ac122.83    \u20ac164.23    \u20ac140.28    \u20ac142.76    \u20ac79.17    \u20ac9.36      1 September 2023    \u20ac589.03    \u20ac589.03    \u20ac506.75    \u20ac506.75    \u20ac506.75    \u20ac122.83    \u20ac164.23    \u20ac149.09    \u20ac142.76    \u20ac79.17    \u20ac9.36      11 October 2023    \u20ac606.39    \u20ac606.39    \u20ac526.83    \u20ac526.83    \u20ac526.83    \u20ac122.83    \u20ac164.23    \u20ac149.09    \u20ac142.76    \u20ac79.17    \u20ac9.36      1 April 2024    \u20ac638.91    \u20ac638.91    \u20ac551.22    \u20ac551.22    \u20ac551.22    \u20ac122.83    \u20ac164.23    \u20ac163.96    \u20ac142.76    \u20ac79.17    \u20ac9.36      1 May 2024    \u20ac638.91    \u20ac638.91    \u20ac551.22    \u20ac551.22    \u20ac551.22    \u20ac141.82    \u20ac187.34    \u20ac184.30    \u20ac155.01    \u20ac91.42    \u20ac10.13      1 August 2024    \u20ac671.43    \u20ac671.43    \u20ac575.61    \u20ac575.61    \u20ac575.61    \u20ac141.82    \u20ac187.34    \u20ac199.17    \u20ac155.01    \u20ac91.42    \u20ac10.13      9 October 2024    \u20ac688.78    \u20ac688.78    \u20ac595.68    \u20ac595.68    \u20ac595.68    \u20ac141.82    \u20ac187.34    \u20ac199.17    \u20ac155.01    \u20ac91.42    \u20ac10.13      1 May 2025    \u20ac688.78    \u20ac688.78    \u20ac595.68    \u20ac595.68    \u20ac595.68    \u20ac160.81    \u20ac210.45    \u20ac219.50    \u20ac167.25    \u20ac103.66    \u20ac11.48      8 October 2025    \u20ac706.14    \u20ac706.14    \u20ac615.76    \u20ac615.76    \u20ac615.76    \u20ac160.81    \u20ac210.45    \u20ac219.50    \u20ac167.25    \u20ac103.66    \u20ac11.48      25 March 2026    \u20ac584.18    \u20ac584.18    \u20ac453.15    \u20ac453.15    \u20ac453.15    \u20ac160.81    \u20ac210.45    \u20ac193.06    \u20ac167.25    \u20ac103.66    \u20ac11.48      1 May 2026    \u20ac584.18    \u20ac584.18    \u20ac453.15    \u20ac453.15    \u20ac453.15    \u20ac179.81    \u20ac233.57    \u20ac213.39    \u20ac179.49    \u20ac115.90    \u20ac12.84      1 June 2026    \u20ac706.14    \u20ac706.14    \u20ac615.76    \u20ac615.76    \u20ac615.76    \u20ac179.81    \u20ac233.57    \u20ac239.83    \u20ac179.49    \u20ac115.90    \u20ac12.84      14 October 2026    \u20ac723.49    \u20ac723.49    \u20ac635.83    \u20ac635.83    \u20ac635.83    \u20ac179.81    \u20ac233.57    \u20ac239.83    \u20ac179.49    \u20ac115.90    \u20ac12.84      1 May 2027    \u20ac723.49    \u20ac723.49    \u20ac635.83    \u20ac635.83    \u20ac635.83    \u20ac198.80    \u20ac256.68    \u20ac260.16    \u20ac191.74    \u20ac128.15    \u20ac14.20      13 October 2027    \u20ac740.85    \u20ac740.85    \u20ac655.90    \u20ac655.90    \u20ac655.90    \u20ac198.80    \u20ac256.68    \u20ac260.16    \u20ac191.74    \u20ac128.15    \u20ac14.20      1 May 2028    \u20ac740.85    \u20ac740.85    \u20ac655.90    \u20ac655.90    \u20ac655.90    \u20ac217.80    \u20ac279.79    \u20ac280.49    \u20ac203.98    \u20ac140.39    \u20ac15.56      11 October 2028    \u20ac758.21    \u20ac758.21    \u20ac675.98    \u20ac675.98    \u20ac675.98    \u20ac217.80    \u20ac279.79    \u20ac280.49    \u20ac203.98    \u20ac140.39    \u20ac15.56      1 May 2029    \u20ac758.21    \u20ac758.21    \u20ac675.98    \u20ac675.98    \u20ac675.98    \u20ac236.79    \u20ac302.90    \u20ac300.83    \u20ac216.23    \u20ac152.64    \u20ac16.91      10 October 2029    \u20ac773.25    \u20ac773.25    \u20ac693.38    \u20ac693.38    \u20ac693.38    \u20ac236.79    \u20ac302.90    \u20ac300.83    \u20ac216.23    \u20ac152.64    \u20ac16.91      1 May 2030    \u20ac773.25    \u20ac773.25    \u20ac693.38    \u20ac693.38    \u20ac693.38    \u20ac253.25    \u20ac322.93    \u20ac318.45    \u20ac226.84    \u20ac163.25    \u20ac18.09       (2) IT is hereby declared that it is expedient in the public interest that this Resolution shall have statutory effect under the provisions of the Provisional Collection of Taxes Act 1927 (No. 7 of 1927).  This is the resolution for the temporary reductions in mineral oil tax. This first financial resolution provides for reductions in the rates of mineral oil tax applying to petrol, auto diesel and to marked-gas oil. These reductions will take effect from midnight tonight until 31 May 2026.  The rate of mineral oil tax will be reduced on a VAT inclusive basis by 15 cent per litre for petrol, 20 cent per litre for auto diesel and 3 cent per litre for marked-gas oil. To further ease the financial impact of the significant energy price shock arising from the ongoing conflict in the Gulf region and Middle East region, the Minister, Deputy O\u2019Brien, will also reduce the NORA levy from 2 cent per litre to a nominal amount. That will require primary legislation which will be forthcoming this week. When the excise reductions in petrol and diesel are combined with the changes to the NORA levy, that means a 22 cent reduction in a litre of diesel and a 17 cent reduction in a litre of petrol.  These are concrete actions to help and support families, working people and business with the real and rising cost of fuel and energy. We know the pressure people are feeling right now. People are genuinely worried about the impact this conflict is having on their energy costs and what is facing them and their families in the weeks and months ahead.  There will be a second resolution, which we will discuss later in the House, on the diesel rebate scheme providing practical support to hauliers and coach operators. The estimate cost to the Exchequer of the two resolutions relating to the Department of Finance is approximately \u20ac160 million. When coupled with the NORA levy proposal and the fuel allowance expansion that brings the total Government intervention today to \u20ac250 million.  The Government is conscious of the increased financial pressure on households and businesses arising from this ongoing conflict. These measures are an effort in the here and now to help reduce fuel prices and to help in a practical way people at the pump and to endeavour to support key sectors of the Irish economy. Solid budgetary management in recent years means we now have the capacity to respond in a timely and targeted way to help with this energy price shock. That point should not be lost on any of us. If we look at countries endeavouring to deal with this global economic challenge, and deal with it from a position of deficit, we see how the market responds to those countries. We have an ability to respond because of the sensible economic decisions this Government and successive governments have taken in recent years and the resilience and hard work of the Irish people.  These measures will be in place for a defined period of time. I want to be very clear why that is. We have to remain nimble, agile and flexible in relation to any set of measures. It is entirely possible that what seems like the right economic medicine today may not be the prescription required in the weeks and months ahead.  Therefore the Government - and let our position not be misrepresented - reserves the option to adjust our approach as circumstances evolve to revise, amend, edit and start or stop measures that may be required in the time ahead. This approach is not unique to Ireland. It is very much in line with the European Council conclusions from Brussels last week and also with the response of other EU member states. I think I referenced in the House last week the decision taken by the Italian government to bring in measures for 20 days. Every government and set of people are trying to grapple with a fast-evolving situation both from a humanitarian point of view but, for the purpose of this debate, from an economic point of view as well.  These measures will provide mitigation for businesses and households for against the recent fuel price increases. It is real money and a real reduction in taxes on petrol, diesel and green diesel. These excise reductions strike the balance between mitigating costs to consumers while managing the tax base and also respecting the law under the Energy Tax Directive.  We have to navigate this period of uncertainty to the best of our ability. To put it bluntly, nobody knows what the situation will be in a month from now. We have to remain flexible in our response. The economic impact will depend on the depth and duration of supply disruption. The Government will help to share the burden of the energy price shock but no government in the world can fully absorb the impact. That is why there is also benefit in continuing to work at European level. I will attend a meeting of the Eurogroup on Friday and the Taoiseach attended a meeting of the European Council last week because we have seen in the past where conflicts have become elongated. Europe has often considered how it can move together and various policy responses and levers we can consider as a collective.  This conflict also is a sharp reminder that we must accelerate our transition towards energy independence. While much of the discussion is quite rightly on what we can do to help people in the here and now, and that is one of the reasons we are bringing forward these measures tonight to take effect from midnight, we also have to remind ourselves that as long as we are reliant on fossil fuels from far-flung parts of the world, there is a real vulnerability from an economic security point of view as well. We have to see what we can do at a European level and an Irish level to accelerate that transition in terms of our fuel and energy supply. I think that is a view shared across this House and I welcome suggestions and proposals in relation to that.  Specifically on this resolution, we saw prices rise quickly enough on the forecourts when the war in Iran broke out. It is very important that we see these cuts passed on to the consumer very quickly as well. The Government will be monitoring this extremely closely. In the past the CCPC has done useful work. At the start of the brutal illegal Russian aggression and war on Ukraine the CCPC monitored the passing on of the impact.  I hear what the industry says. I accept the logic that for some small rural stations that it might take a little bit longer but for the vast majority, we expect to see very quick passing on of this. People were quick enough to put it up. They need to be quick enough now to show the benefit of that. The Government reserves the right to consider any further action - legislative or otherwise - that may be required should this not be the case. More broadly, I indicate again tonight the Government's intention to strengthen further the powers of the CCPC and to work on a collaborative basis across this House with the view of doing that as well.  I have heard much commentary in relation to the Government's proposals today from the Opposition. Some are constructive and some are less so. I look forward to engaging constructively in the time ahead because we all must approach this challenge with a degree of humility. We have to make sure we keep a degree of our economic powder dry because the economic situation that our country will face in the winter is very different to an economic situation that our country could face this summer if this conflict goes on for a longer period of time. We all hope it does not. We must all work for de-escalation. The set of measures we may need to consider together will indeed be different too. I am happy and eager to engage constructively with the Opposition. I ask people to acknowledge that we are taking efforts today - a \u20ac250 million package - to try to help people in the here and now.  I hope in the Northern Ireland that the Executive takes the measures too that are required. I note with significant concerns the comment from the Alliance MP, Sorcha Eastwood, today in relation to the delays and the lack of urgency on the part of the Sinn F\u00e9in economy and finance Ministers in relation to measures to help people with heating costs. I hope that can be resolved as well. I hope Sinn F\u00e9in's concern in relation to energy costs are not partisan concerns and do not stop at the Border.  We will work constructively with anybody in this House on ideas and proposals. Today, we are bringing forward a balanced package of measures to help people at risk of fuel poverty and people who are struggling with the home heating oil by extending the fuel allowance season for a further four weeks, helping almost 500,000 households most in need. Many of them are carers, pensioners and people with a disability but also helping people who are getting in the car tomorrow and this week and driving to work or college and trying to go about their business and trying to help somewhat while being honest that no government can absorb all of it.  I propose this resolution tonight. I reiterate our message to industry - let us play fair and let us see that passed on quickly. The Government will monitor this closely. I say to this House and the people of this country in all honesty that we have to be nimble. We may well need to return to this conversation but tonight is a start in terms of an intervention that we believe is the balanced, proportionate and measured response that will make a real difference in the here and now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I move amendment No 1:  In Schedule 2, inserted by paragraph (1), by the substitution of the following for the rows dated 25 March 2026 and 1 May 2026:  \"     25 March 2026    \u20ac496.14    \u20ac584.18    \u20ac405.76    \u20ac453.15    \u20ac453.15    \u20ac0.00    \u20ac210.45    \u20ac134.50    \u20ac167.25    \u20ac103.66    \u20ac11.48      1 May 2026    \u20ac496.14    \u20ac584.18    \u20ac405.76    \u20ac453.15    \u20ac453.15    \u20ac0.00    \u20ac210.45    \u20ac134.50    \u20ac167.25    \u20ac103.66    \u20ac11.48     \". "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"T\u00e1 teaghlaigh i gcruach\u00e1s fud fad an St\u00e1it. I ndiaidh ceithre seachtaine den Rialtas ag su\u00ed ar a l\u00e1mha agus na praghsanna ag dul in airde agus in airde gach aon l\u00e1, agus an phian agus an deacracht at\u00e1 seo ag cur ar theaghlaigh ar fud an St\u00e1it, th\u00e1inig an Rialtas chun na D\u00e1la anocht i ndiaidh br\u00fa ollmh\u00f3r \u00f3 Shinn F\u00e9in. Th\u00e1inig an Rialtas chun tosaigh le moladh nach dt\u00e9ann fada go leor. N\u00edos measa n\u00e1 sin, n\u00ed dh\u00e9anann an Rialtas aon rud ar chor ar bith \u00f3 thaobh tithe at\u00e1 ag brath ar ola le tithe a th\u00e9amh agus n\u00edor ghearr s\u00e9 an ch\u00e1in air sin ar chor ar bith. T\u00e1 leas\u00fa ag Sinn F\u00e9in os comhair na D\u00e1la anocht. Baineann s\u00e9 an ch\u00e1in d'ola do thithe a th\u00e9amh agus laghda\u00edonn s\u00e9 an m\u00e9id is m\u00f3 is f\u00e9idir \u00f3 thaobh ch\u00e1in ar dh\u00edosal agus an m\u00e9id c\u00e9anna ar pheitreal."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"I move the amendment because this is an emergency for households across the State, not in theory or on spreadsheets, but in kitchens, sitting rooms and homes where people are counting litres of oil and counting every euro just to get through the week. This Government simply does get it because if it did and really got it, we would not have to wait four weeks of delay. We would not have to see four weeks of dithering while prices spiralled and families were hammered and four weeks when the Government stood back and did nothing. After all of that, the Minister has the cheek to come in here with a package of half measures and expect the people to be grateful. It is too little too late. Petrol and diesel prices have soared. Workers depending on their cars to get to work, to bring children to school and to care for their loved ones needed the maximum reductions at the pumps tonight. The Government had it within its power to deliver it but it refused. It made a conscious decision to hold back and shortchange people."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"When it comes to home heating oil, the Government's failure is even more stark. The cost of a fill has nearly doubled in a matter of weeks. People are not turning the heating down. They are turning the heating off. They are rationing what little they have left. One person who I met at the weekend told me that they have less than 100 litres in their tank. They are afraid to turn on the heat. They cannot afford the \u20ac1,700 to refill. Another told me that they are wearing more clothes inside than they would wear outside just to stay warm. That is the reality that the Minister and his colleagues in Government have created. What does the Government offer them tonight? Two cent per litre. That is not support; that is an insult."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The vast majority who rely on home heating oil do not qualify for the fuel allowance. Carers who are already stretched to breaking point are excluded. People with disabilities - many of them who are not entitled to oil allowance - are simply left behind. These are people who cannot cut back any further because there is nothing left to cut. What is the Minister's answer? A pathetic token gesture-----"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  What is the Deputy's answer then? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  -----that does not even come close to what is needed. And worse, the Government is now preparing to increase carbon tax on home heating oil in the space of four weeks while clawing back with one hand what it pretends to give with the other hand. Do not come in here and try to pretend that this is the Government simply helping the people because it is not. It is just going through the motions while more and more people suffer.  Let us be absolutely clear. The Minister can shake his head all he wants. It is not an issue of resources. There is a multi-billion euro budget surplus. The Government is taking in millions of euro as a result of the additional tax revenue from fuel prices that are soaring. The money is there. Do you know what is not there? It is political will from this Government. That is what is missing - to stand up for ordinary workers and families. When it comes to the crunch - and we all know this on this side of the House - Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael always make the same choices. Hoard the surplus, protect the banks and leave ordinary people to fend for themselves.  Tonight, we are putting forward an alternative. We are putting forward a different choice because Sinn F\u00e9in actually listens to people. It listens to the concerns that people have been telling us over the past four weeks. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  Not in the North. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Our amendment will deliver the maximum reduction on diesel, the same reduction on petrol and will remove completely excise duty for home heating oil - an oil that has nearly doubled in the space of four weeks and the Government plans to increase the tax on it in a couple of weeks' time. Real measures, immediate relief and action that matches the scale of this crisis because people cannot wait. They cannot take another hit. They should not be abandoned like this. Is the Government going to continue to insult people with half measures or is it going to finally act and deliver the support that they need? We on this side, in Sinn F\u00e9in, are going to stand with workers, carers, families, those with disabilities and small businesses tonight. We are not going back down. People deserve far better.  I say to Government TDs and the Independent TDs who support the Government that they are going to have a choice within an hour. Are they going to stand up? Are they going to stand with Ministers? Are they are going to hide behind Deputy Simon Harris or are they going to do the right thing and stand up for workers, carers and small businesses, reduce the excise to the maximum amount and remove excise duty from home heating oil at this time of crisis? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  Do your job in the North. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Please, T\u00e1naiste. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  The people of Ireland have waited for an intervention from the Government to deal with this energy spike for weeks now. To say that today's intervention - this package of measures - is underwhelming is an understatement. In fact, it is a classic understatement. I said earlier today that these proposals are timid and anaemic. I stand over that. The evidence that is presented to us here this evening is the very definition of half measures when people expected the Government based on its previous track record to go the whole hog and to go the full way. There is not any real comprehension at the Government level of the day-to-day problems that people across this country are experiencing in their daily lives.  Quite frankly, this was evident in last year's insipid budget where choices were made by this Government. I always make the point that if you want to understand my politics and my philosophy, you should look at my budget and look at what my priorities are. It is worth reflecting on that. We know from last year's budget that burger barons and big builders were favoured over the interests of working people. Why do I say that? It is because an expected indexation of PAYE tax rates and bands for workers did not come. Instead workers now pay for a VAT cut for the hospitality sector that will be introduced on 1 July in the teeth of an energy crisis where people across this country are really suffering. The net effect is that after the budget, people who would have hoped to experience a pay increase have seen that pay increase taken away from them because of the absence of indexation and given to the Revenue Commissioners. People are in an even less favourable position in 2026 than they were in 2025 to absorb any energy spike that may be encountered and - my word - people are encountering it today and over the past few weeks.  It was less than two years ago that the Government decided to take the bazooka out and spend billions of euro supporting untargeted, unwarranted and economically illiterate propositions to buy its way to election success. That is what it did. What is the difference between then and now? The difference is that we are three and a half years away from an election. That is the difference. I am intrigued by the justification for some of these measures. I accept that some of them are targeted in the way we would like, for example, the fuel allowance. This is a very good idea and I am glad the Government accepted the Labour Party's argument. We were being briefed that we would have a two-week extension to the fuel allowance. Now it is a four-week extension and that needs to be kept under review. For the record, the Labour Party is happy to support the cut in excise that has been proposed. This is necessary. As the T\u00e1naiste said at the outset, it is important that the value of this is seen at the pumps quick smart. There can be no justification for that not happening. We need to see a price below the \u20ac2 psychological threshold reached in the coming days. That is a psychological figure. It is not only psychological but very meaningful for people and we need to see it reached and maintained as prices come down.  We also support the intervention on the fuel allowance but outside of the excise cut, there is very little here for working people. The Government and the famed energy task force have proposed nothing to deal with the hundreds of thousands of people who are in long-term energy arrears. They literally cannot sleep at night because they cannot pay their electricity bills and are focusing on that instead of other things they need to do for their families. We need to look again at the prospect of reducing the VAT rate on home heating oil from 13.5% to 9%. I have seen the strained arguments in replies to parliamentary questions recently as to why that cannot happen. Earlier, the T\u00e1naiste mentioned the European Council initiative at the weekend telling EU member state governments to reduce taxes and levies on energy prices to help people and businesses through. That is one way of doing that. We know about the lower VAT rate of 9% on gas and electricity. Further consideration needs to be given at EU level to reducing the VAT rate on home heating oil.  Why can we not have a tax credit for working people to assist with energy costs? This is something proposed by the Labour Party in successive alternative budgets and by colleagues in the Social Democrats as well. This would be a smart way of targeting several hundred euro each year at working families who do not qualify for the working family payment and need that support.  The volatility we are experiencing in the world at the moment is not going to go away. As the T\u00e1naiste said, this is a very unpredictable set of circumstances. My word, we are performing poorly when it comes to energy security. We got a warning in 2022 after Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine. We saw the spike in energy prices, the impact of this on residents and businesses, the strain it put on the resources we have and what we needed to do as an Oireachtas to target supports to people who needed them most. We cannot continue to do that. How many warnings do we need? We need that pivot to decarbonisation and energy security. That means focusing more on offshore and onshore wind energy, making that happen and realising the moonshot moment famously mentioned a number of years ago by former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar. We have not reached that moonshot moment. We need to. We need to focus on that and we need to deliver energy security and independence. That is the way to deliver cheaper fuel for the people of Ireland and make sure we are less reliant on the Irans and Russias of this world. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  The temporary reduction in excise duty will offer some overdue relief at the pumps, and the extension of the fuel allowance will give some respite to pensioners and people receiving social welfare, but it will not be enough. A figure of \u20ac152 misses the mark completely. What the Government is doing here is leaving hundreds of thousands of low-income workers who are facing astronomical increases, particularly in home heating oil, out of those targeted measures.  The Government knows well that before Iran was attacked, there were 320,000 households in arrears on their electricity bills before Trump and Israel started this war. People need to be able to heat their homes tonight, they need hot water and they need to be able to get by day by day. The measures the Government is proposing fall well short of that.  Since the budget when it withdrew the universal energy credits, which we never supported because we always said they should be targeted, the T\u00e1naiste and the Taoiseach have said hundreds of times that targeted measures are needed. The extension of the fuel allowance is targeted but it is \u20ac152. What about low-paid workers and what about everyone who is entitled to the fuel allowance? Does the Government really think that a figure of \u20ac152 will get them out of the hole they are in? If you are reliant on home heating oil and have seen the price almost double, \u20ac152 will not cut it and the Government knows that. The T\u00e1naiste can use the word \"targeted\" all he wants - he has said it hundreds of times - but we put forward proposals for targeted measures that were fully costed and constructive, like the energy credit for 800,000 households at a cost of \u20ac362 million, but the Government did not implement them. Why does it not implement a targeted measure that would really help people who need it most?  The T\u00e1naiste uses the word \"targeted\" all the time but, as Deputy Nash said, we must look at what the Government's most recent budget actually did. It reduced the incomes of the poorest households in Ireland by more than 4%. That is what the budget did. It drove more older people into poverty, with the number increasing from 13% to 19%. These are not my figures; those are the figures from the Parliamentary Budget Office, which independently assesses what this Government has done. At the same time, it reduced the incomes of disabled people by up to \u20ac1,400. If someone is \u20ac1,400 down, a \u20ac152 extension in the fuel allowance is better than nothing but it does not begin to meet the gap that is there and the urgent need for support that people have.  We put forward our proposal for a targeted energy credit, which we costed. I urge the T\u00e1naiste to look at that. It is a sound and economically sustainable approach. That kind of approach will work, regardless of what happens over the coming weeks and months, and will provide the space for additional supports to be put in place as and when they are needed.  The T\u00e1naiste talks about achieving and accelerating energy independence. Fine Gael has been in government since 2011. It is now 2026.  Sadly for this country and for people who are finding it very hard to meet their bills, the T\u00e1naiste has completely and utterly missed the opportunity we have had. Ireland could be a superpower when it comes to renewable energy. We should be a superpower when it comes to renewable energy. Instead, we are one of the countries in Europe with the highest electricity bills despite these massive resources at our disposal. We should be leading in terms of clean energy. We should not be a laggard on it. Successive Fianna F\u00e1il- and Fine Gael-led Governments have had the resources to be able to invest in this, so why have they not done it?  Look at the example of Spain and what they have achieved. Look at what they have done in Spain and Portugal, for example, where wholesale electricity prices are at \u20ac60 to \u20ac70 per megawatt-hour, far below what we are at. Look at what Spain has done just since 2019, for example, where they have doubled their wind and solar capacity. They have added over 40 GW, cutting gas's influence on electricity prices by 75%. That is what they have done since 2019. We have more potential than they do, certainly in terms of wind, so why have we not done the same? While the T\u00e1naiste has been in government, why have we not done it? If we had done that, we would not be in this situation of dependence that we are in at present. Spain has some of the lowest power prices in Europe. What do they have that we do not have such that they are able to do that? Of course, we should be doing this.  Ireland has enough wind to power the island and enough money to make it happen. That is a fact. What we are missing is the political leadership to get that job done. While Spain and Portugal have insulated their people from this global crisis in terms of energy prices, the Government has left Irish households exposed to the actions and the chaos being created by the whims of Trump. We should and could be an energy independent electro-state, but instead we are not in that situation. We need proper action and leadership on that.  I appeal to the T\u00e1naiste to introduce a targeted energy credit. It makes sense, it is affordable and it can be done. It would make a big difference to people on low incomes, including low-paid workers who are not eligible for the fuel allowance. That would really lift people out of the difficulty they are in. The Government has failed to do that and it could do that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  It is a bit ironic that we are now paying the price for a horrific imperialist adventure by Trump and Netanyahu, which the T\u00e1naiste and the Taoiseach have never once condemned. The Taoiseach spent a whole day in Washington and managed not to say one thing about the attack on Iran.  In relation to the emergency motion the T\u00e1naiste is bringing through the D\u00e1il, where is the emergency action for the disabled people who have lost out on \u20ac1,400 a year, the 320,000 people in arrears on their electricity who have been mentioned and the 180,000 in arrears on their gas? I will support this measure if it does anything to decrease prices for people. However, it is far from going to deal with the situation. We need emergency measures to lift the burden off the general population, not just hauliers and bus companies.  There was an academic on TV last night who was talking about people having become too reliant on these one-off measures and needing to be weaned off them. There seem to be some people living in an alternative universe, not realising the hardship that people have been going through in this country for the last number of months.  In relation to electricity, the ESB should be taken back into public ownership and it should be run on a not-for-profit basis, as it used to be. We need to bring down prices and the cost of living all across the board for ordinary people.  On price controls, groceries have gone through the roof. There is power under the Consumer Protection Act to immediately introduce maximum prices at affordable levels for necessities and food staples. Likewise, why not use this as an opportunity to introduce free public transport? It would be a huge benefit to people's pockets and also to the environment. Why is a cost-of-disability payment not being introduced? It should have been brought in immediately. I obviously welcome the measures for people on fuel allowance, but that is a limited number of people. Tens of thousands of people are suffering.  I am very concerned to hear that there will be backdated rebates for hauliers and bus companies. The books should be opened up. It should not be across the board. If they are needed, they could be given in a targeted fashion, but some people have been profiteering off the situation as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Even before the Israeli and US illegal and bloody aggression against Iran and Lebanon, there was a cost-of-living crisis in this country that the Government was not acting in any serious way to address. We already had electricity prices that were approximately 25% higher than the rest of Europe. Gas prices had doubled over the previous five years. We have seen the price of groceries, etc., increase very significantly. In all of those areas, of course, massive profits have been recorded by the energy companies and the supermarket chains, and then we get this. The failure of the Government to condemn in clear and unequivocal terms Trump's bloody and illegal war is mirrored in the failure of the Government to seriously address the economic and financial consequences of their bloody warmongering on ordinary people, because not only are they raining down death, destruction and fire on the people of Iran, Lebanon, people of Palestine and the whole region, they are costing every person in this country money and the Government cannot even bring itself to condemn them and, indeed, continue to allow the US military to refuel at Shannon Airport. It is shameful. Would the T\u00e1naiste let Putin into Shannon Airport? Of course he would not, and rightly so, yet the Americans are allowed to prosecute their war.  What the T\u00e1naiste has offered here is better than nothing but it is late in the day on top of an existing crisis. What we have proposed is that the Government should help people with their arrears by giving them a \u20ac500 energy credit and introduce price controls to hold down petrol and diesel prices at \u20ac1.75 a litre, to hold down home heating oil at \u20ac1 per litre and to reduce the kilowatt-hour charges for gas and electricity. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Can this be done? It is being done elsewhere in Europe, in the Czech Republic----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I call Deputy Stanley. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  I have five seconds left----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Oh. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  -----but now I do not, thanks to your interruption. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  It is gone now. I call Deputy Stanley. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  The assistance being given on the cost of fuel will bring some relief but I would like to see it more targeted. The question is how we can target it in the short term.  There are middle-income areas who do not qualify for the fuel allowance. There is a particular cohort whose income is just over the limit and they will not benefit from the extra month of fuel allowance, although it is welcome.  The cost of home heating oil is an issue that is not being addressed and we are stuck with it for now. Many rural households out there, particularly in counties such as Laois, are dependent on home heating oil, unfortunately, for now. They are not going to feel any benefit from this, particularly the ones who are outside of the fuel allowance limits.  I welcome the VAT rebate being given to hauliers, but the same VAT rebate needs to be given to bus operators, who are mainly on fixed-price contracts. I would like the T\u00e1naiste to note that a particular sector, including minibus and coach operators, have fixed-price contracts from the Department of education and from tour operators and they need the same VAT rebate as hauliers.  While I welcome the \u20ac235 million spent on the measure, I would like to see it more targeted. There is a question over how quickly this is going to kick in and the T\u00e1naiste has admitted this. We need to see some action on this. Prices went up very quickly but as soon as this kicks in, we need to see the prices reduce.  I would have liked to see some specific measure for households in arrears on electricity and gas bills.  I will try to put this realistically in the context of what is happening. We need to move on energy independence. We may not be able to become totally independent - I understand that - but I would like us to be able to accelerate that and move towards a greater level. The red lights are flashing. We also need to do it for environmental reasons, given that the report yesterday said the globe is warming even faster than we had thought. For many good reasons, we need to accelerate and move towards energy independence with renewables.  Lastly, we need to clearly oppose this crazy war. It is absolutely crazy. It is an imperial war, it is an oil war---- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  The Deputy should conclude. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  -----and, as a small neutral country, we need to stand up and say, \"Stop the madness\". "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  Families are being crushed by this energy crisis. Small businesses are going to the wall. Carers cannot drive to mind the older people they are looking after. Workers cannot fill their car tanks, even just to get to work, and farmers' costs are spiking at a time when their produce prices are falling.  At the heart of this crisis are Government taxes, and no other political party is calling this out. For sure, the war in Iran has significantly accelerated the hardship, but the Government was already taking 60% to 65% out of petrol and diesel before the war. There were 320,000 people in energy arrears in this country before the war, and Irish electricity prices were the highest in Europe. Behind all the mealy-mouthed words from Government today, the painful reality for people in this country is that the Government is going to keep tax-gouging families.  Our parliamentary questions have shown that the Government took \u20ac4.1 billion in fuel taxes in 2024. Carbon taxes are at a record level, topping out at \u20ac1 billion. Even today, the Government's plans are to raise carbon tax on 1 May. That is a savagely damaging policy against the people of Ireland. In this crisis, the Government has already collected \u20ac120 million in extra taxes in the last four weeks. It is quids in with the crisis so far, and its increase on carbon taxes for the rest of the year will bring in \u20ac160 million. Those two together are more than \u20ac135 million that it is spending on this. We are asking the Government to reduce carbon taxes now and let people live. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  A week on from previous statements, the Government has finally come up with some measures, so I will be supporting them, like others in this House. However, that does not mean I think they are in any way sufficient. Hauliers have been dealt with and there is the 2 cent measure coming tomorrow with respect to storage, but the reduction in excise duty on its own is not enough. The cost of fuel has gone up by more than the amount by which excise duty is going to be cut. People in vulnerable situations need support. We had a discussion earlier this year about the cost-of-living allowance that is needed for people with disabilities. One of the calls coming from advocacy groups was that the fuel allowance should be extended to people on disability-related payments and that the season would be lengthened to 32 weeks. In the context of this fuel crisis, that is a reasonable ask at this stage, as are measures that can also support middle-income earners, especially pensioners who are just over the threshold but are going to be hit by the fuel costs.  As others have mentioned, there are people who are dependent on home heating oil because they cannot get the piped gas. It is mainly in rural areas, but it also affects people in urban areas. In the longer term, as I mentioned when the T\u00e1naiste was here previously, we absolutely need to move towards energy self-sufficiency and I would like to see that put on a wartime footing, with a five-year project rather than a 25-year project. For climate change reasons but especially for energy self-security, we need to move a lot faster than we are. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  While I welcome some of the changes the Government is going to make, particularly the extension of the fuel allowance, we are giving with one hand and taking away with the other. At the start of this crisis, the price of diesel was \u20ac1.80 a litre. Today in Circle K, it is \u20ac2.28. The Government has already accumulated \u20ac120 million. This project is delivering a roughly \u20ac200 million package, so it is really costing the Government \u20ac80 million.  I was very disappointed with the comments of the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, earlier today outside this House when he stated that carbon tax is not even a tax. In fact, it is a tax, as the name suggests. He must be intoxicated by the leather of the ministerial car whose fuel he does not have to pay for because that is how far removed from reality the Government is. The reality is that people going to work tomorrow and the next day have no other choice. They cannot work from home, they are trying to do their best and these taxes ahead of us, and this reducing of 20 cent here and 20 cent there, will go nowhere.  The Government has completely forgotten about the taxi drivers of this country. It has 100% forgotten about them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  Regarding the proposals put before people today, first, we did not get enough time to debate the issue. Second, the measly bit of money the Government is throwing to the people is like crumbs off rich men's tables. It is not good enough, and the people of the constituency I represent and the people of Ireland are outraged to think farmers are only going to get 2 cent off a litre of green diesel and fishermen are the same. What does Government think they are, slaves to the people of this country? Does it have any respect for people out there?  In relation to the crisis with home heating oil, people cannot fill their tanks. These are all issues of fierce concern to people, and these people have been contacting me all day. I agree with the fuel allowance and the help the Government has given in that regard. I fully support that. However, there is a bigger issue here, which is that the Government has forgotten the people who elected it, that is, the people whose doors Government Deputies are going to be knocking on in the not-so-distant future. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Fitzmaurice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice  I welcome some of the measures that have come, but there is a reality here. The T\u00e1naiste spoke about Northern Ireland earlier. Those people are not bleeding as hard as the people here. The facts are that tonight, a litre of white diesel in the North costs the equivalent of \u20ac1.85, which is 40 cent less than here. There is a difference of \u20ac200 in the price of 500 litres of kerosene, while green diesel - it is red in the North - is \u20ac200 cheaper in the North. Let us concentrate on our own game.  I welcome what has been done for hauliers and the excise duty reduction, but what has Government done for agriculture? Does it not realise food is produced with tractors right around this country? For the agri-contractor sector and for farmers, what farmers have to pay is an absolute insult. Does the Government realise most people in rural Ireland, if they do not have a turf fire, use kerosene? Kerosene has never been as dear. What has been done for them? A measly 5 cent is going to be taken off between tomorrow and today. It is absolutely disgusting to see the way the agriculture sector has been treated.  Then we hear rural TDs talking about how the Government could not do anything about carbon tax. How is it that we can bring in legislation tomorrow for NORA? I have looked around Europe tonight, and there are different carbon taxes in every bit of it. The EU has told governments to ease the energy cost for everyone and gave that clear mandate last week to all leaders, but no, we will not touch the carbon tax and on 1 May, we will look at it again and add 2 cent more. Does the Government not realise that it gets more than the driver of a tractor agitating or ploughing or whatever it is at? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Fitzmaurice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice  The Government ends up with \u20ac16 per hour into its paws, and it is not in the field. It is time the Government woke up and looked at what was going on. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  I wish to move the Independent Ireland amendment. I forgot to mention it earlier. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  The Deputy cannot move the amendment because the Sinn F\u00e9in amendment has been moved. I call Deputy Devlin. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cormac Devlin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cormac Devlin  I welcome the opportunity to examine this motion, which will deliver a measure of relief for hard-pressed families. The conflict in the Middle East is causing an extreme degree of volatility in the price of oil and other essential commodities. In the short time available to me this evening, I propose to focus on the domestic impact here in Ireland. I am sure we all hope the conflict will end as soon as possible, but it is clear a significant degree of disruption to supply lines has been caused and this will have an impact in the short term.  The changes being proposed by Government to reduce the price of a litre of diesel by 22 cent and petrol by 17 cent are very welcome and necessary. Hauliers are an essential part of the wider economy and must be supported, and the package for them is also welcome. I acknowledge the extension of the fuel allowance, which will give the most vulnerable families an extra \u20ac152.  As a state, we are in the fortunate position to be able to assist families. Across Europe, governments are facing much harder choices. I know that, like during Covid, the Government will not be found wanting if the crisis continues into the winter.  I welcome the Taoiseach's comments on improving energy security in this State, particularly in regard to progressing the LNG facility. This is an issue alongside the need for the widespread roll-out of solar and wind generation that I have raised on multiple occasions in this House. As an island, we are critically exposed. This LNG portal is badly needed to ensure a degree of security in what is an extremely volatile time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  I too welcome the package of \u20ac235 million. I am thankful for the reduction in white diesel for hauliers and the promised rebate that is to come. I also welcome the petrol reduction for all of those who are working hard and need their car to go to work.  I deplore the fact that people who need heating oil only get a reduction of 2 cent a litre, which is only \u20ac20 for a fill of a 1,000-litre tank. That is very hard.  I welcome the extension of the fuel allowance, but many people are not on the fuel allowance.  Many hauliers have a haulier\u2019s licence and operate that way, but there are other hauliers who do not have a haulier\u2019s licence and do not have to have it, but who supply their own products. Agricultural lorries transporting cattle will not get the diesel rebate either. I am hurting for those people.  Regarding green diesel for the tractor men, as the Ministers know, no tractor has gone inside a gap for the last three months, and now is the time that they are making a start. Because of the weather conditions, they could not do a bit until now, and there is a lot of work waiting. To offer them 2 cent or 3 cent of a reduction is totally unfair. I was brought up to believe that we should treat everyone fairly. Whatever way the Government could have got around that, it should have done something better for the tractor people. I include in that the industrial workers and fishermen. Those with any type of engine that uses green diesel are paying up to \u20ac1.68 a litre when it was 98 cent three weeks ago. That is an awful jump of 70 cent a litre.  The cost of electricity has gone up day by day since the Government closed Bord na M\u00f3na. This war might continue, and no one in here or outside can say it will or will not. I am asking the Government to review the rules it has made on turf cutting and ensure that people who have the facility, have a bog and can cut turf are allowed to cut it, whether it is to sell it or use it themselves. That has to be reviewed because of the cost of electricity. We may not have electricity.  I am also hurting because of the fact that there was no bother two or three weeks ago with Ireland supporting a loan of \u20ac1.8 billion to keep the war in Ukraine going, yet we cannot find enough money anywhere to help the tractor men who are using green diesel. The day Zelenskyy was here, we also gave him \u20ac125 million. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I ask the Deputy to conclude. I call the Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (Deputy Peter Burke)  I thank Deputies for their robust engagement on this important issue. As the T\u00e1naiste stated earlier, these excise reductions form part of an overall package that the Government has designed to provide immediate financial support to households. The excise rate changes will provide for VAT-inclusive, per-litre reductions of 15 cent per litre for petrol, 20 cent per litre for auto diesel and 3 cent per litre for marked gas oil, or green diesel. In addition to the NORA levy reduction of 2 cent, this will provide for an overall reduction of 17 cent on petrol, 22 cent on auto diesel and 5 cent on MGO.  While tax changes cannot fully absorb the recent energy shocks or market volatility, these changes will lessen the impact of fuel costs on consumers. This measure will be in place for a defined period of time, and the Government reserves the right and option to adjust these as circumstances evolve. This approach is in line with the European Council conclusions agreed in Brussels last week, and with the response of other EU member states.  I reiterate the T\u00e1naiste's affirmation that the Opposition amendments cannot be accepted. The proposed amendments disregard the need for a long-term, economic and sustainable approach.  The measures announced today will provide significant mitigation against recent fuel price increases. It is not possible, using the tax system, to offset all of the recent increases, which are driven by market factors. These excise reductions, in conjunction with the NORA reduction and the changes to the fuel allowance and diesel rebate scheme, which has significantly increased by 60%, underwrite the supply lines. This really impacts on inflation for many of the groceries that we buy every single week. If we did not do this, it would have a significant impact on consumers. This will also benefit households at the pumps, given the various measures related to the NORA levy and excise. We must respect the fact that we are limited by the rates allowable under the energy tax directive and VAT directive.  Going by what the ESRI has said in relation to the most important deciles to benefit from budget 2026, there is an extension of the fuel allowance, which now covers 470,000 households. Many of the benefits of this were being operationalised in recent weeks. On 12 March, 50,000 households were brought into the net due to the change to the working family payment, and this was backdated to 1 January. The extension of four weeks, together with the increase in the eligibility criteria of over \u20ac1,000 in net income for those over 70, ensures that 370,000 households will benefit, and an additional \u20ac150 per month is also targeted at the most vulnerable in society.  In my view, the Government's first port of call is to ensure that, in a time of crisis, when we hit a significant shock in the economy, we first protect the most vulnerable in society. This is backed up by the ESRI, and it is what we are going after in the first instance. We will then go wider for the rest of the economy, thereby ensuring we are underwriting the support for supply chains through our haulage sector, which has seen an increase of 60% in the diesel rebate scheme, as well as the measures at the pumps. Critically, there have been other measures like the \u20ac250 million package and the reduction to 9% in VAT for electricity and oil, which ensures that every household in the country will save \u20ac100 per year.  Other countries in Europe, for example, Italy, Spain and the UK, are still grappling with changes. Many have not gone as far as Ireland has already gone at this juncture, with Spain looking to reduce its VAT rate to 10%, while Ireland has moved to 9% for electricity.  A critical point from our perspective is to ensure that any changes are affordable. We do not know the duration of this crisis. If we look at what the International Energy Agency has put clearly on the record, this could be a lot worse than what happened in the two crises of the 1970s, together with the challenge of the Ukraine shock, which is very significant.  There is one thing we know following the recent crises that we have faced in this economy. With Brexit, we met that challenge from a position of strength, and we came back stronger. When we hit the challenge of the global pandemic, we met that challenge from a position of strength, and we came back stronger as a government. When we hit double-digit inflation in November 2022, we also met it from a position of strength, and we came back stronger. Equally, by managing the economy well, we will meet this crisis from a position of strength, and we will come back stronger as a government, and critically, protect the most vulnerable along the way. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Financial Resolution No.1: Mineral Oil Tax"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-24\/debate\/dbsect_32","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Cancer Services: Motion [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":44,"speakerCount":33},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_32","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donna McGettigan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Fitzmaurice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Cahill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niamh Smyth","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Guirke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Mythen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Mythen.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Mythen.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  I move:  That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann:  notes that:  \u2014 the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026 is due to end this year, and a new strategy is needed to drive improvements in access to, and the quality of, care from 2027;  \u2014 in 2025, 15 per cent of chemotherapy, and 23 per cent of radiotherapy, patients did not get access to treatment in the target timeframe;  \u2014 in 2025, 45 per cent of breast cancer surgeries and 39 per cent of lung cancer surgeries, and in 2024, 61 per cent of prostate cancer surgeries, did not happen within the target timeframe;  \u2014 a postcode lottery exists in access to care, with access within target timeframes ranging from as low as 60 per cent in some areas, to upwards of 95 per cent in other communities;  \u2014 this State has below European Union average levels of diagnostic and imaging equipment, such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Computerized Tomography, and Positron Emission Tomography scanners, which is leading to significant delays in access to care, particularly surgeries, and this is caused by a combination of a low density of equipment, out-dated equipment, and poor utilisation of existing equipment;  \u2014 there has been a highly concerning shortfall in the number of women screened for breast cancer, with BreastCheck only screening 75 per cent of the anticipated number of women in 2025, which already assumes a 30 per cent fall off from the number of women invited for screening; and  \u2014 the most recent implementation review found that only 1 of 23 National Cancer Strategy objectives had been met;  considers that:  \u2014 cancer services need a clear roadmap and guaranteed funding levels for the next decade to deliver key enablers, detailed planning, and turn gold standard targets from aspirations into real deliverables;  \u2014 the mission of the new cancer strategy must be to improve standards, timely access to care, patient outcomes, quality of life, efficiencies, and innovation;  \u2014 a new strategy must include a strong emphasis on prevention, early detection, and proactive treatment of primary drivers, as well as of cancers themselves;  \u2014 a new strategy must address access to care, workforce challenges, equipment and infrastructure deficits, research, innovation, all-island planning, and the post-code lottery which currently exists for services;  \u2014 a new strategy presents a significant opportunity to drive all-island collaboration in improving cancer care and outcomes, and all-island planning, training, and delivery should feature prominently in a new strategy; and  \u2014 clearly identified, protected, and guaranteed new developments funding should be provided to underpin a new strategy, through a multi-annual funding framework averaging \u20ac30 million a year, each year, in additional new developments funding;  condemns the failure of Government to provide and clearly identify ring-fenced new developments funding for the National Cancer Strategy in 5 of the 10 Budgets over the lifespan of the current strategy;  resolves that a new cancer strategy should:  \u2014 guarantee timely access to cancer diagnosis, treatment, recovery, and follow up care;  \u2014 end postcode and income-based inequality;  \u2014 provide multi-annual funding certainty;  \u2014 expand capacity in line with projected demand;  \u2014 strictly manage expenditure to ensure cost-effectiveness without losing sight of the critical social and economic benefits of health investment;  \u2014 strengthen all-island cancer cooperation;  \u2014 reduce the financial and social burden of cancer; and  \u2014 position Ireland as a leader in research and innovation; and  calls on the Government to:  \u2014 commit to a new cancer strategy, to cover the period 2027 to 2037;  \u2014 guarantee \u20ac30 million in additional new developments funding each year, to underpin delivery of the new strategy;  \u2014 end the postcode lottery in access to cancer care, through targeted investment;  \u2014 implement a specific campaign to increase uptake of BreastCheck, catch up on women who did not attend screening invitations, and provide the option for information on breast density through BreastCheck;  \u2014 implement a managed programme for replacing outdated equipment;  \u2014 mandate Health Service Executive Regions to implement site specific equipment utilisation plans, including roster reform agreed with workers, to maximise use of existing equipment;  \u2014 extend service hours in the evening and over weekends, following constructive engagement with workers, for diagnostic imaging, laboratories, and treatment options, and ensure a commensurate increase in staffing levels, to maximise utilisation of equipment and capacity;  \u2014 fund additional training places in areas of strategic need in the health workforce, and work with graduates to ensure employment in the Irish health service;  \u2014 abolish hospital car parking charges for patients and visitors;  \u2014 immediately increase medical card thresholds in line with GP visit card thresholds, and increase funding for discretionary medical cards, to widen compassionate access;  \u2014 increase the health capital budget to \u20ac2.5 billion per annum for the remainder of the National Development Plan, to ensure sufficient funding for all of the Government's infrastructure commitments in Health;  \u2014 adopt a systematic approach towards clinical trials and life sciences innovation, aiming to make Ireland a world leader in clinical trials and the development of new medicines and therapies; and  \u2014 place Sl\u00e1intecare wait time targets into law.  I will be sharing time with colleagues. I start by thanking all those working in our healthcare system who provide the very best cancer services they can. I commend all the nurses, doctors, radiographers, radiation therapists, those who work in primary and community care, and those who provide diagnostic scans. The problems with the national cancer strategy are not down to the hard work of those staff. In terms of research in cancer care, I am blown away by what I see right across our healthcare system and also advances in new medications, a lot of which are produced here by pharmaceutical companies and their workers. I want to put on the record my appreciation of all those working in our healthcare services who provide first-class services to cancer patients.  Cancer care was one of those areas where we were hitting our targets and people were getting rapid access to care. However, in an area where we were doing so well, we are now beginning to see slippage which really disappoints me. Replies to parliamentary questions that I have tabled over the last year or so, particularly over the last number of months, show slippage in the key performance targets and the gold standard access times for diagnosis, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and indeed surgeries. There are a number of reasons for that but first I just want to go through some of the figures. In 2025, 15% of chemotherapy patients and 23% radiotherapy patients did not get access to treatment in the target timeframe. In 2025, 45% of breast cancer surgeries, 39% of lung cancer surgeries and 61% of prostate cancer surgeries were not done on time, and people were not seen within the gold standard. They are shocking figures and represent a dramatic reduction on where we were only a number of years ago.  I have spoken to healthcare professionals, the Irish Cancer Society, advocates and cancer patients themselves. They tell me that one of the problems is we do not have enough staff. We know we have a shortage of radiographers and radiation therapists but we also have a shortage of surgeons in some hospitals which is why we are seeing a postcode lottery. For example, in Cavan, people are waiting much longer for chemotherapy than they are in other areas. In Waterford, for example, the majority of patients were not seen within the proper timeframe. It is unacceptable to have a postcode lottery that depends on where someone lives and depends on the surgery as to what access and how quickly they will get that service. One of the problems is that we do not have the staff.  The second problem is with the cancer machinery and equipment. I again discovered through parliamentary questions that we have a lot of cancer equipment which is out of date. In fact, in some hospitals, the majority of equipment is out of date. It could be chemotherapy equipment, radiotherapy equipment or diagnostic equipment. A lot of the time it is not functioning property. Hospital equipment is at partial capacity, again because we do not have the staff. We do not have the radiographers, radiation therapists and so on. It is a problem to have very expensive equipment either lying idle or only operating at partial capacity. The current national cancer strategy ends next year. In five of the past ten years, the national cancer strategy received no additional funding. It cannot operate in a piecemeal way like that. If we want the national cancer strategy to work, it has to be funded consistently every single year which is why our motion calls to ring-fence \u20ac30 million each year for the next five years, a total of \u20ac150 million.  We also want to increase the capital healthcare budget because we know there is not enough money to build elective hospitals, a new maternity hospital, finish the children's hospital and deliver the beds that were promised. That is why we do not have the money to replace equipment and allow for new equipment for cancer care in hospitals, and that is hurting.  Our motion also calls for cutting the cost of cancer care for patients. That is a big issue which comes up a lot. We want to abolish the car parking charges but we also feel that cancer patients should have a medical card. Sometimes cancer patients who apply simply do not get it even though they have a cancer diagnosis which is deeply unfair. We all signed up to the principles of Sl\u00e1intecare where money should not be an issue and people should have access to high-quality care. It makes no sense years on from Sl\u00e1intecare that cancer patients still do not have access to a medical card. Our motion today is a call for action from the Government. We do not want half-measures. We do not want slipped targets or slippage. We want a new national cancer strategy that is robust, that is properly funded and that works for cancer patients. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  I thank my colleague Deputy David Cullinane and for bringing forward this motion this evening which gives us the chance to have this very important discussion. I also thank him for the proposals he has consistently brought forward which would make a real and meaningful difference not just for patients but also for people working in our health services.  As was rightly pointed out, the issues that are faced in the cancer control and the cancer care programme are not caused by the men and women working hard in it. They are not the ones who should be held accountable. The delays are due to underfunding. The chaos often at the heart of this Government has caused what many used to consider a world-class, gold-standard service to actually go backwards, and the figures as described by an Teachta Cullinane bear that out. We know the number of people on lists is increasing and the delays are increasing, and all the while it is very expensive to be sick in this State. Time off work, car parking charges - all these things add up. It is really expensive, and the delays make it more expensive. They mean more expense for people, more time off work and more time on reduced hours. They wait and they wait and they panic. When they know they need treatment, when they often know what that treatment is and they cannot access it, that is deeply concerning.  I encourage the Minister of State to examine making the PSA test part of the national screening programme. It is a very simple test and it saves lives. I have close-hand and personal experience of the fact that it saves lives. It should be included as part of any screening programme. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  In April 2023 a location to serve the long-term oncology needs of University Hospital Kerry was identified within the grounds of the current hospital. The HSE had decided to pursue a more substantial, permanent proposal of a day treatment ward, an outpatient ward and a haematology unit. A revised brief and schedule of accommodation were provided in September 2023, costing was identified and a stage 1 report was issued in August 2024. It was supposed to be prioritised; however, nothing has happened since. People in Kerry are waiting and waiting for this. I am not sure what has happened. There is a huge demand for beds in the same hospital. Because of the demand for beds, has this oncology unit been pushed to one side? I do not know. We deserve the same oncology services as any other county and as any other citizens. It is not fair. Geography deciding your chances and your timely treatment is not acceptable to us.  I want to raise one more issue with the Minister of State and that is medical cards for people who have cancer. I have been dealing recently with a woman who lost her husband in tragic circumstances. She subsequently developed cancer. She has had to have 17 rounds of radiotherapy, and in the middle of all that stress and all that anxiety and dealing with her issue, she applied for a medical card but was told she was over the means test threshold. Surely, however, that is a circumstance where discretion should be applied. It is not being applied, and I ask the Minister of State to look into that. It is totally unfair. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  I thank my colleague David Cullinane for bringing forward this motion. As the last speaker, Pa Daly, said, medical cards for cancer patients are a real issue, as is the affordability of access to care. I ask the Minister of State to bring that back to the Minister to ensure that something is done about it.  I commend all the staff working in oncology. They work really hard. In Mayo cancer patients are served by Galway and Mayo university hospitals. The biggest problem we have in Mayo is the delays in diagnosis. If you can afford to get the scans and everything else, you get the treatment more quickly. What kind of a country are we when your life depends on how much money you have? That absolutely should not be the case. Then you have the diagnosis and people undergo treatment and there is no bed there. When I say there is no bed, obviously I mean there is no bed that is fully staffed there for the clinicians who are there to give the treatment. What a waste of money. They stand there waiting for the patients but there are no beds to put them in in order that they can treat them and that they can recover. That absolutely has to be addressed. This is not a problem from today or yesterday; it has been a problem particularly since we have had the centres of excellence. The centres of excellence are a good idea but not if you cannot access them. This has to be made accessible for people. We cannot continue to operate on a postcode lottery whereby if you live in Mayo, you have less of a chance of surviving cancer than you would anywhere else. We have to stop that. We have to bring equity into the system. I think the way we can do that is by having an all-island approach. Wonderful work is done with the all-island cancer research group. We should use that model to spread that across the island in order that there is joined-up treatment of cancer care here.  In the motion we refer to car parking charges. Trying to get a car parking space outside Galway University Hospital is absolutely horrendous. I remember the day my mother died and driving around the hospital looking for a car park space. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Claire Kerrane  In January I was contacted by a father and husband whose wife had been diagnosed with cancer at the end of November. She had been referred to University Hospital Galway for chemotherapy. She has young children at home and she was obviously extremely worried, first, to be diagnosed with cancer but, second, with a cancer that had taken her mother. About five weeks into waiting for the chemotherapy, she travelled up there, she presented to the accident and emergency department in pain and, eventually, five weeks after her diagnosis, well after the 15 working days that is the targeted timeframe, she received her chemotherapy. She had begged for weeks for chemotherapy and she had not received it. I imagine that if she had not shown up at the accident and emergency department in pain, she would not have received it within five weeks either.  In terms of UHG, we know there are significant issues with meeting target timeframes that are in place. We know that in 2025 27% of cancer patients did not get access to chemotherapy within the target timeframe of 15 days. The figures are stark as well when you look at the delays in accessing surgery for prostate cancer, with just 21% of patients in UHG getting the surgery within the recommended timeframe of 30 days, that is, only 21% of patients who needed that surgery getting it within the timeframe and the vast majority not getting it. There is a serious issue with resources and people diagnosed with cancer receiving their treatment or surgery within that targeted timeframe, which is so important. Having to contact a TD to try to get help accessing chemotherapy is really concerning and should not happen. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joanna Byrne  As we have just had Daffodil Day, I feel we must mention the Irish Cancer Society here. Every one of us knows somebody who has battled cancer, and with one in two people in Ireland affected, this cause sadly touches us all. The Irish Cancer Society provides significant support for cancer patients and their families in County Louth, with services witnessing higher demand throughout 2025. With only 5% of annual funds needed each year coming through State funding, it is vital that we support this organisation where we can.  In Louth we have many other phenomenal groups also supporting cancer patients and their families. We have the Gary Kelly support centre, Cara Cancer Support Centre and the North East Cancer Research and Education Trust, all of which are vital and all of which have to constantly fundraise to keep the lights on and the doors open. Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda is a major centre for cancer care in the north east. It is clear that despite the tireless and fantastic work done by the front-line staff day in and day out the length and breadth of this country, this Government is failing them and the cancer patients they treat when it comes to accessing treatment. People in Drogheda have to wait longer for access to chemotherapy than people in most other places in the country. Out of 25 hospitals providing chemotherapy, Drogheda ranks 16th, with 17% of people not getting their chemo within the target timeframe of 15 working days. That is 67 people who faced serious delays in Drogheda for chemo in 2025. Around the country hundreds are left waiting as hospitals miss their targets to start chemo, and it is just unacceptable. Behind all these figures are hundreds of people who are sick with worry, facing delay after delay, trying to cope with the fear that their cancer is progressing while they wait. The staff in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital and the patients behind all these statistics deserve better. We ask the Government to do its job, support this Private Members' business and action everything in it. The very fact that all of this has to be spelled out to the Government is utterly shameful. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell  A woman in my constituency of Galway West got the devastating diagnosis last year that she had cancer.  She expected she would be seen and begin her treatment within days, but instead she had to wait three months to start it. When families receive a diagnosis of cancer, or when a person receives that diagnosis, they have a lot to process. The last thing they need to be doing is fighting and getting on to local TDs and getting on to the hospital to try to access treatment. That should be basic and should be something given to them immediately. Unfortunately, this woman's situation is not unusual, and that is probably the most frightening aspect of this. Thousands of cancer patients are having to wait longer than the Government's 15-day target for cancer treatment. Every cancer patient should have timely access to high-quality care and they should get that immediately. Instead, it seems to be a postcode lottery. Last year, 141 cancer patients at University Hospital Galway had to wait longer than the 15-day target to access their first chemotherapy treatment. Everybody should be getting the care they need and it should not be based on where they live.  There are two other issues that I want raise having seen them in the past year. First, I find it shocking that when a chemotherapy patient lands into the emergency department, they wait for hours to get a trolley and when they get one, they are put in an open place. They are not supposed to be mixing with people, yet they are left on a trolley. I have put in representations about this but the hospital is bursting at the seams and it tries but it cannot cope. We have a situation where chemotherapy patients are exposed in that way. Second, I want the Minister of State to look at the issue of those with pancreatic cancer having assistance with the pump they can get, because of the issues of type 1 and type 2 diabetes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  I stand here today as a cancer survivor. A year and a half ago, I was diagnosed with bowel cancer and had to have a tumor removed. Then I had to wait a space of time so that I could get chemotherapy, which went on for over six months. I know that it will be years before I can say I am free from cancer. I know that and I am not counting my chickens. However, I want to send out a thank-you to all the doctors, nurses and staff, who are so professional and caring. The work they do is just unbelievable. I met patients in the hospital while I was getting chemotherapy. I was struck by the humanity when I was going through the treatment. For some people, treatment delayed can be a death sentence. I had stage 3B, which is right on the edge. I was not scared but my wife Michelle, and my daughters Aoife and Orlaith, my sisters, my dad and my extended family, they always feel it. For anyone with cancer, their family feel it more than them. That is why this is such an important motion that Deputy Cullinane has brought here today. It a really important piece of work because everyone deserves to have the opportunity to live as long as they can and to spend as much time as they can with their family.  This is just a simple thing: in CUH last year, \u20ac3 million was collected from parking fees. A lot of that is from families of patients going to see them. I remember a lady who had skin cancer and she could not get a medical card. There should be no barriers to health. I just want to say to people who are going through the journey, I know it can be scary but have hope. We have some of the greatest doctors and nurses, if we had enough of them.  My final point is this. I had Irish doctors and nurses along with doctors from Pakistan, India, Hong Kong, Africa and all over the world. I remember lying in bed in the middle of the night and the people would be coming in with smiles on their faces and it did not matter what colour their skin was or where they were from. The treatment was brilliant; it is just that we need more of it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy Gould, for sharing a very personal experience. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kieran O'Donnell)  I move amendment No. 1:  To delete all words after \"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann\" and substitute the following:  \"notes that:  \u2014 while a large proportion of cancers are preventable, our growing and ageing population is a key driving factor behind the increase in cancers;  \u2014 today, over 220,000 people in Ireland are living with or after cancer, a 50 per cent increase compared to a decade ago;  \u2014 the National Cancer Registry predicts that 1 in 2 people will receive a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime;  \u2014 fortunately, survival rates for patients after receiving a cancer diagnosis have continued to improve, with 65 per cent of patients living five years after a cancer diagnosis in 2014-2018, compared to 44 per cent in 1994-1998;  \u2014 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development data shows that cancer mortality rates in Ireland are falling faster than the European Union average, and faster than our economic peers;  \u2014 these improvements were achieved under reforms delivered by three consecutive National Cancer Strategies, dating back to 1996, and these Strategies provided a clear, evidence-based, approach to cancer control, taking a whole-of-population perspective;  \u2014 the current strategy was launched in July 2017, setting out an ambitious set of actions to be completed within 10 years, and an evaluation of the strategy will be conducted this year, and the outcome of this will inform the development of the next strategy;  \u2014 the new strategy will provide an important opportunity to plan for the introduction of new therapies and treatments across the cancer continuum from prevention, screening, treatment, survivorship and palliative care;  \u2014 the current strategy contains 52 recommendations, with 43 of these having been implemented, and the National Cancer Control Programme is continuing to progress implementation of the remaining nine;  \u2014 the National Cancer Control Programme plays a key role in the planning and oversight of cancer services, setting national standards, monitoring regional performance and driving service reform;  \u2014 cancer services are delivered by a large and dedicated workforce, who strive to provide the best possible care for their patients;  \u2014 while services have improved overall, unfortunately, there are periodic regional variations in the performance of some services, and the transition to the new regional health structure, with greater autonomy and stronger performance accountability at local level, is designed specifically to address regional inequality and to improve patient outcomes;  \u2014 since the beginning of the current National Cancer Strategy in 2017, the Government has allocated \u20ac105 million to the National Cancer Strategy to support cancer services and improve outcomes for patients;  \u2014 this has enabled the recruitment of over 670 staff to our national cancer services, including the recruitment of an additional 180 staff to national cancer screening and treatment services as of the end of 2025;  \u2014 between 2021 and 2024, approval for reimbursement by the Health Service Executive (HSE) was given for 74 drugs for cancer, and the total spend on cancer drugs in this period exceeded \u20ac645 million;  \u2014 capital funding of over \u20ac140 million has been used to provide state of the art radiation oncology facilities in Galway and Cork, to establish a National Cervical Screening Laboratory, and to update cancer infrastructure in chemotherapy wards and lab facilities;  \u2014 more widely, the 2025 National Development Plan (NDP) review secured the largest ever capital investment plan in the history of the State and largest investment ever in health infrastructure in the State, and the NDP Health capital allocation is \u20ac1.56 billion for 2026 and the enhanced NDP provision for the health sector for 2026\u20132030 is \u20ac9.25 billion;  \u2014 the Government is progressing multiannual budgeting across the health services, and capital investment is already on a multiyear basis;  \u2014 since 2020, total staff working in Government funded HSE services has risen by over 22,000 Whole Time Equivalent (WTE), from 107,000 WTE to 129,600 at the end of January 2026, an increase of 21 per cent;  \u2014 the HSE continues to focus on service expansion and improvement, and the National Cancer Control Programme has developed a number of programmes to improve capacity at specialist cancer centres, and to support patients in avoiding Emergency Departments;  \u2014 the Government has provided significant investment in cancer screening programmes in recent years, and funding of \u20ac2.9 million was provided in 2025, to support the recruitment of 22 WTE posts, 15 additional WTE posts were also approved to help expand and futureproof the programme to meet increasing demand, and in 2025, 173,000 women participated in screening, the highest number in BreastCheck's history;  \u2014 the Programme for Government contains a commitment to extend the Laura Brennan Programme to anyone under 25 who missed it, and in January 2026, it was announced that the Laura Brennan Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Vaccine Catch-Up Programme would be reopened, to offer an additional opportunity for students in fifth and sixth year of post-primary school to receive HPV vaccination in 2026;  \u2014 the Productivity and Savings Taskforce is advancing improvements in equipment utilisation, diagnostics and theatre capacity, including through roster reforms and extended hours where required;  \u2014 the expansion and rollout of the Public Only Consultant Contract, alongside the revised 2025 Framework Agreement with health sector trade unions, provides a strong platform to support the extension of services;  \u2014 through the National Plan for Radiation Oncology, a major equipment replacement and expansion programme is being progressed, including replacing 14 linear accelerators at St. Luke's Radiation Oncology Network and adding two at Beaumont, with associated diagnostic upgrades;  \u2014 new advanced services including CAR-T cell therapy and advanced radiotherapy have been introduced, removing the need for certain cohorts to travel abroad;  \u2014 significant Government investment is being provided to expand healthcare education, and within the last training year, the total number of doctors enrolled in training programmes has increased by 7 per cent, with the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science recently announcing a \u20ac28.5 million investment to support the delivery of more than 1,100 additional healthcare training places annually over the next three years across medicine, nursing, therapy professions, pharmacy and dentistry;  \u2014 almost 1,600 first year students now enrol in medicine each year, along with 2,200 nurses; and  \u2014 in June 2025, the Government approved a significant expansion in training places for Health and Social Care Professions, and this saw up to 310 additional student places created in 2025, and a further 151 in subsequent years, including 23 additional places in radiotherapy and 80 additional places in radiography across 2025 and 2026.\".  I welcome the opportunity this evening to discuss cancer services on behalf of my colleague the Minister for Health, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. I join with the Ceann Comhairle in commending Deputy Gould on his personal account. I am glad to see him doing so well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  Go raibh maith agat. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kieran O'Donnell  I join with other colleagues across the House in acknowledging the great work of all healthcare workers, including medical, nursing and administrative staff and others throughout the health service. They do fantastic work. This year will mark the 13th anniversary of the launch of Ireland\u2019s first national cancer strategy and is an opportune time to reflect on the progress made since 1996 and to look ahead to how we advance and build on what has been achieved.  The Government recognises the objective of the Sinn F\u00e9in motion in seeking to provide the best possible care for cancer patients now and into the future. Many of the points that have been raised will be brought back to the Minister. All of us in the House share that goal and are working to ensure the very best outcomes for patients and their families. However, the Government is opposing the motion and has tabled a countermotion setting out our clear commitment and the detailed actions we are taking to drive further improvements in cancer services. It is important to point out that the Opposition motion does not recognise the levels of investment and funding provided under the current cancer strategy, with \u20ac105 million allocated to new developments, along with \u20ac44 million in cancer research funding, \u20ac140 million on capital projects and \u20ac645 million on cancer drugs between 2021 and 2024. Notably, the motion attempts to place Sl\u00e1intecare wait-time targets into law, a measure this House debated and voted not to support just four months ago.  With over 24,000 invasive cancers diagnosed each year, the National Cancer Registry predicts that one in two people will receive a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime, as a Member referred to earlier. While a large proportion of cancers are preventable, the reality is that ageing is a key driving factor behind the increase in cancers. As the Irish population ages and grows, the number of people diagnosed with invasive cancer is expected to grow by between 50% and 100% over the 30-year period from 2015 to 2045. Alongside an increase in numbers, the cancer burden is rapidly expanding as it becomes, for many people, a chronic disease they live with for many years. Fortunately, this is a good marker, as the number of people surviving a cancer diagnosis is growing all the time.  In the latest reporting period, 2019 to 2022, over 65% of patients were alive five years after a cancer diagnosis, up from 43% in the period 1994 to 1998. Over 220,000 patients are alive today, having received a cancer diagnosis at some point. We have seen very good progress in the detection and treatment of many of the most common cancers, and in the case of breast cancer for example, five-year net survival has grown from 71% for the 1994-98 period to 87.5% for the 2019-2022 period. Breast cancer survivors are the largest cancer survivor group in Ireland, representing 22% of all cancer survivors and nearly 50,000 women. For prostate cancer we have seen the five-year survival rate go from 66% in the early 1990s to 93% in the most recent data and we now have 46,500 survivors of prostate cancer.  Of course, far too many people still have their lives cut short by cancer and I join Deputies across the House in wishing to ensure that our health services strive to deliver the very best cancer care for patients. The progress we have made would not have been possible without the evidence-based, whole-of-population approach taken under our three consecutive, decades-spanning national cancer strategies. The international evidence demonstrates that sustained progress in cancer control is best achieved through the consistent implementation of appropriately designed and resourced cancer strategies. Research published by The Lancet in 2022 reported that Ireland\u2019s cancer strategies, dating back to 1996, were a significant factor in improving cancer outcomes.  Furthermore, a study published by Professor Mark Lawler in January of this year in the Journal of Cancer Policy evaluated national cancer strategies across 20 countries and ranked Ireland among the highest in policy development and governance scores. The EU and the WHO continue to advise that cancer control is optimised through the development and implementation of national cancer control plans and strategies. We can be thankful that many patients will become cancer-free following their treatment but, for others, their cancer will be chronic conditions requiring prolonged surveillance and episodes of treatment over many years, with the associated significant implementations for service demand. With the development of the next cancer strategy, we will continue to progress our structured and strategic approach to the delivery of cancer services.  Investment under the strategy has ensured that more patients are being seen in specialist centres, more patients are being reviewed by multidisciplinary teams, new drugs and therapies are being made available, patients are receiving better supports during their cancer treatment, psycho-oncology services have been developed and major advances are being delivered for adolescents and young adults.  With regard to the workforce, our investment in infrastructure, research, medicines and staff focuses on providing the best possible outcomes for patients. However, these improvements would not be realised without the commitment of those working in our health service and the dedication they bring to their work, which I and many others have alluded to. In the past five years, we have increased the overall health workforce by 27%. Since the launch of the current national cancer strategy, we have added over 200 additional nursing staff, 100 consultants and 180 health and social care professionals in designated cancer centres. At the same time, we have fostered and expanded pioneering services, creating new roles and teams in psycho-oncology, genetic services and cancer prevention.  Working in collaboration with the higher education sector, significant progress is also being made in increasing the number of student training places. My colleague, the Minister, Deputy Lawless, recently announced a \u20ac28.5 million investment in 2026 to support the delivery of more than 1,100 additional healthcare training places annually over the next three years across medicine, nursing, therapy professions, pharmacy and dentistry.  While we are adding more training places and funding more students, we are also ensuring that more graduates are retained in our health service. A mandate was introduced in March 2025 offering all nursing and midwifery and health and social care profession graduates of Irish colleges permanent contracts of employment when successful at interview. This mandate includes radiation therapist and radiography graduates, who are crucial for cancer services.  In parallel with an increase in staff numbers, it is important that we maximise the existing workforce. The expansion and rollout of the public-only consultant contract, along with the revised 2025 framework agreement with health sector trade unions, provides a strong platform to support the extension of services. Health regions are actively leveraging these arrangements to progress delivery of services in the evenings and at weekends across a range of areas, including diagnostics, patient pathways and community services.  As we invest in staff and expertise, we are also investing heavily in infrastructure and technology. Major infrastructure projects opened under the national cancer strategy include state-of-the-art radiotherapy centres in Cork and Galway in 2019 and 2023, respectively, at a cost of over \u20ac120 million and the establishment of a national cervical screening laboratory, which opened in December 2022. The 2025 national development plan review resulted in the largest ever capital investment plan in the history of the State and the largest investment ever in health infrastructure in the State.  Investment in cancer care, particularly in equipment for radiation oncology, is a key strategic priority. Through the national plan for radiation oncology, the Department of health is progressing a major equipment replacement and expansion programme that includes replacing 14 linear accelerators in the St. Luke's Radiation Oncology Network and adding two at Beaumont, with associated diagnostic upgrades.  In light of the limited time I have, I will leave the rest of the written statement and go straight to the closing remarks. I once again thank the Deputies for the opportunity to discuss cancer care for patients in Ireland, the progress we have made and our commitment to continuously improve cancer services in Ireland. I acknowledge our shared commitment to improving the lives of cancer patients. On behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, I ask Deputies to support the Government's countermotion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  I thank Deputy Cullinane for bringing forward this motion this evening. The national cancer strategy is due to be reviewed. As has been evidenced by the Deputies who have spoken before me, while the targets that are set are very logical and would ensure that people get the treatment they need within an appropriate timeframe, in many cases, they are clearly not being met. That is not the case just in one place in the country but across the entire country. I know of a gentleman in my own constituency who had a cancer diagnosis. He was waiting for radiotherapy and contacted the hospital in Galway, which he has to travel to all the way from Leitrim, and was told he was on a waiting list. After several weeks of my office trying to deal with the HSE, he was finally able to move ahead with his treatment but he and his family were extremely stressed because his brother had previously passed away from the same type of cancer he had been diagnosed with. Many people find themselves in that situation.  The Minister of State has tabled an amendment to our motion that states how great everything is going but that is unfortunately not the experience of a great many people. That is very difficult to say because, in fairness, the HSE and the health service have traditionally provided a very good service, particularly when it comes to cancer care. Most people would say that, once you got into the system, you were treated fast, you were dealt with quickly and things progressed as you needed them to. That has changed in the past number of years and particularly in the past 12 to 18 months. I know from talking to my colleagues that many people across every constituency are experiencing the very same thing. There are delays and there is difficulty in accessing treatment and in getting diagnostics. When we talk to the clinicians and the hospitals, they tell us that staffing, medical equipment and facilities are all problems. All of these things need to be dealt with. While the Government's countermotion may suggest it is going to produce the answers, we are very doubtful it will. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh  Thirty years ago my mam was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. At that time, she went to her GP with a lump on her neck. She was told it was a cyst. She went back again and was dismissed again. It was only on the third consultation that she was referred for cancer screening. Had the cancer been detected in the first instance, my mam's journey would have looked very different. I commend Professor John Crown, who kept her alive for as long as he did.  Fast-forward 30 years and we still have endemic delays. In County Kildare, 951 people are diagnosed with cancer every year. Many of those people face difficulties accessing timely diagnosis and treatment, which negatively impacts their health outcomes. A constituent of mine, \u00c1ine, was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma last year, just three months before her leaving certificate. I am thankful that she has made a great recovery, having received great care in Tallaght hospital. \u00c1ine has highlighted the significant delays to her chemotherapy caused by PET scan waiting times. At the moment, our equipment density is too low and equipment is out-of-date and underutilised. She was told she was lucky to receive chemotherapy when she did because there was just one space left in Tallaght at the time. Another shocking element of \u00c1ine's story is that she had to sleep in a ward of six beds with patients with various illnesses. This was extremely dangerous as her immune system was suppressed by medication.  In Kildare, we need beds for cancer patients at Naas General Hospital. At the moment, many are forced to travel. Long-term planning is essential. There will be an increase of 100% in the number of cancer diagnoses by 2045 compared to the number in 2015 so investment in infrastructure and new developments must be a priority.  We all have a personal story. T\u00e1 sc\u00e9al pearsanta againn go l\u00e9ir sa Teach seo a bhaineann le hailse. Tuigimid ar fad c\u00e9 chomh d\u00e1ir\u00edre agus chomh t\u00e1bhachtach at\u00e1 an cheist seo. Mar sin, oibr\u00edmis le ch\u00e9ile chun c\u00faram ailse den ch\u00e9ad scoth a bhaint amach in \u00c9irinn. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  Many people will have harrowing stories to tell today that are personal and connected to them. The unfortunate fact is that cancer has a huge footprint. We have often spoken about people coming to us to say that the system is brilliant once you get into it but we are talking about slippage here. That is the reason Deputy Cullinane is highlighting the absolute necessity of a new cancer strategy. Some 15% of chemotherapy patients and 23% of radiotherapy patients do not start treatment on time. It is as simple as that. There are delays in surgical care, with 61% of prostate cancer surgeries, 45% of breast cancer surgeries and 39% of lung cancer surgeries not happening within the recommended timeframes.  That speaks for itself. It is just not good enough.  Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda ranks 16th out of the 25 hospitals providing chemotherapy with 17% of people not getting chemotherapy within the target timeframe of 15 working days. As Deputy Byrne said, 67 people in Drogheda faced serious delays for chemotherapy in 2025. That is not good enough whatsoever. We know that there are issues with resources, outdated rosters and outdated equipment. They just need to be dealt with.  In the small amount of time I have left, I want to bring up an issue that a constituent has brought to me. It relates to stomas. I appeal once again for people with stomas to be included in the long-term illness scheme. A person wears an ostomy bag for a number of reasons, one of which is obviously cancer. It is an absolute necessity for people, but at the minute they are paying a minimum monthly expense of \u20ac80 per month, whereas if they were up the road in Newry this would not be the case. It needs to be looked at and delivered upon. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donna McGettigan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donna McGettigan  I thank my colleague, Deputy Cullinane, for bringing this motion forward. He has been very vocal on these issues, which hit nearly every home in the State.  I was personally affected by cancer when my partner at the time, Noel, was very ill. For 18 months, Noel lost a lot of weight and was in a lot of pain. He could barely hold himself up. Noel was yellow. His skin was yellow. His eyes were yellow. He was a bag of bones, yet he was repeatedly sent home from hospital. Noel was shifted between doctors. None of them seemed to talk to each other and because we do not have digital records, there was a complete lack of communication between doctors. Noel could not keep food down. We knew that Noel had cancer. The dogs in the street knew that Noel had cancer, but we had no diagnosis. We had to fight for a medical card. We were paying for petrol and parking costs. We were in and out of hospital, as well as dealing with the pain and the worry.  Noel was told he had cancer and then a week later told he did not. Noel was eventually brought to Dublin where he was opened up and it was then we were told the devastating news that he had stage 4 cancer. It was too late. Nothing could be done for him, but Noel, being mister positive, wanted us to use the six months he was given for us to be happy and get married. I set about arranging a wedding. It was during Covid-19 so we could not have all our family with us. I could not help but cry when it came to the words \"in sickness and in health\" because I knew there would be no health for Noel. We did not even get to celebrate our first anniversary together. At Noel's funeral during Covid-19, we could only have ten people. The sad thing about our story of delayed diagnosis is that we are not alone in this. I hope no other family has to go through this. We need to provide better diagnoses and cancer care for people so that nobody else has to go through this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  Some of the personal testimonies we have heard this evening underline the need for change and better outcomes in this area. I speak as a representative of the west of Ireland. We know there is a postcode lottery when it comes to accessing cancer treatment across the State. The Irish Cancer Society, medical professionals and many others have consistently highlighted that waiting times to access cancer treatments in the west are among the worst in the State. For too many cancer patients, accessing treatment in a clinically appropriate timespan does not happen. To give an example, data from the HSE shows that almost 30% of cancer patients deemed fit for chemotherapy at University Hospital Galway did not receive it within the recommended 15-day clinical window. Those people are expected to wait weeks to start chemotherapy treatment while knowing that the cancer inside their bodies is not being treated. These are real people who are being put at increased risk. It is unacceptable.  The root cause of these delays and failures is the lack of resourcing and staffing for cancer services. There are plans for the development of a new cancer care centre as part of the master plan at University Hospital Galway. There is still no timeline for that and there are real concerns that the Government has not provided sufficient resources in the HSE capital budget. There is currently no PET scanner operating in the public cancer care system in the western region. This imaging technology is vital for cancer diagnosis. At the moment, patients are being forced to travel really long distances to access these scans, or they are being referred to private operators at a significant cost to the State. We have been told that the delivery of a PET scanner to University Hospital Galway is not planned to be completed until 2033. This means that for many more years, cancer patients in the west will continue to experience challenges in accessing the scans they need and this inequality will continue.  This motion is an opportunity for the Government to acknowledge the failings that too many cancer patients are facing within the public system. It is also an opportunity to end the postcode lottery and improve patient outcomes. I urge the Government to implement the practical solutions outlined in the motion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marie Sherlock  I thank Deputy Cullinane and Sinn F\u00e9in for introducing this timely motion on cancer services, which the Labour Party supports. I was going to give out that the Government is opposing this motion. It is disappointing that it has decided to nitpick at what is a very good motion. Surely to God, we should all join together to identify the very clear issues that exist at the moment. While it used to be the case that Ireland was a global leader with regard to cancer care, we are now a long way off that because of a lack of investment but also because of a lack of focus on how we organise our health service - not just our hospital services, but right down to our primary care GP services. This is why we are not getting cancer services right in this country today. The reality is that, sadly, one in two people will get cancer in their lifetime in this country and one in three people will die from it. Ireland has the second highest incidence rate of cancer diagnosis in the EU. The number of cancer diagnoses is projected to grow by 47% between 2022 and 2040, so it is something we need to get right in terms of our services. To me, this conversation has to be about funding and how we organise our health services. We await the new national cancer health strategy next year. It is critical that ring-fenced funding is there and is rooted in prevention, particularly with regard to primary care and looking at those socioeconomic factors. Inequality is at the heart of the higher incidence of cancer among lower-income parts of our population and communities. Funding has to be ring-fenced for early diagnosis through screening, early treatment, innovation and access to technology and medication.  Screening is the low-hanging fruit of cancer services. We know that 40% of women called to attend BreastCheck last year did not go. BreastCheck missed its target by 46,000 mammograms last year and that target has been missed three years in a row. I have not heard any answers or any research into why that is the case. We can speculate. There are many potential reasons, including difficulty getting the time of work, the fear of the mammogram procedure because it is painful, and the potential outcome. My colleague, Deputy Duncan Smith, has a Bill coming this Thursday that will seek to provide for legislative provision for workplace leave for cancer screening. However, we need to see the research and the understanding undertaken by the Department as to why women are not presenting for BreastCheck. To my mind, the conversation has to be about reducing the eligibility age for BreastCheck. In particular, it should be extended to women below the age of 50 to ensure we catch the incidents of cancer at a much earlier stage. We have to send out a message that if breast cancer is diagnosed at stage 1, there is a 99% chance of survival. That is why early detection is so vital. We need to get to the bottom of why the take-up is much lower than it should be.  The other key concern for me is with regard to bowel screening. We know that the target of 50% is obviously much lower than we would like, but the take-up of bowel screening is far below what it should be. The rates of colorectal cancer in this country doubled for those under the age of 50 between 1994 and 2019. In an article published by the Irish Medical Journal last year, researchers from Cork University Hospital and Cancer Research Ireland predicted that by the 2030, young onset colorectal cancer will be the leading cause of death for adults between the ages of 20 and 49. One in ten people with colorectal cancer in Ireland at the moment are under the age of 50. We need to get serious about that very real challenge over the coming years. Not only do we need to look at the take-up of the existing screening programme, but we also need to lower the age as well.  To me, screening is the easy, low-cost part of the cancer services.  The other key part is with regard the in-hospital services. We see what has happened with regard to radiation oncology, the delays in terms of access to treatment. Two in ten people are not starting radiation in time. In 2025, two in five women were not being seen on time for their appointment at an urgent breast clinic. Of course, in the Dublin area, 90% of the LINACs are beyond the ten-year lifespan. That points to an enormous Government failure to ensure investment in infrastructure.  The other key aspect of what I want to touch on is outside of the hospital system. It is about the overall system of cancer care, which is the first port of call, namely our GP system. The EU Country Cancer Profile 2025 stated that Ireland faces shortages of various cancer care professionals, including GPs. I have stood in this Chamber a number of times, including with the Minister of State a number of weeks ago, when we discussed the huge geographical inequality that exists across this country with regard to accessing GPs. To be very frank about it, if people have to endure a long wait to access their GP, that is going to deter them from turning up, particularly if it is an issue relating to testicular cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer or some of the cancers that may be a bit more sensitive for people in terms of presenting. We have to change that.  It is not good enough in the communities that I represent. There is one GP for 3,000 people in Cabra while it is one GP for 3,500 people in the north inner city. In some of the fast-growing communities, particularly in Kildare, Lucan and east Meath, we are seeing one GP to 4,000 or 5,000 people. That is unacceptable. I sometimes think when we are having this conversation I am having it with people who can pick up the phone to their GP, talk to the secretary and get the appointment the following day or the day after. If that is the case for the vast majority here, that is wonderful, but that is not the reality for many people in the community. The Government opposed our Bill to ensure that the HSE takes responsibility for an even geographic distribution of GPs across the country. We have to get that right if we are making sure that people are presenting at the first port of call within the health system.  The last issue I raise is palliative care. While we are all about early detection and treatment, the reality is people die in this country from cancer. Deputy Farrell raised it earlier, but I raise the lack of pathways when somebody has cancer in this country into the hospital system, whether they are currently in treatment or in palliative care. It is really frustrating to think that people with cancer have to present themselves to an emergency department and sit there for a number of hours or days before they get the treatment they need. St. Vincent's and other hospitals across this country have begun to provide quick access for cancer patients, chemotherapy patients in particular, to their clinics.  I spent time yesterday with a 42-year-old woman who is in palliative care. She is a single mother to a young son. She had to wait three hours for an ambulance yesterday to be brought to her local major hospital in Dublin. She had to wait until 4 o'clock this morning for a bed. She is in palliative care. Because she has been discharged from chemotherapy and even though she is with the hospice, she is not at death's door to go into the hospice just yet. She is in limbo. There is nobody to look after her. She needs a nephrostomy, which is effectively a procedure to ensure that the urine leaking out of her back can be stopped. She had to go into that same hospital a number of weeks ago and waited four whole days, taking up a hospital bed, waiting for a one-hour procedure that does not require a general anaesthetic. I am telling this story this evening to highlight the lack of pathways, particularly for those in palliative care into the hospital system. There is a complete disconnect from when people finish their treatment to when they die or when they go into a hospice. By the time they are admitted into a hospice, they are only a few days or a week or two from passing away. What about those weeks in the middle? That is critical.  Part of it relates to hospital organisation. The other part is the 2024 national palliative care strategy, and it is very welcome. It states great objectives, but I am not at all convinced, when I look at the HSE service plan or the letter of determination from the Minister, that there is any focus on that at all. In some ways, it should not take an awful lot to ensure that somebody with palliative care presenting to a hospital has a particular pathway to get their treatment and get them back out. It is not good enough that a palliative care patient is taking up a vital bed for somebody who may live, if we call a spade a spade, but second, in terms of affording them dignity in their final weeks and months of life, that they would spend any time unnecessarily within a hospital system. This is not really about massive amounts of funding; this is about how we get our systems right. I am afraid that those systems are not right. There are stories across this country of people having to get into ambulances and present to emergency departments unnecessarily when there should be another way for them.  I thank Sinn F\u00e9in for tabling the motion. There is enormous work to be done to ensure Ireland can go back to being a global leader in cancer care. Ultimately, to make sure we get back to that place, we have to get the investment into our equipment right and the investment into access to medicines. We know there is a gross inequality in Ireland between those who have the luxury of private health insurance - when I say luxury, you are paying a fortune for health insurance - or those reliant on the public system and the access to drugs. Across a whole range of cancers, people's potential for survival is greatly enhanced if they can go through the private system and access those drugs licensed through the EMA that have not been licensed for this country. In my book, if a drug has been licensed through the EMA, we need a greatly simplified system through the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics of how we process approvals for drugs in this country. Yes, cost is one of them, but I do not hear anything from the Government about pushing at European level about how drug prices are collectively negotiated. In some ways, the market model is coming back to bite us in Ireland. We need to make sure we collectively negotiate at the EU rather than doing it individually here. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  I thank Sinn F\u00e9in for tabling the motion, which the Social Democrats will support. Cancer services were once the jewel in the crown of our health service and an example of what the system could achieve if sustained investment was matched by political will, but the focus on delivery has waned over the lifetime of the current strategy. As a result, we have delayed diagnoses and treatment, missed targets, shocking regional disparities, ageing infrastructure and major staff shortages, none of which were acknowledged by the Minister of State in his opening statement. To put it mildly, it was disappointing, particularly given the stories we have heard tonight.  Ring-fenced funding for the cancer strategy has been sporadic over its lifetime. When the strategy was launched in 2017, the then Minister for Health, Deputy Simon Harris, promised substantial current and capital funding over the ten years of the strategy. However, as the motion notes, the strategy has not received dedicated development funding in every budget since. There is a direct link between this failure to fund the cancer strategy and the missed targets, staff shortages and rampant outsourcing. You cannot starve a strategy of funding and expect it to be a success.  When the Irish Cancer Society appeared before the health committee last October, it was very clear about the need for multi-annual ring-fenced funding for the strategy. The programme for Government commits to developing a multi-annual funding approach for the entire health service. However, multi-annual health service funding has been promised by every Government since 2016, yet none has delivered it. The Minister for Health should have insisted that it was delivered in this Government's first budget. Budget 2026 did nothing to advance multi-annual funding. Last year, during the Estimates process, the Minister told me that it was her ambition to progress multi-annual funding this year, subject to an agreement with the Department of public expenditure. We need to know if this is still progressing and if it will be implemented in budget 2027. The next cancer strategy must have multi-annual funding. Otherwise, it will suffer the same fate as the current strategy.  There is no doubt that patient outcomes have improved over recent decades. However, the absence of sustained, year-on-year funding has meant that too many people are not getting access to timely tests and treatment. The Irish Cancer Society has provided an overview of recent testing and treatment pathways. Last year, 6,200 people waited more than the recommended time for a colonoscopy. The target is zero patients within more than 28 days. Two in five women were not seen on time for urgent symptomatic breast disease clinics. The target was 95% seen within ten working days. In the first half of the year, seven in ten people waited more than three months for an MRI, while six in ten people waited over three months for a CT scan.  Similar things are faced in terms of cancer surgeries in 2025. Two in five people did not have lung cancer surgery within the recommended 25 days. Three in ten women did not get their breast cancer surgery within the recommended 20 working days. In 2024, which is the year for which the latest data are available, three in five men did not get prostate cancer surgery in the recommended 30 working days. The bottom line is that these delays caused avoidable deaths. Research published by the British Medical Journal found that every four-week delay in starting cancer treatment can increase mortality by 10%. This is precisely why we have targets in the national cancer strategy. We know that a person\u2019s chances of surviving cancer are up to four times higher when treated at stage 1 rather than stage 4.  One of the biggest issues in cancer care is the hollowing out of public radiotherapy services. Since 2020 over \u20ac113 million has been spent outsourcing radiotherapy for public patients to private providers. In 2020, \u20ac12 million was spent on outsourcing radiation therapy. Since then it more than doubled to \u20ac28 million in 2025.  One of the biggest reasons for this shocking spend on outsourcing is the failure to plan. Radiation therapy machines have a ten-year lifespan yet 50% of public machines are over 15 years old with four of these over 18 years old. After the ten-year mark, machines break down, maintenance costs increase and the standard of care decreases. St. Luke's Hospital in Rathgar, for example, is limited to using just three of its machines at any one time to mitigate frequent breakdowns. This means it is losing a quarter of its capacity on any given day. I accept a replacement programme is finally under way in the St. Luke\u2019s network but why do machines have to reach breaking point before action is taken? Not one machine in Dublin is under ten years old and, as I said, four are approaching 20 years old. The need to replace machines is entirely predictable yet there is no rolling national radiotherapy equipment replacement programme in place. The machines in Galway will need to be replaced by 2032 and the machines in Cork will need to be replaced by 2029, just four years from now, yet no planning is under way. We need a rolling replacement programme and not an ad hoc system of replacement. This would also save the State money by buying equipment in bulk.  There are similar issues in relation to staffing. We now have a radiation therapy staffing shortage of between 15% and 22%. The increased reliance on outsourcing is creating a vicious cycle. In CUH, a radiation therapist told me that patients are being outsourced to private providers because the public system does not have enough staff. Outsourcing creates more business for private centres which, in turn, hire more staff. This means that even more consultants and radiation therapists leave the public system for the private system, which is booming on the taxpayers' dime.  Another issue I want to raise relates to radiography practice tutors. Radiographer tutors play a vital role in clinical education and training of students within our hospitals but their value is not recognised, not least in their current terms and conditions. We know that experienced radiography practice tutors are stepping down because the pay does not reflect the level of responsibility. If we are to attract and retain more tutors, they must be remunerated and graded appropriately. The cancer strategy is clear on the need to increase the number of student places and I welcome that the Government is implementing this recommendation. Just last week, however, I heard reports of radiography students studying in the library instead of doing clinical hours because of a lack of practice tutors to support their placements. One tutor described this to me as being akin to learning to drive by simulator. Hospitals must be funded to deliver these extra placements and there needs to be more joined-up thinking. What good is having college places if the tutors are not there in the hospitals? This escalating crisis requires an urgent intervention by the Minister for Health. It is time to support and value these tutors not just in words but in actions. Otherwise we will not be able to increase the number of tutors or retain them or provide patients with timely diagnostics.  I sincerely hope this debate is a wake-up call and in particular the really harrowing personal stories Members have shared about themselves, people they know, their constituents and family members. We really need to improve cancer services for people right across the country. This next strategy must not be starved of funding and it must not be at the whim of every budget cycle. We must have multi-annual funding. I would like the Minister of State to take that message back to the Minister. The downward trend in cancer care can and must be reversed. We have done it before and we can do it again. We need to have the same commitment to deliver that was present for the first two cancer strategies but notably absent in the third. I urge the Government to change track on this, to invest in cancer services and to start improving cancer services so we can improve outcomes, improve lives and prevent avoidable deaths. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  I welcome the motion put down by Deputy Cullinane and Sinn F\u00e9in. I acknowledge the personal testimony shared by Members throughout the debate. It is really appreciated and I know it will matter to a lot of people.  Today\u2019s motion is very timely, coming just a week after Daffodil Day when people across the country showed solidarity with those affected by cancer. People across this House showed the same solidarity by wearing daffodils and meeting local cancer survivors and advocates here in Leinster House 2000. I am very conscious that when representatives of the Irish Cancer Society come here, we all take pictures and share them but they expect us to take decisions. The decisions they are asking for are reflected in today\u2019s motion.  After the failure to deliver the last strategy, there can be no more delay. We need a new national cancer strategy for 2027 to 2037 backed with proper ring-fenced multi-annual funding, including an additional \u20ac30 million a year in new development funding, as the motion sets out.  Cancer touches every family in this country. People should not be left waiting when they are diagnosed, at a time already filled with so much stress and uncertainty, but that is exactly what is happening. In 2025, 45% of breast cancer surgeries did not happen on time, while 39% of lung cancer surgeries and 61% of prostate cancer surgeries were delayed in 2024. It is not just surgery: 23% of radiotherapy patients and 15% of chemotherapy patients did not receive treatments within their target timeframes either. Those are not small gaps. Behind every one of those statistics, there are real people who have been left waiting when time matters. In our role, how often do we knock on a person\u2019s door to be told such a story? It happens too often in my constituency.  The most recent implementation review found that only one of 23 national cancer strategy objectives had been met. Nearly a decade later, we are below the EU average for MRI, CT and PET scanners. This is not pressure on the system; it is a systematic, documented failure of investment and follow-through.  We know that cancer does not impact communities evenly. In more deprived areas, including parts of the north inner city which I represent, there are significantly higher rates of lung and cervical cancer. Those communities have historically been under-served by screening and early detection. We learned that BreastCheck only screened 75% of its anticipated numbers in 2025, having already accounted for a 30% drop-off in invitations. We know that the women least likely to be reached are often those who need it most. We cannot allow inequality in outcomes to deepen because of a failure to invest in infrastructure, equipment and community-level screening. That is exactly how a postcode lottery becomes permanent.  Alongside all of this, there is the crippling financial cost of diagnosis. People are not just dealing with their illness; they are also dealing with the travel costs, car-parking charges, time off work, childcare and bills. In my own constituency, the operator of the Mater Hospital car park charges \u20ac15 a day. That is an outrageous cost to someone attending daily for treatment. I live less than half a kilometre away from the Mater Hospital. It is all too frequent that I get a phone call from a relative, a friend or someone asking if there is any free parking available in the locality. You often see people parking far away from the Mater Hospital and walking to it because of the cost of car parking. Some of these are people in the middle of cancer treatment. That is why the practical measures in this motion matter. We need to abolish hospital car-parking charges, increase medical card thresholds in line with GP visit cards, properly fund discretionary medical cards and place Sl\u00e1intecare waiting time targets into law so that access to care is not optional but guaranteed and can be vindicated through the courts if that basic necessity is not met through the allocation of budget resources. Cancer already takes enough from people and their families. The system should not add to that burden.  Before I conclude, I acknowledge the healthcare workers who do immense and incredible work. People often share their stories and talk about the great service they received from individuals within the system. This motion is incredibly reasonable. It is timely and necessary and we support it. I know the Minister of State supports it in theory, but we need follow-through from the Government as a whole. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  I thank Deputy Cullinane and Sinn F\u00e9in for bringing forward this very important motion on cancer services, which I am very happy to support. It is more or less a year since I started my cancer treatment for throat cancer.  The most important thing I wish to say is how grateful I am to all of those who work in cancer services, from the doctors and nurses to the radiotherapists and nutritionists, from the orderlies and porters to the receptionists and the people who research in the area of cancer and help to develop the treatments - all these huge numbers of people. There are a lot more that I am probably not mentioning. Without them, I might not be standing here, or I might be facing a bleak future, but instead the treatment was successful. It was thanks to those amazing people and all the work they did. I am very grateful. Given that 50% of the population will have a scrape with cancer, it is important to know that it is not a death sentence as maybe going back not so long ago it was seen as such. The treatment is advancing all the time if, ideally, we catch it early or it gets treated. If we invest and resource the people who work in this area properly, support them, the research necessary, the equipment necessary and the capacity and resources, then we can save a lot of lives. I am certainly a major beneficiary of that.  I am not quite sure why the Government has put down an amendment to Sinn F\u00e9in's motion because it could certainly add things to it. Sinn F\u00e9in's motion is very reasonable in saying that, of course, there should not be a postcode lottery. I have had a very good experience. It varies around the country. In more rural parts of the country, in particular, it can be very different. I would not like having to travel. I was lucky in that regard. I went to St. Luke's. I am well paid, so it does not matter so much, but in St. Luke's patients do not have to pay for parking. In St. Vincent's, there is a parking charge, and it is quite a lot. It is crazy to put financial obstacles in the way of people when they are in this sort of situation. There are other financial obstacles to accessing services, such as if a person does not have a medical card they still have to pay. The amount of money that they have to pay is significant for some people. We should not place financial obstacles in the way of people when they are in this sort of situation.  I agree with the motion. We need a cancer strategy for the next ten years. We need to resource that on a multi-annual basis, so there is certainty. We need to have equipment replacement programmes. It has already been referred to. The age of the linear accelerators is ridiculous. The vast majority of them are way past their sell-by date. That makes a big difference. One of the things a patient is affected by when getting treatment is the collateral damage of the treatment in terms of the side effects, but the newer the machinery and the more precise the treatment is, the better it is for dealing with the cancer and it lessens the impact of the side effects. This makes a real difference to the quality of life of people who get the treatment and to the precision of the treatment. We need to have that properly organised national equipment replacement scheme rather than it being done on an ad hoc basis.  Senior radiation therapists should be on a senior pay scale. A lot of the people who are qualified in this area are leaving the country because they do not have comparable pay rates to people in other parts of the country. We also have a problem that out of the eight PET scanners in this country, only one is fully publicly funded and one is partially funded. They are in private hands. The only place that the stuff that goes into PET CT scanners is made is Blackrock Clinic, a private clinic, which is ridiculous. There should not be that level of privatisation of the means to produce PET scanners and the equipment because it raises questions about equality of treatment when dealing with cancer. There are many more things that I could say but I am out of time. Hopefully, the Government is listening. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charles Ward  I thank Sinn F\u00e9in for tabling this motion. I fully support it. I call on the Government to commit to a new cancer strategy. The postcode lottery in healthcare access across the country is unacceptable and deeply unfair. People in rural communities, such as Donegal, are at a severe disadvantage when they fall ill and require emergency treatment or treatment of any type. My constituents are facing chronic shortages of GPs and very limited services in rural areas. Many of them are forced to travel long distances for basic treatments, often delaying care and worsening health outcomes. The longer waiting times and the reduced local services have contributed to increased stress, financial strain and in some cases, preventable illness and deterioration. A particular highlight comes from cancer care access in Donegal. It is shown by the report in The Journal investigates article last year that just 12% of cancer patients in Letterkenny University Hospital received treatment within the recommended 15 working day timeframe. Cancer patients in Letterkenny have to wait 50% longer than patients in any other hospital in the HSE West and North West region. This impact is life-threatening. The research has shown that the delays reduced the treatment options that are available for cancer patients. In some cases, it has caused avoidable death. Distribution of resources and services has clearly led to inequalities in healthcare outcomes. We have to address this.  Where a person lives should not determine how they get their treatment. The people of Donegal deserve the same healthcare outcomes as everybody else. The failure to invest and fairly distribute healthcare resources has left rural Ireland at a real severe disadvantage. The geographical isolation undermines the principle of access, the most recent example being the planned changes to the cancer flights from Donegal to Dublin and the removal of the midday flight, which has caused severe anxiety among the people and the cancer patients who are fighting for their lives. The passengers rely on this route to get necessary life-changing treatment. They are having to fight for this midday flight. It is the difference between getting treatment and not getting it, getting a hospital bed and not getting one and a getting a favourable outcome and not getting one. The proposed changes would cause people to miss critical treatment times. Many of them would have to stay in Dublin overnight at financial costs for themselves while severely ill, not able to afford hotel rooms and trying to travel on a bus. A bus up to Donegal from Dublin takes five hours. Coming out of chemotherapy and travelling up on a bus is not a desirable thing for anybody to do.  When they come in, they are looking for equality. The flight would give them that. The flight allows them to go, get their treatment, go back up in the evening and be home instead of coming to Dublin, trying to get a hotel room for \u20ac200, \u20ac300 or \u20ac400 that they do not have, then suffering and getting the flight first thing in the morning back up to Donegal. I ask the Minister of State to do whatever she can to make sure that this is highlighted and that we can make sure this flight is restored. I have spoken with the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, about this. I said that we need to make sure this flight is restored to Donegal. Otherwise, these patients are going to be suffering unnecessarily. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  I welcome the proposal in this motion. Unfortunately, the incidence of cancer is increasing. Many cancer patients are being failed. There are roughly 42,000 people diagnosed with cancer per annum in the State. That is a huge number of people. The State has the third highest mortality rate for people with cancer in the European Union. Poorer former eastern bloc countries are doing better than we are. For example, in County Laois, approximately 270 people were diagnosed each year. That does not include non-melanoma skin cancer. Unfortunately, in the most recent figures that we have from 2024, 138 people died from cancer.  I acknowledge the great work done by the Cuisle Cancer Support Centre in Portlaoise. Those centres need more Government support. A lot of the money is raised voluntarily. In Laois, people also face challenges with costs. Obviously, many of them do not have medical cards. They have to travel to hospitals generally in Dublin. They have to pay tolls, parking fees and extra fuel. One of things that needs to be done is to waive the parking charges for cancer patients. It is a very simple measure that can be taken.  The delays in surgery are shocking. They are not being done within the timeframe. According to the Irish Cancer Society, 61% of prostate surgeries are not being done within the target timeframe. A total of 45% of breast surgeries and 39% of lung operations are not being done within the targeted timeframe. There are delays in radiotherapy, with 23% of cases not being done within the target timeframe, while in chemotherapy, the figure is 15%. That is shocking. Imagine the stress and worry for people who are delayed. I know somebody who was waiting and waiting. I had to intervene on their behalf at the time to get the necessary treatment that they needed. That is not good enough.  There is also a lack of awareness around the symptoms and delayed diagnosis. We need to increase public awareness around that.  In short, we need to expand the outdated diagnostic equipment that we have, invest in modern equipment and infrastructure in our hospitals and scale up because one in two of us is going to get cancer. That is the bad news. We need to expand the number of training places for cancer treatment staff because without staff, it cannot be done. Bowel cancer screening and BreastCheck are fantastic. Some work needs to be done to expand screening.  We need a greater emphasis on prevention and awareness. We need to strengthen North-South co-operation. One of the things that we can do on a North-South basis is strengthen co-operation in cancer research and treatment. There is a lot of talk about screening. Maybe when we get older, we encounter this but the number of people I come across who have prostate cancer is significant. We need to provide free screening and free blood tests for prostate cancer for men aged over 60. We need to ban sunbeds. Using sunbeds is crazy. A ban on them is recommended by the Irish Cancer Society and I do not know of any sensible person who would not support such a ban.  We need to give cancer patients automatic entitlement to medical cards. I have come across a case where a person died from cancer without being able to get a medical card. This person was not a millionaire. Their income was very modest but they could not get medical card because of the low income thresholds. If somebody has particularly stage 3 or 4 cancer, give them a bloody medical card because they need one. We should waive car parking charges for cancer patients. We should ask each hospital to do that. A simple voucher would do it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  Like many other Deputies in this Chamber, I am a cancer survivor. I am blessed to be six years cancer-free. When you have cancer, it is like an enormous cloud descends upon you and your family. The more important message to go out tonight is that if you get treatment fast, the sun will shine again and that cloud will lift from your family. Getting treatment is the key issue and the problem is the fact that where someone lives in Ireland determines whether he or she gets treatment in a timely fashion. There is a postcode lottery in this country when it comes to cancer treatment and, therefore, cancer outcomes. The Irish Cancer Society has released damning information that shows massive variations in cancer diagnostics and treatments in this country. Patients in major cities, particularly those travelling from the north west, face delays of up to eight weeks for chemotherapy despite the national cancer strategy stating that a person should not wait for more than 15 days. People with breast cancer and prostate cancer are being denied timely, life-saving chemotherapy and radiotherapy. I met a doctor in Letterkenny who told me that just 12% of cancer patients in that hospital received treatment within the recommended 15-day working timeframe. In Galway, patients are waiting seven to eight weeks for treatment. The National Cancer Control Programme has written to Aont\u00fa stating that the HSE is failing to meet its own radiation treatment targets. In the year to August 2024, treatment targets were met only once in Galway and only twice in Cork. Cancer services in the north west are being shut down. Cancer centres in Galway, Waterford and Limerick do not have the necessary PET scans, antique radiotherapy equipment is breaking down and people are dying for the lack of timely treatment.  The Irish Cancer Society has said that the Government has met only one of its six targets set for cancer treatment and tests. A reply to a parliamentary question from Aont\u00fa has shown that breast cancer survival rates can differ by 14% from one county to another. The Minister of State will be glad to know the breast cancer survival rates are as high as 94% in Cavan, but they are as low as 80% in the likes of Kerry. Last summer, BreastCheck, a countrywide screening service for women between 50 and 69, missed the target for 195,000 screenings by 30%, an incredible figure.  Aont\u00fa also discovered that there is a 12% differential in outcomes for breast cancer depending on whether someone is diagnosed in a public or private hospital. Someone diagnosed in a cancer centre has an 85% chance of surviving, while someone diagnosed in another public hospital has an 81% chance of surviving. However, someone diagnosed in a private hospital has a 93% chance of surviving. A patient diagnosed in Sweden is 7% more likely to survive, while a patient diagnosed in Britain is 5% more likely to survive. Other countries are doing far better and more people are being protected. Why is this? It is because the money in this country is not getting to the front line.  Many staff are going abroad. A reply to another Aont\u00fa parliamentary question has shown that 13,000 nursing staff left Ireland in the past five years. That is an incredible legacy left by this Government. In some years, the majority of graduating doctors are also leaving this country. Thankfully, cancer survival rates are increasing but that is because of better medicines, improved technology and improved treatments. It is certainly not because of the actions of this Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  We are talking about whether people in this country get seen, get treated and get a fair chance or whether they are left waiting, worrying and wondering if the system will fail them again. We have a national cancer strategy but only one out of 23 objectives has actually been delivered. Many Deputies have spoken today about personal tragedies when it comes to cancer. A cancer diagnosis is a dark moment in a person's life. It is not always a very dark journey but it certainly is a dark moment and a great difficulty. My mother died of cancer at 54 years of age - a young woman. At that time, which was 30 years ago, I thought 54 was a great age but I am above that age myself now so I find it to be a very young age. It was a young age at that time too but, unfortunately, it got the best of us - a strong woman.  We have a delivery problem, with patients paying the price. We have people missing chemotherapy and radiotherapy timelines and people waiting far too long for breast, lung and prostate surgeries. Depending on where you live, your access to care can swing from 60% to 95%. That is nothing short of a postcode lottery. We are short of scanners and staff and we are not even using the equipment we have properly, yet the Government could not even ring-fence funding in half the budgets. If it is not ring-fenced, it is not guaranteed and if it is not guaranteed, it is not going to be delivered.  Independent Ireland is calling for simple practical tips, such as using hospitals in the evenings and at weekends, training and keeping our staff here, replacing outdated equipment and supporting patients properly. Obviously, parking charges are a huge difficulty for people battling cancer. There needs to be a clear focus on that, including on family members who are visiting them. It is hard enough to be hit in one way but to be hit in the pocket as well is very unfair.  There is one thing we need to spend some time thinking and talking about here. We talk about a caring Government or a caring country but why are cancer patients not getting medical cards just for the duration of their disease, which could be six or 12 months? It hurts quite a lot of people coming to me. It sounds as if we are racist but we are not. People are coming in from around the world and we are nearly handing medical cards out to them at the airport when there are people who have worked hard all their life and cannot get them. People can apply and the hospital can apply but the disease has to be terminal or extremely serious before they get the medical card. I had a dispute here with the previous Minister of State on that issue. That Minister of State was wrong. We know that because we are the people who are making the applications and we know they are being turned down. Sometimes I worry about whether people are going to get a medical card because of their prognosis. It might not be the best for them and that is not good enough. This country needs to work in that direction so that if people can prove they have cancer, their illness is covered for the period of time they have it. If we cannot move towards that, then this is not a caring society.  I need to commend one sector. I was part of this organisation some time back. Cancer Connect in west Cork started under Local Link and has run an incredible service over the past number of years under Helen O'Driscoll and her team in the office in Bantry. They are taking people every day for cancer treatment free of charge. They are picked up at the door if it is a more serious cancer where the person cannot be in the bus. If it involves chemotherapy, the person is picked up in Castletownbere, Mizen Head and Sheep's Head or wherever and the team works its way up through Clonakilty, Skibbereen, Bandon and Bantry. It is free of charge and all of it is done to perfection. They wait for them for a short period, everyone is looked after and all of them are put back on the bus back to west Cork in the evening. It is a fantastic service. I think other counties are copying it. This is something we built about 15 or 20 years ago and it is a really powerful service that has really delivered. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Fitzmaurice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice  I welcome the opportunity to speak on this motion.  There is not a family in Ireland that has not been affected by someone belonging to them having cancer, people recovering from it or, sadly, some of their loved ones passing away.  When the strategy was done, we were going to have centres of excellence. A centre of excellence in Galway should be the same as one in Dublin, Cork or anywhere else in the country. We have failed abysmally. Go to Galway and look at the lab that people have to work in and then go to some of the places here in Dublin. Go to the Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach's local hospital in Limerick and see what happens. It is disgraceful that parts of the country are being left behind.  Think of a person in Donegal who has to go to Galway for treatment by bus and then travel home again. In this day and age, that is not on. A person in the north west or the west should not be left behind. People are being left behind. It is not the fault of consultants or nurses. They are doing the best they can. However, people are not able to get chemotherapy. The statistics and the facts show that they are not getting chemotherapy at the times they are supposed to be getting it.  Have a look at the capital plan. What funding under the capital plan was put into the west of Ireland in the past ten years in comparison with other areas? Anyone can look at it. It is a disgrace what has happened. I was at a meeting in Galway. We, as politicians, went to hear Professor Kerin, an expert, speak. He stated that if you are in the west of Ireland, you have a lesser chance of survival than in any other part of the country. That was a damning statement.  We listen to people, day in, day out, telling us about treatment being delayed. That is not good enough. Even in Galway, they have to send some of their patients to Dublin for more expert treatment. Centres of excellence should be in all parts of the country. A centre of excellence should not at my backdoor, no more than at anyone else's. These centres should be located in all parts of the country in order to help people.  We also need to be mindful of people. As Deputy Collins and others stated, it is a stressful time when a person is told that they have cancer. Medical cards should automatically be given to people instead of them having to fight for them. The only way you will get a card urgently at present is if you have a terminal illness. We need to look at that.  There is another part to this. People with cancer cannot work. Thankfully, many people recover from cancer. That needs to be said. However, while they are going through treatment, be it radiotherapy or chemotherapy, they may have to have operations. It is a minimum of 12 months, and at times longer, where they are out of work, where an income is not coming in and where they have to attend hospital appointments. Even after therapy, they still have to attend hospital appointments. As for funds, they struggle to keep going. We have got to be mindful of that.  I ask that the relevant Ministers look at the state of cancer services and hospital infrastructure in general. The hospital infrastructure in Galway is abysmal. We deserve better. It is not just Galway; it is the entire west and north west. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Conor Sheehan)  Thank you, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Fitzmaurice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice  It is a damnable thing to say that Galway hospital does not have a PET scanner. Imagine that. A private hospital up the road has one, but the main hospital, the centre of excellence, does not. It is time that money was invested. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  Like every other county in Ireland and, I suppose, other places across the world, Kerry has its fair share of cancer patients. Sadly, many people have passed on at a young age as a result of cancer. As a public representative, I come across more than my share of these patients from day to day.  Kerry is lacking in many ways because of the distances involved. A person with cancer who lives in Cahersiveen, Dingle, Lauragh or other places nearby is 50 miles or 60 miles from Tralee, in the first instance, and over 100 miles from Cork. Kerry has been promised, in the grounds of University Hospital Kerry, UHK, oncology services. We are still waiting for those. Comfort for Chemo Kerry has done a lot of fundraising for this project, which the HSE has approved. These services would help a lot of people who are currently to CUH for treatment.  I thank those who operate the \"cancer bus\" that takes people for treatment, chemotherapy or whatever. That bus is funded on a voluntary basis. If anything deserves to be funded by the State, it is the bus that takes patients for treatment.  When people get cancer, they should be entitled to medical cards. Whatever means you have or whatever number of children, you are not able to work and you need a medical card to pay for treatment. Otherwise, you are treated as a second-class citizen. People feel like that.  Early diagnosis is of paramount importance, as is early treatment. We need to ensure that happens in every case. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Conor Sheehan)  Thank you, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  The other thing we must look at is what is causing it. I have been saying that the South American beef is not vetted in the same way as Irish beef, and I am worried about that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  T\u00e1im an-bhu\u00edoch as an deis chun caint ar an \u00e1bhar seo. Gabhaim bu\u00edochas le P\u00e1irt\u00ed Shinn F\u00e9in as an deis seo. I will start by saying \"Go raibh m\u00edle maith agat\" leis na daoine at\u00e1 ag d\u00e9anamh obair na gcapall sna hospid\u00e9il agus i ngach uile \u00e1it in\u00e1r health service. It is commendable.  Three weeks ago, sadly, I lost my best friend, Eleanor Lanigan, to cancer. The men and women in St. Vincent's Hospital were there to the end working to make her as comfortable as possible. Ar dheis D\u00e9 go raibh a hanam.  In recent weeks, I have been contacted by a number of constituents in Dublin who are deeply worried about diagnosis, delays and uncertainty. I commend Deputy O'Gorman and everyone who has served on the Oireachtas committee to do with cancer. I have been working on it since I came into this House.  I am grateful to the Irish Cancer Society for all the great work it is doing and all the details it gave us at the recent briefing, particularly in respect of my constituency.  When I was writing this speech, I rang a constituent, Jennifer Murphy, whose case I have been working on, and she gave me permission to mention her. Jennifer outlined how she was initially told that she would be waiting over 12 months for a non-urgent colonoscopy. It was only after she went back to her GP and following interventions by me, my office and other public representatives that her case was reclassified as urgent and she was given an appointment. That should not be how the system works. People should not have to fight to have their cases reclassified as urgent. They should not be left in limbo, particularly when we know early diagnosis is critical.  I suppose that no one in this House can say that they have not been touched by cancer. If anyone has gone through it, cancer is a really horrific way to go. We need to provide every type of support for people who have cancer.  I welcome much of what the Deputies from every party and none have said during this debate. Behind the numbers there are people, families and friends. This should not just be about highlighting problems. We all know what we need to do. I read the Government amendment, but I suppose it is more about action. A lot of the time when we come into this House, we are just here to talk. We need to get out there and do it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Conor Sheehan)  Thank you, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  We need to expand capacity, particularly in north Dublin, and provide clear and consistent referral pathways. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathal Crowe  I am glad to be able to participate in this debate. We have all been in community halls across the country and in our constituencies talking about road traffic issues when someone at the back of the hall pipes up and asks, \"Does it take someone to die?\"  Unfortunately, when it comes to cancer care, there have been far too many deaths. In particular, several very high-profile women were on the national airwaves and leading campaigns here at the front of Leinster House right up to their final hours. It has taken many deaths to get cancer care further progressed and it is still not where we need it to be. As many people have said tonight, there are many objectives of our national cancer strategy that are not being met, and that should be of huge concern to us all.  Just the other day, I was at my GP for a routine check-up and they took bloods. I was low on vitamin D; I need to get out in the sunshine. That is quite typical. However, I, as a politician, was alarmed to hear that the laboratory in University Hospital Limerick could not test for vitamin D. It was \"overwhelmed\", was the word I got. I will get over the vitamin D deficiency with an over-the-counter tablet and going out in the sunshine; that is fine. However, it is worrying to hear a laboratory that is tasked with detecting so many illnesses, deficiencies and diseases, and which is the gateway where many people find out they have cancer, is overwhelmed to the point that certain tests referred on from a GP practice cannot be followed through. I think that merits further investigation by the Department. I am not here to fault that laboratory; it does fantastic work. It is overwhelmed and needs more resourcing and support.  It would be remiss of me not to mention the news announced in the past week and a half regarding University Hospital Limerick and the choosing of a new site for that hospital in Raheen. I heard about it on the airwaves. The Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, was down there with all her colleagues. She ignored six of us who are colleagues of hers in government, but we tuned into the radio and found out what was going on. I cannot hide my disappointment. This was to be a new hospital campus chosen for the region. It will alleviate the pressures felt at UHL, those incessant trolley times and waiting times, but it does damn all for the people who live in the extremities of west and north Clare. For those people, there is no golden hour. If they get into acute chest pain and collapse on the floor and someone in the household phones for an ambulance, it can take nearly an hour and three quarters - up to two hours - for that ambulance to get back there. They probably will not make it to hospital. Of all the things I have seen happen here over the past six years, if there was one thing that should have happened, it would have been more cognisance of geography in this decision, but that did not happen. I am running out of time----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Conor Sheehan)  Thank you, Deputy. You are over time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathal Crowe  -----but I will bring this up in a future debate. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Cahill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Cahill  A new permanent oncology and haematology unit at University Hospital Kerry is vital to the people of Kerry.  Cancer patient numbers in Kerry are continuing to grow, with many needing to travel from all over Kerry to a hospital, such as Cork University Hospital, the Bon Secours, the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital, the Mercy Hospital in Cork, and with many others travelling to Limerick, Dublin and elsewhere for intensive treatments. The travelling involved is an extra burden on all those patients, and a permanent oncology unit in Tralee with increased capacity would go some way in alleviating some of the pressure and stress for many patients and their families.  With over 5,000 patients treated in University Hospital Kerry last year, I ask the Minister of State to prioritise this new oncology unit for Kerry patients. I previously received confirmation that it was at stage 1 - design. Could the Minister of State say where exactly this vital capital project for University Hospital Kerry is at now? Sadly, when we look at RIP notices, the number of references to palliative care in respect of cancer patients is worrying, to say the least. As a Government, we must invest more in cancer research. A new stand-alone oncology unit for University Hospital Kerry is vital for all cancer patients and their families in our county. I impress upon the Minister of State and the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, the urgent requirement for a stand-alone oncology and haematology unit on the grounds of UHK to provide Kerry patients with the dignity, privacy and comfort they deserve during one of the most challenging periods in their lives.  As I previously stated in this Chamber, the Comfort for Chemo Kerry committee, a wonderful organisation, has already raised in excess of \u20ac1.5 million in funds, and a site has been designated for the purpose within the UHK campus. We are told one in every two will get cancer in their lifetime. When it comes to cancer, the question on everybody's lips is what is causing it. Is it the food we eat, the air we breathe or the water we drink? This project is extremely important to us in Kerry, and I am anxious that it proceed as soon as possible. Delays only mean an escalation in cost for an already costly undertaking. As I previously mentioned, this vital project would lessen the need for many Kerry patients to travel to hospitals in Cork, Limerick and Dublin, some in multiple trips.  The temporary oncology unit in UHK simply cannot cope with the over 5,000 patients and rising who were treated there last year alone. I am anxious for us to do everything humanly possible to get this vital project over the line. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niamh Smyth","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (Deputy Niamh Smyth)  I thank all colleagues who have made such personal contributions, not only about their own experiences but also facilities and gaps that remain on the island within cancer services. If I could be indulged, I wish to acknowledge a wonderful young girl from Bailieborough, Orlaith Lennon. At 24 years of age, she has lost both of her parents, her dad only a month ago. She had the bravery to go out on Friday for Daffodil Day, like so many other volunteers right across the country, to do some fundraising for the Irish Cancer Society. I do not know where people gather the strength to do things like that when they have had such personal experiences. I acknowledge her incredible work.  Colleagues have talked about the volunteers of many cancer groups, particularly in rural areas. In Cavan-Monaghan, where I live, there is Bailieborough Cancer Comfort, which provides the volunteers who provide transport. As we have discussed, transport can be such a big issue for cancer patients who have to get to the main urban centres and specialised hospitals for treatment. There is incredible work done by volunteers, as well as their fundraising, to make sure that compassion, care and transport is provided for patients.  I thank all my colleagues around the House who contributed on this most important topic of cancer services right across the island of Ireland. While many of our services deliver excellent, high-quality care, I acknowledge and recognise there can sometimes be delays in getting cancer treatment for some patients. I acknowledge the distress felt by them and their families when they face such delays. Where hospitals are challenged to meet service targets, they typically respond with a mix of local improvement plans, additional clinics, outsourcing of diagnostics and reviewing patient pathways where needed.  As clinics typically run at full capacity, any disruption of services can lead to a backlog which can take time to clear. Where centres fail to meet their performance targets, the NCCP works closely with hospitals to ensure that improvements to services are achieved and sustained, and that patients are seen to as quickly as possible. Every effort is made to address waiting times and patients are prioritised on the basis of clinical need. Often, not meeting performance targets arises from staff shortages or problems in accessing diagnostics or radiology services. Deputies will be aware that there is a global shortage of healthcare workers, and where we have very specialised services like those in cancer care, it can be difficult to recruit when vacancies arise.  In addition to local measures, the NCCP continues to monitor performance nationally and has implemented a range of initiatives to optimise capacity with rapid access clinics, particularly for those with breast cancer. Updated referral guidelines have been introduced, aimed at ensuring standardised access across the country and, where appropriate, post-cancer patients are participating in stratified self-management follow up, rather than attending unnecessary specialist appointments. These will reduce variation in the management of patients and will lead to more appropriate referrals within cancer services.  The HSE is also working to expand capacity. The HSE capital plan introduces funding for the design and construction of oncology day units and chemotherapy infrastructure at Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore, University Hospital Limerick and University Hospital Kerry. Deputy Cahill asked very specific questions. I will ask the Minister to respond on any issues raised specifically in respect of infrastructure.  A major radiotherapy equipment replacement programme is also in place, and work is underway to update equipment across St. Luke's Hospital radiation oncology network in Dublin. Long term, the delivery of surgical hubs and three elective treatment centres, once operational, will increase overall surgical capacity in our acute hospitals. In budget 2026, the first steps have been taken towards a new approach to funding, intended to strengthen performance by devolving health budgets to the new health regions. This provides greater autonomy to meet local needs, while holding them accountable for their targets and national standards. This will enable the HSE leadership to target resource allocation where it is most needed to address regional variation.  The NCCP will continue to lead on cancer service design and development nationally. It will monitor performance and work closely with the REOs to ensure the delivery of safe, effective cancer services in all regions, working to reach the same high standards across the country.  This new budget approach will build on the success of the national cancer strategy, which has, over the years, fostered a culture of improvement and innovation, as seen through the development of pioneering services. In the last ten years, we have seen the rollout of cutting-edge therapies, including radio labelling therapy, CAR-T cell therapy for adults and specialised radiotherapy treatments, which will reduce the number of treatment sessions compared with conventional radiotherapy treatments. More recently, and supported by our 2025 programme for Government commitments, the acute oncology nursing service has expanded, keeping ever more cancer patients out of emergency departments when they feel unwell. The rollout of the SSMFU framework is also helping recovering patients to avoid unnecessary hospital outpatient appointments, and it provides better management in their aftercare.  In recognition of the incredible contribution of the voluntary and community sector in providing services to cancer patients and their families, which we have all referred to tonight, the programme for Government made a commitment to continue to invest in community cancer support services. To support this commitment, the NCCP Alliance of Community Cancer Support Centres was allocated \u20ac5.5 million in funding for 2025, and that is now recurring.  We have also provided access to new and innovative medicines. Between 2021 and 2024, Ireland allocated an additional \u20ac128 million for new medicines, allowing for the introduction of 74 new medicines for cancer. Budget 2026 also allocates \u20ac30 million specifically for new medicines. New treatments have been introduced. CAR-T cell therapy became available in 2021, removing the need for patients to travel abroad for treatment. The service is being expanded to University Hospital Galway this year, and recruitment is under way. This will provide CAR-T cell therapy for adult patients in the south and west of the country and increase overall capacity nationally.  We are also seeing an improvement in new developments for patients, with the creation of the comprehensive cancer centres. This designation requires close collaboration between hospitals, universities and research centres, bringing care, teaching and clinical research together in a deeply integrated way. Patients attending these centres have greater access to clinical trials and the important benefits that brings. I am delighted that all of our eight cancer centres are participating in the EU project to gain accreditation and access to the EU Network of Comprehensive Cancer Centres. Membership of this project will enhance our treatment, teaching and research work, and this will in turn help to attract the best international experts.  We have a strong track record of supporting cancer care with investment in research, and I am determined that we will build on this. The cross-border cancer consortium research partnership between Ireland, Northern Ireland and the US National Cancer Institute has seen 25 years of progress, with over 35,000 patients participating in clinical trials. Annual investment in cancer research by the Health Research Board has increased significantly in recent years, from \u20ac5.4 million in 2017 at the start of the current strategy to \u20ac9.4 million in 2025. Since 2020, the Health Research Board has awarded \u20ac43.7 million in cancer research funding, including \u20ac21.6 million in clinical trials infrastructure. We are also creating and embedding a culture of innovation in health research more broadly. In November last year, the final report and recommendations of the national clinical trials oversight group were published. The implementation of these recommendations aims to streamline the regulatory processes needed to establish clinical trials, enhance public and patient engagement, establish clear, consistent approaches to conducting clinical trials and grow the clinical trial staff around the country.  The current national cancer strategy was launched in July 2017, with a ten-year implementation framework. This year, the Department of Health will commission an independent evaluation of that strategy. While the details have not yet been finalised, the previous strategy was evaluated by a three-person panel of international experts. Their report provided a detailed analysis and recommendations to guide the development of the next strategy. The evaluation process will examine the full continuum of cancer care, from prevention to screening, diagnosis, treatment, survivorship and palliative care.  Patients are, of course, at the heart of our services. There will be opportunities for meaningful stakeholder involvement, including patients, their families, healthcare staff and all the cancer advocacy groups, among others.  I thank the Deputies again for their thoughtful, measured and considered contributions. We all share an absolute commitment to delivering the best outcomes for patients. The new national cancer strategy will be a critical step in planning our services for the decade ahead. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan  I strongly welcome this motion and commend Deputy Cullinane and his team on their latest health document, Enabling a New Cancer Strategy. It confirms what many of us have long suspected, that cancer services across Ireland have been slipping. The document sets out 42 recommendations for a new strategy, recommendations that would make a difference. We all know someone who has endured a cancer diagnosis. We have seen family and friends battle this disease. From my father to so many friends and family members, it has hit us hard over the years.  What we know is that early detection is vital for effective treatment, but the numbers paint a stark picture. Breast cancer targets are missed by tens of thousands every year. Some 15% of chemotherapy patients and 23% of radiotherapy patients do not start treatment on time. Some 61% of prostate cancer surgeries, 45% of breast cancer surgeries and 39% of lung cancer surgeries are not performed within the recommended timeframes. It is time that some of those in the Department did a bit of self-critique because the numbers do not lie. Patients are being failed in increasing numbers by poor management in the Minister's Department. As a result, we now have the third highest cancer mortality rate in western Europe.  What is missing is a strong emphasis on prevention, early detection and proactive treatment to tackle the primary drivers of cancer. It is anticipated that cancer diagnoses will double by 2045 compared with 2015. With the European Commission so eager to import meat raised on banned cancer-linked drugs, the situation could become even more severe.  In my father's case, he was quite sick and was housebound. Those who are housebound are some of the most vulnerable people. They need extra heating because they cannot move around like the rest of us. To say that I am absolutely disgusted by what has gone on here tonight is an understatement. The measly cut to home heating oil is a disgrace. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Guirke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Johnny Guirke  I recognise the work of the volunteers who fundraise and provide services, such as the Meath Cancer Support Group. I thank those who fundraise for charities, such as LARCC and the Irish Cancer Society, which get very little of their funding from the Government. In my constituency, a service has been set up and provided by the Moylagh JFK 50 Mile Challenge committee, which provides transport to and from treatment free of charge. We cannot give enough thanks and credit to the volunteers who run the service, and those who give up their time to drive the Moylagh car. These volunteers fill the gaps in services and very often support those who would struggle to find help when they need it. A lot of money is raised through charity events, but volunteers and committees now face the challenge of getting insurance for these events.  I welcome the legislation on the right to be forgotten, which in 2022 had cross-party support and was introduced by a cross-party group. I am, however, disappointed that it has taken this long when we see such legislation passed in other EU countries. The Irish Cancer Society has done brilliant work in lobbying for this.  Access to surgeries must be prioritised. If one surgeon is unable to complete a surgery, another surgeon should be able to step in. I recently heard of a lady who, sadly, passed away. She was due to get a tumour removed but, unfortunately, her surgery was cancelled due to personal reasons with the surgeon. It was suspected that her tumour had burst. How often is this happening, and how are cases like this being recorded?  Money is being spent on encouraging people to get checked, but often, when they attend their GP, they are told that the waiting times for screening are lengthy.  Then there are people who are working but cannot afford to go to their GP to get checked. Last year, the Irish Cancer Society warned that Ireland's two-tier health system was failing public cancer patients and they were not getting the same potentially life-saving cancer treatments as those treated in private hospitals. Private patients have swift access to EMA-approved cancer drugs while public patients must wait on average two years to find out whether they will gain access to the same treatment. Cancer patients often leave work during their treatment, bills continue to come through their doors and they have to fork out for travel, accommodation and prescriptions, but they are refused access to a medical card. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Mythen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Mythen.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Mythen.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Johnny Mythen  One in two people in our country will be diagnosed with some form of cancer in their lifetime. This is a stark but factual figure. Every one of us in this House, unfortunately, knows someone who has had this awful disease or has died from it, including my own father.  I am sure the Minister of State agrees there is a chance to change things with a new cancer strategy, as outlined by our spokesperson on health, Deputy Cullinane. We can put in place a world-class cancer service with properly ring-fenced and sustainable funding on an annual basis, doing away with the unfair postcode lottery to access cancer services. Early diagnosis and early treatment give each person hope and a far better chance of survival and recovery. However, recently released data paints a startling picture: 41% of breast cancer surgeries and 61% of prostate surgeries are not happening within the recommended timeframe. This includes 20% of radiography and 50% of chemotherapy patients who do not start treatment in time. Will the Minister work with us and take on board Sinn F\u00e9in's key recommendations in the recently published cancer strategy report by Deputy Cullinane?  Cancer has no politics and no boundaries but it can be beaten by putting in place a resilient and robust cancer service for all. The postcode lottery system must be done away with, as must the inequality in the system. Most of all, the wonderful staff who treat our loved ones through the toughest of times deserve a system that fully supports them by providing up-to-date equipment, staff supports and proper capacity. I ask all TDs to support the motion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  First of all, I will correct something I said in my opening remarks when I was talking about chemotherapy patients in Cavan. In fact, 100% of those were seen on time; it was in Waterford that 66% of patients were seen on time, which means 33% were not. For radiotherapy, 98% of patients in Waterford were treated on time, compared to just 67% in St. Luke's Radiation Oncology Network, which covers Dublin, the east and the midlands. They are two examples of the postcode lottery I was talking about.  I thank everybody for their contributions. There were some really strong contributions. People told stories of their personal experiences of cancer and of their family members' experiences. My mother died of cancer and it was a very long year for my family having to watch her suffer as she did. She showed tremendous resilience and did not show any emotions. Maybe when she was alone she did, but when she was with us, she was really strong. I got that from every contribution that was made. Deputy Gould spoke about how family members were very often the ones who feel it most.  I feel passionately about cancer services because they were and still are one of the areas where this State is doing well. Nowhere in the motion does it not recognise that there is a lot of good work being done. I said that in my opening contribution. I am blown away by the healthcare services given by first-class healthcare professionals in cancer care. I see it in every hospital I visit: the research done; the facilities in some hospitals; the staff who provide the services, from oncologists to nurses, radiation therapists and so on; robotic technology; and AI, which is now going to become a feature.  We are seeing huge innovation, changes and progression in cancer care, which is fantastic. That has to be matched by a Government and political system that back that up and provide the supports and resources that are needed. Far too often, hospitals are not getting those supports. If we have expensive hospital equipment lying idle part of the time because we do not have the staff, that does not make sense. That is an inefficiency. People look at that and ask what is going on when they are waiting and waiting for access to chemotherapy, radiotherapy or surgery.  The figures in the motion came from the HSE through parliamentary questions. In some surgeries, we have slippage, we are not meeting the targets and more and more patients are not being seen as quickly as they should be. Those gold-standard targets of 20 to 25 days set for access to surgery, for example, and even less for a diagnostic scan, chemotherapy or radiotherapy, are things we should be proud of and should not be allowed to slip. They are targets we should try to make sure we meet. In some hospitals, they do not have the equipment or staff.  The motion does not state the cancer strategy was not funded, but it was not given new development funding for half of the lifetime of the previous strategy. For five years, it got some funding, piecemeal as it was. For the other five years, it got no funding. That is a matter of fact and I think that is wrong. That is why multi-annual ring-fenced funding is so important. It is so that the health service can plan. Reducing the cost of care for patients is important, which is why abolishing the car parking charges and more discretionary cards are needed.  The motion is about a new national cancer strategy. That is what we need. I will certainly work with the Government. Everybody in this House wants to achieve the best possible outcome for every cancer patient. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Conor Sheehan)  In accordance with Standing Order 85(2), the division is postponed until the weekly division time on Wednesday, 25 March 2026. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Cancer Services: Motion [Private Members]"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-24\/debate\/dbsect_33","debateType":"financialResolution","bill":null,"showAs":"Financial Resolution No. 2: Mineral Oil Tax","counts":{"speechCount":21,"speakerCount":13},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_33","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Fitzmaurice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Martin Heydon)  I move:  1) THAT section 99A of the Finance Act 1999 (No. 2 of 1999) be amended, with effect as on and from 25 March 2026, by the substitution of the following for subsection (3) (as amended by section 42 of the Finance Act 2019 (No. 45 of 2019)):  \"(3) Where \u2013  (a) gas oil has been purchased on or after 1 January 2020 and before 1 January 2026, or on or after 1 July 2026, then, subject to a maximum repayment rate of \u20ac75.00 per 1,000 litres, the amount to be repaid per 1,000 litres of gas oil under subsection (2) is determined\u2014  (i) when P is less than or equal to \u20ac1,070, by the formula\u2014  A = (P - 1,000) x 0.3,  or  (ii) when P is greater than \u20ac1,070, by the formula\u2014  A = 21 + [(P - 1,070) x 0.6],  or  (b) gas oil has been purchased on or after 1 January 2026 and before 1 July 2026, then, subject to a maximum repayment rate of \u20ac120.00 per 1,000 litres, the amount to be repaid per 1,000 litres of gas oil under subsection (2) is determined\u2014  (i) when P is less than or equal to \u20ac1,070, by the formula\u2014  A = (P - 1,000) x 0.3,  (ii) when P is greater than \u20ac1,070 and less than or equal to \u20ac1,150, by the formula\u2014  A = 21 + [(P - 1,070) x 0.675],  or  (iii) when P is greater than \u20ac1,150, by the formula\u2014  A = 75 + [(P - 1,150) x 4.5],  where\u2014  A is the amount to be repaid per 1,000 litres, and  P is an estimate of the average price (exclusive of value-added tax) in euro per 1,000 litres of gas oil purchased by qualifying road transport operators during the repayment period, as determined in accordance with subsection (4).\".  (2) IT is hereby declared that it is expedient in the public interest that this Resolution shall have statutory effect under the provisions of the Provisional Collection of Taxes Act 1927 (No. 7 of 1927).  This financial resolution amends the provisions for a partial repayment of mineral oil tax, MOT, on auto diesel purchased in the State and used in qualifying vehicles by licensed Irish and EU road transport operators. The arrangements are generally referred to as the diesel rebate scheme, DRS, which is used by hauliers and bus operators.  The draft amendments provide for changes to how DRS repayment rates are determined and for an increase to the cap on these rates to enhance DRS benefits for qualifying operators to assist in mitigating the impact of rising fuel costs. The rate of repayment is currently capped at 7.5 cent per litre. The cap is reached when the average price per litre of auto diesel is \u20ac1.16, excluding VAT. This financial resolution increases the rate to 12 cent per litre. The DRS runs on a quarterly basis and this financial resolution will apply for quarters 1 and 2 of 2026. The backdating of the measure to the beginning of this year is in recognition of the impact on hauliers and bus operators of steep increases in the price of diesel in recent weeks.  As the T\u00e1naiste indicated, this temporary and targeted measure is in recognition of the detrimental impact of increasing fuel prices on hauliers and passenger transport operators and of the importance of these sectors to the Irish economy. The DRS provides targeted support to operators such as bus companies, who may drop Deputies' children to school; to food delivery trucks, which keep our shelves stocked; and to essential parts of business supply chains, which means business can continue with a cushioned impact. Households and businesses will be indirect beneficiaries of these additional supports to hauliers and bus companies. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I understand an amendment has been tabled to this section. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Conor Sheehan)  The amendment is out of order. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Okay, that is fine. Well, it is not really fine but I accept the ruling. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Conor Sheehan)  I have just been told a letter would have been sent to the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I understand. The timeframes have been so tight, given the chaotic way the Government brought this forward, despite the fact it had four weeks to deal with this issue of support for workers and families in the middle of what was already a cost-of-living crisis. It is important to remember that, before the fuel crisis was brought on by the attacks in Iran and the impacts of the attacks Iran has launched in the Middle East, we had a cost-of-living crisis.  Many families and businesses were already pushed to the pin of their collar. The real challenges people are facing in terms of just meeting basic necessities have been well rehearsed. I have heard the T\u00e1naiste talk at length about his new idea for a savings scheme and how the State can help people to save and all the rest of it. That will be great for some people by allowing them to get more tax breaks for savings they have. However, a whole group of other people are asking me what planet the T\u00e1naiste is on. Some of them are among the 320,000 people who cannot pay their electricity bill. Their cupboards are bare in the evening when their children come in hungry. We have a Minister for Finance who is talking about how we can generate more wealth and how the State can support that generation of wealth through tax cuts. The second debate that is taking place is about how we can allow the very small proportion of people who have an inheritance above \u20ac400,000 to keep more of that money for themselves. It is a type of parallel Ireland, with a divide between the haves and the have-nots.  This motion is about excise duty. The Government is being forced, after four weeks, into acting on the issue, which it did not want to do. It is moving from a position where it was going to monitor the situation, with no knee-jerk reaction, blah, blah, blah, to a point where, after we tabled legislation to cut excise and support workers and families, as well as transport operators and hauliers, it is being forced to bring forward some type of proposal. The resolution the Government has brought forward is a half-measure.  I completely and utterly acknowledge that we need to support hauliers. There are two ways of doing so. One is by increasing the diesel rebate scheme payment from 7.5 cent to 12 cent. That would mean hauliers having to pay the full whack at the pump and then wait until the end of the quarter to make a return and get the money back from Revenue or offset it. The other way of doing it is to reduce the excise duty, which means that when the hauliers rock up to the petrol station or buy diesel themselves in their yard, they get the reduction there and then. The second is the more appropriate way, with the reduction in excise automatically given at the pumps. Crucially, it not only gives the reduction to the haulage company and transport operator but also to every person who has to put petrol, or in this case, diesel, into his or her car. That is the measure that should be brought forward. It is a way to support hauliers, transport operators and the general public. However, it is very clear the Government does not want to provide that additional support to the wider public. It is a serious error.  I was sent an image an hour and a half ago when people were looking at the vote going on in the House and seeing that every single TD who supports Fianna F\u00e1il, Fine Gael and the Independents in government voted to oppose a reduction in the maximum amount of excise on diesel and to oppose removing excise on home heating oil. The image I was sent, taken today, was of a forecourt showing a diesel price of \u20ac2.35. The message under the image said \"What planet are these guys living on?\". That is the sentiment I am hearing right across the board, namely, that the Government simply does not get it.  My amendment has been ruled out of order and I accept that ruling of the Chair. It was intended to ensure that the support hauliers and transport operators need is provided to them not in a delayed way, through a rebate, but immediately by cutting excise at the pumps. By doing that, we would provide the support for every carer, every person with a disability, every worker driving to work tomorrow morning and every commuter who has to travel by car tomorrow. That is the way it should be done and it is what our amendment proposed to do. As I said, I welcome any support for the haulage sector but there was a way of doing this whereby the support would not be limited to just one sector. It should have been provided for all but, unfortunately, the Government simply does not understand the cost-of-living pressures people are facing. If it got the issue, it would not have introduced the budget it did last year, with a total allocation of \u20ac9.5 billion that still left workers and families worse off than they were before it.  The Taoiseach claimed the ESRI keeps on saying that the lowest two deciles were the greatest beneficiaries of the budget. In fact, the ESRI report says they lost the most as a result of budget 2026 because of the withdrawal of cost-of-living supports. I ask the Minister to have a word with the Taoiseach and ask him to stop gaslighting the public by saying the opposite of what everybody knows is true, which is that they are worse off now as a result of what the Government did in the budget. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy George Lawlor  The Labour Party supports this emergency legislation. We support the rebate because the haulage industry needs relief and it needs it fast. We must act with urgency and a sense of responsibility to the workers and businesses that keep this country functioning. This emergency legislation is not technical and nor is it distant from the daily lives of people. It deals with a crisis that has struck at the very heart of Ireland's supply chain. The sudden and severe spike in fuel prices following the attacks on Iran is drastically affecting large swathes of our constituents.  The haulage industry is not just another sector in Ireland; it is the circulatory system of our economy. As for every loaf of bread on the shelf, every medical supply delivered to hospitals and every export leaving our ports - none of it happens without the trucks that are on our roads day and night. In my county of Wexford, this is not just theory. It is central to the economic reality of a county that is home to some of the largest haulage companies in the country. Be it Rosslare Europort, our agricultural producers or our manufacturing base, Wexford depends greatly on the haulage industry, just as does every other county on this island. Thousands of jobs directly and indirectly rely on a functioning, affordable and stable transport sector. When fuel prices explode overnight, it is not just hauliers who suffer but also every family, every business and every community that depends on the sector.  Supporting this legislation does not mean giving the Government a free pass. It does not mean ignoring the gaps, inconsistencies and unanswered questions associated with it. There is one question in particular that demands an answer. Why has the Government chosen to backdate this rebate to 1 January? What is the difference between the haulage industry and the thousands of householders across the country who have been struggling, week in and week out and for months upon months? We have all heard the stories of individuals and families having to make the choice between food and fuel. Do those people not deserve the same treatment, the same rebate and the same relief? Is their lobby group not as effective or influential? If this measure is a response to the extraordinary shock triggered by the attacks on Iran, then the timeline must make sense. Is this simply a date chosen for administrative convenience? The Minister owes this House a clear and unambiguous explanation. People deserve transparency and honesty.  There is another issue, which goes beyond Government policy and strikes at the heart of the behaviour of certain actors in the fuel supply chain. It is time to call it out plainly. When the attacks on Iran occurred, prices at the pumps rose instantly - not gradually, not cautiously but instantly. We were told the global markets had reacted, suppliers had no choice and the increases had to be passed on immediately. Yet now, when prices are falling and the immediate shock has eased, fuel industry representatives are telling us, as reported in the Irish Independent this morning, that it will be some time before reductions are reflected at the pumps. Prices went up like the rockets that were falling but are coming down like a feather. I say without hesitation that this behaviour is unacceptable, opportunistic and profiteering. It is gouging on the double.  People cannot have it both ways. It cannot be that prices are raised overnight when global markets spike and then feet are dragged when those same markets stabilise or, indeed, when the Government intervenes, as is happening tonight. The industry cannot demand sympathy when costs rise and then refuse to show fairness when costs fall.  It certainly cannot expect the public to swallow the idea that price increases are immediate but price decreases require time. This House should not tolerate it, the public will not tolerate it and the Labour Party condemns it in the strongest possible terms. The Government is stepping in with reductions intended to support consumers at a time of deep crisis but if we allow this behaviour to continue and suppliers delay passing on reductions, it means that support is not going to the consumers, workers and small businesses struggling to survive, but is going straight into the pockets of companies exploiting volatility for profit. That is not a functioning market. That is not fair competition. That is not acceptable in a country that claims to value fairness and transparency.  While we support this legislation, we also demand oversight. We demand monitoring of fuel pricing behaviour. We demand accountability from suppliers who seem to believe that crises are opportunities for profit rather than moments for responsibility to assist everyone. Families are not asking for special treatment; they are asking for fairness. Workers who have to commute to work are asking for recognition of the essential role they play in our economy. They are asking for support during this moment of global instability that they did not create and cannot control.  We absolutely understand the importance of the haulage industry to this economy. We see the trucks on our roads. We see the goods moving through Rosslare Port and other ports. We see the livelihoods that depend on a stable affordable transport sector. We know that if we fail to act to support this industry, the consequences will be felt far beyond the haulage yards. They will be felt in every corner of every county across the entire country.  While we have to pass this legislation, we also have to demand answers. We have to demand fairness. We have to demand that fuel suppliers act responsibly and transparently. There is absolutely no way that we can facilitate this. The Irish people will not be taken advantage of at a time when families and individuals across the board are put to the pin of their collar to live anything approaching a semblance of normal existence.  I am glad to hear that coach and bus operators are included in this. However, we also have taxi drivers and people who must meet spiralling transport costs in their businesses. Protection must be afforded to the many sectors that rely on the use of vehicles of all shapes and makes to keep their heads above water. We will be supporting this legislation, but there certainly are questions that need to be answered. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  Gach l\u00e1 agus gach seachtain, feicimid Rialtas at\u00e1 caillte ar bhealach, Rialtas nach bhfuil c\u00faram gn\u00e1thdhaoine air. N\u00ed g\u00e1 go mbeadh s\u00e9 ar an mbealach seo. Is f\u00e9idir \u00e9 a bheith difri\u00fail. Rinne an Rialtas na roghanna m\u00edchearta. T\u00e1 na tosa\u00edochta\u00ed m\u00edchearta aige. T\u00e1 n\u00edos m\u00f3 agus n\u00edos m\u00f3 daoine \u00e1 mbr\u00fa i dtreo na bochtaineachta aige. T\u00e1 n\u00edos m\u00f3 agus n\u00edos m\u00f3 daoine go hioml\u00e1n br\u00e9an den Rialtas seo. T\u00e1 athr\u00fa ag teast\u00e1il \u00f3 dhaoine. \u00d3 thaobh na gcostas maireacht\u00e1la, n\u00edl s\u00e9 seo maith go leor. N\u00ed m\u00f3r d\u00fainn cruth\u00fa n\u00edos fearr. Cruth\u00f3imid n\u00edos fearr. N\u00edl aon am f\u00e1gtha. N\u00ed fol\u00e1ir d\u00fainn gn\u00edomh\u00fa anois. Caithfimid gn\u00edomh\u00fa go pr\u00e1inneach. N\u00ed fol\u00e1ir don Aire \u00e9isteacht agus gn\u00edomh\u00fa. N\u00ed fol\u00e1ir don Rialtas \u00e9isteacht agus gn\u00edomh\u00fa. N\u00ed rogha \u00e9 go mbeadh a thuilleadh moille n\u00e1 a thuilleadh easpa gn\u00edomha\u00edochta ann. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 chomh simpl\u00ed sin. T\u00e1 tr\u00e1th an ghn\u00edmh tagtha. C\u00e9ard at\u00e1 ar si\u00fal? An bhfuil aon rud \u00e1 dh\u00e9anamh ag an Aire chun \u00e9 seo a shocr\u00fa? An bhfuil aon smaoineamh aige? Does the Minister have any idea of the hardship that people are going through in terms of the overall approach the Government is taking? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  The response from the Government to the cost-of-living crisis that has come on top of a cost-of-living crisis is absolutely inadequate. The Government response is miserly in comparison to the scale of suffering in the country. We are seeing rising numbers of people living in poverty under this Government. The Minister claimed that the Government is addressing these issues. The Taoiseach goes on about addressing and caring about child poverty. One in four children in this country is growing up in poverty right now.  The response we are seeing is absolutely inadequate. The Government's response actually means cuts for ordinary workers, ordinary families, the elderly and disabled people. Disabled people's supports were cut in the budget. It is Scrooge for ordinary people and it is Santa Claus for the investor funds, the developers and the fast-food giants. The Government is giving over \u20ac1 billion this year in public money to investor funds and fast-food giants, yet it turns around to ordinary people and says, \"We have to wait. We're not quite sure if we can give you the money yet.\" The Government has billions sitting in a surplus while, as I said, one in four children is living in poverty.  It gets even worse. The rate of lone parents living in deprivation stands at 49%, and that has increased since 2023. The number of renters getting no rental supports who are living in poverty has increased from 36% in 2023 to 43%. That was last year, before the current increases, which shows the Government is completely ignoring a cost-of-living crisis and a level of poverty that is completely unacceptable. As I said, it is Scrooge for ordinary people and Santa Claus for the wealthy investors and the big fast-food giants.  It is shameful that the Government is not providing a sufficient response for people. Nor is it tackling the issue of price gouging and profiteering, which we know is going on again at the pumps and with the oil providers. The energy costs are crippling for people. People are choosing between heating and eating and it is not good enough. The Social Democrats have called for a targeted energy credit which could really help people. Why is the Government not doing that? It is unacceptable and we will continue to call it out. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  This resolution is very revealing about the Government's approach. Earlier, we had a resolution that introduced inadequate measures, small cuts in excise on petrol and diesel but no price caps, no guarantee, no security for people into the future and nothing to ensure there is not profiteering. Those measures are time limited until the end of May and could be wiped away by the end of the week. Prices could go back down to \u20ac2 per litre and then go back up again by the end of the week. It is something but it is also very inadequate, effectively nothing. On home heating oil, it will mean a \u20ac20 saving on 1,000 litres when the price has very close to doubled over the past number of weeks. That is insulting to people. The underlying thread we hear from the Ministers is, \"Ah sure, we're getting out of the bad weather. People will be grand.\" They certainly will not be; they are struggling.  We have very minimal measures for the general population but then we hear that Resolution No. 2 is a targeted measure. It is a measure which, unlike the ones we voted on earlier that come in tonight and last just until the end of May, is backdated to 1 January and it goes all the way to the end of June. That is fantastic, we think. This must be for the disabled people who were hit by the Government with \u20ac1,400 of cruel cuts in the budget. They have been on the streets demanding again and again an emergency disability payment, not the full cost-of-disability payment which they were promised, not even getting back the \u20ac1,400 that the Government took off them. It should just give disabled people \u20ac400, which is a tiny amount that will go some way to cushion them from the blow, a targeted amount for them.  However, when we read the detail of Financial Resolution No. 2, I am afraid we discover this is not a targeted measure for disabled people but a targeted measure for hauliers.  They will get an extra rebate on diesel to go back to the start of January and to go all the way to the end of June, but ordinary householders will not. Of course hauliers need support. Of course their prices going up will feed through into the rest of the economy in what people pay for the goods they buy in shops and so on. However, what is the measure to do that? It is obvious. It is the same measure as for everybody else. It is dealing with the issue of the price of diesel. However, instead of actually doing that in an effective way for everybody such that they get the benefit and, therefore, consumers and the population at large get the benefit at the end of the day, the Government has done a special scheme just for businesses. It is very revealing of the Government's approach to this new cost-of-living crisis.  I do not think the Government gets it that for ordinary people this cost-of-living crisis comes on top of an existing cost-of-living crisis. People are really suffering. People were already really suffering two months ago. We remember the shocking statistic about four in ten parents skipping or cutting back on meals in order to ensure that their kids have enough to eat. We know there are over 300,000 people in arrears on their energy bills right now. We know that the Government's budget made all of that worse. Despite the misinformation that is put out there by the Taoiseach, we know and the ESRI, the Parliamentary Budget Office and so on will say that the Government's budget made it worse and made it hardest for the poorest groups in our society. That was the impact of its budget: increasing child poverty and increasing rates of poverty, including for older people. The Minister and the Minister of State have woken up to react to that. They are welcome. Let me tell them what the Parliamentary Budget Office said. It said the budget increased poverty rates from 11.7% in 2024 to 13.2% in 2025. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  What did the ESRI say? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  If the Minister of State wants, I will get to him before we finish. The ESRI said that for the bottom 10% the budget would see a cut of about 2.5% in income----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  The ESRI said it was a progressive budget. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  The ESRI did not say that. I will get the Minister of State the exact figures by the time I finish. The Government's budget - people can check it online - hit disabled people and the lowest income groups the hardest.  Let me say what the Government should have done and what we are in favour of doing. We should cap prices. We should give people certainty: \u20ac1.75, as was contained in our Bill, for petrol and diesel. Only a price cap can give certainty and security to car-dependent households. The way you do that is you cap the price and then adjust the tax as necessary to ensure that petrol and diesel can continue to be supplied. Then we need to expand the remit of the CRU to investigate petrol and diesel prices and send inspection teams to verify prices at the pumps. We need fuel companies to open their books to the CRU, and those found to be profiteering should be forced to contribute to the price caps by an amount equal to their excess profits. We need universal credits. The Government should just immediately get \u20ac500 back into the pockets of ordinary householders. It is the most immediate way to give people relief. That can be funded by a levy on the data centres. The data centres are now using more electricity than all households in this State combined and they are paying half the price for it. Let us fund it in that way. Yes, let us give an extra month of fuel allowance, let us give an extra payment, a double payment, on all social protection payments as targeted measures. Then let us invest in getting people away from fossil fuels.  I heard the Taoiseach earlier say that LNG and so on were not contradictory to moving away from fossil fuels. Of course they are. That was the latest demand of Trump at the White House: we want to sell more LNG. The warning signals came and the message should have been heard in terms of Ukraine but it was not. The western world did not do anything to get away from fossil fuels. In this country we have continued on this track of reliance on fossil fuels. The result is that every extra unit of power added by wind has been swallowed up by the data centres, and Miche\u00e1l Martin wants to go even further with them. No more data centres. Let us make public transport free. Let us invest in retrofitting to get off our reliance on fossil fuels, which is what makes us so exposed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  I want to just inject the voices of ordinary citizens into this debate, if I may. These are the voices of a nurse and a garda that were posted on social media today. The first one said:  I am a nurse working in a Dublin hospital but I live in the midlands. I travel 100 km to work and 100 km home every day. We live in the midlands because we can't afford to live in Dublin but we really can't afford to live here either. We're barely surviving. Our main source of heat is oil. We ran out two weeks ago, we can't afford the bill and we can't heat our house. Very few people have that kind of money. We have two kids and it's early nights for all of us now. The only luxury we have is an electric blanket on our bed to keep us warm. The cost of living has gone out of control. I don't get a fuel allowance to help us get to work and back like politicians do. I pay \u20ac10 parking fees on top of soaring prices and I know other staff who are paying \u20ac15 parking fees every single day. I work it out that I can only go on two more months at this rate. I've already had to cut back on our shopping bill. We literally buy only essentials as it is. I don't smoke, drink or have any social life.  A garda responded:  I'm a mother of five. I'm a member of the Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, as is my husband. We are struggling beyond comprehension. We pinch and scrape but we still seem to not have enough. We live week to week and one unexpected bill will put us under. I don't drink, smoke, go out, have takeaways, have luxuries. We have older cars. I can't remember the last time I bought something for myself. The toll it's taking on us is serious. How is it that people with good-paying jobs are still struggling? It's not right, it's not just. I'm heartbroken that our children are missing out so much because we don't have the finances. This government should be absolutely ashamed of itself. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  I have been in contact with the road hauliers last Thursday, yesterday and this morning. They were taken to the end of their tether before this announcement and they are responsible people. They have made it very clear to me that they considered going out on strike but they did not want to go on strike on the basis of the effect it would have on the people they deliver the goods for. At the same time, however, there is only so much they can take before the Government could be faced with that crisis. While this financial resolution alleviates it and I will support it, I will certainly have serious concerns going forward if there is not more immediate action done there.  The Government forgot about the people who have the green diesel, namely, the farmer and the fisherman. It is a drop of only 3 cent on their fuel. Had the Government any thought on how they will survive? Had it any thought on how they will deliver their produce at the rate at which they are expected to deliver? That has not been afforded any thought. The Government is all talk all day about the great Government giving more than the rest of the world. It is taking. It is robbing the people left, right and centre with taxes of 60% to 65%, such as the carbon tax, the NORA levy and excise. It has given it every kind of name in order that it can sex it up and make it look as if it were some other kind of tax. It is tax. It is coming out of the ordinary, hard-working person's pay every day of the week, so when they go to the filling station and put \u20ac100 into it, they are giving \u20ac60 to \u20ac65 to the Government. That is absolutely insane. It is not happening anywhere else in the world, and the Members opposite know that too.  The Government says it is giving a lot this time but it is not giving it back to the people. It has not considered to move us away from the need for fossil fuels. The idea of a floating LNG terminal has been put before the Government. Battery lorries, which work in New Zealand, Japan and all over the world, cannot be thought about here. We are always the laggards and that is all we will ever be. Grants for solar panels are at \u20ac1,800 but you spend \u20ac20,000 on the panels. This is where we are going. Barryroe should have been explored. There are the small things like toll bridge charges. The Government could have stopped them going forward. The toll bridge charges are another kick. You know when you switch on the car in the morning you are paying tax on the car when you purchase it, the tyres are taxed, the fuel is taxed and the oil is taxed. God almighty, we are an insane country to rob our own people, and now when they wanted a little back, the Government still did not give it to them. It is scandalous. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Fitzmaurice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice  I welcome the rebate for the haulage industry. The only thing about it is that is probably for licensed hauliers. What about the person who is a haulier of cattle? A haulage licence is not needed for that. What about people who own hardware and have to bring their own gear somewhere? They do not need a haulage licence. Do they get the rebate? If it is like the things before then they do not. What about the guy bringing straw from up the country? The Government is well aware that they will not get it either. These are the things that need to be looked at.  In looking at today's measures, while I welcome some things on the white diesel, I stated today that this Government has no interest in bringing the price of housing down because every digger working on a housing site today is costing \u20ac120 more per day in green diesel. The Government talks about doing sewerage projects and water projects. Every single machine working on those sites is costing \u20ac120 more because green diesel has gone up by 70 cent and the Government is giving a measly 5 cent back to them. Do not go telling me that the Government is interested in solving a housing crisis when we see the likes of that.  The Minister and the Minister of State are from rural Ireland. The Big Ms will be soon out in about four or five weeks' time. A silage harvester takes 1,000 litres of fuel. It costs between \u20ac600 and \u20ac700 or more to fill that. A Big M will need to be filled again at 3.30 p.m. How can anyone stick that? Is there a rebate for them? No. Where is the farmer going to get more money out of? Where are they going to get all this money to pay this contractor? What has been done is ill-thought out. I welcome the bits that are good, but my God, on the green diesel, does the Minister and the Minister of State realise that the price of white diesel went up by about 50 cent? It has gone from about \u20ac1.75 to \u20ac2.20 or \u20ac2.25. Does the Government realise that the Friday before that guy decided to go bombing Iran that the green diesel cost 98 cent, including VAT. It costs \u20ac1.61 this minute, plus VAT. When I went to school that was about 70 cent more at least. Even if the VAT is drawn back, it is 70 cent more per litre. It is actually 20 cent more than the white diesel has gone up by. The VAT on white diesel is at 23%, while the VAT on this is at 13.5% and the Government thinks it is great for what it has done today. It is a help for the haulage industry and I appreciate that. What about the guy in the quarry? Are we going to build houses without quarries? What about them? The crusher and the loading shovel use green diesel. I do not know what world the economists in the Department of Finance are in but this will cripple the housing industry alone and it will put damnable pressure on the whole agricultural sector. The Minister and the Minister of State know that because they are from rural Ireland. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  I am glad to get the opportunity to talk again this evening on this. I am sorry if I will be repeating some of the things that Deputy Fitzmaurice raised. It is because we are involved with the same kind of people and we are feeling for some of the people that have not been properly seen after here today. I welcome the good points that have been brought forward in relation to the white diesel and for the reduction and rebate for those who will qualify for it. Many hauliers who are very important people and who do great work will not qualify because they did not ever have to have a haulage licence. One of the components to qualify is to be a haulage licence holder. Many of those people will not qualify because they transport livestock. Drivers of lorries moving timber from forests to sawmills will not qualify. Bakeries that transport their own bread and scones or whatever to the shops will not qualify. So many of these will be left behind and it is not fair on them.  On the green diesel, I am sorry to be criticising the Government's reductions but did it totally forget such a thing or does it know what the colour of it is or what it is used for? Tractors are a necessary component of farm production and for many months now, farmers could not go inside their gaps because of bad, incessant rain and weather. There is a whole lot of jobs left behind and still to be done. Many farmers are contemplating not growing the grain at all or ploughing for it because with this they were banking on getting something reasonable. In fairness, 3 cent is not good enough to compensate for the rise of 70 cent over the last two or three weeks. It has gone up from 98 cent to \u20ac1.68 in our neck of the woods anyway. I am sorry that these people have been left behind. They do great things like tractor runs for charities such as the Kerry cancer support group bus that takes many people to Cork. We were out last Sunday and I thank all the young boys and girls that landed in Barraduff with their tractors to support the bus that takes patients to Cork, Dublin and Limerick.  Industrial machinery will be affected. There is an awful lot of talk about house building but a lot of people have gone into contracts for builders and they are now wondering will they be able to perform because of the cost of diesel, which is outrageous. Cranes, teleporters, diggers and dumpers are needed. They all run on green diesel and 3 cent will not make enough of a difference to give them the confidence to stay going.  Fishermen who are already on their knees, use a lot of green diesel to run their boats. They are affected as well. They will not get it any cheaper from the suppliers. I am very disappointed that people who have to use green diesel have not been properly treated here today. A cut of 3 cent is not enough. I am asking the Government to come back with another proposal. Everyone is entitled to make a mistake or to forget something. We cannot leave these people behind like this because it is not fair. When I went into politics, alongside my father, he always said that you have to be fair with everyone. That is what we will have to do here. We will have to be fair with these people. They are not being recognised here at all today. That is being dead honest about it. Because the Government has not got it done today, it must come back in a very short time. It had almost four weeks to put this package together properly. I know it is not the Minister's or the Minister of State's individual job to organise this package but they are the ones in charge. They must get after the officials in the Departments to ensure that the farming community, the people that drive tractors and produce our food are looked after. Food is paramount to stay alive. On top of that, they are one of the major exporters of goods out of this country and they have to be recognised and treated as such. We need to make sure that they want to stay at it. With all the aggro that is thrown at farmers for the climate and blaming them for this and for that, it is wrong to leave them behind.  It was mentioned that the story could get worse and the Government will have to come back to deal with all the other things again. So be it but do not come back here another day without thinking of the farmers, who are so important to the country. They have given so much of their lives. They inherited their places from parents or grandparents and they want to hand them down in the same way as they got it from their fathers and mothers, for their sons and daughters. They will not want to stay at it and when the young people who we are trying to get into the farming sector with generational renewal hear and see this, they will not put up with it at all.  The Ministers must beg, borrow or steal. This Government borrowed almost \u20ac1.8 billion to give to Ukraine to keep the war going. That is our record in the last couple of months but we cannot give a greater part of the 70 cent back to the tractor men and the people who use green diesel. That 3 cent is all they can get. That is a ridiculous percentage. I am sorry for being hard here tonight but, when I think of the people out there, I am not that sorry at all because they have to be represented just the same as everyone else. I am afraid they have been left behind for too long. That is the fact of it. That was demonstrated here today. I welcome the good parts, such as what we are getting for the haulage industry, although not for other sectors. I am sad that the farmers have been totally and absolutely neglected by this Government tonight. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Deputy Robert Troy)  I thank the Deputies for their contributions this evening. The financial resolution amends provisions for a partial repayment of mineral oil tax on auto diesel purchased in the State and used in qualifying vehicles by licensed Irish and EU road transport operators. As the Minister, Deputy Heydon, indicated earlier, this temporary and targeted measure is in recognition of the specific and detrimental impact of increasing fuel prices on hauliers and passenger transport operators and the importance of these sectors to the Irish economy.  The DRS provides a targeted level of support to the operators who keep this country running every day. As an island economy, we rely hugely on hauliers to take our produce and products to us. Passenger transport operators provide invaluable services to schools, to businesses and, as we look deeper into spring and summer, to our tourism sector. The front line of this war might be far from our borders, but these are the businesses that are feeling the daily impact of the situation in the gulf on our roads. Government has sought to support them, including with a backdated measure, so that they can operate with certainty over the months ahead. We are seeing how quickly things change. Even in the last couple of hours, there has been a further update on the Strait of Hormuz. This requires agility and it is agile supports that the Government has brought forward today.  I reiterate the Minister, Deputy Heydon\u2019s affirmation that the Opposition amendment cannot be accepted. I understand that it has been ruled out of order. The amendment proposes that a report be produced on the efficacy of the increase of 4.5 cent in the diesel rebate scheme rate within one week of the passing of this resolution. As the scheme operates on a quarterly basis and claims can be made up to four months after the end of the quarter, the full data required to produce such a report would be unavailable until the end of the final claim period.  Recent increases being felt by consumers and businesses are ultimately driven by market factors. Overnight changes cannot offset all of those increases but, as I have said, the Government is acting with agility to protect and support, insofar as is practical, those at the coalface, our hauliers and our transport operators, including the bus operators who bring people to work and who bring our children to school. The enhancements to the diesel rebate scheme are positive and are targeted at those operators I have described. There is a clear expectation that it will also have a knock-on impact on the customers who use their services. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put: \"That Financial Resolution No. 2 be agreed to.\""},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Will the Deputies claiming a division please rise? "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Deputies Ruth Coppinger and Paul Murphy rose. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  As fewer than ten Members have risen, I declare the question carried. In accordance with Standing Order 87, the names of the Deputies dissenting will be recorded in the Journal of the Proceedings of the D\u00e1il. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question declared carried."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar athl\u00f3 ar 10.55 p.m. go dt\u00ed 9 a.m., D\u00e9 C\u00e9adaoin, an 25 M\u00e1rta 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The D\u00e1il adjourned at 10.55 p.m. until 9 a.m. on Wednesday, 25 March 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Financial Resolution No. 2: Mineral Oil Tax"}]}}]},"contextDate":"2026-03-24"},{"debateRecord":{"house":{"showAs":"34th D\u00e1il","committeeCode":"","houseCode":"dail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/house\/dail\/34","chamberType":"house","houseNo":"34"},"chamber":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/def\/house\/dail","showAs":"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann"},"lastUpdated":"2026-06-09T02:15:28+00:00","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/main","formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/mul@\/main.xml"},"pdf":null},"date":"2026-03-19","counts":{"contributorCount":124,"divisionCount":0,"debateSectionCount":42,"questionCount":27,"billCount":2},"debateType":"debate","debateSections":[{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_2","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_3","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_2","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_3.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  For all the rhetoric, there has actually been very little progress made in tackling the Garda recruitment and retention crisis. There continues to be a severe over-dependence on overtime for routine Garda work. Considering the significant challenges garda\u00ed will face this year, will the Minister inform the House of precisely how many garda\u00ed attested in 2025? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Jim O'Callaghan)  The number of people we have in An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na is extremely important from the point of view of enforcing the law. It is probably the most important part of the functions carried out by us, as Ministers, to ensure that the law we make in this House is enforced.  At present, there is a workforce of approximately 18,000 in An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. This includes 14,397 attested members, 3,527 Garda staff and 308 Garda reserves. Last year, 619 garda\u00ed attested from the Garda College, which, I am pleased to say, was the highest number in seven years. If the Deputy wants to look at this from the point of view of the year of the date of appointment of the Government in January 2025, he will note as well that there was an extra attestation in February of this year, which brought the number who attested up to 786.  Recruitment is going in the right direction. The Deputy used the phrase \"recruitment and retention crisis\". There is no such crisis. In fact, even the representative associations do not now refer to a crisis. Resignations from An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na are really low. Last year, 141 members of the force resigned. That is less than 1%. This is remarkably small when compared with nearby jurisdictions. I know recruitment is going in the right direction because in December, we took in 223 new recruits into Templemore. This is the highest it has been in years. If I can get up to 225 or 250 on each intake, we will get to where we want to be. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  The Minister stated he wants to reach 5,000 attestations over the lifetime of the Government. It does not take much deduction to realise that 619 garda\u00ed attesting in the calendar year of 2025 remains way below what is needed in order meet that goal. That number will come as a surprise to many people, especially when they have heard so much about the fact that over 11,000 people applied to join An Garda last year. That points to a crisis. It certainly points to a failure. Despite the welcome increase in the intakes into Templemore, there has to be a recognition the numbers are still nowhere near where they need to be. What is the Government going to do about this? What additional measures are going to be put in place? We have outlined proposals to increase both the training allowance and the number of training places and to encourage garda\u00ed who have left the force to rejoin it. Has the Minister done any of those things? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  We can agree on one thing, namely that it is heading in the right direction. It is certainly improving. The fact that we have seen the highest number of garda\u00ed attesting in seven years is a very positive story from the point of view of the Irish public.  The Deputy is correct in stating that we ran two recruitment campaigns, in which there was huge interest, last year. We got 11,000 people expressing an interest in applying to join. We are processing those applications much faster. The fact that we got 223 new recruits into Templemore in December is a really positive story. If we can consistently get numbers like that, we will see attestations coming up to the figure of 1,000 and to more than that in the future. The reason we want to do this, as the Deputy will be aware, is because people want to see more garda\u00ed on the streets. On a visit to Cork last week, I heard a very positive account of extra Garda visibility. The same applies in Limerick, as the Minister of State, Deputy Collins, will attest to. A huge amount of work is being done to get the numbers up. That work will continue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  Of course we want to see more garda\u00ed across all the regions, but we also need to address the failure in terms of numbers. In that context, I am sure the Minister will accept that there is far to much reliance on overtime for routine police work. We have far too few community and roads policing garda\u00ed. We are in what is probably an unprecedented year, with the EU Presidency and the upcoming Ireland-Israel UEFA Nations League game, which, unfortunately, is still going ahead. We still have the potential of a visit by Donald Trump in September.  The Minister mentioned the representative organisations. My understanding is that the Garda Representative Association, GRA, has threatened to refuse voluntary overtime as part of its dispute. An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na has classified more than 40 events that will need to be the subject of major security operations during the Presidency . If we are going to rely on overtime for those, it will invariably mean that there will not be enough Garda visibility in areas outside of Dublin. What assurance will the Minister provide to communities that these additional responsibilities for garda\u00ed will not leave their areas under-policed when the events to which I refer are taking place? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  Overtime is always an integral part of the service provided by An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. Every year, there are major events that have to be policed. I have spoken extensively to the Commissioner about the commitments arising from the EU Presidency and the Ireland-Israel soccer match. Whatever happens, the Commissioner has informed me that there will be resources available to police these events.  We want to get as many people as we can into An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. A number of significant changes made in recent times have had a really positive impact. I refer, in particular, to changing the recruitment cut-off age from 35 years to 50. We are now seeing people who are in their 40s and in sedentary careers wanting the excitement of a career in An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. These individuals are joining the force. Also, increasing the mandatory retirement age to 62 has had a very positive impact. I have a very good relationship with all of the associations. They are very co-operative. Like me and, I presume, the Deputy, they want to see what is best for An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and the Irish public. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_4","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Common Travel Area","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_2","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_4","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_4.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I was watching in for parts of the Seanad debate on the International Protection Bill. I was interested in, but not a bit surprised about, the failure, either in the Bill or in the EU migration and asylum pact, to have due consideration for the common travel area. The latter was a dominant part of the debate. What discussions has the Minister had with the British authorities regarding the pact's implementation and its impact on the common travel area? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I thank the Deputy for his very opportune question. Last Friday, at the UK-Ireland Summit 2026 in Cork, I had a discussion with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn, in respect of the common travel area, the new legislation that we are going to enact here and the need to ensure that there will be no abuse of the common travel area. Regrettably, we do see the latter between this jurisdiction and Northern Ireland. Last month, I had a discussion by way of a remote meeting with the Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood. At that meeting, we had a very extensive discussion about issues relating to asylum, the common travel area and other matters of mutual interest.  As the Deputy knows, the UK is not only not part of the EU asylum pact, it also decided to leave the EU and go it alone. It is fair to say, without being too critical of the UK, that this policy has not worked. In order to be able to combat abuse of the common travel area or asylum mechanisms, countries need to work harmoniously with each other. That is why working within the EU is the best approach from Ireland's point of view. The number of asylum applications in the EU last year were down by 20%. In Ireland, they were down by 30%. They were only down by 4% in the UK.  At present, as the Deputy will be aware, the UK is designated by me a safe third country. Once the legislation commences on 12 June, it will again be designated as a safe third country. As I have repeatedly stated, movement in the common travel area between Northern Ireland and the Republic is not permitted for people who are not citizens. I have engaged with the British Home Secretary on the measures that will be introduced, such as data sharing and operational measures. As the Deputy knows, Operation Sonnet is ongoing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  We can have our opinions on Brexit. In fact, I am sure we would agree on many points. However, we would also need to agree on the fact that Brexit is a fact of life and that we find ourselves in a unique position. It is a fact that no other state which has signed up to the EU migration and asylum pact is also part of a common travel area with a state outside of the Union. The Minister has repeatedly made the claim, as have other Ministers, that the majority of international protection applicants enter the State via the common travel area. In fact the Minister's review of Protocol 21, which was published last year, acknowledged that the opt-outs we had to things like the migration pact were important in order to maintain the common travel area.  The Minister referred to discussions he has had with British Ministers. Correct me if I am wrong, but I did not hear anything about either a fundamental change or a new bilateral agreement being on the cards.  Does the Minister not accept that this is what is required between this Government and the British Government if we are to have an asylum process that works? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  The basis upon which we think the greatest number of those claiming asylum in Ireland are coming from the UK is the number arriving at the International Protection Office. This year, 90% of people who have claimed asylum in Ireland did so at the IPO. That leads us to believe they are coming across the Border with Northern Ireland. It is a huge challenge whether we are in the migration pact or not. The simplistic view sometimes put forward is that if we had not gone into the migration pact, we would not have this issue. We would have this issue because of our land border with the United Kingdom and the common travel area. We need to emphasise that people who are not citizens of Ireland, the UK or the Channel Islands are not allowed to travel back and forth across the Border on the island of Ireland. We also need to recognise that I have discussed the issue of data sharing with the British Home Secretary and will reach agreement with her on that. That is extremely important in resolving abuses of the common travel area, as are operational measures between An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, the Police Service of Northern Ireland and Border Force. As to getting a written agreement with the British, I cannot force the British Government to enter into an agreement to take back asylum applicants from the Republic. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  You can try, Minister. That is what I am asking. What efforts have been made? I will touch on the designation of Britain as a safe third country. Let us assume the figures the Minister has given are accurate, although a lot of work needs to be done on the collection of data as to where IP applicants are coming from. Section 220 of the International Protection Bill 2026 requires the Minister to be satisfied that any proposed safe third country fully meets EU standards, particularly in relation to non-refoulement and access to a functional asylum system. Will the Minister outline the assessments that his Department has carried out as to the prospects of Britain meeting these criteria and how these will be assessed? Has analysis been carried out as to what happens if Britain does not meet statutory and EU requirements or if a legal challenge to such designation in the courts were to be successful? The Minister will agree that if the figures he has cited are anywhere close to the reality, this would create huge problems, which could potentially derail the entire system he intends to implement. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  At present, the UK is designated by me as a safe third country. That designation was done on the basis of an assessment. By 12 June, I will designate it as a safe third country under the new legislation, provided I get the assessment. There is no reason to think the assessment will change. Circumstances in Britain have not changed since I previously designated it as a safe third country. On the impact of this measure, under the legislation, certain applications from people who come from a safe third country will be inadmissible. It will also be possible to return people to a safe third country.  As the Deputy will know, when it comes to the deportations that take place and that have taken place, I can only deport or remove people to countries that are prepared to receive them. I cannot just charter a flight, land it in the UK and say \"Here you are\". Co-operation with the UK is required. I have a very good relationship with the Home Secretary. There is recognition of the issues that arise in respect of the common travel area and there will be an agreed response from the Irish and UK Governments. It is a difficult challenge. Can the Deputy come up with a simple response to it? I am not being facetious but the only way to stop it is to put a hard border on the island and we do not want to do that. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Common Travel Area"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_5","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Prison Service","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_2","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_5","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_5.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  Will the Minister respond to reports that women prisoners are being held in degrading and overcrowded conditions in the D\u00f3chas Centre? Does the Government accept that continuing to rely on incarceration without sufficient investment in alternatives to custody risks simply warehousing vulnerable women in the prison system? The phrase \"warehousing vulnerable women\" is not something I have concocted myself. It was used in a report presented to the Minister's Department, which has yet to be released. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I thank Deputy Gannon very much for his question. I am concerned about overcrowding in the D\u00f3chas Centre, the female prison in Mountjoy. To make the House aware of some statistics regarding the centre, as of yesterday, there were 223 women in custody in Mountjoy, 29 of whom were on mattresses. The centre's bed capacity is 146. I am concerned about this. I previously said that I do not have the same level of concern in respect of the women's prison in Limerick, which I know the Deputy has visited. That is true because, as I am sure the Deputy will appreciate, that is a very modern prison.  What is the solution to this? Part of the solution has to be creating more spaces within the D\u00f3chas Centre. I am not saying that is the only solution but it must be part of it. There are plans to build another 65 spaces across the prison system in 2026, 26 of which will be new spaces for the D\u00f3chas Centre. That will increase capacity to 172. As I have indicated previously, I have got approval from Government to develop further prison spaces between 2026 and 2030. The projects that I have got approval for include an extension to Rowan House at the D\u00f3chas Centre that is expected to accommodate 50 female prisoners. There has to be some recognition that more spaces are required. That is my response in respect of that.  An awful lot of work is also being done to ensure that services are provided to facilitate women in availing of supervised temporary release. A scheme is being run by the Irish Prison Service to support the needs of women who are transitioning from prison to the community. The pilot is located in Limerick women\u2019s prison and I am advised that, to date, over 50 women have accessed the scheme, with approximately 25 successful completions. An evaluation of the programme is under way. I will give the Deputy further information on my proposals when I respond to him again. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  I thank the Minister for his response. The figures are fairly stark. Last night, the D\u00f3chas Centre was at 153% of its capacity and 29 women were sleeping on the floor. Can the Minister imagine what that does to a person's capacity for rehabilitation and sense of place in the world? I understand these people have committed crimes and that there are consequences to that but the consequences of placing people in these conditions go well beyond what is appropriate to the crime, impacting their families and their children. I appreciate the Minister has said that 26 extra spaces will be provided at the D\u00f3chas Centre during his term but that same report that has not been released yet also highlighted the fact that the Garda National Immigration Bureau is showing up at overcrowded prisons to place people into them without any consultation with the prison guards. That is extraordinary and it is happening on the Minister's watch. These 26 extra spaces will not fix this. We need something far more radical and different. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  To deal with the issue of the report, that report will be published this week. I only got to look at it in the past ten days or so. I have approved it and it will be published this week. On the other measures that can be put in place, I do not believe prisons are the solution to all of the ills of society. We obviously need a combined approach in respect of these issues. The Probation Service plays a very important role. This year, it is providing over \u20ac21 million in funding to 60 community organisations to cover the costs of providing services and programmes. Probation obviously plays a big role. When this House enacts the miscellaneous provisions Bill, it will provide for the greater use of community sanctions and community service orders.  With regard to what the Deputy has said about deportations, I recognise the pressures this puts on the prison system. Perhaps we need a separate place where people who are going to be subject to enforced deportation can be detained. That is something I will look at. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  I would definitely like to hear a lot more about these separate places because we still have not ratified the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture, OPCAT, on the prevention of torture. Today, I am here talking about the D\u00f3chas Centre. A couple of weeks ago, I was talking about the women's prison in Limerick. The conditions in the men's prisons are extraordinary. We had the Inspector of Prisons before the committee a couple of months ago and his contribution was jaw-dropping. He spoke about conditions in our prison system being tantamount to torture. We know recidivism rates are nearly seven out of ten in this country. Is it time to be more radical? What would a citizens' assembly on prisons and incarceration in this country look like? We should begin a full exploration of our prison system. What is working and what is very clearly not working? What do we need to do differently and what can we do differently? Do we really need to imprison women whose children will have to visit them and be traumatised by that prospect?  There are a lot of things we can do if we had a vision for something very different. Clearly, what we have is not only not working, it has been described as being tantamount to torture. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I do not agree that it is tantamount to torture. Like the Deputy, I have visited the majority of prisons. I have visited seven, and I will be visiting another one very shortly that I have not visited already. There is a lot of excellent work going on in prisons. Many people who come out of prison do not go on to offend again. That is particularly the case in respect of serious offences. I am well aware that there are people in prison who, because of addiction issues or chaotic lives, do go on to commit further offences. That is a challenge in terms of how it can be responded to.  I engaged with the Inspector of Prisons, Mr. Kelly, and had a good conversation with him in respect of this issue. At present, we have about 5,800 people in prison. We have a population of 5.5 million. Ours is not a society that is at the higher echelons of incarceration, either in Europe or across the wider world. We have a moderate view in terms of who needs to be incarcerated. As the Deputy knows, however, there are debates in this House on a variety of issues, including that of victims saying that they want justice, and justice sometimes requires incarceration. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Prison Service"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_6","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Miscarriages of Justice","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_2","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_6","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_6.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I am sure the Minister's office is even more inundated than mine in respect of this matter. Anybody who has ever been a member of the justice committee will have dealt with a huge number of outstanding legacy issues relating to the ongoing legacy of the Garda heavy gang, unresolved cases relating to the conflict and other historical investigative failures. How we have dealt with those matters has been a matter of much debate. The Irish Council for Civil Liberties and the Committee for the Administration of Justice proposed the establishment of a historical inquiries unit. That proposal merits consideration. Is the Minister considering the establishment of such a unit? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  We need to be balanced about this matter. Obviously, there are legacy issues arising from the Troubles in Northern Ireland. The Deputy mentioned the Garda heavy gang. We also have to acknowledge that murders carried out by the Provisional IRA give rise to legacy issues that need to be resolved.  One of the inadequacies of the Good Friday Agreement is that it does not really deal with legacy issues at all. Governments have been grappling with this matter since then. Regrettably, and this applies in many instances, legacy is being used as a political tool. However, we do have to try to deal with legacy issues. Where there are historical offences, it is important that we try to resolve them.  It is important to say that there is no de facto moratorium or amnesty in this jurisdiction in respect of any murders or serious criminal activities that took place during the Troubles in Northern Ireland. That does not happen. There are many serious events that occurred that have still not been resolved. People have not got justice in respect of them. From speaking to An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and officials within my Department, I know that the relevant files remain open.  There has been progress recently. The framework agreement between the two Governments has given rise to a commitment that there a statutory regime to deal with Troubles-related killings, as they are referred to, or incidents will be put in place. That legislation, as the Deputy knows, is going through the Houses of Parliament in the UK. In May, I will bring forward a general scheme to Government in respect of corresponding inquiries here. The Garda Commissioner established a Troubles legacy liaison unit at the beginning of the year. That is an important development. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  Of course, there are a range of historical cases. I am talking about cases in this State in respect of which justice and accountability have not been delivered. There are well-known cases of collusion and cases relating to the legacy of the conflict. The actions of the Garda heavy gang need to be addressed, particularly as those involved were central to a number of miscarriages of justice. The 50th anniversary of the Sallins case is approaching. There was no accountability for the actions of the garda\u00ed involved in those events. The Kerry babies case is an outstanding area of concern. Little or nothing has been done regarding a number of conflict-related events, including the killing of Eddie Fullerton, the Dublin Airport bombing, the Dublin-Monaghan bombings and the case of John Francis Green in my constituency. All of these cases cast a shadow in terms accountability and give rise to an ongoing burden for the families involved.  The Irish Government has supported the establishment of an historical inquiries unit in the North. Why will it not do the same in this State? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  The Deputy has fallen into the trap that I identified earlier. It is difficult not to do that. He stated that the actions of the Garda heavy gang need to be addressed. The murders carried out by the Provisional IRA also need to be addressed. The Deputy referred to Eddie Fullerton, a Sinn F\u00e9in councillor who was brutally murdered. The murder of Billy Fox, a Member of these Houses, needs to be addressed. The murder of Robert Bradford needs to be addressed. We cannot be selective about which atrocity we want to focus upon. That is why the legacy framework that has been agreed to by both Governments is welcome.  The Deputy mentioned the Sallins train robbery. I have already given a response on that matter. I am not going to have a public inquiry in respect of it. If it comes within the parameters of the legacy issues in due course, so be it. The issue in that regard relates to a robbery occurred 50 years ago. Two people had their convictions overturned in 1980. A presidential pardon was given to a third person in 1992. Financial settlements were subsequently made. I want to focus on where justice has not been delivered. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  That answer speaks volumes. Let me be clear: every family that lost a loved one deserves truth and justice. I say that without equivocating or engaging in whataboutery. Let us deal with the Sallins case. Anyone looking at the detail of that matter can see that the investigation was rotten from start to finish. People's confessions were coerced, and that undermined the justice system. The problem is that, under the current framework, the Minister can just say that he does not think there should be a public inquiry. It should not be up to him, me or any other politician to decide which families are entitled to truth and justice. We should have a stand-alone mechanism for people, regardless of their background, the amount of money they have or their level of political influence. If individuals are entitled to the truth, they should have recourse to get it. Otherwise, how do we not create a scenario whereby there is the potential for political favouritism and a feeling that some people are entitled to truth and justice and others are not? That is why the proposal from the Irish Council for Civil Liberties and the Committee for the Administration of Justice warrants consideration. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I am going to conclude on a point of harmony. The Deputy makes a valid point. We do not want people to be selecting individual atrocities for the purpose of investigation. That is what the legacy framework is about. It will predominantly deal with Troubles-related killings. Those are the ones that have to be prioritised in the context of families that have not got justice yet and where there have been no prosecutions let alone convictions. There has been political agreement, but I would like to see legislative co-ordination between both jurisdictions to allow Troubles-related killings to be inquired into. Inquiries would focus on killings that happened during certain periods, and we would not have to decide who would get a public inquiry.  The call from the Irish Council for Civil Liberties related to an inquiry in respect of Sallins. I am not going to do that. I hear the point the Deputy is making. We will benefit from having enacted legislation in both jurisdictions that allows for an independent quasi-judicial inquiry into and investigation of Troubles-related killings. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Miscarriages of Justice"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_7","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_8","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"International Protection","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_7","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Cooney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Brophy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_8.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Cooney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Cooney  County Clare has welcomed significant numbers of Ukrainian people fleeing the war, just as it did with Hungarian and Kosovan refugees in the past. Our communities opened their schools, organisations and workplaces to them.  Now, four years on, many Ukrainians are moving on from emergency accommodation and hotel contracts are ending. Will the Minister of State confirm how many contracts have been concluded and how many beds may return to their original purpose? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Brophy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Colm Brophy)  As the Deputy knows, Ireland remains steadfast in its support for Ukraine. My Department continues to work as part of a whole-of-government response to the war in Ukraine with a focus on providing access to emergency, but temporary, accommodation to those fleeing the conflict. For new arrivals, State-contracted accommodation is provided for 30 days in designated centres, together with supports to assist them in making independent living arrangements for those who wish to remain for the duration of temporary protection. As of 13 March 2026, over 125,700 people have fled Ukraine and received temporary protection here. Of those, over 94,300 have requested and been provided with access to State-supported accommodation. Almost 19,200 people are currently in State-contracted accommodation. This is a significant and welcome reduction from a peak of, believe it or not, 60,000 people in November 2023.  All accommodation contracts by my Department are temporary in nature. Persons with temporary protection are advised of that when requesting access to be assigned to temporary accommodation. Approximately 531 contracts are in operation. Our current contracted accommodation capacity is approximately 22,450 beds. It includes hotels, guesthouses and bed and breakfasts. In sourcing and securing accommodation, the central consideration is the safety and security of the displaced people fleeing the war in Ukraine. In 2024 and 2025, approximately 420 and 195 contracts, respectively, were able to be terminated in terms of changes that we are making in the reduction in numbers. So far in 2026, 25 contracts have been terminated and we have received three notices from providers for termination of contracts.  In relation to County Clare, as of the end of February 2025, there were 31 contracts, which was equivalent to 2,610 beds. To give the Deputy an indication, as of the end of February 2026, there were only 18 contracts, with 1,041 beds, representing a very significant return of beds from this area.   Additional information not given on the floor of the House   With this reply, I am providing the Deputy as requested with a table that shows the number of contracts and beds by county at the end of February 2025 and end February 2026.          February 2025          February 2026            County      No. of contracts      No. of beds      No. of contracts      No. of beds       Carlow    8    281    7    200      Cavan    19    687    13    221      Clare    31    2610    18    1041      Cork    67    4248    50    2121      Donegal    56    2504    41    719      Dublin*    69    4486    64    3536      Galway    43    2348    36    1225      Kerry    111    5867    102    3449      Kildare    7    1822    6    1049      Kilkenny    13    942    13    720      Laois    6    202    6    165      Leitrim    12    450    10    258      Limerick    23    1967    14    1197      Longford    6    167    5    140      Louth    16    912    11    761      Mayo    29    1823    21    924      Meath    15    1369    9    613      Monaghan    6    250    6    115      Offaly    18    1172    16    791      Roscommon    8    465    6    186      Sligo    28    1355    20    431      Tipperary    26    918    17    541      Waterford    13    918    10    643      Westmeath    16    1234    11    463      Wexford    32    1665    22    920      Wicklow    16    1339    14    988       TOTAL     694    42,001    548    23,417     *Please note that the figure for Dublin includes Citywest with 1,704 beds. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Cooney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Cooney  I thank the Minister of State for the reply and welcome the reduction in the hotel contracts. This is a positive step, showing that many people are moving on from emergency accommodation by finding homes, entering work and moving elsewhere. We should recognise the support of Clare communities and the contribution many Ukrainians have made in return. Hotels returning to serving visitors is an important opportunity for tourism and the hospitality sector. It will support local businesses, boost occupancy and protect jobs, which is important. Will the Minister of State provide data on how many businesses have exited contracts and are now operating again as tourist accommodation? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Brophy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Brophy  I have supplied the Deputy as part of my answer to him a table in tabular form with all the information for every county. I have outlined the total figures to him. It is important to recognise that, as part of an ongoing process, we are moving toward a reduction and eventual elimination of this accommodation situation. There will be a motion coming forward in the D\u00e1il next week regarding the extension of the accommodation recognition payment, ARP. Temporary protection is something that was brought in by the European Commission across Europe, and we wanted to support it in that. As we look to the future and changes in that area, though, we want to see businesses going back to what they were doing originally and having the ability to put beds and accommodation back into local communities for the benefit of those local communities and areas. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Cooney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Cooney  Clare has lost thousands of tourist bed nights each month over the past four years, with the vast majority in north and west Clare, where tourism is a key part of the local economy. While I understand that tourism is not directly within the Minister of State's brief, the return of this bed stock is both vital and important. It must be managed to ensure that it delivers the maximum benefit quickly. Will the Minister of State outline whether there is any engagement with local authorities, F\u00e1ilte Ireland or Tourism Ireland to make the most of this capacity returning to the market? Are any targeted promotional campaigns planned to boost visitor numbers, where returning to our capacity will make a real and welcome difference? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Brophy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Brophy  Obviously, that is not within my area. That would be more within the area of the Minister with responsibility on the tourism side. From our point of view as a Department, what we want to do is facilitate the return of beds to the sector so that they are there and available. Like the Deputy, I would like to see, particularly in a wonderful county like Clare, that those beds would go back into the accommodation, tourism and hospitality sectors. Hospitality and tourism are key drivers for economics in a whole host of counties in our country and are very important. Therefore, as an initial stage, what we are doing here is making the beds available again by terminating the contracts and moving out of this area. I would hope, therefore, that in conjunction with the local authorities, the necessary tourism boards would put in place a process to ensure that those beds go back into hospitality. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 6 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"International Protection"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_9","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Ukraine War","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_7","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Cooney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Brophy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_9.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Cooney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Cooney  I believe that a lot of people in County Clare have been housed through the accommodation recognition payment scheme. From what I can see, it is working well and I have not heard of any major issues from house owners or tenants. It is important that we have a clear picture of how many people are supported under this scheme nationwide. With that in mind, will the Minister of State provide an overall number and county-by-county breakdown of the properties receiving the accommodation recognition payment? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Brophy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Brophy  I thank the Deputy. The accommodation recognition payment was introduced to recognise the generosity of people who opened their homes to provide accommodation to beneficiaries of temporary protection in Ireland who fled the war in Ukraine. The ARP scheme is provided in Part 2 of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 and is administered by the Department of Social Protection on behalf of our Department. The scheme involves a monthly payment of \u20ac600 to a host in respect of providing accommodation in accordance with the rules of the scheme. The ARP is not rent and is not payable where there is a rental agreement in place.  The scheme currently extends to March 2026 but it may be extended by ministerial order - as I mentioned earlier, a motion will be before the D\u00e1il next week in relation to that - in accordance with the legislation. The Deputy may be aware that motions are to be considered in this House and in the Seanad next week that will extend the scheme to March 2027 in line with the current application of the EU temporary protection directive. By the end of February, the ARP scheme had supported over 42,000 temporary protection beneficiaries accommodated in over 23,500 properties at a monthly cost of approximately \u20ac14.5 million.  I am providing in tabular form with this response the information sought by the Deputy.              Awarded Claims \u2013 Property Distribution by County        County      February 2025      February 2026       Carlow    442    538      Cavan    359    442      Clare    562    633      Cork    1504    1791      Donegal    1812    2177      Dublin    3071    3399      Galway    989    1120      Kerry    1182    1443      Kildare    656    816      Kilkenny    242    300      Laois    300    376      Leitrim    372    471      Limerick    861    1037      Longford    339    402      Louth    612    730      Mayo    1297    1542      Meath    528    635      Monaghan    275    305      Offaly    437    537      Roscommon    112    134      Sligo    501    619      Tipperary    820    1014      Waterford    753    886      Westmeath    612    730      Wexford    883    1052      Wicklow    429    477       Totals      19950      23606       "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Cooney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Cooney  I believe this scheme shows that trust, along with fair financial support, can bring thousands of homes into the rental market. Over 42,000 people are currently housed in more than 20,000 properties, mostly without formal inspection or registration. That is a lot of people willing to rent out their properties under the right circumstances. I am not against proper oversight, but this scheme clearly shows that a system that is simple, fair and works for both sides can be effective. There also appear to be very few complaints about conditions or arrangements. Is there any data that gives way to this? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Brophy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Brophy  The scheme has worked, but the time for the scheme should come to an orderly conclusion. Like all temporary schemes, I believe you must look, introduce where needed and phase out where it is no longer appropriate. It is therefore my view that we will be extending the scheme as indicated for 12 months. This will be part of a phasing out process of the ARP. It will also be the intention to reduce the payment from \u20ac600 to \u20ac400 as part of that phasing out of ARP. That will enable us to have a gradual winding down of the scheme.  Ukrainians who have enjoyed temporary protection in Ireland are a welcome part of our community. There are many opportunities for them to avail of housing in their own right and many Ukrainians are doing so at the moment. We will work to a process of making it very clear the ARP scheme will be coming to an end and will have a phase out on it. I want to make that clear to the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Cooney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Cooney  The difference between this scheme and the current private rental market is something we should look at closely. The private rental sector sees a lot of RTB disputes, complaints and at times poor relationships between landlords and tenants. The ARP scheme shows a different way of doing things. When property owners are offered a fair, simple and worthwhile arrangement, they respond well. Over 20,000 have already done this.  There are lessons here that could bring more homes into use, ease pressures on rents and improve things for many people who depend on the rental market. It would be a very positive outcome from this programme. Has there been any discussion between the Department of justice and others on how a model like this could be expanded? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Brophy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Brophy  I acknowledge what the Deputy is saying but we have to remember how the process of temporary protection came about. It was a temporary process in reaction to accommodation being made available to provide for Ukrainians who had fled from a war. It was designed and put in place as a very particular measure and to facilitate people welcoming people into their homes. It is something for which its time and place is naturally coming to a conclusion. There is a better and fairer way to do it, which allows everyone to have the same access rights to accommodation. The longer term position for Ukrainians who either will or will not return home at the end of the war is that we are putting in place a situation where access to accommodation will be equal and fair with everybody else. While I acknowledge what the Deputy is saying about the scheme and some of its benefits in freeing up accommodation, at this point the best way to deal with it is the orderly wind down we are proposing and moving to the next stage. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ukraine War"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_10","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Domestic Violence","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_7","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_10","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_10.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail  I had the opportunity to visit Teach Tearmainn women\u2019s refuge in Kildare recently where I met Lorraine Rowan, the CEO, and her team who are carrying out incredible work. A lot of questions arose from that meeting, particularly the need to outline the criteria being used by Cuan in identifying priority locations for new refuge units and if counties with established domestic, sexual and gender based violence services, such as Kildare, may be considered for inclusion in future phases of refuge development. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I thank Deputy \u00d3 Cear\u00fail for his question. I have also visited Teach Tearmainn. It is a wonderful refuge in County Kildare but, like very many of the refuges that have been established, it is obviously under pressure in terms of meeting the demand for its services, unfortunately.  Cuan is instrumentally part of funding to ensure that we can provide refuges and safe homes for predominantly women who are fleeing domestic violence. We are now increasing funding for Cuan, which is within my Department, up to \u20ac80 million per year. It is a very important function that is carried out within my Department. Obviously, there is collaboration between Cuan and a series of stakeholders, whether local authorities, the Department of housing and housing agencies. Between them the objective is to try to identify and ensure there are refuges or, indeed, safe homes, which are of use also, around the country to ensure there is sufficient refuge space and safe home space for people fleeing domestic violence.  The Deputy\u2019s specific question was around whether another location in Kildare could be identified. While Kildare has not been identified as a priority location for new refuge construction in the current phase, Cuan is considering it as a location for consideration in future refuge development programmes and is supportive of ensuring Kildare is on the priority list for phase 2 development.  A lot of work is being done around ensuring new refuge spaces are established. A lot were established last year. The number increased by 13, with four in Louth and nine in Dublin, bringing the total number to 172 refuges. Additionally, another nine units have been developed in Dublin 22 and further units are being developed. I will liaise with Cuan in respect of ensuring Kildare is adequately serviced. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail  I welcome the Minister saying that Cuan is considering Kildare for phase 2 development. That is welcome news. Teach Tearmainn is in Kildare town, which is quite a considerable distance from the north of the county, from the likes of Maynooth, Leixlip, Celbridge, Kilcock and Clane, and it is technically in the Kildare South constituency. However, it caters for women not only across Kildare but also across the midlands. The work it does is truly outstanding.  One thing that has arisen for Teach Tearmainn is the amount of court-based related work it has been carrying out in Naas. There is need for a refuge centre in Naas, although I should say it has safe houses there. When will phase 2 be considered so that the likes of Teach Tearmainn can plan for the future? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  We need to take a broad look at the work Cuan is doing. It is working towards having a minimum of 50 new refuge units under construction across multiple sites this year. Last year the number of safe homes increased by eight which increased the total safe-home capacity to 60. It is working to increase that capacity to 94. That means that by the end of 2026, we aim to increase the number of safe accommodation spaces, refuges and safe homes to 287.  I will come back to the Deputy on the priority phase 2 development issue he raised in terms of timelines. The priority list for phase 2 development has a timeline but a lot of it is about identifying a suitable location. Sometimes that can be difficult to identify. I hear what the Deputy says about Naas. I am happy to engage with him on any proposals he thinks would be suitable for provision of a refuge. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail  I want to state my appreciation for the work the Minister, Cuan and the Department are doing in increasing supports for domestic violence survivors and indeed those who care for them. What the likes of Teach Tearmainn are looking for is the long- and medium-term assurances that staffing capacity will keep pace with the rising need. We are seeing a rising need, particularly in domestic violence situations which is quite worrying. It is not just in Kildare - it is across the country \u2013 and that is reflected in the increased number of refuge centres across the country and in the work the Department is doing. I want to acknowledge the vital work Teach Tearmainn is doing under real pressure and under constraints. The Minister has seen it himself. It has a really impressive set up. Kildare has the population, the demand and the established service infrastructure with Teach Tearmainn to cater for and care for more women not only in Kildare but across the region. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I agree on Teach Tearmainn. It is in a very peaceful location at the end of a quiet road. It is something I am very pleased my Department has been funding. Last year my Department provided funding to Teach Tearmainn of \u20ac930,000. It will be funded again this year with probably an increase on that.  While Kildare has not been identified as a priority for new refuge construction in this current phase, Cuan is aware of this as a location for consideration in future. I will engage with the Deputy on this. The demand for these services is very significant, regrettably, but they are needed for short-term refuge spaces for women fleeing domestic abuse. As I will say in my response to the next question, we cannot develop a situation where the default position is that women who are the victims of abuse leave the house while the abuser remains there. We need to move on from that. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Domestic Violence"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_11","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Domestic Violence","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_7","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_11","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_11.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Grace Boland  I met the new superintendent in Balbriggan this week and she confirmed to me that domestic abuse continued to be one of the most persistent issues in north County Dublin and, I have no doubt, throughout the country. Victims should not be the ones forced to abandon their homes. The victim stays and the abuser leaves must become the standard practice and not just a principle. I ask the Minister to provide an update on his work with Cuan to make sure this principle is actually happening in practice. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  As I indicated in my response to Deputy \u00d3 Cear\u00fail earlier, we have to be very careful when discussing the issue of women fleeing domestic violence that we do not present the solution as being removing the woman from the house and putting her, long term, into emergency accommodation in a refuge or a safe home. That cannot be the long-term solution. Refuges or safe homes are needed because sometimes there is an emergency requirement, on a short-term basis, for a woman and her children to leave the home where the abuser is. Ultimately, however, what should be happening if a woman is being abused within a domestic relationship in a home that both partners own or are in a joint tenancy is not that the woman is forced to leave, but the man, the abuser.  My Department is working to develop a new policy on removal orders to take offenders out of the home in high-risk cases. In particular, new powers are under active consideration that would allow garda\u00ed to intervene in cases where they believe there is a high risk of domestic violence offences being committed. Deputy Boland will be aware that emergency barring orders can be sought under section 9 of the 2018 legislation on domestic violence and that is something that needs to be invoked more. An order under section 9 may not exceed eight working days and further emergency barring orders may be made against a respondent within a month of the expiry of a previous barring order where exceptional circumstances justify this. I am aware that those statutory provisions are available and I would like to see more women using them. I will be discussing this with Cuan but, ultimately, it is a matter for this House and the Seanad to determine whether new legislation is required. My own view is that it is not required. What is there in terms of the use of barring orders should be used more, availed of more and provided for more by the courts. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Grace Boland  I appreciate the Minister's comments on this. We know the lived reality is that these measures are not being taken quickly enough. What steps is Cuan taking, with the Minister's support, to deliver in terms of ensuring victims are supported in a timely way so that they remain safe? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  Cuan is actively collaborating with statutory agencies and organisations to ensure effective responses to reduce the incidence and duration of homelessness arising from domestic violence and to support pathways for long-term accommodation for victims. The demand for safe accommodation remains high and Cuan continues to work with services and agencies to support victim survivor progression and, where appropriate, safe return. Individuals who are victims of domestic abuse need to be aware of the statutory powers that are in place to enable them to get barring orders against an abusing partner. That is something that is not being used as much as I would like. However, I am conscious that it takes time when an application is made. There is a period before the order can be made by the court to remove the abuser from the home. The legislation is strong but we need to spread the message more that the remedy is available. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Grace Boland  In terms of making sure that we are following up and doing everything we can in this House, will the Minister commit to publishing clear data on outcomes of domestic abuse cases, including instances where the victim is allowed to stay in the home rather than having to leave, as well as data on the various delays and barriers in the system? We must ensure that all garda\u00ed have the appropriate knowledge and can support all victims. Will the Minister also commit to bringing forward any necessary changes, whether they be legislative or operational, to ensure victims are not displaced? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I agree that data in this area is extremely important. If I have data on outcomes in domestic abuse hearings, I will certainly put it into the public domain, if possible, because it would be important to do so. There have been very significant improvements on the part of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na in recent years in dealing with domestic abuse. I have engaged with protective units within An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na that deal specifically with domestic abuse. I will not identify the areas where I have engaged with them but, regrettably, they are very busy. There is a high level of professionalism and knowledge on the part of garda\u00ed who are dealing with what is a really difficult type of policing requirement. In many instances, they are called late in the evening, alcohol may have been consumed and there is a domestic row. It is a difficult scenario for An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na but its members are really advancing the interests of victims now and we are beginning to see that. Many people who come out of court as a result of domestic cases praise An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na for the support they got. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Domestic Violence"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_12","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Proposed Legislation","counts":{"speechCount":3,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_7","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_12","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_12.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I thank Deputy Gannon for this interesting question. I announced recently that the Government had approved my proposal to start the process of drafting a new communications interception and lawful access Bill that will update the legislation that is there at present. We can all appreciate that there are circumstances when it is necessary and appropriate for An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na to be able to access messages or communications between individuals when garda\u00ed are investigating serious criminal offences. We have seen cases in our courts previously where the communication of messages between individuals has been centrally important in securing convictions for murder, serious child sexual abuse, serious armed robbery or violence. The legislation that I operate under at present was developed and enacted in 1993. It is completely outdated, and it is not just me who is saying that. The judges who conduct the reviews of the work that I conduct under that 1993 legislation have repeatedly stated that the legislation is outdated.  What I am proposing to do is to bring forward legislation that will have very significant safeguards in place. That is a legitimate concern of Deputy Gannon and many others. The safeguards that I am going to ensure will be in place will be such that there will be some form of judicial authorisation of interception requests. There will also be a requirement that agencies requesting an interception will have to outline any issues regarding privileged material, should that arise in any unusual circumstances. Obviously, it is also important to be able to access encrypted messages. A lot of serious criminal activity is being communicated at present with the benefit of encryption. I need to ensure that garda\u00ed can gain access to such encrypted messages because they contain a lot of detailed information that will be of use in the investigation of serious offences. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  I understand the rationale for a measure like this. I understand that the legislation the Minister is working off is from 1993 and its drafters would never have foreseen the world we are in now but we need to move carefully and cautiously with a measure such as this. Some of the technology being referenced here might be developed by companies such as Pegasus, for example. In other jurisdictions, Pegasus spyware has been used as a way of monitoring political opposition and has been used unlawfully against journalists.  I understand the rationale for this and we are in a very different world, but I ask the Minister, when he brings forward this legislation, to respect the process by which we can apply the right level of scrutiny. I ask him to work with organisations that can demonstrate best practice in oversight and to make sure that the Oireachtas justice committee has full sight of everything the Minister is proposing at the pre-legislative scrutiny stage. I can absolutely see why a measure like this is necessary but the world may also be very different in ten or 20 years' time. A Government ten years from now may be very different from the one we have now or next and may have a different attitude, so the careful drafting of this legislation is important. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I agree with the Deputy that any proposal like this should be considered and progressed carefully and cautiously. What we are trying to do is balance rights.  The rights about which the Deputy is particularly concerned are obviously the rights of privacy, which have to be protected. We do not want to see a situation where the State is able to stick its nose into legitimate communications that do not involve criminal activity by individuals. On the other side of the scale is the fact we need to be able to investigate serious criminal behaviour but at present we do not have access to a lot of information that would be of use in investigating serious criminal behaviour.  The Deputy mentioned a number of issues in terms of type of software that can be used. That is not an issue of concern at present. I know it is an issue of concern to the Deputy and it may arise in the future but the important thing is to put in place a statutory regime that enables access in certain limited circumstances and that very strong safeguards are put in place. If strong safeguards are in place, the Deputy will not have too much to be worried about. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Proposed Legislation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_13","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Residency Permits","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_7","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_13","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Brophy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_13.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Paul O'Shea  I am taking this question on behalf of Deputy Colm Burke. I would like extend my sympathies to Deputy Burke on the recent death of his mother-in-law. Our thoughts are with him and his wife Mary at this time. Ar dheis D\u00e9 go raibh a anam d\u00edlis.  I wish to ask the Minister about his views on the ongoing delay in processing immigration permission renewal applications in view of the fact that at present only applications received from early December 2025 are being processed, the action his Department is taking to reduce the current processing timeline and if he will make a statement on the matter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Brophy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Brophy  I begin by joining the Deputy in offering my sympathies to Deputy Colm Burke.  The registration office of the Department is currently experiencing an exceptionally high demand for immigration permission renewal applications. This has regrettably reduced the timeline of the service to our customers. I understand that the extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants but I assure the Deputy the Department is exploring every avenue available to facilitate as many customers as possible. I had a meeting with my officials on this matter in the past couple of weeks, primarily to increase that processing capacity. The registration office is already open seven days a week to facilitate customers, with a team working considerable overtime as well to try to facilitate this.  Further measures are being put in place to reduce processing times. I expect this will address the delays currently being experienced. The registration office also provides a live processing date, which is updated every Monday, and is available on the website of the Department. It is currently processing applications submitted from 22 December 2025. It is open to customers to submit their applications up to 12 weeks in advance to allow sufficient time for an application to be processed and I would encourage people to take advantage of that.  Deputy Burke mentioned employers and the legality of employment to me, and I am sure he intended to mention it today. We have issued a notice to employers regarding the legality of employing someone awaiting renewal. That notice is also available on the website, so there should be no ambiguity in that area for employees who are worried, or for employers in terms of this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Paul O'Shea  I thank the Minister of State for his ongoing work in this space. It is very important to see that we are increasing capacity here in terms of renewal of applications. It is good to see the office is open seven days a week and people are working overtime to address the backlog. It is hugely frustrating for people who have applied and are waiting for an answer on this. I do take the point though in terms of seeking applications 12 weeks in advance. That is something we need to get out there a lot more, giving applicants and employers that assurance that they can submit renewal applications up to 12 weeks in advance. It is encouraging that the Minister of State will to continue to work with his officials to see whether they can reduce the timeframe associated with this. We all collectively want to see these applications processed within a four to six-week period, if at all possible. I encourage the Minister of State to continue his work in that regard. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Brophy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Brophy  I will do so. As part of that assurance, it is important to say if a person's IRP card has expired and he or she is unable to obtain his or her new one by the expiry date, he or she is still legally permitted to remain in the State. His or her existing IRP card has another maximum of 12 weeks. I fully acknowledge it is frustrating and worrying for people going through this process but, again, I assure the Deputy resources are being put into it to try to eliminate the delays being experienced because of high volume and demand and that we believe we will be in a much better position in terms of catching up and providing the service in the timeline we would like to see for everybody going forward. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Paul O'Shea  The Minister of State's comments of the extension of the IRP card are very welcome - up to 12 weeks after the expiry date. Is it the Minister of State's intention to reduce processing time to four to six weeks? If so, is there a timeframe in which he would like to see that happen over the next number of months and years? It is good to see it brought up in the House today because it is of concern to many people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Brophy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Brophy  We want an efficient and effective service that allows for the fact of those 12 weeks and the fact people are getting a turnaround. There are some exceptional reasons for the surge in demand in terms of the number of people applying. There are particular surge points at different times a year where the numbers go up. We are putting the technology and the systems in place that we believe will allow us to manage this and deliver on the timeline we want to see for people getting their renewals. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Residency Permits"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_14","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Sentencing Policy","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_7","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_14","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_14.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  I wish to ask the Minister about the assessment he has made on the impact of suspended or short custodial sentences on victims of child abuse and the circulation of such material online, whether he has evidence that current sentencing levels act as a meaningful deterrent regarding child sexual abuse materials and what legislation policy tools he is prepared to deploy if judicial guidelines prove ineffective. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I thank Deputy O'Flynn for this question and the related Questions Nos. 20 and 22.  I recognise the profound and lasting harm caused by offences involving child sexual abuse material, CSAM. What makes this offence particularly pernicious is the fact that when it is done online, there is a continuation of that abuse and damage to the child as a result of the repeated distribution of it online. That is an approach that has to be taken into account when looking at the uniqueness of this offence. As Deputy O'Flynn will be aware, there is a range of offences under the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998 to address all forms of such abuse. The Act provides for very severe penalties, including for the most serious offences, with a maximum penalty of up to life imprisonment.  Among EU member states, England and Wales, Ireland\u2019s penalties across the 20 offences are on average higher than the vast majority of other countries. A review conducted by my Department indicates that Ireland's penalties to address child sexual abuse offences are among the most punitive in Europe and far exceed the maximum sentence requirements set out in the 2011 child sexual abuse directive. The Deputy may be aware that directive is being renegotiated at present. There needs to be a new child sexual abuse directive within the EU considering developments that have arisen.  If we look at the penalties under some of the legislation, whether the 1998 Act or the 2017 sexual offences Act, we can see that the penalties range up to ten to 14 years. Under the 1998 Act, there are penalties up to life imprisonment for child trafficking and taking a child for sexual exploitation or up to 14 years for the participation of a child in pornographic performances. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  I thank the Minister for the reply but I am asking whether the Department has carried out a full assessment of this. We can all call a spade a spade. Not a month has gone by where we have not read an article in a newspaper regarding suspended sentences for first-time offenders or those who have been caught for the first time when it comes to child sexual abuse images and online images.  Certainly, it upsets a number of people in my constituency and Members in this House as well when we see people with large volumes of vile images being used and circulated, and walking away with a suspended sentences.  I appreciate there is a precedent with the Loving case. We all are aware of that in this House. What I am getting at is whether the Minister is prepared to introduce legislation to circumvent this because District Court judges are saying they are stuck because of the precedent with the Loving case. I also appreciate that for a second-time offender, who has received a suspended sentence, that under the 1998 Act, all judges provide very stiff sentence. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  Sentencing is a very complex area of a judge's function. Generally, what we do in this House is set out what the maximum sentence can be. Sometimes we put in a mandatory sentence - such as in the case for murder where there is the common law mandatory sentence of life in prison - but, in general, we set maximum sentences and give leeway to the Judiciary to decide where to go.  Obviously, no offence is going to be similar. No offender is going to be similar, as Deputy O'Flynn will be aware, even in the area of child sexual abuse. Obviously, somebody who is a repeat offender would merit a much stronger custodial sentence than a person who was convicted for the first time.  I am not proposing to bring forward legislation at this stage to amend the provisions in respect of sentencings that are contained within the 1998 and 2017 legislation but it is important to be aware that under the sentencing guidelines, we can and hope to see the Judiciary set out guidelines for certain types of criminal offences. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  I have to say I am disappointed to hear the Minister is not prepared to bring new legislation to this House. At this stage, should we not be setting a minimum rather than just a maximum sentence given the type of crime it is? These are the most heinous images of child abuse and surely we should be providing for a minimum sentence at this stage rather than setting the maximum. I would ask the Minister to reassess that. I notice the Minister did not answer my last question about what assessments are being done. I do not know if he has that information in front of him today. I would ask the Minister to reconsider the idea that he would not introduce new legislation to set minimum sentencing rather than maximum sentencing. I know it is slightly different but it is time to reconsider whether we put in a minimum sentence or not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  The Deputy raises an interesting point about the use of mandatory minimum sentences. We did that previously in this House in respect of firearms offences where we said there was to be a mandatory sentence of, I think, five years and the Supreme Court looked at that and said it was unconstitutional because it did not give any exceptionality or discretion to a court. Introducing minimum mandatory sentences could get us into significant difficulties because we have to allow some discretion to a court. As the Deputy indicated, if it was the case - and I know these are horrific offences - that it was a very naive 18-year-old who foolishly looked at something online and saved it as compared to somebody who, for profit, was generating images of children for sexual abuse and for the purpose of generating income and who had a series of offences, those two offenders would have to be treated differently. I am concerned that if we had a minimum mandatory sentence, it could require no discretion on the part of the court. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Sentencing Policy"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_15","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_7","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_15.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  I want to ask the Minister the number of Garda members who have retired or resigned from An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na in each of the past five years, whether his Department has carried out any analysis of the reasons for those departures, the number of members currently eligible to retire within the next three years and the measures being taken to improve retention within the force. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I thank Deputy Gannon for his question. I alluded to this in my response to Deputy Carthy earlier. In terms of resignations, 141 garda\u00ed resigned from An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na in 2025. That is a very low number. The number of garda\u00ed is over 14,300 and, therefore, it is less than 1%. In terms of the number of retirements and resignations together over the past five years, 382 garda\u00ed resigned or retired in 2021, 446 in 2022, 486 in 2023, 377 in 2024 and 359 in 2025. As I said, those figures include resignations and retirements. There is nothing we can do about garda\u00ed who get to the retirement age and who want to retire but I suppose the figure that is of concern to me - I do not know if it is a concern to the Deputy - and that I would be interested in is that for resignations.  The number of resignations has been low for the years to which I referred. In 2021, there were 89 resignations; in 2022, there were 106; in 2023, there were 167; in 2024, there were 137; and, as I said, last year, there were 141. That is indicative of low levels of resignation from the force, which is good. It is not something I am complacent about. I want to ensure that people who join up to An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na find it a fulfilling career and that their terms and conditions are good. It is part of my function to ensure that resignations are kept as low as they are. It is a good sign because when you look at the Met, the PSNI or police forces in other places, you will see resignations are much higher than that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  I thank the Minister for his response. There was one part of the question he did not answer, which was the number of garda\u00ed eligible to retire within the next three years. That is a figure of particular concern to me. When the Minister wrote about this issue in 2024, it was of particular concern to him. At that time, he talked about nearly 50% of the force becoming eligible for retirement by 2028. The figure he had in that article in 2024 was 6,400 garda\u00ed becoming eligible for retirement. That was because in the late 1980s and 1990s, there was a large recruitment drive and the majority of those garda\u00ed are now coming towards retirement age. The genuine concern is that the number of people we are recruiting to the Garda will not be able to match the number of garda\u00ed who are reaching the age of eligibility for retirement. Previously, the Minister talked about activating the Garda Reserve and the expansion of Templemore but, as he said himself, there is potential for a retirement crisis on the horizon. What is the Government doing to mitigate that? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I should have answered that question because the Deputy did ask it. There is a cumulative figure of 1,792 garda\u00ed that will become eligible to retire by 2028. That, of course, does not mean that this number will retire over this period, only that they will be eligible to do so. For example, a Garda member may have 30 years of service or more at age 55 but may opt not to retire for the next seven years until they reach the mandatory retirement age of 62. The Commissioner can, with my consent, extend the age of retirement of a Garda member beyond 62, where this is in the interests of the efficiency of the force. I am always pleased to see applications coming before me from the Commissioner for the extension of a retirement age beyond 62. A lot of people do not want to retire at 55. It is far too young. The figure, as I said, is 1,792. I do not think we will see that number taking up retirement. However, it is an issue we need to be aware of. It also emphasises the need to ensure that recruitment is ongoing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  I would like to hear more about the recruitment and the capacity for expansion, particularly around Templemore. We reach a particular limit when the Garda does recruitment drives. A lot of people put themselves forward but such is the level of time it takes for the training, which is obviously necessary, and for vetting, which we have seen huge problems with, I do not believe we are bringing enough people through to cover the potential retirements that are on the horizon. That figure of 1,700 eligible is different from the figure the Minister got through parliamentary questions two years ago, which there was a great emphasis on. How is that mitigated because at different points morale in the Garda goes up and goes down? The numbers the Minister gave me for retirements for the past five years are fairly consistent; they are in the 400s and the high 300s. If we have greater capacity for retirements, are we doing any exit interviews with garda\u00ed who are leaving? What measures are we taking? Obviously, it is welcome if a person wishes to postpone their retirement beyond the age of 55. That is their choice and I can understand that.  However, there are many who will not want to do that and many who have not done so. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  The important thing is that we get Garda numbers continuously going up, which is happening. There are always going to be retirements and some small level of resignations but, cumulatively, we want to see the figures of attested garda\u00ed rising, and we are seeing that.  The Deputy asked about exit interviews. The Garda offers exit interviews to all individuals who leave the organisation, with the exception of those who are dismissed. They were established to determine longitudinal teams in relation to organisational attrition, but they highlighted some useful issues. In 2024, 39 exit interviews were completed. The majority, or 60%, stated they found it difficult to maintain their career as a Garda member while also managing their family life, 40% stated that the commuting and working distance from their homes was a significant deciding factor and another cohort expressed a view that poor management was a factor for their decision to leave. The numbers are low but many of the people who are leaving and doing these exit interviews, those who have resigned, are doing so because of a work-life balance, which happens in every walk of life. People decide the work just does not suit their lifestyle. However, I am pleased to say the number of resignations is very low. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_16","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_7","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_16","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_16.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  The Minister is aware that Garda vetting is a very important issue for voluntary organisations, schools and healthcare. It takes too long and seems to be quite cumbersome insofar as a person who moves position has to be revetted in a way that does not seem necessary.  I am aware there is a Garda vetting review group. Has the Minister received its recommendations or report? Has he had a chance to review them? Will those recommendations be implemented? If so, when? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I met with the Garda National Vetting Bureau in Tipperary town about two months ago. I went down there to get an update from the bureau, but also to communicate some of the concerns Deputy Ward and other Deputies have expressed to me.  It is important to point out that the vetting bureau of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na received over 6,330 vetting applications in 2025. The current processing time for 85% of those is eight to nine working days. For the majority of applications, it manages to produce an outcome in very short order. There are obviously some improvements that could be made. One thing I mentioned at my meeting with the garda\u00ed in the vetting bureau is that we should allow for transferability of vetting. A person who has been vetted to coach a GAA team should be able to then move over and coach a soccer team without having to get vetting done again. Much of that can be done by the organisations themselves, such as the sporting organisations. The Teaching Council has a very good mechanism whereby it permits transferability of vetting from one school to another and the vetting moves with the teacher when they move across the school.  There is also an issue in respect of wet signatures and whether online signatures would be permissible. There was concern expressed to me by An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na in respect of that. From its perspective, one reason for delays is that sometimes individuals have been abroad for several years. That can give rise to significant delay because the bureau is dependent on getting information from abroad. That is an understandable reason for there being a delay, but it is important to point out that, as I said, over 630,000 applications came in last year, and the bureau processed the vast majority of them very promptly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  I am surprised the number is as low as that. I welcome the fact many of them are being dealt with in under ten days, but that does not accord with the anecdotal accounts being given to me. I do not know whether there is prioritisation within the system. There should be, because some of the applications are time sensitive. As regards the issues the Minister has raised, we can see in other jurisdictions that there is a central register, for example, with a rolling account for any individual that can be checked immediately. It should not be up to individual organisations like the Teaching Council or sports clubs to set up transferability. That should be done centrally.  It is very important that the recommendations from the Garda vetting review group bring an effectiveness to Garda vetting that means it will be operable and will work, particularly for volunteer organisations. When there is a significant delay in vetting, it discourages volunteers and makes it difficult for sports clubs to get the coaches in to teach the underage teams and things like that. Let us ensure we put in place measures that make vetting work for our communities, as much as anything else. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  One of the consequences of being a public representative is that people only ever come to us when they have issues of concern. They are never going to come to us and say, \"Deputy, that is a fantastic vetting process. I managed to get a response within eight days.\"  I am conscious that aspects of the current vetting system result in a highly segmented process. It should be updated to ensure the burden of seeking vetting disclosures, particularly on volunteers and organisations working in their communities, is minimised to the greatest extent possible while maintaining the necessary high standards. Further to the work carried out by the Garda vetting review group, steps are now being taken to implement key changes to the process that will ensure it remains robust and effective, while improving the service to customers.  In practice and subject to a general requirement that vetting be renewed every three years, it is envisaged that this will mean that when a person is vetted for the work they will be, or are likely to be, involved in as part of their employment or volunteering within identified risk categories, the person will not be required to repeat the process if they were to move to another role within the same risk category. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  In respect of operability, renewals and things like that, the Minister mentioned the Garda having a difficulty with online signatures. We have to get over that. If we have a situation where this Government is proposing, for example, online age verification using certain existing ID systems, surely we can also do that for vetting.  I recognise there is a problem with waiting for news to come back from abroad where somebody has lived abroad. Is there something we should be doing at European level to implement a co-operation agreement between countries in the European Union to speed up that process? I am also conscious that, in the vetting process, a letter is sent to every Garda district in which the person lived and the Garda has to wait for information to come back. Is there a way of streamlining that?  In response to a parliamentary question I put to the Minister in February, he indicated improvements to the vetting system might require legislation. Can the Minister clarify whether that will be primary legislation or secondary legislation? Will it come before the House soon, or does he have any news on that? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  It would be primary legislation. I will come back to the Deputy on that. It will not be coming in the very near future but it is something I am committed to doing. It will also require updated technical systems to support the revised approach.  When I was down in Tipperary with the vetting bureau, I raised the issue of the wet signature for vetting. Currently, the bureau does not accept digital signatures as their use presents security and integrity risks within the vetting process. I was told these include potential disputes over identity, intent and the possibility of document tampering. Garda authorities have also highlighted vulnerabilities associated with digital signatures, including identity theft and social engineering attacks, which could significantly increase the risk of impersonation. For these reasons, a wet signature is currently required to provide valid consent to the vetting process. While initial engagement can take place online, a face-to-face element remains necessary to verify identity and obtain handwritten consent. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_17","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Joint Policing Committees","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_7","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niall Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_17.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  Around the country, we have finished up with the old joint policing committee model and are moving to community partnerships. Could the Minister comment on the resourcing of community partnerships around the country and, in particular, how those resources are targeted to the varying needs of different areas? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niall Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Niall Collins)  The Government is committed to the principle that everyone, wherever they live in Ireland, should be able to feel safe. Building safe and secure communities by investing in An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na is a top priority for the Government. However, the introduction of local community safety partnerships around the country represents a new and more collaborative approach to community safety. They are an important step towards a more collaborative, responsive and locally driven model of public safety. The safety partnerships bring together a broad range of relevant stakeholders to address community issues in their area, including residents, community representatives, business and education representatives, local councillors and a range of public services, including senior representatives of the HSE, Tusla, An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and local authorities. The Deputy will appreciate this is much broader than the membership of the previous joint policing committees.  One of the premises behind this partnership approach is that every community is different, as the Deputy has said. Membership in each safety partnership is configured to give the broadest representation across the relevant State actors and demographic and community interests in the local area in order to achieve the safest outcomes.  Each local partnership will be responsible for developing a tailored and prioritised plan specific to that area, in conjunction with the community and the relevant public services. The intention is to build the capacity of local residents and the community to contribute meaningfully to the local community safety partnership and grow local leadership and participation. This structure will ensure that communities have a strong say in what actions are prioritised by the services operating in their area. They will also have a key oversight role in ensuring those actions are followed through. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  I thank the Minister of State for the comprehensive reply. There are two community safety partnerships in my constituency. One of them, the Dublin central local community safety partnership, is a long-established partnership that was part of the original pilot. My Green Party colleague, Councillor Janet Horner, sits on that partnership. Given that it has been in place for a number of years, we can make two points. First, there is no specific budget for this community partnership and, second, there is no specific funding commitment from the statutory agencies which sit on it and which the Minister of State listed. These partnerships are understood as being an innovation and a change from the joint policing committees that I would have sat on back in the day. The concern is that if there is no specific budget directly for the safety partnership, or no specific commitment from those statutory bodies that are sitting on it, this limits the ability of the community safety partnership to deliver for the citizens in that area. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niall Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Niall Collins  Budget 2026 provided \u20ac8 million for the National Office for Community Safety. That funding will support the functions of the office, which is developing a national strategy for improving community safety. Each safety partnership is supported by a dedicated community safety co-ordinator and an administrator. Both of these permanent positions are funded by the Department of justice and hosted within each local authority. The community safety co-ordinator will support the safety partnership in its work. It will also bring together the diverse group of agencies and residents engaged in the joint planning and co-ordination of the services for each of the communities, including the design and delivery of community safety projects for each of the relevant areas. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  I am delighted to hear there is \u20ac8 million for the central office. I have no doubt the councillors and the statutory bodies, particularly the local community representatives, would have a very clear idea as to how a proportion of that money could be spent well locally. I would say it is the same whether we are talking about Cabra or west Limerick. My concern centres on what has been described as a very transformative approach to how we address community safety, and how we link the Garda and local authorities with those statutory bodies. A lot of political capital has been expended on making this change from the joint policing committee model to the community safety partnership model, yet the key deliverable, which is having some element of resources and finance to deliver on the recommendations for a very specific community, is not there. That is a worry. Can these bodies deliver if they do not have the financial resources to implement their initiatives? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niall Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Niall Collins  As I said, a safety co-ordinator and an administrator have been funded. Equally, many of the main participants on the new safety partnerships are State agencies that are also very adequately funded, such as An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, Tusla, the HSE and local authorities. The whole idea of these partnerships is to bring people together, along with community representatives, to make sure the priorities, needs, demands and asks of the local communities are being prioritised into action plans, particularly by the State agencies. It is about directing and empowering the State agencies to make sure they are responsive to the needs of the local community.  As the Deputy knows, the community safety fund has been created from the proceeds of crime, which are assets and money seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau. It is also available to communities across Ireland. Last year, 127 communities were funded from the community safety fund to the tune of \u20ac4.4 million. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Joint Policing Committees"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_18","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_19","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Animal Diseases","counts":{"speechCount":10,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_18","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_19","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_19.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  I would like an update on the position regarding bluetongue. As we know, unfortunately, the disease has been detected at a number of sites throughout the country. Testing is ongoing. This situation is having an impact on trade, particularly the live export trade. I would like to get an update on where the Minister and the Department are on this, and the progress that has been made. Today, we are talking about the temperature possibly going up to 18\u00b0C. If we see an increase in temperatures, that will be a significant problem because it creates a situation where bluetongue can become a very serious issue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Martin Heydon)  I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue and giving me the opportunity to provide an update on the situation. Bluetongue is a viral disease that can cause severe clinical signs in ruminant species, such as cattle, sheep, goats, deer and camelids, such as alpacas and llamas. There are many different serotypes of bluetongue virus, and bluetongue virus serotype 3, BTV3, is the serotype circulating in Ireland and Northern Ireland. Bluetongue does not affect human health or food safety, and meat and milk are safe to eat and drink. I acknowledge the stress that the presence of bluetongue must be causing farmers, particularly those in the high-risk regions of the south east and the east.  Bluetongue has been detected in counties Wexford, Wicklow, Louth and Kildare. Modelling carried out by the UCD centre for veterinary epidemiology and risk analysis, CVERA, identified that the most likely time for an incursion of infected midges blown over to Ireland from Great Britain was probably in late September last year. Its modelling suggests that the incursion could have occurred along the south-east and east coast, including counties Cork, Waterford, Kilkenny, Wexford, Wicklow and Louth. My Department is undertaking ongoing surveillance nationally, covering all parts of the country. This includes surveillance at abattoirs, testing of animals submitted to my Department\u2019s network of regional veterinary laboratories, investigation of clinical suspects reported to my Department by farmers or vets, and targeted surveillance in counties identified by the modelling undertaken by UCD.  My Department has undertaken regular engagement with farm organisations and stakeholders across the industry, as well as with counterparts in Northern Ireland\u2019s Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs since Ireland\u2019s first case was confirmed. This has included multiple webinars for different stakeholder groups on bluetongue and its implications. The objective is to provide farmers with information regarding the potential impact of bluetongue and the broad geographical areas where it is likely to be present, so they can make decisions on whether to vaccinate. Where appropriate, farmers can vaccinate during spring to ensure their stock is protected in advance of the higher-risk summer months, when warmer temperatures make virus replication possible within infected midges. I will provide more detail in my supplementary answer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  I appreciate that a lot of work has been done in respect of this, and that the Department is doing a lot of testing to try to ensure we detect the places where this has arisen. The Minister gave a list of counties where bluetongue has been detected. Are these antibodies that were a consequence of previous infections going back to last autumn or summer, or is any of this potentially a new spread of the disease? That is something we really need to get a handle on.  With regard to the symptoms, certainly, in the early cases that were detected, the animals were not displaying any symptoms, which makes it very difficult. We tell farmers to be vigilant and to do everything they possibly can to have good hygiene and good husbandry on their farms. However, if the animals are not displaying symptoms, it is very difficult for them to do that. I understand that in some of these cases, animals are starting to show more symptoms and they are getting sick. I would like to get an update on that.  If farmers are going to have to vaccinate animals, what is the cost of the vaccination programme to which the Minister referred going to be?  How quickly can it be rolled out? Is that in itself going to have an impact on our animal trade? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  In my initial answer I said that different forms of testing have discovered those cases. The very first case was found in the standard testing of a carcase post-slaughter in an abattoir, which identified that there were antibodies present indicating that the disease was present last year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  A historical case. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  Yes, exactly. We investigated the remaining animals in that herd and in the neighbouring herds within the radius of the farm. Some of them were found to be positive, in the sense that they had it previously. If it is the case that we find one that is positive in January or February, how we respond in January is very different from how we respond in July because an animal will only be infectious for about 60 days, so therefore they would not be infectious heading into the high-risk period and beyond. The first ten or 11 cases I am aware of - the majority - were all asymptomatic and were not displaying any symptoms.  On the point the Deputy makes around vaccines, that is a commercial decision for farmers. I took the timely step of approving vaccine use once the first case came into Northern Ireland. Before that, it was very much the case that we wanted to lock down and hold back in order to be able to identify it but once the vaccines were available it allowed suppliers to stock up. More than 1.1 million vaccines will be available for use this year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  I understand that vaccines are approved and available but it will cost farmers to vaccinate. Will there be any assistance in that regard, as there could be quite an outlay for farmers?  TB is the other big vaccination programme we have in the country at the moment for animal disease and wildlife is obviously a serious issue. If bluetongue becomes a disease that we have to deal with across the State, will the problem arise that it will also spread? Could it potentially be hoarded within the wildlife sector, in particular in deer, which could then be spread to cattle or sheep?  The other issue that needs to be addressed in some sense is the impact on trade and in particular live exports? How will that be dealt with and what proposals does the Minister have in respect of that? There is quite a way to go here. If bluetongue is going to be in Ireland and we are not going to be able to prevent it - that seems to be the situation - how are we going to deal with it and go forward? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  First and foremost, the cost of the vaccine is a commercial decision. We have made sure there is enough availability, working with the private suppliers of the vaccines. I am reviewing all options open to me to be able to support the sector in what is a very new challenge for us at a very challenging time. This is a real and dynamic response to a real and dynamic situation that has been evolving. We did a remarkable job keeping it off the island. I commend both private veterinary practitioners working with farmers, regional veterinary offices, and the Department to ensure the level of vigilance that was in place. That allowed us to respond in real time. The key responsibility for me and my Department is to make sure that we continue to get market access. Deputy Kenny saw how quickly we moved on skins and hides for China and regained access there. We were able to get measures in place to deal with susceptible animals moving from member states. We worked with them under health certificates as well, including the movement of animals for breeding purposes from North to South. They were all really important measures. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I thank the Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  On Deputy Kenny's point about wildlife, this is not passed from animal to animal but obviously it will be a challenge if the deer population has it and a midge lands on it but they will not pass it to each other. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Animal Diseases"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_20","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Horticulture Sector","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_18","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_20","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_20.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert O'Donoghue  We have had warnings from European farm organisations that nitrogen fertiliser imports into the EU have fallen by 80% since the carbon border adjustment mechanism, CBAM. What assessments has the Minister made on the likely consequences it will have for fertiliser prices and the availability for the Irish horticulture industry in 2026? Has he raised the concerns with the European Commission given that growers of fruit, vegetables and protected crops are already under severe cost pressures and further increases to the price of fertiliser due to the conflict in the Middle East could undermine domestic food production? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Michael Healy-Rae)  I thank Deputy O'Donoghue for the question. The Government fully recognises the importance of the horticultural sector to the economy and its contribution to food security in Ireland. My Department is closely monitoring developments regarding input costs. The current conflict in the Middle East is putting upward pressure on energy and fertiliser prices. The Strait of Hormuz is currently closed, leading to delays in the transportation of fertilisers. It has been estimated that 25% to 30% of global nitrogen fertiliser exports pass through the Strait of Hormuz.  Agriculture in the EU as a whole is vulnerable to shocks in the availability and price of fertiliser due to limited internal production capacity and a reliance on imports. Ireland does not produce fertilisers and therefore is exposed to market shifts. It is too early to assess the full impact of current input price pressures on horticultural production systems and, in turn, on farmer margins. The impact will depend on how long the disruption lasts, whether physical energy production infrastructure is damaged, and how secondary markets respond. My Department is meeting with the fertiliser importers this week and will continue to monitor the situation closely.  My Department provides a range of supports to growers in the horticulture sector through a number of schemes, including the scheme of investment aid for the development of the commercial horticulture sector, the EU producer organisation scheme for the fruit and vegetable sector and the schemes of investment aid for innovation and diversification in horticulture.  The Government is fully committed to the Irish horticulture sector. The National Strategy for Horticulture 2023-2027 sets out a clear vision to grow a more profitable, value-added sector, driven by innovation and sustainability and provides a roadmap for the sector to achieve this potential. My Department is working collaboratively with stakeholders to progress all key strategic actions in the national strategy for horticulture. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert O'Donoghue  I accept that we do not know when the war in the Middle East is going to come to a conclusion but does the Minister of State accept or acknowledge that if fertiliser prices rise again - compounded by high gas and fuel inputs - that may make many Irish fruit and vegetable producers unviable? We currently import 83% of our vegetables. This is a food security issue. There were 600 growers 20 years ago and there are 73 now. I am calling for a firm commitment to targeted supports - like the Minister, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan, spoke about in the D\u00e1il yesterday - for the horticultural sector, and a dedicated horticultural crisis fund like we brought in during the spike in prices at the start of the war in Ukraine. The agriculture sector is worth \u20ac19 billion, yet the focus in here is always on the beef and dairy sectors - fair play to them, they are well represented. My constituency is where the growers are - the market garden of Ireland in Dublin Fingal West. If we got half the attention the beef sector gets, we would be doing really well. It is time to give the horticulture sector its due to develop the potential it deserves because that is where our real food security lies. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Healy-Rae  Deputy O'Donoghue is so correct in everything he says. If we take the events of last week, one of our highly respected carrot producers went into liquidation. That is a situation I, the Department, and the Government find very concerning. It drives home now more than ever before that the customers - the people who go into shops - should be looking to try to buy Irish produce. We are better at producing our goods than anyone else. Our growers are better than anyone else but it is up to us. It is like the local post office: if you do not use it, you lose it. It is the same with our vegetables. Of course the geopolitical uncertainty in the Middle East is going to put unreal pressure on energy and fertiliser prices. The price of natural gas and oil are key components in fertiliser production. The national fertiliser database import figures show fertiliser stocks increased during quarter 4 of 2025, in advance of the introduction of CBAM, which stands to the sector in terms of supply in the early months of this year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I thank the Minister of State. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Healy-Rae  What we are hoping for is that the situation will not be a repeat of 2022. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert O'Donoghue  I could not agree more with the Minister of State. We should buy Irish. We should all be looking at that. The horticulture sector is under immense pressure due to conflict and climate change, and costs have rapidly increased over the past 20 years. I have worked in the sector. I know the amount of toil that goes into it. I have picked and packed every fruit and vegetable under the sun at some point in the past 30 years. When we had 54 days of rain in the north county, that did not make it easier to plough or to plant. Welgro produce cucumbers in glasshouses in Rush. It uses gas to heat the glasshouses to grow the vegetables. Its energy costs will go from \u20ac200,000 to \u20ac400,000 a year if prices remain the same.  That is with fertiliser prices on top. This snowballing of costs is not viable. Our growers need support and they need it urgently. I implore the Minister of State to look at introducing a crisis horticulture fund, like we did during the price spike arising from the war in Ukraine. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Healy-Rae  The Government will, of course, continuously assess the situation and try to respond in the most proactive and helpful way we can. It is too early to assess the full impact of increased energy and fertiliser costs but any spike in those prices obviously will have an impact on farmers' margins. The impact on fertiliser price will depend on how long the disruption lasts, whether physical energy production infrastructure is damaged and how secondary markets respond. Ironically, the concerns relating to the price-raising effect of the CBAM regulation caused the Irish farming industry to purchase significant volumes of product in advance of its coming into full effect on 1 January. As a result, it is understood there may be sufficient for fertiliser stocks to last until mid-April.  The national fertiliser database import figures show fertiliser stocks increased significantly during quarter 4 of 2025. That means there are reserves of fertiliser in the country. Many farmers thought ahead and have bought fertiliser already, meaning any fertiliser price shock may not be as acute as in the spring of 2022. The Deputy will recall that at that time, a pallet of fertiliser was like a pallet of gold because of the massive increase in price. We hope to be able to avoid a situation like that. If we look at the events overnight, the uncertainty that is there is something the Government can only follow and monitor. We will do our best to support the sector. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Horticulture Sector"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_21","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Fishing Industry","counts":{"speechCount":11,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_18","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_21.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  I am putting this question on behalf of my colleague Deputy Mac Lochlainn. Five Dutch corporations now control more EU fishing quota than do entire sovereign states, including island nations like ours. They also clearly wield significantly more influence than member states when it comes to quota negotiations. The outcome of the December Council meeting showed that to be true. These five corporations operate across multiple jurisdictions through complex ownership structures and operate fleets under the flags of both EU and non-EU member states. Does the Minister accept there is a serious concentration of control here, a conflict of interest and a real concern about corporate influence distorting EU fisheries policy? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Timmy Dooley)  As the Deputy knows, European beneficial ownership laws apply across economic sectors, including the seafood sector. I understand a package of new EU anti-money laundering rules, including rules in relation to beneficial ownership, was adopted as recently as 2024. The Common Fisheries Policy, CFP, basic regulation does not specify requirements regarding ownership of vessels, other than providing that a Union fishing vessel is one flying the flag of a member state and is registered in the Union. The Irish register of fishing boats is publicly available on my Department's website.  As regards quota allocation, the CFP provides that it is a matter for each member state to decide how its fishing opportunities, which are not subject to a system of transferable fishing concessions, are allocated to the vessels in its fleet. In allocating fishing opportunities, the CFP requires member states to apply transparent and objective criteria, such as contribution to the local economy. A system of transferable fishing concessions allows for a member state's quota to be allocated to individual fishers or groups of fishers, with that quota then being available to them to transfer, lease or sell to other vessel owners. This is commonly known as an individual transferable quota, ITQ, system.  The last reform of the CFP set out the option for member states to introduce ITQ systems for their fleets. The European Commission had proposed that such a system be mandatory for all member states. Ireland was successful in strongly opposing a mandatory ITQ system on the basis it would inevitably lead to a concentration of ownership in a small number of international fishing companies with few or no links to Ireland's fishing communities. From an Irish perspective, we were very clear that we did not want to see what happened in other jurisdictions happening here. There were differing views on this at European level but we were allowed to make a decision on it as a competency of the Irish State.  In Ireland, fish quotas are a public resource owned by the State and made available to fishing vessels based on an overall policy framework that has been developed over the past 30 years. The result of this long-standing policy is that the Irish fishing fleet has retained a strong economic link with our coastal communities and has delivered economic activity, including vital employment, in those communities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  The reality is there is an oligopoly at the heart of European fisheries. If the Government will not name the problem, others will. I am prepared to do so here under parliamentary privilege. I refer to the so-called big five Dutch-based corporations, namely, Parlevliet & van der Plas, Cornelis Vrolijk, Van der Zwan, Alda Seafood and the De Boer family. Between them, they control an extraordinary share - almost 20% - of EU fishing effort. One in six fish caught in EU waters across the entire European Union is caught by one of these outfits. The actual number is likely much more; that is only what we know about. They exercise this control through use of a corporate maze, with vessels flagged across multiple member states and ownership structures that make meaningful transparency almost impossible. At the same time, as the Minister of State knows, these same interests are operating in non-EU waters, including off Iceland, the Faroe Islands and Norway, often in contexts where there are serious concerns about overfishing of our shared stocks in the north Atlantic, particularly in the pelagic sector. In effect, these corporations are ag imirt an d\u00e1 thaobh. They are playing both sides of the system, influencing policy here while maximising profits everywhere.  Meanwhile, Irish fishermen are tying their boats to the harbour wall and coastal communities are being hollowed out. The Minister of State knows this as he has travelled to meet with them. We have a minuscule and utterly disproportionate share of quota in our own territorial waters. It is a classic case of the tail wagging the dog. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I call on the Minister of State to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  The Government must accept that EU fishing policy is being distorted by this reality. It warrants more than just self-congratulations and pointing to the small concession Ireland received from the European Union. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  You are way over time, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  This issue needs an all-of-government approach. It must be investigated and taken very seriously. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I ask Deputies, the Minister and Ministers of State to stick to their allocated time. I do not want to get into a crossfire exchange with Members. I ask for greater efficiency in the use of their time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Timmy Dooley  I will try to keep to the time. I thank the Deputy for that clarification. I am fully aware of the concerns expressed by fishermen about the capacity of large corporations that have bought up quota from other member states that chose to privatise their quota. We have protected our quota in the interest of coastal communities.  There is an ongoing evaluation of the CFP, which is expected to be published in May of this year. I expect it will lead to a review of the CFP, as part of which opportunities will arise in relation to what the next formation will be. We have a very significant interest in that in a context in which certain species are now entering Irish waters as a result of climate change, which could be of benefit to our fishers. We will be working hard to try to achieve quotas in those areas. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  At its core, this issue is about sovereignty, fairness and the very survival of our coastal communities. Everybody knows who these corporations are. There are published reports and investigative reports. There is clear evidence of the scale of their control and influence. They wield more control than does a sovereign member state of the EU. Previous Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael Administrations ceded sovereignty over our territorial waters to the European Union and now the Union is looking us in the face and regifting it to corporations that are running rings around us and laughing at us all the way to the bank. Their well-placed lobbyists are doing better than we are in quota negotiations.  The result is that fishermen all around our coastline, including in the Minister of State's county and my county, are tying their boats to the wall because they cannot go out to sea. The coastal communities that do not have the ability to fish do not want handouts, supports or lectures about heritage and how great they are. They want to get out and fish. Meanwhile, these corporations are allowed to do what they want in our waters, in the waters of other EU member states and, indeed, in the waters of third states. My question to the Minister of State is really simple. Will he and the Taoiseach take a strong line on vindicating our sovereignty and ensuring these companies are not laughing at us all the way to the bank? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Timmy Dooley  The issue is a little broader than what the Deputy has presented. There is a suggestion that somehow these corporations do better than us in quota negotiations but, in fact, they do not. Quotas are based on track record. If the quota goes down based on scientific advice, each country loses a share based on that species. I wanted to correct that point.  Where there is an issue, and it speaks to the heart of what the Deputy is saying, is with the idea of playing both sides of the fence, being within the European Union and accepting its rules but also gaming it a little bit by having considerable interest in third countries. The negotiations we have sought on sharing arrangements with third countries, from a European perspective, have not happened, notwithstanding the best efforts of the European Union to try to get a comprehensive sharing arrangement in place between us and those third countries whereby we would look to protect the stock and have, in effect, a level playing pitch for all fishers.  That is where I think that malign influence is causing difficulties. Issues like that will be raised as part of any review of the CFP. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Fishing Industry"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_22","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Animal Welfare","counts":{"speechCount":10,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_18","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_22.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  I ask the Minister to make a statement on how the animal welfare strategy is progressing. I draw his attention to the fact that two countries, Wales and Scotland, have this week banned greyhound racing. Ireland is now going to be a complete and utter outlier. In banning it in Scotland, it will be an offence to set up a racetrack or for a dog owner to race a dog on one. The proponent of the motion said greyhound racing belonged in the past. The international consensus is to ban it. In Wales, it will come into force by 2030. Is it not time for us to transition out of greyhound racing? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  I have a response here to the question the Deputy put down on the animal welfare strategy. The term of Ireland\u2019s Animal Welfare Strategy 2021-2025: Working Together for Animal Welfare, our first ever animal welfare strategy, reached a conclusion at the end of last year. In 2025, a process was initiated to develop a new animal welfare strategy, which will act as a framework for engagement and collaboration to direct future activities with the aim of benefiting both animals and Irish society. Development of the strategy is now well under way following broad stakeholder engagement, including a non-statutory public consultation that was launched on 19 November and ran to 2 January. In excess of 1,750 individual submissions were received as part of that process.  In moving to the drafting stage, my Department will work through the issues arising from this consultation and other issues in this area, both from a national and international, particularly EU, perspective, as a final document evolves for publication, which I hope and anticipate will be in quarter 2 of this year. The new strategy will continue to adopt a one-health-one-welfare approach, acknowledging and valuing the interdependencies between human, animal and environmental health, and taking an evidence-led approach to policymaking, target-setting, monitoring and evaluation.  There was quite a variance in the topics raised in those 1,750 submissions. Some 1,250 individual submissions referenced a wide variety of issues; 123 were more substantive in nature; and 376 submissions were campaign-type submissions on one specific issue. Analysis of the totality of the submissions demonstrates that canine welfare, including control and breeding, is an issue of importance to the public.  This is a new area for me. I take on board the points the Deputy raised on the greyhound industry. I do not intend to ban greyhound racing here. It will not be a surprise to the Deputy to hear me to say that. The control of dogs from the pet perspective was the dominant issue raised in the public submissions to my Department. I am glad to have responsibility for it now and I am working on it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  I do not think the Minister should be pre-empting whether he will ban greyhound racing. I hope he will actually study the strategy and come out with a report from it. Are we not actually going backwards on animal rights in this country when Wales and Scotland, two countries we have close ties with and to which we are aligned culturally, are banning it while the Minister is doubling down on maintaining it? Dogs Trust Ireland, not a radical socialist organisation by any means, has pointed out that 869 dogs have died on racetracks in the last six years and that 2,343 have been injured. Racing at speed on oval tracks is dangerous for dogs in extreme weather. They have poor diet, very little enrichment in their lives and very little traceability. That has been pointed out by Dogs Trust Ireland, which tries to work with the greyhound industry. This is an industry that is being propped up by the State. Attendances have plummeted. It is not widely supported in our society any more because people have seen the dangers of having a racing industry that is just propped up by the State and is cruel for the animals involved. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  It is unfortunate that if the Deputy intended to concentrate solely on greyhound racing, she did not just ask----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  It is just because of what happened this week. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  It is unfortunate she did not ask a question specifically on that because her question was on the broader animal welfare strategy, which is much broader than that. I disagree with some of the points she made, which are a dreadful slight on the thousands of people who work in our greyhound racing industry and who love the dogs and care for them greatly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  They are facts. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  A throwaway comment on the floor of Parliament where she says that there is hardly any traceability is not borne out by the facts. The financial support my colleagues in the Department of agriculture and I are happy to provide for the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund has seen increased allocations towards the area of welfare.  On the question that was raised, I want to look at some of the success of the previous strategy on animal welfare from 2021 to 2025. Funding to welfare charities increased from the 2020 budget of \u20ac2.4 million to over \u20ac6 million distributed to over 100 organisations in 2023, 2024 and 2025. We saw the banning of fur farming. The Farm Animal Welfare Advisory Council was relaunched and the first chair of the UCD school of veterinary animal welfare and veterinary ethics was appointed. I will look to building on that in the next strategy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  My question was broad. I will happily talk about the treatment of wild animals, animals in captivity and farmed animals but I decided that two events happened in Wales and Scotland this week that were absolutely seminal and should make the Irish Government think as well. Part of the reason that the greyhound industry has been able to sustain itself is exporting greyhounds. That will now be less of an option if it has been banned in two countries neighbouring us. While \u20ac20 million was given to the greyhound industry in the last budget, only \u20ac6 million was given to animal welfare charities, which we know are screaming out for more funding for dog rescues, pony rescues and so many others. I agree with the Minister that there is a huge concern over the treatment of dogs in this country, including puppy farming and many other things. However, there is no need for the State to be propping up greyhound racing in the way that it is. It is only maintaining itself. Some 5% of racing dogs have died within one year. Surely that should be considered an absolute priority in the animal welfare strategy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  As I said, responsibility for canine welfare, and the control and breeding of dogs, has recently come into my Department. I fought for it in the programme for Government talks. I feel it is a better fit coming under the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine because we also share the responsibility for animal welfare. I look forward to introducing legislation later this year to tighten up measures and make improvements in dog breeding and so on. I have said that previously on the floor of the House.  The public consultation on this animal welfare strategy, about which the Deputy asked her question, bears out the priority this represents in the public's mind. I mentioned what comprised the majority of the submissions that were made. Given the progress that was made in the last animal welfare strategy, this is an evolution. Obviously, we all take responsibility for animal welfare really seriously and we continue to evolve that. We have increased investment in that space. I look forward to establishing a new independently chaired advisory council on companion animal welfare. The public consultation phase will also feed into that. The dog control stakeholder group has a key role to play here as well. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Animal Welfare"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_23","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Live Exports","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_18","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_23","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Fitzmaurice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_23.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Fitzmaurice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice  Is the Minister putting a fund in place to offset the cost of live exports with the new requirements from different countries for PCR tests and vaccines? I ask him to make statement on the matter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  I thank Deputy Fitzmaurice for raising the important issue of live exports. Whether it is live exports or agrifood, my role and that of my Department is to ensure market access for Irish farmers' produce. We need to provide the greatest number of opportunities and outlets to give the best possible return for those who export it and the companies that handle it. Obviously, that will drive a return for the farmers who produce that agricultural produce.  At present, I do not have any plans to introduce a fund or specific financial support scheme to cover or contribute to the costs of vaccines or laboratory tests associated with live exports. These costs are considered part of the commercial and regulatory obligations associated with participation in certain export markets. While some export markets require vaccination or pre-export testing, in other markets this is not a requirement. My Department will, however, continue to engage with industry stakeholders and monitor developments in export requirements to ensure that Ireland remains competitive while maintaining the highest standards of animal health and welfare.  Specifically in relation to bluetongue, conditions of derogations applied by other member states are set by the competent authorities in those member states, not by my Department.  The vast majority of our exports of cattle, however, are to EU markets where no vaccination or pre-export testing is required.  I recently co-ordinated closely with my Northern Ireland counterpart, as the Deputy will be aware, to ensure that cross-Border trade had been able to resume with no additional requirements. That has been very important.  Since confirmation of bluetongue virus in Ireland in January, my Department has engaged successfully with a number of third country markets, for example, Algeria and Tunisia, to amend veterinary health certificate requirements to allow trade to resume.  That is my and my Department's role. It is to make sure that where there are blockages, my officials engage with officials in the relevant member state or third country and look to agree a set of conditions. Those conditions, however, are set down by the receiving country. We do not set them. We negotiate with those countries and try to make sure we have access. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Fitzmaurice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice  I thank the Minister's Department for getting the health certs done in each country. I am not debating whatsoever what other countries do, and I agree with him that other countries set this down. However, the fact is that other countries in Europe have brought in funds to help with exporting. The Minister will be aware that in some of those countries, first, you have to quarantine and, second, you have to do either PCR tests or vaccines. A vaccine, no matter how you go, is \u20ac15.  The Minister knows as well as I do that we need a live export trade. In fairness to the live exporters, they go out and source the market. It is not Bord Bia that does it for them. They source those markets themselves. They do not have the same representation as the likes of the meat factories would have abroad. The Minister will have seen over recent weeks, especially since Christmas, the way the factories look at the charts in the league of meat prices throughout Europe. We are at the bottom now and the factories are basically taking advantage.  We need live exports. I know the Minister is in favour of them but, as regards the extra cost, no one saw this coming. Yes, exporters have to pay for boats and everything else, but these are new costs put on top of them. Would the Minister consider a fund? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  While I accept that and accept it is difficult for exporters at the moment, and they are meeting a lot of competition from farmers in the marts for these cattle, too, because of a shortage of cattle and a big demand from farmers for them, which makes it a challenging space, I think we would be having a much different conversation here if I had failed to reopen trade with Northern Ireland and if we had failed to gain access to the likes of Algeria and Tunisia. I understand that the conditions for exporters are challenging and that there is that increased cost where certain countries have set down criteria, but no more than with food or drink requirements and certificates - we export our dairy produce, our beef produce, Irish whiskey and beyond to 180 countries around the world - the receiving countries set those requirements, as they are entitled to do. We have to work with them and negotiate around those.  I presume most of the points the Deputy raises relate to bluetongue. We have had a number of renegotiated health certificates and we have been doing that for the past two years now, mindful that there was a likelihood bluetongue would come here at some stage. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Fitzmaurice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice  I understand fully what the Minister says. The certificates are done by other countries but, in fairness to anybody exporting, there was no quarantining when exporting four months ago. Trade is trade. Whether it is a farmer or an exporter going for it, good luck. That keeps the price up. That is the good part of that. Four months ago, however, this was not needed. This is a new regulation that has been brought in. Yes, the Minister is right that it is other countries that want it - I do not disagree whatsoever - but with the number of cattle being exported, if they have to be PCR tested and have to have everything done with them in the line of vaccination, it will cost a lot of money. If there were all that much money to be got out of it, everyone in exporting would be a multimillionaire, but the fact is that there is not. This is another layer that you either have to try to knock out of the guy buying it in some other country or take the hit. Will the Department sit down with exporters and try to work out a cohesive plan? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  As I said, there is ongoing engagement between exporters and officials in my Department, particularly in the veterinary health section. That was recognised in terms of the revised health certificates for Tunisia, which were secured on 18 February, and Algeria, to which we saw approximately 3,500 cattle exported in 2025 and 2,000 in 2024. That is all really important.  The Deputy is dead right that live exports are an important part of Ireland's livestock industry. I understand they play a role in the price in other ways as well, for example, stimulating price competition and providing an alternative market outlet for farmers. That is why my Department facilitates this trade, and we continue to do so.  We continue to engage on all other types of trade. On 12 February, we managed to secure a revised veterinary health certificate for hides and skins to China, which is a most significant market for this commodity to Irish exporters. That was really important. In addition, we secured an interim trade certificate between the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Ireland on 18 February, which allowed dairy exports to Canada to resume.  Every child is equally favoured, from exporters to all the others, and we continue to work with and engage with them, mindful of the pressures they are under and the important role they play. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Live Exports"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_24","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Common Agricultural Policy","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_18","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_24.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  I thank Deputy Cleere for raising the really important issue of the Common Agricultural Policy. Ireland's priorities in negotiating the CAP post 2027 are to ensure that the CAP remains properly funded, continues to support viable farm incomes and contributes to food security, rural development and environmental sustainability. The CAP plays a vital role in supporting farmers and rural communities and in underpinning the production of safe, high-quality food across the European Union.  Ireland also considers it important that the CAP continue to operate as a clearly identifiable common EU policy, which has served us well down through the years, with appropriate governance arrangements and legal certainty for member states in the implementation of CAP measures. In addition, Ireland is seeking to ensure that the future CAP framework remains practical and workable in implementation for both farmers and administrations responsible for delivering the policy.  Ireland is advocating for greater simplification and for sufficient flexibility for member states in the design of CAP interventions in order that supports can be tailored to national farming systems and circumstances while still contributing to the overall objectives of the policy. It sounds a little contradictory in a way but it is absolutely not. We are looking to maintain the benefits of the commonality of the Common Agricultural Policy and the fact that we are part of the one common set of rules and the one common market, while also allowing the greatest amount of subsidiarity or flexibility for individual member states to recognise the fact that we farm very differently in Ireland from the way they do in many of the other EU member states. That is the balancing act I have in the coming months, particularly from 1 July, when I take over the presidency of the EU AGRIFISH Council.  The CAP proposals have been discussed on several occasions at the monthly meetings of the AGRIFISH Council, where I have exchanged views with Commissioner Hansen and my other EU counterparts on the Commission's proposals and national priorities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere  I am delighted to see so much engagement in relation to the Common Agricultural Policy because, for Ireland, this debate is not simply another EU policy negotiation. As the Minister himself said, it is about the future of rural communities, family farming and food production in a country where agriculture remains one of our most important indigenous industries. As negotiations around CAP 2027 begin to take shape, Ireland has to ensure that its voice is strong and influential in Brussels through the Minister, the Minister for Finance and the Taoiseach.  As the Minister, Deputy Heydon, mentioned, Irish agriculture is unique in Europe. Our grass-based production system is among the most sustainable in the world, producing high-quality food with a comparatively low carbon footprint. Most importantly, our agriculture sector is built not on vast industrial farms but on family farms that have been passed down through generations. Ireland's agricultural success has never been built on industrial mega farms; it has been built on family farms. That model must remain at the centre of the CAP going forward. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  I concur completely on the importance of the Common Agricultural Policy. We can talk about all the structures, all the rules and all the simplification that we can try to bring in and that I will look to bring in as we design a new scheme, but at its heart is the funding. If the overall funding envelope is 20% less than it was the last time, that is a very significant impact for our country.  The Deputy is dead right in what he says about this being a whole-of-government approach. At the AGRIFISH Council, I raised the specific points about the structure of the CAP and beyond, and our first priority is a properly funded CAP. The T\u00e1naiste, as Minister for Finance, has a key role to play in that regard, as will the Taoiseach and others in all the negotiations, ensuring that the policy remains a clearly identifiable common EU policy and providing sufficient flexibility for member states.  Discussions on proposals are ongoing in the Council's preparatory bodies, including the special committee on agriculture, and the relevant Council working parties. Work is currently focused on progressing the text of the regulation and reaching agreement on compromise provisions among member states, so we continue that work. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere  I welcome the Minister's comments and the fact a strong CAP is not just about agriculture but it is about the future of rural Ireland. When farming thrives, rural communities thrive alongside it. Local businesses, schools, services and sports clubs all depend on vibrant rural economies so this finance will be key to that. CAP 27 must provide meaningful supports to help young farmers enter the industry and invest in their farms for the long term. Historically, Ireland has played a really constructive role in shaping European agriculture policy and, as decisions around CAP intensify, that leadership from the Minister, the T\u00e1naiste and the Taoiseach will be more important than ever. Ireland must be at the negotiating table shaping CAP 27. We have the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which will be hugely influential for us. However, if Europe wants sustainable food production, vibrant rural communities and a secure food supply, then the next phase of the Common Agricultural Policy must work for the farmers who make all that possible. It must work for the rural communities and the finance and funding has to be in place to allow these communities to thrive. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  That is it exactly. The Deputy has articulated very clearly the impact of the Common Agricultural Policy on all of our rural communities. How do we achieve that? We achieve it in a number of ways. The Deputy identified generational renewable as one of the challenges of our time. This is not a challenge unique to us in Ireland or in even Europe. With growing urbanisation around the world and the fact that in Ireland we have full employment in a burgeoning economy, thankfully the next generation - farmers' children - have more options open to them economically than ever before. Commissioner Hansen's proposals about generational renewal are very ambitious and far-reaching. There is a number of them I can absolutely work with while there are some I would struggle with. Working through these and looking for the flexibility at member-state level to design generational measures best suit our system will be an important part of that. In a broader sense beyond even generational renewal, but definitely linked to it, is that the definition of the \"active farmer\" will be a critical point and that is something I will have to agree on. Through the CAP consultative committee we continue to engage with all stakeholders and I look forward to debating this in the House with the Deputy and other colleagues and at committee as well. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Common Agricultural Policy"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_25","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_25","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_26","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Common Agricultural Policy","counts":{"speechCount":13,"speakerCount":5},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_25","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_25","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_26","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_26.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  The previous question dealt with the CAP budget to some extent. A number of issues are very concerning for Irish farmers. Obviously, the budget being reduced is the big one. That is a serious problem because we need to see a decent budget in place for CAP to maintain productivity and to ensure we protect the family farm. The Minister mentioned generational renewal in a previous reply. There is talk farmers who are pensioners would not get any payments. That is a serious fear that farmers have. In previous generational renewal schemes, a lot of farmers found there was almost an exclusion order against them that they could not go near the farm anymore. That puts them off the possibility of entering into a scheme for generational renewal. There is a range of issues there on which I would like to get the Minister's position, including how strong we need to be as a State, particularly when we have the Presidency, to ensure we get a proper deal for Irish farmers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  I propose to take Questions Nos. 83 and 113 together.  The European Commission published its legislative proposals for the post-2027 Common Agricultural Policy in July last year, as part of its wider proposals for the next multi-annual financial framework, MFF, covering the period 2028-2034. Discussions on these proposals are currently ongoing at EU level. Under the Denmark Presidency and the Cyprus Presidency the proposed CAP regulation has a number of thematic blocks in order to facilitate a structural examination of the proposals by the expert working group. However, an important issue under discussion currently concerns the transfer of CAP-specific provisions from the proposed national and regional partnership plan, NRPP, regulation and into the CAP regulation itself. This issue has been raised by several member states and the European Parliament to ensure CAP provisions are clearly reflected in the CAP legal framework.  The Cyprus Presidency has indicated it wishes to progress work on this matter as soon as possible. A revised text incorporating the transferred provisions has recently been circulated to member states and is currently under examination by the relevant Council working party. The progress in agreeing the revised text will influence the next phase of discussions under the Cyprus Presidency and will ultimately determine the stage the file has reached when Ireland takes over the EU Presidency in July.  While this work is taking place at working-party level, I engage very regularly with my counterparts from other member states on the CAP negotiations. In addition to monthly meetings of the Agri-Fish Council and informal contacts, I engage with other member states and ministers in bilateral meetings on a very regular basis. A recent example was my meeting with the Minister of Agriculture from Czechia, who was recently appointed to the Agri-Fish Council, en marge of the Agri-Fish Council meeting in February. I also welcomed the Finnish Minister for Agriculture and Forestry to Ireland in early March. The Ministers of State, Deputies Dooley and Michael Healy-Rae, and I engaged with her and her officials on our relevant portfolios. These engagements provide valuable opportunities to exchange views on the CAP proposals, better understand the positions of other member states and identify areas of common interest as negotiations progress.  Alongside these ministerial engagements, my Department is in regular contact with the counterparts across member states and with the European Commission as part of the ongoing work on the CAP proposals. Working collaboratively with my EU counterparts, European Commissioner Christophe Hansen and the European Parliament, towards a robust and workable CAP framework is an absolute priority for me and the Department in the time ahead.  Deputy Kenny is right when he says big decisions have to be made. Right now, the overall fund and a properly funded CAP continues to be a top priority for all of us to fight for. The Irish Government has clearly stated this is a top priority. It is not just me saying it but the T\u00e1naiste, the Taioseach and others have said it. Beyond that, we will have decisions to make on how best we can support our farmers with whatever the final CAP budget is and on how that CAP can best deliver. I am determined to deliver simplification and on the structures with which we do that. I have concerns about the NRPP structure and specific requirements for social cohesion and different elements. On the one hand, you could say work out of the national pot but on the other hand, you could tie your hands in terms of how much flexibility you have in that regard. We see that in terms of the additional \u20ac45 billion proposed by Ursula von der Leyen in January, how much of that we will be available to access and deliver to where we need to deliver it in comparison to other member states. These measures are all ones we are working through and when we have the Presidency, we will have to make more progress on them.  As I said, generational renewal is an area of real importance. I would not agree with the changes around the mandatory pension meaning the stopping of the single farm payment. There are a lot of other measures in there by Christophe Hansen that are very ambitious around the generational renewal piece. Again, we have to work through these proposals. There needs to be more meat on the bones of them and we need to see which of them end up being permanent or mandatory and which will be optional. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  I thank the Minister. I appreciate we are at an early stage in negotiations and they have to take a route through all of this. The budget, as I said at the outset, is the key and what most farmers are concerned about, in that we see the budget being eroded. In every CAP negotiation for the past number of decades, we have seen that happen and that needs to be very firmly fought against to ensure we keep the budget in place so farmers can have reliability into the future. That is one of the big things for a lot of people. We talk about generational renewal but when people go into farming, they want to see a future in it. Part of that future is that they have to have a reliable and stable future and they know payments are going to be available to them.  On generational renewal, the Minister mentioned how we determine what is a farmer. What is a full-time farmer? What is the farm family? How is that put in place? I was concerned to see the Minister's colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Healy-Rae, in the changes to the forestry programme, suggested that for people to get the forestry grants, they would only need to have one year of payments. That is opening the door for corporates, companies and all kinds of people to be allowed to buy land up and to compete with other farmers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Healy-Rae  It is not. The Deputy is completely wrong. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  That is a very retrograde step and I would caution against that type of move. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  I would like to join with Deputy Healy-Rae----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Sorry, Minister, Deputy McGuinness has a question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  It is on the topic of stability and certainty in farm payments. I want to raise the issue of hill farmers on the Knockmealdown Mountains in County Waterford. They are currently in dispute with a landlord over exorbitant rent increases. I know the Minister will not intervene but the Department has effectively taken a side in an ongoing dispute here in holding these farmers over a barrel because no farm payments are being issued while the dispute goes on because of the requirement to provide a commonage-evidence letter. This is effectively the State siding with the landlord. These farmers rely on that farm payment. They farm other lands as well as the ones that are in dispute.  This has echoes of darker times in our history when absentee landlords pushed farmers off the land. The Department needs to take a realistic look at this. I understand the limitations on the Minister's ability to intervene but, if the Department is to be neutral in disputes, it should be fully neutral and not hold farmers over a barrel looking for this commonage letter while these disputes are ongoing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  To go back to Deputy Kenny's assertions regarding the changes to the definition of an \"active farmer\" for forestry, I back the Minister of State, Deputy Healy-Rae, in saying that the Deputy is wrong. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  Then explain it to me. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  It is not only us who are saying the Deputy is wrong. The Social, Economic, Environmental Forestry Association of Ireland also says he is wrong in that it has very much welcomed these changes and said that they will help small farmers in the area of forestry and beyond. It is very easy to polarise these issues and the Deputy is dead right; I have no doubt I will be back here disagreeing with him again on other definitions. However, with regard to the next CAP, our definition of an \"active farmer\" will be pivotal. It will impact what we do on generational renewal and in many other spaces. We will need to have a fair and honest discussion on all of the supports and measures that are now in place. Are they delivering what we need them to? Do they in some ways act as a barrier to those who actively want to farm and drive on? The State resources employed to support farmers are very significant, as are the European resources, but we always have to ask whether they are doing what they say on the tin and whether they are best delivering on our policy objectives. I look forward to debating those points here. I am sure that, if the Deputy were to put a specific question on forestry to the Minister of State, Deputy Healy-Rae, he would also be happy to debate the matter.  I am aware of the particular case in Waterford that Deputy McGuinness has raised. It is a bit beyond the scope of this question. The issue of single farm payments comes down to who is the active farmer. That is the position on that question. I hope a resolution can be found in the near future.  On Deputy Kenny's point on generational renewal and so on, this is going to be a really challenging debate. Commissioner Hansen's proposals talk about an increase from 3% of the budget to 8%. That would be really ambitious in the context of an increased budget and a lovely thing to deliver. If we are 20% down on the last budget, it is going to be really hard to deliver. Where do you cut money from to deliver in these areas? That may be a mandatory measure. These are the things we are trying to work through. We are trying to secure the maximum amount of flexibility so that we can be sure that interventions will deliver on generational renewal while also supporting all other sides of farming. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  I accept that there is a proposed increase in the budget for generational renewal. The issue for many farmers is that, when programmes were put in place for them in the past, such as schemes to pension them off, these included an exclusion order. They could no longer have anything to do with the farm. They were out of it altogether and had to stay clear of it. That was a very bad proposal to put forward because the vast majority of these people, whether they are in their 60s, 70s or 80s, have farmed all their lives. They want to continue doing it until their last breath. They want to go out and feel they are an integral part of it. It is important that can be accommodated in any scheme that is brought forward.  The bigger issue is how to get young people into farming and how to get them to make that decision to have a future in Irish agriculture. To do that, it must be profitable and vibrant. They must see it has a future and that it will be good for them in the long term and not just for the next year or two. It is very important that we get that part of it right.  Again, the big part of this issue goes back to the budget. The Minister has not really dealt with that. What pressure is the Irish Government going to put on to ensure we maximise the budget for farmers in respect of all of this? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  I am sorry. I thought I had dealt with the budget point clearly. It is our top priority. While it is not just me, I raise this at every single AGRIFISH meeting and in every engagement with Commissioner Hansen and other members of the Commission. The T\u00e1naiste also raises the issue in his role in ECOFIN, as does the Taoiseach, who is in Brussels today. In all of those budget negotiations, there is a clear understanding across the EU that the CAP budget is critically important to Ireland. We are a net contributor, which means our voice is heard when we raise these points. I am proud that we are a net contributor. We have managed to take the structural funds of the 1980s and build a country and an economy that is going well enough to allow us to contribute more than we take in. For the benefit of the entire country, including those not interested in agriculture at all, 75% of the money we get back from Europe comes through Common Agricultural Policy measures. It is therefore in the interests of every citizen in this country that we get the maximum amount back from the CAP. If we do not get it from there, there will be a deficit in what we get back as against what we put into Europe.  If there is a transition period, that will also have an impact. As of now, a transition period is not planned but the timelines are very tight to have a whole new CAP in place and ready to go for the beginning of January 2028. If the Commission decides down the line to have a transition period, Ireland has good experience in that space and we will try to help design that during our Presidency. Having certainty in this space and flexibility to bring in targeted measures to deliver on our policy objectives while not undermining the commonality of the Common Agricultural Policy is a balancing act that we have to get right here. I look forward to continuing to engage with colleagues, particularly in the context of Ireland holding the Presidency of the EU from July until the end of the year. It will be a pivotal time for us, particularly with regard to the negotiations on the MFF. What happens there will directly impact farmers through the Common Agricultural Policy. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Common Agricultural Policy"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_27","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Trade Agreements","counts":{"speechCount":11,"speakerCount":5},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_25","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_25","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_27","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_27.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  Will the Minister outline the engagements he has had on the EU-Mercosur trade agreement, specifically with regard to the provisional implementation of that deal by the European Commission? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  I thank Deputy O'Hara for raising the important matter of the EU-Mercosur trade agreement. The Government has been very clear about Ireland\u2019s concerns in relation to the EU-Mercosur agreement and has expressed these consistently over a number of years, particularly in relation to the agreement's potential impact on the beef sector, the strength of its climate and sustainability commitments, and the production standards enforced by Mercosur countries.  Since I took up the role of Minister in January of last year, I have met with like-minded EU counterparts to discuss these concerns. I have also raised them at every opportunity at the monthly AGRIFISH Council meetings in Brussels, at the extraordinary EU agriculture ministers\u2019 meeting with Commissioners Hansen, \u0160ef\u010dovi\u010d and V\u00e1rhelyi in January 2026, and in bilateral meetings with EU counterparts at the recent Global Forum for Food and Agriculture in Berlin, which was also in January.  I note the decision by the European Commission to move ahead with the provisional application of the EU-Mercosur interim trade agreement. The Government\u2019s focus is on ensuring rigorous monitoring by the Commission of the agreement\u2019s market impacts and the robust enforcement, where necessary, by the Commission of the provisions of the recently agreed safeguards regulation. The Government will also engage closely with the Commission and with other like-minded EU member states to ensure follow-through on additional commitments in relation to food safety and environmental standards as well as the agreement's stated intention to better align the production standards of imported products with EU production standards, particularly with regard to pesticides and animal welfare. All of this work will be crucial to addressing the concerns of our farmers and our consumers.  Some of these additional commitments were given by Commissioner V\u00e1rhelyi at that special meeting in January, which I attended and where I raised and pushed those points with the Commissioner. Those safeguards that have been put in place are absolutely and critically important. We could never stop this on our own but we have worked with like-minded countries to build a bloc to do so. At the same time, as part of a twin-track approach, we have always pushed for the maximum amount of safeguarding measures to reassure our consumers and farmers should the agreement come into operation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  This deal obviously represents a serious threat to the future of Irish agriculture and to our farmers, who operate to the highest standards in the world in terms of food production but will now face competition from Mercosur countries where the same food production and environmental standards are not in place. It is not a level playing field. The Parliament voted to refer this deal to the European Court of Justice because of the concerns about its legality. However, the Commission has set in motion a process to implement the deal anyway. This shows a blatant disregard for the democratic views of the European Parliament. It is a shameful decision by Ursula von der Leyen and the Commission. We now need to see decisive action from the Government to prevent the provisional application of this deal. The Minister mentioned safeguards but what specific actions is he taking to stop the provisional application of this deal? Is the Irish Government opposed to that provisional implementation? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  I can go back over all of the times I have raised my opposition to the Mercosur deal in the AGRIFISH Council and in bilateral meetings. I have also been very frank and clear on that in my public utterances, on the floor of this House, in Brussels and in media interviews I have done on the issue. An element of the Deputy's question should be directed towards the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade.  This is a broader Government issue and trade deals are not decided by the Minister for agriculture, although I do speak up when they impact on agriculture and beyond. The Minister, Deputy McEntee, has responsibility for trade across all the different trade agreements, of which there are many, and which, by and large, Irish farming and Irish farmers benefit greatly from. We export 90% of the food and drink we produce, and those markets are really important. However, we will always have defensive interests as well as offensive interests when it comes to trade agreements and that is why we fought to raise our concerns regarding the Mercosur trade agreement, but also to say that, should it come to pass, those safeguards are so important.  Getting the threshold for safeguard measures dropped from a 10% increase in import volume to a 5% increase, as well as the reduced 5% threshold for individual member states to trigger an intervention, are very significant changes that were fought for and measures like those are key to have in place. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  There will be a huge impact on agriculture through this deal, so it is very relevant to the Minister. There is a concern out there because Fine Gael and Fianna F\u00e1il sat on the fence for years when it came to this deal. It was not until the day before the vote that they came out and said they were going to outright oppose the deal. It is now being provisionally applied even though the European Parliament has voted to refer it to the European Court of Justice as it is not satisfied with the legality of the agreement.  The Government cannot be passive in the face of this. It needs to take a clear position on this and work with other member states to halt the provisional application of this deal. It is detrimental to Irish farming. Irish farmers have been clear about that and their views on it. As Minister for agriculture, Deputy Heydon's job is to represent those farmers, their views and their best interests. What specific actions is the Minister going to take? I understand what he is saying about safeguards and so on, and all of that is important, but what specific actions is he taking to oppose and stop the provisional implementation of this deal? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  Before I talk about anything I am doing next, the first thing I have to do is to counter what the Deputy just said on the floor of this House. It is complete false. I have been clear on this issue. At a meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Brussels on 27 January 2025, when I was four days into the job, I spoke about how I was opposed to the Mercosur trade deal and articulated that perspective very clearly. There were meetings on 24 February 2025 and 24 March 2025. On 23 June 2025, there was a meeting in Luxembourg. There were also meetings on 22 and 23 September 2025 and 17 November 2025 and the extraordinary meeting on 7 January this year as well. That is in addition to the bilateral meetings I had on a number of occasions with my counterpart, Annie Genevard, the French minister for agriculture. I met Francesco Lollobrigida, the Italian minister for agriculture, on a number of occasions to discuss this issue. I also met with ministers of agriculture from Poland, Austria, Cyprus, Latvia, Slovakia, Austria and many other countries that had, for a variety of reasons, expressed concerns. We engaged with them and worked all the way through. We worked to the very last point to get the maximum amount of leverage to see if we could build that bloc. We also pushed on the safeguards. No country would make a final decision that far out if it wanted to keep the maximum pressure on for the safeguards in the event that we failed to have a blocking minority. We crystalised our decisions on the last day and that was absolutely the right strategic approach because we got the 10% down to 5%; we got the changes on the safeguards should we fail to meet  the blocking minority . We always knew that we could not do this on our own. Population-wise and member state-wise, we knew that would not be able to make that contribution. It was a very strategic approach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Healy-Rae  What was Sinn F\u00e9in doing when the Minister was doing all of that? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell  It is not your speaking time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Healy-Rae  It did nothing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  It was the day before the vote. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  Deputy Healy-Rae supported our motion in 2019. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Trade Agreements"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_28","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Agriculture Industry","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_25","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_25","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_28","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_28.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy O'Shea should ignore the noise and make his contribution. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Paul O'Shea  I am taking this parliamentary question on behalf of Deputy Colm Burke. I sympathise with Colm on the recent loss of his mother-in-law. I also sympathise with his wife, Mary, and the McCaffrey and Burke families. Our sympathies go out to them at this difficult time.  What progress has been made to date on the implementation of the national women in agriculture action plan? When is it expected that the detailed progress report will be published? Will he make a statement on the matter? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  I join with Deputy O'Shea in extending my sympathies to Deputy Burke and his family on the passing of his mother-in-law.  Gender equality in agriculture is a priority of mine and it is included in the programme for Government. Food Vision 2030 also recognises the importance of gender balance to the long-term sustainable future of the sector and committed to holding a national dialogue on women in agriculture.  The dialogue, which took place in 2023, explored gender equality across the sector, with the outcomes and recommendations informing a report and national action plan which was launched in 2024. A working group was established to oversee its implementation, which is nearing completion. The group has delivered a winter webinar series to increase knowledge and awareness of my Department\u2019s schemes, access to finance, agri-taxation, succession planning and social protection. This follows a number of in-person leadership and networking events nationwide last year.  The group established an annual women in agriculture studies excellence sward, in association with the UCD school of agriculture and food science. Sponsored by my Department, it recognises academic merit and commitment to gender inclusivity among female students.  A review of my Department\u2019s schemes was completed to ensure language, terms and conditions and eligibility criteria do not present any unintended barriers to female farmer participation. It has informed an internal guidance note and checklist to assist in the design of future scheme documentation to ensure best practice. A review of the herd number application process was also undertaken and updated guidance documents, application forms and standard operating procedures have been implemented, ensuring greater consistency and ease of use.  A women in agriculture webpage was created as a centralised point of information for, and promotion of, women involved in Irish agriculture. Promoting the role of women in sustainability, the group published a \"Spotlight on Female-led Sustainability\" booklet, profiling and promoting women's sustainability practices in the farming, food production, forestry, marine and research fields. The specific work of this group is almost complete and an implementation report will be published later this year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Paul O'Shea  I thank the Minister for his continued engagement on this matter. I welcome the continued implementation of the national women in agriculture action plan. It plays a vital role in supporting, recognising and empowering women right across the agricultural sector. Women have always played a central role in Irish agriculture, both on and off the farm, yet their contribution has not always received the recognition that it deserves. The national women in agriculture action plan is an important step in addressing that imbalance.  I welcome the fact that the Minister has said that a working group has nearly completed its work. Will the Minister delve further into this and see when the next steps in the plan will be undertaken? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  I thank the Deputy. It is timely this year because 2026 has been identified by the United Nations as the International Year of the Woman Farmer. My Department recently held a conference to launch the year in Ireland and to celebrate International Women's Day. I was delighted to announce the new International Year of the Woman Farmer ambassador, who will represent Ireland in Irish agriculture. She will raise awareness of existing supports and highlight issues that are important to women farmers. Further events for the International Year of the Woman Farmer will be held throughout the year. The calibre of applicants for that ambassador role was really impressive, as was the debate that took place on the day of the conference in Athlone. I was delighted to be able to attend and participate in part of that event.  This is an issue that is close to my heart. I know the barriers that are there for female farmers. My dad died when I was eight. At the age of 43, my mother became that female farmer. That was not easy in 1986, and it is not easy today either for female farmers. We want to break those barriers.  For many of the farmers who are operating on farms, their voice is not heard and their name is not seen on Department documents but they are integral part of the farming system. Those farmers are all over the country and it is about elevating them. There are a number of policy measures in the action plan, and it remains a top priority for me. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Paul O'Shea  The plan is about much more than recognition. It is about creating real opportunities, from improving access to education and leadership roles to supporting female entrepreneurship and ensuring a stronger voice in decision-making. This initiative is key to building a more inclusive and sustainable future for women in rural Ireland. Encouraging greater participation by women in agriculture will strengthen farm families, rural communities and the wider agrifood sector. It is essential that we continue to support and fully implement the actions set out in this plan so that the next generation of women in farming can thrive right into the future. I welcome the Minister's commitment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  I agree with the Deputy. As he can see from my earlier response, it is not about on intervention that will change things and move the dial. It is a series of different things. When I looked at this previously when I was a Minister of State, the feedback from female farmers was that male-dominated knowledge transfer groups were a challenge. Having female-only knowledge transfer groups in certain instances has worked really well. There are lots of small, practical things we can do that can make a difference. I spent a long time in this House today talking about generational renewal. Our commission on generational renewal identified 31 barriers and challenges that we have to tackle. Gender is a significant challenge. I want to get to a space where daughters are considered every bit as much as sons when the mothers and fathers of farm families are discussing who the likely successors are. This has not been the case historically but it is where we want to get to. These changes will bring about that cultural change for the betterment of Irish agriculture. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Agriculture Industry"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_29","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Food Industry","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_25","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_25","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_29","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_29.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  I am glad the Minister and two Ministers of State are here to take the question. Will the Minister provide details of the initiative to increase the amount of milling flour produced in the State and the necessary increase in acreage of wheat to be grown for that? I say this in a positive way. I hope with the Minister and two Ministers of State that we can have some good news on this now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  I know how important milling is to Laois and beyond----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  An-t\u00e1bhachtach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  As is the tillage sector. The tillage sector is an integral part of Irish farming, producing high-quality animal feed and bedding for the livestock sector and ingredients for the food and drink industry. The sector makes a significant contribution to the Irish economy, as the Deputy knows, estimated at \u20ac1.9 billion per annum over the 2018 to 2022 period. It is also important in terms of employment and is estimated to support over 11,000 full-time equivalent jobs. This Government is committed to growing the area under tillage crops in line with climate action plan targets.  The Food Vision tillage group report sets out a roadmap for the sector\u2019s growth and development, identifying key opportunities to sustainably grow the sector. Adding value to tillage crop output will be crucial to its long-term sustainability and competitiveness. The programme for Government commits to examining facilities for the processing of Irish crops and to exploring opportunities for oilseed and milling wheat processing. Additionally, a key recommendation in the Food Vision tillage report is to explore opportunities for milling wheat in Ireland.  While there are opportunities to grow milling wheat in Ireland, there are also recognised agronomic and market challenges. However, with collaboration from industry and support from the marketplace, domestic production of milling wheat can play a role in providing a new value-added opportunity in the supply chain for Irish tillage farmers. In line with these commitments, my colleague the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Deputy Burke, has approved the development and implementation of a new scheme, to be administered by Enterprise Ireland, to support the establishment of flour milling projects in Ireland. Approval for the scheme was granted in January 2026. I was delighted to be able to launch it with him. It will provide capital investment support for the establishment of large scale flour mills. A total grant budget of \u20ac15 million will be made available, and it is envisaged that up to three projects could be supported. Growing that capacity on the processing side will be a real incentive for tillage farmers to look at milling wheat as a greater value-added opportunity as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  I thank the Minister for the reply. I welcome the news of the plan to develop four flour mills. There is huge financial potential here and gain for producers and jobs and employment. A total of 80% of our flour is coming from Britain, as the Minister knows. During the crisis with the beast from the east, the freak freeze, we almost ran out of flour and bread. The total cereal production in the State, while it was up last year by 10%, that was mainly due to good weather at the start and end of the season, as opposed to the year before. There are huge risks there. We understand that. In terms of costs and that, the costs of fertiliser and fuel have increased.  We are very vulnerable in terms of our food security. We are only three days away from a crisis at any time. This is a real opportunity for farmers and for jobs. There are environmental benefits and economic benefits for farmers, jobs and food security. Laois is very good wheat-growing territory. I know south Kildare is as well - the wheat plains of Kildare - but Laois has wheat plains as well. I strongly ask the Minister to consider Laois as a location. There are over 70 acres there of land for industry that is unused by IDA Ireland. I am asking the Minister to make this a priority, right on the edge of Portlaoise on the crossroads of Ireland, the M7 and the N80. You cannot get a better location. It is on the railway line. It has a strong case. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  I thought Deputy Stanley was going to break into a bar of Trudi Lalor's \"Lovely Laois\" for a minute. I am well aware that some of the best tillage land in the country is in Laois because it is right beside Kildare. We have it too. The Deputy has many constituents, as I have, who are dependent, who are tillage farmers and are very worried about the future. They have had three really tough years due to a mixture of bad weather, income challenges and pressures and high input costs and low margin prices. At its heart has been the fact that our tillage sector is largely reliant on world market prices. Unlike the value-added piece that we have managed to introduce on our beef and dairy products, we are not in that space in tillage.  I am determined to get there. I have my \u20ac50 million supports through straw incorporation and protein aid, and the \u20ac30 million tillage sustainability scheme, which I recently launched. On top of that, it is about the value-added piece. It is about developing a quality assurance scheme for our tillage sector that delivers better value back there. It is this value-added piece that is here. In terms of the money and whether Laois is in the mix, it is up to individual companies to put themselves forward for that now. The Government has made that money available for them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  We have a strong tradition of milling flour in Laois. Odlums in Portarlington is one of the few places in the country now doing it. That is there. There is potential for it to be developed in the county. An economic report was published this morning by Alan Ahearne, former adviser to the US Federal Reserve and a former adviser to Miche\u00e1l Martin, as I understand it. He stated that foreign firms are producing six times more than Irish firms in this State. They produce three quarters of all exports. He stated that there are huge risks to the Irish economy. It is great to have foreign firms. This is not an argument against that and I do not want it to be taken as that. What I am saying is that it is very lopsided. Our economic development has been lopsided for years. There are huge macroeconomic risks there because of that in terms of corporation tax and other risks. As I said, there are the environmental benefits, the economic benefits - jobs, food security and all those benefits. Laois, Kildare and Carlow lost the sugar beet. We should not have lost it and should not give up on it altogether. I welcome what the Minister is doing. I ask him strongly to consider a location in Laois for flour production. We have 70 acres there for it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  I completely concur. We should never have lost the sugar beet industry. It was a detrimental blow to those of us in south Kildare, Laois and beyond who made very good money out of the campaign every year in delivering it into Carlow, as they did in Tuam, Thurles and Mallow.  I take the points regarding Alan Ahearne's report on board. It is why the Government has invested and supported Irish agriculture to the extent it has, with record amounts of funding to meet the last CAP plan. The Irish Government was not found wanting in supporting our agriculture sector in matching the European money that came in there. We will continue to do that. It is also about driving more value back into our sector and providing that value-added piece that means our tillage price is not just dealing on commodity markets. It is about being able to premiumise that, as we have seen on the beef and the dairy side. If we can add that premiumisation and increase the value in the product by the story we tell and tillage farmers' work in the area - AgNav is a good example of that - that can lead to positive impacts in the future, as will this investment. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Food Industry"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_30","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Harbours and Piers","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_25","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_25","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_30","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_30.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell  I am seeking an update on funding for piers across Connemara. As the Minister will be aware, this is an extremely important matter, especially for those who rely on the piers in Connemara. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Timmy Dooley  As the Deputy may be aware, our Department operates and maintains six designated State-owned fishery harbour centres, located at Castletownbere, Dingle, Dunmore East, Howth, Killybegs and Ros an Mh\u00edl in her own constituency. Additionally, our Department has responsibility for the upkeep and maintenance of north harbour at Cape Clear, as well as the maintenance of a small number of specific piers, one of which is Cleggan in the Deputy's constituency, which may be what she has in mind here, as well as in relation to lights and beacons throughout Ireland, in accordance with the ex-congested district board piers, lights and beacons Act 1902.  The responsibility for the development and maintenance of local authority-owned piers, harbours and slipways rests with each local authority in the first instance and their parent Department, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage thereafter. Therefore, it is the responsibility of Galway County Council to progress any possible works in relation to piers in Connemara, of which Cleggan is somewhat an outlier, because our Department has some responsibility there in consultation with the local authority, which also has part ownership of the pier. However, our Department, as part of its annual fishery harbour and coastal infrastructure development programme, does provide limited discretionary funding to coastal local authorities for the implementation of small-scale projects focused on the development and repair of piers, harbours and slipways under their ownership.  Accordingly, on 16 February, I announced \u20ac4.3 million in funding under the local authority marine infrastructure scheme for 2026. Under this scheme, my Department will co-fund up to 75% of the eligible project costs, up to a maximum of \u20ac187,500 reimbursement where eligible, per project, with the local authority providing the balance.  The deadline for local authorities to submit project proposals for funding under this scheme was 9 March. I am pleased to inform the Deputy of the large volume of project proposals submitted to my Department within the timeline. In fact, applications were submitted by every coastal local authority, including Galway County Council. Any applications for funding for capital works at piers in Connemara that may have been submitted by Galway County Council under the 2026 scheme will be given due consideration, taking into account the available funding and the terms of the scheme. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell  Tuigim an m\u00e9id at\u00e1 \u00e1 r\u00e1 ag an Aire St\u00e1it faoi Chomhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe agus an r\u00f3l at\u00e1 aige f\u00e9in ann. Is \u00ed an fhadhb at\u00e1 ann n\u00e1 nach mb\u00edonn an maoini\u00fa ar f\u00e1il ag an gcomhairle contae chun an infheist\u00edocht at\u00e1 ag teast\u00e1il sna c\u00e9anna a chur ar f\u00e1il agus an obair a dh\u00e9anamh a bhfuilimid ag caint f\u00faithi. Mar shampla, ar Chaladh Gholaim i Leitir Meall\u00e1in, t\u00e1 siad ag caint ar dheisi\u00fach\u00e1n \u00f3 2024 ar aghaidh. T\u00e1 an c\u00e1s d\u00e9anta chuig an gcomhairle contae ach n\u00edl an maoini\u00fa ann.  I thank the Minister of State for his response. Galway County Council has a serious role there but the issue is a lack of funding for that. There is an issue with one particular pier, Caladh Gholaim, which has been ongoing since 2024. The council says it applied for funding from the Department. We need to make sure that funding is available in order that this can be done. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Timmy Dooley  That is an issue right around the coastline. The funding we provide to local authorities is relatively small, and an input is required from them. It is really only suitable for minor upgrade works. I am conscious that there are others, including Cleggan and a number of others that Deputies from Deputy Farrell\u2019s constituency and elsewhere have been in touch with me about . That scheme does not meet the needs. I am in discussions with a number of Departments, including the Departments of rural affairs and tourism, because there is a recognition that not everything relates to fishing. Leisure activities and the potential for some offshore renewable energy activity must also be taken into account. Over time, we need to develop a more comprehensive approach to addressing the deterioration in the quality of some of these facilities. I have seen quite a number of them. They do not fall within the scheme that is there. They are not owned directly by our Department yet the local authorities do not have the funding to address them. There is a bit of a gap there. We are trying to work on a solution that might involve a number of Departments which have line responsibility. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell  T\u00e1im s\u00e1sta \u00e9 sin a chloiste\u00e1il. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 r\u00edth\u00e1bhachtach go mbeadh muid in ann d\u00edri\u00fa ar na c\u00e9anna sin agus ar an mbuninfreastrucht\u00far sin ionas go mbeadh s\u00e9 ann don phobal at\u00e1 ina ch\u00f3na\u00ed ann freisin.  I welcome that because I think it is important that there is recognition we need to look at exactly how we will fund these. There has been a lack of funding for basic infrastructure across Connemara, and we need to look at how we do that. It is good to look at it from a cross-departmental point of view in order to ensure that funding is available. It is not just piers; it is also bridges and roads. More often than not, I hear that funding is not available. I am sure the council would like to do it if it could.  Is maith an rud \u00e9 sin. S\u00edlim, ach go h\u00e1irithe m\u00e1 bhreathna\u00edmid ar an mbuninfreastrucht\u00far ina ioml\u00e1ine i gConamara, mar shampla, na droichid agus na b\u00f3ithre chomh maith leis na c\u00e9anna, t\u00e1 go leor infheist\u00edochta ag teast\u00e1il. Is maith an rud \u00e9 go bhfuil an Roinn ag breathn\u00fa air seo agus go bhfuilimid ag breathn\u00fa ar roinnt Ranna at\u00e1 in ann cabhr\u00fa leis. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Timmy Dooley  I fully get that. I saw in the case of Connemara where part of Cleggan is owned by our Department and part by the local authority. There was a comprehensive plan there which was probably too large in scale. While everyone liked it, nobody was able to come up with the comprehensive amount of money. I have suggested to them that they might look at a slimmed down version and we can see how we manage that. In that case, while there is some fishing activity there it is relatively small but there is a really important ferry service going out to the islands that is of vital importance. There are certain times where there is a safety issue there.  Deputies Conor D. McGuinness and Mary Butler have a similar issue down in Waterford, which I have also witnessed. The pier at Heilbhic does not qualify for any of the supports that are available at the moment. In the case of Heilbhic, it is impossible to get the RNLI boat out in certain circumstances. We have to look at all this in a more comprehensive way in order to identify the areas where we need to do it. We also need to look at a more broadly based scheme. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Harbours and Piers"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_31","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"State Bodies","counts":{"speechCount":13,"speakerCount":4},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_25","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_25","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_31","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_31.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  It is important that the review to which the question relates be expedited fairly quickly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  The board of Bord Bia met on 2 March to discuss proposals to resolve the situation whereby Bord Bia\u2019s offices were being occupied by protestors. Following that meeting the board issued an agreed statement. This statement noted that the terms of reference of an independent governance review which I had proposed were agreed by the board, and that the protest inside and outside the offices would be stood down.  As agreed, my Department is now commissioning an independent review of Bord Bia\u2019s governance framework. The review will specifically consider: the role of the board including the chair; composition, including eligibility, of the board, including the chair; the board\u2019s terms of reference, including clarity in relation to corporate governance framework and implementation; the procedures for and management of conflicts of interest, including consideration of what constitutes a conflict of interest or a perceived conflict of interest as set out in the code of practice for the governance of State bodies; and specific governance related questions that have been raised during the current period. The consultants will engage directly with the board members and executive - the CEO and the secretary to the board - to seek their perspectives, especially in relation to governance issues that have arisen in the current period.  My Department is currently engaged in a procurement process for this review, with a view to completion by the end of April. Bord Bia is also progressing a new farmers forum which I had asked it to establish on foot of a five-hour meeting I had with the six farm organisations and key stakeholders on 13 February to try to bring a resolution to this. The farmers' forum is a vehicle for us to have farmers\u2019 input into every part. Part of the recommendation from Macra na Feirme was that the outworkings of the farmers\u2019 forum will be a standing item at every board meeting of Bord Bia and each of the six farming organisations will get to have input into that which is a key role. It provides another option for renewed engagement between farmers and Bord Bia. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  I am trying to figure out the length of time it will take. The Minister said that it will start with procurement and that the review will begin by the end of April, is that correct? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  The end of April. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  It will begin by the end of April. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  It will be finished by the end of April. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  That is better again. That is good news. It is obviously a concern because it is fair to say there is a confidence issue there. There has been a big breakdown in relations and that needs to be addressed. Bord Bia is central as a body to promote the quality of Irish food and quality is the key word here.  In any outcome, we cannot have a food safety and promotion body that promotes the high standard of food produced here because of high regulations and standards and have someone at its head who is importing produce that is produced at a lower standard. Quality is key not only for farmers but for shoppers and consumers as well. Something that might be looked at is a more rigorous vetting regime for the heads of State boards. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy Martin Kenny has a supplementary. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  I support Deputy Stanley on this issue. It is obviously something that has taken up a huge amount of time and energy for everyone involved. It is positive we are at a stage where there is at least the bones of a resolution in place. The key issue is that people who are involved in State boards have a responsibility to adhere to the codes of conduct or practice that are in place. The review of all this will be short, hopefully. I welcome the Minister saying it would be concluded at the end of April. That would be ambitious. Farmers need reassurance that they will get additional and robust representation on any new board that is proposed, because that is one of the big issues. Without farmers, there would be no Bord Bia and no food to market anywhere. They see themselves as being very small players in all of this, however. Anything that can be done to ensure that farmers have a greater role to play would be very positive. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  The reason we are talking about the end of April \u2013 which is both a very tight timeline and ambitious \u2013 is because it is something I want to bring to a conclusion. There needs to be a lot of honesty in the debate. I agree with Deputy Kenny that we need to reflect on everyone\u2019s fiduciary duties when they sign up to a State board.  A great deal of responsibility comes with that, and that applies to every member of a board, not just the chairperson.  On the points about farmer representation and the farmer point of view, that will be enhanced by the establishment of the farmers' forum that I proposed at the five-hour stakeholder meeting on 13 February. The farmers' forum will provide a structured forum for two-way feedback because it is just as important that Bord Bia can feed back to farmers. It will also explain the market requirements, why quality assurance processes require certain amounts of information, how that is monetised and how it allows us to have premiumisation of their produce in the end. That is a really important part of this. We will all be strengthened from that greater collaboration. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  The Minister said that the end of April is the completion date, and that is very welcome. Normally when we hear about reviews, they to go on forever and a day. As a result, I welcome the fact that there is a bit of urgency about this. Farmers' participation will be central to it. We have to learn from the fiasco that we have had over the last few months. We all need to look at what happened there and try to move forward in a more positive way. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  That is it exactly. We want to move on, but we want to ensure that as we do so, there is a clear understanding of the highly integrated nature of food trade globally. We export 90% of our food and drink. It is really important that our farmers clearly understand that. The whole tenor of the debate over the five-week period focused on the 10% consumed in Ireland, understandably, because it is very important market in terms of sentiment and for Irish consumers as well. However, we cannot lose sight of the fact that Bord Bia is an international food board that provides marketing and opportunities for Irish food companies to get the best possible return. That, in turn, gives the best possible return to our farmers and it has been very successful. Coupled with our ten-year strategies in the Department, we have seen the value of Irish food exports grow from \u20ac10 billion back in 2011 to \u20ac20.8 billion last year and there has been a commensurate rise in farmers' incomes. We want to be very careful, in addressing all of these issues and concerns, that we do not undermine the very structure that is delivering real value back to our farmers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  That concludes questions to the Minister for agriculture. We will now move on to Leader's Questions. Before I call Deputy Doherty, I want to welcome a group of history students and their teachers to the Public Gallery. They are guests of Deputy Timmins and are very welcome. I hope they enjoy their day in D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Is f\u00e9idir teacht ar Cheisteanna Scr\u00edofa ar www.oireachtas.ie. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Written Answers are published on the Oireachtas website. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"State Bodies"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_32","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions","counts":{"speechCount":24,"speakerCount":6},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_32","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Fitzmaurice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  T\u00e1imid i ng\u00e9arch\u00e9im costais bhreosla anois le tr\u00ed seachtaine anuas agus n\u00ed a dhath d\u00e9anta ag an Rialtas chun c\u00e9im shoil\u00e9ir a ghlacadh go f\u00f3ill chun praghsanna a \u00edsli\u00fa. N\u00edl gn\u00edomh amh\u00e1in d\u00e9anta ag an Rialtas agus t\u00e1 s\u00e9 ag streachailt \u00f3n mbr\u00fa lean\u00fanach \u00f3 Shinn F\u00e9in agus an reachta\u00edocht at\u00e1 tugtha chun cinn againn. In ainneoin sin, n\u00edl a dhath d\u00e9anta aige go f\u00f3ill agus t\u00e1 gn\u00e1thdhaoine ag fulaingt d\u00e1 bharr. Inniu amh\u00e1in, t\u00e1 praghas d\u00edosal ardaithe 8 cent in aghaidh an l\u00edtear agus t\u00e1thar ag meas go n-ard\u00f3idh s\u00e9 12 cent eile san o\u00edche am\u00e1rach. T\u00e1 m\u00e9ad\u00fa \u20ac100 tagtha ar an bpraghas chun umar a l\u00edonadh le hola teochta t\u00ed inniu agus t\u00e1thar ag meas go n-ard\u00f3idh s\u00e9 \u20ac120 breise am\u00e1rach.  We are now in the third week of the fuel crisis and the Government has still not taken a single concrete step to bring down prices. Let us be clear, the Government has not acted. It has been forced onto the back foot by sustained pressure from Sinn F\u00e9in, including through the legislation we brought forward. Despite that, however, the Government has still done nothing. It could have acted at any point but it chose not to. Instead, it waited and dithered and people paid the price.  Fuel prices are not standing still. They are skyrocketing. Today alone, the price of diesel has increased by 8 cent per litre and it is projected to rise by a further 12 cent tomorrow night before VAT is even applied. The cost of home heating oil has increased by \u20ac100 per fill today, with a projected increase of \u20ac120 expected tomorrow night. While costs surge again, what is the Government's message to ordinary people out there? The message is wait until Tuesday. Wait for another meeting. Wait while prices climb. Wait while families fall further behind.  We know what delay means in real life. A pensioner told me he is sitting at home with no heating for a week because he cannot afford electricity and heat together; it is one or the other. Another family told us that they have just run out of oil but the price of a minimum order has gone from \u20ac280 to \u20ac600. Another person with arthritis is living in a damp, mouldy house and needs to keep warm but cannot afford to put on the heating. People are going cold in their own homes. Unbelievably, however, the Government will be pressing ahead with increasing the cost of home heating oil through higher carbon taxes in the next number of weeks.  The T\u00e1naiste should not come back with guff about these tax increases being necessary to fund retrofitting because that is simply not true. The money is available. There is a multibillion euro surplus. If the banks were paying the 12.5% tax rate on the \u20ac3.6 billion in profits they generated last year that they should be paying instead of an effective rate of 1%, there would be even more resources available. Let us be honest about it. This is not about necessity; it is about political choice. The Government is all over the place on this issue. It is slow to act, reluctant to intervene and telling people to wait while their bills spiral.  Will the Government act today to reduce the cost of petrol, diesel and home heating oil? Will it scrap the planned home heating oil increases? Will it support Sinn F\u00e9in's legislation or is it going to continue to send the same message as costs go out of control? Will it ask people to wait for another meeting, to wait for it to get its act together or to wait for another week and maybe it will do something on Tuesday, Wednesday or whenever? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  It will be on Tuesday. The Deputy said Tuesday, Wednesday or whenever, but there is quite a lot of clarity from Government in relation to that. We intend to bring forward an appropriate intervention at our next Cabinet meeting, which will be on Tuesday. Work is under way in relation to that right now. As recently as the past hour or so, the Minister for energy and transport met with the Irish Road Haulage Association. It was a very good and constructive meeting. The association outlined to him some of the challenges its members, who are a critical part of our economy and our supply chains, are facing. We will work through some of those thoughts and proposals in the coming hours.  The Government is absolutely clear that there is real pressure on families and businesses. People are feeling it at the pumps and in the cost of a fill of oil. As I confirmed last night, we are finalising what we believe to be an appropriate intervention for the areas in which there is the most acute pressure and challenge. In the Sinn F\u00e9in proposal, there is no talk about the fuel allowance. That is rather interesting, given that the people who are most at risk of fuel poverty really rely on that support.  There is significant international volatility. I was reading about what the Italian Government is considering doing today. It is talking about doing it for just 20 days. This is because governments right around the world, and I presume oppositions, are not able to predict where this conflict in the Middle East and the Gulf is going to bring the global economy. As I said last night - I reiterate it today - any measures that the Government takes next week need to fulfil two primary objectives. They need to ensure that assistance can be applied quickly and that we keep the space to adapt the response, should that be required, in the weeks and months ahead. We need to be honest that there is very little certainty in terms of where this conflict will go and what the economic impact could be, particularly when we consider that the length and depth of the conflict is such an important aspect.  The Government has already taken a number of actions. We have increased the fuel allowance to \u20ac38 per week. This means that the fuel allowance is now worth \u20ac1,064 per year to households. We are also expanding it in order that more people can qualify. Just last week, thanks to the intervention of the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Calleary, we expanded the fuel allowance to ensure that 50,000 families on the working family payment can benefit. This has been backdated to January, with many families getting lump sum payments of up to \u20ac308. Some 50,000 real people have benefited. We live in a country where over 470,000 households, or over one quarter of all homes in Ireland, now qualify for the fuel allowance. We have also reduced VAT on gas and electricity to 9% out to the end of the decade. We are supporting over 500,000 householders, many of them pensioners, with an allowance of \u20ac420 annually towards their gas and electricity bills under the household benefits package.  It is not correct to say that we are doing nothing. In fact, this year alone we are spending over \u20ac486 million on fuel allowance, \u20ac317 million on the household benefits package and \u20ac640 million on retrofitting. That is \u20ac1.5 billion on just those three measures alone.  I heard Deputy Doherty's interview on radio this morning. When he was asked where all the money was going to come from, his answer was that we should just take it out of the surplus. He knows that if you keep taking things out of a surplus, it becomes a deficit.  I also heard the Deputy say that the State is making a fortune on this and that it is estimated that it took in \u20ac38 million in taxes in one week alone as a result of these fuel costs. That is the annual cost not a weekly cost. Revenue estimates the cost at around \u20ac3 million per week. Accuracy is important, figures are important and getting this right is important and that is exactly what this Government intends to do. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  While the Government dithers, the prices double and what the T\u00e1naiste said is cold comfort to people on the street - people who are going cold at this point in time because they cannot afford to heat their homes. I have put the prices on the record. The T\u00e1naiste talks about waiting another week, into the fourth week of this crisis, and about how the Government will come up with something and maybe reveal it all on Tuesday but people in the here and now are facing these prices. Diesel went up by 8 cent this morning and it is projected to go up by 12 cent tomorrow night. Home heating oil went up \u20ac100 this morning when it is already sky high. It has gone up by another \u20ac100 and is projected to go up another \u20ac120 tomorrow night. This is happening in real time and the Government dithers and thinks people can wait another week while it gets its act together. People cannot wait; they demand action now.  There are solutions that can be put forward. The Government can reduce the taxes on petrol, diesel and home heating oil. It can do what we have set out in our legislation. This could happen right here right now. We could bring a financial resolution before the House and tonight we could cut the cost of petrol, diesel and home heating oil but the Government refuses to do that. The T\u00e1naiste says the Government hears where people are at but it refuses to act. We have the resources to do this, so why does the Government delay while the price of home heating oil doubles? Why does it dither when people are under so much pressure? Why will it not introduce the measures today for which people the length and breadth of this State are crying out? They are looking for action and leadership from Government and not more meetings, more delay and more dithering. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Because we want to get it right and a little bit of humility from the man who went on \"Morning Ireland\" this morning and got his figures out by \u20ac35 million a week would not go astray. The Deputy quoted an annual figure and said that we took in \u20ac38 million in windfall last week when it is \u20ac3 million. That is not a couple of million. The Deputy was out by \u20ac35 million a week.  We are going to get this right, we are going to take it step by step and we are going to work with European counterparts. The Taoiseach is at the European Council, the Minister for Transport has just finished a meeting with the hauliers, the Minister for Social Protection is considering how we can assist because most in need and my Department's economics team is trying to present the best macroeconomic analysis. The only place where there is dithering is where there is a Sinn F\u00e9in finance minister. Sinn F\u00e9in has powers in Northern Ireland to expand the fuel poverty funds but the only assistance, and it is a small bit of assistance, for people in Northern Ireland so far has been from the British Government. The Northern Ireland Executive, the Sinn F\u00e9in First Minister, the Sinn F\u00e9in finance minister and Sinn F\u00e9in economy minister have brought forward exactly zero euro and zero cent in measures to help people in Northern Ireland. This Government will act and act in the here and now. We are finalising our proposals and we will work with people and support them in the time ahead. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  I raise a deeply serious and sensitive issue, namely, children with additional needs and their rights to an appropriate education. In recent weeks, I have spoken directly with parents who are anxious and in many cases still without clarity on where their child will go to school this September. The T\u00e1naiste knows it himself. Every parent asks the same simple question this time of the year, \"Where is my child going to school in September?\" However, for these families, that question is still unanswered. When I raised this with the Taoiseach, he spoke about the exponential growth in demand but could not guarantee that every child will get an appropriate place.  The Government cannot say it was not aware of this. At a meeting of the Committee of Public Accounts three weeks ago, I put it directly to Department officials and they confirmed that a memo was going to Government on this increased demand. When I asked whether Government was aware of the situation, I was told clearly that the leaders of the Government are aware that a substantially increased need is coming but I had to press this point because while awareness of the need is one thing, the real issue is whether resources match that need. Despite repeated questioning, the answer was clear, that the analysis is still ongoing to ensure the State can meet that need. In other words, we are not yet in a position as a State to say that resources will fully match demand. This is not just about growth. This is about the gap between rights and resources.  I acknowledge there has been progress but too often provision remains reactive. Families are still facing uncertainty about long distances and last-minute placements. We know a memo is going to Government to address this but families do not deal in memos. They deal in deadlines. They need to know now whether their child will have a school place, whether it will be appropriate and whether it will be close to home. If I can put it plainly, parents are not asking for perfection; they are asking for certainty.  There is also the wider issue of planning. The State still does not have a fully centralised system to measure and forecast need, which means we are constantly reacting instead of preparing. Does the T\u00e1naiste agree we need a centralised system through the National Council for Special Education? There are three direct questions for the T\u00e1naiste. Will he put it on the record today that every child who requires a special class or a special school place for this coming academic year will be provided with one? Second, how many children are seeking places and how many still do not have one? Third, has this memo Department officials told me about gone to Government and what actions will follow? This is about rights and resources and unless those two things are aligned, families will remain stuck in the gap between them. Every child deserves not just a place but an appropriate place and every parent deserves certainty not stress. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Kenny for bringing up this issue and not for the first time. I know his professional and political interest and priority in relation to this, and he is right. This is a real time of anxiety for many parents across the country and we are acutely aware of that. I am aware of it as are the Minister for Education and Youth, Deputy Naughton, and the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan.  The Deputy's comments have been quite balanced because, objectively, we have seen some progress when it comes to special education. We now see special education funding of more than \u20ac3 billion this year, which is about 58% higher than it was in 2020. We see the majority of children with special educational needs supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers. That is as a result of a very significant uplift in special education teachers and SNAs. We have made a decision, which the Deputy and I debated in this House previously, in relation to only proceeding with the review where there was an upward lift in SNAs. That means we were planning for about 1,700 or thereabouts additional SNAs this year. That figure will now be around 2,200, which means we will have over 25,000 SNAs in our schools this September.  We have already provided funding for over 400 new special classes and at least 400 new special school places for the 2026-2027 school year. It is intended that would create around 3,000 new special education placements for September 2026.  I think there will be a further memo going to Cabinet, probably in April, but the Deputy is right that people do not live by memos. It is the kind of thing we do in this place but in the real world, it is what is about happening in the here and now. Yesterday, we saw 36 additional special classes announced by the Minister and Minister of State. At our weekly leaders' meeting on Monday, there will be a special focus on education with the Minister and Minister of State where we will be updated on a number of these issues in relation to special education, SNAs and classes as well. That is important.  What I can say is we are working around the clock to make sure no child will be prevented from starting school and to make sure every support possible is and can be in place. I do need to be honest. I do not like the word \"demand\". We are seeing a very significant increase in need. These are needs. Parents are not going around demanding things. These are needs their children have. We are seeing a very significant increase in that need.  In fairness to the Department, the Minister and the Minister of State and their predecessors, there was a real effort to try to get somewhat ahead of it this year with the opening of the portal in October but through no fault of any parent, even after that, a significant number of additional children came forward. I can understand why that is the case. What we are trying to do now is work our way through that. I do not have the exact numbers to hand right now but it is a somewhat fluid situation.  I think the Deputy's idea of a centralised portal is a good idea and I will certainly talk with the Minister about that. I know she will engage with the Deputy as well. We want to have the best data possible but the priority in the here and now is to make sure we prepare as best as we can for September and that we put in place robust plans to make sure no child is prevented from starting school. I am very conscious of the point the Deputy made about how being close to one's community is vital for people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  I appreciate the T\u00e1naiste's response. I return to what Department officials have confirmed. They said the Government is aware of this increased need but they also made it clear further analysis is needed to ensure that need can be met. The T\u00e1naiste referenced that with regard to not using the word \"demand\". He said that the level of need has increased significantly. The question that is being asked by parents is very simple. Will their child have an appropriate place for this September coming? Can the T\u00e1naiste guarantee to parents today on the floor of the D\u00e1il that every single child who requires an additional needs place in a school will be given an appropriate one?  We must also ensure the SNA debacle does not arise again. The T\u00e1naiste is now Minister for Finance. Do we know yet where that \u20ac19 million is going to come from? When will those schools that were told they would be allocated additional SNAs be given the go-ahead to appoint those SNAs?  On that memo that will to go to Cabinet, when will families see those outcomes from it? Families cannot wait for more analysis. They need certainty and they genuinely need it now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I agree with that but I stress that the Minister, Deputy Naughton, is certainly not waiting for any further piece of work to be done. Of course, there are lots of further pieces of work under way but in the here and now, the Minister is working to make sure more classes are put in place and opened, with a particular focus on schools where they have a physical ability to open another class and where there are not longer lead-in times. I thank schools right across the country which are stepping up and showing real flexibility and leadership on this. The Minister does too.  I am pleased the Deputy raised the issue of the \u20ac19 million because I want to say two things in relation to that. First, where it will come from is total voted expenditure of \u20ac118 billion. Some \u20ac19 million was a lot in the context of the SNA situation; it is very manageable in the context of total voted expenditure. Second, we have contingency funds and the likes built into our overall \u20ac118 billion. I said two points but I have three points. Third, it will be additional funding to the Department of education. It will not be a question of robbing Peter to pay Paul within the Department of education.  Our absolute commitment is to work to make sure every child due to start school in September can start school then with the maximum levels of support possible. I am conscious when it comes to \"appropriate\", that is often, I suppose, not subjective but based on the best information available at the time to a family and a school. We will certainly be working to open more classes and with schools and parents through the NCSE. We will have further engagement in government on this on Monday evening. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  The Government's hands-off approach to the energy crisis is callous and cruel. For weeks now, the T\u00e1naiste has failed to intervene as prices have spiralled. When the Social Democrats asked the T\u00e1naiste to act, he refused. Instead of there being support for people, the T\u00e1naiste has been missing in action.  Individuals, families and businesses do not have the luxury of sitting back and monitoring the situation. For them, the impact has been immediate and unavoidable. Petrol and diesel prices are soaring, home-heating oil has shot up by 80% and gas prices are rocketing. These are not abstract fluctuations on international markets. These are astronomical price increases that ordinary people are being forced to pay today and for many, they represent a tipping point.  People were already struggling to pay sky-high energy costs before these latest price shocks. In December, nearly 320,000 households were in arrears on their electricity bills. That is hundreds of thousands of people all over the country who are already in crisis, for instance, elderly people sitting at home in freezing cold homes because their pensions simply do not stretch far enough, disabled people who are making choices between eating and heating, and parents of young children going into huge debt just to keep a roof over their heads. That was before Trump and Israel launched their illegal war on Iran causing carnage across the whole region and causing economic chaos across the globe.  The T\u00e1naiste has now said the Government is finalising an appropriate intervention to deal with those struggling with the surge in costs but we must wait until the next Cabinet meeting on Tuesday before that is signed off on. There is no clear indication yet of what those measures will be and exactly when they will be implemented. Where is the recognition of the huge pressure people all over the country are facing right now? Where is the urgency? The T\u00e1naiste could act today, if he wanted to. The T\u00e1naiste could clear the D\u00e1il schedule and get this done, as he did when he had to appoint Ministers. The T\u00e1naiste cleared the D\u00e1il schedule to fill up his ranks. Will the T\u00e1naiste not do it today on this?  The Government may not have a plan to help people but the Social Democrats do. We need a targeted \u20ac400 energy credit, which can immediately be brought in and provided to 800,000 households who are struggling the most, and we need to cut excise duty to reduce prices and ensure the State is not profiting from this crisis. Can the T\u00e1naiste tell people who are watching at home whether he will adopt our proposals and when exactly is he going to take action? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy O'Callaghan. I will address each of his points. First, when this Government acts next week, I believe we will be among the first to act. There certainly are many countries in the European Union who are still pondering what to do. I mentioned only a few moments ago the Italians are looking at what to do for a 20-day period. There is huge volatility. I was in the UK the other day meeting the Chancellor of the Exchequer. From memory, they have announced an intervention of roughly \u00a353 million, which is roughly the equivalent of \u20ac5 million in terms of Ireland's population. Lots of countries are trying to work out what is the best thing to do here. I have to be honest with the Deputy that it is not straightforward because we cannot predict with any sense of certainty how long this will go, how deep this will go and even if the conflict ends - we all want to see this conflict end and de-escalated - what the economic hangover from that will be.  I have certainly been very hands on. I have been at meetings of the Eurogroup, ECOFIN, and with the Commission, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Taoiseach and Government colleagues in relation to this as well as with my own economic team in the Department of Finance as we seek to get this right.  I take the point in relation to energy costs already being very high in Ireland. That is one of the reasons we have expanded the fuel allowance to a further 50,000 people. The Deputy mentioned the number of people in energy arrears. They are real numbers. I accept that. However, a real number also is that now 470,000 households, more than ever before, are now getting direct help with their fuel costs. For the first time, 470,000 people receive help. That is real as well. The Deputy asked when. The when is Tuesday. When the Cabinet meets, we will act.  The Deputy asked how quickly will the measures come in. He has to allow me finalise the measures but I said in my comments in the D\u00e1il last night, and I said it again today and I repeat it, that we will attach a premium to measures that can come in quickly. The Deputy has mentioned some measures that could potentially come in quickly.  I have heard the Deputy's idea in relation to the energy credit. I know it is put forward in good faith. Nobody should be dismissing anybody's ideas that are brought forward in good faith because I do not doubt they are. We are all trying to achieve the same thing here. The only point I would make is that I am not sure the speediest or most effective way, being truthful, with the time of the year we are coming into, that is, bringing in temporary energy credits - and I am not saying this to be flippant - in a summer period that would not be in place in a winter period. There are other ways, more quickly, we can alleviate and help. I know this idea is brought forward in good faith. As I say, we all need to approach this with humility, and I certainly do too. However, it would require primary legislation and the likes. There may be quicker ways of helping people and possibly achieving the same aim the Deputy is trying to achieve as well.  We will finalise our proposals. The Deputy asks, why not right now? Literally, only an hour or so ago, the Minister for Transport finished his latest engagement with the hauliers. He is working through some of their proposals. We need to make one intervention here that tries to address the areas most under pressure. Whatever we do should be for a short sharp period of time in the first instance to provide us with the flexibility as a State to further respond to an evolving situation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  In December there were 320,000 households in arrears on their electricity bills. They need a targeted energy credit and the T\u00e1naiste is saying he cannot do it because we are coming into summer. Is that for real? Then the T\u00e1naiste is saying that he cannot predict the future. We are not asking him to predict the future. We are asking him to recognise the reality people are living in now and that things have been getting worse day after day, and he is delaying on this. Does the T\u00e1naiste not recognise the difficulty individuals and households are in, in that they cannot heat their homes, cannot getting get their home-heating oil tank filled and that they are making decisions as to whether they can put the heating on or go to the supermarket to get the groceries? Does the he not recognise that and that every day he delays and every day he makes excuses is pushing people further and further into hardship and poverty? Will measures be brought in on Tuesday? Is the T\u00e1naiste effectively ruling out an energy credit? Do I take that from the T\u00e1naiste's comments?  There will be measures brought in on Tuesday. What will those measures be? Will they help the 320,000 households already in electricity arrears? Will they be targeted? The T\u00e1naiste has often said we need to have targeted measures. Will they be targeted at those who need them most? Will there be measures on the excise tax on petrol and diesel? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I am genuinely not trying to be argumentative or provocative in relation to this because we need to work together on this but I have to say what we do now has an effect on what we can do in the future. The Deputy knows that, I know that and we all know that. The point I am making is, of course, we need to look at what we can do in the here and now. I get that, and that is what we are doing. However, we also need to be conscious, as we stand here in the D\u00e1il in the month of March, of where the global economy could be in the month of September or July. What if the Deputy comes into the House then and says all of a sudden that we are not talking about energy but are talking about this or that. We need to look at this in the round.  The Irish economy approaches this moment of global challenge from a position of relative strength but we have also got to be conscious of leaving ourselves as a country with the flexibility to adapt our response, depending on where the situation goes.  We all hope this de-escalates very quickly, for humanitarian and economic reasons.  The Deputy asked about targeted measures and then made a proposal on excise, which obviously is not targeted. What I would say now is----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  At least the T\u00e1naiste knows that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I have said very clearly that we should, in the first instance, always target those most in need. I have referenced the fuel allowance as a useful vehicle that we have used in that regard, but I have also made the point that there are real challenges at the pumps. In the past, we have made interventions around excise that have been of assistance to people. We are looking at what we can do in the round across a number of Departments. What we do has to be sustainable, it has to be proportionate and it has to be time-bound, because we have gone down this road before of thinking----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  The Government had no problem giving back cuts to investor funds and developer funds in the budget but it will not give them to people who need the money. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I am trying to have a substantive conversation with the Deputy's deputy leader about energy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  That was a substantive point. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I am acting in good faith and saying I want to work with people, and Deputy Hearne is just shouting at me. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  I am not shouting. I am making----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  But the Deputy is interrupting me, and that is his choice.  We will bring forward a package on Tuesday that will endeavour to target measures at those most in need and assist those feeling the pressure at the pumps. However, the package will also have to be done in a way that provides flexibility for this country to adapt to the unknown. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Fitzmaurice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice  Shortly after Christmas, what we would classify as a fit young woman of 39 years of age was in a gym in Athlone. When she came out with her two young children, she fell to the ground. I compliment the paramedics and air ambulance staff who brought her to Beaumont Hospital, where they found a bleed in the brain. I compliment Beaumont Hospital for all of the work it did. The hospital stabilised her and did a lot of work but, unfortunately, where walking and speech are concerned, her speech and one side of her body were affected. Physio and rehabilitation were required.  She was told that going to D\u00fan Laoghaire was an option, but the wait there was very long. Then, she looked at Clontarf. Peamount was out of the area. Unlike what often goes on in here with the bickering, I want to be a bit different. I want to compliment my constituency colleague, Dr. Martin Daly, because both of us know the family. This is not about votes or politics. This is about two people working together who have at heart the interest of a young person with young children and who has been left in a situation that is very difficult.  Since then, we have been frustrated by the HSE systems. Under them, Beaumont cannot transfer a person to Merlin Park. You have to go through another hospital in the west of Ireland, such as Ballinasloe. In fairness to Deputy Daly, thanks to the calls he has made, the girl has been transferred to Ballinasloe. However, it is an horrific situation. An insurance company has walked away from the insurance the lady had. One top of that, this woman is trying every day. Her husband goes up and they go for walks. She is powering on, so determined to make a full recovery. The problem here has to do with a bed space, speech and language therapy and physio.  I ask the T\u00e1naiste to work with us and to ask the Minister for Health to work with us. This needs resolving for someone who has gone through a tough situation. She is a determined, fit, young person of 39 who wants to make a full recovery. She has worked all her life, as has her husband, and they are in the hospital every day trying to defeat the hard situation they have come through. She walked with a Zimmer frame, then threw that away and walked on her own, but the hand needs help. Speech and language therapy is the big one. Once again, I compliment my constituency colleague for the work he has done because I might know a lot about agriculture, but I have to hand it to him on health in the way he would guide you.  This is not about me, him or anybody else. This is about a person - a human being - with young kids of seven- and eight-years-old whom we want to see has a future that makes them better and gets them what they need. I ask the T\u00e1naiste to help us in this situation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  It is important to say that Deputy Fitzmaurice knows about a lot more than just agriculture. He knows about being a decent human being as well. I thank him for the way he is approaching this issue and working with his colleague, Deputy Martin Daly. That is one of the finest contributions I have heard in here in awhile.  I obviously do not know the young woman the Deputy is talking about, but I can only imagine the absolute nightmare she, her husband, their young children and their wider family have endured. I hope one day, when she recovers, that I will get to meet her because she sounds like she has an extraordinary determination in her recovery journey. As we all know, albeit without knowing anything about the clinical situation, the progress people can make after the most incredible injuries is quite remarkable. I appreciate and will pass on the praise the Deputy has levelled on the air ambulance and Beaumont Hospital, and the many interactions the woman has had with the health service.  The short answer is I will ask the Minister for Health to engage with the Deputy and Deputy Daly on this woman's pathway of care and what can be done. As a rule of thumb and for good reason, we do not comment on individual clinical plans in the D\u00e1il but I can certainly ask that the Minister engage with both Deputies and the HSE on this. Based on what the Deputy has said, it sounds like much progress is being made, but there are clearly pinch points in key areas. Deputy Fitzmaurice referenced the speech and language therapy, physio and other areas. The Deputy mentioned a transfer to Ballinasloe, which I think has happened. I am hoping that transfer helps. I will try to work out what that means with regard to Merlin Park.  The best thing I can do is ask the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, to engage with both Deputies and the HSE on this. I offer the woman every good wish. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Fitzmaurice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice  I thank the T\u00e1naiste for his response. The one thing I will say is, in the overall context, for people who go through a traumatic injury like that, it is about the facility. It is not about that one person alone; it is about people right around the country. If you leave a person in a hospital that does not cater for something, then you are holding a bed that may be able to help someone else. It is a question of putting in resources around the country.  I am appreciative of what Beaumont and all of the paramedics have done, but when the family looked at Peamount, whatever system that is in place in the HSE said it was outside the area. Ironically, if a person came from Roscommon or elsewhere in the west, you would imagine that the likes of Beaumont could ring Merlin Park and ask it to facilitate this, but no. The T\u00e1naiste might bring this to the Minister's attention. The systems here mean that you have to go to one place in the CHO 2 area before you can jump into another place there. That is the problem. Neither Deputy Daly nor I might have a lot of hair left, but we are pulling our hair out trying to get around this to help this family.  I thank the T\u00e1naiste for his comments and I ask him to get the Minister to please engage with us, because we want to get this person back to full health, which I believe will happen. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I hope that is the case. Certainly, I will ask the Minister to engage with both Deputies Fitzmaurice and Daly.  I will just make a couple of comments. The point the Deputy made about the physical environment was a very important one. One of the happiest days I had as Taoiseach was the opening of the newly refurbished National Rehabilitation Hospital, NRH. It has always been an incredible hospital in D\u00fan Laoghaire. To a layman like me, it has performed miracles in people's rehabilitation journeys. However, the facilities were not where they needed to be. For somebody who has to spend a long period in a hospital on that journey, you need to have your bit of privacy, space, an en suite and access to therapy spaces. Real progress has been made in that regard.  I take the Deputy's point, and will bring it to the attention of the Minister and the HSE, regarding the system and the need for more co-ordination. My own view on this is that there are certain areas where it is so specialist that there needs to be a national approach whereby people can move seamlessly to the most appropriate place across the country. I will certainly ask the Minister to engage with both Deputies on that.  I wish the woman all the very best. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_33","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 na Comhalta\u00ed Eile - Other Members\u2019 Questions","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_33","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere  In Carlow-Kilkenny, the reality facing students, parents and school staff is very different from the picture that is often presented by the Government. We are seeing steady population growth, more young families and increasing demand for school places, but the delivery of school buildings is simply not keeping pace.  Across the country, and specifically in my constituency, schools are relying on prefabs that were meant to be temporary but have now become long-term fixtures. Children are being taught in overcrowded classrooms with limited facilities, while projects that have been announced or approved are taking years to materialise. The core issue here is not a lack of planning, but a lack of adequate capital funding that reflects today's construction costs. I acknowledge the \u20ac7.6 billion that has been put aside in the national development plan, NDP, but putting it simply, it is not enough.  The reality is that inflation in the building sector has fundamentally changed this picture. Projects that were costed a number of years ago are now far more expensive to deliver. As a result, we have a situation where schools have approval in principle, but in practice, they are stuck in limbo because the funding no longer matches the real cost of building.  This is deeply frustrating for school communities. Boards of management, principals and parents are doing everything asked of them. They are engaging with the Department, progressing designs and identifying sites, yet they are left waiting, sometimes for years, with no clear timeline for delivery. All of this is happening at a time when the State is in a very strong financial position. The question has to be asked as to why, when the resources are available, we are still seeing such delays in delivering essential school infrastructure in places like Carlow and Kilkenny. This cannot continue. Temporary accommodation is not a long-term solution. Children only get one chance at their education, and they deserve to learn in proper, permanent facilities.  As of this morning, on the Government website for the Department of education, there are 284 large-scale projects and 878 additional accommodation projects in the pipeline. That is 1,162 projects across the country, 30 of which are in my constituency. The latest round of capital funding showed that only 105 schools were funded. Based on this logic, it will be well over a decade before some of these projects even get the nod to go ahead to the design stage. What additional capital funding can be allocated in 2026 specifically to address these delays? Will the Government commit to reviewing and increasing the capital budget for school buildings so that approved projects can be delivered on time? Ultimately, this is about delivery. It is about turning announcements into actual buildings and ensuring that schools in constituencies like mine are not left behind. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Cleere for raising the issue of school building projects in general, and our need to deliver more, but also specifically in relation to his constituency of Carlow-Kilkenny. As he knows, since 2020, some \u20ac6.7 billion has been invested to increase capacity and upgrade school facilities. This is a record level of investment. Some \u20ac210 million in capital funding went to County Kilkenny and \u20ac51 million in capital funding went to County Carlow. Over that period, we saw 43 schools in County Kilkenny and 25 schools in County Carlow either being upgraded, having extensions built or getting additional accommodation. We also saw 45 special classes sanctioned for Kilkenny, eight of which are sanctioned for this September, and 32 extra special classes sanctioned for County Carlow, five of which are sanctioned for this September.  I take the point. The Deputy would not be doing his job if he were not restless to see even more projects delivered in his constituency. However, I would make the point that we have, quite rightly, invested a lot in education buildings in Carlow and Kilkenny and, indeed, across the country. As the Deputy said, the Minister, Deputy Naughton, published the \u20ac7.55 billion sectoral investment plan for education earlier this year. There are six projects in the counties of Carlow and Kilkenny. There are also a further ten schools in those two counties that are now approved to undergo summer works schemes this summer.  The Deputy is right that there is more to do. I want people in Carlow, Kilkenny and throughout the country to know that this is not the final word on capital when it comes to education. In the medium-term fiscal plan that the Government has agreed, and that was approved at a European level only a couple of weeks ago, there is further capital to be allocated in the time ahead. As a Government, while we are not making decisions on it today, we will be eager to invest that in areas where we believe we can deliver real progress in communities in a speedy fashion. Schools and education have a very strong track record. The beauty of a school building project is that if you give it the green light, it goes ahead and it gets delivered quickly. We see them right across the country.  The Deputy is right that there are a number of projects at stage 2B, which, for the benefit of those watching, are the projects that are basically waiting to go to detailed design, the phase before going to tender. I genuinely believe that we will be able to make progress on many of them in the time ahead. Perhaps up to 15 of them could be in the Deputy\u2019s constituency, which is also the constituency of the Leas-Cheann Comhairle, in the interests of balance. We will review that matter in due course. The priority in the here and now is getting on with delivery, which, as the Deputy mentioned, is important. We have given a very large allocation of over \u20ac7 billion to education. We need to see quick progress on those projects. We will be reviewing and monitoring this matter. To the schools in the Deputy\u2019s constituency and every constituency, this is not the final word on capital funding for education for schools from this Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere  I am delighted to hear that additional funding will be made available. I look forward to engaging with the T\u00e1naiste to deliver these projects. In Carlow, schools like Borris College and St. Mary's Academy CBS are under pressure. The projects are ready to go. They just need the green light from the Department. If we move over to Kilkenny, the situation is just as concerning. Kilkenny City Vocational School and Col\u00e1iste Pobail Osra\u00ed are waiting on their new shared campus. Castlecomer Community College and Col\u00e1iste Abhainn R\u00ed in Callan have been excluded from the last round of Government funding. These schools are operating at full capacity, and delays only make conditions worse. St. Senan\u2019s National School in Kilmacow and Church Hill National School are ready to go. We have the magnificent St. Kieran's College, which, again, has a project ready to go. Its pupils were all-Ireland champions again on St. Patrick's Day, their 26th title, so hurling is strong, alive and well in Kilkenny, the T\u00e1naiste and the House will be glad to hear.  If we are serious about education, we cannot continue to delay investment where it is clearly needed. Students deserve a safe, modern space to learn, not uncertainty and overcrowding. It is time for action. I welcome the T\u00e1naiste's comment that additional funding is going to be made available. It is time that these schools get the funding they urgently require. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I was making an effort to write them down, but I think the Deputy named nearly all of the 15 schools we had on the list. That was a good tour of the constituency.  Whether they are schools in Carlow or Kilkenny, I get it. There is obviously great joy when a school list comes out and your school is on the list, but there is that sense of apprehension as to what it means for the school. That is why I really want those schools to know it is not the final word. The Government is very clear in relation to that. Our medium-term fiscal plan, more importantly, is clear in relation to that as well. There is, I think, \u20ac4 billion in capital funding in that plan that, in the lifetime of this Government, we will have an opportunity to allocate. The key thing right now is the delivery of all of the projects we have funded, including the projects in Carlow and Kilkenny, the summer works schemes that will take place in Carlow and Kilkenny, and the extra special classes that will open in both of those counties and right across the country. We continue to work with schools that are at stage 2B to seek to move them on. We will keep in touch with the Deputy in relation to that. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 na Comhalta\u00ed Eile - Other Members\u2019 Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_34","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Pholasa\u00ed n\u00f3 ar Reachta\u00edocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation","counts":{"speechCount":40,"speakerCount":20},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_34","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Fitzmaurice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Guirke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"S\u00e9amus McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Over the last 48 hours, parents of leaving certificate and junior certificate students received letters telling them that the Government was bringing back examination fees. That will be a bill of over \u20ac100 for many families across the State. I cannot believe the Government is sending these letters out in a week when families are under so much pressure. It was the wrong decision in the budget, and we called it out at the time, but it is a worse decision today. Working households cannot catch a breath with the constant price hikes. The last thing they need now is another bill landing in their door. Parents are watching every euro and working miracles to stretch household budgets. Things are really tight for folks. Now, the Government is going to force them to pay out over \u20ac100 for each child sitting their State exams. I believe this is wrong. I ask the Government to reverse this decision, give hard-pressed families a break and scrap these exam fees. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  The Government works in a number of ways to try to help and assist families. We have brought in many services to assist people with the cost of education, including the free schoolbooks and hot school meals programmes. It was well known that the leaving certificate fees were reverting this year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  Yesterday, the Director of Public Prosecutions, DPP, decided that three more garda\u00ed in Limerick should not be prosecuted for fixed charge offences and perverting the course of justice. This follows on from five garda\u00ed, one a retired superintendent, being found innocent in a recent court case. Two more garda\u00ed had their suspensions lifted after five years, and one other garda is in mediation at the moment.  Sitting where the T\u00e1naiste is sitting, the Taoiseach a few weeks back said there should be an inquiry into what happened in Limerick. Why was Limerick picked on? These 11 garda\u00ed have had their lives destroyed because once you are suspended or charged as a garda, nothing is ever the same again. The morale of the force in the mid-west has collapsed. The prosecution of many criminal cases never went ahead. It is likely that these 11 garda\u00ed will sue the State, and rightly so.  Given that it seems the whole house of cards for all of these cases revolved around retired Superintendent Eamon O\u2019Neill\u2019s collapsed prosecution, and everyone else being collateral damage, will the T\u00e1naiste support an inquiry into what happened in Limerick, why this went ahead, and why those in other divisions and senior garda\u00ed, who would also have been acting in a similar way, were not prosecuted like these 11 individuals? Will the T\u00e1naiste support an inquiry in relation to this? I am not going to stop until one is launched. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Kelly for raising this matter. I know he is somebody who has consistently highlighted this issue and his significant concerns in relation to it.  I do think there needs to be further examination and inquiry into these matters. The form that takes or how that is brought about is obviously a matter in the first instance for my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan. I have not had a chance to discuss this with him, but I do share the view of the Taoiseach, as previously articulated in this House. I can only imagine the lives put on hold and the stress, strain and family pressures that all of this has caused people. Those people deserve answers and an explanation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  Younger generations, renters and workers are being broken by the Government's housing policy failures. Today, we hear that last year there were 20,000 eviction notices issued to private renters, the highest we have seen since the Famine, and up 41% in the last quarter, made worse by the rent hike Bill. We are seeing evictions increasing on a scale we have not seen in this country. These evictions are causing a trauma to every person who is experiencing them, while house prices are also spiralling out of control. Younger generations cannot afford the rent hikes. They cannot afford to buy a home. They cannot afford to start their lives or to start a family. Does the T\u00e1naiste accept that for younger people and workers in this country the housing crisis and the Government's policies are causing a social catastrophe? We need an emergency ban on no-fault evictions. We need a State construction company to build affordable homes that people can actually afford to buy across this country. Will the T\u00e1naiste do that? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  We have a State organisation in the Land Development Agency that is making a real and positive impact in relation to the delivery of homes right across our country. I have been on many sites with it in recent weeks and months. We do live in a housing emergency, of that there is no doubt, but it is important to quote the report in the round. I note that we did see the number of terminations actually fall in the final quarter, down 3.6% in quarter 4 compared with quarter 3 of 2025. We also saw the number of tenancies increase during that year as well. We have debated in this House before the unintended consequences of a no-fault eviction ban, as Deputy Hearne envisages, and we saw the outworkings of that in quarter 2 of 2023. We brought in a series of protections for tenants - very robust protections - in our recent rental reforms. That is an important step to take, in terms of six-year tenancies and additional protections for tenants. I look forward to people seeing the benefit of that in the time ahead. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Children with special needs, just like every child, have a right to an appropriate education. I heard the T\u00e1naiste say earlier on that there have been lots of announcements about special classes and places, and even that once the Government gives the green light, these things are delivered. I have been asked by the Equality in Education Dublin North West campaign and my colleague, Councillor Conor Reddy, to raise the issue of Finglas Parochial National School where children were enrolled in two special classes last September but the physical delivery of the classes has not happened. It now looks like it may not happen this September. The parents have written to the Minister seeking a meeting. Apparently this is a mess-up by the project management company not submitting stuff relating to further information to do with the planning permission, and maybe the Department of education's building unit. The children have been enrolled in a class which got the green light but there is no physical building or class and the parents do not know whether their children with special needs will have a classroom to go to this September. They want to meet the Minister, and they would like an affirmative response. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Boyd Barrett very much. I know we are not allowed to do a back-and-forth, but could I ask him if the children are in the school? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  They are enrolled but there is no physical place for them. There is no physical building. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Sure. I thank him for raising the issue on behalf of his colleague, Councillor Reddy. I will speak to the Minister for education today and see if she or somebody on her behalf can engage with the equality in education campaign to see how we can bring progress to this as quickly as possible. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Fitzmaurice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice  I seek clarification. I see the Minister of State with responsibility for housing is here. A month ago I asked a question about the exemption for modular houses at the back of properties. I note that in the media in the last week they are saying that the regulations could be done within the next week or two. Are they coming forward? Could the Minister of State inform me about that? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy John Cummins)  I thank the Deputy. We have sent the finalised regulations for screening and once the screening is done we will bring them before the Oireachtas joint committee. That is in relation to the domestic exemptions. The next set of regulations is the infrastructure exemptions, which are being finalised as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Fitzmaurice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice  When will they be ready? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Cummins  The screening usually takes four to six weeks and then they will go to the Oireachtas joint committee. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Albert Dolan  Tomorrow we will all collectively celebrate Daffodil Day and we will support the Irish Cancer Society. I see many Members across the House donning the daffodil today. In Galway last year, 1,332 people were diagnosed with cancer and in 2024, sadly, 531 people died at the hands of this disease. One thing we in this House can do is try to alleviate some of the pressures people face when they are battling cancer. I want to ask a very simple question. Has this Government any plans to tackle the financial burdens that arise when somebody is diagnosed with cancer? What are the Government's plans to deal with same? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Dolan very much. I appreciate him raising this issue today as Daffodil Day is tomorrow and this House will not be in session. I am meeting the Irish Cancer Society this afternoon. I am sure this is one of the issues that it will want to discuss too. I do not want to pre-empt what the Government may do in future budgets. Deputy Dolan would give out to me at an Oireachtas committee if we did that. We do need to look at this. Thankfully, people are living longer and cancer survivorship is increasing, but there are real burdens that go with cancer in terms of lost income and pressures on the family as well. This Government has a proud record of supporting the development of cancer services, but how we can do more to support people as they are on their cancer journey is something I am eager to explore with the Deputy and with the Irish Cancer Society. I will meet it today and I am happy to report back to the Deputy after that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Brennan  I want to speak to the T\u00e1naiste about the tragic case of Claire Cullen from Riverchapel near Courtown in County Wexford. Claire was killed in a hit-and-run incident while attending her brother's wedding in the Dominican Republic approximately five months ago. Claire is survived by her husband Ronan and her three kids. Claire was an extremely kind, popular and talented young woman and her death has left a huge void in the close-knit community of Riverchapel. Her family appreciate the efforts of the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust, the consulate in Colombia and the Department of foreign affairs in the repatriation process. This is quite simply any family's worst nightmare. As the family are all based in Ireland, they are now seeking assurances from the Department of foreign affairs and the Government that all efforts will be made to assist them in their pursuit of justice, which is what Claire's family thoroughly deserve. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Brennan for raising this issue. First and most importantly, I want to express my deepest condolences to the family of the late Claire Cullen. It is an incredibly heartbreaking case for the Cullen family and the community in Courtown in Wexford as well. I want to assure him and the House that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is very much aware of this tragic case. It also wants to extend its sincere sympathies to Claire's family. I am assured that consular support is being provided to the family through our teams and our embassy in Colombia and through our consular unit in Dublin. A dedicated caseworker has been appointed to this case. As with all consular cases, we do not comment on individual cases, but that is in order to protect the privacy of all of those who receive assistance. I do want to assure Deputy Brennan that on foot of his question the family can be assured that the Department will provide every consular support that is possible, both via the team here in Dublin and in Colombia. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Guirke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Johnny Guirke  I want to ask the T\u00e1naiste about the Government's stance on scrapping the cost of blister packs for the consumer. A lady in my constituency said her 96-year old mother relied on her blister pack, as her eyesight is failing and she could not tell which tablet was which. An employee of a local pharmacy said that many of the patients who had prepacked blister packs knew exactly what meds to take. They felt safer knowing all they had to do was look at the packs. Safety is extremely important when taking medication. There will be overdoses and underdoses if people cannot afford to pay for their blister packs. We know how many elderly people and people with disabilities are struggling with the ever-increasing cost of living. Last year I was one of the first TDs to highlight the cost of the blister packs and how it was going to have an effect on many of my constituents who rely on this service. These are people who may have a disability, Alzheimer's, dementia, and so on. With pressure from Sinn F\u00e9in and others, we have seen a three-month pause, but now we need to see a real commitment from the Government. Will the Government completely reverse the health Minister's decision and ensure vulnerable people can continue getting their blister packs free of charge? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Guirke for raising this issue. I want to clarify that this was not a decision taken by the Minister for Health but it was, indeed, a change in pricing practice by a number of pharmacies across the country.  The position in this regard is as it always has been. I ask that pharmacists engage with their loyal customers on the issue and reflect on the comments of the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. I will ask her to provide the Deputy with the most up-to-date information on her Department's engagement with pharmacists on this matter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell  Evictions have been notified to 14 tenancies on Ballybane Road in Galway city. This is a devastating and frightening time for those who are affected. This is the third time in recent weeks that we have seen larger-scale evictions come into play. It is the first time we have seen it in Galway city, where there are serious housing pressures, and it is very worrying. It is a frightening time for those involved. What does the Government intend to do about these large-scale evictions we are seeing? What protections will be put in place and what hope can be given to these families, who are feeling very worried? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  On foot of this matter being raised by the Deputy, I will make myself aware of the details. I do not want to comment on any specific legal actions or outworkings that could be ongoing because such cases require the law to be followed. There are protections in place, with clear rules in relation to tenancies outlined by the Residential Tenancies Board, RTB. I expect all of those rules to be adhered to. Without commenting on individual cases, we have seen instances in the past where a practice was being considered and then was stopped because it clearly was not in line with the rules. I am happy to look into this matter further and to ask the Minister for housing to get back to the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  A couple of weeks ago, I raised with the T\u00e1naiste the disgraceful allocations for local road restoration in counties like Monaghan and Cavan, to which he responded that he would engage with the Minister for Transport on the matter. Has he had that engagement with the Minister, as committed to, and can he now assure the House that there will be a substantive increase in funding for local and regional roads? Since our last interaction, local Oireachtas Members have met with officials and councillors from both Monaghan and Cavan county councils. Their reports were stark. They told us that under the announced funding allocation, road conditions will deteriorate and fewer roads will be repaired than were repaired last year. At a time when the cost of driving is going through the roof, the state of the roads people have to drive on will deteriorate. Will the T\u00e1naiste assure people in rural communities that an increased allocation of funding for local roads will be made, and made soon? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  As the Deputy said, he raised this issue with me a number of weeks ago. I spoke to the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, who committed to getting back to the Deputy. I will follow up with the Minister on foot of our interaction today. We keep the allocations we make for roads and transport under review as the year progresses. The Deputy has highlighted a specific concern in relation to Cavan and Monaghan and has engaged with officials there. I will ask the Minister to get back to him directly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  I raise the situation of a child in Cork who has been on a priority one waiting list since January 2025 for an augmentative and alternative communication, AAC, assessment and device trial through the HSE. According to the response given to my office, the appointment has been postponed for more than three years, with no clear timeline offered and no interim supports put in place. Without these essential supports, this child is being denied the ability to communicate, learn or participate and may even have to leave mainstream school, where the child has been doing well so far. Without the communication support needed, the situation is impossible. What immediate actions can be taken by the Government to address these delays of up to three years? Will the Minister for Health intervene to ensure priority one is actually treated as being of the first priority? It cannot be the case that priority one means being on a three-year waiting list. The urgency must be applied in practice. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I take the Deputy's point that saying something is a priority but asking someone to wait for three years clearly is not what people would rightly expect. On foot of his raising this issue, I will speak to the Minister directly to ask that she look into the matter and revert directly to him. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  We are hearing really awful reports from the UK about the viral meningitis outbreak there. Unfortunately, two young people have died and there have been 27 cases in total. There has also been a case in Belfast but I understand the two instances are not connected. In this country, teenagers and young people were not part of the vaccination program that was rolled out in 2016. What is the Government doing to warn parents about symptoms and to monitor the situation in the hope that the outbreak does not spread from the UK to Ireland? Are there plans for a catch-up programme for the young people and teenagers who were not part of the 2016 vaccination programme? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. The Department of Health and the HSE are aware of the outbreak recently reported in the UK and are actively monitoring the situation. Based on information available, the HSE assesses that the overall population risk in Ireland related to the UK outbreak remains very low. This aligns with the assessment of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control that the risk to the general public in the EU remains very low due to the very small probability of exposure and potential infection.  Our immunisation programme is based on the advice of the national immunisation advisory committee, NIAC. We have MenB, MenC and MenACWY vaccines to protect from diseases caused by meningitis A, B, C, W and Y. The MenB and MenC vaccines are included in the primary childhood immunisation program for babies born since October 2016. The MenB vaccine is offered at two and four months of age, with a booster dose given at 12 months. The MenC vaccine is offered to children at 13 months. Following a NIAC recommendation, since 2019, the vaccine has been offered as part of the MenACWY vaccine to students in first year.  NIAC does not currently recommend a MenB vaccine programme for adolescents but it continues to review the epidemiology of it. It is carrying out an evidence review of the MenB vaccine in adolescents and young adults. Following that review, should there be a need for action, we will, of course, act. I know the Deputy will agree it is important that we follow the advice of NIAC. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan  I raise an issue relating to rare diseases. The Leas-Cheann Comhairle and I recently attended a meeting with sufferers of Friedreich's ataxia. The T\u00e1naiste will be aware of the quest by people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy to have givinostat approved. I do not expect him to comment on that because it is subject to negotiation at the moment but the same thing is happening with a different cohort of patients. Some have come to this building to attend audiovisual room briefings and so on, all in the hope that they can access some rare clinical trial or rare medicine. That will keep on happening in perpetuity unless the system actually adjusts and changes. An early access scheme was mooted in the programme for Government. Has that work commenced and, if so, where are we at with it? Before long, we will be halfway through this term. If we do not get on with that job of work, we will be facing into the next election with nothing done. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I acknowledge, as I always do, that this is an issue the Deputy has prioritised since he came into this House. It is something about which I know he feels passionately. I will check with the Minister for Health where we are at in terms of the roll-out of the early access scheme. I assure the Deputy, and, most importantly, the people who have rare diseases and parents of children with rare diseases, that the Government absolutely intends to make significant progress on this during our term of office. We have already taken a number of steps in that regard. I will ask the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, to get back to the Deputy directly on the early access scheme. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  There have been three mass evictions that we know of this year. A total of 20 families were served with notices of termination from The Park on Lord Edward Street in Limerick, along with 14 families, as stated earlier, on Ballybane Road in Galway. The RTB data from this morning is stark. The Government is presiding over the largest level of evictions since the Famine. Last year, 20,033 people received notices of termination. That is the population of Swords. There was a 41% increase in the number of notices of termination in quarter 4 of last year alone. We need emergency action. There must be an emergency moratorium on evictions. If we bring forward legislation on this in the coming weeks, will the Government work with us to progress it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  We will always work constructively with colleagues on housing. I acknowledge the Labour Party has brought forward constructive proposals in relation to housing in this D\u00e1il and the previous D\u00e1il. I have a different perspective in terms of the Government's position on housing. In our rental reforms Bill, we brought forward very significant protections for renters. We introduced security of tenure, with tenancies of a minimum duration of six years, and what is, in effect, a ban on no-fault evictions. From quarters 3 to 4, we saw a reduction of 3.6% in notices of termination.  This Government is presiding over the largest number of social homes built, if not ever, certainly in our lifetime. That is part of the record of this Government. Housing remains an emergency and remains the number one domestic priority for Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  I want to raise the unacceptable levels of understaffing of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na across south Tipperary. It is now an absolute rarity to see garda\u00ed on foot patrol on the beat. Staffing levels are so low that increasing numbers of garda\u00ed are going on duty alone. I was contacted by a constituent at the weekend who told me that she had failed to make contact with a Garda station by phone at night. More distressingly, I was contacted by another member of the public who told me that a female garda on duty alone had been assaulted in Cashel on Friday. Thankfully, two members of the public came to her assistance. Garda staffing levels across south Tipperary are unacceptably low. I ask the T\u00e1naiste to intervene with the Minister for justice and the Garda Commissioner to have garda staffing levels increased to ensure the safety of the public and the safety of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na members across south Tipperary. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Healy for raising this issue. We are seeing very significant increase in the number of garda\u00ed entering training in Templemore. It is a huge priority for the Government to increase the number of garda\u00ed. I am absolutely disgusted and angered to hear about any assault on a member of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. When I was justice Minister, we changed the law to increase the sentencing available to the courts for anybody who assaults a member of our emergency services, including a member of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. An attack on a garda is an attack on our democracy and an attack on all of us. One of the reasons we are rolling out bodycams is to provide protection for garda\u00ed. People often stick a camera in a garda's face and the garda is left having to endure that. It is really important that bodycams are rolled out. I will speak directly to the Minister who, I know, will raise the Deputy's view on garda numbers in south Tipperary with the Commissioner. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed  We had very severe flooding in the basements of apartments in Clongriffin during Storm Chandra some weeks ago. There is a bit of a question over whether the emergency response payment scheme actually works for apartment dwellers. In following up with the Department, we got a response saying that the Department does not track addresses against claims under the ERP. It is very difficult to understand how we could determine whether a scheme is working or not, particularly when handing out State support, when we are not recording an address against it. I find it very difficult to believe. I ask the T\u00e1naiste to raise this with the departmental officials ahead of future events so that we have that information and can determine whether the schemes work for apartment dwellers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy \u00d3 Muir\u00ed for raising this matter. I know the flooding experienced in his constituency of Dublin Bay North was really horrendous. I remember witnessing the video footage of it. We all saw the videos in particular of the basements of apartment blocks being flooded, and the fear and anxiety that created. The emergency response payment administered by the Department of Social Protection does not exclude apartments from supports. That has been confirmed to me by the Department. However, the Deputy's broader point is absolutely right. We are living through a time when we are seeing more incidences of severe weather. We are therefore spending more on trying to assist people. Along with spending a lot more on resilience and adaptation measures, we need to review how effectively the use of taxpayers' money through these payments is assisting people. In the aftermath of a variety of adverse weather events, this is an area we want to look at, from both a social protection point of view and an enterprise point of view. We need to make sure the schemes we have in place are working well. Data is a key part of that. I will certainly follow up further with both relevant Ministers and revert to the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"S\u00e9amus McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy S\u00e9amus McGrath  I welcome confirmation of an intervention to address rising fuel costs. This is critical for diesel, petrol and home heating oil in particular. Our motorists, businesses, householders and hauliers need support and need intervention. I know it is being finalised at present and the T\u00e1naiste cannot reveal the details today. I ask that it be brought in place as early as possible next week after the Cabinet meeting. As we know, the country has battled inflation in recent years and we have managed to get it under control, down to 2.2% last year, which is very welcome. As we know, fuel costs ultimately affect everyday items in a shopping basket and we have to ensure that does not happen. That is why it is critical that these supports are brought to bear as soon as possible. I ask that they be as broadly based as possible and implemented once they are agreed early next week. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I agree with everything the Deputy has said. It is our intention to finalise a package. It is our intention to agree that package at Government next week. One of the criteria that we have set for measures we bring forward is whether they can be put into effect quickly. While I am not talking about the Deputy, people in this House, often those on the Opposition benches, have ideas, even some good ideas, but actually it is about looking at what we can do quickly and also providing ourselves with the flexibility to respond to a fast-moving and evolving situation. Anything we do in the first instance should be for a short period of time to allow us that agility, as a State, to respond.  The Deputy is right on inflation though and this is a concern I have as Minister for Finance. Today, the focus is on energy but the longer this conflict goes on, the greater the impact on inflation is. The country has made a lot of progress on inflation. Real wages are rising now and inflation is falling. That is why, alongside the interventions, we need to continue to call for de-escalation. That is, of course, the best economic intervention we can seek. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  I am looking for an update on the action on the night-time economy. I raised this previously in a parliamentary question and raised it with the Taoiseach twice following recent announcements by Helen McEntee. Will the T\u00e1naiste meet representatives of the Give Us the Night campaign who have highlighted the scale of the crisis? We have seen an 84% collapse in nightclubs since 2000, from over 500 to just 80 today, alongside the loss of more than 2,100 pubs, one in four, since 2005. We have a very good chance of qualifying for the World Cup when matches will be played late into the night. Will the T\u00e1naiste accept that the current system is not fit for purpose? For people to watch a match in a controlled, safe and regulated manner, it would make sense for them to stay in a regulated setting rather go to unregulated house parties to watch the match. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I do not want to jinx it, but I think there is a compelling case for providing flexibility in terms of people being able to watch us qualify for the World Cup and then, God willing, get to the World Cup. I wish our team all the very best starting next week in what is a crucial period of time for Irish soccer. The Deputy's point is a really important one and it is also an economic point. When people come to our country, they want to be able to access our hospitality. We need to make these things as simple as possible for publicans and provide them with the flexibility as well. Obviously, we need to do all this while being conscious of public safety, conscious of Garda resources and conscious of access to transport. I recently spoke to the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, on this. I know he is working his way through this matter and I will ask him to come back to the Deputy with an update. There are a number of things in this Bill and sometimes they are all viewed as some kind of homogenous package. I think we should be trying to move ahead as quickly as we can with measures that would specifically help our pubs, which are a vital part of our economy. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar fionra\u00ed ar 1.18 p.m. agus cuireadh t\u00fas leis ar\u00eds ar 2 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Sitting suspended at 1.18 p.m. and resumed at 2 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Pholasa\u00ed n\u00f3 ar Reachta\u00edocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_35","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/19","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/19\/dail\/2","houseCode":"dail","stage":"2","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Media Regulation Bill 2026: Second Stage (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Media Regulation Bill 2026: Second Stage","counts":{"speechCount":20,"speakerCount":11},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_35","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marian Harkin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marian Harkin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Deputy Marian Harkin)  Tairgim: \"Go l\u00e9ifear an Bille don Dara hUair anois.\"  This is an important Bill, and I am happy to bring it to the House on behalf of the Minister. The main aim of the Bill is to implement the European Media Freedom Act, EMFA, in Irish law. EMFA is an EU regulation which puts in place new rules to protect media freedom and pluralism in the EU and strengthen the internal market for media services.  A free and independent media is a cornerstone of democracy and essential for healthy public debate. In an increasingly challenging environment for journalism, we can be thankful that Ireland has a strong constitutional and legislative foundation for the freedom of expression and safeguarding of media independence. However, we cannot take this for granted and we must modernise and further strengthen our legislative framework to take account of the transformation of the sector.  EMFA is wide ranging, and not all of its provisions are reflected in the Bill we are discussing here. This is because EMFA is an EU regulation and, as all Members know, is directly applicable in Irish law. Alongside this, the Irish regulatory framework for media is already well aligned with the main provisions of EMFA. Therefore, many of EMFA's provisions do not require further implementation in Irish law.  This Bill is focused primarily on two areas of EMFA that do require further implementation: the amendment of our existing media mergers regime and the introduction of new rules to increase transparency in the allocation of advertising by public bodies. Other areas of EMFA that require further implementation relate to the independence of public service media and the protection of journalistic sources, and they are being progressed through other legislation.  I will deal with the key areas of this Bill in summary first and I will briefly outline how other elements of EMFA will be implemented. Given the time available, I will focus on the main elements of the Bill but officials are available to provide details on all aspects of it if Deputies have specific queries.  Ireland's existing media mergers regime is set out in the Competition Act 2002, as amended. It is an important protection for media plurality and aims to prevent the concentration of media ownership into the hands of a small number of people. This Bill will broadly maintain the approach of the current framework while making some targeted changes to ensure that it is operating efficiently and fully in line with EMFA.  Under the current legislation, all media mergers must be notified first to the CCPC, which assesses the transaction on competition grounds. If approved by the CCPC, the media merger will then come to the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport for assessment on the grounds of media plurality, and it is then for the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport to make a determination. The Bill will transfer responsibility for this media plurality assessment to Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n. This is in line with EMFA, which requires that national media regulators, as designated under the audiovisual media services directive, are responsible for or substantively involved in the assessment of media mergers. The transfer of responsibility to Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n will leverage its expertise in relation to media plurality, particularly in relation to online media, which is set to become an increasingly prominent part of the media mergers regime. Moreover, Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n's status as an independent regulator will further strengthen the integrity of the process and reduce any individual or potential perception of a political element to decisions in relation to media mergers.  The Bill will also broaden the scope of the existing media mergers regime, most notably to include online platforms. This is a requirement under EMFA and reflects the digital transformation of the sector in recent years and the impact that online platforms have on media plurality. The scope of the legislation will also be broadened to include a merger involving a single media business, rather than requiring the involvement of at least two media businesses, as is currently the case. Finally, the new regime will apply to all media businesses, in contrast to the current framework, which is focused predominantly on media consisting substantially of news and current affairs.  Separately, the Bill seeks to ensure the media mergers regime is focused on those media mergers that are likely to have a significant impact on media plurality or editorial independence in the State. Under the Bill, for a media merger to be automatically notified to an coimisi\u00fan for assessment, the media business being acquired must have a turnover of at least \u20ac2 million in Ireland. The Bill provides that the Minister may modify this monetary amount by order, with the approval of the Oireachtas. This is to allow the regime to take account of market developments.  The introduction of a turnover threshold addresses an issue that has arisen in recent years with the existing media mergers regime where an increasing number of media mergers with limited connection to Ireland have been required to be notified for assessment. An example would be a merger where an international media business with operations in Ireland acquires a foreign media business with no activity in Ireland. These mergers are highly unlikely to have any impact on media plurality in the State and their removal from scope will remove this unnecessary regulatory burden for businesses. It will ensure that the media mergers regime is proportionate and can continue to operate efficiently with a focus on the most impactful mergers.  Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n will be able to \"call in\" or require the notification of mergers that do not meet the criteria for automatic notification where it is of the view that there is likely to be a significant impact on media plurality or editorial independence. This new power would be of relevance, for example, in the context of mergers involving local media, where the turnover of entities is low yet there is still a potential impact on plurality in the local context. A further example would be cases where the target is in its infancy with low revenues but has significant market share and the potential to have a significant impact on plurality.  The Bill will also strengthen Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n's enforcement powers by creating a number of new offences, including for failure to provide information requested or for putting a merger into effect without approval. Where a merger has been put into effect without approval, Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n will have the power to unwind that merger.  Overall, these changes will strengthen and modernise our media mergers framework, ensuring that it remains an effective protection for media plurality and is in full compliance with EMFA.  I will deal next with the provisions relating to State advertising. Advertising by public bodies is an important source of revenue for many media organisations. Yet, in most EU member states, there are no specific rules as to how advertising expenditure by public bodies is advertised. This could lead to a situation where advertising could be used as a potential source of political influence over the media. This is why EMFA sets out new transparency requirements in relation to expenditure on advertising by public bodies. Under EMFA, public bodies must ensure that expenditure on advertising with media services or online platforms is allocated in a transparent and non-discriminatory manner. Public bodies must set out appropriate criteria and procedures to be utilised in allocating advertising expenditure. Public bodies must also publish information on an annual basis regarding the total amount spent on advertising and the amount spent with individual media services and online platforms. While broader public procurement rules and Irish language requirements under the Official Languages Act 2003 apply to advertising by public bodies, there is no overall framework for transparency of State advertising in Ireland, as envisaged under EMFA.  The Bill contains a number of implementing provisions to give full effect to these requirements. It sets out a broad definition of \"public authority or entity\" to include: Departments; local authorities; regulators and entities controlled by the Government; and commercial State companies. The Bill also sets out detailed timelines for the publication of expenditure information by such bodies and it obliges them to publish a plan for compliance with the requirements of EMFA, setting out the criteria and procedures they will use to award State advertising. Public bodies must seek to ensure that, where possible, the overall yearly expenditure on advertising is distributed to a wide plurality of media service providers.  The Bill entrusts Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n with the task of monitoring expenditure on State advertising and producing an annual report based on the information published by public bodies. An coimisi\u00fan will also be responsible for developing guidelines to assist public bodies in fulfilling their obligations.  The Bill will also designate Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n as the body responsible for a number of other tasks under EMFA. First, it will be responsible for the development of a media-ownership database containing information on the ownership of all media services in the State. This is a task that, in practice, an coimisi\u00fan is already undertaking through the mediaownership.ie website, which has been developed with DCU and has been operational since 2020. The Bill will place the requirements for such a database on a statutory basis and set out how it needs to be developed further in line with EMFA case requirements. In addition, an coimisi\u00fan will be tasked with engaging with industry to promote transparency around audience measurement systems.  This is a technical area, and EMFA provisions are primarily intended to address a lack of transparency in relation to audience measurement online. For example, in Ireland there are existing industry standard audience-measurement systems for TV under TAM Ireland and for radio under JNLR. However, there is no equivalent industry standard for online audience measurement. Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n's role will be to engage with audience measurement providers operating outside of industry agreed standards. In particular, that refers to online platforms and streaming services. It will encourage them to draw up and adhere to jointly agreed codes of conduct. It is important that some provisions of EMFA will be implemented separately from this Bill.  EMFA sets out a number of safeguards to protect the independence of public service media, such as RT\u00c9 and TG4. These safeguards are being implemented as part of wider reforms of public service media governance through the broadcasting (amendment) Bill, which is on the priority list for publication this session. The Bill includes revised procedures for the appointment of a director general of a public service broadcaster and a reform system for assessing the performance and funding of RT\u00c9 and TG4.  EMFA also seeks to strengthen the protection of journalistic sources by placing certain limits on State powers of investigation. These provisions will require the amendment of criminal justice legislation and, as such, are being taken forward by the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration. Work is ongoing in relation to the Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na (powers) Bill and the communications (interception and lawful access) Bill. The Department of justice is considering other necessary legislative reforms to ensure compliance with EMFA as part of its wider legislative reform programme.  I now turn to a more detailed overview of the provisions of the Bill. Part 1 includes standard provisions setting out the Title to the Bill and key definitions used throughout. It also repeals certain sections of Part 3(a) of the Competition Act 2002.  Part 2, which is important, amends the media mergers framework under the Competition Act 2002 to ensure its full alignment with EMFA. Chapter 1 sets out transitional arrangements relating to the transfer of the media mergers function from the Minister to Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n. Chapter 2 includes the detailed amendments of the media mergers framework under Part 3(a) of the Act.  Section 10 amends a number of definitions including the definition of \"media business and media merger\" to align the scope of the media mergers framework with that envisaged under EMFA. Section 11 inserts a new definition of \"carries on a media business in the State\" in order to establish a turnover threshold for notification of a media merger of \u20ac2 million.  Section 13 provides Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n with a new power to require notification of a merger which does not meet the definition of a media merger, where it is of the view that the merger may have a significant impact on media pluralism or editorial independence.  Sections 15 to 17, inclusive, set out the process for the examination of a merger by Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n. The Bill retains the existing two-stage process, while incorporating new elements required under EMFA. Under Section 17, Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n will also have the power, following an in-depth full examination, to unwind or dissolve a merger or acquisition that was put into effect without approval.  Section 19 requires that the parties to a merger will have the right to appeal to the High Court against a decision of Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n in relation to a merger.  Section 24 will require Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n to develop and maintain a national media ownership database in line with EMFA requirements. Section 24 also expands Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n's existing report on ownership and control of media business in the State to cover broader media market developments, including trends in consumption and relevant economic data. This will provide a clearer picture of media plurality in the State and a stronger evidence base for decisions in relation to media emergence.  Chapter 3 sets out a number of consequential amendments to Part 3 of the Competition Act 2002, which deals with the assessment of mergers from a competition perspective.  Part 3 sets out implementing provisions to give full effect to the requirements of EMFA on State advertising. Section 31 sets out a detailed definition of \"public authority or entity\" to provide clarity as to whom the requirements of EMFA will apply.  Section 32 obliges public bodies to seek to ensure, where practicable, that their yearly expenditure on advertising is distributed to a wide plurality of media service providers.  Section 33 requires public bodies to publish a plan for compliance with the requirements of EMFA, setting out the procedures and criteria they will apply in awarding contracts for State advertising.  Section 34 sets out detailed timelines for the annual publication of information by public bodies in relation to their advertising expenditure.  Section 35 designates Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n as the body responsible for monitoring and producing an annual report on State advertising based on the expenditure information published by public bodies.  Section 36 enables Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n to develop guidelines to assist public bodies in meeting their responsibilities in relation to State advertising.  Part 4 amends section 34 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 to provide that Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n may co-operate with industry and encourage the drawing up of codes of conduct to promote transparency in audience measurement.  The Bill seeks to implement a number of important amendments to our regulatory framework that will further strengthen our existing protections for media freedom and pluralism. The Minister looks forward to working with all in this House as we debate these issues in the coming weeks. There is an urgency in respect of this Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joanna Byrne  We in Sinn F\u00e9in see no reason to oppose this Bill. We look forward to its progression to Committee Stage. It would address many of the issues this party has raised over the years regarding media ownership and independence. We may seek to submit amendments on matters on which we believe the Bill is not strong enough, but I am sure engagement on that would be welcomed.  The parent legislation of the Bill we are discussing today is the European Media Freedom Act. Were it not for the EU pushing this legislation, the Government would be happy to continue sitting on its hands. The positive is that this Bill will put more tools in Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n's toolkit. I hope it will choose to utilise these tools when necessary and not refer cases back to the EU to investigate, as it has done with X and Grok, rather than using the measures provided for nationally under the recent online safety framework. Laws, rules and regulations are worthless unless they are enforced by the appropriate statutory body. I think we would all agree there is no point in giving somebody a new car unless they are going to drive it.  Almost ten years ago, Sinn F\u00e9in MEP Lynn Boylan commissioned a report on the concentration of media ownership in Ireland, highlighting the high risk associated with Irish media ownership due to the influence of figures like Denis O'Brien. That report said that Ireland has one of the most concentrated media markets of any democracy and that \"It is now imperative that urgent action is taken, and seen to be taken, to reassure journalists, media organisations and the wider public\". This Government, which has been in power in one form or another since 2011, has done little to address this. It was flagged back then that having such a high concentration of media ownership in the Irish market threatens media plurality and undermines the media's ability to perform its watchdog function. That it is why it is important that we move this Bill along and also try to strengthen it in areas where it may be lacking, perhaps through provisions allowing existing monopolies to be broken up.  I hope that, with this legislation, we will stave off a Rupert Murdoch-type media dominance subsuming the Irish market. His politically right wing-leaning global media empire made him a kingmaker from the US to the UK. To quote a CNN article published when he was stepping down in 2023:  Through a hazardous cocktail of mis- and disinformation, conspiracy theories, and outright propaganda, Murdoch profited off of fear and division with little apparent regard for warping the public discourse, disfiguring American politics, and imperiling Western democracy.  That is what we must guard against. That is why it is essential we have powers here in Ireland to guard against that type of monopoly. There are powers here that should be utilised. We need not refer everything to the EU when complex decisions arise in the future. All of those provisions of Article 22 of the European Media Freedom Act, which this Bill will give full effect to, relating to media mergers and the assessment of media market concentration are very welcome.  The 2016 report on the concentration of media ownership in Ireland and more recent reports on media ownership in Ireland all highlight the same issues. A report on high ownership concentration posing significant risks to pluralism states that our market is dominated by State-owned RT\u00c9 on radio and TV, by Mediahuis in print and by Bauer Media in commercial radio, with significant foreign ownership. Key concerns include the lack of specific statutory ownership limits and high cross-media consolidation. The ownership of print media is flagged as being very high. Denis O'Brien sold Independent News and Media to Mediahuis in 2019. Of the top four print groups, Mediahuis has 38% of the readership, the Irish Times Group has 26%, Reach plc has 15% and News Corp has 12%. Together, they control 91% of the national print audience. The concentration in radio is flagged as high, that in media as medium to high and that in online media as concentrated.  I would like to see an assessment of our current media companies and what may be considered an existing monopoly and to examine how Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n deals with it. The need for this will be known when Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n develops a national media ownership database, as it is required to do under this Bill.  The Bill will also impose transparency on public authorities and entities. They will be obliged to publish information on the total amount spent on advertising and the amount spent with individual media providers. I sincerely welcome this. State advertising in many small media outlets and regional newspapers during the Covid pandemic shutdown was helpful but in no way did it cover their losses. It may not have gone far enough in that time of crisis but at least some effort was made and that is to be acknowledged.  Some political parties have been caught out misusing State advertising. In 2018, the new Government strategic communications unit paid for adverts to promote the Project Ireland 2040 national development plan. This was widely criticised. The Times in the UK reported that the editors of several regional newspapers were told to present the advertorials like news content. These ads often featured TDs and councillors. The Government delayed answering questions asked under the Freedom of Information Act for several weeks before releasing the documents on the day of the referendum to repeal the eighth amendment, hoping to bury the news. We in Sinn F\u00e9in tabled a Private Member's motion seeking the immediate disbandment of the SCU, this so-called spin unit. This controversy caused the Government's strategic communications unit to be disbanded mere months after it was established. We can therefore see why some parties have been reticent to introduce legislation in this House to tackle the issue without EU direction. It is welcome that Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n will now have responsibility in this area but, as I said earlier, I hope it makes use of the new tools in its toolkit.  The Bill's focus on audience measurement systems with a view to improving transparency and reliability is welcome. This will also be worth scrutinising further on Committee Stage. The requirement for Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n to co-operate and to encourage the adoption of codes of conduct by industry to promote transparency around audience measurement systems may not provide the teeth required to ensure true accuracy and transparency.  I look forward to looking at this Bill further on Committee State. I welcome the fact that areas of concern regarding media ownership concentration flagged by Sinn F\u00e9in over a decade ago will now be legislated for. It is well past time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  Deputy Joanna Byrne has already stated the issue, which had previously been brought up by Lynn Boylan, regarding the fears we have about Ireland's media being owned by a very small number of players. We brought this issue up because of the huge footprint Denis O'Brien had at the time. You cannot talk about the negatives of media ownership and the impact it can have on world politics without talking about what Rupert Murdoch did in Britain. He decided who would be prime minister. Prime ministers did deals with him before they were within smelling distance of an election. Tony Blair has gone on the record as having done that. What was that headline about Neil Kinnock and the last person out switching off the lights? That is the reality.  We also see every day, although in some cases we may try not to see, what Fox News and others do in America. We can call these news corporations but there are probably more suitable terms. We are into the realms of absolute farce at this point in time. That is a particular issue.  Can we deliver media scrutiny and proper rules and regulations across the entire world? Of course we cannot. We have to deal with Ireland. As Deputy Byrne said, we are doing this on foot of European legislation. In this case, we are very glad it was initiated but we need to ensure we have all the checks and balances and due diligence necessary to ensure a huge level of ownership, control and power are not left in a small number of hands, who can work in concert if they choose to and who can direct and disrupt politics.  We know the detrimental impact modern media has had on politics on a worldwide basis. We know the issues regarding misinformation, disinformation and abject lies, as well as a lack of control. While we welcome the added powers for Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n, we will need to see it operate them. We need to see a regulatory framework for social media that will work because we also know that social media companies and big tech have abjectly failed to regulate themselves. We have all seen the disgrace in relation to Grok. As Deputy Byrne said, we could have done with Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n and the Government acting at an earlier stage, even just to show an interest in the matter and an intent that the creation of child pornography and such would not be facilitated, no matter who was in control of these companies.  I remember speaking to a garda at an event years ago. We were talking about the need for road safety and things that needed to be done on a particular road. He said that if An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na was dealing with people who had good manners, it would not need half the rules and regulations. Unfortunately, we are not dealing with people who have good manners, but that does not matter. Whether it is in relation to the Irish media market or regulation across the board in the online space, we need rules because we cannot rely on the likes of Elon Musk and whatever particular rant or moment of lunacy he is going through at a particular time.  When we talk about truth at this point in time, what does it even mean any more? We have seen the brutal actions by genocidal Israel in Gaza, Lebanon and throughout the wider Middle East. We have also seen the backing that is being provided by Donald Trump. We then have Pete Hegseth telling us that the Strait of Hormuz would be open but for the Iranians. They seem to be firing missiles and causing problems. We also had the beyond scandalous killing of more than 170 schoolchildren when a school was attacked with a Tomahawk missile. I understand that Tomahawk missiles are made in the United States, but we all heard Donald Trump's answer in relation to that. Even Pete Hegseth said that there would need to be an investigation because Donald Trump made out that it might have been the Iranians. That is the world we are in.  We need to make sure that we can control whatever piece we can and feed into the European Union, including the European Commission, so that we have some element of a framework. That framework is about the media and the huge impact and footprint it can have. We cannot leave that in the hands of a very small number of people. It would work if we were dealing with really sound people who had really good manners, but, unfortunately, that is not what we are dealing with in the world at this point in time.  As Deputy Byrne said, all parties across the House will need to work together to ensure that we get the best system we can. It goes without saying that we need to ensure that the gaps we saw during the Grok situation are addressed by whatever legislation is required and that we address whatever weaknesses there are, be that through our online safety Bill or the Digital Services Act at a European level.  We all welcome the necessity of artificial intelligence in relation to healthcare, innovation and so on, and we all understand the wonderful communication means we have at our disposal, but, in real terms, we need to have regulation because we know the abject harm that is being done by social media companies with their recommender algorithms. They keep people in really unhelpful and terrible spheres, for want of a better term. I was nearly going to show my age and say \"sites\". We have all seen where someone starts looking at one thing on TikTok - which, like every other company, profiles its customers, including their age and where they are from - and then all of sudden it can put them down a rabbit hole that is really dangerous for them.  I accept that the regular media has certain controls and protections for people. It cannot publish what it wants and any lunatic cannot just start spouting. We even have an occasional bit of lunacy in this House. It happens occasionally and I want it to be called out when it happens. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  It is not from the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  Of course not. I can see the Minister of State is taking notes on all of the gems I am offering up.  This is the world we live in. It is important that we make sure that we put in the supports and checks. What has happened to date across the world is frightening. What could happen in the future with the tools that are in the hands of big tech and media moguls scares the life out of me. Some of this is what has facilitated the likes of Donald Trump to make his way into the White House. Like other instances, it also shows the failure of many others in politics. We need to ensure that it cannot happen here. Our job as the Opposition is to hold the Government to account, but it is necessary that any legislation relating to the media that comes from the Government holds the media to account, and then the media in turn holds all of us to account. That is only fair and proper.  I have no doubt that, if there is co-operation across the board, we will all look to find the framework that will work from the point of view of ensuring that we not allow a very small amount of people to gain too much of a foothold in the media, control the message and possibly undermine democracy. We need to ensure that those protections are introduced because there are far too many damaging aspects in the world at the minute that are impacting on democracy. We need to make sure that we do not allow this to continue.  Everyone will be pleased to hear that I am about to end. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy's time is over. It is a record. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  Not quite. This is usually when I ask for some element of flexibility. Given the day that is in it and the fact that I am here with Deputy Byrne, I once again offer my solidarity to her. What Trivela has done as the owner of Drogheda United is an absolute disgrace. I am glad that she is doing what she always does, which is fighting her corner. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  To be fair, that is not part of the debate. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I accept that. I will finish on this, and I will say it very quickly as well. As I am protecting a Louth TD, I also offer my solidarity to Gerry Adams as he defends the republican struggle. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, please. That has nothing to at all to do with the Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  That is it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marian Harkin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marian Harkin  The Deputy never fails. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert O'Donoghue  I endeavour to be half as entertaining as Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa.  I am glad to be speaking on this Bill because it goes to the heart of something that is fundamental in any democracy, namely, how our media operates, who owns it and who influences it. I was with Dublin City FM just last week. It brought many of the points in this Bill to my attention. I hope this Bill is enacted and that it ultimately protects the independence and integrity of journalism in a world that is changing faster than ever before.  When we talk about media, we are not just talking about businesses or platforms. We are talking about how information flows, public debate and the ability for people to access a wide range of voices and perspectives. That is what underpins a healthy democracy and that is why legislation like this matters.  We need to be honest: the stakes are high. If we allow media ownership to become too centralised and if we fail to safeguard independence and transparency, we risk seeing a system where only a few voices dominate the public discourse. Just look at examples from abroad. Fox News has one perspective, which is heavily amplified and shapes national debate. That is not the Ireland we want. We want a media system that is diverse, and most of all trusted by the public.  It is important to say from the outset that this Bill does not exist in a vacuum. It is part of a wider European effort, which I welcome, to respond to real and growing concerns about media freedom and the rule of law across the EU. There are other areas within this sector and other briefs the European Union should be moving quicker on. I welcome the fact this is coming from the European Union. The European Media Freedom Act was brought forward because, in some member states, there have been worrying trends of concentration of ownership, political interference, pressure on journalists and erosion of media freedom. The goal at European level is clear. It is to strengthen media freedom, protect pluralism and ensure consistent standards across the Union. This is a good thing, and Ireland, rightly, is playing its part in implementing that.  The European framework introduces a number of important safeguards. It strengthens protections for journalistic sources, which is absolutely fundamental if journalists are to do their job without fear. It reinforces the independence of public service media, which plays such an important role here at home. It increases transparency around media ownership, so people can see clearly who controls the media outlets they rely on, especially online platforms. It puts in place protections when it comes to large online platforms, which now play a central role in how people access news and information.  It also introduces a more robust procedure for assessing media mergers and brings in new transparency requirements around audience measurement and state advertising, areas that up to now have not been totally clear or consistent. This is something that was brought up with me again on Dublin City FM last week regarding its listenership figures. Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n will be obliged to promote transparency in audience measurement systems. For example, Dublin City FM's listenership figures should be used to evaluate the scope of its broadcast map, not its participation figures. It does not give a proper all-encompassing view of where it broadcasts to. I hope this Bill will encourage innovative outlets like Dublin City FM to be bold and brave and to continue to innovate.  To support all of this, there will be the new European board for media services, bringing together national regulators, including Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n. That kind of co-operation is essential in a media environment that does not stop at national borders.  While much of the European regulation has applied directly from August 2025, there are elements that need to be put into Irish law to ensure they work properly in practice. That is where this Bill comes in. At its core, this Bill focuses on two key areas: media mergers and state advertising. Both of those are hugely important if we are serious about transparency, fairness and protecting our media landscape. To start with media mergers, one of the most significant changes here is the shift in how these decisions are made. Up to now, the Minister has had a central role. Under the Bill, that responsibility moves to Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n. I welcome this decision. These are not just economic or technical decisions but they go directly to questions of plurality, influence and democratic health. It makes sense that they are assessed independently, based on expertise, and at arm's length from political interference and decision-making. Independence matters, not just in practice, but in perception. Public confidence depends on knowing that decisions are being made fairly and transparently.  The Bill also reflects the reality that the media landscape has changed dramatically. It is no longer just about traditional broadcasters or newspapers. Online platforms, social media, streaming services and digital intermediaries have enormous influence over what people see, read and hear and how it informs their decisions. Bringing these platforms within scope is not just sensible but it is necessary. If we did not do that, we would be regulating yesterday\u2019s media environment, not today\u2019s. Online media travels faster than anything we have previously witnessed and we cannot be crisis managing this. We always need to be ahead.  At the same time, the Bill strikes a balance. The \u20ac2 million turnover threshold ensures we focus on mergers that are genuinely significant in the Irish context. We do not want unnecessary barriers or burdens for smaller operators. It is about innovation and being bold and brave for the small guys. There is also flexibility with the \"call-in\" power, allowing Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n to look at transactions below the threshold if they could meaningfully impact plurality or editorial independence. That is especially important in Ireland, where we are still one of the few countries in the world which relies on local and niche media - Tipp FM comes to mind - and which can have a big influence despite having such small turnover. A small outlet can still be a very powerful voice in our community.  The second pillar of the Bill is state advertising. This is an area where the changes are very welcome. Public money is spent on advertising across a wide range of media outlets and platforms. That is entirely legitimate as public bodies need to communicate but up to now there has not been a single coherent framework ensuring transparency. This Bill addresses that gap. Public bodies will now be required to set out clearly how they approach advertising, including the criteria and processes, and to report annually on their spending, including amounts paid to individual media providers and online platforms. This is a significant step forward, which I welcome. It brings openness, accountability and fairness, ensuring there can be no perception that advertising spend is used to influence editorial decisions. Again, Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n will have oversight, which is appropriate given its broader responsibilities.  Beyond these areas, the Bill also includes other important measures. It puts the media ownership database on a statutory footing, giving us a clear view of who owns and controls media in Ireland. It encourages codes of conduct around audience measurement, especially online, where transparency has been lacking. It is also important to remember that this Bill is one part of a broader reform programme. Measures to strengthen the independence of public service media, including RT\u00c9 and TG4, are being progressed separately. Stronger protections for journalistic sources are being advanced through justice legislation, ensuring any interference is strictly controlled and subject to judicial oversight. Together, these measures form a comprehensive effort to strengthen the media framework in Ireland.  While the Labour Party is broadly supportive of this Bill, we will scrutinise it carefully and bring forward our own amendments, if necessary. Just like with Sinn F\u00e9in, I am sure they will be welcomed. We need to ensure definitions, especially what counts as media services are clear. We need the regulatory burden to remain proportionate, particularly for smaller media organisations. We need to ensure Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n has the resources to carry out its expanded responsibilities because, ultimately, the success of this framework depends not just on the legislation but on how it is implemented in practice.  At the heart of all of this is a question of balance. We want to protect media plurality and independence. We want transparency and accountability. We also want a media sector that is viable, sustainable and capable of investing in quality journalism. Getting that balance right matters because once media plurality is lost, it is very difficult to get back. We need to be honest: we do not want a system dominated by a handful of powerful players, where opinion outweighs evidence - in other words, we end up with something like Fox News, heavily influencing public debate with a narrow perspective. That is a warning we ignore at our peril.  This Bill matters. Not just because it implements European law but because it sets the tone for how we value and protect our media in Ireland\u2019s future.  Ultimately, it is about trust - trust that journalists can do their work without interference; trust that the public can access a wide range of voices and perspectives; and trust that the system itself is open, fair, open and independent. If we get this right, we strengthen not just our media landscape but democracy itself. In a time when misinformation spreads easily, when pressure on journalism and journalists is real and when public trust cannot be taken for granted, it has never been more important.  I welcome this Bill. It moves us in the right direction. I look forward to working constructively to ensure that, as it passes through, we make it as strong, clear, and effective as it possibly can be. A free, independent and diverse media is not a luxury in a democracy - it is a necessity and it is our responsibility to protect it. If we fail to do so, we risk a media system where voices are limited, debate is constrained, and public trust is eroded. We will not let that happen. We will protect a media system that is plural, independent and trusted. That is what this Media Regulation Bill is all about. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  The Minister of State articulated very well the purposes of this Bill particularly in implementing elements of the European Media Freedom Act. It is important to note that Ireland has always performed well on press freedom indices. Reporters Without Borders, RSF, which is journalists making their own assessment, has placed Ireland\u2019s ranking over the past number of years as \"good\", which is the top placing, when it comes to media freedom. It is worth noting Ireland is one of only six countries, along with Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Denmark and the Netherlands, that have been consistently rated as good by RSF. In the past Freedom House used to conduct the world press freedom index which, again, always found that Ireland had a very good reputation when it came to press freedom. This is critical to any democracy. It is vital that journalists can always speak truth to power, that they are free from political pressure, that we have transparency in terms of media ownership and we have a plurality of views particularly, as Deputy O\u2019Donoghue just mentioned, in the battle against misinformation and disinformation in the modern age and in the age of artificial intelligence. That is critical. The role of the Irish media in that space is commendable.  It is healthy that we debate media in this country and that it is allowed to happen. For the most part, we are incredibly lucky that we have quality broadcasters, whether we are talking about RT\u00c9, TG4, Virgin Media or local and community radio or television, and also when it comes to the print media. We are very fortunate to have a good and diverse range of views in our print media at local and national levels. They do a very good job generally and are an essential part of our democracy, particularly if we talk about local media. Their important role in reporting on local news, local council meetings and what goes on in our communities is something we take for granted. We can contrast that with some of the news deserts that exist in many other parts of the world. Part of the problem with the polarisation of politics in the United States is that they have lost a lot of the local and even state-based news media that used to exist. The setting up by the previous media Minister, Catherine Martin, of the local democracy fund to support that reporting was critical.  On the Government\u2019s commitment in the broad area to ensure a free and fair media, the reforming of the defamation laws to allow for fair comment is very welcome. Addressing the problem of SLAPP, strategic lawsuits against public participation, is also something that is very important. We should never see a situation where politicians or those in positions of power use the legal system to try to inhibit good and fair journalists from doing their job. That is not to say that media should be above criticism but a healthy debate is one where journalists challenge us, as politicians, and we equally challenge the media around news stories.  In that sense, it is worth praising, for instance, some of the investigative journalism by RT\u00c9 where it did speak truth to power in recent times which had an impact in here. \"Inside Ireland\u2019s Nursing Homes\", which was broadcast last June, with Lucy Kennedy and Aoife Hegarty, exposed what had been going on inside some of our nursing homes which demanded a response. Joe Galvin\u2019s \"Forced Fashion\" looked at how cotton from labour camps in Xinjiang was finding its way onto Irish shelves. That sort of quality investigative journalism, free from political interference, is critical. RT\u00c9 current affairs should not think it can be above criticism. For instance, I regularly criticise the imbalance of many of the programmes on RT\u00c9 which give disproportionate coverage to smaller and fringe political parties and, indeed, to smaller and fringe views. However, for the most part, we are fortunate that we have a very pluralistic media that is open to express a wide range of views.  As the Minister of State said, while the Bill does not deal with every aspect of EMFA, it focuses primarily on media plurality and advertising by public bodies. I welcome the powers that are being transferred to Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n which will mean that as an independent regulator there will be no perception of political interference in some of this area. I have been quite impressed to date by Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n\u2019s operations. It is critical that it is properly resourced. We need to look at some of the powers in specific areas but as a relatively new regulator, it has done well.  The Minister of State made the point about the turnover threshold and that is particularly important. We need to address those challenges around media ownership. This is a concern which is flagged occasionally here when we see mergers and so on but we have to avoid the situation we have seen in the United States, for instance, where Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon, decided to buy The Washington Post, once one of the greatest newspapers in the world but now only a shell of its former self and the editorial independence, which we would expect in this country of a national newspaper, no longer exists.  There is a slight loophole. While the legislation would prevent a similar situation happening here of a wealthy individual or online platform trying to buy what we might call one of our traditional media, a newspaper or whatever - there are restrictions already in Irish law which are further enhanced by this Bill - as we move into the digital world, there is no real restriction on, say, a wealthy individual setting up an online political news platform, or whatever, and pumping money into that. I raised this with the Standards in Public Office Commission, which accepted my argument. While somebody like Jeff Bezos could not necessarily come in here and buy The Irish Times, Irish Independent or whatever, there is no barrier to an international or domestic Jeff Bezos setting up an online news platform and pump what I would see as political donations into that space.  On advertising by public bodies, the measures contained in the legislation are welcome. When he was Minister for the Gaeltacht, the Minister, Deputy Jack Chambers, brought in a requirement that a lot more advertising would be done tr\u00ed Ghaelige. At least 20% of advertising is now in Irish on all sorts of issues. It is welcome that when we tune in to radio or TV we hear a lot more Irish. The transparency framework the Minister of State spoke about is important.  I welcome the fact that we have provided support of \u20ac750 million over three years to RT\u00c9 in order to allow the broadcaster to continue. I am supportive of that because it is critical but the problem is that it could have a distorting effect on the broader market. There is no access for the likes of Virgin Media Television or local and community radio to that funding. If we want to ensure media plurality, it cannot just be about the direct investment that is being made. That level of public funding, which I fully support because public service broadcasting is a public good, should be open to competition. Other entities should be able to apply for some of that funding in the same way as, for instance, they can apply to the sound and vision fund operated by Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n. If we are to guarantee media plurality, we cannot have a situation whereby one broadcaster is, in effect, very heavily subsidised by the State but there is no access for others to public resources.  Other than that, the provisions within the Bill are welcome. It is part of the broader framework that we need to ensure that we continue to have media independence and plurality here in Ireland. There are other issues that we need to address around media and digital literacy and the challenges we are facing with regard to online platforms, misinformation and disinformation but that is not the focus of this Bill. This legislation is deserving of support and I am very happy that it has been brought before the House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  The Media Regulation Bill sets out aspirations that, on the face of it, one would consider to be very good. Its objectives include protecting editorial independence and journalistic sources. EMFA, from which this Bill derives, refers to ensuring the independent functioning of public service media, enhancing the transparency of media ownership, guaranteeing transparency in State advertising for media providers, boosting transparency in audience measurement for media services and so on. They all seem like worthy aspirations. Protecting the diversity of media, providing transparency around ownership and ensuring the independence of journalism and editorial independence are all things we would definitely want.  However, I am concerned that this debate is taking place in a real world context. There are references in the Bill digest to removing obstacles and barriers to media organisations operating across national boundaries within the European Union, and to the importance of competition. Often it is suggested that if we have more competition we will get more media diversity, that competition is going to help to achieve all of those aspirations with which one could not but agree but is that actually the case in the real world? I just wonder about that. While they are worthy aspirations, the real world situation of media is the hollowing-out of public service broadcasting through increasing privatisation, with things that were done by public service broadcasters being outsourced to private operators in a context in which the people who are coming to dominate access to news, media and information are a billionaire class of social media owners or media magnates like Rupert Murdoch. Competition very often just leads to monopolistic control of the media on a global level by big players, the big billionaires who own media and social media.  At the same time, we have our Government effectively dismantling RT\u00c9. I often have my disagreements with RT\u00c9 over editorial decisions and so on. I would like to see a better balance and I would not be backward about coming forward when it comes to criticising certain decisions RT\u00c9 makes but we have to fight very hard to protect public service broadcasting because we have far more influence and say over what RT\u00c9 does than we have over what Rupert Murdoch, Elon Musk, Bill Gates or any of those characters do. We have far more influence because we can haul RT\u00c9 in front of an Oireachtas committee. We can have an influence when people are getting paid, as they were, absolutely excessive salaries at the top of RT\u00c9. I refer here to the scandal around the salary for Ryan Tubridy and so on. We can actually do something about that and influence the situation. The sins of a small number at the top of RT\u00c9 are now being paid for by the people who were not getting paid big salaries, the ordinary people like technicians, journalists, camera operators and all of the backroom people who actually make the thing function. They are going to suffer and the jobs that many of them did are just being done away with. Those jobs are going to be outsourced to private operators.  Who has the money to engage in audiovisual and media production? Only the big players, by and large. There has been a lot of praise for the Irish film industry recently and how well it is doing and there is no doubt about our creative talent, including Jessie Buckley, Cillian Murphy, Barry Keoghan, the list goes on. There are also the technical people in animation and all the rest of it but the fact of the matter is that in the largely privatised Irish film industry nobody has a secure job. It is film-to-film, episodic work. There are no guarantees. Workers do not have any of the entitlements that people who are directly employed have, like those employed by RT\u00c9, for example. They do not have the income or employment security that they might have with a public service broadcaster. This is what is happening now in RT\u00c9 to the ordinary people. Programmes like \"Fair City\" and probably \"The Late Late Show\" are going to be outsourced. We are going to give more tax breaks, with the section 481 provisions extended to the non-scripted sector. This means, for example, that American quiz shows are going to get tax breaks from the public to produce quiz shows that are ostensibly made here. Meanwhile, people who had proper jobs in the audiovisual sector in public service broadcasting are finding that their jobs are being done away with and RT\u00c9 is being hollowed out. There is talk here of the internal market of the EU and removing barriers in order to ensure greater media diversity but the actual net result may be that we do away with public service broadcasting, everything gets outsourced and privatised and secure employment in the audiovisual sector and in the media will be slowly but surely done away with. That is what is happening.  Some of the Bill's aspirations, as I said, are good. Do not get me wrong, transparency around media ownership is good but if we do not have a public service broadcaster, things are going to go in a bad direction. Public service broadcasters have an influence on how the rest of the media behaves. One of the reasons our media is better than in America, for example, is that there is still some notion of having a thing called public service broadcasting, of having an orchestra and of celebrating culture and heritage and things that may not be profitable or garner lots of advertising but which are making a contribution to society. Public service broadcasters work in the best interests of society. They celebrate our culture, heritage, arts and things that are not profitable.  A deregulated, largely privatised and outsourced market is full of diversity but actually it is the diversity of Musk, Murdoch, Google and Facebook. That is not real diversity. It does not provide ordinary jobs or build up a pool of talent. Even funding for the audiovisual sector in terms of section 481 is supposed to be dependent on building up companies of scale and permanent pools of skill and creative talent. That is what it is supposed to do. Money is provided on that basis but that is not actually what is happening. What is happening is that we are doing away with the permanent pools. One of the things that RT\u00c9 did was make documentaries that nobody else would make. It made television series that were trying to reflect Irish society and its development and evolution. It had and still has an orchestra. Will it still be there if we move in a certain direction of outsourcing and privatising everything? I do not think so. In truth, I think some people saw the scandal around high salaries, which was an outrageous scandal, as an opportunity to have a go at public service broadcasting in this country and to dismantle and privatise it through the back door. I would like to hear from the Minister about how that is not going to happen and how this Bill is going to contribute to protecting quality media, quality public service broadcasting and decent jobs and nurturing a permanent pool of creative and technical talent in media and the audiovisual sector. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  I send solidarity to the workers in RT\u00c9, who have been balloting and speaking out against the outsourcing at the station and the effective gutting of RT\u00c9. I agree that the scandal of high wages, hidden accounts and ridiculous pay for a few presenters at RT\u00c9 is being used to gut the public service station. I have loads of issues with RT\u00c9 and will mention some of them but we do need public service broadcasting. There are TDs in this House who are delighted about the whole Tubridy thing because it allows them to have a go at RT\u00c9. A TD who was speaking as I came in mentioned the lack of plurality in the media in Ireland and said the fact that RT\u00c9 was a public service meant that there was not enough plurality. He was not talking about the lack of working-class voices in the media, the lack of women in the media or the lack of minority representation; he was saying that we need more private media.  Based on figures from 2022, RT\u00c9 has a market share in television of 26.75% - it is not a monopoly - while its radio market share is 27.8%. The market in media has been completely opened up and private corporations have moved in and bought large amounts of the media. Virgin Media currently has an 18% share but in radio, for example, Bauer Media controls 25% of all the radio stations in the country. Regional papers face a monopoly, with 15 papers in the Republic owned by Mediaforce, a Danish company. National papers are in a similar situation, with Mediahuis being the biggest player in the market, so the media in Ireland has been swooped in on. The Washington Post was mentioned. It is now owned by Jeff Bezos who owns Amazon and is the second-richest man in the world, below Elon Musk. The Taoiseach spent the day at his company for St. Patrick's Day in the US.  We have to put this into the context of the current situation at RT\u00c9. The workforce in RT\u00c9 is going to be slashed from 1,853 to 1,400. That will have real effects. It will have real effects on the staff members who are left but also on the quality and the nature of programmes that are made. Workers have been highlighting that the fact documentaries are going to be outsourced is a huge attack on the ability to challenge power, to challenge corruption, to challenge institutions, to challenge states and to challenge the Government. These are real life impacts if there is no budget and no legal power in a public service broadcaster to withstand libel threats. Without the resources of RT\u00c9, creators will not have the ability to take editorial risks that they have had up to now. RT\u00c9 broadcast programmes that challenged the church's power and exposed child sexual abuse. So many issues have been brought to light due to documentaries that were made in that department in RT\u00c9.  Although news cannot necessarily be outsourced, it can be diminished and that has happened in RT\u00c9. RT\u00c9's \"Upfront with Katie Hannon\", one of the current affairs programmes, was just cut from the schedule. There are no longer any RT\u00c9 programmes like \"Question and Answers\", which was broadcast when I was growing up and allowed members of the public to question politicians face to face. There is nothing like that now at RT\u00c9. I think \"Prime Time\" is now the only current affairs programme. The justified anger about RT\u00c9 salaries and bonuses for executives is being used as a smokescreen to gut the national broadcaster. It appears that it has not done anything to stop some of the high salaries. The director general of RT\u00c9 is paid \u20ac337,500 for his troubles and the number of people in RT\u00c9 earning over \u20ac100,000 has actually increased. The attacks are taking place on people below that, and that has to be pointed out.  Obviously, RT\u00c9 has advertising revenue and perhaps it is that reliance on advertising revenue that has seen it has take some shameful editorial stances. RT\u00c9's coverage of the genocide in Palestine has been appalling. There are so many examples that could be cited of how it has minimised, whitewashed and euphemised what has happened and has been afraid of being seen to be in any way critical, which is bizarre since we are a neutral country. It is not like the BBC, which would be put under a huge political pressure by the British Government, which is a colonial power that is quite supportive of what is going on. Two years into a genocide, RT\u00c9 has never called it a genocide even though the Government calls it a genocide. In one piece in January, there was a headline stating, \"Israel says ban on Gaza media access should remain\". RT\u00c9 published a piece with no criticism of a press release issued by the Israeli Government about its shameful decision to ban media from Gaza. RT\u00c9 just reprinted it. RT\u00c9 regularly uses the phrase \"the Hamas-run health ministry\" as a way of undermining figures that might be cited relating to casualties. There are many other examples, including the shameful decision to broadcast the Israel-Ireland match. I call on all workers and all trade unions to boycott that match and I think this pressure is going to build up over the summer.  Regarding media mergers, the Bill requires companies to be transparent about their audience measurement system but the main provision is taking decisions on mergers out of the hands of the Minister and passing it over to Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n. That is a clear attempt by the Government to depoliticise this and divorce itself from any decisions that it will have to make relating to the media, creating yet another third party like the HSE, which was created to take political pressure off the Department of Health, the NCSE, which was created to take pressure off the Department of education, and the NTA, in respect of transport.  There is this constant practice of setting up companies and entities and giving them more power and taking political power out of the Government's hands.  I question the decision to give funding to Virgin Media despite the fact that it has a huge advertising base. I know it covers current affairs, news and so on, and sometimes does a very good job, but it is a completely for-profit company. There is no legal requirement on Virgin to provide any content or diversity in its output and it frequently resorts to cheap repeats, soaps and so on from other countries.  There is a serious concentration of media in the hands of ever fewer people. There are the statistics that I gave about who now controls regional newspapers and the radio stations. There is a move away from public service broadcasting to privatisation and outsourcing and this will lead to a worse RT\u00c9 and a general distilling of public service broadcasting.  RT\u00c9 and TG4 should be properly funded. The Government has continuously skirted the issue of funding these bodies. It does not want to increase the television licence fee. Therefore, it will deprive RT\u00c9 of the funding that it needs and force it to let workers go and to outsource. That is not good. It is not good for democracy, it is not good for a challenge to power that we need to have and it is not good for challenging the generally majority privately owned media either. We should call out what is happening here and support the workers who are resisting the destruction of RT\u00c9 as a public broadcaster. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  I welcome this Bill and the implementation of the European Media Freedom Act into Irish law. It is hugely important.  There are a few comments I want to make about the media landscape generally. Some people often give out about media in Ireland but, considering how functional our media are here compared with those in other jurisdictions around the world, even in the European Union, we are incredible lucky to have, broadly speaking, balanced and responsible media. I am struck all the time by the discrepancy between what is often referred to as the mainstream or traditional media - the print media and broadcast media - with what we see online. Much of the stuff on social media platforms, for example, entirely lacks the moderation and editing that comes with the media that we feel we can trust. That is a real problem. The more we can establish that freedom for those media, the better.  Others have spoken about investment in public service media. That is also hugely important. We often forget that even if we were to ramp up spending on RT\u00c9 - I am not necessarily proposing that should be the case - that, in comparing the budget that is provided for RT\u00c9 in the size of country we are with the budgets provided to public service broadcasters in other jurisdictions, it simply is not on the same playing pitch. One could not, for example, compare the RT\u00c9 budget to the BBC budget. My understanding is that the daily budget for the BBC exceeds the annual budget for RT\u00c9. That is not to criticise the amount of funding for RT\u00c9 but, rather, to mark the fact that we are a small country and we do not have the capacity to whole-scale fund public service broadcasting in the same way.  Notwithstanding that, RT\u00c9 does a really good job. On the budget that it has, it delivers balanced and effective current affairs coverage, for example. Of course, there could be more and it could be better. A criticism I would make, one which I certainly hear from colleagues who are not Irish but may be living here in Ireland, is that they can see the news here as being a little parochial. In the context of being part of a larger European Union, for example, we could see much better coverage of news from other European countries. I am sometimes surprised by the items that get coverage in a prominent place on the RT\u00c9 news and question how newsworthy they are relative perhaps to the footage that is available or the familiarity that Irish people have with places such as America and Britain, which get disproportionate coverage in media relative, for example, to issues in other European countries.  There is a programme on RT\u00c9 radio on Sunday mornings, \"World Report\", which is singularly excellent. Each episode is a small collection of three or four stories from journalists in parts of the world that we do not hear much about. They give a short report on a big news story in that country. It is invariably something that we have never heard of here and has not found its way into the mainstream media in this country. This is a small opportunity for RT\u00c9 to show that there is a breadth of coverage that we do not generally get. What I would like to see is \"World Report\" being on every morning or every day on RT\u00c9 radio. We as a society would benefit much more if we got news from those parts of the world but we do not hear it as much as we should. The reality is that Irish media consumers rely much more on the international press, for example, international magazines and international journals, to inform them about many significant world events. We cannot rely on Irish media, not even The Irish Times . The Irish Times provides very good international coverage but there is only so much space in the newspaper and there is, consequently, disproportionate coverage for events that occur in the English-language world, if I can put it that way.  This point may not necessarily be particularly relevant to this Bill insofar as it does not address advertising standards, for example, but advertising is bound up with, and part and parcel of, the media landscape. What we often see in Irish media, and this is a criticism particularly of media other than RT\u00c9, is whole-scale English advertising rebroadcast on Irish television. There is a cultural import of that. What that says to me is that the advertiser itself has decided there is no distinction between the Irish market and the British market, for example, and that is really sad. There is something much more important about that, however. The signal it is sending is one thing but there is also the loss for Irish industry. For example, if you have an advertisement that is made in London with professional people based in London, whether they are PR people, advertising people, media crews, copywriters, artistic directors, etc., and that advertisement is broadcast here, all of those people who could have made that advertisement in Dublin, Galway, Cork or Limerick lose out in the fact that that work has gone elsewhere and that is a shame. One of the real steps forward we have made in this country in the past couple of years is the 20% obligation to have State agencies advertise tr\u00ed mhe\u00e1n na Gaeilge. It is wonderful to hear advertisements that are entirely based through Irish, on television and on radio, from State agencies promoting different programmes or whatever it might be. It means you hear Irish in a real context every day and that is a really good thing, but I am afraid that it is contradicted sometimes by the fact that the next advertisement is for a washing powder being advertised by a person clearly based in London, who has nothing to do with Ireland and may never have been to Ireland. There is a loss for the Irish media consumer there in the fact that our media are not meeting the obligations that they should in terms of providing a media environment that is for Irish people and of Irish people. I started this by saying that there should be greater international focus but what I am also saying is that it should be tailored for the people in this country, not for markets outside this country.  In the context of what this Bill is doing, it is hugely important for us to acknowledge how lucky we are to have a functional, fair and generally unbiased media. It is not to say that there are no commentators I disagree with. Of course, there are. In fact, if there were commentators I never disagreed with, that would be a bigger problem. We are lucky to have that. When we look at things, sometimes we see the problems rather than the good things. I see this insofar as what is happening, for example, in the United States, in the complete inability of certain media there to criticise some of things that are happening and the inability of the European media to criticise some of the things that are happening in the Middle East, and particularly the blinkered approach of certain European media to what Israel is doing in Gaza, for example. We do not have that problem here. Insofar as we can look at our media and say that there is something that we can be really proud of, we have media organisations, print and broadcast, in this country which are not afraid to call out things for that they are, not afraid to say things that are unpopular and not afraid to say things that will not curry favour with the Administration of the day. They do that all the time. Thank God not only that they do, but that they feel confident they can do that. That is what media freedom is all about. We are lucky to have it here, which is not to say that we should be complacent about it or take it for granted.  We must recognise that the provision of a fair, open and free media is something that must be striven for eternally. We must constantly work to ensure that it is there. We must constantly work to ensure that journalists feel that they can operate in a free and vociferous way within the media environment. In that regard, it is also worth pointing out that media freedom is also about the freedom of journalists and the protection of journalists from situations where they might feel themselves compromised, and that includes online commentary.  I have often seen journalists being pilloried online for taking a particular position on something. In fairness, they are well able to fight their own battles. I would not have any concerns about that. In the context of this legislation and the European Media Freedom Act, however, we must remember that there is a State obligation to ensure there is pile-ons do not occur on social media in respect of people who take unpopular positions.  As regards cancel culture, which I absolutely abhor, it is entirely reasonable to disagree with somebody or to be disgusted by what they have to say without stating that they should somehow be cancelled. People must be entitled and allowed to express free opinions, whether they are popular or unpopular, pleasant or unpleasant, within the bounds of incitement to hatred and defamation and all the rest.  On the Defamation Act, I am concerned we have attempted to specifically address perceived restrictions that might exist for media in terms of defamation actions. With strategic litigations - SLAPPS - and things of that nature which are covered by that legislation, it is obviously important to suppress the ability of people to use litigation to essentially gag organisations, journalists, people, etc. I sometimes think that we went too far in the case of the Defamation Act insofar as we took steps, for example, to eliminate juries from defamation actions in the High Court which were unnecessary. That step was very much taken to placate media to tell them they will not get awards as bad as they might have been. That could have been done by simply removing the quantum capacity for the jury. In other words, letting the judge rather than the jury decide what the quantum of the award would be.  There is a balance to be achieved in respect of, on the one hand, the importance of the freedom and non-restriction of journalism and the media and, on the other hand, the operation of the public good and the right of people to have their good names. As already stated, that is outside the scope of this Bill. The Bill takes a piece of European legislation and transposes it into Irish law. It is very welcome in the way that it does that. It is a good thing. I hope it is something that will form part of all the instruments we will continue to put in place to ensure that we have media freedom and, more than that, a media that is unbiased, fair and, most importantly, is vociferous in saying what it feels it needs to say, where that is justifiable, rather than what it has to say because of political pressure or anything like that. I welcome the Bill and look forward to its passage. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  There are elements of this Bill that deserve recognition and support. At its core, it seeks to strengthen something that is fundamental to any healthy democracy, namely plurality in our media. In an era when media ownership is increasingly concentrated and when global platforms hold unprecedented influence over what people see, read and hear, it is right that we take steps to ensure diversity of voices and opinions and the protection of editorial independence. The intention behind this legislation to prevent undue concentration of media power and promote transparency is reasonable. The requirement for greater transparency in State advertising is also welcome. The public has a right to know how and where public money is being spent, particularly in the media space. Equally, the move to establish a clear picture of media ownership is a step towards openness that should be broadly supported.  While we can acknowledge the positives, we cannot ignore the broader implications of what is being proposed. This Bill represents a significant transfer of power from an elected Minister accountable to this House and to the people, to one unelected regulatory body in the form of Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n. Independence in regulation has its place, but independence must never come at the expense of accountability. We are being asked to place considerable authority over media mergers, definitions of editorial independence and the broader shaping of our media landscape in the hands of a body that is not directly answerable to the electorate. That in itself gives rise to legitimate questions, but people's concerns are sharpened further when we look beyond our shores.  In recent weeks, a report from the United States Congress has raised serious allegations regarding the role of European regulators, including engagement involving Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n, in the period leading up to elections across Europe, including here in Ireland. According to that report, there was co-operation between regulators, major technology platforms and what has been described as partisan or ideologically aligned fact-checking organisations. The claim is that this co-ordination influenced how content was moderated, particularly during sensitive electoral periods. These are serious claims. They may be contested, and they should be examined carefully and objectively, but they cannot simply be dismissed out of hand. At the heart of this issue lies a fundamental question, namely who decides what information the public is allowed to see?  We are told that this Bill is about tackling misinformation but, increasingly, we see examples across Europe where perfectly legitimate political opinions on migration, energy policy and social issues have been labelled as harmful or unacceptable. When statements that reflect mainstream viewpoints are treated as violations, we are no longer dealing with a neutral regulation; we are entering the territory of subjective judgement and, potentially, ideological filtering. That is where the danger lays. Democracy depends not on unanimity, but on open disagreement. It depends on the ability of citizens to hear competing arguments, to weigh them and to make up their own minds. If decisions about what constitutes acceptable disclosures are shifted away from the public sphere and into the hands of the regulator, however well-intentioned, we risk undermining that very foundation.  This is not an argument against regulation, nor is it an argument against this Bill in its entirety. It is, however, a call for caution. If we are to proceed, we must ensure that there are clear limits on the powers being transferred, that there is robust oversight and transparency in how those powers are exercised and ,above all, that the principles of free expression and democratic accountability are protected at every stage. Once powers of this nature are handed over, they are not easily reclaimed. We must get the balance right between protection of our media landscape and preserving the freedoms that underpin it. If we fail to do so, we may well solve one problem, only to create a far worse one.  I take this opportunity to pay tribute to what we have in my constituency. I refer to our local radio station, C103 FM, in west Cork, and 96 FM and Red FM for that matter too, which have given a very fair account of themselves down through the years. You would hear politicians giving arguments from all sides on those stations. They deserve to be commended on their focus on delivering a clear message to people. Members of the public want to hear the honest facts. It does not matter what side the facts come from, as long as they are delivered. Sometimes, the waters in that regard become muddied when it comes to the bigger stations. We often find that we are victims when it comes to Virgin Media and RT\u00c9. We feel that sometimes we are not represented in a fair manner. I do not know when Virgin Media last made any kind of contact with us. We have a voice. The electorate gave Independent Ireland a very strong mandate. It is fine to try to ignore that if you want to, but there is a reason for it being ignored. That has to be brought to task here. No media outlet at any level has a right to rule somebody in or out or to favour certain people.  I wish to praise the Southern Star and reporters like Kieran O'Mahony, who try to be as fair as possible. They are not favourable at times. At times they are angered and they say the wrong things, but that is quite understandable. At least they are trying their best to deliver an honest and free media that cannot ever be tied up, as such, when it comes to delivering what is the honest story. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  I want to begin by broadly welcoming the Bill and acknowledging the important work it seeks to do in bringing us into line with the European Media Freedom Act.  It is true and has been said before that Ireland is still considered to have one of the freest, and arguably the finest, presses in the world. We are consistently ranking within the top ten nations, according to the annual world press freedom index published by Reporters Without Borders. That said, the ranking has on occasion, experienced a few fluctuations due to concerns regarding, for example, legal threats to journalists, especially in the context of so-called SLAPPS that are often cited in connection with defamation lawsuits filed by politicians, political parties and certain business tycoons.  There is a general need for regulation, especially with the very small size of our market and the resulting tendency towards the overconcentration of ownership. It is true to say that for years, Ireland has needed a clearer and more independent system for assessing the media mergers that take place in order to protect editorial independence and ensure transparency in terms of how the State allocates advertising money.  This Bill moves key decisions away from the Minister and into the hands of Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n. I want to reference the comments made by other Deputies in the House with regard to moving decisions from the Minister. I am a great critic of parking health issues with the HSE, parking transport issues with the NTA or saying, \"This is a matter for the Garda Commissioner.\" It is very hard to get direct answers to parliamentary questions or hold agencies to account in the same way. Having a Minister directly involved in the media just provides ammunition to the conspiracy theorists, who call RT\u00c9 and its ilk the \"lamestream media\", and basically perpetuate the increasing distrust in the media. In my view, it is good for the monitoring and regulation of the media to be one step removed from a Minister.  When it goes to Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n and if it works and does what the EU framework legislation intends, it may create a more transparent and pluralistic media, freer of political interference. I do not think there is too much of that in this country, in any event, so I would say that it will be freer of allegations of political interference. Down the line, there may be parties in government that are more inclined to seek to interfere in the political process, and we have seen that with the rise of populist parties across Europe. It is a good thing to have this set aside now in case, in the future, we have different configurations that might be less democratically inclined. We live in an age of misinformation and disinformation. Troll factories located in eastern Europe, Russia, Asia and all around the world are deliberately setting out to misinform, disinform, tell outright lies and increase the levels of distrust in our media. If it helps to safeguard the independence of journalism, it is hugely important and essential to any healthy democracy, in particular our small but healthy democracy.  As I said, part of the reason trust in the free press is declining is that we have one of the most concentrated media markets in Europe. That means that every merger or acquisition has a disproportionate impact on the diversity of voices available to the public. Annual reports published by bodies like the Centre for Media Pluralism and Media Freedom consistently rank Ireland, a country with very high press freedom, as very \"high risk\" for market plurality. The 2024 data, which is the latest available, showed a 71% risk score for market plurality, primarily due to what is called the lack of quantitative limits on media concentration in Irish law. This law is trying to remedy that, pushed on, as it is, by the EU framework law. That is why the pluralism-focused merger review required under Article 22 of the European Media Freedom Act is so important. It is not just about competition and market share but about bread-and-butter transparency. It asks the question and tries to seek out whether a merger reduces the range of viewpoints expressed, whether it over-focuses on sensationalism rather than facts, whether it gives one owner too much influence over public debate and whether editorial independence could be compromised, although not necessarily directly. We have heard this about other types of legislation but also in the context of the McCarthyite phrase that is coming into vogue again, that is, the chilling effect on reporting, or possibly in relation to social media, the chilling effect on fact-checking.  We already see this on social media, where just two entities, Meta and Alphabet, are estimated to control over 80% of Irish digital advertising revenues as of 2024. We have seen how hard it is to get these and other social media companies to monitor and regulate their content. It has been hugely challenging, even at a European level. Sin sce\u00e1l eile. It applies to traditional print and broadcast media as well but at least the level of regulation and penalties available there has been better applied to date, so we have not had the same types of issues.  To go back to the Bill, it is great that the EU principles of press freedom are finally going into Irish legislation. However, as was mentioned in relation to tackling the IT companies and social media, if we want to keep a transparent and pluralistic media, we also have to be serious about resourcing the body that will enforce it. I agree with colleagues who are worried about the Minister passing it on to Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n. Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n has already been given major responsibilities for online safety, broadcasting standards and other types of media regulation. We are now adding complex merger assessments, new notification powers and the oversight of state advertising into the mix. We have to ensure that these new roles have adequate staff and expertise. It is not just about passing legislation but it is about making sure that when this is enacted, Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n is fully resourced.  Regarding the area of state advertising, there are a few welcome things. Article 25 of the European Media Freedom Act, which this Bill facilitates, requires that public funds for state advertising and service contracts are awarded based on transparent, objective, proportionate and non-discriminatory criteria. This puts pressure on public and local authorities to consider certain factors when choosing where to place state advertising. Decisions must be based on the media outlet's ability to reach a specific target audience and also the cost effectiveness of advertising spend, as well as its geographical spread, so it is done across different regions, with local versus national. There are also statutory requirements to adhere to legal obligations, such as requirements for public notices or advertising as Gaeilge freisin.  To ensure non-discrimination, certain procedures are required. This has to be publicly available in advance. The criteria and procedures for awarding funds have to be published electronically before the award process begins. It requires the use of open and proportionate procedures for awarding contracts. All advertising campaigns must be based on a strategic brief that identifies clear communication goals and the target audience. Key performance indicators must be set for each campaign.  It is all bells and whistles, or motherhood and apple pie, as long as we have an agency that is resourced to monitor that all of this is happening, and that the annual reports detail the legal names of providers and business groups, as well as the total amounts spent in each section. That is good stuff. However, while praising the Bill and what it is trying to do, we need to find a balance between regulation and putting costs on certain businesses - by that, I mean the smaller ones. We need a system that allows the public, the Oireachtas and the media to see exactly how decisions are made but at the same time, we need to ensure that the smaller local outlets are not unintentionally disadvantaged because of regulation. A pluralist media is not just about preventing dominance at the top; it is also about ensuring that community voices, regional newspapers and independent digital outlets can survive and thrive. These have been challenged over the years. Many of the local newspapers, for example, are now in the hands of larger companies.  I want to make a point from that angle. I know there is a European fund for reporting. We have seen in many local newspapers that content behind a paywall is made freely available by dint of this funding. This allows journalists to report on a wider range of relevant stories.  I want to put on record that my background is in journalism. I went to what used to be called the College of Commerce in Rathmines, which is now TU Dublin. I learned shorthand, which I have forgotten, learned how to type on a clunky typewriter, and learned all about defamation law, the principles of good journalism and how there are different types of journalism. For example, there are colour writers like the inimitable Miriam Lord, who was there when I was training, and there is news reporting and opinion pieces, and we learned the difference between the types. These days, it has become more blurred. One thing I have noticed is the lack of ability of media outlets to raise money. I am talking about the over-reliance on advertising and the lack of purchasing of the old-style newspapers, which are in decline.  It is difficult to try to fund proper journalism and to make it a career, particularly as journalists' pay is massively under threat and has been declining over the years. It is no longer a career that I would encourage someone to go into unless they feel it is a vocation and they are at the top of their game. What I, as a politician as opposed to a journalist, have noticed is that in the old days, journalists would go to council meetings and would report on what happened. They would talk to people at the meetings and ask them questions. What I have noticed more and more is that stories tend to be printed by those who can send in ready-made press statements as opposed to by the journalists who have the tools to go out and find the stories and get behind them. That is something we have to watch out for as we go because journalism is under threat in light of the nature of the modern media age whereby we have social media influencers who display a lot less responsibility. I saw this recently in relation to my constituency where someone published misinformation online that was shared across Facebook and Instagram. That is the sort of stuff that spreads long before you are able to get the real story, and that can sometimes cause a lot of anguish. I know there is regulation of social media influencers by other means, but we need to get a little tougher in terms of the powers relating to that side of things.  While it does not relate to this Bill, I want to refer to the social media companies in terms of what they allow to be published and how they regulate it. These companies have disinvested in proper moderation and fact-checking. They should not be allowed to get away with that. We need to go beyond what is in this Bill, because a vibrant diverse media is not a one-off. It is not just about this Bill; it is an ongoing responsibility for any democracy, especially when democracies are under threat across the world. We will need regular reviews and proper reporting systems and obviously the funding.  I welcome this Bill's alignment with European standards and its commitment to independent oversight, but I hope Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n will have the resources it needs in order that we can facilitate a diverse, pluralistic and fair-minded media going forward. I say that because we are massively under threat. We need a media we can trust. We need to be able to say that RT\u00c9 has a particular neutral opinion and will not publish anything until it has checked all the facts because it is afraid of being sued. Gript media might be seen as being a little to the right, but it has a valid voice. We then have other media that are perceived to be on the social side. That is all very welcome. We need to make sure that it is maintained. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marian Harkin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Deputy Marian Harkin)  I thank Members for their valuable and considered contributions and their constructive approach to the Bill. As a general point, I want to emphasise that the core aim of this Bill is to implement EMFA, which is a landmark part of EU legislation that is designed to protect media freedom. The European Commission proposed the European Media Freedom Act as a response to worrying trends in relation to media freedom in certain European countries. It was not developed specifically with the Irish context in mind. However, the principles on which the regulation is based, namely respect for editorial independence and freedom of expression are clearly enshrined in Irish law. In providing for its full and effective implementation, we have an opportunity to introduce another layer of protection for the free and pluralistic media system that we already have. In the current climate, it is clear that a diverse and independent media is essential for healthy democratic debate. We must ensure that the protections we have in place for media freedom and plurality are further strengthened and modernised. This is important legislation and I hope we can progress it as quickly as possible.  I have a general comment to make before I go to what some of our colleagues have proposed. It is that not all aspects of EMFA are being dealt with in this Bill. We also have the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill and a number of other items of legislation that are being progressed by the Department of justice that will progress other aspects.  A number of significant issues were raised. I will seek to address them. I welcome the broad support for this legislation. People have issues with the Bill. Perhaps one or two may not support it, but there was certainly very broad support for it. Some of the specifics that were raised by Deputies Joanna Byrne and \u00d3 Murch\u00fa include the already high concentration of ownership in the media sector. It is important to say that Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n's power to prevent a media merger only falls to be exercised in the event that a merger takes place. This Bill does not provide for an ongoing regulatory function in respect of media ownership. The Minister does not believe that this would be appropriate. It is also not required under EMFA. While the Irish market is relatively concentrated, this is always going to be the case given the small number of media markets.  Issues were also raised about why there are no quantitative limits on media ownership. This regulation does not require the introduction of what are termed bright-line limits on media ownership. In this context, bright-line limits mean putting a figure into legislation setting out the maximum amount of market share a single entity could hold in any given market. While the Minister believes that in principle there could be a reasonable argument for such an approach, it is overly rigid and it could face numerous difficulties in practice. For these reasons, it is not proposed to set legislative limits on ownership for the media market. It is preferable to continue to assess media mergers on a case-by-case basis and, crucially, on the basis of guidelines in this area to be developed by Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n.  Deputies Robert O'Donoghue, Joanna Byrne, \u00d3 Murch\u00fa and Malcolm Byrne raised issues around a fair share of advertising being awarded to local independent radio. It is important to say that the purpose of EMFA's provisions on state advertising is to increase transparency as to how such advertising is allocated. It is not intended to support any particular sector over another. The Bill obliges each public body to seek to ensure that its overall expenditure on advertising is distributed to as wide a plurality of media as is practicable. That does not mean that every media provider should receive a portion of funding from all advertising campaigns, but it does mean that public bodies should adhere to their own published criteria when they allocate expenditure. By obliging public bodies to be transparent and to publish data on expenditure, and providing for Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n to compile an annual report, anomalies or outliers will be identified. There will be an evidence base that will allow for such issues to be addressed. Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n is tasked with monitoring expenditure on State advertising and producing an annual report based on this information.  A number of Deputies, including Deputy Robert O'Donoghue, spoke about the fact that we are members of the new European Board for Media Services. I agree that this issue does not stop at EU borders. Its role is to promote a consistent application of EU media law and this framework, including EMFA, and of course the audiovisual media services directive. He also agreed on the \u20ac2 million threshold, which I believe is proportionate. This largely came into being after the public consultation. Deputies Malcolm Byrne and Gogarty told us that Ireland is consistently rated as good by Reporters Without Borders. It is critical to say that this would be the case for any democracy.  Local media play a hugely important role. Deputies Michael Collins, Malcolm Byrne and Gogarty all emphasise their importance, for example, in reporting local authority meetings and decisions that are taken there.  That plays a hugely constructive role in connecting local decisions to the people impacted by those decisions. My local radio station, Ocean FM, has won a number of awards for its coverage of local and national elections because it brings every listener into the count centre. It is not just about providing data and figures but also conveying the atmosphere, the highs and the lows of an election. The presenters have a great way of making everybody listening feel connected in a tangible and real way to the whole democratic process.  I noted the comments by Deputies Boyd Barrett and Coppinger regarding public service media. The European Media Freedom Act introduces a number of safeguards to protect the independence of public service media such as RT\u00c9. Member states must ensure public service media are independent and that they provide a variety of information to their audiences in an impartial way. The procedures for the appointment and dismissal of the heads of management of public service media providers aim to guarantee their independence. Funding procedures are based on transparent and objective criteria and seek to guarantee that public service media have adequate resources to fulfil their remit and safeguard editorial independence. I agree that some of the issues the Deputies raised are covered by this legislation and some are not. Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n has existing expertise in relation to media plurality and currently undertakes a similar function in assessing changes of ownership in respect of broadcasting licences, which was an issue raised by the Deputies.  Deputy Barry Ward spoke about there sometimes being disproportionate coverage of events that occur in the English-speaking world. He referred to RT\u00c9 in that context and also mentioned advertising. He highlighted the increasing number of advertisements in the Irish language, which helps to rebalance the situation.  A number of TDs raised issues in regard to the moving of certain roles from the Minister to an coimisi\u00fan. This is seen as depoliticising those issues. Some, including Deputy Gogarty and the Minister, are in favour of this move. Others are against it, including Deputies Coppinger and Michael Collins. My view is that the Bill sets out a reasonable and balanced way forward on this issue.  I thank Deputies for their contributions. I look forward to Committee Stage, when there will be an opportunity to tease out and address some of the key issues that have been raised on Second Stage. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Media Regulation Bill 2026: Second Stage"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_36","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/19","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/19\/dail\/motion\/referral","houseCode":"dail","stage":"motion","isBillStage":false,"showAs":"Media Regulation Bill 2026: Referral to Select Committee (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Media Regulation Bill 2026: Referral to Select Committee","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_36","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marian Harkin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marian Harkin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Deputy Marian Harkin)  I move:  That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport pursuant to Standing Orders 103(2)( b ) and 188(1). "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Media Regulation Bill 2026: Referral to Select Committee"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_37","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Structural Reform of Child Welfare Governance: Motion [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":13,"speakerCount":11},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_37","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marian Harkin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  I move:  That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann:  notes that:  \u2014 child protection and welfare represent one of the most fundamental constitutional obligations of the State;  \u2014 Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, operates as a statutory agency at arm's length from direct departmental control, funded by the Exchequer, but structurally separate from the Department of Children, Disability and Equality;  \u2014 this governance model has resulted in:  \u2014 blurred lines of accountability between the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, and Tusla;  \u2014 delays in political responsiveness; and  \u2014 ongoing difficulty for elected representatives seeking urgent intervention in serious child welfare matters;  \u2014 over the past decade, repeated reviews and audits have highlighted:  \u2014 delays in child protection assessments;  \u2014 social worker recruitment and retention challenges;  \u2014 a backlog in referrals; and  \u2014 inconsistent case management standards;  \u2014 Tusla's Annual Report and Financial Statements 2024, confirms that:  \u2014 451 organisations were funded under Section 56 arrangements;  \u2014 121 additional organisations were funded through the Education Support Service; and  \u2014 a total of approximately 572 external organisations received funding in 2024;  \u2014 the scale and fragmentation of these funding arrangements raises legitimate questions regarding:  \u2014 administrative overheads;  \u2014 governance duplication;  \u2014 financial transparency; and  \u2014 strategic coherence; and  \u2014 in a number of comparable jurisdictions, child protection functions are directly embedded within Ministerial Departments, ensuring clearer democratic accountability;  acknowledges that:  \u2014 frontline social workers, and child protection professionals, perform critical and demanding work under significant pressure;  \u2014 any reform must protect service continuity and safeguard vulnerable children; and  \u2014 structural reform must be carefully phased, and evidence based; and  calls on the Government to:  \u2014 commission an independent governance review, examining the feasibility of dissolving Tusla as a separate legal entity, and transferring its statutory powers directly to the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality;  \u2014 publish, within 12 months, a White Paper outlining options to:  \u2014 establish a child protection directorate within the Department of Children, Disability and Equality;  \u2014 consolidate policy and operational authority;  \u2014 streamline funding and procurement structures;  \u2014 enhance direct Ministerial accountability;  \u2014 develop a phased transition plan, if recommended, over a 12 to 24-month period, to ensure uninterrupted service delivery; and  \u2014 strengthen financial oversight mechanisms, including unified budgeting and improved reporting transparency to the Oireachtas; and  \u2014 establish or reinforce an independent statutory inspectorate to ensure robust oversight under any revised governance model.  I thank the people in my office who helped me to prepare this motion, including Mr. Ciar\u00e1n Kenneally, Ms Eileen Kelly McCarthy and Mr. Max Keating, as well as Mr. Mark Nolan of Independent Ireland. They put in tremendous background work.  The protection of children is one of the most fundamental responsibilities of any state. When a state intervenes in the life of a child, removes a child from danger or assumes the responsibility for a child's welfare, that state becomes the child's protector. That responsibility is not theoretical or administrative. It is, quite simply, moral. When a state assumes that responsibility, it must do so through a system that is clear, accountable, credible and capable of acting decisively when the child's safety is at risk. That is why the motion before the House today is so important. Child protection services are, of course, necessary. The question is whether the system through which we deliver those services is as functional and effective as it must be.  Tusla was established in 2014 with the well-being of children as its objective. The State sought to create a specialised agency dedicated entirely to child protection and supporting the family. It was intended to bring together the services that had previously been framed and fragmented across different parts of the public system. That was the hope and the dedication of the agency at the time. It would provide focused professional expertise and improved outcomes for vulnerable children. That ambition was right. However, more than a decade after its establishment and considering the experiences we have had in this country, we must ask ourselves a very simple question. Has the structure we created, and its associated level of accountability and effectiveness in protecting children, truly worked?  In addressing that question directly, it is important to acknowledge the extraordinary work of the carers and others who carry out the day-to-day work within the system. Social workers, family support services, foster carers, residential care staff and many others across the country perform one of the most difficult roles in the public service. They work with children who have experienced neglect, trauma and, in some cases, instability. They work with families in crisis and make complex decisions every day in circumstances that require judgment, compassion and professionalism. Their commitment deserves recognition from this House.  However, those who are on the front line of those particular professional services deserve something else. They deserve, above all, a system that functions properly. They deserve leadership that is clear, governance that is coherent and accountability that is real. When the system begins to struggle, it is those exact front-line staff who are left carrying the heavy burden. That is neither fair to, nor safe for, the children they are trying to protect.  Over the past number of years, we have heard repeated warnings about the conditions of the child protection system. Those warnings have come from regulators, the courts and by way of independent reports and inspections. HIQA inspections have repeatedly identified serious deficiencies in some areas of child protection services. They have highlighted delays in assessing risk to children, identified failures in case management and pointed to shortcomings in safety and safety planning. Certain inspections found there was non-compliance by some services with protection standards for children. These are not minor administrative oversights. They are issues that strike directly at the heart of the efficiency of the State in protecting the most vulnerable children.  The courts have also voiced their concerns. Judges have criticised situations wherein children in State care have not been allocated a social worker despite the court ordering and requiring it. In some cases, hundreds of children were reported to have been without an assigned social worker at any given time. One judge recently described that situation as both shocking and extraordinary. When members of the Judiciary begin to use language of that nature, what they are saying cannot be called a casual remark. It is and should be a warning that something within the system is not functioning as it should.  We have also heard of troubling incidents involving children missing from care and vulnerable young people being placed in emergency accommodation because suitable placements were not available. In fact, emergency arrangements that were intended to be exceptional have instead become the norm and a recurrence within this failing system. That fact alone should cause all of us in this House to pause and reflect.  Tusla now operates with a budget that exceeds \u20ac1 billion. If I am not mistaken, it is nearly \u20ac1.3 billion. Hundreds of millions of euro are being distributed through funding arrangements within community organisations and voluntary services providing and delivering on behalf of the State. Many of those organisations do valuable and necessary support work but when the expenditure reaches such a scale, governance must be strong and accountability must be clear.  That brings us to the central issue. The current system is built on a structure where responsibility is fragmented. Policy sits with the Department of children and operational delivery sits with the Tusla, a separate statutory agency. A large number of services are delivered through exceptional and external organisations funded through various programmes. This layered structure creates a distance between the authority and the accountability. When problems arise, as we have seen, responsibility becomes diffused across multiple levels of the system. When the protection of children is involved, we must have absolute clarity about that responsibility. When a child enters the care of the State, the child becomes the responsibility of the Republic itself. The question before this House is not whether Tusla performs important work; we all realise and accept that it does perform important work when it works well. The question is whether the governance structure surrounding that work remains fit for purpose.  Other jurisdictions across Europe and further afield have confronted similar questions and adopted different types of models. In many countries, child protection services operate directly within the ministerial department. Policies, operations, leadership and accountability exist within a single structure. Is that not a good idea, to have one single structure? The responsibility is clear, accountability is direct and a state cannot distance itself from the outcome of the system.  There is a principle that should guide us for this entire debate. When the State removes a child from their home, the State does not simply become a service provider; the State becomes the child's parents in every meaningful sense. The State assumes the responsibility for that child - that child's safety, that child's well-being and that child's future. No parents would accept a situation where responsibility for their child was unclear, where a system failed without consequences or where a system failed without accountability between different institutions. The State must hold itself to no lower standard. Children who enter the care of the State are not just statistics; they are not just reports; they are not simple entries in an administrative system. They are young people whose lives depend on the decisions we make in this House on the systems that structure the governance. If the structure responsible for the protection of them is not working, it should be the duty of all Members of this House not to defend the structure but to reform that structure.  That is why this motion is important to this House. It proposes a carefully responsive process. It proposes that the Government commission an independent review, examining whether the current model remains the best structure for delivering child protection services. It proposes the publication of a White Paper outlining the options for reform. It proposes structural reform to be implemented through a phased transitional period of 24 months to ensure continuity of services. That is not reckless; it is simple leadership.  Repeated inspections and court findings have given rise to public controversy and have raised concerns about the functionality of the system. The State cannot simply defend the status quo . The proposed Government amendment shows the State defending the status quo despite all the scandals, and the hand-wringing and crocodile tears in this House.  We must have the courage to ask if the system that we have built is a system that children deserve. This motion is not about blaming any individuals or criticising the dedicated professionals working within the system. It is about recognising a simple truth. Structures matter and institutions matter. When the structure responsible for protecting vulnerable children shows signs of strain, the duty of the State is to examine it honestly and reform where necessary. Children who rely on State protection deserve a system that is clear and accountable, capable of acting decisively where their safety is at risk. Front-line professionals deserve leadership and support rather than leaving them carry on under the heavy burden of weaknesses. For that reason, I commend the motion to the House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  I thank Independent Ireland for putting this motion to the House today. This is a very serious issue and one that we in Aont\u00fa have raised over and over again in this Chamber for many years. We believe that vulnerable children are being exposed to shocking danger by this Government and by a broken system over which the Minister presides. The figures speak for themselves. The national review panel presents incredible figures. It has indicated that between 2014 and February 2026, a total of 235 children died either in State care or known to State care services. That is a colossal human tragedy happening in real time. In the D\u00e1il, we often talk about the horror and the shocking situations that happened in the past, but this one is happening in our generation and is one that we, in this D\u00e1il, are responsible for.  Some of these cases have been incredible. In the first eight weeks of this year, five children in State care or known to the State services have died, which is shocking. One of those children was killed. One child died by suicide. Another child died in an accident and two children's deaths are still unexplained. In the last decade, the level of violence shown to children in State care is incredible. Thirteen children have been murdered and 38 children have died as result of suicide. These are horrific figures that should make any Government and any D\u00e1il stand up in shock and seek to resolve. However, this shocking situation is seldom spoken about in Leinster House. It seldom gets to the front pages of the newspapers or the main headlines in the broadcast news. While this is happening in our generation, it is not focused on properly by the Government.  Obviously, there are problems in Tusla, but many of the organisations that are also responsible for the welfare of children are not working seamlessly with those children. For example, Hugh was 16 when he died from a drug overdose after the child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS, would not take him. Niamh, another child under Tusla's care, died by suicide aged 15. She had also been deemed ineligible by CAMHS. Another report on a girl called Eva under Tusla's care showed that she had disclosed sexual abuse but nobody from Tusla spoke to her because the Tusla area she was in assumed that the social worker in another area was dealing with the particular case. She was discharged from CAMHS after a mere two appointments and her body was found a few weeks later. She was aged 14.  I recently submitted parliamentary questions about trafficking. The Department admits that there is no mechanism to cross-reference children flagged as at risk of trafficking with those who are missing from care. That is a dereliction of duty. The responses to parliamentary questions submitted by Aont\u00fa in the last few weeks show an increase in child trafficking in this State from ten minors in 2024 to 18 minors in 2025, an 80% increase just in the space of one year.  I know for a fact that that is just the tip of the iceberg because this country is really poor at following up on people trafficking.  One of the biggest disasters of this Government has been the use of special emergency arrangements, SEAs. The fact that this is allowed to continue is a disgrace. It is shocking that the Government is still relying on special emergency arrangements. In 2023, I raised the issue of unvetted staff in these SEAs and the Minister at the time assured me that all staff were vetted. Now, in 2026, it has been revealed that Tusla was forced to terminate contracts with multiple staff members as it was disclosed that they had been working with vulnerable children without having been vetted. That is not a clinical error or some kind of bureaucratic mess; it is a fundamental breach of child safety laws. Under the Minister's tenure, there is no accountability for it whatsoever. Tusla has referred five private providers to the Garda National Vetting Bureau because they put staff in charge of children without proper background checks. That is the Minister's fault. It is unacceptable that children are being left with individuals who have not had background checks.  Tusla has cut its monitoring visits by more than half at a time when the number of children in these locations is increasing significantly. The number of children in special emergency arrangements is going up; monitoring visits are being cut at the same time.  Recent RT\u00c9 reports have pulled back the curtains on this nightmare and have shown that children are being moved like cargo from hotels and bed and breakfast accommodation, sometimes with just a few hours' notice, and that these facilities lack proper oversight and fail to meet the State's duty of care. This has created major instability in these children's lives and made them vulnerable to danger, and the scale of this is increasing. We have reports of children living in filth, sleeping on urine-stained mattresses and being left without food in the house and, in some cases, staff who are meant to be in charge of them sleeping until 4 o'clock in the day.  There is substantial expenditure in this space. In 2024, the Department spent \u20ac270 million on special emergency arrangements. Despite that investment, there are no proper standards for these children. The number of children put in these arrangements has doubled since 2023.  One of the biggest problems I have is that when there is a crisis in housing, the Minister for housing is made responsible, and when there is a crisis in health, the Minister for Health is made responsible, but when there is a crisis in relation to the deaths of children in State care, Tusla is responsible and the Minister is not responsible at all. We have brought numerous crises to this Chamber over the past five years in relation to Tusla, and different Ministers for children have said they did not know about those situations at all.  We recently submitted parliamentary questions about a young girl of 14 who was put in a placement in Tusla and who was taken by a criminal gang and found a year later in a brothel. The Garda will not tell us whether charges have been brought, whether someone has gone to court in relation to that or whether someone has been imprisoned for it.  The Department is putting adults in children's accommodation. We had a shocking situation where Vadym Davydenko was murdered - killed - in children's accommodation by an individual who is now believed to have been an adult at the time. That is an horrendous dereliction of duty, and I believe that the Minister is not taking responsibility for it at all. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Children, Disability and Equality (Deputy Norma Foley)  I move amendment No. 1:  To delete all words after \"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann\" and substitute the following:  \"welcomes that:  \u2014 Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, operates as the single dedicated agency with a clear statutory remit;  \u2014 Tusla is held to account through robust governance and oversight arrangements;  \u2014 Tusla is served by well qualified staff who are committed to delivering essential child protection and welfare services to vulnerable members of society;  \u2014 staff in Tusla enjoy statutory independence, necessary for the performance of their duties in assessing and providing essential services to children and families;  \u2014 Tusla has initiated a significant integrated Reform Programme in 2026, which is:  \u2014 promoting equity in service availability, through more equitable Regions and Areas, consistent structures and spans of control, and transparent resource allocation;  \u2014 promoting capacity, through targeting resources where most needed, scaling capacity in line with demand, and using evidence-based data for service planning; and  \u2014 promoting quality, through more consistent, integrated, digitally enabled services, leaner business processes, multidisciplinary teams, and a focus on face-to-face time with children and families; and  \u2014 these reforms provide for the creation of a single record for each child and young person, which will support integrated working, including a more streamlined referral and allocation system for residential care, improved communications, accurate data to improve decision making on an individual level, improved resource allocation and enhanced monitoring of performance on a local regional and organisational basis;  notes that:  \u2014 Tusla has experienced a 46 per cent increase in referrals since 2021, and a 500 per cent increase in separated children seeking international protection in Ireland since 2022;  \u2014 in the almost 12 years since its establishment, Tusla's annual budget has more than doubled, going from \u20ac609 million in 2014, to over \u20ac1.3 billion for 2026;  \u2014 Tusla has seen budget increases in most years, with significant investment annually since 2020, including a 14 per cent increase in 2026;  \u2014 the increased funding for 2026 includes a capital budget allocation of \u20ac35 million, which will be directed to increasing Tusla-owned residential care settings, including special care, thereby reducing its requirement for privately operated Special Emergency Arrangements;  \u2014 investment in recent budgets has allowed Tusla to, amongst other things:  \u2014 increase supports to foster carers;  \u2014 hire additional staff including social workers;  \u2014 begin to increase capacity in residential care and special care; and  \u2014 improve Internet Technology systems;  \u2014 notwithstanding the increased demands, the good work of Tusla is evidenced by:  \u2014 the overwhelming majority of referrals to Tusla resulting in children and parents being supported in their homes;  \u2014 99 per cent of children in care are assigned to an allocated key worker;  \u2014 retention of high levels of children in care who are in foster care, as 87 per cent of all children in care are in foster care;  \u2014 the increasing number of foster parents signing up to support children;  \u2014 the Central Statistics Office finding that approximately nine in ten children who left care since April 2018, aged 18-23 years by January 2024, were in substantial employment, enrolled in school, or in Further or Higher Education for each of the years 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022;  \u2014 the staff retention rate is 95 per cent; and  \u2014 innovative solutions to recruitment challenges, including its work with the Higher Education sector in developing pathways to social work and social care work, and with CORU, in developing an apprenticeship pathway; and  \u2014 so many community and voluntary groups nationwide carry out great work, funded and overseen by Tusla's Commissioned Services team, in providing essential services to vulnerable people, and this includes Family Resource Centres, counselling services and area-based childhood programmes; and  further notes that Tusla, as an organisation of over 5,000 people, was established to have a specialist management team with a deep knowledge, experience and understanding of operational service delivery in the area of social work and social care, as opposed to the Department's more general focus on advancing policy and legislation, which extends to the important areas of Disability Services, Early Learning and Care and School Age Care and Equality.\".  I welcome the opportunity to speak about the governance of child protection and welfare. I agree with the Deputies' contention that the welfare and protection of children is among the State's most fundamental responsibilities. It is a duty that the Government takes with the utmost seriousness. I strongly welcome and endorse the recognition of the critical role performed by Tusla staff in delivering essential services, often in a very demanding environment, to the most vulnerable children and families. I wish to put on record my gratitude to the staff for their commitment and dedication to families and communities right across the country. I also acknowledge that this Private Members' motion reflects the most understandable public concerns about recent tragic cases involving children who had been in the care of Tusla or at some point were known to Tusla. I absolutely accept that it is right that there should be public concern, scrutiny and questions asked.  However, in response to the call in this motion for the dissolution of Tusla and the transfer of its responsibilities to this Department, I do not agree. Let me outline in the first instance why Tusla was established in 2014. Tusla was established following a key recommendation of the 2012 Report of the Task Force on the Child and Family Support Agency. Its creation responded directly to systemic failures identified in 29 inquiries and reviews, which produced 551 recommendations on improving State responses to child abuse and child protection. Tusla's remit was always much broader than child protection and welfare alone. On its establishment, it took on the full functions of three existing national services - HSE children and family services, the Family Support Agency and the National Educational Welfare Board - as well as certain psychological services and services responding to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence at that time. The agency was mandated to deliver a coherent, integrated and accountable system, replacing the previously fragmented model spread across many bodies. The structure was designed to strengthen governance by bringing together the previously dispersed functions into a single unified body with its own management, oversight systems and statutory duties. Tusla's establishment represented the most significant reform of child safety in the history of the State. This model ensures that child safety and welfare, family support and educational welfare functions are exercised with professional independence, free from day-to-day departmental direction, while remaining fully accountable to the Minister under statute.  Tusla is now an organisation of over 5,000 people, including over 1,700 social workers and over 1,400 social care workers. I know Deputies appreciate the complex and sensitive work Tusla staff do every single day to help children who often have no one else in their corner. I acknowledge the commitment of social workers, social care workers and all professionals who safeguard children every single day. Tusla is at the sharp end of a changing Irish society and confronts the consequences of drug and alcohol addiction, domestic violence, mental health difficulties and intergenerational poverty, to name just a few challenges.  For the information of the House, I want to put it on record that all referrals to Tusla are screened within 24 hours for risk of immediate harm. Where there is an immediate risk of harm, there is an immediate response.  Tusla operates independently of day-to-day departmental control, and that is as it should be. It allows Tusla staff to deliver consistent, regulated and evidence-informed services nationwide for child protection and child welfare.  Successive Governments have recognised the need to assign appropriate resources to Tusla. Investment in recent budgets has allowed Tusla, among other things, to increase supports to foster carers, hire additional staff, including social workers, begin to increase capacity in residential care and special care, and improve IT systems. Tusla's budget allocation in 2026 grew by 14% to \u20ac1.4 billion. This includes a capital allocation of \u20ac35 million, which will allow it to increase State-owned residential services and reduce reliance on special emergency arrangements.  Recruitment and retention challenges exist across health, education and other sectors, and indeed across many sectors in the broader economy. Consequently, these staffing challenges are not unique to child protection. However, the Government has supported Tusla in expanding graduate pathways, establishing new apprenticeship routes, investing in specialist grades and improving retention. Year-on-year increases in Tusla staffing demonstrate the impact of these measures. I recognise the solutions Tusla is deploying, including its work with the higher education sector in developing pathways to social work and social care work and with CORU in developing an apprenticeship pathway. Another important development has been the foundation of a new children's residential services training college in Tusla's headquarters in Dublin to increase the number of staff available for special care centres.  Tusla's mission is to support the safety and well-being of children, particularly those whose circumstances are complex or who need additional support. Every year, staff engage with tens of thousands of families, and the majority of those interactions are positive and successful.  I commend the work of Tusla staff evidenced by the following. The overwhelming majority of over 106,000 referrals annually to Tusla result in children and parents being supported in their homes. Decisions are made based on the best information available at any point in time and include professional assessment, always with the child's welfare and safety at the centre of decisions. Wherever possible, and where it is considered safe to do so, children are supported to remain within their family, with safety plans and wider supports in place. Some 99% of children in care are assigned an allocated key worker. A high level of children in care - 87% - are retained in foster care. An increasing number of foster parents are signing up to support children.  Last year, 223 new Tusla foster carers were approved, which is up from 211 in 2024 and is the highest number since 2020. The CSO has found that approximately 90% of children who left care since April 2018 and of all children aged 18-23 years by January 2024 were in substantial employment, enrolled in school, or in further or higher education for each of the years 2019-2022. The staff retention rate is 95% and the number of social workers and social care workers has grown from 2,830 whole-time equivalents in 2022 to 3,152 today.  I have already made reference to innovative solutions to recruitment challenges. There are now 340 social work course places across eight colleges each year and an additional 25 places from two new colleges will be in place by January next year. Tusla\u2019s workload is increasing all the time, with a 46% increase in the number of referrals received since 2021. Last year, as I said, Tusla received in excess of 106,000 referrals. In addition to this, there has been a 500% increase in separated children seeking international protection arriving in Ireland since 2022.  I also wish to recognise the work of the community and voluntary sector, which plays a central role for Tusla in delivering early intervention, prevention and family support services at local level. Last year, Tusla provided approximately \u20ac231 million in funding to community, voluntary and charitable organisations delivering services for children and families on the ground on behalf of Tusla. These services include youth work programmes, counselling supports, parenting programmes, community-based family supports and family resource centres. As the House is aware, I have increased the number of family resource centres across the country by 15, to 136. Community, voluntary and charitable organisations delivering services for children and families with Tusla funding provide accessible supports that assist families on the ground.  I want to assure Deputies that Tusla is held to account through robust governance and oversight arrangements. There are no blurred lines of accountability. While Tusla staff, quite correctly, have statutory independence necessary for the performance of their duties in assessing and providing essential services to children and families, Tusla\u2019s actions as described in its annual business plan must align with the goals and priorities set for it in the annual performance statement. Tusla\u2019s finances are closely monitored so that the Department is assured that Tusla is spending its budget only as approved at budget 2026. Tusla is subject to internal controls overseen by the audit and risk committee. It is audited annually by the Comptroller and Auditor General. Tusla has established policies, procedures and guidelines across all functions and service delivery areas. This suite of policies and procedures is the fundamental basis for good governance and control, and there is an onus on the Tusla board and subcommittees of the board to regularly review and update these as required.  As Deputies are aware, a new chair, Ms Madeleine Clarke, has been appointed to Tusla. I have met with Ms Clarke and will continue to have regular engagement with her and the board to advance the work of Tusla. I also regularly engage with Ms Kate Duggan, the CEO of Tusla, to discuss matters of concern in Tusla\u2019s ongoing reform programme. Tusla is accountable to the Oireachtas, particularly through the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Children and Equality and the Committee of Public Accounts.  Tusla\u2019s work is also subject to external review by bodies including HIQA, the Ombudsman for Children, the Office of the Ombudsman, the Health and Safety Authority, the Comptroller and Auditor General and the national review panel. One of these oversight bodies, HIQA, in its most recent annual review of Tusla from 2024 stated, \"children living in statutory residential care, foster care, special care and detention were receiving good quality safe care.\"  I note that there are concerns expressed in the motion about Tusla\u2019s engagement with elected representatives. I recognise the importance of keeping elected representatives informed and, indeed, Tusla is aware of that. Tusla is also conscious, as the Deputies will appreciate, of the importance of GDPR.  Time is running against me but I want to also draw attention to the manner in which a significant programme of reform has been recently implemented in Tusla, which is a key part of its response to addressing any of the pressures it faces. Tusla's integrated reform programme has been in place since January 2026 and aims to promote equity in service availability, promote capacity and promote equality. I know the Deputies have been briefed on this reform measure.  Regarding the response to high-profile tragic cases, I would like to address the steps we are taking with Tusla and others. Deputies will be aware that the national review panel carries out independent reviews of deaths of, and serious incidents involving, children in the care of Tusla. The Government is already progressing major legislative reform through the Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2025, which will strengthen co-operation across State agencies, enhance the statutory framework and place the national review panel on a statutory footing. These reforms will address many of the issues raised in this motion without risking disruption to front-line services.  I acknowledge the concerns motivating this motion but the Government cannot support the proposal to dissolve Tusla. It is an organisation of more than 5,000 people dedicated to the welfare and protection of children. The Government remains firmly committed to building a child protection system that is safe, robust, transparent and centred at all times on the best interests of the child. For that reason, I ask the House to support the Government's amendment to the motion, tabled to reflect this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  I am asking my colleagues in government and in opposition to support this Independent Ireland motion for one very simple reason. When it comes to protecting children, there can be no confusion about who is responsible and right now there is too much confusion. When something goes wrong in child protection in this country, what happens? The Department points to Tusla and Tusla points to the procedures and the Minister points to the fact that they do not deal with operational matters. The families are left standing there, waiting for help, for answers and for someone - anyone - to take responsibility. That is not good enough. This is not about the front-line staff, the social workers or the people on the ground. They are doing their level best. They are stretched and under pressure and many of them are carrying far more than they should have to. The system they are working in is where the problem lies.  I see it every week in west Cork. Families come in the door at their wits' end. Referrals are made and nothing happens. Calls are made and no clear answers are obtained. The situation is getting worse while the system moves at its own pace. When we, as public representatives, try to intervene, we hit a wall and are told it is a matter for Tusla and that is the end of it. What good is that to a child who needs help today, not six months down the line? Without going into details, I had one case where a family waited and waited for engagement. They told me they did not know who to turn to any more. We recently encountered another case involving prolonged and serious sexual abuse for many years within a family home. This raises fundamental questions about Tusla's response. Where was the agency during this period? Why was action not taken? How were some of the most vulnerable individuals in our society left unprotected for so long? I had another recent case which involved a 14-year-old girl who was being groomed online by a man in his 40s. The child's mother sought assistance from Tusla and the girl was subsequently taken into care. However, the foster placement lacked adequate supervision, allowing the young girl to continue communicating with the perpetrator via her mobile phone. This was an extremely dangerous situation that should not have been allowed to occur under State care.  I have another case where the mother was accused of inappropriate behaviour involving one of her own children. The children were removed from her care. The social worker involved is a neighbour of the children's father, giving rise to concerns of a potential conflict of interest. There are indications that proper procedures may not have been followed by either the social worker or Tusla. The mother was interviewed by An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and a file has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions. However, it now appears unlikely that any charges will be brought. The social worker involved and three additional Tusla staff members have been reported to CORU and are currently under investigation. In this particular case, it would appear that Tusla may have acted with undue haste in reaching a conclusion before all appropriate assessments and safeguards were in place.  Then we look at the structures of the system. Hundreds of organisations are funded, layers upon layers, different streams, different processes and different lines of communication. Do not get me wrong, there is good work being done, but the system itself is too scattered, complicated and hard to follow. When something is too complicated, accountability gets lost and people fall through the cracks. Our motion is not about tearing anything down overnight. It is about asking a fair question, namely, is this structure working as it should? If it is not, are we willing to do something about it? Let us be honest, if everything was working perfectly, families would not be coming to us in distress. They would not be chasing responses. They would not feel that they are being passed around from one place to another, but they are and we all know it. What our motion is proposing is the common-sense approach of having an independent look at the system, laying out the options clearly and, if change is needed, doing it properly, carefully and in a way that protects services. That is not radical; it is responsible.  If there is even a chance that changing the structure could speed things up, make accountability clear and deliver better outcomes for children, we have a duty to look at it seriously and not dismiss it, delay it or kick it down the road again. I urge all Deputies to support Independent Ireland's motion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Claire Kerrane  I thank Independent Ireland for bringing forward this motion. It is always important to take opportunities to discuss issues of child welfare and child protection and to ensure that all the regulations relating to those responsible for ensuring children in our State are safe, looked after and cared for adequately and properly are upheld. There are a number of issues I want to speak to in addressing this motion. The first is the allocation of social workers. For a long time now, there has been consistent criticism from judges in case after case where children are not allocated a social worker. With the reforms now under way, social care workers have come to me to tell me they are concerned they are going to be given roles and cases that should be given to social workers. It appears that, because we have such a serious shortage of social workers, an attempt is now being made to allocate children to other professionals who are not social workers to deal with that shortage, which has been an issue for some time now. In a recent response to me, Tusla said that all children and young people will continue to be overseen by social work management. I am concerned as to what \"overseen\" means. We obviously have a serious shortage of social workers. The idea that social workers would have some oversight responsibility within Tusla is concerning when we do not have enough of them on the ground in the first place.  In saying this, I do not mean to diminish social care workers or the other professionals in the sector but social care workers are concerned they are going to be given cases that should be given to a social worker and that they are not qualified to deal with. They have raised that very issue and it needs to be looked at. We need to look at the reforms Tusla is moving ahead with to ensure they are going to make the existing service better. It needs to be better. It is not acceptable for children to be allocated to those in other professional grades rather than to social workers. If that is the plan, it cannot proceed.  When I was looking at the number of children who are waiting to be allocated a social worker and the number of children allocated to other professional grades instead, I was reminded of the HIQA report into Tusla in the Dublin north city service area that was published last year. I have read a number of the report's findings into the record on a number of occasions. HIQA found poor governance and oversight at all management levels and that governance systems risks identified during an earlier inspection had not been addressed when inspectors came back for a second inspection. We have to remember the impact of not allocating social workers in a timely manner. I will again cite an example I have cited here a number of times. One of the implications, as identified in that HIQA inspection report, is that a child with a disability, who is non-verbal, was left awaiting the completion of a preliminary inquiry and safety planning for over two months. The worst finding of the report HIQA published is that, in the questionnaire the service itself returned ahead of that second inspection, it said it was compliant in almost every area. When the second inspection was carried out, it was found the service was compliant in very few areas but had misled HIQA in that questionnaire. There were really serious findings in that report. If we are now looking at a mechanism where people do not need to be qualified social workers when we already have serious issues with oversight and governance, that mechanism needs to be looked at again.  There has recently been an issue with therapies for children, particularly play therapy, in the east and south east of the State. Tusla attempted to pull vital therapies for children in Carlow, Kilkenny and south Tipperary. These were due to be withdrawn at the end of this month. Foster carers in those counties put up a fight and a temporary resolution has been found. A similar issue is ongoing in Waterford. The idea that vital therapies would be taken away from children in care, particularly those in the care of foster carers who rely on those therapies and supports for the children in their care, is just incredible in this day and age. We need to see a similar resolution for Waterford so they do not have to battle like those in Carlow, Kilkenny and south Tipperary had to.  I will move onto the special emergency arrangements. In this State in 2026, there should not be a single child in an unregulated and uninspected setting of any shape or form. It should not happen. The reason it is happening is that we have not built capacity in residential care and special care in the State. I note the Minister's amendment to this motion states that Tusla is beginning to build capacity. That needs to be ramped up as quickly as possible. We cannot have children in unregulated and uninspected settings. It is happening all of the time and Tusla appears to be more and more reliant on it. As was referred to earlier, Tusla has referred five providers to the Garda National Vetting Bureau with regard to concerns over Garda vetting. The idea that Garda vetting is not even checked in these settings as a basic requirement is really concerning.  We need to see a ramping up of investment. That is where the frustration grows. It is sometimes too easy to blame Tusla and to point the finger at it. The Department and the Minister need to step up for children in care an awful lot more. Children who are in the care of the State are all of our responsibility. Everybody plays a role in child protection and child welfare, from childcare settings to our schools and the workplace. It is not just Tusla. We all have a responsibility. The Department and the Minister need to step up, particularly when it comes to residential places, capacity and special care.  I have raised the issue of special care with the Minister many times. Of 26 beds, 15 are open today. There has been an ongoing and consistent issue with staffing special care beds. It is a challenging environment. Of that, there is no doubt. However, judges are concerned and are telling young people they have to go to special care but there are no beds for them. In some cases, there are threats to these children's lives but we have no bed for them although we have a number of idle beds in the State. It is not acceptable. We must get those beds staffed and open by whatever means necessary.  The Minister's amendment makes the point that the number of foster parents is increasing. I have raised issues regarding foster carers and parents with her many times. Based on the Tusla figures I have, the numbers are falling. The Minister referred to 223 new foster carers coming in during 2025 but she did not mention that 250 ceased fostering that same year. Of course, foster carers cease fostering for a number of reasons but the number of foster carers is falling. In 2024, we had 3,809. Last year, we had 3,782. In every year since 2019, the number has fallen. In 2019, we had 4,130. We have more demand and more need and yet the number of foster carers is falling at a time when we need more of them. The single best place, setting or environment for a child who is in the care of the State is with a foster family. It is the place where they will be shown care and unconditional love, perhaps for the first time in their lives. We need to do an awful lot more to support our foster carers. I will again note that they get no State pension after decades of providing that level of care. Some have supported hundreds of children but, when they get to pension age, they have no State pension. It is unacceptable and we need to move on it as quickly as possible.  We need to do a lot more in those three areas of special care, residential care and foster carers. There is now an onus on the Minister and her Department to step up and be more hands-on and involved in supporting children who are in the care of the State. They are the responsibility of all of us, of the Government and of the State. We need to do an awful lot more to support them. We cannot constantly point the finger and blame Tusla. We have an entire Department and it needs to do an awful lot more to support some of the most vulnerable children in our State. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  Cuirim f\u00e1ilte roimh an deis labhairt ar an r\u00fan seo. T\u00e1 saincheisteanna maidir le Tusla ardaithe agam sa D\u00e1il ar\u00eds agus ar\u00eds eile. N\u00edl s\u00e9 sin ceart go leor. I commend Independent Ireland on bringing this motion to the D\u00e1il. I welcome this opportunity as I have raised issues with regard to Tusla on numerous occasions both here in the D\u00e1il and in the justice committee. It is clear that there are major problems. Children who need the care and protection of the State deserve the highest standards from the State but those standards are not always met. We also need to do much better in supporting young people who are leaving the care of the State. Too many children have gone missing and too many children have died.  Last November, thejournal.ie reported that children in Tusla-run homes were reported missing on nearly 7,000 occasions from January 2020 to September 2025. When vulnerable children go missing, they are at severe risk of being exploited or harmed. Unfortunately, there have been high-profile cases of children who have been harmed after they have gone missing.  There are major issues in Tusla in relation to staff shortages, over-stretched staff and high staff numbers. Too many vulnerable children have been left without a social worker. This problem is particularly acute in certain regions. Orders for the care of children have been not complied with on all occasions and senior management in Tusla who were aware of these issues failed to take appropriate action. There have been failures to inform the courts that children in care were not allocated a social worker. There have been multiple failures within the agency at all levels and we have a Department that washes its hands. There is long-standing shortage of social workers which is the result of Government failures and a lack planning. HIQA reviews have identified systemic governance issues, including inconsistent practice and delays in service delivery. There have been repeated findings of inadequate oversight and delayed assessments. There have been significant failures when it comes to communication with those whom Tusla interacts with.  Tusla\u2019s job is to protect the most vulnerable children in the State, to look after their welfare, to respond to concerns and to provide care services. That organisation, therefore, has to be held to the highest standards. There are lots of questions and we have heard lots of very concerning stories, both during this debate and over a long period of time. That is why concerns about Tusla and its capacity have been to the fore in our consideration of the International Protection Bill, which the Government is currently rushing through the Oireachtas. In the pre-legislative scrutiny report on the Bill, there was a warning that Tusla lacked the staffing, resources and operational capacity to meet what are going to be expanded statutory duties in respect of unaccompanied minors. The Bill is going to increase Tusla\u2019s workload at a time when we know that organisation is under-resourced, overstretched and unable to meet its statutory duties for vulnerable children, including unaccompanied minors. On Committee Stage of the Bill a couple of weeks ago, I tabled a number of amendments to ensure Tusla will have the capacity, resources and staffing for the additional workload, as well as an amendment to end the use of unregulated special emergency arrangements. The Bill is not being progressed by the Minister\u2019s Department, but will she give an indication in her closing remarks about whether it has inputted into this legislation? Given all the failings we have been speaking about, to add additional workload and responsibility onto Tusla at this time is dangerous.  There have been significant issues with young people going missing from Tusla care. The majority of those who have gone missing have been unaccompanied minors in the international protection system. More than 1,100 children in Tusla's care were placed in what are called unregulated special emergency arrangements, SEAs, with no HIQA oversight whatsoever. This included the SEA facility where Vadym Davydenko was tragically killed. Last month in Dublin District Court, Judge Conor Fottrell severely criticised profiteering by private operators providing these unregulated placements for the most vulnerable children. He described it as wrong and shameful, and he was absolutely right in that. Notably, it was not the first time that Judge Fottrell or other judges spoke out about the failures of Tusla. It has been reported that Tusla stopped using eight private companies because they did not meet the required standards, and it referred five private operators to the Garda National Vetting Bureau. We know that a large proportion of those housed in special emergency arrangements are separated children seeking international protection and that is specifically why we raised these issues with the Minister, Deputy O\u2019Callaghan, during the debate on international protection. His response was wholly unacceptable, and he is now rushing through legislation and ignoring the reality that State bodies, particularly Tusla, are at breaking point and are not equipped to cope with the additional workloads.  These are issues that the Minister, Deputy Foley, has a responsibility to manage as well. One Department is burdening an agency under the control of her Department with significant additional responsibilities. She has a responsibility to inform this House whether she is satisfied that Tusla and her Department will be able to deal with the additional responsibilities that are coming their way. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  Many people have been focused on Tusla recently because, unfortunately, we have had a slew of tragic cases. I am talking about Kyran Durnin, Vadym Davydenko, Daniel Aruebose and Ois\u00edn Reddin. We also cannot forget the case of the ten-year-old who had been in Tusla's care and the heinous attack on her. The Child Law Project went through a number of other cases that are harrowing.  I agree with Deputy Kerrane that it is far too easy to get up in this House and slam Tusla. However, when we had Tusla in front of the children's committee, its representatives were quite specific about the fact that it is understaffed. Given the complexity of the issues that Tusla has to deal with these days, it is set up for failure if it is understaffed. This is not the first time that Deputy Kerrane and I, as well as Deputy Carthy in relation to international protection issues in particular, have raised these issues.  We are talking about social workers. At the last count, there were 1,728 employed and the number rises to 1,754 with agency staff. Senior Tusla staff told us that number is 300 short of the complement required to deliver what is needed. There are 1,422 social care workers, but that is at least 100 too few.  We are also talking about foster carers. My heart goes out to them. Any time I have engaged with those dealing with foster care on a long-term basis or an emergency set-up, I have been completely blown away. We need to commend them and give them any help that we can. There are issues that can be resolved, whether it is the pension issue or other specific issues that impact on how they carry out their day-to-day operations. In 2025, there were 3,782 foster carers. This was down significantly from 2019, when there were 4,130. I was told in a private conversation after that committee meeting that we are short at least 500 foster carers. That tells us straight out that we have a system that has an insufficient number of staff to deliver on the issues that are out there.  While I welcome the fact that there is a new operational model and a different way of triaging and trying to introduce social care workers and social workers where needed, we have heard of multiple cases where a social worker was needed by some of most vulnerable in society but was not available for them.  We also know that not only does Tusla deal with some complex and difficult circumstances, it also has a remit in relation to early interventions. We have not seen the State take this sufficiently seriously in relation to those supports that are needed by families and communities. Many of them have been failed. We are, in particular, talking about the supports needed in areas of high deprivation, where there are families who have had to deal with trauma, poverty, addiction and, at times, the failure of mental health services. It is being left too late because we do not have a system that has the capacity to enter. The circumstances and situation are allowed to get too bad. That is not to take away from the work Tusla staff do. I have interacted with many of those working with Tusla in recent times and they are doing fabulous work while under pressure. I have not seen that this organisation has the capacity to deal with the need that is out there.  We talk about special emergency arrangements being unregulated. That says it all. We have created a system that does not have the capacity to look after those whom we need to look after.  I welcome some of the work around apprenticeships and such. They are an absolute necessity. However, we need to make sure we have enough social workers, social care workers and foster carers. Alongside that, we also need to make sure we have a system that can meet families where they are at and that we then have the capacity to deal with those complex needs.  At this point, it is failure. We need to see real improvement because we are talking about some of the most vulnerable in our society. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Wall  I will start by thanking Independent Ireland for bringing forward this important motion. It is very important that we talk in this Chamber about Tusla as often as we can. I have concerns around the motion as moved tonight, particularly around those services that, as contributors have said, are working well, those who are working well within the system and what would happened to them if we had to disband Tusla. Having said all that, there is no doubt that we need to see reform. We know that. That is why we are welcoming this discussion and the fact that Independent Ireland has brought forward this motion tonight. Much deeper reforms are needed within that organisation. Equally, we want to see the Minister for children become much more hands-on with the issue of child protection, as has been mentioned by other contributors tonight.  In terms of reform, Tusla has initiated the integrated reform programme. This has not been done entirely with staff, and it has been the case that staff have been dragged along with this reform. This has led to a number of issues within the organisation. I believe a number of safeguarding concerns will be found to have resulted from this reform. I ask the Minister to engage with the Irish Association of Social Workers on these concerns. It has been highlighted to me that the Department of Children, Disability and Equality has recently changed the chief social worker within the Department to a principal officer. This was, as I understand it, already a position seconded from Tusla. I find both of these decisions concerning. First, the chief social worker is a key position in terms of policy advice for the Minister. They have practical knowledge and experience of child protection that cannot be replaced. Second, having someone seconded from Tusla removes the independence needed by social workers on the ground who have to raise their concerns. Having a colleague in this role seems to undermine that independence. The Minister of State will hopefully clarify that issue for the social workers in her reply.  Over the last number of months, I have been raising the issue of special emergency arrangements and the serious safeguarding risks these pose to vulnerable children, as colleagues have mentioned. Tusla has handed out close to \u20ac240 million to 93 unregulated providers of SEAs. This includes one company that has been paid over \u20ac41 million. Will the Minister of State outline to the House why the Department and Tusla deem it acceptable to pay these clearly unqualified companies, like hotels, taxi companies and even the likes of Harvey Norman and the Irish School of Motoring, to provide care to vulnerable young people? What is the tendering process for special emergency arrangements? Is there any governance of these facilities? Are there ongoing inspections? How are they staffed? Are they staffed by trained social care workers? Have any safeguarding or child protection concerns been raised with Tusla? The Minister of State must use her time tonight to address the serious concerns that have been raised in this debate.  The ombudsman has also raised concerns about these providers, stating that they do not meet the needs of children. The Minister of State will be well aware of reporting in thejournal.ie that young people are now facing criminal charges due to the damage in these facilities. The criminalisation of these young people is only going to further traumatise them. Fixing windows or doors should not be the primary concern of any provider of care. It must always be the immediate care of the young person concerned. We are told that these are only temporary arrangements, yet further reporting has shown that one young person spent close to three and a half years in these settings. Young people in care need stability. They need a safe place. Having a child spend three and a half years in a hotel, bed and breakfast or other temporary arrangement is a wasted childhood.  Special emergency arrangements are a symptom of the chronic problems facing a number of our public services, including Tusla, namely, the privatisation and outsourcing of care, the lack of workforce planning and the ongoing housing and cost-of-living crisis, all of which we should be talking about as part of this debate. The SEAs highlight the increasing and ongoing privatisation of the caring sector. Tusla and the HSE are spending millions of euro on more expensive agency workers when it would be cheaper to recruit public workers. The money handed out to SEA providers could have been used to set up nearly 150 new residential centres, accommodating nearly 600 young people. That is where this money should be spent.  We need to have a clearer workforce plan with targets to tackle to the lack of recruitment of social workers and social care workers in the public sector. This coincides with the expansion of public mainstream residential facilities for children. This recruitment challenge facing the sector is compounded by the ongoing failure of the Government to get to grips with the housing emergency in this country as well as the rising cost of living. Young people are now being left with little choice but to emigrate elsewhere for a better standard of living and to save for a mortgage. We now have a serious brain drain in this country across key and essential areas like social work and therapies such as occupational therapy and speech and language therapy.  I also raise the decision to end the service-level agreement, SLA, for a specialist play therapy service in the Waterford-Wexford region. It was brought to my attention by a number of colleagues and foster carers in that area. The information was contained in a recent communication for Tusla's regional chief officer for the south east. Those involved tell me that, despite appearances, Tusla has not turned around its initial decision to end the SLA with St. Brigid's, thereby severely disrupting play therapies that are badly needed in the Waterford-Wexford region. However, it has changed the decision in Carlow-Kilkenny, delaying the ending of the SLAs, an issue I have raised previously with the Minister. The changes sound good. A hub is to be offered, staffed and ready in the future, but the question remains as to what happens to the foster children in the meantime, particularly those using the current service in the south east? I ask the Minister of State to talk to Tusla about these proposed changes.  I also raise the idea of foster carers in general, supporting the calls here tonight of a State pension for all our foster carers, who go above and beyond day in, day out in helping this State on the great work they do. They are, without a doubt, in need of such a State pension and must be supported in their calls. I ask that the Minister of State take that on board.  These are just some of the serious failures of the Government regarding child protection and supports in this country. We must address them urgently if we are to ensure the long-term future of young people and workers in this country. It is important that we are having this debate tonight and that we get urgent answers to the questions that many of us have raised in the Chamber. It is very important that Independent Ireland introduced this motion, and I look forward to the replies of the Minister of State to the many queries and concerns that Members have raised. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aidan Farrelly  I acknowledge the work done by Deputy O'Flynn and the rest of Independent Ireland and thank them for introducing this motion. Ultimately, the Minister of State might have seen from some of the debate beforehand that there seems to be consensus about some things in this motion and a difference of opinion on others. A consensus has been reached when it comes to the acumen, personal qualities and professional attributes of those working in Tusla. We are very lucky as a state that the calibre of social worker and social care worker that we have at our disposal to work with children and young people throughout this country is not under question. That is why my analysis differs a little from the Deputies who proposed this motion, in that I do not really see the problem being the fault of Tusla at all. I actually think many of the structural problems faced in the service are down to a lack of investment and priority by successive Governments. Successive Governments have a history of not prioritising the rights of children and child protection issues, and how that manifests itself is us standing up in the Chamber or people getting outraged at the level of care they perceive are received from organisations such as Tusla when actually the problem is resourcing, beds and staff.  That is where the Government, Minister and Department need to show a bit of urgency in responding. We cannot have a situation where a number of social workers have written to the CEO of Tusla to say the reform programme is not working yet, in her reply today, the Minister really championed the reform programme as an important part of Tusla\u2019s development. There is a problem there. There is a breakdown in communication. We need an independent review of how the rollout of the programme of reform in Tusla has happened. To see 1,100 children in unregulated Tusla care is not okay. If nothing else was achieved by this motion, a firm commitment by the Government that it will put an end to SEAs within the lifetime of this Government would be something. It is doable and would be in the best interest of every child in this State.  I am a professionally qualified social care worker. I did it for my undergraduate degree and I worked in social care settings for many years before I landed in youth work. We cannot have a situation where we have people who are not vetted but, equally, who are not trained to do what is often very nuanced, delicate, trauma-informed work. It is unacceptable in this day and age when we pride ourselves on holding care of the highest standards. It beggars belief that it is something Tusla or the Government would not only allow exist but to actually grow. It is just not okay.  The Judiciary has highlighted many concerns about the rights of children and young people. One judge went as far as to say in recent weeks that the State is leaving itself open to serious claims of compensation in coming decades because of the blatant abandonment of the rights and services for children in State care. There are a number of different angles to take to approach this issue and a number of different Departments that might take responsibility but fundamentally it is the role of the Minister for children and disability to take this very seriously.  The motion is very timely. I acknowledge the sincerity with which it was tabled today. We need to act with urgency. Having spoken to many social workers on the ground and many families, and having worked in communities in youth work or community work settings like many others here have over generations, it is not getting better. It is a race to the bottom when it comes to this and it goes back to resourcing.  The big issue with regard to social care work and social work is they are both occupations and professions that people want to be involved in, yet year after year, when the CAO offers come out, we see that not enough people can matriculate. People cannot get themselves through school and into college. The points might be too high or the number of places too small. We need to be ambitious in trying to train up social care workers and social workers to meet an increasing demand for those services. We need to see schools across the country increase their capacity to make sure we can roll out enough social care workers and social workers to meet those needs.  The response from the Minister highlighted there is much to be celebrated about Tusla. I agree but there are some ongoing concerns. Regarding the well-being checks the Minister initiated in 2025, I have to raise the issue of the significant number of young people who will be outside the scope of that review. We have made a request that those young people be part of that review. I ask the Minister of State to take that back and see what way we can achieve this legislatively to ensure that anyone aged 12 or 13 at the time of Covid and had their case closed is brought into scope quickly. Similarly, the Minister championed the idea that the national review panel would be put on a statutory footing as part of the Child Care (Amendment) Bill. Just today, the committee decided we were not ready to bring this Bill through Committee Stage yet because the Attorney General has not been in a position to bring the amendment forward regarding the national review panel. We need to see this work happening with urgency. I am not putting responsibility for this on the Minister of State whatever but the Government overall cannot afford to delay. It cannot afford to sit back and hope that the situation will improve when what we know is that the needs of young people and children are only becoming more dynamic, more diverse and more challenging. It is incumbent on the State to be responsive to those needs.  I again commend Deputy O\u2019Flynn. I take issue with the idea of commissioning a feasibility study that examines getting rid of Tusla. We have all been very critical of the Government and cannot then propose giving direct responsibility to same. There is a problem there. Without a credible alternative, the motion is hard to support because ultimately what will we end up without really understanding the problem is Tusla 2. I firmly believe in the staff and that the potential is there but we need to make sure the resourcing matches that potential. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  Bh\u00ed m\u00e9 ag \u00e9isteacht leis na Teachta\u00ed go l\u00e9ir agus bh\u00ed m\u00e9 ag scr\u00edobh agus iad ag caint. Aonta\u00edm le go leor de na ruda\u00ed at\u00e1 r\u00e1ite agus leis an m\u00e9id a d\u00fairt an Teachta Farrelly faoi Tusla agus an obair ar fad at\u00e1 d\u00e9anta ann. We have done all the work in that sense and completely demolishing it would be counterproductive. I commend Deputy O\u2019Flynn. The motion goes to the heart of the most serious responsibilities the State has and that we all have as public representatives, which is the protection of children. The motion is not coming out of nowhere. Across the House, even in my own constituency, we have heard the continuous warnings and about the years of pressure on the system, with reports and families that I represent feeling unheard. I will refer later to a particular incident. It is real and I feel it in the areas I represent. People have reached out to my office ahead of the debate. They have been trying to get answers and to navigate a system which they feel is stretched and difficult to get answers from.  I commend the Minister of State on her work on this. Over her entire career she has definitely been on the right side.  I read replies to parliamentary questions prior to the debate and saw that Tusla received thousands of child-protection referrals. There were 22,000 open cases of which over one quarter waiting to be allocated. They are real children and families we all represent just waiting.  Children do not need more bureaucracy or motions but implementation on the ground. The motion is pushing for that. When the system cannot respond in time, the consequences are serious. Multiple people have contacted my office. I was trying to contact one in particular but I do not have their permission so I will not mention their name. Their confidence was shaken when they went back to re-examine the case. It shows reform is needed.  What I really want is delivery. Who is accountable? Who can be challenged? Who can act quickly enough when a child is at risk?  I want to raise a specific case I have raised in this House three times. I would love for the Minister of State to take it on board. It relates to Tusla but it also relates to children, the State and the past as well. If something was not working in the past and has not been changed or explained we need to reform it. We need to reform it. We need stronger accountability and greater oversight. Reports are not worth anything if no one is going to implement them. If we are serious about solving this, we need to focus on what will make a difference. I have raised in the House a matter brought to me by a constituent, Mick Finnegan who has seen this through his work in relation to St. John Ambulance and how safeguarding concerns persist without an independent verification. It is not acceptable that children and young adults who were abused by members of St. John Ambulance are still waiting for answers.  I would love the Minister to look into the case of Mick Finnegan and St. John Ambulance. This is the fourth time I have raised this matter in the House. I have followed up with the Department and it feels like it is not moving at a pace that is quick enough for the survivors. This is not political point scoring and I know the Minister of State will definitely chase this up. I am representing people in my constituency who want answers for what happened to them when they were young. I would love to see accountability and answers from St. John Ambulance for the people that I represent. They do not want this pushed back or kicked down the road. They want accountability for when the system failed and they want the people who abused the system to be punished rightfully. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marian Harkin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Deputy Marian Harkin)  I will conclude by again acknowledging the seriousness of the issues raised in this motion and the genuine concerns that motivate it. I have not heard all of the contributions but those that I have heard have been considered and informed. A number of issues were raised and I promise that those I have heard will be brought to the attention of the Minister. I cannot be sure of responses but I can guarantee that I will bring them to her attention.  All of us agree here this evening that every child who comes to the attention of the State deserves safety, support and a system that responds effectively when they are at risk. That is the standard we must set and it is the standard this Government is committed to achieving. I reiterate the comments of the Minister, Deputy Foley, in expressing my deep appreciation for the more than 5,000 staff in Tusla who work every day with children and families in the most challenging circumstances. Their work is critical, often complex, not without risk and always carried out with professionalism and care. As the Minister has outlined, the proposal to dissolve Tusla and subsume its functions into the Department is neither prudent nor supported by the evidence. Tusla was created following decades of inquiries that called for a unified, accountable, professional, independent child protection agency. That model, carefully designed and grounded in statutory governance, remains the right one.  It is important to say that Tusla today is undertaking a major programme of reform, improving governance, strengthening data systems, enhancing service access and building multidisciplinary teams. Its work is monitored robustly by the Department, by independent oversight bodies and by the Oireachtas. The Government continues to invest significantly, with increased funding, expanded recruitment pathways and strengthened supports for foster carers and residential care. The challenges are real. Demand is rising, risks are evolving, and recent tragic cases underscore the need for continual vigilance and improvement. That is why we are progressing legislative reform, advancing the well-being review, strengthening inter agency co-operation and placing the national review panel on a statutory footing. Dismantling the agency designed to address the very fragmentation highlighted in past inquiries would only set us back and it is fair to say that a number of colleagues recognised that during today's debate.  It must be acknowledged that Tusla has experienced a 46% increase in referrals since 2021 and a 500% increase in separated children seeking international protection in Ireland since 2022. In the almost 12 years since its establishment, Tusla's annual budget has more than doubled from \u20ac609 million in 2014 to over \u20ac1.3 billion in 2026. This shows that the Government is prepared to invest and, indeed, is investing. Tusla has seen budget increases in most years, with significant investment annually since 2020, including a 14% increase in 2026. The Government is committed to providing these resources and investment in recent budgets has allowed Tusla, among other things, to increase supports for foster carers, to hire additional staff, including social workers, to begin to increase capacity in residential and special care, and to improve its information technology systems.  Notwithstanding the increased demands, the good work of Tusla is evidenced by the fact that the overwhelming majority of referrals to Tusla result in children and parents being supported in their own homes. No less than 99% of children in care are assigned to an allocated key worker and high levels of children in care are in foster care. In fact, 87% of all children in care are in foster care in Ireland and we have increased the number of foster parents signing up to support children. The CSO has found that approximately nine out of every ten children who left care since April 2018, aged between 18 and 23 by January 2024, were either in substantial employment, enrolled in a school or in further or higher education for each of 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022. That is quite a significant statistic. The staff retention rate in Tusla is 95% and innovative solutions to recruitment challenges are being found. Work is under way in the higher education sector to develop pathways to social work and social care work with CORU using an apprenticeship model. That shows real ambition in training social care workers and is something I am trying to progress further. The great work of many community and voluntary groups nationwide, funded and overseen by Tusla's commissioned services team, in providing essential services to vulnerable people must be recognised. These include family resource centres, counselling services and area-based childhood programmes.  Having listened to some of the debate, it is clear that while there is not full agreement across the Opposition on what needs to be done, there is full agreement that we need to have the debate and to seek answers. The Government's responsibility is to strengthen the system we have, not replace it with a model already shown to be inadequate, and to allow Tusla to further improve and evolve, learning from the past. The Government remains firmly committed to a child protection and welfare system that is safe, transparent, robust, and centred at all times on the best interests of the child. For these reasons, the Government cannot support the motion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  I thank the Minister of State for her reply. I am rather disappointed that the senior Minister did not stay in the room for the rest of the debate but left early. I am also disappointed that we had no speakers from Fianna F\u00e1il or Fine Gael in the House. One would think that children's safety would be the most important thing on the mind of any elected representative. I thank colleagues from Sinn F\u00e9in for their support. I am also grateful for the support that came from the Labour Party and the Social Democrats, although we may have different thoughts on some aspects.  I would suggest that if people did have problems with our motion or disagreed with it, they had the opportunity to put down amendments. I do not see any amendments coming from the Social Democrats at this particular time.  The Minister of State spoke about statistics and gave some lovely figures. I know she admitted that she was not here for the whole debate but as the senior Minister seems to have wandered back to Plato's cave, I want to add these statistics to the debate. Over 4,000 children are waiting for social workers, with ongoing criticism from the courts. In 2025, one judge describing it as appalling and shocking that 250 children were not allocated social workers Tusla having been ordered to do so by the courts. Other issues include unvetted care workers in services in 2024. Whistleblowers have claimed that unvetted staff are working in private firms. We have the failure to provide care places from 2023 to 2025. Repeated criticism from the High Court and the Supreme Court has been levelled at Tusla. The Department of Children, Disablity and Equality accused Tusla of insufficient responses leading to a crisis. There have been high-profile cases involving missing children and scandals in 2025 and 2026. I will not mention names because I do not think it is right to mention the children's names but over \u20ac3 million in reviews has been spent in 42,000 cases. That seems absolutely astonishing to me. We have children dying who have been under the care of or highlighted to Tusla. A total of 235 children known to Tusla have died. Let us think about that - 235 children known to Tusla have died and the Government is still saying that Tusla is fit for purpose, there is nothing wrong, look the other way, it is grand, it is fine, there is no problem here lads.  As I said, the Minister and this Government have to be living in Plato's cave. They are using Tusla as a scapegoat because they do not want to take on the responsibility themselves. They do not want to put up their hands and say, \"Yes, we're taking on the responsibility. There's a Minister in charge.\" The Minister says she is in charge but any time you write to a Minister about a problem with Tusla, he or she will redirect you right to the chairperson. Any time you speak to the Department of Justice, Migration and Home Affairs about An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, you are told, \"Write to the Commissioner, nothing to do with us, nothing to see here.\" What is the Government actually in charge of anymore? It has outsourced the problems because Ministers want to hang on to their seats, do not want to be criticised and want to be able to come into this House when a national scandal breaks and something in this country goes wrong and be able to say, \"Nothing to do with the Government; that's an agency outside the Government's remit.\" When they want to hang their heads in shame, say lessons must be learned and wring their hands in here, they will do that no problem.  A number of weeks ago, adults who were children of industrial schools were in this House and what do we do? We had to issue an apology. The Government is very good at issuing apologies but instead of trying to look good, why do we not do something good? Why not be honest with ourselves and with the public? I have listened to people in this House. The fact that no Fianna F\u00e1il or Fine Gael person was here might be because they are not getting calls any more from their constituents. Maybe they just do not know what is going on in the country any more. Maybe they are so lost in the bubble that is Leinster House that they do not realise that people are picking up the phones to Opposition TDs, be they Sinn F\u00e9in, Independent Ireland, Labour or the Social Democrats, and telling them the truth about what is going on. About ten minutes before I came into this Chamber, a social worker was crying on the phone to me. I will give an example of something that is going on at the moment. We talk about how good this organisation is and the Comptroller and Auditor General. In one Tusla office in Cork, five years prior to a scandal breaking and a Garda investigation, the Comptroller and Auditor General flagged with Tusla the fact that thousands of euro were not being accounted for. It took Tusla three years to put in a procedure. At that time, \u20ac50,000 was the average of what was given out in pocket money where no book was there, nothing was assigned, there was not one document and there was not even an initial on it. It took Tusla three years to work it out and say, \"Lads, we have to be realistic here. We should have a ledger saying how much cash is coming out to the safe.\" It was amazing that when that happened, it was reduced to \u20ac6,000 that was signed for the following year and the year after. That is how much pocket money there was - not the \u20ac50,000 for the past three years.  When people are saying here that everything is fine and everything is dandy and rosy in the garden, we know it is not. I accept that this motion may have flaws but at least we are having the conversations and are telling people we are not satisfied with what is going on in this country. I have said repeatedly in this House that children are the most valuable thing we have. They are our future, are vulnerable and need to be protected. The Minister of State is coming along with flowery language saying everything is fine and that we are allocating this amount of money and that amount of money yet there are figures here that tell a very different story. The most recent story, which we all know, involved a ten-year-old child and the word \"absconded\" was used. I do not know how a ten-year-old with special needs absconds and ends up being allegedly sexually abused. That is the reality of this country We will all hang our heads in shame and say it is awful and terrible, we should learn from this mistake and it must never happen again but what do we do? We go out and we repeat the mistake over and over again one after another and then what do we do? We throw more money at it. It is a case of, \"Don't look at it, it's fine, we'll have another committee and we'll put in another layer here and another layer there and we'll have a committee after this and we'll put more money into it\" and we will not solve the real problems because the real problems might be just a bit more difficult to talk about. It might be a bit more difficult to do and it just proves one thing - that children do not matter to this State. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Mark Wall)  In accordance with Standing Order 85(2), the division is postponed until the next weekly division time. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Structural Reform of Child Welfare Governance: Motion [Private Members]"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_38","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_38","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Mark Wall)  I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case:  Deputy Shane Moynihan - To discuss adequate classroom provision for Gaelscoil Chluain Dolc\u00e1in.  Deputy Michael Cahill - To discuss severe cuts in SNA provision in County Kerry.  Deputy Jennifer Whitmore - To discuss Local Link buses in Wicklow.  Deputy Mark Wall - To discuss the provision of park and ride facilities along the M7-N7 and M9 motorways.  Deputy Jen Cummins - To discuss public health nursing in Dublin 8 and Dublin 12.  Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa - To discuss plans to mitigate the cost of fuel crisis through taxation reduction measures.  Deputy Rory Hearne - To discuss delivery of special school classes for Finglas Parochial National School.  Deputy Albert Dolan - To discuss battery energy storage systems and solar planning guidelines in rural Ireland.  Deputy Tom Brabazon - To discuss the NCAM works in north Dublin.  Deputy Louise O'Reilly - To discuss the need for a full-time Garda station in Rush.  Deputy Darren O'Rourke - To discuss delivery of a new school building at Dunboyne junior and senior national schools.  Deputy Roderic O'Gorman - To discuss the demolition and rebuild project for three primary schools on the Navan Road, Dublin 7.  Deputy Maurice Quinlivan - To discuss wandering and malnourished horses in urban areas of Limerick.  Deputy James O'Connor - To discuss increasing ambulance provision for east Cork.  Deputy Malcolm Byrne - To discuss the need for a new building for a school in Gorey, County Wexford, particularly given increased demand for places.  The matters raised by Deputies Shane Moynihan, Rory Hearne, Roderic O'Gorman and Mark Wall have been selected for discussion "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_39","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_39","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_40","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Schools Building Projects","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_39","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_39","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_40","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marian Harkin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shane Moynihan  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an gCathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach as ucht an deis labhairt ar an gceist th\u00e1bhachtach agus phr\u00e1inneach seo a bhaineann n\u00ed hamh\u00e1in le Gaelscoil Chluain Dolc\u00e1in ach le Gaelscoil na Cam\u00f3ige i mo Dh\u00e1ilcheantar. T\u00e1 an t-\u00e1dh dearg ar Chluain Dolc\u00e1in go bhfuil dh\u00e1 Ghaelscoil den scoth againn, ach turas fada a bh\u00ed ann do Ghaelscoil na Cam\u00f3ige foirgneamh buan a bhaint amach, foirgneamh at\u00e1 anois \u00e1 th\u00f3g\u00e1il. T\u00e1 Gaelscoil Chluain Dolc\u00e1in l\u00e1n go b\u00e9al agus an foirgneamh nua sin ag teast\u00e1il. Today, I am speaking on behalf of Gaelscoil Chluain Dolc\u00e1in about an issue that not only affects it but also affects Gaelscoil na Cam\u00f3ige in my constituency. We are lucky in Clondalkin to have two excellent Gaelscoilleanna in Gaelscoil na Cam\u00f3ige and Gaelscoil Chluain Dolc\u00e1in. I am an alumnus of Col\u00e1iste Chilliain, which will also be on the same campus. Gaelscoil na Cam\u00f3ige has had a long journey to finally arrive at its permanent building, which is being constructed at this moment, while Gaelscoil Chluain Dolc\u00e1in is full and needs the new space and needs the space that is part of the school building project.  The reason I am here today is because a decision has been taken by the Department in the past few months that will adversely affect not only the growth of those schools but also the identity of those schools as well. I am standing here in the D\u00e1il today to ask for a revision of that decision or at least consideration of what it will mean for both schools. It was agreed that both these schools would be 16-classroom buildings and that was the initial project that was agreed on. However, at planning stage, following a request from the Department, both schools agreed to include extensions for two additional classrooms that would facilitate special education classrooms. The Minister of State and I know that this is a priority for the Government in terms of delivering those spaces.  The schools were then informed earlier this year that those special education classrooms would not proceed on the basis of budget issues but what is surprising to me is that they were told that projected demographic trends would be the issue underpinning the reason for not requiring those additional rooms. The alternative that was put to those schools was that Gaelscoil Chluain Dolc\u00e1in could use some of the empty classrooms in Gaelscoil na Cam\u00f3ige, thus necessitating travel between the two schools.  Clondalkin is right beside a new strategic development zone in Clonburris and it is in one of the fastest-growing constituencies in the State, Dublin Mid-West. There is a very clear and apparent need for schools and, more important, there is a clear and apparent demand for Gaelscoileanna agis oideachas tr\u00ed mhe\u00e1n na Gaeilge.  This needs to be acknowledged. In addition, we also know that there is a need to rapidly address the provision of special educational places in all schools in the greater Clondalkin area. There is provision required for special educational needs, SEN, classrooms.  With both of those matters in mind, we know that Gaelscoil na Cam\u00f3ige will reach full capacity in a number of years. We know that new estates such as Seven Mills and all the others being built inside the Clonburris strategic development zone will have new families moving into them whose children will require access to education. I hope many them avail of the opportunity to achieve oideachas tr\u00ed mhe\u00e1n na Gaeilge.  I am concerned that this is a short-sighted decision that is limiting the possible expansion of Gaelscoil na Cam\u00f3ige and that is not taking account of demographic trends. I accept the Department's bona fides with regard to the overall need for education falling nationally but in the rapidly growing areas adjacent to Clonburris, namely Clondalkin, Lucan and Adamstown, that is not the case. It is quite the reverse. We are going to have a greater demand for school places.  Oideachas tr\u00ed mhe\u00e1n na Gaeilge is very important. Oideachtas speisialta na Gaeilge is equally important. In an area such as Cluain Dolc\u00e1in that has a l\u00edonra Gaeilge status, it is important that it is treasured and honoured in the buildings that are put in place. Planning approval has been secured for the SEN extensions. That will lapse within four years if we do not take action in respect of it immediately. I am asking that the decision that has been made be reconsidered and that we save the money that we are going to have to spend in a few years' time when we have to construct the extra buildings in order to make the additional provision that we know is coming down the track and that South Dublin County Council has been told to take into account in terms of revising its zoning projections for the population growth in the area in the future. I look forward to the Minister of State's response. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marian Harkin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Deputy Marian Harkin)  I thank the Deputy for raising this issue because it gives me the opportunity, on behalf of the Minister for Education and Youth, to outline to the D\u00e1il the position regarding Gaelscoil Chluain Dolc\u00e1in in County Dublin.  Gaelscoil Chluain Dolc\u00e1in is under the patronage of the Archbishop of Dublin. It is located in the Clondalkin-D22 school planning area and has an enrolment of 445 pupils. The Department of Education and Youth is delivering a large-scale major project to provide adjoining new permanent accommodation for both Gaelscoil Chluain Dolc\u00e1in and another primary school on the same site. Construction on this project is well advanced, with an expected completion date in the fourth quarter of this year. The school authorities were advised that it was necessary to make provision for special education at the two school buildings due to the significantly increased demand for special classes in their school planning area.  The Department examined various options for how best to meet this need including the feasibility of expanding the current scale of the project. However, due to the availability of spare classrooms in the current overall school project and the projected falling mainstream demographics at primary level, the Department decided that the use of these spare mainstream classrooms for special education provision was consistent with the education and youth sector Sectoral Capital Plan 2026-2030. This decision was outlined to the school authorities in detail at a meeting with Department officials in January 2026. While the national development plan, NDP, funding of \u20ac7.5 billion for school capital projects is substantial, the Department must manage the progression of a large pipeline of projects and meet the substantially increased need for special education provision within this funding.  The Department prioritises projects to balance urgency, equity and available resources, ensuring that investments are sustainable and provide maximum value for money. This includes the optimum use of existing accommodation, particularly surplus accommodation. This allows the Department to keep a strong focus on the provision of additional capacity to cater for demographics, new housing developments and the roll-out of additional special classes for children with additional needs. This approach reflects the Department's fundamental objective of ensuring the availability of a school place for every child.  Since 2020, the Department has provided over \u20ac1,824 million in capital funding for Dublin schools. Over this period, a total of 245 schools have been upgraded through provision of a new school building, a large-scale extension or provision of modular accommodation. There are currently 60 school projects in Dublin under construction. I assure the Deputy that the Department of Education and Youth will support the schools in the practical arrangements for implementing this decision and has organised a meeting between the school authorities and the project's design team in order to explore practical solutions to address issues raised by the schools. Department officials remain committed to working with the school authorities in relation to this matter. I also assure the Deputy that the Department will keep the ongoing position relating to the demand for places in the Clondalkin-D22 school planning area under review.  While the Department is aware of enrolment pressures and demand for additional school places in some areas, it is important to note that enrolment pressures can be driven by duplication of applications, applications from outside an area and school-of-choice factors. The Department will continue to liaise with local authorities in respect of their county development plan and any associated local area plans with a view to identifying any potential long-term school accommodation requirements across school planning areas. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shane Moynihan  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Aire St\u00e1it as ucht an fhreagra sin. Tuigim nach f\u00e9idir leis an Aire oideachais a bheith anseo tr\u00e1thn\u00f3na.  With the greatest respect, the general point is being missed here. I am not talking about enrolment pressures. I am talking about the fact that South Dublin County Council has been told to rezone land on the basis of increased baseline population growth. We are then told in the same answer that the D22 school planning area is not necessarily taking account of the foreseen population growth that will be in this area. We know we will be coming back here again looking for possibly modular buildings on a school site with two buildings that have planning permission for the extensions that they were asked to consider last July. This is the opportunity for us to get this right and to get the school buildings in place now rather than limiting the growth of Gaelscoil na Cam\u00f3ige in the future in order to ensure that Gaelscoil Chluain Dolc\u00e1in has the space it needs to continue to thrive and, importantly, to champion and to ensure that the facility and the option exists for parents who want to send their children to a Gaelscoil to either receive mainstream education or special education, that they can do so tr\u00ed mhe\u00e1n na Gaeilge and that there will not be an artificial cap put on the growth of either of those in this instance. We know that the patron has previously indicated concerns around special educational provision in that general area.  When it comes to the question of the practicalities of moving between the schools, I have to ask the Department in all seriousness how it will manage a situation where it has two classes from one school being educated in another. How are they going to manage that in terms of health and safety? While they are on the same site, they are two different buildings. More importantly, they are two different schools. In particular, Gaelscoil na Cam\u00f3ige has waited a long time to have its permanent building. Gaelscoil Chluain Dolc\u00e1in has an identity in its own right. While I welcome the Department is willing to look at practical options, the better option here is for it to get the extension that has planning approval put in place, not to find ourselves going back to the well in possibly less than two years' time when people and families start moving into Clonburris.  I urge the Department to reconsider this decision and to work with the school authorities, the patrons and the boards of management to reinstate what was there and to make practical arrangements for growth that we know is going to happen in those populations in the future. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marian Harkin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marian Harkin  Once again, I thank the Deputy for providing me with the opportunity, on behalf of the Minister for education, to outline the position in relation to Gaelscoil Chluain Dolc\u00e1in. The Deputy asked me to refer this to the Minister on his behalf. I can promise that I will certainly do so because I can see that it is an issue of real concern, for the Deputy and, I presume, many of his constituents. I will do that.  The Deputy will be aware that the Minister, Deputy Naughton, recently published the \u20ac7.55 billion NDP sectoral investment plan for the education and youth sectors. Of the total \u20ac7.55 billion investment, it is envisaged that circa \u20ac5 billion will be used for project roll-out to support the delivery and modernisation of school buildings across the large-scale additional accommodation and modular programmes. The Deputy will appreciate that the Department is required to ensure that the capital funding allocated to the Department is managed across all schools in the country. Indeed, a significant project has been approved for the school in question and will shortly be available for the school's use.  As previously stated, Department officials remain available to work school authorities. That is what the Deputy is asking here, and I can tell him that is what it says in the response.  They will provide support in any arrangements required to implement the decision regarding their new accommodation.  Finally, I assure the Deputy that the accommodation demands and enrolment pressures of both the schools in question, as well as the wider school area planning, will be kept under ongoing review by the Department. As he will be aware, the project brief for this campus project includes construction of two new adjoining 16-classroom primary schools, with a PE hall for a separate post-primary school on a shared campus. I note the most recent nationwide demographic analysis I spoke of earlier was completed in 2023. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Schools Building Projects"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_41","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Special Educational Needs","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_39","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_39","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_41","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marian Harkin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  I want to raise the issue of children in my constituency who are currently attending the Finglas Parochial National School. These children have additional needs and should be prioritised and yet do not have the classes they were promised and for which the school was sanctioned in 2024.  These children are spending two hours a day in a community hall and this is not good enough. These children should be in classrooms receiving the education they have a constitutional right to and which they need. I was at a public meeting in Finglas last night where the parents again outlined the devastating impact of their children not getting the full education they need, as well as their despair and concern because the promised delivery to the school could now be in 2027. This is an absolutely unacceptable delay in terms of delivery of that classroom. Can the Minister of State outline what is going to be done in this regard?  It appears, from talking to different groups involved and in speaking directly to the building unit of the Department of education today, that there has been a failure in ensuring timely delivery, planning and information. Moreover, it seems to have fallen between the Department and the company that was taken on to deliver this. Regardless, the responsibility to ensure these children have the education to which they have a constitutional right falls with the Department. It is the Department of education and the Minister who is responsible in ensuring they get that education.  To give some examples of what the parents spoke about last night and in the media about how challenging it is, one parent, Rebekah Clarke, said that she had to reduce her hours to try to manage her son Arlo's shorter school day. She said:  I had to come down to part-time and I have to work a weekend day so I can bring him to school. We've had to change our life dramatically, trying to find someone to mind him. It's not easy.  Parents explained how they thought that school place for their child would provide the relief they need but we also heard from other parents on that. For two hours a day, they have to come over and travel to leave the child. They literally walk around Finglas to then pick up the child again within a couple of hours. People are losing their jobs. In those two hours, the children are getting incredible care from the school principal, teachers and the school. They do not want to have to try to find somewhere else now. The children have made relationships with the teachers. Children with autism and additional needs need routine. They need that bond and relationship they build over time and they have that. Why, in God's name, are we not ensuring these children are in proper classrooms by this September? Surely, the Department and Minister can guarantee that. There is no reason why not; it is still months away.  As regards planning, this needs to go through. They will and should get it for the modular classes. I have spoken to the building unit. It is saying that it will hopefully be quarter 3 of this year when that will be delivered. We need a guarantee that these children will be in the classrooms in the buildings to be built in September this year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marian Harkin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marian Harkin  I thank the Deputy for raising this matter, which I am answering on behalf of the Minister for Education and Youth, Deputy Naughton. Just like the previous Deputy, I hear the passion in his voice and local knowledge, as well as his understanding of what is at issue for the many families and children there. I guarantee that I will bring it to the attention of the Minister.  Aside from that, the Government is committed to the provision of additional special places for children with special educational needs. Budget 2026 secured funding for 3,000 new specialist places in special schools and special classes, and the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, is currently examining where these places are best located for the 2026-27 school year. Over 2,700 new places were provided in the 2025-26 school year, meaning there are now 3,741 special classes nationwide. We will continue to build on this figure while placing provision in locations where it is best placed to meet existing and future demand. As the Deputy is aware, an earlier notification deadline was introduced this year to support forward planning and to earlier equip the NCSE with local information as to what students would be leaving school or transitioning to post-primary specialist places or regarding those seeking specialist placement and entering the education system for the first time. This information is critical when examining where provision needs to be placed to meet demand.  The Department and the NCSE continue to work closely with school patron bodies, school management bodies and schools to confirm new special classes for the next school year 2026-27. The NCSE began sanctioning new special classes last month, which is several months earlier than last year. A total of 387 have been sanctioned to date and many more new special classes will be confirmed in the coming weeks. A total of 85 of these new classes are being provided in County Dublin, and six of them are in the Dublin North-West constituency.  As for the modular project for Finglas Parochial National School, the application for planning permission was submitted and the local authority requested further information, which was submitted to them in January 2026. The local authority has recently requested clarification on the further information submission, and I can say this is being submitted to them today.  As I said, I hear what the Deputy has said about the huge challenge this presents for parents and families and perhaps, the knowledge that at least this level of progress has been made may be of some assistance to them. The project itself will be delivered as quickly as possible after receipt of planning permission, and with the support of project managers. The earlier sanction of new classes provides clarity for parents and allows schools more time for the planning and establishment of new special classes. As I said, budget 2026 has provided significant funding for over 400 new special classes.  I wish to stress that the NCSE will continue to support all children made known to it after this date. However, it is important for planning purposes that an earlier timeframe is worked to in which the NCSE has as much local knowledge and detail as possible in order to plan what new provision is required. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  I thank the Minister of State. I reiterate that it is absolutely unacceptable that children are left for two hours a day - this is their education \u2013 in a community hall. The teachers have to re-set up every time. They do not have the proper toileting or sensory spaces. These are not appropriate school places. It is unfair. As one parent said last night, it is cruel for the Department and NCSE to be sanctioning and allocating school places that then are not actually being delivered.  There is a real issue here. It is leading parents up the garden path. They are putting their lives on hold and taking places that then do not appear. It is unfair and not right. These parents need to have that building delivered, particularly given what has happened with the delays.  I commend the Equality in Education campaign, the school principal, the teachers and the parents who have spoken out in the media this week to highlight this. It was deeply unfair that they had to speak out. It puts more pressure on parents who are already struggling, but they were right to speak up. Again, this has put pressure on, and it is making it a priority. I am making it a priority by saying here very clearly that I will not be letting this go. I will be pushing as hard as I can to ensure that the Department ensures that the school building is done and in place for this September, so those children have the education they deserve and need. These children, along with all children, need it. The fact that they are left there like this is wrong.  The parents have asked for a meeting to be held within a week with the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, the school, the company and the planners to set out not only that the planning is done, but that this school is delivered on time. It cannot be delayed any more. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marian Harkin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marian Harkin  I thank the Deputy again for raising the question and giving me the opportunity to reassure the House that the Department of Education and Youth and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that all children can access an education suitable to their needs. The Department continues to engage intensively with the NCSE in regard to the forward planning for new special provision to ensure every child has a place in an educational setting best suited to their educational needs.  It is important to remember that the vast majority of students with special educational needs are supported to attend school in mainstream classes with their peers. Central to this are the 15,000 special education teachers and 12,500 special needs assistants allocated to mainstream settings. For children with more complex needs, special classes or special school places are provided. This is in keeping with the policy on inclusive education, which provides that children will be supported to receive an education in the most inclusive setting possible.  In County Dublin, 705 special classes are now in operation, providing capacity for 4,230 students, and that includes 103 new special classes for this school year. I hear what the Deputy is saying. He is concerned about a specific school and the needs of the students and families there. I fully understand that. Hopefully, based on the information that I gave earlier, the further clarification that had been requested by the local authority was submitted to it today. Although I do not know, I hope that speeds up the process for the delivery of this project. I am sure the Deputy has already been in contact with the Minister with regard to the need for a meeting. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Special Educational Needs"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_42","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Schools Building Projects","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_39","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_39","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_42","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marian Harkin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  I thank the Minister of State for taking this Topical debate. This is the second time I have raised a Topical matter about three primary schools, St. John Bosco Junior Boys School, St. John Bosco Senior Boys School and Mary Help of Christians Girls National School. I want to focus on the long delay in the rebuild project for these three schools. The schools are just off the Navan Road in Dublin 7, and serve the communities of Ashtown and the Navan Road. They are great schools, and my colleague Councillor Feljin Jose and I have visited them. They are operating out of incredibly old and rundown buildings. There are musty prefabs, single-glazed windows and kids learning in cold classrooms.  They are three distinct schools, but the three schools have come together with the vision of having an educational campus on the site. I am sure the Minister of State knows that bringing together three separate schools with three separate management structures is a real challenge, but the schools are so committed to this project that they have done it, and they have come together. However, there are two big problems. First, this project is not on the list of priority school projects from the 2026-27 list that the Government launched with great fanfare in January of this year. Second, and more immediately, there seems to be a real blockage in advancing this vital project past stage 2A of the school design project.  I was in contact with the three schools and with parents from the schools in late 2024 and across all of last year. In December of last year, I was able to hold a Topical debate in the House, in particular on the Department's delay in holding that stage 2A meeting with the schools\u2019 design team. At the time, the Minister was not able to give me a date for when that vital stage 2A meeting would happen between the Department and the schools\u2019 design team. We are now three months on from that Topical debate. I had a parliamentary question in two weeks ago, and I also wrote directly to the Minister, Deputy Naughton, two weeks ago. In the replies I got to those queries, I still have not been able to get a date for that meeting. Of course, in January, we saw that long-awaited list of the priority projects, and this project was not on it. The parents and the school saw that, and they noticed that they are not seen as a priority now.  I have no doubt the Minister of State has a lengthy reply from the Department. I am sure it will recount a long history of engagement between the Department and the relevant schools. With respect, I know the history. We do not need to go through all of that this evening. What I really want to know is, first, what the date is for the long-delayed meeting between the schools\u2019 design team and the Department of education so they can move past the stage 2A process and, second, how this project can get on the Government's priority list. It is 6 p.m. on a Thursday. Anything else is not really of huge relevance right now. Will the Minister of State give me a date for this meeting? Will she tell me how the redevelopment of these three schools can get on the priority list? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marian Harkin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marian Harkin  I thank the Deputy for the question. It is clear that he has been in the position I am in now, and he understands the circumstances. I must give him the response that I have been provided with. In whatever way I can, I will try to address the Deputy\u2019s questions. They give me the opportunity, on behalf of the Minister, to outline the current position in relation to the joint school project for St. John Bosco Junior Boys School, St. John Bosco Senior Boys School and Mary Help of Christians Girls National School, all in Dublin 7.  This joint school building project will deliver two new 16-classroom primary schools with additional classrooms for children with special educational needs for both the senior boys' school and the girls' school, and a new 11-classroom primary school with additional classrooms for children with special educational needs for the junior boys' school. Initially, as the Deputy pointed out, it had been anticipated that this joint project would be delivered in the form of an extension and refurbishment. However, due to a scope change to include an increase in the number of classrooms for children with special educational needs, it was decided that new school buildings would be provided. The design team submitted the initial stage 1 report in April 2023, and following the submission of an addendum report in August 2023, the project was approved to the next stage.  The design team submitted its stage 2A submission report in January 2024. Upon review, some key concerns were identified by the Department. From January 2024 to May 2025, there was significant communication between the design team and the Department to discuss and assist in progressing the stage 2A submission to include a review and audit of the floor area schedules, and to refine some design elements to meet the approved schedule of accommodation.  Upon receipt of the revised stage 2A report, Department officials carried out an initial review, and in early June 2025, a further meeting was held, with the wider design team, school authorities and Department officials in attendance. At that meeting, the school was provided with a progress update and advised that the design team was due to submit an addendum stage 2A report to the Department. The outstanding information for the addendum stage 2A report was received by the Department on 31 October last year and is under review by Department officials.  In July the Government announced a capital allocation of \u20ac7.55 billion for the Department of Education and Youth for the period 2026 to 2030 under the national development plan. As the Deputy is aware, as part of this allocation the Department will place a strong emphasis on provision for children with special educational needs, with a particular focus on meeting annual school place needs. In relation to the project roll-out for large-scale projects and additional school accommodation scheme projects, the approach will be to continue to maximise the capacity of the existing school estate as much as possible in the first instance and to provide necessary additional capacity through targeted and prioritised project roll-out over the course of 2026 to 2030.  Deputy O'Gorman asked about a date for a meeting with the school design team and how one gets on the priority list. I suspect that virtually every TD in the D\u00e1il would like an answer to that question. That does not take away from the fact that he wants and needs it and these schools need to hear about it. I will pass on his request to the Minister and, hopefully, she will be able to give him some assistance. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  I thank the Minister of State for her response. I recognise that she is responding on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Naughton, and she is from a different Department. I am disappointed with the response she provided from the Department of education. Again, there has been a failure to give a date for this really important meeting between the Department and the school's design team. There is a consequence to this delay because due to the addendum report, which was given almost five months ago - officials in the Department were not being given the full detail on 31 October; they were being given an extra piece of information that they sought \u2013 the school missed the opportunity to be on the 2026-2027 priority list. There is a clear consequence to the fact that this addendum report has not been fully reviewed by the Department and that the meeting did not take place. That consequence is that it is now likely that this school will not even get funding until post-2027. These three schools have been ready and willing to take this important step, advance this project, and give kids in three really good schools a better condition of education. It is really disappointing at this stage. The delay has real consequences. It is pushing back the ability of this project to be delivered in the lifetime of many of the students who are currently in these schools in those cold classrooms.  The Minister of State has indicated that she will ask the Minister for education, Deputy Naughton, to come back to me in writing with a date. That is all I can ask for today. I will continue to ask for this because I do not think this level of delay for just one meeting is acceptable. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marian Harkin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marian Harkin  I thank the Deputy. I recognise there are schools with important building projects that are not included in the first tranche of prioritised projects. As part of planning ahead for the next tranche of projects to progress to tender, the Department-led prioritisation process will continue over the course of 2026 and 2027 to assess and evaluate the progression of individual projects through the design pipeline, having regard to the continual need to maximise existing capacity and determine the prioritised need going forward. This process will involve engagement with key stakeholders and individual schools and will ultimately inform the next tranche of programme roll-out to tender.  The Department-led energy and condition survey of the school estate which will be finalised later in 2026 will provide an additional evidence base for assessing priorities. Based on this ongoing prioritisation process, some projects may be added to the list over the course of 2026 and 2027, having regard to their prioritisation and urgency of need and taking account also of the ongoing ability to progress them to tender and construction within the parameters of overall funding. Where appropriate, the Department will also assess opportunities to undertake advance enabling works for the most urgent and complex projects to facilitate a smooth progress to construction in 2028 and beyond. I promise I will ask the Minister the question the Deputy posed to me. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Schools Building Projects"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_43","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Park-and-Ride Facilities","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-19\/debate\/dbsect_39","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_39","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_43","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marian Harkin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Wall  I rise in the Chamber tonight to once again try to get to some solutions to the car park the N7-M7 has become. People are spending their lives in cars. They drive for three hours every morning to work and drive back home for three hours every evening. Some people leave their home at 6.30 a.m. Some leave their home at 5.30 a.m. to try to beat the traffic. They spend an hour or an hour and a half in their work car parks to avail of some time and to try to avoid what is happening on the roads.  I am asking the Minister of State tonight to look at park and ride. We were told the NTA park and ride development had established an office, arising from a recommendation relating to the climate action plan, with a view to advancing strategic park-and-ride facilities to take people out of their private cars and give them a public transport option such as a bus service into the capital. In a recent reply I received, I was told by the NTA that two specific sites have been identified on the M7-M9 corridor \u2013 one at Kill, which was to provide 500 parking spaces and one in Naas-Sallins, which was to provide 1,000 parking spaces. The reply goes on to say that the work at Kill was well advanced and was progressing very well until some problems arose with the land developer. That work now seems to have stalled. The reply states the NTA is now working on the Sallins option for 1,000 car parking spaces in and around Sallins train station. In the reply I received, the NTA also stated that it needs to put in enhanced railway infrastructure closer to Dublin city centre to maximise the potential of such a facility but it will go ahead with some design at the Sallins location.  These replies are totally and utterly disheartening because not alone do we need park-and-ride facilities at Sallins and Kill but we also need them at other locations along the M9 in particular. As I came to D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann this morning I passed 11 cars parked at the Ballitore interchange, which is a daily occurrence. Normally, we would get up to 20 cars at that location. These are people who are car pooling and going to Dublin who park on the side of the road. It is a similar situation at the Castledermot interchange on the M9 where 20 cars could also be parked. Kildare County Council promised over a long period while I was on it that we would see park-and-ride facilities at these locations but there is no mention in the replies of any facilities at those locations.  We have people spending three hours in their cars each morning. One cannot contemplate the mental torture that is putting on people coming in every day. They are not getting home in time to see their families and they are stuck in traffic every day. The Government seems to be very slow coming up with solutions. The solutions I have been told about in relation to Sallins are now only beginning to progress to a design stage, which means that we are probably years away from having park-and-ride facilities. There is no mention of the Ballitore or Castledermot interchanges. What we need to hear tonight from the Government is that there is progress. We need the Government to deal realistically with the problem. There may have been a meeting in the Department of Transport in recent days and I hope as a result of it that we will get some solutions for all those who are trapped in their cars on the M7 and the M9. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marian Harkin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marian Harkin  I am happy to take this Topical Issue on behalf of the Minister for Transport. I thank the Deputy for the opportunity to address the issue in the House this evening.  Improving public transport services and infrastructure is central to improving citizens' quality of life and addressing our climate action challenge. The Government is committed to a fundamental change in the nature of transport in Ireland. There is a substantial number of people in regional towns, the rural hinterland and in the metropolitan area who do not have ease of access to high-quality public transport by walking or cycling. Appropriately located and designed park-and-ride facilities can enable them to access public transport and enhance their options to reach a wide range of destinations in a sustainable manner.  The National Transport Authority, NTA, has responsibility for planning and developing park-and-ride sites. It is leading the development and roll-out of strategic park-and-ride sites nationwide through the park and ride development office, which was established in 2020. Within this policy framework, the transport strategy for the greater Dublin area for 2022 to 2042 has identified various zones of intervention along corridors on the approach to Dublin city. They include two park-and-ride sites along the M7, namely, a rail-based park-and-ride facility in Sallins, which will provide 1,000 extra parking spaces, and a bus-based park-and-ride facility in Kill, with an extra 500 spaces.  Significant work has already been undertaken to advance proposals for the 500-space bus-based strategic park-and-ride site at Kill. However, the project remains at preliminary design stage owing to the landowner having withdrawn from negotiations in respect of the NTA's preferred site. Work on the Kill project will continue during 2026 as resources and funding permit.  The proposed Sallins facility is listed as a priority project within the NTA's greater Dublin area transport strategy, which also includes the planned extension, in the longer term, of high-capacity, high-frequency electrified DART services to Sallins and Naas. The park-and-ride site will integrate with the DART+ programme and services when both projects are completed.  larnr\u00f3d \u00c9ireann is also working to deliver increased parking at rail stations nationwide. This includes recently completed works at Kildare and ongoing preliminary design work for Athy and Carlow. Works at Newbridge and Hazelhatch have been identified as medium-term objectives. In addition, larnr\u00f3d \u00c9ireann is currently in the process of updating its national car park strategy, which may identify further station locations along the M7 and M9 catchment area. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Wall  I really appreciate the Minister of State taking time to come to the House this evening. I acknowledge that this issue does not come under the remit of her Department. The work done at Kildare town train station is very welcome but the new car park is already full. Drivers cannot get into it every morning. People have told me they cannot use Kildare town train station because the car park was not designed to accommodate the traffic going into it. This is what the Government and the NTA have put forward as a fundamental change in commuting.  We all support public transport. There is absolutely no doubt about that. I have been calling for more public transport for Kildare South for a long time, including hourly commuter services to Athy and further on to Carlow. In a reply I received recently, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, stated the problems at the M7-M9 junction were related to congestion on the roads and that the number of accidents there was directly correlated to that congestion. TII is telling us the problem is congestion and the NTA is saying it has medium- to long-term solutions. Unfortunately for the people of Kildare South, they are left with no option but to hop into the car every morning and spend up to six hours trying to get to work in Dublin.  We need a Government policy on remote working that would allow those people, including up to 5,000 civil servants working in Dublin, to work more often from home. Increasingly, however, they are being called back to the office. If we are not getting park-and-ride facilities in the short term, which the Minister of State's reply tells us is the case, I ask that she encourage the Minister for Transport to promote the idea of remote working for the civil servants in his Department who are having to come into the office for extra days. The Government must take a leading approach on that. There are other solutions as well, as proposed previously by the Labour Party. Unfortunately, the Government voted down those proposals in a recent motion I brought to the House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marian Harkin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Marian-Harkin.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marian Harkin  As I noted in my reply, the NTA is progressing park-and-ride sites at Sallins and Kill, which together will provide more than 1,500 additional car parking spaces, as part of its co-ordinated programme of park-and-ride development at strategic locations. In addition to this work, collaborative work is ongoing with Iarnr\u00f3d \u00c9ireann to deliver increased parking at existing rail stations nationally. That includes the recently completed works at Kildare. I acknowledge what the Deputy said about that car park not being sufficient to accommodate the number of cars currently seeking to use it. The work also includes ongoing preliminary design work for Athy and Carlow, with works at Newbridge and Hazel being identified as mid-term objectives. If there are lessons to be learned from what happened in Kildare, I hope those lessons will, indeed, be learned. Iarnr\u00f3d \u00c9ireann is also updating its national car park strategy, which may identify further locations along the M7 and M9 catchment area. Collectively, these projects will support reduced car dependency, lower congestion and improve public transport accessibility for commuters travelling into the greater Dublin area.  As far as other projects are concerned, the NTA is currently working with TII on the feasibility of bus priority measures for the N7 corridor, which most likely will be in the form of hard-shoulder bus running. Enhanced bus priority would make bus-based trips along the corridor more desirable and would also support the delivery of bus-based park-and-ride schemes. Iarnr\u00f3d \u00c9ireann is also looking at delivering increased parking at existing rail stations nationally. I have already mentioned those stations and will not go through them again. I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Wall  I thank the Minister of State. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar athl\u00f3 ar 6.28 p.m. go dt\u00ed 2 p.m., D\u00e9 M\u00e1irt, an 24 M\u00e1rta 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The D\u00e1il adjourned at 6.28 p.m. until 2 p.m. on Tuesday, 24 March 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Park-and-Ride Facilities"}]}}]},"contextDate":"2026-03-19"},{"debateRecord":{"house":{"showAs":"34th D\u00e1il","committeeCode":"","houseCode":"dail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/house\/dail\/34","chamberType":"house","houseNo":"34"},"chamber":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/def\/house\/dail","showAs":"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann"},"lastUpdated":"2026-07-02T02:10:10+00:00","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-18\/debate\/main","formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-18\/debate\/mul@\/main.xml"},"pdf":null},"date":"2026-03-18","counts":{"contributorCount":164,"divisionCount":0,"debateSectionCount":15,"questionCount":0,"billCount":3},"debateType":"debate","debateSections":[{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-18\/debate\/dbsect_2","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions","counts":{"speechCount":85,"speakerCount":16},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  We are now two weeks into a crisis in which Irish households are being hammered by skyrocketing fuel prices. The cost of petrol, diesel and home heating oil has spun out of control, yet Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael are absent. This is a do-nothing Government that is sitting on its hands and refusing to help while workers, families and motorists are fleeced. People are under massive pressure right here and right now, but the Taoiseach says it is too early to act. He says that the Government will keep the situation under review. My God, I have never heard anything quite so detached or disconnected.  I will do the review right here and now. In many places, petrol is hitting \u20ac2 a litre, diesel is hitting \u20ac2.17 a litre and home heating oil is close to \u20ac900 for half a fill. These are unaffordable, crushing prices. How bad do things have to get before the Government helps? How high do fuel prices have to go before it acts? This is an immediate crisis for working households right across the land. While the Government dithers and delays, we are hearing from people who are in real trouble. These are people afraid to turn on the heat and who cannot afford to fill up their cars. I spoke to one woman who said that she spent an hour just staring at the quote for her home heating oil and trying to figure out how she could pay for it and still have money for the food shop. I also spoke to a father who commutes a long distance to work and who is already struggling to pay the rent. He is now worried how he will keep the car on the road in order that he can get to work. Households are struggling with an unrelenting cost-of-living crisis, and now this rapid increase in fuel prices only makes things far worse.  What is the Government's response? It says that it is monitoring the situation. It seems things are not quite bad enough. The Government is waiting to see. How out of touch can you get? People cannot wait as Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael twiddle their thumbs. People need them to act. Up to 65% of what people pay at the pumps goes to the Government in taxes. The Government hauled in an estimated additional \u20ac38 million in taxes and levies due to these price hikes in just one week. It is blindingly obvious what it needs to do, namely cut taxes on petrol, diesel and home heating oil. This would immediately bring down prices. The Government could do this today. We will be moving the necessary legislation this afternoon; the Government just needs to implement it. No more excuses, no more beating around the bush and no more delay because it is unacceptable for the Government to let another week go by without intervening to cut fuel prices. T\u00e1 teaghlaigh buailte go dona ag arduithe ollmh\u00f3ra ar phraghsanna an bhreosla. T\u00e1 Fianna F\u00e1il agus Fine Gael as l\u00e1thair, ag di\u00falt\u00fa cabhr\u00fa leo. Caithfidh an Rialtas gn\u00edomh\u00fa anois chun praghsanna peitril, d\u00edosail agus ola teasa t\u00ed a laghd\u00fa.  The choice is clear. Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael can continue to sit back and allow households to be hammered or they can act today to immediately cut soaring fuel prices.  Sinn F\u00e9in has put the legislation on the table to make this happen and it is ready to go. All the Government has to do is pick it up and implement it. Do it today and ease some of the pressure that people are under. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Jim O'Callaghan)  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Teachta as ucht an cheist. Sula fhreagra\u00edm \u00ed, ba mhaith liom mo chomhghairdeas a roinnt le roinnt \u00c9ireannaigh \u00f3ga as \u00e9achta\u00ed den scoth ar bhain siad amach ag an deireadh seachtaine agus le d\u00e9ana\u00ed. I thank Deputy McDonald for her question. Before I answer it, I want to acknowledge the very considerable achievement by Irish young people over the weekend. In particular I commend and acknowledge the success and outstanding achievement of Jessie Buckley in winning an Academy Award, which is a remarkable achievement for the young Kerry woman. I also acknowledge the role of the Irish rugby team in winning the Triple Crown.  Deputy McDonald has raised a very important point. At the heart of it, what it reveals is that once a war starts people are unaware as to what the consequences of that war will be. We can now see, however, that the cost of oil has risen quite considerably and a barrel of crude oil today is in the region of over $100 per barrel. That is a very significant consequence and it is impacting consumers not just in Ireland but throughout the world.  As has been indicated by the Taoiseach in the United States, and by the T\u00e1naiste, the Government will respond to this. However, what we are not going to do is engage in a kneejerk response just for the purpose of being seen to do something immediately. Instead, the Government will consider the situation and what has been indicated by the Taoiseach is that most probably we will look at the issue of excise duties for the purpose of cutting them to take pressure off consumers. It is also important to note that any measures that are going to be introduced we hope will be targeted at individuals who need them the most.  I have to say I was very pleased to see that Sinn F\u00e9in's finance Minister in Northern Ireland, John O'Dowd, has adopted this position of the Irish Government. I read yesterday that he said when Sinn F\u00e9in in government is going to introduce measures to alleviate the cost of fuel in Northern Ireland, they will be targeted at those in most need. Similarly, this will be the case here. They will be targeted measures to ensure that those in most need are the ones who can recover from them.  I noted that in her question Deputy McDonald did not mention the constant narrative of Sinn F\u00e9in, which is that we need to cut the carbon tax. I welcome the fact she recognises the importance of the carbon staying as a constant measure to ensure the considerable expenses being met from the carbon tax continue. One thing for certain is that what the oil crisis reveals to us is that we need to ensure we reduce and, hopefully, end our dependency on Middle Eastern oil. The only way we are going to do this is by ensuring that Ireland becomes a fully renewable country in terms of being able to produce our own renewables.  I am not going to give Deputy McDonald an answer as to when measures are going to be introduced by the Irish Government but I can tell her that those deliberations are ongoing, just as they are ongoing in Northern Ireland with Sinn F\u00e9in's own Government, where it has the finance Ministry and the Ministry for the economy.  I want Deputy McDonald to be aware, however, that my colleague, the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, asked the energy security group to meet on 6 March to assess the implications of the conflict in the Middle East and the Gulf region. The group reviewed current supply and pricing conditions across oil, gas and electricity. I know that in recent days the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, wrote to retail electricity and gas suppliers, as well as to fuel suppliers, to emphasise the importance of reducing the exposure for Irish consumers from the price shocks created by geopolitical events.  I assure Deputy McDonald that the Irish Government will act but we are not going to act simply to meet a deadline put in place by her or by others. We will come forward with a considered response. It will involve the Government meeting to discuss the nature of this response. Deputy McDonald will be aware that when there was a war previously, we responded very positively from the point of view of the Irish consumer and we will do so again. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  The only actions that the Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael Government has set out so far are proposals to increase taxes. The Minister has reiterated that position again. I do not know whether there is anybody sitting here among us who cannot turn on their heating or cannot fill their car. I do not think that is an experience anybody here on the Government benches or anywhere else has but it is the reality for too many families and for too many working people.  I am simply asking the Minister and we have given the Government the mechanism to do it. We have given it the answer and we have given it the solution. The legislation will be moved this afternoon by Deputy Doherty. The Government simply has to lift this and, as an emergency and necessary measure, cut the taxes on petrol, diesel and home heating oil. It is not a permanent measure but it is a very necessary emergency measure. This policy of ma\u00f1ana and wait and see is a luxury that people in this House might enjoy but it is not a luxury that working families have. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Timmy Dooley  The oil companies will put it up again. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  I appeal to the Minister today to stop the distraction, end the rhetoric and actually make the move that is necessary. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Timmy Dooley  The oil companies will put it up again. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputies, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  Sinn F\u00e9in is in government in Northern Ireland. It has money to reduce the cost of fuel in Northern Ireland yet its finance and economy Ministers have done nothing about it as of yet, so it is a bit rich of the Deputy to criticise the Irish Government for not acting fast enough----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  Any chance Fianna F\u00e1il will run a candidate in the North, up in the Six Counties? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  -----when her own Government has done nothing in respect of it in Northern Ireland. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Will the Minister answer the question? "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  People on the Government benches are well aware of the consequences of rising fuel prices. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Are they? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  That is why after the invasion of Ukraine----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Are they? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  -----measures were taken by the Irish Government to assist consumers in respect of those rising prices. That is why the Taoiseach indicated when he was in the United States that measures are being considered and it is likely that there will be measures introduced----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  When? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  -----to alleviate the pressure upon Irish people at the petrol pump----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  When? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  -----and at the heating oil level. We will decide it ourselves. We will not decide it based on when Sinn F\u00e9in wants an answer from the Government. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  What the people want most today----- "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  Unlike Sinn F\u00e9in, we will give it consideration----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  You are a disgrace. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  -----and we will not engage in kneejerk reactions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Kneejerk? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  Come back to us when Sinn F\u00e9in has done something in Northern Ireland. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  The Minister should talk to the people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call Deputy Bacik. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  I commend the great Oscar wins at the weekend for Jessie Buckley and Richie Baneham and, of course, the win for the Irish rugby team.  Yesterday, we watched the White House ceremony while the Taoiseach sat silent, utterly sidelined while US President Trump ranted and raved----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  Will you stop? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  -----about Europe, NATO, wind farms, Keir Starmer, immigration and much more. It is deeply disappointing that the Taoiseach did not push back harder against Trump's delusional ramblings, in particular to condemn Trump's illegal war on Iran. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  Did the Deputy write this last week? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  To be fair, however, one thing we can be glad about is that the Taoiseach did push back against some of Trump's comments on immigration. I was pleased to hear the Taoiseach defend Europe and European migration policy and, indeed, say that Ireland benefits from our migrant communities and the skills they bring here. It was entirely appropriate for the Taoiseach to bring that message on St. Patrick's Day from a nation of immigrants because for generations the Irish national story was about our people finding refuge abroad.  That is why the Labour Party has now asked the Government to launch a positive information campaign about migration in Ireland. We need a campaign based on facts and real stories. The fact that sectors of our economy and our public services, such as healthcare, hospitality and retail, simply would not function without the skilled people who have come here from other countries to bring their skills and experience. We need a campaign about the facts and the positive impact made by so many who have come here to seek work or, indeed, refuge from war or persecution.  However, instead of that fact-based campaign we need from Government, we have seen far right rhetoric, myths and misinformation about migrants go unchallenged for far too long. We have seen intimidating protests. We have seen the appalling misuse of our national flag. Last week, we saw reports that the Minister's Department's new immigration strategy is apparently going to be for the benefit of the Irish people, founded on respect for social and cultural norms and the rule of law. That is somewhat concerning language, doubling down on some dog whistle rhetoric and using hostile language about inward migration amounting to the othering of people from different countries.  I am calling on the Minister for justice to take heed of the Taoiseach's words yesterday on immigration and support the campaign Labour launched last week. We call our campaign Together We Thrive. It showcases the stories of migrants who come to Ireland and who have made a contribution by opening a restaurant in Dublin, being involved in and doing volunteer work in Sligo or teaching in Cork. These are the stories of people who came from Syria, Ukraine and India who have made such a positive contribution to our economy and our society.  Therefore, instead of performative deportations and draconian legislation on immigration, let us see the Government now embrace this campaign; challenge the pernicious far right rhetoric on migration; and show solidarity and leadership with our new communities. Will the Government sign up to our Together We Thrive campaign? This is the real story of migration to Ireland. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  Any fair-minded person looking at the events in the White House yesterday would recognise that the Taoiseach did an excellent job----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  -----in extremely challenging circumstances. Obviously, had Deputy Bacik been there, she would have dealt with it completely differently and more effectively----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  I would not have gone. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  -----on behalf of the Irish people. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  Of course, we know what would have happened had she been the Taoiseach because she had made the decision in advance of the visit that the Taoiseach should not go there. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  That is right. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  Had the Labour Party been in government, there would have been no engagement in respect of the United States of America. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  Exactly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  No shamrock ceremony for somebody------ "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  It was a very important message that the Taoiseach delivered. It is an extremely difficult time in terms of the relationship between the United States and Europe. I thought it was a real advantage for the Taoiseach to be there yesterday, as the leader of a European country that is not a member of NATO. I think he did Ireland and Europe proud in terms of setting out the values of Europe and, indeed, in setting back some of the rhetoric of President Trump, which as everyone can appreciate can be difficult at times.  I also welcome what the Taoiseach had to say not just in respect of Keir Starmer, but also in respect of Europe being a great place to live and, indeed, in respect of immigration. The Taoiseach did emphasise in respect of immigration that there was a rules-based system operating not just in Ireland, but throughout Europe. One of the criticisms of President Trump's regime is that there are no rules in respect of immigration in Europe. That clearly is not the case. The Taoiseach deserves to be commended in respect the message he delivered yesterday.  In terms of what Deputy Bacik said about immigration law in Ireland, as I have repeatedly said, the Government wants to ensure that we have a rules-based system so that people will know whether, according to those rules, they qualify to stay in Ireland or, if they do not qualify, that they have to leave. There is nothing performative about deportations. They are an essential part of Ireland's immigration strategy, and neither I nor the rest of the Government are going to apologise for them. If we do not have deportations, I would like Deputy Bacik to tell me in her reply what the response should be when somebody with a deportation order refuses to leave the country.  Deputy Bacik also criticised the new immigration policy that is being formulated by the Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, and me in the Department of justice. For many years, we have not had a migration strategy in Ireland and it is important now that we formulate one. It has been too much developed on a haphazard basis. I think everyone will benefit from seeing a written down policy in respect of a migration strategy. Deputy Bacik criticised me for including within that policy paper that was drafted a number of weeks, if not months ago, a reference to the fact that immigration policy should be for the benefit of the Irish people. It is astonishing that I have to stand up here and say any policy I develop is not going to be for the benefit of the Italian people or for others globally, but for the benefit of the Irish people, in the same way that the Minister, Deputy Heydon, would develop an agriculture strategy that would be for the benefit of the Irish people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  The Labour Party has articulated a very clear migration policy of our own. It is, of course, fair, effective and rules based, but it also has room for humanity and compassion. It is interesting to hear the Minister's emphasis on a rules-based system because at the same meeting yesterday in the White House, the Taoiseach also raised with President Trump the need for a special deal, a legal pathway with the US for Irish immigrants. Certainly, it is very welcome to see the Taoiseach making reference to people from Ireland who are living in the US and who are in fear of ICE and the deportations being pursued by Trump, but the policy is very different to that being pursued here in Ireland. This week, the International Protection Bill, which the Minister has initiated, is on Committee Stage in the Seanad. There are hundreds of amendments tabled. In the D\u00e1il, only amendments as far as section 22 out of 238 in Bill were reached. Draconian changes on family reunification were not debated or scrutinised at all before the guillotine was brought down. I could list dozens of other issues in the Bill. We did, as did other Opposition parties. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  Will the Minister commit to having a full scrutiny of the legislation in the Seanad? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Minister to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  Will he launch a positive campaign on the benefits of inward migration? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  Each year, my Department issues tens of thousands of visas on foot of work permits granted by the Department of enterprise. We are a very open economy. We welcome in migrant workers. In fact, if the Deputy looks at the Irish workforce, we have a significant number of workers who come from overseas. We have had a very positive experience with migrants who have come to Ireland to work. We have done a really good job in integrating them, notwithstanding the fact that there are people out there who want to politicise it, polarise it and create violence between different groups in our society.  I believe the Government has done a very effective job in respect of it. However, it is important to ensure there is a rules-based system and the humanity and compassion Deputy Bacik referred to is very much built into the statutory regime we have here, whether it is International Protection Bill or the rules that operate in respect of work visas. We have been very welcoming to people who have come to this country. We are an open economy. We welcome them in but we must have a rules-based system as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Cheann Comhairle. In 1940 Ireland's infant mortality rate was 6.5%. In the Bessborough mother and baby home, it was 61%. In 1943 a Department inspector, Alice Litster, said: \"The greater number[s] ... were miserable scraps of humanity, wizened, some emaciated and almost all had rash and sores all over their bodies, faces, hands and heads.\" Many of those children died of starvation. The State was fully aware but the institution remained open and women and children continued to be incarcerated and abused there.  Between 1922 when it opened and 1998 when it finally closed 923 children died in Bessborough but burial records exist for just 64. It seems no one even cared enough to record where they were buried. The nuns who ran Bessborough did keep meticulous records about one thing: baptisms. A few years ago when it was suggested some of the children had not been baptised, the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary was quick to correct the record. They wanted to \" ... state categorically that all children born in Bessborough were baptised within the rites of the Catholic Church and canon law.\" However, when it comes to the burial records of babies who died there, they apparently have no idea where they are. They disappeared without a trace as if they never existed.  The Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes was \"perplexed and concerned at the inability of ... the Congregation ... to identify the burial ... [places].\" and concluded it was \"... highly likely that the burials did take place in the grounds ...\". Twenty-eight years since the Bessborough mother and baby home closed we still do not know where they are because the State has not bothered to look.  Unbelievably, planning permission has now been granted to build an apartment complex on the grounds of Bessborough. Can the Minister imagine how empty the apology to mother and baby home survivors must feel when five years later planning permission has somehow been granted to build apartments on a mass grave? I do not think the Minister needs me to tell him that ordinarily if there were any number of children buried somewhere there would be a criminal investigation. There would never be a question of just concreting over it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  It is not just callous, it is abhorrent and it should never be allowed to happen. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Minister to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  Survivors will be protesting outside the D\u00e1il this evening. They want the Government to act before it is too late to acquire the grounds and conduct a long-overdue----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy. The Minister to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  ----- forensic investigation. What does the Minister have to say to them? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I thank Deputy Cairns for her question. Obviously, it evokes a very painful and disturbing part of our history. In fairness to this Government and indeed previous Governments, there has been a process of trying to ensure that women who are survivors of mother and baby homes and, indeed, children who were born there are provided with recompense and acknowledgement by the State over the past ten-to-15 years or so. Nothing is ever enough for the pain that people went through, particularly the pain of mothers having children taken from them at a very young age.  Deputy Cairns referred to the commission of investigation report into mother and baby homes and it, as she knows, carried out a cartographic and landscape assessment of possible unrecorded burial arrangements in Bessborough. It also carried out a site survey and consulted with people on responses to its appeal seeking information about burials there.  It concluded that it was likely that some of the children who died at Bessborough were buried in the grounds, but it was unable to find any physical or documentary evidence of this. As no evidence of locations was found, the commission did not consider it feasible to excavate the full available site, which amounts to 60 acres, or the former 200-acre estate, parts of which have now been built on.  I empathise and acknowledge the pain that survivors from Bessborough feel at the news that the site is to be developed in a way they feel does not give recognition to the terrible actions that went on there previously. Planning permission has been granted. The Deputy knows as well as I do that the Government cannot interfere in respect of planning applications. I do not know whether an appeal has been lodged, but if it has not, that is an avenue available to the survivors.  With regard to other available avenues, the Deputy asked for the State to purchase the site. Unless there is specific, strong cartographic evidence as to where bodies are buried, we could find ourselves buying a vast site for the purpose of carrying out excavations that could take an interminable period of time. We know what is happening in Tuam at present, which is a small location. I had the honour of being there and seeing the size of that location previously. If we were to buy a site the size of Bessborough and start excavations, I would be extremely concerned at the length of time that would take. Ultimately, I do not think it would provide the type of support and appropriate response that all of us in this House want to provide to survivors. I will raise and talk to the Taoiseach and T\u00e1naiste in respect of it. I understand the concern but purchasing the site is not the answer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  It is incorrect to say that there is not specific or strong enough evidence. The commission saying that it is likely that there are remains of children on the grounds is specific and strong enough evidence to prove that there probably is. At the very least, it warrants an examination.  There seems to be a perception that this is a normal planning application, that there is no sensitivity and that there is no criminal aspect to the situation. The Government is treating it like that, claiming it cannot do anything now that planning permission has been granted. If a child were to disappear today and it was suspected that they were buried in a particular plot of land, it is safe to say there would be a forensic examination and, following that, the coroner would be called. All of the criminal and legal processes would follow, and rightly so because the family of that child would deserve justice. Why do the families of the 829 unaccounted for and disappeared children not deserve that whereas the families of the children in Tuam do? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  We want to be honest with people. We do not want to mislead the 829 families into believing that, by purchasing the site, we will be able to excavate and identify burial grounds. We need to be honest with people in this regard.  Just so the House is aware, on foot of the Government\u2019s action plan for survivors and former residents of mother and baby homes, the former Minister for housing, Deputy O\u2019Brien, wrote to local authorities requesting that development plan processes consider incorporating appropriate measures to ensure the protection of unrecorded burial sites. That is an issue that must be dealt with by the local authority in whose area Bessborough is placed. The action plan also contains commitments in relation to dignified, local memorialisation of known or agreed burial sites.  There is no point in purchasing the land and old home unless there is a realistic prospect of being able to identify burial grounds within them. Otherwise, we are just prolonging the suffering and pain of individuals who were in Bessborough. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Yesterday, Joseph Kent, who was the director of national counterterrorism in the United States and a senior official in the American Administration, resigned over Donald Trump\u2019s war against Iran. In his letter of resignation, he stated that \u201cIran posed no imminent threat to our nation\u201d and attempts to justify the war were lies. He described the war as one manufactured by Israel.  That war, since Trump and the Israeli regime commenced it, has claimed the lives of more than 3,000 innocent Iranian people, including 160 schoolgirls who were wiped out in one attack. In Lebanon, 900 people have been murdered by the Israelis. As we speak, Beirut is being bombed to bits in one of the worst reigns of death and destruction inflicted by Israel on the people of Lebanon for a very long time. Almost 800,000 people have been displaced and there are now real fears that we are going to see a repeat of the genocidal horrors that we have seen in Gaza for the past two years happening in southern Lebanon. As if all that death, destruction and horror being visited on people in Iran and Lebanon and the genocide in Gaza is not enough, every single working person in this country and across the world is now paying a direct economic price from their pocket with the cost of home heating oil, petrol and other fuel having gone up, all as a result of Trump and Israel's war. I repeat that Israel is a regime that is in the dock for genocide and in the International Criminal Court. The Taoiseach of this country sat beside Donald Trump yesterday, handed him a bowl of shamrock and celebrated our national day with this warmonger even though, as Taoiseach, he has repeatedly claimed that this country is committed to international law. Yet, not a single word of criticism of the flagrant murderous breaches of international law in which Trump and Israel are engaged. At one point, I thought he was going to say it when he said we cannot have rogue regimes possessing nuclear weapons. I thought he was talking about Israel, which, of course, has nuclear weapons and will not even sign the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, or about the United States, the only country in the world that has ever used them and which has launched this illegal war. But no, our Taoiseach was leaning into the justification that Trump has used to justify this murderous war. How can the Minister possibly stand over the Taoiseach's failure to condemn the flagrant breaches of international law and the illegal war in the White House yesterday and continue to----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you Deputy. Allow the Minister to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  -----extend facilities to the US military at Shannon Airport in breach of our neutrality? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I thank the Deputy for his question. I am surprised he started with an invocation of Joseph Kent, who is one of the leaders of the MAGA movement in the United States of America. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  It is because even they can see it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  It is just curious that the Deputy should happen to rely upon him and quote what he said. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy M\u00e1ire Devine  What does that mean? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I repeat what I said to Deputy Bacik, which is that what the Taoiseach did yesterday in the White House was extremely important from Ireland and Europe's point of view. We are, as the Deputy will know, at a particularly important time in the geopolitical relationship between the United States and Europe. A very significant break has taken place in that relationship, which has existed for ever 100 years. The focus of that the break is in NATO. As I said earlier, there was a real benefit that the Taoiseach was out there as the leader of a European country that is not a member of NATO, but he was able to emphasise the importance Ireland places on the rules-based system and the international order. That is in our Constitution. We have consistently done that. We have consistently had a record of being a country that believes in the peaceful resolution of disputes, not the resolution of disputes through military force. The Taoiseach has to deal with the circumstances with which he is faced. Obviously, if Deputy Boyd Barrett was Taoiseach, he would not have gone to the United States----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  No. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  -----and that is very clear. He would not have gone. I know Deputy Bacik would not have gone----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  Not to the Oval Office. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  In fairness, Deputies McDonald and Cairns would have gone, so I wish them well when they are in government together deciding whether they will go to the United States next year or whenever they are in government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  The end is nigh. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  Deputy Boyd Barrett would not have gone. There is a real benefit in the Taoiseach going there and being able to speak out frankly, more so than any other international leaders who have been there recently have done. The Taoiseach was able to speak out in respect of Keir Starmer----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  Wow. I did not know that was our job. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  -----in respect of immigration and in respect of Ireland's view that we should resolve disputes through pacific methods. We cannot emphasise that enough. However, the reality is that in politics, as I am sure the Deputy is aware, self-awareness is an important characteristic.  It applies to all of us individually. It also applies to us as a country. Ireland is a small, non-military country. What we say is effective, in terms of the diplomacy we have and standing up to people who are our friends and telling them that we think they have gone down the wrong road in what they are doing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  He did not say that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  Ireland has a strong voice. The Taoiseach emphasises that. The Deputy just saw what was stated in front of the cameras yesterday. There is ongoing engagement between ambassadors and diplomats in the United States. Nobody wants to see these disputes resolved through force. I agree with Deputy Carthy when he said that no-one ever achieved anything from bombing a country. He was right in that respect, notwithstanding the irony of it. Similarly, we need to emphasise to the United States that there is no long-term solution through bombing Iran because that is not going to achieve the political objectives that are sought. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  I would have gone to the United States and I would have stood with people like Mamdani, who reminded us of our own history of opposition to colonialism and war. I certainly would not stand beside a warmonger like Trump, who is ripping up the international legal rule book to pursue a bloody and murderous war against Iran, and is co-operating with Israel, which is in the dock for genocide and is bombing the hell out of Lebanon. Our Taoiseach cannot even bring himself to condemn this, even when it is imposing an economic cost on every single person in this country and across the world. He also continues to facilitate US troops going through Shannon Airport. In just one day, on 15 March, four US troop carriers went through Shannon. Is the Minister telling me they are not involved in the bloody carnage that Trump and the Israelis are inflicting across the Middle East right now? Imagine if a Taoiseach went and handed shamrock to Vladimir Putin and did not say a word about the murderous invasion of Ukraine and allowed Russian troops into Shannon Airport while the invasion was going on. There would be justifiable outrage, yet that is what the Taoiseach did with Trump yesterday despite his warmongering. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  The Deputy mentioned the Mayor of New York, Mamdani. Of course, he did go to the White House. He is not refusing to meet President Trump as a result of what has happened in Iran. The Deputy's position is not consistent when it comes to engagement. The Irish Government believes there should be engagement with people when it comes to seeking to resolve disputes. The Deputy's view is to stay away from it. We believe, when you look at the history of Ireland and what we have achieved, that we are much better off engaging with people, particularly our friends. He also mentioned what is happening at Shannon Airport. The issue of what is happening in the Middle East is happening in the eastern Mediterranean. That is where the aircraft carriers from the United States are based. All foreign military or state aircraft wishing to overfly or land in the State require diplomatic clearance. The Deputy's charge against the Irish Government is incorrect. It is at times like this that our neutrality----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  You do not search the planes. You refuse to search the planes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  -----stands to us, and the fact that we are not a member of NATO stands to us. I again commend the Taoiseach for the great performance he put up yesterday. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Before I move on, I welcome the ladies in the Gallery who are here from County Carlow as guests of the Minister of State, Deputy Murnane O'Connor. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-18\/debate\/dbsect_3","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 na Comhalta\u00ed Eile - Other Members\u2019 Questions","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eamon Scanlon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eamon-Scanlon.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Eamon-Scanlon.S.2002-09-12","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eamon Scanlon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eamon-Scanlon.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Eamon-Scanlon.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eamon Scanlon  A 42-bed ward is currently under construction on the Sligo University Hospital campus. This development is very welcome. However, beneath this building there will be a vacant space specifically earmarked for a future daycare oncology unit. The planned oncology day unit represents a major opportunity to expand capacity, improve patient experience and deliver safer and more timely care for cancer patients in the region. I therefore call on the Department to ensure that, by the time the 42-bed ward is completed, funding will be in place to immediately proceed with the fit-out of the oncology unit. Leaving this space idle would be a failure of planning and a missed opportunity. The infrastructure will be there and the clinical lead is already there. What is now required is the political will and financial commitment to ensure that oncology unit becomes operational without delay. The people of the north-west region urgently need this service.  My second point also concerns Sligo University Hospital. Two surgical wards for the campus have already passed all required approval stages. The HSE is now simply awaiting departmental sign-off to move to the design phase. The delay is happening against the backdrop of an unacceptable pattern of theatre shutdowns and cancelled elective surgeries caused by repeated critical infrastructure failures.  Leaks from the theatre roof and failures in radiator pipework have forced multiple closures of the orthopaedic theatre in recent months. These failures have repeatedly halted hip and knee replacement surgeries, leaving patients waiting in pain for procedures that should be routine. In February alone, five further elective operations were cancelled. This disruption came only weeks after surgeries had resumed following a suspension since December caused by bed pressure and earlier leaks.  Sligo now has some of the longest orthopaedic waiting times in the State and patients in the region are among the worst affected nationally. With ongoing cancellations and clear evidence that this existing infrastructure is no longer fit for purpose, departmental approval for the two surgical wards cannot be allowed to drift on. It is urgently required to restore safe and reliable surgical capacity for the people of the north west. Decisive action and immediate progression of this development is now essential.  Can we provide a clear guarantee that funding will be in place to fit out the new oncology day care unit? Can the Department confirm that the approval to allow the two new surgical wards to progress to the design and planning stage will be issued without further delay? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I thank Deputy Scanlon for his question about Sligo University Hospital. As the Deputy will be aware, a 42-bed block is being built in Sligo. I think it is Deputy Scanlon\u2019s view that the oncology unit should be constructed at the same time. I will speak to the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, in respect of this matter and come back to the Deputy on it. Obviously, a lot of work is being done in the orthopaedic theatre in Sligo University Hospital at present. It is proposed to replace the orthopaedic theatre. The options appraisal for this is complete and work is under way to make a case for submission for formal capital approval in the coming weeks. This option provides for two replacement orthopaedic theatres, as the Deputy indicated, and theatre storage facilities, along with some additional beds.  There has been significant progress, expenditure and investment in that since 2020, as the Deputy knows. We have seen the budget grow from \u20ac160 million in 2022 to \u20ac246 million this year for Sligo, which is an increase of 54%. Additionally, staffing at the hospital has grown considerably. It has increased by 38%, from 1,677 in 2020 to 2,321 at the start of 2026. A total of 104 new beds have also been opened.  Deputy Scanlon also raised the issue of the Sligo surgical hub. Following the announcement of the development of the Sligo surgical hub by the Minister in July last year, work has progressed to finalise the design brief. This includes the schedule of accommodation for the Sligo project. A tendering process is at the final stages to establish a major design team framework for the west and north-west region. This will facilitate the appointment of a design team for the Letterkenny and Sligo developments, with the aim of progressing both sites in parallel and ensuring a co-ordinated and efficient roll-out of this capacity in response to service need. It is planned to have the design team appointed in the first quarter of this year and then to commence the design phase early in the second quarter, from April onwards.  The overall programme, including the timelines and capital costs associated with the developments at Sligo and Letterkenny, will become clearer as the following key milestones are progressed: the detailed schedule of accommodation in both facilities will be finalised; design teams will be appointed; planning applications will be lodged and planning permission secured; enabling works will be progressed; and construction contracts will be awarded for both facilities. Every effort will be made to fast-track these surgical hubs to a standardised design, including exploring opportunities to progress via existing contracts. As I said to the Deputy, I will specifically raise this matter with my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eamon Scanlon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eamon-Scanlon.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Eamon-Scanlon.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eamon Scanlon  I thank the Minister for his response. It is extremely important to ensure that the oncology unit is fully funded and delivered and to immediately progress the surgical ward development. The people of Sligo and the wider north-west area deserve a timely, safe and reliable hospital service. These commitments are essential to delivering that service. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I commend Deputy Scanlon on raising the question. As he knows, the programme for Government has committed the Government to exploring the provision of a surgical hub for the north west, in addition to establishing six new surgical hubs across the country.  Delivery of the surgical hub in Sligo will be in line with the delivery of the other surgical hubs which are all new builds and which are taking in the order of four years for planning, design and construction.  I can understand the Deputy\u2019s desire to ensure this is expedited and sped up so the people of Sligo can have an even better medical hospital than they have at present. It has to be acknowledged that there have been very significant improvements to Sligo University Hospital in the past number of years. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 na Comhalta\u00ed Eile - Other Members\u2019 Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-18\/debate\/dbsect_4","debateType":"orderofBusiness","bill":null,"showAs":"An tOrd Gn\u00f3 - Order of Business","counts":{"speechCount":62,"speakerCount":24},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_4","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ryan O'Meara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Mary Butler)  I move:  Wednesday's business shall be:  -\tStatements on International Women's Day (not to exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes)  Wednesday's private members' business shall be the Motion re Energy and Fuel Costs, selected by Sinn F\u00e9in.  Thursday's business shall be:  -\tMedia Regulation Bill 2026 (Second Stage) (if not previously concluded, to adjourn at the end of the first speaking round)  Thursday's private members' business shall be the Motion re Structural Reform of Child Welfare Governance, selected by Independent Technical Group.    Proposed Arrangements for this week\u2019s business:    In relation to Wednesday\u2019s business, it is proposed that:  1. notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders:  ( a )\tParliamentary Questions to the Taoiseach pursuant to Standing Order 47(1) shall not be taken, and Government business shall commence at the time when Parliamentary Questions to the Taoiseach would normally be taken;  ( b )\tprivate members\u2019 business shall be taken following the Statements on International Women\u2019s Day;  ( c )\tParliamentary Questions to a Minister other than the Taoiseach pursuant to Standing Order 47(1) shall not be taken; and  ( d )\ttopical issues shall be taken on the conclusion of private members\u2019 business; and  2. the Statements on International Women's Day shall not exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply:  ( a )\tthe statements, not including the Ministerial response, shall be in accordance with the sequence contained in the table immediately below (to be read across);  ( b )\tfollowing the statements, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes; and  ( c )\tmembers may share time          Gov      SF      Lab      Gov      SF       Mins    25    15    10    10    3           SD      Gov      SF      IPTG      Gov       Mins    10    10    3    9    10           SF      ITG      Gov      SF      OM       Mins    3    9    10    3    5     In relation to Thursday's business, it is proposed that:  1.\tnotwithstanding anything in Standing Orders:  ( a ) no motion for a Committee report pursuant to Standing Order 111 or private member's Bill pursuant to Standing Order 169 shall be taken;  ( b ) private members' business pursuant to Standing Order 168(1) shall be taken for 2 hours following proceedings of the Media Regulation Bill 2026; and  ( c ) topical issues shall be taken on the conclusion of private members' business, and the D\u00e1il shall adjourn on the conclusion of topical issues; and  2.\tthe proceedings on the Second Stage of the Media Regulation Bill 2026 shall, if not previously concluded, be interrupted and stand adjourned at the end of the first speaking round and the following arrangements shall apply:  ( a )\tthe first-round speeches shall be in accordance with the table below (to be read across);  ( b )\twhere speeches conclude before the 3 hours and 24 minutes have elapsed and no other member is offering, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a speech in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes, whereupon proceedings shall be brought to a conclusion; and  ( c )\tmembers may share time.         Gov      SF      Lab      Gov      SF       Mins    20    20    20    12    4           SD      Gov      SF      IPTG      Gov       Mins    20    12    4    20    12           SF      ITG      Gov      SF      OM       Mins    4    20    12    4    20     "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Are the proposed arrangements for this week\u2019s business agreed to? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Not agreed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call Deputy McDonald. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  The Government's failure to act to assist families, workers and motorists as fuel prices skyrocket is completely untenable, unacceptable and unsustainable. We need to have accountability for its inaction as a do-nothing Government. More to the point, we need to hear concretely when and how the Government eventually proposes to act. We need statements and questions and answers on the most pressing issue at the moment for Irish families. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  This evening at 5.30 p.m, my colleague, Senator Harmon, will lead a protest against the unconscionable planning decision we have seen at Bessborough. This site should become a site of national conscience. We cannot concrete over a site where 923 children died while the Government sits idly by. We need to have statements on this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  The Government has had plenty of time to put together what it is going to do for the cost-of-living energy crisis we face at the moment. Nothing has come forward. This week the D\u00e1il should be discussing and passing emergency measures to help families and households under huge pressure with rising costs. There is a proposal from the Social Democrats for a \u20ac400 targeted energy credit that the Government should be adopting. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  We have a deep energy crisis in this country with the price of fuel skyrocketing. We need a debate. We need the Ministers for energy and Finance before the D\u00e1il. The seriousness of it surely evident in everybody's constituency. It surely is in mine. People are in desperate situations. The Government seems to be kicking the can down the road as if it is an issue that can be sorted down the road. Measures are urgently needed now. We have farmers who use fertilisers which is going to drive food prices and haulage companies mad. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Chief Whip to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Sorry. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Excuse me, Deputy Boyd Barrett. I passed over you. It is the jet lag. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  As somebody who was born in a mother and baby home, I was lucky to have a good outcome. I am acutely aware of the feelings and sensitivities of people like those who suffered and were traumatised and of infants who lost their lives in places like Bessborough. There is urgent need to take on board the reason people are protesting this evening. I will be joining that protest. We need to listen to these people and acknowledge their concerns. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  I thank the five parties and groupings for their comments. As they know, the Business Committee will meet at 11 a.m. tomorrow. We will certainly try to facilitate the statements on Bessborough, although it will not be this week as the Minister is away. We will certainly try to facilitate them next week.  In relation to the cost of energy, Sinn F\u00e9in has a Private Members' motion this evening. The T\u00e1naiste and the Minister, Deputy O\u2019Brien will be here for that. The Order of Business stands. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Are the proposed arrangements for this week's business agreed to? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Not agreed. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question, \"That the proposed arrangements for this week's business be agreed to\", put and declared carried."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Last week, I, along with my colleagues Deputies Pearse Doherty and P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn, met the families of those who lost their lives or were injured in the Creeslough tragedy. They have two requests of the Government. First, that it establish a public inquiry into this tragedy and, second, that the Minister for justice meet with them. They have questions that are not related to the criminal investigation and that they want to put to him directly. This meeting and, indeed, a public inquiry can take place without compromising the investigation, as confirmed by the former Garda Commissioner. The Minister's predecessor, the Minister, Deputy McEntee, met with the families, but that was a year and a half ago. It is only right that the Minister should meet with them now and listen to what they have to say. This awful event happened nearly four years ago. The families continue to fight for truth and justice. They should not have to fight to secure a meeting with the Minister. Will he commit today to meeting with the families without further delay? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Jim O'Callaghan)  I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. It was a horrific incident that happened to the families. I had the pleasure of meeting the Deputy and Deputy Doherty to discuss it last year. I also met with the parents of Leona Harper in December. I want to be straight with the families, because they have suffered a lot. I will not establish a public inquiry until such time as the criminal investigation and the inquest are concluded. The reason I am being blunt about that is because I want the families in Creeslough to get justice. The only way they will get justice is through the criminal process. A file has gone to the Director of Public Prosecutions, DPP. There may be another file going. I have been kept updated on this issue by An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and others. The only way they will get justice is through the courts. If at the end of that process there are questions remaining, I will very much consider whether a public inquiry is required. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Will the Minister meet them? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Ivana Bacik. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Will the Minister meet them? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I will answer that----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Sorry, Minister. Deputy Ivana Bacik. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  The Minister should answer. The families are looking in, and he is refusing to----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputies and the Minister will have to engage further. What is happening is not how it works. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I will answer it in due course. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Ivana Bacik is on her feet. The Deputies and the Minister will have to engage further. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  There are 320,000 households in arrears on their electricity bills. Hundreds of thousands are facing soaring home heating costs and price hikes at filling stations as the US and Israel's illegal war on Iran enters its third week, with no end in sight. The Minister stated earlier that the Government is considering cost-of-living measures and a package of supports for struggling households. There have been many kites flown and many mixed messages from Government. The Minister of State, Deputy Niall Collins, suggested that the Government should consider scrapping the \u20ac680 million VAT cut on hospitality to pay for cost-of-living supports. Is that Fianna F\u00e1il policy? If not, when are we going to see clarity from the Government for struggling households? People just want to know when and what will be offered by the Government. The Labour Party has put forward a number of measures. There are clearly things that the Government can do, including new measures to support faster roll-out of renewables, increased retrofitting supports for homes in energy poverty and the extension of the fuel allowance. We are not getting any clarity; all we are getting are mixed messages. Households are struggling. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I want to deal with the question from Deputy McDonald that I did not answer. I will keep an open mind in respect of the matter. I will just say, however, that my predecessor, the Minister, Deputy Helen McEntee, met them. They want a public inquiry. I am being straight with them. I am not going to establish a public inquiry until such time that the criminal process is over. I will come back to the Deputy on this matter, but I do not want to fool people by bringing them up to Dublin and having them come in here----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Minister's time----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Show them some respect by meeting them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  In the context of what Deputy Bacik said, people are obviously concerned about the rising cost of fuel. That is why the Taoiseach, the T\u00e1naiste and other Government Ministers have indicated that measures will probably be taken in response to what is happening with regard to the price of fuel. We are not going to just have a knee-jerk reaction in respect of this; we are going to have a united Government response in the same way that we did in respect of Ukraine. The Deputy will obviously continue to put pressure on the Government, but we need to formulate our response and target it, as I said to Deputy McDonald earlier. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  When will it happen? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  Has the Minister any plan at all to deal with the spate of arson attacks and vandalism happening at playgrounds the length and breadth of Dublin? This seems to be an issue that has increased in frequency and scale during his time as Minister for justice. Does he have any plan at all? I refer here to Diamond Park, Bridgefoot Street Park, St. Anne's Park and Sean Moore Park, which is in the Minister's constituency. These attacks are causing hundreds of thousands of euro worth of damage. I do not see the Department taking what is happening in any way seriously.  Is this on the Minister's table? Is he engaging with local authorities about it? An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na is asking local authorities to put private security in parks. This is madness. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I thank the Deputy. I am well aware of the issue. As he indicated, it happened in Sean Moore Park in my constituency. Garda\u00ed had considerable success identifying the person responsible for it. The criminal justice system must operate in respect of people, even if they are under 18 years of age, who commit arson in playgrounds. Not only are they damaging playgrounds, they are damaging their communities. I do not think the Deputy is suggesting I am responsible for arson attacks or for the increase in such attacks. I assure him that An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na is well aware of my interest in this matter and in the ongoing attacks being investigated. Young people need to be made aware of the damage they are inflicting on their communities by engaging in arson. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charles Ward  I rise to represent two constituents in Donegal who literally cannot speak for themselves. They are at the end of their lives and are living with advanced Alzheimer's disease. They live in cold, mould-infested, unsafe homes. They are confused and frightened, and deteriorating in a place that is stripping them of all dignity. If dignity in life means anything, dignity in death must mean more. Right now, they have neither. The Minister will point to a multibillion euro scheme and say that they can rent elsewhere. The truth is that they cannot. They have neither the time nor the capacity to do so. This is the reality coming down the road for us all. Will the Government prioritise vulnerable people, provide dedicated supports for older people to allow them to navigate this scheme and put in place a system to establish an end-to-end pathway for this cohort? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  Unfortunately, I do not have an answer for the Deputy. I will raise it with my colleague the Minister, Deputy James Browne. It might be of assistance if the Deputy were to provide to the Minister details of the two constituents in question in order that he can look at the matter in more detail. At the periphery of every scheme, there is always some flexibility. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  We are experiencing an energy crisis. The cost of fuel is spiralling out of control. People are struggling. The reality is that the vast majority of what we pay at the pump goes to the Government in taxation. In 2024, the Government took in over \u20ac4 billion in fuel tax. In 2024, carbon tax reached \u20ac1 billion. Aont\u00fa was the only party to vote against the carbon tax because we knew it would drive up the cost of fuel. These energy costs are going to drive up inflation across the economy. People in rural Ireland cannot afford to pay these prices any longer. They have no other option to get to work. When is the Government going to reduce the cost of fuel during this energy crisis? The cost in question is crippling for families at the moment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  Everyone is aware of the impact that the price of fuel is having on families, not just at pumps but also elsewhere. The Deputy is correct that VAT accounts for more than 20% of the cost of fuel. Excise duty accounts for more than 30%. That is something the Government is looking at, particularly in respect of the excise duty. We will not make a knee-jerk reaction just to facilitate the Deputy in getting an answer today. This has to be carefully considered by the Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathal Crowe  I want to raise the issue of the suspended garda\u00ed in the Limerick Garda division, which straddles some of County Clare, who were recently acquitted of wrongdoing. That was the right decision, but I am conscious that quite a number of more junior ranking garda\u00ed are still under a veil of suspicion. Over the years, they have had laptops, mobile phones and other devices confiscated. It is important. The process has to conclude, but there are far too many people caught up in the net. During the term of the previous D\u00e1il, at one point 108 garda\u00ed across the entire country were under suspension. At that time, I read into the record a letter from one of those garda\u00ed - I recently reposted it on social media - in which they talked about ending their life because of the huge strain that had been put on them. A threshold needs to be established whereby some matters should be dealt with under internal disciplinary processes and others should be dealt with in the context of criminal law. Not everyone can be suspended, dragged over hot coals and have their careers destroyed. There has to be some method of investigation beyond these court cases. There has to be an inquiry into all this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I have spoken to Deputy Crowe previously about this issue and his concern for the garda\u00ed involved. As is obviously the case, they were acquitted. They are not guilty. It is always the case, regrettably, that where people who are prosecuted for offences and acquitted, there are consequences for them deriving from that.  There is no mechanism in place to provide any remedy for a person who is prosecuted and then acquitted, and I do not think there would be public support for it. The Deputy has raised an inquiry in respect of the issues. If there is going to be an inquiry, we are into a full quasi-judicial process again and that is not in anyone's interest. We need to move on from this. The garda\u00ed have been vindicated and they need to get back to doing what they do best, which is protecting the community. If there are garda\u00ed who are traumatically affected by it, they need to get help and I urge the Deputy to pass that on to them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Callaghan  I would like to talk about housing supply in Carlow. We all agree that a quicker way to increase supply is to utilise existing buildings. I have to give kudos to Carlow County Council, which has made huge inroads tackling vacancy and dereliction, with a particular focus on providing town centre older persons' housing to facilitate the 339 older persons living alone in two- and three-bedroom council houses in Carlow so that these family homes are accessible to families. Carlow County Council has already purchased substantial vacant sites to provide more homes but the cost of abnormals, like decontamination or utility upgrades, is eating away at its allocated budget. I am aware of a site in the council's ownership that will require close to \u20ac1 million to be brought to a build-ready position due to the nature of its previous use. If costs like this were borne by central government, it would allow Carlow County Council to more quickly fulfil its ambition to bring Carlow town centre back to life and increase housing supply for the people of Carlow. Will the Government consider funding a certain level of abnormals for local authorities that are developing housing? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I thank the Deputy very much. I will raise that with my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Browne. Just so the Deputy is aware,the Government has provided a \u20ac150 million fund to end long-term vacancy and dereliction in towns and cities under the urban regeneration and development fund. This dedicated \u20ac150 million fund allows local authorities to acquire vacant or derelict properties, residential or commercial, and to carry out any associated works needed to derisk or improve the properties. I am sure that the very effective chief executive of Carlow County Council, Coil\u00edn O\u2019Reilly, is aware of this and it is probably worth engaging with him to see if any of this funding can be used for the purpose of ending vacancy and dereliction in Carlow. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  I want to raise the issue of the funding cuts to education programmes at education and training boards, ETBs, this year. The Government has cut over \u20ac1.3 million from Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board, GRETB's further education pathways budget. The result is that 25 teachers have been informed that they are being let go and roughly 150 classes are being cancelled. GRETB says it has been left with no other choice because of these funding cuts. The cuts will mainly affect the most essential classes, including English language classes, literacy classes as well as other areas, such as the Irish language. It is going to have a particular impact on the most vulnerable and marginalised students. I have been contacted by many students and staff who have been left absolutely devastated by this. It is a real slap in the face to teachers who have served their communities for years and are now being let go just as many of them were about to receive permanent contracts. I want a commitment that this cut will at the very least be reconsidered. It is a really cruel decision. These teachers must be kept on and these classes should go ahead. The Government needs to ensure that happens. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I thank the Deputy. I regret to say that I am not aware of the detail of the issues he has outlined but I will raise them with my colleagues, the Ministers, Deputies Naughton and Lawless. I do not know whether the issue is in respect of English language classes but generally there is good funding for ETBs. Obviously, if moneys are being reduced, there must be a reason for it and I will engage with my colleagues in respect of it and ask them to get back to the Deputy on it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  Like all the rest of the country, the people of Kerry are suffering with the exorbitant cost of diesel, petrol and heating oil. It has come to my attention that, in Northern Ireland, it is 30 cent less per litre. As the Government is taking in almost \u20ac40 million extra in taxes a week, I am asking it to reduce the price at the pump by that amount for the people who are using it. I cannot understand when the Minister says the Government will target certain people. Every man and woman with a wheel and an engine is affected by the extra cost now. I am told it takes 1,400 litres to fill a truck. Can the Minister imagine the amount of hardship? If the Government does not act soon, it will be too late. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The time is up, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  It must do something to rectify this situation. It is very serious. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  You are affecting other Deputies now. The Minister to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  It is the same issue throughout the country. People are extremely concerned about the rising cost of diesel and petrol. The Government is well aware of that. We need a measured, well-thought-out response. The Deputy says everyone is affected by it. That is the case, but not everyone is affected to the same extent by the increase in fuel costs. The Government needs to have a look at this in terms of what is the appropriate response, whether it be in excise duty or elsewhere. It is also needs to give consideration to the targeting, or not, of measures. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy George Lawlor  I want to talk about Simona Demyter, a young 20-year-old Wexford woman who in 2019 was diagnosed with an extremely rare illness. Since that time, she has relied on a wheelchair but has outgrown it, the current one being too small. Last October, an occupational therapist called, did all the assessments and told her she would have a new wheelchair in a few weeks, but she never received it. In January, a wheel broke and she was told by the technician who came to fix it that it was unsafe and she should not use it any more. The family then discovered the reason for the delay was that the occupational therapist went on extended leave and never passed on the documentation. The file effectively disappeared from the system. Eventually, after the intervention of my colleague, Councillor Vicky Barron in Wexford, the family was contacted by the children's disability network team, CDNT, and told that another therapist was on leave and nothing could be done for weeks. However, the did have a solution, in that it would fix the wheel of the old, unsuitable and unsafe wheelchair. This young woman has now been confined to her family's sitting room for the past two months. This is just one example of a dysfunctional, crazy system that serves nobody. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Children, Disability and Equality (Deputy Emer Higgins)  I thank the Deputy for raising this. I am really sorry to hear of this and would be happy to engage with the Deputy to get the details of the situation, if his constituent is willing to share them. I will take it up directly with the HSE for the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ryan O'Meara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ryan O'Meara  Ballycommon is a picturesque village in north Tipperary, located between Nenagh and the shores of Lough Derg in Dromineer. I am here today to convey the deep frustration of the people of Ballycommon in relation to 34 houses that could be built in that village if Uisce \u00c9ireann would just do its job. I have submitted a freedom of information, FOI, request to Uisce \u00c9ireann asking how much it has spent over the last number of years trucking sewage out of Ballycommon from a plant that does not work to Borrisokane. It will not answer that FOI for me. I cannot get parliamentary questions answered because apparently Uisce \u00c9ireann is not answerable to us in this House. I am again calling for changes to be made so we can hold Uisce \u00c9ireann to account. It will get \u20ac12 billion by the end of this decade to invest in our wastewater and water infrastructure, which is brilliant for the likes of Nenagh and Cloghjordan, but we need it answerable so we can get the houses built in Ballycommon and so many other areas. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I thank the Deputy for bringing the issue in respect of Ballycommon to the attention of myself and the D\u00e1il. I will speak to the Minister, Deputy Browne, in respect of it. I know that he is bringing forward proposals that will allow a builder to build up to 40 houses for, I believe, fewer than 120 or 150 people and that Uisce \u00c9ireann will then be obliged to connect them. I will raise the matter with the Minister. It sounds like it is essential that we get those houses constructed in Ballycommon so that people can live within their community. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  In a county like Donegal, we are uniquely impacted by these increases in oil and fuel. We rely heavily on home heating oil to heat our homes. You cannot work in Donegal unless you have a car or van to get around. Public transport just is not there. We are uniquely affected. I find it astonishing that we are weeks into this crisis now and there is not a clear indication from the Government that it is going to cut the excise duty and reduce costs at the pump and for home heating oil. I urge the Minister again to make a clear statement that he will get that reduced and to reassure people urgently that it is going to happen. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  The war started on, I think, 28 February. We are 19 days into it. I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that the Government needs to consider what it is doing in respect of a response to the rising fuel costs. As I have indicated, it is being considered by the Government. I believe that there will be a response but it is not appropriate to rush it on the basis that we need to just get it done quickly. Let us get it done right as opposed to quickly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  Accessibility in our schools should be a basic right but the Department is not treating it like that. In Leap National School in my own constituency, there have been repeated incidents where a wheelchair user could not enter the building because the door is inaccessible and the school does not have a mobile ramp.  The principal rightly took this very seriously and applied for accessibility works, but that application was rejected because no student or teacher currently needed it and because the lack of access was not sudden or unforeseen. For some reason, the Department refuses to conduct accessibility works outside of an emergency. By waiting until a child or a teacher needs the work, disabled people suffer and parents and visitors simply cannot access the school. Children in need wait years for necessary works, excluded from parts of their own school. Teachers turn down roles they want because they know they cannot access the schools. Will the Department review its approach to accessibility works, and will Leap National School's application be reassessed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  Accessibility for wheelchair users is fundamental, particularly for children in schools. I will raise the matter with my colleague in the Department of education, the Minister, Deputy Naughton. I will see whether the issue can be reviewed. Perhaps Deputy Cairns could provide the details to me or the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, in order that we can pass them on to the Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Murphy  In my role as Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Transport, I again want to highlight the crisis we now have on Irish roads. Already this year, 37 lives have been lost, which is up on the previous year. Most experts agree that the biggest cause of fatalities on Irish roads is driver behaviour, and what shapes driver behaviour more than anything else is enforcement on our roads. I, like many more, was shocked, following on from the December operation by An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, by the operation over the past week during St. Patrick's week when 188 drivers were arrested for drunk or drug driving, 4,250 fines were issued for speeding and 450 fines were issued for either use of a mobile phone or not wearing a seat belt. We need to strengthen our roads policing unit. To what extent are we engaging with the Garda Commissioner with a view to targets for our roads policing unit this year and during the lifetime of this Government? I appeal to the Minister. Can we set a target for the lifetime of this Government to have 1,000 members in our roads policing unit, bringing us back to where we were in 2009? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  The Deputy is right that human behaviour is the biggest cause of fatalities and accidents on our roads. I know he is not suggesting otherwise, but people themselves need to recognise that looking at their phones and consuming alcohol or drugs will expose them not just to risk of fatality and car crash, but also to being apprehended by An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. That will result in increased insurance costs and time off the road and make it very difficult for their lives professionally in the future.  I have spoken to the Commissioner. There is obviously a requirement for garda\u00ed to devote a certain amount of time to roads policing. The figures the Deputy has given indicate that there is a lot of roads policing ongoing, but it is a balancing act as well. There is much other important work the Garda has to do, so I cannot just ask the Commissioner to devote a majority of resources to roads policing. People have a responsibility as well. I will keep a close eye on the matter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  The proposed transport projects in Dublin and Cork cities, with the Swords-to-Dublin city route and Ballincollig to Mahon, will cost billions of euro when completed. Of course these projects are to be welcomed, but not if they mean that Local Link services will not now go ahead or will be withdrawn. Last week, I found out that a route already tendered for months and months ago for Dunmanway, Clonakilty and Timoleague via Grange in west Cork cannot now go ahead as the National Transport Authority, NTA, says it has no funding available. Last Friday night, I attended a meeting in Kealkill where the people told me that they did not have even one public transport service passing their door to Bantry or Macroom on either side of them. It is the same for our communities in Drinagh and Caheragh in west Cork. There is absolutely no public transport service but still there are planned billions being announced month after month in other parts of the country. Can the Minister find out why the Clonakilty-Timoleague route is once again being put off and why the Kealkill route that was promised to the people is now not going ahead in spite of a public outcry for these services? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  Local Link is hugely important to people in rural constituencies such as the Deputy's and, indeed, throughout the country. I do not have the details in respect of the Dunmanway-Clonakilty route. I will raise it with my colleague, the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, to see if we can get an answer in respect of that and come back to Deputy Collins. I just do not have the specifics of it at present. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I welcome to the Gallery a very special lady from my constituency, Mrs. Brigid Walsh from Ballyverroge, New Ross, County Wexford. Brigid turned 90 in recent weeks and she is in the Public Gallery with her daughter Aileen. Belated birthday wishes, Brigid, and thank you very much for making the journey to join us today. You are most welcome. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"An tOrd Gn\u00f3 - Order of Business"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-18\/debate\/dbsect_5","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/29","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/29\/dail\/1","houseCode":"dail","stage":"1","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Housing Loans Regulations (Fresh Start - Buyout) (Amendment) Bill 2026: First Stage (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Housing Loans Regulations (Fresh Start - Buyout) (Amendment) Bill 2026: First Stage","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_5","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  I move:  That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Housing Loans Regulations 2021 so as to allow applications to local authorities for housing loans by persons who are remaining in the family home following a divorce or legal separation and who need mortgage finance to buyout their former partner\u2019s share of the family home.  As the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, knows, the local authority home loan is a very valuable and long-standing support for people looking to buy their own home. A number of years ago, the Government extended the fresh start principle to this product. As the Minister also knows, the fresh start principle, equally a very important intervention, allows people who have given up an interest in the family home following relationship breakdown or insolvency to access Government schemes such as the home loan. One of the anomalies in the system at the moment is that you can access the home loan if you are leaving the family home but if you are the person remaining in the family home, you cannot. The situation is one I am sure many TDs in the House have come across. A relationship breaks down, a marriage or a partnership results in separation or divorce and the person who remains in the family home and who wants to buy out their former partner simply has no access to mortgage credit. Typically speaking, their income or their age will prohibit them from it.  The whole point of fresh start was to allow people to make a fresh start in life when there were significant changes. Therefore, there is a very compelling argument for the Government to amend the statutory instrument underpinning the local authority home loan to ensure that both parties to a relationship breakdown can access the fresh start principle: the former partner who is divesting their interest in what was their family home and the partner who wants to remain. Very often, it is women with children. If we cannot provide them with some avenue to access appropriate mortgage finance to buy out their former partner or husband's interest, then, unfortunately, they are forced to sell the property, which is in neither their nor their children's best interests.  The legislation I am introducing today is very simple. It is one of those Bills I cannot see why anybody would oppose it. It does not give anybody an automatic right to the mortgage finance. They would still have to apply and still have to meet all the other lending criteria as per the Housing Agency and the local authority's risk assessment. It would simply ensure, however, that both sides to a relationship breakdown could access the fresh start principle in the context of the local authority home loan. On that basis, I hope that when I move the Bill on Second Stage, it will not only get Government support but also speedy enactment. This is one of those occasions where Deputies can just do the right thing. Government and Opposition can see a very sensible, reasonable proposal that was in fact put to me by somebody who was in this situation and who, when they went to apply for the local authority home loan, was told that they could not do so but that their partner or ex-partner who was divesting their interest in the family home was able to access that source of finance. It is a simple, practical step. It could be transformative for the lives of people for whom it would open up an avenue to secure full ownership of the family home. On that basis, I commend it to the House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Is the Bill opposed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Mary Butler)  No. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Since this is a Private Members' Bill, Second Stage must, under Standing Orders, be taken in Private Members' time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  I move: \"That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time.\" "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Housing Loans Regulations (Fresh Start - Buyout) (Amendment) Bill 2026: First Stage"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-18\/debate\/dbsect_6","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/31","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/31\/dail\/1","houseCode":"dail","stage":"1","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Antarctic Treaty (Accession and Implementation) Bill 2026: First Stage (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Antarctic Treaty (Accession and Implementation) Bill 2026: First Stage","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_6","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  I move:  That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to enable the state to accede to the Antarctic Treaty done at Washington on 1 December 1959 and to certain related instruments, including the protocol on environmental protection to the Antarctic Treaty done at Madrid on 4 October 1991; and to provide for related matters.  The Antarctic Treaty (Accession and Implementation) Bill proposes that Ireland become the 59th country to accede to the Antarctic Treaty System. As a country, we have always been deeply committed to multilateralism. We believe strongly in joining international peaceful organisations and working with other nations to achieve common cause for this planet. The Antarctic Treaty System recognises that the Antarctic, the southern continent, should only ever be used for peaceful purposes. It also provides a framework whereby research can be carried out in that area.  It has been in operation since 1959, with 12 signatories originally. As I said, 46 others have joined since. We are currently the most populous member state of the European Union that is not in membership, while similar-sized countries in the EU, such as Finland, Slovakia and Denmark, are in membership.  Ireland has had a long and rich history and association with the Antarctic and Antarctic exploration. Indeed, Edward Bransfield from Midleton was the individual who had the first verified sighting of Antarctic recorded in 1820. During the 19th century Francis Crozier from Banbridge carried out much of the mapping of Antarctica. People in the House and around the country are very familiar with the stories of Tom Crean and Ernest Shackleton, incredible individuals from the era of exploration, and their stories continue to inspire.  The Bill should not just be because of history and Ireland's long historic association. It should also be about enabling a new generation of researchers to engage with those from other countries on the critical issues of research that shape this planet. Obviously, a lot of research is being done in stations in the Antarctic, particularly around areas of climate, astronomy and marine biology. What happens to our polar caps in the Arctic and the Antarctic has a crucial impact on what happens, particularly to our oceans and our climate, and that impacts here.  I have a particular interest in this, and I am probably unusual in that I have visited Antarctica. I have also been inside the Arctic Circle. I have a particular fascination with the polar caps. Antarctica is the most beautiful place you could ever visit and I would certainly encourage anyone who has the opportunity to do so to see it. It shapes your view of the world in a very different way. We should be providing similar opportunities to so many of our researchers. The Bill would also allow us, from Ireland's perspective, to say very clearly in a formal sense that we believe the southern continent should only be used for peaceful purposes and should never be exploited, particularly when it comes to the risk of it being exploited for fossil fuels.  This is a relatively simple Bill and I would hope it could be moved reasonably quickly through these Houses. It designates the Minister for foreign affairs as the Minister who would be responsible, that we would sign up to the Antarctic treaty system, and that we would nominate representatives to consultative meetings and to meetings on environmental protection that come up. As part of our programme on making people much more aware of climate change and what is going on in our polar caps, it would be critical.  The legislation very much acknowledges the specially protected areas in the Antarctic. Given some of the challenges we see for climate, it is important that Ireland says to those who may wish to exploit it that this is not acceptable, and that in this we join with many other countries, and I have mentioned the 58 which are already signatories, including many of our EU partners. I feel very invested in this. For so many people who have been inspired by the great stories of polar expedition, it is very important. In many of our universities there are many researchers who would relish the opportunity to partner on some of these projects. Therefore, I encourage the Government to adopt the Bill as quickly as possible. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Is the Bill opposed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Mary Butler)  No. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Since this is a Private Members' Bill, Second Stage must, under Standing Orders, be taken in Private Members' time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  I move: \"That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time.\" "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Antarctic Treaty (Accession and Implementation) Bill 2026: First Stage"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-18\/debate\/dbsect_7","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/30","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/30\/dail\/1","houseCode":"dail","stage":"1","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Mineral Oil Tax (Emergency Cost of Living Reduction) Bill 2026: First Stage (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Mineral Oil Tax (Emergency Cost of Living Reduction) Bill 2026: First Stage","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I move:  That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to provide emergency powers for the temporary reduction of mineral oil tax on certain fuels including home heating oil (kerosene used other than as a propellent), petrol and auto-diesel (heavy oil used as a propellent) and green diesel (marked gas oil) for the purpose of alleviating cost of living pressures; to provide for the extension of such reductions by order of the Minister for Finance; and to provide for related matters.  Cuirim an Bille um Ch\u00e1in Ola Mianra (Laghd\u00fa \u00c9igeand\u00e1la ar an gCostas Maireacht\u00e1la), 2026 chun tosaigh inniu sa D\u00e1il. Reachta\u00edocht \u00e9igeand\u00e1la at\u00e1 sa Bhille seo chun costas d\u00edosail, peitril agus ola theasa t\u00ed a laghd\u00fa anois d\u00edreach agus chun a chinnti\u00fa nach gcuirfear plean an Rialtais i bhfeidhm chun an ch\u00e1in ar ola theasa t\u00ed a ard\u00fa taobh istigh de ch\u00fapla seachtain, mar at\u00e1 beartaithe aige.  Bh\u00ed oibrithe agus teaghlaigh buailte cheana f\u00e9in ag an gh\u00e9arch\u00e9im costais maireacht\u00e1la. I ndiaidh don Rialtas rud ar bith a dh\u00e9anamh chun deireadh a chur leis seo agus praghsanna a chur faoi smacht, scrios s\u00e9 na taca\u00edochta\u00ed costais maireacht\u00e1la a bh\u00ed ann cheana f\u00e9in agus d\u2019aontaigh s\u00e9 c\u00e1inaisn\u00e9is a rinne ruda\u00ed n\u00edos measa d\u2019oibrithe. In \u00e1it chuidithe, rinne s\u00e9 dochar. T\u00e1 n\u00edos m\u00f3 teaghlach n\u00e1 riamh nach bhfuil \u00e1balta a gcuid bill\u00ed fuinnimh a \u00edoc tar \u00e9is an creidmheas fuinnimh a tharraingt uathu.  Tr\u00ed ghlacadh leis an reachta\u00edocht seo, is f\u00e9idir leis an Rialtas phraghsanna d\u00edosail, peitril agus ola theasa t\u00ed a laghd\u00fa. Is f\u00e9idir leis \u00e9 sin a dh\u00e9anamh anocht tr\u00ed ghlacadh leis an reachta\u00edocht seo. T\u00e1 an plean anseo. T\u00e1 an reachta\u00edocht foilsithe againn. Is \u00e9 an rogha at\u00e1 os comhair achan Teachta D\u00e1la, agus os comhair an Rialtais tr\u00ed ch\u00e9ile, n\u00e1 seasamh suas do thoghth\u00f3ir\u00ed agus ghn\u00e1thdhaoine na t\u00edre seo n\u00f3 droim l\u00e1imhe a thabhairt daoibh ar\u00eds, mar at\u00e1 d\u00e9anta ag an Rialtas le coic\u00eds anuas.  I am introducing the Mineral Oil Tax (Emergency Cost of Living Reduction) Bill 2026. This legislation is a demand for emergency action and for the Government to stop dithering and delaying, and to cut the taxes on petrol, diesel and home heating oil. Has the Government not seen the fact we are now being charged more than \u20ac2 per litre for diesel at many stations? Has it not heard the people who are telling it very clearly that they cannot afford to refill their heating oil? People tell us they have to go into one room because it is too costly to heat the whole house. Elderly people tell us they are afraid to turn on the heat because the tank is running dry and the cost of refilling is simply an arm and leg. All the time, the Government delays and dithers. Is the Government deaf to the people pleading for it to help? The decision time is now and there are no more hiding places for the Government.  This emergency legislation would immediately reduce the cost of diesel, petrol and home heating oil. It would make sure the Government's plan to increase the cost of home heating oil by placing more taxes on it, as it plans to do in the next number of weeks, would not go ahead. Workers and families are already being hammered by a cost-of living crisis. The price of groceries are up, rents are up, bills are up, insurance is up, college fees are up and childcare is up. This is the reality that so many people face day in, day out throughout the State. After doing nothing to end this rip-off and get prices under control, the Government took away the cost-of-living support that so many people were depending on. It brought forward a budget that left workers worse off. It is no wonder we have a situation now whereby 320,000 people cannot pay their energy bills.  People were already at breaking point. They were already working every hour God gave them just to get by. Now, these same people see energy prices skyrocket all over again. Diesel is way up at more than \u20ac2 a litre. Home heating oil is almost double the price it was just two weeks ago. People are really afraid. Older people tell me they are sitting in cold homes afraid to turn on the heating. This is the reality of the situation, whether the Government likes it or not. It talks about waiting, reviewing things and monitoring and that maybe by the end of the month it might do something. People are demanding action right here and right now. They are demanding leadership. They are looking for solutions. They are looking for a sign that the Government gets where they are at and what they are going through. This is what Sinn F\u00e9in is providing, leadership and action, in this emergency legislation.  This legislation can be passed today if the Government were willing. It would reduce the cost of diesel and petrol and slash the cost of home heating oil. This is the choice that every TD will have today. They will have a question they will have to answer to themselves on whether they will stand up for their constituents and the ordinary people of Ireland who are hard pressed because of these fuel costs, or will they continue to turn their backs on them as the Government has done over the past number of weeks. Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael cannot continue to sit on their hands. We call on them to implement this legislation and take action.  It is not lost on people that up to 65% of the cost of filling the tank with petrol or diesel goes into the pocket of the Government. The Government has taken in far more tax in recent weeks because of these sky-high fuel costs. Now is decision time. Now is the time for action and the time to implement this emergency legislation and give some relief to hard-pressed people who are absolutely burdened by a cost-of-living crisis and are suffering under immense pressure because of fuel prices that are out of control. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Is the Bill opposed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Mary Butler)  No. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Since this is a Private Members' Bill, Second Stage must, under Standing Orders, be taken in Private Members' time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I move: \"That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time.\" "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Mineral Oil Tax (Emergency Cost of Living Reduction) Bill 2026: First Stage"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-18\/debate\/dbsect_8","debateType":"statement","bill":null,"showAs":"International Women's Day: Statements","counts":{"speechCount":31,"speakerCount":31},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maeve O'Connell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maeve-O'Connell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Maeve-O'Connell.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ann Graves","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Keira Keogh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Children, Disability and Equality (Deputy Emer Higgins)  I wish to start by thanking and welcoming everyone to the D\u00e1il Chamber today. In particular, I wish to pay tribute, as the Ceann Comhairle has done, to Ms Brigid Walsh, who is 90 years of age and has just left the Gallery. It is great to see women of all ages here today.  It is a real honour to be here celebrating International Women's Day, which took place last week, and recognising the wonderful women who shape our lives, our communities and our country. I am especially glad to be here on the back of my attendance at the 70th Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations in New York last week, which was an inspiring and informative few days. It was not particularly uplifting, however, as there is definitely a real and palpable sense of progress internationally stalling on this issue. That is something that Ireland and I and, I am sure, every female Minister, in particular, are absolutely determined to push back against. This year's theme was not \"Give to Gain\", as many people have been stating. Rather, this year's theme, as defined by the United Nations, was ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls. It looked at ways in which we can build fairer, more inclusive legal systems, remove discriminatory laws and practices and tackle the deeper structural barriers that hold too many women back. Being part of these conversations with global partners was a powerful reminder of the work still ahead but also of the leadership Ireland can offer. We remain fully committed to supporting women's full and meaningful participation in public life and to eliminating all forms of violence so that women and girls everywhere can lead empowered, equal lives.  With all of that in mind, I am really pleased to take this opportunity to update Members on the significant progress we have made in advancing gender equality, progress that is clearly reflected in Ireland's rising position on the EU gender equality index. Gender equality is one of the core values of the European Union and I am proud to say that Ireland now ranks sixth in the EU, an improvement from ninth place just two years ago. It speaks to our continued commitment to making gender equality a reality both here at home and in our work internationally.  This improvement has not just happened by accident. It reflects real progress across a range of areas that matter to women and girls, from health and education to business and economic participation. We are also seeing the impact culturally and socially. Irish women continue to excel in sport, science, business, media and across the arts, as we saw again this weekend with Jessie Buckley's continued success. Their achievements are helping to reshape how we see ourselves as a society and who we imagine ourselves becoming. However, what we know is that there is still much work to be done.  As a Government, we have been taking a structured and systematic approach to closing the remaining gaps. One key milestone was the launch by the Minister, Deputy Foley, of the new National Strategy for Women and Girls 2025-2030 last November. The vision for this whole-of-government strategy is simple but essential: an Ireland where all women and girls can thrive in a truly gender-equal society. Our commitment to advancing equality between women and men is long-standing, but this strategy brings renewed clarity and purpose and places women and girls firmly at the centre of Government action. It outlines a wide set of objectives, each designed to reduce inequalities to make sure women are supported to reach their full potential. In developing that strategy, the Department worked closely with a wide range of stakeholders, including the National Youth Assembly and the National Women's Council of Ireland. I was delighted to meet representatives from both of those organisations during the Commission on the Status of Women event in New York last week. Their involvement makes sure it reflects the real priorities of women and girls at every stage of their lives. The insights from the National Youth Assembly were especially valuable, helping to ensure that the strategy places a strong focus on how we can better support the next generation.  While strategies are important, we must also ensure that we are taking meaningful action to ensure that strategies are fully implemented. That is why the national strategy for women and girls will be delivered through two action plans, with the first running from 2026 to 2028. As we move from planning to delivery phases, we also have to recognise that some women's experiences are different from others. That is because women's experiences are simply not all the same. That is why an intersectional approach has been central to this work, ensuring that the strategy aligns with key national politics and reflects the diverse realities of all women and girls. That is also why we ensured the strategy sits firmly within our broader equality agenda, connecting closely with frameworks such as the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy II 2024-2028, which was launched in July 2024, and the national LGBTIQ+ inclusion strategy which was launched in June of this year.  As part of this wider equality focus, one of the strategy's central priorities is addressing gender-based violence and the harassment of women. That is closely linking it to the zero-tolerance strategy, which is Ireland's national domestic, sexual and gender-based violence strategy. Objective 4 of the national strategy, \"Being Safe\", places a strong emphasis on eradicating violence and eliminating all forms of harassment against women and commits to delivering high-quality services for women and children who have experienced domestic, sexual or gender-based violence.  Alongside that and ensuring that our approach is gender-sensitive and survivor-centred, there is also a strong emphasis on prevention. That means challenging the harmful beliefs and stereotypes that allow gender-based violence to occur and raising awareness of the many forms it can take. We also have to recognise the growing risks posed by cyberviolence. The online environment is constantly evolving and, with it, new and sometimes unexpected threats emerge. Online spaces are new forms of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, including online abuse, harassment, sexual exploitation, including of minors, and technology-facilitated coercive control. Addressing these risks is essential if we are to achieve true zero tolerance. Ireland has already taken important steps to tackle this, including criminalising the non-consensual sharing of intimate images under Coco's Law. That legislation intentionally uses a broad definition of \"intimate image\" so it includes any visual representation of a person, including images that have been altered or manipulated, like deepfakes. It also means that it is not just a crime to share intimate images under Coco's Law; it is a crime to threaten to share them. However, we know we still have much more to do. That is why we will keep reviewing and strengthening our laws to respond to new and evolving forms of abuse, including as part of the transposition of the EU violence against women directive. Looking ahead, Ireland will continue to explore ways to strengthen victim reporting systems and raise public awareness. Of course, during our upcoming Presidency of the European Union, we will use that as a platform to advance greater online safety and stronger protections for women and children against the misuse of digital technologies.  Our commitment also extends to eliminating gender-based bullying in education settings and ensuring that learning environments actively promote gender equality. Access to high-quality early learning and childcare is a key part of this as it has a profound impact on a child's development, learning and social skills. Ireland has several programmes in place to support children from all backgrounds in accessing early learning and childcare from an early age. For example, the early childhood care and education, ECCE, programme provides two years of free pre-school, with a participation rate of 96% every year. Over 70% of low-income families report that they would not be able to send their child to pre-school without this support.  One challenge we continue to address is the under-representation of women and girls in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, STEM, subjects, both in school and beyond. This not only reduces the talent available to STEM industries, it also limits the range of perspectives and innovations that are essential for social progress and economic growth. In recent years, Ireland has taken a deeper look at our STEM education policies and updated them to better support gender equality. We have moved beyond simply encouraging girls to take an interest in STEM to now focusing on the deeper structural, cultural and systemic changes that are needed to make real and lasting progress. A key part of this work is our STEM education policy statement 2017 to 2026. That includes targeted actions, such as developing a national accreditation framework to help schools build whole-school cultures grounded in equality, diversity and inclusion.  It is also essential that we view gender equality through an intersectional lens.  That means recognising that women experience inequality in different ways, depending on their background and circumstances, and ensuring our policies reflect that diversity. We know, for example, that the barriers facing women and girls in education can be even greater for those from Traveller, Roma or migrant communities, or for those who are disabled or marginalised in other ways. That is why national strategies that address these disadvantages are so important. In recognition of this, Ireland published the Traveller and Roma Education Strategy 2024-2030, which includes commitments to support Traveller and Roma women throughout their educational journey. Disabled women, in particular, must be supported so they can access employment opportunities, participate fully in decision-making and seek justice on an equal basis with others.  Ireland's National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030, which was launched in November, sets out our plan to advance the rights contained in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. In that context, Article 6 of the convention, which affirms the right of disabled women to the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights - reminds us of the importance of recognising and addressing the specific, intersecting challenges disabled women can face. The strategy's vision is clear. It is to ensure that disabled people have the right to a life without barriers and can participate fully in society on an equal basis with others. It prioritises the values of equality, participation and choice, reaffirming our commitment to creating a society where disabled women are supported to live the lives they choose.  I am also proud to highlight that the Government has significantly expanded family leave entitlements in recent years. This recognises just how important it is to support parents in balancing care responsibilities with participation in the workforce. In our work to support families, the First 5 strategy, our whole-of-government plan for babies, young children and their families, sets out a commitment to gradually extend paid leave in order that by 2028 parents will have access to a range of family leave supports during the first year of their child's life. As part of the First 5 implementation plan for 2023-2025, we increased parent's leave and benefit for both mothers and fathers, from seven to nine weeks, as of August 2024. It is important that we continue to recognise the diversity of family life in Ireland today. The nine weeks of parent's leave is non-transferable, meaning it can also apply to a parent's spouse, civil partner or cohabitant. Parents do not need to live together to qualify for it. We will continue building on this progress, including examining further extensions of parent's leave, greater flexibilities and the introduction of surrogacy leave - commitments that are firmly embedded in the programme for Government.  The Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023 has also brought important new rights for workers. Parents and carers can now request flexible working and parents of children under 12 can take leave for medical care purposes. In addition, every worker now has the right to request remote working. These measures are designed to accommodate a wide range of family structures and support better work-life balance for everyone, including parents.  Another key development is the gender pay gap portal, a centralised database where employers can upload their gender pay gap information. Reporting is voluntary until November of this year, giving employers an opportunity to demonstrate leadership and transparency by engaging early. Ireland has also published its first national equality data strategy, covering 2026-2031, the first of its kind not only in Ireland but in the EU. Developed by the Central Statistics Office and the Department, with input from a cross-government and civil society working group, this strategy requires every Department to commit to collecting, using or sharing equality data, and to building the capacity needed to do so. This will allow us to develop stronger and more inclusive evidence-informed policies that genuinely improve outcomes for everyone.  On the international stage, Ireland continues to play an active role in advancing gender equality. We take our responsibilities under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, CEDAW, very seriously. That is why over the past year, Ireland engaged closely with the CEDAW committee as part of our eighth periodic review. In June last year, a State delegation led by the Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, appeared before the committee in Geneva, an important opportunity to showcase our progress and to reflect honestly on where further work is needed. Our national efforts strongly align with the European Commission's Gender Equality Strategy 2026-2030, published just the other week, which embeds gender equality across all areas of life, a goal we share in our own domestic policy agenda.  We all know the scale of the challenge. The European Institute for Gender Equality estimates that at the current rate of change, it could take 50 years for the EU to reach full gender equality. That is why days like today matter. I know International Women's Day was last week but it is still really important that we make time in this week's D\u00e1il schedule for this debate because debates like this in Chambers like this around the world matter. They matter more now than ever before because, as I saw at first hand last week at the United Nations, progress is stalling internationally. We cannot afford for it to stall and we certainly cannot afford for it to slip.  As Ireland prepares to take on the Presidency of the European Union later this month, I am determined that gender equality, and equality and disability more broadly, will be front and centre on our agenda. We will continue working to narrow the remaining gaps between women and men, ensuring that everyone can fully realise their rights and participate equally in society. Achieving gender equality involves us all and it is essential not just for fairness, but for building a more socially and economically sustainable future. I look forward to continuing this positive momentum in the years ahead. I again welcome today's discussion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Claire Kerrane  I am glad to get the opportunity to contribute to the statements on International Women's Day. In the couple of minutes I have I want to address some of the areas where the State is failing women, particularly in sectors that are primarily made up of women. I want to turn first to the ongoing exclusion of a number of women primarily who cannot access the mother and baby institutions payment scheme. We are now a couple of years into that scheme and there are a number of women primarily who are excluded. This is wrong. I am raising this issue with the Minister. I know she keeps saying that towards the end of the scheme, towards 2029, we will probably see an uplift and that the nature of schemes like this is that more people will apply towards the end. I would pose the question of how many people, how many survivors and how many women who are excluded will have passed away between now and 2029. The special advocate has been clear. She has called for the urgent expansion of the scheme and it should be done. It should be done for the women and mothers of this State, and it should be done now.  I want to also make reference to early years educators, without whom we would not have a childcare sector. They continue to be in a situation where it is up to the JLC whether they will get a few cent here or a few cent there. We usually end up in the Labour Court and we might get a euro and we will see when we will get it. That is not the way to set wages and it is not the way we should treat early years educators at a time when, on average, we are losing 20% to 25% of them across the State. They are not being retained.  Foster carers should have access to a State pension but they do not. They spend a considerable amount of their lives opening up their homes, providing love and care to the most vulnerable children in the State. At the very least, they deserve a State pension at the end of their days. I also want to also refer to childminders. About 150 of them have signed up to the regulations. There are serious issues with the regulations and that is clear given the number who have signed up for the new regulations. We need to get that right because we need childminders and we need to retain them.  Last, I want to speak to the point on family leave. Yes, family leave is very important, but we have an ongoing anomaly in respect of one-parent families. If a child is born into a two-parent family, each parent gets nine weeks, but if a child is born into a one-parent family, that parent gets nine weeks. That should not be the case. It should be 18 weeks. It should not be different. It is a small cohort of people. It would be a small amount of money. We should be looking at lone parents and supporting them as best we can. I know there is a calculator now in the Department of justice when it comes to child maintenance. We can have all the calculators in the world but if child maintenance is not enforced, it is not paid, which happens a lot of the time, and it is back to the lone parent every time when that should not be the case. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy M\u00e1ire Devine  It is timely that the young women in the Gallery are here. I wish them a c\u00e9ad m\u00edle f\u00e1ilte. It just feels a little bit late for me as it is ten days after International Women's Day. I know it is to do with the schedule but it kind of reflects women's place.  All the recent research that has come out in the last week and our own research from the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, Women's Aid and international research is quite alarming in that it sees that Gen Z men - those born between 1997 and 2012 - have, alarmingly, retreated back to the traditional macho roles of masculinity.  There is pressure on them to conform to rigid gender stereotypes from influencers like that millionaire misogynist Tate and others we can think of in America. They target young men via social media, as do the pornographic sites which depict violence and sex as the norm. It is an inescapable fact that these influencers and influences foster the manosphere. The manosphere's attitudes coincide with an alarming increase in violence against women. In Ireland in particular we have higher rates than the EU average. Women and girls are easy targets for young men who are angry and look to blame. They state that they have enough of equality, enough of fairness and enough of women being independent. Where did that come from? It is a cultural shift that we must really keep a close eye on to help fight it and to call it out at all times but it must be a community response. There must be community healing and community repair by all of us.  I would love to see men here giving International Women's Day speeches because the problem is not us. We need to help spread the idea of where the problem is and what we can do about it. I want to recognise the zero tolerance community-lead action groups opposing violence against women and promoting that community repair. I need to give a shout out to the Liberties community groups that launched the zero tolerance campaign recently, to our Uachtar\u00e1n Shinn F\u00e9in, Mary Lou McDonald, for her leadership on this and the mn\u00e1 of Sinn F\u00e9in for creating the first group in Dublin Central. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Farrell is listed as the next speaker but is not present, so I am assuming it is Deputy Conway-Walsh. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  Deputy Farrell is on her way.  While marking International Women's Day we need to reflect not only on the achievements of women across Ireland but also on a difficult and painful history that cannot be ignored. For generations women in Ireland were marginalised, silenced and controlled, from institutional abuses to systematic exclusion from public life. I want to acknowledge the recent developments with Philomena's law, particularly for Irish women living abroad. We should never have dealt with them the way we did in terms of ignoring them. That is leaving aside all the other alterations and amendments that need to be done in that regard. This legacy still casts a long shadow and it is our responsibility to confront it with honestly and determination.  Just this morning we had the welcome news that a new unit will be set up within Fiosr\u00fa, the Office of the Police Ombudsman, to investigate domestic and sexual abuse complaints against members of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and, most importantly, to investigate public complaints where it is alleged that An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na failed to properly investigate incidents of gender-based violence and sexual abuse. However, it should not have taken the courage and bravery of women like Margaret Loftus to come forward for this progress to be made. I await the detail of that announcement to ensure it is fit for purpose for the women who have suffered abuse and who have been dragged through a justice system that has fought against them and who have, in many cases, suffered abuse at the hands of our justice system.  The place of women is not on the margins of our society but it is at the very heart of decision-making, leadership and nation-building. Last year I was pleased to collaborate with Dr. Shelley Deane, Professor Joanne McEvoy and Professor Jennifer Todd on their project, Constitutional Visions from the Grass-roots: Towards a Deliberative Ecology Beyond Group Division. Their deliberative democracy work with women from across the island has shown the power of women's voices in shaping not just policy but the very future of our island. They remind us that a new and united Ireland must be built from the ground up, informed by lived experience and driven by equality and equity. Today, women are shaping that new Ireland as leaders, workers, carers and activists. I want to acknowledge the cross-party work that was done by the Good Friday Agreement committee around women and constitutional change. We have a unique opportunity here to shape a new and united Ireland, and women have to be at the very heart of that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell  International Women's Day is an important day in the calendar year. It gives us the opportunity to celebrate the strength, courage and resilience of women - women who have shaped our communities, our families and who continue to stand up for what is right in a very unjust world.  However, we must remember that International Women's Day is not only about looking back. It is about recognising the struggles that continue today. Across Ireland, women continue to fight for equality, for justice and for dignity. Women are fighting for proper healthcare and for their voices to be heard. They are fighting against poverty, against discrimination and against violence. They are fighting for a society that values care, equality and community.  I have raised in this D\u00e1il many times the real-life institutional barriers which women face. I have primarily raised these in the context of the housing crisis. Women are uniquely impacted by the housing crisis. Unfortunately, too often I have raised the issue of how women are impacted by domestic abuse within the confines of our broken housing system in this Chamber but nothing has been done. We need a social housing passport for women affected by domestic abuse. It is not good enough that there are barriers in place that make it even more difficult for women to leave an abusive relationship.  For clarity I want to give an example. If a woman leaves and abusive relationship in one county to seek support in another county, be it familial, community or justice, she is penalised by the councils as they do not recognise the years she may have spent on the housing list and, indeed, she would need to reapply fully for social housing in order to access emergency accommodation. This should not be the case and needs to change. I am asking the Minister of State to ensure this happens. Women should be safe and should get the support of this D\u00e1il to do that.  We must recognise there are women today who continue to fight for their rights quietly, courageously and collectively. The greatest tribute we can give women today is to continue their work to build a society that sees and hears women's struggles and that recognises institutional barriers that mainly affect women and not only recognise them but actually change them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  This is my tenth time to speak on statements on International Women's Day. On International Women's Day, I generally pay tribute to women activists. I am really lucky that there are loads of them in my party, in my family and in my life. However, this afternoon I want to record the loss of an activist, a feminist, a trade unionist, a campaigner and my own mam, Mary O'Reilly, who died last September. However, when I look at my daughter I know that my mother's legacy will live on in her activism, in the way that she is raising her son to be a fantastic feminist and in the way she stands up every time for what is right. I see my ma reflected in her all the time. I think we could potentially be in safe hands because now, more than ever, we are in desperate need of women activists and empowered women who will stand up and who will speak out and women who will not be silenced and will refuse to sit down.  I send my solidarity to women in Cuba, in Ukraine, in Palestine and all of the women right across the globe who struggle every single day because it is not just about the women who want to have it all and need an extra seat in the boardroom. It is about women who are sheltering their families from the ravages of the IDF. It is about women who are sheltering and managing to bring their children up in appalling circumstances. They are the women we do not often see and very rarely hear about but they are the women we need to pay tribute to.  The Minister of State talked about the need for rights. She undermined her own words by talking about the remote access legislation because that does not give women rights. It gives them the right to ask a question which is a right they had before and it gives employers a charter to refuse. When we talk about women's rights, we have to talk about rights that are real and that actually make a real difference in the lives of working women, in their families and in our society. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh  Today we are marking International Women's Day, a day to celebrate women's achievements but also to remind ourselves how far we still have to go. In Ireland, women continue to face inequality in ways both visible and hidden. Women earn less than their male counterparts, carry out the bulk of unpaid care work and remain under-represented in politics and leadership. Violence against women is rampant. Since 1997, 277 women have died violently in this State and of those women, 90% were murdered by men known to them. Furthermore, 35% of women in Ireland have experienced psychological, physical or sexual abuse from an intimate partner.  A total of 12,050 incidents of domestic violence are reported to An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na every week.  We must also recognise that gender inequality is experienced unequally across the population. Migrant and Traveller women, as well as women with disabilities and those from the LGBTQ+ community, particularly trans women, face additional barriers and discrimination. True equality must be intersectional. No woman can be left behind.  As a State, we must do more. Healthcare is failing women. Conditions like endometriosis remain under-diagnosed, under-treated and under-funded, leaving countless women in pain and struggling to live full lives. Childcare remains unaffordable for far too many families, contributing to gender gaps in economic outcomes. We must see progress from the Government on its promise to introduce a \u20ac200 cap on childcare costs. We must guarantee fair pay, safe communities that are free from violence, inclusive services and full representation for women in every decision-making space.  I cannot speak about International Women\u2019s Day without mentioning our sisters in Palestine. T\u00e1 mn\u00e1 na Palaist\u00edne f\u00f3s ag maireacht\u00e1il faoi bhr\u00faidi\u00falacht agus forghabh\u00e1il m\u00eddhleathach ag st\u00e1t cinedh\u00edothach. Palestinian women endure the destruction of their communities, the loss of loved ones and the denial of basic rights, but they resist, they nurture, they fight and they demand justice. Their courage is extraordinary. It is our responsibility to witness their struggle and to support them and act on their behalf. T\u00e1 tionchar d\u00edreach ag an gcogadh ar mhn\u00e1 agus cail\u00edn\u00ed. T\u00e1 a fhios againn go m\u00e9ada\u00edtear an baol for\u00e9igin ghn\u00e9asaigh agus inscnebhunaithe le linn coimhlint\u00ed. Mar sin, cialla\u00edonn comhionannas inscne go gcaithfidh muid troid ar son na s\u00edoch\u00e1na ar an st\u00e1itse idirn\u00e1isi\u00fanta. When women are free and equal, society as a whole is stronger. N\u00ed saoirse go saoirse na mban. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marie Sherlock  I welcome that we are marking International Women\u2019s Day, albeit belatedly. I pay tribute to the women who work in our communities, workplaces, trade unions and right across this country to try to make it a better place. It is almost 120 years since the strike by textile workers in New York that lit the fuse, effectively, to start marking International Women\u2019s Day. I also extend my condolences to Deputy O\u2019Reilly and her family on the loss of her mother last September.  The Labour Party marked International Women\u2019s Day this year by standing with the staff and families of the Rotunda Hospital at the Garden of Remembrance, looking on at where work on the critical care wing should be progressing. However, that planning application, in part due to the ineptitude of the Government and the Department of Health, failed to be approved by An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la. The Government and the Department failed to listen to the hospital about the decade-old co-location policy. I am relieved that the Government has abandoned its plans to move the Rotunda Hospital out to Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown. We need to ensure that the critical care wing is built as soon as possible. It is 20 years - two decades - since there has been any serious investment in maternity facilities in this country. There are massive delays with regard to the National Maternity Hospital in Elm Park, but we cannot forget the Coombe Hospital and the Rotunda in particular when it comes to that vital investment.  I will raise two issues, the first of which relates to pay. As the Minister of State knows, the pay transparency directive is supposed to be transposed into domestic law by June. What is the Government so afraid of in this regard? We are hearing that the Government is not going to transpose the directive by the deadline but, rather, it will bring forward its own stand-alone legislation. However, we have not seen the heads of Bill yet. We must ask why that is the case. Why is the Government capitulating to employers\u2019 demands to put off transposing this important legislation that will pull back the veil on pay arrangements within workplaces and ensure that workers can apply for jobs with some idea as to what the pay range will be, as opposed to turning it into a bald negotiating exercise where workers must go in and suggest what they are worth? Critically, it will mean that pay, as opposed to an individual\u2019s work history, will be attached to a role . That is particularly vital for women who are returning to the labour force or coming from part-time roles. It is a bit rich to talk about gender equality in this Chamber while the Government appears to be willing to incur fines because it does not want to transpose this key legislation. We want to hear from the Minister of State as to where the legislation is at.  Women on average pay earn 24% less than men. There is a lot of talk about hourly pay, but no one looks at their hourly wages. Rather, they look at their weekly earnings and their ability to deal with the cost of living from those earnings. Not only are women earning less per hour, but far too many of them are forced to work fewer hours because of a lack of childcare or the burden of having to care for older people. This is an issue we talk far too little about. We talk a great deal about childcare - my colleague Deputy Wall will talk about that in a moment - but many women holding down jobs are also caring for older relatives. Almost 30% of women in this country work part-time hours, some by choice but many out of necessity. That has a real impact in the context of less than average pay within a company and accessing promotions. Far too many women are condemned to the low pay, part-time employment trap. We must change that. I appeal to the Minister of State to crack on with the gender pay transparency legislation.  I am going to read from a letter that reflects just how far we have still to travel, despite our talking of all the progress we have made in this country. It relates to the health sector. In the letter, a woman explains how, over the past two years, she has ended up staying in a number of Irish hospitals, both as a patient and as the parent of her teenage daughter. She spent a week in a major hospital in 2025, while her daughter spent a week in another major hospital in 2024, five days in a paediatric hospital in 2024, along with an additional five days in 2025. While the care in these hospitals was exemplary, she highlighted one issue. Her daughter was most unfortunate that she got her period at some stage during each of her long hospital stays, as did the mother. Between them, they have had five hospital stays over a two-year period. Sanitary towels were not provided for inpatients in hospital wards. They were not available or part of the hospital supplies. While the nurses and care staff were most apologetic, the supplies were not available. Across these hospitals, nappies are freely available to both adults and girls without question, and rightly so, but when it came to sanitary towels or products, they could not be made available. We all have to reflect on the indignity of the situation those young girls and women are being left in, particularly if they are immobile, non-ambulatory or do not have visitors for a number of days. That is absolutely unacceptable in 2026. We submitted a question to the HSE in respect of this matter. It responded by talking about sanitary products in the public toilets. We are talking about patients in wards, however. This must change. I hope the Minister of State will relay that to the relevant people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Wall  As a man, I welcome the opportunity to discuss International Women\u2019s Day. It is an important day for every man to reflect on. It should not be this day alone, however. Men need to reflect every day on how we treat women, both in this State and across the world.  Following more than 20 years in political life, I am seriously worried about the dramatic increase in the number of women fleeing domestic violence who have into my office in recent weeks and since the start of the year. These women, some with children, are leaving extremely volatile and dangerous situations with nothing but the clothes on their backs. In many cases, I have had to contact local garda\u00ed to assist with the sickening cases I am coming across. Due to the housing emergency in County Kildare, many of the women with whom I am dealing continue to live with threatening partners, which \u2013 I am sure the Minister of State will agree - is totally and utterly unsafe. We have a housing system that does not recognise the immediate welfare needs of many homeless women and their families who have fled these violent situations. That needs to simply change.  In my constituency of Kildare South, Teach Tearmainn is the domestic refuge. It has supported 896 women and 93 children in 2025. Its emergency accommodation supported 32 women and 31 children and it received requests to accommodate nearly 407 women and close to 440 children. Unfortunately, 269 of these requests had to be turned down because the centre is not big enough. At a recent meeting with the CEO of Teach Tearmainn, Lorraine Rowan, I was shocked to hear that Kildare is listed as a secondary priority area following the recent report. Kildare\u2019s population is now heading above 250,000. From recent meetings with Teach Tearmainn and family resource centres in the county, domestic violence has become a serious and increasing worry for both these organisations and every public representative in the county.  I am informed that Offaly and Kerry have been changed to priority 1 status since the report. I plead with the Minister of State to work with Teach Tearmainn and to add Kildare, with its growing population and the many cases coming through my office on an almost weekly basis now, to priority 1 status. The need is there now. I am seriously concerned for the welfare of the many women I am currently dealing with. Organisations like Teach Tearmainn are stretched to their limit. Teach Tearmainn also recently applied for a development worker to work on prevention measures, which, we all agree, are so important, and on early intervention with domestic violence sufferers. It was refused. The staff cannot understand why that happened, particularly in light of the case they put forward. Again, I ask the Minister of State to look into this case.  Like my colleague, I take this opportunity to thank all the women who have shaped my life through a sense of community, justice, belonging and welfare. However, it is because of this that I raise the issue of childcare. Many of the women I am dealing with are thinking about and are, unfortunately, being forced to give up their careers due to the lack of and the cost of childcare, not only in Kildare but right throughout the State. The lack of childcare in places like Kildare town, Newbridge and Kilcullen is having a profound impact on women and their families. In a recent survey I carried out, 81% of parents in Kilcullen said that the lack of available places is the biggest challenge when looking for childcare, while 77% said they are having to travel outside the county of Kildare to avail of childcare. This issue is greatly impacting on lives and women's participation in employment is seriously affected by these statistics. Nearly half of the parents said they are considering giving up their job due to a lack of available childcare, 20% have already given up their career due to these challenges and 47% said they have had to reduce their working hours. Those statistics are simply not good enough. These are the women we depend on in so many careers. Will the Minister of State look at Kildare and ensure the childcare is provided and also that the cost is reduced? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maeve O'Connell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maeve-O'Connell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Maeve-O'Connell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Maeve O'Connell  Many speakers have highlighted various gender gaps across Ireland. However, there is another gender gap I wish to highlight, namely that relating to transport. We are investing heavily in sustainable transport - nearly \u20ac600 million across the four local authorities in Dublin - to build various active travel schemes. This figure could reach \u20ac1 billion by 2030. Of course, we absolutely need to invest in sustainable transport. This is essential in order to hit our climate targets for public health and also to make sure that the city continues to keep moving as the population increases and the number of journeys people take increase. However, we also need to make sure this transition is fair; right now it is not. According to TII research, four out of five women in Dublin consider having a car to be a necessity. Let us look at why women are saying a car is an absolute necessity. The type of journeys women do are very different from those men do. Men take journeys from point A to point B whereas women's journey choices are very much driven by their caring responsibilities. They are often more complex journeys or what are called trip-change journeys. For example, a woman might collect the kids after school and drop them off to their after-school activities before popping in to see her parents. That all happens in the course of a single trip. In addition, our very education system is adding to the complexity of it. Unlike most European counties, we have a highly gendered education system, that is, a high percentage of single-sex schools. This is something that is repeatedly reported to me by parents and grandparents in my constituency of Dublin Rathdown where people find they have to drop off and collect their children from up to three different schools that are all in different locations.  Enterprise Ireland funded research to try to understand some of the complexities around women's transport choices. It found that for cycling there were distinct barriers for women. The further she is away from the city centre, the less likely a woman is to cycle. If a woman is living in an apartment, she is two times less likely to cycle than a man. This is known as the hassle effect as a result of the hassle of having to manage a bike when you are in an apartment. Interestingly, if you are on a higher income, as a woman, you are twice as unlikely to cycle than a man. We think that is down to the presentation penalty. If you are on a higher income, you are also probably at supervisory or managerial level and there are certain expectations of how you should present at work, which may not be compatible with the cycling journey. On the plus side, our levels of cycling to school are going up according to census data, so that is good. However, these gendered effects kick in at a very early age, namely school age. Further research has been done to try to understand this. It found that uniforms, traffic concerns, physical effort, the impact of personal appearance and peer influence all discourage young girls from cycling to and from school.  We are spending \u20ac600 million on active travel schemes which make cycling more pleasant and safer. As can be seen from everything I have outlined, however, that is only one factor that is going to help address this issue. In fact, safety concerns are regarded as fairly equal between men and women. The most recent walking, wheeling and cycling survey found that most women think it is perfectly safe to cycle in their own neighbourhoods. The real barriers to cycling are social and cultural, and these can be much harder to change. Census data shows that one in five of those who cycle to work are women. The majority of people cycling to work are men. Perhaps all of these dynamics explain why the NTA's canal cordon survey data found there are 3,000 fewer cycling journeys than there were in 2019 while all other forms of transportation have gone up. If the Government is serious about a transition to sustainable transport, we need to ensure that it is fair. To do that, we must recognise that these gender gaps exist in transport and that, for very complex reasons, women are less likely to cycle.  We must also acknowledge that women are far more likely to see the car as a necessity. We need to reshape our cities to facilitate sustainable transport but as we are doing so we are also increasing congestion. We are removing filter lanes. For example, it is proposed that all the filter lanes on the N11 be removed. We are closing roads. Multiple roads have been closed in Kilmacud, for example, and we are changing traffic light sequences in order that fewer cars get through junctions. This is inevitably increasing congestion across Dublin. Who will be sitting in traffic because they have picked up the kids, are dropping them to school activities and are hoping to pop in and do a welfare check on their elderly parents? It will be women. At whose expense are we building all of this cycling infrastructure that causes these longer car journeys? It is at the expense of the women who will be sitting in those cars. I will be advocating in favour of the need to address these issues across government. If we want to hit our climate targets and if we want to make Dublin more cycle friendly, we need to do so in a way that effectively accounts for these unique challenges faced by women in Ireland. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Albert Dolan  It is great to be able to speak here today on International Women's Day and to discuss so many issues facing women right across this country, particularly in our role as representatives to ensure we represent all voices. I say that as a man standing here speaking while thinking about my mother, my three lovely sisters and all the women I meet every week in my constituency clinics and the issues they bring to me, as their representative, directly. It is important to say that Ireland has come a long way over recent decades in terms of equality. We have a long way to go, however. Ireland's equality journey is really only getting started and we have so much yet to achieve to ensure people feel equal in this society and, ultimately, are equal in reality. I will start by talking about the gender pay gap and the importance of trying, not just to resolve it, but to bring greater transparency around it. We know that over time the gender pay gap widens. The only way you can manage something like this is by measuring it and by having transparency. I implore the Minister of State to continue to work on this issue and to ensure that it gets the attention it needs and achieves the desired outcome of greater transparency and greater equality of outcomes for both women and men, because that is what will come off the back of that.  It is also important on International Women's Day to talk about the representation of women, the importance of the role women play in politics, and the need for more women to be in roles of leadership in companies and, in particular, here in the D\u00e1il. Whatever it takes to ensure that more women are elected to the D\u00e1il needs to happen, because I firmly believe it would lead to greater representation for women in the D\u00e1il.  In the present D\u00e1il, as in the previous one, there has been a massive emphasis on women's healthcare and making it a priority in terms of menopause care, contraception, maternity services and conditions like endometriosis. We need to continue investing more in those areas. My mother practices as a GP in rural County Galway. I have heard from her the impact some of the measures brought in by Government over the past few years have had on patients. That is really important. If we do not make these investments and if we fail our women, then we are failing as a society. It is important that we continue to invest in women's health and make it a priority, so women have better health outcomes. I want Ireland to be a leader in women's health and I think we can do that.  Particularly as a man standing here, we need to call out some of the issues brought to my attention when it comes to violence against women, whether domestic, sexual or gender-based violence. It has to be met with stronger supports and laws. Ultimately it all comes down to culture and it is important to say that. There was a Netflix documentary aired last week called \"Inside the Manosphere\", about the negative impact those influencers are having on young men's attitudes towards women. That is also something that needs to be called out.  We all have a shared ambition for women in Ireland to see them succeed and live fantastic lives of equality and opportunity but we need to move that from ambition to action and investment. I believe the focus must now be on delivery and measurable progress in people's lives. I hope the Minister of State can take on some of the matters I have raised. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ann Graves","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ann Graves  I welcome the opportunity to mark International Women's Day. The aim and theme this year of Give to Gain was really strong. The point was collaboration and collective action to drive opportunities for women and girls. When women drive, everyone thrives. As an active trade unionist for all of my working life, I see the link between the struggle for women\u2019s rights and workers' rights. When we improve pay and conditions for women, everybody benefits. Families and communities benefit when women get fair pay and better working conditions.  I have been lucky to engage with and support many women's groups in my constituency of Fingal East. One group I want to acknowledge is the Swords Women's Shed. Its mission is simple. It is to unite and empower women within the community through creative craft and socialisation. The women's shed was set up in 2022 by two inspirational local women, Glenda and Pamela, in response to the isolation and loss women were going through during Covid. They have been central to organising social, creative, health-led events and so much more, including friendship for other women. I was privileged to attend and address their International Women's Day event. It was brilliant. It was a great event, full of energy and solidarity. The group has grown year on year. I urge the Minister of State to ensure funding is made available to the Swords Women's Shed, like the men's shed, so they can have their own premises and fulfil their potential.  The sharing of non-consensual photos or recordings of intimate images is wrong and is criminalised under legislation. The use of AI to generate non-consensual images is also wrong but unfortunately is not criminalised. In February Sinn F\u00e9in introduced an amendment to the harmful communications Act. This amendment will ensure that AI-generated sexualised and abusive images would be outlawed. Government needs to act on this to ensure the amendment is enacted as soon as possible.  I also highlight the challenges for women who want to access help with addiction. Women use drugs and alcohol for different reasons to men and their journey is different to the journey that men go through. Women face different challenges and obstacles. Unfortunately, drug treatment and rehabilitation services are designed by men for men. It is great to have an international women's day but not once a year. We should be looking after women every day. Resources need to be put in place to support the community and voluntary groups along with our SNAs, carers and disabled women. The list goes on and on. We need to allow them to reach their full potential. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  The first International Women's Day was observed in 1911 following calls for women's rights, including the right to vote and to hold public office. It was officially adopted by the United Nations in 1975. The day focuses on celebrating progress while urging pay equality, educational opportunities and increased representation and leadership. This year I was invited to a few events, and I was asked to make a few videos. I did not go to any events, and I did not make a video because my heart was not in it. I could not muster the enthusiasm to celebrate women in power, women in business and women in leadership. Why? It is because every single day and in every single email, phone call or appointment in my clinics I meet women who have not seen the benefits of equality, equity and empowerment. Since I was elected I have met women in the worst possible situations and who have been abused, threatened, raped, controlled, dominated and demeaned, women who are shadows of themselves and who are silenced and scared.  Early in my working life I worked in a domestic violence refuge for women in London. I was angered then about the way women were treated, and 28 years later I am still horrified by the way women are still being treated. They are still in the same situations and the law has barely moved on to fully protect them. Women are not being protected from their abusers and society is still not calling them out. There are people still having a pint in the pub with the perpetrator and they are still not calling that behaviour out in the workplace or many other places and there is still silence.  We saw a parade for St. Patrick's Day in Ballinrobe, County Mayo, yesterday that had a float simulating rape. Why was a float dedicated to the Epstein files allowed, and why, when children were present at a parade was any such depiction of rape allowed? It is absolutely horrific and joking about rape is part of the problem we have in this society.  Outside Leinster House today we will see a protest against proposed development of the mother and baby home site in Bessborough. There are no burial records for 859 children. There are records for their baptism but not for their burial. These mothers and their babies were treated horrifically, and their horror continues today. There is an interconnectivity of abuse of mothers and their babies that continued into the abuses in industrial and reformatory schools and other institutions of abuse. I notice outside Leinster House that the Countess Markiewicz statue has been moved to make way for the Daniel O'Connell statue. It seems like a small thing, I admit, but for centuries women have been erased and moved out of the way and this is continuing today.  Girls and young women in this world are still not able to access education. There are 122 million girls remaining out of school globally. Adolescent girls aged between 15 and 19 in south Asia are three times more likely than boys to not be in education, training or employment. There are almost 50 million girls and young women who are not able to read or write a single sentence. I will truly celebrate International Women's Day when half of the seats in this Chamber are women, when the people who are in here represent the people outside here and when every girl gets the same opportunity as her boy counterpart. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  I will use my time today celebrating International Women's Day, to celebrate a specific group. That is single mums. We are actually closer to Single Parents Day, which falls on Saturday, 21 March, than we are to women's day, which was a couple of weeks ago. I realise there are also single dads. I put that on the record straight away but 85% of one-parent families are headed by women. The experience of one-parent families in Irish society is very much a women's issue. For my daughter's entire upbringing, I brought her up alone. We comprised one of those one-parent families. One-parent families are significantly worse-off than, if you like, traditional families in Irish society. They are statistically one of the groups in society most likely to experience poverty. Some 46.3% of one-parent families live in enforced deprivation, which is nearly three times the figure for two-parent families. Women in one-parent families are far more likely to have to take unpaid leave, move to part-time employment or leave the labour market due to a lack of affordable childcare.  Focus Ireland recently found that 57% of homeless families in this country were one-parent families.  Even though I would say we have moved on from what was a time of real stigma for one-parent families, I think we have lost the connection between the very dark history this country has in terms of the treatment of women who became pregnant outside of marriage and chose to raise children outside of marriage and our mother and baby homes and Magdalen laundries. I believe that has left a legacy in Ireland. Although the direct stigma is not as frequent, single-parent families and single mums are still seen as inferior. There is so much of value in being in a one-parent family that is never called out in Irish society. For example, a child in a one-parent family has a single line of authority, often something that can be better than a fractured two-parent family. They also have that unique bond, I believe, particularly where there is a single parent with one child. There are, therefore, ways in which I believe my family was a very positive place to bring up my daughter that I do not think are celebrated by Irish families. We still see that very traditional attitude that children should experience a mother and father in the home. Indeed, I remember my daughter being appalled during the marriage equality referendum at the posters that lined our streets saying every child deserved a mother and a father. Her father left Ireland when she was ten days old and never came back and never supported us as a family, so to say that to her really denied her her reality and it spoke to her as if our family was inferior.  There are many fixes that would help one-parent families because they are structurally vulnerable. There are so many ways in which the structure of our society simply makes them vulnerable by default, but there are fixes that would help all of society and also help single parents disproportionately. A public model of childcare, social and affordable housing, collective bargaining and stronger workers' rights would all help single parents more than they would help other parts of the population because they are so structurally denied.  Gingerbread is a one-parent service in Scotland and the rest of the UK that is supporting a single-parent family day this year by talking about the fact that single parents are superheroes. They are the ones who stick around. They are the resilient parent who manages despite all those structural disadvantages. Today, I wish to acknowledge the superheroes in Ireland who are single mums. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  The older I get and the longer I am in politics, the more frustrating I find it when International Women's Day rolls around every year. We come in here and people from all the benches say the same things. We talk about the challenges women face and the progress being made. It sort of seems, though, that everything is just set aside for that day, and then we all go back to our business. Those fundamental structural and cultural changes that we need to see really have not happened yet.  Last Friday, when I was thinking about what I was going to say in this speech, I went onto The Irish Times website and was blown away as I went through the different news articles. There was an article about the family of a woman murdered by her husband in Dublin being distressed after the killer was granted day release. There was an article about the Ana Kri\u00e9gel murder. There was an article about Ashling Murphy's murder. There was an article about the doctor who was jailed for eight years for raping a nurse as she slept. There was an article about the Natalie McNally murder trial. It was article after article, and they were all saying the same thing: that there was a huge problem in this country with gender-based violence. It is a huge problem and we are not tackling it.  I would recommend that everyone have a look online at the site of an influencer called Chloe Koyce. A number of months ago, she put up a video that showed someone following her. She was on a night out with her friends. A man followed her into her hotel, into the lift, took off his belt, stood behind her, made sort of gestures with the belt and then, essentially, got out on the same floor in her hotel. If it was not for the fact that her mother was in the room when she knocked on the door, she is convinced something awful would have happened to her. If we look at that video, we will see how scared she was when she was relaying the story. What was really stark to me was how she kept on saying that she did not want the story to be about her and that she wanted everyone to know she did absolutely everything right. Her friends went out and made sure they saw one another get into the taxis. Her friend got into a taxi and stood by the door of the taxi watching Chloe go into the hotel to make sure she got through her hotel door safely. This man just slipped in right behind. It was incredible.  Girls and young women in this country are made to feel unsafe all the time. They have to make themselves small and unseen. They make excuses when they are treated in that manner. Now, that chap was convicted. He was given a six-month suspended sentence. Part of it was because he had had 14 pints. I do not care how many pints he had. You do not follow a young woman, you do not take your belt off and you do not threaten someone. It is disgraceful. We need to look at all these instances and ensure there is accountability for what happens. There can be no excuse. All that does is it makes every other woman's life in this country smaller and smaller as they try to make themselves disappear so they do not suffer gender-based violence. I ask the Minister of State to look at that video. It is really eye-opening. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Keira Keogh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Keira Keogh  Deputy Whitmore outlined many examples. Last week, when International Women's Day was on, we could see so many jokes around why we needed an International Women's Day and if there was an international men's day. Deputy Whitmore has just pointed out exactly why we still need this day, when so many of us are still putting on our live locations when we are getting into a taxi or walking home.  International Women's Day is a celebration around the world and in Ireland. It is also a warning that we should not be complacent because the reality for women and girls around the world is that progress is never guaranteed. Right now, we are seeing a rights rollback for women. There are rollbacks on reproductive rights and a reversal of gender equality commitments by some governments. We are seeing some governments withdrawing or refusing to ratify the Istanbul Convention, which is the treaty opposing violence against women and domestic violence. The UN has warned that the regression of women's rights worldwide is occurring due to discriminatory legal frameworks and social norms and gaps between laws and implementation, as well as conflicts, which we know grossly affect women and girls.  Many of us in the last few days will have watched Louis Theroux's viral documentary, \"Inside the Manosphere\". It was shocking in very many ways and I think sad in many ways, but it also offered many insights as to why the manosphere was gaining momentum. The manosphere often promotes narratives that portray women as a threat to men's status or well-being. While there are at times legitimate concerns about men's mental health or social pressures, it should not be seen as a licence to force accountability for this on women. Often, these narratives amplify misogyny, encourage hostility towards women and give rise to extreme ideologies. It is clear that these narratives attempt to shape attitudes among a younger generation, influence their behaviour online and contribute to a modern culture of harassment due to gender. It is imperative that we develop effective responses to the manosphere to promote healthy and, importantly, respectful engagement and dialogue between genders.  In Ireland, the National Strategy for Women and Girls 2025-2030 sets out seven clear goals. These include ambition and opportunity, because too many girls rule themselves out of STEM leadership and public life, but not due to their ability. There is also safety, because domestic, sexual and gender-based violence remains a reality for too many women and girls. Economic independence is there because women still earn less on average and are more likely to be in insecure or part-time employment. Health and well-being are included because women's health, from endometriosis to menopause to mental health, is far too overlooked. There is care, because women continue to carry the greatest share of unpaid care and the mental load that entails. Then there is the goal of challenging stereotypes, because expectations about how women and girls should look or act still shape the opportunities that may be afforded to them. I often hear that I am not smiling enough, waving enough or friendly enough, and I often wonder if those comments go to my male counterparts as much as they go to women. Deputy Cleere is very smiley over there, but I think that is not a comment that male TDs would get much of. Another of the goals is ensuring that the voices of women and girls are heard to help shape the laws and policies that shape their lives.  The commitment to the national strategy for women and girls matters. It serves as a vital roadmap to safeguard rights, increase access to justice and opportunity and ensure that women and girls enjoy their lives free from discrimination, fear and violence. When we look at the Houses of the Oireachtas, over 25% of this House is made up of women, but that is only 44 out of 174 TDs.  We have made stronger progress in the Seanad with 45% representation but we really have a long way to go.  It is not about women versus men; it never has been. It is not a competition or about one being better than the other. It is about recognising that we experience the world differently and those differences matter when decisions are being made. We see it in everyday life; in the school canteen, in the factory break room, or even in the common areas of Leinster House. People naturally gather in groups shaped by their experiences and often their gender. The conversations at those tables are often different - not better or worse, but different. If those different perspectives are missing from the decision-making table, then the decisions we are making are, by definition, incomplete. This is not about balance for the sake of it but it is about making sure the Ireland we shape in this House reflects the full reality of the people we represent.  I give a nod to my constituency colleagues who are women and who bring their unique experience and skillsets to their roles and include local councillors, Donna Sheridan, Alma Gallagher and Marie-Th\u00e9r\u00e8se Duffy, and our MEPs, Maria Walsh and Nina Carberry. They all, along with many other professionals around the country, provide their unique experience, be it professional, personal or local, and we are lucky to have them working for their communities. We need many more like them until representation is equal. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere  The story of modern Ireland cannot be told without recognising the central role of women in shaping our society, economy and national identity. I am delighted to have the opportunity to speak and mark International Women\u2019s Day, and recognise the extraordinary contribution that women make to our families, communities and country, which they will continue to do for our future.  Throughout Irish history, women have played a vital role in shaping the nation we are today. One of the most powerful examples is Countess Markievicz, a pioneer of Irish political life and founding member of Fianna F\u00e1il in 1926, who became the first woman elected to this Parliament and is a symbol of courage, leadership and determination throughout the country. Her legacy reminds us that progress is possible when barriers are challenged and opportunities are opened up.  Today, across Ireland, women continue to inspire in every walk of life. We this see this in the arts through the incredible talent of Ireland\u2019s own Jessie Buckley whose success on the international stage has showcased Irish creativity and talent to the world. To cap it off, winning an Oscar last week was absolutely incredible. Her story of resilience is inspiring.  In sport, we see it in champions like Katie Taylor, whose discipline, humility and achievements have inspired a generation of young people across Ireland. Again, another world champion. I was at a parade yesterday in Gorsebridge and the Paulstown boxing club had a float. I was absolutely blown away by the fact that the majority of the young people doing the demonstrations were female. That is a nod to the Paulstown boxing club and the great Ollie O'Neill and Darren O\u2019Neill but also to Katie Taylor and Kellie Harrington and the women who have forged a lonely path at times to get female boxing to the Olympics. To have world champions in Ireland in boxing is incredible.  We also see it in young women representing their communities with pride and confidence, such as Katelyn Cummins, a very proud Kilkenny woman. She was a Laois Rose who represented her community with pride and confidence and went on to win the Rose of Tralee and \"Dancing with the Stars\" last week. Her journey reflects the talent, positivity and ambition young Irish women bring to every single opportunity they might get.  For me, International Women's Day has a deeply personal meaning. I am the proud father of four daughters and like every parent, I want them to grow up in a society where their opportunities are not limited by their gender, where their ambitions are encouraged and where their talents are recognised and valued. I want equality of opportunity for my children, not numbers for the sake of it, and for them to get the same opportunities as everybody else. My hope for them and for every girl growing up in Ireland is that they will have the confidence to dream big, the support to pursue those dreams, and the freedom to shape their own futures.  While this week is a week of celebration, it is also a stark reminder that we must continue working to achieve true equality. When women are supported to succeed, as I outlined, our communities thrive, our economy grows stronger and our society becomes fairer and more inclusive for everybody. As we mark International Women\u2019s Day, let us celebrate the achievements of women across Ireland. Let us honour their contributions past and present, and renew our commitment in this House to building a future where every girl and woman can reach her full potential. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan  I am grateful for the opportunity to speak here today to mark International Women's Day. It is one of the greatest honours of my life to be elected as a TD, a position that was in the past, and even today remains, a male dominated one. To stand here among such brilliant republican women who represent their communities with such strength and integrity is something I am immensely proud of.  However, while we celebrate the presence of these incredible women, we must be honest about the realities we still face. Despite making up half the population women account for just 25% of TDs in the D\u00e1il. International Women's Day is not only a day to celebrate what has been achieved but it is a day to reflect on what has to be done. While so much has been achieved, there is so much more to be done. We know we must not measure progress solely by the women who rise to the top of their fields. True progress means that as we rise, we rise together. We must not leave other women behind, especially those who are too often overlooked.  Let us look at the recent controversy caused by Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael\u2019s plan to cut SNA posts in schools across the State. Over 90% of SNAs are women, many of them working with zero long-term job security and left on rolling 12-month contracts. Despite everything they contribute to our children, schools and communities, they are still fighting for basic workers' rights. The Minister should be working to improve their conditions and not chipping away at them. These women deserve security, respect and recognition.  The same can be said for carers. As everyone here knows, the work that family carers do in communities across Ireland is vital. The pressure they take off our health service cannot be measured in words alone. In so many cases, it is the mother in a family who gives up her job to become a full-time carer, caring for the elderly or those living with disabilities, for loved ones who need support to live with dignity and independence. This work is nothing short of extraordinary, yet it remains largely invisible to those in Government. Let us not forget that it was for working women like SNAs and carers that International Women\u2019s Day first came into being. It began as a day of action, a day to demand better working rights, conditions and as a day for those who too often are ignored.  I congratulate St. Kieran\u2019s College on its well-deserved win yesterday in Croke Park. However, when it was the girls in Loreto Kilkenny who won their final, they did not have the same luxury of playing in Croke Park. Today as we pay tribute to the Irish women reaching for the stars, the likes of Jessie Buckley or Kilkenny\u2019s own Mia Griffin, one of the first Irish women to take part in the Tour de France, let us reflect on what has been gained and the fights that have yet to be won. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  I welcome the opportunity to speak on this today. In doing so, I recognise the role women have played in bringing about revolutionary change in this country. Indeed, they have been to the forefront of it on many occasions, including the fight for independence, the right to vote, social changes, workers' rights, trade union rights, economic changes and in every area of politics. In recent decades women have fought in the campaigns for divorce, contraception and gender equality.  We need to acknowledge the cruel manner in which girls and young women were treated in Ireland, particularly in industrial schools in decades gone by, and in the Magdalen laundries. What happened to them was nothing short of inhuman and we must never allow ourselves to go back to a situation like that again. Most of those institutions were run by Catholic religious orders, which is an issue for the Catholic church, and I say that as a Catholic. However, what is often conveniently ignored by sections of the media, in particular The Irish Times , is that some were Protestant-run - the Bethany Home, for example. The children in those homes suffered a cruel fate and abuse, which has been deliberately ignored and suppressed by the media.  All attempts to highlight it by those campaigners, who have tried to campaign for the victims of the Protestant-run schools, have been ignored and censored over the years. You would have to ask why. Everything needs to be brought out into the daylight. We need to deal with all the matters of the past and move on from them.  While great progress has been made on many issues, there is still a lot of fundamental change that is required. In the area of domestic abuse, which is mainly against women, Laois still does not have a domestic abuse refuge. Laois domestic violence services in Portlaoise provide an excellent service for people but there is a need for that to be addressed. In regard to online abuse, we had the case two weeks ago of the awful abuse of a young woman in University College Dublin, UCD, who was allegedly raped, drugged and photographed. The photographs and vile abuse about her circulated throughout the school.  The area of childcare needs to be addressed. Working-class women in particular face financial hardship and issues around access to help so there is still work to be done. While we can clap ourselves on the back, there is a lot more to be done before we can really do it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  Unfortunately, International Women\u2019s Day was not a day of celebration; it was a day of rage. There is rage that we have rising levels of misogyny, epidemic levels of gender-based violence and genocide and militarism increasing around the globe. In Dublin, thousands of people gathered for International Women\u2019s Day. It was a very large turnout made up of survivors of sexual assault and women from Palestine, Iran and Sudan. One thing we have to register is that it was also about the Epstein files. There was huge anger that the Taoiseach would go and celebrate the national holiday of this country with the man responsible for increasing misogyny, who is legitimising sexual assault, openly talking about sexually assaulting women and who is named thousands of times in the Epstein files. The message that sent was that sexual assault of women and children does not matter. It is also hugely hypocritical to hear the T\u00e1naiste and Taoiseach talking about Conor McGregor being the worst of Ireland. Do they seriously think that Donald Trump is any better than Conor McGregor? My feelings on Conor McGregor are pretty clear. They are both convicted of rape in civil cases.  I also want to mention that floats in three parades yesterday trivialised sexual assault of children, with a big banner about the Epstein files and people in states of undress. It speaks to the level of misogyny we have among young boys and men in this society that something like that would happen, and that there is no accountability yet as to how it happened.  A third of young men think wives should obey their husbands. That shows that the manosphere, which has been operating since 2009 \u2013 it is not new at all \u2013 has accelerated. Nothing at all that the Government can identify is going to be done about that. I refer to the grooming of young boys to hate women and radicalising young men against women. It seems that this is fine in this society. The Government would not even tackle the algorithms.  I do not have time to make other points I wanted to make but institutional abuse is very prevalent. I have loads of cases of people contacting me since UCD, in the Garda, the medical community and the Army as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  This year\u2019s theme for International Women\u2019s Day is rights, justice and action for all women and girls. As we reflect on this today, we should bring our focus to the women and girls who have been denied access to justice and full vindication of their human rights in Ireland today. International Women\u2019s Day is an opportunity to advocate for meaningful change, so in the brief time I have, there are three I things I would like to mention that need to be advanced by the Government to support and protect all women and girls here in Ireland.  First is the national strategy for women and girls. The Government launched the new strategy last year and the implementation plan for that is being drawn up at the moment. It is vitally important that this strategy is not siloed to a single Department and that, instead, it is an all-of-government approach in regard to its implementation to make sure that is done in as ambitious a way as possible. Women and girls are half the population and the implementation of this strategy should be the work of every single Department.  Second, we need to recognise that childcare should not just be a mechanism for getting women into the workforce but instead recognise that it is absolutely key to unlocking women\u2019s participation in all forms of social, cultural, economic and political life. I was pleased, as Minister, to be able to take steps to drive down the cost of childcare while I was in government. This Government needs to go further and focus on care as a form of work in our economic model, recognising that accessible childcare close to communities is good for families and is also aligned with our broader climate ambitions.  Finally, on the urgent need to protect survivors of violence, we need to introduce stronger legal protections that would allow women and children in abusive situations to remain safely in the family home. A recent paper from the National Women\u2019s Council of Ireland found that the housing crisis is placing women in an impossible situation where they have to choose between staying in the home with their abuser or entering homelessness. In addition to providing better emergency accommodation in all counties, we should ensure a legal framework exists whereby perpetrators of domestic violence can be removed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  Over the past week, a lot of people have been watching Louis Theroux\u2019s expos\u00e9 of the online manosphere, where manfluencers peddle misogyny, racism, homophobia and transphobia, which is then force-fed to young men via toxic social media algorithms. Like the big tech companies and the depraved billionaires who profit from these toxic algorithms, the only value system the manfluencers have is money, maximising engagement and clicks by making the most extreme content they can think of and then monetising the attention of young men and boys by flogging them club memberships, cryptocurrency and other sorts of snake oil.  Young men and boys who buy what big tech and the manosphere are selling pay the price financially and emotionally. Anyone who takes Andrew Tate\u2019s advice on relationships is likely to end up as an incel or an abuser. The highest price, of course, is paid by women and girls \u2013 not just those unfortunate enough to end up in a relationship with these damaged men or to be assaulted by them but every woman and girl who is now living in a climate of misogyny that is getting worse by the day. Research by Women\u2019s Aid has found that two thirds of young men hold or do not disagree with traditionalist, sexist beliefs like \u201ca man\u2019s worth is measured by power and control over others\u201d, and that \u201creal men should not have to care about women\u2019s opinions or feelings\u201d. I am sure Donald Trump and Elon Musk would agree. Does the Government agree? I presume it would say \u201cNo\u201d but it acts as if it does because it has refused to turn off the toxic social media algorithms that are normalising misogyny and hate. It did not listen to the experts or to the artificial intelligence, AI, committee when it voted down our Bill to do precisely that.  I also call on the Minister to show some respect for women and girls by supporting the call of survivors of mother and baby homes not to build over a mass grave at Bessborough. They will be outside the D\u00e1il protesting very shortly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Grace Boland  There are many issues I could speak about today. I could speak about violence against women, which is still far too prevalent. I could speak about how women from lower socioeconomic backgrounds continue to face disproportionate disadvantage or about how caring role and professions traditionally carried out by women remained undervalued in our society. I could speak about the gender pay gap, which many companies continue to try and hide on websites. I could speak about the tsunami of research that shows women in leadership positions and diversity lead to better profitability, stronger governance and greater creativity in business. Despite that evidence, the glass ceiling remains in far too many sectors.  Today, I want to focus on steps the Government could take that would genuinely help to level the playing field between men and women. When my twins were born, my husband had just started a new job and, like many families, we sat down and tried to figure out how we could make it all work. He was entitled to paternity leave but his employer would not top it up. Instead of taking that paternity leave, he took two weeks of annual leave \u2013 not because that is what we wanted but because financially we felt we had no choice. After the cost of in vitro fertilisation, IVF, and suddenly needing two of everything \u2013 very happily \u2013 those early weeks were already a huge adjustment. Taking paternity leave on a low, flat-rate payment simply was not financially realistic for us at that time. Those two weeks of holidays were almost half of his annual leave gone. This story is not unique; it is repeated in homes right across the country and it is the reality that many families are facing.  When children arrive, families are making decisions in the middle of exhaustion, financial pressure and the reality of keeping a household going. Too often, the outcome is that mothers take a step back from work while fathers return quickly, not because that is what families want but because, financially, they feel they have little or no choice. That is not personal failure; that is policy failure.  If we are serious about equality, we have to change that. Equality must mean equality for men as well, and fathers should have a genuine opportunity to take time out of the workplace for caring responsibilities and to spend time with their children, not just in theory but also in reality. We have 26 weeks of maternity benefit, two weeks of paternity benefit and nine weeks of parent's benefit for each parent, but those payments are all at a low, flat weekly rate of \u20ac299. For many families, that simply does not reflect the reality of their income, rent or mortgage, or the cost of living. International evidence consistently shows that Ireland ranks among the lowest in the OECD when it comes to income replacement during parental leave because our system relies on a flat rate and we are seeing the wider impact.  The average number of children born to a woman in Ireland in her lifetime has now fallen to 1.47, the lowest level in more than 50 years. Families are making decisions about whether and when to have children in the context of financial pressure and a lack of support. If we are serious about equality and supporting families, we need to act.  There are three practical steps we can take. The first is to increase maternity, paternity and parent's benefit payment so that families can actually afford to take the leave to which they are entitled. If we want fathers to take that leave and mothers to remain in the workforce, the payment cannot be a barrier; it has to enable parents. Second, we have to actively encourage and normalise men taking paternity and parent's leave. Currently, paternity leave is only taken by approximately 50% of men and even fewer take parent's leave, only 25% to 30%. We need public awareness campaigns. We need it to be normalised in every sector from construction to politics to business. Third, we have to set out a clear pathway towards more equal leave for mothers and fathers, which is actually taken up by both. I am not asking for this to be done overnight but there has to be a clear direction of travel and we have to see the uptake of these leaves increase.  This year, child benefit spending is projected to fall by \u20ac320 million. Using some of that money to strengthen the various parental leave payments would be a practical and meaningful way to support families and advance equality. Equality cannot just be something we celebrate once a year. It has to live in the policies that shape everyday families' lives and the real choices they can make. If we get those policies right, we will support women, men and families and build a fairer future for our daughters and sons. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  International Women's Day can and does mean different things to people. For my part, I have always seen value where celebration is productive and furthers the cause, rights or conditions of women or children or our understanding of these. It is also appropriate to reflect on, commemorate and educate people about the women who have gone before us whose contribution to society and our communities has gone unmarked and uncelebrated or whose contributions may have been entirely unknown about or misattributed through ignorance or design. What I cannot abide, however, is pithy backslapping for the sake of it. While significant progress has been made in Ireland in the last century, there is little celebration in the bar being raised from the floor. We have only to look around the Chamber, outside it perhaps, to debate this, to get fair representation of the progress being made in striving for a truly equal society.  I welcome the Government's commitment to zero tolerance of domestic and gender-based violence. However, the strategy was adopted in 2022 and is due to run until the end of this year. I am not sure I see the progress to zero tolerance. I remain unconvinced the Government will reach its commitment to double the number of refuge spaces available to those fleeing domestic and gender-based violence. I have yet to hear the Government acknowledge that the target is an ambition that would see us with only half the number of spaces mandated under the Istanbul Convention. In my constituency of Cavan-Monaghan, the Government has sent incredibly mixed messages about whether or when it intends to live up to its commitment to deliver a refuge in both counties or expects it to only happen in one county with the other still being one of the nine counties without a domestic violence refuge. All the while, we hear many policy announcements on various legislative matters, but a year into the Government, I have yet to see one related legislative measure fully pass through these Houses.  Where in the name of God is the delivery of the promised plan to deliver childcare capped at \u20ac200 per month within the first 100 days of Government. For International Women's Day this year, my message to the Government is that we appreciate the rhetoric, but it is long past time it progressed beyond the rhetoric and media opportunities to meaningful policy delivery. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  I am grateful to speak on International Women's Day. I take this opportunity to remember the great Dolores Keane, who passed away recently. She was a wonderful woman who was raised in a small cottage in the west of Ireland by her aunts Rita and Sarah. She went on to amazing things. With her unique voice and her charm she represented Ireland remarkably over many years. The likes of Dolores, who had such a special talent, we will sadly not see again. May she rest in peace. I know everyone in the House will join me in offering our condolences.  Dolores Keane died in the week we are celebrating International Women's Day. It is not lost on anyone that she passed away in a week when we are celebrating women in this country and right across the world. Dolores spoke openly in recent years about her successful battle against breast cancer. We can do a lot more to protect women in this country in relation to screening. I have seen many statistics on breast cancer and survival rates, the delays in treatment in some hospitals and the backlog that exists and has existed for some time in breast cancer screening services and the geographical disparity is concerning. Breast cancer affects almost every family at some stage, and we need to ensure the best possible outcomes, early diagnosis and early treatment are available for all women.  Some 250,000 fewer people were screened for breast cancer, cervical cancer and bowel cancer in 2020 than in 2019 - 250,000 fewer people. This was as a result of the Government shutdown due to Covid-19. It is incredible that those services were shut and that, as a result, 250,000 fewer people were screened. Many screening services are still playing catch-up from those shutdowns and many cancers have gone undiagnosed until it was too late. In my constituency recently, screening was paused for a gentleman, not because he was not ready, but because the system could not cope. That is incredible. Not only are there delays and backlogs in screening, but there are major delays in treatment as well. Last year, the HSE told us that 72% of patients deemed fit for radiation treatment start it within three weeks of being diagnosed. This means that one quarter of cancer patients who are ready for treatment are left waiting for three weeks to receive radiation treatment. I have seen this in my work in weekly constituency clinics and it is devastating to have to sit down with constituents who tell me they are ready for treatment and know their cancer is progressing. I try to get them seen, but the system cannot facilitate them. Early diagnosis and early treatment are fundamentally important.  In recent weeks, Aont\u00fa discovered there is a 15% difference in breast cancer survival rates depending on the county a woman is from.  A woman from Limerick has only an 80% chance of being alive in five years after breast cancer but a woman from Cavan has a 95% chance of surviving cancer within a five-year period. That is really quite incredible. There are many targets from the Irish Cancer Society that are still not being reached. There is so much more we can and should do and it is important to raise that in the context of International Women's Day. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  I echo the sentiments of Deputy Lawless on Dolores Keane. She was a truly great singer and my sympathies go to her family on her passing, which is a great loss to the country. I also pay tribute to three extraordinary Irish women who continue to lift the country's spirits, namely, Jessie Buckley, Katie Taylor and Katie McCabe. Jessie Buckley made history just days ago by becoming the first Irishwoman ever to win the Best Actress Oscar for her powerful performance in \"Hamnet\". She stood proudly on that world stage, spoke from the heart and did it without ever needing to change who she is, including keeping her Irish accent which she has long defended publicly. Her win was not just an award but a moment of pride for every community in Ireland who has watched her rise. As she is from our neighbouring county of Kerry, we are extremely proud of her.  Katie Taylor is a legend of Irish sport. At 39 she has confirmed her final professional fight will take place in Dublin this summer, likely in July or August. Croke Park is still her dream venue and it should be the venue. After 20 years at the top, including Olympic gold, undisputed titles and being an inspiration to millions, she wants to finish where her journey began, which is right here at home. That upcoming fight will not be just a sporting event but a national celebration.  Katie McCabe is a great ambassador for Ireland and her club Arsenal. She has been playing at the top level for the past number of years. She, Jessie Buckley and Katie Taylor show the very best of Irish womanhood: courage, talent, humility and heart. We salute them and every woman in Ireland who keeps pushing boundaries and proudly carrying our flag.  I wish to speak about health issues for women. While there have been improvements in women's healthcare in recent years and great care is provided to our female constituents there is still plenty of room for improvement. An area that urgently needs attention is early access to a lymphoedema clinic in Cork University Hospital. When a woman undergoes a mastectomy she is already dealing with trauma, her fear and the loss of a part of her body, but many women then face post-mastectomy lymphoedema, which is a painful, chronic swelling caused by lymph fluid building up in the arms, hands, chest and legs after lymph node removal or radiation. It affects mobility daily as well as activity, appearance, confidence and even a woman\u2019s ability to stay connected socially. Through no fault of their own many women feel embarrassed and isolated. Specialist lymphoedema clinics provide compression garments, exercise programmes, skincare guidance and manual lymphatic drainage. These supports are essential for recovery yet in Cork University Hospital women are waiting 12 to 18 months just to be seen. A constituent of ours has already waited over a year and is now being told it could be another six months before she gets an appointment. Her consultant has repeatedly sought help for her but still she waits. This is not acceptable. Early access to lymphoedema care is not a luxury but a vital part of a woman\u2019s physical and emotional recovery after breast cancer treatment. These women have already been through enough and should not have to battle waiting lists on top of everything else.  I also raise a serious issue affecting a young woman from my constituency. Emma O\u2019Shea is just 26 years old and is living with Friedreich's ataxia. This is a cruel, fast-moving disease and every month that passes Emma loses more of her independence. There is a treatment called Skyclarys which is approved across Europe and in the USA. Patients elsewhere are already benefitting but in Ireland Emma and others cannot access it despite it being approved over a year ago. That delay is simply not acceptable. Ireland approves only a fraction of orphan drugs and people with FA do not have years to wait. Time for them means a decline. I am asking for two simple things. Will the Minister of State intervene to ensure the HSE concludes reimbursement talks for Skyclarys? Do these delays reflect the access promised in the new rare diseases strategy? Emma and the FA community cannot be left behind while the rest of Europe moves on. I have written to the Minister of State about this and have also submitted parliamentary questions, so I would appreciate it if she could come back to me on this.  While talking about women we must not forget the carers of the country, predominantly women, who give up so much of their lives to care for their loved ones. The Government has raised the means test for the carer\u2019s allowance but the test must be abolished in total. Carers must be recognised financially for all they do. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Currie  I am thankful for the opportunity to speak about International Women's Day. I congratulate Jessie Buckley for becoming the first Irishwoman to win an Academy Award for Best Actress. Her success is a powerful reminder Ireland continues to perform strongly on the global stage but while we celebrate achievements like that, we must also look inward and ask whether the systems and structures here at home are truly setting women and girls up to succeed. I am concerned there is a narrative taking hold that the progress we have made on gender equality is enough because I do not believe it is. Progress is not something we achieve once and keep forever; the gains we make must keep evolving or they stop being gains at all.  For many women it is not getting easier but harder. Families are facing enormous pressures due to the cost of childcare, the availability of it, the cost of staying at home and the cost of returning to work. Parents find themselves performing constant solution-gymnastics, especially in the first year of a child\u2019s life as they try to make childcare, employment and family finances work. We have to make the system evolve with the times to keep up with gender equality and make it work for families. The motherhood penalty remains very real. Women experience an average earnings drop of around 27% after their first child is born and that statistic alone should make us pause but it is even more concerning that gender inequality is beginning earlier than motherhood. Research from the Growing up in Ireland study has identified a sizeable gender pay gap already among 25-year-old men and women and that is largely driven by the sectors they enter. Women are far more likely to work in education- and health-related fields while men are more likely to work in higher paying sectors such as industry, information and communications technology, finance and real estate. Of course we should support young women to enter higher paying sectors but that cannot be the whole solution. If we are serious about gender equality we must also encourage young men to enter care-related professions. Our country already faces workforce challenges in areas such as social work and therapies, education and disability services and bringing more men into those professions would benefit not only gender equality but the sustainability of those essential public services.  One of the most powerful ways to unlock gender equality is by degendering care roles both in the workplace and the home. One of the clearest ways to do that is normalising the taking of parental leave by fathers and normalising flexible work. Although progress has been made, the figures show there is still a long way to go. According to the reply to a parliamentary question I recently asked, a quarter of men are still not taking paternity leave and about a third are not taking parents' leave. A big reason for that is the financial hit. International evidence shows the difference father's leave can make. Research in Sweden found each additional month a father spends on parental leave increases the mothers earnings by about 6.7%. When fathers take leave mothers return to work earlier and the gender pay gap narrows. We are also seeing it is not just fathers who cannot afford to take leave as mothers also choose not to take parents' leave. This correlates with the number of women who do not get an uplift in their maternity leave, so women are stuck in a catch-22 situation. If they want to return to work, they may not be able to secure childcare or if they want to stay at home longer, they cannot afford to, so parental leave must be financially viable for both mothers and fathers.  At present, Ireland\u2019s maternity benefit replaces less than a third of average earnings. This is one of the lowest rates in Europe and the only system that still provides a flat rate payment. This must change. We should also move towards pay-related maternity, paternity and parental leave as outlined in the programme for Government. Our family leave system must work harder for hardworking parents.  Another important step is expanding access to flexible work. At present employees who are parents or carers can request flexible working arrangements under the work life balance Act. The legislation also requires a review by March 2026, to include whether the right to request flexible work should be extended to all employees. I take this opportunity to ask the Minister of State where that review stands, what the timeline for it is and whether the Government will commit to expanding the right to request flexible work to all employees. We have the directive on pay transparency and also the gender pay gap legislation.  We have to make sure that the information about the gender pay gap is made available to people on the portal as soon as possible, so people are able to see which companies are delivering and which are not, and where we need to focus our attention. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John McGuinness  A day like this helps us to pause the cycle all of us are in and gives us a chance to reflect on how far we have come, or indeed what other work needs to be done, particularly in the context of International Women's Day. I reflect on my mother, who had a great social conscience and formed the politics I stand for today. I would like to acknowledge that. Of course, as you grow up then, you are influenced by your family, your wife and your daughter. My daughter Alva bullied me a lot but she got me on the right course and kept me informed. Now, as a granddad, I listen to my granddaughters, Ellie, Robin, Phoebe and Nancy. I see the way they are influenced by people who achieved something in sport, for example, because they are all involved in sport. There is the likes of Mary Fitzgerald, a Paralympian who contested in the shot put. She is a huge figure in Kilkenny and someone who has given great hope to all of those who want to participate in sport. In terms of administration, I listened to Linda Kenny from Carlow speaking about her input into sport, the organisation of sport, clubs and so on. All of it was focused on women, young children and general community participation and achievement in the sporting world. Katelyn Cummins has been mentioned. Again, she is a figure young people can look to and say that can be achieved and can be done.  Josephine O'Neill is the current president of Macra na Feirme. I listened carefully to a contribution she made locally in Kilkenny and at a recent county council meeting, where she was honoured. I could not but be impressed by her grasp of what needed to be done, not just in the sector that she represents but in society in general and how we can improve things.  In the audiovisual room I saw a group of young women who are affected by Friedrich's ataxia. They put forward their views in what I considered to be a stunning, passionate contribution asking the Minister to make the appropriate drug available to deal with their issue and prolong their lives. All of that together represents a positivity that we can acknowledge.  On the other side of this, I have listened to contributions from young women, in particular affected by Tusla and about hearings in the courtroom, what is said to them, how it is said to them and how it treats them badly and does not acknowledge fully what they are going through. Quite frankly, I think that is a disgusting element of society, a disgusting part of our social system and our court system, that they are not acknowledged in a way that respects the problems they have. Their lives are being stolen from them and they are turning to the system, which it seems turns against them. I am shocked by the stories they have told me and by the way they were treated.  Likewise in relation to the Defence Forces, I have listened very carefully to what women who were members of the force had to say. How far have we got with that? How far have we reached out to those who are affected to give them some hope this system is listening to them?  You would think the system is deaf when it comes to women's health, breast cancer and so forth. While we have spoken about it and put new strategies in place, they are not delivering in the way they should. I refer to the rape crisis centres and Amber in Kilkenny, the refuge. I know the new refuge in Carlow will be delivered. Is it not a strange thing, with the emphasis being on all of this, that it does not radically change the attitudes of people? It does not seem in any way to put some time on this where we want to have something done before a date. We need to examine how we respond and if that timing is correct. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  I am grateful for the opportunity to speak as we mark International Women's Day. It would be remiss of me on my daughter Ailbhe's birthday not to mention her. She is abroad at the moment and, unfortunately, I will not get to see her. I would like to send all my love to her and, while I am at it, to my other daughter, Farren, my mother, my sister, Irene, and especially to my wife, Mary. An opportunity like this is good because it gives us a chance to recognise the value and the contribution of women in Irish society today. We saw that in particular with the recent challenges in respect of SNAs. There was a groundswell of opposition to the proposals to cut the SNAs in schools. I saw that initially from the SNAs in Fussa school and from Glenflesk, Portmagee and around the county. The U-turn by the Government on the issue sent out a message of hope that another way of doing things was possible. It sent a message for some other campaigns also that change can and will be achieved. I am thinking in particular about the lack of early intervention classes in the County of Kerry. We know there are two in the whole of the County of Kerry while in our neighbouring County Cork there are 22. There are also many schools looking for an extra autism class or, indeed, even one autism class, such as in the campaign waged by the teachers and parents in Moyvane national school.  There is also another issue. I am dealing with a woman who has a cancer diagnosis and has to have 16 or 17 radiotherapy sessions. She has been denied a medical card even on a discretionary basis. She faced the tragic loss of her husband in the past few years and even still the Department has refused her a medical card. On top of all the problems she has in dealing with the diagnosis, she is battling to try to get a medical card. That is something everybody in this House has to take on and try to achieve, not only for women but for people in general.  Given the week that is in it, I will finish by acknowledging Jessie Buckley from my own county. She spoke about the great lineage of women in her acceptance speech. I do not know Jessie Buckley but I did know her grand-aunt, Dodie Horgan, or Dodie Comer as she was before she married. Certainly Jessie does come from a great lineage. Her grand-aunt passed away about two months ago. Jessie was an inspiration to women. She sang in a previous album about the shoe box of dreams that she had under her bed. She worked for it; she went for it. Maith th\u00fa, Jessie. She had to find her own way, as she said herself, and make her own mistakes. She had to go but she never got too big, never got too heavy, never got too cool. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor)  I thank all my colleagues for their contributions today. I am very pleased to be delivering the closing remarks. It is very important that we mark International Women's Day because it is an opportunity for us to revitalise our shared efforts to achieve full equality between women and men. As a country, we have made real progress in our fight for equality and this has been captured by our improved ranking on the EU gender equality index. The Minister, Deputy Foley, and her Department have taken significant steps to promote gender equality and support the full participation of women and girls in society. The national strategy for women and girls sets out to address the challenges faced by women at all stages of their lives. The perspective of youth was prioritised in the development of the strategy, with a special national youth assembly taking place to ensure that young people's voices were built into Government policy. This demonstrates a real commitment to supporting the next generation.  It is vital that we recognise that women can face many forms of disadvantage.  To be effective, policy must respond to the full diversity of women's backgrounds and experiences.  In the area of family caring, equal sharing of caring responsibilities has been promoted through significant increases in family leaves and promoting equality in the labour market with the Government's efforts to increase pay transparency and narrow the gender pay gap. The combined durations of maternity, paternity and parent's leave and benefit now equate to 46 weeks' paid leave for a two-parent family. Mothers also have an entitlement to 16 weeks of additional maternity leave, which is unpaid.  In terms of disability rights, we had the launch of the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030 last year. Its implementation, alongside the women and girls strategy, can make a real and positive difference in the lives of disabled women. That is a real priority for the Government.  Actions have been taken to tackle gender-based violence and the harassment of women through the national strategy, particularly objective 4, entitled \"Being Safe\". The impact of gender-based violence is a huge issue in our society, and the Government is committed to improving safety for women and girls.  It is also extremely important that we recognise and acknowledge the changing threats to the safety, dignity and well-being of women and girls with the rise of cyber violence in our digital world. This is an issue that disproportionately affects young girls and women. As we have heard during today's statements, combating cyber violence against women and girls is part of Ireland's national strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence 2022-2026. It is extremely concerning to see the increasing use of AI to generate offensive materials and to abuse or harass people. Worryingly, this online environment consistently gives rise to new, emerging and unforeseen threats. The enactment of Coco's Law in Ireland has ensured that the non-consensual sharing of intimate images is illegal. This legislation includes a broad definition of intimate images to also capture images that have been altered or doctored.  To further address cyber violence against girls, we must tackle the harmful and restrictive content that is influencing our younger generations through social media and online spaces. Anti-gender equality movements are now emerging alongside a notable rise in online hate speech. Making digital and media spaces safer requires robust regulation. It also requires collaborative approaches to raise awareness, promote respectful online behaviour and support early intervention. Partnership-based, survivor-centred initiatives are essential to ensuring that prevention is embedded across digital environments and that emerging online harms are addressed effectively. Ireland will continue to explore options to strengthen victim reporting and awareness raising and will use our upcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union to advocate for greater online safety and the protection of women and children, in particular, from the misuse of digital tools.  The Department of Children, Disability and Equality has led efforts and implemented a range of measures to support women in the workforce and to drive forward equality in the labour market. It is widely known that business does better when there is diversity among decision makers. Ireland has fully transposed the EU directive on gender balance on corporate boards to ensure that listed companies achieve a more gender-balanced spread among their board members.  We have also made great strides in our efforts to narrow the gender pay gap, which is a critical measure of inequality. Through a range of measures, the gender pay gap in Ireland decreased from 14.4% in 2017 to an estimated 8.6% in 2023. In 2025, gender pay gap reporting was extended to all employers with over 50 staff. While it is mandatory for all those in scope of the reporting to publish their gender pay gap reports on their own website or make them accessible to the public, the Department of Children, Disability and Equality has now developed a centralised reporting database, the gender pay gap portal, for employers to upload their gender pay gap information. While reporting on the portal is currently on a voluntary basis, it will become mandatory for 2026 reporting in November of this year. The publication of this information is intended to incentivise employers to take action to reduce the gender pay gap as much as they can. It is also intended to support Government policy in taking meaningful steps to further women's empowerment.  This year, the Department will focus on transposing the pay transparency directive. Under this directive, EU companies will be required to share information about how much they pay women and men for work of equal value and to take corrective action if their gender pay gap exceeds 5%. It also provides for compensation for victims of pay discrimination and penalties, including fines, for non-compliance. This directive is crucial to empower workers, especially women, to enforce their right to equal pay through a set of binding measures on pay transparency. It will strengthen the transparency of pay systems, improve public understanding of the relevant legal concepts and enhance enforcement of the rights and obligations relating to equal pay. The Government is fully committed to full implementation of the pay transparency directive. It is vital work that must be progressed and will directly benefit women and girls and advance gender equality, both in the workplace and in wider society.  As the Minister of State, Deputy Higgins, described, she travelled to New York last week to update the 70th Commission on the Status of Women on the important progress we have made, while acknowledging that there is more work to be done to achieve a fully gender-equal society. In terms of my remit as Minister of State with special responsibility for public health and well-being, I was delighted to spend International Women's Day in Tullamore at the official launch of Women's Sheds of Ireland. It was wonderful to be there with so many strong and enthusiastic women dedicated to creating healthy environments in everyday life through community participation and empowerment. Spaces such as women's sheds can only help women. Women's sheds are great for women, even if they go just to socialise, and can help them to live healthier lives within their communities by encouraging participation, providing support and acting as a defence against loneliness and isolation. There are over 380 women's sheds around Ireland, and the work they do is valuable and crucial. They are a social outlet. All the women get to mix one or two evenings or maybe two mornings a week. They all do their own thing on different days. It is exceptional, and the goodwill that was there on International Women's Day for that launch was excellent. Together with my colleague, the Minister, Dara Calleary, in the Department of rural and community development, we want to ensure that women's sheds are supported in their excellent work.  I appreciate the importance of investing in health and well-being measures that target inequality and the extra burden that women can carry, including free period products and initiatives under the national sexual health strategy such as free contraception. That is to name only a few measures within my remit.  A lot of TDs spoke about different issues. It is important that all of us work together. Women's refuges came up very strongly in the debate. We have a great women's refuge in Kilkenny, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, namely, Amber Women's Refuge. Carlow's refuge is moving fast now. We hope to get the plans in soon to the local authority. Refuges are important. It is important that all of us work together with the women in our workplaces, wherever they work. It is important that all of us promote, work with and encourage our women. Women have so much to offer. As a woman standing here and as the Minister of State to conclude these statements, I can say I am a proud Irish woman, delighted to be here in the Chamber, encouraging women to go into politics. It is so important. We have so much to offer and we get a lot of satisfaction from the work we do. I hope everyone had a lovely, happy International Women's Day. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar fionra\u00ed ar 5.39 p.m. agus cuireadh t\u00fas leis ar\u00eds ar 5.44 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Sitting suspended at 5.39 p.m. and resumed at 5.44 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"International Women's Day: Statements"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-18\/debate\/dbsect_9","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Energy and Fuel Costs: Motion [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":159,"speakerCount":40},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa 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Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pat Buckley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pat-Buckley.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Pat-Buckley.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I move:  That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann:  recognises that:  \u2014 workers and families have been hit by an unrelenting cost-of-living crisis;  \u2014 the Government have failed to act to end this rip-off, and get prices under control;  \u2014 the turmoil in international energy markets, as a result of the unjustified attacks on Iran, is compounding an existing cost-of-living crisis, and risks causing severe hardship for many people;  \u2014 inflation was running far above the Government's projections, even before the most recent shock in energy markets;  \u2014 record levels of people were already unable to pay their electricity bills, with 319,459 in arrears, and one in four people unable to pay their gas bills, with many more struggling to keep from falling behind;  \u2014 the number of people at risk of poverty increased in 2025; and  \u2014 the Government got it badly wrong when they decided to withdraw cost of living supports;  notes with concern that:  \u2014 in this context, the rapid rise in the price of petrol, diesel and home heating oil has placed more pressure on workers and families; and  \u2014 the Government has legislated to increase the price of home heating oil in a matter of weeks; and  calls on the Government to:  \u2014 scrap plans to increase taxes on home heating oil on May 1st; and  \u2014 immediately reduce the cost of petrol, diesel and home heating oil, by implementing Sinn F\u00e9in's Mineral Oil Tax (Emergency Cost of Living Reduction) Bill 2026.  T\u00e1imid i ng\u00e9arch\u00e9im le coic\u00eds anois, coic\u00eds ina bhfuil oibrithe agus teaghlaigh ag fulaingt mar gheall ar phraghsanna at\u00e1 ag ard\u00fa go m\u00f3r ar pheitril, ar d\u00edosail agus ar ola theasa t\u00ed. T\u00e1 daoine th\u00edos leis anois. Is \u00e9 sin an f\u00e1th ar chur m\u00e9 an reachta\u00edocht i l\u00e1thair inniu chun praghas ar an phumpa peitril agus costas ola theasa t\u00ed a laghd\u00fa. Agus n\u00ed f\u00e9idir le daoine fanacht. N\u00ed m\u00f3r d\u00fainn gn\u00edomh\u00fa go tapa seachas a bheith ag smaoineamh go bhfuil an Rialtas chun s\u00fail a choinne\u00e1il ar ch\u00farsa\u00ed. T\u00e1 daoine ar buile. N\u00ed chialla\u00edonn s\u00e9 tada do dhuine at\u00e1 gan ola inniu. N\u00edl chialla\u00edonn s\u00e9 a dhath do sheandaoine at\u00e1 i dteach fuar agus iad ag fanacht ar an chinneadh \u00f3n Rialtas. N\u00ed f\u00e9idir leo fanacht. T\u00e1 siad ag amharc ar an Rialtas le gn\u00edomh a dh\u00e9anamh agus le seasamh suas ar a son.  Ireland is facing another energy shock because of another unjustified attack on a sovereign country. Last time, it was Russia invading Ukraine and this time it has started with the US and Israel attacking Iran. We have to remember the horror of what war means, with 170 people killed, most of them children, when a US bomb hit an elementary school. War crimes have to be called out, whether it is Russia, Israel or the US. Even in the face of this, our job is to protect people here from another economic blow. We are two weeks into this crisis, when workers and families are getting absolutely hammered by skyrocketing prices of petrol, diesel and home heating oil. The price of diesel is now well above \u20ac2 per litre and the price of home heating oil has almost doubled. Where in God's name does the T\u00e1naiste expect people to find \u20ac1,800 for a refill? That is the reality people are facing.  People are getting hit right now. This is why I introduced emergency legislation today to cut the price at the pumps and the price of home heating oil. People cannot wait any longer for the Government, which is dithering and delaying. They need to see action and they need to see a Government, but this one is nowhere to be seen. The idea that the Government is somehow monitoring the situation boils people's blood. It means nothing to somebody who is out of home heating oil today. It means nothing to the elderly person in a cold house tonight, afraid to turn on the heating. It means nothing to the parent who has to travel and commute to work and is finding it tough to put petrol or diesel in the car. They do not have the luxury that the Government has of waiting and seeing. They are looking at a Government that is refusing to act and stand up for them.  At the start of last week, we called on the Government to bring in emergency measures to help these people but it fell on deaf ears. We are not going to give up because we need to see action and we need to see taxes cut on petrol, diesel and home heating oil, and that should be happening tonight. Ministers were too busy packing their bags for Paddy's day. There were not even bothered with the fear that was gripping people in their constituencies. They are not listening to families who are worried about how they are going to fill the car or older people and elderly people whose heating oil is running out or running low and who cannot afford the refill.  Imagine just for a second what these people felt like when they heard the Taoiseach double down on plans to increase the taxes on home heating oil at a time when the price has nearly doubled in two weeks. This is also the plan in Fine Gael. They have told me, because I have spoken to them, that they feel disbelief that the Government could be so out of touch and they feel anger that it cares so little. It is not lost on people when these prices go up that the money ends up flowing into the State. Up to 65% of the price of every litre of petrol is taxes and levies the State collects. It was estimated that in a single week, \u20ac38 million was brought in through VAT as a result of these sky-high fuel prices alone, yet the Government refuses to act and stands by. People are demanding that the Government take action and cut the taxes on petrol, diesel and home heating oil. This is exactly what my legislation would do.  As I left Donegal this morning, I saw petrol stations having to charge \u20ac2.17 for a litre of diesel. On the way up, I saw station after station charging \u20ac2.10 and \u20ac2.05. These are all prices above \u20ac2. The T\u00e1naiste knows as well as I do, if he has his feet on the ground and knows what is happening, that many of these stations have been told there is a planned increase tomorrow night of 8 cent on a litre of diesel but the Government still refuses to act. We had Ministers in here saying they were monitoring the situation and that there would not be a knee-jerk reaction and blah de blah de blah. People still have to put money in their pockets and fill their cars and the heating oil is running out in so many homes. Now is the time for action and leadership. The Government should be standing up and saying it has heard the Irish people and it will reduce taxes on petrol, diesel and home heating oil because that is what the legislation would do. This is the leadership the people of this State are crying out for. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  I am grateful for the opportunity to speak on this very urgent issue. Across Ireland, workers and families are being pushed to breaking point. The price of home heating oil, petrol and diesel are spinning out of control and nothing is being done to stop it. We have just come from a meeting with the road hauliers and what was coming across was Government inaction and dithering and the Government not taking action to help ordinary workers and families. When heating fuel costs skyrocket, it is not an inconvenience for ordinary people. Rather, it is profound.  It is an immediate strain on already stretched household budgets. As the T\u00e1naiste probably knows, prices at the pumps are now regularly surging over \u20ac2 per litre. The cost of home heating oil has almost doubled from \u20ac473 to \u20ac970, as one constituent told me. For a worker commuting a long distance because there is no bus, for example, in County Kerry if there is no train and no alternative, that is an extra \u20ac20 or \u20ac30 per week just to get to work. For a family heating their home, it is hundreds of euro more every time the tank runs low.  Irish people were already paying some of the highest prices in Europe before this crisis. We are nearly three weeks into the crisis now and what is it that Fianna F\u00e1il, Fine Gael and the supporting Independents can come up with? All this do-nothing Government has done in response is to give a commitment to review the situation and say that it will do something at some stage.  Outrageously, the plan is to increase the carbon tax on home heating oil in just a few short weeks. Let me be clear; the carbon tax is regressive. We have been saying it for years. It is a double hit for lower income and rural households in particular. For most ordinary people, switching to an electric vehicle, EV, or a heat pump is simply not an option due to the high upfront costs or local deficits in essential infrastructure. These households are being hit twice - first by rising prices and then by a tax that presumes there are alternatives in place when there are not. The Government's record on the number of EV cars, unfortunately, is like its record on offshore wind, which one Minister described as previous Government members sitting on their hands. They are also sitting on their hands in respect of all the renewable energies.  We need relief now. Workers and families need relief. Here are the steps that can ease the pressure. This is an emergency that demands an emergency response. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell  Energy and fuel prices are terrifyingly high for people. People cannot afford more delay and inaction from this Government, particularly after a budget that left families and workers worse off. This Sinn F\u00e9in Private Members\u2019 motion is another opportunity for all those sitting on the other side of this Chamber to do the right thing, make the right decision and make life easier for people. This Government taxes energy and fuel as if they were luxury goods. People who are struggling to make ends meet are paying VAT, excise duty and carbon taxes on their fuel bills.  If we take the west of Ireland as an example, this is having a huge impact on people who have no other choice but to use oil to heat their homes and use the car to get to work. These are essentials if people are to work and live, but they are being treated by this Government as something that can be sacrificed. They cannot. The spike in energy prices over the last few weeks has highlighted the absurdity of increasing carbon taxes. Through carbon taxes, this Government continues to artificially hike the price of energy, all while there is a cost-of-living crisis domestically and turmoil in energy markets globally. The fight against climate change will not be won by plunging working people into energy arrears or forcing families to live in freezing cold homes.  This Private Members\u2019 motion would bring an end to the regressive and cruel approach and bring energy and fuel prices down immediately, and that is what needs to be done. Let us be honest; the Government is no stranger to tax cuts. In the most recent budget, it was only delighted to cut taxes for certain people. We saw that it deemed banks, landlords and big developers as worthy of tax cuts and it left ordinary people behind, a decision that lined the pockets of the few at the expense of the many. Now, when energy and fuel price hikes are affecting millions up and down the State and there are 320,000 people in energy arrears, it does nothing. It is like it is saying that it cannot do anything on this, but it could do it for certain people during the budget. It has done nothing to end the rip-off and nothing to get prices under control. Empty words will do nothing to heat the homes of people. We need action from this Government. The T\u00e1naiste can act, so I urge him to do so. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  It is fair to say that families across the State are in absolute shock at the rising costs they are facing, especially for petrol, diesel and home heating oil. The truth that is lost on the Government is that many of these families were already struggling long before these latest price hikes arrived. They were struggling because Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael removed vital cost-of-living supports in the most recent budget and actually left working people and families worse off this year than they were last year even before the recent hike spikes.  The Government's decisions to remove energy credits, increase student fees, local property tax and rent, and do nothing about the soaring costs of insurance, groceries and other essentials have meant that households today simply do not have the capacity to absorb the large increases in fuel prices we have seen in recent weeks, yet the parties in government and the Independents who prop them up seem completely oblivious to the pressures people are under. Two weeks ago, a Fianna F\u00e1il TD told me in a TV studio that it was premature to talk about a cost-of-living crisis. It is cloud cuckoo land stuff. I ask Government TDs this evening whether they still think it is premature or have they finally realised that, for many families, the cost-of-living situation has moved beyond a crisis and become an emergency?  Of course, one of the reasons that the Government refuses to act is simple. Higher fuel costs are not an accident. They are Government policy. Since 2020, the cost of petrol, diesel and home heating oil has been permanently increased six times, not by Putin or Trump, but by Miche\u00e1l Martin, Simon Harris, Eamon Ryan and, latterly, the Lowry and Healy-Rae Independents to such an extent that 65 cent of every euro now being paid at the pumps is going to the Exchequer. By the way, these same parties plan to increase these taxes four more times between now and 2030. When workers are struggling to fill their cars and heat their homes, the Government is deliberately driving these costs higher.  There is an alternative to the immediate crisis, however. It is before this House this evening. Sinn F\u00e9in has put forward a straightforward and practical solution, that is, reduce the taxes on petrol, diesel and home heating oil to give families immediate relief. The answer is here. All that is required now is for Government TDs to wise up and recognise the reality facing families across the State and support this motion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  Today, the Central Statistics Office, CSO, published its latest property price index. I am sure the T\u00e1naiste has seen the headlines. House prices have risen yet again quite significantly, but one of the interesting details in the CSO report is that the price of apartments has skyrocketed. The price of apartments in January was up 9% State-wide on the same period last year. Excluding Dublin, they were up an astonishing 12%. What that means, of course, is that for the people who invariably end up renting many of those apartments, rents are going to be higher. Tomorrow, the Residential Tenancies Board will publish its latest quarterly report and we are going to see, again, very significant impacts on rising rents. That is before we start to see the real impact of the Government's market rent reset.  Those renters, as well as those people struggling to or who will eventually be able to buy homes, have to heat those homes. They have to feed their children. They have to access childcare and education. On every one of those indicators, the cost of living is getting increasingly unbearable. We hear in our constituency clinics, as I am sure the impressive number of the Government's own backbenchers behind the T\u00e1naiste today also hear in their constituency clinics, that the scale of the cost-of-living crisis is having an impact on people that we are finding impossible to cope with because solutions are simply not being offered by the Government to address them.  What my colleagues have done today is something very simple. There has been a very dramatic increase in the price of petrol, diesel and home heating oil that is impacting on huge numbers of working people, including working people on low incomes or those on modest or low pensions. We have given the Government a very simple, straightforward and immediate way of alleviating for an emergency period that enormous cost burden at a time when every other set of costs people have are rising. We come into these Private Members' motion and legislation debates week after week and we are accused of not having alternatives or solutions. This is one that is based on a similar intervention squeezed out of Government following Russia's unjust invasion of Ukraine. I cannot for the life of me understand why the Government is not simply saying \"Yes\" to this and that it will work with Sinn F\u00e9in because what is needed by the people we represent and the people the Government represents, and whose best interests it says it has in mind, is action, and they need it now. This motion would make a huge difference in these issues impacting on those families and single people. I urge the Government to rethink its position and support the motion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  I want to begin by reading an email I received from a constituent who is freezing in her own home because she ran out of heating oil.  She says:  I have recently run out of oil due to the massive price hike, which is reported to be up to 60% in some areas. I simply can't afford to refill the tank. As a result, I'm left freezing in my own home, which is not a situation anyone should face in 2026. This is becoming completely unmanageable, and it's wrong. The Government are punishing and crippling the average worker. This requires more than finger wagging and a slap on the wrist. This is not about comfort, it is about basic living conditions and health. No one should be forced to choose between heating their home and meeting other essential expenses.  She, like others, has been hit with the largest hike in the price of home heating oil in the EU, at almost eight times the EU average. At the same time, the Government charges almost double the EU minimum fuel tax rates, taking up to 65% of the price at the pump. Coming down the tracks on 1 May, the planned carbon tax will bring increases as well. Not only is the Government planning to leave things the same, it is planning to increase them. It makes no sense to this woman and to so many other women who are suffering. That is why tonight's motion is so important. Sinn F\u00e9in's legislation would cut the cost of petrol and diesel by 25% per litre and cut \u20ac183 off a standard 1,000 litre fill of home heating oil. For small businesses that will make the difference to enable them to stay open and it will make the difference to allow people to live and survive in their own homes. The T\u00e1naiste has to do something about it. This motion gives every TD in here a clear choice: to stand with workers, families and small businesses who are struggling to cope or to allow the energy rip-off to continue. We need to give real relief to the people and businesses who simply cannot afford to wait any longer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  Enough is enough. More than 300,000 people in this State are already in arrears on electricity bills. The Government has already withdrawn energy credits only a few short months ago. It did so on the basis of projected inflation rates that underestimated the actual rate by as much as 50%. Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael believe that they could simply declare the cost-of-living crisis finished. In doing so, they placed the State and ordinary workers and families in the worst position to respond to the worsening crisis. The most substantive related action taken by Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and their so-called Independent supporters has been to increase the carbon tax, which increased the cost of heating a home, the cost of travelling to work, dropping kids to school or otherwise going about their ordinary day-to-day business, and it plans to do it again on 1 May.  That is all while Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael Ministers tell us they are keeping the matter under review or that they might take some sort of action at some unknown point in the future. I would welcome if the T\u00e1naiste would take positive action. I would even commend him if he were to do so. Sinn F\u00e9in's motion tonight calls on the Government to immediately intervene to reduce fuel prices and scrap planned tax increases on home heating oil. If Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael refuse to support this motion, it is a shame on them all. The very least they can do is stop making the current situation even worse. Enough is enough. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Finance (Deputy Simon Harris)  I move amendment No. 1:  To delete all words after \"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann\" and substitute the following:  \"notes that, the Government:  - remains deeply concerned about the escalating conflict in the Middle East and the Gulf;  - affirms Ireland's long track-record of support for international law and the United Nations;  - continues to seek de-escalation through dialogue and diplomacy so that these issues can be resolved;  - is acutely aware of the impact on households and businesses of the recent increases in fuel prices, and is actively monitoring the current geopolitical situation and developments in energy markets;  - affirms that energy affordability is a priority, and highlights that successive Budgets have provided targeted support to help households with cost-of-living pressures; and  - remains committed to decarbonising our society, increasing investment in renewable energy sources, and using revenues raised to protect those most vulnerable to fuel poverty through targeted welfare interventions;  affirms that:  - the T\u00e1naiste and Minister for Finance, with Department of Finance officials, is monitoring international and national developments in fuel markets, alongside the latest macro-economic impacts;  - the Government is working to calibrate an appropriate response, to be brought forward in the coming days, to ease the burden on affected households; and  - engagement at European Union level is continuing, including at a meeting of the European Council this week;  recalls that:  - Carbon Tax revenues are ring-fenced for climate action and just transition measures;  - Budget 2026 provided over \u20ac1.1 billion in advancement of these goals, with \u20ac350 million of those funds allocated to targeted social protection interventions;  - Budget 2026 extended the 9 per cent Value Added Tax rate for gas and electricity until the end of 2030;  - Budget 2026 increased the weekly Fuel Allowance payment by \u20ac5; and  - Budget 2026 broadened the Fuel Allowance eligibility, such that an additional 50,000 working families will now be eligible for this allowance; and  further notes that:  - Ireland operates an open market economy, which generally means businesses are permitted to set and change their own prices, however, any behaviour that breaches consumer protection or competition law falls within the remit of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) and will be investigated and enforced accordingly;  - the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment has initiated the process of further strengthening the powers of the CCPC in both its consumer protection and competition functions;  - the Government's Climate Action Plan commits to halving emissions by 2030, and reaching net zero no later than 2050;  - in the long run, the best way to protect Ireland from the impact of international fossil fuel prices is to reduce our dependence on them;  - Ireland is undergoing a renewables-led energy transformation, electricity generation from renewables has increased fivefold since 2005, and the milestone of over 2 gigawatts of installed solar capacity was achieved in November;  - offshore wind capacity is also being prioritised, with the Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy and Minister for Transport, Darragh O'Brien TD, announcing the acceleration of the National Designated Maritime Area Plan for offshore renewable energy, which will identify sites for additional renewable energy development, and \u20ac3.15 billion of the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund is being provided to help achieve carbon reductions, particularly environmental and nature objectives, and this includes funding to the Department of Transport to support low-carbon transportation, and \u20ac500 million to the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, to support climate mitigation and renewable energy development;  - home retrofitting is scaling up, with supports improving to bring more people in, especially those at risk of fuel poverty;  - analysis undertaken by the Economic and Social Research Institute, using the Simulating Welfare, Income Tax, Childcare and Health (SWITCH) tax and benefit model, to simulate the impact of the carbon tax and the compensatory welfare package, estimates that the net impact of the combined measures is progressive and half of households are better off due to the measures part-funded by carbon tax funds, with households in the bottom four income deciles benefitting the most; and  - the National Energy Affordability Taskforce has been established to identify, assess and implement measures that will enhance energy affordability for households and businesses, while delivering key renewable commitments and protecting security of supply and economic stability, and the Interim Report of the Taskforce was published last November, with an Action Plan for Energy Affordability to be published in Q3 of this year.\".  I welcome the opportunity to address the House this evening on an issue that is weighing heavily on households, businesses and families right across the country. It is right that we are debating this issue tonight and examining solutions that can be found. That issue, of course, is the rising cost of energy and fuel prices driven, as we all know, by the global uncertainty caused by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the Gulf.  Let me say at the outset, the priority in all our work, all our commentary and in all our interventions should be to seek an immediate de-escalation. I think that is a view shared across this House. De-escalation is important for humanitarian needs, but also because, from an economic point of view, it would lead to the greatest level of certainty. While de-escalation is the priority for Ireland and for all EU member states, the Irish Government is actively preparing for a variety of economic scenarios.  This Government understands the pressures that families and businesses are under. They are feeling it at the pumps, where the cost of filling a car has risen considerably in the space of just over a fortnight, and they are seeing it in the cost of a fill of oil. Successive Governments that I have had the privilege of serving in have responded to a variety of global crises, whether that was during times of pandemic or after Russia's brutal illegal invasion of Ukraine. Today, as one would expect, I have spoken further with the Taoiseach. I have also engaged with relevant Ministers and I have had further briefings with my own economic team in the Department of Finance. This evening I want to confirm to this House that we are now finalising what we believe to be an appropriate intervention for the areas in which there is most acute pressure and challenge. The Government's response will be formalised and agreed at the next Cabinet meeting.  Considering the level of significant international volatility, I strongly believe that any intervention should, in the first instance, be for a short period of time. This is to fulfil two objectives. First, to enable the assistance to be applied quickly. Second, to provide the Government with the time and the space to adapt our response should this fast moving and evolving situation require it. I do not believe there is anyone on any side of this House who can speak with great certainty about where the conflict in the Middle East and the Gulf region will go and indeed the true scale of the medium term economic consequences of an enduring conflict. The volatility is that acute.  Since the outbreak of this conflict, I have been engaging extensively with European counterparts. What is clear from all my conversations and meetings is the need to avoid knee-jerk responses, but instead to focus on informed, sensible and proportionate measures. It is important to remind the House tonight that the Government has already taken a number of actions on energy, the benefits of which are already in place. We extended the lower 9% VAT rate on gas and electricity to the end of the decade. We have increased the weekly fuel allowance, which remains in place. Last week we expanded eligibility to 50,000 more homes, who will now receive for the very first time the fuel allowance, with the payment backdated to 1 January. This means a back payment of \u20ac380 for so many, that is already in people's pockets. These are practical supports designed to ease pressure and to provide some certainty in very uncertain times.  The crisis also reminds us of something deeper. Ireland and the European Union remain exposed to fossil fuel price shocks. As long as we rely on imported fossil fuels, events far away, far beyond our shores, and decisions taken far away will continue to impact in a real way on households and businesses across Europe. This is not a sustainable position, and it is not a secure position. The only lasting answer is to reduce that dependence. That means accelerating our transition to renewable energy, improving efficiency and building a system that is more resilient and more within our own control. That is about stability, security and protecting Irish people from future shocks like the one we are experiencing today.  Let me address this point clearly. Future carbon tax increases are not the cause of the current spike in energy prices. We need to be truthful about that. The evidence shows that what we are seeing now is overwhelmingly driven by global events. Stepping away from our long-term approach would not shield households from those global forces. What it would do, however, is delay the transition that ultimately gives greater control over our energy future. When people adopt a simplistic approach to this issue, they are forgetting that 58,000 households benefited from home energy upgrades last year alone. The Government will act at this moment of great uncertainty. We will act, but we will act responsibly. We will work across this House. We are also clear that fairness must be at the centre of that response. Where there is evidence of unfair pricing or behaviour not in line with consumer law, it must be investigated and it must be acted upon. This Oireachtas should be willing to further strengthen laws in this area. The Government is certainly up for that. People need to have confidence that they are being treated fairly and that no one is engaging in opportunistic pricing at a time like this.  Before I conclude, it would be remiss of me not to recognise our Defence Forces and the diplomatic corps who are working in the region for the protection of Irish people and also for the protection of Lebanese citizens. At a time of such conflict and turmoil - we are considering the economic part of that this evening - the women and men of \u00d3glaigh na h\u00c9ireann are truly carrying out the world's most important work, that is, the work of peace.  In closing, I want to assure this House and, most importantly, the Irish people that this Government will act in a matter that is fair and responsible. We will conclude our proposals in the coming days. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  People must suck it up in the meantime. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  It will be quicker than any legislation Sinn F\u00e9in is bringing forward which is not before this----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Not at all. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  Cathaoirleach, may I speak on a very important issue? I want to work in a collaborative fashion. I do not need to be shouted down. It is an important issue, Deputy Doherty. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  We know about it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  We will act----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  We have been telling you for two weeks. In fairness to the T\u00e1naiste, I am glad he recognises it is important now. That is fair enough. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  Please, Pearse, on some occasions just park the partisanship, just the odd time. We will act. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  When? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  There will be decisions taken by this Government before this Sinn F\u00e9in motion even arises for a vote. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I presume you are voting against it tonight. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  There is no vote tonight. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  There is a voice vote. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  There is no vote tonight----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  There is a voice vote. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Liam Quaide)  Can we have order, please? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  -----and there is no legislation. A number of Sinn F\u00e9in TDs have said----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Liam Quaide)  Deputy Doherty. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  A number of Sinn F\u00e9in TDs have said there is legislation before the House tonight. There is no law. For people watching, there is no Sinn F\u00e9in law before this House tonight. There is a motion. The motion brings forward----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  On a point of order and with respect, maybe the T\u00e1naiste is not aware of the legislation that I introduced----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I am aware. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  -----before the House, so I ask him to withdraw that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  There is no legislation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  There is legislation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  While he refuses to act, we have acted. People are demanding leadership. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  A Chathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach, I am sorry but----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I drafted the legislation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  You did. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Liam Quaide)  Deputy Doherty, can you take your seat, please? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  It is before the House and all it takes is for you, T\u00e1naiste,----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Liam Quaide)  Deputy Doherty. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  -----to say, \"Do you know something? We will act.\" Let us do it tonight. Let us reduce petrol, diesel and home heating oil because the legislation is before the House. The T\u00e1naiste should withdraw that comment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  For the benefit of Deputy Doherty's hearing, we have already said very clearly this evening that we will act. I have already said the Government will act in a responsible manner. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  But not this week. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I have already said the Government will take that decision at the next Cabinet meeting and I have already said that would be before the final vote on the Sinn F\u00e9in motion. That is what I have said. Not everything has to be partisan. Not everything has to be shouting and noise. As I heard the Sinn F\u00e9in First Minister of Northern Ireland say today, maybe a little less noise and more working together. I think that is sage advice from Sinn F\u00e9in on this occasion too. Maybe let us apply it to here and not take a partitionist approach.  We will act in a fair manner. We will act in a responsible manner. We will conclude that work in the coming days. We are living in times of great uncertainty, but I am pleased to say that our economy is resilient. We do approach this moment from a position of relative strength. It is a moment that is causing real anxiety for people. I want people to know we approach this from a moment of relative strength. More people are in work than ever before. We have buoyant public and private sector investment in our country. Real incomes are continuing to rise for the first time in a while and there is a medium-term fiscal plan that will safeguard our economic future and that of our people. We know this is a difficult time. We know the pressure that families and businesses are under. We are supporting them and we will continue to support them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Liam Quaide)  I thank the T\u00e1naiste. We move back now to Sinn F\u00e9in and Deputy Martin Kenny. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  The reason we are here tonight is because for the past two-to-three weeks we have been listening to people the length and breadth of the country, as I am sure the T\u00e1naiste has as well, who are under serious pressure because of the vast increase in the cost of their home heating oil but also of their fuel when they want to go to work and whatever they want to do in life. That has an impact. It has an impact on everybody and it is an immediate impact. It was an immediate impact last week and the week before. This idea that the Government was considering it and analysing it and is now thinking about doing something about it----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  We are going to it. We are going to. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  People are very annoyed it has taken so long for the Government to come to this situation that the T\u00e1naiste is now able to stand here this evening and say the Government intends to do something. Up until now the Government would not even acknowledge that it intended to do anything. All it intended to do was examine the situation and monitor it. What people hear when the Government says that is that it is going to wait to see if things get worse and that it is not going to do anything about it now. That is what they have been hearing until now and that is not acceptable.  We have thousands of people across the country who have to go to work, bring their children to school and do all these things. They drive past the petrol pumps and look up and see the price going up and up all the time. We have farmers coming into this time of year when they are filing their tanks with fuel, with their green diesel, and that has all gone up. They have to spread fertiliser. That has to come through the Strait of Hormuz as well and that will be going up.  There is a serious crisis coming at our economy if we do not act. The reality is that the Government's tax take, because the base rate has risen, has gone up along with it. People are asking why the Government does not do something. Why has it done nothing up until now? It is only when we come here this evening with this motion and a Bill that will do something that the T\u00e1naiste is able to say the Government is now going to act. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  That just seems a little bit----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  Thank God for Sinn F\u00e9in. We would be lost without you. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  It just seems a little bit rich that the Government could do nothing but monitor it until this evening and now that we are here and we are actually going to produce something that will have an effect for people and will reduce the tax rate that people have to pay on their fuel and home heating oil, all of a sudden the Government has managed to find the road to Damascus. The Government has turned and is going to do something about it. I wish to God the Government had found that road a couple of weeks ago when people the length and breadth of the country were realising that the price of their home heating oil was going through the roof. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Denise Mitchell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Denise Mitchell  This feels like 2022 all over again. Honestly, workers and families just cannot seem to catch a break when it comes to this cost-of-living crisis. We have seen fuel prices surge over the past two weeks and Fine Gael and Fianna F\u00e1il have sat on their hands and twiddled their fingers here for two weeks. Then, while people have been worrying and going through massive stress, the Government parties come into the Chamber and say to people they are going to do something for them but they have to wait until the next Cabinet meeting. The thing is, people cannot wait. The T\u00e1naiste needs to use his powers now.  He can do it by reducing the excise duty on home heating oil, petrol and diesel and easing the pressure on families across this State. He can also not bring in the Government's plan to increase carbon tax on 1 May. Sometimes it really does feel like Fine Gael and Fianna F\u00e1il are living on another planet. People are struggling with their bills now. They need the Government to do something now to help them alleviate this cost, not to keep dithering and running around like it usually does. Elderly citizens cannot afford to heat their homes. We have commuters paying an arm and a leg to get to work and all along the Government is raking in huge taxes on these fuels. It is good to hear the T\u00e1naiste now say he is going to do something, but please do it now because people cannot wait any longer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  Workers and families across the State are being absolutely hammered. They are facing an unrelenting cost-of-living crisis and now we see the price of petrol, diesel and home heating oil spiralling once again. Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael are doing nothing, absolutely nothing. They are sitting on their hands while people are being pushed to the brink. They come before us tonight and say they are planning to do something.  Let us be clear about the reality facing people. More than 320,000 households cannot pay their electricity bills. One in four cannot pay for their gas. People are being forced to choose between heating their home and putting food on the table. One-in-four people have less than \u20ac500 in savings. They have no buffer at all. What is the Government's answer? In a few weeks, on 1 May, it plans to increase the carbon tax on home heating oil. That will put an extra \u20ac22 on the cost of a fill. It is a tax hike people simply cannot afford.  The motion before the D\u00e1il is about providing immediate, tangible relief. We are calling on the Government to scrap the planned carbon tax increase and to enact Sinn F\u00e9in's legislation to cut fuel costs now, not at some unidentified time in the future. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I have identified when. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  This is just the type of direct support families need. The EU's energy chief has called on member states to lower taxes on energy where possible, so the Government has absolutely no excuse. This motion gives every TD in this House a clear choice and there will be a vote tonight. TDs can stand with Fine Gael and Fianna F\u00e1il as they impose more pain or they can stand with workers and families. Vote for this motion, cut fuel costs now and end the energy rip-off once and for all. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  I start by thanking Deputy Doherty for tabling this motion and for tabling legislation which I think the T\u00e1naiste was unaware of but, happily, he is up to speed with now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I know you have, but it is not today. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  This afternoon legislation was tabled and this evening we will debate a motion and there will be a voice vote later. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  No, no. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  That is how it is going to work. I will very clearly thank Deputy Doherty because he recognises there is an emergency. The T\u00e1naiste's response is that the Government actively prepares for a variety of scenarios. I can tell the T\u00e1naiste what scenario is unfolding in homes the length and breadth of this State this evening. It is husbands, wives and partners sitting down and talking about how they are going to be able to pay their bills, how they are going to make ends meet and what more they can cut. When they look, they see there cannot cut any more for they are cut to the bone. They have cut back and cut back.  There is an emergency. There is an emergency right now but, hold on, something might happen next week or perhaps the week after for the 470,000 people who are in receipt of the fuel allowance and who desperately need it, need it to be increased and need it to be extended. They are facing a cliff edge next April. They also are very concerned.  The T\u00e1naiste needs to come to this Chamber with action, not words. Words are not going to pay people's bills. The T\u00e1naiste needs to come with action and he has not. He is short this evening when he comes in here and tells people they have to hang on and wait and that another scenario might unfold. God forbid there might be a knee-jerk reaction.  They have to make awful choices in homes the length and breadth of this State. They want the Government to step up and be on their side. The Opposition needs to speak with one voice. At the very least, the Government should not make the situation for ordinary workers and families worse. The carbon tax that is coming down the line will increase the cost of heating people\u2019s homes. People cannot afford it as it is and they most definitely cannot afford an increase. The Opposition will be united in confronting the Government on this and putting forward solutions, which is exactly what we have done. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  It is not a case of the Government coming a day late and a dollar short. Rather, it is a year late and several hundred dollars short for the vast majority of families. The clock did not start ticking in the last number of weeks, although it has got worse for families and fuel prices have gone up. In the budget last year, the Government had an opportunity to deal with the cost-of-living crisis, but it did nothing for families. Of course, before the election \u2013 people could see this clearly and transparently - any amount of money could be made available and supports were put in place. As soon as the election was over, however, all of those supports disappeared like snow off a ditch. People were left with rising bills, not just in the context of fuel prices, but with food prices and insurance costs too. Almost every cost families have is increasing, leaving them unable to pay the bills.  I visited the home of a family recently who asked me to visit a 91-year-old woman who received a bill that she simply cannot pay. She told me that with all the bills she has and the price of everything increasing, she simply does not know what to do. She explained that if fuel prices keep rising, the only option she will have is to not heat her home or turn down how often she heats it. That is the reality for a 91-year-old woman and many more like her. They do not want hollow words from the T\u00e1naiste. Frankly, they do not care what the T\u00e1naiste thinks about Sinn F\u00e9in and our motion, or his response about what is happening in the North or anywhere else. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  It matters. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  Their only concern is what the Government will do right now for them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  There are 91-year-olds in the North too. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  That is what they want to know. What will it do? The T\u00e1naiste has come to the Chamber today with nothing. He has no proposals. He talks about how the Government might do something but we do not know what that will be. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  We will do something. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  Sinn F\u00e9in has come with proposals, not just this week but before the last budget, when the Government had the opportunity to support families and workers but decided to look after vested interests instead. Fine Gael is the party that looks after a cosseted, privileged class. It has showed that time and time again. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  I thank Sinn F\u00e9in for bringing this timely motion forward. As we saw at the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, the cost of energy and fuel has skyrocketed in the weeks since Trump and Netanyahu\u2019s bloody misadventure in the Middle East began. Never ones to waste a crisis, whether at the garage forecourt or in our home heating tanks, fuel providers here saw an opportunity for profit and they went for it. Prices changed not by the day, but by the hour. On top of an already crippling cost-of-living crisis, working people are struggling to cope. No action is not an option. Unfortunately, that is all we have got from this Government so far.  I heard the T\u00e1naiste\u2019s comments earlier that action will be taken in the coming days, which I welcome. The Labour Party has called on the Government to release part of our 90-day petroleum reserves as part of a range of cost-cutting measures to protect people from the immediate price shock, a measure the International Energy Agency, IEA, has subsequently proposed and endorsed. The Opposition is united in wanting to support the most vulnerable in our society who are suffering from energy poverty. We can and must protect people in ways that are both environmentally and fiscally responsible. The Labour Party will not attack the carbon tax, however. There are other ways to crack this nut, which I will get into a little later. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  Hear hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  The surge in fuel prices triggered by instability in the Middle East is a stark reminder of just how exposed Irish households remain to global shocks. How did we get to this point? First, unfortunately, there seems to be a lack of strategic planning. The Government has reacted far too slowly to a rapidly escalating problem and the crisis seems to be getting ahead of it. This is our second energy crisis in four years. How are we being price gouged again? How have we allowed ourselves to be caught by surprise? Second, it comes back to our overdependence on unreliable, intermittent, imported fossil fuels. We are overexposed in this country, even compared with our European neighbours, when it comes to the amount of fossil fuels we continue to import. This crisis should serve as a reminder to the Government \u2013 not that it should need one - of the urgency with which we need to transition our economy away from its reliance on fossil fuels and towards clean, indigenous, renewable energy. Wind energy produced off the Irish coast will not get stuck in the Strait of Hormuz. The inertia from the Government in building up our offshore capacity can no longer be tolerated. It leaves us vulnerable to an increasingly unstable geopolitical arena, and it is ordinary households that pay the price.  The only urgency we have seen from the Government, from an energy perspective, is to rush through legislation to build new fossil fuel infrastructure. Yesterday, we saw Donald Trump trying to bully our Taoiseach into buying American liquefied natural gas, LNG. We cannot bend the knee and expose ourselves to further risks arising out of global instability and fuel shocks. We are already overexposed to US interests when it comes to our corporation tax receipts. We cannot allow ourselves to become reliant on the US for our energy needs as well. In any case, the European benchmark price of LNG has, as of today, soared by around 60% since Trump and Netanyahu\u2019s illegal war on Iran commenced. I hope this latest crisis in the fuel market gives the Government pause for thought on its plans for a new LNG terminal that would see us importing highly polluting fracked gas and leave us further exposed to these kinds of shocks.  People are feeling this energy crisis in their pockets right now, and we need to see action from the Government on this now. We can use the social welfare system and taxation to deliver help where it is most needed. As well as an additional four weeks of fuel allowance, we would like to see a double social welfare payment and targeted income energy credits of \u20ac400 to support households with incomes of less than \u20ac80,000. This type of intervention is needed to ensure we do not add to the 320,000 families who are already struggling to pay their energy bills. This needs to be addressed urgently, as does the behaviour of energy suppliers.  Both at the forecourt and with home heating oil, there has been clear and significant price gouging in the days immediately after the start of the Iran war. The Government has powers to investigate price gouging and anti-competitive behaviour in energy markets, and those investigations must happen and any wrongdoing must be dealt with decisively. As we all know, however, investigations take time and people cannot wait while their heating bills continue to rise. That is why we need to see the Government bring forward supports sooner rather than later. The Labour Party has already called on the Government to use maximum price orders to tie the cost of home heating oil to what it actually costs suppliers. Ministers can set a maximum price on home heating oil today. We know other countries have already done this.  Unfortunately, what we have seen is the usual cycle whenever a crisis falls at this Government\u2019s feet. First, there is paralysis. Second, there is dithering. Third, there is a cobbled-together piece of PR that does not address the problem. We are possibly in the middle of that process now, at the advanced dithering stage, with the promise of some kind of plan next week, we hope.  The price of petrol and diesel has neared or surpassed \u20ac2 per litre. The average cost of 500 litres of home heating oil has rocketed from \u20ac498 to \u20ac870. These are only the average prices and there are individual cases around the country where we have seen much higher and more dramatic hikes. The giant companies that provide us with oil and gas products that heat our homes or fuel our cars are quick to respond to a crisis and turn it into an opportunity. This Government has lacked the required urgency and seems to be playing catch-up. Who gets caught in the middle of this thirst for profit from the private sector and the inertia from the State? It is the hardworking families across the country who just keep paying more and more to live their daily lives. We must urgently move away from our over-reliance on fossil fuels. The Government must abandon its plans for a new LNG terminal and show the same urgency in developing renewable infrastructure and supporting households to decarbonise as it has for importing more fossil fuels from America. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  There is no doubt that families across this country are under real pressure. I see it every day in my constituency, with people coming into my office looking for help and non-political point scoring. That is exactly why I stand here. I am looking for real, tangible solutions to what the people of Ireland require and need. People are worried about their next electricity bill, the price of home heating oil and the cost of filling the car just to get to work. For many working families, the cost-of-living crisis has not gone away. It is still there week after week, bill after bill. When international events drive up energy prices, it is ordinary households who feel it first and hardest. We know how serious the situation already is. Hundreds of thousands of households are struggling with energy bills, with many already in arrears on electricity and gas payments.  At the same time, petrol, diesel and home heating oil prices are rising sharply, putting additional pressure on workers who commute, on families trying to heat their homes and on pensioners to get through the week. This debate really matters but we also need to be honest about solutions. Our conversation must be solution-focused; not rhetoric but real action.  While Sinn F\u00e9in's motion focuses heavily on reducing fuel taxes, Labour believes the most effective response is targeted support for households that are struggling the most. Labour has set out practical measures that could be implemented now. First, we have proposed an energy income tax credit of up to \u20ac400, targeted at households with incomes below \u20ac80,000. That would provide real support to working households who are earning, paying tax and struggling with rising energy bills. Second, we have called for four additional weeks of fuel allowance to support households that depend on the payment to heat their homes during the colder months, such as many older people and vulnerable families. Third, we believe the Government should introduce a double social welfare payment as outlined by my colleague. Taken together, these measures would deliver targeted support where it is needed most, and, importantly, they are affordable. The Government already has a \u20ac1 billion contingency fund set aside in this year's budget meaning the capacity exists to support hard-pressed households if the political will is there.  We must address the issue of sudden fuel price spikes. We have seen how prices can surge almost overnight when international tensions escalate. The Labour Party is, therefore, calling for the use of maximum price orders tied directly to the real costs faced by suppliers to prevent excessive price increases during periods of market instability. We should also examine whether strategic oil reserves held by the National Oil Reserves Agency could be released, as Ireland has done previously in co-ordination with international partners, to help stabilise fuel prices. These are practical actions that could ease pressure on households in the short term and are very much Labour Party-focused actions.  There is a long-term question in relation to this debate and that is our approach to carbon tax. I understand that people are frustrated - I meet them on a daily basis - about the rising costs. Those concerns are very real but the Labour Party and I fundamentally believe we must be careful not to undermine the very measures that help households reduce their energy bills permanently. I am not here to defend Government action on this but I am being realistic that the revenues from carbon tax fund the fuel allowance, support vulnerable households and invest in home retrofitting programmes that make homes warmer and cheaper to run. Those programmes are not abstract climate polices; they mean warmer homes, lower bills and less exposure to volatile fossil fuel markets. Every home that is properly insulated, every retrofit completed and every household moved away from expensive fossil fuels is a household that is less exposed to global energy shocks. Yes, we must move forward with more retrofitting, warmers homes and lower energy demand and with renewable energy that reduces Ireland's dependence on imported fossil fuels but moving forward does not mean ignoring what we can do right now.  There are actions that can ease pressure on families overnight and I will go back to them. We can introduce the \u20ac400 energy income tax credit for working people; we can provide additional weeks of fuel allowance for those who depend on it to heat their homes; we can deliver a double social welfare payment to households struggling with rising costs; and we can act to stop sudden price spikes by using maximum price orders on heating oil and examining the release of strategic oil reserves if necessary. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  I thank Sinn F\u00e9in for introducing this motion. It is, unfortunately, very timely. We are witnessing the worst oil crisis the world has ever seen. It is worse than the oil shocks of the last century and worse than the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, which we can all remember very clearly. However, for Irish people, this comes during an existing cost-of-living crisis. People are already struggling and this is compounding that struggle for them. While people are watching their rent climb, their mortgage interest eating deeper into their monthly income and their grocery bills rising week after week and with 320,000 people in arrears on their electricity bills already, it is clear that something needs to be done. The Government keeps on saying it will do something, that it is under review and that some measures will be put in place. What I suspect is happening is that it is trying to hold out as long as possible just to squeeze a bit more out of that time and money but families really cannot wait any longer before support is given to them.  Not just in this term but in the previous term when the energy credits were being given out, the Social Democrats has consistently said that any energy credits should be targeted at those who need the money most. We remain steadfast in that call for a \u20ac400 targeted credit for people who really struggle. I ask the Government to please not turn around and give another \u20ac100 million, or whatever it was the last term, to the electricity meters of holiday homes. Will it please target the money and not waste it? I also ask that we would reduce excise. We propose that would happen because we cannot have a Government that is profiting on the backs of people really struggling at the moment. This is a critical and a very time-sensitive issue and the Government should be supporting people now.  I want to talk in broader terms as well. What has happened in Iran and the resulting disruption to our global oil supplies has to be a wake-up call - without a doubt. I think we said it the last time when the war on Ukraine began. Unfortunately, we did not put in the measures and the framework we needed then but this has to be a wake-up call. Everyone in this Chamber knows that Ireland is energy insecure. However, instead of addressing that vulnerability, the Government's current strategy risks deepening it. The decision to fast-track legislation to allow the State to build a near-\u20ac1 billion LNG import terminal is the perfect example of backwards thinking. The Government says it wants energy security yet it is proposing a system that exports our security to international LNG markets. It is clear that there is no stable LNG market. Whether we are talking about what is coming from Russia, from the Middle East, or what could possibly come from the US, there is no security and no certainty with any of those markets. These markets are unstable, volatile and now heavily disrupted by war. Reliance on LNG will not bring us energy security. It will not bring us national security. The new LNG facility has an estimated cost of \u20ac900 million over ten years yet there is no clarity at all on how this could impact energy bills. At a time when families are already struggling with arrears, that is unacceptable. How can the Government continue to justify exposing households to even more volatility and more costs if this LNG facility comes into play?  The climate committee\u2019s report on the Government\u2019s LNG Bill was clear. We warned of the gaps and called for a new assessment of geopolitical risks, renewable deployment, battery storage and demand reduction before the Bill proceeds, and that was before this crisis escalated. The need for that assessment is now an absolute necessity. I ask that the energy security review be updated to reflect what is happening in the Middle East and what could potentially happen if relations with the US continue to become as volatile as they have been. When Russia invaded Ukraine, the energy security analysis was updated to reflect that and it needs to happen again. It also needs to be honest about what is possible and what we are able to achieve in Ireland without an LNG facility. It needs to look at alternative fuels and at battery storage and at what we could do in that instance.  Instead of pouring \u20ac1 billion into an LNG terminal, why is the Government not putting that money into accelerating renewables? What we have seen when it comes to this LNG facility is a real sense of urgency. We have seen emergency legislation coming in, we have seen significant changes in Government policy to facilitate it, and we have seen a commitment for a \u20ac1 billion piece of infrastructure. Why have we not seen that same level of urgency when it comes to developing renewables in this country? We really have not seen it.  The T\u00e1naiste will be well aware of the Arklow Bank wind farm. That is no longer generating any offshore wind. Ireland has zero offshore wind being generated at the moment whereas 20 years ago at least we had some from the Arklow Bank. We have less now than we did 20 years ago and that is a crazy situation for us to be in. We could nationalise and build a 1 GW offshore wind farm costing just over \u20ac2 billion that would power 1 million homes.  With \u20ac1 billion per year coming in from carbon tax revenue, is that not exactly what the funds should be used for? We are not as a party saying we should stop the carbon tax because it is an important revenue that needs to go back into ensuring people at risk of energy poverty can be supported to deal with that. We are calling for the entirety of the carbon tax to be ringfenced and used for energy security measures, and not just the increases.  We urgently need a Government that understands what real energy security looks like. What it does not look like is shipping in LNG from across the world at enormous cost. It looks like building up infrastructure that we control here at home. It looks like investing in wind, storage and grid resilience. It looks like ensuring that Irish households are protected from the next geopolitical shock, not left exposed to it. Right now, instead of giving people certainty, the Government is giving them higher prices, higher risks and a long wait for supports that may or may not arrive. That is just not good enough.  The public can see the connection between global conflict and the price they pay at the pump, at the supermarket checkout and on their energy bills. They know Ireland is more exposed than it should be, and they know the Government's decisions have contributed to that vulnerability. Today I ask the T\u00e1naiste to take action to address that. l am asking him to support struggling households immediately with timely and targeted supports, not with reviews and not with promises. l am asking the Government to roll back on its eager LNG plans and follow the recommendations of its own committee before making a \u20ac1 billion mistake. I am asking the T\u00e1naiste to take the carbon tax revenue and put it into building a secure, renewable and publicly-owned energy future that will insulate us from the volatility we are living through right now. Families cannot absorb one more avoidable shock and the time for delay is over. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  A few months ago, we had another debate on energy costs. I have yet to receive any response to the issues I raised. I highlighted in that debate that those on the lowest incomes, those reliant on pensions or disability allowance would be \u20ac250 worse off this year as a result of the Minister's budget and the acceleration of energy prices. Those prices were already the highest electricity prices in Europe and that was before the onset of the energy crisis brought about by Trump's illegal war in Iran. I asked the Government what its advice would be for people on low incomes. I asked if they should go cold or if they should go hungry. It seems to have no answers. Electricity prices in Ireland, again the highest in Europe, have approximately doubled in the past five years. With the onset of this disastrous and unconscionable war they are expected to sky rocket again this year. Ordinary people are already paying higher rates than data centres. Many of them are reliant on pay-as-you-go meters, paying higher prices again. The Government has not strengthened price transparency whatsoever or held the price gougers accountable.  As climate activists have said for decades, strengthening our energy security is the only way to address the source of the price issues. Yet, under this Government there are, as Deputy Whitmore said, zero offshore wind farms operational today. There is a huge, missed opportunity in solar that the Government has not tackled. The opportunities for retrofitting exclude those with the least financial resources. Yet the Government continues to support 22% of electricity demand going to data centres and corporations as well as the reliance of this State on imported fossil fuels from an LNG terminal.  The Government must act now and introduce the Social Democrats' energy credit for 800,000 households most in need, implement the emergency payment for disabled people, tackle price gouging and, crucially, chart a new path for cheap, domestic, renewable energy to become the bedrock of our country's energy supply. I urge the Government to act without delay. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  Families across this country are already at breaking point. I want the T\u00e1naiste to imagine he is in a family that already counts every single euro going grocery shopping, maybe filling the car if you have one, only turning on your heating for a small amount of time in the day and then all of a sudden the President of the United States goes to war with Iran and you can no longer afford to do many of those things. This is the reality for families across this country. Already before this war, there were 320,000 households in arrears.  At this exact moment, the Government has now written to schools to ask them to charge families to sit the leaving certificate, the leaving certificate applied and the junior cycle exams. It is \u20ac109 for the junior certificate and \u20ac116 to sit the leaving certificate and the leaving certificate applied. Families, when they budget to the penny, have not budgeted for this. This has to be paid up in a five-week period. It is something that was not done during Covid. It was a temporary situation but we were able to manage without it and we can manage again. At a time when costs are so expensive, and families are really tight, this was an unexpected thing. Schools have contacted me to say they were not expecting this. It has come out of the blue, and now families are contacting them saying they do not know how they will pay this. This is at a time when parents are saying it is the most expensive it has ever been in the supermarket, when they are not able to pay the electricity bill or using it so little or are not heating their homes. There are so many choices they have to make. We have heard that adults are reducing their food intakes to make sure their children are able to eat. At a time when this is an impossible place for some people to live, to introduce those costs is absolutely scandalous. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  It feels in many ways like Groundhog Day talking again about a cost-of-living crisis. Of course, this cost-of-living crisis comes on top of a cost-of-living crisis that had not gone away, despite what the Government pretended at the time of the budget. The result is people again choosing between heating or eating, with fuel prices spiralling and people in crisis situations. What lies behind it is a US and Israeli criminal and imperialist attack on Iran, which the Government refuses to condemn and to say is in breach of international law. What lies behind that is our continued reliance on fossil fuels and most immediately is short-term profiteering, which we know, in the previous cost-of-living crisis was responsible for two thirds of the price increases.  The Government's response, to quote the Taoiseach, is to say that we have to respond in a measured, balanced way that targets our resources and that is effective, and that we understand the pressure people are under. I do not believe that. I do not believe a government that understands the pressure people are under would have cut incomes for the poorest people in the most recent budget. I do not believe such a government would have cut income for disabled people by over \u20ac1,400.  The action that should be taken is very simple. It is not putting the profits of the corporations first. It means scrapping the carbon tax and putting an energy levy on data centres instead, abolishing standing charges for electricity and gas, immediately reintroducing energy credits to tackle people's home energy bills in the short term and link that to price caps.  We have a Bill to do precisely that, introducing a \u20ac1 per litre price cap on home heating oil as well as caps on petrol, diesel and home energy, and linking that to the idea of renationalising our energy system. We used to have the cheapest electricity in Europe. We now have the most expensive as a result of the failed project of liberalisation. Put people first, not the profits of corporations. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  Prior to the imperial oil war in the Middle East being waged by the USA and Israel, we already had a cost-of-living crisis. We are now really in a difficult situation. In County Laois the lowest price for road diesel is \u20ac2.10 per litre and it continues to increase. In this State, the increase in home heating oil is eight times the average increase across Europe. It was \u20ac480 for 500 litres. It is now \u20ac585 from suppliers in the midlands. It has almost doubled in price. Of course, once fuel goes up, everything goes up, including all other goods. There are higher costs for agriculture, haulage, couriers and carriage. Hauliers are exposed. Truckers and hauliers are under severe pressure and need assistance to get through the current crisis. Today the Irish Road Haulage Association said that without a tax reduction many haulage operators will simply not be able to continue absorbing the rising costs, which would result in empty supermarket shelves.  Middle- and low-income households are under pressure with financial hardship. It is a severe situation. One in six is in arrears with electric bills and cannot pay them, and one in four of those who have gas is in arrears with gas bills. Households in the midlands and in County Laois are exposed because of the high number that depend on home heating oil in rural areas and in areas where there is no natural gas. A number of homes also have a low energy rating. People in County Laois have long commutes as well.  The Government can do a number of things. It can halt any additional increase in VAT, because it is a percentage, and reverse the gains so far. It should not go ahead with the increase in the carbon tax. I accept it is collecting carbon tax, and that is fine. It should use it and use it well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Liam Quaide)  Deputy, your time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  I ask the Government not to go ahead with the planned increase in it in March. There should also be targeted energy credits and supports for middle-income and low-income households. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  There is a real sense of worry in Irish households now as they see the increase in fuel prices occasioned by the war in Iran. They are seeing the repeat of what was seen four years ago following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It demonstrates yet again our vulnerability to international energy price shocks because of our dependence on fossil fuels.  I respectfully say that the Cabinet cannot delay clarity for Irish householders any longer. It is our party's view that the most vulnerable need to be protected immediately. We see this in the context of a \u20ac200 payment for every household taking the fuel allowance or household benefit package. We estimate that this is about 750,000 households and that it would cost about \u20ac150 million. We also think there should be an examination of another round of energy credits. We think this should be in conjunction with a targeting mechanism at this point and that this would manage to insulate large numbers of Irish households, particularly those in the squeezed middle, from the impact of the energy price spikes we are seeing now.  Unfortunately, I am not in a position to support this particular Private Members' motion tonight. I think the targeting of the carbon tax that is part of the motion is a step backwards. The reason we have a fuel price crisis in Ireland now is not because of the carbon tax but because our economy continues to be entirely dependent on imported fossil fuels. The carbon tax is the one piece of public policy that is ring-fenced to tackle that, through immediate supports for the most vulnerable, increased social protection payments and longer term measures to support the insulation of homes through a range of targeted measures. If we cut the carbon tax, that would only prolong our addiction to dirty, unpredictably priced imported fuels. People are hurting because of the Iran war. The Government can take targeted steps to address that but changing the carbon tax is not the right thing to do at this time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  There has been a cost-of-living crisis in this country for a number of years. That crisis was, to some extent, addressed by way of energy credits and once-off social welfare payments in the 2025 budget. Of course, that was in the run-up to the November 2024 general election. It was a blatant device, obviously, to buy that election. Once the election was over, these measures were callously scrapped. The election was bought, and was done and dusted, and the Government did not do anything further except sit on its hands.  The cost-of-living crisis for families is devastating as a result. On top of that, we now have the illegal Israeli-US war on Iran. This has sent energy prices, including those for petrol, other fuels and home heating oil, through the roof. These increased costs are already feeding into general inflation. The 2026 budget was predicated on a 2% inflation rate, and that rate was already being exceeded before the current crisis. Before the current crisis as well, we had 319,000 families in arrears with their electricity bills and 185,000 in arrears with their gas bills, and thousands more families are struggling to pay their bills and keep their heads above water. Families are facing an appalling financial vista as a result of this situation.  The T\u00e1naiste's Government is not only sitting on its hands but it is proposing to increase energy prices further from 1 May. We would wonder if this Government is real. In my view, the Government must immediately reduce the cost of petrol, diesel and home heating oil, scrap plans to increase the cost of home heating oil on 1 May 2026, immediately pay a \u20ac400 emergency winter payment and increase the fuel allowance and extend its duration by at least four weeks. I support this motion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  I thank Sinn F\u00e9in for bringing forward this important motion on the cost-of-living crisis. As well as the issue of the action the Government needs to take to address the spiralling cost of living, and particularly the cost of energy that has hit hard, I would just like to underline a point about the failure of the Taoiseach to speak up yesterday on the economic impact of Trump's war on people here. Even if he is not willing to condemn the death and destruction being rained down on the people of Iran and Lebanon as we speak and the ongoing genocide being committed by Trump's partners in war, Israel, on the Palestinian people, if he is willing to hand over a bowl of shamrock and stay mute about those things, could he not say something even on the much more parochial basis that Trump's war is costing every single person in this country now? There is the cost of energy, petrol and home heating oil. This means every single person in this country and in the world is now paying a price for what Trump is doing. Is that not a good enough reason to condemn him and for the Government to do everything in its power to stop this madness, as well as the immorality of the killing of people in an illegal war? It seems to me that it is.  I just wanted to say that because we are all paying for Trump's war now, for his bloodthirst, for narcissism and for his ego. God knows what it is that motivates that psychopath. There is no other word for what he is. He is a psychopath. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charles Ward  I welcome this motion from Sinn F\u00e9in and Deputy Doherty. Families across County Donegal have watched in despair as the price of fuel at the pumps has continued to creep up. The cost of home heating oil has completely spiralled out of control. The price of fuel at the pumps has gone up so much that families are paying, at least, between \u20ac30 and \u20ac50 a week extra just to fill up their cars. For example, it now costs an extra \u20ac32 to fill up a 1.6 litre family car compared to last month. It is costing an extra \u20ac50 to fill up a 2 litre car compared to last month. Families are now down between \u20ac150 and \u20ac200 a month on the cost of transport alone. Since last month, however, the price of home heating oil has nearly doubled. On 28 February, 1,000 litres of heating oil in Donegal cost \u20ac940. Two days later, that price had risen to \u20ac1,015. Today, at lunchtime, the cost of 1,000 litres of home heating oil is \u20ac1,650, more than \u20ac700 of a difference in just 18 days. It is scandalous and no family can afford it.  The average family in County Donegal is out the guts of \u20ac1,000 a month. How can families be expected to sustain this? Families in Donegal do not have the option of using public transport. It is basically non-existent. Every price hike is like an attack on them because of where they live. Most houses in the county are older and rely on oil-fired central heating, the price of which is out of control. This means people are choosing between heating and eating. My constituents are bearing the brunt of this situation. It has added an unbearable cost onto the defective concrete families. They keep the heating on every day of the year just to keep the damp down. The houses do not hold the heat. I am asking the Government to intervene, end the rip-off and help the families being squeezed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  The past two weeks have seen a significant increase in fuel prices for families. It is now costing well over \u20ac100 to fill a tank of petrol or diesel for a normal family at the moment. That is absolutely scandalous. Incredibly, 65% of that cost is Government tax. Of the cost of petrol at the pumps currently, 65% is Government tax. This Government is an engine of fuel inflation in this country. This Government is pushing up the price of fuel now. Home heating oil is well on its way to costing \u20ac2,000. Again, it is the same with the majority of this tax, which is absolutely scandalous. This is coming at a time when 300,000 families are in energy arrears. That is roughly about 900,000 people. Nearly 1 million people are in energy arrears.  I spoke to an older gentleman in the past couple of days. He went to buy home heating oil but he could not afford it. He has a few sticks left in his backyard. That is all he has to heat his home currently with one open fire. He can heat one room in his house at the moment and he has no hot water at all. It is absolutely scandalous. In 2024 and 2025, the T\u00e1naiste's Government took more than \u20ac4.1 billion in fuel taxes. The Government is making more on fuel taxes now than it ever did before.  In the cost-of-living crisis, the Government is quids-in in terms of fuel taxes in this country. As diesel increased by 35 cent, the Government took 8 cent extra in VAT. The Government is profiteering off the misery of families in terms of the fuel crisis. The State is \u20ac14 million better off because of the taxes caused by this energy crisis across the country. That is scandalous.  The Government is saying the worst is yet to come. It is planning to put up carbon taxes in a number of weeks. Last week, all of the Ministers travelled all around the world. They burned through 200 million tonnes of carbon. This week, they are saying we need to put up carbon taxes to stop people using carbon. The hypocrisy is incredible. Fuel is not a luxury good; it is a staple good. People need it. This is not a progressive tax. It hurts people in the lowest income brackets and rural Ireland the most. The hypocrisy of Ministers just back from flights where they burned through 200 million tonnes of carbon saying that in five weeks they are going to put carbon taxes on families is incredible.  I wish to quickly raise the issue of biodiesel and bioethanol. We have a situation at the moment where the Government is charging carbon tax on the portion of diesel and petrol that is biodiesel and bioethanol. There is no excuse for that. It is immoral. Why is it that the Government will not reduce the price of hydrotreated vegetable oil, HVO, in this situation? Hauliers are crying out for a reduction in HVO prices. They want to make a change to a fuel that is carbon neutral but they cannot because the Government will not reduce the tax on it. It seems to me that this Government is oblivious to the pain and suffering families are going through at this moment of real fuel arrears and pain. Unless it actually pauses and gets rid of any increases in carbon taxes and reduces carbon taxes while there is a surge in prices, it will do more damage to families. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  I take on board what the Government said about not having a knee-jerk reaction to fuel prices. We are in a very volatile situation and who knows which way it is going to go over the coming months? At the same time, there is some space for some sort of interim coverage. I would say it is going to be coming, to be quite honest. I would like more proactivity in terms of the timescale of what the Government is doing.  Ultimately, as others have referred to, the companies have pushed the prices of petrol, diesel and kerosene up at a rate never seen before. I can only see it as price gouging. The companies will argue differently. We have to look at ways of clawing that back over a period of time. There is an argument in the medium term for the excise duties but I am initially thinking of electricity bills especially as well as home fuel costs.  I reiterate once again that we have to be more proactive in terms of our energy self-sufficiency. This current shock may or may not have been predicted. We had a discussion during Leader\u2019s Questions a month ago on what Ireland was doing in terms of the despotic Iranian regime\/ There is no love lost in terms of wanting to see it gone. Equally, however, what the Trump Administration and Netanyahu have done is counterproductive, and it is impacting on all of us.  This reinforces the argument that we have to double, treble or even quadruple our efforts on energy self-sufficiency and ramping up renewables, not only wind, but also wave, tidal, solar and producing green hydrogen. We have to treat it like a war-time situation. If this eases off, something else will come down the road. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  The most important thing to come from this debate, which I thank Sinn F\u00e9in for arranging, is that people might see some hope that something is going to happen. Listening to the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, during Leaders\u2019 Questions today, he kept saying that we would not have a knee-jerk reaction. It is 19 days since the war started, but outside of the real, horrible war going on, there was a war going on anyway in people's homes. They could not pay their previous bills and now we are in a crisis situation. I meet many constituents and some of them have told me \u2013 I presume it is the same in the T\u00e1naiste\u2019s constituency \u2013 that they had not filled the oil tank on the basis that the weather would turn fine in early March and they would not have to. They could put it off until the end of the year and have one less bill. They have now run out of oil. For elderly people, that is very difficult.  Across all of the country, but especially in rural Ireland, people are crippled by the price of petrol, diesel and home heating oil. Families, workers, small businesses and the independent forecourts that keep our communities going are all being pushed to the brink. The facts are laid out very clearly by the Irish Petrol Retailers Association. Retailers are operating on margins as low as 1%, with underground tanks holding just a few days\u2019 worth of stock, meaning they must pay rising wholesale prices immediately or go without supply. They cannot absorb these increases. They are price-takers, not price setters. Meanwhile, the State takes 60% to 65% of the cost of every litre in taxes and levies - excise, carbon taxes, a National Oil Reserves Agency, NORA, levy and VAT on top of everything else. The list goes on. We are told that international instability is pushing up prices but the reality is clear, in that Ireland's pre-tax fuel prices are around the EU average, yet once taxes are added, we shoot to the top of the European price table. That is not caused by retailers or the ordinary motorist. It is caused by Government policy. Who pays the highest price for that? It is the rural communities where a car is not a luxury, but a necessity. It is lower and middle-income families who cannot afford an electric vehicle. It is tradespeople such as fishers, farmers, carers and haulage operators who keep the shelves stocked. Many can no longer absorb these hikes. For them, the weekly fuel bill has become a crisis.  The Irish Petrol Retailers Association has been crystal clear in its asks: reduce excise duty on petrol and diesel; pause carbon tax increases until the real impact is assessed; review the layering of the levies and the practice of taxing taxes; and establish a proper, consultative forum so that these decisions are not made over the heads of the people most affected by them. This is not about avoiding climate action. It is about fairness and balance. The current approach is regressive and hits rural Ireland hardest. No Government committed to regional equality can stand over it. I am calling for immediate relief at the pumps because every \u20ac10 or \u20ac15 spent filling a tank is a \u20ac10 or \u20ac15 cut to a worker\u2019s income, a family's budget or a small business\u2019 future. I met representatives of the Irish Road Haulage Association here today and it is in dire crisis. Unless there is an immediate announcement, some serious decisions are going to have to be made.  People are left deciding between either heating or eating. For many of the elderly, it has got to a choice of eating only. People might think that is not true, but many elderly people tell me that they are sat with duvets and blankets. That is very unfair. It is still cold and nasty weather out there for an elderly person. A bit of heat is worth the world. I get phone calls every day of the week; my phone is on fire. I am told that the office is being called constantly by people who feel they have been hit hard, robbed, this and that because they are paying through the nose for oil.  I am very concerned about the price of food, and the price of fertiliser is going to go mad. If the price of fertiliser is going to go mad, the price of food on the table is going to go crazy and people will not be able to afford it. That is another crisis in itself.  I listened to the Green Party, which promised the world and spent four to five years in government but delivered absolutely nothing save for more taxes. People would like to turn to solar energy. There is no point in anyone saying we should not have solar energy; that is only nonsensical rubbish. People are anxious to turn to solar, but if you want to run a home on solar energy - I listened to a person recently who is getting solar energy \u2013 you are talking about a cost of \u20ac17,000 to \u20ac20,000. The grant is \u20ac1,800. That is paltry. In the name of God. That was the Green Party. Deputy O\u2019Gorman does not want to agree with this motion because it might mean we would have to lower the carbon tax and help people. The Green Party does not help people. When it was in government, it could have delivered a grant aid that would have encouraged homes to go solar. A grant of \u20ac1,800 when it will cost \u20ac20,000 is a pittance of a grant to encourage people. That is where there was a massive lost opportunity. When the Green Party was in government, it failed to deliver for the ordinary people who maybe would have turned around.  To go back to 2022, I had a conversation with the Taoiseach on fossil fuels. I dug out my speech. Everybody around the world knew we needed fossil fuels. We are all trying to move away in a different direction. I fully understand that.  Unfortunately, the Taoiseach at that time was brainwashed by the Greens. All the Deputies on that side were brainwashed by the Greens. I could not get them to understand that they would need fossil fuel going forward. They did not want to be knocking on the door of Moffat in Scotland for our fuel and we were to have independence in terms of fuel, wind energy and solar, but we did not. Nothing happened. We seem to be brain-blocked. Barryroe field was there to be explored. Not at all, we could not touch it. We could bring it in no problem, but we were not to have energy independence. This has cost us extremely dearly. I have put my speech that day up on my Facebook page if anybody has any interest in watching it. In 2022, the Taoiseach told me I was wrong. Today, we are right. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Cahill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Cahill  There is no doubt that the rising cost of energy is placing enormous pressure on households right across County Kerry and, indeed, the entire country. For many families, it is a weekly decision between buying food, heating the home, filling the car or meeting other essential costs. In a rural county like Kerry, where people rely heavily on their cars and on home heating oil, these increases are being felt particularly sharply.  It is a very genuine frustration people are feeling and while there may be differences in approach, I believe this debate presents an opportunity to all of us to focus on practical measures that can deliver real relief. In that regard, we need to seriously examine a number of options. First, there is a case for targeted, time-limited supports to help households with rising fuel costs. Expanding eligibility for existing schemes such as the fuel allowance should be firmly on the table. Second, we should look again at the overall tax burden on fuels to ensure it is not disproportionately impacting those who have no viable alternative, especially rural communities. Third, we need to accelerate investment in energy efficiency and home retrofitting so that people are less exposed to those price shocks in the first place.  This is not about quick fixes or political point-scoring. It is about recognising that people need help now while also planning for the longer term. There is space here for a more constructive cross-party approach, one that focuses on targeted, workable solutions rather than absolutes. Ultimately, the people we represent are not interested in who wins the argument in this Chamber. They are interested in whether we can ease the pressure on their daily lives. Let us use this opportunity to work towards measures that are fair and practical and deliver real support where it is most needed. I refer to workers who drive to work and rural dwellers. I wish to call for the immediate reduction of fuel excise duties and the introduction of an emergency fuel allowance and targeted supports for workers and rural dwellers. We have to ease their pain. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  As it is the first time I have addressed the House since the passing of my best friend and the person who got me involved in politics, I hope the House will allow me to say of Ellie: ar dheis D\u00e9 go raibh h-anam. Of the woman who wanted to get on the boat when I went to Palestine even though she had stage 4 cancer, I want to say: Ellie, thank you for believing in me and getting me into this House. I will keep you close to my heart. Condolences to Justin, Sean, DJ, Richard and Kate. I appreciate that leeway from the Minister.  The reality is that Ireland remains too exposed. Yesterday, the Taoiseach was in the White House. I commend him for diplomatically saying about Churchill that Ireland had a different perspective in regard to its own War of Independence and that Churchill had created a bit of difficulty for us. During the Second World War, Churchill reduced the supply of coal to Ireland to try to force de Valera\u2019s hand to end our neutrality. That is what we do when we do not allow our country to have its own energy independence and security.  Speaking of LNG, when I was in the committee, I asked why we were doing this. They said it added to our energy security. Surely if there was \u2013 and please God, there never will be \u2013 a foreign power that wanted to attack the gas or energy supply to our country, adding one single other point of failure would not add to energy security or independence. Surely adding multiple long-duration energy storage green hydrogen gravity pumps, with the private wires Bill I am looking forward to working with the Minister on, would be a much better way. The cost of the LNG terminal is extortionate and it needs to be put in a cost-benefit analysis to compare what we would get benefit-wise if we instead invested in our grid or long-duration energy storage battery packs and everything like that. They are moving too fast and the solutions are not there. I am blue in the face saying in this Chamber that we have to enable private wires to connect renewable energies, invest in long-duration energy storage and accelerate other storage systems like green hydrogen, particularly alongside offshore renewable energy. We cannot have curtailment and dispatch down. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  The sooner the Government does what I am asking it to do, the better because people are going under every day with the cost of fuel on the road. Any man or woman with a wheel and an engine is already being kicked very hard at the present time. It is reported that the Government is taking in \u20ac40 million a week more in taxes. I am asking it to give that back.  The Minister, Deputy Jim O\u2019Callaghan, said today that it would be given back in targeted measures. I am asking the Government to give it back at the pump where the people are paying for it and to reduce the amount charged at the pump by the amount of extra taxes that it is getting in. It will cost the Government nothing but I am asking it, please, not to charge the people on the road and those depending on home heating oil. Do not charge them any more than they are being charged already. They are being charged enough taxes. I ask the Government to give it back by reducing the cost per litre at the pump and to get home heating oil in the door.  I refer to people who are going to work in cars or picking up schoolchildren, or the people with lorries or trucks on the road going hard every day delivering services and whatever. Farmers with tractors using green diesel are being hit doubly because it has gone from \u20ac1.12 up to \u20ac1.68 or \u20ac1.70, as has home heating oil.  It is very easy to do it; I ask the Government to give it back at the pumps where it is taking it from. The sooner the Minister does it, the better because people are going under. They cannot stick the pressure. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed  Unfortunately, Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn is gone. Twice he asserted that the Government had burned through 200 million tonnes of carbon in the past two weeks. I would love to see him stand that allegation up. It seems like an enormous figure.  First, I welcome confirmation from the T\u00e1naiste that the Government is planning to take action on the issue, that a plan is being worked on at the moment, that decisions are to be taken at the next Cabinet meeting and that whatever will be done will be targeted.  I want to ask Sinn F\u00e9in how long its proposed temporary reductions would last. Is it one year or three years? Where is the sunset clause? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  It is in the legislation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed  Where is Sinn F\u00e9in\u2019s targeting of its proposal at those who need help the most? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Maybe the Deputy should read the legislation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  Just one speaker. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed  What programme of activity would Sinn F\u00e9in cut----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Under Standing Order 50----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed  I am sorry, Chair----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I am entitled under Standing Order 50----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  There is one speaker, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I am sorry. Maybe the Deputy should read the legislation instead of asking questions he knows nothing about. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed  Is f\u00e9idir liom cr\u00edoch. I have no legislation. I have a motion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  There is one speaker \u2013 Deputy \u00d3 Muir\u00ed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an gCathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach. N\u00edl aon reachta\u00edocht agam; n\u00edl agam ach r\u00fan. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  T\u00e1 s\u00e9 foilsithe againn. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed  What programme of activity would Sinn F\u00e9in cut to pay for these reductions? As the Opposition finance spokesman well knows, the estimated cost of reversing carbon tax increases in the past two years is well north of \u20ac300 million. That money directly funds energy upgrade works, schemes for those in or at risk of energy poverty, the fuel allowance, the working family payment and several other vital schemes. It is populist politics but poor policy-making. It is easy to make assertions like that from over there but government requires difficult decisions at times.  Ultimately, decarbonising our energy system is the best way to secure energy independence and reduce costs for families. That means clearing the decks for progress in offshore wind, like others have mentioned here, and as Deputy Heneghan said, clearing the decks for progress in long-duration battery storage in particular so that renewable energy can be held on this island and made available for when it is needed the most. I urge an tAire to make energy decarbonisation a non-negotiable priority for this Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Albert Dolan  We need to be abundantly clear here. Families across this country are under serious pressure and the fuel costs are a major part of that pressure.  In Galway East and across rural Ireland, people do not have a choice. They rely on their cars every day to get to work, bring their children to school and keep their livelihoods going, and right now, they are being squeezed. When people are paying more than \u20ac100 to fill a tank of diesel, that it not just a number. It is money being taken from groceries, heating and, ultimately, supporting their families. People feel they are doing everything right and are still falling behind.  I understand and accept that prices are set and influenced by global markets - we get it - but that cannot become an excuse for inaction. What has to happen is that the Government needs to assess the costs, see that this appears to be a sustained conflict, and examine and assess every option, such as whether tax measures or targeted measures would be the right response. For many households, there is simply no more room left. They have already cut back and cannot take another hit. The central point stands - we cannot stand by while working families in rural communities are hit again and again. This is about fairness and people need to know that, when the pressure seriously comes on, as it has been sustained over the past 19 days, the Government will take appropriate measures and actions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Callaghan  People are feeling the sting in their pockets. As I passed filling stations in Ballon and Tinryland on my way to work this morning, I saw diesel well in excess of \u20ac2 per litre, which I had never seen before. It is clear to me that this matter affects all households and it requires an appropriate, well-thought-out and fair response, not a knee-jerk reaction. This war is not of our making and it is happening many thousands of kilometres away from us, but we are all feeling its effects, which indicates to all of us how small this world of ours is becoming and how interdependent global economies are.  While the focus this evening is on fuel and energy costs, let us make no mistake that without an end to this war, there is worse to come for all of us. I ask the Government to please keep a firm focus on seeking a de-escalation of this war through the peaceful means of dialogue and diplomacy. I ask it to continue to act responsibly. We need to look at and plan for solutions rather than focus solely on calling out the problem in outrage. We can all do outrage, but it is outcomes that make a tangible difference to people's lives.  We need an appropriate intervention and I am happier now than I was this morning, having heard the Taoiseach confirm that appropriate measures to assist households will be finalised in the next Cabinet meeting early next week. I am asking on behalf of the 14,000 people across Carlow and Kilkenny who voted for me that fairness be placed at the centre of this response. Will the Minister please ensure that the people who get up to go to work every day are supported in any measure invoked by the Government next week? I am also asking the Government, for now, not to remove or reduce carbon taxes because they are ring-fenced to ensure we can extend the fuel allowance to the most vulnerable and ensure that more Irish homes are retrofitted, thereby reducing the long-term cost of running our homes. As I said at the start of my contribution----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  Go raibh maith agat. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Callaghan  -----we live in an increasingly volatile and interdependent world, so can we please keep all measures open to review for as long as the conflict in the Gulf continues? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment (Deputy Darragh O'Brien)  I thank Deputies for the opportunity to discuss the pressures Irish households are facing as a result of high energy costs. I have listened intently to the contributions this evening. I assure Deputies that the current crisis is of deep concern to the Government, as has been articulated very well by Government colleagues and, to be fair, Opposition colleagues this evening. I know everyone shares the Government's concern about the humanitarian impact of the conflict and our desire, as Deputy Callaghan said, to see a de-escalation.  In addition to the significant humanitarian impacts, we have seen significant disruption and uncertainty, which has resulted in impacts on global energy supply and on us in Ireland as it has on every other country. This is not a matter unique to us. Energy prices and the impact this most recent conflict has had on them are of deep concern to me and to the broader Government. I assure people that the Government understands the pressures families and businesses are under. I have engaged today again with the Taoiseach and T\u00e1naiste on a Government response to the areas that are under the most acute pressure. As the Taoiseach and T\u00e1naiste outlined, this work will be finalised next week and we expect it to come to the Cabinet on Tuesday. It will set out the interventions we will make in a targeted and time-bound way that will assist those who need it most.  We must also be aware that this situation is ever evolving. From the outset of the conflict, it has been clear that it presents serious challenges and risks from an energy perspective. At my request last week, the energy security group met to assess the implications of the conflict in the Middle East and the Gulf region and to ensure the Government is fully informed of ongoing developments in global energy markets. The group reviewed current supply and pricing conditions for oil, gas and electricity and heard from the fuel industry representative body. It was noted that appropriate contingency arrangements were in place across the energy sector. I have also written to retail electricity and gas suppliers, as well as to the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, and fuel suppliers to emphasise the importance of reducing the exposure of Irish consumers to price shocks that global uncertainty can create and is creating and to ensure Irish consumers are supported to the greatest possible extent throughout this uncertain period.  However, Ireland faces particular challenges in energy costs as a result of long-standing factors, including our isolated island location, low levels of interconnection, our population settlements and historic reliance on fossil fuels that is diminishing year on year. Specifically in reference to fossil fuels, I am firmly of the belief that our island nation must continue to increase our renewable energy capacity and reduce the impact of fossil fuel prices and volatility on energy prices in Ireland.  Last week, we reached a significant milestone of 8 GW of renewable energy and energy capacity installed in Ireland and we are already seeing the impact of renewables on prices with what energy renewables are producing. We must continue to accelerate that. I want to increase that by building more renewable capacity and more storage. We have more than 1 GW of long-duration battery storage, which helps us to distribute the energy at the appropriate times. We will do more, including the introduction of private wires, unprecedented investment in our grid of up to \u20ac18.9 billion, which will allow additional renewables to be built and the distribution of their energy into our system, and close collaboration with all of the sector. We need to see projects like the North-South interconnector built. It will bring average savings per household of more than \u20ac100 per annum. It is critical we do this. In addition, we are investing a record amount in home retrofitting and business supports.  Like many Government Deputies and many of the Opposition, I am completely opposed to removing the carbon tax. Why do I say that? It is because since 2019, Governments have been able to provide 240,000 energy upgrades to homes. We are looking at permanent savings of up to \u20ac1,100. This year, we are targeting 73,000 home upgrades. We have changed our grants and made them more accessible. They are critical to ensuring households can have reduced energy bills and are more resilient against future shocks. Looking at this year, \u20ac558 million in Exchequer funding is being provided to home energy supports and business supports. That directly comes from the carbon tax. It is ring-fenced for that. Where would Sinn F\u00e9in get the money? Would it scrap the retrofit programme? These are permanent savings. I, like many in the Government and many of the Opposition parties, think we have a system under which carbon tax can be focused on those who need it most through such schemes as the warmer homes scheme, under which there were 13,000 more fully funded home upgrades this year.  We will continue to do that. Our job is to accelerate it to protect households and families through future crises. The one thing we are sure of is that this will not be the last crisis, so we have to accelerate the deployment of renewables. We have to continue to invest in our grid. We have to continue to invest in retrofitting. We also have to protect those who need our assistance. That is why, as has been outlined clearly by the Taoiseach, and by T\u00e1naiste earlier this evening, the Government will be bringing forward targeted, time-bound measures that will help households and businesses. That will be done next week, in a time-bound manner so that we can keep it under review. I hope, as has been mentioned already, that the crisis will de-escalate and we will see the normalisation of supply.  On supply, we hold 90 days of stocks of oil, in line with our international commitments. NORA, which manages our State reserves, is also committed, through the International Energy Agency, IEA, announcement of a 400 million barrel release, to our equivalent of 1.6 million barrels.  That contribution is approximately 10.5 days of supply. We are unquestionably unusually exposed to increases in the price of home heating oil because we are heavily reliant on kerosene for residential heating. Kerosene accounts for over 90% of home heating oil demand and about 30% of residential energy consumption, so it is a real issue. Ireland is also the largest user of kerosene for home heating in Europe. That really points to the areas we really need to assist people, as we have seen significant price increases. That also reflects the dispersed nature of our population, especially in rural areas. We import 80% to 90% of that kerosene, mainly from Britain and the EU, but they import that supply from the Middle East so there is disruption and a price pressure there. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  So the Government will put up the taxes in the next couple of weeks. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  A Theachta, beidh seans ann i gceann c\u00fapla n\u00f3im\u00e9ad. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  There is a price pressure there----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  You are going to make it worse. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  -----but what we will do, unlike Sinn F\u00e9in, is assess the situation, make sure the measures we bring forward are targeted and targeted at those who them most----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  And you are increasing the tax on it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  -----and we will actually do that. What we need to do while we are doing that is ensure we continue our retrofitting programme to deliver permanent savings for households. Significant grants are there to protect households. Some 240,000 have been retrofitted so far and we are targeting another 72,000 this year. Going by what Sinn F\u00e9in has said this evening and continually over the last few days, that whole scheme would be scrapped----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Not true. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  -----because it would not be able to fund it from anywhere else. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Not true. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  Deputy Doherty, you have been 19 years as Opposition finance spokesperson and I suggest there is a reason for that----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Not true. Complete spoofing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  There is a reason you have not actually been in government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Complete spoofer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  Just relax a bit, will you? This is a serious issue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  One speaker. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  You are just spoofing now, though. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  I think you have been 19 years in opposition, as of the last time I checked. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Just be honest with the people. You are going to increase the tax on home heating oil in a couple of weeks. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  Deputy Doherty, you will have an opportunity in a few moments. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Okay, I will. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  A Aire, le do thoil. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  Deputy Doherty is very excitable and I promise I will not interrupt him even though I might feel like I should. People will make up their own minds on what he is saying. There are many people out there who are vulnerable at the moment. Government is committed to assisting them and we will bring forward targeted measures - a number of measures - not just for households but for the sector as well. With that in mind, I met the Irish Road Haulage Association. I am meeting it tomorrow morning. I spoke with them at length last week as well. There are pressures also in relation to businesses and we need to focus this all in the round and that is exactly what we will do. While we do that we need to protect investment in our energy system, protect our economy and protect Exchequer funds as well. Deputy Doherty and his party cannot just make up Financial Resolutions on the back of an envelope and say they will scrap supports for households of up to----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  That was Fianna F\u00e1il's way. Remember the last time you all bust the economy "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  -----\u20ac600 million. The energy affordability task force has met on a number of occasions and brought forward preliminary reports in advance of the last budget, where we made permanent reductions in VAT down to 9%. It will be meeting again tomorrow with me chairing and we will look at further measures we will bring forward this year post this crisis. These will be done in a structured way, in a sustainable way and not done by way of a knee-jerk reaction to curry support in other areas. We take this situation very seriously and that is why we will approach this situation in a serious and structured manner. We will bring forward supports next week for households and for businesses in a targeted, structured and sustainable way so we can continue to invest in things like home retrofitting and supports for small businesses, which Deputy Doherty would scrap. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  Chun cr\u00edoch a chur leis an d\u00edosp\u00f3ireacht, leanfaimid ar aghaidh go dt\u00ed an Teachta Pat Buckley. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pat Buckley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pat-Buckley.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Pat-Buckley.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pat Buckley  Go raibh maith agat, a Chathaoirligh. This is bonkers. I have sat here and listened. I thank Deputy Doherty for bringing this motion and for the upcoming legislation. We come in here and we talk about having solutions but the Minister is in government and the Government is supposed to serve the people, not profit from their misery as it is at the moment. The Minister heard a while ago about 64% of the price at the pumps being duties. That 64% is the Government's problem, but a lot more than 64% of people are being hit. Instead of helping the people the Government has decided to make an extremely difficult situation even worse. It is talking about increasing the carbon tax again in May, which is another kick in the you-know-what.  I will tell the Minister how bad it is. This is something that haunts me and upsets me every time I speak about it. I will tell the Minister how bad it is for people. I have seen a mother in her sitting room, with a young child on a beanbag on 24-hour oxygen, who had to give up work and is crying because she cannot look after her child and cannot go to work but her biggest fear is she cannot keep the money in the pay-as-you-go meter to keep the electricity going to keep the child's oxygen pump going. That is the reality. The Minister can come out with his VAT figures and so on and so forth, but that does not appeal to the people who have been hit directly.  The Minister knows the craic with the kerosene. It can be done. We are not talking about wiping out carbon tax. These are measures to make things more affordable for people. I cannot understate how much people are struggling with the rising cost of fuel, but that is on top of a constant cost-of-living crisis the Government never got. Its members gave themselves a pat on the back. I have listened to some of the Government TDs speaking about it and saying we have to do X, Y and Z but at the end of it all I hear is excuses. We know there is a war but the Government still has it in its remit to do the right things, but it is not doing them. I call on all the Cork TDs in here to get a grain of conscience, do the right thing and support this motion and the legislation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  Families have been left in shock by the steep rise in their fuel costs. These families are already under enormous pressure. We know 320,000 households across the State are in arrears on their energy bills under the Minister\u2019s watch. This comes after the Government slashed cost-of-living supports in this year's budget. It left households to fend for themselves, including elderly people and people living alone. People with disabilities were left \u20ac1,400 worse off. It was really shameful and the price increases since this war began have turned a cost-of-living crisis into a cost-of-living emergency. Where has the Government been? It has been missing in action for the past two weeks.  Throughout that time families have really been suffering. Many have not been able to afford the fill of oil and they are watching very closely how much they are putting into the car. However, the Minister has come in here and once again kicked the can down the road. There might be something next week. The Government is totally out of touch with the reality of life for people across this State and the pressure households are under. It is very easy for the Minister to say we should wait and see and that the Government is keeping things under review but my constituents cannot keep their bills under review as they have to pay them today.  We have given the Government the solutions it could implement immediately. It could implement the legislation to cut the cost of petrol, diesel and home heating oil and it could scrap the carbon tax increases. It is breathtaking to hear Government Ministers insist the carbon tax increases on home heating oil should go ahead. They cannot give any clarity to households on what supports they will bring to the table but they were quick to tell them the carbon tax increases on home heating oil, petrol and diesel all the way to 2030 will be going ahead. It is time for the Government to get real and listen to people across the State who cannot keep up with any more increases. The Government should enact this legislation, scrap the carbon tax increases and bring forward real supports to households. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  I thank my colleague, Deputy Doherty, and the party for bringing forward this emergency motion and legislation, because we are trying to bring hope. We are trying to bring hope to the families out there who are absolutely struggling and are out of their minds with worry about how they are going to fill their car and buy heating oil. We are trying to be constructive and bring forward solutions. I just heard the Minister say, and virtually all the TDs on the Government side say, that we are not going to have a knee-jerk reaction. A knee-jerk reaction would have been two weeks ago. We are nearly three weeks into this crisis and the Government has brought forward nothing. Does the Minister know what happened on the first day of this crisis? Prices went up on petrol, on diesel and home heating oil. He is the Minister and what did he do? He did nothing for three weeks. He has done nothing. This is in his remit. We have workers and families who have to use a car to get to work, college, hospital and school because governments never put in the rail infrastructure and the bus service is not dependable. Then the Government says it is going to help with its taxes. We are not in a cost-of-living crisis because it is a cost-of-living emergency now. People cannot pay their bills. What is the Government saying? The Minister and others say they will monitor it and look at it. The Minister just said they are going to analyse it. The Government should forget about analysing it and look after the people who cannot turn on their electricity. There are pensioners who will not turn on the heating in their houses because they are afraid they do not have the money to pay the bills. At the same time, this Government is giving data centres electricity for half price. Families are struggling. In the name of God, will the Government do this today and give the people the hope they need now? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Cuirim deireadh leis an d\u00edosp\u00f3ireacht faoin r\u00fan at\u00e1 curtha chun tosaigh agus bogtha agam ar chostais peitril agus d\u00edosail. I listened to the Minister and the T\u00e1naiste and Minister for Finance, and their colleagues. Some of them have not even read the legislation and did not inform themselves of what we were debating before they came in and started asking stupid questions. The Minister will be able to see the legislation and see the fact that it is for six months and allows the Minister to review that period, to extend it or to increase the length of time. He will see in the legislation that it provides flexibility for the Minister also to increase or decrease the supports depending on the situation in terms of wholesale fuel costs or the cost-of-living crisis that people are suffering from. This is a responsible course of action from this party. The Minister talked about back-of-envelope stuff. No harm to the Minister but that was Fianna F\u00e1il's job, the last time you wrecked the economy, yourselves down in the Galway tent with the back of the envelopes with the bankers and the developers. We know all the lectures in relation to that. This legislation is detailed. It is presentable. The key thing about it is that it is the solution. It is the plan that people are looking for. People cannot wait any longer for the Government to get its act together. I am glad the Ministers have all returned from St. Patrick's Day festivals but while they were away, people here were seriously struggling. This is the problem here. They left without providing the support that was required.  People are demanding action right now. The action they need is a cut in taxes on petrol, diesel and home heating oil. The Minister talked about how the price of kerosene has gone up really high and how it is putting pressure on families. He should be honest with people about what he is planning to do. He is planning to increase the cost. His cheerleaders in Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael are calling on him to increase carbon tax on 1 May, the legislation he has already passed. He should not give these crocodile tears that he feels for the old woman who has to fill up her tank and it is costing her \u20ac1,800, when he is sitting there saying we have to increase carbon tax in a couple of weeks. That is going to make it more expensive for people to heat their home and stay warm during this time of crisis. That is the reality of what the Government is doing. As Deputy Gould said, we are three weeks into this crisis and still the Government does not have a plan. We listen to the T\u00e1naiste and he says we are going to do something. Something - nobody yet knows what he is going to do. I bet my bottom dollar that the Government will not cut taxes on home heating oil because it is wedded to this idea that it is carbon tax and therefore it is the Holy Grail. The Government wants to increase taxes on home heating oil. It is simply unjustifiable. You ask simple questions like how do we fund retrofit. We fund retrofit from the taxes that we take in as a State. There was \u20ac12.5 billion of a surplus last year. In one week, \u20ac38 million more has been taken in by this Government as a result of sky-high fuel costs. The Government Deputies sit back in their ivory towers and say to people out there who cannot heat their homes that they have to wait another week, and the Government might come up with something. That is not good enough. It does not cut it. People want leadership. They want action. We have provided the solution, the plan and the legislation. What the Minister should be doing, and what a responsible Government, one that cares about people and that understands the cost-of-living pressures people are under, would be doing is standing here and saying \"Folks, tonight we are taking action, cutting petrol and diesel costs and the cost of home heating oil.\" Those are the solutions we put forward. In the real world, things continue to move on while Ministers are dithering and delaying and dallying. People are having to pay these costs. Today I talked to a forecourt owner. This is putting huge pressure on businesses also. They are buying diesel in for \u20ac2.13. This evening they were told what the prices are going to be tomorrow night and it is going up again, they will have to buy it in for \u20ac2.19. The Minister is going to delay and come up with something some time next week. It is simply unacceptable. People will have a decision now. I am glad the Government did not move their amendment so they will have a decision here now to actually support this motion and support this legislation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  Go raibh maith agat, a Theachta. T\u00e1 leas\u00fa---- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  The amendment has not been moved during the debate and you are only allowed to intervene once, under Standing Orders, a Chathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach. The Standing Orders are very clear. The Member is only allowed to speak once and the debate has now concluded. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  The T\u00e1naiste said he moved the amendment. The T\u00e1naiste did move the amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  He did not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  The T\u00e1naiste has moved the amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed  He moved it at the start. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  He did move the amendment at the start. I have a copy of his speech here. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  There is a Government amendment agus mar sin is \u00ed an cheist n\u00e1 go n-aont\u00f3far an leas\u00fa, that the amendment be made. Na Teachta\u00ed at\u00e1 ar thaobh na ceiste aibrid\u00eds \"T\u00e1\". "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Just to clarify, just so we are doing it procedurally because I did not hear it but I could have misheard him or not heard him. Can we get clarification that the T\u00e1naiste actually moved the amendment? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  I understand that it is included in the T\u00e1naiste's---- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  But he did not say it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  To be clear, the T\u00e1naiste said to me that he moved the amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  What we can do is a short suspension and verify that with the Debates Office. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Yes, just to clarify. If he moved the amendment, that is fine, but I just did not hear it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  The T\u00e1naiste said it to me directly, and Deputy \u00d3 Muir\u00ed is here, that he had moved the amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed  I was behind him at the start. He did move it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I will take your word for it if that is the case. I did not hear it. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  In accordance with Standing Order 85(2), the division is postponed until the next weekly division time. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Energy and Fuel Costs: Motion [Private Members]"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-18\/debate\/dbsect_10","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_10","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case:  Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett - To discuss the situation in Iran, and implications for Ireland.  Deputy Joe Cooney - To discuss the regular reporting of the defective concrete block appeals board.  Deputy Albert Dolan - To discuss battery energy storage systems and solar planning guidelines in rural Ireland.  Deputy Tom Brabazon - To discuss the NCAM works in north Dublin.  Deputy Louise O'Reilly - To discuss the need for a full-time Garda station in Rush.  Deputy Barry Ward - To discuss waiting lists at the Deansgrange driving test centre.  Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa - To discuss the HSE's failure to offer 76 newly qualified paramedics full-time jobs upon graduation.  Deputy Michael Cahill - To discuss amending the national planning framework and sustainable rural housing guidelines.  Deputy Malcolm Byrne - To discuss the review of the Garda vetting process.  Deputy Darren O'Rourke - To discuss delivery of a new school building at Dunboyne junior and senior national schools.  Deputy Michael Murphy - To discuss the crisis in public dental and orthodontic services in south Tipperary.  Deputy Joanna Byrne - To discuss funding for the breakfast club for St. Paul's SNS, Drogheda.  Deputy Shane Moynihan - To discuss adequate classroom provision for Gaelscoil Chluain Dolc\u00e1in.  Deputy Roderic O'Gorman - To discuss the demolition and rebuild project for three primary schools on the Navan Road, Dublin 7.  Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire - To discuss delivery of a permanent school building for Owenabue ETNS, Carrigaline, Cork.  Deputy Louis O'Hara - To discuss the new school campus for Gaelscoil Riada and Col\u00e1iste an Eachr\u00e9idh in Athenry, County Galway.  Deputy Jennifer Whitmore - To discuss local link buses in Wicklow.  Deputies David Cullinane and Conor D. McGuinness - To discuss pension issues concerning former Waterford Crystal workers.  Deputy Thomas Gould - To discuss rising transport costs in Cork.  Deputy Jen Cummins - To discuss public health nursing in Dublin 8 and Dublin 12.  The matters raised by Deputies Malcolm Byrne, Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa, Barry Ward, Jennifer Whitmore and David Cullinane and Conor D. McGuinness have been selected for discussion. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-18\/debate\/dbsect_11","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_11","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-18\/debate\/dbsect_12","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Driver Test","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-18\/debate\/dbsect_11","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_11","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_12","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  N\u00edl aon gh\u00e1 dom a r\u00e1 leis an Aire c\u00e9 chomh t\u00e1bhachtach is at\u00e1 an t-\u00e1bhar seo, go mbeidh an teastas tiom\u00e1na ar f\u00e1il do dhaoine ar fud na t\u00edre, go h\u00e1irithe i nGr\u00e1inseach an D\u00e9in agus D\u00fan Laoghaire, \u00e1it a bhfuil an liosta feithimh chomh fada. The importance of the availability of driving tests cannot be understated. The reality is that when the test is not available in a timely fashion, people are delayed in taking up work positions sometimes, or availing of positions in work. They might not be able to get to college. Families are driving around with adult children because they cannot be driving unsupervised. This causes disruption for families, individuals and businesses. We as a polity had decided that we were going to improve this because there was a particular crisis over a year ago. The service level agreement set 10.5 weeks as the time period we would aim for. Now in D\u00fan Laoghaire, the average waiting time for a driving test is 21 weeks. That is the average waiting to be invited to come for a test. It does not mean you get the test after 21 weeks. Anecdotally from the many people who are contacting my office about this issue, people are waiting 30 weeks and more. It just is not good enough.  Not just do we have the longest waiting periods in Ireland, with the average still double what it should be under the service level agreement with the driver testing service, but there are now 5,356 people waiting for tests in D\u00fan Laoghaire as of last month. It is an extraordinary number of people. Since January 2025, it has never been lower than 4,500 people waiting for tests.  I acknowledge that progress has been made because that 21-week period has come down quite a bit. That is because halfway through last year the Minister's Department tripled the number of testers available in D\u00fan Laoghaire from three to nine, and that is really welcome. It brought down the period, as I said. Still, however, in February 2025, 763 tests were carried out by three testers, but, strangely, in February 2026, last month, there were only 1,167 tests conducted by nine testers. I do not understand how the mathematics of that worked, but the reality is that we still have a major problem. We announced in April of last year that the new Sandyford testing centre would be open. There are apparently still negotiations going on around the lease there, so progress has not been made. Progress needs to be made. I call on the Minister now to commit to prioritising D\u00fan Laoghaire and Deansgrange in terms of dealing with that exorbitantly long waiting list for people who need the right to do their test, the right to progress and the opportunity to get on with it. All they are waiting for is the opportunity to do that test.  What can be done? Obviously, we can again increase the number of testers. We have seen how effective that was. More importantly, perhaps, we can lengthen the hours. The location of this centre is just off Pottery Road, literally around the corner from where I grew up. It is a busy road, and at either end of the road there are quite congested conjunctions, so, necessarily, the number of tests is constrained by the traffic in that area. However, as we come into the summer now and the clocks change later this month, we can have tests later in the evenings, at the weekends, seven days a week. We can use that time to stretch it out, to make the best use of time and the best use of the nine testers we currently have assigned to that centre. Most importantly, however, I would like to hear from the Minister a commitment that we will change and turn around this 21-week period, which is double what it should be, and reduce it in jig time and make sure that the people of my area, as well as the broader south Dublin area, have an opportunity to do the test in a timely way and get on with things. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Transport (Deputy Darragh O'Brien)  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Teachta as ucht a cheist ar an \u00e1bhar t\u00e1bhachtach seo. Aonta\u00edm leis go nd\u00e9anfaimid \u00e1r nd\u00edcheall chun feabhs\u00fa agus dul chun cinn a dh\u00e9anamh ar son na ndaoine i nD\u00fan Laoghaire. I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. The Deputy will be aware that under the Road Safety Authority Act, the RSA has statutory responsibility for this. We all know that.  Reducing driver testing wait times has been a key priority for the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and me, and I thank Deputy Ward for acknowledging that there has been progress across the board. In that regard, last May the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, directed the RSA to produce and publish a service recovery plan to return the national average wait time to ten weeks by the beginning of September 2025. Nationally, that has been achieved, but that is little consolation for people in D\u00fan Laoghaire. The current national average waiting time is now 11.5 weeks, slightly above the SLA of ten weeks. I am informed by the RSA that it continues to focus on addressing centres with higher demand and wait times.  The latest information provided to me by the RSA, in advance of the Deputy's question, indicates that as of 7 March the average waiting time for a driving test in D\u00fan Laoghaire-Deansgrange was 21 weeks. I agree with the Deputy that that is not acceptable. It does mark a significant improvement on 35 weeks but it is still well above the target ten-week average wait time. I expect the RSA to continue to work to bring the wait time in this centre into line with the ten-week target as soon as possible.  The Minister of State, Deputy Canney, has met with RSA senior management regularly on their delivery of the driver testing service recovery plan over recent months and he has emphasised the importance of opening new testing locations to relieve pressures in high-demand areas.  I am informed by the authority that the new test centre in Sandyford is at the final stages of preparation and the assigned testers are presently deployed to a nearby centre in readiness for its opening while ensuring testing volumes continue to be managed effectively. I understand, however, that the RSA is just one party to the agreement of leases and that private landlords must also go through their due diligence and assurance processes.  I will be very straight with the Deputy. I have a degree of frustration in putting this answer on the floor because we have been aware of this issue with regard to the new test centre for some time. On foot of the Deputy's intervention this evening, I will personally make contact with the Minister of State, Deputy Canney. I will see him in the morning. We need to see how we can expedite this.  The new centre in Sandyford will help to relieve some of the pressure on D\u00fan Laoghaire, but if we do not have a firm date for when that is to be open, it is all very well to say that. This needs to be concluded as soon as possible.  As the Deputy mentioned, in September we conveyed sanction for an additional 70 driver testing posts on a permanent basis, bringing the total permanent sanction to 200, which represents a doubling of posts since June 2022. As of 7 March, 194 testers were in place, and that again is a big increase. As the Deputy rightly said, there are nine driver testers based in the D\u00fan Laoghaire-Deansgrange test centre.  As regards the point the Deputy made about the number of tests we are getting through, which is not in any way to criticise the work being done, we have to see what the reason for that is, where there is a tripling of resources but not a tripling of output. There can be good reasons for that, so I want to look into that.  The Deputy highlighted a very serious issue whereby this driver testing centre is way beyond the agreed national SLA of ten weeks and even on the current average now of 11.5 weeks. I will raise this directly with the Minister of State, Deputy Canney. I will speak to the RSA myself on foot of Deputy Ward's question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  Again, I acknowledge the work that has been done and the commitment the Minister and the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, have shown to this and the progress that has been made. I also acknowledge what the Minister said, that it is cold comfort to the people waiting 21 weeks that the national average has come down to 11.5 weeks, but I welcome those changes. I also agree with his statement that I am not criticising individual testers. They probably work under a pretty difficult situation. As I said, the area where this testing centre is located is pretty congested. I suspect that is what is slowing down the progress in tests, but maybe that can be addressed. Maybe there is an issue that can be addressed there. The Minister has identified that there are testers assigned to the Sandyford centre. That is welcome. It is, I agree with him, frustrating both that it has not opened and that we do not know when it will open. If there are people assigned, is it the case then that they could temporarily be assigned to D\u00fan Laoghaire and Deansgrange? That might be part of the solution, or they might even be able to work from there to help. In addition, could the Minister commit to looking at lengthening the hours during which tests can take place, particularly as we get into longer days after the clocks change? I think there is a capacity there to increase the number of tests taking place per week, particularly if the testers are there. That can also deal with the fact that they might be facing congestion in the area at particular times.  I appreciate both the fact that the Minister has acknowledged the problem and the fact that he is here to deal with the issue himself. We do not often see senior Ministers in for Topical Issues, so I appreciate his commitment to this issue. It is an important issue, and the reason I raise it, which I know he understands, is that there are so many people in my area - as I said, over 5,000 - waiting for these tests who are significantly inconvenienced by the delay. They cannot take up jobs, they cannot drive themselves to college and they cannot get the mobility they need. That is why it is important. I appreciate what the Minister said about raising this issue with the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, tomorrow. I appreciate the commitment and acknowledge the progress that has been made. I just hope we can redouble our efforts to continue that progress and specifically target the unnecessarily long waiting lists in D\u00fan Laoghaire. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  The RSA has indicated that overtime and bank holiday testing will continue throughout the course of this year. As the hour changes later this month, we can look at whether there is potential to do that further.  In relation to the assignment of those new testers who will be going to the Sandyford centre, I will ask that specific question as to whether they can be used in the interim period. I know there is a training element where they are at the moment. I will certainly check that. I will speak to the Minister of State, Deputy Canney. He has done a really good job on this, and I assure Deputy Ward that he has met with the RSA senior management regularly. We were able to pull this back nationally to about ten weeks and now it is up to 11.5 weeks, so we have to watch that trend. There has been a significant increase in applications nationwide, with about 25% more applications received by the end of February compared with the same period last year. We also see an increase in applications across the board, but there has specifically been a rise in demand for tests from holders of a third or subsequent learner permit. I think that is on foot of the changes the Government will bring forward. That in itself is to be welcomed but it certainly puts more pressure on the system.  In summation, I will raise these matters directly with the RSA on the Deputy's behalf. I will speak to the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, tomorrow specifically about this to see what focus can be given, particularly for this centre, and - again, not in any way to criticise the good work that has been done by those who are providing the tests - why this centre is so out of kilter with the national average. That needs to be looked at and addressed, and I will revert directly to the Deputy. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Driver Test"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-18\/debate\/dbsect_13","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Public Transport","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-18\/debate\/dbsect_11","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_11","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_13","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  I raise the issue of Go-Ahead Ireland services in Wicklow. We have seen consistent problems with the service being provided by Go-Ahead. I raised this issue in the D\u00e1il most recently a month ago. There were instances when Go-Ahead buses were not travelling the entire route and were skipping a number of stops. In one instance a young woman who has intellectual and physical disabilities was on the bus and it did not bring her down her road, which it was meant to do. She ended up being brought to the next village and was put out at the side of the road there. I have raised with Go-Ahead this issue and other instances of Go-Ahead buses not picking up teenagers on the route. Go-Ahead said it had dealt with these particular matters and that everything was resolved, yet I was still getting feedback from constituents.  I have said previously to the Minister that there needs to be a level of transparency about bus services in general. As TDs, we find that a lot of people come to us to raise specific issues. Some people go to Transport for Ireland, TFI, and other people go to the various bus services. There needs to be a more transparent mechanism of dealing with it. I set up a Facebook page for anyone who has any issues. People also have to go to TFI directly but they detail the issue on the Facebook page.  It is clear that the problems faced by service users on the L2 service in Wicklow still exist. Last week, on one day, Friday 13 March, eight L2 buses skipped the same five stops on Sea Road in Kilcoole. Overall last week, I had more than ten reports of buses on the L2 route skipping this particular road. I was told this issue had been resolved but clearly it has not been resolved. Yesterday, on St. Patrick's Day, there were three successive no-show buses between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. On certain days, these no-show or cancelled buses mean people are left waiting up to an hour for the next bus. A wheelchair user is one of the frequent contributors to my Facebook page. At present, his bus does not show up about once a week. We can see there is a major issue with the reliability. People are not going to get a bus if they are not sure it will definitely arrive. To be told by Go-Ahead that the problem had been solved is just unacceptable.  There is also still the issue of drivers not picking up teenagers on the side of the road. When I raised this with Go-Ahead it indicated there had been some antisocial behaviour issues on the buses. However, there has to be a mechanism to deal with any such behaviour on a bus. It cannot simply be the case that where is an instance of antisocial behaviour, teenagers are just not picked up from then on. It is not acceptable to leave teenagers behind. Three teenage girls were left at the side of the road one day when the bus went past indicating it was full. It was not full.  There are major problems with this service. I am talking specifically about the L2 but I have been told by a mother that the L1 has been repeatedly late bringing her child to the nearest school. The service is so bad and so unreliable that this mother is looking to change her daughter's school because she cannot rely on the child getting to school on time. This is no kind of service to be providing. I hope the Minister will give people in Wicklow some positive news as to how he will make sure that Go-Ahead provides the service it is being paid and is contracted to do. It has not done so since it received the contract a number of years ago. We need a proper service in Wicklow. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  I thank Deputy Whitmore for the opportunity to discuss bus services and the future expansion of bus services in Wicklow. In many instances, good or very good services are being provided but obviously this is not the case with the L2 service, given what Deputy Whitmore has outlined. I will get to that specifically. Deputy Whitmore knows that, as Minister, I am responsible for policy and overall funding for public transport and I am not involved in day-to-day operations. Having said that, feedback like this is important. I do not welcome it, though, in the sense that I would rather there were not instances like this. Everyone will understand that from time to time issues and matters arise. Last year, we saw record-breaking numbers of PSO public transport journeys throughout the country. People are responding but what they need is information with regard to relying on particular bus services.  I am struck by what Deputy Whitmore said about 13 March, when eight buses did not show up. That is wholly unacceptable. There could be an issue from time to time with a driver being sick and no relief driver being available, but it then occurred again on St. Patrick's Day. I will make inquiries directly about the L2 service, which I will get to in a moment.  I am very focused on increasing the number of people using public transport across all our operators, including bus services across the country, Local Link with which we have had great success, intercity services and rail. We are seeing people respond to this. In the budget for 2026, we secured \u20ac940 million funding for public service obligation routes and TFI services received significant funding of \u20ac658 million. We are looking to cover both of these areas and we have a 46% increase in the PSO.  Specifically regarding the L2 service and the Go-Ahead contract between Glendalough and Bray, from what Deputy Whitmore has said and from my research in advance of answering the question, I appreciate that customers have experienced significant difficulties with regard to cancellation and reliability. This has now been acknowledged by the operator. It told me there were a number of factors, primarily fleet availability and staffing. The National Transport Authority has been meeting Go-Ahead on a weekly basis to review performance and work with it to develop a plan to resolve the issues. It has advised me that performance has improved in recent weeks. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  That is what I was told as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  That is what I have been told but I have taken down the examples Deputy Whitmore has given me. Go-Ahead said that availability of fleet and staff has greatly reduced the number of lost kilometres being experienced on the route. The company has recruited a number of mechanics from overseas, which has assisted in addressing fleet reliability issues, while the number of drivers available to operate services also continues to improve. There has been strong momentum in March and the figures I have are that the L2 service has been operating at 98.33% of its contracted kilometres to date, exceeding key performance indicator, KPI, targets. Based on what Deputy Whitmore has said, we will certainly go back and check the figures but these are independent figures given to me.  Go-Ahead has also completed an internal review of route adherence following reports of the service not serving Sea Road on a small number of occasions, and immediate corrective actions have been implemented. There has been no recurring issue since these actions were taken. I am telling Deputy Whitmore as I have it. If she has information to the contrary, I will take it directly to the NTA. I have a real frustration with ghost buses and buses not showing up. There have been improvements in recent months countrywide but there are still some areas where there appear to be specific issues with specific routes. I continue to raise this with the NTA and bus operators. I will raise the specific matters that Deputy Whitmore has raised. I am told there has been an improvement but Deputy Whitmore is telling me there has not. We will raise the matter with the NTA and Go-Ahead. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  The Minister is correct that I am being told a different story by people on the ground. I will come back to him directly on this. I am worried about how no-shows are being recorded. I am being told there are no-shows, yet the NTA is not recording them or they are not being recorded in the systems as no-shows. I will speak to the Minister about this because it may require a more in-depth conversation.  The Minister knows I am a big fan of public transport but it also needs to be reliable. If it is not reliable, there is no point to it. I know there have been issues with mechanics, the fleet and drivers. To be fair to people in Wicklow, they have given Go-Ahead a really good chance to get these things right but they are still not right. That is a big difficulty. At some stage, Go-Ahead has to be able to provide the service it is contracted to provide. If it has issues with drivers, fleet or mechanics, that is on it. It has a job to do and it is being paid to do the job. It is time it started doing that job and providing a proper bus service for Wicklow.  I want to speak to the Minister about the 199 route, which is to run between Bray and Glendalough, servicing Laragh, Roundwood and Kilmacanogue. In May 2025, the NTA told me it was prioritising this particular route and that it had funding for it. In early September, I learned a provider had been awarded the contract and that it was to start in September 2025 but this still has not happened. I know of two women in Roundwood who had to give up their college places because they could not get from Roundwood to UCD or to Dublin because there was no public transport that would get them there.  That service was promised and was meant to be up and running last September. When I last raised it with the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, he said the NTA was waiting for the 2026 service plan. That was in late January. There is still no news about the 199 route. There is a bus waiting, a driver waiting and a whole community waiting for that 199 service to start. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  I will chase up the 199 route. I do not have an update on it as it was not part of the question. The Deputy will understand that.  I welcome feedback from all Deputies, Government or Opposition, in relation to public transport. We have made significant advances over the last five years. Public transport journey numbers bear out that people are responding to it. Of course, we are not going to resolve issues in the course of one year, but we are investing more in public transport than we have ever done before. There is very significant infrastructure investment and fleet investment too.  The service elements, particularly around no-shows and reliability of service, are incredibly frustrating to passengers. What our bus operators need to understand is that these are just passengers, but customers. The customer has to be at the centre of everything we do. The automatic vehicle location system will help greatly in that regard. That will be rolled out during this year and early next year. It will provide real-time data and an upgrade of the app. When a bus is cancelled or delayed, if people know that, they can arrange alternatives. It is where a bus still shows on an app as  ag teacht when it is not, that is a real problem for people.  The Deputy might give me the details specifically around the L2 service because the information that I have and that I prepared for in advance of this answer is contrary to what she said. Based on what I have been told, I have no reason to disbelieve that there have been improvements over the period since these matters were raised. However, the Deputy has given me two specific dates on which there were problems. If there are more, we need to know about it. I ask the Deputy to please feed any such information into me and the Department and I will take the matters up directly with the NTA and revert to her.  I do not have an update on the 199 route, which is the Glendalough and Bray route. I will get an update for the Deputy and come back to her. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Public Transport"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-18\/debate\/dbsect_14","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-18\/debate\/dbsect_11","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_11","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_14","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niall Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  I thank the Minister of State for being here. He is well aware of the problems that have existed for a number of years. Somebody could work in a childcare facility and, at the same time, could be training juvenile athletes as well as being involved in a stage school involving young people. For each of those roles, that person would require Garda vetting. In terms of bus drivers and certain types of employment, it is in a sense almost more bizarre. At the moment, contracted drivers of school buses under the Bus \u00c9ireann scheme have to be vetted, and rightly so. For a private bus where a person is driving the same group of young people, however, there is not a requirement for Garda vetting. Someone working for one contractor with a contract with Bus \u00c9ireann to drive a school bus who then changes to drive another school bus with a different contractor is required to get Garda vetting yet again. We are all very aware of the problems with the system. This has been an ongoing issue for quite a period.  A welcome decision was made on 26 April 2021 to set up a review group. It was announced by the then Minister for Justice, Deputy Helen McEntee. She said the purpose of the review was to provide a more robust, efficient and effective system and that she anticipated the work of the group would take approximately six months. That was in April 2021. All of the relevant Departments and agencies were appointed. The Departments of justice, health, children, the Taoiseach and public expenditure, An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, the HSE, the Public Appointments Service and Tusla were all involved. Even though its task was related o efficiency, it did not report within six months and, following the initial delay, it was due to report in quarter 2 of 2022.  As the Minister of State knows, I was a Senator in the term of the previous Oireachtas. I raised a Commencement matter on this issue on 7 February 2024 when I was told by the then Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Deputy Browne, that the review was very quickly coming to a conclusion and its report would provide recommendations for implementation. That was on 7 February 2024. We did not see much progress then and the general election happened. On 18 June 2025, in a parliamentary question to the Minister for justice, Deputy O'Callaghan, I was told that the work was nearing completion at that stage. On 17 September - I waited a few months - I was then told in a response to a parliamentary question by the Minister for justice that the group had not agreed a formal report but had provided an update, which had been submitted to the Minister, and that the Department would now be working on the recommendations arising from that. I thought we would hear some progress.  I submitted another parliamentary question and got a response on 4 February this year in which I was told that the Department was now looking at some of the issues from the Garda vetting review group, there would be some key changes and legislation would need to be amended. It also stated that we would need to have an updated technology system. A working group that was charged with delivering a more efficient and effective system was not particularly effective or efficient in its own operation. The Minister of State might tell us who chairs or chaired that review group? Why is it taking so long to report? Will the Government publish the update or recommendations or whatever is on the Minister's desk? When will the public actually see real change to resolve a lot of the issues with which the Minister of State, I and everyone in these House is very familiar? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niall Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Justice (Deputy Niall Collins)  I thank the Deputy for outlining the litany of issues he has endured. I hope this reply will be of benefit to him.  The primary purpose of vetting carried out by the Garda National Vetting Bureau is to ensure the safety of children and vulnerable adults. Clearly, this requires a robust vetting process that reassures the public and, in particular, parents that appropriate checks are conducted on people taking up positions of trust.  I am aware that concerns have been raised regarding certain aspects of the Garda vetting process, particularly by sporting and voluntary organisations and sectors. The Government has met directly with the Federation of Irish Sport on this matter and my Department has also received correspondence from a range of voluntary organisations. I am also aware that concerns have been raised on the approach of minimising vetting disclosures of an individual. For example, where a teacher is vetted, the Teaching Council permits him or her to move from one school to another without re-vetting. All that is required is that registered teachers re-vet every three years on a scheduled basis. Consequently, if this system of portability is safe for engagement with our school children, I believe a version of portability must also be safe for broader application. In this regard, I am conscious that aspects of the current vetting system result in a highly segmented process. I believe that the vetting system should be updated to ensure that the burden of seeking vetting disclosures, particularly on volunteers and organisations working in their communities, is minimised to the greatest extent possible, while maintaining the high standards that are necessary.  Further to the work carried out by the Garda vetting review group, steps are now being taken to implement a number of key changes to the process that will ensure it remains robust and effective, while improving the service to customers. In practice, and subject to a general requirement that vetting be renewed every three years, it is envisaged that this will mean that when a person is vetted for the work he or she will be or is likely to be involved in as part of his or her employment or volunteering within identified risk categories, the person should not be required to repeat the process if he or she was to move to another role within the same risk category. These changes will require amending legislation and updated technical systems to support the revised approach. This work will make the process more efficient for volunteers and organisations without compromising the essential safeguards that protect those in our care. The Department is engaging with An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na on the best way to deliver these changes, while maintaining the high vetting standards that are essential to the protection of children and vulnerable adults. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  I thank the Minister of State very much. With all due respect, I do not think we needed a review group to operate for five years to tell us that. It is something I think we all knew. We needed a more efficient system. The Federation of Irish Sport, charities and community organisations have been saying for a long time that there should be a very simple vetting process. Anybody who is working with children or vulnerable adults should have to go through one vetting process based on the assessments of risk.  They should just have to go through one vetting process based on the assessment of risk. It has taken us five years to establish something that we already know. The key question here in terms of what is being proposed is when we will see the introduction of the general requirement on vetting being renewed every three years. If it does require amending legislation, when will that be introduced in the House? In other words, when we are talking to people, including those in the Federation of Irish Sport - I am glad the Department is engaging with that organisation - we can say that somebody who is involved in a sporting organisation, who may be a childcare worker, primary schoolteacher or whatever else, would have one simple vetting mechanism. Is there going to be a tender for the technical system that is to be introduced? What is envisaged? Where is the tech oversight in the delivery of that?  To provide confidence to all of the organisations that have been waiting for so long, we need to know very clearly when the legislation will be introduced and that the public will know that, from the first of a certain month or on a specific date, this simple process will be in place. I do not have confidence in a system that was meant to deliver a more efficient vetting system when it has taken five years for it to come up with what is a repetition of most of the things we have been hearing for the past half decade. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niall Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Niall Collins  The current system used by An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na is delivered in a standard format to all organisations seeking vetting. This approach aligns with good international practice. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Garda National Vetting Bureau's target turnaround time for vetting applications submitted by organisations utilising the e-vetting system is five to ten working days for over 85% of the vetting applications received. The Garda National Vetting Bureau received over 633,500 applications for vetting disclosures last year, 2025.  I am also informed that the current processing time for 85% of vetting applications is eight to nine working days. There are a number of factors outside of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na's control that can impact on the timeline for individual applications. These include, for example, where a person has lived overseas. These applications can take additional time. Vetting is carried out by An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na in accordance with the provisions of the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts of 2012 to 2016. Ministers have no direct role in vetting.  Further to the work being carried out by the Garda vetting review group, steps are now being taken to implement a number of the key changes in the process that will ensure it remains robust and effective while improving the service to customers. We must be sure that any changes to the vetting system do not negatively impact on the objective of safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. Expediency for expediency's sake cannot be the driving motivation - I know that is not Deputy Byrne's motivation - behind any of the changes that we make. We must always keep safeguarding at the heart of the system. I will impress upon the Minister and the officials in the Department of justice the Deputy's annoyance at the delay in bringing this process to a successful end point in its journey. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-18\/debate\/dbsect_15","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Ambulance Service","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-18\/debate\/dbsect_11","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_11","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I wish to discuss the HSE's failure to offer 76 newly qualified paramedics full-time jobs upon graduation. We do not come in here too many times with a solution to a particular issue. It is fair to say that the reason this issue has been somewhat resolved is the action taken by many of those graduates who obviously made contact with many people in this House and beyond. It was good to see the number of people protesting outside this House, which they should not have to do.  I had been contacted by multiple people, including some of the graduate paramedics themselves and members of their families who are incredibly worried. One of the paramedics sent me this email. It states:  For the past three years, I have been working under a series of one-year, specified purpose contracts (SPC) in order to progress through my training as a paramedic. My most recent SPC expired on the 13th of January. I received email communication from [the National Ambulance Service] NAS Human Resources on February 20th asking me to sign a 16-week contract extension. The email stated that the purpose of the extension was to enable me to continue my employment with NAS for long enough to apply for a permanent position through an internal recruitment competition. I was not given any details, whatsoever, about the recruitment competition or the permanent positions to which it relates.  This change from established practices was wrong. It was disgraceful. There is no other way of saying it. When I spoke to many of the senior paramedics outside, they said that one of the issues is that there has been a difficulty in filling certain positions in certain stations. Prior to this, not only would the graduates have gone through the college course and placement but, on graduation, they would have received the role. In addition, the role would generally have been within 45 km of their home. I brought this issue up with the Taoiseach and he came back to Deputy Kerrane the next day and said these graduates would get a position but they would still have to go through the process. He said the graduates had been asked to select three preferred locations in a region from the available vacancies and that every effort would be made to accommodate their first preferences. The fear is that someone from Dundalk could end up in Cork. People have those sorts of worries.  The good news that emerged last week is that contact had been made and we heard that the competition was being dropped. That is only right, and it is down to the necessary action that was taken by many of the graduates. I would like some sort of explanation as to how this hiccup happened. The graduates are being promised that every effort will be taken to ensure they can be placed as close to home as possible. Will the Minister of State come back to me on that?  A huge number of issues remain unresolved in relation to advanced paramedics. There are only two privileging courses. The Irish Society of Paramedicine wrote to me. It probably wrote to many others also. The email stated:  From our perspective as frontline workers in [the National Ambulance Service] NAS, the resolution of this issue offers a small amount of hope for the future. Worryingly, morale among frontline NAS staff has been very low for quite some time now. We witnessed, first-hand, the damage this most recent situation did to staff morale, new and seasoned staff alike. The successful resolution of this issue has helped, but we have quite the journey still ahead of us. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor)  I thank the Deputy for raising this very serious issue. I too have been speaking to a lot of ambulance paramedics. It is important to clarify for the record that there is no recruitment embargo in the National Ambulance Service, and there is absolutely no failure to offer permanent employment to paramedic graduates. Every paramedic who is graduating in 2026 will be offered a full-time, permanent contract with the National Ambulance Service. In fact, following constructive engagement between the HSE and representative unions last week, as the Deputy stated, agreement has now been reached on the arrangements for the transition of all of this year's graduates into permanent roles.  The HSE has confirmed that full-time, permanent contracts will be available for all graduates completing their training in 2026. These roles will be drawn from funded and approved vacancies, including posts arising from retirements and promotions, as well as new posts linked to service development under the national service plan. The HSE has confirmed that there are more than enough vacancies to accommodate all of this year's graduates, and there will be a permanent job for everyone. Under the revised arrangements, graduates will now be assigned to permanent posts as close as possible to their home address following the completion of the staff transfer process for existing NAS personnel. When speaking to ambulance paramedics, that is something that was constantly raised with me. Where locations are oversubscribed, assignments will be made based on original recruitment panel placement, ensuring a fair and transparent approach.  This reflects both operational requirements and existing agreed processes within the service.  Since 2022, the Government has invested an additional \u20ac75 million in the NAS, with staffing increasing by 761 posts in that time. In 2026 we will see further major investment in the NAS, with approval for the recruitment of an additional 263 whole-time equivalent posts and \u20ac20 million in new funding. This will help to improve ambulance response performance by delivering 21 extra crewed ambulances operating at peak demand, as well as four additional intermediate care vehicles, and will further develop NAS alternative care pathways, including community paramedic services. The NAS is also establishing a new helicopter emergency medical service in the west north-west and a new NAS tertiary education site in Cork to further support paramedic education and training. The investment in 2026 will also see significant increases in NAS capital funding, including \u20ac34 million for renewal and expansion of the NAS fleet of emergency ambulances and other response vehicles.  Graduates play a vital role in maintaining workforce capacity and safe service levels, and supporting new developments, particularly in the context of this sustained funding and expansion of services. As the NAS works to place all graduates in permanent positions, they have been given a 16-week extension to their current training contract to ensure continuity of service and employment for them. There will be no interruption in employment and no graduate left without a pathway to a permanent position. In summary, we are seeing a structured and agreed transition of graduates into permanent posts within an expanding national emergency service. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  We need to ensure that is delivered as close to home as possible and that we see transparency in the process. The fear relates to what will happen in the future. We are very glad this solution has arisen but the problem should not have arisen. There should not have been a need for these discussions between the union and the HSE because this was an absolute breach of trust. Also, we are talking about 76 of those who are graduating now, but there were 400 altogether, so we need to ensure that they will also face the same set of circumstances, that they will have a position that we absolutely need them to have and that they can be placed as close to home as possible. I believe that is absolutely necessary.  My understanding is that the staffing number for the NAS is around 2,500, with about 1,800 front-line staff. I am also told that we need about 1,000 more personnel. When I look at the National Service Plan 2026, I do not see answers in relation to the needs that Louth has at this point in time. We are all talking about community paramedics, and that is something we all welcome, but it is also about seeing movement regarding the recognition of those who have advanced paramedic training and seeing more privileging courses. We need all of those issues to be dealt with.  It is very important that people are close to home. We can see the issues that would arise if somebody had a very long commute at the moment. I accept it is not the Minister of State's fault in relation to Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu's illegal war, but the fact is that for three weeks now we have been looking at a cost-of-fuel crisis on top of a cost-of-living crisis and we really need to see action taken. I would have thought that what is going on at the minute might bring sufficient focus for the Government, but it looks like it was probably necessary for Sinn F\u00e9in to bring forward this evening's Private Members' business to place an absolute focus on it. Like many others, I have community nurses sending me letters and emails and making correspondence on the basis of that high cost. I will give those to the Minister of State afterwards. They are worried that they may not be able to provide the service required because of the cost-of-living crisis. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor  I thank Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa. These are really important points. As the Deputy said, all of us have been working with our ambulance paramedics over the years and we see the value of their work. Tonight I want to compliment them for their outstanding work in the community and the work they do for all of us. That is the main thing.  There are three main points. First, full-time permanent contracts will be offered to all year 3 paramedic graduates in 2026. Agreement has now been reached on those posts and they will be assigned. Second, there is no recruitment embargo in the NAS. On the contrary, 263 additional posts and, as we said, \u20ac20 million in new funding have been approved this year, alongside continued and significant investment in the service. Third, graduates are not facing unemployment. They have been granted a 16-week extension to their existing contracts to ensure continuity while permanent assignments are finalised under the agreed process.  The main thing is that these graduates are valued. They are needed and they are part of a service that is expanding significantly to meet growing demand. Our responsibility is to ensure those posts are all allocated fairly, transparently and in a way that meets operational needs across all communities while assigning graduates as close as possible to their homes. I welcome the resolution that has been reached. I remain committed, as does the Minister for Health, to supporting these graduates and to continuing the expansion of the NAS so that patients across the country receive timely, high-quality emergency care. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ambulance Service"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-18\/debate\/dbsect_16","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Industrial Disputes","counts":{"speechCount":9,"speakerCount":4},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-18\/debate\/dbsect_11","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_11","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_16","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa)  Bogfaidh muid ar aghaidh go Saincheist Thr\u00e1th\u00fail Uimh. 5. Is \u00ed seo an cheist dheireanach. T\u00e1 s\u00ed in ainmneacha na dTeachta\u00ed Cullinane agus McGuinness. It is to the Minister for Social Protection to discuss pension issues concerning former Waterford Crystal workers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  How long do I have? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa)  Dh\u00e1 bhomaite. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  I thank Minister, Deputy Calleary, for taking this Topical Issue debate today. As he knows, my party leader and I have written to him a number of times over recent months. I have received his correspondence and responses, which I know have been drafted by officials in his Department who have been responding to this issue for some time. The issue here is that many former Waterford Crystal workers who paid into their pension schemes and were left down initially by the company, but also by the State, have received compensation. They received compensation because a small group of workers took a High Court case which eventually went to the European Court of Justice. Because of that, a compensation scheme was put in place to deal with those workers who were in a deferred pension scheme. Those workers had to fight the State every inch of the way and, in fairness to them, they did and they got the best outcome. There is a category of workers who have been left outside of that. These are workers who, at the time of their redundancy, were not given their full statement of options. They were only given the option of a refund of their contributions. They were not given the option of a preserved benefit and they were not given the option of staying within the pension scheme. Because of that, they are now locked out of the same compensation that other categories of workers have been given.  The Minister's response and the response of the Department seems to be that the State did no wrong and that it was not the State's fault, even if it is the case that the workers were not given their full entitlements. By the way, it has never been accepted by the State that it was at fault, regardless of whether the workers were given their full options. What the Minister seems to be saying in the response that has been given to me is that, notwithstanding that the legal situation at the time, the workers may have had a right to know all of their options, but not in writing, and they would have had to ask as opposed to being told. That is unacceptable because the whole thrust of the compensation scheme that was put in place was on the back of an EU directive that the State failed to implement to protect people in these circumstances. These workers have been failed and let down. They want a meeting with the Minister to raise important questions they have. The right thing for the Minister to do is to meet with them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Aire as a bheith anseo anocht chun an cheist seo a phl\u00e9. My colleague, Deputy Cullinane, set out the position in his contribution. He and I met with this group of former Waterford Crystal workers just last week. To be honest, they are worn out by this. They have been at it for years. They have had years of being fobbed off. These are decent, hardworking men. They worked hard and honestly for Waterford Crystal. They were made redundant. They were kept in the dark at that time about their options. In fact, they were never told about their options. That failure to inform them has cost them real money and it is money that would have made a real difference in their lives up until now. If this is resolved, that money could make a very real difference to their lives.  Time is not on the side of these individuals. Whatever way we cut it, and whatever happened in the early nineties, the State had, and has, a duty to protect its citizens, underwrite fairness, guarantee justice and ensure rights are upheld. When workers are made redundant, through no fault of their own, they must have the ability to make decisions with information. Informed consent is at the core of everything. These workers did not get that and, instead of fixing it, the Government is washing its hands and ignoring them. It is not good enough and it needs to be resolved.  Critically, these men want to meet with the Minister so that he can hear their story about the injustice done to them and how it has impacted their lives. Following that, they want him to resolve it. That is where he can make the difference. For decades, these men have been ignored and the injustice of what was done to them explained away. The goalposts shifted, with previous Ministers saying one thing and Ministers of State on local radio saying another, while responses to parliamentary questions said another thing entirely. That is not good enough. I implore the Minister to meet these men, hear them out and do everything he can, with his officials, to work on a solution that will give them some comfort and justice as they finish their retirement. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Dara Calleary)  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an mbeirt Teachta D\u00e1la as an \u00e1bhar t\u00e1bhachtach seo a ard\u00fa anocht. As Deputies Cullinane and McGuinness set out, the issue relates to a group of former workers who left the service of Waterford Crystal between 1990 and 1992 under a redundancy arrangement. At the time of the redundancy, the workers received a refund of their pension contributions relating to their service in the relevant company pension schemes up to that time. Consequently, they then ceased to be members of the pension schemes and no longer had any rights or entitlements under those schemes. This was a private agreement entered into by the workers themselves with their former employers.  Separately, in 2010, a legal action was taken by a group of former Waterford Crystal workers against the State following the insolvency of the Waterford Crystal factory and staff pension schemes. The case, which is known as the Hogan case, related to the failure of the State to adequately transpose into Irish law the relevant provisions of the European Union\u2019s insolvency directive. The directive requires member states to ensure that necessary measures are taken to protect employees\u2019 occupational pension scheme benefits where an employer becomes insolvent.  In 2015, a mediated settlement was reached between the parties to that legal action. The mediated settlement applied to all persons who were members of the Waterford Crystal staff and factory pension schemes on the date of wind-up of the schemes, namely, 31 March 2009. In total, 1,774 scheme members were covered by the agreement. The total costs to the Exchequer arising from the mediated agreement were estimated at \u20ac253 million. No member of the schemes with a pension entitlement at the date of wind-up was excluded from the mediated settlement in respect of their benefits.  The former employees of Waterford Crystal who previously took redundancy and received refunds of pension contributions were not eligible to be included in the mediated settlement as they had no benefits retained in the scheme. Those who took partial refunds maintained an entitlement commensurate with their level of benefits that remained in the scheme. This group of workers, the Waterford Crystal Pension Action Group, WCPAG, disputes the receipt of pension option forms at the time they were made redundant. The question regarding the provision of leaving service options is one for the employer and the trustees, rather than the State. I understand that some members of WCPAG took a legal action against these parties, which was ultimately settled. My Department was not party to these proceedings but the outcome did not reinstate the members pension rights in the pension schemes.  Following a meeting with some of those affected in September 2024, the former Taoiseach and current T\u00e1naiste, Deputy Harris, requested the Attorney General to review the claims being made, including the allegations around the failure to provide leaving service options. The Attorney General advised that there is no basis on which the State could be obliged to compensate the members concerned or otherwise intervene.  I appreciate that the members of WCPAG feel an injustice has been done to them. Unfortunately, it is not something the State was party to or can now resolve. As I have communicated to the group and Deputy Cullinane, nothing has changed from my Department\u2019s perspective. There is no basis for me to intervene, considering that the Attorney General has reviewed this issue comprehensively. In those circumstances, I do not feel a meeting is warranted. I hope this clarifies the matter for both Deputies. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  It is not a case of whether the workers were the victims of an injustice; in my view, they were. As I said earlier, at the time those workers should have been given three options: the preserved benefits option, a transfer value or a refund. They were only given one option, which was the refund. The quarrel seems to relate to the fact that the Minister and the Department are of the view that this was a matter for the company and the trustees of the pension fund as opposed to the State and, therefore, the State does not have a liability. However, the Minister confirmed in his response that the Hogan case \"related to the failure of the State to adequately transpose into Irish law the relevant provisions of the European Union\u2019s insolvency directive\". He went on to say:  ... a mediated settlement was reached between the parties to that legal action. The mediated settlement applied to all persons who were members of the Waterford Crystal staff and factory pension schemes on the date of wind-up of the schemes.  That is true. The problem, however, is that these workers were not given the option to be members of that scheme. The only option they had, as part of their redundancy, was a refund. That is an injustice. It is wrong that the Minister will not meet those workers because they want to better understand the advice of the Attorney General and determine whether he had all the information when he made his judgment. It is incumbent upon the Minister to meet the group and talk to it about the advice he received from the Attorney General. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  The Minister stated in his response: \"The question regarding the provision of leaving service options is one for the employer and the trustees, rather than the State.\" The first part of the sentence is true. At the time these workers were made redundant, it was incumbent on the employer and the trustees to provide full information. The State, however, has a role in vindicating rights and ensuring compliance with not just the letter but the spirit of the law. It must ensure, in instances where there is a difference in power, such as a large multinational company making workers in Waterford redundant, that it is on the side of the workers and that there is fair play. Fairness and justice were not applied here. That happened on the State\u2019s watch and that of Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael.  The Minister and the Government have legal advice that says they can just sit on their hands and let this injustice continue. This comes down to a political decision. It comes down to a choice of values and a matter of justice. The Minister has a political decision to either sit on his hands or meet these workers halfway and make a reasonable attempt to resolve this issue. Birthdays come around every year and time is not on the side of these former Waterford Crystal workers.  In the last line of the Minister\u2019s response, he state:  I do not [believe] a meeting is warranted. I [trust] this clarifies the matter for [the Deputy].\"  It is crystal clear, in the last line of his response outlining that a meeting is not warranted, that he is refusing to meet with this group of workers who have suffered an injustice. At the very least, sit down with them and hear the impact of their stories. Let us work to get a resolution for these men. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I thank both Deputies. I will again clarify the position. The former employees took refunds of their contributions. They have no pension entitlements. Therefore, they had no entitlement under the mediated settlement. The Pensions Authority has also advised that there has been no breach of the Pensions Act in this case. Some took legal action against the parties. That action was settled. It did not involve the State in any way.  The Attorney General has comprehensively reviewed all of the information that was provided to him in September 2024 and his advice is that nothing further can be done in the case. In other cases, the Deputies will have found instances where I feel there can be a solution but, on this occasion, a meeting would be unfair because it may create an expectation that I cannot meet. The Attorney General\u2019s advice is very clear. Nothing further can be done in this case, as of now. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Is f\u00e9idir teacht ar Cheisteanna Scr\u00edofa ar www.oireachtas.ie. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Written Answers are published on the Oireachtas website. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar athl\u00f3 ar 8.50 p.m. go dt\u00ed 8.47 a.m., D\u00e9ardaoin, an 19 M\u00e1rta 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The D\u00e1il adjourned at 8.50 p.m. until 8.47 a.m. on Thursday, 19 March 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Industrial Disputes"}]}}]},"contextDate":"2026-03-18"},{"debateRecord":{"formats":{"writtens_pdf":null,"pdf":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-05\/debate\/mul@\/main.pdf"},"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-05\/debate\/mul@\/main.xml"}},"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-05\/debate\/main","date":"2026-03-05","lastUpdated":"2026-04-28T03:14:11+01:00","chamber":{"showAs":"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/def\/house\/dail"},"house":{"showAs":"34th D\u00e1il","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/house\/dail\/34","houseNo":"34","chamberType":"house","houseCode":"dail","committeeCode":""},"debateType":"debate","counts":{"debateSectionCount":45,"contributorCount":143,"questionCount":33,"divisionCount":0,"billCount":4},"debateSections":[{"debateSection":{"formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - 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Topical Issue Matters","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case:  Deputy Thomas Gould - To discuss the need to provide Leap cards to families experiencing homelessness outside of Dublin.  Deputy Joe Cooney - To discuss the regular reporting of the defective concrete blocks appeals board.  Deputy Michael Cahill - To discuss amending the national planning framework and the sustainable rural housing guidelines.  Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail - To discuss emergency works and capital works in respect of St. Patrick's Primary School in Celbridge, County Kildare.  Deputy John Paul O'Shea - To discuss the provision of bus connections to and from Charleville train station.  Deputy Michael Murphy - To discuss the crisis in public dental and orthodontic services in south Tipperary.  Deputy Shane Moynihan - To discuss the need for adequate classroom provision for Gaelscoil Chluain Dolc\u00e1in.  Deputy Duncan Smith - To discuss the lack of primary school places in St. Marnock's NS for 2026-27.  Deputy Tony McCormack - To discuss electricity grid capacity and connection issues in the Cappancur area of Tullamore, County Offaly.  Deputy John Connolly - To discuss the availability of the shingles vaccine for those over age 65.  Deputy Malcolm Byrne - To discuss the review of the Garda vetting process.  Deputy Louise O'Reilly - To discuss the need for a full-time Garda station in Rush.  Deputy Albert Dolan - To discuss battery energy storage systems in rural Ireland and solar planning guidelines.  Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher - To discuss an application for port listing of Killybegs.  Deputy James O'Connor - To discuss ambulance provision for the east Cork area.  Deputy Darren O'Rourke - To discuss provision of repairs and a new school building in Dunboyne.  Deputy Alan Kelly - To discuss the need for increased resources for An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na in the mid-west.  Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan - To discuss child care provision in Cork North-Central.  Deputy Conor Sheehan - To discuss the progress of a new Garda station in Castletroy.  Deputy Louis O'Hara - To discuss the remaining sections of the Athenry relief road.  Deputy Barry Ward - To discuss the significant waiting lists at the Deansgrange driving test centre.  Deputy Roderic O'Gorman - To discuss the demolition and rebuild project for three primary schools on the Navan Road, Dublin 7.  Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire - To discuss the status of the delivery of a permanent school building for Owenabue ETNS, Carrigaline, Cork.  Deputies Catherine Ardagh and Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh - To discuss progress on school buildings for St. Seton's, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10.  Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh - To discuss the evacuation of Irish citizens stranded in the Middle East due to the escalating conflict in the region.  Deputy Jen Cummins - To discuss the market that is to be restored to Newmarket, in Dublin 8.  Deputy Matt Carthy - To discuss the timeframe for delivery of a permanent special school in County Monaghan.  Deputy Noel McCarthy - To discuss the urgent need to improve ambulance services in the east Cork area.  The matters raised by Deputies Thomas Gould, Matt Carthy, Duncan Smith, Noel McCarthy and John Connolly have been selected for discussion. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-04\/debate\/dbsect_3","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-04\/debate\/dbsect_4","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Homeless Persons Supports","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-04\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_4","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  I have raised previously the fact that there are children in Cork who are homeless and who are being forced to travel across the city because they are in emergency accommodation. They cannot move schools because if they do so, they could have to move emergency accommodation again, or if the family ever finally do get a house, they do not know where it will be. They are being forced to travel long distances, sometimes getting two or three buses to get to school. This is not right. My understanding is that in Dublin there is a Leap card with \u20ac150 on it to get children to and from school. It is a support while they are in emergency accommodation.  There were children who had a safe, stable home and who did not understand anything about emergency accommodation or its consequences, and then all of a sudden they have to pack up everything they own, take a few toys and probably dump a lot of their stuff because there is nowhere to put it or bring it. Can the Minister of State imagine the traumatising effect that has on children? They can no longer then have sleepovers or have their friends over. Does the Minister of State know why? It is because the whole family is living in one room. They do not live near their local GAA club, soccer club or dance club because they are probably across the city or somewhere else, so they are losing their friends. Added to that is the expense of trying to get to school. These parents are not able to cook, they are getting takeaways, they are spending money and there is no support there either. The children end up not going to school, so they lose their friends in school, they lose their friends in sport and they lose their friends in the community. How does that make a child feel? Can the Minister of State imagine a child's mind trying to understand that? It is so traumatising. I have asked repeatedly for those in emergency accommodation to be accommodated close to their schools and the communities they came from. Not having money should never be a reason for a child to miss school. We are not talking about a huge amount of money here. This happens not only in Dublin but also outside of Dublin. There are people taking much longer journeys in rural areas or areas outside of Dublin city.  I know a teacher who has actually given money to parents to ensure that the kids can make it to school. There are unbelievable teachers and other people out there who understand the trauma and the effects of homelessness on children. It should not be up to them, however; it should be up to the Government. What I am asking for is not huge but it would make a huge difference to people in emergency accommodation.  I will give the Minister of State an example. I have dealt with a family on the north side of Cork city who were put in emergency accommodation in Cobh, County Cork. A son of theirs was doing his leaving certificate last year. He used to have to get a train and a bus to get to school. That was the time and the distance he was travelling every day to sit his leaving certificate. How was that child able to manage to study for the leaving certificate in one room? There are consequences to that. It is hard enough doing all that and not having the money to get to school. It is just not good enough.  This Government is offering no solutions to homelessness. That is why it needs to apply this fund for people, especially children. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  Well said. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy Kieran O'Donnell)  I thank Deputy Gould for raising this important issue, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy James Browne.  Supporting individuals and families facing homelessness is a key Government priority, and the increase in homelessness figures is a concern for the Government. Budget 2026 allocated \u20ac513 million in current funding to ensure that individuals and families experiencing homelessness are provided with emergency accommodation and other supports. The key objective is to support families to exit homelessness to a secure home. In Dublin, the Dublin Region Homeless Executive provides Leap cards to families to ensure access to free public transport for essential school journeys. Deputy Gould has referred to that. This scheme was introduced in Dublin due to the numbers of families in emergency accommodation and the difficulty in providing emergency accommodation to all families close to the area where the children were in school.  The Department is committed to considering all measures necessary to support children and families in emergency accommodation nationwide. The Government's new housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities, includes a strong focus on measures to eradicate homelessness. A key measure in the plan is the development of a child and family homelessness action plan. The plan will set out new measures to provide enhanced supports for children and parents experiencing homelessness, as well as measures to accelerate exits and reduce the time spent by children and their families in homeless emergency accommodation. My Department is working closely with the Department of the Taoiseach as well as a range of key stakeholders on the development of this plan.  A public consultation was launched in January and 60 submissions were received from a range of organisations involved in providing supports to children.  An in-person event was then held at the end of last month with more than 100 individuals in attendance. These included representatives from a range of organisations, including Government Departments, State bodies, local authorities and NGOs, as well as adults and children with lived experience of homelessness.  The feedback and recommendations received during the consultation process are being assessed. My Department and the Department of the Taoiseach will continue to engage with key stakeholders to agree a series of actions which will have a real impact in addressing child and family homelessness. The issue of transportation was one of the points raised during the consultation process and will be further considered in the preparation of the action plan. The Deputy has raised a specific issue in relation to Cork.  It is anticipated the plan will be published by the end of June 2026, after which a steering group will be established to drive delivery of actions within the plan. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  The Minister of State outlined what is happening. I sincerely hope he will take on board the submissions made during the consultation and the point I have made today because I have raised this previously. We will disagree on politics and fight and argue over the housing policy and how I believe a number of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael Governments have caused the housing emergency we are in. I hope they will take the opportunity to provide this small support because it will make such a difference to homeless families and especially children in emergency accommodation. On top of that, when you look at the number of people who are homeless or in emergency accommodation - the figures came out last week - it is heartbreaking that so many families are being traumatised this way. I have spoken to parents, both men and women, who have cried in my office because they think they have failed their children. They cried because they do not see a solution. This week alone, two people came in with notices to quit and three homeless people came into my clinic on Monday. Those two families had notices to quit. The previous week we had seven people with notices to quit or people coming in homeless. There has been a tsunami of homelessness because of the new Government rent increase Bill that came in on 1 March. These families coming into me with notices to quit are terrified of the effects it will have on their children. They are terrified of how they will get to school or get to play with their friends or local clubs. This Leap card will make a real difference to ordinary children. I know the Minister is assessing it. I sincerely hope he takes it on board. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kieran O'Donnell  I again thank the Deputy for raising this important issue, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Browne. I reiterate that resources and funding are not an obstacle to the urgent efforts required. More than \u20ac563 million has been allocated to homeless services in 2021. On the specific point raised in respect of the Leap card, the Government's new housing plan includes a strong focus on measures around homelessness and a key measure in the plan is a child and family homeless action plan. There was a public consultation in January and 60 submissions were received. That was followed by an in-person event last month at which 100 people were in attendance. The feedback and recommendations are currently being assessed. The Department and the Department of the Taoiseach will continue to engage with key stakeholders to agree a series of actions with real impact on addressing child and family homelessness. As the Deputy said, the issue of transportation was one of the points raised during the consultation and will be further considered in preparation of the action plan. I will bring back to the Minister and Department officials the specific points of Cork, the Leap card and families experiencing homelessness. Furthermore, of the funding being provided, \u20ac513 million is current spending for homeless services this year. There is \u20ac50 million in capital to support delivery of high-quality transitional and emergency accommodation for individuals experiencing homelessness. This will be kept under ongoing review throughout 2026. I will bring to the Minister's attention the specific point of Leap cards for families experiencing homelessness outside Dublin in the area Deputy Gould represents in Cork, apart from the consideration taking place. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Homeless Persons Supports"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-04\/debate\/dbsect_5","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Special Educational Needs","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-04\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_5","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  In recent weeks, we have seen how important special education is as an issue, not just for the children and families affected but to the wider community that recognises if a child gets the right educational support in the right school at the right time, it can have a profound and life-long benefit. We know special education will take different forms. For many children an SNA in a classroom will allow them to participate and thrive in mainstream schools. We know for others there is need for units within mainstream schools. They have specific needs to be catered for. We know for a relatively small number of children that what is required is enrolment in a purpose-built special school that has the expertise, staffing and policies in place to support some of the most vulnerable children through their most formative years.  For too long my county had not the option of that last avenue. We had no special school. There was one special school between Cavan and Monaghan, a good school by all accounts, but the numbers and travel distances meant that for many, it was not an option and the capacity of that school was limited. Thankfully, primarily due to a sustained, dignified and determined campaign by families and supporters of children with disabilities, the Government agreed, in advance of the most recent general election, to the delivery of an interim special school. That opened in September last year with 18 students finally given access to the education they need, 18 families whose lives have been changed for the better and an entire community that is so proud of all who brought it to that point.  The crucial term used on delivery of that school was \"interim.\" The building in which the special school is housed was previously a secondary school, which the school moved out of. It is limited in capacity for future development and expansion, and we know from experience all over the State that when you build a special school demand and capacity needs will increase. Therefore, I have been calling on Government since September to start the planning to deliver a permanent special school. That is what is required. We know the school is already at capacity, after being in place for only one term. We know future accommodation is required to facilitate even the needs there now. We know there are proposals for modular extension at the interim special school but what is needed is a bit of forethought.  We need a greenfield site to deliver a permanent special school that will have the capacity for future expansion. The current site is perfect for the kids there now insofar as they have the special education they need. It will allow for some expansion but will not allow for the type of expansion we know is needed in the future. I hope the Minister of State will outline a vision to say we will deliver a special school on a site with the capacity to deal with future demands. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Education and Youth (Deputy Michael Moynihan)  I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. Monaghan Community Special School is one of five new special schools established in the most recent school year. It is operating under the patronage of the Cavan Monaghan ETB. The school supports 18 children and young people aged between four and 18 with a diagnosis of autism and complex needs, or students with complex learning needs with a professional recommendation for placement in a special school. The staffing comprises an administrative principal, administrative deputy principal, five class teachers, nine special needs assistants together with ten co-operation hours per week. The new school is located in Castleblayney in a former ETB school property, which was repurposed to facilitate the opening of the new school.  The project was delivered under the Department\u2019s SEN reconfiguration and modular accommodation programme, which facilitated the school opening as quickly as possible. The programme involves the use of the project management support which is designed to enable accommodation to be provided as quickly as possible to help ease the administrative workload for school authorities in relation to management and delivery of the projects. This is a collaborative process between the project manager, school authorities and the Department.  The project manager is overseeing the delivery of residue elements to ensure the successful completion of the project. The Minister, Deputy Naughton, visited the school recently and was very impressed with the facilities, the quality of teaching and the commitment of all the staff and the students under their care. The National Council for Special Education is the statutory body in this regard. Over recent years a huge amount of expansion has taken place not only in special schools but in special classes also. This will continue for the 2026-27 school year. Work is under way on a large number of classes.  With regard to the Monaghan special school, the Deputy is correct that a huge effort was put in by families and their supporters over a continuous time, particularly during the previous D\u00e1il. As chair of the disability committee at the time, I was acutely aware of the challenges there. In his opening statement, he alluded to having special schools in the community because far too many children travel long distances for specialised school places throughout the country. The site in question was a former ETB building, which was repurposed to get it into use in as fast a time as possible to ensure the 18 children could attend. Some of the children travel long distances in Cavan and Monaghan; I am aware of some of the families and have engaged with them on it.  We keep under review needs and requirements, particularly in special education. In recent years we have built almost 16 new special schools and more will follow to meet the capacity. We are keeping under constant consideration the school in Castleblayney. I thank the school authorities for the excellent work they have done in opening and facilitating the families. They have been engaging with the Department and we want to continue this. We keep under constant review the accommodation needs and not only from September to September. We also need to plan to make proper accommodation available for students who require specialist education places such as are offered in special schools. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I want to be clear that whatever modules or extensions are needed in the short term to increase capacity at the current location should happen without delay. The Minister of State mentioned that the Minister visited the school and, of course, she was very welcome. I was in the vicinity when the parents of the children who attend had a discussion with her. They had one ask, which was to make sure there is a permanent school that has capacity for future demand. The truth is that successive Governments have been far too slow in delivering special education. The Minister of State's answer alludes to this. What has been done is that Governments have been responding rather than planning. I am asking that in respect of the special school in Monaghan, let us plan. Let us not make the same mistakes as have been made in countless other areas, where interim schools have been put in place with extensions and prefabricated building on prefabricated building to deal with demand at any given time, rather than recognising there is a need to plan for the long term. Demand for this school will only increase. The needs in terms of capacity will increase. Do not wait until the current site is completely exhausted before starting the entire process of finding and identifying a site and going through the whole process, which, as we know in this instance, can take years.  We need a sea change. We have seen it with the SNA debacle. We have seen it with secondary schools fighting, as recently as this week, for additional special needs classes, even though the demand was apparent years ago because the children were coming through the primary sector. We know in this instance that the demand for the special school will only increase. What is required is a bit of forethought. I ask the Minister of State to ensure the NCSE does not only deal with the urgency of the immediate, which is important, but also deals with the prospects for the future. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  I take the point and it is crucial. A lot of planning and work has gone into opening 16 special schools in recent years. This was coming on the back of the State not providing special schools over the years because of international policy, and we can debate this left, right and centre. I was chair of the education committee 20 years ago when there was mainstreaming. There are a number of issues we have to catch up with.  We have moved the date from 1 February to 1 October to bring greater certainty to families. I know the pressure that families are under when they are looking for a special class space or a special school place, and the enormous strain and pressure on the family and the wider family in this regard. I have dealt with many families and been advising and helping them over many years on this.  The opening of the school in Monaghan in the current school year was a welcome initiative. I know it was welcomed by all the community. I understand the parents who met the Minister when she visited and I know families who have children in the particular school. I assure the Deputy that I am constantly looking at how we plan for the future to have a system in place in the Department and in all of the other education stakeholders to make sure we future-proof the system. I take the points made by him. I assure him this is not the first time the special school in Monaghan has come across my desk. I have been constantly engaging with all local representatives on it and I will continue to do so. I take the points on board. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Special Educational Needs"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-04\/debate\/dbsect_6","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"School Accommodation","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-04\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_6","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  I welcome the fact the Minister of State from the Department of Education and Youth is here to take this Topical Issue. As the Minister of State knows, I represent Dublin Fingal East. It is a rapidly growing area, with house building in east Fingal, and all towns are growing rapidly. This is good and we need houses. With this come a lot of young families and pressure on local infrastructure. This is not a new issue that I am raising. I raised this in advance of the previous academic year and I have to raise it again now in advance of the next academic year. The issue is the lack of school places in junior infant classes in St. Marnock's National School, Portmarnock. I have had the same response from the Department to parliamentary questions and Topical Issues, which is that the Department is aware of enrolment pressures in Portmarnock and has put in place a number of measures to support the schools. Unfortunately, these have not manifested or worked and children this year were unable to secure places in local schools. This will only be compounded next year.  I have real concerns about how the data the Department has is being examined. I have heard a number of times through parliamentary questions that first year enrolments nationally were expected to peak in the 2023-24 school year. However, this national level data does not apply to an area such as Fingal accurately because it is a growth area where houses have been built in recent years and continue to be built. The reality on the ground is very different. Last year primary schools only took children until a November birthday in first round offers and December birthdays in second round offers. This year children will need to be born in September 2021 or earlier to secure a place in their local school. This means children will have to be five before they start school in Portmarnock. We know the rules on the early childhood care and education, ECCE, programme and provision for two years. We know the impact it has on parents having to stay in work, which predominantly falls on the mother. Ensuring children have to start at the age of five is disgraceful.  According to the Department's demographic projections, peak demand in Portmarnock has not been reached. Despite this, construction of the new Malahide Portmarnock educate together national school was not selected to go to tender this year and has been delayed for at least four years. Eight months ago when Deputy McEntee was Minister for Education, I shared figures with her and it is important to do so again.  In 2022, the census captured the under-five population in the area as numbering 602 children. These children would have been in the area by April 2022, which is the time of the previous census. Taking an even division of the ages from birth to four years, that would equal approximately 120 children requiring a junior infant place and a subsequent primary school place in each year from September 2022 to September 2026. However, since the previous census, several large housing developments have been built in the area, namely, D\u00fan S\u00ed, Skylark and Drumnigh Manor, which have increased the population greatly. The housing developments are, of course, welcome. However, they need to be paired with increased infrastructure and school places.  To illustrate that point, I have worked out examples for the developments and the estimated expected number of children needing primary school placements for these estates alone. The Skylark development has 982 units proposed for development in the area, providing mainly three- and four-bedroom family units. Nationally, based on 2022 figures, 69% of households in Ireland are families. The Fingal county average for the number of children per family is 1.42, which is a conservative value based on anecdotal evidence in the Portmarnock area. Therefore, using these conservative estimates and the 982 units, it would be expected that there will be 962 children in that estate alone. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  I thank the Deputy and welcome the opportunity to speak on St. Marnock's National School in Portmarnock, County Dublin. The Deputy has been liaising with the Department in relation to this issue.  The school is under the patronage of the Archdiocese of Dublin and is in the Portmarnock school planning area. Last September, the school had an enrolment of 638 pupils and 26 mainstream teachers, three special class teachers, one learning support teacher, one administrative deputy principal, seven special education tutors and one shared special education tuition post.  To plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, the Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a geographical information system using data from a range of sources, including the Central Statistics Office, CSO, census data, child benefit and school enrolment data, to identify where the pressures for school places across the country will arise and where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary levels. The Department produces demographic projections based primarily on the child benefit data, which is made available from the Department of Social Protection. It addresses details for all children aged from birth to five years living in the State and in receipt of child benefit. This is used as a basis for projection of future junior infant intake at primary level. The data provides the overview for future school place demand. The child benefit data is then adjusted with localised data on the age of the first enrolment to account for patterns of movement where children are known to typically cross school planning area boundaries to enrol in schools. A huge amount of data is being gathered from the Department of Social Protection and elsewhere to identify where the challenges are.  As regards the issue the Deputy raised, Portmarnock's school planning area has five primary schools. The demographic analysis for primary level shows projections for Portmarnock will peak in 2027. Furthermore, the actual 2025-26 enrolments for Portmarnock's special planning area were less than were projected for the 2025-26 school year. While the Department is aware of the enrolment pressures and the demand for additional school places in some areas, including Portmarnock, it is important to note that enrolment pressures can be driven by a number of issues.  To return to the issue the Deputy raised, I know from his engagement and the engagement of others with the Department, and from a number of families I know from the area who have been engaging, that there are huge challenges. Portmarnock is one of the areas of the country where there is huge growth. The Deputy mentioned housing estates being developed and the number of children in particular estates. We are acutely aware of that. I assure the Deputy that the Department is keeping a very close eye on the matter. It is continuously looking at where the pressures are. In the 2025-26 school year, there are 7,000 fewer primary school students in the system than there were in the 2024-25 school year. I accept that that is of little benefit to Portmarnock, an area in which the population is growing enormously. I assure the Deputy that we will monitor this very carefully and try to do what we need to do. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  It is difficult to find some comfort in the Minister of State's response for my constituents in Portmarnock. The current school year was bad because some students missed out and had to travel awkward distances to other schools for placement. Based on projections, it seems very likely that some siblings will not get into St. Marnock's National School in the coming year. That information is from good sources and the situation is only going to be compounded.  The issue with Portmarnock is not just that it has new estates, but that the traditional part of the village has also seen major regeneration. A lot of younger families are moving into the houses that have been there for a long time. Pressures are increasing and we need a temporary or quick solution for the upcoming academic year. The Department needs to re-examine how it determines where resources need to go and how school planning areas are constructed. There are two main primary schools in Portmarnock, with a third, St. Nicholas of Myra National School, just outside the village. They are the schools for Portmarnock. They need investment. Pupils can walk and cycle to them safely, which is everything we want for local schooling as regards how pupils travel to school.  I ask the Minister of State and the Minister, Deputy Naughton, to put in place a proper solution for this issue. If we start pushing out enrolment dates to require that students be five years old at enrolment and put at risk the ability of siblings to enrol, we really are in a bad place, and it is a place we could avoid with some better planning. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  Modular accommodation was approved for the school in question last May. It is near completion in relation to special education classrooms as well. I have looked at the enrolments and staffing in the school. I can share that information on enrolments from 2020 to date with the Deputy. I assure him that the Minister and I are acutely aware of this issue. We look at where the pressures are in primary and post-primary education. There are specific counties where there is a huge challenge at post-primary level and specific parts of the country that have challenges in relation to primary school education. Portmarnock is one of the latter group.  We are working to make sure we have practical solutions in place, not just for September 2026 but right through. We need to plan properly for the future. We have to take into consideration all the demographic analysis we have done and all the information we have to ensure we are not back here again next year or the year after that. There are particular pockets of the country where primary school education is challenging, notwithstanding the decrease in the number of students in primary school. In other parts of the country, other issues have developed.  In relation to the school the Deputy referenced and Portmarnock in general, I assure the Deputy that we are monitoring the position and engaging with all the school authorities, the education sector and the education partners to make sure we do the right thing. I have some background information which I will share with the Deputy, if that is helpful. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"School Accommodation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-04\/debate\/dbsect_7","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Ambulance Service","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-04\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel McCarthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel McCarthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Noel McCarthy  I thank the Ceann Comhairle's office for selecting this Topical Issue. I raise the very important matter of ambulance service provision in the wider east Cork area. East Cork is a huge area with an ever-increasing population but, unfortunately, the current ambulance service appears inadequate to meet the demands placed on it. I have received numerous reports of long waits for ambulances and medical attention in the aftermath of medical emergencies. This has prompted me to raise the matter as a Topical Issue.  I have the utmost respect for the ambulance service and its crews. I recognise the vital work the service does, under enormous pressure, to protect our communities.  However, it needs help in providing such an important service to the best of its ability and this assistance should be forthcoming from Government. East Cork spans a wide geographical area and this alone ensures that ambulance crews are constantly covering a very populated and busy part of County Cork. This area will only get busier and ambulance service provision will be spread even thinner with the number of planned housing developments and road infrastructure upgrades proposed for the near future.  With delays in the provision of vital life-saving services being experienced by so many in east Cork, there is scope to greatly improve the service as it stands and possibly increase it further into the future.  As I am sure the Minister of State would agree, any loss of life is regrettable. I very much appreciate that preventing loss of life is the primary objective of the ambulance service but, despite best efforts, there are, unfortunately, instances where delays in providing immediate medical care can contribute greatly to the passing of a person. With that in mind, I raise the recent case of a family in east Cork where a family member unfortunately passed away with the delay in providing medical attention a major contributing factor in his death. This has profoundly affected the family, which is questioning the HSE about the procedures that were followed in this case. The family argument is that it should not happen to any other family. While this case is an individual one, the family is asking that the overall service in east Cork be greatly improved.  With that in mind, can the Minister of State give a breakdown of ambulance service provision in east Cork and the number of times east Cork was left without an ambulance service in each year from 2021 to 2025? Has there been a review of the ambulance service in east Cork recently or is any review is planned? What measures are the Department of Health and the HSE taking to ensure service provision is increased in the area going forward? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Mary Butler)  On behalf of the Minister, I thank Deputy McCarthy for the opportunity to update the house on ambulance service provision in east Cork. I thank him for the manner in which he raised it and am sorry to hear about the person who passed away.  As the Deputy will be aware, the National Ambulance Service, NAS, serves east Cork on a 24-7 basis through a highly skilled workforce of paramedics, advanced paramedics and emergency medical technicians; a fleet of modern emergency ambulances, intermediate care vehicles and rapid response vehicles; and 12 ambulances bases covering the entire county of Cork. The region is also served by several NAS alternative care pathways designed to treat patients at the most appropriate level of clinical need while avoiding unnecessary patient conveyances to busy hospital emergency departments where it is not clinically necessary. These pathways include the Pathfinder \"See and Treat\" service located in Cork, the NAS National Emergency Operations Centre Clinical Hub \"Hear and Treat\" service, the community paramedic service, and NAS intermediate care services. Further emergency response capacity in the region is provided by the Government-funded Southwest Helicopter Emergency Medical Service, HEMS, operating out of Rathcoole in County Cork. Additional HEMS support is provided in the region by the Irish Coast Guard, RCG, search and rescue service from its bases in Waterford and Shannon on an \"as available\" basis.  As the Deputy will be aware, this Government has continuously invested in NAS with significant increases in investment in recent years. Government investment in 2026 will support HSE plans to further increase capacity in NAS with 263 new posts representing an investment of \u20ac20 million. This will help to improve emergency ambulance response performance, provide for additional intermediate care service capacity and further development and expand NAS alternative care pathways, including community paramedic services right across the county.  Regarding the south west, including east Cork, additional NAS resources for 2026 will include additional emergency vehicles in Cork city and Killarney as well as a further intermediate care vehicle in Bantry. Further investment in 2026 will also include an additional community paramedic post to the region to provide care for lower acuity older patients.  The Deputy will be aware that NAS has also established a new NAS tertiary education training facility in Cork to further support paramedic education and training. I am delighted to learn that the first intake of student paramedics took place in January of this year, which has increased overall training capacity by 20%. That is very welcome. I know it will take a while for them to come through. I should also add that investment in 2026 will also see significant increases in NAS capital funding, including \u20ac34 million for renewal and expansion of the fleet of emergency ambulances and other response vehicles.  In addition, the provision of a replacement ambulance station for Midleton is at the design feasibility stage. I know this is very important to the Deputy and other Government colleagues in that area. Overall investment in recent years has also seen total NAS staffing rise to 2,470 at the end of December 2025, which is a rise of 28%.  Notwithstanding that, I appreciate the issue raised by the Deputy concerning east Cork, which is a vast area bordering my own county of Waterford. There are a lot of people on the border area there between Dungarvan west and into Youghal. I suggest the Deputy put some of the specific questions he asked regarding the number of call outs and times into a parliamentary question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel McCarthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Noel McCarthy  I thank the Minister of State for her very detailed response. I acknowledge the investment in the ambulance service in the area. While I appreciate the work the Department of Health and HSE are doing to ensure increased service provision, I remain adamant that east Cork requires further attention. With this in mind, can the Minister of State outline where exactly ambulance services in east Cork are currently based? I welcome the fact a centre will be established in east Cork with Midleton as a possible destination. I welcome the Minister of State's response with regard to that. I understand the expansion of such a centre is being actively progressed by the HSE and that the project is currently at the site selection phase. Have there been any further developments on identifying a suitable site? For the reasons I outlined previously, the development of such a facility would be an enormous boost to the wider east Cork area. It would also provide much-needed comfort to the families of those who may require urgent medical intervention at short notice.  With this in mind, I ask the Minister to continue to liaise with the HSE on possible measures that could be introduced locally, including the establishment of a landing centre. Finally, I ask that we be updated regarding any other measures. I reiterate my support for the ambulance service, the work it does and all the front-line workers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  I join with the Deputy in extending my thanks and that of the Department of Health to the staff of the NAS for their commitment and dedication to patient care in east Cork and across the whole country. I was just checking as the Deputy was speaking. In 2025, the following additional resources were added to the south-west region. Twelve paramedics and 12 emergency medical technicians were deployed to the south-west region. Seventeen staff were allocated to the region in 2025 under agency conversion to the following locations: Cork city, four; north Cork, two; west Cork, one; east Cork, one; and Kerry, nine.  The new college campus in Cork will have its first intake of student paramedics starting in January 2026. The college will initially be based at the National Maritime College of Ireland in Ringaskiddy, pending development of the new site that we spoke about in Midleton. I know the Deputy is genuinely concerned about that particular region and I will speak to the Minister later today and tell her the Deputy raised the matter in relation to east Cork in the D\u00e1il today. It is a vast area, covering all the way from the Waterford boundary, all the way up to the Limerick boundary and right across Cork but the additional capacity that has been added overall should help. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ambulance Service"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-04\/debate\/dbsect_8","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Vaccination Programme","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-04\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Connolly  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas le hOifig an Cheann Comhairle as ucht an \u00e1bhar seo a roghn\u00fa ar maidin. Mar a d\u00fairt an Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach, I wish to ask the Minister to discuss the availability of the shingles vaccine for those aged over 65 or those with compromised immune systems. Shingles affects approximately one in three people during their lifetime, with the risk of contraction increasing significantly with age. I think also the risk of impact increases significantly with age. The condition can cause severe and prolonged pain.  I discussed the matter with my colleague, Deputy Martin Daly, who was in a position to advise me of some of the impacts of the shingles virus when contracted. It causes a very significant rash and the pain can be extremely debilitating. Should the rash affect one's face, it can cause serious vision problems, including potential risk of permanent vision loss. It can cause chronic pain. Some 30% of patients described feeling the pain some years after initially contracting the illness. In some cases it can lead to a syndrome known as post-herpetic neuralgia, PHN, where nerve pain continues for months or even years after the shingles rash is healed. One can imagine such an illness could have a very lasting impact on mobility, independence and quality of life.  A range of international studies have shown that the shingles vaccine may reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. It can also slow the progression of dementia. In Ireland, unfortunately, access to the shingles vaccination currently depends largely on ability to pay, with the vaccine costing up to \u20ac500 per person, which places it out of the reach of many older people living on the State pension and creates inexorable health outcomes based on income.  In February 2024, the national immunisation advisory committee recommended the recombinant herpes zoster vaccine for all adults aged 65 and over but following this the Health Information and Quality Authority conducted a health technology assessment, which was published in 2024. It concluded that the vaccination of all adults aged over 50 was not cost-effective. One of the queries I have is that when the national immunisation advisory committee recommended the vaccine for those aged 65, why did HIQA conduct an assessment on providing it for all adults over the age of 50? It seems that the threat of contracting shingles and the impact of it increases significantly for those aged over 65. The assessment did not specifically model a targeted programme for those aged over 65, despite the recommendation of the national immunisation advisory committee.  Many countries, including our neighbours in the UK, and other European countries such as Germany, Italy, Belgium and the Netherlands already provide the shingles vaccination free of charge to older adults, so there is a trend across Europe of this being provided but Ireland is yet to introduce such a scheme. I met recently with a group from the active retirement association in Galway, which put forward a very good argument for a targeted, age-focused vaccination programme for adults aged 65 and over, as advised by the national immunisation advisory committee. We owe it to the people of the country to formally assess the provision of the vaccine to those over the age of 65. I ask that the Minister would give it every consideration. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  I thank Deputy Connolly for raising this matter in the House. Varicella is a common and highly infectious disease caused by the varicella zoster virus. This virus is associated with two distinct clinical syndromes, varicella, commonly known as chickenpox, and herpes zoster, commonly known as shingles. Primary infection with the varicella zoster virus results in varicella, after which the virus becomes latent in the body's nervous system. The virus may reactivate after a period, sometimes several decades later, resulting in herpes zoster or shingles, as we know it.  Currently, a non-live, recombinant shingles vaccine called Shingrix is available in Ireland and is administered as a two-dose vaccine. The national immunisation advisory committee guidelines state that the Shingrix vaccine may be considered in those aged 65 years and older, due to the greater burden and severity of disease and post-herpetic neuralgia in this age group and in those aged 18 years and older at increased risk of shingles.  It should be noted that in advance of any change in policy, the Minister can request that the Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA, carry out an evaluation of the impacts of a potential policy change. HIQA has a statutory remit, under the Health Act 2007, to evaluate the clinical and cost-effectiveness of health technologies, providing advice to the Minister for Health on budget impact, organisational and social aspects and ethical and legal issues. These evaluations take the form of health technology assessments or HTAs. A HTA is a multidisciplinary research process that collects and summarises information about a health technology in a systematic, unbiased and transparent manner. The use of the HTA facility assists decision-makers in assessing the merits and potential shortcomings of a new health technology, policy or service based on accurate and reliable evidence.  The Minister for Health advises that following a request from her Department, HIQA carried out a HTA on the herpes zoster vaccine which protects against shingles. The HTA examined the evidence on the safety and clinical effectiveness of shingles vaccines. The cost-effectiveness and budget impact were also reviewed, in addition to the ethical, social and organisational implications of including the vaccine in the adult immunisation schedule. This is an area I know quite a bit about because I was Minister of State with responsibility for older people for four and a half years and I can remember dealing with it at the time. HIQA's HTA was published on 19 July 2024. The HTA found that including the shingles vaccine in the routine immunisation schedule, at the vaccine price at the time, for all adults aged 65 years and over would not be cost-effective and would have a substantial budget impact.  While the HTA found that the introduction of the shingles vaccine was not cost-effective based on the cost of the vaccine, it found that it could be cost-effective for vaccination of those at 75 years and 80 years if the price of the vaccine was reduced by 80%.  The healthcare budget is finite and this year alone we will spend \u20ac4 billion of the \u20ac28 billion health budget on medicines. Decisions regarding increased spending relating to a change in one area could impact the provision of other health technologies and treatments within the healthcare system, the cost-effectiveness must be considered in any decision-making process. The Department considered the findings of the HTA in 2024 and determined that the introduction of the vaccine could be reconsidered when the cost-effectiveness of the vaccine was confirmed as being more favourable. I will come back to the Deputy with more information. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Connolly  I understand the vaccine is available, as the Minister of State outlined. I also understand that when the process of assessing whether it would be provided through the immunisation programme was undertaken, there was a period of public consultation and a substantial number of submissions were made in the public consultation that highlighted that the cost of the vaccine - at that time between \u20ac480 and \u20ac500 - would be prohibitive for many older people, especially those on fixed incomes and those who rely in particular on the State's old age pension as their only income.  The public consultation also highlighted the potential long-term chronic impact of contracting the shingles virus. The impact it would have on quality of life is significant. While I understand everything the Minister of State said, I am not sure it is fully captured in the standard cost-effectiveness modelling.  The Minister of State provided one piece of information that differs from the information I have been provided with. In her response she said that: \"The HTA found that including the shingles vaccine in the routine immunisation schedule, at the vaccine price at the time, for all adults aged 65 years and over would not be cost-effective\" but the information I received is that the assessment was done for all adults aged 50 and over, and that is what was found not to be cost-effective. Clearly, it would be more cost-effective if it was done for the lower number of people who are over the age of 65. There is no argument being put forward by anybody that it should be made freely available to those over the age of 50 but the argument has been strongly made that it would have considerable benefits, including long-term benefits for people over the age of 65.  I recognise fully the limits on the State coffers and on the Department in terms of expenditure in this area but I feel the appropriateness and the benefits would outweigh that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  I understand the points the Deputy makes. I agree with many of them but we must stop and think. He says the vaccine would cost \u20ac500 per person. We have an ageing population. We actually have more than a million people over 65.  The Deputy can quickly do the maths to see what that would cost.  Following detailed consideration of the findings of the HTA in 2024, it was determined that the introduction of the shingles vaccine to the immunisation schedule in Ireland could be considered if and when the cost-effectiveness of the vaccine is confirmed as being more favourable. I think there is an onus, too, on the companies that provide the vaccine to come to the table. That is an important element of it.  In line with this, the introduction of the shingles vaccine to the immunisation programme in Ireland is again being actively considered for a cohort of immunocompromised individuals in line with NIAC advice and cognisant of the cost-effectiveness of market pricing and available funding, so that is welcome. The Deputy will also be aware that the immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of NIAC. The information I have, and I have no doubt they looked at it for those aged 50 and the whole way up, is that the HTA found that vaccinations could be cost effective for those aged 75 and 80 if the price of the vaccine was reduced by 80%.  I will certainly raise this again with the Minister for Health. It is kept under constant review. As I said, \u20ac4 billion, which is a huge proportion of the overall spend of our health budget, is spent on medicines. We will keep the situation under constant review and I will speak to the Minister on the Deputy's behalf. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Vaccination Programme"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-04\/debate\/dbsect_9","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Message from Select Committee","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  The Select Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration has completed its consideration of the Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na (Recording Devices) (Amendment) Bill 2025 and has made amendments thereto. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Message from Select Committee"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-04\/debate\/dbsect_10","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/7","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/7\/dail\/2","houseCode":"dail","stage":"2","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Online Safety (Recommender Algorithms) Bill 2026: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members] (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Online Safety (Recommender Algorithms) Bill 2026: Second Stage [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":36,"speakerCount":24},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_10","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Patrick O'Donovan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Guirke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niamh Smyth","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  I move: \"That the Bill be now read a Second Time.\"  The choice we have in this debate and in the vote tonight is whether the profits of social media companies or the health and safety of children are going to come first. That is the choice. The Taoiseach, Miche\u00e1l Martin, himself said that the damage caused to young people by social media is the public health challenge of our time. The Minister, Deputy McEntee, when asked if we should turn off the algorithms, said we should. Simon Harris, the T\u00e1naiste, said that some things are more important than money when speaking about the need to regulate big tech in the context of the revelations about the mass production of child sexual abuse imagery and imagery of sexual abuse of women by these corporations for profit. Big words; great, but now we have a Bill that implements the recommendation of the AI committee. It implements, to the letter, what the AI committee is calling for. We have a Bill that recommends what is called for by the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, the National Women's Council of Ireland, the National Youth Council of Ireland and all of the experts who have looked at this area, which is to turn off the toxic social media algorithms that are force-feeding toxic content to our young people.  What does the Government say? In its amendment, the Government declines to give the Bill a Second Reading on the grounds the issues the Bill seeks to address are already being addressed by Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n through its implementation of Ireland's online safety framework. The Government does not quite have the neck to just vote it down because it knows this is popular and is being supported by backbench TDs. Deputy Brendan Smith explicitly called for the measure contained in this Bill about a year and a half ago. It will be interesting to see how he votes tonight. Instead, the Government tries to pretend to people that it is dealing with this issue. It is not dealing with this issue and the reason we know it is not dealing with this issue is that the online safety code, to which it refers, was explicitly amended to take this out. This was in the first draft. It was precisely what is contained in this Bill, which I will go on to explain in a minute. It was amended out because big tech lobbied and said, \"Actually, do you know what? The algorithms are great. They protect people and that's why need to keep them\". Then Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n changed it and took it out. Big tech lobbying won out over the safety of our children. This is the Bill that will deal with, or significantly deal with, the issue of toxic content. As I said, it is precisely what all the relevant expert groups are calling for.  To explain what the effect of the Bill would be, it is to turn off the recommender algorithm systems for anyone under 18 and turn them off by default for those over 18. Adults can choose to opt in. If the algorithm is explained in a transparent way and the platform can explain what you are signing up for, you can choose to opt in but it is turned off permanently for under-18s until they reach the age of 18. This would have the effect of turning social media back to what it was supposed to be and what it was sold to us all as, namely, a space where we can connect with our friends, build communities and so on, as opposed to, precisely as Miche\u00e1l Martin says, a thing that is creating a major public health challenge. There is a huge mental health crisis among young people in particular but in society at large, it is driving a process of alienation, all for the profit of these major social media companies.  Let us be clear: this is why the Government is opposing a measure to protect the health and safety of children. It is because these are huge, powerful corporations that have massive political sway and by which the Government is effectively captured. In regard to the amount of money we are talking about, in 2023, Meta generated over $134 billion in revenue, of which advertising revenue comprised $132 billion. The parent company of TikTok made $120 billion in revenue in 2023. YouTube's global advertising revenues were $31.5 billion in 2023. X was on track to bring in $2.5 billion in 2023. To be clear, these companies are interested in maximising their profits, not in creating safe spaces for young people, women or LGBTQ people. They are interested in maximising the length of time that eyeballs are on the screen so they can maximise the amount of advertising they can sell. That is what they are interested in. Their algorithms are simply designed to do that, and the consequence is the force-feeding of toxic content to young people.  I will give an example. There was a study done by the Centre for Countering Digital Hate called YouTube's Anorexia Algorithm: How YouTube Recommends Eating Disorder Videos to Young Girls in the EU. The study looked at what videos YouTube recommends to a 13-year-old Irish girl who first watches one video about eating disorders. She then gets a thousand YouTube video recommendations. Two in three of those videos that she is then fed over the next couple of hours or whatever relate to eating disorders or weight loss. One in three of those videos is a video advocating harmful eating disorders. One in 20 of those videos involved the promotion of self harm or suicide content. Why are they doing that? Meta derives an estimated $2 million a year in revenue directly from a pro-eating disorder bubble on Instagram alone and $230 million from all those who follow this bubble. That revenue includes that derived from underage users. That is from a Fairplay for Kids report from 2022, Designing for Disorder: Instagram's Pro-eating Disorder Bubble.  There was another study done at Dublin City University, DCU, called Recommending Toxicity: the Role of Algorithmic Recommender Functions on YouTube Shorts and TikTok in Promoting Male Supremacist Influencers. The study set up ten blank male-identified accounts. You go into a shop, buy a new, blank phone and say you are a young man between 16 and 18 years old. All of the male-identified accounts were fed masculinist, anti-feminist and other extremist content within 23 minutes on YouTube. To be clear, these accounts did not watch anything or opt in for any of this stuff. They did not even watch the one video referenced in the study in regard to anorexia and pro-eating disorder content being fed to young women. They did not seek it out at all but one of the accounts was fed this toxic misogyny within two minutes.  It is incredible. Since then, we have had the development of so-called AI girlfriend apps, which is a thoroughly misleading term for apps with taglines like \"Build your own AI slut\". These apps incite boys to create child sexual abuse imagery by suggesting they upload real photos of people they know from their school or wherever. Within minutes, the app can then create extreme, degrading, deepfake pornography of girls in their class in school.  To go back to the study from DCU, the vast majority of the content being recommended over two to three hours viewing was toxic. It was 76% on TikTok and 78% on YouTube Shorts. By the far the most prevalent feature of this content was Andrew Tate. The other toxic categories were the reactionary right and conspiracy, which accounted for 13.6% of recommended content on TikTok and 5.2% of recommended content on YouTube Shorts. Much of this was anti-transgender content. The report recommended that \"recommender algorithms should be turned off by default\". The professor involved in the study said, \"The social media companies must come under increased pressure from the government to prioritise the safety and wellbeing of young people over profit.\" This is precisely the choice.  I saw Deputy Ken O'Flynn from Independent Ireland was opposing this Bill and taking the side of the big tech companies over children on the spurious grounds that he is opposed to censorship. To be clear, there is not one iota, none whatsoever, of censorship involved in this legislation. This Bill will have no impact on the ability of people to create whatever content they want and to put it on social media. It simply prevents and stops the force-feeding of this toxic material to young people and enables the rest of us to opt out of it or choose not to opt in to have this material force-fed to us.  This is simple. It really is. Niamh McDonald from the Hope & Courage Collective made the point at a press conference we had that we need to treat big tech as the big tobacco of our day and take action now to prevent even more widespread harms. We have to turn off the torrent of toxic content at its source, the big tech companies and the billionaire psychopaths who own them, instead of taking the Government's approach, as it is pointing to with reference to the online safety code, of putting all the responsibility on individual users and on parents, who are completely overwhelmed by all of this. I appeal to the Government at this stage to withdraw its amendment and pass the Bill. If it has detailed points to make, fine, let us do that in committee, but let us take the side of children and their safety and health and not the side of big tech companies and their profits. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  I thank the Deputies for bringing forward this important proposal today. The Green Party welcomes this Bill and the broader discussion about how we can meaningfully protect children and young people online. Rapid changes in IT and the profound impact these are having on all our lives demand that we remain agile and responsive as a State to the need to scrutinise these technologies for the public good. We cannot be passive actors in a world where policy is dictated by tech moguls.  Ireland occupies a privileged position in Europe by being host to several major technology firms. With that privilege, however, comes the important responsibility to take a leadership position in making sure these firms respect the rights of individuals. I called previously in this Chamber for Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n to be given the powers to require all platforms to ensure that their recommender algorithms are turned off by default and for these systems to be prohibited for accounts held by people under the age of 18. This is just one more step we need to take to make the online space safer, but it is an important one. The point Deputy Murphy made about this not being censorship, and that all material will still be available and that all that will change is whom it is recommended to, is a particularly important one.  We know from research undertaken in Ireland that recommender algorithms are vehicles for supercharging the most extreme and toxic content available on the Internet. The groundbreaking report from DCU's anti-bullying centre, Recommending Toxicity, found that the algorithms of TikTok and YouTube Shorts promote toxic content to boys and young men. Test accounts in that research were recommended an increasing amount of manosphere content, with the majority of messages promoting misogyny and bogus mental health advice. The findings of this report point to the urgent and concerning issues for parents, teachers, policymakers and society as a whole.  In particular, the findings demonstrate that the social media companies are failing to protect children and young people. Women and girls will disproportionately bear the consequences of this failure, but they are also profoundly damaging to the boys and men who consume this content, particularly in relation to their mental well-being. It is clear, therefore, that in an effort to hook users and generate profits from advertising revenue, social media companies have allowed the proliferation of algorithms that cause serious harm to individuals. It is particularly egregious that these algorithms are being used to manipulate the content that children are consuming.  In discussing recommender algorithms, it would be remiss of me not to mention another important external impact of these technologies, namely, the energy consumed in running them. I acknowledge the role the IT sector plays in our economy as an important employer here in Ireland, but we have to be honest with people about the trade-offs in terms of there being less capacity for housing connections and eating up the renewable energy capacity rather than allowing it to replace existing fossil fuel sources. It is our responsibility as legislators to balance business needs with the needs of ordinary people to have affordable energy and safe online spaces. We cannot have a no-questions-asked attitude, as was suggested to me by the Minister for Finance last week, either to this or to the potential social harms caused by these recommender systems. We have to be honest with people that there are trade-offs inherent in these policy debates and not pretend that we can have unlimited growth in data while keeping electricity affordable.  I am happy, therefore, to support this Bill, but we as a country will need to go further and be proactive in how we deal with the impact that tech is having on our society. My party colleague Senator Malcolm Noonan spoke yesterday about the urgent need for X to appear before the media committee to answer questions about the generation of inappropriate material via Grok. It is deeply worrying that the Taoiseach made so little effort to ensure that this happens. I strongly urge the Government to take the issues of online safety more seriously and not to adopt a laissez-faire attitude to these changes. Business interests must not trump the interests of our young people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  People will gather today at 12.30 p.m. at O'Reilly Hall in University College Dublin, UCD, in what I anticipate will be one of the biggest protests there has been in UCD in decades, and probably ever. I do not know. I do know that everyone in the college and in other colleges is talking about what happened to a medical student. This is not removed from what we are discussing today. Does the Minister seriously think the rise of the manosphere has no connection to the rise in violent misogyny and gender-based violence? If he believes that, he is living in cloud cuckoo land.  Last night, I was surprised that \"Prime Time\" published some of the horrific messages that had been sent to this young woman that have accompanied the image that was shared of her after she had been drugged and raped. I am not going to read all of them because they are too horrific, but let us bring a bit of reality in here as to what young women are having to suffer every day on the Internet. These messages included, \"You slutty garbage.\" I will not go into what they proposed to do to her next. They continued, \"You obese slut bastard\"; \"cocky suing bitch\"; \"disgusting whore\"; \"complaining bitch\"; and basically \"I won't be happy until you're hanging from a tree.\"  It is obviously disturbing that there are people studying medicine who would draft messages like that. They really should not be and I hope the Minister is going to do something about it. The Internet is not a safe place for women, but neither is the world arising from it, and what I have read out is not even the worst. The manosphere has been operating unchecked for years now. Teachers, the Rape Crisis Centre and everybody has been studying its impact. Andrew Tate has 10.8 million followers on Twitter alone. We all know the statistic about 23 minutes; a16- to 18-year-old young man who sets up an account will be bombarded.  Our young men are being groomed to hate women and the Minister does not seem to think this is a problem, because he has proposed absolutely nothing to deal with it. He is not going to support this Bill today, but he has not told us what he is going to do about this issue. I have raised this matter before. This is not new and everybody has been telling the Minister this. Toxic masculinity has an impact on the safety of women and children.  The institute of men's health has reported 73% of gen Z are consuming this. Sixty-one per cent of all men consume this toxic content regularly. It is being fed to young men at an alarming rate. The ideas it puts forward are that men should control women and that traditional gender roles are what we should have, and it is having a real impact. A third of young men believe that you cannot change your mind after consenting to sex, that at no point can you change your mind after that. Forty-six per cent of all men believe that people make up or exaggerate claims of non-consensual sex, according to a Dublin Rape Crisis Centre report. Forty percent of Irish men believe in traditionalist ideas of men and women, but it is much higher among younger men who are being fed this content. They agreed with or were unsure of statements such as \"men who do not dominate in relationships are not real men\"; it was 52% in relation to that. This is having an impact on young women and non-binary people. Sixty-seven per cent of schoolgirls said their school environment is not a safe place and 70% feel social media negatively affects their mental health.  There is no discussion of International Women's Day on the D\u00e1il schedule this week, which is outrageous because these issues are huge. I was thinking of reading out some of the comments I have been exposed to just for being a woman in public life, as I am sure other female TDs and other people have, and for people of colour it is even worse. The Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland, ASTI, has been reporting on this. A huge majority of educators note that online manosphere content negatively affects students.  The Minister made a statement that Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n is dealing with all this and that it is all in hand. What is he going to say to people who are gathering in UCD today, who absolutely understand the connection with these algorithms that are grooming young men to be violent towards women and hateful of women and the impact that is having on their lives? What will he say he is doing about it? Opposing this Bill really is shameful. We all know the Government is in thrall to the social media companies, such as Google. It never criticises a multinational company, particularly one from the US. That is just taken as read. We have seen that in its foreign policy, but this is having a real impact on people. It is having a real-life impact on their mental and physical health. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Patrick O'Donovan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport (Deputy Patrick O'Donovan)  I move amendment No. 1:  To delete all words after \u201dThat\" and substitute the following:  \"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann declines to give the Online Safety (Recommender Algorithms) Bill 2026 a second reading, on the grounds that the issues the Bill seeks to address are already being addressed by Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n , Ireland's independent online safety and media regulator, through its implementation of Ireland's Online Safety Framework, together with the European Commission.\".  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis na Teachta\u00ed \u00e9ags\u00fala as an \u00e1bhar t\u00e1bhachtach seo a thabhairt os comhair na D\u00e1la ar maidin. Mar a d\u00fairt m\u00e9 cheana sa Teach seo, is tosa\u00edocht Rialtais \u00ed s\u00e1bh\u00e1ilteacht gach duine in \u00c9irinn, \u00f3g agus aosta, a chinnti\u00fa. Is cuid l\u00e1rnach \u00ed an ts\u00e1bh\u00e1ilteacht ar l\u00edne. T\u00e1 s\u00ed sin mar bhonn faoin strait\u00e9is n\u00e1isi\u00fanta digiteach agus um intleacht shaorga 2030, a foils\u00edodh le d\u00e9ana\u00ed.  Is \u00e9 uaillmhian na strait\u00e9ise n\u00e1 na bunt\u00e1ist\u00ed is f\u00e9idir le teicneola\u00edochta\u00ed digiteacha agus intleacht shaorga a thairiscint d\u00e1r socha\u00ed agus geilleagair a uasmh\u00e9ad\u00fa chomh maith le tiomantas an Rialtais chun s\u00e1bh\u00e1ilteacht ar l\u00edne a fheabhs\u00fa agus a threisi\u00fa, go h\u00e1irithe do leana\u00ed agus daoine \u00f3ga mar thosa\u00edocht don ch\u00f3ras ioml\u00e1n. Ireland is working closely with our European colleagues and partners, industry and other stakeholders to ensure a coherent regulatory framework that protects all consumers and vulnerable groups. The strategy includes a strong focus on further strengthening our strategic engagement on the EU\u2019s digital agenda as a strong advocate at EU level for a balanced and proportionate approach to digital regulation. It is also my intention that online safety will be front and centre during Ireland\u2019s Presidency of the Council of the European Union, on behalf of my Department. I have made that position clear on a number of occasions.  Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n is now firmly established at the heart of Ireland's online safety framework, which comprises the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act, the EU Digital Services Act, DSA, and the EU terrorist content online regulation. While I appreciate the good intentions underlying the Deputies\u2019 Bill, we must acknowledge that under this new legislative framework, the issues around recommender systems can be and are being addressed. Article 27 of the EU Digital Services Act requires that platforms explain, in understandable language, the main parameters their systems use to suggest content, as well as providing options for users to change or influence these parameters. Articles 34 and 35 require platforms to assess and mitigate risks that their recommender systems may present, including to the protection of minors.  Very large online platforms and very large online search engines that use recommender systems must allow users, including minors, the option to use recommender systems that do not rely on profiling. The obligation to focus on protecting minors is set out in the guidance produced by the European Commission under Article 28 of the EU Digital Services Act. We can already see the progress being made in addressing the risks of recommender systems. Last month, the European Commission, which is the lead regulator for the very large online platforms and search engines under the Digital Services Act, issued preliminary findings in its investigation that TikTok was in breach of the DSA in respect of its recommender systems, among other things. TikTok must now look to address those issues. The European Commission is investigating a number of other platforms in respect of recommender systems as well. This is EU regulation in action, so it would not be appropriate to look to amend our own legislation in this respect when the regulation and legislation are being implemented.  In relation to data protection, it appears that section 2 of this Bill would alter the legal basis set out in the EU general data protection regulation, GDPR, for the processing of personal data by requiring consent in all cases where a person has not attained the age of 18 and permit such processing where a data subject has attained the age of 18. In addition, it sets out transparency requirements in relation to the option to select the recommender system. There is already an extensive existing body of case law under the GDPR as to what constitutes valid consent and sufficient transparency requirements. Section 2, therefore, may be in conflict with the GDPR. Given the cross-border nature of large-scale data processing, legislating in Ireland for additional limitations on the processing of personal data, if not in conflict with the GDPR, would likely have limited benefit.  It would appear the Bill confines its provisions to video-sharing platform services as defined in the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act. This means it would only apply to such platforms established in Ireland, thereby excluding platforms such as Roblox or Snapchat, which are established elsewhere in the European Union. This would be a significant inconsistency that could disimprove online safety. The designated video-sharing platforms are also subject to the DSA, which ensures consistency across the European Union and is a maximum harmonisation piece of digital services legislation across the EU.  While the Government acknowledges that recommender systems can amplify inappropriate, harmful or illegal content, it is not clear what would happen should a recommender system simply be switched off. In addition, recommender systems and algorithms serve to protect people, including children and young people, from harmful content. The DSA approach requires platforms to mitigate the risks and thus improve and enhance their recommender systems, which is preferable to the unknown risk of switching off those recommender systems.  I, like every Deputy in the House, have a shared desire to improve online safety, in particular for children and young people; I say that as a father myself. I mentioned at the outset that Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n is at the heart of our online safety framework. Since replacing the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland on its establishment in March 2023, the remit of an coimisi\u00fan has expanded and is continuing to grow. In addition to regulating broadcasting and on-demand media services, and leading on Ireland's online safety framework, Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n has been designated as a fundamental rights authority and a market surveillance authority in respect of certain prohibited practices under the EU Artificial Intelligence Act. It has also been designated as a competent authority supervising online platforms under the EU regulation for transparency and targeting of political advertising, TTPA. Finally, it is envisaged that Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n will take on functions under the European Media Freedom Act, which is being implemented in Ireland through the Media Regulation Bill.  The nature of this framework demonstrates the cross-cutting nature of online safety. We have seen all too recently how the speed of the development of technology can bring wholly negative developments, as evidenced in the creation and dissemination of harmful and illegal content powered by Grok AI.  However, An Coimisi\u00fan engaged with stakeholders like An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na in Ireland and, under the DSA with the European Commission. An Coimisi\u00fan met with X as did the European Commission. As provided for under the DSA, and notwithstanding that X said it had taken steps to restrict the ability of Grok to create this content, the European Commission announced it was expanding its investigation of X and also that it could still take interim measures against X if the steps it took were not sufficient. I agree with Deputy O'Gorman that every platform that is domiciled in Ireland should go before an Oireachtas committee and should co-operate with Oireachtas committees. I said that previously in the House and outside it as well.  The Government is engaging with the European Commission with regard to including this type of feature as a prohibited practice under the AI Act and the Minister for justice is considering the need for further measures in the area. I have written to Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n to request it to develop a public awareness campaign on these matters and to work with the AI Advisory Council to review and update existing taxonomies of harm to include AI-generated harms. All of this is to underline the fact that online safety is a cross-departmental issue and Departments are working together on it. It also underlines how online safety crosses borders. That is why, as I said, I am making online safety the priority of our forthcoming Presidency of the European Council. We are planning a youth forum in the run-up to the Presidency and an online safety conference during it. I am eager to hear from children and young people themselves on issues, including about the digital age of majority.  On that matter, and as set out in the recently published national digital and AI strategy, the Government is actively engaging with like-minded member states on the issue of the digital age of majority. As I have said in this House previously, there is no universality of views on whether there should be a digital age of majority and if so, what the age it should be, and if there is one, whether parental consent should be involved. Nevertheless, the Government would prefer an EU-level decision and the expert panel convened by European Commission President Ursula Van Der Leyen, is to report during the summer and this will be important to consider in any decision on this matter. I am also aware that there is no universality of views on this issue in Ireland or even in this House. However, at the same time, we can clearly see the risks that harmful content can present to our young people and, therefore, if required, Ireland will take action on this matter.  Separately, we are working on an age verification tool as part of Ireland\u2019s digital wallet with the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer. Let me be clear that the wallet is not just about age verification; it is about safe, secure and convenient access to public services, but it should also serve as a robust and privacy-respecting age verification tool. The wallet will not be mandatory for people to have nor will it be mandatory for platforms to use it. It is intended as a Government-sponsored safe, secure and privacy-preserving age verification option. A pilot is envisaged, which will be voluntary to participate in, and departmental officials continue to engage with platforms about their support for and participation in it and I would expect that they would do so. Nothing has been confirmed yet and work in being done in this regard.  Finally, returning to the Bill, the approach set out at the EU level through the DSA primarily is a better approach to delivering on the shared objectives of protecting our children and our young people online and as a result I propose the amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  I welcome and support the Bill and I thank the People Before Profit Deputies for bringing it forward. It is vital legislation to protect children and to give adults the choice of opting in or opting out. All responsible bodies are calling for legislation like this, including the Joint Committee on Artificial Intelligence, Irish Council for Civil Liberties, the National Women's Council of Ireland and many more. The Bill does three main things. It bans video-sharing platforms from using recommender algorithms where they know the user is under 18 years of age or where they do not know the user's age, which is important. Second, for users over 18, it requires recommender algorithms not to use personal data unless the user has selected that option. Third, it requires video-sharing platforms to facilitate users in choosing recommender algorithm parameters.  The Bill applies to all video-sharing platforms defined under existing law and includes all the main social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X and LinkedIn. Crucially, it provides for Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n to incorporate the provisions in this Bill into the online safety code. The Bill is necessary because social media companies and the State have failed to act to protect children. Numerous studies show that social media recommender algorithms are bombarding children with harmful material, including material that promotes self-harm, anorexia, suicide and toxic content that promotes misogyny, racism and transphobia. Up to now social media has been largely unregulated, with no regulation that threatens their profits. They have been completely secretive in relation to the parameters of their algorithms which they refuse to disclose either publicly or to governments. They prioritise trade secrets and commercial confidentiality over children's mental health. This is all about profit for social media companies. They use recommender algorithms because they believe that extreme and harmful content keeps people watching longer, allowing more time to show people advertising and harvest their personal data for marketing purposes. For instance, in 2023 Meta Ireland made \u20ac1.56 billion in post-tax profits in a very small market. The Bill sets out the detail of the legislation and provides that it will come into operation 90 days after promulgation by the President.  It is deeply disappointing to say the least that the Government is opposing this Bill. I urge the Minister and the Government, even at this late stage, to reconsider that and to withdraw the amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charles Ward  I thank People Before Profit for bringing forward this Bill, which is both timely and essential and which I completely support. As a father of four children, social media is the biggest issue in the day-to-day running of most houses. The influence it has on homes is ridiculous. Children growing up in this time and age are suffering from mental health issues and eating disorders like we have never seen before and it is connected. If we go to a wedding or to any event, we will see children taking out their phones. They are addicted to them. They are on Snapchat snapping away every aspect of their lives. They are not living life anymore.  We are living in a rapidly evolving digital landscape that could become complex and deeply unsettling. We are raising children online in this world where everything is constantly evolving at a pace that they cannot handle. Everything becomes normalised. Children dying in Gaza and pictures of murders on the streets can come up under algorithms all the time. We are stuck in this, constantly trying to battle it if our child is upset. We ask them what happened and they tell us this. Some of them are 15 or 16 years of age now and they have been dealing with this for years. This plays out in multiple houses throughout this country. There is going to be an epidemic of mental health issues regarding algorithms moving forward. We have a responsibility to try to debate this. I understand where we are all coming from. We are meant to be on the same page but if we are, we need to move on this.  More worrying is researchers for a DCU study found that every male social media account that was studied found that within 23 minutes there was anti-fascist content and other extreme content on the phone. Whether they sort this out, this content is fed through their algorithms. It comes onto their phones and has a direct effect on males, especially those at third level college. They have been dealing with this for years. It is affecting the way they are growing up and the lack of maturity among certain cohorts who are influenced by these algorithms.  I want to make this clear. We need to make social media companies accountable. If we do not, we are failing society. TikTok opened its European data centre in Dublin just over two years ago and the Dublin transparency and accountability centre, which was opened by TikTok ironically in 2024, appears to be nothing more than a PR stunt. There is a lack of algorithm transparency.  Social media companies are making millions of euro off the misery of children in Ireland. That is a fact. In school, there are SPHE classes once a week. How is that going to fix anything? It is completely the wrong approach. It is not fair of us to expect them to consume so much negativity and not be affected by it. They are affected by it, and we are responsible. As a parent, I am responsible, and I take my responsibility, just like everybody else up and down the country. Right now, these companies are not helping us. They are failing us. As parents, we are struggling to deal with this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  I thank People Before Profit for taking the initiative and bringing this important Bill forward. Is it necessary? Of course, it is necessary. I saw the repeat of \u201cPrime Time\u201d last night, which dealt with the experience of a young woman, Caitlyn, in UCD. She is roughly the same age as my granddaughter, who is also attending UCD. It stopped me in my tracks to see that people could have such attitudes. Where does that come from, and how did it develop? What is the role of online in this regard? We hope that Caitlyn can make a recovery. Her testimony was shocking. It shows the urgency with which we need to deal with this.  Social media companies are using these algorithms to make money, and they are exploiting users of the Internet. It is about profit. Criminals are doing likewise. Children and young teenagers are exposed to all sorts of harmful content on the Internet. Algorithms can be used to increase exposure and steer people into rabbit holes that bring them into situations like the one we saw last night. They are geared towards hooking people and keeping them clicking. There is the potential for massive exploitation. Users need to have the right to turn them off. Tech companies should be held liable if their AI tools are used without the safeguards.  The Government needs to regulate, and it has failed so far to do that. Some countries, including Australia, have moved to get young people off social media, and have put restrictions in place through effective age verification. That is essential. Along with what is proposed in this Bill, we should look to put an age limit on social media, although perhaps 14 instead of 16. It is an issue that needs to be explored. The exploitation of Internet users, particularly children and vulnerable people, needs to stop. The Oireachtas and the Government need to have legislation in place. We cannot leave it to the tech giants. They are making big money out of it, so they are not going to do it. It is clear what their intentions are. We have to protect people, in particular children.  With regard to online safety, we can do things. Let us consider what we did with Coco\u2019s law. We have that in place to deal with people who share intimate images of others or threaten to share images that they may or may not have. It is not always men who do it, and women can do it as well, but it is mainly men. The level of sexism out there is shocking. We need strong legislation. When people do that and then add extortion or blackmail, they need to be treated with the full rigour of the law. People who do that to try to extort money, on top of trying to expose images that they may or may not have, need to be treated as serious criminals.  I support the Bill on algorithms. I thank People Before Profit. I am disappointed that the Government is not supporting it. We have to sort this out. The Minister referred to doing this when we have the EU Presidency. That is fine, but we need to do it. We have a responsibility to do it, as the Government and the Houses of the Oireachtas. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joanna Byrne  I welcome the intention of this Bill, which clearly aims to protect children from harm, and I commend People Before Profit on bringing it forward. We will support this Bill through to the next Stages, but we may work with People Before Profit on some amendments to it.  We have been examining algorithms at several Oireachtas committees, including the Joint Committee on Arts, Media, Culture, Communications and Sport. The expert opinion given at those committees should feed into this Bill, add some detail and shape the final legislation. As with every other aspect of online safety, I will always be guided by the expert advice when it comes to algorithms, not by self-serving lobbies, not by big tech and not by assertions made by social media platforms that fly in the face of reality.  At a recent committee hearing, Meta, Google and TikTok attended, and X declined to attend. All three attendees\u2019 opening statements made assertions that their priorities were online safety, data protection and child and user welfare. They also stated that they can remove reported posts within hours. Their assertions do not marry with the testimony given by witnesses at the recent hearings on online safety. At those hearings, broadcaster Gr\u00e1inne Seoige, An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, Media Literacy Ireland, the Hope and Courage Collective, the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, CyberSafeKids and the Children's Rights Alliance gave detailed testimony on how the social media platforms were failing in their responsibilities. When the testimony from those contributors was put to the social media companies, they disputed that there were widespread problems.  Social media companies are living in their own reality. Maybe their research and assertions are being driven by their own recommender algorithms, or maybe they have built a confirmation bias into those algorithms so they think they are always right. Whatever the case may be, they are divorced from reality. When assessed independently, they fail. Researchers have done tests on TikTok and YouTube. One case that I referenced at a committee hearing is a simulated account of a 13-year-old who watched one video containing eating disorder content. Afterwards, analysis of the results of 1,000 video recommendations by YouTube found that over one third were for harmful eating disorder content, including videos endorsing extreme calorie restriction and promoting dangerous diets like anorexia boot camp. These videos are in breach of YouTube's own policies, yet they were still there.  In 2024, Dublin City University's anti-bullying centre showed that the recommender algorithms used by social media platforms were rapidly amplifying misogynistic and male supremacist content. In the UK and Australia, a joint study found that these algorithm feedback loops could intensify feelings of guilt, comparison and obsession around food and appearance. Research in the US found that people's daily interactions with online algorithms affect how they learn from others, with negative consequences, including social misperceptions, conflict and the spread of misinformation.  What we take from that is that, when assessed, the platforms are failing. They allow harmful content, suicidal ideation and harmful eating disorder content. Their algorithms, as they currently are, push this on users regardless of age.  I am disappointed the Government has tabled an amendment to the Bill to stop it from going forward. The Minister's assertion that what the Bill seeks to address is being addressed by Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n, as Ireland's independent safety and media regulator, through its implementation of Ireland's online safety framework, together with the European Union, is not accurate. The online safety framework page only mentions transparency around algorithms. Two years ago, there was widespread dismay that toxic algorithms are not covered by the online safety code. In 2024, Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n said that while it recognises that recommender systems can have harmful impacts on users, especially children, it would be best to be able to tackle the potential dangers of these systems through its implementation of the Digital Services Act.  Can anyone in government honestly say that this has happened, or that, in reality, these toxic algorithms have been tackled? They have not. Study after study has shown the effects of that. That is why a Bill like this is necessary now. It is needed to stop the toxic echo chambers that are warping people's perception of reality. It is that simple. We have seen other gaps in legislation on online safety in recent months that need to be plugged. I commend anybody who brings a measure forward in an endeavour to do that.  The Data Protection Commissioner has issued over \u20ac4 billion in fines over the past five years to these companies, including \u20ac530 million in the past year alone. It has, however, only collected 0.6% of these fines. That needs to be addressed.  I ask the Minister to stop waiting for the EU to make the tough decisions for him. We have an opportunity here and now, as a collective, to introduce legislation that will address a big problem that is affecting people who live in Ireland. We need to do our jobs, as Irish legislators, and pass legislation for Ireland. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Bill. I welcome the intention of it, which is one that Sinn F\u00e9in shares: protecting our children from harm in the digital world. Digital participation is not a luxury in Ireland; it is a necessity. Our children have a right to be online, and it is enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. They have a right to participate, to access information and to be protected from exploitation. It is our job, as legislators, to ensure the digital environments they inhabit are safe. That is why we must urgently address recommender algorithms.  These are not neutral tools. They are engagement engines programmed to maximise the time we spend on a platform. It is eyes on the screen. Their success is measured in revenue raised, not in well-being. For our young people, this means being fed an endless loop of content. We know these algorithms amplify extreme material, promote unrealistic body images and create hate-filled echo chambers that can cause immense damage.  Large tech companies claim they are doing everything they can to ensure safety, yet without sufficient regulation, we cannot take their word for it. All of the evidence proves that to be the case. The failure to collect the vast majority of fines issued by the Data Protection Commissioner shows a lack of seriousness from the Government in holding these companies to account. They must be held responsible for what is on their platforms. The Minister's response and the fact that he is opposing this legislation is deeply disappointing. While it is probably not surprising, it is concerning. He mentioned the option to use recommender systems that do not rely on profiling and said the option to turn them off should be available. That is not enough. He said, \"The DSA approach requires platforms to mitigate the risks and thus improve and enhance their recommender systems, which is preferable to the unknown risk of switching off those recommender systems.\" What is the risk of the status qu o, which he is essentially suggesting should be maintained? We know the risk and the harm because of it. Time and again, the Government and the Minister do not do enough. In fact, he comes in as a spokesperson for those companies; that is what he sounds like. It is not enough. Like Deputy Joanna Byrne, I commend anyone trying to fight the good fight on this. We need to see action. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  \"Artificial intelligence, AI,-powered recommender systems are feeding millions of children toxic content about eating disorders, self-harm, and graphic videos...\", according to the Irish Examiner last year. This is something parents have been saying for years and still there is no urgency from the Government to tackle this. Years later, it is failing to act. Young girls are being forced into eating disorders and young boys are being taught to hate women. I love social media and I can see positives in social media. I connect with my constituents, people all over the world and my family and friends but it is like driving a car. I have to wear a safety belt, have a driving licence, take safety precautions and the car has to be fit to drive. I cannot just get in and do it. When it comes to social media, there are no protections for young people and children. It is a free-for-all at the moment. It is disappointing that the Minister is not supporting this Bill. It is really disappointing that this Government is not doing more. We are not looking to ban social media. We are looking to regulate it and to put solutions in place. Children and young people are being failed by this Government. The onus is on the Minister now to rethink, adopt this Bill and work with us. We will all work together for the safety of young children. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Patrick O'Donovan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Patrick O'Donovan  That is the clearest the Deputy's party has been in a long time. Now I know where it stands. It is very helpful. He is not going to ban it. He will not support the Government. Thanks very much. He clarified something Deputy Byrne would not do last night. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Conor Sheehan)  Minister----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  I will have questions and answers with the Minister all he wants. I have no problem doing that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Patrick O'Donovan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Patrick O'Donovan  I welcome Deputy Gould's point of view. It has been very enlightening. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Conor Sheehan)  Deputies, this is not a back and forth. I call Deputy Donnelly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh  Can we restart the clock when the Minister is finished? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Donnelly  We welcome the intention of this Bill, which clearly aims to protect children from harm. There is no doubt we are in a different age to when most of us were growing up. Most people in this Chamber came to digital and social media whereas as for young people it has always been their experience; they know nothing else. It is our role as legislators to make it as safe we can for all users, especially young people. There is no doubt there are positive aspects to social media but we are also aware there are extreme harms being done to children, young people and vulnerable older people. The core of the damage is being done with the use of recommender algorithms. These algorithms aim to keep young people endlessly scrolling. We know they amplify extreme content and promote unrealistic body images and racist and misogynistic content. We all know and agree these algorithms are causing harm. We hear it time and again from both sides, yet the Government continues to kick it down the road. I wonder why.  I am sorry the young people have left the Gallery. Maybe the Minister can explain to them why those harmful, toxic social media elements are being sent to them within minutes of engaging on social media.  The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, in particular general comment No. 25, sets out children's rights in a digital environment. They are the rights to participate, the right to be protected from harm, the right not to be exploited for commercial gain and the right to access true and accurate information. Children have the right to be online. It is up to us, the lawmakers, to ensure they are not exploited. Does the Minister really believe these companies are going to do it for themselves? They are making billions of euro in profits from these recommender algorithms and so is the Government. Maybe that is the reluctance to deal with this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh  T\u00e1 an timpeallacht dhigiteach lena bhfuil \u00e1r gcuid p\u00e1ist\u00ed ag idirghn\u00edomh\u00fa deartha ar bhealach and\u00faileach ionas go gcaitheann \u00fas\u00e1ideoir\u00ed an m\u00e9id is m\u00f3 ama ar an ard\u00e1n. Is tr\u00edd am an \u00fas\u00e1ideora a dh\u00e9anann na comhlachta\u00ed teicneola\u00edochta brab\u00fas. Mar sin, d\u00e9anfaidh siad p\u00e9 rud chun aird a choinne\u00e1il ar an sc\u00e1ile\u00e1n, beag beann ar an tionchar sl\u00e1inte. Is fi\u00fa a bheith an-soil\u00e9ir faoi seo. T\u00e1 rath-ard\u00e1in Meta, X agus Tiktok ag brath ar an d\u00edbhinn ar f\u00e9idir leo a h\u00edoc lena gcuid scairshealbh\u00f3ir\u00ed, n\u00ed ar fhorbairt an duine at\u00e1 \u00e1 n-\u00fas\u00e1id. An-mhinic, t\u00e9ann an d\u00e1 chusp\u00f3ir sin in aghaidh a ch\u00e9ile. Go deimhin, t\u00e1 a fhios againn go ndearna Meta f\u00e9in taighde ar \u00e9ifeachta\u00ed meabhairshl\u00e1inte an ard\u00e1in i measc d\u00e9ag\u00f3ir\u00ed agus fuair s\u00e9 amach go gcuireann \u00fas\u00e1id lean\u00fanach le himn\u00ed agus d\u00falagar san aos \u00f3g. Ar athraigh na tortha\u00ed seo cur chuige an chomhlachta? N\u00edor athraigh. D'aithin na hard\u00e1in teicneola\u00edochta go raibh na halgartaim ag obair d\u00edreach mar ba ch\u00f3ir d\u00f3ibh a bheith chun daoine a choinne\u00e1il b\u00e1ite sa f\u00f3n. Seo cruth\u00fanas dobhr\u00e9agnaithe gur cuma sa tsioc leo faoin\u00e1r gcuid p\u00e1ist\u00ed. Agus an m\u00e9id seo ar fad ar eolas againn, is beag iarracht at\u00e1 d\u00e9anta srian a chur ar na comhlachta\u00ed seo. Le r\u00f3fhada, t\u00e1 na hard\u00e1in seo f\u00e1gtha chun iad f\u00e9in a rial\u00fa. D\u00e9anann siad stocaireacht f\u00edochmhar in aghaidh aon iarracht rialacha a chur orthu. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 thar am againn cur i gcoinne na molta\u00ed algartamacha. Anois an t-am ceart chun iad a rial\u00fa, mar faoi l\u00e1thair t\u00e1 siad agus a n-\u00fain\u00e9ir\u00ed ag d\u00e9anamh rial\u00fa orainne.  T\u00e1 rannph\u00e1irt\u00edocht ar l\u00edne mar chuid l\u00e1rnach de shaol an lae inniu. M\u00e1s olc n\u00f3 maith \u00e9, beidh na gl\u00fanta ag teacht an\u00edos ag baint \u00fas\u00e1id as sc\u00e1ile\u00e1in, ach n\u00ed shin le r\u00e1 nach bhfuil aon neart againn ar c\u00e9n cuma at\u00e1 orthu. Is f\u00e9idir linn sp\u00e1sanna ar l\u00edne at\u00e1 s\u00e1bh\u00e1ilte agus fabhrach ar fhorbairt phearsanta a mh\u00fanl\u00fa d\u00e1r bp\u00e1ist\u00ed. Seasaimid an f\u00f3d in aghaidh na fathacha teic. Cosn\u00f3imid p\u00e1ist\u00ed na h\u00c9ireann \u00f3 dhochar agus \u00f3 shaint na gcomhlachta\u00ed. Is iad a dtodhcha\u00ed agus a bhfoll\u00e1ine at\u00e1 idir dh\u00e1 cheann na me\u00e1. T\u00e1 m\u00e9 ag tac\u00fa leis an mBille ar an gC\u00e9im seo. Beidh Sinn F\u00e9in ag cur isteach leasaithe, ach i bprionsabal aonta\u00edmid leis. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Guirke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Johnny Guirke  I thank People Before Profit for bringing this Bill forward. This Bill would amend the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022 to regulate the use of recommender algorithms by videosharing platforms. Recommender algorithms are purposely built into many online platforms. The sole purpose of a recommender algorithm is to keep the individual engaged as long as possible, act as an influencer and prompt suggestions connected to his or her personal search. In some cases, it sets out to shape a narrative and stir deep emotional feelings. The problem we face is how to protect children, vulnerable adults and society from being manipulated and, in some extreme cases, radicalised. We have all read about the online digital self-harm most common among young girls and cyberbullying resulting in suicidal ideation and worse. Recently, we had the Grok scandal where nudification of children and women was made public and shared at a rate of 6,700 sexualised images per hour. This is why support this Bill to the next Stage.  We know regulation must be imposed on these platforms but we must make it absolutely safe for children. They must have the right to be protected from harm, the right not to be exploited for commercial gain and the right to have accurate and truthful information. The only way this can be done is through legislation, which this Bill does but it needs a little refining before it reaches Final Stage. Sinn F\u00e9in fully believes big tech companies must be held responsible for what they produce on their platforms. We also are very much in favour of safety by design practices and full protection of GDPR and citizens' personal data. The digital world is here to stay. We must make sure the Government plays a leading role with an all-Ireland, country-wide digital literacy campaign to make people aware of how recommender algorithms work and empower citizens to make informed decisions, weigh up the criteria and alternatives to what is being put forward by such recommender algorithms.  At its heart, this Bill has the protection of children, who are the most subject to peer pressure and all sorts of influences and recommender algorithms. Big tech companies will exploit this human trait. If strong legislation, regulation and oversight are not put in place now, we are failing our young people and our most vulnerable citizens. I believe we will live to regret that in the very near future. In a study of children aged from ten to 14 in the UK, children asked how this was allowed to happen; we were the adults in the room. To not allow this Bill to progress from Second Stage is an abdication of responsibility for our children's future and it will come back to haunt the Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in  In the digital age we need to keep up with technology, keep a close eye on it and ensure children are safe. As we all know, algorithms are designed by the big tech giants to be addictive - the equivalent of digital cocaine. They know, insidiously, that they are destroying the physical and mental well-being of an entire generation of young people today for one sole purpose, namely, to broaden their customer base. Our online safety recommender Bill proposed amendments to the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act and how video sharing platforms use the recommender algorithms.  Algorithms are designed to keep people endlessly scrolling, as we all know, which has a huge impact on young people's mental health. They are designed to amplify extreme content, promote unrealistic body image and distort reality. We have to have a number of elements for safe and responsible participation, which would include appropriate and effective regulation of digital content.  We have seen the damage Grok can cause and how children are exposed to such dangers and harmful behaviours. This is why we strongly need to stand up to big tech companies. These companies are based just a stone's throw from this building. It would be criminally irresponsible for us not to take on the big tech giants we seem to have prostituted this country to, in many ways. We need to hold them to account for what appears on their platforms. They are making billions of euro from this country and exploiting the children of this country and of the world. We need to rein in the big tech companies because it has been the wild west until now.  An outright ban on social media may be well intentioned; however, it has not proven to be very effective in France or Australia. For this reason, we are proposing amendments that will work and ensure we have control over the big tech giants based just a stone's throw from this building. We can do that and we know it will or should work. The need to have proper safeguards is urgent. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child states that children must be protected from harm, not exploited and have access to proper, accurate and truthful information.  We welcome the intention behind this Bill and what it tries to do in terms of restrictions and protecting children from harm. We will bring forward amendments to improve the Bill. We support it progressing to the next Stage. I cannot understand how any Government that claims to be in favour of the rights of children could oppose regulating these big tech giants, which are basically the modern day vampires of the world. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert O'Donoghue  I welcome the opportunity to speak on this important issue and thank People Before Profit-Solidarity for bringing it forward. In fact, I was in the Chamber only last night questioning the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, and highlighting alarming levels of online abuse directed at our national sporting representatives. Given that we are going into two by-elections, the people putting themselves forward for those two elections will be targeted online. Unfortunately, that is the reality.  Social media, at its best, is a powerful tool. It connects, educates and empowers us, and it gives people a way to explore their interests and activities. However, over the years, we have seen the online world expand at a pace far beyond what our laws, our institutions, and even the most well-intentioned digital platforms can keep up with. While technology has evolved at lightning speed, regulation has not. Too often, laws remain relaxed, fragmented or outdated and in this gap between innovation and governance, harm has grown.  Across Ireland, and indeed across the world, parents are calling for clearer and stronger action to keep children safe online. They are not calling for perfection or censorship. They are calling for basic, enforceable safeguards to protect their sons and daughters from exploitation, bullying and exposure to harmful content.  We know that digital violence against women and girls is surging. We know that powerful algorithms are targeting boys with increasingly extreme and misogynistic content. We know that the online world is now an enormous part of young people\u2019s daily lives. It is where they laugh, learn, chat, play and sometimes face pressures and dangers they do not yet have the tools to understand. Research has shown that social media algorithms can funnel boys towards misogynistic and extremist content within minutes of first using an app. What begins as a harmless interest in fitness, gaming, chatting to friends or motivation can quickly transform into violent, demeaning and hyper-aggressive content that normalises misogyny and distorts masculinity. This \"aggro-rithm\" in effect preys on the vulnerable, particularly people in lonely situations, and is now influencing real-world interactions, peer culture and even school behaviour. Teachers are reporting misogynistic attitudes in classrooms and playground behaviour that is being reinforced by what boys are seeing pushed upon them online.  TikTok is the fastest growing platform on the planet among children and young people, yet the measures in place to protect them remain inconsistent and insufficient. We are dealing not only with harmful content but a system designed to amplify whatever keeps users engaged, regardless of its impact on safety or well-being. We need to be clear this is not about vilifying technology. It is about recognising the scale of the challenge, the pace of the danger and the responsibility we have, collectively, to act.  We need robust, enforceable legislation that places clear responsibility on digital platforms, especially those targeting children. It is no longer acceptable for companies to rely on weak standards or reactive moderation. Safety cannot be optional. Age verification must be meaningful, not cosmetic. Parental controls must be clear and accessible, not buried in complicated menus or hidden entirely. Parents also cannot be passive in this. A lot of parents in their 30s or 40s, which is my own age group, grew up with social media, so it is not completely unknown to us.  We need transparency. Algorithms shape what young people see, how they think and even how they interact with one another. If those algorithms are promoting misogyny, self-harm content, gambling mechanisms or predatory behaviour, then companies must be held accountable. Independent audits and mandatory risk assessments are essential.  We need a cultural shift in how parents, educators and communities approach the online world. We do not need to be tech experts, but we need to be present as regards how algorithms are used to shape how we think. We must support the front-line organisations working to protect young people, researchers, youth workers and educators. They need proper funding, training and staffing to keep pace with the fast-evolving landscape.  We need stronger international co-operation. It would be ideal if the EU moved quicker on this and gave us guidelines for which we could legislate. I would not see that as a bad thing because the harm travels globally and our response must be global too. Ireland has a significant role to play in shaping European and international digital safety frameworks.  We must listen to young people themselves also. They are the experts in their own online experiences. Many want safer spaces, better reporting tools, clearer rules, real consequences and platforms that respect their safety as much as their data. The safety of anyone who accesses the online world is not a niche concern. It is one of the defining health issues of our time, and the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, attested to that last night during oral questions. The dangers are real. They are growing and already affecting the most vulnerable. We cannot allow algorithms to shape our children\u2019s and young people's values more than parents, teachers and communities do. We cannot continue to rely on weak promises from platform giants while the evidence of harm increases all around us.  It is essential that children and adults are protected in digital spaces and on social media platforms by preventing recommender system algorithms from targeting or manipulating them. To achieve this, we need to introduce effective new regulations, and legislation where necessary. Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n must take a proactive role in regulating online safety and updating the digital safety code. Platforms must be held accountable when they fail to implement adequate safety measures. We need to work to make primary and secondary schools smartphone-free, strengthen online safety education, and ensure digital literacy becomes a core pillar of the education system. We must also support parents and schools by investing in public awareness campaigns and well-being training. Finally, dedicated resources should be allocated to a public health research programme examining the impact of digital devices and online platforms on children.  We need to tread carefully around a blanket ban on online access for kids under 16. The online space is where many young people find connection and community. Young people reach out more online than through Childline, as they would have in the 1990s. We do not shut our children out of the real world; instead, we teach them how to navigate it safely and responsibly. We must take the same approach to the online world, guiding and equipping them to engage in what is safe and respectful. That means children who set up accounts, understand the games they play, discuss the risks, and set boundaries about private chats and unsupervised online interactions. We cannot treat the online world as separate from the real world. For children today, they are one and the same. The Internet can be a positive and empowering place but that future will not happen by accident. This will only happen when the Government and online platforms show leadership and accountability, take on regulation and, above all, give a commitment to protecting everyone's right to safety, whether online or offline because ultimately online activity manifests itself in the real world. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  I have always felt that technology is a positive force in society. My career has been shaped by how technology can be harnessed for social good. Back in 1997, I did my undergraduate dissertation on the impact of the information revolution on the development of socialism, would you believe. That was back when we called it the information revolution and back when I called myself more openly a socialist.  I come at this as a tech enthusiast. I love technology and I see that social media is incredibly positive in our world in so many ways, or was, and particularly for younger people. For them, as we have heard from other Deputies, there is no difference between the physical world and the online world. When we talk about solutions for the online world and compare them to the physical world, young people simply do not have that mentality. They do not have the same privacy concerns either, for example. This is something I looked at when I worked in the tech sector. Attitudes towards privacy for younger people are completely different because, largely, that horse has bolted. They have grown up and live in a very different world where privacy is a different ball game for them completely.  However, the online worlds has become so toxic and harmful. This is true of the Internet more broadly, as I have discussed directly with the Minister, particularly things like chatbots that are prompting people towards suicide, some of the online radicalism we are seeing and so on. Specifically in respect of recommender algorithms, there are some specific harms around polarisation, mental health and misogyny that are being discussed this morning which have to be addressed. This is brilliant legislation which offers off by default as a starting point, and off for under-18s. That is just a starting point but it is a good and important start. I acknowledge the incredible work of Deputy Paul Murphy and People Before Profit, not just on this Bill but on the issue more broadly.  I believe there is a value that Members of this House share. I have seen much hand-wringing from the Minister and Government spokespeople who seem to grapple with this issue. What I do not see is action and what I did not hear in the Minister's speech today is action. I want to touch on some of the framing he used. He stated that \"the issues around recommender systems can be and are being addressed.\" I do not understand how anybody can stand over that when the recommender systems continue to do what they are doing. Describing the EU Digital Services Act, he said it \"requires that platforms explain, in understandable language, the main parameters their systems use to suggest content, as well as providing options for users to change or influence these parameters.\" He further described the Act as requiring platforms \"to assess and mitigate risks that their recommender systems may present, including to the protection of minors\", and as obliging platforms to provide minors \"the option to use recommender systems that do not rely on profiling.\" All of these are listed as current solutions that are out there and working. They are not working because people are still being fed promotion of anorexia - pro-ana - material. People are still being polarised. People are still being radicalised. Young men are being turned into misogynistic monsters by these tools. These are not working. If this is what the Government's solution is, it is not working.  The Minister referred to preliminary findings and the need to address investigations, regulation and action. This has been going on for years. When I worked in Google between 2006 and 2014, one of the biggest topics towards the end of that period was pro-ana websites which were being promoted to young women at the time. That developed into additional issues around self-harm. I have personal, family experience of exactly how problematic and difficult that can be. To tell me that the EU is regulating it and has responded, that the Government's tools are working and the responses and solutions are there just does not wash.  I read a book in 2011 by Nicholas Carr called The Shallows . It was the first time I came across the idea that the Internet is changing our brains. These algorithms are one of the biggest ways in which our brains are being rewired. The technology is rewiring us. That is why in this legislation it is so important that we single out children. They have greater plasticity within their brains and are at greater risk of that rewiring. I read that 15 years ago and I recommend it even now as a book that still stands in terms of addressing how our use of technology is affecting our cognitive function and emotional regulation. Telling me the Government is dealing with it, it is happening, it is under investigation, none of that is good enough. We need real-time solutions and they are not forthcoming.  I have mentioned some of the problems. For me, polarisation is one of the biggest issues in society that is proliferated by toxic algorithms. They create a bubble whereby our own stereotypes and biases are reinforced again and again. We are losing the wonderful discourse and public discussions we have had in society because people are being pushed into camps further and further away from themselves. Misogyny has been discussed at length already today. I want to use a real-time example for that one. I was on \"The Tonight Show\" last night and I get the usual hate online from that. I am sure the Minister of State knows that too. I took a little look at the four first clips that were put up of me and the Minister of State, Deputy Neale Richmond, who was on the panel with me. Under the two clips of his contributions on Twitter, there are nine and three comments, respectively. Under the two clips of me, which were put up at the same time from the same show, there are 156 and 171 comments, respectively. They are not nice. There is a lot of the c-word, that one that rhymes with blunt. There is a lot about calling me a man. I am consistently transvestigated online because I talk about trans rights issues. It is horrible. It is such a clear example. I get that all politicians, all public representatives, get hate online. The Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, would have a much higher profile than I would. He has been a politician much longer than I have. Apart from the fact that maybe I have less likeability factor or something, even accounting for that, it still seems a clear example to me of misogyny and how women are bearing the brunt of these issues.  The Minister has gone but I thought he might like one particular reply which was added. It said, \"she is giving Patrick O'Donovan a run for his money as the biggest idiot in Leinster House.\" I appreciate that everybody gets it but what I am trying to demonstrate here is that there is sexism and misogyny in our society that is being fuelled, amplified and turbo-charged by these toxic algorithms. We are all living it every single day.  Age verification is being put forward again and again by the Government. It is not going to work. The summary I have on that points to the privacy issues it raises, the fact that it contravenes children's rights issues, namely, the right to participate in society and particularly online, and essentially leaves behind the major issues of our day. It is arbitrary to say that, at 16, all of a sudden you are supposed to be able to read all of this hateful content and deal with it. It is simply crazy at this stage.  Then we also hear, on a more general basis, the Government say that there are no solutions and that we in the Opposition are not coming up with solutions. I have been heartbroken on that recently. It happens with regard to anything we come forward with. This is a really clear, well-worked out Bill that offers a solution to a problem we all discuss all the time, and once again the Government is choosing to say \"no thanks\" to it. This is a solution that could work, and I urge the Government to reconsider its decision.  One of the other things we need to look at is platforms as publishers. The Minister of State has raised this. Honestly, I am kind of surprised that it might be offered by this Government because it is a much larger legal question to deal with platforms as publishers. Essentially, that means they would be held to account for the content they host. For decades now there has been talk of how that could change, but it really gets to the heart of the business model of these tech platforms, which is ultimately the source of all these issues. We, the user, are the product, and as long as we remain the product we will have issues with platforms not taking on the role of publishers and we will have issues with their recommender algorithms pushing us into where they want us to be, which is eyes on screen all the time. Dealing with that user-as-the-product issue is really too big not to tackle. This Bill is exactly where we need to be in terms of pushing us towards that space of actually having regulation that might work, because the regulation we have right now is simply not working, nor are the solutions being offered at European or domestic level.  I urge the Government to withdraw its amendment. I also once again ask this Government to stop supporting the digital omnibus packages making their way through the European Union because they will gut the AI Act of any meaningful impact it would have had. They will also further strip back the protections we enjoy under the GDPR. I want to hear the Government push back on the simplification agenda at European level because it is that agenda and harmonisation that are informing the Government's wish to keep this kind of self-regulatory model in existence. Littered throughout the Minister's speech is rhetoric which sounds to me like self-regulation of the tech sector, and we are not moving away from it. Certainly, the digital omnibus will push us back towards that. As a member state of the European Union, we do not have to take that as our direction of travel. We can say, \"No, we want to maintain the regulation that European citizens enjoy and cherish and push back against that agenda.\" "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  I thank People Before Profit for bringing forward this long-awaited, valuable Bill. I may not always agree with Deputy Gibney but I certainly agree with a lot of what she had to say today, in fairness. I was talking recently to a politician who said there was something quite nasty put up about him online. It was something he had done, and then under the newspaper article stuff came up that was untrue. He contacted the newspaper and they said, \"Do not worry about that person. We know. She puts this up all the time.\" I cannot understand why the newspaper allowed that up all the time if it knew about it. It should have acted on it immediately. However, we are thick-skinned, and it is well we all know we all get slated and it is a free go, as people would see it.  This Bill is really about keeping our young people safe online. The Bill says that if a platform knows someone is under 18, or even if it is not sure of their age, it cannot use these personalised recommender systems on them. It puts the responsibility back on big tech companies, where it belongs. In every community, be it urban or rural, be it west Cork or Dublin city centre, parents want to know that their children are not being steered by hidden online forces. This Bill is one step towards making the online world a bit safer, a bit fairer and a bit more honest. We all know, as public representatives and as ordinary people, just how dangerous online activity can be. Every one of us has seen it. Many of us have been on the receiving end of it. The minute you stand up and say anything, suddenly the online trolls come crawling out of the woodwork. It is never just once; the same characters pop up again and again leaving nasty comments under every newspaper post, pouring poison into public discussion and trying to tear people down for sport. We all recognise them. The newspapers recognise them too. They know well when an account is not legitimate or when someone is clearly nuts. Yet nothing is done. That is not good enough any more. These platforms, including the newspapers that host the comment sections, carry a responsibility. When they stand back and do nothing and when they let the same trolls run wild day after day, they play a part in the harm and they allow abuse to continue, knowing full well what is happening right under their noses. All we are saying is simple. Everyone who benefits from putting content online, including newspapers, has to accept some responsibility for keeping that space safe because when they turn a blind eye, the damage does not disappear. It lands on real people in real communities trying to do their best.  While we are talking about the online world, I want to turn to something weighing heavily on many families across the country: the situation in the Middle East. The truth is that without social media platforms and online communication, we would not have a hope of keeping up with the updates we need for our constituents. People are scared, they are stranded and they are trying to get home safely. We have people stuck all over the Middle East, terrified of what is going on around them, and all we as public representatives can do is point them towards the Irish embassies in their area and urge them to register. It is the only official channel available to them and to us. That is the reality. I am in constant contact with groups of people through WhatsApp. I set up groups----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Conor Sheehan)  Deputy, could you speak to the Bill, please? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  Yes. This is online. We are talking about online platforms, and only for online platforms the people of the Middle East----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Conor Sheehan)  There will be statements on the Middle East as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  Yes. I know that too. That is tomorrow evening. We have done that through our Business Committee, but this is very relevant to online platforms as well. I set up groups and I talk to them day and night, trying to keep some of them informed and reassured. Thank God they are finally getting on flights tonight and making their way home, but others are still trapped. I have people stuck in the Philippines being absolutely taken advantage of. The airline is trying to charge \u20ac10,000 per person just to get them as far as London. Families cannot afford \u20ac10,000. Nobody can. Then I have others in Sri Lanka who have no clear way of getting home at all. They are frightened, isolated and unsure where to turn. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Conor Sheehan)  Deputy, could you speak to the Bill, please? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  Here is the point. Without online platforms and without the ability to share honest information among ourselves and to pass on updates, warnings and bits of advice, these people would be completely on their own. The only lifeline they have right now is the information we can give them online and the information they can send back to us.  Yes, online spaces can be dangerous and toxic - we know that too well - but they can also be a lifeline. They can be the one thing keeping an Irish citizen thousands of miles away connected to home, connected to help and connected to hope, and that is why we have to get this right. We have to protect people from the harm that happens online while also making sure we can still use the platforms to help those who need it most.  I got there. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  Almost a year ago, when I raised with the T\u00e1naiste the issue of whether we should follow the Australian model and introduce a ban for under-16s, the T\u00e1naiste, I think it was the second time he said it, and the Minister said it as well, said, \"The era of self-regulation is over.\" Then today in the Chamber we heard the Government say its age verification system is not mandatory for users and not mandatory for the IT companies. That, straight away, is still self-regulation. The Government criticised this Bill by saying that the recommenders might be a little more dangerous if they were switched off because then the kids might see anything. The whole point of stopping the kids from seeing anything is to make sure that kids do not have access to the information in the first place, which you either do by banning it outright, restricting it on certain platforms or creating an age verification system. It is possible to create an anonymised, randomised system that says, \"Yes, I am over the age of 18. Now that I am an adult, whatever I want, as long as it is legal, is nobody else's business.\" No one in this Chamber is arguing that it should be anyone else's business, but in terms of children's access to information, kids as young as second class now have access to all sorts of disturbing content. I am not just talking about the eating disorder videos. You see different allegations being made that are not factually verified about all sorts of people and all sorts of rumours going around, and that is magnified among young people. We have seen the toxification of young men and damage to young women as well. That will continue unless we actually regulate this, and this is the nub. Any motion or any Bill that has better discussion and brings it forward, even if we have to amend proposals in the legislation, is a good thing.  The GDPR argument is constantly used. It is said that it is restricting people. There are groups like the Irish Council for Civil Liberties rightly saying that personal information and personal rights need to be protected, but there is a balance between rights and responsibilities here.  We are fighting an existential war to try to protect this and future generations. It has gotten to that level. We can argue that young people are a bit more savvy about what might be AI generated or they might disregard certain bits of information more than someone in their 70s looking at a scam on Facebook. They have that level of digital literacy but they do not have discernment capability. They should not be exposed to dangerous content in the first place. In some ways, I was almost thinking we should be like Marty McFly and go back to the future, to the 1980s where we did not have all this IT. Unfortunately, we know the 1980s were a misogynistic and violent cesspit like we have today. The 1990s were just as bad. There was bullying in all shapes and forms. I remember in the 1980s somebody's underwear was photocopied in the school and circulated around on a piece of paper. There was bullying through physical attacks, bullying by whispers in the corner and bullying by notes put through the letterbox. That sort of behaviour will continue because as well as being intrinsically good, we have intrinsically stupid and evil human beings as well. Social media has magnified that to multiple proportions. The techbros, the Metas, the TikToks, the Xs and Roblox are all governed by profit. The AI-generated material being spewed out, affecting our electricity grids and pushing up our energy bills, is making profit for them. It is equivalent to the 1950s when the Philip Morris company and other cigarette companies knew that cigarettes were causing cancer but they did everything they could to spew out misinformation. The companies involved in this know exactly what they are doing. They know exactly the damage. The studies are out there. It is not like every time we talk about studies from DCU or other institutions that we are learning this for the first time. We have known this for several years now. We fine them but the fines are not enough. The fines are not being paid. At this stage we should be taking the bull by the horns and saying that if they are not paying the fines, then they will be switched off. Why not have a European Facebook or TikTok where you have freedom of speech but also responsibility and regulation? Even on Facebook now they allow nicknames, and I have seen serious misinformation propagated about people taking their own lives that has been stated as fact and caused serious harm to families. It is being allowed because of nicknames. We do not have responsible moderators, so that will continue. We need to deal with this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Albert Dolan  It is important for me to outline the changing landscape we are seeing for young people on social media and the impact recommender algorithms are having on them. In my generation, when we went into secondary school we still had phones where you could call and text people and that was the extent of it. By the time we were in junior certificate, everyone had a smartphone. Everyone had Instagram and everyone had Snapchat. The entire landscape of being a teenager completely changed at that point. That was a time when if you went on Facebook you only saw what your friends posted. When you went on Instagram you saw your best friends\u2019 posts of their day out with their friends, some event they were at or some trip they took with their family. It was wholesome, warm and a great space to be in and it was exciting as a teenager because we could see all of the good things our friends were doing. You could have easy access to your friends and easy communication. Do not get me wrong. That brought severe issues for young people. It brought severe bullying and issues of social pressure to post on these platforms. Teenagers do everything they can to try to fit in, so everyone partook. The real issue is that since 2014 or 2015, TikTok has taken off and all mainstream social media platforms have adopted essentially rabbit-hole algorithms where young people can get funnelled into an ideology and do not even know why they agree with what they are agreeing with. Naturally, the further down the rabbit hole you go the more dangerous it gets. It pushes you to more extreme points of view because that is what holds your attention and that is what holds you on the platform. The problem is that whatever your initial belief is you end up pursuing a further and more extreme belief because the algorithm will push you down that rabbit hole so far that you continue to engage with it.  To the point that people sometimes will not appreciate or engage with other points of view because hardened lines are drawn, what is important here is our teenagers and young people need to have an opportunity to grow up in a world where they can form their own opinions and ideas and critically think about and evaluate what is in front of them. The landscape before them right now is not fit for that and the landscape is pushing this toxic material in front of them and ultimately leading them to engage with it more.  The companies have a responsibility but as legislators we have to protect our young people. In Galway East there is a company called Think Smart digital run by Aoife Noone. She is engaging with communities across Galway East and the broader country. She holds events to educate parents on what is happening on the phones of their teenagers. She has sold out ten halls across Galway East for between 100 and 300 people. Parents have no idea what is going on inside the bedrooms of their children on the phone. The parents do not have a clue about the information there and some of the material they are exposed to because the parents did not grow up in that world. They only know the world in front of them on their phone but the phone their child is experiencing could be completely different. It is vital that this Government supports the education of parents so that parents can help to put safeguards in place for their own children as well, and can have open and honest conversations with their children about the material they have been exposed to, are being exposed to, stuff being sent around the school or incidents that have happened in the school. I do not know if that is happening at the moment, and I do not know if parents realise the extent of how bad it is.  I know Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n is a positive establishment, and I know it will be outlining how the Digital Services Act at European level will be introduced and rolled out here at Irish level. However, it is important that we show leadership and lead from the front. We need to seriously consider a ban on social media for under 16s. It has to be considered. Australia showed leadership on it. France has followed suit. Why would Ireland not step up to say it will protect its young people and get them off these toxic platforms? I am not saying that the platforms are entirely toxic either. There is a lot of good content and a lot of great ways to connect with like-minded people. It is about making sure there is fairness on the landscape. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  I am glad to get the opportunity to speak. I thank Deputy Boyd-Barrett for bringing this to our attention. We all agree that online safety for our youngsters is of paramount importance. Our youngsters are our future, and we need to protect our future by protecting our youngsters. This is so important. It is hard for young couples rearing children today to get them to crawl and to walk and all the things before them but this is really hard for many parents to understand. Like Deputy Dolan said, we did not have to go through this. We did not have the problems that are being loaded on our young society. I agree we need to bring in laws to deal with these platforms that are just in it to make money and fortunes for themselves on the backs of our children. Connectivity is so important. I believe that youngsters up to 16 years of age should have a mobile phone, maybe something like my own that is of no harm and has no ridiculous content or bad stuff like we know is available at present. We know youngsters are bullied and have been bullied.  They have committed suicide as a result. We know this and it is a terrible and awful thing altogether that we have got to know about in recent years. I never understood that such a thing could happen.  As Deputy Dolan said, we as parents do not know what is going on in the rooms or behind the doors where children are. We do not know what is going on. More parents need to be educated to understand better. Generally, people out there are outraged with what is happening and the way people are taken over completely by some of these online platforms. While they may know what is going on at the other end of the world, and there is great value and education to be had from these platforms and these iPhones, I am worried that youngsters are online but do not know what is going on around them. They forget to talk to their parents, their siblings and their grandparents. We all benefited from those things and grew up in a normal way, where everyone belonging to us came first rather than some of these things that happen on the other side of the world.  Online abuse is another thing that is terrible. I have not suffered from it but I know that other politicians and people have suffered a lot from this anonymous online abuse where people can put up terrible things about their families and create so much distress. It can trigger suicide and other problems and puts people down in a big way. We need to deal with this, whatever the Government comes up with. The Government needs to do this because it is very important. As I said at the start, our children are our future. We need to keep this rubbish away from them until they are at least 16 or 17 years of age. Let them have connectivity with an ordinary phone, or an iPhone if these platforms can be taken off it. We need to leave them have connectivity with their friends and parents in case they need assistance. We need to maintain that, but we have to bring forward a Bill to deal properly with this and we all need to support it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niamh Smyth","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (Deputy Niamh Smyth)  I thank Deputies Gibney, Gogarty, Healy-Rae and Dolan, who spoke so eloquently about this issue. I also thank People Before Profit and Deputies Boyd Barrett and Murphy for tabling this incredibly important Bill. It comes with a backdrop where we have all been subjected to abuse, as Sin\u00e9ad was last night. I have been subjected to it myself, as has everybody in the House and particularly women. I do not think the gentlemen in the Chamber would disagree wthat women do face an increased amount of abuse online.  I have been at the coalface of it and did what we think we should do, which is report it to An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. I had to report it on a number of occasions. It was perpetrated by an individual who was not faceless. An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na investigated it further and sent it to the Director of Public Prosecutions, DPP, to see whether it would prosecute, and the DPP decided against it. That individual felt emboldened enough by this to put a selfie up on Facebook with a pint of Guinness saying, \"Niamh Smyth, you're a [you can guess what word he used] and I won\". They were his words, \"I won\". I use this anecdote because everybody in the Chamber has felt it in one way or another. Our job is to ensure that our kids do not have to go through this or should not be subjected to it.  Deputy Dolan comes from a generation where he has grown up with it and he used it at a time when it was not as toxic as it is today. As one of our colleagues in the Labour Party spoke about earlier, it was a place where people could engage with communities and people. It was like the playground for teenagers. In recent times, it really has gone into the gutter in certain respects and aspects. We need to address that.  I am very thankful to People Before Profit for tabling the Bill on the recommender algorithms. We have a body of work to do on this. I am personally in favour. It is in the remit of the Department of the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, which is a different Department from mine, so I am speaking on my own behalf. Age verification is incredibly important. The European Commission is doing great work on this with the Digital Services Act but I have seen what they have done in France, who have powered ahead and taken it upon themselves nationally to bring in age verification. As member states we have to show the courage of our conviction and look at that and perhaps do it in an individual way as states to try to push this on with the Commission. That said, we have Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n, which was established to look in depth into these issues to see how we can best address them and to try to address them at both a national and a European level.  Online safety is a priority issue for the Government and for me particularly as I have responsibility for digitalisation and AI. As mentioned earlier, online safety will be front and centre during Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Our colleague in the Labour Party spoke about engaging with young people and having their voices in the conversation. This is incredibly important, but as the adults in the room, sometimes we may need to help them make the right decision by not having them exposed to this at a really young age. In the lead-up to the Presidency, we will see a youth forum take place, with young people invited to share their thoughts on online safety and how it might be enacted. The current approach is through the Digital Services Act, with the support of Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n as Ireland's digital services co-ordinator. It is gathering information, collating it and sharing it with the Commission to act in the correct and proper way and, more importantly, to implement the Digital Services Act.  Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n is of the view that the recommender systems and their harmful effects are best addressed through the Digital Services Act, which is one of the laws that makes up Ireland's online safety framework. It came to this view as part of the process of developing the online safety code. As I have said, the Digital Services Act sets out a range of parameters by which platforms must set up their recommender systems, including options without profiling, to ensure children and young people are protected and that people's privacy is respected.  Platforms must also be transparent about how they set up recommender systems. With the European Commission leading on regulation of the very large online platforms and search engines, there is a constituency for these platforms across the European Union. It must be acknowledged that this legislative framework is relatively new and the Digital Services Act has only applied since February 2024. However, the Government has ensured that Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n is fully resourced, with more than 300 staff working in it. This means it is well placed to provide the support, expertise and assistance required by the European Commission to do the work it does. This is borne out in the preliminary findings made by the European Commission in its investigation into TikTok regarding the platform's recommender systems. Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n supported the work of the European Commission in this regard. TikTok has a right of reply to these preliminary findings, as required by due process, but it is clear the European Commission has identified serious issues that TikTok will need to examine and assess. This demonstrates how the EU regulatory framework actively supports online safety.  Introducing this Bill, with its provisions that would appear to go further than those set out by the Digital Services Act maximum harmonisation measure, would not be appropriate at this stage. The Digital Services Act, as part of Ireland's online safety framework, represents the best way to address and acknowledge the risks of recommender systems. That is why the Government cannot support the Bill. I reiterate for the benefit of the House that the Government is relentlessly committed to online safety, in particular for children and young people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  I am baffled by the speech of the Minister of State, and the Government should be ashamed of itself. It has really shown its true colours. It is paying lip service to the issue that is at stake, which is the well-being, mental health and safety of the children, young people and women who are victims of this toxic misogyny, which is not just online, as we have discovered.  It gets translated into brutal physical reality, as will be evidenced in the protests that are taking place in UCD today. The Minister of State acknowledged all the horrible stuff that is directed at women and politicians. The algorithms are designed to promote self-harm, suicidal ideation, eating disorders, hate, misogyny and hatred against trans people. We can go through the list of toxic content. The Ministers say, \"Well, yes, there are some harmful aspects to this, but the status quo is what we are doing. We're going to vote down your Bill and maintain the status quo \", as if anything is being doing about this, when nothing is being done about it. Anybody who cares to go online right now will find that out. The Government has decided to do nothing. It is clear what is being prioritised here, which are the profits of companies that profit from this hateful, despicable material and make money from promoting suicidal ideation, eating disorders or hate. That is evil. What some of these companies are doing is the definition of evil. The Government has decided to prioritise their profits ahead of the well-being and welfare of young people, children and women. That is shameful.  There is a direct line between the Government voting down this Bill, its refusal to act against the social media and IT companies - not exclusively but mostly American multinationals - and its refusal to impose sanctions over the genocide in Gaza or to condemn what the US and Israel are doing in Iran and setting the entire Middle East on fire. It will not condemn it for the same reason, because it does not want to upset the US empire. That is it. It does not want to upset these big obscenely wealthy multinational companies that profit from this sort of divisive toxic material or the big military industrial complex that profits from setting the Middle East on fire or profits from allowing, and indeed arming and supporting, Israel's genocide in Gaza. Profit comes first, despite the most obscene crimes and the most horrible things being done, turning our world into a very dangerous place. The Government will prioritise the profits of the people who benefit from all of this. That is frankly shameful. Not only, by the way, will we not do anything about it, but we will also give them money to do it with research and development tax credits. We will give them \u20ac1.4 billion. There was another \u20ac300 billion in the previous budget. We will give them the money to research to how to do this to our children. That is what we are doing.  I was at the press briefing of RT\u00c9 workers yesterday who were fighting to defend their jobs and public service broadcasting. Do not get me wrong, I sometimes have problems with the decisions that RT\u00c9 makes, but my God, give me RT\u00c9 over X, Meta, Google and Facebook any day of the week. While RT\u00c9 is being dismantled and privatised and its work is being outsourced essentially to be replaced by these guys that profit from pumping this poison at our society, our young people and so on, we will take the money off public service broadcasting and hand it to these companies. We will not say boo to them in terms of regulating stuff that the Government acknowledges is harmful, but we will not do anything about it.  Even Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n, which the Minister of State said is dealing with it, recommended turning off these recommender algorithms. We are not in favour of a ban, by the way. Children will get around a ban. It will actually make it more attractive. Anybody who knows anything about young people knows that. Young people, by and large, as all the polls show, do not want this stuff force-fed to them. They want to make their own decisions. Banning it is not the answer. It is about standing up to these guys and not letting them profiteer by force-feeding the poisonous stuff to our young people. Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n was recommending that in the first draft of the online safety code, but it took it out because of the lobbying of the companies. We know that because it is on record that they lobbied to take it out.  The Government just straightforwardly capitulates to these people because they are profiting from it, and then our society picks up the pieces in terms of our young people's well-being and mental health being assaulted by these toxic algorithms to the detriment of children, young women and vulnerable groups in our society and generally to the detriment of our society in creating a divisive toxic atmosphere which is getting ever worse. The Government should be ashamed of itself for doing this and for the priorities it has decided on but, as I said, there is a consistency in its policies. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  There is a gulf between words and actions here. The Minister of State said, and I would welcome it if it was true, that the Government is relentlessly committed to online safety, but that was part of a speech that was justifying why the Government is going to vote down this Bill. I repeat that the Bill is very simple and clear. It is an answer to the torrent of toxic material that is being fed to young people in particular. It is the answer that is being called for by a wide range of organisations and experts who have looked at this issue. In theory, it looks like the Government has a relentless commitment, but that is a commitment to protecting the profits of big tech companies. It is why, at a European level, they are not standing up against the big tech lobbying operation to further deregulate and undermine the levels of protections we have at a European level. Domestically, the Government is going to vote this down on the spurious basis that it is already dealing with it under the Digital Services Act. The Minister of State referred to Article 27 of the Digital Services Act and the requirement to mitigate risks, including to minors, and the requirement that very large platforms must give an option of algorithms that do not rely on profiling. Effectively, this is light-touch regulation and it may as well be self-regulation. The big tech companies can do what they want.  It is very interesting that in the senior Minister's speech, which we heard earlier, there was a line of argument that was pretty much directly taken from the tech companies' lobbying. The tech companies' lobbying that resulted in this proposal being taken out of the online safety code said that recommender systems play an important role in ensuring a safe, predictable and trusted online environment by ensuring that users are connected to relevant and high-quality information. The Minister stated that recommender systems and algorithms serve to protect people, including children and young people, from harmful content. The companies know that is not true. A report from Meta's internal research stated that 64% of all extremist group joins were due to its recommendation tools and that its recommendation systems grow the problem. A 2019 internal Meta document affirmed that content moderation was impossible and that the focus should instead be on stopping artificial amplification. The parallels with big tobacco are clear in terms of the harms being done to young people and the fact these people know all about it and know about the profits they are making from it.  The Minister said the algorithms are preferable to the unknown risk of switching off those recommender systems. That is bizarre. Deputy Albert Dolan, who is a backbench Fianna F\u00e1il TD, precisely described what will happen if the algorithm system is turned off. We will go back to a space where our social media feeds are curated by us. We will get to choose who we see. We will have a wholesome space of seeing our friends, community, etc., as opposed to toxic, misogynistic content being fed to young people. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  In accordance with Standing Order 85(2), the division is deferred until the weekly division time this evening. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Online Safety (Recommender Algorithms) Bill 2026: Second Stage [Private Members]"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-04\/debate\/dbsect_11","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions","counts":{"speechCount":55,"speakerCount":9},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_11","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  As we begin Leaders' Questions, I welcome everybody in the Visitors' Gallery and particularly the girls from Finglas who are here with my niece, Jocelyn, among them. The name of the school escapes me. I am sorry, girls. The Taoiseach will greet them as I am sure will Deputy Mary Lou McDonald. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  As a Cabra woman, I extend a particular welcome to all of the girls from Finglas - our neighbours. They are very welcome. T\u00e1 f\u00e1ilte rompu go l\u00e9ir.  We are already witnessing a surge in fuel prices in reaction to the US-Israeli onslaught in the Middle East. People across the country are reporting massive hikes in the cost of home heating oil, with prices having increased by as much as 35% in the past number of days. The cost of home heating oil was already high so people really cannot believe what they are seeing.  This morning, I was contacted by a 94-year-old woman from Wexford who relies on home heating oil to keep her house warm. Only last week, the price for a half fill of oil from her provider was \u20ac464. By midday today, that had jumped to \u20ac879. That is almost double the price in just days. This extortionate hike puts this elderly woman under huge pressure but her options are either pay up or go cold. This woman is not alone.  Yesterday, people spoke out on the radio about the price of home heating oil shooting up sharply in real time. Heating oil providers have jacked up their prices by hundreds of euro. This is blatant price-gouging and greed. It is a brazen rip-off, happening in plain sight. Of course, the price surge is also hitting motorists at the pumps. People are reporting increases as high as ten cent a litre since this onslaught began. Companies are clearly taking advantage of this crisis to squeeze even more profit from their customers. The Taoiseach is entirely passive on the matter. Yesterday, he said there was no excuse for price-gouging but it is not good enough to criticise price-gouging and then do absolutely nothing about it. By the way, writing a letter to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, CCPC, and asking for a review of the energy market is really no action at all. It is a cop-out. The Taoiseach needs to pick up the phone and tell the top brass in these companies to stop fleecing people. The Government needs to drop its plan to increase carbon tax in the coming weeks, increases that will drive up the cost of home heating oil even further. Surely, the Taoiseach can now accept it is his job to step in and act with purpose to protect households from these hikes and stop this price gouging.  T\u00e1 teaghlaigh cr\u00e1ite ag arduithe ollmh\u00f3ra ar phraghas an ola teas t\u00ed. T\u00e1 price-gouging agus saint le feice\u00e1il go soil\u00e9ir \u00f3 chomhlachta\u00ed. Caithfidh an Rialtas stop a chur leis an tsaill seo. The Taoiseach cannot do nothing as these price shocks hit home. For too long, the message from Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael to struggling households has been, \"You are on your own\". That has to change and change fast. People are under pressure. The Government needs to intervene to help.  Will the Government scrap its plan to push up the price of home heating oil even further? Will the Taoiseach tell people today that he will not hike carbon taxes while they struggle to heat their homes? Will he outline what concrete, direct action he will take to end this rip-off and stop the price-gouging? He is left with a clear choice: he can take on these price-gouging companies or he can sit back and force households to take the pain. Which choice will the Taoiseach make? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I welcome the students from Finglas. They are very welcome and I hope they enjoy their day in D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann. I hope it may spark and inspire some of them to come in some day as elected public representatives as well.  Admha\u00edm go bhfuil teaghlaigh fud fad na t\u00edre faoi bhr\u00fa de bharr an mh\u00e9id at\u00e1 ag tarl\u00fa maidir le praghsanna, go h\u00e1irithe praghsanna a bhaineann le fuinneamh. Mar a d\u00fairt m\u00e9 inn\u00e9, t\u00e1imid ag d\u00e9anamh machnaimh ar an sc\u00e9al agus beimid s\u00e1sta cabhair agus taca\u00edocht a thabhairt do dhaoine mar a rinneamar cheana nuair a bh\u00ed g\u00e9arch\u00e9im ann le linn gh\u00e9arch\u00e9im na h\u00dacr\u00e1ine.  There is a lot of uncertainty out there at the moment and no one should take advantage of that uncertainty to increase prices of energy or oil, be it home heating oil or on the forecourts. We are keeping everything under review in terms of the price situation and the impact on households. In the budget, we took very targeted measures to support people. One of the manifestations of that will be this wee when 50,000 families currently in receipt of the working family payment will receive their first fuel allowance payment and back pay on Thursday, 12 March. Any family on the working family payment will receive back pay of \u20ac380. That will help that cohort. That is a measure we took in the budget to include them for the first time in the free fuel allowance. The additional needs payment is also available for anyone in particular difficulty. The Minister for Social Protection has made it clear to community welfare officers to respond in that regard.  Prices on the forecourts should not have increased. They can be influenced but typically, it should be three to four weeks after a particular event for prices to be impacted at the forecourts. The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, has asked the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, to investigate the pass-through from wholesale prices to retail prices because we had elements of this in the context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and what happened there, although there was a longer lead-in during that crisis. Price increases came a bit later in the cycle. The Minister has asked the CRU to carry out an independent review of that and, in particular, the pass-through from wholesale to retail prices in particular. The Minister for enterprise has also written to the CCPC. We met with its officials on Monday and spoke about this particular issue.  At the European Council in two weeks, there will be a specific focus on energy pricing. One of the more fundamental challenges is the coupling of gas with renewables in the price market and structure that governs the European energy market. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  The Taoiseach has talked about that for a long time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That is an issue that was put on the agenda two weeks ago but will have an even sharper focus now because of the impact of this crisis on the energy market more generally.  We will keep any further measures under review. It is important that the Government's focus has been on targeting and using our resources for those most in need and those who need our supports. We have extended the reduction of VAT. We reduced VAT from 13% to 9% on electricity and gas bills. We are now keeping the rate at 9% until 2030.  We will look at this in the broader sense. I will not focus on any particular measure. The Deputy mentioned carbon tax but we will not pull the rug from under farmers, those who are retrofitting and those who depend on the free fuel allowance. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  T\u00e1 s\u00e9 soil\u00e9ir go bhfuil teaghlaigh faoi bhr\u00fa, ach t\u00e1 s\u00e9 soil\u00e9ir freisin nach bhfuil an Rialtas ag d\u00e9anamh aon rud - rud ar bith. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  No. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  I just heard from the Taoiseach an exposition of the fact he is doing nothing. That has been a real subplot of the entire cost-of-living crisis. It is a Government that is hands off, stands back and just allows households to take the pain. Energy companies, supermarket chains and insurance companies are ripping people off and the Government does nothing to stop them. The Taoiseach talked again about another review. In the name of God, how many reviews is the Government going to do?  It is probably, therefore, no surprise that this price-gouging has happened. Why would these companies not jack up their prices? They know they have nothing to fear from the Government. The Taoiseach says the price-gouging should not happen. Then the question is as to what is the Government going to do to stop it and the Taoiseach has no credible answer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  I have asked the Taoiseach to set aside the carbon tax increase. Will the Taoiseach do even that small gesture? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  How will the Taoiseach tackle these companies which are ripping people off? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy says it is a small gesture. That is the point. The carbon tax on its own would be a number of cent or whatever, but when we look at the carbon tax collectively, it has supported farmers, in particular, in terms of environmental agri-schemes with approximately \u20ac173 million allocated this year to that. We would not have the retrofitting scheme without it because we have ring-fenced it. We give all that back to the people through retrofitting. Then the third pillar is those in social protection. It is fuel poverty that the carbon tax addresses. The money goes back to the people who need it most. It goes back through retrofitting and it goes back to farmers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Did the Taoiseach hear my question? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, I told you: do not interrupt, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy asked about carbon tax. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Home heating oil. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Do not interrupt, Deputy, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  For this woman, the price has doubled in days. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Sorry, the Deputy has asked about it. We have said we are going to take measures----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  The Taoiseach is going to look at it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy has a habit of always looking for the knee-jerk reaction to everything----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Do I? The Taoiseach has a habit of looking for no reaction to my question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----and when she did it before----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Thankfully, we did not take the Deputy's advice before----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----because it would have been fairly disastrous if we had. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Before I move on, the students from St. Michael's Holy Faith from Finglas are most welcome. I call Deputy Bacik. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  Cuirim f\u00e1ilte rompu go l\u00e9ir. I welcome the students from St. Michael's in Finglas and also students from the City of Dublin Education and Training Board, CDETB, Parnell Square. Ironically, it is lovely to welcome them from Parnell Square on a day when Deputy Marie Sherlock has done so much to secure the future of the Rotunda Hospital in Parnell Square. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It is clearly a day of hyperbole. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  Many people in Ireland are now at breaking point from the cost-of-living crisis. This crisis has not just persisted; it has been turbocharged by global instability for sure but also by the Government's policies. Households are struggling on every front, with the price of housing, groceries and energy. Those already in poverty are being pushed even further to the margins and everyone is feeling the squeeze. The costs of everyday essentials have skyrocketed. In five years, butter and milk are 45% more expensive. This is not a statistic. These are the totals that people dread seeing pop up as they check out at the supermarket. People's bills are rising, while salaries stagnate and the Taoiseach is just standing by. The Government stood by while motor insurance crept up, while the biggest health insurers hiked their prices by more than 10%, and now, with Trump and Netanyahu\u2019s warmongering, and the retaliation by Iran and Hezbollah, we are seeing costs being driven even further through the roof.  Home heating oil, notoriously, has jumped 40% in a matter of days. One woman, who emailed me to raise her concerns, had to revise her email before she hit \"Send\". She said that they had put up the price again in the time it had taken her to type the message to me. This is price-gouging, pure and simple.  Irish energy bills were already inflated, long before this war. Petrol and diesel prices are climbing, but instead of taking on Deputy George Lawlor's proposed price caps, the Government hides behind working groups and task forces, letting the market run riot and making luxuries out of everyday essentials.  People are scared. Morgan McKinley tells us that pay rises have stalled, with wage increases lagging behind inflation, recruitment slowing and living standards slipping. I am helping a man who has taken a second job to try to support his family. He and his wife send their teenager to school with just bread and butter and a banana for lunch, while cutting back themselves. They are not alone in living that hardship.  Let us not even start on housing costs. Unaffordable and unavailable, last month the median price for a home in Dublin broke \u20ac500,000 and the Government's new rental rules mean an amnesty on rent hikes and an incentive to evict. There are so many notices to quit in Wexford and around the country.  In 2022, when Russia unleashed war on Ukraine, the Taoiseach told people to wait for inflation to reduce and when he cut temporary cost-of-living measures, he told people to wait and see. Households in Ireland need a government that intervenes when costs spiral, not a bystander government or a government that shrugs.  No one expects the Taoiseach to end world war, but will he act decisively to support people who are up against the wall and will he intervene to support those who are struggling in a cost-of-living crisis? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Of course, we have intervened in the cost of living over the past three to four years. More than any other government in Europe, we intervened with our allocations, both in the once-off cost-of-living interventions that we made for over two years at huge cost, but then with more permanent measures such as the free books scheme, which is a substantial reduction in costs for parents and families of school-going children and the hot school meals in every school across the country, likewise helping families.  We acknowledge families are under pressure. Of course, they are. Ever since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the post-Covid period and the weakening of supply chains, there has been an inflationary spiral. It has eased considerably in Ireland in inflationary terms, but the impact on the cost of living and the elevated prices remains for many households.  We significantly reduced all the medical expenditures that were there five or six years ago in terms of the drugs payment scheme threshold being reduced and getting rid of quite a lot of hospital charges that people had to fork out.  In terms of social protection, we had a \u20ac10 increase in the maximum rate of all State pensions from January of this year and likewise, for the jobseeker's allowance. There was the biggest increase ever in child support payments,. For any child over 12, the family gets \u20ac16 additional to \u20ac78 a week, and for children under 12, plus \u20ac8 to \u20ac58 a week. Of course, the fuel allowance was increased by \u20ac5 per week, but also the numbers of people benefiting went up significantly because we extended it to the working family payment to such an extent that 26% of households are now entitled to the fuel allowance and it is backdated to January. It is not a true story to say that the Government has done nothing or the Government has not intervened.  We have also extended the reduced VAT rate on energy bills, from 13% to 9%, and that will be extended to 2030. We have also taken very substantial measures in terms of retrofitting, which will ultimately reduce the costs for households who benefit from that over the long term, and immediately once it is done. Our interventions have been targeted in many areas and we will continue to support households and families.  Real wages have increased by 3% over the past 12 months. That is the reality and that is a fact. Members can dismiss that easily through rhetoric or something, but that is the reality. That said, there are still pressures on families. We will keep all of this under review in terms of how this unfolds over the next while. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  The Taoiseach outlined measures taken. The Labour Party welcomes any measures that will ease pressure for struggling households, but even the Taoiseach acknowledged that families and households are still struggling, and that not enough has been done to help people, who are now desperately fearful as they see the likely prospect of inflation spiralling again and as they see already, as I have said, home heating oil vastly increased in price.  Here is what else the Taoiseach could be doing, because the Labour Party has proposed constructive solutions. The Government could use the powers it has under the Consumer Protection Act 2007 to cap the price of home heating oil, as Labour has urged, instead of just saying it will keep matters under review. The Government could, of course, if it was a government that took climate action seriously, invest heavily in renewables to support people who wish to and, indeed, need to make the transition away from reliance on home heating oil. The Taoiseach speaks about retrofitting, but we have seen simply not enough done to encourage the sort of retrofitting revolution that my colleague Deputy Ahern has called for. Will the Taoiseach take on tangible practical additional measures to support struggling households? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We are investing in renewables to an unprecedented extent. Between 40% and 45% of all electricity generation is through renewables in Ireland today, and approximately 40% through gas. One of the structural problems with this, of course, is across Europe there is a coupling of gas and very often gas dictates the ultimate price. Price caps generally do not work and we would need to consider that very carefully before we would implement such a measure.  We will keep everything under review in terms of how this situation unfolds and we appreciate the pressures that are on people.  Again, the CCPC is there to investigate and engage with companies and the market to fundamentally ensure price-gouging does not happen and that unfair advantage is not taken of people.  We will also continue to engage on that issue as a Government, and we will have further meetings today relating to that specific item. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  Denise Whitmore was absolutely devastated when she learned at a routine scan in November 2024 that her baby's brain had not developed and that the condition was fatal. After a lot of consideration, Denise and her husband Mark made the heartbreaking decision to terminate the pregnancy but because doctors could not be absolutely certain her baby would die within 28 days, as is required by current legislation, Denise was forced to travel to the UK for treatment.  To say it was not an easy journey is an understatement. Denise was six months pregnant and was bleeding from an additional complication of a low-lying placenta. On the day they were due to travel, their ferry to Holyhead was cancelled. This meant travelling to Pembroke instead, followed by a five-hour car journey to Liverpool. Once they were at the hospital, doctors stopped the baby's heart and Denise prepared to give birth, but she began to haemorrhage. She lost five units of blood, causing her body to go into shock. Doctors were forced to do an emergency C-section, and they had to warn Denise in advance that they may need to do a hysterectomy to stop the bleeding. When \u00c9adha was born, Denise and Mark spent some time with their daughter in the hospital.  As if all of this was not hard enough, they then had to think about the legality of getting home. A consultant in Liverpool warned them to put \u00c9adha's body in the boot of their car and smuggle her back to Ireland, but they could not bring themselves to do that. When they got to the ferry, Mark declared they were bringing their daughter home, and they were gripped by fear that they might be arrested. This legislation is inhumane. If it were not for a kind worker at the ferry terminal allowing them to travel, they would not have been able to bring \u00c9adha home to meet her three-year-old brother and the rest of her family.  Denise's trauma did not end there. Despite having major surgery in the UK, there was zero follow-up care for her in Ireland. Even when she presented to a bereavement midwife to get counselling, she was told it was not available. Denise and her family were on their own. Every year, 240 women have to travel to the UK to access abortion care; each one with their own story of grief, trauma and sheer horror at what they are forced to go through. It is a complete and utter disgrace.  An expert report recommending clarity on the provision of care in cases of foetal abnormality and the end to criminalisation of doctors was published in April 2023. For three years, the Government has ignored these recommendations----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy. The Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  -----and the result is hundreds of women like Denise who are forced to travel for care.  My question is simple: is the Government going to continue to ignore these women and make them suffer? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I wish to extend my deepest sympathies to Denise Whitmore, Mark and the entire family on the tragic loss of baby \u00c9adha, and the very difficult and traumatic circumstances of both Denise's pregnancy and what subsequently happened with the travel to the United Kingdom, particularly the journey back.  As the Deputy knows, the legislation came as a result of the constitutional referendum we had in respect of this issue a number of years ago. The legislation was consistent with commitments given in the debate to the Irish people prior to the repeal of the eighth amendment. It was a contested referendum and various arguments were put forward on both sides. Various commitments were given in respect of how subsequent legislation would be formulated and what it would contain. In many respects, one of the key motivations for a lot of people who voted \"Yes\" to repealing the eighth amendment was the experience of women who had been through fatal foetal abnormality. I met quite a number of women who told me the harrowing journeys they made to the United Kingdom and back. Certainly, I found it a very powerful, motivating factor for a proper humane response to a situation such as this.  Again, there was a lot of contested debate around this; hence what has transpired in the termination of pregnancy Act 2018 and in particular, the section referring to the provision before or within those 28 days of birth. There have been issues out of that as a result of the referendum and Act itself. I do not understand why bereavement counselling was not made available; it should be made available. There should be no excuse for the absence of bereavement counselling in situations such as this. I will pursue that with the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, and the Department, as to what transpired.  As regards the wider issue, the Act itself is consistent with the debate and commitments that were given. Section 11, in particular, puts in that provision. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Cairns to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  This will be reviewed by the Government. I thank Denise Whitmore for speaking out because we need to hear her voice and the voice of women in situations like this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  Ultimately, when we voted on repeal, we voted to take women's healthcare out of the Constitution and put it into the hands of doctors, the Members in this House and women themselves. No legislation is set in stone, and everybody who voted on this knows that.  A review was also baked into that. With all the other things the Taoiseach has spoken about which people voted on, we also voted that there would be a review. It took five years for that review to happen and a lot of people suffered in that time. Then, we finally got the review and the recommendations were clear: the criminalisation of doctors, cases of fatal foetal abnormalities and the three-day mandatory waiting period all needed to go. The Government has had three years to act on that and it has not. I agree with the Taoiseach that many people who voted \"Yes\" to repeal, voted \"Yes\" because of women who needed terminations for medical reasons, yet they are still forced to travel.  Inaction on this is cruel. I ask the Taoiseach to act and to act fast. He says the Government is going to review this. Can he elaborate on the timeline for this? Will he will allow a free vote on this in the D\u00e1il? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  In our party we have a free vote, and I initiated that well over a decade ago on matters pertaining to life and death. Let us acknowledge that this has been a hugely contested area in our country. It was a major decision by the Irish people, and one I supported, as the Deputy knows, both inside and outside the House, in respect of the change that occurred.  The Government will examine the review, and we will revert to the House once that examination takes place. I will consult with the Minister for Health in that regard. It is important to point out about 575 terminations occurred under section 11 of the Act between 2019 and 2024 but the Deputy instance about 240 women who have had to travel to the United Kingdom. We need to hear from the experiences of those women to inform the governmental and political review. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  As the Middle East is in turmoil, we are witnessing another spike in the price of fossil fuels, which still power too much of our economy. Our energy system needs to meet three key challenges in the year ahead.  It needs to provide affordable energy, which will allow us to travel and warm our homes without breaking the bank. It needs to provide security of supply so we are not at risk of energy shortages in a turbulent world. We need to decarbonise our energy system to address the climate crisis and improve air quality around our homes. The Green Party has always argued that the only way for us to meet these three interconnected challenges is for us to scale up wind, solar and energy storage at pace. One of the big changes between this Government and the previous one is that this Government has identified the use of LNG as a key part of its energy strategy. This is seen not just in the proposal for a State-owned terminal in Clare but in the wider removal of policies like the ban on fracked gas that will serve private LNG providers. I hope the impacts of this war on energy pricing cause the Taoiseach to change his policy. Embracing LNG, as the Taoiseach proposes, fails to deliver affordability. It actually locks us in to the continued cycle of energy price shocks. We have the evidence of this in the spike in gas prices over the last few days. Nor does LNG provide us with security of supply. Qatar's decision yesterday to shut its Ras Laffan gas terminal shows how fickle gas supplies can be across the world. An Irish LNG terminal will leave the US as the main supplier of LNG imports and thereby place our energy security at the whim of the Trump Administration.  Of course, LNG is the exact opposite of decarbonisation as the fuel is two thirds more carbon intensive than traditional natural gas according to research from the International Energy Agency. Ireland needs its own energy so we can make our own choices, yet the ORESS 1 offshore renewable energy projects all seem to be stuck in the mud. The State has a target of 5 GW of offshore renewable wind energy by 2030. At this point it looks like the Taoiseach's Government will achieve none of that. We are in a position now, with the decommissioning of the Arklow Bank, where we may actually have less offshore renewable energy at the end of this Government than at its beginning. What is the Taoiseach's best estimate of when we will see the 5 GW of offshore wind delivered? In light of the curtailing of supply and the huge spike in the cost of LNG in recent days, will the Taoiseach reconsider the Government's policy to introduce LNG into our energy mix as it fails all three tests of affordability, security of supply and decarbonisation? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I disagree with the very false narrative the Deputy has put before the House in respect of the Government's position on renewables. It is a deliberately created false narrative by the Green Party in order to present the idea that it is indispensable to climate change. I have to say that strongly because I really reject what the Deputy has said. I think it is wrong and it is deliberately wrong. We are one year in government. Any delays in offshore wind, for example, cannot be laid at the hands of this Government because the Green Party had that portfolio for the last five years, subsequent to 2020. The Deputy must be well aware of the challenges. We are totally focused on offshore wind and getting that out there. One of the changes I have made is to establish a clearing house for offshore wind. I brought industry in. You guys refused to do that for five years----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  No. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  You did. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  They did nothing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I had them around the table. The Secretary General of my Department chairs it. I attend it and I chair for the hour and go through it. We have brought in industry and every single Government Department. We have talked to all the various agencies involved as well to look at any generic obstacles that we can remove, or any barriers to accelerate offshore wind. We have carried out an onshore wind revolution in this country over many decades now. Every party that was in government over the last 30 years, and the county councils, have facilitated that. The Deputy should acknowledge that. We have not shifted our focus. I want to get it done as quickly as we possibly can. It is absolutely essential. It is wrong of the Deputy to say that somehow we have moved to LNG as opposed to offshore wind. The evidence does not suggest that. Why did we move to create an LNG strategic reserve? The Deputy should know this too. It is for security. The papers and the files in the Department are very clear. The advices are very clear. Deputy O'Gorman talked about security of supply. Because of security vulnerabilities, if anything happened to our gas interconnectors our economy would be stalled after ten days. That is the advice. We need a security backup. A State-owned strategic reserve facility is being established to give us that backup in the event of malicious or malign forces undermining the gas interconnectors. That is not fanciful. We just have to look at what happened in the Baltic Sea with interference and interventions with various pieces of infrastructure. We know our subsea cables have been monitored. We know the gas connectors were monitored. The Irish Naval Service and UK divers had to inspect them, after a particular ship of the shadow fleet lingered over those gas pipelines, to make sure nothing untoward had happened. That is the reality. The Deputy should not paint that as some sort of shift away from our climate and our commitment to offshore wind. I think that is very unfair. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  The Taoiseach has not been able to provide me with any firm sense of when that renewable energy from offshore wind will start to feed into our national grid. What we know when it comes to security of supply is that Qatar has shut off its entire production on the understandable basis of being attacked in one of the most unstable regions in the world. Is that what security of supply looks like to the Taoiseach? The price of LNG shot up by 46% yesterday. Is that what affordability looks like to the Taoiseach? I am not going to make the decarbonisation argument to the Taoiseach, as I am more and more convinced that it is not an issue of particular importance to the Taoiseach's Government any more. On the basis of affordability and on the basis of security of supply, LNG fails the test. It is the Government's policy to hard-wire that failed approach into our energy system. This will leave Irish households vulnerable to consistently higher prices and leave the State vulnerable to energy shocks caused by international events like we are seeing right now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy keeps articulating his false narrative, but that does not make the narrative true. It is a dishonest portrayal of the Government's commitment in this area. We are a bit more pragmatic than the Green Party was, I would respectfully suggest. I have great respect for the Deputy and his party in many areas----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  They destroyed the country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----but we are far more pragmatic in how we are going to deliver this and get it done faster than would have been the case. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  They destroyed it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Last year the RESS 5 and the ORESS Tonn Nua auctions were delivered and at a very competitive price for consumers with both auctions clearing. I will not go through the specific prices. RESS 5 involves 1 GW of new renewable electricity capacity. The Deputy knows this. A lot of good groundwork was done by the last Government but the Deputy's predecessor knew exactly the timelines as well as everybody else. I would argue that what we are doing now in offshore wind is accelerating it to a greater extent than would have been the case if we had not taken over the portfolio, to be blunt about it.  On the gas, it is about security of supply. That is the core issue there. If anything was to happen to current supplies in terms of the interconnector, we would be in deep trouble. The Deputy should at least acknowledge that. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-04\/debate\/dbsect_12","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 na Comhalta\u00ed Eile - Other Members\u2019 Questions","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_12","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Lowry","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Lowry.D.1987-03-10","memberCode":"Michael-Lowry.D.1987-03-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Lowry","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Lowry.D.1987-03-10","memberCode":"Michael-Lowry.D.1987-03-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Lowry  I want to address the proposed water supply pipeline from the River Shannon to Dublin. In what would be the largest water project in the history of the State, more than 300 million litres of water a day will be taken from the River Shannon and transported through approximately 170 km of pipeline to supply Dublin at an estimated cost of \u20ac5 billion. Although the Government has described the work to be carried out as an imperative, there are genuine concerns about this project across communities in north Tipperary and the midlands. It will have an impact on one of Ireland's most treasured natural wonders. Local anglers have highlighted the potential environmental impact of the project, especially on migratory fish including trout and salmon. Businesses along the River Shannon and Lough Derg that rely on the tourism industry are worried about what this could mean for their livelihoods. I am speaking about accommodation providers, local pubs, caf\u00e9s and small shops. Many of them are small family-run businesses whose enterprises are sustained by the river and the tourism visitors it attracts. Landowners are also raising questions about what the project would mean for them in terms of the construction involved and how this may cause significant disruption. We are all aware of the need for water infrastructure, and particularly in our most populated areas, but it cannot come at the expense of one community's way of life to sustain another.  Having been kept updated on the project's development over the years, I understand why the people impacted need certainty that all alternatives have been truly explored before we risk damaging this critical waterway. We should look, for instance, at improving storage capacity closer to where demand exists and at upgrading the infrastructure already available.  Will the Taoiseach outline the assessments carried out regarding the impact of the proposed water supply project on local communities along the Shannon? Is Government satisfied with Uisce \u00c9ireann's analysis and assessment of the project? Can the Taoiseach explain why the Government believes extracting water from the Shannon is the necessary solution, rather than prioritising greater water storage and resilience measures closer to where demand exists?  We are aware the Dublin network is leaking badly. Will there be a large-scale replacement programme to cover Dublin's network or will we be piping fresh new water into a system that is already leaking? We have a poor record in delivering large-scale public projects on time and within budget. Does the Taoiseach have reason to believe this ambitious project will be different from past failures? Does Uisce \u00c9ireann have the capability to manage a project of this magnitude? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I appreciate there are concerns but I would say to all public representatives of all parties that we need to imbue in our nation a sense of strategic direction. Historically, we got it right in terms of utilities. That underpinned inward investment into this country and economic development without question. We are at a tipping point now in respect of whether we are prepared to make the big leaps forward and to underpin, for future generations, basic utilities for economic development and for the very basic supply of water itself. We acknowledge there is a housing crisis. Water will enable us to build more houses. If we do not get this done, there will be thousands and thousands of houses we cannot build.  Moving on to the core issue, alternative options have been examined. The midlands will benefit enormously from this and the midlands needs development. People are advocating for new cities, for Athlone and so on. If we do not do this, people can forget about all of that. This is essential.  I accept one thing, and I have said this to Irish Water. There needs to be a comprehensive communication approach to explain to people on the ground the benefits and how it will not impact on areas of importance to bed and breakfasts, hotels and businesses that depend on the amenity and recreational value of the Shannon, and anglers and so on.  Desalination was looked at, as were groundwater sources, new reservoirs, additional abstraction from other rivers and further leakage reduction. All of those were fully assessed. Each was found to be insufficient to meet the scale of long-term demand, did not provide the required resilience or carried significantly higher environmental or cost impacts.  Leakage rates are coming down. Uisce \u00c9ireann has reduced water leakage from 49% to 36% nationally and 37% to 30% in Dublin, driven by a \u20ac2 billion investment in the network, including leakage reduction, over the past decade. It is important to remember the level of the Shannon and its flow are currently monitored and managed within a standard band by the ESB as part of operations at Ardnacrusha. Uisce \u00c9ireann is working with the EPA and the ESB and is clear this will not compromise the ecology of the Shannon or water services for local communities. Extensive preparation and studies have been undertaken and Uisce \u00c9ireann will continue to monitor the project during and after its construction. I was told by Irish Water representatives, when I met them two weeks ago on this and other issues, that any impact on local communities will be negligible. We are very conscious of kayakers, anglers and those who use it for amenity. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Lowry","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Lowry.D.1987-03-10","memberCode":"Michael-Lowry.D.1987-03-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Lowry  I agree Uisce \u00c9ireann needs to communicate the information it has and it needs to have the public's trust. It is important that happens. I was struck by the fact that in recent months we have seen unprecedented rainfall yet very little of that rainwater is captured or stored by homeowners or businesses. We should be doing far more to prioritise rainwater harvesting in our communities. Simple and inexpensive systems are available that could be installed to capture rainwater for non-drinking purposes, such as gardening or cleaning.  As well as turning to these big projects that involve extracting water from one region to supply another, we should look at how best we can capture and manage rainfall. We get plenty of it in Ireland and it is guaranteed every year. How can we capture, harvest and reuse it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I could not agree more. It is something that has annoyed me a bit. I have been talking to various Ministers. We have to incentivise rain harvesting for non-drinking purposes and there are a lot of easy ways of doing that. We are all waiting for the summer. Hopefully, we will get a bit of sun. If we get the inevitable banning of utilisation of water for the garden or whatever, we will all eat our hat, given the amount of rain that has fallen over the past number of months. The Deputy is absolutely correct on that.  I will make a general point. Ireland is a small enough country. Many of our people and families are living in the midlands or in Dublin. Protecting their future is what we are about here. I am not saying the Deputy is doing this but I hope people do not use this politically or electorally. There is a lot of infrastructural stuff we cannot get done. There was a Deputy in the House recently who had legitimate concerns about a gas generation station, a solar farm and a wind farm - all three. I am left asking the question: how do we switch the light bulb on if we do not do something? "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 na Comhalta\u00ed Eile - Other Members\u2019 Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-04\/debate\/dbsect_13","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Pholasa\u00ed n\u00f3 ar Reachta\u00edocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation","counts":{"speechCount":72,"speakerCount":20},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_13","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel McCarthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  The idea of moving the Rotunda Hospital out to Connolly in Blanchardstown never made sense but, of course, Fine Gael and Fianna F\u00e1il would not listen. They used this makey-uppy plan to starve the Rotunda, the largest maternity hospital in the country, of resources, investment and development. Now that Fine Gael and Fianna F\u00e1il have finally dropped this crazy policy I, and I am sure all the women of Dublin and beyond, expect to see action and investment for the critical care unit, for the sexual assault unit and for the full and extensive modernisation of the hospital. Eleven years have been wasted. For 11 years, Governments used this colocation plan as an excuse for inaction. The Government needs to get its act together now because women and babies simply cannot wait. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy make things up as she goes along. I was not in government in 2017 and neither was my party but that is not the point. There was good rationale for colocation. The Deputy knows that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  There was never a rationale for it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Please, Deputy. It does not work like that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Everybody agrees with colocation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  It is colocation with the Mater. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, it does not work like that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The essentials of colocation are there. We did not starve the Rotunda of funding. How dare the Deputy say that? I just opened facilities. There has been investment in the Rotunda. This is an important development. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Minimal investment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  In our view, the expansion that is required is important for the protection of women and newborn babies. We would have preferred if planning was given. In our view, it was still justified, notwithstanding whatever happened in 2017 in terms of the colocation declaration. All of the medical world believes in colocation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  It is colocated with the Mater. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Not physically. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  This afternoon, the D\u00e1il will debate post office closures. Across the country, we see the hollowing-out of our post office network. Government representatives may lament each closure today but the Government has the power to halt and reverse the closure of in-person services.  Take Rathmines, a community in my constituency with a similar population to Drogheda. Having already lost the citizens information centre, now our beloved, iconic 1930s Rathmines post office faces closure, relocation and sale on the private market. This is selling the family silver. The Ministers, Deputies O\u2019Donovan and Chambers, have the power to stop this sale today. We could see our post offices transformed into community hubs for public services like passport and driving licence renewal, keeping people from isolation and bolstering communities.  We are fighting to retain Rathmines post office. We are engaging with An Post, the council, the Rathmines Initiative and others but will those in government ensure that we see the retention of post offices and react to stop their closure? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We are working flat out. We have allocated \u20ac15 million to support the post office network. We had allocated funding last year and the year before to maintain the post office network. I cannot get into every specific post office, obviously, but generally speaking we are very supportive of the postmasters. We understand the role that post offices play in communities the length and breadth of the country. An Post is fully conscious of Government's desire in this respect. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  The war in the Middle East is spiralling out of control and the impacts are already being felt. Prices for home heating oil have already shot up by 40% which means people having to find an extra \u20ac250 or \u20ac300 for a 500-litre fill. Who has that kind of money? Gas prices are also skyrocketing within the UK, with the UK recording a 100% increase in wholesale prices in just two days. That is the biggest ever 48-hour increase since records began. We are particularly exposed to these extortionate price rises in this country because we already have one of the highest prices of electricity and energy in the EU. Electricity and gas prices are still 60% to 80% higher than they were before the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Government has done nothing to investigate this gouging. When will the Government do more than just talk about the extortionate cost of energy in this country? We have 320,000 people in arrears on their electricity bills and as the war continues things will get much worse. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  There is no question that people under pressure. We introduced targeted measures in the budget. I do not know whether the Deputy agrees with a targeted approach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  We want targeted. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We did that in the budget and one of the manifestations of that is the fact that 50,000 people this Thursday will get the fuel allowance who otherwise would not have got it in previous years - those on the working family payment. They will get back pay of about \u20ac380 next week but they are getting notification this week on Thursday. We keep everything under review and it is important that we do that. We understand the potential pressures on people. Agreements have already been reached with the company in terms of hardship cases. People will not be disconnected in any shape or form. The exceptional needs payment is there as well for anyone in particular difficulty or in need. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  I am raising the school building needs of Gaelscoil Col\u00e1iste Mhuire in Dublin's north inner city. As the Taoiseach knows, the school had been temporarily located on a site in Parnell Street for 23 years and it is long overdue its move to a new building on Dominick Street. Right now, it is occupying the former DIT building on Cathal Brugha Street. Construction on the new building finally started in 2023 but then building came to a halt in May 2025 due to a contractor issue. It is not fair that the school community has been left in the dark over the status of this new building. The parents, students and staff of this school have been incredibly resilient and they deserve better. When will work resume on the new building? Will the school be able to remain in the temporary premises on Cathal Brugha Street in the meantime? Can this information be provided directly to the school community? That third point is really important. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising what is a really important issue for the community of Gaelscoil Col\u00e1iste Mhuire. I will certainly speak to Minister for education on this. I do not have a clear timeline yet on the issue. Obviously, there was a contractual conflict that resulted in us ending up where we are now. The suspension of works notice issued in May last year and the termination of the contract in July. I will seek clarity from the from the departmental officials and I will ask them to communicate to the Deputy on that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  I have raised Adrigole's public water crisis over 15 times in the last few months. There have been 22 mains water bursts since last July, with three alone last week, leaving local people and businesses without water, including the local cr\u00e8che. Some were without water for ten days and the cr\u00e8che had to close. Uisce \u00c9ireann is involved in a juggling game with the people of Adrigole, telling me a few weeks ago that works would commence in mid-April but telling other representatives last weekend it will be the end of May. However, an email from Uisce \u00c9ireann to me yesterday stated that Adrigole is on schedule for construction to commence in mid-April. The game is constantly juggling around. The local community in Adrigole want the Government's help. They know that as part of the full water replacement works, temporary pipes are to be put in place most likely on a ditch, as happens in other communities - there is no problem there - while the main replacement works continue. The people in Adrigole are pleading for the temporary water pipe to be put in place immediately. They should not need to wait until the job commences in three or four months' time. Uisce \u00c9ireann should put the temporary pipe in place immediately and then let it get the other approvals it needs in a couple of months. The temporary pipe needs to be put in now so that people have a water supply and then do the main works in a few months. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Did the Deputy say it was starting in April? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  No. It promised me. Now it is saying May but it could be June. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy has to correspond differently. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  So, they have no water as it stands. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I will engage with Irish Water on this. If it is April well and good. The Deputy is saying it could go back to May. We are now in March so we are not too far away from getting this work done. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan  Yesterday on Taoiseach's Questions, I raised the significant problem of residential care provision for families in Cork. The Taoiseach knows the difficulties facing families and he has met a number of them. I know his office is inundated with requests for help. Unfortunately, particularly in Cork, it seems we are running from crisis to crisis. It seems that respite or residential care is only available for people in those crisis situations. I know the Taoiseach knows this is not a way to run a disability service. I have asked a number of parliamentary questions over the past few weeks and it seems that funding for different disability service providers is very erratic and ad hoc . Sometimes it just rolls over for historical or legacy reasons. I ask the Taoiseach to discuss it with the Minister, Deputy Norma Foley, and to commit to a review of how we found our disability service providers particularly in Cork. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  There are two points there. First, an extra 20% has been allocated for services, some of which is for respite and residential. I have asked for this item to be put on the next agenda for Cabinet subcommittee in respect of accommodation. We need to create a proper sustainable structure linking the providers, the section 39 bodies, the HSE and the local authorities in terms of proper structures and options for families particularly those with adult disabled persons who require accommodation with varying degrees of supports. That is a priority of mine and I am going to focus on that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Neville  I wish to raise the topic of URDF or its successor, the new cities and towns initiative. I welcome the Taoiseach's announcement yesterday that the housing Minister had raised this at Cabinet and that a new round of funding will be provided for populated areas which are in desperate need of it. In my constituency of Kildare North, towns like Leixlip, Celbridge, Maynooth and Naas are all areas which have seen huge population growth in the past 15 years and new housing continues to be built in these areas. This is being done without much State investment in communities or facilities. URDF funding typically had been given to rejuvenate older large towns and I hope this funding is now being directly used for our rapidly growing towns. I acknowledge that this is not just a north Kildare issue but one that our colleagues in Ashbourne, Athy, Oranmore, Bray and Blanchardstown also know about. When will it be introduced? Can we ensure that this initiative will not just be about future housing development areas but also about areas which have had significant development over past five to seven years so that we can ensure that we backfill those areas too? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It is opening in the next two weeks. There are no restrictions on where it can be applied or on who can apply, and there never has been, other than the population threshold. Some new developing areas have received it as well as areas where people wanted the rejuvenation of older parts of a city or a town. The Deputy has named so many towns that I would say he would nearly take the budget himself. Under the old URDF if funding was allocated, the local authorities needed to get the work done faster. The Minister is going to apply timelines and if it is not used, we will take it back and use it somewhere else. There was an inordinate length of time to get funding through with the last URDF. This is the new living cities and towns initiative. I have asked the Minister to try to be as flexible as possible on that population threshold but we will see where that ends up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Claire Kerrane  Yesterday, I stood outside with paramedics who are protesting over the latest decision by the National Ambulance Service management. Every graduating class since the introduction of the paramedic studies course has seen an automatic move for paramedics from a purpose contract to a permanent contract but that no longer appears to be the case.  It is incredible, given the number of paramedics we need, that the management would now be putting roadblocks in the way of paramedics. It looks like management is saying we have too many paramedics, when in fact we all know we need many more. I am becoming increasingly concerned by some of the decisions being made by the management of the National Ambulance Service, NAS. It is privileging courses. It stopped advanced paramedic training and then reintroduced it. There are serious concerns.  I want to ask the Taoiseach specifically about the 80 fully qualified paramedics and the return to the move to a permanent contract. We need every one of them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  This issue was raised yesterday. The note I have here states that there will be continued expansion of the front-line workforce of the National Ambulance Service. Plans for 2026 include an additional 263 staff and \u20ac20 million in new funding. That will deliver 21 extra crewed ambulances operating at peak demand, four additional intermediate care vehicles and continued development of the clinical hub and alternative care pathways. The HSE has confirmed that full-time permanent contracts are available for all year 3 graduates completing training with the NAS in 2026. These roles include vacancies arising from retirements and promotions, as well as new posts linked to service development under the national service plan.  The graduates have been asked to select their three preferred locations in a region from the available vacancies and every effort will be made to accommodate first preferences. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Carol Nolan  I raise the issue of hedge cutting. I call on the Government to intervene urgently to ensure that the hedge cutting period is extended as soon as possible. I have received a number of calls from agri contractors and farming families who are very concerned. Because of the unprecedented rainfall, things are behind and that is the way it is. In the interests of safety, we should definitely prioritise this. The Association of Farm & Forestry Contractors in Ireland has proposed an extension to 17 March, which I feel is reasonable. It represents 1,200 contractors throughout this country. I am asking for the extension of the hedge cutting period to 17 March. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I will talk to the various Ministers. Every year, people look for an extension of deadlines that we already put in. There is a reason they are there, by the way. There are two sides to the story and we need to be conscious of the other side as well. For safety, it has to be done. I will talk to the Ministers to see what the actual position is and get the background to the situation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel McCarthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Noel McCarthy  I raise the matter of the Fermoy Weir in my constituency of Cork East. As the Taoiseach is no doubt aware, the Fermoy Weir sustained flood damage almost a decade ago, with the increased flow through the breach eroding a section of the structure. The weir is a protected structure and a very important part of Fermoy town. Planning permission for remedial works and the installation of a fish bypass was approved in February 2024. Cork County Council is sourcing funding to commence these works. Given the importance of the weir to both the town of Fermoy and the wider Blackwater region, will the Taoiseach use his good offices to ensure that funding is secured to allow work to proceed? The project has planning approval and consent to begin works but has no designated funding. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I appreciate the Deputy raising the issue. I was at the weir some years ago and saw the damage done and so forth. It is a huge amenity in a beautiful area. What is the cost? I am not aware of the council having come to me about the issue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel McCarthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Noel McCarthy  The cost is \u20ac6 million and the council is willing to pay \u20ac3 million. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy can write to the Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The council is willing to pay \u20ac3 million. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel McCarthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Noel McCarthy  Yes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We are getting close, so. I was going to call it was a drop in the ocean, if you will excuse the pun. I will ask the Minister to engage with the council to see what can be done here. It is important work that has to be done. It has been a long time since that storm damage. We will see what we can do. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh  Families in south Kildare are already feeling the effects of the illegal war of the US and Israel against Iran in their pockets. T\u00e1imid ag feice\u00e1il cheana f\u00e9in na h\u00e9ifeachta\u00ed boilscithe de bharr chogadh m\u00eddhleathach na St\u00e1t Aontaithe agus Iosrael in aghaidh na hIar\u00e1ine. T\u00e1 teaghlaigh i gCill Dara ag aireacht\u00e1il an bhr\u00fa seo ina bp\u00f3ca\u00ed. Cuireadh ar an eolas m\u00e9 ar\u00e9ir gur mh\u00e9adaigh comhlacht amh\u00e1in at\u00e1 lonnaithe i gCill Dara Theas a bpraghas ar l\u00edonadh ola faoi \u20ac200 thar o\u00edche. N\u00edl aon cheist faoi ach gur praghasfheannadh at\u00e1 anseo. This is price-gouging, pure and simple. T\u00e1 teaghlaigh ag streachailt is muid i l\u00e1r gh\u00e9arch\u00e9im chostas maireacht\u00e1la. Is \u00e9 ard\u00fa mar seo an difr\u00edocht idir an teach a th\u00e9amh n\u00f3 gan \u00e9 a th\u00e9amh. An f\u00e9idir leis an Taoiseach a insint dom cad a dh\u00e9anfaidh a Rialtas chun srian a chur ar na comhlachta\u00ed at\u00e1 ag d\u00e9anamh brab\u00fais agus gn\u00e1th-theaghlaigh th\u00edos leis? An nd\u00e9anfaidh s\u00e9 athchinneadh ar ard\u00fa i gc\u00e1nacha carb\u00f3nacha a d\u2019fh\u00e1gfadh go mbeidh s\u00e9 n\u00edos daora f\u00f3s do dhaoine a thithe a th\u00e9amh an bhliain amach romhainn? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Mar a d\u00fairt m\u00e9 cheana inniu, bhuail an tAire, an Teachta O'Brien, leis na comhlachta\u00ed cheana. Mar aon leis sin, t\u00e1 an CRU ag d\u00e9anamh fiosraithe ar an margadh faoi l\u00e1thair agus go h\u00e1irithe na praghsanna wholesale go dt\u00ed retail. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 sin faoi chaibidil ag an CRU ag an mbabhta seo. Mar aon leis sin, t\u00e1 an tAire, an Teachta Peter Burke, ag d\u00e9ile\u00e1il leis an sc\u00e9al chomh maith leis na h\u00fadar\u00e1is a bhaineann le com\u00f3rtas - the competition authority - chun iad sin a shoil\u00e9iri\u00fa i dtaobh cad at\u00e1 ar si\u00fal ag na comhlachta\u00ed \u00e9ags\u00fala. N\u00ed c\u00f3ir d'aon chomhlacht bunt\u00e1iste a bhaint as an ng\u00e9arch\u00e9im seo. Is l\u00e9ir go bhfuil roinnt acu \u00e1 dh\u00e9anamh. Beimid s\u00e1sta aon rud is f\u00e9idir linn a dh\u00e9anamh a dh\u00e9anamh. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  We received the local improvement scheme, LIS, allocation of \u20ac1.13 million last week. While we welcome the funding, we need a lot more. This funding will just about do for between somewhere between 20 and 25 roads. There are still over 550 roads on the list. We started out with 700 back in 2018.  The local authority has signalled that it could deal with 100 or 120 applications each year if it receives the funding. However, these are not private roads. There is a perception out there that maybe they are, but they are not. They are public roads with as many as 20 users on many of them. Those people are entitled to good roads as much as the people in Dublin 4 are. How are we going to deal with this enormous problem? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy. Time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  Will the Government give more funding or what? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  These people are entitled to a good road like everyone else. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I am reminded that Deputy Timmins was the only Deputy in the House yesterday who said we need to be careful not to think that public expenditure has to increase all the time. We need value for money, too. The Deputy is looking for more money, but we did allocate approximately \u20ac1.13 million to Kerry under the LIS. That is the largest amount in a long time and is the highest in the country. All the Deputies in Kerry, the Deputy's colleagues on all fronts and his good self, have been on to us in respect of that.  I am not going to go through the details in Kerry, but the overall allocation was \u20ac65 million. About \u20ac180 million has been allocated to the LIS since 2017. The need is always there - I get that - but our public expenditure is high and we are continuing to increase and expand. We will review the situation later in the year and see what more we can do. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  This is important. It will take 20 to 24 years to complete. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Wall  I raise the urgent need for special classes in Kildare South. Not a day goes by that my office is not inundated with calls from worried parents. One parent called yesterday about twins who need a special class. Thankfully, after 50 phones calls, one of the twins, my constituent's daughter, got a place 10 miles from where they live. However, the other twin, a boy, cannot get a class.  I want to talk about Scoil Bhr\u00edde in Suncroft and its principal, Ms Sin\u00e9ad Harte. She has a room available to go ahead with a special class. In dealing with the Minister and the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, I have been told it is a rural location. It is ideally located 5 miles from both Kildare town and Newbridge. I ask the Taoiseach to work with Scoil Bhr\u00edde in Suncroft to create a second class, which it was previously promised but which did not go ahead. It is badly needed in Kildare South. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I appreciate the issue. About 350 special classes have already been sanctioned, which is higher than the number sanctioned last year. That illustrates the need, and bringing the date forward has clarified the extent of the need for the school year beginning next September.  I ask the Deputy to engage with the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan. I will alert him to the fact the Deputy has raised this issue. He takes an on-the-ground approach to this. He and the Minister, Deputy Hildegarde Naughton, are working flat out on this question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  Last Friday, figures showed that we have reached the highest level of homelessness in this State's history. We also have the highest number of evictions in this country since the Famine. There are 2,500 children who have been in emergency accommodation for longer than one year. The Taoiseach knows that has a devastating impact on children. Many are in my constituency, Dublin North-West. One mother, Shauna, has been in touch with me. She has four children aged 13, seven, three and one. She is an emergency accommodation and is absolutely desperate. The Taoiseach's new rental measures do not protect existing renters from evictions. Will he put in place an emergency ban on no-fault evictions into homelessness? Will he increase the funding to the tenant in situ scheme to include funding for refurbishment so that councils can actually implement the tenant in situ scheme and prevent homelessness? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I disagree with some of the points the Deputy has made. We have the highest population since the Famine. It went up by 52% since 1995. I am not going to go into all of the reasons and factors that underpin the homelessness situation, but they are quite varied and there are ones we did not have to deal with before. The Minister has a specific initiative in terms of families who are homeless. The most effective way is to build more social housing. We are building more social housing than at any time since the 1970s on a consistent basis. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  I cannot believe the Taoiseach is justifying----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I did not interrupt the Deputy. We are going to continue to do that. That should be acknowledged.  On the latter point on the tenant in situ scheme, some councils were taking that funding to do deep retrofitting, which was never its purpose. It was meant to prevent people from falling into homelessness and we have done that in a lot of cases across the board. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  Why punish the----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Interruptions mean other Deputies are deprived. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  A rent or eviction freeze would kill the market. That is what the Deputy wants to do. There will be no supply at all and it will make the situation even worse. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Malcolm Byrne is on his feet. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  The current and previous Governments rightly committed to investment in the arts, including significant increases in funding to the Arts Council and expanding the basic income for the arts scheme. Indeed, the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, is to proceed with the arts capital programme later this year. I want to raise the question of funding for amateur theatre and musical movements around the country. After the GAA, there are more people involved in amateur theatre and musicals than in any other voluntary activity. In my constituency, the Kilmuckridge Drama Festival recently took place and the South Leinster Drama Festival and the South Wicklow Drama Festival will also open soon. During Covid, we provided funding to those organisations. Can we commit to some sort of regular funding? Will the Taoiseach raise this with the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, who I know is aware of the issue? We need to fund those organisations that support amateur theatre and musicals right around the country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I will indeed, but the Deputy should declare a conflict of interest given his annual performances. I believe he was in the pantomime this year. People will say he is forever in the pantomime in D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann and so on, but he is one of the great pantomime performers. Alan Corcoran on the local radio station in Wexford has spoken volumes about the Deputy's genuine acting ability in theatre, and he has been a great participant in amateur drama. Amateur drama is very often the pipeline for future talent to emerge. It is a wonderful part of the Irish story and tradition. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  That is a compliment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Yes, it is a compliment. Our tradition of storytelling is part of the Irish story and we do it particularly well as a nation and a people. There are towns around the country that excel in amateur drama, Wexford being one. I think of Rossmore in west Cork, for example, and many others where there are decades-long generational commitments to amateur drama. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  A glowing reference. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I will be happy to raise that with the Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Murphy  In my role as Chair of the Committee on Transport, I again want to highlight the road safety crisis on Irish roads. Already this year, 28 precious lives have been lost and 190 lives were lost last year. Of course, behind every one of those statistics are a family and community devastated. I believe this to be a profound failure of our road safety strategy. I do not think the issues can be addressed by a single Department. Matters like enforcement, court processes, emergency responses and legislative reform intersect with many different Departments. Committees are in existence, but such is the crisis that I ask the Taoiseach to give consideration to the establishment of a full Cabinet subcommittee on road safety, given that the issues intersect multiple Departments. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. There are too many deaths on our roads. We do not have the figures for how this year will look, but we have already had too many deaths in the first two or three months of the year. I will give consideration to the Deputy's suggestion. The Minister for Transport comes before various Cabinet subcommittees. We have quite a number of them. I take the Deputy's point on road safety and will revert to him. I will give consideration to it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I have been contacted by dozens of parents of children attending St. Mary's Boys National School in Lucan. The school has been approved for a project to deliver four mainstream classrooms, five special education rooms and the repurposing of an existing space. Overall, this is welcome. However, parents have raised concerns with me that this will take a section of the school's playing pitch. As the Taoiseach knows, green space is vitally important to our young people. The school has submitted an alternative application that would see an existing prefab being replaced and all special classes integrated into a single modular building. This would be more streamlined and cost-effective, but crucially, it would save the school's pitch. The Department has informed me that it would not be able take this into consideration at this time. Sometimes bureaucracy gets in the way of a common-sense and even cost-effective approach. Will the Taoiseach speak to the Department and ask it to consider this alternative, common-sense approach? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I cannot get into the details of every specific school project but I appreciate the Deputy raising the issue in respect of St. Mary's in Lucan. I do not know why the Department cannot accommodate the alternative proposal. What is important is that the project is completed. Sometimes deliberations can slow the process down. I understand the importance of the playing pitch. Physical education is as important as intellectual and academic education. We have to be healthy in mind and body and playing pitches facilitate that. I will speak to the Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  Paramedics employed by the National Ambulance Service work above and beyond the call of duty on a daily basis. Going out to work, they never know what difficulty or tragedy they may face. They undergo intensive training to qualify. This involves college, on-the-job training and a degree-level academic qualification. Successful qualification came with a commitment by the HSE of a permanent contract of employment. That commitment was reiterated to the current 76 trainees in an email which stated that a permanent contract will start from 29 December 2025 when results are received. Despite what is in the Taoiseach's briefing note, the HSE has now reneged on that commitment and paramedics have been told they must interview for their posts. This is a serious breach of trust by the HSE. I ask the Taoiseach to intervene to ensure these 76 trainees get permanent contracts of employment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It seems I have got to the bottom of this in terms of the note. What has been said is not accurate. The HSE has confirmed that full-time permanent contracts are available for all year 3 graduates completing training with the National Ambulance Service, NAS. That is the case. To ensure a fair and transparent allocation of posts, graduates have been asked to apply through a confined internal competition. This is exactly how things operate in other parts of the health service, including for graduate nurses. Graduates have been asked to select their three preferred locations in a region from the available vacancies and every effort will be made to accommodate first preferences. However, where a vacancy is oversubscribed, the process being implemented will ensure a fair and equitable selection process has been established to allocate roles.  It seems to me that this has been overstated. Everyone is going to get a job. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Pholasa\u00ed n\u00f3 ar Reachta\u00edocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-04\/debate\/dbsect_14","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Bille na dTeangacha Oifigi\u00fala (Ceart chun an Ghaeilge a \u00das\u00e1id) (Leas\u00fa), 2026: An Ch\u00e9ad Ch\u00e9im","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":4},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_14","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  Tairgim:  Go gcead\u00f3far go dtabharfar isteach Bille da ngairtear Acht do leas\u00fa Acht na dTeangacha Oifigi\u00fala, 2003 agus an Achta um Rial\u00e1il S\u00e1bh\u00e1ilteachta ar L\u00edne agus na Me\u00e1n, 2022 chun an ceart chun dul i mbun cumars\u00e1ide tr\u00ed mhe\u00e1n na Gaeilge gan s\u00e1r\u00fa a chosaint; agus do dh\u00e9anamh socr\u00fa i dtaobh nithe gaolmhara.  Is l\u00e1 stairi\u00fail \u00e9 inniu leis an gc\u00e9ad ph\u00edosa reachta\u00edochta i nGaeilge amh\u00e1in \u00e1 chur faoi bhr\u00e1id na D\u00e1la. Reachta\u00edocht at\u00e1 ag cosaint cearta teanga at\u00e1 ann agus t\u00e1 s\u00e9 tr\u00e1th\u00fail \u00e9 seo a dh\u00e9anamh le linn Sheachtain na Gaeilge. An sprioc at\u00e1 le Bille na dTeangacha Oifigi\u00fala (Ceart chun an Ghaeilge a \u00das\u00e1id) (Leas\u00fa), 2026 n\u00e1 ceart an duine Gaeilge a \u00fas\u00e1id a chosaint sa dl\u00ed. Rinneadh g\u00e9arlean\u00faint ar \u00fas\u00e1id na Gaeilge le Reachtanna Chill Chainnigh, 1366. C\u00e9 gur tharla aisghairm ar na P\u00e9indl\u00edthe deireanacha \u00f3 Thuaidh anuraidh, t\u00e1 a l\u00e1n le d\u00e9anamh go f\u00f3ill chun cothrom na F\u00e9inne a fh\u00e1il do Ghaeilgeoir\u00ed agus \u00fas\u00e1id \u00e1r dteanga n\u00e1isi\u00fanta a normal\u00fa. T\u00e1 c\u00e1sanna cloiste ag coiste Gaeilge an Oireachtais faoi fost\u00f3ir\u00ed, fi\u00fa i monarchana St\u00e1it-mhaoinithe sa Ghaeltacht, ag r\u00e1 le hoibreoir\u00ed gan an Ghaeilge a \u00fas\u00e1id ina measc f\u00e9in n\u00f3 le custaim\u00e9ir\u00ed. N\u00ed f\u00e9idir glacadh leis sin.  T\u00e1 an reachta\u00edocht seo bunaithe ar chreatlach at\u00e1 ann sa Bhreatain Bheag ag cosaint \u00fas\u00e1id na Breatnaise. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 ag tabhairt aitheantas sa dl\u00ed do cheart an duine an Ghaeilge a \u00fas\u00e1id agus conas do dhaoine gear\u00e1n a dh\u00e9anamh leis an gCoimisin\u00e9ir Teanga m\u00e1 dh\u00e9anann aon duine iarracht cur isteach ar an gceart sin. I measc na gcosaint\u00ed breise san ionad oibre, beidh deis ann f\u00edne\u00e1il suas de \u20ac5,000 a ghearradh ar dhroch-fhost\u00f3ir m\u00e1 sh\u00e1ra\u00edonn s\u00e9 an ceart sin gan ch\u00fais bhail\u00ed. N\u00ed bheidh s\u00e9 de cheart ag ard\u00e1n ar l\u00edne cinsireacht a dh\u00e9anamh n\u00f3 ard\u00e1n a bhaint \u00f3 Ghaeilgeoir as \u00e1bhair i nGaeilge a bheadh ceadaithe i mB\u00e9arla a fhoilsi\u00fa, rud at\u00e1 tar \u00e9is a bheith ina bhac do ghn\u00f3lachta\u00ed at\u00e1 ag dul i mbun f\u00f3gra\u00edochta ar l\u00edne i nGaeilge. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh  Is m\u00f3r an on\u00f3ir dom m\u2019ainm a chur le mo ch\u00e9ad Bhille riamh inniu agus \u00e9 ar an gc\u00e9ad Bhille a chuireadh faoi bhr\u00e1id an T\u00ed tr\u00ed mhe\u00e1n na Gaeilge. Is Bille thar a bheith t\u00e1bhachtach \u00e9 seo domsa ar go leor c\u00faiseanna, ach ar leibh\u00e9al pearsanta ba mhaith liom sc\u00e9al a roinnt leis an Teach a tharla 30 bliain \u00f3 shin agus m\u00e9 ag obair i mo ch\u00e9ad phost. Bh\u00ed m\u00e9 f\u00e9in agus cara liom \u00f3n scoil ag obair sa ghruagaire c\u00e9anna agus bh\u00edodh an bheirt againn ag \u00fas\u00e1id na Gaeilge go rialta agus muid l\u00e1n le br\u00f3d. Chuir \u00e1r mbainisteoir cosc orainn \u00ed a \u00fas\u00e1id. D\u00fairt s\u00ed go raibh s\u00e9 drochbh\u00e9asach toisc nach raibh Gaeilge ag an bhfoireann ar fad n\u00f3 ag na custaim\u00e9ir\u00ed, c\u00e9 go rabhamar ag labhairt na Gaeilge eadrainn f\u00e9in. B\u2019shin an sc\u00e9al a bh\u00ed agam agus m\u00e9 i mo dh\u00e9ag\u00f3ir. Anois, t\u00e1im sa D\u00e1il agus le mo ch\u00e9ad Bhille riamh t\u00e1 m\u00e9 ag iarraidh stop a chur leis an ndroch-chleachtas sin agus saoirse a thabhairt do na gl\u00fanta amach anseo labhairt ina dteanga f\u00e9in, teanga n\u00e1isi\u00fanta na t\u00edre.  Mar a d\u00fairt m\u00e9 f\u00e9in agus an Teachta \u00d3 Snodaigh, is l\u00e1 stairi\u00fail \u00e9 seo. Is \u00e9 seo an ch\u00e9ad Bhille scr\u00edofa i nGaeilge agus t\u00e1im br\u00f3d\u00fail go mbeidh m\u2019ainm leis. Is \u00e9 seo an ch\u00e9ad ch\u00e9im i dtreo deireadh a chur leis an ndroch-chleachtas. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  An bhfuiltear ag cur in aghaidh an Bhille? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Mary Butler)  It is not opposed. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Cuireadh agus aonta\u00edodh an cheist."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Iarraim ar dhuine de na Teachta\u00ed tairiscint a dh\u00e9anamh go dt\u00f3gfar an Dara Ch\u00e9im in am Comhalta\u00ed Pr\u00edobh\u00e1ideacha. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  Tairgim: \u201cGo dt\u00f3gfar an Bille in am Comhalta\u00ed Pr\u00edobh\u00e1ideacha.\u201d "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Cuireadh agus aonta\u00edodh an cheist."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  Before we conclude, t\u00e1 gn\u00f3 f\u00edorth\u00e1bhachtach agam on a point of order. It relates to today's business. We publish the Question Paper everyday and I have the right to put questions in Irish. Some of them have appeared in English today. Given that it is Seachtain na Gaeilge, that is madness. It needs to stop. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Although it is not a point of order, I will address it. I thank the Deputy. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar fionra\u00ed ar 1.24 p.m. agus cuireadh t\u00fas leis ar\u00eds ar 2.25 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Sitting suspended at 1.24 p.m. and resumed at 2.25 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Bille na dTeangacha Oifigi\u00fala (Ceart chun an Ghaeilge a \u00das\u00e1id) (Leas\u00fa), 2026: An Ch\u00e9ad Ch\u00e9im"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-04\/debate\/dbsect_15","debateType":"statement","bill":null,"showAs":"Post Office Closures: Statements","counts":{"speechCount":59,"speakerCount":25},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Patrick O'Donovan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Cooney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Keira Keogh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Cahill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Clendennen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Patrick O'Donovan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport (Deputy Patrick O'Donovan)  Cuirim f\u00e1ilte roimh an \u00f3c\u00e1id seo ina bhfuilimid in ann c\u00fapla rud a r\u00e1 maidir le c\u00farsa\u00ed in oifig\u00ed poist agus an l\u00edonra poist in\u00e1r saol le ch\u00e9ile. T\u00e1 r\u00f3l s\u00f3isialta t\u00e1bhachtach acu ag sol\u00e1thar taca\u00edochta\u00ed luachmhara do chuid de na daoine is leochail\u00ed in\u00e1r socha\u00ed tr\u00ed \u00edoca\u00edochta\u00ed leasa sh\u00f3isialaigh, postas saor in aisce chuig tithe altranais agus go leor seirbh\u00eds\u00ed luachmhara eile a shol\u00e1thar. T\u00e1 r\u00f3l eacnama\u00edoch r\u00edth\u00e1bhachtach acu maidir le gn\u00f3 idir gn\u00f3lachta\u00ed agus custaim\u00e9ir\u00ed a \u00e9asc\u00fa. T\u00e1 r\u00f3l acu anois sa gheilleagar le f\u00e1s seirbh\u00eds\u00ed cos\u00fail le Vinted.  At present, there are 873 post offices, most of them operated by independent postmasters. In fact, only 41 of the offices are directly operated by An Post, with postmasters operating over 90% of the network. This is a nationwide network of significant scale, providing the economic and social benefits I have mentioned, to citizens urban and rural across all of Ireland.  Every year, approximately 70 to 80 post offices change ownership. This can be for a variety of reasons, including a new postmaster taking over an existing premises, relocation by an existing postmaster to a more modern, accessible premises, or a new postmaster taking over and relocating to a new, fit-for-purpose premises. Additionally, I understand that five offices are temporarily closed. Of these five, I am informed by An Post that Ballyneety, County Limerick, and Carrigaholt, County Clare, are due to reopen in the near term. The Government recognises the challenges for both the network and postal services. Uncertainty regarding global trade is one of these challenges. As this network facilitates trade, I am aware that postmasters are likely to be feeling the effects of this uncertainty. I would like to specifically recognise An Post\u2019s work to date in continuing the flow of post to the US despite the uncertainty due to changes to that country's customs rules last year.  The network undoubtedly is also impacted by the continuing decline in mail volumes and the growth of digitalisation. It is not only nationally but internationally that mail and An Post services and businesses are experiencing long-term structural challenges. Additionally, issues relating to the cost of living, in particular the effects of inflation and higher energy costs, have been felt by many SMEs, including postmasters, and current global events continue to cause challenges in this regard. In recent times, a number of offices have been converted from An Post-operated to postmaster- or contractor-operated, with modernised facilities., These include, for example, those in Tipperary town, Tallaght, Roscommon and New Ross. It should be noted that conversion to a contractor-operated office means these offices have joined the mainstream of national post offices, given that, as I set out earlier, more than 90% of the country\u2019s post offices are operated by contractor postmasters. The conversion will often not in any way change the range or the extent of the services offered by An Post in these selected locations and the company remains committed to providing each area with the highest level of services.  The Government is committed to a sustainable An Post and post office network as a key component of the economic and social infrastructure throughout Ireland. We previously provided An Post with \u20ac10 million funding per annum over a three-year period from 2023 to 2025. An Post dispersed this funding across the post office network, with all contractor post offices benefiting from the Government funding with the objective of securing the stability of the network. This funding was put in place under the previous Government. However, let me be clear that the current Government also recognises the need to support Ireland\u2019s post office network. Under the programme for Government, we will continue to provide the nationwide network of post offices with funding to ensure their sustainability and enhance the value they bring to local communities. I am delighted to have been able to not only secure continued future funding in line with this commitment but to be able to provide an increased amount to \u20ac15 million per annum, which was approved by the Government in January. This approval provided a clear mandate for this enhanced funding, and my officials are progressing the next steps required. In line with the programme for Government, the funding will support the stability and sustainability of the network, protecting and nurturing a commercially focused post office network. It will also support access for citizens to the key social benefits of the post office network.  In line with the programme for Government, the funding will support the stability and sustainability of the network, protecting and nurturing a commercially focused post office network. It will also support access for citizens to the key social benefits of the post office network.  Government support does not mean that some post offices will not close. Closures can happen for a variety of reasons, such as due to retirement or for personal reasons. The intention is to avoid such decisions being necessary on foot of economic hardship. Since January 2025, 14 post offices have permanently closed following unsuccessful efforts to appoint new postmasters. In every case, An Post advised the Department that vacancies were advertised multiple times and local engagement was also undertaken multiple times. An Post has not closed any post office. A post office closure follows a decision by an individual postmaster to exit the business and in the majority of cases, closures have resulted from postmaster retirements.  Where a post office closes or relocates, this can leave a heritage building without a use in the heart of the community. The programme for Government recognises this and commits to Government partnering with An Post and local communities to identify and preserve heritage post office buildings that are no longer in use by the post office. My Department is working in the first instance with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to discuss possible options.  Equally, it is important to remember that this support aims to protect and nurture a sustainable and commercially viable post office network, and that it also aims to ensure access to important services across the post office network. Any support must therefore be utilised to allow time and space to enable new commercial initiatives and services to be developed.  An Post has statutory responsibility for the post office network. Accordingly, it must actively explore opportunities to develop new, or enhanced, product lines and services. We want to see a sustainable service for all of our citizens, both urban and rural, in the medium and long term. The network is a core strength of An Post and the continued development of the network is vital to its sustainability. However, we must also recognise the fact that post offices are commercial entities and, as with all businesses, they need to continue to develop relevant commercial strategies to attract new customers and drive footfall. There can sometimes be a focus on the provision of a particular service across the network or supports being put in place, but no one measure in isolation is going to provide for the long-term sustainability of the network. All stakeholders will need to continue to work together and the public must also be encouraged to use the services available through the post office. However, I encourage my Government colleagues to consider the impact of digitalisation and substitution of services on our network. It is important that as technology develops, we explore new and innovative ways of working but it is also important that we ensure that those who, for whatever reason, do not want to access government services online, can still do so. I and the officials in the Department are ready and available to work with other Departments in respect of delivery of services throughout the network.  Postmasters will play a crucial role in the future of the network, and I recognise and thank them all, together with all postal workers, for the hard work, dedication, input and co-operation to date for their role in enabling the ongoing transformation of the network. I particularly want to thank them for their role during Covid-19. Their support is needed as An Post seeks to win new or bolster existing business, and to explore opportunities for new product lines.  The global headwinds of mail volume decline and rising costs not only effect the offices of the network, but also An Post at a company level, in its operations delivering mail. An Post earlier this year announced increases to the price of stamps, noting that falling letter volumes and rising overheads are resulting in stamp increases globally, not just in Ireland. The price changes are carefully calculated to cover the costs of providing service to every address taking account of wage increases, increased operating costs and other costs. It should be noted that decisions relating to pricing are entirely a matter for An Post. Pricing is therefore ultimately a matter for the board and management of the company and, where relevant, the Commission for Communications Regulation in accordance with its mandate with respect to postal regulation and the universal service obligation for which An Post is a designated provider. The Minister has no role in this.  An Post is also experiencing changes in the growth of ecommerce in its operations. An Post advised that in 2025 parcel volumes were 27% higher than 2024. In peak season of 2025, 3 million parcels were delivered weekly alongside approximately 3 million cards. Christmas 2025 was the busiest peak in An Post\u2019s history and, according to the company, parcel volumes were 35% higher nationally during the peak period. An Post understands that the January to February 2026 parcel volumes were almost 50% higher than the same period last year. The company has opened a new parcel facility in Dublin 24 and expects automation to be completed ahead of the 2026 peak season. This will assist with the growing volume the company is experiencing. An Post has additionally acknowledged that there were some delivery challenges due to the exceptionally high volume and notes that these volumes occurred in conjunction with illness-related staff shortages.  Mar fhocal scoir, crutha\u00edonn na d\u00fashl\u00e1in dhomhanda lean\u00fanacha, na hathruithe strucht\u00faracha san earn\u00e1il poist agus na hathruithe ar n\u00f3sanna custaim\u00e9ir\u00ed timpeallacht dh\u00fashl\u00e1nach do l\u00edonra\u00ed na n-oifig\u00ed poist agus An Post ina ioml\u00e1ine. L\u00e9irigh an Rialtas a thiomantas don l\u00edonra agus don luach a shol\u00e1thra\u00edonn s\u00e9 do shaor\u00e1naigh le leithdh\u00e1ileadh de \u20ac15 milli\u00fan in aghaidh na bliana ar feadh th\u00e9arma an Rialtais. Mar sin, molaim do na geallsealbh\u00f3ir\u00ed ar fad oibri\u00fa le ch\u00e9ile chun inmharthanacht an l\u00edonra a chinnti\u00fa. Ba cheart saor\u00e1naigh a spreagadh chun a n-oifig\u00ed poist \u00e1iti\u00fala a \u00fas\u00e1id, m\u00e1s mian leo. Ar an gcaoi ch\u00e9anna, ba cheart do shol\u00e1thraithe seirbh\u00eds\u00ed Rialtais agus seirbh\u00eds\u00ed eile a chinnti\u00fa go bhfuil roghanna ar f\u00e1il do shaor\u00e1naigh nach nd\u00e9anann a ngn\u00f3 ar l\u00edne ar ch\u00fais \u00e9igin. Taca\u00edonn an Rialtas leis na hoifig\u00ed poist agus na daoine a oibr\u00edonn iontu. Cabhr\u00f3idh s\u00e9 seo le l\u00edonra l\u00e1idir d\u2019oifig\u00ed poist a chinnti\u00fa anois agus amach anseo. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Michael Healy-Rae)  I am very grateful for, and glad of, the opportunity to speak here today. I must declare a small interest in this. I am a postmaster. I have a district divisional office, DDO, and I deal on a daily basis with post offices and post office issues, not just as a politician, but also on the practical side of what it takes to deliver the mail. Of course, because of those two jobs, I have dealt an awful lot with post offices over the years.  I acknowledge the Minister's contribution to the issue of safeguarding post offices. The Government is deeply committed to a sustainable An Post and post office network as key components of the economic and social infrastructure throughout Ireland. That deep commitment was outlined in the programme for Government, and the Minister rightly outlined that he was very much to the forefront of ensuring that the additional \u20ac5 million that was got was got because of his commitment and determination to keep our post offices open.  He was right when he said that the Government can only do so much. Politicians in opposition can only do so much. I really mean this as an operator of a small post office. Every one of us says how good post offices are but how many of us actually use one? Do not ever forget this: a post office only gets paid on transactions. A transaction can be buying a stamp or a person collecting their pension.  I recall a famous case about a certain post office in a certain place that was closing. A lot of older, very nice people came on the day. They were lamenting the fact that the post office was closing and were there for the picture of the closing. When the picture was taken, the man who operated the post office reminded them that if they had collected their pensions there, he might not have closed. That is a fact. If you do not use it, you will lose it and everyone of us as politicians should be encouraging people to use their post office.  The nicest thing in the whole world you can do for small little lovely children starting out - whether it is a child, grandchild, niece or nephew - is give them a little post office savings book, put a few euro into it and tell them to go to their local post office with mum or dad, or when they are old enough to go themselves, and put their few euro into it.  The sustainability of post offices will not be down to the Government. Yes, of course, the \u20ac15 million is a lifeline, but the Government cannot keep supporting something if it is not being supported by the people.  We have 950 post offices across Ireland. I acknowledge the commitment of post office people - not just the postmasters, but also the people who work in the post offices. They are a very important part of society because they have a real connection with people. Number one, they are trusted. When the banks failed a lot of things in Ireland, there were two things we could be assured of and they were our local post office and our credit union. They are great places to go to invest a few euro, if people have it, to get young people into the habit of saving or for other banking facilities.  Our post offices are about way more now than just being a place to buy a stamp because people can carry out so many other transactions in them and, as I already outlined, transactions are the lifeline to that business. I thank the Taoiseach, T\u00e1naiste and the Minister for the funding that has been given by this Government, as well as everybody who is supportive of the post office network.  Another interest that I must declare is a girl who is very important to me, my daughter Rosie.  She has been a postgirl since a young age. She is out today in her postvan, delivering post. I hear and see first hand how important the five-day delivery service is. I remember one time a Minister who had the same responsibility as the current Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, said that if there were two choices, namely a five-day delivery service or an increase in the price of the stamp, none of us want to see the price of the stamp being increased because it is expensive to post a letter. However, the every day delivery service is important. Other countries are lucky if they have two or three days of a delivery service in a week. Sometimes the postman pulling into the yard or the friendly postman calling to the door and handing in a letter may be the only person who the person in that house sees for the day. The postman might bring a bit of news for people, put a smile on their face, have a bit of gossip for them and talk about the issues of the day, be it politics, football, or whatever is going on.  The postperson is awfully important in people's lives and is really appreciated because they might be the only visitor calling to that farmer. It is not just about rural areas. Over many years, people might think I am always fighting about rural post offices. I am but it is about urban post offices too. A point the Minister always makes to me is that it is not just rural post offices. Urban post offices might be in a very built-up area but their business might be really struggling because people might not be using it. Even though there are many people around, if they do not use it, they will lose it.  One thing I appreciate, which is a bit of a two-edged sword, is the success of Amazon. It is great Amazon is doing well but maybe when Amazon is doing well, the local shops are not. We cannot stop the tide and things like that from happening but there is one thing I will remind An Post, the company, of. It is facilitating Amazon and trying to make more room because there is such a volume of business going through, and An Post is grateful for that business, but do not ever forget the ordinary person who goes out and posts an ordinary letter in the ordinary post. That is as important as Amazon's business, although it might not be as much. Over the years there were very few parcels or boxes being delivered and the biggest thing people got was maybe a parcel from America at Christmastime, and it was a big deal when it came, but now there are parcels for houses every day because people are buying everything from the kitchen sink to items of clothing. Everything one could think of comes from Amazon. I should call it online shopping, not just Amazon.  I want An Post to keep in mind same-day delivery. I would make that point to the Minister, and I know he is strong on it too. He has told me he is adamant we should have an every day delivery service in this country, and it is one of the last things we would ever give up on because the minute that every day service is lost, that would be a bad day for Ireland and its citizens. We want to offer and continue to offer the network. I could not emphasise enough how people should look at all the services their post office can provide. Not everything has to be online. People can support their post office by going in and supporting the business because there are friendly people working there and they are local jobs in local areas, be it a rural or urban post office.  Where I am from in Kerry, I am so proud of the people who, through good times and bad, have kept their doors open. I remember the good people who were there before whose only source of income was operating the local post office. In the village I am from, we had a great man by the name of Denis P. O'Sullivan. He and his brother John ran a great post office for many years before they retired and I took it over more than 20 years ago. A very kind man by the name of Padraig Sweeney runs my post office now. These people are so important in their local communities. They are respected, trustworthy, reliable, kind and friendly. They keep an eye on their customers. Everyone in this House and in the Seanad surely agrees, although we might not agree on many things, we all want to keep the local post offices going because they are vital and integral.  I know we have an excellent Minister in charge of it. I have every confidence in him doing everything but he cannot put people into the post offices. The people will have to go in themselves. Keep the post offices alive by giving your business to them, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor)  I agree with the previous speakers. I welcome the statements on post office closures. It is important to highlight the work of the post offices across the country and what the Government is doing to help this sector and provide the key public service. It is a huge public service and a service we depend on. It is important, particularly for our rural post offices, which have always played an important role in connecting people. Whether a letter or package needs to get from Buncrana to Bantry, Bagenalstown to Carlow, or even to Bondi Beach, An Post will find a way to get it there. That is a fact. It will find a way. There are currently hundreds of post offices across the country serving almost 100,000 customers a week, whether selling stamps or providing social welfare payments. Each day, An Post collects, processes and delivers 2.5 million items of mail to 2 million addresses daily. Some 95% of post offices are run by contract postmasters. It is really important to thank them and their team for the valuable work they do in our local communities. They are absolutely brilliant and the service they give to communities is exceptional because they handle each transaction and delivery with care. They keep our local communities moving.  I highlight one in particular in my constituency which stands out - Fenagh in County Carlow. It is a small post office called the Black Cat. Locals are able to avail of services they would otherwise have to drive into the town centre for. I would always say when going into Fenagh that the post office there is like a social outlet for our elderly community. People can go in, talk, and get a few groceries or whatever. It keeps our villages going, particularly in the rural areas. I see other areas with a post office in a SuperValu where people can go in and shop but there are also family-run post offices that go beyond the call of duty.  The post office provides services beyond selling stamps and taking in parcels. In the post office, members of the community are able to collect their social welfare payments, pay their TV licence and buy a Leap card. Post offices and their workers look out for their neighbours, giving the older members of our community a social outlet and assisting in tasks that may have moved online. Both Ministers spoke about how things are changing. Many things are going online, so we have to be mindful of that. When paying a home heating bill or electricity bill, there is the friendly face at a local post office. The workers there can help, whether with a phone call or just giving advice. It is all about helping. They really do an excellent job. The Government understands the essential service our post offices are providing day in, day out.  The Minister spoke about the \u20ac15 million. This is about sustainable national post office services, the post office network, the support it provides, and the infrastructure around Ireland. That money is vital. On 13 January the Government approved funding for the post office network up to 2030 to support citizens' access to key services. This funding will maintain access to the network across urban and rural areas. As the Ministers said, it is both urban and rural. It will ensure no community is left behind. That is important because everybody is so busy now. As was said, it is important the public uses the facility of our post offices because it is an excellent service.  We spoke about the big boom in the e-commerce business across the country. I have always been a big supporter of shopping locally. I firmly believe that no matter where people live in the country, they should shop locally and keep the jobs, which is so important. However, with this new digital age we are living in, many businesses in my area have developed websites for online orders.  This is a great way for a business to expand, yet there is another way and opportunity for our post office to support and assist the communities. I support An Post in its efforts to provide its important services, while remaining true to its net-zero targets. It is currently in possession of the largest e-vehicle fleet in the country, and it is introducing more sustainable forms of fuelling with its other vehicles, so it is very much on top of its brief. It is important that we give it this credit. These green choices by An Post show its determination to continue adapting to our new ways of doing business and serving communities in a sustainable way. Our post offices have been a steadfast pillar of our communities for many years and with the boom we are experiencing in e-commerce business, our postmen and women up and down the country will continue to support our communities, and the Government will continue to support them in their important tasks. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  What planet are the Ministers on? Is that really the best they can come up with? The devastating impact of post office closures on all communities, rural and urban, is leaving residents without access to essential financial, social and State services. These are important social services that should be provided elsewhere but are only available in the post office and from that network. What we are saying on this side of the House aligns with the long-standing warnings not just from Sinn F\u00e9in, but from the Irish Postmasters' Union and many other people about the systemic failure of successive Governments over decades to address the decline of our office network. Some 257 post offices have closed over the past ten years. That is one per fortnight for the past decade that Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael have been in power based on figures my colleague Deputy Cullinane received last year. That is eight in my own County Waterford. The Minister of State might be interested to know that is 15 in the past ten years in County Kerry - 14 rural and one urban. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Healy-Rae  What did Sinn F\u00e9in do to keep them open? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  The Government's hands-off approach is a betrayal of rural Ireland. Post offices are the heartbeat of communities, providing lifelines for older people, small businesses and families. Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael, backed up by the Healy-Rae and Lowry Independents, have stood by as that network collapses, refusing to implement solutions put forward by the IPU, Sinn F\u00e9in and others. It is great to come in here with nostalgia and twee stories and talk about how, if communities only used their post office more, they might be open. However, the reality is that it is not viable any longer under An Post's new contract for new postmasters to take up the business. It is closure by stealth, and it is utterly dishonest to come into this House and pretend otherwise. The current An Post system fails to attract new postmasters, it fails to keep them in their jobs and it leads to permanent closures when somebody retires. We want to introduce a public service mandate with State investment to modernise contracts, expand services like banking and digital hubs and incentivise new postmasters. That is what we need. That is what a modern, vibrant, living post office looks like. It is encouraging new entrants in and keeping them there.  Ba \u00e9 an oifig an phoist \u00e1iti\u00fail an tseirbh\u00eds St\u00e1it dheireanach a bh\u00ed ar f\u00e1il i mo cheantar f\u00e9in i nGaeltacht na nD\u00e9ise. D\u00fanadh an bhliain seo caite \u00e9 nuair a d'\u00e9irigh an postmistress as a post. N\u00ed raibh an Rialtas, an Roinn n\u00f3 aon Roinn St\u00e1it s\u00e1sta aon rud a dh\u00e9anamh chun duine nua a mhealladh isteach. The last front-facing, public-facing State service in my community, a Gaeltacht community in west Waterford in An Rinn, closed last year because the postmistress who had given decades of service to the community was retiring, as she was entitled to do. It did not make financial sense for anybody to take up that contract and I raised this with Government many times last year. They would have lost money in the bargain. That is the problem. Twee stories and appeals to nostalgia are not going to cut it. We need action, and we need the Government to wake up and smell the coffee on this issue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  The local post office is far more than just a place to send letters. In towns and villages across Ireland, the post office is the lifeline for communities. For many older people, those living alone and especially for people in rural communities, the post office is where the pension is collected, bills are paid and where the friendly face might be the only social contact somebody has that day. It provides vital access to cash and State services in communities. Despite that enormous social and economic value, however, successive Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael Governments have allowed this network to steadily decline. In the past decade, 257 post offices have closed across the State. That is a post office closure every fortnight. Rural communities have, as always under those parties, been the worst hit. Some 11 post offices have closed in my constituency of Cavan-Monaghan in the past ten years alone. These closures did not happen by accident, and they are certainly not the fault of the people who live in their communities. They are the result of political choices, a failure to properly invest in the network and a decision by Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael to support the EU postal service directive, which actually prevents Government from recognising post offices as essential public infrastructure.  Sinn F\u00e9in believes that the decline can be reversed, however. We are calling for a long-term government funding programme to secure the post office network, including investment needed to keep rural post offices closed. Crucially, we need to expand the services through post offices from banking and financial services to greater access to government services because here is the simple truth: Ministers talking the talk. How many services from each Department are actually provided from within the post office? If the Government really wanted to support our post offices, that would be the first move it would be making. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  If we want to support our rural communities, we have to support the services, and the post office is the critical service among them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  The Minister and Minister of State have admitted that post offices provide vital services in our communities and support local economies. However, there has been a spate of closures in recent years. Over the past decade, Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael have operated hand in glove together in government. We have seen the closure of more than 250 post offices, predominantly in the rural communities. This does madden rural communities, in particular, many of whom have seen schools and Garda stations shut, accident and emergency departments close and other services stripped from their local hospitals. The question for the Government, the Minister and Ministers of State is: do they find this objectionable and, if so, what are they going to do about it?  The IPU warned only late last year that without additional support, up to 40% of remaining post offices will be shut. I commend the union because for years now, it has not only been highlighting the grave threats posed to the viability of our local post offices but has made extensive suggestions as to how their futures can be secured by outlining how they could innovatively offer enhanced and even greater services to their local communities, which that have often seen a lack of inward investment in public services.  Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael are a uniparty of rural closures, and we know that. The very least they could do is support the post offices to offset the worst impacts of the lack of investment in rural Ireland. I urge the Minister and Ministers of State to engage with the Irish Postmasters' Union; change tack and finally recognise the value of our local post offices and fund them appropriately so that they can continue to operate. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  As the Minister and Ministers of State will be aware, we have a contraction of services across rural Ireland, and it is not just the post offices. It is other services as well. All these things go hand in glove. Across my rural community, I have seen many post offices over the past decade close. It removes that central piece of contact from the rural community. The Minister talked about the services that are provided and praised people who are in the post office service and the work they are doing and all of that. All that is valid. The reality, however, is that for most people who are acting as postmaster or postmistress, the contract they have at the moment is not viable when that has to change hands. That is the problem we have.  I saw it recently in Carrick-On-Shannon where quite a large post office had to close down because the postmistress said she was not doing it anymore. It simply was not viable under the contract that was in place, and the only place it could go was into a large shop, which had that alternative or added service to it. Stand-alone post offices seem to be a thing of the past. For many people in rural areas, that means the post office is going to be a thing of the past. What we are talking about here is ensuring we have a service in place that will enhance and develop rural communities to be sustainable into the future. There is population decline in many rural parishes across the country. We see that with football clubs amalgamating, post offices closing, other services being removed, Garda stations, etc. We could go down the list. What we need to do is arrest that. This spiral downwards has to be stopped, and we have to try to get it to spiral upward again. The only way we can do that is for Government to take a keen interest in ensuring that services that are vital to people's lives are kept in place.  That means they will have to be invested in and that contracts in place will have to be viable for a person to take up the position of postmaster or postmistress. It will also mean investment in the network and ensuring the services that are provided by the Government are easily available to people through the post office network. The Ministers need to wake up and realise that talking nice about it does not resolve the problem. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  Two hundred and fifty seven post offices closed over the last ten years. Those were 257 post offices that were in rural and urban communities which have now gone. People know Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael were in part responsible for that but I listened to the Minister of State, Deputy Healy-Rae\u2019s comments earlier and it is quite something to have sat here before the last election and watched as the Minister of State, Deputy Healy-Rae, challenged the Government quite robustly on its failures for rural Ireland day in, day out and week in, week out. Since the election, he has gone over to the other side of the House and sits there as a Minister of State. He praises the Government and praises every Government Minister. He said today that he wanted to praise the Government for \"safeguarding post offices\". I wonder do the 15 post offices that closed in Kerry and the 257 post offices that closed across the State agree they have been safeguarded. He also talked about the Government being deeply committed to post offices. Again, I wonder do those 257 post offices which closed feel that. The reality is that for far too long the Government has not valued post offices. Where I do agree with the Minister of State is that, of course, we should, and we do, all support our post offices. However, as Deputy McGuinness outlined, most of the closures took place because of the contracts which are in place and the lack of viability. There has been report after report, including one done by a Kerry man, that outline what needs to be done to support rural Ireland and rural post offices and this Government took no notice of what was said at all.  I am not going to be two-faced and come in here to say the Government has done a great job when the facts speak for them selves - 257 closures which should be owned by this Government, by the Minister and by each and every member of Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael over the past ten years who have done precious little to save those post offices which have closed. If the Minister of State, Deputy Healy-Rae, was standing where I am now, which he was, he would be saying exactly the same thing but of course he is whistling a different tune now he is a Minister of State. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  In 2022 there was an announcement that Blarney post office was going to close but following a campaign by the local people in Blarney and meetings organised by myself and people in Sinn F\u00e9in, a man named Daniel came forward and he saved the post office and turned it around. I want to recognise the unbelievable work he and his staff have done and the people of Blarney. However, in 2018 the post office in Shandon Street, not 100 yd from my office, closed down. Promised were made that they would save Shandon Street post office. The building in the heart of Shandon Street in the heart of Cork city is derelict now. In Blackpool, another post office was closed. It was a miracle it was reopened but in the shopping centre. For villages and communities like Blackpool this is death by a thousand cuts.  We see buildings being left idle and communities left abandoned. Some of my colleagues spoke about the 257 post offices which closed in the past ten years but 34 were in Cork alone, the biggest number in any county, with 22 rural and 12 urban post offices. The Ministers came in here to tell us what they are doing. They slashed the post offices in Cork. The people in communities, both urban and rural, are feeling it. This Government, Fianna F\u00e1il, Fine Gael, the Healy-Rae Independents and the Lowry Independents are backing the destruction of the post offices in this State. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Patrick O'Donovan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Patrick O'Donovan  You closed a few of them yourselves. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aidan Farrelly)  Thank you, Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Patrick O'Donovan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Patrick O'Donovan  You closed the one in Adare when you shot a garda. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aidan Farrelly)  Thank you, Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Patrick O'Donovan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Patrick O'Donovan  You forgot that one, of course. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aidan Farrelly)  Minister----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan  I welcome the opportunity----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aidan Farrelly)  Minister, no one interrupted----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  So it is all right to close the 34 in Cork. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aidan Farrelly)  Thank you, Members. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Patrick O'Donovan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Patrick O'Donovan  You had no problem closing the one in Adare, did you? You had no problem closing that one, you hypocrite. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aidan Farrelly)  No one interrupted you, Minister. Thank you. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan  I will just plough on so. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aidan Farrelly)  Yes. Take your time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  Manners. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  Who are we talking about? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan  I welcome the opportunity to speak on the role and importance of post offices in Irish life. We need to be frank. The post offices across Ireland, particularly in rural Ireland, are facing death by a thousand cuts. Some 257 post offices closed in the past decade. The vast majority of these closures, 78%, have been in rural areas. Anyone in this Chamber who comes from a rural community knows exactly what that means. When a post office closes, it does not just shut its doors. It deals a devastating blow to the entire community. The ripple effects are felt by the whole community. The Irish Postmasters\u2019 Union has warned that without State support, 40% of remaining post offices will close. We must stop treating post offices as just another business. They are a community resource - one which provides critical services for older people, vulnerable citizens and marginalised communities. The Government should be working with postmasters not against them to expand the services they can offer. Postmasters want to do more. They are ready and willing but they need support to make it happen whether it is tourist information, voter registration or expanding the role of postmasters as peace commissioners, the potential is there. It just needs Government backing because without it rural communities will continue to be stripped bare. These are rural communities like those in Carlow and Kilkenny. It was devastating when Mullinavat post office closed. That was on Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael\u2019s watch and that devastated communities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aidan Farrelly)  Thank you, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan  There is not adequate bus services for these people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aidan Farrelly)  Thank you, Deputy. You are over time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan  To take something out of the community when there are no other services there is just not good enough. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aidan Farrelly)  Thank you. The Labour Party is----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan  No money will get that back. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aidan Farrelly)  Deputy Newsome Drennan, thank you. Your time is up. We will move to the Labour Party. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  The Minister took a portion of time there. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aidan Farrelly)  We stopped the clock for that so he did not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  That is the second Minister today who got mad at me for some reason. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert O'Donoghue  Across this country, we are witnessing a slow hollowing out of our post office network and in-person public services more generally. This is not simply an administrative shift or a commercial decision. It is the gradual stripping away of the civic infrastructure that holds communities together.  Post offices are far more than service providers - they are the beating heart of many communities. They bring people together, they strengthen social connections and they ensure essential services remain accessible, especially in rural and underserved areas. For many people, a visit to the post office is not just about posting a letter or paying a bill. It is about human interaction, reducing loneliness and maintaining a sense of belonging in our communities.  In rural towns and villages, post offices are often the only remaining local retail outlet, frequently integrated with other shops or newsagents. They are indispensable. They provide everyday goods and services that might otherwise be out of reach. Their presence sustains footfall, fosters economic activity and supports neighbouring small businesses. Customers visiting the local post office often spend money in nearby shops, they might grab a coffee or pop into a pharmacy. When the post office closes, that loss has a ripple effect, economically and socially.  The closure can feel symbolic. A withdrawal of services and another derelict building, usually on the main street in a town or village. Previous speakers have mentioned how over 250 post offices have closed across Ireland in the past decade. A further 161 closures are confirmed or in process as of late 2025 and early 2026, largely due to voluntary retirements. Rural communities have been hardest hit, representing nearly 80% of closures.  The network is consolidating to approximately 950 locations and there are concerns that up to a third of the remaining rural offices are at risk. That is not the future of our public services; it is their erosion and it is irresponsible. The Ministers, Deputies O\u2019Donovan and Chambers, are required to sign-off on the disposal of an An Post property. That means they have the authority to stop the wholesale sell off of publicly-owned post office buildings. Yet, when we directly asked whether they would prevent such sales no undertaking was given.  Yes, the ways people use post offices changed and the traditional mail service - we cannot deny that - but market trends cannot justify cutting a public service, which is what this is. It is the reduction of a public service many people still rely on.  Not everyone has high-speed Internet or is comfortable navigating online systems. Not everyone can manage complex digital forms. For older people, those with disabilities, those with lower levels of digital literacy, those new to an area and those who simply value face-to-face assistance, the local post office is a lifeline. This is where political will must step in.  Let us future-proof our An Post services to breathe new initiatives back in to local services. The Labour Party is pushing for a transformation of the post office network into genuine community hubs that are not relics of the past but pillars of the future. A reimagined post office service could offer passport and driving licence renewals; motor tax payments; NCT bookings and other public service appointments; citizens information services; voter registration support; and space for local groups, youth services, and community meetings. This model would keep post offices viable while strengthening communities. It would reduce pressure on other overstretched public services. It would ensure that those who struggle with digital systems are not excluded. It would anchor civic life in our towns and villages, something that is currently lacking.  Other countries have embraced this model and we can look to them for research and guidance. There is no reason Ireland cannot do it. In my constituency of Dublin Fingal West, particularly in the towns of Rush and Lusk which balance a rapidly growing population with a strong local identity, the sense of familiarity and trust matters. Losing a post office can often feel like losing part of the town's social fabric. In growing commuter towns, not everybody works locally during the day but the post office remains a constant, accessible public service at the heart of the community. It provides essential services such as bill payments, pensions, social welfare collections, banking, passport applications and parcel services. For older residents, people without reliable transport or those who are less comfortable with online services, having a local branch is crucial. Economically, post offices support nearby businesses and ensure footfall without which small retailers can struggle. In short, for towns like Rush and Lusk a post office is not just a postal facility; it is a vital public service, a social hub and an anchor for the local community.  Another area that is being ripped apart by closures is Deputy Ivana Bacik's constituency of Dublin Bay South. She is working alongside our local representatives in Rathmines, Councillors Dermot Lacey and Fiona Connelly, who have been working hard regarding the future of the An Post in Rathmines, which is roughly the size of Drogheda. An iconic 1930s post office building faces closure, relocation and sale to the private market. The area has already lost its citizens' information centre and its public partnership office. The Labour Party believes that the State should not be stripping an asset that is essential for community infrastructure, particularly in an area that is already starved of public amenities and civic space. It is not just Rathmines; we have seen closures in Ballsbridge and Harold's Cross, and reports of reduced services in Ranelagh. It is not happening in isolation; it is a pattern. In the past year it has taken persistent effort and a groundswell of public activism to secure even minimal engagement between An Post and Dublin City Council regarding the future of the Rathmines building.  The level of debate in the D\u00e1il today shows that awareness is growing. The importance of this issue is seeping through, but awareness is not action. If we allow these closures to continue unchecked, we will wake up one day to find that an essential layer of community life has vanished and rebuilding it will be far more expensive, financially and socially, than preserving it will now. Ministers have statutory powers which must be used for the public good and not to facilitate a sell-off of civic amenities or essential lifelines for our communities. The Government must commit to a long-term strategy that keeps post offices in public ownership and expands their role as service providers and hubs. Communities should not have to fight - building by building, town by town, and village by village - to retain essential infrastructure. Post offices are not merely commercial outlets; they are anchors of community life. They keep people connected, they support local businesses and they stop dereliction on main streets. They provide human contact in an increasingly impersonal online world. If we truly believe in balanced regional development, in social inclusion and in vibrant communities, the preservation and retention of our post office network must be part of that vision. The time for talking about closures is over. The time to secure our post offices' future happens today in this Chamber and the social value should always exceed profit. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Currie  While much of today's focus is rightly on rural closures, I want to speak about a different challenge, namely, delivery pressures in rapidly growing urban areas like Dublin West. In my community the problem is not the loss of a post office today; it is whether the system can keep up with demand. Parcel volumes across Dublin West have increased by 42% in the last year. At the same time, the number of delivery addresses has grown by 4%. Letter volumes may be down by 7% but that does not relieve pressure when serving more homes and handling far more parcels. We are adding homes at a serious pace. In 2025 alone, 1,328 new dwellings were completed in Dublin West. That is 1,328 additional front doors requiring daily service on top of the thousands delivered in recent years. The reality is simple: more doors means more packages, which means more pressure and my constituents are feeling it.  I am hearing from families who are waiting weeks for deliveries that were repeatedly marked out for delivery but never arrived; from first-time buyers who are anxiously watching the tracking on mortgage-related documents because they are worried that delays could affect completion; from parents whose Christmas presents turned up long after the holidays, and from residents who are waiting on important medical items and simply cannot understand why parcels sit in sorting facilities for extended periods. In newer estates and apartment complexes, neighbours are comparing experiences and realising that this is not a one-off. It is widespread. I acknowledge the work of our postmen and postwomen, who are the front-line staff in An Post. This is about whether resourcing and infrastructure has kept pace with population growth. Dublin West is expanding at speed. Thousands of homes have been built with more coming. When housing growth is this rapid, public services must scale with it, including postal delivery. An Post has a universal service obligation. Urban communities are entitled to reliability and consistency just as much as rural communities are entitled to access.  I am asking the Minister of State to engage directly with An Post to ensure delivery capacity in Dublin West is urgently reviewed and expanded where necessary. My constituents are not asking for special treatment; they are asking for a postal service that keeps pace with the community it serves. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Cooney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Cooney  In villages across County Clare and throughout rural Ireland, the post office is more than a service point; it is where people collect pensions, pay bills and meet neighbours. Alongside the local shop, it is the heartbeat of the community. When a post office closes, a community loses more than a building; it loses connection and identity. Business owners should always be the first option to run a post office but unfortunately in many small villages that is simply not possible. However, villages have strong community groups that are willing to step up. In Carrigaholt in west Clare, the community is providing a building and raising the funds to bring it up to the required standard for the post office. They have raised almost \u20ac55,000 since last weekend. That commitment is remarkable, but they should not have to carry this burden on their own. The Government supports community centres, sport facilities and other local amenities, and rightly so, but it should also support communities that are working to retain a vital public service like the post office. People in rural Ireland are not asking for special treatment; they are asking for fair treatment.  I ask the Minister of State to consider a dedicated funding stream to help community groups to maintain their local post offices. If we are really serious about supporting rural Ireland and keeping rural communities alive, we must back them with practical support. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathal Crowe  I thank the Minister of State for taking this debate today. Like other speakers, I commend our local post office network in County Clare and the huge number of postmen and postwomen around this country, one of whom is my brother-in-law, Gear\u00f3id. They do an incredible job. You would want to see Gear\u00f3id's phone at times and the text messages that come in with appreciation or asking how he is doing. He has formed a great relationship and rapport with the people whose doors he drives up to and walks up to each day to deliver post. That is so typical of what happens right across rural Ireland.  The consolidation of post offices has utterly failed over the last few years. An Post brought in a rule whereby every household in rural Ireland should be theoretically within 15 km of a local post office. When the application of that rule came into play, we saw the closure of many post offices, including those in Carrigaholt, Cratloe and Broadford. Even urban post offices are closing. It is to the absolute detriment of the community because post offices are hubs where so much activity goes on. In addition to carrying out financial transactions, buying stamps and collecting pensions, people go to their local post office as a form of social interaction in rural Ireland. To see these post offices closing is absolutely devastating. There is a bit of a lottery to the 15 km rule. If the postmaster or postmistress becomes ill or wants to retire, the post office becomes a target for closure and you can start to draw your 15 km circles around it. That is the reverberating impact of all of this. We need to do a little reset on that because the numbers stack up to 250 closures over the past decade alone and 78% of those closures are in rural Ireland.  I am glad to see the annual subvention for post offices in the programme for Government. It is something I campaigned for quite rigorously alongside Councillor Tom O'Callaghan, a colleague of mine in County Clare. That is in the programme for Government and it is happening but, in itself, it is not enough. There are other models of post offices globally we should be looking at. Under the incredible Kiwibank model in New Zealand, a whole range of services bring people in beyond the doors of the post office to buy more than stamps - they bank with them, save with them and do all of these fabulous transactions. That is what keeping things sustained there. I think we need to look at that model.  I will speak briefly about Carrigaholt post office. A GoFundMe page has raised a huge amount of money there. That is to be commended but that is not where things should be at. This annual fund needs to be more than an annual fund. We need a sustainable pathway for post offices. If you want to see what that would look like, Councillor Tom O'Callaghan submitted an incredible template for how that could work, policy wise, for the Government. I hope that can be taken on board. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Miche\u00e1l Carrigy  I thank the Minister of State for taking the debate. I will start by saying I am a postmaster. It has been in our family for generations. My late mother took it over in 1972 and I have been running it for the past 20 years. I still cover the office on certain days or half-days during the week because ultimately, the local post office is the heart of the community. It is heartening to hear those comments from many Members. It is the heart of the community where I live. I was offered a redundancy package a number of years ago to close the office. I decided not to take it because it would have meant that the social hub in my village, and the footfall coming into the village and benefiting other businesses in the locality, would have been gone.  A Grant Thornton report a number of years ago, which was based on a UK model, measured the social dividend of the post office network to the country. It came up with a figure of between \u20ac350 million and \u20ac700 million - averaging roughly \u20ac500 million - as the dividend of the post office network throughout the country to the State in support of local communities. We have received support from the Government. When I was elected as a national politician, I worked with the Minister, Deputy Hildegarde Naughton; the then Minister, Heather Humphreys; and the then Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar; to put a State aid programme in place. We worked with Irish Postmasters Union, of which I am a member, to put a three-year deal in place for State aid funds. We were facing in the region of 200 to 300 closures at the time, ahead of the package being put in place. We have put the package into the programme for Government as a five-year State aid programme - \u20ac15 million a year - to safeguard the network that is there. We have put things in place to ensure that if an office closes or somebody wishes to retire, the opportunity will be there for another business within the area to apply for it and provide that service.  I am a member of a Government party but I am also a postmaster. We have received support from the Government to make sure we can maintain that network, but can more be done? I believe it can. We need more services because ultimately, we are losing payments because of online payments and direct debits. Many of the companies are pushing things that way because they do not want to get paid through post offices. I firmly believe post offices can do more for government - we can be the front face of government in all our local communities.  I ask that we look at Department of Social Protection payments. I know there is a contract in place but we get a lower percentage of those payments. I honestly believe we would ultimately be able to deliver those payments cheaper. The Department's officials will not tell us it is cheaper but we need look at the amount of money that is paid back to the Department for payments. It averages about \u20ac65 million a year. That money, when paid into bank accounts, is lost. I ask that we look for all Department of Social Protection payments to be paid through the post office network because ultimately, it will be cheaper for the State. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  T\u00e1 an c\u00f3ras oifig an phoist thart timpeall an St\u00e1it riachtanach, l\u00e1rnach in\u00e1r gcuid pobail agus n\u00edos sine n\u00e1 an St\u00e1t f\u00e9in. I go leor c\u00e1sanna, d\u2019imigh an r\u00f3l s\u00edos \u00f3 ghl\u00fain go gl\u00fain laistigh de theaghlach. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 dl\u00fathcheangailte leis an bpobal. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 sin t\u00e1bhachtach. Caithfimid an c\u00f3ras, an bonneagar agus an t-infrastrucht\u00far a chosaint. N\u00ed tharl\u00f3idh s\u00e9 sin tr\u00ed bhot\u00fan. Caithfear infheist\u00edocht a dh\u00e9anamh le tac\u00fa le hoifig\u00ed an phoist. Ba cheart d\u00fainn a chinnti\u00fa go bhfanann daoine san obair sin agus go bhfuil s\u00e9 de chumas ag an gc\u00f3ras daoine nua a mhealladh isteach. The post office network is crucially important. It is a service that, in many respects in many communities, is older than the State. It offers a tremendous community hub but also an increased level of services that people are benefiting enormously from. Again, a greater vision is needed. Ten or 15 years ago, you would have been concerned when you looked at An Post because of the trail-off in the number of letters being sent. However, the manner in which online deliveries, parcels and all these kinds of things have come to the fore since then has meant that a new range of services has come into An Post and there is potential there.  The most common reason I visit An Post is with packages for Depop and Vinted on behalf of my other half a lot of the time. There are many services that An Post offers that were not previously offered. It is still the case we are seeing closures, unfortunately, and we need to look at that. When somebody retires or finishes up who was obviously passionate about it, too often it is not attractive enough for someone new to run it. In recent years, we have lost the post office on High Street in Cork city and the post office in Crosshaven, which were big losses to those communities. That needs to be addressed in terms of investment. In the context of the modernisation and changes that are happening to An Post, there was talk of closing the mail centre and the distribution centre in Cork at different stages. To my mind, both are now vital, given the increased emphasis on parcels.  I will briefly flag the pension issue for An Post's staff. It is vitally important that the increases that are agreed are paid out on time at the earliest juncture. That took a significant campaign from pensioners and An Post, but there are more issues and I want to highlight that. There is an issue with the terms and conditions of the accord for pensioners, but there is also a discrepancy - a sort of two-tier system - whereby people who retired in January 2024 and those who retired in January 2025 are potentially on different pension rates, despite perhaps giving the same service. That needs to be addressed. I ask the Minister of State to bring that back for the Minister. While I welcome the increases that were agreed finally being paid out, there are still issues that need to be resolved. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  Over the past ten years, Ireland has seen the closure of more than 257 post offices. In my own constituency, the Mount Merrion post office closed in 2021 and the Kilmacud post office closed just a few weeks ago on 11 February. Residents now face up to 40 minutes of a commute to reach a basic amenity. Both of those post offices closed as a result of An Post being unable to recruit new postmasters to keep the services running. Unfortunately, this issue has been developing for some time across the country. The fact is that the postmaster employment model no longer functions in modern Irish society. Over the years, the duties and responsibilities of postmasters have developed to include vital community services, like welfare payments, government services and parcel deliveries.  While the demands have increased, the business model has not evolved to match them. Postmasters are essentially treated as independent contractors with neither the rewards nor the recognition that accompany a public service job. They are held to bogus self-employment, doing the same work as full employees without receiving any of the benefits associated with direct employment. This is an arrangement that An Post and successive Governments have embraced for too long. It is not fair and it is not good enough.  Is seirbh\u00eds riachtanach \u00ed oifig an phoist. Is \u00e1it \u00ed ina dtagann daoine le ch\u00e9ile agus ina mb\u00edonn seans ag daoine ar scor a chuid comharsan a fheice\u00e1il go seachtaini\u00fail. Tr\u00ed easpa oifig\u00ed, t\u00e1imid \u00e1 dh\u00e9anamh n\u00edos deacra do gach duine litir a chur chuig cara, pac\u00e1iste a chur, n\u00f3 na seirbh\u00eds\u00ed ar fad at\u00e1 ar f\u00e1il tr\u00ed An Post a \u00fas\u00e1id. Is l\u00e9ir go bhfuil g\u00e1 le hathr\u00fa sa ch\u00f3ras m\u00e1s mian linn dul i ngleic leis seo.  The postmaster represents so much more to our society than delivering messages. Across the country they stand for communication, financial access, history and community. They play an invaluable role in the social fabric of Irish life and should be treated as such.  While I welcome the increase in Government funding of \u20ac75 million to help the An Post network, I question what good this will do when we continue to perpetuate an employment model that only mistreats our postmasters. This Government and An Post must develop a more sustainable model to ensure postmasters can continue to deliver their vital services while receiving basic employment benefits. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  I echo my party colleague's sentiments on the importance of post offices to our local communities. Everyone in Ireland appreciates the work of our postal workers and, indeed, those who man the post offices.  I want to raise with the Minister of State a specific issue about Daly's postal agency in Hollywood in west Wicklow. They are a small shop but they perform certain postal services. Their mini-Riposte system is incompatible with fibre broadband, and when we moved from copper to fibre, it stopped working properly. It has been slowing down over the last number of years and now it is barely holding on. It could stop working at any minute.  They have been offering the service of social welfare payments for over 20 years to the community and they administer 50 various social welfare payments per week. They are an important part of west Wicklow. Surprisingly, they receive a commission of only \u20ac70 a month for providing that service, which I was quite surprised by. It is a very small amount of money, but they recognise the importance of the service. A 93-year-old man visits them every week to get his social welfare payments but has the chats and meets people. It is a really important part of his week.  This postal agency is very worried because there is not an alternative for them to perform this service. They are now doing it with paper because the machine is not working properly. An Post is trying to work with them to find an alternative, but I ask that the Minister of State make sure that happens. We really need to keep open this agency and, indeed, other agencies. My understanding is that this is a big issue in the west of Ireland where these types of small shops might be performing this function. It is really important that we enable them to continue that. I wanted to raise that with the Minister of State in case she was not aware. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  As other speakers have said, post offices are essential resources for communities all over Ireland and have been for centuries. They are a place not only to send packages and envelopes but also to gather to have regular interaction, particularly for older people. While many of my generation would welcome the increase in digital services, as I do, it is crucial we recognise that many in our communities rely on in-person interactions.  Stand-alone post offices, as opposed to those at the back of the local shop, offer privacy and care in a way that a private operator simply cannot. At the heart of this debate on post office closures is the closure of community facilities and services invested in by the State over hundreds of years and focal points for the inhabitants of those communities.  In my constituency, the local post office in Rathmines was built by the State in 1934. It has signalled that it is to close. In the first phase, the gorgeous Art Deco retail front will cease operations and be leased to the highest bidder, presumably the local Centra. While parcel collection services will continue, An Post has signalled its long-term intention to sell the entire site.  Combined with the loss of the local town hall and the turning of Rathmines village into a thoroughfare of the city, this closure brings a palpable sense of loss emblematic of the broader decay of local communities. As one constituent wrote to me last week, the closure of the Rathmines post office represents a \"Gradual erosion of a vital public service in Rathmines and the surrounding area ... it's more than a counter - it is a civic space relied upon by older residents, local businesses, and the wider community\u201d.  It is of the utmost importance that the Government look holistically at the question of community investment and development, particularly in Dublin\u2019s urban villages, and how post offices provided by the State will continue to be a vital part of those communities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  I listened to the opening contributions from the Government Members today and I thought to myself, my God, does the air feel lighter over on that side of the Chamber? The Minister of State, Deputy Michael Healy-Rae, somebody who was vociferous in holding previous Governments to account on failures of local amenities, encouraged us in the Opposition to tell people to use their local post office, even encouraging us to use our local post office, and I thought to myself, I do not need to encourage the people of Phibsborough to use their local post office. Every morning, from the early hours, they assemble outside. A collection of the community, people who are going about their day, will assemble at the post office, collect their payments and send their letters, and there is an abiding fear there that vital community resource will be taken away, whether I encourage them to use it or not.  The post office service in Ireland is a hub of community. It is the same in Drumcondra, where an elderly population assembles at the parcel station every morning and the first thing they do is meet a friend and engage in communication. Whatever business they have to do after 10 a.m. starts before that. It is a vital hub. The fear and anxiety that that resource might be gone is palpable.  What we actually need, rather than a patronising comment from the Government to encourage others to use the post office, is for the Government to take control of an issue such as post office infrastructure in Ireland, listen to the postmasters, who tell us the economic model is no longer viable, and provide incentives and intervention on behalf of the State. In the absence of a service such as the post office, the Government will not have a metric for the loss of a community amenity where people simply gather. It will just be gone, and that amenity will go with it. It will not be calculable in any sort of metric on a spreadsheet. It will be a loss of community. I would encourage that side of the House, the Government, to take a real interest in this, get a grip and, where necessary, provide the legislative changes or resources. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aidan Farrelly  Postal workers, as the Minister of State will be aware, remain a traditional pillar of our communities. Like other such pillars, including nurses, social workers and youth workers, they are often taken for granted. We never truly understand the hidden magic behind their occupation, the relationships they build, the local knowledge they develop and the many tasks outside their job description they will do just to go that extra step, yet post offices continue to face existential questions. Why are post offices closing or relocating? Is it because the cost of running a business has become excruciatingly high? Is it because the model is outdated? Is it because the State is not utilising these community hubs to their full potential?  I fully agreed with the CEO of An Post this week, who was quoted in The University Times as stating that An Post and our postal workers are \"essential infrastructure in the country\", which is why announcements of closures or relocations are always met with anger, frustration and deep sadness.  Leixlip post office relocated in 2024 from its main-street location to a site on the outskirts of the town. Undoubtedly, this business decision was not taken lightly, but it was another example of the invasive erosion of our main-street culture. As each shop closes, one more reason to go into town goes with it. While unit after unit lies empty and desolate, the rent, the rates and the insurance bills stave off interest before a viewing is even scheduled, so we find ourselves with ever less reason to go to our main street.  The costs saved by a post office closure or move will be a bill picked up by the State elsewhere. Loneliness has become a disease on this island, and while this is not the official responsibility of our local post office, each loss or relocation contributions. A new CEO will take the helm at An Post this year. I wish them well, but they will not save our main street. That is not their job. They will not resolve loneliness. That is not their job. It is everybody's job here. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Keira Keogh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Keira Keogh  For years the local post office has been far more than a place at which to post a letter or collect a pension. In towns and villages up and down the country, the post office is essential to communities. It is a trusted service, a provider of employment and for many who are isolated, an important point of human contact.  However, we are continuing to watch local post offices come under pressure, reduce services and shorten opening hours, and there is a constant fear of further closures in communities.  This fear is not without reason. In January, Tulrohaun post office in Mayo closed after 150 years of service. Good luck to Catherine Delaney, the postmaster, who retired after 71 years of service. This brings to 19 the number of post offices that have closed in Mayo in the past decade. In October 2025, I was made aware of plans to close the Erris postal sorting centre in Barnatra. That sorting centre employs 13 postmen covering the Erris region, which is the size of County Louth. The facility in Barnatra was purpose-built in 2019 at a private cost, following assurances that no other sorting lease would be signed and it could operate the service long term.  In October, however, the staff were made aware there had been a decision to close the centre, requiring each of the 13 postmen to travel to the amalgamated sorting centre in Ballina, which would be a two-hour round trip daily. Through extensive engagement by the postal workers, the postmaster, me and Councillor Gerry Coyle, An Post confirmed Barnatra sorting office would remain open. I am pleased it listened to those concerns.  Only three months later, Ballyhaunis delivery service unit faces a similar fate. An Post confirmed plans to amalgamate the Ballyhaunis delivery service unit to Castlereagh. That service unit employs 13 local staff who are living in the community locally. Relocating this service would cause significant disruption to those employees and have a huge impact on the local economy. They have already lost two banks and a courthouse. The loss of this unit will have a very negative impact. I commend Councillor Alma Gallagher and the Ballyhaunis Chamber president, Anne Cunnane, on their extensive efforts to stop this. They are supported in their efforts by over 3,500 local people who voiced their concerns in a petition. The staff feel hoodwinked by An Post and their union and are dismayed with the engagement so far.  I welcome the recent announcement of \u20ac15 million per annum for the remainder of this Government term to support the stability and sustainability of the nationwide network of post offices. However, we need to engage closely on the ground with all stakeholders to ensure this funding is deployed effectively and sustainably. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Cahill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Cahill  I welcome the opportunity to speak on the vital role of our post office network, particularly in counties like Kerry where our post offices are the very heartbeat of our towns and villages. I sincerely thank the Government for its continued commitment to this network, in particular the approval of \u20ac75 million over the next five years. That investment sends a clear and strong signal that this Government recognises the social and economic importance of post offices in both rural and urban Ireland. In Kerry, from larger towns such as Tralee, Killarney or Listowel to the smaller towns of Kenmare, Killorglin, Castleisland, Dingle and Cahersiveen and our smaller villages and communities such as Milltown, Castlemaine, Rathmore, Sneem, Waterville, Fieries, Faha, Beaufort, Templenoe, Headford, Chapeltown, Knight's Town, Castlegregory, Ballydavid, Clahane, Annascaul, Farranfore - I could go on - the local post office is often one of the last remaining public-facing services. It is where people collect their pensions, pay their bills and access financial services, where our children commence their savings, and just as importantly, where we meet neighbours and maintain social connections. For many elderly citizens especially, it is a lifeline.  While this funding of \u20ac75 million, or \u20ac15 million per annum, is welcome, we must look beyond the next five years. The key question now is what the long-term plan is to ensure the viability and sustainability of the post office network. We must ensure post offices are supported to diversify and expand the services they provide. There is enormous potential for greater integration with Government services, financial products, digital supports and community-based initiatives. In doing so, we can strengthen footfall, enhance revenue streams and secure their future. I am aware of a number of postmasters and postmistresses who have put their entire savings into keeping their doors open. That is wrong. We have to change that and support our post offices.  Will the Minister of State outline what strategic planning is under way to future-proof the network, not just to maintain it but to grow and modernise it, while ensuring it continues to serve our urban centres and our rural communities equally? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aidan Farrelly)  The Deputy is over time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Cahill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Cahill  The post office network is a national asset. With the right vision and continued support, it can remain at the centre of community life for generations to come. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Clendennen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Clendennen  This is a very important issue for rural Ireland in particular. In October 2024, in my own local village of Kinnitty, which has a few hundred people living there and a thousand-odd people in the parish, news broke that the postmistress, Breda Byrne, was retiring. We had a public meeting to try to see if somebody could take it on. We tried to get a shop to take it on, but there was a very deep wound we could not heal. A scar is going to be there for many years to come and it is leaving a void in local communities that is replicated across the country. We have seen the closure of 50% of post offices since the nineties and a halving of post offices in Offaly. When we compare the national trend versus with what is happening in our county, it is out of sync with the pace of closures in other counties. It creates disruption and a lack of social interaction and cohesion, which is so important in all our communities. It impacts the local GAA club, the pub, the shop - whatever it is - in terms of that activity. I want to see how An Post moves forward, considering the strength it has today. It is a billion-euro business, so it is not all doom and gloom. There are proactive opportunities. It needs to be innovative. It has survived as the fittest in the face of the challenges. When other parcel networks have had to close due to financial challenges, An Post has picked up the slack. There is an element of innovation, but takeovers have also occurred.  However, it cannot turn its back on rural Ireland, and there has to be a greater sense of involvement in the cash activity in our local communities. Where the banks have tried to turn their backs on this, we need to give that responsibility or an element of it to An Post. Moreover, from the perspective of our circular economy, the likes of Vinted, online sales and the level of shipping happening now mean there is no reason it should not have an opportunity where there have been closures. Kiosks, depots and transaction portals could be put back in place. I would also like to see a succession training plan for how someone can take up a post office when it is about to close.  When will we have a year without the closures of a post office in this country? That should be a firm commitment from An Post. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail  T\u00e1 f\u00edorth\u00e1bhacht a baint leis na hoifig\u00ed an phoist timpeall na t\u00edre. T\u00e1 siad i gcro\u00edl\u00e1r an phobail i ngach pobal timpeall na h\u00c9ireann. Cuirim f\u00e1ilte roimh a thuilleadh maoini\u00fa; timpeall is \u20ac15 milli\u00fan a f\u00f3gra\u00edodh i m\u00ed Ean\u00e1ir. Is rud f\u00edorth\u00e1bhachtach \u00e9 sin. T\u00e1 seirbh\u00eds poibl\u00ed riachtanach \u00e1 chur ar f\u00e1il ag na hoifig\u00ed an phoist fud fad na t\u00edre.  As I have just said through Gaeilge, particularly during Seachtain na Gaeilge, the post office network and post offices play a vital part in our local communities, be that in rural or urban settings. What we are seeing a lot of in urban settings, and also in rural, is the retirement of postmasters and postmistresses who had family businesses. Those post offices are now moving to other settings. In Leixlip, for example, the post office was moved from the main street up to Barnhall, and it has been far more difficult for older people particularly to get to that part of the town. It is extremely difficult for those living in Confey to get up the hill to Barnhall on the far side of the town. As the Minister of State knows, the main clientele within post offices are older people in our communities. We need to pay heed to that and acknowledge, when new contracts are being awarded, that they should in a central location that is convenient for older people to get to.  In Celbridge, the Murray family has run the Celbridge post office since 1987, nearly 40 years, with Aileen and her mum, Eileen, before her. I thank them for their service to the community. There have been 11 bids for the post office in Celbridge, which I welcome. This means there will be a continuation of service, but it is critical that this service remain in a location that is accessible, not just for older people but also for people with disabilities and the entire community.  It has been touched on here that the diversification of the post office network is crucial. We have seen some of it particularly when it comes to parcels and social welfare payments, but we need to look at it as a hub in the community, which it is, and diversify from a business perspective. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Post Office Closures: Statements"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-04\/debate\/dbsect_16","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Estimates for Public Services 2026: Message from Select Committee","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_16","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aidan Farrelly)  The Select Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment has completed its consideration of the following Revised Estimates for public services for the year ending on 31 December 2026: Vote 32 - Enterprise, Tourism and Employment. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Estimates for Public Services 2026: Message from Select Committee"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-04\/debate\/dbsect_17","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Teachtaireacht \u00f3n Seanad - Message from Seanad","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aidan Farrelly)  Seanad \u00c9ireann has passed the Copyright and Related Rights (Amendment) Bill 2025 without amendment, and has passed the Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025 without amendment. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Teachtaireacht \u00f3n Seanad - Message from Seanad"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-04\/debate\/dbsect_18","debateType":"statement","bill":null,"showAs":"Post Office Closures: Statements (Resumed)","counts":{"speechCount":25,"speakerCount":21},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pat Buckley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pat-Buckley.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Pat-Buckley.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"William Aird","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maeve O'Connell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maeve-O'Connell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Maeve-O'Connell.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cormac Devlin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niamh Smyth","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pat Buckley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pat-Buckley.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Pat-Buckley.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pat Buckley  The Minister of State, Deputy Smyth, will be aware that the postal services have been crippled with closures and cutbacks. Since 2015 a total of 34 post offices have been closed in Cork, the vast majority of which were in rural areas. The shocking number of closures has also resulted in threats to other community services. I will give the example of Ballynoe. It had a shop that was part of the post office. It did the local newspapers and it was beside the pub. Since that post office closed, they have nothing in that village. What makes it worse is that people now have to get a taxi into Midleton, maybe 7, 8 or 9 miles away, to draw their pension. This is happening all over place. Ballycotton is another village with no shop and no post office. It is just ripping the heart out of rural Ireland.  During Covid I spoke to two postmen - not postwomen - who explained to me that on their rounds, they delivered two letters to two elderly people every week that they wrote to themselves. The only people they would see during the Covid lockdown were the postmen. That is another vital little cog in the wheel when talking about post office closures.  I want to raise the fact that back in 2011 Sinn F\u00e9in highlighted that a public service obligation arrangement would be needed to save the post offices. We mentioned expanding the services. I have met with the Irish Postmasters' Union. I worked with two postmasters over the past number of years, one of whom has since retired. We need to get Government services, the credit unions, driving licences and so on into the post office. The post office is not just some place people go into to post a letter and that is it. We have heard the clich\u00e9 \"the computer says No\". This is what I hear when talking to postmasters.  Not so much in the towns but in the countryside post offices are a meeting place for people who come in once a week to draw their pension, get a bottle of milk and a sliced pan because normally the post office is the shop and everything else. The postmaster is also the counsellor and the advice giver. A machine will not help people fill out an application form. I think we have lost sight of that.  A number of years ago, just after Covid, we were talking here about the parcel service. They were trying to close the parcel service in Little Island in Cork. That service was dealing with more parcels than Portlaoise and Athlone together. I cannot see the logic of trying to fix something that is not broken.  If we do not have dialogue and we do not talk to people, then we do not get information so we cannot act on it and cannot get the results. I ask the Government to look seriously at the public service obligation and support the postmasters. The pay has to be increased because it is not attractive anymore. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Neville  Today we are all talking on the issue of post offices and post offices being retained. I want to emphasise the need for post offices to be retained in our town and village centres. All too often we talk about retaining the service but the key for me is that we retain them in the town centres. In my home village of Leixlip, we lost our post office from the town centre when it was put into a shopping area outside the town. That has had a huge impact on the other traders and the other businesses in our town. We have to be very conscious of this.  An Post is a national entity. It is part of our government. We cannot sit here talking about redeveloping our town centres and about how our town centres are becoming derelict on the one hand while on the other hand allow the services to be taken out of those very same town centres. There has to be a degree of responsibility with An Post to ensure that the post offices remain central. That is the key issue. Obviously there are other towns and villages in Ireland that will probably come under the same duress. There might be a place in towns like Celbridge but then all of a sudden somebody is asked to go to a shopping centre outside the town. It could be Naas or another town in the future. We need to ensure people are able to go into the town centre because that is how other businesses will benefit. A shop could have parking and we could make it free or even pay a postmaster to have a post office in that shop. It benefits them being in one location but it does not benefit anybody else. That is where those opportunities are. We need to put safeguards around that too. We need to ensure a post office service in the smaller villages and towns but we also need to ensure the post offices in larger areas remain in locations that are helpful to everybody as opposed to the one or two shop owners who might see it as beneficial to give the postmaster a corner in their shop who will bring in hundreds of people on a weekly basis but nobody else benefits but the businessperson. In Leixlip we have seen a downturn for other businesses because this happened.  An Post can provide other services and it has done so in the past. I would like to ensure we continue to reinvigorate the An Post services because it will be hugely beneficial into the future. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"William Aird","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy William Aird  Usually when I stand up here to say a few words I am upbeat and hoping to get a positive response. I stand here today representing County Laois. Since 2002 when the new currency came into this country 22 or 23 post offices have closed in County Laois. The Government needs to give some form of backing to the remaining post offices in our county or we will be here again in 12 months' time when more are closed. Every year more and more have closed.  We need to look at the whole structure of the post office. For example, when a contract is up with the postmaster or postmistress why do the doors close? Obviously, it is because it does not pay them to keep the doors open. If it does not pay them to keep the doors open, it behoves the Government to bring in some scheme that would help address the situation. For too long I have heard the suggestions to get other payments through the post office but all of that is history now. The time for talking is over. The time to do business is now.  I have seen the very same changes in the local authorities and the taxation offices. For years, people would be queuing outside the door of Laois County Council to pay car tax, especially at certain times - at the beginning of the month or whatever. It is all online now. Very few people to anything in person now. Everything is online and can be done on the phone.  I have listened to all the Members who spoke and I have watched all the Ministers come and go. However, if we are serious about what we are talking about today, we will do something positive about it. That is what I ask the Minister of State to do. Do something positive about it and report back here on what is being done to keep those rural post offices, which are the last few that we have. I will not even talk about rural post offices because at this stage, it is also about urban post offices. Going forward, unless there is an intervention by the Government, we will have far fewer post offices.  It is awful passing through all our villages now. When I was a young fella they were a hive of activity. Now there is no pub, no post office and no shop. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aidan Farrelly)  The Deputy is over time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"William Aird","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy William Aird  You cannot even get a pint of milk because you cannot get it from your local farmer because it is not pasteurised. That is where we have gone to now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  We can all agree the closure of a post office is a bad thing. I understand the need for consolidation and the business case for reducing the number of post offices because of the costs associated with each one but we have to recognise that each post office is more than just a monetary unit within An Post's business model. It is a community lifeline, it is a facility for the local community and it is a rallying point for people in that community. The loss of it is a loss for that community.  I will speak of my constituency. People very often associate the closure of post offices as a rural feature, and obviously it does have a particular impact in rural communities where there is less of a population. However, in urban areas like Booterstown, for example, the Woodbine post office is closed. The post office has closed in Dalkey. They closed because the postmasters in question retired and there was nobody to replace them. It was not because the post office was unviable, or because it was not busy enough or there was no demand for it. It was because there was no person who was willing to take over that postmaster's role. Why is that? It is an important question we need to ask.  The terms and conditions for postmasters are singularly unattractive. There are real problems with An Post's approach to remuneration and terms and conditions for postmasters. An example is the pension dispute that is going on. I am aware the Government has signed off on the 7% increase for An Post pensioners but they want their pension to be brought into parity with current postmaster pay. When Members of this House retire, their pension will be a function of the current pay of TDs but when postmasters retire, that is not what happens. There is an issue around parity there. How can you ask somebody to take up a postmaster position when the terms and conditions they are asked to operate under are not attractive enough for them to take it on? That is a major factor.  I am aware of a post office in Leenaun, County Galway, where the postmaster retired. He had been paying somebody to do part-time work in the post office so he could tend to other things. Notwithstanding the fact he was paying that person out of his own pocket, when the point came for him to get the lump sum for his retirement, he was denied it because he had employed somebody. It makes no sense whatsoever and An Post really needs to re-examine the basis on which it remunerates postmasters. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maeve O'Connell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maeve-O'Connell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Maeve-O'Connell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Maeve O'Connell  In 2021, the postmaster in Mount Merrion in the Stillorgan local area closed. It is a familiar story. The postmaster was moving on, An Post advertised and nobody stepped up to take on the role. We were lucky in the community to have two other local post offices a 25- or 30-minute walk away. Last month, one of those closed. It was the same story. The postmaster moved on, it was advertised but nobody took on the role. We are still quite lucky as we have one local post office. This one is in Stillorgan village. The village introduced paid parking before Christmas for the first time and from the first hour. One local said to me that has effectively increased the cost of your first stamp by 25% year on year. We know that is not how pricing works but it shows how people look at pricing. They looked at this as having increased the price of a cup of coffee or litre of milk if they drive to Stillorgan village. People have started to avoid it and trade is down by up to 40% by some measures. My concern is whether that will end up affecting the post office. Could we end up losing that post office? Is it economically viable? After that, we do not have a local post office serving a community of over 10,000 people. The nearest are a 40-minute or 60-minute walk, which is not realistic for most people. We are looking at people driving out of the community to avail of a basic service.  We seem to have Government policies that are at odds. One policy is encouraging people, particularly in urban areas, to live, work, socialise and avail of services in the local community, while another arm of the Government is removing the very services we need to keep us in our local communities. I ask the Minister of State and An Post what we are doing to maintain our urban postal networks, so we can continue to work, live and socialise in local communities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Donnelly  Sometimes I feel like I am in a parallel world here. If we tabled a motion this evening to protect rural post offices, I have no doubt every Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael Deputy and every Lowry Independents would vote against it. Yet every single person is coming in to talk about local post offices.  I live in an urban area and post offices are under pressure in relation to access for our community and ever-increasing costs. I am really worried about the increasing rents in urban areas, which will lead to commercially unviable post offices. Many years ago, our post office in Corduff was lost and never returned, despite a huge campaign by the community. There is no doubt this loss is still felt.  I have been engaging with the post office in recent weeks on the postal service. It acknowledged there is a reduction of 7% in letters overall but a 44% increase in parcels. That is absolutely huge. The collapse of a private parcel delivery firm has created a massive spike in parcels coming through our local depot in Coolmine. The volume is so large An Post has had to erect large tents in the car park. I get messages every other day about the postal service. Important letters and parcels are being delivered late. Last week, a person was worried because the decorations for a wedding they had planned were stuck in the depot and they could not get it access to them. Letters from hospitals and other important things people are waiting on are not being received until late in the day or sometimes when the date has passed.  We have to talk about what the postal service is. Is it just about delivering letters and parcels? It is not. Every single person who has come in here today has talked about the vital public and social service post offices provide. I was struck by what Deputy Buckley said about those two women who wrote to themselves just so somebody would come along and visit them during the week. That shows how important our public services are. It is not just about the postal services and post offices; it is about all our public services.  Sometimes it irks me that we know the value of everything. Bean counters look for the value in things. How much will it cost us? What is the profit? What is the loss? We can never measure, and we never even attempt to measure, the positive social aspects of public services we had. When a motion is tabled on the post office, I look forward to all the people who spoke today supporting it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  Since I came into D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann, I have been lobbying here for post offices. I did not hear it but somebody told me the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Healy-Rae, said if we do not use it, we will lose it, and I respect that. I am 50 to 60 miles west of Kinsale but it is part of my constituency. I was in the Kinsale post office recently and they told me they were moving into new premises. I am delighted with that because it was in shook condition.  I pay tribute to the postmen, postwomen and postmasters of this country who have worked extremely hard. The bottom line is they are not getting any help from the State. The Government can say it provided further moneys recently but I was talking to a postmaster who told me they are working under immense pressure. They use Windows 2008. That means An Post is trying to close post offices by stealth. This is how you do it; it is clever. There is no problem doing that. Goleen post office, which was close to my heart, was closed. It broke my bloody heart as it was in my backyard. We tried hard. There were advertisements by politicians. Everybody would love to live in Goleen but that is pure nonsense. To live in Goleen, you must work. It is a six-days-a-week job, whether we like it or not. The money is not there to do that, so when the person retires, nobody wants to take it over. Deputy Barry Ward from Dublin said the same thing.  We had the same situation in Durrus couple of weeks ago. I worked with An Post tirelessly and had somebody willing to open that post office. It needed a little bit of work. For the two to three weeks before it closed the door, An Post did not help me. I found out it was not communicating the information it promised me it would communicate. It intended to close this post office. This is what is going on. It gives you this false impression, saying it is a terrible thing and that if it closes, it will make sure it reopens it again. It is mocking me to my bloody eyeballs. I had people in Durrus who wanted to keep that post office open. The first thing that went up on Facebook was that the local politician could not keep the post office open, asking what good is he. That should not come back on us. I broke my butt to keep that open and worked with somebody who was willing to do that but An Post was not there to help us. It has to be held accountable. An independent body has to come on board to do that.  I am lucky I have Ballydehob and Schull with Bridie Roycroft and Wendy Briscoe, and Toby Campbell in Bantry and the O'Mahony family in Kilcrohane. They are keeping the doors open under immense pressures.  We need to look at where the problem is. Churches, pubs and Garda stations are in trouble. I saw in the local newspaper the other day that Lisavaird co-op is contemplating closing. I mention Reenascreena, Ardfield and Rosscarbery creameries. Where is it going to stop? The root of all evil, and people do not talk about it half enough here, is the county development plans. We are continuously pushing people out of rural communities and into the cities, refusing planning and refusing to zone ground. We need to make changes. If we do not, all the post offices in this country will close. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  We all have stories about post offices and memories of post offices. My one is waiting in my mother's car while my grandmother collected her pension. It used to take her about two and a half hours to collect the pension because she got every bit of gossip and it kept her going for the week. She got everyone's information, news and excitement. That is what a post office was about. It was about people meeting, congregating and chatting. It was the heart and soul of the community. While we have 950 post offices, 14 have closed in the past year. Those were 14 that a postmaster did not take on.  We have to ask why this is. If it is not a financially viable business and someone cannot make money out of running a post office, why would they take it on? In the future when people retire, nobody will want to take on the business because it does not benefit them. I asked a guy who runs a Centra why he would not take on the post office licence. He said it is too expensive to run the post office. To have to put in this number of safes, to have to have this type of public liability insurance and to take on this number of staff would not be financially viable. We have to make post offices and that life financially viable.  In France post offices deliver for pharmacies. They have secure contracts where they are delivering pharmaceuticals drugs and medicines to elderly and infirm people who cannot get out of their homes. That is another option we have not looked at. People are saying they cannot afford to put in the safe system and the whole lot. In our villages and smaller towns around the country why are we not amalgamating the Garda station and the post office? I can guarantee nobody will go in and rob a Garda station. We need to think about it. These are small things that are possible. They could be merged together and secure a community hub that way. It is about keeping it alive and keeping it in the post office. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  I acknowledge the great work of the postmasters and all those who work in the post offices across the country. They have done so under immense financial pressure, opening at weekends, opening late providing tremendous value in terms of the social support that they provide so many people, in particular older people and vulnerable people. I also want to commend Catherine Delaney of Tulrohaun post office who gave 70 years of service to her community in County Mayo and who retired recently. She is a tremendous woman with a wonderful family who has worked so hard in delivering so well for the Tulrohaun, Bekan and Ballyhaunis communities.  There are significant concerns about financial pressures that An Post is driving here. We are going to see the loss of further post offices over the coming years unless there is a significant change in how we support post offices. I will give one example in my area of east Mayo. I spoke to the postmaster in Kilkelly post office. Nine banks have closed in the surrounding region, including in Charlestown, Kiltimagh and Ballyhaunis. As a result of that, there has been an increasing level of service delivery in Kilkelly post office and in the surrounding post offices in Knock, Kiltimagh, Ballyhaunis and all those towns. There is a real threat that we are now going to lose them as well. I ask the Minister to seriously address this significant threat. We will see further closures particularly as postmasters retire.  It is proposed to move the DSU unit from Ballyhaunis to Castlerea, which will cause mayhem in Ballyhaunis, including for the affected staff. Ballyhaunis has lost so much in recent years, including banks and reduced hours in the credit union. It is really important that we protect that DSU. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  Ar dt\u00fas, ba mhaith liom labhairt faoi mo Dh\u00e1ilcheantar f\u00e9in. Is An Post about providing a community service or is it about being a for-profit company and making money? We are not talking about Leinster House bike shed-type of wastage here or but equally the service in my constituency has degraded. Postal workers have been asked to cover larger areas. We know that the letter side has declined but the number of packages is going up as others have said.  We have to look at it as a community service model going back to the days when there was a same-day postal service across the country when we did not have motorised vehicles. With the wider issue of social cohesion in towns and villages across the country, especially in rural areas, we need to rethink the post office. Whether it is linking up with credit unions or community shops, the post office should be seen as the heart of the community. No matter what level of service or what proportion is mail, there should be a post office in every town and village even if some of them are operating on a part-time basis. There are ways and means of doing that by providing access to national services locally, such as collection points for certain types of public service cards, driver's licences, etc., or as a way of getting cash or foreign exchange even if it is by appointment the day before. These are all things that can be done.  There are many towns and villages with over-the-shop areas that are derelict. Our policy in terms of bringing in direct investment should be to bring these companies and their workers to rural communities and spread them out. They would have a better quality of life, more access to schools and they would keep more post offices open as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James O'Connor  I support the work that is done by post offices. In my constituency of Cork East, as in other Deputies' areas, I recognise the social values that they add to communities, whether its people utilising the services in post offices or the fact it is a very important community outlet. I acknowledge that operating a post office is an expensive undertaking but it provides a community with enormous social value. In particular, it is important for elderly people who enjoy using An Post's services.  Unfortunately, we have a new dynamic in the world we are living in around national security. Some European countries have phased out having a national postal service. Having an operational full service could become quite important as the world sadly enters into a time of conflict. Something we do not think about often enough in this House is the direction the world is going in. It is sadly becoming a more dangerous place. Having a means of communication other than relying completely on our mobile phones is something we need to think about an awful lot more into the future. That is why it is important to have home delivery services through a State-run postal service in this country and ensuring that we have an active and operational well-supported post office network nationwide. I wanted to come in to make that particular point. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere  I again acknowledge all the postmasters and postmistresses around the country for the incredible work they do. The post office is the heart and soul of rural Ireland. I acknowledge their role in providing a phenomenal service. I also acknowledge the role of our postmen and postwomen who deliver our post every day and every week. In particular, back during the Covid restrictions, sometimes the only interaction people in rural areas had was with their postman who was driving up country boreens and country lanes delivering that piece of post. It is important in the context of the debate that we acknowledge the role of our postmen and postwomen around the country and thank them for the service they provide.  In that context, I wish to share a personal story. My father is retiring from the post office as a postman next month and I wish him well in his retirement.  The Government is absolutely committed to supporting rural areas and we all want to see the post office network developed. The programme for Government specifically states that the Government will continue to provide a nationwide network of post offices with funding to ensure their sustainability and enhance the value they bring to local communities. I was particularly delighted in January when the Government announced that it will provide funding of \u20ac15 million out to 2030 to support the stability of the nationwide network of post offices. This a huge shot in the arm and in fairness the postmasters group lobbied very hard. That is money that is incredibly well spent and will probably be the best money the Government will spend over the next five years.  Post offices are vital social links in rural communities but in urban settings as well. They are absolutely critical. They support local economies, providing essential government services. In many small towns and villages - I am thinking of my constituency of Carlow-Kilkenny - the post office is the last remaining face-to-face interaction that a lot of these towns have. They provide hugely important services in towns of all sizes, but in particular in small towns.  Over 1 million people every week use the post office. That is one in five people in this country every week who interact with the post office or use it for the many things that they can use it for. It is absolutely incredible that so many people are using it. We have got something in rural Ireland that works. We have something that represents everything is great about our country. We need to continue to support and enhance it. I say this from my perspective as a rural TD. Every time we hear of a post office closing in the community, it sends a shudder down the spine of those in rural communities. Anything that can be done to support rural post offices should be done. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shane Moynihan  Is m\u00f3r agam an deis seo labhairt ar oifig\u00ed an phoist timpeall na t\u00edre agus an t\u00e1bhacht a bhaineann leo. I wish Deputy Cleere's father every good wish in his retirement in the month ahead.  It is very important that we note the central role that post offices play. In particular, as the Deputy and other colleagues have said, I also acknowledge the important role that postmasters play.  I and my Dublin colleagues in the Fianna F\u00e1il parliamentary party have been engaging extensively with postmasters in Dublin in particular over the past year to ensure their voices are heard. We know there is an importance to post offices in rural parts of the country. However, in Dublin and other urban areas especially, where there are large numbers of people who are retired and receiving a pension, the post office is of great importance. It may be the only human interaction that many of them will experience in a week. In a world where pressure is coming on for the delivery of services to be digital first, it is important that we recognise the social good that comes from human interaction and a place that people can go to. It is not only the place where they get their pension payment for the week or do any business they need to do; it is a place to meet people. We have heard horrific stories where the postmaster raised the alarm because someone did not turn up to receive a payment and that was how it was found out that they were in difficulty or something more sinister had happened. It is important that we recognise the pivotal role that postmasters play and that is why I welcome the commitment to ensure \u20ac50 million per year goes into the post office network to ensure it is well-funded.  It is also important for us to recognise that people still have an attachment to the postal service. In Denmark, the national postal service has suspended the delivery of letters. In my area of Dublin Mid-West, where we have experienced a slower delivery time for services and post in recent weeks, it has become apparent that many people still rely on the postal service. It underlines the importance of having that facility there.  As Deputy O'Connor said, the fact that we now have a world where online scams are even more prevalent, having human interaction, a physical presence and a place that people can go to is very important.  I cannot overemphasise the role in urban cohesion that post offices play, especially in my constituency of Dublin Mid-West but also across the Dublin area. In many cases, postmasters will know their customers by name and will be able to look after their particular needs. They give people that social outlet and human connection in a world that seems increasingly online. To people without digital skills, that can be terrifying. The post office is a safe harbour for them to go to. It should be like a commercial organisation but with a social conscience and social aim at its heart. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cormac Devlin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cormac Devlin  I welcome the debate. In my constituency of D\u00fan Laoghaire, we have, unfortunately, lost local post office services in Monkstown and Dalkey. As other Members said, post offices are at the heart of our communities in Dublin and across rural Ireland. They are places people rely on, particularly older residents, people with disabilities and small local business owners who need dependable, face-to-face services close to home. I commend the staff and postmasters who have kept these services and offices going, often under huge pressure and with challenging and changing demands. They are, quite simply, part of the social glue of a community.  I welcome the Government\u2019s commitment to supporting the national network. This year, the Government approved renewed funding of \u20ac15 million per annum from 2026 to 2030, building on the \u20ac10 million per annum provided from 2023 to 2025 to support the stability of the network. That funding is there to give time and space for An Post to accelerate and transform the network, to broaden services and to keep local offices viable. However, funding alone is not the full answer. The priority must be to retain and protect core services that the public depend on, and chief among them is the daily delivery service. We are seeing daily delivery being reduced or removed in other countries. Ireland is different. Our settlement pattern, rural connectivity challenges and the reality that not everyone can move their lives online mean that daily delivery remains essential and not optional.  While An Post is a commercial State body and operational decisions sit with its board and senior management, the public service obligation is clear. We need a network that serves every community, urban and rural alike, and we must do everything possible to protect the services that people feel in their day-to-day lives. Post offices still matter. The social benefit they provide communities matters and the Government must continue to support the network. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Before I go to Deputy Ward, I welcome to the Gallery, on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Harkin, a group from the North Leitrim Women's Centre and the representatives of Diffreen National School in County Leitrim. Both groups are most welcome, as is the Minister of State. I call Deputy Ward. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I have been listening to the debate. I am now the third TD from the Dublin Mid-West constituency to speak on An Post in the past few minutes. We are all on the same page in the area. There is a bit of an issue around the delivery of services in the area. In Dublin in the past ten years alone, 21 post offices have closed.  In addition to the closure of post offices, there has also been a poorer standard for the delivery of post. I will give a couple of examples. I was contacted by a resident of Balgaddy in my constituency about not receiving post. I contacted An Post and was informed that there was no particular issue in Balgaddy. I sent a response to my constituent by post. Guess what? My constituent never received it. That tells me straight away that there is an issue.  A gentleman in Fettercairn contacted me with the same problem. He said he was not receiving his post in a timely manner. He said he had seen a big decrease in services. I again contacted An Post. In its response, it stated that it was possible that issues such as sickness or absence from work were leading to a delay in delivery services. An Post needs to have a contingency plan when something like that happens. At the moment, not having a sickness absence plan is leading to people not getting or going to vital medical appointments.  Another thing missing in An Post is forward planning. Clonburris is a new development in our area and a part of it is an area called Seven Mills. There are going to be over 8,000 homes across the development. A significant number have been tenanted. However, to date no dedicated post person has been assigned by An Post to deliver packages and letters to people living in Seven Mills. That is leading to a hit-and-miss service for them. The proposals for the Clonburris development passed in 2019. I was on the council at the time. Surely An Post knew it was coming. It should have had something in place to ensure the service was not lacking.  A number of my family members and friends work directly for An Post, whether in sorting offices or delivering post around the area. They have told me that there have been a few changes in how deliveries are being arranged in the sorting office and being issued to postmen and postwomen. They felt they were not consulted about the changes. Because they were not consulted, it has affected the delivery of post. Excuse the pun, but this needs to be addressed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Carol Nolan  Our post office network is absolutely vital, particularly in rural communities. I come from the constituency of Offaly, a rural county, and the post office network is vital. What we are seeing is that there are not enough incentives for people to take on post offices. I saw that in my own community where a post office was lost because there were not enough incentives for a person to take it on. A person would have to lease a premises and so forth. It is something that certainly works in Ireland. It is certainly something that we need to invest in more. We need incentives and a broader range of services. The services have been very slow to be incorporated into our postal service. If more services were being offered at our post offices, it would increase footfall. If we were to see more incentives, we would see more people willing to take on a post office in a community, to keep it there and open. That is important.  The facts I want to point out, and about which I am concerned, are that since 2020, the post office network has absorbed a cost-of-living crisis marked by 15% inflation, a 30% increase in the minimum wage and a sharp decline in transaction-based income. That certainly justifies the need for more incentives.  At the same time, post offices remain ineligible for many business supports that are accessible to comparable local enterprises. They are unable to increase their prices due to their contract requirements with An Post, placing them in a uniquely exposed position. Ireland currently invests \u20ac11,000 annually per post office, but Belgium invests five times that amount while Italy invests 3.4 times that amount. There is a need for further investment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  Like every other Member, I appreciate our post office network. We are sad to think that so many post offices have closed around us over the years. I remember the previous postmasters in Kilgarvan, Denis P. O'Sullivan and his brother, John O'Sullivan. Before them were Bridie and James Cronin. She used to send her brother out with the telegrams. My uncles told me a story.  They met him one day going up the road with a telegram. He asked them if he had much further to go and they asked him where he was going. He told them to mind their own business and to tell him how far he had to go. That was how secretive he was supposed to remain about the telegram. That is a story of happier times.  We lost Clonkeen post office, which was very close to me. We lost the post offices in Headford, Blackwater Bridge and different places. Invariably, they are the centre of each locality. If the post office is not there, a place loses its identity. We are in trouble now with so many shops closing in rural areas. In many rural villages, there is nothing left but the post office. We hope we will retain the post offices in Kilgarvan, Kenmare and Glenflesk. We appreciate the great work they do.  The Government should advise people to deal with post offices for payments rather than letting them go to banks. We have done enough for the banks. Payments should always be directed to post offices to ensure business is kept in them. People should not be sent elsewhere to bigger towns because there are no longer banks in villages.  As everyone else has said, it is up to the people to use their post offices because they will not have them if they do not. We lost another post office a couple of weeks ago in Cordal. A family gave great service to the area. The man who ran the post office is now a senior citizen. His father retired many years ago and he carried on the business. A tradition and a name has been lost in Cordal with the closure of the post office. We are sad about that because it was a great place for people to meet. Elderly people feel it is their job to collect a pension or whatever else. Likewise, the children's allowance and other benefits should be paid through post offices. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niamh Smyth","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (Deputy Niamh Smyth)  We have had an interesting debate. I will begin by acknowledging a very special lady in Mullagh, County Cavan, Jane Duffy, who was lovingly known as a postwoman for 38 years. She recently retired and I want to wish her and her lovely husband, Peter Duffy, the very best of luck. The night she retired epitomised what has been said across the House during this debate. The community came out in force to go to mass. Fr. Paul Prior held a beautiful ceremony for her and everybody came to the heritage centre to celebrate, acknowledge and appreciate her 38 years of service as a postwoman. What is interesting is that she became a postwoman when she left school and knew the route entirely because her dad had been a postman for 20 years prior to that. One could say she was 58 years doing the job, but we will give her her 38 years. It is incredible service, as acknowledged by the postmistress in her local area, Caitr\u00edona Monaghan, who described her as a national treasure and trailblazer for women in the workforce for giving that public service to her local community. I want to acknowledge that. Many people have done likewise in respect of those who have been postwomen and postmen the length and breadth of the country.  Everyone has come from a well-intentioned place in the debate. I reassure colleagues that the Government is completely committed to our post office network. Many issues have been raised across the House. I am conscious that the Minister, Deputy Calleary, was always very mindful, before he was Minister for Social Protection, to consider the additional services that can be provided through the post office network. Post offices are the lifeblood of many communities. They are their social conscience, fabric and hub, something we have heard reiterated many times during the debate.  Deputy Cathal Crowe referred to banking. Post offices provide AIB banking and savings services. They do a huge amount, a hell of a lot more than they did in the past. There is a commitment from the Government that we will find a path for them. No community wants to be without a post office. The more services they can deliver, the better. It is important to say that An Post is a trusted name. We went through a very difficult period in this country where name recognition was important. An Post has always had trustworthy name recognition, which is important to communities.  We are, of course, discussing money and funding. I recognise that the postmasters' network asked the Government for \u20ac15 million in the last budget. The Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, achieved that. He achieved an ongoing secure five-year plan totalling \u20ac75 million. I do not think the Ceann Comhairle would disagree with me when I say that what organisations ask for and aspire to in budgets is not always achieved. An Post achieved the exact figure it asked for. It has a pathway and plan to find a way forward for the post office network. That should be acknowledged. This funding will support the sustainability of the nationwide network of post offices, protecting and nurturing a commercially focused post office network. We cannot kid ourselves and say that organisations in the public service can run on fresh air. They need funding, but they also have to be viable. That is why there have been some closures when nobody in a community was willing to take on a post office. We all have the same goal in mind when we are talking about the post office network.  Funding will also support access for citizens to key social benefits of the post office network and help our citizens to access services effectively and equitably. It should also be noted that An Post is a commercial State body, with a mandate to act commercially. An Post has statutory responsibility for the State's postal service and the post office network. Decisions relating to the network, including decisions relating to specific post offices, are operational matters for the board and management of the company and not one for which the Government has any function.  As noted earlier, support does not mean that some post offices will not close. Closures can happen for a variety of reasons, such as retirement and for personal reasons \u2013 we have heard many such anecdotal accounts during this debate. The intention is to avoid such decisions being necessary on foot of economic hardship. Again, we are trying to make it economically viable for people to keep running post offices. Some 14 post offices have permanently closed following unsuccessful efforts to appoint new postmasters since January 2025. In every case, vacancies were advertised multiple times and local engagement was undertaken.  The post office on the main street in my town, Bailieborough, closed due to retirement. A family had given many years of good service. That will happen. Therefore, we need other entities in the community, whether it be a local SuperValu or Centra, to take on the responsibility of providing the service. We have to acknowledge the expense of doing that. It is not a decision that can be taken lightly.  An Post has not closed any post offices. A post office closure follows a decision by an individual postmaster to exit the business. The majority of closures resulted from postmaster retirement. At present, there are 873 active post offices and most are operated by independent postmasters, with 41 offices directly operated by An Post. It is a nationwide network of significant scale, providing economic and social benefits to urban and rural citizens across the country.  Each year there is what would be described as churn within the network. An Post advises that approximately 70 to 80 post offices change ownership for a variety of reasons, including a postmaster taking over an existing premises, a relocation by an existing postmaster to a modern accessible premises or a new postmaster taking over and relocating to a fit-for-purpose premises.  With regard to the sale of An Post buildings, all State bodies are required to seek the approval of the relevant Minister and Minister for public expenditure in advance of any material acquisition or disposal of land, buildings or other material assets proposed by a State body. An Post is aware of the requirement for compliance with the code of practice. The Department of Culture, Communications and Sport will consider proposals from An Post on receipt of any such request for approval. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Health (Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill)  On a point of order, I have to call a quorum because this is of such significance.  The Government has set aside time for statements on a whole range of different things. I call a quorum. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I accept the Deputy's point of order. The quorum is established once we resume in session. It does not have to continue at all times in the Chamber but I appreciate the point of order and I know there are no other Deputies present. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  I think it is disrespectful to the Minister of State. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niamh Smyth","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Niamh Smyth  The programme for Government commits to the Government partnering with An Post and local communities to identify and preserve heritage post office buildings that are no longer in operation, respecting their historical value and exploring potential new uses. The Department is working in the first instance with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to discuss possible options. An Post also advises that it has a protocol in place which seeks to find the best future uses for these buildings, working with stakeholders such as the LDA and local authorities.  The Government is truly committed to a sustainable An Post and post office network. It is an integral part of our economic and social infrastructure and plays a significant role in our lives. In times of crisis, such as during severe storms, it has even provided a lifeline to communities during the recovery. This was certainly the case during Covid. The Government will continue to support the network and the postmasters who operate on a daily basis and preserve its position in the heart of local communities.  I thank the Minister for her support here tonight. In my ten years here, I do not believe I have ever before seen Private Members' business being brought forward and nobody from the party that brought it forward being here to hear the response. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Post Office Closures: Statements (Resumed)"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-04\/debate\/dbsect_19","debateType":"statement","bill":null,"showAs":"Scoliosis and Inquiries: Statements","counts":{"speechCount":42,"speakerCount":27},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_19","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donna McGettigan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cormac Devlin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aisling Dempsey","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aisling-Dempsey.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aisling-Dempsey.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Health (Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill)  I welcome the opportunity to address the House on a number of important inquiry processes that have been established or are in the process of being established by the State in the health sector, and to update Members on progress to date. I also want to put these updates in the context of the human experiences that underpin them. We must always remember that long before any inquiry is agreed, before any terms of reference are drafted and before any report is delivered, there are lived experiences at the centre of these issues. Children, parents, families and survivors are all people with very deep memories of the things that have happened to them. These people's voices and experiences must shape our work and their needs must remain central to the process.  I will begin with the Children's Health Ireland, CHI, inquiry scoping exercise and the Dignity4Patients scoping exercise. I do so because on Tuesday I had the opportunity to update the Cabinet on the progress with both of these and it is important that I update the House. Both exercises are at an early stage and I will address them in turn, before moving on to the non-statutory inquiry into the historical licensing and use of sodium valproate in women of child-bearing potential in this State.  First, the scoping exercise into potential terms of reference for a public inquiry into spina bifida and complex----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Minister, I hate to interrupt but is your statement ready to be distributed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  I nearly never do that because I often deviate from it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Okay. We will have to continue on that basis. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  As an initial step, the Government agreed that a facilitator will be appointed to consult stakeholders on scoping the content of potential terms of reference for an inquiry. This scoping exercise is designed to ensure that when a public inquiry is established, it has structures and parameters that reflect the needs of children and families of patients, are grounded in evidence and avoid duplication with existing statutory or clinical processes. In this regard, I have engaged with the Attorney General, considering the requirements for this facilitated exercise, to identify a suitable independent person of appropriate stature, experience and willingness to undertake this role. It was on his recommendation that I have appointed Mr. Remy Farrell SC as the independent facilitator to conduct this scoping exercise.  I wrote to the following groups earlier this week to inform them of this step: Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Ireland; Scoliosis Awareness and Support Ireland; the Cerebral Palsy Foundation; the Scoliosis Advocacy Network; the Spina Bifida and-or Hydrocephalus Paediatric Advocacy Group; Scoliosis Ireland; Orthokids Ireland and the hip dysplasia advocacy groups. I informed all of these groups that Mr. Farrell would be commencing his work on 3 March, which was yesterday, and that the exercise would run for up to 16 weeks. This marks a significant and much-anticipated step forward. I am pleased that this work is now under way. I thank the families and the various groups for their feedback to me and the Department on the appointment of Mr. Farrell. I know that many of them have been waiting for this announcement for some time. I would also like to acknowledge the work of the paediatric spinal task force, in particular the contributions of the three advocacy groups that have represented patients, as well as the chair, Mark Connaughton SC.  The T\u00e1naiste and I met the parents of Harvey Morrison Sherratt in September and agreed to work in partnership with parents and advocacy groups across the board on the structure of an inquiry into spina bifida and complex scoliosis services at CHI. Following those engagements and engagements with the broad advocacy group, I brought a memo to the Government where it was agreed that a public inquiry into spina bifida and complex scoliosis services should be established. Mr. Farrell, who is a highly respected senior counsel with extensive experience in sensitive and complex matters, will now lead a structured programme of engagement designed to ensure the voices of families, patients and the different advocacy groups with enormous experience of these issues are central to the process. While Mr. Farrell is known for his expertise in complex legal matters, what is most needed here is his proven ability to approach sensitive issues with great humanity and great respect. I hope everybody will feel able to engage meaningfully with him and with this process. I strongly encourage full engagement with Mr. Farrell. The lived experiences are vital to shaping an inquiry that truly reflects the needs and realities of the children and families affected in so many different ways by spinal and orthopaedic services in CHI historically. Once this scoping exercise has been completed, further Government approval will be sought for the final terms of reference and the nature of a statutory process. It is of course for the Government and the Minister to take the advice of Mr. Farrell on the structure, content and form of the inquiry, recognising that different forms of inquiry deliver different sorts of processes. The purpose of appointing Mr. Farrell in that facilitated way is to try to give us the best advice in relation to that.  I now want to turn to the Dignity4Patients scoping exercise, which was initiated in response to requests from survivors, victims and advocates of those harmed by Michael Shine. At the outset, I would like to recognise the many individuals impacted by Mr. Shine, some of whom I have had the good fortune and opportunity to meet. I recognise that the number of people impacted is reported as being in the considerably high hundreds. This is an enormously significant moment for this group. Mr. Michael Shine, a former surgeon, worked in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda from 1964 until 1995. In March 1995, the CEO of the hospital was made aware of a complaint of abuse against Mr. Shine by the North Eastern Health Board. Mr. Shine took leave while the complaint was being addressed and subsequently retired in October 1995. By the time of his retirement, he was already the subject of multiple allegations of sexual abuse going back to the 1970s. Dignity4Patients has been campaigning on behalf of the victims for many years. The organisation has long sought a full inquiry into the sexual abuse of patients and in the past year has sought a commission of investigation. I recognise that many people and families across Meath and Louth, in particular, will be impacted by the very fact that these statements are being made in the D\u00e1il today. I acknowledge that. It is also the case that on 26 November, the Government agreed that a timebound scoping exercise be undertaken by an independent person in response to requests from Dignity4Patients on behalf of victims and survivors of Michael Shine. For decades, victims and survivors of Michael Shine have carried trauma and have sought recognition and accountability. Their strength and willingness to continue pressing for the truth must be met with compassion, seriousness and action.  On Tuesday I informed the Government of the appointment of Mr. Lorcan Staines SC as the independent facilitator to conduct this scoping exercise, again in engagement with Dignity4Patients and its legal representatives. I had been engaging with the Attorney General, considering the requirements for this facilitated exercise, to identify a suitable independent person of appropriate stature, experience and willingness to undertake this role. Again, it was on his recommendation that I appointed Mr. Staines, who commenced his work yesterday, 3 March. The exercise will similarly run for up to 16 weeks. He will discuss potential terms of reference for this scoping exercise and, ultimately, any inquiry in direct consultation with Dignity4Patients. Mr. Staines has two decades of experience in criminal, regulatory and administrative law. He is widely recognised for his specialist work with victims and vulnerable witnesses, particularly in sensitive cases involving sexual violence. He has advised both the Minister for justice and the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre on reforms to better protect people in the criminal process.  Mr. Staines will fulfil his role as a facilitator through direct engagement with victims and survivors of Michael Shine, working alongside Dignity4Patients. During the process, Dignity4Patients will have the support of expert trauma-informed advisers: Maeve Lewis, former CEO of One in Four; Professor Phil Scraton, a specialist in inquests and inquiry models; and their solicitor, Diarmuid Brecknell of Phoenix Law. Mr. Staines will receive all of the necessary supports to ensure that a victim-centred, trauma-informed, human rights-based approach underpins the scoping exercise and any subsequent statutory processes. The well-being of victims and survivors will remain central throughout this process.  The final report and recommendations will be submitted to me and to the Government to guide the development of an appropriate and bespoke response to the issues raised, and to the needs identified by Dignity4Patients on behalf of the victims and survivors of Michael Shine. We are committed to establishing a public inquiry and will take recommendations from Mr. Staines in the same way as to the content, form and structure of an appropriate inquiry that meets all of the needs that have been identified. Again, that decision comes back to me, as Minister, to the Government and to this House. Our commitment is to ensure a process that recognises the suffering experienced, honours the voices of victims and survivors, and seeks a path towards truth and healing.  The third inquiry on which I want to update the House is the non-statutory inquiry into the historical licensing and use of sodium valproate in women of child-bearing potential in the State. The then Government approved the establishment of this inquiry in July 2023 in response to long-standing and serious concerns raised by women and families regarding the use of this medication, and the information, warnings and safeguards that were in place or not in place over time. Their experiences, often involving many years of uncertainty, medical complexity and profound emotional impact, deserve to be fully understood and acknowledged. I thank all of the people who advocated for that work. I have had the good fortune and opportunity to meet them and hear from them. Following a competitive process, Ms Br\u00edd O\u2019Flaherty BL was appointed as an independent chair in June 2024 and has since led the establishment and progression of the inquiry\u2019s work. I acknowledge the women and families whose personal experiences underpin this inquiry. Many of them have engaged with this process after long periods of advocacy, often in deeply personal and challenging circumstances. It is essential that this work continues to be carried out in a way that respects those experiences and supports people to engage in a manner that is safe, dignified and meaningful.  As Members will be aware, the public-facing work of the inquiry commenced once the necessary legal basis was in place for the processing of sensitive personal data and that took some time. This required the making and signing of three statutory instruments under the Data Protection Act 2018, which I did on 21 July 2025. This enabled the inquiry to formally commence its work the following day. Since commencement, the inquiry has been actively progressing its work in line with its terms of reference. Engagement has taken place with a wide range of stakeholders, alongside substantial preparatory and review work, to ensure the inquiry is positioned to examine the relevant matters in a thorough, structured and independent manner. A nationwide public awareness campaign was also undertaken to ensure that individuals and families who may wish to engage with the inquiry are aware of it and understand how to do so, resulting in strong levels of engagement. A central feature of the inquiry has been its emphasis on supporting participants. A range of practical and professional supports have been put in place to facilitate engagement, including psychological supports for individuals and families who choose to participate. This reflects a clear recognition that participation in an inquiry of this nature can be demanding and, for many, emotionally difficult, and that appropriate supports are essential to enabling people to come forward.  The inquiry is being conducted in distinct strands, under the independent direction of the chair. These strands include a review of the historical regulation and use of sodium valproate; the gathering of experiences from affected individuals and families through oral statements; and an examination of current systems and supports, including the health service's capacity to respond to safety issues relating to the use of anti-seizure medications in women of child-bearing potential. In that context, I want to emphasise an important public health message reflected in the inquiry\u2019s work to date. It is critically important that individuals do not stop taking prescribed medication without appropriate medical advice. Abruptly discontinuing anti-seizure medication can pose serious risks to a person\u2019s health. Anyone with concerns about their treatment should consult a qualified healthcare professional, who is best placed to provide individual clinical advice.  The inquiry hearings are scheduled to take place later this year. These processes are proceeding in accordance with the inquiry\u2019s mandate and in a way that seeks to balance careful examination of the issues with sensitivity to those involved. Obviously the inquiry is independent of the Government. It is tasked with establishing facts, examining systems and practices within their historical context, and making recommendations where appropriate. It is not for me to anticipate its findings or conclusions, but I need to update the House about a financial extension to the inquiry so that it can continue to do its work. I have already updated the Cabinet on this. This is an important update, not only in terms of the conduct and public nature of the hearings that are going to happen later this year and what that will mean for families and advocates who will go through that part of the inquiry process, but also because I believe an additional financial element is appropriate to provide support for the inquiry. We have an established inquiry, the work of which is progressing, and we have some updates on its work. There are also updates on the two facilitated processes that the Government confirmed this week. It is important that I have updated the House on those.  These are statements about two things - inquiries and scoliosis. I will take the opportunity to give the House an update on scoliosis services. As the House is aware, we have established a CHI oversight group to co-ordinate oversight of a range of matters being explored in terms of the improvement of scoliosis services generally. That includes the implementation of recommendations from various completed reviews, upcoming reports, spinal services, and the commissioning of the new children\u2019s hospital. That group, which is co-chaired by the regional executive officer of the Dublin-midlands area and the chief clinical officer of the HSE, meets monthly.  As Members will be aware from some of the reports, I received a high-level briefing from the CEO of the HSE on phase 1 of the Nayagam review on 28 January. For that briefing to take place, legal advice had to be sought given the significant legal constraints regarding the report. On foot of that briefing, I sought a much more detailed clinical briefing with Mr. Nayagam, which took place on 6 February. My priority, again, was always on timely and appropriate engagement with the patients and families impacted. Mr. Nayagam recommended a recall for clinical review of 62 of the 91 cases examined by him in phase 1. Letters were issued to the families involved with the review on 10 February and a briefing session took place with advocacy groups on 11 February. All families were also contacted by phone. The follow-up appointments for the 62 patients have been arranged and the reviews are ongoing.  The HSE will also be carrying out a wider look-back review of the individual consultant\u2019s practice following on from phase 1. That look-back will involve a review of the patients on whom the consultant performed surgeries between 2016 and 2023, including all spinal, limb reconstruction and surgical dislocation of the hip surgeries. The HSE is currently scoping out the numbers involved against the three criteria for the look-back, and it will be in contact directly with all of the patients identified very shortly. Phase 2 of the Nayagam review is continuing and is expected to be substantially complete by the end of this year. The second phase of the review will be important from a broader clinical and system patient safety perspective to assure future service provision, especially in context of the new children\u2019s hospital.  In relation to the HIQA review, just after the report was published in April of last year I stood in this House and we discussed the HIQA review of the governance of implantable medical devices in CHI, including the use of non-CE springs in Temple Street hospital. I can update the House that the recommendations from the HIQA report are nearing completion, with a completion rate of over 84% for the HSE recommendations and of 96% for the CHI recommendations. That is an important update for the House.  In May, we were here to discuss the Thomas independent external medical audit for Children's Health Ireland and pelvic osteotomy. The immediate priority following the publication of this audit was, again, to ensure that there was clinical follow-up and care for patients who had undergone pelvic osteotomy surgery. Multidisciplinary team clinics have been under way since June of last year and 1,537 patients have now had clinical reviews as part of this process. It is expected that one last clinic will be held next week to close off the remaining patients.  In relation to retrospective reviews of cases to determine the indications for surgery, the HSE is establishing a separate process involving external experts. This external expert panel review commenced last month and is chaired by Dr. Kishore Mulpuri, a consultant paediatric orthopaedic surgeon from Canada. The HSE has worked closely with advocacy groups in drafting the terms of reference for that review, which should be finalised and published shortly.  In relation to other ongoing reviews, in particular the equity of access review that I established last year, the CEO of the HSE specifically commissioned an audit to assess governance and equity in access to care within CHI, especially regarding the balance between public and private patient management. That audit covers three specialties - orthopaedics, urology and respiratory - and is due for completion by the end of April.  The audit is being augmented with a qualitative element, an independent view, capturing patient and staff experiences. I am attempting to pull out the orthopaedic one to have it published earlier alongside that independent view and hope to be able to update the House about that reasonably shortly, because I want to see it published. I would like to refer to the paediatric spinal surgery waiting lists, both to acknowledge the work that is being done alongside reforms and the very real challenges with this service and how they are being addressed. I thank Members of the House who continue to engage with me on this.  I have placed a significant and systemic focus on productivity generally in our hospitals but particularly in this most acute area of need of paediatric spinal services. We do that because we are first and foremost concerned about the children whom these issues impact, their quality of life, the nature of these supports, the interventions they get and the necessity for those to be appropriate and timely. In particular, I thank all of the patients whom I discuss this with at various different times. I hear what they have said. There is a large group of patients with whom I engage regularly about their care.  Regarding access, scoliosis affects about 1% of children and adolescents in Ireland. Many of those children do not require surgery but for those who do, timely access to intervention and appropriate treatment is critical. For those children who need surgical intervention, we agree the waiting times are too long. I am acutely aware of the burden that long waiting times place on these young patients. Improving access to spinal surgery and the timely nature of that has been pursued by several Ministers for Health. We have not yet fully reached our goals. I acknowledge that the efforts that have been put in so far have yielded tangible progress and I also acknowledge the dedication of all those involved, who are genuinely delivering better outcomes than has been the case before.  There has been a significant focus on investment for these services. In 2024, 52 new full-time equivalent posts were approved to strengthen paediatric spinal services, including surgeons, anaesthesiologists, nursing staff and allied health professionals. Forty-one of those staff are in post. Three orthopaedic consultants have been recruited, in addition to the one last year who took up their post in August, and those successful candidates are expected to take up their posts from May 2026. That is a really important addition to the capacity to do orthopaedic surgery of all different kinds, including complex spinal work. This will support the transfer of non-spinal orthopaedic work from surgeons who currently perform spinal surgery.  Alongside that, national and international outsourcing arrangements have been expanded. Domestic outsourcing arrangements have been strengthened, using pathways to Blackrock and Cappagh for non-complex spinal procedures. International outsourcing supports children to get the care they need abroad as clinically appropriate. As we know, not every child is necessarily suitable for travel, but we want to have the pathways for those who are. We are expanding our international options in both Europe and the United States. As Deputies are aware, at the moment, we have the New York-Presbyterian Hospital and Great Ormond Street Hospital. CHI has gone through a tender process for extra international outsourcing and two organisations have been identified, which are SJD Barcelona Children's Hospital and Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare, Minnesota. Additionally, the treatment abroad scheme remains available for international treatment in other countries in the European Union, the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom or Switzerland.  Of course, we are trying to expand domestic capacity. At operational level within CHI, the spinal surgery management unit was established in 2024 to co-ordinate surgeries better across the different hospitals. Efforts to expand capacity are progressing. We now have a fifth theatre in Temple Street, an additional MRI scanner in Crumlin and 24 additional new beds. The HSE has recently funded a business case to add additional spinal equipment into a second operating theatre in Crumlin. This will allow for more spinal procedures of greater complexity to take place. That goes alongside the additional consultants who have been recruited and are in post since August and will be from this May. The procurement process of all the equipment has begun and it is expected to be in place by the end of this month. CHI has advised that it will be in a position to do spinal fusions in the second theatre from April 2026.  Additional outpatient clinics are being run to assess new patients more promptly. This has reduced the time these children are waiting to be seen by a consultant considerably, as well as a dedicated referral pathway for GPs having been introduced to support the prioritisation of urgent cases. We are seeing tangible results from that. There has been an increase in the number of spinal procedures undertaken compared with previous years, but we want to see more. What matters most is the length of time that children are waiting. There has been an improvement in the longest wait lists. At the end of 2025, 47% of those on the CHI active waiting list were within Sl\u00e1intecare targets, compared with only 38% at the end of 2024. The number of longer waiters is down, with 3% waiting over 12 months at the end of 2025, compared with 11% at the end of 2024. There are no patients waiting over 24 months. The weighted average wait time for inpatient procedures has fallen significantly, from 6.2 months in January 2025 to 5.2 months in January 2026, an improvement of one month, but we want to see more. Some 25% of new outpatient appointments are within the ten-week Sl\u00e1intecare target. No new outpatients are waiting over 12 months. Weighted average times for new outpatient appointments have reduced to 4.5 months from 9.7 months in January 2025. Those improvements ensure children are seen more quickly.  While we acknowledge that progress, we also recognise that too many children are still waiting and children with complex cases are waiting. At the end of January, an additional 39 children had been added to the active surgical waiting list. This reflects a growing need and a better referral pathway. We want all of the children who are identified to receive appropriate treatment in a timely way.  I thank the House for giving me the opportunity to provide these updates, both on spinal services and on scoliosis generally, but also on the important inquiries I have discussed today. I recognise that in each of the three cases, women who took anti-seizure medication without any expectation of harm being done are now raising families where they know that the medication they were taking harmed their children. They have an opportunity for an inquiry. Patients' advocates, including parents, families and those who had wrong implants put into their bodies, who have been waiting for too long for spinal surgeries and have not got the care for spina bifidia they needed, will now begin a process with an independent facilitator to scope how best we might give weight to their voice in a public inquiry. Regarding the victims and survivors of Michael Shine right across Meath and Louth, I pay tribute to the many hundreds of men who have been impacted and will be impacted yet again today as we discuss this. I acknowledge their work, dignity for patients and broad support network, which have brought us to this point where we are beginning the same facilitative process to scope the appropriate public inquiry to be able to have their voices heard and respected in the way they deserve to be. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  The appalling failure of children's scoliosis and spina bifida services is a shameful indictment of this and successive Governments. For years, the harrowing stories of children left to wait in agony for their operations has been a distressing feature of debate here in the D\u00e1il, yet the Government has never matched its promises with the actions needed. Heartbroken parents have been forced to watch their children suffer and deteriorate, robbed of a normal childhood, racing against the clock with a fear of becoming inoperable. Parents are forced to pour out their anguish in the media just to get the Government to pay attention. These parents have shown enormous bravery, a courage and fight that only the love for one's child can inspire. The cases of some of these children have provoked widespread public shock and anger. I am thinking of Harvey Morrison Sherratt, Mikey Henry-Benson, Daniel Collins, and of course, more recently, little Roxanne Kelly. Their stories spoke to the awful experiences of hundreds more children left to wait and suffer.  It is now eight years since Simon Harris promised that no child would wait for longer than four months for spinal surgery, a promise broken repeatedly. Today, children are still left in desperate and dreadful situations. The family of seven-year-old Roxanne Kelly were left to fundraise so they can take her to America to get the scoliosis surgery she so badly needs. No child and no family should be forced to do this.  The backdrop to the suffering of these children and families is the litany of scandals at Children's Health Ireland. This includes the use of unauthorised springs in surgeries on children and the carrying-out of unnecessary hip surgeries on children as young as seven. Children were failed catastrophically and public confidence shattered, not only in that organisation but also in the Government's basic ability to oversee the provision of children's healthcare.  These failures sparked major reviews into practices at CHI, and it is disgraceful that families were left to learn of the completion of phase 1 of the Nayagam review in a Sunday newspaper last month even though the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, had been briefed days before and the HSE had received the completed report last September. The Minister hiding behind technicalities and refusing to publish phase 1 of the report is just unacceptable. It should be published immediately, and parents are entitled to know what it contains. Is drochtheist ar Rialtas i ndiaidh Rialtas \u00e9 an teip ar leana\u00ed le scol\u00f3is agus spina bifida. N\u00ed m\u00f3r don ini\u00fachadh poibl\u00ed ar Sl\u00e1inte Leana\u00ed \u00c9ireann muin\u00edn na dtuismitheoir\u00ed a bheith aige. Caithfidh s\u00e9 a bheith d\u00edrithe agus m\u00fanlaithe ag taith\u00ed agus riachtanais na leana\u00ed agus na dteaghlaigh at\u00e1 buailte leis seo.  The death of nine-year-old Harvey Morrison Sherratt last July was a tipping point. His heartbroken parents endured not only his loss but also the revelation that he had been removed from the surgery waiting list without their knowledge or consent. Through their grief, Gillian and Stephen along with other parents fought for a public inquiry into Children's Health Ireland. This demand was finally secured in a meeting with the T\u00e1naiste, Simon Harris, and the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, last November. However, four months on, parents and advocacy groups have real concerns about the Government backsliding on its commitments. Delays in producing the terms of reference and a lack of clarity regarding the role of the facilitator have stoked real worries. The Minister has now appointed a facilitator for the scoping exercise that will inform the terms of reference.  We need to be very clear this evening. This must be a full public inquiry. It cannot be directed by Simon Harris or, indeed, by the Minister. It must be shaped primarily by the experiences of those impacted by the failures at CHI. The Government committed to equal partnership and to working with parents to get the terms of reference right, and that must be delivered - no railroading, no stonewalling, no whitewash, just transparency, truth and accountability. That is what the children affected and their families deserve. Those children waiting for surgery need the Government to match its promise of change with action on capacity, resources and funding. They do not need lip service or excuses; they need their operations. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  The appalling ongoing treatment of children with scoliosis and spina bifida is absolutely disgraceful. This month is eight years since Simon Harris made that commitment that no child with scoliosis and spina bifida would have to wait longer than four months for life-changing and, in some cases, life-saving treatment. What has happened since is appalling, and it really shows how bad things were in CHI. Before I get to that, I want to acknowledge that there are some excellent staff working in Crumlin, Temple Street and Cappagh hospitals who do fantastic work because I have met many of them. They are as scandalised as I am and as the parents and advocates are because they want the best for children.  If we look at what has happened since Simon Harris made that promise, more children have deteriorated, more children have got worse and more families have had to take to the media to highlight their children's cases. We have had scandal after scandal, and report after report. Let us look at some of that for a second to really digest how bad things were. We had a HIQA report that examined the use of unauthorised springs. As the Minister knows, that HIQA report was damning in relation to failures in CHI. It obviously identified clinical failures, and I accept those failures, but there were management failures, systemic failures and organisational failures. I would argue there were also political failures in all this because many of the issues that were identified had been raised by parents and by those of us in opposition and, in fact, by advocacy groups and I would say they were ignored.  We had the Boston report. We had the Dixon report, which is still unpublished. As the Minister knows, the Dixon report talked about orphan children, by which it meant children who were falling through the cracks. They were not under one consultant or another. Their care was missed. They were not getting the multi-specialist treatment they should have been getting and so on. They were identified in that report as orphan children. Many more failings were identified as well. That report was never published. Even though it talked about a cohort or subset of children, I met a number of those parents this week in advance of this debate and they told me they still have not received that report and do not know what is in it, yet they know their children are mentioned.  We had an Arthur Cox report that looked at the role of management in relation to, again, the use of unauthorised springs. We had the first part of the Nayagam review, which is still not published. We know there are findings in it. We know there are recommendations. We know very clear clinical failures were identified in that report, yet the very children who are part of that review and their parents, again, were the last to know, because everybody else seemed to know. The media knew before the parents were even briefed on it, and that was days after the Minister had received the report and, indeed, the HSE had the report since September of last year. That was only one part of two reviews Mr. Nayagam was doing. The second is now going to look at all those systemic failures that have been identified in many the other reports I have talked about.  We also had the famous unpublished report that looked at failures in urology and oncology services for children. Again, it referenced the orphan children, HR issues and very clear management and systemic failures within CHI. We had a report on where and how money had been spent and whether it had been spent for the purposes for which it was intended. We had a report, unfortunately, on hip dysplasia and all the mistakes that were made in that area. There was also to be a report on equity of access. That was an audit the Minister had promised was to be published by the end of November. It was then promised to be published by the end of February. My understanding is that it still is not complete. That was to look at equity of access, particularly for those complex cases and all of that.  I mention all those reports because it really does show the level of scandal, dysfunction and failure that was in CHI. This drives parents mad, and rightly so, and drives advocate groups mad. I meet them all at the time. As I said, I have met many campaigners. My party colleague spoke to a lady called \u00dana Baker, who is also an advocate and campaigner in this area. What they tell us is that they had been shouting from the rooftops about all those issues for years and they were met with a stone wall of resistance from the Government. In fact, an Teachta McDonald and I and others in opposition were coming in on a weekly basis and raising many of these issues and we were told in some instances that there was nothing to see here. That was the reality of it, yet we had to go back and face parents who were telling us there was something to see here. There is failure right across the board, and we now are seeing that. We saw it in some of the reports, but we obviously have not seen all of the reports.  The problem then is that there are still children who are being failed. The Minister has committed to a public inquiry. I want to get to that because that is really important and that was the substance of the meeting I had with advocates and parents this week in advance of this debate. They met the Minister and the T\u00e1naiste in good faith. They want to be equal partners in shaping the terms of reference. They should be equal partners. They are more equal, in my view, than CHI, the HSE or the Department because it is their children who are being failed. As an Teachta McDonald said, theirs are the voices that must be front and centre and must have primacy in relation to the terms of reference. However, they tell me they were promised a mediator, not a facilitator, who would recognise those advocates and parents as equal voices. They do not see that that is what this process is. I still do not know, and I did not hear it in the Minister's speech today. I accept she is going to say a facilitator has been appointed who will scope out what this public inquiry will do, but I have never really heard from the Minister what she expects this inquiry to do. I will tell her what I expect the inquiry to do, however, which is establish all the facts, wherever they lead us, and establish where the failures are, wherever they lead us, whether it is organisational, individual, clinical or political. It has to establish the facts and all the failures.  It has to look at all those issues: at waiting times, how people were moved off urgent care lists, which is something we saw with tragic consequences; individual care needs for some children, for obvious reasons; urology services; and oncology services. It has to look at all the failures from top to bottom within CHI and it must look at each and every one of those failures for each and every one of those children. I do not get a sense that this is what this public inquiry will do. I still do not know if it will be a statutory inquiry and what role and powers it will actually have. However, I do know what parents want, which is an inquiry where there is absolutely no hiding place for anybody because what they have seen so far in all the reports I mentioned earlier is a lack of accountability and hiding places left, right and centre. We are told by the Minister that because of High Court proceedings the Nayagam review\u2019s findings cannot be published. My understanding is the Minister was not party to those proceedings, which were between the HSE and the High Court. However, she is the Minister - she has a copy of a report that is very serious and has findings. Nobody, with the exception of the Minister and people in the HSE, knows what is in that report. The parents do not know and nor do we in opposition.  I do not know when we will ever know. The Minister still has not told me when the report will be published, if ever, because the Dixon report was never published and nor have been the other report that caused consternation for families last year and many more, such as the Arthur Cox report and so on. There is a long history of report after report, review after review, all done behind closed doors, which never see the light of day and parents are the last to know. All the while, children like Mikey Henry-Benson, Lauren Kelly and many others are still waiting for treatment. Their families are heartbroken. They come to us all the time and ask us what can be done for their children. We can only raise it in here. This is the only way we can do it, by coming into the D\u00e1il to use our voices to raise their cases. We want those children to get the care they need. I accept they are complex cases but they are children who are deteriorating before their parents\u2019 eyes. They are asking us to appeal to the Government - to beg it - to do everything possible to ensure those children get the care they need.  While I welcome the fact we are having a debate here today, we have an awful lot more to do and a lot of road to travel before we rebuild parents\u2019 trust and confidence in CHI or in this Government\u2019s handling of all these issues. Much more needs to be done for those complex cases and children who are waiting for urgent care and who are deteriorating by the day. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marie Sherlock  We welcome the announcement of the inquiry into Michael Shine. My party colleague Deputy Nash will speak more about that and about the update on the sodium valproate scandal that has taken place in this country.  I will confine my remarks to the scandal that has taken place with regard to children, those suffering from scoliosis or spina bifida and those with orthopaedic and urology conditions. I have been my party's health spokesperson for only 12 months and we have been in this Chamber a number of times making statements on these issues in recent months. I pay tribute to the advocacy groups and parents who have to do so much to look after their children and also fight for justice for the children who have not been so fortunate to make it, who died, or those children whose lives have been impacted forever. Their courage and fortitude in continuing that campaign is enormous.  We have made very little progress, notwithstanding everything that has been said, over the past 12 months. The waiting list has reduced by just eight children in that time. During the month of January alone, there were fewer surgeries compared with January 12 months ago. The number of children with confirmed admission dates has fallen. The children categorised as active has gone up but they do not have a date. The number of long waiters has gone from 26 to 45 over the course of the year. I do not doubt that efforts are being made, particularly by the HSE, and we have seen that money has gone into this, but there are very serious questions about the progress being made. The families I talk to feel a lot is being talked about but very little is happening on the ground. That has to change. The Minister spoke earlier about the equity of access review, which was instigated last year. That was supposed to happen at the end of November; we now hear it will be published in April. There has been a delay on this and that is crucial for the children who are waiting and who need procedures in the near future. We need to see the reports on that.  There has been a whole raft of reports about the scandals in CHI over many years now but it is now nearly 11 months on from the HIQA report. The HSE told us last month that 12 of the 19 recommendations have been implemented. CHI has implemented many more of the recommendations. What is holding up the full implementation of the HIQA recommendations from 11 months ago? They cover process, culture, management and oversight and in order to give confidence to those families we need to ensure that all those recommendations, at the very minimum, are enacted.  The Nayagam report, when fully published, will give an insight into what happened and why. However, families have been waiting over two years for that report and it is not acceptable that they still have not had any contact with Mr. Nayagam himself and have had no sight of the report. I know there is ambiguity about when Mr. Nayagam will talk to the families but the families thought they would have been contacted by now. It is not acceptable that the families would not have had insight into their cases. They have been called back, but they have no insight into what Mr. Nayagam is saying about those specific cases.  On the public inquiry, there was a very powerful moment last November. It seemed like an enormous breakthrough that the Government agreed to a public inquiry and we in the Labour Party very much supported that. However, we have gone from an agreement that first suggested that a mediator would be put in place to now having a facilitator. I am sure Mr. Farrell will do an excellent job for what the Minister intends but there is a difference between a mediator and a facilitator. I believe there has been a shift from that initial commitment to parity of esteem and of input between the Minister and the advocacy groups into the terms of reference of this review. Many of the families feel that the power and input they were initially promised will not now materialise.  There is also concern about the term \u201ccomplex scoliosis\u201d. From freedom of information requests to the Department, we know that conditions such as adolescent idiopathic scoliosis are deemed to be non-complex. Are we creating two classes of children with scoliosis here? A child who just has scoliosis might be as dramatically impacted as a child who has multiple conditions. We need to ensure that all children suffering from scoliosis will be included in the public inquiry.  There is already a crisis of confidence in this public inquiry before it has ever got off the ground. The Minister needs to do significant work to reassure the families and the advocacy groups that they will get the public inquiry they need and deserve. Crucially, for the children who are waiting for treatment, we need to see much more dramatic interventions by the Minister and the HSE to ensure those waiting lists go down much further and that, particularly for those long waiters, there is very significant action to address what is an absolutely unacceptable position for them.  It is appalling that we are eight years on from those Government commitments being made and we have that extent of long waiters still in the health system. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  I thank the Minister for her personal interest since her appointment in working with Dignity4Patients and the victims and survivors of disgraced paedophile and former doctor Michael Shine. It is to be recognised and noted that we are at a point now that we were not at a few months ago.  The first contribution I made in this Chamber on my election 15 years ago was in relation to the actions of Michael Shine, who is probably one of Ireland's most prolific paedophiles. I spoke that day of the need for supports for the Dignity4Patients group and they, with the Minister, have delivered. She has worked collaboratively with Dignity4Patients, the victims and survivors and members of that wonderful group over the past few months to get to the point we are at.  As the Minister knows, hundreds of men in my community, specifically in Drogheda but also in the wider Louth and Meath areas, have made formal complaints to An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na over many years about the disgraceful actions of Michael Shine over many decades. We are of the view that thousands of men across my community may very well have been affected but have chosen for their own reasons not to come forward. These men are my peers and my contemporaries and their lives have been extremely adversely affected because of the abuse and sexual violence perpetrated against them by a doctor working in our health service over many decades who behaved so many ways in a untrammelled fashion, unchallenged by anyone else bar a few who worked alongside him and those who decided to blow the whistle, who were inevitably targeted for the actions they undertook to expose this scandal, and it is a scandal.  Michael Shine, as the Minister knows, has served only a short time behind bars and a criminal conviction and prison sentence do not of themselves justice make. Real accountability will start to be delivered from today. There are high hopes for the scoping inquiry. There is a meeting with the lawyer for Dignity4Patients next week and that Lorcan Staines SC has been appointed as the facilitator along with Phil Scraton and Maeve Lewis who have been engaged to work with the group throughout this process. I look forward to the outcome of that.  I want to place on record my gratitude to the Minister on behalf of the people I represent, including my peers and my contemporaries, who have had to deal with this for more years than any of us care to mention, and for the commitment of our newly elected colleague in Louth, Deputy Paula Butterly, who has very much focused on this issue with Dignity4Patients and the victims and survivors over the recent period. That is welcome, it is recognised, it is understood and we are all hopeful of a positive outcome. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paula Butterly  I thank the Minister for her genuine interest in this matter, which has not been lost on the survivors of Michael Shine. I welcome the announcement from the Minister on appointing Lorcan Staines SC as the independent facilitator for the scoping exercise, as requested by Dignity4Patients on behalf of the survivors of Michael Shine. This is a significant and long-awaited step and it is important we acknowledge how long it has taken to get here. I would also like to acknowledge the exceptional support and advocacy provided to survivors by Adrienne Reilly and all at Dignity4Patients. I also want to acknowledge Deputy Nash, who, as he said, for more years than he cares to remember has stood by the survivors, has advocated and has fought for them every step of the way. He was very eager that I, as a newly elected Deputy, was well aware of what had happened to these people, that justice must be sought and that they must find some peace at some stage.  The Minister's decision to appoint Mr. Staines, a senior counsel with deep experience supporting victims and vulnerable witnesses, particularly in cases involving sexual violence, is an important signal that this process must be rooted in dignity, compassion and respect. Supported by expert advisers, Maeve Lewis and Phil Scraton, I am confident that their collective expertise with victims of sexual violence and in shaping effective public enquiries will not only be invaluable but will set the direction for the public inquiry that must follow.  I want to recognise the extraordinary courage of the survivors. For decades, they have carried the trauma of what they have endured, too often in silence and too often without the support of the very systems meant to protect them. Their perseverance is the reason we are here today. Their determination has kept this issue in the public eye and pushed the State towards the action it should have taken long ago. I have had the honour of meeting victims and survivors of the convicted sexual offender, Michael Shine, and have listened to their brutal accounts of how they were not only abused by Shine, but how they were ignored for so long. I have seen the pain etched on their faces, lines that have deepened over the years not only as a result of the trauma caused by the paedophile, Shine, but also because of the silence and disbelief they have met in their search for answers and accountability.  For 30 years Shine, the convicted sexual offender, was hidden in plain sight. He built a successful practice while he abused young boys and men. He became for many a pillar of society and for many a god, while young lives lay in tatters. Michael Shine started working in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in 1964. For context, that was 62 years ago. The first allegations were reported in 1977 but no action was taken. In 1983, further and separate allegations were made but no action was taken. In 1995, Bernadette Sullivan blew the lid off the sordid actions of this sick, vile man and the scandal was exposed. Michael Shine retired in 1995 on a full pension. He continued to live a carefree life while those he abused plunged deeper into despair.  Finally in 2017, over 40 years after the first complaint and after serious challenges by Mr. Shine to avoid justice at all costs, he was convicted. I have heard people in Drogheda and in the wider constituency of Louth say that even the dogs on the street knew what he was up to, yet nothing happened. I find this deeply disturbing as it speaks to a society and culture that I cannot comprehend but unfortunately I know has existed for far too long. To date, more than 400 men have come forward. One man aided and abetted by a society and institutions of secrecy and complicity did this to over 400 young boys and men. How did this happen? Who knew? Who did not want to believe? Who knew but simply chose to look the other way and who did nothing? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John McGuinness  Deputy Butterly has set it all out very well. It raises the question as to why people within the system do not listen and why they turn a deaf ear to a lot of the information they get. Some of it is quite harrowing yet it is just kept quiet and then we are here today looking back years ago. It begs a question about the use of this House and the committee system to allow people to come forward under some form of protection to explain what has happened to them and receive the type of support that is needed in the context of having a wrongdoing dealt with or a wrongdoing exposed because unless the scoping exercise is absolutely clear and defined, parties on both sides of the argument will not be happy with tribunals and inquiries.  As Deputy Cullinane said earlier, we need to know who, where and why. We need to apportion the blame in terms of people who were involved and who knew. They need to take on the responsibility and own up to what they turned a blind eye to. We need to ask the State why it has taken such an effort to get to here. If the scoping exercise does not answer all of those questions or allow those questions to be answered in the context of an inquiry, it will then be all for nothing.  I have seen too many inquiries in this House run into the sand simply because there was some form of legal action against it. They never get a chance to really get to the truth. It does not look good for the State. It gives some credence to the claim that is often made that there is a cover-up happening here. Let us just stop the cover-up. Let us be fair, honest and truthful to the person carrying out the scoping exercise to allow that truth, story and experience to come out. I support the comments of Deputy Cullinane on that.  On the statements on scoliosis, I have asked many questions of CHI and this is what shocked me about the replies is that CHI tells me that due to patient confidentiality, it will not respond. These questions come from the parents of the child in question. That is shocking. The parent comes and demands some answers. As their Member of this Parliament, I pose the question and we are told, \"No, we are not telling you.\" That is what causes most of the problems in the House. It is the fact that the truth will not be told. If we stand for anything, we have to stand for truth and justice. That is why we were elected here. Do not hide behind any tribunals. Do not hide behind procedures. Let us get the facts out there.  In asking for the facts, the question I referred to, like many others, was a general question. How many are on the list for counties Carlow or Kilkenny? That is not a breach of any confidentiality. It is not breaching anyone's confidence, yet CHI would not give the figures. It would not give the details of how parents and children were treated when it was given specific information. We have to ask ourselves a question in this House: will we take back that power? Will we act as parliamentarians, with the appropriate powers and with the appropriate authority, to get to the truth and deliver justice wherever it is needed? If we do not do that, it will just become a cynical exercise in burying issues that have come before us for another few years. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donna McGettigan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donna McGettigan  This month marks eight years since the T\u00e1naiste promised that no child would wait longer than four months for spinal surgery. It has been eight years since children and families were given hope, yet children are still left today in desperate, painful, terrible situations. Why? Because it was another promise broken.  This is not just about statistics. This is about children growing in pain, families living in fear for their children and parents are forced to watch their child's spine curve further, while they wait in a system that continues to fail them. Parents and advocacy groups are deeply concerned about the commitments to an independent inquiry. We have seen delays and backsliding. We have seen a lack of clarity regarding the role. We still have no terms of reference. Families deserve transparency, certainty and respect. Instead, they are getting silence.  What about phase 1 of the review into the care of children with scoliosis and spina bifida? The review has been completed and sitting with the HSE since September. The Minister was made aware of this report but families found out through a Sunday newspaper. What way is that to treat families? Families should have been informed in a proper, compassionate and understanding manner, not blindsided in the media. That was absolutely disgraceful. We then learned of the children left without a consultant and almost forgotten when services moved from Crumlin to Temple Street. How could anyone forget those children? How could any system allow that to happen? There must be full truth here, there must be accountability, and there must be no more internal reviews to gather dust and no more defensive briefings. Families deserve honesty.  The HSE has confirmed that the concerns raised were serious enough to trigger a further review. More children's cases are being examined and that tells its own story. While reviews roll on, children remain in pain. At the end of January 2026, 229 children were on spinal surgery waiting lists compared to 230 at the end of January 2025. A total of 75 are waiting longer than three months. Behind every one of those numbers is a child missing school, missing sleep and missing out on being a child. I speak not only as a public representative but as someone who suffers from scoliosis myself. I am extremely lucky that my condition is not as severe as others. I know how to live with and I know how to work through it because I have no choice. It is progressive and it carries a lot of pain with it. No child should be forced to simply live with worsening pain because the Government cannot get its act together.  We demand an independent statutory inquiry, with clear terms of reference and transparency. We need accountability and above all, timely care for every child who needs it. These families cannot wait and cannot endure another broken promise. The time for excuses is over and the time for action is now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  I welcome the updates on the inquiries and the opportunity to discuss scoliosis and spina bifida. Yesterday, I spoke to parents and advocates and they had three key asks. The first was the independent statutory inquiry, the second was the publication of all existing reports and background information and the third was action now on existing waiting lists for children who are still on waiting lists. What really struck me from that conversation was that I had a conversation with them just after the election and the things they asked for were remarkably similar. In fact, in some instances, they said things had gotten worse and not better. That is deeply concerning.  It is crucially important that there is an independent statutory inquiry and there is nowhere left for anybody to hide so we get to the bottom of this and all of the facts, to identify all of the failures and to get answers to the long lists of questions that parents and families have. I would like a commitment from the Minister on the form of the inquiry and what she thinks would be the best form of inquiry. There needs to be a collaboration with the families over the coming weeks on the terms of reference. That is vitally important. In particular, the voice of the child and the voice of young people must be central to this. Many of these are in their late teens or early twenties and their voices need to be heard. They need to be included and not just talked about in the weeks ahead. It is really important that happens not just on paper but in practice.  Complex scoliosis was raised earlier and concerns raised with me about a fear among families that would be used to narrow the terms of reference. Parents have said they cannot find anything within departmental guidelines or CHI guidelines defining what complex scoliosis is. There is a real risk that will narrow the terms of reference from the start. In her conclusion, I would appreciate if the Minister could comment on that. One parent said the purpose of the statutory inquiry is to examine systemic issues and systemic failures do not confine themselves to diagnostic labels. That is an important point and maybe one we can tease out.  There has been an element of trust being broken between families and CHI and the State. It is crucially important that in the time ahead, that is rebuilt and families feel as included as possible so this inquiry looks at the issues they really want it to look at, such as waiting list categorisation and prioritisation, the decision-making, the variation in access pathways and the disparities in treatment. Crucially, it must get to the facts and identify all of the failures.  The other thing families really want is for this public inquiry to release interim reports and not just wait until the end so we are not just waiting years for answers.  The families want the inquiry to have reports and a statutory provision requiring that those be implemented in full and that those recommendations be put in place. I would like a commitment from the Minister that there will be ongoing reporting and updates, and things will improve while this process goes on because we have to learn from the failures of the past.  The State has gotten this wrong in the past when it comes to tribunals and public inquiries. They have run for years, in some cases decades. They have cost huge sums and they have not got the answers or the outcomes that we wanted. We cannot let that happen here. We need a robust public inquiry that gets us the answers and that changes things. It is crucially important that at the end of this we have better outcomes for families and that we have answers to the long list of questions that parents have.  Crucial to having an effective inquiry from the start, all the facts need to be on the table. All the information needs to be laid out and all sides need be furnished with the same evidence and information. That starts by publishing all of the information that is available and publishing all the reports because to date, what has happened is we have relied on whistleblowers. Without whistleblowers in CHI, we would know far less than we do. That is not acceptable. All of the information needs to be put out there.  The Nayagam report was commissioned in 2023, yet it still is not fully complete. We learned last month that phase 1 is complete, but it is still not published. Issues were identified in the communication of that and the publication in a Sunday newspaper before families knew about it. One parent told me that they got a notice just 30 minutes before the Department briefing that the briefing was on and that they had not heard. The Minister has said that for legal reasons phase 1 cannot be published but I do not understand how that was not foreseen. Is she confident that the entire report will be published later this year, when phase 2 is complete?  There is not just the Nayagam report. There is also the Dickson report, the Arthur Cox report, the Crumlin report that referred to patients as \"orphans\" within the system and the waiting list management audit, and there are potentially other reports that we do not know about. All of this needs to be on the table. If we are to have that effective public inquiry that we all want, let us get the information out there, let us publish that and let us ensure that there is a level playing field for all involved in this because it cannot be the case that the inquiry and the State have access to documents but parents and families do not. There is a real worry among families that will happen.  We need to get a clear timeline on the publication of the waiting list management audit. It was due in November. Then it was due for February. The Minister is saying today it is April. Is that the last deadline we are going to have on this? It seems there is constant delay after delay. Is it the case that CHI is still withholding information? Is that what is holding it up? The lack of information released by CHI is concerning. There is a lack of information about infection rates. We do not know why spinal surgery infection rates are not being published. Parents want to know what the spinal infection rate was for 2024 and 2025, how these figures compare to international benchmarks and whether that data has been independently verified. We need to get as much information out in the open as possible and my experience of CHI is that it has not been releasing information. Officials have been not answering parliamentary questions as frankly as they should and there needs to be more honesty, transparency and accountability.  I will briefly mention the audit into unnecessary hip surgeries. My understanding is that the external expert panel review commenced two weeks ago, which is welcome, although overdue. However, there still seems to be some uncertainty about the terms of reference. Last month, the HSE told me: \"The Terms of Reference for the External Expert Panel Review have been drafted and are under final review by the Chair and the panel members.\" Where does that stand?  I also believe that the external expert panel review will take 12 months. Can the Minister confirm that whether that is the case and whether the legal issues with the Nayagam review will have any impact on this expert panel\u2019s work? It would be good to know.  I refer to the current waiting list because it is crucially important in all of this that we do not lose sight of those who are waiting today and those who are waiting to get access to services. The services need to improve in the here and now and we are not seeing the kind of improvements that we need to see. The CHI seems to be incapable of improving the waiting list.  In January, there were 215 children on CHI's spinal service waiting list, unchanged from December last. A total of 128 children were on the active waiting list, up from 108 in December. There were 45 children waiting longer than six months for scoliosis surgery, up from 29 in December. Last year, 534 spinal surgeries were carried out, just 21 more than were completed the previous year. We do not know how many of these surgeries were on the same patient. This is important, because we know that children are returning to theatre for further surgeries. We also know that services are not keeping pace with demand, with 524 patients added to the waiting list in 2025. Therefore, there are real issues with the waiting lists.  In relation to the outsourcing, only 19 children have had surgery abroad though outsourcing arrangements with the US and UK since 2024. During that period, 1,047 children have had spinal surgeries, meaning that only 1.8% of these surgeries have been outsourced abroad, despite the availability of \u20ac16 million. Last September, the Minister for Health said: \"I am not satisfied with the international referral pathways and have lots of questions about why there is a decrease in international pathways and an increase in referrals to Blackrock. I fully accept that going abroad is not viable for many patients and families.\" Has the Minister got answers to these questions that she was looking for? Do we know what is happening, because, as of 7 November, CHI confirmed to me that 62 patients had been outsourced to Blackrock in 2025? Can the Minister confirm whether the arrangements in place with Blackrock are being examined in the overdue waiting list management audit and whether that will be considered in the report, and crucially, that all the outsourcing arrangements will be examined by the inquiry?  Finally, I would like to mention the inquiry into Michael Shine and welcome the progress following the appointment of a facilitator. It is crucial that any ultimate statutory inquiry is victim-centred and adheres to their experiences and needs. Victims' stories must be listened to, and their questions must be answered. Above all, we must ensure that nothing like this can never happen again. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shane Moynihan  Is m\u00f3r agam an deis seo labhairt ar cheist na scol\u00f3is agus an gort\u00fa agus dochar at\u00e1 tar \u00e9is bheith d\u00e9anta do ph\u00e1ist\u00ed a bh\u00ed ag fanacht ar obr\u00e1id.  As a topic, like for any parent or anyone who has loved ones as children in this House, it is an incredibly tough subject to talk about. It is something that we have spoken about quite a bit since the general election. It is something that should be top of mind and focus, but also something that we show that there is progress being made on not only in making sure that every child has access to timely and appropriate care, but that we understand fully what happened in the past and make sure that never happens again.  I am also conscious that when I speak I have been lucky in the fact that no one close to me has been afflicted with scoliosis or has had to be at the centre of a lot of the stories there and I am mindful that when I speak there are people listening or watching who have been through that experience. I want to be mindful of that in the words that I choose and the sentiments that I convey.  One element that has been most striking and shocking to me in following the story has been the culture that seemed to exist among certain aspects of CHI with regard to the treatment of children. It is often said that culture eats strategy for breakfast but in terms of the efforts that are being made, I still have serious questions over that culture that existed in CHI. The integration of CHI into the HSE is a welcome move. It makes sense and I hope it deals with the fundamental cultural issue that seems to have been at the core of a lot of what has happened.  Anther aspect of this is the basic tenet of communication. I welcome the approach that has been taken with regard to the inquiry and involving and communicating with parents about the inquiry. Every one of us who has had a medical intervention or a medical consultation values our relationship with the clinician we are dealing with. What we value about it is their ability to communicate to us in a timely, transparent and fair way about what sort of procedure we might have to undergo and what the prognosis is for our condition. It seems that value of basic, clear, transparent communication was not always there with regard to some of the families in this instances and that is something that needs to be top of mind, and especially as we look towards the inquiry. I welcome that progress has been made towards establishing that inquiry but it is important that communication and that transparency be key to it.  A lot of statistics are used in the discussion of this issue. It is important that we as politicians make sure that we are comfortable with analysing the data underlying those statistics, that we get under the bonnet of why exactly trends are happening and whether we are seeing the progress that we need to see, that we ensure the accountability that is necessary for the systems that are supposed to be delivering this care for children to ensure that those systems are delivering the progress and that we are fully across and fully understand what is going on in our hospitals. Since the Government was elected, that is something that the Minister has been leading from the front on in understanding what is going on with regard to the data, why are the numbers saying what they are saying and how do we ensure that we continue to bring down that overall waiting time.  We are not done with this yet; there is still progress to be made here. The most important thing for any of us who are parents to children is that we get a clear understanding of what has happened in the past, and that some of the unacceptable failures that transpired are avoided again in the future. Compassion, communication and transparency must be at the heart of our approach going forward and the awful mistakes and tragedies that have happened here must be avoided again in the future. That should be our wish and desire for anyone who accesses our healthcare system, but especially for children. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Callaghan  I welcome the announcement that a facilitator, Mr. Remy Farrell SC, has been appointed to the scoping exercise and terms of reference for the public inquiry into the spina bifida and scoliosis services. Over the next 16 weeks, I look forward to families engaging with Mr. Farrell to inform the structure of the inquiry. I am a firm believer that when it comes to public inquiries, we must take into account the views of those who have lived through these things first-hand. Across Carlow, Kilkenny and the country at large, there are families who have been let down by paediatric spinal services. If we are to fully come to terms with the issue, we must allow them the space to tell their story. As we carry out this process, I am heartened to see the Government's commitment to a human rights-based, patient-centred and trauma-informed approach, which will allow for the most transparent examination possible of the issue. I look forward to engaging in due course with the formal report of Mr. Farrell, which will come before the Government in the near future.  We have all become aware of the shortcomings of the paediatric services offered to spinal patients in this country in the past. The number of paediatric spinal surgeries cancelled due to emergency surgeries or a shortage of ICU beds increased every year between 2022 and 2025. In recent months, I have raised in this Chamber the case of a young child in my own constituency who had been on the surgery waitlist for a period of over two years. Following on from a successful first surgery, this child's second surgery was cancelled due to an emergency presenting at the hospital. At the time, I reflected that while it was maybe easy for an outsider to accept this, to a parent there is no greater emergency than the health and well-being of their child. Following representations to the HSE and the Department of Health, that child received her surgery without any further undue wait, and she is in good health and care now. That is a testament to the hard-working staff in the HSE and the hospital.  With that in mind, and thinking of the incredible healthcare professionals we have working in Ireland today, I know how difficult it must be to tell parents that their child's needs are not urgent enough. Paediatric spinal services have not been adequate for a large number of families, but it is important to recognise that progress is being made. Waiting lists are being shortened. Delivery is being boosted for children and parents across the country. GP referral pathways are being improved. Greater numbers of orthopaedic surgeons are being brought into the network. Thankfully, the Minister for Health has led by introducing a central referral process for patients. This will ensure children are seen in the right location by the right consultants and as timely as possible. The work being done by the Government and the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, is borne out in the facts. Waiting times across the board for spinal surgeries are going down. Fewer children are waiting a long time for their surgeries. This has been achieved in the face of rising demand for these surgeries. While progress is undoubtedly being made, there will always be more that needs to be done. Over the coming weeks and months, I look forward to seeing the Government build on the progress that has already been made to shorten waiting times and to improve outcomes for the children who need our support the most. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  Over the years, I got to know Gillian Sherratt and Stephen Morrison quite well as they campaigned for the care of their young son, Harvey. They are an ordinary couple who wanted to bring up and raise their family as best they could, but in an extraordinary situation. They welcomed me into their home numerous times over the years. They are neighbours of mine. I did not know them before this campaign, but I would like to think I would have got to know them under different circumstances. Any time I was in their home, I never got to meet Harvey, but I feel like I know him. The reason I did not get to meet him was because he was either too sick or in hospital. However, over the years, I feel I have got to know him. If you go by Harvey's home, there is a lovely tree outside and on that tree, there is a beautiful photograph of Harvey. It stops people in their tracks as they are walking down the street when they see the beautiful smile that young boy had. It is like a ray of sunshine on the road. It is heartbreaking to think of this horrible loss of life.  Six weeks ago, Gillian and Stephen marked what should have been Harvey's tenth birthday. Harvey had a seven-year wait for scoliosis surgery, and this sparked outrage across the country. He sadly passed away in July, following years of pain and breathing difficulties. Prior to his passing, Harvey's spine had reached a life-threatening 130\u00b0 curve, which pressed down on his ribcage and put pressure on his heart and lungs. If anybody has seen the video of Harvey trying to breathe, it is another heartbreaking instance and a very visual example. It captured the emotions of the nation. Harvey was let down so many times. He was removed from the critical waiting list without his parents' knowledge. Have his parents been given a reason at this stage? I raised this last November. Have they been given a reason at this stage as to why he was taken off that critical waiting list? He was not treated well. He only lived nine and a half years. He spent 33 months deteriorating in pain, not being able to do the things he wanted to do due to his pain level. His parents had to watch him deteriorate. When he finally got the surgery he really needed, tragically he only lived for another short eight months. It is very important that parents like Harvey's, and others who have been directly impacted by years of false promises and mistreatment, are at the heart of any public inquiry and must be in partnership in this. Anything else will not do justice for Harvey.  I want to take a second to commend the other advocates who have been calling for a statutory public inquiry into spina bifida and scoliosis services. I cautiously welcomed this back in November and the reason for that was because parents have been let down so many times. We are looking to see what the terms of reference are. We need to see that Nayagam report published because that could lead to the better terms of references that have been called for. I know there are legal issues there, but the Minister has been sitting on it for a while and I would like to see it addressed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  I have not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  I will start with a few questions, which will give the Minister a chance to think about the answers. I will then make a few general points after. The first question relates to Harvey specifically. Across the whole of society, the story of what happened touched a nerve. Why have the head of the spinal management unit, David Moore, or CHI not informed Gillian and Stephen of why Harvey was removed from the scoliosis list? Has the Minister asked that question of CHI?  My second question relates to reports and access to information by all the parties in this process. The Minister and the newly announced counsel, Mr. Remy Farrell, will have access to all the relevant reports, including those that remain unpublished, but the parental advocacy groups representing the affected children will not. It is like sending two teams out with different rule books and different access to information. If the Minister's counsel is entitled to see the full material shaping the inquiry, the legal representatives of those affected should be given the same right. There has to be an equal process. That is my second point.  Third, can the Minister confirm the scoping inquiry will include the voices of the parents and families whose children have died post spinal surgery or while waiting on spinal surgery? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  Yes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  I have some general points. Parents have been expressing disappointment that the input into the terms of reference that was agreed in meetings does not seem to have been heard. Parents were not consulted and did not have a real say in the facilitator. I know nothing about the facilitator, but they should have been involved in that. It is also problematic, and I do not know if she can answer how she will address this, that the Minister is helping to shape the inquiry while also potentially being called as a witness in the inquiry. This would seem to be a conflict of interest. How is that going to be managed?  Parents and children have to be at the heart of framing the terms of reference.  I salute the campaigning work of the parents who have brought this about. We have all been in here badgering for this to happen on their behalf. The inquiry has to fully listen to parents, families and patients. It is not a good sign if the facilitator did not fully have their input.  The second question I asked is about documents and access to information. It is currently set up that the facilitator of the inquiry and the Minister would be the only ones with full access to all of the reports that are unpublished. That cannot continue.  Controversy has continued despite the setting up of this. There have been several controversies since. Last month, we had the separate review into spinal waiting lists but that was delayed due to CHI refusing to give out information requested by the review. There were 62 patients who were requested to come in for checkups after the first review. Over the last three years, \u20ac374,000 was spent on a flight to the US by staff to travel to visit the premises of an IT giant which was awarded a contract by CHI. We have had issues with HR systems at all three sites run by CHI. All of these have continued on. This inquiry cannot be a sweep-it-under-the-rug job. It has to fully involve parents and it must involve giving full information to all of the parties. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  I mostly want to focus on some specifics and some particular questions. I will start with some general points that shape the particulars. The most obvious general point made by many is that this is a heartbreaking scandal. It is awful that so many children have been failed in this way, Harvey, along with his family, among them. It is a horrendous failure by the State. Now we have a process of various reviews, reports and lookbacks into the various medical failures at CHI. What should shape those reviews? What will be the general overall approach? Two things are key. First, I emphasise again and again that it should be patient-centred, child-centred and family-centred. It needs to have their voices at the heart of it. They need to shape the process in order to have confidence in it. Secondly, when a decision is to be made about going broad or narrow, we need to go broad in terms of being expansive and covering all potential issues. Otherwise, there is real danger that these various reviews will not fully get to the bottom of the problems and then they will have to be repeated again. The guiding principle should be to take in more patients as opposed to trying to exclude patients.  I will move on to my particular questions. I will start with the lookback which flows from the Nayagam report. The Nayagam report looked at a surgeon's cases and said that we needed to review two thirds of the cases he was involved in. It is the same surgeon who was responsible for inserting non-medical grade springs, which he had got himself, into children. These are some very serious red flags. There is currently a Medical Council investigation into him. Why, then, is the lookback quite narrow, and contrary to the request of the orthopaedic surgeons? The lookback is on surgeries between 2016 and 2023, and it includes all spinal, limb reconstruction, and surgical dislocation of the hip surgeries, but not surgeries in the area of trauma and general orthopaedics. As I understand it, many orthopaedic surgeons have made a request that this should be expanded to cover all surgeries and this has been denied with this narrower review. If we have a number of red flags about a surgeon - the term \"red flags\" understates what they are - why do we have an approach that limits it to some areas of speciality?  Linked to that, why are we excluding adults? I have been raising this for years now. I was contacted by an adult about this. I will not give any of the details because it would reveal their identity. This adult is convinced that they were wrongly pressurised to have a surgery by Connor Green, which was a disaster. That may or may not be accurate, but you can go and have a lookback. I do not understand why adults have been excluded. I do not understand why other specialties have been excluded. If we have someone acting in this way as a rogue surgeon, why do we assume it is only happening in these areas of speciality as opposed to others?  I have raised a related point in parliamentary questions over the past months. I raised it in a question to the Taoiseach a few weeks ago. The Minister is absolutely aware of it. How come this surgeon is registered to practise in Maryland? As I understand it, in order to get registered in another country one would need to have a fitness to practise certificate. I understand from a reply to a parliamentary question that there is no fitness to practice certificate and none has been issued. How is this surgeon potentially operating on patients in America? Has the Government contacted the Maryland Board of Physicians to say that there is some very important information that it should be aware of? Do we not have a duty of care in relation to that?  With regard to the Nayagam report, will the Minister confirm that an injunction has been sought? Presumably this is still going through the courts.  On the scoping exercise for the Farrell review, is it going to be broad? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Will the Deputy conclude? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  Will it include general practice? Will it include the method for this? Will it include the waiting lists, which then were used to pressurise, or were part of the pressure on surgeons to do operations, and so on? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Thanks, Deputy Murphy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  Will it also consider the points made by Deputy Coppinger about all of the information being made available to the families? Otherwise it is a very unfair playing field. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Daly  I will start by acknowledging the Minister's statement. She has dealt with the issues - the surgical mismanagement of children with scoliosis and hip dysplasia in CHI, the sodium valproate injury cases and the Michael Shine abuse case - in an open and comprehensive manner. The Minister has established the process by which senior counsel Farrell and Staines will establish the statutory public inquiries into CHI and Michael Shine, and she has spoken about the ongoing non-statutory inquiry into the harm done to pregnant women and to children who were prescribed sodium valproate. I commend the Minister on her commitment to the ongoing audits of the developmental dysplastic hip review and phase 2 of the Nayagam report.  I first want to address the care of children with scoliosis and complex spinal conditions. At the centre of this discussion are children and parents who have endured years of uncertainty, long waiting times and after all of that in some cases have had devastating medical outcomes in a system that would appear to have been dysfunctional with the failure of organisational and clinical governance. The response of the system to families' concerns and distress has in the past been defensive and paternalistic. Their experiences must remain at the heart of how we respond as legislators and policymakers. The inquiries must establish the facts and the consequences of those facts. Notwithstanding due process and natural justice, these inquiries have to be acute in their examination of how and why we arrived at this juncture.  Over the past number of years, a series of reviews and investigations have highlighted serious shortcomings within the system. Clinical reviews of complex spinal surgeries carried out between 2018 and 2022 identified extraordinarily high complication rates, including infection rates exceeding 70%, and the need for repeat surgeries in a majority of cases within one cohort. These findings have, understandably, shocked families and the wider public. Further investigations also exposed significant governance failures, including the use of implantable devices that did not have the appropriate regulatory approval, and also shortcomings in oversight, documentation and ethical processes. We must be clear that when failures occur in health care systems, and particularly when they involve children, transparency and accountability are essential. Families and citizens deserve answers and they deserve assurance that lessons are being learned. That inquiry process is now entering a scoping phase, which will help to determine the terms of reference and structure required to fully examine what went wrong and how to prevent it happening again. The terms of reference need to be expansive enough to assuage public concern and focused enough to identify the issues without obfuscation. As we wait for the outcome of these historical inquiries, we must drive forward to improve care for patients currently waiting for treatment.  The Minister has driven change with zeal in the past 12 months. Governance issues have been addressed with wider and more inclusive decision-making. Capacity has been expanded through domestic and international outsourcing arrangements. Additional surgical time has been ring fenced. A spinal surgery management unit and ministerial task force have been established to oversee progress. That must be acknowledged but with this investment must come progress, timely access and interventions in a high-quality environment with robust systemic and clinical governance. We must rebuild trust with performance that is audited and transparent. Families must see real change, shorter waiting times, better oversight, safer governance structures and better communication from healthcare providers. We need a healthcare culture that empowers clinicians and staff to raise concerns early, encourages multidisciplinary collaboration and ensures patient safety is always the overriding priority. Most important, the voices of patients and their families must continue to shape the reforms we implement.  Ireland is fortunate to have highly skilled clinicians and healthcare professionals who dedicate their lives to caring for children. We must have systems that support their skills and deliver robust, transparent and accountable care. Our responsibility in this House is to ensure lessons from these events lead to lasting change. We have had too many inquiries and too many failures. We owe that to the children affected, to the families who fought tirelessly for service and for answers, and to every patient who puts their trust in our health service. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cormac Devlin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cormac Devlin  I welcome the opportunity to contribute to today\u2019s statements on scoliosis and the inquiries announced by the Minister. I welcome the Minister\u2019s appointment yesterday of Mr. Remy Farrell SC as the independent facilitator on the scoping exercise. I also welcome the appointment of Mr. Lorcan Staines SC in relation to the Shine report. Both appointments are long overdue and much needed.  The terms of reference and structure of the statutory public inquiry into spina bifida and complex scoliosis services is an important and necessary step. Massive public trust issues remain in Children\u2019s Health Ireland. There have been a succession of reports and controversies that have left families feeling ignored, unheard and in some cases betrayed. Parents should never have had to campaign for the basics of timely treatment, clear communication and reassurance that governance is strong and patient safety comes first.  As I have said in the Chamber before, I do not believe it is possible to regain the public\u2019s trust in CHI. I welcome the Minister\u2019s decision that clinical services will be integrated into the new national children\u2019s hospital and brought under the direct governance of the HSE. Today\u2019s priority, however, is the children and families living with the consequences of CHI\u2019s failures. We all accept the principle that every child should receive a surgical intervention when clinicians recommend it, at the right time. It is deeply concerning that children have been waiting far longer than they should for spinal surgery. While we can point to progress, the continued delays have a real impact on those children, many living in pain, with mobility loss, anxiety and missed childhood milestones.  Any efforts to accelerate services must be welcomed, including the additional \u20ac30 million to provide extra Saturday outpatient appointments, improve referral pathways, recruit additional orthopaedic surgeons and provide international outsourcing arrangements to support children\u2019s care abroad, which the Minister alluded to. Activity levels have improved, with 534 spinal procedures completed in 2025, up from 513 in 2024. I thank front-line staff for their efforts in this regard.  While the progress is welcome, demand continues to rise and cancellations remain a serious issue for families. They are saying the system still does not feel patient centred enough. Even where cancellations are clinically necessary, a child being prepared for surgery and then stood down is not an operational statistic; it is a huge setback for a family.  This is where the inquiry process matters. The scoping exercise led by Mr. Farrell must do two things. First, it must centre families, not as an afterthought or as a consultation box-ticking exercise, but as partners in establishing what went wrong and what must change. The review must be patient centred, trauma informed and human rights based and the commitment must be reflected in how families are listened to and supported throughout. Second, it must deliver accountability and learning. We need answers in governance, systems, culture and capacity. We need to understand where communication broke down and why warning signs were not acted upon sooner. We need recommendations that are practical, measurable and implemented, not left gathering dust.  I look forward to Mr Farrell\u2019s report at the conclusion of this 16-week period, and I ask that the House receive a clear update on the next steps immediately thereafter, including a timeline for finalising the terms of reference and establishing the inquiry in a way that maintains public confidence.  Finally, I want to say this directly to the families. You should never have been put through this ordeal by CHI and the system. It is not good enough but I welcome the progress confirmed today. It shows you have been heard. It must signal the start of a new, transparent, patient-centred culture in these critical services. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I want to say what is abundantly clear: the failures for children with spina bifida and scoliosis represent a major scandal and the investigation and review of that scandal needs to be comprehensive. Families have been failed for far too long with too many broken promises. Therefore, nothing should get in the way of full truth and delivering on promises made.  I welcome progress made on the Michael Shine case but it is hard to celebrate the appointment of a senior counsel to carry out a scoping exercise because the story is very familiar. Allegations against Michael Shine first emerged in the 1970s, before we were even born. They continued throughout the seventies, eighties, nineties and 2000s. Victims have come forward and any of us who have met those victims knew this represented another scandal. The cover-ups that had to have been involved to allow this man to commit the crimes he committed over such a long time deserved to be investigated and now we are getting there.  I welcome the fact we have a scoping exercise. I sometimes fear scoping exercises are delaying tactics. I hope it is not the case in this instance. I have huge respect for Lorcan Staines. After so many years and so many Members of this House - I am thinking of Caoimhghin \u00d3 Caol\u00e1in, Arthur Morgan, Gerry Adams, Imelda Munster, current Louth Deputies and others - repeatedly demanding a thorough investigation, I hope the victims will finally get to the truth. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  Dignity4Patients represents 400 abuse survivors - that is 398 men and two women. I have an abject fear that that does not represent all the people abused by Michael Shine, a consultant who was able to operate like God. There were failures by Our Lady of Lourdes, the Medical Missionaries of Mary, the Garda and successive Departments of Health, and there was failure by this State and its governments over many years. I welcome that Lorcan Staines is in position and we have a timeline for a scoping exercise, but it needs to deliver a full public inquiry that delivers for the likes of Larry, Cianan, Gerard and Peter, whom we heard from when Deputy Joanna Byrne had a presentation in the audiovisual room. \"Horrified\" does not even cut it in relation to what was done to these people and the failure to provide them with truth and justice. We need to make sure that happens. For far too long we have been in here dealing with the failures of the State. We need delivery for those who have been abused and have survived. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  I acknowledge the representatives of the spina bifida paediatric advocacy group and the Scoliosis Advocacy Network, in particular the mothers who have carried this fight with dignity and determination. After our engagement with these parents, we know these concerns are rooted in the experience of children whose health has been affected by systemic failure.  The very least those families deserve now is an open and public inquiry, not one conducted behind closed doors, not one limited in scope and certainly not one where key reports remain unpublished. From our point of view, it is deeply troubling that unpublished reports have been reviewed at ministerial level, that a facilitator has been permitted to have sight of them and yet the very families affected and their legal counsel do not have access. We are being asked to sign up to an inquiry process without full transparency. How can any counsel meaningfully agree on the scope of an inquiry without being given the documents necessary to assess the scope? Both sides must be able to review the relevant reports. If legal representatives can examine them, there can be no credible argument against transparency; otherwise, we risk a situation where halfway through the inquiry fundamental issues emerge that could and should have been addressed from the outset.  Most importantly, harm is not historical alone. Families are telling us that harm is still occurring. Improvements may have been promised but confidence will not be restored without accountability. These children are victims. Their families are not asking for the impossible. They are asking for openness, for access to documents, for proper legal representation and for an inquiry that is genuinely child centred. This is not an unreasonable demand; it is the minimum that justice demands.  We have spoken about this at length. Because of the fallout from one of these cases, we had a vote of no-confidence. At that time, I wanted to have the focus on this report, not on the no-confidence vote. That is what the family asked for. They did not ask for a vote of no-confidence. I was inside in the room. I was listening and talking to them. They did not ask for that. They wanted the full report to be open and transparent. I have not been at the very root of this and in fairness the Minister has. It looks to me that this is not open and transparent. The families are not happy with this. In fairness, we have to show them the respect they deserve. It looks as if what was promised has not been delivered. If certain people can look into this report and others cannot, there is something wrong somewhere and it is going to cause a lot of upset. There has been a lot of upset at this matter already. It has been a huge crisis in this country. A wrong has been done to a lot of parents with children who needed help and were ignored. Unfortunately, I am worried that this might go on and further concern and upset might be ongoing.  We have spoken at length here. A very open and clear inquiry was promised. I would like to see an open and clear outcome so that the parents can have some ease of mind. Some have lost children and others are in a dire situation as we speak. I hope there is movement and that the families will find some ease going forward because it is certainly something that I advocated for. I put the family first always. Ahead of my political career on this one, I put the family first. I could easily have done the easy thing of voting for the no-confidence motion, which would provide a great Facebook caption, but that is not what I do. I wanted to put the family first because I wanted their needs first. I would appreciate if the Minister would deliver on that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  At the heart of this is a human tragedy. The response to a recent parliamentary question I submitted showed that in the last five years 126 individuals have been damaged up to and including permanent incapacity or death at CHI. A total of 752 other individuals have been damaged needing medical treatment. There have been 6,900 dangerous system failures within that organisation. Some 23,000 other incidents were reported in that period. The answer to another parliamentary question I put in recently showed that 525 scoliosis surgeries on children have been cancelled in the last four years and that increased from 85 in 2022 to 164 last year, so it is increasing all the time. I do not believe the Minister has explained why that is the case.  Organisations defend themselves; that is what organisations do. When there are dozens of reasons given over time as to why information cannot be provided to families or advocacy groups, we should not be surprised that people are sceptical and cynical about the reasons for it. The Nayagam report is another example of that. Phase 1 has been completed but families have been refused sight, supposedly for legal reasons. The family of Harvey Morrison Sherratt are not getting the information they need. Documents are being redacted. Documents are being withheld even from the legal representatives of the advocacy groups. Now we hear today of the facilitator. I believe that is a downgrading from an independent mediator down to a facilitator.  The 16 weeks for terms of reference to be decided should be coming to an end now----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  No, they start now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  -----but they are only starting now. They were promised to the families at the meeting----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  I am sorry if the Deputy cannot follow it, but they start now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  Okay. At the meeting the Minister had with the families along with Simon Harris, it was understood that the 16 weeks were going to come to an end roughly now and that is what the families understand, which is a problem.  In 2014, Temple Street said it had 500 children with spina bifida in its care. Now CHI has 254 children in its care. I want the Minister to outline why that is the case. I do not want to take time from my colleague on that. It would be really important to have external oversight of CHI currently. Given that the situation is happening, we need to have external oversight of what is happening in CHI, in both the clinical and management areas. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  Following what Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn said, why is CHI still in existence? That is something that needs to be looked at. Obviously, we have to go through the 16-week scoping exercise, led by Remy Farrell SC. That is something that the advocacy groups do not trust. It does not meet the definition of what we would call an independent mediator. The Minister might call him a kind of a facilitator to get all the information together for an inquiry, but these are people who have been damaged by Children's Health Ireland and its predecessor. These are people who do not trust the system because the system has failed them and their children, and in some cases led to the death of their children. If the Minister is trying to go forward in line with the promises given a few weeks ago, she should be listening to the groups and trying to get the independent facilitator to do the scoping process and then go into the inquiry. When the process is scoped, I just hope that the inquiry itself will be 100% independent and transparent.  As I have mentioned twice in this Chamber already, as have others, the children with scoliosis and spina bifida, their parents and the adult sufferers have all asked for certain things to be done while the inquiry is going on in terms of the levels of service being provided. I note that the waiting lists have gone down, which is welcome and credit is due to the Minister in that sense. However, not enough people who are suitable for international treatments are using it for some reason and that needs to be encouraged. We still do not have full answers to the question of the huge number of cancellations since 2022 and they need to be addressed in more detail. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aisling Dempsey","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aisling-Dempsey.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aisling-Dempsey.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aisling Dempsey  I am a TD for Meath West and Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda is one of my local hospitals. Like so many Meath people over the years, I was born there and have had many experiences in it. Michael Shine's unspeakable depravity is not an abstract to me. It is personal, it is local and it is still profoundly shocking. There is nearly half a century between his sick acts and the wholly separate issue of the scoliosis scandal of today.  It may seem strange to many people looking in that we are discussing these topics together but it is not because both scandals have so much in common despite the decades between them. Both issues have shaken the public confidence in our health service in a way that is deeply distressing. In both cases families who placed their trust in the system have had that trust betrayed. In both cases there was a complete failure of oversight and governance. In both cases there has been very little accountability or indeed answerability. In both cases those who raised questions were ignored or very least unheeded. That there is so much in common despite such a time lapse between them points to a dysfunctional system that will continue to severely disappoint those who depend on it when they are most vulnerable.  We have had too many scandals whereby vulnerable patients, particularly our women and children, were failed by the systems that should have protected them. These must be the last scandals. We cannot stand over a health system that fails to learn lessons even after severe harm is done. Parents consented to invasive spinal surgeries believing they were acting in the best interests of their children. That trust was not honoured in so many cases.  In recent weeks, I spoke again to a mother I know in Meath West whose child underwent scoliosis surgery during the timeframe in question. She was anxious when she first heard about the potential of there having been unnecessary surgeries. That soon turned to fear, upset, anger and disbelief - the full range of emotions. As a parent, I can understand and imagine what it was like for her. At the time, she was told it was necessary. She trusted that advice because she had no reason not to. In light of what has come to pass, she is simply wracked with guilt, not because she did anything wrong, which we know she did not, but because she feels she should have questioned that diagnosis. Imagine that, a parent who acted in good faith and from love is now carrying a burden that should never have been hers to carry. The fault does not lie with her or any of the parents. It lies with failures of oversight, governance and accountability. It lies with systems that did not escalate concerns quickly enough and with a culture that is at times too slow to challenge and certainly too slow to listen.  As a Government TD, I believe our responsibilities now are immense. We must ensure full transparency. Families deserve the truth and not partial disclosures or defensive statements but the full facts. We must ensure accountability. Where wrongdoing occurred, it must be acknowledged clearly and addressed appropriately. Professional standards must be robust and oversight mechanisms must be strengthened so that no single individual can operate without effective scrutiny. Most importantly, we must reform the system in a way that will restore confidence. That means independent clinical audits, real-time monitoring of surgical outcomes, protected whistleblower channels and a culture where patient safety is the overriding priority.  The Michael Shine inquiry and scoliosis review need to come to swift conclusions. They need to be robust and transparent and bring some sort of closure to those who are so deeply affected. The people of Meath and Louth, and people from across this country, deserve a health service they can trust without any hesitation. Parents should never again have to question whether a recommended surgery is truly necessary. They should never again feel guilt for trusting medical advice or putting their children into the hands of medical professionals. We owe it to those affected to ensure, not just in words but in swift action, that these are the last scandals of this kind. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Erin McGreehan  I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this important discussion on scoliosis services and the wider need for accountability within our healthcare system. First and foremost, I must acknowledge the frustration, anger and stress experienced by children and families waiting far too long for spinal surgery. Every child deserves timely care when clinicians determine it is needed. While additional investment, increased theatre capacity and the outsourcing of procedures have helped to reduce waiting times, we must be honest that more needs to be done. It is clear, however, from every action the Minister has taken since she took up her portfolio that she is committed to doing more.  Families navigating these services deserve not only treatment but clear communication, transparency and respect. Those are the basic standards that people should be able to expect from any healthcare system. The proposed statutory inquiry into spina bifida and complex scoliosis services will, therefore, be an essential step to understanding what went wrong and ensuring it never happens again. It must be thorough, independent and centred on the experiences of patients and families.  I will take this opportunity to acknowledge the significant development this week regarding the victims and survivors of Michael Shine. Being from Louth, this is personal. Michael Shine was a disgusting and despicable paedophile. He preyed on hundreds of boys and young men over decades, using his place of authority and perceived respectability to hide and continue the abhorrent abuse. It was known around Louth. It was known that he was an abuser. As a child, I knew he was bad but I was never old or articulate enough to understand what that \"bad\" meant. It was an open secret and open shame that authorities kept it a secret and kept it slammed down.  The courage of the victims, many of whom have spent years seeking truth and accountability, cannot be overestimated. I have had the privilege of meeting some of those brave men. Their stories will never leave me. They spoke with desperate honesty and vulnerability about the trauma they carried for decades. They spoke about the years of silence and about the doors that should have been open to them but were instead slammed shut. Instead of being listened to and supported, far too many of them were treated deplorably.  A moment from those meetings stayed with me and I go back to it when I think about these horrors. I saw a photograph of one of the victims when he was a young boy. He was a beautiful wee boy. When I looked at that photo, I saw my own boys. My gut instinct was to reach out and hug him, to scream for him that no one was able to protect that wee child and hundreds of other wee children who had the desperate experience of having Michael Shine as their doctor. When I looked at the eyes of that wee boy, I imagined the horror he must have been living through at that moment. When I looked at the man that the child grew into, I saw the hurt that was still there and the trauma that he carried with him in those wee eyes. That was what brought him to my office that day. I also saw incredible honesty, decency and extraordinary strength.  I thank Dignity4Patients for its incredible work, and congratulate it and the victims who have come forward and have given up so much to get this point. I thank the Minister for her openness to getting this done. I thank the Taoiseach for meeting the victims a few months back. That meeting had a deep and lasting effect on all who were in that office that day. The confirmation of the independent facilitator to begin the scoping exercise for the statutory inquiry is welcome. I spoke to representatives of Dignity4Patients today. They are enthusiastic, anxious and positive. The survivors have said that for the first time in many years they feel genuinely positive that progress is being made. It is absolutely essential that any inquiry arising from this process is victim-centred, trauma-informed and grounded in a human rights-based approach. Survivors must not simply be participants in the process. Their voices must shape it. I know the Minister is thoroughly committed to that.  I wish to raise the issue of the timeline for the scoping exercise, which is currently set at 16 weeks. We absolutely agree that progress needs to be made swiftly. We must ensure most of all that it is not rushed. It is incredibly ambitious and a great timeline. However, if additional time or resources are required to properly engage with survivors and to develop robust terms of reference, I ask for them to be granted. After decades of waiting, the victims deserve a process that is thorough, respectful and capable of delivering truth. If I look at the photo of that wee boy again, I want to think we did justice for him in 2026. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  I received a message this morning from the parents of Mikey Henry-Benson from Mayo, who has scoliosis. The Minister met and knows the family. The parents stated that CHI has ruined their lives, shattered Mikey's sisters' lives and destroyed Mikey's chance at life. They stated that the HSE has put another nail in it. They stated that they asked the HSE for an independent assessment for Mikey but he most certainly did not get that. The HSE said it was going to go with what CHI said. The message went on to ask why the State is not helping the family to get Mikey to a hospital where surgeons deal with cases such as his on a daily basis. They asked if he is not worth the bother.  I heard the Minister's statement earlier. She spoke about improved access to international options for assessment. I ask her to please clear the pathway for Mikey to have that international assessment. I am not asking for a clinical decision. I am begging for an assessment to save his life.  In September 2024, I first raised the case of Mikey Henry-Benson, who was under the care of CHI to treat his scoliosis. On that occasion and on many occasions since, I asked for a full independent assessment of his case after the family were let down time and again by CHI. How was his spinal curve allowed to go from 82\u00b0 to now 130\u00b0 without intervention and in full view of CHI and the HSE, and, indeed, Ministers for Health?  Families like Mikey's are constantly given assurances that are not translated into action. Let me once again outline Mikey's journey and the progression of his condition to illustrate the human consequences of a system that fails to respond with urgency. Mikey is a wheelchair user with a neurological condition. In 2023, he was diagnosed with severe scoliosis. It was made clear to his parents what could happen to his vital organs if his scoliosis was not treated, yet Mikey was left to deteriorate. He was told he needed surgery. His spine and lungs were not monitored for another eight months. His spinal curvature progressed significantly and, as I said, is now 130\u00b0. His lungs are severely compromised and he requires a machine to breathe at night. The need for specialist surgical intervention has long passed. His parents watch their child live with constant discomfort and physical distress. They have repeatedly raised concerns about the speed of the progression of his curve and the impact it is having on his health and well-being. They asked to access surgeons and hospitals outside of the State with extensive experience in treating severe and complex scoliosis cases. I ask the Minister to please help us to save Mikey's life. This has been going on for far too long. I first brought this case to the attention of the D\u00e1il in September 2024 . "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Carol Nolan  I have raised the issue of scoliosis since at least April 2017, when I initially submitted parliamentary questions to the then Minister for Health and now T\u00e1naiste, Deputy Simon Harris. At that time, I asked for details of the current waiting lists for children with scoliosis, the number of children on the waiting list for treatment and the steps that the then Minister was taking to ensure scoliosis patients received treatment in a timely manner. I was told that improvements in scoliosis services were a priority for the Government and HSE and that steps were being taken to bring Ireland into line with the waiting times of the NHS in the UK. We all know what has happened to that commitment and those priorities.  Since then, the situation has become immeasurably worse. The pain that children and their families endure is being compounded by a deep sense of betrayal and abandonment by successive Governments. The scoliosis waiting list action plan 2017 was jointly developed by the HSE and children's hospital group and has failed to deliver, despite the fact that as part of the proposal to address the spinal fusion waiting list a number of children were identified as being clinically appropriate to have their scoliosis surgery in other hospitals, such as the Mater, Cappagh and Temple Street. I would like to know how many additional nurses and consultants have started in the service since then. Without them, we cannot have the increase in theatre capacity we so badly need.  How can the Government and Children's Health Ireland keep getting this issue so wrong? How on earth are we still here, almost a decade on from 2017, when I initially raised these questions? Is it incompetence or indifference? Is it just the cruel and unpalatable fact that the State is simply mired in dysfunction when it comes to addressing issues of this kind of complexity? We should be embarrassed and the pain and distress this has caused to so many families throughout the State is absolutely scandalous. We have to get to grips with this quickly. We have to instil confidence in services. People no longer have confidence because they have been treated so badly. Unfortunately, children have suffered. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Mary Butler)  Yesterday, two public statutory inquiries into scoliosis and spina bifida care and Michael Shine were announced. The Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, has appointed facilitators to begin work aimed at establishing two public statutory inquiries. Remy Farrell SC has been appointed as the facilitator with regard to scoliosis and spina bifida at CHI.  Lorcan Staines SC has been appointed to work as facilitator on the abuse carried out by the convicted sex offender Michael Shine. Michael Shine, a former surgeon, worked in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, from 1964 until 1995. In March 1995, the CEO of the hospital was made aware of a complaint of abuse against Mr. Shine by the North Eastern Health Board. Mr. Shine took leave while the complaint was being addressed and subsequently retired in October 1995. By the time of his retirement, he was already the subject of multiple allegations of sexual abuse. Dignity4Patients has been campaigning on behalf of the victims for many years. The organisation has long sought a full inquiry into the sexual abuse of patients and in the past year has sought a commission of investigation. For decades, victims and survivors of Michael Shine have carried trauma and sought recognition and accountability. Their strength and willingness to continue pressing for the truth must be met with compassion, seriousness and action.  I commend the Minister for Health on how she has had to deal with issues that arose before she ever came into this office. Michael Shine retired in 1995, yet Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa blamed this Government for those issues, which is very strange. The Minister for Health has led on this and put the inquiry in place. Cheap political points will not help any of the victims of Shine. The Minister has done this with compassion, effectiveness and due diligence. She has listened to the lived and living experience of many victims, those people of all ages who were wronged and those who were wronged while availing of health services. We have to have a little bit of fairness. The Minister is trying to deal with issues she inherited. She has worked tirelessly over the past 12 months to put this in place and it is an honour and privilege to work beside her. The Minister is not the person who has harmed anyone. I ask for a little bit of fairness. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Health (Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill)  I will address a number of issues and questions that Deputies raised. We take the same approach to both inquiries, with the appointment of a facilitator specifically to engage with the different groups. That request has been socialised and agreed with the different groups, which includes Dignity4Patients on the Michael Shine side and eight groups on the scoliosis side. There are different views among the groups and it is important to acknowledge and reflect on that, as there have been different views among scoliosis and spina bifida advocates in previous years. Some participated on a spinal task force and others did not, and I respect both perspectives.  I have been the recipient of responses from all of the different groups and those voices are not being reflected in their entirety here today. That is because people have not necessarily been in touch with Deputies in the same way, but I have to acknowledge there are more voices than those who have been reflected as having been in touch with Deputies. I know that because I have seen their responses and they stand somewhat in contrast to what was said. I do not say that with any disrespect to any group, but I have to acknowledge that there are many groups involved in this. Dignity4Patients is on one side and there are multiple scoliosis and spina bifida action groups on the other. That is important.  On the Nayagam report, I condemn any reference to it in a Sunday newspaper prior to communication with families. That did not come from me. A small group of people were engaged with that. I read lots of things in Sunday newspapers that are never put there by me. I am hurt and appalled on behalf of the health system that any person with access to such a sensitive report would do any such thing. It certainly did not come from me and our communication was focused on getting a deep clinical briefing and putting a proper structure in place between that clinical briefing on 6 February, which was a Friday, and communication with families on 11 February, the following week, in an intelligent, appropriate and accurate way. I deeply regret any Sunday newspaper ridiculousness.  I cannot publish Nayagam 1 until Nayagam 2 has been completed. That is how the process was structured. Those are the commitments that were given to the High Court and I cannot, as a member of the Government, knowingly take actions that contradict commitments that have been given to the High Court. If I could find a way to publish the report without doing that as a member of Government and a Member of Parliament I would, but I cannot. Nayagam 1 will be published when Nayagam 2 is completed, which is how the process was established.  Regarding the terms of reference, the word \"complex\" is not intended to in any way narrow the terms of reference. They are being given a facilitated process to be agreed and determined, and we take the broadest possible view in that regard. I am sorry if that is the impression that was given. It is certainly not the intention.  We have never really had this process previoulsy, which has been deliberately set up so it is not the Minister or the Government dictating it, as was the case in the past, where terms of reference were set and then people were sent on their way. We are pausing, specifically, to enable the breadth of analysis about the documents that are there and the breadth of engagement that is possible. This is a different way of doing that so there is no intention to narrow it.  Many Deputies have raised the point of the interplay and tension between the breadth, the robustness and the timeliness. This is a triangle of great difficulty in determining how tribunals can and should be structured. What every Member wants is to have a tribunal, a commission of investigation or whatever the forum that is effective. We talked about the sodium valproate one here. I am not prescribing that, nor am I prescribing interim reports, which was raised. I am not prescribing anything. I am very deliberately asking for a report from somebody who is independent of the Department of Health and of Government to engage and to look at all of the structures and to recommend to me how that be done. There is an interplay between the breadth we want to achieve, as mentioned by Deputies Rice and Paul Murphy, but also the timeliness. We do not want something that is going on as was referred to, for ten or 11 years, and we do want something that is legally robust. That is going to be a complex interplay and that is going to be something about which there is great capacity for disagreement such as on how it should be indexed. At the end of the day, I have to receive the recommendations and make an actual decision about how we take that forwar, rather than getting stuck in limbo forever in relation to it. I wanted to take both of these inquiries forward independent of Government, transparent and impactful on behalf of the people who very badly need them.  I will speak to some of the issues in relation to scoliosis services and the improvements or the issues that are contained with them. Not every Deputy is here but I will carry on. There are four additional consultants, one of whom started in August and three of whom are starting in May, which is very significant additional capacity, as well as additional theatre capacity. The question of waiting lists versus waiting times was raised by Deputies Rice and Sherlock in particular. I would ask the following question: if you need a specified procedure, would you rather be one of ten patients waiting for a year or one of a hundred patients waiting for a month? The answer is so obvious. If my child needs complex scoliosis surgery, it is the timeliness, not the number of other people on the list, that matters. The number of people on the list is less important than the time they are waiting. The number of people on the list should be added to as the population grows and as diagnostics get better. If in a time of increasing population, increased diagnostics and additional Saturday outpatient clinics, our waiting lists do not increase, then we are doing something wrong. This is a basic tenet of how healthcare is delivered. It has to be quick. That is why Sl\u00e1intecare sets timelines, not list lines around these things and it is really important that I update the House again on the time measures that are relevant to the individual patient.  The outpatient list has fallen since January 2025 from a waiting time of 9.7 months to 4.5 months in February 2026. That is a considerable improvement by anybody's standard, and that is because we are doing additional outpatient clinics. Because we are doing additional outpatient clinics, we are identifying more people who need surgery, so the waiting list goes up. This is really straightforward. It is the time that matters, and the time for surgery is also coming down from a weighted average of 6.2 months in January 2025 to 5.2 months in February 2026. Is that enough? No, I want to drive it further, but could we all speak the same language? This is from the perspective of the child and the time that they are waiting, and for the appropriate clinical and-or surgical intervention, and let us be at least on the same page, so that if it goes up, Deputies legitimately criticise me on behalf of the Government for that. At least let us speak the same language. The language that matters to a parent whose child is waiting for surgery is the length of time, and parents, I assure Deputies, are thoroughly unconcerned about the number of other people who also wait. The access to care for so very many is such an important issue and I commit to continuing to work on it month by month to deliver additional resources, services, and improvements. However, for this point on, I ask that we speak the same language on how we are measuring impact for individual patients. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Scoliosis and Inquiries: Statements"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-04\/debate\/dbsect_20","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Estimates for Public Services 2026: Message from Select Committee","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_20","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach has completed its considerations of the following Revised Estimates for Public Services for the service of the year ending on 31 December 2026: Vote 7 - Finance; Vote 8 - Comptroller and Auditor General; Vote 9 - Revenue Commissioners; and Vote 10 - Tax Appeals Commission. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Estimates for Public Services 2026: Message from Select Committee"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-04\/debate\/dbsect_21","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/20","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/20\/dail\/2","houseCode":"dail","stage":"2","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2026: Second Stage (Resumed) (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2026: Second Stage (Resumed)","counts":{"speechCount":12,"speakerCount":12},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Keira Keogh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pat Buckley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pat-Buckley.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Pat-Buckley.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cormac Devlin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question again proposed: \"That the Bill be now read a Second Time.\""},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Keira Keogh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Keira Keogh  I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Bill. I want to acknowledge the work undertaken by the Department and the Courts Service to brief members of the disability matters committee on this legislation. We were provided with two detailed briefings to help us understand both the operational process involved in discharging wards of court and the urgency of the legislative amendment before us, with the 26 April deadline looming. Those briefings were helpful in outlining the scale of work under way and the practical challenges involved in transitioning a significant number of cases through the court system. It was on the basis of the briefings and the clear urgency involved that the committee recognised the need to grant a waiver on pre-legislative scrutiny for this Bill. Pre-legislative scrutiny is a very important part of the legislative process. However, in this case it was made clear to us that the amendment is time-sensitive and necessary to avoid legal uncertainty for vulnerable individuals and therefore, the committee was satisfied that a waiver was appropriate.  The starting point for this legislation is the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015, which represented one of the most important reforms of disability law in the State in many decades. The Act abolished the historic wardship system for adults. This was a system rooted in the Lunacy Regulation (Ireland) Act 1871, and replaced it with a modern, rights-based framework for supported decision making. That reform represented a significant cultural and legal shift. For many years, the wardship system operated largely through a medical model of disability, where individuals deemed to lack decision-making capacity could have decisions made on their behalf by the court. The 2015 Act moved Ireland towards a social and rights-based model, recognising that many people may require support to make decisions rather than having their legal capacity removed entirely. The legislation places emphasis on the will and preferences of the person, ensuring that individuals are supported to exercise their autonomy wherever possible. Under the Act, the Decision Support Service, DSS, was created and tiered decision support arrangements were established. The decision-making assistance agreement supports people to make their own decisions by helping them get information, understand it and then make decisions. There is also a co-decision making agreement where the person chooses somebody they know and trust to be their co-decision maker and they make specific decisions jointly. In the case of a decision-making representation order, the Circuit Court appoints a decision-making representative to make decisions on the person's behalf.  These reforms were an important step in bringing Ireland closer to compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, UNCRPD, which recognises that persons with disabilities have the right to legal capacity on an equal basis with others. The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Act 2022 commenced in April 2023, beginning the process of transitioning individuals currently in the wardship into the new decision support framework. Under the legislation, the High Court sitting as the wardship court must review the case of every adult ward and make a declaration regarding their decision-making capacity within three years of commencement. This means that the statutory deadline for completing these capacity declarations is 26 April this year. However, since commencement important progress has been made, with 399 wards having been fully discharged. Some 38 of those individuals require no decision-making support, 40 require co-decision-making agreements, and 313 were discharged with decision-making representatives. However, despite the considerable work undertaken by the Courts Service, the Judiciary, DSS and legal representatives, the reality is that current figures indicate that approximately 1,050 wardship cases are currently outstanding.  Discharge applications are progressing, but the scale and complexity of this process means that it will not be possible to complete every capacity declaration before the statutory deadline in just 53 days. This creates a serious legal issue as the 2015 Act does not provide for the legal status of individuals who remain wards of court if a capacity declaration has not been made by that deadline. Without legislative intervention, individuals could find themselves in the position of legal limbo or uncertainty after 26 April. Such uncertainty could create serious difficulties for the individuals concerned, as well as for their families, carers and service providers. Questions could arise regarding who has legal authority in relation to their welfare, financial affairs or decision concerning their care. For that reason, the legislation before us is necessary and urgent.  The Bill addresses these issues while preserving the core intent of the original Act. Importantly, the Bill does not extend or change the statutory deadline of 26 April 2026. Instead, it provides the wardship court with discretion to extend the time frame for making a capacity declaration in individual cases where there is good reason to do so and where it is in the interests of justice. This extension will operate on a case-by-case basis, ensuring that the court retains oversight and that each situation is considered carefully. A further extension may be granted in exceptional circumstances, but there is a clear outer limit. The total period of any extension or extensions cannot exceed 18 months meaning that every affected ward must have a capacity declaration no later than 25 October 2027.  This approach reflects a careful policy balance in considering how best to address the issue. Three policy options were examined and these were outlined to us very clearly in our briefings. The first option was to do nothing, which would leave individuals without legal clarity after the deadline. The second option was to extend the statutory deadline. However, that option carried risks, including the potential for legal challenges, and advocacy groups are concerned that such a move could undermine the commitment to ending warship. The third option, and the one reflected in this Bill, maintains the statutory deadline but allows the court to manage cases through limited proportionate extensions, where required. This option provides legal certainty for individuals while allowing the transition away from wardship to continue in an orderly and structured manner. It also avoids disrupting the significant work under way in the courts.  While the amendment is necessary, it is also important that we view it as a practical operational measure rather than a slowing down of the reform process. The transition away from wardship remains an important rights-based reform and we must continue to ensure that the remaining cases progress as efficiently as possible.  I am conscious that some families and carers have expressed confusion about the process of discharge from wardship and what that will mean in practice. Valuable information has been made available to organisations such as Citizens Information, the DSS and Family Carers Ireland, which launched the CarerAid Project. In my own locality, I found some really good documents published by the Western Care Association as well.  However, we must continue to ensure that clear, accessible information and practical supports are available to wards so that individuals and their families fully understand the process and options available to them. I understand that the Department had a consultation event this Monday for wards, families, committees and wider stakeholders at which issues with the discharge process were discussed. We must ensure that the needs, wishes and rights of the individuals concerned remain at the centre of the process. I understand that the Office of Wards of Court was represented, along with DSS and the Legal Aid Board. I also understand that the Minister is willing to put on more of those events if they are helpful.  Many wards of courts are people with intellectual disabilities who are being supported by their families or organisations like the Western Care Association in Mayo. The move away from wardship represents an important step in recognising the autonomy and dignity of people who require decision-making support. This autonomy can include deciding where they will live or having some input or autonomy over who will take care of them.  We are living longer now and many of in this room will likely get a diagnosis of dementia or Alzheimer's and it will most likely be our family members who will become our decision supporters. Under the old system, once a person became a ward, they lost all of their legal capacity whereas now they will retain autonomy and continue to participate in decisions about their own life. The new system is designed to support the voice of the person for as long as possible.  This amendment ensures that the transition to the new framework can continue fairly, lawfully and without placing individuals in legal uncertainty. For those reasons, I support the Bill and I look forward to its progression through the House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  There are serious concerns with the Bill. As is often the case with the Government, it waits until the last minute to try to rush through legislation. The concerns raised by academics and service providers need to be listened to. The University of Galway has raised concerns about the treatment of minors, the lack of meaningful engagement and the criteria for extending timelines. I want to raise concerns about the treatment of minors in this State when they are held involuntarily either as wards of court or through the mental health system. As often is the case, the State lets down the most vulnerable and those with the most complex needs.  I am supporting a mother whose son was in the care of the State. She fought tooth and nail to have him held under the Mental Health Act 2001. This was heartbreaking. There were nights when I heard her cry. She told me she was a broken woman due to what she suffered. This system is flawed because to get him to court, he had to go to child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS. CAMHS would see him, but he would not engage with them and did not go. After much campaigning and fighting by his mother, she eventually got her son in front a judge and the judge sectioned him. He then went missing seven times in 21 days while he was on a court-ordered mental health hold. How can facilities not be equipped to manage and mind a 17-year-old boy who could be a danger to himself? He section just ended on Monday. He got an emergency discharge, but who is responsible for him? He went missing on Tuesday. His mother contacted An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and officers found him at 12 midnight on Tuesday. He is a 17 year-old child, but the problem is that in three weeks, he will be 18. Who will look after him then? Who will be responsible given he has such complex needs? To see their beautiful son and brother go through this has caused heartbreak for his mother and family. It is so hard.  Will the Minister of State step in with regard to what we are discussing? Will she also talk to Tusla and the HSE? More needs to be done to protect vulnerable children like this young boy.  Facilities for vulnerable people are closed. In my constituency, we have a brand new dementia centre in Heather House. All it is waiting for is to be registered by HIQA. Everything is done. I have at least ten people who will go in there and, again, these are vulnerable people. Will the Minister of State find out when Heather House will open?  We will support his legislation but we flag that we have some concerns. The way the State treated wards of the State in the past was absolutely appalling. We need to do everything to ensure and make possible that they are heard, protected and supported. Will the Minister of State re-engage with those who are raising genuine concerns to make sure they are listened to and that we do not make mistakes? Everyone is in agreement that this a really important Bill and we need to get it right. We need to get it right for that boy that I referred to and for his mother, Liz, given what she and her family have suffered. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Liam Quaide  The assisted decision-making Act represented one of the most significant legal reforms in the history of the State.  It abolished the adult wardship system, repealed the Lunacy Regulation (Ireland) Act 1871 and replaced a plenary substitute decision-making model with a graduated rights-based framework designed to support autonomy and maximise decision-making capacity. Its full commencement in April 2023 marked a profound shift in how the State understands legal capacity, moving Ireland closer to compliance with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and to our own constitutional principles of dignity and autonomy. That reform was long called for by disabled people and their advocates and was very welcome. The Act provided that all adults in wardship were to exit that system within three years of commencement of the new process, that is, by 26 April 2026. It is now clear that this deadline will not be met.  Research recently published by the National Disability Authority, NDA, drawing from data of the office of wards of court, sets out the position clearly. Some 2,173 adults were in wardship at the commencement of the new process in April 2023. By the end of November 2025, 250 had been discharged, so 1,602 adults remained in wardship, or approximately 74% of the original cohort. The discharge process has advanced, but at a much slower pace than envisaged. In that context, there is a real risk of legal uncertainty if no legislative provision is made for cases not concluded by April 2026. I do not believe it would be responsible to allow a statutory cliff-edge to arise. For that reason, the Social Democrats will not oppose the Bill at this stage.  However, there is no doubt that this Bill must be strengthened if it is to preserve the integrity of the original reform. Firstly, annual reporting since 2023 has made clear that the pace of discharge was not on course to meet the target. We are therefore entitled to ask whether sufficient planning was undertaken at commencement and whether the DSS, the Legal Aid Board, the National Advocacy Service for People with Disabilities and the Courts Service were adequately resourced to meet the volume anticipated. Were sufficient court medical visitors and assessors available? Was structured, accessible engagement with wards and committees commenced early enough? Research undertaken by the NDA identifies several practical barriers to discharge, including fear and uncertainty about the management of funds after discharge, reluctance to move from a familiar system to a new and untested one, complexity and resource intensity of proceedings, and confusion about the role of the decision support service. If we are extending the deadline, the Minister must set out clearly what additional resourcing and structural measures are being put in place to ensure completion within the extended period.  Second, the Bill proposes to allow the High Court to extend the discharge period where \"good reason has been shown\" and \"it is in the interests of justice to do so\", subject to an overall long-stop date of 25 October 2027. These are serious legal standards but they are quite broad and experts at the centre of disability law and policy in Galway have expressed concern that without clear parameters, the discretion may be too open-ended. We therefore need to consider whether the legislation should clarify what constitutes \"good reason\", explicitly require that any extension be strictly necessary and proportionate, and link extensions to demonstrable steps required to facilitate meaningful engagement and transition. An extension should be a bridge to completion, not a resetting of the clock.  Third, the Bill provides that wards are to be notified of proceedings. Notification alone is not enough. The NDA research records that despite significant information efforts by public bodies, many wards and committees experienced what was described as \"an information vacuum\" and confusion about roles and responsibilities in the new system. This tells us that issuing information is not the same as ensuring understanding to a reasonable degree. If the transition is to be rights-based in practice, accessible formats, practical navigation supports and independent advocacy must be consistently available. Where extensions are granted, the additional time should be used actively to support informed participation, not simply to maintain the status quo . The reform was grounded in recognition of personhood. Legal capacity is not a technical formality; it is recognition that adults have the right to participate in decisions affecting their lives to the fullest extent possible. That participation must be meaningful.  Fourth, as Deputy Gould referred to, an issue arises in relation to minors who are wards of court. If an extension mechanism operates in a way that carries wardship beyond the young person's 18th birthday, we risk denying them entry into adulthood under the new rights-based framework at a critical life stage. That would be a serious consequence arising not from individual circumstances but from systemic delay. This warrants careful examination on Committee Stage. Turning 18 should mark entry into adulthood under a modern decision-making framework, not continuation under a legacy regime by default. While the delay affecting minors arises from systemic backlog rather than age-specific rules, particular care should be taken to ensure that young people turning 18 are prioritised so that they do not experience avoidable delay in entering adulthood under the new framework.  Fifth, the NDA research also highlights a related structural issue. There is increased resort to the High Court's inherent jurisdiction in detention-related cases in the absence of a complete statutory framework. That development has significant resource implications and underscores the urgency of progressing protection of liberty and safeguards legislation. If we are serious about reducing court backlog and ensuring coherent legal architecture, this cannot be deferred.  Sixth, the Act provides for a statutory review of its operation within five years of the commencement of the relevant 2022 amendment provisions, effectively pointing to a review around 2028. That review must be robust. There remains ongoing academic and legal debate about the extent to which the current functional assessment model fully aligns with Article 12 of the UNCRPD. That debate should be engaged with seriously and transparently. The Minister should set out how the review will be structured, how those most affected will be meaningfully involved, and how lessons from the wardship discharge process will inform future amendments. Reform of this magnitude is iterative. It requires ongoing evaluation and refinement.  Seventh, concerns have been raised regarding potential inconsistencies between the assisted decision-making framework and the mental health amendment legislation, particularly in relation to advance healthcare directives. It is vital that the Minister clarifies how coherence between these two frameworks can be ensured and how Ireland's human rights obligations will be upheld across both regimes.  I do not believe it would be responsible to allow a legal vacuum to arise, and on that basis, we will support the Bill at this stage. However, support for avoiding legal uncertainty should not be mistaken for complacency. This extension must be temporary, tightly defined, matched with resourcing, accompanied by regular reporting and reviews, and focused on meaningful engagement with wards of court. It must be particularly careful in respect of young people. The move away from wardship was grounded in principles of autonomy, dignity and recognition of legal personhood. This amendment must preserve that spirit. If implemented with discipline and transparency, it could provide legal uncertainty while safeguarding the integrity of the original reform. If not, it risks signalling that deadlines in rights-based reform are elastic. The people affected deserve better than elastic timelines. They deserve clarity, dignity and completion of a reform that has been long promised. I look forward to constructive engagement on Committee Stage to ensure the ambition of the 2015 Act is realised fully in practice. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  I welcome the chance to speak on the legislation. We are dealing with a Bill that aims to make sure vulnerable people are not left in limbo because the State itself cannot process cases on time. While I will not go into technicalities that others have covered, the heart of this Bill is simple. It is to ensure that no person who depends on the courts for capacity-related decisions ends up caught in a gap created by missed deadlines or slow administration. If the scheme fails to meet its own schedules, people should not pay the price. That is a principle I will always stand over.  When we talk about protecting vulnerable people, we cannot ignore another crisis that is happening right now, which is hitting disabled people and their families far harder than most. This Chamber fully appreciates that over the past months, we have seen major protests in Dublin with hundreds of disabled people, carers, families and supporters marching to demand fairness. In one demonstration, held on 28 February, we saw up to 400 people gathering to highlight the devastating blow delivered by budget 2026, which has left disabled people up to \u20ac1,400 worse off. I would link that to the situation we are in now. These people need help. They desperately need someone to mind them in many cases.  They need someone to make a decision for them, in many cases, but they are suffering themselves. We should not have left them in that situation, and the budget should not have left them in that situation. The groups that are advocating for these people are calling very clearly for a \u20ac400 emergency disability payment because many cannot make ends meet under the current pressure. This is not coming from one group or one organisation. It is coming from a coalition that includes the Irish Wheelchair Association, the Disability Federation of Ireland and Access for All Ireland.  I was talking about the assisted decision-making Bill. I sat in with a family member recently who was anxious to get some help. The family member for whom this person was looking for help is severely incapacitated. When this person asked the body I was sitting before why the family member had not gotten the help, the body said that the family member did not want it. It looked to me like the person who was incapacitated and not able to make that decision was being listened to and the family were not being listened to. That is really along the link of this as well.  The groups also said that the removal of the previous one-off supports I was talking about a while ago has left disabled people choosing between heating and eating. Anyone who has ever dealt with real hardship knows that this is not an exaggeration; it is the lived reality of thousands of households today. As I said, we could talk a lot about what we will do in caring for people. In fairness, I found the situation I mentioned a while ago astonishing. The person who is incapacitated had a say while the family, who are getting older and need the care and attention for that person, did not have any say even though they are the people who are caring for this individual. I can understand where this comes in. I can understand why we should support many aspects of it. However, I would like to know from the Minister of State how soon it is going to be implemented. Is it going to deliver for those who need it to be delivered? Maybe the Minister of State can clarify that as time goes on. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  I am very glad to have the opportunity to debate this legislation this evening. Before I get into the specifics of the Bill, I want to talk about the enduring power of attorney, which comes under the assisted decision-making Act and is incredibly complicated. I have dealt with this with a few constituents in my own county of Mayo. Trying to get the power of attorney is very difficult, complicated and unfriendly. The system is very difficult to navigate through. I always tell and advise people to make sure they get the power of attorney even at times when they do not need it because they may need it in the future. Most people do not look at it until there is a diagnosis of ill health, whether that is dementia or whatever else. It is important that people do not leave it too late.  Some of the people involved in the process have told me there is a real struggle. We need to look at simplifying it. We should look to see how we can make it a simpler process. One constituent outlined to me how it involves multiple trips to the solicitor. This particular individual is a wheelchair user, and that posed additional costs and stresses and so on. Then of course there are lots of other difficult scenarios, and trying to navigate them has been incredibly difficult, as I know from dealing and working with constituents. I ask the Minister of State to really look at that. I know it is complex, and there are legal considerations, but the other side of it is that these people are very vulnerable as well in many cases. That should really be looked at to see how we can maintain that legal ground and make sure we are doing everything right legally. We have to give everyone the opportunity to make sure because some people will fall through the cracks here.  I understand the DSS has been getting between 80 and 100 phone calls per day in terms of queries. That is another example of the difficulties out there. We need to make sure that people who need the service, whether they are elderly or people with disabilities, should be able to get a physical copy of the form and send it in the post without ever having to go online. That option should be available to them. My understanding currently is that it is an online process, but I will stand corrected if that is not the case. I was informed by a constituent in relation to it.  The specific legislation we are debating today is obviously about wards of court. The Government is trying to move people out of the old system and into the assisted decision-making system. However, it has failed to meet the legislative deadline it set for itself and so is ultimately extending it. I want the Minister of State to explain today, if she can, why the deadline was not met. What are the barriers she has come up against in relation to it? What are the steps that are being taken to address this to ensure that the next deadline will not be pushed out further?  I listened carefully to the Minister of State's contribution earlier and the figures she provided. She said that that 390 wards of court had been discharged, with 38 of them requiring no decision-making assistance. I am concerned about that figure. What safeguards are in place, and what criteria are applied to ensure there is a smooth transition from the old system to the new system? If people are not allowed to touch their bank accounts for decades and all of a sudden, they are given access to their assets and their money, there is a real and significant fear - I know the Minister of State is aware of this - that they could spend all their money on Monday and end up homeless on Tuesday. That is a significant concern. I urge the Minister of State to ensure we protect these people.  Does the fact that these 38 individuals have been deemed to be capable of making their own decisions mean they should never have been wards of court in the first place? If that is the case, what is the Minister of State's position in relation to it? Will there be an apology for same, etc.?  I thank the Minister of State for her work on this. It is a very important issue. It is important that we get it right, and it is important that we protect these very vulnerable people and make sure we create a system that is as simple and straightforward for them as possible. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  I will follow up on what Deputy Lawless said about people coming into assets after a period of time. I do not think it is going to be overnight, as such. There have been studies, some of which are actually quite offensive, in which homeless people have been given money. I have seen this in the United States. One guy got in the region of $500,000 and it was gone within six months. There are, therefore, issues. If people are not used to handling money or other assets, there has to be some sort of process tied into that. I do not think it will happen overnight, but it is something of which to be cognisant.  I listened to the Minister of State's contribution last night; I was in the Chamber for most of it anyway. I support most of the elements within the Bill and the whole intention behind it because it deals with a real and immediate risk that people who are wards of court could be left in a legal vacuum because the system has not been able to complete all the capacity reviews in time. Of course, no one wants that to happen, and the legislation will hopefully give the courts the flexibility they need to prevent it. When we are in opposition, as others will say as well, we have to ask why we are here. The deadline in the 2015 Act did not just suddenly appear. As a State, successive Governments have had years to prepare for the transition away from wardship. The Decision Support Service was trying to do its best in these circumstances but, in my view, was not given the levels of staffing or funding required to meet the challenges. The courts could have been asked to absorb this kind of surge of complex reviews in many cases without getting the additional resources they needed. I do not know that for a fact. I am not totally familiar, but it has been suggested that the courts were not getting the resources to deal with it over a period of time.  Maybe the Minister of State would come back on that.  The main criticisms have been that the system was under-resourced from the word go, so if we are moving forward with a new model, there is a question of whether it will get that resourcing. If the legislation is to work as intended, the extension mechanism will need to be managed, for example. It cannot be a rolling deferral. People have been waiting for a long time to exit the system, which we have all acknowledged is outdated. If extensions are granted, there should be very strict time limits. I do not know if anyone here in the Chamber has spoken about an ongoing consistent review but the committee has discussed the question of set periods of time.  Second is a question which relates to training in the past or, more important, going forward. Will professionals in healthcare, social care and in the legal field apply the functional capacity tests in a uniform way? Will the resources be put into training to make sure that, in all sectors, these decisions will be made in a measurable way? Obviously discretion is needed in certain instances but it should not be left to an uneven process, on the basis of either region or sex.  If we do want this very welcome rights-based system, we have to invest in it. I am sure the Minister of State will say the resources will be applied over the coming years, but often those promises have not been followed up sufficiently quickly. It is something to take on board because we do not want to replace one flawed system with another that looks better on paper but leaves vulnerable people without adequate protection.  My key point is resourcing. The Decision Support Service needs sustained investment. The courts need additional capacity. People in the system need accessible information and consistent support to ensure their views, preferences and free will are entirely taken on board so that things are not just put into the legislation but exist in the real practical application of things.  I welcome the Bill. It is better than leaving people in legal uncertainty, but unless it is met with resources, it will be just a stopgap. I wish the Minister of State well in bringing this legislation forward. It is not a field in which I consider myself an expert or in which I am particularly knowledgeable, but others on the committee know more and I hope they will put forward amendments, which the Minister of State will look at in due course. to make the Bill as strong as possible and I hope that she provides the resources. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pat Buckley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pat-Buckley.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Pat-Buckley.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pat Buckley  I thank the Minister of State for being here. I listened to her last night when she said that urgency was required with the Bill. I and Deputy McDonald tabled a Private Members' Bill on this as long ago as 2017, so I hope we will not be here as long again to get what we need pushed forward. Sinn F\u00e9in supports reform of how wardships of court are legislated for. It is a no-brainer. We certainly have to move away from wardship. We have an obligation under the UN Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. That is why the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill is probably one of the most important pieces of legislation that we need to push through as fast as we can.  The deadline of 26 April refers most to the adult section of it. I think we will revisit it again when it comes to people under 18 or 19. There is a big cloud around that at the moment. That people who are still involuntarily detained under the Mental Health Act did not have a right to advance their wishes about the treatment they were getting is absolutely mad. I have done a lot of work on this. I thank the Oireachtas Library and Research Service for the amount of work it has done on this Bill over the years. The engagement with the stakeholders and service users has been phenomenal. The other side of this, which we often speak about here, is doing the right thing and giving people their rights and choices. The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill also extends to people with early onset dementia, for instance, so that they will have the right to get proper care and have the opportunity to nominate somebody who will be able to ensure they get the best quality of care and that their wishes are totally respected. That is a basic human right.  The anchor date is 26 April to end the current regime. We will revisit this. We would have loved to have tabled amendments to strengthen it but there is urgency around this and there is also the issue with the High Court. It does need certainty. It represents a great opportunity to strengthen human rights and ensure everyone is respected regarding their right to make a decision for themselves. It will lead to huge changes for those with psychosocial disabilities, mental health difficulties, early onset Alzheimer\u2019s, which I already mentioned, Parkinson\u2019s or whatever.  When we worked on the Private Members' Bill some years ago, I remember dealing with stakeholders. When you listen to the families who have gone through the system, a lot of whom are not with us anymore, unfortunately, the dignity was gone, their souls were broken, they had lost their voice and the right to ask for a fair chance and fair try. These are the most vulnerable people.  I am not happy with everything \u2013 of course not \u2013 but I am a realist. Things do not move that fast here. I hope to God the courts will enforce this by the end of April and we can come back and work together to improve the Bill and move it further so people will have better lives. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cormac Devlin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cormac Devlin  I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate on the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2026. I thank the Minister of State and her officials for their efforts to update this largely technical but important legislation which impacts many of the most vulnerable in our society.  This is a targeted, necessary measure to provide legal certainty for people who remain in wardship arrangements as we approach the statutory deadline of 26 April 2026. The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015, commenced on 26 April 2023, rightly set a three-year timeframe for the court to review and transition every adult ward of court to the new rights-based framework. However, the reality is that the system has not been able to complete that work in time. I understand that of around 1,800 wardship matters, only 286 have resulted in discharge orders, with about 1,537 still pending. In those circumstances, doing nothing would risk leaving people in an unacceptable legal limbo, with knock-on uncertainty for families and clinicians alike. What this Bill does is straightforward. It gives the High Court discretion, on a case-by-case basis, to extend the time for making a capacity declaration in circumstances where the deadline is imminent, there is good reason, and where an extension is in the interests of justice. A further extension is available only in exceptional circumstances and there is an outer limit of 18 months, bringing us to 25 October 2027 at the latest. It also addresses a practical problem for young people in wardship who turn 18 after 26 October 2025, where practitioners have said they need more time to assemble the necessary evidence for the court. Again, the approach is discretionary, proportionate and capped at 18 months.  The original reform was, and remains, profoundly important. The 2015 Act replaced a paternalistic wardship model with a more modern framework, and while an extension must never become an excuse for drift, this Bill has taken on feedback from practitioners and strikes a practical balance while also preventing a cliff edge as we approach the April deadline. We should also be cognisant of the views of stakeholders. For example, the Law Society has raised serious concerns about the operation of the Decision Support Service, including long processing delays for arrangements like enduring power of attorney and difficulties with the digital portal. Advocacy organisations have also been highlighting practical barriers and the lived experience of navigating the new framework. Those warnings matter because there is a real-world risk here. If the pathway out of wardship is slow, complex or intimidating, then people can end up stuck between two systems, reformed on paper but not in practice.  So, alongside passing this Bill, we need a very clear operational commitment from the Minister and the relevant bodies. Clearly resources matter. The courts, the wardship office, medical assessors, legal aid and the decision-support infrastructure must be scaled so that applications are processed quickly and predictably. Otherwise, we are simply moving the bottleneck from April 2026 to October 2027. Processes need to be accessible and understandable where possible. That means plain-language guidance, assisted pathways for people who are not digitally confident, and proactive supports for families and representatives. The goal is empowerment, not more paperwork.  I would also like to see enhanced transparency in reporting. We should be able to track progress month by month, possibly through a digital dashboard, of how many reviews listed, how many declarations made, how many discharges completed and the average timeframes so that this House can ensure the extension is being used as intended, and not only as proposed.  I support this Bill because legal certainty and continuity of the protection of vulnerable people is not optional. However, I also say clearly that the reform promise of the 2015 Act must be delivered in full, with urgency and with the person at the centre of every decision. If we get the resources and the user experience right, this Bill will do what it should: prevent legal uncertainty now, while keeping the system moving decisively toward dignity, autonomy and rights in practice. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  In the last term, I was a member of the mental health subcommittee and we dealt with the progress of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Act 2022. In fairness, the committee did its due diligence, and we saw some of the issues we are seeing here today in relation to the timelines that were put in place. As we speak today, there are over 1,000 cases outstanding. That means 1,000 people who are currently wards of courts are facing a cliff edge. To me, this is just bad planning by the Government. It also shows a lack of foresight by allowing this cliff edge to develop.  Can the Minister of State tell me how many of these over 1,000 people are minors? What plans are in place to tackle the root causes that have led to the court backlog? This Bill does nothing to address the root causes of delays, which are significant. We need to use this time to look at what can be done.  We need to properly resource the Legal Aid Board. I was at a justice committee meeting last week and we heard how under pressure the Legal Aid Board is at the moment and how much pressure it is going to be under in the future given other things it is dealing with that it has not dealt with before, for example immigration cases. We also need to see the full resources in place for the National Advocacy Service and the Decision Support Service.  A part of this Bill that I have a personal opinion on, because it affects me on a personal basis, is the ability to make advance healthcare directives. The Minister of State will be aware that I have multiple sclerosis. I have been threatening for a number of years to make an advanced healthcare directive. At the moment, as usual, I feel invincible but I do not know whether that is going to be the same tomorrow or next year and this is something I need to look at myself on a personal basis to make sure the care I receive in the future is the care I want to receive.  That is great for me, but a two-tier system may be developing. Perhaps the Minister of State can answer some of the questions because people who have mental health difficulties may not have the same ability to make that advance healthcare directive. For example, a person who has been involuntarily detained may have the ability to make an advance healthcare directive. I have met a number of people over the years who have been involuntarily detained in a mental health institution. They may have been treated with electroconvulsive therapy, ECT, for example, and may not have liked the experience. They may then get themselves to a place where they are okay and are able to make an advance healthcare directive. However, I am unsure whether that advance healthcare directive they can make for their future healthcare would still be in place because at one time there was a lacuna between the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 and the Mental Health Bill. Has that lacuna been resolved? One thing I hate to see is somebody beside me not having the same rights as I have just because they have a mental health issue and I have a physical health issue. If that could be addressed, it would be much appreciated. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Donnelly  I appreciate the opportunity to speak. As the Minister of State knows, we are supporting this Bill, but as has been said on multiple occasions, it needs to be treated with caution. The timelines around this are really tight and an awful lot of people are going to be left in difficulties. We need to ensure that all wards of court are given the opportunity to engage with the assessment process. It is only fair to allow all wards to be assessed. By going by the Government's dates, 1,400 cases will still not have been heard. Also, some of the amendments provide that there must be provision for wards who reach 18 years of age after the deadline.  This Bill must serve to stop the confusion and lack of understanding around the entire ward of court system to ensure the wishes of an individual being made a ward are adhered to during the application for wardship. This includes issues such as whether they want to be made a ward at all, consent to medical procedures, where they wish to live or how their property is to be disposed of. The HSE should ensure that lawyers used in the ward of court proceedings have appropriate expertise in law on the decision-making capacity and human rights obligations for persons who may be vulnerable.  The HSE should also produce a national guideline for legal and medical practitioners to ensure the protection of the rights of a prospective ward of proceedings because, at the end of the day, while most of the time people are made wards for their own good and protection, there is a human rights issue and every person deserves their human rights to be upheld. The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 remains non-compliant with the UNCRPD due to its approach to the functional assessment of capacity, which leads to a denial of legal capacity.  By fast-tracking this amendment Bill through the Oireachtas, the Minister of State is missing out on an important opportunity to improve the Act's compliance with Article 12. Special effort should be made to ensure that a person who is made a ward or is transitioning into assisted decision-making above all is for the person's best interests and that no other person, be they family members, carers or solicitors, stand to gain financially from the assets of the person due to be made a ward.  Again, the more up-to-date and progressive Bill is to be welcomed but not without certain precautions, and it should not be fast-tracked but carefully debated and scrutinised to ensure that the human rights of all persons concerned are upheld. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  As there are no further speakers, I now move to the Minister of State for her concluding statement. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Children, Disability and Equality (Deputy Emer Higgins)  .I thank all of the Deputies who spoke on his really important Bill both last night and tonight. I acknowledge Members who contributed to the debate and indicated their support for progressing what is urgent and important legislation. I really appreciate the fact that support came from both sides of the House.  A lot of different issues were touched on both tonight and last night, so I going to do my best to address as many of them as possible within the time I have. Immediately following approval by Cabinet for this amendment Bill, which happened on 20 January, at which point it was a proposed Bill, on the same day I convened an online meeting of stakeholders to apprise them of the planned amendments and to provide an opportunity for them to pose any questions they might have. My officials circulated an information note to all stakeholders, which set out clearly the planned changes to the Act. We held a further separate dedicated consultation session with the Disabled Persons' Organisations Network to discuss the upcoming changes and to invite their views and feedback. Written feedback was invited and, indeed, received from disabled persons' organisations. Department officials also briefed the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, IHREC, on the proposed amendments to the legislation.  As I said yesterday, officials from my Department held a consultation meeting and event for wards, committees and wider stakeholders on Monday of this week. At that, we were able to hear at first hand the issues that are arising both with the discharge process itself and regarding some concerns around what life may be like once a ward has transitioned to a new support arrangement. I am absolutely happy to run another of those events if there is a demand.  It is important to note that event was attended by key stakeholders involved in the operation of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act, for example the Office of the Wards of Court, the Decision Support Service, the Legal Aid Board, the NDA, the National Advocacy Service and, most importantly, wards, their families and their committees. The reason I am saying this is that I want Members to know I always place consultation, communication and stakeholder engagement at the centre of what I do. My officials also do that, and did that really well. That is because we fully believe it is crucial that both wards and committees are supported as they move through this process of transitioning out of wardship and into a rights-based framework of decision support services.  There were a number of questions about why discharge has been so slow. Deputies Gogarty, Quaide and O'Rourke asked specific questions on this. I acknowledge that while the pace of discharge for wards has been slow, there is a serious concern that a significant number of cases will not have received a capacity declaration by the deadline. That is why we are where we are. However, we undertook a survey in previous years in collaboration with the Courts Service. We did that in June 2024. The survey sought the views and attitudes of wards and committees on the process to discharge wards from wardship in order to identify the reasons the pace of wards and committees applying for discharge from wardship have been slow.  That survey clearly found three recurring themes. One was reluctance to change from a familiar system. The second was satisfaction with the existing arrangements. The third was uncertainty about the costs of the discharge applications. Wards and committees have also reported concerns about the future management of funds. That came up a number of times, both today and yesterday. The survey also indicated that committees are taking a wait and see approach to commencing discharge applications. That is why we have engaged so much with them so we can really try to bring them with us on this journey.  Deputies Kerrane, Buckley and Mark Ward specifically raised the topic of minors. To answer Deputy Ward's clear question of how many children this impacts, the answer is none. The reason for that is that the wardship regime is ending for adults. These amendments do not change that from an adult's perspective. I know Deputy Kerrane had a specific question about the extension for children entering adulthood. The statutory anchor date of 26 April will remain in place for all pending cases, just to be clear. The ADMC Act itself applies to minors only for the exception, in terms of when they reach the age of 18 after 26 October 2025. From 25 October 2027 is when we are now putting in that extension. That is not a target date. That is an end date. The statutory deadline of 26 April of this year remains as a goalpost. We were very clear that we did not want to remove that because want to keep the momentum going.  In the case of minors reaching the age of 18, the requirement to discharge them within six months will remain in place. However, experience has shown that cases involving a young person who was in wardship as a minor can be among the most complex to access. Therefore, for the sake of fairness and consistency with the provision for adults, this Bill will also give the wardship court the discretion to extend the time period for making a capacity declaration in those cases but only in exceptional circumstances.  Deputies Kerrane and Quaide raised the issue of exceptional circumstances and its definition. Ultimately, it will be up to the courts to determine what good reason or exceptional circumstances are, but that is common. The courts are entrusted with the administration of justice under the constitution. I am really confident they can be trusted to exercise their discretion in accordance with the requirements of fair procedure. The expectation has been reinforced in the Bill by the inclusion of \"in the interests of justice\", and that is a criterion as well. Ultimately, capacity declarations must be evidence-based and that will not change.  Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa raised a specific concern about correspondence from St. John of God intellectual disability services about decision-making representation orders. When wardship courts make a declaration regarding a ward's capacity, that is done on the basis of evidence before the court. That also includes the results of a functional capacity assessment. The guiding principles of the Act dictate that any intervention that is made is proportionate and made in a manner that minimises the restriction of the person's rights and freedom of action. It must have due regard to the relevant person's right to dignity, bodily integrity, privacy, autonomy, control over their financial affairs and property, and it must respect the individual's right to private and family life. It is also important to recognise that, once the wardship court declares that a ward lacks capacity to make certain decisions, this declaration is then kept under review by the Circuit Court.  A number of Deputies, Paul Lawless and Mark Ward in particular, raised issues about advanced healthcare directives and the enduring power of attorney, EPA. Just to deal with Deputy Lawless's query about enduring power of attorney and being online only, the service is absolutely digital first but it is not digital only. It is really important the constituents he is speaking about are aware of that and decision support services are there to provide that exact service for that reason. Deputy Devlin used a very important phrase earlier when he said this has to be about empowerment and not paperwork. That is absolutely what we are committed to doing.  A number of Deputies raised queries about resources and wider issues or concerns they have about the Act. On resources, as part of the development of the Bill, the Courts Service has provided the Department with estimates which ensure that the further deadline of 27 October will be met. To ensure this, in December, the courts assigned additional judges to make a declaration of capacity. We now have a total of four judges working on this. It is also important to say that everybody now has a legal aid certificate in place. I know Deputy Gogarty in particular had concerns that resources might come after the fact, but since December, there has been a huge impetus on this. A number of resources have been put in place to ensure we can move forward with any new extensions that may happen to the deadline.  On the review of the Act, there was an awful lot of feedback about the Act itself. It is my Department's intention to commence a review of the Act this year. It is due in 2028 but we are very committed to ensuring we are listening to feedback from Deputies in this House and who are on our Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters, but also, and most important, that we are listening to people who are impacted by this and to those who represent them, work with them and support them. We will be commencing that review and work will start on that this year. It is something my officials and I are determined will be absolutely inclusive and consultative.  I really appreciate people's support for this Bill. I am ever mindful of our obligations under the UNCRPD. This is an important part of our commitment to ensuring we realise those. We will continue to work towards the objective of realising these obligations by fully transitioning all wards of court to a new, rights-based, supported decision making framework. We will do so as soon as possible. With the benefits of these amendments, we will be able to do it in a manner that is fair and orderly while we maintain as much legal certainty as possible for the people at the heart of this. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2026: Second Stage (Resumed)"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-04\/debate\/dbsect_22","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/20","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/20\/dail\/motion\/referral","houseCode":"dail","stage":"motion","isBillStage":false,"showAs":"Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2026: Referral to Select Committee (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2026: Referral to Select Committee","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (Deputy Emer Higgins)  I move:  That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Disability Matters pursuant to Standing Orders 103(2)( b ) and 188(1). "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar fionra\u00ed ar 8.08 p.m. agus cuireadh t\u00fas leis ar\u00eds ar 8.30 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Sitting suspended at 8.08 p.m. and resumed at 8.30 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2026: Referral to Select Committee"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-04\/debate\/dbsect_23","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2025\/70","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2025\/70\/dail\/3_sub","houseCode":"dail","stage":"3_sub","isBillStage":false,"showAs":"Public Health (Single-Use Vapes) Bill 2025: Committee and Remaining Stages (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Public Health (Single-Use Vapes) Bill 2025: Committee and Remaining Stages","counts":{"speechCount":36,"speakerCount":8},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_23","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eamon Scanlon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eamon-Scanlon.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Eamon-Scanlon.S.2002-09-12","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"SECTION 1"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question proposed: \"That section 1 stand part of the Bill.\""},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  I want to make a few brief remarks, if I can. We will get through this very quickly. Obviously, I support the Bill. For a long time, I have been calling for a ban on single-use vapes and it makes sense for obvious reasons. There is an amendment that I have down that we will get to. I suspect the Government will not be accepting it but I will speak briefly to it.  I want to quickly raise issues regarding a proposed parallel Bill that was signed off on by Cabinet yesterday, as I understand it, or at least the heads of which have been signed off on. There are some elements of that proposed Bill that I support because the thrust of it is that the vaping industry is targeting children in an unacceptable way and there is a move, as I understand it, by Government to ban flavours in relation to vapes. There are other elements that may be in that proposed Bill as well.  I want to flag one concern I have in this area. I believe that anything that targets children, of course, we should intervene in, and we should act. There are all sorts of flavours. There are dozens of flavours of these vapes, many of which target children, for example, bubble gum and the obvious ones. There are others that are less targeted at children, but actually adults use them. I have engaged with many vape smokers and they tell me that if the ban was to apply to all flavours with the exception of tobacco, that would be a problem for them. The Minister of State should bear in mind that vaping is a cessation tool for some people to move away from smoking and what we do not want is that those people would go back to smoking if the only option is a tobacco-flavoured vape. If you have a different flavour that is not targeted at children but is being used by adults, that might be a step too far.  I am merely saying that now. Obviously, we will have time at the health committee or whatever way the heads of Bill will come before us. That is not to take away from the substance of this Bill, which I support. As I said, I have one amendment that I will briefly speak to. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  I want to voice my objection to the process here. It is poor form. We had it repeated last week, and again this week, in terms of the Government taking Committee Stage of legislation in the D\u00e1il as opposed to at committee. As Chair of the health committee, I received a letter essentially telling me that my committee was too busy to even consider this issue, without any real engagement with the committee about our schedule or willingness to take this at committee. We would have been willing to take this at committee - it will be a short debate. We could have done this at committee. We did not need to keep all the TDs later here tonight to do this. We had it last week on the International Protection Bill. It is poor form. We have a dysfunctional D\u00e1il. We need to take seriously how we order business in the House because it is not good enough and it needs urgent reform. I would ask the Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach to pass that on to the Ceann Comhairle because it is an important point.  I also welcome the progress on this Bill and the other proposed legislation. The two probably should have come together in one. However, like Deputy Cullinane, I welcome the move that has been made there and echo the sentiment. There is potential to limit it to maybe two flavours, or menthol, mint or something else, in order to ensure that people use vapes as a cessation tool. I welcome that progress having been made, in particular, that children will not be targeted by the advertising of those kinds of flavours because there is a real issue. I had a transition year student in my office recently who talked to me about 12-year-olds vaping in school and passing vapes around a primary school. It is a real issue. We have left it go too long and I am glad to see we have got progress on it tonight. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  I support the Bill. In terms of the general debate, we had the discussion already on Second Stage in terms of having everything put together in one piece of legislation and I will not go back into that.  There has been a lobby coming through about the flavours and the suggestion that people will go back to smoking tobacco. I suppose the key point to make there is they are already used to the tobacco taste and smell, so why would it make them go back? I take on board what Deputy Rice said about menthol because we already have menthol cigarettes but the whole idea about getting rid of the flavours is to stop young people getting into vapes, which the evidence has shown they are getting into in their own right, separate from ever thinking about smoking. We should not be fooled by the campaign. We should get on with the legislation. There have been suggestions that in Denmark people have found ways of getting flavoured vapes through other means so we will have to be able to police this going forward anyway. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"SECTION 2"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  I move amendment No. 1:  In page 6, to delete lines 5 to 8 and substitute the following:  \" \"single-use vape\" means a vape that is not designed or intended to be re-used and includes any vape that is neither refillable nor rechargeable.\".  The purpose of this amendment is to ensure that the definition of \"single-use vape\" is watertight and that fake disposables do not make it through. I continue to have a concern, which I raised on Second Stage, about the use of \"or\" in the definition of \"single-use vape\" and the possibility that it will be exploited by vaping manufacturers and suppliers.  The current definition reads:  \u201csingle-use vape\u201d means a vape that is not designed or intended to be re-used and includes any vape that is\u2014  (a) not refillable, or  (b) not rechargeable;  The \"not refillable, or not rechargeable\" suggests choice, that is, not a disposable if it can either be refilled or recharged. This is why have suggested, \"neither refillable nor rechargeable\", in my amendment. This connects two negative possibilities rather than one option between both.  The issue is that disposable vapes are now being sold with so-called \"charging ports\" to give the impression that they are reusable, but most are not, or at least not for more than a week. I have an example here. This vape has a little charging port on it. You can pull it out. It looks like it is refillable but it is actually not refillable in any way and the charging port is only there for show, to make it look like it is rechargeable. Many disposable vapes are being sold with those detachable pods to give the impression that they are refillable but it is purely a token feature. It has been used to get around the legislation in other countries. Even if these were usable, there is very little incentive to do so as they cost approximately \u20ac10. We have already seen similar loopholes exploited in the UK and manufacturers will no doubt exploit the exact same one in this jurisdiction.  I am not saying that the amendment is a silver bullet but the Minister of State and I could work together to ensure that the legislation is robust and watertight. We must make sure that the ban is not rendered completely ineffective on day one thanks to the proliferation of these fake reusable vapes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  I support the intent behind Deputy Rice's amendment. We have seen in the sale of alcohol, for example, where the industry has tried to get around changes which were brought in in relation to the display of alcohol in supermarkets and shops. The industry, whether the tobacco industry, the vaping industry or the alcohol industry, will always be looking for ways to get around legislation that we bring in for specific and clear purposes. Deputy Rice is correct. It is important because this Bill is for one purpose only, that is, to ban single-use vapes. If it is the case then through some unintended consequence that the definition is not clear, that will allow the industry or people who sell vapes to get around that and, obviously, that would be problematic.  I will await the Minister of State's response, and see what clarification comes from her. I am sure her officials will have a response to that and I am interested to hear what it is. I hope she will be able to allay fears because individuals have raised those concerns with me, which is why I am supporting the Deputy's amendment. I look forward to the Minister of State's response. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eamon Scanlon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eamon-Scanlon.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Eamon-Scanlon.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eamon Scanlon  I am glad to have the opportunity to speak on this amendment. I remember, maybe 55 years ago, that smoking was a very cool thing to do at the time. We had a small shop in Ballymote where you could buy cigarettes individually for 3p, three old pennies, at the time. Thank God I got off cigarettes - I was lucky - but I see a lot of people using vapes now. When I smoked we did not realise the damage cigarettes were doing to people. I see people today, young people in particular, vaping and I wonder what sort of damage is being done to them. As with cigarettes, I believe that, in time, maybe in 20 or 30 years, people will find out the damage being done to their lungs. We should do whatever we can to reduce the use of vapes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor)  I thank all the Deputies who have spoken on this important Bill. The amendment seeks to change the existing definition of single-use vapes by alternating its construction. The intention of the existing definition in the Bill is to prohibit any vape which is not refillable or rechargeable. This means a vape must be both refillable and rechargeable to avoid prohibition. We are banning any vape which can be refilled but cannot be recharged, any vape which can be recharged but cannot be refilled or any vape which cannot be refilled and cannot be recharged. While I appreciate the intentions of the Deputies, the proposed amendment identifies only vapes which cannot be refilled and cannot be recharged. The definition of the relevant products in the Bill is for the purpose of a criminal offence. In that context, it will be interpreted narrowly in favour of the person accused. In this regard, it is not clear if this alternative definition would include devices which fall under only one of these categories. This would, therefore, potentially allow a swath of devices to escape the proposed ban.  A great deal of work was undertaken with the Office of the Attorney General to ensure these definitions capture the intended products. They also align with the definition in the UK law, which currently prohibits the production that it is intended to prohibit here. For this reason, I do not propose to accept the amendment.  Deputy Cullinane referred to the industry. There is nothing new about the tobacco and related industries seeking to circumvent regulations and find new ways to market their products. This legislation ensures the products on the market are intended to be reused and have functional capabilities to be reused. It will not be enforced through the authority to ensure there are no complications with this. That is the main issue and it is important we have that. We will not accept the amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  If the Minister of State is telling me the definition is the same as the one in the UK, then I am even more concerned. Reports from the UK indicate they are getting around the definition there. We have been hearing this from the vaping lobbying, Responsible Vaping Ireland. It is saying that in the UK, where a ban on single-use vapes has already been introduced, there are reports that some unscrupulous suppliers are modifying cheap, disposable devices by adding non-operable charging ports or including token, removable or rechargeable pods so products can be marketed as reusable, even though they are being discarded as single-use while not being single-use. Like those that I showed earlier, they have a fake charging port and look like they are refillable but they are not. If we are modelling our legislation on the UK, where people are getting around a loophole in the law, that is not the law we should be implementing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor  We are not modelling it on the UK law. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  I will be pressing the amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor  We are not modelling it on the UK law. The UK has taken steps to do this. I assure the Deputy that we are learning as well, and this is a very good step forward for us. The Attorney General has also been working on this. As I said, we will not be accepting this amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Catherine Ardagh)  Does the Deputy wish to withdraw the amendment? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  I ask the Minister of State and her officials to look at this again. I understand the Bill has not been in the Seanad yet. Perhaps she will look at what has happened in the UK in advance of the Bill going to the Seanad. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor  Yes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  We might discuss it with our Seanad colleagues before then. I ask the Minister of State to look at what has happened in the UK and ensure the definition is watertight because we want to ban single-use vapes. I am happy to withdraw the amendment. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment, by leave, withdrawn."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2 agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Sections 3 to 8, inclusive, agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"SECTION 9"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  I move amendment No. 2:  In page 8, line 17, to delete \u201cA person shall not sell a single-use vape in the State.\u201d and substitute the following:  \"A person shall not invite an offer to treat for, offer for sale, keep for sale or sell a single-use vape in the State.\".  Section 9 essentially creates a prohibition on the sale of single-use vapes. Section 9(1) provides that a person shall not sell a single-use vape in the State, subject to all the definitions that come earlier in the Bill. The amendment changes the wording of that. I am not in any way opposed to what the Bill is trying to do; I absolutely support it. There are other issues regarding the availability, for example, of what are known as \"big puff\" vapes, vapes with more than 2 ml of content or vapes that allow users to attach other things to them so that they have multiple cylinders. These have been banned in other European countries. They facilitate the use of much more significant vapes than was intended.  The amendment seeks to address the fact that section 9(1) only provides that certain vapes may not be sold. This means that in order to enforce this provision, you have to find somebody who has sold the vape or catch them in the process of selling it. That is remarkably difficult to do. It may involve undercover work by garda\u00ed, for example. If we look at parallel provisions in the Finance Acts, for example, on the sale of tobacco or specified tobacco products without a tax stamp, the wording used in the Finance Acts is much broader than \"You shall not sell\". It is more about the circumstances around people who are trying to evade taxation by selling cigarettes that do not have a tax stamp because duty has not been paid on them. The wording used in that context is that the product cannot be kept or stored for sale and one cannot be in the preparation of sale, and all the other things that come with people who are selling products like this in contravention of the laws on taxation.  The reason I tabled the amendment is I have a genuine concern that section 9(1), as currently drafted, will be largely inoperable or, at the very least, extremely difficult to enforce. Any prosecution for an offence under section 9(1) will require proof that the person had sold the product or was, at that moment, in the process of selling it. For example, if garda\u00ed were to raid a shop in which the shopkeeper had a load of these single-use vapes behind the counter ready to sell, no prosecution could ensue because the shopkeeper has not sold the vape, or at least the evidence in such a case would not be available to prove the person had sold it.  I suggest the wording of section 9(1) be remodelled to cover the whole spectrum of activity that leads to the sale of single-use vapes. This Bill is trying to get this stuff off shop shelves, out of the hands of teenagers and off the streets. Every one of us knows the litter that arises from vapes. They are left all over the place when they have been used by particular groups who are not particularly conscientious about disposing of the vapes. There is also the damage they do to the environment even when they are disposed of.  If we are serious about tackling the problem by stopping people from selling them, it cannot just be about the momentary act of the sale. It has to be about all the things that go around that, including the preparation for it and the keeping of the goods. It is slightly ridiculous that garda\u00ed could identify a shop that is potentially selling single-use vapes, but unless they are in the shop or they send somebody in undercover in a sting operation to buy a single-use vape who could then testify in court later that it was sold to them, they simply will not be able to mount a credible prosecution. That will render the provision in section 9(1) largely inoperable. That is why I suggest changing the wording. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor  The Deputy's amendment proposes to expand the range of circumstances related to the sale which would constitute an offence. There is already a comprehensive definition of the word \"sell\" in section 2. This includes \"offer or expose for sale\", \"invite the making by a person of an offer to purchase\", \"distribute free of charge\" and \"supply for any of these purposes (whether or not for profit)\". The Deputy's amendment is nearly a duplication. It is not substantial enough to change the scope of the offence.  The consultation with the enforcement authority has taken place. We are health led. We work with the Garda, which is fine, but this is a health-led approach. We are working with our enforcement authority on the scope of these provisions. It is satisfied that they meet the requirements necessary to enforce the law in an effective manner. Working through the health-led approach, which is very important for our younger people, we are working with the enforcement authority and it is saying that it is fully on board with this. We have to work with the Garda. This is a health-led approach. I thank the Deputy for the amendment. It is important, but we do not propose to accept it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  I accept entirely what the Minister of State said. There is a provision in relation to the definition of \"sell\". There are two problems with that. First, it is very much at variance with the terminology that is used in legislation that attempts to do similar things. Being health led does not prevent the Government from making provision in law for an offence that is actually applicable. That is the concern I have. The offence is created in section 9(1), and in section 9 in its totality. A question will arise in any prosecution as to why the offence is not properly described in the section. Why is the definition of \"offence\" being moved to the interpretation section as opposed to the actual penal provision within the Bill - or the Act as it will be - being made clear? Why is it not clear that it is more than just actually selling that is involved?  The Bill provides an expanded definition in the context of selling means. That is not really good enough because it creates an ambiguity. It should be really clear. This is a criticism I make of almost all the legislation that comes before the House, particularly amending legislation where one would need to be some kind of an interpretive expert to understand what such legislation says. It should be the case that a person can be told that something is an offence under section 9 and then he or she can go to section 9 in order to discover what the offence is. That cannot be done with this legislation. There is no good reason why that is the case. Consider similar provisions that do similar things in respect of similar criminal activity, albeit not the worst type of criminal activity but activity that is a crime because it is largely damaging to certain aspects of society. When we look at parallel items of legislation, we can see that this formula or construction is not used. It is confusing, and I am concerned that it will be subject to challenge because it is creating a new mechanism that is unnecessary and ambiguous or that, at the very least, obfuscates matters as to what exactly the offence is.  I accept what the Minister of State said about not accepting the amendment. It is what it is. I am quite sure she has better advice than I do. I just have a concern about the way the section 9 has been drafted. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment, by leave, withdrawn."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 9 agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Sections 10 to 16, inclusive, agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"SECTION 17"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Catherine Ardagh)  Amendment No. 3 has been ruled out of order. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  I had not realised that my amendment had been ruled out of order. I do not think I was notified of that fact. More importantly, as we came into the House today, copies of the Bill were not available to Members and neither were copies of the numbered list of amendments. It is very difficult to deal with legislation in here when I am trying to work off my phone. Looking at a PDF on my phone is very difficult. It used to be that these things were available. It would be much easier for Members if they were available. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Catherine Ardagh)  I thank Deputy Ward. We will have a look at that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor  We are very mindful of that. I thank the Deputy for highlighting it. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment No. 3 not moved."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 17 agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"SECTION 18"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question proposed: \"That section 18 stand part of the Bill\"."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  Deputy Ward makes a very good point about legislation more generally. A citizen should be able to pick up a Bill, read it, understand it and see what is an offence and what is not an offence. It is a basic tenet of the rule of law that people should be to understand the laws they are expected to abide by. Even if it is the case that we have to go belt and braces, put these definitions in and spell things out in each section, we should do it. We should be able to pick up a Bill, read it and understand each section. Even if that requires a belt-and-braces approach, we need to put in the definitions to spell that out. The Minister of State should have done that here.  I have a general point about the Department of Health's approach to legislation. I have not yet seen it accept a single amendment put forward by either Government backbench TDs or Opposition TDs during my time here. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Mary Butler)  I have accepted amendments to the Mental Health Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  Amendments that I or other Opposition Deputies have table have not been accepted. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  I have accepted amendments. They may not have been the Deputy's amendments, but I have accepted amendments in the Seanad. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  Okay, but every single amendment tabled in respect of this Bill has been refused. In the context of previous legislation, all the amendment that I and others have tabled have been rejected out of hand. We need to work together on this to ensure that we get the best legislation possible. We all support the Bill, and we are trying to get the best legislation possible. If there was greater willingness to engage on amendments in a more constructive way, it would ensure that we would have better legislation. Historically, the Oireachtas has not produced good-quality legislation that regular citizens can just pick up, read and understand. It has generally been complex and hard to follow. I say this as somebody who has spent a number of years studying law. We need to make our legislation simple and more straightforward. I ask the Department to maybe consider looking at more amendments on the basis of all of this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  I had indicated my opposition to this section. I know we are flying through the legislation, but I wonder if I might just address that.  Section 18 changes the provisions of the Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act 1851, which creates a six-month statute of limitations or a jurisdictional limit on the prosecution of matters. Where we are dealing here with minor offences. These are offences for the purposes of prosecution insofar as they would be dealt with summarily in the District Court. There is usually a six-month time limit in respect of them. For no reason that I can identify, that is being extended to 12 months in the Bill. I just do not know why that would be the case. Is there any reason why the Minister of State thinks that it could not be registered? It does not actually have to be the prosecution; the complaint in relation to an offence having been committed just has to be registered within six months. I would have a concern about creep in this regard. There is a good reason why there is a six-month limit on minor offences. The Government is seeking to double that, and I do not really know why that is the case. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor  Providing for 12 months for the taking of prosecutions is a standard provision. For example, this is already the case under the Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Act 2023. A great deal of investigation and analysis goes into bringing cases of this type. I see no benefit in making it easier for businesses that have broken the law to avoid prosecution, so, unfortunately, that is why we will not be changing the provision. I cannot accept the amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  I am not trying to make it easier for businesses that have broken the law. We are talking about the criminal justice system. There are certain principles that exist in that system to ensure that it is fair. We benefit from a system that is actually very fair, which is why we do not have mass certificates----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Catherine Ardagh)  The amendment was deemed out of order. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  I am outlining my opposition to section 18, which was skipped over. We do not have large numbers of certificates of unjust prosecutions or miscarriages of justice because we actually respect the rules. The Minister of State saying that it is a standard provision in other Acts does not answer the question. I do not accept that there is a reason why this is being done. It is not the case that everything has to be complete and ready to go within six months; it is merely the case that the complaint must be made to the District Court within six months. That, in fact, is the standard provision and has been for the 170-odd years since the Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act 1851 came into force. I am concerned about creep in this regard. If it is the case there are resource issues or something like that, maybe that is a good reason. However, that is not what has been articulated. Six months is the standard provision, and this legislation seeks not just to increase this but to double it. I am not satisfied that there has been a justifiable reason articulated for that. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Catherine Ardagh)  There is an amendment in the name of Deputy Cullinane in relation to a new section. Would the Deputy like to speak on that? No, that is fine. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment No. 4 not moved."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Sections 19 and 20 agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Title agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Bill reported without amendment and received for final consideration."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question proposed: \u201cThat the Bill do now pass.\u201d"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor)  I thank everyone. The Bill will now go to the Seanad. Some questions came up from Deputies. All the Deputies' points were very relevant. I thank them for their valuable contributions to the debate on this important Bill.  Yesterday, the Government approved publication of our other Bill on nicotine products. I will provide an update on that. The Bill will prohibit the sale of nicotine-consumption products, such as pouches, to those under 18; prohibit the advertisement of nicotine-inhaling and nicotine-consumption products in all retail outlets and prohibit their point-of-sale display in mixed retail outlets; restrict colours and imagery on nicotine-inhaling products, devices and packaging, as well as prohibit the sale of devices resembling or functioning as other products such as toys or games; prohibit all flavour descriptors and language other than basic flavour names for nicotine-inhaling products; limit flavours in nicotine-inhaling products to tobacco; and grant the power to make changes by regulation.  These two Bills together form a comprehensive suite of measures to reduce the availability, affordability and attractiveness of these products. All of us here tonight want to do the right thing and get these Bills passed. It is important we do so as soon as possible. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  The Minister of State spoke on the issues I raised earlier relating to the parallel Bill signed off on by the Cabinet yesterday. I would support the vast majority of that Bill, or of what I saw reported of it. Banning the sale of pouches to under-18s is something I would support. Colour images and packaging geared towards children should be banned. Vapes that resemble toys and all of that should absolutely be banned.  I have a slight concern about limiting the sale of flavours to just nicotine. I could give a number of examples of flavours that adults use and are not directed at children. This is not because there is lobbying coming from the sector. I have not been lobbied directly, to my knowledge, by it. I have spoken to vapers who say it is a concern. I would probably ban the vast majority of flavours. A better approach would be to allow the Minister to look at each flavour on a case-by-case basis. Some examples were given. That is a more common-sense approach and it would allow the Minister to make the decision. That is something we will debate during the passage of the next Bill. I would support the vast majority of what is in the Bill that was announced. It is just that part I have a small concern about. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  I welcome the announcement of the second vaping Bill, in particular the piece around prohibiting the sale of nicotine-consumption products such as pouches to under-18s and the piece around advertising. It is targeted at children. The bubblegum flavours and advertising target children in an aggressive way. I support limiting the flavours as well.  As I said earlier, I was talking to some teenagers and they spoke of the use of vapes among fourth, fifth and sixth class students in primary schools. In a secondary school, one student I talked to said nearly everyone in second year of the school vaped. It is a real issue.  Like Deputy Cullinane, I think the flavours could be limited while allowing something like menthol, which is a cigarette flavour as well, for those who do not want to smoke but will vape. I welcome the progress on that and I welcome these public health measures. They are really important. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Public Health (Single-Use Vapes) Bill 2025: Committee and Remaining Stages"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-04\/debate\/dbsect_24","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Gn\u00f3 na D\u00e1la - Business of D\u00e1il","counts":{"speechCount":2,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Mary Butler)  In relation to Thursday's business, it is proposed:  1. that notwithstanding anything in the Order of the D\u00e1il of yesterday, in relation to Thursday's business, the Second Stage of the Media Regulation Bill 2026 shall be taken on Thursday, 19 March 2026, and Statements on the Situation in the Middle East shall be taken immediately following the sos and the order shall resume thereafter.  2. the Statements on the Situation in the Middle East shall not exceed 3 hours and 32 minutes and the arrangements shall be as set out in the first revised report of the Business Committee. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Catherine Ardagh)  Is that agreed? Agreed. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Gn\u00f3 na D\u00e1la - Business of D\u00e1il"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-04\/debate\/dbsect_25","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/7","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/7\/dail\/2","houseCode":"dail","stage":"2","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Online Safety (Recommender Algorithms) Bill 2026: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members] (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Online Safety (Recommender Algorithms) Bill 2026: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_25","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The following motion was moved by Deputy Paul Murphy on 4 March 2026: \"That the Bill be now read a Second Time.\""},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Debate resumed on amendment No. 1:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"To delete all words after \"That\" and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann declines to give the Online Safety (Recommender Algorithms) Bill 2026 a second reading, on the grounds that the issues the Bill seeks to address are already being addressed by Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n , Ireland's independent online safety and media regulator, through its implementation of Ireland's Online Safety Framework, together with the European Commission.\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"- (Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I must now deal with a deferred division relating to the ministerial amendment to the Second Reading motion on the Online Safety (Recommender Algorithms) Bill 2026. On the question, \"That the amendment to the motion be made\", a division was claimed, and in accordance with Standing Order 85(2), that division must be taken now. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Is f\u00e9idir teacht ar Cheisteanna Scr\u00edofa ar www.oireachtas.ie. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Written Answers are published on the Oireachtas website. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar athl\u00f3 ar 9.27 p.m. go dt\u00ed 8.47 a.m., D\u00e9ardaoin, an 5 M\u00e1rta 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The D\u00e1il adjourned at 9.27 p.m. until 8.47 a.m. on Thursday, 26 March 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Online Safety (Recommender Algorithms) Bill 2026: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members]"}]}}]},"contextDate":"2026-03-04"},{"debateRecord":{"house":{"showAs":"34th D\u00e1il","committeeCode":"","houseCode":"dail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/house\/dail\/34","chamberType":"house","houseNo":"34"},"chamber":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/def\/house\/dail","showAs":"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann"},"lastUpdated":"2026-06-05T02:08:19+00:00","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/main","formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/mul@\/main.xml"},"pdf":null},"date":"2026-03-03","counts":{"contributorCount":168,"divisionCount":1,"debateSectionCount":33,"questionCount":58,"billCount":1},"debateType":"debate","debateSections":[{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/dbsect_2","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions","counts":{"speechCount":72,"speakerCount":15},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Brady","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  The US-Israeli assault on Iran is an act of aggression that threatens to set the entire Middle East ablaze. A sovereign state has been bombed, its leader assassinated and 185 innocent schoolgirls killed. These are not defensive actions. They are the actions of powerful states acting in defiance of international law. Let me state very clearly: the Iranian Government is brutal and repressive. It has crushed protesters, oppressed women and jailed dissidents. That merits the highest of condemnation but the brutality of one government does not license another to set aside international law and engage in military aggression. Israel, already pursuing a genocide in Gaza, has widened its murderous campaign. Israel has no interest in peace, in compromise or in negotiation, and the United States has backed and enabled this escalation. This represents military aggression over diplomacy. This confrontation has already spilled into Lebanon and across the Gulf.  The UN Charter is explicit: force is prohibited save in the case of imminent self-defence or UN Security authorisation and neither is demonstrated here. Pre-emptive is not a substitute for legality yet the Government's response has been limited to expressions of concern and calls for restraint. Calling for restraint on all sides blurs the reality of who initiated this aggression. Only days ago, the Taoiseach spoke of Ireland being able to \"stand militarily\" with states engaged in conflict. This language undermines Ireland's neutrality and neutrality matters precisely at moments like this. It means we do not align ourselves with aggression, but more to the point, it means we robustly defend international law consistently.  Of course, we are already seeing the consequences of all of this here with fuel prices rising sharply in recent days. The price-gouging has started. This needs to be stopped in its tracks and the Government needs to drop any notion or plan of increasing carbon taxes in the coming weeks.  N\u00ed m\u00f3r don Taoiseach ionsaithe na St\u00e1it Aontaithe agus Iosrael ar an Iar\u00e1in a ch\u00e1ineadh mar sh\u00e1r\u00fa tubaisteach ar an dl\u00ed idirn\u00e1isi\u00fanta. N\u00ed leor guaim a lorg. Caithfidh s\u00e9 stop l\u00e1ithreach a h\u00e9ileamh ar an ionsa\u00ed m\u00edleata seo, agus comhr\u00e1 agus taidhleoireacht a mholadh, chomh maith le hathdhearbh\u00fa ar an dl\u00ed idirn\u00e1is\u00fanta. L\u00e9ir\u00edonn an iompar bagrach seo ar\u00eds d\u00fainn an f\u00e1th gur c\u00f3ir don Rialtas gn\u00edomh\u00fa chun neodrachas na h\u00c9ireann a l\u00e1idri\u00fa in \u00e1it bheith ag obair go n\u00e1ireach chun an bun a bhaint de.  I ask the Taoiseach directly if he will condemn the US-Israeli strikes without qualification. Will he state clearly that they are in breach of international law? Irish neutrality demands that the Taoiseach be unequivocal on both these questions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Ireland is in favour of a multilateral, rules-based international order and has consistently advocated for same. We believe in immediate de-escalation of the conflict in the Middle East, and particularly in Iran. We believe these issues ultimately, in terms of a sustainable resolution, has to be via diplomatic channels. Diplomacy, ultimately, is the only route that can sustainably bring about a lasting peace.  It has to be also said that the multilateral order has been dysfunctional for quite some time. The Deputy referenced the UN Security Council. It has been paralysed and powerless for quite some time in the prevention of war and conflict and in holding repressive regimes to account or in any way intervening in terms of those regimes. For a long time now, Iran has been a very malign influence in the world and in the Middle East, and, as the Deputy has acknowledged, in its repression of women and the LGBT community. The regime has executed thousands of Iranians for advocating for freedom of speech and freedom of assembly, and for seeking change through democratic channels. The international rules-based order, if we are honest about it, was absolutely powerless and paralysed to intervene there to prevent the execution of thousands of people.  We believe in a multilateral-based order, but we have to see reality too in terms of the full picture in this regard. Let us remember that for decades, Iran has sponsored Hamas. It has sponsored terror all over the Middle East. It sponsored and armed Hezbollah. It supported Assad and was key to keeping him and his brutal regime in power for a long time. It sent drones to the Russian military to kill innocent Ukrainians. These are realities that the Deputy has glossed over. I know Sinn F\u00e9in does not support Ukraine. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  That is not true. That is a terrible thing to say. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Deputy McDonald referenced Ukraine. It is the truth. Sinn F\u00e9in opposed the \u20ac90 billion loan from Europe to Ukraine. If we were to follow Sinn F\u00e9in's advice, it would have been tantamount to asking Ukraine to surrender now to the Russians. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  No, no. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  There is no way on earth that Ukraine could sustain itself in a budgetary sense or in defending itself if it did not get that \u20ac90 billion from the European Union. Putin was delighted. If everybody else took the Sinn F\u00e9in view, the happiest man globally would be Putin. That was Sinn F\u00e9in's contribution to trying to resolve injustice and conflict in the world. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Brady","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Brady  The Taoiseach has not answered the question about international law. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy's party leader will respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Brady","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Brady  She will respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We have had this in other parts of the world, including Africa and so on, where democratic governments have been overthrown and people have been powerless. That has happened in the Sahel and so on. There are issues, no question, about where we are. There was no UN mandate for this action. No one is saying there was, and there was not. However, it is impossible to get a UN mandate even for peacekeeping now so paralysed and dysfunctional is the Security Council. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Wow. That is really dangerous. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We are in a very serious and dangerous situation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Donnelly  There has been no mention of Israel. It has been three minutes and the Taoiseach has not mentioned Israel. For three minutes, he has avoided using the word \"Israel\". "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I think history----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Donnelly  It is shocking. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----in reflecting on this period will see 7 October as a disastrous catalyst----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Brady","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Brady  Sit down. You are a disgrace. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----for the uncertainty and instability of the world. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  So history started on 7 October, yes? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Before Deputy McDonald resumes, I am sure that she, as the leader, is capable of answering during Leaders' Questions.  If we are to make progress here today, we need co-operation from both sides of the House, with Members' to speak without interruption. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  The rhetoric we have just heard from the Taoiseach is very dangerous. He has, in effect, offered a defence and rationale for the indefensible and brazen breach of international law. These strikes were launched while negotiations over Iran's nuclear programme were reportedly making progress, while diplomacy was under way and while talks were described as constructive. Now, instead of dialogue, we have missiles. Instead of dialogue and negotiation, we have assassination and dead schoolgirls in large numbers. Why is it that the Taoiseach will not call out this aggression and name it for what it is? He expressed concern and called for restraint but notably stopped short of condemning those who have launched this attack. The question is: why? Ireland's neutrality and our commitment to international law mean absolutely nothing if they disappear when powerful states are involved. Why is the Taoiseach's shrinking away from stating the obvious? Why will he not speak clearly? Why will he not name the actions of Israel and the United States as illegal, dangerous and in breach of international law? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  First of all, I am very clear. I am a multilateralist. I believe in peace and the pacific resolution of all conflict. I believe this conflict should be de-escalated as quickly as possible and those involved should get back to the negotiating table and resolve this through diplomacy. As I said, that is the only sustainable way forward. The Deputy can put whatever spin she likes on my contribution but I am very clear in respect of those basic principles in terms of the conduct of international affairs. However, what I have said cannot be contested in terms of how the Iranian regime not only suppresses its own people----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  The US regime----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----but was responsible for the deaths of many innocent people across not just the Middle East but globally. It has sponsored terrorists. Sinn F\u00e9in has looked the other way for years on that. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy is accusing me of a lack of clarity. Her organisation has supported the Republican party in the United States for decades in terms of financial contributions to Republican and MAGA candidates across the United States. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  You are not a serious----- "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Bacik has the floor please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  We are witnessing a terrifying outbreak of war in Iran and across the Middle East over recent days, with strikes on schools and infrastructure, citizens locked down, flights cancelled and global chaos. At the outset, I will say what the Taoiseach and his Government colleagues have so far failed to say, namely that the attacks carried out by the United States and Israel represent a flagrant breach of international law. Their bombardment of Iran is illegal and should be condemned by the Taoiseach. Of course, the Iranian regime is tyrannical, deeply repressive and has murdered thousands of civilians over recent months. Labour has consistently condemned the Iranian regime and has supported pro-democracy and women's rights campaigners in Iran. Indeed, I have been publicly condemned by the Iranian ambassador to Ireland because I criticised his depraved whitewash of the murder of teenager Jina Mahsa Amini by so-called morality police in Iran. I brought Irish citizen Bernard Phelan to Leinster House to speak about his illegal and brutal incarceration by Iran in the so-called Satan's Block prison wing.  We in Labour have no truck with the Iranian regime. However, two things can be true at once. We can oppose and condemn an authoritarian regime, yet still insist international law is upheld . When we see the erosion of democracy and creeping fascism in different countries across the world, it becomes all the more important for us to uphold the rule of law resolutely and steadfastly and the Taoiseach must acknowledge that. Yet, he cannot bring himself to condemn outright these attacks. Instead, he engages in what I would say is doublespeak. He said he is a multilateralist but criticised the United Nations which, while imperfect, represents the embodiment of a multilateral world order and of multilateralism and the rule of law.  Worse again, in a fortnight he will genuflect before the man responsible for this global disorder and will do so in the name of the people of Ireland, all without offering any principled criticism of Trump's warmongering. It is warmongering. Trump's war has consequences. Some 200 children were killed in a strike on an Iranian primary school.  A total of 25,000 Irish citizens are stranded and trapped in countries across the Middle East as they experience appalling and illegal bombing by Iran. We are all waiting to learn what exactly Trump means when he says, \"We haven't even started hitting them hard\". Those are terrifying words. This is a chaotic White House, which is destabilising what was already a tinderbox in the Middle East, destroying innocent lives, disrupting the global economy and pushing the most vulnerable people into harsh poverty. Here in Ireland, energy bills are skyrocketing already. On \"Liveline\" yesterday we heard from people frazzled, racing against the real-time price-gouging that we are seeing with home heating oil, forced to plan for yet more wartime inflation, just four years after the Putin's brutal war in Ukraine. We cannot then see the Taoiseach engage in plastic-Paddy pageantry while hiding behind vague language. Will the Taoiseach condemn the US and Israeli action as a breach of international law? What is the Government doing to safeguard Irish citizens in the region and to ensure de-escalation? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We are very clear on upholding the international rule of law. This bombing campaign is not in accordance with a UN mandate. I totally accept the Deputy's bona fides. She has been consistent on Iran, but the international rules-based order has been powerless to do anything about Iran, if we are honest, over a long period. That does raise questions. It is not a new question; it is a decades-old question in terms of intervention. There have been interventions by previous American presidents with consequences that were long-lasting in a negative sense. We know all of that but, equally, regimes have been allowed and sanctions have not been enough to shift those regimes into facilitating democracy within their jurisdictions or at least allowing their civilians freedom of movement and speech and the opportunities to change by democratic channels.  The Deputy described the brutal crackdown of the Mahsa Amini protest, which was about the liberation of women within in Iran. It was brutal and the world was powerless and did nothing. We do not have full estimates relating to what happened only six weeks ago but some say it could be as high as 10,000 or 15,000 ordinary Iranians executed for just protesting. There are moral dilemmas everywhere. I take the Deputy's basic point that we do not believe in intervention without a UN mandate. No one is even disputing that but, equally, there is a huge issue with this regime. The challenges, as the Deputy said, relate to instability across the region. That is why we are calling for a de-escalation and getting back around the negotiating table. These negotiations on the nuclear file have been going on since 2005 or 2007. That is how long they have been going on. They have been dragged out, as has the ballistics programme.  I met Bernard Phelan as well. At will the Iranian regime just kidnapped European citizens, put them in prison and then ransomed or blackmailed western governments to try to get them released. That was the modus operandi . Bernard Phelan and people he met in prison had a fairly brutal imprisonment. Some of them have yet to get out of those prisons in Iran. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  We can all agree there are no good guys here. The Iranian regime is brutal and we have utterly condemned it. However, the Israeli and US attacks on Iran are also illegal. We should be able to say that very clearly. The socialist Prime Minister of Spain has been very clear in condemning the attacks and refusing to allow Spanish bases to be used by the US. Why can we not have that clarity here? Instead, as I said, the Taoiseach engages in a sort of double-speak, criticizing the UN, yet failing to recognise that in fact there has been an effective use of multilateral institutions in containing, reducing and diminishing Iran's nuclear capabilities.  Why can we not work with the multilateral institutions that we have? Why can we not hear the Irish Government condemning clearly the US-Israeli strikes as in breach of international law? There is, I think, a clear indication that the Taoiseach is soft-pedalling a national response in fear of upsetting Washington ahead of St. Patrick's Day. I think that has to be the conclusion----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  -----that we all must draw. The Irish people are not fools. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy Bacik. Will the Taoiseach respond? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Thomas Byrne)  You never mentioned the Irish citizens. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  We did, actually. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  I think that is what we are seeing here. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy Bacik. Please, Deputies. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  St. Patrick's Day will come and go. It is the more enduring sustainable relationship between the US and Ireland that is important, but park that for a moment. St. Patrick's Day will come and go. There will be many of those, but the relationship is much deeper and much more substantial than that. Let us be honest about that too.  The Deputy referenced the UN Security Council. By virtue of the composition post Second World War, it is no longer fit for purpose. I am not criticising every member of the UN, but the reality is with Russia, China, the US----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  What is the alternative? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Please. The alternative is a much broader UN Security Council without the veto of these three powers. That is the obvious way. Africa should be represented. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  South America should be represented. People who can make a contribution----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  That is the General Assembly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Vast populations of the world are not represented on the Security Council and all we are getting is veto after veto after veto. We cannot get peacekeeping missions approved by the UN Security Council. One of the most sustainable peacekeeping missions that we have been involved in is Lebanon and, at the behest of the US, the Security Council has put a deadline on that for next year. Those are the realities of a UN Security Council that has not been fit for purpose for a long time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Crowe  What about Shannon Airport? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  It is nearly 23 years since the beginning of the Iraq war. That was started with a \u201cpre-emptive\u201d strike on Saddam Hussein\u2019s presidential palace. More than two decades later, and it is clear no lessons have been learned from that disaster. The United States and Israel have labelled their strikes on Iran as \u201cpre-emptive\u201d. They have done that purely for propaganda purposes to try to give their violent attacks a veneer of legality. But let us be clear: this military action is a clear breach of international law. It should be strongly condemned by the Taoiseach and the rest of the Government. Instead, we get words of \u201cconcern\u201d and \u201cdismay\u201d. From reading the Taoiseach's statement, you would not even know the US was involved.  We all agree that the Iranian regime is brutal, authoritarian and repressive. Tens of thousands of people have been killed in recent protests, and an unknowable number have been imprisoned, but this attempted regime change by the US and Israel, supported by European allies, is not just reckless; it is dangerous. As President Connolly has said:  The normalisation of war, including the invasion at will of sovereign states, is a path that only leads to destruction and loss of life.  The entire Middle East is already a tinderbox, and this war is spiralling out of control. More than 780 people, including 168 schoolgirls, have already been slaughtered in Iran and the death toll is rising across the region. This escalation in violence has caused huge distress and anxiety for thousands of Irish citizens now stranded in Gulf countries and it has also exposed our 358 peacekeepers in Lebanon to significant danger. Their families need to be assured that they will be pulled out if the situation deteriorates further.  Does the Irish Government now believe that large countries can simply ignore international law and launch attacks on other countries whenever they feel like it? The fact is that the Trump Administration changes its rationale for going to war day by day and European leaders, including the Taoiseach, are just stepping back and allowing that to happen, refusing to outright condemn the US as it continues to dismantle international law. I cannot emphasise enough my condemnation of the Iranian regime and its treatment of women in particular, but where does this end? International law does not just apply to countries we agree with. The structures are there to prevent all hell breaking loose on the international stage and those structures are being completely dismantled. Trump has bombed seven countries since taking office and has faced no consequences for his actions. The strategy of appeasing the Trump Administration has not worked. It is past time for European leaders, including the Taoiseach, to stand up for international law. Will the Taoiseach condemn this attack? Will he rule out any use of Shannon Airport by the US military? Will he outline the steps he is taking to ensure the repatriation of Irish citizens stranded in the Middle East? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Ireland believes fundamentally in international rule of law. We are a multilateral nation and all our work over the past number of years has been dedicated to those principles in every single form that we attend under the auspices of the United Nations, the European Union or, indeed, other international organisations. International law is not being adhered to and has not been for quite some time by many actors. That is the reality. Prime Minister Carney called that out in Davos and described the reality of the international world order as we see it today. The House is agreed on the brutality of the Iranian regime but if we are all honest, one would not have thought that for the past three years because there was rarely a debate in here about Iran. There was barely a motion here about the malign views of Iran. I think someone on the backbenches here raised it. It might have been the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, some years ago, who put a formal position here on the Iranian regime. There was a studied silence here. The Deputy can accuse me of this, that and the other but on the Opposition side, there was a one-directional approach to the international order. At times, even the Russian aggression is condemned and put aside in a formulaic way.  We are very clear. First, I condemn the killing of children anywhere in any situation. Children and innocent civilians must always be prioritised, without question. One of the big challenges for the UN is that we are similar to where we were prior to the demise of the League of Nations. There is a serious issue in the world. It is dangerous, without question. There is an absence of an international rules-based order right now. Of that, there is no question. It is dangerous for small nations like Ireland which depend on an international rules-based order for our security because we are not a military nation. We do not have military power. We are fundamentally a peacekeeping nation. That is our orientation and that has been our contribution, as well as humanitarian aid to many troubled spots in the world. We have contributed Irish personnel to conflict resolution all over the world. We have done it in Mozambique, Colombia and elsewhere. That is our contribution and to try to characterise the Irish position as anything else is disingenuous. That is how we perform on an international level.  We also realise the limits of what we can do globally and internationally. We are clear that the only sustainable way forward, which will require the world to engage collectively, is a proper international rules-based order that can also deal effectively with rogue and oppressive regimes, which it has failed to deal with for three or four decades. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Crowe  What about Shannon? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  That was a long-winded way of the Taoiseach saying that he will not condemn the breach of international law. We can all agree that the UN is not perfect but it is the best that we have got. The Taoiseach should be doing much more to try to defend that. The Taoiseach cannot just say that we support international law. He has to defend it when it matters. He has to call out the US when it tramples all over it.  First and foremost, the people of the Middle East will suffer as a result of this illegal war but the effects will be global. Energy companies are already cynically capitalising on this crisis with blatant price-gouging. We have had reports of the price of home heating oil skyrocketing, which will be devastating for people all over the country who are already struggling, not least the disabled people who are protesting at the weekend because they simply cannot afford to live in this country. What will the Taoiseach do about energy price-gouging that is already under way? What supports will be made available to people who simply cannot take any further rising costs? Will the Taoiseach at least consider the Social Democrats' proposal for a \u20ac400 energy credit for those who need it the most. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  In terms of the energy situation, from anecdotal accounts, it would appear there is a degree of price-gouging is going on. In our view, both the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, and Competition and Consumer Protection Commission should closely monitor what is happening and people who have complaints should immediately complain to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission and the CRU. The working family payment will start on Thursday and an extra 50,000 families will benefit from the fuel allowance. Those on the working family payment will benefit from the fuel allowance and will receive back pay to January.  That will be a help to that cohort. We will keep an urgent review of the situation as it unfolds because there is the potential of a crisis here, clearly, similar to what happened in terms of the invasion of Ukraine and the consequential energy crisis that occurred there. We will keep this under continual review in terms of how it develops over the next number of days and weeks. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  The cost of filling a car with petrol at the moment is \u20ac100. It is \u20ac19 above what was just five years ago. Some 60% of the cost of a litre of diesel is now tax, and 65% of the cost of a litre of petrol is now tax. This breaks down as follows: 54 cent in excise; 2 cent on the National Oil Reserve Agency, NORA; 16 cent on carbon tax; 8 cent on better energy tax; and 32 cent on VAT. Out of the \u20ac1.73 price for a litre of petrol, \u20ac1.13 is now Government tax. The Government is taking the majority of the cost of a litre of petrol and diesel in tax. A \u20ac100 fill of a tank would actually cost \u20ac35 if it was not for the ever-increasing fuel taxes by this Government. These taxes are not progressive. They hurt low- and middle-income families the most, and they hurt those in regional and rural Ireland the most. In 2024, the Government took \u20ac4.1 billion in fuel taxes. That was the highest such figure ever, and it happened at the peak of the cost-of-living crisis. In 2024, carbon tax reached \u20ac1 billion for the first time. It is now the largest fuel tax in the country, and it is going to increase for every year up to 2030 no matter what the economic circumstance of the citizens of this country.  The war in Iran will likely send the cost of fuel surging. Academics are saying that the price of petrol could increase by 70 cent to \u20ac2.44. Diesel could increase by 81 cent to \u20ac2.53. That would bring a full tank for petrol and diesel in this country above \u20ac150. These are eye-watering figures. This is already happening. On Friday, a fill of home heating oil cost about \u20ac1,000 in the State, and it has increased by about \u20ac150 in just four days. This should not be happening because the supply chain purchased this oil before the crisis in Iran. Again, according to academics, a fill of home heating oil could actually top out at \u20ac2,000 in this particular situation. Incredibly, the Government will be quids in from this increase in the price of fuel. Not only are families being price gouged, but the truth of the matter is that this Government is tax gouging in these circumstances. When the price of fuel increases in this country, the Government makes more in taxation on that increased price. That is an incredible situation.  What I am proposing is that the Government looks at the carbon taxes. We were told that carbon taxes were to change behaviour and that this was to move people away fossil fuels, and when we reached a certain price, people would then make that change. However, if the market is already reaching that price, surely the carbon tax is just punitive in relation to that. We were told that the carbon tax was about moving people into alternatives, such as sustainable transport or other ways of heating their homes. If they cannot do that, is a carbon tax not just punitive in that scenario? Will the Taoiseach scrap the carbon tax on petrol and diesel if the cost increases beyond current levels? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  In terms of the overall energy situation, the Deputy is correct in saying that there is no necessity for home heating oil to increase, given that many people will have had that oil in stock and, indeed, much of that oil comes via Britain and Norway, not from the Middle East. That has been the source for quite a long time.  The Deputy has conflated a lot of issues. General revenue - all revenues, for example from energy or income tax - goes to fund social services in the State. If we were to eliminate all revenue on fuel, we would have a very significant hole in the sustainable budget, which would take services away from education, health and social protection. We are already being criticised for having too narrow a tax base in terms of fiscal sustainability over the next 20 to 30 years. The Deputy wants to narrow that tax base even more.  On the carbon tax, the bottom line is that every cent of that carbon tax is given back to people in terms of the fuel allowance and, in particular, the expansion of the fuel allowance to cover more people, including the working family payment cohort, with 50,000 people on top of all those on social protection.  The Deputy is now saying let us pull the rug from under the fuel poverty initiatives we have created and from under the retrofit industry----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  I have not said anything like that. The Taoiseach is arguing with someone else. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----because around \u20ac553 million of the carbon tax is going towards retrofitting. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  The Taoiseach is having a pretend discussion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, that is not allowed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Retrofitting helps people to reduce their bills on a sustainable basis into the future. Third, that would be pulling the rug from under farmers who will benefit this year to the tune of \u20ac173 million from the carbon tax revenue in the form of agri-environmental schemes in terms of the ACRES programme. I argued for a carbon tax at the beginning of the 2020 Government on the basis that it would provide us with funding to enable change to happen. There is no way you could fund the retrofit programme without a dedicated ring-fenced budget. There is no way you could do that on a sustainable basis. We have created an industry and a lot of opportunities for workers and new companies in retrofitting. Does the Deputy want to take all that away over night and take away that clarity and certainty of landscape that is out there until 2030 and beyond? We do accept, without question, there is pressure on people and there potentially might be even greater pressure as a result of this crisis but we will look at that in the round in terms of how we can support people more generally regarding supports. We will keep that under review as it unfolds. That is a more effective way of dealing with this and helping to support people. In the budget, prior to the outbreak of war, we supported those most in need and we targeted the resources to working families on low incomes and those on social protection as opposed to a universal approach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Now it is your time, Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  The Taoiseach often answers questions nobody has asked in this situation on weekly basis. It is like a pretend debate where he answers questions that nobody has actually posed to him at all and he ignores the questions that are specifically posed to him. We are not looking to decrease the tax base. We are asking him to stop increasing the carbon tax base. That is what the actual question was. Right now 300,000 people in arrears on electricity bills in this country. How does it make the Taoiseach feel that he has families in a constant state of turmoil on the consumption of a basic staple? How does it make him feel that this is not an aberration? This is a permanent outcome of his energy policy in this country. Three hundred thousand people is an enormous number of people to be suffering significantly every single year in terms of energy. In May, the Government will put up the carbon tax on gas to \u20ac71 a tonne. In the middle of this energy crisis his strategy is to make it harder for those families to actually pay for gas and that will come back on the electricity that people pay for as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  All I am asking the Taoiseach to do is to put a limit on carbon increases during this crisis. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Actually, the Deputy asked me in the first iteration \u2013 he can check it \u2013 to scrap it. That is what he said, so it is not a temporary limitation. He opposed it anyway. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  I did, yes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Then why is he trying to pretend? He has opposed it from the beginning. He is just duplicitous in terms of his approach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  I need patience. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy will say whatever matters on the day to advance his position. He thinks electorally and politically. That is just what he does. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  Three hundred thousand----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Could I just make the point that we did reduce VAT on electricity and gas bills from 13% to 9%----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  It is still the most expensive in Europe. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----and we have extended that out to 2030. As I said, we have extended fuel allowance to 26% of the population. As I said, as this situation unfolds, we will keep this under review. We have always responded to people\u2019s needs, as we did during the Ukrainian war crisis. We have to do so in a sustainable basis. That is our commitment - we will do it on a sustainable basis. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/dbsect_3","debateType":"orderofBusiness","bill":null,"showAs":"An tOrd Gn\u00f3 - Order of Business","counts":{"speechCount":114,"speakerCount":23},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pat the Cope Gallagher","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pat-the-Cope-Gallagher.D.1981-06-30","memberCode":"Pat-the-Cope-Gallagher.D.1981-06-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Edward Timmins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"William Aird","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tom Brabazon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Mary Butler)  I move:  Tuesday's business shall be:  -\tMotion re Proposed approval by D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann of Finance Act 2004 (Section 91) (Deferred Surrender to the Central Fund) Order 2026 (without debate and any division claimed to be taken immediately) -\tMotion re Consideration of Estimates by Committees (without debate)  -\tR\u00e1itis maidir leis an Ghaeilge chun Seachtain na Gaeilge a chom\u00f3radh (not to exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes)  -\tAssisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2026 (Second Stage) (if not previously concluded, to adjourn after 60 minutes)  Tuesday's private members' business shall be the Motion re Tith\u00edocht Gaeltachta, selected by Sinn F\u00e9in.  Wednesday's business shall be:  -\tStatements on Post Office Closures (not to exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes)  -\tStatements on Scoliosis and Inquiries (not to exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes)  -\tAssisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2026 (Second Stage, resumed) (to conclude at the end of the first round, not to exceed 2 hours and 34 minutes)  -\tPublic Health (Single-Use Vapes) Bill 2025 (Committee and remaining Stages) (to commence no earlier than 8.30 p.m. and to conclude within 1 hour and 30 minutes)  Wednesday's private members' business shall be the Second Stage of the Online Safety (Recommender Algorithms) Bill 2026, selected by Independent and Parties Technical Group.  Thursday's business shall be:  -\tMedia Regulation Bill 2026 (Second Stage) (if not previously concluded, to adjourn at the end of the first speaking round)  Thursday evening business shall be the Second Stage of the Criminal Justice (Rehabilitative Periods) Bill 2018, sponsored by Deputy Gary Gannon.  Proposed Arrangements for this week\u2019s business:  In relation to Tuesday\u2019s business, it is proposed that:  1.\tnotwithstanding anything in Standing Orders:  (a)\tthe time allocated to Government business shall be extended in accordance with the arrangements for that business and the D\u00e1il may sit later than 10.48 p.m.; and  (b)\tprivate members\u2019 business shall be taken following proceedings on the Second Stage of the Assisted Decision-making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2026, with consequential effect on the commencement times for the items following in the ordinary routine of business;  2.\tthe proceedings on the Motion re Proposed approval by D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann of Finance Act 2004 (Section 91) (Deferred Surrender to the Central Fund) Order 2026 shall be taken without debate and any division claimed thereon shall be taken immediately;  3.\tthe proceedings on the Motion re Consideration of Estimates by Committees shall be taken without debate;  4.\tthe Statements on Seachtain na Gaeilge shall not exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply:  (a)\tthe statements, not including the Ministerial response, shall be in accordance with the sequence contained in the table immediately below (to be read across);  (b)\tfollowing the statements, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes; and  (c)\tmembers may share time; and          Gov      SF      Lab      Gov      SF       Mins    25    15    10    10    3           SD      Gov      SF      IPTG      Gov       Mins    10    10    3    9    10           SF      ITG      Gov      SF      OM       Mins    3    9    10    3    5                       Total      2 hours 15 mins      5.\tthe proceedings on the Second Stage of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2026, shall be interrupted and stand adjourned either after 1 hour, or where no further member is offering, and the following arrangements shall apply:  (a)\tthe first speaking round shall be in accordance with those contained in the table immediately below (to be read across, not down); and  (b)\tmembers may share time.          Gov      SF      Lab      Gov      SF       Mins    20    20    20    12    4           SD      Gov      SF      IPTG      Gov       Mins    20    12    4    20    12           SF      ITG      Gov      SF      OM       Mins    4    20    12    4    20                       Total      3 hours 24 mins      In relation to Wednesday's business, it is proposed that:  1.\tnotwithstanding anything in Standing Orders:  (a)\tthe time allotted for Government Business shall be extended in accordance with the arrangements for that business and the D\u00e1il may sit later than 9.30 p.m.;  (b)\tin the event that Second Stage of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2026 concludes before 8.30 p.m., the sitting shall stand suspended until 8.30 p.m., when the order of business shall resume with the Public Health (Single-Use Vapes) Bill 2025; and  (c)\tthe weekly division time shall be taken on the conclusion of proceedings on the Public Health (Single-Use Vapes) Bill 2025;  2.\tnotwithstanding anything in Standing Order 177(2), the proceedings on Second Stage of the Online Safety (Recommender Algorithms) Bill 2026 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 2 hours  3.\tthe Statements on Post Office Closures shall not exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply:  (a)\tthe statements, not including the Ministerial response, shall be in accordance with the sequence contained in the table immediately below (to be read across);  (b)\tfollowing the statements, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes; and  (c)\tmembers may share time;          Gov      SF      Lab      Gov      SF       Mins    25    15    10    10    3           SD      Gov      SF      IPTG      Gov       Mins    10    10    3    9    10           SF      ITG      Gov      SF      OM       Mins    3    9    10    3    5                       Total      2 hours 15 mins      4.\tthe Statements on Scoliosis and Inquiries shall not exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply:  (a)\tthe statements, not including the Ministerial response, shall be in accordance with the sequence contained in the table immediately below (to be read across);  (b)\tfollowing the statements, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes; and  (c)\tmembers may share time;          Gov      SF      Lab      Gov      SF       Mins    25    15    10    10    3           SD      Gov      SF      IPTG      Gov       Mins    10    10    3    9    10           SF      ITG      Gov      SF      OM       Mins    3    9    10    3    5                       Total      2 hours 15 mins      5.\tthe resumed proceedings on the Second Stage of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2026 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at the end of the first speaking round and the following arrangements shall apply:  (a)\tthe speaking slots from Tuesday\u2019s arrangements for the first round shall be continued from the point at which they were adjourned;  (b)\ton conclusion of the first-round speeches, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a speech in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes; and  (c)\tmembers may share time; and  6.\tthe Order of referral of the Public Health (Single-Use Vapes) Bill 2025 to the Select Committee on Health, is hereby discharged, the Bill shall be taken in Committee of the whole D\u00e1il and the proceedings on Committee and remaining Stages of the Bill shall commence no earlier than 8.30 p.m. and shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 90 minutes by one question which shall be put from the Chair, and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Health.  In relation to Thursday's business, it is proposed that:  1.\tnotwithstanding anything in Standing Orders:  (a)\ttopical issues may be taken earlier than 7.24 p.m. with consequential effect on the commencement time for the Second Stage of the Criminal Justice (Rehabilitative Periods) Bill 2018, and on the time for the adjournment of the D\u00e1il; and  (b)\tthe D\u00e1il on its rising today shall adjourn until 2 p.m. on Wednesday, 18th March, 2026; and  2.\tthe proceedings on the Second Stage of the Media Regulation Bill 2026 shall, if not previously concluded, be interrupted and stand adjourned at the end of the first speaking round and the following arrangements shall apply:  (a)\tthe first-round speeches shall be in accordance with the table below (to be read across);  (b)\twhere speeches conclude before the 3 hours and 24 minutes have elapsed and no other member is offering, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a speech in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes, whereupon proceedings shall be brought to a conclusion; and  (c)\tmembers may share time.          Gov      SF      Lab      Gov      SF       Mins    20    20    20    12    4           SD      Gov      SF      IPTG      Gov       Mins    20    12    4    20    12           SF      ITG      Gov      SF      OM       Mins    4    20    12    4    20                       Total      3 hours 24 mins       "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Are this week's arrangements agreed to? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  They are not agreed.  When will the Taoiseach stand up for our fishing communities in Europe? He knows we are in an unprecedented crisis. There is a 70% cut in mackerel and 41% in blue whiting, primarily because of actions of countries like Norway which recklessly overfished. In recent days, Norway was granted 50,000 tonnes of blue whiting access in Irish waters and the Irish Government abstained. It did not stand up and confront what is going on here. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Marie Sherlock. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  When will the Taoiseach stand up for Irish fishing communities? When will he do his job for our communities? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Mac Lochlainn, 30 seconds is all you have. Deputy Marie Sherlock. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marie Sherlock  We are calling for a debate on the termination of pregnancy legislation. I want to pay tribute to Deputy Whitmore's niece, who spoke so powerfully this morning about her own experience of fatal foetal anomalies. It is eight years since that legislation was passed. The Government dragged its heels on the review. There has been no action on Marie O'Shea's recommendations, which are now three years old. For women and their families across this country, it is absolutely unacceptable and we should have a debate in this country on the Government's position. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  As we have heard, the implications of the illegal attack of the US and Israel on Iran and the retaliatory attacks are far reaching in terms of citizen safety abroad, energy prices and international law. We need a debate on this issue this week. The Taoiseach has just said we have not debated Iran enough, so please make time for this and debate these pressing issues. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  We need an emergency debate on whether our airport, Shannon Airport, is going to be used by the US military to prosecute what is a flagrantly illegal military assault on Iran, which has set the entire Middle East on fire and which is being conducted with a regime, Israel, that is in the dock for two and a half years of genocide. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you Deputy Boyd Barrett. Deputy Michael Collins. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Is the Taoiseach going to allow our airports to be used to facilitate that illegal war? We need to discuss that as a matter of urgency. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  With the outbreak of the war in Iran, energy costs are going to go through the roof. An elderly lady told me she was quoted \u20ac950 on Friday evening. She was putting together the money for the weekend to ring them yesterday morning and it had gone up to \u20ac1,080. The Minister of Finance needs to come in here and talk about the temporary freezing of carbon tax to give people a little bit of ease in this shocking time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy Collins. The Chief Whip to respond, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  I thank all the Whips for their comments on the fishing community, the termination of pregnancy, Iran, Shannon Airport and energy costs. The Order of Business stands as set out and as circulated to all the Whips. However, the Minister, Deputy McEntee, will come in during the week to take statements on Iran and I will engage with the Whips in the afternoon. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Are the proposed arrangements for this week's business agreed to? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Not agreed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  A reported 37 families in Hazelwood in Bridgetown, County Wexford, were hit with eviction notices on Friday. These families are panicked, stressed and worried about the upheaval in their lives. There is a serious lack of homes available to rent in the area, and even if they could find a new place, they would be hit with massive rent increases due to the Government's new legislation. People feel that their landlord is taking advantage of the new rules.  Where are these families supposed to go? The Minister for housing has talked the talk about standing up for these tenants, but following meetings with the Residential Tenancies Board, RTB, and the council, as things stand today, these families still face eviction. Big talk from the Minister will not keep these families in their homes. What concrete action will the Taoiseach take to protect their rights and ensure they are not evicted? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It is a matter of very serious concern that a landlord would behave in this manner. The reports were raised over the weekend with regard to the serving of 36 notices of termination by that landlord. The Minister, Deputy Browne, asked the Residential Tenancies Board to engage with the affected tenants and with Wexford County Council to ensure the impacted tenants' rights are protected. He has also been in touch with Wexford County Council to be supportive of those tenants. I have not seen the report back from the RTB yet. I will work with the Minister for housing to get access to that report to see where the situation now lies. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  At the weekend, the Taoiseach's appalling new rules for renters came into effect. To mark that change, we learned of the eviction notices issued to 36 homes in Wexford, all owned by the same large landlord, right in the heart of the housing Minister's own constituency. My colleague Deputy Lawlor has been dealing with the families involved, in excess of 100 people including many children, many of whom will not qualify for the housing assistance payment, HAP, or the council housing list.  The Taoiseach's new law is unleashing fear on the people he is meant to represent, and there is nothing but silence from the housing Minister.  It seems that the Minister had to wait for his civil servants to come back to work this week to explain his own law to him. It seems the law is so complex that he was not able to provide any clarification to the families affected. There are two questions. If the Minister for housing cannot understand his own laws, how on earth is any renter meant to know their rights now? Second, we are all seeing a real-time surge in notices to quit. The Wexford case is a really serious and extreme example----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach to respond now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  Is the Taoiseach monitoring this situation? We are seeing more and more----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The time is up, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  -----eviction notices. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Of course, these eviction notices came before the new rules came into place----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  It was the same weekend. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I should not have to explain that to the Deputy. She should know that and she did not acknowledge that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy George Lawlor  It was on the Friday. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The new laws provide far greater and stronger protection to tenants than the old system did and Deputy Bacik was the very person who alleged that we ignored the Housing Commission. The Housing Commission said that the rent protection zones, RPZs----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  A radical reset----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy has had her say. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----could not stay as they were and that we needed to reform them. We bought in the Housing Agency to come up with proposals. It did so and we have taken the decisions to reform. The Deputy will always sit on the fence on this one because electorally nothing else will suit her or suffice. That is the truth. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  That is not true. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy George Lawlor  Disgraceful. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Deputy Bacik calls for reform but when reform happens and decisions are taken - none of this is easy because it is a complex landscape - she will continue to sit on the fence. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  We are not----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  What happened in Wexford is unacceptable. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  We are not sitting on any fence. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Minister sent the Residential Tenancies Board down. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  For a time Bessborough mother and baby home was not just a place where children were born; it was where they died. In 1943, three out of every four babies there died. One of the leading causes of death was starvation. The mother and baby homes commission report stated that 923 children died in Bessborough but burial records only exist for 64. The commission concluded it was highly likely some of those children were buried on the grounds. The State either does not care or does not want to know because there has never been a proper, forensic examination of Bessborough. Unbelievably, Cork City Council has granted planning permission for 140 apartments on the site. Survivors of Bessborough have never received justice. The very least the Government owes them is to find the bodies of their children. Does the Government supports this development and if not, what is it going to do about it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy makes all sorts of accusations against the Government, which are unfounded. She claims the moral high ground on everything. I have met with survivors from Bessborough and many did not want the forensic exhumation or examination of the site. They want a memorial and they want it to be respected. My own view is that it would have been far more preferable if----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  Does the Taoiseach think that is really----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I did not interrupt the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  The Taoiseach can----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I did not interrupt the Deputy. Do not be so morally condescending, which is her wont. I have as much concern for people as she has but her tone is always one of condescension on these matters. I have spoken to survivors. I was about to say that I would have preferred if the city council had acquired Bessborough, which should have happened many years ago, for amenity purposes, and recreation----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  If the Taoiseach could see the anguish----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----and memorialisation. We do not have a say as an executive authority in planning applications or planning decisions by An Bord Plean\u00e1la or its operations. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  It was quite incredible to hear the Taoiseach at Leaders' Questions again and again refuse to condemn the criminal US and Israeli bombing of Iran. His refusal to tell the very simple truth that this attack is in violation of international law is a shocking illustration of his Government's subordinate position to US imperialism and his moral cowardice in seeking not to irritate Donald Trump in advance of meeting with him.  Over 700 people have been killed so far. Israel has commenced a land invasion into Lebanon forcing 30,000 people to flee. Almost 200 people, overwhelmingly young schoolchildren together with teachers, were killed in one strike alone at a primary school. These were seven- to 12-year-old girls. What position has the Taoiseach gotten himself into where he cannot condemn the murder of children? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I have been very clear that the action taken is not in accordance with a UN mandate. I have been equally clear about the powerlessness and paralysis of the international rules-based order as it is via the UN Security Council.  I am also very conscious that for years the Deputy has been very silent in terms of Iranian atrocities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  That is a lie. Check the record. You are lying, Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I did not interrupt you, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  I have not been silent. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy was not interrupted. Allow the Taoiseach to give his answer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I have never interrupted----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  I did not lie about you. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We will be charitable. The Deputy has put many the wrong spin on things I have said over the years and I am under no illusion----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  We had Iranian protestors in this House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Boyd Barrett, it is not your----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  I had an AV room briefing----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  They do not want the answer, Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  They do not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  Condemn the murder of children, Taoiseach. Why can you not condemn the murder of children? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I just did earlier, if you were listening. I did, actually. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Please, enough. I call Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Go back and check. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  In May 2018, Leo Varadkar stood in this Chamber and promised no woman affected by CervicalCheck would be forced to go to court to get justice. In 2019, he apologised for the disrespect, humiliation and deceit shown by the State to the women affected by the CervicalCheck scandal.  In September 2021, I said in this Chamber, and a number of times since, that the tribunal would not work. Indeed, it has not worked. We have learned the tribunal has been shut down without a single red cent awarded to any of these women. Not only were they failed disastrously by CervicalCheck, but they have been failed disastrously again. Incredibly, \u20ac3.4 million was spent on offices, leases and fit-outs for an organisation that did not give one red cent to the women who need it. That so much has been spent on achieving so little for women who were owed so much by the State is a disgrace. Will the Taoiseach apologise for disrespecting these women yet again? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy cannot have it both ways. We did establish the tribunal. That was a commitment a previous Government and former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar gave. The tribunal was established in good faith. People always have the entitlement to take their case through the courts if they so wish, but that tribunal, introduced by the former Minister, Stephen Donnelly, at the time, had a very broad framework in how it was established and the jurisdiction it had and so forth. In our view, it would potentially have been an easier route to go through but people are entitled to take decisions in respect of how they pursue this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pat the Cope Gallagher","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pat-the-Cope-Gallagher.D.1981-06-30","memberCode":"Pat-the-Cope-Gallagher.D.1981-06-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher  I want to again raise the issue of Aer Lingus taking a unilateral decision to insist that those travelling from the Republic to mainland Great Britain must have a passport. This is creating all sorts of problems for Irish people. There is a presumption that everybody has a passport. I know many people in my county who do not have passports but travel to the UK regularly. To take a practical example, if some of those people have a relative who dies in the UK, they have to get a passport. As the Taoiseach knows, people cannot get an emergency passport if it is the first time. Many of those did not have passports. It is necessary for Aer Lingus to be more practical and to at least give people an opportunity. It is wrong that the company should have done this. Ryanair always had this policy. Ironically, people have to travel with British Airways to get across from Dublin. Perhaps the Taoiseach could raise it with Aer Lingus, or his Minister could raise it with it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  My understanding is the UK Government may have introduced new travel requirements on this. I will pursue this with the UK Government and with Aer Lingus. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pat the Cope Gallagher","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pat-the-Cope-Gallagher.D.1981-06-30","memberCode":"Pat-the-Cope-Gallagher.D.1981-06-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher  It is not the UK; it is Aer Lingus. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  No back and forth. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I just got some information. I will check it for the Deputy and I will pursue it. I understand many Donegal people travel for different reasons---- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pat the Cope Gallagher","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pat-the-Cope-Gallagher.D.1981-06-30","memberCode":"Pat-the-Cope-Gallagher.D.1981-06-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher  And people in Cork. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----sporting, especially. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pat the Cope Gallagher","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pat-the-Cope-Gallagher.D.1981-06-30","memberCode":"Pat-the-Cope-Gallagher.D.1981-06-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher  There are practical reasons. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Practical, that is what I am saying. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Ye can engage further in writing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  There is lots of to and fro from Donegal. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Taoiseach. I call Deputy Timmins. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Edward Timmins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Edward Timmins  I wish to raise the issue of spending control, cost control and improved outputs in various Departments. This issue does not get enough of a hearing in this Chamber. We should not assume spending increases should automatically match economic growth. Often when we spend more, we feed inefficiencies. All increased spending must be matched by improved outputs and all existing spending should be justified. This will automatically lead to better public services.  In terms of overall spending growth, I want to draw a clear distinction between current and capital expenditure. There are parallels between capital spending and a company making investments in, say, equipment, machinery or automation. There are real returns. If the electricity grid, rail network or broadband network is upgraded, the economy will run more efficiently.  Our taxpayers fund this spending; who is speaking up for the taxpayer? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  If there was a medal to be awarded for the best contributor of the week, the Deputy would be most deserving of it because he is a lone voice among many voices whose only inclination and focus is on spending more money, calling on Government to keep on spending more money and spend as much as we can. He is the first person in a long time who has stood up and said that public expenditure in itself is not something that we should just in a knee-jerk way or automatically applaud. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Edward Timmins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Edward Timmins  It feeds inefficiencies. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We should be very focused on outputs, outcomes, value for money and somebody in here supporting the taxpayer every now and again. I salute that. It is an awful pity the Minister for public expenditure did not hear him because he would feel a bit less lonely in the overall scheme of things than he currently does in keeping a rein on public expenditure. I agree with the Deputy that capital expenditure is an investment in the productive capacity of our economy. It does give yields and economic efficiency, and can help economic growth into the future. That is why the budget focused very much on capital investment this year but also through the national development plan over the next decade. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sorca Clarke  Today marks World Hearing Day with the World Health Organization focusing on prevention of hearing loss and ear care for children. Almost 14,000 children are waiting on HSE hearing loss assessments alongside more than 13,000 adults, some of whom have been waiting for over a year. One deaf working couple, James and Ruth, have spoken about having to pay \u20ac10,000 for essential hearing aids every five to seven years. Their income makes them ineligible for a medical card. In 2024, the Government established a working group to develop a national hearing care plan. The working group has yet to deliver a report while those waiting lists continue to grow. When will we see a national hearing care plan? When will it be implemented? What is the Government doing today to ensure that children are prioritised for hearing loss prevention and ear care? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I acknowledge that there are challenges with delays here. I will discuss this with the Minister. We had a meeting of the Cabinet subcommittee on health yesterday. A lot of progress has been made on waiting times and on health in general. Some very significant progress has been made. There is a lot of investment yet to come in terms of capacity on the current side and on the infrastructure side. However, we acknowledge that there are issues here and we need to get these waiting times down. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"William Aird","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy William Aird  I want to raise the serious issue of Irish citizens currently stranded in the Middle East. Since the weekend's events, I have been contacted by constituents who are on holiday or working in the region and find themselves trapped. Airports are closed and flight paths are suspended. People are in a frightening and volatile situation through no fault of their own. I commend the Minister, Deputy McEntee, and her team on working around the clock to provide consular assistance to those people. However, the reality is extremely worrying for those citizens and their families in Ireland, at least 14 of whom are in my own county of Laois. At present there are no recommended evacuation routes from the Gulf countries. If this conflict continues, is the Government prepared to implement an evacuation plan for the Irish citizens in the affected region? Those people deserve clarity, reassurance and the full protection of the State. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The advice is very clear: to shelter in place and to register with the relevant embassy for the country in which they are based so that there can be clear communication between our embassies and Irish citizens. All options are being, and will be, pursued to help our citizens. The immediate situation is very challenging because it is unsafe. Emirates and Etihad got opportunities yesterday; they got short time windows to get some planes out. Those were mostly towards the east. We would hope that there might be opportunities in the coming week if that could happen. In the meantime, we are pursuing all options, including co-ordinating with our European partners on any potential evacuation. For the immediate days ahead, the advice is to stay in shelter and register. We will do everything we can with the authorities in the respective countries in the Gulf to support our citizens. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tom Brabazon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tom Brabazon  Every day I am contacted by a member of my community who says either they, themselves, or a member of their family have attended the accident and emergency department in Beaumont Hospital. They invariably describe it as being like a war zone. That department is bursting at the seams with elderly people left on trolleys and on chairs while staff have to try to care for patients in an overcrowded and overrun emergency department. We are a wealthy modern country and there is no excuse for people in their most vulnerable moments to be forced to endure war zone conditions in their local hospital. We urgently need the redevelopment of the emergency department at Beaumont and the construction of a new critical care unit. I welcome that the Government has committed over \u20ac24 million to the hospital but we need to know timelines for when this work will commence and be finalised. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  As the Deputy said, \u20ac24 million was allocated for this facility in the capital plan. We need to work through the design. Under the acceleration of critical infrastructure, we hope that they will follow through on the work the Minister, Deputy Chambers, has done on fast-tracking these developments. Yesterday, I met with the HSE chief executive along with the Minister at the Cabinet subcommittee on health. The north east is the best area in the country with the lowest number of people on trolleys for any length of time. It is in the green zone a lot more than others. Overall, notwithstanding the experiences that some of the Deputy's constituents have articulated to him, a lot more progress is happening in the north east than in some other parts of the country in the accident and emergency story overall. I will talk to the HSE in respect of timelines at that accident and emergency department. We are conscious that HSE infrastructure takes longer than other infrastructure. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  Deputy Sorca Clarke brought up the issue James Reardon and Ruth McSkane had with costs of almost \u20ac10,000 for audiology supports and hearing aids. I brought that issue up previously with the Taoiseach and sent it to his office. It needs to be addressed.  I will briefly deal with the issue of the National Ambulance Service. Debbie McCole and many other members were outside Leinster House protesting today. I have been contacted by fathers, by uncles and by those themselves who had been qualified. One such email said:  - 9th February - received UCC final results  - 12th February - Email from HR saying there was a delay issuing our contracts as they were waiting on college results  - 24th February - HR Email 16 week extension contract and advise us of this new internal recruitment campaign and that we have to apply for our jobs  - 26th February - Teams call with the head of service for the east informing us of the situation  They thought they had jobs. They thought they were working for the HSE and they want to do so. The National Ambulance Service believes it is a problem with numbers. The HSE is playing around with this. We do need to find a solution. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Time is up. The Deputy has had enough time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We need to find a solution because in other parts of the health service we would love if people would stay on after training, qualifying and working. We have made huge progress on the nursing front in that regard. I will talk to the Minister for Health and get the background to this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Albert Dolan  In 2022, the Government announced a fantastic scheme to provide sewerage services to unsewered villages. Two of those villages, Craughwell and Clarinbridge, are in County Galway, and a sum of \u20ac21.9 million was allocated. Subsequently at the end of last year, the Minister, Deputy Browne, increased that to \u20ac29.9 million, which was fantastic and it reduced the matched funding contribution from the council from 15% to 8%, which was very welcome. However, we have a huge problem. The council is saying it still does not have the 8% matched funding. That infuriates me because it is sitting on \u20ac29 million and it is not delivering significant infrastructure for wastewater treatment to those two villages. I ask the Taoiseach to write to Galway County Council and ask it to progress this project as it has \u20ac29 million. As with any large infrastructure scheme where there tend to be overruns and cost increases over time, the council needs to be assured that the Government will be there to support it to finish the project. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I hear the frustration in the Deputy's voice and I share it. The funding has been increased. I recall the council saying that it needed more to reduce the council contribution. That has happened and it is still holding out. It is not good enough. I will meet with the county executive; I have to schedule it. We would like to meet the Galway County Council chief executive and the Galway City Council chief executive to discuss zoning and housing and now this as well. These schemes have dragged on for a long time. They were announced four or five years ago. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Albert Dolan  It has been three years and nothing has happened. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  There has to be a developmental will, a will to do things, take risks and go for it.  Too many are taking soft options here and are overly dependent on the Government for everything. It is not good enough. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  Eight years ago, the Irish people voted to repeal the eighth amendment. Many people voted because of the tragic stories they heard about women who were forced to the UK to have their terminations. Unfortunately, eight years later, far too many women still have to go to the UK for those terminations.  My niece is one of those women. She bravely told the story of what happened to her on this morning's episode of \"Today with David McCullagh\". She was pregnant and her baby had a severe brain malformation. She was told by all the consultants that termination was the right way to go but none of them would actually sign off on it and let her have that termination here in Ireland. She went to the UK and was looked after so well in Liverpool. When she was leaving Liverpool, the consultant told her to hide her baby in the boot of the car. \u00c9adha was a much-wanted and much-loved baby. There is no protocol for coming home. There are so many gaps. We need to ensure that the 28-day time limit is reviewed. There also need to be support for women----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, there will be further----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  -----like my niece who are still facing that awful challenge----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Whitmore, thank you. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  -----of trying to get their babies home to bury them with respect. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Taoiseach to respond. Thank you. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  First of all, I did not hear that programme this morning and offer my sincere sympathies to the Deputy's niece and the wider family. I will have to check the background to this but would the consultants not have been obliged under the law to sign? I do not have the full background. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  They could not say whether she would live beyond the 28 days. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach is going to need a lot more information. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That was a fairly fundamental part of the referendum, if we are honest, a number of years ago and then the legislation that followed. That would need consideration. The best thing I can do is to replay the programme, listen to the Deputy's niece and hear the circumstances. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach will correspond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marie Sherlock  Can and will the Taoiseach and the Government provide a clear statement on the future location of the Rotunda Hospital? We are now two and a half weeks on from the decision of An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la. The rejection of the critical care wing proposal boiled down to two main reasons, which were conservation and the 11-year-old policy of colocation with Connolly Hospital. We all know that nothing has been done to make that colocation happen. Nothing is being planned at the moment. Yet we see replies to parliamentary questions from the Minister for Health that still reference Connolly Hospital in relation to the Rotunda Hospital. Department of Health officials were tying themselves in knots last Wednesday at the Oireachtas health committee hearing.  I raise with the Taoiseach the serious concern that unless the Government makes a clear statement on the future location of the Rotunda Hospital, the ambiguity will jeopardise any future planning application by the Rotunda Hospital. For women and babies, we need that clarity and a lack of ambiguity from the Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The decision on the Rotunda Hospital was taken less than two weeks ago. The Minister will be making a clear statement on behalf of the Government on the issue. We had a good discussion yesterday at the Cabinet subcommittee on health. A very clear statement will be issued by the Minister. Consultations are obviously under way, which is to be expected to ensure that any statement issued has substance behind it and involves as wide and deep a consideration as possible. There will be that clarity. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  Many thousands of housing estates in this country are unfinished. They have not been handed over to local authorities. Many local authorities state they cannot take them in charge because they do not have moneys available to them. I stood yesterday with Councillor Ger Curley in housing estates in Cobh. The infrastructure needs to be fixed. Lighting needs to be put in place. We are waiting for engineers' reports. That is the case for thousands of housing estates. They are not just from the Celtic tiger days when builders went bust and there was no bond in place. A housing estate in Rathcooney in Cork has not been taken in charge in 47 years. It is a group of houses. The roads are in an appalling condition. Will the Taoiseach commit to instigating a national fund from which local authorities can draw down to take housing estates in charge? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Without commenting on specific cases, the State has been asked to intervene left, right and centre, and everywhere. There is a problem there in terms of sustainability. When estates are developed, there have to be bonds and people have responsibilities. There are different cases, and I accept all of that, but there is an issue for us as a State. People have obligations when they enter these contracts and finish estates and so forth. Forty-seven years is a bit long, and I take that point, but I am speaking more generally. I will ask the Minister for housing for his observations. We are committing unprecedented sums of money to local authorities on housing across a whole range of headings. Only today, the Government decided to provide more funding to the local authorities for retrofitting and voids. The local authorities tend to use it for other reasons or in different ways. They spend an amount on the deep retrofit and refurbishment of houses----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----where that was never the original reason for the allocation of a grant. The money was given to something else. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"An tOrd Gn\u00f3 - Order of Business"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/dbsect_8","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Finance Act 2004 (Section 91) (Deferred Surrender to the Central Fund) Order 2026: Motion","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Dara Calleary)  I move:  That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann approves the following Order in draft:  Finance Act 2004 (Section 91) (Deferred Surrender to the Central Fund) Order 2026,  copies of which have been laid in draft form before D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann on 4th February, 2026. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Finance Act 2004 (Section 91) (Deferred Surrender to the Central Fund) Order 2026: Motion"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/dbsect_9","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Consideration of Estimates by Committee: Motion","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Mary Butler)  I move:  That, pursuant to Standing Order 223(1), the following Committees may complete their consideration of the Estimates for Public Services for the year ending 31st December, 2026, standing referred to them pursuant to Standing Order 222(2), later than the eightieth day and not later than the one hundredth day, being the 27th day of March, 2026, after the Estimates had been so referred:  \u2014 the Select Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport (Vote 33); and  \u2014 the Select Committee on Education and Youth (Vote 26). "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Consideration of Estimates by Committee: Motion"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/dbsect_10","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna - Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_10","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna - Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/dbsect_11","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_11","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/dbsect_12","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Disability Issues","counts":{"speechCount":20,"speakerCount":13},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/dbsect_11","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_11","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_12","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_12.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 19, inclusive, together.  The delivery and monitoring committee, which I chair, oversees implementation of the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030. This strategy, published last September, is the Government's plan to advance the realisation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities so that disabled people are supported and empowered to live full lives of their own choosing. The delivery and monitoring committee is part of robust monitoring structures that have been established for the strategy. These structures have been co-designed with stakeholders to ensure oversight and accountability, and will involve disabled people centrally so that their voices can be heard.  The first meeting of the delivery and monitoring committee took place on 8 December 2025. It was attended by the Government Ministers responsible for delivering the strategy, including the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality and the Minister of State with responsibility for disability, alongside representatives of disabled persons' organisations and disability and civil society organisations. To mark the inaugural meeting, a number of additional Ministers attended, including the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the Minister of State with responsibility for international and road transport, logistics, rail and ports, the Minister of State with responsibility for special education and inclusion and the Minister of State with responsibility for small business and retail, and the circular economy.  The meeting of the committee considered a first programme plan of action for the national human rights strategy for disabled people, which covers the years 2025 and 2026. The plan details initial measures that will ensure disabled people experience real progress in their everyday lives. Examples include the roll-out of the new education and therapy service, increased provision of respite and residential services, steps to address primary care waiting lists and the development of a new vehicle adaptation scheme. Respite services play a critical role in supporting people with disabilities and their families, and the value that these services provide cannot be understated. We made a commitment in the programme for Government to continue the expansion of respite services and budget 2026 reflects this ambition. It provides \u20ac25 million in additional funding for respite expansion, providing over 10,000 extra overnight and 15,000 day respite sessions. This funding is being used to increase the level of respite provision for children and adults around the country through a mix of alternative respite options. These include in-home respite, after-school and day respite, using existing overnight residential capacity to the maximum extent and providing additional overnight respite capacity where it is needed. The funding will also support the further development of home-sharing, a person-centred and community-based form of respite where a person is supported in the family home as a viable respite option.  Following consideration by the committee, the plan of action was subsequently published. The committee will meet twice a year and future meetings are expected to have a thematic focus on specific issues that will be identified with stakeholders in advance. The next meeting of the committee has not yet been scheduled.  The Government is committed to delivering real and tangible solutions to enhance services to better support disabled people in Ireland. The overall HSE disability budget for 2026 has grown to more than \u20ac3.8 billion, a 20% increase on the previous year, delivering increased investment in residential, respite and therapy services. This includes additional investment in the 93 children's disability services which provide services and support for over 45,000 children, an increase of approximately 2,000 children since 2024.  While we recognise there is much more to do, CDNT waiting lists have fallen from nearly 13,000 in January 2025 to just under 9,400 at the end of December 2025. To support this growing investment, the HSE is driving intensive recruitment efforts and a dedicated disability workforce strategy will be developed in 2026. The Government is also firmly committed to supporting disabled people and improving their lives, including through addressing the cost of disability. The Government recognises the significant additional costs that disabled people can face in their daily lives and we are committed to improving outcomes for disabled people by introducing permanent measures. The programme for Government includes a commitment to introducing a permanent annual cost-of-disability support payment, with a view to incrementally increasing this payment. Work on this has begun, led by the Minister for Social Protection, and will include engagement with disabled people with a view to developing proposals for Government. A public consultation is currently open. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  Deputies Quinlivan and Quaide and I visited the Side-By-Side clubhouse in D\u00fan Laoghaire run by Acquired Brain Injury Ireland. Deputy John Brady and I met the group previously. It has two specific asks. Some 450 children in the State suffer moderate to severe traumatic brain injury. Unfortunately, outside of a small number of specialist rehabilitation centres there are no dedicated rehabilitation services for children with an acquired brain injury. Its proposal is for two community-based specialist interdisciplinary teams for children living with acquired brain injuries which would provide much-needed rehabilitation services to children in their communities, including in their own homes. The other issue relates to \u20ac2 million for a brain injury case manager. We saw a lady who had no action in regard to rehabilitation until a case manager was in place but that does not exist everywhere. We need that roadmap for everybody. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Daly  With the full permission of his parents, I want to raise the case of 15-year-old Oliver, a young person with severe autism and PANDAS. The State is currently spending approximately \u20ac700,000 on a residential placement that independent clinicians have warned is unsafe and unsuitable for him. His parents have documented repeated safeguarding concerns and HIQA has raised serious issues with the oversight of his care. Despite the ongoing engagement by his parents and my office, no clear pathway can be found. His parents are not seeking additional funding. Rather, they are willing to build a purpose designed extension at their home and are simply asking that the existing funding follows their child so he can receive his clinically assessed two-to-one care package safely at home at roughly half the current cost. I would appreciate the support of the Taoiseach in ensuring this case is reviewed urgently at the highest level, so that Oliver's best interests come first. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan  I too want to raise an issue around residential care, following on from Deputy Daly. The Taoiseach and I share a county and city. To be fair, his office was very helpful in the case I worked on with it over the past two weeks where a person required urgent residential intervention. The problem in a Cork context was that this young adult was diagnosed with a mild disability. To call a spade a spade, there are no residential opportunities for anybody with that categorisation in Cork, irrespective of their condition. That is happening in Cork at the moment. The county is essentially only dealing with emergency cases and cases are being managed on a week to week basis. At best, that is what people are trying to do. There is very little forward planning. I have met all of the service providers over the past few weeks. I am genuinely very concerned about the outlook for full-time residential care. I assume this is replicated in other parts of the country. We need to fund service providers adequately to provide accommodation. I thank the Taoiseach for meeting the Before We Die campaign, which is at the helm in terms of progressing the issue, and I hope he has more interaction with it in the next few weeks. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Wall  On world hearing day, I again want to raise the case of James Reardon and Ruth McSkane, who face a bill of \u20ac10,000 for hearing aids. I have previously raised with the Minister for Health the case of a lady in my area, Maggie Owens, who is involved with Irish Sign Language and creates great bond with the language in the town of Athy. At a time when some 50% of our population with a disability of working age is not in employment, expenses such as cost of hearing aids are prohibitive. In 2024 the Department of Health set up a working group to develop a national hearing care plan. Can the Taoiseach confirm the status of the report? Can the Government consider the costs which prohibit those from with disabilities from entering employment? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  More than 3,000 people signed a petition calling for two new autism classes in Stapolin Educate Together National School. The Department of Education and Youth said it will sanction these classes in terms of staffing but will not provide any classrooms. There are no spare classrooms in the school. The school needs to be able to provide new classes and modular classrooms if the new autism classes are to open. Will two new additional classrooms be sanctioned? Will he speak to the Minister for Education and Youth about this? Cad \u00e9 a dhearcadh? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Liam Quaide  In this Chamber, we tend to speak almost exclusively about the right of disabled people to access services, yet many other rights make for a full life, not least the right to employment. Ireland continues to have one of the lowest disability employment rates in Europe. The wage subsidy scheme is designed to close the gap, yet what we have heard from Rehab Group, the largest employer of disabled people in the State, is deeply concerning. It has warned the real value of the subsidy has eroded because it has not kept pace with increases in the national minimum wage. It has also raised concerns about the revised band structure. In practical terms, the marginal incentive weakens at higher staffing levels. That risks undermining the very objective of the scheme. If we are serious about participation, dignity and economic independence for disabled people, the wage subsidy scheme must strengthen, not dilute, the incentive for employers who are leading on inclusion. Will the Government revisit the structure and rates of the scheme to ensure a genuinely supports the expansion of disability employment? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  How many children have been notified to the NCSE as needing a special class or school place for September 2026? We now know 351 special classes have been sanctioned. What is the shortfall? It has been reported as being in the region of 1,000 children and 250 extra classes. Can the Taoiseach give a commitment that the necessary places, special education teachers, SNAs and school buildings will be in place for September? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Parents, SNAs and school communities protested over the misguided move by the Government to take a significant number of SNAs from many schools across the country, a decision it had to backtrack on because of the outrage. They want to know they will not be in the same position in a year's time when the same issues happen again. Will the infamous 2014 circular, which they believe should be torn up, be rewritten with the input of the parents, SNAs and school communities so that the same dire mistake is not made again? The Government has committed to withdrawing the circular and rewriting it. Will it get input from the people who matter and know how the circular should be written in a way that guarantees the right of children with special needs and school communities? Will the Government make sure it does not make another mistake in having something written top-down by people who do not understand the issue? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  On Saturday, I attended a powerful protest organised by the Affordable Ireland campaign. It was led by disabled people and disabled people's organisations. The focus of the protest was the cost-of-living crisis in general but in particular a demand for an emergency payment for those who have seen \u20ac1,400 in cuts savagely implemented in the past budget. A striking feature of the speeches was people responding to the ridiculing that happened in here about the notion that people are making real choices to heat or to eat. People spoke about their lived experience and this being the choice they face.  The Government is talking about a national human rights strategy for disabled people, while pushing people further into poverty with its political choices. When I raised this with the Taoiseach last week during Leaders' Questions, he pointed to an ESRI study that said the lowest income groups benefited most from the recent budget. I actually went and checked the report, which says the opposite. It says that the lower income households were hit harder. Will the Taoiseach listen to those on the street and implement a winter payment? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  T\u00e1im tar \u00e9is \u00e9 seo a r\u00e1 sa Teach seo c\u00fapla uair anois. Nuair a thosa\u00edonn daoine le m\u00edchumas ag obair, t\u00e1 seans go gcaillfear an pas saor in aisce don taisteal. N\u00edl s\u00e9 sin f\u00e9ar\u00e1ilte ar chor ar bith. N\u00edl s\u00e9 cothrom. M\u00e1 t\u00e1imid ag iarraidh go mbeidh an m\u00e9id is m\u00f3 daoine le m\u00edchumas gur f\u00e9idir leo a bheith san fh\u00f3rsa oibre p\u00e1irteach ann, bheadh s\u00e9 i bhfad n\u00edos fearr mura raibh siad chun an pas sin a chailli\u00faint. Le bheith ionraic, m\u00e1 t\u00e1imid ag iarraidh \u00e9 sin a chinnti\u00fa \u2013 bh\u00ed m\u00e9 ag caint leis an Aire, an Teachta Calleary, agus d\u00fairt s\u00e9 go raibh seans ann \u2013 caithfimid an br\u00fa is m\u00f3 gur f\u00e9idir linn a chur ar an Roinn chun \u00e9 sin a chead\u00fa. N\u00edl s\u00e9 cothrom go dtarla\u00edonn s\u00e9 sin nuair a th\u00e9ann daoine ar ais go dt\u00ed an obair. N\u00edl s\u00e9 f\u00e9ar\u00e1ilte. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Holy Family School for the Deaf in Cabra is a centre of excellence for deaf education and is in fact the only campus in Ireland catering for deaf pupils from the ages of three to 18 years. This is education for deaf children and young people in the deaf community. It is a special school, providing a very specialised service. It is a wonderful school and they need in-house Irish sign language, ISL, interpreters on staff. I met them yesterday and they recounted to me how they have to hire in interpretation services for the most mundane, the most complex and sometimes the most sensitive of tasks. They also explained how bringing in interpreters piecemeal like that does not work for children, especially small ones, because there has to be a relationship of trust and understanding and so on. They need two of these interpreters in-house. They cannot get clarity from the Department. Will the Taoiseach intervene for goodness' sake? This school needs this service, as I imagine another deaf school in Limerick does. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Erin McGreehan  Across this House we are incredibly impatient and adamant that this committee at the Department of the Taoiseach must deliver for disabled people. Right across the country, every single day, many of us speak to people with disabilities, and families who have children with disabilities who are caught up in not getting access to education, housing adaptations, timely assessments or transport in their communities. There is a cost-of-living crisis as well. There is an incredible number of issues. This committee has to be more than procedural. It has to have real results. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank all the Deputies who contributed on this matter. First, Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa outlined how he has met representatives from Acquired Brain Injury Ireland on the need for injury case managers----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  Yes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----and two community-based specialists for the centre. I am familiar with the organisation. I will speak to the Minister and the Minister of State to see what the background to this is. I think it has been a very effective organisation and an advocate for people with acquired brain injuries. I am supportive of this but obviously I will have to talk to the Minister and the Minister of State and see where they are in terms of the specific request. I appreciate the Deputy raising the matter.  Deputy Daly raised the case of 15-year-old Oliver. I will take this offline. The Deputy's suggestion sounds eminently sensible to me. The closer to home the child is, the better the sustainable prospects for the child and the family. I will talk to the HSE about this and see what we can do to get to the right solution.  I appreciate Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan's comments about various interventions. I have met the Before We Die group. I am very conscious of the need to join together the disability Department, the HSE and the Department of housing in respect of sustainable long-term residential accommodation for disabled adults. There is a spectrum in terms of dependency and the needs for various levels of support for people to go into a housing situation. It cannot be a case where providers of services tell people to go to the local authority and apply for what will be general support services in time. That is not a sustainable model, in my view. I had a good discussion with parents in this situation. I have put it on the agenda for the next meeting of the Cabinet subcommittee on disability. I have asked the Minister and the Minister of State to come forward with clear proposals on how we can create a more sustainable framework for housing for people with disabilities in the long term. Some will need substantial supports, some will need fewer supports and some will need a sheltered or just a very basic supportive environment. The Department of housing has a funding scheme available. It is about how we pull everything together to make sure that it is sustainable going forward for those who need these housing scenarios. I am familiar with the case in terms of the mild to moderate diagnosis and again, there needs to be flexibility in how that is applied to services. In my view, there should not be a categorical cut-off line in situations to do with disability. There should perhaps be a more subjective view from clinicians. Nothing is that straightforward in terms of disability. The Deputy is right that the emphasis, particularly in the southern region, is on emergency cases at the moment.  I will talk to the Minister about that hearing issue raised by Deputy Mark Wall to see what supports can be provided. Obviously, we have to try to get the waiting times down and get greater access. Audiology has been problematic historically. We need to get more people into training places and recruit more people. It is a key area and it is related to speech as well. There is an inseparable connection between that and speech and language therapy. I will pursue this with the Minister.  I would say to Deputy Cian O'Callaghan that if they have sanctioned the classes, we will have to provide them. The timelines might be problematic but we have to provide a facility for those two classes if they are sanctioned, unless there are other spaces on the school campus that could it on an interim basis. I will talk to the Department in respect of that.  I assure Deputy Quaide that I will ask for a review of the wage subsidy scheme. When we came into government last year, the Department had done its review. The Minister, Deputy Calleary, launched it and I was at the launch. Some employers get good use out of it, but I am hearing that for some it is not turning out the way people might have envisaged. It was never the intention that it would be a disincentive to employing more. I will pursue that. We want to create a tipping point for people to employ people with disabilities. There are certain services where disabled people provide very good services to the community. It is an economic model and a social enterprise. They are not exactly well served by it either. I will talk to the Minister for an overall review in advance of the next budget.  I understand that the number of special classes that have been sanctioned - Deputy O'Rourke mentioned that the number is 351 - is already higher than the number for last year. I think it was about 302 last year. That shows the scale of what is happening. I will get a precise figure for the Deputy from special education. It will be significantly more than that. Our objective is to make sure children are adequately provided for and have a place because that is their constitutional entitlement.  Deputy Boyd Barrett referred to an \"infamous\" circular. It has been the circular since 2014. Since that circular, the number of SNAs has increased. It was 16,000 in 2020. If we go back to 2014, what was it? It must have been 10,000 or 12,000 and it is now at more than 25,000. It will probably go higher by next September.  I do not know why the Deputy is calling it \"infamous\". There has been some expansion of SNAs since then. There will continue to be a growth in the number of special needs assistants. There is a new circular being issued. There has been engagement with stakeholders. There is also a new redeployment scheme on which there has been substantive stakeholder engagement and that is imminent and near completion. There is then the workforce planning document on which a lot of work has taken place as well.  What should happen ordinarily on a year-to-year basis is the resources should follow the need and need will change. There will be increased need in some schools and there will be reduced need in other schools. It should not be done every five years. Covid-19 apparently interrupted the NCSE's approach to this. There should always be regular assessment of need in respect of what schools require. That should not be contentious. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  How is the Taoiseach defining it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  In response to Deputy Paul Murphy, again, the budget has put in place substantial provision, particularly in terms of our child support payments - record increases in child support payments. In terms of the domiciliary care allowance, there was a substantial increase of \u20ac20 again, which was on top of last year's \u20ac20 increase. Combined with the working family payment, increases in entitlements and expansion of their access to entitlements, particularly free fuel, overall, there has been a very substantial embedded provision. There is also the 20% increase in disability services.  In response to Deputy Heneghan, an aidhm at\u00e1 againn n\u00e1 n\u00edos m\u00f3 taca\u00edochta a thabhairt d\u2019fhost\u00f3ir\u00ed, n\u00edos m\u00f3 daoine faoi mh\u00edchumas a fhost\u00fa agus n\u00edos m\u00f3 deiseanna a chur ar f\u00e1il d\u00f3ibh. T\u00e1imid chun \u00e9 sin a dh\u00e9anamh agus t\u00e1 a l\u00e1n slite againn chun \u00e9 sin a dh\u00e9anamh agus an aidhm sin a bhaint amach. Is pas saor i dtaobh taistil de a bh\u00ed faoi chaibidil ag an Teachta agus fiosr\u00f3idh m\u00e9 leis an Aire cad \u00e9 an sc\u00e9al agus conas is f\u00e9idir linn an sc\u00e9im a fheabhs\u00fa.  In response to Deputy McDonald, I will talk to the Minister for Education and Youth in respect of the Holy Family School for the Deaf in Cabra. There had been an issue with the recruitment of Irish sign writers - full-time teaching positions. I do not know whether that is the background to this or not, or whether it is a sanction issue, but it would be much better if schools had permanent in situ teachers as opposed to hiring people in. I will follow it up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Just for clarity, I am not talking about teachers. I am talking about interpreters. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Sorry, the Deputy is talking about interpreters - point taken.  In response to Deputy McGreehan, the disability committee is very outcome focused. From the get-go, we worked through the school-based therapy scheme. That is now up and running. The recruitment has started. The money was allocated. We are close to finalisation on a vehicle adaptation scheme under the Department of Transport, in combination with the Department of Finance. That will take some time to implement and work up but we are in a position where it will be a very positive outcome. We looked at the assessment of need issue. That committee took decisions on that in terms of legislation and legislative proposals.  In terms of the investment in disability this year, there is an extra 20% in the HSE disability budget to go towards respite and residential support. All of that is coming out of the work of the committee. In terms of the budget, including the whole issue of the domiciliary care allowance, we had a specific disability focus as well from that disability Cabinet subcommittee and from the unit in my Department, which did work in advance of the budget and has done a paper on the outcome of the budget, and will do the same in advance of the next budget. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Disability Issues"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/dbsect_13","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Departmental Strategies","counts":{"speechCount":20,"speakerCount":10},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/dbsect_11","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_11","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_13","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_13.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 to 32, inclusive, together.  Ireland's well-being framework is a cross-government initiative to measure progress and policy impact in Ireland in a more holistic way. The framework consists of 35 indicators grouped under 11 dimensions which reflect different aspects of well-being. It is supported by a dashboard hosted by the Central Statistics Office which brings together all of the framework's economic, social and environmental statistics in an integrated way.  Each year Understanding Life in Ireland is published, which assesses Ireland's well-being performance across these 35 indicators. Ireland's framework tracks 35 indicators grouped under 11 dimensions. These dimensions are subjective well-being; mental and physical health; knowledge, skills and innovation; income and wealth; housing and the built environment; environment, climate and biodiversity; safety and security; work and job quality - both paid and unpaid; time use; connections, community and participation; and civic engagement, trust and cultural expression.  The 2025 assessment shows that Ireland's overall performance is positive, in particular in areas including work and job quality, and our social connections and community. Only two of the 11 dimensions - the environment, climate and biodiversity dimension and the mental and physical health dimension - showed a negative performance.  The analysis also highlights there is more work to do. In particular, there are some groups in our society for whom progress is unequal across multiple areas of well-being, including people with long-term illness or disability, single-parent households, unemployed people, younger people in the workforce, households with lower incomes and households in rented accommodation.  To assist expenditure policy-making, we continue to integrate the framework into the budgetary process. The well-being framework was featured at last year's national economic dialogue and is part of the summer economic statement. The well-being framework was also part of the documents and analysis underpinning budget 2026, and this included analysis of the dashboard in budget day documentation and a paper showing how selected expenditure measures in budget 2026 are enhancing well-being was published by Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  I am sure the Taoiseach would agree that the way sexual assaults survivors are treated is a key part of well-being in any country, and we have already seen the battle for people not to have their own therapy notes used against them in court.  This week, we are seeing how third level institutions treat victims of gendered violence. I highlighted the medical student who was raped, had image-based sexual abuse used against her and lost her place on the medical course. She tried to get reinstated and, long story short, UCD won that court case against her and are imposing costs. I have spoken to other students who have been victims of sexual assault at UCD. The dignity and respect policy seems to be utterly meaningless - for example, even to have the assailant not be allowed to go into a building where they attend courses. Even something as simple as that is impossible, and in all cases, it is the victim who ends up losing their education.  Another student had to do the rest of their degree online but the rapist, of course, continues on with their degree, affecting their mental and physical well-being as well as affecting how they do in their degree overall. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  The Taoiseach has already mentioned the fact that those with a disability are unfortunately in a different set of circumstances. Many of us were at the Affordable Ireland campaign march at the weekend and we heard directly from those with disability about the severe pressure they are under. Unfortunately, as I said earlier, it comes down to heat or eat. These are decisions that have to be made that fortunately nobody in this room has to make. We need to look at the cost of disability in the round and I welcome the review process. That is fine but it is about the people who cannot afford to make payments now. Whatever about not making one-off payments across the board but for those with disability, it could be looked at. I also ask that the Taoiseach looks at the issue in relation to the high cost of hearing aids and that we would see that working group review.  Beyond that, there could be up to 400 trainees for the National Ambulance Service, who could be looking at having to reapply and who are not sure of their jobs. That is a particular issue that needs to be dealt with. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan  I want to raise the section under quality of water or water bodies. The report outlines that the water body assessment showed that 55.3% of Ireland's rivers were assessed as high or good in comparison to 56.2% a number of years prior. The reason I am raising it is that it is specific to one case in Carrignavar, which is in my constituency. Over the past few months, we have been able to tell people that record funding is going to be given to Irish Water to fix many of the problems that have been historic in nature and were carried over from various local authorities.  The reality here is that our water quality is disimproving in that period, according to this report. I attended a briefing with Irish Water last week. We listened to plans that go out to 2080. None of us in this room will be on this planet in 2080 and Irish Water is talking about improving water quality, in a Cork context anyway, by 2080. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Deputy O'Sullivan might make it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan  I have a good chance compared with some in the room. I believe we need to get real here. We spoke about developer-led infrastructure in particular with regard to improving our housing delivery. That seems to be taking a backseat now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Erin McGreehan  The well-being framework shows the overall national progress on, in particular, incomes, job quality and mental health indicators. However, it makes clear that progress is not evenly felt. Single-parent households, unemployed people, renters and young people continue to experience lower well-being outcomes. We need to have more community-based supports for mental health. I believe in social prescribing. We can do more to support people beyond clinical services. What will be done to provide for initiatives such as social farming and community health projects to support voluntary groups that would reduce loneliness and improve mental health resilience in a practical and measurable way? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  The Government's well-being framework is supposed to be a means by which preliminary budgetary decisions can be made. As the Taoiseach might be aware, last month, Social Justice Ireland published an alternative well-being framework entitled Measuring What Matters. It critiques the Government's framework design as not being sufficient to identify and understand disparities, so it took it upon itself to create a more comprehensive picture that reflects the lived experience of different groups. The report states:  The social contract must foster societal wellbeing if it is to last. If it fails to do so, it risks a breakdown in the social fabric and a loss of faith in our democratic institutions.  I could not agree more. The report found that there are significant disparities and inequality across the housing and built environment dimension, as well as the work and job quality dimension, suggesting a deepening gap between the haves and the have-nots. Importantly, in the environment, climate, and biodiversity dimension, the report suggests that progress is reversing, inequality is widening and sustainability is declining. What steps will the Government take in the forthcoming budget to ensure that these trends are reversed and, in particular, that the environment, climate and biodiversity dimension remains a top priority? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  I want to focus on the mental and physical health dimensions of the well-being framework and return to the issue of special class places for September 2026. We heard at the public accounts committee last week that the Department of education, and I presume the Minister, intend to bring a memo to Cabinet imminently in relation to meeting the unmet need for special classes. The Taoiseach might let us know if he expects that to be about funding. What does it mean for SNA places? There will be hugely increased demand for SNAs, which was not part of the conversation last week, and we know an additional supplementary budget is coming for those. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Outside the D\u00e1il today, there was a protest by a large number of mostly young people who are newly qualified paramedics. The Taoiseach may have seen that they gathered a petition over the weekend. About 10,000 people have signed it. For the last three years, they have been doing a degree to become paramedics and they have also been working part time for the HSE. When they were brought in through a recruitment campaign in late 2022, into this degree course and into the part-time work, they were given the clear understanding that they would be given permanent contracts. This was reiterated as recently as December of last year. All of a sudden, they have had the rug pulled out from under them and they have been told they have to reapply in a competition for their own jobs. They are absolutely gutted. They are being told, having believed they would be working relatively close to where their children go to school and so on, that they could be sent to another side of the country and not even got a job with the HSE. This is a shameful way to treat these young people. Can the Taoiseach intervene on their behalf? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  War is a racket. It is an opportunity for many profiteering companies and individuals to try to rip people off. With Trump's new reckless, illegal, criminal, imperialist war in the Middle East, energy prices are going to rise even higher. In some cases, they already have, so the cost of home heating oil has gone up \u20ac80 since last Friday, for which there is no justification. That oil would already have been bought before the bombing started. The Taoiseach said earlier that he was going to raise this price gouging with the Minister for energy and has asked the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission to examine any unfair pricing practices. This is like \"Back to the Future\". We heard all of this when the cost-of-living crisis started five years ago. Ultimately, the Government refused to do anything at all. Report after report seemingly vindicated energy companies and supermarkets, claiming they are not profiteering when it is obvious that they are. The Taoiseach has the power to introduce price controls. Will he use that power? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  Nuair a bh\u00ed na horduithe dianghlas\u00e1la i bhfeidhm, bh\u00ed faic le d\u00e9anamh i mBaile \u00c1tha Cliath thuaidh agus bh\u00ed go leor daoine ag sn\u00e1mh san fharraige. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 sin an-mhaith don intinn agus don tsl\u00e1inte. Maidir le well-being, will the Department commit to more funding for north Dublin's swimming areas? Regarding B\u00e1 Bhaile \u00c1tha Cliath, t\u00e1 an m\u00e9id pollution at\u00e1 ann uaf\u00e1sach. T\u00e1 a fhios againn go bhfuil a l\u00e1n airgid ag dul isteach sa Ringsend centre but for the Dollymount Dames, Blue Balls Ireland, and the swimmers at Dollymount beach and Howth and in all the coastal areas that I represent, getting into the water is an escape. Will that be prioritised in wellbeing? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I think swimming should be obligatory and mandatory for everyone in this House. It would take a lot of tension out of the House. It would be very therapeutic for all the Members. T\u00e1im an-s\u00e1sta an-chuid oibre a dh\u00e9anamh chun n\u00edos m\u00f3 taca\u00edocht a thabhairt do na daoine at\u00e1 ag sn\u00e1mh sa t\u00edr seo. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  The Taoiseach would want to do something about water quality in Dublin Bay. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  Come up to the north side. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  T\u00e1im an-bh\u00e1\u00fail le daoine a bh\u00edonn ag sn\u00e1mh san fharraige go h\u00e1irithe. N\u00edl an t-am agam \u00e9 a dh\u00e9anamh m\u00e9 f\u00e9in i rith an gheimhridh ach, le c\u00fanamh D\u00e9, beidh n\u00edos m\u00f3 seansanna agam chun sn\u00e1mh san fharraige i rith an tsamhraidh.  In respect of sexual assault, Deputy Coppinger is not here, but I need the background of the case. I think the assertion was that in UCD, a student lost their place in medicine as a result of a sexual assault, which should not happen. I do not know the background to it but I would be interested in getting the full case. I will ask my officials to contact UCD in respect of this, because the dignity and respect framework should be observed and adhered to and absolute priority must be given to a victim of gender-based and sexual assault. Also, I do not understand how a rapist would be allowed to complete their degree on campus, if that was the assertion. Rapists should be in jail and convicted for such heinous crimes. If I could get the background of that, I will engage with UCD in the first instance because it was mentioned and I would like to hear its perspective on it.  In response to Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa, the Minister, Deputy Dara Calleary, is preparing work on the cost of disability and has already initiated a public consultation on that. That is a sustainable way of dealing with the cost that people with a disability undoubtedly have. It is better to do it in a proper, measured, sustained way that is researched properly and evidence-based. That is the approach the Minister is taking. The Deputy has already raised the issue of the hearing, which I have already responded to.  On the National Ambulance Service, I will talk to the Minister for Health to get the full background. If commitments were made to people, they need to be realised. It is a pity because the professionalisation of first responders and emergency paramedic technicians is the one area we have made great progress on. It is a very important area that has done a lot to reduce death and provide early interventions prior to someone being transported to a hospital. It is critical. I was involved in establishing it, in terms of the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council, so I have an interest in it.  Deputy O'Sullivan raised the issue of water quality. My understanding is that overall water quality has improved but there is an issue in Carrignavar. There is an issue on the north side of Cork city in terms of water quality, which is quite poor. We have made a lot of representations to Irish Water. There has been some progress made in some areas. Again, however, Irish Water has internal reforms, which it is progressing in respect of addressing any issues that might pertain to Irish Water itself.  Deputy McGreehan spoke about social prescribing and community health projects. I would be very enthused by those. They are very important. There is a lot more we can do there. The Deputy has identified some areas of the report in terms of single parents being under pressure and the area of mental health, where there is a greater need for not just clinical interventions or primary care and community care-based interventions but also broader supports and strengthening multidisciplinary teams in addition to psychiatry alone.  Deputy Hayes raised the well-being framework. Again, he mentioned social justice. The well-being framework we have is a very comprehensive one. I would prefer if social justice inputted into that framework so that we would have one framework. Maybe this framework is too positive in most of its outcomes. That is the problem; we do not do positivity very well in this country "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  That was not really the issue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We are not positively disposed to positivity - I will put it that way - which is fine. I can understand that, too, to a point. We must always strive for better and do things better in some areas.  Deputy O'Rourke raised the issue of special classes. We spoke earlier on that. The Minister will be coming back to us in respect of that. There will be further discussions at Government level.  I have answered Deputy Boyd Barrett's question, which was similar to Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa's in terms of first responders----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Paramedics. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Paramedics, yes.  I would say to Deputy Murphy that war is a terrible thing. I have no interest in war. I would prefer if all issues could be resolved diplomatically through peaceful means. I am satisfied that Ireland's approach to world affairs is one of peace and trying to help other people, generosity and particularly helping those who are furthest behind, which has always been the hallmark of Irish foreign policy, aid and peacekeeping. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Departmental Strategies"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/dbsect_14","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Seachtain na Gaeilge: R\u00e1itis","counts":{"speechCount":26,"speakerCount":25},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_14","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dessie Ellis","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (Deputy Dara Calleary)  T\u00e1 athas orm, mar Aire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail, agus Gaeltachta, go bhfuil deis agam labhairt inniu i nD\u00e1il \u00c9ireann, agus muid ag cur t\u00fas le Seachtain na Gaeilge 2026. Beidh muid ag ceili\u00faradh \u00e1r dteanga d\u00fachais, \u00e1r dtraidisi\u00fain agus \u00e1r gcult\u00far le linn na f\u00e9ile, agus mholfainn do gach duine p\u00e1irt a ghlacadh, is cuma c\u00e9n leibh\u00e9al l\u00edofachta at\u00e1 acu sa Ghaeilge. Is teanga bheo \u00ed an Ghaeilge. T\u00e1 s\u00ed beo de bharr go bhfuil pobal teanga againn sna ceantair Ghaeltachta a labhra\u00edonn \u00ed go laeth\u00fail, mar a dh\u00e9anann daoine sna l\u00edonra\u00ed Gaeilge agus bailte seirbh\u00eds Gaeltachta agus in \u00e1iteanna eile ar fud na t\u00edre agus ar fud an domhain. Is rud iontach \u00e9 go bhfuilimid tar \u00e9is an ard\u00fa is m\u00f3 i dtaobh na Gaeilge agus na Gaeltachta a aimsi\u00fa i mbuis\u00e9ad na bliana 2026.  Inniu, t\u00e1 m\u00e9 ag cur b\u00e9ime ar an t\u00e1bhacht a bhaineann leis an teanga a nead\u00fa sna seirbh\u00eds\u00ed poibl\u00ed, go h\u00e1irithe san aistri\u00fa i dtreo seirbh\u00eds phoibl\u00ed dh\u00e1theangach. Baineadh cloch mh\u00edle shuntasach amach i m\u00ed Ean\u00e1ir na bliana seo nuair a foils\u00edodh an ch\u00e9ad phlean gn\u00edomha\u00edochta faoin bPlean N\u00e1isi\u00fanta um Sheirbh\u00eds\u00ed Poibl\u00ed Gaeilge 2024-2030. Tagann foilsi\u00fa agus cur i bhfeidhm an phlean gn\u00edomha\u00edochta le gealltanais sa chl\u00e1r Rialtais maidir le cur i bhfeidhm Acht na dTeangacha Oifigi\u00fala, in \u00e9ineacht le gealltanas i strait\u00e9is athnuachana na St\u00e1tseirbh\u00edse 2030 chun an plean n\u00e1isi\u00fanta a chur i bhfeidhm. Thit freagracht fhorioml\u00e1n as ullmh\u00fa an phlean n\u00e1isi\u00fanta agus an phlean gn\u00edomha\u00edochta araon ar an gCoiste Comhairleach um Sheirbh\u00eds\u00ed Gaeilge, a buna\u00edodh faoin Acht agus ar a bhfuil ionada\u00edocht ardleibh\u00e9il ag r\u00e9imse leathan eagra\u00edochta\u00ed \u00f3 fud fad na seirbh\u00edse poibl\u00ed. Tugadh faoi chomhairli\u00fach\u00e1n agus rannph\u00e1irt\u00edocht chuimsitheach ar fud an Rialtais agus lasmuigh de i leith an phlean gn\u00edomha\u00edochta seo. Ba mhaith liom mo bhu\u00edochas a ghabh\u00e1il le mo chomhghleacaithe as rannph\u00e1irt\u00edocht a n-oifigeach sa phr\u00f3iseas seo, in \u00e9ineacht le comhlachta\u00ed poibl\u00ed faoina gcoimirce.  Leagtar amach na bearta ar leith sa ch\u00e9ad phlean gn\u00edomha\u00edochta nach m\u00f3r tabhairt f\u00fathu chun cusp\u00f3ir\u00ed strait\u00e9ise ardleibh\u00e9il an phlean n\u00e1isi\u00fanta a bhaint amach, agus d\u00edr\u00edonn s\u00e9 ar fhorbairt na strucht\u00far taca\u00edochta a bhfuil g\u00e1 leo le go mbeidh rath orainn amach anseo, le b\u00e9im ar bhearta iomad\u00fala nua agus \u00e9ags\u00fala a thriail. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 seo t\u00e1bhachtach, go h\u00e1irithe i dtaca le pr\u00edomhchusp\u00f3ir earca\u00edochta an Achta go mbeidh 20% d\u2019earcaigh chuig comhlachta\u00ed poibl\u00ed inni\u00fail i nGaeilge faoi dheireadh 2030.  I dtaca le ceann de mh\u00f3rspriocanna eile an Achta, t\u00e1 ullmh\u00fach\u00e1n cuimsitheach d\u00e9anta i leith dr\u00e9achtchaighde\u00e1in teanga a fhorbairt, agus re\u00e1cht\u00e1lfar pr\u00f3iseas comhairli\u00fach\u00e1in maidir leis na dr\u00e9achtchaighde\u00e1in seo go luath. Beidh tionchar suntasach ag na caighde\u00e1in teanga ar st\u00e1das agus \u00fas\u00e1id na Gaeilge sa tseirbh\u00eds phoibl\u00ed agus ar na seirbh\u00eds\u00ed Gaeilge a bheidh ar f\u00e1il don phobal.  Beidh treoirl\u00ednte le foilsi\u00fa agam go luath chomh maith chun tac\u00fa le comhlachta\u00ed poibl\u00ed \u00f3 thaobh chur i bhfeidhm gn\u00e9ithe den Acht a bhaineann le c\u00farsa\u00ed teicneola\u00edochta agus digiti\u00fa na seirbh\u00edse poibl\u00ed sna blianta amach romhainn. Chomh maith leis na treoirl\u00ednte, buna\u00edodh gr\u00fapa oibre teicni\u00fail faoin bplean n\u00e1isi\u00fanta anuraidh. Beidh r\u00f3l l\u00e1rnach ag an ngr\u00fapa seo i nead\u00fa na Gaeilge sa r\u00e9imse digiteach, lena n-\u00e1ir\u00edtear \u00fas\u00e1id na Gaeilge ar fhoirmeacha oifigi\u00fala agus taifead cruinn a dh\u00e9anamh ar ainmneacha, sloinnte, teidil agus seolta\u00ed Gaeilge. Tr\u00edd an obair seo, t\u00e1 m\u00e9 muin\u00edneach go gcuirfear le heisp\u00e9ireas Gaeilge an chustaim\u00e9ara, ag cur ar chumas lucht labhartha na Gaeilge \u00ed a \u00fas\u00e1id i ngach gn\u00e9 d\u00e1 saol, go h\u00e1irithe ina bpl\u00e9 leis an St\u00e1t.   Agus muid ag caint ar an nGaeilge agus an Ghaeltacht, n\u00ed bheadh s\u00e9 cu\u00ed gan aitheantas a thabhairt do r\u00f3l \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta. N\u00edl aon cheist ach go bhfuil obair th\u00e1bhachtach d\u00e9anta agus idir l\u00e1mha ag an \u00fadar\u00e1s le c\u00fanamh mo Roinne ar mhaithe le saol phobal na Gaeltachta a fheabhs\u00fa, ar mhaithe leis an nGaeltacht a chosaint agus a fhorbairt, agus ar mhaithe leis an teanga a thabhairt sl\u00e1n don ch\u00e9ad ghl\u00fain eile. Is \u00e1bhar s\u00e1saimh \u00e9 gur \u00e9irigh leis an \u00fadar\u00e1s 681 post nua a chruth\u00fa i gceantair Ghaeltachta in 2025. Bh\u00ed 9,716 duine fostaithe i gcliaintchomhlachta\u00ed an \u00fadar\u00e1is, agus bh\u00ed d\u00edolach\u00e1in ar luach os cionn \u20ac1 billi\u00fan sa Ghaeltacht anuraidh don dara bliain as a ch\u00e9ile.  T\u00e1 roinnt togra\u00ed m\u00f3ra caipitil idir l\u00e1mha ag an \u00fadar\u00e1s i gcomhar le mo Roinn sa r\u00e9imse oideachais agus turas\u00f3ireachta agus i dt\u00e9arma\u00ed bonneagar a leathn\u00fa agus inrochtaineacht a mh\u00e9ad\u00fa i gceantair Ghaeltachta. Luafainn mar shampla forbairt an ionad oideachais agus \u00f3ige in Indreabh\u00e1n, agus an l\u00edonra Gteiceanna at\u00e1 ar f\u00e1il anois fud fad na Gaeltachta. T\u00e1 f\u00e1il ar mheasc\u00e1n oiri\u00fanach de thithe cu\u00ed r\u00edth\u00e1bhachtach chun inbhuanaitheacht phobail Ghaeltachta agus oile\u00e1nacha rath\u00fala a chinnti\u00fa. T\u00e1 freagracht ag \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta as forbairt eacnama\u00edoch, teangeola\u00edoch, s\u00f3isialta agus cult\u00fartha laistigh den 26 limist\u00e9ir plean\u00e1la teanga. Is \u00e9 pr\u00edomhchusp\u00f3ir \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta a chinnti\u00fa go mairfidh an Ghaeilge mar phr\u00edomhtheanga an phobail i gceantair Ghaeltachta agus go gcaomhn\u00f3far \u00ed do na gl\u00fanta at\u00e1 le teacht.  Is fi\u00fa n\u00f3t\u00e1il go mbaineann saincheisteanna tith\u00edochta leis an Roinn Tith\u00edochta, Rialtais \u00c1iti\u00fail agus Oidhreachta. T\u00e1 obair th\u00e1bhachtach ar bun ag \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta chun fosta\u00edocht a chur ar f\u00e1il do phobail na nGaeltachta agus n\u00ed bheadh s\u00e9 cu\u00ed b\u00e9im agus f\u00f3cas na heagra\u00edochta ar chomhl\u00edonadh an r\u00f3il sin a laghd\u00fa n\u00e1 a athr\u00fa. D\u00e1 bhr\u00ed sin, beidh r\u00f3l t\u00e1naisteach ag an \u00fadar\u00e1s maidir le tac\u00fa le sol\u00e1thar tith\u00edochta sa Ghaeltacht, i dteannta r\u00f3il na Roinne Tith\u00edochta, Rialtais \u00c1iti\u00fail agus Oidhreachta agus na n-\u00fadar\u00e1s \u00e1iti\u00fail. T\u00e1 punann suntasach r\u00e9admhaoine ar fud na Gaeltachta \u00e1 mbainisti\u00fa ag \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta agus t\u00e1 bonneagar fu\u00edolluisce ar l\u00e1ithreacha \u00e9ags\u00fala mar chuid de sin.  De r\u00e9ir phlean tith\u00edochta an Rialtais, Tithe a Sheachadadh, Pobail a Th\u00f3g\u00e1il 2025-2030: Plean Gn\u00edomha\u00edochta don Sol\u00e1thar Tith\u00edochta agus chun Dul i nGleic leis Easpa D\u00eddine, t\u00e1 deis ann go bhf\u00e9adfaidh \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta comhoibri\u00fa le h\u00fadar\u00e1is \u00e1bhartha chun leas a bhaint as an mbonneagar at\u00e1 ann cheana f\u00e9in chun freastal ar riachtanais thith\u00edochta i bpobail Ghaeltachta. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 r\u00e1ite ag \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta go bhfuil pl\u00e9 ar bun leis na h\u00fadar\u00e1is \u00e1iti\u00fala ina bhfuil deis oibri\u00fa le hUisce \u00c9ireann chun tairbhe a bhaint as an mbonneagar reatha sin.  Ar \u00e1bhar gaolmhar, t\u00e1 figi\u00fair\u00ed ar f\u00e1il go poibl\u00ed \u00f3 fhoins\u00ed, lena n-air\u00edtear an Phr\u00edomh-Oifig Staidrimh agus an Roinn tith\u00edochta, a l\u00e9ir\u00edonn go bhfuil an treocht \u00f3 thaobh l\u00edon na dtithe sna contaetha Gaeltachta a fhaigheann cead plean\u00e1la, idir r\u00e1ith\u00ed 2024 agus 2025, ag dul sa treo ceart in chuile chontae seachas ceann amh\u00e1in. T\u00e1 an-\u00e9ileamh chomh maith ar an deontas athch\u00f3irithe do r\u00e9admhaoin fholamh sna contaetha Gaeltachta le blianta beaga anuas. Ceada\u00edodh 302  iarratas maidir leis an deontas athch\u00f3irithe do r\u00e9admhaoin fholamh le linn 2024 agus 2025 i gceantair Ghaeltachta. D\u00e1ileadh beagnach \u20ac13 milli\u00fan idir na seacht gcontae Gaeltachta i r\u00e1ithe 4 de 2025 faoin sc\u00e9im seo. \u00d3 th\u00fas na sc\u00e9ime go deireadh 2025, t\u00e1 os cionn \u20ac73 milli\u00fan i ndeontais eisithe faoin deontas athch\u00f3irithe do r\u00e9admhaoin sna contaetha Gaeltachta.  T\u00e1 comhordaitheoir tiomnaithe tithe folmha Gaeltachta ceaptha le d\u00e9ana\u00ed, i gcomhph\u00e1irt\u00edocht le h\u00fadar\u00e1is \u00e1iti\u00fala agus maoinithe ag \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta, chun cabhr\u00fa le pobail aghaidh a thabhairt ar shaincheisteanna fol\u00fantais agus chun rochtain ar dheontais \u00e9ags\u00fala de chuid an St\u00e1it a \u00e9asc\u00fa. T\u00e1 m\u00e9 ag cur an-bh\u00e9im ar ch\u00farsa\u00ed tith\u00edochta sa Ghaeltacht. Beidh m\u00e9 ag oibri\u00fa go dian leis an Aire tith\u00edochta, an Teachta Browne, agus leis an gcoiste Gaeilge chun an fhadhb seo a r\u00e9iteach. T\u00e1 m\u00e9 ag s\u00fail le chomhph\u00e1irt\u00edocht ina thaobh sin.   Is \u00ed sc\u00e9im na bhfoghlaimeoir\u00ed Gaeilge an sc\u00e9im is sine at\u00e1 \u00e1 riaradh ag an Roinn Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta. D'fhreastail n\u00edos m\u00f3 n\u00e1 29,000 foghlaimeoir ar ch\u00farsa\u00ed a bh\u00ed aitheanta faoin sc\u00e9im anuraidh, an l\u00edon is airde \u00f3 2019. As an l\u00edon sin, bhain os cionn 900 foghlaimeoir leas as an sc\u00e9im scol\u00e1ireachta, DEIS Gaeltachta, at\u00e1 \u00e1 mhaoini\u00fa ag mo Roinn \u00f3 2019. Ag aithint r\u00f3l t\u00e1bhachtach na dteaghlach aitheanta a chuireann l\u00f3ist\u00edn ar f\u00e1il don sc\u00e9im, mh\u00e9adaigh m\u00e9 an f\u00f3irdheontas aon-o\u00edche a chuirtear ar f\u00e1il do na teaghlaigh c\u00e9anna go \u20ac14.50 in aghaidh an scol\u00e1ire in aghaidh na ho\u00edche in 2025. Is \u00e9 seo an m\u00e9ad\u00fa aonair is m\u00f3 ar an deontas le breis is c\u00faig bliana. Seoladh sc\u00e9im chaipitil ghearrth\u00e9armaigh in 2025 chomh maith chun tac\u00fa le teaghlaigh sheanbhunaithe le costais uasghr\u00e1daithe leapacha buinc agus tochtanna. Bh\u00ed luach suas le \u20ac2,000, n\u00f3 80% de na costais, ar an deontas seo. Bhain breis is 250 teaghlach leas as.  T\u00e1 t\u00e1bhacht nach beag ag baint le hinfheist\u00edocht sa r\u00e9imse digiteach d\u2019fhorbairt na Gaeilge agus pobal a labhartha. T\u00e1 maoini\u00fa suntasach ceadaithe ag mo Roinn do thionscadail \u00e9ags\u00fala i r\u00e9ims\u00ed \u00e9ags\u00fala den earn\u00e1il dhigiteach. B\u00edonn na hionaid ADAPT agus Fiontar agus Scoil na Gaeilge in Ollscoil Chathair Bhaile \u00c1tha Cliath ag forbairt \u00e1iseanna aistri\u00fach\u00e1in agus acmhainn\u00ed nu\u00e1la\u00edochta teanga. Cuireann ABAIR, togra de chuid Chol\u00e1iste na Tr\u00edon\u00f3ide, c\u00f3ras teicneola\u00edochta aitheanta cainte ar f\u00e1il do phobal na Gaeilge. T\u00e1 an eagra\u00edocht Kinia ag cur oili\u00faint agus \u00e1iseanna ar f\u00e1il d\u2019oideachas\u00f3ir\u00ed a bh\u00edonn ag cur c\u00farsa\u00ed teicneola\u00edochta cruthaith\u00ed ar f\u00e1il do dhaoine \u00f3ga. T\u00e1 \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta i mbun oibre sa r\u00e9imse seo freisin, ag breathn\u00fa go h\u00e1irithe ar thionscnamh nu\u00e1lach chun cumais Ghaeilge a chomhth\u00e1th\u00fa i dteicneola\u00edochta\u00ed na hintleachta saorga.  Is \u00fadar \u00e1thais \u00e9 go bhfuil na 26 limist\u00e9ar plean\u00e1la teanga, LPT, ar fad ceadaithe faoin bpr\u00f3iseas, chomh maith le tr\u00ed l\u00edonra Gaeilge agus deich mbaile seirbh\u00edse Gaeltachta. T\u00e1 oifigeach plean\u00e1la teanga fostaithe i nach m\u00f3r gach LPT agus iad ar fad ag oibri\u00fa go d\u00edograiseach ag feidhmi\u00fa pleananna ar an talamh. Foils\u00edodh an t-athbhreithni\u00fa ar na pleananna teanga le d\u00e9ana\u00ed ina bhfuil roinnt molta\u00ed, cuid acu a bhaineann le feabhas a chur ar sheirbh\u00eds\u00ed poibl\u00ed sa Ghaeltacht. L\u00e9ir\u00edonn s\u00e9 seo an t\u00e1bhacht leis an gc\u00e9ad plean gn\u00edomha\u00edochta um sheirbh\u00eds\u00ed poibl\u00ed Gaeilge a luaigh m\u00e9 n\u00edos luaithe. Tar \u00e9is dom an t-ard\u00fa is m\u00f3 riamh a fh\u00e1il d\u2019earn\u00e1il na Gaeilge agus na Gaeltachta i mbuis\u00e9ad 2026, beidh \u20ac3 milli\u00fan breise \u00e1 infheisti\u00fa sa phr\u00f3iseas plean\u00e1la teanga i mbliana. Idir an infheist\u00edocht seo, tionchar an phlean gn\u00edomha\u00edochta agus tionchar na gcaighde\u00e1n teanga, a bheidh le seoladh i mbliana, cuirfear borradh faoin bpr\u00f3iseas plean\u00e1la teanga sa tr\u00e9imhse amach romhainn.  Cuireann mo Roinn maoini\u00fa ar f\u00e1il do cheithre eagra\u00edocht ar leith a bh\u00edonn ag feidhmi\u00fa sa Ghaeltacht: Tuismitheoir\u00ed na Gaeltachta, Comhar Na\u00edonra\u00ed na Gaeltachta, Muintearas agus Eala\u00edn na Gaeltachta. T\u00e1 \u20ac5.4 milli\u00fan ceadaithe do Thuismitheoir\u00ed na Gaeltachta thar tr\u00ed bliana chun cur ar chumas na heagra\u00edochta breis foirne a earc\u00fa chun a cuid seirbh\u00eds\u00ed a leathn\u00fa agus a bhuan\u00fa ar fud na Gaeltachta. T\u00e1 maoini\u00fa lean\u00fanach ceadaithe ag mo Roinn do Chomhar Na\u00edonra\u00ed na Gaeltachta agus beidh cl\u00e1r nua tr\u00ed bliana le haont\u00fa leis an eagra\u00edocht seo sna seachtain\u00ed amach romhainn chun tac\u00fa leis na seirbh\u00eds\u00ed ch\u00faram leana\u00ed agus luathoideachais sna ceantair Ghaeltachta. T\u00e1 maoini\u00fa, ar luach \u20ac1.24 milli\u00fan \u00e9, ceadaithe d\u2019Eala\u00edn na Gaeltachta don bhliain reatha chun a chl\u00e1r oibre a riar ar fud na Gaeltachta chomh maith. Beidh beagnach \u20ac500,000 \u00e1 chur ar f\u00e1il ag mo Roinn do Mhuintearas chun cur ar a chumas t\u00fas a chur leis an bpr\u00f3iseas oili\u00fana agus earca\u00edochta mar r\u00e9amhullmh\u00fach\u00e1n don mh\u00f3rphlean at\u00e1 ag an eagra\u00edocht do shol\u00e1thar seirbh\u00eds\u00ed \u00f3ige. Beidh s\u00e9 ag gn\u00edomh\u00fa i ngach LPT de r\u00e9ir mar at\u00e1 dara timthriall na bpleananna teanga \u00e1 fhaomhadh.  I dteannta an mhaoinithe shuntasaigh at\u00e1 \u00e1 chur ar f\u00e1il ag mo Roinn don phr\u00f3iseas plean\u00e1la teanga le blianta anuas, bh\u00ed r\u00edm\u00e9ad orm a fh\u00f3gairt ag tion\u00f3l na n-oifigeach plean\u00e1la teanga i gCaisle\u00e1n an Bharraigh inn\u00e9 go bhfuil ciste caipitil de \u20ac235,000 ceadaithe agam thar thr\u00e9imhse c\u00faig bliana d\u2019earn\u00e1il na plean\u00e1la teanga go n\u00e1isi\u00fanta. San \u00e1ireamh sa phac\u00e1iste seo, t\u00e1 \u20ac155,000 ceadaithe d\u2019\u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta agus \u20ac80,000 d\u2019Fhoras na Gaeilge chun trealamh riachtanach oibre a shol\u00e1thar do na hoifigigh plean\u00e1la teanga a bh\u00edonn ag feidhmi\u00fa sna r\u00e9igi\u00fain \u00e9ags\u00fala.  Mar a d\u00fairt m\u00e9 cheana, laistigh den Ghaeltacht bainfidh 26 LPT agus tr\u00ed bhaile seirbh\u00edse Gaeltachta faoi sc\u00e1th \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta leas as an gciste seo. Lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht, beidh an maoini\u00fa ar f\u00e1il do 13 baile seirbh\u00edse Gaeltachta agus tr\u00ed l\u00edonra Gaeilge a thagann faoi sc\u00e1th Fhoras na Gaeilge. Taca\u00edonn an maoini\u00fa seo le cur i bhfeidhm an mholta a rinneadh san athbhreithni\u00fa neamhsple\u00e1ch ar an bpr\u00f3iseas plean\u00e1la teanga maidir le hacmhainn\u00ed leordh\u00f3thanacha a bheith ar f\u00e1il do gach limist\u00e9ar chun trealamh riachtanach oibre a cheannach. Aithn\u00edtear go mbeidh an ciste seo mar thaca\u00edocht mh\u00f3r do na hoifigigh plean\u00e1la teanga agus iad i mbun a gcuid oibre.  Cuireann an Roinn c\u00fanamh ar f\u00e1il faoin chl\u00e1r taca\u00edochta\u00ed pobal agus teanga do choist\u00ed agus eagra\u00edochta\u00ed pobalbhunaithe a fheidhm\u00edonn tr\u00ed Ghaeilge sa Ghaeltacht. D\u00e9antar taca\u00edocht a chur ar f\u00e1il d\u2019eagra\u00edochta\u00ed Gaeltachta, ar n\u00f3s Acadamh na hOllscola\u00edochta Gaeilge, chun cl\u00e1ir oibre a chur ar bun. Cuireann an cl\u00e1r seo maoini\u00fa ar f\u00e1il d\u2019\u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta chomh maith chun togra\u00ed strait\u00e9iseacha a fhorbairt, cos\u00fail leis an ionad oideachais in Indreabh\u00e1n. Cuirtear maoini\u00fa caipitil ar f\u00e1il freisin do r\u00e9imse eagra\u00edochta\u00ed pobal le h\u00e1iseanna pobail a fhorbairt n\u00f3 a athch\u00f3iri\u00fa, lena n-\u00e1ir\u00edtear ionaid pobal agus sp\u00f3irt agus \u00e1iseanna luathbhlianta.  T\u00e1 sc\u00e9im na gc\u00fant\u00f3ir\u00ed teanga \u00e1 riar ag Muintearas, Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne agus Gl\u00f3r na nGael thar ceann na Roinne. T\u00e1 an sc\u00e9im ar an bhf\u00f3d \u00f3 1992 chun cabhr\u00fa le leana\u00ed at\u00e1 ag freastal ar scoileanna i gceantair Ghaeltachta an Ghaeilge a shealbh\u00fa, agus ar Ghaelscoileanna i gceantair \u00e1irithe lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht.  Rinneadh forbairt ar an sc\u00e9im le blianta beaga anuas mar go bhfacthas go raibh g\u00e1 ag leana\u00ed a bh\u00ed \u00e1 dt\u00f3g\u00e1il le Gaeilge le taca\u00edocht bhreise maidir le saibhri\u00fa teanga agus t\u00e1 taca\u00edocht ar f\u00e1il do suas le 160 scoil faoi l\u00e1thair.  Lasmuigh den seomra ranga, t\u00e1 sc\u00e9imeanna eile \u00e1 maoini\u00fa ag an Roinn, ar n\u00f3s an chl\u00e1r acla\u00edochta scoile faoi sc\u00e1th Mhuintearais, agus cl\u00e1r na gcluich\u00ed Gaelacha i gcomhair le Comhairl\u00ed C\u00faige de chuid an CLG. T\u00e1 t\u00e1bhacht ar leith ag baint leis na cl\u00e1ir seo mar go bhfuil siad ag spreagadh an aosa \u00f3ig an teanga a labhairt agus iad i mbun sp\u00f3irt agus spraoi. Taca\u00edonn sc\u00e9im na gcampa\u00ed samhraidh leis an sprioc seo a bhaint amach freisin. B\u00edonn os cionn 170 campa \u00e9ags\u00fail ar bun ar fud na Gaeltachta ar a bhfreastala\u00edonn os cionn 6,000 p\u00e1iste Gaeltachta orthu seo.  Is \u00e9 Gaeilge365 an ch\u00e9ad aonad nu\u00e1la\u00edochta a oibr\u00edonn tr\u00ed mhe\u00e1n na Gaeilge sa tseirbh\u00eds phoibl\u00ed. Bhunaigh Comhairle Cathrach Bhaile \u00c1tha Cliath Gaeilge365 mar thionscadal p\u00edol\u00f3tach in 2023 le taca\u00edocht airgid \u00f3 chl\u00e1r \u00c9ire Ild\u00e1nach, taca\u00edocht a bh\u00ed f\u00edorth\u00e1bhachtach le t\u00fas a chur leis an tionscnamh. Ba \u00e9 aidhm an tionscadail ph\u00edol\u00f3taigh sin cur chuige nu\u00e1lach a chur sa si\u00fal ionas go gcruth\u00f3fa\u00ed breis deiseanna don phobal an Ghaeilge a labhairt tr\u00ed sheirbh\u00eds\u00ed Chomhairle Cathrach Bhaile \u00c1tha Cliath. Leis an gcur chuige nu\u00e1lach a bh\u00ed ag Gaeilge365 \u00f3n t\u00fas, agus baill foirne \u00f3n gcomhairle cathrach tr\u00ed ch\u00e9ile rannph\u00e1irteach ann, bh\u00edothas in ann cruthaitheacht na Gaeilge a chur i l\u00e1thair.  As seo go 2028, beidh Gaeilge365 ag obair i dtreo ceithre mh\u00f3rchusp\u00f3ir sna ceithre \u00fadar\u00e1s \u00e1iti\u00fala i mBaile \u00c1tha Cliath - Comhairle Cathrach Bhaile \u00c1tha Cliath agus Comhairl\u00ed Contae Fhine Gall, Bhaile \u00c1tha Cliath Theas agus Dh\u00fan Laoghaire-R\u00e1th an D\u00fain. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 mar aidhm aige os cionn daichead tionscadal nu\u00e1lach teangabhunaithe a fhorbairt sa bhliain. Cruth\u00f3far deiseanna labhartha Gaeilge tr\u00ed sheirbh\u00eds\u00ed na gcomhairl\u00ed le l\u00edonra\u00ed l\u00e1idir de nu\u00e1laithe teanga. D\u00e9anfar os cionn deich gcinn de na tionscadail nu\u00e1lacha a fhr\u00e9amh\u00fa sa bhliain i sruthanna oibre na gcomhairl\u00ed agus n\u00edos m\u00f3 n\u00e1 ocht dtionscadal sa bhliain a sc\u00e1l\u00fa le go bhfuil siad ag cur le deiseanna labhartha na Gaeilge i mBaile \u00c1tha Cliath. D\u00e9anfar plean teanga uaillmhianach a ullmh\u00fa do Bhaile \u00c1tha Cliath tr\u00ed \u00e9iceach\u00f3rais, \u00e1bhar foghlama agus sainscileanna a fhorbairt. Forbr\u00f3far samhail don ts\u00e1r\u00e9ifeacht i leith l\u00e1idri\u00fa na Gaeilge \u2013 samhail is f\u00e9idir le haon \u00fadar\u00e1s \u00e1iti\u00fail a lean\u00faint tr\u00ed thaighde, comhairli\u00fach\u00e1n agus scaipeadh forleathan an ts\u00e1rchleachtais. T\u00e1 mo Roinn ag cur maoini\u00fa os cionn \u20ac2.26 milli\u00fan ar f\u00e1il do Ghaeilge365 don tr\u00e9imhse ceithre bliana \u00f3 2025 go 2028. T\u00e1 an togra \u00e1 ch\u00f3mhaoini\u00fa ag \u00fadar\u00e1is \u00e1iti\u00fala Bhaile \u00c1tha Cliath, rud a chialla\u00edonn go bhfuil os cionn \u20ac4.5 milli\u00fan \u00e1 infheisti\u00fa ag an St\u00e1t sa tionscnamh seo.  T\u00e1 obair shuntasach ar bun le taca\u00edocht an Rialtais, agus r\u00e9imse leathan daoine, gr\u00fapa\u00ed agus eagra\u00edochta\u00ed ag obair go tr\u00e9an chun an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn. Ina measc si\u00fad t\u00e1 pobal na plean\u00e1la teanga, na Ranna St\u00e1it, Foras na Gaeilge, \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta, na ceanneagra\u00edochta\u00ed, na h\u00fadar\u00e1is \u00e1iti\u00fala agus na heagra\u00edochta\u00ed St\u00e1it tr\u00ed ch\u00e9ile. T\u00e1im f\u00e9in agus an Rialtas seo tiomanta geall\u00faint\u00ed an chl\u00e1r Rialtais i leith fhorbairt agus neart\u00fa na Gaeilge agus pobail na Gaeltachta a chur i bhfeidhm agus leanfaimid orainn \u00e1 dh\u00e9anamh sin.  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas le Baill as cluas \u00e9isteachta a thabhairt dom inniu. T\u00e1 s\u00fail agam go mbeidh deis acu go l\u00e9ir taitneamh a bhaint as cuid de chl\u00e1r Sheachtain na Gaeilge i mbliana. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 t\u00e1bhachtach go gcuid\u00edonn na Gaeilgeoir\u00ed sa Chamber inniu len\u00e1r gcomhghleacaithe nach bhfuil anseo. B\u2019fh\u00e9idir go bhfuil siad ag iarraidh a bheith anseo agus nach bhfuil an mhuin\u00edn acu le bheith anseo. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 t\u00e1bhachtach go bhfaigheadh gach duine a bhfuil Gaeilge aige an cuidi\u00fa agus an mhuin\u00edn chun an Ghaeilge a \u00fas\u00e1id sa Seomra seo agus Seomra an tSeanaid, n\u00ed hamh\u00e1in le haghaidh Sheachtain na Gaeilge ach gach seachtain. Leis sin, gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an gciorcal comhr\u00e1 Gaeilge a bh\u00edonn ann sa coffee dock gach m\u00ed. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 t\u00e1bhachtach go dtabharfaimid deiseanna go dt\u00ed na comhghleacaithe at\u00e1 againn an Ghaeilge at\u00e1 acu a \u00fas\u00e1id mar t\u00e1 Gaeilge ag gach duine. T\u00e1 Gaeilge ag an Leas-Cheann Comhairle freisin. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 t\u00e1bhachtach go mbaineann muid \u00fas\u00e1id aisti. T\u00e1 an br\u00fa sin orthu mar dhaoine a bhfuil Gaeilge acu chun cuidi\u00fa leis na daoine eile. Sin an rud go mbeimid in ann difr\u00edocht a dh\u00e9anamh leis le haghaidh Sheachtain na Gaeilge. Ba bhre\u00e1 liom d\u00e1 mbeadh 20 duine sa Seomra seo ag \u00fas\u00e1id Gaeilge an ch\u00e9ad bhliain eile. Bheadh s\u00e9 sin iontach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  Aonta\u00edm leis an m\u00e9id deireanach a bh\u00ed le r\u00e1 ag an Aire. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 orainn ar fad cuidi\u00fa leo si\u00fad nach bhfuil Gaeilge l\u00edofa acu an Ghaeilge sin a \u00fas\u00e1id agus tac\u00fa leo agus iad ag dul ar thuras foghlama na Gaeilge in athuair n\u00f3 den ch\u00e9ad uair. T\u00e1 s\u00fail agam go bhfuil an ceart ag an Aire go mbeidh n\u00edos m\u00f3 d\u00edobh sin nach bhfuil an mhuin\u00edn acu an Ghaeilge a \u00fas\u00e1id anseo an bhliain seo chugainn agus muid ag tabhairt faoi na r\u00e1itis seo. B\u00edonn na r\u00e1itis seo againn gach uile bhliain. Anuraidh, bh\u00ed s\u00e9 go hiontach an oiread sin Gaeilge a chloiste\u00e1il, n\u00ed hamh\u00e1in le linn an lae seo, ach le linn Sheachtain na Gaeilge. \u00d3 shin, t\u00e1 ard\u00fa tar \u00e9is teacht ar l\u00edon na nGaeilgeoir\u00ed agus an m\u00e9id Gaeilge at\u00e1 le cloiste\u00e1il timpeall Thithe an Oireachtais. Leis sin r\u00e1ite, t\u00e1im ag imp\u00ed ar an gCeann Comhairle m\u00e1s f\u00e9idir l\u00e9i d\u00edri\u00fa isteach ar an gceist. Rinneadh tuairisc anuraidh faoin nGaeilge sa Teach agus bh\u00ed gr\u00fapa sti\u00fartha ann faoi bhun an Uachtar\u00e1in anois \u2013 Catherine Connolly. Phl\u00e9igh an gr\u00fapa le difr\u00edochta\u00ed agus athruithe a dh\u00e9anamh i dTithe an Oireachtais chun a chinnti\u00fa go raibh n\u00edos m\u00f3 deiseanna ann, n\u00ed hamh\u00e1in d\u00f3ibh si\u00fad a bh\u00ed tofa, ach d\u00f3ibh si\u00fad at\u00e1 ag obair anseo.  T\u00e1 100 bliain caite \u00f3 tugadh st\u00e1das oifigi\u00fail don Ghaeltacht den ch\u00e9ad uair, agus 100 bliain n\u00edos d\u00e9ana\u00ed t\u00e1 pobal na Gaeltachta amach ar na sr\u00e1ideanna lasmuigh den D\u00e1il f\u00f3s ag \u00e9ileamh bunchearta agus meas \u00f3n St\u00e1t seo. Gach bliain tagann an D\u00e1il le ch\u00e9ile chun r\u00e1itis b\u00e9alghr\u00e1 a chloiste\u00e1il \u00f3n Rialtas agus chun deis a thabhairt do dhaoine seasamh leis an nGaeilge agus chun a chinnti\u00fa go bhfuil d\u00edosp\u00f3ireacht amh\u00e1in tr\u00ed Ghaeilge. Anocht, t\u00e1 r\u00fan ag Sinn F\u00e9in d\u00edrithe ar cheist na tith\u00edochta, rud at\u00e1 ag d\u00e9anamh tinneas do a l\u00e1n d\u00f3ibh si\u00fad a bhfuil c\u00f3na\u00ed orthu sa Ghaeltacht. Sin an f\u00e1th go raibh an ag\u00f3id lasmuigh inniu. Anuraidh, bh\u00ed r\u00fan d\u00edrithe ag Sinn F\u00e9in anuraidh ar cheist an ch\u00f3ras oideachais ach chuir an Rialtas ina choinne ag an am. Is m\u00f3r an trua \u00e9, mar b\u2019fh\u00e9idir d\u00e1 mbeadh s\u00e9 tar \u00e9is glacadh leis go mbeimis tar \u00e9is bogadh ar aghaidh i saol ch\u00farsa\u00ed oideachais as Gaeilge sa t\u00edr seo.  Is am cinni\u00fanach \u00e9 an tseachtain seo. B\u2019fh\u00e9idir gurb \u00e9 seo an t-am chun an deis a thap\u00fa chun f\u00e9achaint siar ar thuarasc\u00e1il Choimisi\u00fain na Gaeltachta a foils\u00edodh sa bhliain 1926 \u2013 c\u00e9ad bliain \u00f3 shin:  Ionas go dtuigf\u00ed an sc\u00e9al go hioml\u00e1n, n\u00edor gh\u00e1 ach beairic de chuid an Gharda S\u00edoch\u00e1na ina bhfuil Garda\u00ed ar B\u00e9arl\u00f3ir\u00ed iad a shamhl\u00fa i gceartl\u00e1r ceantair Ghaeltachta; n\u00f3 Oifig Poist i mbaile Gaeltachta nach bhfuil Gaeilgeoir ar bith inti; n\u00f3 oifigeach nach bhfuil Gaeilge aige de chuid na Roinne Talmha\u00edochta, n\u00f3 na Roinne Custam agus M\u00e1il, ag feidhmi\u00fa as measc phobal na Gaeltachta. Is gn\u00edomhair\u00ed d\u00edreacha iad na hoifigigh seo maidir le bun\u00fa agus leathadh an Bh\u00e9arla.  F\u00f3s, n\u00edl Gaeilge ach ag beirt as gach tri\u00far garda sa Ghaeltacht. T\u00e1 ar 80% de scoileanna na Gaeltachta m\u00fainteoir\u00ed gan Gaeilge l\u00edofa a earc\u00fa. N\u00edl docht\u00fair\u00ed ar f\u00e1il, agus b\u00edonn br\u00fa ar dhaoine sa Ghaeltacht taisteal lasmuigh di chun seirbh\u00eds sl\u00e1inte a fh\u00e1il i mB\u00e9arla. Is m\u00f3r an trua tar \u00e9is 100 bliain go bhfuil neamhaird f\u00f3s \u00e1 dh\u00e9anamh ag an St\u00e1tch\u00f3ras ar na molta\u00ed cuimsitheacha a bh\u00ed ag Coimisi\u00fan na Gaeltachta.  N\u00edor chlo\u00edgh an Rialtas leis an dualgas faoi Acht na dTeangacha Oifigi\u00fala (Leas\u00fa), 2021 chun spriocdh\u00e1ta a shonr\u00fa faoina mbeidh seirbh\u00eds\u00ed st\u00e1it ar f\u00e1il tr\u00ed Ghaeilge sa Ghaeltacht. A mhalairt ar spriocanna na reachta\u00edochta sin, t\u00e1 cearta teanga sa St\u00e1t seo \u00e9irithe n\u00edos measa. \u00c1it a raibh cosaint ag daoine tr\u00ed na dualgais a bh\u00ed sonraithe sna sc\u00e9imeanna teanga do chomhlachta\u00ed poibl\u00ed, t\u00e1 na sc\u00e9imeanna go l\u00e9ir scriosta anois gan faic ina n-\u00e1it.  D\u00fairt breitheamh san Ard-Ch\u00fairt go raibh cur chuige an St\u00e1it \"\u00e1if\u00e9iseach\". C\u00fapla bliain \u00f3 shin, d\u00fairt breitheamh sinsearach eile go raibh an St\u00e1it p\u00e1irteach i dteangadh\u00edoth\u00fa n\u00f3 linguicide. Mar is gn\u00e1th, n\u00ed dh\u00e9antar d\u00edri\u00fa isteach ar an gceist sin anseo. Measaim gur g\u00e1 d\u00fainn d\u00edri\u00fa isteach ar an gceist a d'ardaigh muid anuraidh faoin nGaeloideachas agus an f\u00e1th go bhfuil 11 contae i l\u00e1r na t\u00edre f\u00e1gtha amach as. M\u00e1 fh\u00e9achaimid ar an l\u00e9arsc\u00e1il, feicfimid nach bhfuil aon spota\u00ed dorcha i l\u00e1r na l\u00e9arsc\u00e1ile sin. Is iad sin na h\u00e1iteanna nach bhfuil Gaelchol\u00e1iste ar bith iontu. Caithfimid d\u00edri\u00fa isteach ar an gceist sin m\u00e1 t\u00e1imid chun clo\u00ed leis an m\u00e9id at\u00e1 leagtha s\u00edos sa dl\u00ed anois. Is \u00e9 sin an dl\u00ed; caithfimid beart a dh\u00e9anamh de r\u00e9ir bhriathar an dl\u00ed sin. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  T\u00e1 an Ghaelainn fite fuaite len\u00e1r n-aitheantas mar n\u00e1isi\u00fan agus mar phobal. Is teanga bhr\u00edomhar bheo \u00ed le stair \u00e1rsa agus todhcha\u00ed gheal. I mo chlannsa agus i mo phobal, is \u00ed an Ghaelainn \u00e1r dteanga laeth\u00fail, \u00e1r dteanga chumars\u00e1ide, \u00e1r dteanga thuisceana, \u00e1r dteanga ghraidhin agus \u00e1r dteanga ghr\u00e1. Is f\u00edor \u00e9 seo i ngach cheantar Gaeltachta agus, ar nd\u00f3igh, in an-chuid clann ar fud na h\u00c9ireann. I mo chlannsa agus i mo phobal, is Seachtain na Gaeilge \u00e9 gach seachtain. T\u00e1 m\u00e9 m\u00f3rtasach agus br\u00f3d\u00fail go bhfuil mo theanga f\u00e9in \u00e1 labhairt agam anseo in\u00e1r bParlaimint n\u00e1isi\u00fanta. Molaim gach Teachta D\u00e1la, Seanad\u00f3ir, comhairleoir agus ball foirne a dh\u00e9anann iarracht an tseachtain seo agus i gc\u00f3na\u00ed. Labhair le haon Ghaeilgeoir agus d\u00e9arfaidh s\u00e9 n\u00f3 s\u00ed an rud c\u00e9anna faoin moth\u00fach\u00e1n a mh\u00fascla\u00edonn s\u00e9 ionainn agus sinn \u00e1 labhairt.  Is teanga bheo \u00ed an Ghaelainn, teanga a mhair tr\u00edd na c\u00e9adta bliain de dheacrachta\u00ed, d\u00fashl\u00e1in agus ionsaithe; teanga a d'fhan d\u00edlis d\u00e1r n-oidhreacht, d\u00e1r n-aitheantas agus d\u00e1r spiorad. Is cro\u00edl\u00e1r \u00e1r n\u00e1isi\u00fan \u00ed agus is \u00ed an nasc a mheascla\u00edonn sinn leis an am at\u00e1 caite, len\u00e1r l\u00e1thair agus len\u00e1r todhcha\u00ed. Is \u00e9 an tsn\u00e1ithe \u00f3rga a ph\u00f3sann sinn le gl\u00fanta at\u00e1 imithe romhainn agus a threora\u00edonn sinn i dtreo todhcha\u00ed ina bheidh \u00e1r n-oidhreacht bheo bhr\u00edomhar ar\u00eds. Is \u00ed an fhuaim a thugann beatha d\u00e1r stair, d\u00e1r seanchas agus d\u00e1r dtraidisi\u00fan agus \u00ed an teanga a labhair \u00e1r laochra, \u00e1r bhfil\u00ed, \u00e1r r\u00e9abhl\u00f3idithe agus \u00e1r n-eala\u00edont\u00f3ir\u00ed. In ainneoin an easa in aghaidh a sn\u00e1mhann s\u00ed, t\u00e1 l\u00edon na ndaoine at\u00e1 ag foghlaim agus ag \u00fas\u00e1id na Gaeilge ag m\u00e9ad\u00fa de r\u00e9ir a ch\u00e9ile. T\u00e1 an Ghaeilge le feiscint n\u00edos m\u00f3 agus n\u00edos m\u00f3 in\u00e1r saol poibl\u00ed, in\u00e1r me\u00e1in chumars\u00e1ide agus in\u00e1r gc\u00f3ras oideachais, c\u00e9 go bhfuil neart dul chun cinn le d\u00e9anamh ag an Rialtas ar an bpointe seo ach go h\u00e1irithe. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 in ann d\u00fainn an Ghaelainn a labhairt le br\u00f3d, a fhoghlaim le paisean agus a roinnt le gr\u00e1. T\u00e1 sinne i Sinn F\u00e9in d\u00e1ir\u00edre faoi teanga agus faoi todhcha\u00ed na teanga. T\u00e1 polasaithe agus pleananna Shinn F\u00e9in d\u00e1ir\u00edre faoi \u00c9ire a bheith in \u00e1it s\u00e1bh\u00e1ilte don Ghaeilge in ainneoin an caith san aer, an neamhaird agus an d\u00edmheas a thagann \u00f3 dreamanna eile i bhfad r\u00f3mhinic.  T\u00e1 g\u00e1 anois le Gaeloideachas a chur ar f\u00e1il mar cheart do dhalta\u00ed at\u00e1 \u00e1 iarraidh ar gach leibh\u00e9al agus i ngach chuid d\u00e1r dt\u00edr. T\u00e1 g\u00e1 ann chomh maith Gaeilgeoir\u00ed a choime\u00e1d in\u00e1r gceantair Ghaeltachta tr\u00ed thith\u00edocht agus fosta\u00edocht a chur ar f\u00e1il agus stop a chur le b\u00e1n\u00fa na Gaeltachta. Is \u00e9 sin an t-\u00e9ileamh a bh\u00ed \u00e1 dh\u00e9anamh taobh amuigh de na Tithe seo ar na sr\u00e1ideanna le linn na hag\u00f3ide n\u00edos luaithe inniu. Is ceist an-d\u00e1ir\u00edre \u00ed sin i mo cheantar f\u00e9in i nGaeltacht na nD\u00e9ise in iarthar Phort L\u00e1irge, \u00e1it ina bhfuil baol ar thodhcha\u00ed na Gaeltachta mar gheall ar an easpa tith\u00edochta. Imp\u00edm ar an Aire St\u00e1it, an Teachta Joch Cummins, agus ar a chuid comhghleacaithe beart de r\u00e9ir briathair a dh\u00e9anamh i dtaobh tith\u00edocht a fhorbairt i nGaeltacht na nD\u00e9ise. N\u00ed f\u00e9idir leis an Rialtas seo a r\u00e1 go bhfuil s\u00e9 ar son na Gaeilge nuair at\u00e1 l\u00edon na bp\u00e1ist\u00ed sa ch\u00f3ras Gaeloideachais ag titim don ch\u00e9ad uair le blianta fada de bharr a pholasaithe, agus laghd\u00fa anois chomh maith ar l\u00edon na Gaeilgeoir\u00ed at\u00e1 ina gc\u00f3na\u00ed in\u00e1r gceantair Ghaeltachta de bharr easpa tith\u00edochta. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 de dhualgas orainn sa Teach seo an Ghaelainn a chosaint, a chur chun cinn agus a neart\u00fa. Caithfimid an Ghaelainn a labhairt, a scr\u00edobh, a l\u00e9amh agus a chanadh. Caithfidh an Ghaeilge a bheith mar chuid l\u00e1rnach d\u00e1r saol laeth\u00fail, gan d\u00edmheas, gan n\u00e1ire agus gan lagmhisneach. Caithfidh an Rialtas seo gach rud gur f\u00e9idir a dh\u00e9anamh ar son gach uile dhuine at\u00e1 ag iarraidh agus at\u00e1 ag \u00e9ileamh saol tr\u00ed Ghaelainn chun tac\u00fa leis an \u00e9ileamh \u00e1irithe sin agus \u00e9 a \u00e9asc\u00fa. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy R\u00e9ada Cronin  T\u00e1 \u00e1thas orm labhairt sna r\u00e1itis maidir le Seachtain na Gaeilge inniu. T\u00e1 f\u00e1inne airgid agam anois. Gach bhliain, tugann an Rialtas a shuntas don Ghaeilge i rith Seachtain na Gaeilge. Deir s\u00e9 go bhfuil an Ghaeilge t\u00e1bhachtach mar chuid d\u00e1r bhf\u00e9ini\u00falacht, d\u00e1r stair agus d\u00e1r gcult\u00far. T\u00e1 n\u00edos m\u00f3 daoine ag cur suime sa Ghaeilge agus ag \u00e9isteacht le Gaeilge sa cheol, i scann\u00e1in agus ar an raidi\u00f3, ach n\u00edl an Rialtas ag tac\u00fa leis an teanga n\u00f3 lena f\u00e1s. D\u00e9anann an Rialtas dam\u00e1iste bliain i ndiaidh bliana. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 sin le feice\u00e1il sa Ghaeltacht. N\u00ed f\u00e9idir le muintir na Gaeltachta tithe a cheannach ina bpobal f\u00e9in. Mar sin, t\u00e1 m\u00e9id na ndaoine at\u00e1 ag labhairt Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht ag laghd\u00fa. T\u00e1 an Ghaeilge ag streachailt sa Ghaeltacht. Caithfear gn\u00edomh\u00fa anois chun tac\u00fa l\u00e9i.  T\u00e1 sc\u00e9alta dearfacha freisin, bu\u00edochas le Dia. T\u00e1 m\u00e9id na ndaoine at\u00e1 ag labhairt Gaeilge i gCill Dara ag f\u00e1s le Gaelscoileanna cos\u00fail le Scoil Chearbhaill U\u00ed Dh\u00e1laigh i L\u00e9im an Bhrad\u00e1in agus Scoil U\u00ed Riada i gCill Choca. T\u00e1 dh\u00e1 bhunscoil agus me\u00e1nscoil amh\u00e1in i Maigh Nuad: Gaelscoil U\u00ed Fhiaich, Gaelscoil Ruair\u00ed agus Gaelchol\u00e1iste Mhaigh Nuad. T\u00e1 Gaelscoil N\u00e1s na R\u00edogh agus Gaelchol\u00e1iste Chill Dara i N\u00e1s, agus t\u00e1imid ag s\u00fail le Gaelscoil nua sna Soll\u00e1in. Mar sin, t\u00e1 n\u00edos m\u00f3 daoine \u00f3ga ag labhairt na Gaeilge sa chontae. T\u00e1 an gr\u00fapa Cill Dara le Gaeilge ann chomh maith agus \u00e9 ag cur go m\u00f3r le h\u00fas\u00e1id na teanga i gCill Dara. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 le moladh ach caithfidh an Rialtas tac\u00fa leis anois. T\u00e1 daoine ag iarraidh an teanga a labhairt ach n\u00edl an Rialtas ag cabhr\u00fa leo. Is f\u00e9idir linn daoine \u00f3ga a spreagadh chuici mar t\u00e1 suim acu anois sa teanga. Is teanga bheo \u00ed an Ghaeilge. N\u00e1 ligimid di b\u00e1s a fh\u00e1il. Mar a deir an seanfhocal, mol an \u00f3ige agus tiocfaidh s\u00ed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh  Seoladh pobalbhreith nua an tseachtain seo ina l\u00e9ir\u00edodh dearcadh dearfach i leith na Gaeilge, go h\u00e1irithe i measc an aosa \u00f3ig. Deir 74% d\u00f3ibh si\u00fad idir 25 agus 34 gur mhaith leo feabhas a chur ar a gcuid Gaeilge. T\u00e1 d\u00fail ann don Ghaeilge i measc an phobail. T\u00e1 gluaiseacht l\u00e1idir againn ag obair chun \u00e1r gcult\u00far Gaelach a chur chun cinn, a bhfianaise sin i l\u00edon na ndaoine a d\u2019fhreastail ar an ag\u00f3id ar son cearta teanga an samhradh seo caite. Cinnte, n\u00edl ach f\u00e1s tagtha ar an ngluaiseacht sin \u00f3 toghadh Catherine Connolly mar Uachtar\u00e1n na t\u00edre. T\u00e1 aitheantas le thabhairt freisin do leith\u00e9id\u00ed Kneecap agus na cail\u00edn\u00ed \u00f3 An Ch\u00e9ad Ghl\u00fain Eile, agus an tionchar at\u00e1 acu i dtaobh \u00e1r dteanga a chur chun cinn. Is \u00fadar d\u00f3chais \u00e9 seo ar fad ach ag deireadh an lae n\u00ed f\u00e9idir linn a bheith ag brath ar chosmhuintir na t\u00edre amh\u00e1in chun an Ghaeilge a shl\u00e1n\u00fa. Teasta\u00edonn taca\u00edocht struct\u00farach. Faoi l\u00e1thair, n\u00edl ach spad\u00e1ntacht le brath \u00f3n Rialtas seo i leith \u00e1r gc\u00e9ad teanga n\u00e1isi\u00fanta. T\u00e1 an Rialtas ina chodladh fad is at\u00e1 deis millteanach os \u00e1r gcomhair. N\u00ed raibh an leibh\u00e9al c\u00e9anna dea-thola riamh i stair an St\u00e1it i measc an phobail. Caithfidh an Rialtas an deis a thap\u00fa. T\u00e1 fadhbanna m\u00f3ra ar gh\u00e1 dul i ngleic leo. Mar shampla, maidin inniu sa choiste Gaeilge chuala muid \u00f3 dhaoine \u00f3ga at\u00e1 ag iarraidh a gcuid saolta a chaitheamh i nGaeilge ach nach bhfuil in ann rochtain a fh\u00e1il ar sheirbh\u00eds\u00ed bun\u00fasacha \u00f3n St\u00e1it tr\u00ed mhe\u00e1n na Gaeilge.  T\u00e1 g\u00e9arch\u00e9im tith\u00edochta againn sa Ghaeltacht agus gan aon phlean ag an Rialtas chun sol\u00e1thar tith\u00edochta a chinnti\u00fa do Ghaeilgeoir\u00ed d\u00fachasacha. T\u00e1 na m\u00edlte p\u00e1ist\u00ed ag f\u00e1il d\u00edol\u00faint\u00ed \u00f3n nGaeilge chuile bhliain, agus gan an Rialtas fi\u00fa s\u00e1sta a admh\u00e1il gur fadhb \u00ed sin, gan tr\u00e1cht ar phlean a bheith aige chun d\u00e9ile\u00e1il leis seo. Chuile bhliain, t\u00e1 teaghlaigh gur mhaith leo oideachas a fh\u00e1il tr\u00ed mhe\u00e1n na Gaeilge d\u00e1 bp\u00e1ist\u00ed nach bhfuil f\u00e1il acu air; an cheart oideachas l\u00e1n-Ghaeilge a fh\u00e1il \u00e1 sh\u00e9anadh ag an Rialtas de bharr ceall infheist\u00edochta. N\u00edl Gaelchol\u00e1iste i ngach chontae sa t\u00edr seo faoi l\u00e1thair. T\u00e1 iallach \u00e1 chur ar dhalta\u00ed gur mhaith leo lean\u00faint lena gcuid oideachas i nGaeilge freastal ar mhe\u00e1nscoil Bh\u00e9arla de bharr nach bhfuil Gaelchol\u00e1iste ina gceantar. Nuair at\u00e1 an me\u00e1nscoil cr\u00edochnaithe acu, n\u00edl an dara rogha ag daoine \u00f3ga ach iomp\u00fa ar an mB\u00e9arla ag an tr\u00ed\u00fa leibh\u00e9al toisc nach bhfuil sol\u00e1thar d\u00f3thanach do ch\u00farsa\u00ed i nGaeilge ar f\u00e1il. N\u00edl compar\u00e1id idir an maoini\u00fa a fhaigheann eagrais Ghaeilge agus eagrais cos\u00fala a fheidhm\u00edonn tr\u00ed Bh\u00e9arla. An t-aon \u00e1it inar l\u00e9irigh an Rialtas uaillmhian n\u00e1 nuair a leag s\u00e9 s\u00edos sprioc go mbeadh 20% den seirbh\u00eds phoibl\u00ed inni\u00fail le Gaeilge agus t\u00e1 ag teip air na c\u00e9imeanna cu\u00ed a th\u00f3g\u00e1il chun dul chun cinn a dh\u00e9anamh ar an sprioc sin.  Mar sin, agus muid ag ceili\u00faradh Sheachtain na Gaeilge, imp\u00edm ar an Rialtas gr\u00e1 a thaispe\u00e1int don Ghaeilge agus a mheon a athr\u00fa chun a thuiscint gur seoid seachas ualach \u00ed an teanga bheo seo at\u00e1 againne. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  Is m\u00f3r an on\u00f3ir dom labhairt anseo i rith Sheachtain na Gaeilge ar son Ph\u00e1irt\u00ed an Lucht Oibre. Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Aire, an Teachta Calleary, a bh\u00ed ann. Rinne an tAire cur i l\u00e1thair iontach. I nd\u00e1ir\u00edre, aonta\u00edm leis an m\u00e9id is m\u00f3 a bh\u00ed le r\u00e1 aige. Mar a d\u00fairt an Teachta N\u00ed Raghallaigh, a bh\u00ed ann cheana, i rith an toghch\u00e1in uachtar\u00e1nachta, thug an tUachtar\u00e1n at\u00e1 ann anois, Catherine Connolly, spreagadh do dhaoine an Ghaeilge a \u00fas\u00e1id agus a choime\u00e1d. Faoi l\u00e1thair, t\u00e1 athbheochan nua ar an nGaeilge ar si\u00fal. N\u00ed g\u00e1 ach f\u00e9achaint ar Kneecap n\u00e1 \u00e9isteacht ar na c\u00e9adta podchraolta\u00ed at\u00e1 ann anois, cos\u00fail le \"How to Gael\", \"An Pod Gaeilge\" agus \"Gaylinn\". T\u00e1 a l\u00e1n podchraolta\u00ed eile ann ach n\u00edlim in ann iad go l\u00e9ir a chur faoi bhr\u00e1id na D\u00e1la.  T\u00e1 g\u00e1 le n\u00edos m\u00f3 n\u00e1 podchraolta\u00ed chun an teanga a fhoilsi\u00fa. T\u00e1 g\u00e1 le hathr\u00fa \u00f3 thaobh seirbh\u00eds\u00ed poibl\u00ed agus \u00f3 thaobh c\u00farsa\u00ed oideachais. Nuair a bh\u00ed an Teachta N\u00ed Raghallaigh anseo, labhair s\u00ed faoin bhfadhb at\u00e1 ann i roinnt contaetha sa t\u00edr seo maidir le me\u00e1nscoileanna l\u00e1nGhaeilge n\u00f3 Gaelchol\u00e1ist\u00ed. Is iarscol\u00e1ire de chuid Ghaelscoil S\u00e1irs\u00e9al i Luimneach m\u00e9. N\u00ed raibh m\u00e9 \u00e1balta freastal ar mhe\u00e1nscoil l\u00e1nGhaeilge mar n\u00ed raibh me\u00e1nscoil l\u00e1nGhaeilge ann nuair a bh\u00ed m\u00e9 \u00f3g. Ba \u00e9 2005 an bhliain a bh\u00ed ann. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 dochreidte go bhfuil scol\u00e1ir\u00ed i roinnt contaetha sa t\u00edr f\u00f3s ag fanacht ar Ghaelchol\u00e1iste l\u00e1nGhaeilge. Bh\u00ed ceannaire Ph\u00e1irt\u00ed an Lucht Oibre, an Teachta Ivana Bacik, i dteagmh\u00e1il le gr\u00fapa a bh\u00ed ann, Gaelchol\u00e1iste Bhaile \u00c1tha Cliath 2, 4, 6, 8, mar bh\u00ed easpa Gaelscoile fi\u00fa i mBaile \u00c1tha Cliath. Nuair a bh\u00ed m\u00e9 \u00f3g, bh\u00ed Mary Hanafin ina hAire oideachais. Bh\u00edomar taobh amuigh den D\u00e1il in 2004 n\u00f3 2005 ag damhsa mar nach raibh foirgneamh buan againn i nGaelscoil S\u00e1irs\u00e9al. T\u00e1 an t-\u00e1dh againn go bhfuil foirgneamh buan ag an scoil anois ach bh\u00edothas ag fanacht ar fhoirgneamh buan le 20 bliain.  T\u00e1 an-bhr\u00f3d agam a bheith in ann mo theanga dh\u00fachais a labhairt sa D\u00e1il seo. Is g\u00e1 n\u00edos m\u00f3 d\u00edosp\u00f3ireachta\u00ed Gaeilge a bheith againn, fi\u00fa i rith Sheachtain na Gaeilge. Nuair a bh\u00ed an tAire anseo, labhair s\u00e9 faoi sheirbh\u00eds\u00ed poibl\u00ed Gaeilge agus faoin bplean strait\u00e9iseach. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 t\u00e1bhachtach a r\u00e1 go mbeidh inni\u00falacht sa Ghaeilge ag 20% de na hearcaigh nua sa tseirbh\u00eds poibl\u00ed faoin mbliain 2030 de r\u00e9ir an phlean sin. Chun an m\u00e9id sin a bhaint amach, is g\u00e1 m\u00f3rathr\u00fa a bheith ann. Leis an m\u00f3rathr\u00fa sin, caithfidh an Rialtas a chinnti\u00fa go bhfuil maoini\u00fa ceart curtha ar f\u00e1il chun an bplean gn\u00edomha\u00edochta do sheirbh\u00eds\u00ed poibl\u00ed Gaeilge 2026-28 a chur i bhfeidhm go rath\u00fail. Caithfidh an plean sin teacht isteach ina ioml\u00e1ine roimh an bplean um sheirbh\u00eds\u00ed poibl\u00ed.  Mar a d\u00fairt m\u00e9, t\u00e1 g\u00e1 le hathr\u00fa ioml\u00e1n. I nd\u00e1ir\u00edre, n\u00ed bheadh an plean sin \u00e1balta an m\u00e9id sin a bhaint amach gan na fadhbanna sa ch\u00f3ras oideachais a leigheas. Mar shampla, t\u00e1 deacrachta\u00ed m\u00f3ra ann maidir le haistri\u00fa dalta\u00ed \u00f3 iarbhunscoileanna l\u00e1nGhaeilge go dt\u00ed an tr\u00ed\u00fa leibh\u00e9al. Is g\u00e1 obair a dh\u00e9anamh leis an Roinn Oideachais agus \u00d3ige agus leis an Roinn breisoideachais chun scr\u00fad\u00fa a dh\u00e9anamh ar aistri\u00fa dalta\u00ed. Is fadhb mh\u00f3r \u00e9 sin. D\u00fairt m'aint\u00edn an m\u00e9id sin liom nuair a bh\u00ed m\u00e9 \u00f3g. Bh\u00ed s\u00ed ina scol\u00e1ire i gcol\u00e1iste l\u00e1nGhaeilge i Luimneach. Ansin, chuaigh s\u00ed go dt\u00ed an ollscoil i gCorcaigh. Rinne s\u00ed c\u00e9im sna heala\u00edona ansin. Bh\u00ed fadhbanna ollmh\u00f3ra aici ag an am sin, sna hocht\u00f3id\u00ed, maidir le haistri\u00fach\u00e1n B\u00e9arla mar bh\u00ed oideachas l\u00e1nGhaeilge aici go dt\u00ed sin. T\u00e1 na fadhbanna sin f\u00f3s ann.  Is g\u00e1 gr\u00fapa oibre earn\u00e1la a bhun\u00fa chun scr\u00fad\u00fa a dh\u00e9anamh ar an gcaoi ina bhf\u00e9adfadh le hoideachas tr\u00ed\u00fa leibh\u00e9al cur le spriocanna teanga na seirbh\u00edse poibl\u00ed. Ba mhaith liom a fh\u00e1il amach inniu an bhfuil an obair sin tar \u00e9is tos\u00fa. Caithfidh an Rialtas d\u00edri\u00fa isteach ar \u00fas\u00e1id na Gaeilge sa strait\u00e9is n\u00e1isi\u00fanta at\u00e1 le teacht maidir le hoideachas treasach. Bh\u00ed an tAire breisoideachais ag labhairt faoin m\u00e9id sin cheana.  T\u00e1 r\u00fan ag P\u00e1irt\u00ed Shinn F\u00e9in anocht maidir le c\u00farsa\u00ed tith\u00edochta sa Ghaeltacht. Beidh m\u00e9 ag labhairt n\u00edos m\u00f3 faoi ch\u00farsa\u00ed tith\u00edochta sa Ghaeltacht anocht ach ba mhaith liom a r\u00e1 nach bhfuil aon chearta teanga ann don Ghaeilge gan cearta tith\u00edochta sa Ghaeltacht. Deirim an m\u00e9id sin mar n\u00edl cainteoir\u00ed d\u00fachasacha in ann saol a chruth\u00fa sa Ghaeltacht faoi l\u00e1thair toisc na faidhbe Airbnb agus toisc go bhfuil siad f\u00f3s ag fanacht ar na treoirl\u00ednte plean\u00e1la. D\u00fairt an seanRialtas go raibh na treoirl\u00ednte plean\u00e1la chun teacht isteach in 2021. Is g\u00e1 i bhfad n\u00edos m\u00f3 tithe s\u00f3isialta a th\u00f3g\u00e1il sa Ghaeltacht mar n\u00edl aon tithe s\u00f3isialta ann, fi\u00fa i nGaeltacht Chonamara. T\u00e1 m\u00e9 an-bhr\u00f3d\u00fail as a bheith \u00e1balta mo theanga n\u00e1isi\u00fanta a \u00fas\u00e1id anseo sa D\u00e1il, c\u00e9 chomh briste is at\u00e1 s\u00ed.  Ba mhaith liom a r\u00e1 le gach uile Chomhalta anseo agus le gach Ball den D\u00e1il agus den Seanad, fi\u00fa amh\u00e1in i rith Sheachtain na Gaeilge, \u00fas\u00e1id a bhaint as an nGaeilge at\u00e1 acu. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail  Cheapf\u00e1 go raibh staid na Gaeilge go hainnis sa t\u00edr seo \u00f3n m\u00e9id at\u00e1 cloiste againn inniu \u00f3n bhFreas\u00fara. N\u00ed h\u00e9 sin an c\u00e1s. Is dea-sc\u00e9al \u00ed an Ghaeilge sa l\u00e1 at\u00e1 inniu ann, agus is sc\u00e9al dearfach \u00e9. T\u00e1 an Ghaeilge le feiscint agus le clos i ngach uile ph\u00e1irt den tsocha\u00ed anois - sna scann\u00e1in, sa cheol agus fi\u00fa sna sr\u00e1ideanna. \u00c9 sin r\u00e1ite, t\u00e1 d\u00fashl\u00e1n f\u00f3s ann. Tuigimid uilig \u00e9 sin. An rud is t\u00e1bhachta\u00ed n\u00e1 go bhfuil dul chun cinn dochreidte d\u00e9anta \u00f3 thaobh na Gaeilge de sa t\u00edr seo, agus t\u00e1 an athbheochan f\u00f3s beo. T\u00e1 n\u00edos m\u00f3 daoine anois ag labhairt na Gaeilge n\u00e1 a raibh riamh i stair na t\u00edre seo. T\u00e1 n\u00edos m\u00f3 le d\u00e9anamh againn ionas go mbeadh n\u00edos m\u00f3 Gaeilgeoir\u00ed againn sa t\u00edr seo.  An tseachtain seo caite, bh\u00edos sa Bhreatain Bheag leis an gcoiste Oireachtais na Gaeilge, na Gaeltachta agus Phobal Labhartha na Gaeilge le breathn\u00fa ar an m\u00e9id at\u00e1 \u00e1 dh\u00e9anamh acu sa t\u00edr sin chun an Bhreatnais a chur chun cinn. Is l\u00e9ir go bhfuil an t-uaf\u00e1s ar si\u00fal acu agus againn anseo in \u00c9irinn. I gcompar\u00e1id, sa Bhreatain Bheag, is l\u00e9ir sa ch\u00f3ras oideachais ansin go bhfuil c\u00farsa\u00ed tumoideachais acu ag dul \u00f3n mbunscoil go dt\u00ed an mhe\u00e1nscoil, rud \u00e9igin ar c\u00f3ir d\u00fainn f\u00e9achaint air anseo in \u00c9irinn. Araon leis sin, t\u00e1thar ag breathn\u00fa go mbeadh 10% den tseachtain sna scoileanna B\u00e9arla tr\u00edd an mBreatnais. D\u00edreach agus m\u00e9 ag smaoineamh faoi sin in \u00c9irinn, an rud go bhf\u00e9adfaimis a dh\u00e9anamh anseo n\u00e1 ar an Aoine, mar shampla, go nd\u00e9anfar eala\u00edn, ceol agus corpoideachas go l\u00e9ir tr\u00ed Ghaeilge. Mar sin, n\u00ed d\u00edreach \u00e1bhar Gaeilge at\u00e1 ann, ach t\u00e1 an Ghaeilge mar chuid l\u00e1rnach den oideachas agus mar chuid de shaol an scol\u00e1ire chomh maith.  Caithfidh m\u00e9 a r\u00e1 go bhfuil an t-uaf\u00e1s d\u00e9anta cheana f\u00e9in ag an Rialtas seo. N\u00edl an Rialtas seo ach le ch\u00e9ile le beagnach bliain anuas. I mbuis\u00e9ad 2026, bh\u00ed m\u00e9ad\u00fa sa bhuis\u00e9ad \u20ac35 milli\u00fan \u2013 29% i mbuis\u00e9ad 2026 i gcompar\u00e1id le buis\u00e9ad 2025. Caithfidh m\u00e9 an tAire a mholadh. T\u00e1 an t-uaf\u00e1s d\u00e9anta ag an Aire, an Teachta Calleary, chun an Ghaeilge agus an Ghaeltacht a chur chun cinn. Fuair s\u00e9 tuilleadh maoinithe don Ghaeilge agus don Ghaeltacht nach raibh feicthe againn riamh. Caithfimid \u00e9 sin a mholadh. T\u00e1 an cleachtas seo ag an bhFreas\u00fara an t-am ar fad chun an Rialtas agus an tAire a ch\u00e1ineadh. N\u00edl s\u00e9 sin maith go leor. Caithfear daoine a mholadh agus caithfear a admh\u00e1il go bhfuil an t-uaf\u00e1s d\u00e9anta go dt\u00ed seo. T\u00e1 tuilleadh maoinithe ag teast\u00e1il. Tuigimid \u00e9 sin, ach caithfimid seasamh siar uaireanta agus a r\u00e1 go bhfuil an t-uaf\u00e1s \u00e1 dh\u00e9anamh agus go bhfuil n\u00edos m\u00f3 le d\u00e9anamh.  Araon leis sin, t\u00e1 d\u00fashl\u00e1in ann. Is sampla \u00e9 an tith\u00edocht sa Ghaeltacht. Bh\u00ed B\u00c1N\u00da agus Tinte\u00e1n lasmuigh de gheata\u00ed Theach Laighean n\u00edos luaithe agus t\u00e1thar sa seomra AV anois. T\u00e1 deacrachta\u00ed ann \u00f3 thaobh tith\u00edocht sa Ghaeltacht. T\u00e1 na treoirl\u00ednte le teacht amach ag t\u00fas na bliana seo chugainn. Ba bhre\u00e1 liom iad sin a fheiscint i bhfad n\u00edos tap\u00fala mar t\u00e1 s\u00e9 r\u00f3dheacair do dhaoine \u00f3ga agus do gach duine sa Ghaeltacht cead plean\u00e1la a fh\u00e1il. T\u00e1 fadhbanna ar leith ann \u00f3 thaobh Airbnb. Ceann de na fadhbanna at\u00e1 ann n\u00e1 leis na comhairl\u00ed contae. T\u00e1 na comhairl\u00ed contae ag breathn\u00fa ar na r\u00e9igi\u00fan Gaeltachta seo ar n\u00f3s r\u00e9igi\u00fain eile sa chontae ina bhfuiltear, seachas breathn\u00fa d\u00edreach orthu mar \u00e1iteanna cro\u00edl\u00e1r na teanga sa t\u00edr seo.  T\u00e1 d\u00fashl\u00e1in eile ar n\u00f3s na hearca\u00edochta san earn\u00e1il Ghaeilge. Mar Leas-Chathaoirleach ar an gcoiste Gaeilge, Gaeltachta agus phobal labhartha na Gaeilge san Oireachtas, t\u00e1imid ag d\u00e9ile\u00e1il leis an m\u00e9id sin faoi l\u00e1thair. T\u00e1 d\u00fashl\u00e1in ann le l\u00edon na nGaelchol\u00e1ist\u00ed. I nGaelchol\u00e1iste Mhaigh Nuad, mar shampla, n\u00edl foirgneamh buan aige agus t\u00e1 s\u00e9 de dh\u00edth. Caithfimid n\u00edos m\u00f3 c\u00farsa\u00ed tr\u00ed\u00fa leibh\u00e9al a chur ar f\u00e1il chun an earca\u00edocht sin a bhaint amach faoi 2030. T\u00e1 n\u00edos m\u00f3 c\u00farsa\u00ed ag teast\u00e1il tr\u00ed mhe\u00e1n na Gaeilge.  An rud is t\u00e1bhachta\u00ed n\u00e1 go bhfuil an Ghaeilge \u00e1 cur chun cinn. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 i staid l\u00e1idir. T\u00e1 n\u00edos m\u00f3 oibre le d\u00e9anamh, ach caithfimid smaoineamh faoin \u00e1it a rabhamar deich mbliana \u00f3 shin, 20 bliain \u00f3 shin agus 30 bliain \u00f3 shin agus an \u00e1it a bhfuilimid anois. T\u00e1 mise ag s\u00fail le dul chun cinn na Gaeilge sa todhcha\u00ed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  Ba mhaith liom tos\u00fa agus lean\u00faint ar aghaidh le rud a d\u00fairt an Teachta \u00d3 Cear\u00fail ansin faoin l\u00e1idreacht a bhaineann leis an nGaeilge inniu. Is maith an rud \u00e9 sin, ach bh\u00ed m\u00e9 chun sc\u00e9al gairid a insint faoi chara liom, Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Tuathail. Is m\u00fainteoir \u00e9 agus mac leis an iarTheachta Breand\u00e1n \u00d3 Tuathail, a fuair b\u00e1s c\u00fapla seachtain \u00f3 shin. Ar dheis D\u00e9 go raibh a anam. Bh\u00ed m\u00e9 ar an tsr\u00e1id ar an nguth\u00e1n le AXA. Bh\u00ed m\u00e9 ag d\u00e9anamh rud \u00e9igin leis an nguth\u00e1n leis agus ag fanacht ar an bhfear teacht ar ais chugam. Th\u00e1inig Se\u00e1n suas chugam. Labhra\u00edmid as Gaeilge de ghn\u00e1th. Bh\u00edomar ag labhairt as Gaeilge le ch\u00e9ile nuair a th\u00e1inig an fear \u00f3 AXA ar ais ar an nguth\u00e1n. Bh\u00ed orm dul ar ais go dt\u00ed an glaoch guth\u00e1in. Bh\u00ed an fear in AXA ag obair i nDoire agus lean s\u00e9 ar aghaidh leis an gcomhr\u00e1 liom as Gaeilge. Fi\u00fa go raibh s\u00e9 ag obair ar son comhlachta agus i nDoire, bh\u00ed s\u00e9 in ann lean\u00faint ar aghaidh leis an gcomhr\u00e1 as Gaeilge. Sin an l\u00e1idreacht a bhaineann leis an nGaeilge. Sin an n\u00e1d\u00farthacht a bhaineann leis an nGaeilge. Sin an rud ba cheart d\u00fainn a bheith ag f\u00e9achaint air ionas go mbeidh an teanga sin in ann a bheith n\u00e1d\u00fartha do gach aon duine in \u00c9irinn. Sin an f\u00e1th go bhfuilimid ag d\u00e9anamh an m\u00e9id sin oibre maidir leis an nGaeilge. Cuirim f\u00e1ilte roimh an m\u00e9id taca\u00edochta agus infheist\u00edochta at\u00e1 d\u00e9anta ag an Rialtas seo sa Ghaeilge agus seirbh\u00eds\u00ed Gaeilge.  T\u00e1 an t-\u00e1dh orainn go bhfuil ruda\u00ed cos\u00fail le TG4 agus Raidi\u00f3 na Gaeltachta ar f\u00e1il againn ionas go mbeidh daoine in ann \u00e9isteacht leis an nGaeilge, breathn\u00fa ar an nGaeilge agus an Ghaeilge a chloiste\u00e1il an t-am ar fad. Rud a bhaineann leis sin n\u00e1 an fh\u00f3gra\u00edocht agus go mbeadh 20% den fh\u00f3gra\u00edocht \u00f3 aon chomhlacht St\u00e1it as Gaeilge ar na me\u00e1in cos\u00fail le TG4 agus Raidi\u00f3 na Gaeltachta, ach go h\u00e1irithe ar RT\u00c9 agus na me\u00e1in eile. Sin rud thar a bheith t\u00e1bhachtach i mo thuairim f\u00e9in, go gcloiseann gn\u00e1thdhaoine - nach labhra\u00edonn Gaeilge gach l\u00e1 agus nach bhfuil m\u00f3r\u00e1n Gaeilge acu - an Ghaeilge gach l\u00e1. Cloiseann siad an Ghaeilge ar an raidi\u00f3, feiceann siad an Ghaeilge ar an teilif\u00eds agus san fh\u00f3gra\u00edocht eile ar bhusanna agus \u00e1iteanna eile. Sin rud thar a bheith t\u00e1bhachtach. M\u00e1 t\u00e1imid ag iarraidh an Ghaeilge a dh\u00e9anamh n\u00edos n\u00e1d\u00fartha d\u00fainn go l\u00e9ir, caithfimid f\u00e9achaint ar ruda\u00ed cos\u00fail leis sin.  Ag an am c\u00e9anna, ba mhaith liom c\u00fapla focal a r\u00e1 faoin nGaeloideachas freisin. T\u00e1 n\u00edos m\u00f3 n\u00e1 20,000 p\u00e1iste cl\u00e1raithe i nGaelscoileanna ar fud na t\u00edre. T\u00e1 250 Gaelscoil, ach n\u00edl ach 70 Gaelchol\u00e1iste. Caithfimid dul go dt\u00ed \u00e1it a bhfuil seans ag gach aon ph\u00e1iste in \u00c9irinn a chuid oideachais a dh\u00e9anamh tr\u00ed Ghaeilge. Sin rud deacair. Is cinnte go bhfeicim an deacracht a bhaineann leis sin \u00f3 thaobh mh\u00fainteoir\u00ed, scoileanna agus araile. Rud n\u00edos t\u00e1bhachta\u00ed f\u00f3s n\u00e1 sin n\u00e1, m\u00e1 t\u00e1 p\u00e1iste i nGaelscoil, ba cheart go mbeadh an seans ag an bp\u00e1iste sin lean\u00faint ar aghaidh leis an nGaeloideachas i nGaelchol\u00e1iste. N\u00edl an rogha sin ar f\u00e1il ag gach aon ph\u00e1iste i nGaelscoil in \u00c9irinn faoi l\u00e1thair. Mar shampla, i mo Dh\u00e1ilcheantar f\u00e9in i nD\u00fan Laoghaire, deir Julian de Sp\u00e1inn liom c\u00e9 go bhfuil n\u00edos m\u00f3 daoine i mBaile na Manach, mar shampla, ag labhairt Gaeilge gach l\u00e1 n\u00e1 aon \u00e1it eile sa t\u00edr taobh amuigh den Ghaeltacht, n\u00edl ach dh\u00e1 Ghaelscoil againn i nD\u00e1ilcheantar Dh\u00fan Laoghaire. Bh\u00ed Gaelscoil Laighean i nGr\u00e1inseach an D\u00e9in, ach t\u00e1 s\u00e9 imithe go dt\u00ed su\u00edomh in Mount Anville. T\u00e1 Scoil Lorc\u00e1in agus Gaelscoil Ph\u00e1draig i mBaile Breac ann. N\u00edl ach dh\u00e1 Ghaelscoil ann d\u00fainn. Is f\u00e9idir i bhfad n\u00edos m\u00f3 a dh\u00e9anamh ar thaobh an Ghaeloideachais n\u00e1 at\u00e1 \u00e1 dh\u00e9anamh againn anois. Caithfimid n\u00edos m\u00f3 a dh\u00e9anamh ionas go mbeidh rogha ag gach teaghlach agus ag gach p\u00e1iste a chuid oideachais a dh\u00e9anamh tr\u00ed Ghaeilge.  Maidir le n\u00e1d\u00farthacht na Gaeilge, t\u00e1 fadhbanna f\u00f3s ag daoine a bhfuil a n-ainmneacha tr\u00ed Ghaeilge d\u00e9ile\u00e1il le comhlachta\u00ed pr\u00edobh\u00e1ideacha \u2013 n\u00ed leis an St\u00e1t. T\u00e1 a fhios agam go bhfuil ceart ag gach aon duine maidir leis an St\u00e1t agus d\u00e9ile\u00e1il leis an St\u00e1t a chuid gn\u00f3 a dh\u00e9anamh tr\u00ed Ghaeilge, agus is maith an rud \u00e9 sin, ach n\u00ed amhlaidh at\u00e1 s\u00e9 m\u00e1 t\u00e1 t\u00fa ag d\u00e9ile\u00e1il leis na mbanc, mar shampla.  T\u00e1imse i mo ch\u00f3na\u00ed i nD\u00fan Laoghaire agus fi\u00fa nach bhfuil m'ainm as Gaeilge, \u00fas\u00e1idim \"D\u00fan Laoghaire\" sa seoladh an t-am ar fad. T\u00e1 s\u00edneadh fada ar an \"u\" in nD\u00fan Laoghaire. M\u00e1 dh\u00e9anaim iarracht \u00e9 sin a \u00fas\u00e1id leis na bainc, n\u00ed oibr\u00edonn s\u00e9. Fi\u00fa go bhfuilimid ag d\u00e9anamh ruda\u00ed \u00f3 thaobh f\u00f3gra\u00edochta agus \u00f3 thaobh daoine a bheith in ann gn\u00f3 a dh\u00e9anamh leis an St\u00e1t as Gaeilge - is maith iad na ruda\u00ed sin - t\u00e1 fadhbanna f\u00f3s ag daoine at\u00e1 ag \u00fas\u00e1id focail Ghaeilge n\u00e1 ainmneacha Gaeilge agus iad ag d\u00e9anamh a gcuid gn\u00f3 le comhlachta\u00ed pr\u00edobh\u00e1ideacha. Caithfimid obair a dh\u00e9anamh ar an \u00e1bhar sin freisin. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in  T\u00edr gan teanga, t\u00edr gan anam. A country without a language is a county without its soul. Is r\u00e1iteas f\u00edorth\u00e1bhachtach \u00f3 Ph\u00e1draig Mac Piarais, a bhfuil dealbh de thuas sa Ghaileara\u00ed anseo, \u00e9 sin. T\u00e1 athbheochan nua ar an nGaeilge ar si\u00fal faoi l\u00e1thair. T\u00e1 borradh m\u00f3r faoin nGaeilge. T\u00e1 dearctha\u00ed agus meonta fh\u00edordhearfacha ann ina leith ach is a mhalairt a fheictear \u00f3n Rialtas. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 an-difri\u00fail ar fad. T\u00e1 an Rialtas gan meon neamhsple\u00e1chais. I go leor beala\u00ed, t\u00e1 a mheon bunaithe ar an tseoin\u00ednteacht agus ar neamhaird ar an nGaeilge, \u00e1r dteanga n\u00e1isi\u00fanta.  D\u00e9anann an Rialtas neamhaird ar thobar na Gaeilge, the well, spring or fountain of our language, the Gaeltacht, at\u00e1 i ng\u00e9arch\u00e9im n\u00f3 in crisis faoi l\u00e1thair. I bhfocal Mh\u00e1irt\u00edn \u00d3 Cadhain, t\u00e1 an Ghaeltacht ar n\u00f3s ch\u00fainne an ghiorria ag fanacht leis an speal. To use the metaphor of an scr\u00edbhneoir, M\u00e1irt\u00edn \u00d3 Cadhain, the Gaeltacht has been reduced by neglect and bad Government policy to become a mere hare's corner left precariously in the meadow waiting for the scythe. Caithfimid polasaithe a athr\u00fa chun muintir na Gaeltachta a choime\u00e1d ina bpobail dh\u00fachasacha f\u00e9in, chun ligean d\u00f3ibh cead plean\u00e1la a fh\u00e1il agus chun tith\u00edochta a chur ar f\u00e1il do mhuintir \u00e1iti\u00fail na Gaeltachta, at\u00e1 \u00e1 b\u00e1n\u00fa faoi l\u00e1thair. Mar sin, t\u00e1 meas m\u00f3r ag dul chuig na gn\u00edomhaithe \u00f3n eagras B\u00c1N\u00da a bh\u00ed taobh amuigh de na geata\u00ed seo inniu. Mholfainn go m\u00f3r do dhaoine dul amach ar na sr\u00e1ideanna faoi na ceisteanna sin, mar a chonaiceamar i mB\u00e9al Feirste agus i mBaile \u00c1tha Cliath maidir leis an Dream Dearg agus a leith\u00e9id.  Is \u00e9 an Ghaelscola\u00edocht n\u00f3 Irish-medium education mo ch\u00falra. N\u00edl ach 6% ag freastal ar oideachas Gaelscola\u00edochta faoi l\u00e1thair. T\u00e1 tascfh\u00f3rsa ag an Rialtas ach cad \u00e9 an sprioc? An \u00e9 7%, 8%, 9% n\u00f3 10% an sprioc? An bhfuil 16%, 26% n\u00f3 36% i gceist? N\u00edl a fhios ag \u00e9inne. Ba mhaith liomsa 100% a fheiscint. What is the Government's target for children to be given the gift of an Irish-medium education? N\u00edl a fhios ag \u00e9inne c\u00e9ard \u00e9 an sprioc sin.  Is g\u00e9arch\u00e9im eile \u00ed an l\u00edon dalta\u00ed a bhfuil d\u00edol\u00faint\u00ed \u00f3n nGaeilge acu. In 1999, bh\u00ed d\u00edol\u00faine ag 2.5% ach, in 2023, bh\u00ed s\u00e9 tar \u00e9is l\u00e9im go 13.5%. A huge number of secondary school children, 55,660, are now receiving exemptions from learning the language. This crisis needs to be addressed. A change of approach is needed. Caithfear an bronntanas seo, an d\u00e1theangachas, a thabhairt do gach uile dhalta in \u00c9irinn.  Ag an tr\u00ed\u00fa leibh\u00e9al, t\u00e1 gluaiseacht iontach ar si\u00fal. T\u00e1 borradh nua faoin nGaeilge agus t\u00e1 sp\u00e9is ag na mic l\u00e9inn \u00ed a chur chun cinn. T\u00e1 polasa\u00ed an Rialtais i leith na Gaeilge ag an tr\u00ed\u00fa leibh\u00e9al scannalach. N\u00edl m\u00f3r\u00e1n deiseanna ag mic l\u00e9inn lean\u00faint ar aghaidh le hoideachas tr\u00ed Ghaeilge. Caithfimid i bhfad n\u00edos m\u00f3 taca\u00edocht a thabhairt do na cumainn Ghaeilge, na heagrais Ghaeilge agus na daoine at\u00e1 ag obair ar son \u00e1r dteanga n\u00e1isi\u00fanta. Caithfimid beala\u00ed Th\u00edr na mBascach agus na Breataine Bige a lean\u00faint. T\u00e1 an Ghaeilge anseo do ch\u00e1ch in \u00c9irinn. Caithfimid taca\u00edocht a thabhairt d\u00f3ibh si\u00fad at\u00e1 ag iarraidh an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn agus \u00ed a labhairt. Mar a d\u00fairt P\u00e1draig Mac Piarais, \"N\u00ed t\u00edr go teanga\" agus \"T\u00edr gan teanga, t\u00edr gan anam\". Is \u00ed sin an fh\u00edrinne lom. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  T\u00e1 r\u00edm\u00e9ad orm an deis seo a fh\u00e1il chun labhairt ar Sheachtain na Gaeilge. N\u00edlim l\u00edofa ach, cos\u00fail lena l\u00e1n daoine, t\u00e1im ag d\u00e9anamh iarracht mh\u00f3r chun an Ghaeilge a fhoghlaim ar\u00eds mar t\u00e1 Gaeilge i mo chro\u00ed. T\u00e1 \u00e1r dteanga dh\u00fachais ag f\u00e1s ar\u00eds. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 istigh i gcro\u00edthe a l\u00e1n daoine ar fud na t\u00edre. T\u00e1 a l\u00e1n daoine ag d\u00e9anamh iarracht mh\u00f3r leis an nGaeilge sa tseachtain seo. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 t\u00e1bhachtach dom dul lasmuigh de mo comfort zone \u00f3 am go ham, faoi mar at\u00e1im ag d\u00e9anamh anois.  T\u00e1 d\u00fathracht ag mo ph\u00e1irt\u00ed, na Daonlathaithe S\u00f3isialta, an teanga n\u00e1isi\u00fanta a fhorbairt, a chosaint agus a athbheochan. Tugaimid aird ar leith ar r\u00e9igi\u00fain agus pobail Ghaeltachta. Tac\u00f3imid leo go praitici\u00fail, go h\u00e1irithe de bharr go bhfuil go leor acu faoi mh\u00edbhunt\u00e1iste socheacnama\u00edochta riamh anall. I gceann c\u00fapla m\u00ed, beidh M\u00edde Nic Fhionnlaoich ina hionada\u00ed orainn i bhfothoghch\u00e1n Ghaillimh Thiar. Is as Gaeltacht Chonamara \u00f3 dh\u00fachas \u00ed. Beidh s\u00ed ina guth l\u00e1idir d\u00e1 pobal agus t\u00e1 a fhios ag Dia go bhfuil ceann de dh\u00edth orthu.  T\u00e1 faill\u00ed eacnama\u00edochta \u00e1 d\u00e9anamh ar na ceantair Ghaeltacht den chuid is m\u00f3. Is existential threat don teanga iad na fadhbanna at\u00e1 roimh na ceantair seo. Aithn\u00edmid go bhfuil c\u00f3na\u00ed ar chainteoir\u00ed Gaeilge i gcathracha agus fud fad na t\u00edre ach n\u00ed m\u00f3r aird ar leith a thabhairt ar cheantair Ghaeltachta. Gan ceantair Ghaeltachta agus gan \u00e1iteanna ina n-\u00fas\u00e1idtear an Ghaeilge mar chuid den saol laeth\u00fail, n\u00edl aon todhcha\u00ed ag an teanga.  N\u00ed h\u00e9 ganntanas post an t-aon fhadhb. Fi\u00fa d\u00e1 mbeadh poist ann do chainteoir\u00ed d\u00fachais Gaeilge, an mbeadh siad in ann tithe a fh\u00e1il? T\u00e1 g\u00e9arch\u00e9im tith\u00edochta na gceantar Gaeltachta ag cur todhcha\u00ed na Gaeilge mar theanga bheo i mbaol. Nuair a d'fh\u00e9ach m\u00e9 an mh\u00ed seo caite, bh\u00ed deich dteach le f\u00e1il ar c\u00edos i gConamara ar Daft.ie agus bh\u00ed 573 ar f\u00e1il ar Airbnb. T\u00e1 iallach \u00e1 chur ar dhaoine \u00f3ga imeacht. De r\u00e9ir the 1 million homes project, t\u00e1 g\u00e1 le 12,000 teach i gceantair Ghaeltachta.  Sa chl\u00e1r Rialtais, t\u00e1 gealltanas go n-oibreofar le h\u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta \"chun a chinnti\u00fa go bhfuil d\u00f3thain seirbh\u00eds\u00ed tith\u00edochta agus seirbh\u00eds\u00ed pobail ar f\u00e1il i bpobail Ghaeltachta.\" Faoi na dl\u00edthe reatha, is f\u00e9idir le h\u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta infreastrucht\u00far a fhorbairt, dul i mbun forbairt eacnama\u00edochta agus seirbh\u00eds\u00ed a shol\u00e1thar thar ceann comhlachta\u00ed St\u00e1it eile sa Ghaeltacht. Roimh olltoghch\u00e1n 2024, gheall na Daonlathaithe S\u00f3isialta go gcruth\u00f3fa\u00ed beartas n\u00e1isi\u00fanta do phlean\u00e1il tith\u00edochta agus forbairt i gceantair Ghaeltachta agus cumhachta\u00ed soil\u00e9ire a thabhairt d'\u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta maidir le tith\u00edocht. T\u00e1 aitheantas \u00f3n Roinn tith\u00edochta ag teast\u00e1il \u00f3 \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta ionas gur f\u00e9idir leis iarratas a dh\u00e9anamh ar airgead faoin sc\u00e9im ready to build. Ansin, is f\u00e9idir leis na seirbh\u00eds\u00ed riachtanacha a shol\u00e1thar ar thalamh at\u00e1 ina sheilbh aige n\u00f3 a cheanna\u00edonn s\u00e9. Ansin, is f\u00e9idir leis an \u00fadar\u00e1s su\u00edmh a dh\u00edol faoi th\u00e9arma\u00ed na sc\u00e9ime ready to build le teaghlaigh a labhra\u00edonn Gaeilge ar mhian leo maireacht\u00e1il i gceantair Ghaeltachta. T\u00e1 na freagra\u00ed ar na fadhbanna ar eolas cheana f\u00e9in. N\u00ed c\u00f3ir d\u00fainn a thuilleadh ama a chur am\u00fa. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  T\u00e1 \u00e1thas orm labhairt maidir le Seachtain na Gaeilge. Mar a d\u00fairt m\u00e9 anuraidh, t\u00e1im f\u00f3s gn\u00f3thach ag foghlaim agus ag s\u00fail le feabhas a chur ar mo chuid Gaeilge f\u00e9in. \u00d3 r\u00e1itis na bliana seo caite, t\u00e1 go leor pl\u00e9 d\u00e9anta faoin nGaeilge, go h\u00e1irithe le feachtas uachtar\u00e1nachta Catherine Connolly. L\u00e9irigh an tUachtar\u00e1n Connolly go bhfuil gr\u00e1 ag a l\u00e1n daoine sa t\u00edr seo don teanga. Cos\u00fail le go leor daoine eile, d'fhoghlaim an tUachtar\u00e1n an teanga mar dhuine f\u00e1sta. Spreag a feachtas go leor daoine chun an teanga a fhoghlaim ar\u00eds.  I am delighted to speak on Seachtain na Gaeilge. As I said last year, I am still busy learning and hoping to improve. Since last year's statements, there has been a lot of discussion about Irish, particularly since Catherine Connolly's presidential election campaign. President Connolly herself demonstrated the love of Irish that people have. She learned it as an adult, as so many people do now. Her campaign has really encouraged many people to learn Irish.  T\u00e1 \u00e1thas orm pl\u00e9 a fheice\u00e1il faoi na seancheisteanna at\u00e1 roimh an nGaeltacht le blianta anuas. T\u00e1 n\u00edos m\u00f3 daoine ag foghlaim na teanga. Feicimid n\u00edos m\u00f3 \u00e9ilimh ar Ghaelscoileanna agus ar Ghaelchol\u00e1ist\u00ed. T\u00e1 c\u00farsa\u00ed Gaeilge do dhaoine f\u00e1sta ar an leibh\u00e9al is airde riamh. Mar sin f\u00e9in, n\u00ed m\u00f3r an sol\u00e1thar oideachais reatha ag an tr\u00ed\u00fa leibh\u00e9al. N\u00edl ach l\u00edon an-bheag, 0.68%, de ch\u00farsa\u00ed tr\u00ed\u00fa leibh\u00e9al ar f\u00e1il tr\u00ed mhe\u00e1n na Gaeilge. T\u00e1 sprioc de 5% ag teast\u00e1il \u00f3 Chonradh na Gaeilge. Is l\u00edon an-bheag c\u00farsa\u00ed \u00e9 sin.  Go hid\u00e9alach, ba ch\u00f3ir go mbeadh m\u00fainteoir\u00ed i nGaelscoileanna agus i nGaelchol\u00e1ist\u00ed in ann c\u00e9imeanna m\u00fainteoireachta a chr\u00edochn\u00fa i nGaeilge. Ar nd\u00f3igh, ba ch\u00f3ir go mbeadh go leor c\u00farsa\u00ed eile ar f\u00e1il tr\u00ed mhe\u00e1n na Gaeilge. T\u00e1 spriocanna ann go mbeidh 20% de dhaoine a bheidh ag dul isteach sa St\u00e1tseirbh\u00eds inni\u00fail sa Ghaeilge faoi 2030. N\u00ed cos\u00fail go mbainfear \u00e9 sin amach faoi l\u00e1thair i bhfianaise an luais mhall at\u00e1 ann faoi l\u00e1thair.  I am delighted to see discussions about issues facing the Irish language over the last year. More and more people are learning it. We see more demand for Gaelscoileanna and Gaelchol\u00e1ist\u00ed. Irish-language courses are at an all-time high. However, we need to address the gap in educational provision. There is a small amount of provision at third level, with only 0.68% of courses currently available through the medium of Irish. Conradh na Gaeilge wants that target to be 5%, which is still a small amount, anyway. Ideally, teachers in our Gaelscoileanna agus Gaelchol\u00e1ist\u00ed should be able to do their teaching courses and training through the medium of Irish. One of the targets that has been set in the Civil Service is that 20% of new civil servants will be proficient in Irish by 2030. I am not sure that is achievable at this stage, given we are nowhere near that.  Is mian liom gach rath a ghu\u00ed ar \u00e1r n-iarrth\u00f3ir i bhfothoghch\u00e1n na Gaillimhe Thiar ina feachtas. Rugadh M\u00edde Nic Fhionnlaoich i gConamara agus is \u00ed an Ghaeilge a c\u00e9ad teanga. T\u00e1 s\u00ed eolach ar na saincheisteanna a bh\u00edonn roimh dhuine i gceantar Gaeltachta agus, ar nd\u00f3igh, ar fud na Gaillimhe Thiar. I wish our candidate in the upcoming by-election in Galway West all the best. M\u00edde grew up in the Gaeltacht. She knows all the issues facing the Gaeltacht areas as well as other issues in the area. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Albert Dolan  Is m\u00f3r an on\u00f3ir dom seasamh anseo sa D\u00e1il inniu chun labhairt faoi \u00e1bhar at\u00e1 an-ghar do mo chro\u00ed agus do chro\u00ed an n\u00e1isi\u00fain, is \u00e9 sin, \u00e1r dteanga n\u00e1isi\u00fanta, an Ghaeilge. Agus muid i l\u00e1r Sheachtain na Gaeilge, cuirfidh m\u00e9 t\u00fas le mo chuid cainte tr\u00ed comhghairdeas a dh\u00e9anamh le Conradh na Gaeilge agus le gach duine at\u00e1 bainteach le heagr\u00fa na f\u00e9ile ionta\u00ed seo. Bliain i ndiaidh bliana, tugann s\u00ed spreagadh ollmh\u00f3r d\u00fainn ar fad. N\u00ed sraith imeachta\u00ed at\u00e1 i Seachtain na Gaeilge amh\u00e1in, \u00e1fach; is meabhr\u00fach\u00e1n \u00ed ar c\u00e9 muid mar phobal agus ar \u00e1r stair, \u00e1r gcult\u00far agus \u00e1r bhf\u00e9ini\u00falacht. Deirtear, \u201cT\u00edr gan teanga, t\u00edr gan anam\u201d. T\u00e1 an fh\u00edrinne sin le brath in\u00e1r dtimpeallacht gach l\u00e1. Nuair a labhra\u00edonn muid Gaeilge, t\u00e1 muid ag coinne\u00e1il naisc beo len\u00e1r sinsear. Ag an am c\u00e9anna, t\u00e1 muid ag cruth\u00fa todhcha\u00ed nua do na gl\u00fanta at\u00e1 le teacht. Is teanga bheo bhr\u00edomhar nua-aimseartha \u00ed an Ghaeilge.  Caithfidh muid a bheith ionraic sa Seomra seo. N\u00ed leor ceili\u00faradh a dh\u00e9anamh ar an nGaeilge ar feadh coic\u00edse gach M\u00ed an Mh\u00e1rta agus dearmad a dh\u00e9anamh uirthi den chuid eile den bhliain. Mar reacht\u00f3ir\u00ed agus mar Theachta\u00ed D\u00e1la, t\u00e1 dualgas r\u00edth\u00e1bhachtach orainn an teanga a chosaint, a chaomhn\u00fa agus a choth\u00fa i ngach gn\u00e9 den saol poibl\u00ed. N\u00ed m\u00f3r d\u00fainn ceannaireacht a ghlacadh. M\u00e1 theasta\u00edonn uainn go mbeidh an pobal ag labhairt na Gaeilge, caithfidh muid \u00ed a labhairt agus a chur chun cinn anseo ar dt\u00fas.  Ina theannta sin, caithfidh muid aird ar leith a thabhairt ar na ceantair Ghaeltachta. T\u00e1 na pobail sin faoi bhr\u00fa ollmh\u00f3r. T\u00e1 g\u00e9argh\u00e1 tith\u00edochta iontu a chuireann isteach go m\u00f3r ar theaghlaigh \u00f3ga at\u00e1 ag iarraidh fanacht ina gceantair dh\u00fachais agus a gcuid paist\u00ed a th\u00f3g\u00e1il le Gaeilge. Muna gcosna\u00edonn muid na pobail seo, agus m\u00e1 ligeann muid do na Ghaeltachta\u00ed titim as a gc\u00e9ile, beidh buille marfach tugtha don teanga. Teasta\u00edonn taca\u00edochta\u00ed praitici\u00fala uathu, n\u00ed briathra beaga. Teasta\u00edonn infheist\u00edocht dh\u00e1ir\u00edre i gc\u00farsa\u00ed oideachais agus fosta\u00edochta ach, thar aon rud eile, i dtaobh na tith\u00edochta.  Ar nd\u00f3igh, t\u00e1 r\u00f3l l\u00e1rnach ag an gc\u00f3ras oideachais d\u2019fhorbairt na teanga amach anseo. Feiceann muid an t-\u00e9ileamh ollmh\u00f3r at\u00e1 ar Ghaelscoileanna agus Gaelchol\u00e1ist\u00ed ar fud na t\u00edre. Teasta\u00edonn \u00f3 thuismitheoir\u00ed go mbeidh Gaeilge ag a gcuid p\u00e1ist\u00ed. Caithfidh an Rialtas a chinnti\u00fa go bhfuil na hacmhainn\u00ed cu\u00ed ar f\u00e1il do scoileanna seo agus a dh\u00f3thain m\u00fainteoir\u00ed c\u00e1ilithe chun freastal ar an \u00e9ileamh seo. Caithfidh muid an gr\u00e1 don teanga a choth\u00fa sna daoine \u00f3ga ionas nach \u00e1bhar scoile amh\u00e1in a bheidh inti ach cuid l\u00e1rnach d\u00e1 ngn\u00e1thshaol s\u00f3isialta.  D\u00e1 bhr\u00ed sin, agus muid ag ceili\u00faradh Sheachtain na Gaeilge, is mian liom teachtaireacht a chur amach chuig muintir na h\u00c9ireann ar fad. N\u00e1 b\u00edtear eaglach an teanga a \u00fas\u00e1id. Mar a d\u00fairt an seanfhocal, \u201cIs fearr Gaeilge bhriste na B\u00e9arla cliste\u201d. M\u00e1s c\u00fapla focal at\u00e1 ag daoine, molaim d\u00f3ibh iad a \u00fas\u00e1id gan n\u00e1ire. Abairtear \u201cGo raibh maith agat\u201d, \u201cSl\u00e1n\u201d, n\u00f3 \u201cMaidin mhaith\u201d sa siopa, san ionad oibre n\u00f3 ar an tsr\u00e1id. Tosa\u00edonn athr\u00fa m\u00f3r n\u00e1isi\u00fanta le c\u00e9imeanna beaga pearsanta.  D\u00e9anaimis r\u00fan daingean inniu nach mbeidh an Ghaeilge ina maisi\u00fach\u00e1n do laethanta saoire n\u00e1isi\u00fanta ach ina teanga bheo in\u00e1r dtithe, pobail agus i nD\u00e1il \u00c9ireann go h\u00e1irithe. Bainimis sult as Seachtain na Gaeilge agus leanaimis ar aghaidh leis an obair th\u00e1bhachtach seo don bhliain ar fad. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Connolly  Cuirim f\u00e1ilte roimh an d\u00edosp\u00f3ireacht agus deis seo chun \u00e1bhar na Gaeilge a phl\u00e9 sa Seomra inniu. T\u00e1 t\u00e9ama sa d\u00edosp\u00f3ireacht go dt\u00ed seo \u2013 luaigh mo chomhghleaca\u00ed, an Teachta Dolan, \u00e9, arb as Gaillimh d\u00f3 chomh maith \u2013 go bhfuil muid ag iarraidh daoine a spreagadh chun a gcuid Gaeilge a \u00fas\u00e1id. Is rud thar a bheith t\u00e1bhachtach \u00e9 sin. Mar a d\u00fairt an tAire n\u00edos luaithe, t\u00e1 Gaeilge ag chuile dhuine. T\u00e1 Gaeilge mhaith ag formh\u00f3r an daonra.  L\u00e9igh m\u00e9 an nuacht a bh\u00ed in An Sc\u00e9al inniu. Tagann eagr\u00e1n amach chuile Mh\u00e1irt. Rinneadh suirbh\u00e9 \u00f3 Ghaelchult\u00far agus \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta agus fuarthas amach go bhfuil leibh\u00e9al \u00e9igin l\u00edofachta sa Ghaeilge ag 49% de dhaoine f\u00e1sta sa St\u00e1t, idir labhairt, l\u00e9amh agus tuiscint. Is \u00ed mo thuairim f\u00e9in go bhfuil, ar a laghad, Gaeilge ag an m\u00e9id sin daoine sa St\u00e1t, go h\u00e1irithe \u00f3 thaobh na tuisceana de. Tuigeann an chuid is m\u00f3 de dhaoine sa St\u00e1t Gaeilge nuair a chloiseann siad \u00ed. B\u2019fh\u00e9idir nach bhfuil siad in ann \u00ed a labhairt, ach t\u00e1 a fhios acu c\u00e9ard at\u00e1 daoine \u00e1 r\u00e1 nuair a chloiseann siad Gaeilge. Is bac \u00e9 ar g\u00e1 d\u00fainn dul i ngleic leis. T\u00e1 orainn troid in aghaidh an bhaic seo at\u00e1 ar dhaoine a gcuid Gaeilge a \u00fas\u00e1id. Mar at\u00e1 molta ag mo chomhghleaca\u00ed, an Teachta Dolan, molaim do dhaoine leas a bhaint as an gcoic\u00eds seo chun a gcuid Gaeilge a \u00fas\u00e1id. Is maith an rud \u00e9 go bhfuil muid \u00e1 dh\u00e9anamh seo sa Seomra seo inniu.  Chomh maith leis an staitistic sin, th\u00e1inig m\u00e9 ar cheann eile sa daon\u00e1ireamh reatha at\u00e1 thar a bheith t\u00e1bhachtach, is \u00e9 sin go bhfuil meon dearfach ar leith ag daoine \u00f3ga ar an nGaeilge. Is iontach an rud \u00ed an t\u00f3ir at\u00e1 ar an nGaeilge na laethanta seo. N\u00ed raibh s\u00e9 mar sin nuair a bh\u00ed m\u00e9 n\u00edos \u00f3ige. Dar leis an daon\u00e1ireamh reatha, t\u00e1 67% de dhaoine \u00f3ga, idir 16 agus 19, in ann Gaeilge a labhairt. Mar sin, t\u00e1 an Ghaeilge ann. Is \u00e9 an d\u00fashl\u00e1n at\u00e1 romhainn n\u00e1 daoine a spreagadh chun \u00ed a labhairt. Is m\u00f3r an tionchar a bh\u00ed ag an ard\u00fa m\u00f3r ar l\u00edon na nGaelscoileanna le blianta anuas ar an staitistic sin. N\u00ed raibh s\u00e9 mar sin nuair a bh\u00ed an cuid is m\u00f3 d\u00ednn sa D\u00e1il n\u00edos \u00f3ige. N\u00ed raibh an deis c\u00e9anna againn freastal ar Ghaelscoil is at\u00e1 ag daoine \u00f3ga anois.  N\u00ed f\u00e9idir agus n\u00ed ceart linn stopadh leis sin. Ba cheart d\u00fainn l\u00edon na nGaelscoileanna sa t\u00edr a ard\u00fa. Ba cheart don Roinn oideachais strucht\u00far a leagan amach do scoileanna a bh\u00edonn ag m\u00faineadh faoi l\u00e1thair tr\u00ed mhe\u00e1n an Bh\u00e9arla faoin chaoi ar f\u00e9idir leo athr\u00fa go m\u00faineadh na Gaeilge. Chonaic muid i mBaile \u00c1tha Cliath anuraidh go raibh consp\u00f3id ann nuair a shocraigh me\u00e1nscoil aistri\u00fa \u00f3 mh\u00faineadh tr\u00ed Bh\u00e9arla go m\u00faineadh tr\u00ed Ghaeilge.  Ba ch\u00f3ir go mbeadh an Roinn oideachais in ann cabhr\u00fa leo strucht\u00far a leagan amach c\u00e9n chaoi gur f\u00e9idir modh m\u00fainteoireachta a athr\u00fa \u00f3n mB\u00e9arla go dt\u00ed an Ghaeilge. T\u00e1 neart infheist\u00edochta d\u00e9anta ag an St\u00e1t i gc\u00farsa\u00ed plean\u00e1la teanga. Is r\u00f3l t\u00e1bhachtach \u00e9 an t-oifigeach plean\u00e1la teanga don phobal ach is r\u00f3l deacair \u00e9 chomh maith. Feicim i mo cheantar f\u00e9in go mb\u00edonn athr\u00fa go rialta ar an duine at\u00e1 sa r\u00f3l. N\u00ed raibh ach dh\u00e1 oifigeach plean\u00e1la teanga sa r\u00f3l \u00f3 thosaigh s\u00e9 thart ar c\u00faig n\u00f3 s\u00e9 bliana \u00f3 shin. Ba bhre\u00e1 liom go mbeadh na hoifigigh sin fostaithe go l\u00e1naimseartha ag \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta, Foras na Gaeilge n\u00f3 b\u2019fh\u00e9idir na h\u00fadar\u00e1is \u00e1iti\u00fala. Ceann de na fadhbanna at\u00e1 ann n\u00e1 nach bhfuil na coinn\u00edollacha oibre chomh maith ag na hoifigigh plean\u00e1la teanga seo is at\u00e1 ag duine \u00e9igin at\u00e1 ag obair sa St\u00e1tseirbh\u00eds. Ba cheart d\u00fainn breathn\u00fa air sin. N\u00ed fheicim c\u00e9n f\u00e1th, agus muid ag tabhairt airgid do na coist\u00ed deonacha chun na hoifigigh plean\u00e1la teanga a \u00edoc, nach f\u00e9idir le heagra\u00edochta\u00ed St\u00e1it ar n\u00f3s \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta n\u00f3 Foras na Gaeilge iad a fhost\u00fa go buan.  T\u00e1 orm a bheith go hioml\u00e1n ionraic faoi rud amh\u00e1in. T\u00e1 s\u00e1ch imn\u00ed orm do thodhcha\u00ed na Gaeltachta. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 feicthe againn go bhfuil laghd\u00fa tagtha ar l\u00edon na ndaoine le Gaeilge - an ch\u00e9ad ghl\u00fain i stair an St\u00e1it - at\u00e1 ag maireacht\u00e1il sa Ghaeltacht agus is \u00e1bhar imn\u00ed \u00e9 sin. N\u00edor mhaith liom smaoineamh go dtiocfadh an l\u00e1 go mbeadh muid ag caint ar cheantair Ghaeltachta nach Gaeltacht iad. T\u00e1 an imn\u00ed sin orm agus ba cheart dom \u00e9 a chur os comhair an Aire. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shane Moynihan  Cuirim f\u00e1ilte roimh an deis seo labhairt i dtaobh na r\u00e1itis seo ar Sheachtain na Gaeilge. Ba mhaith liom tr\u00e9asl\u00fa leis an Aire as ucht na hinfheist\u00edochta agus na ceannr\u00f3da\u00edochta at\u00e1 l\u00e9irithe aige \u00f3 th\u00e1inig s\u00e9 i mbun oifige mar Aire sinsearach Gaeltachta, rud a l\u00e9ir\u00edonn domsa agus do mo chomhghleacaithe eile ar an taobh seo den Teach go bhfuil s\u00e9 t\u00e1bhachtach amach anseo go mb\u00edonn an Ghaeltacht ina Aireacht shinsearach ag bord an Rialtais agus go nd\u00e9antar \u00e9 sin a dhaingni\u00fa agus a dheimhni\u00fa as seo amach.  Bh\u00ed m\u00e9 ar cuairt ar an mBreatain Bheag le mo chomhghleacaithe ar an gcomhchoiste Gaeltachta agus Gaeilge c\u00fapla seachtain \u00f3 shin agus muid ag f\u00e9achaint ar an gcur chuige at\u00e1 aici si\u00fad i leith m\u00faineadh agus labhairt na Breatnaise agus an meon at\u00e1 cruthaithe acu i measc an aosa \u00f3ig agus sa n\u00e1isi\u00fan ina ioml\u00e1ine i leith labhairt na Breatnaise. Ceann de na cusp\u00f3ir\u00ed at\u00e1 ag Rialtas na Breataine Bige n\u00e1 1 milli\u00fan cainteoir\u00ed Breatnaise a bheith ann faoin bhliain 2050. T\u00e1 sprioc den chine\u00e1l c\u00e9anna againn sa t\u00edr seo, is \u00e9 sin go mbeidh Gaeilge ar a dtoil ag 20% den lucht oibre san earn\u00e1il phoibl\u00ed, agus t\u00e1 d\u00fashl\u00e1n os \u00e1r gcomhair amach len \u00e9 sin a bhaint amach. Ceapaim go l\u00e9ir\u00edonn s\u00e9 an t-athr\u00fa meoin at\u00e1 anois ann i leith rialtais at\u00e1 ag d\u00e9anamh caomhn\u00fa ar theangacha d\u00fachasacha go bhfuil siad ag cur na cusp\u00f3ir\u00ed seo amach agus go bhfuil siad ag cur br\u00fa ar na h\u00e1is\u00edneachta\u00ed agus ar na ranna rialtais freagra a thabhairt ar na cusp\u00f3ir\u00ed sin agus iad a chur i gcr\u00edch.  Rud amh\u00e1in a sheas amach dom le linn dom a bheith sa Bhreatain Bheag, agus rud a gcaithimid smaoineamh air sa t\u00edr seo, n\u00e1 an t\u00e1bhacht agus na bunt\u00e1ist\u00ed a bhaineann leis an d\u00e1theangachas a cheili\u00faradh sa t\u00edr seo. B\u00edmid ag labhairt go minic ar an maitheas a bhaineann le Gaeilge mar is teanga \u00e1lainn agus \u00e1rsa \u00ed, agus aonta\u00edm leis sin ar fad. Ag an am c\u00e9anna, t\u00e1 s\u00e9 t\u00e1bhachtach d\u00fainn ar fad go l\u00e9ir\u00edmid sa ch\u00f3ras oideachais, ag leibh\u00e9al an Rialtais, mar thuismitheoir\u00ed agus mar phobal go bhfuil t\u00e1bhacht faoi leith ag baint leis an d\u00e1theangachas - a bheith in ann Gaeilge agus B\u00e9arla a labhairt agus go mbeadh an d\u00e1 theanga sin ar \u00e1r dtoil againn. Roimh dom dul isteach sa pholait\u00edocht, d\u2019oibrigh m\u00e9 i gcomhlacht idirn\u00e1isi\u00fanta, \u00e1it a raibh daoine \u00f3n tSualainn n\u00f3 an \u00cdsilt\u00edr agus bh\u00ed B\u00e9arla ar a dtoil acu. Ach nuair a chuaigh siad abhaile n\u00f3 nuair a bh\u00ed siad ag meascadh lena gcairde, labhair siad Ollainnis, i gc\u00e1s na n-\u00cdsilt\u00edreach; n\u00f3 Sualainnis, i gc\u00e1s na Sualannach. L\u00e9irigh s\u00e9 sin dom nach bhfuil muid ag d\u00e9anamh faill\u00ed ar theanga amh\u00e1in ar mhaithe le teanga eile ach gur f\u00e9idir ceili\u00faradh a dh\u00e9anamh ar an d\u00e1 cheann, agus gur ch\u00f3ir \u00e9 sin a dh\u00e9anamh. Ba ch\u00f3ir go mbeadh s\u00e9 sin mar bunchloch ag aon chur chuige at\u00e1 againn mar Rialtas agus mar th\u00edr i dtaobh na Gaeilge.  T\u00e1 s\u00e9 t\u00e1bhachtach freisin moladh a thabhairt d\u2019\u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta as ucht an r\u00f3l eacnama\u00edochta at\u00e1 \u00e1 imirt aige. Is f\u00e9idir linn breathn\u00fa ar na tionscnaimh ar fad at\u00e1 meallta ag \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta chuig na ceantair Ghaeltachta ar mhaithe le fosta\u00edocht le hardscileanna a bhun\u00fa sna h\u00e1iteanna sin agus an bun\u00fas sin a chur sna ceantair Ghaeltachta. Feictear dom go bhfuil s\u00e9 chomh t\u00e1bhachtach c\u00e9anna le caomhn\u00fa a dh\u00e9anamh ar an dteanga go bhfuil todhcha\u00ed eacnama\u00edoch ann do dhaoine at\u00e1 ag iarraidh poist a bhaint amach anseo. N\u00edl m\u00e9 ag d\u00e9anamh faill\u00ed n\u00f3 neamhaird ar an mbr\u00fa at\u00e1 ann \u00f3 thaobh c\u00farsa\u00ed tith\u00edochta. T\u00e1 c\u00farsa\u00ed tith\u00edochta agus an t\u00e1bhacht a bhaineann leis na treoirl\u00ednte sin a chur amach pl\u00e9ite agam leis an Aire cheana f\u00e9in. Is \u00e1bhar \u00e9 a bhfuil eolas agam air m\u00e9 f\u00e9in. Ach caithfear moladh a thabhairt d\u2019\u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta as ucht na ceannr\u00f3da\u00edochta at\u00e1 l\u00e9irithe aige i leith an r\u00f3l eacnama\u00edochta at\u00e1 aige.  Maidir le c\u00farsa\u00ed oideachais, t\u00e1 dul chun cinn d\u00e9anta agus obair le d\u00e9anamh f\u00f3s \u00f3 thaobh an oideachais tr\u00ed Ghaeilge ag an dara leibh\u00e9al. T\u00e1 contaetha sa t\u00edr seo f\u00f3s nach bhfuil Gaelchol\u00e1ist\u00ed ar f\u00e1il iontu c\u00e9 go bhfuil Gaelscoileanna sna contaetha sin. Ceapaim anois go bhfuil freagracht ar an Roinn oideachais tabhairt faoin nd\u00fashl\u00e1n sin agus freagra a thabhairt ar c\u00e9n chaoi gur f\u00e9idir linn n\u00edos m\u00f3 Gaelchol\u00e1ist\u00ed a chur ar f\u00e1il. Agus muid ag labhairt ar ch\u00farsa\u00ed oideachais, caithfimid deireadh a chur leis an mbr\u00e9ag at\u00e1 ag dul timpeall nach f\u00e9idir oideachas speisialta a thabhairt do ph\u00e1ist\u00ed tr\u00ed mhe\u00e1n na Gaeilge. T\u00e1 an taighde acad\u00fail ar fad ag r\u00e1 go bhfuil s\u00e9 seo ind\u00e9anta agus go bhfuil muid in ann d\u00e9ile\u00e1il agus freagra a thabhairt ar ph\u00e1ist\u00ed agus ar dhalta\u00ed a bhfuil riachtanais speisialta acu tr\u00ed mhe\u00e1n na Gaeilge. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 l\u00e9irithe ag Gaelscoileanna agus Gaelchol\u00e1ist\u00ed timpeall na t\u00edre conas gur f\u00e9idir \u00e9 sin a dh\u00e9anamh.  T\u00e1 go leor ruda\u00ed maithe \u00e1 dh\u00e9anamh i leith na Gaeilge agus ba mhaith liom ag an bpointe seo tr\u00e9asl\u00fa le Comhairle Cathrach Bhaile \u00c1tha Cliath agus leis na h\u00fadar\u00e1is \u00e1iti\u00fala i mBaile \u00c1tha Cliath at\u00e1 ag lean\u00faint an cl\u00e1r Gaeilge365 a l\u00e9ir\u00edonn cur chuige nu\u00e1la\u00edoch faoi sti\u00fair Daith\u00ed de Buitl\u00e9ir. Is \u00e9 sin an bealach a dh\u00e9anfaimid normal\u00fa ar an d\u00e1theangachas agus ar labhairt na Gaeilge; is \u00e9 sin go bhfuil daoine in ann saol a chaitheamh ach go dtarla\u00edonn s\u00e9 gur tr\u00ed mhe\u00e1n na Gaeilge at\u00e1 s\u00e9. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell  T\u00e1 s\u00e9 t\u00e1bhachtach a r\u00e1 gur mhaith an rud \u00e9 go bhfuil daoine \u00f3ga chomh t\u00f3gtha leis an nGaeilge is at\u00e1 faoi l\u00e1thair. Feicimid go bhfuil gluaiseacht l\u00e1idir ann le daoine \u00f3ga a bhfuil suim acu sa Ghaeilge. I nd\u00e1ir\u00edre, is na daoine \u00f3ga at\u00e1 ag cur br\u00fa orainn chun a chinnti\u00fa go bhfuil na seirbh\u00eds\u00ed agus chuile sh\u00f3rt ar f\u00e1il d\u00f3ibh tr\u00ed mhe\u00e1n na Gaeilge. Ar nd\u00f3igh, t\u00e1 go leor ruda\u00ed cult\u00fartha ann at\u00e1 ag br\u00fa an ghluaiseacht sin ar aghaidh cos\u00fail le Kneecap agus a leith\u00e9id\u00ed ach t\u00e1 s\u00e9 sin ar fad ag teacht \u00f3 dhaoine \u00f3ga iad f\u00e9in.  Mar is eol don Aire, is Teachta D\u00e1la m\u00e9 do Ghaeltacht ollmh\u00f3r agus l\u00e1idir, Gaeltacht Chonamara, agus t\u00e1 m\u00e9 f\u00edorbhr\u00f3d\u00fail as sin. Ach feicim freisin na deacrachta\u00ed at\u00e1 ann do dhaoine at\u00e1 ag iarraidh lonn\u00fa sa Ghaeltacht n\u00f3 fanacht sa Ghaeltacht, agus iad si\u00fad at\u00e1 ag iarraidh a dteaghlaigh a th\u00f3g\u00e1il sa Ghaeltacht. Chonaic muid \u00e9 sin inniu agus ag\u00f3id l\u00e1idir de chuid B\u00c1N\u00da taobh amuigh den Teach seo. Is daoine iad at\u00e1 ag lorg cearta d\u00f3ibh f\u00e9in agus d\u00e1 mhuintir ionas go mbeadh deis acu fanacht sa Ghaeltacht agus go mbeadh an tith\u00edocht ar f\u00e1il d\u00f3ibh chun \u00e9 sin a dh\u00e9anamh. N\u00ed hamh\u00e1in an tith\u00edocht at\u00e1 ag teast\u00e1il, \u00e1fach; t\u00e1 an buninfreastrucht\u00far ina ioml\u00e1ine ag teast\u00e1il. T\u00e1 na seirbh\u00eds\u00ed ar fad ag teast\u00e1il sa Ghaeltacht ionas gur f\u00e9idir le daoine fanacht sa Ghaeltacht. Muna bhfuilimid ag cur f\u00f3cas ar an nGaeltacht agus m\u00e1 dh\u00edr\u00edmid ar an nGaeilge ina ioml\u00e1ine, t\u00e1 baoil ann go dtr\u00e9igfear an Ghaeltacht d\u00e1 bharr. Sin an fait\u00edos at\u00e1 orm. Caithfear an d\u00e1 rud a dh\u00e9anamh ag an am c\u00e9anna.  M\u00e1 bhreathna\u00edmid ar na deacrachta\u00ed at\u00e1 ann leis an mbuninfreastrucht\u00far, t\u00e1 a fhios againn, mar shampla, go bhfuil fadhbanna againn le c\u00farsa\u00ed s\u00e9arachais sa Ghaeltacht. N\u00ed hamh\u00e1in i nGaeltacht Chonamara at\u00e1 s\u00e9 seo f\u00edor; t\u00e1 an rud c\u00e9anna i nGaeltacht Ghaoth Dobhair freisin. Is f\u00e9idir linn breathn\u00fa ar na b\u00f3ithre agus ar na c\u00e9anna. N\u00edl an infheist\u00edocht sna b\u00f3ithre. Is minic a thagann daoine chugam maidir le b\u00f3ithre sa Ghaeltacht ag r\u00e1 go bhfuil deacrachta\u00ed le b\u00f3ithre faoi leith. Nuair a th\u00e9im chuig an gcomhairle contae, deirtear liom nach bhfuil an t-airgead ann. Teasta\u00edonn an infheist\u00edocht sin. M\u00e1 bhreathna\u00edmid ar sheirbh\u00eds\u00ed \u00e9ags\u00fala cos\u00fail le hionad sl\u00e1inte c\u00faraim phr\u00edomh\u00fail, t\u00e1 An Cheathr\u00fa Rua f\u00f3s ag fanacht ar an gceann sin. M\u00e1 bhreathna\u00edmid ar \u00c1ras Mhic Dara, t\u00e1 siad chun na poist a l\u00edonadh ach bh\u00ed moill fada air sin sa teach altranais ansin. Luaim teiripe urlabhra i Leitir M\u00f3ir freisin. Caithfimid breathn\u00fa air sin agus ar na seirbh\u00eds\u00ed sin ar fad ina ioml\u00e1ine m\u00e1 t\u00e1imid ag iarraidh d\u00e9ile\u00e1il leis an nGaeltacht. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Neville  Chuala m\u00e9 an focal \u201cfait\u00edos\u201d \u00f3n Teachta Farrell. D\u2019\u00fas\u00e1id s\u00ed an focal sin. Sin an focal a bhfuilim ag smaoineamh faoi anois agus m\u00e9 ag caint as Gaeilge. My Irish would not be as good as many people\u2019s Irish. I did not get the opportunity to go to the Gaelscoil in Leixlip growing up, but I did go to the Gaeltacht. I actually got to learn quite a bit of Irish afterwards. I try to use it when I can.  I am going to speak about access to Irish-speaking schools in our area. Ceapaim go bhfuil s\u00e9 an-t\u00e1bhachtach. Mar a d\u00fairt m\u00e9, n\u00ed raibh an seans agam dul go dt\u00ed Gaelscoil, agus f\u00f3s is fadhb mh\u00f3r \u00ed sin. Chuaigh m\u00e9 go dt\u00ed an Ghaeltacht agus ansin bh\u00ed m\u00e9 ag caint is ag caint, agus f\u00f3s ceapaim go bhfuil s\u00e9 t\u00e1bhachtach a bheith ag caint as Gaeilge nuair at\u00e1 an seans ann. Nuair at\u00e1 m\u00e9 ag \u00e9isteacht le daoine cos\u00fail leis an Teachta Shane Moynihan, t\u00e1im in ann Gaeilge iontach a chloiste\u00e1il. Ceapaim gur c\u00f3ir go mbeadh an seans c\u00e9anna ag gach duine agus gach p\u00e1iste in \u00c9irinn agus a fhaigheann go leor daoine i rith na t\u00edre anois.  Ceapaim go bhfuil Seachtain na Gaeilge an-t\u00e1bhachtach ar fad. Is deis \u00ed le haghaidh daoine nach mb\u00edonn ag \u00fas\u00e1id Gaeilge. Le haghaidh c\u00fapla seachtain, t\u00e1 an seans acu an Ghaeilge a \u00fas\u00e1id. Ceapaim go mbeidh an seans againn Seachtain na Gaeilge a athr\u00fa go dt\u00ed m\u00ed na Gaeilge. Ceapaim go mbeidh s\u00e9 sin ag tarl\u00fa i gceann c\u00fapla bliain. Molaim an obair at\u00e1 d\u00e9anta ag daoine sna Gaelscoileanna agus sna Gaelchol\u00e1ist\u00ed in\u00e1r bpobal. T\u00e1 siad ag tabhairt deis do na daoine \u00f3ga at\u00e1 ina gc\u00f3na\u00ed taobh amuigh den Ghaeltacht \u2013 cos\u00fail liom nuair a bh\u00ed m\u00e9 \u00f3g, c\u00e9 nach raibh seans agam \u2013 an teanga a labhairt gach l\u00e1.  D\u00edreoidh m\u00e9 ar cheist a bhaineann le hoideachas tr\u00ed Ghaeilge. M\u00e1s mian le tuismitheoir\u00ed n\u00f3 p\u00e1ist\u00ed rochtain a fh\u00e1il ar a gcuid oideachais tr\u00ed Ghaeilge, ba ch\u00f3ir an deis sin a thabhairt d\u00f3ibh. I mo Dh\u00e1ilcheantar, Cill Dara Thuaidh, t\u00e1 f\u00e1s daonra tagtha le blianta anuas. Mar thoradh air sin, t\u00e1 \u00e9ileamh n\u00edos airde ar \u00e1iteanna scoile feicthe againn. T\u00e1 tuismitheoir\u00ed ar mian leo a bp\u00e1ist\u00ed a chur go Gaelscoil n\u00f3 Gaelchol\u00e1iste, agus t\u00e1 s\u00e9 i bhfad n\u00edos deacra dul go Gaelchol\u00e1iste n\u00f3 Gaelscoil, ach t\u00e1 f\u00f3s fadhb againn leis na Gaelscoileanna. T\u00e1 c\u00faig Ghaelscoil agus dh\u00e1 Ghaelchol\u00e1iste i gCill Dara Thuaidh. D\u00fairt tuismitheoir\u00ed liom an tseachtain seo caite go bhfuil a p\u00e1iste Uimh. 29 ar liosta amh\u00e1in, agus Uimh. 15 ar liosta eile chun \u00e1it a fh\u00e1il i nGaelscoil i L\u00e9im an Bhrad\u00e1in agus Maigh Nuad. N\u00edl s\u00e9 sin ceart. Caithfimid n\u00edos m\u00f3 ranganna Gaelscoile agus Gaelchol\u00e1iste a fh\u00e1il.  T\u00e1 s\u00e9 an-t\u00e1bhachtach go mbeidh an deis ag aon ph\u00e1iste ar mian leis n\u00f3 l\u00e9i foghlaim tr\u00ed Ghaeilge \u00e9 sin a dh\u00e9anamh. Beidh a l\u00e1n daoine ag r\u00e1 an rud c\u00e9anna, \u201cT\u00edr gan teanga, t\u00edr gan anam\u201d. T\u00e1 seans againn \u00e9 sin a athr\u00fa. T\u00e1 Wales agus \u00e1iteanna eile in ann an teanga a thabhairt ar ais, agus beimid in ann an rud c\u00e9anna a dh\u00e9anamh, ach caithfidh s\u00e9 tos\u00fa ar dt\u00fas sa ch\u00f3ras oideachais. Caithfimid seans ceart a thabhairt do gach duine at\u00e1 ag iarraidh teacht go dt\u00ed Gaelscoileanna. T\u00e1 m\u00e9 ag r\u00e1 anois go gcaithfimid \u00e9 sin a dh\u00e9anamh. An rud is t\u00e1bhachta\u00ed n\u00e1 go mbeidh seans ag gach \u00e9inne an Ghaeilge a labhairt. M\u00e1 t\u00e1 an seans againn, caithfimid \u00ed a \u00fas\u00e1id.  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas le gach duine a d\u2019\u00e9ist liom. N\u00edl mo Ghaeilge chomh maith le gach duine eile, ach f\u00f3s t\u00e1 m\u00e9 ag cleachtadh. Sin cad at\u00e1 m\u00e9 ag r\u00e1. Caithfimid seans a thabhairt do gach duine at\u00e1 ag iarraidh \u00e9 sin a dh\u00e9anamh. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dessie Ellis","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dessie Ellis  Ar dt\u00fas b\u00e1ire, ba mhaith liom a r\u00e1 go bhfuil Gaeilge ag f\u00e1s agus ag scaipeadh i mo cheantar. T\u00e1 n\u00edos m\u00f3 suime i bhfoghlaim na Gaeilge agus \u00ed a \u00fas\u00e1id i rith an lae. T\u00e1 an-\u00e9ileamh ann le haghaidh na\u00edscoileanna agus bunscoileanna, agus liosta feithimh le haghaidh \u00e1iteanna sna scoileanna. N\u00edl go leor me\u00e1nscoileanna timpeall na h\u00e1ite. N\u00edl ach scoil amh\u00e1in dara leibh\u00e9al, Scoil Chaitr\u00edona i nGlas Na\u00edon. Is m\u00f3r an trua \u00e9 go bhfuil scol\u00e1ir\u00ed ag f\u00e1g\u00e1il bunscoileanna agus ag dul go dt\u00ed scoil Bh\u00e9arla toisc nach bhfuil me\u00e1nscoil ar f\u00e1il chun lean\u00faint leis an oideachas ina gceantar f\u00e9in.  San am a chuaigh thart, is m\u00f3r an trua \u00e9 go raibh an dearcadh ann go raibh an Ghaeilge ina bac ar dul chun cinn agus ar rath\u00fanas. D\u2019\u00e9irigh an dearcadh seo fite fuaite le a l\u00e1n gl\u00fain de mhuintir na h\u00c9ireann, agus d\u2019fh\u00e1g s\u00e9 gur di\u00falta\u00edodh don teanga agus gur beag an toil a bh\u00ed uirthi. T\u00e1 athr\u00fa m\u00f3r ann anois, agus aithn\u00edonn daoine go bhfuil saibhreas agus \u00e1illeacht in\u00e1r dteanga. Caithfimid n\u00edos m\u00f3 b\u00e9ime a chur ar labhairt na teanga. Muna bhfuil muid \u00e1balta timpeallacht a chruth\u00fa chun Gaeilge a \u00fas\u00e1id agus a chleachtadh, t\u00e1 s\u00e9 simpl\u00ed go leor dearmad a dh\u00e9anamh ar fi\u00fa an tuiscint is bun\u00fasa\u00ed ar an teanga. Mar shampla, t\u00e1 cloistear Gaeilge go minic i gCumann B\u00e1ire Setanta i mBaile Munna. Freisin, t\u00e1 an-bh\u00e9im ar ruda\u00ed Gaelacha - damhsa, ceol, amhr\u00e1in agus araile, chomh maith le sp\u00f3rt - iom\u00e1na\u00edocht agus peil. T\u00e1 ceardlanna deisi\u00fach\u00e1in acu le haghaidh earra\u00ed ar n\u00f3s an chruit, an fhead\u00f3g, an maindil\u00edn agus araile. De ghn\u00e1th, b\u00edonn an cumann seo pl\u00f3daithe le daoine, \u00f3g agus aosta, agus atmaisf\u00e9ar den scoth ann.  T\u00e1 dh\u00e1 bhunscoil i mBaile Munna, Scoil an tSeachtar Laoch agus Gaelscoil Bhaile Munna. T\u00e1 seanscoil ann in aice le Scoil an tSeachtar Laoch, agus an scoil seo leathfholamh agus an CDETB \u00e1 h\u00fas\u00e1id. Bheadh s\u00e9 feili\u00fanach an scoil dara leibh\u00e9al a chur ann agus t\u00e1 sp\u00e1s ann. Ba mhaith liom aonad Gaeltachta a chur ann idir Scoil an tSeachtar Laoch agus Cumann B\u00e1ire Setanta. T\u00e1 Gaelscoil U\u00ed Earc\u00e1in i bhFionnghlas ag feitheamh ar scoil nua a th\u00f3g\u00e1il in aice na scoile. T\u00e1 an scoil as d\u00e1ta agus t\u00e1 an iomarca le d\u00e9anamh chun \u00ed a thabhairt suas go dt\u00ed caighde\u00e1n ceart. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 thar am infheist\u00edocht a chur sa sc\u00e9im seo. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  Ar dt\u00fas, t\u00e1 s\u00e9 soil\u00e9ir go raibh imn\u00ed mh\u00f3r ag go leor daoine an bhliain seo caite nuair a chonaiceamar ciorruithe ar chiste teanga na Gaeilge. Go m\u00f3rmh\u00f3r, chuala m\u00e9 Conradh na Gaeilge ag labhairt faoi seo. Ar an gc\u00e9ad dul s\u00edos, cuirim f\u00e1ilte bheag roimh an infheist\u00edocht bhreise at\u00e1 f\u00f3gartha i mbuis\u00e9ad 2026 do TG4, d'\u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta agus don phlean\u00e1il teanga ar fud na t\u00edre. Is c\u00e9im dhearfach \u00ed seo, ach caithfimid a bheith mac\u00e1nta freisin - n\u00edl an obair ach tosaithe. T\u00e1 g\u00e9arch\u00e9im f\u00f3s ann, go h\u00e1irithe do phobail lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht.  T\u00e1 na m\u00edlte cainteoir\u00ed Gaeilge ina gc\u00f3na\u00ed i mbailte agus i gcathracha ar fud na h\u00c9ireann, lena n-\u00e1ir\u00edtear Cluain Dolc\u00e1in, l\u00edonra Gaeilge i mo Dh\u00e1ilcheantar f\u00e9in ina bhfuil an Ghaeilge \u00e1 labhairt in \u00e1it \u00e9igin gach l\u00e1. Is sampla eile \u00e9 Leamhc\u00e1n, \u00e1it ina bhfuil l\u00edon na gcainteoir\u00ed ag dul i m\u00e9id. Fuair m\u00e9 r\u00edomhphost \u00f3 dhalta a th\u00e9ann go st\u00ed Col\u00e1iste Cois Life ag lorg freagra ar cad \u00e9 an ardpholasa\u00ed at\u00e1 againn faoin nGaeilge. T\u00e1 m\u00e9 ag labhairt faoin \u00e1bhar sin anocht agus beidh m\u00e9 ag teacht ar ais chuige freisin. Go minic, motha\u00edonn daoine sna h\u00e1iteanna seo go nd\u00e9antar dearmad orthu. Is g\u00e1 le hinfheist\u00edocht spriocdh\u00edrithe i gcro\u00ed na bpobal seo chun sp\u00e1sanna s\u00f3isialta agus taca\u00edocht phraitici\u00fail a chur ar f\u00e1il do dhaoine ar mian leo an teanga a \u00fas\u00e1id gach l\u00e1; saghas campas Gaeilge i mo Dh\u00e1ilcheantar, mar shampla.  N\u00ed teanga i leabhar amh\u00e1in \u00ed an Ghaeilge; is teanga bheo \u00ed. Is \u00e9 sin an f\u00e1th nach m\u00f3r d\u00fainn d\u00edri\u00fa i bhfad n\u00edos m\u00f3 ar an nGaeilge labhartha. Maidir leis an ardteistim\u00e9ireacht, t\u00e1 s\u00e9 in am athr\u00fa bun\u00fasach a dh\u00e9anamh. Ba cheart go mbeadh an scr\u00fad\u00fa b\u00e9il i gcro\u00edl\u00e1r an mheas\u00fanaithe n\u00f3 go mbeadh an Ghaeilge labhartha ar f\u00e1il mar \u00e1bhar ann f\u00e9in. M\u00e1 mh\u00fainimid d\u00e1r ndaoine \u00f3ga conas an teanga a labhairt le muin\u00edn, mairfidh s\u00ed. Bheadh n\u00edos m\u00f3 daoine ag labhairt na Gaeilge gach l\u00e1 d\u00e1 mbeadh an Ghaeilge labhartha mar \u00e1bhar sna scoileanna. M\u00e1 fhanann s\u00ed mar \u00e1bhar acad\u00fail ar ph\u00e1ip\u00e9ar amh\u00e1in, meathfaidh s\u00ed.  Mar sin, c\u00e9 go dtaca\u00edm leis an maoini\u00fa nua, t\u00e1 tuilleadh de dh\u00edth. Teasta\u00edonn uainn go mbeidh an Ghaeilge le cloiste\u00e1il tar \u00e9is seo i ngach sr\u00e1id, i ngach club sp\u00f3irt agus i ngach teach, is cuma m\u00e1s laistigh n\u00f3 lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht iad. Beimid ag labhairt faoi thithe sa Ghaeltacht n\u00edos d\u00e9ana\u00ed. Is \u00e1bhar eile \u00e9 sin. T\u00e1 an Ghaeilge \u00e1 labhairt ar fud na t\u00edre. N\u00edl s\u00e9 just t\u00e1bhachtach sa Ghaeltacht. Is f\u00e9idir le daoine nach bhfuil Gaeilge l\u00edofa acu, mar shampla, m\u00e9 f\u00e9in, \u00ed a labhairt. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  I nd\u00e1ir\u00edre, n\u00edl sc\u00e9al iontach ag titim amach sa t\u00edr seo mar gheall ar an nGaeilge. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 ag \u00e9ir\u00ed n\u00edos measa bliain i ndiaidh bliana mar gheall ar na pr\u00edomhruda\u00ed at\u00e1 i gceist. T\u00e1im ag caint faoin l\u00edon daoine at\u00e1 ag caint na Gaeilge go laeth\u00fail sa Ghaeltacht. I mo thuairim, is \u00e9 sin an pr\u00edomhchusp\u00f3ir gur cheart a bheith ag aon rialtas. T\u00e1 l\u00edon na ndaoine at\u00e1 ag caint na Gaeilge go laeth\u00fail ag titim bliain i ndiaidh bliana. Is \u00ed an Ghaeltacht an tobar at\u00e1 ann. Nuair a bh\u00edonn pobal Gaeltachta ann, b\u00edonn an Ghaeilge n\u00edos doimhne agus n\u00edos saibhre. N\u00ed hionann Gaeltacht agus l\u00edonra Gaeilge. Caithfimid d\u00edri\u00fa ar conas gur f\u00e9idir linn cur leis an l\u00edon daoine at\u00e1 ag caint Gaeilge go laeth\u00fail sa Ghaeltacht ar an gc\u00e9ad dul s\u00edos.  Mar gheall ar thith\u00edocht, is ceann de na pr\u00edomhfhadhbanna at\u00e1 ann n\u00e1 nach bhfuil go leor tithe sa Ghaeltacht le haghaidh daoine \u00f3ga at\u00e1 ag iarraidh clann a th\u00f3g\u00e1il ann. D\u00fairt m\u00e9 \u00e9 seo leis an Aire c\u00fapla bliain \u00f3 shin. Ba cheart go mbeadh an Rialtas ag t\u00f3g\u00e1il east\u00e1it tith\u00edochta sa Ghaeltacht. T\u00e1 go leor de na Gaeltachta\u00ed - labhair m\u00e9 faoi R\u00e1th Chairn, An Spid\u00e9al, An Rinn agus Baile Bhuirne - in aice le bailte m\u00f3ra n\u00f3 cathracha. T\u00e1 go leor daoine sna bailte m\u00f3ra agus cathracha sin ag iarraidh a gclanna a th\u00f3g\u00e1il le Gaeilge. Ba mhaith leo dul amach go dt\u00ed an Ghaeltacht agus \u00e9 sin a dh\u00e9anamh ach n\u00edl tithe le f\u00e1il d\u00f3ibh. T\u00e1 seans ag an Aire east\u00e1it tith\u00edochta a th\u00f3g\u00e1il iontu chun go mbeadh na tithe sin ar f\u00e1il. Chonaiceamar protests taobh amuigh de gheata\u00ed Theach Laighean inniu. Bh\u00ed daoine \u00f3ga \u00f3n nGaeltacht agus \u00f3n bhfeachtas B\u00c1N\u00da ag iarraidh cur in i\u00fal don Rialtas nach bhfuil s\u00e9 f\u00e9ar\u00e1ilte d\u00f3ibh nach bhfuil siad in ann teach a fh\u00e1il ina gceantair f\u00e9in. N\u00ed fheicim aon r\u00e9iteach ar an sc\u00e9al seo ag teacht \u00f3n Rialtas.  Is \u00e9 an dara rud chun cur leis an nGaeilge na Gaelscoileanna. Nuair a th\u00e1inig an tAire isteach sa Teach seo, bh\u00ed n\u00edos m\u00f3 p\u00e1ist\u00ed ag freastal ar Ghaelscoileanna n\u00e1 mar at\u00e1 inniu. T\u00e1 an tAire 20 bliain anseo, an bhfuil? T\u00e1 s\u00e9 beagnach 20 bliain anseo. Bh\u00ed n\u00edos m\u00f3 p\u00e1ist\u00ed ag freastal ar Ghaelscoileanna 20 bliain \u00f3 shin n\u00e1 mar at\u00e1 inniu. Nach bhfuil s\u00e9 seo dochreidte? Is \u00e9 sin an tsl\u00ed is \u00e9asca chun an Ghaeilge a thabhairt don ch\u00e9ad ghl\u00fain eile mar n\u00ed bh\u00edonn siad ag foghlaim na Gaeilge. B\u00edonn siad cos\u00fail le sponge. B\u00edonn an teanga ag dul iontu gan aon strus n\u00e1 aon fhadhb ar chor ar bith. C\u00e9n f\u00e1th go bhfuil c\u00fal\u00fa ann mar gheall ar r\u00e9iteach at\u00e1 chomh h\u00e9asca sin? Is \u00e9 sin an dara rud. Muna bhfuil an Rialtas s\u00e1sta cur leis an m\u00e9id Gaelscoileanna at\u00e1 ann, n\u00ed bheadh muid ag cur leis an l\u00edon daoine le Gaeilge l\u00edofa sa t\u00edr seo.  Is \u00e9 an ch\u00e9ad rud eile n\u00e1 st\u00e1das. Muna bhfuil st\u00e1das cu\u00ed ag an nGaeilge sa t\u00edr seo, n\u00ed bheidh daoine ag tabhairt aird uirthi. Is \u00e9 an t-aon dea-sc\u00e9al at\u00e1 ann mar gheall ar an nGaeilge anois n\u00e1 na me\u00e1in sh\u00f3isialta. Nuair a bhreathna\u00edonn t\u00fa ar Twitter, TikTok n\u00e1 na me\u00e1in sh\u00f3isialta eile, feiceann t\u00fa domhan saibhir nua l\u00e1idir ann mar gheall ar an nGaeilge. Ba cheart go mbeadh an Rialtas ag cur leis an st\u00e1das. Chun \u00e9 sin a dh\u00e9anamh, caithfear seirbh\u00eds\u00ed a bheith ar f\u00e1il i nGaeilge sa Ghaeltacht agus sa Ghalltacht. M\u00e1 chuireann daoine glaoch ar sheirbh\u00eds\u00ed St\u00e1it, de ghn\u00e1th n\u00ed bh\u00edonn duine le Gaeilge ar an taobh eile den l\u00edne chun aon rud a fhreagairt. Caithfidh an Rialtas cur leis an st\u00e1das. Chun \u00e9 sin a dh\u00e9anamh, caithfear infheist\u00edocht a bheith ann.  Mar gheall ar na pleananna, t\u00e1 plean nua ann agus cuirim f\u00e1ilte roimhe sin ach, i nd\u00e1ir\u00edre, theip ar an bplean deireanach. N\u00edor chuir an Rialtas an plean deireanach i bhfeidhm ar chor ar bith. N\u00ed fi\u00fa plean nua a bheith ann muna bhfuil an Rialtas chun \u00e9 a chur i bhfeidhm i gceart. Cialla\u00edonn s\u00e9 sin go gcaithfidh an toil agus an t-airgead a bheith ann. N\u00ed fheicim \u00e9 sin. M\u00e1s maith leis an Aire legacy ceart a fh\u00e1g\u00e1il ina dhiaidh, ba ch\u00f3ir go nd\u00e9anfadh s\u00e9 rud \u00e9igin mar gheall ar thith\u00edocht sa Ghaeltacht agus rud mar gheall ar scoileanna l\u00e1n Ghaeilge agus go gcuirfeadh s\u00e9 leis an st\u00e1das. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aindrias Moynihan  Ar an gc\u00e9ad dul s\u00edos, f\u00e1ilt\u00edm roimh an deis p\u00e1irt a ghlacadh sa d\u00edosp\u00f3ireacht inniu. Ar nd\u00f3igh, t\u00e1 riachtanais ag pobal na Gaelainne ar fud na bliana, n\u00ed hamh\u00e1in le linn Sheachtain na Gaeilge. T\u00e1im chun \u00e9 sin a bhr\u00fa chun cinn i gc\u00f3na\u00ed. Is maith an rud \u00e9 go bhfuil deis againn labhairt inniu ach beimid ag br\u00fa chun cinn riachtanais phobal na Gaelainne ar fud na bliana chomh maith.  Cloisimid i gc\u00f3na\u00ed go bhfuil d\u00fashl\u00e1in ann \u00f3 thaobh an l\u00edon daoine at\u00e1 ag labhairt na Gaeilge go laeth\u00fail, agus is cinnte go bhfuil. Is maith an rud \u00e9 go bhfuil an tAcht nua t\u00f3gtha chun cinn ag an Rialtas deireanach chun a l\u00e9iri\u00fa go mbeadh deiseanna fosta\u00edochta sa St\u00e1tch\u00f3ras amach anseo. T\u00e1 br\u00fa ar ch\u00farsa\u00ed Gaelainne. T\u00e1 ruda\u00ed dearfacha ar si\u00fal chomh maith. Is minic nach gcloistear mar gheall ar na ruda\u00ed dearfacha. T\u00e1 f\u00e1s ar ch\u00farsa\u00ed teanga, go h\u00e1irithe laistigh de na cathracha agus na bruachbhailte. T\u00e1 g\u00e1 le hinfreastrucht\u00far chun tac\u00fa leis sin agus chun \u00e9 a neart\u00fa. T\u00e1im ag caint faoi infreastrucht\u00far bun\u00fasach cos\u00fail le na\u00edonra\u00ed agus scoileanna. I mo dh\u00fathaigh f\u00e9in, t\u00e1 g\u00e1 le scoil nua i gcomhair phobal Gaelainne Bhaile an Chollaigh, \u00e1it a bhfuil Gaelscoil an Chaisle\u00e1in, scoil nuabhunaithe, i bhfoirgneamh sealadach le roinnt blianta anuas. T\u00e1 su\u00edomh ceannaithe chuige sin agus t\u00e1 foireann dearaidh tosaithe ar an obair don Ghaelscoil agus don scoil dara leibh\u00e9al, Le Ch\u00e9ile Secondary School. Faraor, n\u00edl an togra ar liosta pr\u00e1inneach an Aire oideachais. Is m\u00f3r an chailli\u00faint \u00e9 sin. Iarraim ar an Rialtas gach iarracht a dh\u00e9anamh chun an togra t\u00e1bhachtach sin a thabhairt chun cinn ar son na teanga i measc phobal Bhaile an Chollaigh agus phobal l\u00e1r Chorca\u00ed. Dar nd\u00f3igh, bainfidh pobal Le Ch\u00e9ile Secondary School tairbhe as chomh maith.  Is \u00e9 an tith\u00edocht an deacracht is m\u00f3 ar fud na t\u00edre ar fad. Tuigim go bhfuil s\u00e9 mar an chloch is m\u00f3 ar phaidr\u00edn an Rialtais. Feicimid \u00e9 sin leis an l\u00edon tithe at\u00e1 \u00e1 dt\u00f3g\u00e1il i mo dh\u00fathaigh f\u00e9in, in \u00c1th an Ch\u00f3iste, sa Chloch Dhubh agus i go leor \u00e1iteanna eile.  T\u00e1 br\u00fa breise ann nuair a thagann t\u00fa chuig an nGaeltacht, \u00e1fach. Gan tithe sa Ghaeltacht, n\u00edl deis ag daoine an teanga a thabhairt chun cinn chuig an gc\u00e9ad ghl\u00fain eile. Mar sin, t\u00e1 s\u00e9 f\u00edorth\u00e1bhachtach go mbeadh tith\u00edocht ann agus go mbeadh deis ag pobal na Gaeltachta maireacht\u00e1il ina nd\u00fathaigh f\u00e9in.  T\u00e1 g\u00e1 le tithe inacmhainne go h\u00e1irithe. Inseoidh m\u00e9 don Aire faoi na hiarrachta\u00ed a bhfuil Comhairle Contae Chorca\u00ed ag d\u00e9anamh mar gheall ar thithe inacmhainne. T\u00e1 togra an-dearfach \u00e1 chur chun cinn aige i nGaeltacht Mh\u00fascra\u00ed faoi l\u00e1thair. Sna m\u00edonna amach romhainn, beidh tithe inacmhainne \u00e1 gcur ar f\u00e1il i gCluain R\u00e9idh i mBaile Mhic \u00cdre. Is tithe iad seo a bheidh d\u00edrithe ar phobal na Gaelainne. Is rud an-dearfach \u00e9 sin. N\u00ed chloisimid r\u00f3mhinic, n\u00f3 riamh b'fh\u00e9idir, faoin dul chun cinn at\u00e1 \u00e1 dh\u00e9anamh. Nuair at\u00e1 dul chun cinn \u00e1 dh\u00e9anamh, t\u00e1 s\u00e9 f\u00edorth\u00e1bhachtach \u00e9 a aithint. Beidh deis ag muintir na Gaelainne tithe inacmhainne a fh\u00e1il ina nd\u00fathaigh f\u00e9in. Is f\u00e9idir le Gaeilgeoir\u00ed \u00f3 fud na t\u00edre iarratas a dh\u00e9anamh chomh maith.  T\u00e1 dul chun cinn \u00e1 dh\u00e9anamh ag an gcomhairle contae maidir leis an bplean forbartha don chontae chomh maith. T\u00e1 athbhreithni\u00fa \u00e1 dh\u00e9anamh ar an bplean sin faoi l\u00e1thair. Dar nd\u00f3igh, n\u00ed h\u00e9 Comhairle Contae Chorca\u00ed an t-aon chomhairle contae at\u00e1 ag d\u00e9anamh athbhreithni\u00fa ar phlean forbartha faoi l\u00e1thair. T\u00e1 deis sna contaetha \u00e9ags\u00fala ina bhfuil Gaeltacht breis b\u00e9ime a chur ar riachtanais phobal na Gaelainne agus phobal na Gaeltachta laistigh de na pleananna forbartha sin. T\u00e1imid \u00e1 bhr\u00fa chun cinn i gCorcaigh. T\u00e1 an deis ch\u00e9anna ann sna contaetha eile chomh maith ag an tr\u00e1th seo.  T\u00e1 togra amh\u00e1in eile gur mhaith liom d\u00edri\u00fa isteach air is ea Col\u00e1iste \u00cdosag\u00e1in. Aithneoidh daoine ar fud na t\u00edre an foirgneamh m\u00f3r fada b\u00e1n sin a fheiceann t\u00fa agus t\u00fa ag gabh\u00e1il tr\u00ed Bhaile Bhuirne idir Chill Airne agus Corcaigh. Bh\u00ed togra fadradharcach ar fad i gceist nuair a ceanna\u00edodh \u00e9 na blianta \u00f3 shin. Idir an d\u00e1 linn, t\u00e1 an-obair d\u00e9anta ar an su\u00edomh. Braitheann go leor daoine nach raibh aon rud ar si\u00fal ann, ach t\u00e1 p\u00e1irc peile forbartha ann agus t\u00e1 ceithre chomhlacht m\u00f3r le r\u00e1 ag cur t\u00e1irg\u00ed bia ar f\u00e1il ar fud na t\u00edre ar fad \u00f3n su\u00edomh sin, a bhfuil 41 acra ann. Anois, le maoini\u00fa \u00f3 Roinn an Aire agus \u00f3 \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta, t\u00e1 athch\u00f3iri\u00fa m\u00f3r ar an bhfoirgneamh f\u00e9in, an scoil, faoi l\u00e1n seoil. Dar nd\u00f3igh, t\u00e1 an ch\u00e9ad phas den obair seo ullamh faoin tr\u00e1th seo agus an t-ionad fiontra\u00edochta beagnach ullamh le bogadh isteach ann. Beimid ag tn\u00fath go m\u00f3r leis an l\u00e1 nuair a bheidh an oscailt oifigi\u00fail ann. B'fh\u00e9idir nach bhfuil s\u00e9 i bhfad uainn. T\u00e1 an-obair d\u00e9anta ar an ionad fiontra\u00edochta sin. Beidh deiseanna ann amach anseo chomh maith chun c\u00farsa\u00ed oideachais agus cult\u00fartha a fhorbairt sa d\u00e1 sciath\u00e1n faoi phas 2 agus faoi phas 3. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 f\u00edorth\u00e1bhachtach a aithint go bhfuil an-obair ar si\u00fal ann, chomh maith leis an obair at\u00e1 d\u00e9anta sa ch\u00falra ag an \u00fadar\u00e1s, na gr\u00fapa\u00ed \u00e9ags\u00fala agus na hionadaithe pobail - m'athair f\u00e9in, D\u00f3nal \u00d3 Muimhneach\u00e1in, san \u00e1ireamh - thar na blianta chun an togra sin a bhr\u00fa chun cinn. T\u00e1im cinnte go nd\u00e9anfaimid gach iarracht \u00e9 a bhr\u00fa ar aghaidh. Luafaidh m\u00e9 freisin na comhairleoir\u00ed contae sa dh\u00fathaigh agus na baill den \u00fadar\u00e1s.  Mar fhocal scoir, t\u00e1 na b\u00f3ithre go hainnis tar \u00e9is na drochaimsire ar fad. T\u00e1 g\u00e1 m\u00f3r le hathch\u00f3iri\u00fa a dh\u00e9anamh orthu. T\u00e1 an chomhairle contae an-ghn\u00f3thach leis. An f\u00e9idir leis an Aire tac\u00fa leis? Bh\u00ed sc\u00e9im na mb\u00f3ithre \u00e1ise ann ar feadh roinnt blianta. Tuigim go bhfuil s\u00e9 ar na bior\u00e1in ag an Aire \u00e9 sin a thabhairt chun cinn am \u00e9igin. Iarraim air an sc\u00e9im sin a bhr\u00fa chun cinn chomh luath agus is f\u00e9idir. Is m\u00f3r an chabhair do phobal na Gaeltachta a bheadh ann d\u00e1 mbeadh caighde\u00e1n b\u00f3ithre n\u00edos oiri\u00fana\u00ed acu. Is \u00e9 sin an ch\u00e9ad ph\u00edosa b\u00f3thair a dtiom\u00e1ineann t\u00fa air ar maidin agus an p\u00edosa deireanach a dtiom\u00e1ineann t\u00fa air um thr\u00e1thn\u00f3na nuair a bh\u00edonn t\u00fa ag filleadh abhaile. M\u00e1s f\u00e9idir obair a dh\u00e9anamh ar an bp\u00edosa sin, sc\u00e9im na mb\u00f3ithre \u00e1ise, ba mh\u00f3r an chabhair a bheadh ann. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  Is bre\u00e1 liom Seachtain na Gaeilge. Is maith liom a bheith ag \u00e9isteacht le gach duine agus iad ag caint as Gaeilge. T\u00e1 Gaeilge \u00e1lainn san Oireachtas seo. N\u00edl a l\u00e1n Gaeilge agam agus n\u00edl a l\u00e1n confidence agam caint as Gaeilge ach is bre\u00e1 liom p\u00e1irt a ghlacadh sa d\u00edosp\u00f3ireacht seo inniu. Agus m\u00e9 ag tabhairt faoin \u00f3r\u00e1id seo a scr\u00edobh, thug m\u00e9 faoi deara go mbeadh g\u00e1 le t\u00e9arma\u00edocht n\u00e1r fhoghlaim m\u00e9 ar scoil. Ionas go mbeadh ciall leis an m\u00e9id a d\u00e9arfainn, bh\u00ed orm t\u00e9arma\u00ed nua a fhoghlaim, t\u00e9arma\u00ed ar n\u00f3s \u201cd\u00edth \u00e1bhartha\u201d, a bhaineann le daoine nach bhfuil in ann riachtanais bhun\u00fasacha leith\u00e9id\u00ed bia, teas n\u00f3 leigheas a cheannach. Is t\u00e9arma \u00e9 seo a bhaineann le duine amh\u00e1in as gach c\u00faigear in \u00c9irinn inniu. Is t\u00e9arma eile n\u00e1 \u201cbochtanas\u201d. T\u00e1 a fhios againn go bhfuil p\u00e1iste amh\u00e1in as gach ceathrar ag f\u00e1s an\u00edos i mbaol na bochtaineachta nuair a chuirtear costas tith\u00edochta san \u00e1ireamh. Agus muid ag caint ar thith\u00edocht, nach as faill\u00ed an Rialtais seo a d\u2019fh\u00e1s an t\u00e9arma eile sin, \"g\u00e9arch\u00e9im na tith\u00edochta\"? N\u00ed hionann an focl\u00f3ir i seomra ranga Gaeilge inniu agus an ceann a bh\u00ed ann i mo l\u00e1 f\u00e9in. Agus muid ag pl\u00e9 \u00e1r dteanga dh\u00fachais, t\u00e1 an t\u00e1bhacht ch\u00e9anna ag na t\u00e9arma\u00ed seo do chainteoir\u00ed Gaeilge agus do chainteoir\u00ed B\u00e9arla, R\u00f3m\u00e1inise, Araibise n\u00f3 aon teanga eile. N\u00ed fi\u00fa an Ghaeilge gan a muintir. Caithfimid \u00c9ire Ghaelach a th\u00f3g\u00e1il at\u00e1 bunaithe ar cheartas agus ar chothromas. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  Unfortunately, I stand up here today and I cannot give my speech as Gaeilge but thanks to Gaelscoil Pheig Sayers in Farranferris my two daughters can. A funny story; last Sunday I watched the Cork hurlers play Kilkenny on TG4. My wife and my daughter could understand it, but I was struggling to get bits of words. Is it not great that my wife and my two daughters have done something now that I cannot do? I am very proud of that. They brought the Irish language back to Assumption Road, where it always was. The problem is that it is one of the few DEIS Gaelscoileanna in the State. In 2022, after a long campaign, a design team was appointed. Here we are now in 2026 and they have heard nothing from the design team since 2025. The big issue for Gaelscoil Pheig Sayers is that in 2027 its lease with Farranferris will expire. Farranferris has already organised new tenants to come in. This is a real worry for the parents, the staff and the whole community. It has been a troid mh\u00f3r to get us here and we cannot risk that now. I ask the Minister to instruct the Department to deal with them now. People think of the north side of Cork as a working-class area. We have Gaelch\u00f3laiste MacSuibhne and Gaelch\u00f3laiste Mhuire A.G sa Mhainistir Thuaidh. There are Gaelscoileanna in Glanmire, Ballincollig and Blarney. We want to promote the language, Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  T\u00e1im an-s\u00e1sta a bheith ag caint i nGaeilge ar\u00eds. Ar dt\u00fas, gabhaim bu\u00edochas le hAodh\u00e1n \u00d3 De\u00e1, Julian de Sp\u00e1inn agus P\u00e1draig Mac Br\u00e1daigh as an obair ar fad at\u00e1 d\u00e9anta ag an tri\u00far acu. T\u00e1 gr\u00fapa WhatsApp againn agus t\u00e1im i gc\u00f3na\u00ed ag cur ceisteanna isteach ionas go mbeidh an ceart agam sna ruda\u00ed at\u00e1 \u00e1 r\u00e1 agam. Bh\u00ed c\u00fapla ceist agam don Aire c\u00fapla seachtain \u00f3 shin. T\u00e1im l\u00e1ns\u00e1sta le Gaelchol\u00e1iste Reachrann i nDomhnach M\u00edde i mBaile \u00c1tha Cliath thuaidh. Bheadh s\u00e9 i bhfad n\u00edos fearr d\u00e1 mbeadh n\u00edos m\u00f3 eolais ag teacht amach, ach t\u00e1im l\u00e1ns\u00e1sta go bhfuil s\u00e9 tar \u00e9is dul go tender. Bh\u00ed na daoine ag fanacht ar fhoirgneamh buan le 24 bliana. Bh\u00ed s\u00e9 mar phr\u00edomhrud domsa agus m\u00e9 ag rith sa toghch\u00e1n. Bh\u00ed m\u00e9 san audiovisual room inniu ag caint le go leor daoine. Bh\u00ed siad ag r\u00e1 c\u00fapla rud faoi cad is f\u00e9idir linn a dh\u00e9anamh mar Theachta\u00ed D\u00e1la.  Is iad na pr\u00edomhruda\u00ed n\u00e1 labhairt le Teachta\u00ed D\u00e1la eile i nGaeilge; c\u00farsa\u00ed Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta a bhr\u00fa chun cinn taobh istigh de na p\u00e1irtithe polait\u00edochta n\u00f3 go neamhsple\u00e1ch; taca\u00edocht a thabhairt don Bhille um \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta (Leas\u00fa), 2024 agus leis an mBille maidir le c\u00edos gearrth\u00e9armach; agus ceisteanna D\u00e1la a bhaineann le tith\u00edocht, plean\u00e1il teanga agus Gaeloideachas a ard\u00fa. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 sa chl\u00e1r Rialtais go bhfuil muid d\u00e1ir\u00edre faoin Ghaeilge, faoin bhfr\u00e1ma tagartha com\u00f3nta Eorpach, agus faoi go leor ruda\u00ed eile mar sin.  D\u2019fhreastail m\u00e9 ar bunscoil agus me\u00e1nscoil l\u00e1n-Bh\u00e9arla ach d\u2019fhoghlaim m\u00e9 mo chuid Gaeilge \u00f3 mo dheirfi\u00far. Is file \u00ed. T\u00e1 m\u00e9 iontach bu\u00edoch le Ciara N\u00ed \u00c9 as sin. N\u00ed bheinn i mo Theachta\u00ed D\u00e1la mura mbeadh Gaeilge agam. T\u00e1 m\u00e9 ag iarraidh go mbeidh n\u00edos m\u00f3 infheist\u00edochta ann. Is g\u00e1 dom mo bu\u00edochas a ghabh\u00e1il leis an Aire as ucht an mh\u00e9id at\u00e1 d\u00e9anta aige go dt\u00ed seo \u00f3 thaobh na Gaeilge de. Bh\u00ed m\u00e9 in \u00e9ineacht leis i gc\u00fapla cruinni\u00fa trasna na t\u00edre. Labhair s\u00e9 le gach duine. Is soil\u00e9ir go bhfuil go leor ruda\u00ed eile le d\u00e9anamh againn, \u00e1fach. M\u00e1 t\u00e1 muid i nd\u00e1ir\u00edre faoin Ghaeilge, caithfidh muid an t-airgead a chur isteach i ngach uile chaoi ar f\u00e9idir linn. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  I am sorry that I cannot speak Irish fluently like all of the others here who have done so this evening. I have to tell Deputy Gould that I too have two daughters who are fluent Irish speakers. One of them, Theresa, trained in Dingle, An Daingean.  I want to thank the Gaeltacht communities that we have in Kerry - Baile na Sceilge, U\u00edbh R\u00e1thaigh, Daingean U\u00ed Ch\u00fais and all those areas. We are really proud of our Gaeltacht areas because we see how they have survived over the centuries and brought their language - our own language - forward and how they live for it every day. Everything they do is through Irish - add, subtract or whatever it is. They are very fluent.  I cannot let this moment go without congratulating the two club teams that won the senior and intermediate all-Ireland football championships this year. We are very proud of them. They had a never-say-die attitude and there was no surrender as far as they were concerned. They were nearly gone two, three or four different times and they still came back. As Paul Geaney said in his winning speech, you can say so much more in one line of Irish than you can in English and express things so much better. The Irish language means so much to them in the Gaeltacht and they are so proud of it. It is their everyday language and their winning speeches in Irish were a joy to listen to. We are lucky in Kerry to have these Gaeltacht areas and the great men who play football for their clubs and for Kerry. Indeed, we all remember P\u00e1id\u00ed \u00d3 S\u00e9 and the never-say-die attitude that he had.  Our native language is something to be very proud of and we should encourage the use of it at every opportunity. We live beside C\u00fail Aodha, which bounds Kilgarvan at the top of Coom. At one time in the 1960s, we were supposed to be included in the Gaeltacht down as far as Morley's Bridge. It never happened and I am sorry about that. I am sorry that I did not give it enough time for the bit of time when I was at school. When I think of the people of C\u00fail Aodha, I commiserate with the O'Sullivan family. Their sister N\u00f3ir\u00edn \u00d3 D\u00e1laigh passed away recently. She was a proud C\u00fail Aodha woman and a Kilgarvan woman as well because their mother came from Kilgarvan. Everyone remembers Diarmuid O'Sullivan on Raidi\u00f3 na Gaeltachta. He was her brother as well.  I am surrounded by Irish very close to me. I am very proud of all the people who speak Irish in our county as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Iarraim ar an Aire clabhs\u00far a chur leis an d\u00edosp\u00f3ireacht. T\u00e1 deich n\u00f3im\u00e9ad aige. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (Deputy Dara Calleary)  D\u00e9anaim comhghairdeas leis an gCeann Comhairle as a cuid Gaeilge. T\u00e1 s\u00ed ag \u00e9ir\u00ed n\u00edos l\u00e1idre. Ag cloiste\u00e1il na d\u00edosp\u00f3ireachta inniu, bh\u00ed s\u00e9 suimi\u00fail go raibh a l\u00e1n daoine ag gabh\u00e1il leithsc\u00e9alta as a gcuid Gaeilge. N\u00edl aon gh\u00e1 leis sin. Is ceart go n-\u00fas\u00e1ideann muid \u00ed sa Teach seo agus sa Teach eile. Ba cheart go mbeadh muid in ann \u00ed a \u00fas\u00e1id ar l\u00e1 ar bith, n\u00ed hamh\u00e1in le linn Sheachtain na Gaeilge.  D\u00e9anaim comhghairdeas leis an dh\u00e1 chlub Chumann L\u00fathchleas Gael, An Ghaeltacht agus Daingean U\u00ed Ch\u00fais, as na buanna a bh\u00ed acu. I congratulate An Ghaeltacht agus Daingean U\u00ed Ch\u00fais GAA clubs. I will be there on Thursday and Friday. Maybe I will pick up a few tips to bring back to Mayo on how to win an all-Ireland. Bh\u00ed s\u00e9 iontach go raibh na captaein agus na buaiteoir\u00ed in ann \u00f3r\u00e1id\u00ed a dh\u00e9anamh as Gaeilge i bP\u00e1irc an Chr\u00f3caigh. As the Deputy said, the richness in that moment for two Gaeltacht clubs, after winning all-Ireland club championships, that their captains were able to address the crowd and give their congratulations as Gaeilge, was fantastic. That was very much the cream of their victories. I join with the Deputy in that regard.  Ceapadh mar Aire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail, agus Gaeltachta m\u00e9 ag t\u00fas na bliana seo caite. Is m\u00e9 an ch\u00e9ad Aire sinsearach don Ghaeilge agus don Ghaeltacht le tamall de bhlianta anuas. \u00d3 shin i leith, ceapaim go bhfuil obair shuntasach d\u00e9anta agam agus ag an bhfoireann iontach at\u00e1 agam sa Roinn chun an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn agus pobal na Gaeltachta a neart\u00fa agus a fhorbairt.  Is \u00e9 seo an ch\u00e9ad uair le blianta nach bhfuil Catherine Connolly anseo mar Theachta D\u00e1la. Gach l\u00e1 d\u00e1 raibh s\u00ed sa Teach seo, bhain s\u00ed \u00fas\u00e1id as an nGaeilge. Gabhaim bu\u00edochas le hUachtar\u00e1n na h\u00c9ireann, duine a bhfuil Gaeilge l\u00edofa aici, agus muid ag ceili\u00faradh Sheachtain na Gaeilge. Is rud iontach \u00e9 go bhfuil Uachtar\u00e1n eile againn le Gaeilge, tar \u00e9is an iarUachtar\u00e1n Michael D. Higgins.  T\u00e1 spriocanna uaillmhianacha leagtha amach agam don ch\u00e9ad ch\u00fapla bliain eile. T\u00e1im cinnte dearfach go nd\u00e9anfaidh an obair seo difr\u00edocht mh\u00f3r do phobal labhartha na Gaeilge agus don Ghaeltacht. N\u00ed f\u00e9idir na spriocanna seo a bhaint amach gan rannph\u00e1irt\u00edocht \u00f3 r\u00e9imse leathan daoine, gr\u00fapa\u00ed agus eagra\u00edochta\u00ed, lena n-air\u00edtear pobal na plean\u00e1la teanga, na Ranna St\u00e1it, Foras na Gaeilge, \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta, na ceanneagra\u00edochta\u00ed, na h\u00fadar\u00e1is \u00e1iti\u00fala agus na heagra\u00edochta\u00ed St\u00e1it tr\u00ed ch\u00e9ile.  Le breis agus bliain anuas, bh\u00ed m\u00e9 gn\u00f3thach ag taisteal ar fud na t\u00edre agus ag bualadh le pobal na teanga. Mar a d\u00fairt m\u00e9, tabharfaidh m\u00e9 cuairt ar Chontae Chiarra\u00ed ar an D\u00e9ardaoin agus ar an Aoine. I m\u00ed Dheireadh F\u00f3mhair seo caite, ba mh\u00f3r an on\u00f3ir dom freastal ar an Oireachtas i mB\u00e9al Feirste, \u00f3c\u00e1id iontach inar l\u00e9ir\u00edodh an chuid is fearr d\u00e1r gcult\u00far. I m\u00ed an Mheithimh seo caite, bh\u00ed Com\u00f3rtas Peile na Gaeltachta i R\u00e1th Chairn i gContae na M\u00ed. Ba rud speisialta \u00e9 freastal ar an \u00f3c\u00e1id sin chun bualadh le daoine \u00f3 gach cearn den Ghaeltacht agus iad ag baint sult as na cluich\u00ed i dtimpeallacht n\u00e1d\u00fartha teanga. T\u00e1 m\u00e9 ag s\u00fail go m\u00f3r le dul go D\u00fan na nGall le haghaidh Chom\u00f3rtas Peile na Gaeltachta an samhradh seo.  N\u00edl g\u00e1 le gn\u00edomh m\u00f3r amh\u00e1in chun an Ghaeilge a thabhairt beo don ch\u00e9ad ghl\u00fain eile: teasta\u00edonn \u00e9iceach\u00f3ras teanga a fhorbairt agus a choth\u00fa chun \u00e9 sin a dh\u00e9anamh. Sa chomhth\u00e9acs sin, n\u00ed m\u00f3r d\u00fainn seasamh siar agus breathn\u00fa ar an \u00e1it ina bhfuilimid anois i gcompar\u00e1id leis an \u00e1it ina raibh muid deich mbliana \u00f3 shin. Deich mbliana \u00f3 sh\u00edn, n\u00ed raibh an pr\u00f3iseas plean\u00e1la teanga ach ina th\u00fas; n\u00ed raibh beagnach 80 duine breise ag obair go heisiach ar fhorbairt na teanga sa Ghaeltacht mar at\u00e1 anois; n\u00ed raibh an eagra\u00edocht Tuismitheoir\u00ed na Gaeltachta ag feidhmi\u00fa mar chuid den phr\u00f3iseas plean\u00e1la teanga; n\u00ed raibh Acht teanga nua againn agus spriocanna earca\u00edochta d\u00fashl\u00e1nacha san \u00e1ireamh ann; n\u00ed raibh f\u00f3gra\u00ed i nGaeilge le cloiste\u00e1il n\u00e1 le feice\u00e1il go fairsing ar an raidi\u00f3, ar an teilif\u00eds agus sna me\u00e1in sh\u00f3isialta agus na nuacht\u00e1in; n\u00ed raibh aon st\u00e1isi\u00fan teilif\u00edse do dhaoine \u00f3ga ann mar at\u00e1 againn anois le C\u00fala4; n\u00ed raibh plean digiteach don Ghaeilge againn; agus n\u00ed raibh polasa\u00ed don oideachas Gaeltachta ann n\u00e1 ceachtar den d\u00e1 pholasa\u00ed nua a d\u2019fh\u00f3gair an Roinn Oideachais agus \u00d3ige ag deireadh 2025. Tuigim an frustrachas at\u00e1 ann faoin pholasa\u00ed oideachais ach t\u00e1 m\u00e9 chun d\u00e9ile\u00e1il leis sin i gcomhph\u00e1irt leis an Roinn oideachais. Ina theannta sin, deich mbliana \u00f3 shin n\u00ed raibh st\u00e1das ioml\u00e1n mar theanga oifigi\u00fail oibre ag an nGaeilge san Aontas Eorpach. N\u00ed raibh Gr\u00e9as\u00e1n Gaeilge na Seirbh\u00edse Poibl\u00ed ann n\u00e1 infheist\u00edocht cheart ag dul isteach i seirbh\u00eds\u00ed luathbhlianta sa Ghaeltacht, in Eala\u00edn na Gaeltachta n\u00e1 i seirbh\u00eds\u00ed \u00f3ige sa Ghaeltacht. N\u00ed raibh an plean n\u00e1isi\u00fanta n\u00e1 plean gn\u00edomha\u00edochta um sheirbh\u00eds\u00ed poibl\u00ed Gaeilge againn ach an oiread.  In 2026, beidh \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta, le maoini\u00fa mo Roinne, ag cur t\u00fas le dh\u00e1 sc\u00e9im nua - ceann amh\u00e1in acu a nead\u00f3idh an phlean\u00e1il teanga isteach i gcliantchomhlachta\u00ed na heagra\u00edochta agus ceann eile a chuirfidh an phlean\u00e1il teanga chun cinn i measc lucht gn\u00f3 na Gaeltachta.  Maidir leis na heala\u00edona Gaeilge, t\u00e1 mo Roinn ag infheisti\u00fa i dtodhcha\u00ed l\u00e1idir don Ghaeilge sna heala\u00edona teangabhunaithe. Chuige sin, t\u00e1 maoini\u00fa \u20ac1.24 milli\u00fan ceadaithe agam don bhliain 2026 d\u2019Eala\u00edn na Gaeltachta do chl\u00e1r forbartha eala\u00edon na heagra\u00edochta sin sna ceantair Ghaeltachta. T\u00e1 comhaont\u00fa maoinithe \u20ac5 milli\u00fan curtha i bhfeidhm againn do Thaibhdhearc na Gaillimhe \u00f3 2024 go 2027, agus d\u00e1 bharr sin t\u00e1 an Taibhdhearc ag feidhmi\u00fa anois le buis\u00e9ad at\u00e1 ag teacht lena st\u00e1das mar amharclann n\u00e1isi\u00fanta na Gaeilge agus c\u00faig mh\u00f3rl\u00e9iri\u00fa dr\u00e1ma\u00edochta ar an st\u00e1itse aici in aghaidh na bliana.  T\u00e1 breis agus \u20ac4 milli\u00fan bronnta ag mo Roinn freisin ar Oireachtas na Gaeilge don tr\u00e9imhse 2024 go 2027, agus muid ag dul ar ais go Ciarra\u00ed an f\u00f3mhar seo chugainn. T\u00e1 f\u00e9ilte agus cl\u00e1ir eala\u00edon an Oireachtais ag cur ard\u00e1in th\u00e1bhachtacha ar f\u00e1il d\u2019eala\u00edont\u00f3ir\u00ed agus do phobail ar fud na t\u00edre. Beidh an fh\u00e9ile n\u00e1isi\u00fanta dr\u00e1ma\u00edochta ar si\u00fal an mh\u00ed seo chugainn i gCathair na Mart. Beidh m\u00e9 i l\u00e1thair ag cuid den fh\u00e9ile sin agus m\u00e9 ag s\u00fail le toradh na hoibre sin a fheice\u00e1il. Is cuid l\u00e1rnach den \u00e9iceach\u00f3ras teanga iad na gn\u00edomha\u00edochta\u00ed \u00e9ags\u00fala sin, a thaca\u00edonn len\u00e1r n-iarrachta\u00ed \u00fas\u00e1id na teanga a fhorbairt agus at\u00e1 ag teacht le m\u00fanla UNESCO ar a bhfuil an strait\u00e9is 20 bliain don Ghaeilge bunaithe.  T\u00e1 soil\u00e9ir agus cinnte, agus tuigim go bhfuil d\u00fashl\u00e1in ag an teanga ach t\u00e1imid ag leagan s\u00edos strucht\u00fair, polasaithe agus reachta\u00edocht anois a sheasfaidh don 20 bliain at\u00e1 amach romhainn agus a imreoidh tionchar dearfach ar bhonn c\u00f3rasach agus strait\u00e9iseach ar \u00fas\u00e1id na Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht agus ar fud na h\u00c9ireann le himeacht aimsire. T\u00e1 neart ruda\u00ed spreag\u00fala le bheith ag s\u00fail leo. Beidh Uachtar\u00e1nacht an Aontais Eorpaigh ag \u00c9irinn sna s\u00e9 mh\u00ed dheireanacha den bhliain seo. T\u00e1im i mbun oibre ag an leibh\u00e9al is airde den Rialtas, i gcomhar leis an Aire St\u00e1it Thomas Byrne, ag cinnti\u00fa go mbeidh r\u00f3l l\u00e1rnach agus cro\u00ed\u00fail ag an teanga san obair sin.  Tar \u00e9is dom an t-ard\u00fa is m\u00f3 riamh a fh\u00e1il d\u2019earn\u00e1il na Gaeilge, na Gaeltachta agus na n-oile\u00e1n i mbuis\u00e9ad 2026 - gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Aire, an Teachta Chambers, as sin - beidh \u20ac160 milli\u00fan \u00e1 infheisti\u00fa ag mo Roinn san earn\u00e1il i mbliana. Idir an infheist\u00edocht seo, tionchar an phlean gn\u00edomha\u00edochta um sheirbh\u00eds\u00ed poibl\u00ed Gaeilge a foils\u00edodh roinnt seachtain\u00ed \u00f3 shin agus tionchar na gcaighde\u00e1n teanga at\u00e1 le tabhairt isteach i mbliana, t\u00e1im muin\u00edneach go gcuirfear borradh l\u00e1idir faoi \u00fas\u00e1id na teanga sa tr\u00e9imhse at\u00e1 amach romhainn.  Tuigim an frustrachas at\u00e1 ann faoi ch\u00farsa\u00ed tith\u00edochta. Beidh s\u00e9 sin le pl\u00e9 i nd\u00edosp\u00f3ireacht eile an o\u00edche seo. T\u00e1imid ag obair mar Rialtas. T\u00e1im ag obair leis an Aire tith\u00edochta faoin bhfadhb sin. T\u00e1 a l\u00e1n d\u00fashl\u00e1n ann, ach t\u00e1 deiseanna ann. T\u00e1 a l\u00e1n ruda\u00ed maithe ag tarl\u00fa, agus t\u00e1 an Rialtas seo d\u00e1ir\u00edre faoin nGaeilge. Sin an f\u00e1th a bhfuil Aire sinsearach ann. Sin an f\u00e1th a bhfuil an buis\u00e9ad is m\u00f3 againn agus n\u00edl ann ach t\u00fas. N\u00ed raibh s\u00e9 sin ach mo ch\u00e9ad bhuis\u00e9ad mar Aire na Gaeltachta. T\u00e1im d\u00e1ir\u00edre le lean\u00faint leis na buis\u00e9id eile agus lean\u00faint leis an saghas infheist\u00edochta sin. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Seachtain na Gaeilge: R\u00e1itis"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/dbsect_15","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Estimates for Public Services 2026: Messages from Select Committees","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Select Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration has completed its consideration of the following Revised Estimates for public services for the year ending 31 December 2026: Vote 20 - An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na; Vote 21 - Irish Prison Service; Vote 22 - Courts Service; Vote 24 - Justice, Home Affairs and Migration; Vote 41 - Policing Community and Safety Authority; Vote 43 - Data Protection Commission; and Vote 45 - F\u00edosr\u00fa.  The Select Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy has completed its consideration of the following Revised Estimate for public services for the year ending 31 December 2026: Vote 29 - Climate, Energy and the Environment. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Estimates for Public Services 2026: Messages from Select Committees"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/dbsect_16","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/20","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/20\/dail\/2","houseCode":"dail","stage":"2","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2026: Second Stage (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2026: Second Stage","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":6},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_16","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Children, Disability and Equality (Deputy Emer Higgins)  I move: \"That the Bill be now read a Second Time.\"  I am pleased to address the House on Second Stage of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2026. This is urgent legislation, intended to ensure legal certainty for wards of court who are moving to a decision-making process, as set out in the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act of 2015. I appreciate the understanding shown by members of the Joint Committee on Disability Matters, which recognised the need to enact this legislation into law before the end of the month and granted a waiver of pre-legislative scrutiny for the Bill. Nonetheless, it is vital that all legislation is properly considered by the Houses of the Oireachtas and I look forward to having the opportunity today and tomorrow to listen to the views and concerns of Members of this House.  The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act is important legislation which ultimately transforms how people are supported when they may not have capacity. The Act prioritises the specific needs and wishes of the individual and it represents an important milestone in bringing Ireland into closer compliance with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, UNCRPD. The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 brought about an end to wardship in the Irish State for adults, by repealing the Lunacy Regulation (Ireland) Act 1871. It replaced the wards of court system with a new rights-based model for appointing tiered decision support arrangements. Since the commencement of the Act in 2023, wards of court have been moving out of the wardship regime into the new decision support framework. Those exiting wardships can be discharged with three different arrangements: with no decision-making support, with a co-decision making agreement, or with the appointment of a decision-making representative. To date, 391 wards have been fully discharged, with 38 individuals requiring no decision-making support, 40 requiring co-decision making agreements, and 313 being discharged with decision-making representatives.  The Decision Support Service established by the Act oversees the co-decision making agreements and the decision-making representatives. It performs a vital role which ensures proper protections for the individual to whom those arrangements apply. Moving to the purpose of this particular Bill, I want to clearly explain why the amendments are needed and what they propose to do. First, the amendments outlined in this Bill relate solely to the statutory deadline that applies to the process for people exiting wardship. Currently, that deadline is 26 April 2026, and while the ambition was always to make sure people exited wardship on time, it has become clear that this deadline will not be met for a variety of different reasons, including a slow pace of discharge proceedings, among other reasons. That is why we now need to make provisions, through this new Bill, for an extension to the statutory deadline.  It is of the utmost importance that the transition from wardship is done in a fair way, and that individuals are given as much legal certainty and information as possible when exiting the wardship regime. My officials have been working closely with the Decision Support Service and the office of the wards of court within the Courts Service to support wards of court and the committees for the wards and to ensure that they are provided with accurate, reliable information on exiting the wardship regime. This year, all wards of court have been granted legal aid certificates and have legal representation, which is really important.  It would be remiss of me to discuss the topic of wardship without acknowledging that for many wards of court or family members of a ward of court, there are legitimate concerns or apprehensions about the process, or about life after discharge, and as Minister of State with responsibility for disability, I am making every effort to hear those concerns. Just yesterday, my Department held a consultation meeting in the Camden Court Hotel, where members of the public had an opportunity to hear from the bodies involved in discharge, to raise their concerns and to engage with other people who might be in similar situations. I attended this and would like to note separately that the 2015 Act is due for formal review by April 2028. Preparations for that are expected to begin later this year. We are going to do them ahead of time. Hearing from those who have a lived experience of this legislation will be crucial to any review and will include former wards of court, those who have made enduring powers of attorney, or those who have had to arrange for decision-making support for a loved one under the legislation.  A number of steps are involved in the discharge process. Under section 55(1) of the Act, the High Court or \"wardship court\", as it is referred to under the Act, is required to make a capacity declaration in respect of every adult ward of court. The capacity declaration is a key step in the discharge from wardship process and it requires the completion of a capacity assessment and the formal submission of a report to the court.  As it currently stands, all capacity declarations must be made by the statutory deadline of 26 April 2026, and that very much remains the anchor date to which the courts are working and continue to towards. However, the reality is that we are not going to meet the deadline date for all wards, with approximately 1,050 wardship cases currently outstanding.  The 2015 Act does not provide for a situation where a capacity declaration will not have been made in respect of adult wards within the timeframe allowed and that is why urgent legislative amendments are required. They are required to avoid legal uncertainty for the large number of wards who will not receive a capacity declaration before the deadline. Without such amendments, the legal uncertainty that would arise for these wards could create complications with important matters, such as their care and treatment, provision of services and placement in facilities.  The Bill provides a pathway to avoid this scenario by providing power to the High Court to grant on a case-by-case basis an extension to the deadline. The period of this extension must be necessary and proportionate, and granting the extension must at all times be In the interests of justice. In exceptional circumstances, the extension can be extended, once again, where it is in the interests of justice. However, no extension or extensions can exceed an 18-month period or go beyond 25 October 2027, whichever occurs earlier. This means that despite an extension being granted, there will be certainty for wards that the capacity declaration will be made by 25 October 2027 at the latest. Once these amendments are enacted, the Courts Service will have to arrange for a judge to: consider the case for each individual ward; decide on the appropriate length of time for an extension; and grant the extension, if warranted. It is going to take some time for each ward to be reviewed by the Courts Service but I know there has been increased judge allocation recently, which is absolutely going to help this situation.  For those wards of court who are under 18, the situation is slightly different as they will only exit wardship when they reach 18 and the deadline for a capacity declaration for these wards is six months after they reach the age of 18. The Bill proposes that a similar extension to the time period for their capacity declaration can be granted in the same circumstances as those for the adult wards. This will ensure that their discharge process can also be carried out in a timely manner but recognises that it may need to be extended in the interests of justice. The Bill also ensures that wards of court are kept up to date and informed of the progress of their discharge. If the court decides to grant an extension, especially if the ward was not involved in that decision, he or she must be informed of it as soon as possible. I know Deputies will appreciate the importance of ensuring that wards are not left in uncertainty and that this Bill is both necessary and urgent.  Let me now turn to the detail of the Bill, which is divided into two sections. The key provisions include the following. The Bill amends the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 to enable the wardship court to extend, in certain circumstances, the time period for making a capacity declaration under section 55(1) of the 2015 Act.  Section 1 of the Bill amends section 54 of the 2015 Act by the insertion of two new subsections to give the wardship court the discretion to extend the time periods set out in section 54(2) or section 54(3) for making a capacity declaration under section 55(1) in individual wardship cases in certain circumstances.  The first new subsection 54(2A) provides for an extension or the time period set out in section 54(2) for making a capacity declaration under section 55(1) in relation to an adult ward in certain circumstances. This subsection will allow for an extension for such period as the wardship court considers necessary and proportionate in the circumstances where the court is satisfied that a good reason has been shown that the statutory deadline of 26 April 2026 will not be met and where it is also in the interests of justice to grant the extension. Subsection 54(2A) will also allow for a further extension in exceptional circumstances provided that a further extension is also in the interests of justice. The wardship court may discharge or vary any order for an extension of time that it makes. Where the ward has not participated in the making of an order, he or she will be notified of the making of any such order as soon as practicable after its making. The outer limit for any extension of time will be 18 months or until 25 October 2027, whichever is the earlier.  The second new subsection 54(3A) provides for an extension to the timeline set out in section 54(3) for making a capacity declaration, in certain circumstances, in relation to wards who reach the age of 18 after 26 October 2025. This subsection will allow for an extension for such period as the wardship court considers necessary and proportionate in the circumstances where the court is satisfied that good reason has been shown that the statutory deadline for making a capacity declaration will not be met in an individual case, and where it is also in the interests of justice to grant the extension. A further extension will be permitted in exceptional circumstances provided that this is also in the interests of justice. The wardship court may discharge or vary any order for an extension of time that it makes. Where the ward has not participated in the making of an order, as I said, he or she will be notified of the making of any such order as soon as practicable after its making. The outer limit for any extension of time in respect of wards who reach the age of 18 after 26 October 2025 will be 18 months. Section 2 of this Bill is a standard provision, which sets out the Short Title and citation of the Bill.  To conclude, this Bill is a key measure for the fair and orderly transition of individual wards from the wards of court system to a new rights-based supported decision-making framework. It provides for legal certainty for those wards who have not had a capacity declaration completed by the statutory deadline for the end of the wardship regime. It does this by maintaining the statutory deadline of 26 April 2026, helping to avoid any disruption to the court processes already under way, while providing the courts with the discretion to extend that deadline in certain circumstances insofar as it is necessary, proportionate and in the interests of justice to do so. I thank Deputies for listening. I thank members of the joint Oireachtas committee for their co-operation and interest and for attending briefings on this with my officials over the past number of weeks. I thank my officials who have drafted this and who are with me today. I look forward to the Deputies' questions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Aire St\u00e1it. We did agree with waiving pre-legislative scrutiny on the basis that the capacity is not within the system at this point in time to ensure that all those wards of court are exited. We had some unease in relation to doing this. In fairness, the Department and those representing the courts were able to give us a briefing.  I will very quickly go through, let us say, some of my worries in relation to this. As I stated, we did not want to create a set of circumstances where people found themselves in legal limbo. However, representatives from St. John of God intellectual disability services approached me, and the committee also had other correspondence in relation to this. The big worry was that in relation to discharging, they found that:  There are real concerns that the process of discharging individuals from wardship is not consistently reflecting the spirit and guiding principles of the assisted decision-making Act. While the intention of the legislation is to promote autonomy and supported decision-making, the practical implementation can appear more restrictive than the law intends.  I would be somewhat worried in relation to the numbers. Some 390 wards have been fully discharged; 38 individuals required no decision making-support; 40 required co-decision-making agreements; and 313 were discharged with decision-making representatives. The St. John of God representatives provided me with examples, without getting into the ins and outs of names, of those who had been within their service who had been wards of court. The particular issue was that they would have found that these are people with capacity. They may have had an inheritance, and they were legacy wards of court due to the money they had. That was seen at a point in time as safety and security but the representatives believe, and believe they have shown over many years, that these people have capacity. Therefore, the spirit of this legislation, as difficult as it is for them, is that we remove, in some cases, the guardrails at times and provide people with the freedom to make decisions within certain constraints. However, they said that in an awful lot of these cases, a decision-making representative was put in.  They said the idea was that a decision-making representative would only be used when a decision of importance was in the offing, such as a major health determination or a major financial decision. I met them at Hilltop services in Dundalk. The example they gave was that if someone wanted to go shopping in Newry, they would have to make contact with the DMR, so where there was an attempt to provide freedom back through the Act it was not happening.  The reason we agreed not to put it to a vote, which we would have lost even if some Government Members were quite worried that would be the case, was that we did not want to create a situation for those who may have found themselves in limbo. One thing I am happy about is that the representatives of the Department and the Courts Service are engaging with St. John of God intellectual disability services. It is vital that they get to a point of reconciliation, for want of a better term. They had also spoken about certain protections and reassessments that could happen around capacity. That needs to happen. That is in relation to the process that is ongoing. I ask that the Minister of State take an interest in that and ensure that we get to the bottom of those issues because as much as we need to ensure the process is given the legislative cover to be elongated, because the capacity was not there in the first place, we need to ensure the process is correct. There are wider issues with assisted decision-making, particularly in relation to banking. Banks are being far too protective - for example, where disability services were able to get a bank account with two names on it, that is no longer the case - and they are creating a lot of hassle. The review process will be vital for that. The first time that St. John of God representatives came to me, they were worried they would be removing protections for people, but they say they have taken account of the spirit of the law. They have introduced their own guardrails around it and it has worked for people. Mistakes have been made but people have learned. It is providing people with that freedom and I am not sure that is there at the moment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Claire Kerrane  The Minister of State said there are 1,050 cases outstanding. It would be very helpful if she could tell us how many of those are minors.  As we approach 23 April, and it is approaching quickly, it is worth noting this is not something that came out of the blue. The figures speak for themselves. Successive annual reports from the Courts Service showed the pace of discharge from wardship was incredibly slow. Many see this legislation as very last minute. No one here will stand in the way of such an extension \u2013 it is necessary \u2013 but we must also look at the reasons it is necessary and take steps to ensure we do not need a similar piece of legislation in 18 months to extend it even further. There is a question mark over why it has taken the Government so long to act on this. It has left vulnerable people in an even more uncertain situation.  I acknowledge the Centre for Disability Law and Policy in University of Galway, which has provided a really detailed note. It has raised five issues, which I said I would raise this evening. One is the vague criteria for activating the extension of the timeframe. The legislation refers to \u201cexceptional circumstances\u201d. We need to look at what that actually means and get a definition since what may be exceptional to one might not be to another. That is really important. The centre has also highlighted the fact there is no requirement to appropriately engage with the ward of court, the actual person. That is also concerning. We need to look at the level of engagement, the accessible information and the engagement that the person themselves is having or that the committee has for them.  The centre also highlighted discrimination against minor wards. Usually they automatically come out at 18 years and that will not be the case. We know that at 18 you are transitioning in life, whether in education or otherwise, and it is a really critical time in a young person\u2019s life. We will see that delayed. It is so important that those young people have engagement and are heard. There are no plans in place to tackle the root causes that have led to the court backlog. This is a really important point. The Bill does nothing to address the root causes of the delays, which are significant. We need to use this time to look at what can be done. The centre raised the failure to resource the public bodies, the Legal Aid Board, the National Advocacy Service and the Decision Support Service. That needs to be looked at.  The fifth concern related to some of the wider issues and the lack of meaningful engagement. That has been raised a lot by wards themselves, their families and the committees in relation to the lack of engagement or accessible information that people can easily understand. That needs to be looked at. They have also raised concerns about the Act itself and the review, which is very important. We might not see it until 2027 and it might be closer to 2028. Given the delays we have seen to date, we need to see a detailed plan on how that review will be undertaken. It is really important that the Minister of State would do that. We need to know what it will look like and to have a timeframe. I will share with the Minister of State the document from the Centre for Disability Law and Policy in the University of Galway, which is very useful.  Finally, as the Minister of State noted, this Bill specifies only that the ward is entitled to be notified of discharge proceedings after the fact or as close to after the fact as possible. That feeds into the point that has been made repeatedly about the lack of engagement and accessible information. We need to look at all of that to make sure the person is engaged with as meaningfully as possible, that they can participate fully and that the person acting on their behalf can participate fully in the discharge process. We need to make sure we do everything we can to get it right. I reiterate that we need to make sure we are not here again for a further extension. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Maurice Quinlivan  It is certain the statutory deadline of 26 April will not be met. We all agree on that. We have been left with a very messy way to approach legislation. It is very disappointing that we are only now debating these important changes, that we are doing it at the very last possible hour and that the Government is rushing these incomplete changes through without the benefit of pre-legislative scrutiny. We are doing so because the wards of court deadline will not be met.  I too thank the Centre for Disability Law and Policy in University of Galway for the note it provided for us. It was very useful. I have been at a number of briefings and spoken to a lot of stakeholders on the issue. It is complex but very resolvable. By the end of January, only 323 wards of court had discharged from wardship, with 78% of the 1,472 cases still pending. I do not believe this Bill will address the issues that has led to the court backlog. The root causes have not been addressed. These include the lack of support available to people in the process and a failure to have the Act properly explained to them in language understandable to everyone. Rights campaigners have told me there is a lack of appropriate accessible information and practical supports for the wards and their families. The legal profession may not have sufficient numbers with the skills and experience to support the discharge process, which is also a concern for me. The public bodies tasked with the implementation of the Act, such as the Legal Aid Board, the National Advocacy Service and the Decision Support Service remain both understaffed and under-resourced.  It was not just Oireachtas Members who were denied the opportunity to engage on this important change. Disability rights advocates have been highly critical of the approach taken by the Government. For instance, Disabled Women Ireland, in its submission on the draft heads, noted it was offered a single 30-minute session with the Minister of State on 28 January, which its representatives attended without being provided advance information on the heads of the Bill. This was circulated to them days afterwards, when their opportunity to query the Bill with the Minister of State had passed. Disabled Women Ireland was not the only interested party to note the lack of engagement. The Centre for Disability Law and Policy in University of Galway noted the lack of meaningful engagement with those who will be most specifically impacted by these changes, namely, wards and their families. The Bill will not address the shortcomings in the current system. We need to hear from the Minister of State how these will be addressed. Furthermore, the extension provided in the Bill will need to be re-extended beyond the proposed 18-month timeframe and I fear we will be back here debating similar legislation. I am concerned that these changes are being made without adequate consideration of the wishes of those most impacted by them.  The Bill seeks to provide legal certainty in wardship cases by enabling wardships to be extended. It is concerning that there is a specification that only some wardships will be extended in certain circumstances. The criteria on activating extensions of the timeframe in specific cases are extremely vague and there is no requirement to fully engage with wards of court detailed in the Bill. The Bill allows for judges to determine when an extension to the deadline for wardship is required but lacks detail on what the exceptional circumstances to allow such an extension are. This is placing an extreme amount of power in the hands of these individual judges to extend the length of time somebody can be denied their decision-making rights. The Bill should have and could have been more definitive by allowing extensions in circumstances where it had not been possible to inform the ward of their rights in an appropriate and accessible manner.  Ultimately, limited extensions in these undefined certain circumstances mean that wards and their committees may not have time to engage with those who can appropriately support decision-making options. What is further absent from the Bill is the right of wards to be afforded time, training and information to take up supported decision-making options. Wards should be afforded the opportunity to understand their rights, express their will and develop skills to engage with supported decision-making. The Bill provides no requirement to engage with wards during the proceedings; rather, they only need to be notified of discharge proceedings.  Another concern is how this Bill may discriminate against minor wards. The extension of the deadline from six to 18 months for child wards creates an unnecessary delay in young people being able to exercise their decision-making rights as others can do. A glaring failure of the Bill is that it does not address the non-compliance of the Act with the State's obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The Act is not compliant due to its approach to the functional assessment of capacity, which leads to the denial of legal capacity. At the time of the passing of the Act, the Centre for Disability Law and Policy outlined the ways in which compliance with the convention could and should have been improved. Today, the Minister of State has presented us with a Bill that prior to now has not adequately engaged with the most important stakeholders in the process and has been fast-tracked due to the Minister of State leaving it to the last minute to implement it to avoid pre-legislative scrutiny. It is not complaint with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, it does not address the major problems with the Act itself and it discriminates against young people, denying them the opportunity to engage in an element of the decision-making process.  I stated earlier that this is a very messy way to do legislation. It is an appalling way to do legislation, dictating to a stakeholder without adequate engagement. The Minister of State simply must be aware of that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill. I want to speak about the transition from wardship to supported decision-making, drawing on the recent research from the National Disability Authority, NDA, the analysis my colleagues mentioned from the Centre for Disability Law and Policy at University of Galway and conversations I have had with concerned families, committees and wards themselves.  I want to focus on two of the five points my colleagues mentioned from the Centre for Disability Law and Policy in Galway. One stated that there are no plans in place to tackle root causes that have led to court backlog. That should be of significant note for the Minister of State. The other point was that, importantly, there has been a lack of meaningful engagement with those most impacted, namely, wards and families. That has come up consistently from wards, committees, families, from University of Galway and from the NDA research itself.  The new system is not just legal reform; it is a rights-based shift. Supported decision-making is supposed to be supporting with, not doing for. However, we all know the transition has been very slow. The Minister of State's figures show 391 people have been discharged, while over 1,000 remain. The barriers are very real. They include a fear of losing financial protection, confusion, a lack of information and anxiety about managing large funds without court support.  There are a couple of important areas that I hear consistently from families, committees and wards themselves. One is assessments and investments. On assessments, there is the question of how a single day of assessment can be deemed sufficient. Families need clarity, consistency and a process that respects the complexity of individual capacity. I ask that the Minister of State engage on this.  Investments and financial management are an important issue and must be addressed. There is a clear call to ensure that the transfer of wards of court decision to the Decision Support Service does not result in continued substitute decision-making, that the persons with disabilities and their families are consulted on the transfer, and importantly that safeguards are in place to protect the property and finances of discharged wards. Related to that, it is important there is an investigation and complaint mechanism to address investments previously made by funds and managed by the wards of courts system. Families are overwhelmed. Large funds are being deposited into bank accounts across the State with no real support to manage them.  The Government can and should step in, and provide a resource, a help-line, guidance or support. Currently, for example, all State savings have a maximum investment ceiling. Some will face managing funds exceeding those limits with no guarantee of equivalent security. An exemption from these maxima for former wards' funds would relieve anxiety for families managing vulnerable relatives' money. This is something, for example, that could be considered. It is a complex area and all options should be considered. Related to that is the call for an information hub on investments and assessments and on how wills and the fair deal scheme should be navigated. These issues really matter. Committees and families were appointed by the High Court, yet they feel that once the transition is finalised, they will have no voice. That has been relayed to me and others. These are important points and I ask that the Minister of State take them onboard.  Similar to the points made by University of Galway is the NDA report, which the Minister of State will be familiar with, named The Journey from Wardship to Supported Decision-Making. It calls for more in-person sessions, clear guidance and properly resourced agencies. It calls for legislative action, but at the heart of it is a call for partnership. We should all be able to agree that the success of this reform will be measured by whether people feel heard, respected and empowered and whether families feel supported and not abandoned. As we advance this legislation, it will be really important that the Government commits to genuine, ongoing engagement with those that this transition is meant to serve. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Wall  I welcome the chance to talk on this important Bill. I also welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber. The Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act 2015 brought the outdated wardship laws into line with modern Ireland. It was a stepping stone towards beginning to view disability from a social rather than a medical model. However, I have serious concerns regarding the current implications of the Act and the proposed legislative changes we are discussing.  There continues to be a lot of confusion regarding the Act for people impacted as well as for their families and for services. The Act itself has also brought a lot of conflict between the parents of adults with disabilities and service providers and others such as financial institutions. In relation to wardship, one of the reasons cited by the committees for not initiating the process to transition out of wardship is that they feel there is not adequate information and that they have not been communicated with well. However, there is also evidence that some committees and wards choose not to engage with the information being made available by various public bodies. There does seem to be a large amount of information out there.  A project was completed by Family Carers Ireland on the implementation of the Act. In the organisation's care aid project, free monthly legal advice clinics for family carers were provided in 2024. Of the 37 clinics carried out, 20 were related to people with dementia and 17 concerned people with an intellectual disability. In the cases for people with dementia, 40% of people were seeking advice on how to make an application for a decision-making representative order for the purposes of applying for the fair deal scheme. A further 39% of people were seeking information on how to support a family member who may require the assistance of a co-decision-making representative or may require an application to appoint a decision-making representative to make certain decisions about their financial affairs. The project found that there are a number of issues being faced by people navigating the 2015 Act. Difficulties have arisen in finding legal practitioners willing to take on cases related to the Act. There is a real lack of clarity and consistency from service providers, in particular from financial services, on how the Act is integrated into their policies and practices.  There is an opportunity here for the Decision Support Service to address this with clear guidelines.  Difficulty in navigating and using the service's online portal was another issue raised, along with delays in processing support arrangements with the DSS and difficulty obtaining a legal statement of capacity, which must be provided by a legal practitioner. I welcome the fact that a specific, enduring power of attorney, EPA, website has been created. This will no doubt take a lot of pressure off people in navigating the process of creating an EPA. However, I must highlight that there continues to exist a digital-first approach for a cohort of people who may prefer to use paper-based forms. I hope we can see a campaign that is similar to the promotion of the decision-making process for EPAs. For many people, when they get to the stage of needing an EPA, their capacity can diminish rapidly. A campaign on the importance of making an EPA when people have the capacity to do so must be prioritised by the Minister and the DSS.  In respect of the changes being debated, it is reflective of the entire assisted decision-making system that the Government must look at extending the deadline for all wardship cases to be discharged. Wardship is an outdated system with warding based in an Ireland that is thankfully long forgotten. However, the Government did not realise the true complexities involved in discharging people from wardships, along with the confusion it brought for so many households.  The amendment only provides further confusion. The amendment of section 54 of the Act allows for judges to extend a deadline to discharge from wardship under exceptional circumstances. However, there is absolutely no clarification on what constitutes an exceptional circumstance. I have examined recommendations provided by the centre for disability law and policy in the University of Galway and I agree that a more just approach in these circumstances would be to only activate the extension in circumstances where it has not been possible to inform a ward of his or her rights in an appropriate and accessible manner and for judges to ensure the extension of the deadline is used only to support the ward and his or her committee to engage meaningfully and participate fully in the discharge process.  I am also concerned about the lack of consultation with current wardships. I have only found sections in the Bill that refer to notifying the ward. One in seven of the 250 people who have been discharged from wardships so far have been deemed to have full capacity and are not in any decision-making arrangement under the current system. This would imply that many of those who were locked in the wardship system are entirely capable of making their own decisions or, as one judge described it, being the captain of their own ship. This underscores the importance of not just exiting the wardship system but ensuring there is engagement with wards throughout the process.  This Bill does not provide for any engagement or consultation with the ward. A number of bodies such as the National Disability Authority and the National Advocacy Service have highlighted the lack of supports for wards in trying to navigate the discharge process. This is an opportunity to address this advocacy deficit. I would welcome that, in cases where an extension is granted under exceptional circumstances, this period be used to fully support all wards and their committees to understand the charge process and to prepare them for life after wardship.  I also want to highlight a grave concern brought to my attention by the centre for disability law and policy. The current Bill, if enacted, discriminates against minors who are wards of court. A minor ward of court, who is due to be discharged from a wardship by their eighteenth birthday will, if this Bill is enacted, remain without any decision-making rights until long after their nineteenth birthday, due to the 18-month extension that exists for these wardships. While the principal Act closed off new applications for wardship, this is only for adults. It is still the case that children can be made wards of court. This is not only discriminatory but is a serious breach of the rights of the child and the rights of the disabled person under both UN charters.  The Government continues to speak about an inclusive Ireland but its actions does not meet its words. For a disabled person, particularly those with intellectual disabilities, the focus must be on learning independent living skills to ensure they can live an independent life or have some sense of independence with the right support. This Bill does not provide for this. It closes off the key transition period for children with disabilities into adulthood and further institutionalises them when we, as a State, should be doing everything we can to support their right to independent living. The main purpose of the Bill is to allow for extending the deadline of exit from wardship due to the current backlog of cases. However, this Bill does not actually address the root cause of the backlog, like the lack of support and information available to people to understand the discharge process, the lack of legal professionals available to navigate the process and, most notably, the lack of resources made available to the key bodies in addressing these issues in the Decision Support Service, Legal Aid Board and National Advocacy Service.  An information campaign must be provided to help people understand what is happening with wardship, like I have highlighted with the initial rollout of the Act. This must be done between three bodies: the DSS, Legal Aid Board and National Advocacy Service. I also recommend running legal advice clinics for people who are impacted by the current wardship process so they can get general information and advice on the process. This should be made available to wards and the families impacted. We must also increase resources to the National Advocacy Service to ensure all wards have access to independent advocacy. If we are to move forward with this Bill, automatic rights to independent advocacy to allow wards to engage in the discharge process must be granted. I ask the Minister to outline how she intends to address the key causes of the current backlog, rather than just granting an extension. This is again largely a cold and entirely legalistic medical model of viewing disability and negates addressing issues impacting people with disabilities from a human rights-based perspective.  The slow process of discharge is something that the Minister and her Department have been aware of since 2024 and they would have been well aware that the 2026 deadline would not be met. I am unsure as to why the Government has been so slow to act on this and with such a blunt instrument of only an extension. I am critical of this because there was has been no pre-legislative scrutiny, as has been mentioned. As a House, we have not had the opportunity to fully engage with a real debate on the issues impacting wards and their families. This is the Government again scrambling and trying to rush through half-baked legislation and reflective of a Government continuing to fail people with disabilities.  In the briefing document provided by the Department, it was noted that information sessions were provided to stakeholders. However, the feedback I have received from these has been very negative. The centre for disability law and policy noted that the information sessions did not allow for any meaningful engagement with wards and committees. This again points to a lack of resources for the key bodies involved with the implementation of the Act and those who are supporting people with disabilities who are wards. A review must be carried out under the Act before April. However, the current delays of discharge from wardship raises serious concerns about whether any review will even be possible as the Act has not been fully implemented. I ask that the Minister addresses this as a matter of priority and answer if she thinks it is appropriate to carry out such a review, given the failures associated with implementing the Act and the lack of resources she has provided in implementing it.  I fully welcome the central aim of the Act in removing the outdated wardship system. However, this Bill only further reinforces a failing system and does not address any of the central problems that exist with wardship and fails to acknowledge the rights of people with disabilities. If the Government truly wants to support people with disabilities, it must address the issues we all have outlined this evening. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Debate adjourned."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2026: Second Stage"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/dbsect_17","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Tith\u00edocht Gaeltachta: Tairiscint [Comhalta\u00ed Pr\u00ed\u00f3bh\u00e1ideacha]","counts":{"speechCount":58,"speakerCount":22},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Cahill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  Tairgim:  Go nd\u00e9anann D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann:  a thabhairt d\u00e1 haire, le himn\u00ed:  \u2014 go bhfuil an chaoi nach f\u00e9idir le daoine teach d\u00e1 gcuid f\u00e9in a fh\u00e1il ar c\u00edos, a cheannach, n\u00e1 a th\u00f3g\u00e1il sa Ghaeltacht, ina ch\u00fainse m\u00f3r ag br\u00fa oibrithe agus teaghlaigh a bhfuil Gaeilge acu amach as an gceantar, rud a dh\u00e9anann dochar d'iarrachta\u00ed plean\u00e1la teanga agus d'infheist\u00edocht shuntasach an St\u00e1it tr\u00ed inmharthanacht na bpobal a chur i mbaol;  \u2014 go bhfuil c\u00e9atad\u00e1n na gcainteoir\u00ed laeth\u00fala Gaeilge lasmuigh den ch\u00f3ras oideachais i gceantair Ghaeltachta tar \u00e9is titim le dh\u00e1 Dhaon\u00e1ireamh i ndiaidh a ch\u00e9ile, agus gur thug an Staid\u00e9ar Cuimsitheach Teangeola\u00edoch ar \u00das\u00e1id na Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht rabhadh go bhfaigheadh an Ghaeilge b\u00e1s mar phr\u00edomhtheanga an phobail fi\u00fa sna ceantair is l\u00e1idre Gaeltachta gan gn\u00edomh suntasach;  \u2014 gur aithn\u00edodh le sonra\u00ed de chuid Pobal a scr\u00fada\u00edodh i bpr\u00f3if\u00edl socheacnama\u00edochta ar na ceantair Ghaeltachta sa bhliain 2018 go bhfuil 26.9 faoin gc\u00e9ad de ch\u00f3naitheoir\u00ed Gaeltachta sna catag\u00f3ir\u00ed \"Faoi Mh\u00edbhunt\u00e1iste\" n\u00f3 \"Faoi Mh\u00edbhunt\u00e1iste M\u00f3r\", rud a chuireann isteach ar bhealach di\u00faltach ar a n-\u00e1baltacht \u00edoc as teach;  \u2014 gur teach saoire teach amh\u00e1in as gach c\u00faig theach sna ceantair Ghaeltachta, agus go ndeachaigh l\u00edon na dtithe ioml\u00e1na a bh\u00ed ar f\u00e1il ar l\u00e9as gearrth\u00e9armach ar Airbnb in airde de 88 faoin gc\u00e9ad \u00f3 2019 go dt\u00ed 2025, i gcompar\u00e1id le hard\u00fa 48 faoin gc\u00e9ad fud fad an St\u00e1it;  \u2014 nach raibh ach 10 dteach ar f\u00e1il ar ch\u00edos fadt\u00e9armach ar Daft.ie sa Ghaeltacht in 2024 fad is a bh\u00ed 1,017 dteach liost\u00e1ilte ar ch\u00edos gearrth\u00e9armach ar Airbnb;  \u2014 go bhfuil smacht ag c\u00faig thiarna tal\u00fan ar 217 r\u00e9admhaoin Gaeltachta at\u00e1 liost\u00e1ilte ar Airbnb, agus go bhfuil 53 r\u00e9admhaoin liost\u00e1ilte ag an tiarna tal\u00fan is m\u00f3 acu, comhlacht Briotanach;  \u2014 go nd\u00e9anann an easpa infreastrucht\u00fair, go h\u00e1irithe uisce agus s\u00e9arachais, agus neamhaird \u00f3n Rialtas agus \u00f3 chomhlachta\u00ed poibl\u00ed ar n\u00f3s Uisce \u00c9ireann, bac a chur roimh an gcumas tith\u00edocht a sheachadadh i bpobail Ghaeltachta;  \u2014 gur aithn\u00edodh easpa inacmhainneachta na dtithe sa Ghaeltacht, an easpa seirbh\u00eds\u00ed chun forbairt na sc\u00e9imeanna tith\u00edochta a \u00e9asc\u00fa ar an sc\u00e1la cu\u00ed, an easpa l\u00e1ithre\u00e1n at\u00e1 ar f\u00e1il, agus srianta ar thith\u00edocht tuaithe mar phr\u00edomhfh\u00f3rsa\u00ed at\u00e1 ag cur br\u00fa ar phobail Ghaeltachta i r\u00e1iteas com\u00f3nta a rinne Pr\u00edomhfheidhmeannaigh de chuid Chomhairle Cathrach agus Contae Phort L\u00e1irge agus Chomhairl\u00ed Contae Chorca\u00ed, Chiarra\u00ed agus na M\u00ed inar lorg siad soil\u00e9iri\u00fa \u00f3n Aire Tith\u00edochta, Rialtais \u00c1iti\u00fail agus Oidhreachta;  \u2014 go raibh ar phobail Ghaeltachta c\u00e1sanna a chur faoi bhr\u00e1id na c\u00fairte chun a chruth\u00fa go raibh neamhaird \u00e1 d\u00e9anamh ag \u00fadar\u00e1is \u00e1iti\u00fala ar dhualgais i leith na Gaeltachta faoin reachta\u00edocht plean\u00e1la;  \u2014 gur thug plean\u00e1laithe de chuid \u00fadar\u00e1s \u00e1iti\u00fail amh\u00e1in at\u00e1 freagrach as ceantar Gaeltachta, Comhairle Cathrach na Gaillimhe, le fios do Choiste Oireachtais n\u00e1r sh\u00edl siad go raibh feidhm ag na dualgais seo ina leith;  \u2014 go gcuirtear tr\u00e9ith theangeola\u00edoch agus inmharthanacht an phobail Gaeltachta i mbaol n\u00edos m\u00f3 nuair at\u00e1 seilbh n\u00f3 \u00fain\u00e9ireacht glactha ag daoine gan Ghaeilge ar east\u00e1it tith\u00edochta ar sc\u00e1la m\u00f3r, ar thithe saoire agus ar l\u00e9asanna gearrth\u00e9armacha sa Ghaeltacht; agus  \u2014 c\u00e9ad bliain tar \u00e9is thuarasc\u00e1il Choimisi\u00fan na Gaeltachta 1926, nach bhfuil na molta\u00ed curtha i bhfeidhm go f\u00f3ill a bhain le daoine at\u00e1 inni\u00fail sa Ghaeilge a chur in \u00e1it oifigigh gan Ghaeilge sna ceantair Ghaeltachta chun seirbh\u00eds\u00ed poibl\u00ed a shol\u00e1thar;  c\u00e1ineadh ar an m\u00e9id seo a leanas:  \u2014 tar \u00e9is ceithre bliana de gheall\u00faint\u00ed go bhfoilseofa\u00ed go luath na treoirl\u00ednte plean\u00e1la do na ceantair Ghaeltachta, agus spriocdh\u00e1ta i ndiaidh spriocdh\u00e1ta a bheith imithe in \u00e9ag, gur lean an tAire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail, agus Gaeltachta de na geall\u00faint\u00ed go seachad\u00f3fa\u00ed treoirl\u00ednte nach raibh ind\u00e9anta a thuilleadh tar \u00e9is an chumhacht a bh\u00ed tugtha ina leith sin ag an dl\u00ed a bheith scriosta;  \u2014 an neamhaird at\u00e1 tugtha ag an Rialtas ar thuarasc\u00e1il an Chomhchoiste Oireachtais Gaeilge, Gaeltachta agus Phobal Labhartha na Gaeilge ar Thith\u00edocht agus C\u00farsa\u00ed Plean\u00e1la sa Ghaeltacht agus na Treoirl\u00ednte Nua a Bhaineann Leo ina raibh 22 mholadh aontaithe ar bhonn trasph\u00e1irt\u00ed sa bhliain 2022;  \u2014 nach bhfuil gn\u00edomh ar bith beartaithe go dt\u00ed go bhfoilseofar r\u00e1iteas plean\u00e1la n\u00e1isi\u00fanta don Ghaeltacht sa bhliain 2027 in ainneoin na pr\u00e1inne a bhaineann leis an ng\u00e9arch\u00e9im;  \u2014 nach bhfuil dul chun cinn ar bith tar \u00e9is tarl\u00fa sa D\u00e1il \u00f3n 14\u00fa Bealtaine 2025 leis an mBille chun toghch\u00e1in dhaonlathacha a thabhairt ar ais d'\u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta, rud a bh\u00ed ar cheann d'\u00e9achta\u00ed l\u00e1rnacha ghluaiseacht chearta sibhialta na Gaeltachta, rud ar chuir Fianna F\u00e1il ar fionra\u00ed agus ar scrios Fine Gael \u00e9, agus go dteipeann ar an mBille cumhachta\u00ed a bhronnadh ar an \u00dadar\u00e1s chun dul i ngleic le g\u00e9arch\u00e9im thith\u00edochta na Gaeltachta;  \u2014 an tearcmhaoini\u00fa at\u00e1 d\u00e9anta ag rialtais i ndiaidh a ch\u00e9ile ar \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta i gcompar\u00e1id le forais forbartha eile an St\u00e1it, agus an chompar\u00e1id idir maoini\u00fa caipitil na Gn\u00edomhaireachta Forbartha Tionscail agus \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta tar \u00e9is f\u00e1s \u00f3 3:1 sa bhliain 2009 go dt\u00ed 11:1 in 2022;  an mhoill at\u00e1 curtha leis an ngeall\u00faint chun rial\u00e1il a dh\u00e9anamh ar an earn\u00e1il c\u00edosa ghearrth\u00e9armach;  \u2014 oifigigh agus eagra\u00edochta\u00ed plean\u00e1la teanga a bheith f\u00e1gtha ag deile\u00e1il le \"mearbhall agus frustrachas\" mar thoradh ar ch\u00f3ras lochtach, dar le hathbhreithni\u00fa ar phleananna teanga a foils\u00edodh le d\u00e9ana\u00ed, athbhreithni\u00fa a c\u00e1ineadh go m\u00f3r ann f\u00e9in toisc m\u00edchruinnis; agus  \u2014 in ainneoin geall\u00faint go nd\u00e9anfar caighde\u00e1in teanga nua a chur in \u00e1it na sc\u00e9imeanna teanga reatha do sheirbh\u00eds\u00ed poibl\u00ed, gur scriosadh na sc\u00e9imeanna reatha gan aon rud a bheith tagtha i gcomharbas orthu, rud a chuir cearta teanga siar 22 bliain;  tr\u00e9asl\u00fa leo seo a leanas:  \u2014 gr\u00fapa\u00ed feachtais, lena n-\u00e1ir\u00edtear B\u00e1n\u00fa, Todhcha\u00ed na Tuaithe, Tinte\u00e1n, Conradh na Gaeilge, CATU, agus Inside Airbnb, leis na me\u00e1in, lena n-\u00e1ir\u00edtear The Ditch, TG4, Tuairisc.ie agus Raidi\u00f3 na Gaeltachta, agus le pobail \u00e1iti\u00fala a bhain \u00fas\u00e1id as na c\u00fairteanna, chun an fh\u00edrinne at\u00e1 leagtha amach sa tairiscint seo a nochtadh; agus  \u2014 oifigigh plean\u00e1la teanga a leanann d'obair na gcapall a dh\u00e9anamh chun an Ghaeilge a chur ar ais in \u00fas\u00e1id n\u00edos forleithne sna pobail Ghaeltachta in ainneoin na heaspa taca\u00edochta \u00f3n St\u00e1t; agus  a \u00e9ileamh ar an Rialtas:  \u2014 R\u00e1iteas Plean\u00e1la N\u00e1isi\u00fanta l\u00e1idir a fhoilsi\u00fa agus a chur i bhfeidhm l\u00e1ithreach don Ghaeltacht;  \u2014 Sc\u00e9im Deontais don Tith\u00edocht Ghaeltachta a thabhairt ar ais de r\u00e9ir Achtanna na dTithe (Gaeltacht);  \u2014 polasa\u00ed 10 bpointe Shinn F\u00e9in don Tith\u00edocht Gaeltachta, Ag Plean\u00e1il don Athch\u00f3iri\u00fa, a chur i bhfeidhm, lena n-\u00e1ir\u00edtear meas\u00fanuithe tionchair teanga ar thogra\u00ed molta, B2+ faoin gComhchreat Tagartha Eorpach um Theangacha a shocr\u00fa mar chaighde\u00e1n n\u00e1isi\u00fanta inni\u00falachta i gcomhair coinn\u00edollacha teanga, machnamh a dh\u00e9anamh ar r\u00e9admhaoin a cheannach agus cl\u00e1sail aisghl\u00e1mtha chun sol\u00e1thar na tith\u00edochta Gaeltachta a chinnti\u00fa nuair a im\u00edonn feidhm coinn\u00edollacha teanga in \u00e9ag, aitheantas do phatr\u00fain lonna\u00edochta na Gaeltachta, plean\u00e1il f\u00e1is daonra agus anail\u00eds shochtheangeola\u00edoch, plean\u00e1il teanga a l\u00e1rn\u00fa sa phlean\u00e1il forbartha, tithe s\u00f3isialta agus inacmhainne a shol\u00e1thar do Ghaeilgeoir\u00ed, Sc\u00e9im Labhairt na Gaeilge a athbhun\u00fa, bonneagar, fosta\u00edocht agus teacht aniar aer\u00e1ide a phlean\u00e1il, agus rannph\u00e1irt\u00edocht, monat\u00f3ireacht agus freagracht a chinnti\u00fa;  \u2014 spriocanna uaillmhianacha agus ind\u00e9anta don fh\u00e1s daonra agus sol\u00e1thar tith\u00edochta a shocr\u00fa do gach limist\u00e9ar plean\u00e1la teanga Gaeltachta, lena n-\u00e1ir\u00edtear don mheasc\u00e1n cu\u00ed de thithe aon uaire nua, tithe tr\u00e9igthe agus folmha athch\u00f3irithe, agus tithe nua n\u00f3 athch\u00f3irithe i ngr\u00e1igeanna tuaithe, bunaithe ar anail\u00eds shochtheangeola\u00edoch ar phobail Ghaeltachta agus treochta\u00ed deimeagrafacha;  \u2014 tith\u00edocht a sheachadadh bunaithe ar \u00e9ileamh a thuar ar bhonn coinn\u00edollacha teanga ar g\u00e1 iad a chur i bhfeidhm go seasta, lena n-\u00e1ir\u00edtear tr\u00edd an bpraghas a \u00edsli\u00fa m\u00e1s g\u00e1 chun inacmhainneacht na dtithe at\u00e1 curtha ar leataobh do Ghaeilgeoir\u00ed a chinnti\u00fa;  \u2014 a chinnti\u00fa go gcuirfear f\u00e1ilte U\u00ed Cheallaigh roimh eisimircigh at\u00e1 ag filleadh agus a l\u00e9ir\u00edonn tiomantas i dtreo p\u00e1irt a ghlacadh go gn\u00edomhach sa phobal Gaeltachta agus in \u00e1iseanna Gaeilge, tr\u00ed thabhairt faoin nGaeilge a fhoghlaim n\u00f3 faoin gclann a chur chuig scoileanna l\u00e1nGhaeilge \u00e1iti\u00fala mar shampla, agus gur ch\u00f3ir go dtabharfar a dtiomantas san \u00e1ireamh in aon mheas\u00fan\u00fa tionchair teanga;  \u2014 d\u00edol\u00faine \u00f3n dleacht stampa a thabhairt do dh\u00edolach\u00e1n an dara teach i gceantar Gaeltachta m\u00e1 dh\u00edoltar mar theach teaghlaigh do Ghaeilgeoir\u00ed, do ch\u00f3naitheoir\u00ed Gaeltachta, n\u00f3 d'eagrais ar n\u00f3s \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta n\u00f3 comhlacht ceadaithe tith\u00edochta ar mhaithe le cur ar f\u00e1il ar c\u00edos do Ghaeilgeoir\u00ed ar an liosta tith\u00edochta \u00e1iti\u00fail;  \u2014 sc\u00e9im ar leith a fhorbairt d'\u00fadar\u00e1is \u00e1iti\u00fala agus do chomhlachta\u00ed poibl\u00ed chun dl\u00fas a chur leis an infreastrucht\u00far uisce agus s\u00e9arachais a th\u00f3g\u00e1il at\u00e1 ag teast\u00e1il \u00f3 phobail Ghaeltachta;  \u2014 maoini\u00fa d'\u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta a ard\u00fa go suntasach mar at\u00e1 leagtha amach i gc\u00e1inaisn\u00e9is mhalartach Shinn F\u00e9in do 2026 agus na cumhachta\u00ed riachtanacha a chur ar f\u00e1il d\u00f3 chomh maith le toghch\u00e1in dhaonlathacha athuair chun deis a thabhairt do phobail Ghaeltachta sol\u00e1thar cu\u00ed ar thith\u00edocht \u00e1iti\u00fail a mh\u00fanl\u00fa;  \u2014 dr\u00e9acht den r\u00e1iteas beartais plean\u00e1la do l\u00e9asanna gearrth\u00e9armacha a fhoilsi\u00fa le pr\u00e1inn agus am a thabhairt don Choiste Oireachtas Tith\u00edochta chun an dr\u00e9acht a scr\u00fad\u00fa agus \u00e9isteacht a thabhairt mar chuid den scr\u00fad\u00fa sin d'eagra\u00edochta\u00ed a dh\u00e9anann ionada\u00edocht thar ceann phobail Ghaeltachta a mbeidh tionchar aige orthu; agus  \u2014 forbairt a dh\u00e9anamh ar thaca\u00edocht bhreise n\u00f3 amchl\u00e1r n\u00edos giorra roimh chead\u00fanas d'fhorbairt\u00ed nuair at\u00e1 cos\u00falacht ann go mbeidh dea-thionchar acu ar an bpobal Gaeltachta.  T\u00e1 r\u00fan r\u00edth\u00e1bhachtach os \u00e1r gcomhair anocht. Measaim go bhfuil s\u00e9 t\u00e1bhachtach go nd\u00e9anfar pl\u00e9 ceart air. F\u00e1ilt\u00edm roimh an gcinneadh a ghlac an Rialtas gan cur i gcoinne an r\u00fain th\u00e1bhachtaigh seo. N\u00ed leor sin. Muna bhfuil an Rialtas ag cur ina choinne, caithfidh s\u00e9 gn\u00edomh\u00fa d\u00e1 r\u00e9ir agus caithfidh s\u00e9 glacadh leis an gc\u00e1ineadh sa r\u00fan seo ar an easpa oibre at\u00e1 d\u00e9anta go dt\u00ed seo. Bh\u00ed l\u00e9irsi\u00fa lasmuigh um thr\u00e1thn\u00f3na \u00f3 ghr\u00fapa\u00ed difri\u00fala: B\u00c1N\u00da, Tinte\u00e1n agus daoine eile nach iad. Bh\u00ed roinnt Teachta\u00ed D\u00e1la \u00f3 ph\u00e1irtithe difri\u00fala ina measc, mo ph\u00e1irt\u00ed f\u00e9in san \u00e1ireamh, ag tac\u00fa leo mar t\u00e1 aitheantas ann - \u00c9ire gan Ghaeltacht, \u00c9ire gan anam - go bhfuil an Ghaeltacht chomh t\u00e1bhachtach sin.  T\u00e1imid ag caint anseo inniu 100 bliain \u00f3 tugadh aitheantas oifigi\u00fail don Ghaeltacht. Ceann de na jabanna a bh\u00ed ann nuair a buna\u00edodh an St\u00e1t nua n\u00e1 chun oibri\u00fa amach cad \u00e9 agus cad \u00e9 an leagan amach a bheadh ag an nGaeltacht. Buna\u00edodh Coimisi\u00fan na Gaeltachta agus rinne s\u00e9 daon\u00e1ireamh speisialta. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 an-sp\u00e9isi\u00fail tortha\u00ed an daon\u00e1irimh sin a l\u00e9amh. Bh\u00ed s\u00e9 d\u00e9anta ag An nGarda S\u00edoch\u00e1na ag an am toisc go raibh an t\u00edr chomh corraitheach f\u00f3s tar \u00e9is an Chogaidh Chathartha. N\u00ed hamh\u00e1in gur dhein siad taighde ar c\u00e9 mh\u00e9ad Gaeilgeoir a bh\u00ed ann, ach rinne siad taighde ar c\u00e9 mh\u00e9ad b\u00f3, capall agus uan a bh\u00ed ann. Is taighde an-t\u00e1bhachtach \u00e9 mar leag s\u00e9 amach l\u00edon na nGaeilgeoir\u00ed a bh\u00ed i gceantair dhifri\u00fala timpeall na t\u00edre agus i gcontaetha difri\u00fala. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 f\u00f3s ann. N\u00edl na mionsonra\u00ed f\u00f3s ar f\u00e1il go bhfios d\u00fainn, ach b\u2019fh\u00e9idir go bhfuil siad i bpoll \u00e9igin ag duine \u00e9igin in \u00e1it \u00e9igin. Bheid\u00eds an-sp\u00e9isi\u00fail d\u00f3ibh si\u00fad at\u00e1 ag d\u00e9anamh staid\u00e9ir ar an nGaeilge agus ar an nGaeltacht.  C\u00e9ad bliain tar \u00e9is an choimisi\u00fain sin, t\u00e1imid f\u00f3s ag d\u00e9ile\u00e1il le heaspa cur chuige \u00f3 thaobh cosaint a dh\u00e9anamh ar an nGaeltacht, \u00f3 thaobh easpa aitheantais ar na cearta teanga at\u00e1 acu si\u00fad sa Ghaeltacht agus lasmuigh di, \u00e1it nach raibh seirbh\u00eds\u00ed ar f\u00e1il d\u00f3ibh si\u00fad \u00f3n St\u00e1tch\u00f3ras. Bh\u00ed orthu Gluaiseacht Chearta Sibhialta na Gaeltachta a bhun\u00fa beagnach 50 bliain \u00f3 shin chun iarracht a dh\u00e9anamh na cearta a bh\u00ed ag dul d\u00f3ibh agus do phobal na Gaeltachta a fh\u00e1il. F\u00f3s f\u00e9in, t\u00e1imid ag an staid ch\u00e9anna nach bhfuil an cur chuige ceart ann \u00f3 thaobh an St\u00e1it de i leith na Gaeltachta. Is c\u00e1s ar leith at\u00e1 ann. Ar deireadh thiar thall, sin at\u00e1imid ag caint faoi. Is seoid ar leith \u00ed an Ghaeltacht. Is an bunchl\u00e1r \u00f3 thaobh na Gaeilge at\u00e1 ann, \u00e1it a bhfuil an Ghaeilge f\u00f3s \u00e1 h\u00fas\u00e1id go laeth\u00fail ag an ngn\u00e1thphobal sa cheantar sin. M\u00e1 ghlacaimid leis sin, ba ch\u00f3ir go nd\u00e9anfar gn\u00edomhartha eisceacht\u00fala chun a chinnti\u00fa go bhfuil an chosaint sin ann.  Sa ch\u00e1s seo, t\u00e1imid ag caint faoi cheist na tith\u00edochta. Is f\u00e9idir dul tr\u00ed na f\u00e1thanna ar fad - d\u00e9anfaidh na Teachta\u00ed eile \u00e9 sin - gur g\u00e1 \u00e9 sin. Is f\u00e9idir dul sa bhreis ar an l\u00edon cosaint\u00ed at\u00e1 ann don Ghaeilge. Is f\u00e9idir dul chun tosaigh ar l\u00edon na ndeontas at\u00e1 ar f\u00e1il don chuid eile den t\u00edr. Is f\u00e9idir leis an St\u00e1t a ladar a chur isteach chun eisceachta\u00ed a dh\u00e9anamh, chun ciste eisceacht\u00fail a chur ar bun chun d\u00edri\u00fa isteach ar cheist an infreastrucht\u00fair, ceist an ts\u00e9arachais, an easpa b\u00f3ithre agus uisce i gceantair \u00e1irithe, an g\u00e1 le cosaint a dh\u00e9anamh ar an st\u00edl lonnaithe at\u00e1 sa Ghaeltacht, \u00e1it a mb\u00edonn clusters timpeall ar thithe, n\u00f3 i gceantair eile go mb\u00edonn na tithe t\u00f3gtha ar thaobh an bh\u00f3thair agus nach sr\u00e1idbhaile sa ghn\u00e1thbhealach sa chuid den t\u00edr a bh\u00edonn i gceist go minic ach go mb\u00edonn an daonra ann. B\u00edonn na scoileanna ann agus gn\u00e9ithe eile den tsocha\u00ed sa cheantar, ach f\u00f3s n\u00edl aitheantas cu\u00ed ann. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 leagtha s\u00edos againn sa r\u00fan seo an g\u00e1 gur c\u00f3ir d\u00fainn a chinnti\u00fa go mbeadh spriocanna uaillmhianacha agus ind\u00e9anta don fh\u00e1s daonra leagtha s\u00edos.  N\u00edl siad sin ann. N\u00edl s\u00e9 leagtha s\u00edos go d\u00edreach c\u00e9 mh\u00e9id duine ar ch\u00f3ir a bheith ann. N\u00ed f\u00e9idir le gn\u00e1thphobal na Gaeltachta teach a cheannach n\u00f3 a fh\u00e1il ar c\u00edos mar n\u00ed ann do na tithe a thuilleadh toisc na rachmasaithe agus iad si\u00fad at\u00e1 gaolta le tiarna\u00ed tal\u00fan agus at\u00e1 i seilbhe na dtithe. T\u00e1 Airbnb ann seachas \u00e1iteanna gur f\u00e9idir a fh\u00e1il ar c\u00edos n\u00f3 a cheannach. N\u00ed f\u00e9idir le gn\u00e1thphobal na Gaeltachta maireacht\u00e1il sa Ghaeltacht a thuilleadh. T\u00e1 na cinnt\u00ed at\u00e1 \u00e1 nglacadh ag an Rialtas ag br\u00fa an ghn\u00e1thphobal as an nGaeltacht agus caithfidh s\u00e9 sin stopadh. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 go maith go bhfuil an Rialtas ag glacadh na cinnt\u00ed seo ach, mar a d\u00fairt m\u00e9, is g\u00e1 d\u00f3 gn\u00edomh\u00fa d\u00e1 r\u00e9ir. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  Tearmann agus tobar na nGael: is \u00e9 sin an cur s\u00edos is fearr at\u00e1 agam ar \u00e1r gceantair Ghaeltachta. Is tearmann iad i gcomhar \u00e1r dteanga, \u00e1r gcult\u00far d\u00fachais, ach chomh maith leis sin, is tobar as ar f\u00e9idir le gach uile duine in \u00c9irinn agus gach Gael ar fud an domhain, saibhreas an teanga a fh\u00e1il agus \u00e9 a bheith roinnte agus d\u00e1ilte ina measc. T\u00e1 na pobail Ghaeltachta gann ar ph\u00e1ist\u00ed chun scoileanna \u00e1iti\u00fala a choime\u00e1d ar oscailt agus cumainn sp\u00f3irt - clubanna Chumann L\u00fathchleas Gael agus uile - a choime\u00e1d beo. T\u00e1 siad gann chomh maith ar chlanna \u00f3ga ag teacht tr\u00edd agus ag t\u00f3gaint an ch\u00e9ad ghl\u00fain eile de Gael Ghaeltachta na h\u00c9ireann. Le deich mbliana anuas, t\u00f3gadh d\u00edreach 1,200 teach sna pobail Ghaeltachta ina ioml\u00e1n. T\u00f3gadh 36 teach i mo cheantar f\u00e9in i nGaeltacht na nD\u00e9ise le deich mbliana anuas. Sin idir tr\u00ed agus ceithre theach sa bhliain agus n\u00ed leor sin. N\u00edl s\u00e9 sin inbhuanaithe in aon phobal, ach go h\u00e1irithe i bpobal teanga den tsaghas seo.  Faoi l\u00e1thair, t\u00e1 daoine \u00f3ga ag bogadh go dt\u00ed \u00e1iteanna eile agus t\u00e1 l\u00edon na gcainteoir\u00ed laeth\u00fala Gaeilge ag laghd\u00fa in an-chuid Gaeltachta\u00ed. Fi\u00fa sna ceantair Ghaeltachta ina bhfuil f\u00e1s tagtha ar l\u00edon na gcainteoir\u00ed laeth\u00fala Gaelainne, t\u00e1 easpa tith\u00edochta ag cur srian ar an bhf\u00e1s sin agus ag cur todhcha\u00ed na Gaeltachta i mbaol. In ainneoin an dea-oibre agus an dea-infheist\u00edochta at\u00e1 d\u00e9anta ag comharchumainn, ag comhlachta\u00ed forbartha agus ag oifigigh plean\u00e1la teanga, c\u00e9n mhaitheas na milli\u00fain a bheith \u00e1 gcaitheamh in\u00e1r gceantair Ghaeltachta ar phleananna teanga muna bhfuil an ch\u00e9ad ghl\u00fain eile chun a bheith ann ar an bhf\u00f3d? Ach is \u00e9 seo an \u00e1it ina bhfuilimid. T\u00e1 g\u00e9arch\u00e9im thromch\u00faiseach tith\u00edochta ag cur Gaeltachta\u00ed i mbaol. T\u00e1 an gh\u00e9arch\u00e9im tith\u00edochta at\u00e1 ar fud an St\u00e1it faoi ch\u00faram an Aire agus faoi ch\u00faram Fhine Gael, Fhianna F\u00e1il agus na dTeachta\u00ed neamhsple\u00e1cha ag cur pobail ar fud fad na t\u00edre i gcruach\u00e1s ach t\u00e1 s\u00e9 ag d\u00e9anamh dochair agus ag cur todhcha\u00ed na Gaeltachta i mbaol. T\u00e1 Gaeltacht na nD\u00e9ise faoi bhr\u00fa ach t\u00e1 gach ceantar Gaeltachta faoin mbr\u00fa c\u00e9anna. T\u00e1imid ag caint faoi phobail bheaga sa Rinn agus sa Seanphobal, i R\u00e1th Chairn, i mBaile an Fheirt\u00e9irigh, in Indreabh\u00e1n agus i nGaoth Dobhair, \u00e1iteanna a bhfuil an Ghaeilge mar theanga pobail f\u00f3s. Mar a d\u00fairt me, an tearmann agus an tobar. Ach gan tith\u00edocht inacmhainne do mhuintir na h\u00e1ite n\u00ed f\u00e9idir leis na pobail seo maireacht\u00e1il. Nuair at\u00e1 moill ar thithe s\u00f3isialta a fhorbairt, t\u00e1 na pobail seo i mbaol.  Tuigeann na daoine \u00e1iti\u00fala go maith n\u00e1r leor an taca\u00edocht \u00f3n St\u00e1t agus is l\u00e9ir go bhfuil Gael \u00f3ga, na p\u00e1ist\u00ed \u00f3ga sna ceantair seo, \u00e1 dt\u00f3g\u00e1il le haghaidh easp\u00f3rt\u00e1la. I mo cheantar f\u00e9in, t\u00e1 siad ag dul go dt\u00ed Mainistir na Corann, Cluain Meala, cathair Phoirt L\u00e1irge, Baile \u00c1tha Cliath n\u00f3 n\u00edos faide i gc\u00e9in thar lear de bharr easpa tithe s\u00f3isialta agus inacmhainne, c\u00f3ras plean\u00e1la nach n-aithn\u00edonn na riachtanais sh\u00f3isialta agus teanga at\u00e1 ag ceantair Ghaeltachta, agus teip ioml\u00e1n an Aire agus an Rialtais na treoirl\u00ednte plean\u00e1la Gaeltachta a fhoilsi\u00fa thar na mbliana. T\u00e1 g\u00e9argh\u00e1 anois don Aire agus don Rialtas beart de r\u00e9ir briathair a dh\u00e9anamh. M\u00e1 t\u00e1imid d\u00e1ir\u00edre mar gheall ar \u00e1r gceantair Ghaeltachta a choime\u00e1d agus a bheith againn mar thearmann agus mar thobar mar a luaigh m\u00e9, t\u00e1 g\u00e9argh\u00e1 dul i ngleic leis an ng\u00e9arch\u00e9im tith\u00edochta anois. Is g\u00e1 cumhachta\u00ed sa bhreis a thabhairt d\u2019\u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta agus plean a chur le ch\u00e9ile ionas go bhfuil gach Ranna agus gach Aire ag obair as l\u00e1mha a ch\u00e9ile chun dul i ngleic leis sin. T\u00e1 an fhreagracht leis an Aire agus imp\u00edm air beart de r\u00e9ir a bhriathair agus gn\u00edomh\u00fa anois. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell  Is maith an rud \u00e9 go raibh r\u00e1itis againn inniu maidir le Seachtain na Gaeilge agus is maith an rud \u00e9 go mb\u00edonn d\u00edosp\u00f3ireacht chuile bhliain againn sa Seomra seo mar gheall ar ch\u00farsa\u00ed Gaeilge. Is maith an rud \u00e9 ach muna bhfuil gn\u00edomh ann th\u00e9is sin agus muna nd\u00e9antar dada chun cabhr\u00fa le muintir na Gaeltachta fanacht sa Ghaeltacht agus a theaghlaigh a th\u00f3g\u00e1il sa Ghaeltacht, c\u00e9ard is fi\u00fa \u00e9? Is fi\u00fa faic \u00e9. T\u00e1 a fhios againn go bhfuil l\u00edon na gcainteoir\u00ed laeth\u00fala ag laghd\u00fa chuile bhliain. T\u00e1 a fhios againn \u00f3 ghr\u00fapa\u00ed feachtasa\u00edochta cos\u00fail le B\u00c1N\u00da nach bhfuil daoine \u00f3ga in ann fanacht sa cheantar inar t\u00f3gadh iad mar gheall ar easpa tith\u00edochta. T\u00e1 tr\u00ed bhunrud ann i mo thuairimse agus deirim seo i gc\u00f3na\u00ed. N\u00ed f\u00e9idir teach a th\u00f3g\u00e1il, n\u00ed f\u00e9idir teach a cheannach agus n\u00ed f\u00e9idir teach a fh\u00e1il ar c\u00edos sa Ghaeltacht. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 seo f\u00edor i gConamara agus t\u00e1im cinnte go bhfuil s\u00e9 d\u00edreach mar an gc\u00e9anna i gceantair eile. Mar gheall air sin, thosaigh an gr\u00fapa feachtasa\u00edochta B\u00c1N\u00da mar go raibh tuiscint aige go raibh g\u00e9argh\u00e1 le maoini\u00fa agus le suim \u00f3n St\u00e1t i gc\u00farsa\u00ed tith\u00edochta sa Ghaeltacht.  C\u00e9ard at\u00e1 d\u00e9anta ag an Rialtas seo? Breathna\u00edmid ar c\u00e9ard at\u00e1 d\u00e9anta ag an Aire mar Aire tith\u00edochta. An ch\u00e9ad rud a rinne s\u00e9 n\u00e1 go bhfuair s\u00e9 r\u00e9idh leis na dr\u00e9acht-threoirl\u00ednte plean\u00e1la Gaeltachta a bh\u00ed geallta d\u00fainn le blianta. Bh\u00ed muid i gc\u00f3na\u00ed \u00e1 ard\u00fa sa Seomra seo go raibh na dr\u00e9acht-threoirl\u00ednte plean\u00e1la Gaeltachta ag teast\u00e1il agus go raibh s\u00e9 f\u00edorth\u00e1bhachtach go mbeadh guth an phobail ann mar cuid d\u00edobh sin. Seachas sin, t\u00e1 r\u00e1iteas n\u00e1isi\u00fanta plean\u00e1la againn. C\u00e9ard at\u00e1 ann? N\u00edl a fhios againn ach t\u00e1 a fhios againn nach mbeidh s\u00e9 againn go dt\u00ed 2027, c\u00e9 go bhfuil muid ag fanacht leis na dr\u00e9acht-threoirl\u00ednte plean\u00e1la Gaeltachta ar feadh na mblianta. M\u00e1 bhreathna\u00edmid ansin ar theach a cheannach, teach sh\u00f3isialta a fh\u00e1il, n\u00f3 b\u2019fh\u00e9idir teach ar phraghas r\u00e9as\u00fanta a fh\u00e1il, rud nach f\u00e9idir a fh\u00e1il sa St\u00e1t seo, i gConamara, n\u00edl su\u00edomhanna leis na seirbh\u00eds\u00ed ann. N\u00edl an Rialtas seo n\u00e1 na rialtais roimhe tar \u00e9is infheist\u00edocht a dh\u00e9anamh sa bhuninfreastrucht\u00far ionas go mbeadh su\u00edomhanna ann leis na seirbh\u00eds\u00ed iontu le go bhf\u00e9adfa\u00ed tithe a th\u00f3g\u00e1il. Ag tagairt do shu\u00edomhanna \u00f3n gcomhairle contae at\u00e1 m\u00e9 agus n\u00edl siad ann. Mar gheall air sin, n\u00ed f\u00e9idir tithe ar phraghas r\u00e9as\u00fanta n\u00f3 tithe s\u00f3isialta a chur ar f\u00e1il don phobal Gaeltachta, don pobal Gaeltachta at\u00e1 ann cheana n\u00f3 iad si\u00fad at\u00e1 ag iarraidh bogadh abhaile.  Fuair m\u00e9 freagra \u00f3n Aire go raibh an Roinn tar \u00e9is glacadh leis na molta\u00ed a bh\u00ed ag Comhairle Contae na Gaillimhe maidir leis na tithe i Ros an Mh\u00edl agus in Eanach Mhe\u00e1in. N\u00edl a fhios againn go d\u00edreach c\u00e9ard a bh\u00e9as ann ach t\u00e1 s\u00fail agam go mbeidh an Roinn ag cur an maoini\u00fa ar f\u00e1il ionas go mbeadh na tithe sin curtha ar f\u00e1il don phobal \u00e1iti\u00fail. M\u00e1 bhreathna\u00edmid ar na tithe at\u00e1 le f\u00e1il ar c\u00edos, feicfimid nach f\u00e9idir bogadh go Conamara agus teach a fh\u00e1il ar c\u00edos. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 dodh\u00e9anta. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 dodh\u00e9anta \u00e9 sin a dh\u00e9anamh agus fi\u00fa m\u00e1s f\u00e9idir teach a fh\u00e1il ar c\u00edos t\u00e1 s\u00e9 ar phraghas uaf\u00e1sach ard nach f\u00e9idir le daoine \u00edoc as. Caithfimid breathn\u00fa ar an deacracht n\u00f3 an gh\u00e9arch\u00e9im tith\u00edochta sa St\u00e1t ina ioml\u00e1ine ach chomh maith leis sin caithfimid d\u00edri\u00fa ar an ng\u00e9arch\u00e9im tith\u00edochta sa Ghaeltacht. Caithfidh an tAire gn\u00edomh a dh\u00e9anamh air sin. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh  M\u00e1 t\u00e1 an Ghaeilge le teacht sl\u00e1n, caithfear na Gaeltachta\u00ed a chaomhn\u00fa. N\u00edl aon Ghaeilge gan na Gaeltachta\u00ed mar is iad tobar agus todhcha\u00ed na teanga. T\u00e1 an m\u00e9id seo aitheanta ag saineolaithe le fada an l\u00e1 ach t\u00e1 na Gaeltachta\u00ed leochaileach agus t\u00e1 treochta\u00ed triobl\u00f3ideacha le tabhairt faoi deara. Thit l\u00edon na gcainteoir\u00ed laeth\u00fala Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht \u00f3 21.4% in 2016 go dt\u00ed 19.7% in 2022, agus n\u00edl ach tuairim is 15% de theaghlaigh Ghaeltachta ag t\u00f3g\u00e1il a gcuid p\u00e1ist\u00ed le Gaeilge. Ag \u00e9isteacht leis na figi\u00fair\u00ed duairce seo, bheadh t\u00fa ag d\u00e9anamh iontais maidir le c\u00e9n f\u00e1th go bhfuil siad chomh h\u00edseal. An \u00e9 nach bhfuil suim ag muintir na Gaeltachta ina dteanga f\u00e9in a thuilleadh? N\u00ed h\u00e9 sin \u00e9 in aon chor. T\u00e1 muintir na Gaeltachta tar \u00e9is seasamh suas le roinnt blianta anuas le cur in i\u00fal nach f\u00e9idir leo \u00e1it ch\u00f3naithe a fh\u00e1il sa Ghaeltacht. Ba mhaith leo a gclainne a th\u00f3g\u00e1il le Gaeilge ach n\u00edl an dara rogha acu ach imeacht agus a gceantair dh\u00fachais a fh\u00e1g\u00e1il mar nach f\u00e9idir leo teach a th\u00f3g\u00e1il, a cheannach n\u00f3 fi\u00fa a fh\u00e1il ar c\u00edos. Fi\u00fa agus tuiscint ag an Rialtas ar an m\u00e9id seo agus teachtaireacht shoil\u00e9ir \u00e1 tabhairt ag leith\u00e9id\u00ed Tinte\u00e1n agus B\u00c1N\u00da, t\u00e1 an Rialtas f\u00f3s s\u00e1sta su\u00ed siar agus ligean don Gaeltachta dul i l\u00e9ig; mo n\u00e1ire \u00e9.  N\u00edl plean n\u00e1 f\u00eds ag an Rialtas seo chun dul i ngleic leis na fadhbanna c\u00f3rasacha. N\u00edl aon phr\u00e1inn le brath \u00f3n Rialtas. Teasta\u00edonn athr\u00fa \u00f3n mbarr anuas. Mar shampla, n\u00edl aon socr\u00fa go f\u00f3ill maidir le hionad s\u00e9arachais nua a th\u00f3g\u00e1il ar an gCeathr\u00fa Rua. Go dt\u00ed go dtiocfar ar r\u00e9iteach, t\u00e1 bac ar thithe nua a th\u00f3g\u00e1il. T\u00e1 an fhadhb seo ann leis na blianta agus n\u00edl aon dul chun cinn d\u00e9anta.  Thuairiscigh The Ditch in 2024 go raibh 100 oiread n\u00edos m\u00f3 l\u00f3ist\u00edn le f\u00e1il ar Airbnb i gceantair Ghaeltachta n\u00e1 mar a bh\u00ed ar daft.ie. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 sin scannalach. Seachas polasa\u00ed dian a chur i bhfeidhm ionas gur f\u00e9idir le muintir na Gaeltachta maireacht\u00e1il sa Ghaeltacht, t\u00e1 an Rialtas tar \u00e9is maol\u00fa a dh\u00e9anamh ar na rialacha a bh\u00ed beartaithe de bharr br\u00fa \u00f3 na Healy-Raes.  Maidir leis na treoirl\u00ednte plean\u00e1la, tar \u00e9is ceithre bliana de ghealltanais go bhfoilseofa\u00ed iad, scrios an tAire an chumhacht a bh\u00ed aige ina leith. N\u00edl gn\u00edomh ar bith beartaithe go dt\u00ed go bhfoilseofar r\u00e1iteas plean\u00e1la n\u00e1isi\u00fanta don Ghaeltacht in 2027, in ainneoin na pr\u00e1inne a bhaineann leis an ng\u00e9arch\u00e9im.  T\u00e1 an t-uaf\u00e1s c\u00e9imeanna praitici\u00fala a d'fh\u00e9adfadh an Rialtas a dh\u00e9anamh chun Gaeilgeoir\u00ed a mhealladh agus a choinne\u00e1il sa Ghaeltacht. T\u00e1 plean ag Sinn F\u00e9in chun sol\u00e1thar tith\u00edochta a chinnti\u00fa do Ghaeilgeoir\u00ed, lena gcuims\u00edtear meas\u00fanaithe tionchair teanga ar thogra\u00ed molta; coinn\u00edollacha teanga do thith\u00edocht Gaeltachta; aitheantas do phatr\u00fan lonna\u00edochta na Gaeltachta; agus d\u00edol\u00faine \u00f3n dleachtstamp\u00e1la a thabhairt do dh\u00edolach\u00e1n an dara t\u00ed i gceantar Gaeltachta m\u00e1 dh\u00edoltar \u00e9 mar theach teaghlaigh do Ghaeilgeoir\u00ed.  Teasta\u00edonn \u00fain\u00e9ireacht a thabhairt do mhuintir na Gaeltachta ar a dtodhcha\u00ed tr\u00ed toghch\u00e1in dhaonlathacha a thabhairt ar ais do bhord \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta. Tugadh an gealltanas seo in 2023 ach n\u00edl s\u00e9 curtha i bhfeidhm f\u00f3s. Iarraim ar an Rialtas, m\u00e1 t\u00e1 s\u00e9 d\u00e1ir\u00edre faoi gh\u00e9arch\u00e9im tith\u00edochta na Gaeltachta a r\u00e9iteach, tac\u00fa le r\u00fan Shinn F\u00e9in anocht. Is g\u00e1 gn\u00edomh\u00fa air seo. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  D\u00e9anfaidh m\u00e9 dh\u00e1 phr\u00edomhphointe. T\u00e1 m\u00e9 chun rud \u00e9igin a r\u00e1 at\u00e1 cos\u00fail leis an m\u00e9id at\u00e1 r\u00e1ite ag an Teachta Mac Aonghusa \u00f3 thaobh an tobair de. Uaireanta, fiosra\u00edonn daoine, agus fios acu go bhfuil Gaeilge agam, faoi mo thuairim agus l\u00e9argas ar staid na Gaelainne. Deirim go bhfuil idir \u00e1bhair dh\u00f3chais is imn\u00ed ann. \u00d3 thaobh an d\u00f3chais de, is cinnte go bhfuil go leor ruda\u00ed maithe ag tarl\u00fa in\u00e1r nGaelscoileanna agus cathracha. T\u00e1 f\u00eds ann agus an stuif sin go l\u00e9ir sna me\u00e1in. T\u00e1 go leor ruda\u00ed dearfacha ag tarl\u00fa. \u00c9 sin r\u00e1ite, mura nd\u00e9antar caomhn\u00fa agus cosaint ar an tobar, is \u00e9 sin, an Ghaeltacht, is beag is fi\u00fa an m\u00e9id sin agus na daoine uilig ag teacht tr\u00ed na Gaelscoileanna agus ag labhairt Gaelainne. C\u00e9 gur ruda\u00ed luachmhara agus maithe iad, m\u00e1 chaillimid an tobar agus an Ghaelainn mar theanga phobail agus bheo, pr\u00edomhtheanga an teaghlaigh agus an teanga a labhra\u00edtear sna siopa\u00ed, mar shampla, beidh rud dochreidte \u00e1rsa is luachmhar caillte againn nach f\u00e9idir a th\u00f3g\u00e1il ar ais.  Is \u00e9 sin an dara pointe at\u00e1 agam. N\u00ed bheidh an dara seans againn an Ghaeilge agus an Ghaeltacht a chosaint. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 seo riachtanach. T\u00e1 go leor daoine d\u00edograiseacha ann. T\u00e1 go leor daoine agus gn\u00edomhaithe pobail at\u00e1 tiomanta chun forbairt a dh\u00e9anamh, imeachta\u00ed pobail agus scoile a eagr\u00fa agus gach rud cos\u00fail leis sin. Mura bhfuil s\u00e9 de chumas acu c\u00f3na\u00ed sna pobail sin, \u00e1fach, beidh orthu imeacht. Sna Gaeltachta\u00ed is c\u00f3ngara\u00ed dom, Gaeltacht Mh\u00fascra\u00ed agus iarthar Phort L\u00e1irge, feictear dom go mb\u00edonn s\u00e9 sin ag tarl\u00fa. T\u00e1 daoine ag bogadh go Maigh Chromtha agus an ceantar m\u00e1guaird. T\u00e1 daoine eile ag bogadh go D\u00fan Garbh\u00e1n agus Eochaill mar n\u00edl s\u00e9 de chumas acu teach a fh\u00e1il, idir teach a th\u00f3g\u00e1il n\u00f3 teach a cheannach.  T\u00e1 go leor c\u00faiseanna nach mb\u00edonn t\u00f3g\u00e1il ar si\u00fal. T\u00e1 constaic\u00ed \u00f3 thaobh plean\u00e1la de agus an stuif sin go l\u00e9ir. Is maith an rud \u00ed an turas\u00f3ireacht ach n\u00ed c\u00f3ir di a bheith n\u00edos t\u00e1bhachta\u00ed n\u00e1 todhcha\u00ed na Gaeltachta. T\u00e1 1,000 teach ar f\u00e1il ar Airbnb ag an am c\u00e9anna is at\u00e1 deich dteach ar f\u00e1il le glacadh ar c\u00edos. N\u00edl s\u00e9 sin inbhuanaithe ar chor ar bith. Imp\u00edm ar an Aire f\u00e9achaint ar na molta\u00ed. N\u00ed leor glacadh leis an r\u00fan agus tr\u00e1cht a dh\u00e9anamh ar cad at\u00e1 i gceist gan aon rud a dh\u00e9anamh faoi. Caithfear d\u00e9ile\u00e1il leis an gc\u00edos gearrth\u00e9armach agus n\u00edos m\u00f3 a dh\u00e9anamh \u00f3 thaobh tithe s\u00f3isialta agus inacmhainne. N\u00ed m\u00f3r d\u00e9ile\u00e1il le ceist na plean\u00e1la. Uaireanta \u2013 tarla\u00edonn s\u00e9 seo i go leor gn\u00e9ithe den saol agus den St\u00e1t \u2013 b\u00edonn aidhmeanna difri\u00fala ag coimhlint lena ch\u00e9ile. B\u2019fh\u00e9idir go mb\u00edonn aidhmeanna uaillmhianacha n\u00e1isi\u00fanta \u00f3 thaobh plean\u00e1la de, go pointe \u00e1irithe, ag teacht salach ar aidhmeanna na Gaeltachta. Caithfear c\u00e1s difri\u00fail is eisceacht\u00fail a dh\u00e9anamh don Ghaeltacht mar n\u00ed bheidh an dara seans againn. Caithfear cur chuige faoi leith a bheith ann. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy James Browne)  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis na Teachta\u00ed as ucht an r\u00fain seo. N\u00ed chuirfidh an Rialtas in aghaidh an r\u00fain seo. Le comhaont\u00fa an T\u00ed, leanfaidh m\u00e9 ar aghaidh le mo r\u00e1iteas i mB\u00e9arla.  The Government is not opposing this motion given the urgent need for housing and the Government's housing action plan, Delivering Homes, and Building Communities 2025-2030, which includes a range of actions aimed at increasing housing supply across all tenures and all parts of the country, including in rural and Gaeltacht areas. This includes financial supports for those seeking to buy or build new homes and to bring vacant and derelict properties back into use as homes, in addition to significant levels of capital investment in State-funded social and affordable housing.  Under the cro\u00ed c\u00f3naithe ready-to-build scheme, local authorities make serviced sites in towns and villages available to individual purchasers at a discount on market value for the building of a property for occupation as the principal private residence of the purchaser. This, coupled with the enhanced support under the cro\u00ed c\u00f3naithe vacant property refurbishment grant for vacant or derelict properties and the number of significant investment schemes that are now aligned to advance the town centre first policy approach, will support increased housing supply and respond to the varying housing needs of rural areas, including Gaeltacht communities. In 2024 and 2025, there were 302 approved applications for the vacant property refurbishment grant within Gaeltacht areas.  Under the national housing plan, each local authority will prepare a housing delivery action plan setting out its planned delivery of social and affordable housing to 2030 in line with targets that will be set by my Department in the first quarter of this year in order to ensure that 72,000 social homes will be delivered by 2030. In preparing its plan, each local authority will reflect local need to ensure the right mix of homes to respond to local need and priorities. The action plan also sets out the importance of infrastructure delivery in unlocking housing opportunities.  The recent launch of the housing infrastructure investment fund by the housing activation office established in my Department demonstrates the Government\u2019s commitment to tackling the barriers to housing delivery. This \u20ac1 billion fund will underpin enhanced collaboration and co-ordination across infrastructure providers. These measures help to ensure that essential infrastructure keeps pace with housing needs and supports long-term community resilience.  The State has also committed to significant investment in enabling infrastructure such as water and wastewater, underpinned by a record national development plan allocation of \u20ac12.2 billion for the water sector over the next five years. My Department\u2019s rural water programme, delivered through the local authorities, provides investment in group water schemes and in water and wastewater infrastructure for rural towns and villages, ensuring safe, reliable and sustainable drinking water and wastewater services.  Overall funding of \u20ac243 million has been approved for projects, including capital support for the multi-annual rural water programme from 2024 to 2026 to upgrade infrastructure, improve water quality, strengthen source protection and enhance resilience. The next call for applications launches in June, reinforcing the Government\u2019s continued commitment to investment in rural and Gaeltacht water services. In addition, the private well grant and domestic wastewater treatment system grant schemes provide practical financial assistance to all households nationally, including in Gaeltacht areas, supporting one-off housing and ensuring environmental compliance where connection to a public system is not feasible. The supporting people pillar of the plan also includes a number of actions targeted at rural areas. This includes the intention to publish a national planning statement on rural housing in the second half of 2026 in order to provide a more consistent approach by all planning authorities to rural housing.  The plan also includes a specific recognition that the availability of an appropriate mix of suitable housing is key to the sustainability of thriving Gaeltacht and island communities. The plan commits to the publication of a national planning statement in relation to housing in Gaeltacht areas in the first half of 2027 to provide clarity and consistency within the planning system in relation to the protection of the Irish language. The development of this national planning statement is being informed by the work of an interdepartmental group. When the statement is finalised and issued, it will be required to be applied consistently by planning authorities and An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la in the performance of their functions under the planning Acts.  In advance of the national planning statement being finalised, the development plans guidelines for planning authorities that were issued in 2022 give guidance to local authorities on the preparation of housing strategies with particular regard to the needs of Gaeltacht residents and to ensuring development proposals in Gaeltacht areas have a positive impact on the linguistic and cultural heritage that can be robustly assessed at planning application stage.  These guidelines also give guidance on the inclusion of local development policies reflecting language-planning areas, which are a separate designation under the Gaeltacht Act 2012 and relate to language planning, for which my colleague, the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, holds functional responsibility.  In addition, the Planning and Development Act 2024, which is being commenced on a phased basis, sets out the obligation for planning authorities to prepare strategies and include objectives, which must be addressed in the drafting of their development plans, governing local development policies in respect of any Gaeltacht area.  Where there is a Gaeltacht area within the planning authority\u2019s administrative area, the development plan strategy must include objectives for \u201cthe protection of the linguistic and cultural heritage, including the promotion of Irish as the community language\u201d. Where a development plan sets out settlement-specific objectives in respect of any Gaeltacht area, a priority area plan will subsequently be required for that Gaeltacht area to guide its development, renewal or regeneration, and to specify how the relevant settlement-specific objectives in the development plan are to be implemented.  My Department is preparing a draft national planning statement which will provide guidance for local authorities when deciding on planning applications for short-term letting. This draft statement will align with the introduction of the short-term letting Bill by the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, whereby all short-term letting accommodation providers will be required to register with F\u00e1ilte Ireland and to confirm that they are planning compliant.  I continue to engage regularly with my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Calleary, on matters that affect Gaeltacht areas, and my Department works closely with officials in the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, and with Uisce \u00c9ireann, local authorities and \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta, to support the delivery of enabling infrastructure and housing in Gaeltacht areas.  I acknowledge the importance of delivering on the needs of Gaeltacht communities, particularly through the supply of housing and the protection and promotion of the Irish language. My Department will continue to engage in this important work in conjunction with key stakeholders. Go raibh maith agaibh. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  On a point of order, and I hope the Minister takes this in the right spirit, can he confirm he understood all the contributions from this side of the House? I do not have any issue with somebody----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Sorca Clarke)  That is not a point of order. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  Can I just clarify? The point is this. I have no issue with somebody----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Sorca Clarke)  Can I make a suggestion in the interest----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  No, I will just finish the point of order. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Sorca Clarke)  But it is not a point of order. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  It is a point of order. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Sorca Clarke)  Can I make a suggestion? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  No, I just want to finish this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Sorca Clarke)  It is in the interests of getting the Deputy an answer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  Okay. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Sorca Clarke)  I suggest the Deputy write to the Ceann Comhairle. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  No, the point is this. I have no problem with somebody not understanding. The point is there is a service provided and if the Minister----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Sorca Clarke)  I suggest you seek----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  Maybe the Minister can rebut me. I do not know. I just want to know he is taking on board what is being said. That is fine if he----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Sorca Clarke)  Deputy----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  I just want a clarification, really. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Sorca Clarke)  I suggest, in the Deputy's interest and that of the House, that he put it in writing to the Ceann Comhairle. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  It is not a complaint; I am looking for clarification. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Sorca Clarke)  I did not indicate that it was a complaint but it is also not a point of order. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  It is not a complaint. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Sorca Clarke)  I did not say it was a complaint. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  I am not making a complaint; I am hoping the Minister can tell us he has understood us. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Sorca Clarke)  Could the Minister include a reply in his closing statement? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  Maybe the Deputy wants to elaborate on what standard of Irish he wants me to be able to say I have. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Sorca Clarke)  Right, folks, I am going to draw----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  We are getting into gradation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  Minister, I just want to know that you have understood us. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Sorca Clarke)  Deputy, with the greatest of respect----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  I just want to know the Minister has understood us because the service is there. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Sorca Clarke)  I call Deputy O'Rourke. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  There is specifically a service for these purposes. I am sure he is aware of it and can avail of it. I would be useful if he could clarify in his closing statement because these are important matters.  F\u00e1ilt\u00edm roimh an deis labhairt ar an topaic f\u00edorth\u00e1bhachtach seo, tith\u00edocht in\u00e1r bpobail Ghaeltachta \u00f3 Dh\u00fan na nGall go Corcaigh, c\u00f3sta Chonamara agus Gaeltachta na M\u00ed, is \u00e9 sin, R\u00e1th Chairn agus Baile Ghib. N\u00ed f\u00e9idir le teaghlaigh \u00e1iti\u00fala, a chothaigh an teanga leis na gl\u00fanta, tithe a cheannach, a th\u00f3g\u00e1il n\u00e1 a th\u00f3g\u00e1il ar c\u00edos ina bpobail f\u00e9in. Ina ionad sin, feicimid borradh tithe saoire, tithe ar c\u00edos go gearrth\u00e9armach, agus b\u00edonn ar l\u00e1n\u00faineacha \u00f3ga dul ar imirce.  Is iomarcach praghsanna na dtithe ina bpobail f\u00e9in d\u00e1r nGaeilgeoir\u00ed. I R\u00e1th Chairn agus Baile Ghib, is lofa ar\u00eds sc\u00e9al na dtith\u00edochta. Is p\u00f3ca\u00ed l\u00e1nGhaeilge faoi leith i gContae na M\u00ed iad seo agus t\u00e1 siad faoi bhr\u00fa ollmh\u00f3r. Nuair a chuirtear teach ar d\u00edol, is minic nach bhfuil s\u00e9 d'acmhainn ag Gaeilgeoir\u00ed \u00e1iti\u00fala an praghas iarrtha a \u00edoc. Ag an am c\u00e9anna, n\u00ed thugtar cead plean\u00e1la d\u00f3ibh chun teach at\u00e1 ar a n-acmhainn a th\u00f3g\u00e1il ar talamh teaghlaigh.  Is pianbhreith bh\u00e1is don Ghaeilge polasaithe \u00e1if\u00e9iseacha mar seo sna pobail sin. T\u00e1 plean ag Sinn F\u00e9in \u00e9 seo a dheisi\u00fa. Ar dt\u00fas, caithfimid an sc\u00e9im deontais do thith\u00edocht Ghaeltachta a thabhairt ar ais. Caithfimid r\u00e1iteas plean\u00e1la n\u00e1isi\u00fanta don Ghaeltacht, lena n-aithn\u00edtear patr\u00fain lonna\u00edochta agus riachtanais teangeola\u00edochta na gceantar seo, a fhoilsi\u00fa agus a chur i bhfeidhm le pr\u00e1inn. Caithfimid plean\u00e1il teanga a dh\u00e9anamh mar chuid l\u00e1rnach de reachta\u00edocht plean\u00e1la lena chinnti\u00fa go gcuirtear tith\u00edocht ar leataobh do theaghlaigh l\u00e1nGhaeilge. Cialla\u00edonn s\u00e9 sin meas\u00fanuithe tionchar teanga a dh\u00e9anamh maidir le gach forbairt nua agus coinn\u00edollacha teanga a chur leo. Caithfimid caighde\u00e1n soil\u00e9ir a shocr\u00fa, leibh\u00e9al B2 de TEG, mar chaighde\u00e1n n\u00e1isi\u00fanta inni\u00falachta i gcomhair na gcoinn\u00edollacha teanga seo chun go mbeidh siad \u00e9ifeachtach. Caithfimid fadhb easpa inacmhainneachta na dtithe sa Ghaeltacht a r\u00e9iteach. Caithfimid tithe s\u00f3isialta agus inacmhainne a shol\u00e1thar a bheadh curtha ar leataobh do Ghaeilgeoir\u00ed. Ag an am c\u00e9anna, caithfear machnamh a dh\u00e9anamh ar r\u00e9admhaoin a cheannach ag an St\u00e1t lena chinnti\u00fa go bhfanfar i seilbh an phobail \u00ed. Caithfimid infheist\u00edocht a dh\u00e9anamh i mbonneagar chomh maith. N\u00ed f\u00e9idir tith\u00edocht a shol\u00e1thar gan seirbh\u00eds\u00ed a bheith ann. Caithfear maoini\u00fa d'\u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta a ard\u00fa go suntasach.  N\u00ed f\u00e9idir leis an Rialtas cluas bhodhar a thabhairt don tsaincheist seo n\u00edos m\u00f3. T\u00e1 beart ag teast\u00e1il go pr\u00e1inneach chun an Ghaeltacht a sh\u00e1bh\u00e1il. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in  T\u00edr gan teanga, t\u00edr gan anam. A country without a language is a country without its soul. Is r\u00e1iteas f\u00edorth\u00e1bhachtach \u00f3 Ph\u00e1draig Mac Piarais \u00e9 sin. T\u00e1 dealbh de thuas anseo sa Ghaileara\u00ed. Faraor g\u00e9ar, don ch\u00e9ad uair riamh i stair na h\u00c9ireann agus i stair \u00e1rsa 2,600 bliain na nGael, t\u00e1 baol ann anois in 2026 nach mbeidh pobal ar bith f\u00e1gtha in \u00c9irinn, fi\u00fa pobal beag iarg\u00falta, ina mbeidh an Ghaeilge mar phr\u00edomhtheanga laeth\u00fail. Cad a chialla\u00edonn s\u00e9 sin? Cialla\u00edonn s\u00e9 sin b\u00e1s na Gaeltachta, the death of the Gaeltacht. Is \u00e9 seo uair na cinni\u00fana do thobar na Gaeilge, the well, spring or fountain of our national language. N\u00edor \u00e9irigh le hAnra\u00ed II n\u00e1 reachtanna Chill Chainnigh \u00e9 sin a dh\u00e9anamh. N\u00edor \u00e9irigh le Cromwell n\u00e1 le hEil\u00eds, Banr\u00edon Shasana, \u00e9 a dh\u00e9anamh. N\u00edor \u00e9irigh le haon t\u00edor\u00e1nach gallda \u00f3 shin \u00e9 a dh\u00e9anamh. Ar mhaith leis an Rialtas seo go mbeidh s\u00e9 scr\u00edofa in ann\u00e1la na h\u00c9ireann gur eisean a lig don Ghaeltacht b\u00e1s a fh\u00e1il? It is a language that has held majority status in some communities, however small and isolated, on this island for the past 2,600 years as a living, breathing, spoken language. Would any government that calls itself Irish want to have as its legacy that it put the final nail in the coffin of an Gaeltacht after 2,600 years? Muna bhfuil cainteoir\u00ed Gaeilge f\u00e1gtha sa Ghaeltacht, n\u00ed Gaeltacht a thuilleadh \u00ed.  Is \u00ed sin an fh\u00edrinne lom shearbh. \u00d3 thaobh tith\u00edochta de, t\u00e1 a fhios againn gur teach saoire \u00e9 teach amh\u00e1in as gach c\u00faig cinn sna ceantair Ghaeltachta. T\u00e1 a fhios againn go ndeachaigh l\u00edon na dtithe ioml\u00e1na ar Airbnb in airde 88% \u00f3 2019 go 2025, i gcompar\u00e1id le hard\u00fa 48% sa St\u00e1t i gcoitinne, a jump of 88% in comparison with a State-wide average of 48%. T\u00e1 a fhios againn nach raibh ach deich dteach ar f\u00e1il ar c\u00edos fadt\u00e9armach ar daft.ie sa Ghaeltacht in 2024 agus 1,017 teach ar c\u00edos gearrth\u00e9armach liost\u00e1ilte ar Airbnb. That is incredible. Ten houses in the Gaeltacht were available on daft.ie while 1,017 were available for short-term letting on Airbnb. T\u00e1 a fhios againn go bhfuil smacht ag c\u00faigear tiarna tal\u00fan ar 216 aonad Gaeltachta at\u00e1 liost\u00e1ilte ar Airbnb. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 sin dochreidte. T\u00e1 a fhios againn go bhfuil 53 aonad liost\u00e1ilte ag an tiarna tal\u00fan is m\u00f3, at\u00e1 ina chomhlacht Briot\u00e1nach. These are really shocking figures. I ask the Minister to look them up because they are really shocking.  Bu\u00edochas le Dia, t\u00e1 daoine ag troid ar ais. Molaim go hard na sp\u00e9ire na gr\u00fapa\u00ed seo. I salute na gr\u00fapa\u00ed feachtais cos\u00fail le B\u00c1N\u00da, a bh\u00ed taobh amuigh de na geata\u00ed inniu, Todhcha\u00ed na Tuaithe, TINTE\u00c1N, Conradh na Gaeilge, AML\u00c9 agus na cumainn Ghaelacha, CATU, agus Inside Airbnb. \u00d3 thaobh na me\u00e1n, molaim The Ditch , TG4, Tuairisc.ie , Raidi\u00f3 na Gaeltachta agus Raidi\u00f3 F\u00e1ilte. Molaim freisin na pobail \u00e1iti\u00fala a bhain \u00fas\u00e1id as na c\u00fairteanna chun an fh\u00edrinne at\u00e1 leagtha amach sa tairiscint seo anocht a fh\u00e1il amach. Molaim na hoifigigh phlean\u00e1la a dh\u00e9anann obair na gcapall chun an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn n\u00edos forleithne sna pobail Ghaeltachta in ainneoin easpa taca\u00edochta \u00f3n St\u00e1t.  Cad a chaithfimid a dh\u00e9anamh? What do we do? What are our constructive proposals? T\u00e1imid ag \u00e9ileamh ar an Rialtas to introduce a strong national planning statement n\u00f3 r\u00e1iteas plean\u00e1la n\u00e1isi\u00fanta l\u00e1idir a fhoilsi\u00fa agus a chur i bhfeidhm l\u00e1ithreach don Ghaeltacht. T\u00e1im ag lorg sc\u00e9im deontais do thith\u00edocht Gaeltachta a thabhairt ar ais de r\u00e9ir Acht na dTithe (Gaeltacht). We are looking for the grant scheme to be brought back. T\u00e1imid ag r\u00e1 gur ch\u00f3ir don Rialtas tac\u00fa leis an bplean deich-bpointe at\u00e1 ag Sinn F\u00e9in i leith tith\u00edocht don Ghaeltacht, darb ainm Ag Plean\u00e1il don Athch\u00f3iri\u00fa. I ask the Minister to read our ten-point plan, which contains really constructive proposals.  Caithfimid a chinnti\u00fa chomh maith go gcuirfear f\u00e1ilte U\u00ed Cheallaigh roimh eisimircigh at\u00e1 ag filleadh abhaile a l\u00e9ir\u00edonn sp\u00e9is sa Ghaeltacht agus at\u00e1 ag iarraidh pobail Ghaeltachta a th\u00f3g\u00e1il, clann a th\u00f3g\u00e1il tr\u00ed Ghaeilge agus Gaelscoileanna a fhorbairt ina gceantair \u00e1iti\u00fala. Caithfimid a chinnti\u00fa gur f\u00e9idir leo filleadh abhaile agus \u00e9 sin a dh\u00e9anamh. T\u00e1 a l\u00e1n daoine thar lear a bhfuil an-sp\u00e9is acu i gclann a th\u00f3g\u00e1il tr\u00ed Ghaeilge i gceantar Gaeltachta. T\u00e1 a l\u00e1n daoine ann a d'fh\u00e1g an Ghaeltacht sna caogaid\u00ed, sna hocht\u00f3id\u00ed agus \u00f3 shin i leith. Ba ch\u00f3ir t\u00fas \u00e1ite a thabhairt do chainteoir\u00ed Gaeilge agus daoine \u00f3n nGaeltacht i ngach r\u00e9imse. We need to welcome home those who speak and promote the language and give them priority in all of our policies. N\u00edl aon rogha eile ann m\u00e1 t\u00e1 an Rialtas seo d\u00e1ir\u00edre faoin nGaeilge. N\u00edl Gaeltacht ann mura bhfuil muintir na Gaeltachta in ann socr\u00fa s\u00edos ansin agus a bheith ina gc\u00f3na\u00ed ann.  Faoi dheireadh, t\u00edr gan teanga, t\u00edr gan anam. A country without its language is a country without its soul. Molaim don Aire \u00e1r gc\u00e1ip\u00e9is a l\u00e9amh. I recommend the Minister read our document. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas le P\u00e1irt\u00ed Shinn F\u00e9in as ucht an r\u00fan seo a chur faoi bhr\u00e1id na D\u00e1la anocht. Tugann P\u00e1irt\u00ed an Lucht Oibre taca\u00edocht don r\u00fan. Bh\u00ed m\u00e9 ag \u00e9isteacht le mo chara, an Teachta N\u00ed Fhearghail, agus d\u00fairt s\u00ed rud \u00e9igin sp\u00e9isi\u00fail. Chuir s\u00ed ceist faoi bhr\u00e1id na D\u00e1la; c\u00e9ard is fi\u00fa \u00e9? Aonta\u00edm leis an m\u00e9id a bh\u00ed le r\u00e1 aici. C\u00e9ard is fi\u00fa Seachtain na Gaeilge gan Gaeltacht bheo agus gan teanga bheo? T\u00e1 a fhios ag gach uile dhuine go bhfuil an gh\u00e9arch\u00e9im tith\u00edochta sa Ghaeltacht ina bagairt ollmh\u00f3r d\u00e1r dteanga n\u00e1isi\u00fanta. I nd\u00e1ir\u00edre, n\u00edl an Rialtas ag d\u00e9anamh m\u00f3r\u00e1in. N\u00edl s\u00e9 ag d\u00e9anamh an iomarca chun feabhas a chur ar ch\u00farsa\u00ed. Mar shampla, labhair a l\u00e1n Teachta\u00ed faoi ch\u00farsa\u00ed Airbnb agus faoin bhfadhb at\u00e1 ann.  Maidir le c\u00farsa\u00ed tith\u00edochta sa Ghaeltacht, t\u00e1 fadhb ann le polasaithe an Rialtais seo agus polasaithe an Rialtais dheireanaigh. T\u00e1 siad ag cur isteach ar mhuintir na h\u00e1ite agus iad ag iarraidh tithe a th\u00f3g\u00e1il n\u00f3 a cheannach. Nuair a bh\u00ed an iar-Theachta D\u00e1la, \u00c9amon \u00d3 Cu\u00edv, mar Bhall den D\u00e1il, labhair s\u00e9 go minic faoi ch\u00farsa\u00ed Gaeltachta agus faoi ch\u00farsa\u00ed tith\u00edochta inti. Caithfidh an tAire \u00e9isteacht le muintir na Gaeltachta agus lena sheanchomhghleaca\u00ed, \u00c9amon \u00d3 Cu\u00edv. T\u00e1 g\u00e1 leis an gcothroma\u00edocht a athr\u00fa maidir le c\u00farsa\u00ed tith\u00edochta sa Ghaeltacht i bhfabhar daoine \u00e1iti\u00fala. Chun an m\u00e9id sin a dh\u00e9anamh, is g\u00e1 r\u00e1iteas plean\u00e1la n\u00e1isi\u00fanta l\u00e1idir a thabhairt isteach.  T\u00e1 a fhios ag gach uile dhuine nach bhfuil su\u00edmh ann le seirbh\u00eds\u00ed do mhuintir na Gaeltachta. Is \u00ed fadhb an easpa bonneagair an fhadhb is ollmh\u00f3ire sa Ghaeltacht agus i roinnt \u00e1iteanna eile in \u00c9irinn faoi l\u00e1thair. Caithfidh an Rialtas cumhacht a thabhairt do na comhlachta\u00ed St\u00e1it agus maoini\u00fa cu\u00ed a aimsi\u00fa d'\u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta chun go bhf\u00e9adfa\u00ed talamh a cheannach agus su\u00edmh a fhorbairt le seirbh\u00eds\u00ed a chur ar f\u00e1il do mhuintir na Gaeltachta. T\u00e1 g\u00e1 le r\u00e1iteas plean\u00e1la n\u00e1isi\u00fanta l\u00e1idir mar t\u00e1 deacrachta\u00ed le fada ag daoine cead plean\u00e1la a fh\u00e1il sa Ghaeltacht. Bh\u00ed r\u00e1itis sa D\u00e1il i mbliana faoi ch\u00farsa\u00ed a bhaineann le hUisce \u00c9ireann. T\u00e1 an fhadhb ch\u00e9anna ann sa Ghaeltacht maidir le c\u00f3ire\u00e1il s\u00e9arachais ach t\u00e1 s\u00e9 n\u00edos measa. Is deacracht mh\u00f3r \u00e9 sin chomh maith. D\u00faradh go mbeidh 2027 ann faoin am go mbeidh c\u00f3ire\u00e1il \u00e1 d\u00e9anamh ar an s\u00e9arachas ar an gCeathr\u00fa Rua sa Ghaeltacht i gContae na Gaillimhe. Caithfear d\u00e9ile\u00e1il leis na fadhbanna plean\u00e1la ar dt\u00fas. Is \u00e9 sin an f\u00e1th go bhfuil g\u00e1 le r\u00e1iteas plean\u00e1la n\u00e1isi\u00fanta l\u00e1idir.  Ba ch\u00f3ir go raibh na treoirl\u00ednte foilsithe in 2021. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 dodh\u00e9anta saol a bhun\u00fa gan an cumas teach a cheannach i do cheantar f\u00e9in. Bh\u00ed m\u00e9 i nDubrovnic dh\u00e1 bhliain \u00f3 shin, agus m\u00e9 ann, thug m\u00e9 le fios go raibh fadhb ann maidir le longa cr\u00fas\u00e1la. Bh\u00ed a l\u00e1n long cr\u00fas\u00e1la ollmh\u00f3ra ag teacht isteach i nDubrovnic gach uile l\u00e1 agus muintir na long sin ag si\u00fal tr\u00ed na sr\u00e1ideanna gan m\u00f3r\u00e1n airgid a chaitheamh agus an \u00e1it a fh\u00e1g\u00e1il d\u00edreach ina dhiaidh sin. Measaim go bhfuil an fhadhb ch\u00e9anna ann le Airbnb agus tiarna\u00ed tal\u00fan m\u00f3ra Briot\u00e1nacha sa Ghaeltacht. Is g\u00e1 rud \u00e9igin a dh\u00e9anamh faoi. Is g\u00e1 an bh\u00e9im a athr\u00fa i bhfabhar daoine \u00e1iti\u00fala. Caithfidh an Rialtas n\u00edos m\u00f3 cumhachta a thabhairt d'\u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta.  Bh\u00ed m\u00e9 sa Teach seo an bhliain seo caite agus m\u00e9 ag \u00e9isteacht le roinnt Teachta\u00ed ag labhairt ar \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta. Bh\u00ed m\u00e9 ag \u00e9isteacht leis an Uachtar\u00e1n, Catherine Connolly, a bh\u00ed ina Teachta D\u00e1la ag an am sin.  Chuir s\u00ed agus Teachta\u00ed eile roinnt leasuithe chun cinn don Bhille a bh\u00ed faoi bhr\u00e1id na D\u00e1la ag an am sin an bhliain seo chaite chun n\u00edos m\u00f3 cumhachta a thabhairt d\u2019\u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta le cinnti\u00fa go mbeadh an chumhacht aige feabhas a chur ar ch\u00farsa\u00ed. Is n\u00e1ire \u00e9 n\u00e1r thug an Rialtas taca\u00edocht d\u00f3ibh.  Mar a d\u00fairt m\u00e9, is bagairt ollmh\u00f3r don Ghaeltacht \u00ed an gh\u00e9arch\u00e9im tith\u00edochta. Is \u00ed an bhagairt is m\u00f3 don Ghaeltacht. Mura nd\u00e9antar beart \u00f3 thaobh na g\u00e9arch\u00e9ime seo, n\u00ed f\u00e9idir linn na Gaeltachta\u00ed a choime\u00e1d n\u00e1 iad a fh\u00e1s. T\u00e1 g\u00e1 le plean tith\u00edochta speisialta don Ghaeltacht, lena n-air\u00edtear plean tith\u00edochta s\u00f3isialta agus inacmhainne, go h\u00e1irithe \u00f3 thaobh raon leathan seirbh\u00eds\u00ed de.  T\u00e1 sc\u00e9im i Ros an Mh\u00edl ina bhfuil 42 teach folamh. T\u00e1 sc\u00e9im eile in Eanach Mh\u00e9ain ina bhfuil 14 teach folamh. In ainm D\u00e9, tabhair ciste do Chomhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe n\u00f3 comhlacht ceadaithe tith\u00edochta \u00e9igin chun na tithe a cheannach agus a athr\u00fa go tithe s\u00f3isialta do mhuintir dh\u00fachas na Gaeltachta. T\u00e1 an gh\u00e9arch\u00e9im fol\u00fantais n\u00edos measa sa Ghaeltacht. Deir an Rialtas an t-am ar fad nach bhfuil tuairim ar bith ag an bhFreas\u00fara, ach is tuairim \u00fas\u00e1ideach amh\u00e1in \u00ed seo don Rialtas.  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas le B\u00c1N\u00da as ucht na hoibre a rinne s\u00e9 chun solas a chur ar na fadhbanna ollmh\u00f3ra seo. Bh\u00ed deis agam bualadh le gn\u00edomhaithe d\u00e1 chuid taobh amuigh den D\u00e1il inniu. Mura nd\u00e9antar an m\u00e9id a d\u00fairt m\u00e9, beidh s\u00e9 dodh\u00e9anta na Gaeltachta\u00ed a choime\u00e1d agus an Ghaeilge a fh\u00e1s mar theanga bheo agus teanga oibre mar n\u00ed bheidh na cainteoir\u00ed d\u00fachais againn. Seasaim le muintir na Gaeltachta, go h\u00e1irithe le daoine \u00f3ga sa Ghaeltacht agus cainteoir\u00ed d\u00fachais Ghaeilge.  Molaim an r\u00fan seo anocht. Mar a d\u00fairt m\u00e9, t\u00e1 m\u00e9 an-s\u00e1sta a bheith anseo chun labhairt faoin fhadhb ollmh\u00f3r tith\u00edochta sa Ghaeltacht. T\u00e1 m\u00e9 s\u00e1sta nach bhfuil an Rialtas ag dul i gcoinne an r\u00fain. Ag an am c\u00e9anna, \u00e1fach, caithfidh s\u00e9 \u00e9isteacht agus rud \u00e9igin a dh\u00e9anamh. T\u00e1thar f\u00f3s ag fanacht ar na treoirl\u00ednte plean\u00e1la, agus beifear ag fanacht go dt\u00ed 2027. D\u00fairt an Rialtas roimhe seo go dtiocfadh na treoirl\u00ednte plean\u00e1la isteach in 2021. T\u00e1 muintir na Gaeltachta ag fanacht le fada ach n\u00edl siad \u00e1balta fanacht go dt\u00ed 2027. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas le Sinn F\u00e9in as an tairiscint th\u00e1bhachtach seo a chur chun cinn. T\u00e1 g\u00e9arch\u00e9im tith\u00edochta ar fud na t\u00edre. T\u00e1 \u00e9igeand\u00e1il ann. There is a housing crisis all over this country. It is an emergency. Is fadhb ar leith \u00ed sa Ghaeltacht . There is a specific crisis that affects the Gaeltacht. That is, of course, because t\u00e1 todhcha\u00ed na nGaeltachta\u00ed i mbaol agus, mar sin, t\u00e1 todhcha\u00ed na Gaeilge, \u00e1r dteanga, i mbaol. There is a specific issue because the future of the Gaeltacht is in danger and that means the future of our language is in danger.  T\u00e1 todhcha\u00ed na nGaeltachta\u00ed i mbaol mar n\u00edl aon tithe ar f\u00e1il le ceannach n\u00f3 le glacadh ar c\u00edos. There is nothing to buy or rent for the cainteoir\u00ed, the Irish speakers, in the Gaeltacht, because all the properties are on Airbnb or are tithe saoire, holiday homes. This is the fundamental problem and why there is a specific crisis in the Gaeltachta\u00ed. They face a concentration of Airbnb properties and holiday homes that nowhere else in the country is facing. This is a problem that the Government has done a U-turn on and it is absolutely shameful. The Government promised to address the issue of short-term lets and Airbnb but it did a U-turn for its Minister of State, Deputy Michael Healy-Rae. It is back to parish-pump politics. The price that Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael paid to stay in power was to turn their backs on the communities in the Gaeltachta\u00ed who have been highlighting for many years the issues of Airbnb and holiday homes and how they are putting the future of our teanga and their communities, a bpobail, i mbaol.  If we go to any area of the Gaeltacht, there are only a handful of homes available ar c\u00edos fadt\u00e9armach, for long-term rent, and all of it is on Airbnb. Caithfidh an St\u00e1t tithe inacmhainne a mhaoini\u00fa agus a th\u00f3g\u00e1il. In my view, the State must finance and build homes tr\u00ed thaca\u00edocht a thabhairt d\u2019\u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta, na h\u00fadar\u00e1is \u00e1iti\u00fala agus pobail \u00e1iti\u00fala. That needs to be done through supporting \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta, our local governments and local communities. Le teacht ar r\u00e9iteach na faidhbe, n\u00ed m\u00f3r do pholasa\u00ed teacht le riachtanais mhuintir na h\u00e1ite. Policy has to work for the needs of local people in our Gaeltachta\u00ed. Currently, it is not working. It is actually working against them. I again highlight the Government's U-turn and failure to act on short-term lets, which is essentially abandoning the Gaeltachta\u00ed to their homes being purchased continuously for short-term lets and as holiday homes. It is a free market down there. The Government could have done something that would have ensured the homes that are being built and exist are there for people to live in permanently to support our cainteoir\u00ed agus \u00e1r gcuid pobal Gaeltachta .  T\u00e1 daoine \u00f3ga ag f\u00e1g\u00e1il na nGaeltachta\u00ed mar gheall ar easpa tith\u00edochta le ceannach n\u00f3 le glacadh ar c\u00edos. Young people are leaving the Gaeltacht, just like they are leaving this country, because there is a lack of housing to buy or rent. There is a fundamental flaw within the Government's housing policies, which is the over-reliance on the private market. The Government incentivises investor funds. It thinks they are going to build in Dublin. It wants them to build high-end properties. They are not going to be building anything in the Gaeltachta\u00ed. What has the Government done? It has allowed the landlords in the Gaeltachta\u00ed and in rural Ireland to hike up the rents, which is what they are going to do. It has incentivised landlords to buy up more properties because the rents will be even higher. That puts more pressure on local house prices. The State must intervene in a way that finances local authorities properly, because they do not have sufficient money, to build public affordable housing in our Gaeltachta\u00ed.  I will call out the Minister. He threw up his hands and said he is disgraced at what happened with the evictions in Wexford. I have been telling him since he was appointed that these evictions are happening. He has not raised a peep about them. He has done nothing to protect people from eviction. He has given new tenancies protection but not the 250,000 households who are all facing eviction. There are going to be, and are, hundreds of people across the country who are in situations like those in the Wexford estates and who are being evicted. Some 20,000 households were evicted last year. Thousands are facing eviction notices right now. Why does the Minister not put in place a ban on no-fault evictions? He says it will deter landlords. That is the only reason he is not doing it.  Why is the Government not putting in place a ban on evictions and families being made homeless? The reason it is not doing that is, as all of the previous Ministers and taoisigh have said, that will scare off landlords. The Government is saying it straight. It is allowing people to be made homeless to protect landlords. It is a disgraceful decision. The Minister is being disingenuous by saying he is going to stand up to this. If he wants to stand up to it, he should put in place a ban on no-fault evictions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  Ar an gc\u00e9ad dul s\u00edos, gabhaim bu\u00edochas le Sinn F\u00e9in as ucht an tairiscint seo a tabhairt chun na D\u00e1la anocht. Is l\u00e9ir \u00f3n m\u00e9id at\u00e1 tarlaithe \u00f3 thaobh l\u00edon na gcainteoir\u00ed laeth\u00fala sa Ghaeltacht le blianta anuas go bhfuil ag teip go huile is go hioml\u00e1n ar an Rialtas lena chuid iarrachta\u00ed deireadh a chur le meath na Gaeltachta. Le gach daon\u00e1ireamh, t\u00e1 n\u00edos l\u00fa cainteoir\u00ed laeth\u00fala sa Ghaeltacht.  Le blianta, t\u00e1 muid ag caint faoin gh\u00e9arch\u00e9im tith\u00edochta sa Ghaeltacht agus an tionchar at\u00e1 aici ar an teanga. Muna bhfuil an pobal in ann maireacht\u00e1il sa Ghaeltacht, is cuma faoi na polasaithe \u00f3 thaobh na teanga de. Muna bhfuil cainteoir\u00ed laeth\u00fala sa Ghaeltacht, n\u00edl aon Ghaeltacht ann. Is l\u00e9ir \u00f3n m\u00e9id at\u00e1, agus nach bhfuil, tarlaithe le blianta beaga anuas nach bhfuil aon uaillmhian ag an Rialtas dul i ngleic leis an ng\u00e9arch\u00e9im seo. Bh\u00ed muid ag fanacht blianta le haghaidh na dtreoirl\u00ednte plean\u00e1la, ach t\u00e1 muid f\u00f3s ag fanacht leo, n\u00f3 le haon r\u00e9iteach \u00f3n Rialtas seo.  Nuair nach bhfuil ach deich teach sa Ghaeltacht ar f\u00e1il ar c\u00edos fadt\u00e9armach agus os cionn 1,000 teach ar f\u00e1il le haghaidh turas\u00f3ir\u00ed, is l\u00e9ir go bhfuil teip ioml\u00e1n plean\u00e1la agus polasaithe i gceist. Teasta\u00edonn tith\u00edocht inacmhainne \u00f3 mhuintir na Gaeltachta. Is g\u00e1 le hobair ollmh\u00f3r \u00f3 thaobh s\u00e9arachais agus plean\u00e1la de. Teasta\u00edonn f\u00eds don Ghaeltacht ina mbeidh daoine \u00f3ga ag f\u00e1s an\u00edos agus ag fanacht sa Ghaeltacht, \u00e1it a mbeidh siad in ann tithe a cheannach n\u00f3 a ghlacadh ar c\u00edos agus clann a th\u00f3g\u00e1il. T\u00e1 muid ag br\u00fa an phobail a choinn\u00edonn an teanga beo amach. Murach muintir na Gaeltachta, n\u00ed bheadh aon Ghaeilge ann. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charles Ward  I welcome the motion and fully support it. I speak from personal experience. I am from Arranmore Island in County Donegal, with family roots in Loch an I\u00fair. I know the realities facing other Donegal islands like Tory and Inishbofin. They are living communities. Housing is not just about houses; it is about units and putting down roots. The value of a house needs to be considered in terms of what it brings to a community. It is about whether schools survive, services remain or Irish remains a language for daily life.  Housing challenges in the Gaeltacht islands are often very much misunderstood. It is not just about speculation or luxury developments; it is about viability. In many cases, building a home costs more than a house will ever be valued at. That is a reality. Homes in rural and Gaeltacht areas are empty and we cannot help people to remain in their communities due to cost. There is a paradox in terms of vacancies and dereliction. Many homes lie empty and are unsafe, including defective concrete homes that have been lost to the local housing stock, which families cannot avail of.  It is not a lifestyle choice; rather, it is a structural failure. When homes are lost in this way, families leave, schools decline and the social fabric weakens. There is a solution, namely a State-led approach whereby it buys back vacant or derelict homes and manage their renovation rather than expecting families to find tens of thousands of euro upfront or act as project managers. We have seen the difficulties ordinary people have to navigate with the defective concrete scheme model. A State-led approach would also allow investment to be targeted locally. Local builders and apprentices can be employed, supporting skills on islands like Arranmore and Tory and villages like Loch an I\u00fair, Falcarragh and Magheroarty. Such housing support structures strengthen the community, economy and language rather than simply funding a house in isolation.  Serviced sites would be a way forward. There are buyers for houses on islands and in Gaeltacht communities and it is not often that there is a willingness to build. If there is land that is serviced and ready to go, that would change things. Local authorities should be supported in acquiring and fully servicing small clustered sites delivered at cost specifically for local need. It would be like the old 1990s SI model we used to have. Where viability gaps exist, the State should step in with targeted supports in Gaeltacht areas to address the difference between the build cost and market value.  Families cannot be expected to absorb these costs if we want them to stay and raise their children in these areas. Housing policy in the Gaeltacht is also language and community policy. In Gaeltacht areas, this is not a theory but a way of life. Viable enrolment numbers and housing numbers have been going down because people simply cannot afford to stay. If we are serious about sustaining these communities, housing policy must reflect the reality and we need practical State-supported housing rooted in local life. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  Molaim an r\u00fan seo maidir le tith\u00edocht sa Ghaeltacht. Is fadhb an-t\u00e1bhachtach \u00ed do mhuintir na Gaeltachta i gConamara, D\u00fan na nGall agus C\u00faige Mumhan agus don teanga agus don chult\u00far.  I welcome and support the motion. It is of vital importance to the Gaeltacht and the Irish language and culture. Difficulties with housing in Gaeltacht areas is of course part of the housing emergency that exists in the State, an issue that continues to undermine the very fabric of our society. Failed Government policies have resulted in 17,000 homeless people, along with almost 5,500 homeless children, exorbitant rip-off rents, skyrocketing house prices, large numbers of young people living in their childhood bedrooms and even larger numbers locked out of home ownership. The only way to deal with the housing crisis is by a declaration in law of a housing emergency, a right to housing in the Constitution, large-scale construction of social and affordable housing by local authorities on public land, rent reductions, a rent freeze and the purchase and refurbishment of vacant and derelict properties by local authorities for housing applicants.  There are, of course, specific issues that relate to the Gaeltacht. I want to compliment B\u00c1N\u00da for its work on the housing issue in Gaeltacht areas. The word \"b\u00e1n\u00fa\" tells a tale. It is an emotive Irish phrase referring to a place left deserted without energy or life. The fear is that if housing in Gaeltacht areas is not tackled successfully this will become reality. B\u00c1N\u00da, founded in 2023, is a Gaeltacht housing action group and advocacy organisation based primarily in Conamara and focused on tackling the housing crisis in Irish-speaking areas. It was formed in response to the lack of affordable and social housing and planning difficulties, and demands the right of local Irish-speaking communities to get housing in their own areas. It aims to prevent the depopulation of Gaeltacht areas, arguing that the housing crisis is eroding the Irish language and culture.  The campaign for fairer planning guidelines, increased social and affordable housing and remediation of derelict and vacant properties is also an aim of the organisation. The organisation has organised protests and has petitioned Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael Ministers on the urgent need for housing in the Gaeltacht and challenged the Minister with responsibility for the Gaeltacht on planning guidelines and housing delivery. I also want to compliment Tinte\u00e1n, launched in November 2024, a national housing campaign aimed at tackling the housing crisis in Gaeltacht areas, a collaboration between Conradh na Gaeilge and B\u00c1N\u00da.  It aims to bring together communities nationally to highlight the urgent housing needs threatening the cultural and linguistic heritage of these areas and, ultimately, the nation. The housing emergency in the Gaeltacht areas in Connemara, Donegal and Munster is undermining the Irish language and culture.  There are four main difficulties in the Gaeltacht areas. There are little or no schemes of houses being built in Irish-speaking areas by housing authorities. Housing prices are high for the little housing that is available. There are planning restrictions on one-off houses in rural areas and a lack of rental housing and the rip-off cost of what is available. The housing crisis in Gaeltacht areas must be addressed to make sure that they will be a Gaeltacht in the coming years. \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta must be given powers and funding to buy land and property to provide houses for Irish speakers in the Gaeltacht. A housing department in \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta must be established to prioritise and build houses in co-operation with housing authorities and utility companies. Legislation will be required to do that and it should be introduced urgently.  Airbnb has taken over the whole short-term rental market so there are very few long-term rental houses available. The short-term letting and tourism Bill 2025 must ensure that housing stock in Gaeltacht areas is not just for the profit of Airbnb and booking.com but for the good of the Gaeltacht language community and for the vitality of the Irish language. The Minister for housing must immediately and without any further delay publish the national Gaeltacht housing planning statement. Guidelines on this were promised in 2021 but are still outstanding. This statement on guidelines is now promised for the first half of 2027. That is six years later and is simply not good enough. The statement must specifically address the housing needs of Gaeltacht areas, promote the retention of Irish-speaking residents and align development with language plans and address depopulation in Gaeltacht areas. These measures must be taken urgently and I urge that they are done at the earliest opportunity. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  I want to highlight a serious housing crisis, not alone on Oile\u00e1n Chl\u00e9ire, one of our most culturally important and geographically vulnerable Gaeltacht islands, but also on all islands in west Cork and throughout Ireland. Cape Clear is facing a future on a knife edge, with homes in desperately short supply and the long-term viability for the community under real threat. Despite the presence of dozens of vacant houses, families cannot find a single home to rent or buy. This small island has become a stark microcosm of the wider national housing crisis. One of the most pressing issues is the mismatch between housing stock and housing availability. Many houses lie empty, unused for years, functioning as second homes or left derelict. Almost none of them is available for year-round families who want to live, work and raise their children on the island. This is contributing directly to the population decline and places vital services such as primary schools at risk. Research by UCC has made it clear that housing availability and affordability are central to sustaining life on all our offshore islands.  Challenges such as old and deteriorating housing stock, the high cost of building or renovating on an island and the displacement of permanent residents due to second home ownership are creating a perfect storm. Despite this, the community is doing everything in its power to survive. Under the Government's ten-year strategy for offshore islands, it is currently working with homeowners to bring a small number of houses back into long-term use, including two homes being made available for affordable rental from this year. This is welcome but it is nowhere near enough to address the scale of the crisis. Cape Clear is fighting for its future. Without immediate and targeted accelerated refurbishment supports and incentives for year-round occupancy and stronger measures to tackle vacancy this unique Gaeltacht community risks losing its population, culture and way of life. I call on the Minister for housing and the Minister with responsibility for the Gaeltacht to intervene urgently, with bespoke, island-specific housing measures that reflect the reality on the ground. If we lose communities like Cape Clear, we will lose irreplaceable pieces of our national heritage. Cape Clear, Sherkin Island, Bere Island, Whiddy Island, Dursey Island, Long Island - I can name them all in west Cork - all face the same crisis of a loss of population with no social housing programme. It is the same situation the length and breadth of the country.  I also want to speak on behalf of my colleague in Independent Ireland, Councillor Noel Thomas who is a candidate in Galway West. I want to raise serious and growing concerns from the communities of Cregmore, Claregalway and Grange regarding the proposed solar farm and battery energy storage development. Councillor Thomas has met residents and stood with them at their protests outside county buildings and has listened carefully to the very real fear and uncertainty people are now living with. Families in this area are not opposed to renewable energy; far from it. However, they are opposed to being asked to shoulder all the risk while clear regulations and proper safety structures are still missing. At a meeting of Galway County Council, Councillor Thomas highlighted a critical point that there is still no robust regulatory framework governing large-scale battery-energy storage systems, despite their rapid expansion nationwide. These are industrial-scale units placed in close proximity to homes, schools and farms and the community is expected simply to trust that everything will be fine. Trust alone is not enough. Councillor Thomas reminded the council that three firefighters remain out of work following the battery fire in Claregalway. This was a relatively minor incident. The community asked the very reasonable question of what happens if a much large system goes on fire. Who carries the risk, who bears responsibility and where is the independent safety assessment that reassures the people who live beside these units every day? He has called for updated independent safety assessments, not reports produced by developers, but truly impartial evaluations that put community welfare first. He has also called for a strengthened planning framework, one that ensures that developments of this scale are properly regulated, monitored and located. Communities deserve certainty and safety and deserve to be protected, not sidelined. Councillor Noel Thomas has made it clear that renewable energy must proceed but it must do so responsibly and never at the cost of the safety or peace of mind of the people who live with the consequences. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Sorca Clarke)  The next speaker on the list is not in the Chamber at the moment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  I could keep going. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Sorca Clarke)  Please do not. You have utilised your colleague's time. I propose that we take a moment of reflection because the debate is moving slightly ahead of time. If the next speaker does not appear, I will call Deputy Gogarty next but I would like to give him ten seconds, with the indulgence of the House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas le Sinn F\u00e9in as an mBille t\u00e1bhachtach seo a thabhairt os comhair na D\u00e1la. Is \u00ed an Ghaeltacht tobar na Gaeilge agus gan \u00ed n\u00ed bheidh todhcha\u00ed ag an nGaeilge ar chor ar bith i nd\u00e1ir\u00edre. M\u00e1 t\u00e1imid d\u00e1ir\u00edre faoin nGaeilge, ceann de na ch\u00e9ad ruda\u00ed at\u00e1 t\u00e1bhachtach n\u00e1 go mbeadh clann in ann a cuid ph\u00e1ist\u00ed a th\u00f3g\u00e1il sa Ghaeltacht. Muna bhfuilimid in ann clann a th\u00f3g\u00e1il sa Ghaeltacht n\u00ed bheidh p\u00e1ist\u00ed \u00f3ga ag f\u00e1s suas le Gaeilge n\u00edos m\u00f3. Ceann de na ruda\u00ed is measa mar gheall ar an nGaeilge ag an mbomaite n\u00e1 go bhfuil l\u00edon na ndaoine at\u00e1 in ann Gaeilge a labhairt ag titim f\u00f3s sa Ghaeltacht. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 sin dochreidte agus m\u00e1 leanann s\u00e9 ar aghaidh, cialla\u00edonn s\u00e9 nach mbeidh an Ghaeilge mar theanga phobal sa Ghaeltacht sa todhcha\u00ed. Gan teanga phobal, n\u00ed bheidh aon saibhreas n\u00f3 l\u00e1idreacht sa teanga ar chor ar bith sa todhcha\u00ed. Sin an c\u00e9ad rud.  An dara rud n\u00e1 go bhfuil \u00e9ileamh m\u00f3r ag teacht \u00f3 mhuintir na Gaeltachta, \u00f3 dhaoine \u00f3ga agus \u00f3 ph\u00e1irtn\u00e9ir\u00ed \u00f3ga a bheith ina c\u00f3na\u00ed sna h\u00e1iteanna sin. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 dochreidte. De ghn\u00e1th, b\u00edonn an Rialtas agus na me\u00e1in cumars\u00e1ide sa t\u00edr seo ag caint faoi Ghaeilge \u00e9igeantach. Ach i nd\u00e1ir\u00edre, i go leor earn\u00e1il, t\u00e1 B\u00e9arla \u00e9igeantach ann. Seo daoine \u00f3ga at\u00e1 ag iarraidh bheith ina gc\u00f3na\u00ed sa Ghaeltacht.  T\u00e1 siad ag iarraidh clann a th\u00f3g\u00e1il sa Ghaeltacht agus t\u00e1 an Rialtas ag cur bac orthu \u00e9 sin a dh\u00e9anamh. Bh\u00ed comhr\u00e1 agam c\u00fapla uair le Aire na Gaeltachta, an Teachta Calleary, agus d\u00fairt m\u00e9 leis gur cheart go mbeadh s\u00e9 in ann tithe a th\u00f3g\u00e1il sa Ghaeltacht agus iad a dh\u00edol le muintir na h\u00e1ite n\u00f3 iad si\u00fad at\u00e1 ag iarraidh clann a th\u00f3g\u00e1il le Gaeilge. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 dochreidte gur sh\u00e9an an Rialtas go dt\u00ed seo an rud beag sin a dh\u00e9anamh. N\u00edl s\u00e9 casta. N\u00ed g\u00e1 go mbeadh plean, r\u00e1iteas n\u00f3 br\u00f3isi\u00far nua ag teacht \u00f3n Rialtas. Is gn\u00edomh \u00e9 seo gur f\u00e9idir leis a dh\u00e9anamh. Bh\u00ed an tAire ag r\u00e1 go bhfuil s\u00e9 ag obair go dian ach is obair gan tortha\u00ed at\u00e1 i gceist i nd\u00e1ir\u00edre ar an \u00e1bhar seo. Aonta\u00edm go huile is go hioml\u00e1n gur cheart go mbeadh \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta ina \u00fadar\u00e1s tith\u00edochta. N\u00edl suim, taith\u00ed n\u00e1 eolas ag an gcuid is m\u00f3 de na h\u00fadar\u00e1is \u00e1iti\u00fala ar cad at\u00e1 ar si\u00fal sa Ghaeltacht agus n\u00edl siad d\u00edrithe ar thithe nua a th\u00f3g\u00e1il sa Ghaeltacht. T\u00e1 an t-eolas agus an saineolas sin ag \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta agus c\u00e9n f\u00e1th nach gcuirf\u00ed \u00e9 sa r\u00f3l sin? T\u00e1 s\u00e9 chomh simpl\u00ed agus chomh loighci\u00fail sin. Ba cheart go mbeadh foireann ag an \u00fadar\u00e1s chun an jab sin a dh\u00e9anamh agus a bhainisti\u00fa. Ba cheart go mbeadh an t-airgead aige freisin chun \u00e9 sin a dh\u00e9anamh. T\u00e1 mise i mo ch\u00f3na\u00ed in aice le R\u00e1th Chairn. T\u00e1 go leor daoine \u00f3 Bhaile \u00c1tha Cliath, \u00f3 Dhroichead \u00c1tha, \u00f3n Muileann gCearr, agus An Uaimh ag iarraidh a bheith ina gc\u00f3na\u00ed i R\u00e1th Chairn chun a gclanna a th\u00f3g\u00e1il le Gaeilge, ach n\u00ed f\u00e9idir leo \u00e9 sin a dh\u00e9anamh. T\u00e1 go leor Gaeltachta\u00ed cos\u00fail leis sin thar timpeall na t\u00edre. T\u00e1 m\u00e9 ag smaoineamh ar An Spid\u00e9al, ar Bhaile Bhuirne agus ar An Rinn at\u00e1 in aice le bailte m\u00f3ra. Is sl\u00ed \u00e9asca \u00ed seo rud \u00e9igin a dh\u00e9anamh. N\u00edl aon uaillmhian ag an Rialtas seo. Fi\u00fa nuair a bh\u00ed \u00c9amon de Valera ann mar cheannaire ar Fhianna F\u00e1il, bh\u00ed s\u00e9 uaillmhianach go leor Gaeltacht a bhun\u00fa i gContae na M\u00ed chun cabhr\u00fa leis an nGaeilge feidhmi\u00fa sa chuid sin den t\u00edr.  An bhfuil an Teachta Gogarty ag teacht isteach? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Sorca Clarke)  T\u00e1 tr\u00ed n\u00f3im\u00e9ad ag an Teachta Gogarty. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  F\u00e1gfaidh m\u00e9 ansin \u00e9 mar sin. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  N\u00ed bheadh aon Ghaeltacht ann gan cainteoir\u00ed Gaeilge. N\u00ed bheadh aon daoine in \u00e1iteanna ar a dtugtar \"Gaeltacht\" orthu gan tithe. Sin \u00ed an fhadhb. C\u00e9 go bhfuil n\u00edos m\u00f3 daoine ag foghlaim agus ag labhairt na Gaeilge toisc scoileanna l\u00e1nGhaeilge i mo Dh\u00e1ilcheantar, mar shampla, agus in \u00e1iteanna eile sna cathracha m\u00f3ra agus i mbailte ar fud na t\u00edre - ach amh\u00e1in sna Gaeltachta\u00ed f\u00e9in - n\u00edl m\u00f3r\u00e1n tithe ar f\u00e1il sna Gaeltachta\u00ed. Mar a d\u00faradh, aonta\u00edodh 22 togra ar bhonn trasph\u00e1irt\u00ed in 2022 ach t\u00e1 an Rialtas ag fanacht go dt\u00ed 2027 le r\u00e1iteas plean\u00e1la n\u00e1isi\u00fanta don Ghaeltacht a fhoilsi\u00fa. T\u00e1 easpa\u00ed againn anois, go h\u00e1irithe \u00f3 thaobh airgid a chur i dtreo na seirbh\u00eds\u00ed cos\u00fail le huisce mar shampla, agus n\u00ed dea-phlean\u00e1il \u00e9 seo. Is m\u00f3r d\u00fainn n\u00edos m\u00f3 tithe a th\u00f3g\u00e1il agus dreasacht a thabhairt do n\u00edos m\u00f3 daoine le fanacht n\u00f3 dul chun c\u00f3na\u00ed sa Ghaeltacht. Mar a d\u00fairt an Teachta T\u00f3ib\u00edn, t\u00e1 a l\u00e1n daoine \u00f3ga ag iarraidh dul ar ais n\u00f3 dul go dt\u00ed an nGaeltacht. Cad faoi na poist inar f\u00e9idir le daoine oibri\u00fa an chuid is m\u00f3 den am sna bailte cos\u00fail le Baile \u00c1tha Cliath agus i mo Dh\u00e1ilcheantar f\u00e9in, n\u00f3 sna hubs? T\u00e1 a l\u00e1n IT poist mar sin ann. D\u00fairt m\u00e9 cheana go bhfuil an Rialtas in ann daoine \u00f3n Aontas Eorpach n\u00f3 t\u00edortha eile at\u00e1 ag obair i r\u00e9imse na teicneola\u00edochta faisn\u00e9ise, IT, a sheoladh chuig na bailte siar \u00f3 Bhaile \u00c1tha Cliath cos\u00fail le Tullamore, Athlone, an Muileann gCearr agus \u00e1iteanna cos\u00fail leo seo. T\u00e1 deis againn mar sin oibrithe teicneola\u00edochta faisn\u00e9ise \u00c9ireannacha a labhra\u00edonn Gaeilge a spreagadh le bogadh chuig an nGaeltacht, m\u00e1s \u00f3 na ceantair seo \u00f3 dh\u00fachas at\u00e1 siad n\u00f3 m\u00e1 t\u00e1 Gaeilge l\u00edofa acu. T\u00e1 seans againn dul chun cinn a dh\u00e9anamh. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Cahill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Cahill  In the west Kerry Gaeltacht, Gaeltacht Chorca Dhuibhne, we have the linguistic town of Dingle - An Daingean, Ceann Tr\u00e1, D\u00fan Chaoin, An Fheothanach agus Baile an Fheirt\u00e9araigh. In Gaeltacht U\u00edbh R\u00e1thaigh, we have the service town of Cahersiveen, Baile an Sceilg, An Dromaid, An Ghleann agus An Caladh. These are the two main Gaeltacht areas in County Kerry. There is a strong need to increase the number of Gaelic speakers in these regions. The two regions are suffering from depopulation. There is a need to incentivise Gaeilgeoir\u00ed to remain, return and come to live in the area. We know this all too well from the difficulties that West Kerry Community Hospital on the west Kerry peninsula and, indeed, Cahersiveen community hospital on the Iveragh Peninsula are suffering in the context of getting staff, such as nurses and doctors, to come and live in the area. We need to incentivise housing in the area. We need to provide affordable and social housing. We need to provide low-cost sites in the area. We also need to bring back the housing grants. This is the only way we will get people to return and live in these regions.  They are beautiful parts of the world but scenery will not provide a living. We need to encourage people with other ideas. I call for the grants to be brought back and for housing to be provided in the context of affordable, social and low-cost sites. Decent grant aid would go a significant way to bringing life back to these regions and encouraging people to build and live in south and west Kerry.  As I mentioned already, Corca Dhuibhne and U\u00edbh R\u00e1thaigh are beautiful parts of the world. It is sad to see our hospitals struggling. I have raised this issue on the floor of the House previously. I have also raised the matter of depopulation and called for a pilot study to be carried out in south Kerry that would benefit the entire country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  I want to thank Sinn F\u00e9in for bringing this motion before us this evening. I welcome the gentlemen from the Gaeltacht here too this evening. I know housing is a serious issue in Dingle. I have people onto me nearly crying trying to source a house to rent. It is a fact that many people are going through this day after day. A lot of houses are taken up by tourists. The tourism sector is very important but I am telling the Minister that if we are serious about maintaining and preserving the Irish language, we need to build more houses in these places, such as in Dingle, so people can stay there.  I am asking him to get after Kerry County Council to build social houses in Dingle. If people want, after a time, they can use the tenant purchase scheme to purchase these houses. There are many other villages, like D\u00fan Chaoin and Ballyferriter in the greater municipal area, as well as Ventry, Lispole, Annascaul, Camp, Brandon, Cloghan, and Castlegregory. We have no plan to build houses in these little villages to maintain their identity and the culture. Likewise, in the Iveragh Peninsula, we have places like Ballinskelligs, Portmagee and Waterville. We need to build houses in those places. I ask the Minister of State to get the council to build those.  There are many vacant houses and people who have vacant houses who are doing nothing at all with them must be given some incentive to do up the houses and rent them out. The Government has a good scheme for the Ukrainians. It pays \u20ac600 tax-free. I do not mind that going to them but we should do the same thing for our own Irish people. That would tempt people who have vacant houses into renting them to our own people because they are having severe difficulty, as I outlined.  It is impossible to get planning along the Dingle peninsula because of the beauty of the place. People need a roof over their heads. There was the cheek of the planning regulator, when councillors in Kerry County Council voted to zone a bit of land for Mick O'Connell on Valentia Island, and he stuck his nose into and dezoned it. That is the kind of thing that has been happening to us. I have been asking the Government day after day to do something about the planning for one-off houses to allow people to build a house for themselves. They are asking for nothing else but to build a house and to ensure they get planning permission. I ask the Minister of State to get the local authorities into building houses because they are after giving up and there is no sign of them. It is about time the planning guidelines that we have been waiting for for the past six or seven years appeared. The Minister of State has not yet addressed that issue and I ask him to do something about it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  Nach bhfuil an t-\u00e1dh dearg orm a bheith ag caint ag deireadh an chomhr\u00e1 seo. Bh\u00ed m\u00e9 ag \u00e9isteacht le go leor daoine a bh\u00ed ag caint sa Teach seo. Aonta\u00edm le go leor ruda\u00ed a bh\u00ed le r\u00e1 acu. Is g\u00e1 dom bu\u00edochas a gabh\u00e1il leis na lads a bh\u00ed san audiovisual room inniu. Bh\u00ed siad go hiontach. T\u00e1 br\u00f3n orm nach raibh m\u00e9 ann don rud ar fad - bh\u00ed m\u00e9 sa choiste. Gabhaim bu\u00edochas le P\u00e1draig as a chabhr\u00fa. T\u00e1im i ngr\u00fapa WhatsApp darb ainm \u201cGaeilge Policy\u201d le P\u00e1draig \u00d3 Tiarnaigh, Julian de Sp\u00e1inn agus Aodh\u00e1n \u00d3 De\u00e1. D\u00e1 mbeadh leath den bhr\u00f3d agus fuinnimh at\u00e1 ag na leaids sin sa Rialtas, bheadh gach duine ag labhairt Gaeilge sa t\u00edr seo. N\u00edlim ag r\u00e1 aon rud seaf\u00f3ideach ansin.  Le bheith ionraic, t\u00e1 an t-\u00e1dh orm. Is file \u00ed mo dheirfi\u00far. Nuair a bh\u00ed m\u00e9 15 bliana d\u2019aois, d\u00fairt s\u00ed liom nach labhr\u00f3imid i mB\u00e9arla. Muna raibh an seans sin agam, n\u00ed bheadh aon Ghaeilge agam. Bh\u00ed m\u00e9 i scoil l\u00e1nBh\u00e9arla don mhe\u00e1nscoil. Rinne m\u00e9 an col\u00e1iste tr\u00ed Bh\u00e9arla. T\u00e1im ag obair ar Bhille le P\u00e1draig \u00d3 Tiarnaigh agus le Gaeloideachas. T\u00e1 m\u00e9 d\u00edreach ag cur ceiste ar an Rialtas. Ba ch\u00f3ir don Aire St\u00e1it na daoine a bhunaigh an St\u00e1t seo a shamhl\u00fa - na fir agus na mn\u00e1. D\u00e1 mbeadh siad ag smaoineamh n\u00edos m\u00f3 n\u00e1 100 bliain n\u00edos d\u00e9ana\u00ed go mbeadh laghd\u00fa ar l\u00edon na ndaoine at\u00e1 ag d\u00e9anamh oideachas tr\u00ed Ghaeilge, they would be turning in their graves.  Is \u00ed an Ghaeilge p\u00e1irt d\u00e1r gcult\u00far agus de shaol na ndaoine sa Ghaeltacht. I always have the analogy for any event in Irish, of the purebreds in the Harry Potter world, who would be the people from the Gaeltacht, and then these mudbloods like me who learned Irish. It is sad but unless I become like my sister and much more intelligent when it comes to linguistics, I will never reach the level of Irish they have but the acceptance they have of my Irish is pure love and pure passion. I hear many people apologise for their level of Irish here. No one wants to hear them apologise. They want to hear people use it. One of the first things that these gentlemen outlined in their demonstration of what we can do as Teachta\u00ed D\u00e1la was \u00e1r gcuid Gaeilge a \u00fas\u00e1id chomh minic agus gur f\u00e9idir linn. I really like to see Members of this House use it and always try to do it at the start and end of my speeches. That is all it is. It is the c\u00fapla focal an t-am ar fad because that has an avalanche effect.  I will get back to the c\u00farsa\u00ed tith\u00edochta sa Ghaeltacht, bh\u00ed m\u00e9 ag smaoineamh faoi go leor ruda\u00ed ansin. The solutions are there. The two Bills, including the \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta (Amendment) Bill 2024, and the future Bill coming from the Government, need to have a fire put under them. We need to meet people from the Gaeltacht. Even in Baile \u00c1tha Cliath thuaidh, t\u00e1 a l\u00e1n daoine ann ag iarraidh Gaeilge a fhoghlaim agus a dh\u00e9anamh sa bhunscoil, sa mhe\u00e1nscoil agus sa chol\u00e1iste ar an tr\u00ed\u00fa leibh\u00e9al, ach n\u00edl an seans ann. Bh\u00ed Teachta eile ag smaoineamh faoi ch\u00farsa\u00ed tith\u00edochta agus c\u00farsa\u00ed uisce sa Ghaeltacht. T\u00e1 br\u00f3n orm, n\u00edl an t-eolas chomh l\u00e1idir agam is at\u00e1 aige. Bh\u00ed s\u00e9 ag caint faoin mBreatain Bheag agus an chaoi a bhfuil an Rialtas sa Bhreatain Bheag ag d\u00e9anamh an m\u00e9id is m\u00f3 don Ghaeltacht gur f\u00e9idir faoi r\u00e1ta c\u00e1nach for short-term lettings and for initiatives.  Is briongl\u00f3id agam d\u00e1 mbeadh \u00e1ras\u00e1in Gaeltachta i mBaile \u00c1tha Cliath thuaidh - a new apartment build in north Dublin that was a designated Gaeltacht. T\u00e1 cairde agam tar \u00e9is Gaeilge a dh\u00e9anamh d\u00e1 saoil ar fad, agus anois t\u00e1 siad i ngach \u00e1it. D\u00e1 mbeadh \u00e1ras\u00e1in Gaeltachta i mBaile \u00c1tha Cliath, bheadh s\u00e9 iontach don Ghaeilge. N\u00ed bheidh daoine sa Ghaeltacht s\u00e1sta go ndeirim seo, ach t\u00e1 an m\u00e9id i m\u00f3 daoine le Gaeilge i mBaile \u00c1tha Cliath faoi l\u00e1thair. B\u2019fh\u00e9idir nach bhfuil an leibh\u00e9al Gaeilge at\u00e1 acu i gcompar\u00e1id leis an leibh\u00e9al at\u00e1 ag daoine \u00f3n nGaeltacht, ach bogann daoine \u00f3n nGaeltacht go Baile \u00c1tha Cliath an t-am ar fad. N\u00edl saol na Gaeilge ann d\u00f3ibh go minic. N\u00edl an saol o\u00edche n\u00e1 an community ann. T\u00e1 go leor perfect examples that we can copy. An Bille a bhfuil P\u00e1draig ag obair air, is rud beag is \u00e9 sin gur f\u00e9idir linn a dh\u00e9anamh mar Rialtas with a big outcome.  Sa programme for Government a cuireadh le ch\u00e9ile nuair a bh\u00ed m\u00e9 ag dul isteach, bh\u00ed m\u00e9 an-s\u00e1sta le CEFR. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 sa chl\u00e1r, ach n\u00edlimid \u00e1 dh\u00e9anamh. Bheadh s\u00e9 i bhfad n\u00edos fearr m\u00e1 t\u00e1 dalta ag teacht \u00f3 na\u00edonra go Gaelscoil agus Gaelchol\u00e1iste agus go mbeadh gr\u00e1d ann, B2 n\u00f3 B3, like the European common network. As the Minister of State can see and has heard from everyone who spoke here today, t\u00e1 an gr\u00e1 agus an paisean ann. T\u00edr gan teanga, t\u00edr gan anam. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan)  F\u00e1ilt\u00edm roimh an deis pl\u00e9 a dh\u00e9anamh ar shol\u00e1thar tith\u00edochta i gceantair Ghaeltachta. N\u00ed chuirfidh an Rialtas in aghaidh an r\u00fain seo maidir leis an ng\u00e1 pr\u00e1inneach le tith\u00edocht agus le pleananna an Rialtais an sol\u00e1thar tith\u00edochta a mh\u00e9ad\u00fa go suntasach ar fud na t\u00edre, lena n-\u00e1ir\u00edtear ceantair Ghaeltachta. Le comhaont\u00fa an T\u00ed, leanfaidh m\u00e9 ar aghaidh le mo r\u00e1iteas i mB\u00e9arIa.  My colleague, the Minister, Deputy Browne, has discussed in detail the suite of actions in the Government's housing action plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030, that will increase the levels of housing supply and housing choice across the country, including in Gaeltacht areas. What is committed in the Government's housing plan with respect to the Gaeltacht is clear. In addition to the range of housing supports that are available nationally and the clear focus on tackling barriers to delivery, a national planning statement will be prepared for housing in the Gaeltacht. My Department will also continue to work with the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta, and other stakeholders to support housing delivery, including in relation to the necessary infrastructure to support housing development in an Ghaeltacht.  Considerable work has already been carried out by both Departments in developing the new national planning statement, which will be published in the first half of 2027. This will allow for a robust assessment of development proposals and implementation of any conditions that require a standard level of language competency to be demonstrated through the development management process in order to protect the linguistic and cultural heritage of a Gaeltacht area.  Additionally, in relation to language standards, there is a strong link between the national plan for Irish language public services, the work of the Irish Language Services Advisory Committee and the amended Official Languages Act, all of which my colleague, the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, oversees. A significant feature of the strengthened Official Languages Act is the replacement of language schemes with language standards across the public service. To that end, a review of all existing language schemes is being finalised. An action plan for Irish-language public services was recently published, which sets out actions to be prescribed through the language standards as well as measures to support public bodies in their implementation. Consultation is to commence shortly through the mechanisms set out in the Act, starting with the advisory committee.  I would also like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the important role and function of \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta as the regional authority with responsibility for the economic, linguistic, social and cultural development of the Gaeltacht. An t-\u00fadar\u00e1s operates in accordance with the \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta Acts 1979 to 2010, as amended by the Gaeltacht Act of 2012, and has an overall objective to ensure that Irish remains the main language of the Gaeltacht and is passed on to future generations. \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta is responsible for co-ordinating the language planning process within the 26 Gaeltacht language planning areas prescribed under the Gaeltacht Act 2012, with Foras na Gaeilge being responsible for co-ordination outside the Gaeltacht.  An t-\u00fadar\u00e1s and Foras na Gaeilge do not prepare language plans, rather, and in accordance with the Act, the community in every Gaeltacht language planning area, Gaeltacht service town and Irish language network must prepare a language plan for their own area so that it can be recognised under the Act. The language planning process is rooted in the practice that Gaeltacht and Irish-language communities play a central role in the promotion and strengthening of Irish as a community spoken language in their own areas. Currently, \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta and Foras na Gaeilge support lead organisations that are recognised and representative of the public in preparing a seven-year language plan, following consultation with the public. These plans can include intentions regarding broader objectives and goals such as community capital projects, social infrastructure and services.  Under the Gaeltacht Act 2012, the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht must complete a review of language plans under the language planning process. A review of the first ten language plans has been undertaken by the company Barr Feabhais Teoranta, which involves consultation with a wide range of organisations, Irish-language lead organisations and stakeholders. The review identified a number of recommendations to improve the implementation of the language planning process. The continued success of \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta depends on its continued alignment with the changing needs of Gaeltacht communities. The \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta (Amendment) Bill 2024 completed Committee Stage in D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann last year.  Although the re-establishment of elections to the board of an t-\u00fadar\u00e1s is the main purpose of this Bill, it was decided to include a provision that would also support the provision of housing in the Gaeltacht given that this is one of the most pressing issues facing Gaeltacht communities and that the organisation is managing a significant portfolio of properties throughout the Gaeltacht. An t-\u00fadar\u00e1s has, over a number of years, developed a level of expertise in providing wastewater facilities serving its network of business parks and industrial estates across Gaeltacht areas. \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta has stated that discussions are under way with the local authorities in which there is an opportunity to work with Uisce \u00c9ireann to benefit from the existing infrastructure. Accordingly, the Bill provides for \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta to be able to dispose of lands held by the organisation to an approved housing body or to a housing authority to provide housing in the Gaeltacht. The Private Members' motion we are discussing today proposes the reintroduction of a Gaeltacht housing grant scheme in accordance with the housing Acts. In this regard, I am informed that Government does not intend to return to the Gaeltacht housing grant schemes that were operational many years ago. However, the range of actions and significant investment in housing provided through the Government's housing action plan will also support increased housing supply in Gaeltacht areas.  The Private Members' motion also proposes a stamp duty exemption for consideration. As indicated previously by my colleague, the Minister for Finance, such a measure, if introduced, would be extremely difficult to administer and control. I also understand that there could also be potential legal issues in seeking to apply such a measure that is selective on the grounds of a region and a cohort of persons. It should be noted, however, that both \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta and approved housing bodies already enjoy stamp duty exemptions under section 25 of the \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta Act 1979 and section 93A of the Stamp Duties Consolidation Act 1999, respectively.  Furthermore, I would point to a significant level of funding that has been made available to \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta to support the Irish language and regional development in the Gaeltacht. In 2026, an additional \u20ac2.5 million in funding was made available to \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta to foster and expand funding a range of schemes. Overall, in 2026, \u20ac17.4 million in funding was allocated for administration, wages and pensions; \u20ac16.2 million capital to create employment, upgrade buildings and part fund strategic tourism projects; and \u20ac 7.5 million to fund community projects. This includes the appointment of a dedicated vacant homes co-ordinator for the Gaeltacht, funded by \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta in partnership with local authorities, to help communities address vacancy issues.  To conclude, I would note that the various actions and measures contained in the Government's housing action plan, coupled with the ongoing work being undertaken by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht in support of Gaeltacht communities, demonstrate the Government's commitment of the Gaeltacht. This work will be built upon over the coming months in implementing the various cross-sectoral actions for the provision of housing and strengthening of protections for, and the promotion of, the Irish language.  Obviously, many of the Gaeltacht areas overlap with many of our islands and offshore islands. I note that many of the Deputies referenced that issue as well. I wholeheartedly agree with the idea of a unique approach to housing on our islands. We have seen the success in some of the Scottish western islands where they have introduced gateway housing. This is an opportunity whereby a certain small number of units the island can accommodate are built. That gives an opportunity for people to live in them and get a taste of island life. Obviously, it is different but if they can get the opportunity to experience what it is like and if they can adapt then that gives families the opportunity to choose island life and, therefore, fill the schools.  Deputy Collins referenced Cape Clear earlier. He is obviously right to highlight that issue. We have a situation where the school, unfortunately, is reducing its numbers. There has to be a concerted effort to repopulate these islands. The same can be said for many of the other offshore islands, and Deputy Ward reference that as well. There needs to be an innovative approach to how we can ensure there is an appropriate housing strategy for islands because, certainly, the islands are unique in their nature.  I thank all Deputies for their comments today and for their commitment and the clear passion they have demonstrated for the Irish language. It is incredible to see it. For that reason, we will not be opposing today's motion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  T\u00e1 cuid mh\u00f3r fadhbanna ann ag an am seo. T\u00e1 cuid mh\u00f3r fadhbanna ann maidir le tith\u00edocht go ginear\u00e1lta. T\u00e1 a fhios againn nach bhfuil go leor tithe inacmhainne agus n\u00edl go leor tithe s\u00f3isialta \u00e1 th\u00f3g\u00e1il ag an Rialtas faoin am seo.  T\u00e1 fadhb ag na Gaeltachta\u00ed. N\u00edl mo Ghaeilge chomh maith is a ba ch\u00f3ir di a bheith. Am amh\u00e1in, bh\u00ed s\u00ed r\u00e9as\u00fanta, nuair a bh\u00ed m\u00e9 thart air 18 mbliana d\u2019aois agus ag freastal ar Chol\u00e1iste Bhr\u00edde i Rann na Feirste. Thosaigh Col\u00e1iste Bhr\u00edde in 1912 in \u00d3 M\u00e9ith i gContae L\u00fa. Tar \u00e9is sin, nuair a bh\u00ed an teanga ag f\u00e1il bh\u00e1is, bogadh \u00e9 go dt\u00ed Rann na Feirste i dT\u00edr Chonaill thart ar 1926 - 100 bliain \u00f3 shin. Ghlac s\u00e9 an \u00e1it sin toisc nach raibh teach t\u00e1bhairne ann agus n\u00ed raibh b\u00f3thar ag dul tr\u00edd a bh\u00ed ag dul \u00e1it ar bith eile. Sin an r\u00e9as\u00fan a bh\u00ed ag an Athair \u00d3 Muir\u00ed. Bh\u00ed cuid mh\u00f3r ceangal ag D\u00fan Dealgan, go h\u00e1irithe ag mo chlann f\u00e9in agus m\u2019athair. Mar a d\u00fairt m\u00e9 cheana f\u00e9in, n\u00ed chleachtaim \u00ed minic go leor. Sin an fhadhb at\u00e1 agam. Bh\u00ed m\u00e9 bre\u00e1 s\u00e1sta nuair a bh\u00ed m\u00e9 \u00f3g go raibh m\u00e9 in ann dul chuig Col\u00e1iste Bhr\u00edde agus go raibh m\u00e9 in ann fanacht i l\u00f3ist\u00edn thart ar Rann na Feirste. Bh\u00ed cuid mh\u00f3r tithe ann. Bh\u00ed Hughie Doherty, N\u00f3ra Frank Chonaill agus cuid mh\u00f3r eile ann. N\u00edl m\u00e9 cinnte go mbeimis in ann sin a dh\u00e9anamh as seo amach m\u00e1s rud \u00e9 nach bhfuilimid chun acmhainn\u00ed, plean agus gn\u00edomh a dh\u00e9anamh mar gheall ar na fadhbanna at\u00e1 ann.  An fhadhb at\u00e1 ann n\u00e1 c\u00e1 bhfuil na treoirl\u00ednte maidir le c\u00farsa\u00ed plean\u00e1la. Bh\u00ed Tinte\u00e1n agus B\u00c1N\u00da ag ag\u00f3id lasmuigh de Theach Laighean. C\u00e9n f\u00e1th a raibh siad ann?  N\u00edl siad in ann tithe a th\u00f3g\u00e1il n\u00f3 a fh\u00e1il ar ch\u00edos sna Gaeltachta\u00ed. T\u00e1imid ag caint ar ghn\u00e1thdaoine, daoine \u00f3ga agus daoine \u00f3ga at\u00e1 ag iarraidh go mbeidh a dteaghlach ag c\u00f3na\u00ed sa Ghaeltacht is ag caint Gaeilge. N\u00edl na hacmhainn\u00ed n\u00f3 aon phlean ann. T\u00e1imid bre\u00e1 s\u00e1sta nach bhfuil an Rialtas ag dul in \u00e9adan an r\u00fain, ach caithf\u00ed rud \u00e9igin a dh\u00e9anamh mar, faoin am seo, t\u00e1 faic d\u00e9anta. Sin \u00ed an fhadhb at\u00e1 ann. N\u00edl s\u00e9 maith go leor. Bh\u00edomar i gc\u00f3na\u00ed ag \u00e9isteacht le caic - n\u00ed f\u00e9idir rud ar bith eile a r\u00e1 - maidir le bheith ag fanacht ar rud \u00e9igin \u00f3n Roinn Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail, agus Gaeltachta ar thith\u00edocht agus gan a bheith \u00e1balta rud ar bith a dh\u00e9anamh, ach t\u00e1imid go f\u00f3ill ag fanacht ar an bp\u00edosa eolais sin. N\u00edl s\u00e9 maith go leor ar chor ar bith.  It is as simple as this: until we deal with the issues as regards Airbnb and delivering housing for those in the Gaeltacht, we will continue to see that people have no choice but to protest. I welcome the fact that the Government has not gone against this legislation, but I would like people to have the opportunity I have. I will make the promise I make every year; t\u00e1im chun n\u00edos m\u00f3 cleachtadh a dh\u00e9anamh sa bhliain at\u00e1 romhainn. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Teachta \u00d3 Murch\u00fa agus gach duine a labhair sa d\u00edosp\u00f3ireacht seo.  Measaim go bhfuil s\u00e9 r\u00edth\u00e1bhachtach go bhfuil d\u00edosp\u00f3ireacht againn d\u00edrithe ar \u00e1bhar ar leith chuile bliain. Toghadh mise tamall maith \u00f3 shin in 2002. B\u00edonn r\u00e1itis i gceist uair sa bhliain. An fhadhb le r\u00e1itis nach bhfuil ceangailte le haon rud n\u00e1 gur f\u00e9idir le haon duine teacht isteach anseo agus b\u00e9alghr\u00e1 a chraobhscaoileadh \u00f3 thaobh na teanga. Measaim go raibh s\u00e9 go maith anuraidh agus go bhfuil s\u00e9 go maith i mbliana go bhfuil r\u00fan os comhair na D\u00e1la. Anuraidh, chuir an Rialtas i gcoinne an r\u00fain a bh\u00ed againn maidir leis an oideachas tr\u00ed Ghaeilge. I mbliana, n\u00edl s\u00e9 ag cur i gcoinne an r\u00fain seo agus tiocfaidh m\u00e9 ar ais chuige sin.  T\u00e1 bu\u00edochas ag dul d\u00f3ibh si\u00fad ar fad a ghlac p\u00e1irt sa d\u00edosp\u00f3ireacht, i mB\u00e9arla, i nGaeilge, n\u00f3 i p\u00e9 teanga a bh\u00ed siad ag d\u00e9ile\u00e1il leis. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 t\u00e1bhachtach go dtarla\u00edonn s\u00e9 sin. Aithn\u00edm nach bhfuil an leibh\u00e9al Gaeilge ag gach duine is at\u00e1 agamsa. Is trua sin, ach sin mar at\u00e1. Sin an f\u00e1th go bhfuil muid ag iarraidh a chinnti\u00fa go mbeidh tobar na Gaeilge f\u00f3s beo amach anseo. Tobar na Gaeilge is ea na ceantair Ghaeltachta, \u00e1iteanna ina bhfuil an Ghaeilge \u00e1 labhairt mar ghn\u00e1ththeanga laeth\u00fail an gn\u00e1thphobail. M\u00e1 t\u00e1 dains\u00e9ar ann - agus t\u00e1 s\u00e9 ann - caithfimid a chinnti\u00fa go nglacfaimid c\u00e9imeanna eisceacht\u00fala ar leith chun an Ghaeilge, an Ghaeltacht agus pobail sna ceantair Ghaeltachta a chosaint. Sin an f\u00e1th go bhfuil na c\u00e9imeanna gur ch\u00f3ir a ghlacadh leagtha amach sa r\u00fan seo.  Sa r\u00fan chomh maith, t\u00e1imid ag leagan amach go bhfuil an Rialtas seo, agus Fianna F\u00e1il agus Fine Gael thar an mblianta, le c\u00e1ineadh, toisc an neamhaird ar dhein na p\u00e1irtithe sin ar mholta\u00ed \u00f3n gcoiste Gaeilge faoi mhaoini\u00fa d\u2019\u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta, faoin mhoill ar thoghch\u00e1in an \u00fadar\u00e1is agus cumhachta\u00ed breise a thabhairt d\u00f3, agus faoin mhoill ar rial\u00e1il ar ch\u00edos gearrth\u00e9armach agus ar Airbnb, at\u00e1 ag d\u00e9anamh scrios ar an m\u00e9id \u00e1it at\u00e1 ar f\u00e1il ar ch\u00edos sna ceantair Ghaeltachta. T\u00e1 siad ag f\u00e1g\u00e1il oifigigh plean\u00e1la teanga ag d\u00e9ile\u00e1il le moill agus frustrachas toisc nach bhfuil infheisti\u00fa n\u00f3 cur chuige ceart ann \u00f3 thaobh an St\u00e1t de i leith an obair r\u00edth\u00e1bhachtach sin at\u00e1 ag teast\u00e1il ionas gur f\u00e9idir linn cosaint\u00ed a dh\u00e9anamh. Ba cheart go mbeimid ag obair i gceart chun cuidi\u00fa le l\u00e1n\u00fain sna ceantair Ghaeltachta, agus leis an ghn\u00e1thphobal, teacht timpeall ar na constaic\u00ed at\u00e1 rompu \u00f3 thaobh an Ghaeilge a bheith ina ghn\u00e1ththeanga acu.  T\u00e1 an Rialtas ag admh\u00e1il agus \u00e9 ag glacadh leis an r\u00fan seo go bhfuil s\u00e9 tar \u00e9is dian-scrios a dh\u00e9anamh ar chearta teanga agus gan fi\u00fa sop in \u00e1it scuaibe maidir leis an tith\u00edocht Gaeltachta. M\u00e1 t\u00e1 an Rialtas ag admh\u00e1il go bhfuil s\u00e9 freagrach as sin, n\u00edor ch\u00f3ir go mbeadh s\u00e9 ag fanacht mar Rialtas, ach beidh s\u00e9 ann. Ag glacadh leis an r\u00fan seo, caithfidh an Rialtas a chinnti\u00fa go bhfuil beart \u00e1 dh\u00e9anamh de r\u00e9ir na briathra sa r\u00fan seo. Ba cheart d\u00f3 taca\u00edocht a thabhairt do na molta\u00ed at\u00e1 sa r\u00fan. Gheall an Rialtas seo treoirl\u00ednte plean\u00e1la Gaeltachta faoi Nollaig 2021, sa ch\u00e9ad r\u00e1ithe de 2022, roimh dheireadh 2022, go luath in 2023, i l\u00e1r 2023, faoi Ch\u00e1isc 2024 agus i l\u00e1r 2024. Fi\u00fa tar \u00e9is cumhacht na treoirl\u00ednte foilsithe a bheith scriosta as an dl\u00ed, t\u00e1 siad f\u00f3s \u00e1 dh\u00e9anamh, mar a dhein an Taoiseach an tseachtain seo caite. Sin c\u00e9 chomh seaf\u00f3ideach is at\u00e1 an cur chuige faoi l\u00e1thair. Bh\u00ed m\u00e9 ag caint leis an Aire, an Teachta Calleary, n\u00edos luaithe agus t\u00e1 s\u00fail agam go mbeidh s\u00e9 s\u00e1sta su\u00ed s\u00edos, cur chuige ceart a shocr\u00fa agus na deontais agus na cinnt\u00ed breise a shol\u00e1thair \u00f3 thaobh an m\u00e9id at\u00e1 r\u00e1ite ag an Aire St\u00e1it, an Teachta O'Sullivan; s\u00e9 sin, go mbeidh an t-\u00fadar\u00e1s in ann d\u00e9ile\u00e1il le ceisteanna tith\u00edochta, s\u00e9arachais n\u00f3 infreastrucht\u00fair agus na cumhachta\u00ed sin a roinnt leis na comhairl\u00ed contae m\u00e1s g\u00e1. Ba cheart go mbeadh cur chuige i bhfad \u00c9ireann n\u00edos tap\u00fala i gceist ionas go mbeidh an plean n\u00e1isi\u00fanta \u00f3 thaobh plean\u00e1il sna Gaeltachta\u00ed foilsithe, n\u00ed ag deireadh 2027, ach i mbliana. D\u00faradh linn faoi na treoirl\u00ednte thar na blianta go raibh an obair ar fad d\u00e9anta, agus nach raibh g\u00e1 fanacht go dt\u00ed go raibh siad foilsithe. M\u00e1 t\u00e1 an obair d\u00e9anta, n\u00ed ch\u00f3ir go mbeadh s\u00e9 r\u00f3-dheacair an obair sin a bhogadh trasna go dt\u00ed an coincheap nua at\u00e1 ann agus iad a bheith foilsithe. T\u00e1 an rud ceannann c\u00e9anna i gceist \u00f3 thaobh Bille \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta. Cad \u00e9 an moill? C\u00e9n f\u00e1th a bhfuilimid ag fanacht air?  Ba cheart d\u00fainn d\u00edri\u00fa isteach ar na ruda\u00ed praitici\u00fala at\u00e1 luaite agamsa agus ag na dreamanna a bh\u00ed lasmuigh inniu. T\u00e1 taca\u00edocht agus moladh ag dul do B\u00c1N\u00da, Tinte\u00e1n, CATU, Todhcha\u00ed na Tuaithe agus dreamanna mar sin, agus do ghn\u00e1thphobail na Gaeltachta\u00ed as an bhfoighne at\u00e1 acu ar shl\u00ed amh\u00e1in ach freisin as an bhfearg at\u00e1 siad ag l\u00e9iri\u00fa anois toisc nach bhfuil an obair ag tarl\u00fa. Molaim an r\u00fan seo. T\u00e1 s\u00fail agam nach bhfuil muid chun glacadh leis ach go leanfaidh an obair ar na ceisteanna at\u00e1 ardaithe anseo ag gach uile duine a ghlac p\u00e1irt sa d\u00edosp\u00f3ireacht. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Cuireadh agus aonta\u00edodh an cheist."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Tith\u00edocht Gaeltachta: Tairiscint [Comhalta\u00ed Pr\u00ed\u00f3bh\u00e1ideacha]"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/dbsect_18","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/dbsect_19","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Social Media","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/dbsect_18","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_19","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Patrick O'Donovan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_19.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Patrick O'Donovan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport (Deputy Patrick O'Donovan)  The Government's position on the issue of restricting access to social media platforms for children under 16 years of age is set out in the Government's recently published national digital and AI strategy. The Government is committed to working closely with like-minded European Union member states on proposals to restrict social media access for children and young people. In addition, the European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, announced an expert panel to examine the issue and any decision will take account of this report. This reflects the Government's view that a decision at EU would be preferable.  However, as set out in the strategy, Ireland will also take action domestically if necessary. The European Union member states are examining questions of prohibiting access by children and young people to social medial platforms and some are taking steps to do so, including France, which is debating legislation to restrict access to social media for under-15s. Australia is implementing such a measure in respect of under-16s and other jurisdictions are considering similar measures. However, across the European Union there are different views on whether there should be a digital age of majority, and if there was such an age, what that age should be and whether it should be an outright ban or a ban subject to parental consent.  Notwithstanding the international debate on the age of majority, I am of the view that age verification is a vital part of the picture in providing real assurance that children are the age they claim to be and to ensure they are not exposed to harmful or illegal content. Without robust age verification, any other measures including implementing a digital age of majority will not work. That is why my officials are working with the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer on an age verification tool as part of Ireland's digital wallet in support of the implementation of Ireland's online safety code. This wallet will be voluntary for people to hold and the tool will be voluntary for users and platforms to avail of. A pilot is envisaged to be led by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer and will be voluntary and will run for a number of months. Feedback from the pilot will inform the shape of the initiative but while doing so we will ensure interoperability and respect users' rights, including data protection. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joanna Byrne  The Minister will understand our confusion this evening. According to media reports, he was blindsided by the Government's announcement of the national digital and AI strategy 2030 last week. Just the day before that announcement, media sources were briefed that the under-16s' social media ban had been approved and that the strategy would be rolled out the following day. The media further stated that the Minister was surprised by the plan to work at EU level and that he was not aware of it, despite being the Minister responsible.  We are really just looking for a bit of clarity here, after months of press statements starting in May of last year when the T\u00e1naiste announced the Government was looking at copying the Australian model that banned all under-16s from social media. There has been a lot of kite-flying, there has been a lot of media coverage and what we seem to have now is an ambiguous Government statement about working actively with like-minded EU member states to explore options on introducing age restrictions on the use of social media, concentrating in particular on those under 16. In his response, the Minister said the strategy states that the Government will take action if necessary. I am still unclear as to the concrete pathway on which we are moving forward with this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Patrick O'Donovan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Patrick O'Donovan  There has been no ambiguity regarding what I have previously said in the House. This is the first time Deputy Byrne has raised this issue in the House with me on oral questions. There has been no ambiguity regarding this issue from my point of view. I do not care what people read in the paper. The reality is I have consistently said and am on the record as saying that I thought it was regrettable the European Commission and the European Union had not acted as one with regard to this up to now, and that individual member states are being left to do it.  I have also put on the record, as I am doing this evening, that we will be bringing forward legislation, once the heads of the Bill have been agreed, in the first quarter of this year with regard to elements of the digital wallet that will be required to make sure we can put it into law. I hope that at that stage I get support from the Opposition. I have not got clarity with regard to where the Opposition stands on the digital wallet. Indeed, I have not got clarity on where it stands regarding age verification or whether it believes age verification is a necessary tool. Deputy Byrne might use the opportunity this evening to enlighten the House as to where exactly her party stands on this issue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joanna Byrne  One thing the Minister and I do agree on is encouraging the safety of our youth online. Our preference is to have a safe, well-regulated online world for our teens, where social media companies are held to account for what is on their platforms, which can be done by Ireland's online safety framework, and where bad actors online are removed from platforms and face repercussions.  What I do have concerns about is an outright ban for under-16s, and I will tell the Minister why. It is unenforceable as teens are simply well ahead of us in the technological age and they will use virtual private networks, VPNs, to circumvent the blocks. This concern is shared by CyberSafeKids, the Children's Rights Alliance and other experts in the field that have been before the committee week after week in recent months and have all shared that concern. They feel it will further isolate marginalised teens such as those living in emergency accommodation. They feel that with us living in a technological age, if we are excluding youths at that age, they will not be prepared for what the digital age will be like when they reach the allowed age. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Patrick O'Donovan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Patrick O'Donovan  I am still no clearer as to whether the Deputy's party is going to support legislation that is going to be brought before the House in respect of a digital wallet. This is the public health issue of our generation. I have three small children and I am speaking as a parent. Previous generations had issues with smoking and alcohol from a public health point of view. We know that social media causes huge issues around mental health, addiction and physical health.  Deputy Byrne is talking about a self-regulated system. What does that mean in the absence of a law? I am still no clearer. Again, will Deputy Byrne enlighten me, as Opposition spokesperson, whether she is in favour of taking children off social media or whether she is in favour of allowing social media companies to continue to be the dominant voice on the future of our children online, because I am no clearer as to where her party stands on it? "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Social Media"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/dbsect_20","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Racism in Sport","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/dbsect_18","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_20","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Patrick O'Donovan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_20.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert O'Donoghue  Recent incidents have highlighted the alarming levels of online abuse directed at our national sports representatives, particularly targeting those from ethnic minority backgrounds. What immediate measures is the Minister's Department taking to moderate, prevent and address such discriminatory online harassment and how will he ensure the perpetrators are held accountable to protect the dignity and safety of our athletes? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Patrick O'Donovan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Patrick O'Donovan  I thank Deputy O'Donoghue. Threats and harassment of any individual are not acceptable. The safeguarding of athletes at all levels of sport is a shared responsibility. It is imperative that we demonstrate that there is simply no place for abuse of any kind in sport and there should be zero tolerance for any actions that endanger welfare, whether of participants, staff or those who work for and support sports or, indeed, any discipline in the country. Everyone involved in sport, or in any discipline or capacity, regardless of age should be able to enjoy an experience that is free from any form of abuse, whether that is online or offline.  On raising awareness, a number of national governing bodies of sport have conducted campaigns in recent years with a specific focus on online abuse, including the Olympic Federation of Ireland and the Irish Rugby Football Union. We recently saw the racism that has been directed at some people playing rugby in this country and it is absolutely despicable.  The bringing to justice of the perpetrators of such abuse, whether online or offline, is a matter for An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and if anyone has been subjected to threats or abuse, they should report it immediately to the Garda. Furthermore, I encourage anyone who sees any abusive or threatening content online to report it in the first instance to the relevant platform. If a person is dissatisfied with the platform\u2019s response, they can report it to Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n.  In terms of dealing with this issue from an online safety perspective, a robust online safety framework in now in place in Ireland. Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n has responsibility for implementing that framework, which includes applying and enforcing the online safety code to designated video-sharing platforms established in Ireland to ensure they minimise the availability of harmful online content.  Platforms must provide a way for people to report content they think is illegal, respond to these reports in a timely and diligent manner and consistently enforce their own terms and conditions. In particular, under the Digital Services Act, which is part of Ireland\u2019s online safety framework, the largest online platforms must take mitigation measures against the availability and exposure of users to illegal online content. This includes, albeit not exhaustively, threatening, abusive or insulting comments that are intended or are likely to stir up hatred as detailed in the Prohibition of Incitement to Hatred Act 1989. Once again, I and the Government condemn all forms of abuse and urge those affected to notify the relevant authorities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert O'Donoghue  I thank the Minister. Online abuse is no longer confined to social media. It spills out into our stadiums, communities and local sports grounds. I was a soccer referee for a long time and I can attest to that. It is lovely to hear the Minister say there must be zero tolerance. For this behaviour, those responsible - it is hard to call them fans - should face real consequences. They should be banned from matches. They should have their online accounts sanctioned and we should have the social media companies walk with us. The Minister mentioned the abuse aimed at Edwin Edogbo, for which the IRFU had to turn off comments. That shows how serious the problem is. If we do not act now and hold people accountable, it will only get worse. Recent incidents, including the flares thrown in Oriel Park at a young supporter, show the real-life consequences. As the Minister said, abuse should have no place in sport. Enforcement is a good thing as long as it works. The numbers on enforcement from Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n would be good to see. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Patrick O'Donovan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Patrick O'Donovan  I agree with the Deputy. To be honest, unfortunately, it is not isolated to one cohort in society. People in this House get their fair share of it as well and it is totally unwarranted. Whether a person is in Opposition or Government, there is a common thread that unites all of us who put our name on a ballot paper and get in here. The abuse some people get, particularly women Members of this House and the other House, is absolutely unbelievable. These nameless and faceless trolls hide behind makey-uppy names and invariably have a flag of some description stuck on after them. They besmirch our national flag and invariably bring it into disrepute.  Those people, if they stood for election to a bin collection committee, would not get elected. They are very brave men and women who hide behind faceless troll accounts and fake names. They think they are really brave men because they are ganging up on people who actually have done the State some service by putting their names on a ballot paper, regardless of what party or no party gets in here. The same can be said of sport. Any co-operation and suggestions members of the Opposition have on this are welcome. Going back to the previous question, I will take every bit of it on board because collectively, we have to get serious and get real on this. None of these people are any of our friends, by the way. Some people or some political parties might benefit occasionally from trolling but none of them are any of our friends. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert O'Donoghue  A member of my bunch's last time in Government can confirm that. I thank the Minister. I do not believe it was a good idea to withhold funding from the clubs based off the incident in Oriel Park when the root of the cause really lies elsewhere. It begins online with what is usually a small minority using social media platforms to whip up outrage and hostility before a ball is even kicked. Clubs, which do extraordinary work on the ground and in their communities, should not be punished for the actions of individuals acting behind anonymous accounts, as the Minister mentioned. The focus must be held on those online platforms and users to be held properly accountable.  No one here should face abuse - Government or Opposition. I have spoken about this before and emphasised that strong adult safeguarding policies must be a priority for every club from local level all the way up to our international superstars. We must ensure sport remains what it is when it is at its best, a force that brings people together and builds communities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Patrick O'Donovan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Patrick O'Donovan  With regard to the situation in County Louth that the Deputy raised, it is important to state that the national governing bodies here, the FAI and the League of Ireland, accepted their responsibilities, in fairness to them, because ultimately they are the governing authorities for this sport. I was not going to single out one. I had to single out the governing authority. When I met the governing authorities last week, they did not in any way push back with regard to the proposed sanction I had. In fairness to them, the following day, they brought forward a suite of measures that was proportionate to what had happened. They also sent out a very salient message to other clubs within their ambit of national governance, which is that if any of the rest of them engage in this sort of carry-on or thuggery, this is exactly what they are likely to face as well.  The challenge now for other national governing bodies of sport is to do the same and take the lead of the League of Ireland and the Football Association of Ireland. They need to look at these two institutions, the League of Ireland and the FAI, see where they have gone and pitched their penalties, and they have to do the same. That has to apply to all sporting codes in all disciplines. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Racism in Sport"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/dbsect_21","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Information and Communications Technology","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/dbsect_18","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Keira Keogh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_21.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joanna Byrne  Will the Minister of State give an update on the delivery of the new ICT system to replace the existing sports capital programme grant management system and outline the total spend on the project and where it is at? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport (Deputy Charlie McConalogue)  I thank the Deputy. As she knows, my Department operates two sports capital funding programmes, namely, the community sports facilities fund, CSFF, and the large-scale sport infrastructure fund, LSSIF. Both programmes are administered via an online customer portal, the online sports capital register, or OSCAR as it will be known to anyone who has made an application and been responsible in their club for engaging with the community sports facilities fund or the LSSIF over the past few years. It is also based on an internal administrative system, the CRM.  In 2022, my Department identified the need to replace the existing OSCAR system. The Department approved Pobal, a State-sponsored agency, as the preferred provider to design and develop the new system. The project to replace OSCAR with a new, contemporary offering is tracking well with delivery and budgetary milestones and is due for delivery in the course of the first half of this year. The total expenditure on the project to date is \u20ac759,000. As we will all appreciate, the development of a modern, cloud-based grant management system to replace the existing OSCAR platform will facilitate greater streamlining of the sports capital grant processes, enhanced reporting and improved stakeholder communication and will also enable enhanced, data-driven decision-making. This in turn will ensure scalable and resilient service to applicants and funded organisations.  As we would often say about an old car that has done a lot of service, it owes us nothing. The same could be said of the OSCAR system. It has served many rounds of funding and done so well but time has moved on. We are now moving to introduce a system that will be better able to meet the needs and adopt up-to-date technology to make sure the user experience is as good as it can be. We also want the system to have the capacity to be able to track applications and make sure they are clearly accounted for in an effective way within the Department as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joanna Byrne  It is now March. When I asked a question on this last June, the response I received was that we would have a fully developed online customer portal and an administrative case management system in March 2026. I appreciate that the Minister of State said it is coming very soon, but the urgency on this was for it to be up and running before the new round of the CSFF opens and for that to be able to facilitate an ease of application and an easy navigation portal for those using it.  I have travelled around the country, as has the Minister of State, meeting sporting organisations and the one thing that comes up time and again is the arduous application process and the system being hard to navigate, particularly for voluntary-led organisations but is not just the voluntary organisations that are finding it difficult. Some of the bigger national governing bodies with experienced, qualified staff are also finding it difficult. That is the urgency on it. If it is ready this summer, that is well and good, but I am not the only person who is keen to see that come before the next round of funding opens. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  I agree. It is certainly tracking to be in place to be able to run the new sports capital funding round on that system as well. That is certainly the position we want to be in. I have met very regularly with the team and we have been leading out on this to make sure the progress has been tracked and that there has been a prioritisation put on it within the Department.  The work is progressing well. The team assures me we are on track to open for applications in late May and into June. We want to be in a position to be able to do it on this system. It will put us in a strong position with a modern, up-to-date system. I continue to liaise closely with the team to ensure that project is completed and is ready to be able to carry the new funding round. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joanna Byrne  That is brilliant. It is very welcome news. I appreciate that. If it is relatively on time and on budget, that is great news to all of the sporting organisations the length and breadth of the country that will use it. The only thing I ask is that there be a test run beforehand to ensure all of the bugs are ironed out so that it does not pose any difficulties to any applications that come through on it, but it is brilliant news. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  There is a project management team in place and the different steps involved in the process include the transfer of data from the previous OSCAR system onto the new system. The testing of it will be part of the process too. A lot of work has gone into the initial part in terms of the building of it to be able to take on applications. I have been liaising with the team very closely on it. There is a lot of confidence in the team that we are on track to be able to run the new round on the new system. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Keira Keogh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Keira Keogh)  We are ahead of time and those were very positive exchanges. I hope we will continue in this manner. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Information and Communications Technology"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/dbsect_22","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Culture Policy","counts":{"speechCount":18,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/dbsect_18","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Patrick O'Donovan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Keira Keogh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_22.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  The national codes of practice governing events date from 1996 and 1998 and have not been formally updated in almost 30 years. This has left a situation where Dublin city, Cork, Galway, Kerry and Fingal local authorities have all introduced supplementary event guidance that have different criteria, documents needed and procedures. Will the Department push for the national code to be updated to support consistency in how we run live events nationally? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Patrick O'Donovan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Patrick O'Donovan  I thank the Deputy. I believe he is taking this for Deputy Gibney. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  I am. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Patrick O'Donovan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Patrick O'Donovan  As Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, I am committed to the support and development of the live music industry. The Department, both through its own schemes as well as its funding of the Arts Council, provides support to a range of organisations that play essential roles in the development of music in Ireland.  Last year, I launched the grassroots music venue support scheme, a night-time economy initiative to support independent music venues that promote themselves and are known in the community for programming grassroots music artists, in recognition of the contribution they make to the industry. The scheme operated with a total fund of \u20ac500,000 and grants of up to \u20ac15,000 were available to host events showcasing the talent of emerging, grassroots artists performing live music they had written or created themselves in 34 venues right across the country.  This year, I have secured an increased allocation and committed \u20ac1 million in funding to support independent live performance venues with another edition of the grassroots music venue support scheme.  Details of the scheme are currently being finalised.  The Arts Council provides funding support to Irish arts centres and live performance venues which support year-round, high-quality, professional programming and infrastructure. In addition, the Commissions Award, funded through the Arts Council, supports individual music and opera artists and organisations, and festival organisers, to develop new work.  The music capital scheme, which is supported by my Department and managed by Music Network, has been awarding individual musicians and organisations, by providing access to instruments for people across the country.  These types of initiatives focus on supporting, nurturing and strengthening the live music sector, from the grassroots up by providing music education, employment opportunities for emerging artists and professionals.  As Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, I have responsibility for policy and various funding streams that support the development of the live music sector. However, the codes of practice in relation to live events or music events does not fall under the remit of the Department. Codes of practice in relation to live events fall within the remit of a number of different bodies and Departments. The events industry is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment and licensing is a matter for local authorities under regulations most recently amended under the Planning and Development (Licensing of Outdoor Events - Planning and Development Act 2000) Regulations 2025, SI 37 of 2025. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  I appreciate that the Department oversees the funding of arts but there is a significant gap in the sense that the Department's budgets operate on a 2026 basis but the laws upon which these events occur date from 1996. That creates a problem. There is a gap in terms of regulation. If you have an event in Dublin, you have the same event in Galway and you have a similar event in Cork, you are dealing with different processes, different licensing and different paperwork. That creates gaps for people who only want to put on events.  I appreciate the Minister is not the licensing body when it comes to events and that he is not the regulator when it comes to how these laws are developed but we need leadership here. If I talked to the Minister for housing, he would state this is not his role. If I talked to the Department of justice, it would say the same. Events need leadership and I suppose we are asking the Minister to demonstrate leadership in relation to these live events' codes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Patrick O'Donovan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Patrick O'Donovan  I welcome the fact the Deputy acknowledged that this is not a responsibility for the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport. As I said a while ago, the planning legislation - this is a planning matter and events are covered under event licences - is a matter for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in the first instance but supports from an enterprise point of view are a matter for the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment.  As I said a while ago, the Planning and Development Act 2000 lay down with strict criteria how events are to be planned under event licensing. It is a matter for local authorities, and rightly so. If there was any attempt to remove event licensing from local authorities, the Deputy would have great difficulty with it from a Dublin city point of view as would a lot of his colleagues from around the country would because this is a local function that should be performed locally. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  I am talking about updating events' codes, which are 30 years outdated. The Minister referenced the Department of housing, which has responsibility for planning and the Department of enterprise. He said surely I would not wish to interfere with local authorities but that creates a gap for those who wish to put on live events. There are very significant discrepancies between holding an event in one county and holding an event in another county. Deputy O'Donovan is the Minister with responsibility for arts and culture and the funding authority. Surely he can see there is a need to have a national standardised process if you want to hold a live event. Surely it does not matter if you are holding it in Cork or Limerick. There should be a standardised process and standardised paperwork.  Of course, I value the night-time economy in Dublin. I understand the night-time economy in Dublin will be different from that in a town but the means by which I put on an event does not necessarily have to be different. The paperwork should be the same. The processes should be the same. Local authorities absolutely have a role in this in terms of support but the development of regulation guidance should be nationally standardised. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Patrick O'Donovan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Patrick O'Donovan  The Deputy is conflating as fact that all events are music events, which, of course, they are not. Some events are agricultural shows. Some events are religious events. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  They do not have an event code. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Patrick O'Donovan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Patrick O'Donovan  It is a matter for planning. Event licensing is Ronseal - it does what it says on the tin. It is event licensing. It is a matter for the local authority, in the first instance, to decide whether to grant or not grant an event licence. You have everything from sports to agricultural shows to music to everything else.  As much as I am Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, I am not Minister with regard to papal visits, agricultural shows or anything of that nature. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  They do not have an event code. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Patrick O'Donovan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Patrick O'Donovan  The question that the Deputy asked was with regard to music performance but then he decided to go off on a tangent with regard to outdoor events. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  Sorry----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Keira Keogh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Keira Keogh)  Deputy, you have had your time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Patrick O'Donovan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Patrick O'Donovan  The Deputy said----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  -----the question states, \"codes of practice for live events, particularly live music events, to better facilitate live music performance; and if he will make a statement on the matter.\" The Minister went off on a tangent from the question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Keira Keogh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Keira Keogh)  Deputy, you have had your time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Patrick O'Donovan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Patrick O'Donovan  The Deputy said that you want all events consistent across the country and being handled by my Department. That is a physical impossibility because we are not a planning Department. As a former member of a local authority, the Deputy should know what the local authority does with regard to event licensing. Removing a power from a local authority would go down like a lead balloon with the Deputy's colleagues. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Culture Policy"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/dbsect_23","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Cisti\u00fach\u00e1n Roinne","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/dbsect_18","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_23","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Patrick O'Donovan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_23.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  T\u00e1 an cheist seo d\u00edrithe ar an Aire. T\u00e1im ag iarraidh a fh\u00e1il amach cad go d\u00edreach at\u00e1 i gceist aige maidir le ciste caipitil eala\u00edon a bhun\u00fa ar mh\u00fanla an chiste chaipitil sp\u00f3irt, at\u00e1 ag oibri\u00fa faoi l\u00e1thair, chun feabhas a chur ar na sp\u00e1sanna at\u00e1 ar f\u00e1il d'eala\u00edont\u00f3ir\u00ed timpeall na t\u00edre. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Patrick O'Donovan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Patrick O'Donovan  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Teachta as an seans seo c\u00fapla freagra a thabhairt tr\u00ed Ghaeilge i rith Sheachtain na Gaeilge. Mar at\u00e1 leagtha amach i gcl\u00e1r an Rialtais, creideann an Rialtas go bhfuil an cult\u00far agus na heala\u00edona riachtanach do leas an phobail. T\u00e1 l\u00edonra de bhonneagar cult\u00fartha ar fud na t\u00edre agus an tromlach faoi \u00fain\u00e9ireacht na n-\u00fadar\u00e1s \u00e1iti\u00fail. Cuireann \u00fadar\u00e1is \u00e1iti\u00fala agus an Chomhairle Eala\u00edon taca\u00edocht bhliant\u00fail ar f\u00e1il don bhonneagar eala\u00edon agus cult\u00fair seo, lena n-\u00e1ir\u00edtear taca\u00edochta\u00ed reatha a chabhra\u00edonn le cl\u00e1r eala\u00edon a chur ar si\u00fal.  D\u00edr\u00edonn mo Roinn ar mhaoini\u00fa deontais chaipitil a shol\u00e1thar chun cabhr\u00fa le forbairt agus chun aire a thabhairt do na h\u00e1iseanna eala\u00edon agus cult\u00fair seo. T\u00e1 roinnt cl\u00e1ir mhaoinithe \u00e1 re\u00e1cht\u00e1il ag an Roinn faoin sc\u00e9im um chaipiteal cult\u00fartha le blianta beaga anuas. Is \u00e9 sruth E an ceann is d\u00e9ana\u00ed, a chuir deontais suas le \u20ac50,000 ar f\u00e1il le haghaidh oibreacha caipitil agus a leith\u00e9id.  De r\u00e9ir an ghealltanais i gcl\u00e1r an Rialtais, cuireadh \u20ac6 milli\u00fan ar f\u00e1il do mo Roinn i mbuis\u00e9ad 2026 le haghaidh cl\u00e1r nua maoinithe caipitil d'eagra\u00edochta\u00ed eala\u00edon agus cult\u00fair ar fud na t\u00edre. Cuirfidh s\u00e9 seo taca\u00edochta\u00ed caipitil a bhfuil g\u00e9argh\u00e1 leo ar f\u00e1il do na heagra\u00edochta\u00ed seo. T\u00e1 mo Roinn i mbun sonra\u00ed na sc\u00e9ime a dhearadh, lena n-\u00e1ir\u00edtear crit\u00e9ir chun cur isteach ar an sc\u00e9im.  Is sc\u00e9im maoinithe caipitil chult\u00fartha eile at\u00e1 ar f\u00e1il \u00f3 mo Roinn an sc\u00e9im ph\u00edol\u00f3tach \u20ac6 milli\u00fan do sp\u00e1sanna oibre d'eala\u00edont\u00f3ir\u00ed, a seoladh i m\u00ed an Mheithimh 2024. Faoin sc\u00e9im seo, tugtar cuireadh d'\u00fadar\u00e1is \u00e1iti\u00fala, lasmuigh de Chomhairle Cathrach Bhaile \u00c1tha Cliath, tionscadail a mholadh a chuirfidh ar a gcumas sp\u00e1sanna oibre d'eala\u00edont\u00f3ir\u00ed a shol\u00e1thar. T\u00e1 maoini\u00fa suas le \u20ac300,000 ar f\u00e1il do cheantair \u00fadar\u00e1s \u00e1iti\u00fail a bhfuil daonra dl\u00fath iontu agus \u20ac150,000 d'\u00fadar\u00e1is \u00e1iti\u00fala eile. Cr\u00edochn\u00f3idh m\u00e9 an freagra go luath. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  T\u00e1 s\u00e9 t\u00e1bhachtach aitheantas a thabhairt don obair at\u00e1 \u00e1 d\u00e9anamh, c\u00e9 go bhfuilim ag iarraidh go mbeidh n\u00edos m\u00f3 ann. T\u00e1im ag lorg go mbeidh cur chuige an chiste chaipitil do sp\u00f3irt \u00e1 \u00fas\u00e1id, go mbeidh an t-aitheantas sin ann amach ansin agus go mbeidh na comhairl\u00ed contae n\u00f3 na heagrais eala\u00edon in ann dul chuig an Aire n\u00f3 p\u00e9 duine a bheidh san oifig chun airgead a lorg chun cuidi\u00fa leis an obair. N\u00edlim ag caint faoin airgead ioml\u00e1n. Bheadh ar na comhairl\u00ed agus na heagrais sin a gcuid oibre f\u00e9in a dh\u00e9anamh. B'fh\u00e9idir go bhfaca an tAire sna p\u00e1ip\u00e9ir an tseachtain seo an plean at\u00e1 ag Comhairle Cathrach Bhaile \u00c1tha Cliath i leith Merchants Quay. T\u00e1 an chomhairle chun athmhaisi\u00fa n\u00f3 athch\u00f3iri\u00fa a dh\u00e9anamh ar thr\u00ed fhoirgneamh. Beidh 20 sp\u00e1s ann d'eala\u00edont\u00f3ir\u00ed.  N\u00ed tharl\u00f3idh s\u00e9 sin ach amh\u00e1in go bhfuil siad ag f\u00e1il \u20ac4 mhilli\u00fan \u00f3 dhuine gan ainm mar bhronntanas. N\u00edl an t-airgead ag an gcomhairle chun \u00e9 sin a dh\u00e9anamh \u00ed f\u00e9in mar sin t\u00e1 g\u00e1 le taca\u00edochta\u00ed \u00f3n Rialtas. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Patrick O'Donovan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Patrick O'Donovan  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Teachta. Bh\u00ed cruinni\u00fa agam um thr\u00e1thn\u00f3na leis na hoifigigh sa Roinn maidir leis an sc\u00e9im de \u20ac3 mhilli\u00fan at\u00e1 curtha ar f\u00e1il do Chomhairle Cathrach Bhaile \u00c1tha Cliath. Space to create an t-ainm at\u00e1 ar an sc\u00e9im. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 an-t\u00e1bhachtach dom go mbeadh an t-airgead seo \u00e1 chur ar f\u00e1il don chomhairle cathrach go luath agus go mbeidh an chomhairle ag teacht go dt\u00ed an Roinn le plean chun \u00fas\u00e1id a bhaint as an m\u00e9id airgid sin. T\u00e1 s\u00fail agam go mbeidh m\u00e9 in ann teacht ar ais go dt\u00ed an Teach go luath chun cuntas a thabhairt ar an \u20ac3 mhilli\u00fan sin.  Maidir leis an \u20ac6 mhilli\u00fan at\u00e1 f\u00f3gartha agam i mbuis\u00e9ad 2026, t\u00e1 s\u00fail agam go mbeidh m\u00e9 in ann sc\u00e9im cos\u00fail leis an sports capital a tharraingt amach. Beidh m\u00e9 ag caint go soil\u00e9ir leis na comhairl\u00ed cathracha agus comhairl\u00ed contae agus freisin leis na h\u00fadar\u00e1is bheaga at\u00e1 ag obair i gc\u00farsa\u00ed eala\u00edona timpeall na t\u00edre. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  N\u00ed i mBaile \u00c1tha Cliath amh\u00e1in at\u00e1 an t-airgead seo ag teast\u00e1il. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 go maith go bhfuil an \u20ac6 mhilli\u00fan sin ann don chuid eile don t\u00edr anuas ar an \u20ac3 mhilli\u00fan a luaigh an tAire ansin do Bhaile \u00c1tha Cliath. Mar a luaigh m\u00e9, n\u00edl ansin ach sc\u00e9im amh\u00e1in. T\u00e1 a l\u00e1n sc\u00e9imeanna eile ag an gcomhairle. San \u00e1ireamh, t\u00e1 an sc\u00e9im le 500 m\u00e9adar cearnach a tugadh do na heala\u00edon th\u00edos ag Calafort \u00c1tha Cliath; an campas eala\u00edne at\u00e1 siad ag d\u00edri\u00fa isteach air ansin. Luaigh an tAire ceann eile an uair dheireanach. Bh\u00ed muid ag caint faoin Rupert Guinness Theatre agus an t-airgead a chosn\u00f3idh s\u00e9 sin. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 sin i mBaile \u00c1tha Cliath ach m\u00e1 th\u00e9ann t\u00fa go dt\u00ed Corcaigh t\u00e1 su\u00edomhanna ansin ar gh\u00e1 a l\u00e1n airgid a chaitheamh orthu chun go mbeadh siad i gceart do na heala\u00edont\u00f3ir\u00ed at\u00e1 \u00e1 h\u00fas\u00e1id agus caithfimid cuidi\u00fa leo. Is \u00e9 sin an f\u00e1th go bhfuil m\u00e9 ag tabhairt taca\u00edocht ioml\u00e1n don Aire \u00f3 thaobh an chuir chuige. T\u00e1 m\u00e9 ag iarraidh air, m\u00e1s f\u00e9idir in aon chor, i bhfad \u00c9ireann n\u00edos m\u00f3 airgid a chur ar f\u00e1il do na heala\u00edon agus na h\u00e1iteanna seo timpeall na t\u00edre ar fad. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Patrick O'Donovan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Patrick O'Donovan  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Teachta as an m\u00e9id taca\u00edochta a thug s\u00e9 dom maidir leis an sc\u00e9im ph\u00edol\u00f3tach basic income for the arts. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 an-t\u00e1bhachtach dom go bhfuil s\u00e9 seo cr\u00edochnaithe go dt\u00ed seo agus go mbeidh muid in ann an sc\u00e9im a chur i bhfeidhm ar\u00eds i rith an tsamhraidh.  Maidir leis an sc\u00e9im nua eile at\u00e1 i mbuis\u00e9ad 2026 a labhair an Teachta faoi, beidh m\u00e9 in ann, le c\u00fanamh D\u00e9, teacht ar ais go dt\u00ed an Teach go luath leis an sc\u00e9im seo. M\u00e1 t\u00e1 deis ag an Teachta cabhair a thabhairt dom chun an sc\u00e9im seo a bhaint amach leis na heagra\u00edochta\u00ed \u00e9ags\u00fala, n\u00ed hamh\u00e1in i mBaile \u00c1tha Cliath ach timpeall na t\u00edre freisin, b\u2019fh\u00e9idir go bhf\u00e9adfadh s\u00e9 r\u00edomhphoist a sheoladh chugam chun a chuid smaoint\u00ed a phl\u00e9. F\u00e1ilt\u00edm roimhe sin mar cabhr\u00f3idh s\u00e9 leis an m\u00e9id oibre at\u00e1 le d\u00e9anamh agam agus at\u00e1 \u00e1 d\u00e9anamh agam faoi l\u00e1thair. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Cisti\u00fach\u00e1n Roinne"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/dbsect_24","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Sports Facilities","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/dbsect_18","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_24.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  Today, I raise an issue I have raised multiple times in this House and that is the issue of north Dublin's grassroots clubs being effectively blocked out of a centre. The Oscar Traynor centre was sold for \u20ac500,000, despite its 2022 evaluation of \u20ac4.25 million. I have no problem with a professional club getting a good value-for-money deal. However, I do have an issue with young women and young boys in an area I represent being effectively blocked out from playing football. Could the Minister of State give me an explanation or evaluation? I would appreciate that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  Over a quarter of a billion euro was allocated to 3,048 community sports clubs and facilities in 2024 from the 2023 round of the community sport facilities fund, CSFF, representing the largest-ever investment in sports facilities in communities across the country.  The Deputy\u2019s question referred to the Oscar Traynor centre, where \u20ac509,182 was allocated to the centre under the CSFF in the period in question. In the 2020 CSFF round, we allocated \u20ac23,563 for sporting equipment, including non-personal portable goalposts. My Department is awaiting further information from the organisation before payment can be made. Under the 2023 CSFF round, \u20ac485,619 was allocated towards an artificial playing surface, floodlight upgrading, natural playing surface works and ball stop netting. Formal approval to commence these works was granted in December 2025 but no payment requests have been received yet.  All CSFF grantees must sign a declaration that from the date of the grant, they will not deny anybody access to any facility or part of a facility for which they received a grant, on the grounds of gender, civil status, family status, age, disability, race, sexual orientation, religious belief or membership of the Traveller or Roma community without just, reasonable and proper cause. The Government is focused on promoting life-long participation in physical activity and sport for all sectors of society and communities. We are committed to a Sport for All approach, aimed at ensuring all persons have the opportunity to partake equally in sport and physical activity regardless of age, social-economic status, disability, or membership of, for example, the LGBTI+ community, the Traveller community or other ethnic minorities.  My Department routinely carries out compliance reviews and annual spot-checks on a proportion of grant-aided projects as allocations are drawn down and participation and inclusion aspects are an important feature of those reviews. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  I understand and appreciate that but when I raised this with the T\u00e1naiste months ago, I asked how many Troy Parrotts or Denise O'Sullivans there would be. We just saw the Irish women's team lose two to one to France. North Dublin has a proud history of providing some, if not the best, footballers to the Irish football team. Now, these young men and young women in the area I represent are effectively being blocked out. I have parents, teenagers and children sending me messages to say they cannot train or play the sport they love.  This was sold for \u20ac500,000 despite an evaluation of \u20ac4.25 million. I have no problem with any professional club, and this is not because I support other professional clubs. I represent an area and the children in this area deserve to play the sport. It appears the Football Association of Ireland, FAI, was eager to cash in on the sale, which allowed the organisation to recoup investment. In turn, a professional club secured a permanent academy base but blocked out local clubs I represent. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  The understanding is the Oscar Traynor coach and development centre, owned by Bohemians FC, acquired a long-term lease hold on the facility from Dublin City Council. The use of public lands are ultimately a matter for the relevant local authority and not my Department.  Access to the facility is now a matter for the FAI and as all NGBs are independent and autonomous bodies and, as such, are responsible for their own governance and operational matters, including the management and operation of its facilities, it is a matter for that organisation to ensure appropriate access.  As I said, with the sports funding we provide, there is an onus on everyone to ensure people of all backgrounds, all ethnicities and minorities are included. As regards the checks we put in place, we monitor these and will certainly be doing so for this application and every other application as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  I appreciate that and I understand the remit the Minister of State's Department holds but I would love if he could chase up how the FAI allowed a grassroots facility serving thousands of young players I represent to be handed over to a club without committee approval. Why was one person allowed to execute the transfer of the site? What checks are in place to prevent this from happening? What role did the FAI play in facilitating a deal that removed community access for north Dublin children who are directly benefiting from this facility? Why was the site sold for a fraction of its value? I understand the Minister of State said he is bound by certain things but the Minister for sport must address these questions. What steps were taken to assess the community impact of this sale?  There are four clubs in the Kilmore, Coolock and Darndale areas. Children in these areas who want to play sport cannot do so because they do not have the facilities. I understand that work is being done by Dublin City Council, which I welcome, to improve all-weather pitches. Something needs to be done on this issue. It needs to be looked into. Will the FAI take responsibility for its role? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  As I said, my understanding is that a long-term leasehold on the facility was acquired from Dublin City Council. In the first instance, this is a matter between Dublin City Council and the organisation concerned.  In relation to approving and granting funds, we check to make sure that applications meet the criteria and that the access conditions are fulfilled. We will continue to do that in relation to all applications. On the transaction and lease in question, that is a matter for the organisation and Dublin City Council. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Sports Facilities"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/dbsect_25","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_25","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/dbsect_26","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Culture Policy","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/dbsect_25","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_25","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_26","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Patrick O'Donovan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_26.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paula Butterly  Will the Minister consider establishing and funding a dedicated Irish town of culture programme to support towns such as Drogheda and Ardee with strong cultural identities and significant heritage assets? This would be particularly relevant for Drogheda, which has a rich artistic community and a deep historical footprint. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Patrick O'Donovan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Patrick O'Donovan  As outlined in the programme for Government, the Government believes that culture and the arts are essential to a well-rounded society, providing opportunities for education, expression and community engagement. The programme sets out an ambitious range of measures encompassing support for professional arts practice, investment in our national cultural institutions, the promotion of the arts internationally, preservation and presentation of our national cultural heritage, as well as deepening cultural connections across the island of Ireland. It also builds on the emerging consensus in the Oireachtas for an enhanced focus on regional balance and opportunities for participation by all.  It must be understood that this is a five-year programme and not intended to be delivered in one year. Significant progress has been made in the past 12 months, with the permanent basic income for the arts scheme, works on major refurbishment of the Crawford Arts Gallery now commenced, and the exciting announcement regarding the philanthropic donation of a major facility in Limerick for a branch of the National Museum of Ireland.  A network of cultural infrastructure exists throughout the country, with the majority in the ownership of local authorities. Annual support, including programming and revenue supports, is provided to the arts by local authorities and the Arts Council.  I am informed that in County Louth in 2025, the Arts Council made grants under the arts centre funding scheme totalling \u20ac440,000 to the Droichead Arts Centre in Drogheda and An T\u00e1in in Dundalk. In budget 2026, my Department was allocated \u20ac6 million for a new programme of capital funding for the arts and cultural organisations across the country, in line with the commitment in the programme for Government. This will see much needed supports for arts and culture organisations.  In relation to the proposal for a dedicated Irish town of culture programme, I am in favour of examining options that further promote local cultural activity and celebrate the unique and creative strength of towns and communities. I have asked the Department to commence consideration of the proposed measure to ensure alignment with existing cultural schemes and national culture policy, and to assess resource requirements in the context of the budget process. While yet to be decided, I envisage that a town of culture designation would involve a competition. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paula Butterly  I thank the Minister. I am delighted to hear he is in favour of such a programme. Drogheda is a cultural powerhouse in the north east. It is home to festivals like the Drogheda Arts Festival, the Drogheda classical musical series and the L\u00fa festival. It provides entertainment for locals but it is also a calling card for people from outside Drogheda and County Louth to visit the town. Like many Irish towns that have strong cultural identities, Drogheda tends to fall between the cracks of existing schemes and therefore sustainable funding models are always in short supply. As the Minister is in favour of a town of culture programme, I know he will be well aware that establishing a town of culture would bring benefits beyond the boundaries of the county. It would help employment, increase tourism and deepen our understanding of our culture and heritage. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Patrick O'Donovan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Patrick O'Donovan  Deputy Butterly will be glad to hear that, over the last couple of weeks, I have been dealing with a town of culture initiative in the Department. We are at a preliminary stage of drawing up what it would look like and how we would award it. I envisage a competitive process through the local authorities, with local authorities putting forward nominees to be the town of culture for a fixed period of time. From that, supports would be able to be derived from the Department. I also envisage that the town of culture designation would not be for one year, but for multiple years, because of the size of the Department. The Deputy also made a very interesting point that in order to have legacy, the designation will be needed for more than one year. We are at a very early stage. As recently as this week, I asked for resources in the Department to be assigned to the design of a scheme. That will ultimately be a competitive process. I am sure every local authority in the country, including Louth County Council, will have great ideas as to how they imagine this would be best represented in their area. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paula Butterly  I tend to agree with the Minister. A few years ago, Drogheda had the fleadh for two years, during which it brought great short-term benefit to the town. I agree with the Minister that this designation would have to develop over a three- or five-year period in order to have a long-lasting impact on the town. Where I may disagree with the Minister is in terms of the competition among local authorities. I advocate having a pilot programme in a pilot town. Obviously, at the top of that list would be Drogheda, followed by Ardee, County Louth. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Patrick O'Donovan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Patrick O'Donovan  I am sure the Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach, Deputy Keira Keogh, would have something different to say for Mayo, Westport, Castlebar and Ballina, as others would for all stations between Mayo and Dublin. I know Deputy Butterly is a strong advocate for the County Louth towns. Why would she not be? However, we will have to have a competitive process. I envisage it will involve the local authorities being asked to put forward proposals, which will have to be independently assessed and verified. Obvious, the winners will be delighted and the unsuccessful will use freedom of information those, or FOI - our three favourite letters - to find out how the scheme was awarded and everything else.  I intend putting a substantial amount of money behind this and I also intend to have the designation over multiple years in order that it will be legacy. No more than the European capital of culture, the Irish town of culture will be an exciting initiative for towns all over the country. With their local authorities, they will be able to compete for a title that will have an all-Ireland dimension to it. It will be welcomed by the local authorities and the towns that are prepared to participate. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 138 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Culture Policy"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/dbsect_27","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Sports Funding","counts":{"speechCount":9,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/dbsect_25","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_25","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_27","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_27.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  Will the Minister of State outline whether any specific funding is available for capital projects for women's sports where the organisations do not currently own a playing pitch? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  The Government is very much focused on promoting lifelong participation in physical activity and sport for all sectors of society and communities. Our sport for all approach aims to ensure that all persons have the opportunity to participate equally in sport and physical activity, regardless of age, socio-economic status, disability or membership of the LGBTI+ community, the Traveller community or other ethnic minorities, and also regardless of gender.  My Department operates two capital funding programmes for sport, namely, the community sports facilities fund, CSFF, and the large-scale sport infrastructure fund, LSSIF. Sporting organisations can apply directly for the CSFF. Applications for the LSSIF must be made through a national governing body or a local authority. There is no gender-specific funding stream within these programmes and the vast majority of projects funded serve both females and males.  Capital grant limits for the community sports facilities fund are based on the applicants' projects and security of tenure. Under the 2023 round, funding of up to \u20ac200,000 was available to organisations that either owned their land or held a lease registered with Tailte \u00c9ireann with at least 15 years remaining. For organisations without a registered chargeable title, capital funding was restricted to a maximum of \u20ac70,000, and that was for equipment grants. If an organisation does not own the land in question or have a long lease, the community sports facilities fund provides that the landowner, if entitled to apply for the CSFF funding in its own right, can make an application on behalf of the sports user. This approach can often be seen in the case of sports clubs or organisations located on local authority lands. In the absence of outright ownership, the key objective is to partner and secure a lease for up to 15 years.  That lease qualifies the organisation to apply for sports capital funding. Otherwise, the option of applying for equipment-only grants is available to a club even if it does not have access to land. That is up to a maximum of \u20ac70,000. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  I am very passionate about women's sports. My wife and daughters play camogie. In the constituency I am from, so many young women and girls are successful in sport. Tonight, unfortunately, the soccer team was beaten 2-1 by France and a girl from Knocknaheeny, Denise O'Sullivan, was playing centre field. There are girls like Amy O'Connor and Amy Lee playing Cork senior camogie and winning all-Irelands, Nathalie O'Brien playing in a world cup, basketballer Edel Thornton, Ellie Murray in boxing and Megan Leahy in taekwondo - brilliant young women and girls, but none of them owns a pitch or a facility. As the Minister of State said, if you do not have a lease you cannot get capital funding. A week ago, Wexford went to Clare to play a camogie match. They had nowhere to tog out beforehand, the pitch was a disgrace and there were no hot showers afterwards. It would not be accepted in any male sport but it is acceptable for women. The lease has to be worked on. Women need sports; they need pitches. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  We want to be as flexible as we possibly can in supporting all clubs to develop facilities. One source of pressure on clubs is the wonderful increase in female participation in sport in general. That creates additional need for facilities. That is something we want to support through the community sports facilities fund and something we will look at closely. It is important when we give funding that there is assurance around the ownership of the land and the right to use the land for the purpose for which we are contributing significant investment on behalf of the taxpayer. That is why we require ownership of the land or a 15-year lease. There is lots of potential for partnering up with local authorities, schools or through the many clubs across the country which serve both men and women and which want to expand their facilities to meet everyone's needs. We want to support them to do that in the next round of the community sports facilities fund. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  The Minister of State must have no concept of what is happening in women's sports. In Cork we have a club, Glanmire ladies football, that is one of the biggest in the county, if not the country. In 2017, it was a junior B club; in 2018, it won the junior A all-Ireland; and in 2024, it won the intermediate all-Ireland. It has four adult teams but the problem is the boys club has five adult teams. The boys do not have enough pitches, so where does that leave the girls? The president of the club, Brian Lotty, told me this evening they have not been on the pitch this year because they have nowhere to go. This is a club with hundreds of members in one of the biggest areas of Cork city, namely Glanmire, and it does not have any playing pitches. Glanmire ladies football is only an example. Will the Government and Minister of State make funding available for them to buy land to put a pitch on? Will the Minister of State fund female sports - soccer, GAA, rugby and others - so they can purchase land to put pitches on? Right now in Glanmire and clubs like it, women are treated like second-class citizens and it is not right. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  In relation to making land available, we want to encourage municipal and multipurpose facilities, particularly through working with local authorities. I encourage the Deputy at local level working with the local authorities----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  I spoke to them. There is no land in Glanmire. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  -----to see what the opportunities are there.  The focus of the Department of sport's funding will be on developing facilities and investing in facilities. We do not have a plan to open that funding up to purchasing land. Were we to do that, many clubs across the country would seek to purchase land under it. Our objective is to put the facilities in place. The primary objective is for the club, partnering with local authorities and others within the community - schools, for example - who may have land, to work to develop facilities. I appreciate the challenge. We want to work with and support the local authorities in any way we can to identify the needs, particularly in growing communities, and make sure they can partner up to develop facilities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  Minister of State, would you look at it at least? "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Sports Funding"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/dbsect_28","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Sports Funding","counts":{"speechCount":9,"speakerCount":4},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/dbsect_25","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_25","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_28","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_28.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  I want to ask the Minister about the next round of the community sports facilities fund, when it will open and if he will consider allowing clubs use the fund to buy land. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  I thank Deputy O'Rourke. I propose to take Questions Nos. 141, 150, 157, 160, 163, 166, 167, 171, 188 and 198 together.  The programme for Government commits to continuing the community sports facilities fund and to directing its funding to disadvantaged areas and groups that are currently under-represented in terms of participation.  My Department\u2019s statement of strategy for 2025 to 2028 commits to continuing to invest in sports infrastructure at local, regional and national levels through the community sports facilities fund and the large-scale sports infrastructure fund. These funds will be critical to advancing delivery of high-quality sport facilities and equipment over the lifetime of the strategy. Infrastructure is key to sporting participation and success, and we will continue to invest in sports infrastructure at local, regional and national levels. The funds will be critical to advancing delivery of high-quality, accessible and sustainable sport facilities and equipment, which will ensure the development of a sporting ecosystem that enables more people, including people with disabilities, older people and people from disadvantaged communities, to participate and benefit from sport at all levels.  The community sports facilities fund is the primary means of providing Government funding to sport and community organisations at local, regional and national levels throughout the country. The fund aims to foster an integrated and planned approach to the development of sports and physical recreation facilities and assist the purchase of non-personal sports equipment.  The community sports facilities fund, previously known as the sports capital and equipment programme, operated from 1998 with annual rounds and, in more recent years, biennial rounds. More than 19,000 projects have benefited from the fund with a total investment so far of \u20ac1.43 billion. That has transformed the sporting landscape across the country. It has led to a significant increase in participation, which is our objective, and that in turn has put pressure on facilities and speaks to the need for us to continue to invest significantly. In the most recent round, \u20ac250 million was allocated to just over 3,000 sports clubs and facilities. Forty sports benefited from that, as well as multi-sport facilities throughout the country.  The programme for Government commits to supporting local authorities in the acquisition of new lands for parks and playing pitches. While the community sports facilities fund does not provide for the acquisition of land, the Government is supportive of local authorities working in areas where there are challenges to identify suitable land, which local clubs and the community can avail of and be supported by funding from the Department to develop playing facilities on.  In line with previous rounds of the fund, a review of the current round has been undertaken by the Department and will be published shortly. I have asked the Department to prepare for a round of the fund in the coming months, with the objective of opening it in late May and early June. It is anticipated that the next round will target areas and sports that have been underinvested in over the years. My Department is collating feedback from sporting clubs and organisations in relation to their needs and that valuable input is going into our preparations for the next round.  My aim is to have as many eligible sporting bodies as possible applying, by simplifying the application process and guide and carrying out a wide-reaching communications campaign. Many clubs are relying on volunteers, and some find it difficult and cumbersome to navigate the current system and processes. With a revised and simplified application and assessment process, the aim is to make it easier and quicker for clubs to navigate the system at all stages and to allow for quicker turnaround times while reducing the workload for both the club and my Department. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  Will the Minister of State indicate when we might see this? Will it be in quarter 2, quarter 3 or quarter 4? I welcome the fact that the application process will be simplified. There is a direct correlation between those accessing this funding and the capacity within the organisations involved, even at club level, in the context of completing the forms. There is a barrier that needs to be to be addressed.  The Minister of State indicated that a review is coming. What does he mean by that, particularly in the context of targeting sports that have been the subject of underinvestment over the years? Every sport feels that it could do with more investment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Albert Dolan  When the Minister of State visited Tuam with his officials and held a meeting to give all the clubs in County Galway an understanding of what changes they might be able to anticipate in the upcoming sports capital programme and answer the questions they had, it was very warmly received. That was a really productive exercise. I welcome his statement to the effect that applications will open in May or June. It is very important that the Department continues to learn from previous applications as to what worked, what did not work and how we can move forward stronger into the future.  As I outlined to the Minister of State previously, we have many clubs in Galway that are based in areas where the population is growing, where needs are growing and where further investment in required. It is vital that clubs right across the country continue to receive investment, that Government increases the funding for the sports capital programme and that clubs are supported to achieve their best potential. I firmly believe that this is the most efficiently spent money in the State, particularly when it goes directly to the clubs and they then make it happen. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  The plan is to open it in late May or June, with the objective of having funding announcements committed to and the process completed by the end of the year. As I travel around the country, it is very clear that clubs and volunteers are doing phenomenal work and that participation is growing all the time. That is putting pressure on facilities in clubs across all sports. We just discussed the great growth in female participation. The latter is adding significantly to the pressure on facilities. That is why it is really important that we continue to invest really strongly.  In this round, it is important to recognise that all sports and all clubs need support. We are also assessing where the needs are particularly acute. In the ongoing review of the community sports facilities fund, we are targeting support at the relevant areas. There is an acknowledgement that there is phenomenal work being done. As Deputy Dolan said, it came across very clearly at the meeting in Tuam that when we invest in the community sports fund, the impact is phenomenal. The value in terms of how people contribute, the voluntary effort made and the development of facilities is exceptional as well. There is not a current cost to the State, but we get a wonderful dividend. By investing in the community sports facility fund, there is a great participation benefit in the community and all that goes with it in terms of building communities. We also see health and social benefits coming out of it.  The Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, and I will be engaging with our colleagues across the Government to try to make sure that this round is as strong as it possibly can be. As I travel throughout the country, I am engaging with as many clubs as possible. Our message to them in the meantime is to be prepared and to consider where they can develop their clubs in a way that will best serve them such that they can be prepared for making applications to the next round over the summer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  I thank the Minister of State for the clarification on the timelines. One of the sports that has suffered over the years is swimming, particularly in the context of underinvestment in infrastructure and swimming pools. We previously discussed the gap analysis that was prepared and funded by the Department. One of the issues raised in that report was about the model for delivery. We have been talking about the clubs applying, but, of course, that does not deliver swimming pools. Swim Ireland had talked about an alternative hybrid model. In the past it would have been done by local authorities. Has the Minister of State met with Swim Ireland to discuss alternative methods for delivering and running swimming pools? I will make the case, as I have done before, for the Ratoath municipal district in Meath, which is underserved with swimming pools. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Albert Dolan  I appreciate everything the Minister of State said. One thing that needs to be made crystal clear to clubs this year is the promotion of female participation. I do not think we give it enough attention. We have to make sure that any club that is offering sport to males and females has to offer equal opportunities, equal access and equal participation. In many different sports clubs right across Galway East, I am seeing how much female participation has grown and how much young women are becoming involved. The competition is fierce in our schools, our clubs and everywhere else. A marker has to be laid down in this sports capital programme that clubs which do not give equal access to women will not get equal funding. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shane Moynihan  I fully support Deputy Dolan's remarks regarding the importance of female participation. However, we also need to take account of socio-economic disadvantage. Sports, such as boxing and football, are great at enabling social cohesion, bringing people on a path which will make sure that they have a fulfilling future in terms of youth diversion and so on. That is why I am particularly keen to support the likes of Collinstown FC in my constituency, which needs access to an all-weather pitch. On nine weekends of this football year, pitches have not been playable because of the weather. This underlines the importance of all-weather pitches. Local authorities and ETBs have a really important role to play in the context of looking at their suite of strategic assets and considering how they can make them available to teams across the constituency. That is something we should plan for and incorporate in this round of sports capital funding in order to ensure that those State agencies buy in and make these facilities available. It is important to support clubs like Collinstown that are performing a very important social function as well as an integrative function when it comes to bringing boys and girls into sport. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  On what Deputy O'Rourke said, we know that there are particular challenges with access to swimming pool facilities across the country. That is why the Government provided \u20ac100,000 to Swim Ireland to compile the needs analysis report. I have met representatives from the organisation to discuss how we can step that out now. We now know where the challenges are, and we need to decide how we can best respond to them. Clubs and organisations will be able to apply to the community sports facilities fund for funding for pools, but, obviously, new pool development goes far beyond the scale of what is available in terms of the caps that are in place. That is something we are considering. We will continue to engage with Swim Ireland in order to try to see how we can best address this matter.  I agree with Deputy Dolan that female participation is absolutely essential for all clubs. We have seen wonderful work happening within clubs as a result of the fact that we have seen exceptional growth in female participation. Over the course of the past ten years, under the national sports policy, we have seen participation generally grow from 42% of adults participating in sport every week to 49%. We have also seen the gender gap between men and women who participate in sport every week close from a gap of 4.5% down to 2% now. That has been down to the wonderful work happening in clubs. However, we have to recognise that the wonderful growth we are seeing in women's participation in sport in particular, but also across the board, is putting pressure on facilities. That is why it is really important that we invest and put a strong package together for the next round to back clubs in the context of the really exceptional work they are doing.  I thank Deputy Shane Moynihan for the representations on behalf of clubs in his area. I agree with the point he made on the collaboration and synergies by local authorities, ETBs and schools with local clubs.  That is something we want to encourage and promote as part of the next round. If we can develop facilities that can be used by schools and clubs, we will get an exceptional dividend from that investment.  The Deputy's point about Astroturf and artificial pitches is more relevant than ever. They make exceptional use of limited space. We have seen, particularly with the weather we have had in the past couple of months, that the space can be used every week. Grass-based pitches have meant that many have not been able to participate over the past couple of months. That will be a challenge, going forward, that we will have to work to try to address through investment. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Sports Funding"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/dbsect_29","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Departmental Funding","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/dbsect_25","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_25","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_29","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"S\u00e9amus McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_29.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"S\u00e9amus McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy S\u00e9amus McGrath  I will try to be shorter than the allotted time, if possible. I ask the Minister of State when the next LSSIF is likely to open for applications. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  I propose to take Questions Nos. 140 and 180 together.  I thank the Deputy. The LSSIF was established, as the Deputy knows, to provide Exchequer support for larger sports facility projects and the cumulative investment since 2020 is \u20ac297 million across 68 projects. While the LSSIF is closed to applications at present, our focus is on ensuring that project delivery under the first two rounds of the LSSIF is followed through on. This process will inform any decisions regarding the timing of a future round, but I am committed to ensuring sustained investment in sports facilities to meet our ambitious goals for sports participation nationwide.  The LSSIF focuses on larger initiatives, particularly those related to high-performance sport, major spectator events and community-accessible facilities. The key aims of the LSSIF are to increase active participation in sport and the quality of that participation, to increase the quantum and quality of social participation in sport, to improve high performance in sport and to increase active participation.  I am pleased to confirm that nine LSSIF projects, including the redevelopments of St. Conleth's Stadium in Kildare and Dexcom Stadium in Galway, are complete. I joined the Deputy at the Munster Rugby centre of excellence in Cork, which is a wonderful facility that was strongly supported under this round of funding. I know from talking to him that day that the Deputy has plans and objectives for this fund, going forward. From the Government point of view, there will be one more round. The national development plan commits to that round. It will be towards the latter part of this Government's term when that new round opens. As I said, the specific timing of that will depend on the progress made with the existing fund and applications. For the next couple of years, our focus will be on ensuring those projects move. Some of them have been much slower than they should have been and we want them to be delivered before we move towards opening a new round for new applications to come forward. That is, we expect, two to three years away. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"S\u00e9amus McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy S\u00e9amus McGrath  I thank the Minister of State for his response in respect of the LSSIF. He has outlined the statistics, including the number of applications, the number of projects and so on. Receiving up to \u20ac500,000 in public money is significant for projects. As the Minister of State said, it has allowed a large number of projects to progress. We are at the implementation phase of the previous rounds. That is all positive.  I do not have to tell the Minister of State the importance of sport. It is critical. It provides a positive outlet for many people of all ages. It not only helps physical health but also mental health. That is being recognised increasingly.  Sport helps to build bridges and improves diversity among our communities, which is critical. It helps to build lifelong friendships and bonds. It is critical to the self-development of young people. I know all of us in the House agree with that.  The LSSIF has, as the Minister of State said, a specific target. Very often, applications are made through local authorities, NGOs and so on. I will come back in shortly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  The LSSIF has been an important fund. The current national sports strategy, published in 2018, identified the need to establish a LSSIF at Government level. Outside the community sports facilities fund, there were many projects of scale that simply could not get the funding together to allow them to happen. That was a real gap in our national support network.  We have had two rounds so far. The first was in 2019 and the second was in 2024. As I say, over 60 projects have been supported as a result and the Deputy has seen the fruits of that in his constituency with the Munster Rugby centre of excellence.  I was glad, with the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, to open a couple of weeks ago the new stand at the Dexcom Stadium of Connacht Rugby in Galway. That is a reflection of the types of projects that are now being delivered and that would have struggled to be viable in the absence of the LSSIF.  I know there are many other projects that are seeking funding. I know that Deputy McGrath has plans and objectives for where he would like that funding to go. Our objective for the next couple of years is to drive on the current projects and ensure they happen. As I said, under the national development plan, we have committed to opening a new round in the latter half of the term of this Government for new applications to come in and see that important work on projects of scale are supported at a Government level and are delivered. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"S\u00e9amus McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy S\u00e9amus McGrath  As the Minister of State knows, many large projects are moving towards a multi-use and partnership model. In my hometown of Carrigaline, County Cork, there is one such project in the pipeline involving a number of different clubs. The local rugby, athletics and basketball clubs are involved, along with Owenabue Special Olympics Sports Club. There will also potentially be a swimming element. This type of partnership approach is critical.  I will make one additional point. We are now about to zone a lot of additional land across the country for housing, as is necessary to meet housing need. However, we must also invest in communities. Over many years, we have seen examples where we built houses but did not provide the social infrastructure or the leisure or recreational facilities. We certainly cannot repeat those mistakes. The sports capital grants and the LSSIF are important in that respect. Carrigaline is a prime example. It is a town that has grown significantly in recent years but that growth has not been matched with infrastructure and investment. This presents us with a golden opportunity and I ask the Minister of State to ensure we take that opportunity and build communities as well as housing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  I could not agree more with the Deputy. Communities do not thrive if they do not have the sporting and community infrastructure. Increasingly, and more than ever, sport is central to having healthy communities.  The project in Carrigaline is exactly the type of project we want to come forward across the country. I am certainly happy to meet those involved in relation to their plans the next time I am in Cork. I will also engage further with the Deputy in that regard.  The Deputy made a point about planning. It is an issue on which we have been engaging with the Department of housing. Good planning does not just mean developing houses; it also means developing communities and sporting infrastructure. That is what we want to see as part of joined-up thinking about how we, as a Government, approach the issue. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Departmental Funding"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/dbsect_30","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Sport and Recreational Development","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/dbsect_25","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_25","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_30","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_30.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Currie  The League of Ireland is experiencing sustained growth, with Premier Division attendances up 8% in 2025 and over 1.1 million attending matches involving League of Ireland clubs across the country. At a time when domestic football is clearly on the up, will the Minister of State outline what measures he and his Department are taking to support the rise of the League of Ireland? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  I propose to take Questions Nos. 142, 143, 159 and 179 together.  I thank the Deputy for raising the matter. As she knows, the operation of the League of Ireland and its academies is driven by the Football Association of Ireland, which, like all governing bodies, works independently. It is like all the governing bodies that we, in the Government, want to support. I agree with the Deputy that it has been wonderful to see the growth of, and the momentum behind, the League of Ireland. It is great that every Friday night, if you cannot make it to a match, you can watch the round-up and the great product that is on offer. There is excitement and atmosphere at grounds around the country. That is continuing to grow. It is something the Government wants to support and back.  I was pleased to announce a \u20ac3 million multi-annual allocation as part of the most recent budget to support the development of a modern and professional soccer academy system that will provide the structures and pathways required to support future generations of Irish players, male and female, and maximise the potential of Irish football. This is on foot of the programme for Government commitment to exploring new mechanisms for the creation of football academies.  This builds on the additional funding of \u20ac1 million provided by my department to the FAI last year, which enabled it to produce a detailed report on the League of Ireland academies system. That funding also enabled the appointment by the FAI of an academies administrator to support the development of new academy programmes and to track their impact. The report benchmarked Irish football academies against international standards, based on an audit of existing academy structures and needs, and provided a basis on which to commit to multi-annual funding support.  One of the few benefits and dividends we have seen from Brexit has been our young players increasingly staying in the country. That has added wonderfully to the spectacle we are seeing in the League of Ireland. Of course, while players are, by and large, staying in the country until they are 18 years of age, we want to ensure that they have the pathways to excellence and to become the strongest and highest performing they can be in their careers.  That is why we are investing, through the academies, in supporting those athletes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Currie  I agree with the Minister of State. In a few weeks, thousands of Irish supporters will cheer on the boys in green as they face the Czechs in Prague on 26 March, aiming to move closer to World Cup qualification for the first time since 2002. Moments like this remind us of our responsibility to strengthen the domestic game in order to support future national success. As the Minister of State said, Brexit has reshaped the pathway for young Irish players. More promising footballers are staying in Ireland for longer and are gaining senior experience in the League of Ireland instead of moving abroad at the age of 16. This presents a significant opportunity for us. Clubs are responding by raising coaching standards, investing in academies, upgrading facilities and developing players in competitive first-team environments. They are operating more sustainably, developing talent, securing transfer fees and reinvesting in infrastructure and youth development. If we want a stronger national team, we must strengthen the domestic system that produces it. The League of Ireland is no longer peripheral; it is absolutely central to Ireland's football future. I am in the green tonight. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  I noticed that. The Deputy is ready for the matches ahead and will not have to buy anything new. We are all at one. We agree. It has been heartening and energising to see what has been happening at League of Ireland level. It feeds down to the grassroots and inspires young people. The wonderful thing about football is that people can play one-on-one or two against two. All that is needed is a couple of jumpers and a back garden or park for people to come together. It is a wonderful sport for participation. We want to see it grow and are committed to seeing people develop, whether it is Michael Noonan, Victor Ozhianvuna or Mason Melia, who I was glad to see score in the Brandywell not so long ago and do stuff with St. Pat's. That is what is happening across the country. It drives crowds coming to games and participation. It is something we want to support and see grow. We want the League of Ireland to grow to a strength we have never before seen. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Currie  I am also biased about Dublin West football clubs. We have the best in the country. I welcome the \u20ac3 million allocated in budget 2026 for League of Ireland academies. This important investment gives clubs the resources to build modern and professional academy systems and create clear pathways for the next generation of Irish players, both boys and girls. It represents a significant opportunity. More young players can now remain in the domestic system, developing and gaining experience at home. As the League of Ireland grows in profile, the conditions are in place to nurture talent in a way that we have not seen for decades. If we build on this momentum over the lifetime of the Government, we can match the pride and dedication of our supporters, including those who travel nationwide for their clubs and follow the national teams abroad, with sustained investment, planning and proper structures. By doing so, we can ensure Irish football reflects the ambition, passion and commitment that supporters already bring to the game. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  I thank Deputy Currie. We want to make sure the investment we are making through academies is used to the best effect possible. The FAI is working, with the guidance of Sport Ireland, to use its experience to ensure that system is structured in the best way. It is also working with premier and first division clubs to see how we can make sure there is good regional reach in terms of academies. Another development over the next couple of months is the development of a tier three for the League of Ireland, which is a welcome development. It will deepen and add to the league. I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and for her support and advocacy on behalf of the potential that is here. We look forward to working together to build and support the great momentum and growth we have seen. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Sport and Recreational Development"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/dbsect_31","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Sports Organisations","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/dbsect_25","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_25","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_31","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_31.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aindrias Moynihan  Last year, Sport Ireland commissioned Safe Sport International to conduct a needs analysis in the area of safe sport for adults. The analysis was to include extensive consultation with sports sector stakeholders, including people with lived experience in the area. Can the Minister of State advise the House of the up-to-date position on the report and the future guidance it was to inform? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  I thank the Deputy for raising the matter. Everyone involved in sport, in any capacity, regardless of age, should be able to enjoy an experience that is free from any form of abuse. The creation of a culture that promotes the safety and welfare of all must be at the core of the operation of all sports, from national governing bodies right down to grassroots and fans and spectators.  Sport Ireland is the statutory authority for the development of sport in Ireland and its statutory function with regard to safeguarding is to develop and disseminate guidelines and codes of practice promoting best practice for the protection of children in sport, consistent with child protection legislation. As a result, its traditional focus has been on the safeguarding of children, as outlined in the Sport Ireland Act 2015.  However, in recognition of the emerging requirement for action nationally and internationally, Sport Ireland recently commissioned Safe Sport International to conduct a needs analysis in the area of safe sport for adults. My Department continues to engage with it in that regard. Sport Ireland expects to receive a draft report from Safe Sport International in the coming weeks. It is anticipated this analysis, and recommendations arising from it, will be considered in the context of Sport Ireland's overall sports governance administration guidance for the sports sector and in the context of the development of the next ten-year national sports policy, a process I recently initiated. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aindrias Moynihan  I thank the Minister of State. It is good to know that the research is advancing and he expects a report in the weeks ahead. I presume the report will contain conclusions and an implementation plan. How will he ensure that the outcomes of the research are implemented across various sporting organisations? Has additional funding been allocated to Sport Ireland to conduct research and put in place an implementation plan? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  I thank Deputy Moynihan. We have supported Sport Ireland in the development of this in the first instance. Sport Ireland provides governance and administration guidance for the sport sector, and the findings from the review will be factored into and incorporated into that. Obviously, there will be lessons and assessments from the report. It is key they are utilised in day-to-day practice. Sport Ireland will ensure that happens as part of its overall governance and administration guidance for the sport sector.  Regarding the development of our national sports policy for the next ten years, we as a Government and Department will take on board the learnings from the report to make sure we have factored them into the overall national sports policy and determine how we can support national governing bodies across the country to make sure the lessons from the report are incorporated into how we do business. From a funding point of view, we are always looking to make sure we back that sports policy, as we did the last one, and make sure it can be implemented. We will have to wait and see what is involved in the report. It is our objective to make sure we learn from it and that its findings are implemented. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aindrias Moynihan  Many of the concerns we have heard arose from athletes and their experiences. A key group of adults who are involved in sport are referees and their officials. All too often, we hear of the abuse and stress piled on them. Will the plan, and various research and outcomes from the report, examine the position of referees and the support that may be needed in that regard? They are a vital part of sport. There would not be a competition without a person standing in the middle of the pitch. We also need to make sure there is a supply of referees available for various sports. Many are volunteers. They need to know they will not find themselves in a vulnerable position and that backup and support is available to them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  Referees are absolutely crucial for the participation of teams. They often find themselves in roles that are not as respected as they should be. In terms of providing a safe environment for adults, the role of referees has to be central in the report and to how we provide that environment in sport.  Some sports have a much better ethos and culture than others. We have to work to get to a situation where that is uniform across the board in relation to referees. They have a very difficult role. It is one into which people put big commitment to step up to the mark and it is getting increasingly difficult to get people to do those roles. That has to be central to the respect and safe environment that they have as well. Whether in individual sports or team sports, we have to make sure that the environment is safe for them. That is why we are working with Sport Ireland. We have commissioned this report and needs analysis so that we can identify where the strengths are and also work together to make sure that where things can be strengthened, we do that and support all of our sports to do so. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Sports Organisations"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/dbsect_32","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Sports Events","counts":{"speechCount":3,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/dbsect_25","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_25","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_32","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_32.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I believe that Joanna Byrne recently met representatives of Athletics Ireland. There is a route map, and possibly a motion to go to the World Athletics Congress in China. There is a necessity for governmental support in relation to ensuring this happens. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  While it would be my wish that athletes from all parts of Ireland should have the choice to represent the whole of Ireland at all major international competitions, as is the case at the Olympic Games, neither the Government nor Sport Ireland has a role in determining who can participate in international competitions organised by international sporting federations. International sporting federations are responsible for determining the composition of their membership, in line with their own internal rules. The international federations - in this case, World Athletics - have a leadership role for their global games, and it is at this level that strategic decisions are taken. Therefore, responsibility for any potential rule change in this regard rests with World Athletics, an independent autonomous organisation. Sport Ireland recognises Athletics Ireland as the national governing body for athletics in Ireland and it is affiliated to World Athletics. Neither I nor Sport Ireland has a role in the establishment, change or application of the World Athletics regulations.  It is clear from discussion on this over several years that a successful derogation request to World Athletics authorities would have to be driven by the athletic authorities in Ireland, in collaboration with their counterparts in the UK. Ultimately, I believe that a derogation from the current rule would confer additional flexibility of representation on the athletes concerned and I will continue to offer support to Athletics Ireland and to counterparts in other jurisdictions in support of this position. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I welcome the fact that the Minister of State is in support of a derogation in relation to this. It is only right and I commend the work of the Friends of Irish Athletics who have supported this over many years. I have no doubt the Minister of State has had a significant amount of correspondence from the group in relation to the matter. On behalf of Deputies O'Rourke, Joanna Byrne, a number of others and myself, I ask if the Minister of State would be open to a meeting with a cross-party group within the next, let us say, fortnight to discuss this issue and the Minister of State's facilitation of it. My understanding is the same as his, in that it is about World Athletics. I believe that Athletics Ireland has the capacity, through engagement with Athletics Northern Ireland, British Athletics, Sport Ireland and Sport Northern Ireland, to get all the stakeholders into the room at some stage from the point of view of making sure that a motion would go to the World Athletics Congress in 2027 in China. That engagement could find a solution to this. It is about ensuring Government support and support from the Minister of State. He could play a huge role in facilitating this. If he met us, we could work on a roadmap with these other stakeholders, which I believe are open to this idea. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Is f\u00e9idir teacht ar Cheisteanna Scr\u00edofa ar www.oireachtas.ie. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Written Answers are published on the Oireachtas website. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Sports Events"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/dbsect_33","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_33","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy John Paul O'Shea)  I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case:  Deputy Joanna Byrne - To discuss funding for the breakfast club for St. Paul's Senior National School, Drogheda, County Louth.  Deputy John Connolly - To discuss the availability of the shingles vaccine for those over age 65.  Deputy Dessie Ellis - To discuss the impact of the new differential rent scheme on Dublin City Council tenants.  Deputy Malcolm Byrne - To discuss the review of the Garda vetting process and planned measures for simplification.  Deputy Louise O'Reilly - To discuss the need for full-time Garda station in Rush.  Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh - To discuss progress on school buildings for St. Seton's, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10.  Deputy Michael Cahill - To discuss additional funding for improvement and refurbishment works for a number of older school buildings across County Kerry.  Deputy Albert Dolan - To discuss battery energy storage systems, BESS, in rural Ireland and solar planning guidelines.  Deputy Keira Keogh - To discuss the various stages Mayo schools are at under the additional school accommodation programme.  Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher - To discuss an application for port listing of Killybegs in line with new EU regulations for the listing of ports across the EU.  Deputy James O'Connor - To discuss ambulance provision for the east Cork area.  Deputy John Paul O'Shea - To discuss the need to expand wastewater treatment plant, WWTP, capacity in Kanturk.  Deputy Darren O'Rourke - To discuss provision of repairs and a new school building in Dunboyne.  Deputy Charles Ward - To discuss the administration of the defective concrete blocks scheme by the Housing Agency.  Deputy Alan Kelly - To discuss the need for increased resources for An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na in the mid-west.  Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan - To discuss child care provision in Cork North-Central.  Deputy Conor Sheehan - To discuss the progress of a new Garda station in Castletroy.  Deputy Louis O'Hara - To discuss the remaining sections of the Athenry relief road.  Deputy S\u00e9amus McGrath - To discuss establishing a transport office based in Cork city to oversee key projects.  Deputy Barry Ward - To discuss the significant waiting lists at the Deansgrange driving test centre.  Deputy Barry Heneghan - To discuss north city arterial main, NCAM, project communication failures and public disruption in north Dublin.  Deputy Roderic O'Gorman - To discuss the demolition and rebuild project for three primary schools on the Navan Road, Dublin 7.  Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire - To discuss the status of the delivery of a permanent school building for Owenabue Educate Together National School, Carrigaline, Cork  The matters raised by Deputies Keira Keogh, S\u00e9amus McGrath, Dessie Ellis, Barry Heneghan and Charles Ward have been selected for discussion. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/dbsect_34","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_34","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/dbsect_35","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"School Accommodation","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/dbsect_34","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_34","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_35","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Keira Keogh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Keira Keogh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Keira Keogh  I want to discuss the additional accommodation scheme, especially as it relates to schools in County Mayo. So far, 16 schools at various stages of this scheme have reached out to me. They all stress the need for timely and adequate additional accommodation. Mayo has a wide network of schools that has a vast mix. Some are rural, some are urban. We have some island schools, some Gaeltacht schools and some DEIS schools. No doubt they are all doing excellent work but in many cases they are tasked with carrying out this work in buildings that are outdated, overcrowded or inadequate.  My main issue this evening though is around communication. I have principals, boards of management and parents who are really frustrated that they do not know what is happening with their particular buildings. Clear timelines are not available. Everybody knows the stages but the timelines of the stages are not clear. It is my understanding that, to be considered for capital funding under the national development plan announcement, schools need to be at stage 2b, but getting to this stage can be a real struggle. This year, no Mayo schools were announced in the 2026-27 tranche and that caused huge frustration, because I had principals who genuinely thought that sods might be turned on their new buildings this side of the summer. Where is the confusion if none of those schools was at stage 2b?  I think of the Sacred Heart School in Westport that is currently at stage 2a. Three schools are depending on this particular build, namely, Holy Trinity National School, Westport Educate Together National School and the Sacred Heart School itself. The delays and uncertainty this is causing is having knock-on effects for all three schools, influencing enrolment numbers and, indeed, teacher numbers when enrolment drops.  I think of Sancta Maria College in Louisburgh, which is waiting on its preliminary design to be reviewed by the Department even though the certificate of stage 1 completion was sent on 8 April last year. This school really has concerns about the viability of its two special education rooms because they are upstairs. This means that if there is an evacuation order, some students with mobility issues would have to be carried down the stairs. The principal has received no response to queries, despite sending numerous emails.  The rising cost of building materials is a real concern. I think of Col\u00e1iste Pobail Acla, which is currently at stage 2a. It sent an addendum report on 6 June 2025 and despite regular follow-ups by the principal and the Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim Education and Training Board, ETB, the school is still waiting on a response on how this project might be progressed. Unfortunately, pyrite was confirmed in the new extension in December and the roof that was built in the 1980s is leaking as well. The school really feels unprepared if another Storm \u00c9owyn was to come, as the school is on the edge of the Wild Atlantic Way.  I think of St. Brendan's College in Belmullet. For its additional school accommodation, ASA, project, there is the replacement of prefab accommodation, special educational needs, SEN, provision and specialist rooms. The school's stage 1 report was submitted on 30 November 2022, and following agreement on the preferred design in September 2022, the school moved to stage 2a. The school has now had no movement in 20 months.  There is a huge amount of frustration. We cannot really expect schools to plan for the future if they do not know if they will have enough classrooms, enough spaces for neurodivergent students or the facilities they desperately need. We cannot expect teachers and schools to deliver educational excellence in buildings that overcrowded and not fit for purpose. We should not be asking school communities to accept this uncertainty. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (Deputy Jerry Buttimer)  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Teachta as an Saincheist Tr\u00e1th\u00fail a chur os comhair an T\u00ed maidir le cursa\u00ed oideachais i gContae Mhaigh Eo. I thank the Deputy for raising the matter of schools and the various stages they are at in the Department of education in County Mayo. I am taking this on behalf of the Minister for education. She apologises for not being able to be here.  The Deputy highlighted a number of schools.  I have made a list of them that I will refer back to the Department for the Deputy. She is right. Schools need certainty to plan for the future and that is the fundamental that we should all adhere to.  The Department provides details of all live and completed projects. Information for ASA in schools in County Mayo is available on the Department\u2019s website and further engagement is being made available. Since 2010, a total of \u20ac37.12 million in capital funding has been provided for ASA projects in County Mayo. There are currently 27 ASA projects at preliminary design stage, 21 projects at detailed design, one project at tender stage and 11 projects on site at construction stage. In addition, 42 ASA projects have been completed since 2020.  As the Deputy will know, the Department recently published the NDP - she referenced in terms of the number of schools not included - for the period from 2026 to 2030. This NDP sectoral plan places an emphasis on maximising existing capacity and the prioritisation of school building projects to meet the most urgent needs. It is fair to say that in this context, the emphasis on special education roll-out is being applied.  Of the total \u20ac7.5 billion investment, it is envisaged that around \u20ac5 billion will be used for project roll-out to support the delivery and modernisation of school buildings across the large scale, additional accommodation, modular, and annual September accommodation needs programmes. Over the course of this year and next year, there will be construction work at around 10% of the school estate. These projects will, when completed, provide an additional 57,000 modernised school places with a strong special education needs focus in all projects. The Department will continue to lead and to build on the progress made over recent years with the continued roll-out of projects on a prioritised basis to meet the most urgent needs in terms of provision of additional capacity and modernisation of existing facilities. As I have said and the Deputy knows well, the Minister has published a list of the 105 school building projects that have been announced.  In terms of the issues raised by Deputy Keogh, clarity has been provided to schools on annual December to January payment period for minor works and ICT grants to schools. The minor works grants for the 2026-27 school year were issued in December and the ICT grants were issued in January. The Minister, Deputy Naughton, is also commencing arrangements for increasing minor works funding at primary level and introducing minor works funding at post-primary level. Investment under the plan will also involve the delivery of 297 projects under the climate action summer works scheme. This includes 16 projects in County Mayo. The Department will continue to engage with patrons and schools in County Mayo and across the country to inform the progression of projects across the capital programme.  I know there are schools on the list the Deputy read out that have not been allocated funding. Even though they have not been included in the first tranche of the prioritised projects, it is important that they engage and that we, as a Government and a Department, engage with the Deputy on the individual projects to see where they are in terms of that pipeline.  She raised an important point on the status of projects, the information needed and the clarity needed for school communities and parents associations. In this context the Department will fund and invest in school communities where appropriate. I will bring the list that the Deputy outlined here back to the Department and I thank her for raising the matter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Keira Keogh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Keira Keogh  The Minister of State should absolutely send my list to the Department, but he can be guaranteed that it already has my list. I thank him for the details he outlined.  In his reply, he said that details of all live and completed projects are available on the website, but my big issue is that a school might be at stage 2a for 18 months. One school said it had no contact since April last year, another has had no contact in ten months, another said it was nine months and another said six months. St. Brid's Special School is in the ADAPT 3 fast track programme and some of the phrases that the principal has used to describe the process so far include \"deep concern\", \"growing frustration\" and \"prolonged uncertainty\".  My big ask is that we get clear communication between the Department and schools. It is not unreasonable for a school to have a check-in once every six weeks or two months - even three months would be acceptable to some schools. I do not understand why a school that is at stage 1 thought it might be included in a funding tranche when, in fact, you need to be at stage 2b. If principals who have been there for a very long period of time are not aware of the process then there definitely is a communication breakdown somewhere. I would like to see explanations for what exactly happens in stage 1, stage 2a and stage 2b, and what the timelines to be expected are. If a school is currently at stage 2a - which many schools in Mayo are - I want, as their public representative, to get them to stage 2b before the next tranche of funding is announced so we are in with a chance of many of them getting funded and getting that moment of turning the sod.  The bottom line is that every child in the State, including those in County Mayo, deserves the same opportunities, facilities and investment, and the access should not be different from one school to the next. I acknowledge that there has been a lot of funding into Mayo over recent years. It is unfortunate that in this case we were not included in the tranche, but I am hopeful that we will have a lot of schools at stage 2b at the next one. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  As a former teacher and somebody who has been involved with schools both as a teacher, in terms of the construction of a new school in Ballincollig where I was teaching, and as a public representative, the Deputy is right. It is critical that clarity is provided and that we give certainty. As the Deputy said, that clear communication is very much required.  The Department of Education and Youth and the Minister, Deputy Naughton, will continue to work with schools and patrons with regard to the schools building programme and the projects in County Mayo. It is important that we give hope to school communities and the schools. The Deputy was right to raise the issue on the floor of the D\u00e1il. It is a desire we all share, but she outlined it for the pupils in County Mayo. They deserve to have the same level and quality of school build as their peers elsewhere in the country and to be taught in a campus that is modern and fit for purpose.  We can go into some of the issues in terms of the schools. I was in a school yesterday and I wondered how we can still leave it open, despite the fact that the school community is phenomenal. It is a great school. The staff and students are resilient and the education output is phenomenal.  However, it is important that the Department engages and that it explains the process clearly in terms of the projects the Deputy outlined and the progression of stages. It is something that all of us, not just as public representatives but as citizens, deserve. There needs to be greater transparency. I see Deputy McGrath here. We are dealing with some schools projects in Cork. There should be no mystique. If it is good news or bad news, let us have it out there. At least then schools will know where they stand, where they need to be, how they can progress and if there is a vacancy or a complication somewhere else, perhaps they can fit into the slot, get the money spent and get the school built.  The Deputy makes a good point. I thank her for what she is doing. The important point from a Government point of view, and I am not being defensive, is that we are investing billions of euro in capital expenditure in education. We have delivered almost 1,400 completed school building projects and over 4,000 smaller-scale improvement projects since 2020. That does not solve the Deputy's problem, I take that point on board fully, but I look forward taking her views back to the Department. As she said, she is doing it already and I thank her for that. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"School Accommodation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/dbsect_36","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Transport Policy","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/dbsect_34","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_34","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_36","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"S\u00e9amus McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"S\u00e9amus McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy S\u00e9amus McGrath  I thank the Minister of State for being here. Both the Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach and the Minister of State will be aware that we have very significant transportation projects in the pipeline for Cork city and county, which are very welcome. Many of these projects are urgently needed in terms of progress. We have the Cork Luas project, which is significant, the BusConnects project, the commuter rail implementation and, of course, ongoing active travel projects. All of these are very important and very welcome.  We need to manage these projects under the one roof of a transportation office based in Cork, with the expertise based locally and with representation from the National Transport Authority, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, Irish Rail and our local authorities, as well as other relevant agencies. This is critically important. The Cork metropolitan area transportation strategy needs to be fully implemented. Before it is implemented, it needs to be updated and revised. It needs to be brought up to speed in terms of the projects that are out there. This is best served by having an office based in Cork so that can progress.  As the Minister of State knows, the preliminary business case for the BusConnects project has been approved by Cabinet. It will now progress to the planning phase and that is very important for the structural change that is required in terms of the development of 11 sustainable transport corridors. There is also the redesign of the existing service, which I hope should begin to take effect this year, but, as a public representative from Cork, I do not need to tell the Minister of State that I am deeply frustrated at the slow progress on BusConnects.  It is incredibly slow despite the huge amount of money that has been spent. We have seen no benefits whatsoever in the service on the ground, which is frustrating for us as public representatives, but more so for the public and passengers who want to use the service. We expect the preferred route for the Cork Luas project, also known as the light rail project in Cork, to be published in the coming weeks. It will progress to consultation. As the Minister of State knows, that is an 18 km light rail project, including 25 stops along the way, with the potential to carry 2,300 passengers per hour, which is very welcome for Cork. Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, is the lead agency here but of course the National Transport Authority, NTA, is also involved.  As I mentioned, we have seen good implementation of the commuter rail project, which is welcome. Active travel projects are ongoing in the local authorities. I strongly argue that these need to be mentioned in Cork under the one roof. I am not the only person making this call. I know our local authorities, the Cork Chamber of Commerce and Cork Business Association have made this call too. It makes perfect sense. We have the Cork metropolitan area transportation strategy. As I say, this needs to be updated and reviewed. That is best done in Cork by people based there locally engaging with the local communities and agencies.  Cork Airport is a prime example of where there has been a failure of joined-up thinking. The Cork Luas project does not include Cork Airport, for example. The commuter rail project does not go to the southern side of the city and the bus service currently serving the airport is appallingly inadequate. It is as simple as that. The current bus services as a whole are extremely frustrating. The Minister of State, I, and other public representatives are inundated with complaints about failures of the service on a daily basis. It simply is not good enough. People are sick and tired of excuses at this stage. They want to see improvements in the service. This can be best done by a local transportation office in Cork where all the relevant stakeholders work together so that we can progress the key transportation projects for Cork and get the earliest possible delivery to help provide a modern-day service for its people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Teachta McGrath as ucht an r\u00fain a chur roimh an Teach. I have prepared remarks but in many ways they have been made redundant by what he outlined, because is right. Both of us agree. We have listened to the views of the Cork Development Forum, Cork Business Association and Cork Chamber of Commerce. We were both at the Future Cork event last Friday, where an Taoiseach spoke on the panel about the significant transport projects in Cork. The Government has committed to delivery of the Cork metropolitan area transport strategy. It is important to recognise in the House that it is an exciting time for public transport in Cork. Deputy McGrath and I share the view that there needs to be delivery of the plan for the integrated transport network that enables the metropolitan area of Cork to grow and develop and that also sees the Cork metropolitan area transport strategy delivered.  The fundamental point is that the NTA has already established an office in Cork city, on Horgan's Quay, but the office must be manned on a full-time basis for the delivery of the metropolitan area transport strategy. We have seen the Irish Rail projects and the success that AJ Cronin has brought to the development of infrastructure and rail. I concur completely with Deputy McGrath that this office needs to be expedited, manned in Cork and delivered. It needs to be accountable for the delivery of Bus Connects, the Cork area commuter rail, Cork light rail, the Luas and the active travel programme.  I apologise that the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, cannot be here tonight. I am taking this Topical Issue for him. We have seen various iterations of BusConnects. I will not read out the prepared remarks because Deputy McGrath knows as well as I do that this needs to be fast-tracked. It is taking far too long. It would bring a huge benefit to Cork. We see the N40 congested every day. I was in Carrigaline yesterday. It was like being in downtown New York, with the volume of traffic on the N28. It was extraordinary.  Deputy McGrath mentioned the sustainable transport corridors and active travel, including provision of bus lanes and cycle lanes. We need to continue with that. We have made huge progress in Cork, as the Deputy said, with commuter rail. We have delivered huge numbers of people. There is a new through platform at Kent Station and resignalling work, and the works from Glounthaune to Midleton, and on to Mallow in the Deputy's area, are phenomenal. It is important that we continue with that.  The point the Deputy made about the airport is absolutely correct. I share his view that the airport has been forgotten with regard to the provision of rail but, more pertinently and immediately, the provision of bus access to the airport. It beggars belief that Cork Airport does not have public buses to it, in particular in the mornings to get staff, customers and passengers to the airport. I cannot understand how Bus \u00c9ireann cannot sit down with TII, the NTA, the airport, and local authorities to address that.  I thank Deputy McGrath for raising the matter. He knows, as I do, that this a need that will see projects delivered. It is beneficial for Cork. I thank him for his support for this project. It is critical that we progress it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"S\u00e9amus McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy S\u00e9amus McGrath  I do not have to tell the Minister of State that Cork is the second city. It is the fastest growing city in Ireland and that is likely to continue for the coming decade. The population of Cork is expected to increase by between 50% and 60% by 2040, bringing the overall population of the county to 770,000 people, which is very significant.  I repeat what I said earlier. The projects in Cork should not be managed by people in Dublin. They should be managed by people based in Cork so that they can have active engagement with all relevant bodies, individuals, communities and stakeholders in Cork. That is critically important. The NTA office which is being worked on at present is welcome, of course, but that office needs to be radically reconfigured. It needs to be empowered. It needs to be a decision-making office and it currently is not envisaged as one. It needs to have representation from a cross-section of transportation agencies, TII, the NTA, Irish Rail, Bus \u00c9ireann, the local authorities, and so on. That is the only way we will be able to progress key projects in Cork and delivery. People want delivery. The Minister of State knows that as well as I do.  We have seen success with commuter rail. That is an example of success. I give credit to Irish Rail for the progress it has made on that. There is more to come and it is welcome, but a key element of that is managed from Cork, which is the difference. The airport is critical. It is our key transportation hub in Cork, along with the seaport. There is much frustration about the inadequate transportation service to the airport. There is no early morning bus service bringing workers and passengers to the airport. The statistics for those who travel to the airport by public transport show a shockingly low number, because the service simply does not exist. It is an example of a failure of joined-up thinking by agencies of the State and their failure to work together. Cork deserves better. It deserves an office based in the city with the relevant expertise and decision-making powers so that we can progress with meaningful intent on the key projects. That is what I am calling for. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  I assure Deputy McGrath that I, as Minister of State at the Department of Transport, working with the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, want to see the projects that we speak about delivered. Delivery is critical. These projects cannot be managed remotely. There has to be a beefed-up office in Cork delivering in the city. Accountability, engagement and empowerment, which the Deputy spoke about, are needed. It is important that we deliver because that is what we will be judged on. The people of Cork deserve to have the projects we are speaking about delivered on time and on budget.  As an aside, we should look at how we can use the critical infrastructure Bill as an exemplar to deliver the Cork Luas project. The Government is committed to progressing the different projects we discussed. We have already highlighted and articulated the progress that has been made.  The proof is in the Cork area commuter rail programme, under the stewardship of AJ Cronin, and how it is being progressed and delivered.  I thank Deputy McGrath for his support and advocacy around that. It is the model that can bring about and unlock the other projects he spoke about.  I share Deputy McGrath's annoyance and frustration in terms of the airport. He has been articulating that for a while to be fair to him. I cannot comprehend the lack of joined-up thinking by Bus \u00c9ireann in terms of being able to deliver this. As the Deputy rightly said, a number of workers and passengers could use that. There is a bus coming to Cork from Waterford that stops at the bus depot that could go to the airport, for example, but it does not. Where there is a will, there is a way. From a Government point of view, we have to deliver. I thank Deputy McGrath for being a strong supporter of the projects. I look forward to working with him to ensure we see those projects being delivered in our lifetime in this D\u00e1il. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Transport Policy"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/dbsect_37","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Rental Sector","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/dbsect_34","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_34","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_37","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dessie Ellis","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dessie Ellis","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dessie Ellis  T\u00e1 \u00e1thas orm go bhfuil an tAire ag t\u00f3g\u00e1il na ceiste seo.  Dublin City Council's new differential rent scheme, which will begin operating from 6 April next, will see increases in rent for almost all of the city's 68,000 council tenants. The new scheme is supposed to augment the council's maintenance budget. The council currently maintains an ageing housing stock, with over 50% of Dublin City Council properties being built between 1930 and 1977.  Previously, Dublin City Council calculated rents based on weekly payments on a percentage of household income rather than market value. Rent was calculated as 15% of the primary earner's income above a \u20ac32 to \u20ac64 threshold, plus additional contributions from secondary earners, who are charged a maximum of \u20ac21. This new scheme will increase the primary earner rate from 15% to 18% of net income, with a \u20ac40 cap for secondary earners. Also, a higher self-employed income of \u20ac700 per week will be assumed if supporting documentation is not provided. The reality is that these rent increases will disproportionately impact Dublin City Council social housing tenants who are already struggling with the cost of living. While if it is true that there is a funding gap between the cost of Dublin City Council running its social housing programme and the combined income from rents and Government grants, this is something that should directly concern central government.  The Department of housing is not sufficiently funding Dublin City Council, which has to maintain some of the oldest properties in the State. The issue of funding or maintenance is now being placed on the shoulder of some of the most vulnerable members of our community. The consequences of these rent increases for many people on low incomes or on a basic welfare payment is that their quality of life decreases. Their struggles with this cost-of-living crisis are greater, and all of this impacts on their mental health and well-being. I have been inundated with calls into my constituency office about these new rent increases. I have had many calls from pensioners who are fearful for the future. Pensioners can ill-afford to lose any more money from their small pensions when the price of energy and groceries are all going up. For example, one elderly couple has been informed that their rent will go from \u20ac65 to \u20ac89. The primary earner has \u20ac303.70 and will pay \u20ac44.77 and his wife on \u20ac298 will pay \u20ac43.74. The primary earner goes from 15% to 18%, less \u20ac55. This is a huge increase for a senior citizen of \u20ac23.74 per week, and an extra \u20ac20 from the secondary earner. That is what has been added on. To give another example, a woman on the lone parent payment with one child and a son on disability is at present paying \u20ac78.80. This will now see her payment going up to \u20ac118.  If the council is underfunded to carry out maintenance works, then it is up to the Government to increase its grant funding. These rent increases will only serve to push communities further into poverty and exacerbate antisocial behaviour. Housing assistance payment, HAP, tenants have been squeezed from two directions with both council rents and private rents rising. HAP tenants will not benefit from any money spent on the maintenance of social housing, and rental accommodation scheme, RAS, tenants will be equally disadvantaged. This new rental scheme is a recipe for adding to the homeless figures, and these rental hikes will exacerbate financial stress and debt, particularly for HAP and RAS tenants and for those in poor quality housing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy John Cummins)  I thank Deputy Ellis for tabling this Topical Issue matter. The Housing Act 1966 provides for the charging of rent by local authorities on social housing tenancies. Rents are based on household income levels, with those on lower incomes paying lower rents and those on higher incomes paying higher rents. This system is known as the differential rents system. It is a critical piece of the State's welfare apparatus, subsidising housing costs and supporting households who cannot meet their long-term accommodation needs from their own resources. The making or amending of such rent schemes is a matter for local authorities within broad principles that are set out by my Department. As part of its devolved function in administering rent schemes, my Department understands that Dublin City Council has recently undertaken a major review of its differential rent scheme with the intention of making it fairer and progressive whereby those who earn more can pay more while still protecting those on lowest incomes.  Recent analysis by Dublin City Council found more than one fifth of council households have an after-tax income of greater than \u20ac1,000 per week. I understand that households in receipt of social housing in the Dublin City Council area pay heavily subsidised rents, with the average charge across the scheme at \u20ac83 per week. This average rent is reported to rise to \u20ac108 under the changes. The Dublin City Council scheme raises the proportion of income reckonable for rent calculation from 15% to 18% and also takes into consideration the incomes of all subsidiary earners in the household, including adult children who are working. Dublin City Council's new rent scheme is, therefore, progressive in that those households who collectively earn more pay a higher proportion of their income in rent, similar to the PAYE system.  The new housing plan entitled Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030 commits to reviewing the rents paid by social housing tenants with a view to introducing an equitable system of rents that is fair, progressive, sustainable and that protects the most vulnerable. This builds on the work and analysis my Department has been undertaking, which identified that the current differential system varies significantly across the 31 local authorities. While rents are based on household income, the amounts charged and the approaches taken in calculating those rents differ considerably. Proposals will be submitted to the Minister, Deputy Browne, for his consideration in the second half of this year, and any decision to implement a standardised national rents framework will be considered thereafter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dessie Ellis","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dessie Ellis  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Aire St\u00e1it. Alongside the cost-of-living crisis we are in that moment, we are now faced with rent hikes by Dublin City Council and there have been rent hikes elsewhere. This affects senior citizens. I mentioned to the Minister of State a couple in their 80s on fixed incomes, and one of them is being charged \u20ac43 extra. It comes to \u20ac43 extra between the two of them. In another case, it is over \u20ac60. It is hard to understand how we can stand over \u20ac43 out of \u20ac280 being taken from senior citizens. That does not make sense. It is immoral; it is not right. There are flaws in what is being done here. I ask the Minister if State to examine this and see whether that can be rectified because that is far too much to take from any senior citizen.  We also have the residential tenancy Bill coming, so we are heading for a perfect storm that is going to increase homelessness substantially. We already have 17,000 people homeless, including over 5,000 children. We are now going to see a massive increase in that homeless figure over the next while. I urge the Minister of State to sit down and think about some of this. When we look at the residential tenancies Bill, what are people to do when their contract is up? Some of them have two- or three-year contracts. Their market value is now going to be set on that tenancy.  Market value in Dublin is between \u20ac2,500 and \u20ac3,000. Some people have been paying far less than that. What is going to happen? They are not going to be able to pay it and they will end up in homelessness. That is the problem. As I said, we have a perfect storm heading our way that will make the homelessness situation even worse than it is already. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Cummins  I do not agree with the Deputy's hypothesis. He knows well that under residential tenancy legislation, any existing tenant is unaffected by the changes that were passed by this Oireachtas----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dessie Ellis","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dessie Ellis  Until their tenancy is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Cummins  Sorry, but I did not interrupt the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dessie Ellis","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dessie Ellis  I am only pointing that out. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Cummins  If the Deputy will allow me to respond, he gave an example of a tenant with two or three years of a contract. That does not exist. Part 4 tenancies are created after six months, and tenants have protections under the residential tenancies legislation. The new legislation that was passed applies to new tenancies created after 1 March.  On the Deputy\u2019s broader point in respect of the rent scheme, which I commented on in my initial contribution, it is a matter for each of our 31 local authorities to set their differential rent schemes. Many people in the D\u00e1il look for devolved functions and more powers for local councils. The Deputy sat on a council. I remember meeting him at various engagements. As Minister of State with responsibility for local government, I am looking forward to receiving the recommendations of the local authority task force, which has the aim of trying to give more powers to local government. This is one of them. This is a reserve function. It is an executive decision to bring forward measures to ensure that stock can be maintained. They have set it at 18% as opposed to 15%, but it is also grounded on the fact that those on the lowest incomes pay the least amount in rent and those on the highest incomes will pay the highest amount. That is a fair and equitable system. It is the system of differential rents that we have in place to support the most vulnerable in this country. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Rental Sector"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/dbsect_38","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Water Supply","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-03-03\/debate\/dbsect_34","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_34","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_38","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  I welcome the opportunity to raise this matter. I finally got it accepted. It relates to the north city arterial main, NCAM, project and issues along the Howth Road and James Larkin Road and in surrounding areas. Hundreds of my constituents have been contacting my office every day. I have been trying to get access to information from Uisce \u00c9ireann and the contractor, but to no avail. As a public representative, the Minister of State can understand how frustrating that can be. The residents of north Dublin understand that this is necessary work, but what they do not understand is why communication has been so lacking and how the project is being managed. The Minister of State knows how hard it is to get elected to the council and to the D\u00e1il. He also knows how much trust people put in you. Furthermore, he knows how bad it looks when someone who represents north Dublin asks for detailed drawings to be provided and they are not provided. That is not acceptable. What is the point of holding local or general elections if you cannot get a simple drawing of which paths will be inaccessible? People with accessibility issues want to know if they can go down a certain path next week or if they will be able to get a bus from a particular area. Some of the employees of and contractors working with Uisce \u00c9ireann have engaged with me, but the majority have not. As the Minister of State knows, when you email Uisce \u00c9ireann, you get a reference number. That is generally the end of it.  A constituent wrote to outline the frustration felt across the community. Residents on James Larkin Road received leaflets, but the full closure of the road affects traffic across all of north Dublin and has huge implications for public transport. The H2, H3 and 6 bus routes are already subject to delays and cancellations due to congestion. The lack of proper planning and communication risks making the problems being experienced by thousands of my constituents significantly worse.  I attended the public consultation meeting. People in my constituency thought I was organising the meeting because there was no information sent to houses across the area. I asked Uisce \u00c9ireann how many leaflets were dropped and on what roads. It is still to get back to me. People wanted to see the drawings. I told the Taoiseach how I asked at a meeting I attended if I could take a photo of the drawings and was told \u201cNo\u201d. I met with the project team after raising this matter with the Taoiseach. I raised several issues on behalf of residents. I apologise if the email went to my spam folder, but I was in my office five minutes ago looking for it and there was no sign of it.  My job is to represent north Dublin - the job of everyone in this House is to represent their constituencies \u2013 but we cannot do that if semi-State bodies or agencies are not giving us the key answers we need. There are practical solutions to this. At the moment, the Coast Road is one-way all day, even at weekends when there is no one working. I emailed Uisce \u00c9ireann and suggested that between 6 a.m. and 11 a.m. when the majority of people are going into town, it could allow the flow of traffic to move towards the city and between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. have it flowing outward. If it did that, traffic would be reduced. I was informed that the reason for not having a stop-go was for the health and safety of the company's workers. I have a video from today of a stop-go system being used by Uisce \u00c9ireann's team and the public because it was needed to allow a contractor to bring in stones, rocks and everything else for the project. The company is being hypocritical. I know people in north Dublin whose areas are completely congested. That is not acceptable. I am sharing the frustration of the hundreds of people who have been in contact with me. I would appreciate if the Minister of State could get back to me on this matter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Cummins  The Deputy has a job to do to represent his constituents when he comes in this Chamber. No one will ever challenge him on that, least of all me. The response I have here paints a somewhat different picture from that painted by the Deputy. It is important that I reflect it on the record of the House, but I am happy to engage further in my follow-up reply.  The works in the Clontarf area commenced on 16 February and relate to a new \u20ac25 million strategic water pipeline that will significantly improve resilience, connectivity and long-term water security across north Dublin city area. The north city arterial main will also provide the additional network capacity required to enable the delivery of 12,000 new homes, supporting future growth across the entire region. It is a critical piece of infrastructure for cross-city water transfers between key storage facilities at Ballymore Eustace and Leixlip and part of a wider programme of work to enhance water resilience across the greater Dublin area.  It is my understanding that Uisce \u00c9ireann has undertaken extensive communication and community engagement before and during these works. In 2025, the Uisce \u00c9ireann project team attended meetings of the Clontarf flood alleviation scheme joint working group to provide updates on the project to Dublin City Council, elected representatives, local businesses and resident representatives. Uisce \u00c9ireann also recently hosted two elected representative briefings in advance of commencement of works on the project with Dublin city councillors on Thursday 22 January and Fingal county councillors on Friday, 23 January.  Uisce \u00c9ireann has also committed to providing elected representatives with updates every two weeks. To date, updates have been issued on 17 February and 20 February. Uisce \u00c9ireann also hosted a community information evening on Thursday 29 January in Kilbarrack. Residents and businesses along the route from Causeway Road to Bayside Boulevard, including Greendale Road and Thornville Road, were invited. Information on traffic management measures that will be in place in order to complete the works safely was shared at this event. Access for residents, businesses, property owners and emergency vehicles will be maintained throughout. It is expected that this phase of works will be completed by the first quarter of 2027.  Uisce \u00c9ireann has also been engaging with Dublin City Council's active travel section to co-ordinate projects within the Kilbarrack area, and Fingal County Council roads division regarding co-ordination with forthcoming resurfacing works along the R105 Dublin Road.  Before the works began, Uisce \u00c9ireann's contractor issued letters to homes and businesses in the area with details of the traffic arrangements. Variable message signage will also be displayed at the junction of Greendale Road and Dublin Road and at the Causeway Road junction. This signage may move throughout the duration of the works as necessary.  Uisce \u00c9ireann's contractor has been engaging with local stakeholders, including Dublin City Council, emergency services, public transport providers such as Dublin Bus, refuse collection companies and schools, to help ensure that the project runs as smoothly as possible. Emergency services, refuse collection companies and public transport operators have been provided with a detailed traffic management plan so that they can make necessary arrangements.  Since the works have commenced, Uisce \u00c9ireann has been closely monitoring traffic conditions and will continue to review traffic management plans, incorporating feedback from elected representatives and local residents, as the Deputy is doing here this evening on behalf of his constituents. I am informed that a dedicated community liaison officer for the project is in place. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Aire St\u00e1it. I know how things work. I am in here 15 months. The Department gave this question to Uisce \u00c9ireann and Uisce \u00c9ireann has given its reply to the Minister of State. I understand that the Minister of State is very busy and I welcome all the work he has done on other issues. Uisce \u00c9ireann gave us a briefing on 22 January. A week later, it had a briefing for the public and the week after that the project commenced. Two weeks' notice for public representatives to give feedback on a major project that is going to close up the entire main road in north Dublin is not long enough.  After I raised it with the Taoiseach, I had a private meeting with Uisce \u00c9ireann and the contractor and they asked me why I wanted to know which path was to close. I was honestly shocked. I said maybe it was because I represented people with additional needs who needed to know which path they could go down. Maybe it was because people were wondering if the entirety of the St. Assam's and Foxfield roads was going to be chock-a-block, which it was last week. Businesses need to know if they have to reduce staff because they are going to lose access to the traffic flow.  I appreciate the Minister of State's statement, but what I am really asking him for, as any Deputies or councillors from Dublin Bay North or the specific area would if they were here, is an immediate meeting with Uisce \u00c9ireann and the GMC Utilities team. It is not acceptable for them to make these decisions without any public information. I am trying to read the gobbledegook Uisce \u00c9ireann gave to the Minister of State. It says there were a huge amount of leaflets dropped. When I asked what streets they were delivered to, on what date and to what houses, it did not tell me because it does not want us to know how few it dropped. It talks about updates every two weeks. I counted - I have sent it about 40 or 50 emails. There is a generic reply to every TD and councillor. The Minister of State knows this. It undermines the entire democracy when a holder of one of the highest seats we can be elected to in this country cannot get a simple photo of a path for a child who has learned the route of their commute to college.  I would love if the Department could request that meeting on behalf of the other TDs and the councillors in north Dublin. The northside cannot be treated this way. I have said it before: it would not happen on the other side of the Liffey. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Cummins  I will take his request back to the Minister, Deputy Browne, and I am sure Deputy Heneghan will speak to him in the context of the Deputy's request.  As the Deputy will appreciate, any works of this nature are very significant and will be disruptive. Obviously, only management and mitigation measures can be put in place. That will change depending on the circumstances that exist at any given time, given the nature of works at any given time.  The communications, as outlined in my initial response, are there in terms of the meetings and the continued engagement that Uisce \u00c9ireann has committed to, including the designated liaison officer, for whom contact details are on the website, and the continued engagement with the emergency services, Dublin City Council and the public transport providers to ensure that as much of that communication is maintained insofar as is possible while works are being undertaken.  I hear what the Deputy is saying in terms of the engagement. I think there is a broader point that has been made by Deputies. It has been raised by the Minister and me with Uisce \u00c9ireann in terms of communications. The Deputy will have seen some feedback that was provided to all Oireachtas Members recently by Uisce \u00c9ireann in terms of public representative engagements. I accept the points the Deputy has raised and I will take them back to the Minister, Deputy James Browne. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy John Paul O'Shea)  I thank the Minister of State. As the fifth Topical Issue will not be taken because Deputy Charles Ward is not in attendance, the D\u00e1il stands adjourned until 9 a.m. tomorrow morning. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar athl\u00f3 ar 11.35 p.m. go dt\u00ed 9 a.m., D\u00e9 C\u00e9adaoin, an 4 M\u00e1rta 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The D\u00e1il adjourned at 11.35 p.m. until 9 a.m. on Wednesday, 4 March 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Water Supply"}]}}]},"contextDate":"2026-03-03"},{"debateRecord":{"house":{"showAs":"34th D\u00e1il","committeeCode":"","houseCode":"dail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/house\/dail\/34","chamberType":"house","houseNo":"34"},"chamber":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/def\/house\/dail","showAs":"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann"},"lastUpdated":"2026-07-01T02:13:30+00:00","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/main","formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/mul@\/main.xml"},"pdf":null},"date":"2026-02-26","counts":{"contributorCount":140,"divisionCount":0,"debateSectionCount":44,"questionCount":26,"billCount":1},"debateType":"debate","debateSections":[{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_2","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Estimates for Public Services 2026: Messages from Select Committees","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy David Maxwell)  The Select Committee on Fisheries and Maritime Affairs has completed its consideration of the following Revised Estimate for Public Services for the service of the year ending on 31 December 2026: Vote 29 - Climate, Energy and the Environment.  The Select Committee on Agriculture and Food has completed its consideration of the following Revised Estimate for Public Services for the service of the year ending on 31 December 2026: Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Estimates for Public Services 2026: Messages from Select Committees"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_3","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_4","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Youth Unemployment","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_4","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_4.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  My question, as the Minister will see, is simple and straightforward. I hope he has plenty of very enlightening answers for me. The question concerns the issue of youth unemployment and, in particular, the impact of automation and AI, which is causing a bit of what might be called a bottleneck. Where previously there would have been a pipeline to move through, a lot of younger people are getting stuck because jobs they would traditionally have moved into are now being done by AI and automated in other ways. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Dara Calleary)  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Teachta as an gceist th\u00e1bhachtach seo. According to the latest labour force survey, which was released by the Central Statistics Office, CSO, on 19 February, employment has been increasing for young people, standing at 323,200, which is up 6,000 over the past year. Reflecting this, the youth unemployment rate of 9.8% in quarter 4 of 2025 is lower than a year earlier, when the rate was at 9.9%.  It is important to note that youth employment is in most economies generally about twice the level of unemployment. This is because youth labour data is impacted by participation in education.  When participation in education is taken into account, the results of the survey also show that the rate of those not in education, employment or training stands at 6.3%. This rate includes not just young unemployed people but also younger people who may be disabled. The rate remains low by historical standards and compares favourably. However, I am concerned about the rate.  I also agree with the Deputy's concerns about AI. However, as with earlier forms of technological progress, while AI will displace jobs, it will also create jobs and in doing so increase productivity, the gains from which will be reflected in general economic performance. It is too early to say with any confidence what the balance of these effects will be, though historical experience indicates that the gains may be more significant than the losses.  That said, the expert group on future skills needs published a recent report which highlighted our leading global position in relation to AI. It highlighted a strong demand for workers with AI skills and indicated that the adoption of AI presents considerable potential for Ireland's employment and labour market. The Department of Finance has also published research on this subject. It has identified the at-risk sectors as being the ICT, financial, professional, scientific and technical sectors. It noted, which supports the Deputy's contention, that the impact of AI was likely to be more concentrated in entry-level jobs. We are monitoring these developments closely. I will get a chance to speak about the Pathways to Work process in my next response. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  That will be welcome. A number of factors need to be considered. I welcome the fact that the Minister is concerned because I am, too. I feel that when we are both concerned about something, we might be able to do something about it, which would be good.  I welcome publication of the report into AI. However, there is an issue. Youth unemployment is rising at a faster rate than that of the general population. Therefrom comes both of our concerns. What is needed is a bespoke programme for younger people. We are heading into a period where we may experience some unemployment. I feel that now is the time to get ready for that, with the specific needs of younger people in mind, and acknowledge, as the National Youth Council of Ireland has pointed out, the bottleneck that exists whereby people are unable to move on to more fulfilling or different jobs.  The other issue is that of underemployment. A lot of younger people who are working have the capacity to work more but cannot get that work. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I thank the Deputy. I confirm that we are monitoring all AI developments very closely. We are doing so in the context of developing the successor strategy to Pathways to Work. That strategy will include priorities for younger people. We expect it will be published in quarter 2 of this year.  We have made some changes. I particularly draw the attention of the Deputy to the changes in T\u00fas. The T\u00fas work placement scheme is being extended to 18-year-olds who are in receipt of jobseeker's allowance or who are the beneficiaries of temporary protection, and those people who are assessed as having a low probability of being able to access work in the open labour market after they meet an employment personal adviser. Some 150 people have availed of this option and it is already being found to be particularly effective following a review undertaken jointly by us, the OECD and the European Commission. We will explore the potential for it to expand, with a specific focus on those who may have difficulties in securing employment.  Our teams in Intreo are engaging closely and intensely with younger jobseekers to try to get them onto courses and into supports at the youngest possible age to avoid the chances of them being detached from the labour market. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  I thank the Minister. He mentioned that Intreo staff are engaging intensely. He might provide me with a note on the type of engagement and where it is that Intreo is directing people. We know that 50,000 young workers are either working part time or on low-hours contracts. In some instances, much and all as they should not be, they are on zero-hours contracts.  I met representatives of the National Youth Council of Ireland. They are saying clearly that there is not just youth unemployment, which is an issue and which I feel is a bit of a canary in a coalmine, as I have said previously, but there is also the issue of underemployment. If we look at the statistics, we will see that 18% of 25-year-olds had to go back to their parents' houses after attempting to live on their own and 43% have never left. Clearly, there is an issue. We have all been 25, albeit that it was a long time ago, and you do not necessarily want to be living with your parents at that age. I do not think that figure represents people who are happy to be at home. Those are people who are stuck at home. That needs to be examined. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I will certainly provide that information to the Deputy. The range of supports that Intreo advisers use includes Springboard+ and identifying Springboard+ opportunities. It provides free and sometimes heavily subsidised education for in-demand skill areas. We can match courses to people's skills and abilities.  SOLAS continues to provide focused training programmes. There is also the work placement experience programme. With the back-to-work enterprise scheme allowance, I am encouraging people to set up their own businesses. That is something I am very passionate about. I will be asking the Department to focus on supporting people through the journey of setting up their own businesses, giving people options and, most importantly, providing the supports to go through that. We also have the short-term enterprise allowance.  There is a range of schemes there. I will engage with the National Youth Council of Ireland about how we package those schemes in a way that can be understood, and understand how they are relevant to the current demands of the labour market and the pressures that are on people. I will come back to the Deputy about underemployment. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Youth Unemployment"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_5","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Disability Issues","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_5","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_5.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  Last week, the Minister announced that a public consultation is to take place on the cost of disability. Will he confirm that this is with a view to introducing a permanent cost-of-disability support payment in budget 2027? As part of that consultation discussion with disabled persons' organisations, will the Minister withdraw his comments on their lived experiences in saying that their accounts of their experiences were misleading and dangerous? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I thank the Deputy. The Government recognises the additional costs that are associated with having a disability. We are committed to improving outcomes for disabled people. The programme for Government includes a range of commitments to support disabled people, which includes a commitment to introduce an annual cost-of-disability support payment. In addition, under the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030, which was developed with significant input from disability groups and their advocates, it was agreed to establish a strategic focus network summit on the cost of disability. While that is led by my Department, it will include other Government Departments. This is a cross-government endeavour and I will be hosting the summit on 13 May 2026.  Departmental officials meet regularly with representatives of disability organisations bilaterally as part of regular meetings with the community and voluntary pillar and in a dedicated disability consultative forum. Disability groups are also represented at the annual pre-budget forum, the post-budget briefing and the annual social inclusion forum.  Since October 2025, my officials have met several groups, including disabled persons and disabled persons' organisations, to discuss the cost of disability. In December, the cost-of-disability strategic focus network was the main agenda item of my Department's disability consultative forum. Officials from across the Government were in attendance at this meeting. I met representatives of the disability consultative forum yesterday, which gave me an opportunity to engage directly with them on many of these issues.  Last Friday, 20 February, I launched the public consultation process on how a cost-of-disability payment and a strategic focus network summit can best be delivered. It will run for over six weeks and will close on 7 April. We are inviting members of the public to participate in the consultation by submitting written, video or telephone contributions. That consultation is open to everybody, with particular encouragement for disabled people and their families and carers, disabled persons' organisations and representative groups. I encourage any interested party to visit gov.ie\/cod . To date, we have had over 80 submissions and we have tried to design the consultation to ensure the biggest accessible format available. We are open to input. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  I thank the Minister. I genuinely welcome his engagement with the disabilities organisations. The question I have is how that engagement has been going. We put forward the emergency winter payment motion, which has been supported by those disabilities organisations. Has that come up at those meetings? Has it come up in the consultations so far?  It is important to note the rebuttal given by the Minister, the Taoiseach and the T\u00e1naiste. They pointed to the supplementary welfare schemes as something that people could avail of if they were in dire straits and choosing between heat and food. Notably, only 3,000 people availed of that payment last year. The emergency winter payment, as proposed, would affect 300,000 people. What is the Government doing for the other 297,000 people this year? They are suffering under the cost of disability.  I ask for a second time if the Minister will withdraw the hurtful and disgraceful remarks he made about the lived experience of people with disabilities in the recent past. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  First, those remarks were not aimed at people with disabilities. They were aimed at political parties that are trying to weaponise the issue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  What we are saying is the truth. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  Supports are available but we want to do a lot more on this. That is why we are putting a huge amount of work into a permanent payment. The cost-of-disability summit in May will produce a briefing paper. I intend to bring that to the Government as part of the budget 2027 negotiations. We are only at the end of February and the budget negotiations are not yet under way. This issue will be my priority going into those discussions. I invite Deputy Hayes and all the political parties to take part in the submission process, as Deputy O'Reilly has indicated she will do, and to put forward their views on what a permanent cost-of-disability payment might look like and how it should be structured.  We had a very good engagement with the groups yesterday. They continue to pursue an emergency winter payment but my focus is on fulfilling the programme for Government commitment to introduce a permanent payment rather than a temporary, one-off, year-to-year payment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  The House should be aware that a protest will take place this Saturday against the failure to deliver the emergency winter payment. The disability organisations, despite meeting with the Minister and his officials several times, have called for that protest, which I will attend.  There is a conversation happening about a permanent cost-of-disability payment and I really welcome that as a direction of travel. However, there was no repeat in budget 2026 of the \u20ac400 payment in budget 2025. The Minister is saying that from budget 2027 on, there will be a payment. The lived experience of disabled people is that they had a one-off non-payment in budget 2026. I ask the Minister for the third time: will he withdraw his hurtful and disgraceful remarks about the lived experiences of people with disabilities? They were derisory and it was deeply upsetting for many people with disabilities to hear that is what the Minister for Social Protection thinks of their lived experience. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  As I said, we are focused on a permanent payment, not a temporary payment from budget to budget. We are focused on getting the design right and on involving as many voices as possible to ensure we consider as many ideas as possible in order to get it right. We had very good and constructive discussions about this with the disabled persons' organisations yesterday. We want to ensure the summit in May is a practical, focused and business-like event. Certainly for me, it will not be a tick-the-box event. We genuinely want to hear from people and get their input into the design of the payment. We will use all the feedback from that process during the budget 2027 discussions. At that point, it will be my priority. We are well away from any budget preparations or commitments but, as I continue to assure the Deputy, it is my priority and we will go into the process looking to deliver it. The proposal we deliver will be one that is owned and shared by those with disabilities and their families, carers, representative organisations and advocates. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Disability Issues"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_6","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Social Welfare Rates","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_6","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_6.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  This question relates to the youth rates of jobseeker's payments and whether the Minister has any plans to equalise them. Coming from a trade union background, we always said there should be equal pay for work of equal value. However, for those dependent on a social welfare payment, it would be wrong to assume it is pin money or is somehow not relevant to the young person and his or her family. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  Age-related rates apply to persons aged between 18 and 24 in receipt of a jobseeker's payment. However, young jobseekers can receive the full adult payment if they participate in training and employment programmes. This is the correct approach, which will help to minimise the scarring effects that extended periods of activity can sometimes have on the long-term prospects and well-being of young people. Age-related rates are not applied to all young adults. Exemptions apply to those with dependent children, those previously in the care of Tusla or living independently and those in receipt of State housing supports such as the housing assistance payment, HAP.  At the end of January 2026, 11,850 people were on reduced rates of \u20ac163.70. My priority, rather than adjusting payment rates, is to give young people the best possible chance to participate in the labour market, as we have just discussed. Supporting young people to take up employment, education and training opportunities can enhance their employment prospects over time, as well as their ability to earn an adequate income to support themselves and their families into the future. If young jobseekers participate in education or training, they receive up to the maximum personal rate of jobseeker's allowance of \u20ac254. If they participate in a work placement experience programme, that weekly rate can increase to \u20ac369.  As I said previously, we are currently finalising our work on the successor to the previous Pathways to Work strategy. As part of that strategy, I am determined to ensure that young people continue to be prioritised through education, training and employment supports. Accordingly, and in line with the reinforced youth guarantee, my Department continues to work to ensure young jobseekers receive a good-quality offer of employment, education or training within four months of becoming unemployed or leaving education. The current approach strikes the right balance in supporting young people into employment. I have no plans to change the rates for young jobseekers at this time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  My constituency has the youngest population in the State. Youth unemployment is rising at three times the rate for the general population, as we have discussed, and constituencies like mine will feel that the hardest. A total of 18% of 25-year-olds went back to their parents' house after attempting to live on their own and 43% have never left. This means 60%-plus of young adults remain in their family home. The Minister referenced the need for bespoke strategies. I hope to hear more from him about that in the coming weeks and months. As we have discussed, the labour market is changing. It is not simply the case that young workers need to be incentivised; they need to be trained and equipped to be able to participate in the workplace. The Minister mentioned extended periods of inactivity. There was a bit of a bang of Norman Tebbit off that comment. I do not think anybody enjoys a period of extended inactivity. Young people want to be in work but there must be recognition that some of them will need help with that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I assure the Deputy I do not want to give off any suggestion of the person she mentioned. We want young people to remain connected to the labour market, to avail of the employment and training opportunities and, more importantly, to avail of opportunities that are suited to their skills and interests as opposed to going through generic schemes. We went through the options earlier, including Springboard and the new changes to the T\u00fas scheme. We want to ensure young jobseekers can receive a higher payment if they participate in training and employment programmes. I know that 99% of them want to do so but there can be challenges in terms of transport and accessing appropriate courses. We are trying to address those challenges as well. As outlined, a young jobseeker participating in education or training can receive up to the maximum personal rate. For participants in the workplace experience scheme, the weekly rate increases to up to \u20ac369. We certainly will be focusing on Pathways to Work, which I will have a chance to talk about in my reply to a later question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  The purpose of jobseeker's payments and other social welfare benefits should be to help people to get back on their feet and back into the labour market. However, having subminimum reduced rates for younger people cuts them off and leaves them further adrift. The two-tier element is not a good thing. I appreciate that the full rates are available for those participating in training and employment opportunities but the Minister needs to take a long, hard look at the reasons for non-participation. Very often, it is not from an unwillingness, as he acknowledged. Young people do not want to be disconnected from the labour market. What is happening is that they find themselves cut off because of a lack of transport and, as a consequence of the low rates, because they cannot get themselves out of where they are. I am very conscious that there is a poverty trap for younger people. It is not good to have a two-tier system with different rates. I come from the perspective of believing our young people want to be in work and to be productive. They just sometimes need a hand to get there. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I agree. We want to avoid people, particularly at a young age, falling into that poverty trap. We want to keep them connected to the labour market, which we all agree is changing rapidly. That is why extra payments are given to those in training and on work experience. As I said, we are working on a new Pathways to Work strategy.  We have had over 430 submissions. We had five stakeholder forum events across the country. We have also met our colleagues in government and in other agencies of Government. We are developing the draft document. I am certainly very much keeping an eye on the changing pattern of labour and the challenges of labour. As a former Minister of State at the Department of enterprise with a particular interest in the digital space, I am very much looking at where those trends are going.  Going back to the reports from the Department of Finance and the future skills group I mentioned earlier, I want to ensure we have appropriate training and appropriate opportunities in place for people regardless of where they live in the country. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 4 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Social Welfare Rates"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_7","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Energy Prices","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_7.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  My question relates to the engagement the Minister has had with the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, or the energy providers, or hopefully both, in relation to pay-as-you-go meters, or as they are sometimes called, hardship meters. We had a discussion yesterday at committee in relation to a particular incident. I will not ask the Minister to comment on that but there is an issue of what I would call microdisconnections. If people on a prepay meter are on the vulnerable register, it is meaningless because they will get cut off. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I thank the Deputy. She was going to send me some details in relation to the case yesterday because I want to make sure that situation does not arise again.  The lead role in relation to the engagement with the Commission for Regulation of Utilities or energy providers in relation to pay-as-you-go meters is a matter for the Department of climate. While we have no function in this space, it is an area that we support people in. The Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment has advised that the electricity and gas retail markets in Ireland operate within a EU regulatory regime whereby electricity and gas markets are commercial, liberalised and competitive. The Commission for Regulation of Utilities is an independent statutory regulator and is accountable for the performance of its function to the Oireachtas. That being said, our primary role as a Department is to provide financial support to those households that require help with energy costs.  As regards to income supports, my Department provides a range of schemes to assist with costs. We have increased the fuel allowance this year. We have increased the qualification for the fuel allowance to those on the working family payment, which will kick in from this week on. Other forms of assistance include the household benefits package, the heating supplement and additional needs payments.  I will engage with the Deputy in relation to the experience we discussed at committee yesterday. Arising from that engagement, I intend to update the guidance we issue to our offices around these pay-as-you-go meters, in particular. I also deal with them in my own constituency office. I recognise the challenges people using them face. I do not want a situation where people are without power unnecessarily. Supports should be given and made available to them. I look forward to working with the Deputy on this issue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  It is very expensive to be poor in this State, if a person finds themselves on a pay-as-you-go meter. I do not give a continental what the energy companies say. Many people are on those meters and they do not want to be. They either believe they have no choice or they are put onto them. They are then charged the most expensive rate of electricity. Thanks to my colleague, Lynn Boylan MEP, we learned in the newspapers yesterday that domestic customers pay twice as much for their electricity as data centres do. It is easy to see where the Government's priorities are there. The people who are on pay-as-you-go meters, who are likely to be the poorest people in any community, are paying a higher rate. They are - forgive me Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach - getting screwed and it is really unfair. These microdisconnections are happening every day of the week. There has to be a rapid access system for people so that they can keep the lights and the heat on. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  In relation to getting access to supports, I certainly want to work with the Deputy on that, particularly for the pay-as-you-go meters. I would be concerned about the rates that are charged on those meters. I will engage again with my colleague, the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, on this. We increased the fuel allowance by \u20ac5 from the 1 January this year. That is a weekly payment of \u20ac38 for 28 weeks, which supports over 460,000 households with their energy costs and that will be an investment of \u20ac486 million. The household benefits package in 2026 million will be further \u20ac230 million. The heating supplement is there to assist people with exceptional heating costs. We had a good discussion at the disability forum yesterday about improving information and getting more information out about the heating supplement and I will be acting on that. As we discussed at the social protection committee yesterday, we have additional needs payments but we need to work on the consistency around those payments and I will work with the Deputy on that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  I welcome that. It is good work to be done but the question was specifically about the engagement the Minister might have had with the CRU or the energy providers. I appreciate that he is going talk to the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and I wish him the best with that with. However, it would also be important that the Minister would engage with the CRU. I do not think people are engaging with this issue. I see it, and I am sure the Minister sees it in his constituency clinic as well. I am not talking about a massive number of people but for them it is important. The case I spoke to the Minister about involves a young woman with two kids. Her electricity was going off at 2 o'clock. She could not access those supports, so she would have been in her house, cold. These are facts but they are microdisconnections; they are very small. I encourage the Minister to engage with the CRU. There is no rule that says he cannot. The CRU is the body with responsibility for regulation in this space. The energy companies are - with the greatest respect - the ones who have the responsibility for gouging these people. At the end of the day, it is the Department of Social Protection that will pick up the bill. At this stage, if the Minister could intervene with both of those bodies, that would be a very useful way to engage. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I agree. I am happy to have an engagement with the CRU but, obviously, it is not statutorily responsible. We could have an engagement in the context that I do not have any role but I do think this is an important issue. There needs to be some sort of understanding of the pressure families and homeowners are under with these pay-as-you-go meters. There can be situations of what the Deputy calls microdisconnections where people are left without power and heat, with minimum notice. I will engage with the CRU around this and will emphasise the need for further engagement in this space. I will also engage with the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, who is generally very constructive on these issues.  I want to point out that we have made investments in this area. A total of \u20ac486 million has been allocated for fuel allowance, with \u20ac230.5 million for the household benefits and the extension of the fuel allowance to those on the working family payment from this month on. This the first time the fuel allowance has gone to people on low incomes, which I particularly welcome. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Energy Prices"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_8","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Social Welfare Payments","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Roche","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_8.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Roche","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Roche  Rare diseases collectively affect of thousands of people across our State. What makes the situation different is that the State's systems were never designed around lifelong, complex conditions that do not fit neat diagnostic or disability categories. Parents are becoming full-time carers, care co-ordinators and medical advocates, often overnight and, indeed, permanently, while simultaneously experiencing a collapse in their household incomes and a rise in unavoidable costs. They must repeatedly prove eligibility for assistance that measures disability in static terms. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I thank Deputy Roche for his question. My Department provides a range of income supports for those who are unable to work due to illness or disability, including those with rare diseases. These include non-contributory payments that are based on a needs test, such as disability allowance, but also contributory payments that are based on PRSI contributions, such as invalidity pension. Eligibility for these supports is not dependent on the type of a rare disease a person has but on the extent to which the particular condition impairs or restricts a person's capacity to work. The purpose of these payments is to provide income support for those with a condition that limits their ability to earn an income.  Rare diseases present unique challenges, and these differ from person to person. They can mean that a person is unable to work or only able to work part-time. My Department's income supports are designed to support a person to work where they can. For instance, disability allowance has an income disregard. This means a person can earn up to \u20ac527.60 and still keep a portion of their payment and the associated secondary benefits.  In addition, those who are on illness benefit for longer than six months or who are on invalidity pension can transfer to partial capacity benefit where they can work, earn unlimited income and still keep a percentage of their payment.  Under the national human rights strategy for disabled people, which was developed with significant input from disability groups and advocates, it was agreed to establish a strategic focus network summit on the cost of disability.  My Department is leading on this initiative but we also include other Government Departments in what is cross-government endeavour. It goes without saying that those who represent disabled people, disabled people themselves and their families, carers and advocates are also involved, and will play a full part in the consultation and in the summit on 13 May. I have launched a public consultation process on how a cost-of-disability payment and the strategic focus network can be best delivered, and I look forward to engaging with the Deputy and with the rare diseases group in the Oireachtas, through Deputy O'Sullivan, around supports that can be done there. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Roche","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Roche  Many people living with rare diseases fall between multiple systems - health, disability and social protection. Approximately one in 17 people will live with a rare disease during their lifetime and, in many cases, these conditions are lifelong, disabling and involve frequent hospitalisations with one parent or carer leaving their employment entirely, yet many of these individuals struggle to qualify for disability supports, domiciliary care allowance or long-term illness-related benefits because assessment criteria were designed around the more typical disabilities and predictable conditions.  Has the Minister examined whether the existing social protection systems are appropriate for people with rare diseases, and will he consider additional tailored supports, including assessment flexibility or a dedicated pathway to reflect the unique financial or caring burdens faced by their families? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I am happy to engage with the Deputy and the rare diseases group around those issues and the proposals the group may have in relation to the systems within the Department. As I said in my response, we provide a range of supports for people who are unable to work due to illness or disability, and that includes people with rare diseases. Eligibility is not dependent on the type of rare disease but on how that disease impacts on a person\u2019s ability to work and earn an income. The scheme already supports persons to work where they can. That is why we have an income disregard for the disability allowance. That income disregard is \u20ac527.60. That allows the person to work part-time within the confines of their condition if it affects their ability to work.  To come back to the meeting we had yesterday, we had a small discussion about the design of forms and the application process. That is something we are going to pursue. I am happy to engage with the Deputy in relation to that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Roche","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Roche  I appreciate the Minister\u2019s honesty and his response. Most of us get representations into our constituency offices in that regard. I would have thought before arriving to this House that that would not be the norm but it is beginning to become the norm where we encounter people who have those very conditions, those rare diseases. It is imperative we find a model they can fit into and that their lives are not complicated any further. Having a rare disease can be quite complex, difficult and upsetting for families who find themselves having to manoeuvre through life with that rare disease. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  Absolutely. We want to try to have a Department that helps people who have to manoeuvre through these conditions. One of my frustrations in public life is the way we silo people. That day needs to go in terms of the Department of Health doing one job, the Department of Social Protection doing another and the Department of disability doing another. That is why we are taking a whole-of-government approach to the summit on the cost of disability on 13 May. I am working with the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, and other colleagues to identify silos that are making people's difficult journey even more difficult. Those diagnosed with rare diseases have enough challenges to deal with without the State getting in their way and making that journey and challenge even more difficult. I am open to ideas from everybody in the House in relation to the schemes of the Department, how we design them and the application processes for them. We had a good discussion at the social protection committee yesterday around some areas and on how we can improve them. We are going to working on that as well. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Social Welfare Payments"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_9","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_10","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"School Meals Programme","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_9","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_10","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_10.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  First, I want to state my unequivocal support for the hot school meals programme. It is a really important programme. I am glad the Minister is doing it and the Department is funding it. The Minister said on RT\u00c9 Radio 1 last week that a third of school meals were not meeting basic nutritional standards, according to the initial assessment carried out by a dietitian appointed by the Minister's Department. Can the Minister confirm whether his Department is worried that once more thorough assessments, including site visits are completed, the figures of compliance may be dramatically below expectations and when those more comprehensive assessment results will be made available? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I thank the Deputy. I have to say that when I was appointed Minister for Social Protection, I did not think a lot of my time would be spent on school meals. It is one of the most popular programmes and most debated in the House. That is a good thing and we want to get it right.  In 2019, there were 37 schools and 6,600 children who were eligible for hot school meals. Today, all 3,200 primary schools and 550,000 children are eligible for hot school meals. There are 3,700 schools around the country which are eligible for the full supports; meaning 3.4 million school meals per week, delivered by more than 300 suppliers, including community-based suppliers. Deputy O\u2019Reilly has championed the role of meals on wheels. Overall, I welcome the Deputy\u2019s support for the success of the programme but we have more to do and we will continue to strive for improvements.  The budget for any hot school meals programme this year is \u20ac289 million. To assist in improving the programme, my Department has established an inter-departmental working group, including the Department of Health, the Department of Education and Youth, the Food Safety Authority and the Department of children, to oversee and make recommendations. Last year, I instructed suppliers to remove fats that are high in saturated fat, sugar and salt. Previously they had been permitted once a week and only when chosen by parents. We have also seconded a CORU-registered dietitian, funded by my Department, for the school meals programme. She is under the clinical supervision of the Department of Health and is undertaking an in-depth review of school meals supplier menus and their compliance to nutritional standards. We also last year launched the summer holiday hunger initiative, which supported 42,000 children. I am very focused on the nutritional standards of the hot school meals. There are 16 different standards and we will get a chance to discuss the full details of those during supplementary questions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  I thank the Minister. Some clarity on those guidelines and standards would be very helpful. The Minister mentioned he instructed suppliers to assess certain nutritional values in the meals. This is one of my supplementary questions. The scheme is funded and being evaluated by the Department but my understanding is the contracts are being organised by the schools with the relevant suppliers. What is the role of the Department in the contracting arrangements, for example, if somebody is not living up to the contractual obligations? Does that come to the school or is it something the Department has a role in? What other instructions is the Department able to give? Reliance on private companies more generally can yield benefits in some ways and disadvantages in others. It would be helpful to understand whether there are any plans on how to change that arrangement and get better value for money, better nutritional standards and on the way the Department would like to pursue this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  The dietician has been working since September and she has completed an in-depth review of school meal supplier menus and their compliance with nutritional standards. The nutritional standards have been in place since 2019, since the inception of the programme. They were developed by the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute, the HSE, Safefood and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland. There are 16 standards in total - 13 relating to food and three relating to drinks. The interim report is based effectively on desktop, so we are now beginning, with colleagues from the Department of Social Protection, the process of getting into schools and looking at what is being delivered. The main findings of that interim report, which were based predominantly on looking at menus, is that at least 66% met at least three of the five standards looked at in the initial look. Some 80% contained adequate carbohydrates that did not include foods high in fat, salt and sugar. One of the issues is around fruit and vegetables and how available they are. That was very hard to decipher from the menu. We will have the full report by the summer and I look forward to discussing it.  In regard to our role as a Department, we are also developing an inspection tool. We are getting into schools. We did 400 school inspections last year and another 100 desktop inspections. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  In the next supplementary reply, I ask for some clarity on contracts and the Department's involvement in contracting with the schools. I note that 400 school meals were evaluated and a third of them did not meet the basic nutritional standards. Somebody told me that they did not meet three of the five guidelines. Will the Minister give a sense of how many met all five of the guidelines that were assessed? He mentioned there were 16 guidelines overall. What is the plan to assess those future guidelines? There are 11 more guidelines to go. Is it possible that nobody is meeting all the standards that the Department has set? How will that be evaluated by the dietitian and by the Department? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  I thank the Minister for acknowledging my interest in this, and particularly in the role of meals on wheels, which is in the community, already delivering healthy, nutritious meals to people. I would differ with Deputy Hayes. I do not believe there are benefits to being reliant on the private sector. I think that is a backwards step but we are all different in our own lovely ways. Has the Minister had any formal engagement with the national meals on wheels organisation and if he has not, will he have that formal engagement to see how prepared it is to take on the work? My information, having engaged with it, is that there are plenty who will. There would be a tie-in with community employment schemes and other schemes to support this. I wanted to briefly mention portion sizes. We have talked about this before. It is beyond ridiculous that people in junior infants get the same as those who are in sixth class. The requirements of the kids are vastly different. I hope that is being looked at. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I assure Deputy Hayes that the nutrition side is being closely monitored. Coming back to the overall discussion about suppliers, my preference is for local suppliers. That could be meals on wheels. Deputy O'Shea is with us. The Duhallow community food project is also a very good model. It is locally produced. This day last week, I was in St. Munchin's Community Centre in Limerick, where they do extraordinary work. We saw the food being prepared there. I do not mind whether it is private or public. I think it should be local and, most importantly, nutritious. With our dietitian, we are developing a tool to allow us to do more audits, to actually get into schools and to see what is being served, because what is on a menu may be different from what is being served.  The contract is with the school, which does the contract with companies. I pay tribute to the Department of education and the school meals unit of my own Department. They work incredibly hard and give guidance and support. The contractual relationship is between the school and the supplier, which is important. I make the point to Deputy O'Reilly that I hope, once we finalise the report of our dietitian, to engage with organisations based on having her report and analysis of the potential. As I said, I am open to anything as long as it provides nutrition, but my personal preference is for local. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"School Meals Programme"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_11","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Social Welfare Schemes","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_9","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_11","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_11.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Paul O'Shea  I ask the Minister about the number of individuals currently receiving jobseeker's allowance and jobseeker's benefit in Cork and Limerick, with a particular focus on my area of Cork North-West, in Mallow, Macroom, Newmarket and Kilmallock, and, most importantly, the recent trends of these figures over the last 12 months. What are the supports and activation measures in place locally such as training, employment services, and community programmes to promote sustainable employment in the area? Will the Minister make a statement on the matter? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I thank Deputy O'Shea for his question. The total number of recipients of jobseeker's payments has remained generally steady over the last 12 months in both Cork and Limerick. In Cork, it varied between 11,700 and 13,700 over the year, while in Limerick, it varied between 5,200 and 6,000. At the end of January 2026, in Cork, there were approximately 12,100 recipients of jobseeker's payments. Figures were broadly the same in January 2025, with around 12,100 recipients. In Limerick, there were 5,800 recipients of jobseeker's payments in January 2026. In January 2025, there were 5,300 recipients of jobseeker's payments.  Regarding the specific areas the Deputy mentioned, the CSO publishes breakdowns of the live register by office each month. In January 2026, there were approximately 2,700 people on the live register in the Mallow, Newmarket, Macroom, and Kilmallock areas. This is comparable to 2025, when there were also 2,700 people on the live register. I will arrange for detailed tables of recipient and live register numbers to be sent to the Deputy.  The public employment service, Intreo's employer relations team, offers a wide range of locally based services to assist employers, including engaging directly to assist with recruitment activities, and by hosting local recruitment events that connect employers to jobseekers through a mix of in-person events and online webinars. During 2025, Intreo employer relations hosted 12 recruitment events and careers fairs in Charleville, Mallow, Millstreet and Fermoy, at which there were a wide range of supports on offer in further education, training, upskilling, work placements, programmes such as the work placement experience programme, community employment and T\u00fas, to support people to obtain or retain employment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Paul O'Shea  I thank the Minister for those figures. They are partly along the lines that I thought there were, consistently around the 2,700 mark between all the areas. The challenge for us as a Government is to try to get those people back into the workforce and working with the activation officers. It will be important to see if we can work on those. The challenge that I see and the trend is that many young people end up in unemployment now. I hate to see that. I would like to see them getting involved in work placement programmes, further education and training, employment services, or community employment programmes such as T\u00fas. Community employment is very important indeed. I thank those who work in the Intreo offices, trying to engage with people on jobseeker's benefit and jobseeker's allowance to try to get them back into the workforce. It is important and we need to continue those good efforts. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I thank the Deputy and join him in acknowledging the superb work being done by our Intreo teams across the country. We will have work and skills events around the country next week. I encourage every Deputy to help to promote those events and to attend the events to see how they work. We are more than happy to show them. We have already had a good discussion this morning about youth employment and the work we are doing with Intreo, and the tailored, individualised employment support that Intreo provides. As the Deputy knows, with the youth guarantee of the European Union, we are pledging to provide a good quality offer of employment, education or training to those under 30 within four months of them becoming unemployed. We are focused on delivering that. We are focused on identifying appropriate training opportunities for young people.  I thank the Deputy and Senator Anne Rabbitte for their engagement with me around redesigning community employment, T\u00fas and the rural social scheme, RSS, to ensure that they offer opportunities to people. As I said earlier, we are currently finalising a new draft of pathways to work. That will look at all the labour market challenges we face, because our biggest enemy is complacency, and we must ensure that our labour market and supports are relevant to the conditions in the market today. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Paul O'Shea  I thank the Minister for his continued engagement on this matter. We all need to tackle youth unemployment quickly. It is good to see that, after four months of being on jobseeker's payments, there are significant activation measures from Intreo offices to assist those young people to try to get back to work. I am sure all the Deputies in the House are contacted through their offices or social media about advertising jobs available in the local area. There are plenty of jobs, but we need to work with Intreo staff and employers in the area to make sure that we get as many people back into the work force as possible.  While the Minister is here, I want to mention the southern branch managers association executive being in contact with me about the Intreo offices run privately. I believe they have been in contact with the Minister's office about support for a pay agreement that he and his Department are working on. I encourage him to work with them to try to get that pay agreement over the line. Intreo offices are important to all of us, not just today but in the future too. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  We will continue to work on activation. I am focused on targeted activation. It is important that we give people the opportunity to remain connected and qualified for the labour market.  It is something I am very focused on doing, and I thank our Intreo colleagues. In relation to the branch office managers, as the Deputy knows, we have 55 social welfare branch offices at various locations, including 24 in the southern region, 11 in the northern region, 17 in the midlands and west region and three in the eastern region. We have received correspondence, and we are engaging with the branch manager representative groups in relation to a review of their remuneration arrangements. My officials are engaging around that. We will be engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and we will have further engagement with the Branch Managers Association in relation to those outcomes. Quite a number of Deputies have been in touch with me in recent days about this. We are very focused on it. I very much appreciate the fantastic work they do. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Social Welfare Schemes"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_12","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Social Welfare Payments","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_9","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_12","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"S\u00e9amus McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_12.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"S\u00e9amus McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy S\u00e9amus McGrath  I ask the Minister to increase the living alone allowance in recognition of the significantly lower income available to qualifying single income householders relative to couples. It is widely acknowledged that the household costs and cost-of-living challenges for people living alone are quite significant. When we compare a couple, for example, versus a single income household, there is quite a significant difference. The living alone allowance is designed to bridge that gap but, unfortunately, it does not go anywhere near enough. I ask the Minister to please consider this increase in the upcoming budget. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I thank Deputy McGrath for raising this issue. As he knows, the primary weekly social welfare payments are intended to enable recipients to meet basic day-to-day income needs. In addition to those primary payments, we also provide a range of other payments that are considered secondary in nature. The living alone allowance is one of those secondary payments. It is not a scheme or stand-alone payment but rather a supplement to certain primary social protection payments for those who are in receipt of those payments and who are living alone.  The current rate of living alone allowance is \u20ac22 per week. It has increased by over 144% since 2019, when it was just \u20ac9 per week. The majority of the recipients of the living alone allowance are those who are over 66 and who are getting a pension from our Department. The living alone allowance is also available to those who are under 66 who live alone and who are getting disability allowance, the invalidity pension, the incapacity supplement or the blind pension. The rate of primary and secondary payments to pensioners, and their adequacy, are considered in the context of the annual budgetary process.  In doing so, the Government considers evidence from a wide range of sources, including agencies such as the Central Statistics Office, CSO, and also research submitted by advocacy groups around this. The data shows the cost of living for a single person is more than the individualised cost of two people living together, as the Deputy said. For this reason, the living alone allowance is available to those in receipt of qualifying payments. Any future changes to the rate of payment for the living alone allowance would have to be considered in the overall budgetary context. We are not yet in budgetary season but, certainly, it is an area that many Deputies, including Deputy McGrath, have raised with me. However, it will have to be looked at in the context of the overall budgetary envelope that is available to us in 2027. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"S\u00e9amus McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy S\u00e9amus McGrath  I accept we are very early in terms of the budgetary cycle. I did raise this issue with the Minister last year. I appreciate he is under significant pressure in terms of what he can prioritise with the resources available to him. Again, however, I would strongly argue that this receives strong consideration and that is why I am flagging it at this early stage.  A couple who are both on the contributory pension have approximately \u20ac600 per week in basic payments or, indeed, a contributory pension plus qualified adult is up to \u20ac500. However, for someone on disability allowance living alone, his or her basic payment is \u20ac254. The household costs for that individual are very similar. Many household costs are unrelated to the number of people living there, for example, local property tax, house insurance and rent or mortgage payments. Indeed, many utility bills have flat rates, so they are not really dependent on usage to a great extent. The living alone allowance is designed to bridge that gap but I would strongly argue that it needs to increase. I welcome the increases over recent years to \u20ac22 but the gulf is far greater, and it really does need to be increased in the upcoming budget. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  We are certainly conscious from our day-to-day experience with our own families, but also from our constituencies, that the cost and the cliff for those living alone, particularly those who have suffered bereavement or separation, is particularly tight. We are very conscious of that. That is why there has been such a big increase in it since 2019. I also want to ensure that people are aware there are other supports available that they may not be aware of in terms of the household benefits package and the fuel allowance, which we increased in budget 2026. A person who is in receipt of a pension and who qualifies for the living alone and fuel allowances also receives the telephone support, which is an extra \u20ac2.50 per week. We look again at the costs on a 2026 basis ahead of budget 2027. We have shown cause over the past number of years, and it will be looked at in the context of the budgetary allocation for 2027. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"S\u00e9amus McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy S\u00e9amus McGrath  As I outlined earlier, the difference between a couple, for example, on social welfare and an individual can be over \u20ac300 of a difference per week. That is very significant. When we look at the advocacy groups, such as Alone, which is advocating on behalf of older people, they indicate that over 100,000 people are potentially in poverty. The vast majority of those would be individuals living alone. Again, the living alone allowance is designed to help support those. I welcome it but, again, I am reiterating the point that it does need to be increased. On any objective analysis, \u20ac22 is not sufficient to make up that difference. As I said, many of the household costs are not related to the number of people in the property. As a constituency TD, similar to the Minister, many of the requests we get are from people living alone in terms of the difficulties they face in meeting daily costs and running a household. I appreciate the Minister's response. Again, I would urge him to strongly consider this at an early stage. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I will certainly take on board the Deputy's request. He is definitely in early but there were other Deputies even in ahead of him this morning for budget 2027 priorities.  I will point out in the context of budget 2026, however, that \u20ac12 billion has been allocated for pension payments. Many people who are living alone are predominantly pensioners. That \u20ac12 billion is an increase of just over \u20ac700 million from the 2025 Revised Estimates. The investment in pensions, as we discussed at committee yesterday, is nearly 42% of the Department\u2019s overall allocation. In terms of the choices we had to make, this year we went for a weekly increase in the overall pension rate and across all the weekly welfare payment rates. We increased the fuel allowance in the context of energy costs and the weekly rate of the fuel allowance. We also expanded the fuel allowance this year for the first time to working families. As I said, that kicks in from this week. We have made the changes. It is very focused on targeted areas. I hear the Deputy, however, and I hear him in the context of budget 2027. Perhaps he might have a good chat with our colleague, the Minister for public expenditure, in relation to that too. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 10 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Social Welfare Payments"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_13","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Social Welfare Payments","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_9","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_13","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_13.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Paul O'Shea  I am talking this question on behalf on Deputy McCarthy. I remind the Minister that Deputy McGrath was always first in in the budget process in Cork County Council when he sat on it with me over the past number of years. It is good to see things have not changed since then. I want to ask the Minister, and it is a very timely question on behalf of Deputy McCarthy, about his plans to introduce a cost-of-disability payment and if he will make a statement on the matter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I thank the Deputy. The Government recognises the significant additional costs that disabled people are facing in their daily lives. We are committed to improving outcomes for disabled people by reducing more permanent measures. The programme for Government includes a range of commitments to support disabled people, including a commitment to introducing a permanent annual cost-of-disability support payment. In addition, under the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030, which was developed with significant input from disability groups and advocates, it was agreed to establish a strategic focus network summit on the cost of disability. While this is led by my Department, it includes other Government Departments in what is a cross-government endeavour, as well as disabled people, their families, carers and advocates. I have asked my officials to prioritise this work. Subsequently, I launched a public consultation process on how a cost-of-disability payment can best be delivered. We launched it last Friday, and it will run until 7 April. As I said earlier to Deputy Hayes, I encourage maximum participation in this project across the House. I encourage any interested parties to visit gov.ie\/cod , where they will find guidance on how to engage with the consultation in whatever format best suits them. We have already received some 80 submissions.  Following on from that consultation, on 13 May, I will chair a cost-of-disability strategic focus network summit. The summit will provide a space for key stakeholders, such as disabled persons organisations and officials from across government, among others, to input into the design of a new cost-of-disability payment.  It will provide a space for key stakeholders to identify ways that Departments and Government agencies can make changes to lower the cost of disability in the future. This whole-of-government approach is important - as we discussed earlier with Deputies Roche and Hayes - particularly as we know that addressing these costs is not simply a matter of providing income supports; we must also improve the delivery of and access to key services. Other supports continue to be available from and provided by my Department. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Paul O'Shea  It is great that, as of today, more than 80 submissions have already been made. I join the Minister in encouraging people with disabilities, their families, carers, representative organisations and all interested stakeholders to take part in the newly launched public consultation process relating to the cost of disability.  The programme for Government includes a commitment to introduce a permanent-cost-of-disability support payment recognising the significant additional costs that many disabled people face in their daily lives. The consultation seeks views on how this new payment should be designed and delivered. The consultation provides a very important opportunity for disabled people and their families to shape a payment that is intended to directly address the real and ongoing additional costs associated with disabilities. These include costs relating to transport, healthcare, education, communication, assistive technologies and high household expenses. I encourage the Minister and all in this House to publicise this consultation as broadly as possible in order that we can get as many people as possible provide feedback. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I want the consultation to be as broad as possible. As I outlined to Deputy Hayes earlier, we met the disability consultative forum in my Department yesterday around the consultation. We are open to further suggestions as to how to make it more accessible and to make people engage with it more. There is a guidance document to provoke discussion. We are open to people\u2019s ideas in relation to this matter. We had some good feedback yesterday on what it should look like and on administration issues and assessment. We want to ensure that we have a proposal that is ready and that is shared as much as it can be. That is why we have the process. We will also have the consultative forum. As I stated yesterday, we will be inviting the Deputy, as Chair of the committee on social protection, and the Chair of the disability committee to the forum on 30 May. I will also be inviting spokespersons from the other parties to attend. It is important that what happens on that day will not constitute a box-ticking exercise. We are open to ideas on what form the day should take in order to make it an effective use of people\u2019s time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Paul O'Shea  I very much welcome that this consultation will inform the agenda of the strategic focus network summit on the cost of disability, which will take place in May and which the Minister will chair. I look forward to attending as Chair of the joint committee on social protection.  The Minister said that every support will be given in the interim to people with disabilities in terms of any immediate payments that are required. People with disabilities need to contact their local Intreo offices to make sure that any supports available through them would be made available in that time. On my behalf and on that of Deputy Noel McCarthy, for whom I am taking this question, and as Chair of the joint committee on social protection, I strongly encourage everyone with lived experience as well as organisations working in the sector to get involved in this process. We all welcome that the cost-of-disability payment will be introduced in line with the programme for Government commitment in 2027. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  We have spoken extensively about the process this morning. I hope people engage with it. The Deputy is right that there are additional supports available through the community welfare system.  Separately, I will be hosting a briefing next Wednesday in the audio visual room with community welfare officers to outline the supports available from our section. They will also be available in the coffee dock in Leinster House 2000 to meet Deputies who cannot make it to the audiovisual room. There has been a lot of feedback from Deputies on the community welfare system, its availability and what is involved. I would appreciate it if Deputies, Senators or members of their teams could engage with that process on the day so we can get that feedback on a structured basis. All of us will have feedback. We want to get as good a range of experience from around the country. With the Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach\u2019s forbearance, I will put a plug in for this event. It is important in relation to this issue and also many others in my Department as well. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Social Welfare Payments"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_14","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"School Meals Programme","counts":{"speechCount":9,"speakerCount":4},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_9","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_14","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_14.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  Sinn F\u00e9in and I strongly support the hot school meals programme. Anyone who has any doubts about it should speak to the principals of DEIS or DEIS plus schools. Incredibly compelling evidence was presented at a recent meeting of the education committee. The scheme is not perfect. One of the areas in respect of which there are concerns is food quality. What is the Minister doing to analyse and improve that? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  We had a very extensive discussion on this earlier. I commend the education committee on the work it has done in respect of this matter. That work has been very considered and well thought out, and I look forward to the committee's report.  As the Deputy said, the objective is to provide regular, nutritious food to children to support them in taking full advantage of their education. The programme is an important component to encourage school attendance, extra educational achievement and participation in school.  Under the school meals programme, the primary relationship is between the school and supplier. My Department provides the funding for the meals directly to the school and it is the responsibility of each school board to administer the programme in their school, including handling the procurement process. I thank the school communities around the country that have made this happen in their schools. I recognise the extra pressure it puts on them. The schools procurement unit under the Department of education provides guidance to schools for all procurements including the school meals programme.  Clear nutritional standards have been in place for the school meals programme since its inception. A specific standard was set for school meals under the nutritional standards for school meals and nutritional standards for hot school meals. A technical nutrition subgroup comprising dietitians from the following organisations was involved in developing these standards: the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute of Ireland; the HSE; Safefood; and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland. These standards are publicly available on the gov.ie website.  As we previously discussed, school meal suppliers were instructed to remove food that is high in saturated fat, sugar, and salt from September 2025.  My Department has seconded a CORU-registered dietician for the school meals programme who is under the clinical supervision of the Department of Health. One of her first tasks was an in-depth review of school meal supplier menus and their compliance with the nutritional standards. That review is ongoing, and I hope to have s full report before the beginning of the summer.  I am very focused on the school meals programme, that it offers the best nutrition. I absolutely agree with the Deputy on its importance. I reiterate that for many children it may be their only hot meal of the day. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  I agree 100% with the Minister's final point. I want to focus specifically on the issue of quality. The Minister stated that on the basis of the initial desktop analysis, 66% of meals met 60% of the standard. That is not good by any measure. If you were to give it a grade that is probably a C or below. It is of concern because there is a huge public spend on this. I have heard how the Minister will analyse this. How will he influence this and ensure quality? He stated that in the context of fatty and sugary content, he issued instructions and there was 80% compliance. How will he ensure that when we have this analysis, he actually influences what is happening on the ground? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  By funding and appointing a dietician rather than listening to all sorts of opinions, we will obtain an informed opinion. The dietician\u2019s first job was to look at a paper-based exercise and look at the menus. They are now getting out to schools with colleagues from the Department of social protection. They are also developing an auditing tool to allow the process to be more efficient and will allow us to get the nutritional standards. With all that information I will engage. I am happy enough that we are on the right path but there can be unintended consequences. On high salt and sugar content, we have had substantial feedback from parents whose children will only eat that for a range of reasons.  I want to try to get as much in as possible so that we do not add to the distress of children by making what we think might be good decisions but which add to it. I will come back later to the point raised by Deputy O'Reilly around portion size. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  I appreciate all of that complexity. We heard at the Oireachtas committee that it is sometimes at the request of parents or the children, in that the food is of a different standard or there is a lack of variety.  Two other important points were raised with us at the education committee which are relevant to the Minister. He mentioned one of those earlier, which is in the area of school holidays. Specifically, a point made by principals, Eoghan O\u2019Byrne and Conor McCarthy, when they came in to us was around the continuation, that is, of the hot school meal for the school term but not outside of that. There was a separate point regarding the administrative cost of the scheme. Schools, and particularly principals, are looking for support on that. Is that something the Minister will consider? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  Will the Department be publishing the standards and what schools, or what suppliers, have met the standards over time? This may not be in the short term but as it gets up to evaluating all the different schools and standards. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  Regarding Deputy Hayes's question first, the standards are available. They are published on gov.ie . I want to get a full understanding of that when I get the full report. I am not into naming and shaming. We will absolutely publish the full report and I look forward to discussing it not just at the social protection committee but also at the education committee.  On Deputy O'Rourke's questions, the holiday meals school pilot this year was very important. We do that in partnership with the Department of education. I think something like 40,000 children have benefited from it and that was really important. It was particularly focused on what used to be known as the July provision and those who take part in that programme. I agree on that issue of the summer provision and that is something we will look at. As of now, we are focused on this programme. On where we came from in 2019, the then Minister, Regina Doherty MEP, followed by the then Minister, Heather Humphreys, drove it hard to get it into every primary school. We now have it open in most primary schools. There are some we are still working through. I want to bed it down and then start to fulfil the programme for Government commitment----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy David Maxwell)  Thank you. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  -----around secondary schools as well. My focus now is to bed down those nutritional standards and ensure we have good compliance with those standards so a scheme as important as this is doing what it is designed to do in terms of nutrition and supporting education. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"School Meals Programme"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_15","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Social Welfare Benefits","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_9","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Edward Timmins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_15.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Edward Timmins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Edward Timmins  The carer's benefit scheme allows people who are working to take time off to care for family members, often children. It is not means tested and it is based on PRSI contributions. It has a requirement that people must work a minimum of 16 hours per week in the period prior to their claim. This is patently unfair to teachers who work, say, 11 hours per week and are deemed not to qualify. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I thank the Deputy for this question. The Government acknowledges the very valuable role that family carers play and we are fully committed to supporting carers in that role. The commitment is recognised in the programme for Government and in budget changes for 2026 where the earnings limit for carer\u2019s benefit will increase from \u20ac625 to \u20ac1,000 after tax from July, there will be a \u20ac10 increase in the weekly rate of carer\u2019s benefit, and carer's benefit will be made available to the self-employed for the first time. As the Deputy said, carer's benefit is a payment made to ensure people who may be required to leave the workforce or reduce their working hours to care for a person in need of full-time care. It is payable for a period of up to two years for each care recipient and may be claimed in one go or over separate periods.  There were 4,616 people in receipt of carer's benefit at the end of January 2026. Expenditure on the carer\u2019s benefit scheme is estimated to exceed \u20ac76 million this year. To qualify for carer\u2019s benefit, a person must meet the PRSI and other conditions of the scheme and have been in full-time employed for at least eight weeks in the previous 26 weeks. Another qualifying condition is that the applicant provides full-time care and attention of no less than 35 hours per week to a person in need of such care. The carer is allowed to work or engage in education and training for up to 18.5 hours a week. The 18.5-hour limit for carer's benefit reflects a careful balance between ensuring the care recipient receives full-time care but also enables carers to maintain a connection to employment, training, education or to other interests. Any proposal to amend the 18.5-hour limit would need to preserve that balance and would have to be considered in the broader budgetary and policy context. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Edward Timmins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Edward Timmins  I thank the Minister for that. I am aware of all that information but I am focusing on something different. I refer to the qualification based on the number of hours carers work. Sixteen hours is the number. I will explain this briefly. There are two particular circumstances in relation to teachers and even if one were applied in the qualification process, then a teacher on fewer than 16 hours would qualify. At the moment, for a teacher who works 11.2 hours a week, this represents over half the number of hours of a full-time teacher who has 22 class-contact hours. This person works over half a full-time week. In any other full-time role, a person who works half-time will work between 17.5 and 20 hours and, therefore, will qualify for the carer's benefit. There is a distinction with teachers. They must work over 16 hours a week to qualify but that is well over half what a teacher does. I know of a case of a teacher who does 11.2 hours and they do not qualify but anyone else working half their normal week of 35 to 40 hours - that is, 17.5 to 20 hours - would qualify. I will give other reasons in my next contribution about extra hours teachers do that are not taken into account. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I am happy to engage with the Deputy around the specific instances. Subsequently, we can examine those in more detail. As I said, we have made substantial increases to the means assessment and that will continue from 1 July this year. We have also increased the carer's benefit rate by \u20ac51 over the past five years. Previously, this was done by the then Minister, Heather Humphreys, and I have continued that. The changes in the income limits from \u20ac625, which started from July, will continue to increase in 2026.  On the specific issue of teachers' hours and what is regarded as a full working week, I am happy to engage in that to see if that can be resolved. I look forward to hearing more details in the Deputy's next supplementary. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Edward Timmins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Edward Timmins  I will expand a bit more in relation to teachers. Teachers do much more than 22 class-contact hours. They are required to do many more hours outside the 22 hours and this was outlined in the Croke Park agreement. It includes yard supervision duties and class supervision. There are many other requirements, including planning and setting exams, contact with parents on many issues and continuous professional development. The actual hours worked by someone doing 11.2 hours is actually more than the 16-hour requirement but this is not recognised in some cases while it is in others. I ask that teachers, who work over half the week, be considered to qualify. The 16 hours is the cliff edge but that is not fair on teachers because their week is different. There is the 22 class-contact hours but they do additional hours. If they do 11.2 hours, they are doing more than half. Any other employee in any other job would qualify straightaway. Teachers are a unique case and I ask the Minister to examine that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  Certainly, we will engage on that. There are also issues being brought to my attention around teachers who are job-sharing and that complicate the Deputy's scenario even more. Those who are working fewer than 18.5 hours may qualify for carer's allowance, which would be subject to the means test and to other eligibility requirements. If the Deputy wants to send me the details, we will engage with him around it. Any changes to the carer's benefit or to the qualifying conditions in terms of hours or means obviously has other knock-on issues, so I do not want to give the Deputy a commitment without fully analysing the details. We will drill down into those details and will work with the Deputy's office on that. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Social Welfare Benefits"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_16","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Social Welfare Payments","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_9","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_16","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_16.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Currie  I am seeking an update on the commitment to introduce pay-related parent's benefit and potentially others. I am doing so because Government policies are not joined-up enough when it comes to new parents whose babies are in their first year of life. These parents can find themselves in a catch 22 situation where they either want to stay at home but cannot afford to do so or want to go back to work and cannot source childcare for babies under 12 months of age. The large majority of OECD countries are using earnings-related payments. We seem to be an outlier. We can do more to support parents of children who are in their first year from the point of view of both child development and family well-being. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  The programme for Government contains a commitment to introduce pay-related parent's benefit and explore other payments where a similar model could be applied. Parent's benefit provides nine weeks paid leave to each parent during the first two years of a child\u2019s life or following adoption. This leave can be taken in blocks of a minimum of one week up to a maximum of nine weeks.  A pay-related model that moves away from flat rates of payment would provide a stronger financial cushion to new parents, as the Deputy has said, while reflecting the contributory and solidarity principles of the social insurance system. A pay-related model was introduced on 31 March 2025 for jobseeker\u2019s benefit. My Department will draw on the learnings and operational experience from that to inform options for parent's benefit and other family leave schemes. In that context, I intend to issue a public consultation document on a pay-related approach to parents' benefit this autumn. That will help to inform decisions about other family and related benefits. I will invite the views of the public, employers, members of the House and stakeholders to support the process and to assist in the development of future proposals in this area. I look forward to working with the Deputy in that consultation and subsequent follow-on. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Currie  That is really encouraging, particularly as we in Ireland are above average when it comes to the length of time we can spend at home with our new babies on foot of maternity and parent's benefit. As stated, we are below average when it comes to the financial supports to do so. As the Minister indicated, pay-related jobseeker's benefit is working very well and is a model that could be applied in this instance.  I cannot emphasise enough how important the first year of a baby's life is for both the baby and the parents. As a mother, it changes you - your body, your brain formation and your identity. There is a term for it, \"matrescence\", and it does not get the attention it deserves. We are still behind the curve when it comes to family leave. In most countries, maternity benefit replaces at least half of a person's wages but that does not happen here. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  The Deputy has definitely outlined a very strong and fair case. That is why we have the programme for Government commitment and why I will be launching the consultation on this in autumn. We are certainly an outlier among EU member states in paying a flat rate for all family leave benefits. That needs to be looked at. However, we provide one of the most generous durations of maternity leave in terms of 26 paid weeks and 16 unpaid weeks. On the figures, the weekly rate has gone from \u20ac245 in 2019 to \u20ac299 in 2026. In 2023, there were 76,935 recipients of parent's benefit. In 2025, there were 93,671.  This is definitely something we will engage on in the context of the consultation. We have a lot of work to do. We absolutely know that. I want to learn from the first year of operation of jobseeker's pay-related benefit and apply some of the lessons in that regard in order to inform how we design the consultation process in such a way that it will be both good and engaging. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Currie  I am really looking forward to engaging in the public consultation. The figures are important. According to the OECD, payments are lowest in Ireland and the UK, where less than one third of gross average earnings are replaced by maternity benefit. Countries such as Lithuania, Austria, France and Germany have benefits based on past incomes. We have a high percentage of maternity leave employer top-ups. In 2021, the most recent year in respect of which I could obtain figures, about 70% of women received a top-up. However, that leaves one third of women relying on maternity benefit. I do not think it is a coincidence that one third of women are not availing of their nine weeks of parental leave.  We also have a major issue when it comes to fathers. About 55% of men are taking paternity leave and it drops to 25% when it comes to parental leave. Families are missing out. Ireland can do more here. if you look at countries such as Finland, they have extended leave coupled with lower rates so there is a trade-off. In Ireland, we get above average in terms of time but we are not getting the financial supports. It is really impacting parents with babies who are in their first year in the context of the choices they can make. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I am in full agreement with the Deputy. She has made a very strong case. That is why we will start that consultation and begin work on addressing all of the issues she correctly outlined. They all stand up, and we have an awful lot of work to do in this space. That is why we have that commitment to introduce pay-related benefit for parents, which would address many of the challenges the Deputy highlighted as well "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question Nos. 15 to 18, inclusive, taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Social Welfare Payments"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_17","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"State Savings Schemes","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_9","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_17.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  I would like an update on the administration fees associated with the My Future Fund being paid by the participants. In particular, I would like a sense of any consideration that has been given to these fees not necessarily being flat fees and applying different rates to different cohorts, proportionate to their income. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  As the Deputy knows, the programme for Government contains a commitment to introduce the automatic enrolment, AE, retirement savings system. The aim of AE was to address the pension coverage gap that exists in Ireland and to provide workers with greater comfort and security regarding their retirement income. The new system, known as My Future Fund, commenced on 1 January. The administration fee associated with My Future Fund was prescribed in regulations, following consultation with the CEO of the National Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings Authority, NAERSA, and the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation.  The administration fee takes the form of a flat weekly fee rather than a commission based on a percentage of funds under management. We did this because the administration fee reflects the actual costs of administration, which do not vary with fund size, and will be the same for all participants regardless of their income or the size of their retirement fund. The standard pension industry practice is to charge a percentage fee based on the assets under management; the cost of this obviously increases significantly as a person's pension savings accumulate. In contrast, charging a flat fee will ultimately prove much better value for money for all the participants over the course of a standard retirement planning horizon.  A fee equivalent to 55 cent per week will be charged each time contributions are paid to a participant's fund, up to a maximum of \u20ac28.60 per year. If a participant is not making contributions - for example, if they have opted out, suspended contributions, have joined an occupational pension scheme or are not currently receiving their pay - that administration fee will not be charged. As of 19 February, a total of \u20ac2,221,231 had been collected in administration fees. These fees are intended to cover the costs of NAERSA on an going basis. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  I acknowledge the importance of the administration fee. I welcome the fact that a commission was not charged in terms of the fee. There are options when it comes to a flat fee versus a progressive fee. I made a few back-of-the-envelope calculations in respect of this matter, but do not hold me to them. If someone who is 60 years of age and who earns \u20ac20,000 per year is auto-enrolled in the scheme, they would spend about 6.36% of their contributions in administration fees over the course of their involvement in the My Future Fund. That is assuming that they are with it the entire time.  I also welcome the suspension of administration fees if people are not contributing. That is worthwhile and something that does not happen in the UK, for example.  By contrast, someone who is 25 years of age who is making \u20ac80,000 a year, and assuming that income stays the same, will spend 0.67% of their contribution on administration fees. There is a wide gap there, from a regressive perspective, on administration fees, depending on your income. If you are younger, you get better returns as you are in there for longer but if you are poorer, they will almost always be a higher proportion of your income. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  The Deputy's assessment is an interesting one. In terms of getting this up and running, in the early stages we tried to bring as much clarity and understanding as possible in regard to the fee area. The feedback I have got in the past year in dealing with this is that a lot of people find administration fees and investment fees around pensions very confusing. It is one of the things that, certainly in my personal experience, would dissuade you from engaging with the pension provision. Therefore, we wanted the administration fee to be flat and to be accessible and understandable. Equally, we were able then to bring the prospect of the 700,000 plus workers, which we now know is 760,000, to bear in getting investment management fees, which were well under those applicable to an occupational pension scheme or to personal retirement savings accounts, PRSAs.  On the age side, administration fees are higher in a lot of PRSAs than they are in My Future Fund. I am not totally aware of - and I am happy for the Deputy to send me information if he wishes - the progression of fees.  Ultimately, all operational issues from My Future Fund are now going to be dealt with by National Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings Authority, NAERSA. NAERSA has taken over operational responsibility, as we have launched. I want to make sure this is the best value possible and as accessible as possible so I am happy if the Deputy wants to share information with me on that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  I join the Minister in that. I want to make sure auto-enrolment is as successful as possible. I am confident the investment side, in terms of the investment fees, has been very well handled. In terms of the value for money, the Minister has got a very good rate for people.  On administration fees, and I will send this information to the Minister, it strikes me that people who are on the lower incomes - for example, somebody who is on \u20ac20,000 for the rest of their life - will spend approximately 3.24% of their contributions on administration fees. By contrast, someone on \u20ac80,000 for the duration of the scheme will spend less than 1% on administration fees. There is a question there. If you are on a lower income, a flat rate will be a higher proportion and that may rob people of that financial security into the future. Will the Minister, or NAERSA, consider changing that administration fee in the future to make it more progressive, so that people who are on lower incomes are spending a less of a proportion of their income on the administration of the fund and that it is similarly progressive for people on higher incomes? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  Certainly, I am happy to look at the Deputy's information. A realistic assessment of administration fees would have to be done over the lifetime of their participation in My Future Fund. Incomes will, hopefully, change and that incomes will increase over the lifetime of their fund. One of the great advantages of My Future Fund is that it is portable and that people can bring it with them to their next employment, as they change employment. Particularly in this labour market, we are all going to be working in many different jobs. People can bring My Future Fund with them and, as incomes change and employment terms and conditions change, that fee will still remain the same. The best way of looking at the impact of the administration fee is not on a particular time of your income but over the lifetime of your personal My Future Fund growing.  Certainly, I am happy to look at the information the Deputy has prepared. We will provide it to NAERSA. I stress NAERSA is independent in its operation and in its care of My Future Fund. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"State Savings Schemes"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_18","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy David Maxwell)  Deputy Whitmore's Question No. 93 is being taken by the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer. With the permission of the House, I will allow Deputy Whitmore to go first. Is that agreed? Agreed. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_19","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Road Traffic Accidents","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_18","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_19","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_19.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  We have seen an incredible loss of life on our roads over the past few days, never mind over the past year. Can the Minister of State let me know if he intends to set a road death reduction target for phase 2 of Vision Zero and will he make a statement on the matter? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Transport (Deputy Jerry Buttimer)  We have seen an incredible loss of life this week and in the past number of years on our roads and our thoughts this morning are with the people who have died and were injured and the families. Everything we say is couched in that tragedy and loss of life, and I thank Deputy Whitmore for her very important question.  The Government has, as the Deputy will be aware, prioritised phase 2 of Vision Zero. The Government's current road safety strategy has the target of halving deaths and serious injuries on our roads this decade, or no more than 72 deaths by 2030. Achieving this reduction based on an annual straight-line projection, the phase 1 action plan published in 2021 noted that deaths in 2024 would have had to be no higher than 122. Regrettably, we saw 171 road deaths in 2024.  Any death on our roads is one too many and behind that death is a family, a loved one, a friend and a community where lives are being irreparably damaged by the loss of a loved one. Obviously, we are all working collectively and collaboratively to ensure that our roads are safer. Think of the people who have life-altering injuries from a road traffic collision. For these reasons, the only acceptable long-term target for road deaths and injuries is Vision Zero, and the Government remains committed to this goal.  Achieving our 2030 target will require even greater efforts and a steeper rate of decline during phases 2 and 3. It is imperative that we address the upward trend of recent years in the first instance and, in that context, the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and I do not believe it would be helpful to set a specific target for next year when we already have a clear objective for 2030.  A range of important work is already under way across a variety of bodies and stakeholders to restore our long-term road safety progress, and we made huge progress on our annual road deaths, which saw a significant fall. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy David Maxwell)  I thank the Minister of State. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  I am conscious that today there are families bereaved and people injured. Everything we do, from a Department point of view, we will do to ensure that our roads are safer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  It seems that every day, or every second day, when we wake up there is the most tragic news that another person has lost their life on our roads. Each of those lives lost is avoidable. I would imagine the worst thing possible for any family is to get that call or that knock on the door to let them know their loved one has lost their life.  It feels that it is getting worse and worse. It seems that we are hearing of more people, and more young people. We had, unfortunately, another two young lives lost in Donegal, and my condolences to their families.  Already this year, 25 people lost their lives on our roads. Six of them were teenagers. We need to hear from the Minister of State what he is going to do to address that loss of life. This is within the Minister of State's remit. He has set a plan to have zero deaths on our roads. We are so far away from that.  Will the Minister of State please tell us what he is going to do? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  The Minister of State, Deputy Canney, who is responsible for road safety, sends his apologies that he cannot be here today. He has engaged, as have I and the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, on a variety of areas.  The RSA has initiated a number of significant national public awareness campaigns on speed, drug driving, road safety for e-scooter users and motorcyclists, and road behaviour. I share the Deputy's concerns, but if I can make a generic point, we must look at this in the round and have an honest conversation about driver behaviour. Roads are now shared spaces and are not the preserve of one entity or group. They belong to all of us and we all have an obligation and responsibility.  I am not in any way casting dispersions on anybody. We all know people who have been injured or killed on our roads. We must look at enforcement and behaviour and, in particular, we must reflect upon speed, the use of drugs and the use of mobile phones. I will happily work with the Deputy, as will the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, on achieving a better outcome for us all. We all use the road and see the behaviour. The Department is putting pressure on the RSA to work and engage in campaigns. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  There is no panacea to this. There are many issues involved, and the Minister is right that driver behaviour is one of them. However, the reality is that, as we have seen, some driver behaviour is very poor and unless there is enforcement and a fear of being caught for this behaviour on the road, it will continue. While there a lot of actions are needed, the absolute priority here is enforcement and the Minister of State barely mentioned enforcement in his response.  We need to ensure we have sufficient Garda numbers in the roads policing unit. In recent years, we have seen a 40% reduction in the roads policing unit. What conversations has the Minister of State had with the Minister for justice, Deputy O'Callaghan, on dealing with that issue? That is the crux of the matter. Until we get enforcement right, we will continue to see increases in the number of tragic deaths on our roads. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  Enforcement is very important. However, we cannot have a garda on every street corner and junction, as the Deputy will accept. We are using technology and speed vans and increasing the use of average speed zones. The Department has invested in the safe routes to school programme and we have seen an increase in the number of garda\u00ed on the roads engaged in enforcement. Just yesterday morning, when I was driving in here at 7.45 a.m., I saw a Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na checkpoint on Mount Street, which is very welcome. I take the Deputy's point and I will happily work with her on this.  The Department, working with the RSA and An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, will do whatever we can, but there comes a point when we have to talk to ourselves about personal responsibility. Look at the figures on the increase in drink driving and drug driving. I do not understand, in 2026, how any person can sit behind the wheel of a car, lorry or motorbike, having consumed excessive amounts of alcohol and drugs. I am not sure if the Deputy saw the RT\u00c9 documentary two weeks ago, on which a very brave family bereaved as a result of a road traffic accident in County Waterford spoke. Their young son died in the accident. It was powerful and I commend the families on taking part. With that comes responsibility, and we will do what we can.  I take the Deputy's point on enforcement, and we must embrace modern technology too. Will we see an avalanche of complaints from certain people because we are using new technology? I do not know but I hope we will not.  I will work with the Deputy, and I thank her for raising this important matter. We both agree that there are families in mourning. They are front and centre in our minds. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Road Traffic Accidents"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_20","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Bus Services","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_18","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_20","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_20.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  The bus stop enhancement programme, which is led by the NTA, is a nationwide programme that invests in bus infrastructure. It commits about \u20ac500,000 per year, which is not enough. There are problems with delivery, it is all very cumbersome and it takes a lot of time. I will get into some of the details shortly. Will the Minister give us an update on the programme? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Transport (Deputy Darragh O'Brien)  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Teachta as an gceist. T\u00e1 br\u00f3n orm go raibh m\u00e9 d\u00e9anach. Sh\u00edl m\u00e9 go raibh na ceisteanna ag tosn\u00fa ag 10.30 a.m.  I welcome the Deputy's question on the bus stop enhancement programme. It is a relatively new programme. Choosing sustainable transport is not just a matter of where a bus or rail line goes on a map; it is about creating an interconnected network. For that, people need places to stop, start and make a change in their transport journey that is safe, comfortable and accessible.  The NTA undertakes upgrades to bus stops and shelters across a number of schemes, including BusConnects, which is not included in the figures I will give the Deputy, Connecting Ireland, the active travel investment programme and, as the Deputy mentioned, the bus stop enhancement programme. That programme is a multi-annual initiative, which only commenced in 2024 and will run to 2029. Through the programme, funded by my Department, \u20ac500,000 is provided per local authority, not nationally, to enhance bus stop facilities at locations within the local authority administrative areas. Along with such funding, the NTA provides local authorities with bus shelters through its contractor, while also making the contractor available for the installation and subsequent maintenance of the bus shelters. Local authorities are required to undertake preparatory work ahead of the installation of shelters.  It is intended to streamline the delivery. As the numbers show, the programme is ramping up. It is important that, for the first time, local authorities, through the NTA, have identified all the existing stops. We ask the local authorities to submit their plans. This covers not just the bus stops or shelters, as the Deputy knows, but also hard-core surfaces or the extension of footpaths to make them safer.  The Deputy's question is valid. There is significant funding going into this programme and I want to see that ramped up. There is a very good pipeline. I will add more in my supplementary reply. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  I thank the Minister for his reply and I accept what he said. However, it is important there is a stop in the first place, and stops must also be safe and accessible. An audit was prepared by many local authorities, including my own local authority, in 2024. The difficulty on the ground is that, two years on, the bus stops have not been delivered. An audit is prepared by the local authority, the stop is designed and approved by the municipal district, and the NTA is also involved. However, many of the bus stops have costs, whether it is \u20ac25,000 for a simple pole or, where there is more preparatory work involved, up to \u20ac75,000 when there is a shelter.  We have a problem in Ballybunion where there are no bus stops. In Lixnaw, there are none either. Tourists on the Dingle Way are looking for a bus stop and there are none. It all seems to be ad hoc and this is causing a lot of frustration. We have had an awful lot of wet winters in recent years, and that is going to continue. There are students going to college, people going to work and tourists who do not know where there is a bus stop and if it going to be safe. They need to have bus stops. There is huge frustration on the ground that there is no delivery. If it costs up to \u20ac75,000 when preparatory work is done, \u20ac500,000 is not really going to deliver a lot of bus stops. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  It is \u20ac500,000 per local authority. I have projected and we reckon the drawdown next year will be about \u20ac15.5 million, because we can see the pipeline that is coming through.  In fairness, the Deputy has recognised this is a new programme. So far, under the bus stop enhancement programme, 100 bus stop locations and installations were done in 2025. There were ten new bus shelters, which is not a lot, throughout the State. There was an issue with the provider - I checked this out - because there is a new supplier of bus shelters. A significant number that have been ordered are in transit right now.  I do not want to talk only about the enhancement programme. In 2025, BusConnects Dublin had 750 new stops installed. Portlaoise town services had 73 stops. In the Deputy's area of Cork and Kerry, the Clonmel contract - separate from BusConnects Cork - had 192 stops.  Route 109 had 30 stops. Bus \u00c9ireann business-as-usual upgrades, which are to existing stops, numbered 343. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  Is there something the Minister can do to speed up the process? For example, a section 38 planning notice has to be given. Can that be sped up in some way? We are playing catch-up because the infrastructure just is not there. It has not been provided for many years. What we need is a large amount of money to get these things over the line.  I understand the NTA criteria are based on the number of services that use the bus stop as opposed to the number of people who use it. For someone standing on the Tralee to Listowel Road or standing in the rain in Ballybunion, the delivery just is not there. For people standing in west Kerry, one of the wettest parts of the country, a structure has not been provided. There are poorly marked stops on some rural roads. While there are primary and secondary criteria and priority, it is the people who are standing at bus stops on their own, in the dark, in the winter and in the rain who are feeling it most. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  The Deputy's question is valid and the points he made are valid. In fairness, he acknowledged that it is a new scheme. I have given the Deputy details of some of the works that are ongoing. Work on another scheme in Mullingar commenced this week. It will include a further 60 bus stops, the majority of which were completed in 2025, but the remainder will be done there now.  I agree with the Deputy's point with regard to the planning aspects, which can be cumbersome. I met the NTA about this yesterday in the Department. I am looking at how we can accelerate it. One of the issues has been the change in supplier. That has happened and a new supplier is in place for bus shelters. I was informed yesterday there are some 200 bus shelters have been produced and are on their way here. It is not an exact figure but they give the Deputy an indication. Those shelters will be installed and we will see a big ramping up. I am more than happy to look at the planning aspects of the issue. I have seen in my area of Fingal that it can be cumbersome.  To be fair to the NTA, this is the first time we have had a particular focus on this area. On working with the local authorities, the Deputy cited three specific areas in his county. It is up to the local authorities as well to make sure they continue to interact with the NTA to prioritise bus stops. We are working with the local authorities on this. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Bus Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_21","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Bus Services","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_18","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_21.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  Is the Minister aware of the issues affecting commuters using the new F1 bus route in Dublin South-West? Does he believe it is acceptable that workers who were using the bus to travel into the city centre every morning have had an additional 20 to 30 minutes added to their commute as a result of the changes to this bus route? What is the reason the peak-time, high-frequency timetable only applies to the northern part of the route? l ask the Minister to make a statement on the matter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  I assure Deputy Ahern that the Department of Transport, the NTA and the public transport operators are working very closely to ensure optimised deployment of resources across the network to best meet passenger demand and reduce their journey times, where possible.  The F1 route the Deputy refers to was introduced just last October. We have seen some issues with some routes, such as the Chapelizod route, and those issues need to be addressed. I would prefer if there were no issues at the start of the deployment of a route. That formed part of the BusConnects F-spine, which is the route the Deputy refers to. It operates every 15 minutes for most of the day between Tallaght and Ballymun, with additional peak-time journeys on the northern section to meet higher demand. That is the response I have. The reason is that there is a higher demand on that part of the route.  Together, routes F1 and F3 provide a combined high-frequency service of around five minutes between Kimmage and the city centre, before continuing towards Glasnevin and other northside locations. Beyond Kimmage, the routes diverge to maintain good bus network coverage across the surrounding areas south of Kimmage. To be fair to the Deputy, I acknowledge that the recent network changes have had varying impacts on journey times for passengers and customers. I have said this to the NTA directly. When rolling out phases of the BusConnects network the NTA has committed to monitoring those new services, identifying issues and implementing fixes when and if they are needed. While some increases in journey times are expected as part of the balancing involved and the redesign of the network, both my Department and the NTA acknowledge that certain journey times on this route should be improved. That is being monitored right now. The Deputy's input is valued in that because it is the lived experience of constituents in the Deputy's area who are using this route. That will feed in and it is being reviewed and monitored. The F-spine is a good thing. There is really good frequency there but we need to make sure the focus is on reliability. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  I have been very straight about my support for the BusConnects projects and the objective of the programme, which is to improve bus journey times, frequency, punctuality and reliability. That is off the bat. It is great obviously. The routes had to change because they have barely changed in the entire history of the city. When implementing any change to routes there will always be issues like this. Unfortunately, commuters coming from Tallaght, Knocklyon and Firhouse have not seen an improvement. The 49 bus route was a little more direct but the new service is bringing them down roads that do not have dedicated bus lanes and are clogged with traffic in the morning. We have seen issues with routes in some other parts of the city. We advocate that an additional route be implemented or that the 49 service be implemented alongside the F1 route, even during peak hours. People in Dublin South-West have not benefited from the increased frequency that people in other areas have. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  I do not disagree. The frequency is there and is improving but the Deputy is right that the journey times on some of the services are longer because the route is more interconnected to take in more people. Having said that, we are working with Dublin City Council and other stakeholders to deliver additional bus priority measures within the city. A lot of it as we get into the city. On 18 March, the Ministers of State, Deputies Buttimer and Canney, and I will meet stakeholders to discuss congestion and see if there are more immediate short-term measures we can take. Some of that will be bus priority measures and some of it will be bus gates and those types of measures.  In the medium term, passengers on the F1 route will also benefit from faster journey times due to the delivery of the planned core bus corridor between Kimmage and the city centre. That project received planning permission in May last year and it will be critical. We have started the first two quality bus corridors, namely, Liffey Valley to the city centre and Ballymun-Finglas to the city centre. Both of those contracts have been signed and the first one is under construction. That will be transformational. The quality bus corridor for the Deputy's constituents on the F1 route will make a big difference too. We are looking at interim measures. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  That is exactly the point. It is about the interim measures. The roll-out of this programme is piecemeal, and I can understand why, but until we have all the infrastructure in place and all the routes perfectly link up, as per the overall plan, we are going to have issues like this. I ask again that the Minister talk to the NTA and suggest that it review this and maybe implement the 49 route again to run alongside the F1 route in the interim, while this is going on. We need measures like bus gates, priority traffic lights and all that kind of stuff. These are the technological measures we can take to give buses priority. In the meantime, however, an additional route to replicate the 49 route would be very helpful.  The route change has left parts of the community isolated, where once there was a service. Older people in particular are having to walk 15 or 20 minutes to get to a bus stop, where they used to have one pretty close to them. There have also been issues with the reliability of buses. Because this is a cross-town route, people are getting caught in traffic coming from the northside and going to the southside. Some constituents have had to pay nearly \u20ac200 in taxis because buses are not showing up and have become increasingly unreliable, which is another problem. I ask again that the Minister talk to the NTA about it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  We will. When questions like this are tabled and they fall within the remit of the NTA, I meet the NTA. It is useful that these matters are raised when we meet. To be fair, the F1, F2 and F3 routes were only rolled out in October last year. I appreciate people's patience with this. I am committed to looking at what interim measures we can take. The frequency on the F1 route is every 15 minutes at most times between Tallaght and Ballymun, and the F2 and F3 routes give a joint service around every five minutes. That is a big improvement. We always need to improve things and look at the experience on the ground.  What leads me to be confident about this is that people are responding. Last year, 363.5 million public transport passenger journeys were made, which was a record number. The Government will continue to invest in this area. We have to improve reliability and journey times, which will not be easy in all cases, particularly with regard to journey times in the city. I will have a meeting with stakeholders on 18 March, specifically looking at congestion within the city core and on the M50.  I have a meeting with stakeholders on 18 March, specifically looking at congestion within the city core and on the M50. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Bus Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_22","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Electric Vehicles","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_18","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_22.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  I want to ask the Minister about electric vehicles and the measures he is taking to make them more accessible for drivers in rural areas and those on lower incomes. Will he make a statement about it?  Research has shown that successful applications for grants are clustered in affluent urban areas in Dublin and in parts of Cork. We think this is inequitable and regressive and the Climate Change Advisory Council agrees with us. What efforts is the Minister making to extend the grants to families and workers who are not as affluent? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  We are fully committed to supporting the transition to zero-emission vehicles. We regularly review the EV incentives and grants to ensure they are delivering value for money and supporting the delivery of the ambitious targets we set. Last year, the target was 195,000 EVs on our roads by the end of 2025. We actually exceeded that. The final figure was 212,500 EVs. The supports are certainly assisting.  Over \u20ac120 million has been allocated this year to support the continued transition to EVs, which includes grants for the EVs themselves and EV charging. The road tax for EVs is also lower. Changes have been made on the benefit-in-kind side as well to further incentivise EVs. The purchase costs of EVs have come down significantly in recent years.  Rural motorists are often in the most advantageous position to make the switch to an electric vehicle, due to the large number of dwellings in rural Ireland that are suitable for home EV charging, which we also support. Home charging means lower running costs and many EVs are now capable of doing over 400 km on a single charge, which will meet most people's daily driving needs.  Having an effective and reliable charging network is an essential part of enabling drivers to make the switch to EVs, which they are doing. The public charging network has grown in recent years, and the continued expansion and modernisation of the EV charging network will ensure drivers can use EVs with confidence. We published the national EV charging strategy. I got approval for that on Tuesday this week at Cabinet.  TII is leading on the delivery of that infrastructure along motorways and national primary and secondary routes. I have launched grant aid programmes for the delivery of significant high-powered charging infrastructure on these roads over the next year to provide all EV drivers with reliable access to charging points across the country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  The Minister said rural motorists are in a more advantageous position, but there are a couple of issues in relation to that. He also said that he exceeded his target, with the purchase of 212,000 EVs. However, he had moved the goalposts because a few years ago he said it was the ambition of the Government to have 845,000 EVs, and he reduced the target, so that is how he actually hit it. He said he is committed to having 30% of the private car fleet switch to battery by 2030, but that is hardly going to happen at this stage.  The Minister also mentioned the advantages for rural dwellers, but the stats do not match that. In 2024, registrations in rural Ireland collapsed. In Cavan, they were down by 48%, they were down 45% in Sligo and down in Leitrim by 44%. There is a problem with the lack of public chargers. The Minister mentioned it, but it is not actually the case. Ireland has 2,500 public chargers, whereas Denmark has 18,000 and that is a country that is smaller than ours. The Minister is not scaling up to deliver as many, so we are never going to incentivise and encourage more rural dwellers to use EVs with a charging system like that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  I am not 100% sure what figures Deputy Daly has there and I do not want to just dispute them for the sake of it. I can go back to 2024, but they are not the numbers I have. What is very interesting is that in the first month of this year we are looking at really significant increases in EV registration. If I take the Deputy's own county of Kerry, in January 2025, there were 86 EV registrations. In January of this year there were 142. That is a 65% increase. If I take Galway, in January 2025 there were 164 EV registrations. This January, there were 247, which is a 50% increase. The growth in EVs is based on actual registration of EVs, which is much more significant now in the regions and in rural areas than it is in cities. I will give the Deputy an example. In Dublin, there were 2,277 registrations in January 2025. This January, there were 2,720, which was a good increase, just short of 20%. In Kerry the increase was 65%, in Kildare the increase was 45%, in Kilkenny it was 80%, in Laois it was 60%, in Leitrim it was 70%, in Limerick it was 60% and it was 100% in Longford. I am just giving Deputy Daly the real figures. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  The Minister is using an increase in the number, for example, in my own county off a low base. In 2021, Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael announced a target, which has hardly been enhanced by the Healy-Rae support since the last election, of 1 million electric vehicles on the road by 2030. That obviously has not happened. Even though some electric vehicles have come down in price, they are neither affordable nor accessible for many ordinary people, especially in rural areas where more electric vehicles would have a bigger impact on emissions because research has shown that if used in rural Ireland they would have a bigger climate impact because they remove 35% more emissions compared to their urban counterparts. Seven out of ten grants that are awarded are for cars costing \u20ac40,000 or more and one third are for cars costing over \u20ac55,000. That is not fair or equitable and it is concentrated in wealthier areas such as Dublin. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  We want to make sure that the grants are deployed in an equitable manner, in particular for low and middle income families. I alluded to that at the committee yesterday. Deputy Daly will see where we have made changes on other SEAI grants, such as for home retrofit. My whole focus was on low and middle income families and to break the grants up. We keep these grants under review. They are a good incentive for people. The figures do not bear out what Deputy Daly is saying, notwithstanding the fact that we will always keep schemes under review to try to incentivise more people to use them. I could go through every county in Ireland. There are really significant increases in EV registrations from last January to this one. I am not going to bore him with the details, but I will supply him with them. Mayo is up by 67%. Monaghan is up by 65%. Roscommon is up by nearly 200%. I am not making it up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  That is because they dipped in the previous year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  This is 2025 to 2026. There are 212,500 EVs on our roads. It is going in the right direction, and the target was exceeded. As I said in the committee yesterday, I always keep these under review. We look at what we have done on the residential side. The impact that has had already is really good. We will keep this under review, but this is absolutely going in the right direction right now. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Electric Vehicles"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_23","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Road Safety","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_18","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_23","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Cooney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_23.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Cooney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Cooney  We are all too aware of the terrible loss of life on our roads in recent weeks and years. Unfortunately, the number of road deaths continues to rise. This should concern us all. Most road traffic collisions in Ireland take place on unlit local and regional roads. At present, it is compulsory to install cat's eyes on national primary and secondary routes. However, this requirement does not extend to local and regional roads. Will the Minister consider extending the mandate to regional and local roads, especially in rural counties? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  I thank Deputy Cooney for raising the matter with me this morning. It is a very important question. Like the Deputy, and Deputy Whitmore who asked a question earlier, we are very much concerned with the loss of life on our roads. Everything we do is about reducing fatalities and accidents on roads.  As the Deputy is aware, the improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on these roads are funded from the councils' own resources and supplemented by State road grants. Of these grants, the vast majority are targeted at the maintenance and renewal of the network with approximately 10% of the remaining funding invested in new roads and bridges or for road realignments.  Each local authority is the roads authority within its own administrative area. The selection of roads for the installation of road studs or cat's eyes, as we know them, is a matter for the technical staff within the local authority. They will take road condition, road width, suitability for road studs or road hazard markers into account. The criteria for road studs or cat's eyes are contained in the traffic signs manual published by the Department of Transport two years ago.  Section 7.10.1 outlines how road studs should comply with European standards and should be of a type approved for use by the Department of Transport. Section 7.10.2 deals with urban speed limit zones, which are being reviewed. I agree with Deputy Cooney that for unlit roads cat's eyes and studs play a role. In my own area of Cork, I cannot understand why TII took away the overhead lights on the N40, making the road dark now. I agree with the Deputy that the more lighting we have, the better it is for motorists and road users. It is a question that we might need to reflect upon on further, in particular in rural areas as the Deputy mentioned. I thank him for raising the matter in particular on our narrow country roads. I will talk to him further on it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Cooney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Cooney  I thank the Minister of State for the reply. Travelling on local roads throughout the country and in my county of Clare is challenging at the best of times. It becomes ever more difficult in the depths of winter. Many local and regional roads have inadequate markings where lane markings, arrows and stop lines are not clear. Most have no indications of the edge of the carriageways and very few are fitted with reflective road studs or cat's eyes. It is difficult to understand why proper markings and cat's eyes on regional roads and well-travelled local roads are treated as discretionary rather than compulsory. At a minimum, these safety measures should be mandatory in locations where visibility is poor, such as at bends, junctions and areas prone to fog in the interests of road safety. While policing plays an important role in reducing road fatalities, that is a separate issue. What we are discussing here is basic road safety infrastructure that should already be in place. I call on the Minister of State and the Department to provide the necessary funding to local authorities and to update the guidance on road maintenance so that these essential safety measures are implemented properly and consistently. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  I again thank Deputy Cooney again for raising this very important matter. As he knows, last week the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, announced a road funding programme to the tune of \u20ac780 million for regional and local roads across the State. While there is no dedicated programme for local authorities regarding the use and implementation of road studs, each local authority has a discretionary grant in its annual allocation. The total for this year is \u20ac86.2 million. Councils have that discretionary spend which can be used in improvement and maintenance works. As Minister of State at the Department of Transport, I would encourage all local authorities to inspect their road studs on a regular basis to identify some of the issues the Deputy highlighted. He mentioned west Clare and Clare. There is deterioration and there are areas that need to be enhanced and improved. The local authority has a role in that. From a departmental point of view, we keep everything under review. Road safety and the enhancement of our roads are priorities for us. In the roads programme we have allocated resources in that area. I would be happy to talk to the Deputy further on that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Cooney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Cooney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Cooney  Seven in every ten fatal collisions take place on rural roads with a speed limit of 80 km\/h or higher. These are the very roads I have highlighted here today. Half of all fatalities occur between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m. when visibility is at its worst. I recognise that road maintenance is expensive but we have a responsibility as a country to do everything possible to reverse the rise in road deaths. Simple low-cost measures can make a real difference and the evidence is out there to be seen. I urge the Minister of State and his Department to upgrade the requirements and make road markings and cat's eyes compulsory on all regional roads and on busier local roads. These basic safety features should not be optional. They save lives and should be in place everywhere they are needed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  I concur with the overarching thrust of what Deputy Cooney said. Our current road safety strategy is very much about what he said - reducing speed and improving road conditions. I reiterate the point that local authorities have that discretionary spend and have the option to spend on what the Deputy has said. The points he makes about road studs and cat's eyes are very valid. Local authorities should utilise the carrying out of maintenance renewal works in terms of pavement improvement schemes and road studs where applicable as part of the roads programme. There is a fund available for them to use. It is built into their budget for roads. Senator Noel O'Donovan has proposed that we look at our verges and drains, and the Deputy has made the point here today. These are issues that we can look at and perhaps incorporate more into our road safety strategy. What he is talking about is low cost in the main and it makes sense. He is right that early in the morning and late at night the visibility is poor. It is something we need to look at and I would be happy to talk to him further about it. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Road Safety"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_24","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_25","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Public Transport","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_24","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_25","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_25.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  How seriously does the Department take the issue of ghost buses or cancelled buses? In the first six months of last year there were 6,000 complaints to the NTA in Dublin about this. Those are just people who get the strength to make complaints. This is causing real problems in my area, particularly with the 238 which is an absolutely infamous ghost bus. The people of Tyrrelstown are losing their jobs and losing their livelihoods. They are ending up late for work and late for school. It is having a huge impact on people's lives. What are the repercussions from the Department for the operators? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  I assure Deputy Coppinger that I do take it very seriously. It is a real frustration and inconvenience for passengers who are affected by ghost buses or services that do not show up. There have been particular recent bus cancellations on the Dublin Bus and Go Ahead Ireland networks. We need to acknowledge that last year there were 363.5 million public passenger journeys across the State, which is up 6% on the previous year, the highest amount ever, so people are responding. However, it behoves the operators to ensure that the services as listed turn up.  Issues happen from time to time and they arise for a range of reasons, including driver and mechanic shortages which has been an issue on the route the Deputy referred to, particularly with the services operated by Go Ahead. In my supplementary reply I will come back with more detail on what is happening there.  The most significant factor in recent months has been traffic congestion. For example, Dublin Bus is currently delivering 98% of contracted kilometres set by the NTA. However, punctuality is being affected by rising traffic volumes in the city in particular. Buses delayed going out and coming back in are having an effect. I have convened a meeting on 18 March with stakeholders specifically to discuss congestion in the city core but also around the M50.  Some things need to be planned better within our transport operators, particularly relating to resources, something Go Ahead has acknowledged. I have been in touch with the operators directly on many occasions, particularly on the issue of being able to trust the data on the app. If the app is showing the bus is coming but then it just disappears, people cannot make alternative arrangements. A big issue with Go Ahead has been with mechanics. It has employed ten more but they were delayed in getting here. They have been trained and are now working, so we should see an improvement there.  While Dublin Bus is generally performing very well, one of its issues is with driver numbers. It is recruiting a further 100 drivers from South Africa right now and they are coming in. There are still good jobs for people in Dublin Bus. We have work to do there and I am continuing to do it. The Deputy should trust me - I take this very seriously. It is a serious issue. I will come back in with some more details in a minute. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  Congestion, drivers, mechanics, breakdowns and all sorts of reasons are given. Is it not some reflection that we cannot get workers to work in these services? As the Minister knows, one of the issues with Go Ahead is that it has reduced conditions compared with Dublin Bus. Drivers were eating their lunch on the side of the road at one point.  However, I want to talk about the 238. It is absolutely unacceptable that between 4.2% and 8.2% of the bus journeys on the 238 route are cancelled every week. How can up to 8% be acceptable at any time? The people paying the price are ordinary working people. It is also ironic that they are trying to introduce parking charges in Blanchardstown centre. The 238 is the only bus people in Tyrrelstown have to get to Blanchardstown centre and yet they are meant to be taking that bus. Many of the people work there, by the way.  I draw the Minister's attention to the impact it is having. There was a very good article in  the Dublin Inquirer interviewing people in the area. A woman, Ms Bernie Casey, talked about her 23-year-old son and said it is affecting his work. Some of her son's friends have lost their jobs in the centre because of it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  I am pleased that people are responding and using public transport at rates we have not seen previously. That is good. I acknowledge that particularly on certain routes, there are issues. A cancellation rate of up to 8% in a month on the 238 route is unacceptable. I will raise that matter directly with the operators.  The operators do get fined and significant fines are levied on them for non-performance. I have the 2024 figures for Go-Ahead Ireland, which are the most recent figures I have for a full year. It was fined well over \u20ac1 million. That money is then reinvested.  Bus \u00c1tha Cliath is running a jobs campaign at the moment. They are good, secure jobs with good in-house training. There is good career advancement. The Deputy said the situation is ridiculous if we cannot find people to work in those jobs. There are nearly 3 million now working in the economy. The economy is going well. People are well-trained and well-educated. There is a pro-enterprise Government. That does pose strains. I am not in any way dismissing the point the Deputy has made, particularly about the 238 bus. I will look specifically at that matter. I have a meeting on 18 March with bus operators and other stakeholders about congestion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  I will also mention the other services for Tyrrelstown and Hollystown. The Minister knows these areas well from his time on Fingal County Council. He knows the figures for Fingal. It is the fastest growing area and so on. I do not need to recite the figures to him. Dublin West has never had the transport it needs. It is the most recurring issue that people are contacting me about. It is causing hardship to students who are trying to get to UCD through two- to three-hour bus journeys. The 39 route is like a coffin ship at this point. It just keeps being added to and the journey keeps getting longer.  A woman in Tyrrelstown contacted me. She works in Dublin Port. Can you imagine what a feat that is? It is like an odyssey, trying to match up the different connections. It is very dangerous for a woman late at night or early in the morning when it is dark. People in these areas are suffering. There is also the 40d route.  If the Government wants houses built, and we all want houses built, we must have the transport and infrastructure. Dublin West needs massive investment in public transport. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  Dublin West will get and is getting that massive investment. We have \u20ac24.3 billion to invest in transport between now and 2030. The Deputy is right to highlight the issue. I know Dublin West very well. The Fingal area is one of the fastest-growing areas in the country. There are good jobs there. New families are setting down their roots in the housing we have built over the past five years. There are more than pinch points in certain areas and the Deputy is right to raise those as an issue. I will in particular raise the specific routes that the Deputy has mentioned. I am aware of the issues. It is our job to work hard with the transport operators to improve the services that are there. There are some routes that are working very well but there are others that, quite frankly, are not. An 8% cancellation rate is unacceptable.  I will mention the automatic vehicle location system, which will make a big difference. With it, at least people will know if there is a delay or cancellation because they will be able to see it on the app. There will be real-time data. That is going into pilot this quarter, with full roll-out and completion scheduled for 2027, which is next year. That is notwithstanding the fact that we must improve the core quality bus corridors, which we are doing. There are plans in Dublin 15 and west Dublin for that, as the Deputy knows. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Public Transport"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_26","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Public Transport","counts":{"speechCount":11,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_24","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_26","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_26.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Neville  I welcome to the Gallery my son, Liam, who is taking a mid-morning break from school. He is welcome.  I wish to ask how many transport surveys have been carried out over the public transport networks to ensure there is adequate capacity on routes and efficiency in delivery; and to ask the Minister of State to make a statement on the matter, especially pertaining to north Kildare. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  I welcome the Deputy's son to the Public Gallery. Is his name Liam? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Neville  Yes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  Liam, you are very welcome to the Gallery. Perhaps he will follow in the footsteps of his dad, his uncle and his cousin. Hopefully some day he might be here.  I thank the Deputy for his question. As the body responsible for public transport planning, the NTA, along with public transport operators, conducts regular surveys of public transport capacity. To assist with the prioritisation of the deployment of additional bus capacity in the greater Dublin area, the NTA has recently developed a new business intelligence tool, using ticketing data to identify where capacity issues are being experienced across the bus network by route and time of day. For Dublin Bus, this was supplemented with 17 surveys to verify the accuracy of the results. It is intended to roll out the tool's use across the wider bus network upon the availability of all relevant data sets needed to estimate capacity and usage.  On Bus \u00c9ireann services in quarter 4 of 2025, capacity surveys were undertaken on 25 selected routes where overloading concerns were recurring. Selected sample bus stops were surveyed remotely using CCTV and camera technologies. With regard to rail and light rail capacity, in the case of Luas and Irish Rail, fleet and driver resources, as well as track capacity, are now heavily used during peak demand periods so the scope to add extra capacity at these times is limited. The next tranche of new rail fleet, including battery electric DART, is expected to come into service in 2027, at which point there will be an opportunity to add additional capacity to existing rail services.  On Luas services, TII commissions a yearly census over one sample week in October or November on both green and red lines during peak patronage periods. All tram stops are surveyed remotely using CCTV, with some in-person surveys undertaken for validation purposes. Similar annual surveys are undertaken at all Irish Rail stations, generally on a Thursday in November to reflect the busiest period on the network.  The NTA acknowledges that capacity can be a challenge. The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and I have also been on to the NTA about capacity issues. We continue to regularly monitor this and work closely with all operators to identify where improvements can be made. I will supply the Deputy with more information in the next part of my response. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Neville  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Aire St\u00e1it for the response. The reason I raise the issue is that in the fast-growing area of north Kildare, which has had a huge population increase, we have significant challenges when it comes to transport and public transport. As we all know, the roads, including the M4 and the N7, are full coming into Dublin in the morning. We want to give the opportunity to as many people as possible to use buses and trains. Ultimately, many of those buses and trains are full. It is good to hear that the surveys are in place, that we are assessing the capacity and that the information is there. At the same time, we need to ensure the information is shared and we understand that it gets used in the best way possible. Trains coming from Kildare in the morning can be delayed. There can be buses that do not turn up. We need to ensure those data are captured. I would like any information that the Minister of State has to be shared with us. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  I thank the Deputy. He is right that the capturing of information is important. He spoke about the exponential growth in the Maynooth, Lexlip and Kilcock areas. The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, spoke about the Fingal piece. The NTA is acutely aware of, and acknowledges, that the capacity issue is a challenge at times. The NTA continues to make efforts to incorporate and learn from the feedback we have spoken about this morning. It is important to recognise that, subject to planning, the recently announced BusConnects phase 7 routes should be of significant help.  I reassure the Deputy that the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and I, and our Department, will continue to work with the NTA to ensure the network delivers on the objectives set out and that the performances are closely monitored as we remain focused on delivering services for people, the travelling public and the customers that they can depend and rely on. The Deputy is right. It is about ensuring that people in north Kildare have a transport system that is fit for purpose and takes people off the M4, as the Deputy said. I would be happy to engage further with the Deputy, the Minister, Deputy O'Brien and the Minister of State, Deputy Canney. It is about information and data that can lead to positive outcomes for the travelling public. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Neville  While we are discussing north Kildare specifically, there are a couple of projects that have been set in train. The M4 bus corridor, for example, has been built. I was recently in touch with the Minister's Department looking to ensure that we get the legislation passed so we get that bus corridor open. That would be one way to take traffic off the motorway.  DART+ South West has been delayed. We really need it because there has been that increase in population all the way down towards Naas and all along that corridor. We need to ensure we have a full, live DART system, as well as the one we are going to have from Leixlip to Maynooth and coming out to Kilcock within the term of this Government. There are a lot of positive projects in north Kildare and I am pushing for them, but we need to ensure other things, such as Local Link buses and buses to the likes of Johnstown Bridge, as well as more Bus \u00c9ireann buses, while at the same time ensuring we get DART+ South West in place in order that everything links up cohesively. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John McGuinness  The M7 to Dublin from Carlow and Kilkenny is heavily congested. Drivers are frustrated by the traffic and the delays. The number of business vehicles using the route has increased substantially. I would like to see some action on it.  I draw the Minister of State's attention to the need for huge investment in local routes in Kilkenny city. Places like the Lyrath Estate Hotel, the Abbott facility and housing estates and nursing homes dotted around the city are not served by bus routes. I ask that the reports being submitted and the constant lobbying that is going on be recognised and that we ensure that huge investment and input will deliver extended services to all of those places and bring in towns like Graiguenamanagh, Thomastown, Johnstown and Freshford, which are being neglected.  Will the Minister of State please intervene with Iarnr\u00f3d \u00c9ireann regarding Kilkenny railway station? The old buildings are in an absolutely shocking state. Iarnr\u00f3d \u00c9ireann has shown clear disrespect for Kilkenny in terms of the appearance of the station. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  I am familiar with the situation relating to the M7. Deputy McGuinness is right that it has become heavily congested and is an absolute nightmare for motorists. We need a further conversation on what we can do there. I will happily meet the Deputy on Sunday in Nowlan Park to discuss the important issue he raised regarding Kilkenny city. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John McGuinness  I thought that in all the announcements about road projects, there might be something about the ring road for Kilkenny. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  I could not get the Deputy's number, but I will happily meet with him to discuss it.  Regarding Kilkenny railway station, that is under the remit of the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, but I will get back to the Deputy on it. I certainly will work with him on the roads issue because it is very important.  Deputy Neville is right about the M4 bus corridor. It has been built and should be used. The Minister has asked his officials in the Department to expedite the relevant legislation and he hopes to have it done by the summer recess. It is an important issue. As the Deputy knows, we are seeing progress on DART+ South West. He is right to raise the issue of the M4 bus corridor because the situation beggars belief. I thank him for his advocacy and ongoing work on it. The whole ethos overarching his question is about gathering information that will support future planning and delivery of services, including roads, bus and train services for the travelling public. It is an important question because it will facilitate the development of new routes and alternatives. I hope the Department, working with the NTA, can expedite the matter. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Public Transport"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_27","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Bus Services","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_24","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_27","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_27.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul McAuliffe  My question relates to the punctuality of buses in my area. The recent roll-out of BusConnects on the F spine routes 23 and 24 has had a profound impact. Punctuality is not something one would have associated with the early phases or even the continuing phases. Will the Minister provide an update in respect of the obligations on providers in this regard? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  The Deputy has been advocating on this issue for some time. The F spine routes have only been in place only since October, and there have been issues with them. The NTA is monitoring them. BusConnects is and should be a positive development but we have seen very specific issues with some of the new routes that have been rolled out. I absolutely assure the Deputy that I will work directly with him on this on behalf of his constituents. I have already highlighted the issues, particularly on the 23 and 24 routes, to the NTA.  There have been issues with some resources within the bus operators. Leaving that aside, BusConnects is a positive development and an investment in our public transport. The Ballymun-Finglas quality bus corridor is approved and going to construction. It is the second one and will make a big difference in terms of giving priority to buses and also on the active travel side. There are issues with congestion. I am convening a meeting with stakeholders on 18 March to discuss, in particular, congestion in the city core but not just there. We will look at interim and short-term measures that can be taken to improve bus journeys in particular.  More and more people are using public transport and it is great to see. There were 363.5 million passenger journeys in 2025, which was the highest number ever. Bus \u00c1tha Cliath carried the greatest number of passengers among all our operators. People are responding but I fully acknowledge the frustration with the roll-out of some of the new routes in terms of how they operate in practice versus what was said in principle. I am actively looking at that. The NTA is assessing it right now and will engage with the operators. Lessons have been learnt. I want very clear avenues set down for how we can improve performance in that area. Financial penalties applying is no consolation to people. We need a reliable service. I will remain fully engaged with the Deputy on those two particular routes on the F spine. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul McAuliffe  I appreciate the Minister's interest in this matter. I have engaged with him regarding the core bus corridors, which are incredibly welcome and which will facilitate speedier journeys into the city centre. Together with the tenders going out for the metro project, we are seeing substantial investment in future infrastructure.  Before Christmas, at a meeting with public representatives, NTA representatives spoke about October being a difficult time to implement a new service, with increasing congestion heading into the Christmas period. They also spoke about issues with recruitment. Providers need to have these matters in order and they need to engage with the NTA. When a new service is being introduced by the NTA, it must be done in conjunction with the operator.  The Minister referred to penalties. I would rather have buses arriving on time than a company being fined. However, when it comes to for-profit operators, the facility to impose a financial penalty is important. There are bus services in my area that are operated by private operators. It is my preference that they not be there but that is the nature of the current framework. We must make sure they abide by the conditions under which they tendered for those contracts. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  I 100% agree. There have been issues with Go-Ahead Ireland, for example, with regard to mechanics. That has been rectified and those mechanics are now in place. We have had issues with driver recruitment across our network. One of the reasons for that is we have near full employment in our economy, with record numbers of people - nearly 3 million - working. Having said that , there are very good and well-paid jobs that give a path to progression within our bus operators, including in Bus \u00c1tha Cliath, Bus \u00c9ireann and others.  The Deputy is right, and I have said this to the NTA, that when an operator bids for a route and is awarded it, we must be absolutely certain the resources are there to manage it. The people need to be there to do the job. Lots of good work has been done and I do not mean to be negative but I have been frustrated on a couple of occasions that we only found out after the event, when issues arose with particular routes, that the operator did not have enough mechanics or had not been able to recruit drivers. We need to tighten up on that big time between the NTA and the operators. Fines will continue to be imposed. In 2024, which is the most recent year for which we have full-year figures, the main private operator was fined nearly \u20ac1.5 million. Those fines are reinvested in the network.  I assure the Deputy that this matter is not off my radar. We will get improvements here. BusConnects is a good thing right across the country. There have been issues with new routes. We will work to fix them. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Bus Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_28","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Rail Network","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_24","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_28","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_28.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  On what date will the public consultation take place on the route options and emerging preferred route for the Navan rail project? A commitment was given at the end of last year that it would happen early in 2026. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  The NTA's transport strategy for the greater Dublin area sets out the framework for transport investment across the region from 2022 to 2042. The strategy includes delivery of the Navan rail line between 2031 and 2036, subject to planning and funding approvals. The plan is currently on target.  It is anticipated that a public consultation on the route options for the Navan rail line will take place in the middle of this year. I will ask that it be done by the end of quarter 2. We want to avoid it happening during the summer period. We want people to have input into the consultation process, which will ultimately result in a defined route for the Navan train line. It will support the development of a preliminary business case, which will need to be approved by the Government, in line with the requirements of the infrastructure guidelines, before any planning application.  Government is committed to the Navan rail line project. It is anticipated that a planning application - known as a railway order - for the Navan rail project will be lodged with An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la in 2028. We have the public consultation on the preferred route and the preparation of the planning. In 2028, the planning application will go in. It is fully funded to do that. To be fair, the Deputy and his colleagues in Meath West have been raising this regularly, and rightly so. Navan and the area around it are growing. We have committed to the rail line. Some might say with a lot of justification that it has been talked about for too long but has not been delivered. We are absolutely committed to doing so. I am hopeful that if we can meet those timelines, we will have planning permission in 2029. The sectoral plan, which was published in November 2025, provides funding for the Navan rail line project to progress through this process and up to the railway order. That is the timeframe. We are looking at the end of quarter 2 for the public consultation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  I make no apology for being obsessed with this project. It is just such a potential game changer for the county on so many different levels. It is hugely important socially, culturally, economically and environmentally. It would be transformative and I welcome the fact it is now back on the agenda and back in the plans and there are euro beside it. I am concerned there will be slippage at every juncture, and there has been slippage in relation to it. As I said, in October, we said early 2006. Is the Minister confident that by the end of quarter 2, we will be able to go to consultation? I can say without a shadow of a doubt there will be huge interest, regardless of the time of year this goes to consultation. There have already been a huge number of submissions in relation to this project. There is huge interest in it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  The Deputy is right and I have no issue whatsoever with him raising this matter regularly. I do not want any slippage on it. The Navan rail line will be absolutely transformational in terms of quality of life, the environment and the economy. It will be a major piece of infrastructure to deliver. All I am interested in doing is making sure we hit those timeframes. In the NDP, there are major projects like MetroLink which has gone on for years and will start construction next year. There is DART+ and all of the various things. We have talked about quality bus corridors. There is major investment in public transport, and rightly so. I am keeping a really close eye on the Navan project and I want the public consultation out by the end of quarter 2. I take the Deputy's point that whenever it comes out, people will be very interested in it.  Regarding the timelines, we are dependent on planning. For some of those elements, we have a better planning system now. Obviously, I hope we do not get objections and various things like that but let us control what we can control. For the public consultation piece on the preferred route, we are aiming for the middle of year, that is, the end of quarter 2 or very early quarter 3 if there is any slippage but it has to be the middle of this year. I will certainly keep the Deputy informed of progress. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  We can control what we can control in relation to this and we will be persistent in pursuing it and making sure, as best we can from the Opposition benches, we hit those deadlines. The big question then is around taking it beyond planning and to construction. Will the Minister outline how the Navan rail project best positions itself as a priority project in the midst of a range of other funding demands on the Department and the Minister? How can the project compete to ensure it can move quickly and uninterruptedly to construction? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  The Deputy is right; we can control the controllables. It is funded right the way up to planning and we will get it through planning. We often talk about the NDP going to 2030. Of the \u20ac104.25 billion investment, one quarter of that is for public transport. If we look out to 2035, the figure is \u20ac245 billion. Thanks to the hard work of our people and good economic management, we will have the capital to actually deliver these projects. By the way, I do not look at them just from an expenditure perspective. It is also about what they will deliver in economic terms. That investment will pay back in spades to the Exchequer. I know Deputy O'Rourke, Deputy Aisling Dempsey, the Minister, Deputy Helen McEntee, and the Minister of State, Deputy Thomas Byrne, have all been working very closely together, to be fair, advocating for the people of Meath on this and the difference that it will make. We will have this funded. What we have to do is really watch this project as it moves through. Meath is in the greater Dublin area framework of the transport investment strategy and it is listed in the NPD. Let us get a consultation done, get people engaged with it, get it into planning, get it out of planning by 2029, and get on with building this transformational project. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Rail Network"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_29","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Bus Services","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_24","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_29","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_29.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Albert Dolan  I want to raise the issue of the 425A bus route from Mountbellew to Galway city. Back in January the NTA launched a public consultation on its proposals. I would like an update as to where that public consultation is at. Has it been reviewed and assessed and where is it at? From speaking to representatives of the NTA in the Committee of Public Accounts they seemed to indicate that by the end of quarter 1, they would have an update but I would appreciate an update from the Minister today. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  Deputy Dolan and I have discussed this route before. The Department of Transport, the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, and I are acutely aware of this. We have seen good increases across the rural transport network and they are very important links. I have mentioned to other Deputies and colleagues that when we look at public transport usage, we see that 363.5 million people used it last year. People are responding both in urban and rural areas when the services are there.  Regarding the 425A route between Galway and Mountbellew, the NTA was proposing to amend the bus network - we discussed this and the Deputy has concerned around that - serving Athenry. The recently published consultation closed on 9 January of this year. I am telling the Deputy things he already knows. I know them too and I want him to be assured of that. The proposal consists of the rerouting of the existing 425A through Athenry and the introduction of a new route, 416, between Athenry and Tuam. There were over 100 submissions, which is good. I know the Deputy has been to the forefront of this as well. They are being assessed now. I have to give them a little bit of time, although not an inordinate amount of time because people need to act quickly.  On foot of the Deputy's question, which I thank him for, I can say that we discussed this with the NTA and my team yesterday, which the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, will tell him, in preparation for this. I have asked for an update on when we are coming back with the assessment of the submissions. It is good that is done because we have to take people's views into account. We also have to take into account the views of the operators and how we can provide a better service for people. I will keep the Deputy directly informed on this. I expect to get a date for when the submissions are finalised. Then we can move on and have a look at it and see what the construct of the service will be then. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Albert Dolan  I really appreciate that and the manner in which the Minister has worked with me on this since I became aware of the NTA's proposals. It is important to say that absolutely nobody in my constituency has come to me saying they want to see the 425A rerouted into Athenry. Previously, the 425A was a once daily return service. It is now a four times daily service. It is working fantastically and we do not need to change it. A 416 service from Tuam to Athenry in the form of a Local Link would be fantastic but the reality is that what we are missing is an investment. We need an Athenry bus that goes directly to Galway city. Athenry is a town with a population in excess of 5,000 people. Our trains, as the Minister knows, are at capacity and we need the bus to provide an alternative form of transport for people to get into the city. That is my real ask; that Athenry gets its own, dedicated bus service. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  The Deputy has been and remains a very strong advocate for improving public transport in his constituency and the Galway area. I commend him on that and I will work with him in this regard. Thankfully, the Government, of which he is a member, is investing in public transport at a rate never seen before. What really pleases me is the investment in our regions as well. It is not east coast-centric or Dublin-centric where it may have been with some other initiatives. We are looking at regional development.  I asked the NTA about it yesterday. We are looking at the end of quarter 1 for conclusion of the review of the submissions, which is the end of next month. I will give it that time and then we will assess it. The Deputy has very clearly articulated the fact the 425A service is working well and people do not want to see a change being made to it. I am sure that will be borne out in the submissions. I assure the Deputy that he and I will work directly on it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Albert Dolan  The Minister is right. There has been such a significant investment over the past few years in public transport, active travel and trying to secure the future of our networks. Athenry had a privately-operated bus service. It pulled out essentially because the middle-day services were not feasible. There is a public service obligation, PSO, determination there. It is in place for Athenry and we need to meet it.  The bus going from Athenry does not have to go directly on the motorway. It goes in by a place called Derrydonnell, over to Oranmore and into Galway City. It could be a fantastic service that covers more areas. It would be an addition of service because the rerouting of the 425A is seen as a shortcut to serve Athenry, and that cannot be the case because it would disproportionately affect people on the Galway Road. I really appreciate the Minister\u2019s engagement on this matter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  At the end of quarter 1 when we have the submissions back, we will have a look at it. One thing is, with the PSO, which underpins many public transport services because we have expanded them so greatly, myself and the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, were able to secure a significant increase in the base in the PSO. This still means we have to manage new routes in the context of our overall allocation.  The point the Deputy has made very clearly is very valid. The existing four-time-a-day service is working very well. If we need additional services, which the Deputy has advocated for also, that also needs to be looked at in the round too. What I commit to doing is, when this submission review has been completed, we will get a copy. We obviously have to work with the NTA because it sets the routes, but I will certainly engage with the Deputy directly on this. I know how important it is to him. To be fair, he has been advocating for it on a regular basis. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Bus Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_30","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Greenways Provision","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_24","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_30","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_30.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  I thank the Deputy for raising this very important matter about a very scenic part of the country. I thank him for his advocacy. For the purpose of the question and the greenway itself, the Minister for Transport has responsibility for the overall policy and Exchequer funding in relation to greenways. The planning, design and construction of individual greenways is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland in conjunction with the local authority.  As Deputy Brennan knows, and he has been a long time campaigner for this, the Government has long-since recognised the strategic value of greenways as sustainable transport corridors, as well as being catalysts for regional economic development tourism and community health and wellbeing. That is why the Government and the Department of Transport allocated \u20ac59 million to TII this year, to support the greenways and active travel and national roads programme. One scheme being supported is the Arklow to Shillelagh greenway, as Deputy Brennan has articulated and outlined. Last year, this scheme completed phase 2 which was the open selection of TII\u2019s project management guidelines. This is a significant milestone for the delivery of the greenway as it involves identifying a preferred route corridor for the scheme. Wicklow County Council is currently procuring a technical adviser to help advance this preferred route corridor through the development approval process. A successful tenderer has been identified, and their appointment is anticipated in the coming weeks. The technical adviser will commence works to progress the scheme through phase 3, which is design and environmental evaluation. This phase takes into account technical, environmental and social factors identified in earlier project stages and will establish the definitive land footprint necessary to develop and operate the greenway. There will also be extensive engagement with affected landowners and stakeholders during this phase.  It is anticipated that phase 3 will take up to 24 months to complete. Immediate tasks over the coming months will focus on engagement with the Arklow to Shillelagh greenway committee, as well as stakeholder engagement more broadly, procuring and undertaking necessary engineering and environmental surveys, and advancing design development. The Department of Transportation \u2013 I will conclude on this \u2013 has committed \u20ac300,000 to this greenway project for this year. We are committed to the scheme. We hope to see, along with Deputy Brennan, it progress in the coming years. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Brennan  I thank the Minister of State. In my life, before I took up this position, I was heavily involved in the tourism industry in south County Wicklow for over 20 years. I know first-hand the area\u2019s needs and I cannot emphasise enough the importance of this greenway project. Our support for this is simply critical, as for decades now there is a genuine feeling in south County Wicklow that it has been ignored in terms of tourism investment. This project will simply be a game changer and a catalyst for future tourism developments in Arklow, Woodenbridge, Aughrim, Tinahely and Shillelagh and everywhere in between. I am of the belief that tourism is the greatest commodity we have in this country. When a person has guests staying in towns or villages it really ticks so many boxes; employment, support for local suppliers, shops, pubs, caf\u00e9s and restaurants. I recognise there has been positive progress on this project over the past few months, but this project is simply taking too long. The first meeting was held nine years ago, on 17 October 2017, in Lawless\u2019 Hotel, Aughrim. We must stay positive and I look forward to ensuring this particular project comes to fruition. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  I genuinely thank the Deputy for his commitment and dedication to this project. As someone in the hospitality sector he recognises the importance of the greenway project. What might be unique in this case is that the scheme has general public acceptance and deserves to progress more quickly than others.  In my own area of Cork we have a huge issue with a particular greenway, which is disappointing in terms of the level of engagement by TII. In this case, we have allocated money to TII and it has already expended or allocated almost \u20ac100,000 towards this scheme. There is a number of phases to go through, as the Deputy knows. The Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and I have always spoken about expediting and increasing the passage through gates in terms of projects. It is important for a variety of reasons. As the Deputy said, this will be a game-changer for the area. If we look at areas like Arklow, Woodenbridge, Tinahely and Shillelagh, these are areas that bring people in. They are wonderful spots and great tourist attractions. This will be an unlocking of further potential. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Brennan  I totally agree with the Minister of State. I drive this route every week. I try to have a vision of what will happen \u2013 not if but when \u2013 this greenway happens. We look at caf\u00e9s on the quays in Arklow, Woodenbridge buzzing with tourists, Lawless\u2019 Hotel in Aughrim reopening, bike shops in Tinahely or more pods in Shillelagh. It is going to be simply transformative. We often overuse the term \u201cgame-changer\u201d, but it will literally open up new tourism in south County Wicklow. I worked for years in tourism and fought against the Westports, Galways and Killarneys to get tourists into south County Wicklow. When we get this project it will be transformative and we need the Minister of State\u2019s help along the way. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  I assure the Deputy that the Minister, the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and I are very committed to this greenway project. The Deputy is right, and he paints a wonderful picture. I look forward to visiting with him again because he has painted a wonderful, broad brush of what it can do. It will drive economic change and regeneration. The point the Deputy has made is the vision will become a reality. It is not \u201cif\u201d, it is \u201cwhen\u201d, and all of us on this side of the House are anxious to progress the scheme. From our end, there are no barriers to the progression of the scheme. We have allocated money for the greenway project. The Deputy\u2019s enthusiasm will help us to go back and further engage with TII to ensure that we can, with Wicklow County Council, bring this to fruition. There seems to be broad acceptance and agreement around this greenway, which is a positive. Our Department has allocated funding for the greenway project and we look forward to its completion. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Greenways Provision"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_31","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Public Transport","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_24","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_31","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maeve O'Connell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maeve-O'Connell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Maeve-O'Connell.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_31.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maeve O'Connell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maeve-O'Connell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Maeve-O'Connell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Maeve O'Connell  I want to ask the Minister about how we can support the night time economy by seeing if he is engaging with both public and private transport providers to try to extend operating hours later into the night. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  I thank Deputy O'Connell for raising this really important issue in terms of the extension of service operating hours and the BusConnects network redesign. As she is no doubt aware, it is a transformative programme of investment in our bus system aimed at improving public transport across the city by strengthening the existing system through enhanced services with high-frequency spines and new local orbital and radial roots. As part of that redesign, the NTA has introduced 15 24-hour bus services across the city in recent years. That significantly enhances both late night and early morning travel options. It has allowed more people, particularly night time and shift workers, to use and avail of public transport services.  In addition to those 15 24-hour routes, we have 12 Nitelink services which run from the city centre to the suburbs on Friday and Saturday nights, providing extra capacity during peak late-night demand periods. Iarnr\u00f3d \u00c9ireann operates all available trains across the network daily to meet the record demand it is seeing on all routes. This is outside of required maintenance cycles to ensure fleet reliability, and any repair works which may be taking place. However, over periods such as St. Patrick\u2019s Day, Christmas and new year, Iarnr\u00f3d \u00c9ireann puts on additional late-night services to accommodate passengers. I asked the company if there is any more flexibility, recognising that we do more with the buses. Fifteen 24-hour routes and 12 Nitelink routes are great and support the night-time economy. While I know we have a short window for maintenance of tracks, which we need to do for safety reasons, we might look at further weekends in the year when we could extend the rail and Luas services. They are constrained more than the buses because we have to maintain the tracks and rolling stock, but I have asked both companies if there is any other flex or other opportunities to provide additional services that bit later on certain weekends. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maeve O'Connell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maeve-O'Connell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Maeve-O'Connell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Maeve O'Connell  I thank the Minister. I appreciate the feedback on that and that the Minister is engaging with the rail operators, Transdev and Irish Rail, about trying to extend rail services. I represent Dublin Rathdown, which is a constituency adjacent to the city centre constituencies. An awful lot of my constituents raise the point with me all the time that they would go into town more often if they knew that they could get home. We are within a distance from the city centre that it should be easily accessible and affordable. We have taxi services, but like every form of transportation, they do not suit everybody all the time. Many areas in Dublin Rathdown are quite close, and I have personally done the walk from the city centre to Stillorgan many times due to the lack of public transport. I always make sure I wear comfortable shoes. Again, that is not suitable for every person at all times, particularly in our climate. I also represent a constituency with UCD's students, and there is huge potential for them to support the night-time economy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  Those 15 routes I referred to are up and running. They are 24-hour routes. Going back five years, we did not have any 24-hour routes. The Deputy is right that we need to support the economy. More people would go out in our city if it was easier to access. It is getting better. Of course we are looking for other opportunities for routes, with more 24-hour routes. Obviously they have to be paid for too. I mentioned in response to colleagues earlier that we have to manage our new routes and improvements to existing routes within the envelope of the PSO that we have. This issue is genuinely kept under review. I, like the Deputy, know the city well. It has bounced back post Covid but it could do with more help. Our taxi fleet has unquestionably improved. The Nitelink services exist but I have also asked the rail and Luas operators to see whether there is any additional headroom where we could provide additional times at certain periods of the year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maeve O'Connell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maeve-O'Connell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Maeve-O'Connell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Maeve O'Connell  I listened to the Minister talk about the constraints in the system. It would be remiss of me not to refer to some of the communications I have received this week about our wider transportation service. Hannah was in touch with me about the No. 11 bus route in Clonskeagh. Three full buses went past her on one day, and this has happened repeatedly. She has spent hundreds of euro on taxis. Three buses went past Catherine from Leopardstown, going down the N11. In Kilternan, which is one of the fastest growing residential areas in the country, particularly in my constituency, there was a protest last Saturday, led by my colleague, Councillor Pearse Dargan, about the poor bus service there, including the L26, which should be going every 15 minutes and is actually going every 30 minutes, and the 44 service. There is a lack of connectivity between the fast-growing area of Kilternan with D\u00fan Laoghaire and also to the Luas. I appreciate the pressures on the system. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  We have to recognise that, as our population is growing, our system is growing too. The 363.5 million public passenger journeys last year is a record number. That is a good thing and I know the Deputy fully supports that. We will look at the specific issues with the routes the Deputy mentioned. I will feed that in and I am sure the Deputy has done so already. We will always have work to do to roll out those improvements. We are ambitious as a Government to see public transport options increased for our citizens and improvements made to existing routes and new routes. We have to balance that with how we can pay for it. It is also appropriate that we do that. Things are going in the right direction. There are issues with specific routes. I have spent quite some time this morning answering questions on those. I will feed the Deputy's comments in. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Public Transport"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_32","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Road Projects","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_24","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_32","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_32.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Paul O'Shea  I am taking this parliamentary question on behalf of Deputy Noel McCarthy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  I thank the Deputy for raising this project on behalf of Deputy McCarthy, which I know is of great importance to him. The Minister for Transport has overall responsibility for the allocation of Exchequer funding for national roads. As part of the annual allocation process for national roads, TII prepares the booklet for funding for each project for the year. We announced this year's allocation last week. Approximately \u20ac139 million in Exchequer funding was allocated to Cork County Council for national roads in 2026. This represents an increase of over \u20ac66 million for Cork County Council when compared to last year, and will help to progress a number of major national road projects such as the M28 and N25. I know Deputy O'Shea has been advocating a greater increase in funding for Cork.  I am pleased to confirm that Cork County Council's allocation also includes \u20ac500,000 to enable of the progression of the Carrigtwohill to Midleton project, which has been paused at the route options selection phase since 2021 due to funding constraints. This project consists of an upgrade and realignment of approximately 5 km of the N25 dual carriageway from Carrigtwohill to Midleton. It will separate local and strategic traffic, and deliver upgraded junctions. Most important, it will improve safety for all road users on the N25 between Carrigtwohill and Midleton. Those of us who use that road know that it has become very congested and popular.  In addition, over the past number of years, TII has provided funding to Cork County Council for identifying smaller, more localised interventions on this section of the N25, including \u20ac100,000 this year for junction safety improvements. These are badly needed and we would all welcome them. While interventions on this section have proven challenging due to the number of access points, limited land in public ownership and budgetary constraints, one measure that has been developed and proposed by Cork County Council is at Milebush, where it is hoped to provide improved access by utilising lands owned by the local authority. I hope that will be progressed this year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Paul O'Shea  I thank the Minister of State. The current stretch of the N25 national route between Carrigtwohill and Midleton remains a safety issue. The configuration of the road is dangerous. There are frequent accidents, some of which have been fatal. TII's collision analysis has confirmed the collision rate for the route is above average. Low standard junctions, medium crossings and direct access points to the road for properties are not encouraging safe travel. At peak times, it is not unusual to see traffic on two busy lanes travelling at high speed. I acknowledge that TII has recently confirmed funding of \u20ac500,000 for the Carrigtwohill to Midleton route. While I appreciate that TII is the authority tasked with planning, design and construction of individual national roads, will the Minister of State please advise what the latest funding will be allocated for? Is it the intention that the junction will remove dangerous median crossings at Ballyrichard and Water-rock? Will they be closed? Any additional information the Minister of State can provide would be welcome. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  Deputy O'Shea, speaking on behalf of Deputy McCarthy, is right that the N25 is an important road. It is the road to Rosslare Europort and funnels traffic into Cork city. As I said, the interventions for junction safety on the N25 are a matter for Cork County Council in this case. It will identify the points the Deputy has outlined and the need for enhanced safety measures to be taken. Funding has been allocated to it. The important point for our Department is that this road has had a number of accidents and fatalities. We have allocated resources to the council to ensure we can have the on-ramp, off-ramp, access points and egress improved.  I will take the points the Deputy made back to Cork County Council and back to the NTA on behalf of Deputy McCarthy because it is about ensuring that road is safe. We have already seen a huge allocation of resources to the improvement of the road at the tunnel. This will further augment the work being done there. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Paul O'Shea  I note that the N25 Carrigtohill to Midleton project was included in the latest national development plan review, which was published in November, as one of the roads projects to be advanced for future construction. It is, however, currently lagging behind the proposed upgrade to the Midleton to Youghal section of the N25 as no tendering or construction date has commenced or is yet outlined for the Carrigtohill to Midleton section. The situation is likely to worsen in future with thousands of housing units currently under development at Water Rock and more proposed for Midleton. This will put additional pressure on the already overburdened junction at the Lakeview roundabout in Midleton. This roundabout was upgraded with a slip road in 2019, which has made some difference. However, the whole design of the roundabout is no longer fit for purpose given the traffic volumes currently. Can the Minister confirm if the upgrade to the Lakeview roundabout will be progressed as one of the additional interventions proposed at the N25 Midleton to Youghal route? I am sure Deputy McCarthy will welcome any progress. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  Government with the NTA and the council have allocated funding. This is a very important route. Living in and being from Cork, I recognise the volume of traffic has increased, and the number of accidents has increased. It is a priority for us in government. That is why we have allocated money after having had a pause. I will take the areas the Deputy mentioned back to Cork County Council because the issues he raised are a matter for the council in the main. I will articulate the views of Deputy McCarthy to the council. I will make the point to Deputy O'Shea that we have allocated \u20ac139 million in Exchequer funding to Cork County Council for national roads this year, which is an increase. I hope that as part of that allocation of funding, we will see the route and the junctions the Deputy mentioned are addressed by the council. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Is f\u00e9idir teacht ar Cheisteanna Scr\u00edofa ar www.oireachtas.ie. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Written Answers are published on the Oireachtas website. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Road Projects"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_33","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions","counts":{"speechCount":114,"speakerCount":14},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_33","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pat Buckley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pat-Buckley.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Pat-Buckley.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Is \u00e9 seo an su\u00ed deireanach den D\u00e1il sula dtagann rialacha an Rialtais i bhfeidhm chun an c\u00edos a ard\u00fa D\u00e9 Domhnaigh. I gceann c\u00fapla l\u00e1, beidh cumhacht ag na tiarna\u00ed tal\u00fan m\u00f3ra an c\u00edos a ard\u00fa go leibh\u00e9al an mhargaidh do thion\u00f3nta\u00ed nua. D\u00edreach mar a d\u00fairt Sinn F\u00e9in, t\u00e1 na creach-chist\u00ed ag dul thart. Sa Teach seo inn\u00e9, thug an Teachta McDonald le fios go raibh IRES REIT, an tiarna tal\u00fan pr\u00edobh\u00e1ideach is m\u00f3 sa St\u00e1t, ag ma\u00edomh go hoscailte ina thuarasc\u00e1il bhliant\u00fail go ligfidh an dl\u00ed \u00far a thug an Rialtas isteach d\u00f3 a chuid c\u00edosanna a ard\u00fa suas le 25% ar l\u00e9asanna nua. T\u00e1 an Rialtas anois ag br\u00fa tr\u00edd an ard\u00fa is m\u00f3 c\u00edosa at\u00e1 feicthe againn riamh.  This is the final sitting of the D\u00e1il before the Government's rent hike Bill rules come into force on Sunday. In a matter of days, landlords are going to be handed the power to increase rents to full market levels for new tenancies. Exactly as Sinn F\u00e9in warned, corporate landlords are preparing to cash in, and they are not hiding it. They are telling their shareholders that increased profits are coming because of decisions taken by the T\u00e1naiste and the Government. Yesterday in the House, Teachta Mary Lou McDonald revealed that IRES REIT, the largest private landlord in the State, is openly outlining how the Government's legislation will allow it to significantly jack up rents. In comments reported on thejournal.ie , its chief executive stated, \"Under these rules, every unit in our portfolio with the lease commencing after the 1st of March 2026 can be re-let at prevailing market rents once vacant.\" He described it as a \"substantial\" opportunity. He talked about it leading to \"enhanced returns for the company and our shareholders\". The company has projected a staggering, eye watering 25% increase in rents with minimal additional costs as a direct result of the Government's policy.  This is not a mere Opposition claim. This is the largest landlord in the State explaining plainly, in black and white, that the Government's rent hike Bill will allow it to raise rents and boost shareholder returns.  At the same time, the Residential Tenancies Board figures show that rents are already at record highs under this Government, and that tens of thousands of renters had to start new leases last year. Who are these people? They are ordinary people right across the State who, under the Government\u2019s rules, would face rents being reset to full market levels. Behind each of those numbers and each of those statistics are real households who were forced to move maybe because of work, the sale of a property, family breakdown or landlords' decisions. Many of them are already stretched to their limits. The T\u00e1naiste knows that 60,000 renters on average every year move into a new tenancy. Under the Government's rules, the landlord is going to be free to set the rent at whatever the market rate is even if that means a jump of 25% compared to what was paid before.  In the last sitting of this D\u00e1il before these rules take effect, I am going to ask the T\u00e1naiste directly, faced with clear evidence and with everything we know of who benefits and who pays, is the Government even at this late stage going to reverse course and stop these rent hikes before they inflict serious hardship on tens of thousands of renters across the State? How can the T\u00e1naiste stand up, which I have no doubt he is going to do in the next few minutes, and justify a company - the biggest landlord in the State - in some cases renting a two-bedroom apartment not far from here for an eye-watering \u20ac3,200? How can he justify the biggest landlord in the State saying very clearly to the Government and its investors that the Government's legislation now allows it to increase rents by about 25% on average for new tenancies? How can the T\u00e1naiste stand over that? How can he look renters in the face knowing the pressures they are under and say that he stands over that? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  There is a consistent and ongoing effort to misrepresent the factual situation in relation to the new rent rules and rental reform. I welcome the opportunity this morning in the D\u00e1il to, I hope, disprove some of the scaremongering and misinformation and to provide some facts to people who are watching at home and would like to know the facts.  First, from 1 March, there is no change at all for existing tenancies - none, zero, none at all, no change. That is really important. What does come into place from 1 March is a balanced package of measures, which includes within it some of the greatest protections we have ever had in the history of our State for renters. That is not just my view. That is the view of the University College Dublin, UCD, professor of social justice who spoke on this in recent weeks as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  That is not the view of the largest landlord in the State. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  We will see greater protection for renters than ever before. For the very first time ever, we will see nationwide rent pressure zones. For the first time ever, we will see six-year rolling tenancies providing people with that security of tenure. For the first time ever, in many ways, we will see an effective no-fault eviction ban. We brought in very strict and stringent rules in relation to that as well. Yes, from March, it is possible for new tenancies to be set at market rates but here is the next bit. It is only possible for them to be set once and then they need to be locked in at that level for the next six years other than being able to rise for----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  Yes, but rent is three years----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Other than being able to----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  It is three years for students' rent. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy, please, allow the T\u00e1naiste to conclude. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  We are not going to do this; we are going to have a serious conversation. That is other than being able to rise for inflation and, even then, capped at 2%. For the first time ever, somebody who takes out a new tenancy in March will have that six-year security, the protection of an effective no-fault eviction ban, and will also know the rent cannot rise further during that six years, except in line with inflation but no more than 2%.  This 25% figure Deputy Doherty's party leader threw around this House yesterday is not a fair representation at all. That is not my view. This morning on national radio, as Deputies may have heard, and if she has not heard it, I hope Deputy McDonald will go back and listen to it, the representative body for the investment company quoted in the D\u00e1il yesterday felt it necessary to go on national radio to describe Deputy McDonald's comments yesterday as, first, not correct, and, second, as absolutely a complete mischaracterisation of the issue. That is important for the people at home. These are people----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Donnelly  They would say that, though. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  These are people the Deputies would know well because Deputy \u00d3 Broin has met them twice in the past year according to the lobbying register. These are investment companies----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  How many times has the T\u00e1naiste met them? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  They know well in Sinn F\u00e9in. They have met them twice in the past year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  That is----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I do not know what Deputy Gould talked to them about but they met them twice. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pat Buckley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pat-Buckley.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Pat-Buckley.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pat Buckley  It is called----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  They have come out and said that what Sinn F\u00e9in said about it being 25% simply is not true. They said that the 25% was a projected figure over ten years. Deputy Doherty left that out. It is a projected figure over a period of ten years. Sinn F\u00e9in obviously recognises, or at least I think it does, there is a need for private investment to come into the rental market. I presume it does because its members keep meeting the companies. The lobbying register is full of times they, particularly Deputy \u00d3 Broin, have met the companies to discuss these opportunities. Let us not scaremonger. People's rents are not increasing by 25% in March. No existing tenancy will see any change. Nationwide rent pressure zones will come into being. We will have an effective no-fault eviction ban.  Yes, for new tenancies, for the first time, the market rate can be set but then it must be locked except for allowing for inflation. That is a significant protection. All this is done with one aim only, that is, to increase more supply because without supply and private investment, according to the Housing Commission, we will not be able to have renters and home owners. We need to keep on doing supply. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  The T\u00e1naiste has been found out. It is as simple as that. He has been found out. His only defence here is that not every renter will be hit on day one. If you are looking today or moving on Monday, you will be hit by these rent hikes. The fund was very clear, in black and white, to its investors on its conference call that there will be 25% increases. Yes, it said, it will take a while for that to flow through. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  It will not be from day one. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Order, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Does the T\u00e1naiste not know that, from Monday on, every single new renter will be hit by these increases? He stands there and justifies it and his backbenchers applaud it. That is exactly what the Government has done. I have made the point clearly that this is just one landlord \u2013 the largest landlord in the State with 3,600 properties \u2013 but other big landlords can do the same. Some 60,000 new tenancies are created every single year. The T\u00e1naiste accepts, does he not, that every single one of those new tenancies can now see their rents jacked up? That is the reality. This is the first fund which came out and said in black and white to its investors, \"Happy days, lads, the Government has just put millions of euro into our pockets. We can jack up rents by 25% and we see one in seven of our tenants leave every single year, so we will start to see these returns in year one.\" "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy Doherty, your time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  That is the reality. It is in black and white. The Government has been found out. What the T\u00e1naiste needs to do now is reverse it or defend why he thinks it is appropriate that rents would go up that high. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  What I would say to the young people at home----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  The ones who have a home. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Do not shout me down. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Can we have some order, please? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I would like my time protected to answer the question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Order, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I would say to the people watching at home, yesterday, Sinn F\u00e9in came into the D\u00e1il and suggested people\u2019s rents were going to rise by 25% in March. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  For new tenancies. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Today, the Sinn F\u00e9in spokesperson has acknowledged that is not a fact----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  That is not true. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  -----and actually acknowledged a moment ago that his figures may take a number of years to come about. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  That is not true. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  You are bullshitting as usual. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I did not say that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  It has been found out today on national radio by people saying the Sinn F\u00e9in leader's representation in this House yesterday was a complete mischaracterisation. Hypocrisy----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  How much will rents go up? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  May I speak, please? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  If not by 25%, then by how much? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy Gould, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  Deputy Doherty asked the T\u00e1naiste a question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Hypocrisy from Sinn F\u00e9in is not new when it comes to housing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Defend what they are telling you. Stop spoofing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  We have a situation where Sinn F\u00e9in talks about investors as though it does not like them, as though they are not good. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Why does the T\u00e1naiste not defend it? Defend the policy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  The Sunday Times last week showed Sinn F\u00e9in has received millions "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  He cannot even defend his own policy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I would like to speak. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  It is very unfair. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Do not continue this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  It is very unfair to renters across the State. The T\u00e1naiste stands there and waffles when these landlords are telling him they are increasing rents. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  The increases will take a while, he said. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  We will move to the next question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  The increases will take a while, he said. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Deputy Buttimer knows this is happening. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Sorry, but there is a serious issue here. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  These landlords say one in seven renters leave every year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Can Members please respect the Chair? I will say again that I do not mind robust exchanges \u2013 they are fine \u2013 but the carry-on here on Thursday mornings is nothing short of shameful. I ask Members to acknowledge the Chair, acknowledge Standing Orders and please conduct the debate in an orderly fashion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  If I am allowed, in line with the rules of the House, to respond----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Yes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  -----in the minute that is given to me to respond to the charges that are put across this House. The position put forward by Sinn F\u00e9in in telling people their rents are going to rise by 25% is categorically untrue. It is being done to scaremonger and to worry. Sinn F\u00e9in talks about investment funds as though they are the big bad wolf while regularly meeting them, according to the lobbying register, and while accepting millions of dollars from construction companies and property developers in Friends of Sinn F\u00e9in in the United States, as we saw in The Sunday Times. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Thank you. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  They are hypocrites when it comes to this. We are on the side of renters. That is why we are increasing supply----- "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Catch yourself on. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  -----and bringing in rent protection that nobody has ever seen before. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Catch yourself on, man. The only thing the T\u00e1naiste is missing is a red nose because this is the kind of thing you would hear from a clown. He says he is on the side of renters when the biggest landlord in the State is talking about jacking up rents. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  We are on the side of renters. Sinn F\u00e9in is on the side of absolute hypocrisy. Seriously. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  When you cut through the noise, all you get from Sinn F\u00e9in is hypocrisy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  T\u00e1naiste, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Honest to God. The T\u00e1naiste makes for a good comedian. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  The Leinster House comedy club. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marie Sherlock  Two weeks ago, \"RT\u00c9 Investigates\" aired two programmes on the appalling treatment of some of the most vulnerable and seriously mentally ill persons in this country. It made for harrowing viewing. It is unconscionable that the State effectively condemns mentally ill persons who come into contact with the law to indefinite remand, without access to the appropriate medication or treatment, and all because of the lack of appropriate care in the community. In the wake of these revelations about the state of our adult psychiatric services and the reliance on our prison system to deal with and treat these people, what is the Government response? To be honest, I have heard no urgency nor any update by way of response to what is a scandal of this State. In the words of Professor Charles O'Mahony, who contributed to the programme, Ireland is effectively using the Prison Service to warehouse people with severe mental illness. Our country has replaced one form of detention in psychiatric institutions for many decades with another, the prison system. That is wrong.  There are around 340 psychiatric patients being held in prisons across this country, with dozens of acutely psychotic people waiting for admission to the Central Mental Hospital. We know that one third of the beds in the Central Mental Hospital remain unopened. We heard just this week from the HSE that it hopes that ten beds will open by March but it could not be confirmed.  A high-level task force report on mental health and addiction from 2022 contains some really good recommendations but there was no progress report last year, which is the year some of those recommendations were supposed to be implemented. It seems when it comes to the crunch there is little or no action.  We all know this system did not emerge today or yesterday. It emerged over many decades. We now need a complete change of approach. We need to move away from using detention as a tool of control. Last year, the Mental Health Commission said there had been 62% reduction in the use of seclusion practices and restriction practices in psychiatric institutions. That is great but the reality is that many of those people are now being held in our prison system. We need to move away from a system where the only access to mental health supports is through the prison system. Conor Ryan from \"RT\u00c9 Investigates\" told the story from Cloverhill Prison of how people were being refused access to psychiatric units within our hospitals and only finding that help within the prison system. We need to move to a system of diversion. Recommendations in the Henchy report are now 50 years old but have not been implemented by the State.  These are life and death issues, not just for the patients but also for their families. In recent weeks, I spoke to the family of Maud Coffey, who lost their sister two years ago, and to the family of Natalie McGuinness. The thread is very clear. There is a lack of joined-up thinking between mental health services and a lack of communication with families and, ultimately, people are losing their lives.  What is the Government's response to this horrendous situation of using the prison system to effectively treat and detain people who are seriously mentally ill? Will the Government proceed with a programme for Government commitment to build approved health centres within the prison system? To be frank, that is the completely wrong approach. Will the Government prioritise diversion over detention for seriously mentally ill people in this country and place diversion on a statutory framework? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Sherlock for raising this very important, sensitive and real issue in our country, our prisons and in relation to our mental health services. It is something that I know is having a real and painful impact and is a worry for many families in our country too. I join with the many who have already thanked those who spoke on the recent \"RT\u00c9 Investigates\" programme on the forensic mental health services for sharing their lived experiences and giving voice to issues that should not be seen or debated in this House as abstractions. While I am not a clinician, the responsibility of the Minister of State with responsibility for mental health and all of us in the Government must be to maintain public confidence in an essential service for a highly vulnerable group of patients - I use the word \"patients\" because that is what they are - and the dedicated staff who care for them. I spoke to the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, recently on this. She has asked the HSE for full reports on the cases highlighted in the programme, particularly those involving the Central Mental Hospital. I just want to make that point. The Minister of State has also asked that all appropriate care options for the individuals featured be examined.  There are actions under way to try to improve this situation. I know it is a statement of fact but it is important to remind us all that the Central Mental Hospital is just that; it is a hospital. Its purpose is and must be to provide treatment to support rehabilitation but also to have a carefully, safe, managed environment to help people return to the community where possible. We have seen demand for forensic mental health services grow in recent years and we have seen the opening of the new CMH at Portrane. That was an important moment. It saw the transfer of over 90 patients from an old, outdated, really inappropriate building in the Dundrum facility to a new hospital that has been recognised as one of the best forensic mental health hospitals in Europe. However, we need to open more beds in it. We have 114 operational beds at CMH. That is an increase of 20% on the former hospital. Additional funding has been secured to open the remaining 16 beds and recruiting staff is the key priority here. There is a need for very specialised staff in some of these settings, as the Deputy will be aware. An additional \u20ac2.8 million was provided in budget 2026 to open what they call the new ICRU which will bring beds into use that will support smoother patient movement through the Portrane campus and will also create further space.  On our prisons specifically, we already have two psychiatric intensive care units at Carraig M\u00f3r centre in Cork and the Phoenix care centre in Dublin, and we are also now providing psychiatric in-reach services to ten of our country's 12 prisons, assessing and treating prisoners with moderate to severe mental illness. Additional funding has also been provided to extend this service to Limerick Prison and we are very eager to progress with that as quickly as possible.  There is a programme for Government commitment. I think the Deputy has a different point of view on health and the Prison Service but the view was here that there was a need to provide within the Prison Service for people who require imprisonment to meet their mental health needs, separate and distinct from the health needs that could be provided in the hospital. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marie Sherlock  Everything the T\u00e1naiste has said is nothing new in that it is already contained within the service plan for the HSE for this year or last year. The reality is that there has been no response to the appalling revelations. I am shocked, as I hope other people are as well, but we are not hearing that urgency from Government. The reality is that not every bed within the Central Mental Hospital will be open by the end of this year and there is no plan to open every single bed. That is absolutely wrong. The reality is that the State has failed to invest over many years. Last year, \u20ac95 million was spent on exporting some of our most seriously ill patients to the UK - a 20% increase last year - all because of the failure to build here. This is the week in which we see an actual cut in the HSE capital plan this year compared to last year. There is a lack of a plan and a lack of action on the part of this Government with regard to mental health services. For years, we have had soothing words that there was going to be an increase in support. The reality is that mental health is the poor relation of the health service, and that needs to change. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I take the Deputy's point and I accept her bone fides in relation to this but this is an issue Government is taking extraordinarily seriously. The Minister of State, Deputy Butler, is taking a very hands-on leadership approach to this area. I thank her for that. She has the support of all of us in government. On the specific, very worrying and concerning revelations in the \"RT\u00c9 Investigates\" programme, the Minister has sought a full report from the HSE on each of the experiences and cases highlighted in that programme. I know she is very eager to get that report and is very eager to be able to work through any such report on a response to the issues. Objectively and fairly, the decision we took to invest in, and now open, a brand new, state-of-the-art Central Mental Hospital, deemed one of the best forensic mental heath hospitals in Europe, is a major step forward in forensic mental health services in this country. If you had all the money and all the staff in the world, you would still open that hospital on a phased basis to get it right and to do it in a very orderly way considering the complexity of care that is required. We have seen that. Ninety three patients have been successfully moved, capacity has been increased to 114 and there is now a process to continue to open all of the beds. More broadly, should there be an ability of the mental health services to spend more capital the Government will provide that funding. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  Let us be very clear. It is not the Opposition that made the claim that the rental income of IRES REIT is going to go up by 25% as a result of the changes the Government has made. It was IRES REIT that made that claim. Does the T\u00e1naiste accept that? His only defence seems to be that not every renter will be affected immediately. Does he not realise that a 25% increase in someone's rent, whether it is this year, next year or the year after, is completely unmanageable for the vast bulk of renters? How does the Government think people are going to be able to pay this increase? Does it not understand that people are already struggling to make ends meet and to pay their Bills? The Government admitted this week it got it completely wrong on SNAs. Will it admit it has got it completely wrong in terms of these changes that are a gift to corporate landlords?  To put this in context, IRES REIT made a profit of almost \u20ac50 million last year. Does the T\u00e1naiste not understand that the changes are going to cause even more hardship for renters and for families, putting them under more pressure? Does he not understand it will push more and more people into homelessness, that we already have record homelessness, including a record number of homeless children, and, shamefully, a record number of homeless pensioners? This is going to make it even worse. Beidh n\u00edos m\u00f3 agus n\u00edos m\u00f3 daoine gan teach.  Earlier this week, the State's biggest landlord, IRES REIT, about which we are talking, announced it was going to buy up an entire apartment block in Naas. This block with 77 apartments was already under construction. IRES REIT is not building anything new or increasing supply. Individuals and families who were hoping to buy one of these apartments and homes when the construction was completed are now being left disappointed. It is doing this because of Government policy. Government refused to ban corporate landlords and investment funds from bulk-buying apartments. Now, by letting rents rip it has opened the flood gates. These corporate landlords are going to snap up more and more homes. People work so hard to support their families and to get a place of their own. Instead of saving to buy a home, they are now handing over their wages to these giant landlords.  Is the T\u00e1naiste so blinded by his craven ideology of giving these corporate landlords whatever they want and ask for that he cannot see the damage he is doing? Renters in Ireland who are already paying some of the highest rents in Europe are now going to be fleeced even more. The Government admitted it got it completely wrong on SNAs. Will the T\u00e1naiste now admit it has got it completely wrong on letting rents rip and reverse its decision on this? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I have never been accused of having a craven ideology before. Our only policy objective in this coalition Government is to make sure we build more homes for our people to buy and rent and to make sure we deliver supply. Without properties, apartments and homes to buy or rent, every conversation we have in this House is interesting but academic. It is interesting but abstract if we do not build enough homes. The Housing Commission, which I am sure did not have any ideology either, as it had lots of different perspectives and backgrounds, said very clearly that there was a need for private investment in terms of getting to the supply. I make the point respectfully that it is surely not the Deputy's position that the only people who should be building apartments should be the State. Surely we see the benefit in private investment alongside an unparalleled level of State investment in housing. We are investing more than most European countries in housing supply, yet we know, as do the Housing Commission and everybody who has looked, that in and of itself will not be enough. It will not be enough to fix the housing emergency unless we also attract in others to add private investment funds. If we talk of ideology, we should be very careful we do not demonise that. We need a diversity of supply. We also need lots of different types of building and construction under way.  I hope the Deputy would accept the points I have made in this House that the comments this morning on national radio regarding the 25% clarify there was never a position that was going to be in a year or, indeed, in two or three years. That was apparently a projection, according to the comment on the radio this morning, over ten years. I am not saying anyone did it intentionally but it has been done in such a manner that has caused fear and worry. Nobody is suggesting market rents are going to be reset at 25%; not the investment fund the Deputy quoted. That investment fund has clarified that this morning. It is important we make that point too.  I have acknowledged, because it is the truth, that from March it will be possible for new tenancies to have rents set to market rate. I have also said, and it is only fair the Opposition also says this, that along side that there is a protection for the renter that is not there today, in that their tenancy is secure for six years and their rent cannot be adjusted beyond inflation capped at 2% for the next six years. That is a significant protection for people who rent a property. They know they are there for six years, there is an effective no-fault eviction ban in place and their rent is effectively capped at no more than a 2% increase per year.  That is a significant package of changes. Yes, there are comments from all sides of the debate - the left, the right and everywhere - about how we could have done this or done that. Lots of different people have a different perspective. The Government has tried to arrive at a balanced point of view here, one that drives more people to invest because, by God, we need it - we need more homes and apartments built in this country - but also one that, alongside that, puts in place a very ambitious, comprehensive set of protections for renters that have not existed in this country before and have been warmly welcomed by many, including those in the UCD school of social policy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  Mick Byrne of the UCD school of social policy, whom the T\u00e1naiste has been quoting, said that what the Government is doing is effectively removing rent regulation. The T\u00e1naiste has been selectively quoting what he has been saying on this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  As has Deputy O'Callaghan. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  IRES REIT has been very clear in what it has said on this. It has said it believes its rents are currently about 20% below what it believes should be the market levels and it has said these changes will result in its rental income going up by about 25%. The T\u00e1naiste has not addressed that. Simply saying that not every renter will face this straight away and, when they do face it, the rent can only go up by 2% every year for a few years does not address it. When it balloons by such an amount, how will people be able to cope with that?  Does the T\u00e1naiste not understand that if people are already put to the pin of their collar in terms of paying rent and their rent jumps by 20% or 25%, that will push more families, pensioners and children into homelessness? Does the T\u00e1naiste not understand that? How will people paying extortionate rents be able to face those kinds of increases? What will they do? Will the T\u00e1naiste reverse his decision? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I patronisingly get asked by the Opposition whether I do not understand, but does the Opposition not understand that we have to increase supply? We have to increase supply. I never hear from the Opposition, beyond more State investment - which we are doing - what policy lever the Opposition would pull to encourage more people to build more apartments. The people who vote for them and those who vote for me----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  Cut VAT. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  What about the State investment scheme? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  We have very significant levels of State investment. We have a Land Development Agency----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  Why is there not more? The Government is bringing in investment funds. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Maybe the Social Democrats will give Deputy Hearne a go at Leaders' Questions one day. We are investing more than ever in housing. We are investing more than most European countries - genuinely. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  None of that justifies a 20% increase in rent. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  However, there is a need and it is not just my view and it is certainly not my craven ideology; it is the view of the Housing Commission----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  It never said to increase rents by 25%. When did it say to do that? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  No, it said to get in private investment. There is no Government policy to do that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  It is to increase rent. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  The Government's policy is to stimulate private investment----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  By throwing renters under the bus? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  -----but alongside that put in place a package that the Opposition is refusing to acknowledge because it does not work for their social media clips. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  This is about social media, is it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  There will be an effective no-fault eviction ban. The Opposition will put up a selective clip that will put the fear of God in people in relation to rent but it will not tell them about the no-fault eviction ban. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  What the Government is doing is putting the fear of God into people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  It will not tell them about nationwide renters' protections. It will not tell them that, actually, the sound bites delivered in here yesterday were dispelled on national radio today. Let us be fair on this sensitive issue. Let us actually bring forward ideas in relation to this. We are bringing forward a balanced package to stimulate supply and protect renters. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  The Office of the Confidential Recipient was founded in 2014 as a result of the \u00c1ras Attracta scandal. That scandal was exposed by RT\u00c9 in a documentary called \"Inside Bungalow 3\". Disturbing undercover footage showed vulnerable adults being mistreated by some staff within that HSE-funded service. It showed inhumane and degrading treatment to residents and several people with intellectual disabilities in that location. Secretly recorded footage showed that staff members were slapping, kicking, force-feeding and physically restraining vulnerable adults while also subjecting them to psychological abuse, such as shouting and demeaning insults. The expos\u00e9 revealed a systematic culture of neglect and institutional control, where residents were often treated like eternal children and deprived of basic dignity and liberty.  In the aftermath of that, several of the staff faced criminal prosecutions and convictions. Nine were immediately suspended. The scandal triggered multiple national inquiries by HIQA and the HSE. One of the main outcomes of that scandal was the fact the HSE set up safeguarding services and the Office of the Confidential Recipient was created. The then director general of the HSE, Tony O'Brien, said the Office of the Confidential Recipient would, under the terms of the 2004 Act, be a recipient of formal, legal delegation from him, giving her the authority through the health service and the powers invested in the chief executive of the HSE.  I have heard shocking news about that office this week. The Office of the Confidential Recipient is to have its powers eradicated. It was an independent avenue for the public to get issues of wrongdoing resolved. A total of 1,500 formal complaints were made. Thousands of consultations and inquiries were held. Hundreds of vulnerable people who had no other pathway to justice used that system. As a result of new decision within the HSE, shockingly, the powers invested in the Office of the Confidential Recipient will be eradicated. The delegation, which is the legal underpinning of the powers of the confidential recipient, is to be set aside. Without that delegation, the office has no independent powers.  The new national framework HSE policy for adult safeguarding in the health and social care sector, which was just announced, has a serious and inherent conflict of interest. The HSE will now be its own de facto regulator. The HSE, which is the primary carer for these individuals, will now be the primary investigator of abuse in that particular sector. These fundamental changes mean that the confidential recipient will basically have no independence. She will come under the office of the chief social worker of the HSE. Essentially, it has made that office answerable to the chief social worker on an operational basis.  I ask the T\u00e1naiste here today what independent and confidential pathways will vulnerable patients of the HSE have to get justice and have their situations looked at? Will he make sure this decision is reversed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and reminding us of a lot of the very good work that has been done by that office since its establishment. I recall the appointment of Leigh Gath, who I think was the first confidential recipient. She was a woman whom I knew and she did incredible work. She was a Thalidomide survivor herself and a disability advocate. She really did excellent work and I acknowledge that and think of her today.  I will ask the Minister for Health to come back to the Deputy directly with any further information or thoughts on this but my understanding is that when the office was originally established much of the structure that is in place today in relation to safeguarding, and even the role of the chief social worker within the HSE, bizarrely, perhaps, did not exist. There has been a very significant overhaul of the structures in place. We now have a chief social worker. That chief social worker has that overall responsibility for delivery of adult safeguarding services. We have had expert reviews in relation to that role and the structure of safeguarding services within the HSE as well.  My understanding, and based on what the Deputy has said, which I have no reason to disbelieve or doubt, is that the confidential recipient's reporting line will now be to the chief social worker as opposed to the chief executive of the HSE. I make the point that, even as originally constructed, the office always reported in, for want of a better phrase, to the HSE, whether to the CEO or the director general previously. In this case, there is some wisdom to the idea that the chief social worker is a person who has a level of professional expertise and qualification that may indeed be more appropriate. The structure has changed. I genuinely do not believe there is any attempt to downgrade or in any way devalue the vital work done. I reiterate the Government's view that this work is vital, beneficial and has made a very significantly positive impact on improvements to our health service. We want to see that continue.  However, the structure of the HSE has changed and there is now a chief social worker position that did not exist when the original structure was put in place. That is my understanding of the change, no more and no less. I will ask the Minister for Health to reflect further on the Deputy's comments and revert to him. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  What is happening here at the moment is a serious scandal. This country has a really bad record in terms of standing up for people with disabilities and learning difficulties. Many of them have been abandoned for a long period of time. State bodies have a history of defending their institutions against those individuals who have been wronged. That is a record that is peppered right throughout the State bodies in this country. Look at the Brandon and Emily cases. The Brandon case exposed 100 incidents of sexual abuse and other abuse against people with intellectual disabilities in Donegal. The Emily case involved the rape of a nursing home resident with dementia in this State. We are talking about situations of absolutely grave importance. We are also talking about a serious eradication of that independent power and confidential power.  Already, there are people within the HSE refusing to work with the confidential recipient or get into things with her. Already, that is happening within the HSE. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  You should conclude, Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  The idea that in some way getting rid of independence and putting another individual of the HSE in control of an office for investigations that are to happen in the HSE is backwards. It is giving the power to investigate to the organisation that is accused of the wrongdoing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  You should conclude, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  That never works. Will the T\u00e1naiste seek a reversal of this? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I disagree with the Deputy's characterisation of it but I appreciate the point he is trying to make. It is a highly important issue that we all need to be alert to. This office has operated since day one as an independent office. It was an independent office that receives confidential information and then reports it to the HSE's CEO.  When it was reporting it as an independent office to the HSE's CEO, there was no chief social work officer responsible for reforming and driving reform in this area. There now is. Certainly the Minister can revert to the Deputy on some of the concerns he has raised, but I want to be really clear: the office remains independent. There has been no effort to subsume the office into the HSE's internal structures. What has changed, and the Deputy is correct on this, is the reporting structure. The confidential recipient now reports in their information to the chief social worker and had previously reported in to the HSE's CEO. That is being done from a place of wanting to reflect how----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  It is a radical move. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  -----the HSE now operates and the role and the value of the chief social worker because the chief social worker has been a positive addition, for the many reasons that the Deputy outlined, to the HSE. I will ask the Minister to come back to the Deputy further. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_34","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 na Comhalta\u00ed Eile - Other Members\u2019 Questions","counts":{"speechCount":11,"speakerCount":6},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_34","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maeve O'Connell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maeve-O'Connell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Maeve-O'Connell.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  I want to ask the T\u00e1naiste about the SNA circular and the recent bad handling by the Department of a reorganisation of SNAs. It has caused huge upset within and without this House.  I pay tribute to Michelle Cotterell, who is the principal of Our Lady of Good Counsel Boys' National School in Johnstown in my constituency. Ms Cotterell was one of the leaders in highlighting this issue. One of the reasons for that was that her school was one of the ones that got the really bad news about SNAs.  I welcome the steps taken by the Government to stop this and to give some certainty to people until the end of the next academic year, but the reality is that is the extent of the certainty that they have been given. Already, SNAs and schools worry about what is going to happen in the following academic year.  There are two issues that have emerged from this that we need to address urgently. The first is the redrafting and refocusing of Circular 30\/14, which was reissued in 2024 and is totally out of date. The circular does not reflect the reality of what teachers are facing on the ground in terms of the difficulties that some students have and the accommodations that they need, and the assistance they need, much of which is provided through the SNA system. The circular does not reference the many conditions we know children now have to face - the difficulties and the obstacles they face in terms of achieving the same educational equality that we all want for all of our children. As a parent whose child has not yet started school, I know that as she approaches that age this will be a concern for us and for other parents in a similar position. Will the T\u00e1naiste commit to the redesign and refocusing of that circular in a way that reflects what has to be done? Will he also answer the question in relation to what certainty can be provided on a longer term basis because, although the Government has stepped in and I am delighted that it did, we still have a job to do to convince SNAs, teachers, principals, parents and children that there is certainty in the longer term?  The second point is perhaps a wider issue. I have put down questions in this House about what the cost would be of expanding the SNA provision and having a second adult in every classroom - a second pair of hands for every teacher. Although there are children who have more profound needs and may need more focused attention from an SNA, the notion that we have school classrooms the way they were 30 or 40 years ago is now an outdated model. We need to look at a situation where teachers have that assistance within the classroom from another adult and that should not be limited to classes where they can prove there is a specific need for a specific child. We should be looking at it from a policy perspective and saying there is a broader idea here that we should be giving teachers the back-up and support that they need and that means a second pair of hands in every room in addition to maybe targeted supports that are proven, through medical need or whatever it might be, in accordance with the circular. Nobody in the Department of education seems to be able to answer the question as to how much it would cost to have an SNA in every classroom in addition to whatever specific needs are tailored to the children in that classroom. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Ward for bringing up this issue. I am particularly grateful to him for mentioning Michelle Cotterell, the principal, because I saw the report on the Six One news the other night. I have never met Ms Cotterell - I would be happy to meet her - but I thought her presentation of the issue was exceptional. She made the point - indeed, it is a point I have been repeating in the days since - that we have to use the period of time between now and future school years to look at the fact that the school community or composition, not only of that school but of all schools, has changed significantly since the 2014 circular, and that is what we intend to do.  We have to be honest in relation to this, and we should be honest. Parents of children with special needs assistants, teachers and SNAs themselves know this. Reviews have always been a feature of the SNA system. They largely paused since Covid. They have always been a feature. We need to make sure, though, that the review is based on a revised circular that is more reflective and understanding of the reality in the school classroom today. The reality is that when it comes to the phrase \"additional and significant needs\", there are children whose additional and significant care needs are obvious and visible, and there now likely more such children, certainly than there were in 2014, and there are some who are less likely to be visible and perhaps could be referred to as hidden or at least often hidden. That is the point that I heard Ms Cotterell make. It is a point that I heard many people make. It is a point that I think is true.  We are going to revise the circular. We should do this in a deliberative manner. We should listen, we should engage and we should get it right.  Crucially, we also need to get the SNA redeployment scheme over the line. My understanding is it is almost there. This is something that I acknowledge F\u00f3rsa has been engaging constructively on. I thank it for that. This is important and it would put SNAs on a similar par to teachers in terms of redeployment.  Third, we need to also have a look at workforce planning in general in special education. What frustrates parents of a child with additional needs is that we can stand here and say we are spending more money than ever before - true - we will have more SNAs in classrooms than ever before - true - and we will have more special classes open than ever before - true - and yet one will not meet many parents of a child with additional needs who feels the system is where the system needs to be. We need to look at how we workforce plan.  The Deputy raised an interesting point and I will not give a knee-jerk response to it on the floor of the D\u00e1il. I certainly remember when I was in school a classroom assistant used to actually be a role. I have no sense of where the policy thinking in the Department of education is on that but I will certainly follow up with the Minister for education on that.  Our priority, alongside the SNA circular review, is the roll-out of the therapist workforce in education. We now have for the first time - it has only started - established within the NCSE an education therapy workforce. Forty-five special schools are being sanctioned first but the ultimate aim here is to get this into mainstream schools. That could make a very significant difference because one of the realities that I hear from SNAs is that often they find themselves having to also pick up the slack due to the lack of provision of other services, most particularly therapies. We need to look at how we can address that therapy deficit too. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  I thank the T\u00e1naiste. One word he used in his answer is really important, and that is \"understanding\". The circular needs to represent an understanding of what teachers face and what school communities face in terms of the additional assistance they need to put in place.  I attended a meeting earlier this week with approximately 30 principals from my constituency. One of the comments at that meeting was that the Government does not trust teachers. I do not think that is the case. There is an issue of trust with the Department and with officials because the reality is that, through the scheme, when teachers go to the Department and say they need X, Y or Z in terms of special needs assistants, what they get back is a load of paperwork asking them to prove it, essentially. We need to move, through the circular and through the scheme, to a place where we are trusting teachers, who are the professionals on the ground, the people with the training and the people with knowledge of the particular school community. When they say they need something, we should accept that they need it and are not saying it to make their lives easier or because they have picked a figure out of the air. Let us trust teachers, let us deliver for them and let us make sure that the children they are teaching are given the best possible opportunity to achieve what they can achieve in terms of their schooling. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Something good has to come from this. When you are a parent under pressure worrying if your child is going to get the supports that they need, you do not really care which arm of the State, which office, which Minister or which Department. The buck stops with us, the Government. That is why we needed to stop the review, provide the additional SNAs where that was identified, not have a downward revision in schools but then crucially use this time - that is the really important bit.  I say this in the spirit it is meant. We should engage collaboratively in this House, whether at relevant Oireachtas committees or wherever the appropriate place is, to identify what we want the system to look like into the future. The level of investment now, quite rightly, is very high.  The number of people in the system, quite rightly, is very high. All of us feel that we are getting to a point where it is also going to have to involve a conversation about reform and about what an inclusive model of education looks like. Nobody has a monopoly in terms of the answer on that.  It has been an upsetting week. In politics, when something goes wrong, it is your responsibility to say that, to fix it and to learn from it. That is what we intend to do. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Before we move to Questions on Policy or Legislation, I wish to acknowledge the group of students in the Public Gallery. They sat patiently through all of the Leaders' Questions and other business of the House. I do not know where or what constituency they are from or what school they might be from, but I want to give them a bit of homework. They might write to the Ceann Comhairle to let us know what they thought of this morning's behaviour. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maeve O'Connell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maeve-O'Connell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Maeve-O'Connell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Maeve O'Connell  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I would love to hear from them, because my 12-year-old grandchild tells me that if her class behaved the way some people behave in this House----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  Some. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  -----they would be sent to the principal's office. I do not know what the equivalent of that would be in D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  That would be your office "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  -----but, certainly, I could pick out a few from this morning and most other Thursday mornings, whom I would love to send to the principal's office. I look forward to hearing from the students. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 na Comhalta\u00ed Eile - Other Members\u2019 Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_35","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Meastach\u00e1in i gcomhair Seirbh\u00eds\u00ed Poibl\u00ed 2025: Teachtaireacht \u00f3 Roghchoiste","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_35","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  T\u00e1 Roghchoiste na Gaeilge, na Gaeltachta agus Phobal Labhartha na Gaeilge de chuid D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann tar \u00e9is athbhreithni\u00fa a chr\u00edochn\u00fa ar na Meastach\u00e1in seo a leanas i gcomhair seirbh\u00eds\u00ed poibl\u00ed le haghaidh seirbh\u00eds\u00ed na bliana d\u00e1r gcr\u00edoch an 31 Nollaig 2026: V\u00f3ta 42 - an Roinn Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail, agus Gaeltachta. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Meastach\u00e1in i gcomhair Seirbh\u00eds\u00ed Poibl\u00ed 2025: Teachtaireacht \u00f3 Roghchoiste"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_36","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Pholasa\u00ed n\u00f3 ar Reachta\u00edocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation","counts":{"speechCount":35,"speakerCount":18},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_36","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donna McGettigan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Mythen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Mythen.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Mythen.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  Five people are occupying the offices of Bord Bia at the moment. They do not want to be there; they want this situation to be resolved. In fairness, the Irish Farmers Association, IFA, in recent days put forward a proposal to try to resolve it. The IFA has offered a suggestion to the effect that the chairperson of Bord Bia step aside while a full review of the situation takes place. Will the Government please, in the interests of everybody involved and, in particular, the industry, which has been brought into disrepute because of what is going on, accept that and move the situation forward?  This week and last week, thousands of farmers attended meetings around the country. I attended two of those meetings. Farmers are angry, frustrated and annoyed and cannot believe that the Government cannot see the contradiction of the chair of Bord Bia importing Brazilian beef while being the main advocate when it comes to the sale of Irish products. Farmers are not stupid people. They hear Government telling them that they do not understand the nature of global supply chains. When the Government tells them that, what they hear is \"You guys are stupid.\" They are not stupid. They are intelligent, sensible people who want a solution. Will the Government please bring this matter to a head and sort it out? It cannot go on. If it does, it is going to escalate because these farmers are not going to back down. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Farmers are far from stupid; they are the backbone of the indigenous Irish economy. They also know that this Government has their back. It had their back on nitrates and on Mercosur and will have it when it comes to the CAP and bluetongue. We know that they know we are with them and will be supporting them. We have had a point of disagreement with regard to the chair of a semi-State board. The Government has a job to do, and this Oireachtas has had a vote in respect of that. We have had committee hearings and there have been board meetings. The Minister for agriculture, Deputy Heydon, is engaging intensively on these matters. I thank him for all the work he is doing.  The board of Bord Bia held a scheduled meeting on Wednesday, 18 February. Following that meeting, the IFA submitted a document that consisted of seven strands and that requested that the board of Bord Bia commit to initiating a review process into the various issues that have arisen in recent weeks. Many of the seven strands relate to the quality assurance schemes. These can be dealt with by the farmer forum that Bord Bia is establishing on foot of the commitments given at the 18 February meeting. In addition, the Minister is examining the option to commission an expert-led governance review which would cover the other strands of the IFA proposal. There has been direct contact with senior members of the IFA regarding its proposals in the context of trying to find a potential compromise. The word \"compromise\" is important here, because compromise does not mean somebody getting their own way. I have spoken to the president of the IFA in recent days, as has the Minister. Everyone wants a resolution to this.  The board of Bord Bia will meet again on 2 March. We all agree that this protracted dispute is not in the best interest of the agrifood sector. Engagement is taking place and efforts are being made to resolve the matter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  The T\u00e1naiste will be aware that this is Eating Disorders Week. He will also be aware of the relentless work my colleague Deputy Sherlock has done and continues to do in this area. Yesterday, I attended the most impactful presentation I have ever be at in my many years on this campus. The presentation was made by Cared Ireland in the audiovisual room. Cared Ireland is a voluntary organisation that represents parents and carers of people with eating disorders. Those present shared absolutely heartbreaking stories. It is hard to get across just how powerful that hour was. Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of all mental health illnesses. One in 20 people in Ireland will experience an eating disorder in their lifetime. A study by the Health Research Board has shown a 121% rise in hospital admissions for eating disorders among children. In real terms, the number of cases rose from 170 to 375 between 2018 and 2022.  Will the Government engage with Cared Ireland and listen to its demands, of which there are a number? Can it commit to an immediate emergency plan for those with no access to services, to the full resourcing of eating disorder teams in child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS and adult mental health services, AMHS, without delay, and to a mandatory transition pathway between CAMHS and AMHS? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  The Deputy has been in this House long enough that when he says he attended the most impactful presentation he has been to, I take that very seriously. I will certainly arrange for the relevant Ministers, perhaps Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, and the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, in the first instance, to engage with that organisation and work through the list of, no doubt, constructive proposals it has put forward to try to make progress in support in this area. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  Special education in this country is decades behind special education other modern countries. In recent weeks and months, we have witnessed the absolute shambles of the SNA cuts and the lack of appropriate school places for children with additional needs. Thankfully, the Government, in a late-night announcement on Monday, conceded to public pressure, and a promise of \u20ac19 million, and no cuts, was made. The public accounts committee has representatives from the Department of education before it at the moment. The Department of public expenditure has just stated that it does not know where the money in question is coming from. Where is it going to come from? Did the Government make the announcement because it just wanted to buy itself out of the difficulty it was in at the time?  Yesterday, one of my colleagues in the Labour Party referred to the fact that far more special education places are needed than Government has planned for and that, perhaps, 800 to 1,000 students will be left without appropriate school places. The Opposition party leaders met following yesterday's country-wide protests, and there is a groundswell of public mobilisation against the Government's disastrous handling of this matter. I know that the Government wants to build back trust and do the best it can for every child in this country. How is it going to fix this and how long is that going to take? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  The Government has voted expenditure of over \u20ac118 billion. Within that voted expenditure, this additional allocation of around \u20ac19 million will be made to the Department of Education and Youth. No official should be in any way glib in that regard, because we are very sincere in respect of this matter. That money will be provided. I say this as a coalition leader and as the Minister for Finance.  I take the point that after the week we have had, trust has to be earned back. That is a fair point. People were deeply upset and hurt. I can outline the rationale and all the statistics, but what I have said is also true - people were upset and hurt. How you earn that trust back is by listening and delivering. Therefore, in the first instance, we will deliver on the part of the review that would have seen additional SNAs being allocated to schools. We will not go ahead with the part that would have seen a reduction in the number of SNAs. We will revise Circular 0030\/2014, and it is a long time since then. We are happy to hear the Deputy's views and the views of others in relation to that. We will get the SNA redeployment scheme over the line.  I say the following to be constructive- I said it a moment ago, and I know the Deputy has a sincere interest in it. We in this House need to look at how we can have wider engagement on the broader policy issues. The demographics are bringing us into certain areas, as are the complexities involved. We need to have an informed discussion about the policy approach we want to take, as well as about the funding approach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  Local government is the beating heart of democracy. That heart was torn out of democracy in 2014 with the abolition of town and borough councils. The latter were replaced by committees with no powers, no functions and no funding. This has done serious damage to towns across the country in the context of their economic and social development. It is now widely acknowledged, even by a former leader of the Labour Party, Brendan Howlin, that this was a very bad decision.  The local government task force established to examine the position held its first meeting on 26 June last year.  Its report and the recommendations in it were to be with the Minister within a six- to nine-month period. We are now at the end of the eighth month of that period. Has the Minister received the report? When will the Government re-establish town and borough councils and will they be in place in time for the local elections in 2029? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I truthfully do not know if the Minister has received the report, but I will certainly find out for the Deputy and ask that the Minister write to him. The programme for Government is clear in relation to this. There are examples around the country. I should declare an interest that I am a former member of a town commission in Greystones. There are examples of how town councils and town commissions provided excellent work, not just for budding politicians who might have wanted to go from a town council to a county council or maybe even the D\u00e1il, but also for people who wanted to just serve their communities in that role. The councils organised events such as the Christmas lights or St. Patrick's Day parades and fostered a sense of civic pride. This is something the Government is actively considering. It might be something that bridges the political divide in Tipperary, because Deputy Murphy has also raise this matter in the context of Clonmel. I will ask the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, and the Minister, Deputy Browne, to come back to Deputy Healy regarding the timeline for that report. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  The T\u00e1naiste's party campaigned in the run up to the general election to review and remove the eight-year deemed disposal requirement for Irish domiciled funds and life products. As he will be aware - but, just for everyone else's benefit - the system taxes people 38% every eight years on gains they have not made yet. This was reduced slightly in the budget, but it is still regressive and in practice might be pushing ordinary savers into property investments when they could be funding worthwhile projects, especially if a wider number of schemes were to be introduced. I understand that some progress on this matter may be made through the taxation of retail investment. It would be great to get a timeframe as to whether the Government will definitely be doing it this year and if it will be introducing a simple ISA-style investment account, which, I suggest, could be purposed towards providing funding to help build housing or critical infrastructure. Is that being considered? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  In the two budgets that I intend to deliver as the Minister for Finance, I am absolutely determined that we do something in relation to retail investment. Irish people are among the best savers in the European Union, but we have one of the lowest rates of participation in investments. The reality is that good, hard-working and decent people right across the country are trying to do the right thing and put aside a few bob - even very small amounts because times are tough -but that money is not earning them anything. We have to fix that. In that context, I am actively considering how we might bring in a savings and investment account in line with the Savings and Investment Union at EU level. I am looking at what has been done in the UK, Sweden, Canada, Japan and a number of other countries. I intend to convene a stakeholder forum on this within the next month or so, with the view to having options in advance of the budget. Deemed disposal is something that definitely deserves consideration. There is an unfairness in relation to it, and it was brought in at a very different time. I am minded to see what progress can be made on it in the time ahead. Specific taxation measures are obviously a matter for budget day. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Murphy  I want to speak on behalf of the small businesses that are the backbone of our local economies. They are the real heroes at local level in light of the extent to which they invest local, spend local and hire local. These businesses are under huge pressure as a result of increased costs, something that is acknowledged on page 15 of the programme for Government. The programme for Government contains a commitment to making changes to employers' PRSI to ease the pressure on small businesses. Is consideration being given to a PRSI rebate scheme for employers that would be linked to lower paid employees and that will ease the pressure on these heroes at local level, many of whom are in the eye of a perfect storm in the context of increased costs? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  SMEs remain the backbone of the Irish economy. While this country proudly has a good tradition - and one we want to continue - in terms of foreign direct investment, including in the Deputy's county, the biggest employer in Ireland remains small- and medium-sized enterprises the length of breadth of the country. This is why we took a number of measures in the budget to support small businesses, to protect jobs and to try to maintain competitiveness. We also brought forward the reduced VAT rate on gas and electricity for SMEs and the reduced VAT rate on hospitality will come into place on 1 July. The Minister, Deputy Burke, has established the cost-of-business advisory forum. This will consider all of the costs that businesses face, and particularly small and medium businesses, and any regulatory, infrastructural or policy or budget changes that should be addressed. Specific measures as to what we may or may not be able to do in the budget are a matter for budget day. I assure the Deputy that the next budget, just like the most recent one, will be about protecting jobs and supporting Irish businesses. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donna McGettigan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donna McGettigan  There was a recent announcement of funding for roads in County Clare. An amount of \u20ac2.5 million has been allocated for the Drumeen to Darragh section of the N68. It is stated that this is for pavements. Yet, after a back-and-forth, the senior engineer in Clare County Council has stated that it is for resurfacing works on the road in question. A local campaign group has been calling for safety measures on this road. A Garda report shows that there have been 33 collisions on the road and that some of them involved fatalities. In the context of the programme for Government and the road safety strategy, the Government has adopted the Vision Zero strategy with the aim of eliminating all road deaths. Why does the document relating to the funding announcement to which I refer state that the money allocated is for paving work when it is actually for resurfacing works? Will public lighting and road realignment be included? Why have much-needed road safety measures not been included? When will such measures be put in place to ensure that no more lives will be lost on the road in question? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank the Deputy for raising the very specific issue in relation that particular stretch of the N68. I will follow up directly with the Minister on the matter, on the funding involved and on the purpose for which the Deputy believed and which the documents indicated-it was for versus what she has heard locally. I will ask the Minister to come back to the Deputy on the matter.  I join with the Deputy regarding the broader point in relation to the importance of road safety. We are not that far into 2026, and we are already seeing road fatalities going in the wrong direction. This is an extraordinarily serious issue, after years of progress, and it is going to require all of our best thinking, not just from a policy perspective but also from an enforcement and individual behaviour perspective, to try to reverse this awful situation on Irish roads. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail  The building \u201cis not fit for purpose to operate without considerable risk\u201d and \u201cis unsafe and poses a serious immediate threat to the well-being, health and safety of the occupants and users.\u201d This is a consultant's report in relation to St. Patrick's National School in Celbridge. Those occupants and users are children, teachers and staff. The Minister for Education and Youth visited the site just over a month ago. What are needed right now are new modular units. There is a long-term plan for a permanent school, but new modular units are needed immediately. I have proposed a solution to move modular units that are not in use in another school in Kildare to the site. This is something we need to act on now. I am more than happy to share additional information with the T\u00e1naiste. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy \u00d3 Cear\u00fail for raising this important issue in relation to St. Patrick's National School in Celbridge. I am pleased to hear that the Minister visited the school in recent times and will, therefore, have an awareness of the situation. I am also conscious of the health and safety information the Deputy has read out in respect of the seriousness of this matter. On the basis of what he said, it seems that there may be a temporary situation that can be put in place to help alleviate this, including new modular accommodation. The Deputy is being constructive in bringing forward ideas as to how unused accommodation could also help. I will ask the Minister, Deputy Naughton, to look further at this issue and to revert to the Deputy directly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  Most of the wastewater in south-east Dublin is collected at the West Pier pumping station and then pumped under the sea to Poolbeg for treatment. There is an attenuation tank at the West Pier to handle overflow because during high rainfall events, run-off means that there is more water there than can physically be pumped to the pumping station. The attenuation tank at the site is 70,000 cu. m, so it is huge, but when there is an awful lot of rain, it is not big enough. When it fills up and there is no room in the tank to pump the water in, it literally overflows into Dublin Bay. I welcome the nitrates directive, which may be unrelated, but it places a greater obligation on us to deal with water quality issues. This is a water quality issue in Dublin Bay. We eat fish from and we swim in Dublin Bay. This is a major problem. The solution is the construction of a second attenuation tank at the Gut at the back of the West Pier in D\u00fan Laoghaire. Is that something we could look forward to, particularly as it will solve a major water quality problem? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Ward for raising this serious issue regarding water quality in D\u00fan Laoghaire and Dublin Bay and more broadly. We have made a lot of progress on water quality in recent years. We are investing more now through Uisce \u00c9ireann. On foot of the Deputy raising this issue, I will speak directly to Uisce \u00c9ireann in respect of it. We have provided a lot of additional funding to Uisce \u00c9ireann for the years ahead. I will certainly ask that it considers the point he has made about the need for a further attenuation tank. I will come back to the Deputy directly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Mythen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Mythen.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Mythen.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Johnny Mythen  In the HSE Capital Plan 2026, a new ten-bed specialist community mental health unit has been included in the plan for Wexford, which is more than welcome. Since the closure of St. Senan's acute mental health beds in 2009, Sinn F\u00e9in representatives across the county and I have campaigned for their replacement, which was promised by the Minister for Health at that time. In fairness, the T\u00e1naiste visited Wexford last week and stated that the lack of 24-7 psychiatric care in Wexford is a major concern.  I come from the old school - if you cannot see it or touch it, then it does not exist. When can the people of Wexford expect to see these 24-7 acute beds in operation? Will it be within a five-year period, a ten-year period, or more? We can only speculate on how many lives would have been saved over those 27 years if that promise had been honoured in the first place. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I sincerely thank Deputy Mythen for raising this very important issue. As he rightly says, I was in Wexford very recently and I took the opportunity to visit the hospital. I met with the hospital manager, Linda O'Leary, and the team there who do very good work. I was very conscious in all of my engagements in Wexford that there is an acute issue with mental health services in the county. I have had very good discussions with the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, in relation to this. I welcome the fact that the HSE's capital plan in recent days tries to move this forward, with the commitment to a ten specialist bed unit in Wexford. I will ask the Minister of State to come back to the Deputy directly on timelines as to how quickly we can advance it.  In the limited time available to me, I am also aware there are other measures in the here and now that I think need to be advanced, including the provision of 24-7 ED consultant presence in terms of mental health expertise within the ED in Wexford, which I believe is also lacking. I will talk to the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, and ask her to come back to the Deputy on timelines. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  On 12 April 2025, serious concerns were raised by people in Grenagh, County Cork regarding the demolition work on the former piggery site where asbestos was present and became airborne. I can confirm that no planning permission was granted by Cork County Council for the demolition works, no planning was granted in respect of the asbestos materials and no disposal plan was in place for these asbestos materials. Both the HSE and HSA have engaged. Remediation works stopped in September last, which is six months ago. No completion timeline has been provided by the land owners to Cork County Council. It is now almost a year since residents flagged this, and they are still living in uncertainty. Local businesses and sports clubs have been affected. Families have questions about safety. People are afraid to use the playground in the area, and property values have significantly declined. Does the Government accept that unauthorised demolition involving asbestos is a serious breach of planning and environmental law? Will the Government now take action to ensure compliance and immediate remediation works in Grenagh? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy O'Flynn very much for raising this issue and the concerns of his constituents and the community in relation to the presence of asbestos and the actions that have been brought about potentially as a result of demolition works. While I am not familiar with all of the granular detail, on foot of the Deputy mentioning that the HSE and the HSA are both familiar with it, I will ask the Minister for Health, who has responsibility for the HSE, and the Minister for enterprise, who has responsibility for the HSA, to engage with both of those organisations and to come back to the Deputy directly. I will also ask that we follow this up with the planning authority from a planning enforcement point of view. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  It was clearly outlined to me just now at the Committee of Public Accounts that the Department of education does not have the number of special classes and special school places available to match the level of need and provide for the number of applicants. Therefore, right now we have children without a place for the next academic year. I was told that all Government leaders are aware of this. When was the T\u00e1naiste made aware of this? Will he put on the record that every child that requires a special class or a special school place will get one for the next academic year, considering that the Department of education just stated that it does not have the resources to match the level of need? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Kenny very much, and for his ongoing work in this important area. I can assure him that the Government is working on this constantly through both the Minister, Deputy Naughton, and the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Moynihan. As a Government leader, I am being kept up to date regularly on this, as are others. There are a number of issues here. There is the opening of additional special classes. There is the fact that the portal opened earlier this year to try to have advance and earlier knowledge of the number of places needed. There is also the fact that through no fault of their own, other parents needed to apply after that date. There is also the fact that there may be some students in mainstream classes who may now require special classes as well. There is quite a piece of work going on here to try to clarify all of these matters. We have provided significant funding for more than 400 new special classes, and at least 400 new special school places. This will see almost 3,000 new special education placements created for next September. I assure the Deputy that active work is going on to ensure that places are provided in advance of September. The Government at every level is working closely with the Minister for education and the Minister of State with responsibility for special education on this issue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aidan Farrelly  I believe the T\u00e1naiste has already spoken about St. Patrick's National School with Deputy \u00d3 Cear\u00fail. I want to build on that. I have just spoken with the Secretary General at the Committee of Public Accounts. Everyone is aware of this now, especially with the damning findings of the architecture report. We need to bring everyone together on it at this stage. We could have modular units in the short term. The T\u00e1naiste has to see it to believe it right now. Is there anything we can do to expedite this? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. What he said is right based on what I have heard today from the Deputy and his colleagues - that you have to see it to believe it. The good news is the fact that the Minister for education has seen it. I know she was out at the school in the past month or so. On foot of the Deputy raising this, I will speak to the Minister, Deputy Naughton, later today and ask that she would endeavour to pull people together to see if we can find a temporary solution that seems to be based around modular, while planning for the longer term future and advancement of the school. The immediate priority has to be to address the health and safety concerns and modular may well be an option and a way forward there. I will ask the Minister, Deputy Naughton, to come back to the Deputy directly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shane Moynihan  Today, I want to raise an issue regarding frequent power outages in my constituency, especially for communities in Palmerstown and Clondalkin. Over the past 12 months there have been 11 outages in Palmerstown village, which have impacted an older population and initiatives such as Palmerstown meals-on-wheels. There were two outages in Clondalkin on Saturday affecting 4,000 households. I have been in touch with the ESB, and it has given me reasons for this but the broader point is the resilience of the network in that general area. As the T\u00e1naiste is aware, Dublin Mid-West is one of the fastest growing constituencies in the country. There is a scale of building happening there right now and we need a resilient energy system and power grid. We need to try to minimise the frequency of these outages so that they do not impact initiatives, and residents and businesses as well. Could the T\u00e1naiste turn his attention to that to see what we can do to increase the resilience of the network? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Moynihan very much for raising this issue, which I can only imagine is causing significant concern for residents and businesses in Palmerstown and Clondalkin in his Dublin Mid-West constituency. On foot of him bringing it to my attention, I will speak to the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, who is the Minister with responsibility for energy and also ask that he engages with the ESB in relation to this. There is a broader issue in regard to our need and wish to invest more in our energy grid, and energy network. The Government has identified significant additional funding for EirGrid among others. It is important that the investment plan is put in place as quickly as possible. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Paul O'Shea  I want to raise with the T\u00e1naiste today the lack of wastewater treatment capacity in the town of Kanturk in north Cork. We are very lucky to have five or six sites in development at the moment, with a number of houses being developed right across the town. We have a number of other applications for planning permission which do not have a wastewater connection at the moment. I believe there is a plan to install a modular wastewater treatment plant alongside the wastewater treatment plant that is currently in place in Kanturk. That will allow for an increase in the population equivalent, PE, in the wastewater treatment plant, which would allow for ca. 230 more houses to be built. I bring this to the floor of the D\u00e1il today in the hope that we could push it forward in the future. Could the T\u00e1naiste give me a response? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy O'Shea very much for raising this matter on behalf of his constituents. My understanding is that the Kanturk wastewater treatment plant has provision in the current RC4 investment cycle. There are plans to initiate a wastewater treatment plant upgrade project. This project is currently at stage 1, where Uisce \u00c9ireann develops the project objectives and outcomes and indicative range of costs. This work will continue through the year and I hope we can get this to the business case stage as quickly as possible. More generally, we need to see this moving quickly in terms of water and wastewater. One of the big focuses the Minister, Deputy Chambers, has been working on is that where we have identified need and provided funding, we reduce the regulatory and bureaucratic hurdles in terms of the length of time between the identification of a project and its delivery. Perhaps this is an example of such. As this business case is developed, I will keep in close contact with the Deputy to see that we can deliver the project as quickly as possible. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  Bail\u00edodh breis is \u20ac41,000 i bPort L\u00e1irge chun clinic soghluaiste m\u00e1ithreachais a chur ar f\u00e1il do mhn\u00e1 i nGaza. T\u00e1 an t-aonad seo i gCaireo na h\u00c9igipte faoi l\u00e1thair mar nach bhfuil cead aige dul isteach i nGaza. T\u00e1 mn\u00e1 ag iompar agus ag saol\u00fa leana\u00ed i gcoinn\u00edollacha cont\u00fairteacha, m\u00edshl\u00e1inti\u00fala agus m\u00eddhaonna. Over \u20ac41,000 was raised by Gaeil ar son Gaza in order to fund a mobile maternity clinic for women in Gaza.  This unit is currently stuck in Cairo in Egypt because they are not being permitted entry into Gaza. At the same time, as the T\u00e1naiste knows, Gaza's health system has been devastated and pregnant women are forced to give birth in conditions that are unsafe, dangerous and inhumane. I ask the T\u00e1naiste to urgently intervene and ask the Minister for foreign affairs to do likewise to secure immediate access for these Irish-funded mobile maternity units? Will he use Ireland's voice at EU and UN level to demand safe humanitarian medical access for mothers and newborn babies in Gaza without further delay? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I will indeed, and I thank the Deputy for highlighting the issue. I thank his constituents in the community for the incredible amount of fundraising they have done, raising \u20ac41,000 for maternity care that is no doubt urgently needed in Gaza where the health service has been obliterated and utterly decimated. I will ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to inquire with our embassy in Cairo on this issue to see what assistance Ireland can provide and she can revert to the Deputy directly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  This Saturday at 1 o'clock in Parnell Square, disabled people, disability groups and the Affordable Ireland Coalition, of which I am a part, will be mobilising in a protest, demanding that this Government relent and concede the demand for an emergency disability winter payment of \u20ac400 for those with disabilities and, beyond that, implement a cost-of-disability payment. A young man named Jack, who was at our press conference yesterday promoting the demonstration, was on the radio today describing how he had to buy an extra duvet because he does not want to turn on the heating as he is afraid to the cost. He gets anxiety attacks when he has to go to the shops. He has additional energy costs because he has to power his wheelchair. He is facing all these cost-of-living pressures. The Government hammered those people in the budget by taking \u20ac1,400 away from them. Will the Government concede their demand for an emergency payment before the demonstration on Saturday? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Boyd Barrett. The Government is in the process of working to develop a cost-of-disability payment. The consultation opened on that last week. We are actively engaging now with people with disabilities directly and also with their representative bodies. I encourage everybody and political parties in this House to get involved in that process as we try to design, for the first time, a cost-of-disability payment. I appreciate the cost-of-living challenges are real people, which is why we took a number of measures in the budget that were targeted, including expanding the eligibility for fuel allowance. I also make the point that emergency payments are available through community welfare officers for anybody in any difficulty. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  People should not have to beg. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Pholasa\u00ed n\u00f3 ar Reachta\u00edocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_37","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/23","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/23\/dail\/1","houseCode":"dail","stage":"1","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Repeal of Exempted Development Regulations Bill 2026: First Stage (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Repeal of Exempted Development Regulations Bill 2026: First Stage","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":4},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_37","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Brophy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  I move:  That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to repeal the Planning and Development (Exempted Development) (No. 4) Regulations 2022 (S.I. No. 605 of 2022) and Planning and Development (Exempted Development) (No. 4) Regulations 2023 (S.I. No. 376 of 2023) related to the provision of temporary accommodation for persons seeking international protection or in receipt of temporary protection.  Exempted development regulations are an important part of our planning system but they should always be the exception and not the rule. They work best when they are for small developments or indeed for developments that are temporary or are required for an emergency. As the Minister of State knows, long-term development requires proper planning, thoughtful consideration by planning professionals and adequate public participation.  In 2022 and 2023, two sets of exempted development regulations were introduced to facilitate the provision of temporary accommodation for people in receipt of temporary protection or seeking international protection. The context, of course, was Russia's completely unjustifiable invasion of Ukraine and the refugee crisis that provoked, as well as an increase in the number of people seeking international protection. There was clearly a rationale at the time for those exempted development regulations.  Notwithstanding that, there was some abuse of those regulations. As the Minister of State will know, in my constituency, despite concerted attempts by South Dublin County Council to make the former SIAC building fire compliant, the owner of that building put the well-being and lives of 186 and international protection recipients at risk by non-compliance with fire safety, ultimately forcing the council to have the building evacuated for it to be remediated. That is a consequence of the improper use of exempted development regulations.  Since then, things have changed. The emergency crisis that was in evidence in 2022 and 2023 is no longer the case. Sinn F\u00e9in believes the provision of accommodation for people either in receipt of temporary protection or applying for international protection should be provided by the State in a manner that is cost-effective for the taxpayer and fully compliant with the human rights requirements of the people in that accommodation. Sinn F\u00e9in, in particular my colleague Deputy Matt Carthy, has been urging the Government to move away from expensive, inadequate, private temporary accommodation. Certainly, at a rhetorical level, the Government has accepted that.  If we are moving to having private accommodation, it needs to go through the planning process properly. We need to have thoughtful consideration of applications, proper public participation and good-quality developments. In our view the rationale for exempted development regulations from 2022 and 2023 no longer exists. Those regulations need to be repealed and all existing and new centres that are going to be permanent need to go through the proper planning process. On that basis, we tabled the Bill today to achieve that end. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I thank Deputy \u00d3 Broin for his work on this legislation. This Sinn F\u00e9in Bill seeks to end the current planning exemption for IPAS and temporary protection accommodation. That exemption has been in place for too long. A standard measure of a democratic system is that communities should have the ability to provide input on planning proposals that affect the area in which they live. Legislation currently allows for IPAS accommodation to be exempt from this minimal public engagement process. We have seen examples where it has led to anger, frustration and even division. It is now time for the exception to end.  Ending the exemption for IPAS accommodation is not just about community input, although that is vital. It is also crucial to ensuring that the accommodation provided is suitable for housing those seeking international protection. We have seen that the exemption has facilitated the use of unsuitable buildings, vacant commercial buildings, old factories and office blocks. Without planning scrutiny, local authorities cannot properly assess the suitability of a site or a building, which is not in anyone's interest. It is a system that has led to bad decisions and community alienation. People continually tell us that they feel they are denied a say.  It has also led to consternation in many cases, where property owners request an exemption for buildings for which they do not have a contract for accommodation and which the Department tells us they have no interest in using. That has put elected representatives and other community leaders in a very difficult position as people are wondering whether it is the request for the exemption or the departmental statements that should be heeded.  It is time for the Government to recognise that it has badly mismanaged the IPAS accommodation system. The failure to do so thus far suggests that previous mistakes are likely to be repeated in the future. That is why it was so worrying that last night the Government and others rejected my amendment to the International Protection Bill that would have ensured that a community impact assessment would be conducted prior to any new IPAS accommodation going ahead. It seems that the Government still has not learned that communities have to be part of the decisions that affect them.  Sinn F\u00e9in has been clear that IPAS centres should be placed in areas that are resourced to accommodate them, that community engagement has to be a real and defined concept, and that the private interests of property owners should not be allowed to be prioritised above all other considerations. The first step is to end the planning exemption and to support this Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Is the Bill opposed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Brophy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Justice (Deputy Colm Brophy)  No. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Since this is a Private Members' Bill, Second Stage must, under Standing Orders, be taken in Private Members' time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  I move: \"That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time.\" "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar fionra\u00ed ar 1.29 p.m. agus cuireadh t\u00fas leis ar\u00eds ar 2.10 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Sitting suspended at 1.29 p.m. and resumed at 2.10 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Repeal of Exempted Development Regulations Bill 2026: First Stage"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_38","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Estimates for Public Services 2026: Message from Select Committee","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_38","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Mark Wall)  The Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach, has completed its consideration of the following Revised Estimates for Public Services for the service of the year ending on 31 December 2026: Vote 1 \u2013 President's Establishment; Vote 2 \u2013 Department of the Taoiseach; Vote 3 \u2013 Office of the Attorney General; Vote 4 \u2013 Central Statistics Office; Vote 5 \u2013 Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions; and Vote 6 \u2013 Office of the Chief State Solicitor. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Estimates for Public Services 2026: Message from Select Committee"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_39","debateType":"statement","bill":null,"showAs":"Homelessness: Statements","counts":{"speechCount":30,"speakerCount":24},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_39","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pat Buckley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pat-Buckley.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Pat-Buckley.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Denise Mitchell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"William Aird","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dessie Ellis","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan)  I am delighted to be joined by my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell. The Minister, Deputy Browne, cannot be here for the opening section of these statements because he is at a subcommittee meeting and otherwise engaged. He will be here, however, to give concluding statements. He will be kept up to date as to the comments made during the statements from right across the House.  I welcome the opportunity to come before the House to speak on this most important issue of homelessness and the work being undertaken by this Government in responding to it. I will set out how the new housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities, is building on the progress made in recent years to increase housing delivery across the board and social housing, in particular. The Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, will outline specifically how the plan will ensure the provision of supports to older people and vulnerable cohorts in our society. The Minister, Deputy Browne, will conclude the discussion by outlining the many actions in the new housing plan that are specifically targeted at ending homelessness.  The Government is acutely aware that homelessness is the single most pressing social issue that we face and the impact that experiences of homelessness have on households and children, in particular. With this in mind, the programme for Government and the new housing plan reaffirmed lreland\u2019s commitment to working towards ending homelessness by 2030.  Increased supply is key to addressing homelessness. Last year saw the highest number of homes completed in more than a decade. More than 36,000 were completed. Delivering Homes, Building Communities builds on the achievements and progress already made under Housing for All to further accelerate housing delivery. The key difference between Housing for All and this plan is a greater emphasis on creating the environment for more homes. To deliver more homes at speed, the State will do more but this plan will also empower others, particularly those in the private sector, to play their part.  A significantly greater supply of housing can be achieved through a balanced approach focused on both directly supporting people to have a home of their own but also creating the best possible conditions for the industry to build and to activate more homes. This new plan commits to the building of 300,000 new homes. By the end of 2030, there will be 72,000 additional new-build social homes, built for those in our society who need them most.  Our goal remains a housing system that truly serves the needs of our people. That is why we are committed to also providing 90,000 affordable housing supports. Delivering Homes, Building Communities is ambitious, but the Government is fully committed to making it a reality. This is an integrated housing and homelessness plan that reaffirms the whole-of-government approach to addressing the housing crisis. It will ensure that the funding and the strategies deployed to address housing and homelessness are fully aligned at all times.  The plan will build on progress already made. In 2023 and 2024, we saw delivery of newly built social housing reach levels not seen since the 1970s, with almost 16,000 social homes built. Between July 2020 and the end of quarter 3 of 2025, over 52,300 social homes were added to the social housing stock and more than 14,100 homes were brought back into use under the voids programme. The pipeline is also strong. The latest construction status report showed over 25,000 social homes at all stages of design and build in Ireland at the end of September 2025.  Direct funding for housing is at record levels. In 2026 alone, over \u20ac9 billion in capital funding will be provided through the Exchequer, the Land Development Agency, LDA, and the Housing Finance Agency, HFA. Affordable housing schemes are now operating at scale and the affordable housing delivery programme continues to be expanded and developed year on year, supported by unprecedented levels of State investment. The Government will continue to bring forward measures that will increase the supply of new homes across all tenures to make sure that everyone has a range of housing options available to them. More than 18,900 affordable housing supports were provided by quarter 3 of 2025, increasing home ownership for families and ordinary workers.  Over the past five years, almost 149,000 new homes have been delivered. This is significant progress, which must be recognised. It also gives the Government a strong platform to scale up housing delivery and under our new plan, we are focused on delivery. This will not be easy and there is no one single solution that will solve the housing challenges we face. Delivering Homes, Building Communities takes pragmatic action across a number of different policy areas to boost housing supply while ensuring that the new homes delivered support the people who need them the most. These two key objectives provide the foundational pillars in the plan: activating supply and supporting people. The first pillar, activating supply, is about removing structural barriers to homebuilding and ensuring we deliver 300,000 new homes in the lifetime of this plan. This includes measures aimed at unlocking land, reforming planning, delivering infrastructure and creating the conditions needed to increase investment in housing supply.  Reaching the target of 300,000 new homes will only be achieved through the individual and collective effort of the key delivery partners. Local authorities, together with approved housing bodies, the Land Development Agency and the construction sector, will be critical to delivering and enabling the delivery of the quantum of homes needed over the lifetime of the plan. Central government will provide the policy, regulatory and funding frameworks to support housing delivery.  Further to this, Delivering Homes, Building Communities is enabled by the largest ever capital investment in the history of the State. A total of \u20ac275 billion will be invested over the next ten years under the national development plan to significantly upgrade our infrastructure and make the environment for building homes much better. This cannot be overstated. This includes almost \u20ac20 billion to support the delivery of the 72,000 social homes and 90,000 affordable home supports over the next five years. It also includes \u20ac12.2 billion for water and wastewater services and \u20ac3.5 billion in equity funding for ESB Networks and EirGrid to make sure that we have the capacity in these vital services to make housing connections as and when they are needed. The Uisce \u00c9ireann investment is particularly significant.  In January this year, the Government announced a new multi-annual \u20ac1 billion housing infrastructure investment fund to support direct investment in housing enabling infrastructure. The new fund will be managed by the housing activation office and will complement investment by infrastructure agencies, such as Uisce \u00c9ireann and ESB Networks, as part of a more co-ordinated approach. It will focus on projects that can move quickly and at scale. We want strong, deliverable projects that can hit the ground running and start unblocking housing delivery immediately.  Housing delivery is at the centre of the revised national development plan. We are investing \u20ac102 billion over the next five years, an additional \u20ac33.9 billion on the previous national development plan allocation. Overall investment of over \u20ac40 billion will be provided for housing and related water services to 2030. This funding will support vital water infrastructure projects, address historical bottlenecks in the system and accelerate us towards our delivery targets.  Over the lifetime of this plan, we will deliver an average of 12,000 new social homes each year. That is an unprecedented commitment. In parallel, we will provide an average of 15,000 affordable housing supports annually through the starter homes programme and related initiatives.  The help-to-buy and first home schemes continue to bridge the gap for first-time buyers struggling with deposits and mortgage limits. These schemes are not abstract policy instruments. They are enabling thousands of households to purchase their first homes.  Budget 2026 has continued the record level of investment in social housing, with \u20ac2.9 billion in capital allocated to support the delivery of social homes by local authorities. This continued investment in the social housing programme will increase the supply of stock available to allocate to households on the social housing waiting list, including households in emergency accommodation.  I am acutely aware of the profound impact homelessness has on individuals, particularly children, and addressing homelessness is a key priority under Delivering Homes, Building Communities. It is only through the increased provision of housing that we will begin to see a consistent drop in the numbers accessing emergency accommodation. We do not underestimate the scale of the challenge. We recognise that a radical step change is needed in housing supply. That is why we are using every lever at our disposal. We remain steadfast in our commitment to meet the challenge head on and ensure all those who aspire to independence in the housing market can realise their aspiration.  I hope we can work in a collaborative way across the House so we can continue to increase the supply of housing. I look forward to hearing Members\u2019 views and perspectives on this vital matter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy Kieran O'Donnell)  I appreciate the opportunity to address the House on this important matter. Addressing homelessness is a top priority for the Government. We remain committed to working with all key stakeholders to reduce and prevent homelessness across Ireland, including homelessness among our more vulnerable people, including our older people, disabled people and Travellers. Our new housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities, is an integrated housing and homelessness plan in which the Government recognises that homelessness is the single most pressing social issue that we face. The plan introduces a number of new measures to address homelessness.  One priority action is the development of a whole-of-government homelessness prevention framework. The Department of housing is leading on the development of this framework and all key stakeholders, including other Departments, are closely involved in the process. The focus of the prevention framework is to ensure there are increased efforts to tackle the causes of homelessness and increase the level of activity aimed at reducing presentations to homeless services. We recognise the need to focus prevention measures on cohorts most at risk. As such, we will explore additional measures that can be put in place to support at-risk cohorts such as older people, disabled people and Travellers, as I have referenced.  In addition to developing the framework, we are also working closely with local authorities to accelerate exits from emergency accommodation. We are committed to ensuring the necessary funding is in place to address homelessness. Some \u20ac560 million is available in 2026 to ensure local authorities can provide sufficient emergency accommodation, as well as essential related services, including homelessness prevention supports, day services and tenancy sustainment measures.  We are taking measures to increase the delivery of housing for older people and address homelessness in this cohort. As we are all aware, Ireland has an ageing population. Census 2022 data confirmed that lreland's ageing population is increasing significantly, with the population aged 65 and over growing by 35% since 2013, which is over double the EU average increase of 17.3%. Projections indicate that the number of older people in Ireland will be approximately 21% of the population by 2040. In addition, it is expected that the population aged over 85 will increase by more than 140%.  The Government is committed to increasing housing available to older people to facilitate ageing in place with dignity and independence and to supporting right-sizing on a voluntary basis. The Programme for Government 2025 - Securing Ireland's Future, recognising this demographic change for older people, includes commitments to deliver practical housing options for positive ageing. A working group established in my Department considered how best to progress these commitments and informed the development of the new national housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities. The delivery of more suitable homes and choice for older people, including measures that support independent living, has been firmly prioritised in the actions set out in the plan. It is highlighted in the plan that the overall aim of policy is to increase delivery of house choices for older people across both public and private housing to facilitate them to age in place, in their own homes or in their community, with dignity and independence.  I have just come from the launch of a collaborative housing development in Richmond Place, Inchicore, involving the Departments of health and housing, Dublin City Council, Circle Voluntary Housing Association and ALONE. A total of 68 residents are getting supports in addition to housing. It is very much an innovative approach in terms of people being able to live independently. People are moving there from areas close by and it is catering to their needs. It is an approach we are looking to progress in greater numbers.  The national housing plan includes commitments to work with local authorities in a number of ways, including the introduction of dedicated older people social housing annual targets in each local authority's housing delivery action plan. This is something on which I am very strong. The plan commits to the introduction of more efficient collection processes for data on older people housing delivery and allocations, having regard to older people and homelessness. There is also a commitment to improved site identification to support more targeted local authority and approved housing body delivery specifically for older people and provide accessible locations within local communities. In addition, we recognise the increased number of older people renting in the private rented sector. Therefore, the new housing plan commits to examining the affordability challenges for older people approaching retirement in this sector. Work on how to address these challenges and deliver this commitment is under way.  Delivering Homes, Building Communities also includes actions to provide greater choice to older people, including through increased delivery of more suitable homes through housing strategies in all tenures. We will continue to work with the AHB sector, local authorities and other stakeholders in supporting the continued delivery of housing for older people. The new housing plan includes a Government commitment to work collaboratively through the establishment of a co-operation framework between the Departments of health and housing, across which I have responsibility for older people, to improve the integration of health and social care supports and housing for older people. I saw that in action at the Richmond Place housing project today. This work will include building on the learnings from existing projects of supported housing for older people to support wider future delivery.  The housing needs of older people are diverse. Policy responses will need to address housing choice and deliver solutions in both public and private housing as well as support those who choose to voluntarily right-size. We want to provide choice. If people wish to purchase a home more suitable to their needs, we will support them by, among other measures, advancing consideration of the availability of bridging finance. If people wish to adapt their homes to suit their needs within the home, perhaps by converting their homes into separate living spaces, we will support that. We are looking at planning exemptions in this area to support greater choice. It is all about providing choices to older people that they can avail of on a voluntary basis. As our population ages, it is essential that we increase delivery of homes for older people and deliver more homes that are suited to their needs. We must provide choice for older people in a way that supports them to live independently and remain connected to their communities. Delivering Homes, Building Communities is a reflection of this and of the Government's commitment to ensuring older people have the opportunity to avail of increased housing choice for ageing in place.  Census 2022 indicated that 22% of the population, or just over 1.1 million people, have experienced at least one long-lasting health condition or difficulty to a greater extent. The National Housing Strategy for Disabled People 2022-2027 and its associated implementation plan, operating under the new housing plan, present the framework for delivering housing for disabled people in conjunction with the necessary support, as required. The Government is committed to ensuring disabled people are supported and encouraged to live independently and to addressing homelessness. Co-operation and collaboration among Departments, State agencies and others are key in delivering housing and related supports for disabled people.  The housing adaptation grant for older people and disabled people is an important support in assisting people in private houses to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. These grants are available to people with an enduring physical, sensory, mental health or intellectual disability, and to older people who experience mobility issues or require essential necessary repairs to their home in order to continue to live independently at home. Funding for the housing adaptation grant has been increasing year on year since 2014, facilitating the payment of more than 180,000 grant claims. We have increased the allocation for the housing adaptation grant to \u20ac130 million for 2026. This increase of \u20ac30 million on 2025 funding is in line with commitments in the programme for Government and ensures the continued year-on-year increases in funding for the grant scheme since 2014. This funding will facilitate the payment of some 17,000 grant claims as well as the continued implementation of the revised scheme. The continued enhancement of this significantly important grant scheme is a priority for the Government.  Addressing the accommodation needs of Travellers continues to be a Government priority. In the past six years from 2020 to 2025, a cumulative capital investment of more than \u20ac125 million has been provided to local authorities for delivering Traveller-specific accommodation. This investment continues in 2026 in line with the action set out in our new housing plan. The Government continues to invest in high-quality Taveller-specific accommodation, with increased capital funding of \u20ac26 million provided in 2026. The caravan loan scheme provided accommodation for 85 Traveller families in 2025 and will continue to deliver for Traveller families in the years ahead.  The Government will continue to ensure that housing is delivered though the well-established capital funding schemes for both local authorities and approved housing bodies to meet the needs of all people accessing social housing, including vulnerable groups. We are fully committed to ensuring the measures outlined in the new housing plan are implemented to address homelessness, including for older people, disabled people and Travellers. I will continue to work with my ministerial colleagues, Members from all sides in this House and in the Seanad, and all stakeholders to deliver homes and build the communities we need to meet housing needs now and into the future. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael have been in government for ten years, first through a confidence and supply arrangement in 2016 and then in two formal coalition Governments. During that decade, 55,000 adults have been forced into homelessness.  Let that sink in for a second. According to data from the Department of housing, from January 2016 to June 2025, 55,000 adults have been forced into emergency accommodation, funded by the Minister of State's Department. That is more than the entire population of Longford. It is more than the entire population of Drogheda, the smallest city in the country. It is more than it would take to fill the entire Aviva Stadium for any sell-out event. That figure does not even include children. It does not include rough sleepers or women and children in Department of justice-funded domestic violence refuges, people with refugee status trapped in direct provision or the hidden homeless. Fifty five thousand adults have been forced into homelessness during the ten years Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael have been in Government. That is a truly scandalous figure.  On Friday, we will get the latest Department of housing homelessness report. The last report we got told us that at that point in time, 17,000 adults, including 5,000 children, were in emergency accommodation. The number of adults homelessness was up 13% on the year and the number of children up 15%. Every single category of homelessness was up; adults, families, singles, children and pensioners. In a country awash with surpluses and filled with talent and capacity, tens of thousands of people have been made homeless. There is a very simple reason. It is the failure of Government housing policy and successive Government plans by Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael. It is not rocket science. The fundamental problem, of course, is a chronic underinvestment and underdelivery in social and genuinely affordable homes.  If I hear a Government Minister once again telling us that they built more social homes in 2024 than in the 1970s, I will pull my hair out. The population in the 1970s was half what it is today. We had a surplus of public housing. A person on a council list would be housed within two to three years in the 1970s. Today it is more like ten to 15 years, depending on the local authority. If the Government was serious about matching 1970s output, it would be delivering twice the volume of social homes delivered last year.  Not only is the Government underdelivering on social affordable homes, it has also completely botched the regulation of the private rental sector, making it even more dysfunctional than it was in the beginning. There is a virtual absence of spending or programmes on homeless prevention. Just 5% of the annual budget that goes into homelessness is directed towards prevention programmes. The previous Government failed to use the breathing space of the emergency ban on no-fault evictions from 2022 to 2023 to do anything different. It ended that ban in 2023 with no proper contingency measures in place. That is why homelessness is rising year on year.  It is remarkable that in the two speeches we have heard, there was not a single acknowledgement of year after year rises in homelessness for a decade. What is worse is the new Minister, the new Government and the new housing plan are making things worse. There is no meaningful increase in new-build social and affordable homes in the new Government's housing plan. It is nowhere close to what is required.  The Government has just introduced probably the most controversial reform of rent regulation, which is going to bring us back to double-digit inflation and that is going to drive even higher levels of homelessness. We published an analysis, based on Residential Tenancies Board, RTB, figures, showing that 25% of all tenancies registered every year are new tenancies. That is approximately 60,000 households. That is the potential scope of new tenancies to be captured by the market reset. From the RTB's data on new and existing tenancies, we have shown that the cost of that is somewhere between \u20ac3,000 and \u20ac5,000 of extra rent every year. When we published these figures the Government told us we were not telling the truth and that we were exaggerating. Thankfully, the largest landlord in the State, IRES REIT, has published its own analysis. It believes the consequence of the market rent reset will be a 25% increase in its rental intake over a number of years, with an extra \u20ac21 million. IRES REIT's turnover is about 14% a year. This means that over seven years, if those trends continue, all its tenants will be captured by the market reset. In fact, based on its figures, its tenants, captured by the Government's reset, will be paying almost an extra \u20ac6,000 a year in rent. What this report actually says is that we, in Sinn F\u00e9in, were conservative in our estimate of the impact of this on renters, starting from Sunday. Simon Harris had the brass neck to come into this Chamber earlier and say he was on the side of renters. How does hitting renters with an extra \u20ac6,000 per year for IRES REIT tenants from March square with that claim?  We are also seeing a Minister whose first act this time last year was to slash funding for the one homeless prevention programme that was actually working, namely, tenant in situ. We finally got the figures and we now know last year there were just over 700 social housing acquisitions. This is half what it was the year before. That was the only programme where if somebody on a social housing waiting list, or who was eligible for cost rental, and was at risk of eviction, it could be prevented. Yet the Government pulled the rug from under our local authorities, undermined the scheme and introduced restrictions to cut the funding. As a consequence, there are people today who are in emergency accommodation and at imminent risk of homelessness because the Government took the funding away. I just cannot understand how the Minister of State could countenance that.  On top of all that, I did not hear either Minister of State mention the programme for Government commitment to end homelessness by 2030. I did not hear either one outline any new initiative to prevent homelessness or to get people out of emergency accommodation more quickly. What does that tell us? It tells us that with the Government continuing with the same failed policies that have pushed 55,000 adults into emergency accommodation over a decade, those numbers are going to continue to increase. That is what has been admitted to through the omissions here today.  Crucially, it does not have to be this way. It is possible to end long-term homelessness. The solutions are all around us. We need an emergency package of measures to reduce presentations and increase exits, an emergency ban on no-fault evictions, increased funding for tenant in situ and a doubling of Housing First tenancies. Sinn F\u00e9in made a specific proposal to introduce emergency planning and procurement and new building technologies to provide a dedicated stream of additional social housing to end homelessness for the over 55s in a single year and dramatically reduce adult and child homelessness year on year.  Crucially, we need to see a doubling of investment in delivery of social and affordable homes. We need to see a removal of the red tape imposed by central government to accelerate that delivery. In real terms, we need about 25,000 public homes to be delivered each year comprising social, affordable rentable and affordable purchase. Those homes need to meet need. They need to be based on an objective assessment of what is required. That means more one-bed homes and more larger homes. It means more homes for people with disabilities and, crucially, an increase in allocation of council homes for those in emergency accommodation. There also needs to be a far greater focus on child and youth homelessness. The strategy ends in 2026 and most of the commitments have not been implemented and we do not know what is going to happen after that.  When I hear the Minister of State, Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan, talk about progress, it confirms to me that this Government is in complete denial. The claim that tackling housing and homelessness is the number 1 priority is not only dishonest but it is an insult to the people being forced into emergency accommodation. When the Government is not insulting them, it is blaming everybody else. First it was Covid, then it was the war in Ukraine, then it was net migration and now it is the councils, the communities or the Opposition. Everybody else is to blame for year-on-year rising homelessness but Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael. I repeat that in ten years, 55,000 adults have been made homeless by these parties.  The question I want to end with is: how many more people have to become homeless? How many more adults, children, singles, families and pensioners have to become homeless before the Government accepts that the problem is its failed housing plan? It should start to implement the alternatives we all know would work but it simply will not listen to us. Is it 65,000 or 75,000 or will the Government let it go to 100,000? If the Government does not make a change, that is where these numbers are going. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  The Government talks an awful lot about how the Opposition does not bring forward solutions. We are sick and tired of bringing forward solutions. The Minister of State spoke about working together. We want to work together. We want to end long-term homelessness and get children out of emergency accommodation and into a safe, sustainable home with a roof over their head somewhere they can build a life. We want to stop the trauma. That is what we want to do. The Minister of State said that is what the Government wants to do.  The Government has shot down everything we have we proposed. Every week I ask for an increase in funding to return vacant boarded-up council houses to use. It is the simplest way to deliver housing quickly. Every week the Minister, Deputy Browne, refuses to give the money. He said that at the housing committee. A freedom of information request I put in stated that the cost of keeping a family in emergency accommodation outside of Dublin is \u20ac55,000 a year and it costs more in Dublin. We are bringing forward a solution but the Government\u2019s answer is to only give local authorities \u20ac11,000 when it knows they need more than \u20ac30,000. The mind boggles. The Government spends \u20ac55,000 to keep one family in emergency accommodation when if it gave local authorities an extra \u20ac20,000, they could get that family out.  According to the National Homelessness Action Committee NHAC, there are 6,206 individuals in long-term homelessness. That is families, couples and single individuals. There are 4,251 empty council homes right now. We could end long-term homelessness if the Government wanted to. Why does the Minister of State not do it? Can he answer that question for me? Why will the Government not do it? This Government is choosing to give tax breaks to the wealthy and the vulture funds and to leave ordinary families struggling to put a roof over their head, in emergency accommodation or at risk of homelessness.  I am from Cork and the homeless figures there are at an all-time high. According to the previous chief executive\u2019s report, there are 524 individuals in homeless accommodation in Cork longer than six months. Can the Minister of State imagine that there are children who do not remember anything but being in emergency accommodation? How is that right? For the love of God, how can the Minister of State stand over that? I know a family who are three years - 36 months - in emergency accommodation. How can the Minister of State stand over that? How can this Government stand over that?  There are adults who see no light at the end of the tunnel. Every now and then a backbencher or a Minister might say people in emergency accommodation are refusing houses. I will give the Minister of State some of the figures. In December, there were three refusals in Cork out of 524 individuals in long-term homelessness. These are facts. These are individuals who have been homeless longer than six months. Government Deputies come in here and try to blame everyone else, such as homeless people and the councils. They say it is not the Government\u2019s fault but it is. It is the Government's job. It is stripping people of hope. People are looking to the Minister of State for hope. Where is the hope?  I know a man who is 60 plus. He is eight years on the housing list. His landlord did not want to sell the property through the tenant in situ scheme. He said it would take too long and he could not trust the Government would not pull the funding as it did last year. Where is he going to go? He is 60 years of age. He has worked all his life and the Government is driving him into homelessness.  I know a mother with five children living in one bedroom in a hotel. There are people in Edel House, in the family hub, and in bed and breakfast all over Cork. Where is the hope? Will the Minister of State give these people hope today? Right now, they do not believe the Government. It is letting them down. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  In the south east, there are 330 adults and 113 children officially recorded as homeless. That is 70 families. In County Waterford alone, 110 adults and 37 children are in local authority-funded emergency accommodation. Those are only the official figures; they are the tip of the iceberg. They reflect people in local authority accommodation but they do not capture the hidden homelessness that every public representative in this Chamber encounters weekly - certainly those of us who operate clinics and have a listening ear. In Waterford alone, beyond the 37 children formally recorded, there are another 66 children placed on an emergency basis in vacant council houses with their families. These are houses which are not ready or fit for allocation. They are not secure tenancies or allocated. They have no stability. It is effectively emergency accommodation under another heading.  Behind those figures and statistics are the real stories of people I meet. Just this week, Liam who separated from his partner visited my constituency office. He ended up sleeping in his car and he is still sleeping in his car. He will sleep there tonight. He works, pays tax and gets up early in the morning. He does everything expected of him. He has nowhere to live or to go and no prospect of that changing anytime soon. Emma, who survived serious domestic abuse, secured a private rental but now faces losing it because the landlord wants the property back. This is no fault of her own. She is again staring homelessness in the face. For Louise, two days before Christmas could not tell her children where Santa would be delivering presents. Ultimately, they had somewhere for the Christmas period but we cannot countenance the instability, hardship and stress that caused. James and his family are overholding because they have nowhere to go. He leaves for work each morning unsure whether he will return to the locks having been changed and their belongings and whole life in black plastic bags out in front of the house.  Just this week, I met grown siblings who were raising their respective young families in their parents' house. There are three generations under the one roof - multiple families, not out of choice but because the rental market has collapsed. This is happening in Waterford city, Dungarvan and across our rural communities as well. Rural homelessness rarely looks dramatic. It does not make headlines; it is usually unseen and seemingly unacknowledged by Government. It does not tend to appear in the Government's figures. It looks like a young couple back in a childhood bedroom with their kids, separated parents forced to continue sharing a home long after a relationship has broken down because neither can afford to leave, or people returning from urban areas to overcrowded family homes because there is nothing to read locally. That is homelessness too.  T\u00e1 an gh\u00e9arch\u00e9im tith\u00edochta seo le feice\u00e1il go soil\u00e9ir i bPort L\u00e1irge agus ar fud an oirdheiscirt. T\u00e1 na c\u00e9adta daoine gan d\u00eddean go hoifigi\u00fail agus go leor eile nach bhfuil san \u00e1ireamh sna figi\u00fair\u00ed sin. T\u00e1 p\u00e1ist\u00ed \u00e1 dt\u00f3g\u00e1il i seomra pl\u00f3daithe i dteach a shean tuismitheoir\u00ed agus daoine \u00f3ga ag codail i gcarranna. T\u00e1 daoine scartha f\u00f3s ag maireacht\u00e1il faoin d\u00edon c\u00e9anna mar nach bhfuil aon rogha eile acu. Is toradh ar chinnt\u00ed polaiti\u00fala Fhine Gael, Fianna F\u00e1il agus na neamhsple\u00e1chaigh \u00e9 an sc\u00e9al seo, agus t\u00e1 s\u00e9 de chumhacht againn agus ag ionadaithe an Rialtais cinnt\u00ed eile a dh\u00e9anamh.  Nationally, homelessness has risen by 13% a year, child homelessness is increased by 15% and almost 17,000 people are officially homeless, including more than 5,000 children. At the same time, funding for tenant in situ has been reduced, the scheme that keeps families in their home and prevents them going into emergency accommodation. We see the rent hike Bill the Government is trying to pretend did not happen, does not exist and will not impact renters. Those rents are continuing to rise naturally but they are definitely going to rise in light of the changes the Government has brought in at the behest of the institutional investors.  Supply continues to shrink despite what the Government says and fewer than 1,800 homes were available to rent across the State at the start of this month. No credible modelling has been presented to show what this will mean for renters and the likely outcome is clear - higher rents, shorter security and increased risk of homelessness for families.  In Waterford, this homelessness crisis has a human face. I have told the Minister of State some of the stories. This does come down to some of the policy choices he and his colleagues in Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael have made, along with backbenchers and the Independents buoying up this Government. We need action and a change in direction from this Government but before any of that will happen, the psychological reality is that it needs to acknowledge the mistakes and harm that has been, is being and will continue to be caused unless it changes its ways, trajectory and policy. The question is: having listened to the statistics and heard the stories, will the Minister of State do that? Will he change the trajectory, listen to the people of Ireland and take this issue seriously? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pat Buckley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pat-Buckley.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Pat-Buckley.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pat Buckley  Homelessness is displacement. We all know what displacement is like in Gaza. People are calling it an absolute disaster. We have displacement of more than 5,500 children. That is happening today and is a disaster. The number of homeless adults in Cork rose by 24% in the past year, the biggest year on year increase in the past five years. These figures show a dramatic increase in the number of people accessing emergency accommodation in Cork but I believe these figures do not fully reflect the actual number of people who are homeless across the country or the county. They do not include rough sleepers, women and children in domestic violence refuges, or those who are using IPAS accommodation as emergency accommodation. Figures should also be made available for those presenting as homeless to the council services and being refused, not just those who are placed in emergency accommodation. Let us not forget the hidden homeless, those sofa surfing and those living in substandard, inadequate accommodation.  Rents have increased in Cork, while supply is falling. Add that to the mounting cost-of-living pressures and it is the perfect storm for increasing homelessness. We see what the Government is doing on 1 March. The storm will be brewing much stronger. I speak to people every week in my constituency office who are experiencing homelessness and there is a real sense of despair, and I mean despair. There are only so many knocks that people can actually take. It ties our hands behind our back because we cannot give them answers because of the policy that the Government has made. The Government is just not getting it. These are young people, old people, women, men, children, and people who have jobs. I know people who have full-time, professional jobs. You cannot see the homelessness in their faces but they are sleeping in cars. One individual works in a supermarket and sleeps on a mattress in a buddy of mine's garage. That is how serious it is.  I hate speaking from script but sometimes I need it for notes. When I speak from the heart, it is the truth. Average rents in Cork at the moment are nearly \u20ac1,500. Figures show that rents for new tenants in Cork rose by 6.8% in the past 12 months. God knows what is going to happen after 1 March. In the past 12 months, rent for existing tenants has increased by nearly 5%, so we are not going the right way. We are going the wrong way.  Another woman who came to me is a highly qualified legal secretary with years of experience. She was given notice to quit. She could not find anywhere to live. Now she is secretly sleeping in her office. These people are not numbers or statistics. I hate that bloody word, \"statistics\". They are not a piece of paper. These are real human beings getting up, going to work, paying their taxes, trying to live a life, trying to rear a family, and no matter what way they go, there are two types of door in this country. In the health service and mental health service, there is a revolving door. When it comes to housing and homelessness, there is a shut door. It is an absolute disaster.  I mention the tenant in situ scheme. It is the one thing that worked. In my experience in the years I have been here, one of the greatest gifts this Government and past Governments have had is that when they try to fix something that is not broken, they end up making an absolute hames of it, then they scratch their head, because they are reactive more than proactive, and they ask how that happened, and then the whole situation blows up.  With the way the Government is tackling this homelessness crisis, I cannot see it being a priority. We are probably one of the richest countries in the world. We are definitely one of the most progressive but having more than 5,000 children still homeless today is absolutely shameful. That is a very polite word coming from me.  The Government signed the Lisbon declaration on homelessness in 2021. The declaration commits the Government to working towards ending homelessness by 2030. That is only around the corner. We had an alternative housing plan. Our housing expert, Deputy \u00d3 Broin, has given the Government solutions, not ideas, but solutions, and we want to work with the Government to do it. We have to ensure that everyone has a home. It is not bricks and mortar. Houses are knocked down and rebuilt. That is bricks and mortar. A home is where people can have sanctuary, where they can raise a family, and where they can have peace. The biggest thing, as in Gaza, is having hope. If hope is taken away from a nation, it is left with nothing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  I genuinely do not know where to start. I was flabbergasted by what the T\u00e1naiste said earlier on about this Government apparently being on the side of renters, when we know that IRES REIT owns 3,627 properties and made \u20ac49.7 million in profit last year. It said that it welcomes Government's proactive approach because its portfolio is currently 20% undervalued and it has a potential 25% rental income uplift. That is going to take a terrible situation and make it inherently worse for those who are on the margins because since January 2016, homelessness has increased by 200% in this country. Child homelessness has increased by 450%. At the same time, the Irish economy grew by 5% every year. This did not happen by accident. This happened by design and as a result of the failure of this Government's housing policy, and the interventions that this Government is making are making this crisis worse.  The Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, signed up to the Lisbon declaration to end homelessness by 2030. When he signed up to the Lisbon declaration, the number of homeless people was at around 12,000. It is now at 17,000. How in the name of God can we be serious about ending homelessness by 2030 when in a little over three years, we are supposed to fulfil the obligations that we have signed up to under that declaration while the numbers are persistently and consistently growing every single year? I cannot take the Government and this housing plan seriously when it continues along the same lines as the stuff that was in Rebuilding Ireland and Housing for All that have created this problem.  The Government talks about accelerating supply. We are on the same page with regard to that but the big difference is how we, on this side of the House and in the Labour Party, feel we go about solving this. First of all, scrapping annual completion targets is not going to solve this. In fact, it is only a mechanism for Government to avoid responsibility. There is constant reliance on a volatile private market, as if it will somehow build us out of this crisis, when it has not done so for the past ten years. The social and affordable housing targets in the new plan are too low. They do not take into account the growing housing deficit of at least 256,000 units in the Housing Commission report, which is growing and widening because the targets for social and affordable housing under Housing for All were never met. The Government is not going to need them this year and it will need a miracle of Fatima to meet the slightly increased targets in the new plan. Moreover, the Housing Commission was clear that social and affordable housing should make up 20% of all housing stock. It is currently about 10.7% of all housing stock. We need to double our output of social and affordable housing.  There are aspects of the housing plan that I welcome. I welcome a specific action plan on child and family homelessness but this must not be another paper exercise. It needs timebound commitments and ring-fenced funding, otherwise it will be absolutely meaningless. The bit that I find laughable in the new housing plan is that the Government is implementing a national homelessness prevention framework. It says it is focused on early intervention. The best and earliest intervention in most cases is to keep a roof over someone's head.  The tenant in situ scheme, as it existed in 2023, was very effective. Over 1,500 units were acquired in 2024. That dropped to 750 in 2025. There was \u20ac133 million cut from that scheme. In 2024, \u20ac420.9 million was spent on it. The figure in 2025 was significantly less. The fact is that any day, night or week that somebody spends in emergency accommodation damages their physical and mental health, and it really damages their children.  The Minister talks about the second-hand acquisition fund and ring-fenced funding for exits, but he has cut the ring-fenced funding for preventions. We know that because the data on preventions show that over 43% of preventions into emergency accommodation were done through the tenant in situ scheme. That then dropped to a little over 11% between December 2024 and December 2025.  Today feels like Groundhog Day because at every turn, this Government is exacerbating homelessness. The whole idea that we will fulfil our obligations under the Lisbon declaration is laughable. To be honest, we might as well bloody come out of it because the gulf between what the Government says and what it does is massive.  We also need to have a specific strategy within the housing plan for getting single people out of emergency accommodation. There is a plan focused on families. As of last December, there were 7,300 adults in emergency accommodation. I am frustrated because I and my party have brought forward policy proposals. In March of last year, I wrote to the Minister, Deputy Browne, who, as the senior Minister, should be here to hear this debate, and set out five measures for tackling homelessness. The most obvious and simple measure is to pass our Housing (Homeless Families) Bill, which has been lost in the ether around this place since 2017. That Bill passed legislative scrutiny in October 2019. There was talk of it being contained in the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024. That did not happen. I ask the Department to move on our Bill because it would ensure that local authorities place the best interests of children at the centre of decision-making when supporting homeless families, building on the work we did in the children's rights referendum.  The Government should repeal the flawed rental legislation. At a minimum, it should pass our 2021 Residential Tenancies (Tenants' Rights) Bill 2021 and introduce a rent break in its deeply flawed legislation that will gouge renters. I am convinced that in years to come, when we are all old people and long gone from this House, our successors will be here giving a State apology to a generation of children whose life chances we have absolutely destroyed through failed housing policy. We are going to have to pay those people redress because we are in a situation where children's physical and mental development is being stunted by the length of time they are spending in emergency accommodation.  The Minister informed me at a meeting of the housing committee on Tuesday that he wants to focus our funding on building new social homes and getting people into social allocation as opposed to second-hand acquisitions. The Government needs to do both, such is the scale of the crisis we face. The Minister needs to reverse course on second-hand acquisitions and revert to the old scheme that was in place pre-2025 because under the rental changes, these numbers are going and grow.  I have become nearly completely numbed to the people who come in to my clinic in my constituency office every week and tell me harrowing stories. In the time I have left, I will read into the record a letter I received from one of my constituents in relation to her situation:  I am experiencing ongoing and severe health problems due to fibroids and an enlarged uterus ... I have already undergone ... [a procedure] in December 2023 and ... [another one] in September 2024, which failed, leaving hysterectomy as the only remaining treatment option. Due to ... [medical complications], this will require an open abdominal procedure rather than keyhole surgery, which is a longer and more difficult recovery. My consultant has confirmed that I require a hysterectomy, and that I cannot be discharged into emergency accommodation following surgery, which has resulted in surgery being postponed [repeatedly]. In the meantime, I am experiencing significant pain, heavy bleeding, anaemia, fatigue and stress.  [...]  Alongside my own health issues, I am under considerable emotional strain due to family circumstances. My father is seriously unwell and has been hospitalised since August ... [and] in addition, my daughter Emily is autistic and relies heavily on routine and stability to cope. Living in emergency accommodation has already had a detrimental impact on both of us. The combined effects of serious ill health, housing instability, and ongoing family stress have left me exhausted and struggling to cope day to day. I am currently on illness benefit and experiencing persistent pain, fatigue, anxiety, depression and declining wellbeing. Without stable and sustainable housing, I do not believe it is possible for me to recover safely from surgery or maintain my health.  How have we arrived at a situation whereby a woman who is awaiting a serious medical procedure cannot have the operation done because she is currently living in a hotel? She is not the only person I am dealing with who is in a situation like this. It is absolutely shameful. It is something on which all of us, especially the Government, need to seriously reflect. I urge the Minister of State to go back to the Department and listen to some of the solutions we have put forward to try to chart a way out of this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  Many years ago, there were perhaps some indications or factors that may have made people more prone to homelessness, be it addiction, familial breakdown or economic background. That is no longer the case, as all of us know. Homelessness is like an illness; it can strike anyone at any time, particularly if they are a renter or renting in this country. If someone came into my clinic or any other Deputy's clinic 18 months or two years ago, we would go through a list if they were on a notice to quit. We would ask whether they were on the housing list, how much time they had or whether they had any medical conditions. All Deputies have done this and asked the questions. At the very bottom of that list, however, the one backstop we had was the tenant in situ scheme where, at the very least, we could begin a process with a tenant in situ purchase. Was it expensive? Yes, but there are two benefits to it. Chief among them was that we would keep a family or individual out of homelessness through the tenant in situ scheme. The second benefit was that the State would acquire a property, which it would then own for public housing.  The fact is that this State, which is awash with money, turned its back on funding that scheme. When people come into my clinic, Deputy Sheehan's clinic or anyone's else's clinic, we do not have that backstop and fail-safe at the end and we know, in the pit of our stomachs, that it is more likely than ever that these families or individuals are going to be sent into the homeless services. However much the tenant in situ scheme cost, it was way more value for money than shovelling money into the pockets of landlords in Gardiner Street in Dublin, where one tenth of all homeless people in the country are. We have talked to the schools and seen reports in the national media on the impact on local schools. Primary school students living in homeless accommodation are trying to get proper food, concentrate in school and get an education while living in unstable, long-term accommodation, if that is not an oxymoron.  That is exactly what is happening. The Government needs to reverse, at a minimum, the lack of funding for the tenant in situ scheme to give some hope in this national emergency it has created. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John McGuinness  We did not just arrive at these numbers overnight. This has been ongoing since 2011, I would say, and successive governments since then ignored all the signals that would tell them a problem was emerging in housing. Local councils even ignored it. They massaged the figures to make things look better and pretended there was no problem when, in fact, there was a massive and growing problem.  I was often criticised during those years when I raised the issue of housing and the fact that it was not being delivered at a pace to meet the demand. When I look back now, I think I was right about it. A year into this new Government, there is a dysfunction at the heart of all of this, and that includes Ministers and civil servants. An attempt is being made to ensure the voices of backbench and Opposition Deputies are not being heard in this D\u00e1il. That is a terrible reflection on the Government. It is a weakening of democracy.  As we discuss this issue today, we have the Minister of State here to answer. There should be representatives from the Department of housing in the Chamber because they need to hear directly from every single backbencher who will contribute today. I attach relevance to and place emphasis on backbenchers and what they say due to the clinics that we do. What we hear and see at the coalface is being reflected in this debate. There will not be one single reply to any of us here from the Department or the Minister to say \"You know what, I listened to the debate\" or \"I was told about the debate and I think your idea is worth exploring\". Anything that we raise in this House in this Government term seems to be ignored because it is now more about spin and social media than about hard facts and delivery. That is my view.  Often, Opposition Deputies will tell us we are in Government, but that does not mean that we do not have ideas or that we cannot reflect what the constituents we represent say to us in clinics. I certainly will not ignore what they say to me and if that is criticism of the Government, then so be it because we are here to represent those who elected us.  The dysfunction at the heart of government has to be dealt with. I have never seen a time where there was so much money in the system, yet so little ability on the part of the State to deliver on most projects. I can always point to the children's hospital or to the issue we are discussing, for which there is lots of money, yet we still have a growing problem. There are many other examples of that and if the Government and the Departments do not recognise that, we will be in real trouble altogether.  I am going to reflect what I hear in my clinics. I want to look back and recognise the record of local authorities. Back in the 1950s, when there was little or no money around they built wonderful housing estates. These estates were not made up of modular homes but if solid, well-built houses. I was reared in one such home on O'Loughlin Road. I look back on it with great memories because the people who were allocated those houses made up the community based on a meitheal concept. That is how most people throughout the country got a head start in terms of their homes. The reason we cannot do that now is that we have loaded the system with bureaucracy and red tape, creating obstacles for everyone and anyone who wants to move forward. We are taking the future from our children by not ensuring that we deliver to meet the housing needs they are experiencing. In the main, I am talking about people who would qualify to receive council houses because that is where the relief needs to come.  I have never seen anything like the homelessness we have. It is shocking. I would never have said we would have homelessness in Kilkenny city or Carlow town, and we have. It affects not only those who fall out of society or have difficulty with engaging with society, but people who are earning money and have a job. It may be a low-paid job but they are working and cannot afford to get a house. They are often being refused by the council in a very inhumane way. They apply for a house and, with few if any reasons for refusal, the council sends them back all of their documentation in the post and says they do not qualify. Why can the council not do what most people in this House would do, and call them in to have a chat, rectify their application and approve them? I tell people that once they have been approved, there is no magic wand. They might be approved and get HAP but there are no houses to get.  Look at the housing stock the councils have. I wonder why there is no real effort to turn around a house that has been vacated and put it back into active residential use. I am told there is an issue with the cost of repairing and refurbishing these houses. That is a load of nonsense. There are many people on the housing list who are living in dire circumstances and would accept a house that might fall a bit short on some standards. They would do so in the hope that once they have a house, they will get it repaired in future. That does not happen, however, and nobody is accountable. At the end of the day, the Minister and his senior officials are accountable. Do we hear from them? No.  Downsizing or resizing is another issue. I know cases where people want to downsize from a three-bedroom house to a one-bedroom or two-bedroom house but the council does not have the ambition to make that happen. It just will not let that happen. The result is a family is left homeless, while one person living in a three-bedroom house who wants to move to a one-bedroom house cannot be accommodated. Council officials are often baffled and bewildered by the range of problems they are facing and the skill set is not there to reach out. Maybe the ambition of chief executives - I am not talking about any particular chief executive - is not there to work with the Ministers and civil servants to get this job done.  There was reference to adaptation grants. Around budget time, I asked the Government to make sure the shortfalls in the grant in every local authority were addressed. I asked that local authorities be given even more money to ensure people remain in their houses and that houses would be made available to disabled persons, freeing up other houses. That does not happen. I have seen more refusals on the basis of no funding being available. The Minister needs to make every single council accountable to us in this House.  The Minister has to insist they deliver on their numbers. Do not let the Opposition say now we are blaming the councils. I am not. I am simply saying they all have a role. They are all getting paid, so why should they not be accountable? That does not remove accountability from the Minister or the senior civil servants.  I cannot understand either why a council that runs into a difficulty with a tenant - I have an example of it in my county of Kilkenny - turns to evict that person. Whatever the reasons are for that, is it right to evict a family of six and put them on the roadside, citing succession rights, rent arrears or whatever it might be? Is it not a case where someone from the council should go to mediate? I asked for mediation in the particular case I experienced in Kilkenny and the answer was no. The council said it had a court order and it was evicting the person and the family. Do councils not get what is happening in society right now? You have a case where the council wants to increase the rent. Should the parents take in the family that cannot afford to pay a rent in the private sector? They go back home and lo and behold the council is on to the family immediately to increase their rent. There has to be some forgiveness in circumstances like that. A space has to be created to allow that family to assist their family members, sometimes with young children, and not be told their rent is being jacked up for that purpose.  All of the schemes the Minister has to give people the opportunity to buy their own homes are failing in part because people cannot get through the hoops that are attached to every single scheme. There is no one there to assist them and to say that if they did things a particular way, they might qualify for one scheme or the other. That does not happen. They come back to public representatives like all of us in this House and guess what? They have to fill out a two-page permission under GDPR so that the council officials can speak to us when we are trying to speak on behalf of a constituent who has come to us in the first place. We ignore that here. We do not do anything about it. We should do something about it. It is preventing us from doing our work. More importantly, it is preventing the officials from understanding the real-life experiences of people as explained by a public representative.  We are often treated with disdain. They do not want to communicate in a way that will expose the real problem and in a way that will give proper rights to the people we represent. These are all things that can be changed. The Minister should tell the council chief executives when they meet next that he wants a different or simpler form or that he wants to the word of a public representative to be taken when he or she makes representations on behalf of a client.  Choice-based letting is a good thing. I see a lot of people on the housing list use it but it is another measure that is restricting those who are not IT-literate. Nobody wants to talk to you in the council unless you are doing it by email or by CBL, and that excludes an awful lot of people. It excludes older people and it is not treating them with respect. That has to be addressed.  Single men and single women are probably the biggest number on the housing list in my constituency. I fight hard for each and every one of them because the last thing we want to see happen is that they would be trapped in private rented accommodation at the age of 60 and not be able to get accommodation. It is a downward spiral from there. Again, it is not understood properly by the local authorities and it is not being dealt with properly or funded properly by the Government. How many times have I heard, sitting in the Ceann Comhairle's chair, Members of this House tell the story about vacant properties? Every chief executive should be made account for the number of vacant properties on their books and there should be a timeframe given for them to work on it. I support everything that is said about the tenant in situ scheme. For God's sake, fund it and make it happen. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Denise Mitchell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Denise Mitchell  When Fine Gael entered Government in 2011, we had 641 children living in emergency accommodation. After 15 years of Fine Gael in government, propped up by Fianna F\u00e1il for most of the time, we now have over 5,000 children homeless. That is a disgrace. It is not an accident. It is a direct result of the Government's bad policies. One example of that is cutting the funding for the tenant in situ scheme. In 2024, the scheme in Dublin City Council had \u20ac115 million in funding. Last year, guess what was is? Last year, it was cut to \u20ac38 million. This scheme was an incredibly important one because it worked. It was a vital homeless prevention measure. It kept families in their homes. I urge the Minister of State to increase funding for this scheme at the very least back to 2024 levels.  The situation on the ground is desperate. Only last week my office was speaking to a woman who was recently made homeless with a young child. She rang up Parkgate Street and was told no emergency accommodation was available in Dublin. Her only option was to go to County Meath. It was totally impractical. This woman did not drive. How was she supposed to get her child to school? On top of the trauma and the real upset of the loss of a secure home, this child's education is going to be seriously impacted.  We have people in my constituency stuck on the council housing list for ten, 12, 15 and more years. We have so-called affordable housing where a three-bedroom house is over \u20ac.0.5 million. On what planet is that affordable? This is a disaster of Fianna F\u00e1il's and Fine Gael's making. We need to see huge investment in social and affordable homes and we need to restore the tenant in situ scheme back to its proper funding. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Maurice Quinlivan  We have more than 5,000 children in emergency accommodation, a figure that is both shocking and shames the State. Yesterday, the Government rightly apologised to institutional abuse survivors. It was a hard-fought for and very much delayed apology. As I have said previously here, I have absolutely no doubt that a future government will be issuing an apology for the damage homelessness has done and is doing to children during this decade. The Government has not only utterly failed to address the issue of homelessness in this State, its actions has contributed to a homeless crisis that is directly impacting the lives of thousands of our citizens. Focus Ireland's homeless figures give an insight into the failure of successive Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael Governments.  In January 2016, when I came into the D\u00e1il, a month later, 5,715 were availing of emergency accommodation across the State. Fast-forward to December 2025, that figure is almost 17,000. As I regularly do, I spoke to people in Limerick this week who work in emergency services. They advised me that there is no sign of the crisis abating and everything is getting worse. They said the number of people sleeping rough has increased due to the lack of emergency accommodation in the city, with people being turned away from emergency accommodation every single night. Staff working in the University Hospital Limerick have told me there are approximately 12 or more people staying in the accident and emergency department every single night to keep out of the cold. It is so common there that they are classified as P5 patients. These are failures of this Government and its most recent predecessors.  What has happened? Why is there such a failure? A lack of support for local councils for refurbishment of voids is one element.  In Limerick, there are always 200 vacant local authority homes not in use as there is only \u20ac11,000 in funding, a tiny amount, available from central government to refurbish vacant homes. Everybody knows that is simply not enough. In Limerick, the number one issue raised with me is the need for housing. There are approximately 2,000 people on Limerick's housing list and these figures are growing. People are waiting years without any prospect of getting a home. Increasing numbers of notices to quit has left many people desperate with nowhere to go.  It is time the Government provided proper funding, turned vacant local authority houses into homes, improved the tenant in situ scheme and restored the funding that was there for it, restored funding to homeless prevention schemes and increased the amount of emergency accommodation available in Limerick. In a society like ours, which is supposedly one of the richest countries in the world, people living - and, unfortunately, in many cases dying - on our streets is simply not acceptable. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  I am not taking aim at the Minister of State but it is deeply disappointing that the Minister responsible, Deputy James Browne, is not in the Chamber for this. These are the first statements on homelessness under his Ministry. We are told he is at a subcommittee. Surely, that subcommittee could have been rearranged and he could have had the decency to be here. I am not taking it out on the Minister of State but it is absolutely disgraceful that the Minister for housing is not here for the first statements on homelessness.  Reading through the Minister of State's statement, I can call it nothing other than sanitised spin to deflect from utter failure. The Minister of State accepts the profound impact homelessness has on individuals and particularly children. That is one sentence in a three-page statement. However, not once does the Minister of State say the levels of homelessness are too high. What are the levels? There were 16,734 individuals homeless in December. The Government goes on about the success of housing policy and, reading this statement, you would think the Government is absolutely solving the issue of homelessness. What is the reality? The figures are there in the local authority quarterly report, which I have gone through. I will show the Minister of State the figures and the reality of homelessness which the Minister of State and the Government completely deny and are trying to normalise.  There has been a 12% increase in the past 12 months. There are now 2,478 families homeless in this country, an 18.5% increase since the start of last year. That is an almost 20% increase in the number of families who are homeless and this Government acts as if its housing policy is working. Since the Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael Government was set up just over a year ago, we have seen the number of children who are homeless increase by 11%.  Let us look at Fine Gael's record in government. We have figures from 2014. That is 12 years of Fine Gael in government and there has been a 590% increase in the number of children who are homeless in this country. How many children have gone through emergency accommodation over that decade? We do not actually have figures for that. I am the only one who has tried to estimate how many children have been in emergency accommodation over the past decade. I estimate somewhere in the region of 40,000 children have been through emergency accommodation in ten years of Fine Gael being in government. I still do not understand how Fine Gael and the Government just say this is okay, this is normal and they actually treat it like the emergency it is. The Government is not treating it like the emergency it is. It is an absolute scandal.  I am going to read some of a report from Barnardos which it released last year. It is about the impact of homelessness on children. I encourage people to read it and try to highlight it as much as possible because it is devastating. What is being done to children in emergency accommodation and the utter failure of this State to provide for those children is devastating. Before I get onto that report, a Royal College of Physicians study in 2019 showed that 40% of children in emergency accommodation were experiencing clinically significant levels of mental health and behavioural difficulties. That figure is 40% - almost half of the children in emergency accommodation. Children in homelessness were twice as likely to require hospitalisation as children not living in homelessness. The Barnardos report states:  It is hard to understate the potential impact that moving into emergency accommodation can have on a child. For many children we work with, it is a case of suddenly leaving their homes, most of their belongings, potentially their pets, and moving into much smaller accommodation that is less suitable and a considerable distance from their previous homes. This event can be extremely traumatic for children and unfortunately, without supports, long lasting. The trauma can affect children\u2019s relationships with others, their behaviour and ability to engage in school, their confidence levels and feeling of wellbeing, in essence all aspects of their lives.  This State is failing 5,188 children who are in emergency accommodation right now, the thousands of children who have been through emergency accommodation and the thousands of children who will become homeless in the coming years because the Government failed to put a ban on evictions of children and families who will be made homeless. The Government's new rental measures do nothing to protect the hundreds of thousands of renters who are in existing tenancies and will still be subject to no-fault evictions, so we will continue to see thousands of children in this country subject to trauma - trauma that is utterly preventable. It is preventable if the Government has the courage to put in place a ban on evictions but it will not do it. The Government will take emergency action for investor funds but it will not do it for thousands of children and families who have been made homeless, are homeless or will become homeless in the coming months and years.  I will go through some of those figures. There are now 2,500 children who, right now, have spent over one year in emergency accommodation. That is one year of not being able to have birthday parties, not being able to have friends over and living in unsuitable accommodation. Barnardos and the Royal College of Physicians have set it out. The evidence is there. Yesterday, the Taoiseach gave a State apology for people being institutionalised. We are institutionalising a generation of children. This State, the Government, Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael are institutionalising thousands of children right now under their watch. The Government knows it is happening. It knows the damage it is doing to children. Yet, what does the Government do? It wrings its hands, shrugs its shoulders and says we cannot put a ban on evictions. That would be emergency action that would prevent children being made homeless but the Government will not do it.  The Minister for housing should be here to answer this but he is not. He runs away from it. He runs away from his responsibility. There are 1,100 children in emergency accommodation for longer than two years. We know some of them have been in that accommodation for three, four or five years. There has been a 25% increase in the past year. This State is absolutely responsible for that. It is a derogation of that responsibility to allow this to continue. I can guarantee there will be commissions of inquiry in the future as to how this State let this happen. The Government knows it and has known it for years. It is a shame on Fianna F\u00e1il, Fine Gael and this Government that thousands of children are being left in emergency accommodation that is deeply damaging.  Fundamentally, it goes back to the Government's failure to prioritise homelessness and prevention. The Government cut the tenant in situ scheme and will not increase the HAP limits. What does it do? It increases the rents chargeable for investor funds. The Simon Community's report showed there are no rental properties within the HAP limits for those who are being made homeless, so where are they supposed to go to? The new rental increases will lead to higher rents and higher levels of homelessness. Yet, the Government says it is all needed for supply because supply and more supply is the solution. Supply is not the solution for families and children whose landlords are evicting them. The solution is a ban on evictions of families and children into homelessness.  That is an immediate emergency action that the Minister of State could take. Why will the Minister of State not take it? Do the institutional investors, the corporate landlords and the landlord lobby have the Minister of State so under their thumb that he will not act for the thousands of individuals, children and families who are being made homeless? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  We know that while everyone feels the pressure of the housing crisis, there are particular groups who face the most brutal aspects of it. The crisis really has seeped into the life of every Irish person, but some people feel it worse than others. Those individuals are more likely to become homeless. They then struggle to get out of homelessness. I am talking about Travellers, migrants, those suffering with addiction, those with disabilities, the elderly and children. Today, however, I want to talk about one particular group that faces massive barriers when it comes to accessing housing or living with the risk of homelessness. I refer to one-parent families.  Since becoming a TD, time and again I have heard the stories of single parents who are renting who can never aspire to own their homes. This is because they are on one income and have children who are solely reliant on them. I have heard their stress and their worry about how unstable their situations are and how an eviction notice could land on the mat in the morning.  I have also heard from parents who have had to face the reality of being unable to find another property for them and their children, having to put their children in new schools or commuting two hours a day because that is the closest emergency accommodation they can get. They are trying to balances their jobs, their children and the pressing need to find and keep a roof over their heads, and they are doing it all alone.  Focus Ireland found that 57% of homeless families in this country are one-parent families. One of the parents interviewed for that report had the following to say:  I never thought I would end up homeless. I had a job; I was doing okay. Then my landlord sold the house, and suddenly we were in a hotel room. My kids ask me every day when we will have a home again. I don't have an answer.  Another stated:  Childcare is impossible. I want to work, but how can I when I can't afford it and there's no support? It feels like the system is set up to keep us stuck.  Muna bhfuilimid in ann tac\u00fa leis na tuismitheoir\u00ed seo agus a bp\u00e1ist\u00ed, n\u00ed bheimid in ann comhionannas a fh\u00e1il sa St\u00e1t seo. T\u00e1 an c\u00f3ras at\u00e1 againn ag cur daoine ar na sr\u00e1ideanna agus \u00e1 gcoinne\u00e1il ann. Caithfear dul i ngleic leis an bhf\u00e1inne f\u00ed seo.  All across the country, people are trapped in a cycle of homelessness due to the failure of this Government's policies. I refer to those who are served eviction notices and are unable to find somewhere else that they can afford for their families. I also refer to lone parents in particular who are unable to do anything about their lower incomes and who are locked out of work due to the cost of childcare and locked out of the property market on foot of house prices that the Government is keen to continue to allow to rise.  I will end with a final quote from the Focus Ireland survey, namely:  It's the stigma that hurts the most. People look at you differently when you say you're in emergency accommodation. I feel like I've failed my children, even though I'm doing everything I can. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  Homelessness is a moral stain on our society, of that there is no doubt. I have watched over the past decade as the number of people becoming homeless and entering emergency accommodation has climbed each year and as increasing numbers of people, particularly younger people, beg in the streets. Even older people are not spared the impact of the failed housing policies of successive Governments.  What society can claim to be fair when homelessness within it continues to climb? What Government could possibly hold its head up high as it lifts an eviction ban and security-of-tenure provisions fail to rise to the occasion? Homelessness has gripped far too many people across this country and in my constituency.  During the local election campaign two years ago, I knocked on the door of one house in Terenure. The woman who lived there came to the door. Within minutes, she was in tears. Her young son was inside, and she did not want him to hear her. She had recently been divorced. The court had ordered that house be sold as part of the divorce settlement and she was being evicted with her son as a result. She was working in healthcare at the time and still does so. Today, she shares a one-bedroom apartment with her son. She spends 40% of her income on rent and sleeps on the couch. She emailed me recently and stated that she is extremely worried for her and her child's future. She is merely one bad event or an eviction notice away from devastation.  I was in contact with another mother recently who is in one-room emergency accommodation with her 14-year-old son, who is autistic and who suffers with severe anxiety. Their cramped homeless situation has greatly exacerbated his difficulties. She is terrified of bringing him outside due to his worsening ability to regulate his emotions and behaviours. Their mental health is deteriorating rapidly. She can see no light at the end of the tunnel.  The third case I wish to highlight is that of a young woman in Rathmines and her mother, who was recently diagnosed with cancer and who has a number of other serious conditions, including mobility issues, for whom she cares. The young woman in question contacted me in desperation when she was served an eviction notice. Her mother's health condition, as well as some historical financial difficulties and her father's recent passing, have made it impossible for them to find alternative accommodation. She is wondering how she can present to homeless services with her mother, who, as stated, has significant mobility issues. She is at her wit's end.  These are real people with real stories. Theirs are real tragedies brought about by Government policies that seem to try and paper over a gaping wound in Irish society. While the support emergency accommodation is a lifeline for so many, it was always meant to be temporary. The seemingly permanent nature of the Government's approach to emergency accommodation, HAP and evictions only edifies the argument that it is a Government for the rich that operates at the expense of everyone else. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Louise O'Reilly)  The next slot is a Government slot. Deputy Aird, le do thoil. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"William Aird","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy William Aird  Go raibh m\u00edle maith agat, a Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach. I want to raise an issue that I have already raised with the housing Minister and his Minister of State. I want to use my time highlight an issue that does not always show up in the headlines relating to the homeless figures but which is very real and urgent, namely the growing number of people with disabilities who are effectively locked out of independent living.  I was contacted earlier this year by a young woman in her late 20s who was born with a disability. She has used a wheelchair since childhood. She is highly educated, works full time and contributes meaningfully to our society. However, despite doing everything right, studying, working and paying taxes, she has recently been removed from the social housing list in Laois because her income exceeds the threshold. On paper, she earns above the limit, which is \u20ac35,000 for a single person. In reality, that figure tells only half the story. Her net income is significantly reduced by the cost of disability. She pays for private physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, orthodontics and prolotherapy. She pays for private health insurance because she knows her medical card may be withdrawn because she is working. She has at times paid \u20ac70 for a single accessible-taxi journey to and from work. She does not know how long she will physically be able to sustain full-time employment. The uncertainty is not a choice. It is the reality of living with a progressive physical condition, but the system assesses her solely on gross income.  As a result of the fact that this young women lives at home with her parents, the HSE does not provide adequate personal assistance, PA, hours. On foot of that, she cannot live independently. Because she cannot live independently, she remains in the family home. It is a vicious circle. Her parents provide 24-7 support in the context of personal care and transport. That unpaid care has enormous economic value, yet it is invisible in the Department's housing assessment.  There are currently no wheelchair accessible apartments available to rent or buy in Portlaoise. Any home she might purchase would require extensive and costly renovation. That is, of course, if she some day may be in a position to purchase an apartment or a house. As a single applicant with a disability, she cannot access mortgage protection insurance; the risks are simply too high. This is the reality facing many people with disabilities who fall between two stools.  They are above the threshold for social housing, barely above \u20ac35,000, but far below what is required to secure accessible housing on the private market. We must ask ourselves whether our social housing income thresholds accounting for the cost of disability. Are we penalising people with disabilities for working? Are we creating distinctions for employment by failing to consider real, unavoidable disability-related expenditure?  We rightly speak about supporting independent living. We ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities but independence is impossible without housing. Housing policy must recognise disability creates structural barriers that income figures alone cannot capture. There must be flexibility in the assessment system to consider medical vulnerability, accessible needs and the sustainability of employment in the long term. We also need to increase the supply of universally designed and wheelchair-accessible homes as standard practice.  Homelessness is not only about rough sleeping or emergency accommodation. It is also about the hidden insecurity of adults who cannot leave the family home; adults who cannot access appropriate supports; and adults who see no viable pathway to independent living. We must ensure our housing system does not punish resilience, ambition or the desire to work. People with disabilities should not have to choose between employment and security.  I urge the Minister of State to: first, review the operation of social housing income thresholds as they apply to people with disabilities; second, I want him to examine how disability-related costs are factored into assessments; and, third, I want him to ensure those who are medically vulnerable are not excluded by inflexible criteria.  The Minister of State probably knows this already but Nelson Mandela said, \"A winner is a dreamer who never gives up.\" I want the Minister of State to bring this back to the Minister for housing, Deputy Browne, on my behalf, because I have already raised this with him. I am the dreamer, and I will never give up on this case until I succeed for her. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dessie Ellis","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dessie Ellis  The national total for those considered homeless is 16,734. Of that figure, 5,188 are children. These figures released in December 2025 show a shocking increase in both adult and child homelessness. These figures also mask the real number of those who are homeless because they do not tell us how many people are couch surfing and sleeping rough on the streets or in their cars.  Eviction notices from landlords have continued at pace, with tenants having nowhere to go after eviction, except the homeless services. The new differential rent scheme being introduced in April by Dublin City Council has created additional problems. From the number of people who have contacted my constituency office in recent days, it is almost certain that a new cohort of people will enter homelessness. The income-based assessment approach has had the consequence of adversely affecting many tenants, as the calculation on rent owing is now made according to who is the highest earner in a household and not who is the primary tenant. This has substantially increased rents for many of the most vulnerable in our communities, particularly old-aged pensioners. One old-aged couple's rent is increasing from \u20ac63 to over \u20ac80, over \u20ac20. It is absolutely terrible.  In a housing crisis, as people struggle to get on the property ladder, many adult children have remained in the family home to save money for a deposit or mortgage. Their parents are now being punished for helping their children save for a house because if their earnings are more than their parents, their parents' rent goes up substantially. This has been a big shock for many people who are already struggling financially. Parents may now have to delve into their savings to pay the extra rent or consider putting their children out of the house. I advise anyone in financial difficulty to apply to the council's hardship fund to assist them in their financial distress and alleviate pressures on the family income.  While the reasoning for these increases in rent is that the moneys will go toward housing maintenance, insulation of homes, adaptions etc., the reality is the Department of housing is not sufficiently funding councils, which have some of the oldest properties in the State. Basically, the Government is putting the critical funding required for maintenance back on the poorest and most vulnerable in our communities. We can see this Government is incapable of resolving the homelessness crisis, which will continue to get worse. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  It is hard to know what to say at this stage because it will not be anything new from me or anyone else. I used to joke about single, transferable speeches but, unfortunately, there is an element here of, \"Where are we going?\"  As Deputy Ellis said, that 16,734 is the officially accepted or classified number for homelessness. Obviously, this does not deal with rough sleepers, children in domestic violence refuge and a huge number of things. It does not deal with those people who are getting by on the basis that they are staying in their friend's front room and moving from one to the other. I have to assume the Minister of State has people coming to him at this moment in time, no more than we do, under severe pressure with notices to quit. He is going to talk about tenure and about how there is a greater level of protections but we do not see it. We are talking about 25% of all private rental tenancies that are registered with the RTB being new tenancies.  We are looking at possibly having up to 60,000 from 1 March. We could be looking at literally 60,000 tenancies every year with a market reset. It is not a normal market; it is an absolutely broken market. I will be honest and say that I was talking to a very small landlord who put up a notice for a small two-bedroom in Dundalk but had to take it down within an hour. There were well over 100 emails, with people offering whatever they could to get a house. There were about 50 phone calls, of which not all could be answered for obvious reasons. There was a huge number of people who are facing notices to quit. We are talking about 5,100 children within that figure I mentioned earlier.  The only people who are happy at the minute are those in IRES REIT. It is looking at a 20% to 25% increase in its profits for rents. I do not see any solutions here. It is like this problem has become so big, that Government is happy enough to just let it lie on the basis that there is an element of apathy and of people who are afraid there is not a solution. We all know there are solutions, and it is about Government investing properly. It is about ensuring there is a steady supply of affordable and social housing. I do not know how the Government can defend this in any way, shape or form. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  I have asked for this debate for weeks on end at the Business Committee. Finally, we got there but it takes this long just to get a debate on what is an absolute disaster. The Minister for housing, Deputy Browne, said when he came into office that child and family homelessness was his priority. The Government has repeatedly said this is the biggest social emergency facing it. Yet, tomorrow, we are going to have the new homelessness figures and the likelihood is those figures will reach close to 17,000 people in emergency accommodation, maybe even exceeding that figure, with 5,000 of those being children.  The likelihood is that those figures will reach close to 17,000 people in emergency accommodation and they may even exceed that figure, with 5,000 of those being children. It is an obscene level of child and family homelessness. We are breaking the records pretty much every month in terms of the hardship and suffering being imposed on families, children and individuals in homelessness, facing homelessness or in crisis housing situations. It seems to me that the Government is normalising this. There can be no other explanation for allowing the homeless figures to climb to the levels the Government has allowed, in a housing crisis that has been acknowledged. It took a while for Fine Gael and Fianna F\u00e1il Governments to acknowledge it. I remember when some of us were using the term \"crisis\" back in 2012 and 2013 and we were being dismissed. Eventually there was an acknowledgement, more than 12 years ago, that there was a crisis, not an emergency. I do not know if the Government is willing, even now, to use the word \"emergency\" to describe the absolute disaster that is facing so many people in housing crisis situations or who are actually homeless. The Government has allowed the situation to deteriorate and get worse. It seems to me that the Government actually wants to normalise the situation and get us used to it. The media at this point will probably sort of ignore this debate now because even they are being inured to the idea that there is just going to be a permanent state of housing misery in this country.  I want to use the brief time available to me to highlight some cases. I get so exercised about this issue because of the people who come to me. I will give a few examples just to highlight the failure of the Government. Suzanne has been nine years on the housing list. She has three kids aged ten, four and two. Her ten-year-old has additional needs and her two-year-old has a heart condition. She will be homeless on Saturday when she has to hand back her keys on foot of a notice to quit because her landlord is selling the property. She has done nothing wrong. This will be the third time in five years that she has been made homeless. Suzanne grew up in care with no family support network. She has been on to the council repeatedly about her situation and is told it does not even have homeless accommodation for somebody who has been nine years on the list and facing her third stint of homelessness. She has been told she will probably have to ring the emergency hours homeless number when she is made homeless on Saturday. It is despicable that Suzanne could be in this situation again with her children.  Caoimhe has been eight and a half years on the housing list. She has three children aged nine, four and two. They have been living in damp and mouldy homeless accommodation for almost ten months. Her two-year-old was taken to hospital with pneumonia during the winter. She was previously in homeless accommodation in 2021. She found a HAP property and lived there for four years but was then made homeless again. Her daughter, at Christmas time, asked for only one thing from Santa - a home of her own. It is just disgusting that she and her child are going through this again.  Vera and her partner have three children, two of whom have disabilities. They have been in homeless accommodation in Monkstown for over six months. The HSE has visited and deemed the accommodation inappropriate for disabled children. Vera submitted multiple consultant letters urging the council to house them. The children are really suffering in the homeless accommodation. She submitted a medical priority form, a HMD form, ten months ago but it still has not been adjudicated on. The family are in absolute crisis.  The list goes on. Julianne has been homeless now with her two children for more than two years and is in her second homeless accommodation. She is currently sharing a bed with her nine-year-old son. Her daughter, who is 14, is now refusing to go to school.  Saoirse has been in a hub for a year. She came in to me and described how she has been suicidal. Her son has autism. She is on a list for a two-bedroom property but is still awaiting to be processed on the HMD form. The list just goes on. This is just a snapshot of cases I am dealing with in my office.  These people are all on the lists for two-bedroom or three-bedroom properties. There are almost no three-bedroom units in the pipeline in D\u00fan Laoghaire-Rathdown. The private developers are mostly building one- and two-bedroom units and are not really interested in three-bedroom homes because they can get more one- and two-bedroom units on a site. Families are in absolutely dire situations and the Government says it is its priority. What is it going to do for these families? The tenant in situ scheme has slowed to a snail's pace, so for those facing eviction that one possible hope for some of them is not available.  Let us think of people trying to find a HAP tenancy in this situation. Rents in my area for a three-bedroom home are now at \u20ac3,200. Any tenancies that end will now all go up to that level in my area. There is no chance of even the HAP as an outlet. As difficult as it was to find a HAP tenancy previously, now there will be no HAP properties available within the limits or anywhere even close to them.  We also have the older people. Tommy and Bridie are a couple who are being evicted from the home they have rented for the past four years. They are aged 69 and 77, respectively, and are absolutely terrified of what is coming down the line. They have been on the older person's housing list for seven years. The council has given them no reassurance, telling them they are No. 38 on the list. Obviously they are terrified as older people, at those ages, that they will end up in emergency accommodation. Both of them have health issues. Bridie has had part of her lung removed as a result of cancer and her breathing is affected. Tommy has macular degeneration and is almost completely blind in one eye, with deteriorating sight in the other. He also has type 2 diabetes. The thought of these people going into a hostel in town is disgusting.  Gary has been living in private rented accommodation for years. In his current place, he has been on rent allowance for 14 years. The council is disputing how long he has been on the list. He has chronic arthritis and rheumatism but neither that nor his age qualifies him to be prioritised by the council. His attempt to be prioritised has been rejected. Older people are not on choice based lettings, CBL, so he has no idea how long he will wait.  Joan is aged 84. Her husband died a few years ago. She lived D\u00fan Laoghaire all her life and she was evicted on 20 January. We were in touch with the council but nothing could be found for her. She is now staying with a family member in Waterford.  We have families and children and older, sick and vulnerable people who are in homeless accommodation, are homeless or are facing homelessness. Then there are those suffering from domestic violence. I will not mention the names here. A woman who has two children was viciously attacked by her ex-partner who is awaiting trial for the attack. Her youngest child witnessed the attack and is traumatised. He has attacked her apartment also, despite a protection order. She tried repeatedly to get priority housing through the council but to no avail, even though she is fleeing domestic violence. Another woman escaped a violent abusive partner and has been couch surfing between two homes. She has been waiting over six months for a HMD form to be assessed.  This is affecting children, families, older people and women and children fleeing domestic violence. There are also those people who go over the threshold. Ian has lived in private rented accommodation with his partner for over 14 years. They were paying \u20ac2,300 a month. They have been issued with a notice to quit and are becoming desperate because they cannot find anything within their price range. As you might imagine, \u20ac2,300 a month pretty much stretches them. Now, of course, rents for the same property will be over \u20ac3,000. They are marginally over the limit for social housing and therefore are not entitled to HAP or any assistance or any prospect of a social home. They went in for the few lotteries for cost rental but of course they did not get them because there is massive oversubscription for those.  Then there is Ben, a very nice young man in his 20s, who came in to see me. He is working for the council but his income is \u20ac1,500 over the threshold, which, by the way, has not been moved for three years. He has been on the housing list. He has to pay \u20ac250 every two weeks in maintenance to his partner, but that is still assessed against his income. If that was not assessed, he would be below the threshold and he would not be knocked off the list. By the way, his partner is being assessed on the same money he is giving to her, which is double counting of the maintenance. I think the Minister of State gets the point.  Where is the effort to stop people being homeless? The only meaningful thing the Department has done is to guarantee that people's prospect of finding private rented accommodation in my area, the whole of south Dublin and huge parts of the country is now going to be totally impossible because the rents will all go up \u20ac3,000 or \u20ac3,200. It was very hard before, but now it just will not happen, so the likelihood of those people escaping from homelessness is gone. Everything the Government is seen to be doing - not lifting the thresholds and not controlling the rents - is making it more likely people will stay in this homelessness misery, in conditions that are totally unacceptable.  The Government could do something about it. It could stop evictions, put in real rent controls, take aggressive action against people who are land-hoarding and speculating, prioritise the provision of more social housing and raise the thresholds. There are a lot of things the Government could do, but it just does not seem to care. It seems as if the Government just wants to normalise this horrendous situation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan  It is an utter shame and disgrace that statements on homelessness are becoming so frequent in the D\u00e1il. The fact that the Minister is not here either is also shameful.  Every single time this issue comes before us, the numbers of people, including children and the elderly, who have been failed by this Government and have ended up homeless have risen. The number has risen drastically and it is rising every day.  The facts are there in black and white before us. They spell out clearly what we in Sinn F\u00e9in have been calling out for years: that the Minister has been throwing petrol on the fire with his housing policies. The housing policies do not work for ordinary working people trying to buy a home. They do not work for pensioners facing eviction. Let us imagine getting to that age in life and not knowing where we will go next. We need more local housing for older people. People decide who is at the top of the list in communities. We are being told people are not on the list. It does not matter what medical issues they have, as people are dictating who gets the houses. That is wrong. Older people should not have to face eviction.  The housing policies do not work for adults with additional needs who desperately need a safe and secure place to live. Recently, in the audiovisual room, we heard from the Before We Die campaigners who spoke about the hidden homeless. The parents are too old. They are getting to a stage where they cannot possibly look after their loved ones, yet the State says that they must. How are they supposed to do that? Some of these people are in their 80s. It is not possible. The State needs to step up and stop putting the blame on parents.  The housing policies do not work for students being fleeced with sky-high rents. I know colleges that have space to build. We need to get in there. Rents should not be a barrier to people going to college. Parents cannot afford to live in their own homes and they cannot afford to send their children to college purely because they cannot afford to pay the rent. That is not right.  The housing policies only work to line the pockets of the mega-landlords, the vulture funds and the big property developers. Put simply, the Minister is putting private capital and profits ahead of the public good. That has led to ever-increasing homelessness.  Only this week, I was contacted by a couple in their late 50s who face a no-fault eviction from the house they have rented for almost 20 years. They are devastated and left with no idea of where to go. They face a very real prospect of homelessness.  We are a strong, prosperous, highly developed State. How this Government can allow so many people to fall into homelessness is an absolute disgrace. Without a radical reset of housing policy, as recommended by the Housing Commission, this crisis will only get worse. That means the Minister will not meet his target of ending long-term homelessness by 2030.  We have a wealth of expertise and knowledge in this State - experts who could help end this crisis. It is time the Minister started listening to them, and not the lobbyists for big capital. Homelessness is the single most pressing social issue that affects individuals and families in Ireland right now. There are people in Carlow and Kilkenny who are working but cannot afford to rent, if they could even find a house to rent. They cannot get a mortgage because their wages are too low. We need to get back to local county councils building houses, just like the one that I grew up in. Kilkenny would be in a far worse crisis if we did not have the Good Shepherd Centre. It is doing tremendous work but we need more of that.  I am glad the Minister eventually came in. There are older people and children who are homeless. Deputy Boyd Barrett said that all the children wanted for Christmas off Santy was a roof over their head. That is a crying shame. Some of these parents are working yet they cannot afford to rent a house. They have no chance of ever getting a mortgage. That is on the Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  The homeless crisis in Ireland has reached a historic and harrowing breaking point for so many families. The figures currently show that 16,734 people are trapped in emergency accommodation. That is a record-shattering figure, representing a 12% increase year on year. However, it is actually only a fraction of the truth if we add in rough sleepers and the 290,000 hidden homeless - the families who are squeezed into garden sheds, those who are couch surfing and living in overcrowded flats or the adults who are in their 30s, regressing into childhood bedrooms because this State has outsourced the right to a shelter to what is market forces.  The Ombudsman for Children has documented many complaints and reveals what I would call a systematic institutionalisation of children in this State. One mother described her children's silence, noting that her son had stopped speaking entirely because of the regimented prison-like experience of guards and roll calls in their so-called home. In these hubs, families of five are actually confined to single rooms. The ombudsman reported that children are not making their milestones, such as crawling or walking, just because they simply do not have enough floor space to be able to get moving. In some of these areas there are floors that are damp and rooms full of people that are full of mildew. There is the noise of strangers, heard through paper-thin walls.  The school run has become a marathon for many kids, who have to get up at 5:30 a.m. to get to the school in the area where they lived originally. One parent talked about their child having to eat a dry breakfast out of a plastic bag at a bus stop, just be able to get to school on time. Teachers are reporting the phenomenon of homelessness fatigue because children are having to travel such distances from the temporary homeless hubs to get to the original school they were in.  I had not heard of the term \"kettle cooking\" until recently. A generation of children are now growing up on pot noodles, tea and instant pasta prepared on the floor of their room on their bedside table. That is the nutritional content that we are investing in a whole cohort of children in this country.  Other children, because of the distance that they have to travel on buses to get home, are missing meal times in the hubs, and maybe missing the only hot meal of the day as well. Homelessness takes a psychological toll.  We see behaviour regression from children who were once independent. We are seeing documented cases of children aged eight, nine, ten, 11 and 12 years old returning to bed-wetting because of the instability of the situation of they are in and the proximity of strangers in hostels as well.  There is a profound sense of stigma for many of these children. Children and teenagers describe as a social death telling people that they are homeless. It is impossible for them to have a friend over, as well the effect that has on the socialisation of those individuals. They do not have a wall to put a poster on, a door to close behind them or a proper bed to sleep in at night.  Up until this situation, we were talking about people on low incomes but we are now actually talking about middle-income families in this situation. Incredibly, families who are on \u20ac30,000 or \u20ac40,000 and up to \u20ac48,000 in some places are being disqualified from housing assistance, leaving them in a situation where they are too wealthy to be able to get housing assistance but too poor to be able to afford rent and in the limbo space of being forced into temporary accommodation. It is an incredible situation. The Government refuses to change the income limits despite the realities of the cost-of-living crisis. This is engineering a section of society which is now falling into homelessness and that is policy-driven.  I want to just speak about some of the solutions for this because there is no point in just focusing on the outcomes of the Government's attitude. The Government's residential tenancies Bill will come into play on Monday. That Bill is designed purposely to raise rents. That is the objective of that Bill. The Government does that because it wants to attract investors. It does it because it wants to increase activation and viability. I do not know of any other government in the history of the State that has implemented a Bill whose primary objective is to raise rents. To do it at a time when families are struggling with absolutely astronomical rents is really hard to believe.  I accept something needs to be done on the viability question. However, at a time when the Government is putting \u20ac10 billion into a savings account on an annual basis, surely there is another method to make house-building viable. In my constituency there are heaps of builders at home who are doing nothing and are not building because it is not viable for them. The majority of the top 50 construction companies in this country are currently sending their workers abroad because it is not viable to build here in Ireland. However, in the North of Ireland there is no VAT on the construction of homes. There is no tax take by the state on the construction of homes in the North of Ireland. The Minister has already accepted that is an activation action by actually doing it for flats and apartments. However, that really only attracts the investment funds into that space. Imagine if it was done for house-building, for the people who are building their own houses or the families who want to get into a first-time house in their locality.  This Government is absolutely laden down with red tape and bureaucracy. I have mentioned this to the Minister a number of times before. Unless he actually gets to the heart of this, he will never fix this problem. We have the slowest planning, permitting, licensing, tendering and judicial review system in the whole of Europe. It takes a phenomenally long time to build anything. This is not just affecting the housing crisis. We cannot build flood defences, rail lines and the other infrastructure necessary to allow people to live, and that is a significant problem. The habitats directive has a big influence on that. However, it is also because the Government is not staffing the planning authorities or An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la to the level they need. It is also because it puts layer upon layer of bureaucracy on the system year after year. If the Government does not tackle that, we are going to have a massive problem.  At the moment Ireland has 26 judicial reviews for every 1 million people. Britain has five judicial reviews for every 1 million people. It is becoming a national sport here. We have proposed a Bill to prevent vexatious objections to construction. Right now, if I live in the Minister of State's constituency in Cork, I can put in an objection to a person in Donegal building a slatted shed on their farm, which is an incredible situation. A person with no material interest in a particular project can put in an objection. People should not get me wrong; I understand that there are civic society groups that stand for proper planning and development and should have the ability to influence or put in objections. However, we need to start targeting vexatious objectors and the vexatious judicial reviewers in this process.  One of my biggest frustrations with this Government has been the type of debate that we have had on this issue over the years. It has been a very one-dimensional debate. It is happening between the Government and a certain section of the Opposition. We need to have a deeper debate on how we make house building viable in this country without putting the weight on the families who are looking to buy those homes or the renters who are looking to rent those homes. People need to be allowed to build in their own local areas. Until the Minister gets to address these issues, he will join a long line of about five or six Ministers who have crashed and burned in relation to the objectives of the housing Department. That is not the holy all of it. The main problem is the families who are made homeless as a result of that situation. There is a permanent government in place in relation to all these objectives. They are driving the bus and the Ministers present are simply passengers on that bus. Unless that changes, we will be back here year after year looking at the situation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  I do not know where to start. There are a huge number of issues and the lads opposite will be familiar with them, given that they are the cause of most of them. We are here to discuss the specific issue of homelessness. I want to talk about hidden homelessness. There is a rising number of families affected by relationship breakdown. Because they are petrified of homelessness and have nowhere to go, they are stuck in the home that they started together. They do not want to be together any more and that happens with people no longer in a position to continue living together, but they are stuck. They are stuck in a relationship they want to get out of. They are stuck in a house they want to be liberated from and they are stuck because there is nowhere for them to go.  In the last couple of weeks, I have come across several cases but two really stuck out. A couple in their mid-60s live in a housing estate in north County Dublin with one of their adult children and another one possibly on the way back. I met both the ex-husband and ex-wife, as they are now. I do not know if the Minister understands the impact this is having on their health, their mental health and their well-being. They cannot move on. They are stuck in a house. The relationship is over. It is perfectly all right for two people who started a relationship to come to the decision that they want to end that relationship, but they have no choice but to live together. There is a huge impact every single day of having to live with a person you no longer want to be married to or in a relationship with. When added to that there are adult children forced by the Government's housing crisis back into the smallest room in the house, the tension is off the charts. This is the human impact of the Government's housing and homelessness crisis, disaster - Jesus, I am running out of words. This is the human impact of hidden homelessness. Technically at least one person in that relationship is homeless but they just have not moved out. Technically they have somewhere to live but it is mental bloody torture, day in and day out for them. They cannot move on because there is nowhere for them to go.  Another husband and wife live not too far from me. They have two children. There is a safety order in place, but again nowhere for them to go. Their daughter has started to self-harm simply because of the tension in the house.  This is another shambles that the Government is presiding over. Their daughter is now trying to get onto a very long waiting list to access CAMHS. In the meanwhile, her parents' relationship has broken down. They are stuck living in a small house. All four of them - mam, dad and the two kids - are stuck living in a small house. Their teenage daughter has started to self-harm. Guess what? There is nowhere for them to go. There is now no place for them to simply separate and live separate lives. They are all stuck together and there is no mental health support for their daughter who is self-harming on a regular basis. She has no medication or psychiatrist. There is just a bloody waiting list. The human impact is mind-blowing.  I am glad that the Minister is here for the remaining few minutes of the debate because I want to ask him about the tenant in situ scheme. The very least that anyone could expect from a Government would be that it would not make things worse. Yet, I know of a family in Rush, comprising mam, dad and two kids, who have a notice to quit that expires in a couple of months. Their landlord is willing to sell to the council so the family wrote to the council. Not many landlords are willing to do it, but this landlord is willing to sell to the council. The family wrote to the council and the advice that came back was that Fingal County Council is no longer accepting new expressions of interest for the tenant in situ scheme and cannot advise whether it will be in a position to accept tenant in situ applications in 2026 as funding is determined by the Department of housing. I am delighted that the Minister for housing is here. Perhaps he will be able to tell me, so that I might tell my constituents, when the tenant in situ scheme will be open. There is a real chance to save this family from homelessness. The family comprises mam, dad and two kids, one of whom is a teenager and the other an adult. They could be saved from homelessness but the Department must release the funds. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Carol Nolan  As the Minister is aware, data from the latest homeless quarterly progress report on the scale of homelessness clearly shows there were 16,734 individuals accessing emergency accommodation at the end of quarter 4 of 2025. This was an increase of 120 individuals on the position at the end of quarter 3 of 2025. There was an increase of 1,870 on the total recorded at the end of quarter 4 of 2024. There were 2,478 families accessing emergency accommodation at the end of quarter 4 of 2025, which was an increase of 35 families on the position at the end of quarter 3 of 2025 and an increase of 386 families on the total recorded at the end of quarter 4 of 2024.  On top of all of this chaos, we now have new residential tenancy rules and the mass exodus of many small landlords from the housing system. I have met many of these small property owners. They were all people who worked hard, contributed to our economy, paid their taxes and decided to buy a small property, which they rented. I know from my own constituency that in many cases, the arrangement with their tenants worked quite well. I am now hearing from tenants who are coming to me in floods of tears that landlords are forced to sell because of the Government's genius new laws. I condemn those laws because the Government is making a bad situation worse. It shows that Government parties are shifting further to the left. In fact, they are becoming more left than the left themselves. The Government has absolutely no right to dictate to citizens of this country what they should do with their own private assets that they worked hard for, bought and paid for. The Government has absolutely no such right. If that is not from the left-wing playbook, I do not know what is. The Government is certainly making a bad situation worse. I am calling for those laws to be reviewed. I have met many property owners who have told me that they were Fine Gael and Fianna F\u00e1il voters but are disgusted with this behaviour and the way they are being treated. I call for those laws to be reversed.  I have repeatedly spoken of my concerns around the laws and the growing fear that while in theory safeguards may be in place, in practice, the cure may be worse than the disease. Perhaps if the Government were to hit the top and the vulture funds instead of small property owners, it might make more sense and we might get more solutions and progress. Perhaps that would be the way to proceed.  All of that, of course, is at the macro level. We can see cases at the individual level and it is only when we see those cases that we can truly gauge the ineffectiveness of the so-called reforms and the harm that continues to be done to families. I am continuing to deal with a constituent who through no fault or desire of his own was forced to sell his home. He did so because he is now locked in a battle to get planning permission for another home as he already made use of the rule allowing a build if you have a local connection.  I established, through a series of parliamentary questions last month, that there are massive delays in the registration process within Tailte \u00c9ireann. I have repeatedly contacted Tailte \u00c9ireann. It is not acceptable. The organisation is totally ineffective and needs to be overhauled quickly. If the Government is serious about making progress, it needs to ensure that Tailte \u00c9ireann is doing its job. From what I can see, it is failing. Indeed, the data provided to me confirms a rapid and exponential build-up in property registration delays in recent years, with the 2025 figure alone showing over 57,000 applications still pending from that year's lodgements. Surely this can be called out. Surely the Government Ministers can get a grip on that as soon as possible.  The total arrears across all years now exceeds 90,000, highlighting a massive accumulation that has built up despite efforts to address it. This data underscores the overwhelming scale of the challenge. Applications have grown, year on year, outpacing earlier resourcing and leading to this backlog. This backlog has escalated dramatically in the past few years, potentially impacting property transactions, agricultural transactions, conveyancing and housing market efficiency across Ireland. This highlights the urgency of ongoing efforts to clear applications and prevent further escalation and delays.  I was also able to establish, through another series of parliamentary questions in the past few weeks, that the so-called deemed disposal rule is adversely impacting housing. I know the Business Post carried an article on the issue last week. I placed the questions primarily because the issue was raised with me by a number of concerned constituents who feel that the current rules are overly complex and out of kilter with other EU member states. My constituents are also of the view that as currently drafted, the deemed disposal rule is contributing to a hoarding of property by ensuring that people keep what capital they have firmly locked into residential property. This keeps houses off the market and contributes to pent-up demand and inflated rents. I am asking the Government to perform some basic joined-up thinking on this issue. If we are serious about tackling the housing crisis, we must get under the taxation bonnet and properly assess what aspects of the taxation regime can be changed to facilitate greater supply while also allowing people to maximise their investments and returns. By that I mean private Irish citizens who have contributed to this economy, paid taxes and worked hard. They deserve respect and fair play. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy James Browne)  I thank all Deputies for their contributions. Addressing homelessness and increasing the supply of homes required to do so is my absolute priority. The programme for Government is committed to working towards ending homelessness by 2030. To meet this commitment, Delivering Homes, Building Communities was developed as an integrated housing and homeless plan. The new plan is based on two key pillars: activating the supply of 300,000 more homes and supporting people to have a home of their own. The plan will ensure that the funding and strategies deployed to address housing and homelessness are fully aligned at all times.  Increased supply is key to addressing homelessness. The Government is focused on making sure that everyone has access to good-quality, affordable and secure homes that suit their needs. The Minister of State, Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan, spoke to the actions in the plan that are focused on increasing supply with over \u20ac9 billion in capital funding being made available for housing in 2026 alone. In addition, we are progressing significant measures to improve both security of tenure and supply in the rental market through the new rental legislation and the regulation of short-term lets. The new rental legislation will introduce stronger tenant protections by significantly restricting no-fault evictions. New tenancies created for the first time between parties on or after 1 March 2026 and the current provision for tenancies of unlimited duration will be strengthened by the incorporation of tenancies of a minimum duration of six years.  In addition, the regulation of short-term lets will bring back a proportion of the houses and apartments being used for short-term letting purposes to the traditional long-term rental market.  Ownership measures and actions already under way are having an impact. Supported by increased social housing delivery and supports such as HAP, more than 650,000 adults were helped to exit emergency accommodation in the past two years. However, the housing plan very much recognises that delivery alone is not enough. Despite a significant increase in the number of new homes being delivered and the high number of people being supported to exit homelessness, the numbers of households, including families with children, in homeless emergency accommodation has continued to rise. In order to see this number of people experiencing homelessness fall, there has to be an increased availability of homes for households at risk of homelessness not only as an exit pathway but also to prevent people from needing access to emergency accommodation in the first place. Prevention of homelessness in the first instance is an absolute priority.  There are many prevention initiatives already under way in my Department and across Government. They include the provision of social and affordable housing, the HAP and homeless HAP schemes and our strong tenancy protection legislation. In addition, we support local authorities to provide prevention services through significant funding each year. The level of expenditure on prevention services increased from \u20ac15.4 million in 2021 to \u20ac24.7 million in 2024, an increase of some \u20ac9.3 million, and now accounts for 7% of the total homeless budget. To ensure a fully aligned all-of-government approach under the plan, we are developing a national homelessness prevention framework within which homelessness can be prevented in a structured and planned way, with tailored prevention measures for each potential at-risk cohort. This framework will be in place in 2026.  We are also developing a child and family homelessness action plan, bringing together key stakeholders to drive the continued focus on preventing children and families from entering emergency accommodation and providing enhanced support for children experiencing homelessness, as well as measures to accelerate exits and reduce the time spent by children and their families in emergency accommodation. Since 6 October last year, I have written to and met with chief executives of local authorities asking that all necessary actions be taken to ensure families the longest in emergency combination are provided with housing solutions by utilising the various options available to local authorities, including HAP, RAS and allocations of local authority and AHB homes. To further support this effort, funding of \u20ac150 million has been ring-fenced for acquisitions that will support households the longest in emergency accommodation to exit homelessness accommodation. In addition, the new plan recognises that domestic violence can lead to family homelessness. A protocol will be agreed with local authorities to ensure victims of domestic violence can transfer previous time spent on a social housing waiting list to another local authority, subject to meeting all social housing eligibility requirements.  Housing First is another key policy response in our efforts to reduce homelessness among our most vulnerable citizens. The new housing plan recognises that individuals experiencing homelessness with complex support needs often become entrenched in emergency homeless services. Under the plan, the Department of Health will provide increased health support to households experiencing homelessness through the implementation of the HSE national strategic plan to improve the health of people experiencing homelessness. Under the youth homeless strategy in place for the past three years, we introduced a range of new measures, including housing support for use in shared accommodation schemes. Budget 2026 provides a total allocation of \u20ac563.5 million to address homelessness. This includes \u20ac513.5 million in current funding to ensure local authorities can provide sufficient emergency accommodation as well as essential related services. Housing First makes provision for homeless prevention supports and data services and tenancy sustainment measures.  Everybody in this House wants to address homelessness. We might have different approaches to doing so but nobody in the D\u00e1il has a monopoly on compassion. We must be constructive. Challenging policies and legislation is absolutely essential but whipping up false anger in a kind of performative effort is outrageous. I have pulled people in here up previously for just wanting to create social media clips. We have seen prime examples of that here today. There is only one housing spokesperson in the Chamber for my closing remarks, and that is Deputy Boyd Barrett. Deputy Sheehan was apparently outraged that I was not here earlier, which was because I was at a Cabinet committee meeting. It is outrageous, apparently, that a Minister should attend a Cabinet committee meeting. I do not control the scheduling of the business of the D\u00e1il or of Cabinet committees. A photo was sent to me of Deputy Sheehan when he had barely finished speaking in the Chamber. He was at a Luas stop with a coat and jacket on, no doubt heading back to Limerick with his credibility left back here in the D\u00e1il Chamber. Deputy Hearne was equally outraged that I was not here and that I would, as a Minister, dare to attend a Cabinet committee. The Minister of State, Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan, explained why I was absent at the start of this debate. Again, the minute Deputy Hearne was finished speaking, he fled the building.  It is fine to try to whip up anger; that is straight out of the Trump playbook. However, I am struck by the cynicism and shallowness of it. Deputies opposite did not come in to talk about policy or legislation. We cannot expect people at home to understand the workings of the D\u00e1il Chamber and committees. Members are regularly in other places around Leinster House doing work. We cannot always be in here, unfortunately. People at home do not know the workings of the Oireachtas but Deputies Hearne and Sheehan do know them. They are playing on the public's lack of knowledge of the workings of the Houses. They tried to whip up anger that I was not here for the start of the debate. I was doing my work as a member of the Cabinet at a Cabinet committee meeting.  There is also no one here from Sinn F\u00e9in, the Labour Party or the Social Democrats. Members of those parties spent the past hour and a half being outraged about homelessness but they are not here in the Chamber for my closing statement. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aidan Farrelly  I am here. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  I was called out for not being here and I am responding to that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aidan Farrelly  The Minister said there was no one here from the Social Democrats. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  The Deputy is here to raise a Topical Issue; he is not here for this debate. We are seeing a race to the bottom with this Trump-style anger that is expressed only in the hope of getting elected if enough anger is created against the Government. The Labour Party did that in 2011, and where did it end up? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aidan Farrelly  If the Minister keeps looking at me when making his remarks, I will keep responding to him. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  The party created a kind of Faustian pact by whipping up anger among people.  I ask that Members opposite deal with the issues at hand and stop trying to create bogeymen for vote-getting purposes That will solve nothing. Everyone on this side of the House wants to solve homelessness. I do not expect Members opposite to agree with our policies. That is not how it works or should work. Challenging us on policy, as Deputy Boyd Barrett often does on a very deep level, sharpens our policies and at least gets the debate going. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Homelessness: Statements"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_40","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_40","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Jen Cummins)  I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case:  Deputy Michael Cahill - To discuss improvement and refurbishment works for older school buildings across County Kerry.  Deputy Grace Boland - The national fare structure for train fares and its impact on passengers travelling from Balbriggan and Skerries.  Deputy Shane Moynihan - Pl\u00e9 a dh\u00e9anamh ar st\u00e1das DEIS do Ghaelscoil Lir.  Deputy Duncan Smith - To discuss the future of St. Ita's campus in Donabate.  Deputy Barry Ward - To discuss the need to review Circular 0030\/2014 with regard to the role of special needs assistants.  Deputy Joe Neville - To discuss the completion of emergency works at St. Patrick's Primary School in Celbridge.  Deputy Robert O'Donoghue - To discuss community childcare facilities in Dublin Fingal West.  Deputy Malcolm Byrne - To discuss the review of the Garda vetting process and planned measures for simplification.  Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan - To discuss the capacity of childcare provision in Cork North-Central.  Deputy Conor D. McGuinness - To discuss the need for neurodiversity early intervention classes in primary schools in Waterford.  The matters raised by Deputies Joe Neville, Shane Moynihan and Robert O'Donoghue have been selected for discussion.  We will suspend briefly to allow the Minister of State, Deputy Niall Collins, time to get to the Chamber. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar fionra\u00ed ar 4.48 p.m. agus cuireadh t\u00fas leis ar\u00eds ar 4.49 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Sitting suspended at 4.48 p.m. and resumed at 4.49 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_41","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_41","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_42","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Schools Building Projects","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_41","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_41","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_42","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niall Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Neville  I am raising the very serious issue of St. Patrick's Primary School in Celbridge, which opened in 2008. It is housed in a prefabricated building that was only supposed to be in place for five years. Unfortunately, 18 years later, the school is still in that building. In June 2025, a report was submitted after the work had been done at the end of March. It states:  I am of the opinion that the existing building in the current condition is not fit for the purpose to operate without considerable risk to the occupants and users as a school, is unsafe and poses a serious immediate threat to the well-being, health and safety of the occupants and users.  That is how a primary school in Celbridge in which there are more than 300 students and also SNAs and teachers is described. These children are the some of the most important and most vulnerable people in our community. They deserve a much better and safer building in which to attend school. Much of what is in the report was made public on a KFM programme over the weekend. The report has also been covered in the Liffey Champion on a number of occasions in recent weeks. This is an ongoing issue.  As I said, it is 18 years since the prefabs were put in. I raised this matter with the Minister for education at a meeting on 18 June last year. I also raised it in the D\u00e1il last October and again in January. The pictures of the classroom that I have with me were taken at the end of January. It is not a place where kids should be. There is water running down the walls. The principal and her partner had to clean the classroom after a weekend of rain at the start of January, but the situation has only been exacerbated since then. The Minister, Deputy Naughton, visited the school, and she saw the issues that exist at first hand. She has highlighted the issue, but more work needs to be done as a matter of urgency. The principal and the teachers are doing amazing work, and the school has a great community, but the parents are really concerned. We need a resolution. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aidan Farrelly  I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to speak on this matter. The Minister of State is faced with a rare situation whereby all the TDs in the constituency are working together on it. We raised it earlier with the Secretary General of the Department of education at the Committee of Public Accounts. We know that Simon Harris and the Minister are aware of what is happening.  Deputy Neville outlined the matter in a very comprehensive manner. We need to see action on the architect's report. The evidence is no longer anecdotal. There is a real and significant health and safety concern for the children. There are issues with fire safety, the floor plate, wall retention, mould and damp, etc. Nobody should be expected to learn in such an environment. The entire school community, including the principal, the teachers, the SNAs and the secretaries, should not be expected to work in those conditions.  I join Deputies Neville, Cronin, \u00d3 Cear\u00fail and Lawless in commending the entire school community regarding what they have had to endure. I cannot overstate how concerned the parents are right now. We have reached the point where they are organising a meeting next week to try to progress this. They do not know what the next steps need to be, which is why they need the State to step in on an emergency basis. None of us really believes that works will suffice at this point. The Minister of State knows that for an 18-year-old modular unit with a design lifetime of five years, it is not a great solution to upgrade what is there now. We need something in the short term which will ensure that the health and safety of the staff and children is of paramount importance. We all look forward to the Minister of State's reply. He should know that he has collective support from all TDs in the constituency in the context of progressing this over the next couple of weeks. The latter is the timeline within which we need to see action. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niall Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Justice (Deputy Niall Collins)  I thank Deputies Neville and Farrelly for raising this matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Education and Youth. I welcome the opportunity to provide details of the interaction the Department of Education and Youth has had with St. Patrick's Primary School Celbridge in relation to the emergency works scheme and to provide an update on its capital project.  As the Deputies will be aware, the purpose of the emergency works scheme is to provide funding specifically for unforeseen emergencies or to provide funding to facilitate inclusion and access for pupils with special needs. An emergency is deemed to be a situation which poses an immediate risk to health, life, property or the environment, and a situation which is sudden, unforeseen and requires immediate action. In the case of a school, the situation must be of sufficient gravity whereby, if not corrected, it would prevent the school or part of it from opening.  Following an invitation from Deputy Neville, the Minister visited the school in January. She was given a tour of the building before meeting local school leaders and the board of management. During this visit, she was advised by the school that a number of classrooms had been closed and that the building had structural defects. St. Patrick's Primary School has submitted a number of applications for funding under the emergency works scheme for life safety equipment, fabric defects and roof works. The emergency works scheme operates on the basis of a minimal scope of works required to remedy an emergency situation. On this basis, the school was advised to submit a revised scope of works with an accompanying itemised cost breakdown.  In January, the Department engaged project engineers and contractors to address the immediate issues. This facilitated the completion of initial remedial works by 5 February, which allowed for classrooms that were closed to reopen. There has been significant engagement with St. Patrick's in relation to the sequencing of works to address the outstanding issues. A written programme update was issued to the school on 9 February. A further update was provided to the school on 24 February. This programme outlined a number of actions which are planned, utilising two modular units which were provided to the school. This will facilitate the temporary decanting of students to allow classrooms works to take place. The sequencing of works is set out to maximise the mid-term break and Easter break. The Department will continue to work with the school in this regard.  In relation to capital works, a new school building for St Patrick's Primary School is part of a campus project that has been devolved for delivery under the National Development Finance Agency, NDFA, as part of a bundled school building programme. The brief for the school includes the provision of 24 mainstream classrooms and four special educational needs classrooms. The project is currently at detailed design stage of the architectural process, which involves developing the designs, fully costed planning, the campus project and preparing the necessary documentation to facilitate the application for statutory approval to the local authority.  Following a request from the Minister, the Department of Education and Youth, the NDFA and the Land Development Agency recently met to discuss progress on this important project. The Minister has requested that the school be kept fully informed of that progress. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Neville  I thank the Minister of State for his response. I just want touch on a couple of the matters. The two modular units have been set down and the children are using them. However, the units are very small and way too cramped for proper classes. Also, there are no toilets in the modular units, which are located away from the school building. That poses its own difficulties.  I was at the school yesterday morning. The scaffolding has been put up. There is no work going on and the scaffolding is blocking some of the fire exits. This emphasises the dangers and risks for the children. Obviously, I welcome the two-pronged approach being taken, particularly as we need to have the emergency works to fix the school. However, we also need the delivery of the new school building. Ultimately, a three-school campus needs to be put in place. That is a longer term solution, however. We all know that new schools are not built too quickly in this country, so we need a proper solution for these children in the immediate future. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aidan Farrelly  I was somewhat concerned about the fact that the officials of the Department of Education and Youth who appeared before the committee yesterday stated that they are conducting a peer review in respect of the architect's report. In some ways, this casts a shadow what the architect has said. Ultimately, what we need to know, in very clear terms, is whether the plan that was presented to the school on Tuesday will remedy what the architect outlined in terms of the immediate concerns relating to the health and safety of children and staff at the site.  If the Minister of State can tell me that, then we as a collective group can go back with that.  From this reply, I am not convinced. If the Minister of State can give us a guarantee that what the architect had to say in his assessment of the site will be remedied, then we have a plan we can work towards. Otherwise we might have missed an opportunity here. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niall Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Niall Collins  I reiterate that the Minister for education and the officials in her Department are fully aware of the issues raised and will continue to proactively work with the school, pending the delivery of its permanent accommodation solution. The new building project is currently at stage 2A of the architectural design process and the Department of Education and Youth currently awaits the submission of the stage 2A report.  In general, some \u20ac397 million was invested in capital funding for Kildare schools between 2020 and 2025 and over that period, a total of 47 Kildare schools were upgraded, through the provision of a new school building, a large-scale extension or modular accommodation. There are also nine school projects in Kildare under construction at present. Under the national development plan, another 12 school projects in Kildare will go to tender or construction in 2026 and 2027. This summer, five schools are approved to undergo works as part of the summer works climate action scheme. In addition, since 2020 a total of 74 special classes have opened in Kildare, 11 of which were sanctioned for September 2026. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Schools Building Projects"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_43","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Educational Disadvantage","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_41","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_41","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_43","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niall Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shane Moynihan  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Aire St\u00e1it as a bheith anseo inniu. An rud at\u00e1 m\u00e9 ag pl\u00e9 inniu n\u00e1 an g\u00e1 st\u00e1das DEIS a bhronnadh ar Ghaelscoil Lir i dTeach an Sagard at\u00e1 i mo dh\u00e1ilcheantar f\u00e9in. An f\u00e1th at\u00e1 m\u00e9 ag cur na ceiste seo faoi bhr\u00e1id na D\u00e1la n\u00e1 go bhfuil leibh\u00e9al suntasach tith\u00edochta socheacnama\u00edocha agus \u00e9ags\u00falachta ag baint leis an scoil. T\u00e1 an scoil f\u00e9in ag freastal ar theaghlaigh at\u00e1 ag brath ar \u00edoca\u00edochta\u00ed leasadh sh\u00f3isialaigh de r\u00e9ir mar at\u00e1 le feice\u00e1il \u00f3 inn\u00e9acs pobal. T\u00e1 an-chuid de na dalta\u00ed \u00f3 ch\u00falra\u00ed imirce agus ilteangacha agus t\u00e1 cuid mh\u00f3r acu ag cur f\u00fathu san ionad IPAS in aice na scoile. T\u00e1 go leor riachtanais\u00ed breise oideachais le sonr\u00fa sa scoil freisin. Mar Ghaelscoil, t\u00e1 an Ghaelscoil f\u00e9in ag d\u00e9anamh freastal ar go leor teaghlaigh nach bhfuil an Ghaeilge mar theanga sa bhaile acu, agus fi\u00fa amh\u00e1in nach bhfuil B\u00e9arla ann. Is l\u00e9ir go bhfuil p\u00e1ist\u00ed sa scoil seo a bhfuil ag labhairt as Gaeilge nach bhfuil cumas acu sa Bh\u00e9arla, rud at\u00e1 an-sp\u00e9isi\u00fail agus iontach ann f\u00e9in, ach t\u00e1 riachtanais ag an scoil a bhfuil freastal ag teast\u00e1il orthu. N\u00edl rochtain ag an scoil ar a leith\u00e9id de chl\u00e1r cr\u00edochnaithe scoile, n\u00edl nasc idir an scoil agus an baile, agus n\u00edl f\u00e1il aige ach oiread ar a leith\u00e9id de dheontas le c\u00fant\u00f3ir a fhost\u00fa sa scoil.  The Topical Issue I raise today relates to Gaelscoil Lir, which is a growing school in my constituency based in Saggart-Citywest. To be clear, I am a member of its board of management. The reason I raise for Gaelscoil Lir to be considered for DEIS status is the school was established in the 2021-22 school year. It missed out on the immediate adjudication and assessment of a school for inclusion in the DEIS programme. If we look at the overall picture of the school itself, it is one that has the needs add profile to justify the bestowing of DEIS status on it. There are families from low-income backgrounds whose children attend the school. Social welfare is the only source of income for a number of those families, there is a high prevalence of special educational needs in the school and there are two special classes in a student body of under 100 students. In and of itself, this is quite remarkable and shows the school staff\u2019s commitment to providing high level special education. A number of the students attending are from backgrounds where Ireland is not their country of birth. Many of them are also living in the IPAS centre immediately adjacent to the school.  One of the unique and very special things about Gaelscoil Lir is it has a number of students who speak Irish who cannot speak English. They have their native language from home or their own country and they now have proficiency in our native tongue, which is a beautiful thing to learn. The other side of that, however, is this is a school that has all of these needs but does not have access to things like the home school liaison programme or the school completion programme and is not able to employ a caretaker because of the size of its ancillary grant. Were we to have a serious debate about the need to encourage and ensure Irish-medium education; something I am very passionate about, we would also need to make sure Irish-medium education is available to all people of all backgrounds.  A support we in Fianna F\u00e1il are rightly proud of is the expansion of the DEIS programme and giving children the educational opportunities they need. I would seriously consider the need to review Gaelscoil Lir\u2019s status and make allowance for the fact that given its student population, with many students residing in the IPAS centre, and given the significant areas of deprivation adjacent to it, there is an argument to consider DEIS status for Gaelscoil Lir. I wholeheartedly urge that as a consideration today. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niall Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Niall Collins  I thank Deputy Moynihan for raising this important issue. Addressing educational disadvantage is a key priority for the Government, for me and, obviously, for the Minister for Education and Youth. The DEIS programme is a key policy initiative for addressing concentrated educational disadvantage at school level. DEIS supplements universal supports by targeting additional resources to schools where disadvantage is most concentrated, helping to promote equity and meet the needs of children and young people.  Currently, the DEIS programme supports almost 1,200 primary and post-primary schools and reaches approximately 260,000 students with an annual investment of more than \u20ac180 million. Budget 2026 allocated an additional \u20ac16.5 million in 2026, rising to \u20ac48 million in 2027, to support the implementation of a new DEIS strategy and introduce the DEIS plus scheme, which will commence this year. Schools which were included in the expansion of the programme in 2022 were those with the highest levels of concentration of children and young people at risk of educational disadvantage, as identified through the refined DEIS identification model. Schools were not required to apply for inclusion in the DEIS programme.  The model was applied fairly and equally to all schools, including those in the DEIS programme already, to ensure they were in the band which best addressed their level of disadvantage. The Minister, Deputy Naughton, is committed to addressing educational disadvantage in all schools to ensure all children can reach their potential. To this end, a new ten-year DEIS strategy to 2035 will be published in the coming weeks. The new strategy will introduce innovative solutions to address educational disadvantage and continue to address the gap between DEIS and non-DEIS schools. Over its lifetime, the new DEIS strategy will focus on improving the opportunities and achievement levels of children and young people at risk of educational disadvantage, developing more innovative approaches to tackling educational disadvantage, and working towards a more flexible system of supports to ensure that a school can receive the right support at the right time. Any future changes to the identification model and overall allocation of resources will be considered within the context of the new ten-year DEIS strategy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shane Moynihan  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Aire St\u00e1it as an freagra sin. I thank the Minister of State for taking this Topical Issue. I am a little disappointed the response did not refer to Gaelscoil Lir and that is something I will raise with the Department, given that was the particular schooled I raised in this instance. I draw attention to the fact that Gaelscoil Lir is quite unique in where it is located. It is located beside an IPAS centre and has a diversity of student backgrounds that have higher levels of special educational needs. It requires access to a home school liaison. It has scope to be one of the fastest growing schools in the Saggart-Citywest area and crucially, and this is something I have a particular interest in, it is also securing the language rights of families who want to send their children to an Irish-medium school. That is something we have to take seriously. I welcome the fact that DEIS strategy is being reviewed at the moment and will identify unique pockets of disadvantage but I also heartily encourage the Department and the Minister to seriously consider how the socioeconomic gaps that exist in areas around the country are also reflected for schools with Irish-medium education as well.  Sometimes there is an assumption that because a Gaelscoil is a Gaelscoil, it does not need access to support, the school completion programme or the home school liaison programme. We have to disabuse ourselves of that notion because that is not true. T\u00e1 an-obair ar si\u00fal ag foireann Ghaelscoil Lir. T\u00e1 an-d\u00fashl\u00e1n \u00e1 sh\u00e1r\u00fa aici. An rud at\u00e1 mise ag iarraidh sa Teach seo inniu n\u00e1 go mbeidh taca\u00edocht ar f\u00e1il d\u2019fhoireann, do thuismitheoir\u00ed agus do phobal scoile Gaelscoil Lir chun go mbeidh siad in ann freastal ar na riachtanais at\u00e1 acu agus go mbeidh siad in ann freastal ar na dalta\u00ed at\u00e1 ag dul ag an scoil sin. T\u00e1 m\u00e9 ag iarraidh go mbeidh gach aon deis ag gach aon dalta sa scoil sin gach rud gur f\u00e9idir leo a bhaint amach sa saol sa todhcha\u00ed agus go mbeidh an St\u00e1t ag tac\u00fa leo \u00e9 sin a dh\u00e9anamh. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niall Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Niall Collins  I thank the Deputy for raising the issue and giving us the opportunity to discuss it. The Department of Education and Youth is committed to supporting a high quality and inclusive school system that provides an equal opportunity for success for all children. DEIS remains central to that commitment and the forthcoming DEIS strategy will ensure that supports are targeted fairly and reflect the evolving needs of our school communities, informed by stakeholder engagement and a strengthened, needs-based allocation model. As part of the new ten-year strategy, the Department will review the current DEIS framework with a view to refining how disadvantage is measured and how schools are supported. This process will take account of a range of evidence and stakeholder feedback to ensure that schools serving significant levels of need are appropriately recognised in the updated model. The refinement of the DEIS model as part of the new strategy will consider how emerging or evolving patterns of disadvantage can be better addressed and how the system can best respond to schools that face increasing levels of need. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Educational Disadvantage"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_44","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Early Childhood Care and Education","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_41","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_41","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_44","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert O'Donoghue  Early childhood education and care in Dublin Fingal West is no longer a gap in planning. It is a failure of prioritisation. Dublin Fingal West has one of the highest concentrations of private childcare provision in the country, yet one of the lowest of community childcare provision. That imbalance has not happened by accident. It is the result of the State stepping back and leaving provision to the market, and families are paying the price as a consequence. Across Dublin Fingal West, particularly in the rapidly growing towns of Rush and Lusk, thousands of houses have been built and young families and couples have moved in, yet the essential public infrastructure that is community childcare that should accompany that growth has not kept pace with the development.  I receive constant emails from parents in my constituency who cannot easily access early education and school age childcare. Parents are on waiting lists before their child is even born. They cut their working hours because the fees are too high. They are forced to take whatever place they can get, not the place that best supports their child. It is not a functioning system. It is patchwork. Private providers no doubt play an important role but early childcare cannot be left almost entirely to private operations in a rapidly expanding area like Dublin Fingal West. My constituency has been left with one of the lowest levels of community childcare provision in the country. That is not equity; that is neglect. What makes it even more frustrating is that solutions are available. There are suitable sites in both Rush and Lusk that have planning permission. The land exists, the demand is clear, and the demographics are undeniable. If the Government truly intends to expand State-led childcare provision, then Dublin Fingal West is exactly where the commitment should be tested. It is the perfect canary in the coalmine.  The Government speaks frequently about building State-led early education models but families in my constituency do not see that ambition reflected on the ground. They see housing developments completed before the childcare facilities are delivered. They see population growth without the matching public services. They see political spin without urgency. Early education and care is not an optional extra but essential infrastructure. It enables parents, particularly women, to remain in the workforce. It supports early childhood development. It strengthens communities. When the State fails to provide it adequately, families bear the burden, so today, I am asking the Government to commit to prioritising Dublin Fingal West for State-led community-based childcare facilities. Will it engage with Fingal County Council and the Fingal childcare committee immediately on the identified sites in Rush and Lusk? Will it acknowledge that leaving one of the youngest populations in the country with one of the lowest levels of community childcare provision is simply not acceptable? Dublin Fingal West cannot continue to be an afterthought in national childcare planning. Families deserve more than promises; they deserve delivery. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Children, Disability and Equality (Deputy Emer Higgins)  I thank the Deputy for raising this Topical Issue matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Norma Foley. The Minister would like to thank Deputy O'Donoghue for raising this important issue and for offering her the opportunity to respond. I will deliver her response to the Deputy. Improving access to quality and affordable early learning and childcare is a key priority of Government. Early learning and childcare capacity is increasing. Data from the annual early years sector profile shows that the estimated number of enrolments increased by 25% over the last three years. I believe that Fingal increased by 20% in the same period. The reality is that demand for early learning and childcare remains higher than available supply in certain parts of the country, particularly for younger children.  A forward planning model is in development which will be central to the Department's plans to achieve the policy goals set out in the programme for Government to build an affordable, high-quality, accessible early childhood learning and childcare system, with State-led facilities adding capacity. That model seeks to identify the nature and volume of different types of early learning and childcare places across the country and how that aligns with the numbers of children in the corresponding age cohorts. That will be done at local area level.  The Department continues to support the ongoing development an resourcing of core funding, which has given rise to a significant expansion of places since the scheme was first introduced. Core funding, which is in its fourth programme year, funds services based on the number of places available. This provides stability to services, and reduces the risk associated with opening a new service or expanding an already existing service. The Government is also supporting the expansion of capacity through capital funding. The building blocks extension grant scheme is designed to increase capacity in the one to three-year-old, pre-early childhood care and education age range for full daycare. That is to support the parents who the Deputy specifically mentioned in his own contribution.  Core funding partner services could apply for capital funding to physically extend their premises or, in the case of community services, to construct or purchase new premises. The scheme will deliver up to 1,500 full-day care places for the one to three-year-old age category. The Minister recently announced \u20ac135 million in capital investment in buildings for high-quality, accessible State-led early learning and childcare. The process will begin this year with investment in buildings in what will be a ground-breaking initiative for this Government. Capital funding will be used to acquire and-or fit out the building, depending on requirements. Services will be operated on a not-for-profit basis by third parties. Where a project is being considered without an operator already in place, the Department will run a process to identify an appropriate not-for-profit operator, with capacity to operate a high-quality service.  There will be a particular focus in the new State-led facilities on providing places for one to three-year-olds because this is where the need is greatest, with scope for these children to progress in the service until they start school. The aim of delivering additional supply of this kind in suitable locations will include both rural areas and urban areas which are not well served at the moment. Additional supply in areas of disadvantage is another priority because early learning can have really positive impacts on children at risk of disadvantage. Another factor to consider is the need to rebalance supply in some areas where there is a high concentration of private supply but very low levels of community childcare. That is what the Deputy outlined in his contribution, with regard to his constituency, Dublin Fingal West. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert O'Donoghue  I thank the Minister of State and welcome what she said. Dublin Fingal West would be the perfect area to roll out a scheme like that. I welcome that capital funding will be used to acquire or fit out the buildings. That would certainly help in my constituency. I would also like to address the Government's commitments to reducing childcare costs to \u20ac200 a month over the term of the D\u00e1il.  That is obviously welcome. However, we must be very clear about the language we use here. When we talk about cheaper childcare, we reduce this sector to a bargain bin service. It starts sounding like a Ryanair advertisement where the lowest fare wins. That cannot be what early childhood education and care becomes. Affordability does matter - of course it does - but quality must be number one. I am glad the Minister of State acknowledges that in her statement. It is worrying to see providers threaten a judicial review on the employment regulation order, ERO, in the sector. That shows how unstable the sector is. A Band-Aid is holding the sector together. We do not need a patch. We need to rip off the Band-Aid and have a transformative moment, like Donogh O'Malley bringing in free secondary education or Niamh Bhreathnach getting rid of fees and opening third level to a generation. Those decisions were not tinkering; they were bold and brave. They recognised education as a public good. I urge this Government to recognise early education in the same vein and start a transition to a fully public childcare model so that parents have real choice and every child has access to quality, accessible childcare. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Higgins  I am glad to hear that some of the policies the Minister is pursuing and introducing may be of benefit to the Deputy in his constituency, but most importantly, the parents and children in his constituency. Up to eight buildings will be selected for investment this year, and the State-led initiative will provide thousands of places up to 2030 using the \u20ac135 million provided in the national development plan. The level of investment will ramp up over the lifetime of Government. The initial approach is on purchasing and refurbishing buildings given that this is a faster route to delivery in the short term. However, the option of new building facilities will also be considered over subsequent years. The Deputy highlighted two specific sites in Rush and Lusk that would be worth looking at from this perspective. The Department is assessing sites and buildings and, where required, will seek expressions of interest from operators to deliver State-led services. Local city and county childcare committees will be supporting the development of these projects in the first instance. Community early learning and childcare operators, local authorities, developers or others who might have some suitable premises, projects or sites should, therefore, first contact their local city and county childcare committee. I would encourage the Deputy to put the owners of those sites in touch with his own contacts locally.  Separately, following on from the success of the building blocks extension grant scheme, a further scheme will open for applications later this year. The round of capital funding will focus on funding extensions to existing premises to allow for increased numbers of children to be offered places on a full-time basis. Community and private providers that are core funding partner services will be eligible to apply for this scheme, and the Minister expects to announce details of this next building block scheme in the coming weeks.  On some of the Deputy's comments, I will firmly put on the record that the Government is absolutely committed to reducing childcare costs. Affordability is really important from the parents' perspective but so too are accessible childcare and ensuring that we have the right amount of childcare in the right locations. Quality needs to be paramount. In a previous role, I was Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and signed into law one of the EROs the Deputy referenced. I wish to put on record my support for that process. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Early Childhood Care and Education"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-26\/debate\/dbsect_45","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"Report of the Joint Committee on Artificial Intelligence: Motion","counts":{"speechCount":12,"speakerCount":6},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_45","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niamh Smyth","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Geoghegan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  I move:  That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann shall take note of the Report of the Joint Committee on Artificial Intelligence entitled \"First Interim Report\", copies of which were laid before D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann on 12th December, 2025.  T\u00e1 \u00e1thas an domhan orm an ch\u00e9ad tuarasc\u00e1il \u00f3n gComhchoiste Um Intleacht Shaorga a mholadh. T\u00e1 an teicneola\u00edocht iontach seo ag athr\u00fa \u00e1r socha\u00ed agus is ceart go bhfuil an t\u00edr seo ag glacadh r\u00f3l ceannaireachta sa d\u00edosp\u00f3ireacht domhanda seo. It is a great privilege to be able to introduce the first interim report of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Artificial Intelligence. I am very grateful for the work of my fellow members. We have worked in a collegial and collaborative way to achieve this first report, which has 85 recommendations covering a range of issues.  Our committee has chosen to work in a way whereby we looked at artificial intelligence because it is cross-cutting; it impacts on every Government Department and nearly every Government agency. We took a decision that we would operate in a module formula and address issues over time, looking at AI in healthcare, energy and education. We started, obviously, with a state of the nation address. We are very grateful to the Minister of State for her input right at the start. However, we decided to look at this topic through three very specific lenses, namely, AI and children and young people, AI and older people and AI and disability. I have to say, that has helped to inform a lot of the work we have done. For me, personally, of all the witnesses, and many great witnesses appeared before our committee, hearing the voices of young people who came through the National Youth Council of Ireland and the youth advisory panel of the Office of the Ombudsman for Children on their perceptions of AI and how it is transforming their lives was particularly interesting. It is certainly important that we continue to listen to those voices as this debate goes on.  In terms of the overall approach, what we are striving to do, and it certainly chimes with Government policy, is support and encourage innovation, balancing that with regulation to support the responsible use of artificial intelligence and the protection of fundamental rights. It is very important that we send out that clear message that innovation and regulation are not mutually exclusive and, indeed, go hand in hand. I was very glad to see that last week, the Government published the national digital and AI strategy. Indeed, it is very positive for our committee that many of its recommendations and reflections found their way into the strategy or are echoed in a lot of the priorities that are presented. I will raise a number of issues contained within our report and suggestions to Government as to where we should be going in positioning Ireland because it should be as a leader in this space. Quite rightly, there is a recommendation within our report and within the strategy that we need an all-of-government approach to artificial intelligence. It is interesting that the Government's strategy states that this is going to be led from the Department of the Taoiseach. While it is not a specific recommendation of our report, certainly, the reflective view of all members of the committee is that because it covers more than just the Department of enterprise, consideration should be given to placing the office of the Minister of State, Deputy Smyth, at the Department of the Taoiseach. Enterprise is a very important part of how AI is having an impact, but this is much broader and has major societal implications so that is certainly an issue that should be considered.  Our report and the 85 recommendations place a very strong emphasis on transparency, accountability and public trust. It is critical, as with any technology that is rolled out, that trust is always maintained. That is particularly true in the roll-out of AI in the public services. Both our report and the Government strategy talk about the need for more debate in public around AI and new technology and the opportunities and challenges. Our report recommends that we should have a citizens' assembly on AI, digitalisation and technology. It is critical that we engage all sectors of society in discussions on the potential benefits but also the pitfalls of this new technology. The use of public information campaigns so that people can actually understand what is happening is very important. The Minister of State may remember that at one time there was a very famous advertisement with the line \"I don't know what a tracker mortgage is\". It may be a case of reviving it along the lines of \"I don't know what an algorithm is\" and having those public information campaigns so that everybody in society can take part in the active debate around new technology.  We place a lot of emphasis in our report on skills and literacy when we are talking about AI adoption. Our report very clearly recommends that emphasis be placed on a co-ordinated education initiative operating right through the education and training systems, and a lot of emphasis on AI literacy.  This applies in schools and workplaces right throughout the entire system. This is something that is reflected in the Government strategy, particularly in terms of upskilling. I commend our colleague, the Minister for further and higher education, Deputy James Lawless, who has been talking about rolling out microcredential courses across the State ranging from very simply what is AI to support for SMEs about how they can embed AI to deliver their services more effectively.  Our committee was very strong on opening an AI skills observatory. This is something the Minister of State is very committed to. This is very important. We know that the labour market is being impacted in many ways. The Department of Finance published a report specifically on this last week. There will be job displacement and jobs will be lost but equally there will be huge opportunities with new jobs as a result of AI. It is critical for us as a state to have real time information to be able to prepare for those changes and that can then inform the upskilling and reskilling of all of our citizens and those who live here.  I want to turn to the national AI office. When the Minister of State came before our committee, we had quite a lot of discussion on this. She has a very strong commitment to that and ensuring it gets up and running, which is welcome. Unfortunately, even though there is a very specific committee on artificial intelligence, the legislation has gone to the enterprise committee. I appreciate the reason the rules of the House say that has to happen but we make the point that the AI office is about more than just enterprise.  On the imminent recruitment of the first chief executive, he or she will set the direction and how the role will operate. We need to see that role as a facilitative role. It cannot be a \u201cThou shalt not\u201d regulator or an additional layer of bureaucracy on top of the system. It should be about ensuring how society is able to responsibly use AI to get better results. Technology is not a goal in itself; technology is the enabler for us to be able to achieve better goals for all of humanity and it is critical that it is humans who are going to be in the loop.  We are very clear that as part of this office there needs to be the establishment of the youth advisory panel. The Minister of State will be aware that within other offices, the Ombudsman for Children's Office and Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n, this has worked very effectively. We need to ensure young people's voices and those who work with young people are heard at the discussion table but again, we emphasise the importance of the voices of older people and those with disabilities and that they are recognised and heard within the discussion.  I want to praise the Minister of State\u2019s role in terms of the leadership that she provided on this. We have dealt a lot with the controversy involving Grok and she has been very clear-minded and focused in that area. When she came before us that on the first occasion prior to report, she set out a very ambitious programme. She clearly committed and owned that we were going to have an AI summit in Ireland in October focusing on Ireland playing a leading role in the kinds of skills that we all need in the world of AI. I want to commend her leadership role and our committee looks forward continuing to work with her on preparation for that during the EU Presidency.  It is vitally important that Ireland continues to take that leadership role and therefore I welcome the fact that the Minister of State took part in the global AI summit in India. I had concerns that Ireland was not going to be represented. Even though there is a diverse range of views on our committee, we think Ireland should inform and lead that debate and the values that we place on human rights and those fundamental rights, keeping humans in the loop - Ireland's values - will inform the global discussion on AI. It was critical that the Minister of State attended that summit. I appreciate that the EU Presidency is the focus but in terms of Geneva hosting the summit next year, I hope there will be a very strong Irish presence and input into that.  The committee\u2019s report made 85 recommendations. I pay tribute to my colleagues that we have worked in a cross-party way because we are all learning. This is a new technology. The reason we chose to do interim reports, and we will come out with another one, is to reflect the views that we are hearing because if we waited a few years for this report, things will have moved on quickly. There is a firm recommendation that the committee, which was set up as a medium-term special purpose committee, would be put on a permanent footing because the issues in the debates that we are dealing with and that we are facing is not just Grok. It is about what is happening in the employment market; the opportunities that are happening in healthcare; and the implications of AI energy use. All of those issues are going to continue to grow and it is critical that in the national Parliament we have a vehicle where they can be debated and views can be exchanged and that we can learn.  I mentioned the awareness campaign and the general public. We need to look at doing it in here internally then within Leinster House as well so that people become very much aware of the transformational powers, positive and negative, of AI. We are using AI products, and rightly, already within Leinster House. Increasingly we know our constituents, businesses and organisations are raising issues relating to AI with us. A training programme in here for legislators, in the same way as it is intended to roll out training right across add the public service, is something that is important.  Again, I thank the secretariat and my fellow members of the committee for all their work and for their input. We want to continue to work with the Minister of State and across all of the government in a collaborative way to ensure Ireland plays a leading role in the global debate around artificial intelligence to ensure that our citizens are equipped to be able to avail of the opportunities and to make sure that the necessary safeguards are in place to protect our fundamental rights. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niamh Smyth","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Deputy Niamh Smyth)  I welcome the opportunity to address the House. I sincerely thank Deputy Byrne, as Cathaoirleach of the Joint Committee on Artificial Intelligence, and the overall committee for the important work they have undertaken in their first interim report, which is the subject of this motion. The extensive engagement by the committee that informed this work, including the range of views and perspectives gathered through consultations, expert discussions and research is evident throughout. I appreciate the significant time and consideration that went into developing such a comprehensive report.  We are at a pivotal moment in our digital transformation. The rapid progress of digital technologies, and Al in particular, is changing how we live, how we work and how we interact as a society. The opportunity Al offers is immense, but I am acutely aware that so is our responsibility to get it right. The Government recognises that Al is not just a powerful tool for business and the economy; it is an enabler of progress that can benefit society as a whole and improve he lives of our citizens.  Al is not confined to any one sector, as the Cathaoirleach quite rightly alluded to. It is a cross-cutting technology that influences many areas of public policy and everyday life. The impacts of Al range from public service delivery, digital infrastructure, cybersecurity and online safety to enterprise and innovation, skills development and digital regulation. This requires a co-ordinated, coherent and ambitious whole-of-government response. That is exactly why, last week, the Government published our new national digital and Al strategy, Digital Ireland - Connecting our People, Securing our Future. The strategy reflects both the breadth of our ambition and the shared responsibility across government. It sets out five strategic and mutually reinforcing ambitions - apply, grow, invest, lead and empower - reflecting the agility needed to succeed in a fast-evolving digital world.  Those ambitions are to apply digital and Al technologies to enhance public services; to grow our digital economy and profile as a location of choice for investment and as a global hub for Applied Al; to invest in secure, resilient, future-proofed digital infrastructure, including building our cybersecurity capacity; to lead as a trusted, agile and forward-looking digital regulatory hub and centre of excellence; and to empower all groups in society and the economy with the skills and literacy needed to participate confidently and safely in a digital and Al economy and society. In order to protect vulnerable groups, particularly children and young people, we will also enhance our online safety framework at both national and EU levels. Through 20 high-level objectives and 90 deliverables, the strategy outlines the concrete actions that will accelerate digital and Al adoption across enterprise, the public sector, research and academia. It also includes targeted measures to improve public services and strengthen our health service.  The 85 recommendations in the committee's report naturally cut across the work of many Departments. I will focus specifically on some of the key recommendations that fall within my own remit. I am pleased to say that many of the recommendations are already under way. Starting with regulation and the national Al office, I acknowledge the emphasis the interim report places on ensuring robust and effective regulation is in place, and the important role of the national Al office in that regard. This aligns with the objectives and work of my Department, as does the report\u2019s call for the national Al office to support Government, business and civic society in understanding and adopting trustworthy Al where appropriate.  The Al Act is an EU regulation which provides a consistent and high level of protection for European citizens\u2019 health, safety and fundamental rights, and provides certainty for the use of human-centred and trustworthy AI in the EU. As an EU regulation, it is directly applicable and binding to all EU member states and ensures uniform rules for artificial intelligence to be applied across the EU. That said, the Act also imposes obligations on member states that require national implementing measures, including establishing a regulatory regime to supervise and enforce the regulation and establishing a single point of contact.  My Department is leading across government on the national implementation. We are making really strong progress on implementing the EU Al Act, the main supervision and enforcement provisions of which take effect from August 2026, with more specific rules to follow by 2027. The Government recently approved priority drafting of the legislation needed to give full effect to the Act. We have adopted a distributed implementation model so businesses can work with regulators who understand their sectors. My officials are engaging intensively and extensively with my Department, competent authorities and fundamental rights bodies to ensure Ireland is ready for the full implementation of the regulation of AI in Ireland. In parallel, work is progressing on the establishment of the independent statutory Al office of Ireland, which is scheduled to be in place by August 2026.  The Government recognises the importance of Ireland's reputation as a trusted, agile, forward-looking digital regulatory hub, and of ensuring our regulators are independent and adequately resourced. The statutory status and governance structure of the Al office of Ireland reflects that of established regulator bodies and is in line with Government\u2019s code of practice for the governance of State bodies. A budget of \u20ac1.5 million has been allocated for its start-up phase. The office will be the central co-ordinating body for the implementation of the EU Al Act and will leverage the expertise of regulators across all sectors to ensure that when Al is deployed, it is done in a responsible and ethical manner. The remit of the office will also include maintaining a central register to identify and monitor systemic risks across sectors, ensuring the establishment of the national Al regulatory sandbox, and establishing collaborative forums with representative groups from society to support transparency, accountability and effective governance as Ireland implements the EU Al Act.  My officials are currently focused on the initial steps to stand up the new Al office of Ireland, including recruiting key personnel, developing the ICT framework, putting in place a single-point-of-contact structure, designing an extensive communications programme and putting in place a pool of technical expertise to support the competent authorities. The creation of the Al office of Ireland provides an opportunity to provide the Government with a permanent, independent source of expertise on Al. It will also promote the safe adoption of Al in our country.  Recent online safety issues have highlighted just how essential it is to have a strong and effective legal framework in place. The committee\u2019s report makes a number of recommendations in relation to online safety and has particular concern around recommender systems. I want to be clear that online safety, especially for children and young people, remains a whole-of-government priority. A significant body of legislation and regulation, including Coco's Law, the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act and the EU Digital Services Act, is already in place. From a digital regulation perspective, the DSA forms a central part of Ireland's online safety framework. It includes specific provisions on recommender systems to ensure transparency. Under the DSA, platforms must clearly explain the main parameters behind how content is suggested to users. Services accessible to minors must also ensure a high level of privacy, safety and security, including a ban on direct ads based on profiling when the user is a minor.  It has been noted on a number of recent occasions in this House that several investigations are ongoing on these matters and the Attorney General and the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration are examining and will consider whether further legislative measures are needed in the area of non-consensual intimate images. In my own Department, we are liaising with the European Commission and member states to advocate for adding the use of AI systems for the generation of such images to the list of prohibited AI practices under the EU AI Act.  Online safety is a core pillar underpinning the National Digital and AI Strategy 2030 and a priority for Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the European Union. These measures reinforce the Government's commitment to enhancing online safety, in particular for children and young people, as a whole-of-government and European priority. This brings me to another key focus of the report and a primary objective of the Al Act, namely, to promote and support the adoption of safe and trustworthy Al in enterprise and in our wider society. I have seen at first hand the impact Al can have on boosting productivity and enhancing competitiveness in firms of all sizes. This will be achieved through a new targeted sectoral strategy to drive enterprise Al adoption and by appointing new Al sector champions. We will also conduct an Al and digital awareness and literacy campaign for SMEs. It is important that we strengthen Ireland\u2019s capability to understand and respond to the opportunities and challenges presented by Al. We are fully aligned with the committee on this point. For this reason, the new strategy includes actions to establish two observatories, which will provide the evidence base necessary to guide workforce, enterprise and innovation policy in the years ahead.  First, on skills, the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science has recently signalled his intention to progress the establishment of the national skills observatory, which is envisaged will transform our skills intelligence landscape. It will provide a valuable source of data and insights on the labour market and skills, facilitating improved workforce planning, stronger policy making, and improved lifelong learning and workforce reskilling. In my Department, we will establish an observatory for business Al readiness, focused on enterprise adoption of Al. Together with the national skills observatory, this will inform the Government in shaping future Al-related enterprises and jobs policy.  Finally, the committee\u2019s report highlights the importance of the summit we are planning as part of our EU Presidency. I am happy to say work is well under way in the planning this flagship event, which will have the overall theme of enabling Al to power innovation-led growth across Europe. The summit has Government sponsorship at the highest level, bringing together over 1,000 global leaders, including CEOs, EU Ministers, officials, academia and innovators. As Ireland sits at the intersection of European and global tech, we are uniquely placed to convene meaningful dialogue. I am very much looking forward to showcasing Ireland's leadership in AI and digital innovation.  I will finish by saying that our vision is clear. We want to build an environment where AI and digital innovation empower our people and strengthen our economy and society in a way that is ethical, inclusive and sustainable.  I look forward to the debate today.  I will conclude by thanking all of the colleagues here today. This reflects many of the recommendations that have been made. I thank each and every Deputy for their contributions. I know they have worked extensively and very intensively. I tuned in to the AI committee hearing on Tuesday. I also want to put on the record my disappointment that some of the biggest companies here in Ireland, Microsoft and OpenAI, were not in a position to attend. I am equally disappointed that the committee did not get any response from X at all. I thank Google, whose representative attended and listened to the views of our colleagues from around the House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  I thank the Minister of State for her contribution today and thank all of my colleagues from the committee. I also thank Deputy O'Rourke for allowing me to go first. I have a constituency event so I really appreciate that.  I have really enjoyed the work of the AI committee to date. I am a new TD and I am on three committees. I have to say, the AI committee has been the most divisive in a lot of ways. The polarised views of the Government and the Opposition on AI are so clear. There is a real emphasis on enterprise, innovation and competitiveness coming through from Government voices. From the Opposition, there are concerns around trust, risk, climate and what we see as many dangers presented by AI as it is rolled out in society.  I name-checked that division not to emphasise it here in the Chamber but simply to say it was quite a pleasant surprise for me that we came together so well in compiling this report. We had a very productive and robust session to get through all of the amendments that were proposed to bring this report to completion. The model we are working on in bringing through modular reports which respond to the pace of AI and moving technology is exactly the way we should be dealing with this. I wanted to call that out immediately. I also call out the contribution of Senator Lynn Ruane, who I think put forward by far the majority of the amendments, probably about 70% of them, and put an awful lot of work into that. Obviously, she is not in the Chamber today so I wanted to make sure her work was recognised.  One of the other things I have learned from being on this committee and on the culture, communications and sport committee is the cross-over between the two areas. I realise that AI as a topic is cropping up in many of the committees, such as the children and young people and education committees. Deputy Byrne and myself are both on those two committees and there have been some of the same witnesses in and some of the same topics debated about online safety, platforms and regulation. It is really important to mention this because there is still a perception that AI is distinct and is a technology that sits on its own. All of the issues we are dealing with in those online platforms are supercharged and turbocharged by the development of AI. Recommender algorithms are the problems they are because of AI. They have always been using AI and automated technology to prompt for us what we see on our screens. That is exactly what AI is doing. In the minds of many lawmakers and policymakers, there is perhaps still that distinction. What we are seeing, through the co-membership of these committees, is how integrated they are. I have certainly learned a lot through that.  I will speak to a couple of the specific areas that have been touched on in the report and in the Minister of State's contribution and that of the committee Chair as well, starting with the AI office. This is something I have raised many times in the committee. I have concerns about the governance of the AI office and the location it currently has in the Department of enterprise. I raised this when the Minister of State was at the committee along with her officials. I emphasise that I am in no way trying to diminish the competence of her officials in calling out my concerns about the location of the AI office that currently sits in the Department of enterprise. It is quite the opposite. It is the job of the Department of enterprise's officials to promote industry, draw in investment and develop our economy through growth and trade. I do not believe that is where an office which is charged with the broader responsibility of the implementation of AI into society should sit. I also appreciate that, once the organisation is established, it will be then popped out and become independent. I have led an independent State agency, namely, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, which is governed by the UN principles and is arguably the most independent State agency in this country. I can tell the Minister of State that where the organisation is born will forever inform how it operates. I have real concerns that the origins of it should be outside of the Department of enterprise.  I echo Deputy Byrne's comments and his idea about the elevation of the Minister of State's office out of the Department of enterprise and put into a more central Government Department, such as the Department of the Taoiseach or the Department of public expenditure. It should be in a more central and neutral Department where she would have the authority to oversee the regulation of AI in a way that of course looks at enterprise, growth and competitiveness but has that more balanced view that I think is required in the treatment of fundamental rights and protections which are at threat because of this technology. This can be seen in examples I do not think I have to go into any more because we have discussing them ad nauseam for the past number of weeks.  This is emblematic of a business focus and I might go back to that division for a little bit. Although I see in this report and in the words the Government says and Government spokespeople say about there definitely being issues of concern, the fact that we need better regulation and how we can have innovation with regulation, the actions are not stacking up. This is evident even in what the Minister of State set out here today. We have talked about the establishment of the AI office as a regulatory response to the AI Act. It is a requirement of the AI Act and we know that. However, we if we look to the last section of the Minister of State's contribution, she was talking about observatories that are around enterprise, as well as a summit with the title of \"enabling AI to power innovation-led growth in Europe\". I want to see more balance in all of those areas. I want that summit to be more balanced. I also want it to talk about the dangers of AI and not wash over that and pretend that we can - because we cannot.  This is my overall point. If we do not trust AI and if we do not build a governance and regulatory framework that builds that trust in AI within our citizens, AI will not reach its potential. It will not reach its potential within our economy, our public sector or anywhere else. I really want to see that kind of shift from Government representatives on that. One of the places it really needs to happen is in the simplification agenda because I hear again and again that simplification does not mean deregulation. However, the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, said to me simplification does not mean deregulation but it does mean relieving the regulatory burden.  In response from Google at the committee just this week, I heard the response that simplification is about streamlining. I believe Mr. O'Flaherty told me there have been something like 100 different EU directives relating to technology, they are drowning in all of this regulation and it needs to be streamlined, simplified and harmonised. I do not doubt representatives of Government believe that is what happening but I am sorry, that is not what is happening. It is deregulation. If these tech companies are drowning in that much regulation, how has Grok happened? That is my simple question. How has Grok happened and how have we seen such a failure to deal with it?  The reality still exists that, right now, people can access the nudification feature on Grok. Despite the Minister of State's own efforts and her incredibly strong messaging on this, despite the investigations that are ongoing by An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and despite the co-operation of Coimisi\u00fan na Mean and the Data Protection Commission, with the European Commission and with the UK inquiry into privacy and despite all of these investigations, inquiries and avenues to access justice, people can still do what they could do all along. You just need to download a simple VPN and you can access the nudification feature. Besides that, you can access those nudification features on platforms other than Grok and X.  These problems persist despite what the Government and the industry are describing as an overburdensome regulatory framework. It just does not stack up for me. The simplification agenda has to be examined by the Minister of State and her Government. The issue of AI and technology is not the only place I am coming across it. My procurement Bill two weeks ago was knocked back on the same basis of simplification. That took eight years of work from Senator Alice-Mary Higgins. It came to the D\u00e1il floor on Second Stage a couple of weeks ago. It was in this very slot, actually. On the same basis of simplification, the Minister of State's Government said \"No\". For me, that is something the Minister of State has to look at. I appreciate that is what is coming down the track from Europe but we do not have to conform to it as a State. We can seek to better regulate and better build standards for our citizens and say to Europe that we will actually do it this way and we will show it why that works better.  The digital omnibus is the absolutely crucial part of it in this space. The digital omnibus promises to gut the AI Act. I know people push back at me and say it will not gut the AI Act. If you look into the detail of it, the digital omnibus is doing exactly that. Before the AI Act is even implemented on 2 August this year, the omnibus packages that are going through at the moment will absolutely shift it back to self-regulation and pull right back on protections we have enjoyed under GDPR.  We need to preserve the artificial intelligence, AI, systems' registrations' requirements, safeguard powers of Article 77 fundamental rights bodies, maintain high-risk AI system timelines, protect GDPR personal data protections, maintain human oversight requirements, limit the collection of sensitive personal data, protect inferred sensitive data and prevent weakening of AI literacy requirements. I am more than happy to submit that list to the Minister of State. I have quite an expanded piece of research done on this, which I can share with the Minister of State and her officials, which demonstrates that these omnibus packages will pull back on protections and rights. It is not benign. It is not harmonisation. It is deregulation and it is a threat to our safety from these products.  I thank the Minister of State and thank all my colleagues in the committee. I have really enjoyed being a part of this. I am very proud of the report that we are tabling here today. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  I am pleased to be here today to respond to the First Interim Report of the Joint Committee on Artificial Intelligence. I thank the Minister of State for being here. I thank the Cathaoirleach, Deputy Malcolm Byrne, and all the members of the committee and the secretariat and the witnesses who helped to shape and inform and prepare the report.  It is a significant milestone. It represents a cross-party collaborative effort to understand not only the technicalities of AI, but its real-world impact on the people of Ireland, from our youngest citizens to our oldest and across every community, including those who are too often left out of the conversation.  I welcome this report and commend its findings. It is a cross-party collaborative effort. In my comments, I will focus on three pillars that, I believe, are the foundation of a successful national AI strategy: governance, regulation and meaningful engagement.  First, on governance, the report correctly identifies that the status quo is not an option. AI does not respect departmental silos and it cannot be managed by a piecemeal approach. The recommendation to establish the joint committee on a permanent basis is a wise one. This technology will be with us for decades and it demands sustained, dedicated oversight.  I particularly welcome the call for an immediate co-ordinated all-of-Government approach led by a well-resourced national AI office. The committee has wisely stressed that this office must not be just another Government body. To be effective, it must have true independence and the technical expertise to navigate the complex conflicts that will inevitably arise between supporting industry, deploying AI in our own public services and enforcing robust regulations.  I welcome the Minister of State's commitment in relation to the two observatories - the national skills observatory and the observatory for business AI readiness, OBAIR. I would be interested to hear more detail in relation to them and the division of labour. It is important that there is an analysis in terms of the impact of AI on jobs and on labour. There should be a particular focus on the impact of AI on youth unemployment, which is increasing at three times the rate of that in the general population. There is important work to be done there.  The recommendation for a national AI risk register is a practical and necessary tool. We cannot mitigate risks we have not identified. We must know where the systemic dangers lie in our infrastructure, our labour market, as I say, and our social fabric before we can protect against them.  We must support our regulators. The nine authorities tasked with safeguarding our fundamental rights under the EU AI Act cannot do this important work on a shoestring budget. If we ask them to protect citizens from AI-driven discrimination or harm, we must give them the human and financial resources to do so.  Second, on regulation, the report sends a strong and welcome signal regarding the EU AI Act. The committee states unequivocally that Ireland must not shy away from the Act or try to dilute it. We should treat it as a minimum baseline, not a maximum standard. That is crucial. I share the concerns that Deputy Gibney raised. It is an issue we discussed at the committee after this report. The omnibus and the simplification agenda are important. I hear the arguments from the Government. It is that piece around striking the balance. We have to navigate it very careful.  There will always be commercial pressure to put innovation before protection but this report recognises the wisdom we learned from GDPR. Good regulation does not stifle innovation. It frames it. It provides the guardrails that allow businesses to innovate safely and give citizens the confidence to trust and adopt new technologies.  The emphasis on applying existing laws, such as GDPR and copyright law, to AI is also vital. We do not need to reinvent the wheel here. The right to access our data, the right to rectification and the right to erasure must apply whether a decision is made by a human or an algorithm, and I strongly agree that creators must be protected. Creator content should not be used to train commercial AI models without their consent and fair compensation.  I am concerned, as the committee is, about the role of AI-driven recommender systems in pushing harmful and hateful content and I note the Minister of State's comments. The recommendation that these systems be switched off by default, especially for children, is a commonsense child-centred approach and I fully endorse it. We cannot allow profit-driven algorithms to undermine the mental health and safety of our young people.  I commend the committee for placing engagement and inclusion at the heart of its work. In this block of work, we heard from a range of voices in relation to participation and the need for engagement.  AI is not a force of nature. It is a tool. We have the power to shape it, but we can only shape it well if we listen to those who will be most affected by it.  The report's call for a citizens' assembly on artificial intelligence and digitalisation is an important one. We need a national conversation. We need to move beyond the echo chambers of experts and bring this discussion into every living room in Ireland. The structured engagement with young people, older people and disabled people, not as an afterthought but as a core part of the committee's initial inquiry, set a powerful example in relation to this. Their testimony, detailed so clearly in this report, exposes the real world biases and barriers that already exist.  We heard how AI can perpetuate discrimination against the Traveller community, for example, how it can isolate older people and how it risks making inaccessible public services even more out of reach for people with disabilities, but we also heard about the potential AI that can assist with independent living, support inclusive education and break down communication barriers. The recommendations, therefore, for equality by design, for involving marginalised groups from the very start of product development and for establishing advisory panels of young people, older people and disabled people within the national AI office are not just about being fair; they are about being effective and inclusive. A system designed by and for everyone will work better for everyone.  The report tells us that we need strong independent governance, robust regulation and genuine public engagement. I thank everyone who contributed to the report. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Geoghegan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Geoghegan  I thank the Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach and the Minister of State. I too acknowledge our Chair, Deputy Malcolm Byrne, and other colleagues on the joint Oireachtas AI committee.  Before I continue, I will address some of the remarks made by Deputy Gibney because, while I believe they are sincerely held, I do not think they are a true, fair or accurate characterisation of the views of the members of the committee, whether in opposition or government. Deputy O'Rourke's contribution surmises that fact. In fairness, Deputy Gibney highlighted how we came together in the work of the committee which is somewhat contradictory to saying that there is a binary position between Government and Opposition. Ultimately, we are a mature democracy and I am proud of the fact that Ireland is a strong member of the European Union and we will have an opportunity to shape the AI Act. There was an effort to conflate the omnibus Bill, which is efforts in relation to innovation, and the protection against harm in the deployment of AI by mentioning Grok and everything related to it.  The reality is that, when Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n came before the joint Oireachtas AI committee last week, it supported the recommendation of the national AI council that we should expand the AI Act at an EU level to prohibit any system that could be deployed for the purposes of providing non-consensual adult images or child sex abuse material. I have to say it shocks me that this does not already form part of the legislation, but we are where we are, as they say.  I am pleased that the Minister of State, in her speech today, has made clear that Ireland is also going to support this, along with other member states, and that this is something we can drive forward in the Presidency. That will be a great legacy. We can do this at the same time as showcasing an AI summit, which the Minister of State has highlighted. Again, this is an issue that came before our joint Oireachtas committee and there were early calls for it, including from me.  The establishment of the joint Oireachtas AI committee last year marked an important moment. It was a recognition that technologies had the potential to reform our economy, our society and people's everyday lives. When I joined the committee, AI was something I saw almost incessantly in the media, a technology that would deliver either utopia or the apocalypse. Many commentators also argued that the wave of these new technologies would sweep aside economies, institutions and societies - the world as we know it - and that there was nothing states could do about it. I was sceptical of this narrative then and I still am now. The state will play a central role in the future of this technology and in how quickly it is developed, how widely it is adopted and how stringently it is regulated.  Given that our leaders thought AI warranted an entire joint Oireachtas committee, I knew that preparing Ireland for this new future was being taken seriously at the highest levels of Government. That is why the work of the joint Oireachtas committee is so important, and why the publication of this first interim report is a good opportunity to reflect on where we are going. The report contains a number of recommendations. This evening's debate coincides well with the recently published national, digital and AI strategy, a strategy published by the Department of the Taoiseach, which is a roadmap of where Ireland is going. It contains 90 deliverables across a wide number of Departments and agencies. These involve the digitalisation and integration of AI into our public services, the adoption of Al across enterprise, our regulatory framework and preparing for the future of work. The committee\u2019s report considers each of these areas, with a particular focus on regulation.  Regulating AI is obviously essential and important for the committee to consider carefully, given our adoption of the EU\u2019s Al Act, which adopts a risk-based and rights-centric approach that is an example for other legislatures to follow. The report focuses less on the impact that Al might have on enterprises and jobs across the country. That is why our broader enterprise and innovation environment, along with how Al might affect our labour market, are subjects I look forward to considering in more depth over the coming year on the committee.  Our EU Presidency, of course, presents a unique chance for Ireland to lead on each of these three themes: regulation, innovation and the future of work at a European level. This is a chance the Government must grab with both hands. When it comes to regulation, with the Presidency fast approaching, it is clear that regulation of Al systems will be a central focus. As I mentioned, Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n has already made recommendations regarding how we can expand the AI Act. However, there is more we can do. We can press for changes at the EU level during our Presidency. We should push for the EU to prohibit under the Al Act the deployment of Al systems for producing intimate imagery of real people without their consent or that might be used to produce child sex abuse material. As I said, it is surprising that this has not already been done. People on all sides of this House agree on the need to strongly regulate technologies that put our children and everyone else at risk, and will support the Government in its efforts. There is much we can do at a domestic level not only to protect people, but to see that the country as a whole benefits from the opportunities that these technologies present in the fields of medicine, financial services, energy, pharmaceuticals, and research and development. To realise the potential of these technologies, there are things beyond regulation we must consider.  As regards the skills gap, the national Al and digital strategy contains several initiatives intended to equip our country for the new world of work. It commits to a roadmap for technology skills of the future, a new national skills observatory to monitor labour market dynamics, a one-stop-shop Al skilling platform and more. The most important thing here is that these initiatives be up and moving as quickly as possible. There is already progress being made in the Department of further and higher education in this respect and there is exciting work going on in many of our universities already.  The new Al strategy will provide clarity to all relevant arms of the State on the direction of travel, and organise a whole-of-government approach to preparing our workforce for an uncertain future. Last year, over 1,000 jobs a week were created, a record 2.83 million people were at work in the fourth quarter of last year, and almost 1 million jobs have been created since 2011. In other words, we are in a better place than most countries, but the risks we face are significant. The Department of Finance\u2019s most recent quarterly economic report highlighted those risks. It said that Ireland was particularly exposed to Al, given the high concentration of employment in knowledge-intensive sectors like ICT, financial services, and research and development.  Faced with such uncertainty, it is the job of policymakers to prepare for multiple scenarios. The goal of the Al strategy is to equip all our people, young and old, with the skills required to manage these potential disruptions. Exploring how Al might reshape our labour market, impact the future prospects of our young people and the skills we need to equip our workers with will therefore be a crucial element of the joint Oireachtas committee\u2019s work.  This is intimately related to the final theme of my remarks, namely, the environment we need for our well-equipped workforce to participate in Al innovation, adoption and scaling. Skills are a necessary but not sufficient condition for Ireland\u2019s economy to flourish in the new, digital future. The foundations of our enterprise model also need to change. Our highly skilled workforce and Irish companies need to confidently take the risk and access the capital required to take risks, innovate and scale. The good news is that we have introduced bold measures in the past that have attracted cutting-edge, high-value industries to Ireland. Changes to our corporation tax system, as well as initiatives to educate our population, led to technology and pharmaceutical companies locating in Ireland. The fruits of this are evident in the hundreds of thousands of people they employ. Google, for example, first employed only five people in Ireland when it set up operations here in 2003. It now employs over 5,000 people in Ireland. There are many examples just like this. Even now, OpenAl plans to double its headcount in Ireland. We are clearly at the races for attracting future investment.  However, attracting FDI is only part of the equation. Given our base of talent, Al presents a real chance for new, Irish-led companies to emerge, scale and export. The need for indigenous companies to scale and grow in Ireland has been crystallised by the disruption of our global trading system over the past year. However, our track record in creating the right conditions for Irish start-ups and scale-ups has not been as strong as our record on FDI. Great work is being done to encourage the development of tech start-ups, with the likes of Dogpatch Labs and the Guinness Enterprise Centre, but our Stock Exchange has seen something of an exodus.  To conclude, with strong and clear regulation, by urgently addressing our future skills need and by introducing the targeted reforms necessary for Irish start-ups to scale, there is a clear path forward. Ireland can be a model for how good regulation of Al is compatible with a dynamic environment for businesses and workers. The joint Oireachtas Al committee will play an important role in scrutinising the Government\u2019s progress in each of these areas, and I look forward to playing my role in that process. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niamh Smyth","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (Deputy Niamh Smyth)  I thank each and every Deputy for their measured, considered contributions. We are all striving and working towards the same thing. I might specify two particular issues that have been raised overall.  On simplification, I know how Deputy Gibney in particular feels, but we all feel passionate about it. The idea of simplification does not in any way diminish our protection of citizens and our fundamental rights. That is absolutely clear. The Deputy is right, in that I am coming from the perspective of being in the Department of enterprise. We are all agreed that, for many years, businesses have felt stifled by bureaucracy and over-regulation. There is no doubt about that, but we cannot just lumber it all in together. I want to thank my officials, including Mr. Declan McCormack, who is here with me and has been through every debate to advise and assure me, as well as to take the views the Deputies make so that those are fed into the regulation of the AI office.  The fundamental rights and the protection of our citizens is going to be at the heart of everything we do. That is very important.  With regard to the simplification piece and the digital omnibus, Ireland will be pushing to ensure that it does not mean deregulation or the exposure of fundamental rights for our citizens.  There is one other piece. Nine national authorities have been identified as the formal bodies for the protection of fundamental rights under the AI Act. These authorities have a central role in the implementation of the AI regulation in Ireland and Europe. My Department is engaging with these authorities and will continue to ensure that there is balance, and that innovation and creativity among our businesses is allowed to flourish and that they are not killed by bureaucracy, which we know has been a problem, and at the same time we are looking at and protecting the fundamental rights of our citizens. I just wanted to outline that from the outset.  I thank the chair of the committee, Deputy Malcolm Byrne, and all colleagues for speaking today, and for the publication of this report. I welcome this constructive contribution and discussion on our approach to AI. It is clear that no one entity can navigate the complexities of AI alone. This debate is very timely with the publication last week of the national digital and AI strategy. Digital Ireland sets out a clear road map for Ireland's digital and AI adoption and development in the years ahead. As mentioned, it takes a whole-of-government approach, building on Ireland's strengths in digital skills, enterprise, infrastructure and the transformation of public services. It has to be acknowledged that the Department of the Taoiseach has taken a central piece and a central role in collaborating on the national AI and digital strategy, but my colleagues right across Government have a role too, including the Minister, Deputy Jack Chambers, who has responsibility for AI and the guidelines around public services. The Minister f or Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Deputy James Lawless, also has a specific role and a focus on AI. There are many different elements and many different Departments within government. It is not a silo we are working in. It has that broad approach and every single Minister within this Government is very conscious of the impact of AI in all of our Departments, and that is exactly how it should be.  A central element of the strategy is to champion AI as a transformative strategic technology, reinforcing our ambition to maximise its economic and societal impact. There is a strong alignment between elements of the strategy and several of the committee's recommendations. I think we are all united in our shared aim of ensuring that everyone in society is equipped and empowered to thrive in this digital era.  Delivering on the strategy requires strong leadership. Implementation will be driven from the centre of Government by the Department of the Taoiseach, working with all relevant Departments, and overseen by the Cabinet committee on economy, trade and competitiveness. Progress will be monitored via the senior officials' group on digital and AI issues, with progress reports published annually.  Regular stakeholder engagements will be a key element in ensuring successful, responsive and agile implementation. The Oireachtas Joint Committee on AI's report emphasises the need for engagement and input from civil society. I take on board too the recommendation and the thought process on a civic open discussion around this debate. That is a really good idea.  The Government recognises the importance of ensuring that Ireland's approach to AI serves the needs of all parts of society. Digital Ireland renews the Government's commitment to inclusion and accessibility to ensure that no one is left behind in this digital and AI revolution.  Our wider national governance framework for AI, including implementation of the EU AI Act, is designed to promote fairness, transparency and strong protections for health, safety and fundamental rights, while supporting the development of a human-centered, trustworthy AI.  Apologies Chair, I obviously waffled too long. Could I conclude? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Louise O'Reilly)  We are not under pressure for time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niamh Smyth","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Niamh Smyth  I thank the Acting Chair. If I could be given a little bit of latitude to conclude. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Louise O'Reilly)  Yes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niamh Smyth","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Niamh-Smyth.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Niamh Smyth  In November 2024 the Government designated a list of national public bodies that protect fundamental rights. We need to just keep that in our minds. These are nine national bodies to protect fundamental rights, including the right to non-discrimination in relation to certain high-risk uses of AI systems specific to the AI Act. In addition, once established the national AI office of Ireland will engage and consult with a broad range of stakeholders across civic society, including the representative bodies most affected by AI systems. Deputy Gibney made the point about having the balance. That is critically important. It was alluded to in opening comments that we have a shared focus on getting the balance right and that it is not just about innovation. It is about our citizens as well.  Taken together these measures provide Ireland with a structured, expert, informed and citizen-focused system on our approach to artificial intelligence policies and ethics. I also want to assure Members of the independence of the new AI office. While Deputy Gibney has a concern about it coming from the Department of enterprise, as was quite rightly said, when that new CEO is appointed that is where it will be led from and that will show us the pathway for where AI will be in a much broader sense. While it is established by the Department of enterprise I think that any anybody coming in who gets that position will have to ensure they have that much broader view of the world when we are talking about AI.  I also want to assure Members of the independence of the AI office. The general scheme of the regulation of artificial intelligence Bill 2026 was approved for priority drafting at the Government meeting on 13 January 2026. The guiding principles are that the AI office of Ireland must be independent in structure in order to oversee the governance and co-ordination of the national roll out and ongoing supervision and enforcement of the EU AI Act, ensuring that all relevant authorities and stakeholders are aligned with its interpretation and the application of the regulations.  A separate issue, which I know is on people's minds, is the potential impact of job displacement. AI is a disruptive technology and I completely understand concerns regarding the impact of AI on the labour market. While AI will undoubtedly create new opportunities it also carries risks of job displacement. Recent research from the expert group on future skills needs reports that Ireland's enterprise sector and workforce are adapting rapidly to AI, with strong demand for AI skills matched by solid supply. While the report finds that AI is likely to augment many existing roles it also notes that the overall impact on employment levels is less clearcut and that continued monitoring is essential. What is clear is that the structure of work will continue to change and new types of jobs will emerge. Digital Ireland outlines actions to support workers to navigate and mitigate the impacts of potential job displacement, including through agile, responsive and accessible skills' supports. The new national skills observatory and the observatory for business AI readiness will play an important role in shaping future enterprises and employment policies, as well as directing targeted investment in upskilling and reskilling, ensuring that our workforce is supported and ready to adapt as these roles evolve.  Finally, I want to emphasise that while artificial intelligence should drive innovation it must also be fair, inclusive and trustworthy. This is why when implementing our new strategy the Government will work hand in hand with businesses, experts and most importantly our citizens. Our ambition is straightforward, which is to create a country where AI and digital innovation genuinely improve people's lives and contribute to a fair, resilient and future-focused economy and society.  I thank the Acting Chair for her latitude. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Louise O'Reilly)  My apologies. The clock was wrong. The Minister of State had ten minutes. I apologise for that. The final speaker will be Deputy Malcolm Byrne. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  This has been a very informative debate. It reflects the nature of how our committee has worked. If we think about our role as legislators, our responsibility is towards the safety of our citizens and those who live here. It is about equipping people to be able to deal with the challenges that we face in our lives and in our workplaces. It is about supporting innovation and creating an environment where jobs and wealth can be created. It is about ensuring that we deliver public services in as effective and efficient a way as possible, that it is targeted at those who need supports, and that it allows for us to have a better society in which to live. Artificial intelligence cuts across all of those. It is the most transformative technology. As the Minister of State and colleagues have said, it is about getting that balance right between regulation and innovation.  Deputy Geoghegan spoke about Ireland being a mature democracy. I often reflect on this. When we come into this Chamber on some of the big set-piece days there is a lot of theatre that goes on. The media become obsessed about the disagreements and the arguments. I have to say that I have learned so much at this committee. I felt we worked in a really collaborative way. People took off their party hats. I learned from colleagues as well and I thank James, Darren and Sin\u00e9ad, and all the members of the committee for their views.  There were disagreements on issues. I found that our views have changed. Sometimes we might not necessarily get the answers, but we suddenly start to think of the questions that we need to ask. In a mature democracy, it is critical that parliamentary committees operate in that way. The outcome of that, because we were able to work together, is we have come up with those 85 recommendations. They chime with a lot of what has gone into the strategy.  As we move through other modules, I look forward to be able to further impact on Government policy. We are continuing to deal with AI in the State. We will be moving on soon to explore issues like AI and justice, AI and the creative industries, which I know the Minister of State is very passionate about, AI and energy and AI and education. We are learning from people right across these Houses, and from civic society organisations, business, and academic experts. We are very keen to hear their views. People can email ai@oireachtas.ie . That is an open call for e-mails.  We should not underestimate the scale of the changes that are happening. Every new technology is often overhyped in the short term, but it tends to be underestimated in the medium to long term. AI is having a profound impact. I am really grateful to colleagues. We are committed to continuing to work together to explore all of those issues and to working closely with the Minister of State and the Government to deliver the best for our citizens and those who reside here.  Our committee has an awful lot more work to do. We have requested that it be put on a permanent footing. I am sure the Minister of State will support us in that regard. Debates like this are critical, but it is important that the debate is not just within this House. We need more debates in the media, business organisations, trades unions and civic society about how we deal with the threats and the challenges, but also about how Ireland can position itself to ensure that we benefit from the potential of this truly transformative technology. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar athl\u00f3 ar 6.32 p.m. go dt\u00ed 2 p.m., D\u00e9 M\u00e1irt, an 3 M\u00e1rta 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The D\u00e1il adjourned at 6.32 p.m. until 2 p.m. on Tuesday, 3 March 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Report of the Joint Committee on Artificial Intelligence: Motion"}]}}]},"contextDate":"2026-02-26"},{"debateRecord":{"house":{"showAs":"34th D\u00e1il","committeeCode":"","houseCode":"dail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/house\/dail\/34","chamberType":"house","houseNo":"34"},"chamber":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/def\/house\/dail","showAs":"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann"},"lastUpdated":"2026-06-18T02:11:57+00:00","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-25\/debate\/main","formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-25\/debate\/mul@\/main.xml"},"pdf":null},"date":"2026-02-25","counts":{"contributorCount":166,"divisionCount":9,"debateSectionCount":17,"questionCount":0,"billCount":10},"debateType":"debate","debateSections":[{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-25\/debate\/dbsect_2","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters","counts":{"speechCount":3,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"James O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"James O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy James O'Connor)  I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case:  Deputy Michael Cahill - To discuss the national planning framework and the sustainable rural housing guidelines  Deputy Shane Moynihan - Pl\u00e9 a dh\u00e9anamh ar st\u00e1das DEIS do Ghaelscoil Lir.  Deputy Peter Roche - To discuss review of SNA deployment toolkit and eligibility thresholds in schools across Galway East and Ireland.  Deputy Catherine Ardagh - To discuss funding for the Ballyfermot Youth Service and the adventure centre and skatepark project,  Deputy Robert O'Donoghue - To discuss community childcare facilities in Fingal West.  Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed - To discuss the importance of eating disorder services during eating disorder awareness week.  Deputy Joanna Byrne - To discuss funding for the breakfast club for St. Paul's SNS, Drogheda, County Louth.  Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher - To discuss an application for port listing of Killybegs.  Deputy Malcolm Byrne - To discuss the review of the Garda vetting process and planned measures for simplification.  Deputy Louise O'Reilly - To discuss a full-time Garda Station to serve Rush, Lusk and surrounding areas.  Deputy Alan Kelly - To discuss the need for increased resources for An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na in the mid-west.  Deputy Louis O'Hara - To discuss regulatory and safety requirements for BESS installations and large-scale solar developments.  Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh - To discuss a State commemoration to mark 150 years since the escape onboard the Catalpa of six IRB POWs from a British penal colony in Western Australia on 17 April 1876.  Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan - To discuss the capacity of childcare provision in Cork North-Central.  Deputy James O'Connor - To discuss the return of the Midleton-Youghal rail corridor.  Deputy Matt Carthy - To discuss delivery of a permanent special school in County Monaghan.  Deputy William Aird - To discuss the future of Droimn\u00edn private nursing home, Stradbally, County Laois.  Deputies David Cullinane and Conor D. McGuinness - To discuss the need for neurodiversity early intervention classes in primary schools in Waterford.  Deputies Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail, Aidan Farrelly and R\u00e9ada Cronin - To discuss emergency works and capital works in respect of St. Patrick's Primary School in Celbridge, County Kildare.  The matters raised by Deputies Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh, James O'Connor, William Aird, Catherine Ardagh and Matt Carthy have been selected for discussion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kieran O'Donnell)  I think there is an understanding I am taking the Topical Issue matter in the name of Deputy Willie Aird. It was No. 3 but is now No. 1. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy James O'Connor)  We will start with Deputy Willie Aird and his Topical Issue matter to the Minister for Health to discuss the issue of Droimn\u00edn private nursing home, Stradbally. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-25\/debate\/dbsect_3","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-25\/debate\/dbsect_4","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Nursing Homes","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-25\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_4","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"William Aird","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"William Aird","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy William Aird  I raise the issue of Droimn\u00edn private nursing home in Stradbally, County Laois, and ask the HSE to give serious consideration to retaining this facility on a full-time, permanent basis. As the Minister of State is aware, following an application by HIQA under section 59 of the Health Act 2007, the High Court directed the HSE to assume responsibility for the operation of the nursing home as a provider of last resort. This followed serious and persistent non-compliance identified during the HIQA inspections in April and September 2025, relating to governance, staffing, care planning, healthcare delivery and residents' rights. As widely reported, the HSE has now taken operational control of the centre. I acknowledge the overriding priority has rightly been the safety, care and welfare of the residents of Droimn\u00edn nursing home.  Enhanced clinical oversight, health professional supports, staff education and daily senior level monitoring are now in place and the residents cared for safely, with no current infectious disease outbreaks. I also believe this intervention presents an important strategic opportunity for the care of the elderly in County Laois. Droimn\u00edn is a 70-bed, HIQA-registered designated centre, providing long-term respite and step-down care. It serves the wider Laois region. It is a state-of-the-art, purpose-built building. At the time the HSE stepped in, approximately 40 residents, many of them highly dependent, were living in the centre. County Laois has experienced a chronic shortage of nursing home places in and around Stradbally and the surrounding areas. Families are under severe pressure, with long waiting times, limited local options and increasing dependence on placements outside of the county. This places further strain on patients, carers and acute hospitals.  I ask the Minister to consider if the most appropriate course of action is for the HSE to retain Droimn\u00edn as a publicly-operated nursing home on a permanent basis. We do not want this valuable capacity lost to the system. While there may not be a precedent for such a decision, I am asking the Minister of State to outline whether permanent HSE ownership and operation of Droimn\u00edn is actively being examined, how this facility could contribute to addressing the shortage of long-term and step-down care beds in County Laois, what engagement is taking place with HIQA and other stakeholders on a long-term governance model and what assurances can be given to residents and families to safeguard continuity, stability and the future capacity of the centre.  There are many people in my own area around Portlaoise who have to go to nursing homes outside of County Laois.  Droimn\u00edn is a nursing home in County Laois. I ask the Minister of State to endeavour to do everything possible under the guidance of his Ministry. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kieran O'Donnell)  I thank Deputy Aird for raising this very important matter. On Wednesday, 4 February 2026, following an application by HIQA under section 59 of the Health Act 2007, an order was made by Portlaoise District Court cancelling the registration of Droimn\u00edn nursing home. The HSE was directed to step in and take over operational control of the centre, acting as the provider of last resort. The focus at this time is to ensure the safety, care and welfare of the residents living in the nursing home while longer-term arrangements are progressed. The Deputy has already alluded to that.  Droimn\u00edn nursing home is situated in Stradbally, County Laois. The nursing home was registered to accommodate up to 70 residents and to provide long-term, respite and step-down care. HIQA inspections in April and September 2025 identified significant and persistent non-compliance across a range of regulations with issues identified pertaining to governance and management, staffing and training, care planning and healthcare and residents\u2019 rights and complaints procedures. HIQA subsequently sought cancellation of the centre\u2019s registration, leading to the court direction requiring HSE intervention. At the time, the HSE assumed control, there were 39 residents living in Droimn\u00edn nursing home. We must ensure that the highest standards of care are provided to all nursing home residents and ensure they are maintained in a safe and secure environment. Their safety and well-being are of paramount concern.  The HSE has put an interim management and clinical governance structure in place, including the appointment of a person in charge, supported by senior operational and clinical teams. Arrangements are in place to ensure appropriate staffing, payroll and clinical oversight. Following the HSE intervention, the 39 residents have benefitted from consultant geriatrician reviews and individual GP correspondence, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and tissue viability nursing input, and access to education and training programmes for staff. The HSE\u2019s intervention is solely focused on protecting residents in Droimn\u00edn nursing home and ensuring continuity of safe, appropriate care. Residents in Droimn\u00edn nursing home remain in place and are being cared for in a safe, supportive environment. The situation continues to be actively monitored at senior HSE level with daily oversight and contingency planning in place. The HSE has assured me that it will keep the position under review while engaging with HIQA and other stakeholders on the next steps. Ensuring the welfare and safety of the residents is secured is of the utmost importance, and work to alleviate the concerns of residents, their families and staff is a priority during this difficult time.  I know how important this is to Deputy Aird. He knows many of the residents in Droimn\u00edn nursing home. I met with the HSE in the days following the HSE taking over the nursing home and discussed clearly the procedure that we are putting in place. As the Deputy said, it has moved to put a range of measures in place in terms of the welfare and safety of residents. All options have been explored by the HSE for Droimn\u00edn nursing home. The particular issue the Deputy has put forward is being considered by the HSE as well. At this moment, however, the most important thing is to ensure the welfare and safety of residents and that they feel they are in secure environment in Droimn\u00edn nursing home. That is very much happening with the HSE in situ operating the nursing home. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"William Aird","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy William Aird  I thank the Minister of State for his response and note his comments. It is acknowledged that Ireland\u2019s population is ageing, and this will bring significant challenges. We must plan proactively to meet these needs. There are three HSE nursing homes in County Laois: one in Abbeyleix, St. Brigid's Hospital in Shaen and St. Vincent's community nursing unit in Mountmellick. While I mention St. Vincent's community nursing home, I am delighted to see that the new 50-bed extension is nearing completion. I urge the HSE to proceed without delay with the remaining phases to deliver the full complement of beds. I must make it very clear that the situation in Droimn\u00edn nursing home arose from regulatory failure but it now offers the State an opportunity to strengthen public nursing home provision in an area of growing need. This is a chance to secure long-term, high-quality, publicly delivered care for the older people in County Laois.  I visited St. Vincent's hospital in Mountmellick the other evening. It is a hospital that is very near and dear to my heart because my late mother worked there for many years. When the new extension or new build is open, I urge the Minister of State to consider revamping the existing rooms that are available in the hospital. That is very important. I walked through the hospital and spoke to people. I know many people who are there and there was not one patient - those who could interact with me - who had nothing but the height of praise. I want to take this opportunity - I do not often get it - to thank all the people and staff in the nursing home in St. Vincent's in Mountmellick. The single biggest problem in St. Vincent's hospital, which Members here all know as public representatives, is to try to get people into it and have beds available. That is the biggest problem. It shows the care and attention the patients are getting in St. Vincent's hospital. There is just one little thing I would ask the Minister of State to raise when he is in discussion there. I hope the church there, which is visited by the patients many times a day on a daily basis, is linked to the new build so people can come and go as they would be used to doing over many years in St. Vincent's. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kieran O'Donnell  Once again, I thank Deputy Aird for raising this important matter of Droimn\u00edn nursing home in Stradbally. As I said earlier, all options are being explored by the HSE. Specifically, in terms of St. Vincent's in Mountmellick, I know the Deputy has a keen interest in that community nursing home run by the HSE. I would like to give him clarity on a couple of points.  First, the church will continue to be accessed by residents and staff, as required, and the day care will remain operational in its current location. The specific point the Deputy raised in respect of linking the new building and the church is something I will take up with the HSE. I have no doubt the Deputy will have written to the HSE on it in his own way.  It is expected that the existing residents' transition to the new building will be during the week beginning 23 March. Furthermore, as the Deputy is aware, the eight-bed dementia unit will continue to operate in the existing building. The HSE is looking at doing a feasibility study on the existing building to see what can be done within it and its utilisation across a range of areas, including additional rehab and long-stay and short-stay beds in the community nursing unit, CNU. That is a general summary of where we are with St. Vincent's in Mountmellick. The residents will transition very shortly. It is a 58-bed unit consisting of 57 long-stay beds and one short-stay bed. I will take that particular issue the Deputy raised in respect of the church up with the HSE and I ask him to follow up with it as well.  I will finish on Droimn\u00edn nursing home. It is worthwhile to acknowledge and thank both HIQA and the HSE for their prompt and personal response to the situation. As I said, poor care, mistreatment, neglect or any form of abuse of any person living in long-term care is completely unacceptable. The primary focus is ensuring that we protect the safety and welfare of the 39 residents in Droimn\u00edn nursing home. That is obviously the key focus. In terms of the other matter the Deputy raised, all options are being explored by the HSE. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Nursing Homes"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-25\/debate\/dbsect_5","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Youth Services","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-25\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_5","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Ardagh  I want to raise the decision by the Department not to award funding to the Ballyfermot Youth Service under this year's community safety innovation fund. It is a service that for the past two years has been supported by the innovation fund to employ three highly effective staff members, namely, two workers based in the adventure centre and skate park and a dedicated psychotherapist providing essential mental health support to our vulnerable young people.  Unfortunately, Ballyfermot is an area with a high prevalence of suicide among young men. These vital posts are, therefore, vital and working hard for the community.  I visited the project recently and want to put on record how impressive it is. You walk into the beautiful skate park that has been there for a while and there is not one bit of graffiti. It is minded so well by the boys and the local community. It is a beacon of hope and a fantastic park. People come from all over Dublin to see it and skate on it. It is a community hub. Every afternoon it is full of young people. What makes it special is it is not just a facility; people are building relationships with the staff and with each other. The staff know the risks. They know who is struggling at home, who needs guidance and who to pull aside for help and community support. It is a preventative-type relationship. It is relationship based.  The essence of the project is community safety. Over the past two years, the funding has enabled diversion from antisocial behaviour. It is just the tip of the iceberg but it has reduced engagement by kids with scramblers and in street disorder and has created a structured, safe environment for young people who might otherwise be on the margins.  The psychotherapist post has been vital. Many of these young people do not have anywhere else to go. Mental health crises are on the rise and early intervention in a trusted youth-friendly setting is not something I would like to see lost. Previous Ministers have visited the area and used the skate park because it makes for good pictures with politicians. The fact it was not funded again was pretty devastating for the centre. The Minister has to come out. I am inviting him out to see the skate park and the work being done. I saw first hand how that work strengthens the community and the engagement with social workers on site.  Without this funding, two front-line posts will be lost within weeks. This places the entire project at risk. Because the staff are there and the children are attending, the place is kept immaculate. Will the Minister review this? It is essential. We speak in this House about early intervention and diversion, especially in relation to disadvantaged areas. We speak about community partnerships. I can say hand on my heart that this project is delivering for young boys and young men in Ballyfermot.  Will the Minister consider the decision in relation to the Ballyfermot youth centre, or identify an alternative funding mechanism, ideally on a multi-annual basis, to ensure these posts and this centre can thrive? I extend a sincere invitation to him to visit the service. We might get him on a skateboard. It is something he needs to see and appreciate to get a proper vision of what is going on here. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Jim O'Callaghan)  I thank Deputy Ardagh for raising this important issue. I am aware of the outstanding work Ballyfermot Youth Service does. I know it from talking to the Deputy and other representatives and from my own general knowledge in respect of it. I want to see that excellent work continue. Before I came in here this morning, I had a look at the website for Ballyfermot Youth Service and I could see the extent of the outstanding work it does for youths in the community.  The Deputy's concern is about funding that previously came to the Ballyfermot Youth Service from the community safety fund, particularly regarding the skate park and the psychotherapist posts. Before responding to that, I will bluntly state that I will take up her invitation. I will come out to the skate park. I will not get on a skateboard but I will certainly come out to see it.  The Deputy will be aware the community safety fund has been an important part of the State's response to ensuring we have community safety. The then Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael McGrath, permitted the establishment of this fund in 2022, along with the then Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee. Proceeds of crime seized by CAB are partially invested back into the community through the fund. Since 2022, over 127 community safety projects across Ireland have benefited from the fund. In 2025, I achieved allocation of a budget of \u20ac4.4 million to it. For 2026, I achieved a further increase to a figure in the region of \u20ac4.75 million. This reflects the importance of the fund and why it is so necessary.  When I get money into the fund, I seek to distribute it so as to ensure communities affected by criminal activity predominantly see the benefit. That is why the fund has been used so well in supporting projects addressing youth engagement, domestic violence, restorative justice and substance abuse. I agree with the Deputy that the funding of the skate park and psychotherapist post show the fund is playing an essential part in Ballyfermot in terms of what it seeks to do.  I have to point out, however, that the purpose of the community safety fund is not to provide repeated, consistent, annual funding. Because it is a limited and small fund, the objective is to pick projects in areas of disadvantage around the country and provide funding for individual projects. It is important to say it is not intended to provide long-term or continuous funding for projects. Nonetheless, I am conscious of the valuable role of the Ballyfermot Youth Service. It clearly delivers important supports throughout the community. I urge Ballyfermot Youth Service to engage with the national community office in my Department and get an assessment of the application process. Obviously, it did it before and was successful in its applications on two occasions. I think it got funding of \u20ac150,000 for 2025. I ask the service to engage with my Department. The community safety fund application process will be opening up again this year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Ardagh  I thank the Minister for agreeing to come out to the skate park. We know early intervention is far more effective and less costly than dealing with problems once they escalate. The Minister stated correctly the fund is to be put back into communities where there is drug-related crime and high-level antisocial behaviour. This is one such community. The service has benefited massively from the innovation fund and is grateful for that. It has worked well but needs to continue.  It is really unfair. They are given resources to set up a service that is working well and doing what we all want to see happen. In an area like this, we want to see kids diverted from antisocial behaviour and given proper and targeted mental health supports. Then the rug is pulled from under them.  I understand the fund was not created to give services multi-annual funding but we need to look at a multi-annual funding approach for services like this. They will absolutely engage with the community office in the Department, but is there any alternative source of funding? It is a perfect project for the Department of justice. It is effective and accomplished in furthering the ambitions the Department has in relation to youth diversion. I ask the Minister to look at the project and see what can be done to give it secure funding.  I meet a lot of staff in these services and every year they are fighting for funding to keep open, when they really want to be working and delivering their service. We need to look at funding these services on a multi-annual basis. This is the only way we will tackle disadvantage in many parts of our city, including the Minister's area. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I agree with the Deputy.  It is an essential part of ensuring we get youth diversion from criminal activity that we put in place facilities and services for young people. We had a very important discussion in this Chamber recently about scramblers and how young men and boys were using them, but we need to try to provide alternative avenues and opportunities for people to engage in certain types of activities of interest to them. I fully appreciate the skate park is something Ballyfermot Youth Services wants to see continue. I want to see it continue just as much as the Deputy does. I will engage with officials in my Department in respect of it.  I just want to be careful about giving false hope that this can be sorted out this year in the short term. I am going to come out to the skate park and get an update from officials in respect of what is available. We can engage with other ministerial colleagues as well to see if any other emergency funds are available for the purpose of such essential community projects as the skate park. I do have to just emphasise again the purpose of the community safety fund. It is a small fund, only \u20ac4.5 million. I am hoping to get it up even further than that this year. The fund tries to pick deserving projects around the country doing very useful work to ensure that communities are safe, particularly communities disadvantaged as a result of criminal activity. If I get into the trend of saying we have set multi-annual funding that is always going to come from the fund, the application process and the diversity of the fund will be altered. I do hear what the Deputy is saying in respect of the importance of the skate park and the psychotherapist role. I will engage with officials in my Department and continue to engage with the Deputy. I look forward very much to coming out to Ballyfermot skate park. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Ardagh  I thank the Minister. I suppose the fund is a victim of its own success when it is creating these fantastic services that people want to see continue. I welcome the engagement the Minister will have with his Department in relation to this issue and that he will come out to visit the skate park. I want to mention as well that the facility has a programme for young people and children with disabilities. It has a cycling programme on every summer, which I think is highly commendable. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy James O'Connor)  I apologise to Deputy Ardagh because I missed her second contribution. That concludes her Topical Issue question. I thank her. Before we proceed, I thank the Minister very much for his constituency visit with me last week. It went down very well. I very much appreciate him taking the time to come to meet the Youghal Socio-Economic Development Group. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Youth Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-25\/debate\/dbsect_6","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Commemorative Events","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-25\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_6","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  On 17 April 150 years ago, an American whaler anchored off Western Australia. It was captained by a US citizen, George Anthony, and it had an ulterior reason to be at that point on the other side of the world from where it had sailed from New Bedford, Massachusetts. Unbeknownst to most of the crew, in fact, it was on a mission other than whaling.  Its story began with a smuggled letter to Fenian and Irish Republican Brotherhood, IRB, leader John Devoy from six prisoners of war incarcerated in Fremantle prison outside of Perth, Western Australia. The six were Thomas Darragh from Broomhall in County Wicklow, Michael Harrington from Macroom in County Cork, James Wilson, whose real name, in fact, was McNally, from Newry, Robert Cranston from Stewartstown in County Tyrone, Thomas Hassett from Doneraile in County Cork and Martin Hogan from County Limerick. That letter set in motion a devious, cunning and audacious plan to rescue the six military Fenians. Military Fenians were Irish men who had been in the British Army and who enlisted and took the Fenian oath. From them, the British sought vengeance. While others in the 1867 rising were pardoned, these men were being made an example of to stop other Irish men in the British Army from joining republican forces.  Considering it was150 years ago, it was against all the odds that the whaler got to the pre-appointed place on Easter Monday, 17 April. The key part of the expedition cost over \u20ac1 million in today's money. The men were picked up from the road gang they were involved in by a backup team of sympathisers and IRB men who had travelled to Australia to act upon this plan. They included John Breslin from Drogheda, Thomas Desmond from Cobh, Thomas Brennan from Dublin, John King from Tallaght and Denis Duggan from Dublin. They brought the six men to Rockingham, and they rowed out to sea to make good their escape. Even though they got on board the Catalpa , a standoff of four hours ensued when a police boat pursued them and told them to pull to. They refused, and showed they were flying the Stars and Stripes. They managed to escape and spent the next four months travelling back to New York, where they were met on 19 August 1876 to wild celebrations.  I think this event is worth celebrating. It is being celebrated in Rockingham itself by the Irish there. It should be celebrated in the United States and celebrated here in the museum, etc. I have been involved in events in the decade of centenaries, and going back to the 1798 centenary events, in which the then Minister, Seamus Brennan, was centrally involved. We then had the Famine commemorations, Robert Emmet's bicentenary and the 1916 and decade of centenaries events. This is important. It is strange there is not a commemorative programme by the Government thus far. I think this would fit perfectly into it. It is not just national, but local in all those towns I mentioned and also international, involving Australia and America. It is something our Irish diaspora looks at to try to ensure we celebrate their role in Ireland's freedom. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I thank Deputy \u00d3 Snodaigh. I am very pleased I have temporary responsibility for the issue of commemorations in the Department of culture. I agree with the Deputy that it is important that we should celebrate the great rescue by the Catalpa and how it carried out the rescue of the six military Fenians. The 150th anniversary of that important event is approaching in April this year and I commend the Deputy for raising this issue in the House this morning.  Obviously, the State gets involved in many official commemorations. Aside from that, it is important that we recognise as a community and as elected representatives in this House that we also have a responsibility and an ability to celebrate great historical events. The Department, in which I am not the Minister, has done a very good job of respectfully commemorating important events that happened 100, 150 and 200 years ago. It is important we continue in respect of that.  The Deputy will be aware that a commemorations advisory committee was established in May 2025 under the chairmanship of Bryan Dobson, the distinguished former broadcaster. It includes individuals from across the board in academia and politics. I am informed, and pleased to say, that the anniversary of the Catalpa rescue has been brought to their attention. I am asked to say that the committee agreed that a State commemoration to mark the event would not be possible at this stage because of the proximity of the anniversary, which, as I said, takes place two months from now. It is beneficial that the committee is aware of the event and that the Deputy has raised it.  Obviously, John Devoy played an essential part in the Catalpa rescue. In my capacity as the Minister for justice, individuals have come to me in respect of the rescue by the Catalpa of the Fenians out in Perth. It is an important issue that we are discussing here today. I had the privilege many years ago to be in Fremantle Prison in Perth. It is a long way away and a lonely place to be if you are an Irish person, particularly back in the middle of the 19th century. It was a fantastic rescue. It is an essential part of the history of the Irish struggle for independence and it is important that we remember it.  The Deputy will be aware that when it comes to official State commemorations, not every individual event can become an official State commemoration.  This does not mean that we do not celebrate other important events and discuss them in the House. As I said, we have commemorated very many significant events professionally and, I think, sensibly here. When we look at what is ahead of us, a number of other important significant events are going to occur in the next number of years. Last year we celebrated the 250th anniversary of the birth of Daniel O'Connell and it was done very well. Some outstanding documentaries were made in respect of it. Ru\u00e1n Magan made an outstanding documentary in respect of Daniel O'Connell's life. The important thing is that we are not just looking to the past but that we are educating Irish people and, indeed, the world about the great story of the Irish struggle for independence. It is a magnificent struggle that we should seek to promote to the world.  When we think of other important events, there will be a significant celebration in respect of Catholic emancipation. This was an issue that deserves to be recognised. It liberated the overwhelming majority of Irish people from discrimination and unfair treatment. I hear what Deputy \u00d3 Snodaigh has said and I welcome that he raised this issue today. The Department, of which I am not a Minister, does not have official plans to commemorate the Catalpa but we can certainly celebrate it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  It is important, even though there will not be a State commemoration, that the State should get involved. We should try to encourage State institutions to mark the event. The National Museum has a flag. The Minister knows of Joe Clarke who fought in 1916 at Mount Street which is in the Minister's constituency. I have a picture of that flag being handed over and he is in it, as is my father. It was in 1972. Frank MacGabhann contacted me and when I looked up the picture I remembered it from when we were kids. There are connections there and, while this is personal to me, these connections go around the world. We need to recognise the events that shaped Ireland and the role that our diaspora had in shaping this nation. It is important that the message goes out that we respect it. Whether it is a small event or a big event in embassies in the United States and Australia to mark this event, whether it is a publication or a republication of material that was sent before, whether it is a pull-out in one of the newspapers, there are ways the State can get involved without having a full State commemoration. It is important that such an initiative happens.  Books have been published, one of the most recent of which is The Voyage of the Catalpa by Peter Stevens. We can also go to books by Joseph Clarke and others; there is a whole load of them. Let us try to encourage people to read them, and maybe try to encourage some of the film companies to look at them as scripts. We have seen adventures from every other piece of work, most of which are fictional, but this is a true-life story that could be very easily captured. It would send out the message that we remember the audacious plans of Irish republicans around the world, our exiled nation if we want, who helped shape the nation. It is important when we get the opportunity to do so that we mark those occasions, and whether it is a full State commemoration or the State supporting some local commemorations it should happen. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I agree with Deputy \u00d3 Snodaigh. The rescue by the Catalpa is a fantastic story. Irrespective of the prejudices Deputy \u00d3 Snodaigh and I have, and that other people have, for preferring certain commemorations over others, it is objectively a fascinating story that deserves to be reported and promoted. In a way, it is a bit like the story of the Invincibles in the aftermath of the Phoenix Park killings and what happened there. Deputy \u00d3 Snodaigh emphasised, as I did, that the State does not have to be the one driving every commemoration. For instance, as the Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach, Deputy O'Connor, is well aware, last evening I attended an event in the Rotunda to start the celebrations for the centenary of Fianna F\u00e1il. The State is not involved in this; it is not on the list of events that the State has decided to commemorate, although it could very well be but it is not.  Simply because the State has not decided to assume responsibility for it does not mean that individuals who are interested or individuals who are involved cannot seek to celebrate events that are particularly special and-or important to them. Deputy \u00d3 Snodaigh has obviously done this in respect of the Catalpa and I commend him for it. Even just having this debate here this morning is important, as we are promoting the narrative about the remarkable rescue. I have no doubt Deputy \u00d3 Snodaigh will continue to highlight this. I am very pleased to say that Bryan Dobson and his committee are aware of it. I am sure there are other mechanisms, aside from official State commemorations, whereby support can be provided to local groups who want to commemorate important historical events.  To close on an important point, obviously we all come to commemoration with our political biases and our political interests involved. It is also essential that we recognise we have to be inclusive about commemorating events. This country has been very inclusive, as we commemorated the Ulster Covenant, which was not an issue a lot of people in the House would have thought they would have been supportive of. It is important that we commemorate events that may not suit our political agenda. I thank Deputy \u00d3 Snodaigh for raising this important question. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Commemorative Events"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-25\/debate\/dbsect_7","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Rail Network","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-25\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"James O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Canney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"James O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James O'Connor  I want to raise the issue of the return of the Midleton to Youghal railway. As a TD for the constituency of Cork East, I want to report to the House and to the Minister that the overwhelming view of constituents in my area is their desire to see further expansion of the east Cork rail corridor beyond Midleton, restoring it once again to the town of Youghal and opening the stations in the villages of Mogeely and Killeagh.  The east Cork area is one of the fastest-growing regions of the country in terms of new housing stock and visible population growth. Unfortunately, this is causing issues with traffic congestion. It is no news to the House that I have been a very passionate advocate for upgrading the N25 corridor between Midleton and Youghal, particularly with regard to bypassing Castlemartyr and going down to the village of Killeagh. However, I want to be very clear that as a TD for the constituency I fully support the return of the railway to Youghal. I support what it would do for the local area and I support the objective of dealing with the issue of traffic congestion.  It is worth putting on the record that making this happen faces a number of significant hurdles. One of the most important to reference is that a strategic decision was taken in January 2019 by Cork County Council, through a motion brought forward prior to the 2019 local elections, seeking to put in place a greenway between Midleton and Youghal. This came in at a cost of more than \u20ac22 million of local authority funding and matched funding from the Department of Transport under the previous Government. A lot of people feel this was a missed opportunity with respect to the return of rail.  I want to make clear to the House that people in the area are adamant they want to see the train back, in terms of what it would do for their quality of life and that of their families, commuters going to work and children going to school in these areas. We have to see a pathway. From my perspective, as somebody who has had the experience of being on the transport committee and engaging with the previous Minister for Transport on a very intensive basis, we look at strategies such as the Cork metropolitan area transport strategy, the national planning framework, the strategic plans the NTA has for the area, Project Ireland 2040, the national development plan and the all-Ireland rail review, and, unfortunately, the return of the Midleton to Youghal rail corridor is not listed.  Sometimes investment can lead to a complication. We will have investment in the full electrification of metropolitan rail in Cork on the Mallow, Midleton and Cobh lines, the construction of eight new train stations on the existing line and ongoing dual tracking being done in preparation for full electrification of the line. However, the line between Midleton and Youghal is single track and I have been told the investment required for it is probably somewhere north of \u20ac350 million for the full retrofit of the existing line.  Realistically, there is an expectation that it will not be possible to have dual-track electrified rail to Youghal and for the greenway to survive. It is not for me to adjudicate on that as I am not an expert in this field but a decision has to be taken on that issue.  On behalf of the constituents of my area, whom I am proud to represent, I want to bring the case forward to the Government and the Minister of State in the Department in respect of this matter. Can the Minister of State give us a realistic feel for how feasible this is? Can he give us some degree of insight into the plans that are in place or what may be happening?  We all know about the review of the CMAT strategy. If the Minister of State could give us some information on that, it would be very helpful. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Canney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Transport (Deputy Se\u00e1n Canney)  I thank Deputy O'Connor for raising this important issue. As Minister of State with responsibility for rail, I thank him for the opportunity to address the House on this issue today.  The National Transport Authority, NTA, has responsibility for planning and developing public transport infrastructure and for developing the Cork metropolitan area transport strategy, CMATS. This strategy has been developed by the NTA in collaboration with Transport Infrastructure Ireland, Cork City Council and Cork County Council. A key principle for CMATS is to reduce dependency on the private car within the Cork metropolitan area while increasing the appeal of sustainable transport options, such as Cork area commuter rail, light rail and BusConnects Cork.  As part of this process, the route from Midleton to Youghal was earmarked for development as a greenway, and the final phase of the greenway opened in December 2024. CMATS will be reviewed and updated every six years. As part of this process, the optimal transport provision in the area, including between Midleton and Youghal, can be reconsidered. The next review of CMATS is expected to commence later this year. As part of this review there will be a number of public consultations, giving stakeholders the opportunity to voice their opinion on the matter. I encourage all stakeholders to participate in this important process.  In addition to CMATS, the all-island strategic rail review, which was published in July 2024, sets out 32 strategic recommendations to enhance and expand the rail system in Ireland and Northern Ireland up to 2050, aligning with net carbon zero commitments in both jurisdictions. The recommendations seek to transform the quality of the rail system to the benefit of passengers and wider society on the island, through additional track capacity, electrification, increased speeds, higher service frequencies and new routes.  A proposal to develop a line between Midleton and Waterford along the south coast was examined as part of the review but, ultimately, this route was not included in the final recommendations of the report. Analysis undertaken as part of the review indicated that it would likely be more cost-effective to route longer distance services between Cork and Waterford via improved railways between both cities and Limerick Junction, rather than on a new line. One of the review's recommendations is that the review be updated once a decade, taking into account the latest policies and developments. The potential for the Midleton to Waterford line could also be reassessed at this stage.  The Deputy spoke about a greenway, which is very popular and is working very well, and the challenges to get the space to put a double-track line down there. However, part of this is the consultation process for CMATS, which will be opening later this year. That is the pathway to see where we will go with on this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James O'Connor  I appreciate the feedback. It is clear there is that opportunity next year with CMATS.  I want to be crystal clear and honest with people on this. Making this happen prior to the construction of an upgraded N25 between Midleton and Youghal is going to be a difficult challenge. Politically, everybody whom I have dealt with here in D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann wants the return of the rail. That is the prevailing view of the TDs in the constituency. However, the public want a sense of a timeline for this happening.  The Minister of State mentioned CMATS and the all-island rail review. Neither of those contain the return of the Midleton to Youghal rail line on the strategic plan. Those are hurdles and barriers. For the public, which has huge interest in this topic, it is important there is reference to that. A capital project of this scale and nature needs to be on capital plans in order for it to happen. That is probably the one thing that has been exceptionally disingenuously pumped out by people involved, who want to make this feel as though it can be done with the click of a finger and overnight, when that is just not how things happen.  I remind people that back in 2021, when I had a run-in with the former Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan, I threatened to resign and pull my support from that Government. It took that level of action to get some degree of an acceptable response from both the Department of public expenditure at the time, under the then Minister, Michael McGrath, and from the Taoiseach and the then Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan.  Being honest, there are huge political barriers and challenges. My ask of the Minister of State is for him and the Department to help us through this process to see if CMATS is an opportunity to consider the future viability of the project. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Canney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Canney  I understand the Deputy's frustration in trying to get a clear line of sight on what might be happening here. From the outset, the CMATS review will start later this year. That is the avenue by which this project will or will not move forward. This project does not appear in the national development plan, which we have published, or in the sectoral plan for transport and the all-island rail review, in which we have picked projects to do. It is not on the radar, to be honest. We need to use CMATS to see if it is part of the strategy for Cork. Cork people, the county and city councils and the NTA will have a role in all of that, as will the representatives locally. This project has not been included in the all-island rail review and the only next step forward, and the most immediate thing that is going to happen, is the review of the Cork metropolitan strategy. There will be several public consultations on that, giving stakeholders the opportunity to voice their opinion on the matter. I encourage all stakeholders to put in their submissions.  In addition, one of the all-island rail review recommendations is that the review should be updated once a decade. It will be 2034 when this will be completely reviewed. The Deputy and the people of Cork have a desire to create a railway between Midleton and Youghal but, at present, it is not on the strategy for Cork transport or in the all-island rail review. There is an opportunity to see if we can get it into the Cork metropolitan transport strategy. That is the opportunity. I will not pre-empt the outcome of that strategy here today, other than to say it is the vehicle by which this will change from being something people desire to becoming part of the strategy for the development of Cork.  On that, I visited Cork station and met with Irish Rail down there. I have viewed all the projects and development it wants to do. It is very good news for Cork, with the works it has already done. The ambition it has for the future is also very good for Cork. This is just one element that has not made it into the system yet. Whether it does or not will depend on CMATS, when it starts later this year. I will not pre-empt the outcome. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh)  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Aire St\u00e1it. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Rail Network"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-25\/debate\/dbsect_8","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Expanding Access to General Practitioner Care: Motion [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":36,"speakerCount":35},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ann Graves","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gillian Toole","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gillian-Toole.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Gillian-Toole.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  I move:  That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann:  recognises that:  \u2014 access to timely General Practitioner (GP) care is a fundamental pillar of a safe, effective and equitable health service;  \u2014 GPs play a vital role in our health service, managing the majority of people's medical care needs, and acting as the first point of medical contact for most patients;  \u2014 GPs provide a core leadership role in delivering care outside of the hospital setting, and are central to the provision of Sl\u00e1intecare's new model of integrated, multidisciplinary care; and  \u2014 to continue the shift away from our current hospital-centric system, patients must have timely access to GP and community-based healthcare services that are free at the point of use;  notes that:  \u2014 Ireland is an outlier in Europe in not providing universal primary healthcare that is free at the point of need, instead, we have a system of eligibility which is determined primarily on the grounds of income or age;  \u2014 according to the Health Service Executive (HSE) Primary Care Reimbursement Scheme, approximately 42 per cent of the population has access to free GP care through medical cards or GP visit cards, and the remaining 58 per cent pay out of their own pocket;  \u2014 the cost of visiting a GP can range from \u20ac50 to \u20ac90;  \u2014 in 2025, research commissioned by the Irish Cancer Society found that more than 30 per cent of people surveyed didn't attend a healthcare appointment because of cost;  \u2014 the same survey revealed that 25 per cent of people prioritised other costs over their healthcare, including heating and eating;  \u2014 a key recommendation from the Oireachtas Special Committee on the Future of Healthcare Sl\u00e1intecare Report, published in 2017, was universal GP coverage by year five of implementation;  \u2014 the 2016 Programme for Government committed to extending free GP care to under 18s, which never happened;  \u2014 free GP care for children aged under six was rolled out in 2015, but it took another eight years before free GP care for children under eight was authorised in 2023; and  \u2014 the 2025 Programme for Government commits to extending free GP care to children up to at least 12 years;  further notes that:  \u2014 the 2017 Sl\u00e1intecare Report stated that the current GP contract was a barrier to a primary-care orientated health service, and recommended an entirely new contract to facilitate new ways of working;  \u2014 the current GP contract is over 50 years old, and although it has been amended on numerous occasions, the core contract does not reflect modern day general practice, nor the future career expectations of young trainees and GPs;  \u2014 research carried out by the Irish College of GPs in 2023, found that almost half of trainees, 48.1 per cent, were not prepared to take up the contract within a year of finishing their training;  \u2014 the same research found that just above one third, 36.7 per cent, of graduates felt comfortable with the traditional responsibilities of the GP principal\/partner position;  \u2014 the need for better working conditions, greater flexibility and new ways of working has consistently been identified by the Irish College of GPs and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, in their GP Retention Project; and  \u2014 in April 2023, the Department of Health and the HSE initiated a Strategic Review of General Practice, which was due to be completed that year but is still ongoing, nearly three years later;  acknowledges that:  \u2014 according to the Economic and Social Research Institute, an additional 943 to 1,211 GPs will be needed by 2040;  \u2014 while the Irish College of GPs estimates that 2,000 more GPs are needed due to current demand of our aging population and population growth;  \u2014 in 2024, just two counties exceeded the World Health Organization's recommended ratio of 100 GPs per 100,000 of population, with areas of deprivation and rural areas worst served;  \u2014 it is well established that there are higher and more complex health needs in areas of deprivation, yet there are fewer GPs working in these communities compared to more affluent areas;  \u2014 it is estimated that Dublin's North Inner City has one GP for every 3,525 people, compared to the national average of one GP for 1,759 people; and  \u2014 a third of the population lives in rural Ireland, yet the Irish College of GPs estimates that only 10 per cent of GPs work in these areas, with many in solo practices;  further acknowledges that:  \u2014 the Chronic Disease Management Programme (CDMP) has clearly demonstrated what general practice can deliver, when structural programmes, which align with Sl\u00e1intecare, are implemented and resourced; and  \u2014 last year, the HSE's report on GP-led Chronic Disease Management found that participants in the programme had 30 per cent fewer emergency department attendances, 26 per cent fewer hospital admissions, and 33 per cent fewer GP out-of-hours visits;  is concerned that:  \u2014 many GPs are overworked, burnt-out and increasingly overburdened with administrative work, all at the expense of their own work-life balance;  \u2014 in the absence of reform, we are seeing the increasing corporatisation of general practice, with small family practices being bought up by investor-owned corporate entities with multiple locations;  \u2014 a significant number of GPs are approaching retirement, with the Irish College of GPs estimating that 600 GPs are aged 65 or over, 300 of whom are aged 65 to 69, and 300 of whom are still working aged 70 and over;  \u2014 according to an Irish Independent survey of 275 registered GPs carried out in 2024, more than half of the GPs could not accept new patients, with more than two out of three GPs in rural Ireland unable to take on new patients; and  \u2014 there are critical gaps in out-of-hours GP services, and capacity constraints in daytime general practice are putting additional pressure on out-of-hours services; and  calls on the Government to:  \u2014 in the forthcoming budget, implement the Programme for Government commitment to expand free GP care to children up to 12 years of age;  \u2014 immediately set out a clear timeline for the delivery of universal GP and primary care, which is free at the point of use, within the lifetime of this Government;  \u2014 introduce a salaried GP model, with GPs directly employed by the HSE, for underserved communities, beginning with rural areas and offshore islands, and expanding into areas of deprivation and out-of-hours services;  \u2014 create a new DEIS for GPs scheme, deprivation-weighted General Medical Services capitation rates, with a cap on list size, in recognition of the additional health needs of patients in deprived areas;  \u2014 expand locum cover supports for GPs, by developing a nationwide HSE locum bank to ensure all GPs can take leave;  \u2014 develop a new GP contract which facilitates new ways of working, meets the work-life balance and career expectations of younger GPs and trainees, and incentivises health promotion, public health work, disease prevention, and the delivery of integrated care;  \u2014 invest in a national GP Clinical Lead role, to design, test and support new models of rural and remote general practice care;  \u2014 establish a primary care health equity working group, with representation from frontline services and patients living in deprived areas, similar to the successful Scottish model;  \u2014 accelerate the delivery of HSE-built primary care centres, to provide suitable premises for GPs and their teams, and support the delivery of integrated, multidisciplinary care;  \u2014 develop a national strategy to attract, support and retain future GPs, and this should include increased exposure to general practice in medical schools, structured post-training fellowships, specific time spent in practices in both rural areas and areas of deprivation during GP training, and measures to support more diverse, flexible, and equitable career pathways;  \u2014 accelerate implementation of the Irish College of GPs' 2023 report, entitled \"Medical Student to General Practitioner - An urgent call to action\";  \u2014 provide an additional 100 GP training places, through the expansion of training capacity in hospitals and supporting training practices;  \u2014 implement a new model of out-of-hours GP care, which is uniform across the country, to ensure that access to out-of-hours care is consistent;  \u2014 align general practice nurses' terms and conditions with their HSE colleagues, recognise and support general practice nurses' continuing professional development, and establish clear career pathways for progression;  \u2014 increase annual public health nurse training capacity, from 160 to 240 places;  \u2014 remove the Common Conditions Service fee for medical card holders;  \u2014 provide universal access to the CDMP for all patients with type 2 diabetes, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease and any further expansions such as the planned inclusion of chronic kidney disease;  \u2014 expand the CDMP to include severe and enduring mental health difficulties, epilepsy and other conditions as appropriate, in consultation with GPs delivering the service;  \u2014 develop a structured women's health programme for general practice, which deals with contraception, screening of STIs, fertility, pre-conception, endometriosis and menopause; and  \u2014 develop a national GP data framework to provide for integration with future eHealth systems, standardised data collection, greater data flow, data stewardship and investment in analytical capacity.  GP services are the bedrock of our health service but they are built on crumbling foundations. The warning signs of this looming crisis cannot be ignored any longer because timely access to GP care is a cornerstone of safe, effective and equitable healthcare.  It is now almost nine years since Sl\u00e1intecare was published. It was a ten-year plan to deliver universal healthcare based on need and not ability to pay. While Sl\u00e1intecare is still Government policy, at least on paper, it now feels like delivering universal healthcare has been relegated to some time in the future and little more than a nice idea because if this Government was truly serious about delivering universal healthcare we would be well on the road to free GP care by now. However, the sad reality is 58% of the population are still paying up to \u20ac90 to see their GP, and that is just get in the door. Promises to remove costs have been broken time and again. The 2016 programme for Government committed to extending free GP care to all under-18s but a decade later all that has been delivered for children is an extra two years of free GP care; up from under-6s in 2015 to under-8s in 2023. The latest Government pledge is to deliver free GP care for under-12s. That programme for Government commitment needs to be implemented this year and a roadmap for delivering universal coverage by 2030 must be set out.  GP care should be free. This might sound radical but it should not. Nowhere else in Europe would you be paying between \u20ac50 and \u20ac90 just to see the GP. It costs nothing to see the GP in most European countries, including Austria, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain. If you are in Croatia, Bulgaria, France or Latvia you pay just \u20ac1 or \u20ac2 to see your GP while in Belgium and Luxembourg it costs no more than \u20ac7. In Cyprus, it is at most \u20ac15 and even at the higher end in Finland and Sweden, it costs on average \u20ac30. Meanwhile in Ireland the majority of people are paying double if not triple that to see their GP. This is not normal yet there is no sign of a plan from Government to change that.  Hiding behind the strategic review of general practice just will not cut it any longer. That review was first promised in 2019 yet it still has not been completed seven years later. The core GP contract is over 50 years old and even though it is has been amended many times, it is still not fit for purpose. For example, we are still expecting most GPs to provide their own buildings. We would not ask a teacher to build a classroom, so why ask a doctor to build a surgery? Why is it we still have not recruited HSE-employed GPs as recommended in the 2017 Sl\u00e1intecare report? Surely it is a no-brainer, especially for underserved communities in rural areas and offshore islands. The ICGP research shows more and more younger GPs have no interest in the responsibilities that come with the traditional business model. They do not want to run a small business; they want to provide healthcare and this should not be too much to ask.  A new contract and new ways of working alone will not address the looming crisis in general practice and that is why our plan published today contains 20 proposals, including further measures to increase capacity such as strategic workforce planning, more training places and a new locum support service. In areas of deprivation more specific reforms are needed. That is why we are proposing a DEIS for GPs scheme. This will provide deprivation-weighted GMS capitation rates. Currently there is a significant jump in capitation rates for patients over 70 and while age is one of the most important determinants of health, it is not the only one and deprivation must also be recognised because patients living in disadvantaged areas have higher health needs at a much younger age.  It is also important to say general practice is more than about doctors. GP nurses are indispensable members of the practice teams yet their value is under-recognised. This is why we want to see an alignment of the HSE rates for nursing pay as well in general practice.  We in the Social Democrats except general practice needs more than a quick fix. What is needed is an entirely new approach to protect the unique value of general practice because the relationship between a patient and the GP is unlike any other in healthcare. Government cannot simply ignore this looming crisis in general practice any longer. A plan is needed, not a never-ending review. This is why the Social Democrats are proposing a 20-point plan to reform general practice. I hope the Government accepts it and implements it in full. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  I thank my colleague, Deputy Rice, for all of his hard work and passion on this issue. Our GP services are stretched beyond their limits. In most areas of my constituency of Cork South-West GP practices are no longer taking on new patients. People ring practice after practice only to be told there is no room. Families who move to the area cannot access primary care locally. Young people ageing out of paediatric care struggle to find a GP of their own. This is not unique to west Cork and is happening all across the country, particularly in rural areas. This is about basic access to healthcare - to fundamental vital care that should be available locally without charge. There is no justification and no excuse for people being priced out of a GP visit. It is the bare minimum the State should provide and it is the norm across western Europe.  Infuriatingly, Ireland continues to cling to a two-tier model of health where access, speed and quality of care can depend on your income. Nine years ago, and lead by R\u00f3is\u00edn Shortall, we achieved cross-party agreement this could not continue. Sl\u00e1intecare set out a ten-year plan for universal healthcare with free GP access for all by year five. It is nine years on and we are nowhere near delivering it. When cost remains a barrier people delay care. They wait a week then another and hope symptoms pass. Minor infections become more serious, manageable conditions escalate and inevitably pressure then shifts to already-overcrowded emergency departments.  Extending GP care is not radical but logical. Our motion calls for free GP care for under-12s this year and for universal free GP care by 2030. It is a clear, achievable pathway to ending financial barriers once and for all. Expanding access must go hand in hand with expanding capacity. A significant number of rural GPs are approaching retirement. Many practices rely on one or two doctors covering huge geographical areas often without proper locum support. When one retires or even takes well-deserved leave, the impact on their community is immediate. One of the main barriers to attracting young doctors into rural practice is the cost and administrative burden of setting up a business, so we need a new approach.  The Social Democrats are calling for a new GP contract and the introduction of salaried GPs directly employed by the HSE starting an underserved rural communities and offshore islands. This would remove the financial risk for doctors and give communities security. It would introduce a DEIS for GPs scheme with deprivation-weighted capitation rates so practices serving disadvantaged communities are properly funded for the higher level of need and a nationwide HSE locum bank, so GPs can take annual leave, parental leave and sick leave like any other worker while ensuring continuity of care for the community. To have a comprehensive out-of-hours service to access the care you need should not be a postcode lottery. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Liam Quaide  I begin by commending Deputy Rice on bringing forward this motion and basing it on in-depth engagement with people affected by the crisis in GP care as well as with policy that can address it. The Government is blue in the face accusing the Social Democrats of having no solutions to the problems we highlight, which are problems it has created through a failure to plan, a failure to invest and a myopic ideological default to privatisation.  The Government can rest easy today because this motion contains clear and practical solutions, which, despite the Government's narrative, we consistently tend to provide. At its core, this debate is about something simple yet transformative. Access to a GP is the front door to our health system. When that door is locked or costs too much to open, so much else backs up behind it, leading to hospital waiting lists, overcrowded emergency departments and untreated illnesses in our communities.  The evidence collected by Deputy Rice is overwhelming. Our party survey shows that while almost all respondents are registered with GPs, only one in eight can get a same- or next-day appointment. One in three face a wait of a week or more and nearly half of respondents ended up in emergency departments or out-of-hours services simply because they could not access daytime GP care. This is not a functioning general practice system; it is a system under severe strain.  Cost is also a major barrier. Three in five people report delaying or avoiding seeing their GP because of fees, which can range from \u20ac50 to \u20ac100. Ireland, as Deputy Rice outlined, remains an outlier in Europe by not providing universal GP access free at the point of need. Sl\u00e1intecare settled the principle of universal access years ago. What is missing now is delivery and a credible timeline from the Government.  Capacity pressures are equally stark. The ESRI estimates that we will need up to 1,200 additional GPs by 2040. The Irish College of GPs, ICGP, suggests that the shortfall may already be closer to 2,000. At the same time, hundreds of GPs are approaching retirement. One of the structural problems in this regard is that we continue to expect doctors to become entrepreneurs if they are to become GPs. Young doctors finishing training are effectively being asked to set up and run small businesses. They must secure a premises, hire staff, manage payroll and deal with administration and financial risk before they can even begin providing medical care. For many, that model simply no longer fits modern medical careers or life. It is a major barrier to recruitment, particularly in rural areas, socio-economically deprived communities and fast-growing towns. Direct recruitment of doctors by the HSE through a salaried GP model would offer a practical way around this. It would allow GPs to focus on clinical work rather than business risk. It would remove the upfront financial barrier to establishing practices and give the State a direct means of replacing GPs when the need to do so is greatest.  Access is also deeply unequal. Rural communities struggle to recruit doctors. Deprived communities carry heavier illness burdens and have fewer GPs. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  I thank my colleague, Deputy Rice, for bringing this motion forward and the huge amount of work he has done in outlining what we should have in this country, that is, free GP care. As already stated, Ireland is an outlier when it comes to free GP care. In Europe, access to adequate GP care, especially in disadvantaged areas like parts of my constituency of Dublin South-Central, is vital in order to have healthy communities. Research from adverse childhood experiences and longitudinal studies like the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing show that ageing populations need greater care and disadvantaged areas need preventative care from an earlier age.  Adverse childhood experiences are more prevalent in areas of socio-economic disadvantage because of intergenerational poverty and trauma. A child who experiences four or more adverse childhood experiences growing up is more likely to die prematurely of preventable diseases. For those who do not know, an adverse childhood experience includes a child growing up in poverty, living in homelessness or an insecure housing situation or being the victim of abuse, whether physical, sexual, psychological or emotional. When this is combined with life choices, such as addictive behaviours or psychological and mental health challenges, it leads to poor medical outcomes for people who have experienced such adversity. It is vital that GPs in poorer areas of the country, where adverse experiences are more prevalent, are trained to understand not only why it happens but how to help and deal with someone who comes to them in adult life for support. Of course, those GPs need to be supported because they are more likely to suffer burnout, similar to other people working in those communities.  Of course, GP care is not available often because of pricing or the lack of timely appointments. Some of the responses from the survey that Deputy Rice gathered state, \u201cTrying to get an appointment is like winning the lottery. They are always busy.\u201d. Another individual stated:  I actually rarely bother going to the GP as the typical wait time for a chest infection is six weeks. Because of this, I have to go to the out-of-hours doctor. If I were to wait for the GP appointment, I would be healthy again by that time. I should not have to just wait for a bad chest infection to pass and be in pain when I could get antibiotics and be ok within the week.  If adverse childhood experiences cannot be prevented, we have to be able to deal with them. If people cannot get appointments because they are not available or too expensive, that will create a challenge for them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  We heard from Deputy Rice about the extortionate cost of GP care for families all across the country, which ranges between \u20ac50 and \u20ac100. Not only is that incredibly expensive, but woman will probably pay double that to get basic healthcare once they are premenopausal or menopausal. GPs will charge between \u20ac120 and \u20ac200 or, perhaps, \u20ac250 for a consultation when it comes to menopausal clinics. That is an incredible amount of money.  We are in a lucky situation where we know a lot more about menopause. We know the symptoms. A total of 51% of the population will experience menopause. Some will sail through it, while others will find it more challenging. For those who find it challenging, there are medical interventions available. I welcome the hormone replacement therapy, HRT, initiative the Government came out with. That is important. For women wishing to go on HRT, however, they must first be assessed. In order to be assessed and receive a prescription, they have to go to their GP. If they go to their GP with any symptom that could be related to menopause, they will be charged extra. They will be charged \u20ac150 plus whatever else it costs for the blood work. That is just for one consultation relating to menopause. I do not know of any other medical condition for which people have to pay extra to be seen.  I have spoken to GPs about this and the rationale is that they are longer consultations. That is fair enough. There is probably an argument for that. However, if I were to go to my GP with a mental health issue, it would require a long consultation but I would not be charged extra. If I were to go to the GP with more serious medical issues, they would also involve long consultations, but I would not be charged extra. I do not understand why menopausal women have to pay twice or three times the amount a normal GP clinic charges. That is inherently unfair.  I acknowledge the free HRT. It has been a lifesaver for so many. When times are tough and family budgets are tight, however, I know women will not look after themselves. If that means not getting a GP appointment because it will cost \u20ac150 or \u20ac200, they will sacrifice their health so that their family can be looked after. That should not be the case. I ask the Minister of State to take that on board and look into those unfair costs for menopausal women. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  I thank Deputy Rice for the dedication and vision he has brought to this most important issue. There is a postcode lottery when it comes to accessing effective doctor care within our system. To give context, the national benchmark is one GP per 1,759 people. In my constituency of Dublin Central, it is dramatically higher. In the north inner city, for example, it is one GP for every 3,525 people. In Cabra-Glasnevin, it is one GP for every 3,060 people. In my constituency, particularly in the north inner city part of it, there are a plethora of issues we often discuss, no different to many other constituencies. There is poverty, deprivation and inequality. When looking at the GP-to-person ratio, it cannot be denied that a structural inequity is also built in.  I have visited the GP Care for All practice in Summerhill many times over the years. When people visit the practice, which was founded by Dr. Austin O\u2019Carroll, they will find communities of people who have grown up and spent their whole life in the inner city. They will find the Roma community and people who have come from other parts of the world. There is a diverse community there, all with a particular need that is clearly under-served.  In the north inner city, we have known for years that people develop chronic illness earlier, sometimes more than a decade earlier compared to more affluent parts of the city. This includes earlier cases of heart disease, respiratory illness and diabetes, as well as a lower life expectancy. This is not about genetics; it is about systemic inequality. What did the State do in response? It tried to close down the GP Care for All system in Summerhill.  The residents, who have all the issues we have laid out before, and the doctors had to take placards and signs and stand outside their practice and had to come to D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann, just to have the basic necessity of a GP care service maintained and not have the added anxiety they may lose it. We are asking them to firefight deprivation without the tools and now we are asking them to firefight health inequality. This is why the Social Democrats are calling for a DEIS for GP scheme, deprivation-weighted capitation rates and a cap on list sizes, so doctors in areas like Dublin Central are resourced for the reality they are working in. Our current funding model recognises age but it does not recognise deprivation. Capitation increases at the age of 70. In the north inner city, however, many patients present with the health profile of a 70-year-old at the age of 50 but the system is not funded in that way. Equality is giving everyone the same. Equity is recognising that some communities start further back.  The north Dublin GP training programme started in 2011 with Dr. Austin O'Carroll and it is a model that works. Deputy Rice has given 20 points on what could improve our GP care system across the country. We hope the Minister of State will take it on. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh)  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Teachta. Bogfaimid ar aghaidh chuig sliot\u00e1n an Rialtais agus an Aire St\u00e1it, Kieran O'Donnell. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kieran O'Donnell)  Ciar\u00e1n \u00d3 Domhnaill.  I welcome the opportunity to engage with colleagues on the important matter of expanding access to general practice care. I wish to thank the Social Democrats for raising this issue, and Deputy Rice for leading on the motion. I am taking this debate on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, who is travelling to the EPSCO meetings today. The Government will not be opposing the motion.  We are all aware of how central general practice is to the provision of healthcare in Ireland. For the majority of patients the GP is the primary care provider, acting as the first point of contact for most health issues. We all know that GPs provide an invaluable service. GPs help to direct the care of their patients, acting also as the gatekeepers to other primary care services and the wider healthcare system. Indeed, central to the Sl\u00e1intecare vision is a more community-centred healthcare service, which Deputies have name-checked, with care provided to more patients closer to home in primary care settings. Access to GP services is essential to realising this vision.  GPs provide care to patients over their entire lifespan. They develop patient-doctor relationships that improve the service provided through a greater understanding of the patient and their health needs. At times of serious illness that relationship is of particular value as the trust built up over time is of enormous assistance in both recognising health issues and in helping patients to manage them. In the case of older people, the relationship often carries even greater weight. All people aged over 70 have access to GP care without charges, and by virtue of this have access to the full range of GP services, including the chronic disease management programme, which I will speak about more in few moments.  Having said that, we recognise that the Government needs to continue to improve access to GP services, particularly in underserved areas and more remote rural areas, to meet the growing demand for GP services. Increasing access to GP services is largely dependent on increasing our GP workforce and the programme for Government commits to increasing the number of practising GPs. Significant work has already been undertaken in this regard, to increase GP numbers and improve access to GP services.  To make general practice in Ireland more attractive as a career, and to increase the level of services provided to patients, investment in general practice has been increased by over \u20ac340 million under the 2019 and 2023 GP and general medical services, GMS, agreements. Both agreements increased payments to GMS GPs and increased the range of supports provided to GP practices. Under the 2019 GP agreement rural practice supports were increased and a support for practices in urban areas of social deprivation was also introduced. The social deprivation grant available to eligible GPs supports practices to cover the costs of additional clinical supports to meet the needs of patients within the practice from socially deprived urban areas. The 2019 agreement also introduced the GP-led chronic disease management, CDM, programme. The programme is well regarded by patients and GPs, and helps to bring care for chronic disease further into the community. It has been successful in shifting care away from hospitals, with over 90% of patients on the programme managing their conditions in the community. In 2025 alone, over 650,000 GP-led patient reviews were provided under the CDM treatment programme, including approximately 400,000 reviews for people aged over 70 years of age. Work is under way to expand the conditions covered under the programme to include chronic kidney disease and familial hypercholesterolaemia.  Further expansions of the programme would require careful consideration and consultation with GPs. First, we need to be sure that we have the capacity in place to manage any expansion in eligibility. In addition, we need to recognise the unique relationship that is at the heart of the programme when it comes to determining which clinical conditions it can best serve. The programme requires active engagement on the part of patients to manage their conditions, in co-operation with the GP and the GP nurse. Any additional clinical conditions to be added would have to be amenable to this approach.  Almost all GP practices are digitalised. The 2019 GP agreement also sets out measures agreed in relation to the further digitisation of health services and GP engagement with these initiatives. More recently, GPs have used digital solutions to switch from paper to electronic prescriptions, for electronic referrals to hospitals and for managing the sharing of patient data under the CDM programme. The 2023 GP agreement introduced a new grant for additional practice staff capacity and a support for staff maternity leave taking. It also introduced a locum sourcing support for rural GMS practices. These measures have helped to make working as a GP in Ireland increasingly attractive to doctors, and the positive impact of this is being seen in the number of GPs undertaking GP training. Medical graduates are showing an unprecedented level of interest in general practice, with record numbers of graduates applying for GP training in recent years. The 2023 agreement also provided for the expansion of eligibility for a GP visit card from children under six years of age to all children under eight years and to all those earning up to the median household income.  In the limited time I have I want to cover certain areas. With regard to strategic planning for GP services, a strategic review of general practice is currently under way led by the Department of Health and with support from the HSE. The review, with stakeholder input, is examining a range of important issues affecting general practice, including issues around GP capacity, the reform of GP out-of-hours services, possible improvements to the GP training system, and the need for further and revised GP supports. The potential for HSE-employed GPs, as well as other possible measures to bring more GPs to underserved areas, is also being examined. Significant progress has been made under the review, which is to be completed this year. The report will identify the arrangements necessary to improve the current system of GP care. While the existing GMS-GP contract has been significantly updated under the 2019 and 2023 GP agreements, and via circular, it is acknowledged that a new contract should be developed. The findings of the strategic review will serve as a blueprint to bring forward a new, modern GP contract.  Work is also under way in other areas to improve the level of GP service provision. For example, a comprehensive women's health programme in general practice is also being developed in line with a relevant programme for Government commitment. A strong pipeline is in place for the continued construction of primary care centres, which serve as ideal locations for the provision of GP services alongside other primary care services. The common conditions service, CCS, recently commenced enabling community pharmacists in Ireland for the very first time to provide advice and treat eight common conditions. This private service is accessible to all patients and will help reduce the need to attend GP practices for the eight conditions.  I would like also to address the amendment to the motion tabled by Deputy Sherlock. The Government is fully committed to supporting the balanced delivery of GP services. Although not set out in legislation, it is accepted that GP services should be delivered at the local level, and that where possible service provision should be sufficient to meet local demand. To this end, we provide additional supports to practices in rural areas, and since 2020 have provided additional supports to practices in areas of urban deprivation. The 2023 GP agreement introduced additional supports for staffing, enabling GPs to take on additional health and social care professionals to aid their patients. The strategic review of general practice will further address the issues of delivering a balanced GP service able to meet the needs of patients at the local level.  However, the Government has concerns about how the Health (Availability of General Practice Services) Bill is currently set out. In the first place, there is a lack of clarity around the terms of the Bill. No attempt is made in the Bill to define what a fair and equitable distribution should be or what constitutes the social determinants of health status. The Minister and the Government are fully aware of the impacts of social deprivation on health status.  While the Bill brought forward by Deputy Sherlock relates only to GP services, the Government is focused on building fair and equitable access to all services. We will continue to work towards that goal.  It is difficult to see how the HSE could fulfil the legal obligation that this Bill would impose without clarity around the additional expenditure that would be required. For these reasons, the Government will oppose the amendment to the motion tabled by Deputy Sherlock.  The Minister for Health and the Government fully recognise the important work of general practice. We have invested significantly in general practice to increase GP capacity and to provide for increased supports for the provision of GP services. There are an estimated 4,000 GPs practising in Ireland. As of this month, there are 3,237 GPs with at least one HSE contract, an increase of 9% from 2020. The recent increase in GP training places and the ongoing recruitment of GPs under the international medical graduate, IMG, programme will see the number of GP practices across the country increase, while the strategic review of general practice will set out further measures to be taken to support and grow our general practice services over the coming years.  The Minister for Health and the Government understand the need to expand access to GP services and have undertaken measures that reflect many of those proposed by the motion. As already stated, the Government does not oppose the motion.  I ask that the other areas that I did not have an opportunity to deal with in my speech be read into the record. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Conor Sheehan)  Before I call the next speaker, I welcome to the Gallery Mr. Gerry Reilly, president elect of the Institute of Guidance Counsellors, and Ms Valerie Fitzpatrick, the vice-president elect. I call Deputy Cian O'Callaghan. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  I thank my colleague, Deputy Rice, for all the work he has done on this motion.  Is minic a thagann Air\u00ed isteach anseo agus l\u00e9ann siad r\u00e1iteas at\u00e1 ullmhaithe, gan m\u00f3r\u00e1n ionchuir \u00f3n Aire f\u00e9in. Ar ch\u00fais \u00e9igin, sh\u00edl m\u00e9 go mbeadh an tAire St\u00e1it, an Teachta O\u2019Donnell, difri\u00fail ach bh\u00ed m\u00e9 m\u00edcheart.  It is welcome that the Government is not opposing the motion. There are some very good ideas and suggestions in this motion that the Minister of State did not even address in his contribution. It is disappointing that he did not address them.  I want to read to the Minister of State from the survey that was carried out by Deputy Rice. It sums up a huge number of the problems in terms of the lack of capacity, solutions for which are in our motion and which urgently need to be addressed. One respondent said they filled out the survey for their 73-year-old mother who is suffering with chronic illness, such as heart failure and dementia. Two weeks ago, the respondent said, they found her crawling out of her room on her hands and knees because she had fallen and could not get herself up. When the respondent rang the mother's GP to ask for an appointment to get her referred to age-related care for physiotherapy and walking-aid assessment, the appointment given was for 18 March. The respondent rang on 13 February and the appointment given was for 18 March. The respondent's mother was recently discharged from her heart failure unit to GP care. If she has a future heart failure episode, she is meant to wait for five weeks for GP assessment to refer her back in. The respondent said they will end up back in the accident and emergency department to wait on a trolley or bed for another 56 hours.  That is the reality facing people in Ireland because of the chronic lack of investment to improve GP capacity and primary care. There are a number of solutions in the motion that the Minister of State did not address. One of the key measures put forward is the introduction of a salaried GP model so that GPs are directly employed by the HSE. This would remove the burdens of effectively running a small business. The motion calls on the Government to ensure proper cover in rural communities, on offshore islands and in areas of deprivation. It suggests the creation of a DEIS-like scheme for GPs to increase capacity. It suggests the expansion of locum cover supports and calls for investment in a national GP clinical lead role. It suggests investment in a primary healthcare equity working group and to establish same, with representation from front-line services and patients in deprived areas, similar to the successful Scottish model. It calls for the acceleration of the delivery of HSE-built primary care centres. The Minister of State did reference that part of the motion but did not go into any detail about what extra is being done in that regard.  The motion also calls for the development of a national strategy to attract, support and retain future GPs. It calls for students to get increased exposure to general practice in medical schools. It calls for accelerated implementation of the 2023 report of the Irish College of General Practitioners entitled \"Medical Student to General Practitioner \u2014 An Urgent Call to Action\". It calls for the provision of an additional 100 GP training places. Those are urgently needed. It calls for the alignment of the terms and conditions for general practice nurses with those of their HSE colleagues. It calls for an increase in the annual public health nurse training capacity from 160 places to 240 places.  Those are the concrete and detailed proposals we have put forward. The Government is not opposing them but the Minister of State has not told us in concrete terms what it is going to do to implement them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aidan Farrelly  I thank the Minister of State for his response. Like my colleagues, I commend the work of Deputy Rice in the lead-up to this motion and in presenting a motion which, as Deputy O'Callaghan said, is not opposed. We still have as many questions as we have answers about the implementation of the motion.  The irony, as we all truly know, is that you have to plan two or three weeks in advance if you need a GP appointment. That is the case throughout this country. You have to let your GP know or build into the timetable for your family at home that you might need an antibiotic, a consultancy, some advice or professional experience well in advance of actually having any symptoms. If you leave it until you are symptomatic, you will quite often not get an efficient appointment. That is no reflection, as we know, on the wonderful work of our GPs. If Kildare is a snapshot of what is happening around the country, there are upwards of 3,200 people per GP. That is simply unsustainable. There has been a population surge in Kildare over the past 30 years. It has increased from 120,000 or 130,000 to 250,000. The one thing we can all be absolutely sure of is that while the population has increased, the incredibly important services, such as GP access, have not risen in a similar fashion.  What we do not see from this response or in the Government's ambition is any sort of urgency. We are not addressing the root cause of issues. The Taoiseach, T\u00e1naiste and everyone else have criticised us for not coming forward with evidence-based proposals, constructive dialogue and plans. Here we have concrete proposals. In ways, some of the aspects of the motion simply ask the Government to fulfil commitments it set out in Sl\u00e1intecare nearly ten years ago. What we are doing is trying to match ambition to need. We are not seeing that from the Government's perspective. We need a comprehensive workforce plan when it comes to GP services. We need reform. It is not a siloed approach that is necessary. We need to see the Department of housing come in here. We need to see the involvement of the Department of Social Protection. We need to see an evidence-based approach whereby when housing developments are being planned, it is not simply a childcare facility that is stipulated. What else does a community need? There are people in Kildare right now who are queuing up overnight to buy homes for \u20ac500,000 on the assumption that alongside the homes that they buy, the services they need to raise their families will be there. They are not there. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  I welcome that the Government will not oppose this motion. I want to recap Sl\u00e1intecare for a moment, which my party is really proud of, and the work that R\u00f3is\u00edn Shortall did and her legacy. Sl\u00e1intecare was about cross-party co-operation and longitudinal vision for a transformation of our healthcare system from a two-tier to a single-tier system. This Government downgraded it from where it should have been situated in the Department of the Taoiseach to the Department of Health, where it could never fulfil its vision and ambition. Since then, the Government has cherry-picked what it wants, and not what the pubic wants or what was in the cross-party agreement. That is really important to recall in this moment when we are simply asking the Government to fulfil some of the elements of Sl\u00e1intecare.  We heard in the Minister of State's comments a great deal about progress, investment and reform. If that progress was real, people around this country would not be waiting for weeks for GP appointments.  We would not be here pushing a motion to implement the Sl\u00e1intecare programme, and we would not be the only country in Europe without universal primary healthcare. The unfortunate reality is that there is a two-tier health system here in Ireland and most people are paying on average between \u20ac50 and \u20ac90 for a GP appointment. For the 42% of people who have medical cards, healthcare is delayed, with appointments only available often after weeks or months, and that is if people can even get registered.  Last week, we ran a survey to gather perspectives on people's experience in this area. I will quote two of the damning responses which demonstrate the real impact that this Government's inaction has had. One stated that trying to get an appointment is like winning the lottery, and that they are always busy. Another, which is particularly concerning, stated that in the time it took the person to secure a GP, they timed out on a prescription for medication they used to take daily to treat depression and anxiety, and they just had to learn to live without them. That is just a sample of the 600 responses we received about the inadequacy of GP services in this country.  One of the key recommendations from Sl\u00e1intecare was universal GP coverage by year five of implementation. This is a policy that the Government has already agreed to enact, yet eight years later, we are no closer to that goal. Our neighbours across Europe have proven that it is possible, and we have the path to get there. It is to create a new DEIS for GP scheme, develop a new GP contract, adapt to modern working needs, and expand free healthcare for children aged at least 12 years. We do not lack the solutions. We lack a proactive Government with the ambition and urgency to enact systematic change.  Last year, the Minister for Health launched the strategic review, but that review is just the latest delay in a series of delays from a Government led by two former health Ministers, who seemingly want Sl\u00e1intecare to collect dust while ordinary people go without care.  Access to healthcare is not a policy to be debated. It is a fundamental human right to be respected. This motion is about fulfilling that right and addressing people's health needs in the community. I congratulate Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice on his good work. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  I commend Deputy Rice on tabling this motion. GP care and GP services are an important issue. This motion is about something very simple but also important, namely, that when people need to see a GP, they should be able to see one, and they should not have to worry about whether they can afford it or not. GPs are the backbone of our health service. The GP is the first person most people turn to when they are sick, worried, pregnant, struggling with their mental health or managing a long-term illness. I am a great advocate for our primary care system and GP service. We all know that the family doctor, family GP and family practices we have in this State are really important. They work. They are a person's gateway into the health services. Everybody knows their GP and most people trust their GP. They are the referral pathway on to other services.  The problem is that we need more GPs, just as we need more staff in almost every part of the health service. I know from talking to recruits who have come out of training that it is sometimes daunting to be an independent general practitioner and, on occasion, maybe going in and working in a private practice, but working for that practice. The thought of being an entrepreneur, setting up a practice, being an employer, dealing with the bureaucracy, the paperwork, regulations and the HSE is daunting and a real challenge, while GPs are at the same time trying to provide services. That is why the notion of a public GP contract is important and needs to be taken up. We called for this strongly during the election campaign. It was in the health plan that I launched before the election. The current Minister for Health, who was, for a short time, the health spokesperson for Fine Gael, said it was something she would look at. There are vague references to it in the programme for Government, but we need more because this is about choice. It is great if people want to become independent general practitioners. They should be supported and, as I said, I am an advocate for them. For those who want to work in the public system and simply want to be GPs, however, public contracts should be provided.  This is all the more relevant when it comes to the cost of GPs. We all signed up to Sl\u00e1intecare. Most parties signed up to it, not just in principle but because we believed in it, ideologically but also practically, and we know that a barrier is the cost of GP care. I am not so sure the same can be said of the Government when we look at its track record on Sl\u00e1intecare. In recent times, we have seen what is happening with the elective hospitals, and also with free GP care. The previous Minister for Health announced 400,000 additional GP-only cards. The process was so complicated and convoluted. I do not know if anybody has gone and looked at it. It is almost impossible to say to people whether they are entitled to the card or not. That needs to be simplified because many people who are entitled to a GP-only care do not have one because they are just not aware that they are entitled to it in the first place. That, to me, is crazy, but maybe it is intentional. An awful lot more needs to be done.  I raise a local issue that Teachta Conor McGuinness raised recently, namely, the need for a primary care centre in Lismore in County Waterford. Unfortunately, that is back to the drawing board. The preferred bidder, the contractor, pulled out because of the viability of the project, which means it is back at the starting block again. I ask the Minister to take that up with the relevant officials in the HSE. That project now needs to be seriously looked at. I visited the area with Deputy Conor McGuinness a number of times in recent years, and I know how much it is needed for the people of Lismore. There are also healthcare projects in Tallow that need to be funded too. There is a clinic there that has an application for capital funding which still has not been progressed. I could mention many projects in Waterford city too.  On the thrust of this motion, many areas of general practice are working well and I am a big believer in the relationship between GPs and community care. All of the supports and additional services now being provided in primary care centres and the chronic disease management teams mentioned in this motion are important and they work. Where things are working, we need to work with GPs so that they can deliver those services. I was dealing with one GP in Waterford city. Five years ago, the HSE told him it wanted more space to provide some of these services. He jumped through every hoop and over every hurdle and to this day, there has not been any finality to that. The bureaucracy is ridiculous and needs to be addressed.  I commend again the author of the motion on bringing it forward. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  There was a time when every town and village had a family doctor. They were rooted in the community and known to everybody across generations. Today, that model is under real strain in urban areas but particularly in rural Ireland. GPs are the anchor of our health system. They are the gateway into our health system in most cases. They provide long-term, continuous care from cradle to grave, yet successive governments have failed to plan properly for primary care. In 2001, the Future Together report warned about shortages in GP numbers and practice-based staff. Twenty-five years later, we are still playing catch-up. The rate of GPs per head has barely improved in that time and is now moving in the wrong direction. The number of practising GPs fell from 4,583 in 2019 to 4,420 in 2022. One in four GPs is aged over 60, so there is another crisis coming. Only one in five practices is open to new public patients.  In County Waterford, the impact is really clear. In Dungarvan, people struggle to secure timely appointments. In Portlaw, access is restricted during the week and there is no full-time availability. The issue in Lismore with the primary care centre that is now delayed has been mentioned. It is back to the drawing board and the starting blocks, through no fault of the people of Lismore or anybody practising medicine. The Government needs to get to grips with that and expedite that process. Across villages and country areas, older people and people with disabilities are travelling well beyond their own communities for routine care. That is creating an additional burden and barrier. People in Dungarvan, for example, have to travel a couple of towns away. It is simply not sustainable.  GPs work exceptionally hard. They are dedicated and committed. None of this is at their door. It is clearly at the door of the Government. GPs are under huge pressure. They are operating with the lowest levels of practice-based staff among comparable countries. They are increasingly expected to run complex small and medium enterprises while trying to provide front-line care. As Deputy Cullinane said, those GPs who we are talking to, whether here in Ireland or abroad, are telling us that they do not want to be entrepreneurs. They do not want to run businesses, by and large. They want to provide care. That is what they studied. One said to me that if they wanted to run a business, they would have done an MBA, not a medical course.  Our approach is really straightforward. We would increase GP training places from 350 to 450, lift the recruitment cap for front-line roles and expand the multidisciplinary primary care teams. Investing in primary care is efficient. It is probably the best way to spend money in the health service, so if we are serious about rural Ireland, access to GP care must be available in every town and village. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in  Access to a doctor is a necessity and a basic right for people, especially when they are sick. However, a GP shortage in south Wicklow and north Wexford has reached crisis point. I ask the Minister to intervene. People are desperate. They are travelling more than 20 km but still cannot find a GP who will accept new patients. One practice in a small town in my constituency has a waiting list of 200 people and that list is currently closed. We have seen rapid population growth, particularly in north Wexford, the Gorey-Courtown corridor and parts of south Wicklow. I ask the Minister to consider introducing interim measures immediately to ensure people can access basic care.  I had a recent case of a woman with a high-risk pregnancy. She came in desperation to my office because she could not secure a GP anywhere. This should not be happening. It is crazy. As a result, hospital accident and emergency departments are being used as a stopgap. It is unsafe, unsustainable and places even greater pressure on emergency staff, contributing to longer waiting times.  Private patients currently have no mechanism for GP assignment through the HSE. Families are unable to register infants, creating risks for children's health. I have constituents in south Wicklow who are registered with one GP but must register their infant with another, in some cases, on the far side of the county or even across the county boundaries.  As has been pointed out, Ireland has one of the lowest GP-to-population ratios in western Europe but Wicklow and Wexford are officially designated by the Government as pressure zones for GP practice and capacity. We are not training enough GPs to replace retiring doctors and their conditions need to improve if we want to keep graduates here in Ireland. We are losing them rapidly. For those with medical cards, the HSE may be able to arrange a GP but private patients have no such support. They must navigate an overstretched, largely private system on their own. This system has to change because lives will be lost. I ask the Minister to personally intervene. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  For six years, SouthDoc, which provides the out-of-hours service in Cork, has done everything to remove its offices from the northside. In 2021, following a very strong public campaign, we got SouthDoc on the northside reopened. However, in the past number of years, services have been reduced. In January, a miracle happened. SouthDoc in Blackpool reopened. The reason was that the tender is due at the end of this month, so it was reopened because SouthDoc wants to get the tender again. The service is not going out to public tender; it is being renewed. I want a guarantee from the Minister that SouthDoc in Blackpool will remain open and will not be shut down next month.  Another out-of-hours service, a private one called NorthDoc, has opened. My wife and daughter had to use it last weekend. They got an appointment within half an hour and they were in and out within 20 minutes after my daughter got what she needed. They were private patients. The service is not open to people with medical cards, who have to wait weeks to get an appointment with a doctor. They have to travel over to the Kinsale Road on the southside if they cannot get an appointment in Blackpool and then they cannot get access to NorthDoc because they are on medical cards.  This is not good enough. People should have a right to attend GP services out of hours. Does the Minister know what else is happening? Some people cannot afford to go over to the southside and have told me they could not afford a taxi. What did they do? They went to the Mercy University Hospital accident and emergency department, which is the one place the HSE do not want people to go because accident and emergency departments are out the door already with overcrowding. This Government's inability to tackle SouthDoc and keep the clinic in Blackpool open is driving more people into accident and emergency departments.  The people of the northside deserve to have an out-of-hours service. People are waiting weeks to see a GP. People with a medical card should not be treated like second-class citizen. Everyone has a right to attend a GP. I ask the Minister for that commitment today. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joanna Byrne  I commend the Social Democrats on bringing this motion forward. I am very happy to support it.  The shortage of GPs in my constituency of Louth has been long flagged, yet the issues remain. Last year, my party colleague flagged that County Louth was currently facing a critical shortage of general practitioners, with reports indicating that it had the highest number of medical card holders in Ireland waiting to be assigned a doctor. Prior to that, a study by the Irish College of General Practitioners showed a 2.8% reduction of the number of GPs in Louth. This is at a time when we are seeing huge population increases throughout the county, in Drogheda, Dundalk and Ardee.  Because people cannot access a GP, we have seen several calls in recent months from the management of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda for the public to avoid emergency departments unless absolutely necessary due to the severe overcrowding and, in some cases, extremely high patient numbers. What a great country we have when we cannot provide timely medical care.  The ratio of GPs to population is estimated at seven per 10,000, which indicates slow progress. As outlined by my colleagues, the number of actively practising GPs is falling year on year. It is estimated that one in four of these doctors is over 60 years of age, which poses a huge problem coming down the tracks. It is just not good enough.  Consistently, in our annual alternative budgets, Sinn F\u00e9in has offered costed solutions to all of these issues. The Government's response is to do something, if anything, but not the right thing. To begin to solve this crisis the Government needs to immediately increase the number of GP trainee entrants from 350 to 450 and support the Irish College of General Practitioners to expedite training, where appropriate. We need to increase training places across medical, nursing and allied health and social care professions, lift the recruitment cap for front-line roles and double the recruitment target for 2024 to expand the multidisciplinary, primary and enhanced community care teams. The solutions are there but, unfortunately, the do-nothing approach by successive Governments is having a detrimental impact on people's lives. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ann Graves","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ann Graves  I thank the Social Democrats for bringing forward this motion, which we fully support. It is an issue we all deal with every single day.  For most people, their GP is the first port of call when they have illness in their family. However, GP practices are struggling to deal with demand. We have situations where people have to plan to be sick before they can get an appointment. The primary healthcare system has to support quality, scheduled and urgent access to clinicians in order that patients and their families can build a trusting relationship with their GPs. However, the policy implemented by the Government has broken down these relationships over the years. We have people who become eligible for medical cards because of their advanced age being removed from their GP practice list because the quota has been reached. Then, at 66 or 67 years of age, they have to look for a new GP to sign up with. They are finding that difficult because all of the GP practices are oversubscribed.  I am dealing with an 85-year-old man from Swords who requires blood tests every two months. The next fasting appointment he can get is in Beaumont Hospital to which he would have to take two buses while fasting. His second option is the Mater Hospital, which would require him to take one bus. While that is more manageable, the hospital has no available appointments. The man in question used to get his blood test done in St. Joseph's Hospital in Raheny but that facility is no longer available. There is a walk-in service in St. Vincent's University Hospital, which again means taking two buses and a Luas, but this is too far for him to travel. We are talking about an 85-year-old man who has a requirement for blood tests. He can avail of a blood test with his GP but he only has a GP card, so it would cost him \u20ac40 every time he has one done. He is struggling with the cost of living and he cannot afford to pay this.  We have a population of 41,000 in Swords, of whom 10% are aged over 65 years. There should be a free blood testing service in place for people in Swords. The Government should ensure the new public primary healthcare centre in the town, which will be accessible to people in the wider Fingal East area, will have a free blood test service for people.  Epilepsy Ireland works with over 45,000 people living with epilepsy across the country. It is a common condition, and while some people will need continued access to special care, others can be appropriately managed by primary care closer to home. Epilepsy Ireland is asking the Government to expand the chronic disease management programme to include epilepsy. I fully support that request. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I will start with some good news for a change. However, it is good news that is tainted by bureaucracy getting in the way of progress. The Government needs to look at the process for having new GP services take on medical card patients. The bureaucratic red tape within the HSE makes this really difficult. I have had this experience over the last couple of years in trying to help a new GP service in Rowlagh. I have been working with Dr. Kumar and his team from day one to get approval from the HSE to allow the practice to take medical card patients. That process took over 18 months.  The clinic was able to see private patients since opening but could not take on medical card patients. An 18-month wait to be able to do so is unacceptable. It needs to be looked at as a matter of urgency. I was delighted to see it finally being approved. It will allow the Rowlagh Medical Centre to take on an initial 1,000 medical card patients. It also has capacity for more. At a time when GP services are in short supply, this is wonderful news for the people of north Clondalkin and beyond. The centre opened its doors in 2024. Since then, it has seen over 10,000 patients. It has a walk-in service, which also needs to be looked at. You do not need an appointment to see the GP. You can just walk in. Other GP surgeries in the area do not offer that service. The centre also provides an out-of-hours service. It is open from Monday to Sunday, seven days a week. People have said that other GPs might be a bit put out by this competition but my own GP, who is listening to this debate, is quite happy to see this service because it is talking pressure off them. They are inundated with people seeking to access their services.  As I have said, this is a good news story for the people of north Clondalkin and the surrounding areas but there is also a bad news story. We have been promised a primary care centre in Rowlagh for over 15 years. At the very start, there was an issue with a land transfer between the Department of education and the Department of Health. This saga has been going on for way too long. It is an area of high disadvantage. The Pobal index will tell you that; I do not need to stand up here and say it. The area has been crying out for this centre for a long time. The last response I got from the Minister was very disappointing. It basically said that plans are on hold. We have been waiting for 15 years and the plans are now on hold while the Department looks at the needs of the area. I can tell the Minister of State the needs of the area. I live there. My constituency office is in the heart of the area. I know the people who come to me looking for access to GPs, mental health supports, physiotherapy and all of the other things offered as primary care. We need to see this primary healthcare centre in place as a matter of urgency. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marie Sherlock  I move amendment No. 1:  To insert the following after \"and investment in analytical capacity\":  \";  further recognises that:  \u2014 the inverse care law and unequal access to GPs is giving rise to stark inequalities, delayed diagnosis, poorer health outcomes, and increasing upward pressure on the hospital system;  \u2014 recent extensive research by the Labour Party on GP-to-patient ratios has highlighted significant inequalities, and found that there is one GP per 1,390 of population in Clontarf in Dublin 3, yet in Cabra in Dublin 7, the ratio is one GP to 3,060 of population;  \u2014 suburban areas of significant population growth are struggling with a lack of GP services, with East Meath having one General Medical Service GP for every 5,090 people, a divergence of 3,331 from the national average; and  \u2014 the 2025 Economic and Social Research Institute projections, of national demand and workforce requirements for general practice in Ireland, also show there will be a demand increase of at least 23 per cent by 2040, requiring up to an additional 761 to 868 General Practice Nurses, alongside increased GP numbers; and  therefore, further calls on Government to support the passage into law of the Health (Availability of General Practitioner Services) Bill 2025, to provide for a direct statutory link between the HSE's assessment of the level of need for primary care services in specific areas, and the level of service provided.\".  I thank Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice and the Social Democrats for bringing forward this really important motion. This issue has been very close to my own heart for a number of years. It is something we have spent a lot of time talking about over recent years. While there has been a little bit of progress with regard to the chronic disease management programme over recent times, the fact remains that the Department of Health does not have a consistent overview of the first point of access to the healthcare system in this country, that is, the GPs. That is wrong. It is an anomaly we see in hardly any other country across the European Union but we see it in Ireland because we have a public system of hospital care and an effectively private system of GP care. The Government has been promising a strategic review of GP care for a number of years now. It was supposed to be published last year but we have yet to see it. Where is it? Will the Government please publish it?  I will move onto a second key thing. At the height of our rushing through of Covid-related legislation, back in 2020, I stood in this Chamber as a Senator when the then Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, legislated for free GP care to be expanded to those under the age of 12. That is still not in place six years on. Billions of euro have been generated for our public finances and yet the Government has not managed to get its act together on this. Expanding access to free GP care is one thing. We in the Labour Party are passionate about it. The then Minister of State, Kathleen Lynch, introduced free GP care over ten years ago. That was the starting point. At that time, free GP care was provided for those under four or six. If we do not increase the number of GPs on the ground along with expanding universal access to GP care, which is at the core of Sl\u00e1intecare and which we are passionate about, we will end up replicating the inequalities of our hospital system. People will end up paying to leapfrog the GP system. We need to make sure we have more GPs on the ground.  There have been initiatives on the part of the HSE and the Department of Health such as the arrangement with South African doctors and the increase in the number of GP training places. However, it is incredible that the Department of Health still does not have a clear idea of the unmet need for GPs or a precise picture of where GPs are located across the country. Last year, my office spent six months trying to get information on the number of GPs across every community health network area from the HSE. It was shambolic. Some areas were really on the ball. Other areas did not know. It took six months to put that data together. I am delighted to hear that the Social Democrats are using that data. I am sure anybody with intellectual integrity in the party will credit the source of that data. The key thing is that the Department does not know where the unmet need is and does not have an ongoing overview of where GPs are located across the country. That is wrong. That is why we brought forward that Bill last year and why it is scandalous that the Government is now opposing our amendment, which would ensure that the HSE would take responsibility for at least looking at where GPs are located across the country. We can have all the motions in the world about the need to improve GP services but we will not ensure we have a proper number of GPs in place for the communities I represent in Dublin Central and for communities in Kildare, Limerick, Cork city and elsewhere if we do not change the legislation to ensure the HSE takes direct responsibility.  The reality is that not every community is the same. The Pobal deprivation index states that people in some of the most deprived communities are four and a half times more likely to have poor health outcomes compared with the average community. Part and parcel of that is access to GPs. In the community I represent in the north inner city, there is one GP for every 3,500 people. In Cabra, there is one for every 3,000 people. In other parts of the country, it is not an issue. If you ring up to look for a GP appointment you will get one within a few days. I know of a 50-year-old woman who went to her pharmacist and was told she had shingles. She rang her GP for an emergency appointment and was told she would get one the following week. A man came to me last year who should have presented with very worrying symptoms of prostate but, because he was being given appointments two weeks out, he kept on putting it off because of work and other commitments. He should have been able to pick up the phone, say he had a problem and be seen in a timely manner. This is a real issue in certain communities, although not in every community across the country. The key thing is that, if we have more people on the ground, we can begin to resolve all of the issues we have with regard to our acute hospital system, including the Mater being the GP service for many people in the inner city because they cannot access a GP.  The other key issue I will raise today has regard to the GMS scheme. It is effectively weighted towards women of child-bearing age and the older population. The national average life expectancy is about 82 but, in one GP practice in my constituency, Summerhill Family Practice, part of the GP Care For All network, it is just under 60. That speaks volumes about what is happening on the ground. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  I thank the Social Democrats and Deputy Rice for bringing this motion forward. I will primarily focus on one aspect of the motion. The motion calls on the Government to \"expand the ... [chronic disease management programme] to include severe and enduring mental health difficulties, epilepsy and other conditions as appropriate, in consultation with GPs delivering the service\". I am an epileptic. That is something I have learned to live with but that would not have been possible without the support of my consultant, the epilepsy nurses in CUH and, very importantly, my own GP. Early last year, I attended and spoke at an event in UCC organised by Epilepsy Ireland. There was a section titled \"Is it time for Epilepsy to be added to the Chronic Disease Management Programme?\" I played a very minor part in the event. There were healthcare professionals, advocacy groups and people living with epilepsy there. The resounding answer to that overall question was \"Yes\".  Epilepsy is an incredibly common condition. While some people need access to special care, others do not. However, it is still important that we have continued access to health services. A study conducted by University College Cork and Epilepsy Ireland investigating the relationship between people with epilepsy and their GPs found that GPs and people with epilepsy described a limited role for GPs in epilepsy care. There were varying levels of engagement from people with epilepsy with their GPs and vice versa . Limited knowledge of epilepsy was cited as a challenge for GPs working in family practices.  It is a strongly held belief that if epilepsy were to be added to the CDMP, it would help improve these attitudes by encouraging GPs to upskill their knowledge of epilepsy and, ultimately, this would help to relieve pressure on already stretched specialist epilepsy services, leading to better health outcomes for people with epilepsy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Wall  I welcome the Minister of State to the House today. I thank the Social Democrats for raising this very important motion. The average GP to patient ratio in south Kildare - the area I represent - is 1: 3,163, the fourth highest in the country. Not a week goes by that I do not get somebody in my office asking for a GP. A lot of this has to do with people who have come from Dublin and other parts of the country and who cannot find a local GP. One of the biggest problems is that, in the main, many of those people retain their GP in Dublin and when an event arises and they have to bring a sick child or even present themselves, they travel 60 km to Dublin to visit their GP because the GP quota in Athy, Kildare town, Monasterevin and Newbridge is already full. It is simply not good enough. The Minister of State can imagine putting a child into a car to visit a GP. As a result, in the main people are now going to the outpatients department in Naas and Portlaoise hospitals, which is causing more congestion in those hospitals.  I want to raise the out-of-hours service with the Minister of State today. I have been consistent in calling for the KDOC service to not alone have an outlet in Naas, as it does, but also to have an outlet in south Kildare. There is no doubt we have an absolutely fantastic primary care centre in Athy. We are very proud of it. There are lots of services there, but at the moment KDOC does not administer services through the centre in Athy. We have been told it will be an on-demand service. That is simply not good enough. I ask the Minister of State to go back to the HSE and the Department once again to ask for an extension of the KDOC service, as I have called for in this House before, to the town of Athy. GP services are so important for the social infrastructure of this country, particularly in Kildare South. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  Early access to primary medical care GP services is a fundamental basis for a good quality, safe and effective health service. GPs play a very important role in looking after patient care, ensuring early intervention and providing care in the community. I compliment the excellent service provided by GPs, practice nurses, therapy staff and administrative staff in GP practices right across the country. GP services are under severe pressure. Many GPs are overworked, burnt out and increasingly find it difficult to take annual leave. The service needs support and it needs reform.  The Economic and Social Research Institute suggests that 1,200 new GPs will be required by 2040. The Irish College of General Practitioners put that figure much higher, at 2,000, due to an ageing population and population growth. The World Health Organization recommends a ratio of one GP to 1,000. The ratio in this country is almost double that, at 1:1,750. In some areas, as has already been said, it goes as high as 1:3,500.  Rural areas and areas of deprivation are worst served. A third of the population of the country live in rural areas but only 10% of GPs work in those areas. A substantial number of GPs are now heading for retirement. There are something like 600 over 65, with half of those - 300- aged over 70. As a result of all that, as was recently shown in a report, it is difficult for new patients to be registered. Two thirds of practices in rural Ireland are not accepting new patients and, generally speaking, it is about half. I see that almost every day in my constituency office where people are coming in saying they cannot get registered with a GP. Increasingly also, patients are finding that it takes a week or more to get a consultation. The situation needs to be tackled.  Anything up to 200 additional GP training places must be provided through an expansion of the current scheme in hospitals, training in GP surgeries and on GP training schemes. That will not solve the problem. In particular in rural and deprived areas we need GPs to be directly employed by the State through the Health Service Executive. That service should be rolled out initially in rural areas, where it is almost impossible to get replacement GPs. We have regularly seen in south Tipperary that when a single-handed GP retires, the vacancy is almost impossible to fill. In one case I recall it took over 18 months to fill a vacancy. The roll-out of that type of direct GP service must increasingly focus on areas that are underserved, such as deprived areas. Many GPs are now finding it difficult to take annual leave and that is something that needs to be tackled as well. A national locum panel should be established to address the situation.  All health services should be provided free of charge at the point of use based on medical need. A two-tier system does not serve the public well. As a start to that process, free GP services, at least for all those under 18, should be introduced immediately by the Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  I welcome these timely proposals from the Social Democrats. We must accept that the bedrock of any health system is having good primary care in place, and to have good primary care we need GPs. The ratio of GPs in this country is completely out of kilter with what it should be. The World Health Organization says there should be one GP per 1,000 of population. In County Laois, we have one GP per 1,700 population. More than 60 GPs are practising at any one time. In south Laois, the ratio is 1 per 2,300. The population in the county continues to rise. The impact of that is obvious. While existing GPs do good work, access is problematic, people are not getting a timely diagnosis and in some cases people do not get the treatment they need. When patients develop more complex medical problems they then have to go to hospital.  Cost can be a barrier for some as a large number of working class and low-income households do not have a medical card and may not be able to afford it. Some practices cannot accept new clients. When the booklet on entitlements came out after the budget it showed that the income threshold for a medical card is \u20ac186. If a single person is on more than \u20ac186, he or she cannot have a medical card. This is 2026. We have had the same figure for more than two decades. I cannot understand why it has not changed.  We have a reliance on GPs who operate private businesses. That is fine. Most of them are doing very good work. In fact, they are overworked. We are the odd one out in the European Union because we do not have salaried GPs working in primary care community centres owned by the Health Service Executive like they have in other countries. Most young newly qualified GPs do not want to set up a GP practice because they need a premises, staff, insurance, administration, utilities, etc., and then they face working an 80-hour working week for life. That is the situation that we have. They want to work in a nine-to-five job like everybody else.  The Sl\u00e1intecare plan was agreed by all parties nine years ago. Central to this was the provision within five years of free universal primary care at the point of delivery. Everyone was agreed on that, but we are moving towards it at a glacial pace. A range of services should be provided at primary care level.  That should be expanded to include occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, mental health services, diagnostics and so on.  What is needed now? It is nine years since we agreed Sl\u00e1intecare. We need a determined effort by the Government and the HSE - I think everybody in this House would support it - to increase the number of training places for GPs, to expand those numbers and the facilities. In addition to private practices, which we accept and which are doing good work, we need directly employed GPs. Some Ministers have talked about this in the past but then it dies away and is buried. Salaried GPs need to be employed and a scheme needs to be established. I appeal to the Minister of State to try to take a lead on this as a Minister of State in the Department of Health, to work alongside others and to have GPs in primary care centres and in the local HSE health centres, similar to the rest of the European Union.  We need to set a target date for the full implementation of free universal primary care. We all know from our own work that if we do not set a target, we will not get there. We should set a target to do that. I know it will be challenging. We cannot wait and we have to start sometime. In the short term, we should expand free GP care to all workers on or below the median wage. This is really a problem, in that people who are working hard tell me that when their children get sick, they go to the doctor but that when they or their wives get sick, they cannot afford to go. That is not acceptable. Younger children, because of free GP care, can go. The fact that we do not do that means people are winding up in hospital with chronic illnesses.  We need proper premises. I am going to say this to the Minister of State as a Graiguecullen person. We need a new or vastly expanded health centre in Graiguecullen. We need the same in Rathdowney and Mountrath. A new primary care centre needs to be built in Portlaoise. If we improve primary care, it will bring not just a healthier population but it will lessen the burden on the acute services because, as has been said by others, people wind up there. I know that from staff working in the accident and emergency department in Portlaoise. We have to stop the problem. It is like we are mopping the floor and the pipe is still leaking. We can deal with this at community level. This would reduce the demand on nursing home places. We would have a more efficient health system. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  I am aware that GP training places have increased over the years but, as my colleagues said in the House, it has not matched the population increase. I come from a constituency that has a huge deficit of GP services, especially in rapidly growing strategic development zones, SDZs, areas like Adamstown and Clonburris, and in rapidly growing areas like Citywest and Saggart. While GPs historically have been self-motivated private operators, they have not got the assistance for the modern age. I am talking about buildings they can actually move into. Historically, the GP was in a house. They lived in the house with their family, and had a separate area where they built up their practice. If they had to move out later on, they were able to do that. There are no supports in SDZs in terms of finding affordable premises. Those sorts of supports need to be provided. Equally, there are GPs who want to work within the health service and have regular hours, even if that is weekend rosters and shifts.  We need to focus on employing more GPs directly. A lot of GPs are emigrating. That is a serious issue in terms of the money spent on them and getting a return. It is also a huge brain drain. We are bringing in well-qualified imports. While we would not have a service without a lot of foreign doctors, it does not make sense to be shipping out Irish people. In that context, we need to look at improving the working conditions, providing incentives in terms of training and trying to address housing. As I have mentioned in regard to garda\u00ed and nurses, there should be some sort of short-term gap where people can live in the area where they are trying to set up a practice as part of a shared scheme with others. Otherwise it is going to be financially unsustainable. We also need proper career pathways which they have in places like Australia and New Zealand. We do not seem to have that in Ireland. We need to look at an awful lot of the administrative paperwork as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  This is a well-meaning motion and universality sounds great but I have problems with it. It often redirects funds from low-income families to rich families. Approximately 629,000 people are in poverty in this country. While those individuals are in poverty, I do not think we should be using taxpayers' money to pay for Michael O'Leary's children's healthcare. A woman came into my office recently with a low income. She is waiting months for an operation on her neck. She is losing the function of her hand and her leg. If she does not get this operation soon, she will have to go into care, which is an incredible situation. The funds that we have in this country should be focused on people on low- and middle-incomes.  One of the reasons universality is often popular is that there is a welfare cliff and a support cliff in this country. Where we do offer supports, often the threshold is far too low, and therefore middle-income families who are struggling often fall off that cliff very quickly. If we were to do anything in terms of these funds, it is to focus on low- and middle-income earners and to raise those thresholds in terms of free access to GP services, so that there is not, in a practical sense, anybody who is not accessing healthcare because of an economic reason.  The other point in this is that we are in a slow-motion car crash in terms of what is happening to GP access in this country. A total of 70% of GPs cannot take any more people onto their lists. People come into my office on a regular basis who tell me that they cannot get a doctor's appointment. I know of an individual who called a doctor at 10 a.m. By 3 p.m., he decided to go into accident and emergency. He got treated and came home. The doctor called him and said he could deal with him in ten days' time. I know of another person who spoke to 18 doctors and could not get on their lists on the day they were sick. If you increase universality in terms of access of doctors and GPs at the moment, it will reduce access to GPs currently in this system. There is no doubt about it. If you look at the figures, when GP consultations for children under six were increased, there was a 28% increase in first-year use of that system. The ESRI estimates that free GP care would lead to an additional 2.3 million GP visits annually - a 12% increase. When you do not have an increase in supply in the system, that is going to create major problems.  There are two problems in terms of doctors. A total of 442 doctors were issued with temporary work visas in 2022. Doctors are voting with their feet and leaving this country. This is a fact that nobody in talking about other than Aont\u00fa, Some 51% of students in medical schools in this country are from outside Ireland and the EU. They are training here and are likely to return to their home country to practise. We need to make sure that we provide extra GP places but also for people who are likely to work in this jurisdiction. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  I think we all have to admit that we stumble from disaster to disaster in this House. We had the SNA disaster last night. We have the disaster of housing with 17,000 people who are homeless in this country. Now we are talking about the disaster of GP care. There are seven GPs per 10,000 people in this country. There is a falling rate of GPs, with GPs retiring. A total of 70% of GPs cannot take on additional clients. Our population is out of control because we are ten years ahead of where we thought we would be. We have not predicted that. We are now in a situation where most of our medical students, from doctors to nurses, are leaving this country because there is nothing there for them. They cannot afford to buy a house. They do not want to be in business in this country, and rightly so. People who study medicine want to be carers for people; they do not want to be in business. We have forced GPs into that business mindset. Now we have this disaster ahead of us. Our successful Irish people in the medical profession are mainly working in the United Arab Emirates if we look at it closely. We are producing medical students but they are leaving our shores because there is nothing here for them.  I want to highlight something in Cork North-Central in my constituency, and that is SouthDoc. SouthDoc has been closed from 2021 to 2026. It opened in January in order for its licence to be renewed, which is an internal renewal. If you want to go to SouthDoc on the north side of the city, you cannot get an appointment there. They do not answer the phone or will tell you the GP is out on call, so there is no point in turning up. They tell you to go to the south side of the city. Many of the constituents I represent cannot afford a taxi to go to the south side of the city for SouthDoc. That is the reality of life in this country, and certainly the reality in my constituency.  Thankfully, somebody called Colin Tobin in Gurranabraher opened NorthDoc, a private practice that is facilitating people throughout the north side. He does not take medical card patients as of yet. I believe there may an application to the Department. I would hope to see that application being rushed through and being accepted so that it will be able to take medical card patients.  The reality is that it is a disaster. I welcome the motion from my colleagues.  I do not see it being passed or implemented. I cannot see it being implemented because the reality is we are not at the races when it comes to GP care in this country. We are way behind everywhere else in Europe. We need to move to the European model. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  Our GP system is at breaking point. Every community in the country feels that. People cannot get appointments. Many cannot afford to see a doctor when they are sick. We need more GP training places, fairer supports for struggling practices and real action to keep doctors in local communities. If we want to fix healthcare, this is where we should start.  I will highlight a very serious issue affecting newly qualified paramedics. For years, when paramedics completed their training with the National Ambulance Service, they moved straight into permanent positions. That is how it worked for every class before this one but, without warning, the practice has been changed. Graduating paramedics are now being kept on 16-week contracts, with no information about a permanent post or recruitment process. These are people who have worked for years on temporary contracts serving the public and believed they would have job security when they qualified. This sudden change is causing huge stress. West Cork alone stands to lose six front-line staff. I ask that this unfair situation be raised with the highest Minister in the land and resolved urgently.  While we are talking about health, we have a major health crisis, whether it is in mental health or ordinary physical health. I spoke last week about Perrott House in Skibbereen but I have received no reply yet from the Taoiseach. He said he would be back to me. Hopefully, that will happen. Perrott House is down to two patients. I was told I was scaremongering when I raised the same issue last year. It had 13 patients only a few years ago, but it is being closed by stealth. The HSE is trying to do it behind the scenes. I do not know what kind of sneaky carry-on it is.  It the same with the ambulance service. I raised that, and the SouthDoc service in west Cork over Christmas. The ambulance service is bypassing Bantry hospital on a regular basis because it is full. We now have a crisis situation. People are going up to Cork University Hospital, CUH. I do not want to blame any of the management at CUH or Bantry General Hospital because management and staff are breaking their butts. I saw it with my own eyes last Monday in CUH. There is a chronic situation there with patients flying in from every direction. The bottom line is patients should be looked after as much as we can and as good as we can locally. If people from Castletownbere, Mizen Head and Sheep's Head, and from Kinsale and Clonakilty, are all tearing up into CUH, we have a problem and a bottleneck. Most of them are being kept in an ambulance. When I raised that, and the SouthDoc service being closed over Christmas, all I got from Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael politicians was that I was scaremongering. I was telling the truth. I am not a fool. We know what is going on and it is not being publicised. Bantry hospital has been closed to the public on numerous occasions. It is not good enough. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gillian Toole","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gillian-Toole.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Gillian-Toole.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gillian Toole  As a proud member of a primary care team for 36 years, I greatly value the relationship among the primary care community of GPs, practice nurses, administration teams, OT, gerontology teams, etc. I am wary though of an increase in access at this point in time. The investment recently is most welcome. The additional places for GP training are absolutely most welcome, but if we refer back to Sl\u00e1intecare and the tenets of that, there is more than just the GP piece. We have already seen a commencement and advancement in the community pharmacy agreement. Health promotion is another area, encouraging wellness and well-being, and a co-creation where we move from \"I am sick. You fix me\" to \"I am not feeling well. Give me the tools to empower me to heal myself\". A lot more work can be done in that space. That has to be explored.  I worked through previously when the different age cohorts received free access, and witnessed first hand the absolute pressure that was put on GP practices and their front-line staff in trying to juggle. Coming from a commuter area such as County Meath, particularly where four GPs are retiring this year in an area with an approximate population of 28,000, I can see that pressure mounting as it is. It highlights the importance of encouraging wellness, and more investment and participation, in tandem with investment in the general practice area and in the community pharmacy agreement space.  I pay tribute to those four GPs: Dr. Ursula Keane of Meadowbank in Ratoath; Dr. Paddy Tierney in Dunshaughlin; Dr. Marina Bruton; and Dr. Tom Feighery. Combined, they have approximately over 100 years, at least, of general practice service to the community of south-east Meath. In light of that, and the shortage that will be in their practices and in the towns of Dunboyne, Dunshaughlin and Ratoath, those other areas I referred to - well-being, health promotion and the community pharmacy agreement - are where we will pick up the slack, although that is probably an inappropriate word to use. That is where front-line care, accessibility, and an open door 54 hours a week, on average, for nine hours a day six days a week, augmented by North East Doctor on Call, is the gateway to primary care. In conjunction with general practice investment going forward, that is where universality will be achieved and delivered. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  From listening to speakers across this House, there is clearly huge pressure on our national GP system. I acknowledge the extent of the work by Deputy Toole during the formation of the Government. The knowledge she has from her first-hand experience in healthcare is something we need to listen to. Whether it is our SNAs, teachers or any sector, the workers and the people who are on the ground know what is best. Too often, we see they are not being listened to. The clear solutions Deputy Toole has constantly raised in this House are admirable. I can definitely learn more and more. I am an engineer and do not know much about healthcare but she does.  On the system, time and time again, we need to listen to those who are on the ground. I am constantly raising the issue of access to GP care in north Dublin for my constituents, who are not getting in the door as quickly as they would like. Patients are waiting way too long for appointments. I welcome the Department of Health's announcement yesterday of \u20ac26 million for north Dublin. We see accident and emergency at Beaumont Hospital finally progressing. I raised that with the Minister recently. It went to design phase in 2025-26 but it needs to go to tender and to market as soon as possible. People who cannot get their GPs are then forced to wait 14 hours in accident and emergency. It is really holding people back. I raised the recent case of Patricia Anderson, who I visited. Her husband went to accident and emergency, was there for 14 hours and, after that, was deterred from going back there. He was looking for a GP and was going into the system but, sadly, he has now passed away. The deterrent for him was the fact the wait in Beaumont's accident and emergency was too long. The announcement yesterday is welcome but we need to make it a reality, deliver it, get in there and do, with a Covid-level response, what the Government has done in the past.  People in this House mentioned the ambulance service. I brought some of the members of the Marino branch of the Order of Malta into the Gallery on the previous occasion. They are hard-working men and women volunteering their time, and there is also the National Ambulance Service, who bring an emergency patient to accident and emergency. Until that patient is brought through the systems of the hospital, the ambulance team is waiting there and the ambulance is lying idle. In other countries, they have adopted a system where, while that team is admitting a patient, the ambulance can be used to go to another emergency. I would love that to be looked at.  Early access to GPs prevents hospital admissions, as I mentioned, and reduces the pressure on accident and emergency departments, such as at Beaumont, but the continuity of care and personal touch of a GP improves the outcome for those with chronic illnesses. We are not opposing, and I welcome, the increase in GP training places and retention measures, but these incentives for practices are underserving a fast-growing industry. The expansion of access to general practitioners is one of the most effective reforms we can deliver as a Government. I urge the Government to, as I said, have a Covid-level response and bring this in now because the people of north Dublin and Ireland as a whole need this now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  I thank the Social Democrats for this very worthwhile motion. I also thank the Government for the large amount of funding that was provided for services in Kerry, including an ambulance depot for Cahersiveen, which is much needed. People there struggled in the past to get an ambulance. University Hospital Kerry received quite a lot of money to increase beds and services there. I very much welcome a minor injury unit for Killarney, where the population sometimes doubles and trebles in the summertime. The mind boggles at the amount of money for its design - over \u20ac800,000. What will it cost before it is finished? Nevertheless, we want to get it finished and we need it very badly.  The story about GPs in Kerry is no different from that across the rest of the country. Killarney\u2019s population has increased and it is desperately hard for new families and others who come to the area to find a doctor to care for them. We need more doctors there.  In rural areas, it is not possible to have GPs in the way we used to. They are not provided with enough funding to operate surgeries of their own, to have secretaries of their own or to have their own people running their practices. It is just not happening. The only chance that doctors get is to join an existing group of doctors, and that only happens in the very big urban areas, which means rural areas are left without a GP, especially at night-time.  SouthDoc does great work, but Kerry is a massive area. Faraway places like Lauragh and Eskadawer, which is west of Lauragh and only a mile from Ardgroom, are 50 miles from Killarney. Invariably, people there cannot get a GP or a SouthDoc doctor cannot get to them, so all they can do is ring for an ambulance to be taken all the way to University Hospital Kerry, which is in Tralee. We need to see what can be done to bring the GPs nearer to the people, because people, including children, get sick at night. I remember on a Friday being told the story that my granddaughter had stopped breathing. The family failed to get a GP and an ambulance landed an hour and a half later. It was very worrying. The child is all right and grand now. It is very worrying for a first-time parent to see this happening and to have to wait for so long. These are the kinds of things we must avoid.  If vulnerable people, especially the elderly, are so far from a doctor when something goes wrong, the only option I see for them is to be taken to the university hospital in Tralee. They may not need that. I am pleading with the Government to look into this because in the bad times when the country had very little, Kilgarvan had a doctor\u2019s surgery. The doctor lived there. It was the same all over, including in Kenmare, Sneem, Lauragh and other such rural places. The GPs worked all hours, day and night, and did great work. We need them back again. The country had nothing at the time but it had doctors. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor)  I thank our colleagues in the Social Democrats for raising the matter of expanding access to general practitioners. The Government acknowledges that there are issues regarding access to GP services in some areas, including certain rural and underserved areas. GP availability is limited and GMS GP vacancies have been difficult to fill. Others have spoken about this today.  To improve access to GP services, we need to increase the number of GPs practising across the country, improve the support provided to GP practices and incentivise more GPs to practise in areas where service provision is most challenging. There are challenges and we acknowledge that today. We are aware that there is huge pressure on general practices. Our population is ageing and growing. In recent years, we have expanded free GP care and introduced new services, such as the chronic disease management programme. All this increases demand on general practice and we need to increase our GP workforce to ensure we can meet the need for GP care in the future.  It is important to note that the Government\u2019s expansion of eligibility for free GP care means 190,000 more people have access to the service today than before the expansion to six- and seven-year-olds and those earning no more than a medium income. We believe many more are eligible and can apply. We have run a publicity campaign to encourage them and we are looking at other ways to improve uptake. However, the number availing of free GP care is increasing.  In line with this and as set out in Sl\u00e1intecare, we need to expand our GP capacity to facilitate the additional demand on GPs and their teams. It is important to compliment them. We all know how hard they work. We need to consider this area and the demand the expansion of eligibility is creating. The Government has made significant efforts to increase capacity in general practice to improve patient access and has undertaken measures that address most of the points raised in the motion today.  Investment in general practice has been significantly increased since 2019. This investment has provided for increased payments to GPs, new supports for practices and new services for GMS patients. Other GP services, such as the free contraception scheme, have also been established for patients regardless of GMS eligibility.  The number of new entrants to GP training places is to increase to 400 from this year. This is almost double the number of new places available in 2019. The total number in training to become GPs has increased by more than 60% over the same period and will continue to increase over the coming years. Despite the increase, however, there are challenges.  Trained GPs are also being recruited from abroad under a joint HSE and Irish College of General Practitioners international recruitment programme. The recruited GPs are placed in practices in rural areas and work in general practice while completing the programme, providing an immediate increase in service provision for those in that area.  Under the GMS scheme, supports for practice staff have been significantly improved. Practice staff subsidies have increased and new supports for additional staff were provided under the 2023 GP agreement. Supports for eligible rural practices were increased and new supports were introduced for practices in urban areas of social deprivation. Supports are also provided for maternity leave and locum sourcing.  A strategic review of general practice is due to be completed soon. The review is examining a wide range of issues affecting general practice, focusing on five important themes. We hope to have it quite soon. The five important themes are GP training, GP capacity, ehealth, out-of-hours reform, and the support model for general practice. The issues being examined reflect many of those raised in this motion. We can see the challenges. I totally understand what the Deputies have spoken about today and can see where their concerns are.  We are examining the potential provision of HSE-employed GPs, as raised in the motion. When completed, the review will report on its findings and set out recommendations to provide for a more sustainable general practice. The findings of the review will help to determine what is needed from our next GP contract, to the benefit of both GPs and patients.  Progress has also been made in other areas referred to in the motion, including in respect of primary care centres, which are essential to expanding healthcare provision in our communities. They are really important. We are looking at them all around the country. They are purpose-designed buildings that provide a single location for primary care services, including GP services. There are 180 centres open nationally, with 51 new centres having opened since 2020. The Government has committed to speeding up the delivery of more primary care centres. Many TDs spoke about primary care centres and the excellent work they do. Seven centres are currently under construction and 23 more are at planning stage. Therefore, there are many more to come.  Funding has been provided to expand the GP chronic disease management programme to include additional conditions, including chronic kidney disease. Work is currently ongoing to provide for this expansion. However, further expansions of the programme would require careful clinical consideration and consultation with GPs and stakeholders to ensure any expansion can be rolled out effectively. This involves all of us working together.  Work is also under way to develop a comprehensive women\u2019s health programme in general practice in line with what is in the programme for Government. That is our commitment.  With regard to general practice nurses, while practice nurses are employed directly by GPs and are not employed by the HSE, the HSE, as mentioned, does provide significant financial support towards their employment. The HSE also supports general practice nurses with continuing professional development by providing access to its online training platform, HSeLanD; centres for nursing and midwifery education; and library services. There is therefore a lot of other work being done as well.  While 160 postgraduate education places are available in the student public health nursing programme, these places are filled based on the number of public health nurse vacancies and predicted vacancies that exist each year, and to date there has been no need to increase the number of places available on this basis. However, the higher education institutes concerned have agreed to increase the number of training places in 2026 if there is an increase in demand.  To speak to some of the other matters referred to in the motion, with regard to universal primary and GP care, the Department of Health is reviewing the current eligibility framework to see how existing eligibility arrangements for health services align with patients' needs. The outputs of this work will feed into a broader multi-annual strategic review programme which will contribute to the development of evidence-based policy options for a future eligibility framework to support the move towards universal health coverage.  The common conditions service, CCS, developed to enable community pharmacists in Ireland to provide advice and treat eight common conditions, is a private service delivered in person in registered pharmacies. The CCS is accessible to all patients regardless of GMS eligibility. As the CCS is a private service rather than a State-funded service, a consultation fee determined by the individual pharmacy does apply.  In relation to the amendment tabled by Deputy Sherlock, I recall the remarks made by the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, earlier in this debate. We are, of course, committed to the equitable provision of health services across the State. That commitment extends to all health services. For the reasons set out by the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, the Government will oppose Deputy Sherlock's amendment.  The Government has undertaken measures that already address many of the issues referred to in the motion. Accordingly, the motion is not opposed. I thank all my colleagues again for raising for discussion the important issue of access to GP care. Around the country we see the valuable work of our GPs and their teams. Within our own clinics we see the challenges, but with the review and all of us working together I am sure we will get as much done as possible, and as soon as possible, to address this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  I thank my colleague Deputy Rice for bringing this motion forward. It is a really important motion and is core to the Social Democrats. Why we are here and what we are about is ensuring that people have access to universal public healthcare as a human right and as a public service, regardless of where they are from and regardless of their income, that they have access to that most basic and fundamental need. Is ceart daonna \u00ed an tsl\u00e1inte. Ba ch\u00f3ir go mbeadh rochtain ar sheirbh\u00eds\u00ed ardchaighde\u00e1in phoibl\u00ed, an tsl\u00e1inte san \u00e1ireamh, ag gach duine. Caithfidh an iomarca daoine \u00edoc go pr\u00edobh\u00e1ideach as c\u00f3ire\u00e1il, \u00e1fach.  Unfortunately, too many people have to pay to access healthcare in this country. In my constituency, in areas like Ballymun and Finglas, which are some of the most deprived areas in the country, they do not have access to GP care, in particular in the area of Finglas west and south, which, as I said, has some of the highest levels of deprivation and poverty in this State, with a population of upwards of 20,000 and not one GP. GP Care For All has been trying to set up there. We are still waiting on support from the HSE and the Minister on that, and I hope the Minister of State, Deputy Murnane O'Connor, will come back on that. In other parts of the constituency, in Whitehall and Beaumont, we have an ageing population with complex care needs and, again, inadequate access to GP care. The workload for GPs is higher in disadvantaged communities, with patients presenting with more complex needs and developing chronic diseases much younger, yet our public health system does not reflect that. We need the changes put forward today in that regard.  In 2019, the them Minister for Health, Simon Harris, committed to extend free GP care to children under 12. \"We are extending free GP care to children under 12 years but on a phased and careful basis,\" he said. That was seven years ago. There is still no sign of it. Most people's understanding of a phased introduction is a year or two, not seven years. Contrast that with the way in which Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael have rammed through billions in VAT cuts to developers overnight. Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael do not wait around to remove rent controls, which will push thousands of renters into poverty, but when it comes to delivering public healthcare that would give real help to working families, they delay year after year.  I will give a sense of that cost of GP care for families. I have a six-, a ten- and a 12-year-old. Before Christmas, my ten-year-old son had bad asthma. We had to go to the doctor a few times. My 12-year-old got a virus around the same time. Between doctors' visits, prescriptions, the multiple bottles of Calpol and Nurofen that parents know well, it cost me upwards of \u20ac350 within two weeks. Most families cannot afford that. We need genuine public, affordable healthcare. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  When the former joint leader of my party R\u00f3is\u00edn Shortall founded the cross-party initiative that resulted in the Sl\u00e1intecare report, there was a real sense that the ambition that people hope for but rarely see in the political system, a real effort to deliver a transformative change in healthcare, would be founded on enhanced State capacity and international best practice. While delivering such change might involve shifting timelines, one thing we should never shift is that ambition, which is why the Government's approach to implementing Sl\u00e1intecare has been so disappointing. There is no sense of ambition in this Government in any area as it continues to rely on models which prioritise eligibility rather than rights and which fail to deliver the change needed in our healthcare system. The plans to introduce free universal GP care seem to have disappeared. This is in spite of it being identified as a core target within five years of the Sl\u00e1intecare implementation phase. That means we should have had free universal GP care for every person in this country by 2022, four years ago. It is now 2026, and it is not even in the programme for Government. This means that we remain total outliers in a European context, where GP visits are mostly free or cost less than \u20ac10.  A local GP noted to me this week that the current GP contract was developed in 1972. Since then, while remuneration rates for GP services have adjusted, the terms of service have not, with some areas of care - for example, antenatal care - being deprioritised financially versus others. We need an updated contract that aligns with modern clinical best practice. It is important to acknowledge that we train many more GPs than we did previously, and I welcome the work done in workforce planning. A publicly driven system would also allow for the development of a national locum bank, which would improve working conditions for GPs, ensuring they can take their leave entitlements, including long-term sick leave. The current environment, in which GPs deliver services through small isolated organisations, means the loss of a GP, even temporarily, can have huge effects on the delivery of care locally.  I thank my colleague Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice for bringing this motion to the House. I urge the Government to support it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  I thank Deputies from across the House for their support for the motion. GP services need more than a quick fix; they need an overhaul. This morning's debate makes that clear. I also thank those we engaged with on this motion: Deep End Ireland, the IMO, the Irish General Practice Nurses Educational Association and Doctors for Universal Healthcare, all of whom we met to discuss these proposals. I also thank the Rural, Island and Dispensing Doctors and the Irish College of GPs, whose research has informed the plan we put before the D\u00e1il today. I also thank my own staff, Jake and Juliet, and the staff in the Social Democrats for their support.  I want to respond to some of the comments made by the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell. He said the Government will not oppose this motion. That is welcome, but will the Government do it? Will it implement the 20 points we have set out in detail, and will it do so straight away? What we have in the Government, in particular from Fine Gael, is failed commitment after failed commitment. Fine Gael has now been in government for 15 years. That is almost my entire adult life. Back in 2016 it promised to roll out free GP care for children. We still do not have that and we are still left waiting. I therefore do not trust that the Government will do this, despite not opposing this motion. I urge the Government to get on with this and roll it out, fulfil the new programme for Government commitment for under-12s immediately and then set out a plan for universal healthcare for everybody by 2030.  Sl\u00e1intecare was mentioned, but the Government is not implementing it. The report was published nine years ago. We were meant to have free GP care by year five. Trust is broken, and it is up to the Government now to restore that, to get back on track and to deliver Sl\u00e1intecare for the people.  The deprivation grant was mentioned. We are calling for something different. It is not a one-off grant. We are calling for a change in the system, a weighted capitation, because we know the current system is not working. The new concentrated grant is not even being provided to some of the core GP services like GP Care For All, which did not receive the grant in the latest round. While the chronic disease management programme expansion is welcome, it needs to go further. We would like to see epilepsy included there. We would like to see severe and enduring mental health difficulties included. It needs to go further and faster. The Minister of State fails to recognise the real crisis in GP services. People are waiting weeks to get access to services and paying huge amounts out of pocket. There is constant mention of the GP review. That is now seven years old. We are waiting seven years for that and still the Minister of State comes in today and says we will get the review soon. Why does everything this Government does take so long?  The common conditions services provided by pharmacists was also mentioned. The Minister of State said that is accessible to everybody. That is clearly not the case. You have to pay \u20ac30 or \u20ac35 to access that service even if you have a medical card. The most basic thing the Minister of State could do is remove that charge to make it free for everybody because at the moment not even medical card patients can access that new service. That ultimately needs to change. There is also mention of the primary care centres. Roll out of primary care centres has been so slow with just six due to open this year. The C and AG estimates it will take another 13 years to deliver the primary care centres listed for delivery in 2012. That is a shocking rate of delivery and it really needs to speed up.  I also address some comments made by Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn from Aont\u00fa, which seems to be the first party in the D\u00e1il to depart from Sl\u00e1intecare. That is notable. He should also read the report from the Department of Health, which says that while uptake increases when you provide free GP care that will level off. I also wonder whether Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn is happy for half the population to continue paying huge sums of money out of pocket just to see a GP. It is up to \u20ac100 to see a GP. I wonder if the Aont\u00fa leader is happy with that. I ask him if he is on the side of the private insurance companies as opposed to ordinary people. What we have heard in this debate and from people across the country is that they want better access to GP services. They want the Minister of State to remove the cost barrier. They want her to make it free as promised, starting this year with under 12s and for the entire population by 2030. They do not want to wait weeks to access a service. We should increase capacity and the number of GPs. We have set out a detailed plan on how the Government can do that, and we urge it to implement this plan in full starting today. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  In accordance with Standing Order 85(2), the division is deferred until the weekly division time this evening. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Expanding Access to General Practitioner Care: Motion [Private Members]"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-25\/debate\/dbsect_9","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions","counts":{"speechCount":93,"speakerCount":8},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Fitzmaurice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  In just four days the Government's rent hike Bill comes into effect. Its legislation allows landlords to hike up rents to the market rate and renters will be hit with massive rent increases, the likes of which we have never seen before. We know that corporate landlords and vulture funds are rubbing their hands in glee, popping champagne corks at the thought of the huge profits they stand to make as a direct result of your legislation. They are not even hiding it. It is in black and white. In a presentation to its investors by I-RES REIT, the largest corporate landlord in the country with thousands of properties, it sets out what it can now do as a result of the Government's new rent hike Bill. It has told investors it will be able to increase new rents by a staggering 25%. It is predicting a 25% potential rental income uplift \"with minimal added costs\". That is a direct quote, Taoiseach. This paints a frightening picture of the size of the rent increases coming down the tracks due to the Government's decisions. The property funds are set for a bonanza. This company is telling its investors that it stands to make an extra \u20ac21 million in rents every year once the Government legislation flows through. Just imagine what that means for renters faced with a 25% hike in rent. What would this mean for somebody paying the average rent? It means having to find more than \u20ac5,000 extra per year. That is just to cover this increase. Does the Taoiseach know any renter able to afford that kind of increase on their already extortionate rent because I certainly do not? Two weeks ago, I warned that his legislation would give a big pay day to corporate landlords and the Taoiseach said that I was wrong. He said that this was all about providing stability for renters. How in the name of God is allowing renters to be hit with a 25% increase providing them with stability? Of course, the Government's legislation was never about stability for renters. It was always about feathering the nests of the big property funds and now the Taoiseach has been found out. Now we see the proof straight from the horse's mouth. The biggest corporate landlord in Ireland is saying out loud the very thing the Taoiseach denied. It will make a fortune from his legislation all on the backs of renters. This is a recipe for disaster in the lives of workers, families and our young people. He is doing it with his eyes wide open with all the proof of who will benefit on the table for all of us to see. N\u00ed fh\u00e9adfadh leis an tiarna tal\u00fan is m\u00f3 sa t\u00edr a bheith n\u00edos soil\u00e9ire, gur f\u00e9idir leo c\u00edos a ard\u00fa 25% mar thoradh ar reachta\u00edocht an Rialtais. Caithfear stop a chur leis na harduithe ollmh\u00f3ra seo.  Does the Taoiseach accept what the largest landlord in the country is saying? It will be able to hike new rents by 25% as a result of the Government legislation, an increase that will be a breaking point for so many. This is what the rent hike Bill is facilitating. He simply cannot allow this to happen. Will he now intervene to stop renters being crushed by these massive increases? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  All those renters in existing tenancies will have their rents increased by 2%, not 25%. Existing tenancies will not be impacted negatively as a result of the changes. The changes arose out of an analysis undertaken by the Housing Finance Agency. Why did it do an analysis? It did an analysis because the Housing Commission said we needed to create certainty, clarity and stability in the rental market for the long term and that there would be clarity around that. That is the fundamental issue. However, the Minister has balanced that with greater security of tenure for tenants with the six years, essentially ending no-fault eviction where a landlord can end a tenancy without the tenant having done anything wrong. That is a significant protection for tenants. There is security of tenure and the national regulation extending RPZs to the entire nation. Those involved in social policy and the academic world have acknowledged and articulated that this is a significant increase in rental protection. The Housing Commission called for this. The ESRI called for this. It was looking for a 4% cap on rents. That is what they recommended. We said no, and that we would go for 2% on that.  This Bill will give far more legal protection to renters than they have ever had in the history of the State. That is the bottom line. It was interesting that quite a number of people representing property interests threatened constitutional action with regard to this Bill. They do not like the security of tenure and protections that are provided to renters. There has been a lot of disquiet among many representing landlords around these changes. That has been articulated on quite a number of occasions.  About 513,000 are people renting now in different categories, from the public to the private sector, but the tenancies of the more than 290,000 people who are currently renting will not be affected, and the Deputy knows that. That is the key element of this. Yes, we want to bring investment back into the market because we have not been building enough apartments to date. Supply is the key instrument we have to moderate rents in the medium term. Let us be under no illusion; we need more apartments and more housing. We got 36,000 houses built last year and we need to get to 50,000 per year. The State, which is allocating about \u20ac9 billion, is the main actor in the market at the moment, through supporting cost-rental and affordable housing and the building of public housing. The State is the main player in house building at the moment.  The Department of Finance estimates that we need to spend about \u20ac20 billion per annum, between public and private sector investment, to get to that figure of 50,000 houses that the ESRI says we need. Some say we need even more. We have to have a balanced approach to protecting renters, particularly those in existing tenancies, and giving them greater protection in terms of security of tenure, but also then facilitating a far greater degree of construction, particularly in cities, of apartments because our density is not where it should be, in brownfield sites in particular. I would have thought everyone in this House was agreeable to greater investment. Is \u00e9 at\u00e1 i gceist againn n\u00e1 i bhfad n\u00edos m\u00f3 tithe a th\u00f3g\u00e1il sa t\u00edr seo agus taca\u00edocht agus cosaint a thabhairt do thion\u00f3nta\u00ed na t\u00edre. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Is waffle at\u00e1 i gceist anois. This is on the Taoiseach. There is no balance here. The biggest landlord in the country could not be clearer. It knows that it can hike rents by 25% as a result of the Government's rent hike Bill. It knows that it will make an extra \u20ac21 million in rents each and every year. That means millions going into the pockets of corporate landlords and thousands coming out of the pockets of renters - security of tenure my eye. Those are the hard facts and the Taoiseach knows it. It is here in black and white. We are talking here about the biggest rip-off of renters in a generation. This sends a shiver down the spine of every renter across the land and it is directly because of the decisions and choices of Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael. The Government's legislation is causing this to happen and I have asked the Taoiseach to take responsibility for that. I have asked him before and I will ask him again. Will he intervene, now that the writing is on the wall, to stop these massive rent increases? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy's party has had a fair degree of engagement with the property industry over the past while. Deputy \u00d3 Broin has been very active in meeting with IBEC, on behalf of Property Industry Ireland, with Hines real estate Ireland, the Construction Industry Federation, Glenveagh Homes, Vulcan Consulting and so on, and Property Industry Ireland. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Answer the question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It is interesting. What were the matters discussed in his meeting with IBEC on behalf of the property industry? They were the introduction of incentives for investors to capitalise apartment construction----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Not to screw renters. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----to extend the existing permissions, to legislate to prevent issues and, of course, promising the sun. It is like the meeting with Davy Stockbrokers a year or two ago. Supply is the key. I am sure the Deputy would agree that supply is the key. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I did not interrupt Sinn F\u00e9in's leader. I just want to make the point that supply----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Answer the question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I am answering the question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call Deputy Eoghan Kenny. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I want to finish my point. Supply is the key issue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It has to be noted that the Deputy has objected to 3,000 apartments in the past while. That is her contribution to renters in this country and people who need housing. She has objected to 3,000 apartments. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The time is up. Have some respect for the Chair. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I respect the Chair but I also ask that she respect my right to reply. It is not being facilitated. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  They did not listen during the time that was allowed. We have moved on to Deputy Eoghan Kenny. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  On a point of order----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  There is no point of order. The Taoiseach's time was up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  The Chair should be respected.  Over the past two weeks, the Government has let down children with additional needs, special needs assistants, parents, school communities and now special educational needs organisers, SENOs. That is why tonight, across the country, these very people will take to the streets and protest outside the D\u00e1il at 5 p.m. At every opportunity, the Labour Party has welcomed developments in our education system. I welcomed new special classes, new special schools, new SNAs and the proposed roll-out of therapy supports but when something is not right, I will call it out for what it is, and this was plainly wrong. The Government was pitting one child\u2019s needs against those of another. The political wind changed and the Government felt the pressure, scrapped the policy, went to the kitty and got money. This is a clear indication that either the Taoiseach had no faith in the policy that his Government created or he had some sort of realisation that those working within our schools might actually be right. In any case, the Taoiseach and his Government colleagues are doing their best to spin this as a win. It is in fact another case of announce, backlash, retreat and re-announce.  Deep down, this question must be posed. How much damage has the Government done to special education in this country? Every year, there is fear, anxiety and worry on the part of parents across the country who wonder if their child will have an appropriate class and resources, SNA support and enough special education teachers. Parents should not have to carry that burden. As a State, we must get special education right. It cannot be ad hoc . It must take a long-term approach where we are not scrambling every year to get the basics right.  I want to clarify two points. First, in his response to my party leader yesterday, the Taoiseach stated the Government \"did not sign off on this\" initiative. What did he mean by that? His Government created this policy and got the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, through the SENOs, to implement the policy. They did as they were told. They informed schools of the decisions based on the policy the Government created. The Taoiseach said the Government did not sign off on this. Will he clarify what he meant by that? Did he agree with the policy? Did he not know the letters were being sent out? Was this the Taoiseach attempting to place the blame on SENOs and the NCSE?  Second, the Taoiseach said yesterday that the role of the SNA is primarily for the child and not for the school. The 2014 circular clearly states in section 10 that SNAs are not allocated to individual pupils but to schools as a schools-based resource in the same manner that teachers are allocated to schools. Can the Taoiseach clarify what he meant by that? Is it a lack of understanding or another opportunity to deflect from the reality that the Government was taking resources off children? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Government policy has been to increase investment in special needs education and increase the number of SNAs. That is the policy. The manifestation of that policy is as follows: in 2020, 16,420 special needs----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  I welcome that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach is answering. Deputy Kenny should not interrupt him again until it is his turn. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The manifestation of that policy is that there were 16,420 SNAs in 2020, 17,921 in 2021, and this went up to 18,831 in 2022, 20,805 in 2023, 22,000 in 2024, 23,870 in 2025, and to over 25,000 in 2026. That is Government policy. That is what I signed off on. That is what all of us in Government signed off on in the Estimate that was agreed.  In addition to that, staffing overall has gone up by about 27%. There are now 22,465 special education teachers in our system. In the past five years, we have provided an extra 16 special schools when there were none for the seven years prior to 2020. The story is one of expansion. The Deputy should at least acknowledge that. That is the point.  Equally, the population identifying with a disability is growing.  We need to expand to deal with the growing need. In the census of 2022, close to 11% - 10.8% - of children in Ireland were reported as having a disability. That compares to 6.4% in 2016. Those are significant factors and we acknowledge those. There is a lot of pressure on the system and we need to expand. When I said we did not sign off on this, no memo came before the Government saying we were going to cut SNAs in individual or specific schools. No memo came to the Government. None. It did not. Those are the facts. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  Did the Taoiseach not know about the levels? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  No, not the overall impact. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Wait, Deputy Kenny. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Again, the Deputy is interrupting. The Government did not sign off on any memo or memorandum or any note saying that \"X\" hundred SNAs are going to be cut off. That is the reality. I established the system of SNAs and, yes, when I brought it in, the SNA was allocated to the child. The system grew and we brought in school-based allocations. I know all about that, but the school-based allocation is based on the need and particularly the special education need. It is based on the number of children that require a need and then there is a decision on the number of SNAs that a given school will get. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  I do not need lectures from the Taoiseach on the role of an SNA----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  No, the Deputy asked about----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  I do not need lectures from the Taoiseach on the role of an SNA. I know what they are about. I said at the beginning that I welcome the development of SNAs. I did not need the figures. I know the figures and I welcome them. As a State, we have to accept the reality. The level of resources did not keep up with the level of need. That is the reality.  We were able to get \u20ac19 million overnight. Was it penny-pinching all along? Was it the Taoiseach's deputy leader, Deputy Chambers, keeping the money away from the Department of education? How were we able to get \u20ac19 million overnight?  Will every single child who is entitled to a special class be given a place in a special class for the next academic year? My understanding is that the level of applicants means we now require 600 special classes. We have funding for 400 special classes. Will the Taoiseach put it on the record that every single child who is entitled to and needs a special class will be given a place? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The only reason I replied to the Deputy with numbers was that he made a false assertion in terms of Government policy on special needs assistants. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  That is completely untrue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Again, the Deputy is interrupting. I did not interrupt him. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  You are telling untruths. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, please accept that you have to wait. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  He did make a false assertion in terms of Government policy. I wanted to make it very clear to him and to the public that our story has been one of expansion in special education. Earlier this year, we brought forward the application date for schools and parents who require special education places for their children. The numbers have increased exponentially this year. Perhaps it is because of the earlier date or there may be other factors. It is over and above anything that was contemplated and, in particular, many more have come in post the October deadline.  There is a constitutional right for every child to have a place in education. Our objective and obligation as a Government is to provide that place. There will be a need for more special classes. There will be huge challenges because of the exponential rise in children this year, compared to last year or previous years, in the data that has come in, both for those who went before the deadline date and those after. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  Will every child get a place in a special class? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  This Saturday, disabled people and the Affordable Ireland campaign will be on the streets demanding an emergency payment after the Government took over \u20ac1,400 from them in the last budget. So far, the Government has refused to concede. There is no money for disabled people. There was no money for SNAs until people power forced the Government back. There is no money for electricity credits.  What is there money for? There is money to develop an Irish arms industry and to give to the French arms industry. The French media is reporting that we will spend \u20ac1 billion of public money on armoured vehicles, tanks and a Howitzer. The Thales Group, which supplied weapons to Israel for the slaughter of Palestinians, will be the main recipient. It is part and parcel of an agenda of militarisation and dismantling neutrality. If we look at the maritime security strategy launched this morning, it is a shameful abandonment of any independent foreign policy. Instead, it commits us to deep military co-operation with the old colonial powers of Britain and France, advocating further integration with NATO and using huge amounts of public money to defend the infrastructure of big tech companies.  The strategy refers to \"our responsibility and commitment to support the security and defence of Europe\". When did we sign up for that? That sounds awfully like a mutual defence pact, when the protocol associated with the Lisbon treaty explicitly stated that there would be no common defence agreement involved.  Again and again, the document refers positively to NATO. It says, \"Ireland can play a positive role in supporting greater EU-NATO co-operation\". Action 4.6 states that Ireland should \"foster relations with North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, NATO, in the maritime security space\". Action 4.8 states that Ireland should \"pursue opportunity to participate in Joint Expeditionary Force+, JEF+, activities.\" The Joint Expeditionary Force, JEF, is ten NATO countries led by Britain. Is that one of the reasons the Taoiseach wants to abolish the triple lock?  As a neutral country, why should we support greater co-operation between the EU and NATO? NATO is made up of states that overwhelmingly supported, armed and financed Israel's genocide in Gaza. It is led by Donald Trump, who just in the past two months kidnapped the president of a sovereign country and threatened to invade Greenland and is trying to dismantle the UN and replace it with a so-called Board of Peace, with himself as the chairman for life.  This is a strategy written for the big tech companies that want us to pay to protect their cables, by the arms lobbyists who want our money for their weapons and by Britain and France. Action 2.1 refers to developing \"a trusted network of critical underwater infrastructure stakeholders\", which is to include industry. Who is the Taoiseach talking about? Is he talking about big tech companies or arms companies?  This State was born out of a struggle against British imperialism. It is why people have a deep connection to an independent foreign policy, a consistent opposition to all imperialism and support for neutrality. Why is the Taoiseach throwing all of this away? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The ESRI was very clear that the two lowest deciles in income terms benefited most from the recent budget. In terms of the supports for children and those with disabilities, embedded policies and allocations in the social protection budget and investment in disability services, education and health were all designed for the long term to support those with disabilities.  The idea that there is no money, as the Deputy said, is a complete untruth. Some \u20ac13 billion has been invested in education alone this year. This idea that there is no money for children and people with disabilities and that we are now going into full-scale funding for the arms industry is hyperbole and exaggeration beyond belief. The Deputy needs to cop on with this kind of nonsense and propagandising on what are very basic necessities for an island nation----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  It is all in the national maritime security strategy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----to protect itself and to protect vital economic infrastructure. I do not know what the Deputy has against big tech in terms of its employment content. He seems to hate companies that employ thousands of people in this country. He seems to have an agenda against major companies that employ thousands of people. I do not agree with him. Last week, I was at Apple in Cork. It employs 6,000 people. I was a student in Cork in the 1980s when there was 17% unemployment. I witnessed all the companies----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  Fianna F\u00e1il was in power. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----like Ford and Dunlop closing, the Verolme dockyard closing and the Sunbeam-Wolsey plant closing. Thousands of jobs were lost. It was a very difficult decade. I have never lost the memory of what it was like in the city of Cork and many cities across the country. Part of the renovation and rejuvenation of this country - even if the Deputy might not like it - was the fact the likes of Microsoft came to this country in 1985. It has been here more than 40 years. Apple came in 1980 and it has grown. It is workers who have benefited. Ordinary people, who have career opportunities, have benefited from that. We can be critical, and we have to stand back and analyse the agendas, etc., but these are the basic facts for the ordinary people that the Deputy is supposed to represent.  When we say that we want to protect critical undersea infrastructure, if anything happened to cables or the gas connectors with Britain, we would not have an economy in ten days, in terms of the gas interconnection.  Is the Deputy saying we should not co-operate with Britain to protect the gas interconnectors with the United Kingdom and we should just ignore it? Is he saying we should ignore all of our European partners in protecting critical undersea infrastructure such as subsea cables and the interconnector with France, which will be completed in the next year or two and will guarantee energy security for our people? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank the Taoiseach. Deputy Murphy to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  What planet is the Deputy on that he would deny the ordinary people of this country----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Taoiseach. Time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----jobs, energy security and an opportunity to have economic participation? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  The planet I am on is a planet where the Taoiseach introduced a budget that cut income for disabled people by \u20ac1,400. Absolutely shameful. The planet I am on is where he introduced a budget that, according to the Parliamentary Budget Office, significantly increases the rates of child poverty and poverty among older people, and decreases the income of the poorest people in this country by 4.4%. That is the planet I am on. They are all facts from the Parliamentary Budget Office. This is the same planet where the Taoiseach is scaremongering to justify giving \u20ac1 billion to the French arms industry, the same people who have facilitated, enabled and created the weapons for the genocide. Yes, we think the Government should not have military co-operation with big, Western imperialist powers. We should not have military co-operation with NATO, Britain or France. Of course not. We should be neutral. The best defence we have is a consistent position of neutrality whereby we call out imperialism and attacks on human rights no matter where they take place. We have the position that Connolly put forward, \"neither king nor Kaiser\", which today means neither Washington nor Moscow----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank Deputy Murphy. The Taoiseach will now respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  -----neither Brussels nor Beijing but instead, stand up for ordinary people in this country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We have been involved in peacekeeping in Lebanon with Poland. Poland is a member of NATO, by the way. Is the Deputy saying we should not be involved in peacekeeping in Lebanon with Poland, and PolBatt? Interoperability is key. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  It is a battlegroup. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  They must use the same equipment and weaponry. The idea that we would be involved in a peacekeeping mission with different countries and have different systems and equipment makes no sense. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  I did not say that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy did say that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  Is the Taoiseach calling for EU and NATO battlegroups----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, it is not----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  It is in the document. Deal with it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Again, the Deputy is interrupting. When he does not like the answer, he interrupts. That is what Deputy Murphy is saying because, according to him, we should stand alone in isolation, talk to nobody - talk to nobody at all, apparently - and we will be able to procure, we will have all the in-house expertise and so on. The truth is, Deputy Murphy does not believe in having an army at all. That is actually the truth. I asked him that some time back here and he was silent in response to it. His concept of militarisation is that we do not need armies. That is his view. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  You cannot describe my views. I will describe my own views. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That is his view----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Sorry now, time is up. I call Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----and therefore, to take that to its logical conclusion, I see where the Deputy is coming from: that we should not buy weapons at all----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Time is up, Taoiseach, thank you. Deputy Fitzmaurice is on his feet. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----and we should go back to the hurley sticks. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Fitzmaurice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice  The Taoiseach spoke earlier about the need for housing and everyone right around the D\u00e1il here agrees on the urgent need for more houses. He spoke about 50,000 houses and it is welcome that he has that aspiration and the policy to try to back it up but I would like to go to the nuts and bolts of this. At the moment in Ireland, a person with a small quarry will be four to five years trying to get planning and will have to spend a minimum of \u20ac300,000 on reports and getting through the planning process. The Minister of State, Deputy Grealish, is beside the Taoiseach. From Galway city to the Atlantic Ocean is probably 50 miles at least and there is not one quarry in that area now because they are all being blocked.  Looking at the cost, a load of stone and six-inch down in 2013 was \u20ac4 a tonne ex-pit; it is about \u20ac12 a tonne now. This is what you call costs rising constantly. Then we talk about muck away. On 1 March this year, for the small operators that take away muck from housing sites, \u20ac10 a tonne is going onto a load of muck. That is \u20ac200 a load. Some \u20ac3,000 for a semi-detached is going onto a load of muck and each house being built, and the Government talks about cutting costs. Then, the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, and the Department are going to say, \"Ah well, sure there is way out\" and there are Articles 27 and 28.  I will give the Taoiseach the facts of Article 27. First, under Article 27, if I buy new stone off a quarry - if I bring it in for what we call a haul road, where it will be taken away again - to take that new stone away from that site, I have to employ a person and get a report done for \u20ac1,500 now, plus \u20ac250 each for the two samples. That is \u20ac2,000 more to take the stone out as per the new regulation that has gone in under Article 27. Article 28 is where - I will explain it to the Taoiseach - if you had a house down the country that needed knocking, and you basically knocked it down, put it in a crusher and crushed it up, you would have to spend the same money on that house to be able to move that stone. That is what we are doing at the moment.  In relation to concrete, in 2020 concrete was about \u20ac70 to \u20ac80 per cu. m. It is gone to \u20ac130 at the moment and is going up again by \u20ac10 because of carbon taxes, they will tell you, electricity costs and obviously the defective blocks are going to be part of it. They are saying very clearly it is because of what they call the greenwashing that is going on in this country. How does the Taoiseach propose, in the line of planning for quarries, to reduce that figure and keep them in the game? Is he going to allow stone shifted from site that was bought new to be exempted? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank Deputy Fitzmaurice. The Taoiseach will now respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Coming out of the weeds, or the mud, maybe, what the Deputy is talking about is the overarching planning framework that governs development in the country, the extraction of stone from quarries or the creation of quarries, or indeed other environmental legislation, but I am not quite clear on the specifics of what he is actually seeking. Let us start from the fundamental premise that we do need a planning framework. We need a sustainable planning framework and we need sustainability. That is the basic position we come from. We then have to be pragmatic, balanced, efficient and effective in the deployment of those planning laws. There has to be timely consideration of planning applications and we have to do everything we possibly can to reduce costs.  The biggest cause of the inflationary pressures of the past number of years was the post-Covid period where supply chains had broken down and there was an inflationary surge, and the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent energy crisis that emerged. We had very significant inflationary pressures which then impacted the construction industry in particular.  We have resourced An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la very significantly and it would acknowledge that. It has now created timelines for any planning applications. In many cases, it is now beginning to get close to meeting those timelines. We have also substantially resourced the National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS, in respect of its obligations. The European Union directives on the habitats directive and on environmental law generally and consents are there. They are real. They can be judicially reviewed at any time and they can be contested. The role of the planning authority is to make sure that when decisions are taken, both at local authority level and at An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la level, they are robust, resilient decisions that can stand the test of any potential legal challenge. That is a reality. You cannot take shortcuts in respect of the EU directives.  The European Union is looking at simplification of those directives and of the environmental obligations. It is examining those. I have made the case to Europe that we need to be far more pragmatic in terms of how some of these apply. The balance has to be struck between a responsible approach to sustainability and a pragmatic one as well, and best practice from observing what is going on in other jurisdictions close to us as well to make sure we are doing it in a balanced and effective way. I have not had a submission from the quarry industry. Perhaps others in different Departments have but I would gladly receive one and engage with the industry to discuss it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Fitzmaurice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice  What I am saying to the Taoiseach is that the facts are, if I am a small quarry operator, it is going to cost me \u20ac300,000 to do the reports that those planners need. That is not sustainable for the small guy. Does the Taoiseach realise that at this minute - I will put it on record here - we are heading for four quarries in Ireland because the big guys are mopping up? I would urge the Taoiseach to get someone to research, through the Land Registry, who owns the quarries in Ireland.  Four of them are buying up everything around them because they have the legal eagles, the accountants and the funds behind them, and the small guy is being pushed out of it. Those are the facts of what is going on. I understand about the habitats directive, but look at what is going on in this country in relation to that. Also, the Department of the environment has brought in recycling under Article 27 and Article 28. Does the Taoiseach realise who is setting up those plants around Ireland, because it is \u20ac12 million to set that up? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The time is up. I call the Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Fitzmaurice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice  What will the small fellow with three or four lorries do in some small town when he is trying to build? He has to bring his muck away. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The time is up. I call the Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Fitzmaurice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice  Have a look at what is going on. Open your eyes to what is happening. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call the Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Fitzmaurice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice  We are heading for four quarries in this country that will own recycling, and own the quarrying of this country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, the time is up. I call the Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Fitzmaurice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice  We cannot see what is happening. You know what happens then - up with the price. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Fitzmaurice, the time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  First of all, recycling works in construction. I can recall that in advance of the London Olympics, and how many years ago is that----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Fitzmaurice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice  England has different rules. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, you are no different from anybody else. Do not interrupt the answer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy did not even let me finish, or begin, actually.  Prior to the London Olympics, I was Minister for enterprise when many construction companies in Ireland wanted to see if they could submit, tender and so on. The objective was up to 80% or 90% recycling for all the demolition and everything in respect of that. That was not law. That was their objective and their vision. Recycling is very important. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Fitzmaurice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice  It is a different system. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  No, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We should do it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Fitzmaurice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice  Yes, but it is a different system. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, stop. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It can be done, and it is being done.  On the competition issue, the Deputy is saying that it is going to be reduced to four. We have the competition and consumer authority. Its job is to make sure there is competition in the market. If there are any complaints or if people have concerns about any unsavoury practices developing, then please submit that to the competition authority. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Fitzmaurice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice  We are burying our heads in the sand. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-25\/debate\/dbsect_10","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 na Comhalta\u00ed Eile - Other Members\u2019 Questions","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_10","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Brennan  I want to speak to the Taoiseach about coastal erosion, which is an extremely pressing and urgent issue for coastal communities right across Ireland. It is estimated in recent reports that up to 20% of the coastline of Ireland is at risk. This is a particular problem in the south east due to the composition of the lands, which are sand and clay-based. Some areas in the south east are losing up to 8 m to 10 m from their coast each year. It is estimated that, in Wexford alone, over 1,400 houses are at risk, and in Ireland, it is estimated that almost 100,000 people's homes are in danger from coastal erosion.  The severity of recent storms, the increased frequency of these storms and the rising sea level due to climate change are the main factors involved. I have been inundated with calls and visits to my office from constituents along the entire coastal length of my constituency. This was ongoing well before Storm Chandra, but it has multiplied since that storm. People are in genuine fear of losing their homes and land. In County Wicklow, Arklow has regularly seen significant damage due to intense storms. Areas such as Clogh and as far up as Brittas Bay are facing significant loss and damage to their coastal defences. This is having a huge impact, not only on the land and housing, but also on beloved community amenities.  We must also look at Irish Rail. There is a stretch from Dublin to Wicklow town that is under severe threat due to coastal erosion. This line faces significant and ongoing risks that threaten the stability of the infrastructure. I am aware that the East Coast Railway Infrastructure Protection Projects are conducting a comprehensive study, but continuous disruption or any long-term closure due to erosion on this line will close the clinical link between Rosslare and Dublin, isolating communities and towns, such as Gorey, Arklow and Rathdrum and putting even further pressure on an already overcapacity motorway.  I note and commend the investment in coastal erosion, but I am here today to point out that this problem is increasing due to climate change, increasing sea levels and the frequency of storms. This is simply not going away. Houses that have been in families for generations are now on the verge of dropping into the sea, farmers are losing land and we are losing walkways along our coastline. I call for a comprehensive approach to tackling this and for significant further investment in this area.  I have met people face-to-face in my office. I have seen grown men and grown women cry. They are literally playing out a horror movie. In front of them, the sea is eating into their land and their gardens. They literally have to take out their goods before a storm, go to another house and then come back the following morning to see if their house is still there. This should not be happening. It is going to increase. I ask the Taoiseach to treat this as a priority. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  First, I thank the Deputy for raising what is the very important and pressing issue of coastal erosion across the country, but specifically in the south east. The Government is committed to progressing a co-ordinated, long-term approach to managing coastal change. I know there have been a variety of coastal works and funding at specific points, particularly in Wexford, in terms of the coastal protection scheme and minor flood mitigation, which is done by the OPW.  As the Deputy knows, a report was published in 2023 by the interdepartmental group on the national coastal change management strategy. It establishes the strategic framework and identifies the priority actions required to underpin a national coastal change management strategy. To date, in essence, the OPW has allocated funding of about \u20ac650,000 for coastal protection works at Seaview, for example, including strengthening rock armour to counter ongoing erosion. Further moneys of about \u20ac300,000 were allocated before that, in 2024, making some \u20ac2 million overall in that area.  The more fundamental point that the Deputy makes is the need for two things. I agree with him that climate change is causing this. We need a more co-ordinated structure. I had a meeting recently in the context of the recent storms. I raised this issue at the climate meeting on coastal erosion. I am not satisfied that we have the necessary infrastructure from a structural point of view in terms of decision-making within the Government. Many people were leaving it to the local authorities, but I think that if we leave it to the local authorities on a local authority-by-local authority basis, that may not be sustainable. Adaptation, including ring-fenced funding for adaptation, is critical. I will be examining this further in terms of a more centralised approach to coastal erosion that is far more proactive than what we have had to date.  We know that, unfortunately, some local authorities are more proactive than others. There is inertia in others, and that is not sustainable, in my view. There has to be a far more direct approach from the centre to make sure that some of these works get done. To be fair, the OPW has done a lot of work, and I know the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, was in Donabate recently. It did exceptional work there on an interim basis to protect houses and households.  This is coming quickly. It is a very rapidly evolving situation. If we look at the climate change projections, the seas are going to rise, so we need stronger coastal protection, and we need to do it on a systemic and structured basis, with agencies clearly in charge and directing operations. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Brennan  I warmly welcome the Taoiseach\u2019s suggestion of centralising this because it highlights the problem we are having. I do not want to be parochial, but if we just look at the Wexford coastline, 80% of the 260 km is under threat. That is a phenomenal figure. We are dealing with real people. In areas like Cahore and Glasscarrig, people are in genuine fear of losing their homes. I recently went down to Kilmichael and Castletown, which is a beautiful area. Some people there have lost 10 m off the front of their land. The next stop is that their houses are going to fall into the sea. Courtown was the beacon of the south east in the 1980s, but it now has little or no beach. It is not only the coastal erosion, but the effect this is having on business there as well.  We have a serious issue. I warmly welcome the Taoiseach's intervention on this. We have to make progress on centralising this. It is a huge issue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy. The projections are there. There has been comprehensive surveying of the coastal area of the island. Climate change will have fairly significant negative impacts, particularly rising sea levels, but also the frequency and velocity of the storms we are witnessing on our coastlines, all of which creates a very challenging situation for us. We have to respond with proper structures and systems, and be far more proactive. We need a ring-fenced approach to the adaptation issue because climate change is here and now, and its impacts will increase over time.  It will impact on food production systems. The extended rain season we have had now is already impacting on farming practice and what would ordinarily be happening right now. We are now facing another two days of intense rainfall. In front of our very eyes, food production systems and coastal areas are being challenged and we have to respond. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 na Comhalta\u00ed Eile - Other Members\u2019 Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-25\/debate\/dbsect_11","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Pholasa\u00ed n\u00f3 ar Reachta\u00edocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation","counts":{"speechCount":59,"speakerCount":22},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_11","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"S\u00e9amus McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Roche","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Edward Timmins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Clendennen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ryan O'Meara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Patrick O'Donovan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  There were 80 submissions and 30 were chosen. If you cannot ask your question within the one-minute timeframe, do not ask for a slot in Questions on Policy or Legislation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  I have heard the Minister and the Taoiseach say dozens of times that Ireland is military neutral but not politically neutral on Ukraine. That is a good position. I agree with it. There is no doubt in my mind that Russia is the aggressor in the conflict. Last night, the Taoiseach's office put out a statement that Ireland was committed politically, militarily and diplomatically. This comes at a time when the Government is dumping the much-valued triple lock neutrality protection. The Irish people believe in neutrality. Many wonder why the Government wants to get rid of this central part of our neutrality, the triple lock. Now for the very first time we have a Government saying that it is not militarily neutral. I want the Minister to tell the Irish people if the Irish Government no longer believes in Irish neutrality. I want him to give a direct answer to that question because the Irish people deserve an answer. Does this Government believe that Ireland should be militarily neutral? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (Deputy Jack Chambers)  The Government has set out very clear priorities in terms of the reform of the triple lock legislation, which is central to the world as it has been changing in political and geopolitical contexts. We have been very clear that we are absolutely militarily neutral but we are not---- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  Why did we not say that yesterday? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  We are not politically neutral. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  I agree. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Do not interrupt again. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  To see Sinn F\u00e9in oppose the \u20ac90 billion going to Ukraine----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  Why did that statement say what it said? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  -----shows what side is Sinn F\u00e9in on when it comes to the aggression---- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  You know what side we are on. I was very clear. Why did you make that statement? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, if you interrupt again, I will cease the answer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  ---and some of the votes it has had in the European Parliament and so on. We are very clear----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  You do not believe a word you are saying. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy \u00d3 Laoghaire, respect the Chair. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  -----around our position and we should not have a veto on our deployment of troops by Russia, China or others. We want to ensure that this evolves in the context of the reforms we are setting out. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  Why did the Government say that? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  Figures released by Eurostat today show that households are paying twice as much as data centres for their energy in Ireland. Data centre expansion is putting huge pressure on our energy grid and soaking up all the new, renewable energy that we are generating. Not only that but they are not even paying their fair share for the pleasure. This is just the latest in a series of examples where this Government is bending the knee to data centres and big energy companies. It is costing the rest of us. It has failed to properly regulate data centres or energy providers. It wants to import fracked gas now from America, primarily so energy supply to 300 or so large energy users can be protected in the event of an emergency. It is pouring money into grid updates, not for the benefit of ordinary households but in order that they can cope with the huge energy demands of these data centres and large energy users. Ultimately it is going to be paid for by ordinary consumers. To add insult to injury, the energy task force the Government has held up as the answer to the ever-increasing energy bills and which will supposedly solve energy poverty has only met three times. What is it going to do about the cost of energy? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  The Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, is advancing the work of the energy affordability task force. We are engaging on it regularly at Cabinet committee level. Separately, the pricing system in the energy market is defined by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities. The pricing is not set by Government. We also need to ensure we protect overall economic investment into the country. Digital infrastructure will play a role in terms of job creation and overall employment growth for Ireland into the medium to long term. We need to have an honest conversation about that. Just attacking data centres and digital infrastructure would undermine our wider economic growth into the long term. The facts are that the pricing system is decided independent of Government. The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, is advancing significant investment into our energy system and grid. We have the PR6, price review 6, which will allow for multi-billion investment into the grid and into our energy system over the next five years, all of which will help our wider renewable energy ambitions. The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, will be bringing forth further actions around energy affordability. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental health condition. Eating disorder services in this country do not reflect the seriousness of this. Young people with eating disorders face a medical cliff-edge when they reach adulthood. Their care can simply stop. They are discharged from CAMHS and placed on a waiting list for adult services that are understaffed, under-resourced and, in 14 counties, are non-existent. Families describe it as being cut loose. The care stops dead and there is little to no continuity. With eating disorders, the gap in treatment can cause rapid regression. We know what works: early intervention and seamless transition, colocated child and adult mental health service teams, clear national pathways, stepdown care and mandatory handover planning before a young person turns 18. An eating disorder does not disappear on your 18th birthday. Our services cannot either. Will the Minister implement a mandatory standardised transition pathway from child to adult services? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Mary Butler)  I thank the Deputy for her question. In fairness, she has always been a strong advocate for supports for those with eating disorders. It is the most debilitating mental health illness that you can have. We have made progress over the past five years. Some 95% of all those with an eating disorder are treated in the community. We have 14 of the 16 teams funded; 11 of them are in place and we are recruiting the other five. Two more were announced in budget 2026. I know the Deputy will be happy to hear that yesterday, as part of the capital plan, a provision was made for adult eating disorder beds, 20 beds in total. We will base eight of them in St. Vincent's. We have agreement from the board of St. Vincent's do to that. Six will be in the south east, more than likely Cork, and six in the north west, maybe around the Roscommon area. We are making progress but I do appreciate that it is very difficult. We have looked specifically at children coming out of CAMHS teams into adult teams. That is a challenge in some areas where the teams are not in place. There are over 100 dedicated clinicians working in eating disorder teams now, with a ring-fenced budget. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  The Minister may have heard the case of a UCD medical student who was raped and had image-based sexual abuse used against her. As a result of being raped, she became pregnant. She had to have a termination and missed some of her medical exams due to having to schedule that. She asked UCD if she could resit her exams over the summer but UCD said no. It attempted to make her drop back a year, into the year in which her rapist was also a student. She was then forced to take High Court action to try to stop UCD putting her into the assailant's year. UCD fought the case, won and, two weeks after the second case of image abuse against her, it pursued the rape victim for a couple of hundred thousand in costs against her. She has not been able to continue her medical degree since 2023, as UCD has blocked her from doing so. Is it good enough that UCD is happy or okay to have a rapist studying medicine but not a rape victim? What can be done to make UCD help this student finish her degree as soon as possible, so she is not further punished for being a victim? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  I have seen some of the reporting on this online and it is shocking what that particular student experienced. UCD or, indeed, any third level institution should work with a student who has undergone shocking circumstances. Any third level institution or education institution should be working in a way that allows such a student to finish her studies, in a way that would reflect all of our institutions in second or third level. I would call on UCD to work with the student to allow her to complete her studies. She has gone through enough. I was shocked, as indeed everyone in this House has been, about what she has been subjected to in the recent period. It is incumbent on every public institution to work with her, so she can complete her studies. She has gone through enough. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  I had hoped to speak to the Taoiseach but he had to leave. Following up on an issue I raised with the Taoiseach on 27 January last, it appears that a lot of forensic psychiatrists in Ireland do not want to get involved in cases involving the killing of family members by loved ones. It appears to be related to calls for a review of processes and the whole uncertainty around that. This was reflected at a recent Central Criminal Court hearing where Mr. Justice Paul McDermott said there were serious deficiencies in obtaining consultant psychiatric reports, and repeated delays in seeking appropriate forensic experts, leading to situations where families were forced to return to court over a dozen times because the State could not appoint a suitable forensic specialist.  He said this was completely unacceptable and I am sure the Minister would agree. Will he also agree to write or get the Taoiseach to write to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions asking if it has a formal review mechanism for examining the processes by which forensic psychiatric opinions are compiled, whether consideration has been given to establishing clearer standards or oversight structures and to seek clarity as to whether the DPP is satisfied international best practice is being implemented in these situations? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  I do not have the facts or background on the particular matter relating to forensic psychiatrists but I will ask the Taoiseach and his office to respond comprehensively to the Deputy. I know he raised the importance of this matter and the comments of the judge in the past month with the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, in the context of forensic psychiatry. There is a Department of justice context as well. I will ask them to respond comprehensively to the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"S\u00e9amus McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy S\u00e9amus McGrath  I raise the local bus service in Cork city and suburbs and the failure of bus \u00c9ireann and the National Transport Authority to provide a reliable and dependable service. I should not have to raise this issue on the floor of the D\u00e1il but I am forced to because countless efforts by me and other public representatives over many years are simply not being addressed in terms of the National Transport Authority and Bus \u00c9ireann. We are tired of excuses at this stage regarding the poor quality of the bus services in Cork city and suburbs. We all know the issues - buses running late, timetables becoming meaningless, a travel app showing a bus will arrive and then it disappears and so on. Passengers are sick and tired of the excuses. I ask the Minister to ask the Department of Transport to intervene to ensure the public bodies that have a responsibility to provide a dependable bus service fulfil their duties.  While I am raising issues about the bus service, I want to acknowledge the staff and drivers who are doing their level best. They are on the front line and dealing with very frustrated customers on a daily basis. We hear about BusConnects but we need immediate solutions. I ask the Minister to intervene. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  I appreciate the huge frustration in the Cork community with this commuter service. People should expect, with a properly funded service, that it is punctual, reliable and frequent. The National Transport Authority has clear oversight responsibilities for bus operators to ensure that happens. There are various penalties and fines that can be imposed if a particular service does not run properly. I will ask our colleague, the Minister for Transport, to engage with Bus \u00c9ireann and the National Transport Authority to ensure the repeated issues the Deputy referenced are dealt with. We are funding our transport system at a record level but performance is critical. As the Deputy said, it is not necessarily a budgetary issue; it is an issue of performance. We will ask for strengthened oversight from the National Transport Authority and the Department of Transport relating to that issue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Roche","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Roche  I want to put the spotlight on the primary certificate criteria. I understand there have to be criteria but they are very rigid. There are people with profound autism issues and sensory processing difficulties and people who are visually impaired. I dealt with a young gentleman recently who lost his arm as a consequence of a cancer diagnosis. To be refused the primary certificate is quite insulting. I ask for the criteria to be revisited with regard to those who would be eligible, taking into account all of the areas I mentioned. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  I acknowledge for particular individuals there is a high threshold or bar for the primary medical certifcate. It can be extraordinarily difficult. I think we all, as constituency TDs, deal with that frequently. I will ask the Minister for Health to respond to the Deputy on the feedback he has given and any changes that will come of it. It is important to have a framework and parameters. I know that can create difficulties for particular individuals but I will ask her to engage and reflect the feedback. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  Is it the case women's health is less of a priority for this Government? If not, why is there a delay in the delivery of a new maternity hospital for University Hospital Kerry which can offer safe access to theatre from the delivery suite? As it is at the moment, if a woman has a caesarean section, she is taken from the suite, down to the ground floor through a public corridor and up an unstable lift. It adds time to what is already an emergency procedure. There was an approved capital submission in 2018 which was put on hold to allow for a submission for a new maternity and neonatal unit. It was part of the development control plan but it has been removed from the priority list. What is the Government going to do about it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  What I agreed with the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, was that there would be record capital funding for healthcare overall over the next five years. That is to underpin significant investment and development for women's' health, maternity healthcare and much more across the system. I am sure the Deputy is referencing the HSE capital plan. I do not have the specific feedback relating to University Hospital Kerry but we want to modernise our health infrastructure. A clear part of that relates to maternity care. The Minister for Health can perhaps come back to the Deputy on that particular capital project. I do not have the detail about why it might not have received the level of funding the Deputy expects for 2026. We are clear that we want to advance a significant number of projects across the maternity system in the capital plan over the next number of years. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Edward Timmins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Edward Timmins  I have a constituent who worked in a healthcare setting during Covid, meeting patients face to face and taking care of them while others stayed at home. This was until she got Covid in January 2021 following an outbreak in her workplace. She ended up in hospital with clots on her lung and pneumonia. This lady is now 52 and she has not been able to work since 2021. There are many days when she cannot even leave the house. It is important that long Covid for healthcare staff who worked in our healthcare system during Covid is recognised as a critical illness. There are currently 159 healthcare staff who received the special leave pay until it ceased on 31 December last. On the public service sick leave scheme, this healthcare worker is experiencing a 71% drop in her net income per month. This is not right. Will something be done to correct this very unfair situation? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  I acknowledge the contribution so many members of our health system made during Covid. The special scheme for long Covid which was established in July 2022 and extended on a number of occasions. As the Deputy knows, this entered into a Labour Court process which the Government accepted at the time. Following several extensions, the final extension in June last year meant the scheme concluded on 31 December 2025. It does not mean supports will end. Staff who remain unfit to work will move into the public service sick leave scheme. That provides for payment of 92 calendar days on full pay in a rolling one-year period followed by 91 calendar days on half pay. There is significant protection through the public service sick leave scheme. The Government accepted the recommendation of the Labour Court. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John McGuinness  Earlier the Taoiseach stated again that every child is constitutionally entitled to an education. What happens when the main contractors to the State for school bus transport fails to bring children from their local village or town to the school to get that education? That is this case in a number of places in Kilkenny, including Mullinavat and Ballyhale and in particular Gowran where 50 families are affected. The Minister sanctioned the bus service through Bus \u00c9ireann in 2024. To date, there has been a stop-start approach to the provision of that service. I ask the Minister to directly intervene to ask why the contact is not being operated. Why has it failed the children of Gowran? Will he insist that the contract be fulfilled? Will he put the overall scheme to tender? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  I regret that the 50 students have not had their school transport provided for despite sanction to do so. This is a performance and management issue between the Department of education with Bus \u00c9ireann and whoever the particular operator is. I will ask the Minister for education to engage on that matter. Where a service has been provided for, it should be delivered. I do not know the background as to why that has not happened for the students the Deputy referenced.  I will ask the Department of education to follow up on that in the context of providing the particular service for the children involved. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  On wastewater infrastructure, planning permission has been granted for in excess of 60 houses at different sites in Mountbellew on the basis of the condition that they cannot be occupied until they are connected to the upgraded Mountbellew wastewater treatment plant. There is still no clarity on when construction on the plant will begin. In Craughwell and Clarinbridge, funding was announced for wastewater upgrades three years ago, but there has been no progress on these projects. As the Minister knows, we have a serious barrier to delivery of that infrastructure because the Department has told Galway County Council that it is expected to make a co-funding contribution of at least \u20ac2 million towards those projects. This is money that the council has not budgeted for. I have raised this matter with the Minister a number of times. It needs to be addressed. There are many more towns and villages I could mention where we do not have capacity and where there are no plans for investment. What is the Government going to do to accelerate delivery of this infrastructure and ensure that badly needed homes can be built? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  There are two primary ways in which we are trying to accelerate the development of water infrastructure. The first is to fully fund Irish Water over the next five years by providing it with \u20ac12 billion. This is a record level of investment to unlock and deliver a lot of the wastewater treatment plants that have been on lists for too many years. The second way is to cut a lot of the process out of Irish Water's delivery system prior to construction, which we are doing, and out of many of the infrastructure reforms we are advancing. The Deputy raised this with me at the infrastructure committee. I wrote to the committee in recent days, but I do not know if it has received my letter. The letter makes specific reference to Clarinbridge, a matter to which the Deputy has referred previously. I will ask Irish Water to respond to him on the situation in Mountbellew. We will try to organise that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  There is a cost to having a disability, which is in the region of \u20ac15,000 per year. Despite this, payments to people with disabilities were cut by up to \u20ac1,400 in the most recent budget. I asked the Minister on several occasions why these supports were removed. The answer I received indicated that it was because there are further supports coming. When I speak to people with disabilities, they do not see this happening. It is a very curious form of compassion to make cuts today on the basis of promises of supports next year or the year after. The Minister has responsibility for the public purse. I ask him to prioritise people with disabilities. The Government failed them in the context of the budget. This matter was a priority before the general election. The Government has forgotten about that priority. That is a fact. It has removed up to \u20ac1,400 in payments from these people. However, it is promising them things for next year and the year after. This payment must be reintroduced. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  The Deputy will know that the Minister, Deputy Calleary, has set up a consultation process on a cost-of-disability payment and how that would be structured. We have not had a permanent payment of that sort in the past. We are trying to structure it in the context of negotiations for next year's budget. However, it is not only about direct income support; it is also about improved services. That is why there was a 20% increase in terms of disability service, which the Minister, Deputy Foley, secured. There was increased resourcing for the Department of education. Social protection payments increased significantly as well. Those payments would support some individuals with disabilities.  We are clear on working with the disability stakeholders on designing a permanent annual cost-of-disability support payment. That work is ongoing in advance of budget 2027. The Government is committed across all areas, including employment overall, the education sector and the Department of disability, on strengthening services and income supports over the period ahead. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  According to the annual report of PDD Holdings - the company that owns Temu, a discount e-commerce platform that I am sure the Minister is familiar with - its jurisdiction of incorporation is the Cayman Islands. On the same form, it is stated that the company's principal executive office is here in Ireland. A company incorporated in a foreign jurisdiction and managed from Ireland is tax resident here. The subsidiary which operates Temu, namely Whaleco Technology Limited, is also Irish registered. We need clarity about whether tax residency and incorporation arrangements like this impact the taxation of financial flows between large parent companies and subsidiaries. I am concerned that this structure of tax residence between two jurisdictions allows tax avoidance by multinational corporations in the same way that the so-called double Irish, which was discontinued in 2015, did. Is this being looked into? Are we applying a withholding tax on payments from Ireland to PDD Holdings, given that the company is incorporated in the Cayman Islands? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  I do not have the individual taxpayer information, nor should I comment on any company's individual tax information in the Houses of Oireachtas. We have very clear legislation that sets out the tax arrangements for corporations, businesses and individuals. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  What about the broader picture? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  If the Deputy has a particular question, both the Revenue Commissioners and the tax division of the Department of Finance can clarify any interpretation of general policy. Individual taxpayer information is a matter of either personal or corporate confidentiality. It is important that we uphold that principle. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  Last week, the Government made announcements in relation to regional, national and local roads. In the context of County Tipperary, \u20ac57.7 million in funding was announced. Some \u20ac12.5 million was announced for Latteragh, which is a very important road between Thurles and Nenagh. That funding is welcome. However, Councillor Fiona Bonfield of the Labour Party and Fianna F\u00e1il's cathaoirleach of the council got a breakdown of the funding. It turns out that \u20ac8.3 million is for local and regional roads. That is nearly \u20ac1 million less than what was provided last year. The cathaoirleach of the council, Councillor John Carroll of Fianna F\u00e1il, was very critical of the Government and the allocation. He said that the county is going backwards. Is there a way in which the Government can do something about this? As we all know, the recent storms and heavy rain have destroyed local and regional roads, particularly those in north Tipperary. We have a large proportion of roads in the county. Will there be supplementary funding in this regard? It is desperately needed. When the cathaoirleach of the council, who is from the Minister's party, is criticising the Government, we know it is desperately needed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  I do not have the specific breakdown relating to the various counties in front of me. The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, has secured a record level of capital investment in transport----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  It has gone down. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  -----of \u20ac24 billion over the next five years. He has also sought to reprofile some of that funding towards investment in local, regional and national roads in order that we can build out our road network further. There is contingency in some of the funding allocations to ensure that some of the issues relating to storm damage will also be addressed. We are trying to have a wider assessment of recent storm damage in the context of potentially providing----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  Will there be more money? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  -----additional funding from the overall contingency for road infrastructure that has been badly damaged. Obviously, councils have to be supported in remedying that damage. I will ask the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, to come back to the Deputy on the annualised figures. I do not have them here. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Clendennen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Clendennen  I concur with Deputy Kelly in relation to roads and the condition they are currently in. Roads have taken an absolute pounding in recent months as a result of relentless bad weather. We received funding last week, which is very much welcome, but the pace of the provision of funding and the pace of deterioration are at two very different levels. Will the Government consider a special supplementary allocation in light of the level of damage that has been done? Damage has been done to roads the like of which I have never seen before. It is not just local county roads; it is all categories of roads. I ask that more discretion and autonomy be given to local engineers. There are far too many programmes that have to be referred to Dublin for approval. It makes zero sense that a mason repair job of \u20ac10,000 on a boreen in the back-end of Offaly has to be referred to Dublin for approval. Give the money to the engineers. Challenge them at the end of the year to see if they spent it all and if projects came in under budget. Let us get more efficiency into the system. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  On the latter point, I support more autonomy, as we have discussed at the infrastructure committee, and cutting out some of the process. If there are any suggestions from the Deputy's local authority as to how we can improve the turnaround time for decisions, I am more than open to hearing them. An overall assessment of the storm damage done to roads is taking place. We will obviously have to examine what that assessment finds and consider it in the context of the additionality that might be required. There already is contingency given to local authorities in their core budgets in this regard.  Some of the immediate work might involve temporarily remedying damage to roads. It might be next year before issues relating to the damage done by the storms will be fully rectified. There is work ongoing across Government to see what the amount required might be this year. We are engaging with local authorities as part of that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ryan O'Meara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ryan O'Meara  In October 2025, An Post wrote to the Department of communications requesting consent for an increase to pensions of 6% from 1 January 2025 and a further increase of 1% from 1 June 2025.  Last year, the Department of communications received a request for a pension increase of 2.5% for Eir, formerly Telecom \u00c9ireann, pensioners with effect from 1 January 2025. As both Ministers will know, these pensioners do not receive increases in the State pension. They rely on the agreed adjustment mechanisms. The pension schemes are private, well regulated and in strong financial health. Our retired An Post and Eir workers have worked incredibly hard to connect generations of people in this country. They deserve these increases. They are affordable. They need them now. When will the Government sign off on the pension increases for An Post and Eir pensioners? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Patrick O'Donovan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Patrick-O'Donovan.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport (Deputy Patrick O'Donovan)  I acknowledge Deputy O'Meara for raising this matter. These are important workers who have given a huge amount of service to the State through the Department of Posts and Telegraphs, An Post, Eircom and, latterly, Eir, which is now a private company. The Department of communications has signed off on its element of this. The other element is with the Department of public expenditure and reform. We can provide a more comprehensive reply by email later on. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  I signed off on the An Post one on Monday, so it should be concluding. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  We are out of time, but I propose to take the two remaining speakers offering. They will have 30 seconds each. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in  What is the Government planning to do about the devastation of the coastline in north Wexford and south Wicklow? I am talking about Cahore, Glascarrig, Courtown, Castletown, Arklow and right up to Brittas Bay. There are few people in Dublin who do not have fond memories of Courtown. The beautiful and historic Courtown Woods have lost an area equivalent to 18 football pitches over the past few decades. The Kiltennel walking trail is being swept away and the Arklow walking trail all the way up to Brittas is being devastated. These coastal walks are very important for health and well-being. They are being absolutely devastated. What measures is the Government taking? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  I appreciate the Deputy raising this. I know the devastation that has been caused all across the south east, both to community infrastructure and to many people's homes. Significant work is ongoing across Government, led by the Taoiseach's office and the Cabinet committee on coastal erosion, to provide better support for areas affected by coastal erosion. We are working with the OPW. The Deputy will have seen the recent announcement in respect of Donabate. We want to make more interventions to support community infrastructure and address the damage that has been done. I will ask the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, to respond to the Deputy directly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  Will the Minister explain how it is fair for Irish consumers to pay almost double what data centres pay for electricity? At a time when energy costs are still a cause of real financial hardship for many households across the country, data centres are paying almost half what households pay per kilowatt hour of electricity. They also pay dramatically less in network standing charges, so householders are actually being done over twice. Will the Minister explain why it is fair that data centres get energy at such discounted prices in comparison with Irish households? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  As Deputy O'Gorman knows, the pricing system is decided by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, which sets the pricing parameters for individual consumers and for large energy users, including data centres. We need to move away from this polarising argument regarding households and digital infrastructure. Ultimately, we need to support households more. That is the work of the energy affordability task force. The argument to which I refer really shows a degrowth philosophy to try to undermine digital infrastructure in our State. That will undermine growth capability in the longer term. AI and digital infrastructure will play a critical role in that growth. We need to be cognisant of that in the context of the attacks on digital infrastructure we see from some Members. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Pholasa\u00ed n\u00f3 ar Reachta\u00edocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-25\/debate\/dbsect_12","debateType":"statement","bill":null,"showAs":"Special Needs Assistants: Statements","counts":{"speechCount":54,"speakerCount":49},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_12","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pat Buckley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pat-Buckley.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Pat-Buckley.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ryan O'Meara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"S\u00e9amus McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Clendennen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Keira Keogh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Fitzmaurice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Roche","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gillian Toole","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gillian-Toole.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Gillian-Toole.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Education and Youth (Deputy Hildegarde Naughton)  Over the course of a two-hour debate last night, I listened carefully to what colleagues had to say about the vital role played by special needs assistants, SNAs, in the lives of children and young people with special educational needs. Today, protests involving parents, teachers, SNAs and members of school communities will take place across the country. I know that people are angry and frustrated at what is being portrayed as the removal of essential supports for young people. That is why I want to restate this Government\u2019s position. We are fully committed to supporting children with special educational needs and we will implement our programme for Government commitments to deliver on this objective. No cuts are or will be proposed to the provision of SNA support to children and young people across our school system.  As a teacher, I know the value of our SNAs, teachers and special education teachers. I know that children thrive in school thanks to the supports provided by those dedicated and hard-working school staff. I know how vital these dedicated staff are in helping young people gain independence and confidence in the classroom and in their studies. As a teacher, I could not stand over changes to special education services, particularly at a time when we know the needs are profound and when Government has repeatedly stated that improving the lives of people with a disability or a special educational requirement is a priority.  That is why Government this week agreed a number of measures that will give clarity to schools, parents, young people and SNAs. These measures are that: all schools reviewed by the NCSE and allocated additional resources will receive them in the upcoming school year; no reductions will come into effect in the 2026-27 school year; and the SNA redeployment scheme, the SNA workforce development plan and changes to the 2014 circular outlining the role of a SNA will be advanced before any further decisions are taken. Working alongside almost 22,000 special education teachers, this September will see almost 25,000 SNAs in our schools playing a key role in supporting children and young people with care needs.  Working hand in hand with teachers, SNAs are paramount in helping children to achieve. That is why I fully understand why, over the last week, we have heard genuine concern and worry from SNAs, schools and parents about how they and their loved ones might be affected by any changes to school allocations. However, we have also heard a lot of misinformation about how the Government is supposedly cutting supports, undermining SNAs and failing to invest in our education system. It is important to bring clarity to these issues.  This Government has nothing but respect for SNAs, teachers, special education teachers, schools, students and their families. I fully appreciate, endorse and share my Department\u2019s insistence that special education policies are child-centred and designed to assist young people to thrive in school and to help them to reach their full potential. It would be useful to outline the resources that have been invested in special education over the past number of years. This year, we will invest more than \u20ac3 billion to support children. Funding has never been higher and now represents almost a quarter of the entire education budget.  Our ambition is that the vast majority of children will be educated in mainstream schools alongside their siblings and peers, with supports, including special education teachers and SNAs, where required. We also know that some children need additional help, which is why we now have more than 3,700 special classes in our schools across the country, compared with 1,800 just five years ago. This will increase again in September to over 4,000 special classes. The Government also appreciates that some children have more complex needs and require more intensive supports. That is why we now have 129 NCSE-supported special schools in this country, compared to 114 five years ago. Recognising the increased need we have seen in this country in recent years, more than 30,000 children are in specialist school settings today, compared with 18,000 just five years ago. That reflects the actions of a Government that cares about our children and young people with additional educational needs.  We are also mindful that more nuanced and specialist supports are needed. The summer programme, previously known as July provision, has gone from strength to strength in recent years. We now have funding of \u20ac62 million to ensure that as many schools as possible can take part in the programme. The number of children participating in the programme grew from 13,000 in 2019 to more than 70,000 last year.  A real game-changer is the new education therapy service, which was a commitment in the programme for Government that is now being realised.  Earlier this month, I was pleased to announce details of the roll-out, with the first speech and language therapists and occupational therapists due to begin work in 45 special schools on a phased basis from April. I am pleased to inform the House that the initial recruitment campaign for 90 therapists is now closed, with interviews currently under way. There was a very good response with almost 200 candidates applying for posts, and interviews will be concluded early next month with panels formed and jobs offered. Further roll out of the service will occur on a phased basis. It is envisaged that all special schools will have access in the 2026-2027 school year. This service will be expanded over time to include special and mainstream classes. Our ambition around special education is set out in the programme for Government, which includes 20 separate actions aimed at supporting children. I am committed to delivering all of them.  I also want to put to bed the suggestion that the Government was proposing to make hundreds of SNAs redundant, a measure that would fly in the face of what we are trying to achieve. To be clear: 23,179 SNAs were allocated to schools for the 2025-2026 school year. Last year, 21,579 SNAs were allocated. Next September, the allocation will rise again to 24,896. The numbers do not lie. We are not cutting SNAs.  It is worth noting that budget 2026 provided that an additional 1,700 SNAs would join the education system in the coming September. By way of comparison, Sinn F\u00e9in's general election manifesto committed to providing an average of 1,000 SNAs per year, the Labour Party sought 1,200 in this year's budget and the Social Democrats sought 1,000. The Government is exceeding all these targets. Our decision this week adds another 500 SNAs to the system for 2026.  Managing these valuable SNAs is crucially important to ensure that resources are allocated to schools with the highest level of need. It is therefore important that I speak to the vital role played by the National Council for Special Education, NCSE. The NCSE has responsibility for co-ordinating and advising on the education provision and care support for children and young people with special educational needs. This includes the allocation of SNA support to schools. I fully support the NCSE in its work. To allay any concerns people may have, it is important to give some context on how NCSE reviews take place.  Special educational needs organisers, SENOs, are from various professional backgrounds and include occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, school principals, special education teachers, early intervention specialists, SNAs and mainstream class teachers. They know our education system. Among their other duties, SENOs also undertake school reviews, which have been a feature of our system for many years. In the 2024-2025 school year, around 1,400 reviews were conducted. In the current school year, some 1,000 reviews were conducted.  Schools are notified of reviews in advance, and the NCSE undertakes a robust process to ensure they are based on the care needs of an individual school because - as Members of the House are aware - SNAs are allocated to schools, not individual children. The NCSE is not charged with cutting resources. It appreciates the complexities of young people and school life and deploys leniency in its outcomes, working to retain supports available to children.  Among the information the NCSE requires to conduct a review are student support files for each young person. These files are compiled by the teacher and are an individualised learning plan that documents the young person's strengths, interests and needs, as well as the priority learning needs that have been agreed - with teachers, parents and the young person - as the basis for targets and interventions. The targets can include socio-emotional targets, behavioural targets and language targets as well as learning targets. The progress young people make in reaching their targets should be monitored and reviewed regularly, with all developments documented in the student support plan.  The information contained is important not just to help assess progress or particular challenges that might arise - and the interventions put in place to assist the young person concerned - but also to help determine the level of need across the whole school. Last November, my Department's inspectorate published a report on the use of the student support files. It found that in a small percentage of schools, no student support files were in place and in another small number of schools, no learning needs for the current or previous school year were recorded. While mindful of the pressures placed on our schools, it does not serve children well if these files are not updated and used to measure progress, particularly when they play such an important role in determining the provision of supports. I will work with my Department to assist schools on this matter and provide any supports required.  The NCSE is mindful that parents know what is best for their child, which is why SENOs ask that parents complete a questionnaire outlining the care needs of their child to help inform their reviews. Parents who may have a difficulty in completing this questionnaire are provided with contact details for the SENO tasked with completing the school review, so their child's needs can be documented. This information from parents and guardians is vitally important to help young people successfully progress in their journey through school. To ensure that a full picture is captured, the review process also includes consultation with staff in the school, including class teachers, special education teachers, SNAs and principals. Only when all this information is gathered can a robust assessment be made.  As I previously said, the NCSE works to retain supports for children but circumstances can and do arise where the same level of SNA support is no longer required - such as where a student or students with highly significant care needs leave the school. There is also the ideal scenario where children gain more independence and more confidence in their learning and they no longer require the same level of support. These outcomes are what we all want, and what our system is designed to achieve. These are the measures of success for young people.  I reject the assertion that the NCSE operates, as one Member of this House has claimed, as an \"unaccountable gatekeeper\". Checks and balances are in place to ensure the review process is robust and stands up to scrutiny. Once a SENO has finished a school review, a national panel within the NCSE reviews the decision to ensure consistency and that care needs are being captured. If a school is not satisfied with the review, it can appeal. This appeal is adjudicated by NCSE staff who were not involved in the original review. If the school is still not satisfied, it can request a further appeal from an independent panel, members of which are drawn from education stakeholder groups.  As previously stated, the Government has agreed that three key documents must be finalised and published to provide additional clarity to our system of reviews. The first is the SNA redeployment scheme, which has long been called for by SNAs and trade unions. This will provide a method by which SNAs can be redeployed around the school system to ensure we have the right resources in the right place. This scheme is near finalisation and was developed following significant stakeholder engagement to ensure it works for SNAs and schools.  The second document to be finalised is a review of a 2014 circular outlining the role of the SNA. This work will be advanced and completed as a priority. The third document is the SNA workforce development plan, which was developed following extensive discussion and engagement with SNAs and trade unions. Development of the plan involved 55 meetings across five working groups - each of which included two trade union representatives, one of whom was an SNA. There were also bilateral meetings with trade unions, and meetings with a dedicated SNA stakeholder group.  Last night, the Opposition urged the Government to \"professionalise\" the work of SNAs. We are already doing this. The SNA workforce development plan, which is near completion, has been co-designed with SNAs. They were specifically included in the working groups to ensure the plan captures and reflects their professional experience.  After these three documents are published, the NCSE will commence reviews of supports provided to schools for the 2027-2028 academic year, which will uphold the integrity of the process. Any school that believes it needs more support can request assistance from the NCSE, which can help with the effective deployment of SNA resources.  Schools can also request a review of their allocation if care needs change at any point during the school year.  I understand the anger and upset that arose this week, but I do not, as some have claimed, blame the NCSE for this situation. The NCSE did the work it is mandated to do. I have full confidence in the NCSE. It fulfilled its role to ensure that special education resources are allocated to the schools with the greatest need. I regret to say that some SENOs and staff have been subject to unwarranted abuse over recent weeks. This is completely unjustified. NCSE staff are doing the job they are mandated to do. Whatever anger people may have towards the Government, there is no justification for taking that anger out on dedicated, honourable and diligent professionals, and I regret that this has happened. I fully accept that the process and outcomes were not properly communicated. That is the fault of Government. I will work to ensure this does not happen again.  I will address a point made by Sinn F\u00e9in last night when it made the charge that SNAs had been \"disrespected\" by the Government. Just last week in Northern Ireland, teaching assistants - who obviously fulfil a different role from SNAs but which are nonetheless an extremely important support for many children - told the BBC they were \"undervalued\", in part because they are only paid during term time. For clarity, full-time SNAs here are paid from 1 September to 31 August, the full school year, reflecting the importance we attach to their role. Juliana Harkin, a classroom assistant for ten years, told the BBC her role was \"undervalued\" and that the \u201cpowers that be\" do not realise that classroom assistants go \"above and beyond\". For information, the \"powers that be\" in Northern Ireland are the Government of which Sinn F\u00e9in is a member. Last night, that party claimed in this House: \"We stand with every child with additional needs\". In Northern Ireland it is a different story. There, it refuses to pay classroom assistants for the full school year and, as Ms Harkin said, does not understand their role.  This Government is committed to an education system where every child and young person feels and is valued, and is actively supported and nurtured to reach their full potential. We accept, however, that the system is not working as well as it could. We know that children do not want to feel different from their peers, and we need to talk about children going to school, rather than going to a special class or special school. We need to move away from using the term \"special\" education. Instead, we must strive to develop an education system which supports students of all abilities without attaching a label.  I was struck by a radio interview yesterday with Derval McDonagh from Inclusion Ireland. She made the point that what is needed was a much deeper and wider look at our education system to help shape a fully inclusive model. I completely agree, and work is progressing in this regard. Just last June, my Department published a review of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs, EPSEN, Act. The review garnered more than 28,000 responses, and sets out 51 recommendations to help create an education system that is inclusive, equitable and fit for purpose for children and young people of all abilities. Separately, my Department will shortly complete a piece of work with Finland which will help inform the development of an inclusive education system, drawing on best practice internationally.  There is much work to do, and this work will be informed by consultation, meaningful engagement and co-design with education stakeholders, families and young people. I will be guided by the central premise and ambition that this Government is fully committed to supporting children of all abilities to attend school in their community and that their journey through the education system will be positive, nurturing and help them to achieve their ambitions, whatever they may be. I assure the House, the people protesting around the country, families, school communities and young people that this Government is listening. We are committed to doing the right thing and ensuring that supports are provided to those who need them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  I welcome the opportunity to contribute to these statements. I want to correct the record of the D\u00e1il. The Minister said that, by comparison, Sinn F\u00e9in's general election manifesto committed to providing an average of 1,000 SNAs per year. I think she was talking about special education teachers, not SNAs. When it comes to SNAs, the Minister has not provided 1,000 special education teachers----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  There are 1,700. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  Sinn F\u00e9in is setting the yardstick in relation to that. When it comes to special needs assistants, there were 1,700 last year. Sinn F\u00e9in provided for 1,900. How many were there this year? There were 1,700 again this year. Sinn F\u00e9in provided for 1,850. Over the last couple of years, had Sinn F\u00e9in been in Government, we would have had hundreds more special needs assistants. I would like to correct the record of the D\u00e1il in relation to that.  Last night, the D\u00e1il sent a unified and powerful message. We unanimously agreed on the need for urgent action to protect SNA provision and, more important, to protect the children who depend on it. We laid out a clear motion. The Minister and Minister of State agreed to it. In agreeing to that motion, the Government agreed to abandon the disastrous 2025-26 review and reverse the cuts that have caused cruel uncertainty for families and the SNAs who dedicate their lives to supporting some of our most vulnerable children.  There is one part of the motion that I want to focus on today because it goes to the heart of the dysfunction that we have seen. It called on the Government to \"guarantee that no future changes to SNA provision will be made without meaningful, constructive, and transparent engagement with schools, parents, and SNAs themselves, ensuring their voices and expertise are central to decision-making\". For far too long, decisions about our children's care have been made behind closed doors. A point was made that the NCSE is being unaccountable gatekeepers. That is not a criticism of the NCSE; it is a criticism of the Minister and her predecessors. She has given the NCSE and the SENOs an impossible job. She has tied their hands. That is the issue that has to be resolved here. As was said so many times yesterday, we must trust schools. The point was made yesterday that the Minister trusts principals to allocate SNA resources within their schools but she does not trust them to tell her how many SNAs they need. That is the conundrum and contradiction in all of this. There needs to be a change of path. In all of her contributions, the Minister has not, for one second, shown humility and I have not heard a recognition of the hurt and pain this has caused. Nor have I heard that there will be a step change in the approach to all of this.  There has been real concern about the Government's response to the 2014 circular. It is out of date and needs to be completely overhauled. We have just come from a meeting of the education committee that discussed this precise topic. What did we hear from the Taoiseach yesterday? He said we have to be very careful about expanding the role of SNAs and we have to think about it long and hard. I have thought about it long and hard, as have SNAs and everybody working with children with disabilities. They live with it every single day and they know the 2014 circular must be overhauled. We need to recognise the roles that SNAs play and resource them and allocate them on that basis. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh  Yesterday, the Taoiseach appeared incredulous, even dismissive, at the suggestion from my party leader, Deputy Mary Lou McDonald, that we need a new departure in special education. He might not be so shocked if he actually listened to those on the ground, the parents fighting for their children, the SNAs working well beyond their contracts and the schools trying to hold the system together. The central issue here is not the redeployment scheme, no matter how often Ministers repeat it. The real issue is that the criteria determining who qualifies for support are outdated and no longer reflect the evolving needs of children in our classrooms.  I welcome the Minister's confirmation that no further reviews will be undertaken until the workforce development plan and updated circular are published, but this is only the first step. It should have happened a long time ago, certainly before any NCSE review letters went out to schools. The Department's review of the EPSEN Act, published last summer, stated that the workforce development plan would be delivered by September 2025.  Its first pillar explicitly recognises the evolving role of the SNA. Had that role been properly expanded and recognised in policy last September, we might not be in this mess today. Instead, a State-wide review was initiated using criteria the Government itself had already tactically acknowledged were outdated. This is a serious oversight. It raises serious questions about accountability and the persistent buck-passing between the Department and the NCSE.  We also need a candid discussion of how reviews are carried out. SNAs have told me of SENO classroom visits where there was no engagement with the child and no meaningful consultation with the SNA. This is not a child-centred approach. It is bureaucratic box-ticking. This anecdote also speaks to the question of respect for SNAs and the expertise they hold as professionals accompanying children throughout their school journeys. In recent weeks, we have had an outpouring of public support for SNAs. People recognise their value. The real test will be in contract negotiations on full-time hours, pensions, the 72 additional hours, redeployment and formal recognition as public servants. The Government says it recognises their value but words are not enough.  Many of the concerns I mentioned were raised in the EPSEN review authored by the Minister's own Department. Why conduct reviews if absolutely nothing comes from their recommendations? That question must be asked. These challenges do not exist in isolation. Lack of SNAs, oversized classes, redesignation of mild general learning disability, MGLD, schools and the shortage of special classes and school places are all interconnected. They require proper sustained investment. It should be noted that no parent seeks an SNA support for their child if they do not need it. A new departure means ramping up investment in education, which is something that will surely yield a dividend. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Claire Kerrane  I will focus on an issue I found in Roscommon and Galway. This time, it is not in relation to cuts per se , but a situation where schools do not have the correct or adequate number of SNAs in the first place. I will give one example. I provided a letter of support for a school that is appealing its SNA allocation. That school has two full-time SNAs and one part-time SNA. The two full-time SNAs are with two children who are a flight risk and have a number of primary care needs. Those children cannot be left unattended for the start of the school day, throughout and to the end of the school day. That is the two SNAs. The SNA who is part time is working with eight children, all with additional needs and a variety of needs. It is not possible for that SNA to do her job as a part-time SNA, yet that school has been told it has the required number of SNAs. The school looked for a review itself. It was half-terrified when it looked for it, but it was told it would hold what it has, which is what it is appealing now. We should not have a situation where a part-time SNA has to try to deal with the needs of eight children. It is not fair on the SNA and it is certainly not fair on the eight children. That is just one example of one school in my constituency.  I know of other cases where children have to leave school early because the SNA finishes at a certain time and has to go home. In 2026, it is a shame to have any child in a classroom not receiving the support they deserve and are entitled to simply to get them through the school day. We have a serious issue here and we need to resolve it. We need to ensure that every child in every school has the SNA they need - nothing more and nothing less. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  Last week, I received a letter from 21 school principals across Donegal. I sent it to the Minister and the Minister of State. I ask them to meet with a delegation of these principals. They have asked that the Ministers meet them in the school to see exactly what they are talking about. I ask them to read the letter because it specifically deals with the issues. It is not just about these letters that cause great distress and anguish to schools across the State. The first I knew about it was when it affected one of my local schools, St. Oran's National School in Buncrana. The system that is in place and the outdated criteria just do not reflect what the special needs assistant does today, as we speak in 2026. It does not reflect the central importance SNAs have in schools. Teachers - in this case the principal speaking for the teachers - are struggling to deal with the existing criteria.  The big lesson for the Government to take is that the regulations that go back to 2014, as Deputy O'Rourke said, are just not fit for purpose any more. They have to be scrapped. The Government has to put in place a new framework for SNAs, one that is based on the real experience teachers and SNAs are seeing in schools. It is important that this is not just a case of kicking the can down the road and a review of the review. This has to mean a complete change to the framework that is there. It is not working and does not reflect the reality. That is the lesson that needs to be learned. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pat Buckley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pat-Buckley.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Pat-Buckley.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pat Buckley  I welcome the statements by the Minister and the Minister of State confirming there will be no cuts to SNAs across schools this year. From speaking to SNAs and parents, however, they are worried that this is just a pause. What will happen next year?  I listened to the Minister's speech. She spoke about SENOs knowing our education system. A lot of Deputies spoke today and yesterday about the 2014 circular that is totally outdated. When the policy was being developed, SENOs felt they were not listened to, but they are the professionals and the gang that live it every day in schools. I have certainly listened to that. We had an online meeting last Monday. There was well over 1,000 people at that. We listened to parents, teachers, SENOs and SNAs pouring their hearts out with grief and fear. One woman from Cork apologised before she even opened her mouth because she was so upset. These are not my words but this lady's words; she said she never felt so undervalued in her entire life. She never felt so broken for doing something that she loved and felt that there was no answer.  I welcome the July provision. I sat on the autism committee, which made 109 recommendations. I would like that to improve and keep going forward. The Minister also mentioned dialogue, the new platforms, the new policy documents that are coming out and the work between the Department and the unions. I will flag something the unions have told me straight out. They said that what would happen is they will go into a dark room, the unions and the Department will say their piece, but it will be the Department's way or the highway. I wanted to flag that because if we want to do the right thing, we should engage with every single body to get the policies right. If we do, we will never be back here again. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  The Minister may want to try to deflect from her statement today but Fine Gael and Fianna F\u00e1il are responsible for the SNA crisis. It is of their own making and is compounded by their chaotic, uncertain handling of the mess. Letters did go out. It would be something if they recognised the distress caused to parents, children and SNAs, held their hands up, recognised their mistake and apologised. They should not try to blame the NCSE. It is not its fault; the Minister is in charge. She should apologise and make clear to the schools facing cuts to their SNA allocation that these will not go ahead. However, the Government chooses to further compound the cruelty with a review of a review, with no date for when this will be completed. Parents, children, SNAs and teachers are expected to pick up the slack. They deserve better than the Government spinning a review to provide cover for a quieter climbdown in a few weeks or in the mistaken hope it might succeed in getting this over the line at a later point. What they deserve is to have the Government now clearly, categorically and without equivocation address and resolve the hurt the Minister and Minister of State have caused.  Sinn F\u00e9in's motion last night offered every Member of the House the opportunity to apologise to every school, SNA and family impacted. The Government should commit to abandoning the debacle-laden review, publishing a comprehensive SNA workforce development plan, developing a genuine partnership with SNAs and their unions, and implementing a fair and transparent SNA redeployment scheme to provide job security for existing SNAs to retain their invaluable experience within the school system.  That is what recognition of hurt the Government has caused actually looks like, and it is so familiar to all the SNAs who are protesting this evening for that very reason. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  I spoke on this last night here in the D\u00e1il and again today with the Taoiseach. This has been an absolutely catastrophic number of weeks for so many people for whom this matter has caused so much stress.  I said last night that, as a Parliament, we have to take account of the fact that so many children, particularly those with additional needs, along with parents, SNAs and school communities, were deeply affected. We cannot just turn around on a whim all of a sudden and stop talking about this, because for two weeks straight schools were deeply affected by what they were led to believe was the taking of resources from children. Ultimately, that is what happened.  We had a policy in place. The Department implemented that policy through the SENOs and NCSE. Schools received letters stating they were to lose or gain SNAs. There was a huge outcry of support for SNAs and then, all of a sudden, the policy was scrapped. It was rowed back. The political wind changed and we were offered \u20ac19 million to save the day.  Last year, I stood on the streets of Cork city and outside this D\u00e1il with parents who were trying to access special classes for their children. To be fair to the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, he worked extremely hard to get classes set up and make them available. We did that but this year again there is another issue. It relates to SNAs. It is a question of resources and classes, and it should not be the case that every single year it is the parents and children who are deeply affected by ad hoc decision-making by the Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  The chaos this Government has inflicted on SNAs, parents and children countrywide has been absolutely appalling. I, like many, have listened to the Minister in this Chamber and on the national airwaves, but after a week of listening I am still not sure Ministers even know what their position was. Parents do. SNAs do. Schools do. They know that the Government rushed through a review with no real consultation, and seemingly no real understanding of the role of SNAs and definitely no real plan for schools. We know there was no real plan because we have heard this directly from the schools themselves.  Thornleigh Educate Together National School, which is in Swords in my constituency, had a full-school SNA review in December 2024, and an increase of 2.66 SNAs was granted in January 2025. In September 2025, it enrolled a large number of pupils with needs in junior infants and in other classes, which is exactly what we wanted schools to do. The school identified 15 of the children as requiring significant SNA support. It effectively had to use two SEN teachers in an SNA role as a result. This was intended as a temporary measure while it engaged with the NCSE. That engagement happened and a focus review was carried out in November where only paperwork related to the newly emerged needs was examined. To the school's horror, it received an email at the start of February this year stating not only that it would not be provided with an additional SNA allocation to meet the newly emerged needs but also that its existing allocation would be cut by one post. Can anyone explain how that works to me, the parents of the children, the children themselves or the SNA whose job was cut?  Thornleigh was not the only school in my constituency affected, of course. Donabate Portrane Educate Together National School was told it too was facing a cut to its number of SNAs. From start to finish, the handling of this was total madness.  There are also the cases of other schools. I have raised in this Chamber and directly with the Minister of State the case of River Valley Community National School, which had different needs in relation to providing a safe learning environment for children with additional needs. That was put on the back burner because of this absolute shambles.  We welcome the backtrack, but there has been an absolute crisis \u2013 one of the Minister's making. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  The announcement rushed out on Monday night was designed to do two things: quell the D\u00e1il on Tuesday and silence SNAs and families on Wednesday. It has not succeeded. SNAs are not stupid. As Deputy Bacik said yesterday during Leaders' Questions, they know a pause is not a plan.  The Taoiseach's performance yesterday during Leaders' Questions was incredible. It showed signs of a Government in absolute panic mode. It was a shambles. It was the leader of a country throwing civil servants in the Department of education and the NCSE under the school bus. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  It was shameful for and unbecoming of someone who delights in telling us he is a former education Minister. It would serve him and the rest of the Government better, and would restore some trust in politics, if he, the Minister and the Minister of State just admitted that they all got this horribly wrong. Instead, they apologised for how things were communicated. It was absolutely shambolic. They did not apologise at all for the policy itself. That is telling.  I am aware that there are SENOs across this country whose very first job over the past two weeks was to go into schools, based on the letters received, and tell them they were going to experience cuts to their SNA complement. They did this because the NCSE was forced to introduce arbitrary cuts with no policy rationale whatsoever other than to help with budgetary overruns in the Department of education. That is the nub of it. The trust is broken between SNAs and the Government, and a pause will not cut it. There needs to be a new plan and, ultimately, SNAs themselves, families and young people need to be involved in framing that new plan.  The Minister is suppressing replies to parliamentary questions. She refused to release to me the names of schools in Louth that received NCSE letters prior to the first pause. These letters exist and they are a matter of public record. The shambles the Government has made for itself is demonstrated by the fact that it is simply refusing to do something it is obliged to do, namely send to me information already on the public record by way of replies to parliamentary questions. The Minister is obliged to answer and must confirm that she will. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Wall  About two weekends ago, I took a call from an SNA who informed me they had been told their job was under threat following a letter the school they were employed in had received from the NCSE. The fear, heartbreak and anxiety in that call will stay with me for a long time. Not knowing if you have a job or how you will pay your mortgage and look after your family reflects the reality of what a Department has caused in sending out the letters. It is the reason I raised it with the Taoiseach the following Tuesday, the first opportunity available to me. The panic in the SNA's call has got to be a watershed moment for us all in this House regarding how SNAs are treated. They must not be left in a position where they will continue to dread the call to the principal's office. In some cases that I heard about recently, they were being offered limited-hours contracts that a part-time employee would have difficulty with.  I have been inundated by calls from families who have told me their children with special educational needs flourished because of the special bond they had with their SNAs. Those families cannot understand why a Government would have wanted to break that bond and jeopardise the progress their loved ones were making.  In my own area, three schools - Scoil Mhich\u00edl Naofa, Athy, Patrician Secondary School, Newbridge, and St. Joseph's in Halverstown - received letters. The panic in the calls I received has got to be the watershed. The Government must not continue to treat SNAs like it has been treating them as a result of the letters.  We all hear that SNA numbers are increasing. The three schools that contacted me were to see cuts. That is the reality of it. They were losing their SNAs. The SNAs were losing their livelihoods and those children who needed them were losing the special bond. That is the reality. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert O'Donoghue  No forgiveness: that was the message I received from a parent yesterday about the attempted SNA cuts. On 6 February, the Minister proudly announced funding for 45 special schools. The announcement read, \"Every child deserves to reach their full potential.\" Three weeks later, the Government moved to strip SNA support from thousands of children across the country. Is it a question of every child or only those children who fit the spreadsheet?  On 7 February, at the Fine Gael disability conference in Galway, the right words were spoken. After the applause faded, the photographs were taken. Was it intended to make the announcement, host the conference and quietly reduce the supports once attention shifted? That was a miscalculation. It did not rely on principles or reckon on teachers, SNAs and parents saying \"No more cuts\".  Here in the Oireachtas, if a Member has additional needs, support is provided without hesitation. No one is told to manage with less. Why is that not the same for the children in our education system?  Parents are already exhausted, fighting daily for basic services. The Government relies on that exhaustion. It hopes families are too tired to resist.  There was an effort to take away another piece of stability the SNAs had. We do not need cuts; we need planning, strategic and systemic change and respect for children with additional needs.  The next time the Government says \"every child\", I hope it means it. Families will not forget and will not forgive. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathal Crowe  I am glad to have the opportunity to speak on this. Stopping the cut to SNAs in schools was the right thing to do and I think it has given some people reprieve. I have been out to visit several schools this week, sat in staff rooms and helped schools with their appeals. I met parents and some students who benefit from SNA support. SNA support is a key enabler in Irish education. It allows people to fulfil their schooldays in a happy, supported way. To take that away can be devastating for the child and the parent, and then there is the uncertainty that brings for the SNA. Many feel that this is just a reprieve and they are looking for certainty beyond today as to what will happen next and what will happen in the new school year. I refer to timelines in particular. We want to know when all these reviews will happen and when Circular 0030\/2014 will be reviewed. We need to hear those timelines. SNAs need certainty.  Before becoming a TD, I was a primary school teacher, and many moons ago I worked for a year as a special needs assistant. This has to be a reset moment where we define properly and put proper value on the work of SNAs in all schools throughout the country. The schools I have visited this week are in Flagmount, Feakle and Kilfenora. Many more are affected by this and they want certainty going forward.  Crucially, we need to deal with Circular 0030\/2014, brought in by the Labour Government in 2014. It is not working and does not reflect what is going on in schools throughout the country. It needs to be overhauled, and I would hate to think that it would still be in existence this time next year.  Finally, SENOs do a fine job. Many of them are very good, but I have come across very many cases where SENOs are overriding the expert opinions of educational psychologists. That would not happen in any other sphere. Not one of us here would go down the street to one of the acute hospitals in Dublin, walk up to the surgical theatre and start telling the surgeon how they should be doing their job or overriding their expert opinion. That does not happen in any field. There is a legal point to this. We cannot have someone who is not an educational psychologist pick up a report and diminish what it actually involves. That is wrong, and that is a legal point the Government will have to grasp because it is central to this issue we find ourselves in. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Albert Dolan  When I speak about special needs assistants today, I want to do so in a fashion that is factual and considered because behind all the headlines and all the political noise over the past week there are real children, real families and real SNAs who show up every single morning to do extraordinary work. Special needs assistants are not an add-on to the education system; they are part of the foundation of inclusive education in Ireland. They support children with additional care needs, assisting with mobility, personal care, communication, emotional regulation and helping students participate safely and meaningfully in school life. Their work allows teachers to teach, schools to function and children to belong.  Over the past decade the number of SNAs has increased significantly in response to growing and more complex needs. The State now funds thousands of SNA posts annually through the Department of education, with allocations advised by the NCSE. The expansion did not happen by accident. It reflects a policy decision that children with additional needs should be supported in mainstream education wherever possible. That is the right policy direction, but if we are being honest, the growth has presented massive challenges. Schools need clarity well in advance of each academic year that allocations are transparent and evidence-based, that SNAs themselves are recognised as skilled professionals within our education system and that communication with schools shall never create fear again.  The Minister has visited east Galway and has met with many different schools, but I want to highlight this. One of the biggest issues in our education sector in east Galway is the demand for SNAs and the need for more SNAs and for schools to be better supported. The need is growing but we need to rise to meet it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere  When the 2014 circular from the Department of education is updated, I hope it will clearly recognise something that every teacher and every parent already knows: that every school in Ireland has students with additional needs and, therefore, every school should be entitled to at least one special needs assistant. I welcome the recent news from the Minister that there will be no reduction in the allocation of SNAs for the upcoming year, but needs in schools do not always present as dramatic or highly visible. Yes, some students require significant support with care, mobility or medical needs, but there are many more children whose needs may be described as mild or moderate: difficulties with organisation, emotional regulation, social interaction, anxiety or attention. On their own these needs may seem small, but when you add them all together across an entire school they are not small at all.  I welcome the upcoming reforms to redefine the role of the SNA to include supporting non-physical needs, but in schools that are fortunate enough to have an SNA allocated for significant care needs, that SNA often becomes a quiet pillar of support for the wider school community. Once their core duties are met, they can help steady a child who is overwhelmed, support inclusion in the yard or assist a teacher during particularly challenging parts of the day. That flexibility benefits everyone.  Schools that do not have an SNA allocation, however, are at a clear disadvantage. The needs still exist. They do not disappear because there is no allocation, but instead the burden falls entirely on already stretched teachers and school leaders. This impacts not only the children with additional needs but the whole classroom. If we are truly committed to inclusion, then inclusion must be universal. Every school should begin with a baseline allocation of one SNA, and from that starting point allocations can be reviewed and revised upwards where the level of need requires it but never, ever down to zero. The only direction support should move is up, in response to identified need. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ryan O'Meara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ryan O'Meara  To be quite straight about this, the heart of this problem is the 2014 circular and the recognition only of primary care needs of children. If you spend 30 seconds in this country talking to a special needs assistant about their job, you will know that circular does not even nearly reflect what SNAs do every day. It is a crucial part of the job, but they do so much more: breaks with children who are overstimulated or overwhelmed or who might need even to go for a walk for a few minutes, classroom assistance for other children, children who are a flight risk and children who are school refusers. Those children are not recognised in the same way when it comes to an SNA allocation as those with primary care needs. That is wrong. In 2014 Circular 30 was introduced by a Labour Party Minister for education. It was wrong then and it is wrong now. Reviews are in and of themselves not necessarily bad. We see reviews every year when it comes to teacher allocations if the pupil-teacher ratio changes in schools, and they are not necessarily bad for SNAs, but as long as they are relying on the 2014 circular, they will not be fair on school communities, teachers, principals, SNAs or the children and families they support.  I welcome that the review has been paused. How the NCSE approached this is unacceptable and wrong, and I cannot shy back from that because I have spoken to principals who have faced those letters coming into their schools saying they will lose some SNAs. The individual who wrote the letter did not even put their name at the end of it for the principal to have someone to talk to afterwards. That is not an appropriate level of public service either.  Over the coming months the committee on education, of which I am a member, will do quite a lot of work on this. The NCSE and the Department of education will be before us, as I am sure the Minister and the Ministers of State will be at some stage too, and I will want to discuss the 2014 circular. It is essential. Next year we will have 25,000 SNAs in this country. That is brilliant, but let us have a circular that reflects the work they actually do. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  This is an important debate in that it focuses attention on those within our school system who need additional support. We need to acknowledge the very significant progress that has been made in the increase in the number of SNAs from 16,000 in 2020 to where it will be over 25,000 this year.  I also want to talk about the 16 new special schools that have been created since 2020, which are incredibly important, including one in Gorey, County Wexford. I know both the Minister and the Minister of State have visited it. It is already under pressure for space. I welcome in particular the fact that therapy-based services are now available in all those schools. Critical to this debate is that the focus has to be on the child and their family and on providing those supports. It cannot just be about the allocation of SNAs to schools; it has to be about the necessary support for the children specifically concerned.  I share colleagues' concerns about the National Council for Special Education. I think it failed in how it engaged on this issue with schools, and from a communications point of view it was a disaster.  I also want to express concern about the fact that in north Wexford we have been left without a SENO for some time. This is a concern.  SENOs are incredibly important in terms of being able to liaise with schools. As part of the review of the role of the SNA, we need to look at the role of the SENO in terms of the support they can give to the individual learner within the school system. The fact that we are now focusing on this issue is critical as we go on. It needs to continue to be remembered that the child has to be at the centre of this discussion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  Over the past number of weeks, I have listened intently to parents who are sick with worry. I have listened to special needs assistants who are lying awake at night wondering if they will have a job come September. These are jobs that they love and vocations they do with every fibre of their being. I have listened to children and their voices, which are really important in this debate. They simply want to feel safe, supported and included in their own classrooms. What have they been met with over the past two and a half to three weeks? It is gaslighting. There is no other word for what they have been met with. They have been told there is no crisis. They have been told there will be no cuts. Then they were told that it would be paused. In Waterford, Government representatives were out in the space of one day with three different messages. The first was that it was all a conspiracy crafted by the Opposition. In the next couple of hours, it was that there were not cuts and what were people talking about. After that, it was that there were cuts but they were going to stop them.  The Government needs to listen to parents, SNAs and school leaders. If it had done that it would have heard what we in Sinn F\u00e9in heard when we had our public meeting. I know other parties in the Opposition have been engaging with SNAs as well. The depth of anger was striking. It was really astounding. The testimonies were raw and moving. The level of anxiety was so sharp. There is a real determination among these parents, SNAs and school leaders to ensure these children have access to an appropriate and proper education. We have to also be clear that there is a context here. The chaos did not come from nowhere. It came from Government decisions and policy. No matter how Government tries to throw Ministers, Ministers of State, the NCSE, schools and anybody and everybody they can under the bus over this, this is Government decision-making. This is policy writ large. Policy that has to be changed late at night by Government leaders is never good policy. It is the hallmark of bad policy.  Schools have been told of impending cuts and now what we have is a reprieve. It is not the reset that the sector desperately needs. While the review has stopped, the damage has already been done. Trust has been shattered. There will be protests outside this place this evening. There will be protests across the State today, tomorrow and Friday. Trust is gone. Parents are still anxious. They do not believe Government and what they have been told. SNAs do not believe the Government. We still do not know what September will look like in schools for these children. Will any child lose their SNA in September? That is the question. We need solid guarantees that will not happen. It should never have been a question in the first place.  One parent highlighted to me the difficulties with the circular and how it does not reflect the daily work they see done by SNAs for their child and other children in that class. It goes far beyond the narrow definition in the 2014 circular. This moment should be about properly valuing SNAs, understanding their work and updating the framework to reflect what they actually do. Here we have a broken system that needs to be changed. We have parents who are used to fighting for every therapy, support and piece of access they have for their child. They are going to continue fighting and mark my words, this battle is not over. People are going to hold the Minister and this Government accountable to what they have promised and said in the past number of days to ensure that no child is left without the support they need to secure an education. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  I speak plainly about the role of SNAs and what they mean to children, families and schools and why the current situation has caused such anguish and confusion. What special needs assistants bring is \u201cS\u201d for security and safety, \u201cN\u201d for nurture and needs and \u201cA\u201d, they are advocates and assistants in our schools for our children who have additional needs. They are not add-ons to schools as somebody already said. They are not an extra that we might like. They are absolutely essential workers in our schools. I know the Minister and Minister of State know that because we have had these conversations before. What has happened is that the actions the Government and its agencies have taken have eroded all of that trust. The difficulty now is that they will have to earn that trust back. I know they both want to do that.  What has happened is they have been forced to make announcements late at night to say there will not be any cuts. This is echoing Covid times, which is quite triggering for a lot of principals, when at five o'clock on a Friday there would be announcements saying they needed to action something by the next week. Announcements late at night are not great. There needs to be meaningful engagement and long-term planning. There are real challenges here with this focus on SNAs. If we move a bit from that, there is a number of things that are glaringly confusing about what is going to happen with special education. When there is no need for a diagnosis in 2027-2028, how is a school going to figure out what the needs will be for a child coming in? What will that mean for the mild, general learning disability schools? Will they no longer exist? Catch-all is no good for anybody because those students are thriving right now. When we take that service away, that is something that will be an absolute mess. That is something that will come up again in the future.  Last night on \"The Late Debate\" a parent rang in and said she had spoken to so many parents who feel lucky they get an assessment of need, a school place and that they have a SNA for their child. There should be no luck about this. This is a fundamental basic need and requirement that this State should be providing to any child who needs it. When we are not able to do that as a society, we are failing literally everyone, if we cannot look after the most vulnerable in our society. Tonight, there will be protests outside the D\u00e1il and, as previously said, throughout the country.  There are three asks. The first concerns the circular from 2014. I know the Minister and Minister of State have accepted this needs to happen. We need to move on. The role has evolved. We need to let a new circular come out to explain exactly what that is and the limitations and absolute ability for what SNAs actually do in real life in schools. The second ask is that there needs to be consultation with all stakeholders by the Government. I am thankful to the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, for accepting that he will do that. I know the Taoiseach said that yesterday when I asked him during Questions on Policy or Legislation. If I can help in any way to facilitate that, I will. I know people want to talk about this with him. I know there will be respectful dialogue, so I look forward to that. The third thing is that the full redeployment model and the full role of SNAs needs to be moved out.  I reiterate the point I made yesterday. Redeployment for teachers works because they teach a curriculum, and they also have a relationship with young people. An SNA's role is relationship based. It is a skilled role. If you do not have a relationship with a child, the social and emotional regulation of that child will not happen. The relationship is fundamental. Redeployment is very important and needs to be nuanced. The Government cannot repeat the mistakes that have happened. It needs to learn from this. This is a really good learning moment. We need to bring humanity back into the classrooms and into the policies. I look forward in assisting in whatever I can with that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  It would be completely wrong to reframe this as some form of simple communication problem. This is a systematic policy failure. Successive governments have designed a model that narrows how care is defined. It signed off on it and allowed letters to be issued. When the schools and the parents rightfully reacted, suddenly everyone seemed to be taken by surprise. Absolutely nothing about this was surprising. You cannot tighten SNA thresholds in overcrowded classrooms and pretend that nothing else will be impacted. You cannot remove complex need from the special education teacher allocation model and not expect the pressure to land somewhere else. You cannot speak about inclusion while refusing to deal with adult to child ratios in our classrooms. Inclusion is never just a slogan. Inclusion is done best when it is included as a staffing model.  Right now, teachers are managing classes that are larger and more complex than the structure was ever designed to support. Special needs assistants have become a pressure valve for a wider failure to invest in adequate teacher supply and class sizes. If we are being truly honest, this was not chaos caused by any school. It was chaos created by a system that in no way matches the reality of a classroom. If Government wishes to calm this down it must begin by stopping any conversation about narrowing supports and start rebuilding the architecture of our classrooms properly.  If the Government keeps trying to squeeze the system without strengthening it, the only people who will pay a price will be our children. We need to start valuing SNAs. Too often in this Chamber over the past six years, we have come in and spoken about SNA pay, their evaluation, the model from which they are accredited and how they are treated in classrooms. SNAs do an invaluable job. We need to start valuing them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  I will start local and then widen it out to the broader vision of inclusive education. Locally, we have been affected by this most recent debacle. Cl\u00edona O\u2019Keeffe, who is the principal of Our Lady\u2019s Boys National School in Ballinteer, made multiple media contributions in which she put it perfectly. She said that as a wealthy European country, surely we have enough money in our budget to pay for enough SNAs per school. Her school was told that its allocation would be cut from five to two, prompting waves of anxiety among the school community, parents, children, teachers and SNAs. I was canvassing in the area that week. Multiple people who answered their doors me were distraught about what was coming down the line.  I will now widen it out and talk about the broader picture. In a brilliant op-ed in The Journal , Derval McDonagh said:  We owe it to this generation - and the next - to think bigger. To move from allocation debates to transformation. To ensure that every child can say with confidence: this school was built for me too.  My biggest frustration comes from listening to the Taoiseach defend, day after day, whether there is an increase or whether the allocations will be properly managed. This is all distracting from what we should be doing, which is implementing a fundamental systemic change in how we teach children in this country to one that is inclusive. We start by recognising the constitutional right of every child to an appropriate education and the State then going about realising that right. Tinkering with the number of SNAs and arguing about what the appropriate level is to completely underestimate the mammoth task the State faces to do exactly that, namely create inclusive education where no child is left behind, where no child is segregated and where we all benefit from a system that embraces difference. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  The shambles we have seen over the past few weeks would suggest that either the Government does not adequately understand the crisis it is overseeing or the real meaning of inclusion for our children. The decision to cut the number of SNAs was a decision to cut, regardless of how the Government wants to spin it. It was a reduction and a curtailment of the duties on which an assessment would take place on the basis of a highly outdated circular. Nearly one third of the schools that were reviewed were told that the number of SNAs would be reduced. This was a cut. These reviews are clearly not fit for purpose. The question must be asked as to whether the NCSE is the appropriate body to carry out these assessments. Clearly, a change is needed in order to reflect the valuable work SNAs do so that they can provide the supports that are needed to children.  There is a better way forward. The review of the review is not good enough. We need to see the role of SNAs recognised properly and expanded to include regulation and communication. SNAs across the country, including those in my constituency, assist children with regulation, which is not mentioned in the 2014 circular, and communication, but this is not considered when allocating SNAs. The Minister must agree to an open and honest conversation with parents, unions, advocacy groups and school leaders, who we will see outside the D\u00e1il later and who are rightly raising their voices because what they are doing is expressing that the system is not working for them. It is not working for SNAs, it is not working for children, it is not working for teachers and it is not working for parents. The Taoiseach states that there has been a huge increase in numbers, but the reality is that there is a need for this increase in order to make real inclusion in our classes work to support both children and the SNAs and teachers who are doing their best. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"S\u00e9amus McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy S\u00e9amus McGrath  I thank the Minister and Minister of State for facilitating this debate. I thank them both for their efforts in recent days and weeks in securing the additional funding to ensure that SNA numbers in our schools will not be reduced. This will allow the space to plan for the future properly. We all know the important work that SNAs do. It has been referred to many times this afternoon during this debate. They play a vital role in school life building important relationships with students and becoming a central part of a student's life in school.  Unfortunately, the debacle in the past couple of weeks has resulted in unnecessary stress and anxiety for SNAs, teachers, parents and students. We cannot repeat these mistakes. Whatever the plan for the future is in terms of defining the role of the SNA and developing the workforce plan, we need to fully engage and consult with all those involved in the process to ensure that whatever resources are available are used in the most effective way possible so that each child is given the best support possible.  As a country, we need to be proud of the fact that we prioritise children with additional needs. We often hear figures. We refer to the increase in the budget to almost \u20ac3 billion this year, the fact that this represents 28% of the education budget and so on. These are facts we should be proud of. These figures are likely to increase in the years ahead and, again, we need to embrace that fact and welcome the fact that as a country, we are determined to ensure that each child is given the support he or she needs and has the potential to reach his or her full potential in life. We all know education is a game-changer. It can be life-changing for an individual. We all know that in this country and in many other countries in the past, children were not given the opportunity to reach their full potential because they did not receive the support they deserved. I want to live in a country which celebrates the fact that additional needs get the spending and resources they need.  We will need to continue to increase the number of SNAs in our schools in the future. We have to plan and provide for this. There should be no more short-term, ill-considered reactions. This area is too important to the lives of too many people and we need to plan for the future in a considered and collaborative way. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Murphy  I begin by acknowledging the scale of the Government's investment in special education. This year, over \u20ac3 billion is being invested in special educational supports. We will have nearly 25,000 SNAs in our schools in September - an additional 1,700 this year alone. The number of SNAs has increased by approximately 45% since 2020 and by 47% in my constituency of Tipperary. We cannot say that this is not significant progress. It reflects a genuine commitment by this Government.  Investment is not enough, however. What recent weeks have shown is that the framework underpinning SNA allocation, particularly the 2014 circular, may no longer reflect the realities of mainstream modern classrooms. The circular's emphasis on care needs has in practice created confusion and anxiety. Many children who do not meet a narrow interpretation of primary care needs nonetheless require structured support to access education safely and meaningfully. Teachers, SNAs and parents know this.  The pause in the review process should, therefore, be seen as an opportunity to modernise the criteria so that we clearly have a child-centred approach. It is an opportunity to put in place a coherent special education workforce plan that gives certainty to schools and SNAs. We must ensure that reviews are not perceived as resource-led exercises but are perceived as needs-led assessments grounded in professional judgement and the lived reality of classrooms. If we use this pause constructively to update policy, clarify criteria and strengthen planning, something positive can come from what has understandably been an upsetting period for many school communities. Let us match our record investment with a modernised framework that delivers certainty, dignity and inclusion school by school and child by child in order that every child will have the opportunity to reach the maximum of his or her ability. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Clendennen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Clendennen  I will start by acknowledging the commitment of the Government to SNAs. Over \u20ac3 billion has been provided this year and there is a commitment to reach 26,000 SNAs by September. I also acknowledge all the other services and supports for education such as books, transport, uniforms or meals.  The role of the SNA has evolved so much in recent years and now comes with a level of complexity around behavioural, emotional and social care needs. In reality, they go above and beyond every day, are vital in the running of the classroom and are a conduit between teachers and children. Regarding deciding the best way forward, we need a root-and-branch overhaul of our education system, how we provide education and the impact not just on a special needs child but on the rest of the class and the teacher.  This should go beyond looking at human resources and should focus on financial support as well. In recent days, I reached out to every school in County Offaly. The feedback I received was very constructive. They want to see a meaningful pathway forward to ensure that there is effectiveness. When a school like Dromakeenan National School tells me that it was waiting for a review and that this was cancelled at the last minute by the NCSE, or St. Manchan's National School in Tubber tells me that its allocation of SNAs was reduced from four to or Mercy Primary School in Birr indicates that it has been waiting a long time for an outcome, we have as questions about effectiveness of the NCSE and where that organisation stands in all of this.  There has not been enough ongoing engagement between teachers, principals and the NCSE. There has to be an understanding as to how these reviews are continuously pushed out, thereby creating a level of uncertainty and a lack of predictability for schools, particularly in the context of temporary SNAs. We need to take this opportunity and use it effectively to create a new platform that will operate in the interests of all our students going forward. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Callaghan  This time two years ago, I was working as an SNA in a primary school. At the time, I was under no illusion as to what my job description was because my contract was in line Circular 0030\/2014. I was employed, like all SNAs are currently employed, to assist in the care needs of pupils with disability in an educational context. The excellent class teachers who are qualified to teach are responsible, under that circular, for the education of all students in the classroom. That is the current SNA brief. On the ground, however, SNAs, myself included, worked way outside that brief to not just assist the child I was assigned to but also all of the other children in the classroom. Why? It is because SNAs, by their very nature, are kind, caring and helpful. We place children at the very centre of our days, just like teachers do in their teaching role. Classrooms in Ireland are positive spaces. It is important to put that on the record. The Irish school system is a good system whereby staff - be they SNAs, teachers, secretaries or caretakers - all care about the students that are in their schools.  In light of the SNA reviews, I know that people were worried, anxious, upset and angry at the process. To be fair to the SENOs and the NCSE more broadly, they are doing their jobs in line with the circular. It states that all SNA allocations are subject to annual reviews. That is their brief. To be fair, the Department of Education, the Minister, Deputy Naughton, and the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, are fully aware that the circular is not reflective of the role of an SNA in 2026. A review of it has been ongoing for some time. The challenge relates to the difference in what an SNA is supposed to do versus what they actually do. I really look forward to the updated circular being published.  For parents, SNAs and schools, the fact is that no cuts are being proposed, nor will they be. Crucially, no review will happen until after the publication of three crucial pieces of information on the SNA redeployment scheme, the SNA workforce development plan and the updated Circular 0030\/2014. What we really need to see when that review comes out is that the parameters upon which allocations are decided must be much more reflective of the realities of the needs that are present in an Irish classroom as we approach 2030.  My senior infant class sent me a lovely letter when I first got elected. They said that they hoped that my kind, caring and helpful SNA personality will help this country be better. Children, I am trying. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  I listened to the Minister's comments yesterday. I cannot express how angry and frustrated SNAs, principals, teachers, parents and SENOs are. What the Government, including the Taoiseach, is trying to do is gaslight schools, parents and SNAs. The Government's policy is to blame everyone else. The buck stops here. I was in the Chamber two weeks ago when this matter was highlighted for the Taoiseach and the Minister. They doubled down at that point. Now, they are saying \"We did not know the cuts were going to be this bad or that the review were going to be so severe.\" They did know, however, because we raised the matter. I raised it with the Minister two weeks ago. The Minister and the Taoiseach stated that they cannot understand the NCSE's approach. The NCSE is implementing Government policy. The Minister and the Taoiseach are quick to blame the NCSE for implementing the policy, but the Government wrote that policy.  I have correspondence from the Minister which states that the Department does not believe in giving SNA support to children in fifth and sixth class because they might be refused it in secondary school. I have that in writing from the Minister. The Minister and Taoiseach stated that this is not their policy and that they did not what was happening. The best one was the reference to bad communication. What a load of bluff. The Government is punishing vulnerable children on the off-chance that they may not have supports when they get into secondary school.  In the context of the cuts relating to SNAs, the Government is failing parents, schools, SNAs and, most importantly, children. It is making the job of SENOs impossible. A teacher's job is to lead a classroom and to ensure that the curriculum is taught. The job of the SNA is to ensure that children can follow. It is a simple system but it works, because SNAs are there to support the children who need it.  A child in fourth class spoke to me about his full-time SNA. There are five children in the class who have been diagnosed with autism and ADHD. The child in question said that his classroom was crazy when the SNA was out for one day. The students learnt nothing that day. The teacher could not bring them out on a movement break, spend time with them or teach properly. That was one day without an SNA. I know the cuts have been postponed and are being reviewed. They should be abolished. It is more SNAs that we need. Children need to be supported and this Government needs to be honest with people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  There are two very important lessons that we have learnt from the SNA debacle over the past couple of weeks. The first is that the Government does not care about the most vulnerable and, left to its own devices, will abandon them. The second is that people power works because the Government is now promising an extra \u20ac19 million for SNAs. The Government is also saying that no school will lose SNAs next year. The only reason that happened was because of a groundswell of protest on the part of parents, SNAs and teachers. It did not happen because some kind of logical light bulb went off in the heads of those in government. It happened because the Government came under immense pressure. Acting together, school communities forced the Government into an embarrassing climb-down.  The lesson in this regard that should ring out widely across the country on all sorts of issues is that people power works and that the Government can be defeated. Of course, it is true that what the Government has been forced to concede is nowhere near enough to guarantee every child their right to an education appropriate to their needs. That is why the protest outside the D\u00e1il at 5 p.m. is going ahead. It is important that the protest does go ahead because, as the organisers say, an extended pause is not good enough.  An SNA who has two autistic sons wrote to me last week. She stated:  I wish some TDs could spend a day in a school and actually see what is going on. We would be classed as having a lot in our school and it\u2019s nowhere near enough. The amount of children needing our supports is too much for us to deal with on good days.  [...]  The stress we face every day going to school is sometimes unbearable. Through no fault of their own, a lot of these kids just can\u2019t cope because they are in the wrong setting. Myself and my colleagues are daily hit, kicked, bitten, called all sorts of names but we continue to go to work because along with these distressing behaviours we also witness moments of magic when a child will engage, will integrate, will give you a smile and some eye contact, will begin to form letters while writing after our hand has been over theirs for years. We are important. We are good at our jobs. We deserve better and more importantly these kids deserve better.  Inclusion without support = abandonment.  It is clear that the root cause of this is the failed approach of allocating SNAs on the basis of narrowly defined primary care needs. That is what needs to be stopped. Instead, the Department should trust schools and parents. They know what the needs are.  The Department should start forward planning based on realistic demographic projections with spare capacity built into the system. We need significant and sustained multi-annual increases in funding to reduce class sizes, train thousands more special educational teachers and therapists and guarantee at least one SNA for every classroom. There is so much more that can be done but what we have learned is the Government will not do any of it unless it is forced and that is why people continue to mobilise and will be on the streets in a couple of hours' time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charles Ward  There will be no SNA cuts next year and this is welcome but it does not undo the damage that has already been done. It is significant that public money was spent sending SENOs across the country trying to save money and making cuts. They were forced into it. It was wasted because this process lacks transparency and respect for staff, parents and children. How fiercely we protect the most vulnerable in society, and will continue to do so, was misjudged.  In cases where schools no longer needed SNAs and it came to a natural conclusion when the child moved on, they were willing to step aside. I have dealt with these schools but instead of careful planning, it was a chaotic, top-down process that was imposed on them. Accountability is essential and whoever is responsible for the wasted resources, the undermining of SENOs and the anxiety it has caused families needs to take responsibility. Does this lie with the special education section of the Department of education? That is a question that needs to be answered. The 2014 circular for SNA allocations must be revised explicitly to provide for children with emotional regulation needs. Any review cannot come before a pathway to reduction, or by stealth, which there was an attempt to impose here. When the Government says it was not, yes, it paused it but we all know that the SENOs had until 31 January to make sure the reports were in. They were in, and you could see what was coming. It is only because the public and the Opposition stood up and said, \"Enough is enough\". This is the way it has to be. There has to be accountability and transparency.  The lesson is clear: without accountability and a circular that safeguards every child, this injustice will repeat itself and the Government will bear the shame. The Government has to take responsibility when it goes right but it also has to take responsibility when it goes wrong. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  I do not know why anybody is surprised, if they are, at the ferocity of the backlash against this review. You are not paying attention if you were. We had the Green Paper withdrawn after a movement of disabled people. The referendum on care was defeated by disabled people. On school places, we have a had a mini-social movement in this country for the past three to four years, led primarily by women. Anyone who is surprised is ableist and not paying attention. There is an anti-ableist movement out there. Look how this whole building we are in is completely anti-disabled people.  The Government saw an appalling vista. It saw the protests that immediately took place in St. John's school in Dublin and I commend those parents. Parents and workers working together is the solution here. I think the Government knew this was finished at that point.  The circular that has been mentioned in regard to SNAs only delivering primary care needs is not even implemented in schools because we all know that SNAs are used for neurodivergent and autistic students or people with anxiety, mental health issues or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, ADHD. I went back to teaching after losing my seat the last time and I could see the importance of having SNAs in the classroom with me.  I want to raise something controversial as well. I do not think SNAs should be moved around willy-nilly and redeployed. We should keep experience in schools. In regard to the idea that they will be filing their nails in the staff room if the pupil moves on, there is a massive shortage of SNAs as it is. There are 110 students in primary school in Dublin 15 who were classed as misplaced by the principals in the area. They could survive better if they all had SNAs. These SNAs, who are very often women but there are male SNAs as well, are, as usual, treated to insecure jobs, poor pay and moved around. That complete disregard for the work women do in our society has to change.  On the 200 schools that got the notice, that was only a fraction because the review was not even finished. Some were going to lose half their SNAs. We have heard the guff about rebalancing support, and the big one the Government was saying on the television was that is \"increasing SNAs overall\". The population is increasing - of course the Government is increasing SNAs but the awareness of neurodiversity and disabled people's rights has increased massively in society, with more people getting a diagnosis and so on.  We should also mark that the Government was willing to break with any sort of integration of students who are coping in mainstream with an SNA, and that it was diverting people towards special schools. That is a dangerous precedent. There is a need for special schools, of course, and I have campaigned for that but I refer to cases where it is not warranted.  I also have to flag that secondary education is woefully deficient in catering for people with additional needs. There has been a campaign in primary but we are now getting parents demanding it, quite rightly, because their children fall off a cliff when they go into secondary that they are suddenly okay and can cope with everything. I also want to flag that we need occupational therapists, speech and language therapists and more teachers. People are talking about SNAs but there is a huge need for special education and learning support teachers. I want to raise a warning for the Minister of State that parents will not let the assessment of need go. The Government should keep its hands off them because I know the attempt is to dilute what they deliver and it will not be put up with. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Keira Keogh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Keira Keogh  Circular 0030\/2014 states that an SNA facilitates attendance, minimises disruption to class and attends to primary care needs like feeding, toileting, medicine and mobility. On page 8, it says the role of an SNA is not to provide additional tuition. Show me an SNA in any special, autism or mainstream class around the country who is not providing additional tuition, especially if you go into a special class. You will see them providing one-to-one tuition.  This circular is outdated and that is the crux of this problem. It was outdated 12 years ago when it was implemented and in the 20 years I have been supporting SNAs in the classroom, it has been outdated. For all of those years, they have been providing learning, behaviour, communication, social and emotional support.  We have to acknowledge there has been improvement in those two decades. An SNA is no longer assigned to a specific student; they are now assigned to a full school. There has been a huge increase in support to now being 22,000 SNAs and in September, that will be 25,000. However, this past fortnight has been so confusing. It has caused uncertainty and trauma. The reviews should have waited for the SNA workforce development plan, the redeployment plan and the review but let us be positive. Let us use this as an opportunity to get this right, so that an SNA can look at their job description and feel that it reflects the work they are doing. They are the bridge between a child and their education and we have to use this increased funding at this time when the whole country has a sharp focus on this, to get the next circular right and ensure that an SNA's job description reflects the amazing work they are doing on the ground. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Currie  Last week's outcry shows just how highly SNAs are regarded not just by families who rely on them directly but by all families. It would be a mistake to move on too quickly without exploring reform or we risk ending up back here again. Equitable access to education is a value we hold dear. That is why there is such strong public support for building an inclusive education system. Where barriers exist and difficult decisions must be made, let us have those conversations honestly and openly.  I visited a school in my constituency just weeks ago that was undergoing an SNA review. Staff spoke of their fear of cuts. My first instinct was to examine the figures that showed that at a Department level, there are no such cuts. Whole-time equivalents have increased from over 1,200 in 2024 to 1,700 in 2026. Yet, despite this growth in investment, supply is not keeping pace with demand. At a very basic level, if we open 300 new special classes in a single year with each requiring two SNAs, we need more than an increase of 117 whole-time equivalent SNAs to fulfil the needs of all children in our schools.  At the same time, I recognise that every Department must operate within a budget.  At the Oireachtas committee on education in November, concerns were raised with the NCSE about the new guidelines. SNAs are allocated to schools rather than to individual children, yet surely resources must follow genuine need. The 2014 circular defines the role of an SNA narrowly as primary care, but SNAs support a far wider range of needs. We cannot rely on an outdated circular to bridge the gap between policy and practice. Review processes, redeployment mechanisms and workforce planning must form part of a broader inclusion strategy.  \"Let us not waste a crisis\" is the famous saying. Fixing the system requires change, processes and structures that work, so let us build them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shane Moynihan  My mother was a special needs assistant. I remember her coming home every day and telling me how much she loved her job and the value she got from what she did with the students she was working with. I know first-hand exactly the love that SNAs have for their jobs. I know first-hand exactly what value they bring to the classrooms. I know first-hand how transformative they are in the lives of the students they work with.  I also know, having visited many of the schools in my constituency of Dublin Mid-West, most recently Scoil Talbot in Clondalkin, that schools are evolving places. The vision set out in the circular from 2014 is not one that is visible on the ground in the schools that my colleagues and I visit on a regular basis. We need to reflect the fact there is now a diversity of needs in our classrooms that was not necessarily reflected in the circular of 2014. Access to an SNA is an enabler for many children in these situations, especially those with neurodivergent needs.  This week, in Clondalkin, a mother who came to one of my clinics said that the reason she was able to go back to work was that her son had access to an SNA to allow him to take two movement breaks to regulate him during the day. He did not need access to a full-time SNA, but because of that fact, she was able to go back to work. She was able to ensure that he has access to a world-class education and will be able to fully attain his potential. That is why it is important we get the circular right on this occasion, that we get the redeployment model right on this occasion and that we update the vision of education set out in these circulars, so schools in my constituency and around the country are set up to succeed.  It is also important we ensure, given the demographic pressures we are facing, that our secondary schools are set up with an adequate number of SNAs. We need to ensure that the new special schools we are establishing, including Lucan Community Special School in my constituency, have access to a number of SNAs to ensure a full school day, but also that schools have sufficient provision for incoming classes of junior infants, where they may not necessarily know the level of need. I look forward to reform in this area. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Cear\u00fail.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail  Cuirim f\u00e1ilte roimh r\u00e1itis na nAir\u00ed faoin maoini\u00fa breise de \u20ac19 milli\u00fan agus, mar aon leis sin, nach mbeidh laghd\u00fa ar l\u00edon na gc\u00fant\u00f3ir\u00ed riachtanas speisialta fud fad na t\u00edre.  Reference has been made throughout the debate to the amazing work that SNAs do. Having friends and family as SNAs, and being close to the schools in Kildare North, I see it first-hand. What I think we need to acknowledge is the number of children in education, both in the past and currently, who would not have gone through the education system if it were not for the SNAs they have. That is the critical importance of SNAs. They allow young people to reach their potential and, therefore, to contribute to society later on, and to have a full and fulfilling life.  The circular of 2014 was also mentioned today, specifically part 30 on the primary care needs of a child. I know this circular has been updated, but that needs to be expedited. As the Minister of State is fully aware, the reality on the ground is that the work that SNAs do is not primarily what is set out in that circular. We need that to be reflective of the reality that SNAs experience on a daily basis.  My speaking time is limited. My last point concerns the progression of SNAs from primary to secondary school. We have seen a huge amount of investment in SNAs, special classes and special schools at primary level. My fear is that we are going to come up against a crisis at secondary level in the years ahead. I ask the Minister of State to prepare for additional SNAs and special classes at secondary level. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul McAuliffe  Like my colleagues, I know first-hand the benefit that SNAs have had in my own family, and there are many others in my family who have worked as SNAs. That is why we, as Government TDs, when we voted for a programme for Government and for budgets, were pleased and proud to see increases in the number of SNAs. I can say clearly that we would not have voted either for a programme for Government or for budgets that saw a reduction in SNAs. Yet, last week, Government TDs and, it would appear, Ministers and the Taoiseach as well, were taken aback by correspondence from people who said their schools were losing large numbers of SNAs. I believe there is a question as to why the Government, a body of people who come into this House and support budgets, despite the implementation of that policy, found that the outcome was a reduction in SNAs.  Of course, the people who received those letters thought there was a reduction because they were losing SNAs in their school. There was no context or wider discussion. My understanding is that only a certain number of schools were considered for the review while other schools were not considered. I ask how there can be a review that does not take into account all schools when trying to balance the use of SNAs across the system.  There are serious governance and oversight issues here that we have to examine. How can a body like the NCSE issue letters to some schools that would see them losing multiple SNAs, and not realise the impact that would have? How could it apply the 2014 circular in the way it did? It would appear that in some parts of the country, it was very strictly interpreted, and in others, it was not. How could we have a situation where the NCSE would send out such correspondence, which has had such a profound impact on schools across the country, and the Government and those people who support the Government were taken by surprise? There is a serious issue around oversight and the operation of this review. The Government acted quickly, but it should never have happened in the first place. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  Is cuid r\u00edth\u00e1bhachtach den phobal iad na c\u00fant\u00f3ir\u00ed riachtanas speisialta. Ceada\u00edonn na c\u00fant\u00f3ir\u00ed riachtanas speisialta do ph\u00e1ist\u00ed foghlaim agus f\u00e1s.  Another fine mess that the Government has created. I am genuinely here in disbelief at the absolute hack of the Government backbenchers, rambling in, every single one of them, pretending to be shocked at the implications of the budget that they bloody well voted for.  I want to talk to the Ministers about a woman I know, Niamh, who is an SNA. I asked her how the Government made her feel because, ultimately, the Government is her employer. She asked me to tell the Ministers that they have kicked the can down the road. She is not stupid, and she knows what they are at. She asked me to let them know that this limbo and uncertainty is impacting, ultimately, on the students who need support, and on the whole classroom. This chaos caused by the Government has unearthed a problem that has always been there. There needs to be an overhaul. SNAs, teachers, students and families need certainty. A one-size-fits-all approach has not worked and will not work. There must be recognition for the actual work that SNAs do. They deserve respect. I agree with Niamh.  A parent in my family wrote the following to me:  We ALL know there is a serious lack of support for children with needs and their families in this country, so I cannot understand why more is not being done for them, never mind understanding the logic behind support being taken away! It is time to end the unrealistic idea that only children with significant primary care needs should have access to an SNA. My son could not function in school without access to his SNA (whom he shares with 4 other children) for his self-regulation, focus, helping with his peer\/social relationships, essential movement breaks and [essential services within the classroom].  Another parent wrote:  After CAMHS \u2026 deemed [my child] not severe enough to see [them] I like thousands of Irish Parents paid privately to get [an] assesment and recommendations in place for \u2026 school. My [child] requires movement breaks which the SNA provides. My [child] doesnt need 1 to 1 care. How is a teacher meant to manage a big class and provide the extra requirements for children with additional needs?  I will address the remarks made by one of the Government backbenchers. She is not here now, but I am sure she will look back on it. She said - how does the phrase go? - \"Let us not waste a crisis.\" You know what? Why does the Government not cause a bloody crisis in the first place? Do the Ministers understand the impact this has had on students, SNAs, teachers and the whole school community?  Then the Ministers come in here and tell us black is white and that they are actually increasing the numbers. The letters are there. Teachers and principals have seen them and they have contacted us. The letters are telling them that the SNA they have at the moment will be gone. That is a cut in any person's language. Stop cutting SNAs and start respecting them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Fitzmaurice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice  I noticed over the last few days that senior Ministers are very fond of coming out and making announcements. Between watching television interviews and different commentaries on it, I notice the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, is being rolled out every time. Where is the senior Minister from Galway? She was good at coming out when the decision was being reversed. That the Minister of State had to do the batting for the last few days is very notable.  This needs to be sorted. There are vulnerable children. Our Constitution says we will cherish all our children but, unfortunately, there seems to be a total disconnect in having this issue resolved. Once again, it is probably senior civil servants making decisions without having their eye on the ball. Do they have a child who needs an SNA in a school? A lot of them do not understand what they are doing. That is my honest opinion. We need to resolve the issue fast to give surety to parents around the country.  I have spoken to the Minister of State about this a few times. There are schools that are appealing decisions. A principal in a school does not ring up a politician and say \"Michael, we are in trouble here, we need an SNA and we are put under appeal and they seem to be bashing back at us.\" Principals in schools have plenty to do besides trying to fight battles constantly to get what they rightfully should get. I have seen in the likes of Threen, and places like it around the country, that principals had to get involved, do up the paperwork and try to appeal. They are not into the business of looking for something they do not need. They genuinely feel the need for it to help the future education of children. Every one of us knows that if children, especially those with autism, get the help between the ages of two and eight, they can go on and live a very fulfilled life. If they do not get that help, they have been let down by the State. I have said very clearly over the last number of years that kids have been failed by the State because in the system of diagnosis the HSE has had until now, people have had to wait for assessments to provide the pathway forward and do what needed to be done. We should make sure we put the resources in to help all those children for the future. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  The senior Minister had to leave earlier because she is attending a meeting with the Taoiseach regarding the next business, which is a State apology. She referred to that as she left the Chamber. I would like that to be noted. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Fitzmaurice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice  She was away all week. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  There has been great frustration, as articulated by my colleagues, felt in communities across the country following the recent announced reviews of the special SNA allocations. That includes many schools in my constituency. One of the largest reductions was to be in St. Andrew's National School, but quite a few other schools were affected as well. Thankfully, that has been halted for now.  The Government has repeatedly stated that the overall number of SNAs is increasing. In absolute terms, it is true that the national figure has gone up. However, that headline does not always reflect the lived reality in many schools that would have seen their allocations cut as a direct result of what appears to be a very arbitrary review which does not take the needs of the child into account. We can never pretend that a national increase is going to give that support on the ground. What matters to a parent or the child is whether the school has the staff numbers to meet their needs. Sometimes it is necessary to share an SNA and the nature of that sharing can change for day-to-day purposes. There are a lot of challenges for kids who require supports. Every time I have spoken with teachers, staff and parents, the same story is coming through. Children who previously had a dedicated support were being asked to share an SNA, were seeing the SNA being taken away or were being asked to do more with less, basically.  The question is whether this new model the Government is articulating really is more equitable and focused on the needs of the child. If we are increasing the numbers, there should not be anyone seeing a decrease or anyone having to scramble for cover. Children have many complex diagnoses. We cannot suddenly say that a child does not need that level of support any more. If a review results in vulnerable children losing access to support, the model is not working. Maybe this pause or stop until the bigger picture is looked at next year shows that.  In this context, I want to raise an issue. I am not absolutely sure how it is actually working. My understanding is that officials are going out and asking SNAs to tell them about their day. The SNA will say they put little Johnny's coat on, they had to bring little Jane to the toilet - just normal conversation. In doing so, it sometimes puts the school at risk because the reason a child requires an SNA in the first place is not taken into account. I would seriously question the reason SNAs are being asked about their day-to-day work when it is educational psychologists who assess a child's needs. The SNA is then allocated on the basis of the identified needs. SNAs, who have level 5 qualifications, often want to progress their career pathways but they are absolutely not educational psychologists. Interviewing SNAs is not the way to go, if that is the case. I call on the Minister and her colleagues in government to urgently revisit the allocations beyond 2027 so that nobody loses out the year after, and to engage meaningfully with the educators on the ground who understand the absolute and often urgent needs of the child. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  SNAs are not add-ons in the education system. They are fundamentally important. They are enablers for so many children. They are the link to allow a student to access education, the bridge to get them over the barriers that so many students face. That is the reality. What the Government is doing, and what the circular and review have outlined, is reducing and narrowing the role of an SNA. The reality on the ground is that SNAs are providing many wonderful learning opportunities for children. To diminish that into just the primary and physical need, to reduce it to toileting and so on, is disingenuous and fundamentally unfair to the wonderful work that SNAs are doing. I urge the Minister to address the circular, refine the role, professionalise the SNA sector, and allow SNAs the training and opportunities to flourish in their role. It is a fundamentally important role and to reduce it is unfair to the children, the SNAs and indeed the entire school community. The review and circular do not take account of the student who has autism and may require additional regulation and sensory support. They do not take account of the student who has a specific learning difficulty like dyslexia and may need a little assistance in reading, writing and so on. It is the Minister's job now to ensure that the SNA circular reflects the job the SNA actually does on the ground. Any reduction or narrowing of the scope will not be accepted. It is incredible that it was the families and SNAs across the country who had to sound the alarm on this issue.  The week before this news broke, I asked the Minister of State about the budget and the timelines for delivery of more SNAs and special education teachers. I outlined the difficulty so many families and special educational schools are facing. It seems the NCSE is actually steering the ship here. I urge the Minister to get in control of that agency and ensure families and children with disabilities are protected. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed  It has been a tough enough number of weeks for many families and school communities.  I, like other Members of this House, have heard from parents across north Dublin who had serious and understandable concerns that their children would lose essential care and support ar scoil. While I welcome that this matter has been resolved for now, we must do better. There are clear lessons for the Government. It is not acceptable that parents of vulnerable children are left searching for answers online, on social media and listening to the radio about the future of their children's education. Communication from the Department and the NCSE was very poor at times throughout this process. We must try to make sure that does not happen again. That essential trust between an SNA and a child is invaluable for that child. It is built up over time and forms a central part of that child's school experience and broader life formation. While it is essential resources are allocated to where they are needed most, this must be planned in a structured and considered way. I welcome the commitments from the Minister of State and the Minister, Deputy Naughton, to engage directly with the school community on this. They are the people dealing directly with these realities every day. They must be central to any future decisions. We must ensure we get this right for children and families across the country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  I do not need to tell the Minister of State the upset this has caused. He will have heard it from his constituents, as well as Members of this House. I want to address the circular. It is deeply disrespectful the role SNAs play. It does not properly define the spectrum of issues they have to deal with. It does not address the various issues that prevent children in our schools from achieving their best possible outcomes and does not outline the basis on which every one of them should be addressed, rather than narrowing it down to a small number of criteria. I have a real concern that what we have seen in the past couple of weeks is symptomatic of an official view that we should be restricting access to special needs assistants, not broadening it.  I asked questions in the House about how much it would cost to provide a special needs assistant in every classroom in the country. I am sorry to say I did not get the answer. The question was avoided in terms of how much it would cost. That is the level at which we should state our ambition as regards the provision we make for children.  We know access to educational equality is hugely important from the point of view of future outcomes. I will repeat what has been said by various speakers in this debate about the importance of access for children, not because they somehow deserve something beyond but because they deserve it to put them on an equal footing with children who may not have the same challenges with accessing education. If we fail in that role, the problems created will manifest themselves in ten, 20 or 30 years' time through reduced educational attainment and much more serious problems if people are left out of the educational system.  Let us make a serious and clear statement of intent. What we saw in terms of the resolution of the issue is not actually a resolution; it is a stopgap. I welcome that the Minister of State and the Minister listened to what Members of this House and people around this country had to say on this, in particular teachers. I had a meeting in my constituency earlier this week with perhaps two dozen principals of primary schools. These incredibly dedicated servants of their communities are delivering for all of us. One thing that came out of that meeting was they feel they are not believed or trusted. Some people in the room said they felt the Government does not trust them. I do not believe that is the case but I think officials in the Department do not trust them. When teachers and principals - highly trained individuals dedicated to the cause - say this is what they need, instead of accepting them at their word, there is a burdensome, bureaucratic process to second-guess that they have to say. Let us trust teachers and deliver for children. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Connolly  It is regrettable that the debate has come about in this manner. We have all expressed an opinion as to how valuable SNAs are to children and the school system. That has been worthy of recognition before today. I had the privilege in my career of working with many SNAs. I have seen children thrive through their intervention. If I go back to the start of my teaching career, I think there were around 1,000 SNAs in the system at that point, which was in the early part of the century. We have since seen a 2,000% increase in the number of SNAs. That is because we all want to see our schools be more inclusive and we all have a desire to see children attend the local national school and participate fully in the life of the school there. In recognising that, we have to recognise there has also been a dramatic change in the needs of children. If you talk to any junior infant teacher in particular, they will tell you the profile of children enrolling now is very different from what it was a decade ago. As we have heard from lots of Members, the SNA circular that defines the role must be changed to recognise that increasingly diverse range of children enrolling in our schools and who we want to see attend local mainstream national schools. We have seen that through the demand for other complementary services, such as speech and language therapy and CAMHS services, and in the demand for NEPS assessments. That changing demand has to be recognised by increasing the number of teachers and SNAs. We cannot forget that we made a commitment to reduce the pupil-teacher ratio to 19:1 over the lifetime of this Government. We need to make good on that because it will facilitate greater inclusion in our schools.  There has been a lot of comment Circular 0030\/2014. I referred to this in the Chamber previously. We received a lot of correspondence from schools last September and October about this. I do not know if it is a circular. It is the NCSE guidelines for the review of SNA allocation. One thing that concerns me is NCSE reviews are conducted on a whole-school basis, combining a review of all SNA posts in a school. That rightly causes concern. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James O'Connor  Deputies from around the House have been speaking about the importance of what SNAs provide in education settings for our most vulnerable students. As Deputy Connolly noted, it is very regrettable that we have ended up in this situation, where there is such anger and hurt. As a TD representing the people of Cork East who is conscious of the very good work SNAs do in our schools, I saw at first hand in my time in secondary and primary school SNAs being rolled out. I was born in 1997 so I got to see this. They make an enormous impact. A Minister of State is present in the Chamber and I know he is fully aware of how important the work SNAs do in a school is. I appreciate the chance to engage and speak with the Minister of State over the past couple of days about the concerns my constituents have.  We heard the news, late in the day, that \u20ac19 million in funding has been made available. The communication errors that occurred and the stress this has caused for SNAs, school communities and those directly impacted, who are, of course, the children and their families, are unfortunate. We need to improve how we do these announcements and how these initiatives are taken. We also need to improve decision-making when it comes to who actually takes the decisions. Are Ministers informed by departmental officials and the relevant State agency in respect of what is actually happening in their Departments? This has to be put to bed once and for all. It is happening not alone in the Minister of State's Department but in many others. It is causing huge hurt and political problems for the Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Roche","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Roche  Rather than adding to the contributions that have been made thus far, I will take the opportunity to read a letter from a child to an SNA:  I wanted to say thank you. When I walk into school in the morning, I look for you first. When I see you, I feel calm. I know I am okay.  Sometimes school feels very loud in my head. The classroom can be busy. The bell is noisy. People talk fast. Sometimes I don\u2019t understand straight away. You help me. You help me remember what to do next. You help me when the words are hard. You help me when I feel wobbly inside. You don\u2019t just sit beside me. You help me join in.  When the other children are working, you help me do my work too. When I get stuck, you don\u2019t rush me. When I feel sad, you notice. When I try something new, you smile at me like I just climbed a big mountain.  Because of you, I am in my class with my friends. I get to learn. I get to laugh. I get to be part of everything. Without you, I think school would feel too big for me. I might feel lost. I might feel scared. I might not be able to stay. But with you, I feel brave. You help me show people what I can do \u2014 not just what I find hard.  Thank you for helping me belong. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell  It is very hard to follow the words of a child who knows and tells us how important their SNAs are.  That is why when we have this conversation and are having this debate, we need to thank our SNAs who are working tirelessly and often thanklessly to care for and support our children and children within our communities. SNAs are the reason children with additional needs can be educated with their friends within their communities in mainstream schools. The impact of a SNA's work is felt way beyond the classroom. We all have heard of the stories over the past number of weeks of the impact SNAs have had on so many of our constituents and that letter included. People have said they have been a credit to their health, happiness and success in adulthood. They credit their SNA for that.  The reality is that SNAs are skilled professionals who work unbelievably hard in incredibly difficult circumstances and who deliver for our children. Over the past number of weeks, they have been treated disgracefully. It has been completely unfair the way SNAs have been treated over the past two weeks - for example, drip feeding information about cuts, making U-turns and not being clear as who is saying what. I have been confused. This has caused unbelievable upset and distress for parents, children, schools and SNAs.  SNAs have been in touch with me. They have told me they are worried sick, not just about the future of their jobs, but the future of the children who they support. That is something that has been crucially important here. When we look at the mess over the past two weeks, we also need to look at the mess that has happened before this and the track record in relation to supporting SNAs in their careers. The SNA wages are below the living wage. There has been non-delivery on schools\u2019 requests for additional SNAs. SNAs are financially vulnerable on insecure rolling job contracts. This all needs to be part of this conversation because it is a prime conversation right now. We need to be looking at all of this.  From those who I have spoken to, they are not satisfied with the pause, review or whatever it is called at the moment. It is quite clear a fundamental problem remains. We need everybody in this Chamber to step up and deliver the real change that gives SNAs the rights, job security and pay they deserve. They have been crucial to so many of our children's success in every aspect of their lives. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gillian Toole","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gillian-Toole.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Gillian-Toole.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gillian Toole  Like all Members who have spoken before me, I too wish to express my gratitude to SNAs and, indeed, the whole school community team members, including the special education teachers. As a granddaughter, daughter and niece of primary teachers, I understand very well the complexities of what is involved in the State and the school community trying to meet our objectives under Articles 42 and 42A of Bunreacht na h\u00c9ireann, that is, to create an environment to enable learning by all children in the State at their level. I thank the staff and the chief executive of the NCSE offices, who similar to the parents and to the school communities, have endured quite a lot of anxiety, phone calls, communications and requests for information. To try to get to the nub of everything, I sought a meeting with the chief executive. He afforded me one on Monday last. At that meeting, I learnt quite a few important points that are important to share. There has been a lot of misinformation in this space. One point I learnt was that the toolkit, which is the root of the problem, is up for review. There has been extensive consultation. There was commitment by all parties, such as unions, school representative bodies, etc., to support the toolkit at the time. The important thing is it is being reviewed.  The lessons that are to be learnt from this, and they are important lessons, are: accuracy of communication - establish the facts and make sure the facts are communicated accurately; ensure there is co-operation and collaboration by all parties - in this instance by the school community - before announcements are made; ensure the voices of all parties are heard; ensure the suggestions put forward are built into policy; again review policy on a continuous cycle; and then provide clear communication to the stakeholders.  I cannot improve on what Deputy Roche said about the voice of the child. I am concerned when I look at the current iteration of the toolkit, which focuses on primary medical needs. They are important, vital, very bespoke and specialised in many cases. However, it is about the softer skills. It is about removing the anxiety, it is the friendly face, it is the encouragement, it is maybe pointing out a line, it is assisting with the holding of the pencil or it is whatever is appropriate to the child at that point. That is the role and the delivery of the support. I have an issue with the title SNA. They are all needs assistants. I am grateful to them but we must establish facts and have clear communication going forward. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  Aonta\u00edm go hioml\u00e1n leis an m\u00e9id a d\u00fairt an Teachta Toole ar deireadh ansin. Bheadh s\u00e9 i bhfad n\u00edos fearr d\u00e1 mbeadh \"all needs assistants\" an t-ainm ar SNAs. Bh\u00ed m\u00e9 i go leor scoileanna i mBaile \u00c1tha Cliath thuaidh. M\u00e1 t\u00e1 t\u00fa i scoil ar bith sa t\u00edr, feictear duit go nd\u00e9anann na daoine seo gach rud. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 sin soil\u00e9ir dom \u00f3 mo chuid ama f\u00e9in sa scoil nuair a bh\u00ed m\u00e9 \u00f3g, agus leis an m\u00e9id at\u00e1 tar \u00e9is teacht amach sa d\u00e1 sheachtain tar \u00e9is an ruda seo. I welcome last night's confirmation by the Government but this should never have happened. The protest outside sends a clear message. A lot of SNAs in north Dublin are watching me now as I told them I would be speaking. They asked me to say the circular that still defines the role needs to change. That has been said across the House today. The Government committed to the update of the circular alongside the work force development plan. This work must be done properly and in consultation with SNAs and the voice of the child because they understand the reality on the ground.  Right now, families are stretched in north Dublin, particularly in Dublin Bay North. Schools are under pressure. Inclusion is something we talk about in this House and it must be visible in our classrooms.  I thank Minister of State again for his visit to St. Michael's House Special National School in Baldoyle yesterday. I have been to a few special schools across north Dublin with him. His hands on approach to children is commendable. He knows first hand this is needed. I wish him and the Department the best of luck getting this sorted as soon as possible. We owe it to the children to get this right. We owe it to the families who are fighting for the kids. Let us amend the circular. Let us reflect on the real scope of SNAs. Let us make sure every child gets the support they deserve. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Education and Youth (Deputy Michael Moynihan)  I thank all Members who contributed to the debate over the past number of hours. It is a reflection of the commitment of all Deputies in relation to special education. The work in the communities was very much reflected in the contributions I have heard. Supporting children with additional education is very much at the core of the Government's values. We have put a huge amount of investment into it. Going back over many years, there has been huge investment in it. There has been unprecedented investment in special needs assistants and right across the education system. We have to make sure we are meeting the needs of the most vulnerable children. As I said on many occasions, whatever we invest in special education right across the special education sector, the State will benefit enormously in future life. We will be able to equip children with the best possible outcomes in life and they will be the best possible people they can be. It is important we continue to acknowledge that investment and make sure we are delivering it in the best place possible.  Deputies will know that after intensive negotiations over the past weekend, there will be no SNA reductions for this year. If any school has identified a need for next year, the resources will be made available to them. That is hugely important. There is an old Irish saying that, \"It takes a village to raise a child\". It is hugely important we apply that to the school communities as well.  School communities are made up of teachers, SNAs and other support staff. These SNAs provide absolute support for children. Many Members spoke about SNAs' dedication and commitment to their work. In talking to SNAs in the special schools and special classes I have been to right across the country, including St. Michael's House Special National School Baldoyle, which I visited yesterday, I thank them sincerely for the work they do. There is uniformity across the place in that they all say they love their jobs. We should acknowledge that and the role they play. Since my appointment last year, I have visited over 120 schools and I have seen the same level of commitment right across the country. The value we place on SNAs is second to none, as is the respect that I, the Government and all of us have for them. They are a crucial piece of the jigsaw in ensuring that children have the best possible outcomes.  Three things came up constantly yesterday evening and again today. On the redeployment scheme, almost half of the Members who spoke mentioned the 2014 circular. We must be very mindful of the fact that the 2014 circular enabled us to grow the SNA workforce by 14,000 over 12 years. We must strengthen it and look at the concerns that are being raised but it is also important to acknowledge that there has been a huge expansion in the education system since that circular was issued.  Concern was expressed in relation to the redeployment scheme and SNAs. The scheme has been talked about quite a lot. There have been a lot of intensive negotiations between the Department and the various stakeholders. We must bring that to a conclusion and finalise it. That is another crucial piece of the plan. SNAs deserve that. It is a commitment in the programme for Government and has been committed to elsewhere. Of course, it was being worked on before but we now have to complete that piece of work.  There has been huge engagement on the workforce development plan between all concerned. There is a myth out there that there has been no engagement. We know what is happening in schools. We know the need that is manifesting itself and how we are going to meet it. I assure the House that Government knows and is working on it tooth and nail. In the context of all of the correspondence, the negotiations and everything that has been said over the week, it is important to note that we are increasing the workforce by 1,700 again this year. It is important that we understand and note that.  All of us bring a level of expertise from our own personal journeys to this House. During the debate today, a text came in, as it does every day at 2.35 p.m. It just says \"great day\" or \"good day\". That is the information the special needs assistant feeds back to our family. That is the information that every family who has a child with additional needs is getting. That is the respect the families have. I want to thank each and every one of the nearly 25,000 SNAs who work the length and breadth of the country for their commitment. We should look at how special education has been funded over the last 15, 20 or 25 years, at the commitment being given to teachers and SNAs and, more importantly, at the governments that have continuously invested in the area. There will always be challenges. This year alone, there is a challenge arising from the huge numbers that have come forward. However, as we did last year, we will work every single hour that God gives us to do the right thing by the children and the families and by the teachers and the SNAs who support them. If we do that right and if we put investment into special education, when we look at our society in 20 or 25 years' time, we will see that investment having reaped a positive reward. I assure the House that we get this. We understand it. We are going to make sure we have the best possible system of special education into the future. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Special Needs Assistants: Statements"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-25\/debate\/dbsect_13","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Revised Estimates for Public Services 2026 - Message from Select Committee","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_13","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  The Select Committee on Disability Matters has completed its consideration of the following Revised Estimate for public services for the service of the year ending on 31 December 2026: Vote 40 - Children, Disability and Equality. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Revised Estimates for Public Services 2026 - Message from Select Committee"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-25\/debate\/dbsect_14","debateType":"statement","bill":null,"showAs":"Apology Related to Childhood Abuse (Hunger Strikers): Statements","counts":{"speechCount":32,"speakerCount":26},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_14","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ann Graves","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Canney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Before calling on the Taoiseach, I welcome to the Distinguished Visitors Gallery today Mary Dunlevy Greene, Mary Donovan, Maurice O\u2019Connell and Miriam Moriarty Owens, all of whom are survivors of institutional abuse. I also welcome their friends, family and supporters who, alongside Patricia Carey, the Government-appointed special advocate for survivors, have joined us in the Public Gallery. They are all very welcome. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I too welcome to D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann a group of survivors of industrial and reformatory schools who met with me and with the then Minister for education, Deputy McEntee, to discuss their concerns and to share their individual stories and experiences. As the Leas-Cheann Comhairle has said, they are Mary Donovan, Mary Dunlevy Greene, Miriam Moriarty Owens and Maurice Patton O\u2019Connell. I pay tribute to them and thank them for their advocacy.  In May 1999, on the basis of a memo I brought to Cabinet, the then Government agreed to enact a series of steps to give victims of childhood abuse an opportunity to be heard. On behalf of the State and of all citizens of the State, the then Government made a sincere apology to the victims of childhood abuse:  On behalf of the state and all of the citizens of the state, the government wishes to make a sincere and long overdue apology to the victims of childhood abuse for our collective failure to intervene, to detect their pain and to come to their rescue.  I reiterate that apology today.  It was acknowledged then that the process of opening up and acknowledging failures to protect the rights of children would be complex, would take new directions and demanded a commitment to responding comprehensively. As a country and as a Government, we recognised that too many of our children were denied the love, care and security that should have been theirs. Abuse ruined their childhoods and remains an ever-present part of their adult lives, reminding them of a time when they were without support or protection. We recognised the gravity of this wrong and undertook to do all we could to overcome the lasting effects of their ordeals.  The first major step in a process of seeking full transparency and perspective involved the establishment of the commission of investigation into child abuse. Better known as the Ryan commission, its final report was published in May 2009. It detailed disturbing and significant levels of historic abuse of children who were placed by the Irish State in residential institutions, particularly industrial schools and reformatories, run by religious orders.  Ongoing reforms of our childcare laws are essential. The Child Care Act 1991 represented a fundamental change of approach to child protection in its comprehensiveness and scope. It prioritised child protection and modernised State services to protect vulnerable children. Irish child protection was significantly transformed and moved to a more proactive State-managed system focused on the rights and safety of the child. That Act remains the fundamental framework for protecting children. Since then and in response to the Ryan report and other reports, we have advanced further changes.  We now have a comprehensive approach to deal with the traumatic impact of previous abuse, to protect children and to strengthen structures and accountability for child protection in this country.  Following the creation of the new Department of Children and Youth Affairs in 2011, the Child and Family Agency, now known as Tusla, was established in January 2014. The Thirty-first Amendment of the Constitution (Children) Act 2012 was signed into law on 28 April 2015. It mandated the courts to consider the best interests of the child as paramount in proceedings regarding custody, guardianship, and care. The Children First Act came into effect in 2015. It too broke new ground in vigilance against child abuse and neglect, with mandatory reporting by key professionals and improved child safeguarding arrangements. In 2017 Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children was published.  Addressing the effects of past abuse has also been a central part of the State's response to historical abuse in residential institutions, with important measures put in place including the establishment and funding of the HSE's national counselling service providing counselling and support to adults who experienced childhood abuse. Over \u20ac1 billion in redress payments have been paid by the State to individual survivors of abuse in industrial schools, reformatories and related institutions through the residential institutions redress scheme and the Education Finance Board. As part of the State's response, contributions were sought from the relevant congregations. Through Caranua, this fund provided \u20ac98 million in funding supports to approximately 6,000 survivors. We are now moving to a new phase of supports which I will expand upon later in this statement.  First, I want to say I fully recognise that for those who suffered institutional abuse the traumatic impact has been enduring. The deep personal toll that it has taken on the lives of survivors was brought home to me again in my recent engagements with the group that is here today. I was moved to hear each of your personal stories and I am deeply sorry for the harm that you suffered as a consequence of the abuse you experienced in State institutions.  When we met, you made me aware of the abuse also suffered by you in particular, but also many others who were boarded out from industrial and reformatory schools. The issue of how you and other children were treated when boarded out was examined in the Ryan report and is further detailed in chapter 11 of the report of the commission of investigation into mother and baby homes. Testimony detailed elsewhere in that report conveyed the harrowing experiences of many of those who were boarded out and the palpable sense of abandonment they felt.  In January 2021, on behalf of the Government, the State and its citizens, I apologised for the profound generational wrong visited upon Irish mothers and their children who ended up in a mother and baby or county home institution. I also acknowledged then that many children who were subsequently boarded out experienced heartbreaking exploitation, neglect and abuse within the families and communities in which they were placed. As I said at that time, and wish to reiterate today, regardless of the pathway from which individuals were boarded out, this was unforgivable. The Government recognised that there were many situations where children in boarded-out arrangements were wrongly and harshly treated. They were not raised as part of a family or given the opportunities they should have been in relation to their care and education. We know that some were physically, emotionally and sexually abused. I am very sorry for what was done to you. I apologise on behalf of the State for the abuse and neglect that you suffered. What happened to you was wrong, shocking and should never have happened. The Government recognises the suffering and damage that this abuse has caused, and we will continue to support you as much as possible.  To support people who experienced abuse while boarded out, the Government established a boarded out practical support service for adults. It is a free and confidential service offering a wide range of practical supports to survivors. Provided by Barnardos and funded by the State, it delivers practical and therapeutic supports to adults who were boarded out as children in Ireland.  Support is also available through the special advocate for survivors, who amplifies the voice of survivors, including those who were boarded out as children. The advisory council currently being established by the special advocate has a number of pillars to reflect the diverse experiences of survivors. One of these pillars is dedicated to, and comprises, those who were boarded out.  Access to records is also a very important issue for many of those who were boarded out and have questions about their origins and early life experiences. The Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022 provides a clear legal basis for access to birth and early life information and records. This allows those who were adopted, boarded out, the subject of an illegal birth registration or resident in a mother and baby or county home institution as a child, to seek information on their own situation.  The national centre for research and remembrance will stand as a national site of conscience to honour equally all those who were resident in institutions and all those who have lived experience of Ireland's historical adoption and boarded-out systems. Survivors will continue to be at the heart of decisions in relation to the development of the national centre.  In 2023 the Government approved a new phase of ongoing supports to survivors of abuse in industrial schools, reformatories and related institutions, in areas including health, advocacy and education. This included an enhanced package of health services and supports for those who wish to engage in education and training and access to advocacy supports through a new independent advocacy service. Work is well under way on putting these services and supports in place.  I appreciate that there were concerns among certain survivors about the adequacy of these new supports and this has been the subject of the recent campaign by the group present here today. Following the conclusion of a mediation process to address the concerns raised, the Government has agreed to provide further improvements to these services. These include strengthened access to health services for survivors of industrial and reformatory schools through the appointment of dedicated health liaison officers and better access to counselling and physiotherapy services. Work is already under way to put these services in place.  The Government has also agreed to provide additional funding for education grants under the Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Act 2025. I recognise that there have been calls for a contributory State pension for this group of survivors. I discussed this with survivors, and we recognised the complexity of the issue. We agreed to explore ways to address this issue that would be more flexible and easier to access. On foot of this, the Government has approved the expansion of the education support payments scheme under the Act to include the provision of support for informal learning, self-development and well-being activities. These payments will be easy to access and will be introduced as soon as possible.  We have also progressed measures to ensure that survivors are prioritised for social housing needs and to ensure that community welfare services give them specific consideration and recognition for funeral costs and provide accordingly. The potential for local memorialisation proposals is also being explored. All of these measures are part of the agreement that I, the Minister, Deputy McEntee, and the Government arrived at with the group that is here today, by letter and mediation. I hope that these additional measures will help the ongoing process of healing for these survivors of institutional abuse.  Another matter which I wish to address relates to criminal records. Today I wish to categorically confirm for the record that the State did not, and does not regard individuals, by virtue of their detention in any industrial school as having committed a criminal offence, and that no criminal record is recorded against them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  With regard to children who were detained in industrial schools and who were subsequently transferred to a reformatory school, solely by virtue of their detention in the industrial school, they are likewise not considered to have had any criminal record. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  No person and, in particular, no agency of the State should in any way regard these individuals as having committed a criminal offence or having a criminal record. A formal statement to this effect will also be issued today by the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration. Certificates confirming this for individual survivors will be provided on a case-by-case basis following receipt of records, including posthumously. The process for this will be put in place by the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration as soon as possible.  Survivors have felt stigmatised - you made this very clear to me in our meetings - throughout their lives, and we must be clear and categoric in removing any taint of stigmatisation from public discourse and the public record.  I once again thank the survivors for being here today. Your commitment, resilience and struggle and the challenges that presented for you personally, as you again articulated to me today, is testament to your tireless commitment to shining a light into the dark corners of both our past and present. I unequivocally apologise to you and reiterate on behalf of the Government, the State, and all the citizens of the State, the profound sorrow for the terrible pain and abuse suffered by you. What you endured on a daily basis as innocent children was harrowing, heart-breaking and wrong. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I join the Taoiseach in thanking the group of survivors from industrial and reformatory schools for their presence in the D\u00e1il today, and indeed for their campaign to highlight the ongoing legacy of trauma bestowed by this country's shameful history of cruelty towards children. Today we welcome Mary, Mary, Miriam and Maurice. I know you met with the Taoiseach and the Minister, Deputy McEntee, last year. I know you told your own personal stories, which is a harrowing thing to do in and of itself. In doing so, however, you have brought about a renewed focus on the terrible experience of all survivors, and a further acknowledgement by the State of the dreadful harm that was done to children. The State has often compounded the wrongs of the past by failing to admit them quickly enough and failing to comprehensively acknowledge our part in them. I can think of too many examples where this has been the case. I hope today might serve another purpose in helping us to learn from that once and for all.  Today I am glad that we are recognising the hurt and the pain of those abused in childhood in State institutions. Every time the silence that once surrounded your suffering is broken is a moment of light shining in the darkness. We have heard, as we should, in this House on many occasions of the systematically cold and harsh treatment of children and the endemic culture of abuse which went unchecked in our State for far too long. It is right that we should hear these harsh truths in this House and it is right that we should apologise for them. In truth, we can never apologise enough for what happened.  In May 1999, the Government apologised to the victims of childhood abuse and recognised the acute pain and abuse that children suffered when they should have been cared for and protected by the State. Instead of love, care and protection, they were gravely wronged. In that apology, it was rightly accepted that abuse ruined their childhoods and remained an ever-present part of their adult lives. Although unable to escape the enduring and deep hurt that they carried with them down the years, survivors have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to sharing their stories, their terrifying living nightmares, so that the State would act. As with the survivors here today, each one of you has your own unique experience of suffering but I know that through your efforts you are seeking to improve things for all survivors of institutional abuse. I am sincerely and profoundly sorry for the pain and suffering you were subjected to in and by the State.  Today we are building on that State apology of 1999 and all that has followed. Although not yet a Member of this House, I remember the Ryan report some ten years later and the appalling litany of abuse described therein. It is impossible to read the records of abuse reported by witnesses to that inquiry without feeling sick to your stomach. Not too long after I was first elected, I remember being present in this Chamber after the publication of the Cloyne report which, although a separate commission process to the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse, again exposed the disgusting downplaying of the rape and torture of children, and a dangerous disregard for child protection practices. I recall being present in this Chamber in 2013 for the then Taoiseach\u2019s apology to the Magdalen women, as we visited again the cold and pitiless Ireland that was systematically punitive to girls and women. Of course, I remember being present in 2021 when the Taoiseach apologised to those who spent time in mother and baby homes in this country. So many occasions when we have had to once again unleash the national trauma of our past and expose again the wounds which never healed for children afflicted by a culture where indifference enabled violence, neglect and abuse. The dark past of this country is an abyss of misery for the children so victimised.  It is right, as I have said, that this House listens and apologises and, more importantly, it is essential we act. It is true to say extensive work has been undertaken to reform our child welfare laws and ensure that our structures and accountability for child protection are robust and effective. The country held a referendum and the people voted to enshrine the best interests of children in our Constitution and in law. Mandatory reporting was introduced but we must also remind ourselves that when it comes to caring for and protecting our children, we must always be vigilant and always seek to improve services and safeguards. Child welfare concerns can never be seen as a thing of the past but must be an ever-present priority if we are to be true to the reforms we have made.  In addition to the experience of those who were abused while in institutions, the Taoiseach also spoke about those who experienced abuse while boarded out. The 2021 State apology rightly recognised the many situations where children who were boarded out were treated shamefully. Far from being placed into the bosom of a family, children were neglected, abused and exploited for labour. Today, we clearly and unequivocally on behalf of the State apologise to those who suffered abuse in these circumstances. Today, we confirm, on the record of this House, that the State did not, and does not regard individuals as having committed a criminal offence and that no criminal record is recorded against them by virtue of their detention in any industrial school.  I appreciate that with the Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Act 2025, we have entered into a new phase of ongoing supports for survivors of abuse. Today we seek to build on those concerns and supports as the Taoiseach has outlined. I welcome that. We hope that the actions we have taken to date and those we take now make some contribution to the healing process for survivors. I hope today\u2019s apology goes some way towards that and that the support of the State today can start to make up, in some small way, for the neglect of the State when you were at your most helpless and vulnerable.  I wan to conclude by restating again our deep sorrow for the grievous wrong that was done to you as children. We can never forget that the suffering deliberately imposed on the most blameless innocents is a stain on our nation. We can never stop trying to understand how, as a State and as a society, our most basic instinct - to protect our children - was warped into an appalling acceptance of abuse and abandonment. I think of a line from the poetry collection The Poison Glen by Annemarie N\u00ed Churre\u00e1in \u2013 a collection informed by conversations with survivors of Irish institutions \u2013 in the poem \"Creed\". The line is \"The Child, my sister, my brother, who was conceived out of darkness in a moment of light and placed into the care of Stone.\" We unequivocally apologise on behalf of the Government, the State and all the citizens of this State for all that you have endured. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  The dark shadow cast by what was done to children in Ireland's industrial and reformatory schools is a horror with which our country has never fully reconciled. Indeed, it may be impossible to do so. The scale and depth of the abuse, violence, hurt and life-lasting trauma suffered by victims has rippled and reverberated for decades, sometimes as quiet as uncertain as a whisper, sometimes powerful enough to rock our collective conscience but always there. The industrial schools were a State-sanctioned system of abuse of vulnerable children, operated on the watch of successive Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael Governments. Children who needed care and safety were instead met with the most unimaginable cruelty. They were criminalised and victimised, swept under the carpet of society, swept behind iron gates and swept into places of unspeakable brutality.  Responsibility for impoverished children was handed to the religious orders, and then a blind eye was turned to the extreme violence inflicted on them. Children, whose names were erased with a number, whose innocence was crushed in dark rooms and grey cold courtyards, children whose cries for help were drowned out by a depraved cruelty. Not only did the State and successive Governments sanction this systematic abuse of children but it was then covered up, survivors dismissed, their experiences sidelined and their demand for truth and justice ignored. Survivors, for too long, were robbed of their right to say without fear or contradiction \"I was there in that place. These awful things were done to me again and again. It was done to me.\" The way the State chose to look after vulnerable children was to batter, brutalise and dehumanise them.  The chosen setting was industrial schools. It would be easy to say that these children were forgotten but the State and successive Governments knew exactly where it had put them, knew the culture of violence that dominated these places and knew that children would be met with cruelty masked as care, which was the same broken philosophy that gave rise to the mother and baby homes and Magdalen laundries. We have heard the powerful testimony of many survivors, yet it remains hard to comprehend the gravity of the beatings, sexual abuse, emotional and mental torture and excruciating tension of not knowing when that next horror would come every minute of every hour of every day. Childhoods were destroyed, lives ruined and unspeakable damage done. The physical scars run deep. The mental and emotional scars are wrapped tightly around every heartbeat and every breath taken.  For survivors, this is not a chapter of history because the trauma is with them still today, hardwired perpetually into their lives. Twenty-seven years ago, survivors heard a State apology from then Taoiseach Bertie Ahern. Three years later, the redress board was set up to provide financial redress to survivors. In 2009, the Ryan report laid bare the shocking endemic nature of abuse in industrial schools. The Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act was enacted in 2012 to manage very meagre contributions from religious orders in the areas of housing, health and education. Let it not be forgotten that survivors had to fight and wait years between each step of progress and reparation. Survivors are still fighting for full truth, full justice, full accountability and the supports they deserve. That is what brought the four survivors of industrial school abuse to the gates of the D\u00e1il last September for 51 days. Miriam Moriarty Owens, Mary Donovan, Mary Dunlevy Greene and Maurice Patton O'Connell protested and went on hunger strike outside Leinster House. That is what it took for them to be heard by Government.  The demands of Miriam, Mary, Mary and Maurice for the State contributory pension and a Health (Amendment) Act, HAA, medical card to help address the lifelong consequences of the abuse they and others suffered were shamefully ignored by Government. They were allowed to go on hunger strike to the point where they developed real, genuine health concerns. They deserve an apology for that too. They called off their protest after proposals that were belatedly tabled by the Taoiseach. I can only hope and pray that the full package of measures is true to those proposals and that Government in full follows through on its promises.  Maireann an tr\u00e1ma \u00f3n m\u00ed-\u00fas\u00e1id a d'fhulaing \u00edospartaigh in \u00e1iteanna tionscla\u00edocha f\u00f3s leo sa l\u00e1 at\u00e1 inniu ann. T\u00e1 an St\u00e1t agus rialtas i ndiaidh rialtais freagrach as an m\u00e9id a tharla sna h\u00e1iteanna seo. N\u00ed c\u00f3ir go mbeadh ar \u00e1r marthan\u00f3ir\u00ed troid a thuilleadh. Today's apology is of course welcome and I hope it brings them some comfort, but an apology without justice is really no apology at all. No child belonged in these places. No child should have endured such suffering. To be beaten and abused only to know that it would happen again, to be demeaned and know that this was allowed, and to cry out for help and know that help was not coming is the harrowing story of Ireland's industrial schools. It is a story crafted by the Irish State and overseen by successive Governments hand in glove with the religious orders. Today, however, the dignity of each survivor soars above all of that. They had to fight for far too long. They should never ever have to fight again. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  Today's apology is historic, important and welcome. I acknowledge the survivors who have endured decades of harm, neglect and State failure. We are not dealing with an historic issue. It is very much live and present. It is the ongoing failure of the State to meet the basic needs of survivors of institutional abuse. I welcome the apology and the commitment in terms of supports. I encourage their being in place as quickly as possible, although it is already too late.  I say to Mary, Mary, Miriam and Maurice, and people talk about stigma, that they are an inspiration. You have achieved something. Less than a year ago, I stood here, and our current President, Catherine Connolly, sat over there. We brought forward proposals and amendments in line with what they were looking for. We lost. We were unsuccessful. We did not deliver, but you did. You have done that. It should not have taken your hunger strike, but your resilience and determination have been an absolute inspiration. You stuck it out and brought the Government to this position. You should be incredibly proud of yourselves. Your families should be incredibly proud of you, as should the whole of Ireland. It is an inspiration. We met and talked. You were incredibly tenacious. You did not let us or the Government away with anything.  There are commitments here from the Government. We need to see them realised. This is a wrong that has to be righted. I know you will, as will we, pursue it to make sure that you get exactly what has been committed to. As I said, what you have done is very inspirational. This relates to a very dark period in Irish history. Lessons have to be learnt. We need to see action on the part of the Government in the context of ensuring that the commitments which have been made are delivered. Once again, comhghairdeas libh. You should be incredibly proud of yourselves. I am inspired by you. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  I am glad to have the opportunity to speak for the Labour Party in today's important and historic debate. I welcome the Taoiseach\u2019s apology, which marks an important step in Ireland\u2019s recognition of our shameful history as a society and of our appalling treatment of women and children over so many decades. It recognises that far too many of our people were incarcerated in reformatories, industrial schools, Magdalen laundries, mother and baby homes and other institutions in what is a very recent and shameful history. We acknowledge that today. Abuse was systemic and known about. It was covered up and brushed under the carpet. It has taken brave and courageous survivors over many years to shine a light into that dark and shameful history. I acknowledge the mighty Ms who are here today, namely Mary Donovan, Miriam Moriarty Owens, Mary Dunlevy Greene and Maurice Patton O\u2019Connell. I welcome them, their families and supporters. Many are in the Gallery and many are watching online.  I welcome Carmel McDonnell Byrne and so many more. I think of and acknowledge the late Christine Buckley. Carmel reminded me Sunday next marks 30 years since \"Dear Daughter\" was aired. It was in that ground-breaking documentary, made by the late Louis Lentin, that Christine described the horrific abuse to which she was subjected in Goldenbridge. I had the privilege of knowing Christine, who died so sadly in 2014. Carmel reminded me that Christine said about her appalling experience of abuse that survivors needed a year's counselling for every day they spent in those hellholes. I had the privilege of representing survivors of abuse before the Residential Institutions Redress Board in a previous life as a barrister. I heard first hand from people about the utterly horrifying experiences they endured - the appalling abuse, the vindictive, systemic, sadistic abuse they experienced in those institutions. For any of us who have heard or spoken with survivors, it stays with us all. I thank them all for shining a light on what went on for far too long and, as I said, about what was known about, covered up and systemic in so many institutions.  It has taken great bravery. It has taken the courage of survivors to shine a light, and the campaign has taken far too long. The trauma we know was inflicted upon the survivors at such a young age will last a lifetime, and they should not have had to protest for so long in this latest stage of seeking justice. Meetings with survivors who were protesting outside Leinster House last autumn should not have been postponed or delayed, particularly as we know that delays magnify hurt. I am glad the protests culminated in the commitment from the Government to today\u2019s State apology, but the apology must have meaning and an impact.  I welcome the package of measures the Taoiseach and the T\u00e1naiste have announced, to include financial assistance, prioritised access to social housing, trauma-informed healthcare and education supports. These measures are welcome but survivors tell me they are keen to get a timeline for when the services will be put in place. They and their families are understandably anxious to know when the commitments will be upheld and when the services will be made available.  Clearly, the first important part of continuing to right historical wrongs is the apology today. However, we must all collectively ensure that proper justice, full justice and redress are delivered to provide dignity and closure to a group of people who have suffered for so long. Thousands of children were subjected to systemic and sustained abuse in industrial and reform schools going back to the 1940s. I refer to physical, sexual and emotional abuse in schools operated largely by religious orders but funded and supervised by State entities. Neither the church nor the State intervened to prevent mistreatment.  The Catholic Church, in particular, is known to have acted as a sort of shadow welfare State, operating institutions on behalf of the State, with the State abdicating responsibility to vulnerable children. I am glad to hear the Minister for justice is going to make clear that there will be absolutely no criminal records. Far too many of the adults I represented had been sent through criminal courts. They were appallingly criminalised by the State and sent to suffer abuse at the hands of religious orders in institutions. It is utterly shameful that there are people, still living, who had those experiences. It is long past time that the justice element was dealt with.  The Taoiseach rightly described the publication of the Ryan report in 2009 as a watershed moment. I still remember people coming up to public representatives in the street and to so many others to talk about the experiences they had suppressed as children that were brought back into their minds by what the report revealed. That was an important step in uncovering State complicity as well as religious orders\u2019 complicity.  There was much that was wrong with the redress scheme I described, involving the Residential Institutions Redress Board. We have learned from that and we now know how much we need to ensure enhanced and substantive supports are made available to survivors. I welcome the progress to be made on the pensions point, in particular.  There are two forward-facing points that need to be made. The first relates to our duty as legislators. We need to identify and address gaps in child protection legislation to ensure our legislation is now robust and fit for purpose and that the State is no longer able to outsource or neglect the care of the most vulnerable in our society. I am thinking of those who are still in congregated settings, those children who come here as unaccompanied minors and who are in State care, and children in State care in many different settings in respect of whom we have a duty and whom we must not fail again.  The second call is to ensure the religious orders are made accountable. I have spoken before about how the churches, but particularly the Catholic Church, enabled a culture of secrecy and cover-up to develop for far too long, and how church authorities were very slow, also for far too long, to pay due redress, with the State paying a huge share despite having been promised that religious orders would engage in delivering justice. The Labour Party has introduced a Bill that seeks to address that imbalance. It seeks to facilitate civil proceedings against unincorporated bodies such as religious orders. It provides a mechanism for recovering damages from the associated lay-run trusts set up by many religious orders to hold their assets, so that those assets can no longer be shielded from unpaid redress.  Successive Governments have repeatedly failed to compel religious orders to pay their fair share of redress, and many continue to evade responsibility. The Labour Bill is now in the lottery for debate during Private Members\u2019 time. It is about ending the evasion and ensuring religious orders face accountability and that religious institutions that ignored abuse or enabled its perpetration are held accountable for the harm they caused. If we pass this legislation, the Oireachtas will have an opportunity to take a meaningful further step towards justice, dignity and truth for survivors. We cannot simply appeal to the moral duty of religious orders to ensure victims receive the justice they deserve. We have seen a slow pace of action, avoidance of responsibility and legal obfuscation for far too long.  We owe an enormous debt of appreciation and gratitude to all those brave survivors and victims who have shown such tremendous courage in coming forward to make disclosures and reveal to us all the true extent of abuse in religious-run and State-run institutions, which occurred for far too long. I hope that all survivors or victims and their families watching and listening today will find some solace in today\u2019s proceedings. I welcome the apology but we still need to do more to ensure true justice for survivors. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Education and Youth (Deputy Hildegarde Naughton)  I, too, welcome Mary, Miriam, Maurice and Mary to the House today, together with your family members and supporters. I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to meet you this afternoon. I understand that days like today are particularly difficult for you and your families because hearing an apology can bring back such painful experiences. I also recognise how important this moment is in acknowledging the harm that was done. It is an essential step in honouring your truth and supporting healing for you and those who love you. The abuse and mistreatment that you, as well as so many other survivors, experienced during childhood was horrific and wrong. It is right that this historic wrong has been acknowledged by both the State and the Government and that it continues to be acknowledged.  It is also right that the State continues to provide supports to survivors to address the legacy of the abuse suffered. As the Taoiseach has already outlined, there has been a significant response by the State to this issue in recent decades, much of which has come under the remit of my Department. It includes the investigations undertaken by the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse, the redress payments made to survivors by the Residential Institutions Redress Board, and funding supports provided by Caranua to over 6,000 survivors in important areas such as health, housing and education. In addition, the National Counselling Service continues to provide much-needed counselling and psychiatry services to survivors of childhood abuse. However, we are now moving to a new phase of the State providing ongoing supports to survivors to meet their key needs.  Last July, the Oireachtas passed the Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Act 2025, which will enable the delivery of ongoing health and education supports to survivors of abuse in residential institutions. With regard to health supports, eligible survivors will be provided with a medical card, which will enable them to obtain certain health supports and services through the HSE. This entitlement will be for life and will not be subject to means testing or review. The Government has recently agreed to strengthen this package of health supports through the appointment of specified liaison officers within the HSE and through improved access to counselling and physiotherapy services. I understand that the Department of Health is working closely with the HSE to ensure these supports, including the health liaison officers, will be in place as soon as possible.  The Government has also approved the expansion of the education support payment scheme, to be provided under the Act. This scheme, which will be administered by my Department, will provide payments ranging from \u20ac500 to \u20ac2,000 per year to survivors engaging in education, depending on the level of the course concerned. The scheme will also provide payments of \u20ac600 per year to survivors to support with informal learning, self-development and well-being. My Department is finalising arrangements in order that these important supports for survivors can be delivered as soon as possible.  In addition, Sage Advocacy has since November 2023 been engaged by my Department to provide advocacy supports to survivors. It has appointed regional advocates all across the country to assist survivors engaging with relevant service providers such as local authorities and the HSE. Information on the supports available to survivors will be published on the Department\u2019s website and will also be communicated to survivor and advocacy groups to ensure that as many survivors as possible will be made aware of their availability.  To Mary, Miriam, Maurice and Mary, I say nothing we do now can ever make up for the harm that you have suffered and that was done to you by others.  As children, you were subjected to horrific abuse while placed in residential institutions. It is vital, however, that this harm and its ongoing impact on the lives of survivors are addressed and acknowledged. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Justice (Deputy Jim O'Callaghan)  I echo and confirm my support for the apology made by the Taoiseach today on behalf of the Government. I also endorse the words of the T\u00e1naiste and the Minister for education. I share my colleagues' deep sense of regret for the pain and suffering experienced by those who experienced detention in industrial schools. I now want to make an official statement, as Minister for justice, in respect of people detained in industrial schools. I know that this is an important official statement for Mary, Mary, Miriam and Maurice and that it will provide them with some solace.  As Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, I confirm that the State did not and does not regard individuals as having committed a criminal offence and that no criminal record is recorded against them by virtue of their detention in any industrial school. Children who were detained in industrial schools and who were subsequently transferred to a reformatory school, solely by virtue of their detention in the industrial school, are likewise not considered to have had any criminal record. No person, and in particular no agency of the State, should regard these individuals as having committed a criminal offence or having a criminal record.  I can also confirm that if individuals wish to have further confirmation that they do not have a criminal record arising from their detention in an industrial school or transfer to a reformatory school solely by virtue of their detention in an industrial school, that confirmation can be provided in the form of a written certificate, including posthumously. Each request for the issuing of a certificate will be considered on a case-by-case basis following receipt and review of records.  Again, I express my sincere sympathies to those who experienced detention in industrial schools. I hope that confirmation that the State does not consider these individuals to have a criminal record is a small but meaningful acknowledgement of the need to repair this harm. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  I just want to seek some sort of clarity on the statement, but before that, I congratulate, in spite of all the adversity they went through, the efforts those in the Gallery made against the tide and against the resistance they faced. They pushed on through and got it. Many of them came from Tralee as well but----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  We appreciate that, Deputy, but this is for statements, not questions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  Yes. I see in the Taoiseach's statement on behalf of the Government that he acknowledges and apologises for the generational wrong. He acknowledges that some children who were subsequently boarded out experienced exploitation and that many boys were sent to work on farms and many girls were sent to work in domestic service. He said in the statement at the time----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, I am sorry. I cannot permit you to ask a question; I can permit you to continue with your statement. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  Regardless of the pathway from which individuals were boarded out, the Taoiseach has acknowledged that it is unforgivable, and that is good. He recognises situations where children were wrongly and harshly treated. He stated: \"The Government recognises the suffering and damage ... this ... has caused, and we will continue to support you as much as possible.\" However, people who were boarded out from county homes cannot \"continue to be supported\" because they were never included in any redress scheme. Former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said that promises would be made, but promises were broken. Something must be done, he said at one stage. Will the people who were boarded out from the county homes be included in part of any redress scheme? It is unclear, I suggest, what the Taoiseach says when he says the Government will continue to support them, because the people I speak to have not been supported initially. They have not been included in any redress scheme, so it is impossible to continue to support them when the Government has not been doing so, even though the Taoiseach acknowledges the wrong that has been done to them. This is important for the thousands of people who were boarded out because it was the State that abandoned, discriminated against and did not help those children at every step of the way. We cannot blame mother and baby homes or any segment of the Catholic Church or any other church for that matter. It was always the State. I ask Members opposite in their closing remarks to clarify whether those children, who are now in their 70s, will be included. A lot of them do not want counselling any more and do not need it, but they do want to be included as part of the redress scheme. It is important, and I want to know and they want to know whether they will be included. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  I give a very warm welcome to all the survivors in the Public Gallery. We are here today because of their tireless efforts to get justice.  I welcome the State apology today for survivors of industrial and reformatory schools as well as the clarification on criminal records. I do, however, want to talk about what it took to get here. Survivors of these nightmarish institutions, Mary Donovan, Mary Dunlevy Greene, Maurice Patton O'Connell and Miriam Moriarty Owens, went on hunger strike for 51 days, sleeping on the street outside Leinster House, in the bitter cold and rain, in the winter, just to be listened to, to be taken seriously, to be heard. These are people who have already been repeatedly failed by the State, who were placed in these terrible institutions when they were just children, only to be beaten, starved and sexually abused, treated like prisoners and slaves, denied a childhood, denied compassion, denied care, denied everything a child needs. They were tortured for years by religious orders and a complicit State. The State knew this was happening and did not stop it and did not help - quite the opposite. It continued to send children to these awful places. These children had suffered trauma and needed love and support and were denied it. Instead, all they received was brutality and terror. Every waking minute was marked by fear, anxiety and horror. Lives were destroyed. We are still in this Chamber failing them today, decades later, forcing them to beg for supports that should be easy to access, forcing them to jump through hoops just to get the basics, making them feel like they have no other choice but to go on hunger strike. These are survivors of depraved abuse, forced to endure further trauma and pain, just to get what they should already be entitled to.  Today's apology marks the fifth time the State has apologised for what children and women endured in institutions run by religious orders. Those apologies now stretch back nearly 30 years. They started in 1999, when Bertie Ahern apologised to children who had been abused in residential institutions. At the time Mr. Ahern lamented the \"piecemeal approach\" the State had taken to protecting children and commended the \"bravery of individual victims determined to tell their stories and seek justice\". Back then, the current Taoiseach was education Minister and chair of a Cabinet subcommittee tasked with designing supports for victims. Since then, there have been apologies by a further three taoisigh: Brian Cowen, Enda Kenny and, in 2021, Miche\u00e1l Martin himself. Here we are again today, still forcing victims to go public, to advocate and to fight the State for recognition and services, still taking a legalistic approach to redress, in which the overriding priority is limiting access and eligibility, once again trying to protect the State's finances rather than trying to protect victims.  The redress scheme for survivors of mother and baby homes is the perfect example of this. It limits support and services to as narrow a group as possible for entirely arbitrary reasons that have no scientific or logical basis, causing further pain and trauma to survivors, who have already suffered so much, in the process.  The State did not do this in the dim or distant past. It was a decision by the previous Fianna F\u00e1il, Fine Gael and Green Party Government. It excluded children who had spent less than six months in one of these institutions and children who had been boarded out, even if those children had been forcibly separated from their mothers, illegally adopted or treated like slave labour and abused in the places they were boarded out to. They got nothing.  I hope the brave people who went on hunger strike are not failed by this Government too. I know they feel very angry and let down that supports they were promised have not materialised. To have survivors consulted about the apology 30 minutes beforehand and to have the dates of their coming and going from the institutions wrong today is insulting. It is disrespectful and the very least they deserve today is respect. I hope this does not continue beyond today. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  Mary, Miriam, Mary and Maurice should never have had to fight this hard to hear the words they did today. We should never have met outside Leinster House when they were outside on hunger strike, in the cold and dark alone, as they were so many times as children. That should never have happened. They should never have had to endure that. I thank them all for entrusting me with their stories.  It broke my heart the first time I met them, and it still breaks my heart today. I am sorry for getting emotional, but it is on their behalf. What they endured as children and what they are enduring today is just heartbreaking. As Deputy Cairns has just said, to know that their entry and exit dates were incorrect is wrong. The other thing that is wrong is the fact that they all have to go home tonight because they were not put up for the night in Dublin. They have far to travel, and this is an emotional day. That should not have happened to them either.  I congratulate them for the work they have done. They have been amazing. As Deputy O'Rourke has said, they were inspirational. I hope they find some peace today for the remainder of their lives and that the things promised to them are delivered in a timely way. It is three months since they came off the road outside and they have still not been delivered. I wish them the best of luck and I hope today has helped them heal in some little way. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Liam Quaide  I pay tribute to all industrial and reformatory school survivors and to those who have not lived to hear today's State apology. It is one apology in a series to those who suffered terribly in State institutions. It will ring hollow if it is not followed quickly by the enactment of commitments the Taoiseach made to the hunger strikers last November. I connected with Mary Dunlevy Greene, Mary Donovan, Miriam Moriarty Owens and Maurice Patton O'Connell during their 51-day protest outside Leinster House, in particular with Mary Dunlevy Greene through our shared County Limerick roots. I look forward to meeting Mary in Kilteely, County Limerick, in the coming months.  I was deeply struck by the determination and commitment to justice shown by these survivors on behalf of all who endured our hellish industrial and reformatory school system. We may have moved on from the savage abuse and abject deprivation that defined our industrial and reformatory schools, but too often this has given way to a cold bureaucratic system that meets survivors not with respect and compassion, but with delay, resistance or indifference when they try to access healthcare, basic financial supports and measures that would bring a modicum of comfort to their lives. I implore the Taoiseach to act on the commitments he made to the survivors last November with the greatest urgency. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Children, Disability and Equality (Deputy Norma Foley)  Today is an important moment in facing up to a traumatic time in our history. This State was established with the intention of moving away from the cruel and harsh regime that vulnerable children experienced in workhouses. However, after independence many of these vulnerable children remained in the workhouses, which were renamed as county homes. Others were put into orphanages, industrial schools and reformatory schools or boarded out to families. Successive tribunals and commissions of investigation have established that many of the children did not get the love, care and security they deserved. Worse again, many experienced severe abuse. This legacy of abuse and neglect of children has caused deep trauma, which is still with survivors today.  I have met with Miriam Moriarty Owens, Mary Dunlevy Greene, Mary Donovan and Maurice Patton O\u2019Connell on a number of occasions, including during their time outside Leinster House, and I am truly conscious of the trauma they and other survivors have endured and continue to endure. As they are aware, the issues were raised directly with an Taoiseach and the Minister for education. I welcome the fact that mediation talks coupled with the genuine personal commitment of an Taoiseach, Deputy Miche\u00e1l Martin, and, most especially, the determination and courage of the group of four survivors paved the way for today's outcome. On that note, I do not believe we should ever underestimate the determination of Miriam, Maurice and the two Marys and their absolute commitment to achieve today's success, not just for themselves but for all the others who experienced what they experienced, lived what they lived and live what they live today. From the outset, I was struck by that sense of solidarity and generosity that drove Miriam, Mary, Maurice and Mary on. I think all in this House thank them for that.  I welcome the apology the Taoiseach has made in the D\u00e1il to survivors of institutional abuse and those who suffered abuse while they were boarded out. This apology builds on the 1999 apology to victims of institutional abuse and aspects of the 2021 apology to survivors of mother and baby homes. From speaking with survivors, I know many worried that they may have a criminal record just by virtue of having been in an industrial school or a reformatory school. The Taoiseach and the Minister for justice have restated the official position that no such criminal record exists. This reassurance is important for survivors, and I welcome it.  Today is a day when the State rightly says sorry for the failings of the past. Every day, we must work with dedication and determination to ensure those past failures are not repeated in the present and into the future. There has been huge reform of our child welfare and protection system over past decades. There are vetting procedures and avenues of support in place that did not exist in the past. However, we cannot shy away from the fact that there are still some children in our society who remain at risk. As a State and a society, we must continue to do everything in our power to protect and support all children, especially those who are most vulnerable. I conclude by again saluting the courage of Maurice Patton O\u2019Connell, Miriam Moriarty Owens, Mary Dunlevy Greene and Mary Donovan. To them, we say thank you. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Helen McEntee)  Like my colleagues, I am pleased to have the time to contribute to this State apology. I acknowledge the words of the Taoiseach, the T\u00e1naiste and many of my colleagues in apologising for the great harm that was done to so many young people and families over a prolonged period of time at the hands of the State.  The Taoiseach's apology today rightly built on the 1999 apology on behalf of the State and its citizens to all survivors of childhood abuse, taking into consideration the 2021 apology to survivors and former residents of the mother and baby institutions. Today in particular, we reference and relate to those who were boarded out from the various institutions, many of whom were children who suffered unimaginable abuse at the hands of those who were meant to protect and support them.  Today, we refer to the criminal records and make it clear that no person has a criminal record by virtue of having been in an industrial school. I know this is an important element of the apology today. We make reference to the important initiatives that have taken place in recent decades, including the work of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse, improvements to child protection and the provision of redress and other supports. It is important to recommit to and acknowledge the new and necessary ongoing supports that will be delivered to survivors.  I acknowledge four people who have brought us to this point and made today happen. They are Mary Donovan, Mary Dunlevy Greene, Miriam Moriarty Owens and Maurice Patton O'Connell. I know they represent many other survivors of institutional abuse and our industrial schools. I met all four in my previous role as Minister for education. I thank them for the time they afforded me in our engagement and during our time. I am conscious that I am not the first person they had to relay their story to. I am also conscious of the horrors that were inflicted on them, their siblings and their family members, and the intergenerational trauma that has been inflicted on them and their communities.  We are here only through their bravery and determination to ensure not just that the wrong that was inflicted on them is recognised here today but that the wrong that was inflicted on so many others is also recognised here today. We must all take this opportunity to restate our absolute commitment as legislators and public representatives working together to make sure that these kinds of abuse do not happen again and that no young person or family will ever be subjected to the kinds of abuse we know were inflicted on so many young people through no fault of their own. Again, I welcome the Taoiseach's apology and the T\u00e1naiste's apology here today and join with colleagues in thanking in particular Mary, Mary, Miriam and Morris for what they have done and what they have achieved on their own behalf but also on behalf of so many others. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sorca Clarke  Miriam Moriarty Owens, Mary Donovan, Mary Dunlevy Greene and Maurice Patton O'Connell are four courageous survivors of abuse in industrial schools who undertook a hunger strike for 51 days outside this very building. They did not do that lightly. They did it as a last act, a last resort. These survivors, who had already been failed in childhood by the State and religious authorities, felt compelled to place their own health at risk simply to have their voices heard, and all for very modest demands, including a HAA card so they can access medical care without additional financial hardship and a contributory State pension acknowledging the years of their unpaid labour carried out in the institutions.  Government after Government acknowledged wrongs but failed to implement fully comprehensive survivor-centred redress. In reality, the Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Act 2025 was a half-measure that ignored the unmet need of all survivors. Sinn F\u00e9in brought forward amendments at the time seeking to make that Act equal for all survivors of residential institutions but all of our amendments were struck down by Government. The 2025 Act failed to guarantee universal access to that HAA card; did not provide a contributory State pension in recognition of that unpaid institutional labour; created eligibility thresholds that excluded survivors based on technicalities; and introduced layers of bureaucracy that placed undue burden again on survivors to prove their suffering. A survivor-centred scheme would have ensured the universal inclusion for survivors regardless of what institution they were in or the institution's religious ethos. That was not survivor-centred; it was bureaucracy-centred. It created a hierarchy of pain based on arbitrary lines.  Survivors of institutional abuse were failed as children by religious orders and by the State - by the very systems that were meant to protect them - and they carried the consequences of that for a lifetime. Enduring trauma, an indelible mark was put upon them by those in authority and they were criminalised. The State now has an opportunity and an obligation to move beyond symbolism and deliver concrete, equitable, survivor-centred supports and a timeline for the delivery of them. All commitments must be delivered. Justice must be delivered but an apology has to be the beginning not the end because an apology without justice is hollow and empty and those four people sitting in the Gallery today and all the others like them deserve so much more than that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  All the bigwig Ministers are here. A few things have to be stated very honestly. Those four survivors were left outside there for over 40 days and, but for Miriam Moriarty Owens, Mary Donovan, Mary Dunlevy Greene and Maurice Patton O'Connell suffering and putting their health at risk, nothing would have been given. I remember raising this on the floor of the D\u00e1il. I think Catherine Connolly, who is now the President, raised it during Leaders' Questions. I think I raised it during Questions on Policy or Legislation on the same day. The answer we got back was that the Government was not giving into emotional blackmail.  I want to clarify what has been conceded to the survivors. I put my glasses on a couple of times to check this. Instead of a pension, they are being given a yearly payment of \u20ac600. Is that correct? That is \u20ac4 per week and we are expected to think that is okay, bearing in mind the free labour that was done in reformatory schools. A host of things that seem to have been discussed and asked for by the survivors have not been given. They make the point that there are 4,000 other people who are looking for lifelong supports that they still have not got. The Government goes on about one-off payments during the cost-of-living crisis but these are all one-off measures so that they do not exist for other people as well. A figure of \u20ac600 per year is an insult and should be looked at again.  I pay homage to them for their determination and consistency in raising this issue. I acknowledge once again people who have been the victims of the church-State nexus. First cousins of my mother were in reformatory schools. We all only found out about it much later in life. We did not know anything about them and they had lifelong suffering and torment as a result of what they experienced there. The damage to people's psychological and physical health has not been fully acknowledged at all by what has been given. Once again, the Irish State is covering up its role in past abuses. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  These are the words of Mary Dunlevy Greene, one of the hunger strikers who fought for redress from the Government for the State's part in their abuse:  We were child slaves. We got very little portions of food. We were deprived of every human right. A capitation grant was paid by the State to the religious orders to keep us there. They gagged us. We weren't allowed to speak afterwards or name an institution or a perpetrator.  The horrors cannot be overstated. I remember going out to meet with them when they were bravely on their hunger strike, not seeing any road in terms of justice and just the horror these people went through for which the State was responsible. Therefore, it is welcome that the State has given an apology but it has to be followed by action. We cannot forget how long it took to get to this point, not just in years but in terms of the 46 days of the hunger strike it took for a mediator to be put in place and the 51 days for the Government to commit to work with the hunger strikers regarding their very simple demands. These were the award of a Health (Amendment) Act card and a State contributory pension for the abuse that they suffered in their childhood, in line - this is the point they always made - with what had been offered to other survivors of similar institutions.  It is good that the Government has announced supports for survivors. It has been a very long process and they are not all in place but they need to be put in place. If they are not, we will be putting very significant pressure on in here to make sure that they are and that survivors are not forced to contact us to say that they keep hearing that things are going to be resolved but things do not seem to be resolved. There are around 4,000 living survivors of abuse in industrial schools. They cannot be made to wait. They have to get this. It is the very least that they are entitled to.  I also want to raise a related issue of abuse that has been ignored. This is the historic abuse that occurred in psychiatric hospitals. I have been speaking to Mary Donovan about her mother Margaret Mary Donovan, who was institutionalised for nearly her entire life. She spent over 50 years in both State-run and religious institutions across Ireland from the age of 16. In 1966, nursing notes said there appeared to be very little wrong mentally with her, yet she remained institutionalised. Included in the allegations against these psychiatric institutions are mistreatment, rape and forced labour. The abuse also severely impacted the life of Mary's brother Christopher, who spent over 20 years in a psychiatric hospital and died there in 2007. The abuse he suffered saw him go from what was described as a big man to a skeleton and develop numerous other issues, including schizophrenia. There is no inquiry in place regarding psychiatric institutions and no redress or apology has been offered. This issue is coming and the Government should get ahead of it, address it, order an inquiry into it and not force another group of people to have to protest for a basic recognition of the wrongs the State did to them and an apology. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor)  I very much welcome the Government's apology today to the survivors of abuse in residential institutions. This apology builds on the State's apology to all victims of childhood abuse made in May 1999 and also takes into consideration the 2021 apology to survivors and former residents of the mother and baby institutions.  This apology comes as we reflect on one of the darkest chapters of our history - a chapter we must look back on and learn from. On 22 September last year, a number of brave, determined and committed survivors began their hunger strike outside Leinster House, including a courageous lady from my constituency of Carlow-Kilkenny, Ms Mary Dunlevy Greene. When I met with the group of survivors while they were on hunger strike in September, I was deeply impacted by their accounts of their childhoods and struck by how they had been strong enough to carry on, yet also recount those horrific times in order to tell their stories again and again.  While I am glad the Government has issued this long-awaited apology today, I hope it can bring them some level of comfort. I am under no illusion that it can never undo the horrific experience of their pasts and the harm each of them sustained in the hands of the State.  Following engagement with the Taoiseach and the then Minister for Education and Youth, Deputy McEntee, the group ceased its protest on 10 November. The mediation process concluded in December. Arising from this mediation process, the Government also approved proposals to strengthen education and health supports for survivors which are to be delivered under the Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Act 2025, which was signed into law last July.  A very important aspect of today's apology is that it relates to those who were boarded out from relevant institutions. This apology underlines the fact that those who were victims of this industrial abuse, and who were criminalised for so long, do not have a criminal record and will not now be viewed as criminals by the State. A number of other issues, including housing and funeral costs, are also being addressed by the relevant Departments so that survivors can be provided for. Work is ongoing to deliver on commitments given and further details will be provided to survivors as soon as possible. It is nothing less than what you deserve. I commend you all on your determination and resolve. What happened to you was wrong. The suffering you endured as children was wrong and the impact that this has had on your entire lives is wrong. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  I welcome this apology. Our State was founded on very lofty principles. Many of them have been delivered but so many of them have not. During the last century, the State fell short in terms of delivering for it citizens. This is one example of that.  I met these people in September outside the D\u00e1il. I acknowledge the courage it took for them to take the steps they did, and I am glad that it has resulted in a conclusion or a closure of some sort for them. The apology is merited and appropriate and I welcome the fact it has come.  I do, however, think that we are sometimes too slow to apologise. As a State, I understand there are legal considerations, liabilities and all the rest. However, at the end of the day, we know there are instances in our past which constitute as a stain on the history of this State for which we should be sorry, and for which I think we are genuinely sorry, yet bureaucratically we are slow to apologise for. We should not be. When we know something is wrong, we should be willing to stand up to say as much whether that is as a Government or as an individual citizen. We should be able to acknowledge the harms done by the State and by our society in the past. We should be quicker and swifter in acknowledging that because it is only then that we can start to heal the damage that was done.  While I welcome this apology, there are many other instances where apologies have been sought and are not yet forthcoming. One group - and I do not propose to talk about them now - are the thalidomide survivors who are also awaiting a real solution. However, I acknowledge the work that has been done by the Taoiseach and T\u00e1naiste in meeting them. I hope they progress that process quickly.  The most important thing about what we are talking about today is that we, as a polity and as a State, genuinely take on board what has been done in the past that was wrong, hurtful and damaging, acknowledge it with a proper State apology that has been received today and not just the survivors to move on and live their lives, but we, as a State, cannot move on until those apologies are made. I applaud and welcome the fact that the apology has been made. I welcome the package that has been put together and I congratulate those who put it together but when this issue comes up as it will again, let us do it more swiftly. Let us be fair to the people who were wronged by the State and make sure they get what they need and deserve. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paula Butterly  Childhood memories should be nuggets of joy and flashbacks of events evoked by the smells, words or actions of others and of happier times. They should make us laugh and smile when we remember. They should be a guide for us, if or when, we are lucky enough to have own children. They should wrap around us like a cosy duvet on dark miserable days.  Some of us can point to a teacher who was inspirational, stern, strict, batty or just simply kind. I remember Mrs. Bell who handed out Silvermints when trying to get us prepared for our first communion or Mrs. McKeown who would take us outside to do our lessons on sunny days. Not all days were great days but they were certainly nowhere near the experiences of these brave people who have shared their stories and experiences of horrid abuses.  Their childhood memories are mired in darkness as a result of the abuse inflicted on them by the very people who should have had their best interests at heart. They were abused by people who had no regard for their duty of care to these children. They were abused by people who feared no repercussions for their actions. They were abused by people who were possibly admired and respected for how they handled unruly or problematic children or for how they ran their schools. They abused children. Children who were seen but not heard. Children who would not, or could not, dare utter a word of what was happening to them. Children who were not believed. Children abused by monsters.  That we, the State, offer an apology is not only right, it is long, long overdue. To those who have suffered, I am sorry. I am so sorry that you had to not only experience these abuses but that you had to wait so long to be heard. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ann Graves","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ann Graves  From 21 September to 10 November 2025, Mary Donovan, Mary Dunlevy Greene, Maurice Patton O'Connell and Miriam Moriarty Owens were forced to go on hunger strike outside this building for 51 days and nights in an attempt for justice. They slept on the streets outside this House in appalling conditions and weather. Their meagre possessions were stolen in what is supposed to be safe Dublin. They did it to represent other survivors.  I had the privilege of supporting them by raising their case in this House at the beginning of last November. During my contribution, I pleaded with the Taoiseach to go out, meet the hunger strikers and agree to their reasonable demands. The survivors have been deeply traumatised by the institutional abuse they suffered, and they were retraumatised by the Government's lack of engagement and response. They then faced psychological and health issues following their hunger strike. Their courage, strength and sacrifice in undertaking a hunger strike was not for themselves alone but for all survivors. They undertook the process not just for them but for the 4,000 survivors of residential institutional abuse.  Their demands were simple. A State-contributory pension to acknowledge the years of unpaid labour carried out in institutions where children were forced to work without remuneration, education or protection and a Health (Amendment) Act card to help address the lifelong consequences of the abuse they suffered in these industrial and reformatory schools.  While the Taoiseach's apology is very welcome, survivors have experienced decades of lip service. Successive Governments have recognised the wrongs, while failing to implement comprehensive survivor-centred solutions. Trust in government and the powers that be have been eroded by decades of inaction. Only decisive action can now change this.  The Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Act 2025 was introduced by this Government.  The Act is a half measure that ignores the needs of survivors. Sinn F\u00e9in brought forward amendments which sought to make the legislation equal for all survivors but they were struck down by the Government. Our amendments included a universal health card, a contributory State pension, educational bursaries, financial contributions from religious orders and equal access to all supports under the Act, regardless of whether survivors had received an award of settlement. That is the very least survivors should expect.  Significant concerns remain that the legislation is incomplete and does not fully address the lived realities of survivors of institutional abuse. The State continues to shield religious orders from their financial responsibility. It is unacceptable that the State alone should foot the bill for crimes committed by both church and State. Justice delayed has already been justice denied. For survivors of institutional abuse, immediate and decisive action must follow tonight's apology in order to make it valid. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  I want to address Mary Donovan, Mary Dunlevy Greene, Miriam Moriarty Owens and Maurice Patton O'Connell who, over 51 days, became more than just acquaintances. We almost became friends as I passed by every day on my way to my office in Agriculture House and stopped for a cup of coffee. Many times I witnessed ambulances pulling up outside to take one of them away. For 51 days, people who are 70-plus years of age on average had to go out on the street to fight for what was theirs. That these people are survivors. They have proven, over and over again, that they can rise from the ashes because they have gone through it all their lives. They have fought all their lives against sexual abuse - and I am talking about the 4,000 others as well - child slavery, mental abuse and physical abuse.  People who I had never met rang me from all over the country to tell me that they were victims of this abuse and recount their stories. They told me how they had planned to travel to Australia when they were in their 30s or 40s or how they planned to travel to the United States. They were afraid to even apply to do so, however, because they feared they may have criminal records. Today, in 2026, when the best of years are behind them - that is the truth - they are being told that they do not have criminal records. The firs apology was issued in 1999. However, 27 years later, we are here issuing another apology because we did not do it correctly in the first place. It beggars belief that we are not apologising for things we got wrong in this State.  Nobody is blaming the Taoiseach or his Government directly. These are things that happened in the past. We have to be able to say that this is what happened and that we need to take responsibility for it and correct it. Yet, here we are, 27 years after the first apology in 1999. That should not be the case. These people should have been able to go out the door in 1999 with the apology, accepted it and had all the necessary redresses due to them.  I listened to comments being made earlier. I am going to address those comments because some of them made by stomach churn. I say that because I got to know these people very well. These are honourable and trustworthy people. These are people I could tell my darkest secret to. We have known one another for quite some time over the phone, chatting back and forth. These are people I could tell my darkest secret to because they are trustworthy and honourable. When they tell me that something happened to them or that something was said to them by an official in a room, I believe them.  One person stood up here and issued their apology, but, at a negotiation, that individual went outside the door and made jokes about and laughed at certain people's conditions and said, \"A bit of a hunger strike wouldn't be too bad for one or two of them\". I have to salute these people because they shook her hand today. I could not. The comments that were made here today disgusted me, because I know the facts from listening to these people and I know the trustworthiness of these people. When they tell me that story, I have to salute them because they shook her hand today as she went out the door. I could not do it. Well done. That just shows you the honour and decency in these people, and they should never have been treated like that.  The Taoiseach used the word \"explore\" twice on page 8 of his address. Please do not explore any more. Give them what they are entitled to and give them fairness and honesty. Let them go on and have some sort of quality of life and put this awfulness behind them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Mary Butler)  I stand today to add my support to the State apology to the victims of horrendous abuse in industrial and reformatory schools. There are not enough words to outline the abuse and absolute horror suffered by these survivors and all victims of abuse.  Many of those have lived and suffered in silence. They suffered the stigma for decades and have struggled with pain and anguish. These were children placed in these industrial schools. We know they suffered the most horrendous mistreatment but they had courage and conviction \u2013 especially those who undertook a lengthy hunger strike outside these gates \u2013 to ensure their most awful experiences were finally heard. They shared their lived experience and still share their living experience. I hope today is one of the better days of their living experience.  I want to mention Mary Donovan, Mary Dunlevy Greene, Miriam Moriarty Owens and Maurice Patton O'Connell. I met Maurice a few years ago. He is the parent of Jason, who is upstairs looking down. I met Maurice when his son was overprescribed medication in south Kerry child and adolescent mental health services. Maurice has outlined Jason\u2019s lost years as a result of the overprescribing, and during really difficult times for himself, Maurice put his family first to advocate for them. I will always remember his powerful advocacy in relation to children who were harmed in Kerry. I hope the Government\u2019s response to what happened in Kerry will deliver for Jason and others and they can go on and have better years.  I can only imagine the horror that Maurice is enduring in having to fight the State on two fronts . As Minister of State, I am committed to doing whatever I can to right the wrongs of mental health services in Kerry. The Government is determined to recognise the trauma of what Maurice, the two Marys and Miriam all endured with the apology and the package of supports for survivors.  We are committed to a strengthened suite of supports, extending access to tailored health services, counselling, physiotherapy, education payments and compassionate assistance in housing and funeral costs. We are totally committed. I hope these measures can meet the very real needs raised by survivors and reflect the State\u2019s responsibility to respond meaningfully. The State has also affirmed that no survivor should ever be regarded as having a criminal record simply because they were placed in an industrial school, and the Minister, Deputy O\u2019Callaghan, has clarified this and will issue formal certificates to confirm it.  As these commitments are implemented, this moment must represent more than an apology. It must be a turning point, one grounded in dignity, justice and a continuing duty to ensure survivors receive the compassion and support they deserve. What happened to them was wrong and I hope today brings some small comfort to them all. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Canney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Transport (Deputy Se\u00e1n Canney)  It is very clear from today's contributions that in the past this country has often failed to treat people equally and it has failed to look after the most vulnerable, especially vulnerable children. In sending vulnerable children to State institutions run by religious orders in many cases, we left them unprotected and open to abuse at the hands of those who are supposed to help and protect them.  The Ryan report outlines to a full and heartbreaking extent just how much these vulnerable children suffered abuse and neglect under the harsh institutional regimes. I know that nothing can ever be said or done to unravel the pain and suffering that ensued from these abuses.  I previously stated my vision for Ireland as a place where our children and grandchildren can build a decent life for themselves, where all people are treated equally and where our society looks after the most vulnerable.  To the survivors present here today, I want to say that I understand how much this past has had a real and lasting impact on all stages of their lives. In reality, in the vast majority of cases, children ended up in these institutions simply because they and their families were poor. In more recent times, we have recognised the hugely detrimental impact that poverty can have on children's lives. I welcome the concerted efforts across the system to tackle child poverty. The importance of this focus was recognised in the establishment of the child poverty and well-being programme office in the Department of the Taoiseach in 2023 to prioritise actions across government in areas that will have the greatest impact for children and families experiencing poverty. This is important work and, as a Government, we must continue to focus on our work to make significant positive changes for families and children who experience poverty.  The Taoiseach and the T\u00e1naiste have spoken today about the many ways in which we have extensively changed and improved our childcare and child protection systems. It is important that we acknowledge the progress made while recognising the importance of continuing vigilance for vulnerable children. Today, we also again recognise the plight of those children who suffered abuse while boarded out. The abuse and neglect that some children experienced while boarded out was truly unforgivable, and the State rightly apologises to them today for what they endured.  It is also fitting that we are clearly and unequivocally clarifying the position that the State did not, and does not, regard individuals as having committed a criminal offence, and that no criminal record is recorded against them by virtue of their detention in an industrial school. Likewise, any children who were detained in industrial schools, and subsequently transferred to reformatory schools solely by virtue of their detention in industrial schools, are not considered to have a criminal record.  The full range of additional supports being put in place for survivors of institutional abuse has been outlined today. I especially welcome the fact that access to health services for survivors of industrial schools will be strengthened through the implementation of bespoke arrangements for this specific group of survivors, including access to counselling and physiotherapy services. I note that many of the services provided under the HAA card are already available under the enhanced medical card for survivors of residential institutional abuse. It is also welcome that additional health liaison officers will be put in place to support this group of survivors. I understand that arrangements are in train to have these additional supports in place as soon as possible.  In conclusion, today is another important chapter in facing up to our past, and in our ongoing efforts to address the terrible impact of institutional abuse on survivors. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"C uireadh an D\u00e1il ar fionra\u00ed ar 5.23 p.m. agus cuireadh t\u00fas leis ar\u00eds ar 6.25 p.m."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Sitting suspended at 5.23 p.m. and resumed at 6.25 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Apology Related to Childhood Abuse (Hunger Strikers): Statements"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-25\/debate\/dbsect_15","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Estimates for Public Services 2026: Messages from Select Committees","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  The Select Committee on Transport has completed its consideration of the following Revised Estimate for Public Services for the service of the year ending on 31 December 2026: Vote 31 - Transport.  The Select Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development has completed its consideration of the following Revised Estimate for Public Services for the service of the year ending on 31 December 2026: Vote 37 - Social Protection and Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development.  The Select Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage has completed its consideration of the following Revised Estimate for Public Services for the service of the year ending on 31 December 2026: Vote 16 - Tailte \u00c9ireann; Vote 23 - An Coimisi\u00fan Toghch\u00e1in; Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage; and Vote 39 - Uisce \u00c9ireann. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Estimates for Public Services 2026: Messages from Select Committees"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-25\/debate\/dbsect_16","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/6","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/6\/dail\/3_sub","houseCode":"dail","stage":"3_sub","isBillStage":false,"showAs":"International Protection Bill 2026: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"International Protection Bill 2026: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages","counts":{"speechCount":124,"speakerCount":20},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_16","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Brophy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"NEW SECTIONS"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Debate resumed on amendment No. 15:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"In page 26, after line 30, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" \"Community impact assessments prior to location of international protection accommodation "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"14. (1) Prior to the establishment of any new accommodation centre under this Act, the Minister shall ensure that a Community Impact Assessment is prepared and published."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(2) A Community Impact Assessment shall be carried out by\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) the relevant local authority, or"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) such other competent body as the Minister may appoint for that purpose."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(3) A Community Impact Assessment shall include\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) the projected capacity of the proposed centre,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) an assessment of local service impacts,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(c) community engagement plans,"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(d) proposed mitigation measures, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(e) an analysis of the Pobal Deprivation Index for the area concerned, including consideration of whether the proposal would contribute to a disproportionate concentration of accommodation centres in disadvantaged communities."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(4) The body carrying out the Assessment under subsection (2) shall conduct a statutory consultation with\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) the relevant local authority (where it is not itself the assessing body), and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) community stakeholders."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(5) A centre shall not commence operation until\u2014"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(a) the consultation period has concluded, and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(b) the Community Impact Assessment has been published.\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"- (Deputy Matt Carthy)"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas as an deis labhartha ar an \u00e1bhar agus ar an reachta\u00edocht seo at\u00e1 os comhair na D\u00e1la anocht agus muid ag pl\u00e9 le C\u00e9im an Choiste. Is m\u00f3r an trua \u00e9, mar at\u00e1 r\u00e1ite ag mo chomhghleacaithe, go bhfuil seo \u00e1 bhr\u00fa chun tosaigh agus nach bhfuil deis ag an gcoiste dl\u00ed agus cirt f\u00e9in mionscr\u00fad\u00fa a dh\u00e9anamh ar seo. Mar a d\u00fairt daoine eile an tseachtain seo caite, t\u00e1 s\u00e9 soil\u00e9ir nach mbeidh go leor ama againn dul tr\u00edd na molta\u00ed agus leasuithe uile at\u00e1 curtha chun tosaigh ag mo chomhghleaca\u00ed, an Teachta Carthy, agus ag daoine eile sa Fhreas\u00fara mar n\u00edl go leor ama \u00e1 leagan amach f\u00e1 choinne seo. L\u00e9ir\u00edonn s\u00e9 sin an cinneadh contr\u00e1ilte at\u00e1 d\u00e9anta ag an Rialtas seo gan cead a thabhairt don choiste dl\u00ed agus cirt mionscr\u00fad\u00fa a dh\u00e9anamh ar an reachta\u00edocht seo.  D\u00edreoidh m\u00e9 isteach ar an bpr\u00edomhleas\u00fa at\u00e1 curtha chun tosaigh agus at\u00e1imid ag pl\u00e9 anseo, leas\u00fa Uimh. 14. I nd\u00e1ir\u00edre, is \u00e9 an rud at\u00e1 \u00e1 lorg anseo n\u00e1 giota beag r\u00e9as\u00fain agus giota beag c\u00e9ille, agus go mbeidh plean\u00e1il mar is ceart d\u00e9anta \u00f3 thaobh c\u00e9n \u00e1it a mbeidh ionadaithe cosanta idirn\u00e1isi\u00fanta \u00e1 lonn\u00fa sa St\u00e1t. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 soil\u00e9ir go dt\u00ed seo nach raibh aon phlean\u00e1il f\u00e1 dtaobh de seo mar go raibh na haonaid seo oscailte cib\u00e9 \u00e1it a raibh siad ar f\u00e1il, gan aon d\u00edri\u00fa isteach ar an deacracht a bheadh ann \u00f3 thaobh na gceantar sin. B'fh\u00e9idir, mar a chuala muid, gurb \u00e9 an teach \u00f3sta deireanach a bh\u00ed sa bhaile. B'fh\u00e9idir go raibh fadhb ann \u00f3 thaobh ganntanas \u00e1iteanna sna scoileanna n\u00e1 \u00f3 thaobh docht\u00fair\u00ed agus a leith\u00e9id sin. B'fh\u00e9idir gur lonna\u00edodh iad i gcorr\u00e1iteanna nach raibh na fadhbanna sin, ach an rud at\u00e1 a fhios againn n\u00e1 n\u00ed raibh a fhios ag an Aire n\u00e1 an Rialtas d\u00f3igh amh\u00e1in n\u00f3 d\u00f3igh eile mar n\u00ed raibh s\u00e9 sin mar ph\u00e1irt de na coinn\u00edollacha f\u00e1 choinne na hionaid seo a lonn\u00fa mar n\u00ed raibh scr\u00fad\u00fa ar bith \u00e1 dh\u00e9anamh ar na ceantair sin. An rud at\u00e1 \u00e1 r\u00e1 ag mo chomhghleaca\u00ed, an Teachta Carthy, n\u00e1 sula mbeidh aon ionad \u00far oscailte ar fud an St\u00e1it go mbeidh meas\u00fan\u00fa d\u00e9anta ar an impleacht ar na pobail ina bhfuil siad lonnaithe.  Mar ph\u00e1irt de sin, ba ch\u00f3ir go mbeimis ag amharc ar c\u00e9 mh\u00e9ad duine a bheadh san ionad seo agus cad iad na seirbh\u00eds\u00ed \u00e1iti\u00fala at\u00e1 ar f\u00e1il. D\u00e1 mbeadh impleachta\u00ed ann do na seirbh\u00eds\u00ed \u00e1iti\u00fala sin, ba ch\u00f3ir go mbeadh plean ann le dul i ngleic leis an phobal agus a chomhairle agus a thuairim\u00ed a fh\u00e1il. Ba ch\u00f3ir labhairt leis an phobal \u00f3na thaobh seo. Lena chois sin, ba ch\u00f3ir go mbeidh meas\u00fan\u00fa ag an Roinn ar an leibh\u00e9al de mh\u00edbhunt\u00e1iste sa cheantar. Mar at\u00e1 a fhios againn, n\u00edl achan ph\u00e1irt den t\u00edr mar an gc\u00e9anna. T\u00e1 codanna den t\u00edr buailte n\u00edos troime. T\u00e1 n\u00edos m\u00f3 m\u00edbhunt\u00e1iste i roinnt ceantar n\u00e1 mar at\u00e1 i gceantair eile. T\u00e1 cinneadh le d\u00e9anamh ag an St\u00e1t. Ar ch\u00f3ir na hionaid seo a bheith lonnaithe i gceantair a bhfuil fadhbanna m\u00edbhunt\u00e1iste acu? Is \u00e9 \u00e1r dtuairim n\u00e1r ch\u00f3ir. Sula mbeadh aon mholadh \u00e1 chur chun tosaigh \u00f3 thaobh ionad mar seo a lonn\u00fa i gceantar, ba ch\u00f3ir go mbeadh an meas\u00fan\u00fa seo foilsithe agus pr\u00f3iseas comhairli\u00fach\u00e1in ann leis an phobal. N\u00edor ch\u00f3ir go mbeadh aon ionad nua oscailte sula mbeadh an pr\u00f3iseas comhairli\u00fach\u00e1in sin thart agus an tuairim sin foilsithe.  Mar a d\u00fairt m\u00e9, is leas\u00fa r\u00e9as\u00fanta agus polasa\u00ed r\u00e9as\u00fanta \u00e9 seo. Muna nglacann an Rialtas leis seo, t\u00e1 s\u00e9 ag r\u00e1 gur cuma leis cad iad na fadhbanna sa cheantar, gur cuma leis muna bhfuil sp\u00e1sanna scoile ann do na p\u00e1ist\u00ed a bheadh lonnaithe san ionad agus gur cuma leis faoin bhr\u00fa a bheadh \u00e1 chur ar sheirbh\u00eds\u00ed docht\u00fara agus a leith\u00e9id. T\u00e1 go leor br\u00fa ar na seirbh\u00eds\u00ed sin cheana. N\u00edlim ag cur locht ar dhaoine at\u00e1 ag cuardach cosaint \u00f3n t\u00edr seo ach caithfear \u00e9 sin a chur san \u00e1ireamh.  M\u00e1 t\u00e1 t\u00fa ag iarraidh amharc ar shampla maith den d\u00f3igh ina dhearna an Rialtas brach\u00e1n de seo, ba ch\u00f3ir amharc ar Dh\u00fan na nGall. Is \u00e9 D\u00fan na nGall an contae is m\u00f3 at\u00e1 faoi mh\u00edbhunt\u00e1iste sa t\u00edr. Is \u00e9 D\u00fan na nGall an contae is m\u00f3 sa t\u00edr a bhfuil ioncam \u00edseal ag a dhaonra. Is \u00e9 D\u00fan na nGall an contae is m\u00f3 a bhfuil c\u00e1rta\u00ed leighis ag daoine. L\u00e9ir\u00edonn s\u00e9 sin ar\u00eds an r\u00e1ta m\u00edbhunt\u00e1iste. Is \u00e9 D\u00fan na nGall an contae nach bhfaighidh t\u00fa cilim\u00e9adar de dh\u00e9bhealach, m\u00f3tarbhealach, iarnr\u00f3d n\u00e1 l\u00edne gh\u00e1is ann. N\u00edl a leith\u00e9id againn sa chontae mar go bhfuil infreastrucht\u00far an chontae iontach olc. Is \u00e9 D\u00fan na nGall an contae a dh\u00e9anann suas 3% de dhaonra an St\u00e1t ach, nuair a th\u00e1inig slua m\u00f3r daoine \u00f3n \u00dacr\u00e1in agus \u00f3 th\u00edortha eile ag cuardach cosaint \u00f3n t\u00edr seo, rinne an Rialtas cinneadh n\u00edos m\u00f3 daoine a chur isteach i nD\u00fan na nGall n\u00e1 i gcontae ar bith eile. C\u00e9n r\u00e9as\u00fan at\u00e1 leis an pholasa\u00ed sin? Cuireadh duine as gach aon dosaen a th\u00e1inig \u00f3n \u00dacr\u00e1in isteach i nD\u00fan na nGall. D\u00e1 nd\u00e9anfa\u00ed an rud c\u00e9anna i mBaile \u00c1tha Cliath, bheadh thart ar 110,000 duine as an \u00dacr\u00e1in sa chontae. N\u00ed sin an rud at\u00e1 ag tarl\u00fa. N\u00ed hamh\u00e1in daoine \u00f3n \u00dacr\u00e1in at\u00e1 i gceist. M\u00e1 amharcann muid ar IPAS agus ar na daoine at\u00e1 ag teacht ag cuardach cosanta, caithfidh siad dul tr\u00ed phr\u00f3iseas. T\u00e1 a fhios againn nach bhfuil cead fanacht sa t\u00edr ag an mh\u00f3rchuid de dhaoine a th\u00e9ann tr\u00edd an phr\u00f3iseas. Ar\u00eds, is \u00e9 an cinneadh a rinne an Rialtas seo n\u00e1 an l\u00edon is m\u00f3 daoine in aon chontae ar bith taobh amuigh de Bhaile \u00c1tha Cliath a chur isteach i nD\u00fan na nGall. N\u00ed dh\u00e9anann s\u00e9 sin ciall.  Is \u00e9 sin an rud faoina bhfuil an leas\u00fa seo ag caint. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 ag caint faoi phlean\u00e1il cheart agus faoi ghuth an phobail agus comhairle an phobail a bheith l\u00e1rnach in aon pholasa\u00ed at\u00e1 ag an Rialtas \u00f3 thaobh ionad nua a lonn\u00fa i gceantar ar bith.  This amendment is sensible. I commend Deputy Carthy on tabling it and the other amendments he tabled on behalf of Sinn F\u00e9in. The only pity is how the Government has dealt with this legislation. I raised the issue of the committee not being able to scrutinise the Bill in the detail it wanted to. This has left us in a position where we will not be able to scrutinise all of the amendments to or all sections of the legislation because the Government is playing to the tune of Europe, having signed up to a pact which was never in the interest of this State, or at least not in its entirety. It is now caught by the timeframes and we have legislation we cannot properly scrutinise. Outside of that, if we forget about the timeframes and the lack of scrutiny, the key issue in this amendment makes perfect sense. It is about ensuring that new accommodation centres will only be established in the State after a community impact assessment has been done. That does not mean there is a block on a centre; it just means an assessment has to be carried out. There are places in the State that are under more pressure than others and places where services are more plentiful than in others. There are also places that have issues, perhaps with the number of people already there seeking international protection or temporary protection, as applies to Ukrainians.  The Government seems to be talking about rejecting that sensible proposal. I do not understand why. By rejecting it, the Government is basically saying it rejects the idea that we should consult with communities, listen to them, have any notion of services or the impact a new centre would have on services, the impact of the level of deprivation that exists in an area and the impact a centre may or may not have on that level of deprivation. What the Government is talking about doing makes no sense. When one looks at what has happened heretofore, it is just a complete and utter mess.  I come from County Donegal. The facts unfortunately tell us that Donegal is the most deprived county in the Twenty-six Counties. It has the highest rate of unemployment and deprivation, the highest concentration of medical cards and the worst infrastructure in the State. You will not find a kilometre of motorway, dual carriageway, gas pipeline or train line because they do not exist. We are a county under serious pressure and the most deprived county in the State. What did the Government decide to do to deal with an influx of people who came from Ukraine seeking refuge, and need support and refuge, and those applying for international protection? It was not the case that Donegal, even though it was the most deprived county, would take what could be argued is its fair share. One in 12 people who came here from Ukraine under temporary protection ended up in Donegal, the most deprived county in Ireland. If the same statistics were applied to Dublin, there would be 110,000 Ukrainians. To have 8% or one in 12 makes no sense.  Even if you look at a more granular level, some of those were concentrated in certain parts of the county. It makes no sense because there was no planning and no recognition that it is a locality that might be under serious pressure or, with the numbers already there, that additional numbers would put pressure on services, places in schools or, indeed, social cohesion. There was no reference to that. The Department, the Minister and the Government were fixated on one thing, namely, which person who wants to become a millionaire overnight is offering a property. That was it. No other questions were asked. Community engagement was a nonsense. They phoned up, told you there was a contract signed for a centre and no matter what, even if you thought it was not the right place, it did not matter. That is how the Government handled where individuals who came from Ukraine are to be located.  The same thing happened again with IPAS. Donegal, out of all the counties, has the highest number of people applying for international protection. Of all those who have come here, 7% have gone to Donegal. This is nuts from a planning point of view.  From a planning point of view, it is as if the Government was to sit down and just say it has an issue of where to locate people and that it will put most of them in the most deprived county in the country; in the county that does not have rail, does not have motorway and that has so many different challenges. It made no sense from a planning point of view. There are other issues there, which should have been taken into account in relation to any assessment that would be carried out here. An assessment is not a block. An assessment is just about looking at what is on the ground, what is there already, the numbers that are there and the services that are there, whether they already under pressure and if maybe a bit too much has been done there and so on. In my county of Donegal, I live in a region that is linguistically rich in terms of the Irish language. The Gaeltacht is tobar na Gaeilge. We will not have an Irish language in this country if we do not have Gaeltacht communities and places that speak Irish on a daily basis. That does not mean to say that people cannot come in and live in relation to Gaeltacht areas. I am not saying that, but that would be part of an assessment that would be carried out regarding this.  If we look at it now, we have social housing development in the Gaeltacht. In every single social development in the Gaeltacht in Donegal, 80% of the houses have to be given to Irish speakers who are fluent in Irish and can reach a certain standard in terms of Irish. That is one of arm of government saying that for those people who have a housing need, and there are people in the Gaeltacht who cannot speak Irish and have a housing need who also need to be accommodated, the policy, which this Government supports, is that there are criteria there. Why are there criteria? It is because there are so many studies telling us that the Gaeltacht is dying and will not survive and one thing we need to do is to protect the Gaeltacht in terms of a hub where Irish is spoken as much as possible on a daily basis. How do we dilute that? It is more people coming into the area who cannot speak the language or are not willing to speak the language. I met with the Polish ambassador earlier on. I said that many of my young son's friends are Polish who have gone to his school. They speak Polish at home. They speak Gaeilge to their friends. English is the third language, which is beautiful to see. That is the same with some of the Ukrainians who are here as well.  These are things that should be captured in relation to any assessment. Why under God would we not carry out an assessment? If the Government says that it will not carry out this assessment, then it is reverting to this chaotic situation where it was just left to those speculators and people who wanted to make millions overnight. Some people went in and provided accommodation. Let us be clear, they provided accommodation because people were seeking refuge and people needed to be housed. I take that on 100%. I am not tarring everyone with the same brush. But by God I will tell you there are plenty of people, and we know their names, who were unscrupulous and who were just talking about making millions on the back of the misery that has happened. They did not care in relation to the impact of local communities, or indeed, the places, the conditions and some of the treatment of those people within the centres that they facilitated. I use Donegal as an example of how the worst planning has happened in the last while. I spoke to the previous Minister in relation to this many times. In my community in Donegal and in Gweedore, we had a centre for decades. There were no issues whatsoever. There were no issues for a long time. It kept on going and more and more pressure was put on individuals, services and areas. Even though we were telling the Government that social cohesion and these issues were causing strains, it did not matter.  This amendment is sensible. It is the appropriate thing to do. We are dealing with this amendment in relation to centres of international protection. It is not Ukrainians, but I used the argument of Ukrainians to talk about the actual additional pressure that has placed in relation to regions. We could talk about other regions as well, but Donegal is probably the one that is the most acute. At the heart of all of this is the issue of the failure of the Government. That cannot be taken be away from this. Why is there an accommodation crisis in relation to international protection in this State? It is because the Government still has not done its job. It still has not got a handle in relation to processing times. No harm to the Minister, the one thing about him is that he has been on the media talking about this quite a lot, but the fact unfortunately is that processing times have got worse in the past year. From application time to appeal, it is now longer than it was last year. What is it now? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Stick to the amendment, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  It is the amendment. IPAS accommodation in the numbers that are required would not be required if processing happened. The vast majority of people who have applied based on past experience are not entitled to protection here. Therefore, if processing time was quickened up, then they would not need the accommodation that is here. The Government does not need a European pact to get its act together in relation to this. There was nothing stopping the Government in the past year to fix the processing time. The evidence is now that it is 14 months from initial application and 12 and a half months for appeal. It is 26 and a half months from initial application to the end of an appeal which is longer than it was in 2024. The Government is going backwards in relation to this. This is at the very core of it. It is about fixing a process that has been broken for many years. People who have applied here for international protection are not given the decision that they are entitled to protection in time and then supported and integrated into our community. They have to wait and wait and wait. There are others, which is unfortunately the majority of cases according to the statistics, who were never entitled to protection here anyway, but it has taken two and a half years for a decision to be made in relation to the initial application and the appeal that they may lodge. That goes to the core of what is there.  I commend the amendment. It is sensible. The Government should not fear the voice of the public. It should not fear engaging with communities. It should not fear carrying out an assessment in relation to any type of centre that is being located and whether this is the best place or maybe it is within boundaries of countries that there is another place that is more suitable. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  In here last week for several hours, a number of TDs took up the Government on some egregious things that it is bringing in, particularly in relation to children being detained and some really negative attacks on human rights that this Bill represents. Regarding this amendment, I cannot support it as it is currently worded. I do not agree that before any accommodation is provided for the IPAS services that there would have to be this, this, this, this and this. For example, there was an IPAS centre in Blanchardstown. Nobody even knew about it. It was working perfectly well. The people there were working with the Blanchardstown Tidy Towns on a Saturday morning making the village look good. It was an outlet for them. They were trying to integrate into the community. The far right councillor in the area got word of it and whipped up a storm. This is a recipe for the far right to build in areas. It is disappointing to see this coming from Sinn F\u00e9in. The party knows that this would be a recipe for creating new far right councillors, to be frank. It is not just that, we should have a discussion about community engagement. I have no issue with that because there has to be a level of community engagement. To suggest that this would have to be done before any new accommodation could be provided is adding to the negative feeling around any international protection applicants.  I raised a case last week of an international protection applicant. They were people in a local Blanchardstown hotel. They were being moved to Mayo. I raised it with the Minister.  To give an example, the woman whose case I raised whose child has special needs actually had a major panic attack. She is also diabetic and became so ill that she could not be moved. She ended up being transferred to Dublin. What I am saying is that there are real live human beings and families, ordinary people from other countries, in international protection. This just further demonises people.  The Government is responding to the far right by moving in a much more overtly racist direction but other parties are also responding in different ways. How to take on the far right and racism is the most important political issue in the world right now bar none. We have to call it out wherever it is. This amendment is a recipe for stoking up fear in communities. We do need discussions and community engagement of some kind. You could have discussions with different groups and different individuals in a community but to suggest that no IPAS accommodation can be provided for people just adds to the racism and fear that is operating in communities.  I have a couple of things to say on this. On its own, this amendment could look quite innocent but I have seen a leaflet given out in Dublin Central that says that Sinn F\u00e9in will manage migration. To be honest, the leaflet uses some racist far-right talking points. It talks about profiteering. That is all a lot of Sinn F\u00e9in's speakers have talked about. I have heard them several times over the last week talking about people being made into millionaires and about global market forces deciding our migration policy. These really are far-right talking points. It is conspiracy stuff. There are words that are not mentioned at all in the leaflet. Racism is not mentioned at all in the leaflet distributed in Dublin Central. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  That is not true. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  The fear being experienced by minorities in this country, people who are working and living here, is not mentioned. None of Sinn F\u00e9in's speakers have mentioned it either. If Sinn F\u00e9in were to be fair, it would concede that most of the party's speakers have used their time to talk about profiteering and all of the other problems but have never focused on the racism being generated in society. All of the facts and figures show a rise in racism. To be very clear, I primarily blame the Government. Deputy Simon Harris has tried to blame minorities and refugees for the housing crisis. That is pitiable and abominable but it is really not surprising. If Sinn F\u00e9in thinks this is going to push back against its supporters leaning into racism, it really is not. It actually just lends credibility to those ideas. Any honest assessment of a leaflet like that in conjunction with this amendment would agree.  We have to point to the wealth that exists in this society. This Government has a record budget surplus but it has never used it to resolve the housing crisis. We have had a housing crisis for 12 or 13 years now, since way before the recent migration. Migration has also gone down. I have heard different speakers in the D\u00e1il talking about deportations. Being the subject of a deportation order does not mean a person is a criminal. Some of what Sinn F\u00e9in has put in this leaflet is not in line with some of its TDs' views. Some of those TDs have taken up this issue quite well in different areas. However, this leaflet is totally disingenuous stuff. Putting this out in communities just feeds into the whole narrative of refugees being a major problem. There are 18 billionaires on this planet who control half the wealth. There is huge wealth in this country that could be used to build homes, to sort out the healthcare system and to provide the schools that we need without scapegoating minorities and people who have fled countries for the most difficult reasons.  There are other parties and individuals in here who do nothing but demonise people every time migration comes up. I helped members of the Indian community organise a march last summer following attacks on Indian members of our community. Every single one of them reported a climate of increased racism in this country. All of this feeds into it. It is just very unfair.  We have to call out racism wherever it is. I say to those who are meant to be standing on the left that racism is a key issue for the left. If you do not take a firm stance against it and if you start using some of the arguments of the far right and racists, you will not fight them off. I think Sinn F\u00e9in believes it will and that is why it is doing this but I cannot support this amendment. It is completely and utterly a recipe for the far right to stoke up fear and to grow in every single community in the area. If we looked through the record and counted up the words of most of the Sinn F\u00e9in TDs, we would see that they have spent their time complaining. I am not saying there are not issues in different communities and areas. There obviously are but the Sinn F\u00e9in speakers' whole thing was just an attack on Ukrainians, blaming them for a great many issues. Donegal has been a deprived county for decades. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I did not blame Ukrainians. The Deputy should withdraw that. I did not blame them. The Deputy should have listened to what I said. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  I am sorry; Deputy Doherty did not blame Ukrainians. Donegal has also suffered massive emigration so it could do with people coming in, but only if the investment is put in. However, Deputy Doherty never mentioned that. He never mentioned that communities could get together and demand massive investment if IPAS centres are provided. I did not hear him say that at any point. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  It is about proper planning. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Address your remarks through the Chair, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  The last thing I would say is that----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  If you are against that, it is fine, but it is about proper planning. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  We have had debates here previously about supports for Ukrainians being reduced and I also participated in a debate on the radio about that issue. We know the position of different parties in the D\u00e1il. Sinn F\u00e9in thinks they are affecting the housing crisis. The statistics came out and showed that most of the people who were taking Ukrainians into their homes were not landlords and would never be providing accommodation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  There are no statistics to that effect. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  There were loads of statistics to that effect. I spoke in the debate at the time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  There are no statistics to that effect. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  They do not exist. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  If Deputy Doherty does not mind, his party has loads of TDs and I am sure they will all----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Will the Deputy address the amendment please? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  What you are saying is not true but carry on. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  What I am saying is true. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  It actually is not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  These statistics were provided by the Red Cross. I debated this with Sinn F\u00e9in's housing spokesperson on RT\u00c9 radio. There is an implication that refugees are affecting the housing market. That has been said lots of times. It has been said about Donegal. They are not. Sinn F\u00e9in needs to point out the source of the housing crisis. It is Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael handing things over to vulture funds. We should not blame minorities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  Last week, I sat in and listened to much of the debate on this particular amendment. I agreed with a lot of it. I agree that Government made an absolute mess of this entire issue. There was a lack of preparedness. The Government did not take on board repeated warnings and repeated recommendations as to what it and the country needed to do to house and process asylum seekers. I absolutely agree that what the Government has done is to funnel huge profits to developers rather than build the public services and public facilities that we need. I agree that the lack of communication we have seen caused huge problems in communities. It could have been handled much better.  Once an IPAS centre went into an area, there was a real opportunity to bring in supports for that area, but that did not happen. That certainly would have assisted.  A lot of the difficulties that we saw within communities were fuelled by the Government - public representatives who did not back the Government's policy and spent most of their time out in communities arguing against it and creating division. They really did not show any leadership in this. There was also a big problem with misinformation, whether online or in public forums. That was never countered either by the Government or by those public representatives. There were a lot of problems in how the Government has handled the issue.  There was a lot in what the Sinn F\u00e9in representatives said last week. When you are trying to communicate something, you do not just communicate by what is written down and what you actually say; you are communicating by your tone. You also communicate your message by what you do not say. What was not said last week by Sinn F\u00e9in was that in many areas the communities came out and supported those centres and they really got behind them. If I was someone who had been through the asylum process or who was currently in the asylum process, the impression I would get from TD after TD who spoke on it was that having asylum seekers in your community is the worst possible thing to happen to a community. That is the message I would have picked up from what Sinn F\u00e9in was saying. It was being seen and represented as a blight, putting huge pressure on communities. What Sinn F\u00e9in failed to do was to understand that, in many situations, a community can take on and really open their arms to people within the asylum process and to IPAS centres. If I look at my own county, I see the number of people who were quietly, often secretly, working in the background because they were afraid when there were really heightened tensions in the community. There were so many people working quietly in the background providing English classes and lifts, collecting clothes, and setting up the Sanctuary Runners. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  People were working with those within the IPAS system and getting them involved in Tidy Towns. They were out painting railings. There were groups like Bray Welcomes, Wicklow Welcomes, Blessington Welcomes and Newtown Together - so many groups and people within communities who recognised that this situation was a difficult one and that there was no perfect answer, and that actually the best thing to do was to just try their best despite the Government making such a mess of it and making it the worst possible start for people. A lot of people in the community tried their best to make things better for those people in asylum centres.  Something that was also not mentioned last week by the Sinn F\u00e9in TDs is that the people who are coming into our communities seeking asylum bring a lot to us. They bring a lot and they are working in our communities. A lot of the people who are in the IPAS centres began to work the second that they could apply for their work permit. Before they could get their work permit, they were out volunteering. They wanted to get involved in their new home. They wanted to participate and to contribute. Many of them are still working and living in Wicklow. They have built homes for themselves, started families and made lifelong friends, including the friends that they made among the locals who taught them English. They are still in contact with those people. These people who are coming into our country seeking refuge bring a lot and add an awful lot of value. I did not hear that last week from Sinn F\u00e9in. What the party was communicating last week was that IPAS and asylum seekers are nothing but a big problem and communities cannot be expected to integrate people or to work with them. That is wrong, because it sends a very clear message to many people. We know that a lot of people are going to take that message and run with it. They will terrorise and carry out racist attacks. The words that are spoken in here carry weight. We have to be so careful with the message we send. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  Yes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  I am really disappointed with the message that was sent by Sinn F\u00e9in. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  Well said. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  The reason Sinn F\u00e9in can get away with sending that message is because the Government has failed. It failed to prepare. It failed to respect people's dignity, and it continues to do so. The Government created this situation where there is a vacuum of information and supports and that is feeding what we are seeing now. When we talk about social cohesion, the Minister is absolutely right, there is a real risk to social cohesion here but we can get this right now. We really can, but the debate we are having on this Bill is not the answer to getting this right. I ask the Minister to reflect on that. We all need to reflect on what kind of leadership we are showing here, the message that we are sending and what we would like to see in our communities. Some of us need to be more responsible in how we are dealing with this issue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  I listened carefully to the debate on this set of amendments last week on the concept of a community impact assessment. During the debate most speakers discussed the very real challenges they experienced in their own constituencies when faced with decisions to open emergency international protection accommodation - decisions that were made, for the most part, when I was Minister for integration. I wanted to come in on this amendment in particular to speak about how the State makes decisions about where IP accommodation is located and the speed with which it needs to make those decisions during a crisis situation. That is really important.  I have read the provisions set out in this particular amendment. On the face of them, they appear neutral, but my concern with this amendment is that ultimately what a community impact assessment is about is achieving a clinical, reasoned decision that IP accommodation cannot be located in a particular area. My concern is that it is about finding a reason for a \"No\". I completely understand that. I completely understand the difficulties that political reps are faced with when they get a call from the community engagement team telling them of plans to locate international protection accommodation in their constituency or local electoral area. Ultimately what a Minister has to do, and what the State has to do, is find a \"Yes\". It has to find accommodation, particularly in emergency situations. The Minister has to meet the State's legal obligations. Those legal obligations were reiterated by the High Court in judgments again only last week. But the Minister also has to meet the State's moral obligations - not to leave vulnerable people on the streets, not to have families and children camping in tents, in the same way that male international protection applicants were left on our streets for far too long. The Minister, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan, and the Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, now face the challenge of accommodating people who are seeking international protection.  That challenge has been made slightly more manageable by the decrease of about one third in the number of IP applicants who have been arriving seeking international protection since October 2024. Prior to that month, there was an average of approximately 1,500 people seeking international protection every month. Since then, on average, give or take, the average has fallen to about 1,000 people per month.  It is still an incredibly difficult job. If there is one piece of agreement across this Chamber, it is this: the State has to move away from the huge reliance on the private providers of international protection accommodation. I had wanted to do that in my term. I had set out to do that in my term in office but I was not able to achieve that in light of the huge increase that we saw in the number of people seeking accommodation. In 2020, it was 1,500 people. By 2024, it was 18,500. We were dealing with that dramatic spike in accommodation need at the same time we were accommodating over 100,000 Ukrainians. I urge the Ministers, where now the numbers they are seeking accommodation for are slightly more manageable, to implement the accommodation plan that was agreed by the Government in 2024.  The Ministers should use this time to begin that vital switch toward significant amounts of State-owned accommodation. They should put the same energy that they put into the deportation flights, into creating that charging regime for international protection applicants and making citizenship and family reunification that bit harder, into driving forward State-owned provision. By doing that, we do two really important things. We start to address the very fair critique of the level of money going into private providers. We start to address those key financial concerns. As well as that, the State will actually have control over where accommodation is located. That will allow the State to proactively plan where international protection applicants are housed, and, in doing so, it will actually allow the State to start to address the concerns that are probably at the basis of this particular amendment. They are concerns about capacity within communities and pressure on services. It will allow the targeting of additional supports. Driving forward State-owned provision of international accommodation has to be at the centre of this debate. I do not feel, whether it is in this discussion that we are having on this legislation, or the wider discussion about migration that we have been seeing since the new Government was appointed, that issue, which is key to addressing the concerns that this amendment is about, and wider concerns, that issue is not getting the attention it deserves. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Jim O'Callaghan)  Can I start by making a political point? The debate on amendment No. 15 has been an unusual one. The reason it has been unusual is not just because it has gone over for over 2.5 hours but obviously, a very concerted decision was made by TDs from Sinn F\u00e9in to speak, in many respects from scripted statements, in respect of this amendment. There were 11 Sinn F\u00e9in contributors to this motion. All of them spoke about the same issues in terms of IPAS. I agree there are many issues of concern in respect of IPAS but the standard language that we heard from all of the Sinn F\u00e9in contributors was that IPAS was about profiteering, that people were being ripped off, that local communities were being upended and there was no proper consultation. They are perfectly legitimate points of debate that can be made by Deputy Carthy, who is well able to make those statements in respect of this amendment, but the fact that they were repeated on 11 occasions makes me wonder what is the political purpose behind this from Sinn F\u00e9in. My own view is that Sinn F\u00e9in is very comfortable talking about IPAS because of the significant amounts of money that are being spent on it and because it can also be presented in a way that this is profiteering and in criticism of the Government. The main reason I suspect that Sinn F\u00e9in is comfortable speaking about IPAS, however, is they do not want to speak about the other important issues in this Bill.  I will highlight this point briefly because I want to try to get on with the rest of the amendments here. I know what Deputy Kelly's argument will be in respect of amendments I have put down and what this Bill is. I know the same in respect of Deputy Gannon. When it comes to the broader issues of asylum applications and reforming the asylum laws, however, I do not know what Sinn F\u00e9in's policy in respect of it is. I know the policy of Deputies Coppinger, Kelly and Gannon when it comes to amendments I have put down. I do not know what Sinn F\u00e9in's policy is. I think they do not know themselves. Part of the reason there is such focus on IPAS is because it is an area where they are comfortable and do not have to make difficult decisions in respect of it.  I will now deal with the substance of the amendment put down by Deputy Carthy. I want to make a couple of introductory points. Everyone in this House has an IPAS centre in their vicinity. The vast majority of them operate very peacefully, very successfully and without any trouble. It is also important to point out what IPAS centres are. They are places that accommodate human beings and it is important to emphasise that. There are obviously challenges when a local community is told that a new IPAS centre is coming into their community but that has happened in respect of all of us. It happens in my constituency, near the area where I live and there are no issues in respect of the IPAS centres in the vicinity. There have been in respect of some. Notwithstanding that, I do acknowledge that it is difficult and can be very challenging for elected representatives and local communities if they are told that there is a new international protection accommodation centre opening in their vicinity. People do not like change. They talk about change. Some people are fearful of change but, in general, my assessment is - notwithstanding that in politics we all use the word \"change\" - a lot of people do not like change and the unknown. That is not a legitimate reason, nor is it an acceptable reason for accommodation centres not to be put in certain areas and within certain communities.  When you look at the substance of what is in the Sinn F\u00e9in amendment, it is suggesting that there be a community impact assessment before any IPAS centre is put in a community. That is all the amendment requires. It does not require that there has to be an agreement or certification by a community impact assessment stating that yes, this area is suitable for an IPAS centre. It does not require that there can be a veto in respect of it. All it says at the end of it in subsection (5) is that an IPAS centre cannot be opened until the community impact assessment has been published. Looking at the substance of it, what is the purpose of that? Why are we going to have this detailed process, and, at the end of it, all that is required on behalf of the State is that we publish the impact statement?  I have no doubt that if that happened and the State went ahead with the statutory process set out here by Sinn F\u00e9in, and, at the end of the process we simply published the community impact assessment and opened the IPAS centre, there would be further objections on the basis that we were not taking on board what was stated by the community in respect of this particular IPAS centre. We all know that we cannot give a veto to individuals in a community when it comes to whether the State is going to open international protection accommodation centre there. In respect of community engagement, there is a community engagement unit within my Department, formerly in Deputy O'Gorman's Department when he was Minister. It does excellent work. It engages with public representatives. I have heard many Deputies here talk positively about the engagement they have had from community engagement. We need to recognise, however, if notification is put out that there is a plan to open an IPAS centre in the community and to ask what are your views in respect of it, we all have a fairly obvious understanding of what is going to be the predominant view of people who go out of their way to respond to it. For those reasons, I am not accepting the amendment.  I also want to deal with the issue in terms of the drivers of IPAS and the \"profiteering\", as Deputy Carthy referred to it, in respect of IPAS. We have a legal obligation to provide accommodation to people who seek international protection. If people say that is wrong, they should say it. I do not think it is wrong. It is an obligation upon us that we should seek to fulfil. If Sinn F\u00e9in or Deputy Carthy thinks we should not provide accommodation to people seeking international protection, I am sure he would have put it down in a motion. He has not, so I assume Sinn F\u00e9in accepts that there is an obligation on the State to provide accommodation in respect of those seeking international protection.  The main driver of the number of accommodation centres we have around the country - at present there are approximately 330 - is the number of people coming into the country claiming international protection. I want to reduce the spend of the State on international protection accommodation services. I have managed to reduce it from last year to this year. The budget last year was \u20ac1.2 billion; the budget this year is \u20ac1.1 billion. Since 1 May, I have managed to make savings of \u20ac80 million. The Deputy may say that is small in the context of a budget for this year of \u20ac1.1 billion, but it is heading down. The primary way I am going to be able to reduce the spend on international protection accommodation centres is by trying to speed up the process. If an applicant can be processed in six months, for first instance and appeal, all we are going to have to spend is accommodation costs for the period of six months, or maybe seven or eight months, in processing them at the end of the process. That is the mechanism to reduce the cost.  I empathise with Deputy O'Gorman when he held the position that I hold now. As he said, in 2024, 18,500 people came to Ireland claiming international protection. That was an unprecedented number. We had never seen it before and it was a crisis situation. As a result of that crisis situation, Deputy O'Gorman, when he was Minister, found himself having to go around looking for accommodation centres. There were tents on the streets and pressure on him coming from the political establishment to open accommodation centres. I am now trying to ensure I am not in the business of opening more international protection accommodation centres. What I am seeking to do is to tell the officials, the first instance people and the appeal body that we need to process people much faster and get people through the system much faster. That means we can get them out of the system and work with the 33,000 spaces we have. It is also a central part of my policy, and I have put huge energy into it as well, in the same way I have put energy into the other things Deputy O'Gorman mentioned, to ensure we get the State to own more accommodation for international protection accommodation. When I started, we only had 900 places; we now have 4,000. I am committed to trying to get that up to 14,000.  On the profiteering Deputy Carthy consistently talks about, as I said to him at the justice committee, in 2024, when Deputy O'Gorman was the Minister entering into contracts, he was in a situation where he desperately needed to get accommodation centres wherever they were available. Obviously, the bargaining power and bargaining strength rested with those who had the accommodation as opposed to the person seeking to rent it. That has changed. It has changed in that for people who wanted to get accommodation centres open, these centres are predominantly not being opened.  I am conscious there are more amendments and people want to discuss them. I will not be supporting this amendment. We need to get to the substance of what this Bill is about in terms of asylum applications. The accommodation aspect of it is one thing in terms of reception conditions, but it is only one small part of it. It does not deserve the level of speeches from Sinn F\u00e9in, with 11 Sinn F\u00e9in Deputies speaking for two and a half hours on one amendment. Let us get on with the other stuff. We can discuss IPAS in the committee room any day with Deputy Carthy. I have been down there before and will be again but let us get on with the other amendments. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Is the amendment being pressed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I am speaking in response to the Minister. He is the one who wanted to bring this to the floor of the D\u00e1il. He is the one who refused the opportunity provided to him by the Oireachtas justice committee to have deliberations across every single amendment and section where these should be discussed - in the committee chamber. He was the one who wanted to allow it to take place on the floor of this D\u00e1il, which means that every Member of this House is entitled to come in and speak to whatever amendment they wish to speak to. The Minister does not get to pick and choose and decide what amendments Opposition Members decide to speak to. They are absolutely acting within their right. The reason this amendment has garnered so much discussion is it goes to the heart of the failures of the Government, including the Minister's party, Fine Gael and the Green Party in government, over the past five years. This issue, more than anything, is the issue that has caused division, frustration and anger within communities. If the Minister or any Member does not accept that, they are absolutely deluding themselves.  The Minister has been a year in office. He managed to spend \u20ac1 million last year on communications and staff, so he has had good PR. He managed to set out the narrative that he is delivering, but even though fewer international protection applicants are coming to the State, processing times have got longer. The money the Government spent in 2025 versus 2024 has increased. Those are the true facts about the record of this Government in dealing with this. Every single ounce of effort by the Department has been put into adhering to an arbitrary deadline because his predecessor signed us up lock, stock and barrel to the EU migration and asylum pact. Therein lie the failures and problems we now have. We are dealing with guillotined legislation. It is being guillotined by the Minister, yet he is decrying that people will not get to discuss in the detail that is warranted other amendments that are coming down the line. Spare me, Minister.  This amendment being put forward in my name on behalf of Sinn F\u00e9in is crucially important. For all the failures, the single message the Minister could allow to come out of this Chamber is that at least the Government is listening and hearing about the experience. Sinn F\u00e9in Members, from right across the State, gave their experiences. They did set out positive experiences of integration where accommodation centres were located and had positive impacts, where the groundwork, planning and engagement were done. Well within their rights, Members set out where none of that happened. What happened was the absolute turmoil that many local communities were thrown into at no service whatsoever. Nobody will tell me that was in the best interest of any applicant for international protection who was put into an accommodation centre on that basis.  The Minister can try to talk about fluctuations in demand and supply and all the rest but the truth of the matter is that for a long period, the only criterion that applied as to whether or not a building was used for international protection was the availability of that building and the willingness of the owner to use it for that purpose. Nothing else mattered, including whether that building happened to have been a resource for the community for another purpose. Homeless accommodation was closed down to be turned into international protection accommodation. Countless hotels and countless other community resources were taken away from those communities. That is not good enough. What this amendment is about is acknowledging, on behalf of the Oireachtas, that we recognise that is a bad way of going about it. If anything led to resentment or fed into the hands of the racists and those other nasty actors who were trying to create divisions within our communities, it was the approach to accommodation that fed into all those narratives.  There seems to be a little confusion around what this amendment sets out. I remind Members it sets out that a community impact assessment would be carried out by a local authority or another body as the Minister sees fit. That assessment would analyse the projected capacity, carry out an assessment of local service impacts and would include community engagement plans, any mitigation measures that might be required and an analysis of the Pobal deprivation index for the area concerned. The amendment states that report would be published. The Minister is right to be cynical as to whether this Government would heed a community impact assessment but he also knows that had I put a further stipulation on the amendment, it would have been ruled out of order, just as many amendments have already been ruled out of order. Therein lies the fact.  I will respond to some of the other points that have been made. As a point of principle in all my political life, I am avowedly anti-racist. I do not tolerate racism. I do not believe racism should be tolerated within any section of society. Where I see it, I will call it out. I have a track record of that in my constituency. I imagine most Sinn F\u00e9in TDs are able to point to very proud work in respect of their anti-racism activities over many decades.  To suggest there is a linkage between being racist and having a policy on managing migration is a complete fabrication. Every state in the world has rules around migration. The variation is only in what those rules are, how they are implemented and whether they are actually enforced. Different governments have different levels of success in that regard.  To suggest this is a left\u2013right issue is completely false. Managing migration is the same as managing any other area of public policy. In fact, if you look around the world, you will see that some of the strictest immigration rules ever were implemented by some of the most left-leaning governments ever. One of the reasons, of course, is that a core basis on which left-wing economic policy can evolve and garner popular support is the need to build social cohesion and a sense of social solidarity. Large increases in population in a short space of time can disrupt that. Left-wing governments have recognised that throughout history. None of that is ever to suggest that it is the people themselves who are the cause of some of the challenges that arise. Nobody, certainly nobody in Sinn F\u00e9in, would contend for a second that the housing crisis in this State is as a result of somebody from outside Ireland coming here in search of a better life. The only foreigners you could possibly accuse of being responsible for the housing crisis are the vulture funds and other international financiers, but primarily the fault lies with successive Governments that decided to stop building social and public housing.  There was a suggestion that Sinn F\u00e9in said having an IPAS centre in an area is a big problem and that this was the tenor of the Sinn F\u00e9in contributions last week. I absolutely dispute that. I listened to party members on this. They are people who are rooted in their communities and have been for all of their political lives, and they are avowedly anti-racist and have track records to back it up. They pointed to both positive and negative experiences and also to the need for this amendment.  I have a contention that sometimes gets lost. I am really surprised there has been a suggestion by left-wing parties that we should reject an amendment that is simply calling for a community impact assessment before a development takes place. I would have thought it good politics to state locals should be involved in the conversation if anything is to be developed in their community. This is not to say any single person or group of people can stop a development taking place. The reason we have planning rules and so many of us have been so resistant to some of the Government's moves on planning is precisely because it has attempted to circumvent the need for local communities to have their say. This amendment is simply stating local communities should not be an afterthought when a development is taking place in them. It is not an adjudication as to whether a development in itself is good, bad or indifferent; however, as with every single development, there are places where any given development would be more appropriate. That should be respected.  As a spokesperson on migration who has had a lot of engagement right across the country, not only with Sinn F\u00e9in supporters and members but also people who disagree with Sinn F\u00e9in\u2019s position, who come from every possible angle you could contend with, and, crucially, local communities, I believe fervently that the vast majority of Irish people are not racist. Are there racists in our midst? Absolutely. Were there always? Yes, there were, but to contend or suggest people who have raised concerns about the locations of IPAS centres are universally racist is doing a disservice not only to them but also to us, because it is exactly that type of attitude and suggestion that feeds into the narrative of the nasty actors I was talking about. If the genuine concerns people are raising are shot down and if people are accused of being racist, fascist or something along those lines, they will shut up and we will not hear from them again. We will not hear from them on election day. Most of them will just not show up. The real winners will be the very nasty actors, who do not represent communities and a huge proportion of the Irish people at all, as far as I am concerned.  What I ask people to do in respect of this amendment is vote on what is actually in front of them. On the one hand, the Minister is saying it will not really make any difference at all and, on the other, Opposition parties are saying it will be a recipe to stop every single development. It is exactly as it is written down. It is about carrying out a community impact assessment. I contend that anybody who votes against that would have serious questions to answer in their local community. How can you actually refuse to allow communities to have some real semblance of a say? Whatever about the merits or otherwise of individuals within the community engagement section of the Minister's Department, the truth of the matter is that the notion that there has been genuine community engagement on the locations of IPAS centres is laughable. It does not reflect the reality of anybody who has dealt with this issue.  Members should read what the amendment states. It is eminently sensible. Members should listen to what people have said and not just interpret the amendment. They should note what we have said about the reason it is so important. If the Minister wants to make a proposal tonight that we should lift the guillotine and go down to the committee room to go through every single amendment and section at the level of detail I believe is warranted, I will happily second it for him. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I spoke last week about this legislation and how a vacuum leaves a space for bad actors, racists and misinformation to come in. Such a vacuum is caused by the lack of information going into our communities.  In my area, Clondalkin, we have what is probably one of the longest running direct provision centres in the country. It has been there for over 20 years. The fact that we have a direct provision centre in the community for that long is a stain on the Government. It has failed with direct provision and is now failing people in IPAS accommodation and accommodation for Ukrainians.  About ten years ago, there was a move to move people from the direct provision centre somewhere down the country, outside Dublin. The good people of Clondalkin \u2013 I was with them \u2013 rallied to keep the direct provision centre in their area. The reason is that those in the centre had benefited the community. They went to school with my kids, played football for the local GAA club and football team and became part of the community. Over the next couple of years, several other forms of accommodation were introduced, including IPAS accommodation and accommodation for Ukrainians. Centres seemed to be popping up from the Red Cow and Dulcain House to the Ibis Hotel without any communication or consultation whatsoever. It was Sinn F\u00e9in members who spoke to people at the doorsteps to inform them as to what was happening and let them know there was nothing to worry about. The Government should have been doing that but it was not. We had to fill a vacuum in our community. Having no communication leads to misinformation. I spoke last week about how misinformation can allow the ground to be planted for bad actors.  I spoke on the Social Democrats motion this morning on GP services. A GP service was to come to my area \u2013 this was fantastic as it was absolutely needed \u2013 but a rumour went around that the building was going to be an IPAS centre. People came not just from Clondalkin but also from all over Dublin and threatened to burn it down. That is because there was no communication. That is why we are asking for community impact assessments and for information to be circulated.  I also spoke last week about how TDs and others in my community found out through the national papers that the Citywest centre was going to become a public international protection centre. That is no way to communicate to people. During Questions on Policy or Legislation, I stood here and asked the Taoiseach for clarity on whether Citywest would become a public centre. He gave me no clarity whatsoever. At the same time as I was speaking to him, the Minister was outside on the plinth making an announcement on it. The Minister can check the timeline. The Taoiseach could not even give me an answer in here while the Minister was making an announcement outside. That is no way to communicate to people.  As regards this amendment, I heard some of the criticism and I would say the Minister is sitting over there delighted to see people over here having a go at other people over here. That is what he wants because it takes the eye off him and the Government's failures on this. To criticise us for coming in here and speaking on something and taking up time when the Government has put a guillotine on this tonight is absolutely disgraceful. As Deputy Carthy said, we on the justice committee said we would give the Government as much time as it needed to discuss this in the committee room. We would have done so five days a week if necessary just to get through all of this. The Government, however, declined that offer and decided to come here and guillotine the Bill. The amendment we are talking about is about just a community impact assessment. It is not about a veto. It is about finding out if a community can take on extra vulnerable people in a situation where there are already a hell of a lot of vulnerable people. How do you look at that? You use the Pobal index of deprivation, and we spoke about that last week. If we can fill that vacuum with a community assessment and proper communications, it will stop the vacuum and will actually stop racism and misinformation getting out there. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in  For me, this is about listening to the people and that is about uniting rather than dividing people. We need to communicate with local communities. It is disappointing to see the Government and fellow colleagues on the left, when we are tabling sensible amendments which are about good planning, making this issue about Sinn F\u00e9in, which it should not be. I absolutely despise racism. I have been to many of these centres, sat down and drunk tea with the people there. As a councillor, I have been involved in integration days, lots of different collaborations, cultural evenings, etc.  This is about planning, really. It is about a policy that is sensible and sustainable. We have roughly 320 centres, I believe, across the State. Seventy-eight of them are in Dublin. How diverse is Dalkey? How many centres are in Dalkey or in similar places? They always seem to be in working-class and rural communities that are isolated and which lack services. I would assume that any progressive-minded person, whether on the left or on the right, would want to call out greed and speculation. I am looking at \u20ac1.2 billion given to private providers last year. I am looking at people who did not have much money becoming millionaires overnight, people speculating and people running a train through planning laws. I look at Blessington and Kippure, in Wicklow. Seefin Events has been through the courts numerous times. Wicklow County Council had to order it to demolish 65 units because apparently it did not follow planning laws. It is about sensible planning. I look at Dundrum, County Tipperary, and a manor house. Often there is a speculator and international finance capital involved in this. More people were put into this centre than was the population of the village. How is that good planning? My colleague, Deputy Doherty, mentioned the Gaeltacht area of Gweedore. The whole idea was supposed to be about developing Irish speakers in the Gaeltachta\u00ed, which are basically dying. How would Gweedore be a suitable area? How would Carna, in Connemara, be a suitable area? In my own county, Rosslare is an area which is probably the most welcoming in Ireland. You could not find a more welcoming area or village. They had two IPAS centres. There was a fantastic response to the Ukrainian war. They organised a \u20ac100,000 fundraiser in the first couple of weeks. They were due to have a nursing home in the Great Southern Hotel. What happened then? It was flipped by a big speculator - finance capital again. They were looking for planning to put 400 into the Great Southern Hotel in this tiny village. Luckily, people stopped it because it was not sensible.  This is the way to oppose racism. It is about uniting people and listening to people. That has not been happening so far. I could mention numerous other examples all across Ireland, like Achill Island, etc. There are just so many of them. I think of Seefin Events, the company in Blessington that I mentioned, and Kippure. They received \u20ac5.6 million during last summer. Then we have Wicklow County Council telling them that they have to demolish because it was done in breach of planning regulations. How could that be good policy? Why would anybody on the left support that? Why would my colleagues to my right support people making \u20ac1.2 billion, finance capital groups----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  Get to the vote. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aidan Farrelly  Who is supporting that? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  Who is supporting it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in  You are calling out our amendment. That is what we are saying. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aidan Farrelly  What are you talking about? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh)  Deputies, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in  We are saying we should not be playing to these. We should not be giving into this agenda being driven by speculators and finance capital----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aidan Farrelly  That is not in the amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in  -----because they are the people who are driving this into these areas. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh)  You are next, Deputy Farrelly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in  At the end of the day, for me, it comes down to the best way to unite people, which is just to listen to the people, listen to local communities and try to have fair planning policies. As I said, how many centres are in Dalkey? How many centres are in Foxrock? It is about fair planning. That is the way I look at it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aidan Farrelly  My thoughts on this amendment specifically are on the record from last week and, unlike others, I will not repeat them here tonight just because I have another opportunity to take the microphone. Tonight this Government is about to make history by legislating for the ability to detain innocent children for doing nothing wrong. As it stands, at the pace we are going at this evening, irrespective of why we are here in the first place, we will not have an opportunity to debate the amendments put down to remove that provision because of the disproportionate amount of time we have spent on this amendment. I ask colleagues to think about the number of really worthwhile amendments that need a thorough conversation this evening. The time spent on this amendment has been disproportionate at this stage, with the greatest of respect to everybody here. We have gone through it all. I ask Members making a point for the second time to please think it through and let us talk about something that is really meaningful. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh)  I was not here for the whole debate. If there was repetition, it was not on my watch, as they say. Members need to be reminded that they cannot continuously repeat points of view that have been put across. Brevity is always good in a debate, but the rules on Committee Stage allow for exchange back and forth. There is nothing to prevent that and there are no time slots on Committee Stage. That is why Committee Stage usually happens in the committee rooms.  Anyway, how stands amendment No. 15? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  Pressed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I move amendment No. 16:  In page 26, after line 30, to insert the following:   \u201cTransparency of accommodation contracts   14. (1) The Minister shall publish all contracts, subcontracts, financial schedules, performance reports, and compliance assessments relating to accommodation or services provided to international protection applicants.  (2) Publication shall occur no later than 30 days after the signing of the relevant document.  (3) Information may be withheld only where strictly necessary to protect commercially sensitive material, as defined by regulation, and such withholding must be justified in writing.  (4) All documents published under this section shall be made available on a publicly accessible website maintained by the Minister.\u201d.  This amendment is an attempt to finally bring some level of transparency to IPAS contracts. It is fairly simple and states that the Minister shall publish all contracts, subcontracts, financial schedules, performance reports and compliance assessments relating to accommodation or services provided to international protection applicants. It also states that publication should take place no later than 30 days after the signing of any relevant document and that information may be withheld only where strictly necessary to protect commercially sensitive material as defined by regulation and that such withholding must be justified in writing.  The Minister may not like this, but any discussion of Ireland's international protection system is pointless unless we have a conversation about the massive profiteering that has evolved from the provision of IPAS accommodation. I do not know why or how any such statement should or could be controversial. The Minister has essentially told the House that the owners of properties essentially held all the cards in terms of the contract negotiations that took place. When discussing the previous amendment, we talked about a lot of the concerns, frustration and anger within many communities. Nothing has intensified that anger more than the reality that while communities have been completely cut out of the process with no engagement whatsoever - and the Minister's position on the previous amendment is that this will basically continue - the profits some companies have made have been obscene. What is worse is the fact that the conditions in which many international protection applicants have been living are unacceptable.  A small number of private operators have made millions off the back of the Government's dysfunctional approach. There has been no transparency regarding what qualifies certain individuals to get contracts like this. Across the country, we have seen people who are predominantly failed businessmen all of sudden become millionaires because they hit the jackpot and managed to get a couple of accommodation contracts. Every other business operation these people touched turned to dust, but we entrusted them with the care of human beings with no analysis of whether they were qualified or what made them qualified. We have seen countless examples where contracts have been entered into in respect of properties, people have been residing in those properties for years in some cases and then it turns out there is no fire certificate never mind any other building regulations being complied with. One scenario involved an IPAS centre that had been operating for a couple of years but that did not even have running water. It had to bring in water in tanks on a daily basis.  It is not just Sinn F\u00e9in that is saying this. In his annual report last year, the Comptroller and Auditor General was as scathing as I have ever seen him, and I am a former member of the Committee of Public Accounts. His report confirmed people's worst fears about the lack of due diligence and overcharging. The Comptroller and Auditor General has found an absolute disregard for the use of public money, and there is no sense that anybody is being held accountable for it. The Minister has repeated a couple of times during this debate that he has spoken to Deputies about IPAS contracts on a number of occasions. However, he has not answered any questions about any specific contracts because it is all being done behind a veil of secrecy.  One company that had been operating as a coffee shop made profits of \u20ac2,992 one year. That was the annual profit for the whole company. It segued into international protection accommodation and within a year its two directors were paying themselves \u20ac4.6 million in wages. Nobody seemed to be bothered about it.  One beneficiary of a lucrative IPAS contract was subsequently named in CAB documents as being involved in gangland crime. We found out that the quality of the accommodation being provided was wholly unsuitable. However, when we put questions about it to the Minister, he told us that it was all sorted and would not happen today, but we have no way of knowing any of that. That is what this amendment is about because ultimately this is public money. It is being spent on the mechanism that this Government has decided is going to be used to meet its obligations under international law to provide accommodation for people seeking international protection. Some \u20ac1.2 billion was spent last year - over \u20ac3.2 million every day - and there is no transparency whatsoever.  Sinn F\u00e9in is calling for every IPAS contract to be reviewed. I refer to the cases I mentioned that the C and AG highlighted. His office analysed just a small sample size of IPAS contracts and found huge issues in terms of due diligence and overcharging. The Government was overcharged by people who were in receipt of these contracts. It is bizarre that the C and AG found such blatant wastage of public money in a small sample, but nothing has been done. There has not been a comprehensive analysis of every contract, so we can only assume that if we extrapolate that across the sector, there is a whole range of other issues. The cases that I mentioned have caused uproar in terms of the expenditure of public money on contracts with people who were not suitable as they had no track record or had dubious backgrounds. We did not find any of this out because of the Minister's Department or because he divulged it. We found that out because of journalists doing their job and informing the public.  The lack of transparency has allowed what I have described again and again as massive profiteering. The Minister told this House that we were in a very difficult situation and if someone came forward with an offer of property, they held all the cards, but it is not too bad now because the numbers have reduced. He is essentially telling us is that if the numbers increase again substantially, we are going to be back to square one and we will see the exact same thing happen again.  I want to remind Members of some of the weaknesses the C and AG found. They included overpayments, incorrect VAT charges, poor invoice verification, inadequate due diligence on providers and weak monitoring of accommodation standards. That report concluded that financial controls were insufficient and the system allowed significant compliance failures and potential profiteering.  This amendment might not be able to address every inadequacy in every contract, but at least we will be able to say to the people that there will be a little bit of transparency and then they can adjudicate the success, or otherwise, of the Minister of the day. Again, I look forward to seeing how the Minister argues against supporting this amendment. There is nothing in the amendment that anybody should be afraid of. The notion of commercial sensitivity is a veil behind which the Government hides its huge level of squandering of public money. We see this across public services.  There is nobody seeking accommodation for international protection other than the Department of justice. It is not as if it is in competition with somebody else. The only reason the Minister is still hiding a lot of the detail is that there are some companies which are absolutely milking it in terms of the price they are getting paid per bed per day and the stipulations they have to adhere to regarding the quality of the accommodation or whether they are required to have the accommodation completely filled on an ongoing basis. I hope to have the support of the Minister and the House for the amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  I am not opposed to this amendment at all. My point is probably more relevant to the next amendment, but heaven knows if we will ever get there. Of course, we should have transparency in relation to contracts, but that should be the lowest bar. Our position is that we should be moving towards State-owned reception centres. I fear that supporting an amendment such as this enshrines privatisation into the system, which is something I absolutely could not support. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in  We have to have transparency. There is the example of the two directors of a cafe which had a profit of \u20ac2,992. Three years later, they paid themselves \u20ac4.6 million. There is something very strange there. Looking at my area of County Wicklow, \u20ac1.3 million was spent on security for the vacant site of a failed IPAS centre. It is just a site sitting there. Deputy John Brady brought it into the public domain at a recent meeting of the public accounts committee.  The Comptroller and Auditor General's report has raised serious concerns about all of these things. There is very poor compliance and safety. For example, a demolition order was granted for 65 units that were built illegally by Seefin Events in Blessington, according to what I have read. There is huge profiteering and overcharging. We had an instance of a VAT overcharge of \u20ac7.4 million by one company to the State and the taxpayer. There is a complete lack of due diligence. No one in their right mind can oppose transparency in these contracts. There has to be transparency. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  I have no issue with the amendment per se but, as Deputy Gannon said, I am concerned that we are going down the road of enshrining the use of private accommodation. We really need to get to a point where this is all publicly owned. We said this last week. All of the Opposition have argued that we should have the infrastructure for the provision of accommodation. If we go down the road of putting in amendments like this, it could be a get-out clause for the Government to not provide such infrastructure over a period of time. I know it is impossible to have it done to a certain point today, this week or this year because in the emergency scenario they had to go down certain roads.  I have serious concerns about how these contracts were given. I have serious concerns about how the Department handled this issue. I know there have been changes in the Department. This was with the Department of children and then it came across to the Department of justice but the same sections came with it when it came into justice. I see no consistency in relation to how contracts were awarded.  There were constant personnel changes in the Department. You could not talk to anybody. They never gave contact details on their emails and eventually they did not even give names as regards who you could deal with to find out what was going on. Some of the decision-making in relation to contracts was downright stupid. Giving a contract to the last hotel in Roscrea was absolutely stupid. Another \u20ac150,000 was then spent pretending that a second hotel that had been closed for a decade could be opened. This was a consequence of giving the contract to the owners of the Racket Hall Hotel in the first place. It was stupid. I am sorry. There are massive learnings in relation to this.  I am concerned about enshrining this amendment in legislation because we are going to be dealing with this issue on a huge scale for many, many years. We need to have the proper State infrastructure in place. That should be our priority and that is where we should be going in relation to the provision of accommodation for those seeking asylum. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  Previously and over the course of a number of hours last week, we spoke a lot about the asylum application process itself and the need for transparency in that area. We spent a lot of time today and last week as well on the previous amendment that was taken in relation to the community impact assessments, which the Minister did not accept. Again, that was about transparency and making sure communities were at least consulted and had a voice in relation to what was happening in their communities.  We have a similar amendment here in regard to contracts, subcontracts, financial schedules and so on. At the heart of this is a small number of people who have become very wealthy on the back of providing IPAS accommodation. I agree with Deputy Kelly. It is not that we want more private accommodation; it is happening. I certainly support more public provision. That is where we should be and it was something the Government committed to before. The Minister has talked about this in the past himself when he said some progress is being made but I can tell him that people see it themselves. They know what is happening in their own communities, where they see people who are making huge amounts of money out of this. It is accommodation that, in some cases, is hotels in areas where we know that is not the best way to provide IPAS accommodation. In other areas, it is accommodation that is not really fit for purpose but somebody saw an opportunity to make money. There is anger about the level of profiteering and the scale of profits being made by these individuals.  Notwithstanding all that and whatever views we might have of using such accommodation - and I agree with previous speakers that public provision is always best, rather than lining the pockets of these wealthy people - unfortunately it is happening. Unfortunately, it is a feature of this Government providing IPAS accommodation and there is no transparency. What an Teachta Carthy is trying to do through this amendment is to bring some level of transparency whereby we and the public are aware of exactly what is being paid. As the amendment states, \"The Minister shall publish all contracts\". Is there a reason that cannot be done? On subcontracts, is there a reason that cannot be done? On financial schedules, is there a reason that cannot be done, or in regard to performance reports and compliance assessments relating to accommodation, which would surely benefit everybody?  In life and politics, we know that transparency protects everybody and a lack of transparency is our enemy. We have seen that on this and other issues. If the Government is not transparent in what it is doing, or is not seen to be transparent, that causes more difficulties and challenges for the political system and more damage within communities. For that reason, I ask the Minister to support the amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I will start by saying that, contrary to what Deputy Cullinane said about there being no transparency in the area of international protection accommodation services, there is in fact a very high degree of transparency. My Department publishes figures detailing the numbers of residents and centres, with a breakdown of numbers of emergency accommodation centres, on a weekly basis. There is full transparency from my Department in regard to providers who receive payments, with details of all payments over \u20ac20,000 and the recipients published quarterly online at gov.ie . That is why Members of the House have such detailed information on the amount of money being made by companies that are providing accommodation to the State.  There is also transparency in respect of inspection reports. Inspection reports from all IPAS accommodation centres are published either on the Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA, website or on gov.ie . The only time there is a restriction on publication is when that is based either on residents' security - I am sure people here will appreciate residents' safety or privacy - or on commercially sensitive information, the publication of which would damage the State's ability to achieve good value for money. It is obviously a competitive market and the amount of money the State is paying on a per person, per night basis is information that should not be given out because it will provide a commercial advantage to other persons seeking to secure contracts.  In regard to the issue raised by colleagues, I agree that we want to get out of private accommodation but when we have over 30,000 people who need accommodation, the State does not have the accommodation to provide that to them. Because of that, the State obviously has to contract with private contractors----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  Which is why there should be transparency. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  -----in order to get accommodation for individuals who are applicants. I am pleased to say that the State has been increasing the amount of accommodation that is State-owned. When I took over responsibility here on 1 May 2025, we only had 900 spaces owned by the State. We now have 4,000. I want to get to a situation where we have 14,000. A large part of that is going to be achieved through the State buying units, which we can then use for the State for the purpose of accommodation. If the State is required because of the high numbers to contract with private contractors to provide accommodation to applicants, of course it is the case that we are going to have to buy it. Nobody is going to set up accommodation or fit out units and then just hand it over to the State. We have to buy it and I am pleased to say that significant savings have been made in the past number of months. Since 1 May, we have saved \u20ac80 million on contracts that have been renegotiated. That is a real saving and it is part of the reason the budget for IPAS is going down this year.  The amendment is not necessary. There is a lot of transparency in respect of IPAS already. People can go online and get information on who is getting the money for IPAS, provided they are receiving over \u20ac20,000. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I have to say, the Minister talks a really good game. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I thank the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  The problem is that the facts do not back up what he is saying. He has spoken a number of times tonight about how he has increased State-provided accommodation. That was through the purchase of one centre. Let us be absolutely clear about it. It did not actually increase the capacity at all because it was a centre already in use at Citywest. I would argue that the way in which that purchase was handled vis-\u00e0-vis the local community and indeed the residents leaves a lot to be desired in respect of the potential success for future purchases.  If anyone was listening to the Minister, you would actually think, \"Jesus, that is a lot of information\". You get to know exactly how much someone is getting in contracts if it is over \u20ac20,000 but you do not actually get to know how much somebody is getting. You get to know what a company is getting. You do not necessarily know who the owner of that company is. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  They are contracting with companies. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  In fact, I asked the Minister in committee if he would ensure that the beneficial owners of a company in receipt of potentially millions of euro in State money would be divulged to the public. He said that is not the way this Government does business. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I did not say that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  That is what he said. Words to that effect. The Minister does not publish the beneficial owners of companies. He does not let us know whether there is a number of companies who are perhaps getting less than \u20ac20,000 per annum that could be owned by the same people.  Crucially, what the Minister does not divulge is that while he tells us how much the company is getting paid, he does not tell us what we are actually getting in return and how many people individual companies are providing accommodation for and where they are providing it. He does not tell us if complaints have been made against any accommodation by residents or anybody else. He gives us the macro figures but he does not actually give us the detail.  The Minister says it is because of his information that we have all the detail we have here. I am after saying that we got detail from the Comptroller and Auditor General and from journalists. None of the really obscene scandals we have seen in respect of IPAS accommodation contracts were actually divulged by the Minister's contract.  The Minister tells us that in the second half of this year alone, through negotiations, he saved \u20ac80 million, and he said that without blushing. He should be embarrassed for his predecessor or whoever negotiated the original contracts. What he is saying is that for those contracts alone, we overpaid the equivalent of \u20ac80 million for a six-month period. How long were those contracts in place? Did we actually overpay over the past three or four years for those contracts? Will the Minister divulge that? I think that is in the public interest. It is \u20ac1.2 billion spent last year and over \u20ac3.2 million every single day, predominantly on private contracts.  To answer Deputies Gannon and Kelly, I absolutely believe we should not only move towards State-provided accommodation but we should have been there a lot sooner than now.  None of that negates anything I said earlier about community engagement for those places, by the way. I am on the same page. However, even the Minister, in the most optimistic scenario, outlines the current proposal as a wish to get to 14,000 in State-provided accommodation. Even with those figures, there is a very high chance there will be some need for private contracts, given the current trajectory.  Let us not try to find excuses not to support what are very important and clearly set out amendments. The amendment proposes, for the first time, allowing the Irish people to know where their tax money is being spent, who is benefiting and what the State and international protection applicants are getting in return. The Minister just says he does not see the reason for it, but he has not actually given an argument against this amendment. Therefore, I hope that, even at this stage, there might be a change of heart to let people know that we are going to provide a bit of transparency in this regard. It is the very least that people should expect when we are spending so much money, and when the Minister is overseeing such a dysfunctional system. At the very minimum, if we are spending \u20ac1.2 billion, people should have a right to know exactly how that is being spent and who is benefiting. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  It has been said multiple times before, but I must refer to the anger out there about those who have coined it in the IPAS disaster that this State has stood over. I agree with Deputy Carthy. We would all have preferred to see what would have been a lot cheaper from the point of view of the State\u2019s coffers, that is, the public provision of necessary accommodation. I accept there were issues of State failure with regard to processing times, which we have constantly brought up in the House. However, the fact is that people saw a chance to make money, and they went out and did it. I will admit that some of them may have run better outfits than others. Some were absolute chancers, however, providing sub-par property at high-bar prices, and the State paid.  What we are talking about here is transparency in order that we would see who is making the money and how much money they are making. It would have made a lot more sense for the State to go in the direction suggested by Catherine Day, namely, State provision. Again, as Deputy Carthy said, it is also about ensuring that when that happens, no more than when any of this happens, there should be proper, real engagement with the community. There has been an abject failure in that regard.  When talking about contracts, we could talk about the D Hotel and the fact that nobody did any element of due diligence on that. Drogheda lost the D Hotel, where many weddings and functions took place. It was a necessity from the point of view of the tourism business, but it was taken away. There was an awful lot of talk with the Government, over and back, about how we would be able to use it for dual purposes, but that never came to anything. It was just another load of waffle, conversation and time wasted. Then we discovered that the fire certification was only for 240 beds, while the State had entered into a contract for 500. That just sums up the farce that IPAS was.  We are all in agreement that what we need is public provision. It will take a considerable amount of time to get there, particularly because we started on the journey too late, but beyond that, there needs to be transparency. I ask that due diligence is done. It is proposals like this amendment that we need to see in operation. We then need to ensure that it is not the case of many a fly-by-night operator who thought they could buy a hotel without even really needing to know how to run a hotel. In the case of the D Hotel, they would only need to half-run it, and they could make an absolute fortune. People literally set up tiny businesses that became huge businesses that were all about delivering IPAS accommodation. That is a failure of the State, and the cost has been astronomical. I ask for sense and for the House to support Deputy Carthy's amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  I think the Minister is confusing providing information with transparency. He said earlier that there is a high level of transparency. It depends on what information he is providing. If the information is vague and does not provide what should be provided, I am afraid the transparency is not there.  In relation to the profiteering that we certainly see in this area, I will get to the Comptroller and Auditor General\u2019s report shortly, given that it was very clear about what it uncovered. There are also issues in relation to the suitability of some of the companies or individuals providing this accommodation. Do they have experience in this area? Are they the best people? Are the companies the best companies to provide the service?  I remember that some 15 years ago, I was invited to a direct provision centre in Waterford city. A private company runs the service. There were about 80 families living in the accommodation at the time, and they invited me out because they had issues they wanted to talk about with their local public representative. When I got there, the manager of the centre would not allow me in. She said that I would have to make an appointment and come back again. I said that was fair enough and asked to make an appointment, but she said that, no, I could not meet them there. I was eventually barred from that centre. I certainly raised that with the Minister for Justice at the time. What really struck me was the \u201cout of sight, out of mind\u201d approach that was in place. There are genuine issues of transparency with regard to companies providing a service where over \u20ac1 billion is being spent and tens of millions are being made. We want to make sure that the highest levels of transparency apply.  That brings me to the Comptroller and Auditor General\u2019s report. If all of those checks and balances that the Minister says are in place were in place, why is it that the Comptroller and Auditor General, in his report, found major weaknesses in IPAS contracting? Why is it that he found overpayments, incorrect VAT charges, poor invoice verification, inadequate due diligence on providers and weak monitoring of accommodation standards? The report concluded that financial controls were insufficient and that the system allowed significant failures and potential profiteering.  Those are not my words or Deputy Carthy\u2019s words. They are the words of the Comptroller and Auditor General, who looked into this area and found there were problems left, right and centre. If there were problems left, right and centre that the Comptroller and Auditor General found, was he wrong? Is the Minister saying he was wrong? Deputy Carthy rightly called the Minister out when he said he saved tens of millions of euro. That only adds to what we are saying. He is making the argument for us that what we are calling for is what is needed.  In the conclusion to the Minister's earlier comments, he said that this amendment is not necessary. That is what troubles me. I think the Minister believes what is there at the moment is robust, and he believes what is there at the moment is the level of transparency that I, the Members of this House and communities should have. I do not buy into that, and I do not believe it. I believe in much higher levels of transparency.  I will finish where I started. There is a big difference between providing limited information, as the Minister does, and transparency. I think communities out there see it. They are calling the Minister out on it. They are calling the Government out. They are hoping that the Minister will make the changes that are necessary but, given his response to the previous comments made by Deputy Carthy, I and others, I think they will be waiting a while for that to come. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I move amendment No. 17:  In page 26, after line 30, to insert the following:   \u201cMatters concerning minors   14. The best interests of the child shall be primary consideration in the application of this Act, and the Minister shall have due regard to this principle in respect of all matters concerning minors.\u201d. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Miche\u00e1l Carrigy)  Amendment No. 18 is ruled out of order. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  Why has it been ruled out of order? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Miche\u00e1l Carrigy)  It is a potential charge on revenue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  That is stretching it. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment No. 18 not moved."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I move amendment No. 19:  In page 26, after line 30, to insert the following:  \u201c Cap on daily expenditure for international protection accommodation  14. (1) The Minister shall, by regulations made under this Act, prescribe a maximum amount that may be paid per person per day by the State in respect of accommodation provided to applicants for international protection.  (2) Regulations made under subsection (1) shall specify\u2014  (a) the monetary cap applicable to all forms of accommodation procured or funded by the Minister for the purposes of this Act,  (b) the methodology used in determining the cap, including consideration of value for money, regional cost variations, and the avoidance of excessive reliance on emergency or ad hoc accommodation arrangements, and  (c) the date on which the cap shall come into operation.  (3) The Minister shall review the cap prescribed under subsection (1) at least once in every 12 month period and may amend the cap by regulation following such review.  (4) Regulations under this section shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after they are made.\u201d.  I am surprised in respect of amendment No. 18. It would have been very complementary to this amendment. It called on the Minister to ensure that any company seeking to enter into a contract with the State for the provision of IPAS accommodation or services would be subject to mandatory due diligence and vetting procedures prior to the wording of the contract. Such measures would have included the verification of the identity of the directors, partners or the people exercising control, full appraisal of the beneficial ownership and confirmation of things like tax compliance, checks for prior regulatory sanctions and any other checks that the Minister would consider to be necessary. I do not know if the Minister is going to give any clarification at all in respect of these conversations as to any additional measures he is bringing forward that will ensure that we have proper oversight and public oversight in respect of these contracts.  Amendment No. 19 provides for a cap on the daily expenditure for international protection accommodation. The Minister's responses to the previous amendment will crystalise for all Members the need for this. This is not an endorsement of the private provision of IPAS accommodation. It is an acknowledgement and a recognition of the reality. It is bizarre that Members of the Opposition voted against the previous amendment, which called for transparency on contracts. There was a very far-reaching suggestion that by suggesting having transparency in respect of private contracts in some way means that it is an endorsement of private contracts. The amendment sets out that there will be a maximum payment rate per bed per day. That is again to ensure that there are proper checks and balances and oversight.  I do not know if the Minister will tell us tonight, but we have not been told up until this point, what the maximum payment paid per bed per night in any accommodation centre is. He certainly will not tell us where that is being paid, which is the crux of the problem we discussed earlier. When we are talking about expenditure of \u20ac1.2 billion in a year, there is no capital expenditure in that. That is money that is spent. That in itself was an increase of almost \u20ac200 million on the year before. For all the rhetoric of the Minister of improvements, the only thing the Minister and Department can be adjudicated on is one financial year versus the next financial year. There was an increase of \u20ac195 million between 2024 and 2025. That represents expenditure of \u20ac3.28 million per day. Those are astronomical and amazing figures when we think about it. As a result of the information that we gleamed from the Department, we know that the average rate per bed per day rose by 68%, or almost 740%, between 2022 and 2024. That is nothing to do with the numbers of people coming. Costs are going to increase when we are accommodating more people. That is a given. That is profiteering. I will use term again unapologetically when we have a situation where there is a 70% increase, not in the overall costs but in the cost per bed per day. As the Minister essentially conceded, people saw an opportunity and took full advantage. That money did not result in a better service or better accommodation for the people who are housed there. It certainly did not result in better value for the taxpayer. That money has gone straight into the pockets of those private providers. We can only assume and deduce quite reasonably that it was a 70% increase on profits because the cost base between 2022 and 2024 did not increase by 70%. It did for the taxpayer, not the actual provider. There was a lot of discussion in respect of the pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme. The pre-legislative scrutiny report highlighted serious concerns about the escalating and unsustainable cost of IPAS accommodation. It noted that the Bill contains no mechanism whatsoever to cap costs, no strategy to control provider pricing and no reforms to prevent the State from becoming increasingly dependent on expensive private contracts. That was at the pre-legislative scrutiny stage.  True to form, Ministers just ignored that aspect of the report from the committee just as they ignored everything else. The only thing that has decided the Government's approach to all of this is an absolute pigheadedness to adhere to the deadline that been set in place by the EU migration and asylum pact. To hell with democratic oversight, to hell with the position of the justice committee that undertook comprehensive pre-legislative scrutiny and to hell with all of those who gave up their time and prepared substantive submissions and came before the committee to give their oral submissions and take questions from the members of the committee who then went to the point of compiling the pre-legislative scrutiny report. This amendment is requiring the Minister to set a daily maximum rate. I am not even trying to tell Minister what it should be. We have set out that the maximum daily rate should be \u20ac71, which is the average rate. A total of \u20ac71 per bed per night is a good return for anybody within that business if that is what they are doing. It would set out parameters to which the Department would adhere. It would define how the cap should be calculated.  It mandates annual reviews and ensures all regulations - this is crucially important for accountability and a bit of democratic oversight - are formally laid before the Oireachtas. What is the alternative? The Minister has basically told us that if it comes to a point where the system is under pressure again, we will be back to the same situation. Who knows what could happen internationally that would result in the number of people seeking international protection growing very quickly in a very short space of time, putting pressure on services? The providers will once again hold all of the cards in the negotiations and, because the Government has rejected any semblance of oversight or transparency, the Department will be doing side deals again. A couple of years later, we will find out through another report of the Comptroller and Auditor General that somebody else who owned a coffee shop and was barely breaking even has become a multimillionaire on the back of a crisis situation and the inability of the Government to manage public finances effectively. I have moved the amendment. I hope that, in this instance, the Government will say that this is as reasonable as an Opposition amendment gets, that it is about having a little bit of financial and democratic oversight and that it therefore makes absolute sense to incorporate it into the Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  I did not know I would be the next speaker. I thought there were others. Sinn F\u00e9in is advocating introducing a limit per day per asylum seeker. Does Deputy Carthy have any idea how much that would be? It could not be changed for 12 months. That is my reading of the amendment. There is profiteering in a lot of fields. Should we introduce the same amendment in terms of homeless accommodation for Irish citizens because there is profiteering in that area as well? I am a socialist. I call out profiteering all the time. I advocate for multinational corporations paying more in corporation tax than they are paying. No other party in the D\u00e1il agrees with that but profiteering has suddenly been of central concern for the last several hours, although just on the issue of international protection. Does Deputy Carthy not see a problem with that?  There are quite a lot of things that people would like to get to, such as family reunification, warrants and powers. There is a whole load of stuff here. Sinn F\u00e9in is the biggest Opposition party. It has all the TDs. If it wants to do it this way, it can. However, I ask the Sinn F\u00e9in Members to consider that there is loads of other stuff here that really deserves to be aired in the next hour and three quarters but we are not going to reach it because it seems Sinn F\u00e9in wants to have a bunch of TDs who can tell people they raised the issues of IPAS profiteering and transparency and all of these things. It is a little bit disingenuous, especially if the Deputies are going to call themselves anti-racists. There is very racist stuff coming up here that we would like to reach but all of the discussion in the last few hours has been about this issue.  I cannot agree to a limit per person per day. You could very easily end up impoverishing people and leaving them living on subsistence payments. It is a very dangerous power to give to the Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in  I will briefly reinforce Deputy Carthy's points. Two years ago, the Secretary General of the Department of integration gave out the figures for payments per night. He highlighted how the State was paying the private accommodation providers over twice the amount that was being paid to house asylum seekers in State-owned accommodation. That just reinforces the contradictions within this system yet again. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  We voted against the last amendment because we feared it would enshrine privatisation in the system. We make no apologies for that. We are dealing with a Bill that enshrines the detention of children in the system. When we talk about introducing a per person cap, we present the image that asylum seekers are somehow being kept in the lap of luxury. There is rightfully a lot of talk about profiteering. From the foundation of the State, it has always monetised other people's poverty and oppression. However, we are not talking about the fact that thousands of men are given sleeping bags and sent to the canal. That is one of my problems with the conversation that is going on at the moment.  We are reiterating the failure of a badly designed State system. I do not want to enshrine the means by which that can continue. I fundamentally believe in State reception centres. Best practice, as laid out in the Catherine Day report, was to have seven. That was updated to nine. At the moment, we have one, and that one was dubiously purchased. While we are so far away from that, I do not want to enshrine the means by which we can keep privatising this system and seeing it as the norm and something to be managed rather than something we are seeking to eradicate, as we should. I have reservations about placing a cap on the amount of money paid per individual. I do not know exactly what that cap would be. It would be useful to have a sense of that. I understand Sinn F\u00e9in had previously said \u20ac71 but that is not contained in the amendment in front of me. I have reservations. I am interested in hearing the Minister of State's response before we decide how to vote. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Brophy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Brophy  We are obviously not accepting this amendment. I do not know if Sinn F\u00e9in fell asleep in 2024 but its members have gone assiduously out of their way - I know they would not do so deliberately - not to mention the new rate card introduced in May 2025 or acknowledge that this rate card is delivering \u20ac83 million in savings to the State. It has been applied across 147 centres and the process of putting in place these contracts has been overhauled. The State's objective is always to ensure we have a robust system that delivers value for money when we are signing these new contracts, ensures centres are inspected and properly regulated, and has transparency built in with payments over \u20ac20,000 fully recorded. The value of a rate card system is that it allows the best deal to be struck. That system is now working well and it will continue to work well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  First of all, in respect of the debate----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Brophy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Brophy  The Deputy mentioned 2023 to 2024 three times. He never said anything about 2025. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I will come to that. The Minister of State should not worry. In respect of the debate, the Government decided the format of this debate. Because it tied us into the EU migration and asylum pact, in respect of which there was a deadline, everything else in terms of the consideration of this Bill has been put to one side. We are now in a situation where this debate is being rushed, guillotined and taken on the floor of the D\u00e1il. The rules within that system are being adhered to. We have all been in situations when dealing with guillotined Bills where there have been amendments of ours or parts of the Bill we would like to discuss but we just do not get to that point. Those people who happen to have amendments they want to speak to earlier on cannot be blamed for that. Blame the Government. It is frankly bizarre that Deputies Jim O'Callaghan and Ruth Coppinger are making the exact same argument and saying that we should not talk about an amendment on transparency or community consultation because there are other things further down the amendment list that people would like to speak to. There are lots of issues in this Bill that I would like to spend time deliberating on. I submitted 50 amendments to this Bill across a whole range of policy areas. I would like to deliberate on each of them.  In respect of this amendment, to be very clear, the contracts are set out on a per person per day basis. That is how the contracts are set out. The language just reflects that. The Minister of State can confirm that the contracts are usually set out in three-year terms.  What this amendment is saying is that there would be a maximum amount that the Department would agree to for contracts in a given year and that new contracts would be reviewed annually. At the moment, the system is that a contract is signed for three years, and that is the contract in place. That is why we still have God knows how many situations whereby, as the Minister has acknowledged, there is overspending.  It was mentioned that this could impoverish someone, but the only person it could impoverish it would do so by making sure that the people who pay themselves \u20ac4.6 million in profits might only be able to pay themselves \u20ac3 million or \u20ac2 million. They certainly would not be in impoverished by all of that.  I invite the Minister of State to come back in, because he mentioned the rate card for 2024. This is a big Government scheme. Will he inform the House what the rates in the rate card are? He will not, because there is damn all transparency in this. He is telling everybody that there is a rate card and we are making great savings, but he will not actually tell people what the rate card says. Seriously. That is his argument for rejecting this amendment, namely, that there is a rate card that is hidden in a filing cabinet somewhere in the Department and that every operator of an IPAS centre knows what it is. The Minister of State knows what it is, but the people who are actually ponying up - the taxpayers \u2013 do not know what it is. There is no transparency in respect of this. This is such a simple amendment to ensure that a Minister would set a maximum rate and let the people who are footing the bill know what that maximum rate is. It is so simple that I find it hard to believe that we even have to have a discussion on this or the fact that it is not in place already.  The rate card is a secret document. The Minister of State cannot tell us whether the rate card has been breached in the event of additional pressures. Has anyone gone above the rate card? We do not know. The Minister of State will not tell us. What is the difference between the highest and the lowest rate paid according to the rate card? The Minister of State will not tell us why there is a difference between the highest and the lowest rates on the rate card.  He should not talk about the rate card as if Sinn F\u00e9in has conveniently forgotten that it exists. Sinn F\u00e9in has never been told what the rate card comprises. More importantly, the people who pay have never been told either. This is about transparency and recognising what emerged from an absolutely damning report by the Comptroller and Auditor General. I find the Minister of State's arrogance bizarre. There is a sense of the Government is spending the money, never mind how it is actually spent, we would not understand, the little people would not understand how the Government is spending the money, and it is doing all of these great things. The only independent appraisal of Government expenditure in this area was carried out by the Comptroller and Auditor General, an office for which most people would have respect. We could not accuse the Comptroller and Auditor General's office of hyperbole. If it says something, there is an issue. It has set out in very stark terms in a sample look at the contracts that there were huge issues - overspends and tax returns that were wrong, including VAT returns. I could go through the list again. We have that evidence. We have no evidence to suggest that all of those issues have been sorted out. The Minister was asked multiple times by Sinn F\u00e9in to carry out a review of every single IPAS contract. I do not see any reason for the Minister not to do that. Tonight, when we bring forward an amendment that simply says that there will be a maximum payment available under the terms of these contracts and that the Minister will tell people what that is, I would have thought that would be something that would be welcome because it would bring clarity and a little bit of transparency across the board.  Deputies Gannon and Coppinger said they did not know what the rate was. I said what Sinn F\u00e9in previously set the rate at, but what we have said is that, under this Bill, the Minister would prescribe a maximum amount in regulations and that those regulations would be brought back to this House so that, for the first time ever, we would have a little bit of democratic oversight of how public money is being spent in this area. Is the Minister of State going to give us the details on the record? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Brophy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Brophy  The purpose of having a rate card and delivering those savings, which are in the millions of euro, while having a transparent process under which payments of over \u20ac20,000 are recorded is to have a system where people can see what has been paid and we have an ability to negotiate and deliver the best value for money for the taxpayer. When every contract comes up, and there are 147 of them so far since the summer of last year, it goes through a process that appraises it and looks to deliver the best value for money and, obviously, all the quality assurance standards we want. That is the best way of doing it. I do not agree with the Deputy's analysis of how it should be done, so I cannot accept the amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  Is the Minister of State going to answer the question in respect of the rate cards? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Brophy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Brophy  I have given my answer to the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  No, the Minister of State has not. He did not answer a single one of the questions I put to him there. The question is about what is in the rate card and what the maximum payment within it is. I assume if it is a rate card that there is a maximum and a minimum. What is the maximum the Government is willing to pay? On what basis does it reach that decision?  Could the Minister of State please not give us this fa\u00e7ade that there is transparency? Transparency is not just knowing how much somebody receives. It is knowing what they are delivering in return. It is important that we know if somebody is in receipt of a public contract worth millions of euro so that we know precisely what they are providing. How many people are they accommodating? Have the premises they provide been inspected? If so, what were the results of that inspection? Has the building a fire certificate? All of this stuff is just basic transparency and accountability and the Minister of State is avoiding it at all costs. I will ask him again to divulge the details of the rate card. If he will not, then he cannot rely on it for an argument against an amendment that is about bringing forward transparency and accountability. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Brophy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Brophy  I will rely on a rate card that is delivering millions in savings to us in this area. It is delivering value for money, which we wanted to see, and I believe it is working for us. I will stand over the fact that there is transparency in the payments that are being made. We will not agree, I am sure, but that is the case. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  To clarify, obviously, I would love us to continue talking on this Bill for as long as possible. My comment was in the context that we had a guillotined Bill. I have spoken in many debates before where we judiciously picked and chose what we were going to try to be allowed to reach in the context of a guillotined Bill. It was just a bit of a silly comment. We have an hour and a half left and I just made the point that there were other things.  I do not know if it is a good idea to be voting for maximum payments for homeless accommodation or for asylum or IPAS accommodation. I do not think that Sinn F\u00e9in would introduce this for homeless accommodation, for example, and there is profiteering in that as well. I just think it is quite a dangerous one and we should be moving to a nationalised sector and the State providing this in any case. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I am just going to respond to that very briefly. We can only deal with what is in front of us. We are dealing with the International Protection Bill. We are bringing forward an amendment that is aimed at tackling something that has been clearly identified by the Comptroller and Auditor General, and by several journalists who have tried to ascertain some of the scandals. There are many scandals within IPAS contracts in terms of the services being provided to residents, the value for money provided to the State and the profiteering that has been at the heart of that. We have to bring forward measures to deal with that, and that is what Sinn F\u00e9in has done. The amendments we have brought forward are very fair and transparent. I do not think anybody who values democratic oversight and, in particular, parliamentary oversight would have any issue with this amendment. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 14 agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"SECTION 15"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  I move amendment No. 20:  In page 28, between lines 32 and 33, to insert the following:  \u201c(14) The best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration in the carrying out of procedures in respect of a minor under this Part, in accordance with Article 14(1) of the Eurodac Regulation.\u201d. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared lost."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question proposed: \"That section 15 stand part of the Bill.\""},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  May I speak to the section? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  You may, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  Section 15 concerns Eurodac. It is the first section to deal with the Child and Family Agency, Tusla. The Minister of State will know that we have a number of amendments in respect of the ability of Tusla to do the job it is asked to do. Last week or the week before, Judge Conor Fottrell of the Dublin District Court hit out at what he called profiteering by private operators that are providing unregulated placements for the most vulnerable children, describing it as \"wrong and shameful\". At the time, he was dealing with a 13-year-old boy who remains missing from an unregulated placement.  This legislation is putting additional responsibilities onto Tusla. Last week, I asked the Minister of State, on a number of occasions, what additional resources Tusla would be provided with. What additional staff will be put in place? How can we have any confidence whatsoever in respect of this legislation that Tusla, a body that many people argue is unfit to do the roles already assigned to it, can do this? A recent report in thejournal.ie stated that a quarter of staff working in special emergency arrangements last year did not have the required documentation to work with vulnerable children. We know that Tusla has referred five emergency childcare providers to the Garda over vetting concerns. These concerns keep coming up. Stories in respect of children in accommodation who are unaccompanied minors in respect of international protection keep coming up, yet we are expected to pass this section and endorse legislation that is adding a substantial amount of workload.  As I said last week, the pre-legislative scrutiny report was very critical of the capacity of Tusla to deal with the additional workload that will be put on it, yet the Minister of State has not had any answers to any of the questions he has been asked in respect of the capacity of Tusla. In fact, last week, he said he could not answer about Tusla as it is under another Department, but he is happy enough to introduce legislation that is putting responsibilities and will inevitably put an increased workload on Tusla. Will the Minister of State give assurances to the House this week that he was not able to provide last week? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in  Similarly, and as I have a background in primary teaching, I am quite concerned at giving Tusla more of a role. Many people would certainly question the merits of this because over the past five years, there have been 7,000 recorded cases of children going missing from Tusla care. I remember Tusla came before one of the committees, when it acknowledged that 33 separated children or unaccompanied minors who were seeking international protection are now officially missing. They are still missing today. That is 33 separated children; God knows where they are. With the amount of sexual exploitation and trafficking going on in the world at the moment, who knows where they are? I certainly have concerns about giving an extra role to a body that seems to already be overburdened and under-resourced. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I will be very quick in relation to this. We have had Tusla in front of the children's committee numerous times.  It will talk about its new operating model. I do not take away from the complex cases but we are talking about putting a greater onus on the organisation. It has stated quite explicitly \u2013 I have brought this up with the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Deputy Norma Foley, in particular \u2013 that on the basis of its figures, it is 300 social workers short. It is at least 100 social care workers short. We all know there is an insufficient number of foster carers; it is probably upwards of 500 short. We are therefore putting pressure on an entity that is already under severe pressure. I agree with Deputy Carthy that there need to be some sort of utterances from the Minister for justice on accepting this proposal and some means of dealing with the matter. There is not much point in putting an already-under-pressure organisation under more pressure or setting it up for failure. The latter is not acceptable either. There has to be an element of fairness and recognition. Again, we are dealing with a timeline that has been thrust on the Minister because of the agreement in respect of the EU migration and asylum pact. I do not believe any of this is conducive to coming up with a real solution to dealing with the issues regarding international protection. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Brophy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Brophy  I refer Members to the conversation we had last week. It is the Government\u2019s intention to ensure the system is fully resourced to deal with the outcomes of this legislation. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and declared carried."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Sections 16 to 21, inclusive, agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"SECTION 22"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Amendments Nos. 21, 27, 29, 79 and 83 are related and may be discussed together, by agreement. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  I move amendment No. 21:  In page 32, to delete lines 14 to 18.  In the first instance, I will speak about amendment No. 21. Let me quote the subsection of the Bill I am seeking to remove so we will have a sense of it. It provides:  Where a member of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, an immigration officer or an officer of the Minister has reasonable grounds for believing that it is in the interests of public policy or national security for an applicant to whom paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection (4) applies to be subject to the obligation referred to in subsection (1) , the member or officer may give the applicant a direction referred to in subsection (2) .  The direction refers to detaining and screening.  Striking out the subsection would mean officers cannot direct people with lawful residency permission to attend screening centres on the basis of vague, undefined grounds. It also cuts off the path to grounds for arrest and detention. By definition, the people in question are not international protection applicants and as such, the State has no business arresting and detaining them under this legislation. It looks like illegitimate arrest and detention on the grounds of racial profiling.  I am very cautious about how we legislate for detention in this country. It will be the defining part of this Bill. We are steamrolling through something that has monumental consequences and, while not looking to the future, we do not seem to be particularly reflective about our past. I think about the apology the Taoiseach made today in the Chamber and other apologies that have been made. We have a gruesome history of institutional incarceration in this country. I am really apprehensive about how this Bill will legislate not only for continuation but also for enhancement. We are legislating, in the subsection I am seeking to strike out, for the detention of people who have committed no crime at all. Our history demands that we tread more cautiously than we are at this point, which is why I am seeking to strike out the subsection. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  I support Deputy Gannon on this amendment. It is incredibly sad that we are moving towards this system of detention not just in Ireland but also across Europe through the EU migration and asylum pact, particularly because it took the State so long to untangle international protection from pursuing people through arrest. The courts had to achieve that through a series of cases to eventually try to meet our commitments under the EU reception directive. The worst part is that we have never done international protection well. We were just about starting to get to the point where we would do that but then we had to deal with crises that hampered any well-intentioned efforts by the Government to address the matter.  To take, lock, stock and barrel, what we did not have to take from the EU migration and asylum pact is concerning. It is often forgotten that we could have taken a modular approach to this but chose not to. Instead of taking that approach, we are moving towards a system that will detain people. The subsection is an example of an unlawful detention proposal that we cannot stand over as a State.  Deputy Gannon is correct in that we have a history of this. We know what happens. This is a trend across multiple countries and we cannot stand by it. Therefore, I support amendment No. 21 and ask the Government to do the same. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I want to hear the Minister of State\u2019s response on amendment No. 21 before I speak about it directly. Before that, I want to speak about amendment No. 79, which is grouped with amendment No. 21. I am not entirely sure why it is grouped because it relates to ensuring that in the statistics compiled by the Department, we include information provided by applicants for international protection regarding any prior immigration status or permission while in the State. I found it quite bizarre and very surprising that this information is not kept at source and compiled annually. I am referring to the number of people who apply for international protection who will have previously been in the State on another permit, whether it be a student permit, employment permit, other work-related permit, a short-stay tourism visa, a family reunification or dependant permit, or any other immigration permit.  It is important that we get that information because it fits in with the conversation we were having last year. Assumptions are made all the time. I repeated on a number of occasions last week that we have had different Ministers saying different things in respect of the proportion of people who enter the State via the common travel area. Some Ministers have referred to a proportion of 80% and others have given other proportions. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy McEntee, said at one stage it was up to 90%. That makes for a good headline, the implication being that since the 90% are coming across the Border, there is nothing the State can do about it. When you delve into the statistics, you realise there is no way Deputy McEntee or any other Minister can know the proportion because the Government has been assuming that every single person who presents for international protection but who has not presented at a port or airport has entered the State via the common travel area. However, we know from international experience and from states that compile the relevant figures that there are numerous other categories. Sometimes a person who has permission to be in the State will apply for international protection subsequently. To be clear, such people are entitled to apply and to have their applications adjudicated upon on the same basis as anybody else.  If we are serious about having a comprehensive policy and a set of proposals on how to deal with these things, we clearly need to have the relevant information to hand. It would be helpful if the Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, gave us an indication of his position because the chances of our getting to amendment No. 79 before 11 p.m. are fairly slim. We will have no Report Stage in the D\u00e1il, which is bizarre. Either way, it is unacceptable. Could the Minister of State indicate whether, in the Seanad, the Government will be introducing an amendment on this matter? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  We will support this amendment. We in the Labour Party have some similar amendments later, some of which we may get to and the rest of which I guarantee we will not. The power of arrest and detention is something we have to be very careful about. How we prescribe this in law, making such definitions in the Bill in the catch-all manner in which we are doing so, brings me to the view that there is in a kind of underhand way profiling going on of those who can be detained as to why they are detained. As a country, if we are going to go down that route, we are really letting ourselves down because we are better than that. We should be treating people with respect. We obviously have to have a rules-based system for doing this, but we have to be very careful of the manner in which we bring in arrest and detention for individuals. While there are quite a number of amendments later detailing those who are trafficked, those who are vulnerable and a number of others, we need to start with this amendment because we may not get to the rest of them. That is why I will certainly support the amendment brought forward by my colleagues in the Social Democrats. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aidan Farrelly  Many of the points have been already made in support of Deputy Gannon's amendment. I truthfully cannot believe we are here legislating for the detention of innocent children. It is shocking that they can have committed no crime and done nothing wrong, yet we are legislating for their detention apparently if it \"is in the minor\u2019s best interests\", despite the fact that we have heard from every corner of the expertise on this that it is never in the child's best interests. I am fascinated to hear what the Minister of State will say as to the justification for this. How can this be explained on the day when the Taoiseach, sitting where the Minister of State is right now, made an unequivocal apology to those who have suffered? In ten years', 20 years', 30 years' or 40 years' time, the State will once again apologise to the children in respect of whom it is legislating tonight for holding them against their will. I have serious, significant concerns about the determination of this; the decision-making. Who has the capacity? Who has the competency? On what grounds will these decisions be made? For how long? Where? The Government has told us in the legislation where this will not happen but it has not told us where it will happen. It will not tell us who will do this and on what grounds but it says it will ultimately always be in their \"best interests\". It is never in the best interest of a child to detain them, never mind the fact that it is proposed to detain them simply for existing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  I thank Deputy Gannon for bringing forward this amendment. I am deeply concerned to listen to the contributions here and what is being put forward and proposed by this Government. The use of violence by the State - detention is a form of violence - should have a very high bar. It should be taken extremely seriously. I have very real concerns about not just the thoughtfulness that has gone into this but also the direction of travel and what it means for human rights and natural rights and the concept of justice in this State.  To be light-hearted in my contribution, I am reading fantasy novels these days. There is a conflict between various tribes in this book I am holding. It is an international bestseller----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  As long as it is relevant----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  It is relevant, a Cheann Comhairle. In this book they start closing the borders and detaining people from one tribe going to another. They start saying the refugees are no longer valid refugees. They start digging their heads into the sand. I read fiction to try to escape the non-fiction of our work, but sometimes there are certain echoes in fiction that tell a really important story. There is a real question here about a Government and a State that are putting their heads in the sand as to their human rights obligations, even just on a human level. It does not necessarily need to be international law. It does not even need to be concepts of justice. Even on a human level, a compassionate level and an empathetic level as to what people are experiencing, are we to say to those who are fleeing war and persecution that they will not be given rights to natural justice, human rights or any form of empathy when they come here? That seems completely out of character with the Irish State.  I want to be very clear here: I do not believe that evaluating and reforming the immigration system is inherently racist, although many outside of this Chamber who are seeking reforms are. They are, thankfully, a minority in this country. While racism and systemic racism in particular must be condemned in all its forms, I fear that with the shift in immigration policy to the right, and it is a shift of immigration policy to the right, and in particular with this erasure of natural justice, natural rights and human rights, there is actually something more dangerous, more disastrous and, frankly, more terrifying.  I am a big believer in democracy. I am a fervent believer in it. I am a fervent believer in the wisdom of the electorate. There are, however, times when the public get things wrong. We saw that in the UK with Brexit - buyer's remorse. We see it across the water, in the United States, with an Administration that is deeply unpopular, despite doing the things it promised to do. One of the reasons I am standing here today and why I am in politics is that I was in New York in 2016 when Trump was first elected. You could feel the sorrow on the streets of New York among New Yorkers. You could sense it. I could sense it in the offices as I went to work.  I was speaking during the general election to a young man about why I went into politics and challenging what the Government is trying to do here: the rightward shift on things like immigration policy, the erosion of human rights and the erosion of the concepts of justice. I will say to the Minister of State what the young man said to me. He agreed with me and we had a very long conversation. He said the lessons of the 20th century are being forgotten. There were people who came here in the thirties, in the forties and in the fifties to escape the persecution of the forces of Europe. They came here to escape the Nazis. There were Jews fleeing the abomination of the Holocaust that Hitler created. There were people who were not Jewish who were fleeing the Nazis, fleeing Mussolini and fleeing Franco, and we gave them refuge and we gave them shelter. One of them, my constituency colleague's grandfather, started Waterford Crystal. It is a really important part of who we are and it is a really important lesson of the 20th century. I really fear that there are many states across Europe and across the world that are stridently repeating this mistake, going towards an ethnonationalism and a use of the full force of the state to enforce it. I do not think the Government is doing that here but I do think it is following a path that leads to that. The use of detention in this way is deeply concerning and deeply problematic for that reason. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Brophy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Brophy  I propose to take amendments Nos. 21, 27, 29, 79 and 83 together and I will reply to each one. I just want to say, though, before I begin that reply to each individual one, that I am a true believer in democracy. It is very important that we respect democracy and democratic outcomes. We have a Government, and this Government is committed to reform. That is what this legislation is about.  I believe it is important to acknowledge that we are trying to reform a system that needs reform. At the end of that process there will still be international protection. There will still be a process that allows for people to come to our country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  But not human rights. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Brophy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Brophy  There will be a process. We have a refugee process as well and we have people who come here to work. All of them remain. It is very wrong to portray what is being done here in a particular way when what is actually being done is a process of reform.  Amendment No. 21 proposes to delete section 22(5). That subsection provides that a member of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, an immigration officer or an officer of the Minister may direct an applicant who holds a valid registration certificate under section 9(4)(a) of the Immigration Act 2004, or a minor exempt from registering under that section, to travel to a screening centre where it is in the interests of the public policy or national security. This is a necessary provision for ensuring that all international protection applicants undergo screening in those circumstances. This provision only applies to international protection applicants and not to persons registered under the Immigration Act. Therefore, I do not intend to accept this amendment.  Amendment No. 27 seeks to remove the possibility that person given a direction under section 22(5) may be arrested and detained. I point out that these cases involve persons who may constitute a threat to public order, national security or both. It is important we have the possibility to identify such persons from the outset. It may be necessary to be able to arrest and detain such persons as a last resort for the purposes of verifying their identity. This is part of a coherent and well-functioning international protection system and, as such, I am unable to accept amendment No. 27.  It appears that the purpose of amendment No. 29 is to remove the possibility that a person arrested under section 24(2) could be detained in a screening centre. For operational purposes it may be necessary for such a person to be detained in the screening centre while their identity is being verified. I remind Deputies the allowing of such detention is intended to be short term in nature until the applicant's identity is verified and in any event may not exceed two days. For that reason, I do not propose to accept amendment No. 29.  I do not propose to accept amendment No. 79 because the entries into the screening form are standard across all member states. This is so relevant authorities can share the information regarding persons who have made previous international protection applications in the European Union before arriving in the State. The matters to be included in the screening form under section 31 are intended to align with the screening form provided in article 17 of the screening regulation. While it is not my intention to deviate significantly from the contents of the form as provided for in that article, the Deputy will note that there is a regulation-making power that enables the Minister to prescribe additional categories of information. I will keep the categories of information under review in light of the operational experience.  The purpose of amendment No. 83 appears to be to provide that an additional applicant can be considered in the accelerated examination procedure if the preliminary health assessment and preliminary vulnerability assessment are not carried out. The effect of the amendment would be that any applicant could effectively prevent their application from being considered in the accelerated examination procedure simply by refusing to consent to their preliminary health assessment. It is likely that this could result in some applicants who would have been subject to the accelerated examination procedure refusing to undergo assessment. This would negate the benefits of having both a preliminary health assessment and the accelerated examination procedure in the first place. As such, I do not propose to accept amendment No. 83. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared lost."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Amendments Nos. 22, 28, 53, 57, 177 and 179 are related and may be discussed together. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  I move amendment No. 22:  In page 32, between lines 34 and 35, to insert the following:  \"(f) an applicant who is a presumed or identified victim of trafficking.\".  These are grouped amendments along similar lines across the legislation. Amendment No. 22 inserts \"an applicant who is a presumed or identified victim of trafficking\". This is obviously critically important if added to amendment No. 28 as it exempts presumed and identified victims of trafficking from any legal obligation to travel to a screening centre and from related criminal penalties. This corresponds with what I spoke about earlier about people who are vulnerable, the profiling of them and the manner in which they are being treated. The Labour Party does not see any obligation as to why, as a country, we are going to treat them in this way. The fact they will not be exempt from this legal obligation really is a stain on our country if it proceeds. In tandem with that, amendment No. 57 is to ensure that vulnerability assessments take account of whether a person may be a victim of trafficking. Currently in this section it is not clear. In fact, it needs to be made clear that vulnerability assessments take account of whether a person could have been the victim of trafficking. It needs to be stated in the legislation. Amendment No. 177, which is also grouped, is again along the same lines and exempts victims of trafficking from the accelerated procedure. Throughout the Bill, we are exempting those who are victims of trafficking from going through what, unfortunately, many others are being put though as a result of this legislation. Amendment No. 179 ensures that the victims of trafficking will have special procedural guarantees not to be subject to the accelerated procedure.  Throughout all of these five amendments we are ensuring that those who are, unfortunately, victims of trafficking, which we can see from recent reports continues to be a huge issue in this country, are treated in a dignified, humane and compassionate way and are not dealt with in a manner that will be a stain on our society if we allow this legislation to go through. This tries to ensure that those victims who have had their lives turned upside down are treated well by this State. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  Before the Minister came in, the Minister of State talked about being a true democrat and about the Government having a democratic right to legislate. Nobody is refuting that. However, if the Minister knocked at any door in this country, as all of us across the Chamber do, who would ask that a victim of trafficking be compelled to go to a screening centre? There is no obligation on that. Screening procedures are not designed to ensure early trafficking detection. There are no clear referral pathways in the Bill to the national referral mechanism framework to identify and support victims of human trafficking and modern slavery. None of that exists in the Bill at the moment. We add a simple amendment where, if an applicant is presumed to be or is identified as a victim of trafficking, they will not be compelled to go to a screening centre where they can be detained. The Minister said it is for a potential maximum of two days, but there is no guarantee of that. Two days for a person who has been a victim of a horror unimaginable to all of us is a lifetime. It compounds trauma. It is unnecessary by any measurement. I would be interested to hear the Minister's reason as to how he will not be supporting a simple amendment such as this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  Human trafficking is a horrendous scourge on our society. It is a multibillion dollar crime that is carried out by organised crime gangs.  The delicacy with which we have to treat victims of human trafficking cannot be overstated. I referenced earlier how long it had taken us, essentially driven by the courts, to untangle international protection from allegations of crime. The case I was referencing directly relates to these amendments because in 2019, a Vietnamese woman was found in a cannabis growhouse and it was her case that unlocked the fact that even though she had been trafficked, she still had to fight a prosecution against her and it took that case, after years of so much work from so many civil society organisations and the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, which I used to work for, to force this State to recognise the way that international protection and human trafficking are intertwined. To think that this Government is sleepwalking us back into a situation where people who are victims of human trafficking are going to be prosecuted, penalised and detained is head-in-the-sand stuff of the highest order. International protection is messy. Getting your documents ready to travel from a situation of persecution, conflict, war and torture is virtually impossible. The vulnerability that you put yourself in and the way that you make yourself so susceptible to exploitation by bad actors are off the charts, so to think we cannot see that nuance and intricacy within the process and legislate to effectively deal with it shocks me to the core. I support this amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in  Human trafficking is a problem that needs to be eliminated. I believe Ireland is ranked in tier two in terms of international comparisons, which means we are not really doing what we should be doing or can do to eliminate human trafficking. In the region of 67 victims of trafficking were formally identified, including five to ten children, and in many cases they ended up being subject to labour, sexual and other of forms of exploitation. It is clear the State is not doing nearly enough in comparison with other countries to eliminate this pernicious form of exploitation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I thank Deputies Gannon and Kelly for putting down this amendment. It is important to put it in context. What we are discussing here is chapter 2 of the provision that entitles me as Minister to designate a certain centre as a screening centre. That is provided for in section 21 of the legislation.  The next section we are dealing with, which is under discussion here, is the obligation to travel to a screening centre. There are provisions set out in this section 22 that place an obligation on a person applying for international protection to travel to a screening centre. Subsection (6), however, sets out a number of individuals whom I exempt from travelling there. Where he or she considers it appropriate, the Minister may exempt an applicant to whom one of the following paragraphs applies. The six paragraphs I have set out there all concern individuals who verifiably come within the categorisation set out in the paragraphs. For instance, it applies to an applicant serving a term of imprisonment, an applicant detained in a children detention school or an applicant in respect of whom a warrant has been issued under the Extradition Act or who is subject to committal under section 29 of that Act or who has consented to surrender or subject to surrender under that Act. It also applies to an applicant in respect of whom a European arrest warrant has been issued or an applicant considered by a registered medical practitioner to be incapable for medical reasons of travelling to a screening centre.  Deputies Gannon and Kelly want me to put in a seventh exemption, which would be an applicant who is a presumed or identified victim of trafficking. That is not a specific categorisation of person. Who is going to presume whether or not a person is a victim of trafficking? If it is the case, and I would be interested in hearing what Deputies say in respect of this, that an international protection applicant arrives in and says he or she is a victim of trafficking, does that mean that I, therefore, have to exempt that person from travelling to the screening centre? If that is the case, I am sure Deputies will recognise the fact that the obligation set out under the provisions of sections 21 and 22 could easily be circumvented if all an individual had to say was that he or she was a victim of trafficking.  The other term used here is an applicant who is a presumed or identified victim of trafficking. Again, I ask Deputies Gannon and Kelly to tell me who will do that identification. How is this going to work in practical terms whether it is at the centre where somebody is applying or at one of our ports? How will it be presumed or determined that a person is a victim of trafficking?  I propose to discuss amendment No. 22 along with amendments Nos. 28, 53, 57, 177 and 179. The Government is firmly committed to protecting and supporting victims of human trafficking, recognising them as a particularly vulnerable cohort. Screening is an important mechanism for recognising potential victims of trafficking, routing them for further assessment and ensuring they can access the supports they need. I also want to clarify that a statement by an individual that he or she has been trafficked does not in itself confer presumed or identified status. A formal assessment is required and must be undertaken by the designated competent authority responsible for formal identification under the existing national referral mechanism, NRM, namely, An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. Careful consideration is needed to ensure operational and legislative alignment of the NRM with the new asylum and migration procedures introduced by this Bill. My officials will continue to examine the matters raised in these amendments with a view to establishing what, if any, ministerial amendments will be necessary.  One point deserves further emphasis. Many times individuals may not be aware that they are the victims of trafficking or that they are being trafficked and the screening process is an important mechanism for recognising potential victims of trafficking. I understand the basis on which Deputies Gannon and Kelly put forward this amendment but it is not specific in terms of how is it going to be presumed or who is going to identify the person as a victim of trafficking. I would appreciate if the Deputies would tell me how that would be done. It is also important to point out that there is a benefit in the screening process for the purpose of seeking to identify somebody who is a victim of human trafficking. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  The answer to the Minister's question about how we would do it is that if we are seeking to detain people, we have an obligation to determine whether they are victims of of human trafficking. The Minister mentioned the NRM but that extends well beyond An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. There are supposed to be civil society groups that are available through the NRM and are compelled and empowered to identify victims of human trafficking. One of the criticisms of this Bill going through pre-legislative scrutiny was that there was too much ministerial control. This is an amendment that gives more oversight to the Minister to allow for this as a ground and I cannot understand why he would push back on it.  The Minister asked how we are supposed to tell whether somebody is just claiming to be a victim of trafficking. This betrays the level of mistrust this Government has regarding people in the international protection system if the starting point is always that people are here to cheat the system, to game it and to take advantage of our systems. That is what is coming through in this kind of thinking - how do we police it? Through this legislation and through being a signatory to the migration and asylum pact at EU level, we are placing multiple barriers in front of the right to claim asylum, which is an internationally upheld right. We do not agree that we should be doing those things but if we are going to go down that path, then we have every obligation to protect people who are trafficked. I agree with the Minister that many people do not know that they have been trafficked and that it is messy and hard but that is all the more reason those people need to be protected at every stage of the process. The vulnerability assessments have got to a place where they are a box-ticking exercise. The only way we can identify these things properly is by actually working with people and listening to them over a long period to make sure they are being given the services they need to support them at the most difficult time of their lives.  I am afraid that the questions that the Minister is putting forward do not hold water. They simply belie this attitude of mistrust when we should be extending our offer of support to people when they need it most. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  In the first instance, a victim of trafficking will be identified by their vulnerability assessment. That is provided for under the special reception conditions. I am surprised the Minister did not know that.  Given the day that we had today in the D\u00e1il when another State apology was made, I cannot help thinking of the words of Christine Buckley. I am sure most of us around the Chamber remember the incredible work of Christine Buckley, who shone a light into one of the darkest corners in this State and finally delivered a State apology for victims of institutional incarceration. Christine had a phrase which she used constantly: \" I believe you before you open your mouth\". That was Christine's line. We are now standing in the Chamber processing potentially the most important legislation of certainly the next five years and it factors in detention. We are having a discussion about why should we believe a person when they come forward and say they were a victim of trafficking.  We have talked about categories. What category of person does the Minister think would stand in front of another person and falsely say that they had been a victim of trafficking or modern slavery? I do not know that individual. I have not met that individual. I do want the Minister to legislate for that individual. I want to legislate for a humane and compassionate system in which we actually build trust into our legislation. The Minister might say that this is some sort of nonsense on my part, but I know what the opposite looks like, and it does not look like the type of system that is reflective of a republic that has learned the lessons for which it previously apologised for. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  Even though we have disagreed on quite a bit and despite the way he is guillotining this whole debate, the Minister has conducted himself in a fair way but his previous response smacked of a different tone. He let himself down. I do not know; maybe he was going back to his barrister days. It almost came across like a challenge to us. Who cares whether it is perfectly prescribed, as the Minister sees it, in this Bill. It goes beyond all of that. If he does not like our wording, he can table another amendment. He should bring it through the Seanad and then back to this House. However, if we, as a country, cannot have a system whereby within this legislation whereby there is a vulnerability assessment done and we cannot say that we know or believe that somebody is being trafficked, then we are letting everything we stand for as a country down. There are many professional organisations and people who can work with the State to help deal with this matter. It is not a debate about how we decide whether somebody is trafficked. That is being done every day of the week. That is not the debate. The debate is around whether the Minister has the will do it, whether it is by accepting these amendments or bringing forward his own. If the Minister stood up and said that he is willing to bring forward his own to deal with the matter, that would be something.  When it comes to the issue, the fact is that we are not treating people who are in a very vulnerable state in the manner in which we should. We are not practising what we preach. As a State, we have not learned from past issues, and we are going very close to bone given what was apologised for today. The Minister needs to reflect on this because if he does not deal with this, there will be a situation whereby we will be looking back at this in the future and saying that we pointed out that it was wrong thing to do, but the Minister ploughed on with it and we now have all these situations. We do not want to end up in that scenario. By reply, he might say that he might deal with this. If he is not happy with my amendment or Deputy Gannon's, he might say that he is going to deal with it in the Seanad. Either way, the first amendment is mine and I will press it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I want to respond to Deputy Kelly's point. I listened very carefully to what Deputies Kelly, Gannon and Gibney had to say. I take it seriously and I am fully aware of what political objective they are seeking through these amendments. They are perfectly legitimate, and I respect them.  We are talking about an amendment to section 22. It is headlined, \"Obligation to travel to screening centre\". I have not designated any areas as screening centres yet but if, following enactment, I designate Citywest, which is a well-known example, and I ask someone, who comes into Ireland and claims international protection, to go to the screening centre in Citywest, part of the reason an applicant is asked to go a screening centre is to enable the preliminary and vulnerability assessment to be done. That is part of the process of asking somebody to travel to a screening centre. It is not unreasonable on the part of the State to put an obligation on an individual who has come in claiming international protection to travel to a screening centre. It is not an excessive burden on that person.  The amendment that Deputy Kelly wants to make is that if somebody is a presumed or identified victim that the Minister of the day could decide that they do not have to go there, but I do not understand why I would not want them to go there if that is the place where they are going to have their vulnerability and preliminary assessment carried out. That is an integral part of it.  I am sorry if I sounded like a barrister. I do not intend to. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  It is okay. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  However, I do sometimes consider legislation from the point of view of how it will be determined if it is before a court or a judge. The amendment the Deputy wants to insert relates to an applicant who is a presumed or identified victim of trafficking. I am not trying to make a legal point, but I need to know, and a court would need to know with precision how the Minister knows if somebody is a presumed victim of trafficking, or how he knows if they are an identified victim of trafficking.  Deputy Gibney may disagree me with on this, but it cannot just be that if the person says they are a victim of trafficking, that is it. In that instance, why are we going through the whole process? When people come in and say they are fleeing persecution, why do we not tell them they are entitled to international protection because they said they are fleeing persecution? It would be completely inconsistent to say that a person is a victim of trafficking simply because they say so. We do not automatically accept that. I do not think any Member is suggesting that if a person arrives and says they are entitled to refugee status, they should automatically get it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  The Minister presents to us a hypothetical scenario where someone comes in and is sent to Citywest. This is the system he is presenting to us. We are trying our best to fix parts within it, which we believe will make it a humane and fairer system. Given the Minister presented one hypothetical scenario, here is another one. Let us say a government of the future is even harder on migration than this one is and has even more right-wing views on international protection, which penalise people for being in the system at all, and there is a screening centre that is a set of tents in a field in the middle of the country.  We are going to send somebody there who, coming off the boat, is pleading with officials that they are a victim of international trafficking. The Minister cannot just present one hypothetical and expect to say this is going to work for it. It is the Minister's responsibility to build in the processes that will identify victims of trafficking so they are not treated in ways that retraumatise, penalise and prosecute them in ways that are just not humane within this system.  That is what we are saying. We appreciate that there is a system to deal with international protection that allows for people to put forward their claim for asylum and for it to be treated. Within that system, there are also people who have been trafficked and who have experienced incredibly egregious crimes against them. We are trying to allow for those people to be treated differently within this cohort of people looking for international protection. That is what this amendment tries to do and that is what we are trying to resolve with it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  This is a product of the process we were left with because of the approach the Minister has taken to this Bill. We are now 20 minutes away from cut-off. I know the Minister had an issue with the number of TDs who spoke to a particular amendment but, realistically, we have not had a proper engagement on any amendment up until this point or on any section. As the Minister knew, when he insisted he was going to bring it forward on the floor of the D\u00e1il, it is not conducive to having a proper conversation and deliberation.  In respect of this amendment, I support it. The Minister can argue that the movers of the amendment should have brought forward a particular definition and clarifications on how the presumption would be made and what the basis of that would be in law. I made the point that we were nearly being criticised earlier for having too many TDs, but one of the benefits of having a larger number of TDs is the fact that, as tough as it is, I and one member of staff can spend our time going through a piece of justice legislation and, even then, cannot go through all the material that comes from the Minister's Department, to be quite honest about it. However, when you are dealing with other, smaller parties that do not have the same wherewithal, we see individual TDs dealing with multiple portfolios. Our party was in that position before and it becomes much more difficult.  The question for me, when we are dealing with an Opposition amendment, is the principle of the amendment. Of course, the Minister could decide he is going to accept the principle in respect of people who are identified as victims of trafficking. Then he could go to his officials and say let us figure out how we get this done, in the same way he has done for all the measures he wanted to cater for. In that regard, it is the principle of the amendment I am supporting and I am doing so as somebody who does not necessarily have an issue with the concept of screening centres or the obligation on people who are applicants for international protection of presenting to a screening centre. I have an issue with regard to the legislation, where it simply says that the Minister may designate a premises once he is satisfied the premises is suitable. That is even less clear than any amendment the Opposition has put forward in respect of what exactly will constitute an appropriate location, what the basis will be, or whether there will be provisions in regard to the distance somebody will be expected to travel. We talked about applicants being all over the country, whether they will all be expected to go to Citywest and if it is not happening. The Minister is shaking is head but we do not know because the legislation certainly does not say.  In respect of amendment No. 22, I want to put on the record that we support it on the basis that we support the principle of it. If the Minister really wanted to have a teased-out discussion on how all of this would work on a practical basis, the point has been made but I will make it again: we should be having this conversation in the committee room. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  I reiterate that the screening procedures, as designed, are not designed to ensure early detection of human trafficking and modern slavery. There is also no clear referral pathway in the Bill in regard to the national referral mechanism. That is really important because I think something that has not really been understood yet in the 13 hours we have given to this Committee Stage is that this Bill comes into law on 12 June. The Minister does not yet have the multi-annual national referral mechanism set up for victims of trafficking. That is an extraordinary gap. I hope we will get to vote on this amendment so I will be quick. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank the Deputy. Does the Minister wish to respond? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  No. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  As it is 11 p.m. and the time for the debate has concluded, I am required to put the following question in accordance with the order of the D\u00e1il of 24 February: \"That the amendments set down by the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration and not disposed of are hereby made to the Bill; in respect of each of the sections undisposed of, other than section 141, which is hereby deleted, that the section or, as appropriate, the section, as amended, is hereby agreed to; the Title, as amended, is hereby agreed to; the Bill, as amended, is accordingly reported to the House; Fourth Stage is hereby completed; and the Bill is hereby passed.\" "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"International Protection Bill 2026: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-25\/debate\/dbsect_41","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2024\/25","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2024\/25\/dail\/2","houseCode":"dail","stage":"2","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Commission on the Future of the Family Farm Bill 2024: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members] (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Commission on the Future of the Family Farm Bill 2024: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_41","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The following motion was moved by Deputy Martin Kenny on 19 February 2026: \"That the Bill be now read a Second Time.\""},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Debate resumed on amendment No. 1:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"To delete all words after \"That\" and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann declines to give the Commission on the Future of the Family Farm Bill 2024 a second reading, on the basis that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 its objectives are already being comprehensively addressed through existing policy frameworks, in particular Food Vision 2030, the CAP Strategic Plan 2023\u20132027, and the ongoing work arising from the Commission on Generational Renewal in Farming;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the family farm model is central to Ireland's agri-food sector and rural economy, and supporting its viability, sustainability and continuity has been a consistent priority of Government policy, reflected most clearly in Food Vision 2030, Ireland's stakeholder-led strategy for the agri-food sector;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 issues such as generational renewal, succession planning, gender balance, farm incomes, diversification, farmers' position in the value chain and climate action are key issues for the sector and are already central pillars of Food Vision 2030, and these issues are being actively progressed through the existing structures and funded policy instruments;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Food Vision 2030 provides a long term, integrated and non-statutory framework, addressing the economic, environmental and social sustainability of farming, including the future of family farms, and the distinct advantage of Food Vision 2030 is that it was developed by the sector, for the sector, through extensive stakeholder engagement and continues to be implemented collaboratively, and it is underpinned by a robust governance, monitoring and reporting structure through a High Level Implementation Committee chaired by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 a mid-term review of Food Vision 2030 is currently underway, to ensure continued relevance and responsiveness, and this review, which will include full public and stakeholder consultation, will ensure that it remains ambitious, focused, and responsive to evolving challenges and opportunities; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the agri-food sector has experienced significant policy change in recent years, and Food Vision 2030 provides a stable, agreed framework, with the non-statutory nature of Food Vision 2030 allowing Government to adapt policy responses more efficiently, including through the current mid-term review.\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"- (Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Noel Grealish)"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I must now deal with a postponed division relating to Second Stage of the Commission on the Future of the Family Farm Bill 2024 which took place on Thursday, 19 February 2026. On the question, \"That the amendment to the motion be made\", a division was claimed, and in accordance with Standing Order 85(2), that division must be taken now. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Commission on the Future of the Family Farm Bill 2024: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members]"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-25\/debate\/dbsect_50","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Expanding Access to General Practitioner Care: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_50","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The following motion was moved by Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice on Wednesday, 25 February 2026:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"recognises that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 access to timely General Practitioner (GP) care is a fundamental pillar of a safe, effective and equitable health service;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 GPs play a vital role in our health service, managing the majority of people's medical care needs, and acting as the first point of medical contact for most patients;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 GPs provide a core leadership role in delivering care outside of the hospital setting, and are central to the provision of Sl\u00e1intecare's new model of integrated, multidisciplinary care; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 to continue the shift away from our current hospital-centric system, patients must have timely access to GP and community-based healthcare services that are free at the point of use;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"notes that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Ireland is an outlier in Europe in not providing universal primary healthcare that is free at the point of need, instead, we have a system of eligibility which is determined primarily on the grounds of income or age;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 according to the Health Service Executive (HSE) Primary Care Reimbursement Scheme, approximately 42 per cent of the population has access to free GP care through medical cards or GP visit cards, and the remaining 58 per cent pay out of their own pocket;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the cost of visiting a GP can range from \u20ac50 to \u20ac90;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 in 2025, research commissioned by the Irish Cancer Society found that more than 30 per cent of people surveyed didn't attend a healthcare appointment because of cost;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the same survey revealed that 25 per cent of people prioritised other costs over their healthcare, including heating and eating;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 a key recommendation from the Oireachtas Special Committee on the Future of Healthcare Sl\u00e1intecare Report, published in 2017, was universal GP coverage by year five of implementation;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the 2016 Programme for Government committed to extending free GP care to under 18s, which never happened;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 free GP care for children aged under six was rolled out in 2015, but it took another eight years before free GP care for children under eight was authorised in 2023; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the 2025 Programme for Government commits to extending free GP care to children up to at least 12 years;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"further notes that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the 2017 Sl\u00e1intecare Report stated that the current GP contract was a barrier to a primary-care orientated health service, and recommended an entirely new contract to facilitate new ways of working;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the current GP contract is over 50 years old, and although it has been amended on numerous occasions, the core contract does not reflect modern day general practice, nor the future career expectations of young trainees and GPs;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 research carried out by the Irish College of GPs in 2023, found that almost half of trainees, 48.1 per cent, were not prepared to take up the contract within a year of finishing their training;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the same research found that just above one third, 36.7 per cent, of graduates felt comfortable with the traditional responsibilities of the GP principal\/partner position;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the need for better working conditions, greater flexibility and new ways of working has consistently been identified by the Irish College of GPs and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, in their GP Retention Project; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 in April 2023, the Department of Health and the HSE initiated a Strategic Review of General Practice, which was due to be completed that year but is still ongoing, nearly three years later;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"acknowledges that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 according to the Economic and Social Research Institute, an additional 943 to 1,211 GPs will be needed by 2040;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 while the Irish College of GPs estimates that 2,000 more GPs are needed due to current demand of our aging population and population growth;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 in 2024, just two counties exceeded the World Health Organization's recommended ratio of 100 GPs per 100,000 of population, with areas of deprivation and rural areas worst served;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 it is well established that there are higher and more complex health needs in areas of deprivation, yet there are fewer GPs working in these communities compared to more affluent areas;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 it is estimated that Dublin's North Inner City has one GP for every 3,525 people, compared to the national average of one GP for 1,759 people; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 a third of the population lives in rural Ireland, yet the Irish College of GPs estimates that only 10 per cent of GPs work in these areas, with many in solo practices;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"further acknowledges that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Chronic Disease Management Programme (CDMP) has clearly demonstrated what general practice can deliver, when structural programmes, which align with Sl\u00e1intecare, are implemented and resourced; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 last year, the HSE's report on GP-led Chronic Disease Management found that participants in the programme had 30 per cent fewer emergency department attendances, 26 per cent fewer hospital admissions, and 33 per cent fewer GP out-of-hours visits;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"is concerned that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 many GPs are overworked, burnt-out and increasingly overburdened with administrative work, all at the expense of their own work-life balance;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 in the absence of reform, we are seeing the increasing corporatisation of general practice, with small family practices being bought up by investor-owned corporate entities with multiple locations;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 a significant number of GPs are approaching retirement, with the Irish College of GPs estimating that 600 GPs are aged 65 or over, 300 of whom are aged 65 to 69, and 300 of whom are still working aged 70 and over;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 according to an Irish Independent survey of 275 registered GPs carried out in 2024, more than half of the GPs could not accept new patients, with more than two out of three GPs in rural Ireland unable to take on new patients; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 there are critical gaps in out-of-hours GP services, and capacity constraints in daytime general practice are putting additional pressure on out-of-hours services; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"calls on the Government to:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 in the forthcoming budget, implement the Programme for Government commitment to expand free GP care to children up to 12 years of age;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 immediately set out a clear timeline for the delivery of universal GP and primary care, which is free at the point of use, within the lifetime of this Government;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 introduce a salaried GP model, with GPs directly employed by the HSE, for underserved communities, beginning with rural areas and offshore islands, and expanding into areas of deprivation and out-of-hours services;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 create a new DEIS for GPs scheme, deprivation-weighted General Medical Services capitation rates, with a cap on list size, in recognition of the additional health needs of patients in deprived areas;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 expand locum cover supports for GPs, by developing a nationwide HSE locum bank to ensure all GPs can take leave;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 develop a new GP contract which facilitates new ways of working, meets the work-life balance and career expectations of younger GPs and trainees, and incentivises health promotion, public health work, disease prevention, and the delivery of integrated care;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 invest in a national GP Clinical Lead role, to design, test and support new models of rural and remote general practice care;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 establish a primary care health equity working group, with representation from frontline services and patients living in deprived areas, similar to the successful Scottish model;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 accelerate the delivery of HSE-built primary care centres, to provide suitable premises for GPs and their teams, and support the delivery of integrated, multidisciplinary care;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 develop a national strategy to attract, support and retain future GPs, and this should include increased exposure to general practice in medical schools, structured post-training fellowships, specific time spent in practices in both rural areas and areas of deprivation during GP training, and measures to support more diverse, flexible, and equitable career pathways;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 accelerate implementation of the Irish College of GPs' 2023 report, entitled \"Medical Student to General Practitioner - An urgent call to action\";"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 provide an additional 100 GP training places, through the expansion of training capacity in hospitals and supporting training practices;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 implement a new model of out-of-hours GP care, which is uniform across the country, to ensure that access to out-of-hours care is consistent;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 align general practice nurses' terms and conditions with their HSE colleagues, recognise and support general practice nurses' continuing professional development, and establish clear career pathways for progression;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 increase annual public health nurse training capacity, from 160 to 240 places;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 remove the Common Conditions Service fee for medical card holders;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 provide universal access to the CDMP for all patients with type 2 diabetes, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease and any further expansions such as the planned inclusion of chronic kidney disease;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 expand the CDMP to include severe and enduring mental health difficulties, epilepsy and other conditions as appropriate, in consultation with GPs delivering the service;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 develop a structured women's health programme for general practice, which deals with contraception, screening of STIs, fertility, pre-conception, endometriosis and menopause; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 develop a national GP data framework to provide for integration with future eHealth systems, standardised data collection, greater data flow, data stewardship and investment in analytical capacity."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Debate resumed on amendment No. 1:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"To insert the following after \"and investment in analytical capacity\":"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\";"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"further recognises that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the inverse care law and unequal access to GPs is giving rise to stark inequalities, delayed diagnosis, poorer health outcomes, and increasing upward pressure on the hospital system;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 recent extensive research by the Labour Party on GP-to-patient ratios has highlighted significant inequalities, and found that there is one GP per 1,390 of population in Clontarf in Dublin 3, yet in Cabra in Dublin 7, the ratio is one GP to 3,060 of population;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 suburban areas of significant population growth are struggling with a lack of GP services, with East Meath having one General Medical Service GP for every 5,090 people, a divergence of 3,331 from the national average; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the 2025 Economic and Social Research Institute projections, of national demand and workforce requirements for general practice in Ireland, also show there will be a demand increase of at least 23 per cent by 2040, requiring up to an additional 761 to 868 General Practice Nurses, alongside increased GP numbers; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"therefore, further calls on Government to support the passage into law of the Health (Availability of General Practitioner Services) Bill 2025, to provide for a direct statutory link between the HSE's assessment of the level of need for primary care services in specific areas, and the level of service provided.\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"- (Deputy Marie Sherlock)"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I must now deal with a postponed division relating to the motion regarding expanding access to general practitioner care. On Wednesday, 25 February 2026, on the question, \"That the amendment to the motion be agreed to\", a division was claimed and in accordance with Standing Order 85(2), that division must be taken now. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Motion agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Is f\u00e9idir teacht ar Cheisteanna Scr\u00edofa ar www.oireachtas.ie. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Written Answers are published on the Oireachtas website. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar athl\u00f3 ar 11.35 p.m. go dt\u00ed 8.47 a.m., D\u00e9ardaoin, an 26 Feabhra 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The D\u00e1il adjourned at 11.35 p.m. until 8.47 a.m. on Thursday, 26 February 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Expanding Access to General Practitioner Care: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members]"}]}}]},"contextDate":"2026-02-25"},{"debateRecord":{"house":{"showAs":"34th D\u00e1il","committeeCode":"","houseCode":"dail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/house\/dail\/34","chamberType":"house","houseNo":"34"},"chamber":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/def\/house\/dail","showAs":"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann"},"lastUpdated":"2026-06-05T02:08:11+00:00","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/main","formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/mul@\/main.xml"},"pdf":null},"date":"2026-02-24","counts":{"contributorCount":167,"divisionCount":1,"debateSectionCount":30,"questionCount":45,"billCount":1},"debateType":"debate","debateSections":[{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/dbsect_2","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions","counts":{"speechCount":92,"speakerCount":11},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":" A Deputy","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  The Government's plan to take away special needs assistants from vulnerable children was met with massive public anger. Last night, we held a public meeting against the Government's proposed SNA cuts and more than 1,000 people turned up - parents, SNAs and teachers all calling out Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael for their cruel treatment of children. They are now determined to fight back against this, tooth and nail. Last week, in the face of this anger, the Government announced that it had called a pause to its plan to cut SNAs and late last night, it announced what amounts to an extension of that pause, acting only to buy itself time and alleviate pressure on the Government.  Of course, there is relief among parents and schools that there will be no cuts this September and that much-needed additional funding will be provided, but that is not the end of the story because parents see right through the Government's ploy. They know that the Government has simply kicked the can down the road for another year. They know that the Government's approach is a cynical bean-counting exercise and that the needs of children do not even come into it, which is shameful.  Parents and schools now demand fundamental change. They demand that the Government recognise, respect and value the full role of SNAs. By seeking to restrict the allocation of SNAs to a very narrow range of primary care needs like toileting and medicine, the Government is knowingly seeking to limit access to SNAs and to pull the rug from under children who desperately need support. The Government needs to accept that learning, emotional and behavioural difficulties are also primary care needs. This is the support SNAs provide day in and day out. Despite the Government's announcement last night, its threat to cut SNAs remains on the table. This is a tactical retreat, not a change of heart.  The stories shared with us at last night's meeting were utterly heart-breaking. One mother speaking through her tears said, \"How dare the Government even consider pulling SNA support from our children?\" Another said, \"I'd like the Minister to come to my home even for one day to see what it's like when a child doesn't get the SNA support they need - the frustration, the helplessness, the anger.\" Parents, SNAs and teachers have all said that the Government has crossed a line here. They do not want an extended pause; they want these cuts taken off the table for now and for the future. They want to know that no child will lose the SNA he or she depends on and they want the Government to deliver a comprehensive response to the needs of their children. They want respect.  Caithfidh an Rialtas f\u00e1il r\u00e9idh lena phlean ciaradh a dh\u00e9anamh ar ch\u00fant\u00f3ir\u00ed riachtanas speisialta. N\u00ed sos at\u00e1 ag teast\u00e1il, n\u00f3 \u00e9 a bheith curtha ar an m\u00e9ar fhada, ach scrios ioml\u00e1n ar an bplean. N\u00ed m\u00f3r don Rialtas a chinnti\u00fa go bhfaigheann gach leanbh le sainriachtanais an taca\u00edocht at\u00e1 ag teast\u00e1il uathu.  Comments today from Ministers have only added to the anger of parents and SNAs. Ministers lined up to say it was a communications, sequencing or cliff-edge problem. They are incapable still of accepting the Government's plan was wrong. It was wrong to treat children this way. Can the Taoiseach accept that a new departure is needed, not a temporary pause, but a child-centred approach, built on respect, security for SNAs and an end to the constant stress and worry endured by parents? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Ar dt\u00fas b\u00e1ire, n\u00ed aonta\u00edm in aon chor leis an Teachta. Ag d\u00e9anamh \u00e1if\u00e9ise at\u00e1 s\u00ed. M\u00e1 fheicimid ar an sc\u00e9al \u00f3 2021 amach, t\u00e1 an uimhir SNAs sa ch\u00f3ras agus sna scoileanna ar fud na t\u00edre ag m\u00e9ad\u00fa bliain i ndiaidh bliana. T\u00e1 an m\u00e9id infheist\u00edocht ag m\u00e9ad\u00fa chomh maith, bliain i ndiaidh bliana. Is l\u00e9ir, maidir leis an Rialtas a bh\u00ed againn roimh an olltoghch\u00e1n agus an Rialtas at\u00e1 againn anois, is \u00e9 an meon at\u00e1 againn n\u00e1 i bhfad n\u00edos m\u00f3 infheist\u00edocht a chur isteach do leana\u00ed le riachtanais speisialta. Sin bun agus barr pholasaithe agus aidhmeanna an Rialtais. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  N\u00ed leor sin. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I understand where the Deputy is coming from. She speaks of cynicism. She personifies cynicism in her approach to politics and issues. She does not deal with them substantively or in any considered way.  The bottom line is this. If we take special needs assistants alone, in 2020, there were 16,000 special needs assistants. Starting next September, there will be more than 25,000 special needs assistants. The number has gone from 16,000 to almost 18,000 in 2021, 19,000 in 2022, 20,000 in 2023, 22,000 in 2024, 23,800 in 2025 and more than 25,000 in 2026. That is not cutbacks or pulling back. That is not taking special needs assistants away from vulnerable children. That is allocating more resources.  It is the same across the board in terms of special education. Investment has been very significant over the past number of years. From a position where, prior to 2020, there were very few special schools and none at all in the previous five or six years, we have established 16 new special schools since 2020. Some 28% of the budget is now allocated to special education and we have up to 30,000 students in special classes and special schools. The investment made is very considerable and will increase.  One of the reasons is that there was a significant increase in the number of children and young people identifying with a disability in the most recent census, as opposed to the census prior to that. It is a very significant increase. That is impacting on our schools and demand. We are correct in that we need to finish off the work that has been done on the redeployment scheme. A lot of work was done on that with all the partners and stakeholders in education. That will give safety and security of tenure to special needs assistants, as we did for teachers many years ago. There was a redeployment scheme in place for teachers.  As regards the teaching allocation, as the Deputy knows, every September, depending on the numbers in a given school, teacher numbers will either increase, decrease or stay the same in that school. If there is a reduced number of pupils in September and the school does not meet a certain cut-off point in terms of pupil-teacher ratio, it loses a teacher. If it is above or at that level, it gains teachers. The same applies and has always applied to special needs assistants, insofar as the needs of children in a given school have to be assessed, and should be assessed, on an annual basis, because things change. Need either increases or it can decrease. That is logical and natural. What transpired here was there had not been a comprehensive review for quite a number of years and the National Council for Special Education embarked on one.  In our view, from a Government perspective, we believe the building blocks should be in place first - the redeployment scheme, the workforce planning and a new circular, and in addition to that then, continued allocation of resources to a needs-based approach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  What the Taoiseach has given us is a demonstration of a complete unwillingness to accept realities on the ground. In fact, I would say his response was gaslighting parents and SNAs. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Ah, stop. The Deputy spends her time at it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  The Taoiseach needs to know that those parents, children and young people who rely on their SNA to participate in school life and learning, to stay at school, to build confidence, esteem and relationships and who require behavioural regulation need to have the security of the SNA. They cannot live on a wing and a prayer from year to year, hoping against hope that the SNA is not taken away.  The Government attempted to remove SNAs from schools. That is what it attempted to do. Parents and SNAs have fought back and they are telling the Government now very clearly that there needs to be a new departure and it needs to accept in full the role of SNAs. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy. The Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  It needs to accept the reliance of children and young people to function and to operate----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach to respond, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  -----within the system on those SNAs. It needs to announce not a pause----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Time is up, Deputy McDonald. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  -----or a review of a review but a complete reversal of this disgraceful policy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  First of all, the Deputy has just articulated an empty soundbite - \"a new departure\". What does the Deputy mean by \"a new departure\"? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  It was just set out for the Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I am none the wiser as to the Deputy's new departure. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  If the Taoiseach listened----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Please, Deputies. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  There is nothing to what she is saying. This is an opportunity to have a go; fair enough. That is what the Opposition tends to do. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Wow. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  What we are saying is that we are coming forward with the redeployment scheme and a new circular. I am open to discussion on the role of an SNA but the role of the SNA is primarily for the child, not the school. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Let us have these discussions----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" A Deputy","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" A Deputy  Tell yourself that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Would the Deputy please allow the answer? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----which cannot be forever debated in empty soundbites. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Wow. The Taoiseach is arrogant. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The child comes first. Do not mind your \"wow\". The child comes first all the time. The Deputy is not in the Gaiety School of Acting now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  He is an arrogant man. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, please do not interrupt. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  The Taoiseach is one arrogant man. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The bottom line is it is a serious issue for children----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Oh, it is. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----and as far as I am concerned----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy McDonald has had her time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----we must focus on allocation on a child-based approach and a needs-based approach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  I am sure parents are watching this to see the Taoiseach's arrogance----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call Deputy Ivana Bacik. Deputy McDonald is out of order. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Everyone on this side of the House is as familiar with the issues as Deputy McDonald is. She does not have a monopoly on it and she should not pretend she does. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  Before we begin, I again express the Labour Party's solidarity with Ukraine as we mark the fourth anniversary today of Russia's full-scale invasion. As Ukraine enters its fifth year under Putin's brutal bombardment, our thoughts today must be with all those bereaved, injured or displaced by this horrific war in Europe.  Last night was the latest climbdown in the special education saga. SNAs, principals, teachers and parents who spent a week in fear now know that their children will at least not lose SNA supports this year. That relief is thanks to them and their insistence that the Government must listen to their campaigning and advocacy. Unfortunately, our school communities are having to get good at campaigning. In a year, they have had to mobilise for their SNAs, caretakers and school secretaries and the Labour Party has supported school communities every step of the way.  These SNA cuts were first raised in this Chamber by my Labour Party colleagues, Deputies Eoghan Kenny and Mark Wall. While we welcome the news late last night that there will be no immediate SNA cuts this September, the Government's latest U-turn raises further questions about how such drastic reductions were signed off on in the first place. It is was the Taoiseach's Government that directed the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, to carry out this review. It approved the approach and so, as we know, schools received letters without warning telling them they were losing a classroom lifeline. Some were threatened with a cut to half their SNA staffing. All were threatened with cuts without warning or consultation and only after a national uproar did the Government reverse course.  This is not a good look for Fianna F\u00e1il. The Taoiseach's party used to have a good story to tell on education, with Donogh O'Malley's achievements, for example, which I have always acknowledged. Fianna F\u00e1il used to have a vision on education but now when we think of Fianna F\u00e1il, or indeed Fine Gael, we think of prefabs, paused renovations, poor pay for school secretaries and caretakers and now this.  While this \u20ac19 million buffer has bought the Government 12 months, schools have no long-term certainty because the Government has not actually fixed anything. It has merely kicked the can down the road. It has kicked the problem into next year, hoping, no doubt, that the anger will fade. I can tell the Taoiseach now, and we know it in the Opposition, that it will not fade. We already have a special education system lurching from crisis to crisis. We already have parents who are exhausted, worn out, having to fight so hard for the supports their children need.  They and the schools need certainty and clarity, but we have been coming up against brick walls in trying to get clarity from the Taoiseach. We have specific questions. Where is this \u20ac19 million coming from? Is it being pulled from the already stretched special education teacher allocation budget? What happens to the schools that are due an increase in SNA posts next year? Where are the additional SNAs coming from? How will this redeployment scheme work? Will the Taoiseach guarantee that these are new posts, not taken from other classrooms? A pause is not a plan. This is just an extended pause. Schools and children need clarity. Will the Taoiseach provide it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  First of all, as we have outlined already - I said it last week in response to Deputy Bacik - any additional SNAs that were identified by the council as being required by a particular school will get this in the context of that review, so they will get that. The funding is additional to the education budget and will not be taken from any other part of the education budget.  It is not an initiative without a plan. The Government never signed off on this at a governmental level, and I would just make that point to the Deputy. The Government did not sign off on this in terms of the 550, and the scale and the impact of it. When the Government saw the impact of this, it considered it and decided not to go ahead with what was being proposed, and that there will be no reductions in the next school year, and that prior to anything happening, there is a redeployment plan, which, by the way, was sought by the unions - in my view, correctly so. Teachers have had that since the late 1980s. I think it was Kieran Mulvey who negotiated that, with others, on behalf of the teacher unions back then. If schools reduced their numbers, teachers could be redeployed to other schools. If children with special needs are reduced by a natural process, and move on to second level or whatever, the SNAs, rather than being made redundant, will be redeployed to another school as close as possible to the school where they operate. That is a good, positive thing. It is very positive and progressive.  In terms of workforce planning, there is an issue, or perhaps not an issue, but we need to take care to protect SNAs and that they are not asked to do everything in a school. Normally, the process is that the school says it has such a cohort of children in the school who require care and support, and it will require so many SNAs. That gets reviewed or assessed by the National Council for Special Education, and it makes a deliberation on that. There is a process for doing that. It has a panel, which can hear appeals from schools. That is normal, and it has been happening.  What has happened in the last two to three years is that only schools that submitted for an increase were considered by the National Council for Special Education. There was not an overall review. An overall review was initiated, but before the outcome of that was comprehensively brought to a conclusion, action was taken in terms of what happened with correspondence going out to schools and so forth. Out of that, many schools gained, and some would have stayed the same and will stay the same. There will be no reductions next year. We will have the workforce planning, which has to happen, and is a good thing. There is also a new circular, which will have some changes compared to the 2014 circular, and the redeployment scheme. It is only then that we should look at a review process. Again, that is with a view to having consideration of the children who need the support. They have to be uppermost in our consideration. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  It is extraordinary to hear the Taoiseach say that the Government never signed off on this. It was Government policy. Government Ministers were out defending it all last week. The Labour education spokesperson, Deputy Eoghan Kenny, was on \"Prime Time\" last week against the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, on this very point. It is extraordinary to hear the Taoiseach now seeking to deflect blame and responsibility. It was Government policy. It got the NCSE to implement it.  There is a question here for special educational needs organisers, SENOs, as well. Where does this leave them?  There is a fundamental lack of coherence in Government decision-making that is so visible here. No matter how much the Taoiseach says this money is extra and schools will be reassured, there is a fundamental lack of coherence and vision. Meanwhile, there are nearly 200 schools that were facing a cut in SNA allocation last week and are now waiting to see if they will, in fact, be able to keep their SNAs and what that will mean for education planning overall. As the union F\u00f3rsa has said, this is a sticking plaster. This \u20ac19 million is a sticking plaster to disguise and mask the lack of coherence and the attempt to deflect blame to others. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy, Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  The Taoiseach needs to take responsibility for this fiasco, and take it now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I will take responsibility for the fact that well over 8,000 additional special needs assistants have been allocated to our schools since 2020. Let us have a sense of perspective here. Less of the rhetoric and the doomsday language. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  Oh no, we have not done that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Stop, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I did not interrupt the Deputy. I would appreciate if I had the same opportunity. Well over 8,000 additional special needs assistants - that is not cutbacks, that is expansion, at an exponential rate. There is huge, growing need. We need to analyse that and reflect on it. That is why we are bringing a therapy-based service into our schools. That is an important intervention and I think one of the more significant decisions that this Government has taken, that there will be a therapy-based service in all our special schools and then moving into the mainstream schools. Because SNAs will not be able to do everything, and let us not pretend they will be able to do everything, as has been suggested by the Opposition. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  We never said that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Yes, you have. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I am very clear about this and very focused and I have a very clear idea because I have been working on this all my political life, so I know a fair bit about it. What I am simply saying is that we need additional supports, but we need to have multidisciplinary supports, in my view, in our schools, to help children in a more comprehensive and holistic way. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  Can we get a medal for the Taoiseach? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Just before I move to Deputy Cairns, I would like to welcome the members of Kinsale Men's Shed who have been with us for the afternoon. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  At the outset, a Cheann Comhairle, I want to express that our thoughts are with the families, friends and communities of the seven people who lost their lives on a road over the weekend.  This Government claims that disability rights are a priority, but the Taoiseach's words on disability have not been matched by action. The Government has found \u20ac19 million to postpone the proposed cuts to SNAs, of course not before forcing exhausted parents to once again fight the State for the support their children are entitled to. If he has not yet done so, I encourage the Taoiseach to read Ciara Reilly's Substack articles on this issue. They are incredibly informative and they are from the perspective of a mum, a teacher and a tireless advocate.  What everybody needs to know now is what is going to happen next. Instead of once again reaching for a quick fix, is the Taoiseach going to deliver the structural reform that is needed? To do that, there first must be acknowledgement that the current approach has not worked, is not working and is not going to work going forward. I think we agree that the definition of the role of an SNA is too narrow, too restrictive and does not reflect reality. This needs to be acknowledged in the upcoming review and it needs to be fixed. Disability is not just physical and disability supports should not be allocated on such narrow grounds. We know children's needs are complex and that there needs to be a level of discretion baked into the system in order to provide children with the support they need.  We also need to look at the bigger picture. This issue is part of a much deeper problem. The average adult to child ratio in our primary school classes is far above the EU average. Large classes compound the needs of children and result in less one-to-one time for kids. It is clear it is time to focus more on the recruitment of teachers. Also central to this are special education teachers. Complex needs must be reintroduced into the criteria for SET allocation. The removal of this criterion was a step in the complete wrong direction and has put children, teachers and SNAs in an untenable position. Crucially, special classes must be central to this discussion. The future of many special classes was brought into question when these cuts were announced. This pause has not given parents and teachers the certainty they need. Schools that need special classes, whether it is their first one or additional ones, need to be supported to open them and keep them open.  The Department of education is responsible for realising the constitutional right to education every child in Ireland has. It cannot continue to foist responsibility onto individual schools or the National Council for Special Education. What is the plan? Will the Taoiseach reassure children, their parents and school communities that the Government recognises that bigger picture and will change the approach? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  When the Deputy says \"change the approach\", the approach has been of expansion. We have gone from 16,000 to 25,000-plus. Is the Deputy saying we should change that approach? I am not clear when she says we should change the approach. The Deputy said special classes were called into question. They were never called into question as a result of the letters that went out last week. We have 3,741 special classes - how in the name of God could they be called into question? Let us be factual about it. The number of special classes----- "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  It is not your question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----has increased significantly over the past two to three years and five years. The Deputy should just go through the figures - they are objectively there. They increased dramatically last year and will increase I think by 300 more again this year. I do not know how the Deputy can credibly put that out there that somebody was questioning the very existence of special classes when we are increasing them exponentially. As I said, the census data indicates significant increases in the number of young people and children presenting or identifying as having a disability. I see the same is happening in the United Kingdom. There are pressures there also. We have to deal with that and that is why the percentage of the overall education budget, which is now \u20ac13 billion and growing, is very high and rightly so. We have prioritised special education. Last year, the Minister, Deputy McEntee, and the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Moynihan, did exceptional work in a very short space of time to try to close the gap in terms of the number of children seeking places. All of us on this side of the House meet parents of children with special needs, always. I never stopped meeting parents of children with special needs. I accept they have to fight a very hard battle for services not just in education but more particularly in health. That is why we are bringing therapies into the school system. Ninety will be recruited this year. I made it a red line issue in the most recent election that we would have a school-based therapy service. I believe in a multidisciplinary approach to help children with special needs. That is something we will deliver on during the lifetime of this Government. I would have no issue in sitting down with members of the Opposition and working through some of these issues. We need to very careful when we say the role is too narrow. We really need to think that through. We need more special education teachers. There needs to be more modules in training colleges in respect of special needs. There has been progress in that regard. We have a very comprehensive view of what we have to do in terms of expansion but the question is one of increased investment, not decreased investment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  The Taoiseach asked what I mean by the change of approach and I will elaborate on that. I mean a change from this, where the Government comes in and uses language like \"progress\", \"investment\" and \"increases\" and all of these big, grand words whereas the reality for disabled people on the ground is a nightmare. The reality of the language in your own Government's reports is very different from your own - go from \"progress\" and \"investment\" to \"wasted lives\". That is the difference. The approach of successive Governments up until now has been piecemeal and threadbare and it has been ruining people's lives. That is the reality. The Taoiseach said he speaks to parents of disabled children all the time. If so, then he knows they are the people he meets in his constituency who are the most at the end of their tether. I sat on the disability matters committee in the previous D\u00e1il term. Week after week, people told us how often impossible their lives were made by a system that does not listen to them, does not include them----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, please, your time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  -----and makes decisions not with them but for them. That is the change in approach that is needed. We need an overall approach to changing the situation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We do have an overall approach but there have been 8,775 new special needs assistants in the past five years since 2020, 16 new special schools in the past five years and a new therapy-based service in our special schools, and that will expand.  Those are not words; they are facts. They are on the ground. That is what is going to happen. We have an overall approach. We have established a Cabinet subcommittee on disability to look at all aspects. Today, the Minister, Deputy Calleary, had sanction to begin a public consultation on the cost of disability. Yesterday, at the disability Cabinet subcommittee, we had a presentation in terms of a new transport support scheme for people with disabilities. We have a disabled person human rights-based----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  After ten years and 15 years----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----national strategy and we have had meetings with all of the organisations in respect of that. I have established a disability unit in the Department of an Taoiseach to have that overall picture of all aspects of the life cycle of a child or a person with special needs. It is very challenging, particularly in the health service side of it. That is why in the past number of years we took disability out of the Department of Health and created its own Department with the Department of children to have that overarching perspective on trying to improve----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  It is not working. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----the lives of people with disabilities in the country from birth right through life itself. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Taoiseach. We will move on to Deputy Seamus Healy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  Parents of children with special needs have to fight for everything. It is a rollercoaster of anxiety and stress. Early warning signs usually show around six months, but support of relatives and friends suggest it is a little bit slow and it will come right. However, at 12 months, things like a vacant stare or little or no baby babble spark real concerns. The anxiety, stress and sleepless nights for parents start in a real way. By 18 months, missed milestones confirm a problematic future and the fight for parents begins in earnest. The first hurdle is the assessment of need. Thousands of people and children, over 20,000 of them, are on waiting lists: over two and a half years of waiting at a time when a diagnosis and treatment is absolutely vital. Parents who can manage it deprive themselves to scrape together the fee for a private assessment.  Armed with that diagnosis, the fight begins again for services. The next hurdle is a massive waiting list for those therapy services, such as speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and so on. By now, parents are running on empty, stressed out, anxious and not sleeping. Despite the need for two incomes to keep a roof over their head, one parent frequently has to give up work. This is more stress - financial stress. The next hurdle is a struggle to get their child an appropriate school place. They may have to go to the High Court to get that. The eventual place may be anything up to 25 miles from home. However, then there is the huge relief of getting an appropriate school place. Trained special needs assistants and trained special needs teachers are angels. The child begins to respond and there is light at the end of the tunnel.  Last week, the Government turned off that light. It created fear, trepidation and confusion. The so-called pause last week was a smokescreen to buy time. Last night's climb-down is a sticking plaster at best. Parents of children with special needs and special needs assistants need to know that the criteria for getting a special needs assistant will include not just primary care needs but, for instance, a child with autism who is overwhelmed or an anxious child who is unable to learn without adult support and without help with communications and for social understanding----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy. Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  -----or emotional distress or sensory difficulties. The parents----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Time is up, Deputy. You will be back in. The Taoiseach will now respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  -----and the special needs assistants need a guarantee that criteria will be changed and widened. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy's time is way over. Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  First, in respect of the assessment of the need issue, we need a changed approach. An assessment of need is not required for many services. It is our view----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  That is not the question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I have three minutes. The Deputy started off with the----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  You are deflecting the question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, allow the Taoiseach to answer. That is not how this works. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy started off by raising the issue of assessments of need. I was making the point that our view is that the therapists should be directed at providing services. That is the change that needs to happen in the system. That is why the Minister has brought forward legislation that is designed to do that and to release the resources to support children with special needs in a more direct fashion. That is the approach we are going to take.  On the issue of special needs assistants, well over 25,000 will be allocated for the next school year. That is a significant expansion on the 2025 figure and on where we have been over the last number of years. That is a story of expansion. The school-based therapy service is a further addition to the special schools. For the first time ever, about 90 therapists will be recruited in a comprehensive way for special schools. Additional special education teachers are being appointed. Thousands have been appointed. There has been a dramatic increase in their numbers and in the number of special classes. Thousands of additional classes have been provided over the last number of years. An objective analysis or assessment shows this expansion and this increase in investment. That will continue. Parallel to that, we want to develop supportive services for teachers in mainstream classes, in special classes and in the system more generally.  With regard to special classes, the ratio is well established and has been in place since 1998. It is one teacher and two special needs assistants for a class of six children. That is the ratio in the teaching schedule. That is accepted. On the allocation of SNAs more broadly, schools make submissions to the special educational needs organiser, SENO, and determinations are arrived at. These very often depend on the number of children requiring care and support in the school. Decisions are made and, if schools disagree, they can appeal those decisions. That is the structure. We are bringing in a redeployment scheme to give safety in employment to special needs assistants. A lot of progress has been made in this area compared with where we were ten years ago or even five years ago. That redeployment scheme was well negotiated. It will give the security required. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  The Taoiseach has had four opportunities to answer the core question in relation to this issue this afternoon but he has refused to do so. He has taken the opportunity to deflect at all stages in the four contributions. As anybody involved in education, and particularly in special education, knows, the core question in this whole debate is the criteria that are to be met if a child with special needs is to get the assistance of a special needs assistant. The current criteria are too narrow. They are outdated and primarily based on primary care needs. They do not include children who have social misunderstanding, children with sensory difficulties or children who are on the autistic spectrum or some of the other spectrums. Everybody involved in education knows that is the key question. What we here, the public, parents and special needs assistants want to know is whether those criteria will be used and extended into the future. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It is a team-based approach. Special education teachers are recruited----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  Will the criteria be changed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----to deal with the very issues the Deputy has raised. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  Will you answer the question? You are deflecting. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Deputy, I did not interrupt you. I am not deflecting. You are not even listening to the response. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  You are refusing to answer the question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The minute I stood up, you started shouting back at me. Would you listen so we can at least have a courteous exchange of views? Special education----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  Will you respect the TDs in this House by answering the question? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I think that is it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Healy, resume your seat. We will move to the Order of Business. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/dbsect_3","debateType":"orderofBusiness","bill":null,"showAs":"An tOrd Gn\u00f3 - Order of Business","counts":{"speechCount":81,"speakerCount":20},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Denise Mitchell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Geoghegan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Brady","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Mary Butler)  I move:  Tuesday's business shall be:  - Statements on Fishing Quotas (not to exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes)  Tuesday's private members' business shall be the Motion re Special Needs Assistants, selected by Sinn F\u00e9in.  Wednesday's business shall be:  - Statements on Special Needs Assistants (not to exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes)  - Apology related to childhood abuse (hunger strikers): Statements (to commence no earlier than 3.37 p.m. and not to exceed 1 hour and 44 minutes)  - International Protection Bill 2026 (Committee and remaining Stages) (Amendment No. 15, resumed) (to commence no earlier than 6.21 p.m. and to conclude at 11 p.m.)  Wednesday's private members' business shall be the Motion re Expanding Access to General Practitioner Care, selected by Social Democrats.  Thursday's business shall be:  - Statements on Homelessness (not to exceed 3 hours and 32 minutes)  Thursday evening business shall be the Motion re Report entitled \"First Interim Report\" of the Joint Committee on Artificial Intelligence, sponsored by the Committee on Artificial Intelligence.  Proposed Arrangements for this week\u2019s business:  In relation to Tuesday\u2019s business, it is proposed that:  1. notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders:  (a) the time allocated to Government business shall be extended in accordance with the arrangements for that business and the D\u00e1il may sit later than 10.48 p.m.; and  (b) private members\u2019 business shall be taken on the conclusion of the Statements on Fishing Quotas, with consequential effect on the commencement times for the items following in the ordinary routine of business; and  2. the Statements on Fishing Quotas shall not exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply:  (a) the statements, not including the Ministerial response, shall be in accordance with the sequence contained in the table immediately below (to be read across);  (b) following the statements, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes; and  (c) members may share time.          Gov      SF      Lab      Gov      SF       Mins    25    15    10    10    3           SD      Gov      SF      IPTG      Gov       Mins    10    10    3    9    10           SF      ITG      Gov      SF      OM       Mins    3    9    10    3    5                       Total      135 mins       In relation to Wednesday's business, it is proposed that:  1. notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders:  (a) Government business shall commence at the time when the SOS pursuant to Standing Order 25(1) would normally be taken, and the sitting shall stand suspended on conclusion of the Statements regarding an apology related to childhood abuse (hunger strikers) either for 1 hour or until 6.21 p.m. whichever is the later;  (b) in the event that the Statements on Special Needs Assistants conclude before 3.37 p.m., the sitting shall stand suspended until 3.37 p.m. when the order of business shall resume with the Statements regarding an apology related to childhood abuse (hunger strikers)  (c) the time allotted for Government Business shall be extended in accordance with the arrangements for that business and the D\u00e1il may sit later than 9.30 p.m.; and  (d) the weekly division time shall be taken on the conclusion of proceedings on the International Protection Bill 2026;  2. the Statements on Special Needs Assistants shall not exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply:  (a) the statements, not including the Ministerial response, shall be in accordance with the sequence contained in the table immediately below (to be read across);  (b) following the statements, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes; and  (c) members may share time          Gov      SF      Lab      Gov      SF       Mins    25    15    10    10    3           SD      Gov      SF      IPTG      Gov       Mins    10    10    3    9    10           SF      ITG      Gov      SF      OM       Mins    3    9    10    3    5                       Total      135 mins        3. the Statements regarding an apology related to childhood abuse (hunger strikers) shall not exceed 1 hours and 44 minutes and the order of speaking and allocation of time shall be as follows:  (a) statements shall be in accordance with the sequence contained in the table immediately below (to be read across); and  (b) members may share time; and          Gov      SF      Lab      Gov      SF       Mins    20    10    8    8    3           SD      Gov      SF      IPTG      Gov       Mins    8    8    3    6    8           SF      ITG      Gov      OM           Mins    3    6    8    5                           Total      104 mins       4. the resumed proceedings on Committee Stage of the International Protection Bill 2026 shall be taken no earlier than 6.21 p.m. and the proceedings thereon shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 11 p.m. by one question which shall be put from the Chair and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration.  In relation to Thursday's business, it is proposed that:  1. notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, topical issues may be taken earlier than 7.24 p.m. with consequential effect on the commencement time for the Motion re Report entitled \u201cFirst Interim Report\u201d of the Joint Committee on Artificial Intelligence, Committee on Artificial Intelligence, and on the time for the adjournment of the D\u00e1il; and  2. the Statements on Homelessness shall not exceed 3 hours and 32 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply:  (a) the statements, not including the Ministerial response, shall be in accordance with the sequence contained in the table immediately below (to be read across);  (b) following the statements, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes; and  (c) members may share time.          Gov      SF      Lab      Gov      SF       Mins    35    25    15    15    5           SD      Gov      SF      IPTG      Gov       Mins    15    15    5    12    15           SF      ITG      Gov      SF      OM       Mins    5    15    15    5    8                       Total      202 mins      "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Are the proposed arrangements for this week's business agreed to? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Not agreed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  We will take Deputy Mitchell first. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Denise Mitchell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Denise Mitchell  I thank the Ceann Comhairle.  We need a debate on the review into CAMHS in North Kerry. This is a deeply concerning issue that highlights serious failures relating to the care of children and young people. The lives of young people and their families have been turned upside down due to the failures of the service. We need a debate on this topic as a matter of urgency. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  We are long overdue a debate on football in this country, not because of what happened in Oriel Park on Friday night, which, I trust, the league and the clubs will be able to handle, but because of the vengeful, over-the-top collective punishment response from the Minister, Deputy Patrick O'Donovan to that issue----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  -----which portrayed an anti-football bias in the Minister that I hope is not reflected in the Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  We need a debate on it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  Considering the level of upset, uncertainty and worry the SNA cuts have caused, and the screeching U-turn that was made very late last night when most education workers were asleep, this matter needs to be on the agenda in the form of a debate as opposed to just statements. It is important that the Ministers responsible give a clear outline of the plans relating to what happened in the past week in order to make sure that trust is replaced and that we can have plans going forward that do not make people uncertain. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  In the aftermath of 75,000 people have been slaughtered by Israel in a genocidal massacre and the so-called ceasefire, hundreds of people, including more than 100 children, have been killed and the ethnic cleansing of Palestinian territories continues. The Government has reneged on its commitment to bring the occupied territories Bill before the House and pass it into law, and impose sanctions on the regime that is committing these crimes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call Deputy Michael Collins. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  When are we going to see the Bill? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  Over the past four weeks, I have been looking for a debate on short-term lets. I have also been asking the Minister, Deputy Peter Burke, to come here for a question-and-answer session. People from that sector are meeting today in a packed room across the road in Buswells. They know that what is proposed is going to lead to the ruination of short-term tourism in this country. The Taoiseach keeps nodding and saying \"No\", but if the Government brings in planning into this, it is going to finish those involved. They know that. The Taoiseach should go across the road and talk to them. They are not going to eat him; they are going to talk to him. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank Deputy Collins. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  I would like a debate on this issue here today. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Are the proposed arrangements for this week's business agreed to? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  I will respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Excuse me. I call on the Chief Whip to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  I have noted all the comments from the various Whips. I will facilitate an urgent debate in relation to CAMHS. I was in Kerry on Thursday and Friday of last week. I felt it was important to respond to the parents first. We will put that on the agenda for next week.  In relation to the other requests for debates, this week we are facilitating statements on fisheries and homelessness, which were sought two or three weeks ago. We can give consideration to all the requests that have been made at the Business Committee on Thursday, like we do every Thursday but, unfortunately, no matter what is put on the agenda, it is never agreed.  In relation to SNAs, there is a Private Members' motion this evening and the Minister will take statements in the D\u00e1il tomorrow. There is also a Private Members' motion before the Seanad. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  What about the occupied territories Bill? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  I responded to that at the Business Committee last Thursday. The Order of Business stands. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Are the proposed arrangements for this week's business agreed to? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  No. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Before we move on, I hope the Taoiseach will allow me to welcome a group of retired gentlemen from Killinick, County Wexford, who are here just for the history of politics. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The history of what? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The history of politics. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  How long have they got? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  They are here for the afternoon. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Rents across the State have risen above \u20ac2,000 per month for the first time ever according to the Daft.ie report published this morning. The biggest increases are in the four major cities outside Dublin. The cost of rent has risen by \u20ac168 per month in the Taoiseach's city of Cork. In Galway, rents are up \u20ac164 per month. In Waterford, they are up \u20ac163 per month. In Limerick, they are up \u20ac82 per month. Rip-off rents have almost doubled since Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael formed their partnership a decade ago. The availability of homes to rent has collapsed to its lowest level in 20 years. To make things even worse, the Government\u2019s rent-hike legislation will kick in from Sunday next. This will open the floodgates and allow big property funds to hit renters with massive increases never seen before. That is obviously going to devastate the lives of renters right across the State. Can the Taoiseach answer a straight question? How on earth does the Government expect renters to afford these massive rent hikes, which mean, as stated, that rents have risen above \u20ac2,000 per month, not to mention what is about to come as a result of his policy decisions? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I accept that the price of rent puts a lot of pressure on people, particularly young people, and that is why we are working very hard to increase supply. There were 36,000 house completions last year. The most effective way to deal with rent prices and moderating them is by means of supply.  The Deputy knows that but what is Sinn F\u00e9in's response? It is to oppose housing applications and to oppose apartment construction. Its leader has now opposed the most recent development in her constituency, of hundreds of apartments. If you add it all up, she now has a fairly unenviable record----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  The Taoiseach should talk to his brother. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  No, it does not work like that, Deputy Doherty. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----of opposing, opposing, opposing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  How many has he opposed in Cork? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The only way we can deal with rent is supply. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Rents of \u20ac2,000 a month. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  Every day reveals more about the true horror of Jeffrey Epstein's global ring of paedophilia and blackmail. The fallout continues. Yesterday Peter Mandelson was arrested and last week the former Prince Andrew was arrested. On Friday night, on \"The Late Late Show\", we heard the incredible testimony of Lisa Phillips, a survivor of Epstein. Lisa spoke out with great courage to expose the extraordinary power wielded by this brutal abuser. I had the honour of meeting Lisa myself in Dublin last week. I heard directly from her about her appalling experiences of Epstein's corrupt and depraved network. Now is the time for Ireland to take a lead in support of brave victims and survivors like Lisa. We know Epstein visited here. We urgently need release of all files related to Epstein's interests and activities in Ireland. We need to put pressure on the British Government to release all its relevant files too. As the Taoiseach of a country which stands up for the rights of women and children, will the Taoiseach commit to acting proactively on this in the interests of the survivors of Epstein? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I salute the bravery and courage of Lisa Phillips in taking on what was a very corrupt and depraved network, as the Deputy has said. I am not clear on the files the Deputy is talking about. My understanding is that the Government does not hold any files in respect of Epstein, although I stand to be corrected on that, so we need to be more specific in terms----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  We have parliamentary questions in. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I know there was an allegation in the Epstein files in respect of a young woman being brought to Ireland but I have no knowledge of that. I have asked the Department of justice if it has any. It does not but the Garda, which is ultimately responsible for the investigation of any allegations, says it will investigate all complaints received and all allegations of serious crime, particularly, of course, sexual offences, child abuse and human trafficking. They are treated with the utmost seriousness. I encourage anyone who has any information and anyone who has been a victim of sexual violence to reach out for help and to engage with An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  Successive Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael Governments have been talking about reforming GP services for years but have failed to deliver. The Government's strategic review of GP services, first promised in 2019, still has not been completed. During that time GP fees have risen to as high as \u20ac90 in some areas, and that is just to get in the door. Price, however, is not the only barrier. An increasing number of GP practices are oversubscribed and understaffed. We know there are no quick fixes. That is why the Social Democrats are proposing a comprehensive 20-point plan, which will be debated in the D\u00e1il tomorrow. The proposals include GPs directly employed by the HSE, because not every GP wants to be a small business owner; a new DEIS-for-GPs scheme, in recognition of the higher health needs of patients in deprived areas; implementing the programme for Government commitment to expand GP care to under-12s; and, crucially, setting out a clear timeline for delivering universal GP care to everybody by 2030. These proposals are not radical; they are the European norm. Will the Government do more than talk about reform of GP services? Will it deliver it, and will it start by supporting our 20-point plan to transform GP services? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I do not accept the premise of the Deputy's argument insofar as we have been expanding access to GP care year after year over the past number of years, particularly over the past five to six years, and before then, in terms of access for children, access for those on median incomes and so forth. There has been expansion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  To under-eights. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Also, probably one of the biggest transformations in the past two decades has been the move to primary care centres, which did take some time in the late 2000s to get going. They had been earmarked in an earlier strategy in 2001 but we have now invested very significantly in those primary care centres. The strategic review will be published, I understand, before this summer. It will outline further the policy framework and the direction of travel in respect of GP care, as regards both recruitment and directly publicly recruited GPs, as well as an expansion of access to GPs. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  School communities and the organisers of the protest outside the D\u00e1il tomorrow over the Government's threatened SNA cuts want the Taoiseach to know, and for it to be known, that those protests will be going ahead in many places across the country. Although it is clear that protests and the threatened escalation of those protests have forced the Government to do a U-turn on the planned cuts to SNAs, the principal of my former primary school, Johnstown national school where some of the most severe cuts were proposed, told me this morning that although the school is delighted the Government has backed off on these cuts, she has no real assurance that they will not be back there again next year. That is the feeling out there. Nothing the Taoiseach has said to date gives people the assurance that he has understood the problem that led to these threatened protests in the first place, and that he is going to make sure they will not be there again next year. What does he have to say to reassure them? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I said already during Leaders' Questions there will not be any reductions in special needs assistants in our schools in the school year beginning in September 2026. There will be increases, but there will not be any reductions in our schools. There will be well over 25,000 special needs assistants, which will be an increase of 8,700 since 2020. That is expansion. We will then have the redeployment scheme. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  It is still well short of need. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Workforce planning will be published and a new circular in response to that, which will give the template. No one has ever suggested to me that you have the same number forever in any given school. It depends on the need of the school at a given time in terms of the number of children it has who require supports and care. That has always been the case. The Deputy and everyone in the Opposition seems to be now suggesting there should never be any evolution. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Need is going up, not down. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Boyd Barrett, this debate does not work back and forth. Deputies get a minute each to speak. I respectfully ask them not to interrupt one another. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  I welcome members of Kinsale Men's Shed who are with us today. I also welcome those in the Gallery involved in short-term lets who are fighting for their very survival and were in Buswells Hotel earlier today. The people of Ireland, mainly in coastal communities, are genuinely worried about what the Government is about to do with these short-term letting proposals. In places like west Cork, from Kinsale to Castletownbere, Airbnb and short-term let hosts are ordinary families, mainly small farmers and women trying to keep the lights on. They are terrified that these new rules will wipe out Airbnb and short-term lets altogether and, with it, the tourism that keeps our small towns alive. The legislation proposes to ask people to get planning permission. For many of them, that could cost tens of thousands of euro, which they simply cannot afford. I also sat in the committee meeting with officials from the Departments of tourism and planning on the short-term letting and tourism Bill. I say it straight. They are all over the place. There is no joined-up thinking with regard to the planning aspect of this Bill. These short-term lets, whether tree houses, pods, sheds, granny flat or tents, were built for tourism and tourism only----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I ask the Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  They are what keeps rural Ireland going. Rural Ireland has taken enough hits. Will the Government step back from this? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I welcome the Kinsale Men's Shed. The Men's Sheds are wonderful organisations across the country generally. I also welcome the history of politics group from Wexford. It is a discipline close to my own heart, as both a student and a practitioner.  On the short-term lets situation, I have watched the odd Facebook presentation from Deputy Collins. He is having meetings up and down and is enjoying himself to a certain extent. The legislation is not requesting anyone to have planning permission. The Deputy knows this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  The Minister said different today. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  He has a duty to tell the truth about these matters. I am willing to engage. The Attorney General is clear that from the get-go, from the beginning, if you move from residential to commercial activity, that de facto requires planning permission. There are certain rules that if you are at it a long time, you do not. That is the existing planning status. That is nothing new. No one is creating something new. That is the position. You can register and the idea will be----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Taoiseach. I call Deputy Malcolm Byrne. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----that when the Government brings its proposals you can register without planning permission----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Time is up, Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----but there will be an expectation that, over time, you would regularise your planning. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  In two years, it will be game over. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  I welcome the publication last week of the Government's AI and digitalisation strategy, which balances supporting innovation with maintaining trust and having the necessary guardrails in place. The executive chair of Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n was before the Oireachtas AI committee today and he said that tougher laws are needed on AI-generated sexual imagery and further laws are needed on the misuse of intimate and other imagery of real people without their consent.  I would ask that this would be a priority as part of our EU Presidency. The Taoiseach will also aware that I have a Bill before this House around the protection of voice and image. Our voice image likeness is vital. The Taoiseach will be aware of financial fraud where indeed his own image was misused to do that. We do need stronger legislation in this regard and I ask the Taoiseach to either fast track my Bill or introduce legislation in this regard. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for producing that Bill. I want to engage with him regarding how I can fast track it. It might matter for the House to be of assistance in that regard. In terms of tougher laws on the generation of images, the Attorney General and the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration are examining that issue. We do have very strong laws preventing the sharing of intimate images and very strong laws in terms of child abuse online. There is no equivocation there. The generation of an image is a complex matter because an image can be generated online or offline in various contexts - what one might presume would be an intimate imagine. I am not going go into the particular fields where that can happen. It is the sharing of the image that is the crime at the moment but they are examining it. I know that on the generation side Britain has introduced it but has not commenced it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Geoghegan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Geoghegan  I am sure the Taoiseach shares my condemnation of the violent assault that took place in Temple Bar, which I know is before the courts so I will not comment on it any further. What we do know is that safety continues to be an ongoing issue in Dublin city, particularly as it relates to retail workers. Obviously, it is not just an issue in Dublin but is nationwide. Over 300,000 people work in retail in Ireland. One of the big asks of the retail sector is that we would introduce specific offences dealing with retail workers who are harassed or face threats. I know this is an issue that has been debated in the Seanad and that my colleague, Deputy Butterly, intends to publish a Private Members' Bill on it but could the Taoiseach update the House on how this is being examined by the Government and whether the Government is considering progressing this as an issue because the time has come for us to have a specific offence dealing with retail workers and assaults and threats of assault against them in the same way that we introduced hate legislation and harm in respect of hate legislation? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I will raise the issue with the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, although there are offences and they are well provided for - any assault on any person. It gets a bit complicated if we start categorising. We have specifics for emergency care workers, bus workers and transport generally. The attack in Temple Bar was appalling. The issue is the behaviour of the individuals who do this sort of thing. We have to look at sentencing and we need to be very clear that the criminal justice system is in a position to apprehend those responsible for such violent acts and to put them away for a decent amount of time. Deterrence is required here because far too casually, people are using violence to carry out terrible deeds that kill people or create very severe impacts for and inflict very severe damage to people for the rest of their lives. These are life-altering injuries in some cases and it is reprehensible. I will talk to the Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Brady","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Brady  Last week, the Government decided to cut the 2026 funding to Wicklow County Council for regional and local roads - a cut of over \u20ac300,000 when our roads are already deteriorating. It is unacceptable. Recent storms and bad weather have made a bad situation worse not just in Wicklow but right across the State. Potholes have multiplied and surfaces are crumbling. I have been contacted by many constituents facing costly repairs for blown-out tires, damaged suspension and cracked alloys. One motorist had his drive shaft broken because of the condition of Wicklow's roads. This is a road safety issue that is costing motorists and putting their safety at risk. Wicklow's population has grown and traffic volumes are rising. Wicklow County Council says it simply does not have sufficient funding to address the severity of the condition of the roads in Wicklow. The Government should be increasing the funding allocation not cutting it at this time. Will the Government commit to reversing the \u20ac300,000 cut and increase the funding to address the issue in Wicklow? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Wicklow got about \u20ac14.9 million, which is a very substantial amount. In terms of the storm damage, we have told the county councils to continue and work away at fixing those roads. Estimates are coming in from the councils separate from their normal road budget, although there are contingencies built into their normal allocation. Nonetheless we do accept that under Storm \u00c9owyn there were particular impacts, so the Department of Transport is working with county councils, including the Deputy's county council, regarding the estimation of the damage done to the roads as a result of the recent flooding in particular. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere  Today, five brave young people - David McInerney and Emily Felix from Kilkenny, Eric Fitzgerald from Mayo, Niamh N\u00ed Hoireabhaird from Kildare and Ois\u00edn Pollard from Carlow - and their families attended the AV room to raise awareness around the rare disease, Friedreich's Ataxia. These five young people all suffer from Friedreich's Ataxia and they need the Government's help with regard to approving funding for the drug Skyclarys, which will make a huge difference to their lives. Today, their parents said, \"Our kids don't have the luxury of time.\" They said, \"Don't let the cost of this drug be the price of the lives of our sons and daughters.\" Young inspirational Emily Felix from Kilkenny, who is studying to become a solicitor, said that she had to record her voice on to an app so when her voice is gone, her family will remember what it sounded like. I am asking the Taoiseach and the Minister for Health to help these people and to urge the HSE to approve the funding for Skyclarys drug. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Health (Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill)  I was very pleased to meet with Eric, Emily, Niamh, David and Ois\u00edn. I thank the Deputy for bringing them in. I have already followed up on the different physiotherapy and other supports that should be due to them and to get an assessment of what they should be getting and what they are getting. With regard to the drug, we have a series of different drugs that are coming on stream. The Taoiseach and I have discussed the increasing the drugs budget. We are very aware of how much we are already spending on that, how much we want to provide and where we need to go with that. Crucially, with regard to one of their asks, we are shortening the process for the assessment of the reimbursement process, which is going to be 180 days. We do recognise the very considerable the impact that many of these drugs - without speaking to any one of them in particular - would have on people's lives and the cost of that to the State. Reconciling that is something the Taoiseach and I are very aware of. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Miche\u00e1l Carrigy  I raise the issue of Garda numbers in Longford. Of the past three attestations coming out of Templemore, we have been lucky to receive one probationary Garda in our county. Over the past number of months, we have actually lost nine members between retirement, resignation and those transferring to other units. While a number have transferred in, we are still down numbers. We are looking to make sure we are brought up to the same cohort and the same level of service and support as in any other part of the country. Could the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration contact the Garda Commissioner to highlight this imbalance in our area? We have had a number of issues in our local towns that have appeared in the national media, so we want to make sure we are able to support the very good work that is being done by the garda\u00ed on the ground in Longford. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for his commentary. It is a sign of the high esteem in which An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na is held in this country that every part of the country is looking for more garda\u00ed but I know it is also to have greater security and safety. The new Commissioner is very clear on the importance of the visibility of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na on our streets. It will get there. The through-put in Templemore is very good, with increased numbers all the time. There is a clear commitment in the programme for Government of up to 5,000 additional garda\u00ed over the lifetime of this Government. A total of 223 trainees entered in November, which was the largest intake since 2014, and it was similar in the last one, so about 617 have come through in 2025 alone. That is manifest in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Waterford. I take the Deputy's point. About 94 members of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na are assigned to stations in Longford, which is an increase of 8% since the end of 2016 when there were 87 members. We will focus and I will talk to the Minister and the Commissioner. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  The programme for Government commits to the timely delivery of school projects. St. Fintan's National School in Mountrath, which is my former national school, has been waiting for a badly needed ASD classroom, sensory room and general purpose hall.  The school and the staff are doing everything possible to utilise the existing space, for example, sub-dividing rooms, etc. The 123 pupils and the two ASD classes do not have enough and are going to be under further pressure in September. The extension works that were to be delivered by the Department of Education and Youth - this was first committed to more than seven years ago - were then to be delivered by way of a modular one under the framework agreement the Taoiseach and I are familiar with. However, this was changed in more recent years to a devolved project and was given to the school to lead. It is long past time for this project to be moved on. The principal and staff are very concerned about it. The project - and I checked this again the other day - is only at stage 1A. Will the Taoiseach implore the Minister for Education and Youth to move on St. Fintan's school in Mountrath? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. Obviously, I cannot deal with every school extension and so on. However, I will raise this with the Minister. There is, again, record funding for school buildings this year, with a particular focus on school extensions for special classes and special education. I will see what we can do in this case. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  I raise primary care centres in my constituency. The Taoiseach is aware that Swords has waited for a primary care centre for many years. It is the third largest town in Ireland. After years of campaigning, we finally got news the HSE acquired the Hertz building, which is to be converted to a primary care centre. I ask for an update to be given on when a planning application will be going in for the change of use, and that a firm commitment be given that progress will be happening this year.  Furthermore, I ask the Government to make a U-turn when it comes to its abandoning of plans for a primary care centre in Donabate. Donabate has seen astronomical expansion due to huge house building with a population of approximately 20,000 is expected there in the next couple of years. It currently only has two GP practices. The Government previously acknowledged that there was a need for a primary care centre in Donabate and Portrane, and I ask it to revisit that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  In relation to Swords, I am pleased to announce today \u20ac1.4 million in the HSE capital plan to take the premises the Deputy referenced to design feasibility stage, which is positive progress. In relation to a primary care centre in Donabate, we have had to look at other options for delivering it because the tender did not work; it was not value for money for the State to progress with the tender that came into us. We are trying to see what other options are possible to cater for that growing population.  Today, I am announcing a total of approximately \u20ac25 million investment for Beaumont Hospital, which is of course relevant to the people off the Deputy\u2019s area. I will keep him up-to-date in relation to Donabate and what options are possible. That was not an appropriate price for the State for that project but we will do everything we can to progress it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  I want to speak with the Taoiseach about SNAs. I know he has been very involved with SNAs and everything to do with education, and I have praised his efforts in the past and will continue to do that because it is really important that we build bridges in this Chamber and work together. Earlier, the Taoiseach offered to work with Opposition. As he knows, tomorrow there are going to be protests throughout the country, and one thing the people from that campaign are asking for is that the Ministers facilitate a meeting with all stakeholders, that is, unions, SNAs, parents, and advocacy groups. Will the Taoiseach be able to facilitate that? Will he work with the Opposition to do that?  In 2019, SNAs launched a Respect for SNAs campaign because they did not feel valued. We have seen because of the outcry from the public that they are very valued. This side of the House also values them but we need to demonstrate that and work together to do that. Will the Taoiseach be able to facilitate that meeting? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  To be fair, the Minister, Deputy Naughton, who was the Minister of State with responsibility for special education in the previous Government, would be more than willing to meet with the various groups. The Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, has been travelling the length and breadth of the country meeting with parents, schools and stakeholders in respect of these issues and continues to engage with both the NCSE and the schools. I will raise this issue with the Minister.  There has been extensive consultation with the unions in respect of the redeployment scheme. That was brought, more or less, to a conclusion. That should be issued fairly quickly. The workforce planning document is nearing completion. There is the new circular as well, which builds on the 2014 circular and has changes included. All of that will have to be published and discussed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charles Ward  The HSE health regions were established to improve hospital and community healthcare services, empower local decision-making and support population-based service planning. I support this completely but I am concerned about the centralisation this may cause within the regions themselves. The north-west region often has to compete and fight over the same limited resources as we did during the hospital hub situation. Letterkenny desperately needs a diabetes integrated practice unit. Donegal, under the criteria, warrants its own paediatric endocrinologist - a full team in Letterkenny. Sharing resources with Sligo is not sufficient. Both counties have service demands and their staffing shortages are demographically different.  The Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, recognised this and the individual consideration for each county when establishing surgical hubs. Will the Taoiseach please ensure diabetes care in Donegal will be given the same separate and equal consideration? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  The Deputy is right. What we did in Letterkenny and Sligo was additional, and not instead of. It was not a regional spread but it was additional. That is very important.  In relation to diabetes, the Deputy is right that there is a very good hub, the Benbulbin hub in Sligo, dealing with diabetes, respiratory and cardiology. What we want to see is that replicated in other parts of the country, such as Letterkenny. That is what we are trying to do. The Deputy will be aware that Letterkenny has the very excellent virtual community care centre in the Errigal hub, which provides countrywide leading services for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD, and other respiratory illnesses. There is a clear opportunity to build on that in the Errigal hub, which is an excellent facility across the road from Letterkenny University Hospital. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"An tOrd Gn\u00f3 - Order of Business"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/dbsect_8","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2023\/28","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2023\/28\/dail\/motion\/referral","houseCode":"dail","stage":"motion","isBillStage":false,"showAs":"Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill 2023: Referral to Select Committee [Private Members] (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill 2023: Referral to Select Committee [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Brady","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Brady","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Brady  I move:  That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform, Digitilisation, and Taoiseach pursuant Standing Orders 103(2)(b) and 184(a). "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill 2023: Referral to Select Committee [Private Members]"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/dbsect_9","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna - Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna - Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/dbsect_10","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Cabinet Committees","counts":{"speechCount":63,"speakerCount":18},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/dbsect_9","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","showAs":"Ceisteanna - Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_10","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Cahill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Geoghegan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_10.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I propose to take Questions No. 1 to 18, inclusive, together.  The Cabinet committee oversees implementation of the programme for Government commitments in relation to health, receives detailed reports on identified policy areas, and considers health reforms, including Sl\u00e1intecare, the reform of public health and health system preparedness for future health threats. It also receives reports in relation to programme for Government commitments in the areas of mental health and drugs policy. It is attended by the Minister for Finance, the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and the Minister for Health.  As for Sl\u00e1intecare 2025+, our latest Sl\u00e1intecare strategy published in May of 2025, it aims to forge the way towards accessible, affordable, high-quality healthcare for the people of Ireland when and where they need it. The waiting time action plan 2026 published on 30 January, represents Government\u2019s continued commitment to improving access to hospital care.  Since commencement of the multi-annual action plan approach, significant progress has been made in reducing the length of time hospital patients are waiting. The new regional structures within the HSE have been established with the six new health regions and 20 integrated healthcare areas. Health and social care services are planned and delivered around the specific needs of local populations, leading to better co-ordination of care and access to services. Capacity in emergency services is continually reviewed. There has been an increase in the number of public-only consultants in emergency medicine and more senior staff are rostered in emergency departments during weekends and public holidays for better decision-making. The workforce will continue to grow through the recruitment of key roles, retention measures and additional college places for key disciplines.  Care is being delivered closer to home in 180 primary care centres through 96 community health networks, 27 community specialist teams for older persons, and 26 community specialist teams for chronic diseases, all now operational. There are 23 community intervention teams which are operational, with national coverage secured. A new era of innovation and digital transformation is under way.  The national patient app has been rolled out. The national shared care record will be developed throughout the year and the electronic health record, recently agreed by Government, will also be progressed.  Additional projects that are key to the increased digitalisation of the health service include a national system for electronic prescribing, remote health monitoring and virtual care solutions. In mental health, workforce and infrastructure in community-based services will be further supported. Budget 2026 sees increase in funding for mental health services for the sixth year in a row, bringing the budget to almost \u20ac1.6 billion, an increase of 50% since 2020.  The findings of the report on the review into child and adolescent and mental health services, CAMHS, in north Kerry are deeply concerning and unacceptable. Government's main focus has to be on the children, young people and families who have been impacted by this report. A public apology has also been issued by the HSE, including in letters to impacted families. A dedicated helpline and access to the clinical liaison support team remains open to all those affected. HSE South West intends to carry out a clinical review of files of young people who have accessed north Kerry CAMHS over a defined period and details of this further phase will be developed shortly. It is important to note that the issues raised by this report and more broadly by the 2022 Maskey report continue to be the focus of significant reform and service improvements in youth mental health services in this country.  Much has changed since 2022. North Kerry CAMHS has introduced new standard operating procedures, care planning policies, file systems and prescribing guidelines. The two Kerry CAMHS teams in place today have a significantly increased multidisciplinary clinical staff complement, higher than any of the other eight CAMHS teams in the region. Over the past three years, an additional \u20ac44 million, which is an increase of 32%, has been allocated to support CAMHS to increase core staffing, reduce waiting lists and expand CAMHS hubs to improve crisis cover for services. In budget 2026, funding has been allocated to develop a new CAMHS emergency liaison service, increase out-of-hours on-call, and to establish a new CAMHS eating disorder team and two new CAMHS mental health with intellectual disability teams.  Government recognises that recruitment is challenging. There is no denying that; however, progress is being made. Investment in national clinical programmes and models of care have led to significant service improvements, including the full implementation of a specialist perinatal mental health network and the ongoing expansion of specialist mental health teams for eating disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, ADHD, in adults and dual diagnosis.  In older people's services, older people will be further supported to live at home within their own communities and we will also strengthen the nursing home sector. The work of the independent commission on care for older people is currently under way and the national policy on adult safeguarding for the health and social care sector, a programme for Government commitment, was launched in December.  In disability, budget 2026 allocated a record \u20ac3.8 billion to the HSE for the provision of specialist disability services. This 20% year-on-year increase will provide permanent and dedicated funding to essential disability services, including residential respite and therapy services, ensuring that disabled people continue to be supported. All these commitments build on the investment and reforms undertaken over the past number of years, including the delivery of approximately 1,480 acute beds; an increased workforce of approximately 32,000 since 2020; more affordable healthcare through reductions in the drug payment scheme threshold to \u20ac80; removal of hospital inpatient charges; extension of the eligibility for free GP cards for all children under eight and to all earning no more than the median income; State-funded in vitro fertilisation, IVF; free contraception for women aged 17 to 35; and free access to hormone replacement therapies, HRT.  The Government will continue to invest in reform, changing the way health services deliver this year and into the future. The HSE capital plan 2026 and the HSE digital for care plan were approved by Government this morning. Funding of \u20ac1.54 billion has been made available to the HSE in 2026 for health capital expenditure. Building and equipment projects include surgical hubs, elective treatment centres, the National Children\u2019s Hospital Ireland and the National Maternity Hospital. Transformative digital projects include the HSE's health app, the national shared care record and the development of the national electronic health record. Disability capital projects include residential, respite and day services. In addition, in 2026, \u20ac43 million has been provided to support specialist community-based disability services, representing a \u20ac16 million increase in funding on 2025. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank the Taoiseach. As there has been a precedent set to diverge from Standing Orders on Taoiseach's Questions and there was no change at the Standing Order Committee, I propose that I will take the 18 Deputies, or those present, for a minute each, and the Taoiseach will respond. However, after the Easter session I will revert to Standing Orders at 15 minutes per question in the absence of agreement from the Standing Order D\u00e1il reform committee. We will begin with Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  If we are going to provide for children with special needs, for the mental health of young people and for mental health services generally, we need to rapidly recruit more people with the qualifications necessary to provide assessments and services. We are not doing it. Despite lip service being paid by the Government to the fact that it is, it is not actually doing it. I want to give the Taoiseach a dramatic example. I happen to know somebody who has a masters and a bachelor of arts, BA, in psychology and who applied to UCD to do a doctorate. There were 370 applications for nine places in clinical psychology. Everybody had to have a minimum of a 2.1 in a BA. Most of them had a masters and had experience but only nine got places in clinical psychology. There were 14 places in educational, I think, and a similar number. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call Deputy Paul Murphy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Why are there not more places to allow the people who want to work in areas like psychology and allied health professions----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Boyd Barrett is now in Deputy Murphy's time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  -----to actually get qualified and provide the services we need in our health service? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call Deputy Paul Murphy. We are not going to tolerate that either. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  Over the summer, I met with Kirsty and Barry, who told me a heartbreaking and deeply troubling story about how their son Brody had been treated at Children's Health Ireland, CHI. He was diagnosed with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, DIPG, in May 2024. This is a very aggressive brain tumour that is inoperable. Children are treated as palliative once they are diagnosed. He then had a very invasive and dangerous procedure of a biopsy. As a result of the biopsy, he had a massive brain haemorrhage. His brain swelled to such a degree that the back of his skull had to be effectively cut off. He walked into the operating theatre in full command of the use of all his limbs and so on. After the operation and the biopsy, he could only move one of his eyes and he never learned to walk again. The biopsy was unnecessary. There was no clinical benefit to having the biopsy. The issue is that this is happening widely. We appear to be doing much more biopsies----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call Deputy Liam Quaide. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  -----than other countries with no medical benefit in doing them. Will the Taoiseach examine this? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Liam Quaide  I want to bring the Taoiseach back once again to that cohort of workers who kept the health service going at our moment of deepest crisis in recent years. I refer to housekeeping staff, porters, nurses, healthcare assistants and other clinicians, some of whom contracted Covid at the height of the pandemic and went on to develop a debilitating condition known as long Covid. A small group of those workers was in receipt of special Covid leave with pay until 31 December. They were receiving that payment on the basis that they contracted the virus in high-risk settings and have been unable to return to work since due to disabling post-exertional malaise and a range of other symptoms. That scheme was cut because the Labour Court ruled in June of last year that it could not recommend further extensions until long Covid was classified by Government as an occupational injury for this cohort. The Taoiseach met a group of these workers in Cork around the time of the Labour Court decision. Would he meet them again to hear how they have been impacted by the termination of their special Covid leave with pay? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  A number of survivors of industrial and reformatory schools were on hunger strike last year. There were commitments on behalf of Government to provide health supports. Could the Taoiseach say when those health supports will be in place? Related to that, on the D\u00e1il schedule tomorrow there is, \"Apology related to childhood abuse (hunger strikers) (working title): Statements\". Is that apology going to be for all survivors? Could the Taoiseach be specific in relation to that? Have they been notified of that apology? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere  The oncology unit for St. Luke's Hospital is currently offsite at UPMC, and has been for almost six years. Since the Covid pandemic, it moved there and never moved back. Providing a safe and efficient service to the oncology patients is the most important part of the work in the oncology day ward. St. Luke's Hospital in Kilkenny treats patients from Carlow, Kilkenny and parts of Laois and Tipperary but being offsite for many years has had a number of implications, such as lack of quick access to labs, pharmacy, charts and a resus team in the emergency department.  These are causing delays daily in the unit. Lately, there has been talk of delays for oncology patients getting started on systemic anti-cancer treatment in both Kilkenny and University Hospital Waterford. I note that the UHW oncology day ward had been in UPMC Whitfield for six years and just moved back to UHW two weeks ago. Being off-site impacts the unit through delays in chemotherapy delivery labs and, in turn, impacts capacity in the day ward, and so impacts the patients. We need to get back on-site to St. Luke's to offer a safer and more efficient service.  Over \u20ac1.3 million per annum is paid to UPMC in rent for the oncology unit to be off-site. Surely this money could be put towards a new oncology unit on-site at St. Luke's. Will the Taoiseach prioritise this with the HSE and the hospital management? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Daly  I want to raise an issue in the west and north-west health region, which recorded 1,263 delayed transfers of care in 2025 due specifically to the absence of stepdown and rehabilitation capacity. Against that reality, a ten-bed rehabilitation unit, which was promised to Roscommon University Hospital in 2015 and had progressed to detailed design phase 1, was included in the 2025 capital plan. It has now been omitted again in the 2026 capital plan, having been absent in 2024 despite lobbying by me. This was a practical, deliverable project intended to support patient flow across hospitals in Galway, Roscommon, Mayo, Sligo and Letterkenny. Will the Taoiseach make a statement on the matter? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Cahill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Cahill  A new stand-alone oncology unit for University Hospital Kerry is vital for all cancer patients and their families in Kerry. I impress upon the Taoiseach and the Minister for Health the urgent requirement to have a stand-alone oncology-haematology unit on the grounds of UHK to provide Kerry patients with the dignity, privacy and comfort they deserve during one of the most challenging periods of their lives. The Comfort for Chemo Kerry committee, a wonderful organisation, has already raised over \u20ac1.5 million in funds, and a site has been designated for the purpose within the UHK campus. This project is extremely important for Kerry, and I am anxious that it proceed as soon as possible. The delays only mean an escalation in costs for an already costly undertaking. This vital project would lessen the need for many Kerry patients to travel to hospitals in Cork, Limerick, Dublin and abroad for cancer treatments, many in multiple trips. The temporary oncology unit in UHK could not cope with the more than 5,000 patients treated there last year.  I pay tribute to my great and loyal friend, and director of elections, Brian Sugrue, a wonderful human being, who passed away this morning, in the early hours, after a long battle with illness. Brian had a very special and personal interest in this project. I extend my heartfelt condolences to his wife Maureen, his son John, his daughter Eva and the extended Sugrue and Foley families. I commit to pursuing a new oncology unit for the people of Kerry in Brian's memory. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I have received the following communication:  I am writing as a parent of deaf adults.  I \u2026 am interested in your views.  My daughter and her partner were both born profoundly deaf and rely heavily on their hearing aid to be able to work and communicate their needs.  At present a pair of hearing aids cost 5,800 euro per person and must be replaced every 5-7 years.  While the treatment benefit scheme provides a 1,000 refund per pair, this leaves families like theirs a cost of 4,800 per pair. Simply to access sound. They were refused a medical card on income grounds even though there primary need is audiology care. Means testing does not account for lifelong disabilities with unavoidable costs.  I am asking for your support in:  Reconsidering eligibility for audiology only medical care access or  Developing a non-means tested audiology pathway for congenital deafness.  My daughter and her partner ... work \u2026 They pay a mortgage, childcare and commute daily to Dublin in order to be part of the working community. The main barrier to their inclusion in the workplace is hearing \u2026  We know the issue with the underemployment of those with disabilities in this State. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  The Taoiseach mentioned the HSE capital plan announced earlier. I welcome the \u20ac50 million for the surgical hub adjacent to University Hospital Waterford. However, there is also a need for a new adult mental health unit in Waterford, a multi-storey car park at the regional hospital and a new medical school in South East Technological University, SETU. Unfortunately, plans for a primary care centre in Lismore have been put on hold. I also want to ask the Taoiseach about the need for 24-7 cardiac care, specialist care and emergency care. This is a long-running campaign. The Minister for Health announced last year that the Government was committed to it. Where is it? How long will it take? What is the timescale? What additional staff are needed to scale up to get there? We cannot have announcement after announcement, but still have no sense as to when that will be delivered. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  The Irish State was a real leader when it came to the smoking ban - I know the Taoiseach, Deputy Martin, played a big part - but there are equally concerning issues in relation to other nicotine products. While work is being done on vaping, I want to raise with the Taoiseach the issue of nicotine pouches. I am not sure if the Taoiseach is familiar with them, but teenagers use these little pouches, which they put on their gums. They can pass ten times the amount of nicotine versus a single cigarette - they are really strong. Teenagers can use them in school because no one can spot them under their gums. They are marketed in a similar way to vapes, in really cool packaging, with flavours, and there is essentially no age restriction. They are really concerning.  We need to get ahead of these nicotine technologies. I ask the Taoiseach to look into it. The principals' association has twice requested guidance from the Department of Health on this issue, and I do not think it has been forthcoming. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Is it the principals of schools? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  Yes, the schools want to deal with this themselves. They are looking for guidance from the Department of Health about nicotine pouches specifically, but the legislation also needs to incorporate this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  We know that early intervention is key in a child's development. There is no earlier intervention than a newborn child receiving a developmental assessment from a public health nurse. According to the HSE, a child should receive a developmental assessment at the first visit, at three months, at nine to 11 months, at 21 to 24 months and at 46 to 48 months. In Dublin Mid-West, we have a postcode lottery of access to public health nurses. Only two health centres out of the 12 in Dublin Mid-West are able to offer the full range of developmental checks to newborns and infants. Babies from Adamstown, Deansrath, Palmerstown and Rowlagh are only getting first visits due to a shortage of public health nurses, prompting concerns that there could be a delay in diagnosing certain conditions. Infants from Rathcoole, Newcastle, Saggart, Citywest, Brittas and Fettercairn are not getting developmental checks after three months.  This is not the first time I have raised this issue with the Taoiseach and other Members in this House. When will all the babies and infants in Dublin Mid-West receive these vital developmental checks? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Geoghegan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Geoghegan  I acknowledge the HSE capital plan that was announced today by the Minister, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, and the Government, particularly the investment across all of our tertiary hospitals, but also in primary care. One particular primary care centre in my constituency, which I campaigned on as a councillor, is the Rathmines primary care centre. It is being co-located on a site where Dublin City Council is building age-friendly housing that will be supported by an approved housing body. I emphasise the impact on the community it is located in. I ask that we continue to invest in the roll-out of primary care centres. Terenure is another area that is underinvested in when it comes to primary care. I emphasise the positive impact those centres can have in providing services in the community they are located in, but also in supporting entry into adult hospitals and children's hospitals. We need to continue that investment in primary care. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  Mixed messaging from the Government and the HSE has caused confusion and uncertainty about the future plans for an elective hospital at Merlin Park in Galway. The hospital has been promised for years. It is critical for healthcare in the west of Ireland and for taking pressure off University Hospital Galway, UHG. The people of Galway want immediate and full clarity on whether plans to build an elective hospital at Merlin Park are going ahead, and whether the funding to deliver these plans is in place. They want clarity on why there will not be any beds as part of this development, and if this will limit the number of procedures and treatments that can be carried out at this new elective hospital. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy referred to beds. It is an elective hospital. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  They would be recovery beds. If you have a hip replaced, you need a bed to recover. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  The announcement of almost \u20ac26 million for healthcare disability projects in north Dublin today is very welcome. I have had ongoing engagement with the Government about these priorities at Beaumont Hospital, St. Joseph's Hospital, St. Francis Hospice, St. Michael's House and Chanel College in Coolock. I have consistently highlighted how urgent this investment is for the northside. I really appreciate the constructive approach taken by the Government.  Nonetheless, the reality is that older people and people with disabilities in north Dublin are under serious strain. While this investment is welcome, what people really want to know is when the delivery will be. They want to know when the shovels will be in the ground. Will the Taoiseach commit to following up directly with the Department of Health and the HSE to ensure clear timelines are in place for these projects? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputies for the questions.  We began with Deputy Boyd Barrett in terms of special needs mental health and basically the recruitment issue. Yes, recruitment is the issue. We have allocated resources and what has stymied our endeavour to expand capacity has been actual recruitment itself. In fact, going back over the last two decades, we have increased places fairly significantly in allied healthcare professionals, particularly in the therapists, for example. Of those who graduate, not all go into the health services. Many go elsewhere. Some go abroad, some go into different services. There is an issue there in terms of those additional places that we are creating in third level and have expanded places. Even in Northern Ireland we have procured places from the third level colleges there. There have been challenges in transforming that student cohort into a workforce subsequently. That is just reality. There is no point in nodding your head; that is it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  There are not enough places. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The other key challenge has been clinical placements in terms of people pursuing various disciplines. We are expanding that too. This morning, the Minister received further sanction for additional places in all our third level colleges in respect of medicine and allied healthcare professionals. The Deputy had a specific query in terms of clinical psychology and the short number of places. Again, you cannot overnight turn nine into 25 or 30 because we need lots of capacities downstream to facilitate, both within the college and in terms of clinical placements and so on. I will raise the issue with the Minister for higher education in respect of clinical psychology itself. To a certain extent, if there was that many applying, we should see how best we can use that talent pool for the disciplines because we need more and more people and we need more multidisciplinary teams. Part of the issue with psychiatry was the absence of multidisciplinary teams historically in the mental health arena. I am very open to that and will talk to the Minister in respect of it.  Deputy Murphy raised what I consider to be a horrific story, a very sad story for the family, a very challenging and traumatic diagnosis. For it to be followed by the biopsy and so on - I cannot clinically call that. I presume that was CHI? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  Yes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I am not clear but I would have hoped that there was a multidisciplinary team that would oversee the conduct of biopsies, either recommending them or not recommending them with a view to both the diagnosis and also the trauma on the child and the potential implications, negatively, obviously, as the Deputy has outlined and articulated. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  It was not in this case apparently, because it was a bank holiday. The MD team was skipped, apparently. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I might take that offline with the Deputy and we will see if we can pursue it.  Deputy Quaide raised the issue of long Covid. I would be open to meeting the group again. I did meet with the group last June, as the Deputy said. He knows the narrative in terms of the position in that the Labour Court made a ruling in respect of this. I will again engage with the Ministers responsible. There are complexities around consequentials and so on like that. The healthcare service and the Department of public expenditure are saying that the public service sick leave scheme follows then, which is full pay for three months followed by half pay for three months. I get that the issue is the capacity of people with long Covid to participate in the workforce and the fact that it was, without question in my view, contracted on the hospital site. I do not dispute that. There can be a general argument as to where one contracts Covid, given the prevalence of Covid in society more generally. In the early part of Covid, there was no question that many healthcare professionals contracted it onsite in the hospitals. While one can never be totally definitive on that, it is a fairly plausible scenario that many did, particularly in the earlier phase when we had lockdowns and so on. Particular variants were more infectious than other variants. I will revisit this.  To Deputy O'Rourke, that is tomorrow and it is in respect of the issues. The services are going to be provided. My understanding is that they are available. Obviously there will be a lead-in. There was a list of issues that were raised in the discussions I had with the group. One of those was an apology in respect of the boarded-out and we are going to be faithful to the agreement that we reached. The survivors concerned had been notified in respect of this. We will proceed with that tomorrow.  To Deputy Peter \"Chap\" Cleere, the issue is that it is offsite. Is there a project in place to bring it back onsite or are we at a greenfield situation? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere  We have to wait for it to come back onsite. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Is there a project in the offing? I did not pick up---- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere  We are waiting for the Dolmen Wing as well, which will free up other space. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I could not disagree with what the Deputy is saying. If you are onsite it is more seamless and faster, and better facilitates everybody working together on the situation. I will explore that and see what we can do. It is a good hospital, St. Luke's, with a very good track record in many areas and always was an innovative hospital in terms of how they do things.  To Deputy Martin Daly, I will have to investigate---- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Cahill would be next in rotation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  No, he is not actually; he is after Martin Daly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Excuse me, Taoiseach, you are right. It is wrong here. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I have my notes here. I do take notice. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere  Is that an apology? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  It is wrong here on the paper. Go ahead. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That auld bit of paper does not do you good but I would say it does not lead you astray too much. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  It is your paper. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Deputy Daly raised the issue of the failure to go ahead with a ten-bed rehab unit in Roscommon hospital, and that it was in the capital programme for 2025 and taken out in 2026. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Daly  2015 to 2023, taken out in 2024, back in 2025, off in 2026. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That is crazy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  If all the Deputies do this we will never get home. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It clarifies the issue. I will pursue it. I do not think that should happen. I think we need certainty. If we are putting something into a capital programme in 2025, it should be in there in 2026 if it has not been progressed. I will pursue that with the Minister and with the HSE. Roscommon has proven itself to be a very good hospital for services. I remember the row we had back in 2016 on the emergency department. If we are all honest, once that row was dispensed with, the hospital got on with a whole load of services that have proven of real value to the people of the area and this clearly would be another.  I thank Deputy Cullinane for welcoming the \u20ac50 million for the surgical hub. He followed that up with a list of about four other projects that need to be completed as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  That we were promised. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I appreciate that he will be pursuing and advocating on behalf of them. On the 24-7 cardiac care, I will have to go back with the Minister. The commitment is there. I remember it going through Cabinet last year. We were told by clinicians for a long time and all the expert groups that it could not be done. Now it can be done, following the reviews, and I am determined that we pursue it and fulfil it. There has been progress made in terms of extension of the cover and all that. The commitment has been made and we will pursue that.  I jumped ahead there. Deputy Michael Cahill is saying there needs to be a stand-alone unit for Kerry hospital in Tralee. Again I would support that. I think there is a project in train there, as the Deputy articulated. I will talk to the Minister in respect of that. I want to join with the Deputy in expressing sympathy to the family of Brian Sugrue, who I met myself and knew. He was a very strong advocate for such a unit in Kerry hospital. I know he was a very close friend and confidante of Deputy Cahill. We sympathise with the Deputy too on his loss and the loss in the area.  If Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa could give me an extended note on that case, email it to me or whatever, it is an interesting case. I am very interested in finding out examples of where we are not looking after those in the deaf community or the visually impaired community. These are very serious, lifelong disabilities, to lose your sight or to lose hearing. I think we can do better, particularly on the employment front. It is great that this couple are working. The Deputy is saying that the cost for them for the hearing aid is \u20ac5,800. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  Even with the \u20ac1,000 back it is \u20ac4,800 per person. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I will look at that because I think we should be in a position. Very often the health service is not responsive because it wants to do general approaches to supports but I have often had a view that visually impaired and hearing impaired should be carved out somewhat, particularly where it facilitates employment.  We should really support employment. We do not do that as well as we should. I will pursue the matter Deputy Whitmore raised. Was it health guidance? They should be banned from schools in my view. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  They should. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We have to get tough again on tobacco. In the manifestation of all these new technologies, we are witnessing the revenge of tobacco following the smoking ban and other smoking cessation initiatives. The Public Health (Tobacco) Act 2002 was comprehensive. It was not just about the smoking ban; it was about getting rid of ten-packs and the sale of single cigarettes and putting cigarettes out of sight in shops in order that they were not next to confectionary items or children's sweets. In other words, it came down to denormalising tobacco. Vapes and other products constitute a counter-move aimed at renormalising tobacco.  The health impacts are significant, serious and bad according to health experts. It bewilders me that products of this kind can get on the market without due diligence. We were talking about food and other stuff, and medicine has to go through the FDA and all sorts of other food safety authorities. This stuff gets on shelves very readily. It is doing terrible damage to our young people. The Minister of State, Deputy Murnane O'Connor, is bringing forward legislation to ban the use of vapes for young people under 18 and other measures. We need to re-examine the whole area, because it is creeping back in.  Deputy Geoghegan referred to the primary care centre in Rathmines. He is right; it will have a significant impact on that community. We will continue to invest in primary care centres. As I said earlier, there has been somewhat of a transformation. It took a bit longer than people anticipated in terms of getting the finances right, be it private sector capital or public sector capital or a marriage of the two, but now we have about 180 primary care centres, I think, as I outlined in my opening remarks, plus other forms of community centres and of healthcare. That is something we will continue to do.  I am not clear as to the mixed messages regarding Merlin Park to which Deputy O'Hara referred. My understanding is that the elective unit is going ahead. The Government committed to elective units in Galway and in Cork. They are at various stages. I am keeping a bit of pressure on for both, as well as the two earmarked for Dublin. These are commitments I want to see honoured. The sites are there. They are State owned, which should facilitate the development of the elective hospitals. The idea is to take all of that out of the acute then. It is not to be an acute hospital; it is to be an elective hospital. Not all but much of the work will be day-case procedures.  Deputy Heneghan welcomed a lot. Inevitably, however, when there is a welcome, there is a but. The Deputy wants a timeline - so the narrative goes on. I will follow through on that. We are committed to all of those projects.  I will check with the Minister for Health about the matter raised by Deputy Mark Ward regarding developmental checks in Dublin Mid-West more generally. He said a lot of children are not getting them until many months later. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  Ten out of 12 healthcare centres are not delivering them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I will discuss that with the Minister for Health in order to see what we can do. Developmental checks are very important in terms of early diagnosis. We can prevent a lot if developmental checks are done earlier. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  We will move on to Questions Nos. 19 to 31, inclusive. We are due to finish at 4.12 p.m. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I will go as fast as I can. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  Can we take the reply as read? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  Can we formally take it as read? "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Cabinet Committees"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/dbsect_11","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"British-Irish Co-operation","counts":{"speechCount":27,"speakerCount":10},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/dbsect_9","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","showAs":"Ceisteanna - Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_11","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_11.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 to 31, inclusive, together.  On 5 December, I attended the 44th British-Irish Council summit hosted by the Welsh Government in Hensol in Wales. The theme of the summit was a creative future and unlocking the potential of the creative industries across these island, with a particular focus on the screen sector. I was joined at the plenary by a number of Ministers. The Minister, Deputy McEntee, and I updated council members on latest political developments, including in regard to Ukraine and the Middle East. On the margins of the summit, I had bilateral meetings with United Kingdom Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, Northern Ireland First Minister, Michelle O\u2019Neill, and deputy First Minister, Emma Little-Pengelly, First Minister of Wales, Eluned Morgan, and Chief Minister of the Isle of Man, Alfred Cannan.  British-Irish Council work sector groups are structured around three pillars, namely climate and decarbonisation, culture and heritage and economic and social inclusion, encompassing ten individual work sectors. Ministerial meetings in 2025 included one on transport in Belfast in April, an environmental ministerial in London in May and an early years ministerial in November. An energy work sector ministerial meeting hosted by the UK Government took place in London on 12 February. The meeting was co-chaired by the UK and Scottish Governments. The Minister, Deputy O\u2019Brien, represented the Government at that event.  I look forward to attending the next British-Irish Council summit to be hosted in Guernsey later this year. At the UK-Ireland summit held in Liverpool last year, Prime Minister Keir Starmer and I agreed a wide-ranging programme of new and enhanced strategic co-operation entitled UK-Ireland 2030, to be taken forward by both Governments through to 2030. At our meeting at Chequers in September, the Prime Minister and I discussed progress under UK-Ireland 2030 six months on from the summit. We discussed infrastructure delivery, protection of subsea infrastructure, emergency planning, cultural partnerships and achieving renewable energy targets including across this island, North and South, as areas of shared interest. The next UK-Ireland summit due to be held in Ireland next month will be a key opportunity to take stock of our bilateral relations and to identify areas for greater co-operation to benefit people across these islands.  As we continue preparations for the upcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union, we are committed to working with all concerned to advance European Union-United Kingdom relations as set out in the common understanding agreed last May, recognising, in particular, the benefits that an sanitary and phytosanitary, SPS, agreement will have for businesses and consumers in Northern Ireland. We further welcome the agreement of the EU security and defence partnership. We welcome the joint statement by the European Commission and the UK in December signalling their intention to reach agreement on SPS, emissions trading systems linkage and an EU-UK youth experience scheme by the time of the next EU-UK summit, which is due to be held later this year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  On the question of the UK and Ireland, Prince Andrew - I will still call him Prince Andrew in order to not dissociate him from the royal family - and the former UK ambassador to the US, Peter Mandelson, have been questioned or arrested in relation to the widespread international abusive behaviour linked with Jeffrey Epstein against children and young women or complicity in same. The Prime Minister of the UK could potentially be brought down over this. Does it not raise the issue of how seriously violence against women and children is taken in society when not one man has yet been jailed for the wide-scale abuse revealed in the Epstein files? The Taoiseach has chosen to go ahead with presenting shamrock on St. Patrick's Day and to smile and nod in the Oval Office of the White House at a man who is named in the Epstein files more times than Jesus is named in the Bible. That is the reality, yet there have been no political repercussions in the US whatsoever. The Taoiseach may wonder why I am raising this issue. I am of the view that it should be discussed in every parliament in the world. That is how important it is. Is the Taoiseach going to go ahead and greet----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  The Deputy is taking time from the other speakers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  -----someone who is clearly a paedophile and who has engaged in all sorts of other abusive behaviour he participated in? He is clearly a paedophile. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  I presume the Taoiseach saw the news ten or so days ago about the UK High Court's ruling to the effect that the proscription and banning of Palestine Action as a terror group is unlawful and disproportionate. The court also directed that it should be overturned. It was heartening to see the scenes of many protestors being released from prison. They are heroes. They are not criminals. They are people who have put their bodies on the line to try to stop the war machine responsible for a genocide in Palestine, but there are still many Palestinian activists who are in limbo and in prison. The UK Government has maintained the proscription of Palestine Action and intends to appeal the ruling. In Ireland, many Palestine solidarity activists, including those in Palestine Action, are still being dragged through courts on trumped-up charges. What does the Taoiseach say about the slide into authoritarianism happening across much of the western world, which is driven by attempts to suppress criticism of the genocidal State of Israel, and the use of anti-terror laws? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Erin McGreehan  I would like to ask about this from a cultural point of view. There are a lot of things that we can benefit from that can come out of the British-Irish Council. I see local opportunities, particularly in County Louth, to enhance our Irish language, arts and music between communities. Omeath District Development, for example, has led a project. It is doing incredible work unveiling and celebrating our last Gaelic speakers in north Louth. The last native speaker was Anne O'Hanlon who died in 1960. She was from Lislea in Omeath. We need to celebrate stories like that and celebrate our Irish language. There is an opportunity, particularly when we look at cross-Border co-operation and our history with the flight of the Fadgies from Omeath to west Belfast. There are cultural opportunities that we need to focus on cross-Border and between our two islands. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shane Moynihan  Mar aon leis an Teachta McGreehan, d\u00edreoidh m\u00e9 freisin ar cheist na teanga agus c\u00e9ard is f\u00e9idir linn foghlaim \u00f3n\u00e1r gcomhghleacaithe sa Bhreatain Bheag ach go h\u00e1irithe. I attended a number of engagements in Wales earlier this week where we saw first hand the approach the Welsh Government has taken with regard to growing and nurturing the Welsh language through its education system and different cultural system. What struck me was the sheer multiplicity of approaches that are being taken by the central Welsh Government but also by the local authorities in terms of the immersion in education. They have created a full pipeline - from primary through to secondary through to tertiary - ensuring that people have access to Welsh-language education. I encourage the Taoiseach to think about that in our approach to second level education and that it is not just the aonad model but we have full immersion Gaelchol\u00e1ist\u00ed and an abundance of those, especially in the midlands part of the country as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  It will not come as any shock to the Taoiseach that I believe we need to have a proper engagement with the British Government from a point of view of a Border poll. The Government needs to get real about the possibility of constitutional change and has to prepare for this. That is an absolute necessity. There is a huge level of cross-Border issues that we could deal with now, irrespective of those issues that there are failings on - for example, issues in relation to taxation, in that remote working cannot be done cross-Border at this point in time. It is quite a big issue for a number of people in my constituency and the constituencies that border it. We have people who are being impacted now in relation to social protection payments, for example, if they were in a term-time job and are working in the other jurisdiction. There are a number of these issues. We need to find a means of dealing with them because we cannot just keep talking about them anymore. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  During an interview with TG4 last week, the Taoiseach was recorded as saying that there is not a lot of substance in the current campaign for a referendum on Irish unity. The Taoiseach's dismissive attitude is very disappointing, especially given the hard work that many organisations are currently doing to advance the case for a united Ireland, such as Ireland's Future. Unfortunately, these organisations are doing the job the Government should be doing in terms of actively preparing and planning for Irish unity. When will the Government finally begin to actively promote and work towards a unity referendum on our island? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  On Deputy Coppinger's contribution, the one person who was convicted was Jeffrey Epstein, and rightly so in terms of the horrific crimes he was found guilty of. With others, such as Ghislaine Maxwell, it seems he ran a very depraved criminal network trafficking young women. The law must take its course on that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  Children. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Yes, and children. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  Not young women. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It was young women as well, and children. The Deputy does not have a monopoly of horror on what happened. I will simply say that the law must take its course. There should be thorough and comprehensive investigations before we arrive at conclusions in terms of anyone else named in that. That is what is happening in the United Kingdom, although it is on a different issue in terms of material that emerged in respect of the former Prince Andrew and the former UK ambassador to the US and former Minister, Peter Mandelson, who have been arrested. It is a matter for the police forces to pursue that. In our view, that is what has to happen. There is no doubt that people are shocked about what has been revealed. There are more files to be revealed. The sooner that they are released in a wholly transparent manner the better.  Regarding Deputy Murphy's case, in many ways what that reveals too are the checks and balances within every political system and democracies. The authoritarian governments have been long established. There is increasing authoritarianism. In the United Kingdom, the Supreme Court ruled, so the checks and balances worked at the end of the day. That does not happen in every other country. There is a growth and increase in authoritarianism in countries like Hungary, Russia, Belarus and some African countries including the Sahel, where Russia has intervened and established essentially puppet governments. There have been coups d'\u00e9tat in  these places, getting rid of democratically elected governments. The increase in authoritarianism is a worry.  Deputy McGreehan point was very interesting even though she did not get enough time to elaborate on it. I refer her to a shared island initiative called Shared Home Place. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Erin McGreehan  We have a grant----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  There is an application in for support. That is designed to capture exactly what the Deputy articulated regarding the story of Omeath, the Irish language and the migratory pathway to west Belfast. That would be very interesting. I presume the county council or somebody has submitted this and it can be covered. We will keep an eye out for that. That is exactly what was envisaged by the Shared Home Place initiative out of the shared island initiative.  On Deputy Moynihan's point, the Welsh approach to the rejuvenation of the Welsh language is the gold standard template that we should all endeavour to emulate. We have, as a country, in terms of TG4, which was really inspired by Welsh TV. There is Raidi\u00f3 na Gaeltachta and the other initiatives we have taken. I fully support full immersion Gaelchol\u00e1ist\u00ed but the aonaid have a place too. I do not think it is an either-or all the time. From an educational perspective, there are pluses and merits. In Cork, we have quite a number of full immersion and we have aonaid that have worked extremely well also. There is a strong tradition in our part of the country in the whole Gaelscola\u00edocht area and Gaelchol\u00e1ist\u00ed. It has made a lot of progress.  On Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa's point on taxation and remote working, it is an issue that we discussed recently in the Labour Employer Economic Forum, LEEF, group, which is the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, ICTU, group of unions, IBEC and the Government. We meet regularly on labour market issues but we discussed this. This is an ongoing issue - the taxation treatment of workers North and South - and I am concerned about it. If I am honest, we have not made a whole of progress on it. The Department of Finance is working on it. It is meant to be developing a paper for us. I will pursue that with it. It is a fair point.  On Deputy O'Hara's point, what I said as Gaeilge was that there was a lot more substance in the shared island project than the Sinn F\u00e9in platform. For decades, I have been listening to Sinn F\u00e9in saying that Government must do this and Government must do that. It has not even produced a paper. It has not produced a single paper on its vision other than slogans. The shared island----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  I will get them sent to the Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I am talking to Deputy O'Hara. Deputy Mac Lochlainn did not ask the question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  I will get them to the Taoiseach. He has asked for them now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The shared island initiative is the most substantive initiative in 50 or 60 years in terms of investment in Northern Ireland by a Government in the Republic. Those are facts. I get on with the pragmatic connecting of people in every aspect of life. It is not just about building roads, which we are doing, building bridges, which we are doing with the Narrow Water Bridge, or the Ulster Canal. It is about the investment in research. It is about the investment in Cuilcagh, for example, and geopark. It is about investment in Irish language in terms of different traditions of music. The musical archive has been a wonderful, funded project from the shared island initiative. A lot of people are responding very positively to it, without any prejudice to the constitutional future of the island, which is well laid out----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  The Taoiseach has to deal with the constitutional issue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----in the Good Friday Agreement as how we proceed. Fianna F\u00e1il has always believed in substance on the North. We had a critical role to play----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  What about the preparation for unity? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----in the Good Friday Agreement. Now, we are in a modern era. We are living out the Wolfe Tone ideal of connecting people and reconciliation. That is a very important thing to do. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I skipped a Member in terms of his question. With permission of the House, Deputy Hayes can ask it now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  I thank the Taoiseach for his indulgence on this. The trade between Ireland and the UK is worth about \u20ac100 billion, while our total trade is worth about \u20ac350 billion. The gross value added of our creative industries is about \u20ac8 billion whereas that of the UK's creative industries is \u00a3124 billion. That is a little disproportionate in light of our population. It is no wonder.  I have some concerns about our investment in the arts more generally. The basic income scheme is capped at 2,000 applicants and there are certain restrictions on people reapplying. As the Taoiseach will know, The Complex in Dublin was closed. There are also planning permission conflicts between hotels and nightclubs and the word \"arts\" has been removed from the name of the Department of culture. This can be contrasted with the success of individuals, particularly in the British market. I think of Jessie Buckley, who won a BAFTA, and writers like Sally Rooney, who was unable to receive her Sky Arts Award in person because of her pro-Palestine Action stance. I also think of musicians like Jazzy, Reggie, Damien Rice and Hozier.  At the summit we are talking about, the Taoiseach said he needed to reflect on developments in the wider European and international context that affect all of our jurisdictions. I would like to hear about how the Taoiseach will support creative industries in Ireland to diversify in terms of trade with the UK and other countries and about what we can do with other countries within the British-Irish Council to support creative industries. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Over the past five years, we have invested very significantly in the creative industries and in the arts. This Government will continue to do that. I believe passionately in the arts. The arts have a central and civilising role within society. They create opportunities for analysis, reflection, critical inquiry and diversity. It is wonderful to witness the flowering of talent and ability from generation to generation. A new generation is coming on the scene. It was fantastic to see Jessie Buckley recently being awarded a BAFTA. I also think of the success of Cillian Murphy. I am sorry; I did not mean to knock over Deputy Dooley's notes. It was just a creative flourish. The basic income scheme is a first. It has not happened in every sector but it has happened in the arts sector. Overall, we have constraints but there has been a tremendous flourishing of writers and in the worlds of drama, film and music. We need to maintain, sustain and celebrate that. Britain has always created wonderful opportunities for Irish artists. I hate using the word \"market\" but it provides a very important opportunity for our creative people. It is very often a testing ground before we go further afield. Our relationship with the US is also important as regards the arts. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"British-Irish Co-operation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/dbsect_12","debateType":"statement","bill":null,"showAs":"Fishing Quotas: Statements","counts":{"speechCount":33,"speakerCount":24},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_12","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pat the Cope Gallagher","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pat-the-Cope-Gallagher.D.1981-06-30","memberCode":"Pat-the-Cope-Gallagher.D.1981-06-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Cahill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Mythen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Mythen.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Mythen.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Martin Heydon)  I will share my time with the Minister of State, Deputy Dooley. I thank the Deputies for seeking the opportunity for statements on the fishing quotas for 2026. The Minister of State and I welcome the opportunity to further discuss this important issue and the concerns that continue to affect our fisheries and seafood sector.  The reduced level of quotas available for 2026 has caused considerable concern not only for the fishermen and fisherwomen directly impacted by reduced fishing opportunities, but for the wider seafood sector. Nearly all of the commercial fish stocks for which Ireland holds quota are shared with third countries, predominantly the UK. Only two stocks for which Ireland has quota, the sole and plaice stocks off the west of Ireland, are exclusively EU resources. The EU negotiates with third countries in order to agree on fishing opportunities for shared stocks for the following year. The European Commission has sole competence to negotiate with third countries on behalf of the EU on the setting of fishing opportunities. This is done on the basis of a mandate from the Council. Ireland fully engages in the process of setting this mandate to ensure our priorities and concerns are highlighted with the Commission and with other member states. The conclusions reached in Brussels in December are a culmination of these bilateral, trilateral and multilateral negotiations with third countries.  The scientific advice issued by the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas, ICES, forms the basis for setting total allowable catches, TACs. The outcomes of the 2025 December meeting of the AGRIFISH Council resulted in severely reduced fishing quotas for 2026. This was mainly due to reductions in the scientific advice for key stocks, particularly mackerel. This is in addition to a 41% reduction in blue whiting, a 22% reduction in boarfish and further reductions in nephrops, which are more commonly known as prawns. These reductions were further compounded by Ireland not receiving its Hague preferences. Ireland\u2019s fishing opportunities for 2026 amount to approximately 120,000 tonnes, with an estimated first-sale value of \u20ac205 million across the main pelagic, demersal and nephrops stocks for 2026. This represents a decrease of \u20ac100 million to \u20ac105 million on the estimated value of the 2025 quota. This reduction in fishing opportunities will present ongoing challenges for fleet planning, processing throughput and coastal communities that are highly dependent on specific fisheries.  While the scientific advice is disappointing and, above all, concerning, it is important that we remember that the science is a reflection of what is happening to our stocks. The reduction in the scientific advice for mackerel reflects the impact of overfishing of the mackerel stock by certain third countries. Ireland has long been critical of overfishing by other countries and has been vocal about the inevitable outcome that has now come about with regard to the state of the stock. As recently as yesterday, the Minister of State raised this matter at a meeting of the Council and called for the EU to take a strong position to protect our critical mackerel stock. He has done the same in previous Council meetings.  The 2026 quota outcomes reflect the continued balancing act between maintaining viable fishing opportunities and protecting fish stocks in line with scientific advice under the Common Fisheries Policy. For Ireland, this reinforces the importance of maximising value from available quota and maintaining high standards of quality and market positioning. My Department will continue to provide a range of supports and services to the Irish fleet under Ireland's \u20ac258 million seafood development programme, which is co-funded by the Irish Government and the European Commission under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund 2021-2027. In addition, last week, the Minister of State and I announced the 2026 fishery harbour and coastal infrastructure development fund, which allocates \u20ac27 million for capital projects in Ireland\u2019s publicly owned harbours. This funding will support critical works across the six State-owned fishery harbour centres, improving safety, operational efficiency, environmental performance and climate resilience, thereby ensuring they continue to serve and support our seafood sector and coastal communities.  Notwithstanding these investments, I recognise that our fishing and seafood sector must be additionally supported through this very difficult time. Given the level of the challenge we are facing, a whole-of-government approach is required for an effective response. Along with the Minister of State, Deputy Dooley, I have committed to engaging with colleagues across Government to assess what framework of supports may be available to the seafood sector and to explore options within the constraints of both EU and national Exchequer funding and the relevant EU and national legislation, taking particular account of the constraints imposed by EU state aid rules for the fisheries sector.  To facilitate this cross-governmental approach, the Minister of State and I established a seafood sector group under the auspices of Food Vision 2030. Food Vision 2030 is my Department\u2019s strategy to position Ireland\u2019s agrifood sector as a world leader in sustainable food systems. Our fishermen and fisherwomen and our aquaculture producers are fundamental to delivering on that strategy. While my Department has adopted the strategy, it belongs to all of the stakeholders who engaged in drawing it up at the very start. The establishment of the Food Vision seafood sector group signals the seriousness with which we intend to address the challenges facing our catching sector, both inshore and offshore, our aquaculture operators, our co-operatives and our processing sector. The group will consider the challenges facing all three components of the Irish seafood sector: catch fisheries, aquaculture and seafood processing. It is also tasked with developing a framework of measures to respond to these challenges.  The Food Vision seafood sector group's membership includes industry representatives and relevant Departments and State agencies. Our aim is to draw on the collective experience and expertise of industry stakeholders to identify practical supports and develop a framework of both short- and long-term measures to help the sector navigate these challenges effectively. Solutions to be considered are in areas such as improving competitiveness and efficiency, developing existing market opportunities and considering areas where the sector can innovate. The group, which held its first meeting last week, is chaired by Michael Berkery. Mr. Berkery has been tasked with drafting a chairman\u2019s report by June.  I again thank the Ceann Comhairle's office for facilitating these important debates. I am happy to hand over to the Minister of State, Deputy Dooley. I apologise in advance that I cannot stay for the entirety of the debate due to commitments in the Seanad shortly. I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle's office also for facilitating this important debate. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Timmy Dooley)  I thank the Minister, Deputy Heydon, for his continued support and the full stretch of his Department, in particular, in the area of marine and fisheries.  As the Minister indicated, the most significant element of the reduction in fishing quotas for 2026 is the reduction in the mackerel quota. It has had a very significant impact, not just on the catching sector but also on the processing sector because we control so much of that stock and have developed that fishery over many years. While there are many reasons a fish stock can fluctuate over time, for example, climate change and increasing sea temperatures are impacting on the stock's ability to reproduce, it is clear in the case of mackerel that the years of overfishing caused by third countries setting unilateral, unsustainable quotas is taking its toll on the stock.  In my time in this role, at every opportunity, I have called for action against those countries which overfish mackerel. We must be wider than that. We focus on mackerel but the level of overfishing by third countries is impacting across all species and impacting other countries equally. Given that Ireland holds the largest share of the EU quota for mackerel in the Western Waters area, Ireland's catching and processing sectors are the most exposed to the impacts of reductions in this stock.  On behalf of the Government, I have called for the EU to send a clear message that actions that threaten the sustainability of our shared stocks are not acceptable. I have raised this matter on a number of occasions at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council, including in October and January when I called for urgent EU action needed on the north-east Atlantic pelagic stocks, particularly mackerel.  I have also emphasised the need for unity by way of a concerted EU response, including the option of triggering the unsustainable fishing regulation. Commissioner Kadis advised us at the December Council that measures would be explored by which action can be taken against third countries whose actions have caused such substantial damage to this shared natural resource. I reiterate that it is imperative that we do so. However, it is worth noting that not every member state agrees with the position we take on this. For geopolitical and other reasons, including relationships that exist between other countries in Europe and these third countries, there seems to be some resistance to invoke the unsustainable fishing regulation. It is well past time for that to happen. It has to be used as a methodology of ultimately getting a sharing arrangement that we find acceptable and that operates within scientific limits.  Even since the December Council, where the fishing opportunities for 2026 were adopted, we have seen questionable actions taken by third countries in how we manage the mackerel stock of the north-east Atlantic. In December, Norway, the UK, the Faroe Islands and Iceland agreed on management arrangements for mackerel for 2026 which excluded the EU. By the way, they excluded Greenland as well. EU countries were unaware that they were even attempting to put a deal together. They announced it as a fait accompli . It does not take a genius to figure out that they are not serious about an appropriate sharing arrangement or a recognition of the necessity to conserve the stock for the future of all member states that fish that species.  The ICES headline advice for mackerel for 2026 is 174,357 tonnes, representing a reduction of approximately 70% on the 2025 total allowable catch. This advice figure is based on a 50% probability that the stock will recover to what is referred to as Blim, or biomass limit, in 2027. Blim means the level of spawning stock biomass, in other words, the amount of sexually mature fish in a population, below which recruitment, that is, reproduction, is impaired or the stock dynamics are unknown.  However, the four parties to which I referred - Norway, the UK, the Faroe Islands and Iceland - have based their arrangements on a total allowable catch of almost 300,000 tonnes, which is significantly greater and with less emphasis on conservation. This represents a reduction of 48%, as opposed to the 70% which Europe opted for. This figure is based on an alternative catch scenario given by ICES based on application of the maximum sustainable yield, MSY, rule, ignoring that the stock is below Blim and is based on a 57% probability that the stock will recover to Blim in 2027. I know that is a bit long-winded. It has taken those of us who are involved in this some time to understand the methodologies used in the scientific analysis. It is clear from a casual observation that the approach being taken by the third countries is excluding the science. They are suggesting they are accepting some element of it, but then they do not include Greenland or the EU in the way they have allocated that cohort of stock. It is using a bully-boy approach of grabbing all they can and leave the rest of us to decide whether we want to ignore science or accept it.  The EU has about 20% of the overall catch in the sharing arrangement for mackerel. At a European level, we are minded to follow the science, rightly so. We are trying to be good citizens and work towards conservation. These countries, which control potentially 80% of the catch, are ignoring the headline advice. The question rightly put to us on a regular basis by fishers in Ireland is why we would bother conserving when we are only in control of 20% and the others take a raw abandon approach to the other 80%. Are we, they ask, just saving it for those countries? That is a valid question that is asked every day, and one I continuously put to the Commissioner, as we did again just yesterday in Brussels. What we are trying to do is push the Commission, on behalf of the European Union, into a more energised approach to negotiations. We need to get this matter resolved because our coastal communities are impacted very significantly. It is a source of annoyance when they continue to see open and fair trade with Norway in particular, yet Norway is, to anyone's mind, misbehaving in relation to the conservation of this important stock.  A meeting will be held early next month in Copenhagen between the EU and the third countries under the coastal states arrangement. I am hopeful that we will see some advances there. There will have to be compromise on all sides, but it has to be fair for everybody. That is what most impacts our sector and fishers, men and women. The next round of those coastal states consultations will take place on 5 and 6 March in Copenhagen. If there is a decision or some outcome from that, we expect to see it before the March AGRIFISH Council, which will be held at the end of March. I will continue to highlight that in the coming months.  Yesterday, we raised a point on this issue under \"any other business\", and we got considerable support from a number of countries, in particular Germany, Spain, Portugal, Sweden and Belgium. They joined with us, and then we had positive comments from others, including France, Poland, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Austria and Denmark. Bit by bit, we are building alliances around a recognition of the importance of getting a deal done on a comprehensive sharing arrangement that would transcend the current position.  I hope we can get something that is lasting for the next number of years. When we talk to the scientists in the Marine Institute, it is very clear that they have concerns about the state of mackerel and other stocks. If we could get a comprehensive sharing arrangement over a number of years, we would have the potential then to see some recovery. That would give certainty to the fishing fleets, the processing sector and coastal communities. As the Minister outlined, we saw this right from the start when the fishing industry, the Minister, I and others met with the Taoiseach and T\u00e1naiste back in December. We knew where the scientific advice was going. The Minister was very clear at the time that we needed to put in place a framework of supports to assist the fishing sector in all its guises through that difficult period.  What we have to see with these reduced quotas, which are in line with the scientific advice, is a timeframe for conservation. We need to see it almost in a positive light, but there is nothing positive for the people who do not have fish to catch and process and have to raise their kids.  The work the Minister outlined has begun, with the task force led by Michael Berkery. This is an opportunity for all facets of the sector to bring forward proposals and ideas. Of course, we will not be able to fund all of them and we will never have the quantum of money available to us to meet everybody's needs. This is about having a baseline and sending a signal to the sector that the Government sees the importance of it and is prepared to stand by and support it during the period of stock recovery. There is little point in us investing in that and bringing forward ideas if others outside the Union are effectively going to fish it out anyway. We are on a hiding to nothing if that is the case. The immediate issue is to get that arrangement and relationship back on track and get everybody locked into whatever the number is, whether it is the upper or lower figure, whether it is the MSY, the Blim or the approach we are taking or whether it is 174,000 tonnes or 299,000 tonnes. We have to figure out how to share it among all concerned, get on with it and start the conservation measures that are necessary. That needs to happen.  As the Minister said, the mackerel fishery for us is principally in the first half of the year, probably the first three or four months. As such, we need to know what the total allowable catch is for this year and give that information to our fishers in order that they can plan their activities. There are not too many other options for them. There was a time when other stocks were available and they could switch. It is the same with some of the inshore fishermen. They are struggling and need our support.  I thank the Members who sought this opportunity to have a discussion. I look forward to the rest of the contributions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  I had the chance last December to lay a number of facts on the table. I am going to repeat them. We need to speak out with passion about the rottenness of the Common Fisheries Policy and, I am sorry to say, the rottenness of the approach of the European Commission to all of this. Let us talk about the big five. These are the Dutch corporations that dominate so much quota across the European Union. The Common Fisheries Policy allows these huge corporations to legally buy up quota across the European Union. They control one sixth of the fish resource. That figure is probably even higher now, as it is from the last documented figures we have. The influence these corporations have is absolutely extraordinary. I am very clear that the big five Dutch-based corporations had more influence over the Netherlands, France, Germany and Poland than our country when it came to the Hague preferences. That is a shocking moment. I am sorry to say this, but our Taoiseach has been absent without leave in relation to all of this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  Where the hell is he? How can he not speak out about what is happening? Everybody in the industry across Europe knows of the domination of these corporations and the control they have over policy. Everybody knows that they were able to influence those governments to stop the Hague preferences being invoked by Ireland. That has been our right for decades. It was a protection because of the access we gave to our waters. The UK was also able to avail of the Hague preferences. Now we are on our own. I believe these countries picked on this State of about 5 million people and utterly shafted us at the behest of major corporations.  It is not just the Common Fisheries Policy and what happens within our waters. These corporations are investing in the industries in Iceland and the Faroe Islands, and I am sure they are partnering with industry in Norway. They are industrialising fishing. They are recklessly overfishing and are benefiting on the double when they come back and remove the Hague preferences from Ireland. What has happened here is utterly scandalous. It is rotten and corrupt. We have to say it out loud as a country. What on earth is Germany doing backing this utterly reprehensible behaviour, which goes against all the principles the European Union is supposed to stand for? Climate change - forget about that. Protecting vulnerable coastal communities - forget about that. Rewarding people who are involved in low-impact fishing - forget about that. Standing up for the little guy - forget about that. Making sure there is fairness and equality - forget about that. That is what all of this has amounted to. It is of the utmost seriousness.  I find it deeply sad that, in a country that is surrounded by water, an island nation, there has not been more media focus on this. In fairness, with a couple of honourable exceptions, I am astonished at the lack of media focus in Ireland on this issue. What is happening here is devastating for our fishing communities. How on earth can they not investigate the big five? I have a report here from the campaign group Bloom, which produced it a couple of years ago. I have another report entitled, Competing for Fish: How One Dutch Company Is Slowly Taking Over Much of Europe's Fishing Sector. These are investigative journalists. Where are the investigative journalists in Ireland? Where is the spotlight on these companies and what is going on? Why are they not asking questions? Why are they not looking for who joined the Dutch Government in its lobbies to the German, French and Polish Governments? Who was at the table? Are there exchanges or freedom of information requests? Where are our journalists during such an attack on our national interest? I would argue it is an unprecedented attack on our fishery resource. We know that the Common Fisheries Policy has been terrible, but what happened last December was an absolute new low.  It is critical that this task force now adequately financially compensates our sector to get us through this, but there has to be a plan. I am sorry to say it, but our Taoiseach is not at the table. He is not standing up for our interests. I know the Minister of State is doing his best, but the Taoiseach, whose job this is, is absent. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  The Minister of State does not need me to tell him that 2,300 jobs, at a conservative estimate, in our coastal communities are in jeopardy because of the quota deal reached in December 2025. The wider economic hit could reach \u20ac200 million. In ports like Dunmore East in my home county of Waterford, families are asking whether there is a future for them and their industry. When you step back and look at the decisions and attitudes of successive governments, their actions and, more critically, their inaction, it is impossible not to arrive at a conclusion that what we are witnessing now is the outworking of a managed decline and a slow, steady concentration and then reduction of our indigenous fishing industry. It is the hollowing out, decade after decade, of a noble, sustainable and economically vital way of life. What do we get then? We get acquiescence, silence and hand-wringing. We get Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael politicians offering tea and sympathy, promising to listen but failing to hear, saying something must be done while steadfastly refusing to do anything that would actually arrest that decline. Now, on this side of the House, the industry advocates for coastal communities are reduced to calling for life support. Even that is delayed, negotiated and made contingent.  Irish fishermen have abided by the rules. They have tied up their vessels when they have been asked. They have taken the quota cuts on the chin. They have invested in sustainability. Meanwhile, the Netherlands, Germany, France and Poland moved to block the invocation of our Hague preferences, protecting their interests and the interests of a number of corporations while ours were exposed. Did the Government even take legal advice on challenging this? That is an important question that has to be put. Was legal advice sought on challenging this? In advance of the December negotiations, I raised this directly with the Taoiseach and urged him to intervene, as Head of Government, at that level with other Heads of Government with national delegations. Freedom of information records show he did precisely nothing. He met with the industry but did not lift the phone.  Decades of deflection reached their pinnacle in the political abandonment of the Minister of State, his negotiating team and officials and our fleet and coastal communities by the Taoiseach and T\u00e1naiste in December last year. Other member states fight hard for their fleets. Their Heads of Government pick up the phone, build those alliances and draw red lines but in Ireland, the Head of Government sat on his hands.  Let us take one example. Belgium can catch 450 tonnes of sole in Irish waters but the entire Irish fleet is left with just 28 tonnes. Belgium has less than half the coastline of Waterford but it has 450 tonnes of sole in Irish waters, while the Irish fishing fleet is left with just 28 tonnes. This is a recurring pattern across fisheries. It affects mackerel, prawns and other key stocks. This is not just about conservation. Conservation matters and is critical. Stocks must be protected and science must guide us but it is not a conservation crisis alone. It is about fair access and sovereignty. When our State provides some of the richest fishing waters in Europe but repeatedly sees its own fleets marginalised, people are entitled to ask serious questions. There are plenty of fish in our waters to sustain our industry and meet our conservation objectives but we are not doing that.  There cannot be any return to business as usual. An already fragile industry has been placed on a fatal course unless there is a radical reset in Ireland and in how we approach fisheries policy at European level. The Minister of State knows I come from a coastal community and county. I represent communities where fishing is not just an item or economic activity but a living tradition. Families in Dunmore East, Helvick, Passage East, Bunmahon and all along our coast have given generations to this industry. It is skilled, dangerous and honest work that underpins processors, hauliers, chandlers and small local businesses right across the south east.  It is now dangerously close to the point of no return; some would argue it is long past that. That is why we need urgent action. The task force the Minister of State has established should have been established before now. While we welcome that it is finally in place, it must not become just another talking shop. The terms of reference must reflect what the seafood sector has demanded and its recommendations must be acted on quickly. We need a commitment from the Government that its recommendations will be taken seriously. The Minister of State will understand the cynicism of coastal communities and the industry. Every time they see a task force, punishment generally follows.  We need adequate financial support for fishermen and seafood producers over the coming years. We also need a clear plan to secure a fair allocation of fish under the Common Fisheries Policy or we need to be done with it. We need to draw red lines and talk very seriously with our European partners about this. Crucially, and the Minister of State has heard us on this, we need to back our inshore sector. We support the demand by the National Inshore Fishermen's Association and others for income stabilisation and compensation schemes. It works in agriculture. We see farmers benefiting from similar schemes. We need to see something now as this industry is in crisis. For too long, we have this acquiescence, silence and hand-wringing. We need a new departure and we need it now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  Deputy Mac Lochlainn spoke about the \"big five\" and the big corporations that are out there, which have such power. They seem to have more power than countries and certainly seem to have more power than Ireland. That seems to be what the outcome of this is. We also have to recognise that their role in all this has brought us to where we are. It is these very corporations and their greed, where they put out these massive, big factory ships and absolutely decimate our waters. They just suck up everything and destroy the fishing beds and everything for the future. They are the ones that have caused the stock crisis and environmental crisis, but we now find ourselves in the position that the European Union is trying to salvage the situation and the very ones that destroyed it are the ones being rewarded for it.  While the Minister of State is obviously in his position, we need to recognise that this is a national crisis. The Taoiseach needs to step into the breach here and recognise it as such. We have a situation where fishing boats in Ireland, which people in fishing communities have invested their lives in, will go out to sea this year with a quota for possibly a week or ten days. Are they supposed to make a living from that? Factories may only be open to do processing for a few weeks, such is the low level of quota we are looking at. That will be decimation for the future and capacity of the industry, if things do improve. If this plan to get stocks to recover were to work, and I doubt very much it will because the corporations will continue to do what they have done, where will the capacity be in three, four or five years' time for our industry to be able to deal with a recovery in the fishery? It could not do it because it will be gone. Giving some kind of dole will not solve the problem. While there has to be income support and we have to try to salvage what we can, it is so important that we recognise this as the national crisis it is.  We have a vast scale of fisheries in Irish waters that have been totally plundered for decades, not only by fisheries from outside the European Union but by ones within it as well. Belgium, the Netherlands and these companies and countries have totally taken away the potential livelihood, not just of Irish fishermen but of other small fishermen from other countries within Europe as well. It has been a case of the biggest and more powerful corporations coming to the fore, destroying everything for everyone else and then being rewarded for doing so.  Our statements on quotas are really statements on what we are going to do. What will this Government do to step into the breach to defend our national interest, the environment and fishing stocks for the future? What answers has the Minister of State got? So far, all we are hearing is there are meetings, the possibility of some little bit of negotiation to improve things and that we are going to give some little bit of money to fishermen. This is a crisis way beyond that. We have to recognise that there has been a failure. Ireland's big failure when we went into European Union, which was the Common Market at the time, has been the fishing sector. The fishing sector was sold out from the very beginning. That is widely recognised. Now is the time, when we are probably at the darkest hour of it, for the Government to step up and recognise not just that we have to do something, but we have a plan and we will put that plan on the table. We need to see the Taoiseach and leaders of Government step into the breach to ensure we can deliver because this is a national crisis that has never been before.  On the issue in regard to the Hague preferences, this was a guarantee going back to 1976. What happened to it? It was just tossed away at the whim of the big corporations. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I ask the Deputy to conclude. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  We need to see an action plan. With due respect to the Minister of State, that action plan has to be driven by the very top of Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert O'Donoghue  It feels like d\u00e9j\u00e0 vu . We are back in the Chamber again discussing the ongoing crisis in our fishing industry. Somehow, it has worsened yet again. Our fisheries sector, for the nearly 17,000 people who work in it, who are just trying to do their best, make a living and support their communities, is completely swimming against the tide at this point.  I will speak on two deeply connected issues affecting our coastal communities. At the end of December 2025, the new EU fishing agreement was signed off by the EU fisheries Council. It will be catastrophic for Ireland. That agreement will result in an estimated \u20ac94 million in losses for the fishing industry in Ireland in 2026 alone. The second issue is the recent announcement of a \u20ac27 million investment under the fishery harbour and coastal infrastructure development programme. Both these issues are deeply connected. Representatives from the Irish fishing industry, in the audiovisual room at the end of January, outlined how severely reduced fishing opportunities will result in utter devastation, with one saying that some vessel operators will be restricted to 20 fishing days per year, when other countries are still overfishing.  The deal reduces Ireland's fishing quota by 57,000 tonnes. Over 2,300 jobs in our coastal communities face immediate danger, with a wider economic impact potentially reaching \u20ac100 million. Communities such as Killybegs, Castletownbere and Howth are not just statistics on a page. They are towns built around fishing, processing, engineering and supply chains. The consequences for them could be devastating. Representative bodies have stated that Ireland's fishing quotas will have fallen by 94,500 tonnes within two calendar years by 1 January 2026. By then, Ireland's total combined fish quotas within our exclusive economic zone will stand at just under 120,000 tonnes, valued at approximately \u20ac140 million.  They have been pointing out that, by stark contrast, other EU member states, along with certain other countries, have overfished against scientific evidence or advice and that Ireland is now paying the price. Sustainability cannot be one-sided; it must be observed by all. For many coastal communities, the figure given is not abstract. It is not a negotiating position or a statistical adjustment; rather, it represents boats tied up, incomes reduced and generational fishing businesses placed under further strain.  I welcome that the Minister of State, Deputy Dooley, will be raising the need for the EU to take a strong position to correct our critical mackerel levels and the setting of the total allowable catch for mackerel that allows the recovery of stocks while providing a level playing field for fishing communities. The timing of subsequent announcements has been particularly difficult to reconcile, however. Shortly after the quota reductions were confirmed, the Minister of State and Minister, Deputy Heydon, announced a \u20ac27 million investment in Ireland\u2019s publicly owned fishery harbour centres. On the surface, this investment is welcome. Our harbour infrastructure is critical. It supports fishing, aquaculture, marine tourism, tourism in general and leisure activity. It underpins local economies from Donegal and Cork to Galway and Wexford. However, when we examine the detail of the investment, we see that a serious imbalance emerges, one that repeats the same inequality we highlighted here last year. Of the total allocation of \u20ac27 million, \u20ac22.6 million is directed towards six State-owned fishery harbour centres. Only \u20ac4.3 million has been allocated for local authority piers and harbours, and that \u20ac4.3 million is provided based on a funding rate of just 75%. Local authorities must provide the remaining 25% themselves. That is not the full extent of the imbalance. Before local authorities can even provide funding in this area, they must first pay for the necessary surveys and licensing costs under the MARA regime. Meanwhile, for six fishery harbour centres, the costs associated with the same MARA process are borne by the parent Department.  State-owned harbours receive an overwhelming majority of capital funds, and their regulatory and licensing costs are centrally funded. Local authorities receive a fraction of the allocation. They must co-fund projects at a rate of 25%, and they must front-load survey and MARA licensing costs before eligibility is even considered. That is not parity; that is structural imbalance. In Donegal, for example, Donegal County Council has responsibility for more than 150 small piers and harbours. These facilities may not be designated as fishery harbour centres but they are the lifeblood of smaller fishing vessels, inshore fleets, aquaculture operators, tourism providers and leisure users. They are economic multipliers in fragile coastal regions.  How many local authority piers and harbours exist nationally? What is the total number across all coastal communities? How does \u20ac4.3 million nationally equate to meaningful investment, given the scale of need in our infrastructure? If we are serious about fairness, the first step must be transparency. I am therefore calling on the Department to publish the total number of local authority piers and harbours so we can quantify the true scale of the discrepancy and have an informed discussion about equitable distribution. This is not about putting one county against another; it is about the principle that all coastal infrastructure contributes to the local and national economy.  At this point, the message has been heard loud and clear along our coastal communities. Quotas have been cut at European level. Supports are announced at national level but the bulk of supports flow to a small number of centrally controlled harbours while local authorities are left to stretch limited resources across an extensive network of smaller but equally vital facilities. That approach risks widening the divide between large port infrastructure and smaller community harbours. If the Department believes coastal resilience is a national priority, as I do, funding mechanisms must reflect that. Fishing communities are not asking for special treatment but for fair treatment. They are asking for it to be recognised that coastal infrastructure, whether State owned or local authority managed, forms one interconnected marine community.  At a moment when confidence in the sector is shaken by quota reductions agreed at EU level, the collapse of our fishing community is looking increasingly likely, and the fishing industry hangs in the balance, the Government must ensure the domestic funding model does not compound the pressure. The investment is welcome but equity is essential for all fishing communities.  I agree with my Sinn F\u00e9in colleagues that an action plan is needed to redress the imbalance from which we have suffered for the past 50 years. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Maxwell  I thank the Minister of State for taking the time to allow the dire situation concerning fishing quotas to be discussed in the House today. The more time that I, being from an inland county, spend studying this industry, its history, its policies and its recent challenges, the more I note the deep frustration that exists within it. I will be honest. Based on my own research and engagement, I must share the frustration. Fishing is not simply an economic activity; it is about identity, heritage and family. It is the backbone of many of our coastal communities. When we talk about fish, we are not just talking about quota numbers or regulations but about livelihoods from the sea to the shore. We are talking about fishermen and fisherwomen, processors, transport operators, engineers, net makers, fuel suppliers and the many small businesses that depend on a vibrant marine economy.  I am happy that the Minister, Deputy Heydon, visited Killybegs last week and saw first-hand what the lack of quota means, not in theory but in reality. He saw the direct impact on boats tied up, on factories that echo with silence and that are under pressure, and on service industries that rely on activity in our ports. That kind of engagement matters. Seeing the situation on the ground gives perspective that no briefing paper can fully provide.  Alongside the economic pressures, there is something that cannot be ignored. Over many years, a sense has grown within the industry that it is not always viewed as a partner in respect of sustainability and national prosperity but rather as a problem to be managed. Whether that perception is fully fair or not, it exists. That perception shapes trust. This perception exists because we are all part of one CFP in the EU. How can it be that it is applied differently depending on where a boat is registered? Take Irish boats compared with Dutch boats, for example. Ireland\u2019s pelagic fishing and production is compelled to have the following, from what I can establish, under rules imposed by the European Commission: standard weighing equipment with a 30-minute zero-setting interval, state-of-the-art flow scales across the sector, and weighing systems that must be under CCTV, with footage live-fed to the competent authority. I saw the latter in Killybegs last year. The footage must be retained by each individual processor for six months. That involves a significant volume of CCTV images maintained by Irish processors. We are subject to a sampling plan, and weight estimation must be carried out under CCTV also.  Between bringing fish ashore, weighing them and processing them, over a dozen different sets of documents, declarations, stock returns or electronic transport documents must be filled in and returned to the competent authority. Our fishermen are subject to all the full inspections and audits routinely but when I examine the position on Dutch factory ships in our waters, which are supposedly operating under the same EU rules, I cannot find evidence of flow scales and CCTV. I do not believe there is image retention for six months, and the same applies to sampling under camera. I do not know about cross-compliance. The ships are definitely not subject to routine inspection by the Irish competent authority and to any audit while fishing west of Ireland. Despite this, Ireland and the Netherlands are subject to the same CFP, as are other EU countries.  In the past couple of weeks, the waters west of Ireland had a number of vessels from at least eight different EU and non-EU nations. What was noticeable was the lack of an Irish naval vessel monitoring all these foreign vessels in our waters. Also missing from our waters, from what I could observe this month, were European Fisheries Control Agency patrol vessels. However, they can appear in our waters in the couple of months when our own Irish vessels arrive to fish. When trust erodes between an industry and the institutions meant to oversee it, the consequences are serious. Morale declines, co-operation weakens and dialogue becomes strained. Ultimately, progress stalls.  This year, opportunities for fishermen have been drastically reduced owing to a quota reduction of 57,000 tonnes, or 70%. As the Minister of State said, the biggest reductions are to mackerel quotas. This is not because of our fishermen\u2019s activities but because of overfishing by third countries. All these reductions are impacting up to 2,300 jobs, not in big cities or towns but on the edge of this island, with an estimated sales loss of up to \u20ac105 million.  Many in the sector feel that the decisions affecting their future are too often taken without sufficient understanding of the realities at sea or how critical it is to keep the product fresh and in grade A condition when it reaches the processors. They feel that regulations can sometimes be introduced in ways that are rigid rather than practical. They feel that enforcement can at times appear disproportionate rather than balanced. These concerns deserve to be acknowledged and not dismissed.  The fishing community in Ireland has shown time and time again that it is prepared to comply with the rules and adapt to change. Sustainability is not the enemy of fishermen; it is their future. They understand better than anyone that without healthy stocks there is no industry, but sustainability must walk hand in hand with viability. One cannot come at the complete expense of the other. Where enforcement bodies such as the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority operate, they carry out an important and necessary role. Oversight is part of any regulated industry, but enforcement works best when it is seen as fair, proportionate and rooted in mutual respect. When that balance slips, it can create tension that serves no one. I have met the SFPA in person for only two and a half hours in committee, and an old saying came to mind that day: You could not like them if you reared them.  There are genuine concerns being expressed about the operational impact of certain regulatory approaches, about quality implications when landings are delayed, about repeated audits disrupting processing schedules and about the reputational damage caused by cases that ultimately do not stand up in court. Even when matters are resolved, the stress and the costs remain. We cannot afford an environment where mistrust defines the relationship between regulators and the regulated, nor can we allow divisions to widen in ports like Castletownbere, Unionhall, Killybegs and the others across the island. What we need now is not confrontation but a reset: a reset in tone, a reset in engagement and a reset in how we view this industry.  The people working within our Departments are public servants. Their role is to serve the interests of the nation, and the fishing industry is very much part of our national interest. It combines economically, culturally and strategically. It supports rural Ireland in ways few other sectors can.  This Government has an opportunity and a responsibility to rebuild confidence. That means ensuring that policy decisions are informed not just by data but by lived experience. It means creating structured, meaningful dialogue between officials and industry representatives. It means ensuring proportionality, enforcement and transparency in decision-making. Most of all, it means recognising that the men and women who go to sea in dangerous conditions are not adversaries but citizens, taxpayers and custodians of a centuries-old tradition. The downturn we have witnessed in recent years has not been inevitable. Some factors are beyond our control: international agreements, Brexit and global market pressures. How we respond domestically, however, is entirely within our control.  I thank my Seanad colleague Senator Manus Boyle for all his work in trying to make fishing front and centre for this Government. We can choose collaboration over tensions. We can choose reform over stagnation. We can choose to see fishing not as a shrinking legacy industry but as a modern sector capable of innovation, sustainability and growth. If we take that path, we can restore confidence in our coastal communities, we can create a system where regulation works for all without suffocating livelihoods, and we can ensure that future generations still see fishing as a viable and respected career. The frustrations within the industry are real. They should not be ignored but nor should they divide us. This is a moment to correct the course calmly, constructively and with the national interest at heart. Our fishermen and fisherwomen deserve fairness, our processors deserve stability, our coastal communities deserve opportunity and Ireland deserves a marine sector that reflects all that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  This is not the first time we have dealt with this issue. It is fair to say the fishing industry is - I would like to say apoplectic but I believe it is actually beaten down by the situation and circumstances in which it finds itself. It sees the deal a number of months ago rightfully as a betrayal of the fishing industry. It puts 2,300 coastal community jobs in immediate danger. We are talking about 57 tonnes less quota to fish each year, a loss of \u20ac94 million to the industry. Wider economic impacts are up on \u20ac200 million.  We know exactly what has happened. We are talking about the closure of factories. We are talking about it not being viable in any way for fishermen and fisher communities to continue doing what they have done for centuries. We have often been in here talking about sustainable farming, but I do not think anyone has even used the term \"sustainable fishing\" because we have not seen it in any way from the point of view of it being sustainable for those people and their families who have done this for generations. Again, it is not the first time it has been brought up in relation to the particular issues in Clogherhead, where we have had, let us be clear, illegal operators that have put real pressure on fishermen. We are talking about operators from abroad. We are talking about health and safety and every rule and regulation being absolutely overlooked. Not that long ago I was contacted by a man who works in the field. It was about another sunken boat. He said he rightfully has to go through the ins and outs of health and safety procedures. He needs to ensure he has a sufficient level of staff. He needs to ensure that everything is done absolutely by the book. He spoke to the people who were involved in this sunken ship or boat and then he actually went to Clogherhead Harbour and saw them in operation. There were no winches and no protections. There were a number of people doing really unsafe things without the proper gear. They literally laughed him off when he told them about the issues.  I brought up this issue, as did he, with Louth County Council. The council is aware of the issue. I believe it has happened in other ports and harbours. They are looking at ensuring that pressure will be put on to change this. We need to make sure that we have a full-time resource and that there is a full-time person with responsibility as harbour master. We need to ensure that all that is done. I ask first of all, however, that we revisit what has been an absolute disaster and betrayal of the fishing industry. There is a very specific piece of work that needs to be done in the likes of Clogherhead and throughout the entire State from the point of view of cutting out this illegality that is cutting away from those people who have fished for generations. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  Today, in the fisheries committee, we had a very interesting meeting on the sustainable management of the crayfish fishery. The Marine Institute's latest four-year study on the tangle net crayfish fishery in Tralee and Dingle shows us with absolute clarity what is at stake if the crayfish fishery continues to operate as normal. The substantial by-catch of angel shark and flapper skate as well as grey skate and numbers of other protected species will push these species further towards extinction. It is not a hypothetical risk; that is what the data tells us. Angel sharks, a critically endangered species, simply cannot absorb additional mortality. If we allow the tangle net fishery to continue unchanged, we are effectively pushing this species closer not just to local extinction but actually to global extinction. While this issue is closely tied to tangle nets and inshore fisheries, it also sits within the wider quota context that frames every decision an inshore fisher makes today.  We had a very good debate today on this issue, and inshore fishermen want to do what they can. They understand. They, probably more than anyone else, know the difficulties that the inshore environment is in at the moment, the challenges and the pressures that are put on it. It is clear from talking to those inshore fishers that what constantly happens is that when we do not get things right at a more national level, when we do not get things right at an EU level, when we have countries fishing for species that would traditionally be Irish quotas, it puts pressure on those fishermen, which in turn is like a domino effect, and it in turn impacts our inshore fishermen, who are the ones getting squeezed out of existence here.  When we talk about the fishing industry, and if people were to close their eyes and picture it, it is the inshore fishermen we are talking about and that is what we see. It is where the majority of the boats are and where the majority of the local involvement and the employment happens. Unfortunately, they are bearing the brunt of an EU-wide system that just is not fit for purpose at the moment and they are absolutely being squeezed by it.  The one thing I know from talking to them is that they want to be part of the solution, and they are putting forward solutions. What we need and they need is a fair share of the quota. We need to be looking at ways they can diversify. We know with mackerel being hit the inshore fishermen recognise that the chance of their getting a greater quota than 400 tonnes is probably off the table for a number of years. However, we need to start looking at other species. We have discussed bluefin tuna and I think there is a real opportunity with that. I know that this, again, is a difficult one because, as a small player on the EU stage, if we want to get a bluefin tuna quota we have to get it from another country. That will be really important. There has to be pressure, and we have to do everything we can diplomatically to get that because it is only through the diversification of the inshore that we will be able to address a lot of the environmental issues the inshore is facing. Inshore fishermen need alternatives and at the moment they do not have them. They are being pushed into crayfish and brown crab which has its own difficulties. That impacts our environment and means species like angelfish will be gone and we will be responsible for it. We are one of the few countries that still has this species.  If we do not get this right, not only could we potentially force these species into extinction, but I also think we will be forcing the fishermen themselves into extinction. If you are putting all of your eggs into one basket and fishing solely for crayfish, that fishery is going to come under pressure. It may not be obvious now but there is only so much that any fishery can withstand. If all the effort is being put on one particular species, that is just not going to work. We need to have sustainable management of this. The fishermen are certainly on board to work with the Marine Institute, the Department, which was in today, and with the scientists to try to get that done. I ask that the Minister of State give as much support as possible to that. It will require finances. This is not going to be free. I know there is work under way on an income stabilisation scheme, which is really important, and I absolutely support the Minister of State in that. We need to make sure there is a financial safety net for fishermen. If we are trying to encourage people to move from tangle nets to pot fishery, pots cost approximately \u20ac100. That is expensive. It will require funding, but it will ultimately be for the greater good.  I mentioned one thing in our most recent committee meeting. I do not know if it has really been discussed in the context of this, but \u20ac3.5 billion is being put aside for the climate and nature fund. That is a lot of money being set aside specifically for those issues. I ask that the Minister of State look into seeing whether there is a way to develop a programme for inshore fishermen using that fund whereby they can still participate in their fisheries but also perform more management functions and biodiversity protection and for that to come under a nature scheme. We obviously have the nature restoration laws coming down the road and there will be requirements on us from a marine perspective, but there is an opportunity there. There is money set aside in that fund. We tend to forget about it when it comes to biodiversity, but I absolutely think that is something the Minister of State should look into, and I ask that he do so. As I said, we need to ensure that the inshore fishermen are not pushed to the verge of extinction here, including our environment. I ask that he support that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  I was encouraged to hear the Minister of State's commitment to using every lever available to him at European Union level to address this because we are at an absolute crisis point for Ireland's fishing industry. I also heard him couch that within the geopolitical pressures this Government faces as a member state of the European Union, but there are obviously concerns. The guarantees given to us during Brexit negotiations are not worth the paper they are written on. Fishing communities up and down the country are facing a cut of one third of our fishing quotas. When I say the fishing industry, it is important to remember that this is our heritage. These are our communities, coastal livelihoods and traditions that are under threat. We have heard that cut of one third in quotas potentially threatens thousands of jobs. We also face the massive knock-on impact of this crisis on those communities up and down the coast, which will see less money in their local economies as a direct result of this quota cut. They are no strangers to hardship in these communities that have walked on a cliff edge since the introduction of the Common Fisheries Policy. The Brexit deal, where their rights were further eroded in the interests of getting a deal done, further pushed them towards the edge. They are now simply in freefall. We need those communities to be protected and supported because right now they feel abandoned. T\u00e1 traidisi\u00fain iascaireachta na t\u00edre i gcont\u00fairt. Caithfear dul i ngleic leis na fadhbanna at\u00e1 roimh na pobail ar fud ch\u00f3sta na h\u00c9ireann. N\u00ed f\u00e9idir neamhaird a thabhairt ar a gcruach\u00e1s n\u00edos m\u00f3. N\u00ed f\u00e9idir le maireacht\u00e1il le dh\u00e1 thrian den ioncam a bh\u00ed acu, agus n\u00edl aon d\u00f3chas \u00e1 thabhairt d\u00f3ibh. There has long been an understanding at EU level when it comes to fisheries policy that Ireland contributes far more than we get back. To allay concerns we were given reassurances that such drastic falls in quotas as we are seeing would not happen. The Hague preferences were first introduced in the seventies to acknowledge that when the overall total allowable catch falls, that our coastal communities are not left with an even smaller share, which threatens their ability to survive and their viability as a community. We have since then seen total betrayal of those principles and a betrayal of Irish fishers at EU level. We need to have confidence that fishing can happen at Irish and EU level in a sustainable way, which protects fishing stocks and allows small fishers to make a living. However, for that to happen we need to give these goals the priority they need in making deals at EU level. We have seen how those deals, be they quota negotiations or Brexit, have left our fishing communities behind. We cannot allow this pattern to continue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pat the Cope Gallagher","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pat-the-Cope-Gallagher.D.1981-06-30","memberCode":"Pat-the-Cope-Gallagher.D.1981-06-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher  I welcome the opportunity to participate in the debate on the fishing sector. As we debate this today we look at the state of the fishing sector in Ireland due to the policies of various EU Commissions since Brexit. As a result of the Brexit deal, we lost 26% of the value of our quotas overnight in December 2020. For that we cannot point a finger at the Commission in total, but I can point a finger at former Commissioner Barnier, who came into this House. I have said this before, and I repeat it. He looked me straight in the eye when I said how concerned I was because he was negotiating on behalf of the Commission. He said we would have no difficulty with the fishing sector because fishing and trade would be inextricably linked. Perhaps I was naive enough to believe that when Brexit was signed off on. I can blame him, but I can also blame the Government of the day. I recommended that we should veto Brexit. It might have been a big call, but if we threatened to veto Brexit, we would have had a different outcome.  Reference was made to the Hague preferences. For many years I attended the council of fisheries meetings in Brussels, particularly the attacks on quotas. I was a Member of the European Parliament and a full member of the fisheries committee. I waited over those nights and met with the industry. The Hague preferences were always and ever invoked. There were times we had to go away and negotiate. We are talking now about alliances. We could not form an alliance to ensure we could have the Hague preferences invoked. It would have been so important to us.  That brings me to the tax and quotas this year and the reduction in mackerel of 70%. It defies belief that 70% was recommended by ICES for the coastal states but, on the other hand, there was a 48% secondary proposal for Iceland, Norway, the Faroes and the UK.  That makes no sense. It does not say a lot for the European negotiators that they allowed this to happen, but all is not yet lost. I know from experience that the TACs and quotas have to be written in stone by 31 March, so we have another four to five weeks to do that. The Minister of State made the case yesterday at the Council meeting. He must continue to make it. He has to work with the alliances that are there in order to try and convince the European Commission that we should not have to accept a 70% reduction while the countries to which I refer only have to accept a reduction of 48%. That is the advice that came from ICES.  In all the years that I have been going to and coming back from Brussels, never once did I experience something where the proposals for TACs and quotas proposed by ICES became the actual measures. There was always room for manoeuvre. Before we left Dublin, we knew that it would not be the proposal but a percentage of that. That did not change this year. What happened? The big countries, the Commission and, I have to make a political charge here, the Commissioner threw little Ireland under the bus. It was wrong of them to do that. When I was in my office, I listened to Deputy Mac Lochlainn speak about the big countries. I knew all of those people. I phoned them and they said \"Well, this is business\". In fairness, their countries made the case and they have the large percentage of the TACs and quotas.  The task force established by the Minister of State must step up to the challenge. I have been involved in the fishing sector since I was a student working in Burtonport. Working in it helped me through college. From there, I progressed to managing the factory in Killybegs. We set up a fish canning factory in Dungloe. I have been involved in fishing all my life, but this is the worst year I have ever experienced. This matter could have been dealt with better if we had support in Europe, but there was no support. The coastal counties and areas where there is no alternative source of employment have been decimated. We have to ensure that the task force looks after the interests of all those who have been affected.  Let me now make reference to the bureaucracy that exists in this country. Between landing, fish processing and exporting, we are the only country in the EU where someone has to complete 14 sets of documents in order to declare returns. Everything is now on computers, and they have to do that physically from the time that they get in. Even the drivers have to be computer literate. They have to do that when they get into the trucks. We are the only country that does this. How can we say it is a Common Fisheries Policy when other countries do not have to do this? That is a question to be answered by the SFPA. We will have an opportunity to do so again in the committee.  There seems to be an anti-fisherman attitude in this country. Regardless of whether it is the Department or the SFPA, they see fishermen as rogues. I have been in this industry all my life and I will stand up in any place on any platform and put my hand on my heart to say that they are decent, honourable people----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  Hear hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pat the Cope Gallagher","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pat-the-Cope-Gallagher.D.1981-06-30","memberCode":"Pat-the-Cope-Gallagher.D.1981-06-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher  -----who told me many times that they did not want to exceed the quotas because then they were selling black fish, which brings down the price of the others. They are honourable people who get very little funding from the State when they go out to buy their boats and provide employment. It is so sad to look at the ports where I worked and processed fish. I processed fish in ports from Clogherhead to Dunmore East to Cobh to Castletownbere and up the coast to Rossaveal, Killybegs and Burtonport and on the Isle of Man. The people I saw were all hard-working individuals, but there is an attitude to them in the Department and at SFPA level. Any Deputy who is a member of the committee will realise that there seems to be such an attitude towards fishermen. As long as I am here, I will stand up for the interests of fishermen. Fishermen invest heavily. I hope the task force that the Minister of State has established with the support of his colleagues in government is not a box-ticking exercise. There must be positive results coming from that.  The industry has gone through very difficult times, but this is the worst period I have seen in my lifetime. There is a real question as to how the European Commission allowed four countries to cancel the Hague preferences is a real question. Where the Minister of State finds himself is a lonely place to be. I have been there and done that. You are fighting an uphill battle. The Minister of State tried his utmost to secure the support of other countries to ensure that the Hague preferences would not be cancelled.  The Commission has a duty to protect small member states. What occurred in Brussels before Christmas breaches 50 years of good practice and good faith. How can we and the sector have confidence in the Commission? I have heard some people suggest that we should await the review of the CFP. I would not be holding my breath. I have been there and done that at the fisheries committee when I was its vice president. I led delegations to Iceland. There was a time I thought that the Commission and Commissioner Damanaki were representing Iceland. She was doing more to support Iceland than she was to represent the country she was appointed to represent as a member of the Commission. I would have to make the political charge that the Danish presidency was not impartial and did not assist Ireland. I do not know whether or not this has been done but I again recommend that a letter of protest be sent by the Minister of State or, if necessary, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to the President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, to express our disappointment at the way we were treated last year. Let us be positive, look ahead and say that the Minister of State has our support with a view to ensuring that the task force will take all the elements into consideration. I believe some time, but not that much, will be needed to come up with proposals before they are finalised. Everybody in the industry should have an input into that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  The EU fisheries deal represents another serious failure on the part of the Government to adequately defend Ireland's fishing interests. While the impact will be felt right across the State, it is coastal communities in places such as Killybegs in my constituency, Kilcar and elsewhere that will feel it most acutely. The Seafood Ireland Alliance is warning that this could mean a \u20ac200 million hit for the Irish fishing industry. If the Minister of State thinks that jobs will not be lost as a result of this, he is living in denial. It is an extraordinary figure. The consequences for Killybegs and many other areas and coastal areas will be profound.  Under this new deal, the safeguards of the Hague preferences were not applied. Larger member states resisted and Ireland did not secure their activation. We now face a situation where factories such as those in Killybegs, which operated three to five months of the year, could see their activity reduced to as little as ten or 12 days. The knock-on effect of that in terms of factories and jobs will be significant. It is not sustainable for workers, families, the community or local businesses. Similarly, vessels that should be at sea for extended fishing seasons may find themselves fishing for less than ten or 12 days before being tied up and parked in Killybegs for even longer than they already are.  Our fishing industry is resilient. It has adapted to regulatory changes over and over again. Those in the industry have invested in modern vessels and processing capacity against all the odds. It is long past time that the Government stood up for the fishing industry and showed a bit of a backbone. The Government knew that other member states would defend their interests robustly. When the time came, Ireland did not secure the protections that exist precisely to prevent disproportionate harm. It is only right now to ask whether we are building alliances, preparing strategies or using every available lever to defend our national interests.  There needs to be a three-pronged approach of attack. First, the Government must clearly set out what legal and diplomatic avenues remain open regarding the non-application of the Hague preferences. Second, there must be an immediate targeted financial support package for fishermen and seafood producers. Third, we need a strategic plan to secure Ireland's fair share of fish in our waters under the CFP.  Fishing supports families who have worked Irish waters for generations, it sustains rural communities where alternative employment is limited and it contributes significantly to exports and food security.  Our fishing industry does not want special treatment; it wants fair treatment. It wants the safeguards that were designed to protect it to be properly used. It wants a Government that approaches fisheries negotiation with the same determination that other states display. There is still time to mitigate the worst impacts of this deal but what it requires is decisiveness, transparency and, most of all, political will. This Government needs to stop abandoning the fishing industry and stand up and show a bit of a backbone. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  Hear hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charles Ward  I stand before the Minister of State again. I have raised this countless times with industry representatives and every week at the fisheries committee along with all of my colleagues from Donegal. This is the time for action. We all know the issues in the fishing industry and what we need to do to address them but the issue is will. There is no will from the Government regarding this. There is an absence of will and we are left with this debate - a fruitless attempt by the Government to demonstrate to the public that we are addressing the issue when, in fact, we gave up on the fishing industry decades ago.  This is not a criticism of the Minister of State. He is genuinely doing his best, along with his staff. It is clear he cares about this industry. However, he has been given a poisoned chalice. This poisoned chalice has been given to him through decades of neglect by Government of the fishing industry. There is no doubt Government has allowed this decline to happen. It has been happening for generations. I have seen it where I am from - \u00c1rainn Mh\u00f3r island - where my family fished. We had Burtonport, a thriving port that is now a ghost town.  We allow other countries to do what they like and get away with it. There is no equality here. It is unbelievable when it is laid out. In 2010, Iceland and the Faroe Islands increased their mackerel quotas without consulting the countries which had shared interest in these stocks. In 2013, the Faroe Islands that increased its allowance of herring by 229%. In 2021, the Faroe Islands and Norway raised their mackerel quotas without agreement from the EU, despite the fact that Ireland is most reliant on mackerel. In 2020, following the Brexit trade co-operation agreement, 40% of the total value of the European quotas were transferred to the UK from Ireland. We let Europe sell this on our behalf. This is clear evidence that Ireland's negotiating power in this was incredibly weak. These are marine resources and they are worth a lot more than what we have given away.  In 2024, the UK signed an agreement with Norway and the Faroe Islands, dividing 70% of the mackerel between them, again, without involving the EU. We can see a pattern emerging. Today's vessels from EU states as well as fleets from the southern hemisphere can fish bluefin tuna in our waters while Irish fishermen are forced to observe because Europe has not allowed us to access this stock. French and British vessels continue to fish for seabass on our doorstep while we have not been able to do this since the 1990s.  The recent mackerel quota assigned to Irish fisheries represents yet another blatant injustice for our industry, as countries such as Norway, the Faroe Islands, Iceland and the UK have agreed a 40% higher allowance catch than the member states. Not only are countries not being penalised for overfishing, they are actually being rewarded for it. No matter how often we present these facts, they never fail to shock because it keeps getting worse. Our industry is clearly in decline.  The Government keeps trying to operate within a framework that has never been designed with our interests in mind. It is a fact that we are at a disadvantage and are trying to please Europe above our own needs. It is clear that the policy holds us back, yet there seems to be no appetite to ensure this outdated policy is updated and our position is renegotiated. Instead, the Government keeps us trying to work within an unbalanced system that is meant to work for us but actually works against us. We need to wake up to this. We need to make sure we take accountability. The Government claims our fishing rights have been taken from us as if we are powerless. We are not powerless; we have surrendered those rights. We continue to take a weak negotiation stance. We cannot continue to do that. We must stand up and take back our waters.  Will the Government and public representatives truly stand up and fight for the fishing industry? We have to stand up and fight. We have constituents up and down the land depending on us. Right now, we are not providing them with any cover for the future. The fishing industry is dying. Every single week it loses people. They are leaving. The Government cannot talk its way out of this, no matter how many debates we have on this issue.  I want to bring this back to the fishing communities. Fishing communities are the heart of the debate, particularly in Donegal. These are the people impacted the most. I can confirm there is at least one trawler in Killybegs that finished up for the season last week. It finished up in mid-February. The boat is now tied up for the rest of the year. The fishermen are without work until the end of the year. Eight weeks of work is hardly what you would call a sustainable job. These are fishermen on some of the biggest trawlers in the country. Traditional small-scale fisheries are experiencing even more difficulty. They have significant cultural, social and community importance and must be supported financially. There is a very real need to reduce the special local draft net licence duty for Loughros estuary. I ask the Minister of State to please consider this. At present, a special local draft net licence is priced at \u20ac545, which \u20ac147 more than the cost of an ordinary drift net licence, despite a significantly shorter season and more limited fishing opportunities on the estuary. A reduction in the licence fee would be a practical measure to help sustain the fisheries while having minimal fiscal impact and sustaining a tradition that goes back many a generation. The special local drift net licence fee should be reduced before a 2026 season, in line with the ordinary drift net licence and in recognition of fewer fishing opportunities and a shorter season to apply to the estuary. I would be grateful if the Minister of State would come back to me regarding that.  We need to support our fishers and the industry as a whole, and do the best we can. It takes an entire community to build a successful fishing industry, and entire communities will suffer as a result of its decline. The Government has to stand up. What is going on is a decline in the fishing industry up and down the country. I have seen it happen in my own island of \u00c1rainn Mh\u00f3r in County Donegal, where we had a fishing industry that is no longer there. I am so worried this is going to happen to Killybegs, and all the way down to Castletownbere. The Minister of State will stand up and fight - I do believe that - but we have to take it to Europe that enough is enough. The Faroe Islands have been out of control for a long time. We have to stand up and say enough is enough. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Cahill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Cahill  At the outset, I acknowledge the tremendous work the Minister of State is putting into this area at a very difficult time. He has visited every single fishing community at this stage. He is working night and day on this, meeting all the people involved in the industry, visiting fishing communities, meeting fishermen and fisherwomen, and owners of processing plants which export our fish and shellfish all over the globe. This is an extremely difficult time.  The Minister of State has inherited a problem. The industry has suffered serious and savage cuts, going back to when we joined the EU, more recently during Brexit and with the 70% cut in our mackerel quota and 41% cut in our blue whiting quota. We have to tackle the issue of Norway, the UK, the Faroe Islands and Iceland. It is fair to say they are actually laughing at us and getting away with blue murder, which we call it in Kerry. We need to contact the Commission and the European Court of Human Rights with regard to this serious matter. Our fishing communities are going to be completely wiped out if we do not act now.  It is important to preserve and rebuild our stocks, but it is also important to protect the livelihoods of all those employed in the fishing industry.  We are, it is fair to say, a small island surrounded by water. We are surrounded by some of the very best fishing waters. The Minister of State's heart is in the right place. I know he is spending more than 24-7 at this. He has been to Europe and Brussels at high-powered meetings. We have to keep at this in order to try to reverse what is happening. We need to ensure a future for all those involved in this area. I know that the Minister of State will do his best, as will the senior Minister and the Taoiseach, in regard to this matter.  I am member of the joint fisheries and maritime committee. It is disappointing that on an almost weekly basis when the D\u00e1il is sitting we are talking about the difficulties being faced by those involved in the industry. It is all very well to provide compensation, but I think we need to do more. Ultimately, fishermen want to fish. There is no real need to encourage the Minister of State in this regard, because I know he will do his best. However, I ask him to do everything he can to try to secure the futures of Irish fishermen and everyone else involved in the sector. That is what this is all about. It is a difficult job. The Minister of State is relatively new to the job. He has only being doing it for 13 or 14 months. I wish him well in his efforts. If there is anything we can do, we should all fight together to do it.  I am not an expert on the European Court of Human Rights, but would it be worth our while taking a case before that court? We should leave no stone unturned when it comes to this matter. We will support the Minister of State in every way we can. I thank him for his work to date. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Mythen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Mythen.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Mythen.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Johnny Mythen  I know the Minister of State is doing his best, but it does not take a genius to recognise that the fisheries of Ireland have been sold down the swanny. The latest cuts to Irish fishing quotas constitute the straw that will break the camel's back. With a massive cut of 57,000 tonnes, estimated to be valued at \u20ac94 million, and an overall loss of \u20ac200 million to the industry, how can the fishing sector and small coastal communities survive this huge drop in income and the loss of jobs that will directly follow?  Irish fishers need the Government to create a suite of financial supports as a matter of urgency. Why is the Government not mounting a legal challenge to the blocking of the Hague preferences and referring the matter to the European Court of Justice? The Hague preferences agreements have stood for over 50 years. They bona fide agreements under the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. As mentioned before, big five companies are monopolising and making millions from our waters by means of the use of trawlers measuring between 80 m and 145 m in length. Some of these vessels are capable of catching 400 tonnes of fish a day. The companies involved have a combined fleet of approximately 230 of these vessels and roughly 400 subsidiaries worldwide. If that is not market dominance, then nothing is.  Surely the Minister of State must have the power to summon the Commissioner, on behalf of the people, to challenge the activities of such oligarchs under the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Article 101 of which prohibits anti-competitive cartels from fixing market sharing. Article 102, the anti-monopoly rule, of the treaty prohibits companies with a dominant position from abusing it to the detriment of competition or consumers. Under the mergers regulation, No. 139\/2004, the EU Commissioner can review or block mergers that impede competition and strengthen dominant players in the market.  These are some of the tools the Minister of State can and must use to save our fishing and coastal communities. My county of Wexford has many such communities, like those in Wexford Harbour, Kilmore, Rosslare, Slade and Duncannon, which represent hundreds of years of fishing traditions. The Minister of State must listen to the fishing industry and the Seafood Ireland Alliance and implement the fishing industry's eight-point plan to avoid the collapse of our country's fishing and marine industries before we sell off enough of Ireland to be but strangers in it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  I was at a funeral recently. What happened there kind of summed matters up very easily. I was going along the queue and shaking hands with people. There was a fishermen at the end of the queue. What we said to me - even though I knew it, it shocked me to the core - was, \"Thanks very much. Can I just say one thing to you? One day out - quota caught. Jesus, it's over.\" There was no point in me saying anything different. I shuddered when I heard those words. Hearing them was like getting a slap in the face with a shovel. The person to whom I refer said he was a fisherman; I knew he was anyway.  The Irish fishing industry, or what is left of it, is being pushed to the wall. Every fisherman in the country knows that. These are the facts, and they are grim. We watched and listened as our Government and then the Minister handed over huge amounts of quota during Brexit. We watched as the French so-called negotiator, Barnier, did a massive deal for his country while our fishermen were left shocked at the deal they got, which was delivered to them on Christmas Eve. I warned the Taoiseach at the time, but he did not listen. In the D\u00e1il in October 2025, I spelt out the warnings clearly. The scientific advice coming from ICES was not just a tap on the shoulder; it was a sledgehammer. ICES recommended a 70% cut in the mackerel quota and big cuts in blue whiting, boarfish, whitefish and haddock quotas. I said that if those cuts went through, it would make life economically impossible for pelagic operators. That was not speculation; it was what I stated outright in the D\u00e1il at the time.  While these cuts were landing like blows, the reality in places like Castletownbere was laid bare. Seventeen Irish boats were permanently decommissioned. Gone for good. Meanwhile, the roads into the town were being torn up by fleets of Spanish trucks hauling massive catches from the south west. Those catches were taken from waters in which Irish boats should be able to fish. This is a grotesque mockery. Cork County Council's job is to keep the roads in good condition for the Spanish trucks to take Irish fish out of our waters in Castletownbere. That is a sad fact. Go up to Castletownbere and you will see that parts of the road have collapsed several times. That is exactly what has happened.  This is not the only issue I have highlighted. At a meeting of the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine, I said that more problems would arise. Other EU countries were getting fuel subsidies at the time for their fleets; Irish fishermen did not get these because we did not apply. Why bother? It is one thing on top of the other. There is no explanation or justification; just the simple fact that Ireland has not secured the same support for its fleet that other EU nations obtained for theirs.  Then there is the weighing system. The current regime forces random weighing at the quayside, which leads to inaccurate numbers, especially for by-catches. Those wrong numbers feed into our already squeezed national quotas. This activity damages the demersal fleet. That is only one side of it. There are bigger, long-running issues that keep coming up. For example, I have been asking here about Rockall but nothing is happening. On the Hague preferences, we all know they are not worth a damn any more. There is Ireland's shrinking share of quota, despite the size and richness of our waters. These are not small details. I have repeatedly raised all these matters because they directly affect both jobs and survival in coastal towns. When the D\u00e1il held a marathon fisheries debate, I and multiple other TDs outlined the crisis in detail. The message was the same: the situation is at breaking point. We highlighted EU quota cuts, the pressure on the whitefish fleet, the warnings about mackerel stock, the economic threat to processors and who can get raw materials. These all add up. The debate made it clear that the industry is not just struggling; it is fighting for its life.  When people talk about investment in harbours or marine vision strategies, which are always welcome, fishermen are not fooled. None of that puts quota back in Irish hands. None of that reopens lost fisheries. None of that reverses years of policies and negotiations that have left Ireland with some of the richest waters in Europe, yet a fleet tied up to the pier watching foreign ships take the fish. That is the plain truth of it. Fishermen do not want spin, more committees or to hear yet another line about ongoing discussions. They want fair access to their own waters. They are currently being denied that. They want the same supports other EU fleets are getting. They want a weighing system that does not punish them for things they did not do. They want a Government that goes to Brussels and fights with the same determination as those of other countries. Every quota cut, closed fishery or decommissioned boat means another family put under pressure, another community hollowed out and another coastal town losing the very thing that has kept it alive for generations.  The message has already been laid out in the D\u00e1il, at the committees and in every report and debate. The Irish fishing industry - what is left of it - cannot take any more.  Ireland holds some of the richest fishing grounds in Europe, yet the people living and working beside those waters are not experiencing the benefits. If the industry is to have a future, the concerns repeatedly raised in the Oireachtas must be met, and should have been met, with direct and meaningful solutions that protect livelihoods, sustain communities and ensure that Ireland's marine resources are managed in a fair and balanced way.  One question that I asked after this recent hammer blow is whether there is going to be a legal review. The Hague preferences were there to protect us, but that did not happen. Is there going to be a legal review? Yes or no. I would appreciate it if the Minister of State could answer that.  What are these fishermen, who have spent their lives working on the sea, supposed to do? They are employing many people. If there is no fishing, there are no jobs. Most of these people are not qualified to do anything else but go to sea. What does the Minister of State suggest they do? I acknowledge that the Minister of State travels to coastal communities, which is always welcome, but what is he bringing with him? Did he go back to get more quota or are the big Danish fleets still stripping our waters? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  I want to say clearly here in the D\u00e1il that fishermen are the backbone of these rural, coastal economies. They are fundamentally important. If we get rid of them, if we lose them, and they are on the brink, what will become of these coastal towns? What will become of our fishermen? What will become of this wonderful intergenerational industry? What will become of the skill sets that we have built up for so many years? The Minister of State knows that this is fundamentally important.  With Brexit, the Government sold the fishermen down the line. The Hague preferences came, and they were sold down the line. Now, they are teetering on the brink. I have met many fishermen in Erris, Belmullet and Achill Island. They have said to me very clearly that they do not know if they will survive. They do not know if they can wait until they get a reprieve or until their quotas are lifted. They may be gone. One gentleman asked me what there is for him to stay for. That is what is happening. If we break that link, it will be gone for generations.  It is fundamentally important that the inshore fishermen are fairly represented on the Government task force. Inshore fisheries make up 90% of the vessels and the vast majority of employment in the fishing industry. Fishermen are very concerned that they will not get a fair shake in relation to the task force.  There are negotiations on the Common Agricultural Policy. I believe it is unfair that fishermen are completely locked out of this. I ask the Minister of State to look into this with regard to the next CAP. He will be the Minister of State during this period. It is fundamentally important that fishermen can receive supports. It is hard to believe that farmers who have assets and are very successful business people are receiving CAP payments, while fishermen are asked to provide their bank account details in the Department's own survey. They are struggling to survive and struggling to sustain all of the costs of the fishing industry. How is that fair? The answer is that it is not fair. I ask the Minister of State to do everything he can, until we can ramp up the quotas, to protect the fishermen who still exist in Mayo and across this country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Albert Dolan  Our fishing industry is not just an economic sector, but a backbone of many coastal communities. In 2026, those communities are facing an extraordinary challenge - a 70% reduction in mackerel, a 41% reduction in blue whiting and a 22% reduction in boarfish. These cuts are based on advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea and were formalised at December's Agricultural and Fisheries Council. We have to be clear. The science is not the problem. The science reflects years of overfishing by certain third countries. Ireland is paying the price for unsustainable decisions made elsewhere. We will continue to press at an EU level for strong action, which we need to do, including the use of the unsustainable fishing regulation where necessary. Ireland cannot stand by idly while shared stocks are jeopardised.  I want to place a focus and emphasis on what the Government is doing to support fishing families and coastal communities going forward. While the stocks recover, livelihoods have to be protected. I welcome that budget 2026 provided for \u20ac157 million to support fisheries and the marine sector. We have to continue to implement the \u20ac258 million seafood development programme under the European maritime, fisheries and aquaculture fund. It has to be said that this funding is not just abstract. It supports vessel modernisation, safety improvements, harbour infrastructure, processing competitiveness, environmental sustainability and young entrants into the industry. It is vital. Some \u20ac27 million has been allocated for capital projects in publicly owned harbours in 2026, and I welcome this investment. The Food Vision seafood sector group has been established to develop a structured financial support framework for catching, aquaculture and processing. A final support plan needs to be delivered by the end of the summer. That work is critical, and I commend the Minister of State on it.  The impact of quota reductions is not confined to vessels at sea. It flows directly into processing plants, ice plants, transport operators, engineering firms, fuel suppliers and small businesses in coastal towns. If we allow processing capacity to decline during a temporary biological downturn, rebuilding it later will be far more difficult. That is why these supports need to focus not only on survival, but on maintaining strategic capacity in our industry. We have to remain committed to exploring incentives to encourage landing in Irish ports, examining taxation supports for the sector, supporting diversification in coastal economies, strengthening agriculture and streamlining licensing. At an EU level, negotiations need to be had for the next multi-annual financial framework. When that begins, Ireland needs to advocate strongly for ring-fenced funding for fisheries under the Common Fisheries Policy.  Our coastal communities need certainty, not an annual sense of instability. Even in a difficult year, Ireland's fishing opportunities still amount to approximately 120,000 tonnes, with an estimated first-sale value of over \u20ac200 million. This is a sector with strength and resilience, but there is a fear that it really is being tested this year. It is of paramount importance that the Government understands that when fisheries suffer, entire communities around them suffer. I ask that we defend sustainability, demand fairness at an EU level, provide practical supports at home and ensure there is a viable future for the next generation of Irish fishers. Fisheries cannot be just about quota. They are about families, heritage and the economic survival of coastal Ireland in the counties that we represent, like Clare and Galway. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Erin McGreehan  It is great to have this debate in the House. As the Minister of State knows, fishing is a very important industry for County Louth. It is a working industry, from Carlingford Lough right up to Port Oriel and at all the small landing points along our coast. These businesses are employing local people, sustaining families and contributing directly to the regional and national economy.  The reality is that, in many ways, we have let down our fisheries in this country, and that is exactly how our fishing communities feel. I understand that sentiment. We have seen Irish boats tied up while foreign vessels continue to fish waters that Irish fishermen have depended on for generations. We have seen intergenerational fishing businesses disappear, not because of a lack of willingness to work but because of a lack of fairness, certainty and confidence in the system.  Stocks must be protected. That is not optional. Sustainable management is essential. However, sustainability without equity is not sustainable in any meaningful sense whatsoever. Irish fishermen are asked to comply with quota reductions of almost 70% in key species like mackerel. Those reductions are based on scientific advice. They must be respected, but they must be respected by everyone, not just by Irish vessels and the small inshore fleets, but by all vessels operating in Irish waters.  The problem is that confidence in enforcement remains weak. I have spoken to many fishermen in Clogherhead. They are exhausted and feel incredibly disheartened by what they see going on in our waters. The Minister of State will hear from them in a couple of weeks when he visits Louth. Parliamentary replies have confirmed that landings have, in some instances, exceeded scientific recommendations, and that investigations and prosecutions are limited relative to the scale of the industry.  That undermines confidence. It creates a perception and, in some cases, a reality that compliance is uneven. We need far better focus on monitoring and enforcement. We need proper inspection of catches at landing, secure and tamper-proof vessel monitoring systems, and oversight of what is being caught, landed and exported. We also need proper enforcement of crew regulations. All crews must be legally employed. All licensing conditions must be respected. The law cannot be selectively applied. There must also be oversight and management of our harbours and piers. Abandoned or derelict vessels create safety risks, obstruct access and reflect a wider failure of oversight. If we are serious about managing our maritime infrastructure, we must police and maintain it properly. This is not about over-regulation but about enforcing the laws we already have.  Irish fishermen and fisherwomen are not looking for special treatment. They are looking for fairness, consistency and a level playing field. They cannot compete if foreign vessels benefit from access while Irish quota shrinks. They cannot plan for the future if enforcement is inconsistent, and they cannot sustain intergenerational business in an environment of uncertainty.  The fishermen of Carlingford Lough, Port Oriel and right along the coast of County Louth operate in difficult conditions. They comply with regulations. They contribute to our communities. They are not asking for guarantees but they are entitled to fairness and to proper protection for their industry. I know the Minister of State agrees with all of this, and that we need sustainable and equitable fisheries management. That means protecting fish stocks, enforcing quotas, policing our waters effectively and ensuring that Irish fisheries are not placed at a structural disadvantage in their own waters. We must take advantage of our EU Presidency this summer to secure target supports specifically for our fishing industry. That is not an unreasonable expectation but a basic responsibility of the State. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan  I strongly welcome that time has been allocated to speak on the changes to the fishing quota, which will simply decimate our coastal communities. I come from a farming background, not a fishing one, but to me the parallels between these communities are clear. There is the same resilience, the same connection to the land and the sea, and the same feeling of being taken for granted. The recurring trend I am seeing time and again is a failure by Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael to stand up for our fishing and farming communities when it truly matters. We see it over and over from Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael. We get all the rhetoric, the promises of standing up for these communities, but when it comes to action to take a real stand, they are nowhere to be seen. The decision by the Netherlands, Germany, France and Poland to block the Hague preferences goes against the very essence of the European Union, the principles of mutual co-operation and respect for other member states. This was not just a policy disagreement; it was a fundamental betrayal of solidarity. Where was an Taoiseach? Where was the strong, visible leadership to stand up for Ireland's interests after that disgraceful decision?  For decades, our coastal communities have been suffering death by a thousand cuts. Make no mistake, the new quotas are nothing like the cuts before. They gut what is left of Irish fisheries and leave only bones behind. How much longer will the Government stand idly by as third-country vessels operate brazenly in our waters, overfishing with few if any consequences? Our marine resources are being plundered before our eyes.  EU policies have failed our coastal communities, just as they are now failing our farmers. The outsourcing of our primary food production seems to be the driving force of EU policy at the moment. This race to the bottom benefits no one but our competitors. We and our EU partners should be striving to build strong, resilient and self-sufficient food industries, just as we have built world-class beef and dairy sectors. We should be working towards a meaningful level of self-sufficiency in fisheries and across other agrifood sectors. Given the global insecurities of the present moment, the volatility and the uncertainty, this is more important than ever. We cannot stand by while the hawks in Brussels raid the CAP budget, with money that should be supporting our farmers and rural communities to be wasted on arms and bombs. A safe and secure state is a healthy and vibrant state. We cannot have a healthy, vibrant state with harbours and farmlands lying empty. True security is about food security and control over our own resources. It is about ensuring that our coastal and rural communities do not just survive but thrive. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  I am glad to get the opportunity to speak on this very serious and important topic. Every one of us knows that Ireland is surrounded by water. We should and do own our waters and I cannot understand for the life of me how the UK is entitled to fish in the coastal waters that obtain to the 26 Counties. All up the west belongs to Southern Ireland up as far as the tip of Donegal. We should be entitled to fish it. How have they a say on us having to shed 23,000 jobs? What are these fellas going to live in? Will they live in the wind or the sea air? God almighty, people are so hard at it, and people cannot keep a roof over their head even if they are in work every day and night as well. This is hurting the whole community. It is hurting the shops, the service men, the garages and every sector of the coastal community. There was something serious wrong before this cut in the quotas at all. For the last three years, 2025, 2024 and 2023, no mackerel came into the villages of Kilgarvan or Kenmare. They are not to be seen and not to be had. Who is taking them? Where are they going? Why is it being allowed? Have we anyone who can shout \"stop\"?  We hear now that because of the EU Presidency, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade is going to bulk up our Army or whatever it is. I do not know what that is for. These people are down on their knees. They went out bad days and good days to try to bring home a bit of a living and to keep food on the table, all the way from Castletownbere, in to Kenmare and out to the Iveragh Peninsula, all the way along the Dingle Peninsula and up to the mouth of the Shannon Estuary. The Minister of State spoke about a task force. I do not know what good this task force is going to do but I ask the Minister of State to do something, please. This is his time. He is the Minister of State with responsibility for the fisheries. I am calling him out now because we had fellas there before who did not do their job. He is there this time and he has a chance to do something about it. I ask him to seriously get down to work. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  First, I thank the Minister of State for the investment in Howth Harbour as part of the fishery harbour and coastal infrastructure development programme. It is great to see him out on the northside again and it is great to see that investment in safety works. He knows how much dredging and accessibility will help the fishermen and coastal community that I represent. The fishermen, marine workers and the wider community were very grateful to see the Minister of State there. However, I am seeking clarity on what he announced. Will the Syncrolift in Howth, which is more than 40 years old, be included? It is critical that the fishermen know if it will be. On dredging and silt removal broadly, will this also be included in other areas of Dublin Bay where sand is building up and creating a much greater risk?  On fisheries, I have a similarity to Deputy Healy-Rae. My grandfather was in Ballinskelligs as a fisherman over 80 years ago. He spoke to my family about the amazing work that was done there. That industry is really on its knees. Deputy Healy-Rae would not think he would have me here shouting for Kerry but I am here now.  During the election, I was endorsed by Se\u00e1n \"Dublin Bay\" Loftus's family. I had them in to the D\u00e1il last week and it was brilliant to talk to them. They spoke about Rockall and how their father hung out of an airplane screaming that it is Irish. Is there any update on the current status of Rockall, in Ireland's maritime interests? I have heard multiple Deputies talk about enforcement in our seas. I also recently submitted a parliamentary question in regard to the Defence Forces being properly resourced to defend key ports and monitor vessels travelling through Irish territorial waters. I would like the Minister of State to follow that up with the Minister for Defence. We need clarity on what is happening off our coasts to ensure we have the capacity to monitor them.  We need cross-departmental support to ensure we have the capacity to monitor them. We have enormous economic and environmental potential with ORE and everything else being built off our coasts. We need to have the resources to properly monitor it. Regarding communities like Howth, the investment is welcome but we need clarity on what that money will be used for so we know how to support fishermen, protect our coastlines and ensure Ireland makes the most of the opportunity. One of the most frustrating things for members of the public is when they see potential not utilised whether that is ORE, fisheries or renewable energy, it all comes together in the sense that we need proper supports to additionally resource them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Timmy Dooley  I genuinely thank everybody who participated in the debate today. There will be differences between us politically and some will seek to make political points. I fully understand; I know how that works but they are here because they care about the various communities they represent which, some greater than others, have a stake in the fishing industry. There are other counties that do not. We even had Deputy Maxwell who is from an inland county but has an interest in it. I appreciate the level of engagement and debate and the genuine understanding of the challenges the sector is facing. There is a historical context to all of this which some are more familiar with than others. In relation to the establishment of the quota available to Ireland, some of it relates to our track record and history and when we joined the European Union. I know it is a burden on the minds of a lot of people who say we have fish in our waters, other people can fish them, why should we not be finishing them principally. When we entered the European Union our waters became a shared resource of the European Union. Somebody made the point and it is often made to me by members of my own family, how is it that Belgium with a relatively small coastline has such a fishing opportunity in Irish waters particularly the Irish Sea for monkfish and others? Your fishing effort in the past, historically, and your boats in the water prior to joining the Union had nothing to do with how much coastline you had; it was how those citizens established an opportunity and went out and fished. There is no correlation. Until you get into that conversation, it seems like, God, how did Ireland fall asleep at the wheel. Historically, there are countries with relatively small amounts of coastline who are mariners at heart and had been commercially fishing. They were explorers back in the day, etc. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  Colonialists. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Timmy Dooley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Timmy-Dooley.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Timmy Dooley)  We could be here a long time if we got into that. They were ahead of the game in establishing their fishing rights and they were grandfathered in to the agreements that came. We are working off the back foot. When we joined the European Union our sector was very small and underdeveloped. It has done well. Some really great ingenuity went into it around the coastline in particular the pelagics and in other areas. They have really developed and now they are hit with the quota reductions. It is one thing having a quota but when the quota gets reduced then you are on the back foot. We fought hard on the Hagues. A couple of people spoke about the Hagues and whether we will take legal action. We are still waiting for the Office of the Attorney General to peruse that in detail. I was very upfront and direct previously - a case not dissimilar was litigated previously in the ECJ. It was found that the decision in relation not so much to the invoking of the Hagues but whether or not they are accepted it is a matter for the Council. The Council decided with a blocking minority to prevent them from going ahead. That decision is taken so it is hard to see a legal pathway. I do not want to be the one responsible for putting a further financial burden on the State taking a case until we see there is a pathway through or a possibility. If there is any chink there, we will certainly go after it. I am regularly in contact with other member states. We are trying to find diplomatic ways to engage with each other to see if come next year there is a less hostile environment. It is not obvious at the minute but we will keep all of that on the agenda. The work continues to get the allowable catch agreed by the end of March. We are hopeful there will be some positive in that for us. Positive would be an allowable catch agreed by all the parties - coastal states and the European Union - which we can stand over scientifically and leads to sustainability because that is critical. We cannot have a situation where we mind the fish and do everything right and others which have 80% of the opportunity operate with raw abandon. There is no point then in us then being best in class because it will not work. We have work to do in that regard.  A couple of other issues were raised. I have addressed some at committee previously. The SFPA regularly comes up for discussion. I cannot interfere with the SFPA. It goes before the committee and has a role there. It is like An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na - Ministers do not engage on individual issues but there is work that can be done. Having had a number of engagements with the SFPA over the past number of months and hearing the response in here, there is a recognition that the activities of the past of a different generation of fishermen have changed and perhaps the SFPA in its terms and conditions or the way it views the world has to align with that. We have to try to build a culture of trust between the two sides but at the same time be clear that the SFPA has a legal mandate which it has to protect, which it is doing. There could be an engagement there. There is work that can be done in terms of the rules and regulations. I take the point - the Killybegs one is particularly arduous in the guesstimation of what is in the hold of the boat. You do the guesstimation based on all the principles and if it turns out to be a mismatch with what ultimately goes through the factory, which is all recorded anyway, there is a price to pay. I have not been able to figure out how that makes sense. We have work to do on it and we will. I want to encourage that. The SFPA was before the committee previously and I do not think it worked very well. The SFPA will have to look at its engagement with the committee in its understanding of what the committee does and seeks to represent. Perhaps then the committee will understand, if it is fair and open, what the SFPA has to do. The committee now provides that opportunity. I would like to see more open dialogue not in relation to individual cases but on how we can improve things while retaining the rules, regulations and protections. If rules and regulations become undermined and are not properly enforced, we will end up in a situation with the auditors at European level holding the Government to account. I know that is not what fishermen want. They have seen the way things have developed and the systems now in place such as electronic tracking. We have taken a decision to proceed with the designation of Killybegs but we now have to go through a process of some further equipment that needs to be put in place which we are working on.  A good few people spoke about how we managed to get from here to the other side in terms of the reduction of quota. Others have rightly asked if it is going to be another task force that will talk shop. I have given it a time limit, stripped it back to the bare in what it needs to do and proposals need to come out of it. It will need to get a framework of financial supports. I made it clear to the Taoiseach and the T\u00e1naiste from the start that this will need ring-fenced funding to assist in getting through. I have no doubt when it is published we will be here again and it will never meet the expectations of the other side of the House. I understand that. That is the way it should be. There should be that tension here to keep all our feet to the fire in trying to achieve the best we can for all concerned. My view is we have three to five years of trying to hold the industry through a difficult period to get the conservation measures in place and then hope to see a recovery in the stock, hoping it is not overly based on climate change and the fish have not moved further north or out of our waters.  Issues about bluefin tuna were mentioned. There is an evaluation of the CFP due to be published before June at the end of the Cypriot Presidency.  I am hopeful if there is a review thereafter - the evaluation and then the review - that it is at a time like that where we can look at other potential opportunities on quota. The Deputy is right. Bluefin is coming into our waters with great regularity. There was talk about representation for the inshore guys who are primarily guys, or gentlemen. We ensure they are fairly represented. There are six of the inshore guys represented on that. We have to look at that separately. There are a lot individuals, small communities and small boats involved. We have to look for a medium- and longer-term support structure for them too. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank the Minister of State very much. That concludes statements on fishing quotas. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Fishing Quotas: Statements"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/dbsect_13","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Special Needs Assistants: Motion [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":59,"speakerCount":35},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_13","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donna McGettigan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  I move:  That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann:  notes that:  \u2014 the invaluable work of Special Needs Assistants (SNAs), who provide essential care and support enabling students with additional needs to access education, is under unprecedented threat;  \u2014 the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), acting under the restrictive and outdated \"care model\" criteria of Circular 0030\/2014, has conducted reviews under Circular 0032\/2025 that fundamentally fail to recognise the full, dynamic, and holistic role SNAs play in our schools;  \u2014 of the 584 schools who have received the outcome of their reviews to date, 194 are facing devastating cuts to their SNA allocations, with some schools losing up to six posts, directly threatening the quality of education and care they can provide;  \u2014 the long-standing policy of fostering greater inclusion, which had as its centrepiece the principle of supporting children to stay and thrive in mainstream education, is now being fundamentally reversed and the current removal of SNA supports will make it significantly more difficult, if not impossible, for many children with additional needs to remain in mainstream classes;  \u2014 the NCSE is acting as an unaccountable gatekeeper to educational support, operating without transparency, and applying rigid criteria that disregard the complex and individualised needs of real children;  \u2014 the Government's claimed \"pause\" on these reviews has proven to be a cruel illusion, offering no clarity, reassurance, or halt to the anxiety and confusion gripping school communities already notified of impending cuts;  \u2014 SNA numbers remain insufficient to meet existing demand, a crisis compounded by a statewide shortage of appropriate school placements, leaving countless children without an appropriate school place to learn and thrive;  \u2014 an online petition opposing these short-sighted SNA cuts has galvanised over 70,000 signatures, reflecting widespread public outrage and support for these frontline workers;  \u2014 the failure to implement the promised SNA redeployment scheme has left dedicated SNAs, who have already been notified of job losses, facing an anxious and uncertain summer, unsure of their future employment and livelihood; and  \u2014 this round of cuts is happening at a time when the new SNA Workforce Development Plan is under active negotiation;  condemns the Government for:  \u2014 inflicting profound distress and anxiety on vulnerable children, their families, and school communities through a rigid, clinical, and deeply flawed interpretation of care needs criteria, that reduces children to a checklist of tasks;  \u2014 heartlessly removing SNA supports from students whose needs have not diminished, effectively pulling the rug from under children who rely on this support to feel safe, included, and able to participate in school life;  \u2014 operating behind a veil of secrecy, by failing to publish the review criteria or provide any meaningful explanation for its devastating decisions, leaving schools and parents in the dark;  \u2014 wilfully ignoring the full scope of the SNA role, which extends far beyond basic care to encompass fostering independence, providing emotional support, facilitating social inclusion, and acting as a crucial link between the child, the teacher, and the family;  \u2014 applying Circular 0030\/2014 in a manner that effectively strips SNA support from autistic and neurodivergent children, on the basis that their needs are not classified as \"primary care needs\", and by classifying these essential supports as \"secondary care needs\" the Government is treating autistic and neurodivergent children less favourably than other children with additional needs, and this approach is in direct breach of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004, and potentially the Equal Status Act 2000, both of which guarantee fair and equitable access to services, including education; and  \u2014 creating a chaotic and deeply worrying environment for parents of children with additional needs by failing to provide an appropriate school place for every child with additional needs; and  calls on the Government to:  \u2014 immediately provide long-overdue clarity and a direct apology to every school, SNA, and family that has been informed of a pending cut, ending the cruel uncertainty they face;  \u2014 abandon the disastrous 2025\/2026 SNA review in its entirety and immediately reverse all cuts, affirming that the needs of children, not bureaucratic spreadsheet formulas, will determine resource allocation;  \u2014 commit to a root-and-branch review and replacement of the outdated Circular 0030\/2014, developing a new, fit-for-purpose framework, that recognises the evolving and essential role of the SNA in supporting the holistic needs of the child;  \u2014 urgently prioritise and publish a comprehensive SNA Workforce Development Plan, developed in genuine partnership with SNAs and their unions, that formally recognises and values the full, professional scope of their role, including their contribution to educational and social outcomes;  \u2014 immediately implement a fair and transparent SNA redeployment scheme, to provide job security for existing SNAs, and retain their invaluable experience within the school system;  \u2014 take immediate steps to significantly increase the number of SNA posts and special class places, to address the chronic and unmet demand, ensuring no child is left without a placement;  \u2014 guarantee that no future changes to SNA provision will be made without meaningful, constructive, and transparent engagement with schools, parents, and SNAs themselves, ensuring their voices and expertise are central to decision-making; and  \u2014 make a steadfast, whole-of-Government commitment that every single child with additional needs will not only secure an appropriate school placement but will also have access to the necessary Special Education Teacher support, SNA care, and therapeutic interventions they require to reach their full potential and participate fully in school life.  I welcome the very many visitors to the Gallery. Today, we debate more than a motion. We debate the future of special education in this country. We send a clear message to the Government that its late-night press release will not stop the momentum for change. Last night, under immense pressure from parents, special needs assistants and 80,000 citizens who signed a petition, the Government performed an eleventh hour U-turn. It announced that there would be no SNA cuts in September and pledged an extra \u20ac19 million in funding. This reprieve is welcome for the schools, families and SNAs who have spent weeks in absolute turmoil but this a victory won by the people, not a change of heart by the Government. The Government did not wake up suddenly with a sudden conscious. It retreated because it was caught. It retreated because it knew that tomorrow thousands would take to the streets and tonight this House would hold it to account.  We cannot allow a late-night rescue act to mask the fundamental truth. The system is still broken. The fundamental flaws and the hurt remain. The Government has offered a sticking plaster but let us look at what it has not done. For example, the outdated circular from 2014 - a rule book written 12 long years ago - is still on the books. The National Council for Special Education is still operating as an unaccountable gatekeeper. There is absolutely no guarantee whatsoever that this crisis will not repeat itself in 12 months' time.  The anxiety and distress caused by this fiasco cannot be erased by a Government statement. Families across the State were left worrying about September. SNAs have been left in limbo, their professionalism disrespected, and their dedication thrown into question by a rigid bureaucratic process. The Government owes them more than an apology. It owes them a guarantee that this reckless approach will never again be repeated.  Last night, Sinn F\u00e9in hosted an online meeting with 1,100 parents, SNAs, teachers, principals and people with disabilities. The anger and energy was palpable. Despite the Government's move, the momentum for change will not stop. It cannot stop. We need to see the circular from 2014 scrapped and replaced with a modern framework that recognises the full holistic role of a SNA, not just for primary care but for the emotional support, fostering of independence and social inclusion they provide. We need a fair redeployment scheme that protects jobs, not one that creates uncertainty. We need a cast iron whole-of-government commitment that every single child with additional needs will get the support they require as a matter of right, not as a matter of administrative convenience.  The motion before the D\u00e1il offers this Government a chance to do more than just reverse course. It offers it a chance to get the policy right for once and for all. It offers a chance to reset the relationship with the SNA community, parents and schools. Tomorrow, protests across the State and outside the D\u00e1il will go ahead. The momentum will continue beyond that. We are not here to accept a temporary reprieve. We are here to demand permanent change. We are here to ensure that every child with additional needs knows that we stand with them. We are here to ensure that every SNA knows that their work is valued, not by a press release but by a system that puts children first. I call on all TDs from every party to support this motion. Let us turn a reprieve into a reset. Let us turn momentum into lasting change. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh  The Government has finally woken up and seen sense on the SNA issue after what has been a policy failure of epic proportions. However, the question remains, why did it take two weeks to realise that stripping essential supports from some of the most vulnerable children in the State virtually overnight was wrong? This should have never of happened in the first place. Make no mistake if it was not for the ferocious determination of SNAs and families who dug their heels in and refused to accept these cuts, this out of touch Government would have ploughed on. Maith sibh ar fad.  C\u00e9 go bhfuil cinneadh an Rialtais ciorruithe c\u00fant\u00f3ir\u00ed riachtanas speisialta a chur ar ceal tar \u00e9is an bhuairt i measc an phobal scoile a mhaol\u00fa, n\u00ed dheachaigh s\u00e9 i ngleic go f\u00f3ill leis na bunfhadhbanna at\u00e1 againn. Caithfear r\u00f3l na gc\u00fant\u00f3ir\u00ed riachtanas speisialta a leathn\u00fa. N\u00edor ch\u00f3ir go nd\u00e9anfa\u00ed athbhreithni\u00fa ar aon leithdh\u00e1ileadh c\u00fant\u00f3ir\u00ed riachtanas speisialta go dt\u00ed go n-aithn\u00edtear riachtanais ioml\u00e1na na bp\u00e1ist\u00ed ionas gur f\u00e9idir le p\u00e1ist\u00ed le d\u00fashl\u00e1in chumars\u00e1ide, mhoth\u00fach\u00e1nacha agus iompair rochtain a bheith acu ar an taca\u00edocht at\u00e1 de dh\u00edth. T\u00e1 na crit\u00e9ir at\u00e1 ann faoi l\u00e1thair as d\u00e1ta agus n\u00edl siad ag coinne\u00e1il leis an m\u00e9id at\u00e1 ag tarl\u00fa sna scoileanna.  At Sinn F\u00e9in's public meeting last night attended by over 1,000 people, we heard directly from SNAs, parents, principals and disabled individuals who themselves have successfully navigated the education system with their SNA. Many spoke of feeling devalued by the Government's recent actions. SNAs described managing children's intense distress all while celebrating their little milestones - for example, a dyslexic child picking up a book independently and a child feeling empowered to start walking or to speak in class. One mother spoke of her son currently without the right support in school who returns home overwhelmed and frustrated due to having to mask his needs all day in school. We were all fighting back the tears at this meeting.  An apology is owed to the affected families. One woman made a powerful point that some children tuned into this conversation may have internalised the idea that they were somehow the problem. Nothing could be further from the truth. It is the system that has failed these beautiful children. Confidence and trust are shattered. An awful lot of work has to be done now to repair. That starts with showing SNAs and vulnerable children the respect they deserve. That means embracing a genuinely child-centred approach. No amount of shiny policy documents or talk of inclusion can convince us that the Government's approach is child-centred until every child has the support they need to succeed in school to the best of their ability. No child should be left behind. There should be no more rationing when it comes to children's education not when we are giving tax breaks to the wealthy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  This Government's treatment of SNAs has caused huge anger because the SNAs are already working hard day in, day out, alongside teachers to plaster over the cracks of a school system under pressure. SNAs are crucial, not just to the children with additional needs but to all the children in the classroom. What these workers, school communities, children and families have been put through is utterly and absolutely disgraceful. My colleagues are absolutely right that an apology is demanded and deserved.  All children, especially children with special needs, require routine and structure. They need predictability. With this Government's mistreatment of these children, it has ripped away that consistency, routine, structure and predictability. The greatest predictor of success in later life is independence with the activities of daily living. This is where SNAs play a key role.  Nowhere in all this debacle and crisis that the Government created was the children's voices heard. As Teachta N\u00ed Raghallaigh mentioned, we have seen 1,100 SNAs, educators and parents come together pouring out their hearts story after story about the hurt, anger and frustration at what the Government has done. It is has rightly done a U-turn on this issue but it has still left a serious question mark over what comes next.  What parents and schools are asking for is the most basic of respect. Pausing these cuts until September, when there will be another review, is not enough. The Ministers still left this threat hanging over schools. No parent, child, SNA or teacher knows what is coming next. If the review is still to be based on primary medical needs, we will be back at square one. This is why we need a comprehensive response that takes cuts off the table and ensures that every child with additional needs has the support of an SNA, whether this year, next year or the year after. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  Over the last number of weeks, children, SNAs and parents were put through mental torture because of a decision made by the Ministers' Government. What happened was disgraceful. The Ministers had a plan to cut SNAs from schools and to deprive some children of the supports they had. They thought they would get away with it. Over the course of the last two weeks, I listened to both Ministers doubling down because they thought this would blow over and go away. They were asked time and again on national media whether any schools would lose their SNAs. They were asked whether they could give a guarantee that no schools would lose SNAs and that no children would lose their supports. They were not in a position to do so because they were hoping this issue would go away. It did not go away because SNAs and parents stood up and were not having it. It was only when protests were being organised outside Government Members' constituency offices in county after county, when an online public meeting took place and when it became clear and obvious that this was not going to go away that we saw a partial temporary climb-down from the Government. I have a message for the two Ministers across from me. Temporary solutions are not going to cut it. They have to show respect and dignity to SNAs. They have to give a guarantee that there will not be any cuts this year, next year or the year after. Where more capacity is needed, they need to recruit more SNAs. They need to value all of the work SNAs do in every school across this State. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sorca Clarke  Despite Government's best efforts to paint a picture to the contrary, what happened over the last two weeks was not an administrative hiccup. It was a Government-manufactured shambles inflicted upon children who depend on stability and support, children who need the support of an SNA to feel safe, to stay regulated, to participate and to feel like they belong. The Government's letters caused panic and left exhausted parents terrified that the essential supports their children depend upon could simply vanish in September. SNAs were demoralised and schools were scrambling for answers. What did Government offer in response? It offered verbal acrobatics worthy of a three-ring circus while children carried the weight of Government chaos. The Government was willing to preside over children with additional needs struggling to remain in mainstream classes, teachers overstretched and parents in crisis mode until the public backlash became very apparent to everybody in government.  Government talks of inclusion but inclusion without support is not inclusion. It is abandonment. SNAs are not optional extras or bureaucratic line items to be trimmed. They are the difference between inclusion and exclusion and between a child thriving in education or just surviving. The lack of respect and appreciation for the job SNAs do is absolutely staggering. The Ministers must get off their hands, get to the table and engage with SNAs, schools and parents. The outdated focus on primary physical care needs must be replaced with a model that takes account of a child's whole needs. As a very proud autism mammy, I ask the Ministers to please stop treating autistic and neurodivergent children as lesser because their needs are arbitrarily classed as secondary. The work of SNAs must be professionalised and valued. Their profession must be respected for the rewarding, although at times very challenging, one that it is. Finally, the Ministers must own this omnishambles and apologise for the chaos they have caused. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  What Ministers and Government have relearned over the past number of days is a lesson they should have copped onto long ago. You do not mess with children with special needs or with the people who care for them because they will fight tooth and nail to ensure the people they love have their rights protected. There is a familiar phrase that anybody who engages with families of children with special needs will have heard time and time again. We hear that it is a battle a day to secure what their children are entitled to, whether that is an assessment, treatment or the right class in the right school at the right time. One of the things that has been inspiring and that brought Government to the point of releasing its late-night press statement was that the response has not just been from the families of children with additional needs or from the SNAs who love those children so much. The response was from whole schools. Communities up and down the country stood with those children who needed support and forced the Government to make what should have been an embarrassing U-turn, although it appears the Government is not embarrassed because the Ministers are still defending the situation that led to this catastrophe in the first instance.  Deputy Darren O'Rourke and others have very clearly set out what needs to happen to deal with the issues regarding SNAs. The Ministers need to heed that advice. They also need to bring a bit of accountability into their Department and ensure accountability from the NCSE. The responses we received to parliamentary questions in respect of special needs education are absolutely unacceptable. They give no information. When we get no information, it means the families get no information. Countless schools in my constituency still do not know whether they will have sanction for special classes come next September even though they have the space to cater for these classes, the demand for them and the utmost determination to deliver them. The blockage is with the Ministers' Department and the NCSE. There has to be a level of accountability. We now have some certainty regarding SNAs. That is crucially important but we need accountability across the board. We need to stop treating special education as crisis management. These are our children and our schools. They deserve more than that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan  I thank my colleagues in Sinn F\u00e9in for bringing forward this motion. I especially thank them for bringing together over 1,100 SNAs, teachers and parents last night. They shared with us some of the most beautiful, moving and powerful accounts of the difference that SNAs make in our schools. Most importantly, they spoke of the profound impact SNAs have on the development and well-being of tens of thousands of children across the State. There were tears, disgust, outrage, hurt, upset, alarm and fear. One lady with Down's syndrome spoke about her experience of having the support of an SNA and how it made her thrive and excel. It was an absolute lifeline for her. Last night's meeting left me wondering how the Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael-led Government could ever conclude that cutting the number of SNAs would result in anything other than a devastating impact on schools, teachers, families and children right across the country.  Schools still need clarity and SNAs still need certainty and not just a sticking plaster for another year. SNAs are not an optional extra. They are an integral part of our schools, woven into the very fabric of the school environment. They cannot simply be cut or relocated at the whim of the Minister or the NCSE. The fact is that children excel with supports. They deserve better than to be the subject of some box-ticking exercise. The Ministers should not just treat them like numbers.  I would really like to know what is wrong with this Government. Why does it keep making a mess of everything? At the end of every mess it makes are real people and, in this case, real children. They deserve better. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Donnelly  I listened to the Taoiseach today. It was probably the most out of touch response I have heard. I was absolutely shocked. I got an email today that really encapsulates how all of this feels.  I am writing as a parent of a child attending Pelletstown Educate Together National School and as a member of the wider community. My daughter is autistic and attends a mainstream class in our school. She thrives in an inclusive environment but she requires daily access to an SNA's support for her well-being, emotional regulation and participation in school life. This support is not a luxury. It is essential to her ability to access education safely and meaningfully. Her SNA provides crucial assistance with transitions, managing sensory overwhelm, communication support and helping her remain regulated enough to engage in learning. Without this consistent support she would struggle significantly in the classroom environment and her confidence, independence and overall well-being would be negatively affected. The presence of an SNA allows her not only to learn but to feel secure, included and valued amongst her peers. The SNA plays a vital role in enabling children with additional care needs to access their right to education on an equal basis with their classmates. They also ensure that teachers can focus on teaching while students with additional needs receive the appropriate care and support required throughout the day. For families like ours, appropriate SNA supports are the difference between a child merely attending school and a child truly flourishing within it.  The next sentence is the crux of the issue.  We are seeing attempts to limit supports to children and young people in our schools. Our school has seen increasing complexity and needs over the years. All schools have seen increasing numbers of students with increasing additional needs and you have attempted to cut and move SNAs using an extremely limited set of criteria rather than give every child the chance of attaining the highest level of education and space to enjoy their school experience.  Last night we heard 1,100 students and parents and we will continue to fight with them and to fight for all children who deserve the best education that we as legislators can provide them with. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Education and Youth (Deputy Hildegarde Naughton)  I welcome the opportunity to address the House this evening, to speak to this motion and provide an update on special needs assistants. At the outset, I want to be very clear: this Government is fully committed to supporting children with special educational needs and the programme for Government makes a number of commitments to deliver on this objective.  I want to state categorically that no cuts are proposed, or will be proposed, to the provision of SNAs to children and young people across our school system. Last night, the Government met and agreed a number of measures that will give clarity to schools, parents, young people and SNAs. These measures are: all schools reviewed by the NCSE and allocated additional resources will receive them in the upcoming school year; no reductions will come into effect in the 2026-2027 school year; and the SNA redeployment scheme, the SNA workforce development plan, and changes to the 2014 circular outlining the role of an SNA will be advanced before any further decisions are taken.  At the forefront of our deliberations was ensuring that the child-centred approach to the provision of special education is retained and enhanced in these policy developments. Working alongside almost 22,000 special education teachers, this September will see almost 25,000 SNAs play a key role in our schools, supporting children and young people with care needs. I know from meeting SNAs, families and young people that many children would not thrive in school without them. Their work, hand in hand with special education teachers, is paramount to helping children achieve. That is why I fully understand why we have heard a lot of genuine concern and worry over the last week from SNAs, schools and parents on how they might be affected by any changes to school allocations.  We have also heard a lot of misinformation. It is important to bring clarity on some of the issues. This Government has nothing but respect for SNAs, special education teachers, schools, students and their families. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  The Minister can hear the response to that from the people in the Gallery. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  I fully appreciate and endorse the need to ensure all special education policies are child-centred and designed to assist young people thrive in school and help them to reach their full potential. That is why the Government has provided more special education teachers and more SNAs, doubled the number of special classes, opened 16 new special schools in the last five years and massively increased investment in the summer programme, which has seen a threefold increase in its budget. To say that the Government is not funding resources for children with special educational needs is a mistruth. To say that the Government was proposing to make hundreds of SNAs redundant is simply wrong. To be clear, there are currently 23,179 SNAs working in schools across the country. Last year, there were 21,579. Next September, there will be 24,896 SNAs. Clearly, there was no proposal to make SNAs redundant. It is disingenuous of any party in this House to say so.  It is useful to speak to the role of the National Council for Special Education in this area. The NCSE has responsibility for co-ordinating and advising on the education provision and care support for children and young people with special educational needs in our schools. This includes the allocation of special needs assistant support to schools. I fully support the NCSE in its work. It is important to give some context on how the NCSE reviews take place. Special educational needs organisers, SENOs, are from various professional backgrounds and include occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, school principals, special education teachers, early intervention specialists, SNAs and mainstream class teachers. These SENOs undertake school reviews. The NCSE has always undertaken SNA reviews. In the 2024-2025 school year, around 1,400 reviews were conducted. In the current school year, some 1,000 reviews were completed.  Schools are notified in advance of a review, and the NCSE undertakes a robust process to ensure that reviews are based on the care needs of an individual school because, as Members of the House are aware, SNAs are allocated to schools, and not individual children. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  The Minister should tell the Taoiseach that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  There is no mindset in the NCSE to cut resources. The NCSE appreciates the complexities of school life and deploys leniency in its outcomes, working to retain supports available to children in schools. Among the information the NCSE requires to conduct a review are student support files for each young person. These files, which are compiled by the teacher, document an individual child's needs and their progress over time. They help inform the school in providing an appropriate level of support. Parents know what is best for their child. That is why, in addition to the student support plan, the NCSE asks that parents complete a questionnaire outlining the care needs of their child. Parents who may have difficulty in completing this questionnaire are provided with contact details for the SENO tasked with completing the school review, so their child's needs can be documented.  The review process also includes consultation with staff in the school, including class teachers, special education teachers, SNAs and principals. As I previously said, the NCSE works to retain supports for children, but circumstances arise which mean that an SNA may no longer be required. These include cases where a student or students with highly significant care needs leave the school or where children in receipt of support move to post-primary level or leave school. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  That is not what was happening. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  There are also the obvious and best outcome cases where children, with the assistance of their special education teachers and SNAs, gain independence and no longer require the same level of support. These outcomes are what our system is designed to achieve.  I reject the assertion that the NCSE operates, as one Member of this House has claimed, as an \"unaccountable gatekeeper\". Once a SENO has finished a school review, a national panel within the NCSE reviews this decision to ensure consistency and that care needs are being captured. If a school is not satisfied with the review, it can appeal it. This appeal is adjudicated by NCSE staff who were not involved in the original review. If a school is still not satisfied, it can request a further appeal from an independent panel, members of which are drawn from education stakeholder groups.  As I said earlier, the Government has agreed that three key documents are to be published in the near future which will provide additional clarity to the system. The first is the SNA redeployment scheme, long called for by SNAs and trade unions. This will provide a method by which SNAs can be redeployed around the school system to ensure we have the right resources in the right place. This scheme is near finalisation and was developed following significant stakeholder engagement to ensure it works for SNAs and schools.  The second document is the SNA workforce development plan, developed following extensive discussion and engagement with SNAs and trade unions. Development of the plan involved 55 meetings of five working groups, each of which included two SNAs, one of whom was a trade union member. There were also bilaterals with trade unions and meetings with a dedicated SNA workforce development group.  Finally, a 2014 circular outlining the role of the SNA will be advanced and completed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  It should have been done first. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  After these key documents are published, the NCSE can commence reviews of supports provided to schools for the 2027-2028 academic year which will uphold the integrity of the process, which allocates supports based on the needs of children.  As is the case at any stage of the year, and indeed for any school, the NCSE will be available to support schools and discuss with them the deployment of SNA resources allocated to support their students and their care needs. Schools can also request a review of their allocation if care needs change. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  This is an absolute joke. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  I understand the anger and upset that arose this week, and I fully accept that the process and outcomes were not properly communicated. I will work to ensure----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  Communication was not the problem; it was the Minister's decision. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  -----this does not happen again. We want an education system where every child and young person feels and is valued, and is actively supported and nurtured to reach their full potential. This Government is fully committed to supporting children with special educational needs. No cuts are proposed, or will be proposed----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  The Minister is in denial. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  ----- to the provision of SNAs. I thank families, the school communities and the young children and assure them that this Government is listening----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh  Apologise. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  The Minister is far from listening with that speech. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  -----and we are committed to doing the right thing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy M\u00e1ire Devine  I am a bit astounded by the Minister's response. I do not think it sets the tone. She is really doing herself a disservice. She is doing the Government a disservice. Most of all, she is doing all those people in the Gallery a complete and utter disservice. She has attacked the vulnerable. Why is it that the vulnerable get attacked time and again? These people have fought, rallied, protested, camped out and demanded that each child who needs an SNA is provided with an SNA. She has come in, in her wisdom - I say that lightly - and put a pen through all of that.  The Minister said there have been misunderstandings and mistruths. That is pretty strong stuff coming from her when she got it wrong. She has severely attacked SNAs, parents, pupils and principals and families across this country. She caused an awful lot of embarrassment to herself. She has made a U-turn but is not calling it that. I think she needs to own it. It goes down much better and she will get over it a lot quicker because these guys are going to let her slide off with the nonsense she has just said, and neither will we.  Again, it is the most vulnerable. I keep saying that. The most vulnerable in our society are always the first to be targeted and this is what is happening. I do not oppose the re-evaluation of SNA allocations across schools. It is vital to ensure schools are properly resourced and children receive every support in order to get a full education. From speaking with staff of schools in the Dublin South Central constituency, St. James's Primary School in Basin Lane and Canal Way Educate Together also in Basin Lane, they all agree. However, parents and SNAs in my district believe that her advised toolkit criteria is unfair. Many children who previously qualified for SNAs, such as those needing emotional regulation and managing sensory overload, no longer qualify. How wrong and tone-deaf can the Minister be? She should own her own misguided, misleading statements and actions and please do it now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donna McGettigan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donna McGettigan  Last night, I attended a meeting of well over 1,000 people. They were SNAs, parents and students. I listened to heartbreaking stories of fear and anxiety but I also heard stories of hope, of children who flourished, found their voice, were full of confidence because they had the support of a special needs assistant by their side. Today, after a brutal decision to cut SNAs, the Minister comes in here talking about no cuts and an extended pause. That is not compassion; that is a rowing back because of the public backlash. The very fact she even contemplated cutting this vital service in the first place tells families everything they need to know about where vulnerable children rank in her priorities. They are people. They are not just a diagnosis.  SNAs have said they face job insecurity every year. I have been contacted by schools, teachers, SNAs and students across Clare. They are shocked and angry, and rightly so. The SNA service should be used as a tool to empower children. Who does the Minister thinks builds relationships in classrooms? Who helps regulate and support children so that entire classes can function and learn? It is SNAs. They are not an optional extra; they are essential.  Children with additional needs deserve respect and dignity. These are two simple words that have life-changing impacts. Instead, what we have seen is disrespect. It is disrespect to students and to SNAs and an immense strain has been put on parents who already fight every single day for their children.  We face a shortage of special class places, growing waiting lists, children without appropriate placements and, at the same time, announcements of new classes where there is uncertainty about the infrastructure to properly support them. That makes no sense.  The true measure of any society is how it treats its most vulnerable. On this issue, the Government is failing that test. We know the value of SNAs. Families know the value of SNAs. The question is whether the Minister does. We need to protect SNAs, protect the rights and dignity of our children, parents, pupils and SNAs and schools need to see action, not big announcements when there are still not enough SNAs out there. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I begin by congratulating the parents of children with additional needs, the school communities and the special needs assistants themselves. Many of them are here tonight. I have been contacted by parents, principals and SNAs in Clondalkin, Lucan and across Dublin Mid-West over the past couple of weeks in relation to this. I was at an event on Thursday in Collinstown Community College, where people in Clondalkin are trying to make it an autism-friendly town. Members of the Minister's own party, Fine Gael, were there, getting photographs with children and parents. Where are they tonight? Not one of them is here tonight. They are ashamed to come into this room and back up what the Government is trying to do to the parents around here. The Government has done that much of a U-turn I am surprised the Minister does not have whiplash.  I listened to the Minister's interviews in recent weeks. All she had to say was some of the stuff that was said in this statement, although not all of it. She stated that all schools reviewed by the NCSE and allocated additional resources will receive them in the upcoming year. That would have stopped anxiety and worry for the SNAs the Minister sees here tonight. She stated that no reductions will come into effect in 2026 and 2027. She could not give those assurances to parents and SNAs in recent weeks.  The NCSE, which the Minister talked about earlier, is not perfect. Nobody is going to say it is perfect but the Government is using it as a scapegoat. The NCSE is carrying out her instructions to the letter. It is doing exactly what it was told to do. It is following the 2014 circular the Government brought in. The Minister should not stand up here and say she is blaming the NCSE----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  I am not saying that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  -----when the responsibility lies with the Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  I am not saying that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  The Government needs to take responsibility. In her ten-minute speech, I did not hear an apology to the people in the Gallery - not once, not one apology. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donna McGettigan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donna McGettigan  Bad tone. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  This has gone on for almost two weeks. The point was made earlier that it is a battle a day for the parents of children with special needs. All of us in this House know that because all of us are being contacted every day of the week by families who are trying to get an assessment of need, a place in a school or an appointment somewhere in the health service for their children but cannot get them. They are fighting continually and they are worn out. Sometimes they have children who hardly sleep at all and they have to stay awake with them.  This is the one time they get something that actually works. I know a school with a number of special classes and SNAs in place and to which children attending were very difficult. Within a short period of time - a number of months - you could see improvement and advancement, mainly because of the work being done on a one-to-one basis by the SNA with those children.  To suggest that somehow or other, the Minister miscommunicated or that there was a misunderstanding is the greatest load of rubbish anyone ever heard in their lives. The reality is that for two weeks, the Minister has wrangled and tried to say this or that but she would not come out and say she gave an instruction to review the SNAs with an intention of removing them from children in certain schools where she felt she could get away with it. That is what she tried to do and she needs to own up to that reality.  There are schools in all our constituencies looking to open up additional classes but cannot get it done. There are a number of them in my constituency. There are also special schools that want to open up more spaces but cannot do it because they cannot get the resources. This entire system is a shambles and has been a shambles for a long time.  However, this debacle over the past week or two has shown where the Government stands. It does not stand with the ordinary people out there who need the help they absolutely must have for the most vulnerable in our society. The Minister and Minister of State need to own up to this and apologise for what they have done. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Maurice Quinlivan  I wondered what the Minister would say when she came to the Chamber tonight. I was thinking about this all day. From what she said, I do not believe she has understood the stress, hurt and concern she has caused for families, schools and SNAs. The capitulation of the Government last night, while welcome, comes on the back of a campaign that was organised by SNAs, schools and parents. They should not have to do that.  One word was missing from the Minister's speech and that was \"sorry\". She did not say that. There should be an apology for the mess she caused in the last few weeks and the stress she caused for people who are dealing with some of the most vulnerable cases. Any TD or constituency office will tell her they never have a clinic without somebody coming to them with an issue around additional or special needs, children's school places, supports, SNAs, lack of SNAs, lack of school places, or projects being promised that have not been delivered. It goes on and on. There is never a clinic any of us go to where this issue does not come up. It is a huge issue.  I again thank the people who said they were not going to tolerate this and that it would not happen. Some of them are in the Gallery; fair play to them for coming tonight. There were 1,100 or 1,200 people at the Zoom meeting that was on last night. It was very powerful, as some of my colleagues said. They told their stories about their children. As my colleague, Deputy McGettigan said, there was not just sorrow and stress but hope in how kids thrive when they get the proper supports they need. The Minister needs to say sorry to people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  I thank Sinn F\u00e9in for bringing the motion forward. I welcome the fact there will be statements on this in the D\u00e1il tomorrow. I welcome any parents, SNAs or students who are in the Gallery.  The Minister and Minister of State will appreciate this has been a significantly difficult two weeks for SNAs, school communities, parents and children with additional needs. I have met and spoken with a number of school principals, SNAs and parents in particular across the country over the past two weeks as a result of the fact that supports were going to be taken from children. It has been said on a number of occasions in the House over the past number of weeks that cuts were going to take place. The Taoiseach refuted that on each occasion.  At budget time, I welcomed the increase in allocation of SNAs. I welcome developments in our education system. I always will but, fundamentally, we must ensure that resources are never taken for granted and never taken from children. That was what was going to happen. Although the fact is we were going to increase our allocation of SNAs, the rigid criteria created by the Department of education was ultimately going to take SNA provision and support from children. There is no refuting that because schools that had SNA provision got a review from SENOs and the NCSE and were told they were losing SNAs. That support was going to be taken from the child. That is exactly what was going to happen. The Taoiseach can state that no cuts were going to take place and jobs were going to be secured all he wants. Ultimately, provision of SNA allocation and resources were going to be taken from children.  Today, in response to my party leader, the Taoiseach said, \"The Government never signed off on this [initiative]\". This policy was created by this Government. The Department of education asked the NCSE to implement this policy. The NCSE did that. The SENOs went to schools, did the reviews and gave the letters back to the schools outlining X amount of SNAs they would lose or gain. They implemented that policy, so the Government did sign off on that initiative. I think the Taoiseach misinterpreted the facts. We did not ask him whether he signed every letter individually to each school but he has to stand over the fact, as do the Minister and Minister of State, that this was a Department of education policy implemented by the National Council for Special Education.  On the plinth this morning, I spoke about the fact I would hate to be one of the 120 or so SENOs in this country. Why? If I were a SENO asked to do a job, I might not have agreed with the policy. More than likely, because they are all human like us, the SENOs probably did not agree with the policy because they did not want to take resources from schools, but they had to go and have the tough conversations with principals of schools to say they were losing SNAs. Yet, this morning, they heard there was row back on it, and that the Government did not agree with the policy and was going to change it. All schools would keep their SNAs and the decisions the SENOs made, based on the policy the Government told them to implement, were no longer going to go ahead. I got a text from a SENO tonight who told me they were at home crying all day. Can you imagine that? That should not be the case.  In all these deliberations over the past two weeks, we should think of the number of people we as a State have failed. We have failed children with additional needs, SENOs and members of the NCSE who implemented a policy created by the Government. We have failed principals who had to have the difficult conversations with their SNAs to say they were last in and would be first out. I will also contribute on that.  In relation to the redeployment scheme, how did we ever believe it was acceptable to send letters to schools stating they were losing SNAs without ever having a redeployment scheme established? I understand the fact it will be done in a number of weeks. I welcome redeployment and understand it is necessary. I welcome it because, naturally, needs change in schools. I accept that, but how did the Minister and Minister of State ever think that sending these letters outlining cuts to SNAs in schools was okay, which would leave a cohort of workers in a situation where they had no idea where they were going to be working next year?  The Taoiseach assured us that no jobs were going to be lost. That is okay, but a person who has been a special needs assistant in a school for a certain number of years cannot be left in limbo. They cannot be left in a position where they do not know where they are going to be working. It could be 45 km away from their current place of work. I agree with the fact, which the Minister has said on a number of occasions, that the SNAs had a great say in this redeployment. That is to be welcomed. I will always welcome that all stakeholders be involved in creating different circumstances within the Department, but how did we ever think it was going to be acceptable to send a letter to a school to say it would lose SNAs, have principals bring those people into their office, tell them their job is gone, and that person having to go home not knowing where their job is going to be for the next year, or if they are going to be able to keep their job? So many SNAs have come to me and said that the job or position they have been offered is 0.25 hours or 0.5 hours. Realistically, there are naturally going to be cuts because nobody is going to take a position like that. Nobody will take up a position that is 0.25 hours. That could be 20 minutes of the week; I do not know how much it is. No one will take that, so naturally there will be cuts.  There are so many lessons to be learned from this. All of us in this House have to learn from this. We have abruptly tried to make a decision on taking provision of services from children. That should never ever be allowed to happen. If any child in this country needs a resource, money should never be a barrier. Whatever about that, it should never ever be incorporated into any policy that a child who needs a resource should not be given it. Why should we pit one child against another based on their individual needs? No child is the same as the other, so we should not pit needs against each other.  The Government must also accept that although it is a fact, which, as I said, I accept, that allocations have increased, the level of resources has not kept up with the level of need. There is a significant level of need in our country right now. I accept that there will be over 25,000 SNAs in our country.  It is wonderful and a brilliant achievement but it is not enough. We can do more. If we can get an allocation of \u20ac19 million overnight, what more could we do? I am here to help. Anything I can do, I will do, but when things have to be called out, the Minister has to appreciate that she has to own up to the mistake that was made. A policy decision was taken by the Department of education. The Department asked the NCSE to implement that decision, and it did so. That is the difficulty I have.  Does the fact that we are now going to review the policy mean that the Minister no longer has confidence in it? We allowed it to be implemented, and she knew it was being implemented. She took up her position and knew it was going to be implemented. Does she no longer have faith in it? If she does not, is it because there was such an outcry and a backlash against the Government? We do not need to be lectured on the role of the NCSE. I believe it, and the SENOs have been thrown under the bus. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  I thank Sinn F\u00e9in for tabling this important motion. I pay tribute to the thousands of SNAs, teachers, parents, school principals and those in the broader school community who have forced the Government to back down on the attempt to cull SNA supports for schools and children with additional needs across the country. It was the groundswell against this move and the national outcry of thousands of people that got us to where we are now. However, our already stressed and strained school communities should not have had to do this. The roll-back of the move is absolutely welcome but it cannot be the end point. It must be the beginning of something new. It must, we would hope, be the beginning of a fundamental reassessment of our special education system, from the role of the SNA to how levels of need are determined and how SNA support is allocated within schools.  I refer the Minister to Ciara Reilly's Substack page, as others have also done. Ms Reilly has written a series of excellent articles on how this debacle has unfolded. I will briefly refer to a couple of the points she made. The first is the issue with the SNA deployment toolkit. From what I can see, that is where all roads seem to lead in many respects. Under this mechanism, SNA support is allocated almost exclusively to children with the most significant primary care needs. The threshold for meeting those needs seems to be applied quite rigidly. The upshot is that children with perhaps less severe and often more behaviour-based needs can be excluded. However, those children, including children with sensory issues, attention issues and those who require emotional regulation, need and deserve SNA support too. Teachers who are already overburdened will be further strained without that support. Ultimately, this harms all students, be they children in mainstream classes, children in special classes or children in special schools, and their right to a decent education. We can debate technicalities and administrative matters concerning how we deploy SNAs but we cannot lose sight of the fact that beneath all of this is the well-being of children.  The second key issue is the 2014 circular that defines the role of the SNA. It evolved the role into one that seems to be much more focused on caregiving than supporting access to education. This means SNA support is granted only in acute circumstances, where care needs are considered at the expense of educational needs. This sidelines an entire cohort of children with special educational needs who do not fit neatly into the criteria or tick a very specific box.  The role of an SNA should fundamentally be about supporting a child's access to education. This may require some care-based responsibilities, but we cannot allow a situation to emerge where children who require additional support are denied it because they do not fit into the correct box. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  I thank Sinn F\u00e9in for tabling this motion and the work it has done on it today and over the past while. The Opposition and several Members on the Government side are united on the fact that what occurred should never have happened. The Government has been forced to climb down because of enormous public anger. It is a victory for parents, SNAs, school communities, advocacy groups and others who have contacted every TD, Senator and publicly elected representative.  Unfortunately, the Government is now desperate to kick the can down the road for another year. I will come to that in a minute, because what happens the year after will also be a challenge. What has occurred has led to so much uncertainty for SNAs and the children they support. The handling of the issue over recent weeks has been disastrous and consequently it has caused huge distress among families, school leaders and, of course, SNAs.  The countrywide protest planned for tomorrow will go ahead. Perhaps the announcement very late last night was a bid to prevent it, but the reality is that it now needs to happen more than ever because this should never have happened. When the protest happens tomorrow, three things will be asked for, the first being that the circular, which is too narrow and outdated, be revised. Meeting primary care needs was what the SNA role was originally created for. However, that role, like many things in education, has evolved. The circular needs to evolve to reflect the reality of the needs of students in our schools now. I really hope the Minister can redeem herself by ensuring it reflects the reality in the schools and the needs of the children.  Second, the Department must bring forward all stakeholders. There are experts. One cannot know everything and the NCSE cannot, but there are experts who know many things and they need to be engaged.  Third, there must be a full understanding of how redeployment will happen. The reality is that the relationships SNAs have with the children they support are key. You cannot help a child to regulate if they do not trust you and it is not safe.  It is vital that redeployment is not treated as a numbers game. This will be the most important thing that happens. Redeployment is not just about one child leaving a school and about knocking off a few hours here and there; it is about relationships. It is as fundamental as any other part of the school system. You cannot just knock off bits of things because it makes sense to do so in a numbers game. The relationship aspect is so important. The Government needs to rebuild the trust that has been so badly damaged. I do not envy the Minister. I am sure that, from a personal perspective, things have been torturous for her over the past while, but that must not supersede the torture that families, children and SNAs have experienced. She will have to work very hard to restore trust.  The Respect for SNAs campaign started in 2019. I was a member of F\u00f3rsa at the time. The campaign started because SNAs were not respected and not valued or treated as they should have been within our education system. What we can see now is the respect that SNAs have among all parents, schools and those who contacted members of the Opposition. I am aware that the Minister has said she respects them, so she now needs to demonstrate that in action. She needs to prove herself to show she does respect SNAs.  In the background is the question of what will happen of foot of the change regarding assessments of need on entering special schools. How will allocation work? This year everything was supposed to be sorted out, but there will be another nuance to consider when children do not need the diagnosis. How will special education places be allocated then?  That brings me to special schools for mild general learning disabilities. How will these schools avoid becoming catch-all schools? How will they avoid the erosion of the specialised care they are excellent at providing to children with mild general learning disabilities? A one-size-fits-all approach is going to be a huge failure in this regard.  The Taoiseach said earlier that he will work with the Opposition and, as other Members noted, with whoever needs to be worked with to get this sorted. The reality is that this has gone wrong. We have to work together. We have to work with whoever has the knowledge. We do not need to be precious about it; we need to get it done. Therefore, I have written to the Taoiseach and asked, on the basis that one of the requests for tomorrow is for the protest, that he engage with the relevant Ministers and facilitate it. I think he gave me an answer in which he said \"Yes\", so I have written to him to ask how it can be facilitated.  There was no apology today. Tomorrow there will be an apology for another group of people who were harmed, many moons ago, in our schools. I hope an apology regarding SNAs never has to come. The Minister has time now to rectify the problem and ensure this does not continue to be an absolute disaster. What is important now is that lessons be learned from this. Nothing like this should ever happen again. I am asking the Minister and Minister of State to take stock in order to ensure that the necessary steps are taken and fully considered. I ask them to listen to stakeholders who have experience.  I also ask the Minister and the Minister of State to please bring humanity back into the classrooms because what we have seen over the past few days should never happen. We should never, ever have to apologise to children in the future. We will be doing that tomorrow for things that happened in the past and we cannot do it in the future for what is happening to children today. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Liam Quaide  I commend Sinn F\u00e9in on its motion. What we have witnessed in recent weeks on the issue of special needs assistants has been nothing short of a fiasco, one that has caused deep and unnecessary anxiety for families, teachers, principals and SNAs across the country. At its core this episode reveals a Government that still does not understand the daily reality of inclusion in our schools. Instead of planning properly for rising need, the Department of education attempted a crude \"robbing Peter to pay Paul\" exercise, shifting supports from one school to another as if children's needs were interchangeable and as if relationships, stability and continuity in the classroom did not matter. This was not meaningful, consultation-based workforce planning; it was spreadsheet management. It was based on a fundamentally outdated and narrow understanding of what SNAs actually do.  The Government continues to speak about SNAs as if their role is confined to physical care needs, but anyone who has spent time in a modern classroom knows that this bears little resemblance to reality. SNAs support children with emotional regulation and sensory overwhelm. They support communication, participation and belonging in education. They often provide the steady relational presence that allows the child to remain in school at all. Crucially, however, SNAs not only support the individual child with an identified disability or additional need; they support the entire ecosystem of the classroom. Their presence allows teachers to teach. It allows other children to learn without recurring disruption. They create the conditions in which inclusion works, not just in theory but in practice. Remove that support and the impact is felt across the whole class, not just by the one child.  We should also say something clearly about the people doing this work. SNAs are not highly paid for the invaluable work they do every day, which is emotionally demanding, highly skilled relational work. They are poorly rewarded. Yet, despite that, they remain one of the most committed groups in our education system.  If the Government is serious about inclusion, then the forthcoming workforce development plan for SNAs cannot be just another review exercise. It must deliver a secure, decent contract structure, proper career progression and the recognition of the full scope of the SNA role. Any future review of SNA allocations must be grounded in the full breadth of what SNAs actually do in schools, not in a narrow, outdated definition that ignores the relational, regulatory and classroom-wide impact of their work.  Once again, we see the same underlying mindset from the Government. Essential front-line staff are viewed primarily as a cost to be contained rather than as an investment in children, families and the functioning of the education system as a whole. When that mindset dominates, what follows is entirely predictable: short-term, politically reactive decisions and crisis management instead of forward-planning. We saw it in the rushed communications to schools, in the confusion over allocations and in the Government scrambling to reassure parents only after public anger became insurmountable and impossible to ignore. Now we hear talk of deploying clinicians into mainstream schools as if to compensate for future cuts to SNAs.  Multidisciplinary supports in schools are desperately needed. Educational psychology, speech and language therapy and occupational therapy services should be embedded in our education system. However, where is the plan, where are the timelines, where is the workforce strategy and where is the clarity on recruitment, funding and delivery? At the moment, this looks less like a reform programme and more like a political holding statement designed to get the Government through the current news cycle. What families and schools need now is forward planning, transparency and a clear commitment that supports will expand in line with need and not be shuffled around when pressure builds and cost containment becomes the narrow priority. If we are serious about inclusive education, we must treat SNAs and school-based supports as core assets, no different from classrooms, transport or teachers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  I have a constituent who has a daughter with complex behavioural needs. She has severe ADHD and a mild learning disability. They recounted their story to me on Monday. It really drove home for me how much parents have to fight and advocate for everything for their children, the very real risk for too many families who are not equipped to do so and the subsequent gaps in how this Government and the State support children with special needs. In this particular case, it took nearly two years for early checks to be done on the child or for the child to get access to the CDNT in the area. It took another year to get involvement from CAMHS. This resulted in the family going privately for medication. All the while, the education supports were not forthcoming. The Department's approach on reallocation of resources has been nothing short of scandalous, a truly dispiriting display of callousness, ineptitude and neglect. It has been well established in this Chamber and outside of it that the criteria for allocation of resources for children with special needs are not comprehensive enough. They are simplistic. They do not recognise the principle of equity in addressing each child's experience and, as a result, are deeply unjust. As my constituent said to me, inclusion without adequate resourcing is not meaningful and we are storing up the problem for a much bigger one in the future. I could not agree more.  I also pay particular tribute to the teachers, schools and SNAs who take care of children with special needs so well, who go above and beyond, even if this Government is not willing to do so and even when resources are not forthcoming, and who do everything to help, even when the Government does not. In this vein, I implore both the Minister and the Minister of State not to pit schools, parents or differing conditions against one another for those resources. That would be, as it has always been, an unmitigated disaster for everyone involved. Please do better. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  The proposed cuts and review, as it was called, which were really cutbacks, were a total disaster and have generated a massive amount of concern. There has been a huge backlash to it from parents, SNAs, teachers, unions and families. In County Laois, two schools were going to have their SNAs, vital supports, cut. It has created all those concerns and uncertainties and fear in those schools and in the families who need them. The plan must be scrapped, not just paused.  In Laois, Timahoe National School and Rath National School were facing cuts in their SNA allocations. I had numerous letters, contacts and discussions with parents in those schools. If these cuts were implemented, it would have had disastrous consequences not just for the children with the additional needs but also for their classmates. Quite simply, a teacher would have to do the work of the SNA and would have to fill the gap. SNAs are vital to enable children who have a level of disability or some additional needs to stay in the mainstream classroom setting. The alternative is children falling away from school or going to an ASD class when that is not maybe where they should be, or going to a special school. SNAs provide vital assistance, not just with physical needs of pupils but also with the psychological, learning and emotional needs and they are a crucial support. Some of these schools now have classes where up to 40% or 50% of the children are from households in which English is not the first language, particularly in the Portlaoise area, and that needs to be factored in. This is a huge problem for families and for teachers trying to cover this.  The real problem with what the NCSE and the Government planned is that there is an obvious attempt to narrow the role of the SNA. The lack of any serious engagement prior to that with SNAs, unions, parents and school representatives is regrettable. The circular sent out - and this is where the difficulty arises - was clear. It states: \"The behaviour should be supported holistically with whole school and whole class approaches and individual needs supported by the class teacher\". The class teacher is then taken away from teaching the other 20 or 25 children each time there is some disruption with the additional needs of a child who needs this. I ask the Minister and the Minister of State to picture that situation and to explain to me how that would work. It cannot work.  The Government needs to shred this NCSE plan. This should not be just a stay of execution. The Government should get rid of it. There needs to be proper engagement with teachers, unions and SNAs. The Government needs to work towards putting improvements into the SNA system and ensure that children have the proper support they need in the place they need it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  We have witnessed a nationwide revolt against the cuts that were being implemented to SNAs and, as a result of that revolt and the threat that it will escalate, the Government has backed down.  That is a great victory for the SNAs, parents, teachers and school communities who stood up, fought back and refused to accept these misguided and frankly cruel cuts. However, as the Minister has been told, the protests are going ahead tomorrow. The reason they are going ahead, from talking today to my former primary school community and the principal there today, and to others involved in the protests, is that they do not trust the Government not to have them back in a year's time where we were in the past week or two. That is basically it. The parents of children with special needs have spent every week, month and year of their children's lives fighting for adequate resources and for assessments, services and therapies they do not get most of the time. They do not trust the Government because it has failed them, and they cannot understand how it got to proposing the cuts it tried to implement last week.  Simon Lewis, the principal of Carlow Educate Together National School, put it very well to me about a year ago and I said it at the time in the D\u00e1il. When I asked him how the allocation issue could be resolved, he said to trust schools. It is as simple as that; we must trust schools, not operate on the basis of organised distrust or fear. This is what was going on if you listen carefully. The Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, was in my former primary school, Johnstown national school. It was at the epicentre of these cuts and was to have its SNA numbers cut from nine to 3.8. All the schools in the local area were there at a meeting. The Minister was saying that an awful lot more people are being diagnosed with special needs and asking if it was because we did not identify them before or if it is because there are more. I thought to myself that while she was asking an interesting philosophical question, it did not make a damn bit of difference to what is actually needed, which the school knows. If you listen to the school, the SNAs and the teachers, they know what is needed. We should believe them because they are not making it up. If the Government had started with that, it never would have come up with the misguided policy. The misguided policy was because of fear that the Government might have to put more resources in. That was the actual reason, and now the Government has been forced to put more resources in anyway because of the revolt. However, schools do not trust the Government not to do the same in a year's time because they have been let down so badly. They need reassurance that the Government has learned its lesson from this, that it is going to trust schools and that it is not going to treat people like numbers when it is rewriting the circular. It is an insulting circular that talks about anybody who does not have medical needs as having challenging behaviour. That is like a throwback to the 1950s and the badly behaved children. The schools want educators involved in the rewriting of that circular. We need commitments on that, and we need a recognition. We need the therapies in schools, not pilots.  By the way, we need to create the places in higher and further education in order that people who want to be qualified can get qualified. I happen to know somebody who has a master's degree and a bachelor's degree and applied for the UCD course in psychology. There were nine places for 270 applicants, so she did not get it. There were 270 applicants but only nine places. We need hundreds of these people. Why are there only nine places in UCD for clinical psychology? There is about the same number for educational psychology and counselling psychology. Why are we rationing access to the education necessary to get people qualified to provide the services that children with special needs need, and that we need in the schools? It is unbelievable. Basic things need to be done, but if the Government trusts and listens to schools, does not see this as cost containment and does not see children as numbers, there might be some chance the schools will believe the Government is not going to have them in the same place in a year's time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  I am genuinely shocked at the Minister's response to this motion. Last week, the Government and the Minister spread fear, trepidation, confusion and chaos across this country for parents, special needs assistants and entire school communities. There is not even a mention of an apology or an \"I am sorry\" in her contribution. That is disappointing, to say the least. It indicates to me that the Government does not understand what it has done to parents, special needs assistants and school communities over the past couple of weeks.  Parents of children with special needs have to fight and advocate for everything for their child. The minute they discern the slightest problem, there is anxiety, stress and sleepless nights. Then they have to look for an assessment of need for which there are huge waiting lists of over two and a half years, even though time and early intervention are absolutely vital. Many of them have to scrimp and scrape to go privately for an assessment and a diagnosis. Then they have to fight to get a school place. They may have to go to the High Court for that. When they get a school place it may be anything up to 25 miles from their home. I had a case of that only last year. Parents are under pressure from day one and are running on empty, with huge levels of stress, anxiety and sleeplessness.  Earlier today, the Taoiseach refused to answer the core question in this whole issue. Again, the Minister refused to address it in her contribution this evening. The core issue is the criteria by which a child with special needs is allocated a special needs assistant. The current situation is simply untenable and unacceptable. It is outdated, too narrow and does not reflect the duties currently being carried out by special needs assistants in our schools. The contribution of the Minister indicates to me that last week's pause was simply a cynical exercise to buy time, and that the climbdown last night, welcome as it is, was forced by protests on the streets and protests promised for tomorrow and the weekend.  The current situation, where a child with autism who is overwhelmed, a child who is anxious and unable to learn without adult support, a child who needs help with communications, a child who needs help with social understanding or a child who needs help with emotional distress or sensory difficulty does not qualify for a special needs assistant, simply has to change. That is what the protests are about, and those protests are going to continue until that situation changes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  If Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn does not arrive, Deputy Flynn will probably take his time.  What has happened over the past few weeks with regard to special needs assistants has been nothing short of disgraceful. Families, schools and SNAs were thrown into turmoil because the National Council for Special Education sent out letters telling up to 200 schools that they would lose SNA support next year. In some cases, schools were staring down the loss of half of their entire SNA team, a blow no community could possibly absorb. It was not common sense from the Government that stopped these cuts. It was the people - the parents, SNAs, teachers and communities who stood up. Tens of thousands of people signed petitions and protests were being organised up and down the country. The pressure became too big, and only then did the Government finally blink and pull the handbrake. Now we are told that no school will lose an SNA in September and that an additional \u20ac19 million in funding will be provided to protect those posts. That is welcome but, if we are honest, this is an embarrassing, last-minute U-turn that should never have been needed in the first place.  One of the many emails I received from parents stated:  Dear Michael, I'm contacting you in relation to the national issue of reduced SNAs in our primary school. To say this is an issue of the utmost importance would be a grossly misrepresenting statement. As a parent of a child who for the last two years has been availing of the SNA service within our school - a local primary school - I find the prospect of reducing the very necessary numbers of assistants in future disgraceful. My son who's now aged six has been within the catchment of the special needs programme since he began primary school and has flourished with the help of an already under pressure service. Over the last two years, we have seen our son grow up in a system where he now looks forward to attending school in the morning as he is being equipped with the necessary skills to interact with students, teachers and parents alike. This has been a godsend for both my wife and I. To see my son benefit from the little extra attention that is most certainly needed on a daily basis has been eye-opening as to the benefits of the service. The benefits of this are making and retaining friends, coping under pressure, with social interactions, emotional support and regulation, academic performance and general mental health and well-being. These are but a few of the benefits that we as parents see on the most superficial level and are not yet aware of the long-term benefits that this will most certainly have on our son but are confident that the benefits will be massive. I'm asking you to help get the government to reassess and reconsider the proposed actions for the benefit of Ireland's future generations.  This is a generation that the Minister cannot and must not let fall between the cracks of society. SNAs do not constitute another luxury. They are essential. They are the difference between a child getting through the school day with dignity and support or being left behind. Anyone who works with SNAs, especially in rural Ireland, knows the enormous weight they carry. This should never have been treated as a line item that one can cut on a spreadsheet, yet that is exactly what happened.  We are told the measure has been paused but a pause is not a fix, as has been pointed out. The entire framework behind SNA allocation is out of date and unworkable and is leaving families in constant fear that their support will be taken away year after year. The Government should not congratulate itself on reversing a mistake it should never have made. It should fix the system, scrap the broken allocation model and give schools and families the certainty they deserve, not reviews, pauses or panicked letters landing on principals' desks.  I was speaking to a teacher over the weekend who has two SNAs in her classroom. She told me that there is no way she could teach her other students and help the two children in her classroom that needed help. Deputy Boyd Barrett said the Government should trust schools and teachers. That is where the breakdown is happening here. I was on a board of management for long enough, so I know how difficult it is to run a school. The Government does not trust these people and this was built on the back of untrustworthy carry-on. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  I welcome that the Minister went into reverse gear at the last minute last night in the wake of threats of large protests. Members of this House and councillors, certainly Independent Ireland councillors, have received emails on this issue from various parents all over the country, including those in my own constituency, from Ballincollig to Whitechurch and from north Cork to east Cork to west Cork. People from Kerry have contacted me. A total of 200 schools are affected. One thinks of the number of parents, principals and SNAs who were affected. Last night's announcement by the Minister's office led to a sigh of relief from a number of people. These parents really do have enough on their plate. Someone who is looking after a child with special needs or additional needs has enough to worry about without somebody from the Department drawing a line, making that child a statistic or figure and deciding whether he or she is ill enough or weak enough or whether his or her problem is big enough or acceptable. Deputies Boyd Barrett and Michael Collins said it; trust is now gone. The little line of trust that was there, between parents and the Department of Education, is now gone, as is the trust between the principals and the Department. Trust between SNAs and the Department has certainly gone, given the way SNAs have been treated. Rebuilding that trust takes more than a half-winged apology in the House this evening. As one Deputy said, the Minister did not even have the courtesy to say \"sorry\", put up her hands and say she got it wrong. It would have been better if she had done that.  The Minister confirmed that there are 23,000 SNAs working in schools. This is a lot of people who are working for a nine-month period and being paid over 12 months. They are low-paid workers who are sometimes treated well in schools and sometimes treated not as well as they should be. These people are at the front line. They make up a marginal workforce but they are the backbone of inclusion in this State. We find ourselves underpinning the State on the work of these people.  One thing the Minister did not mention was the 20,000 children who remain on waiting lists for an assessment of need. This is not an abstract figure. It involves children waiting for recognition and support and waiting for the State to respond. We cannot describe ourselves as a system that is child-centred with thousands of children on waiting lists at the front door of this Department.  Over the past two weeks, I have heard from people all over my constituency and beyond. The one message was that this cannot go on. This has been going on since Circular 0030\/2014. Classrooms have changed and needs have become more complex. Diagnoses of autism have increased and population growth has accelerated well beyond the projected figures we had for 2026. We have now reached a certain demographic milestone that we did not expect to reach until the next decade. Instead, these numbers have arrived early in our schools and our education planning has not adjusted to keep pace with that. If we had shown the workforce any respect, Circular 0030\/2014 would have already been modernised, we would not have to have this debate at this late hour and we would not have to have all these people in the Public Gallery. It is now 2026. The Minister is not unintelligent, so surely she should know Circular 0030\/2014 is not fit for purpose. In fact, it is more of a handler's guide book than something that meets the needs that are there. Anyone who has a scintilla of knowledge, knows an SNA or has witnessed what an SNA does knows that the SNA takes the child with a little bit of dyslexia who is frightened of a book and encourages him or her to read and then takes the next step and encourages him or her to read aloud. The work of SNAs is unbelievable, from the soft touch to the word of encouragement. SNAs sit with children with eating disorders and encourage them to eat their lunch but, under Circular 0030\/2014, they cannot open the lunch box. That does not make sense. It is not fit for purpose any more. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  The Government announced its decisions regarding SNAs last week like a wrecking ball. It was an incredible situation where teachers, parents, SNAs and, of course, children were not spoken to. The manner in which the Government presented this information to schools around the country was incredible. It created a wave of stress and panic in many families and many schools last week. The ineptitude of the Government's approach last week was startling and it showed the lack of centrality of families, SNAs and teachers in the Government's plans for this space, as if its plans are divorced from the people they are meant to affect and help in the future. I welcome the Government's U-turn on this but this is a result of that ineptitude.  The reality is that special education in this country is a national scandal. We have a system that does not support children. We have a system that battles children and parents. Just a few weeks ago, parents were forced to sleep outside Leinster House to protest and demand their children's right to education. These are families who have been locked out of education and have received up to 60 rejection letters from schools and children who applied at the age of four to start school and by the age of six had still not secured a school place. That the Department and the State would fail in their constitutional responsibility here is shocking.  What is the reward for those children who had to struggle? Once they finally kicked down the door and gained access to the classroom, the Department's first instinct was to pull the rug from under them and slash SNA supports in certain schools.  It is cruel to give children a seat at the table and then take away the support they need to sit at that table. The State has spent 22 years in non-commencement of the EPSEN Act as a shield against its own responsibilities. Section 2 is not an aspiration; it is a mandate that these children should receive their education in an inclusive environment. By withdrawing SNA support, the Government made an inclusive environment impossible in certain schools, for certain children. The Government is effectively carrying out a backdoor repeal of their rights, telling these children that their place in mainstream education is conditional on a Department spreadsheet rather than their legal entitlements. That is a massive mistake for this Government to make. Each one of these children is a citizen of this country, and the job of the education system is to make sure that each of them reaches their full potential, rather than have a situation where they are in a constant battle with the Government. I ask that we have a proper review of this system and match resources with needs throughout the education system. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  I welcome all the SNAs in the Gallery. I apologise that I could not stop to chat to them; I was running to a committee. I recognised some of them. I was not being rude; I swear. I thank the Minister of State for his visit to St. Michael\u2019s House today. I have often seen him in special schools in north Dublin. It is great to see him there, taking that hands-on approach. What we saw today was the SNAs at work, and the pride they showed could not be more topical for this debate. We saw that investment is needed in Baldoyle and St. Michael\u2019s House. It is needed in St. Michael\u2019s House and across north Dublin, especially, as I am always saying to the Minister of State, in Stapolin Educate Together National School, speaking of SNAs.  Regarding the SNA allocation, I welcome the announcement last night but, as we all know, it is far too often we are reactive rather than proactive. We are putting out fires. This should never have happened. The fear, terror and uncertainty that spread among teachers, parents and students in my constituency and across Ireland should never have occurred. That is important. Someone in the Department has acknowledged that already and I welcome that, but it should never have reached that point. The gap still remains, and I heard other Deputies speak about the 2014 circular which still defines the role of an SNA primarily in terms of care support. That circular is more than a decade old, however, and it is clearly not the case.  SNAs support everything and everyone. They support speech and language and occupational therapies. They facilitate everything. The Minister of State goes to schools; he has seen them. They do everything. They are the extra everything. They are integral members of the school community. I have spoken to some of the SNAs I grew up with, such as Audrey Byrne for example. When I was in the school I asked her what she wanted me to speak about. She was the heart of the school; she was in everything. She is still in the school. She mentioned the fact that it is very difficult for SNAs at the moment. Some of them must arrange voluntary contributions themselves rather than it being directly taken out of their pay. Two professions of teaching working side by side under the same roof and in the same classroom should not face different levels of payroll support when planning for their financial future. It may seem to be just an administrative issue but it speaks volumes about how we value this role. We need to extend beyond policy documents into employment practices. Going to the schools, as the Minister of State is already doing, is going to change that, and I welcome that. The most vulnerable pupils depend on SNAs, and giving a child the right to thrive is the bare minimum. One of the fundamentals of a Government is that we give every single chance to any citizen of this country.  Our schools depend on SNAs. The State depends on SNAs to make inclusive education a reality. There are huge commitments in the programme for Government. I welcome the announcement made last night but it should not have come to that. While I was campaigning before the election - it is the reason I am involved in politics - a woman named Eleanor Lanigan was on the door speaking about SNAs. She is fighting illness at the moment and I wish her a speedy recovery. I know she is watching these proceedings. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Carol Nolan  Whatever a Government may say and whatever it may have done in the past few days to try to stem the tide of parental fury on this issue, there is no disputing the key point put forward in this motion, namely, that this fiasco has inflicted profound distress and anxiety on vulnerable children through a rigid, clinical and deeply flawed interpretation of care needs criteria. We all welcomed the announcement that there will be no reduction in the number of SNAs for the next school year, and of course we welcome the additional \u20ac19 million in funding. However, as has already been noted, this does not address the fundamental issue around access criteria, nor does it make clear where the \u20ac19 million will come from - perhaps the school building budget or this summer work scheme; who knows. We need clarity on that. It certainly cannot come from either of those pots.  Indeed, when it comes to children's needs in this State, it seems there is a perpetual state of crisis. We need only mention the blight of child homelessness, the children's disability network teams in Offaly and elsewhere which are grossly understaffed, the CAMHS scandal of overmedicated children, and the school meals programme that is handing out poor quality and mislabelled food. This SNA fiasco is just the latest in a long line of issues where the State is actively failing our children. Trust has been shattered on this issue and it will take more than a severe U-turn, one that could have given Government Ministers whiplash, to repair that trust.  As a former principal and teacher, I see how invaluable the work our SNAs do is. It helps children with special needs to achieve their potential and it supports them. We must ensure SNAs are listened to, respected and given certainty and clarity. Those are the basics. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  I thank Sinn F\u00e9in for giving us the opportunity to talk about this very important matter. I welcome all the concerned people in the Gallery. I thank all of the SNA teachers, ordinary teachers and principals we have in Kerry for the wonderful work they have been doing for the past great number of years. We all rely on teachers and need them very much.  I am glad the Government paused this case and problem that was raised among our schools in Kerry last week and, indeed, right around the country. A pause is not enough for me. We must get to know how a child deserves an SNA. That is not people arriving into a school like they did a couple of months ago and going into a room by themselves without going to the classrooms or to meet the teachers. They just said who they were and, after an hour and a half, they went off. That did not happen in every school but it happened in a good few of them. I advise the Minister of State of that. This is a real problem for me because we were always brought up with the idea that it is in the Constitution that the children of this country must be treated equally. Not alone are we not doing that now, we are hurting the more disadvantaged children. These are the children who need a bit of help. Different things can be a problem for different children. They can develop certain problems. It is a real issue for young parents when they find there is something wrong with their child and have to get the child assessed and do everything they can to make him or her as good as the rest of the children. That takes too long as it is.  Many other problems arise with little children when they first go to school. In Kerry we have quite a big problem where we have children from other countries who have language difficulties. If we did not have SNA teachers to help them, the rest of the children would be held back. Does the Minister of State understand that? That has to be looked at and brought into the equation to ensure every child gets what they need. Some children have to be helped to go to the bathroom. There are all these little things. Some of them have to be helped to be fed. After a while they get going and pass out other children. That is the truth of it. I am very disappointed and I apologise as a Member of D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann for what happened last week. It should not have happened. Our teachers are doing their level best. There was no one of them idle. I do know that in certain schools----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy John Paul O'Shea)  I thank the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  I have three minutes. These two people came into the school from the Department, talked and went around the classrooms. That is not right and it should not happen. The Minister and Minister of State have to take the blame and ensure that does not happen again. That is what I am asking them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan  There has been a lot of commentary tonight to which I have been listening. I welcome everybody in the Gallery. Some of the commentary I agree with while some of it I fundamentally disagree with and, in my three minutes, I will try to explain as much as I can.  As a teacher, I taught for 15 years in a school. I would have had interaction with our autism spectrum disorder, ASD, hub, which we had in Fermoy where I taught for most of my career. I challenge anybody, including the Minister and Minister of State, to find a better example of where an ASD hub is integrated into the mainstream school setting than in Fermoy where I taught. It was right up there with best practice.  I disagree with some of the commentary over the past hour or so. Some people are alleging that we do not value SNAs. As I said, I worked in a classroom environment for 15 years. Some of the best professionals I have worked with over my career have been SNAs. When we were looking at professional development and people doing courses, in many cases, teachers would not do the necessary upskilling that was required. I think of instances where we had to start utilising EpiPens and so on in class. The SNAs were among the first to put up their hands to do many of those tasks. Let us be honest about it; they should not have been doing them. When the Minister and Minister of State are considering this over the next few months, I hope they broaden the circular that has been referenced here. I hope it recognises the reality on the ground in many schools and the practical examples I have just given.  Fundamentally, I have an issue with calling this a review in the first place because a review is something that is ongoing. There was clearly such a gap between the last review and this proposed review that I think we should just call it what it is and should start from scratch and build up again. I do not think a review is the right term for it.  I spoke to both the Minister and Minister of State over the past few weeks in relation to cliff edges in particular, and that is what we experienced here. There were schools, including in my constituency, where two, three or four SNAs were being lost because the gap between the reviews was so big. The Minister and Minister of State should consider some threshold or ceiling. Reviews have always happened. When reviews happened every 12 months, or when they were ongoing by the special educational needs organisers, SENOs, the changes might have been marginal. There might have been 0.25 of a gain of an SNA or 0.25 of a loss of an SNA, depending on the circumstances of the school. The problem, as I said, is the gap is so wide now that we are facing those cliff edges. There needs to be some mechanism built in where we do not face drops of such significance.  I have a serious concern, and I hope to speak about it again tomorrow night, in relation to assessment of need. It is very difficult for SENOs to quantify the need in the absence of diagnosis. We are creating a further problem for ourselves in a couple of years' time. It is quite clear the demands that will be required of a school. If we allow what is being proposed to happen, where resources could be agreed by principals, SENOs and school management, in the absence of diagnosis we are actually going to create another problem further down the line and that needs to be re-examined. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Education and Youth (Deputy Michael Moynihan)  I thank Sinn F\u00e9in for the opportunity to contribute to the debate this evening. Debates like these are essential to reflect on the deeply held priorities for our communities. I want to state absolutely clearly that this Government is fully committed to supporting children with additional needs.  This commitment is not merely a matter of policy but a matter of principle and is reflected in the continuing record-breaking increase in the number of SNAs in our classrooms, an unprecedented investment we are delivering for special education. My senior Minister, the Minister, Deputy Naughton, is deeply committed to it and in her previous life as Chief Whip I know her commitment, on a personal level, to children with additional needs. I want to put that record on today. Furthermore, as I indicated last week, there will be no reductions in SNAs in September 2026 to 2027, and for any school that has been granted an increase, that will be honoured as well.  To the SNAs, I say they are the heartbeat of our school communities. They provide essential care and support that allow students with additional educational needs to participate fully in the school life. Since my appointment 12 months ago, I have visited almost 120 schools across the country. In every classroom I entered, from Cavan to Cork, I saw first hand the transformative impact special needs assistants have. I have seen children who, without this dedicated support, simply would not be able to attend mainstream schools. I want to place on the record my immense respect for the SNA workforce. They are professionals who give their all to the children they support. They are invaluable. This is exactly why it is so important that we ensure we have the right support in the right place at the right time. I might come back to that point in a few moments.  On the redeployment scheme, I think we all agree that the needs of the schools are never static. They evolve as students graduate or new children enrol and as the individual needs of students change over time. Much like the way we see teachers being redeployed due to a drop in numbers of enrolments, the need for schools can change to a degree that the level of SNA provision is reduced or indeed increased. This was an annual occurrence up to 2020. I understand wholeheartedly that this can be difficult news for a school and we must ensure schools do not face a cliff edge. It is vitally important to have a redeployment scheme in place. We must make sure that the redeployment scheme is out there within the shortest possible time.  Much has been discussed in relation to the 2014 circular and there has been significant criticism of it this evening and across public discourse over the past while. While I hear those concerns, it is also vitally important to remember that this circular has been the foundation for the most massive growth of SNA support in the history of the State. Since its introduction in 2014, we have added 14,000 new SNAs to our schools, with a 45% increase since 2020 alone. This is a huge investment. We must be careful not to undermine the very framework that has allowed this support to scale so rapidly. I also assure the House that there has been no change in how the circular has been interpreted or implemented.  However, we recognise the landscape of education has changed in a decade. That is why, as part of our first ever SNA workforce development plan, we are reviewing the circular in the context of the evolving role of the SNA. This has not been a top-down process; it has involved wide consultation and engagement. A working group comprising the stakeholders, including union representatives, SNAs and school management bodies, has met over 15 times over the past number of years to progress this work. They have examined every nuance of the role - how the SNA interacts with the wider school community team to the specific range of support required by the students.  We have seen huge investment in special education. We have seen an increase of 58% in five years. We have to acknowledge that. While we take all the criticism, please accept that we have, at the very core, the idea of special education and we know the importance of it.  I want to talk about the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, and I know many Deputies across the House work and engage with the NCSE and its teams individually on behalf of their constituents on an ongoing basis. I have always had huge respect for the work of the NCSE going back over many years. We have seen a significant increase in its staffing to meet the rising demands across our system. The review process is not a cold, administrative task; it is a robust, professional assessment. It is important that we acknowledge the work of the team from the very top and the way they have worked over the past number of years to see increased special classes, special schools and enrolment. Their dedication and commitment not just at the top but right through the system is something that we have to accept.  We are going to continue to support children through the expanded summer programme, which has become a lifeline for families; a comprehensive review of the assistive technology to ensure we are using the best possible tools available; and the implementation plan for the review of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs, ESPEN, Act, which has also taken place.  I, like Deputies across the House, come to this debate at an extremely personal level. I have taken some of the comments that have been made over the last week or so on the chin as a public representative. However, from my engagement with the Minister, Deputy Hildegarde Naughton, over the weeks and months since her appointment as Minister for education, I know that she is somebody we can work extremely well with.  We understand the challenges facing families. To the SNAs, I would say that I have seen first-hand the massive work they are doing, the length and breadth of the country. We were in Limerick recently and I saw an SNA putting together a chair for a child. The chair had come in a box and the SNA was putting that chair together for the child. I understand the amount of work they do, the length and breadth of the country, in every single school. If anyone says we are disrespecting them, we are certainly not. We have at the heart of this what the SNAs are doing, but we also have at the heart of it the challenges that are faced by every single family with children with special educational needs. They have battles from day one in terms of assessments of need. The one thing that has arisen in the course of the debate, in public discourse and in commentary is that we have to make sure that our education system is built in such a way that the best possible outcome for the child is at its very core.  Children who were not getting supports heretofore went on to have a very difficult adulthood, or went on to day care or other challenges. They need to get the right support within the educational system. We have seen many changes within the system in recent years, and we are going to continue that. I can assure those in the Gallery, those who will be protesting tomorrow, those who have contacted us and the school communities that I have engaged with right through my political life, not just now, that we are going to work, day and night, to ensure this happens.  As I said in some of the public comments I made during the week, there is no point in my coming out with something that is not going to work. We have to come out with something that everybody has confidence in. That means redeployment and the issue in regard to the circular. It also means that we have at the very core of our education system the child who needs it. I know the struggles that families have because, like all Deputies in the House, I engage continuously with families. We have to make it easier, and we have to take the fear and concern out of it. I would ask everyone to work with us because we do not intend to let them down. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  The Government's decision to pause and reverse its recent approach is, without question, a welcome reprieve, but let us be absolutely clear - that is all it is. It is a pause, an easing of pressure, not a solution. Behind the belated U-turn lies a deeper reality. The Government\u2019s approach to special needs education remains fragile, stretched, unclear and ad hoc . In the middle of the system are the people who hold the system together - the SNAs, the teachers, the parents and the children, whose needs should be at the centre of every decision made. We recognise them. We recognise and acknowledge their determination, organisation and refusal to stay silent.  The first I heard of this was two weeks ago, when the whole school community from Fossa National School contacted me. Since then, pupils and teachers from Asdee, Fossa, Glenflesk, Portmagee and even Glasheen in Cork have contacted me. It was their voices that stopped the changes, which were unfair, unworkable and unacceptable. Families, schools and pupils deserve certainty, stability, clarity and continuity of care, not another temporary fix. That means returning to the drawing board, reviewing the outdated frameworks, halting the redeployment policies that created chaos and fear, rather than support and structure, and engaging in consultation with the schools, which understand their students\u2019 needs better than anyone.  I spoke to the principal of a school who said that children who are leaving preschool with their AIM workers are then left to swim in the mainstream without an SNA. He described that system as the height of blackguarding. Another teacher told me that there needs to be a serious review. She said the upset caused by the communication, and particularly the response by the Taoiseach, was very traumatic for all. She spoke of hours of teaching time lost to form-filling and appeals from May to December, with the most vulnerable left without SETs while the forms are being completed. She also referred to the offhand and dismissive comment by the Taoiseach. We need inclusive educational diversity, which is listed as a core value, but the Government\u2019s actions suggest otherwise. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy R\u00e9ada Cronin  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis na Teachta\u00ed N\u00ed Raghallaigh agus O\u2019Rourke as an r\u00fan seo a chur chun cinn. Cuirim f\u00e1ilte roimh na SNAs agus gabhaim bu\u00edochas leo as an obair at\u00e1 ar si\u00fal acu.  The past two weeks have been a truly worrying time for many parents, SNAs and teachers across the State. The uncertainty of the SNA allocations for September has shown that the Government does not value the work that SNAs do to support students with additional needs. Individual TDs might, but, collectively, the Government does not. That is the transparency that people are seeing.  It is the teachers who are already trying to do their jobs in the largest class sizes in Europe who will be asked to pick up the pieces should schools lose SNAs. I have spoken with parents, teachers and SNAs from Leixlip to Kilcock, and all the way down to Naas. We had almost 1,400 parents at an online meeting last night. We heard from anxious parents who say they feel the Government does not care about their children, and that their children are being stripped of their dignity due to the lack of respect. These are SNAs who themselves have children with special needs, and that is what brought them to that call. Most mams were almost in tears, and many parents succumbed to those tears.  Let us leave aside the genuine worries of SNAs, teachers and parents for the moment and think about who this is really damaging. This is about vulnerable children, citizens of this State. That is who is being punished here at the end of the day, just because they have additional needs. It would be a fundamental assault on their human rights and their constitutional right to education if we were to take the SNAs they have in school away from them. These are the children who rely on the hard, diligent work of SNAs every single day when they come through the gates of mainstream schools. They are already being badly treated. This is unacceptable.  A piece of advice for this awful Government: do not take on the parents of children with special needs. You will not win. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I welcome the SNAs. I welcome the pressure that was brought by SNAs and others on the Government that has led to this pause and reprieve, but it is not a solution. We need to see the ins and outs of the workforce development plan. We need to see a proper, workable redeployment scheme. We have to deal with the failures of the 2014 circular. This is clear to anyone who has heard the testimonies from schools where children were to lose SNA support if they did not fit into primary care. That is the reality. That is what was happening.  I can speak about my own son, Turlough. He is 17 now and is in transition year in \u00d3 Fiaich College. He was in a language class in St. Joseph\u2019s and later in mainstream. He could not have done that without what the SNAs did. Let us say it. It was not always plain sailing. In fairness to my wife, she probably carried the slack for a lot of it. At this point in time, as I said, he is in transition year, working on business development projects and going away on trips. He would be able to do none of this, and he would not actually be in education to the same degree, without the SNAs. We need to recognise what they do. We need to put a proper framework in place. The nicest thing I can say about the communications is that they were an absolute mess. We need to look after those people because they look after our children. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  We have heard a lot today from all sides of the House. I know there are Government representatives who respect the role of SNAs and have engaged with them. We have heard a lot about the various things they do. So much of this hinges on the idea of primary care, the limitations there have been and how that has constrained the approach the Department has taken. We know the many ways in which they are crucial in assisting people with movement breaks, with education and with all of those healthcare needs.  In so many respects, they keep the classroom together and keep the lid on so many behavioural issues. For a child who has ADHD and is under pressure, the assistance they get from an SNA ensures they are able to engage fully with their education. In all those contributions, I do not think anyone on any side of this House would say that we should go backwards or that we should constrain the SNA to the role they used to have at the outset of the proposal of the position. We all recognise that the role of the SNA has evolved a great deal in the past 20 or 30 years to what it is in this day and age. How absurd it is that the review was based on such tight criteria when we all know the role is far greater than that. That absurd approach led to a situation where schools such as that in Glasheen in my constituency were looking at four people potentially. As far as they were concerned, in terms of the way it was communicated, they would be out of a job and those children would not get the support they needed. The Minister is shaking her head but that is how it was communicated. That is how it was understood. That is true right across the State.  Where do we need to go from here? A pause is not enough. I hope the Minister understands that from this debate. We need to fundamentally begin from the proposition of what the modern SNA does, how crucial their role is and from there decide the appropriate allocation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  I thank everyone who contributed to the debate. I want to pick up on a number of comments from the Minister in my closing remarks. I am deeply disappointed with both contributions. The senior Minister who has responsibility said in her comments that, \"At the forefront of our deliberations was ensuring that the child-centred approach to the provision of special education is retained and enhanced in these policy developments.\" No one believes that. The Minister needs to talk to and listen to people. She said, \"This Government has nothing but respect for SNAs, special education teachers, schools, students and their families.\" There was an audible laugh from the Gallery in relation to that. The Gallery is made up of SNAs and some teachers. The Minister needs to hear what is being said there. She said that, \"To say that the Government is not funding resources for children with special educational needs is a mistruth.\" Less than 24 hours ago, this Government could not confirm that schools would not lose SNAs in September. SNAs for children who needed support were being cut for want of \u20ac19 million. To say that is a mistruth is very far from reality. The Minister is not opposing this motion tonight. Is it because she supports it? Is it because she is going to implement its proposals? Is it because she is ready for a reset? No, no and no. She is not opposing the motion because she does not want to be held accountable for her position in relation to this. There is a step-change on this issue. Communities, parents, SNAs and school communities are organised. They will, and we will, hold the Government to account. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Special Needs Assistants: Motion [Private Members]"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/dbsect_14","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_14","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/dbsect_15","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Energy Prices","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/dbsect_14","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_14","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_15.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  Every time I raise this, I am astounded by the lack of progress on it. We have the highest energy prices in Europe, according to Eurostat. The national energy affordability task force has only met three times since its inception. The only thing it has produced is an interim report. No steps seem to have been taken to reform the Irish energy market and to hold energy companies to account, measures we have been calling on for years. What is the Minister going to do to reduce the price of energy and will he make a statement on it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment (Deputy Darragh O'Brien)  I thank the Deputy. First, to correct him, we do not have the most expensive energy prices in Europe. Energy is still too costly and we have got to work on that. It is a priority for Government to bring about changes in that regard. Not all of it is within our control. That is why we need to continue to expand renewables, invest in our grid and drive affordability.  The programme for Government acknowledges the increased energy cost pressures on households and commits to bringing forward measures to contain energy costs and tackle energy poverty. Government has introduced a suite of measures already to help households and businesses deal with the cost of energy. For the record, in budget 2026, we approved an extension of the 9% VAT rate currently applied to gas and electricity until the end of this decade, 31 December 2030, saving households up to \u20ac100 on average per annum. In January, the fuel allowance payment increased to \u20ac38 per week, equating to an increase of more than 15%. Eligibility for the fuel allowance was also extended to those in receipt of the working family payment. About 460,000 households across the country are receiving those direct support. We extended the \u20ac400 income tax disregard for households involved in microgeneration for a further three years to the end of 2028. A record \u20ac640 million will support the SEAI residential and community energy upgrade schemes. That is really important because we are driving permanent savings for families through retrofitting. We estimate that savings of up to \u20ac1,200 per annum can be achieved through retrofitting homes. We have revised those grants very substantially make them more accessible to households and particularly middle income families. We are going to continue with the warmer homes scheme as well and improve the outputs from it.  I also met our four largest energy suppliers, as the Deputy knows. I asked them to stand up hardship funds which, to be fair to them, they did. We will continue to make sure the resources go to helping those families who need it most. There is more that needs to be done and I will come back on a supplementary. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  The problem with some of the schemes that have been introduced is that they are not working. Some of them are deeply regressive and inequitable. Most low to middle income households have significant barriers if they have any hope of reaching a B2 standard. What about the solid fuel homes which are mostly rural and are mostly home to elderly people? They are punished by the Government rather than being helped, through hikes in the carbon tax, which are now supported by the Healy-Rae brothers, where there is no accessible, affordable alternative. The same is true for those who rely on home heating oil. On the retrofit loan scheme the Minister mentioned, fewer than 2,000 households have availed of these loans since the scheme started. When we tried to put questions about how far away we are from the 2030 target, I was told it was not the Minister's responsibility. Whose responsibility is it?  There is something wrong when the International Energy Agency has called into question the huge gap between retail and wholesale costs. What is the Minister doing to reform the energy market? It costs about three times more to buy energy here than it does to produce it. The ESRI is also saying prices are way above what they were on the eve of the election. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  There is more work that needs to be done. That is why I established the national energy affordability task force. On what it has done so far, significantly before the last budget, it produced its interim report which guided us in the last budget. That work continues - things like looking at the structure of the bill and at how we actually pay for our grid investment. Critical to that, if we are to deliver permanent affordability, is to ensure that investment in our grid of \u20ac18.9 billion over just this five-year period actually takes place. There are 520 capital projects across the country that will enable us to bring more renewables into our system with cheaper, secure, green, clean energy. We need projects like the North-South interconnector delivered. That one project alone will deliver savings of about \u20ac120 on average per household on this island, and will improve grid resilience as well.  The Deputy can be assured that those who require assistance with regard to energy and energy poverty will receive the assistance they need in a targeted way. I would rather invest the close to \u20ac3.5 billion that was paid in energy credits into permanent changes in our energy system, which is what I am doing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  The last time I raised this issue the Minister said he would look at network charges. What has he done since then to restructure them to make sure that data centres, for example, pay their fair share and take the pressure off households? In the next few months there will be a significant opportunity to bring about fundamental reforms to the energy market that could help households. A meeting is taking place in March. Ireland will hold the Presidency from July. This has to be the Minister's priority. The price of electricity is coupled with the wholesale price of gas due to the marginal pricing system. We have said for years that it has to be reformed. Will the Minister take steps to deal with that? Will he give the regulator the power to tackle price gouging? Is he holding it to account? Will he restructure network charges to ensure that data centres pay their fair share? Will he guarantee that the costs proposed for LNG and data centres are not passed on to households in the legislation for the strategic gas reserve and that relating to private wires? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  At every meeting of the Energy Council I have attended, I have raised the issue of affordability. This is an issue that is prevalent in most EU states to varying degrees. I would like to see changes to the regulatory framework happen. Most of that needs to be driven at EU level. Issues relating to, for example, the Spark app need to be dealt with as well. Those issues are being looked at European level in relation to affordability when it comes to energy, particularly for households and small businesses.  What the national energy affordability task force and I will be looking at this year is what we can control ourselves. We are still heavily dependent on imported fossil fuels. We need to reduce that dependency. We hedge and we buy forward. That is why when people see wholesale gas prices fall, there is a lag time before we see retail prices fall. We are focused on delivering price reductions over the course of this year on energy. It remains an absolute priority for me. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Energy Prices"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/dbsect_16","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Electricity Grid","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/dbsect_14","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_14","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_16","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_16.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  This question has come up in the past. Will the Minister consider bringing forward a prioritisation framework for grid connections, particularly as we have a crisis in the context of housing and the cost of living? We have all heard about the problems with the MetroLink, for example, and the energy that will be needed for it. There is a reckless attitude towards data centre expansion. Even the Minister's officials agree on that. The Minister knows that he needs to bring forward legislation to deal with the prioritisation framework. Will he bring it forward? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  The CRU is responsible for grid connection policy. I will be working on reforming the CRU, something that is needed. We are also securing additional resources for the CRU, which I welcome.  The CRU was assigned responsibility for regulating the electricity sector following the enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act 1999. The management of and matters related to connections to the electricity grid are functions assigned to ESB Networks and EirGrid under rules determined by the CRU. These organisations are independent of me, as Minister, in the exercise of their respective functions. Having said that, PR6, which is the grid investment I spoke about in my previous response to the Deputy, details what we need to do with our grid to be able to deal with the growth that will occur in the residential housing market, the industrial sector and all other sectors, including transport. Record investment of \u20ac18.9 billion over this period will deal with those demands.  We need to expand our grid by way of distribution, storage and generation. The last full year for which I have data on generation through renewables is 2024. In that year, over 40% of our electricity was generated via renewables. That is growing which is a good thing but we need to improve the resilience of our grid and expand it which we will do. That is why on behalf of the State we are investing \u20ac3.5 billion in equity in EirGrid and ESB. PR6 has been published. It details what those grid investments will deliver. There is no question of putting data centres ahead of residential developments. That has not happened and will not happen. We also need to grow our industrial base and create jobs for our people. We need to ensure that we have a grid which supports growth in our residential and enterprise sectors. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  A grids package was announced on 10 December. It gives the Government the green light to move away from the first-come, first-served model that gives rise to rampant data centre expansion that has displaced the delivery of housing and transport and led to the hiking up of energy prices for households. The Commission stated, \"In areas with long waiting times for grid connection, the first-come, first-served principle should be abandoned\". We will bring forward legislation on that in the coming months. The current model is broken. The Minister's officials will agree with that. The Secretary General of the Department has said that there are difficult choices to make between housing and AI. Instead of prioritising the corporate bottom line, I want the Minister to prioritise ordinary people who are going through a cost-of-living crisis. We have seen data centres expand to the point where they account for one third of energy demand. Dealing with this matter is within the Minister's gift. He cannot hide behind EU rules and regulations. Will he agree to support our legislation to put that prioritisation framework in place when it comes through? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  When Sinn F\u00e9in publishes its legislation, I will certainly look at it in a constructive manner. Data centres underpin an important technology sector in this country that employs hundreds of thousands of people. We have not had a situation, nor will we, where a data centre is connected ahead of a housing development. That just does not happen. It has not happened. We need to be at the cutting edge when it comes to technology. We should not turn away either indigenous or foreign direct investment. We need to look at expanding capacity in order to accommodate that investment and deal with the increasing energy demand we have. That demand is going to increase by another 50% between now and 2035. This is why it is imperative that we invest in our grid at a rate we have never seen before and deliver projects like the North-South interconnector, on which the Deputy's party has different views north and south of the Border. The bringing forward of legislation might afford the Deputy an opportunity to clarify the position of the main Opposition party with regard to that important infrastructure. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  The Minister recently met the ESB and EirGrid to discuss house connections. There was a story in The Irish Times about that matter over the Christmas period. The Minister knows that under the current regulation, it is first-come, first-served model. He also knows that for this to change, he must empower the regulator by means of new legislation. He knows in light of the grids package and the new guidance for connections, there is nothing standing in his way in this regard. In the interview, which was published on 30 December, there was no indication that the Minister had any intention of bringing legislation forward. What took place in the meetings with EirGrid regarding connections? The Minister knows well that the ESB and EirGrid cannot do anything until the regulation is changed. Will he bring forward legislation in order for this to happen? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  I should have said in response to the Deputy's initial question that I welcome the publication of the grids package. The package speaks to the issue across all member states whereby we collectively invest in our grid system and look at expanding interconnection and see where the EU can assist in the context of funding between member states and third countries.  I again ask the Deputy to clarify the position of his party regarding the North-South interconnector. Does Sinn F\u00e9in support it or not? Does it agree that it is a critical piece of infrastructure on this island? There is a 32-county, all-Ireland electricity market. If anything, one would have thought that we would collectively support improving the resilience of that market. The North-South interconnector is critical to that.  We will embark on drafting legislation in respect of the CRU. There is a commitment in the programme for Government that we will look to work with the CRU to reform its structures and examine its mandate. I will deal with the Deputy and the Oireachtas committee at the appropriate time. I would welcome his input. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 140 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Electricity Grid"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/dbsect_17","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Electricity Grid","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/dbsect_14","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_14","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_17.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  This question relates to private wires. Will the Minister outline the new methodology that will be implemented? Will there be safeguards to ensure that all of the costs of providing original grid connections will be recovered by ESB Networks? Will action be taken to ensure that these costs will not be passed on to customers?  Under current proposals, any user taking all their energy capacity from a private wire will not be required to pay network charges to the system operator despite relying on the public grid for backup. We have been speaking about the energy costs and the price of the same. Will the Minister guarantee that households will not incur more costs? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  It is critical that we get the legislation on private wires through. The Deputy is broadly supportive of what is proposed. It will make a significant difference here. The general scheme was approved on 16 December 2025. Since then, my Department has been engaging with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to the Government, OPC, to begin drafting the legislation required to bring forth the private wires regime. I assure the Deputy that introducing this regime is an absolute priority. From electricity generation to a point-to-point scenario, I believe that we can deliver further projects by using private wires. However, they are going to have to be up to the same standard that applies in the context of delivering our own grid.  The Joint Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy, of which the Deputy is a member, will undertake pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme of the private wires Bill this week. It is the intention that the eventual Bill will complete its passage through the Oireachtas as early as possible this year. I am aware that the committee is going to deal with the general scheme in a truncated manner. However, I ask those involved to note that it is critical that we get the Bill, when it is forthcoming, passed. I will be seeking co-operation from those on all sides of the House to see if we can do that as quickly as possible.  On the Deputy's question, the policy statement that was approved last July and that gave way to the introduction of private wires will require a review of the network recovery charges. The relevant methodology will be created in line with the private wires policy, ensuring that private wire entities will pay the full cost of the service they have sought from or that is provided to them by the national electricity grid. The general scheme introduces a licensing regime whereby the CRU can recover such costs and introduce a charging methodology. The specifics around that in the context of the potential for disconnection charges, a standby network charge and more will be outlined in subsequent regulations drafted by the Department. Effectively, there will be a cost-recovery mechanism in respect of those who deliver them and those who are using them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  We will be discussing that tomorrow. The concern of many members of the committee is that the proposals will exacerbate the regressive and inequitable way that network costs are currently distributed. According to Eurostat, Irish households have the highest electricity bills in Europe. As a result of the proposals being brought forward, households could be landed with a rake of new charges on their bills in addition to what they already pay.  The Minister mentioned about PR6 in reply to earlier questions. There is a new levy to fund LNG from increasing network charges on bills. Energy users and consumers are being hit from pillar to post with a host of new charges. They do not want to be subsidising the network charges relating to data centres, and we do not want to be obliged to do either. What will the situation be when it comes to mandating data centres that are proposing to have renewable energy when they are putting their own private wires in? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  The large energy user policy is really clear when it comes to the future growth of large energy users such as data centres. They will have to bring forward 80% of that energy as new renewable energy. We are the first country to do this. It will not be a drain on our existing resources. It will be about providing additional renewable resources.  I have been clear with regard to private wires. Private wires should be and are a positive thing. They will unlock a lot of opportunities and investment. They will ensure the delivery of additional networks across our country that will be up to the same standard as our own grid. As already stated, the private wires entities will pay the full cost of the services that they seek from or that are provided to them by the national electricity grid.  In relation to PR6, which is the biggest investment that we have ever made in our grid, we are looking at, on average, about \u20ac18 per annum of an additional charge per household. That is about \u20ac1.50 per month. The North-South interconnector alone will deliver savings to households of over \u20ac100 per annum. That is why it is critical that projects of this sort are delivered. The cost to which I refer will be well offset by savings. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  Is the Minister going to ensure that the North-South interconnector will be underground? That is the fundamental issue for people who live in Border communities.  On the basis of what he said, is the Minister guaranteeing that there will be no new costs passed on to consumers as a result of the private wires legislation? Consumers cannot afford any new costs. There is a concern to the effect that the private wires legislation will undermine climate obligations by diverting energy. We have seen in the past few years the increase from wind and the new energy coming onto the system, but it is all being gobbled up by the data centres and other large energy users. A fundamental concern is that this will continue despite all the efforts the Government and people are making in the context of onshore and offshore energy. One Minister even admitted that the Government has been sitting on its hands and navel gazing when it comes to offshore wind. We do not want that to happen. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  Who said that? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  Which one? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  To be clear, there will be a cost recovery on private wires by those who deliver them. There will be no increase in costs. That methodology will be worked through. That will be discussed as part of the pre-legislative scrutiny that the committee will be going through tomorrow.  In the context of the advancement in renewables, if I go back 15 years, only 13% of our electricity was generated by renewables. At the end of 2024, it was over 40%. It is not the case that the increase in renewables is being gobbled up by data centres. That is simply not true. Our job is to accelerate the delivery of renewables, both solar and wind, and to get offshore into construction by the end of the decade, which we will do. That will be critical in the context of allowing us to meet our climate action obligations and targets. It can be done. Maybe not all by 2030, but there is real momentum in that space. There is real momentum across the renewables sector, both wind and solar. We are now seeing an advancement in biomethane, and work is also being done district heating. There is a lot to be positive about. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Electricity Grid"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/dbsect_18","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Energy Policy","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/dbsect_14","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_14","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_18.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Carol Nolan  Will the Minister provide an update on the work of the national energy affordability task force? The Irish SME Association, ISME, has published the results of its latest members' survey, identifying the priority issues facing SMEs this year and showing that business costs overwhelmingly dominate their concerns. Some 78% of respondents said that these concerns include energy and other overheads, all of which ISME rightly notes have been subject to sustained and significant inflation in recent years. Alarmingly, ISME also notes that despite easing inflation in some areas of the wider economy, these structural business costs have not moderated. What is the Government doing to address this issue for consumers and small businesses in Offaly? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  I thank the Deputy very much for raising this very important issue regarding energy affordability. The latter is a priority for the Government. I answered a similar question from Deputy Daly earlier.  In June of last year, we established the national energy affordability task force. Its job is to identify, assess and implement measures in the short term that will enhance energy affordability for households and businesses, while delivering key renewable commitments, protecting security of supply and ensuring economic stability. The task force membership includes representatives from various Departments and key energy stakeholders. Its first report set out measures for consideration in the context of budget 2026. It recommendations brought about a 15% or \u20ac5 per week increase in the fuel allowance, which will provide an additional \u20ac140 to over 450,000 recipients during the annual fuel allowance season. Eligibility for that has also been extended to those in receipt of the working family payment, which is about another 50,000 households. In addition, the extension of the reduced VAT rate of 9%, which applies to gas and electricity, has been extended to 2030. This provides real clarity to energy consumers and reduces bills for households by about \u20ac100 per year.  This year, we will also be investing in the region of \u20ac640 million to support residential and community upgrade schemes.  This includes \u20ac340 million for the warmer homes scheme, which provides 100% grants, delivering permanent savings for households. The business support grants also deliver permanent savings. On a per capita basis, it is the most significant retrofitting investment that any European state is making. The focus of the task force has turned to the preparation of an energy affordability action plan. This will be completed in the third quarter of this year. That plan will include a review of the cost drivers within the energy sector and consideration of how the EU action plan for affordable energy and associated guidance can be implemented in an Irish context. The next meeting of that task force will take place in March. It is important to note that ongoing bilateral engagement and sectoral work also happens between meetings. There is more work to be done in that space and we are determined to do it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Carol Nolan  I thank the Minister for his response. The fact is that, while some supports were given to small businesses and consumers in general, to date, very little has been achieved in tackling the source of the great energy price rip-off that continues day in and day out for households and small businesses, many of which in my constituency have closed due to energy costs. The capacity to absorb these energy costs is just not there, as ISME has identified. The costs impact everyone from the owners of pubs and retail stores to the hairdressers and the farmers. This is why I can only agree with ISME on its statement that \"the survey findings underline the need for Government to focus on structural cost competitiveness in 2026, rather than layering additional obligations onto small businesses already operating on tight margins.\" The profiteering that has gone on is simply scandalous. Perhaps we need to adopt the equivalent of the unfair trading practices directive and the approach of the Agri-Food Regulator so that we can see exactly how these obscene energy prices are calculated and why Irish consumers and businesses are so slow to see any meaningful reduction in their energy bills when wholesale gas prices reduce. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  Energy costs are a real issue for households and small businesses in particular. I agree with the Deputy completely on that. We must do everything within our power to help to reduce those costs. With regard to real structural reform, she will know that the previous Government brought in energy tax credits. The State invested about \u20ac3.3 billion in that. That could not be sustained into the future. Instead of that, \u20ac3.5 billion is being invested in equity funding to EirGrid and ESB Networks so that they will be able to fund measures under PR6. That will be a step change. It is an investment in grid capacity and grid resilience and it will also drive affordability. I agree that we have to look at structural cost competitiveness. The national energy affordability task force, NEAT, I have established will be looking at the very make-up of our electricity bills. A lot of it does sit within the EU framework, however. Some of it is within our control and we will look at that. That report will be published in the third quarter of this year. I will look to bring further measures forward this year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Carol Nolan  The Minister mentioned tax credits. While the energy tax credits were welcome, they let the energy companies off the hook. I called for the energy companies to be brought in here a number of times. The profiteering was scandalous. We were seeing businesses really grappling with costs. A long-term solution is needed. I hope this task force will produce proper practical solutions to get to grips with this issue once and for all and to send a message to the energy companies that their ongoing profiteering is not acceptable. Government needs to send that message.  A report on wind energy was published this week. It stated that energy generation costs for the State are over \u20ac1.5 billion. Again, where are households and businesses seeing the benefits of this trickling down? Small businesses are trying to operate on thin margins while being bound within an energy-cost straitjacket that is making it harder and harder to sustain financial viability. I am concerned about rural jobs in my own constituency of Offaly. We must do everything we can to protect jobs. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  I was in Offaly last week, where Bord na M\u00f3na is doing work and where Statkraft is developing new battery storage facilities, which are critical. We now have nearly 1.5 GW of battery storage across the country. This allows us to plan and to distribute our energy, particularly renewable energy, at appropriate times to deal with peaks within the system. That is being expanded further. Offaly has actually been a leader in the delivery of renewable energy. At the same time, Bord na M\u00f3na is doing really good work with regard to habitat restoration. It is about increasing the amount of energy we own. It is also about clean, green and cheaper energy. We are overdependent on imported fossil fuels. Only about 25% of our gas is sourced domestically. The rest is imported. We are always at risk from the vagaries of the energy markets. The reason for the gap between the wholesale price and the retail price and the delay in reductions trickling down to the customer is that, because Ireland is importing so much, we are buying ahead or hedging. Those decreases therefore take longer to reach households. That is why we need to expand our renewable capacity. We are doing that year on year. I predict that this year will be a record year for the delivery of renewables with regard to both new projects and consents for new projects. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Energy Policy"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/dbsect_19","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_19","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/dbsect_20","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Artificial Intelligence","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/dbsect_19","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_19","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_20","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_20.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  This Government is probably one of the most pro-AI in the world. The Taoiseach has compared AI to the invention of the printing press. The Government has swallowed the Kool-Aid of big tech seemingly with no assessment of the impact it will have on our ability to achieve our climate targets. I know the Minister has said we are not going to achieve them anyway even though they are supposed to be legally binding. Has the Department carried out an assessment of the climate impacts of AI? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I thank the Deputy for his question. The Government's new updated national digital and AI strategy was published last week. It sets out the Government's ambition and vision to 2030 to ensure Ireland remains a digital leader in an increasingly competitive global environment. It aims to secure Ireland as a global hub for applied AI innovation, strengthening our profile as a location for investment. It will ensure our economy reaps the benefit of digital and AI for growth and competitiveness, enhance our public services and empower our people to thrive in a digital society.  In accelerating our digital and AI ambitions, it is important to acknowledge the significant energy and infrastructure challenges Ireland faces. To address these challenges and to maximise future opportunities associated with the twin digital and green transitions, the Government is pursuing a strategic medium-term approach for large energy users, as set out in the large energy users action plan published last month.  In response to the question the Deputy asked, there is no single stand-alone Department report quantifying the climate impact of AI. As with all sectors of our economy, the operation and development of digital infrastructure, including AI, are underpinned by Ireland's legally binding climate objectives and the need to maintain robust energy security. The Government continues to work to secure a decarbonised energy future that unlocks enhanced use of renewable energy sources, energy-efficient technology and energy-effective solutions to reduce our carbon footprint. Key pillars of the large energy users action plan will be the provision of a framework for the establishment of green energy parks in which to co-locate the most energy-intensive industry with the supply of renewables and other enabling technology and the establishment of a framework for near real-time greenhouse gas emissions reporting by large energy users. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  The new digital and AI strategy is not about climate change. I think there are five references to climate in the entire document. It is not about protecting children or artists. It is not about any of those things. It is about a commitment to \"strengthening Ireland\u2019s position as a digital leader\", seemingly without regard to the negative impacts AI is having in our society. The Minister of State has confirmed the Department has not even done an assessment. The Government's approach is to go full steam ahead with AI. It suggests we have to embrace this technology and do what the big tech companies are telling us without even assessing the impact that will have on our climate. The emissions of all the big tech companies, including Google, Amazon, Meta and Microsoft, are through the roof. Not only are they far off their targets, which are going down, but their emissions are going up dramatically, largely because of investment in AI and the massive energy usage that goes with that.  They are also miles off their supposedly adjusted figures. The real figures are going high. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I do not agree with the Deputy's assessment on where we are in regard to ensuring that we meet our climate commitments, which are enshrined in law. They are very much part of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act. They set binding carbon budgets and sectoral ceilings. That means no sector is left off the hook, and that includes AI and digital infrastructure. Neither of these can expand without regard to emissions footprints. The Department has developed a threefold policy response to this. The planning regulation specifies that all large energy users must comply with the CRU's guidelines and environmental licensing regime. When we look at the integration with renewables, the new large energy action plan promotes green energy parks where AI, data and research infrastructure directly connect to renewable supply. That is very important because each of these data centres or AI data storage systems will be required to meet at least 80% of their annual demand with new or additional renewable energy generation. That is driving down their emissions footprint. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  I find it remarkable that Ministers and Ministers of State are still answering questions about climate inaction by saying \"Oh, don't worry, we've got legally binding targets.\" The Minister of State, Deputy Dillon, is sitting beside the Minister who said we are not going to meet these targets, so how can it still be an excuse to say that when we raise inaction by the Government or action in the wrong direction? His senior Minister has literally said we are not going to meet those legally binding targets. He is making a joke of these targets. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  We are close. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  The truth is that the expansion of data centres has deepened our dependence on fossil fuels. They have outpaced the renewable deployment. They have strained the grid. They have hoarded power connections. They have built gas generators on site. More and more are burning fossil fuels directly. They have stalled decarbonisation and deepened their dependence on fossil fuels.  Sometimes we see greenwashing statements by the likes of Google and others claiming that AI is going to be a net climate benefit and that we should not be worried about all the fossil fuels we are burning as a result of it. A new Friends of the Earth report finds that 74% of claims about AI's climate benefits are unproven, serving the profits of tech and fossil fuel industries while downplaying the major climate harms of generative AI. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  Let me be clear, as will the Minister, Deputy O'Brien. The Government has very clear objectives. It has twin objectives around decarbonisation, but also around digitalisation. That is very much what we are focused on. We have the policy regimes to back this up. We are looking to harness Ireland as an AI innovation hub. That presents huge opportunities for economic growth. Along with that, we are providing significant investment into our energy systems. Some \u20ac3.5 billion in equity will go into EirGrid and ESB Networks and that will enable the modernisation of our grid, which is capable of balancing the new demand while safeguarding housing, enterprise, SMEs and essential services. The combination of regulation on transparency and renewable integration will ensure that AI-related growth does not undermine the overall energy transitions we are trying to achieve. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Artificial Intelligence"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/dbsect_21","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Energy Prices","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/dbsect_19","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_19","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_21.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed  My question today is about the significant energy cost pressures that many have felt in recent months and the impact that has in particular on SMEs across the country. What measures is the Department taking to acknowledge the increased energy costs on businesses? Will the Minister of State make a statement in that regard? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  Addressing energy affordability for businesses is a priority for this Government. We are committed to supporting businesses to become more energy-efficient, thereby strengthening competitiveness through reduced energy costs. In budget 2026, the Government extended the accelerated capital allowance scheme for energy-efficient equipment until 31 December 2030. It also approved the extension of the 9% VAT rate currently applied to gas and electricity to December 2030. This encourages investment in energy efficiency and low-emission technology. The Department also funds schemes administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, which provide various supports to enterprises that can assist businesses in increasing their energy efficiency. The 2026 allocation for these schemes amounts to more than \u20ac40 million.  The Government has also introduced measures to reduce energy costs and unlock greater decarbonisation of Irish industry and enterprise over the medium term. For example, under the national development plan the Government has approved a significant equity investment, valued at \u20ac3.5 billion, in ESB Networks and EirGrid to support the financing of their ambitious capital investment plans of over \u20ac18.9 billion in the coming five years. The increased deployment of indigenous renewables, such as onshore and offshore wind and solar generation, will help to reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels and the associated price volatility. We are also supporting further interconnection with neighbouring jurisdictions, including the 700 MW Celtic interconnector between east Cork and France.  In June of last year, the Department established the national energy affordability task force to identify, assess and implement measures that will enhance energy affordability for households and businesses while delivering key renewables commitments and protecting security of supply and economic stability. The task force seeks to support the objectives of the Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity, as well as other Government efforts and initiatives to alleviate the energy-related challenges businesses face, including through engagement with the cost of business advisory forum. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed  As part of the engagement at the climate committee - Deputy Pa Daly will attest to this - we had representatives of the business sector in talking about the barriers they face in transitioning and achieving climate targets. One of the points they raised was how little consideration is given to cost proofing of climate plans and transition measures to get across to a low-carbon environment, particularly for SMEs. They mentioned low visibility of costs for all the different plans and the affordability of the energy transition. They said they have difficulty when looking ten years down the line to see where their companies are going in terms of getting to a kind of low-carbon future. It is really important that the Government and the Department are very aware of that. They need to be aware that for businesses in particular, it is a challenge to get across that bridge.  The Minister of State already mentioned the energy affordability task force. Is there a particular focus within that task force on SMEs, energy costs for business and priority measures? I accept the broader point about society at large, but I ask specifically about measures for SMEs that could be covered off. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I again thank the Deputy for raising these important matters. I am someone who has a dual role within the Department of enterprise, with responsibility for small businesses. The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, has engaged with the Commission for Regulation of Utilities to undertake an independent review into the speed and level of wholesale to retail price pass-through. That is really important because we need to ensure that there is transparency and fairness, but also that there is fair competition in pricing.  We have had inherent structural challenges in Ireland such as our reliance on imported gas, our dispersed population and in other areas. It is important that through the national energy affordability task force we conduct a review on the cost drivers across the energy system, from infrastructure investment to market behaviour. That would feed directly into the energy affordability action plan because price volatility has never been as apparent, especially given the current geopolitical state. It is important that the Government identifies the structural barriers, but also that we bring forward measures around affordability for enterprises and SMEs and that they become a permanent feature of the Irish energy system. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed  I agree with that. The committee also looked at energy affordability in December. Interestingly enough, the ESRI was of the view that there was not a particular issue with price gouging because if there was, you would expect to see a lot of new market entrants into the Irish energy market if there was a lot of profit to be made. It did not seem to see that. It was an interesting observation from the ESRI at the time. Once again, I encourage a very sharp focus on the costs of the energy transition for small businesses in particular. The more we can do around bringing down those costs in the long term and keeping them down - for energy-intensive businesses in particular - the better. It is in everybody's interests to transition across for that kind of carbon-free future. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I thank the Deputy for his remarks. I certainly hear that. During the engagements at the cost of doing business advisory forum. That is very much looking at the structural needs within the energy system, but also how businesses analyse and interpret their bills. We are looking to get more details in regard to how bills are calculated. I will point to empowering businesses to control the controllables. That is exactly why we have a suite of measures through the SEAI. They are readily accessible, be it the business energy upgrade scheme. We also have the support scheme for energy audits. That can give businesses up to \u20ac2,000 per site visit. We have other programmes, such as the EXEED programme, which funds on capital investment. Together, working with the local enterprise offices, Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and the cost of doing business advisory forum, we are very much committed to finding practical solutions and co-developing them to support our enterprise and small businesses. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Energy Prices"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/dbsect_22","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Tax Data","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/dbsect_19","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_19","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_22.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  I thank the Deputy for his question. The programme for Government commits to using the carbon tax as a key tool to encourage a shift away from fossil fuels and to invest in a sustainable future. There are three areas within my Department that received funding from carbon tax revenue in the most recent budget. First, in the residential and community retrofit area, the budget allocation for 2026 is a record \u20ac641 million, including \u20ac558 million from the carbon tax. This will support over 73,000 home energy upgrades, including solar PV. This target also includes 11,500 fully funded home energy upgrades under the warmer homes scheme for households at risk of energy poverty. A record \u20ac340 million budget has been provided for this scheme for 2026.  There has been significant investment and year-on-year growth in home energy upgrades under the national retrofit plan. In the period from 2019 to the end of 2025, those schemes have provided almost \u20ac1.7 billion in support to homeowners for over 244,000 home energy improvements, including almost 32,700 fully funded upgrades for households at risk of energy poverty under the warmer homes scheme, as well as approximately 18,000 heat pump installations. By any fair estimation, that is serious progress.  Importantly, within that, in respect of those retrofits that are made to households, you are looking at savings of up to \u20ac1,200 per annum on energy bills. That is significant. They are permanent savings. They are making homes warmer, safer, more affordable and healthier in reducing the emissions and energy use from homes. There are other schemes within the carbon tax, which I will come back to on the supplementary. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  The recent carbon tax increases we have seen impact on the most vulnerable households. It hits them the hardest. As we know, households are facing rising costs across the board, particularly when it comes to filling the car with fuel and heating the home, yet the Government is set to plough ahead with these increases. They are scheduled until 2030 at least. Households are expected to take on this burden at a time when many households are struggling. The Minister says this is a tax that will contribute toward changing people's behaviour but the reality for the people I represent in rural Ireland, that is, people who have to drive their car to get from A to B, who do not have public transport they can rely on, who have to heat their homes and who do not have the alternatives, is that carbon tax is not going to change their behaviour. It is simply a tax that punishes them. While households face these increases, a report from the Comptroller and Auditor General found that just 61% of the carbon tax revenue could be verified as having been spent on the target schemes and programmes the Minister has mentioned. While the Government is making great announcements that the carbon tax revenue is ring-fenced and focused on these initiatives, this report demonstrates that the ring-fencing is not actually happening and that it is being treated the same as general taxation. Why are people being misled on this? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  We will agree to disagree because the carbon tax is ring-fenced and is due to bring permanent savings to households and to families. I have given the Deputy real, verified figures in relation to the number of homes. A total of 244,000 homes in this country have been retrofitted with the support of the grants, which I have just changed again to make them more accessible, particularly to middle-income families, by bringing forward a retrofitting passport. These include windows and doors grants, attic insulation grants and wall cavity grants. People do not have to go for the full deep retrofit and can access them. These measures bring about savings. People speak with their applications, that is, the tens of thousands of applications that we are receiving for these grants and the incredible interest in the new grant scheme that I have brought forward. I ask the Deputy not to lose sight of the fact that nearly 33,000 homes at risk of energy poverty or in energy poverty have been fully retrofitted with 100% grant aid through the carbon tax and the climate action fund. They are permanent savings for those low-income households. I will turn to social housing and what we have been able to do there as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  The whole argument the Government uses to justify the increases in this tax is that the increasing receipts are spent on climate initiatives. The Minister can say that it is ring-fenced, but this report has said that the reality is that 40% of the revenue is not being directed toward the intended measures. I outlined to the Minister the pressures that carbon tax increases are placing on households and that people do not have the alternatives. I do not know how the Minister can justify further increases when he is not actually spending the money on the measures that the Government should be funding. In fact, many of his Government colleagues from the regional Independents, when they were in opposition, spoke very strongly against carbon tax increases and the impact they would have on rural Ireland but obviously, ministerial jobs have changed their mind. Taxpayers need to have confidence in how a Government is spending their money. It should be spent in a way that has been promised by the Government. This report states that it is not. Most of all, the Government needs to stop fleecing ordinary households, who are up to their eyes with rising costs. Many households are in arrears on the likes of their energy bills and so on and this is just adding to that again. The Minister needs to recognise that as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  We are targeting about 73,000 retrofits this year. That will bring our overall retrofit figure to well over 300,000. We are targeting 500,000 homes by the end of the decade. These are bringing about permanent changes for people. When we talk about energy prices - and I have already said this in response to Government and Opposition Deputies - we still have an issue, like many European countries, in relation to energy prices. We need to reduce them further. How are we going to do that? We are going to do that expanding renewables. We are doing well on renewables in solar and in wind. It will also be done on delivering on infrastructure that will bring about those savings, such as the North-South interconnector, which is a critical piece of infrastructure in this country that the Deputy's party is for in the North of Ireland and is against, apparently, in the Republic of Ireland. I am not sure. I asked Deputy Daly what the situation was there. This will deliver savings of over \u20ac100 per annum permanently for households and improve the grid resilience for all 32 counties in Ireland on an all-island and all-Ireland basis. I would have thought projects like that would have received the support of the Sinn F\u00e9in party. Apparently in the North they are supportive, and in the South, they are not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  It would be fair to say that, at times, that the Minister's own party was not necessarily supportive of that particular project. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  We fully support it now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  In fairness to the people, what they want they want to see is a review and obviously, in the long term, undergrounding. Sinn F\u00e9in will not be very different North or South. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Tax Data"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/dbsect_23","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Wind Energy Generation","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/dbsect_19","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_19","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_23","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_23.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  Will the Minister provide an update on the provision of wind energy; the targets for its provision in 2026; whether there are sufficient resources in place to ensure that offshore energy can be onshored; and any other infrastructural deficits that need to be dealt with from the point of view of delivering on the wind energy promise? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I thank the Deputy for his question. Onshore wind is the largest contributor to renewable energy generation capacity in Ireland, with approximately 5.1 GW of wind generation capacity installed. The Government is committed to achieving 9 GW of installed onshore wind capacity. Onshore wind remains Ireland\u2019s dominant source of renewable electricity and is second only to natural gas for overall electricity generation. In fact, we are among the world leaders for installed onshore wind capacity per capita and get a greater share of our electricity from onshore wind than anyone else across Europe. The Department recently launched a consultation on design features for the next onshore wind renewable electricity support scheme, RESS, auction scheduled to take place later this year.  The Government remains committed to having 5 GW of offshore wind capacity in development by 2030, with a long-range target of 20 GW by 2040. Five phase 1 offshore wind projects off our east coast, accounting for 3.8 GW of capacity, are in development at present. It is anticipated that the first planning determination will be made by An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la by the end of 2026. The phase 1 projects are responsible for constructing the offshore transmission assets that will connect the sites to the onshore grid. These transmission assets will transfer to EirGrid after commissioning.  In December 2025, the Minister announced that the consortium of ESB and \u00d8rsted had won Ireland's second offshore wind auction. It will develop an up to 900 MW project off the coast of Waterford, the first within the south coast designated maritime area plan, DMAP. The Department is currently developing proposals for an auction of the second site, L\u00ed Ban, with potential capacity of between 900 MW and 1.5 GW. I expect the auction for that site to take place in 2027. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  In a straightforward sense, we all want to see renewables. We might not have oil fields but we definitely have a large number of areas, offshore in particular, where there is a significant amount of wind for a considerable amount of time. It is that idea, which we often talk about, of becoming a wind superpower. Am I right in thinking that we will not see these particular offshore projects by 2030? Can we get a timeline for how far behind we are? What are we doing as regards the infrastructural deficit? Obviously, a large piece of work needs to be done by EirGrid, but we have constantly heard about the issues that exist in relation to ports. I think Belfast Port is the only port in Ireland that was capable of delivering in relation to offshore wind. I ask for an update on the timeline, on when the Minister of State sees us meeting those targets and on the infrastructural deficits. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  Our immediate focus is to get these projects into construction. That is why we have established the accelerating renewable energy task force, alongside the Taoiseach's clearing house. That will provide inter-agency oversight to remove any barriers to grid planning or ports. We have very ambitious targets. In one sense, we are trying to put the resources in place financially, technically and institutionally because we need private investment, and significant amounts of it, to support connections on both the onshore and offshore sides. We are making progress in regard to previous and future auctions. We are also significantly ramping up investment in the CRU and EirGrid. They have agreed a new five-year programme with up to \u20ac18.9 billion being provided to support their plan in terms of building capacity within our grid. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I am back to whether we can just get some sort of better notion of a timeline on when we will go from planning to shovels in the sea, for want of a better term. It is vital, no matter how far behind target we are, that we ensure we get back on track. We are hearing about an accelerating wind energy task force and the Taoiseach's clearing house. That all sounds wonderful. I just hope it does a better job than an awful lot of task forces have done to date.  When we get these targets, are we looking at something that can do something significant as regards that other task force on reducing energy costs, which are having a huge impact? I get that some of that is the connection with the price of gas. There is a need for greater oversight powers for the CRU and whatever else. We cannot just listen to answers in relation to hedging any more. We need to see a greater level of transparency. It is about delivering on renewables and then delivering not only on sustainability, but on capacity, storage and price in the long term for people who are suffering huge issues with high energy costs. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I thank the Deputy for his comments. Confidence is growing within the sector. The L\u00ed Ban project was the only project across Europe that was awarded last year. We are ramping up our investment, from the State's perspective, to try to ensure the key enablers are in place. While many of these projects are currently in planning, we hope many will go to construction before the end of the decade. Our responsibility is to guide and support many of these companies. Each phase 1 project is responsible itself for the construction of its own offshore transmission asset. For the Tonn Nua project, EirGrid will build the offshore grid that will link to the connection. The Government is focused on what we can control at the minute, which is building the network and ensuring that over 500 projects, including many substations and interconnectors, are delivered as part of EirGrid's and the CRU's project programme. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  Will they start construction in 2030? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  Before 2030. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 147 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Wind Energy Generation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/dbsect_24","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Energy Conservation","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/dbsect_19","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_19","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_24.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  There are funding schemes, but what funding schemes are available for a communal heating system that wishes to change from being gas powered, possibly to heat pumps, in individual houses? We spoke a bit about alternatives in relation to communal heating systems. It is about whatever works, whatever can be done and whatever is cheapest, particularly for those systems. I am talking about Carlinn Hall in Dundalk, specifically. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  We discussed this particular estate before. I will go back to something the Deputy mentioned that I did not get to answer - the Minister of State was answering - in relation to the North-South interconnector. There will be no further reviews. We have had four independent reviews. The North-South interconnector needs to proceed as planned and as consented to in the North and in the South. We have got to get on with it.  To answer the Deputy's question, to support individual homeowners, and following Government approval last month, I published a new national residential retrofit plan with an enhanced set of measures to increase the delivery of home energy upgrades, including heat pump installations. The SEAI and I held a briefing last Tuesday attended by many Deputies across the House, which they found useful. These changed grants will be very impactful. I encourage all to make sure their constituents are informed of these new Government initiatives. The retrofit plan will continue to make home energy upgrades more accessible and affordable, making it easier for homeowners to undertake deep retrofits on a phased basis. That has been a big issue, particularly for middle-income families. While the grants are substantial, those families do not have the financial capacity to do all the work at one time. The new measures include new and enhanced attic and cavity wall insulation grants, an enhanced heat pump system grant of up to \u20ac12,500 and \u20ac4,800 for windows and doors, as well as other grants. These can be reintroduced and done on an individual basis.  The new recently announced heat pump system grant will reduce costs associated with a whole-house heating system upgrade.  The new maximum grant is \u20ac12,500 and that encompasses the existing maximum of \u20ac6,500 for the heat pump, \u20ac2,000 for upgrading radiators and pipework and a new renewable heating bonus of \u20ac4,000. That is a seriously substantial increase and will make heat pumps much more accessible for people. All eligible homeowners can apply through the SEAI for these supports.  With regard to converting from communal heating, individual homeowners, including those availing of a communal heating system, can apply for the individual heat pump grants. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  On the North-South interconnector, the Minister has laid out Government policy and stated there will be no further reviews, not even the one requested. There is no difference between Sinn F\u00e9in in the North and Sinn F\u00e9in in the South on this. As I have said before, the Minister\u2019s own party has had a significant number of people who opposed the interconnector over many years, but generally not while in government.  I appreciate the answer the Minister has given. I have discussed this a number of times with him. Some of the third-party companies that are considering it are now going to assess houses in Carlinn Hall. They will have to talk to the residents about whether they want to opt for these solutions. They have engaged to a great extent with the SEAI. It is just about making sure there are no obstacles.  I am aware of the \u20ac12,500 heat pump grant that is available. On one level, it does not matter whether the option is that or the support scheme for renewable heat. It is just a matter of delivering on what has been a problem. I realise that the Minister understands that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  I do. To be fair to the Deputy, he has raised the issue of Carlinn Hall residents, who find themselves in a very difficult situation. I will say two things on it. First, the enhanced grant for heat pumps is significant. Parking the politics, it has gone up to \u20ac12,500 and that might make the pumps more accessible. Second, at the request of the Deputy in the D\u00e1il and elsewhere, and of Deputy McGreehan and others, we asked the SEAI to carry out a research project to provide assistance to residents in Carlinn Hall. It would be useful to examine the new grants to see whether they fit the residents\u2019 circumstances. It is a communal system.  Supports for geothermal drilling, which may offer another centralised solution for the Carlinn Hall development, have recently been approved as eligible under the SEAI support scheme for renewable heat. That is good news for residents. However, it is important to bear in mind that the Carlinn Hall heating system is privately owned and managed. The implementation of any recommendations from the report of the SEAI on Carlinn Hall, or indeed any premises wishing to switch to individual heat pump solutions, will be for individuals to decide on themselves. However, if we can continue to provide advice, we will. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I appreciate that. Possible solutions for the housing estate have changed many times. Initially, the heating system was fed by biomass. It was then changed to gas but then the invasion of Ukraine sent gas prices through the roof. It is a deeply inefficient system in places and at times, and while there have been some attempts at improvements, we need a long-term solution.  I welcome the fact the SEAI and the Government are open to delivering on this. It may be that the easiest solution is not to replace the communal system with another communal system but to move to individualised solutions within houses. I am agnostic once there is a scheme that is affordable for the individuals and that works out as a better system environmentally and in all the given scenarios. In a perfect world, we would be able to switch it over to a district heating system that takes waste energy from elsewhere. That does not appear to be a possibility at this point, but it may be a solution in many other places. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  Sure. We are drafting the heat networks (miscellaneous provisions) Bill. That will establish the regulatory model for district heating, including communal heating systems, to ensure consumer protections are in place and to support the delivery of a vibrant district heating industry. There is a genuine opportunity in Ireland in district heating. There is only one scheme in the whole country. We have a pipeline of approximately 20 others that could be delivered in the near term and that could make a difference to affordability. Using waste heat or excess heat is also critical.  We will continue to provide any advice we can through the SEAI to residents of the estate. There is an opportunity for those concerned to examine the new suite of grants. The near-doubling of the heat-pump grant may make things more accessible for many households. Coupled with other grants available for housing estates of the age of Carlinn Hall, it might make things affordable. We will stay engaged on it. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Energy Conservation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/dbsect_25","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Renewable Energy Generation","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/dbsect_19","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_19","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_25","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_25.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  Bh\u00ed m\u00e9 ag \u00e9isteacht leis an d\u00edosp\u00f3ireacht anseo agus an m\u00e9id a bh\u00ed r\u00e1ite maidir le fuinneamh gaoithe go h\u00e1irithe. Wind energy as it applies to coastal communities, in particular, is such an important aspect of our drive to meet the targets that are so often spoken about, yet there is no operating offshore wind farm in this country. What are we going to put in place to support communities, particularly coastal ones, in delivering wind projects and ensuring we will have wind capacity into the future? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  The Government is committed to increasing support for offshore wind infrastructure in coastal communities. This is being done in ongoing consultation with all stakeholders in the development of offshore wind energy generation. This includes our local coastal communities and our valued fishing sector, which the Department recognises as crucial to the enduring success of offshore wind energy.  The Department is committed to ongoing engagement with the fisheries sector under Ireland\u2019s plan-led approach to offshore renewable energy, ORE, development. The seafood and offshore renewable energy working group provides a forum to facilitate constructive engagement on the interaction between the seafood and ORE industries.  In September 2025, the Minister, Deputy O\u2019Brien, and my fellow Minister of State, Deputy Dooley, announced the publication of the proposal and accompanying public participation statement for the national designated maritime area plan, DMAP, for ORE. The proposal outlines the Government\u2019s commitment to extensive and inclusive consultation with the public and stakeholders throughout the process. In recognition of the importance of coastal communities in the national DMAP process, a dedicated community liaison service has been contracted, with the sole focus of working with and providing information directly to coastal communities.  Furthermore, all offshore wind generation development projects under the offshore renewable energy support scheme, ORESS, are required to make contributions to their community benefit funds. The community benefit fund will be professionally managed on behalf of the local community, and a local community benefit fund committee will have full responsibility for its funding decisions.  Given the anticipated high level of offshore generation, the amounts involved will be substantial and transformative for communities. It is estimated that these will comprise approximately \u20ac25 million per annum from the 3.1 GW of capacity contracted under phase 1 of ORESS. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  I thank the Minister of State. I have no doubt about the value of offshore wind energy to local communities, particularly, where it is being landed onshore, and about the benefits it brings. I am aware of the community benefit funds, which the Minister of State mentioned. Two major projects are being run from D\u00fan Laoghaire in my constituency, the Dublin Array and Ocean Winds projects. RWE is a partner in the Dublin Array project. Their office is now based in D\u00fan Laoghaire, so it has a close connection to the community. I am aware that it is working hard on the development of information. There is a lot of misinformation about wind energy, particularly offshore wind energy, and about the environmental benefits and clean energy generated. Can we put measures in place that empower locally elected representatives to get answers where they need them and to counter the misinformation? In particular, I am thinking about concerns raised about possible environmental damage where pylons are driven into the seabed. My understanding from the experience of places like the North Sea and the coast of Scotland is that this can create small ecosystems that would not exist without the pylons. How can we counter misinformation? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I thank the Deputy for his comments. I agree on the challenge faced by many communities dealing with the prospect of planning consent for large offshore projects. In the Department, my fellow Minister of State, Deputy Dooley, is looking at the national DMAP ORE element.  The development of that, using the ecosystem-based approach, is really important. It is important that it is informative as to what impact it will have not just on the environment but also on the habitat and the fisheries. There is a job of work as to how we can work with local government, councillors and local authorities to ensure that awareness and that education piece is promoted and that the offshore renewable zones, which avoid ecologically sensitive areas, are incentivised and supported in a sustainable model to ensure that both can coexist. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  The Minister of State is absolutely right, and the value of the community benefit funds, in particular, is huge. We will not feel the effect of this until these things are up and running. Again, in relation to linking them into local communities and the people who are elected to represent those communities, he referred to the professional delivery of community benefit funds. Is there a role for local elected representatives or community councils or other democratic local bodies to have a say in how that money can be utilised and how it can be given best effect i the local community? As I said, these projects are good anyway, but what the Department has constructed here is a really good scheme to add benefits for local communities. They will see that once it is up and running, but there is a real benefit to allowing local councillors and local community organisations that have a democratic element to them to have an input into this rather than having it coldly and professionally delivered without the input of the local community. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  Again, I agree with some of the Deputy's comments. It is an important piece that we need to get right. MARA can play an important role as to how it engages with those who are being supported through the community benefit fund and those in the locality who may not sit on the committee that manages the development fund but who have a role to play as to how we look at these types of projects. That approach would be very important in looking at the ecology piece and the benefit through the fund in order that it serves as a practical forum, that exchange of views can be brought to a meeting and there is problem-solving, guidance and data-sharing. That is an important focus that we will possibly go back and look to implement. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Renewable Energy Generation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/dbsect_26","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Renewable Energy Generation","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/dbsect_19","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_19","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_26","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel McCarthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_26.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  The programme for Government reaffirms Ireland's commitment to and our ambitious target of 8 GW of solar capacity connected to the grid by 2030, to assist with meeting the goal of 80% electricity demand supplied through renewables. Solar energy is now a growing source of electricity, with about 2.4 GW of solar power capacity in our grid and another 1 GW on rooftops. Going back 12 years, it was only 2 MW, so the growth is incredible. The installed capacity we have amounts to powering approximately 520,000 homes. As part of this capacity, as I said, there is already 1 GW of rooftop solar. However, further solar capacity is required for Ireland to meet its domestic and international targets. The ESB has indicated that Ireland could expect the 8 GW of solar in Ireland by 2030 to require an area equal to about 0.26% of all agricultural land, based on a similar study in the UK.  The statutory designation of lands for renewable energy development is undertaken by local authorities as part of the city and county development plan process, which may incorporate a local authority renewable energy strategy or a wind energy strategy.  The SEAI is undertaking an update to the 2013 local authority renewable energy strategy methodology. This provides a robust, evidence-based and consistent approach for local authorities for the identification, assessment and planning for renewable energy development within their jurisdiction.  Furthermore, I have been advised that the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is at the early stages of preparing a new national planning statement on solar energy under the Planning and Development Act 2024.  Under the accelerating renewable electricity task force, officials from my Department will continue to work closely with both the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland and the Department of housing on these ongoing reforms, which will act to support and facilitate the deployment of solar, which is critical to the decarbonisation of Ireland's economy and greater climate resilience. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel McCarthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Noel McCarthy  I thank the Minister for his response. Proposals to prime agricultural land for renewable energy proposals have become common in recent years. Rural communities such as those in my constituency of Cork East are seeing acreage that long provided quality food produce being changed to acres of solar panels in a very short period. Development permission for up to 40 years sees traditional rural communities transformed for decades on the basis of one application. I appreciate that an increased provision of renewable energy sources is needed nationally. However, we have a particular problem developing in Cork East given our proximity to the grid, and limited attention is being paid to the quality of land being used. As such, is the Minister considering any further measures to introduce a land classification system similar to what exists in the UK, which would see the most fertile agricultural land protected against renewable development? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  I understand the points the Deputy has raised. Solar is a relatively new but growing source of energy in Ireland. It is clean, green, sustainable and cheap energy. We have fine agricultural land across the country too and we need to make sure that we can continue to sustain our own population and sustain the agricultural and horticultural sector through our exports as well. We export over 80% of what we produce, as the Deputy knows. However, the advancement of renewables is critical to our energy security and to reaching our climate targets.  The Deputy has rightly stated that any application that goes in for a wind farm, a solar farm or a biomethane plant is dealt with independently of the Government by the planning authority. I have seen applications approved; I have seen applications rejected. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is at initial stages of working on a national planning statement for the deployment of solar.  It is important we are honest with people too, as the Deputy is being, that solar will continue to expand and is a very good source of clean energy for our country. It will reduce our dependence on imported fossil fuel as well and will ensure that we become energy-sovereign. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel McCarthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Noel McCarthy  I thank the Minister again for his response. I note the work of the accelerating renewable electricity task force and its engagement with local authorities on the matter. I also appreciate that a public consultation invited submissions between September and October last year regarding national territory mapping under the EU renewable energy directive. Was there an appetite for such land classification as part of this process? How far is this process advanced in finalising national territory mapping? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  I attended a public meeting in Abbeyknockmoy in my constituency last week. Power Capital is proposing to develop a very large solar project there. It is already developing one nearby in Grange. There are proposals to install a battery energy storage system as part of these projects. This has caused unease in those communities because in January of last year there was a fire at a separate lithium-ion system based in nearby Claregalway. Three fire fighters have not been able to return to work since dealing with that incident, and the local firefighters have said they are totally unprepared to deal with such incidents. These proposed solar farms and battery systems are in very close proximity to residential areas.  I have submitted parliamentary questions on the safety and regulatory requirements for these systems, but there has been very little information coming back and very little in terms of fire safety. On behalf of those communities, I ask the Minister to outline any compliance regulations that are there to ensure that these systems are monitored and operated in a safe manner. Does he have concerns about the ability of the fire services to deal with any potential incidents? Will we see specific planning guidelines in this area? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  I will respond first to Deputy McCarthy, who tabled the question. Most of us are for sustainable, clean, renewable energy to reduce our dependence on fossil fuel.  We have had a good discussion and questions here about energy affordability. How do we drive that affordability? We drive that affordability by investing in our grid, by delivering projects like the North-South interconnector, by expanding our grid and grid resilience, and by expanding our renewables offering. There are communities that feel they have a concentration of different energy sources in their area. As the Minister of State, Deputy Dillon, said in response to Deputy Ward, it is about looking at things like community benefit funds. I visited two battery installations in County Offaly last week, which are fully compliant with EU regulations. We need battery storage to deploy our energy at the right times. We need more renewables. We need onshore and offshore wind and onshore solar, or else we will continue importing gas from third countries. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Renewable Energy Generation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/dbsect_27","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Grant Payments","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/dbsect_19","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_19","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_27","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_27.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  Will the Minister provide an update on SEAI grants, the length of time applicants will have to apply for these grants and how the scheme will work up terms in relation to upfront payments and reimbursement? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  I propose to take Questions Nos. 151 and 157 together.  We have a few questions on the SEAI grants, which we have revised to make them more accessible for families. More than 244,000 homes across the country have been retrofitted. We have invested approximately \u20ac1.7 billion in retrofitting to deliver permanent savings for households, to reduce emissions and energy use and to make homes warmer, safer and healthier. The national retrofitting plan, along with the new and enhanced set of measures I have mentioned, will continue to make home energy upgrades more accessible and affordable. That is the main reason we are breaking up those grants. We are going to protect the warmer homes scheme, which provides 100% grants. We have done approximately 32,700 homes in that space. We are targeting more than 11,000 this year. Further work needs to be done on the lead times from date of application to completion of work. I have met the SEAI on that too.  Homeowners availing of the other grants we offer can take a step-by-step approach. Even if someone is waiting for the warmer homes scheme, they can apply for grants in the interim. They can apply for attic insulation, wall insulation and start to break the grants down. I want to see more people accessing it. I recognise that costs have increased since 2022. That is why we have upped the grant limits. We have upped the grant levels for cavity wall insulation and attic insulation. These higher fixed grants will substantially reduce costs for homeowners. To help first-time buyers of existing homes to get on the energy upgrade journey quickly and at minimal cost, I have brought forward a specific grant for attic insulation for these new homeowners. This will support first-time buyers who purchase an existing property and who might not be in a financial position to undertake a complete energy upgrade.  The new heat pump system grant will reduce the costs associated with a whole house heating system upgrade and accelerate the uptake of heat pumps. A fixed amount grant for installing a heat pump system will be introduced. This grant is significant. It is \u20ac6,500 for the heat pump, \u20ac2,000 towards the radiator upgrades and pipework and a new renewable heating bonus of \u20ac4,000. That brings the maximum grant up to \u20ac12,500. That will also apply to applications already in train and not already paid out. For the first time, homeowners can access a windows and doors grant as an individual measure for the installation of energy-efficient windows and doors to replace older ones that are performing poorly. That is for homes where the building fabric will meet, or already meets, a specified minimum performance standard. Many homes already meet this standard. We estimate that approximately 200,000 homeowners can apply right now for windows and doors grants of approximately \u20ac4,600. That is \u20ac800 per door and \u20ac3,000 for windows. They are significant amounts. The measure is designed to help homeowners to improve comfort and energy efficiency, while ensuring homes meet the building fabric standard suitable for our climate action targets.  I have been advised by the SEAI that the register of windows and doors contractors has now been published on its site. There are 104 contractors registered as of last week. When applying for individual measures, homeowners will now have the option of applying themselves and having the grant refunded once works are complete, or applying themselves and having the grant paid to the bank account of their contractor, who can choose to offer them a discount upfront. They can basically charge net, and they will claim it back. They can also apply through a participating one-stop shop or energy partner, which will carry out the works for the homeowners and pass on the grant savings as a discount on the works. All of that is now up on the SEAI website. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  I thank the Minister. He has basically answered the next questions I had for him. I am delighted that the grants will be upfront, and people will not have to provide the money. That is what he said. That is correct. There will also be no loans required. People will not require a loan in order to get the grant. It will be paid upfront, and people can go to get their windows or doors, or whatever retrofitting is required. Is that correct? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  There are options there. For some people this had operated already. They can apply for themselves and have the grant refunded once the works are completed. They can apply themselves and have the grant paid to the contractor and have that net option. There are low-interest loans available as well. If someone wants to go for a deeper retrofit and to do more work above and beyond, they can apply for that also. What we will endeavour to do with this round of changes to the grants is break them up. Before, for argument's sake, to get windows and doors you would have had to do a whole house upgrade. Even though the grants were good, you would have had to put substantial money towards it yourself. Many families do not have that, or that may not be a priority for them. Importantly within this, once you get this work done, your bills come down permanently. Your home is warmer, healthier and climate friendly too. All of those options are now on the SEAI website. I have also circulated a draft newsletter, and we have done a briefing with Members that was well attended by Government and Opposition last week. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  I thank the Minister and welcome it. If you require the State-backed loans, are these available to everybody in rural Ireland and has rural Ireland applied for these grants in large numbers before? Another issue I have is of a household that had received a SEAI grant previously for cavity bead insulation 30 years ago. Are people like this allowed to go again and reapply for the new upgrades? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  You can go in. If you have already received one grant for one cavity wall, you can go in for a second one. If you did not get window grants before, you can go back in for them as well, so you are not precluded. The low-interest loan is available in both urban and rural Ireland. It is available across all 26 counties of the Republic. I do not have the breakdown per county, but we could certainly get that information for the Deputy as best as we have it. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 152 to 156, inclusive, taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 157 taken with Question No. 151. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Grant Payments"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/dbsect_28","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Climate Change Policy","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/dbsect_19","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_19","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_28","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_28.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  I ask the Minister about nature-based solutions to mitigate and provide resilience to the impacts of climate change. We all know what has happened recently with warmer and wetter winters bringing more flooding, with a cost of billions and more than 100,000 properties in the State at risk of flooding. We know this will continue. Drainage systems will be exceeded, and we need to slow the water down and use the land as a sponge to ensure the surface can have more involvement in resilience to flooding. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  The Deputy started asking his question. I did not pick up the start of it, so will he ask that again? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  What are the Minister of State's views on Ireland's resilience to extreme weather events? Is consideration being given to nature-based solutions to provide resilience to the impacts of climate change? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  In addition to our efforts to mitigate climate change, it is critically important that we plan ahead for a climate-resilient future. Over the past number of years this has become even more evident as powerful storms including Babet, Darragh, \u00c9owyn and most recently Chandra have significantly impacted Irish people, our infrastructure and our economy.  Ireland's whole-of-government adaptation policy response to the impacts of climate change is set out in the second national adaptation framework, NAF, published in 2024. The NAF sets out the national strategy to reduce the vulnerability of the country to the negative effects of climate change and to avail of positive impacts. In November 2025, ten sectoral adaptation plans covering 13 key sectors developed under the 2024 NAF were approved by the Government. These contain measurable actions to improve the resilience of key sectors over the next five years. The Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment holds the responsibility for the NAF and the electricity and gas network sectoral adaptation plans. The other sectors are the responsibility of the relevant line Ministers. A new adaptation task force that was established at the end of last year recently commenced work to provide the senior level oversight and co-ordination of Ireland's approach to adaptation, including systematic delivery barriers and cross-cutting issues. Risk guidelines developed by the Department include as key principles a requirement that nature-based solutions be utilised where appropriate to improve resilience to climate impact. Nature-based solutions can build reliance into the priority risks that extreme wind and heat identified in the EPA's national climate change risk report published in June last year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  I hope that in his next answer, the Minister of State actually tells us what type of nature-based solutions will be foreseen or utilised by Government. I refer to the area in Kerry between Knocknagoshel and Brosna. The older people there tell me that up to 20 to 30 years ago, when heavy rain came, it would be soaked up by the bogs and released slowly. That does not happen anymore, partly due to afforestation and vertical drainage, so huge volumes of water are coming into the basins there and causing the flooding downstream that occurred in Listowel just before the election. The Wild Woodbury project in Dorset in England cleans water, stores carbon and brings new wildlife habitats because the land is soaking up the water and filtering it. It is not enough on its own. There will obviously be hard engineering solutions as well but this needs to be considered in the Government's plans. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I can give a full response in writing but I agree that nature-based solutions are increasingly central to Ireland's adaptation policy. From my own experience, I know that examples are under way such as the wetland rehabilitation in the Shannon and Moy catchments. They are creating national flooding storage zones. I know we are under time constraints but I can send the Deputy the rest of the reply. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Is f\u00e9idir teacht ar Cheisteanna Scr\u00edofa ar www.oireachtas.ie. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Written Answers are published on the Oireachtas website. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Climate Change Policy"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/dbsect_29","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_29","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa)  I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case:  Deputy Robert O'Donoghue - To discuss the disability action plan targets for additional residential places.  Deputy Joanna Byrne - To discuss funding for the breakfast club for St. Paul's SNS, Drogheda, County Louth.  Deputy John Paul O'Shea - To discuss delays in waiting times for outpatient appointments with consultant orthopaedic surgeons in Cork.  Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher - To discuss an application for port listing of Killybegs.  Deputy Malcolm Byrne - To discuss the review of the Garda vetting process and planned measures for simplification.  Deputy Louise O'Reilly - To discuss a full-time Garda station to serve Rush, Lusk and surrounding areas.  Deputy Michael Cahill - To discuss the reduction in SNAs across schools in County Kerry.  Deputy Albert Dolan - To discuss the impact of the deemed disposal tax rule on savings and investment.  Deputy Jen Cummins - To discuss redress for survivors of abuse in industrial and reformatory schools.  Deputy Alan Kelly - To discuss the need for increased resources for An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na in the mid-west.  Deputy Louis O'Hara - To discuss regulatory and safety requirements for BESS installations and large-scale solar developments.  Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh - To discuss holding of a State commemoration to mark 150 years since the escape onboard the Catalpa of six IRB prisoners of war from a British penal colony in Western Australia on 17 April 1876.  Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan - To discuss the capacity of child care provision in Cork North-Central.  Deputies Paul Murphy, Se\u00e1n Crowe, Ciar\u00e1n Ahern and John Lahart - To discuss the lack of sufficient SNA provision for a special school in Tallaght.  Deputies Aidan Farrelly, Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail and R\u00e9ada Cronin - To discuss emergency and capital works in respect of a school in Celbridge, County Kildare.  Deputies David Cullinane and Conor D. McGuinness - To discuss the need for neurodiversity early intervention classes in primary schools in Waterford.  Deputy James O'Connor - To discuss the return of the Midleton-Youghal rail corridor.  Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire - To discuss access to Tramore Valley Park across the South Link Road.  Deputy Barry Ward - To discuss the need to review Circular 0030\/2014 with regard to the role of special needs assistants.  Deputy Matt Carthy - To discuss delivery of a permanent special school in County Monaghan.  Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa - To discuss solutions to antisocial behaviour and the use of flares at League of Ireland games.  The matters raised by Deputies Paul Murphy, Se\u00e1n Crowe, Ciar\u00e1n Ahern and John Lahart, John Paul O'Shea, Albert Dolan, Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire and Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa have been selected for discussion. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/dbsect_30","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_30","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/dbsect_31","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Active Travel","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/dbsect_30","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_30","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_31","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  This an issue of huge concern that I hope can be resolved fairly easily over the coming year. Tramore Valley Park is a fantastic new park that has been developed in the past couple of years. It was officially opened in 2019 and was practically opened a bit before. It is a repurposed civic amenity on what was effectively a dump, and it has been repurposed into an excellent park with many tracks and routes. The difficulty is that initially it was not accessible by foot at all. It could only be accessed by car before it was subsequently opened at one side on the Half Moon Lane side on the Douglas end and, subsequently, in the past year or two by the opening of a bridge to the Grange side. Probably the neighbourhoods it is closest to are the areas of Ballyphehane and Turners Cross. People in those communities are unable to access Tramore Valley Park except by car. It is simply not safe to access. It is not legal for pedestrians to access it. Access from that direction would be across the link road that connects the Kinsale Road roundabout to the city. The Minister might possibly be familiar with some of these areas.  It is causing huge frustration that this fantastic park and terrific amenity has been provided by Cork City Council and the people in these neighbourhoods are able to look across the road at it but are unable to reach it other than in their cars. On top of that, the car park is very often full because it is so popular. I like to use it myself, although sometimes I like to ration it because I was there so often during Covid because it was within my 5 km that I spent too much time there. It is a fantastic park but it is frustrating for people when they can only go there by car and then the car park is full, so what is needed is a connection. Ultimately, this can potentially connect right across through the potential greenways that will exist right across through Ballyphehane and Togher and potentially linking up to the viaduct, which will be potentially very beneficial for those communities and commuters but also from the tourism point of view. Here and now, there is that short distance that needs to crossed - the link road to bring people from Ballyphehane, Togher and Turners Cross to allow them to get across to Tramore Valley Park by foot and by bike.  There was a small allocation in the most recent round of funding but I think it was only a couple of thousand euro. Realistically, it is not going to do a lot. I understand that sometimes the approach is to try to put in a budget line that can be built upon in the coming years. I am taking this opportunity to convey to the Minister the benefits of what is a small investment. There are a number of ways this could be done. I think there are some underpasses that would have been there in the past but I think it is potentially more likely as a bridge across this link road. This is something that has to be delivered. It is very badly needed. I do not think it would break the bank but it would open up this park. A lot of the focus on these kind of projects and these NTA projects is about ensuring that people are able to walk and cycle to be able to go to work but also to access amenities. That sums it up. This is potentially very beneficial for the communities in question. The NTA funding for this year has now passed but I hope that as the Minister looks to prepare next year's NTA allocations, he will work with the NTA to ensure that there is a much more substantial allocation so that we can properly advance this project and ensure access. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Transport (Deputy Darragh O'Brien)  I thank the Deputy for raising this because it gives me an opportunity to look into it. I am a big supporter of active travel. This year, we will spend about \u20ac363 million across the country on active travel. We have already invested over \u20ac1 billion in these programmes.  I am aware that Tramore Valley Park is a tremendous facility but I am also aware of the frustrations raised by the Deputy, namely, that there is no pedestrian access from the Ballyphehane side. The allocation this year is significant in this sense in that it is an allocation of \u20ac4,000. We have made contact with Cork City Council about this. It is very aware of the missing link into Tramore Valley Park across the South Link Road. In fact the, council has submitted a proposal to the NTA to help to address the issue. The proposed Kinsale Road to Tramore Valley Park pedestrian-cycle connection would provide that improved pedestrian and cycle infrastructure on the Kinsale Road and the Mick Barry Road as well as a pedestrian and cycle bridge into Tramore Valley Park. What has been allocated now, the \u20ac4,000 to support the development of options and a preliminary design for this project, is the first step. Obviously, the project itself will cost more than that, but what the Deputy has identified is what we are finding across the country, namely, that really good parts of networks are being delivered and then the gaps are identified. Some of them are being planned out and delivered in full but, more and more, we are seeing those networks link up together. People do respond to them.  This gap has been identified. It is a prime example of where intervention would actually join those dots. The allocation has been made at \u20ac4,000 to do the preliminary design work and to look at the options. That comes in and we can look towards funding that project into 2027 because we have committed to a minimum of \u20ac360 million per year for the term of this Government. It is important to note that Cork County Council was allocated \u20ac27 million this year to support approximately 70 active travel schemes, including that proposed severance link and the issues at Tramore Valley Park. I am aware of this now. I encourage the Deputy over the course of the year to make sure that the local authority progresses that preliminary design and the options. We can get it in for a full funding application for next year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  I find the Minister\u2019s response encouraging. It seems he understands the benefits of the project and I hope he will look at it favourably when the more fleshed-out proposal comes to him. I appreciate him saying \u20ac4,000 is significant in the sense that it represents a commitment. It is obviously not going to go very far in this particular year, even in terms of detailed design and so on. The council is not going to be in a position to engage a contractor or subcontractor. For that kind of money it will have to do it inhouse, and figure out some kind of plan in that regard. I hope it is in a position to do something like that.  I will be engaging with the city council to ensure it is able to advance design during the course of the year. From what the Minister is saying, it sounds as if from the discussions his Department has had with the local authority, what is anticipated is pedestrian access via a bridge adjacent to the Mick Barry Road. That is what is being looked at. There are various options in terms of tunnels and things like that and there probably were difficulties in terms of that, but realistically we are looking at a bridge. I welcome that. It is vitally important. I will continue to engage with Cork City Council.  In terms of the Minister\u2019s experience, perhaps he could give us a sense - it is difficult to say at this point \u2013 in terms of delivery. Is he reasonably satisfied that within the envelope that is there over the coming two or three years, there is scope to support a project like this in the next couple of years from within the allocation provided to the NTA? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darragh O'Brien","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Darragh-O'Brien.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darragh O'Brien  As I said, I am very supportive of these projects. I said Cork County Council area but it was Cork City Council area that was allocated \u20ac27 million this year under the NTA\u2019s active and sustainable transport investment programme. What happens is the NTA will do the allocations. The draft allocations come to us. We have a very good active travel team within the Department but the local authorities are the critical link to make sure proposals they have are prioritised. That design work is really important and the options. It looks to me from what I have read that it is likely it will be the bridge option, but this is a very early stage. I am confident with the allocation we have through the revised NDP that we will be able to continue to deliver these projects at scale, including this one.  Last year approximately 200 kilometres of cycling and walking routes were delivered across the country. Interestingly, in the coming days the NTA will publish last year's 2025 walking and cycling index for Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford. We hope to see positive signs of that continued modal shift arising, in part from the improvements to the active travel network, because people are responding to it. I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. We will keep an eye on it and I am sure he will keep in touch with me. As he said it is important we work with colleagues in the local authority to ensure they get those options and designs done and get them submitted to the NTA so they can be given consideration for funding next year to advance the project. The preliminary design and planning has to go through and then we can move towards funding. We have the funds to deliver these projects. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Active Travel"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/dbsect_32","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Special Educational Needs","counts":{"speechCount":10,"speakerCount":5},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/dbsect_30","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_30","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_32","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Lahart","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Lahart.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Lahart.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  People power has forced the Government into a retreat on SNAs. That is extremely welcome. However, the underlying problem of the basis allocation of SNAs and the insufficient number of SNAs remains. This special school in Tallaght illustrates the problem precisely. It received a letter on 11 February saying its allocation would be reduced from the 2025-26 academic year. It was withdrawn on the same day, but the rationale presented is quite telling. It is based on primary care needs. That is the basis. In other words, it is primarily medical as opposed to other needs.  I quote, \u201cbased on the evidence presented at review, many references to multiple adult-to-learner ratios were noted. This is not in line with a rights-based, regulation-first approach,\u201d the idea being that there were too many SNAs and staff members to assist these children, when these are children with profound difficulties who may often need multiple adults. I add to that that the environment is not a purpose-built space but a shared campus. There are 600 kids and students on this campus and many cars coming and going. I saw videos of buses arriving, kids trying to get off and cars pulling in and out. It is a dangerous situation where multiple staff members are needed to keep children safe. That needs to be taken into account. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Crowe  Our issue is about a special school for special children. It is a good example of the uncertainty, fear and distress being created around this SNA issue. The school was told in writing it was losing an SNA and then it was told it was not. There were two emails, with one withdrawn in 40 minutes. The NCSE asked parents to fill in a form outlining the care needs of their child. It is a difficult form to fill in. It is about what is wrong with your child rather than what is right. If a parent fills in the form wrong, the child could lose his or her SNA; so no pressure. Parents were told forms were needed for review and then that they were not needed. Some 30 forms were left in the school; we have seen them. A signed parental consent form was needed and then not required. We are told this is a pause and that suggests this process will resume and the school could lose its SNA. The system that allocates SNAs is utterly opaque and parents, SNAs and many schools feel it is deliberately made that way. We need clarity and a defined approach that gives certainty. Parents should not have to fight every day for their special needs child. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  I wish to look at one example in the same special school in Tallaght and the broader shift in the model of what we expect an SNA\u2019s role to be, and the struggles that the school and staff go through on a daily basis. This school has a student with type 1 diabetes and epilepsy. The child has increasingly complex needs and seizures approximately every fortnight. The school is dealing with all of this. The student cannot wear a glucose monitor or an insulin pump as his needs are so complex. He is non-verbal. He has no communication device or access to CDNT services. He is completely reliant on staff. In this case SNAs monitor his presentation and bloods and the only way they can do that is by taking a sample and intervening themselves. SNAs routinely support children with diabetes and will monitor bloods. That type of supervision is not possible in this case. Staff are increasingly anxious about taking on responsibilities which would usually be given to nurses. They are involved in decision making when it comes to this child\u2019s medical needs. There are serious concerns in the school about who is responsible and the school is looking for a nurse. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Lahart","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Lahart.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Lahart.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Lahart  I thank the Minister of State for his presence tonight. I wish to focus in on one particular aspect as well, that is, serious concerns regarding the credibility of the review process that was initiated. In the absence of nursing provision in the school, the school engaged in what was an extremely detailed and arduous SNA review process in an effort to secure additional SNA support. Deputy Crowe referred to this. Parents were asked to complete extensive questionnaires outlining in detail the significant and complex needs of their children. These are families we know are already under enormous strain. That documentation identified as part of the review process was not considered by the review panel. It is still sitting in the principal\u2019s office. Despite this, a determination was made to reduce that school's allocation. When it was challenged by the principal and pointed out it had made a determination without the full documentation, the decision was subsequently reversed. That alone really needs to be investigated. We all have a few other points to make in the second round. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Education and Youth (Deputy Michael Moynihan)  I am always encouraged when we have cross-party Members bringing issues to the floor of the D\u00e1il, and the sincerity of it.  At the outset, I know of the school the Deputies are referring to, and I have engaged with the principal previously on some issues. Deputy Lahart brought this to my attention last week as well. I will talk through the issues. I have a script that will be handed out, and Members can take that as read.  I want to talk through the issues. Deputy Lahart gave further information on an issue. Deputy Crowe mentioned 40 minutes between the taking and giving back of an SNA. I need further clarification from all of the Deputies on that. I want to understand this. We were in St. Michael\u2019s House in Baldoyle this morning. I have visited many special schools and I know the enormity of the work they do there and the huge complex care and medical needs of children across the system.  The work that is being done there is second to none in regard to the school leadership, teachers and SNAs. A lot of the SNAs, as Deputy Ahern pointed out, are doing enormous work in regard to it.  While the SNA review has been paused, we need to get under the bonnet in regard to this issue. I need to get an understanding of it. I am really concerned that, when you have special schools and the complex needs that are being presented in special schools, the school the Deputies referred to and every other one are going way above and beyond the call of duty in regard to the administration of it.  If it is possible, and when it is convenient to all four Deputies, I might convene a meeting with them. I would ask them to bring as much information as possible on the matter. I can give the stock answer the Deputies have received there but that is not sufficient in terms of what they are looking for. As I understand it, the Deputies' concern is about additional SNA support but also a particular SNA or one who may have qualifications. They are non-medical but they would have qualifications.  I want to be very clear. We understand what the challenges and the issues are. In the Deputies' closing contributions, they might dig a small bit deeper until they get to the exact medical needs that were presented but were not taken into account. I might take it that, when the letter was issued on 11 February, the principal returned documentation by email to the NCSE at that point and then the subsequent letter was withdrawn 40 minutes later. The Deputies might confirm that for me and, if it is possible at a convenient time for all four of them, we could meet, try to thrash it out and try to come, first of all, to an understanding of what the issues are. I have no difficulty because I believe a part of my job that is very fundamental is that I should be out looking at what is happening in special schools, and I do not have any difficulty in visiting that school either. I have engaged with the principal previously but maybe if the Deputies expand on that point in the short few minutes they have, I will try to respond to it. Then we could have a further meeting to expand on that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  I thank the Minister of State and I would very much welcome the idea of a meeting. I also invite him to come and visit the school and meet with the principal, teachers, SNAs and so on.  On the bottom-line point, what happened in the 40 minutes between the letter removing the SNAs and the letter saying that no SNAs would be removed was that the principal contacted the NCSE to say that all the parents' questionnaires that the NCSE had asked the school to fill out, that the parents had gone to fill out, as explained, and that the NCSE had supposedly taken into account in making its decision could not have been taken into account because the school still had them and they were all still sitting there. We saw them when we visited the school. The principal still has them at this stage. That was what happened in the intervening 40 minutes, which raises a question about whether this applied elsewhere as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Crowe  The other worrying thing is that I believe there is a parental consent form, and that was not taken up either. We can furnish the Minister of State with the information in relation to this case but it raises issues as to whether this is happening in other schools. I have never heard of this type of thing happening before now. What is worrying is the point Deputy Murphy made in relation to the idea that there were too many adults. We are talking about a special school and special circumstances. The replies that seem to be in the letter itself are really worrying. However, it is the wider issue: how many schools are impacted by the fact that the forms have not been collected? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  I thank the Minister of State for his engagement tonight. We would be delighted to meet. Regarding this particular medical issue, there are concerns around a lack of training for SNAs in dealing with issues like this. My colleague, Deputy Eoghan Kenny, has brought in a Bill on emergency medical care training for SNAs but this is an ongoing issue. This is an emergency and something they have to deal with on an almost daily basis. There are concerns around liability if something goes wrong, and things will inevitably go wrong in these high-pressure, immediate, decision-making situations. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Lahart","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Lahart.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Lahart.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Lahart  I thank the Minister of State for that and I would be very positive about meeting him. The first issue is the complex and high-risk needs of pupils, which were not considered by the review panel prior to the decision. That raises the credibility, transparency and integrity of the review process, unfortunately generally, because if it happened there, as previous Deputies said, where else has it happened? The school has been formally requesting access to nursing support since June 2025. During this time, the needs of the child in question have become more complex and safety risks have escalated. The board of management is not sure, for example, whether the school is covered from an insurance point of view because of the possible clinical needs of the student. That is it in a nutshell, along with all the other things my colleagues have said.  To finish, the Minister of State is very popular in the school. He did visit the school and following his visit, the school invested \u20ac2 million in the actual campus and this is one of the shames of the thing. That has not been forgotten by the school either. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  In the few minutes available to me, I will say that I will meet with the Deputies and further engage with the principal as well because we did engage. I will go through that.  The worrying thing is that because there is one student or students within it - we will just say \"students\" - there is a medical need that is developing within the school and that has become more profound or needy. Is one of the issues that this was not taken into account? I will go back in relation to it.  I know that all the forms, including consent forms, are hard won in special schools because of the complexity of what has to be put on them. Parents have a lot of other challenges in regard to having children with profound needs and trying to meet those. That is something I will certainly look at.  Am I clear in saying that they are looking for a particular type of support within the school? When special schools are looked at, the ratio of staff to pupils is quite high because of the complex needs within the schools. The Deputies will know from working in their communities that some of the special schools are providing very high-end medical care as well within the school communities. It is not fair to say that there are ratios of 2:1. That can vary depending on the needs of the child.  What I will undertake is that I will meet with the Deputies. We could liaise with the principal and the school authorities as well during the meeting to get a sense of it. There is not much point in my standing up here, but we are committed to this and very serious about it. I am desperately serious about trying to do the right thing here and what I will do is undertake to liaise with the Deputies and the school community. I am glad to see they had the bit of investment but we have to continue that investment in the overall sense. To get an understanding of this particular issue, I will engage with the Deputies and we will take it from there. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Special Educational Needs"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/dbsect_33","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Hospital Waiting Lists","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/dbsect_30","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_30","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_33","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Paul O'Shea  I am here tonight to highlight an issue that is causing real pain, distress and uncertainty for families right across Cork city and county. I refer to the unacceptably long waiting times for patients seeking to be seen as outpatients by a consultant orthopaedic surgeon in the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital, SIVUH, in Cork. The SIVUH plays a vital role in delivering specialist orthopaedic care to people not just in Cork city but across the wider region. Every week, my office is contacted by patients, young people with sports injuries, older people waiting for hip and knee assessments and workers unable to return to their jobs due to chronic pain, all of whom are stuck in limbo waiting months and in many cases far longer than that, simply to be assessed at an outpatient clinic.  Behind every statistic is a person. It is that parent who cannot lift their child because of an untreated shoulder injury. It is that farmer who cannot get through a day's work because of a deteriorating hip. It is the older person whose mobility is declining while they wait to even begin the process towards surgery or treatment. Orthopaedic conditions are not minor inconveniences. They directly impact mobility, independence, mental health and the ability to work. When outpatient appointments are delayed, diagnoses are delayed. When diagnoses are delayed, treatment is delayed.  When treatment is delayed, conditions worsen, often becoming more complex and costly to treat. The simple reality is that demand for orthopaedic services in Cork has increased significantly. We have an ageing population, higher participation and support, and more people living longer with degenerative conditions, yet the resources allocated have not kept pace with that demand.  Consultants and front-line staff at the SIVUH are working tirelessly. They are not the problem. They are doing everything they can within the constraints placed upon them. However, the goodwill and dedication cannot replace adequate staffing levels, theatre capacity, clinic space and funding. We need targeted investment. We need additional consultant orthopaedic posts approved and filled. We need expanded outpatient clinical capacity. We need protected theatre time to ensure that when patients are assessed, they can be moved forward for surgery without delay. We need to ensure that diagnostic supports, such as MRI and radiology, are properly resourced, so bottlenecks do not simply move elsewhere in the system.  Early intervention is not just better for patients; it is more cost-effective for the health service. Treating conditions early prevents complications, reduces emergency admissions and supports people to remain independent and work independently in their communities. Patients in Cork deserve timely access to orthopaedic care. They should not have to travel long distances or consider private treatment because the public system cannot see the patient within a reasonable timeframe.  I call on the House to take this genuine request and insist that the HSE prioritise additional funding and workforce supports specifically for orthopaedic services at the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital. A focused plan must be developed to reduce outpatient waiting lists and restore confidence in the system. I do not see this plan at the moment, which worries me. Pain should not be prolonged by process. Mobility should not be sacrificed for bureaucracy. No patient should be forgotten while waiting for care. We owe it to the people of Cork to act urgently. I ask the House to address this matter tonight. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Mary Butler)  I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. I welcome the opportunity to address the House. The Government recognises that waiting times for many scheduled appointments and procedures are too long, not only in Cork, but in hospitals throughout the country. The multi-annual action plan approach was initiated in September 2021 to substantially reduce and reform hospital waiting lists and waiting times. Since the commencement of the action plan approach, the health service has seen significant progress in reducing the length of time patients are waiting, including a reduction of 56%, or 157,000, in the number of patients waiting over 12 months.  Orthopaedic services are provided in Cork by Cork University Hospital and South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital, with CUH being the trauma centre and South Infirmary providing elective procedures. I was interested to read that the waiting lists in CUH and the South Infirmary are like chalk and cheese. There are currently 199 patients waiting for an outpatient appointment at CUH and 7,444 patients waiting at the South Infirmary. Staffing at the South infirmary has increased by 232 whole-time equivalents since the end of December, from 804 to 1,033, an increase of 28%. The budget increased from \u20ac62 million in 2020 to \u20ac97 million in 2025, which is a significant increase of 56%. The Deputy can see that a lot of investment has gone in, although the demand is still significant.  The Government remains fully committed to increasing elective care capacity through the elective ambulatory care programme. This is being delivered in two phases: with a national network of surgical hubs in the first instance to meet medium-term demand and capacity and, in the longer term, a national network of elective treatment centres in Cork, Dublin and Galway. In Cork, construction of the surgical hub at CUH is well advanced and is expected to open in quarter 3 of this year. Once fully operational, it is anticipated that the hub will deliver annual activity of 8,000 day-case procedures, 5,700 minor operations and some 18,500 outpatient appointments.  The Deputy will know that the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, published the capital plan today, and that \u20ac34.5 million was allocated to complete the surgical hub in Cork. That should make a significant difference. I was delighted to see that it will open in quarter 3 of this year. There are several hubs that are midway through construction, and the sooner we get them open, the better. They will not be affected by issues in the acute level 4 hospitals or, for example, by procedures having to be cancelled because of staffing. We can already see the impact they have made in Dublin.  Until the capacity is in place in the public system to meet the increased levels of demand being experienced, it is appropriate that we make use of all available additional capacity to ensure that patients have access to the care they need. Accordingly, the multi-annual action plan approach targets the delivery of additional capacity for patients in the public and private systems through a co-ordinated approach by the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund. The NTPF works with hospitals throughout the country to offer and provide the funding for treatment to clinically suitable, long-waiting patients. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Paul O'Shea  I thank the Minister of State for her encouragement and engagement in the response. There is a glimmer of hope for orthopaedic patients in Cork. I know we had the fantastic publication of the service plan this week, where the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, announced \u20ac34 million for the surgical hub, which will allow capacity for up to 18,500 outpatient appointments. I hope that will reduce some of the orthopaedic waiting list for outpatient clinics. As the Minister of State said, it is currently at 7,444. I am glad this figure was brought before the House tonight because it outlines clearly that there is a big challenge in Cork to address the orthopaedic waiting lists.  I want to mention two people who have come to my office. I have received correspondence on them from the South Infirmary and the HSE. One person, a lady in her 80s, was referred for an urgent outpatient appointment, but she cannot even get an indicative date. A lady in her 60s has been to the GP twice to get a more urgent referral to the outpatient clinic. In both cases, the management of the hospital and the HSE still cannot guarantee appointments for my two constituents. I am doing my very best to represent them but, unfortunately, I cannot get an appointment time.  There is some glimmer of hope with regard to outsourcing theatre capacity in Cork to private hospitals over the coming months to cater for the long waiting lists while we wait for the surgical hub to open in CUH in quarter 3. I would encourage the Minister of State to engage with the HSE and ask it to facilitate some private capacity in private hospitals to deal with the emergent outpatient waiting list. It is chronic. To have 7,444 people waiting in Cork for a basic outpatient appointment for orthopaedics is unacceptable and must be dealt with as soon as possible. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  I thank the Deputy for the manner in which he has raised this issue. I can give him a bit of good news. The HSE south-west region employs 12 whole-time equivalent consultant orthopaedic surgeons based at Cork University Hospital and the South Infirmary Hospital. One vacant whole-time equivalent post is due to be filled by March 2026, which should have an impact.  To return to the waiting list, in the last six months, 3,174 people have come onto the waiting list, and a significant number are waiting over 18 months. The Deputy might send on the details of the two cases that he raised, and we will see if we can do anything to expedite that. The quality of life of somebody who is waiting for orthopaedic surgery is very much impaired, especially people in their later years. Nobody can stand over a situation where people have to wait for that length of time. We will see if we can do anything to expedite that, and there might be a cancellation or something like that. It would make a big difference.  We will have the funding for the waiting list initiative. It will be in place and will make a significant difference. I have no doubt the South Infirmary will receive its fair share with regard to the 12 orthopaedic surgeons being put in place and the surgical hub being opened in the third quarter. I am happy to engage with the Deputy on the two cases he raised. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Hospital Waiting Lists"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/dbsect_34","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Tax Code","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/dbsect_30","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_30","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_34","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Albert Dolan  The deemed disposal tax on unrealised gains for exchange-traded funds, ETFs, is simply madness. We often speak in this House about opportunity, fairness and giving people a real stake in our economy. We need to ask ourselves honestly what kind of Ireland we are shaping through our current tax system. Do we want an Ireland where ordinary workers can build wealth slowly and steadily over time, where someone on an average income with \u20ac100 or \u20ac200 he or she can put into a savings account a month can participate in the markets and benefit from long-term growth? Are we content with a system where real tax efficiency is saved for the few who can afford complex advice and sophisticated structures? At the moment, when it comes to ETF investing, that is the signal we are sending. If a young person decides to invest modest savings into a diversified fund and hold it for the long term, they can be taxed on gains they have not even realised. They have not sold, they have not received income, they may not have even seen a cent in their account, yet they face a tax charge simply because time has passed. That cuts across a basic principle that we have in this country, that is, we tax income or gains when they are actually realised.  It also undermines compounding, which is how ordinary people build security. It is how small, consistent investments over 20 or 30 years turn into something meaningful; a deposit, a cushion, a sense of independence. It is vital to say that, as I understand it, approximately \u20ac66 million a year is raised from the deemed disposal tax. The Government is leaving a lot of money on the table by not allowing people to compound over time and actually tax the gain when people are ready to realise it. Taxing an unrealised gain is an unfair principle. As we all know, the markets can go any way, any day and nobody knows the better but the reality is that people who are patient and wait for the long term are rewarded. If we are serious about broadening ownership, spreading opportunity and building long-term capital in this country, we cannot penalise patience and discipline. We have to remember that we are in a global competition when it comes to capital markets and with the opportunities that exist at the moment. It is important to highlight as well that young people primarily see the benefits of investing in a pension from a tax efficiency perspective. The problem is that not everybody wants to wait until they are 66 years old to draw down money or to avail of the money they have accumulated. They want to be able to live life as and when they need to. They never know when a crisis or an opportunity might arise whereby they need to access their money. I think people want to have that freedom to be able to do so.  A fairer system would reward long-term investment, as opposed to penalising it. It would treat people consistently and give every worker a genuine chance to accumulate. It is time to reform this rule and build an Ireland where ownership is not concentrated in the hands of a few but is shared more widely across society. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Deputy Robert Troy)  I thank Deputy Dolan for raising this important issue of supporting savings and investment. I fully agree with everything he has said. We need to look at areas where we can incentivise wider participation in retail investment and to activate the \u20ac170-odd billion that is sitting idly on demand deposits in this country. According to the Central Bank of Ireland\u2019s retail investor participation report, published in December of last year, Ireland has one of the lowest levels of direct retail participation in capital markets in the EU. Encouraging retail investment is set out in the programme for Government and is consistent with the work at an EU level on the savings and investment union. Ireland will be taking a leadership role in this regard during our Presidency of the EU Council later this year.  The deemed disposal rule is a part of the current taxation regime for investments in Irish-domiciled investment funds and life assurance products, as well as equivalent offshore funds and certain foreign life assurance products, and generally applies to ETFs, as Deputy Dolan has said. Under deemed disposal, tax is levied eight years after an investment is made and every subsequent eight years, regardless of whether a disposal has in fact occurred. The tax is levied on any gain in the value of the investment from the date of acquisition to the date of the deemed disposal. On the ultimate disposal of the investment, any tax paid is allowed as a credit against the final tax liability.  Surprisingly, I must admit that as it stands now, we do not have a full, clear picture of exactly how much deemed disposal generates annually in tax. That is something we are going to have to ask Revenue to figure out and come back with the precise details. However, I do believe we need to start thinking about the cost of not doing something and the opportunity missed out on. More favourable tax drives economic activity.  Prior to budget 2026, I advocated strongly to our then Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe, that deemed disposal be removed in its entirety and that we reduce the associated tax rate to be in line with our capital gains tax rate. I accept it was easy for me to say, as I was not framing the budget, and a Minister for Finance has competing demands. To his credit, he did signal elements of the funds review recommendations to be actioned. Budget 2026, in addition to reducing the rate of tax that applies to these forms of investment, included a commitment to publish a roadmap for the taxation of retail investment as included in that funds review. The roadmap will set out an approach to simplify and adapt the tax framework to further support retail investment while applying necessary and important anti-avoidance protections in a proportionate manner. It is expected to be published shortly. There was also a commitment in budget 2026 to launch a forum looking specifically at a savings and investment account product. That forum will kick off later in March, convened by the T\u00e1naiste and me. Later this week, I will convene a round table with senior industry leaders to discuss the Ireland for finance strategy. I have no doubt that a supplementary item on the agenda will be how we mobilise people to look at better returns on their savings.  It is a concept that is easy to announce for headlines but the devil will be in the detail. Any product or package we introduce must be attractive, simple and something that the people want to participate in. It is vital that we get this right. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Albert Dolan  I really appreciate the sentiment the Minister of State has delivered before this House. There is an opportunity here for the Government to send a clear signal that for people who are working and contributing to our society and who want to accumulate a security buffer or a cushion, we will support them to do so, not just for their pension but for when other things arise in life as well. I believe that the deemed disposal must go because I fundamentally believe it is unfair to tax somebody on an unrealised gain. I also agree that it is vital that whatever we put in place has to benefit people and work properly. In the UK they have the ISA-style saving account. In the US they have a Roth IRA account. These are unique and novel ideas where you can give tax efficiency on smaller investment amounts or you can decide not to tax the capital gain or you can decide to allow people to accumulate more.  We have to acknowledge in this House that we do not have the same stock exchange here in Ireland that we once had. Our stock exchange is weak and companies are choosing to list on markets where they can access greater capital. We have to look at that. Perhaps it would make sense to incentivise people to invest in Irish companies. I believe the employment investment incentive scheme, EIIS, works really well but it is a very concentrated risk. You invest in a company with EIIS and it ultimately is a start-up with a higher probability of failing than a diversified fund. If you invest in a fund, you have an opportunity to spread your risk across multiple companies. I really do believe that if we encourage people to invest in the Irish stock exchange tax efficiently, we would see more Irish companies investing here in Ireland and raising capital in Ireland. We would also see Irish people being very proud to have a share and ownership in Irish companies. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  I thank the Deputy again for the opportunity to discuss this important topic.  While the Deputy's question focuses on one aspect of the current tax regime, it is clear that the overall approach to taxation of retail investments needs to be considered. Stakeholders including individual investors and industry participants have made their position on the current approach, including deemed disposal, clear. Capital markets provide an opportunity for savings to be more productive for both the individual and the wider economy. Taxation plays an important part in what has to be considered when looking at how to encourage retail investment.  As I alluded to in my opening remarks, the Department of Finance is closely examining the concept of a savings and investment account. It can provide framework, as the Deputy alluded to, for ordinary savers to benefit from the opportunities available through participation in the capital markets, but we must get the detail right. Those details are within the funds review recommendations. As a Government, we cannot be looking for reviews only not to implement their findings.  The roadmap on taxation of retail investment will be published shortly and will set out the intended approach to encourage retail investment in Ireland, including consideration of savings and investment accounts. I expect further discussions will be had on savings and investments as the development of a new approach to taxation of retail investment proceeds. I look forward to continuing engagement with the Deputy on these issues. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Tax Code"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/dbsect_35","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Sports Organisations","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-24\/debate\/dbsect_30","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_30","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_35","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I welcome that the Minister of State, Deputy McConalogue, is here to answer this question. It is a very important issue. I think everyone has seen it or heard about it on the airwaves. A number of us were at the match in Oriel Park on Friday night. I like to make Dundalk FC's home games as much as I possibly can. The Louth derby is something you look forward to. We were there and it was good to have the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, there for the opening of a fabulous pitch with the new lights. It was provided by sports capital funding. It is fair to say that the deposit was paid by the Dundalk FC Supporters Trust, a group of Dundalk fans who have come together to be there in case anything is needed. Dundalk FC has had its issues, as people have seen, over the past number of years. Now we think we are in a fairly positive place.  Obviously what happened on Friday night was an absolute disgrace. It needs to be called out. We all welcome that Dundalk FC and Drogheda United are working together. A 12-year-old boy was burnt badly. In saying that, it could have been worse. We know there is nerve damage and facial burns, and his clothes were burnt. He could have literally been up in flames. My thoughts go out to him. I commend the work of the Order of Malta. There was also violence in Clarke Station. The Garda has to be given whatever information there is. From a security point of view, the Garda has to review what needs to be reviewed and what can be improved. Security needs to be looked at. Everybody will tell you - I am sure the Minister of State has heard this before - that the problem is that minors cannot be patted down. Unfortunately, some people will use minors and some minors will attempt to take flares into games. We have all seen flares used. As much as the FAI might have a zero-tolerance approach, people have seen them. They are used for dramatic effect with lots of colour, etc. What was different in this scenario is that it was very organised and flares were used to burn a pitch. This has to be called out. It has brought the issue to a head.  It is vital that the Minister is meeting the FAI tomorrow. A solution has to be addressed. There have to be serious consequences. We could be talking about tens of thousands of euro worth of damage. As much as I welcome Drogheda United working with Dundalk FC, there is a necessity for Drogheda United to pay this money. We have to look at means of imposing a penalty. It is hard to call these guys \"fans\". A small number of them destroy everything for everyone else. It has to become utterly unacceptable. Their own peer group must not accept any element of this in any way. I have to say that the senior Minister, in saying \"a plague on all your houses\" and stalling or pausing funding for AstroTurf pitches, has not helped. We know that there has been underfunding of the FAI over many years. I do not think it was not helpful in any way. I hope the Minister of State is here to state that that will be rowed back on. I assume there is not a huge number of projects that fall into that bracket. The Minister of State, Deputy McConalogue, and the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, need to work alongside the FAI and other stakeholders - in this case, Dundalk FC and Drogheda United - to find a real solution to something that is a problem across the League of Ireland, which does not have the money for security that English Premier League teams have. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport (Deputy Charlie McConalogue)  I thank Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa for raising this matter. What happened in Oriel Park on Friday evening was an abhorrent and criminal act. It involved taking flares to the stadium, setting them alight and throwing them onto the pitch. It led to a very tragic injury to a young 12-year-old boy. All of our thoughts are with him and his family for his recovery. Our thoughts are also with those who were distressed by what happened on the night. What we saw was criminal damage to a wonderful new facility. We must stamp out that behaviour. I know that the Garda is following up the criminal behaviour that took place on the night. I have no doubt it will do that thoroughly. We must all work to address these unacceptable instances. Unfortunately, this is not the first time we have seen them. It is incumbent on clubs, the FAI, the Government and community and political leaders to work together to achieve that. In that vein, I am disappointed not to see the Sinn F\u00e9in spokesperson for sport and Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa's constituency colleague, Deputy Joanna Byrne, with him this evening. It is often common practice to do joint Topical Issues. It would have sent out a very strong message if they were both here, one from Dundalk and one from Drogheda, from the same party, and with Deputy Byrne also being the chairperson of Drogheda United, to provide leadership jointly on this issue. Deputy Byrne has made limited enough comments on this matter in the past few days. It would have been very helpful to hear from her tonight that Drogheda United will step up to the responsibility for the cost of repairing the damage to the pitch, as should be the case.  What happened marred what should have otherwise been a very positive night. I was glad to visit Oriel Park just the week after Dundalk FC was promoted. They won the First Division and were promoted to the Premier Division. I saw the great pride they took in that wonderful achievement. I discussed with the club that night the fact that their pitch needed to be registered for the Premier Division, and worked with them to make sure that work could be done. It was completed two matches into the season. Dundalk's first two matches were played away from home as a result of time it was taking. It was terrible to see what should have been a great night turn into what happened instead.  We have seen great progress. It is a really positive time for the League of Ireland. The Government backs football in Ireland wants to back the development of Irish football and the development of the league. That is why in the most recent budget we committed \u20ac3 million to develop academies to support young players and our clubs. We must ensure it is safe for all, in particular families, to attend these games. The announcement by the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, of a pause of funding to all League of Ireland clubs was made with this objective in mind. The decision was the Minister's and announced before consulting me as the Minister of State with responsibility for sport. I agree with him absolutely on the need to come down like a tonne of bricks to stamp out this behaviour. However, I do not believe we should collectively punish all clubs for the criminal behaviour of a small number of people participating in hooliganism.  We must come down forcefully on this behaviour. There must be consequences for the people carrying out these acts, and indeed, the responsible club. We must also make sure that clubs that are not responsible are supported and not affected by the recklessness of others. I look forward to meeting with the FAI with the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, tomorrow to ensure that we can find a satisfactory way forward that achieves this objective. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  Deputy Byrne has put out a statement. I have spoken to her many times on this. She calls out what was abject criminal activity. Everyone will be aware that Deputy Byrne is the co-chair of Drogheda United. People will also know that she called on the FAI to ensure that Ireland would not play genocidal Israel. On that basis, action has been taken by Drogheda United. That is being dealt with at the minute. It probably limits what Deputy Byrne can speak about, but she has 100% said that this has been an ongoing problem with the League of Ireland. I will tell the Minister of State what she told me on the day. We were both there in Oriel Park. The first thing she was worried about was getting to that child, which was the right thing to do, because she had been contacted by the parents. The next thing she queried was: what do you think is going to happen when I ask about League of Ireland funding, of which there has been a shortage over a number of years? I see this being thrown back as an excuse on why that money would not be spent. It sounds like the Minister of State is not in complete agreement with the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan. The Minister went over the top in saying, \"plague on all your houses\". I hope what he is doing is a shot across the bow. There is a responsibility on the FAI, League of Ireland and clubs to find a solution to this. All information has to be provided to the Garda but legislative changes that need to considered. The two Ministers would need to do work on that. There are legislative powers in Britain relating to those who would ever consider doing some of the actions that happened in Oriel Park.  Regarding families, I agree. I was contacted by one man who I know very well. He said that his daughter said, \"I don't want to go to a game ever again.\" The daughter of another friend of mine, who is even younger, was doing ball girl. He said, \"Imagine, she was over there.\" That is a rethink. That is not good enough. I hope those people will rethink. I hope the Minister, never mind worrying about myself and Deputy Byrne, would worry about the issue and a back track that should happen by him. Money needs to be supplied to the League of Ireland. The Minister of State agreed previously that there has been underinvestment over many years. I welcome this investment. We need to see more. We need to make sure that we work alongside the League of Ireland and the FAI to find a solution. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  I absolutely agree with the Deputy that it has been fantastic to see people of all ages and families coming to League of Ireland matches and the growth both in Premier Division and First Division attendances, and indeed, as well as the introduction of a new third tier to the League of Ireland, which will happen imminently. That is something that we want to see encouraged. It is down to the quality of the product on the pitch as well. One of the side effects of Brexit has been that we are seeing our young players staying in the country. It is about the only benefit of Brexit that I can think of. Of course, there is a responsibility on all of us as result to make sure that the pathways are put in place for those young players not only to be able to play within League of Ireland clubs until they are 18 years of age, but also to be supported to be able to become the best players they possibly can and to reach the highest level that they can in that process. That is why the Government on budget day is giving a vote of confidence to Irish football through the investment of \u20ac3 million in academies.  We must all collectively make sure that it is a safe environment. The Deputy is absolutely right. People will stop going to matches unless this is stamped out. That is our objective here. We want to support football. We want to support the continuing growth of the League of Ireland. We want to support our clubs. We want to ensure that it is a safe environment. We will work with the clubs and FAI as a national governing body to make sure that a satisfactory way forward is achieved that will deliver on that and will ensure the wonderful momentum that we have seen in Irish football and the League of Ireland is continued for the rest of this year, and indeed, into the years ahead. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  A successful year for Dundalk FC as well. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar athl\u00f3 ar 11.15 p.m. go dt\u00ed 9 a.m., D\u00e9 C\u00e9adaoin, an 25 Feabhra 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The D\u00e1il adjourned at 11.15 p.m. until 9 a.m. on Wednesday, 25 February 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Sports Organisations"}]}}]},"contextDate":"2026-02-24"},{"debateRecord":{"house":{"showAs":"34th D\u00e1il","committeeCode":"","houseCode":"dail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/house\/dail\/34","chamberType":"house","houseNo":"34"},"chamber":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/def\/house\/dail","showAs":"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann"},"lastUpdated":"2026-05-13T02:06:24+00:00","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/main","formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/mul@\/main.xml"},"pdf":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/mul@\/main.pdf"}},"date":"2026-02-19","counts":{"contributorCount":145,"divisionCount":0,"debateSectionCount":44,"questionCount":25,"billCount":3},"debateType":"debate","debateSections":[{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_2","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Revised Estimates for Public Services 2026 - Message from Select Committee","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy David Maxwell)  The Select Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science has completed its consideration of the following Revised Estimate for public services for the service of the year ending on 31 December 2026: Vote 44 - Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Revised Estimates for Public Services 2026 - Message from Select Committee"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_3","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_4","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Income Inequality","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_4","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_4.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  What is Minister doing about the disparity in income levels across the State and what is he doing to ensure that well-paid jobs are not just centralised in the major urban areas but also spread out to the regions?  I and many other rural and regional Deputies stand here week in, week out asking for fairness and balanced regional investment to attract secure and well-paid jobs to our regions. We have an over-concentration of high-paid employment in major urban centres forcing people to relocate or commute long distances just to access employment opportunities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (Deputy Peter Burke)  The programme for Government sets out a strong enterprise and fiscal framework that prioritises economic and employment growth. Last year, the Irish labour market saw sustained employment growth and rising participation with a record number of persons at work at 2.8 million people so our policies are working and our economy is resilient. The latest data to hand shows that our labour market was better than many had expected in the latter part of 2025 with the monthly unemployment rate revised down to 4.7% in December. Other data, such as CSO information on employee payrolls, also shows positive momentum at the end of 2025 with employee numbers up 2%. However, I do expect that activity levels will moderate through this year in part due to international conditions but also given that the labour market is close to full employment.  My Department is continually monitoring labour market conditions and several of our recent initiatives will be central to supporting the broader economy not least our ambitious investment plans and the action plan on competitiveness and productivity I published last year. The Government remains fully committed to improving our competitive position and adding more jobs in the future and the action plan has a range of measures to build a more resilient economy.  Another important initiative on the labour market front will be the successor strategy to Pathways to Work 2021-2025, which is overseen by the Department of Social Protection. That Department has recently concluded a public consultation on this as the Government looks to develop a new successor strategy.  In respect of the high paid jobs being centred on major urban areas, it is important to stress this Government\u2019s commitment to balanced regional development. Over the past number of years, we have seen strong regional development with intensive employment growth post-pandemic. Since the pandemic, numbers at work have increased by close to one fifth - 440,000 persons. In fact, budget 2026 highlighted in particular the spread of employment growth with job gains in every region in marked contrast to previous employment expansions. For example, between 2013 and 2019, growth was disproportionately driven by Dublin. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  The newly released 2024 data from the CSO shows stark disparities in disposable income and worrying employment trends, particularly around the northern and western region. I will set out some of the figures that are causing me concern. The average disposable income per person nationally in 2024 was \u20ac30,139 but in the northern and western region, it was \u20ac27,166. In Mayo, it was \u20ac27,343, which was almost 10% below the national average. That is not a marginal gap but a clear regional imbalance that confirms what communities already know, which is that workers in the northern and western region are more likely to be in lower-paid employment and have less money left at the end of the month. Even more alarmingly, in 2024, 58,140 people were recorded as employed in jobs physically located in Mayo, which was a drop of 8.7% on 2023. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  I would point out that the gold standard for us as politicians and our citizens is the CSO. It has pointed out that all 13 sectors of the economy are growing equally and that the gross average industrial wage is over \u20ac1,000 per week, which is a 45% increase since 2015. We have seen 2,700 new jobs in the west over the past year, which means 2,700 families have an additional income this year compared to last year. It also means that we are working to ensure we have very strong clients based on budget 2026. Look at Hollister in the Deputy's own area. Look at AbbeVie, Coca-Cola, Fanta and Baxter. These are huge multinational clients providing high-value jobs in the west. The policies in budget 2026, particularly our research, development and innovation tax credit, will deliver high-quality, high-paid jobs and that is what this Government is committed to doing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  There is something to see here. I ask the Minister to pay attention to this because what I quoted to him in terms of the drop of 8.7% in 2024 in Mayo alone represents 5,540 fewer jobs located in the county in just one year. Yes, some people commute to neighbouring counties but when the number of jobs physically based in a county falls so sharply, it signals declining regional investment and missed opportunity. While this data does not yet include 2025, it paints a deeply worrying picture of growing regional inequality. The statistics do not lie. Balanced regional development cannot just remain a slogan. If high-paid jobs continue to cluster in a small number of urban centres, we will deepen the housing crisis pressures in those cities, hollow out rural communities and widen the income gap between regions so we need very targeted regional enterprise strategies and stronger incentives for high-value industries to locate in the northern and western region. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  The data I am quoting relates to quarter 3 of 2025, so this is the up-to-date data regarding new high-quality jobs going to the west. The figure is 2,700. There are 3,900 new jobs in the midlands while the figure in the south west grew by about 4.7%, so all sectors are growing, all component parts that make up our economy are growing and our wages are growing. Critically, the key point in the CSO annual return in December was that this is the first time that we have seen real wage growth in our economy and that the growth in wages outpaced the rate of inflation, which means people have more purchasing power. The data is very clear for everyone to see. We want to continue on the basis of budget 2026 to bring more high-quality jobs to rural areas. Our IDA strategy is very focused on that with 55% going to the regions. This will be key to delivering that over the next five years and we are very much committed to doing that. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Income Inequality"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_5","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"National Minimum Wage","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_5","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_5.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  We need about 80,000 additional construction workers to meet our infrastructural needs and goals over the coming years. That means we have to make apprenticeships much more attractive for people to go into, so we have the tradespeople and the craftspeople to deliver on those infrastructural goals. We also have skills shortages in many other areas. There are many aspects to making it more attractive to take up apprenticeships but increasing the minimum payment, particularly in the first few years of apprenticeships, is critical. Does the Minister of State intend to raise these minimum pay rates for apprentices? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (Deputy Alan Dillon)  My Department has responsibility for the National Minimum Wage Act 2000. The Act prescribes the minimum hourly rate of pay for the majority of employees in Ireland subject to a small number of exemptions. Apprentices are excluded from the Act and from the right to receive the national minimum wage. Apprentices are excluded from the National Minimum Wage Act in recognition of the unique nature of apprenticeships and the fact that a long-established practice for determining rates, which adequately protects apprentices, exists.  Apprenticeships offer a unique combination of education and work experience. When the national minimum wage was first introduced, it was recognised that providing an exemption for apprentices would promote apprenticeships and encourage employers to focus on training apprentices and offering opportunities to them while at the same time recognising the cost to employers in terms of time invested and productivity forgone.  Apprentices are employees and all of the 78 apprenticeship programmes are undertaken under a contract of employment. For the majority of apprenticeships, the rate of pay is agreed between the apprentice and the employer with the employer paying the apprentice during both on-the-job and off-the-job training elements. For the 25 craft apprenticeship programmes, the minimum rates of pay applying under the employment contract are either agreed within the relevant sector or are set out in legally binding sectoral employment orders recommended by the Labour Court.  I know that considerations regarding apprentice wages may affect learner and employer demand for apprenticeships. Wage levels may present a barrier to entry to apprenticeships for some individuals. Conversely, wage costs and training costs may discourage some employers from hiring apprentices. We must consider this issue very carefully.  While I take the point about apprentices in training, the CSO has reported that over 90% of apprentices who qualified in 2020 were in employment two years later with median weekly earnings of \u20ac935 and over \u20ac48,600 annually. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  The average starter age for somebody taking up an apprenticeship is 21 to 22 years. While many of those are living at home, many are not, and some want to get out of home. If the Minister of State wants to make it attractive, a first-year wage of \u20ac7.67 per hour or \u20ac11.50 per hour in the second year is not exactly an attractive option. If they are living out of home or if they have children, it is completely unsustainable. There are then added things like equipment costs, which are very significant for many apprentices, transport costs and so on.  We have got a major problem in delivering on our housing goals. We are failing significantly. We are tens of thousands short of what we need annually in terms of houses to put roofs over the heads of the people in this country. We have to make it more attractive and that means raising these pitifully low wages, particularly in the first and second years for apprentices. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  The Government is taking important steps with regard to supporting the apprenticeship programme. We have seen huge investment in recent years. In budget 2026, we allocated over \u20ac78 million to the apprenticeship programme. This investment is delivering significant results. We have seen annual apprenticeship registrations increase from 5,326 in 2020 to 9,352 at the end of 2024. We are very ambitious to drive that to 12,500 by 2030 and, indeed, we have worked with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to try to support that. Our focus is on supporting entry and ensuring that we have retention and completion. The Government's new updated action plan on careers in construction for 2026 is an important element of that. It specifically looks at barriers to participation, especially for women, but also for those who are under-represented and those we can include into the construction sector because, as the Deputy said earlier, we need to ramp up the number of apprenticeships coming through. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  The number of people has increased, but it is still well short of what we need because, as we know, we have a housing emergency, we have water infrastructure that we have to develop and we have shortages in a whole number of areas, including a shortage of chefs. We have to make it more attractive. The further education committee is producing a report next week which goes into many aspects of this. I repeat that the wage for the first year is \u20ac7.67 per hour and for the second year is \u20ac11.50 per hour. If the average age of people going into apprenticeships is 21 to 22, it is just not a runner. I cannot say it is not a runner because some people do it, but it is tough going. If the Minister is talking about inclusion and the barriers that exist for women, people with disabilities and different groups, this is a serious barrier and we need to do something about it. Part of the reason I am in favour of a State construction company is so we can take on more apprentices on better rates and make it more attractive to be an apprentice. At a minimum, we need to raise those first-year and second-year rates to minimum-wage rates. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  We are all in agreement that we need to address the construction skills gap and that is very much central to the Government's strategy. We do not want to price young people or employers out of the system and that is important to reflect on. We are investing in career pathways, educational access and targeted incentives. We are very much focused on building confidence in careers within the construction sector through apprenticeships and we want to do that. As I said earlier, apprentices are not at the bottom of the pay scale when it comes to their transition with a skill that they have developed over their apprentice programme. Most who qualify are on over \u20ac49,000 per year two years post entry into the sector. That is reflective of the programme they undertake, but also their post-qualification position and what that means.  We need to do more and that is why we are continuing to invest with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science on the craft apprenticeship programme to address the skills gap across the sector. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"National Minimum Wage"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_6","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Small and Medium Enterprises","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_6","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_6.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  The cost of doing business in this State for small and medium-sized enterprises, SMEs; family-owned businesses; and the self-employed is running out of control. In the programme for Government, it is listed that the Government will conduct a comprehensive review to assess the cost structures for SMEs and family-owned businesses to identify areas where costs can be reduced. Will the Minister provide an update on this review? Will he tell businesses the areas he has identified where costs will be cut? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  I thank Deputy Conway-Walsh for her important question. The Government recently established the Cost of Business Advisory Forum and published the action plan on competitiveness and productivity, both of which are commitments in Programme for Government: Securing Ireland\u2019s Future. The establishment of the Cost of Business Advisory Forum delivers on the commitment regarding supports for small businesses, enterprise and industries. The forum is a tripartite collaboration bringing together various representative bodies spanning multiple sectors as well as SMEs. The purpose is to jointly consider those issues that can lead to higher costs for businesses in Ireland, any associated regulatory or infrastructural issues that merit a changed approach, and steps that could be taken to mitigate these issues.  The first meeting of the advisory forum took place in June. Numerous organisations representing Ireland\u2019s enterprise sector, including SMEs, were joined by officials from a variety of State agencies and Government Departments. The second meeting, which was the forum\u2019s first thematic meeting, took place in July and focused on energy costs and security of supply. Other thematic meetings included a meeting on insurance costs in August, a meeting on regulation and planning in September, November\u2019s meeting focused on water services, the meeting in January of this year focused on legal costs, and a meeting on tax reporting and compliance took place yesterday. The forum has met regularly over the past eight months, with each meeting devoted to a distinct thematic area of concern for businesses. There are two outstanding meetings. The last thematic meeting will be on banking, payments and financial services and will take place on 25 March. The last meeting of the forum will focus on members' feedback in relation to the final report to the Government and is scheduled for the first half of 2026.  The focus of the action plan on competitiveness and productivity is on the key actions that can be taken to strengthen Ireland\u2019s competitiveness and productivity which in turn will lead to improvements in our economic performance. The action plan was published on 10 September 2025 and contains 85 actions across six themes, including the third theme, which focuses on creating and scaling more SMEs. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  Go raibh maith agat, Minister, for that update. The important thing is that it makes a difference on the ground and makes a difference to businesses because the situation facing SMEs with regard to costs is increasingly more unsustainable. We saw 848 insolvencies last year. I fear for what the number will be in 2026. At the end of 2025, 80% of businesses from across all sectors that participated in the SME business sentiment survey by Chartered Accountants Ireland and GRID Finance reported an increase in their costs, with a special mention for energy costs. It was reported yesterday that Irish business confidence has fallen to just 54%. This is the lowest level since the Covid-19 pandemic, and it is down sharply from 81% at the beginning of the year. In contrast, 74% of SMEs globally remain optimistic about the year ahead with only a slight year-on-year decline, so there is something we need to focus on here. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  I focus on evidence. I refer, for example, to the measures that were taken in budget 2026, such as the reduction in the VAT rate for the hospitality sector. We are giving the sector 4.5% on its margin to assist with its costs and we are saying that we need 7% growth right across the tourism sector under our strategy, A New Era for Irish Tourism. We have also reduced energy costs with the 9% VAT rate on gas and electricity. We have increased the loan limit available from Microfinance Ireland to \u20ac50,000 for low-cost loans into the sector and will be coming forward with a working capital programme to succeed the growth and stability loan of \u20ac500 million, which was utilised late last year. We also increased the innovation voucher to \u20ac10,000. Critically, we reduced a host of conditions for sustainability grants like the energy-efficiency scheme, which gives \u20ac10,000, or 75% of the cost, to small businesses like local shops and butchers. Such small businesses on the high street are so important to the fabric of rural life. We will keep doing that and keep working to ensure we do our best to reduce those key costs for businesses. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  The question that must be asked is this: what is happening here at home? When we look globally, the Minister has named all of the initiatives he is doing but why are Irish business leaders growing even more pessimistic about the future? Confidence in projected revenue growth dropped dramatically at the end of last year, from 79% to 59% in just three months. When businesses were asked about increasing head count in 2026, the figure dropped from 59% to 46%. These figures are not abstract statistics; they signal the slowing of growth, reduced hiring and growing uncertainty across local economies. We need to look at this and we need more actions.  SMEs and family-owned businesses are the backbone of our economy. They sustain communities, provide employment in rural and urban Ireland and drive innovation and local enterprise. The programme for Government recognised the need for a comprehensive review of SME cost structures. Businesses are now urgently waiting for that to make a real difference in their businesses and in keeping their doors open. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  I am very acutely aware of the cost of doing business. That is why we have brought forward a forum, it is why we are going to take action in this regard and it is why we have taken a suite of measures across budget 2026. We know what is happening in the Irish economy; 2.82 million people are employed in our country. That is a record. We know that the average wage is \u20ac1,000 per week. That is a record; it is up 45% since 2015. We know that all 13 sectors of the economy that are measured in the CSO data are growing. That is a record right now in this country. Our tax revenue coming in to resolve the infrastructural deficits we have is at a record level.  I would point out that the Deputy has opposed every attempt I have made to stabilise small businesses, from subminimum rates to the living wage to sick days - every area that drives costs for business. If you ask a small family business what its biggest driver and challenge is, you will be told that it is wages. The biggest challenge for every business is wages. We are assisting with that and we are helping real wage growth in the economy, where we know our most vulnerable employees are outpacing the rate of inflation with their pay packets. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Small and Medium Enterprises"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_7","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Youth Unemployment","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_7.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  We wanted a PRSI rebate in the budget to help businesses with their costs, including additional labour costs. We need good, quality jobs. We do not need a race to the bottom but we will have that discussion on another day. I wish to ask the Minister if he is concerned about the levels of youth employment. What initiatives is he putting in place to tackle it? I am deeply concerned with the consistently high level of youth unemployment here. The latest figures for January show that it stands at 12%; it wavers between 12% and 14%. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I thank the Deputy for her question. The programme for Government sets out a strong enterprise and fiscal framework that prioritises economic and employment growth, with a target of creating 300,000 extra jobs by 2030. I am pleased to report that the Irish labour market saw sustained employment growth, rising labour force participation and record job numbers last year, indicative of a resilient performance. In total, over 2.8 million people are now employed in Ireland.  The unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.7% in January, broadly consistent with full employment. The youth unemployment rate, for those between the ages of 15 and 24, increased slightly to 11.8% in January but remains well below the EU and euro area averages. It is not unusual for youth unemployment rates to be higher than those of older cohorts. This can be due to a lack of relevant work experience among youth workers, skills mismatches, or difficulties experienced in moving between education and employment, with clear seasonal and demographic patterns. However, many of these factors are temporary in nature. As young people widen their professional networks and gain broader work and life experience, their employment prospects improve. It is also important that we focus on employment as well as unemployment, with the former clearly under the remit of my Department.  The statistics show that we created a lot of jobs right across the economy last year and that our employment rates for young people are very high by any margin, certainly in comparison to our European peers. It is important to stress that huge numbers of our young people are in education or training as well as in employment. I can point the Deputy to CSO data for this very subject, in particular the CSO data on a series of measures in regard to the numbers of people not in employment, education or training, the so-called not in education, employment or training, NEETs, rate. In 2023, for Ireland, the rate was 8.6% relative to an average of 12.1% across Europe. We are doing so much right here in creating opportunities for young people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  The Minister of State rightly says that this is not unique to Ireland but I do not think that is a reason for saying that everything is okay. If you look at the EU average, yes, it is 15%. In Britain it is 15.3%. However, there are actions that need to be taken here. For unemployment in general, we have nearly three times that rate for youth unemployment. Young people who complete their education are struggling to find well-paid work. They deserve to have career prospects after completing their studies or training and having invested in obtaining a qualification. Some 44,600 people aged 15 to 24 years are currently unemployed in this country. When we say unemployed, obviously that is not people in education but it is people who are available for and willing to work. I take on board what the Minister of State is saying around the lack of experience and all that but again, I think there is something worrying happening here in youth unemployment. These people are not in any form of education or training and we need to put initiatives in place. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I disagree entirely with the suggestion that Government is not doing anything and is complacent on youth employment. We can see from the CSO's recent data that it has clearly identified a temporary demographic and seasonal effect, while there is also a surge in young people entering the labour force for the very first time. That is not a collapse in youth opportunity; it is, in one sense, supported through the creation by this Government, across many sectors, of job opportunities within engineering, green technology and construction. We have seen a huge number of new opportunities being created, even in 2025. We are also seeing that most of the recent increases in youth employment affect those without post-secondary qualifications. That is why we have, as a Government, invested in programmes such as Springboard+ and MicroCreds and expanded the apprenticeship network. As I said earlier, we have an ambitious programme to continue to invest in apprenticeships to ensure that every young person can transition from learning and earn the right skills to enter the workforce correctly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  My view of the world is different from that of the Minister of State. When you look at our own county, you see that Youthreach is a really good programme in regard to addressing disadvantage and social exclusion. We have waiting lists to get onto those programmes in Ballina and Kiltimagh. We do not have either the physical space to be able to do the training with them or the personnel. I ask the Minister of State to look at that in particular. We cannot leave so many young people behind. There are real social and economic consequences to leaving so many people behind and with adjustments, things could be done.  There needs to be a joining up of further and higher education and the workforce as well, which I do not believe is happening to the extent that it needs to be happening. In regard to investment in career guidance, it needs to start at a much earlier age - I would even say in national school, with regard to people's subject choices when they go into secondary school and taking it on from there. We do not have enough career guidance within the schools to ensure that young people can avail of the opportunities that match their interests and skills. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I agree with some of the Deputy's suggestions in regard to continued investment in key actions under Pathways to Work. I know that needs to provide enhanced supports for young people and jobseekers. The establishment of the employment and youth engagement charter is important to bring employers and young people together to tackle the barriers in regard to getting into the workforce.  As I said earlier, we need to continue to strengthen the partnership between our further education and private employment sectors and consider how the Government can support that.  We need to break the cycle whereby, if there is no experience, people are not entitled to a job, or if there is no job, there can be no experience. This is about aligning policy with education reform. We are making an important partnership by expanding flexibility around blended forms of learning and, as I said earlier, the apprenticeship model. We will continue to do that. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Youth Unemployment"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_8","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Small and Medium Enterprises","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_8.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  As the Minister knows, small and medium enterprises are the backbone of our economy. Many of our young people end up getting their first job or first experience in these businesses. What specific supports are available to indigenous small and medium enterprises operating in rural towns to ensure their long-term sustainability? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  I am committed to boosting the competitiveness and long-term sustainability of SMEs across the country by supporting them to reduce costs and improve their overall productivity. The Government now has a range of supports available to SMEs to save on energy costs, while improving their sustainability. The local enterprise offices, based within the 31 local authorities, offer advice, consultancy and grants in the areas of lean, green and digital. These grants focus on enhancing productivity and improving competitiveness in small businesses.  Effective and efficient use of materials and resources can make a significant difference to the profitability of businesses, making them more sustainable and increasing their ability to respond to shocks in the economy. For example, the energy efficiency grant offers up to \u20ac10,000, or 75% of the costs, for small businesses to invest in technologies and equipment identified in a Green for Business, GreenStart or SEAI energy audit. The aim of the scheme is to reduce the impact of enterprises on the environment and, critically, their energy costs in the longer term.  Enterprise Ireland has a broad range of supports that help rural SMEs improve productivity, embrace digital tools and transition to a low-carbon future, which will be essential for their long-term sustainability. These include the climate action voucher, which provides up to two days of independent training or advisory services to develop an initial sustainability action plan, and GreenStart, which provides up to \u20ac5,000 to fund the cost of hiring a sustainability consultant to introduce best practice sustainable systems to the business. Additionally, the Climate Toolkit 4 Business is a free online resource where SMEs can estimate and understand their businesses' carbon footprint. Businesses receive a tailored climate action plan specific to their business, with recommendations on the most impactful steps they can take, and directions to the Government supports to help them achieve these steps. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  I welcome the work being carried out by the local enterprise offices and Enterprise Ireland. Their support and engagement with businesses is widely recognised and is making a real difference. However, when speaking to SME owners, particularly in rural towns, the message is clear: they need more practical, easy-to-access supports that help with the real cost of doing business. Many enterprises, especially those that provide services rather than manufacture products, feel they are often left in the wilderness when it comes to qualifying for certain schemes. Retailers, hospitality providers and other local service businesses are the backbone of our communities. They create jobs, drive footfall and sustain town centres, yet some believe that existing supports are not always designed with their needs in mind.  One measure that is frequently raised is the reintroduction of a scheme similar to the Power Up grant, which provided straightforward assistance when businesses needed it most. Will the Minister give consideration to bringing back a targeted grant to help SMEs manage ongoing cost pressures?  There is also growing concern about rising employment costs. While increases in the minimum wage are important, small employers are asking that future changes be linked more closely to inflation and introduced in a predictable manner, so they can plan ahead with confidence. Above all, we must continue listening to people on the ground. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  I thank Deputy McCormack for his concern. I will make a few points. First, in addition to the sustainability grants, digitalisation allows businesses to either grow their revenue or reduce their cost base. That is a key way to change the business model. The critical thing about a grant is that the business does not change its model, which potentially leads to an unsustainable pathway, so it has to be done every single year. Businesses can increase revenue or reduce costs. That is how they get on a winning path. We are trying to continue with that. Our National Enterprise Hub has 250 supports. I would encourage all SMEs to log onto that to get the details on the range of supports.  I would also point out that we have reduced the VAT rate on gas and electricity for SMEs, and we reduced the VAT rate on hospitality to 9% from 1 July. I am saying to businesses in the hospitality sector that that is 4.5% on their margins. I need 7% growth from them to ensure we get a very strong return of jobs and revenue back into the Exchequer.  We also did a huge amount of work with the low-cost loans, increasing the microfinance loan to \u20ac50,000 and doubling the investment innovation voucher to \u20ac10,000. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  No business should feel invisible when it comes to Government support, yet many service-based SMEs believe they are overlooked simply because they do not manufacture or export. These businesses face significant overheads before they even open their doors, from licences and regulatory requirements to insurance, energy, wages and other rising costs. Despite these pressures, they continue to provide local employment and play a vital role in keeping town centres alive. If we are serious about supporting them, we need to commit to delivering at least one new practical support specifically for service-based SMEs this year, and to engaging directly with business owners on the ground so the supports reflect the real challenges they face. Listening is important but it must lead to action. What clear, practical step can be taken now to reassure these businesses that their contribution is recognised, and that they will not be left behind? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  I would be willing to work with the Deputy across government to enhance the supports the LEOs have been offering to SMEs, the small family businesses that make up two thirds of all the employment across our country and drive so much of the economic activity in our communities. We are absolutely looking to enhance supports for them. The Minister of State, Deputy Alan Dillon, and I are doing a lot of work in relation to the LEOs, Enterprise Ireland and the service level agreement that pertains to both.  With regard to the midlands, I would point out that from quarter 3 of 2024 to quarter 3 of 2025, 3,900 new jobs were created in that locality. Critically, that means there are 3,900 families with an additional income that was not the case a year earlier.  On the broader spectrum, budget 2026 was an exclusively enterprise budget. That will fuel the engine for the years ahead to ensure we can do so many things for employees and tackle our infrastructural deficits in the coming years. That will be critical to the success of our economy. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Small and Medium Enterprises"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_9","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_10","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Small and Medium Enterprises","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_9","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_10","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_10.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  As other Deputies have raised, SMEs are acutely feeling the cost of business right now. Many of them do not have the budget or level of business to be able to engage the courier services for the same rates as bigger businesses. Many rely on An Post but it has recently increased its rates and lowered the upper limit for parcels. What is the Department doing to support small businesses dealing with the cost of delivery services so they can get their products to the consumers who continue to support them? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  The Government fully recognises that small and medium enterprises have faced significant cost pressures in recent years, driven by high energy prices, global supply chain disruptions and international economic developments. Despite these ongoing challenges, progress is being made to support SMEs, with the Government taking proactive steps to implement measures to reduce business costs and ease regulatory pressures. The Government is pleased to note there are emerging signs of improvement, with the CSO's wholesale price index showing a 6.4% decrease in the year to December 2025.  The cost of postage is a commercial matter for An Post, and I would advise the Deputy to follow up with the company in that regard. My Department is delivering on the programme for Government with two priority commitments: first, to improve the business cost environment with the establishment of the cost of business advisory forum in June 2025; and, second, to strengthen Ireland\u2019s competitiveness position in response to international economic developments with the publication of the action plan on competitiveness and productivity in September 2025.  The cost of business advisory forum serves as a central mechanism to examine the key cost pressures affecting SMEs by bringing together business representative groups, Government Departments, State agencies and regulators to discuss a series of agreed thematic areas, such as energy, insurance, infrastructure and planning and legal costs. It is advancing further work on regulatory costs and payment, banking and financial services.  Its objective is to identify practical actions that can reduce the cost burden on SMEs and support a more competitive business environment. While delivery and postage costs have not been specifically raised as an issue for discussion by the members of SME representative bodies, the work of the forum is still ongoing. Work is under way to present its findings and a series of recommendations in a final report to Government and the indicative timeframe for that is later this year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  This issue has been raised with me and I suggest that if the Government is looking for practical measures, this is one that it should explore. We have a landscape where many small businesses do not even have retail spaces any more and make the majority of their money from online orders which they then have to send via the post or by courier to their customers. The cost of doing this has gone through the roof and there is very little these businesses can do to mitigate it, except to put up their prices. I hear so much talk about Ireland's competitiveness and the need to support a competitive economy and yet this has a huge impact on the ability of small businesses to compete. This is at a time when we are encouraging businesses to explore further digitalisation. Local enterprise offices can only do so much and we need to see real ambition from the Department when it comes to addressing the daily struggles of small businesses in a meaningful way.  I accept that this should be raised with An Post directly and with the other Department with oversight of that organisation. However, this is not the first time that I have raised an issue only to be told to go to another Minister but I would argue that this is what Cabinet is for. Ministers can liaise with each other at Cabinet and the Department of enterprise can connect with the Department of culture, communications and sport to ensure that these small businesses are not being penalised. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  Delivery and postage costs are primarily a commercial matter for An Post and that is the reality. We are in the Department of enterprise but there is a Minister of State in another Department who actually deals with An Post specifically. We will engage in open dialogue and listen further to business representative groups either through the enterprise forum or the retail forum the Minister, Deputy Burke, and I chair. If it emerges as a key priority, then certainly we will feed it directly into those considerations and escalate it through the proper channels.  I accept some of the Deputy's points and understand some of the frustration that small businesses and enterprises may face with rising input costs. That is why we have stepped up substantive supports in recent times. In budget 2026, we delivered over \u20ac9.4 billion in a pro-enterprise package to try to support our SMEs and businesses over the next number of years. We will ensure that Government can respond to the cost pressures but also build resilience into the sector so that we can continue to create jobs and support communities right across the country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  I appreciate the Minister of State's willingness to explore this issue. I would argue that there are two ways to tackle it. One is by looking at the retail costs of An Post and the other is by looking at the supports that the his Department can specifically offer. Small business owners who have contacted my office feel forgotten. Some are new, some have been in operation for decades but these businesses are not aiming to become big operations. They provide goods and services that people want. They provide employment and a huge benefit to their communities. A small business which employs people but never expands to become a franchise, a mid-cap or unicorn is still a public good, an economic good and an important part of Irish society and enterprise. All of the supports that the Department has for such businesses seem to lead back to a business model based on either making SMEs into big businesses or allowing them to struggle and fold.  Delivery cost is such a nuts and bolts basic issue. Every business needs to be able to deliver its products to its customers. Recent changes have impacted the ability of SMEs to do that and compete effectively in our economy. This is something the Department should be keen to help to tackle and find solutions for. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I acknowledge the points the Deputy has raised. The Minister, Deputy Burke, the Minister of State, Deputy Smyth, and I are listening to businesses and SMEs. We have established the cost of doing business advisory forum, which is independently chaired. It engages directly with the key SME employer representative bodies, including IBEC, Retail Excellence Ireland, ISME and Chambers Ireland. It is a really important forum where we hear about the issues that matter most to businesses but also design practical policy responses. An integral part of that is ensuring that businesses can remain competitive, viable and sustainable into the future. I take the Deputy's point about the delivery and postal cost increases. If it is an issue of concern, we will respond in a systematic way to try to address some of the challenges that smaller businesses may encounter. Again, I thank the Deputy for raising this matter on the floor of the House. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Small and Medium Enterprises"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_11","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Artificial Intelligence","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":4},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_9","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_11","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_11.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joanna Byrne  I ask the Minister to outline the steps he is taking to tackle harmful AI tools and the social media platforms that host them. I invite him to give a definitive statement this morning on the concrete actions being taken to ensure enhanced protection for online users. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 16 together.  I thank Deputy Byrne for her very important question. This is a very serious issue and the Government has been very clear from the outset that the sharing of non-consensual intimate images and the generation of child sexual abuse material is illegal and that the use of AI to generate illegal material or to cause harm is unacceptable. The Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act, known as Coco's Law, creates a serious offence of distribution or publication of an intimate image without consent with intent to cause harm to the victim. Under the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act, the production, possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material, whether offline or online, whether generated by AI or otherwise, is illegal and attracts a sentence of up to 14 years imprisonment.  Under the Digital Services Act, the European Commission is responsible for the oversight of very large online platforms like X which are required to assess and mitigate risks that their services may create in relation to the proliferation of illegal content online and the protection of minors. An urgent cross-Government response was mobilised in response to this issue when it arose in January, including the relevant Ministers and the Attorney General as well as Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n to ensure a full understanding of the significant legislative and regulatory framework that already exists and provides protections in relation to this issue and how it was being applied.  Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n is Ireland's digital services co-ordinator under the Digital Services Act and has engaged intensively with the European Commission since the initial reports on this serious issue. Nationally, Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n has met with the assistant commissioner for organised and serious crime, the heads of the Garda national cyber crime bureau, the Garda national protective services bureau and the online child exploitation unit as well as separately with both Hotline.ie , Ireland\u2019s national reporting centre, and the Data Protection Commission. An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na has stated its full commitment to supporting victims and numerous investigations are currently under way to determine if there have been breaches of the law.  On 26 January the European Commission announced the commencement of an investigation into X and the use of Grok to generate and disseminate illegal content under the Digital Services Act. Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n collaborated closely with the Commission in its preparation and is formally associated with the investigation. The Digital Services Act puts responsibility for facilitating the dissemination of harmful content where it belongs, namely with the online platforms.  The Government also welcomes this week\u2019s announcement by the Data Protection Commission that it has commenced a large-scale inquiry which will examine X\u2019s compliance with some of its fundamental obligations under the GDPR in relation to the matters at hand. It is important now to respect the independence of the relevant national authorities and the European Commission who are responsible for enforcement of the relevant laws and regulations and allow their investigations to be carried out independently and in accordance with procedural safeguards. In addition to these ongoing investigations, the Attorney General and the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration are examining the matter and will consider whether further legislative measures are needed in the area of non-consensual intimate images. Work is also under way in the Department of justice to transpose the EU violence against women directive which provides new protections in this area.  My own Department is liaising with the European Commission and member states to advocate for adding the use of AI systems for the generation of such images to the list of prohibited AI practices under the EU AI Act. Online safety will be a core pillar underpinning the new national digital and AI strategy which was published yesterday and a priority for Ireland\u2019s Presidency of the European Council. These measures reinforce the Government\u2019s commitment to enhancing online safety, in particular for children and young people, as a whole-system priority. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joanna Byrne  This question was originally submitted to the Minister for communications but was transferred to the Department of enterprise. I am not entirely sure why he did not want to answer it last week.  I note his comments about examinations, reviews and the work under way in various Departments but the fact is inaction by this Government against social media giants cannot continue. Thus far the Government has sat back and waited for anyone that is not it to act even though there are more than enough adequate Irish laws for it to use to step up and face down social media companies when harmful AI tools like Grok are used. The Minister mentioned Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n extensively in his response. Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n could use the Online Safety Media Regulation Act today to issue a penalty or fine of \u20ac20 million or up to 10% of turnover but it is waiting, like this Government, for the EU to conclude its investigation under the Digital Services Act. Despite everything the Minister has outlined, the Government is refusing to call on Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n to use the Online Safety Media Regulation Act, so enforcement of the regulations in place is not paramount. While the story rolls on, in the absence of enforcement, people are left exposed, mainly women and children. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  I welcome the publication of the Government's AI and digitalisation strategy but the issue relates to harmful products coming onto the market, as Deputy Joanna Byrne outlined. I appreciate we are going to be placing a lot more responsibility on the regulator but some of this has to be about putting responsibility back on the platform before the product or service is released onto the market. We are going to invest in our regulators to be able to deal with this, but the Minister will appreciate that if a new financial service or product is about to be launched onto the market, there are certain reporting obligations to the Central Bank as the regulator. We need to look at a similar situation where social media and AI companies, before they launch a product or service on the market, will have reporting obligations at that stage to the regulator to identify issues early before the product ever comes to market. The difficulty is we have been treating companies that operate in this space very differently from how we treat companies and organisations that operate in similar spaces. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  We have been dealing with big tech in a very different way. If we were just relying on good manners and decency, we would not need to have this conversation. It is difficult to see how anybody thought it was an okay idea to produce an application that would allow for the creation of child pornography. That is what we are talking about. I agree with my party colleague Deputy Joanna Byrne that we need to see the operation of the online safety and media regulation legislation here. We need action to be taken from our point of view while pressure obviously needs to be maintained on the European Commission to ensure the DSA is operated. Are we sure the legislative gaps are going to be dealt with in the sense that a tool like this should be absolutely illegal? It is also about taking on those who allow the app to be put up and provide the app stores where it can be downloaded. They cannot be let off the hook in any way. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  Irrespective of any entity, large or small, the Government will not be found wanting in protecting our children. I say that as the father of two young children. Our primary concern, irrespective of any company in this State or tax revenue any company will bring in, is our future, which is our children. Four investigations are live in this area, as I referenced, under the DSA by the Commission, Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n, An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and the DPC. We live in a constitutional democracy. Due process has to happen for investigations. If I say anything here that prejudices an investigation that is ongoing, it would do a disservice to the State and the victims, who have been at the forefront of what we are speaking about. My action in relation to the AI Act has been on trying to ensure we get additional protections in. Critically, from our meetings with the Attorney General and the Minister of State, Deputy Smyth, and the work she has done, we know the law is strong in this regard. Investigations are ongoing and action will be swift. I will be very much at the forefront of calling for that, in the context of any company in this State. If it compromises in any way the safety of our children, it should pay the ultimate price. The Government is unequivocal on that. That is why are doing a huge amount of work over the next weeks and months in relation to the protection of our children and online safety, which will be so important, working with our European colleagues to get a co-ordinated response. We have to respect due process. Investigations are under way, which I referenced. That demonstrates action, and I am taking additional action under the AI Act and advocating through a European response. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joanna Byrne  Those are very strong words and it is great to hear the Government will not be found wanting in this regard, but talk is cheap if it is not backed up by action. I sincerely hope the Minister meant everything he said. The Government has powers. Nobody is asking him to jeopardise any investigation. It is just about enforcement of the powers under the existing mechanisms, to ensure they are enacted with the full rigour they can be in order that we will not have a repeat of the Grok scandal. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  I assure the Deputy those powers are under investigation in terms of completing the files. We know that from An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and the DPP. Independence is a core tenet of our democracy and we have to let investigations run their course. I cannot pre-empt action that might happen arising from an investigation because that would jeopardise the whole investigation. Action is very visible from the four authorities I listed that are investigating this, together with the work I am doing with the Ministers of State, Deputies Smyth and Dillon, in relation to the AI Act. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Artificial Intelligence"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_12","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Labour Market","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_9","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_12","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_12.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  Ireland\u2019s economic migration policy is designed to address verified and persistent skills shortages across the economy. The system is vacancy-led and managed through the critical skills occupations list and the ineligible occupations list, which the Department reviews on a regular basis. A new review of the occupation lists is under way. This began with an open public consultation, which closed on 19 September and attracted a broad range of submissions including from the construction and built environment sectors. As part of this review, we consider both the eligibility of occupations and, where relevant, the need for quotas. Previous reviews have already made a significant number of construction-related roles eligible for permits, reflecting the importance of supporting increased housing delivery. For this review, the Department has worked closely with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to ensure the employment permits system aligns with the national effort to expand housing supply. This collaboration focuses on identifying pathways for occupations that are essential to improving Ireland\u2019s housing output. More broadly, when assessing changes to the lists, we take into account not only labour market evidence but also wider whole-of-government collaborations. This includes the impact inward migration may have on housing demand, transport, health and other public services. The economic migration interdepartmental group has convened and considered the evidence of the Department\u2019s inputs. The Department is finalising the outcome of the overall review and we expect to publish the updated occupation lists in the coming month. I remain committed to ensuring the employment permits system continues to be responsive, evidence based and supportive of key national priorities, including the delivery of housing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I would appreciate clarity on some specific points. The Minister of State said a new list will be published next month. I assume that means quotas will be allocated to various sectors. He also said that when deciding those quotas, the Department will give consideration to other factors including housing and access to services. What precisely does \"take into account\" mean? We know about the pressures, in particular on the housing market. We also know that the only way we are going to increasing housing demand is through having international workers.  There is a balance to be struck here. We know that in many areas there is a huge housing pressure. Some people who have come here on employment visas have ended up in desperate housing need and desperate housing conditions because their employers have not provided that or arranged that. In other areas, huge pressure has been put on the local private rental market because international workers have taken that up. Will the Minister of State clarify what exactly he means when he says \"take account of\"? How will that be a deciding factor in allocating quotas? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  Again, I thank the Deputy for the points he has raised. Targeted migration is essential for sectors, such as housing. It does not worsen the housing challenge that we are presented with. Through controlled and skilled-based migration into sectors such as construction, engineering and housing delivery, it directly increases our housing supply. That is reflective of the example where access to qualified tradespeople and technical specialists for housing completion will be a positive. Last year, over 2,000 permits were issued in the construction sector. That was a 47% increase on 2024. That is reflective in the completions. We have had over 36,000 new housing completions. These are record numbers. It is a 20% increase in housing supply from 2024. It is important to reflect that without those tradespeople and permits, our housing completions would slow down. It is having a positive impact regarding where we place these skilled labour workers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I do not dispute anything the Minister of State said. When deciding what level of a quota any given sector is having beyond the construction sector, he said that his Department takes into account housing need and housing availability. How does the Department take this into account? On the one hand, we need international workers to help us build the homes that we need but, on the other, we have a housing shortage. When the population of a given area is substantially increased through any means, that is going to add pressure. How do those things balance out? The Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach and I come from a county that has a large agrifood sector, no more than the Minister of State's constituency. We know the value of international workers but we also know the benefits of companies providing housing and ensuring housing is in place for workers before they come because that makes integration and the life experience of those who are coming on permits and those who are already in the community much better. When that does not happen, it creates huge problems for housing demand locally. How precisely is housing need taken into account when deciding quotas? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  We look at it through an interdepartmental group. We identify our domestic talent within certain specific areas in terms of where the skills needs are. My Department engages extensively with the Department of further and higher education, the National Skills Council and the skills and labour market research unit. We ensure that every recommendation on the occupations list is paired with where our domestic supply strategies are. That is across construction, ICT, healthcare and advanced manufacturing. We ensure the allocations we provide help to plug the gaps today, while we build up long-term strategies within the Irish capacity and educational system. It is about in one sense to manage carefully the balance between safeguarding our competitiveness, protecting our growth model and delivering for key sectors and our communities. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Labour Market"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_13","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Employment Schemes","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":4},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_9","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_13","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Edward Timmins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_13.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Edward Timmins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Edward Timmins  Employment opportunities are vital for the well-being of our population. This Government and the previous ones since 2011 have had remarkable success in giving our people employment opportunities. However, we have one of the lowest participation rates in the western world for people with disabilities at 32%. What actions are being taken to increase this number? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I thank the Deputy for his question. The Government continues to support workers throughout their careers with initiatives to improve work-life balance and flexible working arrangements, which encourages greater labour market participation including the participation of people with disabilities, resulting in greater diversity and inclusion within our workforce. The Government has a wide range of supports in place to assist people. For example, through the Department of Social Protection's Intreo centres, disabled people can access mainstream employment opportunities and employment schemes as well as referrals to tailored supports, such as EmployAbility, which is a service that offers a professional job matching service and ongoing supports and advice.  I also point to the wage subsidy scheme, which offers employers a financial incentive in hiring disabled people. Budget 2026 recently provided for an expansion of the scheme to people who acquire a disability while in employment and to those who transfer from invalidity pension to partial capacity benefit. In April 2026, the subsidy rate will also increase. My Department is co-lead of the employment pillar in the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030, which was launched in September last year. The ambition of the employment pillar of the strategy is to substantially reduce the employment gap between disabled people and others who are in employment and to enhance the opportunities for disabled people who can earn a living that they can do so. The central commitment for my Department is to establish a ministerial-led forum on disability employment as a subgroup of the Department's enterprise forum. This forum will be issue driven and serve as a means of progressing how best to support employers to employ people with a disability, including addressing the perceived obstacles from an employers' perspective and covering issues, such as cost, productivity and legal concerns. The forum would also be a means of raising awareness among employers of the benefits of employing a person with a disability. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Edward Timmins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Edward Timmins  I thank the Minister of State. I commend him on those actions. However, what is missing here are some of the numbers as this hides the scale of the problem. These figures can never be totally accurate as people tend not to disclose due to stigma or fear of discrimination or may answer differently depending on who is asking the questions. Based on labour survey data, there were 181,700 people with disabilities in employment in 2024. With a 32% employment rate for persons with disabilities in Ireland, this potentially means that there are 386,000 unemployed persons with disabilities. Based on these figures, Intreo centres need to engage with these unemployed people. Even by contacting 35,000 in early engagement, this is only 10% of the total. While activities are occurring, these are not even close to making a dent in the unemployment numbers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  I strongly the support the question raised by my colleague. It is critical that we enhance opportunities for those with a disability. I particularly encourage a further examination of the wage subsidy scheme. The Government made a significant increase in the context of budget 2026. Although it does not come into effect until the beginning of April, it could be considered in the budgetary process for 2027. For instance, a company like Murphy Furniture based in Tinahely, which has a number of stores operating right throughout south Leinster, employs a significant number of people with intellectual disabilities and who are neurodivergent. It is a challenge because companies have to adapt their operations in some of those cases. Something like the wage subsidy scheme is critical but there are costs involved. In the context of the budgetary discussions with the Department of Social Protection, I encourage the Minister of State to address this as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I thank both Deputies for raising these important matters. I absolutely share the concerns they have raised and about how long change has taken in this area. I want to underline that we are finally moving from language to implementation. Through the reporting and monitoring implementation group chaired by the Taoiseach, he wants to see the pillar around employment progress. As I said earlier, we have an employment gap between those who are disabled in employment and those who are not. At the most recent Fine Gael disability network conference, it was very apparent that we need to engage more with employer representative bodies to try to engage better with them to see what the perceived barriers are but also to ensure the likes of the wage subsidy scheme are refined to meet the needs of those who can avail of it.  The 15-hour threshold is a bit of a challenge. The Minister, Deputy Calleary, has been informed about that. It is something we could use into the future. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Edward Timmins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Edward Timmins  I compliment the Minister of State on the very successful disability conference that was held in Galway a couple of weeks ago. What is the Government doing to upskill people across the board in recruitment and employment services? These are the people who find the people with disabilities and put them into jobs. There are potentially over 100,000 people available to work who could be living more fulfilling lives and contributing to the tax base but who are now unemployed, with many receiving social welfare payments at a cost to the country when that is not necessary. We are not being fair to these people and giving them the opportunity to succeed. Having these programmes is great but I do not see their impact or their targets. How are these programmes increasing the participation rate, particularly as Ireland ranks lowest in the EU for the participation of persons with disabilities in the workplace? What are the targets to show progress in this area over the next five years? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  Many of us have spoken in here about the low level of employment among those with disabilities. I get that, to a large degree and particularly with some of the schemes, this falls into the ambit of the Minister for Social Protection. However, a holistic approach is needed. While we have seen decent work and decent schemes such as WorkAbility, EmployAbility and the work of the Trinity centre and others in engaging with employers, I do not think these are sufficient. It is too ad hoc . We need to see a greater level of engagement.  With regard to the wage subsidy scheme, a number of employers, particularly those who employ more than one person with disabilities or a considerable number of them, say the scheme does not take sufficient account of the added costs of doing so. The reasonable accommodation funding provided through the work and access programme is also not fit for purpose. All of that needs to be looked at. Even with the wage subsidy scheme, we probably need to look at the self-employed and entrepreneurs. All of that is necessary. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I thank the Deputies for raising these important matters. The most important lesson we have learned as to why there have been low rates of participation is that employers have not been engaged enough. We need to turn the dial as regards the challenges they may face and the barriers that may present themselves. We must ensure they are supported to have better disability and inclusion policies that are focused on employers. The voices of those within the disability sector also need to be heard at that table. We will look at the concerns, the challenges and the stories that have been presented. Many businesses want to employ people but need clarity on flexible arrangements and legal obligations. We have schemes in place that are managed through the Department of Social Protection. However, the Department of enterprise also wants to ensure that enterprises, SMEs and businesses are supported through the Department of Social Protection. That is an important element. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Employment Schemes"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_14","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Artificial Intelligence","counts":{"speechCount":9,"speakerCount":4},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_9","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_14","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_14.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy David Maxwell)  Question No. 10 will be taken by Deputy Malcolm Byrne. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  Will the Minister establish an AI observatory to run in parallel with the national AI office to look at real-time figures with regard to jobs displacement and the skills needed for Ireland to avail of the opportunities AI presents? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  I thank the Deputy for his question. Last year, the Government received recommendations from the AI Advisory Council and National Skills Council to establish observatories on AI and skills. The action plan for competitiveness and productivity subsequently included a strategic action to establish an AI observatory. The basis for these observatories is a need to provide up-to-date data and insights on aspects such as labour market dynamics, skills and other AI metrics. I fully agree that the intelligence developed through the work of the observatories could greatly assist the Government by providing evidence on an ongoing basis to inform policy decisions.  The Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science recently brought a memorandum to Government informing it of his intention to progress the establishment of a national skills observatory. It is envisaged that the national skills observatory will transform our skills intelligence landscape and provide a more joined-up approach to data gathering and use. The observatory will act as a central repository for labour market and skills information in Ireland, facilitating improved workforce planning, stronger policy and decision-making, and improved lifelong learning and workforce reskilling among other benefits. This will provide a valuable source of data and insights on the labour market and skills, including in relation to artificial intelligence.  My Department is currently considering an observatory focused on enterprise adoption of AI. Together with the national skills observatory, this would inform Government in shaping future AI-related enterprise and jobs policy. The establishment of an observatory on the enterprise adoption of AI is a deliverable in the new national digital and AI strategy, which was published yesterday.  AI is evolving rapidly and its impacts are difficult to predict. The Government is committed to strengthening our capability to understand and respond to the opportunities and challenges ahead through the AI observatory. It will be a key piece in supporting our actions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  I thank the Minister for the priority he has been giving to this proposal. As he says, the advisory council has strongly recommended it, as have those of us on the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Artificial Intelligence. Change is happening at pace and things are happening quickly. We saw the recommendations within the Government's strategy on AI and digitalisation, which was published yesterday, but we also had a report from the Department of Finance yesterday that identified that Ireland is potentially most at risk from rapid changes resulting from AI that will impact on the labour force, particularly in the areas of IT, professional services and financial services. It is therefore critical that we are equipped and that we see what these real-time changes are going to be. I welcome the moves by the Minister for further and higher education, Deputy Lawless, to provide microcredentials for skills and the whole-of-government approach through the skills observatory and AI observatory so that we will be prepared for the opportunities that will be presented and for the significant levels of job displacement we are going to see. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  As the Deputy has pointed out, it is critically important that risk is managed in this process. That is why the IDA has set out under its five-year strategy to train 40,000 people. In the first year, we reached 33,000. That is transformational. It makes jobs sticky and ensures that people are upskilled and ready to grasp the opportunities artificial intelligence presents. We have a skills base in the Irish economy. We have double the EU average number of ICT graduates. We also have double the EU average number of STEM graduates per capita in the 20 to 39 age category.  On 14 October, we will hold our AI summit. The Minister of State, Deputy Niamh Smyth, is doing huge work on that with the Minister of State, Deputy Dillon, and myself. That will be a key opportunity to showcase Ireland at the application stage. It will give us the opportunity to show what we can do and deliver in our economy. We look forward to driving the public trust and simplification agendas, which need to go hand in glove if we are to be successful and have a very strong model. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  I am hugely supportive of all of that. It is very welcome. It is unfortunate the Minister of State, Deputy Smyth, cannot be here today but I welcome the fact that she is at the global AI summit in New Delhi. It is critically important that Ireland takes a leadership role in this space. There is already anecdotal evidence that we are seeing significant changes in the jobs market so I welcome the fact that we are looking to be ahead of this. It is critical that there is an understanding within the Minister's Department and across the broader public service. I suggest that civil and public servants be encouraged to undertake the new programmes being launched through the Department of further and higher education so that they will understand the potential of AI. It would serve us well for all Members of this House to have the opportunity to avail of some of these courses to understand the real impact of AI and other new technologies on the employment market and on society more generally. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  It is absolutely necessary that we track the changes in the jobs market. We are all aware of jobs that have been displaced and replaced. It is a matter of being able to react and being agile. That is something that goes without saying.  We have already discussed issues around the regulation of artificial intelligence, which is absolutely necessary. Unfortunately, I have to agree with Deputy Byrne. We need training - and we could do with starting in here - on what AI can do. In this entire conversation, we need to ensure we do not lose out on the possible benefits and innovation. If we talk about the health sector, we have seen in many other states that huge improvements and streamlining can be introduced. That is a necessity. We must ensure that element of innovation while offering protection and remaining agile in relation to changes in the jobs market caused by AI. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  I assure the Deputies we are very much responding to the huge challenge presented in the jobs market, but also the opportunity. The opportunity is very significant. The key pieces include skills, on which we have done a huge amount of work, and having our energy policy correct. The Deputies will have seen our large energy user policy, which gives a huge opportunity for sustainable use. Power will be a significant challenge in financing our offshore renewables and our green transition, which will go hand in hand with our digital transition. Leadership is important and we are doing that through our AI summit, the work being carried out in relation to our AI Act, establishing our AI office in August, having a regulatory sandbox in place and driving that pro-enterprise, proportionate agenda across the European Union.  We have to be careful to protect jobs in our economy. I know that more than most because every week I get notifications of redundancies across the economy. I see a trend in relation to those exposed to artificial intelligence. On the other side, there is huge recruitment with some companies taking on hundreds of jobs to further their research and innovation in artificial intelligence. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy David Maxwell)  We move on to Question No. 11. Deputy Byrne is again taking this one. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Artificial Intelligence"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_15","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Artificial Intelligence","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_9","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_15.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  AI has the potential to have a profound impact on society, as well as providing significant opportunities to ensure we remain competitive and future-proof our industrial base through its adoption. That is why it is equally important to ensure we address the challenges Al poses around safety, privacy and fundamental rights in the public and private sectors. Harnessing the benefits of AI must go hand in hand with protecting the people it affects.  The new national AI and digital strategy was launched yesterday. It will work across government and cover key pillars including the delivery of public services, enterprise, digital infrastructure and skills. As AI is a cross-cutting technology, the recommendations have implications across a wide range of policy responsibilities spanning a number of relevant line Departments.  Much work has been done by Government, and will continue to be done, to put a strong guardrail in place for the development and use of AI in Ireland. This includes development of regulations, standards, guidelines and codes of practice.  Our ambition in the new national digital and AI strategy is to enhance digital literacy and basic skills not only for the economy but across all levels of society. It is envisaged there will be an enhanced dialogue with the public and key stakeholders, including in the context of the strategy. Our goal is to build public trust in AI and ensure people feel included in its development. Most importantly, we want societal values and concerns to directly inform AI research and how technologies are adopted.  To help inform Government, the AI advisory council provides independent expert advice on artificial intelligence policy and helps to build public trust in AI. Our wider national governance framework for AI, including Ireland\u2019s implementation of the EU AI Act, is designed to uphold fairness, transparency and strong protections for health, safety and fundamental rights, ensuring the development of safe, ethical and human-centric AI systems. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  I thank the Minister. This question is based on a recommendation from the Joint Committee on Artificial Intelligence. I am encouraged by the approach Government has taken, particularly the publication yesterday of the AI and digitalisation strategy.  The Minister correctly stated in response to the previous question that this is related to our investment in digital infrastructure plus our investment in the energy grid, particularly in renewables.  Our approach has to be precisely, as he said. It is about getting the balance right between supporting innovation in the sector and using those technological tools to improve processes while at the same time maintaining public trust and ensuring the necessary guardrails are in place. It will be critical as part of the EU Presidency, which is what some of this question relates to, to talk of the EU's and, particularly, Ireland's digital sovereignty. I hope that will be one as the issues addressed as part of our Presidency. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  I assure the Deputy of our continuing work in the areas he referenced. About 85 recommendations came from the joint Oireachtas committee. Three referred to our Department, which I am happy to speak about. They related to the establishment of the AI office, which will take place in August; to the AI and digital summit on 14 October; and to the work we are doing on the simplification agenda, which will be key to building public trust and to ensuring we are hiving out the opportunity. The Minister, Deputy Chambers, is doing huge work on the public sector piece, as referenced in the strategy published yesterday.  As Members across the House have said, this is general purpose technology by its nature. Its transformational effects are like those electricity had decades ago. This will have a huge impact across every sector and every area of society. That is why it is important we have the skills to deal with it and are sharp in our innovative approach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  I very much welcome the Minister's approach on this. It is critical we bring the public with us and, as he said, that it be cross-government. Will he consider public information campaigns to make people aware of the possibilities and challenges? He and I will probably remember the famous ads, \"I don't know what a tracker mortgage is\", so that people could understand financial products. We need to look in a similar way at artificial intelligence and have people sitting on the back of a bus saying, \"I don't know what an algorithm is\", and to get an understanding and explanation of that. The more understanding there is in society of the potential of the new technologies, the more it will inform those in business and in the public services about the opportunities and challenges.  I welcome the AI summit this October. It is a real opportunity to show Ireland as a leader in this space. The Government is taking the correct approach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  I thank the Deputy for his comments. We will work together on this. He is right that building public trust is a big challenge. Awareness will be central to that. I work closely with the Minister, Deputy Chambers, who has responsibility for the public service piece. We can work hand in glove on the private sector piece, protecting employees, giving skills as best we can to respond to this opportunity and also working through our tax code to incentivise innovation. We are happy to work in the coming months. As 1 July will come quite quickly, it will be important we hit the ground running. We have the building blocks and foundation already to capture a lot of this opportunity. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Artificial Intelligence"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_16","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Flood Relief Schemes","counts":{"speechCount":11,"speakerCount":5},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_9","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_16","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_16.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  The question relates to supports available to businesses damaged by flooding. We have just been through Storm Chandra and, on some level, people believe the rain will never actually stop. It is about ensuring we have fit-for-purpose defences. In my county's case, we need the OPW, the local authority and Uisce \u00c9ireann to ensure works are done, both short term and long term. We will be dealing with more of this, so we need the supports in place. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  My Department operates the emergency humanitarian flooding scheme for small businesses and voluntary, community and sports organisations affected by flooding as a result of extreme weather and unable to obtain flood insurance through no fault of their own. The scheme is administered by the Irish Red Cross on behalf of the Department.  The Department has activated the enhanced emergency humanitarian flooding scheme for businesses impacted by Storm Chandra and the subsequent heavy rainfall from 26 January to early February.  The enhanced scheme is for small businesses of up to 50 employees or whole-time equivalents, and community, voluntary and sports organisations. It provides a contribution towards the cost of returning a business premises to its pre-flood condition. There are two payment stages - an initial payment of up to \u20ac5,000, and then a second payment subject to assessment of the damages by an independent, professional assessor. Under the enhanced scheme, the total funding available is capped at a maximum of \u20ac100,000 per small business or community, voluntary or sporting body. These funds may be used to replace damaged flooring, fixtures, fittings, and stock with the aim of enabling businesses to reopen as soon as possible.  As of 18 February 2026, the Irish Red Cross has received 57 applications for the enhanced emergency humanitarian flooding scheme. Total funding disbursed to date is \u20ac52,000, which represents initial payments of up to \u20ac5,000. Further payments will be made, up to a total of \u20ac100,000, once independent professional assessments are carried out. Further information and application forms are available on the Irish Red Cross website. The closing date for applications is 6 March 2026. The standard scheme, where the maximum contribution is capped at \u20ac20,000, was activated twice in 2025. It was first opened in early November due to flooding caused by a severe weather event in the Bantry area, and it was subsequently reopened in mid-November to assist those affected by flood-damage in County Wexford as a result of Storm Claudia. All claims have been processed under it at that particular time have paid out \u20ac82,000. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  It is vital that we have a standing support scheme. As I said, a huge piece of work needs to be done to ensure we are not looking at this constantly from here on out. When I think of my own county and the town of Dundalk, it is not only the CFRAM flood protections that are necessary but the Uisce \u00c9ireann infrastructure is not up to scratch. Unfortunately, the dates we are looking at are 2030 and 2033. That needs to be sped up. We have also engaged with the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, from a point of view of those smaller works that can be done and personal property protections. They are absolutely necessary. In the long term, that will reduce the amount of moneys that would need to be paid out. It is vital that this is available not only to sport and community organisations but also businesses. We need to have a conversation with insurance companies. It needs to be a very strong conversation. Does the Minister have any information, even though it is still open to 6 March, in relation to the applications that are in at this point? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Brennan  I need to bring up the treatment of staff in the Merck facility in Arklow. The Minister is well aware that there is a planned closure for 2028. I know that within 24 hours, the Minister was there on site----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy David Maxwell)  Sorry, Deputy Brennan, is the question on flood protection? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Brennan  It is in south County Wicklow, which is badly affected. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy David Maxwell)  I am sorry; the supplementary question has to be related to the initial question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  I commend the fact that the Minister has significantly increased the sums available when it comes to the humanitarian relief under storms. He did reference Storm Claudia, particularly with regard to the impact that had on County Wexford and the humanitarian relief which was open to businesses and sports clubs under that scheme. Unfortunately, one of the clubs that was impacted in a big way was Woodenbridge Golf Club but the problem is that because it is over the border in County Wicklow, it was not deemed eligible under Storm Claudia. Bizarrely, it escaped some of the worst effects of the recent Storm Chandra. My office has made a request to the Department that it would consider the case of Woodenbridge Golf Club and the impact that Storm Claudia has had on it. I ask that the Minister intervenes in this case because it was similarly impacted by the floods but because it is in the wrong county it was excluded from the scheme. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  We are making the scheme as accessible as possible. I am prepared to work with Deputies in any areas that they wish to raise. It is also important to point out that the minor works scheme has gone up to \u20ac2 million from \u20ac750,000, which also is a big asset to businesses in the sector. As I said, we want to progress. That is why we have increased \u20ac20,000 up to \u20ac100,000 to reflect the seriousness of it. I am happy to work with the Deputies in question.  On Deputy Brian Brennan's issue, Merck is a significant and an important issue for his constituency. I met with so many of the employees with him a number of months ago. I assure him that the full industrial relations machinery of our State will be made available to support them. I know he has organised a number of meetings with my State agencies. I commend Deputy Brennan on the work he is doing supporting the workers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  It was an absolute necessity that the money was increased. We are going to be dealing with this from here on in, so it is about ensuring we can react. From the Department's point of view, it is absolutely necessary that there is engagement in terms of those works that can be done to ensure we have greater levels of protections, be they natural or unnatural protections. There is a huge number of areas that are still impacting on issues that have not been resolved over many years. I am thinking in the last while of some of those businesses that have been impacted. It is the likes of the Carrickdale. I know Councillor Ant\u00f3in Watters has been working alongside them to try to get some of the short-term mitigations. When the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, visited Blackrock, he was in McQuillan's Pharmacy. We need to look at protections for the likes of that. Short-term mitigations can be introduced before the long-term CFRAM protections and everything. The likes of the Spirit Store in Dundalk was affected by one of the recent storms and was flooded. We all know the danger of flooding and the impact it can have. The conversation with insurance companies is absolutely necessary because they are getting off the hook. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  I hear what the Deputy is saying. We have made progress across 52 schemes over the past four years. Huge work was done in Athlone in my own constituency. Work was done in Bandon, County Cork, as well. A number of these schemes have been very complex and there have been very different challenges in respect of each, either through the planning code or the complexity of delivery of them. CFRAM is very clear. There are 150 schemes that face one in 100-year events, 1% risk, that we are working through as a Government. We had a meeting last week to progress and fast-track a number of these schemes. From the Taoiseach down, we have given the commitment that we are working with minor works in terms of some remedial works that we can carry out now that can save businesses in the interim while we are waiting for the delivery of the significant schemes. They are a challenge. We have a record level of investment there to support businesses. We have to ensure that. I know that when a small family business is flooded, it is devastating. It has a devastating effect on their family. It is the same in the case of a club. We have seen the pictures and heard stories that paint thousands of words. We will be at the forefront of supporting them in the months ahead. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Flood Relief Schemes"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_17","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_18","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Early Childhood Care and Education","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_17","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_18.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Claire Kerrane  In recent weeks especially, I have been contacted by a number of ECCE providers, as well as a number of childminders. So too have a number of my colleagues, and I am sure the Minister is well aware of this. They have been receiving commercial rates bills and have been contacted in relation to such moneys owed. I would like to know if the Minister is aware of this situation and what she intends to do about it in her role as Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Children, Disability and Equality (Deputy Norma Foley)  I confirm that I am aware that a number of early years services and childminders have been receiving rates payable notifications from their local authorities. Given the importance of early learning and childcare for children, families and communities across the country, I am giving this matter my full attention. I have met with my Cabinet colleague, the Minister, Deputy Browne, on this matter. Additionally, officials in the Department are engaging with their colleagues in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and Tailte \u00c9ireann. I am committed to furnishing the Deputy with an update once the Department has clarity on this matter.  It should be noted that commercial rates payments for early learning and childcare providers, including childminders, do not fall, as the Deputy will appreciate, within the remit of the Department of Children, Disability and Equality. The Department has no role in determining which properties are rateable.  The making of valuations for rating purposes is the sole and full responsibility of Tailte \u00c9ireann, formerly the Commissioner of Valuation. Tailte \u00c9ireann falls under the aegis of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.  Further to this, as I stated previously, I believe childminders should not have their homes assessed for commercial rates. My understanding is that childminders are only likely to be charged rates if they have space dedicated solely to their childminding business, and that the large majority of childminders who use the normal family rooms in the house for childminding are therefore unlikely to be charged rates. Again, we would like to absolutely clarify this understanding and issue a clear message to childminders.  I appreciate the enormous concern and stress this is causing on the ground. I assure the Deputy, although this does not fall within our remit and I am very conscious it is a matter for Tailte \u00c9ireann, which I appreciate is independent of the Department of housing, we want to bring this to an end. I know there is not consistency across local authorities either in relation to the matter. That is something that needs to be addressed too. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Claire Kerrane  I appreciate that the Minister has engaged with the Minister, Deputy Browne. Clearly, this is something that needs to be sorted out as quickly as possible because, as the Minister acknowledged, there is stress and worry. A lot of childminders were shocked to hear from Tailte \u00c9ireann and then to receive such rates that they never had before. It is important this issue is dealt with quickly. I fully appreciate it is not within the remit of the Minister's Department, but I acknowledge she has reached out to the housing Minister. This is something that needs to be sorted out very quickly.  I hosted a number of childminders from various parts of the State yesterday, along with Childminding Ireland. This is an issue they raised and one they want sorted out. There are obviously other issues in terms of childminders deciding their future but, for a lot of them, this is very much the last straw. It needs to be sorted out and I acknowledge the Minister is trying to do that. Does she believe legislation is required in order to exempt the likes of childminders and early childhood care and education, ECCE, facilities? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  I know the Deputy has been very engaged and active on this issue. I cannot underestimate, as I deal with it all the time, and the Deputy outlined this too, how this is causing incredible distress for so many who are an excellent source of support to families on the ground. I want to be clear. It has been the understanding of my Department that there are two exemptions for early learning and childcare services provided for under Schedule 4 of the Valuation Act 2001 and the 2015 amendment to the Act. ECCE-only services, whether these are for profit or are not-for-profit, are exempt under paragraph 10 of the 2001 Act, and not-for-profit early years services are exempt under paragraph 22 of the amended Act. The Department has previously received confirmation from the Department of housing, including at ministerial level, that the intention and practice was for the exemptions provided for in both the original and revised Acts to operate in tandem. I will also be clear in saying that is not the view of Tailte \u00c9ireann. I have to respect its independence and that it has a different view, but we are seeking to do the best we can, from all avenues open to us, to ensure clarity is brought to this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Claire Kerrane  If that Act needs to be amended to specifically state childminders in particular, that needs to be done as quickly as possible. There still is not clarity. While I appreciate the Minister has been engaging, we need to hear that update on what is actually going to happen. As I said, we are at a critical juncture for childminders in the State. I and colleagues heard yesterday from a number of them, who are deciding after 17 or 18 years as childminders not to continue. Commercial rates were raised by each one of them as the endgame. This needs to be sorted out quickly. It would be beneficial for the Minister and helpful for everyone concerned, particularly when we look at the low number of childminders registering, to meet with Childminding Ireland and hear from it directly on this and other matters. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  As I said, there is a clear divergence of opinion here between Tailte \u00c9ireann and the view of the Department. We would absolutely be supportive of any measure that would bring clarity. Legislation, as referenced by the Deputy, does not fall within the remit of our Department but if that is the necessary step, it is the necessary step. We are doing all we can to support childminders, particularly to come into the registration process. There are dedicated individuals in every city and county childcare committee specifically designated to work with childminders. We want them to be part to the process and to have every opportunity to benefit from being part of the process. There is currently a pilot with childminders in receipt of core funding by a grant or whatever, and a consultation process as regards the wider childcare elements. Through that, there is a lot of engagement with childminders. I would be very happy to engage with them as well through that process. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Early Childhood Care and Education"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_19","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Child and Family Agency","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_17","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_19","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_19.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  I appreciate the Deputy raising the important issue of funding for Tusla's residential care services in which the Government has invested significantly over recent years. Officials in the Department have received the detailed financial information he requested from Tusla and will share it with him in full tabular form. In terms of headline figures, the information provided by Tusla indicates that the total cost for statutory or State-owned children's residential centres in 2025 was \u20ac53.5 million. The total cost in respect of privately run centres was just over \u20ac131 million, while for special emergency arrangements, SEAs, the total cost was just under \u20ac38 million.  Both Tusla and I share a common aim to meet the needs of all children in mainstream alternative care placements and to reduce Tusla's operation of SEAs. We have invested significantly in Tusla to this end. In 2026, Tusla's overall funding was raised to \u20ac1.37 billion, an increase of 14% or \u20ac177 million compared to 2025, which was itself a year of record investment for Tusla. This increase includes an additional \u20ac53 million for mainstream residential care. This additional funding will provide for the full-year costs of residential places opened in 2025, in addition to 30 new residential places over the course of 2026. Tusla\u2019s capital budget has also been expanded to \u20ac35 million in 2026, which represents 100% growth since 2024. It is a significant uplift for Tusla in terms of its capital and capacity to build. As I said, it is \u20ac35 million, which is 100% growth.  While Tusla, supported by the Department, is working to reduce reliance on SEAs, the agency is facing significant and ongoing challenges in sourcing appropriate placements for children in the care of the State. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Wall  The reason I am asking the Minister about this is that the Ombudsman for Children has raised concerns about the SEAs and their unregulation. Is she happy with the regulation of these SEAs, particularly the accommodation they offer? The accommodation can go from hotel rooms to apartments. As I said, this has been highlighted by the Ombudsman for Children. It is a serious concern for us all on this side of the House, as I am sure it is for the Minister. The question I have for her relates to the regulation of these premises and providers. Is she happy with what is being carried out by Tusla, given what we have heard on the major cases that have happened, unfortunately, in this State over the last number of months? It is a serious concern for many people. I hope she can clarify those concerns. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  As I said, Tusla is working consistently to reduce reliance on SEAs. I know that is the Deputy's wish as much as my own. It is also working to reduce the costs associated with these services and promote the quality and safety of these placements.  The Department is supporting Tusla in these efforts and will continue to do so.  On the week of 8 February, 84 children and young people were classified as separated children seeking international protection in special emergency accommodation, representing a decrease of four over the previous week and of 35 over four weeks previously. The bulk of the children availing of the service are separated children seeking international protection.  Under the current procedures, special emergency arrangements are reviewed regularly and used only when they are the most suitable options available at the time. There is an inconsistency in the numbers of children arriving at different times. Tusla remains committed to moving children, as quickly as possible, out of special emergency arrangements and into long-term placements where they can be supported \u2013 for example, in the foster care system.  I will come back to the other points. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Wall  I thank the Minister. She mentioned that we would all strive for State-led accommodation. The money being spent on special emergency arrangements surely could be spent on State-led accommodation, whereby regulations would be reviewed more than regularly. My concern is over what \u201creviewed regularly\u201d means. Is it monthly or weekly? My concern is shared by the Ombudsman for Children and many people I deal with. Have Tusla and the Department plans to move away once and for all from emergency accommodation provided by private operators and to use the money to build fit-for-purpose accommodation for those children who need it most? She might confirm what \u201creviewed regularly\u201d means because we have had concerns. We have noted these concerns in the media and The Journal has reported very recently on its concern about children facing criminal damages in private accommodation. It is not on. We need to build State accommodation. I ask the Minister to confirm whether this is the plan of her Department. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  Specifically on funding for building, Tusla plans to invest a total of \u20ac286 million in expanding mainstream residential care in 2026, representing an additional \u20ac53 million in current funding compared with the amount for 2025. The additional \u20ac53 million for mainstream residential care will provide for the full-year cost of beds opened part of the way through 2025 and for an additional 30 residential care places, which will bring the number of residential places for children in need to over 800. It is planned that the 30 additional mainstream residential placements will comprise 19 State-run statutory placements and 11 privately owned ones.  Specifically on safeguarding procedures, Tusla has developed standard operating procedures for placements. These detail extensive checks that any prospective special emergency accommodation provider must adhere to, including in relation to records management and staff vetting. Tusla has advised that all special emergency accommodation providers should be vetted by the central compliance unit. The unit ensures that Garda vetting and appropriate qualifications are in order before any child is placed with a prospective provider. The unit also carries out spot checks to validate staff on active duty. Tusla uses practice assurance and service monitoring reports to support the provision of high-quality services for children and families. The monitoring extends across Tusla activity, including in respect of special emergency accommodation. Importantly, young people in special emergency accommodation are visited weekly by a social worker or delegated person to have their voices heard and to check on the care being provided. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Child and Family Agency"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_20","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Guardians Ad Litem","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_17","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_20","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_20.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Claire Kerrane  I want to raise with the Minister once again the changes being made under the new guardian ad litem , GAL, national service, and specifically the issue of legal representation for GALs in court proceedings and the change that will see the Minister determine whether such legal representation is allowed in court. Could she provide to us the rationale for the change? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  The Child Care (Amendment) Act 2022, which provides for reform of the GAL system, was signed into law on 19 July 2022. This is a very important consideration. The passing of this legislation enables my Department to establish the GAL national service as an executive office. This executive office of the national service carries out functions on behalf of the Minister.  A GAL is a qualified and experienced professional who meets the child, gathers their views and provides an independent report to the judge. GALs are expert witnesses in court. There is no requirement for them to automatically have legal representation in every single case. The GAL national service holds the view, supported by the Attorney General\u2019s office, that the legal advice provided to GALs is legally privileged. Legal advice will be available to GALs through in-house legal teams or procured legal services. Legal advice will be available to them at all times. The head of legal services unit will have responsibility for ensuring legal advice and representation are provided.  Section 35D of the 2022 Act sets out the grounds by which the Minister shall, in the best interest of the child, determine the provision of legal representation. These grounds include the views of the court, the GAL's intention to make an application for legal representation, and the opinion of the GAL in relation to any application made in the court proceedings. In regard to the latter, I refer to where a particular issue is being flagged or raised by the GAL. There are specific scenarios in which legal representation will be provided to a GAL, namely special care applications and applications under the Mental Health Act. GALs may also make an application to have \u201csuch rights as a party\u201d, and legal representation will be provided in these cases. The current measure, as set out in section 26 of the Child Care Act 1991, makes no provision for legal representation for GALs. It is interesting that there has been none whatsoever up to this point. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Claire Kerrane  I thank the Minister. I want to be very clear that the national service is needed. I have no issue whatsoever with it and do not believe the vast majority of GALs have either. However, with regard to what is being proposed under the national service, legal representation has been raised by GALs. I take their point because they have decades of experience in some cases. It is really important that we listen to them.  I cannot understand why the provision exists. Is there an understanding that GALs are choosing to have legal representation that is not needed? Of course, it is not needed in every case, but I could not understand why a GAL would look for legal representation unless it was needed. This is all for the child; there is nothing in it for the GAL. It is all about the child and representation for the child in court. What is the rationale for what is being done now? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  I reiterate that this was signed into law on 19 July 2022. At all times, legal advice will be available to GALs. If there are particular reasons for legal representation, such as its being recommended by the court or the GAL wishing to make an application where a case is particularly complex, it will be provided for. In the main, however, we have to be clear about the role of the GAL. He or she is an expert witness in the court proceedings. That is the bottom line. If, however, a GAL wishes to make an application, legal representation will be provided. It will be provided at all times outside these circumstances. It is interesting to note that until the new legislation was signed into law on 19 July 2022, there was no provision at all for legal representation. Therefore, the current provisions are actually a step forward. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Claire Kerrane  I welcome the fact that the Minister is to meet the GALs next week. My understanding from engaging with them is that legal representation always existed where they needed it. They could seek it and have it, and there was no issue in that regard. Now, however, they will have to seek it through an application to the service. If GALs were choosing to have or seeking legal representation without merit, it would make no sense because there would be nothing in it for them.  My concern is that a GAL who may be new to the role and who may or may not be an expert witness must face at least one at two legal representatives on the other side when in court. I raised this with officials of the national service when we met them. They were good enough to come in and brief the committee. I was told that if there is an issue in court and something happens, legal representation will be reconsidered. That is not to the benefit of the child in any shape or form. That is the concern being raised, and it is being raised in a genuine way. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  I absolutely accept that this is being raised in a genuine way. I 100% accept the Deputy's bona fides and the bona fides of the GALs and everybody else. At the end of the day, everybody wants the best outcome for the child. I have no difficulty with the concerns and the issues being raised. I 100% accept that. The Deputy has made the point that, heretofore, the practice has been that when a GAL required legal representation, they always got it. That is not changing. When a GAL needs representation, in the first instance, they are an expert witness. If that changes, they need to bring an application where legal representation will be required, and legal representation will be provided for. If there is a particularly complex issue or whatever arising, and if the court or the GAL believes that the complexity requires legal representation, that will be provided for. We cannot conflate the issue that they are first and foremost expert witnesses. If there is a change in circumstance and legal representation is required, that will be provided for. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Guardians Ad Litem"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_21","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Child and Family Agency","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_17","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_21.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aidan Farrelly  Will the Minister provide the House with an update on the Tusla well-being checks, which she instigated within her Department on foot of a number of very tragic cases last year, for all children and young people who had their cases closed by Tusla during the Covid years? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  I appreciate the Deputy raising this as I know it is a hugely important issue to him, the House and the wider community.  As he is aware, last September I requested Tusla to conduct a series of well-being checks for children whose cases were closed during the Covid-19 lockdown period. The Tusla well-being project team began its work last October. I am pleased to say that the project is making real progress, thanks to the dedication of the chair and the steering group, staff and colleagues right across Government.  The project's steering group comprises Government Departments, key statutory agencies and stakeholders and, importantly, is independently chaired by Tanya Ward, chief executive of the Children's Rights Alliance. I thank her and the steering group for their work.  The steering group adopted the project methodology in December, taking into account the rights of the children and families involved in each of these cases. This approach enables the project to check each case against the most up-to-date information available on official registers and prioritise cases of significant or most concern. It ensures that the project operates in an effective but non-invasive or non-intrusive way.  Following an initial review carried out by Tusla, it was determined that 76,546 children had referrals closed between 1 March 2020 and 28 February 2022. Approximately 42,000 cases had no new referrals or ongoing engagement with Tusla since the lockdown period. Following this review, approximately 18,000 cases were found to be of children who had since turned 18 years of age and were now deemed to be adults.  Following internal legal advice within the Department, there is no legal basis for Tusla to conduct a well-being check on a young person over the age of 18. On this basis, 18,000 cases are outside the scope of the project. That is a cause of concern, and I assure the Deputy that I have raised that matter with the Attorney General and sought his advice on it. We will await that advice because I am conscious of that cohort of over-18s. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aidan Farrelly  I thank the Minister because she has pre-empted the piece I was going to try to discuss with her. To be honest, I have come around to the idea of this project. At the start I was quite cautious because my understanding and the meaning I would infer from \"well-being\" would suggest that you are getting a thorough understanding of how a child or a young person is, as opposed to what I called at the time a proof-of-existence check - ultimately, that we are just making sure that the child is still alive and still existing within the State. We had an opportunity to meet Ms Ward and her team this week, and it was really informative. I can understand now very clearly the methodology and Tusla's aspirations in this process. I still have some outstanding concerns about the resources it might have to complete these checks. The Minister will not hear criticism from me in terms of the timeframe. If this takes months, it takes months and should be allowed to happen. I ask the Minister to talk to us a little more about that piece. If I was 12 in 2020 and my case was closed, I am outside the scope of this project. Is there a way in which we can amend legislation to ensure we can broaden the scope of this project for anyone over the age of 12? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  I absolutely accept the Deputy's bona fides in relation to this as well. As I said previously in relation to other matters, we want the best outcome here. We want to be very sure and assured of the young people whose cases were closed. There is a specific issue around those who \"aged out\", to use that phrase, which I do not like, in terms of the sharing of information from Tusla's point of view. I would be very keen to ensure we would find a means to address that cohort of 18,000. I do not have the legal mechanism at the moment but I will rely on the expert advice of the Attorney General. I have spoken to him. We have engaged with him. That engagement is ongoing. He sees it as a priority as well. I know it is a priority for the chair, Tanya Ward, and the steering group as well. I absolutely assure the Deputy, if we can find the legal mechanism to do this, we will do it. I think it would be in the best interests of everyone. The Attorney General is working on that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aidan Farrelly  I thank the Minister for that update. I hear sincerity in her response and I give her my assurance that, from a Social Democrats perspective, whatever we can do to support the Government in trying to seek that legislative change in this instance, I think it would be really important. If we are going to do it, why not do it right in this instance in respect of 12-year-olds and 13-years-olds who experienced lockdown going through a very troubling transition between primary school and secondary school? It was a really troubled time. We need to hear from them in this process. Whatever we can do to support that, we will. I reiterate my thanks and commendation to those involved in this project because it is a significant undertaking. We have heard about the IT specialties that are required, the access to information and challenges. Before it even gets under way in real detail, I look forward to the recommendations that will come from this project in terms of future learnings for institutions of the State to make sure we have accurate information but also appropriate services to follow up. I look forward to further updates on this from the Minister and her Department as this project progresses. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  I assure the Deputy that I am confident that learnings will come out of this, particularly cross-departmental, almost like eyes on a child and knowing where a child is at a given time, to support the child, in the best interests of the child.  Some \u20ac3.2 million has been made available to support the work of this well-being check project. I have been receiving regular updates on the work of the steering group from the chair.  The Deputy will be aware also of the press release that issued, I think, last week, which provided the public with details. I appreciate that Ms Ward and the team made themselves available to the Deputy as well because it is very important that here within the House there is an understanding of what is happening with the project. It was important that something would issue to the general public as well because the general public are interested too.  We will continue to support Tusla in the work it does. The chair is independent. I respect that independence and am happy for her to proceed as she deems necessary. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 95 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Child and Family Agency"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_22","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Childcare Services","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_17","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_22.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  I ask the Minister to give full consideration for Laois to be given one of the first directly State-led, publicly owned childcare facilities. I say that in welcoming the new scheme that was announced on 21 January. Laois is one of the fastest growing counties in terms of population outside of Dublin, and there is real pressure on childcare places. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  I appreciate the Deputy raising this. It is an issue of huge interest right across the country, including in his constituency.  Improving access to quality and affordable early learning and childcare is a key priority for the Government. Early learning and childcare capacity is increasing. Data from the annual early years sector profile shows that the estimated number of enrolments increased by 25% over the past three years. That is quite a significant increase. However, it appears that demand for early learning and childcare remains higher than available supply in certain parts of the country, particularly for younger children. That is the real issue, that there are certain areas across the country where there is a dearth of provision.  I recently announced \u20ac135 million in capital investment in buildings for high-quality, accessible State-led early learning and childcare, which I know is the Deputy's key issue. The process will begin in 2026 with investment in buildings in what will be a ground-breaking initiative for this Government - never before done by Government, actually.  Capital funding will be used to acquire and fit out buildings. This is a case of \"and-or\", in fact, because in some instances it might just be the fit-out of the building, depending on requirements. There will be a particular focus in the new State-led facilities on providing places for children between one and three years old, because this is where the need is greatest, with scope for these children to progress in the service until they start school. The aim of delivering additional supply of this type in suitable locations will include both rural and urban areas that are presently not well served. Additional supply in areas of disadvantage is another priority because early learning can have positive impacts on children at risk of disadvantage. Another factor to consider is the need to rebalance supply in some areas where there is a high concentration of private supply but very low levels of community childcare.  A suite of appraisal tools has been developed, including a forward planning model, in order to select projects that align with these objectives. Up to eight buildings will be selected for investment this year and the State-led initiative will provide thousands of places up to 2030 using the \u20ac135 million provided for in the national development plan. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  As outlined, there is a chronic shortage of spaces in the county, including for one- to three-year-olds. We have the private model, but we are over-reliant on that. It has weaknesses in the context of having to have separate leases or ownership of buildings, separate insurance, separate administration and payrolls, etc. While many are providing a good service, there are weaknesses. There are also shortages. There are no all-day spaces in Stradbally or Mountrath, and there are shortages in larger towns like Portlaoise, Mountmellick, Portarlington and Graigue and smaller towns like Rathdowney, Mountrath, Durrow, Abbeyleix and Stradbally. Some of what becomes available is unaffordable. I received a letter this week from one couple who live near to me, who said they were offered a space for \u20ac1,430 per month in one provider that is hundreds of yards from my house. The cr\u00e8che wanted a \u20ac450 deposit within 48 hours, which they were not able to come up with. They lost the place, and that woman could not go back to work. That shows the pressure on just the market-led ones. We need that Government scheme. We have the fastest growing population. I know the Minister has announced the purchase of eight or nine buildings. Everyone will be looking for them, but Laois has a strong case. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  I appreciate the case the Deputy makes. The purpose here is, in the first instance, to acknowledge that there is excellent provision by private providers and community providers. Notwithstanding that, there are still areas where there is an absence of provision. The purpose of the State-led services is to complement what is already there and to step in proactively where there is not provision. I hear the case the Deputy makes for his constituency. There is a capital steering group in place in the Department. The Department is assessing sites and buildings and, where required, will seek expressions of interest from operators to deliver these State-led services. The emphasis for 2026 is on the purchase of buildings but we also have provision for some instances where we will build. However, in 2026, the emphasis will be on purchasing or fitting out a building. All areas will be considered. Eight is eight, but we will be hoping to grow that in the coming years. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  According to the childcare committee in the county, Portlaoise needs four full-day facilities. Portarlington needs one, as do Mountmellick, Mountrath, Graiguecullen, Rathdowney, Abbeyleix, Durrow and the Cullahill area. The pilot of eight to nine is obviously welcome. It is a small start. We could put all eight or nine in Laois, but I urge the Minister to put at least one or two there. The current model is not able to match the growth in population in the county. We are behind other European states that have private provision. As the Minister said, a lot of those providers are going good work - I would not take from that - but other European states also have strong state-led childcare systems. We do not have that in this country. The Minister is right in that this is a groundbreaking initiative, which I certainly welcome and will fully support. However, it costs \u20ac1,430 per month to mind a child. The wages in our area do not come up high enough for people to pay that sort of money. That woman has no childcare facilities now to allow her to return to work. The couple are in rented accommodation as well and we know the pressures that brings. Rents are sky high in the area. It is a huge issue, and I ask that the Minister's officials look around County Laois and contact the local county council and estate agents to see if a property can be secured for it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  I thank the Deputy. As for how we are progressing, the first port of call is the local childcare committee, and we ask people to engage there. It can then engage further with the Department. I do not at all take away from the case the Deputy is making.  We are very conscious of the costs of childcare. The premise of core funding is where fees were frozen. In return for that, operators were given core funding. The national childcare scheme is supporting parents by providing reduced costs but, again, more work needs to be done. The Deputy knows we have a target of \u20ac250 per week to be achieved by the end of this Government term. We are working on that. We have increased core funding year on year. The national childcare scheme is available to parents. We also introduced fee caps last year and we will be doing likewise this year. We are working towards the \u20ac250 per week. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Childcare Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_23","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_23","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 98 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_24","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Pension Provisions","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_23","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_23","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_24.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Claire Kerrane  I raise again the need for a State pension for foster carers. I appreciate that this mainly comes under the Minister for Social Protection. However, in light of that, what engagement has the Minister had with that Minister with regard to the commitment in the programme for Government, which I acknowledge, to ensure a State pension for foster carers is delivered as quickly as possible? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  I have discussed this with the Deputy on a number of occasions and we are absolutely agreed on the importance of foster carers. There is appreciation of and agreement on that across the House. Foster carers play a vital role in enabling our most vulnerable children to live in a safe, secure and stable home environment.  While eligibility for the State pension, as the Deputy said, is a matter for the Minister for Social Protection, I know this is a matter of genuine concern for foster carers. The programme for Government 2025 introduced a number of commitments relating to foster care. This included commitments to examine and develop a pension solution for foster carers in recognition of the enormous contribution they make to vulnerable children in our society. I have raised this matter directly with my colleague the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Calleary, and can confirm that subsequent engagement will now occur between the relevant departmental officials. This engagement will occur in accordance with my ongoing commitment to support foster carers and within the context of the related programme for Government commitments, which I have already outlined.  Work is under way within the Department on the development of a national policy framework for alternative care, which will deliver on a separate programme for Government commitment to develop a national plan on alternative care. It is in this context that we are also engaging with the Minister. Officials of the Department are developing the framework on the basis of evidence and robust consultation with stakeholders, care-experienced individuals and the public. I am informed that the consultation process has already included a number of constructive engagements with foster carers and their representative bodies. My officials and I will continue to listen carefully to what they say, including in relation to eligibility for the State pension and other key matters. I will continue to work closely with the Minister, Deputy Calleary, and other Government colleagues regarding the progression of these programme for Government commitments. Significant work has already occurred in relation to supporting foster carers. It included increasing the foster care allowance by 21% in 2024, the introduction of the initial placement payment in 2025 and the announcement by the Department of Social Protection that foster carers are now eligible for the back-to-school footwear and clothing allowance, also in June 2025. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Claire Kerrane  I welcome that engagement between officials in the Minister's Department and the Department of Social Protection will take place. It is important that we get the State pension put in place for foster carers as quickly as possible. It is wholly unacceptable for any foster carer in this State, many of whom have provided decades of support to provide a loving and caring home to some of the most vulnerable children in the State, to be left at 66 without a State pension or relying on the means-tested State pension. That is not acceptable. It is also important to make the point that this would be a huge amount of money.  Money is always a factor because I know it will have to be within the budget or a coming budget, and I hope it will be. Many foster carers will have paid some PRSI contributions. In fact, I would imagine the vast majority will have, so this will be about topping them up to make sure they can access the contributory State pension in full, as they should be and as they are more than deserving of. Time is of the essence and this needs to be delivered as quickly and as early in this term of Government as possible. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  There is a commitment in the programme for Government. What is really helpful to us as well is the public consultation we are having. It is a great framework for us to engage with the Department of Social Protection regarding this issue because it is an issue that is consistently raised by foster carers themselves. We need to do all we can to secure the foster carers who are involved in providing care to children but also to attract more into this space. I know it is one of one of the key issues, if not the key issue, for foster carers but I also have to point to other changes that have been introduced. Foster carers now receive additional funds between \u20ac3,796 and \u20ac3,900 per year compared with the previous allowance, depending on the age of the child. Foster carers now receive a weekly payment of \u20ac400 for children under 12 and \u20ac425 for children over 12. A revised mileage payment scheme is in place, while the cumulative weekly travel distance to qualify for these payments has been reduced from 300 km to 250 km. In June 2025, the Department introduced the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance, while Tusla funding of \u20ac152 million will be used to maintain and grow foster care capacity and expand the foster care peer support programme and foster care recruitment teams. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Claire Kerrane  I acknowledge what has been brought forward to improve things for foster carers but none of that will matter if someone is 62, 63 or 64, does not have enough contributions to access the State pension and is approaching 66, as quite a number of foster carers are. Again, it is not acceptable that a foster carer who has provided a loving home to some of our most vulnerable children would get to 66 and not have a State pension. It is wholly unacceptable and it needs to be dealt with quickly. I have repeatedly said the pension solution brought forward for family carers has really worked. It was worked on, achieved and delivered and I welcomed it at the time. That could be done for foster carers because, again, we are looking at people who have some, if not nearly all, of the 520 contributions but there is a gap for a lot of them, as was the case for family carers, so I believe that through using that solution, this can be done a lot more quickly. It needs to be, so I ask that this specific solution be looked at. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  The Deputy and I are not in disagreement on this. I have always been very clear that the work and service provided by foster carers is second to none. I have also been very clear that it is the optimal option for children who need security and support. In that respect, my Department is doing all it can to ensure that measures are in. I have already referenced the increases in the allowances and mileage. To be honest, it will never be enough to acknowledge the work that is done. I know this is the key issue for foster carers, so we will continue to engage with the Department of Social Protection. The current consultation is really helpful to us because it will inform alternative care policy. I acknowledge the openness of the Minister for Social Protection to engaging with me and he has discussed the issue with me on a number of occasions. It is in the programme for Government. There are always complexities of which we must be mindful but as as a core objective, I absolutely agree with the points made by the Deputy. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Pension Provisions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_25","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Disability Services","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_23","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_23","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_25","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_25.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  It comes as no surprise that I will be raising the north side of Dublin again. Regarding the care and work done for people with disabilities and the elderly in north Dublin, the teams are amazing but St. Joseph's Hospital, St. Francis Hospice, Beaumont and St. Michael's House need supports, particularly for the elderly and people with disabilities. Will the Minister give an update on what the Department is doing to support these great teams and to add to care in the north side? The north side has been neglected for too long. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  Like the Deputy, the Government and I recognise the importance of early intervention for children with disabilities and ensuring they receive the right services at the right time. That is the bottom line. I am pleased to say that progress has been made in this regard. Over the past few years, the roadmap for service improvement has provided for a series of actions being progressed to improve access to children's disability network teams, CDNTs. These teams provided support to 44,739 children with complex needs as at the end of December 2025.  The national CDNT waiting list has reduced by 43%. However, I also recognise that there is still more to do. The HSE national service plan has committed to a further 25% reduction in 2026. To this end, the HSE is developing the 2026 to 2027 service improvement plan for disability services for children and young people, further advancing the work begun under the roadmap.  In budget 2026 alone, more than \u20ac3.8 billion was allocated for disability services, which represents an overall increase of \u20ac1.8 billion since 2020. This is a phenomenal first-time level of investment by Government. The Government has provided funding for additional posts to CDNTs and to shorten waiting lists and waiting times in recent years. This includes further investment in budget 2026 to fund 150 posts for CDNTs. In addition, placements on CDNTs will continue to be expanded alongside the continued expansion in the number of places in higher education to develop the pipeline of future therapists.  While it is important to mention that good progress has been made, it is equally important to acknowledge that there are delays accessing supports and services. I am pleased to say, however, that significant activities are under way, both legislative and operational, to improve access to both assessments and therapies for children who need them. The HSE is developing a single point of access referral model, which will ensure that children are referred to the appropriate healthcare service, whether that is primary care, disability or child and adolescent mental health services, at an early stage. As a result, children will not be put on multiple waiting lists or passed from one service to another.  Targeted amendments to Part 2 of the Disability Act have been developed to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the assessment of need process. This will result in a more streamlined process, which over time will help to reduce waiting times for assessment of need. A total of \u20ac20 million was also allocated under budget 2026 to continue the targeted wait list initiative. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  Aonta\u00edm leis an Aire agus t\u00e1im an-bhu\u00edoch den airgead at\u00e1 ar f\u00e1il do dhaoine le m\u00edchumas. An pointe at\u00e1 \u00e1 dh\u00e9anamh agam ar son na ndaoine i mBaile \u00c1tha Cliath thuaidh is that the families are struggling and I again call for more adequate funding for the facilities in the institutions I mentioned.  I also want to bring the Minister's attention to the case of Se\u00e1n Horan, a resident in St. Michael's House in Ballymun. I would really welcome the engagement with the Department about it but the system needs to be changed. According to Se\u00e1n's mother, he entered mainstream school and is in fifth year but is now being removed from St. Michael's House. His is mother abided by all the rules but we are not providing adequate funding for the north side. Se\u00e1n's mother is worried and he does not know where he is going to go next year. If schools such as St. Michael's House were not classed as junior cycle, it would enable Se\u00e1n to continue to stay in the school and get support he needs. I would welcome any attention towards the case of Se\u00e1n Horan. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  The Minister mentioned the change in the legislation around assessments of need and the Disability Act. We all know the pressure families are under - not being able to get an assessment, the therapies or the necessary early intervention. While we might all support that idea of a single point of access, it needs to work. Assessments of need waiting lists have skyrocketed. I assume they are anywhere between 22,000 and 25,000 at this point and constitute a continuing breach of the law. I can accept the argument that 29% of children are found not to have a disability and the idea that 35% need autism assessments, but the fear relates to who it is that makes the determination about this.  The assessment officer has the correct clinical background, which is a necessity. We need an update on what is going to happen from the Department of Education and Youth's point of view because teachers' unions, teachers and families also need to know how assessments will work in getting an appropriate school place. We need to ensure that we are not once again looking at a second-rate assessment because that is the worry at the minute. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  Ar an gc\u00e9ad dul s\u00edos, t\u00e1 s\u00e9 mar aidhm agam f\u00e9in agus ag an Roinn \u00e1iseanna agus seirbh\u00eds\u00ed a chur chun cinn, agus t\u00e1 n\u00edos m\u00f3 airgid againn inniu n\u00e1 mar a bh\u00ed riamh chun \u00e9 sin a dh\u00e9anamh.  The primary aim and objective of this Government and this Department is to ensure that we have the funding in place. We have a significant increase in funding this year - greater than we have ever had - to provide the services Deputy Heneghan referenced. I do not know the specifics of the case he referenced here as it is an individual case, but I am happy to take the details from him later and to revert to him. We have \u20ac3.8 billion available to us now, which is a \u20ac1.8 billion increase since 2020. It will not solve all of the issues; money does not always solve the issues. It is a combination of different things.  I appreciate the points Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa raised around the assessment of need. He knows that there work is under way to advance the assessment and to streamline the service to make it more accessible to people. There is also the single point of contact and the HSE's autism protocol. A total of 45% of all cases in the first nine months of last year had an autism diagnosis. This separate pathway under the HSE will be helpful as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Aire. T\u00e1im f\u00edorbhu\u00edoch as an airgead sin.  My predecessor Finian McGrath, a former Minister of State with responsibility for disability issues, would also be very proud and I spoke to him again this morning. One of my staff in the Oireachtas has a disability. I have raised this issue in this House previously. We, as policymakers, should have people with disabilities as close to us as possible, but we cannot avail of the wage subsidy scheme. My parliamentary assistant is working as hard as he can but he needs additional support. If we can encourage the Government to bring the wage subsidy scheme into the Oireachtas, we would have people with disabilities closer to people making the policies about their lives. I have raised it with the Minister, Deputy Calleary, as well. He is looking into it and I would love some pressure from the Minister, Deputy Foley, as well.  T\u00e1im f\u00edorbhu\u00edoch as an airgead sin. T\u00e1im ag iarraidh St. Michael's House, St. Joseph's Hospital, St. Francis Hospice and Beaumont Hospital i mBaile \u00c1tha Cliath Thuaidh a lua ar\u00eds. These institutions and their hard-working men and women need more financial support. I welcome the money the Minister has, but I would love that money to go towards these northside institutions. The staff are hard-working and they can deliver the supports that are needed on the ground. I thank the Minister for saying that she will investigate Se\u00e1n Horan's case as his mother feels that she was penalised for trying mainstream education. The only way the application was set up was for failure because the State did not provide additional space for the school. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Teachta. Aonta\u00edm leis \u00f3 thaobh an s\u00e1robair a rinne Finian McGrath le linn a thr\u00e9imhse anseo mar Aire St\u00e1it agus an m\u00e9id at\u00e1 f\u00f3s ar si\u00fal aige chun na ceisteanna seo a fhreagairt.  In relation to the issues the Deputy raised regarding St. Michael's House and so many others, I want to recognise the sterling work of all the institutions the Deputy mentioned. I have met with representatives of many of them. I had a meeting last year with a group representing all of the organisations regarding funding issues that they faced. It was for that reason that we really pushed ourselves to move forward in terms of a budget that would significantly support all of these different organisations that are doing great work on the ground. People with disabilities being at the centre, in terms of raising issues and the implementation of policies, is the entirety of the national human rights strategy for disabled people. There is the implementation group that sits on different committees and the delivery committee is chaired by An Taoiseach, Deputy Miche\u00e1l Martin. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Disability Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_26","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Disability Services","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_23","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_23","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_26","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Clendennen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_26.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Clendennen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Clendennen  My question this morning is about referrals to children\u2019s disability network teams, CDNTs. Will the Minister of State provide updates on staffing levels and vacancy rates across teams and how they are affecting services access for children? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Higgins  I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. The Government and I, like the Deputy, are committed to early intervention for children with disabilities, to ensure they can access the appropriate supports at the earliest possible stage. Those services are delivered through our children\u2019s disability network teams for children with complex needs.  Recruitment and retention of health and social care professionals is a really big challenge, to be quite frank, and it is a challenge faced by the CDNTs across the country. I am pleased that progress is being made on the recruitment of staff to the teams and the HSE has reported a 28% increase in staffing levels nationwide from October 2023 to October 2025. This equates to an additional 448 whole-time equivalents, which includes 321 health and social care professionals. The overall CDNT vacancy rate has reduced from 29% in 2023 to 18% in 2025. That is a reduction of 11 percentage points nationally, but it is still a challenge and, as a result of that, there are still delays in accessing interventions for children with disabilities. However, it is important to thank our teams and recruiters for the progress that is being made.  Since the roadmap was approved by the Government in July 2023, the national CDNT waiting list has reduced by 43% as at the end of December. Despite staffing challenges, CDNTs provided supports to 44,739 children with complex needs as of the end of December last year. I thank all of our people who are working so hard on those teams. The HSE is currently developing a service improvement plan for disability service for children and young people, which will build on improvement works started under the roadmap with a key focus on recruitment and retention.  To maintain this progress, the HSE is driving intensive domestic and international recruitment efforts and will undertake a variety of workforce initiatives to support sustained growth of CDNTs and the wider disability sector this year "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Clendennen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Clendennen  I congratulate the Minister of State on her new Ministry and I wish her the best of luck with it. I agree with her on the need for early intervention. At the end of the day, we need results. Children and their families cannot wait and critical windows of intervention can be missed, which ends up with complex cases becoming more complex.  My concern relates to with families, who have seen a child diagnosed and put on a list. They are waiting for a CDNT and they are not getting that support. The longer that goes on, the larger this problem is becoming. I appreciate that additional resources are being applied and delays are being addressed, but I would like to see a level of accountability and efficiency in how these services are being improved and expanded with the additional resources that are being applied. How accessible are these services and these teams to these families? How can we improve it further? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  I am inundated with families contacting me who are having a real difficulty accessing the supports, services and therapies that their children need from CDNTs. The HSE data from last month showed a number of vacancies across the CDNT network in Galway. At that time, just one CDNT out of 15 in the broader west and north-west region was fully staffed. The result of that is that children are facing extreme waits to access the services they need. It is causing untold stress to families as well. One particular family in County Galway, who I know has been writing to the Minister of the State, is completely at their wit's end. Despite repeated requests, they cannot get individual speech and language therapy for their son who is non-verbal and autistic. It is heartbreaking for them as parents to see their child not getting the supports that they need and they are not the only ones.  Will the Minister of State explain this to that family? Will she also outline what she is going to do to ensure that our CDNTs are fully staffed and fully functional going forward? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Higgins  In terms of staffing, this year's budget has allocated \u20ac8 million, which will provide for 150 new staff across our CDNTs. We will prioritise the placement of those new staff on the teams that have the highest vacancy rates. That is to make sure that we are providing more therapies to children who need them and who are waiting longer on lists. It is also to make sure that we are supporting the staff who are working with those CDNTs, which we need to do.  In regard to Deputy Clendennen and his constituents who have gotten assessments and then gone to their CDNTs, to be really clear, families do not need an assessment to go to their CDNT. They just need to be referred. Families can self-refer or they can get a referral through their school, public health nurse or whatever it may be. It is really important that people are referred as early as possible.  In Deputy Clendennen's own area, I know there are there CDNTs in Laois-Offaly. At the end of last year, there were 2,077 children who were open caseloads on the CDNTs. That means they have been in contact with CDNTs and there are 89 children on the waiting list. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Clendennen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Clendennen  I thank the Minister of State for that update. Where they are being assessed and availing of a service within the CDNT, generally the feedback is positive but where they are not, they are ending up in a private system and having to pay. Alternatively, they are ending up in the primary care system. Where there is complexity of need, more often than not the facilities and services they need with regard to the specialities may not be available through primary care. That ends up putting additional burden on the primary care setting.  I appreciate the additional resources. It is an area we are going to have to continue to be focused on. We need to try and meet the needs of individuals who are waiting far too long and get to a position in the whole area of service with CDNTs that is proactive in this space and not reactive. I appreciate the update this morning. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Higgins  There are 45,000 children receiving support and therapies through our CDNTs nationally and that is really positive. We are embarking on a recruitment campaign to make sure we are bolstering our teams. Part of that will be international and national recruitment but it will also be making sure, for example, that we are expanding training places, which happened in June of last year. There will be up to 461 additional student places by the end of 2028 and the majority of those have commenced. New roles and training pathways are being developed to expand the skills mix and the pipeline of people we can hire. We have student bursaries and trainee programmes. We found them really successful in regard to people coming to do their student placements with CDNTs and, on graduation, being offered roles on those teams. We want to see more of that, and I thank all of our students who have taken up roles. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Disability Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_27","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Pensions Reform","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_23","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_23","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_27","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_27.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy Aindrias Moynihan is taking Question No. 101. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aindrias Moynihan  Organisations funded by Tusla under section 56 of the Child and Family Agency Act are delivering a huge range of vital services, such as youth services, in communities around the country. Cloyne Diocesan Youth Services, CDYS, is a typical example in my own community. Can the Minister outline the efforts being made to address the costs associated with auto-enrolment for these organisations? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  I appreciate the Deputy raising this important question. I deeply appreciate the work performed by section 56 organisations and I would like to thank their staff and volunteers for the commitment and support they are giving in improving people\u2019s lives.  The Department welcomes the auto-enrolment retirement savings scheme launched in January 2026. The auto-enrolment system provides that all employees earning in excess of \u20ac20,000 and aged between 23 and 60 will be enrolled onto a new pension system and will not have to rely on the State pension alone on retirement. As such, it is of considerable benefit to many employees in section 56 organisations.  The auto-enrolment retirement savings authority will have responsibility for employer compliance, with Revenue providing support by supplying payroll data for identification and enrolment purposes. All employers are required to comply with the legislation underpinning MyFutureFund, regardless of their status or funding arrangements. This requirement applies equally to employers, including where employees are on short-term contracts or working multiple part-time jobs. MyFutureFund will be central to helping people increase their financial security in their retirement years.  Agencies, organisations and charities that will be covered by the new auto-enrolment scheme are generally funded under section 56 of the Child and Family Agency Act 2013. These organisations receive a portion of their funding from Tusla to deliver services and generally have other income streams. Funding is provided to these organisations by Tusla through the grant process and the level of service provided is generally covered within the terms of a service level agreement.  These organisations are independent entities and, as such, employment contracts and obligations - for example, auto-enrolment, pay, pensions and all of that - are matters between the employer and their employees. As these staff are not public sector employees, responsibility for meeting obligations under the new auto-enrolment scheme rests entirely with their respective employers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aindrias Moynihan  These section 56 organisations, the likes of CDYS, are providing vital services such as social care services in the community, family support through the family resource centre and, in my own community, youth services and much more. While Tusla contracts them, as the Minister said, they are private organisations and their employees are not employed by Tusla. They are not-for-profit organisations delivering services in our community. While the aim of introducing the auto-enrolment is to fill that gap between people who do and do not have pensions, which is very welcome, it is an additional cost on these not-for-profit organisations.  We need to review the situation here and I would ask that additional funding be made available to support those section 56 organisations. They are voluntary organisations that are not for profit and are delivering vital services in our communities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  I want to second and indeed third what the Deputy had to say there about these organisations. They are really important organisations doing sterling work right across our communities, north, south, east and west. The work they do, and the breadth of it, is quite phenomenal. They are very much rooted in community and service to the community. I do not for one minute dispute that but I have to be clear on the funding mechanism. Tusla provides funding to many of these organisations, some of which the Deputy has referenced. In many respects, Tusla is providing part of their funding. They are funded through other means as well. Essentially, the issue here is that all of these organisations the Deputy referenced are independent entities. Tusla is not the employer. The relationship is between the organisation and the employee, that is, as employer and employee. Tusla is not in that space and it is important that we have clarity around that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aindrias Moynihan  I am conscious that pay increases were agreed with section 56 workers in the past year and funding increases were agreed for the organisation to support an increase in pay. Has the Minister considered introducing additional funding to the organisations as was previously done to support the organisations' additional employee costs, and will there be assistance for these important services that find themselves in difficulty due to the increased costs of employment? They are providing vital services, including youth services and a broad range of services in the community. While they are not direct employees of Tusla, Tusla does fund and contract them and it provides funding for employment. It is not totally removed from the situation and is a vital cog in it. It needs to re-examine the possibility of supporting these organisations, as they are coming under pressure from the increased cost of auto-enrolment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  I want to be clear. I do not for one minute disagree with the points the Deputy made about the valuable work of these organisations. They are an integral service to communities and I understand the importance of that. I have to be clear: in the delivery of that work they are funded by Tusla. They are not employed by Tusla. There is a separate relationship in existence there between the employer and the employee, or whatever type of contract is in existence there. These organisations are entirely independent entities responsible for the care of their own staff or whoever is delivering on their behalf. It is important that we recognise that.  There are obligations in terms of auto-enrolment. It is very important. We are all agreed here on the importance of the auto-enrolment system but that must be catered for in the context of an employer-employee relationship. Tusla is not the employer. In regard to the broader funding being provided by Tusla, there has been a significant increase in funding by my Department to Tusla to increase the provision of services which, again, supports these organisations. That is the type of relationship that exists. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Pensions Reform"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_28","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Disabilities Assessments","counts":{"speechCount":12,"speakerCount":4},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_23","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_23","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_28","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_28.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  My question is in respect of the unacceptable number of children who are currently waiting for an assessment of need in counties Monaghan and Cavan in my constituency. I ask the Minister for an update on the number of children who have been waiting more than three, six and 12 months. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Higgins  The delivery of an effective, efficient assessment of need system is a priority for the Government, which is why we are bringing in reforms in this area. There has been intensive work by the Department and the HSE to address delays in the provision of assessments of need to children and their families. Children do not require an assessment of need to access health services, including primary care, children\u2019s disability network teams or mental health services. It is important that people are aware of this. However, demand for assessments of need has increased significantly in recent years, reflecting both the increase in population and families exploring all options to access services for their child.  The number of applications for assessments of need increased from 4,700 in 2020 to over 13,000 in 2025. Unfortunately, this demand is outpacing the capacity of the system to respond. As a result, HSE data shows that the number of applications over the completion date rose to over 20,200 nationally by the end of the year. This is unacceptable, which we acknowledge, and we will address it.  For Cavan-Monaghan LHO, in the Deputy\u2019s constituency, the numbers he requested are as follows: 520 applications in total were not completed within the statutory timeframe of six months, 31 of which were overdue for less than one month, and 36 of which were overdue for between one and three months. The remainder, 453, were overdue for three months or more.  These numbers are stark. Every one of them represents a child or young person. I want to see this situation change so that families do not have to wait so long for their assessment of need applications to be processed. That change is happening. We have seen a notable increase in the number of completed AONs nationally over the past two years, but there is a lot more work to be done. That is why, in December 2025, the Government announced a series of improvements to the assessment of need process, including new legislation, which will be coming through pre-legislative scrutiny at the Joint Committee on Disability Matters. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  The Minister of State started her response by saying this is a priority for the Government. I would hate to see it if it were not a priority for the Government. Some 550 children have been waiting over six months for an assessment of need in the two small counties, population-wise, of Cavan and Monaghan. That is 550 times that the members of Government have broken the law. They are obliged under the Disability Act 2005 to ensure that children receive an assessment of need within six months. Imagine that. We have a Minister of State saying they have broken the law 550 times in just one constituency, but they are going to do something about it at some point in the future, including changing the law so they cover themselves and so they are not actually in breach of the law. How many children last year in counties Cavan and Monaghan actually received their assessment of need within six months, the legal time limit? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paula Butterly  Will the Minister of State consider establishing a cross-Border assessment of need scheme, modelled on existing cross-Border dental and surgical treatment pathways, to ensure that children can access timely assessments outside the State when domestic waiting lists are excessive? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Higgins  I want to be absolutely clear, and to reassure parents in particular, that proposed legislative changes will not in any way remove any right for parents to apply for an assessment of need for their child, and will not alter the six-month timeline in the Act. That is important to say, and I do not want parents to be misled on that.  The changes include changes to Part 2 of the Disability Act, which provides for assessments of need. These legislative changes include ensuring the assessment process focuses on a child\u2019s needs, so that more intensive clinical assessments are only used where required. They will also ensure the development of statutory guidelines to better support HSE assessment officers to do standard assessments in a standardised way, so that no matter where people are in the country, they get the same clinical approach.  With regard to the cross-Border scheme, that is definitely worth exploring. At the moment, we want to make sure that we are delivering more assessments of need. To that end, we have prioritised a waitlist initiative. We have set aside \u20ac20 million to provide for 6,000 assessments of need to be completed by private providers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  Regardless of what the Minister of State says changes to legislation will do, it will be of no comfort whatsoever to those people who are watching the Government break the law as it currently is. I asked her a specific question in respect of Cavan and Monaghan. How many children last year actually received an assessment of need within the legal time limit of six months? I will ask that question again. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Higgins  We know that at the heart of this are children - children with disabilities who need access to therapies. Right now, they are waiting too long for access to therapies and too long for assessments of need. That is wrong. That is why, just in December, we outlined reforms. Those reforms include statutory guidelines, which will streamline and standardise the process. That will include decisions being communicated to parents. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  How many last year? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Higgins  There will be a new pathways option for children who are potentially autistic. They will be set up by in-reach teams, 11 of which will be created across the country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I thank the Minister for State for that. How many children last year in Cavan and Monaghan actually got their assessment of need within six months? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Order, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Higgins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Emer-Higgins.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Higgins  I will revert to the Deputy with that exact number. I have the exact number that he requested in his question, which I read out, but I will get the number for last year too and give it to the Deputy. That is no problem.  We are also hiring more people for the CDNT teams. We have a new single point of access that ensures no child is on the wrong waiting list, and there is no such thing as a wrong door from a HSE perspective. In addition, we are supplementing our workforce by outsourcing a number of AONs as well. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Disabilities Assessments"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_29","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Child and Family Agency","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_23","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_23","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_29","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_29.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  Information was provided to us at the committee on children that Tusla is short of 300 social workers and 100 social care workers, and needs another 500 foster carers. In fairness, Deputy Kerrane spoke about the need to follow up on the State pension and other particular issues that will make it more attractive. We look after those who are doing absolutely necessary work. We all know the complexity. We know the issues that have been in front of this House in relation to Tusla. It is about ensuring it is fit for purpose. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  I appreciate that the Deputy is raising a significant issue about the important work that is carried out every day by social workers, social care workers and foster carers.  With the prevailing high rates of employment and the range of opportunities across the economy, there is a great deal of competition for and challenge in attracting qualified and expert staff to carry out social work in the health, education and justice sectors, as well as in the area of child welfare and protection. The challenges in child welfare and protection are not unique and they apply right across sectors like health, education and justice. Notwithstanding that, we have to address this. The Department has supported the development of various schemes and programmes in Tusla to improve its recruitment and retention of social workers and social care workers. New programmes are expected to increase the number of annual social work graduates by 20%. That is a significant uplift, year on year, in the number of those who graduate specifically from social work and social care programmes.  The initiatives being taken by Tusla include: the introduction of a four-year tertiary degree, co-designed and co-delivered by Cork Education and Training Board and University College Cork; and the establishment of a two-year apprenticeship programme leading to a master\u2019s or postgraduate diploma in social work, developed by an industry-led consortium. Tusla accepted 36 apprentices under the scheme in 2024 and took on a further 77 apprentices in 2025, with further expansion in 2026. I would like to see that move closer to 100 in 2026, if at all possible, but we will see how it goes.  The Department funds and supports Tusla\u2019s recruitment and retention of social care workers through various Tusla initiatives and programmes. This includes a number of measures. Tusla offers incentives to existing staff to undertake training to become social care workers. Tusla offers a relocation and visa sponsorship package for social care staff from the Philippines and South Africa to take up contracts within Tusla special care. Tusla is in the process of developing a new internal training school to support social care candidates to develop the skills necessary to work in Tusla\u2019s residential and special care centres.  Tusla is also in the process of developing a new internal training school to support social care candidates to develop the skills necessary to work in Tusla's residential and special care centres. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  We all welcome initiatives in relation to workforce planning, although the easy refrain is that this should have happened earlier. The reason I am bringing this up with the Minister is the fact that Gerry Hone from Tusla spoke about unfilled positions. At the moment, there are 1,728 social workers. If we take in agency staff, the number is 1,754 but that is 300 short in terms of being able to deliver the work they do, which is phenomenal. As I understand it, there are 1,422 social care workers in the system but again, Tusla says that is 100 short of requirements. Foster carers do absolutely unreal work and we need to support them but if we are 500 people short, then we do not have the capacity in relation to delivering from a care point of view. We know the work Tusla is meant to do, involving everything from early intervention, supports for families and referrals to other organisations right through to looking after the most vulnerable who need to be in the State's care. We need a plan and I seek details, in a written response if necessary, on how this is going to be done and the numbers being included in the plan. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  In terms of foster care, we have had a very good discussion on the role and importance of foster carers and the contribution they make in terms of child welfare. I can inform the Deputy that 198 new foster carers came on stream in 2025, a 9% increase. Notwithstanding that, I want to do more in this space. I also recognise the demand for foster carers is increasing. We have a number of new children coming into the system every single year and it is ever increasing. However, it is positive to be able to say that 198 new people came on board, a 9% increase over the same period in 2024. That is a positive.  I absolutely hear what the Deputy is saying in terms of the need for an increased number of social workers and social care workers. It is important we have the mechanisms that will allow for that. It is projected that there will be a 20% increase year on year in terms of these schemes. I particularly want to congratulate the further and higher education sector for initiatives in this area. The link between Cork ETB and UCC, for example, is producing a significant number of social workers for us. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  We all welcome those initiatives, which are absolutely necessary, but we must make sure we fill the gaps. We must ensure the services Tusla is meant to provide are not put under more pressure. I am aware Tusla has a new resource allocation model and is talking of new models of care in relation to the more complex cases that are arising. I ask the Minister to come back to me in writing on the detailed plan in relation to targets, not only for recruitment but for actual employment. We must ensure we have a sufficient number of social workers and social care workers, particularly in light of the figures provided by Tusla itself.  We are all aware of the more complex cases. I refer here to Ois\u00edn Reddin, Kyran Durnin, Vadym Davydenko and Daniel Aruebose, to some of the cases referred to by the Child Law Project and the case of the ten year old who was heinously attacked. We need to be able to provide supports in those circumstances and we need to see that follow through I have spoken about before in terms of the recommendations. Legislative changes are also necessary in the context of the national review panel. We need to make sure all of that work is done. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  We are all very clear about the importance of having the appropriate staff and of having a sufficiency of staff in place to support children. I can share with the Deputy examples of cases that are so complex they require a 2:1 staffing level. That means 14 staff being made available for the care of one child. That is the right and proper thing to do and that is what I would want to have in place. I am just making the point that such are the complexities that, at times, a huge number of staff have to be dedicated - and rightly so - to one child. In some instances, 14 staff for one child is the required staffing level. Notwithstanding that, the Deputy speaks of a plan and I am very happy to send on a formal reply in terms of all of the different levers that we are pulling. I am a particular fan of the apprenticeship model, for example, because it means those who go through the apprenticeship system stay within the Tusla family, as it were. That proves significant. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Child and Family Agency"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_30","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Child and Family Agency","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":4},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_23","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_23","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_30","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_30.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Claire Kerrane  I ask the Minister to provide details on the number of special care beds currently open. Across the three special care units there is capacity for 26 beds. I do not know if all 26 beds have ever been open but would like to know how many are open today. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  I thank the Deputy for her question. While the operation of special care and the provision of special care beds is the statutory responsibility of Tusla, the Department is actively engaging with Tusla in relation to the challenges impacting special care. There are four young people currently subject to a special care order who are awaiting placement in a special care unit. I am advised by Tusla that as of 16 February 2026 there are 15 young people in special care, with additional staffing of 2:1 required for at least one young person due to complex presentation. This means an additional seven staff, or 14 in total, are required to meet the needs of that one child. This is the equivalent of an additional special care bed.  Tusla has indicated that difficulties in the recruitment and retention of staff are the primary limiting factor in capacity in opening special care beds. Officials from the Department continue to work with Tusla to support it in addressing the staffing shortages in special care provision. A new grade and pay scale for special care was sanctioned in 2024 in an effort to increase staff numbers and has been advertised since January 2025. This new Tusla special care worker grade offers approximately 20% higher pay at the top of scale compared to the social care worker grade.  The Department has also provided a substantial budget increase for Tusla in 2026, rising by 14% to \u20ac1.37 billion. This represents the fourth consecutive year in which Tusla\u2019s budget has exceeded \u20ac1 billion. In addition, \u20ac26 million has been allocated for special care in budget 2026. This represents an increase of over \u20ac6 million on budget 2025. This investment will increase capacity and enhance provision, including funding for the new special care staff grade, staff well-being initiatives and additional therapeutic supports.  Tusla has been allocated \u20ac188 million in capital funding for 2026 to 2030. Reflecting the priorities in the national development plan, \u20ac17 million is the indicative allocation for special care in Tusla\u2019s capital plan for 2026 to 2030. This will support Tusla in upgrading, renovating or purchasing special care and step-down units. In this context, the expansion of dedicated step-down provision from special care is progressing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Claire Kerrane  It is really alarming to hear that four children in the State need a special care bed but there is not one there for them. I appreciate, understand and welcome the change to the payscale made in 2024 but we need to look at that again to see whether it is enough in the context of recruitment and retention of staff. I have raised with the Minister previously the report of the external review group on special care which raises the same issues around staffing and capacity. That report, published in April 2025, identified that since 2021 a total of 168 staff had been hired but 134 had left. There is capacity for 26 beds across the three special care units but I gather from what the Minister is saying that we only have staff for 15 of those 26 beds. We have four extremely vulnerable children who have no bed, so we need to look at the pay scale again. We need to look at that external report again and at the recommendations within it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy Daly has a related question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  My question similarly relates to vulnerable children. Following the Halpin report into CAMHS in north Kerry which showed deficiencies in care and a departure from standard operating practice, can the Minister confirm that the compensation scheme will be widened to include people who have had an apology already from the HSE and that the review will be widened to a much broader category of children who have been dealt with in the north Kerry area? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  The Deputy attended the briefing with me provided by the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, on the north Kerry CAMHS report. He will appreciate that it is not in my remit; it is within the remit of Deputy Butler. It is my understanding that she will make further announcements as regards the extension of the look-back and issues around compensation. The Deputy will respect that it is appropriate that she as the line Minister of State does that.  On the points raised by Deputy Kerrane, there are so many complexities in this instance. As I previously referenced with Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa, there is one instance where 14 staff are required for the care of one child. It is right that we provide those 14 staff but in normal instances that is two beds being required, such are the complexities. There have been significant improvements, such as the new pay grade with a 20% increase. It has yielded 27 additional people being recruited. Significant recruitment is taking place abroad in South Africa and the Philippines which is also garnering success. The work continues. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Claire Kerrane  I would like to see a timeline for the implementation of each of the recommendations of the external review group. Fifteen special care beds are open but we should have 26. There are four extremely vulnerable children who have been advised, told and directed to special care but it is not available for them. The report is especially damning. It describes \"severe challenges\" and talks of a \"crisis\". The report makes it clear that it looks at \"the immediate operational issues\", or what needs to be dealt with immediately. It also goes on to discuss the children in dire need of intervention - our most vulnerable children - for whom there is no bed for special care. The recommendations of the review group need to be looked at. It is always important to say that this is not just a matter for Tusla. There are other agencies that need to get around the table on these issues. We need to look at what we can do in relation to special care because what is going on at the moment with beds not being open is just not acceptable. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Norma Foley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Norma-Foley.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Norma Foley  I want to be clear, in terms of the financial resources being made available, that \u20ac26 million has been provided for special care, with an increase of \u20ac6 million specifically in terms of the provision of beds. The financial resources are in place for staffing. There is an absolute challenge in staffing which is not unique to us. It has already been referenced that it is in other disciplines as well. There are new programmes. I outlined to the previous Deputy the types of the increases in places, in-house training for staff so they can step up into special care roles, and recruitment from abroad. There is a whole suite of efforts being made. It is an absolute priority. There is an absolute commitment that all of those recommendations for any Department or agency will be addressed and implemented in full. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Is f\u00e9idir teacht ar Cheisteanna Scr\u00edofa ar www.oireachtas.ie. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Written Answers are published on the Oireachtas website. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Child and Family Agency"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_31","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions","counts":{"speechCount":34,"speakerCount":10},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_31","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Fitzmaurice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  T\u00e1 an Phr\u00edomh-Oifig Staidrimh anois ag r\u00e1 go bhfuil an gn\u00e1thphraghas tith\u00edochta i mBaile \u00c1tha Cliath tar \u00e9is dul chomh hard le \u20ac500,000. T\u00e1 an Rialtas i gc\u00f3na\u00ed ag r\u00e1 linn go bhfuil praghsanna tithe r\u00f3-ard, ach t\u00e1 siad ag ard\u00fa bliain i ndiaidh bliana faoin Rialtas seo. N\u00ed fadhb \u00ed seo do Bhaile \u00c1tha Cliath amh\u00e1in. T\u00e1 praghsanna tithe ag ard\u00fa n\u00edos gasta taobh amuigh de Bhaile \u00c1tha Cliath n\u00e1 mar at\u00e1 siad taobh istigh de Bhaile \u00c1tha Cliath. T\u00e1 praghsanna imithe suas \u20ac32,000 le bliain anuas ar fud an St\u00e1it, agus n\u00edos m\u00f3 n\u00e1 14% i gcontaetha ar n\u00f3s Contae Laoise, Contae an Longfoirt, Contae U\u00edbh Fhail\u00ed agus Contae na hIarmh\u00ed. Ar fud an St\u00e1it le d\u00edreach ceithre bliana anuas, t\u00e1 praghsanna tar \u00e9is l\u00e9imt breis is \u20ac100,000. C\u00e9n d\u00f3igh inar f\u00e9idir leis an Rialtas seasamh leis sin? C\u00e9n d\u00f3igh inar f\u00e9idir leis seasamh leis go bhfuil tithe ag dul in airde le \u20ac100,000 taobh istigh de cheithre bliana?  The Central Statistics Office now tells us the typical price of a home in Dublin has reached \u20ac500,000. The T\u00e1naiste repeatedly tells us that prices are too high, yet they are rising higher and higher year after year under his Government. In just four years alone, prices have jumped by \u20ac100,000 across the State. How can you stand over this? To buy a typical home in Dublin now requires an income of over \u20ac100,000. People in the T\u00e1naiste's own area where he comes from in County Wicklow need an income of \u20ac130,000. There are parts of this city where people need an income above \u20ac150,000 to purchase a typical home. The vast majority of workers are nowhere near that level. That is the reality. Even two solid, decent incomes are no longer enough. How is anyone going to live in Dublin? How is a nurse, a garda or a young teacher to build a life here? How is a couple who are working hard, paying their taxes and doing everything asked of them supposed to compete in a market that has spiralled completely beyond their reach?  The crisis is deeply personal now. When young people who are trying to buy their first home look at their parents' generation, they see that people of that generation were able to marry, buy a home and raise children in their 20s or early 30s. Now, those young people see a future taken from them. They are ten years behind that timeline. It is a lost decade for this generation. They cannot start a family, put down roots or plan their lives. They watch their 30s slip away while prices surge further out of reach. They feel locked out not because they have failed but because the system has failed them. This is a social emergency now. Just last night, the Government voted to allow vulture funds to bid against ordinary families who are trying to buy houses, further exacerbating the problem. Every single CSO release confirms the brutal reality out there. People are being priced out of their communities, the places where they work and their country. I am sure the T\u00e1naiste will say again that supply is the answer. If the typical home costs \u20ac500,000, ordinary people will still be locked out. This is not just a housing challenge; it is an affordability catastrophe. I ask the T\u00e1naiste directly a very simple question that so many young people are asking me and I am sure have asked him: how high do house prices have to rise before the Government realises that its policies are simply not working? Is it \u20ac600,000 or \u20ac700,000? Make no mistake - that is the direction of travel the Government is taking this country in. How is anybody supposed to live in Dublin given these prices? How high do prices have to go before the penny drops with the T\u00e1naiste? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  We all know that house prices are too high for too many but it is also important that we do not misunderstand what a median price is. A median price does not refer to every house or indeed a typical house, as the Deputy said, in Dublin. Anyone who searches online will see many homes available in Dublin for below \u20ac500,000. That is not to take away from the challenge in relation to affordability but it is an important point of clarification. The Deputy also chose not to reference a number of other statistics published in that same report by the CSO yesterday which speak to the very people the Deputy wished me to speak to. They speak to young people wanting to buy their first home. The figures yesterday also showed that 50,583 homes were purchased last year and that almost 40% of them were purchased by the very first-time buyers the Deputy referenced. The number of homes purchased last year was up from 48,775 in the previous year. It almost doubled the number of transactions in 2013. It is important when we pick reports that we look at all of the figures in that report. The report yesterday also showed that there were more first-time buyers in 2025 than in 2024 and more homes and transactions around homes in 2025 than in 2024. I was pleased to see in the figures that the proportion of first-time buyers was also up, to almost 40%, with 19,680 of that total being first-time buyers. I want to put those facts out there to have a rounded conversation on where we are at regarding housing, housing supply and first-time buyers. Yes, I will say that supply is the key to all of this because it is. We have got to continue every single day to see what more we can do to increase the number of homes. There are some positive signs which are not often acknowledged. We are now seeing 600 first-time buyers every week drawing down their mortgages.  That used to be 500. It is now 600. These are real people every single week. We are seeing more than 60,000 applicants having availed from the help-to-buy scheme. Over 9,000 home buyers have been approved to use the first home scheme. I reference that because, of course, that reduces the headline prices. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  No, it does not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  It ensures that people can actually benefit from cash through the help-to-buy scheme and from an equity share in relation to their first home. We are also conscious when we look at how we are doing compared with other European countries that we now live in a country that has one of the strongest rates of home completion in the entire European Union. For every 1,000 people in Ireland, we are seeing 5.9 homes being completed. In the EU, that averages at 3.3. Home completions were up last year, at 36,280. That is up 20% on the previous year, and indeed represents the highest number of homes completed since 2011. We saw very positive housing commencement figures in December, with 3,065 homes commenced, which was more than the previous month. We will continue to see positive commencement figures. When look at planning permission, we see that momentum has picked up as well.  I tell the very young people that the Deputy referenced that we are seeing more homes being built, we are seeing more homes being commenced, we are seeing more homes being completed and we are seeing more people every week being able to buy their first home. In the CSO figures yesterday, we are seeing more housing transactions last year than the year before and first-time buyers making up a greater proportion of that. I agree with the Deputy that this is a continuing housing emergency. That is why we are reforming the planning laws and why we are increasing zoned land. We really need all our councils to get on board here right across the country and zone more land. I appeal to all political parties to assist in that. It is why we are rolling out unprecedented levels of funding for infrastructure, such as water and energy. It is why we are strengthening the Land Development Agency's powers. It is why we have brought in some of the strongest tenancy protections in Europe. It is why we are cutting the VAT rate to activate apartment building, and we are seeing some positive signs in relation to that. We have a hell of a lot more to do. Objectively, the figures that we see show progress in relation to housing supply. We have got to drive that on throughout 2026. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  With respect, the T\u00e1naiste just dodged the complete question. The question I asked him was about affordability. He talked about the first home scheme, for example. He knows that if the typical home in Dublin is \u20ac500,000, the first home scheme does not even apply any more. You cannot get it for \u20ac500,000 or more. You cannot get it in Greystones or Bray for the median home because the prices are \u20ac575,000 and \u20ac550,000. Let us get back to the crux of the issue. The point I have made to the T\u00e1naiste - the CSO has said this very clearly, and I am sure the T\u00e1naiste does not dispute it - is that house prices have gone up \u20ac100,000 in four years alone. In the past year, they have gone up \u20ac32,000. Is the Government listening to young people? Is it listening to young people who are telling me or my colleagues that their lives are being put on hold and that they have lost a decade as a result of Government policies on housing? The social fabric is breaking down. Some people see no future here because of affordability issues. I am asking the T\u00e1naiste what the Government is going to do about it. Where the Government is taking this situation is that house prices are rising, rising and rising. The policies of the Government, such as the policy it voted for last night - it had promised it would not do so - to allow vulture funds to bid against these same people who want to purchase their homes, are doing one thing only, and that is pushing up house prices. Answer me this: how can the T\u00e1naiste stand over Government policies that have seen house prices increase by \u20ac100,000? Does he recognise the impact this is having on young people across this State? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Of course I recognise that house prices are still far too high for far too many, but I also recognise that the figures - the very same set of figures the Deputy has quoted - show more home transactions last year than the year before, and more first-time buyers last year than the year before. They are real people too. They exist in the Deputy's community and mine. Six hundred people every single week are getting their keys for the first time to a first home. That is progress. We used to talk about that figure as 500 people a week. Yes, there is more to do in relation to that, but we cannot selectively quote the figures. The median is not the same as every and the Deputy accepts that too. The help-to-buy scheme has significantly helped people. It has helped more than 60,000 people. Sinn F\u00e9in has a policy to cut it by nearly two thirds. The first home scheme has helped 9,000 people. Sinn F\u00e9in wants to abolish that scheme as well. As recently as yesterday, 24 hours ago, the leader of Sinn F\u00e9in lodged her objection to 249 student beds in her constituency. When Sinn F\u00e9in comes in here, it is a housing emergency in the D\u00e1il and it is a housing objection in the constituency. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Cummins  Absolutely. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Is the T\u00e1naiste still not going to answer about the \u20ac100,000? Is he just going to ignore that? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I call Deputy Eoghan Kenny. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Cummins  Object, object, object. Object all the time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Order, please. I call Deputy Eoghan Kenny. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  Fine Gael objected on Cork City Council. I refer to a former Lord Mayor, Des Cahill. Go away and check it out. Deputies are coming in here making statements around councillors, but its Lord Mayor did the same in Cork. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Cummins  The Deputy does not like the truth. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  People in glass houses. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  On behalf of my colleague, Deputy Robert O'Donoghue, I welcome the Tidy Towns group from Rush.  Over the last number of days, there has been an absolute outcry of support for special needs assistants, SNAs, school communities, children with special educational needs and SNA provision for the coming academic year. This outcry and this stress have been caused by the Government and policy decisions that the Government has made. These actions and communications have been cruel; there is no other word for it. Is it any wonder that there has been such an outcry when the Department of education has made a decision to abruptly take SNAs out of mainstream environments? A person does not have to be an expert to know that taking SNAs out of mainstream environments genuinely affects children, and this is affecting the most vulnerable children in our society.  Last year, I stood on the streets of Cork city and outside D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann protesting with parents who could not get access to special classes. At that time, I welcomed the fact that there was an allocation of special classes. While they may not have been fully appropriate, I welcomed the development. At budget time, I welcomed that there was a new allocation for SNA provision. I welcome improvements to our education system. What I do not welcome, and something I will never accept, is that provision of services would be taken from a child. I know from working within school environments that there are children who rely solely on the support of a special needs assistant. We are now, as a State, going to take those supports away from particular children because they do not fit into the rigid criteria that have been created by the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, and the Department of education.  It is unacceptable to imagine or think that we would have children in this country who currently rely on a SNA not getting that support in the next academic year because of decision making by Departments and politicians. As a society, we must accept that the level of resources has not kept up with the level of need. The Taoiseach and the Minister can come in here all they want and say that we have increased the number of SNAs, but if we abruptly pull SNAs from mainstream classrooms, it destabilises them immediately. If we must take these decisions, we must see genuine increases where all children are able to avail of the necessary supports if they need them. There should not be a sudden announcement of \"You have it this year, but not next year.\" Will the T\u00e1naiste confirm what this pause means? When will the pause be lifted? Will schools lose SNAs for the next academic year? Will he confirm for schools that have been told by the NCSE that they have an increase in allocation for next year that this will stay the same? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I join the Deputy in welcoming Rush Tidy Towns to Leinster House.  It has been an extraordinarily upsetting and difficult week for parents of children with additional needs, for SNAs, for the children themselves, for teachers and for school communities. That is why it was really important to pause and get this right. The first thing I want to say is that we will see more SNAs in our schools next September than this September. The second thing I want to say is that no SNA should lose their job or will lose their job. In fact, we need more people to be willing to put their hand up to become a SNA. We need to provide them with the job security that is required for that to happen. Any approach to any review has to be child centred. There was significant feedback around the country that this was not the experience of schools on the ground. I say this to be constructive.  Like the Deputy in his constituency, I am aware of schools that sought reviews because they know they need more SNAs. This review cannot be some sort of one-way street. It has to be about identifying the care needs of the children in the school and matching the resource to the care needs. Also, and this should have happened quite frankly in advance of the review, it has to be done in conjunction with a redeployment plan for SNAs. This is something that I believe is almost there. I hope that is a fair characterisation. It is very nearly there. We need that redeployment scheme in place. It will be the first time that we have ever had one. It will put our SNAs quite rightly on a par with teachers, for example. Again, for the first time ever, there will be a proper special education workforce plan. They are two key components that have to be put in place to get any form of child-centred review right as well.  I fully recognise the vital role our SNAs play in supporting children with special educational needs. I fully recognise that there are children who would not have been in a position to complete their education successfully, whether in a mainstream school or a special school, were it not for the SNAs. I fully recognise the very valuable work they do. We are increasing the number of SNAs. We are going to see nearly 25,000 in our schools from September. We are also increasing the budget. However, I take the Deputy's point that this is at a macro level and that we have to see how it applies individually, school by school and child by child. The Minister, Deputy Naughton, and the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, listened this week. They listened to the upset, anxiety, concern and anger and they rightly took the action to pause. We are going to get this right over the next number of weeks in that the approach to the review will be child-centred, there will be an SNA redeployment scheme and we will finally have a proper workforce plan for special education. We will intensively engage with stakeholders in the weeks ahead to get this right. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  With all due respect, while I agree with the stuff the T\u00e1naiste has said, he has not answered any of my questions. He raised the issue of care needs. Does he accept that the care needs system has become too rigid? I am putting on the record of the D\u00e1il that those who are on the autism spectrum and those who have inclusion needs, social anxiety or academic needs, such as dyslexia, dyscalculia or dyspraxia, do not fit into the criteria you need to meet to get the support of a SNA. They will not have that support. That is the fundamental issue. I need an answer to the first question I asked the T\u00e1naiste because I am meeting SNAs, teachers, principals, students and parents tonight. When will this pause be lifted? That is the fundamental question. The Minister, Deputy Naughton's office sent an email back to a school in Dublin 15 this morning saying that this issue was the responsibility of the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Moynihan. Is this his issue or is it the Minister's? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  It is an issue for the whole of Government to get right. We are absolutely determined to get it right. The Minister, Deputy Naughton, and the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, are working hand in glove, along with all colleagues in government, to get this right. There should be no change in the application of the care needs criteria. The Deputy asked me what my view is regarding what must come from this pause. That is my view. That is what needs to happen. We also need to get the redeployment piece right. The Deputy very fairly asked me how long the pause will last for. I will give him an honest answer, which is that it will take a number of weeks to get this right. There is a short window. We need to provide clarity and certainty to schools so it cannot go on for longer than a few weeks. However, at the same time, it is about getting it right rather than doing it quickly. Some of what we have all heard about happening on the ground in individual school communities was not right. Let us make sure some good comes from what has been a very upsetting week for parents, children, SNAs and teachers. We are all fully committed to putting this pause to good use and to getting things over the line that have been an issue for too long, including that redeployment plan. We are happy to keep the Oireachtas updated. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  Does the T\u00e1naiste agree that there is a time to take a stand on sport and that the Ireland versus Israel soccer fixture is exactly that time? We should have a boycott supported by the State and the entire population. We should not be complicit in normalising a team that is integrally connected to a genocide, racism against Palestinians and the oppression of the Palestinian people.  Ireland has been in this situation before, going back to the 1980s, apartheid and the IRFU. At that time, Charlie Haughey called in the IRFU and told it that it would be incompatible with the State's interest to participate. I never thought I would be holding Charlie Haughey up as an example. John Robbie, a former rugby player has said:  I used to think: did I actually know how bad apartheid was? Of course, I did. I should never have toured. ... I consider it a stain that will never leave me.  This will be a stain on Irish soccer and on the young players whom the Taoiseach and, it seems, the T\u00e1naiste are encouraging to participate in this.  Does the T\u00e1naiste think the Israeli soccer team is a normal team? Some 1,007 athletes have been killed since the genocide began. Of the 421 footballers who have been killed, nearly half have been children. A total of 288 soccer facilities have been destroyed. In December, just a month or so ago, a football pitch at the Aida refugee camp in the West Bank was ordered to be demolished by the IDF. Six Israeli teams currently play in occupied Palestinian territory in direct contravention of UEFA and FIFA's own rules, although UEFA and FIFA do nothing about it, and three of the biggest teams in Israeli football, Beitar Jerusalem, Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel, have horrendous histories of racism towards Arabs and Palestinians. A lot of the players who play on the Israeli team are involved in these clubs. A popular chant from Maccabi supporters goes \"Let the IDF win and F-U-C-K the Arabs\". \"Why is school out in Gaza? There are no children left there.\" is a chant from one of the soccer teams. Those chants ended in riots when Maccabi travelled to Amsterdam. In its 100-year history, Beitar, the team supported by Netanyahu, has never allowed an Arab to play. Racism is very normalised.  I will also mention the Israeli women's football team, which made a disgusting propaganda video in 2024 in which players swapped their Israeli jerseys for IDF uniforms. Shon Weissman, who has played for the team, has said that Gaza should be wiped off the map. Manor Solomon has defended the genocide. The children's teams are separated by apartheid by the Israeli football league. Does the T\u00e1naiste think any of that is normal? Does he think that our players should be forced into a situation where they must be play against a team that is integrally involved with oppressing Palestinians? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I do not agree with the Deputy's view in relation to the football game. Our position in relation to Gaza, the genocidal activity there and the horrors the people of Palestine have experienced is very clear, as are the views of the Irish Government and the people of Ireland in relation to the horrific terrorist organisation that is Hamas and the terrorist attack it carried out. We continue to take active steps almost every day to try to assist in practical ways. My colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence, was at the Rafah crossing in recent weeks, where she announced on our behalf a significant increase in funding. That is an example of a direct action we can take. We have recognised the State of Palestine, stood by UNRWA and increased our support for it. We hosted a conference on the two-state solution in Dublin Castle only last month. We continue to work for a two-state solution. We continue to recognise the Palestinian State and support the Palestinian people in their legitimate aspiration to have their own state.  However, when it comes to sport, we also have to think this through logically. The FAI, the governing body of Irish soccer, took a view as to what should happen in relation to Israel's participation. It canvassed and conveyed that view, as is its right. I do not run sporting organisations. UEFA decided not to take that view on board. The tournament is going ahead. If Ireland pulls out, what does that achieve other than to damage Irish soccer and participation in sport? While I am not suggesting the Deputy has done this, I do not like what I am seeing happening now, which is that pressure is being applied to individual players. They are being asked whether they are going to play and told they should not. We should be supporting the men who are putting on the green jersey and who represent our country with distinction. They have a couple of crucial games coming up in relation to the World Cup. We have to go back to our childhood, or I certainly do, to remember when we were last this close to having that opportunity. Sport is sport.  I never expected Deputy Coppinger to reference Charles Haughey in an admirable light but she has. However, I believe this is a separate and distinct issue. I really do know that this is a challenging issue for many people. I know the depth of feeling in this country. I share that depth of feeling but this is about the Irish soccer team. I want the boys in green to put on the jersey and win. I want them to win the game. I want to support the soccer team. I do not want to apply pressure to the team or to individual players. I reckon there are many people, including people in grassroots community organisations such as soccer academies in the Deputy's own community, who also want to see the team play. If we pull out, we will feel better for five minutes but who actually suffers? It is not the Israeli football team. It is Irish soccer. It is not a wise thing to do. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  If we boycott this game, it could lead to a domino effect where other teams would also boycott. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  It will not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  It is not just about being a sacrificial lamb. Russia was not kicked out of FIFA because FIFA had a moral backbone; it was because a number of teams refused to play. We could be giving a lead. By the way, this is not the World Cup, as the T\u00e1naiste well knows. It is an inconsequential tournament. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  That is your view. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  It is not the World Cup play-offs or anything like that.  I want to send solidarity to Joanna Byrne, the first woman chairperson of the League of Ireland. She has been asked to resign because Drogheda United, which happens to be owned by a US multinational, does not agree with her stance that this match should not go ahead. Last year at an AGM, 93% of FAI elected representatives took a decision about Israel and that they should be pulled out. The T\u00e1naiste seems to think it is okay to state something but not to back it up with any action. Of course, the natural thing to do after such a vote is to follow it up with your principles that you will not play against Israel and then to put pressure on UEFA and FIFA, rather than putting pressure on individual players. By the Taoiseach's statement during the week, he put the pressure on the players to go ahead, and so, I feel, is the T\u00e1naiste. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  No. We are supporting the decision taken by the FAI to participate in the competition. We have enough to be doing running the country without running sports organisations as well. I do not run the FAI. I think it is a bit sneery of the Deputy to call it an inconsequential tournament. It might be inconsequential to her, but I do not think we should suggest to the soccer players that it is inconsequential. It is not for the Deputy to attach that value to this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  Compared with a genocide, it is. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  The Deputy would not like people suggesting her participation here is inconsequential. Soccer players and young boys and girls across the country who play sport want to see our soccer team do well. They want to see our soccer team participate. I think we can and should differentiate in relation to this. I do not think we should apply this pressure to individual soccer players or our national soccer team in relation to a decision they should take. I gave up soccer when I was about nine years of age because I was appalling at it. I took up politics and I intend to stick to politics and allow the soccer players to stick to soccer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Fitzmaurice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice  During Covid, the buzzword everywhere in every country was about food security and making sure that where shortages were showing up in places, we would learn from those mistakes. Ironically enough - in my opinion, it is because of Commission pressure - over the last couple of years it is worrying to see in Holland that regarding 10% of the land where farmers were farming, they had to sign a docket. They were basically turfed out and told they cannot farm in Europe again. They had to sign that docket. It is the same this week. The European Commission is after giving Denmark the go-ahead for a \u20ac1 billion fund which will take out 9% to 10% of its lands.  In every country throughout Europe, we see the pressures on land in the line of forestry, solar and wind. Also, we see new EU regulations. We have done it in this country, where farmers have set aside 10% for nature. They did not say anything about it, may I add, and they were prepared to do it. The nature restoration law is coming in and the interpretation of it will be known in the next few months. I will not make a hasty statement one way or the other in the line of that.  Stats tell us that throughout Europe in the last 15 years we have lost 5.5 million farms. That is 5.5 million families. That is a colossal amount. There is something wrong. It is not that we are against trade deals, but there seems at the same time to be a massive push - be it New Zealand, Australia, Mercosur or CETA - to make sure we hammer these deals fairly quickly. There seems to be an agenda driven by the Commission and Ursula von der Leyen. Steel and other heavy industries have been driven out of Europe.  On the figures relating to what we have to achieve in climate, it appears farmers are the next casualties, when you look at the reasons both Denmark and Holland have decided to do what they are doing. We seem to be now more content to bring cooked, vacuum-packed chicken in from China and feed people in Europe with it than to farm the chickens in Europe. We seem to be more content to bring in beef or other products because of the methane out of cattle.  I am asking the T\u00e1naiste - and I am also asking the Taoiseach - whether, when European leaders meet, this madness that is going on can be halted. We are taking prime land out of production in Europe and we still think of Covid and self-sufficiency. At the same time, we are going to fly it or boat it. I thought we all lived in the same world, where the cow puts up the same methane and farts the same in some other part of the world as in Europe. Why are we doing this to the farmers of Europe? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I have always admired the Deputy's bluntness. I will make a couple of points. I say this respectfully. We have to be considered in our comments around trade. The Deputy knows this and I do not need to be telling him or his constituents this but we are exporting about 90% of the agrifood we are producing in this country. We need to understand that. Again, I am not suggesting the Deputy does not, but we need to bring it into the public debate. Do we want a trade situation where we can sell our product anywhere but no one else can sell theirs here? That is not what the Deputy said but it is a natural outworking. If we want to continue to sell Irish produce across the world, as we proudly do, we need to understand that trade is two-way and that will mean continuing to engage in trade agreements.  We have to start having earlier and honest conversations with farmers It always seems the conversation with the farmer comes at the end of the trade deal and that is mistaken. I have said that to the trade Commissioner. We should be engaging much earlier with the farming community to understand and address those issues earlier. We also have to be honest. The figures have been or are about to be published. I think we made about \u20ac21 billion in agrifood exports in the last year. That is based on selling our stuff to other places. The natural outworking of that is that we need to allow people sell their stuff into the European Union. It is a two-way relationship. This country is a small, open economy that is extraordinarily reliant on trade. I still think we can do better in engaging with and addressing the views of farmers and agrifood producers earlier.  The second point I will make is on land in general. I agree with the Deputy that we cannot have a situation where the farmer is held up as the bogey-man for the climate emergency. It is not fair and it is not true. We see really good progress being made in agriculture. Instead of lecturing farmers, we have to work with them and incentivise them. We have to make sure they can continue to make a living and that we can continue to support the family farm. That brings me to things like the nature restoration law. Anything to do with that will be voluntary, voluntary, voluntary. It cannot use CAP funding, but it is up to farmers to choose whether they want to pursue it or not. We need to support our farmers. We have come through a difficult flooding situation. The Deputy is very knowledgeable on this. Things like adaptation and using State lands, in the first instance, to provide better resilience will be important to rural, and indeed urban, communities. We have to support our farmers financially in making the transitions that need to be made; support them in participating, whether in ACRES or the areas of natural constraint scheme; support them in nature, biodiversity and environment; support the forestry sector, with funding of \u20ac93 million allocated this year - an increase on last year; and work with them in partnership and recognise farming is not some sort of discretionary extra or hobby. It is the crucial backbone of the Irish indigenous economy. I do passionately believe that. We will have the Presidency in the second half of this year and we need to make sure that is reflected in the priorities of the European budget. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Fitzmaurice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice  I never said I was totally opposed to trade deals. We have to bring in bananas and other things from some other countries. There is no one saying otherwise. The question I am asking is whether it does not sound an alarm to all European leaders. By the way, if you look at the stats for Irish exports, most of them go to Europe and the UK, especially in the line of beef. Think about if policy was right in industry and agriculture. Figures have gone up in industry and people working.  We have lost 5.5 million farms in Europe. I will give the T\u00e1naiste an example. I spoke to a farmer from Denmark yesterday. He is an organic farmer. He is a big organic farmer in my book because he had something like over 300 cows. He is doing organic. That is the best type of farming if you want to be the perfect student in the class. However, he is being taken out. We are probably going to replace him with someone who can shove a bit of a hormone or medicine into an animal that is banned in Europe. Does that make sense? This is what I am saying. Where is the focus? Can leaders reset the agenda? Countries are under pressure because they have to hit this target. Once we hit the target, we are the best kids in the class. That is what seems to be the thing. Whatever sacrifice we have to make, if we have to be the salesperson for it, it is sound, provided we do not produce it. That is the worry I have throughout Europe. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I have enough challenges answering for the actions of the Irish Government without answering for the actions of the Danish Government. What I assure Irish farmers is that the policies being pursued by different European governments will not be reflected in the policies being pursued by the Irish Government. Anything we do in this space in relation to nature restoration will be done in partnership, in collaboration and on a voluntary basis. I want to be really clear on that. I want to reassure farmers in Ireland that it is voluntary. I also want to say to farmers as we approach the next CAP, the CAP money cannot be used for that. I think this is a European-wide issue. The loss of 5.5 million farms is a serious economic issue of concern for Europe; I agree with the Deputy. This is our indigenous industry that we should be protecting.  We have to make sure that we reduce the bureaucracy around these schemes. As I talk to farmers in Ireland, and as I hear from colleagues across the European Union, one of the reasons people opt out of schemes is they feel it is not worth their while. There is too much bureaucracy, too many checks and too much red tape. Along with making sure we get a decent sized budget the next time in terms of CAP and other supports for farmers, we also have to make sure that simplification is not just something reserved for foreign and indigenous companies but also is something that Europe applies to its farmers, including Irish farmers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_32","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 na Comhalta\u00ed Eile - Other Members\u2019 Questions","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_32","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tom Brabazon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tom Brabazon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tom Brabazon  I raise the provision of care for those with additional needs when their loved ones can no longer provide this care. This is a source of enormous concern for families up and down the country and within my own community. Families have a deep and persistent worry about what will happen to their family member or members when they are no longer able to provide them with the care that they need. These are families who have devoted their lives to providing care at significant cost to themselves, personally, financially and emotionally. It is often elderly people who are providing this care, with over 2,000 people over the age of 70 caring for their loved ones, 500 of whom are over the age of 80. Yet, despite their commitment, they have no certainty on what will happen to their loved ones, either when they are no longer physically able to look after them or when they have passed away. It is a constantly anxiety and a number of families have been in touch with me on this issue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Brabazon for raising this very serious issue. I fully accept that it is a huge concern for parents regarding what will happen to their son or daughter when they are no longer around. I was checking on my phone because my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Emer Higgins, is due to meet the campaign group Before We Die. My notes state she is due to meet them next Wednesday. It is really important that we have that engagement as a Government and that we are willing to listen and plan.  I can tell the Deputy all sorts of statistics and he can tell his constituents, and we are proud of these facts, but there are other issues too. Yes, we have increased the disability budget by 20% - about \u20ac618 million more. That will see additional funding for specialist disability residential places, above and beyond what is already provided. I think the issue is more complex than that, quite frankly, because from the people the Deputy is talking about and the people I know in my own community, there is not one size that fits all. It has to be person-centred. There are many people - I can think of them and the Deputy can too - who are living successfully at home with their family. They may not require or want a residential place and they want to continue to live in their family home but if their parents are no longer with us, they may require a level of in-reach support or community support. There will be others who may require residential support, either as they age or as their parents age or pass on. We need to have a much more meaningful conversation that is not just about numbers, places and budgets but actually about how we plan earlier.  Transition points are always really important in all our lives but they are particularly important in the life of a person with a disability. We see it when a child moves from primary school to secondary school. We are doing work now when a child with a disability moves from secondary school to third level. Being very honest, the piece of work we now have to do is that transition piece that the Deputy is referencing. Thankfully, people are living to be older but what happens when they transition? How do we have those conversations in a respectful way but earlier, so we do not end up with this emergency situation? Forget us, as a Government, it is about the parent and we know these people in their 80s and 90s and that great sense of anxiety they carry about what will happen. The Minister of State, Deputy Higgins, is determined to engage with this group. I thank the Before We Die group on the work it is doing. The Minister of State, Deputy Higgins, the Minister, Deputy Foley, with the support of the Department of housing, the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, and the Minister, Deputy Browne, and the whole of Government will have to look at how we can have informed conversations about housing solutions, about community supports and about additional residential places where they are required. I will ask the Minister of State to directly update the Deputy after she has that engagement. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tom Brabazon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tom Brabazon  I thank the T\u00e1naiste for his reply. It is very evident that the care that these families provide to their loved ones is unmatched. It is not easy for them but they do it, get on with it and do not complain. They do not have a clear answer about future residential places and supported living options. They do not have clarity. That is what we have to bring to this whole space. The State must step up and give these families the peace of mind that they deserve. We need to ensure there is a clear pathway for the provision of care for those with disabilities and that their families know that they will be cared for when they can no longer do it. We need to give these families confidence and not fear. What steps are being taken to give these families certainty about the long-term care arrangements when they can no longer provide that support themselves? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  My gut was right there. The Minister of State actually met the group last Wednesday. I look forward to hearing how that meeting went and I will ask her to update the Deputy directly in relation to that. That was to kick off a conversation in relation to how we can have that more holistic view. In terms of practical steps that we are taking this year, \u20ac65 million has been provided for new responses in respect of disability residential services. We are going to see funding for at least 152 new residential places. Beyond that, other residential responses that I am suggesting might not be the full required in resident places. That is not always required as well. We will continue to increase the funding to our disability services.  The conversation we have to have alongside that is, as we develop more housing developments and more homes for people with disabilities in their community, so if, as you and your parents age and want your own independence and your own hall door, that you can still live within your community. I have not seen enough examples of it but I have seen some small examples of it around the country. As part of our new housing plan, we are determined to have that conversation. We should not just be having a conversation with developers about building social housing. That is important. We should also be having many more conversations about building homes for people with a disability and for older people. That would be part of the solution too. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 na Comhalta\u00ed Eile - Other Members\u2019 Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_33","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Pholasa\u00ed n\u00f3 ar Reachta\u00edocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation","counts":{"speechCount":49,"speakerCount":20},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_33","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Fitzmaurice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"S\u00e9amus McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  \"We have been left with nowhere to turn\". These are the words of M\u00e1ir\u00edn Nolan, mother of seven-year-old Roxanne Kelly. Roxanne was born with a serious condition affecting her joints. She was then diagnosed with scoliosis at the age of two. M\u00e1ir\u00edn says she spent years going between her doctors but has been left in limbo. There is no solution for her complex needs. In that time, Roxanne's scoliosis has worsened. Her spinal curve is now 80 degrees. The family are left to fundraise to take Roxanne to Florida, where doctors have agreed to carry out the scoliosis surgery. Roxanne is just but one child being failed. Hundreds of children are waiting. We know that 525 scoliosis operations for children were cancelled in the past four years. Nine years ago, the T\u00e1naiste promised that no child would wait longer than four months for spinal surgery but children are still left in awful situations. When is the T\u00e1naiste going to keep his promise? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I think the Deputy knows I gave that commitment in good faith after significant engagement with the HSE and it being given to me. While it did result in many more procedures being carried out and many more children getting their surgery, I think we have seen a number of very concerning developments in relation to this specialty. That is why I believe there needs to be that full inquiry. We have even seen as recently as last week significantly concerning clinical reports as well. I do not want to comment specifically on an individual case on the floor of the D\u00e1il other than to say I know the Minister for Health is aware of the case of Roxanne Kelly.  She has asked officials in her Department to communicate directly with the HSE and CHI on the case and to follow up directly with the family. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Are you keeping your promise any time soon? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I have answered that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marie Sherlock  I read the report of the north Kerry CAMHS review last night. It paints a picture akin to a Wild West, with no oversight, accountability or support and incredible god-like decisions. There are very serious questions that need urgent answers. How can it be the case, that with such harm done there is not a single full-time psychiatrist in north Kerry at this point in time? How can anyone with confidence go the HSE now and say they want their case reviewed? When there are a number of psychiatrists contributing hours, how can people expect they will be treated seriously?  On the actions the Minister set out yesterday, can the T\u00e1naiste assure us there is now a red flag system in real time that will flag anomalous prescribing patterns? On her talk of a new central referrals system, the reality is it excludes autistic children, assessments of need and children under the age of eight. There are serious problems with the central referral system. What assurances can the T\u00e1naiste provide to the families who are currently engaging with CAMHS and the families who will need CAMHS in future years? There is huge concern about the quality of service at the moment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank the Deputy for raising this deeply and profoundly concerning issue. I join with her and everyone in expressing my profound sympathy and thoughts to the children and young people affected, their parents and their families. The Minister of State, Deputy Butler, is in Kerry as we speak and engaging directly. She briefed the Cabinet yesterday on this issue. She will leave no stone unturned in providing support and answers, and in making sure we extend the likes of the existing non-adversarial compensation scheme in place for families impacted by deficits in care. She has directed her Department to engage with the Attorney General's office and the State Claims Agency to progress this.  I will say more broadly, because lots of families are interacting with CAMHS, that it is important to stress the independent national prescribing audit did not identify the fundamental care deficits in Kerry anywhere else nationally. I wanted to say that. I also want to say that a number of improvements to the service have taken place since 2022 in Kerry, including the two teams that are working there. I am also conscious, as the Deputy will be, that a lot of people working today in CAMHS in Kerry are doing a very good job in a very difficult and stressful situation. Once the Minister of State is back from her engagements in Kerry, she will provide further updates on next steps in relation to this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  The T\u00e1naiste is the Minister for Finance and the leader of Fine Gael. In the budget for 2027, there is a promised cost-of-disability payment. In budget 2025, there was a disability support grant of \u20ac400 but in budget 2026, there was no one-off payment. In fact, disabled people are \u20ac1,400 worse off as a result of the budget in 2026. Many disabled people have said they are choosing between heating and eating. One person with a spinal injury told me that since 1999, he does not remember it being this bad. When my party and I raised this and called for a modest emergency winter payment of \u20ac400 last month, we were met with derision by the Government. Disabled people were accused of being alarmist, misleading and dangerous. The Government is now forcing disabled people to take to the streets on 28 February to ask for their basic needs to be met. Will it reverse this disastrous budgetary oversight as a matter of urgency? Will the T\u00e1naiste condemn or at least disavow the hurtful and disgraceful comments of the Minister for Social Protection? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  What I will certainly do is accept the Deputy is quite rightly highlighting the issue of disability, as is his party. That is an important and good thing to do. No one wishes to engage in any sort of derisory view. These are important and legitimate issues. The next priority for the Government in terms of the work of the Minister for Social Protection is the development of a cost-of-disability payment. As it happens, coincidentally, the consultation on that payment is due to open tomorrow. I know the challenges people with a disability face. I met many of them in Galway and engaged with their lived experience only two weeks ago. They do not need to be on the streets protesting. We need them to be in the rooms engaging so we get this payment and structure right.  I will say more broadly, about any comment, when I hear of people saying they are choosing between heating and eating, I genuinely say to everyone in this House that no one should find themselves in that situation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  They do. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Our community welfare officers, and the Deputy will know this through his office, are there. He will know the names of the people. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  They are there to provide exceptional needs----- "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  If anybody in the Deputy's constituency, or anyone in the country, is concerned about heating or eating, as he said, I genuinely encourage them to engage with our exceptional needs payments. No one should find themselves in that situation in Ireland. That is what those structures are there for. We just need to have that balance in the conversation. The cost-of-disability payment is a priority for the Government. The consultation will open tomorrow. We look forward to engaging with the Deputy and his party on it also. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  I will ask the T\u00e1naiste about Connor Green, the surgeon responsible for inserting non-medical springs into children at Temple Street. He is also the subject of the Nayagam report, which recommended that two thirds of the children it looked at have a follow-up clinical review. I understand that he is seeking an injunction to prevent the publication of the Nayagam report. Is the State contesting that and seeking to publish the report? Why is the look-back review, which flows from the Nayagam report, excluding adult patients? Dr. Green had a substantial adult practice and very many of them have had significant complications, including at least one person who has been in touch me. He has a licence to practice in Maryland. How it got that is not exactly clear because the Medical Council has said it did not issue any certificate of good standing for him. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy Murphy, you should not go there, please. You are out of order. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  Has the HSE contacted its counterparts in Maryland to warn them about this surgeon and to explain he is currently under investigation by the Medical Council? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy Murphy should conclude. I do not have to tell the T\u00e1naiste that if the matter is in the courts----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I accept Deputy Murphy used D\u00e1il privilege, as is his right, but because matters are before the courts, I am not in a position to comment further, other than to say the Government's position in general is it wants to see all reports published and to be transparent in relation to this. The legal realities as to what it is possible to publish or not are matters for the Minister for Health to work through, as she is doing. We also want to see a broader inquiry into the workings of a number of issues in relation to CHI and certain specialties. A lot of this work could be helpful to any such inquiry too, but these are matters for the courts to determine. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Fitzmaurice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice  I welcome the announcement, and the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, is here, in relation to the likes of modular granny flats and all of that coming in. I thank him for a meeting we had in the past few weeks. I have one question we are getting a lot of calls about, which is the modular unit or small shed at the back that people want to try to get done up. When does the Government envisage the legislation will go through the House so people can plan for it now? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy John Cummins)  I thank the Deputy for his comments. He will know I moved on the agricultural exemptions prior to Christmas. The next phase is domestic exemptions, which will include modular to the rear. We are finalising those. It does not require legislation. It is regulation and has to go before the Oireachtas joint committee, which I expect to be able to do after Easter. We will get there as soon as we can. After domestic, it will be infrastructure. We are progressing that work. I thank everybody for----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Fitzmaurice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice  Will it be ready for summer? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Cummins  That is the aim. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere  I want to raise St. Luke's General Hospital in Kilkenny. It is a level 3 hospital with over 1,200 staff and is the seventh biggest medical centre in Ireland serving a catchment area of around 200,000 people. I am looking for an update on the new CT machine, which is vital to support patient flow. A second CT for St. Luke's will result in no downtime and allow specialised tests to be completed on-site reducing the need for patients to be transferred to another hospital, which results in long waiting times for appointments. A strong business case has been put forward and submitted for a new 86-bed accommodation block for the Dolmen wing, including 14 critical care beds, 72 single rooms, a laboratory and a pharmacy. I am looking for a commitment that this wing will be prioritised and delivered as a matter of urgency. St. Luke's is part of the HSE Dublin and South East region, but it currently has no dermatologist, no rheumatologist, no neurologist and no child psychologist, yet they all exist as part of HSE south east. I am looking for a commitment that the Government will engage with the HSE Dublin and South East for a realignment of some of those staff to Kilkenny. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank the Deputy for a comprehensive question on St. Luke's in Kilkenny. It is a hospital I know well and have been in many times. I note a number of works have been carried out there, from a capital point of view, including the extension to radiology, the provision of a new MRI, which was completed in 2022, and the new 72-bed replacement medical ward block. I am told the replacement of the existing CT scanner was completed in 2024. An acute inpatient bed capacity expansion plan is due to be completed this year.  The HSE capital plan is due very shortly, probably as soon as next week. There will then be an opportunity to update on what is next in the pipeline of projects. There are a number of projects, including mental health facilities. The new 50-bed acute mental health unit, ACHU, is at appraisal stage.  I will ask the Minister for Health, once she receives the HSE capital plan, which will probably be next week, to update the Deputy on the specific projects he referenced. I will also follow up with her on the specific specialties the Deputy said are required in the hospital. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Paul O'Shea  I want to ask the T\u00e1naiste about the communication this week from Tailte \u00c9ireann on early years service providers and childminders receiving bills for commercial rates. As he knows, they quietly provide a very important public service through the early childhood care and education scheme and other childminding services right across the country. To date, they have not been liable for commercial rates. It is big change. There will be a significant charge on different childminders, particularly early years service providers. I hope there can be engagement between the T\u00e1naiste\u2019s Department, the Department of Children, Disability and Equality and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage on this matter urgently to address it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and for the engagement he had with the childcare sector this week. This is certainly something we intend to examine as a Government. We all know in this House that there is huge demand for childcare places. We need to support our childminders and help them to remain viable and in the sector, not making life harder for them. I am aware that there are legal issues to be worked out and there is also the matter of the Valuation Act, but the Minister for children, Deputy Foley, is engaging with the Minister for housing to seek clarity on how childminders who care for children single-handedly in their own family homes can avoid being disadvantaged. I thank the Minister for children for the work she is doing on this. She will keep the Government up to date as we make progress on it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  Ba mhaith liom ceist a chur ar an T\u00e1naiste mar gheall ar ch\u00e1rta\u00ed leighis agus c\u00e1rta\u00ed leighis saorthoilteanacha. T\u00e1 bean i gCiarra\u00ed agus fuair a fear c\u00e9ile b\u00e1s, agus i ndiaidh sin, fuair s\u00ed ailse. Bh\u00ed uirthi rud \u00e9igin a dh\u00e9anamh mar gheall air san ospid\u00e9al. There is a woman in Kerry who applied for a discretionary medical card because she had been refused one. Her husband had died in tragic circumstances. She herself then developed cancer and needed 16 or 17 rounds of radiotherapy at the last count. We applied for the card on her behalf and brought the matter as far as we could go. Her means were over the limit. The last thing a woman in her position should have to do is apply for a medical card. Discretion should have been used in her case, but it seems that decisions are limited on the basis of means alone. Will the T\u00e1naiste do something about it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank the Deputy for raising this. My sympathy to his constituent on all she has been through and for her loss. If he wants to send the details to the Minister for Health, I will ask her to engage directly with the HSE on it.  As he rightly said, there are two ways of accessing a medical card. There are the means ground but, above and beyond those, the exceptional burden that illness and loss can place on one is also supposed to be factored in. Without knowing the details, one would hope this could be examined again. I will ask the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, to engage with the Deputy if he sends on the details. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  I might cc the T\u00e1naiste. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Please do cc me on it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Grace Boland  As the T\u00e1naiste knows, Fingal is the youngest and fastest-growing area of the country. We are delivering houses but our education infrastructure needs to catch up. In December 2022, when he was Minister for Further and Higher Education, he visited Swords and announced a college of the future campus. Three years later, we do not seem to be any further on and do not have a timeline for delivery. He might update us and let us know whether a preliminary business case has been concluded and when families in Fingal will see the delivery of the college. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  How do I know Fingal is the youngest and fastest-growing area in Ireland? It is because the Deputy keeps telling me so it must be true. I know it to be true. I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and acknowledge that she and our colleague Councillor Luke Corkery are working closely on it. It is something I genuinely care deeply about. The population of Swords is huge, bigger than that of a number of cities. It is one of the ten locations the Government has chosen with SOLAS and the education and training boards to develop a college of the future. The idea that Swords would be without college opportunities is unfathomable at this stage. It has to change and this is the project that is going to change it. We said when we announced the project that such projects take a number of years. They genuinely do. We are trying to develop a campus that will serve 1,000 full-time students and up to 5,000 part-time learners so 6,000 people could benefit. The relevant Minister, Deputy James Lawless, is very committed to this and has given approval for the relevant site. I believe legal due diligence requirements need to be dealt with now. The acquisition of the site is the next aim. I will ask the Minister to provide the Deputy with a specific update. I look forward to visiting Swords with her shortly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Erin McGreehan  The findings of the north Kerry CAMHS look-back review are deeply concerning. Potential for harm was identified in respect of over 200 children\u2019s files. Behind each number is a child and family who trusted the State. In too many cases, their trust was not upheld. While the review relates to Kerry, the prescribing safeguards must be a national priority.  A young man recently came to me about his experience. He was prescribed risperidone at just seven years of age and remained on it for 15 years, with increasing doses and without any adequate clinical monitoring. He experienced significant weight gain and serious mood difficulties. He is now off the medication, thankfully, and his life has improved dramatically but his story raises serious questions about oversight and monitoring. The drug has a legitimate clinical role but the evidence shows that it was not just in Kerry that situations like this arose. We need more investment in primary care mental health services to intervene early and to have stronger supports, particularly for children with dual diagnoses, who are falling through too many gaps in the system. Their cases are very complex and the risks are far greater.  I want a review of the national prescribing audit, accounting for safety and standards, as the audit has highlighted areas of improvement in processes and monitoring, and to ensure the recommendations arising from the audit result in an improvement to governance, care and medication monitoring. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank the Deputy for raising this and for her considered contribution on it. The first thing I want to say, which the relevant Minister of State, Deputy Butler, would also want me to say, is that the independent national prescribing audit did not identify the fundamental care deficits elsewhere nationally, but that is not the point the Deputy is making. I just wanted to say that because it is important. The Deputy is making a broader point, namely that we need to review the standards more generally. That is certainly worth considering. We are very fortunate that the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, is passionate about and committed to this area. I will ask her to reflect on what the Deputy said and revert to her directly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  There is an active travel proposal for Knockfree and Knockpogue avenues, Farranree, in my constituency. The residents support the majority of the elements, including safety measures, the removal of roundabouts and the renewal of roads and footpaths, but they object to certain elements. At the moment they are protesting and have stopped the work. The Taoiseach himself said there needs to be more dialogue with the residents. Sinn F\u00e9in councillors Kenneth Collins and Michelle Gould brought a motion to Cork City Council that was supported by some other councillors but it was voted down by Government councillors. We believe the residents in the community must be heard and mediation is the best path. The residents have agreed to independent mediation. Will the T\u00e1naiste intervene on behalf of the Government and ensure mediation goes ahead because the community is angry and frustrated that it is not being listened to? All it is asking for is mediation and that its voice be heard. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank the Deputy. I say very respectfully that he will understand that I am not familiar with the details of the specific project, roundabouts or safety concerns. However, it is important that he has raised the broader issue of the need for consultation and engagement with communities, which is a fair one. It is a serious point. I hear, more than from time to time across the country, that there are many projects that the majority of residents support in the main but that have certain elements that residents have concerns about and in respect of which they feel they are not heard. What I will do, on foot of my not being familiar with the details, is ask the Minister for Transport specifically to examine the issues the Deputy has raised and revert to him directly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  What I will do is send the T\u00e1naiste an email that he can forward on. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I will be very happy to do that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  To follow on from the remarks of my colleague, the Taoiseach has publicly stated further consultation should have taken place on the active travel plan for Knockfree and Knockpogue avenues in Farranree, Cork city. Elderly residents, families, community groups, local businesses and sports clubs have raised serious concerns about the removal of parking and the impact on access to five schools, the parochial hall, Sam Allen Sports Complex and the local church. The main corridor is seriously affected, with 23 mature trees that are approximately 70 years old being removed. Residents, including the elderly and infirm, have taken to the streets to protest in the area every morning. They are not the usual protesters we tend to see in Ireland; they are protestors who are very deeply concerned about where they live, particularly the avenues, and their quality of life. Since the Taoiseach has accepted that the consultation was insufficient and he has stated he had concerns regarding the lack of consultation between the residents, local councillors and Cork City Council, will the T\u00e1naiste formally direct the Minister for Transport and the National Transport Authority to engage immediately with the residents and Cork City Council to address the genuine access and environmental concerns about the works that are planned? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I certainly would not want to contradict or disagree with the Taoiseach on views he has given on this project in Cork but what I will do is speak to him directly about the issue. I hope this is a matter of common sense prevailing in terms of engagement. I say this respectfully, but even the idea of mediation having to take place sounds to me like a process that did not go well in terms of proper engagement. That is based purely on what the Deputy has told me here today. I do not have the details of the project. I will talk to the Taoiseach about it and we will engage with the Minister for Transport. I know the Deputy will send me on the details. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  Wicklow parents pay the highest average weekly cost for childcare outside of Dublin at \u20ac235.90. It is an incredible amount for anyone to have to pay. In addition we have only 20 community centres out of 161. That is 12%. That can be compared with other counties like Leitrim and Monaghan, where more than 60% of their early learning providers are community centres. I understand that the Government is bringing in a pilot and that a number of community cr\u00e8ches will be established. I ask that Wicklow be very carefully considered as one of those counties. The need is there, as the T\u00e1naiste will know. It is important that parents in Wicklow get support to access work. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I hope Wicklow is there too. I fully agree with the Deputy. We live in a county that is both young and fast growing. We know that through our own work not only on school capacity and the likes but also on childcare capacity. While I fully accept that childcare costs are too high, and we all have a similar view on the direction of travel that needs to take place on reducing childcare costs, one of the big issues we face in Greystones, Delgany, Bray and right across County Wicklow is access to places. I was pleased that the Minister, Deputy Foley, announced a fund to start intervening directly. I believe we must do that. We cannot just leave this to the market. The Department is going through a mapping exercise as to where the need is most acute. I will ask that Wicklow be considered as part of that and revert to the Deputy directly on it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  The image I am holding up is not a real image but an AI-generated image of the front of a house on daft.ie at the moment. Estate agents are more and more posting AI-generated false images on platforms like Daft. This is misleading. It is also predatory at a time when the housing situation is so bad. The response from the advertising regulator, however, has been effectively that it is fine provided there is a tiny label at the bottom. I am very concerned about this practice because it is something we have seen in other jurisdictions and is one of the growing challenges we have in terms of artificial intelligence. With the new AI office being set up in August, what will the Government do about the likes of this? We will see this with rental properties as well, where rental properties will be misrepresented on platforms as being essentially fake apartments or houses. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank the Deputy for raising an issue that has not come to my attention before and for bringing it to our attention. A broader point I will make, while not taking away from the seriousness of the issue, is that people generally view a house before buying or renting it, obviously. That is not the point the Deputy is making, though. It is misleading to people, it can waste their time and so on. I ask that I be allowed give some consideration to the matter with colleagues on foot of the Deputy raising it. I take the point that there are meant to be labels about material being AI generated and so on, but we should not all have to squint to find those things. It is also very bad practice. Just showing us what the actual house looks like is a much more decent way of engaging with people. I will engage with both the Minister of State with responsibility for AI and the Minister for housing on the issue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Currie  I strongly welcome the T\u00e1naiste's commitment to developing a national savings and investment strategy. It is the right direction, and there is obviously clear support for it. Irish households are strong savers, but too much of that money is sitting in low-yield accounts quietly losing value to inflation. If we are serious about building a culture of long-term investing, we must remove the barriers that discourage participation. The reduction in the exit tax rate on gains from 41% to 38% in the budget was a positive step. However, as long as the eight-year deemed disposal rule on exchange traded funds, ETFs, remains in place, long-term retail investors continue to be penalised. Taxing unrealised gains and interrupting compounding directly undermines the long-term behaviour we are trying to promote. If this strategy is to genuinely unlock investment, the eight-year deemed disposal rule should be removed.  This strategy is a really important step forward. I ask the T\u00e1naiste to continue his ongoing engagement with the industry and to seriously consider removing the deemed disposal rule under the strategy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  This is an area I really want to get right. We have a very strong culture of saving in Ireland but not a strong culture of investment. That is not a criticism of anyone; that is just a reflection of the reality. We have \u20ac169 billion or \u20ac170 billion on deposit today in Ireland. Lots of people, despite the challenges families face, are trying to put a few bob away for their future, for a rainy day, for their kids or for whatever they are trying to do in their own lives. At the moment, not only are they not making money on this but sometimes they are losing money on it. We therefore need to look at how we can set up savings and investment accounts. I am absolutely committed to this. It is a priority for me in the two budgets I will deliver as finance Minister. As part of that, there are tax rates, tax sequencing and financial literacy. The issue of deemed disposal is valid and important. We just need to consider all of these in the round and how to move forward. The next step is to bring a roadmap to the Government before Easter and to set up a savings and investment forum to engage directly with stakeholders with a view to being able to move forward later this year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"S\u00e9amus McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy S\u00e9amus McGrath  I want to raise an issue under the T\u00e1naiste's remit as Minister for Finance, namely the help to buy scheme and the property price ceiling of \u20ac500,000. Despite some reservations about this scheme, I am a strong supporter of it. It has benefited over 60,000 first-time buyers, to purchase homes since its introduction and given them their tax back up to the maximum of \u20ac30,000. However, the T\u00e1naiste will have seen yesterday the CSO figures which put the median price of a house in Dublin at \u20ac500,000. That is both second-hand and new properties. Many new properties are much more expensive than \u20ac500,000. This is not just a Dublin issue; this is also an issue in places like Cork and other main urban areas. Therefore, we need to move the limit above the \u20ac500,000. In reality, many first-time buyers are now prevented from benefiting from the help to buy scheme because of the price ceiling. When it was introduced in 2017, nine years ago, it was set at \u20ac500,000. There has been 24% price inflation since that period, so it makes no sense for us not to adjust the figure to reflect somewhat the inflationary pressures since then. I ask the T\u00e1naiste to look at this. I appreciate that it probably has to be a budgetary issue but I am flagging it as early as possible. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  There is indeed a commitment in the programme for Government to look at this. In that context, we will look at it, and I thank the Deputy for raising it with me. It is a fine balance and we have to consider all these things in the round, in terms of the quantum that may be available for a tax package in the budget and how we wish to deploy that while also making sure that we do not cause undue inflationary pressures on housing or the like. We need to think of all this in the round. There is the question of how the first home scheme operates too. I too am proud of the help to buy scheme. It has helped over 60,000 people. I am pleased that we have confirmed that it will continue for the lifetime of this Government, and there is a commitment in the programme for Government to review that scheme. We will undertake that review and I will revert to the Deputy then. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Maurice Quinlivan  Disabled people have been protesting outside the D\u00e1il on a number of occasions in recent weeks. They are having a national protest on 28 February. The T\u00e1naiste said earlier in reply to somebody else that they do not need to be on the streets. They genuinely do feel they need to be on the streets. We are in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis. Disabled people tell us they feel their income is \u20ac1,400 less this year than last year due to the budget, which has been devastating not only for people with disabilities but for many other workers as well. We have record numbers of people in energy arrears. A total of 303,465 households was the last figure I saw and many of those are people with disabilities. People with disabilities have been telling us that they are choosing whether to heat the house or to buy food. I know that has been rejected by the Government, but that is what they are telling us, and I believe them now. There is a need for an energy payment or a disability payment. Will the T\u00e1naiste, even at this late stage, consider doing that? Then they will not have to go on the streets. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I know how serious these issues are. The context in which I mentioned not being on the streets was not to suggest that people with a disability do not feel extraordinarily strongly on these issues or want to ventilate that. The point was that the consultation for the new cost-of-disability payment will open tomorrow and I want people to be in rooms and engaging in that and given the opportunity to do so. The Government is committed to developing a cost-of-disability payment.  The Minister, Deputy Calleary, is working on that and will engage closely with people with disabilities and their representative organisations with a view to getting this right. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Pholasa\u00ed n\u00f3 ar Reachta\u00edocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_34","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/17","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/17\/dail\/1","houseCode":"dail","stage":"1","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Universal Access to Social Housing (Abolition of Income Limits) Bill 2026: First Stage (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Universal Access to Social Housing (Abolition of Income Limits) Bill 2026: First Stage","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":4},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_34","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  I move:  That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 to provide for universal access to social housing by abolishing income-related criteria.  Why should we remove the income limits for social housing? I argue there are many good reasons to do it, and to do it urgently. Every week, every month and every year there is a constant and growing flow of households, which having waited sometimes in excess of ten years on housing lists, sometimes just before they are allocated a house are thrown off the housing list. This might be because they got a pay rise, an increment or a promotion. They get punished for that by being taken off a housing list they have been on sometimes for a decade or more. Then, in many cases they are left completely in limbo because their income is now too much to stay on the housing list after being on it all of those years, but too little to get a cost rental on income grounds, too little to get an affordable purchase home on any of the Government schemes and way too little to pay the extortionate rents and house prices out there on the market. You get punished for getting a pay rise or a promotion by being screwed on the housing front. In some cases, I have come across people left homeless and trapped in emergency accommodation because there is no chance they will ever get a social house as their income is too high.  This is also leading to segregation, when Government policy is supposed to be about mixed tenure. They go on about it. In reality, its failure to raise income thresholds means that every year social housing has become more segregated to those on the lowest incomes. It is concentrating the people on the lowest incomes and essentially ghettoising them. That also creates a problem for local authorities and the Government because it means the rental revenue coming in is less and is not enough to maintain the social housing.  Is what we are saying unrealistic to do? The answer is \"No\". Luke French, a transition year student from St. Andrew's College who was in my office last week, did the research. He looked at Vienna where the thresholds mean that between 75% and 80% of people are eligible for social housing. In Sweden and Denmark, there are no income limits at all. Anybody can access social housing. If their income goes up, then the rent they pay goes up. It means we do not have segregation. It means there is no stigma attached to social housing. It means that a large amount of revenue that is currently going into the pockets of corporate landlords who are profiteering from the housing crisis will come back to the State to maintain and build social housing. It is win-win-win for society and those who need housing. Of course, to build this level of social housing we need to State to start building. That is why we are in favour of a State construction company. This is a Bill the Government should support. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  Our Bill is simple. It would make social housing universally available. It is the opposite to what the Government has been doing. The Government has effectively, for decades, been copying Maggie Thatcher by cutting the amount of social housing being built and then ensuring they shrink the pool of people who are eligible to apply for it. It has done that by refusing to increase the income limits in line with average wages. The result is that only the poorest and lowest paid households, those that are on social welfare, are eligible. It concentrates deprivation in social housing. It leads to social issues and contributes to a financial crisis for councils when they say they are not raising enough through rents to cover maintenance. Universal social housing would mean higher paid workers paying higher rents, easily covering maintenance. Instead, this is being used as a reason to hike up rents in Dublin City Council. They will try to do it in South Dublin County Council. It is happening across the country because it is being pushed for by the Government, which is attacking some of the most deprived communities by making them pay more. For HAP tenants it is hitting them twice because they will pay more in a top-up to a private landlord because of Government policy and more to the council as tenants. It is all linked to a strategy of effectively getting rid of differential income-based rents. If you read the Government strategy, it is about merging council and social housing with cost rental over time. That is the opposite to the direction we need to go. We need universal access to social housing, which is the idea that people pay what they can afford to pay - they pay a percentage of their income, and they get decent quality accommodation. That should not be too much to ask. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Is the Bill opposed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy Kieran O'Donnell)  No. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Since this is a Private Members' Bill, Second Stage must, under Standing Orders, be taken in Private Members' time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  I move: \"That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time.\" "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Universal Access to Social Housing (Abolition of Income Limits) Bill 2026: First Stage"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_35","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/18","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/18\/dail\/1","houseCode":"dail","stage":"1","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Public Art Mural (Exempted Development) Bill 2026: First Stage (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Public Art Mural (Exempted Development) Bill 2026: First Stage","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_35","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  I move:  That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend Planning and Development Regulations, 2001 (S.I. No. 600 of 2001) to provide for exemptions from planning permission for certain categories of public art murals where such work has artistic or cultural merit, has the permission of the owner of the building or structure on which it is displayed, is not a commercial advertisement and does not conflict with the Equal Status Acts.  Public art murals are good for our cities and towns. They transform the streetscape in many instances into beautiful, vibrant and thoughtful spaces, enhancing the urban experience for residents and visitors alike. Thankfully, we are blessed with wonderful street art in the Minister of State\u2019s own city of Limerick, Dublin, Galway, Waterford, Cork and many other urban locations. The problem is that our current planning laws are too restrictive in requiring planning permission for public art murals on private property. It is interesting because when you look at the exempted development regulations, this is in stark contrast to commercial advertisements. In fact, there is a huge number of exempted development categories for ads yet severe restrictions for public art. The problem is that these restrictions have meant in the recent past, in Dublin city for example, that the local authority initiated enforcement action against some of the most iconic murals in the city, including the horse boy mural in the north inner city and the David Attenborough mural off the South Circular Road. Thankfully, due to strong campaigning and advocacy in Leinster House, those enforcement and legal actions have been withdrawn.  The problem is that the planning restrictions remain in place. That is a disincentive for artists to do what they are best placed to do, which is to make our cities better places to be. It is for that reason that I am introducing this legislation, the Public Art Mural (Exempted Development) Bill 2026. The Bill seeks to create a new category of exempted development which will apply to \"public art murals\" on private property. It is important that we have a clear framework for such an exempted category. To avail of the exemption, the artwork must have artistic or cultural merit as defined in the Arts Act 2003. The work cannot be a commercial advert as set out in the Consumer Protection Act. Crucially, it must not conflict with the Equal Status Acts 2000 to 2018. The exemption should not be available for murals during any electoral period because it is not an election campaigning tool. It also should not apply to protected structures or properties in architectural conservation or special amenity order areas.  If you look around the country, you will see the quality of the work we have. I refer, for example, to the outstanding public art by Maser in Dublin, including his wonderful collaboration some years ago with Damien Dempsey. I already mentioned the two wonderful murals by Subset, the horse boy mural and the David Attenborough mural. In Cork, Asbestos has done iconic murals on housing. Caoilfhionn Hanton, who is from Waterford but now resident in Dublin, is an exemplar of the finest work we have. In fact, we are bursting at the seams with this incredible creative talent. That is why we should be doing everything in this House to ensure those artists are able to bring their creativity and art to the widest possible audience. Where better to do that than in the streets and on the gable walls of our towns and cities?  I think this is a positive but measured contribution to ensuring that creativity and talent can flourish, and that everyone can enjoy and revel in the beauty of public art murals.  Therefore, I am introducing the Bill today. I look forward to introducing it on Second Stage as soon as possible. Crucially, I look forward to enthusiastic support from the Government to ensure this practical step becomes part of our planning code. Our cities and towns will be all the better for it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Is the Bill being opposed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy Kieran O'Donnell)  No. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Since this is a Private Members' Bill, Second Stage must, under Standing Orders, be taken in Private Members' time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  I move: \"That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time.\" "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar fionra\u00ed ar 1.30 p.m. agus cuireadh t\u00fas leis ar\u00eds ar 2.10 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Sitting suspended at 1.30 p.m. and resumed at 2.10 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Public Art Mural (Exempted Development) Bill 2026: First Stage"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_36","debateType":"statement","bill":null,"showAs":"Flooding: Statements","counts":{"speechCount":29,"speakerCount":24},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_36","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kevin Boxer Moran","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Mythen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Mythen.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Mythen.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pat Buckley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pat-Buckley.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Pat-Buckley.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Denise Mitchell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maeve O'Connell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maeve-O'Connell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Maeve-O'Connell.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"William Aird","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Fitzmaurice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gillian Toole","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gillian-Toole.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Gillian-Toole.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kevin Boxer Moran","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran)  Last week, during Private Members' business, I listened carefully to the views of colleagues. We discussed the Government\u2019s work on managing flood risk and responding to recent events. I welcome another chance today to continue that discussion.  Flooding has become more common and more damaging both here and abroad. We have all seen the distress it causes homeowners, businesses, landowners and entire communities. Other nearby countries have also suffered serious floods recently. I again acknowledge the hardship faced by everyone affected by the recent flooding. I have visited many of the impacted areas myself. I have spoken to residents and business owners and understand their fear and frustration. I assure them and the House that the Government is fully committed to reducing flood risk and supporting those who need help. I look forward to working with them to deliver real solutions for communities affected by flooding.  Reducing flood risk requires action across many Government Departments. The interdepartmental flood policy co-ordination group leads this work. Flood policy is built on three main pillars. The first is prevention, which involves avoiding or removing flood risk such as by stopping construction in flood-prone areas. The Office of the Planning Regulator and the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage play key roles in this. The second is protection, which involves reducing the likelihood or severity of floods. This includes major flood relief schemes and, where suitable, nature-based solutions. The third is preparedness, which involves helping people and communities prepare for and respond to floods. This includes public information, emergency actions and early warnings. The co-ordination group also works to raise awareness and to encourage people and businesses to protect themselves and their property. Recent supports include an emergency response payment from Department of Social Protection covering eight counties with 137 payments issued by 13 February 2026 and the enhanced emergency humanitarian flooding scheme from the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment. Funding for the latter scheme increased from \u20ac20,000 to \u20ac100,000 with 53 applications received by 16 February 2026.  In 2018, the OPW completed the State\u2019s largest ever flood-risk study - the CFRAM programme. It covered 80% of the primary flood risk in Ireland and identified solutions to protect 95% of that risk. Key outputs include flood maps for 300 communities and 29 river basin flood risk management plans detailing suitable flood relief measures. These plans guide Government investment in flood protection, which includes around 150 flood relief schemes, protection for 23,000 homes and businesses and a Government commitment of \u20ac1.3 billion under the national development plan to 2030. When complete, 95% of properties assessed will have flood protection. Other measures will address remaining risks, including minor flood mitigation and coastal protection projects, individual property protection, the voluntary homeowners relocation scheme and enhanced forecasting and community resilience programmes.  So far, the OPW has invested \u20ac580 million in 56 completed schemes, provided protection to 13,580 properties and delivered \u20ac2 billion in estimated avoided damages. Since 2018, the number of schemes at design, planning or construction stage has increased to 100 active schemes with ten schemes at construction, five schemes at detailed design, ten schemes at planning stage and 69 schemes in development or preliminary design.  There are limits on available specialist engineering and environmental expertise. As a result, schemes are delivered in two tranches. A national pilot is under way to test a more efficient delivery model for tranche two schemes. Flood relief schemes take time because they require extensive surveys and environmental assessments as they must meet legal and EU requirements, they involve public consultation and judicial reviews can delay progress. Typical delivery time is about 11 years from start to finish.  Other measures include minor flood mitigation works and the coastal protection scheme. Since 2009, the scheme has funded 900 projects, provided over \u20ac70 million in investment and reduced risk for 8,000 properties. In 2025, the funding limit increased from \u20ac750,000 to \u20ac2 million per project. Following Storm Chandra, I asked local authorities with major schemes under way to list all possible temporary measures to reduce risk while long-term solutions are being developed. I expect these plans shortly. The OPW maintains 11,500 km of river channels, 800 km of embankments, 260,000 ha of agricultural land and flood protection for 20,000 properties, 2,400 km of roads and 77 towns and villages  I thank all those involved in flood preparations and response - local authorities, An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, the HSE, civil defence and many more. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage leads national co-ordination through the national emergency co-ordination group.  Stage I of the national flood forecasting and warning service was completed in 2023. Met \u00c9ireann now provides daily flood guidance to local authorities and State agencies. Stage II is now under the Government task force on emergency planning. It will deliver more detailed and accurate forecasts and community flood warnings.  Climate change will bring more storms and extreme weather and flood risk management must adapt accordingly. The OPW has published its climate change sectoral adaptation plan for 2025 to 2030. All new and ongoing flood schemes must now include a climate adaptation plan; nature-based solutions where feasible; an assessment of future sea-level rise scenarios, including rises up to 2 m; and consideration of tidal barriers for cities and major coastal areas. The OPW also supports planning authorities to ensure flood risk is properly considered in development decisions.  I know many communities feel anxious as they wait for flood relief schemes to be delivered. I assure the House the Government is doing everything possible to progress this work quickly and effectively. I remain open to all ideas that can speed up delivery or further reduce flood risk. I thank Members for their attention and look forward to the debate. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Murnane O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Jennifer-Murnane-O'Connor.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor)  I thank the Minister of State for his statement and his work on this matter, in particular his commitment. The Minister of State has visited Carlow and Kilkenny but I have seen him and the Taoiseach go around the country to anywhere that was flooded, which is important. It is important that they see what is happening and are able to speak to everyone. It is safe to say that we have never seen rain as heavy or flooding as bad as that which we have experienced over the past number of weeks. I acknowledge the upset and devastation that has been experienced by people across the country recently. Seeing one's home, business, housing estate or town under water and trying to manage the clean up and repairs has to be a very stressful and devastating experience.  I will highlight an area in my own county of Carlow that has been greatly affected by Storm Chandra. Clonegal is a small rural village in the south east of County Carlow. Over the past number of weeks, the village has faced what its residents are saying is the worst flooding they have seen in over 20 years with several houses and properties flooded after the River Derry burst its banks. Around 300 people live in Clonegal and at least eight houses were badly affected by flooding, which has greatly upset families. I know that across Ireland, many other families are feeling like this. I know the Minister of State visited Carlow town, which was also hit hard with 250 houses on Burrin Road faced with gardens underwater and near-damage to their homes and cars. We were very lucky with Carlow County Council, which monitored things, watched the water and had pumps out. That was a significant challenge because there was a risk it would go into their houses.  When I went around and spoke to many of the residents, I found that the biggest issue was the fact that people in a flood-prone area cannot get home insurance, an issue we have to look at. We need to make sure that people living in flood-prone areas can get home insurance.  Preventative flood measures in these areas and in communities across Ireland such as natural flood defences and permanent water pumps would help ease the anxiety of residents about further damage to their property.  Several areas were affected, including St. Mullins and Graiguenamanagh in County Kilkenny. Again, I thank the Minister of State and the Taoiseach for visiting.  My constituency is full of small independent businesses but, again, they are having issues with insurance because of the flooding. I welcome the decision by the Minister, Deputy Burke, to increase the threshold for emergency humanitarian flooding support for impacted businesses from \u20ac20,000 to \u20ac100,000. The assessment required for this grant needs to be completed quickly to allow our small businesses to get back up and running as quickly as possible. I know the Minister of State has been working with the different Departments and I thank him for that.  I take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to everyone in Carlow and Kilkenny, the county councils and the local authority staff, including the outdoor workers, who worked on protecting homes and businesses. We need to take this opportunity to provide more funding to, and place more focus on, our flood prevention scheme - I had several meetings about this with the Minister of State - and to further support the fantastic work done by our county councils up and down the country. They have done a brilliant job. I thank the services the Minister of State thanked, including the Red Cross, An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, the HSE and the Civil Defence. I also thank neighbours and friends who came out to help. Anyone who was in a position to do so, came out to help. While we had these awful floods, and they were horrific, we saw great community spirit. Everybody was helping everybody. When people are there to help their neighbours and everyone is working together, that community spirit and engagement is really positive and lovely.  The Taoiseach visited communities. It was also important that when the Minister of State and the Taoiseach visited Carlow and Kilkenny they spoke to all the residents. They also spoke to the council staff and all the different people who were affected. The best one of all was that our own Carlow weatherman, Alan O'Reilly, came to visit. Alan had a lot of ideas, which he spoke to the Minister of State about, and I have given some information. That was important as well.  I am aware the Taoiseach and Minister of State met last week to consider the State's response to extreme weather events. It was agreed that work on the flood relief schemes will be accelerated, and interim measures will be implemented in areas at the risk of flooding. The OPW will be given the authority to procure equipment for local authorities to manage this, which is really welcome and a good move. I thank the Minister of State for that.  Local authorities will also be given authority to start road repairs, and this is critical for those areas that have suffered damage. I have spoken to representatives and I have seen roads that were really affected. I also spoke to a lot of residents from affected areas. Again, we are looking at funding for this because we need to top up the normal road grant funding. The Minister of State has met with the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, as I have, and all of these things are important.  For communities awaiting major flood relief schemes, the Government has asked local authorities to identify all possible interim measures to reduce the risk of flooding. It is expected that the Government will receive these plans in the coming weeks. We are keen to progress any work that will reduce the risk of flooding for communities that have been badly affected.  Flood forecasting and warnings are critical for preparation. I welcome that stage I of the national flood forecasting and warning service was completed in December 2023 and stage II is now under way, which is really important. It is critical that we are prepared and work on forecasting is done as soon as possible. This will focus on providing the flood warnings directly to communities and improving the detail and accuracy of forecasts. This work is being overseen by the Government's task force on emergency planning, which is really important.  Unfortunately, the reality is that our climate is changing. We are seeing more frequent storms and extreme weather events. In response, the OPW has published the sectoral climate change adaptation plan for flood risk management for the years 2025 to 2030. All flood relief schemes now require scheme adaptation plans to ensure they account for climate change impacts that can be adapted to future flood risks.  I want to acknowledge the Department of Finance because it is engaging with stakeholders, such as the Central Bank, the OPW, the insurance industry, which is critical, and other Departments on the development of a long-term strategic approach to the issues relating to flood insurance. There are so many issues and this falls to so many different Departments. This is about the different Departments working together and collaborating to make sure we find a solution. Solutions are needed to address this, and timing is important.  All the different Ministers are working with the Minister of State on this. Solutions are needed to address the nature of the protection gap that exists in Ireland, especially as the flood protection gap tends to be concentrated in different areas. As the Minister of State knows, we have to concentrate on these areas when we are working with the different Departments.  I thank the Minister of State and my colleagues across Government for their work and their response to the storm. There are areas that have been really affected but I know this will be addressed. The work the Minister of State's Department has done, and the commitment shown by him, the Taoiseach and all the different Departments has been crucial and has played a huge role. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Mythen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Mythen.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Mythen.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Johnny Mythen  As the Minister of State is aware, the floods in the south east were the severest in many years. Unfortunately, my hometown of Enniscorthy, along with Bunclody, Bridgetown, Our Lady\u2019s Island, Kilmore, Kilcarberry and Killurin experienced extensive flooding with some roads obliterated altogether. Sixty businesses were affected, some of which have stated they will not open again. Some 35 homes were destroyed by water and contaminated effluent. A local postman told me that he delivered letters to homes where the muck and dirt was up to the letter boxes. Most of these homes are occupied by old-age pensioners.  Island Road in Enniscorthy and the quays on both sides of the River Slaney took the brunt of the floods. This has occurred 16 times since 2000, not to mention the years in between when the people were put on full flood alert with their homes and businesses threatened again and again.  I thank the Minister of State for visiting those homes. I am sure he realises the anguish, the torment, the feelings of desperation and the sleepless nights these people have gone through. Generations have faced the same thing over and over again. They have not got a snowball\u2019s chance in hell of getting insurance. They must replace every stick of furniture, including kitchens, fridges, personal belongings and most of their white goods themselves.  Some businesses are facing bills of well over \u20ac80,000. This has been going on for decades. The people of Enniscorthy and Wexford will no longer put up with what can only be described as wilful neglect. It is only with the luck of God no one was drowned or injured. Thanks and gratitude must go to the units from Slaney Search and Rescue and all the other organisations involved.  Planning permission for the Slaney flood relief scheme was turned down because of the freshwater pearl mussel, a fact that is infuriating people. Surely this species can be translocated just like the Dublin Bay oyster. I plead with the Minister of State to act now. Under section 7 of the Arterial Drainage Act 1945, he can approve flood relief works independently of the planning system. Things need to happen and need to happen now. Climate change is not waiting for anybody. As sure as night follows day, flooding will continue and will occur again.  The people of Wexford need the Minister of State\u2019s full assurance that he will sort this out. He must rein in the OPW, the relevant Departments and Wexford County Council and get the planning application across the line once and for all and to immediately apply the interim measures.  Wexford County Council has completed an interim plan but I understand that it must be agreed on by the Ministers and the OPW. I ask that this be done and be treated as a humanitarian emergency and not be delayed any longer. It is the least the people of Enniscorthy and Wexford deserve after being left unprotected for over 25 years and denied their rights to a proper flood defence scheme. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pat Buckley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pat-Buckley.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Pat-Buckley.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pat Buckley  I thank the Minister of State for being here today. I am here again today to discuss flooding. I have been raising this issue since I was first elected back in 2016. I have gone through four Ministers of State on this issue. Ten years later, the people of my town Midleton are still waiting for the flood relief scheme to be implemented. I acknowledge that the Minister of State visited, as did the former Minister of State, but I am giving him a synopsis of where the people of Midleton, in particular, are, but I am not forgetting the likes of Whitegate, Mogeely, Rathcormac and other areas that were flooded.  The failure to start any real work on the overall flood relief scheme planned for the town is one thing but the absence of progress on promised interim flood relief measures is beyond frustrating, especially for many of the residents of Midleton who are still living in fear every time it rains. Many admit to suffering post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression after having their homes flooded.  Records dating back as far as the 1880s show Midleton, which is located in a low-lying valley at the junction of the Owenacurra and Dungourney rivers. These have flooded regularly, underlining the long-standing need for a flood relief scheme in east Cork.  Another one I raised here was the catchment flood risk assessment and management, CFRAM, study. It was produced back in 2013. In that CFRAM study, there was hydraulic modelling, and other big fancy words they use when doing these models for predicting floods. It made a prediction. I refer to Storm Babet, the most recent storm and where I live in Midleton. This map shows the Mill Road. The thin blue line is the river. It predicted where the water was, how much water would come down and where it would come out. This was back in 2013. It also predicted that not too far from where my office is, there would be 1.4 m of water. It went up to the fascia board and soffit of a bungalow at the junction. It also outlined preventative measures on how this could be done.  We are possibly 16 years talking about this and the council has decided now that it is going to build a bank up beyond Moore's Bridge to stop this water flowing down the Mill Road and hitting Willowbank and T\u00edr Cluain. That still has not been done. The Minister of State, in his opening remarks, spoke about what we would do and how he would do it. I know he said he had 150 flood relief schemes and so on and so forth but for the people of Midleton, east Cork and other areas that have been flooded - and this is not being disrespectful to the Minister of State - that is not the answer they want or need. They want to know why interim measures were not done ten or 15 years ago, and why they are doing these CFRAM flood studies with nothing being acted on.  Another one I flagged - I have not seen it - was the voluntary homeowners relocation scheme. Back in 2016, 2017 or 2018, I remember meeting the then Minister and the Minister for Social Protection with a family because their home was absolutely destroyed. There was never a mention of a voluntary homeowners relocation scheme. That family is still paying a mortgage for a three-bedroom semi-detached house that is totally uninhabitable. I will chase the Minister of State up on that one. I would like to know more about that because that family has been absolutely destroyed.  I appeal for urgency. I acknowledge the Minister of State's engagement on this but I am relaying what the people of Midleton and surrounding areas are saying. Whatever hoops the Minister of State has to jump through and whatever planning we have to do, in regard to those who are objecting, I think it is time for the hammer to come down and to say \"No\". The priority is people, their livelihoods and homes and that is what we have to protect. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  I thank the Minister of State for being here to listen to the statements. For my part, flooding is something that happens occasionally. It is usually from the sea rather than rivers in my area but it is the impact and aftermath of flooding. The state of the roads in north County Dublin is shocking. They are the kinds of words people use. If you come around by an area like Blake's Cross, you will often see tyres and parts of tyres on the side. Added to that situation, which was already bad, we then had flooding on top of it. It is an area that floods all the time. You could set your watch by it. When there is heavy rain, there is flooding at Blake's Cross. There just does not seem to be any connectedness in regard to what happens after the flooding and once the water recedes.  In the recent flooding, we were very lucky. Yes, it blocked roads but it did not get into many homes. I know from talking to Deputy Buckley and others the damage and devastation that it can bring to a community but we are still left dealing with the aftermath of it in one way or another because we are dealing with the fact that the roads are in such poor condition immediately following it. Every single time there is a flood, that means the roads are going to get even worse and there is no mitigation. If there was going to be proper drainage put in place, all of that could be encompassed within a budget to not just drain the roads but also improve the quality of the roads and recognise the damage. Every single time there is flooding, the Minister of State and I both know that the aftermath of that for people in their homes is absolutely devastating but the aftermath of that for people who are driving on the roads, because they have no choice, is also devastating.  If you take Brook Lane in Rush, I know in advance when that is going to flood. The residents know in advance that it is going to flood. They might not know how bad it is going to be but they know it is going to flood and it happens every time. This time when it happened, it was particularly bad and there were people, including emergency service workers, who were stuck in their homes, which has a knock-on consequence.  What I want to say to the Minister of State today is that when the flood waters recede and you are no longer up to your knees or elbows in the flood, the damage that happens after that also requires attention. It is not just all about making sure the floods recede.  We need to look at the national flood forecasting and warning service as well because at least that can give people a little bit of a heads-up. We know rightly that it is a scandal that the millions of euro allocated for the national flood forecasting and warning service over the past eight years remains unspent. That does not make any sense. It does not make any sense to me but it most definitely does not make any sense to people who can tell you that if they have a warning, they will be able to put those systems in place. I would be critical, where it is due, of Fingal County Council but it has always been good in regard to the provision of sandbags and other mitigation measures. That is of no use to people, however, if they do not get the advance warning.  On the advance warning, it is very hard to explain to people how the money was allocated and yet, somehow, the Department could not find its way to spend it. People might be able to understand if it was a budgetary matter. They might be able to comprehend it if it was a case of insufficient funds allocated but in regard to the money being allocated and not being spent, that is very hard for me to explain to my constituents when they look at the flood events and they see they cannot use their roads or, as I have said to the Minister of State, when they have to use the roads afterwards amid the damage. The key surely has to be preventing this flood damage but the fact that the State has money at its disposal and millions of euro allocated, and that somehow it is not being spent, does not make any sense. I certainly do not try to explain the actions of this Government - I am beyond doing that - but when you try to tell constituents who are in flood-impacted areas that, yes, it is possible that a system could have been developed but was not developed, that is very hard for them to stomach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Denise Mitchell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Denise Mitchell  I will start by thanking all the emergency response workers, council teams and other staff who did their very best to help residents affected by the recent flooding incidents. In my own constituency, we had separate incidents of flooding. We had the tidal flood waters in Clontarf. Then there was significant flooding in the northern part of the constituency, in and around Clongriffin. We saw properties and underground car parks flooded. We had roads that were impassable and a number of rivers burst their banks. We also had recent flooding in Fairview, which was due to a burst pipe.  In regard to Clontarf, this issue has been ongoing for decades. We had sandbags sitting there for over a decade. There are new temporary barriers in place for the past few months but business owners and residents want a permanent solution and they want it sooner rather than later. We have been told by Dublin City Council that construction on the permanent flood defences will not begin until 2031. If that goes well, it will be completed by 2033. There is no sense of urgency here and this is the area identified as one of the most at risk of flooding in the State. We need to see the flood defences in place. We were told it would take three years before this planning application would be ready to be submitted but this needs to happen much sooner.  In regard to Clongriffin, where residents' properties and vehicles were left flooded, the residents themselves were left high and dry in terms of the costs they incurred.  Electricity was out for days, so all the food in their fridges and freezers was spoiled. Some residents did get temporary accommodation sorted by the management company, but it meant they were in places as far away as Tyrrelstown. Those either who did not drive or whose vehicles were stuck in the underground car park had to rent cars or get taxis to their workplaces or even bring their kids to school. I urge the Minister of State to make phase 1 of the emergency response payment available to those residents to enable them to recoup some of their immediate costs.  With regard to solutions, we need a national flood warning service that is fully up and running. It has been ten years since the Government said it was establishing that service, but the ground conditions are still not being taken into account. We all know that a lot of the flooding is due to high rainfall, and with sodden ground, the excess water has nowhere else to go. Drains were at capacity, rivers were swollen and culverts could not take any more water.  A much broader discussion needs to take place. It means not just flood protection measures. It means a proper strategy for rainwater harvesting and storage to reduce run-off during heavy periods of rainfall. It also means natural ways of reducing these impacts, such as planting trees beside rivers rather than constantly clearing them, and stopping the modification and straightening of rivers from their natural flow. All that does is cause more problems because it increases the river\u2019s speed and creates pinch points.  This extreme weather is not going away and is likely to become more common. We need solutions in the here and now, like flood defences. We need longer term solutions that look at the overall land use plan and how we can minimise and reduce the risk of these events happening in the future. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  This is not the Minister of State's first interaction with me in relation to flooding. I have thanked him for visiting Blackrock and for having conversations with some of the local elected representatives, including me, Councillor Sionainn McCann and a number of others from all parties. It was following what had made its way onto RT\u00c9, which was the coastal flooding in what is usually a very scenic area of Blackrock. Flooding had also occurred at the same time in Dundalk, where a number of businesses were flooded.  In fairness, the positive from the interaction with the Minister of State was that the local authority accepts it needs to ensure it is looking at everything from the point of view of the short-term mitigations that can be made operational. While that might be difficult in Blackrock, the local authority said a number of such measures might be available throughout Dundalk. That needs to happen. The Minister of State has spoken strongly about the need for private property protection. I have already called on Louth County Council to ensure that work is done. Unfortunately, it did not take very long until the arrival of Storm Chandra. I do not even know what we can call the current situation, with the never-ending rain. As someone said, it is probably time to build an ark.  We have had flood protection measures. Under the CFRAM scheme, major protection works have been in the offing for County Louth for a considerable time. While we want to see those works in Carlingford, Greenore, Drogheda, Baltray and Ardee, and we know additional work needs to be done in Annagassan - I get that this is not always simple - I will put a certain level of concentration on Dundalk and Blackrock south. We have also seen an element of flooding in areas like the Ardee Road and Mounthamilton, where residents are constantly in fear of flooding any time it rains.  I would add my voice to commending those who work in the local authorities and the fire service. In some cases, they literally kept the water from the door - just and no more - and in some cases, they actually chased it out. I have said before and reiterate that we were one major rainfall, one really bad day, away from hundreds of houses being flooded.  There is a specific issue in parts of Dundalk. While we need to see the works that are promised by Louth County Council for the River Blackwater, I recognise that what I previously called the \u201cbunfight\u201d, where Louth County Council and the OPW were not sure which had responsibility for the cleaning of the Blackwater, seems to have been sorted, as it should have been. We need to ensure that the Blackwater and the Ramparts area are cleaned. I am not saying that that would deal with every flood situation or every high tide, but at least it would provide some element of capacity in the rivers. If it saves a number of houses, it is absolutely necessary. Actions have been taken by the council to address issues with the Blackwater caused by what it termed over-pumping. It is about ensuring that the council has that pump capacity when necessary so that it can pump during high tides.  I could talk about the failure by multiple Governments over many years to deal with infrastructure, although we are dealing with those infrastructural deficits at this point. The local authority has told me, as has the Minister of State, that money is available and that there will be no obstacles if the local authority needs certain things done with regard to those mitigations. We need that to happen.  As I said, there is a specific issue in Dundalk, particularly in the part where I live. It applies to everywhere between Saint Alphonsus Road and the Red Barns Road. It is particularly apparent in Cluan Enda, Bay Estate, Blackwater Court - aptly named - Ashbrook and Greenfield Court. For multiple years, if there have been heavy rains, Cluan Enda has had a huge amount of pooling, or perhaps we should call it a river, a sea or a swimming pool. The same was true of certain parts of Bay Estate, particularly Hazelwood Avenue, parts of Cypress Gardens, Willow Dale, Oakvale and Holly Park. Cherryvale, where I live, had some element of pooling, but not to the same degree. As I said, we were only one really heavy rainfall away from having severe issues.  The problem is that it is Uisce \u00c9ireann infrastructure. It is not good enough. At times, we hear the Minister for housing, Deputy James Browne, giving out about Met \u00c9ireann, but it is not good enough for him to say he has no operational control or responsibility in relation to Uisce \u00c9ireann. We have promises about CFRAM. We will probably know towards the end of 2026, or at least that is the date given, what exactly the flood protections will look like throughout much of County Louth. We are talking about Blackrock south and Dundalk going for planning in quarter 2 of 2027, around June. We need to make sure that those dates do not fall back.  The other dates that we need to make sure do not fall back relate to Uisce \u00c9ireann. The fact is that we do not have the necessary capacity in the wastewater system. When we have heavy rains, that water goes directly into the sewage system, which is a joint system. When people are dealing with what looks like heavy rain in certain places, it would not be the healthiest water you could be dealing with. I have seen what has been left behind in houses after the water has dissipated. It is not hard to imagine what that was. Let us just say there would be huge implications from a health point of view. At some level, it is disgraceful that this is happening in Ireland in 2026.  We are looking at an upgrade of the Coes Road pumping station. I am told the infrastructure works, which will also take in parts of Blackrock, will start at some point in 2027.  Those works in the pumping station itself, however, will not be complete until 2029 and I have actually been told by the council that it is more likely to be 2030. That is frightening. Many of the other pumping stations in Dundalk, while under pressure, can deal with the flow through them, but during heavy rains the Coes Road station cannot. It is dealing with everything coming from those housing estates that I have spoken about, which have all been added to what is very old infrastructure. It is also dealing with industrial units from WuXi right down and it just cannot deal with that. The wastewater treatment plant just beyond that is not due to be updated until 2033. That has a design capacity for a population equivalent of 71,000 and is to be upgraded to a capacity of 120,000. That is down to a change in the rules by the EPA because when the local authority handed it over, it was something like 169,000. Again, we do not have the capacity. We could be looking at houses being flooded with sewage because we do not have adequate infrastructure. It is a matter of short-term mitigations, long-term flood protection and dates that can be brought forward rather than put back, which is what we have seen previously. We must also ensure that Uisce \u00c9ireann infrastructure is up to scratch. The onus is on the Government to follow through. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Mark Wall)  Before I go to the Labour Party slot, I welcome all of our visitors to the Public Gallery, particularly all of the members of Probus in Mallow in County Cork, guests of Deputy Eoghan Kenny. Deputy Nash is next. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  I certainly will not attempt to run through the names of local estates and roads the way in which my good friend and colleague Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa did in the context of County Louth. I thought that when he was eating in to that additional time, he was going to mention my own street in Drogheda but ----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I left that for you, Deputy Nash. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  -----he had the good grace not to and I have the good sense to live on the top of a hill, knowing that there are certain areas that are vulnerable to flooding and flood damage. The experience and topography in our respective towns is quite different.  We are in a new era and a new normal, dare I say it, when it comes to flood events. Over the last few years and certainly before 2020, we got used to describing flash events as one-in-100-year rainfall events but the reality of climate change in 2026 is that the kinds of events and experiences we are encountering now are permanent. They are much more frequent, much more damaging and are putting a huge strain on already stressed infrastructure, road networks, flood defences and so on. We can expect more of this. The severity of the storms and the impacts we are experiencing are going to become ever more complicated and we need to do more to adapt, mitigate and manage. That is not to say that we do not need to do more to ensure that we halt, moderate and mitigate the climate change effects that we are experiencing. We need to do that but we know, unfortunately, that when it comes to the performance of this country, we are way behind in terms of meeting our climate targets. That is not an abstract thing but is having a very real impact on the day-to-day experiences of everybody in this country, and we are all in the firing line.  According to an article in The Irish Times last weekend, dozens of flood protection works that have been deemed critical to protecting thousands of homes across the country have yet to progress to planning. Some have been in the system for almost a decade. Out of 54 large projects where some work has begun since they were prioritised for development back in 2018, the majority - 31 - are only at preliminary design stage. Some of those are in my own region. The target completion times for many of the projects run well into the 2030s but those who are suffering annual, and now more frequent, deluges simply cannot wait any longer. That said, I believe the Minister of State is genuinely committed to ensuring projects are expedited in the best way possible.  The people I represent in County Louth and east Meath are very much in the firing line of this problem and of the tardiness, dare I say it, of the collective national response to this crisis. At this point, I want to join colleagues in putting on the record my appreciation of the outdoor staff, engineers and everybody across the spectrum in the public service in Louth and Meath for their actions in recent times, their preparedness and their professionalism in dealing with the very real problems that householders and business are experiencing. Homes and businesses in Blackrock, with which the Minister of State will be familiar having visited recently, have been particularly badly hit, and areas on the Cooley Peninsula are continually finding themselves quite literally in the eye of the storm.  I welcome Louth County Council's commitment to making an application for \u20ac1.2 million in additional funding from the Department of Transport to try to cover at least some of the damage caused to roads in County Louth in recent times as a result of recent flooding. I hope that application will be looked upon favourably by the Government when it lands and is being considered. I am really not sure that \u20ac1.2 million is going to cover it, though. The problem is not confined to Dundalk and north Louth; severe damage has been caused in the south of the county as well. When we speak to local authority engineers, as we do almost daily, we hear reports of roads being flooded and a growth in the number of potholes over the last period of time. That in itself is a complex issue. Many of the potholes that engineers or contractors wish to fill and resolve are actually full of water and the recent icy conditions in parts of the country have only exacerbated the problems. As physics tells us, when water ingress becomes a problem on roads, damage is done to the tarmac, the tarmac expands and that creates more problems. Hopefully we will get a period of finer weather that will allow contractors to do the work that is necessary. There has been extensive damage to the road network around Termonfeckin, for example, and I tabled a series of parliamentary questions recently in relation to the flood response issue and the need for the OPW to prioritise minor flood mitigation in that area, as well as coastal protection scheme works. I am told that \u20ac1.9 million has been allocated for coastal protection works in County Louth across some 26 projects but much more is needed. We also need to see that multifaceted response that we all speak about.  The Minister of State will also be familiar with problems in the Baltray area outside of Drogheda and, as Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa referenced, in the Annagassan area in mid-Louth. Frankly, the list goes on, but these problems are predictable. The Minister of State visited Blackrock recently. The main street in Blackrock, facing onto the beach, effectively became a kind of canal in recent times, something that I have certainly not experienced in a long time. We know that when rain persists and we have these flooding events, places like Wellington Quay in Drogheda, beside the River Boyne, are very vulnerable indeed.  I will make two further points before passing over to my party colleague Deputy O'Donoghue. I have always found the response of the Department of Social Protection to be excellent, in terms of the management of the humanitarian scheme. Members of my own family in east Meath had to benefit from that scheme in recent times in a vulnerable area around Bettystown. The response of the county council, working with the Department of Social Protection to provide basic resources to people who need them to get through difficult periods, has been excellent but we can always improve the planning in that regard, given the permanence of the kinds of problems we are experiencing. I have said time and again over the years in this Chamber, and to successive enterprise Ministers, that we need to put the business support scheme on a statutory basis and the fact that we have not done so is not acceptable. There were plans to do so three or four years ago, when I raised it with the then Minister, Simon Coveney, in response to flooding episodes that caused serious problems in the Cooley Peninsula. It is not sustainable that for each event a new memo has to be brought to Cabinet to provide for a new scheme. I know it is not the Minister of State's direct responsibility but I have no doubt he is engaging on all flood-related matters with all relevant Departments and Ministers. Those kinds of schemes need to be put on a permanent, statutory basis so that they can effectively be taken off the shelf and introduced in short order to address the needs of businesses.  I acknowledge increases have been made in the financial schemes available but they need to be put on statutory basis because, back to the earlier point I made, these events are becoming more frequent and permanent. It is a permanent feature of the system. We need permanent statutory responses on the Statute Book in primary legislation to ensure the response is quicker and more effective. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert O'Donoghue  I will add to the issue of ongoing flooding and the wider impacts recent extreme weather events have had across Ireland which are becoming more frequent and more severe as our weather grows increasingly unpredictable. Over the past number of weeks, flooding in my constituency of Dublin Fingal West has wreaked havoc. Homes, roads and local infrastructure have all been badly affected and communities have once again been left dealing with the consequences after the fact. This highlights a serious flaw in how we approach extreme weather. We remain locked in a cycle of crisis management, reacting after the damage is done rather than planning ahead. That approach is no longer fit for purpose. We need to move towards a dedicated national weather and flooding response team tasked with planning, co-ordination and preparedness so that when severe weather hits, a practical and fully resourced policy is already in place and ready to be implemented. I acknowledge the dedication and professionalism of the staff in Fingal County Council who worked around the clock in extremely difficult conditions to support communities during the recent floods. However, they are being asked to do far too much with far too little. I contacted a member of staff before 8 a.m. last Friday and they were already dealing with multiple flooding issues in the Rush and Lusk area. This is not a reflection on the staff but a chronic lack of resources, funding and support provided to our local authorities. Our council workers are stretched to breaking point, responding to increasingly severe weather events without the staffing, funding or infrastructure required to do the job properly. That situation is not sustainable and must now be addressed at a national level.  I will also speak about something that might not always make national headlines but has a real and very damaging impact on people\u2019s daily lives, the shocking state of our local roads. The recent flooding has pushed an already fragile situation into crisis. I will give some examples from my constituency of Dublin Fingal West. On Brook Lane in Rush, residents were effectively trapped in their own homes. They could not get out and families were cut off. This is not acceptable in 2026. In Bowhill, conditions were no better. Our local boxing club, a place that provides the community with an opportunity for young people to go to was completely flooded, facilities were damaged and equipment was destroyed with volunteers left to pick up the pieces. Commons Lane in Lusk was cratered like no-man's land. Across Fingal West, many roads were already in poor repair. Years of wear, underinvestment and patchwork fixes have taken their toll but flooding has accelerated that deterioration at an alarming rate. What were potholes are now literal craters - tyre gobblers - tearing through rural roads, damaging cars and creating hazards for other road users. This is not just inconvenient; it is dangerous. Parents driving children to school, carers travelling to vulnerable residents and workers commuting long distances are all navigating roads that are not fit for purpose. In rural parts of Fingal West, the damage to vehicles has become routine. People are paying out of their pockets for repairs caused not through recklessness but through neglect of the infrastructure. Meanwhile, Fingal County Council like other county councils is being placed under increasing pressure. It is expected to maintain an extensive network of approximately 1,340 km of roads with limited and insufficient resources. That is simply not sustainable.  No local authority can be asked to stretch funding thin and still deliver the standard of infrastructure our communities need. We need to be more honest about the scale of the challenge. This requires a national policy response that recognises we are facing not a series of isolated incidents but a systemic infrastructure crisis intensified by extreme weather. We need additional ring-fenced funding, technical support, drainage systems and flood mitigation particularly in areas that are now clearly flood prone which may not have been previously. Extreme weather is no longer the exception; it is our new reality. The response must match that reality with forward planning, resilience built into every project, and resources that reflect the scale of the network which varies from county to county. Communities across Dublin Fingal West cannot be left to endure this cycle of flood, damage, patch up and repeat. They deserve safe roads, reliable infrastructure and a Government response that recognises the urgency of this matter. I have no doubt the Minister of State is well aware of this and he will rise to the challenge in this matter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  I thank the Minister of State for being here for this debate. In fairness to him, he is not afraid to roll up his sleeves. He is passionate about trying to address this issue that has impacted so many communities. I too pay tribute to local authority staff and emergency services which have had to deal with these adverse weather events we face with increased regularity. I asked this question of representatives of the Department and Met \u00c9ireann when they were before the Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy and they indicated they work on the basis that we will have eight of these types of events every year. It will randomly impact the country. It is something we need to address. Support schemes need to be put on a statutory basis. It cannot be addressed every time we have one of these incidents. Learnings from previous events particularly around community hubs and making generators available are critical and need to be done.  Storm Chandra had a particularly profound impact on the Wicklow-Wexford constituency I represent. I know the Minister of State was in Aughrim, County Wicklow, where the flooding was caused by water coming down from higher ground and running through the houses. Some of that may be about working with nature and adapting forestry practices but I am sure the Minister of State would join me in paying tribute to the work of Councillor Pat Kennedy and Aughrim Tidy Towns who were on the ground. It brought out in many ways the best in people to be able to respond to the crisis.  Bunclody faced the first serious flooding in 60 years when the Slaney burst its banks. It was horrific visiting some of the homes and business impacted there. The concerns when I met Councillor Barbara-Anne Murphy and local residents were that a sufficient plan was not in place. The big challenge there for a lot of residents is while many had flood insurance until now, they will not get it again. We need to look at some sort of State guarantees until a permanent flood defence system is put in place in these communities. I would be grateful to hear the Minister's views on that.  In the case of Castletown in north Wexford, on more than one occasion every year the River Ahare bursts its banks, making a road impassable. It is an issue Councillor Joe Sullivan has been raising regularly in terms of how to address this challenge. For this coastal community, it is cut off in many ways and people have to drive the long way round because the Ahare bursts its banks any time there is heavy rain. Coastal erosion is another huge issue. I am fortunate to represent a constituency that has arguably some of the finest beaches in the country, running from Brittas Bay in Wicklow down as far as Morriscastle in Wexford. Every time there is an adverse weather event, we see parts of our coast lost to the sea.  On this occasion in the floods, the Rosslare rail line was closed again, not that it is a great service anyway. Part of it closed again as a result of the flooding. The knock-on impact was more cars travelling on the M11 but because there was flooding on the M11, counties Wicklow and Wexford were in many ways cut off by the impact. I would like to raise, as colleagues have raised, the impact these events have had on our roads, in particular rural roads.  Many of the roads, which were in pretty poor condition, have been left impassable as a result of weather conditions and flooding that has happened. These include in areas around Woodenbridge, Shillelagh and Arklow, which the Minister of State is familiar with, but equally around places like Johnstown in north Wexford and crossing between the Wexford and Wicklow border. For Bearna Chl\u00e9 National School, parents now have to travel the long way around to avoid craters that traverse the entire road. There is an application coming in quite soon from local authorities. It is critical that we provide sufficient funding. I am asking for it on behalf of Wicklow County Council and Wexford County Council to be able to address the problems with our roads as a result of these weather conditions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere  I welcome the statements. I empathise with the many individuals, men, women, children, families and business owners who have been left absolutely devastated once again by the horrific impact of flooding. My constituency of Carlow-Kilkenny was hit badly again. I thank the local authorities in the area and roads crew in both Carlow and Kilkenny and the fire service for the incredible work that they did. Even up until today, they are still dealing with the fallout and the damage from the floods regarding the roads and the road repairs. It truly was a significant incident that occurred there in past couple of weeks. The Minister of State is 100% behind this, but the Government has to deliver big progress on flood relief schemes and flood warning systems. The past couple of weeks have seen huge flooding and significant flooding in some areas, including the flooding of homes and businesses. I am talking about places such as Graiguenamanagh, Thomastown, Inistioge, Freshford, Piltown and Ballyhale to name six in the Kilkenny side of my constituency that have been affected along with places like Clonegal in Carlow, which also have been decimated with flooding.  Last week, the Taoiseach and Ministers met to consider the State's response to the extreme weather events. It was confirmed that local authorities would be given the authority to commence road repairs. The importance of these contingency funds has been mentioned by previous speakers. There are roads down my way and the Ceann Comhairle would be familiar with down in Drummond, Glynn, Ballyglisheen, Newtown and Dungarvan over to Knockroe, Clashganny and Inch. Driving on some of these roads is like being in a boneshaker. Vehicles are rattling on them. It is a pothole-ridden nightmare. Funding needs to be made available. I welcome the fact that funding is going to be made available. I would like to see the speed of which this funding can be made available to local authorities increase. The roads funding announcement was fantastic news during the week with over \u20ac1.5 billion nationally. We did well in my constituency with over \u20ac40 million, but we need this additional funding to sort out the serious damage that was done to roads during the past couple of weeks in addition to the funding that was recently announced.  Graiguenamanagh Tinnahinch flood relief scheme is in tranche 1. It is progressing, albeit it has been very slow to progress the scheme. Funding was announced in 2018. Consultants were appointed in December 2020. It only managed to go to planning in December 2025. That is an awful long time to go from appointing design consultants to putting in for planning. I implore the Minister of State to try to speed up the planning process to get these schemes approved. It took five years to get to that stage. I know there are environmental studies to be done, and I get all of that. Human life is more important than fish life. Human life is more important than a snail's life. We can have all studies in the world, but when we sit down with somebody whose home has been ravaged by water. While the rain might have subsided, the smell and the damage lasts for weeks and weeks. The Minister of State knows that because he very kindly came down to my own hometown of Graiguenamanagh and he saw the damage that has been caused first hand. The people affected are still dealing with that today.  I acknowledge and welcome the funding and humanitarian aid that a lot of people are applying for. The fact that it was increased as well is a positive step. However, we need to make sure that we put flood defences in place that mean these issues are not going to happen again. The Graiguenamanagh flood relief scheme is with An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la. I ask the Minister of State to try his best to speed that up and pull out whatever stops he needs to do to get this scheme over the line so that construction can start and we can get the flood relief scheme in place to sort that issue out. A big challenge I have if I look at the OPW and Kilkenny, we have two people appointed by Kilkenny County Council to deal specifically with flood relief schemes. I would love to see a situation where schemes can run parallel. For example, we have Graiguenamanagh in tranche 1. We have six schemes in total identified in Kilkenny but they are not running concurrently. I understand that there is a financial commitment required in terms of the capital infrastructure, but surely there is a way we can progress these schemes with the consultation part and the studies part. This is not to get to the construction or to finality but to get them going meaning that when the funding is there these projects can start straightaway. For example, Thomastown is stuck in a rut. It is not going to get sorted any time soon. These schemes take a while. I ask the Minister of State to consider starting to get the ball rolling on these schemes in terms of the consultation piece to get them to a stage where they are ready to go to tender.  He is familiar with Inistioge. He visited it in 2018 while he was Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW. The hurling pitch in Inistioge and the village once again was flooded along with Thomastown and Graiguenamanagh. I visited Inistioge and I spoke with a lot of the locals. I looked at the hurling pitch. It was like looking out into the Irish Sea. The water was up nearly as far as the crossbars. We cannot have situations where this continues and continues. The Minister of State's heart is in the right place. He is doing everything he can, but we need to see speed and delivery on these schemes. The people, families, homes and businesses who are affected by flood relief are sick and devastated. They are living in fear. Every single time there is a shower of rain coming or a couple of days of rain they are thinking, \"Oh my God, are we going to get flooded this time?\" I want to pay tribute again to both local authorities in my constituency of Carlow-Kilkenny for the tremendous work they did providing sandbags, making sure that people were looked after, helping people evacuate their homes and helping them to save as much furniture and so on as they could. Funding constraints are not the biggest problem here. The Minister of State has strongly come out pointing out that there is \u20ac1.3 billion put aside for flood relief schemes until 2030. The money is there. We just need to see a little bit more speed. I acknowledge that there are processes that need be followed but we need speed and urgency. We need to bypass some of the stuff because human life is more important than fish life.  There has been huge community engagement over the past number of years on some of these schemes. I implore the Minister of State to ensure these schemes to run concurrently and to get to a stage. We can worry about the specific funding and allocation once we get approval. Let us get these schemes agreed, designed and ready to go, then we can look for the funding. There is a lot of co-ordination among different agencies required but let us start the ball rolling now and let us not be in a situation in a couple of years where we are back here.  Addressing these issues requires a multifaceted approach that includes sustainable development practices, adequate funding for infrastructure, active community engagement and effective public awareness campaigns. However, these schemes are so important. These schemes are giving hope to people in Carlow, Kilkenny, Thomastown, Inistioge, Graiguenamanagh, Ballyhale, Piltown and Freshford, to name just a few. We are looking for the Minister of State's support to get these over the line as quickly as possible. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John McGuinness  I acknowledge the very serious flood issues in Carlow. I visited a number of the businesses and households there. Of course, it is the same everywhere else that is affected by flooding. There is devastation after the flood. There is the attempt on more than one occasion to rebuild a life and a home. They are fed up of waiting for the schemes that have been talked about by us in here for years and years. In Carlow, for example, when some of the businesses and residents applied for support, it was too slow in being delivered. Regarding farmers losing livestock, one man lost 14 sheep in the flood. He is having difficulty being included. He is not included in the Red Cross or the business fund. I have made a case to the Minister. He and anyone else who lost their stock should be looked after. After all, it is a business that runs on a small margin. They need the money quickly to replace the stock and get back into business. I went through the houses in Inistioge yesterday. I was shocked when I drove through Inistioge during the flood prior to the most recent one.  The water was literally running over the crossbar on the GAA pitch. After that, I saw the devastation in the homes. I do not know how they tolerated it. I listened to the cases of the people living right beside the waterfront in Graiguenamanagh. Older people were desperately trying to get the money to get their homes back in order. I ask that in each and every scheme, for those who are in the system and those waiting to go into it, the Minister of State insists that Government pull out all of the stops and address all of the obstacles preventing the schemes from getting to the point of construction. I have heard the arguments about nature and so on but, when the scheme in Kilkenny city was being finished before 2005, I saw the trucks drive up and down the riverbed. I saw that scheme finished. It is an excellent scheme and one that is worth looking at. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  I thank the Minister of State for his recent visit to Donegal and for meeting families who are affected face to face. I really appreciated that. We missed the Minister of State when he was out of the D\u00e1il. I will be straight about that. I said it in front of the residents when we were in Donegal. He really cares about this issue. He has experienced it in his own community and seen it at first hand. We missed him.  I am going to go back to 2017. There is always flooding at certain points. Unfortunately, some very poor planning decisions were made in the past and houses were built on flood plains all across the country. That is exactly the case in the worst areas. Terrible planning decisions were made, houses were built on flood plains and we are left with the repercussions. The Minister of State came up and saw what happened in August 2017 at first hand. It was absolutely devastating. The damage done in my home peninsula of Inishowen and into east Donegal was shocking. It was a wake-up call. It is interesting. I have always worked hard as a public representative but I never put in a shift like I did in the weeks after that. I was working from literally first thing in the morning until last thing at night trying to put my arm around the community and deal with government, including local government, to try to get everything done to address families' flooding issues and the bridges, parks and football pitches that had to be repaired. It was unbelievable. I always think of that when I see other communities flooded. I have been there. I have seen it and understand it.  That is why we missed the Minister of State. If he had been there during that period, we would have been on schedule now. He would have shepherded it over the line. I have no criticism of him whatsoever but the time the system takes is just too long and the interim measures that should be put in place just are not there.  For the remainder of my time, I will focus on Burnfoot. As the Minister of State knows, Burnfoot is just a wee village in the south of Inishowen, not far from Derry city. Burnfoot always flooded. The houses in question were on a flood plain. Everybody knows that there are council houses and private houses that should never have been built where they were built. For God's sake, the name of the village in Irish means \"the foot of the river\". Before the Minister of State's time, the OPW and the then Minister did not agree to fund works. They said it would not have been economically viable. That was a mistake. The Minister of State granted funding for it and rectified the issue. However, as he has seen himself, the problem is that eight families had to leave their homes, which were council houses. Some of those families were interviewed for the Irish Times in recent days. I spoke to some of them afterwards. He met Kathleen Molloy, a fine woman and a fine spokesperson for these families. I do not think Kathleen will ever be back in her house. It is just so sad. Those families lost that connection. Kathleen is still in the local area but a lot of them lost that connection and will never go back.  Somebody recently said that, when the floods come in, the media and everybody else focus on it, but, when the waters recede, so does the media attention and focus. The Minister of State is now back in the role and travelling the country. We really need to demand more of our local authorities and of the systems, including the OPW. We must drive it on as much as we can and work together with other agencies. We cannot leave people in despair for years and years.  My colleague Deputy John Brady introduced a Bill on flood insurance. That should be looked at again. It might give people a degree of protection. As the Minister of State said when he was in Donegal, his job is to try to protect communities from floods and to build flood defences. There are wider issues around insurance, however. That would give people comfort.  We need to look at the gaps that are lengthening the time it takes to deliver these flood defences. We need to make sure that the media attention that is on these areas for a few days never comes off as part of a drive to get things done. We need to ask local authorities all across the country to do better, working in partnership all across the country. I again thank the Minister of State. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  I pay tribute to all of the workers in local authorities and emergency services for everything they have done. On Friday last, the banks of the Mayne river burst causing absolute devastation for residents living in apartments on Marrsfield Avenue, Clongriffin. Residents were left without electricity and the lifts were put out of action, leaving a disabled person who uses a wheelchair effectively cut off from the rest of the community. The flooding of an underground car park left several cars completely destroyed. This has had a devastating impact on livelihoods, including those of a number of people who drive professionally for a living, including taxi drivers. People in these apartments are paying \u20ac2,000 a month in rent for one-bed apartments. They simply cannot afford to lose their income or livelihoods. The emergency response payment must be made available to the residents of these Marrsfield Avenue apartments. Are the residents of these apartments able to apply for this emergency payment? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kevin Boxer Moran","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran  Yes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  I thank the Minister of State for that confirmation. It is very useful because there was no clarity on that. I appreciate that confirmation. These apartments were built right next to the Mayne river. M\u00e1 chaithfimid s\u00fail siar, if we look back, there is a long history of flooding associated with that river. In June 1993, homes in Balgriffin, very close to the apartments that were just flooded, were badly flooded resulting in residents having to leave their home for two months. More than 30 years ago, in 1993, a resident affected by these floods said \"The Water Table level in the area is extremely high, the ground having already absorbed as much water as it can.\" Downstream, at the Baldoyle Estuary, homes were badly flooded on 1 February 2002, when the banks of the Mayne river burst.  When homes were flooded in 1993 and 2002, this was a rural community on the edge of Dublin city and there were very few homes in the area. Since then, thousands of homes have been built in the area. In recognition of the flood risk posed, there are no buildings directly adjacent to the Mayne river at several locations. The decision made by Dublin City Council many years ago to grant planning permission for apartments with an underground car park right next to a river with a history of flooding was grossly irresponsible. The flood map for the area shows that lands close by are prone to flooding. The maps for the land the apartments were built on do not show the same flood risk. I assume this is because the land is slightly higher. However, the apartments were built on a narrow strip of land right next to a river with a history of bursting its banks, right next to lands that flood and right next to homes that had previously flooded in an area where a flood relief scheme is needed but has never been delivered. Excavating and digging down to put in an underground car park at this location could only ever lead to one outcome. The result has been devastating for residents who have their livelihoods destroyed.  In 2028, the Minister of State announced that there would be a flood risk management plan for the Liffey and Dublin Bay river basin. This included the assessment of a number of areas, including Balgriffin. In 2020, when asked about the flood risk assessment for the Balgriffin area, the then Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael McGrath, stated in a written reply: \"It is understood that housing development in the area has likely altered the hydraulic conditions on site and\/or resolved the flooding issue identified in FEM FRAMS.\"  He went on to say that this was to be reviewed. Six years later, we are still waiting on the OPW to produce revised flood maps for the area. The serious flooding of the apartments at Marrsfield shows, unfortunately, that the OPW got this completely wrong when it said it appeared the flooding issue had been resolved in the area.  In a written response issued to me today by the senior Minister about the flooding at Marrsfield in Clongriffin, he and the OPW do not even know who the relevant local authority is. They get this basic fact completely wrong. The suggestion from the senior Minister that Fingal County Council should apply for funding to carry out flood protection works for apartments in the jurisdiction of Dublin City Council, where Fingal County Council has no legal authority or responsibility, shows that the OPW and the senior Minister, in issuing this reply, are not in command of even the most basic facts and pieces of information. It is abundantly clear that there needs to be emergency flood relief works to protect these residents and a proper flood relief scheme to address the flood events that have taken place in the area over many decades. This must include protecting the apartments.  Is mian liom a r\u00e1 go bhfuil an m\u00e9id a tharla uaf\u00e1sach. Is drochsc\u00e9al \u00e9. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 uaf\u00e1sach ar fad. N\u00edor cuireadh t\u00fas ach le 10 sc\u00e9im as 150 - ten schemes out of 150. There is a need, as others have said, to progress these much faster and with urgency. Residents need timelines. Cad at\u00e1 \u00e1 dh\u00e9anamh ag an Aire St\u00e1it chun \u00e9 seo a shocr\u00fa? N\u00edl aon fh\u00f3gra. N\u00ed fol\u00e1ir d\u00fainn gn\u00edomh\u00fa anois. Caithfidh muid gn\u00edomh\u00fa go pr\u00e1inneach. N\u00edl aon rogha eile ann. N\u00ed fol\u00e1ir don Aire St\u00e1it agus don Rialtas araon \u00e9isteacht agus gn\u00edomh\u00fa. I urge the Minister of State to address these issues. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  I extend my solidarity to the people in my constituency of Dublin Rathdown who have been impacted by Storm Chandra and to everyone across the country who has been impacted by Strom Chandra and other recent weather events. Locally we saw incredible footage of damaged areas like Nutgrove Avenue and Enniskerry Road. I acknowledge the incredible work of D\u00fan Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, not only the front-line workers who responded swiftly in the early hours of 25 January but also all the backroom workers who responded to over 500 calls. When the council met on 9 February to review responses to the storm, a number of productive measures were suggested, including the installation of additional cameras in areas of the river network, the expansion of the rain gauge network to include higher areas such as Three Rock and the improvement of drainage systems in areas like Loreto Park. These are all welcome suggestions but they reflect an individual council approach to a State-wide collective problem. The aftermath of Storm Chandra has exposed the hard truth that in an age of rapid climate change, our infrastructure and communication methods are failing. This is not something that individual councils and isolated improvements can fix; it is a responsibility which sits squarely on the shoulders of the Government.  In 2024, the Cookstown Lane social housing development was opened in Kilternan. All 22 homes on the estate were filled with families who had been on the social housing waiting list. In the aftermath of Storm Chandra, the estate was filled with water. It has been ruined, flooded by the Loughlinstown river. Those same families have been uprooted, with most unable to return for several months. No matter how strong local council efforts to drain the area and help residents may be, they cannot meaningfully reduce the damage in situations like this.  A concern repeated throughout the D\u00fan Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council meeting was the inability to swiftly communicate with residents about the dangers of the storm. This issue has been pertinent to other extreme weather incidents across the country, including Storm \u00c9owyn last year. It is something successive governments have been warned about for years. In 2018, the European electronic communications code made it mandatory for all member states of the European Union to deploy a public warning system by June 2022 using telephone networks to alert everyone located in a specific area of an ongoing crisis or upcoming disaster. That deadline was nearly four years ago but, if I am correct, we still have not launched a tender for such a system. We remain one of the few EU member states without a comprehensive public warning communication system, yet our exposure to extreme weather is set to increase in the coming years.  The Government must recognise that Storm Chandra should not be treated as an isolated phenomenon, but as a real part of our new weather pattern. Proactive steps must be taken to ensure extreme weather is treated with a co-ordinated, holistic and State-wide communication approach from the Government and that burdens are not placed on under-resourced individual councils. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  I extend my sincere sympathy to everybody who has experienced flooding in the past few weeks and even going back months. In my constituency, Ballsbridge, Rathfarnham, Terenure and many communities and houses were affected by the bursting of the banks of the Dodder. It was particularly devastating for those people and families. I have seen the devastation that flooding causes to people's homes and livelihoods. It can be an extremely traumatic event for people, so they have my deepest sympathy in this respect.  On average, it rains approximately every other day in this country. Some parts of the country, like Dublin, are a little drier than others. The years are getting wetter with the advent of climate change. There is no better example than our most recent January, which was one of the highest rainfall months on record. This has devastating impacts on homes and livelihoods across the country and in my constituency of Dublin Bay South.  Our responses to climate change need to take a variety of forms. Unfortunately, it is likely that we will have to adapt. Nature will react, as it always does, but I have severe concerns that our Government is far behind. Nature-based solutions are often not even remotely a part of the response. We have chronic issues in sewerage and drainage capacity. Often, storm drain systems are interconnected with sewerage systems and result in overflows into our waterways, as in my constituency at Sandymount Strand, which I have raised several times. The ownership of the water systems is often confused between Uisce \u00c9ireann, the local authority and private owners.  When I was campaigning in the local elections two years ago, people at so many doors I knocked on reported flooding issues in their back gardens that I noticed a pattern of poor drainage around the River Poddle, indicating an increased flooding risk. I raised that with Dublin City Council and it seemed like everybody was passing the parcel on the issue. At the general election, a similar pattern seemed to emerge around Ringsend Park. Furthermore, there is only one flood insurance provider available in Ringsend, Irishtown, Sandymount and Merrion in my constituency, as I have raised several times, including in the last week.  The breadth of issues with water infrastructure and flood prevention, mitigation, management and recovery are breathtaking in a country known for its rain. More breathtaking is that these issues of drainage, sewerage systems, water delivery, flood defences and mitigation are solved problems. In fact, they have been solved for millennia all around the world, yet for some reason they seem to be consistently beyond this Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James O'Connor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"James-O'Connor.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James O'Connor  I am sharing time with my colleague, Deputy O'Connell, on the important issue of flooding. I represent the constituency of Cork East and have the honour and privilege to do so in D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann. It is well known that Storm Babet in October 2023 did unmerciful damage to a huge number of homes and businesses across the constituency. Over 800 homes and premises were badly damaged. Many people's homes were destroyed and needed very significant reconstruction works. Housing estates were overrun by flood water in the town of Midleton and many other areas of east Cork including Rathcormac, Mogeely, the village of Killeagh and Castlemartyr. It also affected places in Ladysbridge and many one-off rural locations around that area. To put it in perspective for the Minister of State, in the 200 years of recorded history in my home village of Killeagh, there was no record of flooding taking place until October 2023. I concur with Deputy Hayes's comments. We are living in times when the climate is changing. These events, unfortunately, will become more common.  Killeagh has been made famous by the Kingfishr song, which mentions \"the woods of Glenbower\". One thing that personally hit me was walking those woods after the flooding took place and seeing bridges washed away and the landscape damaged through landslides and other physical changes. It is the first time in my living memory that I recall any event causing such damage and destruction.  The sad reality of water is that it gets in everywhere. It does irreversible damage and requires very substantial repair works at huge cost.  I will recap the public infrastructure cost of Storm Babet to the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, who is in the Chamber. It was in and around the region of \u20ac60 million to \u20ac80 million when you factor in the community hospital in Midleton, the community Garda station, other public infrastructure, roads, bridges and things that were washed away and destroyed and needed subsequent reconstruction. The impact it had on families and people - human beings - in the constituency was absolutely devastating. I want to provide feedback to colleagues in the House. I am anxious for us to do everything we can, in the political system, as the public looks on. On this side of the Chamber there are the back benches, where Government-supporting Deputies sit, and the Minister of State's benches, where members of the Government sit. I am relaying the views and the frustration of the people of east Cork. They do not care about planning processes, Part 8 schemes or Arterial Drainage Acts. They want to see progress as quickly as possible so that their family homes are as safe as they can be. They want us to do all we can in respect of that. I want to reflect on that, which I think is also important to do.  From my engagement and experience with Cork County Council, I think it has been doing as much as it physically can in respect of advancing the individual property protection scheme. My understanding, now that over 700 applications have been assessed, is that the installation of that property protection scheme is ongoing and is happening. There are a few things I want to report back. If there is future ministerial engagement from the Taoiseach or a Minister, the TDs in the constituency need to get sufficient notice that it is happening. This is necessary to make sure that people affected by flooding get an opportunity for dialogue and engagement. That has been a point of particular frustration to me. I have not been given sufficient notice or opportunities to feed in on programmes when Ministers have come to visit. In fact, this was the case when the Taoiseach visited. I relayed that to him subsequently. It caused frustration in the community. It is important to ensure we keep that collegiality in terms of what we are all seeking, which is solution-focused.  The advancement of the main Midleton flood relief scheme is no easy undertaking because we are talking about tidal flooding, surface flooding and fluvial river flooding. There is a merging of three individual issues that are causing Midleton to become very prone to flooding at a time when we are adapting to the changing climate. I described the flooding that happened in 2023 as biblical. I really hope, in all sincerity, that this never occurs again as long as I live, but we cannot plan on that basis. We have to plan on the basis of what has happened to make sure we do what we can to protect the residents in that area. We must do everything we physically can.  I am sad to say to the Minister of State, in the politest way possible, that the tranche 2 schemes that are stuck in the Department for which he has responsibility are a little bit of a joke. I am fed up with trying to explain to people, particularly in Castlemartyr, why this continues to be the case when it comes to advancing the tranche 2 works that need to be done on the River Kiltha, and further up in Mogeely as well. We are trying to map solutions for people in those areas. I am conscious that anything that is done in Castlemartyr can have a knock-on impact on the village of Ladysbridge, which is further down. We need to see a better system where the OPW gets the funding. If it is the case that the Minister of State needs help, he should tell us and we can work together to try to make that happen.  Ireland is home to the European headquarters of many of the largest multinational companies in the social media and tech space. The world HQ of Meta, or Facebook as people would know it, is in Ballsbridge, with over 5,000 people working there. I am amazed that we still do not have a national emergency system where people get a text. I have been abroad in countries where text alerts have come in due to severe weather. An automatic notification is sent to people's phones to tell them to be alert. Pushing that burden onto local authorities is not fair. That is something the Government should look at. I genuinely feel it could easily be sorted in a couple of months. It has been done in other countries with great ease. We have all of the assets here to make that happen. Giving people time to prepare is important. I know it is horrible to say it but if it occurs again while people are working in their places of employment or away from their homes, at least they would have some chance to get back to where they live to get their valuables and do something. The Minister of State knows what happened in Midleton in 2023 during Storm Babet. I was told that in one case, hot meals were floating around on trays in a community healthcare space on that occasion. That is how quick it happened. People were in the hairdressers getting their hair done to find floodwater coming in under their feet. We need to see a better solution that includes having a proper emergency system in place.  My time is coming to an end. As a TD, I am doing everything I can with the good faith of my Opposition and Government colleagues in the constituency. We want to make sure this happens. I ask the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, to do everything he can to help and support us to achieve that. I know that what happened in Wexford was very regrettable, but what happened in east Cork a couple of short years ago was considerably worse. I do not want the people there to be forgotten about. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maeve O'Connell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maeve-O'Connell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Maeve-O'Connell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Maeve O'Connell  As the Minister of State has been hearing, the rainfall we have had in recent weeks - it was raining when I was coming in here today, so we may not be past it yet - has caused considerable damage to homes and businesses, including in my constituency of Dublin Rathdown. This intense rain flooded areas including Clonskeagh, Nutgrove, Benildus Avenue, Aiken Village in Stepaside and Cookstown Lane in Kilternan. The local wastewater systems were completely overrun. Those whose homes had not been damaged by the floods found themselves caught in gridlocked traffic, blocked roads and public transport cancellations. We all know it rains a lot in Ireland. We accept that, but we cannot accept allowing our city to come to a grinding halt every time there is heavy rain, no matter how unusual it is. Unfortunately, as several other people have said here today, it is not unusual anymore. Met \u00c9ireann is repeatedly warning us that due to climate change, storms and intense bursts of heavy rain are going to become the norm. Our Departments, State agencies and local authorities need to work together to figure out how to improve our flood defences now so that we are not all back here again next year having the same conversation.  Two weeks ago, I visited homes and businesses in Kilternan. They have already started to repair and rebuild after the heaviest rains have subsided. I spoke with the builders the day I visited and they told me they are working 12 hours a day to repair those homes to allow the families to come back. It was raining very heavily on that day as well. They are working really hard. The builders and the families are also frustrated because they are rebuilding what they had just built in the first place. These were homes in Cookstown Lane that people had only moved into in the last year. They had only decorated them in the last few months. Their frustration is accentuated by the concern that they could end up doing all of this again next winter if we do not have mitigation systems in place.  I acknowledge that the Government has done a lot to try to prepare for flooding. I particularly praise the Minister of State for increasing the maximum funding for a minor flood mitigation works project from \u20ac750,000 to \u20ac2 million last year. It is good to make the funding available, but money alone will not get the solutions in place without having boots on the ground and getting the works done. I was very disappointed to discover that my own local authority, D\u00fan Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, has had just six successful minor works applications in the last ten years. This is despite the fact that many areas only escaped flooding this time because the most intense rain fell on other areas just a couple of kilometres away. It was just luck this time round. Areas such as Stillorgan and Kilmacud are recognised flood risks. I know there have been multiple reports both to Uisce \u00c9ireann and D\u00fan Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. Even with normal rainfall levels, wastewater systems have overrun on those roads and we have had water spilling out. This a very real public health risk and is doing untold damage, repeatedly, to the local environment. I know other colleagues have spoken about the unacceptable amounts of wastewater flowing into the Irish Sea after periods of heavy rain. These are localised issues, but they are feeding into the wider issue as well.  Are the eligibility criteria for the minor works scheme too restrictive, given that D\u00fan Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council has had just six successful project applications in ten years? I ask the Minister of State to review the details of the scheme. Maybe he could engage with the various authorities and relevant State agencies, which are now reviewing what they can do over the next year to try to alleviate some of these things, and see if some funding could be made available to do that. We need to develop, support and implement local flood mitigation systems. We need to look at creative solutions. We need to look at our parks, parklands and playing pitches for water attenuation schemes because these areas are becoming quite built up. My constituency of Dublin Rathdown is an area of high house building, which is what we need, but we are losing many potential water absorption areas.  In conjunction with installing these flood mitigation projects, our local authorities must be increasingly conscious of the disruption that construction works cause to our natural water tables and water run-off areas.  As I have said, some areas are already vulnerable to flooding but with these new developments under way, we should take a thorough look at how we can protect our new developments and prevent them from becoming vulnerable to more flooding in extreme weather conditions. We need to put in these safeguards now, as we are doing this building, so we can stop these new communities from becoming the next Cookstown Lane over the next few months.  As I said, I have no desire to be standing here in a year's time talking the same talk about flooded homes, damaged businesses and communities brought to a standstill by heavy rains. Likewise, I am sure the Minister of State has no desire to listen to me do so. The Government has rightly placed a very high priority on our infrastructure. Robust flood defence systems are an integral part of our national infrastructure. As we saw all too well in the past few weeks, if our flood mitigation systems fail, so too does much of our vital infrastructure. That includes our housing and transport systems. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"William Aird","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy William Aird  I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to raise this important matter. Doris, Gareth, Dennis, Alex, Barra, Eunice, Ciar\u00e1n, Ashley, \u00c9owyn and Chandra were some of the fiercest storms to batter our country in the past ten years. They brought strong winds, rain and flooding, and left a trail of destruction behind them. In light of recent severe weather events, and the flooding we have again witnessed across the country, particularly in my county of Laois, will the Government develop and implement a national river management strategy to mitigate the impact of future extreme weather events?  In recent months, communities have experienced devastating flooding with homes damaged, businesses disrupted, farmland rendered unusable and families left dealing with uncertainty, stress and significant financial loss. Portarlington experienced major flooding events in 2008, 2017 and 2020. A detailed engineering assessment was announced in August 2020 to identify flood alleviation measures and prepare design documentation. However, progress since then has been far too slow. Residents and business owners are increasingly frustrated. Communities living with constant flood risk cannot continue to endure delay after delay. Last weekend, Botley Lane in Portarlington was flooded yet again, a situation that has become all too familiar. I welcome recent indications that flood defence schemes are to be treated as critical infrastructure under upcoming emergency planning legislation. The Portarlington flood relief scheme must be included in any fast-track process.  In Mountmellick, areas such as Manor Road continue to flood in times of heavy rainfall. I welcome confirmation that its flood relief scheme, with a budget of \u20ac20.8 million, has progressed to planning and construction will begin in early 2027. Residents of Mountmellick have waited many years for progress since the significant flooding of November 2017. There is genuine fear every time heavy rain is forecast. Elsewhere across the county, flooding concerns have also been raised. A pitch at The Rock GAA club, which I hope the Minister of State will have an opportunity to visit when he comes to County Laois, is completely waterlogged and flooded over. Hard work, on a community and voluntary basis, went into maintaining and getting those pitches to where they are today. The club adjoins a river, which is the reason this flooding is taking place.  Local examples illustrate a broader national issue. At present, responsibility for flood mitigation, river maintenance and drainage is spread across multiple agencies, including the OPW and local authorities. Despite the good work being done under the existing capital programme, the system remains fragmented. Rivers do not respect county boundaries. Actions taken or not taken upstream can have serious consequences downstream. Issues such as siltation, vegetation management, land use change, outdated drainage infrastructure and inadequate maintenance have all made a contribution to the flood risk. Too often, these issues are dealt with in a piecemeal way rather than through integrated catchment-wide planning. Given the increasing financial cost to families, businesses, landowners and the Exchequer, the time has come for a national river management strategy.  A national river management strategy would provide three clear pathways: a long-term framework for catchment-based planning; a clear prioritisation of investment; and structured interagency co-operation. It would ensure that flood mitigation funding delivers maximum value for money, reduces duplication and integrates nature-based solutions alongside traditional engineering works. A national approach would provide certainty. It would allow local authorities and communities to plan proactively. We cannot continue to lurch from one flood event to the next and announce schemes after each crisis, without embedding them into a broader strategic framework.  I urge the Minister of State to commit to developing a national river management strategy that integrates existing flood relief programmes, accelerates delivery, strengthens governance and funding mechanisms, and uses modern tools for river basin management. Communities like Portarlington, Clonaslee, Rosenallis, Mountmellick and others across County Laois deserve clarity. They deserve progress and they deserve to know that the Government is moving beyond reactive responses towards a co-ordinated, strategic and future-focused approach. Flooding is an issue of growing urgency. The financial, social and emotional costs are simply too high to ignore. We need a system that works, one where river management is co-ordinated, consistent and grounded in long-term planning rather than crisis response.  Will the Minister of State, in his own good time while on the public media, explain something that people raise with me on a continuous basis, day in, day out, no matter where I travel? In my hometown of Portlaoise, from where the River Triogue takes all our water out of the capital town of the county to Mountrath, Clonaslee, Rosenallis and Abbeyleix, and everywhere in every corner of Laois, people are talking to me. The talk the whole time, especially among the older people in the community, is that I raise in the D\u00e1il with the Minister of State why we cannot go in to manage and clean the rivers, as was done 40, 50, 60 and 70 years ago. People on the canals can still remember - the few people we have who are over 90 years of age - when the canals were dammed and cleaned all those years ago. They ask the same thing, which is to know, working with everybody on a river management basis, that surely some form of cleaning can take place in the river.  I am only saying to the Minister of State what has been said to me on a daily basis. One old lady said to me the other day that she is 88 years of age and cleans the shore in her yard every three or four weeks because if she does not, it fills up with silt and the water runs all over the yard right up to her door. These are people who have lived many years and know the facts about having to clean something and ensuring there is depth enough in our rivers, managed right, that allows us to ensure the water does not overflow the banks and does not flood people. Surely, we must act and act immediately when people's homes are flooded.  I acknowledge that the Minister of State has done more work on this. It was many years ago when I saw him on national TV working on behalf of the people of Athlone who were completely flooded. I saw him getting out of a rubber dinghy when he was helping people to move from one area to another.  The Minister of State has walked the walk and I am not saying he is not talking the talk. I acknowledge we have a good person to walk the walk for us now because he knows at first hand the devastation. People whose homes have never been flooded believe flooding is like a sink overflowing in the kitchen, as experienced by most people, or a washing machine breaking down, with water coming out on the floor. Flooding is a different animal altogether, in that the devastation can be evident in the house for years afterwards. It is a matter of what comes with the water and what is left over when it is cleaned out with mops and buckets. That must take priority over everything else for those affected. Every winter, there is fear of flooding owing to rainfall. Flooding is devastating for those who live in flood-risk zones. We often hear that we need to be sure about where we buy or build a house. We should remember that there are people living in second-, third- and fourth-generation houses that were never flooded until now. This is where the huge problem is arising.  We can talk about climate change but in parallel we need to ensure our natural infrastructure is maintained properly. I remember being a very young councillor in my town, Portlaoise. I acknowledge the role of local authorities. I can speak only about my own one, in County Laois. I have been dealing with it for years and years. Sandbags were always available and councillors could pick them up and deliver them. I am sure the Minister of State did so himself in his time. I acknowledge that the councils were always very proactive.  What is more important is that we work together to ensure we do not experience this devastation again. I named all the storms in my opening address. Every time they happened, there were serious repercussions for everybody. After each one, we were talking as we are talking now. If we are prepared to put huge amounts towards flood barriers, we can also work in parallel by ensuring proper management where water flows out. No matter what you do, water still has to travel the one line out.  In my town, Portlaoise, through which the River Triogue flows, there was flooding at Bridge Street because the bridge was too narrow where the water left the town. We took down the bridge and straightened the river at the back of the convent school, meaning we never had flooding again on the street.  However, the problem is that we are not cleaning and dredging the river according to principles of good river management, as was done when I was a young fella, the whole way along from Two Mile Bridge to The Rock GAA Club. No dredger has been seen recently. I saw the dredger on the river when I was a young fella. People keep asking me how there could not be flooding if the rivers are not managed. I mean managing them in co-operation with everybody else. None of us set out to do something wrong. Those who went before us hundreds of years ago did not set out to do anything wrong. They managed the rivers. When I was a young fella passing the same river each day coming home from school, I would see huge eels in it. There are still some there but not as many. We should ask why. I am told it has all to do with not touching the river. I do not know; I am not an expert. I can only tell what happened to me and what I saw with my own two eyes when I was a young fella.  All those who lived along the River Triogue loved walking it, going out by Meany\u2019s and O\u2019Donnell\u2019s. I recently asked an old man who lives along the river if there were many ducks. He said there are not as many as usual. Therefore, it is not all about not touching the river. There is something else at play. Is it that we need to have better management of rivers to encourage more wildlife to come? I asked the man when he last saw an otter. He said he does not know the day he last saw one. He is now 84. When he was a young fella, there were plenty of otters. He said he sees the odd crane standing at the side of the bank. The reason I am saying this is not to give a lecture here in D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann but because all the talk about not doing river management must be balanced with what we saw 50 or 60 years ago, when there was plenty of wildlife along the river even though there was river management. The argument I am trying to put forward is that we need better management.  I praise the Minister of State again for the work he has done. I look forward to him coming down to County Laois. I will have his lunch ready for him on the day. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Fitzmaurice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice  Flooding is a fairly complicated scenario. It might look simple to address and devastating for families but there are a lot of different parts to this. The first thing people need to understand relates to towns especially. When Dublin was being developed, a certain number of pipes were put in, maybe 12 in., 14 in. or 18 in. in diameter. Then it was decided to build more houses and buildings, which was good, but the pipes had to take more and more water from the new estates. This went on and on. No more than with what you put into your mouth, sooner or later it does not all fit in. You have to do things in proportion. That is one aspect.  Another aspect is cleaning out gullies. A lot of flooding is caused by simple things like gullies not being cleaned out.  I thank the Minister of State for liaising with me in the past few weeks on the River Suck and the Shannon.  The next aspect is drains. I remember when you could make, clean and do everything else with a drain. Now a farmer is afraid to make one because someone from the fisheries authorities or Department might say it is not allowed. Councils used to deal with a certain number of drains but now it is the case that if there is a bush, they will go every side of it rather than remove it. That bush might be growing for only 15 or 20 years and might be what we call a sucker. It is in the line of a small tree. If you do not keep a drain or river maintained, you will cause problems because there is a build-up. Let us be clear: built-up material has to be removed but this is not being done. There is a problem because nearly everyone wants to stop you from doing everything. If this continues and we do not put a system in place, things will get worse in the currently affected areas.  Everyone looks to the OPW. It is but one part. The councils have to do their bit and Irish Water needs to look at the pipes put in years ago to take the storm-water. Joined-up thinking needs to take place. On bigger rivers, you have Inland Fisheries Ireland, the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland, the fisheries and the National Parks and Wildlife Service. In some cases, the right hand does not know what the left hand is doing because everyone is trying to stop things. We need collaborative thinking, as argued for by Deputy Aird, and we also need to ask how we can speed things up.  I have referred before to rules and regulations and to the reports and, to be blunt about it, what I would call \u201crubbish\u201d required because of European legislation. We have left the door open to people who want to see nothing happening in a country and who want to shoot down to the Four Courts to try to block projects.  That is not acceptable because if a Minister is trying to get works done, it is a cruel thing to see the likes of a job being blocked. Go out to Connemara at the moment and look at Rossaveal, where we are trying to deepen a port. That has been blocked. Why? Because it has gone to the courts. Go around the country and look at that. That is not tolerable. I have said it time and again: we have played into the hands of these people who do not want to see progress. Until we change some of this, we will be in trouble.  I remember we were down in Crossmolina years ago. I think that job has been done now, has it not? Was it in 2016 or something we were down there? It has taken seven or eight years to get all the paperwork right and to get that job rolling. It will be great for those people when it is done. You see the relief on people's faces. You will hear some people say the properties are built on a floodplain. If they were built 100, 200 or 300 years ago on a floodplain, we are hardly going to tell the people to move on to another place. We have to put in the measures to try to resolve the issue for the people at hand, Athlone being a perfect example, and go to different parts of the country. When those measures are put in, they are successful. We have to just think. I look at Lough Funshinagh, in Roscommon, and I saw what really good people in that area had to go through. I looked out a window one day, and to the top of my head the water was up higher on the far side of the road. That is frightening for anyone, and those good people live an ordinary life. They do not want to be saying anything or shouting or roaring, but the reality is that if that bank had pushed to the far side, they would have been in trouble. In fairness, pumps have been put in and an interim measure has been done, but we need to get long-term solutions, and not alone there. I am not talking about \"If you do not do my back door\" stuff. We need to get it in all the different parts, but it needs a myriad of joined-up thinking and speeding up. To be quite blunt, sometimes councils could be offered the money but they do not put in the gee-up into trying to get it done. That needs to be done as well. There is no point in saying it does not.  There is no one-fit solution or one thing that will solve it all, but we need to work collaboratively together. To be frank, in most cases it is not money that is the problem, which is an unusual thing to say in here. It is the paperwork, the bureaucracy and the blocking by outside interests. I say to those people, have a think to yourself. Would you like your mother, your father, your brother or your sister to be looking out at what I am after talking about - and I am over 6 ft - and to be looking out a window and seeing the water higher than the house you were born, bred and reared in or the house you built. Is that what Irish people who want to go down to the Four Courts and go blocking jobs are about? We should have respect for everyone in this country and for those people who are in situations where the State is willing to help them but where someone comes along in their own interest and goes blocking. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  I welcome the opportunity to speak on this very important issue. Flooding is affecting so many lives and property right across the country. In my county there is seaweed harvesting in the coastal areas and an application in to MARA, which is the maritime regulatory agency. Seaweed has a very important role to play in coastal erosion and helps the coastal areas maintain their foreshore, and this is causing huge concern. I have studied in detail this application that has been submitted to MARA and it is incredibly confusing. It appears that the application process and the pre-consultation aspects were complete over ten years ago, in 2014. Much of this application is built on some of the consultations that happened during this period. I want to make it very clear and to put it on the record of the D\u00e1il that seaweed is fundamentally important for coastal areas in terms of flood management. We need a coastal management strategy. We need to ensure that we do not grant a licence that could potentially harvest up to 40,000 tonnes of seaweed from the coast of Galway and Mayo, which is what is proposed. I believe very few people in this House even realise that, such is the lack of information about these applications.  I also want to raise the pace of the planning process for flood reliefs. I welcome the flood relief in Crossmolina, which will have a big impact on the town, but countless other towns still do not have a planning application even submitted - in Enniscorthy, Midleton and all those places. I urge the Minister of State to do everything necessary to streamline the planning process. Flood defences are critical infrastructure, and it is simply intolerable that a planning process can go on for so many years. There are families across Ireland who, in the depths of winter, in the nights of storms, cannot sleep, such is the level of worry and stress. I urge the Minister of State to prioritise the planning process, to adequately staff it, to adequately staff An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la and to reform the planning process to ensure that bogus objectors are not allowed to submit. We have a Bill at the moment, which I urge the Minister of State to prioritise and support, whereby only those with a material interest in a planning application can make an objection. At the moment, if a farmer in Donegal is applying for planning permission for a slurry tank, there may be an objection from Cork, Wicklow or Wexford that has no interest. This is causing major delays in the system, and I ask the Minister of State to ensure that that can no longer be tolerated. It should not be tolerated.  It is also important to say that many of these planning applications are hundreds and thousands of pages long. We should streamline that because in such a long application, in an application that spans thousands of words, pages and documents, it is leaving us ripe for judicial reviews. That is another major aspect holding progress back on these issues.  I wish the Minister of State well and look forward to working with him on these projects over the years ahead. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan  I have been listening to the debate in the Chamber and upstairs for the past 90 minutes or so and can see that a lot of people are speaking from their own personal experience. I live near the River Glashaboy, in Glanmire, and living in the Cork city area with the River Lee, it is inevitable that our day-to-day lives are affected and shaped by the water around us. I have had to go into people's houses and kitchens, like the Minister of State, that have been affected by flooding, and they are some of the toughest days I have ever faced as a public representative. I think you can do it once, maybe twice, you can empathise with people truly, advocate on their behalf, lobby the council, lobby the OPW, lobby the Government for interventions, but unfortunately, as a number of speakers have said and reiterated here again tonight, sometimes you attend a person's home for the third or fourth time after it has been flooded and you reach a point where, as regards these inordinate delays in the planning system, we really have to question what the hell we are doing when we allow these schemes to go on for ten, 15 or 20 years.  I was very grateful to Michael McGrath, when he was Minister for public expenditure in the last term, for the first scheme he signed off on. It was thankfully the Glashaboy flood relief scheme in Glanmire, which started in the summer of 2023. It is due to be completed later this year. Just to give people an idea of the timeline of a successful project, that project started in its planning stage after the floods of 2012, it went out for public consultation in 2016, ministerial confirmation was initially given in 2021 and the contract was awarded in 2023.  Even for a scheme that did not have those legal challenges via judicial review, it has still taken the bones of 14 or 15 years to deliver, and that is one that faced relatively little opposition. On the face of it, we need to accept that the system there is unacceptable.  There are two other schemes in Cork I would like to mention, the lower Lee and the Blackpool flood relief schemes. The lower Lee flood relief scheme is a massive project. It has faced opposition in the city. Many people have concerns about the height of the walls and about preserving the historic and cultural aspects of the city centre. Nonetheless, the scheme has been devised over a long period and will protect up to 2,100 properties, of which 1,200 are businesses trading every day in the city centre and 900 are homes. Some \u20ac20 million of that budget was allocated specifically to maintaining and preserving the city walls, while the bulk of it, approximately \u20ac140 million, is for the actual flood defences. Unfortunately, we are again in this cycle where that scheme was initially mooted in 2009. Since then, I have lost count of how many times the city centre has flooded around the quays. I know that scheme and the Blackpool flood relief scheme are with the Minister, Deputy Chambers, and the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, at the moment.  The Blackpool flood relief scheme particularly irks me because there is local opposition. In the recent public consultation, 1,000 submissions were received. The vast majority of them, however, over 90%, were submissions in support of the scheme. Many political representatives in the area have used this as a political football, sitting on the fence, backing both horses and talking out of both sides of their mouth, but then you meet the people whose houses are flooded, whose businesses have been lost to this and who cannot get insurance. There is a stage in all of this where we have to prioritise property and people's right to live safely without fear of flooding. We have to prioritise it over environmental considerations in this case. That is a difficult thing to say because we want to preserve the environment. We do not want to see habitats affected negatively, but when it comes to striking a balance, it needs to tip in favour of protecting property and people's livelihoods. The Blackpool flood relief scheme is on the Minister's table. I hope that in the coming months sense will prevail. The worse that can happen with some of these schemes is that the scheme gets approved and people expect earth to be moved, machinery to arrive and the scheme to start. It is often the case, as I said in reference to the one in Glanmire, that it has taken the best part of three years to deliver the scheme. The worst thing in the case of Blackpool, which is at regular risk of flooding, would be to approve the scheme and in the meantime see it flood again. That would be unconscionable.  The next point concerns the council response. Nine times out of ten, the council does a fantastic job and it is to be lauded. I live in a constituency that straddles Cork City Council and Cork County Council. I learned from a flood in Glanmire a couple of years ago that both have different responses. I would like to see a more co-ordinated national approach. They are simple things. One of the local authorities might fund skips going into estates to take out damaged property like floorboards or whatever the case may be, and the other local authority might not. Simple things like that really need co-ordination. There needs to be joined-up thinking. If national guidance is required for that, it needs to be issued and funded if necessary.  A bugbear of mine, which I have spoken about in here about half a dozen times in the last five or six years, is insurance. We have had successful flood relief schemes. The OPW takes its time doing things but when it implements a scheme, it is reasonably successful. We can point towards Mallow and Fermoy in recent years, where successful flood relief schemes have been implemented and have held up. In those cases, it is difficult when people cannot avail of insurance after the fact. There needs to be some common sense when it comes to areas that have been protected by the interventions of the State and the OPW. They should be entitled to avail of flood insurance where schemes are seen to be viable and are protecting the area. Unfortunately, it is one of those things that get lost between the cracks. We concentrate so much of our time here on an area that has got flooded, the emergency response, getting the Red Cross involved and getting grants out to people. The forward thinking for future incidents, particularly in the area of flood insurance, seems to get put to the end of the queue when we are having these conversations because we jump from crisis to crisis, storm to storm and flood to flood. I would like to see something like a State equalisation scheme like we have in other sectors. It can and should be pursued, and that is only fair and proper. As Deputy Fitzmaurice has said, in the case of Cork city, there are buildings that have been there for hundreds of years in many cases. Our life has evolved. We benefited from the river through trade, culture and commerce over the years. We cannot just get up out of the city, pack our bags and plonk down somewhere else. We need to instigate an insurance scheme that will give people reassurance.  Other speakers spoke about drainage, clearing drains, getting into rivers and taking debris out. This was probably one of the most frustrating things I saw over the years as a county councillor. You can visibly see fallen limbs, tree trunks and all sorts of vegetation overgrowth in the rivers. We are repeatedly told by the local authority that we cannot go in because of inland fisheries. I am not asking for a massive dredging plan of the Lee or anything. I am asking for simple things to happen to remove debris. This culture has evolved whereby we cannot do it because we are not allowed. The answer seems to be \"No\", before seeing how we can go about getting into the river to sort out the problem. I made what was an inappropriate reference to somebody earlier. We have had incidents on a number of rivers in Cork in the past year where there have been fish kills. People have polluted the rivers, the Blackwater in one case, either knowingly or accidentally. A lot of the time people get away with it and do not face prosecution. If they do get caught, they get a measly fine of a few thousand euro. Our local authorities are afraid to go into the river because they might get reprimanded in some way. Again, there needs to be a common-sense approach whereby we would weigh up the merits and the pros and cons, in this case as to whether to intervene. I do not understand the reluctance of local authorities to get in to clear out debris when appropriate, or to clear drains or whatever the case may be. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gillian Toole","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gillian-Toole.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Gillian-Toole.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gillian Toole  I welcome this opportunity to address the subject of flooding. I want to express my absolute gratitude to the Minister of State. He was everywhere in all parts of the country. We look forward to imminently welcoming him to County Meath. I express my sincere gratitude to the engineers and outdoor crew of Meath County Council, particularly in the municipal districts of Ashbourne, Laytown, Bettystown, Kells and Ratoath. I also express my gratitude to the farming community. I do not know of one farmer in our area who was not involved in pulling cars, vans and God knows what types of vehicles out of ditches or through floods at a time when the weather was playing havoc with the farming calendar. I also thank the ESB crew members and the fire and rescue services, who were extremely busy pumping out and then dealing with ad hoc repairs that were required where different parts of the electrical infrastructure short-circuited, etc.  Listening to all of the contributions today, I am getting a fantastic lesson in geography from all parts of the country as represented by colleagues. Two things stand out in my mind. The first is that we really cannot cheat nature. We have to work with nature. We have to farm with nature, and we have to plan with nature and the climate. Another issue of high importance, which was referenced most recently by my colleague, is the huge wisdom and knowledge bank of our older people, our older residents, who know the way things were in the past, such as the course of the river, where the sluice was, where the mill of old was and how that impacted the topography of the area we now look to develop, particularly at a time of crisis in housing.  This also highlights an important area, namely, that we measure twice and cut once and that when we are dealing with planning and housing, the importance of having the land use review published as soon as possible.  It is also very important that we stick to the CFRAM maps. That was not the case in the past and we are now dealing with legacy issues where there has been flooding of developments in the past 20 to 25 years. It is so important that we adhere to those flood area maps. Other considerations include section 50 concerning the design of bridges and culverts, the placement and capacity of storm water attenuation tanks, the co-location of wastewater outflow and those attenuation tanks. We have had a couple of episodes in Ratoath, County Meath where the two collided and the outcome was not favourable. Thankfully, a public health emergency was averted.  Rather than labour those points, I will raise them as flags. Regarding possible actions we could take, colleagues have spoken about storm notification systems, delays to that and money that was previously allocated but I remind people of the local authority and the MapAlerter apps that are very effective. As public representatives, we need to work with different WhatsApp groups and community groups to encourage as many residents as possible about the alerter maps.  There have been calls for additional funding for road repairs and all of us would welcome that constituency by constituency. As part of our circular economy efforts, we are using different percentages of recycled asphalt for road repairs. This needs to be looked at. Prior to flooding in Meath, I noticed that the longevity of those products may not be quite what we would like it to be - then add flood waters to it. There are opportunities in the area of rainwater harvesting, particularly in urban areas where run off can be redirected to supply water to tree plantations and shrubs. It could be beneficial to Tidy Towns groups and ease the burden on them so they do not have to go to and fro with watering cans but we have water stations and an adequate supply of water butts. These are simple, low-cost interventions that involve working with nature.  I wish to raise the issue of coastal erosion, although I know it is not specifically flood-related. County Meath has a very precious and short 13 km coastline. There is one particular area at Laytown where a substantial portion of the pitch and putt facility has fallen away on to the foreshore. The pitch and putt club there has been in existence for over 50 years. The volunteers have worked at a Trojan rate over the past couple of weekends to clear up the damage. I emphasise that there is a plan for the area but, again, it involves that overall piece of what was there historically, what was part of the heritage of the area and how is that interwoven with new developments. The Laytown-Bettystown district has seen massive housing development over the probably the past 27 to 30 years. It is about how it goes forward when there will be a sense of, pardon the phrase, \"Build, baby, build\". That will be what we need to do but we need to learn the lessons of the past, take on board the wisdom of our older residents and their memory bank and factor that into the actions we take. I thank the Minister of State for the work he has been doing. I hope he will not need his dinghy or canoe when he comes to County Meath in the near future. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kevin Boxer Moran","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran  I thank all the Deputies for their contributions. One theme emerged, namely, all of us working together. It is vitally important that we do not play politics because for the past number of weeks and years gone by, we have all seen the devastation flooding has caused families. While we talk about the water receding, people are trying to get their lives back together. The very thought of rainfall tonight brings back the fear that it may flood again.  There has been a lot of talk about what has happened. We launched CFRAM in 2018. When we think of times before then, there was very little money in the country to deal with flooding because we went through recessions and all sorts of problems but we dealt with them. We adopted the CFRAM strategy in 2018. I said at the time that it would be the bible going forward in terms of flooding where we could see the areas that were badly affected and the areas that needed protection the most based on population.  What we have seen is climate change. We have seen a severe change that is happening around the world. When I adopted those plans, I travelled the length and breadth of the country meeting local authorities. We achieved that and then had to look for the money. There is not a county where I could not tell Deputies how much of the \u20ac1.3 billion that is ring-fenced for flood prevention will be ring-fenced for that county.  What changes have we brought forward after my return to D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann? When I look at areas from Louth to Enniscorthy that have seen so much flooding over the past number of weeks, I see at first hand what interim measures can do. I know that we worked tirelessly to protect the town of Athlone and, thankfully, the flood defences are there and people see the reward. I have expanded the arrangement involving five local authorities to eight. They are coming to meet me on 2 March. I will work with them to look at interim measures while we deliver the long-term solutions.  We have also provided local authorities with staff to drive the delivery of these changes. We have made changes to the minor works scheme increasing funding from \u20ac750,000 to \u20ac2 million. People talk about blockages in rivers. For the first time, I provided a budget and I will appeal to local authorities to deliver on it.  Long before what has happened in the past few weeks, I visited Kerry, Clontarf, Portrane and Strandhill in County Sligo. Deputy Fitzmaurice mentioned Lough Funshinagh, which is close to my home. We brought in interim measures in the space of three months to deliver protection for those communities. There is a lot that has to be taken into account. Members come in here and say we should do this and that and reverse the matter concerning the pearl mussel. We will not do that. We build 56 schemes by working with the land and all the bodies. That is how we do it. We do not say it is a matter of one thing versus another for political reasons. That is wrong. My job is as Minister of State and the job of my Department and the Government is to work together with elected representatives and local authorities to deliver schemes.  We have a plan. Deputy Fitzmaurice said that for once, we have the money. My job is to work with local authorities to deliver on these interim measures while we wait for long-term defences to be put in place for communities because people have suffered greatly and I do not like what has happened no more than anyone else in the House. We were lucky the two recent big events happened at night. If they had happened during the day, we could have been looking at something totally different. A 90-year-old woman in Dublin was taken out of her house in a brown bin to get her away from the floods. A man over 90 in Enniscorthy was taken out in a boat. Any human being would want to do more but despite what Members might say in the House, there are planning constraints and we have to deal with them and work together. I will bring in changes over the next number of weeks. The purchasing of equipment required to support local authorities was mentioned. This is happening. We are looking at ways of shortening the timeframe for delivering schemes.  This is us working together with the local authorities. Members on the different sides of the House come in and say that the OPW is not doing enough. I need every single Member to go to their local authorities and talk to its staff about the schemes and get to know what is involved in a scheme. They should even visit places where we have done these big projects because the one thing that people forget is that 95% of the wall, glass or embankment that we see finished is underground and sometimes under the water. That, in itself, tells us the engineering and everything else that is involved to get it that level.  We all talk about Enniscorthy and the way it was affected. In my county of Westmeath, I am thankful that the council's CEO Barry Kehoe acted efficiently with the local authorities working together to deliver the AquaDams. I heard people on the radio say that they did not what an AquaDam was. This is not about me. It is about us all coming together to deliver for these communities. There is a lot more we can do. I hope to host the first flooding conference where I will bring local authorities from around the country together and we can talk to them, look at solutions and drive on. Together we can make it happen. We have to stop fighting and blaming nature. We have to deal with nature and we have to deal with what is coming upon us.  While we sit here and stand here, we also have to recognise the resilience shown by communities over the past 20 days. I spoke to some of the farmers who came out with slurry tanks to soak water off roads or pulled cars off roads. People in corner shops that were affected still went down to the road to help their neighbour next door. That speaks volumes. People want help and they want answers. The Government has not been found wanting for support for people through funding for the Red Cross and the other business fund that is available. I have met the Taoiseach and the T\u00e1naiste on a great number of occasions to discuss other ways we can fast-track the delivery of flood defences for people. We talk about it being critical infrastructure and it is, but the critical infrastructure Bill will not fix everything, but it will help. The arterial drainage (amendment) Bill is ready to go into the House. That will halve the time in the planning process. When we put stuff into Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, or DPER as well call it, it could be two years there. We have now seen An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la turn around schemes in six, eight and nine months. That is very positive, but it will not do everything. We will still need to put them into DPER, which will continue to deliver with the local authorities. The moneys I announced for the minor works scheme and channel cleaning is a bible to help local authorities up and down the country going forward.  I will work with every Member. My door is open. If they have suggestions, do not be afraid to come to me. People say that when there is a crisis, we come in here and talk about. I am not going away from this issue. I am a hands-on Minister of State and I bring energy.  We have 100 schemes at different stages. One critical part of that is we were spending \u20ac74 million a year. On my return back to this House last year, \u20ac102 million was spent on flood defences. That will tell Members the energy that my Department, the Government and I bring to this issue. This Government wants to successfully deliver the flood schemes for the people up and own this country. Go raibh m\u00edle maith agaibh. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Flooding: Statements"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_37","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_37","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Paula Butterly)  I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case:  Deputy Darren O'Rourke - To discuss the shortage of mainstream school places in Dunshaughlin, County Meath for the 2026-27 school year.  Deputy Grace Boland - To discuss the national fare structure for train fares announced by the National Transport Authority in 2025.  Deputy Paula Butterly - To discuss the operation of the double payment rule and illness benefit.  Deputy Robert O'Donoghue - To discuss the disability action plan targets for additional residential places.  Deputy Ruth Coppinger - To discuss calls for the FAI to not play Israel in upcoming Nations League fixtures.  Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa - To discuss appropriate accommodation in Louth schools and the Department of Education and Youth's additional accommodation scheme and building unit.  Deputy Malcolm Byrne - To discuss the review of the Garda vetting process and planned measures for simplification.  Deputy George Lawlor - To discuss supports available to vulnerable children and adults in County Wexford who suffer from a disability.  Deputies Richard Boyd Barrett, P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan, Eoghan Kenny and Paul Murphy - To discuss the reduction of SNA numbers at various schools in Cork; to discuss the SNA review and SNA reallocations.  Deputy William Aird - To discuss the possibility of the HSE taking in charge a private nursing home (details provided) on a full-time, permanent basis.  Deputy Louise O'Reilly - To discuss a full-time Garda station to serve Rush, Lusk and surrounding areas.  The matters raised by Deputies O'Rourke; \u00d3 Murch\u00fa; Boyd Barrett, O'Sullivan, Kenny and Murphy; Butterly; and Lawlor have been selected for discussion. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_38","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_38","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_39","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"School Admissions","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_38","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_38","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_39","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this topic for debate and the Minister of State for being here. There should be no need to bring this issue, which is the annual crisis of school place shortages in Dunshaughlin, County Meath, before this House. I thank the parents who contacted me and my colleague Councillor Fionnan Blake. I also thank Councillor Blake for his hard work on this issue. The parents' stories are the reason I am standing here. They are the reason this debate is happening. No parent should have to spend their evenings worrying about whether their child will have a place to go to school in their local community. They should not have to talk to local and national media or have their case pleaded on the floor of the D\u00e1il for what a basic, fundamental and constitutional right.  The families of Dunshaughlin have run out of patience with last-minute crisis management. They need action and they need it now. This time last year we were in a similar position with scores of children on waiting lists and without an offer of a school place. This year is worse and significantly worse.  Last year, additional capacity was provided after much consternation, effort and energy and it was very welcome for the families it helped, but here we are again, and it is even worse. If no additional capacity is added beyond what is currently planned, we will have children without school places come September. One local school, St. Seachnall's National School, has already been unable to accommodate more than 80 children.  Dunshaughlin has experienced significant population growth, which is to be welcomed. It is a vibrant and thriving community, but the Department of Education and Youth has failed year after year to plan for this growth. People are astounded by this. We are sending our kids to school to learn their ABCs, but surely this is the ABC of government, management, planning and of delivery. These children did not fall from the sky. Houses were built and the community is expanding. The need for local services is apparent. They are literally in county development plans, which have set it forward, but the services are not there. Successive Ministers have been aware of the demographic pressures, but, again, we are facing a situation where families are in limbo, waiting to see if their child has a school place to go to in a few short months. It is not good enough. Every child has a constitutional to a primary school place. It is not a privilege. It is a right and it is a fundamental duty of the Minister to ensure that right is upheld.  I am asking for three specific things. The first is a commitment from the Minister of State for extra mainstream school places for Dunshaughlin for this coming September. I do not want a promise to look into it or a letter saying that it is something that will be reviewed or considered. We need a guarantee. These children are there and the demand is apparent. We need additional school places for the baby infant intake in Dunshaughlin.  Second, the Minister and the Department must engage directly and immediately with local schools. These schools and their principals are doing tremendous work, but the Department needs to work with them urgently to arrange the delivery of extra places whether that means additional teachers, resources or temporary accommodation.  Third, we cannot keep doing this every year. We need a plan for mainstream and special class provision for this growing community. We cannot be doing this every year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Education and Youth (Deputy Michael Moynihan)  I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. I will set out the position on behalf of Minister, Deputy Naughton, regarding the shortage of mainstream school places in Dunshaughlin, County Meath. The provision of school places to meet the needs of children and young people at primary and post-primary level, including children and young people with special educational needs, is a priority for me, the Minister and the Department.  Preschool and primary school enrolments at a national level have been in decline for some years, which, in turn, is leading to a reduction in demand for primary school places in rural areas and many urban areas across the country. The downward demographic trend is now apparent for the first time at post-primary level.  While the Department is aware of the enrolment pressures and demand for additional school places in areas like Dunshaughlin, it is important to note that enrolment pressures can be driven by a number of issues, including applications from outside the area and schools of choice. Notwithstanding the above, in some areas, demographic pressures and other factors are driving the requirement for additional school places. The Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in the area. In addition to school admissions, it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act 1998.  The educational welfare services of the Child and Family Agency, Tusla, is the statutory agency that can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child. The local service is delivered through the national network of educational welfare officers. The provision of additional school places can be required in a very small number of areas. This can be facilitated by a range of strategies, some of which may involve additional accommodation but also by optimising the existing spaces.  Between 2020 and 2025, the Department has provided over \u20ac459 million in capital funding for Meath schools. Over this period, a total of 62 schools have been upgraded either through provision of a new school building, a large-scale extension or provision of modular accommodation. There are currently 14 school projects in County Meath under construction. Another six school projects will go to tender or construction in 2026 and 2027, and this summer, ten schools are approved to undergo works as part of the summer works scheme and the climate action scheme. In addition, since 2020, a total of 119 special classes have been opened in the county, 12 of which were sanctioned for September 2026.  With regards to the Deputy's concerns in relation to Dunshaughlin, a number of active projects at primary and post-primary level are in progress that will increase capacity. These include a new school building in Dunshaughlin, which will provide post-primary accommodation for 1,000 students and six special education classrooms. This project is at stage 4. In addition, there is a new school building project in progress for Dunshaughlin Community National School, which will provide eight mainstream classrooms and two special education classrooms. This project is also at stage 4. Furthermore, a total capital ceiling of \u20ac7.55 billion for 2026 to 2030 was allocated to the Department under the national development plan. This is a very significant investment in our education and youth sectors and will help deliver on our commitment to have a world-class education system that supports every learner to reach their full potential.  Our sectoral investment plan published last month sets out the Department's approach to prioritised investment in school infrastructure to ensure that every child has a school place and to support the overall operation of the school system and youth sector in terms of capital infrastructure. There is a strong focus in our plan on maximising existing capacity and prioritising project rollout to meet the most urgent needs, particularly in regard to special education and also areas experiencing huge growth in their student population. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  The Minister of State has spoken for over four minutes and not a single word is of any benefit to community in Dunshaughlin and parents who are without school places for this September. He talked about future plans and investment. What solution is going to be put in place for these students? There could be in the region of 80 or more, hopefully slightly fewer, who do not have school places for this September. I am seeking a response to that, not what is going to happen in the future.  Investment in the community national school is very welcome but the minute it is built it will be too small. We waited long enough for it. I welcome the diggers on the ground but the minute it is built, it will be too small.  I have specific asks. I ask the Minister of State to recognise there is a shortage of school places for this September, in significant numbers. That is without a doubt and the offers have gone out and the responses are coming back in. He will have a very clear picture of that if he makes contact with the schools in Dunshaughlin. He should identify where additional capacity is going to be delivered. In the first instance, commit to additional capacity for the town. It is needed, without a doubt. I ask the Minister of State to commit to it for this September, identify where he is going to deliver it and provide assurances to parents, in the quickest possible timeframe, that capacity will be there, the children will receive an offer and they will have a place in their local school. I have far too many cases I can talk to him about but he will be very well aware that there are no cr\u00e8che places. There is no early childhood care and education programme. There is no after-school provision. Parents are faced with the challenge of not having a place for their child in their local area. It turns their lives upside down and lifts their children away from their local communities. It is deeply unfair. I ask the Minister of State to please address those facts. What is the solution for these families for September? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  I take the seriousness of the point the Deputy is making in relation to Dunshaughlin. He has outlined the challenges in an area with a growing population of students and young people. I will take the point the Deputy made on the national school that when that is completed, the project will need to move on. I know other parts of the country as well where there are significant challenges in meeting second level education demand in particular but also in the primary sector.  I will go back and engage fully with the Department to ensure we do understand and there is a roadmap to try and facilitate every student. In regard to the number of places in mainstream schools, it is important that we have certainty on that. This month, there will be enrolment letters going out and whether they are accepted or not, that will add further pressure.  I will take the point the Deputy has made and I will certainly report back to him with a further response. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"School Admissions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_40","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Special Educational Needs","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_38","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_38","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_40","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  A considerable number of Members are here to deal with issues that relate specifically to education. As Deputy O'Rourke said, unfortunately we keep having to bring up these issues about finding appropriate places for children, be that in mainstream or in special classes and schools. We really need to not be trying to deal with issues like this on the floor of the D\u00e1il but sometimes we have no choice in the matter.  This week, people were particularly exasperated about the reality of cuts to special needs assistant, SNA, numbers. We all know the huge work that is done by SNAs. I know even on a personal basis that my son Turlough would not be able to operate if it was not for the SNAs he has had in both primary and secondary school. It is more than a pause we need; we need a rethink on the criteria. That should be a demand from everybody on this floor not only in opposition but even in government. While we welcome the pause, we need to see real movement.  When we are talking about appropriate accommodation and spaces, it is a question of where to start. I am going to deal with a number of schools. I will deal with St. Mochta's NS in Louth village. The Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach also received correspondence on this. Unfortunately, I have had significant correspondence over and back with the Department. It finished with: \"Your email states that you endeavour to \"ensure that schools infrastructure planning is keeping pace with demographic changes at a local level, where the picture can quickly evolve due to new large scale residential development.\" The school said that its situation has \"evolved very quickly due to a new large scale residential development\" but this was flagged last year and the enrolment has increased by 40 children in the past year due to construction in the area. A new development of 58 houses is nearing completion in Louth village but, again, the correspondence from the school states:  It is highly likely that we will once again reach developing school status, leaving us then with 3 extra classes and teachers, with no accommodation for them.  \u2022\tOur SET teachers currently work in corridors, cupboards and staff room (which in no way is fit for purpose).  \u2022\tOur school building, originally built for 5 classes, is expected to house currently 8 classes, and come September it will most likely be 9 classes.  That is before I go near what the parents are sending in. The Minister of State can imagine that because I read some of it into the record previously.  I spoke to the Minister of State previously about additional autism classes for Shelagh National School. He came back to say there was interaction with the school, but I am sorry to say that we have not seen any real movement. The school principal is not happy in any way, shape or form, nor are a considerable number of parents who have contacted me.  It is not the first time that other elected representatives and I have brought up the issue of Monksland National School. Again, plans went in for a permanent extension in 2023 comprising two autism classrooms, one support room, one common area, a kitchen, a living skills room, toilets, a storeroom and an office. It was provided with two modular units, which are being used to their full capacity. We are dealing with teachers and SNAs who are having their lunch either in storage units or their cars. That just tells us what is happening. The school is making the most use of what it has, but it is not enough. I visited the school. We need to see action in this regard. The over and back from the Department is disgraceful. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  The four issues brought to my attention prior to coming to the House concern St. Mochta\u2019s, Monksland and Shelagh national schools and car parking issues at the new build for Ardee Educate Together primary school. The Deputy raised other issues that I might come back to in my closing remarks.  I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. The Department of education has invested a serious amount of money in the sectoral investment plan for the period 2026 to 2030, which involves a strong emphasis on maximising existing capacity and prioritisation of school building projects to meet the most urgent needs. From the total of \u20ac7.55 billion being invested via this plan, it is envisaged that approximately \u20ac5 billion will be used for project roll-out to support the delivery and modernisation of school buildings across the large-scale, additional accommodation, modular and annual September accommodation needs programmes. Over the course of this year and next, there will be construction work on some 10% of the school estate. These projects will, when completed, provide 57,000 additional and modernised school places. with a strong special educational needs focus in all projects.  The first school referred to is a co-educational Catholic primary school under the patronage of the Archbishop of Armagh. It has an enrolment in the current academic year of 182 pupils, including two special education classes. The school submitted an application under the additional school accommodation scheme in 2025. The application is under assessment, and officials are in ongoing contact with this school.  The second school is a co-educational Catholic school under the patronage of the Archbishop of Armagh. It has an enrolment this year of 139 pupils, including two special classes. The school applied for additional accommodation in 2022, and on foot of that application had modular accommodation comprising two special education classrooms and one special education tuition room delivered in May 2023.  The third school is a co-educational primary school under the patronage of the Archbishop of Armagh. It has an enrolment of 82, including pupils in its special education class, which was established at this school in September 2024. In October 2025, the school submitted an application for additional accommodation for two mainstream classrooms, and the application is currently being assessed by officials in the Department.  I can confirm that the fourth school has a major project for a new school building that was devolved for delivery to Louth County Council. It is currently at stage 4, construction, of the architectural design process. The Department is engaging with the local authority regarding a proposal on the provision of additional car parking spaces. Louth County Council has been and will continue to engage with the school authorities regarding this project.  At a national level, primary enrolments are projected to decline by almost 100,000 over a ten-year period. Given the general downward direction of overall enrolments in the area, the Department's focus for the assessment of such additional accommodation applications will be to analyse the extent to which enrolments at the school and neighbouring schools are serving the local area in the first instance.  We are looking carefully at all applications to ensure we maximise what we have in terms of additional accommodation for the four schools raised by the Deputy. Some of the schools are at the very start of the application process. I assure him that the Department is working through the applications and will be in contact with the school authorities shortly with further information. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  With regard to Ardee Educate Together, I met the design team and Louth County Council alongside the principal. In fairness, we were told there is a proposal. I accept that it is late in the game. The building project is fabulous, as I know, having visited the site. We really need to get this issue sorted or it will be chaos on the morning of the opening of the school. There are a number of autism classes. We need to ensure that the children can arrive without a level of chaos. I ask the Minister of State to follow up so we can ensure that the communication on how those proposals are going happens straightaway.  It frightens me when I hear the term \u201cunder assessment\u201d. I accept the Minister of State's point that some of these are technically new applications. However, some of that is after a considerable number of years of over and back between principals and the Department. The Minister of State can see the pile of papers in front of me. It is correspondence between the Department and these schools. There is absolute frustration among the schools. The communication from Monksland National School to the Department reads, \"Do you think it is appropriate that staff do not have a staff room to have their break and lunch?\" That is the reality at the minute. Talk of assessments and demographics is not going to help that.  It continues:  Do you think it is appropriate that pupils cannot access physical education and that their engagement with it is entirely weather dependent? Do you think it is fair and dignified that pupils are taught in corridors because we do not have enough special education teaching rooms to house our SET teachers?  A communication from the school in Louth village states that its special education teachers are teaching in a cupboard, the staff room and the corridor due to lack of space. As the school hall is out of bounds, children with additional needs are missing out on vital movement and regulation breaks.  We cannot be constantly dealing with these issues. We need to find a better way. I ask that there is better communication, and also that I be made aware of that communication. In the nicest way I can put it, the communication the schools have had has been subpar. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  I take the point. There is ongoing engagement. On the Educate Together----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  They are not happy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  That project has been completed. As for the other two projects, one is moving through. Both of the applications were made in the autumn of last year. I will ask the Department to ensure there is a timely discussion with them.  The Deputy made a point regarding school accommodation and children being located in buildings that are not fit for purpose. Children are in primary school for eight crucial years of their lives. We have to ensure that we have the best possible services available for them. The Deputy referred to movement breaks and so on. All of that is hugely important, as we all understand. I can assure the Deputy that the applications are being assessed. We are duty-bound to ensure that we are assessing them. We have to assess them to make sure we are doing the right thing.  Some \u20ac7.55 billion will be put into the education system over the next number of years, and a huge amount of money has been spent on it in the past five years. That has brought the education stock up right across the country. We will continue to invest in education. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Special Educational Needs"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_41","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Special Educational Needs","counts":{"speechCount":10,"speakerCount":5},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_38","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_38","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_41","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  The very angry and shocked protests of my former primary school helped to highlight the severity of the impact of the SNA cuts that the Government was planning.  The Minister of State may have seen the protest by Johnstown National School on Tuesday evening on RT\u00c9. Of course, it was just one of many schools that experienced these attacks. Fair play to the teachers, SNAs, and parents who came out and protested. In that school alone, the number of SNAs was going to drop from nine to fewer than four. I met with all of the teachers, parents, SNAs and the principal of my former school this week. They were absolutely gutted and shocked. They could not believe that this would be even considered. They want to know what will happen now. Pauses are all very well, but these people are now in limbo, waiting to know whether the Government is going to abandon these cuts, which would be very severe, damaging and detrimental to the welfare of children with special needs, other children in their classes, SNAs and teachers. They all want to know that the Government is going to abandon these cuts. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan  I welcome the pause, but, obviously, a pause is not a permanent solution. It is not a binding decision and everybody in this House is going to be watching with interest what happens over the next few weeks.  We in Fianna F\u00e1il have always prided ourselves on being the party of education. The number of SNAs in the country has increased by 45% since I became a TD. That is a good story but in the past week we have somehow upscuttled a lot of that progress and good work. I join Deputy Boyd Barrett in calling for a cessation of any cuts in this academic year. One thing I learned as a teacher was that SENOs always did reviews, and they were always ongoing. They were annual in nature, so nobody faced a cliff edge in terms of cuts to services. We have to go back to a scenario where the reviews are ongoing. Diagnosis takes place at various times throughout the year. The needs of a school change over the course of a year and we need to have built-in headroom in terms of the allocation of resources going forward. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  This is the second time today that I have spoken about SNA reviews. I raised the matter earlier with the T\u00e1naiste on Leaders' Questions. The Minister of State knows that this is the most pressing issue right now. It is going to affect so many students across the country. I have lost count of the number of schools that have contacted me. Later, I will be meeting online with parents, students, principals, SNAs and members of trade unions in relation to what this SNA cut involves and what the pause actually means. We do not know what the pause means. Leaving people in some sort of limbo is not acceptable because it allows a dark cloud to remain over schools. Those who have received letters saying that they are going to get increases do not know whether they will go ahead and those who received letters saying they were going to lose SNAs do not know if they will actually lose them. The Minister of State is the line Minister, but there is also a senior Minister who has a budget for this. Is the senior Minister pulling her weight in respect of this issue? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  The protest organised by parents for next Wednesday at 5 p.m. outside the D\u00e1il is going ahead because they do not just want a pause; they want the cuts to stop. They want proper support for their kids. The other point I want to make is that this matter is being treated as if the cuts have come out of nowhere. The Government is shocked to hear that all of these SNAs are being cut, but this is the outworking of the policy. Ms Ciara Reilly has written really excellent pieces on her Substack outlining that effectively since 2024 the policy has been to move away from a model where the SNA's job is to facilitate children being included in education towards more of a healthcare assistance model. As a result, entitlement is being based pretty much only on significant primary needs or, basically, medical needs. All of the other stuff, like being unable to cope in a classroom, being autistic or being overwhelmed in a classroom, is not being counted. The fundamental issue here is the policy. The cuts need to be reversed but the policy also needs to be reversed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  A script will be handed around, but I will deal with the issue without the script. I thank all Members for their engagement and the seriousness with which they are treating this issue. I take on board all of the matters that have been raised.  I will talk about the policy first. Since the 2014 document, more than 12,000 extra SNAs have been recruited and are working in the system. We have expanded considerably. There is a view going around that we have gone back to the 2014 document and that this is where the cuts are coming from. However, the SNA workforce has expanded considerably over the period since 2014.  I take the concerns of parents, schools and children on board. I understand full well the importance of SNAs. In every school community that I go into, I have said that we have built special education on the backs of SNAs. I acknowledge the enormous work they do. We have increased the SNA population by 45%, to 25,000, in recent years. The SNA workforce is hugely valued.  I am constantly asked this week, \"What is the pause?\". The pause means that we have stopped in relation to the decisions that were taken and communicated to schools last week. To be fair to everybody, we have stopped all of it. In May or June, information on the allocation of SNAs would normally go out to schools. We brought that back this year because I firmly believe that we need to have earlier communication. We brought back the notification for families with additional educational needs to October. I firmly believe that we need to bring communication back to earlier in the school cycle. We want to communicate earlier, but we are pausing what was being done because we are looking at the totality of the issue of special education assistance.  To speak to the Deputy's point, we do not want the schools to be in limbo. We want to make sure that they have certainty as soon as possible. We have had a number of intensive engagements over the past 24 to 48 hours in relation to this issue. We will continue to engage over the coming days. We will be bringing clarity as early as possible as to the steps forward. I take on board what the Deputies said.  Deputy Boyd Barrett mentioned Johnstown and the cliff edge of the five SNAs being taken out of it. We cannot have that. We have to have a continuous enrolment and we have to ensure that the value that we have in the SNAs is following the children. We must ensure that the children with the greatest need and those who require the help have the SNAs. If they have the SNAs, it will allow them to flourish and grow within their school communities and to have better outcomes in life as well. Many people would not be able to attend school unless they had the SNAs.  We need everybody on board. We need the Department, the school communities, parents, and unions on board and we need to have a system that everybody has faith in. One of the challenges that we are now tackling is the reviews. We should have been doing reviews every second year or every year so that schools would understand the role of the NCSE, there would be interaction with the school communities and families so that they would have better information. We have to make sure that we have confidence in what we are doing. Families and school principals have contacted me, and I have spoken to many of them in the past week in particular. I assure them that we will do the right thing by them and particularly by the children who need the support in schools. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  It is really not clear, but it seems as if the SNAs and, therefore, the children for whom they provide support and, consequently, all of the other children in their classes and all of the teachers, are still in the crosshairs. All we have is a pause because people expressed such outrage, anger and shock. I should mention another school in my area. All Saints, a small school in Blackrock, has lost its only SNA. There will be no SNA there at all now. That is absolutely unacceptable. The care needs of the children have not changed. They need the same support they had previously and we need that commitment from the Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan  I will leave the Minister of State with three points because I know he will be engaging with the Taoiseach, the T\u00e1naiste and his senior Minister in the next few days. First, the cliff edge that I have spoken to him about regularly cannot be the reality.  The review I spoke to him about which happened every year needs to be consistent so we do not face this cliff edge in the future. At this point, the loss of any SNA is not tenable given the climate and context of what has happened and the lack of trust and the anxiety created. There were always minor movements in the number of SNAs over the years but given the gravity of what has happened and the scale of some of the drops, it is not tenable. I spoke privately to the Minister of State about the lack of a requirement of a diagnosis. That will create problems down the line. We need something clinical and that can generate statistics in order that people can be guided in making these decisions, particularly the SENOs. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  I concur with all of my colleagues who have spoken. I presume the engagements involve the Minister of State, the Taoiseach, the T\u00e1naiste and the Minister for education. If there is somebody else involved, I would appreciate if we were informed of that. In that meeting tonight, can I inform parents, SNAs, teachers and students that for now, this pause will be lifted in the coming weeks? Can I also confirm that the schools that received sanction of new SNAs will get those SNAs? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  It is a funny sort of pause because the cuts were not going to come into place until September anyway. The Minister of State said it is a review of suspending it but it is not like there were going to be cuts and now they are paused. Some of these schools may still face the same cuts come September. The Minister of State is not giving any guarantee that will not happen. Can the schools that went through the wringer in this very difficult environment and were granted an extra SNA now plan on the basis that they will get an extra SNAs or two or whatever or can they not be guaranteed that at this stage? In the pause and the review of the process, is the fundamental toolkit, the basis on which the allocations will be made, being looked at or is it just the individual schools? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  The basis on which we are delivering special needs assistants is under the 2014 circular, which has allowed us to grow the SNA workforce by nearly 60%. It is a whole-of-government approach. It is a very serious issue for families and school communities. We are all engaged. The Minister, Deputy Naughton, and I have had multiple conversations and meetings over the past number of days and weeks, right over the weekend. We are engaging extremely carefully as to how we will proceed. We had a number of meetings this morning as well.  The Deputy asked me to clarify a few points in relation to his meeting tonight. If a school has gone through an SNA assessment or gone through with the SENOs and it was clearly demonstrated that additional care was needed in that school, that has to be stood over. If the school demonstrates additional care is needed, we are about ensuring the SNAs are working towards that care that is needed. There was never any discussion that a school would lose its SNA immediately; it was always going to happen from 1 September, not now or at Easter or whatever. It was always within the school year 2026. That was very clear at all times. We are pausing it because there has been so much concern about the process. We have to be extremely confident in the process we put in place such that all school communities and education partners have confidence in it and that we can go forward with confidence in it. There was mention of the removal of diagnosis. We cannot remove that unless we have a robust process in place in which all education partners are confident. We are working on that currently. It will take some time to make sure we have a robust system in place. This is a significant policy change. We have to make sure we get it right. I assure the House and all Members that we are working extremely carefully with the National Council for Special Education, us as elected members and Department officials. We have seen a number of attacks of various different types over the past couple of days. I assure the Deputies that when we have this done, we will have it right. We take everything seriously. We understand the special needs assistants, the children, the families and schools. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Special Educational Needs"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_42","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Social Welfare Benefits","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_38","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_38","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_42","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paula Butterly  I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this issue because it undoubtedly affects people in Dunleer, Togher, Drogheda and Dundalk and no doubt it also affects people the breadth of Ireland. I came in to the Chamber in October 2025 to talk about a constituency who had come to me having lost her husband a year prior. She was facing having to rear her four children, get back to work, get on with her life and with building a life for her children, only to find herself in a position in which she fell ill. It was cancer and she had to seek treatment. If things were not bad enough, because she was receiving the widow's benefit, she was therefore not entitled to illness benefit. At the time, I said this was clearly wrong. Our system cannot be devised to punish somebody when they are trying to do everything right. This lady was afflicted by a terrible tragedy in her family and was trying to put her best foot forward and build a life for her children but at the same time had to bear her own illness. It was not just that but also the economic devastation this was going to have on her family. A year and half prior to that, she had two incomes coming into the household. A year and a half later, she was not only down the income from her husband, she was also going to be down the income from her husband which was substituted by a widow's benefit and because her employer did not make up her sick pay, she was not even entitled to that illness benefit. This is despite the fact that from the day she left school she paid her PRSI and made her contributions. It is grossly unfair. At the time, I was told the Minister would take a look at reviewing this process. My understanding is no review has taken place to date and there is no date to have a review of such practices. I understand the system of one payment, one person but if this was only for widow's benefit one would say it is grossly unfair and surely it could be reviewed. However, this also happens when somebody receives the carer's allowance. These are people who take care of others day in, day out. They receive quite a nominal amount of money yet if they fall ill, they are not entitled to illness benefit. No doubt the Minister of State will tell me in some cases they can be given half of a second payment but that is not enough to pay the bills. That is not enough in this day and age to carry on day by day. When people are hit by very harsh and difficult circumstances, which I hope are temporary, we should not be there to punish them or make their lives and circumstances even harder. We should lift them up and help them along, especially in these moments of crisis. I call for this situation to be reviewed swiftly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  I thank the Deputy for the question and will speak a little on the information I received from the Department.  In relation to widows, widowers and the surviving pension, we have done some work on expanding the scheme for civil partners or cohabiting partners over the past while as well. The challenge is when somebody is widowed, a man or woman, they work and then get ill themselves, going from two incomes to one.  Ordinarily, if they got sick, they would be entitled to illness benefit, with the PRSI paid. This issue has come across most public representatives' desks. We meet families who are doing the right thing and making sure their contributions are up to date. Often, the families have been doubly hit. A partner may have passed away, the person is on the widow's or widower's pension and maybe raising a family on their own and working outside the home, and then illness strikes. When we look for help for them, we find we are unable to get anything for them. That is very challenging.  A number of cases have been raised in the House, in particular, over the past 12 months. The Deputy raised one case very eloquently last October or November when a commitment was given to look into the matter to see what could be done. If we look at this in its totality, where a widow or widower is getting the pension because their partner has passed away, the pension is based on the PRSI the partner paid. The surviving partner has contributed their own PRSI and is looking for illness benefit at a particular time. The PRSI contribution system should be able to cope with contributions from both partners. A number of senior Government spokespersons gave an undertaking to look at it. We need to be more proactive in relation to seeing if we can do something for families, even in the short term. I can think of half a dozen of cases where I assisted but was unable to progress the application.  I will take the Deputy's concerns back. A commitment was given to look at this last autumn. I will ask that it be looked at again and I will relay the seriousness of the matter as well. The Social Insurance Fund is made up, the first instance, by PRSI contributions. We could make the argument that PRSI has been paid by the partner to generate the contributory widow's or widower's pension and PRSI has been paid by the surviving partner. I will ask the Department to have a look at this in more detail. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paula Butterly  I thank the Minister of State. I am heartened that he has grasped the seriousness of the situation and by the fact that he is going to raise the urgent need for this to be reviewed. Let us review it and implement it. Let us find a timeline of many months but, rather, weeks or a few months. The Minister of State has grasped the seriousness of the situation, as has the Minister, Deputy Calleary. It is grossly unfair and does not just affect people who are getting the widow's or widower's benefit. It is also arises in the event that somebody is receiving carer's allowance. It is the system itself. We have to grasp this. As the Minister of State said, one partner has paid PRSI and the other person is getting the benefit of that. The second person has paid their own PRSI but cannot get the full benefit of that. There is something wrong with that system. We encourage people to contribute, find their own feet and get on with life. Surely, when they stumble in life, we can help pick them up and help them along the way. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  The Deputy mentioned the carer's allowance. The half-rate carer's allowance was brought in. Former Deputy Joe Callanan from east Galway and I put a motion before the Fianna F\u00e1il Parliamentary Party many years ago regarding the half-rate carer's allowance. We had been banging our heads off a stone wall for some time but S\u00e9amus Brennan, the then Minister, accepted our bona fides, particularly as regards cases where one person on a pension was caring for an adult son or daughter.  Illness benefit is paid for a short period. If it was the case that PRSI could be paid and that could generate a payment, it could not be done for the long term but maybe it could be done for the short term. I will take the issue back. I understand it. I have seen it with families and individuals who come in to me, particularly families who have had difficulties already because one of the parents has died. The surviving partner may be rearing a family or looking after a loved one at their most vulnerable time.  The Deputy mentioned illness benefit. Illness benefit is only paid for a short period. That may be something we can look at. I will certainly raise the issue with the Minister, Deputy Calleary, and the Department to see if we can come up with any proposals. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Social Welfare Benefits"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_43","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Disability Services","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_38","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_38","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_43","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy George Lawlor  This Topical Issue is to discuss supports available to vulnerable children and adults in County Wexford who suffer from a disability. Families with children and adults with disabilities are in crisis in terms of the supports and carers that are made available to them. I was contacted by a distressed and exhausted mother who has three children with serious disabilities. She is literally at her wits' end. She has a 25-year-old, a 22-year-old and a 17-year-old. They all have very complex medical needs, including intellectual and physical disabilities.  A home nursing package was sanctioned by the HSE many years ago. First, it was through the Nurse on Call agency. It was then transferred to another agency, which I will not name. The woman in question said she has had the pleasure of meeting and working with many exceptional nurses. However, in recent times, the quality of nursing has drastically deteriorated overall. She puts this down to a number of factors, including nurses being put in positions outside their level of expertise. ICU neonatal nurses, following a four-week induction, are being placed to care for her three adult children with very complex needs.  The HSE passed the buck constantly. Any time she questioned it, it said the agency managed the package. The HSE will not interact in any way, shape or form. The management and the director of nursing in the HSE will not meet to discuss the issues with the parents. Instead, parents have to speak with a liaison nurse who then refers them to management. There is no governing body over home care packages. For example, she has been asked on a few occasions by different nurses how to turn on a portable bottle of oxygen, among other basic nursing questions. None of the nurses she has been supplied with through the agency - this is not the nurse's fault but the HSE's fault in terms of governance - have ever used a hoist prior to coming to her house to, as she puts it, \"allegedly\" care for her children. She provides the training.  The woman has made recommendations to the agency and the HSE in relation to the training of these nurses prior to coming to work in this area in terms of induction. Of course, the HSE is washing its hands. Believe it or not, the agency is paid \u20ac18,650 per week to provide the care package. The nurses get \u20ac18.50 an hour. The private company gets \u20ac74 an hour per nurse. That is just shy of \u20ac1 million per year for providing the care. When a risk assessment was done, the recommendation that came back from the agency was that it needed more nurses on top of the \u20ac18,650 a week it was getting.  This is indicative of so many of the problems in this country arising from privatisation, particularly of care. Here we have an agency that is literally creaming off the top and making massive profits. It appears to be the only agency providing this type of care in County Wexford. It is receiving just shy of \u20ac1 million per year for one home for three children, but it is not paying the nurses a proper wage. As a result, it is getting nurses who are not suitable or qualified in this specific area. They are excellent nurses in their own right and in their own areas, but they are not suitably qualified to provide the level care. This is replicated in many other instances across Wexford, according to the information I have been given. It is something that we have to investigate given the level of public money going into these private agencies. This case is indicative. The matter has to be urgently examined. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. He has outlined a specific issue on the floor of the D\u00e1il. I do not have the exact details of the case, but I will speak to it.  If the Deputy could furnish the details afterwards, I will certainly do what I can to help. The woman the Deputy spoke about is doing extraordinary work. She has a 22-year-old, a 25-year-old and a 17-year-old. Looking at the sums the Deputy quoted, we seriously have to ask ourselves whether we are getting value for money. More importantly, are we getting the care for people that the State is paying for? That is the most important question here.  In my time as Chair of the disability committee in the last D\u00e1il, I met many families and saw the challenges they face on an ongoing basis. Since my appointment to my current role, I have sat on the Cabinet subcommittee on disability and we have had many discussions on funding mechanisms, the challenges that are there and the amount of money we are paying to private agencies to provide public care. The real challenge is determining whether we are getting the care required. We can talk about value for money after that but the most important thing is the care that is required.  I hear the Deputy's frustration in speaking about that mother, the hoist, the oxygen and the other challenges. He has described young adults who have a multiplicity of very complex needs. What that mother is doing is a vocation for her. I do not have the full details but I will certainly take the details from the Deputy if he will give me them. We have a shortage of respite and residential spaces across the country. We are spending a huge amount of money. Again this year, the amount of money being spent on the disability sector has gone up by a huge amount to try to make sure we are doing the right thing by people with disabilities. There is serious engagement at Government level on the matter. However, we also have to be mindful of the existing system we have built up. Is that right for families? We must stand back and ask what we can get for \u20ac1 million. The figure the Deputy mentioned is extraordinary.  Deputy Lawlor has outlined that woman's serious concerns about the level or quality of care. I will personally take up the matter. I will engage with both the HSE and the Minister on the Deputy's behalf. I ask him to forward me the details privately. I do not want to comment on the case publicly but I will certainly engage privately. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy George Lawlor  I have not mentioned the family or the company involved. The Minister of State is quite right in saying that this lady's care for her children is a vocation. I have worked with her over many years and her dedication and commitment to her children, who have profound and complex needs, is just remarkable. She is now exhausted and distressed. She has been fighting for a long time. If the Minister of State will believe it, she actually did some of the training for some of the nurses who came in. She showed them how to work various pieces of equipment.  Given the level of investment, this is incredibly frustrating to this family. That level of investment could be justified if they were getting the quality care that figure demands. Without meaning to put a price tag on anything, we are paying an agency whose only aim is to maximise profits, as we have seen in myriad sectors across Ireland. The moneys involved, which are almost being demanded by these agencies, are off the charts. As the Minister of State has suggested, the money being invested in the area of disability has gone up hugely but that is because we have to meet these bills. Imagine what a proper caring agency run by the State could get for that \u20ac1 million. We would be able to pay nurses and train them properly to the highest standards rather than forcing people into these positions. In many instances, we have no choice because the nurses are not there. They are not there because we are not remunerating them as we should. As I have said, \u20ac74 per hour goes to the agency while \u20ac18.50 goes to the nurse. That is criminal in the context of what the State could get back if that money went into a properly structured HSE-run agency. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  The case the Deputy has outlined is extremely disturbing. At the core is the care that is being provided and the concerns of the mother, who has a vocation, about the care she is getting. That is one side of it. The other side of it is the amount of money the State is spending and that figure of \u20ac74 versus \u20ac18.50. A lot of section 38 and section 39 organisations around the country have invested and provided care for people with disabilities for many years. They have provided massive value for money. Every cent they have is invested into either community facilities or the teams that work in them. People should not be financially benefiting from the care of very vulnerable people. The funding the Deputy has outlined has come up at a number of the meetings, as have privatisation and some of the organisations that are providing care and charging the State an arm and a leg for it. These things have come up because we need to get the best value for money. However, we also need a level of faith in the system and in the care that is being provided. We need families to have faith in that system as well. I will take up this issue. I will certainly engage with the Deputy on it because it is hugely important that we follow this up for the family the Deputy has mentioned, for the State and for other people who need the same level of care and who are experiencing similar engagements with private companies. I will certainly do that. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Disability Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_44","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2024\/25","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2024\/25\/dail\/2","houseCode":"dail","stage":"2","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Commission on the Future of the Family Farm Bill 2024: Second Stage [Private Members] (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Commission on the Future of the Family Farm Bill 2024: Second Stage [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":5},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_44","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel Grealish","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Fitzmaurice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  I move: \"That the Bill be now read a Second Time.\"  As the Minister of State will know, across the country, the issues facing family farms are very difficult for many people involved in farming. It has been a tradition in Ireland that most people came from a family farm. The mother, the father and maybe some of the children were involved in farm activity for a major portion of their lives and perhaps all of their lives. That has always been the tradition. However, in some sectors, that has moved on. As farming has become less profitable in some ways, it has become more intensive. Farms have therefore had to become larger. This has led to the model of a corporate farm replacing that of the family farm in some cases, particularly in certain sectors. That is not good for the image Ireland wants to portray to the world. We want to show the food we produce as being of the highest quality. We want most of the dairy, beef and lamb we produce to come from free-roaming, grass-fed animals on family farms where the animals are cared for and looked after by the people who own them. We use all of that as a means of marketing our produce worldwide, which we do very well. For that reason, it is important that this is real and not just a brand.  To make it real, we have to ensure family farms are profitable enterprises for those who depend on them. Very many people who have a small family farm unfortunately need to have off-farm income. In some cases, they may need more than one off-farm income if they are to survive. That makes things very difficult. That is why we have brought forward this legislation tonight. I know the Government is opposing it. That is very disappointing. Government seems to have a blind spot as regards recognising many people's realities. We want to put together a small group through which farmers' representatives would come together with experts to work out a system by which we can make family farms viable for the long term.  We recognise agriculture is at a crucial juncture. There are issues like Mercosur, trade deals and volatility in prices, and the way the marketing of food is going is more towards looking after the corporate sector, with less emphasis and focus on the primary producer. That is what we want to see change. We want to protect the primary producer. We want to look at the opportunities. The commission could look at harnessing those opportunities and at diversification, innovation and all the things that can happen on the small family farm.  Many years ago I had mushroom tunnels. They were used around the country on small farms where it was difficult to survive. They were an additional and alternative enterprise on the farm which made it more profitable and able to survive. It is much like many things in agriculture. I had five mushroom tunnels. To survive, you had to have eight, ten or 12. Today, I think there are about half a dozen mushroom growers in the country and they have dozens of tunnels. That is the way the system had to go because of the pressure. I suppose it is about economies of scale. The concept was probably developed by Teagasc way back at that time. To make the small family farm viable, you needed additional enterprise on it. Unfortunately, it became more important to develop that enterprise into an industry than to protect the family farm.  That is why we need to look at what we can do to make farming viable for many people. The situation with bluetongue at the moment is stifling a lot of people, particularly in the Border areas, where the market depends on buyers coming across the Border from the North. This is a difficult system to understand and to work out how to resolve. A lot of farmers in my part of the world and the west of Ireland in general lamb the ewes and calve the cows, then send them off to be fattened somewhere else. The suckler farmers are an example of that. They are finding it difficult to survive because they are small by nature. Because of the type of land they have, the farm is often broken up into parts and is not all in one area. It is difficult to come up with solutions. So far all the solutions have been driven toward the more intensive sectors. I have huge respect for Teagasc, the Department and much of the work they have done but, unfortunately, it has been focused on the large intensive sector farming. On the other side, and upland farmers are an example - the hill and mountain farmers - Teagasc and other organisations have done little or no research into what improvements can be done to make their farms viable. That is one example of it.  The proposal we bring tonight is to set up a commission on the family farm. The Minister would appoint a chairperson and there would be ten members of the commission. They would include experts from across the field, including from agencies like Teagasc, from the Department and from industry. They would come together to focus on the family farm and how it can be protected and made viable in the long term and sustainably. They would come up with recommendations within a one-year period. This would be a short period in which to come up with the recommendations. The Government would then put the recommendations into action. We are talking about something to move this forward at pace. The longer we drag our heels, the more people with small portions of lands go out of farming. Forestry is taking over in my part of the world. When forestry takes over, there is nothing left because, farm by farm, it becomes trees after trees and then there is no community and they die.  The Bill will maintain the viability of the small family farm, which maintains and retains the activity of the community. When in a townland or parish there are a number of people farming on small farms, the vet is busy and the local co-op is busy selling gates, manure, fertiliser and everything to keep it going. Bit by bit, when small farmers leave the sector, all the other industries close down afterwards. To keep the rural community vibrant, we have to keep the family farm in place. To do that, there has to be an emphasis on it.  The Government's proposal is basically saying, \"Look, we're already doing this. Everything is great.\" Everything is not great. There were almost 276,000 fewer cattle in the country in summer 2025 than in summer 2024 - over a quarter of a million fewer. There were over 70,000 fewer sheep in the country in that year. That has not changed or improved since prices started to go up in the past six to nine months.  There is a crisis and Government is refusing to recognise that. That is why we are proposing this legislation. It will put a commission in place which will work with farmers and rural communities to make those communities vibrant once more. We are disappointed Government has decided to set that to one side and continue the road it is going. The road it is going has not worked and is not working. If the Minister of State is honest, he would recognise and understand that. It is not just me saying it as an Opposition spokesperson; that is what farmers throughout the country are saying. They fear for the future. They fear their children will not want to go into farming or to maintain the lifestyle of the past. That will be detrimental to rural communities - to our footballs clubs, our schools and everything. Obviously, the Minister of State will not support this legislation, but will he do something to maintain the livelihoods and opportunity people want to have in rural communities? It can keep them alive and sustained.  I strongly emphasise the opportunities people have in rural communities to maintain the lifestyle that has held communities together down the years. The Minister of State comes from a part of the country where that can be understood. The land in Connemara is poor but the people are rich in spirit, community and resourcefulness, and they are interdependent. That comes from having to do it in the past because there was little or nothing else. When we had a recession in this country 12 years ago, everything was finished, there was nothing, building was down the Swannee and everyone was bankrupt, but farming was still there. The rural economy and rural communities survived and thrived. That is why it is important we keep the family farm as part of that and that it does not become another corporate model based on high debt. That is what they all end up being based on, and when the problems come, what happens? The whole lot is sold out and gone. The fear many people have is that the model of agriculture we have in Ireland is going down the way it has gone in other countries. We do not want to see that happen.  The amendment the Minister of State will move basically says we are doing it, everything is good and we are flying. That is not people's experience. Please come back and look at what we have here. Look at the opportunity we have for people in rural communities to be sustainable into the future. If we do not do that, we will erode the very fabric on which we are exporting and modelling the markets around the world for our food and high-quality produce.  I am disappointed the Government has come in with this amendment but I ask the Minister of State to please look at the opportunity that is in the legislation put before him. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel Grealish","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Noel Grealish)  I move amendment No. 1:  To delete all words after \"That\" and substitute the following:  \"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann declines to give the Commission on the Future of the Family Farm Bill 2024 a second reading, on the basis that:  \u2014 its objectives are already being comprehensively addressed through existing policy frameworks, in particular Food Vision 2030, the CAP Strategic Plan 2023\u20132027, and the ongoing work arising from the Commission on Generational Renewal in Farming;  \u2014 the family farm model is central to Ireland's agri-food sector and rural economy, and supporting its viability, sustainability and continuity has been a consistent priority of Government policy, reflected most clearly in Food Vision 2030, Ireland's stakeholder-led strategy for the agri-food sector;  \u2014 issues such as generational renewal, succession planning, gender balance, farm incomes, diversification, farmers' position in the value chain and climate action are key issues for the sector and are already central pillars of Food Vision 2030, and these issues are being actively progressed through the existing structures and funded policy instruments;  \u2014 Food Vision 2030 provides a long term, integrated and non-statutory framework, addressing the economic, environmental and social sustainability of farming, including the future of family farms, and the distinct advantage of Food Vision 2030 is that it was developed by the sector, for the sector, through extensive stakeholder engagement and continues to be implemented collaboratively, and it is underpinned by a robust governance, monitoring and reporting structure through a High Level Implementation Committee chaired by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine;  \u2014 a mid-term review of Food Vision 2030 is currently underway, to ensure continued relevance and responsiveness, and this review, which will include full public and stakeholder consultation, will ensure that it remains ambitious, focused, and responsive to evolving challenges and opportunities; and  \u2014 the agri-food sector has experienced significant policy change in recent years, and Food Vision 2030 provides a stable, agreed framework, with the non-statutory nature of Food Vision 2030 allowing Government to adapt policy responses more efficiently, including through the current mid-term review.\".  I commend Deputy Kenny on the intent of the Commission on the Future of the Family Farm Bill 2024, as the majority of issues raised are a priority for Government. However, its primary objectives are already being comprehensively addressed through existing policy frameworks, in particular Food Vision 2030, the CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027 and the ongoing work arising from the Commission on Generational Renewal in Farming. For that reason, the Government has proposed a reasoned amendment to decline to give a Second Reading to the Bill.  The family farm model is central to Ireland's agrifood sector and rural economy. Supporting its viability, sustainability and continuity has been a consistent priority of Government policy, reflected most clearly in Food Vision 2030, Ireland's stakeholder-led strategy for the agrifood sector. Issues such as generational renewal, farm incomes, farmers' position in the value chain, diversification, gender balance and climate action are key for the sector and are central pillars of Food Vision 2030. These issues are being actively progressed through the existing structures and funded policy instruments. Food Vision is grounded in a food systems approach, recognising that agriculture, food, the environment, climate, health, trade and rural development are interconnected, with a clear ambition for Ireland to continue to be a world leader in sustainable food systems.  The stakeholder committee which developed Food Vision 2030 included relevant stakeholders from across the sector including the presidents of the farming organisations. Food Vision 2030 sets out 22 goals and 218 actions, grouped under four high-level missions and encompassing environmental, economic and social sustainability. These missions address precisely the issues that matter most to family farms today. Mission 1 is \"A Climate Smart, Environmentally Sustainable Agri-Food Sector\"; mission 2 is \"Viable and Resilient Primary Producers, with Enhanced Wellbeing\"; mission 3 is \"Food that is Safe, Nutritious and Appealing, Trusted and Valued at Home and Abroad\"; and mission 4 is \"An Innovative, Competitive and Resilient Agri-Food Sector, Driven by Technology and Talent\". Mission 2, in particular, places primary producers, our farmers, fishers and foresters at the centre of the strategy with a strong focus on economic viability, resilience, diversification, generational renewal and well-being.  A high-level implementation committee, which is chaired by my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Martin Heydon, monitors delivery. Annual reports track progress and a new public dashboard provides transparency on environmental, economic and social indicators. The third annual report, published last year, showed that 79% of actions either have been completed or have had substantial action undertaken with the remaining actions under way. That is tangible, measurable progress.  As we move into the second half of this decade, we have initiated a mid-term review of Food Vision 2030. This review is not about replacing the strategy. It is about ensuring that it remains ambitious, focused and responsive to emerging challenges and opportunities. This review will involve comprehensive stakeholder consultation because Food Vision 2030 is, and must remain, stakeholder-led. Therefore, when we speak about the future of the family farm, we are not starting from scratch. We are building on an agreed national framework that already encompasses generational renewal, fair returns, diversification, gender equality, climate action and innovation. Food Vision 2030 provides a long-term integrated framework that addresses the economic, environmental and social sustainability of farming, including the future of family farms. The distinct advantage of Food Vision 2030 is that it was developed by the sector for the sector. Food Vision 2030 was developed through extensive stakeholder engagement and continues to be implemented collaboratively. The agrifood sector has experienced significant policy change in recent years. Food Vision 2030 provides a stable, agreed framework. The non-statutory nature of Food Vision 2030 allows the Government to adapt policy responses more efficiently, including through the current mid-term review.  On incomes more broadly, Ireland\u2019s CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027 represents an investment of \u20ac9.8 billion over five years, which is the highest funded programme to date. Approximately 60% of that funding is directed towards income support through direct payments and support for areas of natural constraint. Additional funding supports environmental schemes such as ACRES, capital investment through TAMS and targeted sectoral schemes. These supports are not abstract figures; they are critical to sustaining family arms across the country, particularly in more marginal areas. The negotiation of a robust and adequately funded CAP for the period post 2027 is a priority for the Government. My colleague, the Minister, Deputy Heydon, will be in Brussels again next Monday discussing these issues at the AGRIFISH Council and progressing negotiations on the next CAP will be a priority for the Minister during Ireland\u2019s Presidency of the EU in the second half of this year.  Generational renewal is one of the most pressing challenges facing the sector. The demographic reality is clear. Only 4% of Irish farmers are under 35 years of age, while 37% are over 65. This is not unique to Ireland and reflects a wider EU trend. However, it is a challenge we must address with urgency and with practical measures. The programme for Government prioritises intergenerational farm succession. Food Vision 2030 recognises that generational renewal is critical to the long-term social and economic sustainability of rural Ireland. To inform policy, we established the independent Commission on Generational Renewal in Farming. It conducted a comprehensive analysis and made 31 recommendations spanning CAP supports, pensions, taxation, access to land and finance, advisory services, education, training, collaborative arrangements, gender balance and the overall attractiveness of the sector. An implementation group within my Department is progressing these recommendations. Some require action in the context of the next CAP. Others have already been acted upon. For example, in budget 2026, we extended the 100% stamp duty relief for young trained farmers to provide greater certainty, and agricultural relief has been retained to facilitate intergenerational transfer. These measures were worth approximately \u20ac325 million to farm families in 2024.  At EU level, a new strategy for generational renewal in agriculture will inform the next CAP, thereby ensuring that young farmers remain central to future funding frameworks. Generational renewal is not simply about financial supports. It is about making farming an attractive, viable and respected career choice. That means addressing income stability, work-life balance, access to land, access to training and pathways into ownership and collaboration. As noted by the commission, this is an issue for all of the agrifood stakeholders to address to support the environmental, social and economic sustainability of farming and to enhance its image as a career.  Income supports alone are not sufficient. Farmers must also occupy an appropriate position in the value chain. Under Food Vision 2030, we have taken steps to strengthen transparency and fairness in the supply chain, including the establishment of the Agri-Food Regulator and actions to enhance value creation and consumer trust.  Diversification is another key theme. Food Vision 2030 encourages diversification into organic production, forestry, bioeconomy opportunities, renewable energy, horticulture, tillage expansion and mixed farming systems. We have launched a \u20ac1.3 billion forestry programme, a national organic strategy, a national biomethane strategy and sectoral reports from the dairy, beef, sheep and tillage groups to ensure sustainable pathways for each sector.  Climate action, of course, is central to this discussion. Agriculture has a critical role to play in meeting national climate targets. Food Vision 2030\u2019s first mission is explicitly focused on progressing a climate-smart, environmentally sustainable agrifood sector with climate neutrality by 2050 and verifiable progress by 2030. Significant progress on climate action has been made through investment and application of research such as, for example, using genomic data to breed more efficient, lower methane cattle; promoting the use of protected urea, which has a much lower emissions profile; and helping farmers to reduce fertiliser usage by promoting the use of clover and multispecies swards. These are not imposed solutions but were developed collaboratively by the sector. It is important to emphasise fairness. Farmers must be supported to contribute to climate objectives in a practical and economically viable manner. That is the guiding principle of our approach.  Let me also address gender equality, an area where real progress is being made but where more remains to be done. Women play an essential role in agriculture and agribusiness, yet continue to face barriers in land access, finance, training and decision-making. Gender equality is embedded in Food Vision 2030 and in our CAP strategic plan. Following the national dialogue on women in agriculture, we launched a 12-point national action plan in 2024 addressing leadership, visibility, education, financial and legal matters and sustainability. Implementation is progressing under a dedicated working group. In addition, 2026 has been designated by the United Nations as the International Year of the Woman Farmer, highlighting the essential roles women play across agrifood systems. Ireland co-sponsored the launch at FAO headquarters, reflecting our national commitment in this area. Strengthening the role of women in agriculture is not a side issue; it is central to generational renewal, innovation and community sustainability.  In relation to the proposed Bill to establish a statutory commission on the future of the family farm, it is clear that its primary objectives are already being comprehensively addressed through existing policy frameworks, in particular Food Vision 2030, the CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027 and the ongoing work arising from the Commission on Generational Renewal in Farming.  While Deputy Kenny rightly highlighted these issues, the establishment of a commission would represent a duplication of existing work that is well under way. Our priority must be implementation, delivering on the commitments already agreed, refining them through the mid-term review and preparing for the post-2027 CAP period. The agrifood sector has shown remarkable resilience in recent years through Brexit, Covid-19, market volatility and climate pressures. What it needs now is policy certainty, continued investment and collaborative problem-solving.  The future of the family farm in Ireland is at the very centre of Government policy. Through Food Vision 2030, our CAP strategic plan, the commission on generational renewal and its implementation, targeted taxation measures and a clear commitment to sustainability and equality, we have a coherent and comprehensive framework in place. Our task now is to continue delivering, ensuring that farming remains viable, attractive and sustainable, that young people see a future in the sector, that women are fully recognised and supported, that farmers receive fair returns and that Ireland leads globally in sustainable food systems. lf we remain focused, collaborative and ambitious, I am confident that the family farm model will not only endure but that it will also thrive. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Fitzmaurice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice  I support the Bill. I have known the Minister of State a good while, but whoever wrote his speech has never pulled a calf or brought lambs. I will tell him one thing; you would wonder what we are listening to compared with what we are talking about. He talked about the CAP strategic plan. The fact about the new CAP and Food Vision 2030 is that at this moment, farmers around the country are facing a 24% cut to their CAP payments. How will that protect the family farm?  The Minister of State talked about well-being. The average age of farmers today is 59. Most farmers out in the rain, snow or sun are on their own. Generally, the only person they see is the postman. We talk about well-being. What have we done for them when it comes to their well-being? How do we encourage young people in when we look at what Europe is doing? Europe has decided that it will give Denmark the go-ahead, as I mentioned earlier, to get \u20ac1 billion together to get Johnny, Ludovic or whatever his name is off the farm and pay him, but he has to sign a docket that he will never farm in Europe again. He can go to Canada or Brazil, but he cannot farm in Europe. The same has happened in Holland. The nature restoration law is up in the air at the moment. We heard on day one that the State was going to be able to cover all the requirements. I have a question as to that, but I will not make a rash statement.  We talk about getting youngsters in, but if we had such good plans on the farms, and if Food Vision 2030, or 2020 or 2010, worked, would we be down 100,000 sheep? Would we be down 274,000 suckler cows in ten years? When we look at the stats, does it not tell us that the age profile is 59 and suckler cows will be down 250,000? Yet, we still go on with our heads buried in the sand believing everything is hunky-dory. The new CAP strategic plan - there will be a bit of toing and froing - will decrease by 24%. The poor old farmer in the west of Ireland is getting \u20ac4,000 or \u20ac5,000, if it is reduced. Is the next generation going to come on stream, particularly with the opportunities that are there at the moment?  Do we not look at the third leg of the stool, as I always do? If you are brought up on a small farm, in some counties at least, you might be able to build a house on the land, although some, with the way planning is going at the moment, are blocking that. You might be able to build a house. In fairness, if you have the site, you will build a house. For someone trying to buy a house in Dublin, it is \u20ac500,000 at the moment for what we call half a house compared with some of the houses we are looking at. If you get a job locally and, between the two legs of the stool, you do not need as big an income from one or the other, you will survive and make a living between the land and the job. You work hard but it is probably the greatest life you will ever have. There are times you are frustrated with it, but it is a great life to have, if you can make it work.  The knock-on effect of that, and this is where the rural economy has to be looked at, is a few people are employed in the local shop. As outlined by Deputy Kenny, there is also the local GAA club and local community centre, and there might be a local pub. If you build a rural economy, where Google, Intel and all these big guns do not exist, money circulates in that rural area and it brings prosperity, but what are we doing? The nature restoration law is about re-wetting some parts of the land. I listened to the Minister of State. He used the words \"environment\" and \"climate\" seven or eight times. This is about farmers. It is about farmers not diversifying but coming to the land, be they lady farmers or male farmers. If we look at what we have done, the stats will tell you it is backwards we have gone on age profile and in trying to get youngsters into farming. We need to encourage that or we will be in trouble.  We are looking at youngsters and talking about generational renewal. If you had 30 or 40 acres one time, you need more now. There is no doubt about it. Can you get that more, however? It is hard done when you go in as a young farmer. It is hard done when the solar company is trying to put solar panels on the fields beside you when it is for sale, or the wind turbine fella that is owned by a foreign company is trying to put wind turbines in another field, or the forestry companies - the vultures we decided we would bring in from England - come from another place and start bidding against you. It is not simple. We saw what happened in Leitrim. We see the number of trees that have been put into the likes of Leitrim. I know a certain number of trees are wanted, but where there are trees, whether we like it or not, there will not be houses, farmers, sheep, cattle, horticulture or whatever. There will be the sawmill, which gives employment, but look at the ratio of it.  If we were doing everything so right in the whole of Europe over the last 15 years, why have 5.5 million farms been shut down? That is a queer figure. It is 5.5 million probably multiplied by 2.5; when we are doing an election that is how we tally up how many are in a house. It is 12.5 million people who are now not in farming. That should ring alarm bells for us that we need a commission. We can follow the European project. They are the whiz-kids. They want us to get rid of steel and bring in most of our products. Do you know why? Climate was mentioned many times, but it is that they want us to tick this box that we are the best kids in the world.  This is so we can tell America, China and everyone else, but at the end of the day it is about pounds, shillings and pence. How do we build a rural community? Is there an agenda to drive everyone to the city? All I can see in parts of this country is a certain number of farms that are getting bigger and bigger. The average suckler herd is probably 18 or 20 cows but many farms now have 5,000 to 9,000 cows. These are not family farms and I do not care who argues otherwise. We are letting this happen and forgetting the people who lived in the rural areas. Every one of us here comes from an area of family farms, small farms. We never grew up with much but we always had enough. We built the communities in our areas. Community centres were built, as were football pitches. There was a meitheal of people.  While education is very important, I fear the consequences if we do not put a floor under family farming to make it attractive for lads and girls to go into farming, and if they keep hearing about cuts and various things blocking them from farming. If you rewet your land, you do not need to live in the area. You can live in Dublin and can get your cheque if you want. If you have forestry on your land, you can live in America if you want. This is what we must consider. Are we going to try to keep the rural areas populated? This is bigger than just farming. The rural economy, which every one of us knows, is built around it. I encourage the Government, Teagasc and all the so-called experts who believe in visions and whatever to reconsider the vision they have had since 2010. They will need to get glasses to look at it and rethink the policy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I have a certain amount of sympathy for the Minister of State. Clearly, the senior Minister could not be bothered to be here to participate in this debate, despite having had three weeks' notice. Not only did he send the Minister of State in but he sent him in to deliver a speech that completely misses the point, as does the Government's amendment. The amendment states that the objectives of the Bill have been comprehensively addressed and then refers to policy frameworks, Food Vision 2030, the CAP strategic plan and ongoing work arising from the commission on generational renewal in farming. I will come to the CAP strategic plan and generational renewal in a moment.  Food Vision 2030, just like Food Wise 2025 before it, is not actually a plan for farmers; it is a plan for food production, and that is why I say that the Government continuously misses the point and why we have statistics such as those outlined by Deputy Fitzmaurice. The drive has been towards food production rather than supporting family farmers, and that is what is at the core of the Bill before us. There is a difference between the two. Food can be produced by conglomerates. It can be and is being produced by the largest corporations in the world. This is a societal choice. Do we want our food produced by conglomerates and the largest corporations in the world or by family farmers? Why would we want a future for the family farm model? When so many of our policies are being formulated at EU level, we have to recognise the implications for the family farm model. When most Irish people think about farming, they think of the family farm model. That is the model they understand because it is predominant in most of our communities. However, it is not the model that is predominant across Europe because Europe has largely moved towards a corporate form of farming and food production, just as North America did beforehand.  What is the difference between food produced by corporations and food produced by family farmers? First, the latter is of better quality and, I would argue, much more sustainable. The food densities and intensities are much more sustainable environmentally and in terms of biodiversity and every other measure. Also, food produced by family farmers has an added benefit for society and communities. When we are talking about the network of family farms in Ireland, we are talking about the nearest thing many towns, villages and entire regions have to an industry. It is the network of family farms that sustains towns, villages, GAA clubs and community life in general.  A point completely missed in both the Government amendment and the Minister of State's contribution is that the family farm is under threat. How do we know that? The numbers tell us. The number of farmers in this State has been reducing every single decade at a rate I consider alarming, as have the numbers of cows and sheep on family farms. The number of young people coming into farming on an ongoing basis is declining to such a point that I would now argue it is at crisis point.  I hear people talking about the need to encourage young people into farming. You do not need to encourage them. Everywhere I go, I meet young people who are mad about farming and want nothing more than to go into it. They love the farm, they love the land, they love the work and they love their tractors. They love everything about it but cannot see a future in it for themselves. Therein lies the problem and the need for this Bill.  The idea of the commission on the family farm came about on foot of work that a number of us in Sinn F\u00e9in had been involved in for a number of years. Included were Deputies Kenny and Kerrane, myself as an MEP at the time and others who had an interest. We were talking to farmers about what they actually needed to secure the future of family farming and how the Government could create a framework. What they said was simple but telling. They said they needed to be heard and that their voices needed to be at the centre of decisions made. As has been happening for decades, when decisions are made, farmers, who have to respond, are portrayed as backward for not accepting things foisted upon them. They end up trying to make the best of matters and to have some changes made. A Minister or backbench Government TD will say they secured the change but the manner in which decisions are made in the first place is where the problem lies.  At the heart of a commission on the family farm, family farmers' voices must be central. They have the answers. Bearing in mind all of the regressions we have seen in terms of numbers, the fact that Ireland still has a family farm network is not thanks to Government policy and certainly not thanks to the CAP. It is because of the determination of family farmers to stay on the land. They have the answers and want to be heard. The commission is about ensuring farmers are at the centre of deciding how we map out a future for Irish family farming, not just so they can survive and live on their farms but so they can thrive and afford to us all the benefits we know of in terms of delivery. Why is that important? I have often used the phrase the 3 Fs. These are what farmers need. They need fair prices on an ongoing basis. Prices are fairly decent at the minute but we know there is considerable volatility and that as soon as there is any shock to the market, it is farmers who will take the hit. The retailers will hold on to their profit margins, as will the processors and factories. Farmers will get screwed time and again because the Government has not set a framework to protect them, and the food regulator has not got the teeth even to start the work that is necessary. Farmers need a fair CAP.  Every single year, farmers are being asked to do much more. They are asked that by us as a society. European farmers, including Irish farmers, have the highest regulatory, animal welfare, environmental and biodiversity standards in the world.  That is the service they are providing to society, and we are paying them less than ever before to provide that service. The current CAP is, in real terms, a significant reduction for Irish farmers on the previous CAP, yet we have a Government that insists that black is white. It keeps telling farmers they are getting paid more now than they were in the previous CAP. Now we have an existential threat to the next CAP in terms of potentially a 25% reduction.  The premise is simple. If we and the Government want farmers to do more, we pay them more, in the same way as we would pay anybody else providing us with a service more if they are giving us more.  The final thing farmers need is fair play. They need fair play as to how the Department deals with them. Farmers should never look at the Department of agriculture as the enemy or as hostile. Certainly, the Department should never look at farmers as the enemy. All too often, however, that is the culture that prevails. If we are talking about environmental standards and Irish farmers, we cannot then nod through, which is what Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael essentially did, a Mercosur trade deal that sees the potential for hundreds of thousands of additional beef and other meat products coming into the EU at the expense of rainforests and then point the finger at Irish farmers and talk about reducing herd numbers and all the rest of it. The biggest hypocrisy of all this was the week before the vote on the Mercosur trade agreement, when I saw Eamon Ryan, someone who had spent five years in this Chamber lecturing Irish family farmers, writing an op-ed endorsing the deal. That said it all, as far as I was concerned. That type of hypocrisy needs to end because farmers need fair play.  This amendment is a joke, frankly. To suggest that the Government is doing what this says is completely disingenuous because the Government is not doing what lies at the heart of what an actual commission on family farming would do, namely, listen to farmers and find real solutions to ensure the model we should all be so proud of, the family farm model, is maintained into the future for young men and women all over this country. They want nothing more than to be able to farm their land, their father's land, their grandfather's land, or even new land that comes into the family. That is what they want, and they want a vehicle to be able to see a future in that. That is what this commission is about. The Government's amendment basically says, \"This is as good as it gets\". That is not acceptable, as far as I am concerned. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel Grealish","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Noel Grealish)  I will return to where we began, the central importance of the family farm to Ireland's identity, economy and communities. The family farm is more than a production unit; it is a multigenerational enterprise. It is a steward of land and landscape. It is a pillar of rural towns and villages. In addition, it is foundational to our global reputation as a trusted producer of high-quality, sustainable food.  Nevertheless, we also know that the model faces real pressures, demographic change, income volatility, climate obligations, market concentration and changing societal expectations. Acknowledging these pressures honestly is not a sign of weakness; it is a prerequisite for effective policy. What gives me confidence is that we are not approaching these challenges without a plan.  Through Food Vision 2030, we have a clear, stakeholder-led roadmap for the sector. It is comprehensive and measurable, and it is being implemented. It places viable and resilient primary producers at the centre of policy. In addition, it is under active review to ensure that it remains relevant and ambitious as circumstances evolve.  Through our CAP strategic plan, we are investing \u20ac9.8 billion over five years, with the majority of that funding directly supporting farm incomes and environmental delivery. This is a tangible demonstration of the Government's commitment to the family farm model.  Through the work of the commission on generational renewal in farming, we have examined succession and demographic challenges in depth. We are progressing its recommendations, from taxation measures to advisory supports, to make it easier for farms to transfer from one generation to the next.  Through our national action plan on women in agriculture and our engagement with the International Year of the Woman Farmer in 2026, we are recognising that the future of farming must be inclusive, visible and accessible to all who wish to pursue it.  Through targeted sectoral initiatives, in dairy, beef, sheep, tillage, organics, biomethane and water quality, we are ensuring that environmental ambition and farm viability go hand in hand.  The question before us is not whether we care about the future of the family farm. We do. The real question is how best to secure that future. In my view, the answer lies in consistent implementation, continued engagement with stakeholders and policy certainty. Farmers need clarity and stability. They need to know that long-term strategies will be followed through, not replaced before they are fully delivered.  For that reason, the Government has proposed a reasoned amendment to decline to give a Second Reading to the Bill on the basis that its objectives are already being comprehensively addressed through existing policy frameworks.  The work ahead is substantial. We must continue to make farming attractive to young people; support orderly and fair succession; ensure a strong and well-funded CAP; strengthen farmers' position in the value chain; encourage diversification and innovation; ensure that climate and environmental measures are practical and economically viable; and foster equality and inclusion across the sector.  None of these objectives are stand-alone. They are interconnected economically, socially and environmentally. That is precisely why a food systems approach, as set out in Food Vision 2030, is so important. Ireland's agrifood sector has demonstrated extraordinary resilience and adaptability in recent years. We need to acknowledge and celebrate that achievement, rather than constantly engaging in negative commentary. With the right framework, the right investment and continued co-operation with the agrifood sector, the agrifood sector will continue to play a vital role in the economic, social and environmental sustainability of our rural economy and rural communities.  The family farm model has endured for generations because it adapts. Our responsibility is to ensure that the policy environment enables that adaptation, fairly, sustainably and confidently. If we stay focused on delivery, maintain open dialogue and keep the well-being and viability of primary producers at the heart of our decisions, I am confident that the family farm in Ireland will not only survive the challenges of this decade but will emerge a lot stronger.  I thank the Deputies for their contributions and Deputy Kenny for bringing forward his proposal. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  I was just reading through the Minister of State's list in his statement. \"The work ahead is substantial\", it reads. It refers to making farming \"attractive to young people\". The difficulty is that young people do not see a way of getting into farming because an awful lot of them cannot afford to buy the land when it comes up, if there is land beside them, or even to lease land because the bigger you are, the longer or better you survive. The very large dairy farmers are eating up any possibility for anyone else to get started. We have the same thing with tillage. The Minister of State mentioned tillage being something we needed to develop, and it is the same problem. We have one sector which is dominating. We know that the dairy industry in Ireland is extremely successful and doing extremely well but we need to be able to put some check in place to ensure that it does not smother out opportunity for everybody else. That is one of the things we need to do and one of the issues this commission would need to deal with.  The statement refers to \"orderly and fair succession\". Orderly and fair succession in most cases cannot happen because farmers do not see a future for the family to be able to maintain a decent income on the farm for a second generation to be able to live on it without having off-farm income, sometimes maybe several off-farm incomes, to do that.  The Minister of State mentioned \"strengthening farmers\" position in the value chain\". The food regulator has been crying out for the past couple of years, since its establishment, for more resources and proper teeth to be able to deal with issues, and the Government has not provided them. The position of the farmer in the value chain is one of the key aspects of this.  The farmer takes all the risk. The farmer is the one who gets up at night, makes sure the cow is calving and checks the cattle. Earlier today, I was talking to people about rural crime and farmers who have their machinery stolen and all these issues. Farmers are dealing with all these things. They are the ones taking all the risk in all of this. Then, when they sell on their product, the processor takes its margin and sells it on to the retailer, and the retailer takes its margin. However, if things go wrong and get a little tight, what happens then? They will tell you about international pressures and global food chains and the way everything is connected around the world.  If there is a possibility of getting a portion of the product or an ingredient of the product somewhere cheaper, they will get it from there. Who suffers? It is the farmer, who takes all the risk, and the one without whom there would be none of it. We have the protests going down at Bord Bia at the moment. Only for the farmers there would be no Bord Bia. There would be nothing to market anywhere in the world. That seems to be lost on those who sit around boardroom tables but it is not lost on the farmer because they know that without them there would be nothing there.  It seeks to ensure that climate and environmental measures are practical and economically viable. Deputy Fitzmaurice mentioned some of these measures with regard to rewetting and climate change. There are more restrictions coming on farmers all the time to do more public good. We can debate the viability of them and all that but the ultimate viability of them is whether or not the farmer will be paid for that. The difficulty is that they do not see a future in it. They do not see themselves being paid for it, because it is all short-termism.  Forestry was also mentioned in the Minister of State's opening speech. Farmers who decide to go into forestry plant the land. They get a grant to do it. After seven or eight years they get a portion where it can be thinned and the thinnings can be sold off. At the end of it they can sell off the finished timber if they get that far and they get a decent price for it. It is tax free. That is all very good. The difficulty is that they have to replant the land again. It can never go back into farming. That is the only thing it can never be used for. It is gone forever. It is a permanent change of land use. Last year, we had a storm. Around me, hundreds of thousands of trees were knocked and are gone. Many of them had only been planted for between ten and 15 years. Going in to clear those trees out it cost more than they were worth and the farmer still has to replant the land. There is that possibility of that risk for them, and that is one of the key environmental measures the Minister of State is talking about. That risk is too high for them to look at. Some still are, but many people see a huge problem in that. The amendment put forward is looking at Food Vision 2030, CAP and all of these things as though they will be the saviour. The fact is they are not the saviour for the farmer. They are the saviour for the food processor and the retailer. That is who they are the saviour for. They are ensuring they can get a living, not the farmer. There used to be an old saying, \"Wait, horse and you will get grass.\" That is what they used to say, and it is the same thing for this. If they wait long enough they might get a good year or two, but there are five or six bad ones. They might get another good year or two, and then they will have another row of bad ones. That is what is happening with farming. That has been the cycle up to now. We are saying there needs to be a commission that is focused on the family farm and not focused on the industry and on those who are already doing well, not comforting the comforted and the comfortable but looking after those who are taking the risk and without whom none of this would happen. Looking to that is why we feel there needs to be a focus and a listening ear to what they want, what they need, what their future communities need and what their future family needs to keep that farm sustainable and ensure that the small family farm is going to be there into the future. What will happen is what we see in some sectors. We have seen it across Europe and other parts of the world. The larger farmers and the food industry companies start taking over the farms. When they start taking over the farm, bit by bit they become the farmer. Farming becomes a corporate model. They keep buying more land and taking the opportunities and the farmer just becomes an employee of that industry. That is not a good way forward. That is not the way of the traditional agricultural sector we have in Ireland. It is going to be detrimental for the future, because when some global crisis comes that corporation is gone and all you are left with is debt. The whole lot is belly up, the same as when the building boom burst. We cannot see that happen. That is why it is so important that we get the re-emphasis back on making the family farm sustainable in the long term. That may require support from the Government, which is only for that sector, not just for the big industry.  It is more than disappointing that the Government is saying that what it is doing is working. If people open their eyes they will see it is not working. It is not working for the small family farms around the country that are practically on their knees. In my county of Leitrim there are five cattle marts, which is unusual, because with so many of the cattle the weanlings are sold. We used to say the big farmers from the midlands and the south came up and bought them and brought them off to the good land and made money on them. That was the system. Many of those marts are now under pressure. In fact, one of them in the town of Mohill is talking about closing. Why is that? If you take the town of Mohill there is practically nothing else in it. There is a modular cold store factory I know many are employed in, maybe 100 or so, or maybe less. Apart from that there is nearly no other industry around it. It is depending on the people in the rural community for the seven to ten miles around it to come in to buy their shopping, do whatever they are doing, and the mart is the central part of that. If we continue to go down this route where farmers will have to get bigger and there will be less of them, it will eventually become a corporate model, and we will end up in a situation where we see whole communities left behind. People will say no-one shouted, \"Stop.\" That is the opportunity we are saying is here. The Government can bury its head in the sand and say it is doing great because the guys around the boardroom says it is doing well. For the ordinary people on the ground, we are not doing well. The ordinary people who want a future in small towns and villages the length and breadth of this country do not see the boom in agriculture going back to provide a future for them. The Government put forward its amendment. That is fine. That is what governments do when they are in power but they have to be responsible to the people who put them there as well. Whatever differences we have politically, the Minister of State has to understand. He also comes from a rural part of County Galway. Many people in that area and in his county want a future in agriculture. That is why this Government needs to put a focus on maintaining and sustaining the family farm model into the future, and not allow it to go down this direction, which it clearly is, where it will be about the boardroom. We need to get back to sustaining the family farm and putting measures in place. If the farmer is profitable and making money the rural economy is vibrant. The small towns are doing well. At the moment, we need to ensure that happens. The Government must use the resources, possibility and energy of government to sustain that model into the future. That is why we ask the Minister of State to look again at this proposal we put forward this evening. It is obviously not going to go anywhere tonight. The Government should look at it again and come back to it in the future. It can put its own label on it if it wants to. I do not care but it must do something for the small people who need a future in the small family farms the length and breadth of the country. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Louise O'Reilly)  In accordance with Standing Order 85(2), the division is postponed until the next weekly division time. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Commission on the Future of the Family Farm Bill 2024: Second Stage [Private Members]"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-19\/debate\/dbsect_45","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Teachtaireacht \u00f3n Seanad - Message from Seanad","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_45","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Louise O'Reilly)  Seanad \u00c9ireann has passed the Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 without amendment. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar athl\u00f3 ar 6.48 p.m. go dt\u00ed 2 p.m., D\u00e9 M\u00e1irt, an 24 Feabhra 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The D\u00e1il adjourned at 6.48 p.m. until 2 p.m. on Tuesday, 24 February 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Teachtaireacht \u00f3n Seanad - Message from Seanad"}]}}]},"contextDate":"2026-02-19"},{"debateRecord":{"house":{"showAs":"34th D\u00e1il","committeeCode":"","houseCode":"dail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/house\/dail\/34","chamberType":"house","houseNo":"34"},"chamber":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/def\/house\/dail","showAs":"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann"},"lastUpdated":"2026-06-07T02:06:09+00:00","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-18\/debate\/main","formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-18\/debate\/mul@\/main.xml"},"pdf":null},"date":"2026-02-18","counts":{"contributorCount":171,"divisionCount":14,"debateSectionCount":18,"questionCount":0,"billCount":19},"debateType":"debate","debateSections":[{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-18\/debate\/dbsect_2","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case:  Deputy Colm Burke - To discuss the recruitment of paediatric dermatology consultants to the south-west region.  Deputy Catherine Ardagh - To discuss funding support for the Ballyfermot Youth Service.  Deputy Robert O'Donoghue - To discuss the lack of community childcare facilities in Dublin Fingal West.  Deputy John Connolly - To discuss the HSE's refinement of the scope and budget for planned elective hospitals.  Deputy Paula Butterly - To discuss the payment of the agreed 2% pension increase for An Post and Eircom pensioners.  Deputy Darren O'Rourke - To discuss the shortage of mainstream school places in Dunshaughlin, County Meath, for the 2026-27 school year.  Deputy Michael Murphy - To discuss contingency arrangements for children awaiting community ophthalmology services in south Tipperary.  Deputy Mattie McGrath - To discuss Uisce \u00c9ireann's plan for a River Shannon-Dublin water pipeline.  Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher - To discuss an application for port listing status for Killybegs in line with new regulations.  Deputy Louise O'Reilly - To discuss funding for provision of community-based housing for adults with disabilities in Dublin Fingal West.  Deputy Joanna Byrne - To discuss funding for the breakfast club for St. Paul's Senior National School, Drogheda, County Louth.  Deputy Alan Kelly - To discuss the need for extra resources for An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na in the mid-west region.  Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan - To discuss funding to local councils to repair damage to road surfaces.  Deputy Ruth Coppinger - To discuss calls for the FAI not to play Israel in upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures.  Deputies Rose Conway-Walsh, Richard Boyd Barrett, P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan, Eoghan Kenny, David Cullinane, Louis O'Hara, Thomas Gould and Paul Murphy - To discuss the reduction of special needs assistant, SNA, numbers at various schools in Cork, the SNA review and SNA reallocations, cuts to SNA positions in schools, the downgrading of need in Cork schools and the cuts to SNA provision there.  Deputy Danny Healy-Rae - To discuss the scarcity of rental accommodation and how to address it.  Deputy Brian Brennan - To discuss an update on the proposed closure of a factory in Arklow, County Wicklow.  Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa - To discuss appropriate accommodation in Louth schools and the Department of education's additional accommodation scheme and building unit.  The matters raised by Deputies Colm Burke, John Connolly, Michael Murphy, Louise O'Reilly and Danny Healy-Rae have been selected for discussion. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-18\/debate\/dbsect_3","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-18\/debate\/dbsect_4","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Hospital Staff","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-18\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_4","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Burke  In the south-west area, which includes Cork and Kerry, there is no consultant dermatologist employed. This issue came to a head recently when a consultant wrote to parents advising that appointments could not be given because no consultant paediatric dermatologist is employed in the Cork-Kerry region. I understand funding was granted for eight additional posts in Dublin, bringing the total number of posts there to more than ten.  The number of patients referred to dermatology consultants in the south-west region was more than 17,000 in 2024. There were 10,000 new cases and 12,000 returning cases in that year. There is a huge volume of work being done, with the whole Cork-Kerry region being covered by a total of 7.4 consultant posts. There are more than 750,000 people in the region, a percentage of whom are being referred.  Parents of children with a particular dermatology issue are having to travel to Dublin from the south-west region. This is a huge concern for parents. The first worry for them is that their child has a medical condition that requires an appointment with a consultant, and the planning that requires. In the Cork-Kerry region, they have no alternative but to travel to Dublin. In fairness, there are very few dermatology referrals from Cork to Dublin in an overall context. However, the volume of referrals has increased substantially. The manner in which the service is run in the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital, SIVUH, is such that it also provides care in Bantry, Tralee and Mallow.  How can we deal with this challenge? I understand a submission has been made to the HSE in the south-west area seeking appointment of a consultant dermatologist. A clear case has been set out that if this person were located in the Cork-Kerry region, a huge volume of work currently being referred to Dublin could be dealt with in the region and the need for referral would not arise. I ask that this issue be examined by both the Minister of State's office and the HSE at national level. The HSE in the south west cannot make the decision on this; it must be approved at national level. I ask that a consultant paediatric dermatologist be appointed to look after children with a skin disorder or other dermatology issue, which would mean parents do not have the expense of having to travel all the way from south Kerry, west Cork or Cork city to Dublin to access that care. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Mary Butler)  I thank the Deputy for raising this really important issue and giving me the opportunity to provide an update to the House on paediatric dermatology services in the HSE south west. Those services are provided through primary care services, regional dermatology services and specialist dermatology services based in Children's Health Ireland, CHI, in Dublin. Paediatric dermatology services in the south-west region are primarily provided in Cork from the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital, which serves as the regional hub for the specialty. As the regional centre, it treats a wide range of conditions in infants, children and adolescents, including eczema, psoriasis, acne and rare genetic skin disorders.  While SIVUH is the regional hub, Cork University Hospital also hosts outreach clinics and integrated care for children with complex needs. Public dermatology services from the regional hub centre also extend to Bantry General Hospital and University Hospital Kerry. In addition, CHI manages and delivers paediatric dermatology services across the three paediatric hospitals in Dublin. CHI is currently focused on reducing the numbers waiting, as well as reducing the waiting times, on the dermatology outpatient lists.  I acknowledge the impact on patients and their families who have to travel to Dublin. I am not sure whether those having to do so are those accessing the specialist dermatology services based in CHI. I assure the Deputy that the delivery of high-quality patient-centred care and best practice remains at the centre of all hospital activity. Having said that, I see exactly the point he is making. I checked this morning and the waiting lists are extremely high, especially for children seeking dermatology supports. There has been a small reduction in the waiting list of 58 young children and adolescents. In January 2026, there were 227 people waiting between six and 12 months and 601 waiting from nought to six months. That shows the massive demand for this service.  On the Deputy\u2019s question regarding the recruitment of paediatric dermatology consultants to the south-west region, the HSE has advised that while it currently has no plan in this regard for 2026, the matter will be kept under consideration for the future. That seems to be at odds with what the Deputy has said. I certainly will look into it.  Obviously, the HSE will use waiting-list initiative funding to take some of this list down. I will bring back to the regional executive officer, Dr. Andy Phillips, and the Minister for Health the Deputy's contention that there are no plans to hire an additional paediatric dermatology consultant given that it is clear that this waiting list is forever too high, especially for young children. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Burke  I fully understand that this matter was probably only given to the Minister of State late last night. I will give her the figures as regards the turnaround in dermatology services for the entire country. One of the things she will see in those figures is the efficiency in the south-west region in dealing with dermatology cases. As I said, the volume is over 17,000 referred, while 10,000 were new and 12,000 were returning patients. With 7.4 consultants, a real effort is being made by the entire team, not just the consultants but also the registrars, senior house officers, SHOs, and nursing staff. The problem is that funding was provided for an additional eight paediatric dermatology consultants in Dublin. There are now ten there but none have been appointed to locations outside of Dublin, which is a mistake. When we see the efficiency of the Cork-Kerry region, we believe that a paediatric dermatologist appointed in that region would help to deal with and not clog up the lists, especially as there are long waiting lists in Dublin already. The Department should engage with HSE south west to see how this can be moved forward as regards appointing someone to deal with this issue. That is basically what I am asking. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  I have a briefing note here that states that CHI has a staffing complement of 8.8 whole-time consultant dermatologists. These are 8.8 whole-time equivalent, or funded recurring consultant dermatologists, across three CHI sites but it is currently operating within 6.3 whole-time equivalents. That is the information I have. I also know from my own area, and Deputy Michael Murphy will be aware of this as well, that in the old CHO 5 area, for example, dermatology consultants are scarce and it is difficult to recruit them.  To return to what the Deputy said about the letter only being submitted last night, I can follow up on that in relation to the additional dermatologist posts that have been sought. Thankfully, with the new regional structure, the six regional executive officers have received their cohort of staffing numbers. There were 3,300 this year: 300 for mental health and 3,000 for all other definitions. They are able to decide and determine whether they want to prioritise a certain speciality. I will certainly follow up on this for the Deputy because it is very difficult for young children with eczema, psoriasis or acne, or teenagers with acne. Looking at the waiting lists, they are quite long. I thank the Deputy for raising this matter; it is a really important one first thing this morning. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Hospital Staff"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-18\/debate\/dbsect_5","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Health Services Staff","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-18\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_5","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Murphy  I raise this Topical Issue because children across south Tipperary, and children across the south east, are being left without access to basic community ophthalmology services due to repeated recruitment failure following the planned retirement of the previous consultant, Dr. Hillery, in August 2024. This is not a new issue. I have raised it repeatedly throughout 2025, in February, April, July, October and December and, most recently, in January of this year. On every occasion, I sought an update on the recruitment progress and, crucially, what contingency arrangements were put in place or are in place. In January of this year, I again asked what immediate measures were operating, yet here we are in February 2026 and still no change.  The latest figures made available to me show that almost 1,500 children under the age of four, and 334 children aged between five and 17, are waiting for basic community ophthalmology services. That is almost 1,800 children in south Tipperary alone waiting for basic ophthalmology care, the majority of whom are under the age of five. As the Minister of State and everybody in this House will know, in early childhood, vision development is time sensitive. Delays in assessment and treatment can have lasting consequences. For every young child, an 18-month wait is not neutral. It can mean missing critical development windows. Parents are being told routine referrals carry waiting times of approximately 18 months. Some children in my constituency whose parents have been in contact with my office were referred in 2023 and remain on the list. In the interim, families are advised to contact the clinic in University Hospital Waterford if concerns become urgent. The reality is that the phone is not being answered. This is not a structured contingency plan. Recruitment failure cannot mean service absence.  I again ask the Minister of State very directly about this. Are weekend clinics currently operating? Has private provision been formally contracted? Are children being systematically referred across HSE areas? Is temporary contracting or emergency outsourcing now in place? Crucially, what is the update on the appointment of the permanent ophthalmologist for south Tipperary to be based in Clonmel? We are now looking for concrete proposals. Children across south Tipperary are entitled to the same access to community ophthalmology services as children anywhere else in our State. After raising this issue throughout 2025, I believe families deserve a clear and concrete answer today. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  On behalf of the Minister for Health, I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. I acknowledge the number of times he has raised it. I have answered him several times in relation to this. As I go through the answer, for anyone listening in, it will become very clear that every effort has been made to try to recruit staff, but the HSE just has not been able to do so.  As the Deputy knows, the HSE provides optical services free of charge to preschool children and national school children referred from child health service and school health service examinations who are discovered to have sight problems. These children are referred to the appropriate optical care, which will continue to be provided until the child has reached the age of 16 years. The community ophthalmic services scheme, COSS, is a national fee-per-item scheme which was introduced in 1979. Under the COSS, medical card holders aged over 16 years can be seen by local ophthalmologists, community ophthalmic physicians, optometrists or dispensing opticians who have entered into a contract with the HSE to provide services.  The HSE has advised that the community ophthalmologist physician post, as the Deputy has referred to many times, became vacant in October 2024 due to a retirement. As he knows, our constituencies border each other and this has been raised with me as well. I met one of the nurses while I was out and about one day in west Waterford, close to Clonmel, and it was raised with me. I just happened to come across the nurse working in the services and she explained to me how difficult it had become. In line with the national clinical programme for ophthalmology model of eye care and the modernised eye care pathway - this is important - the community ophthalmologist physician post has been upgraded to the position of consultant medical ophthalmologist. Following a recruitment process to fill the post in south Tipperary, an interim appointment was made in July 2025. Unfortunately, the successful candidate subsequently declined the post prior to the commencement date. I am telling the Deputy everything he knows, but I want to put it on the record. Unfortunately, a second recruitment campaign in late 2025 resulted in no candidates being shortlisted.  The HSE acknowledges the impact on patients, both children and adults, caused by the current vacancy and has further advised that it readvertised this position in the Irish College of Ophthalmologists with a closing date of 21 January 2026 and, positively, several eligible candidates have applied. Shortlistings will commence on 27 February with interviews anticipated in mid-March 2026. The HSE expects to fill the role in the near future. The HSE has also confirmed that a clinical optometrist and orthoptist post were also advertised, with a closing date of 19 January. The recruitment of these positions will ensure the resumption of optical services for those living in the south Tipperary region.  The HSE has advised that patients from the Tipperary south area who have been unable to receive eye care due to this vacancy may, for urgent eye care issues, be referred to the eye service via the emergency department in University Hospital Waterford and that all patients have been notified of this additional referral pathway but I acknowledge that is not a suitable pathway for children. It is difficult presenting to a hospital like that.  The HSE has also engaged with the Royal Victoria Ear and Eye Hospital in Dublin with a view to supporting Tipperary south. It has undertaken discussions with a private agency and a scoping exercise has been conducted in this regard. Personally, I would much prefer to see the consultant in place and services resume. I know that the Deputy wants that as well. For emergencies, a scoping exercise is under way. I am actually pleased to hear that there were several applications which we did not have previously. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Murphy  I thank the Minister of State. I welcome confirmation that there has been concrete interest and that a number of applicants have applied after the most recent recruitment drive. It is important that a permanent consultant ophthalmologist is in place at the earliest opportunity. I also support additional contingency measures and the scoping exercise referred to by the Minister of State, linking in with the Dublin hospital because we have waiting lists. I alluded to the fact 1,800 children, mostly under the age of five are on the waiting list, including Rory and Aoife, who were referred to my office. They are both under the age of five and were referred back on 10 October 2023. Today, I cannot give them any indication of when they may be seen. In early childhood, delays in vision care can unfortunately lead to damage. Parents should not have to travel to different counties, seek private care or wait a minimum of 18 months for assessment.  As I said, I welcome progress finally being made and I hope that through the latest recruitment process we will have a permanent consultant. I thank the Minister and the Minister of State for upgrading the post to a consultant level. I also acknowledge that the other key appointments are already in place. In essence, children cannot wait. They need appointments and they need them urgently. If we have a permanent ophthalmologist in place, we also need to focus on contingency measures that will assist in bringing down the waiting lists at the earliest opportunity. As I said, the children across Tipperary south need these appointments. It is an emergency. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  I can confirm that the post was upgraded to that of consultant medical ophthalmologist and obviously that may be one of the reasons it was not as sought after as it was. Several recruitment campaigns have been run and to date the HSE has been unable to fill the post. The post is funded as well, so it is not a financial issue. Several eligible candidates have applied in the latest recruitment campaign, which closed on 21 January. Shortlisting will commence on 27 February, with interviews anticipated to take place in mid-March 2026. The HSE has also engaged with the Royal Victoria Ear and Eye Hospital in Dublin with a view to supporting Tipperary south. It has undertaken discussions with a private agency and a scoping exercise is being conducted in this regard, acknowledging the long waiting list and the likes of the two kids the Deputy mentioned who have been waiting two years which is simply not good enough. I thank the Deputy and I will follow up on this again. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Health Services Staff"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-18\/debate\/dbsect_6","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Hospital Facilities","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-18\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_6","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Connolly  I recently asked the Minister for Health for an update on the development of the elective hospital at Merlin Park in Galway. Looking back at some documents I have, I note that the elective hospital was first proposed in 2018. It was also included as part of the national Sl\u00e1intecare programme. It has been included in every HSE capital plan up to 2025. The description in each of those documents has been for an elective hospital. In 2026, when the HSE published its national service plan, I noticed that there had been a slight change of language. It was no longer described as an elective hospital but as an elective care centre. Following that, I put this question to the Minister which was referred on to local HSE officials as commonly occurs but the response I received is quite concerning. It stated:  The HSE have identified the need to refine the scope and budget of the planned Elective Care Centres.  [...]  The result was a substantial reduction in the building area and in turn, overall cost. [The original building area in the scoping document had been for a building of between 60,000 sq. m and 80,000 sq. m] The design team are currently investigating the possibility of expanding or bolting-on the new facility to what will be an Operational Surgical hub.  It is hard to consider that this is not a serious reduction in what had been planned as part of the elective hospital development in Galway. Furthermore, I am advised that the new facility, or care centre as it will now be called, will consist of two operating theatres, where the original plan had been, I think, for 11 operating theatres, five endoscopy procedure rooms, where I understand there had been eight procedure rooms in the initial resource requirements, and ten minor operation procedure rooms. In the elective hospital there were also plans for radiology and diagnostic modalities, outpatient rooms and pre-assessment rooms and there was a proposal for 200 beds - 75 inpatient and 125 day case beds.  It comes as a deep disappointment to me, and I know it will to my constituents and indeed to the wider region, because part of this plan was to facilitate the decanting of the university hospital site in Galway, which is due for significant capital development and investment. I am concerned that not alone are we losing a facility where there was going to be 200 beds but this decision will not facilitate as easily the capital investment and expansion and development of University Hospital Galway, which is so badly needed.  I hope I am misinterpreting the response but I am concerned that I am not. A decision of such significance should have been discussed and debated further and possibly information should have been provided before that. In terms of the elective hospitals, my understanding was that Galway was part of a package that included an elective hospital in Cork and Dublin. Where do they stand as well? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  I hope I will be able to give the Deputy some clarity. I thank him for asking the question, which I am answering on behalf of the Minister for Health. I acknowledge the Deputy's dedication to the people of Galway and beyond on raising these important health issues. I can assure him that the Government is committed to increasing elective-only day case capacity through the elective ambulatory care programme. This is being delivered in two phases, a national network of surgical hubs in the first instance to meet medium-term demand and capacity and, in the longer term, a national network of elective treatment centres in Galway, Cork and Dublin.  In relation to the surgical hubs, developments are well under way and a new hub is due to become operational at Merlin Park later this year, along with hubs in Cork, north Dublin, Limerick and Waterford. This will build on the success of the two hubs already opened, namely, the Reeves Day Surgery Centre in Tallaght and Mount Carmel surgical hub facility in south Dublin, which have reduced waiting times. The Galway hub will deliver thousands of procedures and treatments every year. As announced last July, surgical hubs are also in development for Sligo and Letterkenny to provide additional day theatre capacity in the west and north west.  In relation to the elective treatment centres, also known as elective hospitals, we remain committed to developing these in Cork, Galway and Dublin. As the programme has developed and evolved, the HSE has determined the most appropriate design for the new facilities. The introduction of the surgical hubs was not originally envisaged when elective hospitals were first proposed. The significant additional capacity being provided by these hubs has been an important factor in determining the model for the centres going forward. I understand the HSE has been considering how best to deliver elective care at Merlin Park. As the Deputy is aware, the HSE is considering extending the surgical hub. I understand that the design team is working through this and further details will be available in due course. The HSE expects to be in a position to apply for planning permission in the middle of this year.  The new elective treatment centre in Merlin Park will have six operating theatres - I think the Deputy referred to two - five endoscopy procedure rooms and ten minor operation procedure rooms.  This is a significant addition of capacity and will make a real difference to patients. This is not a reduction in ambition. I want to be clear about that.  As the Deputy knows, there are no beds at elective facilities and there is no intention to provide them. These are not for inpatient care. These are for people to get the procedure they want and to get them home to their own beds in a timely manner - in and out the same day. The intention is for the elective facilities to provide day case procedures and treatments, for example, those which do not require an overnight stay. Patients will arrive at and leave the facility on the same day. The development of the elective-only facilities I have outlined will also mean that capacity is freed up in existing hospitals for more complex or emergency acute cases.  I understand where the Deputy might have had confusion in relation to how many theatres there are. When the surgical hub was proposed for Waterford, it was designed to have two. It has since been upgraded to four. It will be operational by the end of the year. There is a real push for these surgical hubs. Two of them are open in Dublin. They are being built around the country to take pressure off the acute hospitals. These will be staffed separately. Sometimes elective surgeries are cancelled. This will not be the case.  I hope the Deputy can see that we are committed to improving elective care in Ireland. The plans we have in place are already making a real difference and helping to drive down waiting times. I look forward to the Deputy\u2019s continued engagement on these issues. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Connolly  The first thing I should have said is that I appreciate the Minister of State being here as a Minister of State in the Department of Health to take this question and provide an answer. However we present this, it is a significant change in what was to be the provision of a facility that had intended at its outset and up to 2025 to provide for 200 beds. I recognise fully the point she made that these are day procedures but I understand from the documentation that had been provided previously that there were to be 75 elective inpatient beds and 125 day case beds. That had been the position up to March 2025, when I had previously asked for an update. I was advised that the integrated design team was working at pace to progress the detailed design to inform planning submissions on a range of statutory and regulatory approvals to proceed to tender and construction. That was for the elective hospital. It had been perceived to be the development of a 200-bed facility. I understand some of those were only for day case beds.  In terms of my reference to there being two theatres on top of the surgical hub, the information that I received from the HSE describes that the elective care centre will consist of two operating theatres plus four operating theatres in the surgical hub. We were always conscious and always felt that there were two developments here, namely, a surgical hub and an elective hospital. I want to reiterate that the development of the elective hospital was seen as something that could facilitate the increased development at the regional hospital site of the university hospital site. As far as I understood it, the plan had always been that elective non-emergency, non-acute outpatient facilities would all move to the Merlin Park site and that the university hospital site would be for acute, high-tech procedures, cancer care, maternity and accident and emergency. I am really concerned about that plan now. I am really concerned about the progression of that plan. We need clarity on that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  I thank the Deputy. In relation to the elective treatment centres, known as elective hospitals, the HSE and the Minister remain committed to developing these in Cork, Galway and Dublin. They will take longer to develop. In the short term, as the programme has developed and evolved, the HSE has determined the most appropriate design for the new facilities. The introduction of the surgical hubs was not originally envisaged when elective hospitals were first proposed. The significant additional capacity being provided by those hubs has been an important factor in determining the model for the centres going forward. I am not in a position to answer the Deputy's question. I have been in Merlin Park previously visiting mental health services but I cannot answer the Deputy's question in relation to where it will be located. I would be of the mind that if you are going to have an elective hospital with overnight beds, that colocation is important beside a model 4 hospital. Maybe that is the reason behind it but I am only thinking out loud. This is my sixth year in the Department of Health. I understand that decisions are made at times. A lot of people are on waiting lists for elective surgery. We have already delivered two new surgical hubs that are operational. A couple more will come on stream this year. I think what is being proposed for Galway is both. This states clearly that the Minister remains committed to developing the elective hospitals in Cork, Galway and Dublin but while we await those, the surgical hubs will be in place. That will take down a huge amount of capacity for his constituents who are waiting for treatment. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Hospital Facilities"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-18\/debate\/dbsect_7","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Disability Services","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-18\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  I acknowledge the presence of my colleague, an Teachta Robert O'Donoghue. Along with our constituency colleague, Deputy Boland, we have been working with a number of groups in our area to try to secure long-term housing solutions for persons with disabilities. This morning, I want to focus specifically on one service. It is an organisation known as Remember Us. I will not try to tell the Minister of State what my view of Remember Us is but I will tell him in her own words what the founder, Nora Roban says. When she was asked why Remember Us, a club for children and adults with special needs, was set up, she said:  The answer is simple. My son Paul has special needs. It is absolutely vital for people with special needs to develop their social skills and self-esteem early in life, to help integrate into society. I instinctively knew that without developing this side of his life he would always feel inadequate and isolated from society. This would inevitably lead to even greater problems as he got older. After years of searching and failing to find such a place, I decided to set up Remember Us, for Paul and for other children like him.  The key here is about integration and that feeling of not being isolated. I know that there are clubs like Remember Us and services like those of Prosper Fingal across the State. They are working really hard to provide services. However, we attended a meeting just before Christmas in the building that Nora runs Remember Us out of. We met with parents there. They all had one concern. This will not be new to the Minister of State and I thank him for being here this morning to take the Topical Issue. They all had one concern. That concern is around what will happen to their loved ones, their adult children, when their parents are no longer able to care for them. We are talking about people who are in their 60s, 70s and in some cases in their 80s and older, who are absolutely terrified at the prospect of their loved ones having to go into a nursing home. I think we can all agree that a nursing home is not an appropriate place for a person. A nursing home is a place for an elderly person, not a person with disabilities, intellectual or physical disabilities.  I, like others, was somewhat shocked when I read Fergus Finlay's column when he wrote that he had seen a letter that had come from the HSE. It advised a parent that they are legally obliged to support their daughter, and that includes the provision of accommodation - accommodation that will go on after the parent has died. It is not within the gift of parents to provide that. What I am asking the Minister of State to do this morning is to perhaps outline for me what kind of joined-up thinking is happening. There is nothing more certain than these young people becoming young adults and older people. There is nothing more certain than that their parents and loved ones will not be in a position to care for them. That is why the organisation Before We Die has been set up.  Some work is going on. I know Remember Us has ambitious plans in terms of establishing a small community of appropriately sized houses but it goes back to the foundation and the reason Remember Us was founded. It is about inclusion. It is about people with disabilities being in their own community, with their friends and in an environment that they are familiar with.  It is about ensuring they have that level of support. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Thomas Byrne)  Ba mhaith liom bu\u00edochas a ghabh\u00e1il leis an Teachta as ucht an t-\u00e1bhar seo. Increasing the provision of disability specialist residential services is a key Government priority and there has been significant investment in residential services over the course of the last number of years. The overall budget increase in recent years, from \u20ac1.7 billion at the close of 2017 to almost to \u20ac3.8 billion in 2026, reflects the programme for Government commitment to investing in improving the lives of people with disabilities.  In addition to the ongoing funding and lifetime commitment to residential placements for almost 9,000 current residents, \u20ac65 million has been allocated to disability residential services in budget 2026 for new developments. That includes \u20ac40 million of funding that will provide in the region of 199 residential placements. This includes 72 new planned placements and 80 new unplanned urgent placements, a total of 152 new placements, as outlined in the service plan for 2026. From 2020 to 2025, 955 new residential places were provided to people with disabilities, which has undoubtedly had an impact in Dublin Fingal West. During 2025 alone, HSE Dublin and north east, which includes the Deputy\u2019s constituency in north Dublin, provided 2,046 residential places for people with a disability, including the addition of 55 new placements.  The Government acknowledges that there is significant demand for specialist disability services across all regional health areas nationally. The increased demographics of people living with a disability, coupled with increases in life expectancy and changing needs, have all had a significant impact. In addressing these challenges \u2013 and, of course, opportunities, given that increasing life expectancy is an opportunity rather than a challenge - the Department of Children, Disability and Equality is engaging with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, housing authorities and the HSE to explore means of responding to the need for additional capacity, which can assist forward planning and cost-effective placements.  The national housing strategy 2022 to 2027 places responsibility for the provision of housing with the Department of housing, working in conjunction with the HSE to provide supports related to individual care needs. The HSE and local authorities are working together to map the need and develop and advance plans for delivering housing to people with disabilities. Local housing and disability steering groups and regional forums have been established to progress the implementation of the national housing strategy for disabled people and these forums facilitate collaborative working between local authorities, the HSE, approved housing bodies, AHBs, and voluntary service providers.  The Department of Children, Disability and Equality continues to engage with the HSE to explore various ways of responding to demand while appropriately managing the significant levels of funding provided. Dedicated housing co-ordinators have been appointed to assist with placement planning and identifying housing options for people with all levels of disability.  I am informed that HSE Dublin and north east provides and funds a range of services and supports for people with disabilities, including those residing in Dublin Fingal West. Supports include day services, respite services, residential services, home support and personal assistance. I assure the Deputy that HSE Dublin and north east continuously works to improve the availability of supports to individuals in the area, including the residents of her constituency.  I reiterate the importance of ensuring we continue to support people with disabilities to live meaningful and fulfilling lives, with a person-centred approach throughout the broad spectrum of services provided.  I do not know if I should be declaring an interest because my wife is a nurse manager in this very area, Fingal. I do not know if I am meant to declare that or not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  That response was fairly disappointing, and I am saying that with as much respect as I can muster. The Minister of State stated, \u201cFrom 2020 to 2025, 955 new residential places were provided to people with disabilities, which has undoubtedly had an impact in Dublin Fingal West.\u201d It would have been nicer if he had got the figures and told me how many places relate to that constituency, if any.  The question that was put was about community-based housing. It was not necessarily about residential care. There is a looming crisis, whether the Government acknowledges it or not, that relates to people who are ageing in the community. It is brilliant that people are living longer, thanks to the work of the Minister of State\u2019s wife, her colleagues, the families and all the rest. People are living longer and that is a good thing, but they will outlive their parents. That is also a good thing, but their parents are concerned about what will happen to them.  The Minister of State said dedicated housing co-ordinators have been appointed. In his response, he might explain exactly where they are based. A name and phone number would be brilliant, and while I would not ask him to put that on the record, he can tell me who the person is for my area of Dublin - or rather our area because an Teachta O\u2019Donoghue is here too - Dublin Fingal West. Who is that person and how can they assist with the provision of long-term housing? Residential is extremely important, and if the Minister of State had the exact figure with him, I would be able to match that against the number of people on the waiting lists, but that is only one aspect of what is needed. Community-based housing means people can age and live in their community and be with their friends, which is so important to the families of Remember Us. They told us very clearly that that is where there needs to be some focus. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  I will gladly ask the Minister of State, Deputy Higgins, who cannot be here, to send that exact information to all the Deputies and representatives in Fingal. That is a reasonable request but I just do not have it to hand. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  No, that is fair. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  Once again, I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue, which is a priority for the Government. The Government recognises that there is more to do to improve the lived experience of those with a disability. The increase in the disability budget for 2026 further demonstrates the multiple commitments made in the programme for Government commitment to improving the lives of people with disabilities and making a difference.  The ambition of this Government is to bring about a step change in services for people with a disability in Ireland and we are committed to the expansion and reform of disability services in order to maximise people\u2019s independence and support them to live ordinary lives in ordinary places like everybody else does. This is reflected in the very significant investment being made in specialist services recently. In 2026, we are supporting another 199 residential supports for people with disabilities.  While the strategy, policy direction and overall allocation are a matter for the Minister, funding allocations to regions and individual service providers at a local level is an operational matter for the HSE. The Department, in conjunction with the HSE, will always strive to ensure disability services are delivered in an equitable manner across all regional health areas as effectively as possible to ensure maximum benefit for those who require services.  I assure the Deputy that this Government is aware of the challenges present across all regional health areas and that the Department is working alongside the HSE to address these challenges and increase the provision of services, including residential services of the various types that have been mentioned in this debate. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Disability Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-18\/debate\/dbsect_8","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Rental Sector","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-18\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  I am glad to get the opportunity to raise this problem at the Topical Issue forum today. I hope the Minister will take it seriously. I do not want to be laughed at like I was last week when I asked a question here. This is serious business for anyone who does not have a home and is trying to find a property to rent. In many instances, they can be hit with a traumatic event that they were never ready for.  Since the Residential Tenancies Bill was mooted last year along with the idea that people would have to rent out houses for six years, many people have decided to get out. Hundreds of people have been to my office after getting a notice to quit and finding themselves with nowhere to go. One fellow came to me out of the back of a transit van, which is where he is staying. I have dealt with a lady with two young children \u2013 in fact, I have dealt with several such cases - bawling crying every Saturday in Killarney. A number of them are in to me constantly.  The tenant in situ scheme would be a great scheme if it was working properly, but Kerry County Council says it cannot buy houses with the tenants in them because it is not being funded by the Department for any repairs or works that would be needed for it to buy the house.  This is wrong as Kerry County Council could rent it back to the tenants at local authority rent prices and perhaps later sell it to the tenants when they get on their feet. All of us elected to this Chamber support the tenant in situ scheme to allow families to continue renting. As I said, if the tenants get on their feet, they could end up buying out the council. Will the Minister look at this scheme and sort it out, especially in Kerry? I do not know whether it is happening in other places.  There are many vacant houses in our county. I gave the example previously of there being 54 between Kenmare and Kilgarvan, and within six or seven miles of Killarney town. People could step onto the TFI bus between Kenmare and Killarney, which passes every hour. It is a crying shame that so many of these are vacant when people are looking for houses. Will the Government dedicate a team to go around to see what would help people or incentivise them to rent the houses?  The biggest problem is the fear people have that they will not be able to get the house back if they rent it out. There is a scheme for Ukrainians where \u20ac600 is paid by the State to the landlord tax free. The most important thing there is that if the landlord wants the house back, in that instance, they can get it within four weeks, not months and years as happens in many other cases. That has turned many landlords off because they cannot get their houses back when they want them. I will give an example. A man bought a house in Killarney but could not come back from Australia for 12 months. Someone begged him to rent it to them and he did so but when he came back from Australia after the 12 months, he could not get into his house for three years. Those are the blockages that need to be removed to ensure people rent out these vacant houses. There are many of them around the country. I ask the Government to deal with that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan)  I thank the Deputy. Fair play to him for advocating, especially on behalf of those who are coming in to him in desperation and looking for a house to rent. I understand the frustration. We all have it in our constituencies. I will try to outline what the Government is trying to do to free up rental accommodation.  Ireland's new housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities, is a wide-ranging action plan focused on housing supply and targeting homelessness. The plan contains a suite of actions that will increase the supply of much-needed rental accommodation, by keeping existing landlords in the market and attracting new landlords, while ensuring strong and balanced tenancy protections for tenants and landlords. The Government is establishing a more robust legal and policy framework to support increased investment in the rental market, to increase the choice for renters and, over time, reduce market rents. The Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 is currently passing through the Houses of the Oireachtas.  To support an increase in available rental accommodation, the Government has also brought forward key measures, including a revised national planning framework enabling the zoning of significantly more land, and the revision of design standards for apartments. These measures, along with a reduced VAT rate of 9% on apartments announced as part of budget 2026, are focused on unlocking the delivery of apartments that is key to increasing the supply of rental properties.  The Government is also continuing the development of cost rental as a new tenure type, which means providing homes to tenants at least 25% below market rent by providing significant levels of funding support to the Land Development Agency, LDA, approved housing bodies, AHBs, and local authorities. While it has been asserted that landlords are leaving the rental market, the Residential Tenancies Board, RTB, director's report shows that while 5,405 notices of termination were received by the RTB in quarter 3 of 2025, 18,425 new tenancy registrations were also confirmed for the same period. This figure serves to highlight the consistent churn within the rental market.  The Deputy suggests using the tenant in situ scheme to address the scarcity of rental accommodation. The tenant in situ scheme, as has been referred to, is an acquisitions programme specifically in respect of those who are at risk of homelessness and already qualify for social housing support such as the housing assistance payment, HAP. The Deputy has outlined many of those situations. Some \u20ac375 million was provided last year for local authority acquisitions. It is an emergency measure and should only be used by local authorities as a last resort when all other options to prevent homelessness have been exhausted. Our focus must be on constructing new social homes but I note that significant funding will be provided through our acquisition programme of second-hand homes for those at risk of homelessness, again under the 2026 programme, as a response to short-term pressures, affording local authorities the flexibility needed to respond while they scale up their construction programmes.  The Deputy also suggested the vacant property refurbishment grant could be used to address the scarcity of rental accommodation. This scheme provides a grant of up to \u20ac50,000 for the refurbishment of homes that have been vacant for at least two years and up to \u20ac70,000 where it is a derelict property. It is available in respect of homes for occupation as a principal private residence and properties that would be made available for rent. It, therefore, increases the supply of homes available to rent and it could address the issue of the plethora of vacant houses the Deputy referred to.  In providing a grant to support the refurbishment of vacant and derelict properties, individual landlords, who without the support of the grant would not be able renovate and turn these disused properties into homes for rent, are being incentivised. It has become a vital affordable support, particularly in more rural areas where supply of new housing is not readily available. It is also supporting the regeneration of towns and villages and areas of our cities, as well as supporting environmental objectives. I look forward to hearing more of what the Deputy has to say about this issue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  I ask again about the tenant in situ scheme. The Minister of State said money has been allocated to it. Will he talk to Kerry County Council to see what is wrong and why it cannot operate the tenant in situ scheme?  Elected members in Kerry have been asking the local authority to buy land banks to build local authority houses in small villages, such as Scotia's Glen, Gneeveguilla, Firies, Curragh, Currans and all these places. I hear the council is slow to buy these land banks because it will be hit with the residential zoned land tax. Is that right? That is serious. Where is the proposal to allow granny flats to be built behind residential properties? It was mooted about 12 months ago but nothing has happened since. Where is the proposal on modular homes? I do not see them materialising in Kerry. It was to be a faster way of delivering housing.  The problem, which I raise here continually, is that many people in Kerry cannot build a house of their own because they cannot get planning permission. Who is dealing with that? Is it going to be sorted out? It is time it was. God damn it but if these people go to the expense of trying to build houses for themselves, surely the smallest bit of help we could give them is to give them a fair crack at getting planning permission. This urban regeneration clause is causing severe difficulty far from towns where people who never lived in a town are being denied the right to build houses. Will the Minister of State please do something about those things? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan  The proposal on modular homes or small units in back gardens or on the premises of existing homes will come forward shortly. It is really important. It will be an exemption for a certain size of dwelling to allow young people in particular, who want to start off with a home, to build with an exemption so they do not have to go through the arduous planning process. As a west Cork TD, I completely agree with the Deputy about the challenges young people are facing in getting planning permission to build on their land. They have to go through obstacles and barriers and it causes them frustration and headaches and in many cases they are not successful. That has to change. In the next while, we will bring forward the national planning statement, which I hope will address many of those issues.  I will address another issue that has been topical in recent weeks. The Deputy spoke about the number of vacant homes and properties not in use throughout the year. The whole aim of the short-term letting legislation, which is being brought in and which has been controversial - and I can see why - is to try to bring more property into rental accommodation.  The constituents the Deputy has coming into his office and I have coming into my office are struggling to get rental accommodation because they go onto daft.ie or these rental sites and there is nothing to rent. The whole idea is that we get some of these houses back into the rental market and that will release a pressure valve. The Deputy is from Kerry and I am from west Cork; we rely on tourism and on tourism accommodation. It is important we have these short-term lets available for the tourism sector. There is no doubt about that. Someone recently referenced a figure to me that in the region of 6,000 units were available for short-term lets in the west Cork area. If we could even get about 200 of them back into the rental market, imagine the pressure that would take off? I understand the need for short-term letting. I understand people have been doing this for years and we have to clarify the planning requirements but this provides an opportunity to allow people to rent long term, which is a big issue is places like Kerry and west Cork. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  The short-term places are not what I am talking about at all. It is the houses that are vacant and have nobody in them----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan  You are talking about lack of rental accommodation though. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  Deputies, we need to move on to the next matter. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Rental Sector"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-18\/debate\/dbsect_9","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/12","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/12\/dail\/2","houseCode":"dail","stage":"2","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Work Life Balance (Right to Remote Work) Bill 2026: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members] (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Work Life Balance (Right to Remote Work) Bill 2026: Second Stage [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":50,"speakerCount":35},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Guirke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy George Lawlor  I move: \"That the Bill be now read a Second Time.\"  This Government has driven hesitation and has stitched delay and employer vetoes into law. Only a few months ago, it vetoed our Bill to stop employers holding a veto over joint labour committees. It endeavours to leave workers with the allusion of flexibility but none of the protections of a just society. The result is a system that talks about modern work while quietly forcing people back into habits that no longer make sense.  This Bill would facilitate the enjoyment by employees of an appropriate work-life balance, with due regard to the rights of employers to manage an effective and efficient work force. This Bill would promote access to employment, particularly for persons who face particular difficulties in taking up employment, such as people with disabilities or those who often find childcare difficult and expensive. It would result in reduction in traffic congestion and in carbon emissions arising from the number of employees commuting between home and their workplaces. It would result in a rebalancing of the population densities as people would not be forced to reside in the major cities while enduring extortionate rent and property prices. However, mainly, this Bill is about seriously improving the work-life balance of workers where it is reasonably practicable. That is the key here.  This Bill also enshrines safeguards for employers. No employer should be forced into an agreement that jeopardises their business, their business's confidentiality or already agreed practices. For this reason, the Bill contains the following grounds. An employer may refuse a request if the arrangement is \"not reasonably practicable.\" They may refuse if the nature of the employee's work does not permit that it be done at a remote location. They may refuse if it is not reasonably practical for the employer to reorganise the work done by their employees to facilitate remote working. They may refuse if the proposed arrangement is reasonably likely to adversely affect the quality of the employer's product or service, the quality of the work of the employee, or if the workspace at the proposed work location is not a suitable workspace for the employee to work in. This may be as a result of the need to protect business confidentiality or intellectual property and to comply with enactments relating to data protection, that the health and safety of the employee at work is not protected, that poor Internet connectivity and other infrastructural resources at the proposed remote location are not sufficient or that the proposed arrangement conflicts with the provisions of already applicable collective agreements. These are serious safeguards to allow employers the peace of mind when hiring new staff or engaging with current employees. This legislation would give workers an immediate and enforceable right to work remotely where their role allows, and it would end the sweeping right employers currently enjoy to refuse flexible and remote working arrangements.  This legislation is about dignity at work, quality of life, and whether Ireland is serious about building a labour market or retreating to an outdated model built around control rather than productivity. In the past, Fine Gael and Fianna F\u00e1il legislated for the employer's right to say \"No\". As long as the paperwork is in order, the refusal stands no matter how arbitrary or outdated the reasoning. That is not balance; it is a blank cheque to employers.  It is also important to say that this is not about forcing remote work into roles where it does not fit. It is about ending refusals based on habit, suspicion or a fixation with visibility rather than productivity. For many, this will be the difference between being able to work or not being able to work at all. As a Government and an Oireachtas we must lead on this. Take Enterprise Ireland for example. This State agency is reportedly requiring staff to return to the office three to four days a week, despite the fact its headquarters are in Eastpoint Business Park in Dublin, which is extremely difficult to access by public transport. The predictable result is more people forced into cars, adding to congestion and emissions. This directly undermines our stated climate and transport goals. When State bodies behave like this, they normalise going backwards and they give cover, or absolute encouragement, to the private sector to do the same.  This legislation offers a clear alternative. It would expand participation, support regional communities and give people back hours of their lives currently wasted in traffic. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  I commend Deputy Lawlor and my other Labour Party colleagues, in particular Deputies Sherlock and Wall, on bringing forward this important Bill, which I am glad to second. At its core, this Bill is about something very simple. It is about supporting people to work - to work to live not just to live to work. It is about quality of life. Despite what Government spokespersons might imply, workers in Ireland currently have no right to flexible or remote work. They have only a right to ask and a right to be refused. Many employers are very generous. Many workplaces have very sustainable accommodations made with hybrid and remote working but some have been unreasonable.  We in the Labour movement are proud to stand for workers' rights; not workers' incentives, not employers' philanthropy or leniency but rights for workers. We are proud to be the party of the trade union movement that has delivered on workers' rights. We have delivered on rights for workers on low pay through mechanisms like the Low Pay Commission and on rights for freelancers through our successful legislation on collective bargaining for freelancers.  However, at its core, this Bill is not just about workers' rights. It is also about tackling climate emissions. As Deputy Lawlor said, all of those currently sitting in cars in gridlock trying to get into offices where they do not need to be to be productive are contributing to increased carbon emissions. They are contributing to our failure to reach our climate targets. The Government has been shameful on delivering on public transport and on cycling and active travel infrastructure. One way the Government could help to deliver on reaching climate targets is through enabling workers to work from home where it is reasonably practical to do so. That is another core part of this Bill.  This Bill is also about accessible workplaces. It is about ensuring greater access to work and to working life for those who, in many cases, are locked out of workplaces. I am thinking in particular of people with disabilities. In Ireland, we know disabled people are very poorly represented in our workplaces and we should be doing a great deal more to facilitate working careers for people with disabilities and disabled persons. One key way to do that is to facilitate flexible and remote working.  I also reference others such as women who are locked out of many workplaces due to lack of access to affordable childcare and early years education, women who disproportionately bear the burden of care at home and who are, therefore, in particular difficulty when it comes to being forced back into workplaces where they do not have to be physically present in order to be productive. If people are spending two, three or four hours a day in a car, which many people who contacted me and my colleagues are doing currently, commuting to their workplace when they know they do not have to be present in the office to be productive, they are not only contributing to climate emissions and having a very poor work-life balance, they are also not delivering for a Government that is talking about productivity and enterprise. As a party of job creation and of jobs, we want to ensure sustainable workplaces and to enable employers to retain skilled and high-value staff - women, men, disabled persons and people from all walks of life who should be facilitated.  Finally, with the Government's approach to this Bill, with the sort of obstructionism we have seen on this Bill, it appears Fine Gael in particular, but the Government all together, has abandoned any pretence at a workers' rights agenda. The former Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, engaged in rhetoric about workers' rights but we have seen from this Government the stalling of the Labour Party's pregnancy loss leave Bill, a U-turn on sick pay and a VAT cut that took money from the pockets of taxpayers and put it in the coffers of big builders and burger barons. This Government is not taking workers' rights seriously. What we in the Labour Party are trying to do is to redress the balance, to ensure workers have a reasonable right to work from home and to work flexibly and to ensure we build sustainable and accessible workplaces for all. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  Today in Nenagh, I had the privilege of announcing 307 new homes being built, on top of over 300 announced previously by Whitebox and Quantum homes. A total of more than 600 houses will be built. Why is that so important? Nenagh is effectively in the centre of the country and is one of the best towns in Ireland. Many of the people who are going into these homes are local people or people who desire to live there but who want to work from home or partially work from home through blended working. Nenagh is a commutable distance to Dublin, Shannon, Limerick or Galway one or two days a week but it is certainly not commutable five days a week. This Bill ensures those workers will have the opportunity to live among their community, to access all of the services they need, including childcare and schools, and to live among their families. It will enable them to be around their elderly parents, to spend more time at home and in their community, to go to the gym and not to spend three to six hours in their car. What this Bill does is create something the Government should be very interested in, namely, better spatial and regional planning by ensuring people can live in rural towns and regional areas. That is something this Government does not progress enough.  This legislation is all about work-life balance. We work to live but we do not live to work. This Bill distinguishes my party, the Labour Party, from every other party in this House. This is what the Labour Party is all about. It is the party of workers, the party that ensures workers come first. Workers should come first but when it comes to this Government, they do not. This Bill will ensure workers have better lives, that many of the social issues, challenges and costs they face and the environmental issues we all face are dealt with and helped because this is the right thing to do.  We talk a lot about workers and productivity but workers are far more productive when there is balance in their lives. As politicians, we should know this. We should know this as workers who come here every week. Why can we not practice what we believe in? This legislation will ensure better productivity. It will also ensure workers can live across this country and make a contribution, that they can have balanced working lives in Nenagh, Roscrea, Thurles and many other regional towns across Ireland. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert O'Donoghue  To be clear, this Bill is for those who can work remotely. It is not a promise for every role or sector. We know remote work is not feasible for everybody but where it is reasonably practicable, we must make it a worker's right. That is what this Bill seeks to achieve. It is not about forcing the hands of employers or imposing rigid rules. It is about giving employees options, the choice to work remotely where it makes sense while respecting the operational needs of businesses. It is about fairness, clarity and flexibility. The benefits are real and not just for workers. We would have less traffic, less pressure on public transport and early education, a better work-life balance, stronger communities and a more sustainable economy. This Bill puts a simple framework forward around something that already exists and already works in practice. We proved in 2020 that we could do this and we have been continuing to prove it during severe weather warnings which are becoming more frequent. Where remote working is possible, people should have the choice to work from home. Where that choice is given, we can support employers to put the right systems in place so it happens efficiently, responsibly and without risk. This is about common sense and adapting to the world in which we now live.  When most people were required to work from home during the pandemic, we saw a profound shift in how families managed care. Remote work changed daily routines but, more importantly, it changed responsibilities. Women's participation in the workforce increased because flexibility gave them a real choice - the choice to go back to or to stay in employment. Their ability to progress and to balance care without being forced out meant their participation increased. At the same time, many men became more involved in everyday care, collecting children from school and cr\u00e8che, attending appointments and sharing the mental load that had mostly fallen upon women. This was not just a temporary adjustment and it showed what was possible when work was designed around life and not the other way around. Giving families the right to remote work does not reduce productivity but redistributes care, strengthens equality and supports healthier, more resilient families and communities.  In my constituency of Dublin Fingal West, a father of four told me that during Covid for the first time in his life he was able to collect his child from cr\u00e8che. It was his fourth child and yet it was the first time he was able to do the pick-up and drop-off, to stand at the door, to talk to other parents and to be part of the everyday rhythm of care. This was something he missed entirely with his first three children. His company has since continued remote working and this has changed his whole family dynamic for the better. It has allowed him to be a more present parent, to share responsibility at home and to build stronger connections, not just with his child but with his community and with other parents.  This Bill does not force remote work. It gives workers the right to remote work and to have their request for an entitlement to remote work and remote working arrangements treated fairly. It is balanced, practical and reflective of the world today. This Bill, proposed by my colleague, Deputy George Lawlor, should be supported because there are no downsides to it. The only downside is the Government's bizarre decision to block it. The Minister and his staff can work remotely. I can work remotely. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  We are debating this Bill this morning because the previous Government's so-called Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, which is less than three years old, has abjectly failed working people. Then again, we should not be surprised because it was set up to fail. We said that at the time and the proof is there for all to see in the operation of the terms of the Act in the WRC's annual reports. The debates on that Act were a waste of D\u00e1il time. That legislation was an act of fraud perpetrated against commuters in my county of Louth and elsewhere. It was tokenism of the very worst kind. For a time, as my colleague, Deputy Bacik, said, Fine Gael almost had some people persuaded that it had some kind of Pauline conversion to the cause of improving workers' rights but the reality can be found in the empty formula contained in the 2023 Act, the utterly meaningless right \"to request\" the opportunity to avail of remote or flexible work.  This Bill gives the Government the chance to correct the mistake it made in 2023. The evidence of that mistake is all around us. The Act, as adopted, is simply not working. This is one of the key workers' rights questions of our time. I am dealing all of the time with the fallout of this Government's failure. We have return-to-work mandates being imposed on workers, no questions asked and no quarters given. This is creating childcare chaos and very real financial worries for families. Hours are being spent in traffic and people are dealing with unreliable and stretched bus and train services. We all know the impact but I am not sure this Government necessarily cares or understands it. I will give the House an example of the human impact, if I may.  Earlier this week a man in Dundalk was in touch with me.  He works in the IFSC as does his partner. He was hired during Covid and he has worked very productively from home. He is now being pulled back into the office for most of the working week, with a full five-day return on the cards. He moved to the Dundalk area for more affordable housing. The understanding was that he could work remotely and that the arrangement would continue. I ask the Minister of State to listen to what he said:  Now we find ourselves commuting sometimes a four hour round trip if traffic is bad, increased travel costs, parking, tolls, diesel, car maintenance, additional childcare costs, not to mention quality time lost to the commute. And all for what? To say we clocked in to the office.  That is the long and the short of it. The laws we have at the moment let poor managers and bad businesses off the hook. The cohort of people who are angry with this situation need to be listened to. They are the young, ambitious, highly educated professionals who have paid an exacting price for the Government's housing and childcare failures. They are people with a very real stake in society, who need the social contract to work.  The ability to work remotely gave them the opportunity to come up for air, a chance to breathe. In so many cases, that opportunity is being taken away unilaterally and without any recourse whatsoever to any legislative protection or remedy to support them and to bring some semblance of balance to the question and to their lives. The legal framework needs to change. I strongly believe there will be a political price paid by Fine Gael and Fianna F\u00e1il if this Bill is rejected, and if the changes we want to see are not ultimately introduced. We will continue to campaign on the key question of workers' rights in modern Ireland. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (Deputy Alan Dillon)  I acknowledge the Labour Party for bringing forward this Private Members' Bill. Remote working has shaped modern work practices and the labour market. I, for one, take the Bill seriously, as does the Government. For far too long opportunity was centred in major cities and larger urban areas. However, remote working has shifted that balance and today we see flexible and remote working transforming how people build meaningful careers while continuing to live, work, and raise families in the towns and villages they call home.  The programme for Government recognises these myriad benefits and reaffirms the Government's commitment to promoting flexible working arrangements that benefit both workers and employers. I will touch on some of the Government's actions to fulfil this commitment in a few moments but I will first address the Bill, which the Government opposes for three key reasons. I will outline them in more detail during the debate. First, allowing employees to request remote work keeps a fair balance between flexibility and the need for businesses to stay competitive and viable. We all understand that not all occupations, industries or roles within enterprise are appropriate for remote working. It is not appropriate for the Government to step in and dictate the terms of individual employment arrangements via legislation in the way this Bill suggests. That is why the current legislation provides a right to request, not a blanket right to remote working. Second, giving the Workplace Relations Commission's adjudication officers the power to review the substance of employers' decisions and effectively direct which roles are suitable for remote work, would extend their role too far, effectively placing the WRC in charge of elements of business operations without insight into operational needs. Last, it is important to note that this legislation is still quite new. As the Deputy outlined, it is only two years in existence. Given that it will only be in place for two years next month, we are undertaking a statutory review of the remote working provisions of the work-life balance Act. Any changes should wait for the findings of that review rather than preempt it.  CSO data shows that almost 1 million people now work from home at least some of the time, with over 500,000 working remotely for more than half of the week. There is no doubt that remote working has become highly valuable and important to many of us and the way we work today. I reject Deputy Nash's assertion that it has failed. The evidence shows that it is providing huge labour market opportunities and allowing for substantial balanced regional development in many towns and cities right across the country. This is reflected in the phenomenal public response to our recent consultation as part of the statutory review of the right to request remote work, with over 8,000 people taking the time to give us their views on what the law on remote working means to them. Clearly, it cuts across both their professional and personal lives, improving work-life balance, reducing commuting times and increasing time spent with their families.  The right to request remote working is available to all employees through the work-life balance Act. We have not excluded any sector, industry or role from this right. It is important to state that. Ireland was among the first EU member states to introduce the legislative right to request remote working. It is worth noting that no member state has introduced a direct right to remote working, but rather European legislation in this space is aligned with our own right to request model, for similar valid and logical reasons. Our legislation provides a framework governing how employees may make a request and how employers must consider and respond to such a request. An employer may refuse a request having regard to their needs, the employee's needs and the code of practice. When refusing a request, the employer must provide the reasons for refusal in writing. Employers are required to respond to a request within a set timeframe.  The legislation provides for redress to the WRC. An adjudication officer may examine whether the employer complied with statutory requirements. An officer cannot review or overturn the merits of an employer's decision to refuse a request. The legislation is underpinned by a code of practice that was drafted by the commission in consultation with the social partners. Their close relationship and partnership ensures that detailed guidance on the process is provided for both employers and employees. It has been placed on a statutory footing and can be submitted as evidence in proceedings before the WRC, the Labour Court or the courts.  This Bill seeks to amend Ireland's current statutory framework significantly. As I mentioned earlier, the reasons the Government opposes the Bill are threefold. The current legislative framework strikes the right balance between flexibility and business competitiveness. We understand that the make-up of businesses across the country is predominantly small and medium-sized businesses. They account for 99% of all businesses throughout the country. We understand the significant importance of those businesses, and that is clear in terms of how the Government perceives the Bill introduced by the Labour Party. Deputy Nash believes the Government should define an objective basis for refusing a remote working request for all employees uniformly, regardless of the size, sector or industry. That would diminish the employer's discretion with regard to how or where their employees carry out their duties. It would have serious implications for productivity, competitiveness and also viability across certain sectors for employers who have between one and nine employees. It would have implications in particular for small and medium-sized businesses, which would likely be among those who are most impacted.  Second, the Bill proposes to replace section 27 of the Act and to strengthen the powers of adjudication officers of the WRC. The section specifies that an adjudication officer shall not assess the merits of an employer's decision to refuse a remote working request.  Such powers would effectively involve the adjudication officers directing employers on how to manage their business operations, despite the adjudication officers not having any involvement in or detailed knowledge of the employer's operational needs.  I would also say that the legislation itself is only two years in existence. It is relatively young, as I mentioned. Ireland is among the first countries in Europe to introduce this legislation. We are reviewing the current effectiveness of the legislation and we will be laying the final report before the Oireachtas by the end of March. Despite the legislation, as I mentioned earlier, the CSO data have been very strong and significant in regard to those who are working both in a hybrid and fully remote manner. Over 987,000 people have reported working from home at least some of the time and over 557,000 people working from home more than half the time. That demonstrates the impact this legislation has made.  In conclusion, remote working is here to stay. It is part of our modern workplace and our communities. It is certainly part of our national economy but it is and must be supported by legislation that is fair, balanced and grounded in evidence. For those reasons, to maintain balance, to avoid inappropriate interference with business operations and to allow the current review process to conclude, the Government cannot support this Bill. As Minister of State with responsibility for employment, I remain committed to promoting flexible and remote working arrangements that work for everyone, including employees and employers. Such arrangements must assist employers as they seek clarity and stability, and must enable communities across Ireland to see growth and opportunities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  We have heard a load of waffle from the Minister of State with responsibility for employment. It is the most anti-worker speech I have heard in this Chamber. He has given a speech, as Minister of State for employment, about the \"right to request remote working\" that is the biggest load of waffle he could ever say to any worker who believes that they should be given a right to remote working.  It should not be lost on any of us that this Chamber is full of politicians who engage in a variety of flexible work practices in order to do our jobs to the best of our abilities. We work from different locations and we have different hours, depending on our day. That is an experience felt by workers across many sectors. The Covid-19 pandemic showed just how many sectors and roles can operate well with flexible, remote and hybrid work.  The Bill proposed by my colleague, Deputy Lawlor, would represent great progress. It would stand firm against the push we have seen by employers in some sectors to walk back the progress that has been made. We can see the benefits from other European countries, including a reduction in commuter chaos in cities, better work-life balance, practical benefits for parents and increased activity in local economies. We can see that hybrid and remote work benefits workers and their local economies.  Many workers have based their school runs, where they live and how they get to work around flexible work practices. Flexible working practices are key to the future development of rural Ireland. The Minister of State mentioned the CSO on a number of occasions. The CSO has found that 38% of people would consider moving if they could work remotely. Many of us from rural Ireland leave our home towns for cities to study and work. We know there is evidence that indicates people are relocating more to rural and regional areas from the cities of Cork and Dublin.  The benefits of remote work to parents in employment is massive. Many parents living in rural Ireland face larger gaps in the provision of childcare and have to undertake longer commutes to accommodate work and childcare. The reduction in hours spent commuting benefits rural workers who can often live at a greater distance from their place of work. The State has estimated that remote working, largely due to the reduction in the amount of time spent in cars, can save 164,407 tonnes of CO2 per year.  In conversations on this matter, we often fail to recognise people with illnesses, disabilities and accessibility issues. Flexible work opens up the job market for these people. It removes the barrier of inaccessible workplaces. It allows someone who may not be within commuting distance of their workplace to seek accommodation suitable to their needs. Creating greater opportunities for people with disabilities needs to be a policy priority for the Government. People with disabilities who worked from home during the pandemic cited the biggest benefit as being greater autonomy in managing their disabilities.  I want to touch on Cork city very quickly. The transport plan included just one mention of the proposed Cork Luas. We have been told that a railway order application is expected to be lodged, yet we do not have an assured route, public consultation or timelines. These are just meaningful words, while Cork continues to battle commuter chaos.  In conclusion, I suggest to the Minister of State that if he is going to stand up and say he is Minister of State for employment, he should not be so anti-worker. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  If the Minister of State looks at the TomTom Traffic Index, he will see that people in Limerick - the city I represent - lost 74 hours in traffic congestion last year. That is three whole days wasting away at the Mackey roundabout, on the Corbally Road, in Raheen, on the Dock Road, on Henry Street, on the M20 and on the N7 - the list goes on. What this Government is doing in opposing our Bill here is saying to people that this is grand and that they can spend an entire week of their lives in the car every single year.  Remote working has benefited our city and region enormously. It has enabled people to move home from cities like Dublin, where they would have had to live because they work there, to raise their families and have a better quality of life. It allows young working professionals to avail of lower house prices and contribute to their local economy and community.  The Government's so-called work-life balance legislation is so weak and watery that workers are being marched back in to the office. The Minister of State talks about us being a leader on this. In countries like Portugal, if you have a child up to the age of eight you have a statutory right to work from home without prior negotiation. In 2022, the Dutch Parliament, under a centre-right government, made working from home a legal right. If an employer in the Netherlands declines it, they have to provide a weighty business or safety reason to do so. The burden of proof that is being placed on the company in these jurisdictions is much higher than it is here. The Minister of State cannot really compare us to the Continent because most of these things are delivered through collective bargaining. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  There are much stronger sectoral agreements.  My bottom line is this: if the job works on Wi-Fi, it does not need diesel. What I would say when I look at big business in this country is that if your management style only works when people are sitting in front of you, that is not leadership or mentoring; that is control freakery. The reality that is evident with regard to this Bill this morning and other matters is this is not a Government for workers. This is the most anti-worker Government I can remember in recent years. Fine Gael constantly says it will make work pay but the reality is that under Fine Gael, it is workers who have to pay. This Government has delayed the living wage and backslided on the increases in sick pay. School secretaries, caretakers and probably special needs assistants, SNAs, and teachers now, have all gone out on strike and 18- and 19-year-olds are paid less than the minimum wage. The fact of the matter is that this Government has a magic money tree provided that you are a property developer, an institutional developer or a fast food tycoon. They will be looked after and the rest of us have to pay. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  What we have here is a philosophical difference between the Minister of State's Government and the Labour Party and others in Opposition on workers' rights. For a moment, let us set aside all the climate benefits, the work-life balance benefits, the benefits for commuter towns and economies and the anti-congestion advantages. We will set them aside because philosophically, that is something we on the left would say. Let us set aside all the really good, strong evidence that has been accumulated through multiple studies by the trade unions, including SIPTU, F\u00f3rsa, the Financial Services Union, FSU, and others. Of course trade unions would say that; they are, philosophically, on the left. Let us look instead at the evidence from agencies that would be philosophically more in line with the Government. Let us look at what IBEC is saying. Even IBEC recognises the benefits of flexible work. It says it wants anchor days in the office but it knows there are economic and productivity benefits to flexible work. Let us go even further by looking at the International Monetary Fund, IMF, and Harvard Business School.  Neither of them are bastions of workers' rights, but both of them have produced reports stating that productivity increases and improves for companies when there are strong, flexible work rights. This is something the Government should be leading on, based on that alone, but it is not. Its failure to legislate is based on vibes and not on evidence. The evidence is on our side on all levels - productivity, work-life balance, anti-congestion, improved transport and improved climate benefits. The evidence is all on our side. Yes, Covid-19 turbo-charged this but I remember being in a working group with Deputy Nash when I was a councillor, along with then Councillor Mark Wall and others in the Labour Party. We came up with a commuter strategy in 2017 or 2018 that had working from home as a central plank. We have spent nearly a decade trying to make this into a real right.  This Bill would also strengthen equality. Flexible work particularly benefits parents, carers and people with disabilities. Without legal protections, these workers often negotiate from a weaker position and sacrifice career progression but, again, in line with consistent policies from this Government, these groups are left behind. The only people who are disadvantaged by the right to work from home are the owners of office buildings in large cities and large towns. The Government is not looking at the bigger picture. It is not looking at protecting the workers - the people who keep this country going. A defined legal framework, such as that set out in this Bill, would limit disputes and create better workplaces for all. Rather than providing for the right to refuse work from home, as stipulated in the current legislation, we must ensure hybrid arrangements are set down in a proper law.  If we look at the impact of flooding on our road networks in recent weeks - car parks in our major commuting towns and the arterial roads coming into our major cities have been affected - we will see that no number of extra lanes on our roads, which is what this Government wants, will work. We want to see a greater improvements in buses, high-frequency rail links and metro links. All of that needs to be done, but our right to flexible work - the right to work from home or from within one's community at community work hubs - can be strengthened almost immediately. That would have a real impact in terms of improving congestion. The Government is standing still. It is not legislating based on evidence; it is legislating based on vibes and it is letting workers down again. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Barry Heneghan)  Sula bogfaimid ar aghaidh, I would like to give the young visitors in the Gallery today a big welcome to Leinster House - c\u00e9ad m\u00edle f\u00e1ilte. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Guirke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Johnny Guirke  Over recent years, we have seen that the shift to home-based work and the explicit right to request remote and flexible arrangements can deliver real benefits if managed well. This approach has the potential to shape a fairer and more productive workforce with increased morale. Since the right to request remote work was introduced in 2024, the Workplace Relations Commission has handled roughly 60 complaints. That number reflects both progress and gaps that must be looked at and closed. For thousands, flexible and remote work has been life changing. This shift has helped many people to stay in the workforce and has opened doors for people across the country. A right to flexible work is, in a sense, part of a modern economy.  Along the way, we voiced concerns and worried that the code of practice might tilt the balance too far in one direction and not adequately protect both workers and business interests. What the code establishes is the right to request remote work, requiring a detailed explanation from the employee about why he or she is seeking this arrangement. Some factors that are considered, such as the distance between home and workplace, felt like over-reach and warranted careful review.  The right to remote work demonstrates tangible benefits for workers and employers in the broader economy when implemented thoughtfully. The observed complaints are a signal to improve process, not a rejection of remote work itself. The balance between worker rights and business needs is essential. Ongoing refinements are needed. A rigorous but fair framework helps to sustain participation in the labour market and supports a modern and inclusive economy. We know that workers face a number of hoops when seeking to access remote working. These arrangements can be refused, altered, withdrawn or terminated at will.  There is a practical side to this debate that touches people's daily lives. Working from home has real benefits for our transport and road networks. It reduces congestion, slows wear and tear on our roads and eases pressure on public transport systems. Across the country, people are paying significant tolls, and these costs rise year after year as congestion grows. If people can work effectively from home or a remote working hub, we can relieve some of the pressure on already strained transport and road networks.  The right to request remote working legislation is not just a legal reform; it is an opportunity to listen to workers and employers, learn from real-world experiences and make practical improvements. When an employee's remote working request is denied, we should bring that example forward and look at where improvements can be made. The right to request remote working should empower people to do their jobs effectively while ensuring fairness, consistency and accountability in how decisions are made. It is a chance to strengthen the law, learn from lived experiences and implement reforms that reflect the realities of modern work and modern life.  We commend the outstanding contribution of communities across Ireland that have established remote working hubs in local centres, GAA clubs and vacant buildings. Sinn F\u00e9in recognises the value of remote work during extreme weather events. While current legislation may not fully protect workers in such circumstances, enabling remote work can offer significant advantages to both workers and employers. We acknowledge that not every role can be performed remotely. Therefore, we emphasise that the legislation should safeguard the interests of both employees and employers. We see a need to establish a fair and well-structured framework that balances employees' rights to flexible working with the operational requirements of employers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  I thank the Labour Party for bringing this Bill to the House this morning. I listened to the Minister of State's speech. He and the Government really need to wake up to the fact that remote working can benefit not only workers and their families, but local businesses and communities as well. The Minister of State knows that coming from a county like Mayo. He also knows that if people with disabilities - really capable people - were given the opportunity to work remotely, they could live in their own communities and work in a way they wish to and in a way that would be hugely beneficial to employers. We can have that conversation in a constructive and inclusive way that can benefit everybody. It is about quality of life.  The Minister of State will know from his past football experience about all the clubs that are amalgamating in Mayo because we do not have the people living in rural Ireland. How many of those people are living and working in Dublin, which is already congested? Is it any wonder that Dublin has won more All-Ireland championships than Mayo? The solution that could lead to Mayo getting the Sam Maguire Cup is to have proper remote working so that people can live there and do not have to truck up to Dublin and move all their lives here, but can live in Castlebar. Deputy O'Reilly should not laugh.  This is a very serious issue, but there is nothing here but opportunity. We have long argued for the right to request remote and flexible working. I point the Minister of State in the direction of the Good Jobs Employment Rights Bill in Northern Ireland, which was brought forward by the Minister for the Economy there, my colleague Caoimhe Archibald. That legislation addresses many of the work-life balance issues that could be incorporated here. This is about progressive rights of workers. The imbalance must be addressed. I look forward to the results of the public consultation that the Government has conducted to review the right to request remote working in legislation.  This Bill provides a fair and structured framework for requesting remote working, whereby requests can only be refused on a clear and objective grounds. It is reasonable. That is why we are asking that employers be fair and reasonable too. Most of the employers and the employers' organisations that I speak to want to get this right. The Government needs to work with them to ensure they do. Yesterday we spoke about families being priced out of urban centres as a result of house prices increasing by almost 50% since 2020. We are going to have people paying mortgages in their eighties if the Government does not look at things differently and use opportunities like this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  I thank the Labour Party for bringing forward this Bill today. I have long been a proponent of remote working. I attended a conference in Tubbercurry in 2018 that was organised by Grow Remote. It was one of the first conferences it held about organising work in this way. It had another one the year later in Athlone. I attended both of them because I saw the opportunity that remote working offered, particularly for rural areas. As has been mentioned, many rural communities have set up hubs. There is very poor Internet in many areas despite the roll-out of broadband. The roll-out has been very hit and miss in many rural communities. These hubs offer an opportunity for people to come together and be able to work remotely. The biggest opportunity is for employers. I have spoken to many employers. The opportunity to have somebody who can work from home means that employers often do not have to get additional office space when they have to expand and grow. It is a win-win for everybody at all times.  I was very disappointed to hear the Minister of State's speech. It was so negative and stuck in the past.  I often meet people who, because they cannot work remotely, think nobody else should either, which is a stupid concept. It makes sense for people to be able to do it. It makes sense for the economy. It makes sense for people not just in rural areas but in urban areas as well. It takes away congestion. It offers people flexibility in their lives. It has umpteen advantages for business to allow them to grow.  Many of the back-office activities can be done from somebody's home. We often find when we ring the Oireachtas lines to speak to people who work for the Oireachtas that they are speaking to us from home, whether it is about a social welfare issue, a tax issue or whatever. It is because they have the opportunity to it. If we are able to ensure that people who work for the Oireachtas or work for the Government can work remotely, it makes absolute sense that people in the private sector should also have the same right and that we should guarantee those rights. In that context, I absolutely support what is proposed in this legislation. Government should look at it again and realise that it is really behind the curve on all of this. The future is to ensure that workers have the flexibility and that employers also have the flexibility to be able to employ people wherever it suits them best to work. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sorca Clarke  Once again Government seems to be immune to the lived realities of people's lives. Both in theory and practice, remote and flexible work has proven its value. Workers delivered, businesses functioned and the economy kept moving, and yet Government came out with this diluted right to request that often ends in refusal. This is the lived reality of commuters in my constituency. A commute can take an hour and 45 minutes each way. That is three and half hours a day, five days a week. Across a 46-week working year that is 805 hours, the equivalent of over 100 working days a year gone. Those commutes are starting earlier and earlier because of congestion. For those paying at least an M4 toll each day that is \u20ac3.60 each way or \u20ac1,656 a year after tax simply to get to work. That is before fuel, insurance and maintenance on their car.  Government speaks endlessly about modernisation, climate targets and regional development. Remote work and hybrid work advance all three of these. It reduces congestion, cuts emissions and keeps workers and families in their own communities. It gives them the opportunity to support local economies, businesses and shops, and it brings life back into smaller towns and villages. Yet workers are still forced to justify what has already been proven to be workable. If a worker is spending the equivalent of 100 working days a year commuting, if they are spending over \u20ac1,600 just to get them to work, then Government's so-called right to request is nothing more than a bureaucratic box-ticking exercise designed to create the illusion of a right but not an actual right. We need a genuine right to work remotely and flexible working hours. We need options that are based on fairness, reasonableness and consistency. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  We need to see remote work become a right and not just a perk as it is now. It should be an entitlement for workers for whom it is available and not a norm when it makes sense for all the reasons that have been outlined. It is clear to us that remote working has clear family benefits, social benefits and environmental benefits as well as those benefits to the community that are often unseen and unremarked upon in this debate because, simply put, people have more time. This is about workers' rights. There are health benefits and environmental benefits. It supports economic growth and rural diversification. It keeps our rural communities alive when this is the norm.  Remote and hybrid working reduces commuting time and increases personal autonomy which is strongly associated with higher life satisfaction, better mental health and improved work-life balance for workers. For every 1,000 remote jobs, over 220,000 hours are saved in commutes every year. That time goes back into people's families and local communities. There has been a lot of research by the Western Development Commission on this, along with the University of Galway and others. Those statistics show that almost 25% of people who work from home for some part of the week volunteer their time in the community. Organisations that benefit include the GAA, other sporting organisations, Tidy Towns, the RNLI, and any number of rural and community voluntary groups.  Remote workers spend more of their income locally during the working week when they can work at home, supporting local businesses and keeping them going, sustaining additional local jobs through secondary economic effects. Every 1,000 remote jobs brings \u20ac13 million into their local economies every year. This is a no-brainer. Promoting remote work is the way to go. The Minister of State's negativity in response to this Bill is unwarranted and unhelpful and it underlines an attitude from Government that views rural areas as secondary. We need to see remote work become the norm and we need to see Government legislate or support this legislation. It is one or the other. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  I thank the Deputies for introducing the Bill this morning and for giving us a chance to discuss a topic which I have discussed in this Chamber many times before. When I was thinking about the legislation as I was walking over here, I was reminded that the first case I took as a shop steward was for teleworking as we called it. It moved on to be e-working and now we call it remote and flexible working. The attitude of employers, as demonstrated by the Fine Gael Minister of State here this morning, was always the exact same: it is as if it is some sort of treat and something that workers can get if they are good but it was never going to be a right. I almost laughed when the Minister of State's predecessor brought in the right to request remote working - sure I had that in the last days of the last century. We could always request it but we did not have a right to have it fairly considered which is what workers need.  Employers have consistently refused this but never advanced a single decent reason as to why. Sure they do not need to for as long as they have the old green Tories in place in government doing their work for them. Workers should, of course, have the right to remote working but workers are not stupid. The Minister of State expressed concern that people might look for it who would not be entitled to it. People who do jobs that are amenable to remote work should have the opportunity to do that. People who cannot are not stupid; if they are working in a job that does not facilitate remote work, they know exactly what that is like.  Should this legislation proceed to the next Stage - the Minister of State has indicated fairly clearly he does not want it to which is very regrettable - I hope we will have the chance to include within it an amendment that Sinn F\u00e9in might table on the right to disconnect. Along with the right to remote work, there has to be a balance in terms of the right to disconnect for workers. I was somewhat disappointed to see that was not in this legislation but I appreciate that not every piece can be in every Bill.  Workers should have the right to remote work. The Minister of State knows it well. Does he only work when he is sitting at his desk? No. He works in a variety of environments but he is not unique. Loads of workers can do that and all they need is the Government to get out of their way to give them that opportunity. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  For families remote working can be life exchanging and it has been life changing for many. It has meant they are able to juggle the responsibilities of work and family life. We know that women are often excluded from the workplace because of these issues. Allowing people to work from home is not allowing them to take it handy or to doss but what it means is they are able to have work-life balance and a home-life balance. Many people still have childcare but the difference is that at 5 o'clock they can finish rather than commuting to collect their children and then commuting back home. It makes a real difference to people's lives.  I represent a constituency covering part of Cork city which has gridlock with traffic. Allowing people to work from home will get them out of cars and get cars off the road. It is a win right across the board. Right now, there are no solutions to the gridlock in Cork and based on what other Deputies have said it is the same right across the State. Every city and every town has huge issues but the Government's attitude to workers' rights is shockingly poor. We need solutions. The Government will suggest using public transport but the bus service is a joke. When they turn up, they are not on time if they turn up at all. We are talking about the northern ring road which will not be built for ten or 15 years and the northern distributor road will be another ten years. That means ten more years of gridlock in Cork because of this Government. No good comes from people sitting in their cars for hours on end. We brought in a traffic plan in Cork that actually made matters worse.  It stopped the right turn over St. Patrick\u2019s Bridge and Christy Ring Bridge and just kept people in traffic for much longer. Until we have a proper traffic plan and until people are allowed to work from home, workers will face impossible commutes. This is a workers\u2019 rights issue, but it is much bigger than that. It is about families and people, and this Government\u2019s attitude must change when it comes to workers\u2019 rights. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  Everyone has spoken about and will continue to speak about the absolute advantages we have all seen and heard from those who have the capacity and ability to work remotey. There are huge logistical savings for people in relation to childcare when they are working from home, as Deputy Gould said. As Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh said, it is also about facilitating those with disabilities. A lot of work has to be done regarding access and facilitating people into work, but in certain circumstances, it would facilitate an awful lot of people going into employment. In fairness to the Deputy, she pointed out that one thing missing from Mayo in relation to its road to all-Ireland glory is remote working. I think the Minister of State, therefore, should have a particular interest in it.  We all know about the gridlock that is happening, whether it is everybody leaving my town of Dundalk on the M1, with Google Maps on, not because they do not know the way to Dublin but because they want to check where there are going to be hold-ups, accidents or whatever else. People get forced to use the Port Tunnel for \u20ac14 just because they have run out of time on the road because there are too many people on it. It could also be anyone trying to drive round Dundalk on a Friday afternoon, because they will find that very difficult.  Government TDs, however, have absolutely celebrated the amount of money that has been provided to Louth County Council. It is \u20ac10,810,650, and that is welcome, although it would be a lot more welcome if it was more than what the county council was given last year, which was \u20ac10,992,550. I assume that costs have not gone up at all in the last while. I would ask the Minister of State to convey to his Government partners that a request has been submitted by Louth County Council for \u20ac1.2 million to address damage done to roads from flooding. We all know about this. LMFM and everybody else has a pothole search at the minute, and it is not a very hard competition to engage in.  Regarding remote working, there is no facilitation for cross-Border workers. Companies, employers and individuals, North or South, cannot now work from home. It is not allowed. We all saw that when PayPal closed its offices. There is a necessity for cross-Border engagement on this matter. A bilateral agreement then needs to be made with the British Government to facilitate this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Barry Heneghan)  Go raibh maith agat. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  There is a lot of talk about a shared island, but we need to facilitate those in Border areas, in particular, and throughout this island who should be able to work remotely. As has been said before, a right to request remote working is not much of a right if it is always refused. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  Go raibh maith agat. I thank the Labour Party for bringing this legislation forward. Remote and flexible work is a vital part of our lives now. It is a huge opportunity for many to find a better work-life balance, for businesses to innovate and for local communities to benefit from development and commerce happening in a more geographically balanced way. The Social Democrats have always championed the rights of workers and will always do so. Remote working, in particular, is an area I have long championed. I will also introduce a Bill in the coming weeks that will deal with remote and flexible work. The goal here is to build a sustainable, flexible, remote working regime that provides the necessary framework to facilitate a fair, clear and transparent approach to remote working.  The current system is confusing because it is so unintuitive. When the right to request was introduced, it was sold to the public as an important change that would have a real impact on how people could work remotely and flexibly. That illusion, though, was shattered by the realisation that the refusal of a request can be for arbitrary reasons, not based on business needs or any objective necessity whereby work cannot be done remotely. The frustration felt by people at this is tangible when you speak to anyone affected. They cannot understand why this Government would bother legislating for a right to request that is so weak when they could already ask their employers for changes to their working arrangements and be refused arbitrarily.  The way work has changed means people can do their jobs effectively from anywhere. Caithfimid cinnti\u00fa go bhfuil \u00e1r ndl\u00edthe ag coinne\u00e1il suas leis sin. We all understand that not every job can be done flexibly or remotely but we have advanced in leaps and bounds when it comes to the number of jobs that can. It is not that long ago that the concept of online meetings, hybrid working and working from home in general were very foreign concepts to many people. For many, it was impossible because they did not have the Internet at home or the required technology to have virtual meetings or because those they worked with were not familiar with these tools. Many of these barriers have gone now and we have the chance to create a meaningful and participatory workforce, particularly for groups historically excluded, like single mothers and people with disabilities. We have whole businesses that communicate, create, market and deliver services completely online. This has meant less time spent commuting and more money going into local businesses and economies, more parent-friendly workplaces and a better work-life balance. Despite these developments, however, and more people are in fully remote jobs, we are also seeing workers with hybrid and flexible arrangements being ordered back to the office by both private and public sector employers. This is often without consultation, without warning and ignoring the fact that people have shaped their lives around the flexibility that is now being taken away from them.  Is l\u00e9ir le blianta beaga anuas go bhfuil bunt\u00e1iste ollmh\u00f3r ag baint le hobair \u00f3n mbaile, go gcoinn\u00edonn s\u00e9 airgead sa phobal, go gcuireann s\u00e9 le saol clainne agus saol pearsanta daoine, agus nach bhfuil drochthionchar aige ar an obair a dh\u00e9anann daoine. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 cos\u00fail leis na haonaid Gteic sa Ghaeltacht agus t\u00e1 ionaid don chianoabair ann ar fud na cruinne. M\u00e1 t\u00e1imid ag iarraidh toradh na hinfheist\u00edochta seo a fheice\u00e1il, caithfimid n\u00edos m\u00f3 a dh\u00e9anamh.  We had a golden opportunity to enshrine remote and flexible working, but we have been let down with a right to request remote working that is not a right at all. The current framework grants employees only a right to request remote working, which, for an increasing number of employees, is refused or revoked. Like so many aspects of workers' rights in Ireland, we have created a system where the employee has no power and the refusal of something that may make no difference to their productivity but will make a massive difference to their lives can be arbitrarily refused. The current Act leaves people with hours-long commutes, the financial and climate burden of running a car, the daily strain of rushing to and from work and the stress of managing family lives. We know all these things can push people out of the workforce, particularly women, single parents and people with disabilities. It leaves us with congested roads, packed trains and buses and decreased revenue for small local businesses. We need a real right to remote and flexible working, and that is what this Bill seeks to do.  I read an op-ed by a Government TD this morning that referenced this Bill and framed legislation for a right to remote working as pitting employers against employees. This framing does a huge disservice to our role as legislators and the importance of clarity and transparency for both employers and employees. The right proposed in this Bill and in my own upcoming legislation is couched in what is reasonably practicable in a workplace and gives certainty to all involved on what is expected of them. The framing today that this Bill goes too far does not acknowledge that this Bill and any suggestions around remote work have always been caveated with the understanding that not every job can be done remotely or flexibly. The Minister of State spoke at length on the current legislation but failed to see the point that the current legislative regime does not have any reasonable ground or objective criteria to apply to requests. It is wholly opaque and only feeds the frustration of arrangements being unreasonably denied in a way that is completely legal. Nobody should have to deal with an unjust decision like this being fully supported by our employment legal framework.  We need a real system defined by reasonable expectations of employers and employees, with an entitlement from day one. A right to request remote work has been a source of frustration for so many workers, who realise that when their request is unreasonably denied, their \"right\" is not particularly useful in changing their situation or helping them to deal with an unfair denial of remote and flexible working arrangements. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  There needs to be a massive change in the approach to remote work in legislation to formalise it as a legitimate labour entitlement and a right and to ensure that remote working is harnessed to support people and communities. Ireland needs a national target for remote work.  We need to facilitate and support companies to support workers to ensure that the right and access to remote employment is available for workers across this country. We should not be reverting to them versus us, as has been referred to. This is about making Ireland work for people and making it work for communities across the country. Officials from the GAA recently appeared before the housing committee and presented their report about the future of the organisation and rural depopulation. It is called No One Shouted Stop - Until Now: The GAA\u2019s Response to Ireland\u2019s Demographic Shift. Bills like this and the one my party colleague Deputy Gibney is bringing forward are telling us to yell \"stop\". We need to support villages, towns and communities in order to ensure their survival. This is a golden opportunity. Remote work is a golden opportunity to allow people to live in communities, in\u00e1r mbailte, in\u00e1r sr\u00e1idbhailte, ar na hoile\u00e1in agus in\u00e1r nGaeltachta\u00ed. Rural GAA teams are fighting for their lives - ag troid ar son a saoil \u2013 agus nach cuid den r\u00e9iteach \u00e9 tith\u00edocht inacmhainne freisin?  They are all interconnected - affordable housing, public transport and remote working. They need to work together. Ireland is not working for so many people who are going out to work. They are stuck in traffic and cannot provide care for their children and disabled people. This affects so many people and our Gaeltachta\u00ed. It is not working, and remote working can play a fundamental role in ensuring people have more balanced and more sustainable lives rather than tearing themselves apart, commuting for hours and struggling to get back to children. We need remote work to be supported properly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  I thank Deputy Lawlor bringing this important legislation forward. I have never been very good at striking a good work-life balance, it has to be said. I doubt many in this Chamber are. I have always been a hard worker, perhaps even obsessive, but one of the great things about being human is the opportunity to grow and evolve, to develop the ability to rest and experience joy, to cultivate relationships and to enjoy life to the full. That is what this Bill is about. There are, of course, jobs where remote working is not possible, for example a TD, and there are parts of jobs or specific times where in-person collaboration is paramount for the task at hand. The Bill does give due regard to this, despite what a backbench TD might write in The Journal , including the capacity of the remote location to support the carrying-out of tasks and duties as required by the employer. However, it goes further than the current legislation in empowering workers contribute positively to their work culture while engaging in remote work.  During Covid, I was working with a startup in health technology doing really interesting things in connecting people to remote care. This company had taken seriously the question of enabling people to work remotely for several years before Covid. It was ahead of its time not just in considering the concept of enabling workers to engage fully but also in how the company's operating practices and culture supported people to do their best work and attracted exceptional talent regardless of geography. As a Dublin-based company, we were able to hire people in Cork and Galway and even in the far reaches of Donegal. There is an exceptional opportunity to use remote work to re-energise rural Ireland, ensuring that high-income labour opportunities are more equally distributed and that the associated spending power becomes part of local communities. I urge the Government to consider this Bill as a matter of utmost importance for workers, companies and the communities we are trying to build. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  I thank Deputy Lawlor for bringing forward this legislation. As a Minister in the previous Government, I was proud to lead on the introduction and passage of the original work-life balance Act of 2023. As we know, this introduced a right to request remote working for all workers. It also introduced the right of certain workers to request flexible working, which included remote working but also flexible work schedules or reduced working hours. That legislation also introduced some other important improvements in workplaces. It extended the right of women returning to work from maternity leave to request breastfeeding breaks. Originally, the right had been for only six months. It is now for two years. It introduced five days' unpaid leave for medical care purposes and, importantly, it introduced paid domestic violence leave, making Ireland one of the first European countries to do so.  When these provisions, particularly the provisions around remote working and flexible working, were introduced in 2023, they were novel. Now, in 2026, it is right that we review and strengthen the rights that were given to employees in 2023. That strengthening is particularly important in light of the push-back on remote working we are seeing from many employers. We are seeing that from large international companies and some SMEs, but we are also seeing it from some semi-State organisations. I am particularly disappointed to see the latter take place. All elements of the State should be supporting remote working because the State is seeing the benefit from it. People can now have significant roles in our Civil Service and public service but do not just have to be based in Dublin or in the commuter counties. They can be living all across the country. The legislative change Deputy Lawlor is putting forward fundamentally understands that our economic health is intrinsically linked with the well-being of workers, students and carers in our country. That economic health is linked to the ability to live, travel and pursue lives in a way that is facilitated by the State. I hope the Minister and the Minister of State hear that the mood across this House is to strengthen and broaden the rights around remote working, not just to leave the status quo as it is. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charles Ward  I thank Deputy Lawlor for bringing forward the Bill. We Donegal TDs are geographically isolated and, as some Deputies have said, when it comes to working, people think living in Donegal is akin to being in a different country. Remote working in Donegal does work, has worked and will continue to work, and I believe this Bill will enhance that. When we talk about practical experiences, we are talking about people who travel from Inishowen into Letterkenny. They might leave nearly an hour to go out and have an hour's drive to come back in the evening. Then, when they come home, they have to take their kids to their activities. This is adding up every single day with the likes of soccer and GAA, but no matter what, these activities have to happen to allow the communities to thrive. Making sure this work-life balance is in place is vital, but it is also vital to ensure that rural communities thrive.  At the moment, without this being brought in and coming to pass, these communities are dwindling. For Donegal, the benefits are clear. Remote working reduces commuting costs. It supports families with their responsibilities and retains skilled workers. They need flexibility for arrangements that are made, particularly with the situation we have in Donegal with the defective concrete crisis. Many households have been displaced and forced to leave their homes due to structural defects. They are balancing their work with inspections and repairs in their homes. Remote work allows them to do this and remain employed while managing these disruptions to their lives. Supporting this Bill is not about limiting employers. It is about creating a fair, clear framework where employees and employers can engage constructively. I urge all members of D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann to push this because they have to go back to their constituents and when they are telling them about their work-life balance, we have a responsibility to try to improve their work-life balance. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  Addressing this issue of remote working in the Chamber on 21 January last, I said, \"These working conditions must be based on a legal framework, giving an entitlement to these arrangements.\" This Bill, which I warmly welcome, does just that. It gives workers a clear, enforceable legal right to work remotely and ends refusals based on tradition, preconceived ideas, antagonisms and vague and spurious reasons. Remote working is here to stay. It is more productive, more family friendly and reduces unnecessary travel. It coincides with transport, climate and housing policy and helps, of course, to regenerate rural Ireland. The Bill is also timely as we have seen recent moves by banks, IT companies and even Government Departments attempting to force workers back to the office. There is a real appetite for this type of working. A recent survey by the F\u00f3rsa trade union found that 86% of members were interested in remote working and 80% were interested in the hybrid situation of working at home and working in the office. A legal framework must also cover areas such as protection against forced returns to the office.  An arbitrary, blanket or full-time return to the office should be outlawed. There must be a right to disconnect. Workers must be protected from a situation where they are forced to work after working hours. It must also be voluntary. It must not be a compulsory situation. Workers must have the right to opt in or out. There must be an equality of rights between remote workers and office workers. The former must have the same rights, protections and promotional opportunities as office staff. Obviously, health and safety guidelines must also be included in the legislation, which will include things such as workstations and mental health. Particular groups such as carers and staff with particular health needs must also be covered in legislation.  I welcome and support the Bill and I thank Deputy Lawlor for tabling it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  I thank Deputy Lawlor for tabling the Bill, which would represent significant improvements on the current situation whereby workers have no right at all to remote working. What Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael legislated for was a right for employers to refuse reasonable remote working requests. I was on the enterprise committee at the time when the Government Bill went through. ICTU came in and told us the Government's law was utterly pointless. Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael knew exactly what they were doing in bringing in totally pointless legislation that was effectively written by IBEC.  The responsible Minister at that time was Leo Varadkar. He is now going around portraying himself as a kind of progressive champion of workers' rights and other causes but that is not what he did when he was in office. He actually misled the committee at that time by claiming that the right of appeal to the WRC was not intended to be a solely procedural right and that a reason for refusal must be valid. He said that it would not be a case of an employer just ticking a box and saying \"No\", but that is precisely what the legislation provides for. It is precisely what has happened and Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael knew this at the time.  The Labour Party's Bill would much improve the situation because it would give workers the right to work remotely where reasonably practicable and it sets out only limited grounds for refusal. That is what workers need. I would still argue that the Bill has too many concessions to employers. If an employer refuses a request unreasonably, one option in the Bill is to resolve the dispute by getting the employer to pay one month's wages in compensation. One month's wages for someone spending the rest of their working life at that company is not a lot when commuting in heavy traffic for hours every day and only seeing their kids for a few minutes before they go to bed is the reality for so many working families today and is completely unnecessary.  The right to remote working should be made part of the Government's obligations to cut emissions by half by 2030 under the climate Act. We had an excellent briefing yesterday by the Climate and Health Alliance, which spoke about how important it is for people's health to cut down on air pollution from traffic. More remote working would mean fewer kids with asthma and fewer older people suffering from COPD. It would be a win-win for almost everyone, apart from the David Brents and Denis O'Briens of the world who want all of their worker drones back in the office where they can keep a close eye on them and restrict any space for autonomy. Billionaire Denis O'Brien says that remote working was a mistake. He is a tax exile swanning around on a superyacht. We need a Government that puts workers' rights first. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  Where an employee can work at home, it should be facilitated. It can be a massive plus for a worker. It can reduce stress. Obviously, it can reduce the cost of the daily commute, and in certain cases, it can lead to a significant increase in productivity. It can also be good for the local community as it brings people back into local towns and villages during the day. We do live in a city state, unfortunately, where people are commuting from Connacht, Ulster and Munster into Dublin on a daily basis. In many small villages and towns in this country, you could play hurling on the main street in the middle of the day with the lack of traffic and the fact there is nobody there. It is an employee's market at the moment. In my experience, many employees do get the right to work at home because they have more influence and power in this market given that there is nearly full employment.  There are also costs to this and that should be recognised. In some situations, it does lead to a fall in productivity. In some situations, the home is full of distractions in terms of family, pets and so on. It can also lead to a fall in communication. Microsoft Teams, WhatsApp and Zoom are not rich forms of communication. In-person communication is a far richer way for people to engage. Human relationships are very important for the functioning of any business and on many occasions this can be done in person far better.  I have noticed in the past that at-home working can cause many difficulties. As a TD, during Covid, trying to get in touch with a civil servant and communicate with a person was nearly impossible for years when trying to get simple work done in those situations. Young people learn less when they work remotely because the natural flow of communication in the situation is not there. They find it harder to impress their managers and develop in a business in a working-at-home situation.  Remote working hubs are a good hybrid solution in many ways because they get people out of their homes and into a collegial working environment. It also means that people are located locally. I understand that, in fairness to it, Deputy Lawlor's Bill has significant protections for employees and I appreciate that it allows for the WRC to make decisions, although I would be cautious to see how this would work in practice. The issue we have in the main for workers at present is the fact this city is the most congested in Europe. The average speed of traffic is slower than it was in the 19th century with horses and carts because of a lack of public transport. We really need to focus on that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  I thank the Member for bringing the Bill forward. I am conflicted about it. There is great sentiment to it and the heart is certainly in the right place. The Bill proposes amending the Act of 2023 to strengthen employee entitlements, limit refusal and objection grounds and delete section 20(2). I note, however, and these are just observations I have on the Bill, that it encourages and formalises a dispute culture in the workplace. I have concerns about that. I am concerned there would be a likelihood of an increase in complaints to the WRC and the Labour Court regarding same. I have heard Members in the House speak about employees, vilify employers and speak about them being billionaires on superyachts. I think that Deputy has been watching too many Bond movies because most of the billionaires I know, or know of or have read about, and I do not know too many billionaires personally, all work hard. They are working on their businesses and they are going from project to project. I do not think they are going around on superyachts as our friend in the socialist party believes.  I have concerns about the Bill because I question bits and pieces of it. There is the question of mentorship. When people start off in a business and they are working from home, they are isolated. They are very much isolated in their homes. There are also health and safety issues and questions about the general data protection regulation, GDPR, and the entire system around this, the legal rights people have, the protection of data, the protection that people have in the home and health and safety in the home. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy George Lawlor  That is in the Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  I have read the Deputy's Bill, thanks, unlike other Deputies. There are also questions about the broadband infrastructure. I do very much have sympathy for the Bill but I have questions around it. It needs a little bit more tightening-up and a little bit more work. I would be quite happy to assist Deputy Lawlor in that way.  The other side that I see goes back to isolation and loneliness. Many people who start off working in this country, in particular people who have come to this country, do not have an entire network behind them and do not have groups of friends. Tremendous things have happened in small companies and big companies where people have got involved in local societies and GAA clubs. At Boston Scientific in my constituency, we see the number of external clubs it is involved with and the fundraising and charity work it does. We have to be sensible about how working in a big workplace, or even a small workplace, can benefit people and not just through being mentored in the workplace. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  Many people, especially those in rural Ireland, stand to benefit greatly from fair, balanced and practical remote working arrangements. Reduced commuting, more time with family, lower carbon emissions and the ability to work closer to home are meaningful gains that improve quality of life and support regional development. However, we must also ensure balance. Employers need clarity, practicality and safeguards and workers need a system that is genuinely accessible, not one that is bogged down in bureaucracy or easily refused. A right in legislation must be a right in practice.  On a personal note, I do not know much about work-life balance. I spend most of my weekends working 17 or 18 hours every day, so I am not any example. My staff, who are mostly female apart from one, Ellen, Margaret, Valerie and Paddy, all work around the clock, not because I ask them, but because they are inundated with work. I will take this opportunity to thank them.  I also have a chance now when I have not had a chance previously to talk about home working and the short-term letting Bill that the Minister is very much involved in. This is an opportunity where people have been working at home and have been able to carry it out. It is mainly females. I have to give them the respect that it is them who have been delivering the short-term letting through Airbnb in rural locations. I attended a meeting last week in a committee, which is not my committee. We spent three hours there fighting for these people who work at home and want to continue their work at home. It now looks like it is going to be taken from them. If the Minister does not drop the planning requirement prior to the new regulations being brought in for people who are in the business for many years, he is going to ruin many of these great people who work at home.  Remote working is great but again in rural Ireland we need better infrastructure, better Wi-Fi, and better mobile phone services. From driving all over west Cork I know there are so many places with no service and other places where in the middle of a call it drops. It is a great idea but in rural Ireland we need much better infrastructure to be put in place first. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  The 2023 legislation introduced by the Government was a good first step but it needs to go further. Employers have to give a written reason they are refusing it if the right to request is used. However, in the Farrell v. Salesforce case in 2025, the WRC upheld a complaint because the employer did not respond within four weeks in terms of the deadline. The employee got \u20ac1,000 in compensation. It shows that the law has some effect.  However, we need to go further because we are falling behind countries like Spain and Portugal that have much more robust right to work from home legislation as well as the right to disconnect. This Bill brings it to the next level. We definitely need to have more opportunities. There are certainly different circumstances where people cannot and will never be able to work from home but there are so many others where they can. It impacts in built-up suburban areas like in Dublin where so many people are caught up in congestion. However, as Members from more rural constituencies have pointed out, it also brings jobs and opportunities and keeps people in local communities.  I have mentioned previously the practice of allowing software companies that have a lot of international employees to continue to set up shop in Dublin. They should be decentralised around the country, using broadband technology to be able to work from home or else use hubs and create the extra school places that are required.  In the context of Dublin, people talk about the lack of opportunities for shops to stay open with people working from home. That is because planning is done badly. We need to actually build more houses in Dublin so people can actually live and work here and replace that type of commuter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Currie  We are here today to debate a Bill with the right to remote work in its Title but a title alone does not make it a right. It is being sold as a right to flexible and remote work and I do not believe it is. In all other countries I am aware of, remote work arrangements depend on employer-employee agreements or specific conditions in law or regulation. Employers must consider the request, though they can still refuse for legitimate business reasons. I said this during the previous Labour Private Members' time on the same topic. What varies across countries is that there is a spectrum of how strong the reasons have to be for a business to refuse a request to work remotely. It is still, however, based on a right to request.  The current legislation in place since 2024 could be strengthened but the entire premise of this Bill is that with the right legislation, we can force employers into it and I fear that is counterproductive. It risks entrenching them in pro-office views and never get to the economic, social and environmental impacts that remote work can deliver.  I am sorry that I believe this Bill lacks innovation and misses the opportunity that remote work offers our workforce and our economy and that is to make Ireland a world leading centre for the rapidly growing remote-first sector, to get remote-first companies set up in Ireland, for remote companies to recruit here in Ireland and the halo effect that would have on our workplace culture. For a country that excels in jobs strategies through IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and our local enterprise offices, this is the next big channel for us to leverage. I am talking about full PAYE employment, bound to Irish taxes and pensionable, with career progression, but not bound to a physical location.  Grow Remote reports there are over 100,000 remote jobs advertised in Europe every month with salaries averaging nearly \u20ac20,000 higher than in Ireland's five lowest-income counties. We should be talking about national targets to win those jobs for Ireland and to benefit communities all over the country; building the infrastructure to support and sustain those targets; using the National Training Fund to build a pipeline of talent through programmes that develop remote work skills for workers, managers and leaders; expanding supports for existing companies that make remote and hybrid stick; and scaling community programmes to continue to connect remote workers on a local level. It is time for the next step. We need a much bigger step than we had before; a new national strategy at scale that will have the halo-effect that we need. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas le gach duine a bh\u00ed ag caint faoin mBille seo. Nuair a bh\u00ed m\u00e9 sa Chathaoir, bh\u00ed m\u00e9 ag \u00e9isteacht le gach duine. Bh\u00ed go leor daoine ag caint faoin tr\u00e1cht agus ruda\u00ed at\u00e1 sa saol faoi l\u00e1thair, go h\u00e1irithe i mBaile \u00c1tha Cliath thuaidh. B\u00edm i gc\u00f3na\u00ed ag caint le daoine. I commend Deputy Lawlor on the work he has put into this Bill. It is good to know he is not just a good opera singer; he is also a real legislator. I welcome what the Minister said and for that reason, I will vote with the Government and opposing the Bill.  My constituency is in north Dublin and I was speaking to one of my own staff members in the Oireachtas last night. When someone with a disability who commutes to work starts to work, the review of their travel pass needs to be changed because we should not be penalising people with disabilities for working. There is an impact on their mental health when they get out, go into Dublin and then have their travel pass removed when they go to work. That needs to be changed. I have raised it consistently in this House and I would love it to be looked at again. With the cost of disability and everything they are facing at the moment, that is something that needs to be highlighted.  When people are commuting from north Dublin, there are pinch points for people in their cars and people with disabilities who cannot get public transport. There are some I have constantly raised in East Wall. It is one of the big arteries into the city centre. With the change to the traffic flow, if someone is turning right, it creates an entire bottleneck. I would love that to be changed. The other is on the main road. I said this yesterday to the Taoiseach. People are commuting to work from Baldoyle or Bayside. If someone is turning right up to St. Anne's Park, the entire bottleneck happens again.  We need infrastructure throughout the country that works hand in hand. We cannot be pitting cyclists and commuters in cars against each other. We must look at other cities that do it successfully. The installation of cycle paths should not impede and create bottlenecks in East Wall and on the main road. I have raised it again in this House and the real sense of urgency among local residents. Diversions are proposed again.  I commend Labour and Deputy Lawlor on the Bill. There are constructive proposals and I encourage the Government to take them on board. With the review the Minister said the Department is bringing----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  Come over, comrade. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  What are they saying? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy George Lawlor  Come aboard. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  I will never join a party. The review the Minister said the Department is bringing are not only opposing works, they are also managing them and I welcome that. It is very important we listen to people with disabilities and address the issue I raised. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paula Butterly  This Bill is framed as a progressive step towards modernising employment, yet it is a deeply flawed legislation that risks undermining productivity, weakening organisational cohesion and placing disproportionate burdens on the employer.  While the intention behind the Bill may be admirable, its practical consequences are far from beneficial.  First, the Bill seeks to erode workplace culture and long-term innovation. Organisations thrive on shared environments where ideas circulate freely. Turning remote work into a legal entitlement shifts the default away from collective spaces and towards isolated, individualised work patterns. That may feel empowering in the short term but it undermines the very fabric that makes companies resilient and dynamic. Second, the administrative burden this Bill imposes on employers is significant. Every request will be formally assessed, documented, justified and potentially appealed. This is not a trivial process. It diverts time, resources and managerial attention aware from core business activities. For small and medium-sized enterprises, already stretched thin, this becomes yet another layer of bureaucracy that slows decision making and increases operational costs. The Bill effectively treats employers as adversaries rather than partners in shaping flexible work arrangements. Finally, the Bill risks deepening inequality rather than reducing it. Remote work is far more accessible to white-collar professionals than for workers in manufacturing, healthcare, retail, logistics and countless other essential services.  By elevating remote work to a legal right, the Bill creates a two tier workforce: those who can benefit from the entitlement and those who cannot. Instead of promoting fairness, it amplifies disparities and fosters resentment between groups whose working conditions are already vastly different. Finally, the Bill is not the balanced, forward-thinking legislation it claims to be. It imposes rigid rules on a diverse economy, burdens employers with unnecessary bureaucracy, weakens workplace cohesion and risks widening social and economic divides. Flexibility in work arrangements is indeed important but it must be achieved through co-operation, not compulsion. This Bill gets that balance very much wrong and for that reason, it should be firmly opposed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (Deputy Peter Burke)  I thank all Deputies for bringing forward this Bill and for their contributions. As outlined by the Minister of State, Deputy Dillon, the Government opposes the Bill. The position is grounded in balance to support flexibility for workers and competitiveness for business. Remote working is now well-established and is a feature of our modern labour market, improving work-life balance and shaping how we are as a people and live and work. The Government recognises its value and has already put in place one of the earliest legislative frameworks in the EU to support this. Our framework is comprehensive.  In addition to the legislative right, employees and employers are supported and encouraged to utilise this right and comply with the legislation through a code of practice on remote working in addition to the code of practice on the right to disconnect. Through the work-life balance Act 2023, every employee in the State has a right to request remote working. No sector or occupation is excluded. Ireland has taken a leading role in establishing a clear and workable procedure governing these requests. There is a day one right to request remote working, which means that a worker can request this right on the very first day of their employment. If approved, the remote working arrangement can commence after the completion of six months continuous service on the part of the employee.  This service requirement allows time for the employee and employer to build up an effective working relationship before commencing remote working arrangements. The Bill proposes to delete section 20(2) of the Act, thereby removing any service requirement. Especially in the light of what is effectively the full right to remote work also proposed in the Bill, this risks undermining the trust-based nature of arrangements between workers and employers, which can and are facilitating pragmatic and flexible remote working arrangements that work for both parties. In contrast, the current legislative framework strikes the right balance by ensuring that employees can access meaningful entitlements while employers retain the prerogative necessary to organise their operations effectively to improve productivity, competitiveness and secure operational viability.  The Bill seeks to seriously, and in the Government's view, adversely alter this framework by creating an entitlement to remote work, unless deemed not reasonably practical by the Government through legislation or by the WRC adjudication officers who, as appropriate to their role, have little or no detailed knowledge of business operations. Essentially, the Bill would place the ultimate decision-making power in the hands of a third party without direct knowledge of the business's day-to-day requirements. It is a position of the Government that the proposal could have negative impact on employee-employer relations, business viability, competitiveness and productivity, particularly for small and medium sized enterprises which operate on very tight profit margins.  It is the objective of the Government to foster a competitive business environment, alongside strong employee protections, to ensure Ireland continues to develop into a great place to work and live. We do not believe this proposal would contribute to that goal. It is also important to emphasise the legislation underpinning remote work has been in operation for less than two years. Despite this short period, remote working has become deeply embedded. CSO data shows that almost 1 million people now work from home at least some of the time, with over half a million people working remotely more than half of the week. These trends demonstrate that remote working is succeeding under the existing framework. I reiterate that the Government is currently finalising a statutory review of the review of the remote working provisions of the work-life balance Act. We must not pre-empt the outcome of the review process. Introducing legislative amendments at this point would be hasty and short-sighted.  For these reasons, the Government must oppose the Bill. Our objective remains clear: to support flexible working arrangements that work for employees and employers while safeguarding the operational needs of employers to run competitive, productive and viable businesses. We are continuously working towards the objective through a number of cross-government streams. As mentioned by the Minister of State earlier, the Government continues the national rollout of high-speed fibre broadband to enable remote working across Ireland, as well as the provision of funding for connected hubs and tax relief for remote working expenses.  This year, we also expect to receive the findings of NESC's research into the evolution and important impact of remote and hybrid working in Ireland. Along with the working in Ireland survey, this will inform evidence-based policymaking in the area of remote working in the coming years. In addition to remote working, workers can also explore other forms of flexible working, such as part-time working and flexible working arrangements for parents and carers, to improve their work-life balance or to enable them to enter the workforce. A code of practice and access to part-time working was recently approved by the Minister of State and placed on statute. The Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act also provides the right to request a flexible working to parents and carers. The Minister, Deputy Foley, will undertake a statutory review of the flexible working provisions of this Act later this year.  We will continue to support and promote remote working and flexible working right across Government. However, this support and promotion must be measured as well as balanced, taking into the account the needs of both employees and employers to ensure a competitive business environment, alongside strong and forceful protections for all of our employers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Wall  I thank my colleague Deputy George Lawlor for raising this very important workers' rights issue. I listened in disbelief to the Minister of State earlier and just now I listened to the Minister as well as they outlined the Government's opposition to this Bill. The Minister of State said \"allowing employees to request remote work keeps a fair balance\". The only fair balance here is for the employer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Wall  Has the Government not been monitoring the WRC cases on their legislation? It is crazy that the Government would consider a right to request that is simply not working as fair. How out of touch can it be with the thousands of workers in this country who can work from home, but given what has happened in the WRC, are simply not in a position to put additional pressure on themselves and their families by taking a case?  That is what is happening.  I recently tabled a motion on commuter chaos. That, too, was opposed by Government. That motion included simple solutions to try to improve the work-life balance of thousands of commuters and their families, yet Government opposed it. Is Government totally opposed to the work-life balance of those who are commuting and can work from home in a hybrid or flexible way?  The legislation that my colleague has brought forward does not give carte blanche to remote work. It will not force anybody into remote work. It will not erode workplace culture, as has been said by some speakers. It acknowledges that remote work is not for everybody and includes rights for employers to refuse remote work - a part of the Bill that has been acknowledged by some employer organisations.  The Minister compared our right to request remote work with our colleagues across the EU. What he forgets, and maybe we should ask whether it was a deliberate attempt to forget, is that these countries have proper public transport. In many cases, they are subsidised by the state. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Wall  In many of these countries, these issues are dealt with through sectoral agreements and bargaining, which are, unfortunately, so absent in this country. The Minister goes on to say that over 8,000 people have taken part in the Government consultation. Does he think that this unprecedented response is a clap on the back for the Government policy? I assure him that this response, given the thousands that have contacted my party, is far from a clap on the back but rather a cry for help from a Government that simply is continuing to ignore workers in this country.  The Minister mentioned CSO figures this morning. I ask to stand, maybe for a couple of hours on the M7-N7 and the M4-N4. Then he will get the figures that he needs to influence any debate on this legislation in this House.  The Government should lead by example, yet a large percentage of the thousands of calls that we have received are from Government employees who for some reason, after years of remote work, are being called back to the office. Why is this the case? Is it to justify filling office space that a departmental concern was raised two months ago? State bodies are forcing workers back into the office. That is a fact.  I have spoken recently with Grow Remote and as have colleagues in the House. I have listened to their experiences and the potential that this sector represents for this country. They have a very detailed training programme that could allay many of the fears that employers, and, indeed, the Members who have spoken on this Bill have raised. The Government should embrace that training and encourage it and work more closely with Grow Remote.  Finally, I assure the thousands of workers who are leaving their rural communities, villages and towns to spend hours in traffic that the Labour Party is listening to them. It would seem today, from the entire Opposition, that it is also listening in to this debate and supporting those thousands of workers. It is a pity that Government has chosen to close its ears, once again, and is saying that there is nothing to see here. It is becoming the norm for Government. Maybe it is time for another pause and for Government to turn up its hearing aid. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marie Sherlock  I am proud that the Labour Party is bringing forward this Bill and I thank my colleague Deputy Lawlor for all his work on this.  The Minister's rejection of our Bill speaks volumes of what the Government is about. Having listened to the answer provided by the Minister of State and the Minister, we know clearly what the outcome of the review will be at the end of this year: nothing to see here, all is fine, move on.  The Government, five years ago, had a bit of backbone in reluctantly recognising that advancing workers' rights was good for workers and good for their workplaces, families and communities. It was a Government that recognised there was a mutual benefit from affording workers decent and basic rights, in legislating for sick pay and in publishing a remote work strategy that recognised all that remote work opportunities could bring to locations across this country and bringing more people into our workplace, and in commissioning research on early pregnancy loss and its impact on women and on the workplace. Even the Taoiseach talked about introducing minimum pay for construction apprentices. All we have seen from the Government, since 2023, is a back-pedalling and retreat to a culture of distrust of workers and a failure to recognise that any gains to workers might make them more productive and better in their workplaces.  This Government has disgracefully abandoned the expansion in the number of sick days to ten. That was promised by the previous Government. There has been neither sight nor sound of the sub-minimum national minimum wages and the outrageous situation where adults are effectively paid as children in workplaces.  The Government hypocritically laments the lack of construction labour, yet does not do anything about construction pay, and in respect of the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, we only have to look at the WRC cases over the past two years to see that, in the words of one employment lawyer, the legislation is a \"toothless tiger\". With 72 cases taken, 12 found against and one found for, we need not see anything more.  The reality is that if you do not have a child under the age of 12, access to remote and flexible work arrangements remains a perk for good behaviour in this country, and that you have to be in the workplace for six months. It means that access to remote and flexible work is down to luck, rank or pay. Of course, we know that on average the better paid employees are, the higher the rank, the greater the autonomy and the greater the possibility of accessing remote and flexible work arrangements. We feel passionate in the Labour Party about levelling the playing field in workers' rights and ensuring that every worker, where it is appropriate to their job, is afforded a real right to flexible and remote work. We feel really strongly that if the Government is serious about cutting emissions from commuting, if it is concerned about getting more disabled people into the workplace and if it is concerned about lone parents and getting them into the workplace and ensuring greater gender equality, the answers are staring the Minister in the face.  Our Bill is about keeping more workers in full-time employment. There is an irony here that between 2020 and 2021 there was actually an increase in the number of women in full-time employment. We all know the reasons for that. They were working from home and they were able to get the balance right.  Our Bill is about recognising the enormous inequality, particularly for young workers, that is being perpetrated by this Government in that workers cannot buy or rent homes close to their workplaces. They are having to live many miles away and commute for hours every day just to get to their work. It is about opening up workplaces to people who face enormous barriers trying to access the labour market. Ireland has a shameful record in having the highest number of jobless lone parents and jobless disabled persons compared with every other EU member state. We have had words, strategies and all sorts of actions from Government over the years that have amounted to nothing and yet there is a piece of work that could be done in the workers' rights space in affording people access to remote and flexible work from day one of employment and this Government has refused to do that.  It is about reducing emissions. Of course, we see the disaster. The Government has not even bothered to issue its climate action plan. The Government cannot, because it is at sixes and sevens as to what to prioritise at present, yet transport is the second highest emitter. If we are serious about climate action and reducing emissions, we have to get more people off our roads, ensure less congestion in the communities that I represent and ensure that workers have flexible and remote working arrangements.  I thank all my colleagues here who have been fighting for this, not only this year but over the past four years since the Labour Party started talking about it. While there were real signs of positivity in 2020, and I recall the then Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, talking about the potential of remote work but that has all since retreated. It is regrettable that this Government is so narrow-minded and insular with regards to all the opportunities that remote and flexible work can afford. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  In accordance with Standing Order 85(2), the division is postponed until the weekly division time this evening. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Work Life Balance (Right to Remote Work) Bill 2026: Second Stage [Private Members]"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-18\/debate\/dbsect_10","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions","counts":{"speechCount":82,"speakerCount":7},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_10","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  The report of the investigation into mental healthcare given to children and young people in Kerry has now been published. The young people affected, their distraught parents and their families have waited years for answers. The investigation of these case files of 300 children in north Kerry was, as the Taoiseach knows, originally ordered in the aftermath of the 2022 Maskey report. The distressing findings of that report into the care of vulnerable children by south Kerry CAMHS provoked shock and public anger at the time. That investigation revealed that children in crisis were subjected to harm, that there were serious deficiencies in care, that there was a total lack of oversight and that children were being overprescribed medications. These negligent prescribing practices had devastating consequences, which included psychological distress, cognitive impairment, considerable weight gain, excess sedation and high blood pressure. I have met with and spoken to some of the young people and families in Kerry and they have told me of the devastation this caused to their lives. One heartbroken father told me how he dreamed of his son striding the pitch of Croke Park. He was a fine young footballer, but following the lad's treatment by CAMHS this father has been left wondering if his son will ever be able to watch a match, never mind have a pint or a friend. This father, like so many other parents, is filled with guilt for trusting a system which failed their children.  Today, the full story of what was done to children and young people in the care of north Kerry CAMHS has been brought to light. The findings of this report seem damning. The HSE has already issued apologies to more than half of those whose files were examined. The human price that has been paid was laid bare by one mother who spoke on the radio this morning. Mary from Tralee said the treatment her teenage daughter received from north Kerry CAMHS devastated her life. This child had been diagnosed with depression and PTSD. She had been prescribed antidepressants, anti-anxiety and antipsychotic medication. Shockingly, the HSE has admitted that she was diagnosed without an appropriate assessment, that there was no clear rationale given for the medication prescribed and that there was a complete absence in the monitoring of the impact of these drugs on the child. Mary has said all this destroyed her child and that there was no happiness left for this child. This is just one case of hundreds, just one family of hundreds and just one area. These young people were in crisis. They reached out for help, and they were failed. Teipeadh go tubaisteach ar an gc\u00faram meabhairshl\u00e1inte do leana\u00ed agus daoine \u00f3ga i gCiarra\u00ed. N\u00ed m\u00f3r don Rialtas gn\u00edomh\u00fa chun a chinnti\u00fa nach dtarl\u00f3idh a leith\u00e9id riamh ar\u00eds. What will the Taoiseach do now to ensure the children and young people affected by this scandal get the proper care they need? Has he established if this scandal is more widespread? What other areas does it affect? How many children, young people and families does it affect? How will he assure families in Kerry and right across the country that this will never happen again? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Ar dt\u00fas b\u00e1ire, ba mhaith liom a r\u00e1 gur uaf\u00e1sach an sc\u00e9al ar fad \u00e9 an m\u00e9id a tharla i gCiarra\u00ed thuaidh maidir le c\u00farsa\u00ed leigheas intinne. Is drochsc\u00e9al \u00e9. Is f\u00e9idir liom a r\u00e1 go bhfuil s\u00e9 uaf\u00e1sach. At the outset, the report is not published yet. The Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, will bring a memorandum to the Government this afternoon and will publish the report in its entirety in the aftermath of the Cabinet meeting later this evening.  The first principle in medicine is \"Do no harm\". Harm has been done here in the treatment of several young people in north Kerry. The Minister was anxious for open disclosure meetings with the families and those affected to be the first priority, in advance of the publication of any report. That has happened, and simultaneous to that, both assessment and proper treatment are being provided to put those young people on a proper pathway. It was important from the perspective of the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, that in the interests of the children and families, they would be communicated with directly in advance of publication of this report. My understanding is that letters were issued to all the families yesterday to arrive this morning. That was a clear instruction, and I think it was obviously the correct thing to do. The families will continue to have access to a clinical support team and a dedicated open disclosure helpline. The Minister will visit Kerry tomorrow and Friday to meet and engage with families affected by the findings in the report, with CAMHS staff and with the regional health forum.  In addition, after the situation in south Kerry, the Minister commissioned a national audit. The HSE's prescribing audit and the Mental Health Commission did not identify any concerns relating to prescribing practice in services outside of Kerry. Dr. Colette Halpin and about ten consultant psychiatrists undertook this review. It took longer than anticipated, and there will need to be an extended look back in terms of absolute certainty for all cases. I also understand there is a referral to the Medical Council in respect of what has transpired here. I listened this morning to the mother of one of the young people concerned. It was a harrowing account. The issue spoke to overmedication, a lack of a multidisciplinary approach and a lack of complementary therapies or therapies other than medication and psychiatry, which is a fundamental issue. The HSE serious incident team was established to deal with this. This is absolutely unacceptable. The same approach will be taken with all the families involved, as was taken in terms of south Kerry with an apology from the HSE in the first instance, but also to engage with each family. The more fundamental focus and priority is on the well-being of all involved and that there will be continued supports for them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  The difficulty is that the priority and focus has not been on the well-being of children and young people. In fact, many families and parents wonder what on earth is going on with this litany of appalling treatment of children and young people. We have children whose SNAs are being taken from them, children waiting for an assessment of need, children with no school places, parents forced to campaign and fight for basic services, and children with scoliosis and spina bifida waiting for surgery. Seven-year-old Roxanne Kelly and her family now have to fundraise for the surgery she requires in America.  Parents and families are literally battling the State daily for basic services and support. This has now become a hallmark of Government and a hallmark of how our society operates. It is deeply unacceptable. What about accountability? Who in the end is answerable for all of these things that happen daily to children and young people, let it be said on the watch of the Taoiseach's Government? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Fundamentally, there has to be accountability from a clinical perspective. That has to happen. We do have a Medical Council and we do have a framework. I do not want to prejudge anything here but clearly there are issues in relation to that dimension of it.  We have to be very careful at the same time. The Deputy mentioned a case there. That is, fundamentally, a clinical decision-making situation. I think it is wrong for D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann to attempt to adjudicate and, if you like, ordain what should happen where there are very serious clinical issues at stake, for example in the case of the person the Deputy mentioned. I have read the background note to that case and I do not want to discuss it in public. There needs to be some sense of order here in terms of what lines we cross. Are we now going to be dictating the optimal clinical situation for someone to have surgery in every individual case? That is not tenable. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Of course it is not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It is not tenable and I do not think we can as a D\u00e1il but that is what the Deputy was suggesting in that last exchange. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  No, I am not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Taoiseach. The time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  You just did and I think it is wrong----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  That is a cynical----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call Deputy Bacik. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I am sorry but you referenced the case. I am happy to discuss that case with you offline----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Taoiseach. I call Deputy Bacik. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Given your record on children and young people in the State----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Taoiseach, Deputy Bacik is on her feet. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  The Taoiseach is not happy to answer questions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I am happy to answer questions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Taoiseach, please. The time is up. I call Deputy Bacik. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  The public outcry this week from parents, SNAs, principals and teachers has demonstrated the level of fear and distress created by the Taoiseach's Government with their crude approach to SNA allocations. We have all been reminded this week about the vital work that SNAs do in our schools. To the children who need them they are indispensable. One mother wrote to me yesterday and said, \"My daughter feels safe with her SNA by her side. I honestly do not know where we would be without that help. No teacher, no matter how dedicated can meet every complex need alone.\" Another email, which the Taoiseach also received, asked him bluntly, \"[H]ave you any idea what it is like to be a teacher or an SNA in a classroom in 2026? Along with sustained under funding of schools these people are bearing the brunt of the Irish Government's failures\". She is right to say this because the Taoiseach's Government is failing school communities.  I have seen the NCSE letter that was sent to many school principals last week, abruptly informing them of the impact of the Government review. In one letter dated 10 February that I have seen the principal was told that \"a surplus of three SNA posts has been identified in your school.\" Without any prior warning, this principal will find themselves with a near 50% reduction in SNA supports for this coming school year. Many more principals received similar letters. It is no wonder there was an outcry at what amounted to a cut in SNA allocations for so many schools.  Yesterday the Government sensibly paused its review in a last minute U-turn but a pause is not a plan. We need clarity on what happens next. As my colleague, Deputy Eoghan Kenny, said, any change in the allocation process must be phased in and new supports must be put in place before existing lifelines are taken away. Instead, it seems the Department of education's way is to strip supports before new ones exist while children are still waiting years for assessments.  Of course, SNAs have to be allocated correctly but many schools are struggling with large class sizes and limited resources to support children with complex needs. Every week I hear from principals who are fearful they cannot provide for those pupils needs. Every week I hear from teachers and SNAs - we all do - who are struggling to cope in the classroom. Every week we hear from exhausted parents desperately fighting for a school place or for supports for their child. Of course it is the children who bear the brunt waiting years for an assessment or diagnosis and years spent without appropriate supports.  The current practice of the Taoiseach's Government had allowed children who have not yet received a diagnosis to avail of the help of an SNA. That practice, as we know, was plugging the gap of the scandalous waiting lists for assessments of need, a list that the Government has failed to clear. Now a national increase in SNA numbers offers little reassurance if individual schools are losing posts and children are losing support. When you remove an SNA from a mainstream classroom a child suffers. It is as simple as that.  I have two questions for the Taoiseach. Will he clarify what yesterday's announcement of a pause actually means for schools? Will he apologise to schools, parents and school communities for the shock news of SNA cuts that so many schools received last week? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  First of all, we need to have some degree of objective assessment of what actually has happened in terms of investment in education. Investment in education has increased dramatically over the past number of years - of that, there is no question. Just go through the number of extra teachers in our education system over the past number of years, which is quite significant. We have had a sustained reduction in pupil-teacher ratios over the past years. We have had record increases in capitation grants to schools, most recently in the last budget.  In terms of special needs assistants, in 2020 there were 16,000 SNAs in our schools; in 2021, it went to 18,000; in 2022, it went to 19,000; in 2023, it went to 21,000; in 2024, it was close to 22,000; in 2025, it is 23,000; and by September of the next school year, it will be 25,000. That is not cuts and that is not a reduction in expenditure in education. That is expansion and an increase. Could we at least agree that? The issue then becomes the deployment of those special needs assistants to the children most in need. That is an overall increase. By September of 2026, we will have had an increase of 8,775 special needs assistants in our schools. This is a 54% increase. By any yardstick, that is a fairly dramatic and substantial increase.  Of course parallel with that, needs have increased and challenges have increased in our schools. With regard to the deployment, there should be regular reviews to make sure we are targeting the children most in need and that the children most in need get the optimal services. The idea that there would be no reviews, and I am sure the Deputy is not suggesting there should never be a review----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  I never said that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Yes, I was just making the point. I presumed the Deputy did not and that is what I was saying. If the Deputy accepts that there are reviews, then reviews can work both ways because of changing need. A lot of schools get increases when those reviews are done. I think the mistake made here is that there has not been a comprehensive review for quite a number of years. The NCSE endeavouring to correct that in one year is, in my view, not the correct approach. That is why it has been paused. We will ensure the Minister, Deputy Naughton, the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, and the officials will engage with the NCSE. We will also engage with the schools. Many of those have already appealed, as they do, and we will try to resolve these issues with the schools on an ongoing basis. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  With respect, the Taoiseach's response missed the point. We are not disagreeing on the big picture of funding. We are not disagreeing with the Taoiseach----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  You said we were cutting back. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Sorry, Taoiseach----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  Of course reviews have to be carried out but it is about how a review is carried out and how it impacts on individual schools. It is no comfort to the principals who have received letters telling them about a cut, and it is a cut effectively, in their individual schools. It is no comfort to them to hear the Taoiseach speak about the macro and about the overarching numbers. What we have not seen with the way in which the review was carried out is any appreciation of the destabilising effect the removal of SNAs from mainstream classes has on those classes and those school communities. What we do not have after yesterday's announcement is any clarity on what this means in practice. What does it mean for the redeployment of SNAs? What does it mean for schools that got letters saying they were going to get an increase in SNA allocations? We need clarity. That is what we are looking for.  Of course reviews have to be carried out but they must be done in a respectful manner and in a phased, incremental manner, so that principals do not get a shock letter saying they are going to have a halving of their SNA allocation next year without any prior warning. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Obviously, any school where a need has been identified for additional SNAs will get that additionality. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  Is that a commitment? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Sorry, Deputy----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  In terms of the SNA----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  Is that a commitment? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Please----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  In terms of the SNA redeployment scheme, the Deputy must know that the Department has been working with the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, and education stakeholders, including F\u00f3rsa, to develop an SNA redeployment scheme to retain experienced SNAs in our schools. A circular on this new redeployment scheme is being finalised and will be issued in the coming weeks.  There are no cuts, obviously - no school is losing any SNA - this school year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  The Taoiseach speaks about \"this school year\" but I am asking about September. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I am glad, although I might have misinterpreted her, that the Deputy agrees with us on the macro picture. In other words, she agrees that there has been very significant expansion of SNAs. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  Yes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That is something that needed to be said on her side. I appreciate that she has acknowledged the expansion that has occurred. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  It is the impact on----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy can correspond further. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I fully accept that. We have paused it. I fully accept what has happened in that regard. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  What does that mean? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The next----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  There is a----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call Deputy Cairns. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. I want to talk to the Taoiseach about this SNA fiasco. I will get straight to the point. This Government seems to think disability is almost exclusively physical. It is 2026 and that is akin to saying mental health is not a thing. I should not have to explain this but children being able to communicate, regulate and participate is just as important as their physical needs. My first question is this: does the Taoiseach recognise that? I think this is something he cares about so I will presume he does recognise it. Why does this policy on SNAs ignore that? Yesterday, thanks to public pressure from parents and school communities, the review of SNA allocations was paused. Where are we today? The schools that were told they are losing SNAs, like Belgooly National School in my constituency, have no idea if those cuts are still happening. Schools that were told they are being allocated additional SNAs do not know if these increases are going ahead.  Children, SNAs, parents and principals are all in limbo. All they know is that there will now be a review into the original review. Nobody knows how long this second review will take or what the criteria for it will be. The criteria are key. An SNA's work is not an optional extra. They do extraordinary and essential work, helping children with their medical needs and helping them through anxiety and through painful transitions and tough and difficult moments. Without SNAs, children would be excluded. Even with an increase in the overall number of SNAs, the reality is that we need more. Instead of doing what needs to be done to achieve that, and instead of improving pay and conditions, professionalising their role and including more secondary care needs in their contracts, the Government has reduced this essential support to numbers on a spreadsheet. It has completely missed the point.  When I spoke this morning to an SNA, Samantha O'Flanagan, she put it better than I could. She wants to know this:  When a child won\u2019t come up the stairs because of anxiety, when they run out of the classroom because they are dysregulated and overwhelmed, when they sit in a corridor crying because they are so emotionally distressed, what is the teacher meant to do?!  What are the up to 27 other children meant to do?  This is the reality in schools.  Emotional regulation and sensory support is just as important as physical care needs.  Children need to feel safe in school, to be regulated in order to learn, and SNAs are the ones who facilitate that.  I will return to my original question: does the Taoiseach recognise that disability is not just physical? If so, why does the SNA policy ignore that? Will the Government scrap this policy and focus on what needs to be done? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  With respect, I know the full needs of every child. They extend beyond the physical. It is a bit much of a question to ask but we will leave it at that. I am a parent as well. I was a teacher. My fundamental objective in politics is to realise the potential of every child in this country.  In terms of SNAs, the 2014 circular is clear on the sensory needs and the role of SNAs in relation to that. A workforce planning exercise is under way in consultation with all stakeholders as to the optimal role of SNAs. In terms of communication and so forth, in my view therapies are essential. We do not have an adequacy of provision in therapies in terms of communication for every child. That is why we are bringing in a school-based therapy service to have an optimal approach to enabling children to be in a position to communicate properly and effectively from early in their lives and to get help in that regard. That is why the language classes came in many years ago. Across the country we have specialist language classes that do very well in helping children with language difficulties early in life and reintegrating them into primary schools. We need more of that. Fundamentally, we need more therapists and multidisciplinary teams in our special schools and, ultimately, in our mainstream schools.  I committed to this at the outset of this Government. I made it an election red-line issue that we would have therapies in our schools. There was resistance in different quarters. In my view, the health-based approach that was there from 2013 onwards was not optimal and did not succeed in terms of progressing disability. There are ongoing challenges and issues around that. We said from the outset there would be therapies in our schools.  Special needs assistants have key roles in respect of facilitating the participation of children with intellectual, physical and sensory disability in our schools. It should and must be part of a multidisciplinary approach, ultimately. To me, that is the approach that ultimately will benefit children. I think taking therapists out of special schools in the last decade was a mistake. That is why we are correcting it now with a schools-based approach. I do not want to conflate therapies in total with the SNA issue, but SNA numbers have expanded. It is governed at the moment by the circular of 2014. There is a workforce plan for the SNA role. That is not completed in terms of clarity, direction and consistency within the entirety of the workforce. There has been a lot of progress in terms and conditions for special needs assistants over the last number of years and that will continue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  The Taoiseach said it is a \"bit much\" to ask that question and I have to say I agree with him. I do not think we should have to ask that question but the reality is that the policy - the implementation of this - does not represent his words here today at all. Over time and incrementally, it has happened that the allocation of SNAs is based almost exclusively on physical needs and not other needs. That is the reality. Speak to the SNAs, the teachers, the principals and the families. I did not want to have to ask the Taoiseach that question but I had to ask him because he needs to put his policy where his mouth is. He recognises that there is a problem with this policy because it has been paused. It would not be paused if he did not recognise that. The question that I am asking and, indeed, that Deputies have been asking him for the past 24 hours is this: what happens now? How long will this review take? Will the Taoiseach change the approach? Does he recognise that we need more SNAs? Will the focus be on that, rather than on looking at a spreadsheet and deciding who can be moved where? The Taoiseach knows how disruptive that is to a classroom. How long are children, families and schools going to be left in limbo? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We have increased the number of SNAs. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  I said that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  You did not, actually. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  I am asking----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Holly Cairns  Deputy, the Taoiseach is responding. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Sorry. We have increased significantly the number of special needs assistants. I would welcome a proper engagement on this subject. The fallback position from Opposition all the time is \"more, more, more, more\". We should look at optimal deployment of all resources in our education system and at outcomes. There have to be reviews. Surely people are not suggesting we will never have reviews. There are limits----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  If you could answer the question, it would be helpful. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I am answering the question. The Deputy's attitude is that we can go to 26,000, 27,000 and 30,000 and it will be fine. That is not the full answer. In every area of policy, that is her answer - no analysis, no attempt at evaluation. Are we doing the right thing? Is this getting the optimal outcome for a given child? We need multidisciplinary approaches; that is my view. We need more SNAs. We are employing more SNAs. There will be up to 25,000. There will be 1,700 extra by September 2026. That is an increase. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  Today it has been announced that the Government intends to introduce age restrictions on social media. Most parents around the country will be in favour of that. I have spoken to many children around this and they have said they could do without social media if none of their peers had it. It is the fear of being left out that is the biggest issue for a lot of children in relation to this. I recognise that screens have radically changed childhood in the past ten years: from 24-hour bullying to unhealthy, passive physical inactivity; and from isolation and loneliness to violent pornographic content on their phones on a regular basis.  Social media is made as addictive and sticky as possible, and even adults find it very difficult to handle social media. Aont\u00fa produced a Bill five years ago that sought to ban the provision of hardcore pornographic material to children. Hardcore pornography companies, some of which operate in this city as part of the Government\u2019s foreign direct investment policy, are providing hardcore material to children. Children experts from all over the world are saying that consumption of hardcore pornographic material by children as young as ten is leading to an increase in sexual violence against women. Indeed, incidents of children sexually abusing other children have significantly increased in this country in recent years. The law, as it stands, is making victims and perpetrators out of children because we are not protecting children from this content.  The Ana Kri\u00e9gel case was one such horrific case. Ana was violently attacked, sexually assaulted and murdered in an abandoned house in Lucan in 2018 by two boys aged 13. An examination of Boy A\u2019s phone revealed that there were 12,000 images on it, the vast majority of which were pornographic in nature. I will not mention some of that content because there are children in the Gallery. You would imagine that particular murder and sexual assault would have jolted the Government into action to protect children from this material, but since then there has been tumbleweed in relation to this material. When we launched our Bill, we got measured tones of shock from the Taoiseach and others, but we got no action on the issue at all.  With all the talk of social media and the serious problems in that regard, there is a bigger problem about which there is no talk or action. In the context of our child protection laws, there are dozens of men on a regular basis before our courts who are found with thousands of images of children, abusive material, and videos and photographs of the most serious and explicit nature. On a monthly basis, these individuals get suspended sentences in this country. When it comes to the Government\u2019s initiative in this regard, I am asking the Taoiseach for an holistic, coherent approach to all Internet content for the protection of children. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Certainly, we can have an holistic, integrated approach to what is horrific criminal activity and behaviour in terms of presenting, enabling or facilitating access to hardcore pornographic material for children. That is illegal and against the law, and it will be prosecuted. If, by \u201cintegration\u201d, the Deputy means integration with the Courts Service or decisions of judges, we cannot do that because we have the separation of powers. The Deputy knows that. We cannot dictate to judges. We can enact laws and there is work under way in the area of online safety, particularly for children. It is a whole-of-government priority. We want young people and children to be safe online.  It was interesting last year that when we brought in the pouches for schools and allocated about \u20ac9 million to it, there was an outcry in the D\u00e1il. The Opposition attacked it. I cannot recollect whether Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn attacked it, but the Opposition said it was a waste of money and the wrong thing to do. The Deputy probably did attack it. The point is----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  It was a stupid thing to do. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It actually has worked. It is only one of many things we have to do, but maybe if people stopped the knee-jerk necessity of attacking Government for the sake of it because, from their perspective, they think it is the right thing to do, we could focus on the issue of the protection of children. In that instance, it was to give space to children to allow them to concentrate and socialise within the school environment. It is very good. It has worked and it is a good idea. It is something that Northern Ireland did before us on a pilot basis.  We need to do more in terms of age verification and we are looking at integrating an age verification tool into Ireland\u2019s digital wallet. A voluntary pilot is envisaged in the coming months. Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n is now at the heart of our online safety framework. It has been established fairly quickly in relative terms as our online safety and media regulator under the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022. Europe has enacted the Digital Services Act and the EU terrorist content online regulation. They all form part of our framework. We have an online safety code implemented by Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n and further work is being done on that. With regard to the European Union, we work with our European Union colleagues in terms of the regulatory environment to make sure we have the strongest possible frameworks in place to protect children. Admha\u00edm gurb \u00e9 an rud is t\u00e1bhachta\u00ed ar fad n\u00e1 leana\u00ed a chosaint. N\u00edl aon amhras go bhfuil dains\u00e9ar ann. D\u00e9anann s\u00e9 dam\u00e1iste do leana\u00ed. Caithfidh muid gach aon iarracht \u00e9 sin a stopadh. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  First, the Government\u2019s approach to this is shockingly poor and one-dimensional. It does not cover all of the Internet threats to children at the moment. When it comes to the Government\u2019s plan to create a digital ID, there is no real detail. It is not well thought out and there has been no consultation with stakeholders. I have heard some of the Taoiseach\u2019s party colleagues mention a public service card maybe being at the heart of this. Given that the Government has already broken the law twice with a public service card, I do not think that is a logical idea. The idea that we would mandatorily collect facial biometric data from millions of citizens is an invasive thing in a liberal democracy. There will be significant push-back, I believe, if access to social media is dependent on every individual within society providing materials like passports, etc., to social media companies. For all the critics there are of social media, social media is a public good. I have a different suggestion, and that is to stop young people having smartphones. That is easier to regulate and provide under law. It would go some way in reducing access to the content about which we all have a concern in this Chamber. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy spent the first three minutes attacking and condemning us and the last minute saying that if we are going to do something to protect children, we had better be careful not to do it. He has his reasons on civil----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  I am offering a solution. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  On civil liberty grounds, he is now saying not to do that. Perhaps we need proper engagement in the House. In first three minutes, the Deputy spoke about how terrible we are in not protecting children and so forth. We are coming up with an age verification tool to protect children and he is telling us not to do that if it has implications for civil liberties and so on. That is basically what he is saying. However----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  I also suggested an alternative. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  On the alternative, I am not clear about the feasibility of banning mobile phones in their entirety. We did it in schools and the Deputy opposed it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  No. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We did, and the Deputy opposed it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  No. I opposed the spending of \u20ac9 million for it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy opposed the policy of enabling schools to ban mobile phones in schools and now he is telling me we should ban them all over the country, and for every child----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  Teachers and parents were laughing at the idea. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you. I call on Deputy Aisling Dempsey. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Is the Deputy talking about children aged 12, 14, 15 or 16? Where is the cut-off? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  Sixteen. I am saying the cut-off should be 16 years of age. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Sixteen years of age. Okay. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Taoiseach. Deputy Dempsey is on her feet. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  Yes. No problem. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That will be easy to implement, I would say. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  Much easier. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Come on. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-18\/debate\/dbsect_11","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 na Comhalta\u00ed Eile - Other Members\u2019 Questions","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_11","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aisling Dempsey","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aisling-Dempsey.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aisling-Dempsey.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aisling Dempsey","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aisling-Dempsey.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aisling-Dempsey.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aisling Dempsey  I want to share with the Taoiseach some experiences of women in my constituency of Meath West. One granny said to me:  My daughter welcomed a baby boy, my first grandchild, into the family in 2023. It was an occasion of great joy for us. When it came time for my daughter to return to work after her maternity leave, that joy turned to stress as she tried to finalise childcare. The end result is that myself and the other granny have been minding our grandchild for well over a year now. This is a last resort as I have a debilitating illness and the other granny has only recently retired after decades of service. We have raised our own families and we did not plan on spending these years minding another\u2019s children.  One mother-to-be said:  I want to stay at home with my baby until she is one but I cannot afford to because I cannot find affordable childcare that will make it worth my while to go back to work. It is soul-destroying while still being pregnant to focus so much on finding someone else to mind my child. It is a black cloud that is overshadowing what should be the most exciting time of our lives.  These are just two of the constituents who have contacted me regarding the need for accessible and affordable childcare, showing the real impact it is having on their lives. They are just two examples of why we committed to affordable, accessible and quality childcare in our manifesto prior to the general election. The clear commitment that Fianna F\u00e1il in government would deliver on this was a major factor in our election success. Families heard it and it resonated with them, and they put us into government to get it done. In our programme for Government, we made an even clearer commitment to progressively reduce childcare costs to \u20ac200 per month over the lifetime of this Government. I am single-minded in my determination to get this commitment achieved during this term but I do not believe we should be waiting until year 5 to achieve it.  We have already passed one of five budgets and childcare costs were not one of its major focuses. This must change next year and the year after. From the most populated towns in Meath West, Trim and Navan, to Athboy, Enfield and Oldcastle, childcare availability is an issue. We know that low supply and high demand equal high cost. That is what I am seeing across Meath West.  I acknowledge some of the positive steps already taken. The Minister, Deputy Foley, has improved core funding, reduced fee caps and commenced the State-led provision of childcare schemes. Those are all progressive steps in this sector. The Minister and the Government have made great efforts in a relatively short space of time, but we need more. We need a timeline for when the vast majority of our mothers and families will be paying \u20ac200 per month in childcare costs.  The question I am constantly being asked, and which I am now asking the Taoiseach, is how and when we will achieve \u20ac200 per month childcare costs for families. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising an issue that is very close to her heart and for which she is advocating strongly. The \u20ac200 childcare cost is a programme for Government commitment. We will progressively implement that. The next budget will be important in that regard, in addition to what has been achieved already. We accept that childcare remains a very significant cost for many families and affects participation in the workplace, the proper care of their children and identifying the developmental needs of their children. Through the national childcare scheme, about 270,000 children will be supported next year, which is about 27,000 more than this year. After subsidies are applied, parents in some instances will pay no more than \u20ac198.70 per week for a full-day place of 40 hours to 50 hours. Some pay significantly less, depending on their income. We have introduced fee caps to services participating in core funding of \u20ac295 per week for a standard full-day place and \u20ac354 for services operating longer hours.  From September, we will increase the income thresholds under the scheme and core funding has seen a 62% increase since it was introduced in 2022. Participation is now strong, with 93% of services involved. Over 4,590 providers have signed up. That is the highest level to date. That allows us to maintain fees at 2021 levels.  We also need to support providers with new sectoral pay agreements. We must consider places, human resources and staff, and getting the fees down even further.  There is additional capital funding this year to create 2,300 additional childcare places. The early childhood care and education, ECCE, programme benefits over 105,000 children. The Equal Start programme is also expanding, with more priority services and the Bia Blasta nutrition programme.  That said, we know there is more to be done, particularly on the reduction in the cost of childcare. We also need to increase places so there is easier availability for parents in terms of childcare places closer to where they live and work. Given the exponential growth in employment participation in this country over the last decade, as the services have expanded, the demand and challenges have expanded, too. I am fully cognisant of the issue the Deputy has raised, as I know the Minister is. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aisling Dempsey","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aisling-Dempsey.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aisling-Dempsey.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aisling Dempsey  I thank the Taoiseach for his considered response. It is welcome. I reiterate that we need to expedite delivery on that commitment. We need to alleviate the pressures on our families as a real matter of urgency.  The Taoiseach mentioned the workforce. Women tell me they are forced to family-plan on the basis of our high childcare costs and low availability. That is not good for them or for society as a whole. We want to keep women in our workplaces and we need to make that workforce as accessible for them as possible. We need to ensure that childcare is not a barrier to them returning to the workforce after maternity leave.  The Taoiseach also mentioned the increase in the national childcare subsidy. In Meath West, it increased by 15% last year. I again call for more subsidies and lower fee caps. We must recognise and reward the hard work of the mostly female staff who work in childcare and ensure they know how important they are to our society. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Investment has grown significantly. It is up 12% again this year compared with last year. The sector will receive about \u20ac1.5 billion this year, but demand will grow. We also have to keep an eye on the quality of childcare that is provided as much as on capacity. That is why investment in the workforce is important. A total of \u20ac45 million has been provided this year in ring-fenced funding for another wage order on top of the \u20ac45 million that was provided for last year. We are making incremental progress on pay for childcare workers.  An online consultation on the early years action plan is under way, alongside local and national consultation events, ensuring that reform is shaped with providers, educators and parents. That is important. At the heart of that reform is a clear focus on affordability, accessibility and the achievement of high-quality early learning and care to deliver on our commitment to reduce the cost of childcare to \u20ac200 per child per month over the lifetime of this Government. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 na Comhalta\u00ed Eile - Other Members\u2019 Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-18\/debate\/dbsect_12","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Pholasa\u00ed n\u00f3 ar Reachta\u00edocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation","counts":{"speechCount":68,"speakerCount":22},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_12","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Willie O'Dea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Willie-O'Dea.D.1982-03-09","memberCode":"Willie-O'Dea.D.1982-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Roche","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ann Graves","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  I want to return to the Government's cuts to special needs assistants, SNAs, for schools and its pause, as the Taoiseach calls it. I want to establish exactly what that means.  I raised the situation generally but also specifically with the Taoiseach yesterday. Fossa National School in Killarney has been written to in order to inform it that it will be losing four SNAs. Johnstown Boys National School in Dublin will lose five SNAs. Scoil Barra in Ballincollig, Cork, will lose two SNAs. Will the Taoiseach help us by confirming whether or not those losses will proceed in September - \"Yes\" or \"No\"? Is that what this pause means or is the Government simply buying time and intending to resume its course of action? It is extremely important that we have clarity on this matter today because the actions of the Government have caused real concern, anxiety and anger, and have the potential to create chaos in school communities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call on the Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Will those SNAs be maintained or lost? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach to respond. Time is up, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The pause means what I said as I discussed in response to earlier questions raised by other----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  No, you did not. What does it mean? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, that is not how this works. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Ministers will engage with those schools and with the National Council for Special Education on that review. The schools themselves have appealed the decision, or will have appealed it, and there will be engagement. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  That does not mean anything. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  Next week sees the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. That means the brutal bombardment of Ukraine is about to enter its fifth year. We have seen appalling casualties and appalling attacks by Russia on the civilian population and civilian infrastructure in Ukraine. It is in that context that I raise the alarming revelations on the front of today's edition of The  Irish Times , following an investigation by Conor Gallagher, and also covered today in the Ukrainian media today. The story is that components made in Ireland by two Irish companies are ending up in Russian weapons. There is no wrongdoing alleged against the Irish companies. These components are being sold on, it appears. However, these components are appearing in Shahed and Geran drones that are devastating Ukraine this winter. Some 682 civilians were killed last year alone with these sorts of weapons. Swarms of drones are leaving millions of Ukrainians without heat, power or water.  A video of a young woman in Kyiv has gone viral. She told people not to worry about the food in her fridge spoiling during power cuts because without heating, her home is so cold that she is effectively living in a fridge. She has the hashtag #theflatisthefridge. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy. The Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  This is the reality of life under Russia's grinding war. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  What can the Taoiseach's Government do to ensure that Irish-made components do not end up in Russian weapons? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Russia's invasion is and has been an horrific act, violating not just territorial integrity but also causing the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people, including Russian soldiers, Ukrainian soldiers and the appalling attacks on civilian infrastructure.  Circumvention of sanctions has been a feature of the war. Europe has tried everything it possibly can, including the appointment of a former Secretary-General of the European Commission, Irishman David O'Sullivan, to try to deal with the circumvention of sanctions across the board. I read the report this morning. There is no suggestion that the companies themselves have done anything illegal, but we will pursue this and follow it through. It is concerning. The circumvention has been a feature in many areas of the war and many aspects of supplies to Russia and so forth. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  I have no doubt the Government's age verification system proposals are well-intentioned but we in the Social Democrats have major concerns over this. It is not working in the jurisdictions where it is currently running, it raises major privacy and security concerns, it interferes with the rights of children and young people to engage in online life and participation in society more broadly and it leaves behind the root cause of the issues that exist in the online space. Why is the Government pursuing this when we know its efforts would be better spent on dealing with toxic algorithms and legislating for platforms as publishers? One of the Taoiseach's colleagues, Deputy Malcolm Byrne, agreed with me this morning on radio that this is a problematic initiative and he really failed to give his support to what seems to be Government policy now.  This is a reasoned contribution. Earlier the Taoiseach said we are too quick to rush to criticism but that is not the case. I appreciate it is well-intentioned and that there is a place for classification but this is not going to work. We need better solutions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  First of all, the age verification tool is currently being piloted, or the intention by the Department is to pilot it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  But it is distracting from what we need. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Robust age verification is part of the infrastructure we need to build to protect our children online. Our counterparts in Europe are of the same view on how to achieve this and we will work together to ensure the online realm is safe for children. Piloting, by the way, is about evaluation, asking whether it works and whether it has other implications. The intention is that it would be privacy-preserving and would protect people's rights but we will explore all that too. The other side of the coin is we need to enable children through programmes in our education system to be more resilient in terms of what they face in the modern era. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  We need to fix the online space. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy please, that is not how this session works.  I call Deputy Stanley. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  I want to ask about the review of SNAs, which some have described as cuts. I understand reviews have to happen and that two thirds of schools will not be affected but one third will be and Rath National School and Timahoe National School in Laois have been notified of cuts. No account has been taken of the children being enrolled for September and their special needs. Circular 32\/25 will mean some of the most vulnerable children losing their support and that support is essential. The pause is welcome but the Government needs to go further. The guidelines that came with the circular state, \"The behaviour should be supported holistically with whole school and whole class approaches and individual needs supported by the class teacher ...\". The problem is when a situation arises - and I have been in a school where I saw this happening - the teacher cannot leave the classroom and leave the other 23 or 24 pupils on their own. I am asking the Taoiseach to have these guidelines reviewed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  There is a workforce plan under way within the Department and the NCSE in respect of special needs assistants. Consultations are taking place and that would involve a review. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  What about the guidelines? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  On the guidelines, there is a circular from 2014. As I said, the workforce planning involves all the issues the Deputy just discussed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  My constituents are deeply concerned about the imminent closure of Perrott House, a mental health care facility in Skibbereen. This residential care facility, which was staffed 24 hours, had been home to many long-term residents and provided them with essential programmes like horticulture, music, poetry and art as well as access to the local library, church and shops in Skibbereen. The HSE continues to deny Perrott House is closing but with two patients left in this once-great facility the writing is on the wall. I looked at the HIQA reports from 2019 and 2020 and there were no issues with the then 15-bed facility which had 13 residents at that time, some for 20 to 30 years. At a time when more mental health beds are needed, why close 15 beds, leaving staff, patients and families very upset at being misled? Will the Taoiseach help save Perrott House at this late stage? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy is saying there are two patients left. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  Yes, and they are being moved. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Again, I do not have the full details or specifics of the case but the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, will undertake to examine it and understand the full background of it before making commitments in respect of it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Willie O'Dea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Willie-O'Dea.D.1982-03-09","memberCode":"Willie-O'Dea.D.1982-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Willie O'Dea  Recently the courts exonerated a number of garda\u00ed from the mid-west region. They had been subjected to a seven-year investigation for being involved in practices that were commonplace in every single Garda district from one end of this country to the other. They were they only people who were prosecuted. During the course of that seven-year investigation, the garda\u00ed were suspended, interrogated, vilified and had their names dragged through the mud. The net result of all this is a huge legal bill for the State and Garda morale in the mid-west on the floor. Does the Taoiseach think Garda management has questions to answer about this very ill-advised, partisan and heavy-handed prosecution? If so, when do we expect those answers to be forthcoming? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Jim O'Callaghan)  I am very much aware of the investigation, suspension and prosecution of the garda\u00ed referred to by Deputy O'Dea. The most important fact to emphasise is all those garda\u00ed were acquitted. That is how the administration of justice operated. It obviously operated in an impartial and independent way. As to whether or not there are questions for Garda management, any time there is an acquittal there may be reflections on whether the prosecution should have been brought or not but that is a matter for Garda management. What we cannot say should become normal is that when there is an acquittal there necessarily has to be an investigation into a prosecution. It is an essential part of the administration of justice that cases are prosecuted. Many people are convicted but the garda\u00ed the Deputy referred to were acquitted and found not guilty. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Roche","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Roche  In the past hour I came away from a meeting of the committee on social protection and rural affairs. There was a considerable, interesting discussion on Citizens Information and Money Advice and Budgeting services. One of the things that struck me was 20% of people cannot get access to those services. There are 89 centres nationally and about 140 information officers. That equates to about 1.5 staff officers per centre. The people who are especially affected are those with literacy and digital difficulties and other vulnerable groups who rely on a face-to-face intervention or a meeting. The plea to us on the committee was about staffing. That was the issue, and staffing is funding. What would more staffing do? It would increase face-to-face delivery----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Obviously I did not attend the committee and am not aware of the full details that ensued but if you were to look at every agency in the country and back at where staffing was three or four years ago - it may not be the case here and I put that reservation or qualification in - there has been an increase generally. Numbers in the public service have risen very considerably. We are going to have to look at methodologies, how we do our business and how we do our work. MABS is a very important service and I am very supportive of it but I am very conscious our public expenditure growth is up to 8% per annum, which is quite significant. We have good, robust public finances and we are being criticised for spending too much by the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council and others and some economists worry about that too, so we need balance here. At a time when we are increasing services and increasing numbers, we need to keep a weather eye on outputs, whether we are doing things in the optimal way and whether we can do things more effectively. I make those points generally and without prejudice to the individual case. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mair\u00e9ad Farrell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Mair\u00e9ad-Farrell.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell  T\u00e1 imn\u00ed ar mhuintir Chonamara faoi iarratas at\u00e1 curtha isteach ag Arramara Teoranta maidir le baint feamainne ar fud Chonamara. Mar is eol don Taoiseach, is ceist ghoilli\u00fanach \u00ed seo. An pr\u00edomhrud at\u00e1 ag cur imn\u00ed ar dhaoine n\u00e1 c\u00e9n cosaint a mbeidh ag bainteoir\u00ed feamainne traidisi\u00fanta sa reachta\u00edocht nua. D\u00faradh in 2018 go raibh cosaint ann ach anois n\u00edl s\u00e9 soil\u00e9ir go bhfuil n\u00f3, n\u00edos measa f\u00f3s, breathna\u00edonn s\u00e9 ar n\u00f3s nach bhfuil cosaint ann d\u00f3ibh. Imp\u00edm ar an Taoiseach breathn\u00fa ar an gceist seo agus oibri\u00fa le lucht bainte feamainne chun an ceart seo a chosaint, chomh maith leo si\u00fad a bhfuil cearta f\u00f3ili\u00f3 acu.  I am raising seaweed harvesting. The recent application by a large company for seaweed harvesting rights has caused huge concern. It is a very sensitive topic because it is a core Irish tradition. Traditional harvesters had been given complete assurances their rights would be protected but there is serious concern this is no longer the case in the new legislation. Will the Government work with traditional harvesters as well as those with folio rights to ensure their rights are protected? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Beidh an tAire St\u00e1it, an Teachta Dooley, i nGaillimh D\u00e9 hAoine. Beidh s\u00e9 ag bualadh agus ag d\u00e9ile\u00e1il leis na gr\u00fapa\u00ed \u00e1irithe ann. T\u00e1 a fhios againn go bhfuil daoine imn\u00edoch faoin cheist seo. Gan amhras, t\u00e1 an reachta\u00edocht agus an dl\u00ed ann. T\u00e1 fonn orainn cearta chosmhuintir na h\u00e1ite agus na d\u00faiche sin a chosaint chomh fada agus is f\u00e9idir linn. Caithfidh muid \u00e9 a dh\u00e9anamh i gceart, \u00e1fach. Is \u00e1is n\u00e1d\u00fartha t\u00e1bhachtach \u00ed an fheamainn. Caithfidh muid \u00e9ags\u00falacht na h\u00e1ite a chur san \u00e1ireamh, mar aon leis na nithe eile ar gh\u00e1 machnamh a dh\u00e9anamh orthu. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aindrias Moynihan  The change in SNA allocations has caused a great deal of concern and distress among school communities local to me. Aghabullogue was due to lose half of its SNAs. Bweeng was to lose one of its three. Scoil Barra and Boherbue parents also highlighted concerns. There is also a knock-on impact, in particular on schoolchildren. The pausing of the new plan yesterday is welcome and gives reliefs to many school communities, but it has not completely resolved the concerns. Killmurry, for example, which had been unable to get a new SNA despite a growing need, is stuck. Schools which were in fear of losing an SNA and are appealing are concerned that their appeals may not be successful. What is the pathway for parents and school communities from now on? When will parents and school communities who are unsure and concerned know that their children will have the necessary number of SNAs? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I acknowledge the concerns raised in respect of the schools Deputy identified regarding the outcome of the review of their schools and those that perhaps did not get the additional SNAs that they sought and so forth. The Ministers will engage with the NCSE in the context of those schools where it was indicated that there would be a reduction. We want to clarify this issue as quickly as we can. There will be a time lag because we paused the process in order to provide opportunities to re-engage on the issue, and for the Ministers, in particular, to engage with the NCSE and come back to the Government with a resolution framework for this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Brennan  As the Taoiseach is aware, first responders play a critical role in our emergency services, but approximately one year ago a decision was made to prevent the officer group from taking the officer response vehicle to their place of residence. In December, I witnessed first hand a medical emergency on Main Street, Gorey. The ambulance and first responders were called. The first responders arrived in their own cars and were first on the scene. They did everything possible to assist the victim. Later that day, I went to their base to thank them and was shocked to see the officer response vehicle parked up in a corner. The vehicle could have provided vital medical assistance to first responders, but for the officer to drive to from their residence to collect the vehicle would have delayed the response, especially on a busy Saturday. I have no doubt that situations like this have been replicated the length and breadth of Ireland. This is having a detrimental impact on the ability of these highly skilled professionals to respond to accidents within the quickest possible time frame and with the best equipment to hand. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I agree with the Deputy. There was an internal review by the National Ambulance Service in 2024. It apparently identified potential benefit-in-kind tax liabilities for NAS staff using NAS response vehicles to travel to and from work and the HSE sought a ruling from the Revenue Commissioners on the matter. In the interim, it took the decision to inform staff that there could be an issue, which has led to the result of the Deputy outlined. I am informed that the Revenue Commissioners responded to the HSE with a potential way forward to address the benefit-in-kind tax liability issue. I understand engagement has been ongoing between the HSE and Revenue Commissioners on the matter. In light of the Revenue Commissioners' ruling, a process involving the drafting and agreement of revised policies has been ongoing within the HSE, involving negotiations with the recognised unions. I understand the process is ongoing. The HSE is obliged to comply with Revenue Commissioners' regulations regarding what is a potential personal use of publicly owned vehicles.  I have just received this information. People need to have a bit of common sense and pragmatism. I will speak to the Minister for Finance to see if a regulation needs to be changed so that the speed of first responders----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  A letter from 21 school principals in Donegal has been sent to the Minister for Education and Youth and the Minister of State with responsibility for special needs education. They express their profound concern regarding the reality of special educational needs provision in our schools, in particular the operation of the SNA allocation model. I ask the Taoiseach to request a copy of the letter - I can send him one. It clearly demonstrates the failings of the system, which have been revealed by this review and has caused huge anguish and distress for parents. I have spoken to other schools outside of the 21 on the list. The Taoiseach needs to hear what is happening on the ground. The system is not working. The Government does not need to take a pause; the Government needs to stop the approach it is taking, talk to teachers and parents on the ground and change what is happening. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We will proceed with the increase in the number of SNAs for the school year commencing September 2026. We have budgeted for additional numbers and that will not stop. We will continue to increase the number of SNAs. Our concern will always be to prioritise the needs of parents and children to enable their full participation in school. Special needs assistants are a key part of that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  An bhliain seo chaite, labhair m\u00e9 leis an Taoiseach faoi shaol na ho\u00edche i mBaile \u00c1tha Cliath thuaidh, agus i mBaile \u00c1tha Cliath go ginear\u00e1lta. I asked the Taoiseach about saol na ho\u00edche, the night-time economy in Dublin agus d\u00fairt s\u00e9 go raibh m\u00e9 l\u00e1n le fuinneamh. T\u00e1 m\u00e9 f\u00f3s l\u00e1n le fuinneamh. Yesterday, the Taoiseach saw that the Hoxton Hotel is now seeking a High Court injunction against the long established Izakaya. I still attend nightclubs. I might look 35 but I am actually 27. It is not just a symbol of the wider problem facing the night-time economy. We are losing venue after venue, including The Complex, and it is not acceptable. Businesses are operating under outdated licensing laws and unfavourable legislation. I have spoken to the Give Us the Night campaign, which said it is very disappointed with the commitment of the Government and that the night-time economy initiative, in particular relating to the policy on noise, planning and licensing, has effectively stalled. What is the current plan to protect and grow Dublin and Cork's nightlife? When will we see real licensing that will address uncertainty? We might qualify for the World Cup. The pubs need to be open if the matches are at 2 a.m. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathal Crowe  Where are the best nightclubs? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  Dublin. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Clearly, the Deputy was not at a nightclub last night. He is full of the joys of spring, despite the rain and all the rest. Deputy O'Gorman raised a similar issue yesterday. I undertook to speak to the Minister for justice in this regard. Maybe I should have left him take the question. There is a broader issue. Clearly, we will discuss this with the Minister concerned. There was an earlier iteration of this under the previous Government in terms of a broader policy. Towards the latter end of the previous Government, the issue was revisited and there was a reduction in enthusiasm for it, to put it bluntly. The night-time economy is important, in particular in terms of our broader framework for visitors and so on and young people. The nature of nightlife has changed. There is much more autonomy. People are not shepherded into one venue. The interest of young people is key----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  People need to dance. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----and a few older guys who want to hang around in nightclubs. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marie Sherlock  Listening to Mary, the parent of a child included in the north Kerry CAMHS review, made for harrowing listening on \"Morning Ireland\" and would have sent a chill down the spine of any parent whose child has moderate to severe mental health difficulties. We await the publication of the report today. We also need to hear what the Government is doing about the wider CAMHS service. As of November, 1,800 children were waiting six months or longer for CAMHS therapy. These are children with moderate to severe difficulties who need therapy now, not in many months. The south west, my area, Dublin north east, the west and the north west have some of the longest waiters. The critical thing I want to communicate to the Minister for mental health is that when I speak to GPs in my area who cover some of the most disadvantaged committees in the country, they tell me they dread and even put off referring children to CAMHS because of the high level of rejection, because of the waiting times and, crucially, because of the urgency of need.  They have to find other pathways. Some of those children are under eight years of age and need services. We need to see assurances for those families. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Mary Butler)  I thank the Deputy for respecting the fact of the report being published later this evening. We can arrange a briefing for health spokespersons on that. I will brief the Kerry Deputies as well this evening.  There are challenges in CAMHS, but 225,000 appointments were issued last year to people who attend. Some people get a really good response from CAMHS. As regards the point the Deputy made in relation to CAMHS and intellectual disabilities, I set this model of care up in 2023, led by Dr. Amir Niazi, who was clinical director. Since then, we have started to fund it. This year alone, I put \u20ac1.5 million in recurrent funding into it for 15 new posts. We are coming from a low base and we are also trying to break down the silos between the CDNTs and CAMHS for children with a dual diagnosis. That is where I am finding a really significant barrier. I hope the standard access portal being set up across the country at the moment will help. I am happy to take it offline------ "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  The previous Government enacted the Health Assisted Human Reproduction Bill 2024, nearly two years ago. Vital components of that Bill have not been commenced, leaving families who have used surrogacy in a vulnerable state of limbo without any of the vital legal protections that the Bill sought to give them. I understand that the Assisted Human Reproduction Regulatory Authority was established last year, but there has been no announcement regarding the appointment of a CEO or other staff or any further necessary legislation. Can the Taoiseach provide an update on the operational capacity of the regulatory authority, the timelines for commencement orders or further legislation from the Minister and make a promise to these families that the protections afforded to them, including the valid recognition of mother-child relationships established via surrogacy under this Bill will be enacted by the end of 2026, as a matter of urgency? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. It has always been a complex issue; it is not simple. More than 20 years ago we set up the Commission on Assisted Human Reproduction and it has taken that time to get a legislative framework to deal with the many issues pertaining to assisted human reproduction. I will talk to the Minister for Health in this regard. She has prioritised the commencement of this legislation and the creation of a proper edifice and framework to help people, particularly in respect of the surrogacy issue the Deputy referenced. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathal Crowe  I raise the issue of SNA cutbacks. While I am delighted to see the Minister hit the pause button on that, many schools such as Feakle National School, Flagmount Central National School in my own county and many more lie on tenterhooks, not knowing what is going to happen. I have had some very heartfelt letters from children who have benefited from SNA support in their school. It is an enabler for them to access education. We need to know what lies ahead, apart from the pause button being hit.  Circular 30\/2014 redefined how SNAs support children. It said from now on support is based on complex care needs. That is so myopic and does not take into account the whole spectrum of needs children in a classroom can have in day. I say that as a former teacher, as someone who formerly worked as an SNA, and as someone who has a person quite close to them who benefited from special education. It is so myopic to say \"complex care needs\". These children need access to education every day of the week, not just toileting, feeding and medicine. We need to scrap that circular at the same time this cutback is paused. Please scrap the circular and rewrite it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  There is an expansion in the number of SNAs. The number will go up to 25,000 in September from 23,000. I listed earlier that since 2020, we have had an extra 8,000 plus SNAs. That is the level of expansion that has occurred. It is enormous by any standard and that should be acknowledged. There were pressures on certain schools as a result of the recent review and therefore we have paused it. Ministers will engage now with the NCSE and there will be engagement with all the schools that got an indication of a reduction.  I caution Deputies on the role and remit of SNAs. They cannot solve all problems in schools; they were never meant to. Their fundamental role is to facilitate and help the participation of children in schools. Other aspects of the needs of those children will have to be supported in other ways. That is the reason we are introducing therapies in schools, for example. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank the Taoiseach. I call Deputy Burke. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We need to look at other potential supports for children to ensure good fruitful inclusion and participation in schools. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Burke  The Public Health (Single-Use Vapes) Bill 2025 is currently going through the Oireachtas. It is also proposed to publish the public health tobacco products and nicotine inhaling products amendment Bill 2026, which will ensure nicotine inhaling products sold do not have eye-catching imagery, and other limitations on the sale of those products. When is it proposed to publish this Bill? It would be helpful if both Bills could go through the Oireachtas at the same time so that the necessary restrictions are put in place to restrict the use of these products, especially by young people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Minister of State, Deputy Murnane O\u2019Connor, has been very focused on this. The implementation will be imminent. These are necessary Bills and we want to get them done and implemented through both Houses and see what more we can do to get rid of these things and protect young people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Burke  What is the timeline for publication? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Imminent. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call Deputy Graves. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ann Graves","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ann Graves  The Government's plan to cut SNAs from individual schools has to be scrapped. It shows the Government is out of touch with the needs of schools and parents, but most importantly, children. Imposing quotas to SNAs is going to affect our most vulnerable children. I have been contacted by schools and parents across my constituency and they are really anxious about the announcement. Those who have gotten letters do not know what situation they are going to be in. One mother who wrote to me yesterday asked:  When will our Government open their eyes to people with disabilities in this country, especially our children? It is a no for this plan. It is an already weak service and thankfully the SNAs are amazing and do so much more than they are paid for.  That is reflective of many parents' comments. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I have responded to this on a number of occasions this afternoon. We have increased the number of SNAs and will continue to do that. There will have to be reviews on an ongoing basis. Members accepted that in the House this afternoon. One has to evaluate all of the time. Needs change in schools. Some schools have additional need; others may not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ann Graves","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ann Graves  After a substantial review. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy is over time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Obviously it will be after a substantial review. It should be school by school, ongoing and regular, so there are no big surprises like what happened with the letters that were sent by the NCSE when some schools were told they would lose four SNAs. That was never the case. Approximately 68% of those 500 are staying the same and increasing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  There are about 20 Northside Home Care healthcare assistants in the Gallery. These workers are on strike today. Some of them have worked for 25 years and are only paid \u20ac15.04 an hour. Others are on minimum wage. They get approximately 30% less than others doing the same job. They provide vital care for about 500 people on a daily basis. The reason for this ultimately is the HSE has arbitrarily excluded them from being treated as section 39 workers. When this was raised with the Taoiseach when they were on strike in January, he said he would \"talk to the Minister and the HSE, to see if the issue can be satisfactorily resolved, averting any necessity for further industrial action\". Yet here we are, back again. Will the Taoiseach ask the Minister for Health to meet with these workers and instruct the HSE to treat them properly, give them pay parity and treat them as section 39 workers? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I acknowledge the very significant contribution healthcare assistants make to our health system. The difficulty here is there was a Workplace Relations Commission hearing on 10 March last year between ICTU unions and the relevant Departments. An agreement was reached on pay and conditions but that applied to section 39 organisations under the health Acts, section 56 of the Child and Family Agency Act 2013, section 10 of the housing Act and section 40 of the Domestic, Sexual, and Gender-Based Violence Agency Act 2023. It applied to all bodies falling within those. There are many healthcare assistant work and homecare services, such as the Northside Home Care Service, which are funded through a separate, competitive, tendering process. That is a separate mechanism to the funding of section 39 organisations. The HSE says those tender processes and services commissioned by those tender processes are governed by separate contractual arrangements with providers. There is an issue there. It is not easily resolved. I will talk to the Minister. There is a one-day stoppage. We do not want industrial action taking place. I appreciate that people feel they need to do it. I will talk to the Minister again and see what we can do about it. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar fionra\u00ed ar 1.20 p.m. agus cuireadh t\u00fas leis ar\u00eds ar 2.20 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Sitting suspended at 1.20 p.m. and resumed at 2.20 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Pholasa\u00ed n\u00f3 ar Reachta\u00edocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-18\/debate\/dbsect_13","debateType":"financialResolution","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/6","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/6\/dail\/finance_res","houseCode":"dail","stage":"finance_res","isBillStage":false,"showAs":"International Protection Bill 2026: Financial Resolution (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"International Protection Bill 2026: Financial Resolution","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_13","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Jim O'Callaghan)  I move:  That provision be made in the Act giving effect to this resolution for the charging, in accordance with the regulations made under section 146 of the Act, of the fee (if any) as may be prescribed by the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, in respect of an application, in such form and accompanied by such information as the Minister may specify, for a travel document by a person concerned. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and declared carried."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"International Protection Bill 2026: Financial Resolution"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-18\/debate\/dbsect_14","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/6","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/6\/dail\/2","houseCode":"dail","stage":"2","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"International Protection Bill 2026: Second Stage (Resumed) (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"International Protection Bill 2026: Second Stage (Resumed)","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_14","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy An Ceann Comhairle  I must now deal with a deferred division relating to the Second Reading motion on the International Protection Bill 2026, taken on Thursday, 12 February. On the question, \"That the Bill be now read a Second Time\", a division was claimed and in accordance with Standing Order 85(2), that division must be taken now. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"International Protection Bill 2026: Second Stage (Resumed)"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-18\/debate\/dbsect_19","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/6","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/6\/dail\/3","houseCode":"dail","stage":"3","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"International Protection Bill 2026: Committee Stage (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"International Protection Bill 2026: Committee Stage","counts":{"speechCount":266,"speakerCount":28},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_19","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Brophy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Brady","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"SECTION 1"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa)  Amendment No. 1 in the name of Deputy Carthy is out of order. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  Can I speak to the section? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa)  Yes. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question proposed: \u201cThat section 1 stand part of the Bill.\u201d"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  We have a long track ahead of us. I want to put on the record that this is not how we should be dealing with this legislation. The Minister has described it as the most substantial piece of immigration legislation this House has dealt with in many years. The truth is that it is being rushed. It is being rushed not because it is emergency legislation. If it is an emergency, it is no more an emergency today than it was three or four years ago. It is because the Minister and the parties of Government have locked us into an EU migration and asylum pact and they are desperately now chasing to try to get legislation in place prior to the deadline for that pact, which is the summer, even though the Minister knows there is absolutely not a chance in hell within this year at all, at any stage in this year, that the Government is going to be in a position to adhere to the stipulations contained within either the asylum and migration pact or this Act. Therefore, it is deeply regrettable that we are not having detailed scrutiny within the committee. This is not the forum to have proper conducive discussions around the merits or otherwise of debates. We should be doing it in the committee.  The Joint Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, which I chair as the Minister knows, agreed unanimously that we would make ourselves available at any time and for as long as it would take to actually go through each amendment in detail with the Minister. Instead, unfortunately, we are presented with legislation that is absolutely rushed. Literally within the last number of minutes, we adopted Second Stage of the legislation and now we are moving on to Committee Stage. The irony of it was that the Second Stage debate was still ongoing when the deadline for amendments to this legislation was reached.  That is no way to carry out the legislative business of the House. It makes a mockery of the Second Stage process and of any semblance of democratic discussion taking place here.  What is really frustrating from my point of view is that we are in a situation where we are being rushed and we have very limited time to scrutinise the amendments brought forward by the Minister and by other parties. It was only within the past hour or so that we got details of which amendments have been ruled in or out of order. I have great sympathy for the staff in the Bills Office who were run to such a short deadline. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  We have no way of scrutinising a number of the amendments, particularly the amendment I tabled on section 1, which we are discussing now. I would have thought that amendment No. 1 was eminently sensible. I would have hoped that the Minister was willing to put forward a stipulation that would have stated the Bill would not come into operation until he can assure the House that the Department has the capacity to bring it into operation, and that administrative, operational and staffing arrangements have been put in place to enable the State to comply with the requirements of the Bill. This is eminently sensible. In other words, it should be stated that the Minister will not enact legislation until he can be assured that he can implement it and that the resources allocated for the purpose of implementing the Bill, including staffing levels, accommodation capacity, interpretation services, legal assistance provision and IT systems, are in place. This is eminently sensible. The Minister is signing us up to obligations which he cannot assure the House will be adhered to. The Minister should ensure measures are taken to ensure that all relevant bodies, agencies and contractors are capable of performing the functions assigned to them under the Act. This should be an assurance the Minister would be happy to include in legislation. He should state that he would not enact it until he can be assured of this.  I am sure other members of the committee will tell the Minister that we had a discussion on the civil legal aid system. It is already at bursting point but it will have more obligations and more responsibilities under the Act. However, the Minister has provided no clarification as to when or if he will implement the recommendations of the civil legal aid review. There is a very good chance that civil legal aid will burst as a result of the additional responsibilities under the Act. This is before we start talking about Tusla. There has been a lot of discussion in the House in respect of the capacity of Tusla to do the very important roles the House has already conferred on it. Additional responsibilities will be added to Tusla in the Bill. I have to say I have no confidence whatsoever that Tusla has the resources and capability to be able to deal with the additional responsibilities.  Amendment No. 1 also called for an implementation timeframe to confirm the Minister is satisfied that the State is in a position to meet all requirements and obligations. Again, this is absolutely and eminently sensible. The difficulty is that a very short period of time ago I was told that amendment No. 1 is in conflict with the principle of the Bill. How is it in conflict with the principle of the Bill? It basically states the Minister will outline how he will implement the Bill before he enacts it. I would have thought this was a completely and eminently sensible proposition. As I have said, because the Bills Office was under so much pressure and working to incredibly tight timeframes, which is no way to treat the staff of the House, we do not have any opportunity to question the logic as to why amendment No. 1 was ruled out of order. If it was stated that it was because it was in conflict with the approach the Minister has taken to the Bill, I would say that was absolutely right. The Minister has taken a position of moving full steam ahead with the enactment of the Bill due to the fact that the Government has signed up to the EU asylum and migration pact with no idea of how it will be dealt with.  We do not need the EU asylum and migration pact to accelerate processing times; we need a competent Government. The Government tells us it is making progress. I happened to see a report that the Department has prepared for a committee of the House, which tells us that in respect of processing times the overall median processing times for first-instance decisions went down from 16 months in 2024 to 14 months in 2025. Bravo. These are the figures that the Ministers have been telling everybody about regarding the progress they have made in reducing processing times. What they often forget to say is that the median times for all of 2024 for appeals determined by IPAT was ten months and the median time in 2025 for international protection appeals was 12.5 months. The two months saved in the median time in terms of the average processing time in the first instance has been more than outweighed by the 2.5 months added to the appeals stage. What does this mean in reality? It means that the processing time from beginning to end is taking longer now than it was when the Minister came into office.  For all the big spin and publicity about the progress that has been made, the truth of the matter is that we still do not have it right. We do not need the EU asylum and migration pact to get it right. We can introduce legislation in the House without any pact and without any of this rushed legislation or this debacle we have here today, and with proper scrutiny of the legislation. Likewise, in terms of the enforcement of decisions, the Minister will tell us about the great work of monitoring and ensuring that deportation orders are met. More people were given deportation orders in 2025, whom we do not know whether they have left the State, than in 2024. We do not need an EU asylum and migration pact to gather this information; we need a Department and a Minister on top of their jobs.  We do not need the EU asylum and migration pact to deal with the huge expenditure of public money, which I categorise in very large instances as wastage of public money. The truth is that the Department is spending more taxpayers' money every year - last year it was estimated at \u20ac1.2 billion - at a time when many of the people in IPAS accommodation are in what I would describe as disgraceful conditions. Who is benefiting? It is the operators who are getting huge sums of money with no transparency whatsoever. This transparency could and should be provided but the Department will not do so, in terms of beneficial ownership and the details of contracts supplied. Then there is the aspect of commercial sensitivity, as if there is competition with the Department. There is no competition. There is no reason there should not be increased scrutiny and transparency. The annual figure of \u20ac1.2 billion is \u20ac3.2 million or thereabouts every single day if my maths are right. This is spent on an aspect of public expenditure for which the public has no oversight whatsoever in real terms. The only information provided is how much certain companies get in totality but there is no detail on what they are providing, how many beds they provide per day, the locations, who the beneficial owners are, or anything that I would describe as being of basic common interest to be informed of.  I do not know if the Minister can indicate whether he will table a similar amendment to amendment No. 1 to ensure there is this accountability. The proposal is that a mechanism be inserted in subsection 2 whereby the Act will not come into operation until he can provide the guarantees we have sought on the operational and staffing arrangements, the resources for the purpose of implementing the Bill, and the measures in place to ensure that all relevant bodies and contractors are capable. If he cannot give an assurance to the House that he will put in place these basic protections, I do not know how we can adopt section 1 and I will certainly call a vote on it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Jim O'Callaghan)  Are we discussing amendment No. 2? Amendment No. 1 has been ruled out of order. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa)  We are dealing with section 1. I call Deputy Mark Ward. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  The speaking order should go this way. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa)  Deputy Ward's was the first hand I saw. He indicated a few minutes ago. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  Deputy Kelly can work away and speak now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  Deputy Ward can go ahead. We have loads of time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa)  I was going to say I would not worry a whole pile. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I have said before that rushed legislation makes for poor legislation. I was on the justice committee when it was agreed unanimously right across the committee that we would give as much time as possible to debate the EU asylum and migration pact and the legislation we are talking about today. It was agreed on a cross-party basis by members of the Minister's party, of his colleague's party and all the Government parties - that we would have a robust debate in the committee rather than coming in here and speaking for an eight-hour debate today and probably next week as well until the guillotine comes, which I expect it will at some stage.  As my colleague said, it is absolutely bonkers that we received the amendments as late as we did and that we had to put amendments in before Second Stage was even completed. It is the wrong way of doing things. As Opposition, it does not give us time to research it. We do not have the same capacity that Government Ministers have with their teams of staff. I see officials beside the Minister. We do not have that facility. We have to research and look at all that information ourselves. We do not have reams and reams of staff to do this.  The common-sense amendment that has been disallowed merely asked the Minister to do something simple to prepare for the enactment of this legislation. As we have heard before, fail to prepare and prepare to fail. We heard yesterday at a committee meeting that civil legal aid services are bursting at the seams already. They have not had any increases in fees since 2008. They simply will not be able to deal with any extra pressure that is going to be put on them as a result of this Bill. There is nothing here to deal with the vacancies in international protection. We are looking for the Minister to be able to prepare for that. That is all we were asking for in the amendment that has been ruled out of order.  We do not know whether the provision of accommodation will be adequate. That needs to be prepared for. In my area of South Dublin County Council, we have the highest number of people staying in international protection in the whole State. There are 4,200 people there at the moment and it is bursting at the seams. It seems that because the Government is adopting the EU asylum and migration pact, this rush is about being the best boys in Europe and going straight into Europe and saying \"yes, we will do what we are told\". We will doff the cap and get on with it. That is no way to do it. We are a sovereign State and we should be able to look after our own rules and regulations when it comes to situations like this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  If my colleague calls a vote on section 1, we will definitely support it. I think I am the longest serving Member in the Chamber at the moment, and it is on that basis that I say this is not the way to do legislation. That is no criticism of the officials who are here, who get directions on the basis of the timelines given to them by the Ministers. This is crazy stuff, as everyone has said. That we are going to debate this for eight hours non-stop is not good for legislation. We will be doing the same next week by all accounts, if not longer. There will probably be guillotines used, which obviously we will oppose.  This is such important legislation. This should be put through the wringer of normal committee processing so we can go into it in detail. Trying to go through everything that has been ruled out of order and everything that has been grouped together is like trying to do a mathematical equation. Some of the groupings do not make much sense. I do not blame those who were putting these lists together in the Bills Office because they were trying their best at the last minute, frankly.  This is becoming a bit of a habit from the Minister's Department in relation to lots of different things. I do not know what is going on as regards competency, or whether it is direction from the Minister or what the hell is going on, but this is no way to do legislation. To be frank, it is no way for a Department to be run or for officials to be directed. It is not the first time I have had to say this. As legislators, we need to do things properly. Otherwise, mistakes will be made. I have said that before and I will say it again.  I am firmly of the view that we will be reviewing this legislation when lots of things are tested in the courts and other places in relation to its actual capacity to be implemented. There are two issues. First, can it functionally be implemented and done in the timelines required? Will the resources be there? Second, is it legally sound? Being honest, I have serious concerns about the capacity for both. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa)  Before we move to Deputy Gannon, I welcome to the Gallery the pupils from Glantane National School, who are visiting with Deputy John Paul O'Shea from Cork North-West. They are about to leave. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  Come on Tipp. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa)  I think I just about caught them. T\u00e1 f\u00e1ilte rompu go l\u00e9ir. I call Deputy Gannon, whom I have held up long enough. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  You have indeed but for a very worthy cause.  The Minister will remember the justice committee in the last D\u00e1il. If he was sitting now where we are, I wonder if he would accept that this is an effective way of doing business or passing legislation. Regardless of whether we agree with it, we all agree that it is some of the most important legislation that will come before the Chamber over this D\u00e1il term. There are 276 amendments from across the Opposition and from the Minister to be considered throughout the course of this debate. When the Minister stood here two weeks ago to introduce the Bill on Second Stage, he asked for collaboration. He told us to bring forward our ideas and said he would give them the appropriate level of scrutiny. How in the name of God could the Minister have given our amendments the required level of scrutiny when we had such a short timeframe to get them to him? For the last number of weeks and certainly over the weekend, the staff in my office have been working hard to try to collate the amendments that the Minister has tabled in order to draw up amendments to those amendments. This does not seem like an effective way of passing legislation.  Those of us who were in attendance for the pre-legislative scrutiny at the justice committee were taken aback by the extent to which things were absent. There were really important absences in the heads of the Bill. We were assured that a fuller presentation would be given in a timely manner, but that has not materialised. That is no reflection on anybody in the Minister's Department; rather, it is a reflection of how this is being stewarded through the D\u00e1il. I want to speak to my amendments, which focus on the full failures that I believe are in the legislation, but in the first instance I want to make clear that this is not an effective way of doing business. It sets a bad example for all of us across the House. It is unfair on those in the Bills Office, it is unfair on the Department and it is unfair on all of us and our staff, who have had to try to put sense to this in the very short timeframe the Minister gave us to scrutinise his amendments to the most important aspects of this Bill. I hope that over the course of the next few hours, the Minister will not simply vote down the 276 amendments. Let us have proper scrutiny of them and see which ones he is willing to accept. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  Clearly, this legislation is being rushed. It is really important legislation that deserves to be debated fully and fleshed out. What is happening here is bad practice. There is a limited time for proper scrutiny and late amendments. It is all very last-minute. It is impossible for TDs and their offices to give this the full level of scrutiny it deserves. It is irresponsible to do business in this manner. Amendment No. 1, which was proposed by Deputy Carthy, very sensibly sought to set out a report in order to ensure we are actually prepared for this legislation and mistakes are not made in this legislation. The reason that Committee Stage scrutiny is not taking place in the justice committee, as requested by the members of that committee, is obviously down to the deadline that has been imposed on the EU asylum and migration pact, to which the Government has signed up. The justice committee produced a report that recommended the Government should reconsider opting out of the majority of the pact. Certainly, that is what should have been done because it undermines Irish sovereignty and transfers powers to the European Union. It should be up to the Irish people and our Government to make decisions on our own migration policy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  I share many of the concerns raised by colleagues in terms of the process being adopted here and the fact that we are treating some really valuable amendments via a committee of the whole D\u00e1il rather than at the justice committee. I am not sure what went on and why it is not going to the justice committee.  From my own experience, allowing committees to delve into amendments and tease out the various consequences of both the initial draft and what is being proposed by Deputies is actually useful. It will often reveal flaws in existing drafts and Report Stage gives Ministers and Departments the opportunities to make those important clarifications and changes so you are not dragged back in six months' or a year's time with an amending piece of legislation. Notwithstanding that, we are here and we have eight hours today. I welcome the fact there is no guillotine today but, as other Deputies have referenced, I have a concern that one may come about next week and it will be opposed.  There is a lot of merit to amendment No. 1 that Deputy Carthy brought forward. This Bill represents the biggest change in our migration system in decades. It is a change that is necessary but it is not just a case of changing the legislation. We know for this new law to be implemented, we need to change processes and massively increase resources within the system. Having that degree of confidence that the processes and resources are being changed and increased at the same time that the legislation is being changed would be really valuable. It would even be valuable for the Government so it could make the case we are not just changing the law, we are actually upscaling our State's ability to process international protection first instance applications and appeals at speed so people can have more confidence in this system.  The report that would have flowed from the amendment Deputy Carthy brought forward would actually have had real benefit and merit. Even now, in terms of bringing this forward, there may be an opportunity later on for the Minister to consider that and how he can convey that this is not just a legal change but it is a resourcing change as well and is something that ensures this Bill can be operationalised once it is passed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  This is an incredibly serious piece of legislation. It is a frontal assault on human rights. It is a Bill for the detention of children. It is a Bill which undermines the right to legal representation. It is a Bill which attempts to effectively telescope the process of asylum in order to deny asylum seekers their rights. I do not think that such an assault on human rights will stay with one group, in that the implementation of this denial of human rights for asylum seekers, as part of a scape-goating strategy, will not then have an impact on other groups in society. This is a very important Bill which has widespread ramifications for everybody in this country in reality, if not directly but indirectly in terms of where we go from here once you normalise the idea of detaining children and once you normalise the idea of diminishing the right to legal representation.  It is very troubling that such a serious move will be done not just without proper parliamentary scrutiny but in conscious disregard of proper parliamentary scrutiny. I am interested in the Minister's explanation as to why this is not happening in a normal committee. I am not on the committee but the committee is absolutely the place to have the kind of in-depth discussion that is needed on all of these amendments that we had such rushed deadlines to submit. It is a bit contradictory because the Minister is saying he is happy to sit for eight hours today and sit for eight hours next week as well but unless the Minister will introduce a guillotine, we could be doing this at the committee. I have heard from the Cathaoirleach of the committee that it was willing to sit at short notice and for as long as necessary. Why not have the proper parliamentary process? Why not go through Committee Stage in committee and afterwards do Report Stage of the Bill?  At the very least as a parliament, it is what should be incumbent on us. It certainly should be incumbent on the Government when making such a serious move to actually go through the processes as they are set out as opposed to try to skip them or partially avoid them in the way that is happening here. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  As the Minister knows, the vast majority of people in the country want an asylum process that provides help to those who need help and returns home those who do not need help. That should be the basis and logic of any asylum system - one that offers compassion to those who are fleeing war and violence but one where common sense is used in the system for those who are trying to use the asylum process for economic reasons. One of my major problems with this particular Bill is that it only deals with the sideshow in terms of the numbers of people coming into the country. The vast majority of people coming into the country are coming from Britain, through the North of Ireland and into this State. At least 85% are coming that way.  In the last parliamentary question I asked the Minister, he said he did not know and he did not have that information. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I did not say that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  That is worrisome and it needs to be fixed. The other aspect to this is that to deal with this issue and not look at the 85% of people coming through Britain is a problem. We need to go to Britain and to the Government in London to try to work out a process that when a person wants to apply for an application for asylum here in Ireland, they do so when they move to the island and vice versa because there are flows in both directions. It is in London's best interest to be able to know who is coming onto their island and it is in our best interest to know who is coming onto our island.  One of the questions I often ask the Minister is how many people actually leave when they get a deportation order and the stock answer at this stage is we have no exit checks. The reason we have no exit checks coming into this country is that we have a Border in the middle of our island. The only way to actually resolve this whole situation is not with this particular Bill. This is only a minor part of it. The vast majority of it is regularising who is moving from the island of Britain onto the island of Ireland. That is not just a chuckle. That is not just a difficult situation that can never be resolved. It is a real fact that has to be dealt with at some stage by this House. It is bigger than this Bill. It is five or six times bigger than this Bill in actual numbers. That is one thing that pretty much everybody is missing when they talk about this issue.  The second issue here is we also need to make sure that we realise laws without enforcement mean nothing. I submitted a parliamentary question on the current law, the Dublin III regulation, shows that about 2% of the people who were entitled to return to other countries and who have applied for asylum in other countries initially were actually returned by this Government. Even with the laws the Government has, it is not implementing those laws. Creating new laws does not make certain it will actually implement them either.  In my constituency office at the moment, we have a lot of people coming into the office - who we are helping - who have applied for asylum first in Italy and are now in Ireland. Last year, it was people who applied for asylum first in Sweden who are now in Ireland. As a result of different countries doing different things with their asylum processes, there are shifts in the direction of people and people are moving as a result of different regimes' experiences throughout the European Union. It is really important there is some confidence given to people that where we have a law and a reasonable right to return people to the country where they first applied for asylum, that is actually actioned. That is not the case at the moment.  On the sovereignty issue that is at the heart of this particular Bill, that remains the case. Nobody knows the future but if you have self-determination on a particular issue, you can actually change your laws and approaches to deal with whichever situation arises. However, if you outsource that to the likes of the EU, you will not be able to manoeuvre as deftly to situations that arise in the future. That is at the heart of the difficulty within this particular Bill. There are good things within this and there are logical changes within this but most of those could be achieved by the Government voluntarily entering those aspects of the Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I thank colleagues for their contributions. I recognise this is a very considerable piece of legislation. As some other colleague as indicated, it is the most important reform of Ireland's asylum laws in the State's history.  The criticism is that it is being rushed. I will inform Members about the history of this legislation and how we have got to today and take on board some of the criticisms that have been made.  In April 2025, I published the general scheme of the International Protection Bill. After that, I requested detailed pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme, which the justice committee, of which Deputy Carthy is Chair, did. It called in a lot of witnesses. The Bill was given careful consideration by the members of the justice committee and, as a result, they produced a report that contained a series of recommendations. At the outset, it is important to say the work of pre-legislative scrutiny on the general scheme of the Bill was done thoroughly by the justice committee. That having been done, the Bill that is before us now was published, having got a stamped copy from the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel. We had three days of Second Stage debate on that Bill in the House earlier this month. In fact, on the third day, frankly, we ran out of speakers, not only from the Opposition but also from the Government, so no one can dispute but that we had an absolutely thorough and extensive debate on the legislation on Second Stage.  We have now come for Committee Stage. Everyone who is interested in this legislation knows that Committee Stage of this Bill was going to be a lengthy process if it went to the justice committee and the justice committee was required to deal with it in its orthodox way. The justice committee has a huge amount of work on its agenda. I know that because I send it a lot of the work. Frankly, the justice committee having to deal with Committee Stage of this legislation in the orthodox manner in which it deals with these processes would have taken an inordinate period of time. That is merely my assessment in respect of it. That is why a decision was made to have Committee Stage taken on the floor of the House.  We are going to have a very thorough consideration of amendments that have been put forward by colleagues on Committee Stage, which has been allotted eight hours today and which, as has been indicated, will go on to next Wednesday as well. No doubt there may be some disadvantages to Committee Stage of a Bill not being dealt with in the committee room, but there are also some advantages to it being dealt with on the floor of the D\u00e1il. For instance, there are colleagues here who want to speak or can come in and address amendments. They have done so already and no doubt that will be done further throughout the day.  I also have to be frank about something else. We can talk about the issue of sovereignty, and Deputy Carthy's first three amendments deal with the issue of sovereignty. This is Irish sovereignty in operation. The elected members of the Irish people are in the elected Chamber, debating legislation and determining what laws we want to introduce into this country for the purpose of reforming asylum laws. That is sovereignty. As Deputy Carthy will be aware, the Irish people voted on a series of occasions, and they have put it into Article 29 of the Constitution, that we would also permit ourselves to be part of the European Union and to be bound by regulations or directives that were part of the Union as well. A decision was made, and a vote was held in an exercise of Irish sovereignty and Irish democracy, in the previous D\u00e1il that said we were going to participate in the European Union regulations and directives that were seeking to reform migration within the European Union.  We voted on that in this House. That is democracy. That is the sovereignty of the Irish people being exercised. The reason the majority voted for that in this House is that there is a recognition that if we want to reform migration in the 21st century, it has to be done on a broad, multinational basis. We have seen what has happened in the United Kingdom when they decided they wanted to go on their own in seeking to respond to the issues of migration that concern the United Kingdom. Migration is a really powerful phenomenon of the 21st century. When the history of the 21st century is written, migration will be, I would have thought, one of the dominant themes of it. If we want to respond to migration for asylum purposes, my belief and the belief of the majority of the former D\u00e1il and, I believe, this D\u00e1il is that we have to do it on an EU basis.  That brings me to the fact that we all know that within the European Union there has been an agreement among the member states that are participating in this that this process is going to commence on 12 June next. We can pretend that is not the case but it is the case. Ireland takes is obligations extremely seriously and we want to ensure that we are ready and that the legislation is in place by 12 June next because that is the commitment. That is the agreed date by which all members states that are participating in these regulations and directives have said they will be ready.  If it is the case that we have to be ready by 12 June, obviously there are time pressures on the legislation. There is no point stating that there are not. However, the fact that there are time pressures on it does not mean we cannot have a thorough and detailed debate in respect of it. A total of 267 amendments have been put down for Committee Stage. I thank and commend colleagues, because the majority of them come from Opposition Deputies. I want to go through them and engage with them. That does not mean I have to support them, but I want to discuss and debate them. The sooner we start that process, the better.  In fairness, the Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach, Deputy Quaide, was not here at the start of the debate on this question. Deputy Carthy's first amendment was ruled out of order. His second, third and fourth amendments also concerned the issue of sovereignty. They should be moved and I will respond to them. Alternatively, if this is a general discussion or debate about section 1, I have said what I wanted to say in response to my colleagues, but we will have time today and next week to discuss this in these Houses to ensure we get it right. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  We are dealing with section 1 and it is important. It should not be in some respects, because section 1 includes in many respects standard clauses that state that the Act shall come into operation on the day or days as the Minister may appoint by order, and deals with the power to introduce sanctions. It is important in respect of this legislation because I have serious concerns about us passing a piece of legislation that I do not believe the Department or the agencies tasked with responsibilities have the ability to enact. That is a genuine concern that needs to be teased out on Committee Stage. I did speak to the amendment that was ruled out of order. I would love to get clarification as to precisely why, as I was told, it conflicts with the principle of the Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I do not rule amendments out of order. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I am not suggesting the Minister does but the difficult is that the Bills Office was under so much time pressure that by the time it informed me of that, there was not any time for me to ask any questions or seek any clarifications, as should have been the case.  I mentioned on Second Stage that I fully believe this Bill will not be enacted a full year before provisions of it are challenged legally on the basis that there will be problems with the legislation, and one of the reasons there will be problems is that we have not had proper deliberation.  The second reason these Houses have cause to be concerned is that this Bill is locked in with the EU migration and asylum pact. There could well be infringement proceedings against this State in respect of the failure to adhere to the enactment of the legislation and that is why I have asked the Minister a number of questions. I would appreciate if the Minister could come back and outline the preparatory work that is in place to deal with the issues. In terms of accommodation capacity, what is the plan to ensure that by the time this Bill is enacted, there will be accommodation to deal with any obligations that are contained within the pact? Will there be a move away from the profiteering model that has been the hallmark of this system and ensured that a very small number of companies and operators have made fortunes in very short periods without accountability and transparency? Is the Minister proposing to bring forward additional transparency for private operator contracts?  It would be appropriate at this point if the Minister could outline to us the capacity of both the International Protection Office, IPO, and the International Protection Appeals Tribunal, IPAT, the current levels of staffing within both, the staffing gaps within both, the necessary increase in staffing within both that will be required to implement the Bill on enactment, and how the Minister will make up the difference in time for the enactment.  Has the Minister or his Department carried out any analysis of potential infringement proceedings that could be taken, if his Department is not in a position to do what it is making itself legally obliged to do?  To respond to some of the points the Minister has made regarding the approach, the Minister has a responsibility, as do the Government and the Department, but these Houses have responsibilities as well. One of the difficulties I have with the approach that has been taken is that we are being denied the full ability to play our constitutional role in scrutinising legislation. The Minister mentioned the general scheme brought before the justice committee. Yes, there were good deliberations, good debate and cross-party collaboration from all members of the committee, but the Minister did not say that when the general scheme was brought forward, there was huge gaps in it. There were parts of the general scheme that the Minister's departmental officials told us they would deal with on Second Stage, Committee Stage or Report Stage. Many of the witnesses who came before the committee said they had a real problem because they did not know what was going to be in the legislation in order to contribute to the pre-legislative scrutiny.  The Bill was produced but within a week, we had to deal with Second Stage, and before Second Stage was completed, we had to submit amendments. Amendments are a crucial part of bringing Bills forward. The Minister is coming at this with all the resources of a Government Department behind him, and by his own admission, he said this is an all-of-government priority. With all the resources he had, however, the Minister was not able to have the general scheme completed by the time it was published and was not able to have all his amendments and proposals ready before Second Stage. He has had to bring forward amendments on Committee Stage, yet the Opposition is expected to go through the Bill in detail, engage with those who need to be engaged with, submit amendments, analyse the Government's amendments and analyse other Opposition amendments within a timeframe that is simply impossible.  To remind people, we are talking about a Minister with the resources of an entire Department. Each TD has one member of staff who can assist them in dealing with this. That is a huge ask, and I say this in deference to other parties because within my party, we have the numbers to ensure I deal with justice, home affairs and migration on their own. TDs in smaller parties are expected to go through this legislation and process while also dealing with three or four other portfolios. The approach the Minister has taken has not allowed the Opposition to play its constitutional role in scrutinising this legislation.  That is a huge problem. As the Minister said and as has been outlined a number of times, this is one of the most substantive pieces of legislation. There could be financial consequences way beyond the outworkings of the legislation itself. Therefore, it is unacceptable that the committee has not been allowed to carry out its work by having a deliberation on the questions I have put to the Minister in an over-and-back format on Committee Stage.  I put these questions to the Minister and I hope he will take the opportunity to give this House assurance in respect of the preparatory work and in respect of his own Department, the IPO, IPAT, Tusla, the civil Legal Aid Board and the overall process and accommodation. If he cannot provide assurances that his Department is ready for everything it has enacted, I cannot support section 1, which would give the Minister the authority to enact this legislation at a time of his choosing, potentially opening up this State to huge costs from legal challenges and infringement proceedings at an EU level. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  Listening to the debate, there seems to be one rule for the Government and another rule for the Opposition, with the Minister pushing his own legislation and not giving the Opposition the chance to undertake the proper scrutiny it needs to. I will give an example of why I am saying this, and the Minister will know where I am coming from. Last month, the Government delayed legislation I had before the House on nitrous oxide. I know it is not related to this issue, but the context is similar. The Minister decided to delay that legislation by nine months. The reason he gave me at the time was that he had just got sight of it and had not had a proper chance to go through it. That was the reason he gave me. As the Minister said, today we are discussing one of the most comprehensive Bills to come before this House and we are rushing through it. We have not had the chance to scrutinise this Bill in the way we should. We have only just got sight of some of the 267 amendments. I would like a copy of one of the green booklets but there are none to be found. I have a staff member looking for a copy of the amendment booklet so that I can look at the amendments while I am debating them rather than going on my phone, but the booklets are not even available. That is not good enough, but that is what happens when you rush legislation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  There are some good things in the Bill, and there are some things that need to be changed. The speeding-up of the processing time is welcome, as is the speeding-up of the appeal times. Obviously, we want to help successful applicants to get through the process and allow them to integrate into Irish society and communities. That needs to be assisted in every way possible for people who are genuinely fleeing war, persecution or famine.  I have raised family reunifications with the Minister before and I will raise it again today, specifically in respect of the three-year term for a person to get citizenship. I understand he may be changing that to two years, but he could go further with it. This is something I have real concerns about. If somebody has achieved status here, we should allow family reunification. They are here and contributing to Irish society, and separating them from their family is particularly cruel. We need to help and assist those people.  For those who fail, their departure needs to be verified. I have not heard any clarification on this. When I asked about it two years ago, the Secretary General of the Department told me that failed applicants, after they have gone through appeals and so on, including the courts, get a letter in the post to their last known address. The Minister might tell us today what the current situation is, but that is not sufficient or satisfactory. If you fail, you fail. It has to be rules based. If the rules are not implemented, it does not work.  With the indulgence of the Chair, I might also raise with the Minister the issue of the Day report. The report is still gathering dust and, meanwhile, we have this rampant profiteering by private interests in provisional accommodation. There have been many questions regarding the practices, and because it is so rushed and because of the sheer scale of what had to be done, it was a huge task to house so many people in private accommodation. I know the Secretary General of the Department who was handling that was under considerable pressure to do that, as were the staff.  The common travel area needs to be addressed. Amendment No. 2 goes some way to addressing this. There is a loophole there. It is not about throwing up borders here, there and everywhere. We know the problems they have caused on this island, and I am certainly not going to come in here and argue for that, but there is a loophole there. It is a fact that the majority come over Britain's artificial border in Ireland. That must be addressed. Amendment No. 2 goes some way in addressing that, but it cannot be resolved without checks at the ports. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Liam Quaide)  I have not got to amendment No. 2 yet, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  That is grand, I will keep to it now.  Amendment No. 1, on staffing the centres, is very positive in ensuring that the systems are working, that the resources are there and that the administration and staff are there. I welcome the change in the Sinn F\u00e9in position because that was not always the position held - one, two, three or four years ago. I welcome that this change is happening now, because with what was there, if that was advocated and carried through, we would not have the services to meet that. I will be supporting positive amendments here. There are some good parts in the Bill, which I will certainly be voting for, but it needs further work.  It is a pity we do not have more time to go through this. There are many amendments in a short space of time. As has been said, when you have just one member of staff, that can be difficult. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Liam Quaide)  I call Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  The Minister mentioned that people voted for European integration and co-operation. That is absolutely true but there has been significant creep in terms of EU control on a range of different issues in recent years. EU integration is not always a good thing. The EU often makes decisions that are not in our interests. The Mercosur agreement is a full example of that. The Minister talks about us making a democratic decision here. The Parliament on College Green made a democratic decision to wind itself up at that particular time. The question is: what direction are those democratic decisions pointing in? These are democratic decisions pointing in a reduction of our own sovereignty. That is the case. The Bill exposes this country to fines and costs into the future. I mentioned earlier the 2% successful return rate under the Dublin III regulation of people who were living here but who had applied for asylum in other countries. A reply to a parliamentary question by the Minister this week showed that half of the deportation orders issued by the Government are still not being implemented either in a voluntary fashion or an enforced fashion. The majority of deportation orders in this country are still not being implemented, which is an incredible situation. These are the weaknesses. Anther weakness is the Government is putting adult asylum seekers into children's accommodation, which is quite incredible and with devastating effects. Locking Ireland into these regulations with a clear history of Government inability to even implement the laws that exist will expose the country significantly to penalties in the future. That is a big problem and a big worry. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Marie Sherlock)  I now call on Deputy Gannon. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  There are 267 amendments on the Bill, of which I tabled over 90. It would be important if speakers could stick to their own amendments or the section. Otherwise we will be here all night and we will not get through it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  We could also do with consistency with regard to the Chair. There are a lot of changes and there are multiple Members making Second Stage speeches. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Marie Sherlock)  The points are taken. Deputy O'Hara indicated that he wishes to speak "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  I am all right. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Marie Sherlock)  I call the Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I am okay. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Marie Sherlock)  Great. I will put the question----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  Is the Minister not answering the questions I put in respect of the resources he will put in place to implement the legislation? It is a fundamental question. I do not know how we can even proceed without those questions being answered. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I frequently get invitations, which I welcome, from the Deputy's justice committee. I turn up and I answer a series of questions on international protection accommodation, international protection processing times or the International Protection Office. I have done it before and I have no difficulty doing it again. What we cannot do is turn the Committee Stage of this important legislation into a procedure that is the same as happens in the justice committee when I appear to answer general questions. I can, however, give confirmation to the Deputy that the country and the Department will be ready to process the new system proposed under this legislation If the Deputy wants to look at what is being done and the improvements have been made, he should look no further than the International Protection Office, which last year processed over 20,000 applications, which was an extraordinary achievement. We need to speed up the appeals process as well. The Deputy will be aware there is a new second instance body being established under this. I agree with Deputy Gannon that we need to put in some procedure for what we are dealing with here. It seems to be that we are talking about section 1. We have not moved amendments Nos. 2 to 4, inclusive, in that grouping. I would have thought before we have a vote on section 1, we would have to deal with those three amendments. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  Just to say----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  We need some consistency. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Marie Sherlock)  We will deal with those amendments under section 2. We will proceed and conclude section 1. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  On section 1, this is fundamental to the discussion that we had. I do not think there is any suggestion that Members should be rushed to dealing with a section as important as dealing with individual amendments. The legislation will give the Minister the power to appoint by order the day on which this will come into place in terms of schedules. Can the Minister give this House any indication as to when he expects to make those orders? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  Once the legislation is enacted I will then identify when I am going to sign commencement orders under it. That always applies in respect of legislation. What needs to happen now is the Deputy needs to move amendments Nos. 2, 3 and 4 if we want to----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  They are to section 2. We are dealing with section 1. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  Are the Deputy's amendments not in respect----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  No. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  Okay. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Marie Sherlock)  Is section 1 agreed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  No. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"NEW SECTIONS"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Amendments Nos. 2 to 4, inclusive, are related and will be discussed together. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I move amendment No. 2:  In page 16, between lines 32 and 33, to insert the following:   \u201cSovereignty of the State in Matters of International Protection   2. (1) Nothing in this Act shall be construed as limiting the sovereign authority of the State, exercised through the Oireachtas, to determine policy in respect of immigration and international protection.  (2) No provision of this Act shall be interpreted as delegating such authority to any external body or institution without the express approval of the Oireachtas by primary legislation.\u201d. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  Earlier, the Minister spoke about the democratic process and how the EU migration and asylum pact was democratically voted through by the Houses of the Oireachtas and, therefore, there should be no question of it or the implications for Irish sovereignty. To be clear, when I say, \u201cIrish sovereignty\u201d, I mean the ability of the Irish Government to enact legislation relating to immigration, particularly international protection, in this State. I make no apologies for Sinn F\u00e9in\u2019s position that we oppose, and will continue to oppose, moves that undermine Irish sovereignty unnecessarily.  I am a former Member of the European Parliament. I believe in the concept of the European Union where member states work together to deliver things that can only be delivered by working collaboratively. In respect of what that means in the context of the EU asylum and migration pact and how Sinn F\u00e9in approached this, we looked at each of the regulations and directives within the pact in turn and deliberated as to whether it was in Ireland\u2019s best interest to sign up to the pact. There were a number of aspects with which Sinn F\u00e9in agreed we need to sign up to on the basis that the only way they are workable is through working together.  Of course, we need to have an EU framework to deal with returns regulations and the sharing of information between member states. We do not need an EU framework to ensure that we have an efficient processing system, however. In fact, it is irrelevant. When it comes to having a competent government that can speed up our processing times, the only difference signing up to the EU migration and asylum pact makes is that we will be potentially liable for fines if we do not achieve it. Not only do the Irish people get the benefit of having an incompetent Government, but taxpayers will also be fined for the luxury of having that incompetent Government.  We do not need the pact to ensure that when decisions are made, they are enforced or at least monitored nor do we need the pact to move away from the blatant profiteering that has become the hallmark of this system. For all of those things, we need a competent government. Therefore, it does not make any sense for us to sign up to an EU framework, particularly when we are doing it from a starting point where we have a dysfunctional system and have not seen advances in processing. I accept that first-instance processing and median times have reduced, but the appeals have increased more than the first instances have reduced. Therefore, there is nothing.  As I mentioned earlier, we dealt with pre-legislative scrutiny. Stakeholders, Department officials, legal and migration experts and people from all different perspectives were before the committee, including people with a humanitarian perspective. No one expressed confidence in the ability of the Government or State to be in a position by June of this year to fundamentally transform the system and, therefore, it is crucially important that we deal with those areas we can deal with on a State-wide level.  The Minister spoke about how the Irish people amended the Constitution to allow us to sign up to measures at an EU level, that is, to hand over sovereignty. They did so on the very clear premise that it would be on matters we must deal with on an EU basis. In fact, throughout every debate, particularly in debates relating to both the Nice and Lisbon treaties, the Irish people had concerns about what they could mean for the ability of governments to hand over powers that could never be returned. One of the ways in which their concerns were assuaged - not the concerns of all Irish people, and certainly not mine - was through Protocol 21 of the Lisbon treaty. That gave Ireland something very important, namely, an opt-out of anything related to justice, security or freedom measures, which includes measures such as the EU asylum and migration pact. The Government, therefore, did not need to sign up to all aspects of it. As I have outlined, it is not in our best interests to do so.  Why then did the Government sign up to the EU asylum and migration pact, because it does not make any sense? Why would it tie the hands of not only the Government of the day but also all future governments to show flexibility? It did so because it wanted to show that it is doing something on the issue of migration. It had become a political issue and the Government wanted to be able to say that it was getting its act together and signing up to an EU pact, despite, as I mentioned earlier, not having any plan to actually deal with that. This means that, into the future, we will be operating within an EU framework. There is a lack of scrutiny in respect of this legislation. We are dealing with rushed timelines and a situation where we are going to have legislation enacted by June, although the processes and plan to deal with that will come at some undefined point in the future.  Elected representatives from here on will essentially be shut out. Democracy is not just about the ability of governments to make decisions. Rather, democracy fundamentally is about the ability of the people to kick out governments and elect a different government to make different decisions, if that is what the Irish people want. That is what is fundamentally being breached here.  I have three amendments in this regard. I have moved amendment No. 2. It expressly states it should be the will of these Houses to ensure no external body or institution would have the ability to make laws in respect of migration or international protection without the express approval of the Oireachtas and primary legislation.  Amendment No. 3 asks for the Minister, on an annual basis, to lay before the Oireachtas a report dealing with:  (a)\tthe extent to which the State\u2019s international protection system remains under domestic control;  (b)\tobligations arising from EU or international agreements during the preceding year; and  (c)\tsteps taken to ensure that Irish sovereignty and democratic oversight are maintained.  It states the report should be referred to the Oireachtas joint committee on justice. I hope the Minister will indicate support for that provision, if he does not support the first. It is important there be an outline.  Amendment No. 4 is crucially important because it goes to the crux of the second reason signing up to the EU asylum and migration pact was an absolute mistake. The pact, naturally enough for a European Union document, makes no provision for and gives no consideration whatsoever to the common travel area and how changes that happen in Britain might affect changes here. The amendment asks the Government to \"prepare and publish an assessment of the potential and actual impacts on the common travel area arising from the operation of this Act.\" It states that the assessment should include:  (a)\tanalysis of any implications for the movement of persons between the State and Great Britain,  (b)\tconsideration of the effect of international protection procedures on CTA integrity and cooperation,  (c)\tevaluation of any risks of displacement or diversion effects within the CTA, and  (d) measures proposed to mitigate identified impacts.  It also states:  (3)\tThe Government shall consult with relevant Departments, agencies, and stakeholders, including those with responsibility for immigration control, border management, and CTA co-ordination.  It states that assessment should be laid before this House on an annual basis. That is crucially important because various Ministers at different times - I have lost count of the different figures - have said that 80%, 85%, 90% and 90%-plus of the number of people seeking international protection in this State arrive via the common travel area. I presume everyone agrees that over 50% are coming from within the common travel area, and it is probably higher.  If we are then locking ourselves into an EU framework that does not take cognisance of that, it requires an explanation that no Minister has given. If it is the case that those numbers are, in fact, the reality, and if we were serious and if the Government was serious about dealing with the dysfunction in the international protection system, the priority would be having a bilateral agreement with the British Government in respect of ensuring that we have a returns policy and the sharing of information and all of that. We have an informal agreement but there have been no moves and there is no sense of urgency or sign that the Government is dealing with this issue as a serious matter. I hope and expect that amendment No. 4 will be supported by the Government.  This amendment is required because the Government signed us up without any consideration. We have seen it time and time again. The Government is now rendering Protocol 21 meaningless. It is opting into virtually every EU measure that is coming forward. It is all a facade. It is to show that the Government is doing something when in reality all it is doing is signing up to measures it cannot control. It is not taking cognisance of the position.  The Government carried out a review of Protocol 21. It acknowledged explicitly that opt-outs exist and are maintained because of the common travel area. Yet, the opt-outs are always and repeatedly being disregarded. The amendment requires the Government to examine and publish how the Bill will affect the common travel area and mandates analysis.  I will say the following, and I think this is an appropriate time to talk about the issue. Lots of people have raised concerns about immigration into this State. Some come from a genuine place of concern for those people who are coming here and for the capacity of the system to deal with the numbers who are coming. Others come from a nastier and racist position. Let us call a spade a spade. If people were serious about tackling those concerns, the single greatest thing we could do to ensure we have a migration system that works effectively would be to get rid of the Border on this island and ensure we deal with the issue on an all-Ireland and united-Ireland basis. The people who have concerns and believe that these issues have not been managed should be the loudest and most vocal united Ireland proponents among us. It is the only way in which to deal with this.  I look forward to hearing the response of the Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, to these amendments. It will speak volumes to the seriousness of what the Minister has said about his respect for these Houses and the ability of these Houses to act in the best interests of the Irish people, going forward, and being able to be flexible in terms of making changes to the international protection system when circumstances change. That is the definition of democracy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  I will be brief. What exactly is the plan for the common travel area? Could the Minister of State outline that in his response? I would be grateful if I knew whether Deputy Carthy's amendment will be supported. We have had so much conversation about the International Protection Bill and the transposition of the EU pact but I have yet to hear a Government Minister or TD lay out for me exactly what is the arrangement when it comes to the common travel area. It is obviously not provided for in the Bill that has been presented to us. It is not provided for in the pact. What exactly is the plan come 12 June? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I will speak first about amendment No. 2. This amendment simply reaffirms that decisions on immigration and international protection remain the sole responsibility of the State. I have said before that Ireland is an independent sovereign state and should not be beholden to Europe on matters we can resolve ourselves. It has been the attitude of successive governments that we want to be the best in class when it comes to the EU. Ireland's position is unique and it has its own particular challenges. We are in the EU but are not in the Schengen area. We are part of a common travel area with a state that is outside the European Union. That is why the one-size-fits-all approach to migration and asylum is not in our best interests.  There are many problems with the international protection system, which have been outlined already. Decisions are taking way too long. Appeals are taking too long. Deportation orders are not being enforced. There is massive profiteering from the provision of inappropriate IPAS accommodation. Fixing these problems does not require us to sign up to the EU migration and asylum pact. Ireland is a small, neutral country with an independent foreign policy. We should not allow the EU to dictate from which conflicts we should take people who are seeking refuge. This should be a matter for the Irish Government to decide. Amendment No. 2 is a safeguard to ensure the laws are made by Ireland's elected representatives and not handed over to Europe.  Amendment No. 3 relates to the fact most international protection applicants arrive through the common travel area and yet there has been zero assessment of how the common travel area will be affected and no attempt to agree a bilateral arrangement with Britain. With the failure to prioritise this bilateral agreement on returns, the Government has left the State in an unacceptable situation in the management of migration.  It is also time for the Government, including the Taoiseach, who appears to have a particular reluctance in this regard, to admit that, as with many other challenges faced in Ireland, having two states on this island impedes our ability to deal with migration properly. Brexit added another layer of complexity to the situation. It goes without saying that the management of migration will be simplified when there is one state on the island of Ireland. For this reason, and many others, it is time to start making unity a reality. I have raised this issue on numerous occasions. I have raised the need for a secure bilateral agreement with Britain to ensure that those international protection applicants who should be processed in Britain can be returned there promptly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  The Minister earlier said that this debate is sovereignty in action. It is, but what he is doing in this instance is signing that away. We are not going to have the same capacity to make these decisions because of the EU pact. He is handing away decision-making power.  The Government has also signed us up to potential infringement proceedings from the European Union when we inevitably cannot live up to the pact that we have signed up to. That is a bizarre and irresponsible approach to take. We are talking about huge amounts of money that could be lost through infringement proceedings and I would argue that also undermines our sovereignty.  We do not need this pact to sort out the issues we have. We do not need it to sort out the delays in processing applications, the delays in the appeals system or the issues with decisions not being enforced. We definitely do not need it to end the profiteering that is the hallmark of the system and which the Government has failed to clamp down on. The system has been in crisis for a very long time, but that is down to Government failures. It is the Government alone that has the wherewithal and power to address it. That should be the approach that is being taken. The average processing time is over two and a half years when we include applications and appeals. The EU migration pact is not going to help us to sort that; only Government action will.  Some parts of the pact make sense but we have opposed opting in wholesale because, as I have said, it undermines our sovereignty and transfers powers to the European Union. It should be the Irish Government and the Irish people who are deciding policy on migration, particularly given our unique circumstances as part of a common travel area with a state outside the European Union.  These amendments are sensible and will help to protect our sovereignty and deal with the impact of the common travel area. As my colleagues have said, this clearly demonstrates the difficulties with having two states on this small island. It does not make sense in any way and should underline why the Government should be active persuaders when it comes to Irish unity. It should begin planning and preparing for unity because time and again, issues arise where the Border on this island proves to be a major stumbling block. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in  I want to be constructive. I would welcome any Government policy that will deal with the present chaotic system of IPAS processing and enforcement. However, we should make the decision. That is fairly obvious. Based on our own circumstances on a divided island, this issue cannot be addressed in the present system.  The system to date has not been fit for purpose. I want to be constructive, as I was saying. We need to see faster processing of the claims and more efficient decision-making in terms of Eurodac with biometric data and the screening at border checks. I welcome the enhanced screening brought in at Rosslare Europort. I was down at the opening some months ago. We need to see less time spent by applicants in State accommodation, which is enriching cowboys, basically, to the tune of \u20ac1.2 billion last year. These aspects are good and we support certain aspects like giving communities back their hotels and community spaces. It will be good if it leads to quicker processing of successful applicants and if it will do away with the trafficking industry and especially child trafficking which is something that existed long before Jeffrey Epstein. It is something that has been going on. It will be good if it means we have the faster return of those who have been refused asylum. We want a system that is fair, efficient and enforced because we have not been enforcing so far. What we have done up to date is not apply our own rules. We have made a laughing stock of the country in front of the world. The whole situation of the passports in bins, which was going on for years, made a mockery of the system. Anything that would deal with that would certainly give more credibility to the Government.  An Irish Government is best placed to make these decisions in the interest of the Irish people rather than faceless, unaccountable, unelected bureaucrats in Brussels. That undermines our democracy and sovereignty. The people whose statues are around the Chamber were people who stood for sovereignty. The patriot dead we think of coming up to Easter were people governments saw fit to honour here, so we should be thinking of sovereignty, which is our ability to control our own affairs. Obviously an Irish Government elected by the Irish people, regardless of who they vote for, is in the best place to do that but our attitude has been to be the best boys and girls in the class in the EU for years and that does not serve us well all the time. This State is supposed to be independent, sovereign and should not be beholden to Europe on matters we can resolve ourselves, such as these, as Deputy Carthy and others have pointed out.  There are many aspects of the Bill that do not recognise the unique situation on the island where we have an open border with a non-EU state. It is absolutely necessary we advance towards Irish unity but this Bill does not recognise the fact that every day there are taxis coming down from Belfast and Newry arriving outside the Gresham Hotel on O\u2019Connell Street. People can see it openly. It is something that cannot be sorted out under the present arrangements. We should not be doing all this as a package because one size cannot fit all the countries in Europe. It certainly does not suit our needs given our unique circumstances and we are at nothing trying to deal with these challenges. If we sign up in full to this pact in the absence of Irish unity, it simply will not work. It would be a crazy idea to give carte blanche to, and say we agree with, everything that does not suit our circumstances. I ask the Minister of State to consider that. It goes against everything his party believes in as well. It would be crazy to sign up for the full package. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  There are three amendments to this section and I think there is an amendment to section 4 regarding the common travel area. Our unique border situation with Northern Ireland poses a particular challenge to how we manage migration and asylum here. I think everyone in the Government and the Opposition share the goal of maintaining an open border there. Understanding how the specific flows between Ireland and the UK work would be useful, as this amendment proposes.  I am less convinced by the argument for amendments Nos. 2 and 3. We have seen over decades how our planet has become more and more interconnected. We can put provisions into our law that say things like the State\u2019s international protection system remains under domestic control, which is what amendment No. 3 says, but we also have to be very honest that migration in Ireland is fundamentally linked to events that are outside our control. Droughts in sub-Saharan Africa, a crackdown by the regime in Iran, a civil war in a Middle Eastern country or an economic downturn in a former Soviet state are ultimately the events around the world that impact on the flows of migration to Ireland and Europe. Our political relationship with the UK is another key element that impacts flows of migration here. In the run-up to the British general election in May 2024 we saw how the Tory Party, seeing it was about to lose power, weaponised the issue of migration here and the pressures we were experiencing with migration here to try to fend off the challenge of Reform. The party basically withdrew meaningful co-operation on these issues with our Government at that time. When a new government came in and bilateral relationships were restored we saw how proper policies could be implemented.  That ability to engage with other countries in an upfront and structured way is hugely important to how we manage migration. That international co-operation is fundamental to being able to manage the flows of people seeking asylum. We have a very clear example of a country that thrust sovereignty to the very front of its argument regarding migration and we saw that in the UK during the Brexit debate. We have seen how that has absolutely failed and how the UK\u2019s so-called embrace of sovereignty by leaving the European Union has failed to deal with migration, which was probably the central issue in Brexit. The levels of migration the UK has experienced have been even greater, in many instances, since it left the European Union but its ability to deal with the day-to-day problems such as issues with small boats has lessened because it does not have that structured engagement with the European Union. As such, it is important when we are having this discussion to understand that while this D\u00e1il will make decisions about the processes and the legal format of international protection here, we cannot just throw sovereignty over legislation and feel it deals with the issue because fundamentally Ireland and so many other countries in the world are at the mercy of international events when it comes to migration. We have to have systems in place that deal with the consequences of those international events. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Before I move to the Minister of State, I remind Members we should try to keep the debate to discussion of the amendments proposed. I know we have eight hours but I say this given the controversy raised last week with regard to Committee Stage and how nobody should be, I suppose, taking advantage of the time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Brophy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Colm Brophy)  I do not propose to accept amendments Nos. 2 and 3. I will go into that in detail but it is important to make a point at the very start. If a party is anti-EU, and Sinn F\u00e9in is, in my opinion, with platitudes to the left and the right of what it may or may not want to say about it, its members would be far more honest to come in here and say that. On every occasion when I listen to its members speak - they come in and their line writers have given them whatever clich\u00e9 to say for the day - it is always anti-EU. That is really the importance of what the last contributor said about that sovereignty argument and how not working with our EU partners can really damage us in this area. That needed to be said. The Bill does not and could not in any meaningfully way do what Article 5 of the Constitution states, which is that \"Ireland is a sovereign, independent, democratic state\". Article 6 is clear as to where the sovereignty power of the State resides, namely, with the people. At the same time, the Constitution also provides for Ireland to be a member state of the European Union and to participate in addressing shared challenges with co-ordinated solutions. That is the important thing. What Europe is all about, in case the Sinn F\u00e9in Deputies have missed it, is shared challenges. This co-operation with our fellow member states was clearly approved by the people when they voted in referendums for the inclusion of references to the various European treaties in Article 29 of the Constitution. Certain things can be done on a common European basis, and should be. As I said on Second Stage, and as the Minister has said, migration and asylum have given rise to challenges not only for Ireland but across the European Union.  They are shared challenges which are increasingly difficult for any one country to deal with acting alone in a global and independent world. We have seen very close to home how difficult it can be when a country decides to think it can deal with this on its own. That is why the shared solution is the best way forward.  Ireland's participation in international agreements and EU measures in the area of international production is not new. Ireland ratified the 1951 convention relating to the status of refugees in 1956 and acceded to the 1967 protocol in 1968. The Dublin Convention was agreed in 1990. Ireland participated in the first phase of the common European asylum system, opting into several EU measures in the first years of this century, some of which were the forerunners of the measures in the migration and asylum pact which are being given further effect by this Bill.  Article 29.4.7\u00b0 of the Constitution provides that the State may exercise the options or discretions under Protocol 21, but any such exercise should be subject to the prior approval of both Houses of the Oireachtas. The decision to opt in and be bound by the migration and asylum pact measures was approved by this House and the Seanad - the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, has said this to Deputy Carthy many times - on the basis of the proposal of the Government pursuant to Protocol 21 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. This amendment also attempts to reframe the aspects of the separation of powers already defined in the Constitution.  With respect to the House, it is well established that the executive authority of the State to determine policy in respect of migration is vested under the Constitution in the Executive branch. The Oireachtas is entitled to exercise its constitutional function to legislate. However, to allocate policy function solely to the Oireachtas might, for example, limit the Minister's authority to determine the policy relating to the granting of visas or other immigration permissions in the State. For the above reasons, I cannot accept amendments Nos. 2 and 3.  I also do not propose to accept amendment No. 4. Ireland and the United Kingdom share a very long history and a common interest in effective co-operation on the common travel area. Maintaining the integrity of the common travel area and preventing its abuse in the context of immigration is an issue on which I, the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, and our officials have had many engagements with our UK counterparts. My Department is taking all necessary steps to manage the international protection process efficiently and effectively, while ensuring the integrity of those processes is maintained at all times. There is extensive engagement and co-operation at all levels between my Department and the United Kingdom Home Office. This includes joint operational co-operation, as well as information sharing between the Garda, the UK Border Force, the UK policing service and the Police Service of Northern Ireland. This strong and practical engagement and co-operation serves the mutual interests of Ireland and the United Kingdom and that will continue.  The protection of an open Border on the island of Ireland was and remains a key priority to the communities on both sides of the Border. I do not believe it would be necessary or, indeed, appropriate to place requirements for consideration of the impacts of the common travel area on a statutory footing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I do not know if people do not hear, do not understand or refuse to recognise what has been said. I would argue that Sinn F\u00e9in is probably the only party represented in this House that has accepted the will of the people in every referendum. The parties of Government did not accept the will of the people in respect of the first Nice and Lisbon treaty referendums and held a second vote in each case. Sinn F\u00e9in campaigned in those referendums and was on the losing side. We accepted the will of the Irish people.  That does not mean that we forget the basis on which those referendums were won and how that applies to the amendments I am putting forward. Categoric assurances were provided to the Irish people in terms of the sovereignty that would be handed over. The Constitution provides that the State can cede sovereignty to the European Union, but that happens when it is in our interest to do so and the logic is that we need to do it on the basis that we have to collaborate with others. Of course we accept that there are some issues which are so big that we can only have a meaningful impact in terms of addressing them if we work on a pan-European and wider multilateral basis, where possible. Nobody will champion the UN, for example, more than our party. For all its flaws, it is the best hope humanity has.  In respect of the European Union, we have to deal with things on a case-by-case basis and analyse the detail and logic behind any decision because that is what the Irish people mandated. That was the basis of Protocol 21 in the Lisbon treaty and why it was so important. That it is why it is so disappointing that the Government is simply abandoning Protocol 21 and the logic by which it which was put in place. It is being disingenuous in that regard.  The Minister of State spoke about being honest and suggested we are an anti-EU party. That is a trope that has been thrown out for the past ten or 15 years. Anybody who analyses my record in the European Parliament and that of other Sinn F\u00e9in MEPs will know that we support European measures when they are in Ireland's best interests and oppose them when they are not. We will not make any apologies for that. That is what Irish representatives should do, and do so proudly, because I do not think anybody in the House advocates for a Brexit-type scenario whereby we withdraw entirely from the European Union as Britain did.  Likewise, I will reject the suggestion that there is a binary choice between Brexit or EU integration on steroids. That is not the choice the State has. The choice is about how we engage with the European Union and what measures of integration we support. As I said, this should be based on our what is in our interest and what we need to collaborate on.  Amendment No. 2 refers clearly to these Houses, the elected representatives of the people who make decisions in respect of migration policy. Amendment No. 3 states that the Government would provide a report to the Houses. It is interesting to note that the Minister mentioned the forerunners to the EU asylum and migration pact. He is correct. We signed up to a number of directives and regulations, but we did not sign up to all of them. The Minister of State has never answered the question on the disadvantage we faced by not signing up to the precursors to the directives and regulations that Sinn F\u00e9in opposed on this occasion. At an EU-wide level, we signed up to the forerunner for information sharing, Eurodac, and the forerunner of rights to reply, the Dublin regulations the Minister of State mentioned.  We have never signed up to an EU-wide system in respect of the processing of applications, standards and conditions because of the common travel area. The Government parties at the time wanted to say that they were doing something on migration and signed us up lock, stock and barrel with no consideration given to other issues. A political propaganda judgment was made, as opposed to a considered political decision in respect of what was in Ireland's best interests.  I accept the points made by Deputy O'Gorman. If people were really serious about dealing with migration, in particular forced migration for those seeking international protection, they would want a multilateral framework which deals with the causes. They would want to end conflicts and deal with climate change and gross economic inequalities internationally. It is again ironic that some of those who are most vociferous in terms of articulating an anti-migrant position are the same people who would be most resistant and hostile to measures aimed at ending conflict and dealing with climate change or addressing economic inequalities. That is different. Dealing on a multilateral basis with all of those issues is crucially important and Sinn F\u00e9in will support measures in that respect. That is different to tying people's hands behind their back.  I am deeply disappointed. The Minister of State gave me a little bit of false hope in how he presented his reply because I thought he was going to accept our amendment on the common travel area. That was na\u00efvet\u00e9 on my part because I thought for a moment that we would have a constructive engagement. Let us be very clear what we are asking the Government to do.  The amendment simply asks the Government to prepare and publish an assessment on the potential and actual impacts of the common travel area arising from this Act, and the mitigating measures to address those areas at regular intervals, and not exceeding three years. It is not a burdensome task. It is not one of these cases where we call on the Department to produce a report and as soon as it is finished producing one report, it is working on another one. It is simply stating that the Houses will be informed as to how this is impacting and that is really important. Could the Minister of State outline precisely what proportion of applicants seeking international protection are coming from the common travel area? I can cite five different figures given by different Ministers. The truth is the Government does not know. It does not know - and we will be dealing with this in a later amendment - because it does not compile statistics and analyses as to where people are actually coming from in terms of international protection. We know who applies at ports and airports and it is assumed by the Government that everybody else who has not applied for international protection at the ports and airports has come across the Border. It has no way of knowing that. It does not know how many within our IPAS system came here for other reasons - in some cases legitimate reasons such as on tourist, employment or student visas despite international evidence suggesting a proportion of IPAS applicants came for those reasons. It is mind-boggling that the Government does not gather that statistical analysis but then it is completely disingenuous to use its failure to gather that statistical information to state that a certain number is coming from across the Border.  I accept that a large proportion probably does come from the common travel area. Therefore, it is inexcusable that the Government has no mention of the common travel area in this legislation dealing with international protection. We say that a certain proportion - more than 80%, according to most Government Ministers - are coming from the common travel area and there is no reference to it whatsoever in a Bill that is 230 pages long. As regards the one amendment that actually accounts for the common travel area, the Government has indicated it will not accept it.  Likewise, the Minister mentioned he has had many engagements with his British counterparts in respect of the common travel area and international protection. Before Members vote on this amendment, it is important that the Minister of State gives a report on what has actually been achieved. What concrete measures have been achieved, particularly in respect of the need for a bilateral arrangement with the British Government?  This is the worst of every world because we are dealing in the first instance with a divided island and two separate States. Not only is the Northern State outside of the common travel area, migration matters are not devolved matters. Even if the Assembly, the elected institution of the Six Counties, wanted to make moves or collaborate with the Government here, it cannot do it. It cannot take any measures whatsoever. We are dependent on decisions being made at Westminster with all of the flux and the turmoil going on there, and we know those decisions have big impacts. How do we know those decisions have big impacts? We know because some of the amendments which have been brought forward by the Government to this Bill were done so directly as a result of decisions that were made in Westminster and the so-called efforts to avoid the pull factors which have been outlined. The decisions made in Westminster are going to have implications but we do not know how the Government is going to respond to them in the future. It is really important that the Minister of State provides the Houses with that assurance. If he cannot, I do not know how we can proceed.  The Government is saying that 80% plus of people claiming international protection are coming from the common travel area, yet our entire international protection system is going to be based on an EU framework that takes no account of the system whatsoever. This is not just me saying this. We asked the Minister of State's Department during pre-legislative scrutiny about the analysis carried out in respect of the common travel area and how either the pact or this legislation would impact on it and it could not answer because it did not have that information. That is a reckless approach when we are considering legislation as important as this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  To build on the question I asked before the Minister of State made his contribution, the crux of the matter for me in supporting amendment No. 4 is that if we are to believe the figures - we have heard numerous different figures but let us settle on 84% of people who claim asylum in Ireland come through the common travel area - to be true, we effectively have a piece of legislation that is massive in its scope and intent but does not provide for 84% of people who come to Ireland. That is particularly scary for me because this legislation deals not only with the detention of people and the suspension of liberty, it also has the detention of children built in. If 84% of people who claim asylum are coming through the common travel area and it cannot be established where they may be returned to, I worry about what happens to people who are being detained. We have a horrific history of incarceration in this country and that really does concern me. It has not been addressed. That is why I will be supporting amendment No.4. Does the Minister of State have any clarification in that regard? Effectively, it seems like we have an international protection Bill with a big hole in it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Brophy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Brophy  It is important to recognise there is ongoing co-operation in terms of the management of the common travel area. It is extensive co-operation, as I said in my initial reply. That is at official, political and operational level between An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and the police services of the United Kingdom. All of that is effectively ongoing and continues to be strengthened and deepened in terms of how we actually deal with managing that common travel area.  We want to have a common travel area. Every Government of every persuasion has wanted to have a common travel area with the United Kingdom. It is important it is managed effectively. What we are doing with the International Protection Bill is putting in place structures that will serve us in the best interests of the overall management of how we handle this as an issue for our country, decided by us in this Parliament. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  The Minister of State says there is ongoing co-operation that is official, political, and operational. For all of that co-operation and official, political, and operational collaboration, what is the current percentage of those in our international protection system who came through the common travel area? What measures have been taken? In terms of the official, political, and operational collaboration, how much has it reduced the numbers? What are the outcomes of that co-operation? Which particular measures enacted as a result of that official, political, and operational collaboration have led to reductions, if any, that have taken place? I hope the Minister of State can answer those questions because if he cannot and if he does not have those figures to hand, it only stresses further why amendment No. 4 should be adopted by this House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  I am conscious that in 2020 a UK-Ireland returns agreement was signed that was challenged in the courts on the Irish side and found to be at best legally dubious, so it has not used. The Government updated it in 2024 or 2025 but the UK side has not enacted it at all. We are effectively going to have an International Protection Bill that is a transposition of EU law, which is absolutely fine as a theory, but I will be voting against it. We then have a shadow immigration scheme the Minister of State assures us is operating at an official level but that we cannot have oversight of and that we do not know where jurisdiction applies as to who is intervening on either side of the Border. Absolutely none of us wants to see any erosion of the common travel area at this point but this seems like a fairly significant gap and it has not been explained at all. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Brophy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Brophy  It is important to note the overall numbers coming in year on year are going down. That is very important and it is the result of a range of measures - some I will accept before the Deputy says it are international and some are directly as a result of the actions taken by myself, the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan and this Government in terms of dealing with the inward flow of migration into the country. That is a very important thing to recognise when we are having this discussion. It is obviously important for us to recognise also that that deep co-operation between the United Kingdom and Ireland at all levels contributes to managing the common travel area. This legislation will enable us to continue to manage effectively what we need to do on the international protection side. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I move amendment No. 3:  In page 16, between lines 32 and 33, to insert the following:   \u201cAnnual report on sovereignty and external obligations   2. (1) The Minister shall, not later than 31 March each year, lay before the Oireachtas a report detailing:  (a)\tthe extent to which the State\u2019s international protection system remains under domestic control;  (b)\tobligations arising from EU or international agreements during the preceding year; and  (c)\tsteps taken to ensure that Irish sovereignty and democratic oversight are maintained.  (2) The report shall be referred to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice for consideration.\u201d. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I move amendment No. 4:  In page 16, between lines 32 and 33, to insert the following:   \u201cAssessment of Common Travel Area impacts   2. (1) The Government shall prepare and publish an assessment of the potential and actual impacts on the Common Travel Area arising from the operation of this Act.  (2)\tAn assessment under subsection (1) shall include\u2014  (a)\tanalysis of any implications for the movement of persons between the State and Great Britain,  (b)\tconsideration of the effect of international protection procedures on CTA integrity and cooperation,  (c)\tevaluation of any risks of displacement or diversion effects within the CTA, and (d) measures proposed to mitigate identified impacts.  (3)\tThe Government shall consult with relevant Departments, agencies, and stakeholders, including those with responsibility for immigration control, border management, and CTA coordination.  (4)\tAn assessment prepared under this section shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas not later than 12 months after the commencement of this section, and thereafter at intervals not exceeding three years.\u201d. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"SECTION 2"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I move amendment No. 5:  In page 16, between lines 34 and 35, to insert the following:  \" \"absconding\" means the action by which an applicant does not remain available to the competent administrative or judicial authorities of a Member State, such as by leaving the territory of the state without permission from the competent authorities, for reasons which are not beyond the applicant\u2019s control;\".  This amendment is being introduced to provide clarity on the application of several sections of the Bill. It provides a definition of \"absconding\". The wording provides for the definition in the reception conditions directive. This directive is not directly applicable and, therefore, it is necessary to transpose its provisions into national law. Provisions in the Bill, in the directly applicable asylum and migration management regulation and in the asylum procedure regulation concern absconding. It is, therefore, necessary to clearly define what we mean by \"absconding\" for the purposes of the Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  On point of clarification, is the correct placement of the wording of the amendment between lines 34 and 35 on page 16? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  Yes, that is correct. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  It seems to be out of kilter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  It goes in there because it will be in this Act that we will have a definition. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  It will be the first definition in terms of interpretation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  Yes, it will be first definition of \"absconding\". "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I understand and I thank the Minister. This goes back to a point I made earlier. I have no objection to the amendment in itself but I ask the Minister for a little bit more clarification on the rationale as to why it is required and why it was not in the original Bill. What are the aspects of the Bill in which the term \"absconding\" is used and for which this definition is needed? Will the Minister provide a little bit of clarification on these points? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  Could the Minister clarify absconding? If a person travels through the common travel area to the North, are they considered to have absconded from the State at that point, and if they come back? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  The purpose of it is to give an effect to a definition that is required under the reception conditions directive. There will be further amendments during the progress of the legislation through the Seanad in respect of the reception conditions but it is appropriate at this stage to have the definition of \"absconding\" within the legislation. Deputy Gannon asked whether it will apply if somebody travelled from the Republic to the North or back down. That is not covered by absconding. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in  In terms of absconding, are figures available for the number of people in the State subject to deportation orders? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  Can the Deputy repeat that? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Could the Deputy repeat that, please? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in  Does the Minister have the number of people in the State subject to deportation orders, and have their records been checked in terms of absconding? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  That is not an issue in terms of what is in the legislation. The number of deportation orders that were signed last year was in the region of over 4,000. Regarding people leaving the country who have deportation orders, I believe and the Department believes that if somebody is served with a deportation order in Ireland, it is very difficult to remain. They do not get any social protection payments. They cannot work within the orthodox economy. The belief in the Department is that the very significant number of people who receive deportation orders leave the country. Similarly, however, the Deputy will be aware that last year there were in the region of 2,000 enforced repatriations of people with deportation orders and people who went for voluntary return schemes.  There are challenges with having a open border in Ireland. Deputy T\u00f3b\u00edn mentioned earlier that we should have an exit system in Ireland. We cannot do that because we want to have an open border. If people travel from the Republic up to Northern Ireland, thereby leaving the State, there is no mechanism by which we can get a record of that. I suspect Sinn F\u00e9in does not want a mechanism in place that requires the State to stop people on the Border to identify their passing and coming.  My assurance to Deputies is that when it comes to deportation orders that have been made, the belief is that the vast majority of them result in people leaving the jurisdiction. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  Everyone will accept that if we are going to have \"absconding\" in legislation, then we need to have a definition for it. On the point the Minister has raised, it would not matter if any political party wanted to have checks along the Border. As Theresa May and Boris Johnson found out, it is just not physically possible to do so with 300 Border crossings. Certainly, it would not be practical. That is why we have said very clearly that we need to advance towards Irish unity and deal with these issues on an all-Ireland basis.  The Minister was not here for the previous debate. Does he accept the best way of dealing with all of these issues and to provide clarification and certainty to people across the island of Ireland would be to have a bilateral arrangement in place with his British counterpart? It would be helpful if he would comment on that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I will briefly go back to the query raised by Deputy Gannon. I was probably too definitive in the response I gave to him in terms of the definition of \"absconding\". The definition states: \"means the action by which an applicant does not remain available to the competent administrative or judicial authorities, such as by leaving the territory of the member state without permission from the competent authorities, for reasons which are not beyond the applicant\u2019s control.\" The purpose of that provision is that the applicant remains available to the competent administrative or judicial authorities of the state. They are not allowed cross the Border, but if somebody did cross the Border, does that come within that definition? If they come back and make themselves available, that would not meet the definition of \"absconding\". I need to emphasise again that individuals who are not citizens of Ireland or the UK are not entitled to avail of the common travel area and, therefore, irrespective of whether they come within or breach the definition of \"absconding\", they are not permitted to cross the Border. The common travel area is there for the benefit of citizens of the UK and Ireland and it is not for the benefit of others.  Deputy Carthy raised the issue of a bilateral agreement. I note with interest that he has tabled an amendment we will deal with later providing that there should be a requirement on the Minister to enter into a bilateral agreement with the United Kingdom. I will be interested in having a debate with him when we come to that amendment. He knows as well as I do that it is not possible to force me, as Minister, to enter into an agreement with another country. It is dependent upon getting the agreement of that other country, as he will be aware. If they are not prepared to enter into an agreement, there is difficulty on our part.  However, since the last time I spoke on these issues, I had a very good remote meeting with the Home Secretary. I have expressed to her the issues of concern from the point of view of what I say is the abuse of the common travel area. She was also very frank with me in terms of issues that are affecting the UK. Of course it is a Labour government in the UK that has introduced measures that would be criticised by certain sections in this House. I indicated to her that there has to be joint operations between Ireland and the UK to ensure we do not have continuing breaches of the common travel area. That breach is putting a lot of pressure on our asylum system and on our international protection system. She is well aware of that. I also want to see that we can enter into arrangements with the UK where there is sharing of information. One of the negative consequences for the UK as a result of leaving the European Union is that it does not have access to the type of information that Ireland has, which is very useful in terms of processing applications for asylum.  When it comes to entering an agreement with the UK, I will want to ensure that we have as close an arrangement as possible. I would like there to be an agreement but as the Deputy will appreciate, I cannot mandate another country to enter into an agreement with us. That is just not something within my power or control. However, I will seek to ensure that the ongoing abuse of the common travel area does not continue and I think the Home Secretary shares my concerns in respect of that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  We have consistently asked that the Minister would prioritise the issue of a bilateral arrangement. Without going through all the critiques of how he has approached the Bill and the huge amount of resources that are being put into bringing us into a EU framework when, by the Minister's admission and according to the statements of a significant number of Ministers, a large proportion of people who seek international protection----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, please speak to the amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  It is in respect of the definition of \"absconding\". Ministers have stated repeatedly the figure is in excess of 80%. Figures of 80%, 85%, 90% and 90%-plus have been cited by different Ministers who have said the people seeking international protection are coming via the common travel area. I asked the previous Minister. Maybe this Minister can answer. What is the proportion? I suspect he does not know and therefore I suggest he stop bandying around figures. However, most people would accept a majority of those seeking international protection are coming through the common travel area. Therefore, as I have repeatedly said, I believe the Minister's priority should be pursuing a bilateral arrangement rather than actually moving to----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  It must be relevant to the amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  -----the inaction of the EU migration and asylum pact. That point has been repeatedly missed by Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Are there any further Members? If it is relevant, Deputy \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in  In terms of absconding, I know from a parliamentary question reply that there were 2,330 deportation orders last year----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  It is not relevant, Deputy, because deportation is not mentioned in the amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in  It is next, though. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I am afraid it is not. It is not relevant to this amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in  I was coming to----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  It may be relevant to the other amendments but we are sticking to the amendments. I call Deputy Gannon. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  I asked the Minister about how absconding was defined and if absconding comes into play if a person travels from the Republic up to the North. He then gave greater clarification. Here is my problem. He has absolutely no lawful way of policing that. There are no measurements. We discussed this on the previous amendment. We absolutely do not want any form of border infrastructure between the North and the Republic. That is where I find this really difficult. The Minister is asking us to vote through something that we cannot measure and certainly does not exist.  There is no way of policing it that does not require some form of racial profiling. I know we have had issues in relation to that in the past. How is it measured? How is it policed? How will the Government measure abscondment? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  There are difficulties in policing the travel of people from both sides of the Border. That is unquestionably the case. However, it is not correct to say there is no lawful way of policing that. The Border management unit does work there. An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na is engaged and if people are not citizens of the UK or Ireland, they are not entitled to cross the Border. I have to keep emphasising that. Simply because that is difficult to police does not mean we should change that law. It is an important provision that is in place. It is for the benefit of Irish citizens and UK citizens.  I will briefly respond to the Sinn F\u00e9in point. At some stage, Sinn F\u00e9in will meet itself coming around the corner. We fought for years to have an open border on the island. If the Deputies are asking what measures we can put in place to ensure people are not coming across the Border who are not entitled to it, does Sinn F\u00e9in want hard infrastructure put up to stop people crossing the Border? I suspect it does not. We need to realise there are real challenges here for us because we have an open land border with a non-EU country.  I want to ensure we have operations in place with the United Kingdom to make sure we have good co-operation between ourselves and the UK. I suspect what Deputy Carthy would like to see was that we have a returns agreement with the UK. That is something I will certainly engage on with the Home Secretary. It is dependent on getting the UK's agreement. The UK entered into an agreement with France and is clearly not happy with that agreement, which was referred to as one in and one out. If there will be any agreement with Ireland from the point of view of the United Kingdom, one thing I can guarantee is if it will take back returning people from the Republic to the UK, we will have to take back a similar number of people.  We need to recognise the political realities of this and the fact we have an open border on the island. We want an open border on the island but it is important for me as Minister to keep emphasising that free movement across that border is for the benefit of people who are entitled to use the common travel area. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I do not know why the Minister is being entirely disingenuous. He knows what Sinn F\u00e9in's position is. We want to get rid of the Border in our country. We want a unitary state and we have repeatedly said for those who want to manage the migration system, that is the single biggest step we could take to have the capacity of being able to do that. In terms of a bilateral arrangement with Britain, it means we would have the ability on the island of Ireland to actually be able to ensure we know who is coming in and who is moving out of our country at any given time.  Yes, there is a fundamental problem in that our island is partitioned and part of our country operates within an EU framework and part does not. One of the fundamental problems we have with the approach of the Minister and Government on the EU asylum and migration pact is that they are enforcing and enacting a Bill that takes no cognisance of that. There is no reference to the common travel area in the Bill. The Minister has just rejected an amendment that would actually put an onus on Government to provide a detailed report on the implications and the mitigation measures put in place in respect of the common travel area.  Let us have an honest debate and let us not try to put words in people's mouths. We need to be clear that a lot of the questions that people have about international protection cannot be answered by the Minister precisely because we are a divided country and we do not have any mechanism in place to have an arrangement with the British Government to address those issues, being mindful of the point I made earlier.  It is bad enough we have two states on this island but the fact the northern state has no competency whatsoever in respect of migration makes it even more complicated. The only mechanism we have to address these issues is through bilateral arrangements with the British Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in  The absence of Irish unity makes what we just voted on unworkable. On the passenger name recognition, PNR, data that is used, it is already used for the common travel area by both Britain and Ireland for tracking criminality. Can that be used to get a clearer picture of who has left the State? Both countries have passenger name recognition data. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aidan Farrelly  On a point of clarification, the final few words of this definition are \"for reasons which are not beyond the applicant's control\". Could the Minister outline what those reasons might be, who will determine what those reasons are and if there is a threshold given that is part of the definition? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I will deal with Deputy Farrelly's point first. \"Not beyond the applicant's control\" may include circumstances where an applicant is outside of the jurisdiction out of their own control and taken outside the jurisdiction. The purpose there is to try absolve them in respect of that.  In reply to Deputy \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in, I can do many things in this Bill. I cannot get Irish unity in the legislation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  Give it a go. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  PNR is used for serious criminal activity. It is not used for international protection. Even if that was in place, we would still need to have a mechanism on the Border to check people. We must be honest and realistic about this. The Garda can do some stops in terms of stopping buses or checking individuals but in terms of using something like PNR, people would have to be checked as they go North from South or come South from North. No one in this House wants that. It is a really difficult situation we find ourselves in. Everyone may be able to identify the obvious solution is Irish unity. We do not have that.  I must deal with the reality of on the island of Ireland an open border with another non-EU country. It creates a huge challenge. If the UK was in the EU, many of these issues could be resolved in that the UK would be part of the returns regulation, which will hopefully be agreed, and there would be a mechanism for it to apply. One thing the EU has not been good at, which Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn mentioned earlier, is the operation of the Dublin III regulation. It does not work. At the first meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council I attended, the German Minister for interior affairs emphasised that the Dublin regulation does not work. We need a new procedure.  That is the benefit here of what will be in this legislation and the subsequent returns regulation of which we hope to be part that will try to instill a greater and more efficient mechanism of stating that if somebody has applied for international protection in one jurisdiction already and they come to another, it is inadmissible and they have to go back to the first jurisdiction. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared carried."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Amendment No. 6 has been ruled out of order. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  Can I raise a matter of order? It is Committee Stage. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  It has been explained, Deputy. It carries a potential charge on revenue and unless he can dispel that, I am afraid it is out of order. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  My question pertains to inserting a definition of \"legal counselling\". It is not a matter of order and it is actually a matter of clarification pertain to the committee's Standing Orders. I asked for a definition of \"legal counselling\". It was ruled out of order via a money message but legal counselling is provided for in the Bill as we discussed today. How can something in the Bill be ruled out of order via a money message when it is actually provided for in the Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I will read the note for the Deputy. It states: \"Amendment No. 6 would insert a new definition for legal counselling, a term used later in the Bill, but this definition would provide that such services be provided to persons without charge to the applicant, irrespective of a person's ability to secure legal services by their own means.\" Unfortunately, that is where the money message comes in. It has been checked. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  I thank the Ceann Comhairle. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment No. 6 not moved."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I move amendment No. 7:  In page 20, between lines 8 and 9, to insert the following:  \u201c \u201clegal counselling\u201d means oral or written legal advice from a practising solicitor or barrister, or a person employed by the Legal Aid Board who is authorised to provide legal advice or representation;\u201d.  I am surprised the amendment was necessary. I know there are other amendments. I am not sure if or why this was not grouped because throughout the PLS process----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  It is not grouped. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  No, I know. I am surprised it is not because there are other proposals for definitions. The Minister would have read the pre-legislative scrutiny report by the committee and throughout that process, it was repeatedly flagged that the term \"legal counselling\" appears several times in the legislation but there is insufficient definition. Many of those who gave expert testimony to the committee raised the fear of risks of creating uncertainty as to what level of legal assistance international protection applicants would actually receive.  In this amendment, we purposely tried to provide a clearly understood definition of what \"legal counselling\" would mean. It means any \"oral or written legal advice from a practising solicitor or barrister, or a person employed by the Legal Aid Board who is authorised to provide legal advice or representation\".  The reason the definition was sought and why so many raised it is because, as it stands, there is an assurance that people seeking international protection would be entitled to legal counselling. However, members of the legal profession have said they do not know what that means. \"Legal counselling\" could mean that somebody goes on ChatGPT, it could mean that they are talking to a call centre or it could mean that they are handed a leaflet that pertains to legal counselling.  For the purpose of this process, it is crucially important because we want to have a robust system of international protection that works. We also want to ensure the State lives up to its responsibilities under international law. That means that if somebody comes into this State seeking international protection, they must get a fair hearing. In order to get a fair hearing within the very narrow timeframe that the Bill sets - I think most people support that timeframe - they need to have access in some cases to legal advice or support. In my view, it is imperative that there is a definition.  If the Minister is not supporting this amendment, I would like clarification on whether he plans to bring forward a further amendment in terms of providing a definition. If the Minister is not supporting this amendment, it would be crucially important that he sets out to the House what part of the amendment he is not supporting because, as I have said, this amendment is technical in nature. It seeks to set a definition for \"legal counselling\" that will appear in the Bill. Without it, the Bill is deficient. Therefore, it would be left up to some legal professional, probably a judge, to make a determination on what precisely \"legal counselling\" is. I suggest it is the role of this House to set that definition in place. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  Given that \"legal counselling\" is mentioned in amendments to section 26 of the Bill, it would be grossly irresponsible to leave it there undefined. If that is to be the case, could the Minister either define it or commit to removing it from the Bill? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  This amendment seeks to provide a clear definition of \"legal counselling\". We were asked many questions about legal counselling during the justice committee's hearings on this legislation, such as how it is to be defined, what it means and who will provide it. There will be a lack of clarity if legal counsel is provided by non-legal professionals. Is it to be individual counselling? Is it to be group counselling? Is group counselling even ethical under professional rules?  Before I was elected here in 2019, I worked as an addiction counsellor. I could call myself a behavioural therapist. There were no regulations in relation to that under CORU at the time. Since I became a Member, the regulation and registration of counselling by CORU still has not happened. Will the term \"legal counselling\" have to be regulated by CORU? As I mentioned, counsellors and psychotherapists are still not regulated. This process began in 2018. It was in the programme for Government in 2020. It still has not happened.  For this new term, \"legal counsellors\", will CORU also be required to regulate this or is it something that may happen down the line when all of a sudden we realise that there are unintended consequences of this new term and that this new form of counselling will have to be regulated by an outside branch? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  I am speaking in favour of this amendment. I am not sure why Deputy Gannon's amendment was ruled out but this one was not. The comprehensiveness of the definition that Deputy Gannon was seeking to provide was really useful. Nevertheless, this is a good definition as well.  Throughout this debate there has been real concern about the new concept of \"legal counselling\" that the Bill appears to be introducing. It is not properly defined. At present, particularly under the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995, there are various rights in terms of legal advice and legal assistance. We are bringing in a new theme or concept here. A new concept such as this should be clearly defined in law, particularly recognising that the decision on the granting of asylum status is probably one of the most fundamental legal decisions about people seeking status that they will experience in their lives. This is a decision and a process that they are engaging in, often in a language that is not their first language, often after a traumatic journey across long distances and often after experiencing huge trauma within the country that they are fleeing. I am really concerned about the lack of clarity on the exact entitlements to legal support they can receive here. It is a source of concern among many NGOs.  I do not see why this matter could not be resolved. Can we not just decide? Is it what we understand as legal advice under existing legislation? If it is something new, if it is of a higher category or if it is of a lower category, could the Minister at least give us a clear definition somewhere in the legislation? That is not too much to ask. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The reason that amendment No. 6 is ruled out of order is that at paragraph (c), it states, \"without charge to the applicant\". Amendment No. 7 is somewhat more nuanced or ambiguous. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  I cannot see why this amendment was ruled out compared to the other one.  The Minister is too proud. The Minister started down the road here in relation to \"legal counselling\", which should be thrown out. When we looked at this, it took up hours. We still do not bloody well know what it is. We genuinely do not. Nobody here has a clue. Nobody who is working in law has a clue. Why is it in the Bill? It is ridiculous. I am sorry, but the Minister should say he has got that one wrong and we will all move on. He was fairly sharp and straight with us last week on another issue when he brought in legislation that he did not even believe in. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Relevance, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  It is relevant because now the Minister is bringing in a term that he does not even believe in. We need a bit of levity here. We are going to be here too long.  The Minister let out a little nugget out earlier when he said that more amendments will be brought through the Seanad. Why are they being brought through the Seanad? We have eight hours here today, another day here next week and - God knows - maybe even longer.  Can the Minister not muster to take this out, because it is a halfway house to nowhere? It is hindering the Bill. It is hindering the discussion. As I said to the Minister previously, it will probably create a condition where the Minister will be the Manchurian candidate, as the justice Minister, giving a whole load of money to a lot of his ex-colleagues to determine what the hell this means in this Bill because nobody knows. In fairness to Deputy Carthy and the team, they have put in a definition that has got through. Others have tried and failed, for whatever reason.  This will end up with vulnerable people who have problems with language not knowing exactly what is going on. They will go through the rabbit hole of legal counselling rather than receiving proper legal advice, which as we all know is defined. We will have a situation where this will have to be determined by the courts. There is a need for a little bit of common sense. Everybody should be on the one page here. The Minister should either define it, which I do not think is the right way to go but I will support as the lesser of two evils, or get rid of it. It is ridiculous. It is not helping anybody and will not help anybody into the future. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I thank the Deputies for their contributions. I am aware that this is an issue of genuine concern to people in this House. The first thing I want to say is that I should and I will bring forward an amendment to define \"legal counselling\". I cannot, however, accept Deputy Carthy's amendment. The reason I cannot is because, under the Deputy's amendment, he goes further than what is envisaged by legal counselling and says that it should include legal advice provided by a practising solicitor or barrister.  What I am required to do, under the administrative procedure regulation, is to ensure that at first stage - what is now the IPO stage - legal counselling is provided to an applicant.  I have a higher obligation when it comes to the second appeal stage. At that stage, I have to provide free legal assistance and representation in the appeal. The administrative procedure regulation that I am transposing in parts of the legislation here sets out a clear distinction between what is required at the first stage and what is required at the second stage. The obligation at the second stage is much higher and much more costly than that at the first stage. However, there is a definition of \"legal counselling\" contained within Article 16 of the administrative procedure regulation. In fairness to Deputy Kelly, he included that definition in amendment No. 9, which unfortunately for him was ruled out of order. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  Take it from me, so. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  Article 16 states:  For the purposes of the administrative procedure, free legal counselling shall include the provision of:  (a)\u00a0guidance on and an explanation of the administrative procedure including information on rights and obligations during that procedure;  (b)\u00a0assistance on the lodging of the application and guidance on:  (i)\u00a0the different procedures under which the application may be examined and the reasons for the application of those procedures;  (ii) the rules related to the admissibility of an application;  (iii)\u00a0legal issues arising in the course of the procedure, including information on how to challenge a\u00a0decision rejecting an application in accordance with Articles\u00a067, 68 and 69.  That is what we are required to do in terms of the provision of legal counselling. Deputy Carthy's amendment would expand the scope of legal counselling to include the provision of legal advice. Legal advice is a separate concept to legal counselling. That will be apparent when the definition of \"legal counselling\" is introduced later. The introduction of legal counselling is not intended to replace an applicant's ability to access legal advice either through private means or through the Legal Aid Board. Legal counselling will be an additional service intended to provide support for an applicant at the very early stage of an application. I am also concerned that Deputy Carthy's amendment would mandate that legal counselling be provided only by a practicing solicitor or barrister. This would place restrictions on who would be permitted to provide legal counselling, and this may in turn restrict the availability of the service. As I have said, I cannot and will not accept Deputy Carthy's amendment. My Department and the Legal Aid Board are currently analysing how to implement the provision of legal counselling to meet the requirements of the pact. My officials are also examining these matters in consultation with the OPC and the Attorney General. I will be bringing forward appropriate ministerial amendments relating to legal counselling. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I will clarify again the reasoning behind the ruling out of order of Deputy Gannon's amendment. Deputy Kelly clearly did not get that part (c) of Deputy Gannon's----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  That is a common thing in here. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  No, I think it is important for----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  That is a bit condescending now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  No, I am explaining because Deputy Kelly said that he cannot understand. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  I do not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  For the benefit of new Members, Deputy Gannon's amendment expressly states \"without charge to the applicant\", which means that it creates a money message. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  You might explain amendment No. 9 then as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  We can get to that, absolutely. I have explained the reason. There is no such expression in amendment No. 7, in the name of Deputy Carthy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  The Minister has indicated that he is going to bring forward a definition of \"legal counselling\", but I have to say I have no sense from what he has said of what that definition will mean. He mentioned amendment No. 8 and the language in the directive. If it was as simple as taking the definition in its entirety, I presume it would be in place by now. To be clear, the amendment before us, amendment No. 7, does not limit legal counselling to legal advice from a practising solicitor. It also refers to \"a person employed by the Legal Aid Board who is authorised to provide legal advice or representation\". The Minister might inform the House of other avenues or other places where legal advice, legal support or counselling could be provided, but he has to tell us where that is. When you leave the front gates of Leinster House, the chances are that someone is going to give you legal advice in some regard. I know people who have lost their homes because they took legal advice from the wrong fella sitting at the bar who told them not to recognise the court, to cite common law from the 1500s, or whatever the case may be. There is a difference between getting legal advice and getting sound, solid legal advice.  Here is the other point. The Minister mentioned the different stages. Of course, there might be different responsibilities on him depending on those stages. I remind him of something that is clearly shown by the figures for processing times that we outlined earlier. He is very quick to tell everybody that the median processing time at first instance has been reduced by two months, but not so quick to tell people that the IPAT appeals time is taking two and a half months extra than the year before. I presume, first of all, that the IPAT process is more expensive to the State. It would be helpful if the Minister could give us an indication of what proportion of those who appealed in 2025 - I have not got the figures yet - were successful at IPAT stage. For those who are ultimately successful, it would be better if they were successful at first stage. You want to get to a point with any system that has an appeals mechanism where a small minority of cases are appealed because there is trust in the system itself. The more robust the first-instance process is and the more it is upheld at appeal stage, the better. It is also more likely to happen if people are well informed on how they move forward.  I want clarification before I decide whether to press this amendment. The Minister said he is bringing forward another amendment. What is that amendment going to say? I am not looking for it word for word, but what is the context of it going to be? As members of the justice committee, I do not think we would be doing our job if we did not insist on the inclusion of a definition of \"legal counselling\". I agree with Deputy Kelly that \"legal counselling\" means nothing to people who know a lot more about law and legal matters than I do. I have to trust their judgment. When representative organisations of legal practitioners are coming before the Oireachtas justice committee to say they do not know what \"legal counselling\" means, it is a big problem. When that is the case, you either get rid of the term \"legal counselling\" or you put in a definition that is easily understood to everybody. I do not believe we would be doing our job as members of the justice committee if we were to disregard what we were told during the pre-legislative scrutiny on the general scheme of the Bill. We were told by organisations representing the interests of those seeking international protection, by people in the legal profession and by experts on areas of migration who just want to ensure we have a legislative framework that actually works that this is a big problem. We need to fix it. The Minister said he will bring forward a definition but we need clarity before we leave this amendment here today. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  The Minister has said he will bring forward a definition of \"legal counselling\". This doubles down on the point we were making earlier that this is rushed legislation. We are on Committee Stage and we still do not have a definition in front of us to be able to discuss what \"legal counselling\" is. Its absence is why these amendments are being put forward today. We would not have to discuss these amendments if there was a clear definition of \"legal counselling\".  I will return to the questions I asked the first time I came in. Could the Minister provide clarification in respect of his definition of \"legal counselling\", when it comes forward? Who is going to provide it? Who is going to regulate it? Is it going to be individual counselling or will it be group counselling? I know that was brought up at the justice committee. There were concerns around whether it was going to be group counselling. If so, you could have different people from different backgrounds getting information in different languages, which could be very confusing for them. Who will provide it? Who will regulate it? Will it be individual counselling or group counselling? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  The Minister is more familiar than I am with the legal principle of non-regression. Given the absence of a definition and the Minister's commitment to bring in another amendment, it will probably be the case that legal advice in person will no longer be available in the first instance. We can probably all take it at this point that this is where the Bill is going. The Minister might confirm that for me.  He might then go further and confirm whether chatbots and AI are now on the table. Shamim Malekmian in the Dublin Inquirer has reported on a freedom of information response from the Department of justice and the Legal Aid Board. This was in the Dublin Inquirer a couple of weeks ago and very clearly showed the potential for chatbots - I can send it on to the Minister - or some technological communications being on the table.  Will the Minister confirm that and whether we are going to be breaking the principle of non-regression? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  Have we finally found a use for Grok? This is where we are going with this - seriously. As I look around the room, the Minister is probably the most qualified legal person in here, I would suspect. How did we get to this point on Committee Stage, after pre-legislative scrutiny and Second Stage, where we have not defined this? I am looking forward to seeing why my amendment was ruled out of order, but I basically just ripped it from the asylum procedure regulation, which the Minister has mentioned. It was a copy and paste; there is no big science to it. If the Minister is not going to come back with that, on how it is going to be implemented, then I am genuinely flummoxed about where he is going to go with this. My colleague has spoken about legal regression, and we cannot have that, but how are we going to define who can give such advice within this State? Can I, as a TD? Will it be civil society through citizens information? Is this where we are going or, as Deputy Gannon has said, is it to be the Groks of this world?  How do we define it? Under the asylum procedure Regulation 2024\/1348 providers and counselling can be provided by accredited civil society organisations, specialised legal advisers or government authorities provided they meet national qualification standards. We cannot even get proper accreditation in this country for translation services. We do not have it and I think it is actually going to cause a lot of legal issues in cases in the years to come. How are we going to ensure that the standard stated in the regulations is met?  Will the Minister please outline to us three things? First, where will he bring forward this amendment, why is it not in the D\u00e1il phase and why has it gone on for so long? Second, is he going to use the wording I pulled from the regulation I just quoted? Third, as part of that, how is he going to define the organisations or, dare I say it, the technologies that can actually give such legal counselling? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I thank colleagues for their contributions. I assure all of them that we will be debating the definition of \"legal counselling\" that I bring forward. I intend to bring it forward in the Seanad. I would have preferred to bring it here on Report Stage. As I stated at the outset, there were time pressures in respect of this. I am being honest about that. I am just reflecting on the matter.  The definition of \"legal counselling\" will reflect the definition in the asylum procedures regulation, APR. It will also take into account requirements set out in the asylum and migration management regulation, AMMR, and the asylum border procedure. My intention is that legal counselling will be provided through the Legal Aid Board. The likelihood is that it will be provided through paralegals hired by the Legal Aid Board. That is my intention at present. It will be provided predominantly on an individual basis. It is not for me to dictate to the Legal Aid Board how it should manage its provision of legal counselling. It will be a matter for the Legal Aid Board. I am not going to specify in legislation how they should do it. It is not my intention or the intention of the legislation, and I do not envisage it happening, that AI or bots will be used, to answer Deputy Gannon's question.  People may criticise me for this, but we also have to recognise that a limited amount of money is available to be given to the Legal Aid Board each year. In fairness, last year in the budget, I managed to get a sum in the region of \u20ac73 million for the Legal Aid Board. That included an increase of \u20ac8 million to take into account the extra obligations that are going to be placed on the Legal Aid Board as a result of the requirements under the new International Protection Bill. Further money has been required, therefore, but I also need to ensure that the pot of money that is available is not all used up for international protection. People may criticise me for saying that but I have to ensure it is not all used up for that. There are also significant pressures on the Legal Aid Board with the legitimate applications coming for legal advice and assistance from those seeking international protection. In 2024, some 28,000 applications were made to the Legal Aid Board. Of them, 11,600 or so were in respect of international protection. I have to be realistic. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  Will the Minister repeat that last piece? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I want to ensure that the legal counselling that is being provided will be very adequate. I believe it will be adequate. It will reflect the definitions that are contained within Deputy Kelly's amendment, as is set out in the administrative procedure regulation. That is the information I have for Deputy Kelly.  On Deputy Carthy's amendment specifically, I cannot accept it. It places too great an obligation on me to ensure that it is legal advice by practitioners being provided. I note the point that Deputy Carthy's amendment allows counselling to be provided by \"a person employed by the Legal Aid Board who is authorised to provide legal advice or representation\". I want to be more specific in what I am doing. I do not want to find myself being tied in by the definition that is set out there. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  It is actually farcical when you think about it. The Minister has dismissed all our criticisms about the rushed nature of this, the lack of scrutiny of this legislation and the absolute fallacy of signing up to an EU asylum migration pact. Regardless of the merits of signing up, the whole purpose of Protocol 21 is actually a benefit Ireland had whereby we can sign up and opt in at any stage. If we decide not to opt in, we could opt in at a later stage, but no. Because Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael had to be shown to be doing something on migration, it was a case of signing ourselves up and tying ourselves into a deadline of June 2026. Despite the fact that this legislation has been brought forward by the Department of justice with a senior Minister who, if I may say so, is an eminent barrister, they cannot give us a definition of legal counselling, not at pre-legislative scrutiny, not on Second Stage of the legislation, not on Committee Stage, and now the Minister is saying it will not even be on Report Stage. It will not be defined until it gets to the Seanad. Will it be on Committee Stage? We know where the Seanad amendments come and what happens with them. They are brought in here for an hour's debate and all the rest of it. This is despite the fact that we have been told this. I am not a legal expert and I have never pretended to be but I am the Chair of the Oireachtas justice committee. Virtually every single person who appeared before us told us that one of the big issues they have with this legislation is that the term \"legal counselling\" is not defined.  The Minister corrected himself at the very last moment in acknowledging that my amendment indicates \"from a practising solicitor or barrister\" but very clearly states \"or a person employed by the Legal Aid Board who is authorised to provide legal advice or representation\u201d. I did that knowing of the pressures of the Legal Aid Board, which the Minister has also acknowledged. I do not know if he has had time to look back or get a report on the hearing yesterday, which some of his officials attended. Other Members who are present were also there and they might also attest to this. I am really concerned about the future of civil legal aid in this State. I have raised concerns previously in the context of domestic violence victims and their ability to access the courts and access justice, and to secure barring orders. There is the potential that this situation could get even worse. I believe that a report was provided to the Minister about this last year. It was published last summer. We are ten months on, I think, from its publication and nothing has happened. The Minister has a minority and a majority report. Either would be better than the situation we are in here. The provision is there.  Considering the timeframe and the lack of clarity the Minister has provided, it is only fair that the D\u00e1il set this out clearly at this point. Adopt this amendment now and amend it later so that at least we will be in a better position than we are currently, when the term \"legal counselling\" is not defined at all in the legislation. We would be better off making this amendment. I would be only too willing to accept a further amendment, if it provided the clarity and assurance required. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  I do not expect the Minister was watching the justice committee meeting yesterday but I will give him a relevant sentence from the Free Legal Advice Centres: \"Ireland\u2019s system of civil legal aid may go from crisis to collapse altogether\". It stated that would arise specifically from the implementation of the EU migration pact and its transposition. Yesterday, we heard the Legal Aid Board was on the point of collapse. That is the urgency that is required. Will the Minister confirm, because he did not do so previously, whether legal advice will still be available at first instance to applicants? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  The committee meeting this week makes a mockery of what the Minister is proposing. Civil legal aid is basically about to collapse. I accept some of the pressures are brought about by changes internationally over recent years. The Minister is patting himself on the back because of the increase he got from Government but it needs to be multiples of that. In the long run, it will save the State. It is also just the right thing to do. The fraction of money given to this is actually disgraceful.  I am really looking forward to the explanation for my amendment not being accepted. If it had been accepted, it probably would have helped the Minister. It is effectively, according to what he just said, what he will bring in anyway. I presume he will use the asylum procedures regulation, APR, definition. That is probably the safest thing to do, so why in the name of God can he not bring it in now or on Report Stage - or will he have add-ons? The idea that only paralegals will be doing this is not realistic; neither is it in the scope of what the APR says. I read out earlier what the APR says in relation to civil organisations. How will he cover that? Is he going to stick to what the APR says? If he is, there is no reason he cannot bring it in now. I had an amendment basically bringing it in. Will he in some way customise, change or tailor it to our society? Will that include citizens information and all that sort of stuff? Will he clarify that? The fact this is all being thrown on the Legal Aid Board otherwise will not work. The whole thing will collapse.  The Minister can smile all he wants but this will collapse. There is not a hope in hell of it working. If all that is the case, the fact the Department has not dealt with this until now is symbolic of the much more worrying issue of how in the name of God this legislation will ever be legally sound and resourced. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I reiterate what my colleagues have said about the meeting we had yesterday at the justice committee. The Minister does not have to believe us when we say there is a crisis in legal aid. The Bar Council of Ireland, the Law Society, FLAC, the Legal Aid Board and Women's Aid were all unanimously in agreement with that. They said the system is ready to collapse and is deteriorating in front of their eyes. Legal aid is fundamental to access to justice, especially in relation to domestic violence and family law. It is bursting at the seams, even without the added pressure this legislation looks like it will put on the Legal Aid Board. The Minister mentioned giving autonomy to the board and deciding on how it spends its resources. It is like Hobson's choice. Will it have to decide whether to help people in international protection, to help people with domestic violence or to help people in family law? Everybody that was at the meeting yesterday wants to do the right thing.  I asked earlier about legal group counselling. This was done for children with additional needs. They did group therapy. It was a way of bringing down the list by having a number of people in a room at the same time for a box-ticking exercise. They got some therapy but it was all in a group setting. Will the Minister give me clarification? He has not answered that the couple of times I have asked. Will legal counselling be done in a group setting or an individual setting? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I will answer Deputy Ward while I have it in mind. That will be a matter for the Legal Aid Board. I will not specify in legislation that the board in providing legal counselling must do it individually. That would be an excessive reach in terms of a statute. It will be a matter for the Legal Aid Board to determine.  Deputy Gannon referred to the hearings yesterday before the justice committee. I did not hear them but I read about them. He quoted a section from the Free Legal Advice Centres. I have to ensure what I do in this legislation will not completely overburden the Legal Aid Board with the requirements placed on it. There is a balancing act here. People say we need to devote more money to civil legal aid. I agree with that but I have a budget that I have to work with. I have to ensure the definition of \"legal counselling\" that I put into this legislation does not result in those resources being devoted predominately to international protection.  Deputy Kelly asked about the definition. I said earlier \u2013 I was very frank with the House about what I am proposing - that the APR definition will provide the basis of the definition of \"legal counselling\". As I said, the Deputy included it himself. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  Why not bring it forward now, so? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  It is very clear from that definition in Article 16 what legal counselling is. It is distinct from legal advice. We need to recognise that when people come in seeking international protection, they do not need the expertise of a very well-qualified senior solicitor. They need somebody who is expert in the area of applications for international protection. They need to be informed about the procedure and the importance of the narrative that is provided to the individual who is hearing their application at first instance. Those are the crucial factors in determining whether an individual is entitled to be granted asylum.  I know it is set out as a very legal and litigious process when you look at the detail of the legislation but, ultimately, the most important aspect for any applicant for international protection is to be able to set out coherently and as comfortably as possible the basis upon which they say that they are entitled to international protection. That requires legal counselling from individuals who are expert in that type of work and process. That will be much more effective. The intention in the amendments, when they come forward, will be that they will be governed by the Legal Aid Board.  I apologise but I do not have definitions here. I have provided as much coherence as possible. We have had a good debate on legal counselling. Individuals need to be aware that if the definition of \"legal counselling\" they want to include in the Bill is legal counselling that includes advice from a solicitor or barrister, that will place excessive burdens on the legal aid system in this country. It is not feasible. It is always open to an individual seeking international protection at first instance to apply to the Legal Aid Board, and that will continue. In 2024, there were 11,689 applications to the board in respect of international protection. That process will continue.  To deal with the issue raised by Deputy Ward, the Legal Aid Board finds itself with what he referred to as a Hobson\u2019s choice.  It finds itself in the position where it has to choose who to grant legal aid to. It is a difficult choice. I have to be careful with the legislation I am bringing forward in ensuring it does not overburden the Legal Aid Board.  As I said, legal counselling will be provided. It will be based on the definition in Article 16 of the asylum procedures regulation, APR. It will not necessarily have to be legal advice. However, it will not preclude an applicant from applying for legal advice from the Legal Aid Board. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  It is important to say that paralegals cannot provide individualised advice in that sense. In the context of this 12-week timeframe, individuals who come here may suffer from trauma that they cannot convey in the immediacy with which this pact will demand. They will not receive the appropriate level of advice through the mechanisms the Minister has laid out because they will not have a qualified person giving them access to information in a language they understand, relative to the timeframe they need to deal with the trauma for whatever they may have experienced. That is where this is looking like it is going to fall down a lot. I have not been convinced at all by the Minister\u2019s arguments. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Does the Minister wish to respond? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  No. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  I move amendment No. 8:  In page 23, between lines 22 and 23, to insert the following:  \"(2) A reference in this Act to a \u2018measure of last resort\u2019 means, in relation to an adult or a child, a measure that is taken only after all non-custodial alternatives to detention have been duly considered, in accordance with Recital 33 and Article 10(2) of the Reception Conditions Directive.\".  This amendment defines \"measure of last resort\" to ensure that \"non-custodial alternatives\" are enshrined in the Bill. We are spending an awful lot of time in here on definitions, and here we go again. The amendment states:  A reference in this Act to a 'measure of last resort' means, in relation to an adult or a child, a measure that is taken only after all non-custodial alternatives to detention have been duly considered, in accordance with Recital 33 and Article 10(2) of the Reception Conditions Directive.  As the House knows, this directive ensures that on reception, people have access to appropriate food, clothing, housing, etc., and have the right to access work within six months.  What we are trying to do is to define in exact terms what this means so that we do not run into other issues throughout the rest of the Bill. It is critical that we do so. We are getting into new territory with this Bill as regards the role of detention. To ensure the Bill is legally robust, the amendment is critical.  The amendment will also ensure that we are going down the right road when it comes to the issue of the detention of vulnerable people and, indeed, children. The definition carries on. We need to ensure that we look at all alternatives available to the State in relation to how we treat people once they arrive in our country, the processes we put them through and the places in which we put them. I am and my party are not satisfied from a definition point of view that this is dealt with adequately enough in the Bill and that is why I am putting forward this amendment. I hope the Minister looks on it favourably. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aidan Farrelly  Notwithstanding the merits of this amendment, we should be clear first that we should not be legislating for the detention of children who have done nothing wrong. That should never be a part of legislation and certainly not legislation that has been described in this House today as rushed in nature. It has not been thought through. There will be amendments forthcoming on other Stages.  We have not thought this Bill through and with that in mind, legislating for the detention of children who have done nothing wrong simply does not seem right. If the Minister is to pursue that then we need to ensure we obtain what Deputy Kelly is providing for about what a clear definition of \"last resort\" is and by extension who gets to determine when that has been reached. It is incumbent on the Government to make sure that detail is provided in this legislation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  I support Deputy Kelly's amendment. It is a shame we have even got to this point. Each time we say this Bill caters for the detention of children and that it is the first time in the history of the State that such legislation will be enacted, I get a sense from the Minister he does not think it is a fair description. Last week either he or the Minister of State said this was only for a 12-hour defined period and I think the phrase used was that it would be done when it was in the best interest of the child. There is no human rights organisation that considers the detention of children to ever be in the best interest of the child. I will be supporting Deputy Kelly's amendment but we need to be very careful. The history of this State and the institutional incarceration of people who committed no crimes should hang heavy over all we do when we seek to enact measures such as this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  I do not believe for a second we are being as cautious as is necessary. I do not believe we should be legislating for the detention of children or for the detention of people who have committed no crime. We already have a scenario where a significant amount of the population in our prisons is made up of our people awaiting deportations. That has created a multitude of injustices. It was captured by the Inspector of Prisons in terms of the overcrowding and all the tragedies that exist in our prison system at the moment. I do not want to create more legislative mechanisms or pathways for the detention of people who have committed no crime, especially children. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  We are talking about definitions of \"last resort\" for people going into custody but we would not need to be talking about detentions if we had a rules-based system that worked and would enable people to be processed quickly and fairly. I have some questions about the detention of children in particular. Where are these children going to be held? Will this fall under Tusla or what body is going to be responsible? How many unaccompanied minors have arrived over the past couple of years? I have not been able to get those figures and I would appreciate it if the Minister could answer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  This is obviously a very sensitive area and the welfare of children is absolutely paramount. As Deputy Ward said, we need a robust system that treats people fairly and processes them as quickly as possible. I ask the Minister to set out in as much detail as he can what he envisages will happen in terms of detention and how that process will work in practice. Is it his position it should be a measure of \"last resort\", as mentioned in the amendment, and what safeguards are there to ensure the welfare of people who are being dealt with through that system, especially vulnerable people and children? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  We should mark in the D\u00e1il that we are talking about minors and children being detained in prison. Every day I wake up and put on social media and my jaw drops to the floor at the stuff that is happening in the world, especially in the US with ICE and so on, but there are things in this Bill we should mark as being in exactly the same trend. One of them is for the first time explicitly allowing the possibility of children being detained for their own good, apparently. Detaining children never serves the good of anyone. The Ombudsman for Children has called this legislation a lowering of human rights and asked that there be an explicit prohibition on children being detained. Instead, it is being put in as a possible option. The UN committee for children would also state the same. We have definitely come a long way since the Minister took over this position. It is not just him as it is a trend happening throughout the EU and western governments. Fair play to the far right for the impact they are having because we are actually talking about unaccompanied children potentially being detained. There are other things in the Bill in relation to children I will come back in on but we need to send a message out that this is in the Bill because it is a lowering of human rights standards, as the ombudsman has said. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I want to deal with the issue of detention of unaccompanied minors which has been presented in very emotive way in the House. I need to be clear about the circumstances when it will apply because to listen in to this debate you would think the detention of unaccompanied minors could happen in a haphazard or capricious way but that is not the case. Let us look at what is provided for in section 24. It is contained in section 24(11) and I will read it out because it is extremely important. It states:  A member of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na or an immigration officer may, in exceptional circumstances and as a measure of last resort, arrest without warrant and detain, in accordance with subsection (13) , a minor who is in the custody of an applicant (whether the applicant is a parent or a person acting  in loco parentis or any other person) where the applicant is detained under this section and where\u2014  (a) it is necessary for the purposes of determining or verifying the identity or nationality of the minor,  (b) the member or officer is satisfied that less coercive alternative measures cannot be applied effectively, and  (c) [Something that is never mentioned here] it is assessed by the member or officer that the detention is in the minor\u2019s best interests.  As such, there cannot be any detention unless there is a determination the detention is in the minor's best interest. Subsection 24(12) which follows provides similarly that:  A member of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na or an immigration officer may, in exceptional circumstances and as a measure of last resort, arrest without warrant an applicant who is an unaccompanied minor and detain the unaccompanied minor in accordance with subsection (13) ...  Again, the same three conditions must be met and I emphasise the third condition, which is that \"it is assessed by the member or officer that the detention is in the minor\u2019s best interests\" and safeguards the unaccompanied minor. We need to recognise the only time this will happen is when there is an assessment it is in the best interests of the minor. That is something that has not been emphasised here and it is an extremely important proviso. Also, as Deputy Gannon indicated earlier, section 24(13) states any such detention will be:  (a) for the shortest possible period of time, and in any event for a maximum period of 12 hours, and [to answer Deputy O'Hara's question]  (b) in a place prescribed by the Minister for that purpose (which shall not be a prison, children detention school or Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na station), under warrant of the arresting member or officer and in the custody of the person for the time being in charge of the place, or in a vehicle for the purposes of bringing the minor to that place.  We need to be honest about the provision. People can very emotively say the Minister and the Government are bringing in rules for the detention of minors but Members should please emphasise as well that it can only happen in circumstances where it is believed that short detention of no longer than 12 hours is in the best interests of the minor.  I will now deal with Deputy Kelly's amendment No. 8. Again, as has been indicated, this tries to put a definition into the section we are still dealing with that contains the definitions. The Deputy\u2019s amendment refers to recital 33 and Article 10(2) of the reception conditions directive. As the Deputy and others will know, that is an extremely important directive that needs to be transposed into Irish law. The way we did that previously was to bring it in through a statutory instrument, which was secondary legislation the then Minister signed setting out that these are the reception conditions to which an applicant is entitled. The entitlements in terms of accommodation and work were set out. It is preferable that the reception conditions directive be transposed within the primary legislation rather than doing what was done previously by just signing a statutory instrument, which will not have the same level of appraisal or consideration by the Houses.  I intend to bring forward amendments that will deal with the reception conditions directive. They will come back and we will be able to examine them. The legal instrument transposing them will very much reflect what is in the reception conditions directive, of which everyone is aware and which is readily available for people to inspect. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  We need a definition. We in the Labour Party included this amendment because we felt we are now crossing into a new level we have never before dealt with in the State in respect of holding people, including children, who are vulnerable. This is going down a road which is unacceptable to many. I listened to what the Minister said. Some of what he said I genuinely accept, when he includes the three provisos. The third is very subjective. I accept he referred to all three. The third one is quite subjective and that is worrying.  If the Minister will not accept my amendment, which I will press, he may want to consider bringing forward something in the Seanad. It looks like he is not doing anything on Report Stage because he wants to pass the Bill next week. We have a new departure and need to ensure that the most vulnerable, including children, who will be in this situation are protected to the nth degree. That is why we have taken quite a long period of time to put forward this amendment. We did so because as a party we thought it was important that this was prescribed and defined. This is a can of worms that the Minister does not want to open. If he does not get this right, it will cause significant issues for very vulnerable people, including children under the protection of the State. We need to be very clear and defined as to how we will deal with this through this definition. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aidan Farrelly  I thank the Minister for his response. Today we are misjudging in an overwhelming fashion the vulnerability associated with children and young people who are experiencing this process. In doing so, I have lost count of the number of bodies with acronyms that have come out and said that it is never in a child's best interests to be detained. Notwithstanding the fact that the Minister has included point 3 in the Bill, against every research piece and piece of evidence that says it is never in the child's best interest to be detained, who is experienced or qualified enough to go against that and decide it is deemed to be in a child's best interests to be detained?  We have amendments that ask for this to be removed wholesale. We should not be legislating for the detention of children. I will take the opportunity to say that now. Will a lack of availability in the State of appropriate care ever be a rationale for detaining children? If we cannot or are not in a position to provide appropriate places for children or young people, based on it being in their best interests could there be a rationale to detain them?  We spent the guts of what felt like 14 hours discussing a definition of \"absconding\". Children and young people will not even have the opportunity to abscond because, in some cases, they will be detained for doing nothing wrong. How will it be deemed to be in their best interest to be detained for nothing at all? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  It is very difficult because the Minister sounds very reasonable. He has told us that under only three conditions will a child be detained when it is in their best interests. That is fine, but we do not legislate for the Minister's good intent. There will be another Minister for justice and other Governments. There are people who will go further. We are already going further than we thought would be the case three years ago. We can accept the Minister has good intent, but that is not how legislation works.  The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has said that the immigration detention of a child \"is never in the best interest of a child and always a violation of children\u2019s rights\". It is difficult to have a parliamentary back and forth in that context. I accept the bona fides of the Minister, but the high commissioner who is responsible for the human rights of the child has said it is \"never in the best interest of a child\" to be detained for any period of time. We have tabled amendments to remove that provision, but we may not get to them. The Minister is wrong here. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  I would like to hear some examples of what the best interests might be because I struggle to see an example of when it would be in the best interests of a child to be detained. The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child has said that children should never be detained because of their or their parents' migration status. We all know it is not a good idea to put children in prison or detention.  There is a presumption of adulthood in the Bill, whereby a Garda, an official or whoever would be able to guess a person's age and presume that they are an adult. We do not have a great track record with regard to differentiating the ages of people of different races, nationalities and so on. The Bill states that reasonable grounds must be shown, but what are reasonable grounds? It is a broad term. Under this provision, 16-year-olds could very easily be detained because somebody assumes they are an adult due to the fact they do not know or do not have proof of their age.  As everybody has said, it is a slippery slope. I am sure the Minister is aware that all of the children's rights agencies have asked for this to be explicitly ruled out of the Bill, but he is leaving it in. He has told us he will come back with further measures down the line. As others have said, when accommodation, proper care facilities or whatever cannot be found, children will end up in Garda stations or other detention centres that the State might develop in the years ahead. We have seen with Irish citizens, never mind people coming in from other countries, that people have to go to Garda stations because otherwise they would be on the streets. I would like some examples of when it might be in someone's best interests to be detained in this way. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I thank colleagues for their contributions. The determination of whether something is in the best interests of a child is carried out every day of the week by judges. It is also a determination that is carried out in advance by Tusla or other agencies which find themselves having to go to court. There are unquestionably occasions where people have to determine what is in the best interests of the child. We are aware that this provision only applies in respect of the screening process. It is a very short period of time. There will unquestionably be circumstances, as in the first section, where a child has arrived into Ireland with an adult who is another applicant and that applicant is not available. There are circumstances in such cases where it would be in the best interests of the child to be detained for a short period of time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  It is for 12 hours. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  We need to recognise that when it comes to the drafting of legislation, we do not set out the circumstances in which the Oireachtas believes something would be in the best interests of the child. We have to allow a certain level of discretion. Of course all of this will be subject to very careful judicial intervention. That is why the drafting of the Bill is so important.  We need to recognise that the amendment we are dealing with relates to the definition section of the Bill. When we come to section 24, there are further amendments in respect of the express provision regarding the limited period of detention that is permissible.  I take on board what Deputy Kelly has said about the reception conditions directive. It is an improvement that the directive will be transposed through primary legislation for debate here, as opposed to by way of statutory instrument, which was an option. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aidan Farrelly  I wish to pick up on what the Minister said that judges or Tusla will quite often make that determination. I struggle to think of an example where they would make such a determination in a child's best interests - to detain them simply for existing. There are no behavioural issues, crimes being committed or laws being broken. There is no rationale for that decision. It is quite disingenuous to say Tusla or a judge would have the competency to determine that it is in a child\u2019s best interest to be detained for no reason other than for existing. The Minister can withdraw that if he likes. It is not a comparison and it does not make sense to include it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Amendment No. 9 in the name of Deputy Alan Kelly has been ruled out of order. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  I am sorry, a Cheann Comhairle----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I am just about to read the reason. I thank the Deputy. Amendment No. 9 would insert a new definition for \"legal counselling\", a term used later in the Bill. This definition would provide that such services would be provided to persons free of charge irrespective of a person's ability to secure legal services by their own means. Amendment No. 47 in the name of Deputy Kelly forms a composite proposal with amendment No. 9, inserting a reference to these \"legal counselling\" services into section 26 of the Bill. Such \"free\" legal services would have to be provided at the expense of the State. It needs to be understood that the amendments must be ruled out of order in accordance with Standing Order 219(3) as they have the potential to impose a charge on the Revenue. Deputy Kelly has stated that the \"free of charge\" reference he used was taken from a Government regulation, but Government regulations are not subject to Standing Orders, under which the Bills Office decides whether amendments are in order. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  For complete clarity, if the wording \"free of charge\" was not in the amendment, the likelihood is that these amendments could have been accepted. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy will accept, however, that the Bills Office must operate under Standing Orders. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  Yes, I understand. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  We are always learning in this place, trust me. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  All Deputies are free to take their case to the Committee on Standing Orders and D\u00e1il Reform, should a change be required. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  I thank the Ceann Comhairle for that clarification. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank the Deputy. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment No. 9 not moved."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  We move now to amendment No. 10 in the names of Deputies Gannon and Kelly. Amendments Nos. 10, 17, 20, 134, 135, 154, 192 and 206 are related and may be discussed together. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  I move amendment No. 10:  In page 23, between lines 24 and 25, to insert the following:  \u201c(3) (a) In the application and interpretation of this Act, the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration in all matters affecting a person who is a minor or who is presumed to be a minor.  (b) In determining for the purposes of paragraph (a) what is in the best interests of the child, the following factors shall be taken into account:  (i) the views of the child, having regard to the child\u2019s age and maturity;  (ii) the child\u2019s identity, including their age, gender, sexual orientation, nationality and religion;  (iii) safety, welfare and development needs;  (iv) preservation of family relationships;  (v) any particular vulnerabilities of the child; and  (vi) any other particular circumstances pertaining to the child concerned.\u201d.  In our contributions on the last amendment we discussed, we spent a good bit of time discussing the best interests of the child. It should be understood, however, that nowhere in this Bill are \"the best interests of the child\" defined. This is an important definition. Without it, it leaves it up to the determination of a person in the future who may have a motive that is different from the Minister's.  This amendment seeks to provide a definition for \"the best interests of the child\". We suggest inserting the wording of this amendment between lines 24 and 25 on page 23. The best interests of the child are a foundational principle of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, UNCRC. It is vital to ensuring children's full and effective enjoyment of their rights. Under Article 3 of the UNCRC, Ireland must ensure that the best interests of the child are treated as a primary consideration in all actions affecting children. This obligation is reinforced by Article 3(3) of the Treaty on European Union and Article 24(2) of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU. The application of the best interests principle should be the primary consideration for all sections of the legislation relevant to children. Each legislative instrument sets out explicitly that the best interests of the child must be the primary consideration for the State when implementing the provisions therein that affect children. However, that is not fully reflected in the Bill, so we ask the Minister to include it in the Bill.  Therefore, we are not having a conversation about a discretionary understanding of a child's best interests but a factually based one that can live on for as long as this Bill does. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  This needs to be defined. We cannot leave this loose. We already had a discussion on the previous amendment in relation to how we are moving into new territory as regards detaining children. It is never good when children are being detained. It is not acceptable. However, we also have to have a definition as regards what we are doing to include the best interests of the child as a primary consideration in the application of the Act's provision by inserting a definition into the interpretation section so that it will run throughout the Bill.  I will not repeat it but my colleague referred to Article 3 of the UNCHR, the EU Charter and everything else. The reality is that this is quite a defining component. Ultimately, the best interests of the child should be the defining statement of how we pursue this legislation from here on in. We cannot allow it to be loosely understood. We cannot allow it to be undefined. This is a critical decision. If the Minister is not going to accept our amendment here and now, he is going to have to have to bring forward something in relation to this issue. There will be an outcry if he does not. It does need definition. We have put this forward because we believe this is the best way in which we can deal with it. These are not circumstances under which we want to be doing this but we have to do it. I ask that the Minister really consider this amendment. It is probably one of the most important amendments to this whole Bill that is being brought forward. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aidan Farrelly  With regard to amendment No. 20, I am fully supportive of amendment No. 10. We will take another run at it in a definition in terms of Article 14.1 of the Eurodac regulation. My concern equally with this legislation, and it speaks again to the somewhat rushed nature of it, is that it could even be at odds with domestic legislation with regard to Children First and young children and young people's rights and welfare and protections in the State because it does not underpin this legislation. It does not go far enough at all to very clearly highlight the importance of what we must remember are a very vulnerable cohort of people in this society. They are people who have experienced trauma and a whole diversity of issues, and what they need are services. This legislation, as Deputy Kelly said, could be seen from a child's point of view as an opportunity to underpin what is not an optional extra. A child's access to basic human rights and services is not an optional extra. This legislation is not underpinned by a child's best interests, not just with regard to the detention - we have covered that, and I am sure we will cover it again - but also the way in which they interact with the services of this State as they experience the international protection system.  My amendment No. 14 was ruled out of order because of the money message. I am a new TD; I am learning. I will have it written in a different way for future pieces of legislation. However, I say that to show the Minister there is a series of ways in which he and his officials could draft what this will look like as a definition. It is essential that the ways in which a child's welfare are of utmost importance are central to this legislation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  Sinn F\u00e9in will be supporting amendment No. 10. I just want to speak to amendments Nos. 17, 20, 134, 154, 192 and 206, which are in my name and which set out very clearly in a number of different provisions within the Bill that the best interests of the child should be a primary consideration in the carrying out of any procedures. This is really important for a number of reasons. Children are clearly very vulnerable in many aspects. There is a whole raft of areas of concern about how children are treated in the international protection system, particularly when we are talking about very young children. They do not decide to arrive in Ireland or anywhere else and make an international protection application. If they are with their parents or guardian, that decision has been made on their behalf by their parent or guardian. Whatever about the merits of the case or whatever else, it is academic. It does not matter. Their interests need to be protected.  We also know that for what I would consider to be too large a number of unaccompanied minors who come into the State, in many respects, there is a hidden hand behind their arrival in Ireland. Some of it is quite nefarious and some of it is very dangerous in terms of the safety of the children. There are bad actors - the terms \"people smugglers\" or \"human traffickers\" could be applied to them. Therefore, it is crucially important that this State has very robust procedures, absolutely, but also that it ensures the welfare of the child does not come into question.  I agree with everything that has been said that when we talk about any core principle, we also need to define it. That is why I welcome the amendment from Deputies Gannon and Kelly that set out a definition. Again, I would ask the Minister whether he is accepting that definition. I think the definition is 100% fine. If he is not accepting the definition, is he going to bring forward another definition or is there going to be a definition for rights of the child?  In respect of amendments Nos. 17, 20, 134, 154, 192 and 206, which are in different parts of the legislation and refer to very specific roles regarding the best interests of the child, that principle is set in as an important general instruction to those who will be charged with manning the international protection system. It is important. The Irish people want a system that works. They want a system where decisions are made quickly but where they are the right decisions, so that if people have an entitlement to be here, they receive that entitlement and they are supported to become fully fledged members of our communities, and if they do not have an entitlement to be here, that decision is made quickly. In the meantime, when that decision is being made, I believe the vast majority of Irish people want people to be treated decently. They want people to be treated with the same responsibilities and the same rights and benefits we would expect Irish people to receive elsewhere. They are just fundamental principles.  There is a particular empathy with young people who are emigrants. I was born as an emigrant. It was not a million miles away - across the water - but the experience of an immigrant child is very peculiar because growing up is hard to do and especially for older children and teenagers. It can be a very traumatic experience, and we need to be cognisant of that because regardless of whether somebody is entitled to ultimately to be in Ireland, we want their experience to be a positive one from the start. If they are not entitled to be in Ireland and they go elsewhere in the world, we still want their experience of dealing with the Irish system to have been fair and humane. I commend this amendment.  I will press each of the amendments. I am hoping that the Minister will give an indication that he will accept some, if not all, of those amendments, which, as I said, are just putting the principle of the best interests of the child in various sections. However, I do think it would be important that the House vote on at least one of those to send out a very clear message that they are the guiding principles by which we judge ourselves. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  On this practical application of the best interests of children, I agree with the definitions. The child's developmental needs and vulnerability are some of the items that are listed in this amendment. I want to give the Minister an example, and this needs to be carried through to how we treat people in IPAS accommodation, not just those applying for accommodation. I have been contacted by IPAS residents in the Crown Plaza hotel in Blanchardstown. They have lived there for a number of years.  They were told in a letter dated 13 February, but I do not know whether they received it then, that they must move this Friday, 20 February. That is less than a week's notice. They have to move to Breaffy Woods in Castlebar, more than 200 km away. These people have children in local schools and preschools. In the case of the family who contacted me, they have a child who is autistic. They have a child linked to essential services in Blanchardstown. They have a child in preschool, which is like hens' teeth as it is absolutely impossible for somebody who has special needs to get into a preschool that caters for those needs where they get the therapeutic services necessary for their development.  I ask the Minister to intervene to see that the best interests of this child are protected and that they are not moved to an area 200 km away where, I am absolutely certain, they will not have treatment services for their autism lined up or services necessary for their language skills. I ask the Minister to intervene to make sure this family, for example, is able to stay in Dublin even if they have to move to other IPAS accommodation until they find their own accommodation, be it out in Finglas or wherever, to allow them to stay in Dublin and to continue getting the services.  This is an example of the best interests of the child in practical application. We should adopt these amendments. It really is very unfair for the Department to issue people with letters to move hundreds of miles away within a week, when they have been in an area for several years and made links there, developed there and have children in schools there. We all know the crisis there is in autism and special education in particular. I hope the Minister will take this on board. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I thank Deputies Gannon and Kelly for the amendment. I will discuss all of the amendments grouped together. Amendment No. 10 tabled by Deputies Gannon and Kelly can be divided into two parts. The Deputies want to set out in the legislation that the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration in all matters affecting a person who is minor. I have no difficulty with this provision being put into the legislation but I need to inform Members that it is in the Bill already. Section 29(1) contains a provision dealing with a guarantee for minors. Section 29(1) states: \"The best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration in the carrying out of procedures in respect of a minor under this Part.\" Colleagues may revert and state this is limited to that Part but I would look at it because I certainly want it to be the case that throughout the legislation the best interests of the child should be the primary consideration.  In the next part of the proposed amendment from Deputies Gannon and Kelly they have decided they think it would be preferable to define what is the best interests of the child or how the best interests of the child should be determined, and they do so in six paragraphs setting out the views of the child, the age of the child, safety and developmental needs, preservation of family relationships, particular vulnerabilities and any other particular circumstances. There is a genuine debate to be had as to whether when we put a protection in legislation, it is benefited by seeking to provide a definition of that general protection. The term \"the best interests of the child\" is in Article 42A of our Constitution. The courts are required to ensure that decisions made are in the best interests of the child. I will consider it. I will table amendments in respect of this matter. I cannot accept the amendments as they are at present, particularly amendments Nos. 10, 17, 20 and 206.  Section 15 clearly provides for the safeguards required by the Eurodac regulation on the collection of biometric data from children. I do not propose to accept amendments Nos. 134 135, 154 and 192. Article 23 of the asylum and migration management regulation and Article 22 of the asylum procedures regulation set out that the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration for the state and the competent authorities of the state with respect to all procedures provided for in those regulations. This is a legally binding obligation on the state. As such, it may not be necessary to include these amendments in the Bill. I will give careful consideration to what is in these amendments and I may bring forward further amendments later to give effect to them. It is important, however, to note that the legislation already provides that the best interests of the child be the primary consideration.  In respect of what Deputy Coppinger has raised, what makes immigration a really difficult thing to deal with, particularly if you are the person making the decisions - and everyone in here makes decisions when it comes to legislation - is that you are dealing with people's lives. Decisions that are made have consequential impacts on individuals. What I have tried to do - and feel free to criticise me, which I know the Deputy will - is that I have tried to get away from a situation whereby we have an arbitrary system. I have tried to have a rules-based system. Deputy Gibney criticised me and asked where the compassion is in this. If I go down the route of moving away from a rules-based system and decide I will deal with individual requests on an individual basis, we will have a system that is very unfair in the generality of how it is applied. It will become arbitrary and nobody will know what the outcome will be. Those who can get a well-connected campaign up and running will know they are in a better position or people may think if they can mention a case in the D\u00e1il, they will have a better chance of receiving a positive result.  I do not know the situation in terms of the individuals Deputy Coppinger referred to. I do not know whether they have been refused status. I am not asking the Deputy to deal with the details of it now; if she wants to she can mention them to me. I do not know whether they have been refused status and been served with a deportation order. Alternatively, I do not know whether they have been granted status. One thing the Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, and I cannot do if people have been granted status is to get into the accommodation business of providing an ever-growing amount of accommodation for people who are not international protection applicants but who are beneficiaries of international protection. Deputy Coppinger may not want to assert it but she will know this something that is just not feasible. There has to be movement through the system of individuals who come in and apply for international protection. We have an obligation under the material conditions directive to provide them with that accommodation during their application process. Once that process comes to an end, we no longer have an obligation. It is not tenable for the State to provide endless accommodation after decisions have been made. It would be a recipe for quite significant trouble were that to arise.  The Deputy asked me to intervene. I could fudge this with her and say something else but I will not intervene. I have to be consistent across the board. If somebody comes up to me here and asks me to intervene, I will be honest and say I will not do so. We have to have a rules-based system. Otherwise if I intervene on the basis of TDs contacting me and asking me to intervene, the system will become very unfair to the individuals concerned. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  The Minister's response is quite revealing. We are saying this is a Bill for the detention of children. He is saying not to worry, he will recognise the rights of children and there is nothing to be worried about. Then we have amendments before us that propose the best interests of the child should be a primary consideration in the carrying out of this procedure in terms of asylum, and we have amendments that propose this Part will be interpreted in line with the guarantees for minors set out in Article 23, but the Minister is here to tell us he cannot accept them. The most substantive reason he gave for not being able to accept them is that he says the provision is already there. The Minister knows it is not already there because he has just read it out. It is there in a different Part.  He asserted two reasons he cannot do it. One is because it is already a legal obligation so what is the point in doing it and the other is that it is already there in a different Part. He read it out himself. It is in the Part relating to Eurodac and screening. The Bill states explicitly that the best interests of the child should be a primary consideration in the carrying out of the procedures under that Part. We are asking him to state it in relation to the asylum process and he is not going to accept it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I am going to consider it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  The Minister is not going to accept it today on Committee Stage. As part of the Minister's consideration, I ask him to consider that he cannot logically say that we do not need it because it is already binding on us because of Article 23 itself, and then on the other hand say it is here in relation to this particular part. The fact that it is there in relation to the Eurodac regulation and screening illustrates that it is there. Someone decided there is a need for it to be there in order for that to apply. Yet, as it stands, when we finish Committee Stage it is not going to be there in the part that relates to asylum procedures. Does Deputy O'Callaghan really want to be the Minister who says that the best interests of the child and guarantees for minors are not going to be referenced in terms of how we are carrying out asylum procedures? That is fine, the Minister will vote against it today and vote it down. However, I would say the argumentation does not hold water. That it is referenced elsewhere suggests that someone somewhere recognised the need to reference it, and it needs to be referenced in relation to this part as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aidan Farrelly  I thank the Minister for coming in. With regard to amendment No. 10 and equally the one in my name, amendment No. 20, I want to highlight a couple of aspects of amendment No. 14 that went into detail on this matter. It has since been ruled out of order. It is essentially just an extension----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Cathal Crowe)  We are not discussing that amendment. Can the Deputy speak to the amendment before the House? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aidan Farrelly  -----of what amendment No. 20 was. It is the same amendment essentially without the detail. The Minister can see that. Long before I ever considered or entertained a career in politics or had an opportunity to do so, I was a youth worker in Kildare. I worked with children and young people who were living in direct provision centres. I would love to be here appealing for legislation to enshrine meaningful opportunities for young people and children to engage in education, to engage in play and to engage in appropriate health outcomes. It is really hypocritical of the Minister to say that the best interests of the child are already enshrined in this legislation when we are collectively engaging in a process of legislating for the detention of children. It is still there; we have just voted it through. It is still part of it.  I accept the Minister's sincerity in this regard. I can see in him that he believes that children's rights are not being impinged as part of this legislation. The lived experience I have had, which is a very limited one in comparison to the children and young people who have experienced direct provision or the international protection system, is at complete contrast and odds to that. I appeal to the Minister again. Amendment No. 14 is out of order based on the cost; that is fine. There are really meaningful pieces in amendments Nos. 10 and 20, and many others, that ensure that what actually comes out of this, among many other things, is an opportunity for the State to very clearly say it will ensure that the experience of a child or young person experiencing the international protection system is just and is fair, and that there is a quality associated with this. We have seen way too many contracts being signed by this State over the last number of years that did not define a minimum set of standards with regard to accommodation, play, education, independence, meal preparation or anything like that. On many occasions, we have seen operators riding roughshod over what they believe to be optional extras with regard to quality of life. That is why I am here today. I am trying to represent the children and young people who have experienced that system. We cannot ever stand over a statement that a child's best interest is part of this legislation if we intend to provide for their detention when they have done nothing wrong. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  I appreciate that the Minister has said he will \"consider\" the amendment. Two weeks ago he said he would consider amendments, but I have not seen a huge amount of evidence of that. When we asked for the specification of the rights of the child to be clarified in the Bill, he said this may not be necessary. One of the factors he pointed to was the Constitution. The rights of the child are protected in the Constitution. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I was saying that we do not set out in the Constitution what the best interests of the child are. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  No, but the Minister said that the term \"the best interests of the child\" is in the Constitution. The rights of the family are also enumerated in the Constitution, but later tonight the Minister will obliterate the family reunification scheme. There is no consistency across the board in terms of the arguments or the merits. I have come to the conclusion that the Minister is probably going to vote against all of the amendments. That is fine; he is in Government and we are not. However, there is no way that 276 amendments can all be without merit. Why can we not define the rights of a child here? The Minister may need to add two or three things through Seanad amendments if he wishes, but why do we not establish collectively across the Chamber that it would be in the best interests to put some specification on what exactly the best interests of a child would be? Should he wish to amend that further in the Seanad, that is up to the Minister, but at least we can come away with the sense that maybe this was a worthwhile several-year process that we all engaged in, where we were told at each point there would be something coming at the next point. It simply has not happened. I think we can all agree that the best interests of children should actually have some specification in a Bill of this importance. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  I will not go on about this but I want to clarify something for the D\u00e1il record. By raising a case, I am not asking the Minister to break any rule. The IPAS residents I mentioned are being transferred to another place. It is not breaking a rule for them not to transfer to that place. They could transfer to another place. We already have a rule that children's developmental and health needs, etc., will be taken into account. They have not committed any crimes. If they are in the hotel, presumably they have not got a deportation order so I do not know why the Minister raised that. If they are being transferred to Mayo, they hardly have a deportation order. It was very confused things the Minister said. The case I mentioned is just an example. The people in question are living in an area where their children are going to school. They are accessing services after a huge amount of work was done to get those services. We are just asking that they be allowed to maintain that. We are not asking the Minister to give them an amnesty or anything like that. It is important. There is already a rules-based system where we are meant to take children's needs into account. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I assure Deputy Gannon that I am not saying I do not see any merit in the amendment. I do see merit in it. I have indicated to the Deputy that I am going to consider it and that I will most probably bring forward amendments in respect of it to emphasise the best interests of the child. I do not think it is without merit.  The point I was making about the reference in the Constitution to \"the best interests of the child\" is that we can decide whether we want to define what the best interests of the child are - Deputies Gannon and Kelly have put it in their amendment - or we can leave it vague. By leaving it vague, it is probably broader. One of the downsides of specifying what a term means in legislation is that when somebody looks at it, they will very much limit the meaning of \"the best interests of the child\" to the six paragraphs that have been set out. Sometimes it can have broader application if we do not try to specify it and tie it down in six areas. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 2, as amended, agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"SECTION 3"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Amendment No. 11 is out of order. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  Can I get clarification as to why amendment No. 11 was ruled out of order? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  As discussed earlier, amendments Nos. 1 and 11 would both require that the Minister carry out reports and administrative matters and lay these reports before the Houses before the Act or provisions thereof can be commenced. It is a long-established precedent that the commencement of an Act cannot be made contingent on an administrative matter external to the Houses, and that is to say contingent on a matter that is outside the control of the Houses themselves. As this is in conflict with the general principles of the Bill as read a Second Time, the amendments must be ruled out of order in accordance with Standing Order 194(1) as they are in conflict with the principle of the Bill as read a Second Time. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment No. 11 not moved."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Amendments Nos. 12, 137, 138, 140, 144, 155, 159, 167, 194, 197, 221 to 224, inclusive, 245 to 247, inclusive, 255, 263, 266, 267 and 269 are all related and will be discussed together. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Brophy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Justice (Deputy Colm Brophy)  I move amendment No. 12:  In page 23, lines 33 and 34, to delete \" 174(1) or 174(5) \" and substitute \" 174(1) , 174(5) , 176 or 193 \".  I propose to take Amendments Nos. 12, 137, 138, 140, 144, 155, 159, 167, 194, 197, 221 to 224, inclusive, 245 to 247, inclusive, 255, 263, 266, 267 and 269 together.  They are technical and drafting amendments providing clarity and correcting errors in the text. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question proposed: \"That section 3, as amended, stand part of the Bill.\""},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  The Ceann Comhairle mentioned the rationale for amendment No. 11 being ruled out of order. It would be appropriate if the Minister of State could give an indication as to how exactly these Houses are to have any faith whatsoever that Tusla will be in a position to carry out the obligations that are placed on it as a result of the measures in the Bill.  I take it from the Ceann Comhairle's guidance that the part of the amendment that precluded it from being taken is subsection (3) which indicates that the Act cannot commence until the report that is sought in the earlier subsections is furnished. In that regard, I will try to have a better-worded amendment on Report Stage.  Seriously, how can the Minister of State enact this, which will place additional issues and pressures on Tusla, without ensuring that it has the staffing, the resources and the operational capacity to meet what is expected to be very expanded statutory duties that will involve unaccompanied minors, issues around delays, inconsistent care and the system strain? The pre-legislative scrutiny process, when we were dealing with the general scheme, heard from numerous witnesses at the committee that there are very serious concerns around the ability of Tusla to do the jobs it already has never mind the work that we have here.  The legislation that is being brought forward now requires Tusla to take on greater responsibilities for assessing, for supporting and accommodating unaccompanied minors, for co-ordinating child protection interventions and for ensuring welfare safeguards during any procedures involving children.  In practice, that will mean Tusla's workload for reception, oversight, care and planning for vulnerable young applicants is going to be expanded. The burden of responsibility on Tusla is going to be much greater.  If we look at the here and now, Tusla is under-resourced and overstretched as it is. It is unable to meet its statutory duties for vulnerable children, including unaccompanied minors in the international protection system. The general scheme debate at pre-legislative scrutiny stage dealt comprehensively with the number of young people going missing from Tusla care, the majority of them having been unaccompanied minors in the international protection system. The number is astounding, but what is more astounding is the lack of public focus on the issue. Unless we have major investment and staffing increases and shake up Tusla, we cannot have any confidence whatsoever.  That is why we have brought forward amendment No. 11, which would have called on the Minister prior to the commencement of the Act to lay before the Houses of the Oireachtas a report on the capacity of the Child and Family Agency to discharge its statutory function. That report would include an assessment of the staffing levels, the operational capacity, the organisational structures of the Child and Family Agency insofar as they related to the performance of its functions under the Act, an assessment of the financial and other resources available to the agency for the purpose of fulfilling those functions, and confirmation that the agency was in a position to comply with its statutory obligations under the Act upon its commencement.  The amendment is not there, but can the Minister of State give an assurance that Tusla is going to have the capacity to deal with the additional responsibilities the Government is forcing through in this rushed legislation? Can he give an assurance that for the issue of care of unaccompanied minors, the structures and resources will be in place, that we will not have children in the international protection system who are in accommodation provided by private, for-profit operators with sometimes very dubious track records, and that we will have the personnel and staff in place within Tusla to provide care? If the Minister of State can give that assurance, most Members of the House will be quite surprised. The experience with Tusla in terms of every other care it has responsibility for is that it is not in a position to do that across the board. I do not know how, therefore, we can in any way be confident that passing legislation that increases the administrative workload and operational responsibilities on Tusla is going to happen.  Before we adopt section 3, we need to have assurances that that is in place. Otherwise, I do not know how we can adopt section 3, which allows for the Minister by regulations to provide for any matter referred to in this Bill and outlines the different regulations that may be made under this Bill. We are going to be entrusting Tusla, an organisation that does not have the best track record in caring for children, with more responsibilities. It has told us, or at least the evidence before the committee suggests, that there are serious questions as to the ability of that organisation. Of course, the whole issue of international protection and Tusla in the public mind has been mixed up with the absolutely terrible story of a young girl going missing who was subsequently allegedly attacked at the Citywest centre, and how Tusla dealt with the situation. That was a young girl who went missing, a 12-year-old girl. Nobody knew about it, and then Tusla issued what was, quite frankly, a victim-blaming statement that talked about a 12-year-old child's behavioural issues. This is the organisation we are giving more responsibility to.  I really hope the Minister of State can give us some assurance that the principles of amendment No. 11, notwithstanding the fact it has been ruled out of order at this stage, will actually be adhered to, and that he will ensure that he as Minister of State and the senior Minister and the Department are absolutely confident that Tusla can do what is asked of it before we enshrine in law its capacity to do all that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Brophy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Brophy  It is the Government's intention that the system will be properly resourced to deal with the issues and matters arising that the Deputy has mentioned. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  May I follow up on that? Will the Minister of State put detail on that? How many new staff are going to be allocated to Tusla in order to fulfil the responsibilities being assigned to it? How many staffing posts are vacant within Tusla and how is the gap actually going to be filled? When the Minister of State talks about----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Brophy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Brophy  Sorry, the Deputy is talking to an amendment----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I am talking to the section. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Brophy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Brophy  Yes, but he is referring to his amendment. Tusla is not under my control as Minister of State. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  No, but the Minister of State is bringing forward legislation that is putting additional responsibilities onto another organisation. He cannot just wash his hands of it----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Brophy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Brophy  I am not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  -----and say it is another Department. It is his Department. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Brophy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Brophy  I am not. I very clearly said it is the Government's intention that Tusla will be properly resourced. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I am asking the Minister of State how he is going to do that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Brophy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Brophy  I clearly indicated----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  How many extra staff are going to be provided, how much extra funding is going to be provided and when is that going to be funded? Will the Minister of State ensure all those measures are put in place before he assigns these additional responsibilities to a State agency that has not been able to fulfil the responsibilities it already has? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Brophy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Brophy  I have clearly indicated to the Deputy. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"SECTION 4"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question proposed: \"That section 4 stand part of the Bill.\""},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I ask the Minister of State for clarification. Section 4 sets out how official documents can be served. It allows for delivery in person, by post or electronically. It defines valid email and phone contact points, explains the use of a secure online portal and states when a service is legally deemed completed. Is the Minister of State satisfied the section does not potentially create a problem whereby documents might be deemed served even though an applicant may not have received them? Does he feel amendments might be required to make it abundantly clear that where a document is deemed served on an applicant, the applicant has actually received it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Brophy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Brophy  I thank the Deputy. In relation to that, I am happy. Care and attention was taken in the drafting of that to make sure it is appropriate and correct. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"SECTION 5"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question proposed: \"That section 5 stand part of the Bill.\""},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I have a couple of technical questions. Section 5 removes several parts of the 2015 Act, repealing Part 2, Part 8 and specific sections. It is effectively clearing out older procedures to make way for the new system. Are there old procedures that are not included in the new Act? If so, can some detail be provided on that?  Part 2 sets out the framework for making international protection applications, including preliminary interviews and how claims are lodged. If he has that information, will the Minister of State detail what the change will look like in the application process, the interview process and the lodging of claims? If this Act comes into place in the summer, what will be the difference between September and now?  The previous Act designated Britain a safe third country - at least that is my understanding - and the current Bill does not. Instead, it creates a case-by-case safe third country test that requires the Minister to assess whether a country meets specific standards. Because Britain is not part of the EU framework any more, am I right in saying a new assessment would have to be carried out? Will the Minister of State clarify whether Britain will be deemed, post the enactment of this legislation, a safe third country? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Brophy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Brophy  My understanding is that, as part of this, there will be the deeming of countries to be safe third countries. The procedure in the new Bill is intended to be more efficient, with specific timeframes set out for the different parts of the process. The question of the UK being a safe third country will be looked at after the Bill has gone through. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 6 agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"SECTION 7"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  I move amendment No. 13:  In page 25, between lines 16 and 17, to insert the following:  \u201c(2) Where an officer of the Minister, pursuant to any enactment or rule of law, performs a function conferred on the Minister by virtue of subsection (1) , the officer is independent in the performance of that function.\u201d.  The structure of decision-making in individual international protection application cases has changed over the years. Under the Refugee Act 1996, applications were made to and considered by an independent refugees commissioner, who made a binding recommendation to the Minister. Under the International Protection Act 2015, the procedure was brought in-house and recommendations were made to the Minister by international protection officers. These IPOs are officials of the International Protection Office, the immigration service of the Minister of State's Department. IPOs are not ordinary civil servants. It is quite technical. The Act provided in section 74, \"An international protection officer shall be independent in the performance of his or her functions.\" To be clear, he or she shall be independent in the performance of his or her functions. The Supreme Court has held that the independent status of an IPO is a key feature, stating:  An applicant has a right to be interviewed, heard and have decisions concerning them made by an independent decision-maker who is familiar with the relevant law. As well as under statute, these rights arise under the Procedures Directives ...\u00a0The procedure must be transparent.\u00a0 Fairness and impartiality must be at the centre of the process.\u00a0 The reasons for any decision must be clear.\u00a0 EU law requires no less ... Failure to effectively implement the fundamental requirements laid down in the Directives and the case law will lead to a violation of EU law.  That is from ASA v. Minister for Justice and Equality, 2022. The reference to the procedures directive is to the asylum procedures directive, which requires under Article 10.3(a) that international protection applications be \"examined and decisions ... taken individually, objectively and impartially\". While the procedures directive is repealed by EU Regulation 2024\/1348, the new regulation also requires in Article 34.2 that applications be examined \"objectively, impartially and on an individual basis\". There does not seem to be any real change to this at EU level. The Supreme Court in the ASA judgment seems to have been prepared to hold that the Irish regime would have been in breach of EU law, including charter rights, if IPOs did not have statutory independence.  The new Bill abolishes this independence. In fact, the Bill makes no reference at all to officials with regard to decisions on protection applications. The Bill vests the power to take such decisions on the determining authority, which is the Minister, under section 7. It seems pretty clear that the framers of the Bill expect the Carltona doctrine to apply. This is a rule of administrative law by virtue of which statutory functions conferred directly on the Minister can be performed by his or her civil servants. Such functions may be carried out by officials without any expressed statutory grant of power or administrative act of delegation. There will no longer be an examination or recommendation by an official acting independently, followed by a formal ministerial decision. All functions vested in the Minister will be exercised, in practice, by officials.  The Bill does no longer appear to require that a single identifiable individual will consider the information and, ultimately, decide the application. The question is whether such dispersed decision-making responsibility in a hierarchical organisation is compatible with the EU requirement that decisions be taken objectively and impartially. If the Bill enables an application to be dealt with as a departmental file per se that is to be sent up the line with additions, etc., and then decided on by superiors, it could well fall foul of both EU law and the Supreme Court\u2019s decision in Geraghty v . the Minister for Local Government 1976.  An international protection application must be considered and decided, by whoever decides it, on a quasi-judicial basis. What is happening here prevents it from being treated as a departmental matter to be considered and scrutinised up the line in a departmental division, hence the requirement for the amendment, which I will press. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Brophy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Brophy  Under section 74 of the International Protection Act 2015, the International Protection Office is independent in the performance of its function. Officers, in considering international protection applications at first instance, make recommendations to the Minister on the applications, but they do not make decisions. This provision was necessary at the time when the Act was drafted to allow the International Protection Appeals Tribunal to set aside a first instance recommendation and issue a fresh recommendation to the Minister. The ministerial decision unit in the IPO would then issue the final decision.  Under the timelines of the pact and Bill, this system of recommendations is no longer feasible. The Minister is the determining authority who will be responsible for issuing first-instance decisions. The measures under the pact do not require the independence of officers who will be performing the functions of the Minister. It is for this reason I do not propose to accept the amendment. By the way, the arrangements have been subject to very careful consideration by the Office of the Attorney General to ensure we are satisfied that this process is in place and correct. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  I will support Deputy Kelly\u2019s amendment. There is an element of having your cake and eating it when it comes to the pact and the measures the Government says are required. When it requires safeguards, the Government seems to offer fewer. When it requires oversight, it seems to offer the bare minimum. I think that is what Deputy Kelly is getting at here. There is an absence of oversight and a consolidation of power in the Minister of the day for decades to come. It is a dangerous space when we operate without independent oversight. We have seen multiple failures already in the area of justice because of the absence of independent oversight. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  I thank the Minister of State for his response and I acknowledge the note he received from his officials with regard to the Attorney General. That is fine. We have put a lot of research into this amendment as a party because we believe there are serious legal questions around this, particularly in the context of hierarchical decision-making, the case law within Supreme Court decision-making and how all that fits in.  While I know the Government will not accept this amendment, I have to press it because we fundamentally think there is a gap and issue in this regard. I encourage the Minister of State and his officials, in all honesty and decency, to relook at all of this before we conclude this Bill because I have received advice from a number of highly eminent people who are very concerned and concerted about this. They believe there is a real issue here. It can be solved but the way in which it is being dealt with in the legislation is not going to cut the mustard. I will press the amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Brophy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Brophy  I hear clearly what the Deputy is saying. However, I will reiterate what I said in my initial reply to him. Areas like this are looked at very carefully. Advice is sought from the Attorney General. There is clear advice on what we are doing. Therefore, I am not in a position at this point to accept the Deputy\u2019s amendment. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 7 agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Sections 8 to 10, inclusive, agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"SECTION 11"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question proposed: \"That section 11 stand part of the Bill.\""},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  This is again dealing with the concept of a safe third country. I want to go back to the situation with Britain as a result of the amendment of the 2015 Act. As the Minister of State will know, following Brexit, Ireland could no longer use the EU Dublin III regulation to return international protection applicants to Britain, but for a while Britain remained a de facto safe third country because of the 2015 Act and the regulations still listed in it. Then in 2022 the Government formally stopped treating Britain as a safe third country due, I think, to the advice of the Attorney General. That effectively ended Britain's practical status as a safe third country for Ireland even though the original designation was made in 2015. Considering the lengthy discussion we had about the common travel area and the senior Minister's charge in respect of all the good work that is being done in terms of the collaboration with the British Government, will the Minister of State clarify that after this Bill passes unless Britain is designated rapidly as a safe third country, there will be questions about how applicants can be returned to Britain? This is an important point and I raise it because the public would welcome clarification on it, but also because it may require further amendment to clarify the onus on us. As the Minister of State said, and as I have mentioned a number of times, the assertions from Government are that over four in five applicants in our IPAS system are coming via the common travel area, so this is not a moot point. It is a critical point for our ability to have a functional IPAS system that works for everyone involved. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Brophy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Brophy  As I have mentioned in relation to this - and I appreciate the Deputy has too - this will be examined in terms of the UK prior to commencement and it can be done by ministerial action. It is our intention to look at this after the enactment of the Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  What does the Minister of State mean by \"look at\"? Does he see the Oireachtas being informed about the ongoing work? It is as clear as mud at this point. I gather from his response that this is an important issue that requires clarification and potentially a response through regulation. Is it a provision in this Bill? Will this section allow this matter to be resolved and will it be resolved through Britain being designated a safe third country? Is that what is proposed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Brophy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Brophy  It is section 11 and it will be resolved by the designation of Britain, which can be done prior, as I said, to the commencement by the Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  Too often during this debate and for the past number of months we have heard this will be looked at and this will be assessed. There is very little confidence about the manifestation of those words as something tangible we can look at and scrutinise to see how it fits into our laws. It is one of the reasons this Bill is almost designed to fail. I am going to stick with the figure of 84% of people who claim asylum in this area doing so through the common travel area. I am sticking with that without evidential basis other than the fact I have a heard a Minister say it even though several other Ministers have given a different figure. This is the scandal with this Bill as it stands because we share a common travel area with Britain. A returns agreement between Great Britain and Ireland signed in 2020 proved to be worth no more than the paper it was written on. It was challenged in the courts from the Irish side within a couple of months and it fell down. New regulations were brought in in 2024-25 and the British side just said they were not applicable to them and they would not take any more returns. It makes a nonsense of this whole Bill that there are no answers to this very significant question. My fear, which is probably different from those of others in the Chamber, is that this will fall down and we are legislating for places of detention, including for children, and we have no answers to the fundamental issue that if a person claims asylum here, who we have established came through the common travel area, there is no means by which he or she can be returned and therefore we will have a detention system with terrible consequences. I will continue to reiterate that our country's history of institutional incarceration means we should be treading very carefully. Rather than doing that, we have this Bill, which is scheduled to be law by 12 June. I appreciate this is not the Minister of State's fault in a singular sense but it is grossly irresponsible of all of us to continue with this Bill given the gaps in it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Brophy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Brophy  A huge amount of work has gone into this Bill for the purpose of examining the range of issues Deputies are mentioning to ensure from the Government's point of view we are bringing forward the strongest set of legislative proposals we can, taking account of the advice we have received. The Bill is designed to succeed in trying to address all the issues Members across the House want to see us address in terms of international protection, how we regulate it and how manage it. I am very confident this Bill can do that for us. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  This is the whole problem with what is being dealt with here. The only reason we are operating on this timeline is the EU migration and asylum pact and the deadlines that have been set for us. We have all stated one of the major issues is the common travel area. Unfortunately, partition continues to cause problems no matter what the issue is. This common travel area is not taken into account. There is no detail on how the relationship with Britain regarding safe returns is going to evolve. The Government is going to look at it afterwards but that just is not good enough and nobody from the Opposition could sign off on that. I would have expected a greater level of due diligence from Government but this is no shock. On some level this is being presented as the Government getting its act together, which it has failed to do over many years in relation to processing and the absolute disaster - and we will deal with amendments specifically related to this late - where those in communities lost resources.  For those who were out to make a profit in a private capacity, though, it was left to the market and they made a fortune. These issues should have been dealt with long before now. To present this as some sort of solution is a farce. It is not good enough for the Minister of State to say that the Government will look at this afterwards. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  This issue received a great deal of attention in mid-2024. At the time, the Government handed a bit of a gift to the Conservative Government in the UK by the way it communicated this, and the Conservative Government seized it with glee. The Government in Britain was under pressure at the time and tried to take every advantage to capitalise. The Irish Government is potentially in a different situation whereby it can perhaps make more headway in this area. The section on which we are seeking clarity relates to the ability of the Government to make decisions and designate a third country. For this to work to the greatest extent required, though, there needs to be a bilateral agreement with Britain. I hope that the Minister of State can provide me with an update on the progress of any such negotiations. It has been touched on for quite some time. The First Minister, Michelle O'Neill, has raised this issue.  It is important that the Irish Government seek to persuade the British Government that it is in the interests of both countries to ensure there is an orderly process to ensure that people are returned in cases where they are unsuccessful in one jurisdiction and then seek to make an application in another or various other circumstances. Obviously, such returns must ensure that, to the greatest extent possible, people are treated with dignity and respect, but it is important that the returns happen in order to ensure that the system works.  It should be possible to persuade the British Government that it is in nobody's interest not to reach an agreement. The flows can go in both directions. There could be a see-saw effect, whereby at one stage the flow is in one direction and at another time it goes in the other direction. It should be possible to make headway with the British Government and persuade it of the need for an agreement on returns. That has not happened at this point in time. The space exists for it. Will the Minister of State give us an update as to when this is likely to take place? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  Britain has moved from being a safe third country because of its Rwanda policy. The Irish courts found that they could not ensure that people who were returned to Britain would be safe from harm. I accept that the policy of redesignating Britain as a safe third country is because we think Keir Starmer is a lot friendlier than Nigel Farage or whoever may be coming next, but that is the problem with legislating for the moment. Within a short space of time, we could have a scenario whereby Nigel Farage is the Prime Minister in Britain and the Rwanda policy may be on the table again, resulting in an increased level of volatility. That is why this does not make sense. We are legislating for the moment on the assumption that everything will be as it is when we know that is not the case. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Brophy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Brophy  We are legislating to put in place what the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, and I believe is a complete overhaul of our system and what we need going forward. As other contributors have said, this is not just for the now, but for the future. That is very important. On a number of occasions, I have addressed comments on the fact that we have a strong ongoing relationship with the UK at a political and official level, and at a relationship level between An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and the policing authorities in the UK. All of that relates to ensuring the proper and effective running of the common travel area. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Sections 12 and 13 agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"NEW SECTION"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Miche\u00e1l Carrigy)  Amendment No. 14 has been ruled out of order due to a potential charge on revenue. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment No. 14 not moved."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I move amendment No. 15:  In page 26, after line 30, to insert the following:   \u201cCommunity impact assessments prior to location of international protection accommodation   14. (1) Prior to the establishment of any new accommodation centre under this Act, the Minister shall ensure that a Community Impact Assessment is prepared and published.  (2) A Community Impact Assessment shall be carried out by\u2014  (a) the relevant local authority, or  (b) such other competent body as the Minister may appoint for that purpose.  (3) A Community Impact Assessment shall include\u2014  (a) the projected capacity of the proposed centre,  (b) an assessment of local service impacts,  (c) community engagement plans,  (d) proposed mitigation measures, and  (e) an analysis of the Pobal Deprivation Index for the area concerned, including consideration of whether the proposal would contribute to a disproportionate concentration of accommodation centres in disadvantaged communities.  (4) The body carrying out the Assessment under subsection (2) shall conduct a statutory consultation with\u2014  (a) the relevant local authority (where it is not itself the assessing body), and  (b) community stakeholders.  (5) A centre shall not commence operation until\u2014  (a) the consultation period has concluded, and  (b) the Community Impact Assessment has been published.\u201d.  This is a critical amendment from Sinn F\u00e9in's perspective. It sets out that, prior to any new IPAS accommodation being established, the Minister would ensure that a community impact assessment was prepared and published, the impact assessment would be carried out by the relevant local authority or other such competent body as the Minister may appoint, and the community impact assessment would include information pertaining to the projected capacity of the proposed centre, an assessment of the local service impacts, community engagement plans, proposed mitigation measures and an analysis of the Pobal deprivation index for the area concerned, including consideration of whether the proposal would contribute to a disproportionate concentration of accommodation centres in disadvantaged communities. The body carrying out the assessment would carry out a statutory consultation with the relevant local authority and community stakeholders and the centre would not commence operation until that consultation period had concluded and the community impact assessment had been published.  This is critical because all of the debates around migration and, specifically, IPAS have taken place in the context of this aspect of our international protection system being handled disastrously. I would say disgracefully. I say that as someone who comes from a rural county, Monaghan. As I mentioned earlier, I was born a migrant across the water. The history of Monaghan is a history of migration to places all over North America. There are countries in Latin America that are independent today because Monaghan people emigrated or, in some instances, were exiled. The Fenians attempted to capture Canada at one point, led by a Monaghan man.  The history of Monaghan's migration was one of outward migration for many centuries. For the past number of decades, however, even though we are a rural county, we probably had much more immigration proportionately than many other counties. There are a number of reasons for that, and one is that we have a strong and vibrant agrifood sector. Employment permits were issued originally to people from eastern Europe and now from all over the world. County Monaghan had one of the first direct provision centres. We have had a success story in terms of people coming to our county, making it their home and making our communities more vibrant. Local communities have embraced and welcomed people.  People have come to Monaghan from the Congo, Syria and elsewhere on official resettlement programmes. I was a member of the local authority when those resettlement programmes happened. This will sound alien, but I will tell Deputies about my experience. Prior to those programmes, the council was asked to appoint a number of members to sit on a preparation group. We attended meetings with health and education services, the Garda, the local authority and the Department well in advance of resettlement. We dealt with all of the contingencies and potential issues that might arise and all of the mitigation measures that needed to be in place were thrashed out and planned. Those resettlement programmes were a huge success. People who came through the scheme as kids are now adults and play a vital and very welcome role in our communities. That is how to do things right.  Move forward and we see the debacle of direct provision and how it was allowed to run roughshod and become a source of profit for a small number of individuals. In the late 1990s and early 2000s and for the first time ever, Ireland became a destination for people seeking international protection or asylum. I would love to have been a fly on the wall to try to understand the mentality of the people who sat around and said they could examine international models of how best to manage this only for somebody to say that we needed to figure out a way for a few of their mates to make money out of this, because that is essentially what happened with direct provision.  In this regard, I often think of a scenario where someone asked what would happen if they converted a building into a direct provision facility and the numbers dropped. I can imagine a Fianna F\u00e1il representative saying, \u201cDon't worry. We'll make the process so slow that once someone is accommodated in your centre, they'll be there so long you'll be guaranteed to make your return out of it.\u201d  By the mid-2010s, the direct provision system was full to the seams. Something else needed to happen at that point. Rather than learning from the mistakes that were made, those responsible decided to try to find emergency accommodation. Did they put in place a State body? No. What they did was go back to the same people again and provided them with more profits. It was decided to find intermediaries. That was the term used at the time. As a result of all this, people in the rural communities close to where I live who had already lost their post offices and Garda stations and who had no amenities other than their local hotels, woke up one morning to discover that - without any engagement with them - they were being turned into IPAS centres. If the Government were to try to create division, resentment and anger in local communities, it could not have done it any better.  That system began in rural communities. It then began to be put in place in urban communities more often. The one thing all the communities involved had in common when this happened was that they were already deprived of services, amenities and investment, both public and private. More than any single action taken or any set of decisions made, that was what led to the hostility and anger we have seen across our country. There are people standing by who are ready to manipulate that anger and turn it against those in the accommodation to which I refer as opposed to turning it against those who were at fault, namely the successive Governments that allowed the system to come into place.  Everybody accepts that we need change. The amendment sets out very clearly for local communities \u2013 I include in this those who have made our towns, villages and cities their home in recent years \u2013 that never again will we allow such obscenities to happen. In that context, I refer to communities losing amenities and seeing buildings being converted into IPAS accommodation centres and things being done for the motivation of profit without their being engaged with. The amendment sets out the parameters as to how that would happen. I appeal to the Ministers to accept it. If they do not, they will be sending a message to the effect that what happened before could happen again.  Some of the stories I have heard are absolutely obscene. We have had countless towns which were struggling for economic regeneration and in which the last hotel was snapped up overnight with no engagement whatsoever. Of course, the elected Government representatives in these places go to ground when this happens. In many areas, it has been left to Sinn F\u00e9in representatives to try to be the bridge between communities and the Department and to get some semblance of understanding as to what was happening. In many cases, that put us in the firing line with those who were most angry. That is completely unfair. If we are going to live up to our responsibilities and recognise that mistakes were made, we have to put in place a mechanism by means of which those mistakes can be corrected.  Let us make no mistake about it. The location of IPAS accommodation has been determined by one factor, that is, the availability of buildings and the willingness of their owners to allow them to be used for the purposes of providing such accommodation. Nothing else has been taken into consideration. There is no assessment of either the capacity or the needs of the communities involved, of the purposes for which such buildings are being used or of the impact their being repurposed will have. Our amendment sets out how and why we need to deal with that.  When you are dealing with profit motivation, the areas most likely to be the source are those where property is cheaper. Where is property cheaper? It is cheaper in areas that considered deprived in the context of the Government\u2019s index, namely the Pobal HP deprivation index. Many communities and community leaders have been left in impossible situations. They want to ensure that anybody who moves into their area is welcomed and treated with dignity, but they are also dealing with the absurdity of more vulnerable people being brought into communities that are already full of vulnerable people and where services are stretched to breaking point. The amendment simply seeks to ensure that there will be proper community engagement in future. That engagement should not take the form of a consultation process like that which currently operates whereby what counts for engagement is elected representatives getting a phone call or an email to tell them that a contract has been signed, brought to an end or whatever. That is not engagement. Engagement is what I described previously with regard to what was done in respect of resettlement programmes. I put that on the record because some of our amendments relating to due diligence and transparency have been ruled out of order.  We have to get to the point where people are told the facts in respect of contracts that are being signed. Last year, \u20ac1.2 billion was spent on IPAS accommodation. That is more than \u20ac3 million each day.  I really hope the Minister of State will indicate that the Government is going to accept amendment No. 15. There is nothing in it that would interfere with any other aspect of the International Protection Bill. Nothing in the amendment will prevent the Minister from doing anything in terms of processing or any of the other mechanisms. All it says is that before a new IPAS centre is opened, a community assessment should be carried out. We are saying to communities all over the country that they are going to be part of what happens in the same way they are when virtually anything else is being built and when they can have their say through the planning process. We are also saying that if something is being developed by someone with a bit of cop-on, they should engage with the local community and get the goodwill of its members.  I am very proud of this amendment. I really hope the Government will indicate that there has been a sea change in the context of how we deal with this issue and that it is going to accept the amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joanna Byrne  If the Minister of State needs an example as to why this amendment is crucially important, he should talk to any of the nearly 50,000 people who live in my hometown of Drogheda. Overnight, and at the stroke of a pen, the only hotel in the town was taken away without any consultation with the local authority or without any consultation or communication with the elected representatives in the area. As my colleague pointed out, we got an email the night before to say that the contract had been signed. There was no consideration given to the impact this would have on the hospitality trade and the tourism trade, or to the affect it would have on the arts, tourism and the surrounding areas. There was nothing. The soul of the town was completely destroyed overnight at the stroke of a pen. Two years on, we are still trying to recover from that.  The contract is up for renewal over the next few weeks. There is massive pressure from all elected representatives, both locally and nationally, for it not to be renewed. The reason that has been asked of the Government and the reason why a community impact assessment is needed is because what has happened has had a devastating impact. The Chamber of Commerce vocally opposed the closure of the hotel. Those involved with the business improvement scheme, who were not consulted or engaged with, came out against it at the time. To this day, it remains their position that what happened decimated the heart and soul of the largest town in the country and left us with no functioning hotel.  It is completely unheard of that decisions like this can be made without any consultation or consideration for the effect it could have on the community. I commend my colleague. This is the most crucial amendment to be tabled in respect of the Bill. It is something the Government really needs to consider and support.  Otherwise, it is going to continue to rip the heart and soul out of our communities and the hospitality, tourism and other vibrant trading and social scenes in our towns and villages around the country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  We have just heard Deputy Joanna Byrne do what she does, which is to look after the needs and wants of Drogheda. If the Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach will allow me a bit of flexibility, I will commend her on to the rightful position she took in calling on the FAI to ensure no Irish team plays against genocidal Israel. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Miche\u00e1l Carrigy)  Stick to the amendment, please, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I know the supporters and sponsors of Drogheda United and the good people of Drogheda stand solidly behind Deputy Joanna Byrne. This is very difficult for someone from Dundalk to say. I ask that there be a rethink by Drogheda United, because it is an absolute disgrace----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Miche\u00e1l Carrigy)  Deputy, please stick to the amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  It needed to be said and I appreciate----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Miche\u00e1l Carrigy)  Stick to the amendment, please, or I will move on to the next speaker. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  T\u00e1im cr\u00edochnaithe. Go raibh maith agat.  I imagine a considerable number of people are going to speak to this amendment. Many of us have had to deal with the circumstances this Government has caused by not dealing with the issue of accommodation over many years. Deputy Carthy is correct that at times we have taken flak in relation to this. While there are a number of really bad actors out there, circumstances were created that they could use and abuse.  It is right that we talk about the D Hotel in Drogheda. It was not good enough that the people of Drogheda lost that amenity. Proper due diligence was not on the contract and there were issues with fire certificates and all the rest of it. As we have always seen, this State and the Government rely on the private sector. People saw an opportunity and jumped in to make a profit, which is what did they did. I accept that some people ran reasonable businesses, but some chancers made a complete fortune. The way they operated businesses, if that is what we want to call them, was no addition to the people living in the accommodation and caused disaster in the communities where this happened.  Deputy Carthy has stated explicitly the terrible history. We also know that where immigration has happened, it has happened well. People have been brought into the community and into people's homes and there has been integration. That has happened, both naturally and facilitated. None of this, however, is happening in the circumstances I have described. The situation has been made worse by the absence of a fit-for-purpose for dealing with processing. I do not see any solution to that because we have had promise after promise from the Government, but we have not seen clarity on delivery.  We heard earlier that we do not even know what the solution will be, what relationship there will be and whether there will be a bilateral agreement with Britain in which we deal with the reality of the common travel area. That shows everything that is wrong in relation to this matter. Deputy Carthy spoke about the need to ensure we have all the services required in communities. Anyone who talks to members of any community will realise where the deficits are. In deprived communities, the deficits have been there for generation after generation. There has been abject failure.  I agree with Deputy Carthy on the question marks concerning Tusla. We had Gerry Hone before the children's committee not that long ago. He explicitly stated that Tusla needs at least 300 more social workers and at least 100 more social care workers, and that is before we talk about the lack of foster parents. That is to deal with the issues in front of Tusla now, never mind what this legislation is going to put in front of the agency afterwards.  The Minister and Minister of State may not want to accept the amendment from Deputy Carthy, but I beg them to find a means to have proper, decent interaction with communities and to do a proper assessment of resources and a needs analysis. This would be necessary even if we were not dealing with the issue of international protection. I fear that this abject failure will continue. It has done nothing but a disservice to our communities which have been failed for far too long. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in  Likewise, I think this amendment is helpful, constructive and sensible. To take a similar area in County Wexford, Rosslare was a really deprived village. It had two IPAS centres and was probably the most welcoming village in Ireland. It is the gateway to Ireland and Europe. People there raised over \u20ac100,000 immediately for the Ukrainian response and took in over 70 Ukrainians. It was one of the first villages to take in Ukrainians.  What reward did this extremely deprived village get? It had the Great Southern Hotel, which was earmarked in planning to be a nursing home. The Pobal deprivation index shows the village has a very high percentage of elderly people, so people were waiting for this nursing home to come along. What happened? A developer flipped the property and said he was going to put 400 people into it. That was the plan. It caused absolute chaos in the village and there was cross-party opposition to it. I was delighted to march with the people down there, as were representatives from across the spectrum. People said if there was a wrong way to go about things, this was it. This was the reward the village got for being so accepting. People said we should spread the locations among the different counties and communities. As Deputy Carthy and others mentioned, the concentration has been in deprived rural areas and working-class communities. If we wanted a masterclass in how to divide an area and turn people against each other, this was a classic example. This amendment is a good, sensible option to take the heat out of this situation.  I spoke to various providers. They said that five years ago, there was a rundown place with approximately 100 vacancies in it and they were getting \u20ac80 per place per night, or \u20ac8,000 per night. I spoke to a woman who said her brother was running one of these centres. He was getting \u20ac8,000 per night. The only requirement was to provide cornflakes or another cereal in the morning. It was basically a licence to print money. As Deputy Carthy mentioned, \u20ac1.2 billion was spent on this area last year.  In the case of Rosslare, the village did not even have a doctor. We were saying we had to provide health services for people arriving into Ireland, yet there was no doctor in the village. Rosslare was being earmarked for a centre but, thankfully, people power stopped it, which was a sensible decision.  I could mention several other examples around Ireland. The case of the 300-year-old Dundrum House Hotel in County Tipperary was another classic example. Brogan Capital Ventures Limited was involved. Again, this was a huge flashpoint. We all remember the scenes on TV of what happened at Dundrum. That could have been avoided. This hotel was the centre of the village. It was the centre for births, christenings, marriages, the afters of funerals and everything else. It was the only hotel in the village, and then someone decided it could be flipped over. It was vulture capital at work.  The number of people being put in to that hotel exceeded the population of the village. It was a classic example. Last November, just before Christmas, the High Court ordered the centre, which was basically an unauthorised centre, to be shut down. It issued a quashing order in respect of the planning exemption granted to the hotel. That was another very good example, and vindication for the residents and all the groups. It was cross-party politics. I could cite several other examples, but I will not waste time. It was a masterclass in how to make money quickly for speculators and get rich quick cowboys and in how to divide communities.  This is a really constructive, sensible proposal on how to take the heat out of this and go about it the proper way, basically, to do a community impact assessment based on the Pobal deprivation index, etc. Therefore, I plead with the Minister to at least back this. If he is not going to back the other amendments like earlier, he should at least back this one. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  A number of years ago, I chaired the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions. At that time, the public service ombudsman and Ombudsman for Children were looking for oversight of the direct provision system. I was the chairperson of the committee and I led the delegations. We travelled to direct provision centres around the country. We met with the asylum seekers. We insisted on absolute access to every corner of the direct provision centres. We met with a range of stakeholders. I am glad to say that the Ombudsman for Children and public service ombudsman did get oversight of the direct provision centres because there was real concern, particularly for children in those centres. As we speak, however, the Ombudsman for Children does not have oversight of the temporary emergency centres all around the country that have been set up in recent years. How can that be defended? We have children in those centres and there is no oversight. We have made a mess of this whole issue of the challenge of dealing with asylum seekers. It is a challenge for every country, particularly in Europe and North America. However, it is a challenge we have to face and deal with and make sure people's dignity is protected in the process.  I have watched this unfold for a long time, but I now need to give testimony to what I have seen in Donegal and what really happened in my and Deputy Doherty's home county. It was absolute opportunism and greed. We had a situation where there were buildings, in some cases former manufacturing factories. We had hotels that were not doing terribly well. We had pure opportunism. Groups of businesspeople, in some cases failed businesspeople, networked together to source buildings. They would talk people who were maybe considering renting badly needed rental properties into doing deals. Two things happened: we had the influx of Ukrainian refugees - there are 10,000 today in Donegal - and then we had the challenge of asylum seekers. Those things came one after the other over a number of years, and it was handled absolutely abysmally. There was no consultation with local communities. There was no consultation with health services, schools or public representatives.  The Minister and Minister of State know that we are coping with a profound humanitarian disaster in most of Donegal which has been caused by defective concrete blocks. Thousands of homes, both private and council homes, are falling apart. People's lives have been destroyed. We cannot find rental properties for them. We cannot find resources to help people have somewhere to stay while their homes are being rebuilt, and large numbers of people are locked out of the scheme. That is one of many reasons why. We are dealing with all those challenges, and none of that was taken on board. Would you believe that, per capita , Donegal took in more Ukrainian refugees and asylum seekers than any other county in the State? That happened because groups of opportunists came together and made fortunes. This is what I resent because I know the people of Donegal. I know them, and the vast majority of the people who were expressing concerns do not have a racist bone in their bodies, but they were genuinely aggrieved and taken aback at what they saw incrementally happening again and again. I can tell the Minister something else; it certainly was not in the interests of asylum seekers because they were put in the back end of nowhere in some cases, in totally inappropriate accommodation and, indeed, in urban areas in totally inappropriate accommodation.  I will go back to the tour of various direct provision centres, where rooms of men from all different nationalities and cultures were plonked in together, treated with indignity, for years languishing in a system that was failing them. I remember all of that, and that continues. To be very clear, the Government failed and disrespected the communities across Donegal, and it utterly disrespected the asylum seekers in terms of their dignity and rights. None of that was taken on board. That is why there is such anger around the country.  The best way we can defend ourselves from the racists who are out there in this country and who are fomenting hatred is to listen to local communities and treat them with dignity and respect and hear the concerns they have. The worst thing we can do is to have zero consultation. The worst thing we can do is not to talk to the local schools, local councils and local health services, but reward the few. The Government has made millionaires out of some people in Donegal who were failed businesspeople. The whole county knows it, and people are furious about it and deeply hurt across the county. Does the Minister know what they are really angry about? When they were raising these matters, there were people who were labelling them as racists and as uncaring, which is completely off the mark.  This is what we need to do, and I am going to say it clearly as a proud left Irish republican. The best way to protect our people from the scourge of ugly racism, indifference and everything that comes with that is to treat working-class communities with respect. It is to engage and consult with them, look at where the most appropriate locations are and have State-provided, State-resourced locations.  This is a critically important amendment from Deputy Carthy. We know from experience in Donegal what needs to be done. To be very clear, I am somebody who in my political life has shown leadership in protecting the dignity and rights of asylum seekers. I made sure that the Ombudsman for Children and public service ombudsman had oversight of the direct provision system but, right now, the Ombudsman for Children has no oversight of asylum seeker children. There are tens of thousands in these temporary emergency centres around the country, and that is utterly wrong. What we can do is treat asylum seekers with dignity and respect while their applications are being processed but, by God, the Government also has to treat communities - working class communities that have been left behind and failed - with respect too. If it gets those two things right, then we will have a system that functions. This amendment is critically important. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  Well said. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  There has to be recognition at some stage at that the way in which - to call it \"consultation\" is to be very generous - was carried out was in many instances completely inadequate. I made a contribution on statements on international protection recently about the need for respect - respect for the rules, of course; respect for the residents and asylum seekers because it is absolutely essential that they be treated with dignity and respect at every stage; and respect for communities. To be honest, however, in many instances, respect for communities went completely out the window. My colleagues have given numerous instances on the matter. There are so many examples of instances where what constituted consultation was simply an email, usually after the fact, sometimes just as a decision was being made and sometimes with incorrect or inadequate information. That created a vacuum. It created a situation that led to distrust, suspicion and hostility. Nothing in that lack of consultation and nothing in those failures can ever justify some of the actions that took place, including arson, intimidation and threats of violence. Nothing of that kind could ever be justified by a lack of consultation. However, it is the case that for the greater part of the community - those who wish to have nothing to do with that kind of behaviour - a huge vacuum was created. The Government has to take responsibility for that.  In many respects, as my colleague has said, they are the only criteria that seem to be considered. Many Government documents spoke about the need for criteria and the need for a strategy of some kind for this. It should obviously follow if there is going to be a situation whereby accommodation needs to be provided that there should be a strategy for where it should be located, there should be criteria and there should be logic. It did seem to be the case that the only logic was to find out what was available, regardless of where it was. In many instances it seemed to be in the most marginalised, peripheral and disadvantaged communities in the country. The accommodation was located there without regard for education or transport, whether for the community as a whole or for new residents, asylum seekers and migrants, and whether for education, healthcare or anything like that. There seemed to be no reference to anything like that.  There is a planning system in this country and it is there because it recognises that to have an orderly situation in a town, a village or a city, everything has its right place and should be located in a way that makes sense. A very difficult situation was created by the fact that when communities heard there was going to be a development or a use of property in their community, there was no opportunity for them to have their say in any way. There is nothing I can think of in the State where there is no opportunity for the community to have their say. I would say that it put public representatives, including Government representatives, in a very invidious position. In any kind of development, whether for a recycling centre, a bring site, a funeral home or a housing development, at least public representatives can have engagement with the community and tell them there is an opportunity for them to make their submissions, seek legal advice and do whatever they wish to do to engage with the process. There was no avenue in which to direct communities on how they could constructively have their say. This added to the sense of distrust and frustration that was there.  In relation to the consultation, in so much as it was there, I will say that people were working hard. There were some such people in the community engagement teams and I acknowledge the work of Cork City Partnership and the hard work it did. Honestly, in some instances people stretched themselves very considerably to make up for the gaps that had been created at a national level. There were also people on the Department side, and I want to instance Eibhlin Byrne for the co-operation I received from her at stages. On the whole, community engagement was under-resourced and stretched beyond belief, and ultimately, the ability of communities to get answers and a sense of what was happening and have their say was not there at all.  Even now, in terms of what the Government is talking about, it has been evidently proven to be the case - this was documented for years and years before the Government decided to do anything about it - that public provision is more cost-effective and has better conditions for the residents them private provision. This has been the case for a long time. It has been evident. The Government has adopted this language but in truth the Government's strategy will still only amount to about one third of beds being publicly provided in the coming years. Two thirds of them will remain privately provided, will be more expensive, less able to be overseen and less likely to ensure the conditions are adequate.  There needs to be a complete change in approach in what has been outlined here in terms of criteria and a strategy. I am sure the Minister, in response to this, might say something to the effect that yes, we can have discussions but there will be no perfect location. This is very obviously true but there will also be places that are wholly unsuitable, that are largely unsuitable and that are not the right location. The determinations and who makes them are further questions but clearly there will be locations that are wholly unsuitable. Yes, there will not be perfect locations but the very process of identifying what is in a location and what is present will also help to identify what is required in an area when a decision is made to locate such a centre there. Yes, there is no perfect solution but it is very clear that some of the locations chosen were entirely unsuitable.  I echo the point made by Deputy Mac Lochlainn on the very point of oversight, ensuring decent conditions and why public provision is so important. It is not acceptable that the Ombudsman for Children does not have access to many locations where children are in this State within the international protection system. This clearly needs to be addressed. It is very obvious gap and there is no justification for not addressing it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  The Minister of State and I do not share a constituency but we do share the local authority area of South Dublin County Council. It houses the largest number of international protection applicants in the country with 4,200 in total. I have to say that some have settled in better than others but one thing they all have in common is that they are all with private operators who are making vast money from vulnerable people.  An issue I have had from the start is with communication and consultation, how it is delivered and how people find out. It needs to be better because when it is not communicated well to people in our constituencies, it leaves a space for misinformation, bad actors and rumours. I will give an example. Any time there was a bit of work being done on a building, people said it would be the next IPAS centre. I will never forget that I had to stand outside the old Rowlagh credit union in Neilstown when it was getting done up. Nobody knew what was going on at the time or why it was being done up. Rumours were started and spray paint was being put all over the building to burn it out. There was all this kind of stuff that is not wanted in our communities. It is not with regard to my community but this is what was happening. It took me to find out what was happening. A much-needed GP service was coming into an area of high disadvantage. I had to go and speak to the doctor. He was from Kerry and was relocating his service into north Clondalkin. I had to stand outside and take a photograph and explain to people what was happening. My concern was that bad actors were going to come in and burn the place down. This was the direct impact of no communication and no consultation on the locations of IPAS centres.  Citywest is also in our area. Communities and TDs should not have had to find out from national newspapers that the Government was going to purchase Citywest as a public IPAS centre. This is no way to do business. It caused a lot of hurt and anger in the area. Citywest will not be the last public IPAS centre that the Government will put in place but it has to learn from the mistakes that have been made already. The community engagement team came in after the fact and not during the fact. I have to be honest and say it has got better. The responses I am getting from the community engagement team are a lot better. I always say, and I have said it to the Minister before publicly and privately, that we need people on the community engagement team who have the ability to make decisions. Instead of going off and finding out information and coming back again, they should have the ability to make real decisions that will make a difference in our communities.  The amendment we are speaking about is on a community impact assessment. It is about seeing what impact an international protection service would have, and what impact having more vulnerable people in it would have on the area. If we had a community impact assessment prior to Citywest, for example, we would have known there were issues in the area with a lack of garda\u00ed, a lack of school places, transport and GP provision. There is no provision for public health nurses in the area. All of these issues could have been ironed out before the announcement was made and it would have stopped an awful lot of upset in the community.  The Pobal deprivation index has to be key if other centres are going in. We must make sure we use the Pobal deprivation index. I spoke to the Minister not long ago. Parts of my constituency have gone backwards in the Pobal deprivation index. They went from being areas of high disadvantage to being areas of extremely disadvantaged in recent years. If consideration was being given to putting an international protection centre in these places on top of everything else I do not think it would be the right thing to do. The Pobal deprivation index should be considered by the Government. This is a very sensible amendment. It calls for an assessment of an area before something else goes into it. I would like the Minister to take the amendment on board. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  This is an eminently sensible amendment and I hope the Minister would take it on board. Since the Minister has come into office and discussed these matters, the provision of IPAS accommodation and the system he inherited, he has pointed to a set of circumstances that previous Ministers had to live with. They experienced a very significant increase in demand for IPAS accommodation and temporary protection accommodation. They made decisions in a rush. Are they contracts we would enter into now? From the Minister's perspective he would say no, they are not.  If the Minister really wants to deliver and is committed to delivering a step change in the system that people can have confidence in, and it is essential that communities can have confidence in the system, this is exactly the type of amendment the Minister will take on board. It is eminently sensible. The offence for many people and many communities was just the type of approach the Government has taken in recent years. Literally, the only thing that was needed was a willing landlord. No other circumstance mattered. Contracts were entered into and are still in place in many cases that are completely unjustifiable. They are insane, reckless, dangerous and, if the Comptroller and Auditor General is anything to go by, there is nowhere near the level of transparency or accountability in relation to them.  To add insult to injury, the level of consultation was and remains in some cases absolutely pathetic. For example, section 5 exemptions as a matter of policy are, for everybody involved, an act of insanity. It immediately leads to suspicion on behalf of people and to questions being raised like why was there no consultation or opportunity to engage? Why was this the exception and practically the only exception? Of course, others play on that and add fuel to the fire. We need a system that people can have confidence in, that has the necessary level of consultation and engagement.  I am in the Meath East constituency and we have had extensive experience in recent years and further back to Mosney, which was the largest direct provision centre in the State for a long time. We had Thornton Hall, which was to be one of the State's significant or major State-owned accommodation centres. We have a number of smaller centres. We have a number of section 5 exemptions that caused huge uncertainty, confusion and everything that goes with that in communities where there was essentially speculation on behalf of wealthy developers. Some of those developers made their fortunes on the back of this system and do not have good standing in the community at all. A feature of every single one of those efforts, some of which are successful, some which never happened and others are well embedded in the communities, is a failure of adequate consultation and engagement with public representatives and with the community at large.  My colleague, Deputy \u00d3 Laoghaire, gave credit to some departmental officials. I do not share in giving that credit at all in my own experience, particularly relating to Thornton Hall. I have stood in rooms with hundreds of people where I felt we had a way forward and the barrier in all of it was the departmental officials and the lack of proper information and communications. It was a recipe for failure. That is what was seen in many cases.  This amendment provides an objective set of criteria. It calls for a community impact assessment. If we want to approach these matters in the right way, we must ensure that communities have the opportunity to have their say, that they can contribute to it, that this is a managed system that recognises the needs of communities and the impact of future development, whether it is in terms of international protection or other development, and that we have a sense of that impact. I can speak on behalf of my own community, the Meath East constituency, where GP numbers are the lowest per head of population in the State, Garda numbers are the lowest per head of population in the State and classroom sizes are among the highest in the State. Each of those criteria have to be taken into account in terms of the development.  The proposal for a community impact assessment is an eminently sensible one. It would be very well recognised as an important factor among communities. They would appreciate it. It would show a commitment on behalf of the Government to recognise if it is saying there were a particular set of circumstances that gave rise to rushed decisions. If the Minister is looking for a new dispensation there is an opportunity in this amendment to do just that. I encourage him to take the opportunity. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Claire Kerrane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Claire-Kerrane.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Claire Kerrane  I come to speak to this amendment in a slightly different way in terms of my own experience in my home town of Ballaghaderreen. When I was elected to the House in 2020, it was before the war in Ukraine but we had already experienced the arrival of Syrian refugees to begin with. Ballaghaderreen was actually one of the few towns that very much gave the c\u00e9ad m\u00edle f\u00e1ilte and I was very proud that it did. The hotel in the town had been closed for some time. It is not owned locally but that was the accommodation provided and it remains to this day. The real kicker in all of that, and I say this from first-hand experience, is that the resources, the supports and the services that were needed did not follow. The tension that caused could have been totally avoided. I have lost count of the amount of times since 2020 that I have made this point on the floor of the D\u00e1il. I could never understand how the Department of education and the Department of Health in particular could not have come together, looked at Ballaghaderreen and said they could, for example, put an extra nurse in the local health centre twice a week, or they could do X, Y and Z to support a huge increase in population in a town that not only has the highest deprivation rate in County Roscommon but also the highest unemployment rate in County Roscommon, a town that lost so much, particularly in terms of jobs in 2008 and which, to this day, sadly, has not recovered in terms of those numbers. Ballaghaderreen could have been a huge success but it was the Government that let the side down. Had the local services in the area been looked at, it could have been very different.  We then had a situation where the Department of justice offered funding in recognition of the town of Ballaghaderreen and what had been done. A fund was announced that would see the development of a childcare facility in the town. At least that was something in terms of acknowledging what the people of Ballaghaderreen had done. That funding from the Department of justice was then pulled. Eventually, the funding was found by the community. Many of us came together and it was found through the community recognition fund at the very last minute. We are still awaiting the childcare facility but I am very glad to say it will open in the coming weeks. The funding was put in place by the Department of justice for a reason, and then it was pulled. When we actually look back in terms of Ballaghaderreen, despite the deprivation rate and huge poverty in the town, there was nothing there to say how we were going to support the town given what the people there had done in hard times and in a welcoming way. There were no threats of violence or nastiness at all, and yet, for me, the people were very much let down.  They should not have been because they were one of very few towns not in the position to do it but it did it anyway and gave a c\u00e9ad m\u00edle f\u00e1ilte. The town did it and really had nothing to show for it afterwards. There has to be a lesson in that. As I said, I never understood why heads could have not been brought around the table locally to determine what is needed to support an increase in population. It did not matter if it was 200 people from Dublin or 200 people from anywhere else. An increase in population meant huge stress and pressure on local services. That was always obvious but that is how the town was left. That should not have happened. The saddest thing of all is that we have so many wonderful families in Ballaghaderreen who have been there for generations and who did their bit and played their part. To this day, they still do and the local national school has over 22 nationalities. There is a great sense of community in Ballaghaderreen altogether but the Government let it down. There need to be lessons learned about that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  I was first elected to Waterford City and County Council back in 2004. Sometimes, I have to pinch myself that it has been 22 years since I was first elected to the council. I learned a very harsh lesson very quickly in the first number of weeks I was elected. In the biggest working-class housing estate in the ward I represented in Waterford city, there was a plan to put in place a service in a house right in the middle of the estate by an organisation that supported people with drug and addiction problems. There was a lot of fear in the community. Some people dismissed the fear as irrational and people were not listened to. I was a local councillor and I received phone calls at the time. People who lived in the community came up to me and asked me what was happening. People with drug problems and alcohol problems were going to be coming in and living in the community. They were asking who they were, what was this organisation and so on.  For weeks, there was a vacuum. The vacuum made the situation worse and it got to a point where there was a meeting in the local community centre that was full. There was a lot of tension. It struck me very quickly that the people who were speaking had genuine concerns. The problem I very quickly saw was that the fears they had been raising were dismissed as irrational. That was what was causing the problem. Those of us on the council, and two of us especially, proposed at the meeting to bring in the organisation that provides the service at a future meeting. Let us hear the organisation out and see what it provides. Let us see what this will mean and then, people can make decisions. That happened in a follow-up meeting. It was much more positive and a bit more calm.  A small number of residents were selected to go and visit centres in different parts of the State where the same organisation had similar houses providing similar services. Over time, the fear dissipated. The service providers won over the local community. That service has been there for the past 22 years and nobody gives it a second look. In fact, it is supported by the local community. It was a very harsh lesson for me that if you do not communicate, if you do not listen to communities and do not engage and if you dismiss as what you might see as an irrational fear as an irrational fear that somebody or a community has, you then lose those communities. That is what happened for a very short time in that instance.  We all know those very same communities. We all know them. You can pick any working-class community or any community in this State. There are strong community leaders. There are people who run the local community groups, local cr\u00e8ches, the soccer club, the hurling club, the boxing club and so on and they are people of good standing. They are people who have built up those communities that very often have been ignored by the Government and left behind. There were high levels of deprivation and low levels of educational attainment. They are the same areas where classroom sizes have often been too big. We do not have enough teachers. These were big working-class communities that were built without proper amenities that had to be built up and it was hard fought and hard won over a large number of years. Trust in the system, the establishment or the Government is always very low. There is always a mistrust because they always have had to fight for everything. They have a fear or view that the Government does not always have their back or very rarely has had their back, as they see it.  I come then to the immigration issue, because it broke my hearts to see all the wrong moves made by the Government where again, people's fears were dismissed as irrational. People were called racists at times for raising for what they saw at times as very legitimate issues from their perspective because they are their own communities. The people who were ignored were obviously the communities but also those strong community leaders. We had a resource. We had networks. We had opportunities to mobilise those positive forces to actually engage with communities and we did not use them. What happens then is all of those bad faith actors and those on the extreme of politics come in and mix it up. They come in with their mobile phones - we have all been victims of it - and put them in our faces asking us were we consulted, were we engaged and what is our position. Communities and those community leaders, who are good people, end up on the back foot. They are on the back foot - including local representatives - because the Government absolutely failed.  I thought about this issue long and hard over the last number of years because it has evolved. We have more people coming. There are people who are fleeing poverty, war and persecution. People are coming for all sorts of different reasons. I believe in a rules-based system. We had a discussion on this and I raised these issues on Second Stage where I said I support the rules-based system. If I want to go to America, I have to abide by its rules. I have to get an ESTA form and I have to go through customs. If I want to go Australia, I have to abide by its rules. I do not mind that. We must have rules. People want the system to be fair for people who are coming but they also want that system to be efficient and it has not been efficient. People have seen the failures with their own eyes and it has not been enforced. When they see a system that is not enforced, that is the big weakness and that is the problem.  When there is then no consultation of any kind with communities, including elected representatives being the last to know, those communities being the last to know and people who live in the communities and those community leaders being the last to know about anything that is happening about IPAS accommodation, it creates suspicion and mistrust. Sometimes, that is exploited, as we have seen by those bad faith actors. That vacuum that was created has allowed those people to come into those communities and sow more distrust. To me, that was the most heartbreaking part of what happened over the past number of years. If we have not learned those lessons, shame on us and shame on the Government.  The amendment that is being put forward here by Deputy Carthy is an entirely sensible one where it talks about community impact assessments. The Minister might disagree with some of what is in that. He might disagree that it should be the local authority that should do them. The Minister might even disagree with the concept. I do not know. We will see what the Minister will say in a few minutes. What is the alternative? That is the question that has to be asked of Government. What is the alternative?  I met a group of people who live in Lismore, County Waterford, about three years ago. I met them in Lismore, I met them again in Dublin and I think I met them in Dungarvan as well. They were a mix of ordinary people who live in working-class housing estates. There were business people there and there were about ten people at the first meeting. The reason I met them was because the hotel in Lismore was being used as IPAS accommodation. It is the only hotel in the town of Lismore. I had to accept that was not the best location. In fact, at the time, the plan was to reopen that as a hotel. If you walk down the main street of Lismore, half the shops that are there are gone. That is down to the desolation of rural communities. Post offices have been taken out. Schools have closed and Garda stations have closed. Housing was not provided in those areas. Those towns then end up not being properly supported.  When I went there the first time to meet them, I walked down the street and I was shocked at how many premises were empty. There was one coffee shop. It was about 3 o'clock in the afternoon. I walked up to the front door and there was a sign on the door that said it was closed for a half day. I went into the butchers next door to ask why the cafe was closed and they said it was because there are no customers. The coffee shop routinely closes because there is no business. The one hotel in that town was then used for IPAS accommodation. The people there who I met genuinely had no difficulty in supporting people who were coming. In fact, they were talking about alternative accommodation in that same town.  Why can that alternative accommodation not be used?  There are over 300 IPAS centres. I asked Deputy Carthy earlier how many of them are hotels still. I would say there are dozens of hotels still being used, so there has to be a plan to phase that out and to find better alternative accommodation. There was a White Paper on purpose-built State IPAS centres a long time ago. I do not know what has happened, where that is, how that is to be delivered and where the Government is at. I have heard the Minister state on many occasions that he does not believe that hotels should be used, if possible, for IPAS accommodation, but it is still happening. I am making all of those arguments because it goes back to the point I am making, which is at the core of what I am saying. If you do not listen to communities, that is a massive failure. They just want to be heard. That is all they want. They want to be heard. They want to be reassured. The want information, and when that is provided, that is the best way to ensure you win over the support of those communities.  The points made by Deputy Kerrane are fair ones because Ballaghaderreen is a perfect example of where we got it wrong. There was huge support and buy-in, and local communities and people who live there supported the people who were coming and did everything possible to welcome them. They were promised additional resources would come but they never came, and that undermined the good work that was done by community leaders and local politicians in showing leadership. If you do not provide the support, that creates more resentment and a vacuum and provides an opportunity, as I said, for those bad faith actors.  There are few Members of this House who would stand over some of what we have seen from a small number of people who live in our communities who attacked IPAS centres, who aggressively attacked asylum seekers, and who live on X and spread their hate, bile and all the rest of it. Nobody wants that. I want that to end. I want those people to be marginalised. I do not want those people to be listened to in the communities I represent, but if we do not do our job and if the Government does not do its job, we allow those voices to be heard. That is the biggest mistake the Government has made.  The amendment that has been put forward, in my view, is reasonable. The thrust of it is what the Government needs to be looking at. If the Minister is not minded to support the amendment, he has an obligation and a responsibility to point out what it is he and the Government will do to get much better at engaging with and listening to those communities who have, unfortunately, been left behind and not properly represented by the Minister's party and the Fine Gael Party for far too long. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aidan Farrelly  I have tried to listen attentively to this. This has been a really interesting conversation over the last hour or so. I have mixed emotions on it, I have mixed views on it and I do not really know where I stand on it yet. Ultimately, proposed centres were never set on fire because of a lack of GP services, a lack of school places in a community or because the traffic congestion was too bad, and this amendment is almost a damning indictment of how Government has got it so wrong in the past. I am from a constituency where we have seen significant housing growth in the last 30 years. Our population in Kildare has doubled from 120,000 in the 1990s to 250,000 right now and I have yet to see a mobilised effort, a demonstration or a protest at any of the hundreds of housing developments that are proposed. That needs to be said tonight because, ultimately, the narrative and the discourse about what is before us tonight and what has happened over the last couple of years is the manifestation of an absence of political leadership, if I am honest, in all sections of this House. We have seen too many examples of where immigration and diversity is what makes us thrive as a country, but what we have allowed is a small cohort of people to blame the process and the mode of delivery as the rationale for racism.  With the greatest respect to my colleagues in Sinn F\u00e9in, I completely understand where this amendment comes from but when the State cannot even comply with its own planning legislation as enacted right now, I fear that an amendment like this would gather dust with haste because we have seen the State sign so many contracts with private providers in buildings that are not fit for purpose for anybody to live in, that do not have any sort of services - no running water, no heat, no electricity - and where we appeal that contracts are not signed for those services for those sites, people are ignored.  So much of the issue has been covered. The piece that I thought was a little ironic in this is that so many of us have spoken tonight about local issues that pertain to this amendment, about how communities have struggled because of a lack of investment over generations, but I wonder which of the communities we have spoken about tonight would pass through the stages of this assessment and be deemed okay to host a direct provision centre or an IPAS accommodation centre. When the mode of delivery is wrong, everything else that comes from that will always be wrong. We need State-run services. That is fundamentally a really important part of this. We need standards, we need quality but we need the State to comply with its own laws when it comes to planning permission in the first instance to ensure that where services are established, they can provide the basic amenities to those who will be living in them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  If the last hour has proven anything to me, it is that in many ways the Minister has got his way with bringing Committee Stage to the floor of the D\u00e1il. There are 270 amendments and we will not get close to any of them. There will be no scrutiny of the Minister's family reunification changes that are horrendously cruel. There will be no scrutiny of the Minister's places of detention health screening. We may as well throw the amendment book out the window. Next week, we in the Social Democrats will pick a particular motion early on, we will all come in and we will give a big speech on each of them because Committee Stage has gone out the window now. The Minister is the cause of that. The Minister has purposely set out to avoid scrutiny and he has achieved that end.  I have to speak to the amendment that Deputy Carthy brought forward an hour ago. If I were to do a full impact assessment of the centre that opened up in East Wall two and a half years ago, that impact assessment would look very different now from what it looked like two and a half years ago. If I were to have done it two and a half years ago, I never would have been able to factor in the benefit of a young man like Asem, who lived in that centre that is entirely unsuitable, playing in goal for the local football team, getting player of the year and working with local construction workers. I would never have been able to factor in the communities that helped build the Mud Island and Ballybough community garden. I would never have been able to factor in those who are part and parcel of the community now. It would have talked about consultation and about protest, but I never would have got to talk about the lighting of the Christmas tree in December last, where people who were potentially outside at one time are certainly inside with a cup of tea in their hand and making friends with people who are part of their community now. That is why I am hesitant when I think about community impacts because I do not think you get a full impact.  It does not absolve the Department or the Minister's predecessor of the shambles he made of building a system suitable for purpose, and there was a way. The Catherine Day report demonstrated that there would be talked-of reception centres. That was updated to meet the increasing demand after Covid when we had a larger increase of people coming here seeking international protection. In this whole conversation, we have heard no talk of the Catherine Day report on State-run reception centres, with the exception of Deputy Mac Lochlainn, who referenced them.  I hope the proposer might clarify this, but I am conscious that I do not want to see a preposition that the privatised model will be the one that goes forward. The privatised model has absolutely failed us but, within that, we also have to accept there will always be people who come here in search of sanctuary. People will always need to be housed with dignity, care and compassion.  Before I decide on how I am going to vote on this amendment, could the Minister tell me if the Catherine Day report is still Government policy? Where are our State reception centres? Each of us who call for State reception centres should be able to provide for ones that may exist in our own communities. They should not just say they might exist elsewhere. If the Minister would like, I am happy to give some suggestions on where they would fit in, because we have an obligation and that is never going to go away. Migration is always going to happen in different trends, be that through climate migration or people fleeing from wars that may take place in future. However, we have responsibilities here. We all have a responsibility as parliamentarians to stand true to our values when these things come to pass. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  I have had to adapt to the issues relating to IPAS centres being in my constituency for a lot longer than most people inside here. Some did reference going back a while, but not everybody. I understand the spirit of this amendment. I accept there should be community analysis and I will outline the reason for that in a few minutes, but I am not sure practically how many centres would end up getting through this funnel.  What I said in my Second Stage speech comes back again. The problem is we have to be careful as the political class, the highest political class in this country - we are the Legislature - that we do not create a situation whereby we facilitate legislation that gives people a pass for covert racism. We have to be very careful on that. I have said here before that I have been very disappointed by people in this House, on this side of the House and that side in particular and, dare I say it, a few scattered around the place also. When you are elected to this House, you have to have conviction and you have to stand up for what you believe in. We all know this system is horrendous. We all know the profiteering and that the private nature of how this has been done has been horrendous. We all know it should be a public-based system. We all know it needs significant investment. We all know the challenges. We all know it is imperfect; it will never be 100% perfect. We all know we need to do better, but that has not happened.  In 2019, I was the only TD to attend, along with one councillor, when there was a public outcry - outcry is too strong a word but there was a public meeting - in Borrisokane. An outcry was beginning across several locations with regard to where IPAS centres were being located. This was in 2019, seven years ago. I was the only TD who turned up. The people of Borrisokane created history and I am so bloody proud to represent them. I have referred to this several times, but the Department of justice officials sat down, discussed and more or less did a deal. There were 90-odd people welcomed to the town, and they have grown in that town. They have contributed to that town and have done so much.  I have a little story. Back then, there was a lot of fear in the area. Sorry, can the Chair interrupt the ushers? Excuse me, are you finished? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Miche\u00e1l Carrigy)  Quiet, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  Thanks. This has never happened in my career here. There was a lot of fear in the community, and in the community at that time, there were people who were willing to block access to the Riverside apartments, because they did not want people coming.  Swing on to 2024, when these people who had been moved into the apartments were being forced out of the apartments, again because it was run privately and there was a profit motive for moving them. The same people who blocked the apartments five years previously were willing to pull their machinery outside the apartments to keep them in. That was the social impact of those people moving to that area from various parts of the world. That was the impact they had on the school. That was the impact they had in the community. That was the impact they had on Borrisokane GAA. To see those young children running up the street for training on a Tuesday or Thursday evening, to see them in the Borrisokane gear, to see them winning awards and medals playing GAA and contributing in so many different ways was so heartening and refreshing.  Then, you have a situation whereby we have a significant population coming into a town like Roscrea. In a town like Roscrea where there are social issues, a deprivation index you would look at and all of that, for a Government Department - the Department of justice - to take out the only hotel in the town, Racket Hall, the only place where people could have social gatherings, was absolutely stupid, idiotic and crazy. It was so bloody stupid that it is beyond comprehension how anyone - a Government or officials - could do that. There is that dichotomy between Borrisokane and Roscrea - both great places, fantastic places. Looking at what happened in Roscrea - talk about elevated levels of stupidity - to get representatives, particularly Fianna F\u00e1il representatives, through an election they gave out \u20ac150,000 to do a feasibility study of an old hotel that has been closed a decade and does not have a hope in hell of being viable as a hotel into the future. A total of \u20ac150,000 of taxpayers' money was just flipped over the shoulder, gone, a waste of time. Tipperary County Council came out in the past week and said it is not buying it or doing anything with it. The Government is not doing anything with it. Many officials in several Departments have laughed and scoffed at this idea. I was previously a manager in F\u00e1ilte Ireland. It laughed at this. It is not viable. If it was not viable ten years ago, it is not viable for that purpose any more. It might be viable for something else because it is on a great street in the middle of Roscrea, but not for that. What sort of stupidity was that?  When you come to the decision around community assessment, community assessment has to be done. However, you have to work with people in a way that is reasonable. You have to work with people in the manner in which it happened in Borrisokane. You do not do what I have outlined happening in Roscrea. You do not elevate the decision by trying to right an obvious wrong. The Government has now made the decision that it will not take out the final social gathering places and hotels.  They are disembarking from hotels across the country, which I believe to be the right thing to do. It is absolutely the right thing to do. I put it to the Minister that when it comes to community engagement, there has to be a competency level within his Department that is increased way beyond what has ever happened in the past. It has been absolutely horrendous. The volume of the waste of money has also been horrendous. The model is broken. The Minister might be doing his best to change the model but the model has to be changed to deal with this, and that will only be through public investment. The Minister cannot do it any other way. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Brady","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Brady.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Brady  Tomorrow, the Committee of Public Accounts will return to its scrutiny of the extraordinary expenditure on IPAS accommodation last year of \u20ac1.2 billion. We return to this scrutiny on foot of a damning report carried out by the Comptroller and Auditor General who raised serious issues about governance, oversight and transparency. Contracts have been awarded to some of the largest criminals within the State. We see shelf companies being set up and established. People have become millionaires overnight on foot of this. We see contracts being renegotiated due to the failure of due diligence being carried out where fire safety certificates were not in place and where proper contracts were not in place. There have many failures by the Government in this regard.  For me, one of the biggest failures of the Government has been the failure to engage with communities around the provision of IPAS accommodation. Those failures have led to huge resentment right across the State. My constituency in Wicklow is certainly no stranger to that. Way back in February 2024 the HSE responded to a request by the Department and put forward a site in Newtownmountkennedy, County Wicklow. This was River Lodge, or Trudder House, in Newtownmountkennedy. It was offered to the Department. That site had been long fought for by the community to be handed over for community purposes. Newtownmountkennedy is one of the fastest growing towns within the State where services have failed to keep up with demand, for example, for school places. There is a huge campaign for a secondary school there. There is demand for GPs, community services and amenities. These not being put in place are all serious failures. There were huge concerns about what was being proposed at that stage. Members of the community came to public representatives like me and councillors and other TDs within the constituency looking for answers as to what was being planned at Trudder House. We reached out to the community liaison person who was in place. I can only say that the community felt they were lied to on foot of their engagements. The community liaison people said that no decision had been taken with regard to Trudder House in what can only be described as a Comical Ali moment as the JCBs were on the site in Trudder House preparing the site for what was to come. The community, myself included, was being given misinformation. Engagement with the community is critical. Those concerns were not just about the failures to deliver critical services within Newtownmountkennedy. Concern was also expressed about the suitability of that site at Trudder House. It was prone to flooding. It was very rural. It was on a back road with no public lighting. There were huge issues about the site but none of that was taken on board by the Department or the officials. It seemed to be one-way information coming from the Department.  Lo and behold, after \u20ac2.8 million was spent preparing the site at River Lodge it was used for tented accommodation from the March but it was then flooded out in December. The people who had been moved onto the site were moved out into alternative accommodation. Yet, up to that point \u20ac2.8 million had been spent in preparing that site. The absolute lunacy of the situation is that the site remained completely unused from December 2024 right the way through 2025, costing an additional \u20ac1.3 million, which was spent last year protecting an unused site that ultimately, the Department concluded was unsuitable for any usage, either then or into the future. Over \u20ac4 million was spent on a site in my constituency. This was needless waste. If the community engagement had taken place, and more importantly, the concerns had been listened to, \u20ac4 million may not have been wasted. The Department has now stated it does not want it, as it is unsuitable for it, and so is handing it back to the HSE but to this day, that process still has not concluded and money still is being spent on security costs to protect a vacant derelict site.  Newtownmountkennedy was a flashpoint and I it started a cavalcade of protests right across the State. All of that could have been handled, and the situation as it unfolded in Newtownmountkennedy could have been prevented, if accurate information was given to the community in the first instance. If the concerns had been listened to and taken on board, it would have prevented a lot of what went on. It would have saved millions of euro if that critical piece of engagement had been listened to. That failure to consult has wasted millions. It has actually divided Newtownmountkennedy. There are some brilliant community groups there now trying to pick up the pieces and pull the community back together. Those failures, however, are on the Government. I fully support this amendment and hopefully the Minister and the Government will accept it also. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank the Deputy. That concludes the debate for this evening as the time limit of eight hours has been reached. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Progress reported; Committee to sit again."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"International Protection Bill 2026: Committee Stage"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-18\/debate\/dbsect_56","debateType":"billReport","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2025\/28","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2025\/28\/dail\/4_sub","houseCode":"dail","stage":"4_sub","isBillStage":false,"showAs":"Protection of Employees (Employers' Insolvency) (Amendment) Bill 2025: Report and Final Stages (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Protection of Employees (Employers' Insolvency) (Amendment) Bill 2025: Report and Final Stages","counts":{"speechCount":23,"speakerCount":4},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_56","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Guirke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Only one amendment was tabled for Report Stage, by Deputies Ruth Coppinger, Richard Boyd Barrett, and Paul Murphy. That amendment has been ruled out of order on the grounds of non-relevance to the provisions of the Bill and it does not arise out of Committee Stage proceedings. Accordingly, there are no amendments on Report Stage. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment No. 1 not moved."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  As there are no amendments tabled for Report Stage that are in order, we now proceed to Fifth Stage. I welcome the Minister to the House. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Bill received for final consideration."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question proposed: \"That the Bill do now pass.\""},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  I am indicating to speak. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  On the question? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  I want to speak on the general Bill and the reason I tabled an amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Yes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  I welcome the Bill in that it seeks to transpose a worker's rights into law. It is something that will assist workers and we can support it. It was, however, an opportunity to go much further. The fact that this right was not transposed into law in the first place speaks volumes about the priority that successive Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael Governments have given to workers facing insolvency. A court case had to be taken for the Government to bring this in. The Bill should have been an opportunity to bring in legislation that would protect workers in other situations such as that faced by the Debenhams workers. I am sure that everybody here knows the battle that was waged by those workers. During the pandemic they were laid off by their employer. An opportunist liquidation happened using the pandemic as an opportune time. They were, it must be said, also let down by their trade union. They had to organise themselves. They were let down by the Government too. It could have done more to keep those jobs. Many of those stores were extremely profitable, including the one in Blanchardstown. The Government could have fought might and main to see that those workers either got their owed redundancy and, if not, that the laws were changed in order that this would never happen to any other group of workers again.  Unfortunately, that opportunity was not taken. We had Fianna F\u00e1il, Fine Gael and other political parties calling down to the picket lines at those times, I remember, to get their pictures taken with local workers, but they have never done anything to change the situation. It happened to the Clerys workers, has happened to many others since and will continue in cases of liquidation and insolvency.  Why did the Government not take this opportunity? The Debenhams Bill, for example, which was on Committee Stage in the previous D\u00e1il, is effectively frozen. It would ensure preferential creditor status for workers in any liquidation. As well as recognising collective agreements in relation to redundancy, it would treat redundancy payments as a debt that would be paid out first, rather than at the very end of the process. Will the Minister commit to moving that Bill forward? It is there and could be moved. He could amend it in whatever way he saw fit on the next Stage.  The workers are keenly watching this. They would love to have a legacy arising from the battle they waged for 400 days. They have had films made about their strike and their situation. The redundancy payments are important but losing a job is a massive financial upset for people. Workers need a buffer to help them adjust and avoid having to immediately worry about bills. The Government brought forward legislation post Debenhams; however, it was a pale reflection of what was needed and demanded by the workers. It did nothing to bring forward the preferential creditor status and did nothing to oblige companies to engage with workers in good faith - something that did not happen for the Debenhams workers. The fines for breaching the legislative limits around consultation are token. The Irish Congress of Trade Unions called for fines of \u20ac250,000. The Government legislation did not expand the information provided to employees either, which was cited in subsequent cases the workers took. There was no opening up of the books if a company pleaded it was in difficulty. The payments made under the Social Insurance Fund are often not enough. It is capped at low levels and is part of a regime of minimal social insurance.  A number of people who were in power at the time, and who still are, commented. Leo Varadkar said the Debenhams staff were treated \"very badly\". Damien English said he wished he could, and knew the Taoiseach and T\u00e1naiste wished they could, do more for the Debenhams workers. Miche\u00e1l Martin, who is actually the Taoiseach, said Debenhams should do the right thing by its workers and pay the redundancy agreed and that the then Government would do everything it could within the law to support the workers and provide resources to enable workers to secure their rights, entitlements and future employment. He said the treatment of Debenhams workers was \"shabby, shoddy and unacceptable\". Unfortunately, other workers can still face exactly the same situation.  While it is welcome that a partial move is being made for workers in certain situations, we need to protect workers who worked for decades, in those cases, paid into unions, paid huge amounts of tax and all sorts. They did everything right and were treated abysmally by multinational companies who would not even engage with them. The Government failed them badly as well. Unfortunately, it has missed yet another chance with this Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (Deputy Peter Burke)  I thank the Deputies for the passage of the Bill and the discussions on Committee Stage, which I took and which were robust. The Bill aims to further support workers in the event of employer insolvency, which is an important aspect, and to expand the insolvency payment scheme to include employees of employers who cease trading without formally winding up the business, which is the critical point. The technical nature of the Bill really just achieves that. My officials have been working hard to ensure workers who need to avail of these expanded protections can navigate the new processes with support and guidance. The Bill is a positive step for workers and will ensure the State can protect the most vulnerable. I thank Deputies for their engagement and look forward to taking the Bill through the Seanad. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Guirke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Johnny Guirke  Workers have often been left vulnerable, especially in times of crisis. When a business becomes insolvent, it is not just about profits or corporate failure; workers are thrown into turmoil. For decades, workers, particularly the lowest paid and most vulnerable among them, have called for support and fairness from the Government. Time and again, low-paid workers have been on the front line. Those working in retail, hospitality, cleaning and other essential sectors have protested and demanded that their voices be heard. I heard of a case last week where employees showed up for work to find the business they work at closed, with the employer uncontactable. These workers do not know where they stand now and are due wages, holiday pay and fair redundancy payments. They lost their jobs, their livelihoods and their dignity when their employer closed the business and did not have the respect to update them.  What is often overlooked is that these workers have consistently called on the Government to stand with them, protect their rights and ensure they are not left behind. For years, workers have protested on the streets, demanding support, fair treatment and that those who profit from their labour do not walk away without consequences. They have called for better protections, fair entitlement payments and the security they deserve as workers. Time and again, Sinn F\u00e9in has stood shoulder to shoulder with them, advocating, fighting and demanding that their voices be heard. We supported low-paid workers when they called for fairness, staged protests and demanded justice. We have championed their right to fair wages, decent working conditions and protection when their employers abandon their responsibilities. The cases of Clerys and Debenhams are stark reminders of how corporate greed and tactics such as tactical liquidations have been used to avoid obligations to workers.  It is also worth noting what the Fastway workers are going through currently. Franchise holders that operated under the name of Fastway are being screwed. Many of them had vans on finance, employees working for them and huge overheads. They are being poorly treated and they do not know where they stand as legislation offers little or no support for them. Legislation also does very little and offers no protections for employees of subcontractors or outsourced workers, such as the case involving the Covalen staff.  We acknowledge the Bill is about ensuring that, even if a business ceases trading informally and without going through a formal liquidation, workers can still claim their unpaid wages and entitlements from the insolvency payments scheme. It is about justice, dignity and making sure those who have worked hard, often in low-paid jobs, are not left to suffer alone when their employer walks away.  Fairness should never be limited by outdated legal technicalities. The Bill extends protections to the most vulnerable, including sole traders and those facing gender discrimination. We have always believed that legislation must prioritise workers' rights, especially during their most vulnerable moments when a company is in insolvency. Insolvency is very often driven by rising costs, costs that the Government has failed to address adequately, such as high gas and electricity prices.  This Bill promises that, when businesses shut up shop, employees are not forgotten about and ensures they do not have to bear the burden alone. That is why we welcome the Bill, but we remain steadfast that workers' rights must be strengthened at all times. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Does the Minister want to come back in? No. The question now is that the Bill----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  I asked a question of the Minister. Out of courtesy, given workers and people ask what the Minister replied when I ask him a question, is there any chance he could actually answer it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  I have addressed the Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  I asked a question about whether he would allow a moving forward----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Peter-Burke.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Burke  I have addressed the Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  -----of the protection of workers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy Coppinger. Please resume your seat. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  Does the Ceann Comhairle think that is okay? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I cannot demand an answer. Thank you, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  I do not think it is okay. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  You are out of order even asking that question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  It is so ignorant. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  You know that my role is to be impartial and chair the debate. Thank you, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  It is typical of the Michael O'Leary type that the Minister is, I have to say. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and declared carried."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Protection of Employees (Employers' Insolvency) (Amendment) Bill 2025: Report and Final Stages"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-18\/debate\/dbsect_57","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2021\/32","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2021\/32\/dail\/2","houseCode":"dail","stage":"2","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Quality in Public Procurement (Contract Preparation and Award Criteria) Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members] (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Quality in Public Procurement (Contract Preparation and Award Criteria) Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_57","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I must now deal with a postponed division relating to Second Stage of the Quality in Public Procurement (Contract Preparation and Award Criteria) Bill 2021, taken on Thursday, 12 February 2026. On the question, \"That the Bill be now read a Second Time\", a division was claimed and in accordance with Standing Order 85(2), that division must be taken now. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Quality in Public Procurement (Contract Preparation and Award Criteria) Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members]"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-18\/debate\/dbsect_62","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Ban on Investment Funds Purchasing Family Homes: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_62","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The following motion was moved by Deputy Pearse Doherty on Tuesday, 17 February 2026:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"notes that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the housing crisis continues to deepen for ordinary workers and families while corporate landlords, investors and developers make ever greater profits;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 residential property prices have increased by 47.7 per cent since 2020, pushing first-time buyers further into debt to secure a home, while locking many out of home ownership;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 high rents and residential property prices are making it increasingly difficult for workers and families to purchase and own their own home, leading to the collapse of homeownership;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 investment funds bulk purchasing homes takes homes away from ordinary workers and families, and drives up prices;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 despite the commitments by Government to end the practice, investment funds have continued to bulk purchase homes;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government re-committed to prohibiting the bulk purchase of homes in the Programme for Government; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 despite repeated promises to address the issue of homes being bulk purchased by vulture funds, the Government continues to allow the practice;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"further notes that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Sinn F\u00e9in have repeatedly called for investment funds to not be allowed bulk purchase homes;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government was warned by Sinn F\u00e9in that belated measures introduced in May 2021, and the adjustment in Budget 2025, would be insufficient to end this unacceptable practice;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government are responsible for the continued bulk purchase by investment funds, with over 2,000 houses purchased by investment funds triggering the higher rate of stamp duty between May 2021 and the end of 2025, at the expense of individual home buyers; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 this only captures a fraction of the homes being bought by vulture funds, who continue to be able to buy up to nine houses at a time without even having to pay the higher stamp duty rate, and face no restrictions on the purchase of apartments;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"concludes that the Government, comprising Fine Gael, Fianna F\u00e1il and the Government Independents, are prioritising the interests of developers, landlords and investment funds, at the expense of struggling workers and families; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"calls on the Government to ban investment funds from buying family homes."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Debate resumed on amendment No. 1:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"To delete all words after \"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann\" and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"acknowledges that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the new housing plan 'Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030: An Action Plan on Housing Supply and Targeting Homelessness', is focussed on putting in place the conditions to enable delivery of a minimum of 300,000 new homes between 2025 and 2030;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the plan includes a commitment to deliver 72,000 social homes, and provide 90,000 affordable supports, to help people secure a home of their own;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 it seeks to significantly accelerate delivery of new homes by focusing on activating land and creating the optimal environment to encourage housing activity, including regulatory reform, tax incentives and the largest ever capital investment in the history of the State, with \u20ac275 billion invested in infrastructure over 10 years, through the National Development Plan;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 to accelerate future supply, Budget 2026 included a suite of taxation measures aimed at stimulating the supply of new apartments, including a reduced Value Added Tax (VAT) rate and an enhanced Corporation Tax deduction for apartment construction costs;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the revised National Planning Framework, published in April 2025, is a major step forward in this regard, and will help increase capacity and accelerate home building across the country;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 over the last five years, almost 149,000 new homes have been delivered, which compares with 83,267 in the previous five-year period, and just 29,217 in the five years before that;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 a total of 36,284 new dwellings were completed in 2025, an increase of 20 per cent year-on-year;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the unprecedented level of investment that Government has committed will bring about a very significant scale-up in the delivery of housing over the coming years, address the needs of the most vulnerable in our communities, make buying and renting homes more affordable, and support the development of villages, towns and cities across the country; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the delivery of 300,000 homes by 2030 will, however, require an estimated \u20ac20 billion in development finance each year, a significant portion of which will need to come from investment by the private sector, to support home ownership and a well-functioning private rental market;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"recognises that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Government has implemented several measures in recent years, including an 'owner occupier guarantee' and stamp duty measures, to ensure a balanced housing market across all tenures, including home ownership, social housing and private rental;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the issuing in 2021, of the Section 28 Guidelines for planning authorities on the Regulation of Commercial Institutional Investment in Housing, aims to restrict the practice of multiple housing and duplex units being sold to a single buyer, and these guidelines ensure that new 'own-door' houses and duplex units in lower-density housing developments can no longer be bulk-purchased by institutional investors in a manner that causes the displacement of individual purchasers or social and affordable housing, including cost-rental;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 these guidelines, setting out the 'owner-occupier' guarantee, also ensure that 'home ownership' is included as a specific tenure type within a local authority's housing strategy;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 in May 2021, as an additional measure to tackle the bulk acquisition of new houses, a Stamp Duty rate of 10 per cent was introduced, where 10 or more houses were acquired in any 12 month period, and in 2025, this rate was increased to 15 per cent;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 these measures have succeeded in preventing the inappropriate bulk purchase of a very significant number of homes, and securing those homes for purchase by homeowners;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 as of Q4 2025, since May 2021, a total estimate of 63,962 houses and duplex units received planning permission, with conditions restricting the bulk purchasing or multiple sales to a single purchaser;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 based on provisional data from the Revenue Commissioners, bulk purchased homes are reducing year-on-year since 2023, and in 2025, 293 homes were bulk purchased, down from 675 in 2023;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Programme for Government commits to maintaining the 'owner occupier guarantee', thereby continuing to prohibit the inappropriate bulk purchase of homes, and securing homes for homeownership;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the measures outlined are having the desired effect regarding family homes, and the Government has rightly not applied those to apartments, as it recognises the positive role institutional investment needs to play in developing apartment supply as set out in the Delivering Homes, Building Communities housing plan; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Budget 2026 included a suite of taxation measures aimed at stimulating the supply of new apartments, including a reduced VAT rate on new apartments, and an enhanced Corporation Tax deduction for apartment construction costs; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"affirms Government efforts to:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 continue to bring forward measures that will increase the supply of new homes across all tenures, to make sure that everyone has a range of housing options available to them, whether they want to buy a house, rent one, or are in need of social housing;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 adequately resource the Land Development Agency (LDA), to deliver an increased quantum of new homes, noting Government already recently increased resourcing to the agency;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 diversify sources of investment, noting the level of investment required in the long term cannot be solely the responsibility of the State, and it will also require a very significant level of private investment, including appropriate institutional capital investment, essential for the delivery of critically needed private rented stock;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 prioritise infrastructure development as critical means for increasing housing supply, noting the establishment of the Housing Activation Office and the new Infrastructure Investment Fund, to coordinate homebuilding and investment in the servicing of zoned lands;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 expand the capacity of the construction sector as another key measure to scale-up delivery to the levels necessary by 2030, and thereafter building on ongoing measures to tackle barriers in construction careers, promote career opportunities, and make construction more attractive to women;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 build on the significant number of social and affordable homes provided in 2025, expanding State investment, supplemented by LDA investment and Housing Finance Agency lending;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 ensure that Home Building Finance Ireland has the capacity and flexibility to continue to respond to funding gaps, and support increased housing delivery nationwide;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 improve equity availability for homebuilding through the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund's new \u20ac600 million equity programme, in partnership with the national banks;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 boost homeownership, and help support younger people seeking autonomy in the housing market, through measures like the First Home Scheme, Help-to-Buy Scheme, and the Local Authority Home Loan Scheme; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 tackle homelessness through a suite of cross-Government responses, acknowledging that homelessness is a complex issue, requiring multifaceted responses to deal with varying causal factors and family circumstances."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"- (Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage)"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I must now deal with a postponed division relating to the motion regarding ban on investment funds purchasing family homes. On Tuesday, 17 February 2026, on the question, \"That the amendment to the motion be agreed to\", a division was claimed and in accordance with Standing Order 85(2), that division must be taken now. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ban on Investment Funds Purchasing Family Homes: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members]"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-18\/debate\/dbsect_71","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/12","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/12\/dail\/2","houseCode":"dail","stage":"2","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Work Life Balance (Right to Remote Work) Bill 2026: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members] (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Work Life Balance (Right to Remote Work) Bill 2026: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_71","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I must now deal with a postponed division relating to Second Stage of the Work Life Balance (Right to Remote Work) Bill 2026, taken on Wednesday, 18 February 2026. On the question, \"That the Bill be now read a Second Time\", a division was claimed and in accordance with Standing Order 85(2), that division must be taken now. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Is f\u00e9idir teacht ar Cheisteanna Scr\u00edofa ar www.oireachtas.ie. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Written Answers are published on the Oireachtas website. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar athl\u00f3 ar 11.21 p.m. go dt\u00ed 8.47 a.m., D\u00e9ardaoin, an 19 Feabhra 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The D\u00e1il adjourned at 11.21 p.m. until 8.47 a.m. on Thursday, 19 February 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Work Life Balance (Right to Remote Work) Bill 2026: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members]"}]}}]},"contextDate":"2026-02-18"},{"debateRecord":{"house":{"showAs":"34th D\u00e1il","committeeCode":"","houseCode":"dail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/house\/dail\/34","chamberType":"house","houseNo":"34"},"chamber":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/def\/house\/dail","showAs":"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann"},"lastUpdated":"2026-07-01T02:13:26+00:00","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/main","formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/mul@\/main.xml"},"pdf":null},"date":"2026-02-17","counts":{"contributorCount":169,"divisionCount":1,"debateSectionCount":30,"questionCount":52,"billCount":0},"debateType":"debate","debateSections":[{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/dbsect_2","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions","counts":{"speechCount":126,"speakerCount":17},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niall Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Some of the words being used by parents, special needs assistants, SNAs and teachers alike in the past few days are \"panic\", \"fear\" and \"anger\". They are beside themselves with worry after schools received letters informing them of the decision of the Government to cut their SNA allocations. We have heard of schools losing as many as five or six SNAs. These cuts will be devastating for children with additional needs who depend on their SNAs to cope with challenges, to be included, to learn, to progress and to reach their full potential in school. The Government will now rip that support away from them.  This is a cruel decision. It comes on top of the fact that many children across the State are still being denied access to a special class or special school place. Some 200 schools have already been informed that they will have their SNA numbers cut in September, and that is with just half of the SNA allocation reviews having been completed. Even more cuts are on the way. SNA supports in schools were already stretched to the limit. This will only make a bad situation far worse. The decision of the Government to restrict the allocation of SNAs only to children who have a primary care need, that is, toileting or medicine, is driving this cull. The Government ignores the wider role of SNAs for children with learning disabilities, sensory needs and behavioural challenges.  SNAs help children to focus, participate and interact. They also provide emotional support and build confidence. These supports are life-changing for so many children and now the Government will pull the rug from under their futures. This is a massive step backwards. One principal has stated that these SNA cuts set special education in mainstream schools back by 30 years. The Taoiseach says that we have more SNAs than ever. He rattles off big numbers but that is no comfort to a parent who has seen their child progress and thrive with the support of an SNA and who has seen their child go from dreading school to loving school with the support of their SNA. Parents are now racked with worry because their child will lose that support come September.  Paula Byrne is one such parent. Her son Ciaran attends Johnstown Boys National School in Dublin. Ciaran has autism and ADHD. He will lose his SNA support because of these cuts. I heard Paula on the news yesterday pleading with the Taoiseach and the Government not to do this. She says that Ciaran really struggles to stay at school. It is vital that he has SNA support. He cannot manage without it. She said please do not take away his SNA support. What was the Taoiseach's response to parents like Paula and to schools? He told them to appeal. There was no help, no comfort, no solution; they were just told to appeal. That was a reply as cold as the cuts themselves.  D\u00e9anfaidh na ciorraithe ar ch\u00fant\u00f3ir\u00ed riachtanas speisialta dochar as cuimse do leana\u00ed le sainriachtanais oideachas\u00fala. Caithfear stop a chur leis an gcinneadh cru\u00e1lach seo. N\u00ed ch\u00f3ir go gcuirfear na ciorraithe ar SNAs i gcr\u00edch.  A pause is no good to anyone. In fact, it only adds to the uncertainty and the anxiety of parents, schools and SNAs. The Taoiseach needs to stop this now and not just pause it. Take this plan off the table. Tell parents, teachers and SNAs that he will not proceed with these cuts. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  To give Deputies a bit background, I was the Minister for Education who introduced special needs assistants to mainstream schools for children with special needs. I do not need lectures from Deputy McDonald in terms of the value, importance and centrality of special needs assistants to children in our schools and the support that they have given. I have watched it grow from almost nothing to close to 25,000 SNAs in our school system by September next. In the past five years alone, the number of special needs assistants has grown by 45%. That is evidence of a continued increase, expansion and investment in the service. I just want to make that point.  I accept that the manner in which letters went out and so forth did cause concerns but let us avoid the language of \"pulling the rug\" and \"ripping apart\". That is not accurate at all. First, we need to say to all schools that no SNA will be removed from any school during the school year. I hope Deputy McDonald accepts that. No SNA will lose their job because there is a redeployment scheme, and a local panel is being created and so forth. That is a very important point to make as well.  I understand fully the stress, difficulty and fear that can develop in terms of the potential of losing services in a given school but equally we have to acknowledge that school is progression. Children move on from one school to another, so it is not plausible that there would not be reviews. One criticism I have is that the reviews should be more regular to make sure that our resource goes to the children most in need. Most people would accept that as rational and the right course of action. Different needs will arise on an annual basis. New children will come into schools and some that did not have a need will develop a need because of the number of children coming into the school in a new year. Over two thirds - 68% - of those that were part of this review of 585 schools will either see no change or an increase in their SNA allocation.  The Deputy is correct when she says that approximately 190 schools will see a reduction. The reason I told them to appeal is that there is an appeals mechanism there. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  So therapists will be reduced. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I have spoken with the Minister, Deputy Naughton; the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Moynihan; and the NCSE. They will work through with the schools that have been impacted more severely than others. I do not believe any school should lose six SNAs. I think that was reported last evening. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  What about five? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I do not believe any school should lose four if there are six. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  Good. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I do not believe that, and that is why more regular reviews would be better. They would be more attuned to the needs of the school year, rather than what may happen when capacity has built up and needs have changed. The needs do change.  We are bringing a therapy service in schools, and into special schools in particular. We will have a multidisciplinary approach in special schools. We spread that out and mainstream it over time. That is important as well to bring additional disciplines to help children with special needs and additional needs in our schools.  The Minister has paused this. We will engage with the NCSE and it will engage with the schools, particularly those schools that have already been subject to the review. The NCSE and its officials will now work with those schools to review the position for them. In my view, any changes would have to be gradual and the impact on the individual schools would have to be factored in in terms of any reviews that would have taken place. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I thank the Taoiseach. I call Deputy McDonald. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Ba mhaith liom a r\u00e1 go bhfuil muid ar thaobh na SNAs. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  N\u00edl an Rialtas ar a dtaobh. N\u00edl s\u00e9 ar thaobh na SNAs, na p\u00e1ist\u00ed n\u00f3 na m\u00fainteoir\u00ed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  T\u00e1 i bhfad n\u00edos m\u00f3 infheist\u00edochta curtha isteach againn \u00f3 thaobh ch\u00farsa\u00ed oideachais do leana\u00ed a bhfuil riachtanais speisialta acu. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I ask the Taoiseach to conclude. I call Deputy McDonald. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  The Taoiseach seems to not accept or understand that schools in any event have been struggling and are under pressure. If there is an excess of SNAs across the school communities of this land, I certainly have not seen it. I think all of our colleagues would confirm that if you go from school to school and principal to principal, you will see that they are tearing out their hair out as they try to do the best for the children under the most enormous pressure. Now the Taoiseach, Miche\u00e1l Martin, is proposing cuts. Yes, cuts. Here is what it is going to mean: Fossa National School near Killarney will be down four SNAs; Johnstown Boys National School in Dublin, which I mentioned, will be down five SNAs; and Scoil Barra in Ballincollig in Cork will be down two SNAs. That is just a small sample. We could go on and on. That is merely a snapshot of what is in store. Now it seems that the Government is going to review the review. It is talking about a pause. That is of absolutely no use to anyone. In fact, I would argue that it will add to the anxiety. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I thank the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  The Government needs to acknowledge and respect the vital, essential role of SNAs for children in the school system. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I ask Deputy McDonald to conclude. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  The Government also needs to commit to not to cut any of them. That is what is needed. That is what the Taoiseach needs to say. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I thank Deputy McDonald. I call the Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  I hope the Taoiseach will get to his feet, alleviate the anxiety of parents and SNAs and make it clear these cuts will not proceed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We are increasing the number of special needs assistants to 25,000 for the school year 2026-27 beginning in September. I will repeat for you that we are increasing, not cutting, the number of special needs assistants for the next school year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  It is----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  I have given the Taoiseach the numbers there. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  There will be 25,000. The numbers have gone up by 45% in the last five years. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  So is Fossa not losing four? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Those are not cutbacks; that is expansion. Now I will speak about the reason. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Johnstown is losing five. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I spoke yesterday to the Minister, Deputy Foley. We were in County Kerry yesterday. I spoke about schools appealing. Schools are well used to appealing. I do not mean that in any cold way. That is important. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  You are right about that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  They have to. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  No, sorry. That is right across the board. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  They have no choice in the matter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Order, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  Of course they are well used to appealing. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Sorry, when it comes to any scheme, schools will seek to make some appeals, correctly in my view. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  A startling initiative. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The making of appeals is a mechanism to deal with some of these issues. I have said it already that no school should lose four SNAs in any one year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  How many should they lose? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It depends on the needs of the school. If, for example, three or four children who were benefiting from an SNA in a primary school move onto second level, that can change the need. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Oh my God, you are so out of touch with what is happening. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I thank the Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Surely the Deputy is not suggesting----- "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  The Taoiseach is out of touch with what is happening. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I am not out of touch at all. I am far more in touch than you are. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy McDonald, please allow the Taoiseach to finish. The time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Oh my goodness. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I have been working on this all my political life and I will continue to work all my political life on special needs education. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  The Taoiseach should conclude. I call Deputy Bacik. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Surely Deputy McDonald is not saying that every SNA stays in situ forever, irrespective of the need. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  No, I am saying----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That is what she is saying.  That does not make sense either. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  The Taoiseach should conclude. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  All I am simply saying is that we have expanded the numbers----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  The Government made a mess of this. Why does the Taoiseach not admit it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----and we want the children who need it most to get the service they require and the SNA supports they require----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  That is disingenuous. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----and that is what we are going to do. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  That is utterly disingenuous. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Lawless.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Lawless  Look who is talking - madame disingenuous. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I call Deputy Bacik. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  The decision to overturn planning permission for a new critical care wing at the Rotunda Maternity Hospital is deeply disappointing. The staff there provide exceptional care to women and babies. However, the building is failing them. The Rotunda is the busiest maternity hospital in Ireland and one of the busiest in Europe. Yet, vulnerable premature babies are being treated in facilities that are simply not fit for purpose and healthcare workers tell us that space constraints are already impacting on care.  We all know we have a shameful history in this country on women\u2019s healthcare. The legacy of the draconian eighth amendment, the bans on contraception and the barbaric practice of symphysiotomy all cast a shadow over our recent memories. The fight for better healthcare is not over for women, however. Even since 2018, women still face patronising delays and unnecessary restrictions when accessing abortion services. Now, Victorian infrastructure and, indeed, Georgian architecture, it seems, are impeding the provision of decent maternity care.  I respect An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la, of course, but we need to build critical healthcare capacity. It is welcome that the Dublin Civic Trust has said it will not go to court if a judicial review is sought against the decision. However, it is really disappointing and frustrating for all those working in and relying on the Rotunda that so-called heritage concerns have outweighed the urgent need for decent healthcare facilities. In its decision, An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la referenced a decade-old proposal to move the Rotunda to Connolly hospital, a plan that has not proceeded to date and, sensibly, as we know, the Rotunda has instead built clinical links with the Mater. As recently as last year, however, the Government was continuing to suggest that the move could still go ahead. It was entirely foreseeable that unless Government clearly ruled out relocation plans, such plans could be used as a stick to beat maternity care with in the planning process. That is the reality, no matter how much the Minister for Health tried to downplay it on the radio this morning.  Therefore, can the Taoiseach say with clarity if, in fact, the Government has abandoned plans to move the Rotunda? As Deputy Sherlock has asked, if that is the case, why did the Minister for Health not spend \u20ac50 to let An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la know that as part of the appeal in the planning process? I remind the Taoiseach that the Government introduced the very planning procedures now blocking this development. The Minister spent the interview this morning on RT\u00c9 lamenting a planning process the Government helped to create. It speaks to a long-standing lack of vision and lack of ambition for critical infrastructure. The Government is legislating around planning constraints for gas reserves and airport capacity because of ineffective planning laws. Now, a \u20ac100 million investment in neonatal care is stalled. As a Government, we are cash rich but as a people, we know we are asset poor. Creaking infrastructure is causing suffering. It is causing flaws and inadequacies in care and the Government carries the responsibility for closing the gaps. It is not good enough to give out about An Taisce or Dublin Civic Trust or anyone else on the radio, especially not with this continued equivocation. The Government is not a bystander. Its Ministers are not bystanders. What is going to happen now with the Rotunda? What will the Taoiseach do to ensure women and babies get the medical care they deserve? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  First of all, the Minister for Health has expressed her deep disappointment----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  Oh, no. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----at the decision of An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la to overturn the position of Dublin City Council and, indeed, its own recommendation from its own planning inspector who recommended that the proposed critical care wing at the Rotunda should go ahead. I would add that it is deeply disappointing. The Minister this morning met with the regional clinical director and also the regional executive officer. The HSE will be meeting with the master of the Rotunda to review the next steps and all the plans pertaining to the Rotunda, the Mater and, of course, Connolly hospital.  The Deputy is correct. The interview this morning with the person who objected on behalf of Dublin Civic Trust was interesting. When they were pressed on whether they would object again if that particular dimension - the 2016 strategy - was removed, there was no commitment not to object again. There are no guarantees either way because other factors were taken into account.  The issue from a planning perspective is that irrespective of what happens in the long term, the critical care unit is needed now.  It is an immediate need for babies who require intensive care of that kind. About 20% of specialised neonatal care is in the Rotunda, so it is a national facility. It is not just a regional facility from that perspective. Huge numbers of women go to the Rotunda, so it is a critical resource for us.  There is an issue in terms of the prioritisation of the protection of human life over the heritage considerations. Invariably what tends to happen is that people try to marry, and do the very best they can to harmonise, developments like this. Let us not forget the Rotunda is part of the heritage as well. Are we suggesting it stands still as a building or never moves in any direction or never gets expanded? We recently opened Hampson House. I presume Deputy Bacik is familiar with that outpatient facility near O'Connell Street. It is a fantastic facility. This facilitated and opened up the opportunity to do this development. There were people working where space has now been created for the critical care wing, or part of it anyway. From our perspective, the Minister will work with all involved. The master did seek to engage with people on the ground and with Dublin Civic Trust and others. That was not, to my understanding, taken up at that particular time.  In terms of maternity development more generally, there are a number of maternity hospitals in Dublin and it is a fact that over the past 30 years or longer, we have not managed, through institutional and other issues, to get maternity hospitals located in one given site. Holles Street hospital is now moving to St. Vincent's hospital after a long row in here and argy-bargy about this, that and the other, a lot of it in my view not of substance and, quite frankly, it did not put women first. People were more worried about conspiracies in the Vatican, in my view, than women's health but there we are. Cork managed to do it. We should review the Rotunda in terms of what should happen there in the long term as well. That is something the Minister will deal with fairly quickly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  I listened carefully to the Taoiseach's response and it is more of the same. It is Government as bystander and that is not good enough. It is not good enough for the Taoiseach or for the health Minister to say how disappointed they are with a decision of an entity created by the Government. It is simply not good enough either for the Taoiseach or the health Minister----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  What entity? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  You are critical of planning decisions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  What entity created by the Government? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  Sorry, I did not interrupt you. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I did not get that bit. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  As I have said, and I hope I get more time, it is not good enough for the Taoiseach to govern as a bystander because he is in government and, indeed, he was in the previous Government. The planning process was established by Government. It is now up to the Government to do something about this decision. What I did not hear from the Taoiseach was any clarity about the long-term plans for the Rotunda. An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la referred to a prospective move of the Rotunda. That has not been ruled out by either the Taoiseach or the health Minister. Women and their families deserve clarity on what the plan for the Rotunda is. Is it going to stay on site? The Taoiseach referred to Holles Street hospital. Holles Street hospital has not moved yet either. We have seen very little progress on that. I have stood in the Rotunda and met the staff. I have heard from them their extreme frustration at the lack of space and the constraints in the facilities. Anyone who has been in there as a patient or who has visited people will know exactly the constraints the Rotunda is under. It is up to the Taoiseach to do something about it. He is in government and he is not a bystander. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It is a good catchy soundbite but----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  It is not a soundbite. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----I interrupted Deputy Bacik to get clarity from her because of the outrageous, disingenuous suggestion that the Government established An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la when the Oireachtas, through legislation, voted for its establishment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  Proposed by the Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Deputy Bacik knows that as a legislator and as a person with legal background. It is a creature of the Oireachtas. Yes, the Government proposed reforms but it is a creature of the Oireachtas and Deputy Bacik knows that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marie Sherlock  The Taoiseach is deflecting. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  She would be the very first person calling on a Minister to resign if that Minister tried to interfere in an independent planning process. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marie Sherlock  You had one job to do and you did not do it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It is utter hypocrisy of Deputy Bacik to call us bystanders because we did not interfere and tell An Comisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la that, no matter what its views are, it is to pass that along and rubberstamp it because that is what the Government wants.  That is what Deputy Bacik is saying. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Order, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marie Sherlock  It is disrespect to the Rotunda. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That is what the Deputy is saying. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  That is not what we are saying. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  All of us have met the Rotunda. All of us support the Rotunda. I have met the master and the people involved, and so has the Minister for Health. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  Where is the clarity? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy Bacik. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The clarity is that An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la has made a decision. We now have to deal with that decision and we will. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marie Sherlock  It was within your power to do something about it and you did not do it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Anois, Deputy Holly Cairns. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  One in six babies in this State is born in the Rotunda. It is the busiest maternity hospital in the country by some distance and it is also the oldest maternity hospital in the world, and in many ways it feels like it. I was there yesterday to speak to the team after the devastating news that the planning permission for their long-awaited and desperately needed extension had been overturned. On Friday, as the news filtered through the hospital corridors, staff were in shock. One told me they burst into tears. They literally could not believe it because they could not comprehend how anyone could walk into that neonatal intensive care unit and deny that those babies needed more space.  I visited the neonatal intensive care unit yesterday to see the conditions myself. It is not a large room and it is stuffed full of equipment that overflows into the surrounding corridors. Right now there are seven babies in incubators in that room. Their machines are practically on top of each other and their mothers and nurses are squeezed into the spaces in between. One mum with her tiny, gorgeous baby on her chest was afraid to lean too far back in her chair in case she hit another incubator. There is no privacy, no dignity and no proper protection from hospital-acquired infections. There is about a meter between each incubator, to fit parents, nurses and equipment.  The team in the Rotunda hoped that would change when a critical care extension was built onto the hospital. That extension would have included a 20-bed neonatal intensive care unit and a 25-bed special care baby unit, as well as new labour and postnatal wards and 80 additional hospital bedrooms - a game-changer for the care of women and babies. Unbelievably, however, planning permission for this extension was revoked by An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la. An appeals board said the extension did not represent an overwhelming public benefit \"sufficient to justify the degree of heritage harm identified\". On what planet is the treatment of premature babies not an overwhelming public benefit? The mind boggles.  The absurdity of that decision makes at least some sense when we realise that An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la partially based this decision on Government policy to co-locate the Rotunda with Connolly Hospital. Listening to the Minister for Health this morning and visiting the hospital yesterday, it is clear that is not the case any more. This decision, as well as being completely mad, it is partially based on outdated information. We all agree that co-location is best practice for any maternity hospital, but it is abundantly clear to everyone that the Rotunda is not going to be co-located with Connolly. It already works alongside the Mater and that relationship should be formalised in the upcoming national maternity strategy.  Will the Taoiseach now confirm that plans to co-locate the Rotunda with Connolly Hospital will not go ahead? Will he explain why this announcement was not made before the planning decision was made? What is the Government going to do now to get this urgent project over the line and how will it do that quickly? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I believe this project is in the overwhelming public interest and that there is an overwhelming public benefit. That is why we funded about \u20ac16 million into Hampson House to facilitate decanting but also provision of a first-class service now in terms of outpatient facilities, antenatal clinics and all of that. The Government is 100% behind this project but An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la is independent, as all TDs would want. In this House no one has ever suggested it should not be. However, I hope the Deputy will back us now when we bring forward a critical infrastructure Bill. I hope we get the House's agreement that, certainly in health, there are exceptional projects that need to bypass the planning process altogether and just get it done----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  ----- in the interest of public health. Deputy Cairns has summed up the neonatal intensive care unit correctly. I do not argue with her summation of the conditions there.  Those who objected to this vital project should have taken up the invitation of the master of the Rotunda. They should have visited the neonatal intensive care unit and they should have then weighed up what they are objecting to. They have their commitments - the civic trust and others - but everybody has to weigh up the pros and cons of any given decision. In my view, in objecting to this facility, they very significantly got it wrong.  In terms of previous strategies and recommendations that were made, I do not want to invent new national maternity strategies on a whim. There is a successor to the current one. However, I know the Minister is meeting with the master. The Minister will come back to Government fairly quickly in terms of a statement in respect of how we see this now proceeding. The colocation is there in essence between the Rotunda and the Mater level 4 hospital. There is a blue light corridor there that facilitates urgent transfers and so on. In essence, it is very important we have colocation for women's health. It is absolutely an imperative. There has been a very significant and impressive development of a strong relationship between the Rotunda and the Mater. They work very closely together.  As I said, there is a protective blue light corridor to provide adults with acute services when needed. The Minister has already had meetings today on the range of issues involved and how we move this forward. The Minister will be meeting with the master, Professor Sean Daly, shortly. I am working with the Minister and Government. The Minister will come back to Government with proposals in this regard. In my view, we will have to look at all options here to get this critical care wing built at the Rotunda because there is no other immediate prospect or any short- to medium-term prospect of anything else happening, other than the critical wing being established on this site. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  The Taoiseach says colocation between the Rotunda and the Mater is there in essence. Yes, I agree with him and everyone can see that. The problem the Taoiseach is talking around is that it is not there in reality in the Government's maternity strategy and An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la brought that into its decision-making process. Part of the reason it gave when balancing it with the cultural heritage of the area was that this was not the long-term plan. However, the long-term plan has changed. The Government failed to acknowledge that, even five months ago when the appeal was put in. The Minister came out on the radio this morning and basically clarified that situation five months later.  Now, the decision has been made. There will be a massive delay in this extension happening no matter what and the Government now needs to at least take responsibility for that and admit it was the Government's strategy that misled An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la into making this decision. That is the very least the Government could do when the delay is considered.  At the moment - I do not know how to emphasise this enough - there are 22 postnatal women sharing one bathroom. There is one bathroom between 22 women who have just given birth. All of those intensive care units for tiny premature babies are jammed into a room. There is not room for the two parents to go into see their baby at one time. This will go on even longer because the Government did not inform An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la that the plan to colocate has changed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy has omitted the fact that Dublin City Council approved this planning and the inspector at An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la recommended and approved the decision of Dublin City Council. There was no expectation----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  Has the Taoiseach read An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la's----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Sorry, now. I know it is the job of the Opposition to blame the Government all of the time. An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la took a decision which obviously went against the Dublin City Council decision and the recommendation of the board's own inspector, I am informed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  Has the Taoiseach read the decision? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Niall Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Niall-Collins.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Niall Collins  It was a split decision as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  There was a split decision as well but that can happen. In fairness, I do not believe in microscopic examination. People make decisions in their own right as officers of An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la. In my view, it is the wrong decision. In my view----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  They cited the colocation with Connolly Hospital. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Allow the Taoiseach to respond, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Anyone who knows anything about this and sought to know anything about it would know that this critical care wing is needed now. It is not needed in five, ten, 15 or 20 years' time.  It is needed now, as Deputy Cairns has articulated, because we are all aware of----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  It was needed five years ago, or ten years ago. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Do not be interfering with the Social Democrats' time, please. You tend to want to monopolise the Opposition a lot. I know that but you should not be trying to do it on Leaders' Questions.  Anyway, that is----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  I have no tolerance for waffle. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  The time has concluded on this question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The critical care wing is needed now. An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la knows that. Dublin City Council was clear, that it was okay and it approved it, and so was the inspector. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I call Deputy Ward. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  You should read the An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la reason. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  We did read it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  It said it was because of colocation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  It did not say that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  That was taken into consideration. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  It does say that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy Ward, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Carroll MacNeill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill  It does not say that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  It does. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Please, Deputy Ward. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charles Ward  Children with the most complex needs in Donegal are losing essential support under the NESC's reviewed special needs assistants, SNA, review process and it comes at a real human cost. I personally reviewed the situation at Scoil Aodh Rua agus Nuala in Donegal town and what is going on there. There are children who rely on SNA supports to eat, to move and to communicate. These are their primary care needs and yet 2.5 SNAs are being cut from this school next September. It is far too much for this school to manage.  If SNAs are treated as part of the general allocation, the school is forced to choose who loses support - children with special classes or children in mainstream classes with complex needs. Either way, inclusion fails and the children are forced out of their communities into special needs schools.  The reduction sometimes is appropriate. I acknowledge that but this is not one of those times. Research shows best practice in law and that children with complex needs thrive in a stable, predictable and delivered educational environment within their own communities. The Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs, ESPEN, Act 2004 guarantees that every child is entitled to appropriate education. Cutting essential supports is harmful and contrary to law.  I have written urgently to all the Ministers and the relevant agencies seeking an intervention in this. The reality is stark. If these cuts continue, schools will not be able to safely manage special needs classes. The SENO may technically instruct schools to open classes but the practical reality for schools is they cannot meet the children's needs and they cannot provide essential care.  This is not a threat. This is the reality that is going on on the ground. Children's safety, education and well-being are now at risk. These cuts undermine the inclusion and breach the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which Ireland has signed up to.  I call for an urgent review, particularly of Scoil Aodh Rua agus Nuala in Donegal town because it is in a desperate situation and this review needs to be stopped and revisited immediately. I am asking the Taoiseach to intervene, that the 2.5 SNA cuts for this school in Donegal town be stopped and that the review and the process be looked at so that no child is left behind and that they can be educated within their communities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. As he will be aware, I dealt with it earlier on a previous Leaders' question. It is important to make the point that no SNA is being removed from any school during this school year. Second, no SNA will lose their job. Those are two very important points.  There are no cuts to overall special needs assistants' numbers. By September next year, we will have approximately 24,900. That is close to 25,000. We had more than 23,000 coming into this year. The numbers grew by 45% over five years, so it has been expansion. The needs have grown. Demand has grown as well, and it is important to meet that.  So far, of the 580 reviews that took place, approximately 1%, it seems to me, of SNA posts nationally have been affected. We have 4,000 schools in our system. Approximately 190 have received letters indicating reductions. Approximately two thirds, or 68%, have either no change or an increase in their SNA allocation.  In the context of the school the Deputy referenced, the NCSE will engage with the school. The school should appeal because that is the process. If you feel you have been wronged or whatever, you appeal it. That allows a mechanism to revisit the decision of the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, to reduce the numbers in a given school. It is important that be done.  The Minister has paused the review. The Minister, Deputy Naughton, and the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, will engage intensively now to ensure that all the concerns raised - the Deputy has raised some - are fully understood and that we fully support children with additional needs in our schools.  That is the objective. Is \u00e9 sin at\u00e1 i gceist againn. T\u00e1 an m\u00e9id SNAs ag m\u00e9ad\u00fa bliain i ndiaidh bliana, agus is maith an rud \u00e9 sin. T\u00e1 an infheist\u00edocht ag m\u00e9ad\u00fa chomh maith. Dar nd\u00f3igh, b\u00edonn athruithe ann go rialta, mar a d\u00fairt an Teachta. Tagann athruithe ar an sc\u00e9al i scoileanna \u00e9asg\u00fala agus is \u00e9 sin an f\u00e1th a mb\u00edonn athruithe maidir leis na SNAs agus na scoileanna ina mbeidh siad. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charles Ward  I understand what the Taoiseach is saying around the allocations and deployment but in Donegal, it is not practical. For example, if in Donegal you are deployed to somewhere within a certain radius, there are no spaces available. That will not help, and within these schools, these children will be left without the rapport or the relationship they have built up over the years with the SNA who was there to help them. These children in this school are not going out anywhere over the next couple years; they will still be there. There are primary care needs here and they have still been cut.  I ask the Taoiseach to review this school in Donegal town because we can see there is definitely something wrong. According to his own figures, 32% of schools are affected. If we are dealing with 32% of schools affected in the long run, what will that be next year and the year after? We have to make sure we are looking after children with primary needs and their care. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I said earlier the reviews should be regular to match resources to the needs of children, and new children will come into schools. We have about 4,000 schools with children who leave primary and go into second level, and children develop differently and so on. As the Deputy knows, the SNAs are allocated to the school, so the general number is allocated to the school. Obviously, within the context of the children in the school, additional needs assessments are made.  Part of the problem here is there probably has not been a review for several years and the result has been too severe in respect of some schools. As I said earlier, no school should lose six or four in any one year. Again, depending on the size of the school, and with Scoil Aodh Rua, 2.5 could be a significant hit to that school. I do not have the background and specifics. If an assessment is made by the NCSE that a certain school does not require the number of SNAs it had two or three years ago, it should not hit the school with a shock decision and that it is making the call to take out three or four. It should be done much more gradually.  That would be our approach, and I have communicated that to the Ministers and they agree with me on that and the NCSE. That is the way to proceed here. The Minister for Education and Youth is going to sit down with the NCSE to work this out. The NCSE and SENOs will then engage with the schools concerned to see what we can do. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/dbsect_3","debateType":"orderofBusiness","bill":null,"showAs":"An tOrd Gn\u00f3 - Order of Business","counts":{"speechCount":104,"speakerCount":25},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Geoghegan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cormac Devlin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dessie Ellis","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  I move:  Tuesday's business shall be:  -\tStatements on Bluetongue (not to exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes)  Tuesday's private members' business shall be the Motion re Ban on Investment Funds Purchasing Family Homes, selected by Sinn F\u00e9in.  Wednesday's business shall be:  -\tInternational Protection Bill 2026 - Financial Resolution (without debate and to be taken no earlier than 2.12 p.m. and any division claimed to be taken immediately)   -\tInternational Protection Bill 2026 (Committee Stage) (to adjourn after 8 hours)  -\tProtection of Employees (Employers' Insolvency) (Amendment) Bill 2025 (Report and Final Stages) (to conclude within 1 hour)   Wednesday's private members' business shall be the Second Stage of the Work Life Balance (Right to Remote Work) Bill 2026, selected by the Labour Party.  Thursday's business shall be:  -\tStatements on Flooding (not to exceed 3 hours and 32 minutes)  Thursday evening business shall be the Second Stage of the Commission on the Future of the Family Farm Bill 2024, sponsored by Deputy Martin Kenny.     Proposed Arrangements for this week\u2019s business:     In relation to Tuesday\u2019s business, it is proposed that:  1.\tnotwithstanding anything in Standing Orders:  ( a )\tthe time allocated to Government business shall be extended in accordance with the arrangements for that business and the D\u00e1il may sit later than 10.48 p.m.; and  ( b )\tprivate members\u2019 business shall be taken on the conclusion of the Statements on Bluetongue, with consequential effect on the commencement times for the items following in the ordinary routine of business; and  2.\tthe Statements on Bluetongue shall not exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply:  ( a )\tthe statements, not including the Ministerial response, shall be in accordance with the sequence contained in the table immediately below (to be read across);  ( b )\tfollowing the statements, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes; and  ( c )\tmembers may share time.          Gov      SF      Lab      Gov      SF       Mins    25    15    10    10    3           SD      Gov      SF      IPTG      Gov       Mins    10    10    3    9    10           SF      ITG      Gov      SF      OM       Mins    3    9    10    3    5                       Total         2 hrs 15 mins        In relation to Wednesday's business, it is proposed that:  1.\tnotwithstanding anything in Standing Orders:  ( a )\tthe time allotted for Government Business shall be extended in accordance with the arrangements for that business and the D\u00e1il may sit later than 9.30 p.m.;  ( b )\tthe SOS pursuant to Standing Order 25(1) shall be taken on conclusion of Questions on Policy or Legislation for one hour or until 2.12 p.m. whichever is the later; and  ( c )\tthe weekly division time shall be taken on the conclusion of proceedings on the Protection of Employees (Employers\u2019 Insolvency) (Amendment) Bill 2025;  2.\tnotwithstanding anything in Standing Order 177(2), the proceedings on Second Stage of the Work Life Balance (Right to Remote Work) Bill 2026 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 2 hours;  3.\tthe proceedings on the Motion for a Financial Resolution for the International Protection Bill 2026 shall be taken immediately following the SOS pursuant to Standing Order 25(1), without debate and any division claimed thereon shall be taken immediately;  4.\tthe proceedings on Committee Stage of the International Protection Bill 2026 shall, if not previously concluded, be interrupted, and stand adjourned after 8 hours; and  5.\tthe proceedings on Report and Final Stages of the Protection of Employees (Employers' Insolvency) (Amendment) Bill 2025 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 1 hour by one question, which shall be put from the Chair, and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment.  In relation to Thursday's business, it is proposed that:  1.\tnotwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, topical issues may be taken earlier than 7.24 p.m. with consequential effect on the commencement time for Second Stage of the Commission on the Future of the Family Farm Bill 2024, and on the time for the adjournment of the D\u00e1il; and  2.\tthe Statements on Flooding shall not exceed 3 hours and 32 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply:  ( a )\tthe statements, not including the Ministerial response, shall be in accordance with the sequence contained in the table immediately below (to be read across);  ( b )\tfollowing the statements, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes; and  ( c )\tmembers may share time.          Gov      SF      Lab      Gov      SF       Mins    35    25    15    15    5           SD      Gov      SF      IPTG      Gov       Mins    15    15    5    12    15           SF      ITG      Gov      SF      OM       Mins    5    12    15    5    8                       Total       3 hrs 22 mins       "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Not agreed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  The HSE has had phase 1 of the Nayagam review relating to children with scoliosis. It is horrific what we know already, and this is of the utmost sensitivity. The Government has committed to a statutory public inquiry. Will it appoint a facilitator to engage with the families in terms of reference? Will we have D\u00e1il statements to give absolute clarity about how this is being handled? There are growing concerns among the families, so we need D\u00e1il statements to clarify all this and to deal with this matter of utmost public concern. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  Can I have statements in the D\u00e1il with the Minister for Education and Youth to explain why she has now paused the SNA reviews, why her Department has caused such stress to SNAs, parents and students with additional needs and if these decisions will be reversed?  How dare the Taoiseach come in here and say schools are used to appeals. It is shameful and it looks like now the NCSE is asking teachers to do the job of SNAs. The letters being received state the teachers have to \"engage in training\".  It says the teachers have to engage in training. Is the Taoiseach trying to get rid of SNAs or what? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I did not write the letter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  Read the letter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Healy-Rae  We brought them in. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Order, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  Read the letter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I did not write the letter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  A third party did. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We paused it now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  Next month will mark three years since the publication of the Shannon report into sexual abuse of children at St. John Ambulance. Despite the passage of so much time, we are still waiting for recommendations to be implemented. Now there are question marks about the independence of a national safeguarding officer. I am told that survivors have been trying to meet the Minister but they have been refused a meeting. This foot dragging and refusal to engage in such an important issue is unacceptable. We need a debate on this issue this week. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  We need the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to come to the D\u00e1il for statements on the short-term lets legislation which will come before the D\u00e1il. At last week's committee meeting, which was held in private, officials from the Departments of tourism and of planning would not answer in public as to what is happening. They were all over the place in relation to the planning aspect of this legislation. The Minister cannot shy away from this and let Airbnb and the short-term lets in rural communities in with this planning debacle that is going on at the moment. We need the Minister to come before the D\u00e1il and to make a statement. It is quite simple. That is all we need to do. Do not say \"No\". The Taoiseach needs to say \"Yes\". "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I would be worried if we brought clarity to Deputy Michael Collins's campaign----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  Whatever you----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  We absolutely have to have the SNA cull, or sorry review, put onto the D\u00e1il agenda this week. Every single TD has been plagued by a deluge of representations on this. Fair play to parents, pupils and staff in the school in Dublin who yesterday called out the Government and got it to pause it. However, it has not dropped it; it has just paused it. It has to be discussed in the D\u00e1il. What we have from the Taoiseach is that suddenly students progress. God forbid a special needs assistant, SNA, should be left in a school----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We assess it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  -----because, of course, there would not ever be another student who would have additional needs. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We would assess it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  We all know that appeals very rarely go in favour of the parents or the student. Help with school refusal, anxiety and ADHD in mainstream schools is very important. It is very important that SNAs are maintained in schools. Shifting the focus away or on to the primary care needs of children, which is what the Minister is doing, will gut SNAs from so many schools. We need this put onto the agenda. We need to stop pitting schools, mainstream and special schools, against each other. It will not work. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  I thank the various Whips for their comments. We have a request for four additional sets of statements this week but, as Members know, we are dealing with requests that came in two weeks ago, including for statements on bluetongue and on flooding. Notwithstanding they are all extremely important, I will consult with the various Ministers to see if they can be facilitated as soon as possible. The Order of Business stands. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Is the Order of Business agreed? No. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  We move now to Questions on Policy or Legislation. I call Deputy McDonald. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  There are unruly elements in this Chamber. Most of them are Sinn F\u00e9iners but how and ever.  I return to the issue of the Rotunda Hospital, which is the busiest maternity hospital in the country.  The refusal of permission for the critical care unit is undoubtedly a blow but it should be remembered that it is just the latest in a series of setbacks for the hospital. The hospital has for a long time been seeking investment and development but each and every time it has been put through the wringer by a government that kept citing the desire to relocate it to colocate it with James Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown. That plan never made sense. It did not make sense ten years ago and does not make sense today. For generations the Rotunda Hospital has been colocated with the Mater Hospital in the heart of Dublin's north inner city and that is where it must stay. The Taoiseach has been asked several times today and he has avoided giving any clarity. I want him to give clarity now for those who work in this hospital and those who use its services. Generations of northside Dubliners have been born there and people rely on its services. Will the Taoiseach give clarity that the Rotunda Hospital will remain at the heart of Dublin's north inner city? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  First of all, some of the Deputy's language and the untruths she says are difficult to comprehend in respect of the Government's position in respect of the Rotunda. She said we put the hospital \"through the wringer\" and we denied it investment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Yes, correct. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Is she not conscious of the Hampson House project? Some \u20ac16 million was allocated to the Rotunda. It has been a great success. The works are completed and so forth. The budget increased by 47% or \u20ac35 million since 2020. That is not putting anybody \"through the wringer\". The Deputy casually gets up and says stuff that is completely untrue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  It is not completely untrue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy seems to be----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  I know that hospital well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy is in a parallel universe that is governed by politics, electoral gain and nothing else. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  No, no, no. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Others in the House raised this issue----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Yes, and I am raising it now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----substantively during Leaders' Questions and I gave comprehensive replies to those. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  No, you did not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I made it very clear that the critical care wing is needed now----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  I have asked about colocation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----and that the Government is very supportive of the Rotunda's plans. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Thank you, Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We will continue to support them. The Minister is now engaging----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy Bacik. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  A Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I asked about colocation, not about the critical care unit. I would like an answer, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy McDonald, you are out of order. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  I would like an answer from the Taoiseach, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  You are out of order. The Taoiseach has given the answer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  No, he has not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  You will have to take it up then with the Taoiseach's office. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  He has not answered. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy Bacik. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  Some 60 years on, everyone agrees there must be a resolution to the State\u2019s scandalous handling of thalidomide. What is needed now is a fair and full resolution for the survivors, for their families and for their mothers, many of whom are now in failing health. As the Irish Thalidomide Association has warned, the clock is ticking for this small group of just 40 survivors. They have had too many false dawns. There was renewed hope in December when the Taoiseach and the T\u00e1naiste committed to taking personal charge, which was very welcome. The Taoiseach must maintain that momentum now. Will he confirm that the February meeting he scheduled with thalidomide survivors will proceed? Survivors seek justice, the provision of a State apology and appropriate redress. They have waited six decades; they should not have to wait any longer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Obviously the thalidomide facilitation process is under way under the chairmanship of Mr. Justice Paul Gilligan. There has been good engagement with the Irish Thalidomide Association, ITA, and the Irish Thalidomide Survivors Society. The T\u00e1naiste and I met the ITA twice in the last quarter of 2025, in October and then before Christmas. These were constructive meetings. Several complex issues were raised. Officials are following up on these matters. I am as frustrated as anybody by the length of time this has taken. I do not think there is a need for that. I think these issues can be resolved. There is ongoing correspondence. We will meet, certainly, our objectives by the end of February. We have established, as the Deputy knows, a national thalidomide advocacy office. A wide range of health and social care supports are being provided, have been provided and will continue to be provided in terms of medical cards, annual assessments, access to allied health professionals, access to international centres of excellence when expertise is not available nationally, prophylactic MRI, unlimited access----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I thank the Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----to exercise and hydrotherapy facilities, and personal living supports. All that is in place but there are outstanding issues we want to resolve as quickly as we possibly can. We believe the Mr. Justice Gilligan process is a good process and one that should be availed of. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Thank you, Taoiseach. Deputy Quaide. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  And the Taoiseach will be meeting them before the end of February. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Yes. We will come back with a date to the organisation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Liam Quaide  I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle. There is growing alarm and confusion among parents, teachers and special needs assistants across the country after it was revealed that at least 194 schools had been told they would lose SNA posts from September, with further reviews ongoing.  In the past hour, we have heard of a backtrack from Government as it came under ferocious public pressure. It appears that the Department was reverting to a crude and narrow interpretation of care needs, restricting SNA access largely to physical supports. As the Taoiseach knows, SNAs support children with a range of needs, such as emotional regulation, attention, communication, participation and belonging in school life. Without that support, many children simply cannot access education or reach their full potential. This chaos from the Department follows the recent astonishing decision to shift key elements of identifying special educational needs away from clinicians and towards teachers under the so-called assessment of need reforms, a move made without consultation and which gave rise to bewilderment and uncertainty across the sector. This detached and chaotic educational planning spreadsheet is messing with people's lives. Can the Taoiseach confirm that all the schools that have been told they will lose SNAs will keep them while the process is paused? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  To conclude, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Liam Quaide  How long will that take? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I have dealt with this extensively in the House. There are 4,000 schools in our system. By the start of the next school year, there will be up to 25,000 SNAs. As I said earlier, there has been a 45% increase in the number of SNAs over five years. I would caution against the breadth and the range of services the Deputy says SNAs should be obliged to provide. We need to be very targeted in our approach. The children who need SNAs the most should have them allocated to them.  The danger with mission creep is that sometimes the child most in need does not get the attention that he or she requires and deserves. We are bringing in other therapies, initially into special schools. We then want to spread that into mainstream schools. That is nothing to do with the SNA situation.  There should be regular reviews of SNAs to make sure the resource is targeted properly. I am sure nobody could object to that. The difficulty here as a result of the review the NCSE initiated last October - approximately 500 have been completed - is that the impact on some schools is too severe. This is in terms of the new school year, from September of this year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Liam Quaide  How long will the review take? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  The injunction taken by the Hoxton Hotel taken against one of the few late nightclub venues left in our city centre is one more example of how clubbing and any sort of late night social setting is becoming impossible in Dublin. I know the Taoiseach will not want to discuss the specifics of the legal case, and that is fine, but would he not agree that this situation demonstrates why our country's licensing laws are so outdated and why the Government needs to proceed with the changes to the Sale of Alcohol Bill 2022, create more flexibility for late night opening and introduce the concept of a night-time permit? Will the Taoiseach take steps to show that his Government truly values the night-time economy? Will he also show that the Government understands the desire of people, young and not so young, to be able to enjoy nightlife in this city and around the country? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I do understand, Deputy, that there are those, like your good self, among us who have plenty of energy and so on. The Deputy will recall that was discussed by a previous Government and Cabinet. I will engage with the Minister for justice and ask him where that legislation lies. As the Deputy knows, there have been different views across the House on how far the legislation is going. Some wanted the opening hours to go until 6 a.m., and the Deputy is nodding approvingly. There is an issue around the night-time economy. There have been different dimensions to that debate. I will speak to the Minister of justice to see where we are on that and to bring clarification to the House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  I want to talk about CHI and the enormous damage being done to children in this country. I received a reply to a parliamentary question today which states that 525 scoliosis operations were cancelled in the past four years. That figure has doubled within just three years. Half of the reasons were given as clinical but we know that Harvey Morrison Sherratt was taken off the waiting list for clinical reasons. That is a very broad brush. We also know that 20% of the cancellations are unaccounted for at the moment. We are not told in which hospitals this is happening and we are also told there has been an increase in the number of emergencies. That leads me to believe there is a capacity issue if those emergencies are knocking existing operations off the chart.  The information that has been provided to parent is damagingly slow. Phase 1 of the Nayagam report is complete but parents have been refused sight of it. Why have the recommendations of the Nayagam report not even been published at this stage? Why are parents receiving redacted documents relating to their children? In terms of the statutory inquiry, we are no further along. There was a promise that terms of reference would be sorted out within 16 weeks. There are two weeks left of that deadline. The campaign group has not even been brought in to meet the Minister to discuss the terms of reference. When will the terms of reference be provided? It is likely that they will not be provided for at least another three, four or five months. Families are furious at the lack of support they are getting from Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  In terms of cancellations, the latest information I have from CHI and the Department of Health for last year states that about 164 surgeries were cancelled, some due to clinical decisions. Some 48% were cancelled due to clinical decisions. Some 19% were due to personal or family reasons and some were due to a patient's ill-health, about 11%. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  At least 20%----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Of those, 115 cases were replaced with another spinal patient. I would like to see more follow-through on the number of patients who were cancelled. Timely information should be given to parents of children in situations like that. The Deputy must be aware why phase 1 of the Nayagam report has not been published. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  The recommendations----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  There was a court injunction. The Deputy must be aware of that. My understanding is that there was a commitment given to the High Court that until phase 2 was completed, phase 1 would not be published. There is a lot of litigation around this and that is the main reason stuff is not being published. The inquiry will be focused on that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  I asked a question about the terms of reference. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I will believe there will be progress on that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  There has been no meeting with the families on the terms of reference. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Connolly  I recently raised with the Taoiseach the issue of the higher rate of suspected suicide among members of the Travelling community compared to the general population - there is a suspected rate difference of between seven and ten for members of the Travelling community. In recent weeks, the Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community held a number of meetings to engage on the issue of Traveller health with various witnesses. It would appear that despite increased health provision, technology and treatment, the Travelling community is not benefiting at the same rate as the general population or settled community.  The data is quite shocking. Traveller mortality rates are three times higher than the settled population. Average life expectancy for men who are members of the Travelling community is 15 years below the settled community and for women it is ten years below. Lastly, the Irish Traveller Movement advised us of data in the all-island Traveller health study suggested that half of travellers die before the age of 39, a startling statistic to hear. Senator Joe O'Reilly described it as an indictment on Irish society. There is a national Traveller health action plan that runs to 2027. I ask that the Taoiseach include the implementation of that strategy as a recurring agenda item for the Cabinet subcommittee on health. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. Notwithstanding the fact that we have seen a reduction in suicide numbers between 2001 and 2025 by 28%, we have not seen the same reduction in suicide numbers in the Travelling community. Where once we ranked one of the worst in Europe, we now sit at about 12th. We will have a new strategy in place very soon - the connecting for life strategy. There were over 1,900 referrals into that strategy, which was really important. The Deputy is correct. Our suicide numbers are currently 9.2 for every 100,000. Unfortunately, in Northern Ireland and across the UK, the figure is 14 per 100,000. We have made progress but not enough when it comes to the Travelling community.  I recently visited Exchange House in Dublin. As the Deputy knows, I put in place free counselling support for men from 1 September. Exchange House partnered with me and I was able to provide it with \u20ac100,000 to provide a 24-7 counselling line for Travellers. I continue to engage with the service. I can speak to the Deputy offline about what else he suggested. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I will undertake to put this item on the agenda for the next meeting of the Cabinet subcommittee. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Geoghegan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Geoghegan  I welcome the decision by the Minister for Education and Youth to pause the review and the support of the Government for that decision. A school in my constituency, Scoil Bhr\u00edde, had applied for an additional SNA and was told that not only would it not get an additional SNA, it would lose an SNA that had been with the school. That is a good example of where a school has clearly identified an additional need and the review has gotten it wrong.  I acknowledge that the Taoiseach is saying now that appeals should be submitted. I just want clarity. As the matter is paused, should a school like this submit an appeal even while the pause is ongoing? Separately, I acknowledge the overall issue about ensuring we have the correct SNA allocations. Another school in my constituency, Star of the Sea Boys National School, made an application for an SNA for a child who is in a special class because the special class could not support the child without an additional SNA. An appeal on this matter is due to be heard by the NCSE on 27 February. I hope there is a positive outcome with the appeal, and I hope that those types of appeals are not paused. I want a positive outcome in this case in order that the SNA will be allocated to Star of the Sea so the child can go to a special class in a school in his own community. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I cannot get into individual allocations in specific schools without being aware of the details. That is a matter for the National Council for Special Education in the first instance. Yes, the school should appeal. The review has been paused. It was to continue until March. The Minister is going to engage with the NCSE. For those schools where decisions have been taken, there will be engagement between the NCSE and those schools, but I always recommend that schools should appeal any given decision. It strengthens its position overall. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in  The rural roads of County Wexford and parts of south Wicklow are deadly dangerous. They are literally disintegrating before our eyes. It is not a recent problem, as they have been at the bottom of the list in intercounty studies for the past 30 years. Recent floods have completely wrecked them. Despite this, it was announced today that County Wexford is now going to receive less funding for roads than it did last year. I want to the draw the Taoiseach's attention to the Civil Liability Act 1961, which says that there is a duty of care to maintain roads in a condition that is safe to all users. These roads are completely unsafe. As the road funding to local authorities is being finalised this week, I ask the Government to reconsider the crazy decision announced today to reduce funding to County Wexford, where roads are already disintegrating and really dangerous. I ask that the decision be reconsidered. I suggest that the funding be based on road condition rather than road length, which is the existing policy, because it is completely failing County Wexford and south Wicklow. Everybody is saying that these roads are really unsafe and horrendously dangerous. Thirty-four councillors in County Wexford and eight Oireachtas Members are saying it. There is cross-party agreement on this. Today's decision is really a kick in the teeth. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I will communicate the issue the Deputy has articulated to the Minister for Transport. In general, road funding is increasing across the board. There are significant increases this year. I do not have the specific county allocations, but I will raise the issue that the Deputy has raised with the Minister. In the context of the flooding and so forth, estimates are coming back in from local authorities in respect of that. I have told the Department of Transport to tell the local authorities to fix those roads that have been damaged by the floods. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Maxwell  I want to ask the Taoiseach about the Virginia bypass in County Cavan. The development of this bypass will deliver a sustainable solution for transportation problems identified along the N3 through Virginia town and its environs. It has been talked about for too many years. Significant safety and transportation issues have been identified within the area. Virginia town and its environs experience a level of both local and through traffic using the N3. Tendering was earmarked to begin this year with construction due to start in 2028 for completion by 2031. Last week's announcement followed a motion raised by my colleague in Cavan County Council, Councillor T.P. O'Reilly, seeking an update on the progression of the Virginia bypass. He was told that the planning stage will now not be lodged until the end of next year. People in the Cavan and Meath area are very frustrated. Will the Taoiseach make a statement on the matter? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I understand that funding to get the ball rolling was allocated to that project by the Minister today. It was announced at 12.45 p.m., subject to being checked. The Deputy can check that. I do not race ahead of the announcement of the news like some people do. I will leave it at that, but I acknowledge that it is an important project. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy George Lawlor  Can the Deputy announce it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  He has got a kind of half-positive response from me. My good colleague here has alerted me to the fact that the announcement today includes an allocation of funding for the commencement of that project. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cormac Devlin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cormac Devlin  I welcome the Government's record investment in special education, which now stands at \u20ac3 billion, up 58% since 2020. The additional SNAs coming into our schools and the extra capacity is making a real and positive difference for many children and their families. However, over the last few days the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, has proposed significant cuts in some schools, like Our Lady of Good Counsel Boys National School in Johnstown in my constituency. The school has been notified of a reduction in its SNAs from nine to 3.83 - a cut of over 57% in a school with 387 kids, including 55 with identified additional care needs. The school has outlined the potential impact on pupil safety, medical supports and inclusive provision. There is an appeal process currently under way, but there is real anxiety in the school community, as the Taoiseach can imagine. The redeployment arrangements for affected SNAs have yet to be fully understood or set out. Will the Taoiseach engage with the Minister for Education to clarify the current status of the NCSE's decision to ensure allocations fully reflect the real care needs of those pupils, provide clarity and ensure no school suffers inappropriate cuts? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We are obviously talking about the next school year. As I said earlier in respect of Our Lady of Good Counsel, no school should lose close to six SNAs in one fell swoop or one decision. I have communicated that to the NCSE. I said it to both Ministers as well when we discussed this. Everyone acknowledges that it is too severe an impact. It is probably because there have not been regular reviews of allocations and such reviews are needed. We need to be very clear on the role of the SNA. Maybe it is not as broadly based it is now developing in some cases. There is specific training for SNAs and specific functions as per the circular in respect of supporting children with additional needs. Going from nine to 3.83 SNAs is a huge drop in a relatively small school. It has appealed. I understand that the NCSE will look at all of these cases again and will assess the appeal. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dessie Ellis","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dessie Ellis  There is great anger among schools and parents in my constituency of Dublin North-West at the proposal to cut the number of special needs assistants in schools. There is already a clear imbalance between the number of SNAs available in schools and the numbers required to cater for the ever-increasing number of students who need such essential assistance. Why is the Government only pausing these cuts and not stopping them entirely? That would reassure a lot of people. We need more SNAs - not less - across Dublin North-West. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Sorry, we are increasing the number of SNAs. There will be no cuts to the number of SNAs in our school system, no SNA will lose his or her job and no SNA will be taken from any school in this school year. Those are the fundamentals. It is important that needs are reviewed and assessed on an ongoing basis. That is logical and that is the way it should be. For the next school year, we will be at 25,000 SNAs. That will be about 45% of an increase over five years. I do not know how anybody in their wildest imagination can call those cuts. It is expansion, but this review is about making sure that each school has the right level of SNAs for its needs. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dessie Ellis","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dessie Ellis  We already have problems getting SNAs. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  The Before We Die campaign advocates for the availability of choice and quality residential housing for adults with intellectual disabilities. The question that all parents, especially those in their 70s and 80s, ask is this: \"What will happen to my son or daughter when we are no longer able to care for them?\". A parent told me recently that the very thought of this keeps them awake for nights on end. There is no answer to the question. Years of underfunding and lack of planning mean that the system is in crisis. Ageing parents, who may be ill themselves, are left carrying the can. When will the Government provide the additional 900 supported residential places that are needed? When will the waiting times for adults needing this type of accommodation be reduced? When will people with intellectual disabilities and their families be included in the decision-making process for these residential places? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I met with the Before We Die campaign group and we had a very good discussion. These are very serious issues. There needs to be stronger co-ordination between local authorities, section 39 bodies and Government Departments, particularly the Department of housing and the Department of disability.  I am placing it on the agenda of the next Cabinet subcommittee meeting with a view to creating a structure that will work to support families in this situation. There are a lot of issues we have to work through. I do not have the length of time to go through it all here but suffice to say it is not enough. The HSE will say it looks after moderate to severe disabilities. There has to be a continuum of care, of sheltered housing and of supported housing, depending on the needs of a given individual. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I thank the Taoiseach. I call Deputy O'Callaghan. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Between the local authorities, Government and the approved housing bodies, we should be able to create a structure that is proactively supporting families in this situation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  I asked the Taoiseach a couple of weeks ago about the unacceptable delays for An Post pensioners in relation to a pension increase that was already agreed. That was agreed back in September. The Minister was asked to approve it on 23 October. The pensioners are really upset that the increase they badly need in the cost-of-living crisis, to keep food on the table, pay bills and keep their homes heated, has not been signed off on by the Minister. All they are waiting on is for the Minister for public expenditure, Deputy Jack Chambers, to sign off on it. When I raised this matter with the Taoiseach, he undertook that he would talk to the Ministers about it and he agreed it was unacceptable for it not to be resolved quickly. Did the Taoiseach talk to the Ministers and can he tell the An Post pensioners when this is going to be signed off on? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I think the Deputy asked me about this last Wednesday. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  It was two weeks ago. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  I asked about it last week. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I have spoken to both Ministers. The Minister for public expenditure, Deputy Chambers, will be back to me fairly shortly on this and we will try to get it resolved. I do not have a date yet. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy George Lawlor  Similar to my colleague from Wicklow-Wexford, I would like to raise the issue of the condition of roads in County Wexford. I travelled some of the rural roads in Wexford over the weekend and, quite frankly, they are in an appalling condition. I do not have to tell the Taoiseach that Wexford suffered an enormous amount of weather damage over the past number of weeks. The roads were in a very poor condition. I recently met officials from Wexford County Council and they were quite worried about the allocation of money that will come to them given the level of damage. I ask that extra provision be provided to bring the roads up to somewhat of a good standard, in particular the rural roads. They are like lunar landscapes, such is the level of damage. We owe it to the people, particularly in rural areas, who are suffering year in, year out but who are really suffering now as a result of the condition of the roads. We really need an extra special allocation for this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  There was always contingency funding within the Department of Transport in terms of damaged roads as a result of flooding. There was a lot of damage as a result of the recent flooding, and we have made it very clear, through the Department of Transport, to say to the local authorities that they should get on with doing the roads that have been damaged, specifically by the flooding. They should not be hanging around; they should get them done and they will be covered. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  Ballyhaunis is a fantastic town for commerce and trade. Despite the loss of banks and other services, it has remained a very strong town for employment. It is a wonderful town. There is a proposal, however, to move the An Post delivery service unit in Ballyhaunis. It is a fundamentally important resource for the community and local commerce. It allows businesses to trade and export their products. The liquidation of the Fastway company recently has increased the importance of the An Post delivery service unit in Ballyhaunis. I ask the Taoiseach to intervene to protect the delivery service unit in Ballyhaunis. This is a State agency that is owned by the State. This is a town that has seen the loss of services like banks and other financial institutions like the credit union going part-time in recent days. There are jobs at stake and businesses that rely on this service. Will the Taoiseach intervene and protect the An Post delivery service unit in Ballyhaunis? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I will talk to the Minister with overall responsibility for An Post. I do not have the specifics of the case here yet but I will certainly talk to the Minister to see what can be done. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"An tOrd Gn\u00f3 - Order of Business"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/dbsect_8","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Revised Estimates for Public Services 2026 - Message from Select Committee","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  The Select Committee on Children and Equality has completed its consideration of the following Revised Estimates for Public Services for the service of the year ending on 31 December 2026: Vote 25 - Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission and Vote 40 - Children, Disability and Equality. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Revised Estimates for Public Services 2026 - Message from Select Committee"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/dbsect_9","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna - Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna - Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/dbsect_10","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Climate Action Plan","counts":{"speechCount":51,"speakerCount":16},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/dbsect_9","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","showAs":"Ceisteanna - Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_10","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_10.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 19, inclusive, together.  The Department of the Taoiseach tracks the delivery of actions committed to by Government Departments in the climate action plan and publishes quarterly progress reports. The progress report for quarter 1 of the Climate Action Plan 2025 was published in July 2025. The latest progress report was published in January and is available on my Department's website. It details progress made on actions due for delivery in quarters 2 and 3 of 2025. The report also covers progress on actions delayed from quarter 1, as well as delayed actions from 2023 and 2024. In total, 23 of the 39 new actions due to be completed during the two quarters were delivered on time. Of the 54 high impact actions delayed from 2023 and 2024, ten were completed by the end of quarter 3. The progress report for the final quarter of 2025 is currently being compiled and will be published following consideration by the Government.  The programme for Government restates our determination that Ireland, together with our EU partners, will play its full part in tackling climate change - protecting this and future generations. It is clear that change is under way across our economy and society to steer Ireland towards a low-carbon future. Reducing emissions is now at the heart of all our policies and sectors. We are seeing encouraging signs. Ireland\u2019s emissions have been falling for the past three years, and we now have lower overall emissions than at any point in the last 35 years, despite our population growing by 50% over that period. We are making real progress in the deployment of renewable energy, surpassing our electric vehicle targets for last year, and we are making sustained investment in enhancing the energy performance of our homes and thereby lowering emissions and energy costs for householders. Since 2019, almost \u20ac1.7 billion has been invested through SEAI schemes to support over 240,000 home energy upgrades. These actions are reaping rewards.  However, the latest EPA projections tell us that we have to go further - tackling climate action faster and at scale, particularly over the next five years. The Government is committed to reducing Ireland\u2019s reliance on fossil fuels, taking the necessary steps to ensure Ireland's long-term energy security and unlocking opportunities for economic growth. Quickly developing a vibrant offshore wind sector is central to this objective. This task requires the collective skills and effort of the public and private sectors, working together, to make the most of this opportunity.  Following on from successful discussions at the Government industry forum last July, I have established an offshore wind energy clearing house with the aim of tackling barriers to the timely delivery of offshore wind energy. This clearing house provides a forum where barriers to the development of offshore energy can be addressed by the heads of relevant Government Departments and public sector organisations together with industry representatives. It supports and enhances the efforts of the existing offshore wind delivery task force, chaired by the Minister, Deputy Darragh O\u2019Brien. The clearing house has met on two occasions, and its next meeting will take place later this month.  The programme for Government also committed to taking decisive action to provide warmer, more comfortable homes, as part of our drive to support climate change, energy affordability, security and sustainability. We launched the National Residential Retrofit Plan 2026 recently. It will make home energy upgrades more affordable and accessible to many more homeowners. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  The commitments to invest in onshore solar and wind, but particularly in offshore renewables, is critical to meet our climate objectives but also for reasons of energy security. The Taoiseach might outline further the work of the offshore wind energy clearing house. There are concerns we will not meet our offshore renewable targets originally set for 2030 but if we can meet them for 2031 or 2032, that will be welcome.  Equally, if there is further progress on the private wires Bill, when we can see a direct connection between the generator of energy, be it a wind farm, solar farm, homes, a factory or digital infrastructure, that will be extremely welcome as well. I would be grateful for an update on those. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  We have apologies from Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  The provision of public transport should play a huge part in climate action. Unfortunately, in my constituency of Wicklow, Go-Ahead provides many of our services.  It is just not up to scratch. It is plagued with problems in providing the service. There are ghost buses and buses that will just drive by people and not pick them up, particularly teenagers. We have buses that refuse to go on the predetermined route. They will actually bypass a road they are meant to go down and instead just drive to the nearest village. I will tell the Taoiseach how bad this is. I am really annoyed with this. There is a young lady in my constituency who has intellectual and physical disabilities. She got on her bus from her day service. That bus was meant to go down her road. Again, the bus driver refused to go down and brought her to the next village. It was dark, it was lashing rain, and that bus driver put her out when he got to Newcastle village and would not bring her back to Kilcoole. She was left on the side of the road by herself. It is not acceptable. The service Go-Ahead is providing is not sufficient. I ask that the Taoiseach look at the contract that was provided to it because it has never once provided a sufficient service in Wicklow. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  In August of last year, I was out ill at the time, but Deputy Murphy raised on my behalf and our area's behalf the issue of gorse fires in Cherrywood. As the Taoiseach knows, Cherrywood is the biggest residential development the country. I did not realise, to be honest, that gorse is very dangerous when it is burned. It is very toxic. These fires went on, basically, for several weeks. The residents are saying that, really, there was no proper planning or co-ordination between different State agencies in terms of responding to this. The fires continued. People were passing the parcel between the HSE, the council, fire services and so on as to who was actually responsible. Meanwhile, these dangerous toxic pollutants were going into people's homes. The monitoring of them was completely inadequate because it was not incident-specific. The monitoring stations were far away where they would not be able to capture the damage that was being done from the fires. The report shows significant negative health impacts. What people really want to know is that the Government is going to take it seriously, that there is a proper emergency response plan and that there is co-ordination between different Government agencies in assessing the health risk and, indeed, being able to respond to these emergencies. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  For years, we have been told that the Government's climate targets are legally binding, and the implication was that, therefore, heaven and earth would be moved in order to meet those targets. Then, in January, we heard from the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, that the Government is not going to meet the targets, and it did not announce any measures or have any plan to announce any measures to actually close the gap and meet those targets. The contrast between what the Taoiseach said when he went to COP 30 in Brazil and then the reality of what the Government is doing on the ground could not be more stark. Temperatures are rising, and the clock is ticking. If we are not prepared to tell our citizens the truth about this, we are failing them and this planet in the most profound way. Does the Taoiseach accept that his Government is failing the people of this country in the most profound way by bowing down to big tech corporations and the fossil fuel industry and putting their interests before the needs of our people? It is encapsulated by the strategic gas emergency reserve Bill, which is going to entrench reliance on the dirtiest fossil fuel on the earth - dirtier than coal. The Government is watering down commitments of the climate Act in the Bill to say that they should obey this Act to the extent that they consider practicable. The Taoiseach must reverse course on this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  We are seeing the devastating consequences of a deepening climate crisis and persistently high youth unemployment at the same time. It is time to recognise the enormous employment potential associated with the ambitious climate action plan and capitalise on this huge economic opportunity. Investment in renewable energy and retrofitting in sustainable agriculture, public transport and green technology can create thousands of secure, well-paid jobs across the island. Successful projects like the Skillnet Offshore Wind Academy, which is a partnership with Wind Energy Ireland, that address critical skills gaps in the offshore sector should be replicated to provide permanent career paths for young people struggling to find stable employment or being forced to emigrate. What concrete measures is the Government is taking to align the climate action targets with a comprehensive job strategy that upskills young workers, builds a strong cohort of skilled individuals for the future economy and finally tackles youth unemployment? Will the Taoiseach commit to ensuring that this green transition delivers not only on climate targets but also on real employment opportunities for the next generation? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Liam Quaide  The urbanisation of our flood plains and the mass removal of native trees and hedgerows in recent decades have drastically reduced our land's ability to hold excess water. Alongside conventional engineering schemes, we need to maximise our potential for nature-based approaches to flood management. There is a clear opportunity here for farmers to be paid a premium for taking measures such as the construction of leaky dams and ponds and the planting of native trees on their land. Cork County Council commissioned a survey into such measures upstream from Midleton in August 2024, raising hope locally that these options would form part of the wider flood response, yet this report has still not been published and there is little sign that this work is being actively pursued. Nature-based measures are not a silver bullet to flood risk, but international experience shows they can be very effective around particular settlements. They can often be delivered quickly, at relatively low cost and without the need for planning permission. They are a win-win for people at risk of flooding, farmers and biodiversity. Will Government now ensure that nature-based solutions to flood management are actively advanced alongside structural works, with the ambition, co-ordination and leadership that affected communities need? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  Ar dt\u00fas, t\u00e1im chun labhairt faoi rud \u00e9igin seachas Baile \u00c1tha Cliath Thuaidh. T\u00e1 m\u00e9 ag iarraidh labhairt faoi plug-in solar in apartment builds. During the formation of Government, private wire legislation was a huge aspect of my priorities. While I was studying engineering and renewables in Dublin City University, DCU, plug-in solar was being implemented across Germany. As part of our climate action plan, plug-in solar is an easily installed quick fix to the energy crisis, especially for those in apartment dwellings. Will this simple affordable technology that allows people, essentially, renters in lower income households who cannot afford full rooftop systems, to generate their own electricity and reduce bills immediately be progressed? At a time when people's energy costs remain a real pressure, this measure can support struggling households. Will the Taoiseach outline whether we will see movement on plug-in solar in Ireland and whether it will be included in the next phase of the climate action plan? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  Climate Action Plan 2025 commits to scaling nature-based strategies, yet the Climate Change Advisory Council of Ireland has warned that we could face \u20ac26 billion in EU fines if we fail to deliver adequate protection measures. At the same time, and counter to the plan's commitment, the Government is actually considering licensing over 40,000 tonnes of seaweed to be harvested off the coast of counties Mayo and Galway. Removing seaweed, which is a vital natural buffer against flooding, will put communities at risk along with livelihoods, biodiversity and the coast itself. To make matters worse, Ireland still has no national coastal management strategy. This is overdue since 2021, with a draft sitting idle since 2023. How can the climate action plan claim to deliver climate resilience and protect communities from flooding when solutions it commits to are underfunded? It is critically important that seaweed across the west coast is protected for coastal communities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere  I welcome the announcement today of the national regional roads funding and over \u20ac40 million for my constituency of Carlow-Kilkenny. Some of these projects have been ongoing for quite some time. In particular, I want to pay tribute to the N25 committee in south Kilkenny, a voluntary organisation that has prioritised and highlighted this issue so strongly. Investment of \u20ac1 million to allow this scheme to go to the next stage is hugely beneficial for that community, and there is \u20ac600,000 for the N24  around the Mooncoin direction, again a hugely worthwhile project. The Callan bypass is to receive over \u20ac2.2 million, which is going to be fantastic for that community. In terms of the climate action piece, however, the road at the quay in Thomastown had been fading away, and it was a huge danger and a huge risk. To be fair to the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and the Taoiseach, the announcement of \u20ac300,000 for this element of the quay to be upgraded is fantastic. In south Kilkenny on The Rower, right beside New Ross, which some of our colleagues will know, \u20ac1.4 million has been allocated for the upgrade of the ferry bridge, which is disintegrating on a daily basis.  I compliment the Taoiseach and the Minister. A huge allocation has been made for roads and there is record funding in my constituency of Carlow-Kilkenny. Earlier the Taoiseach mentioned the contingency funding for roads devastated by flooding. I hope that the significant applications of Carlow and Kilkenny for additional one-off funding, extra to what was announced today, are looked on very favourably. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  Hundreds of thousands of people are living in commuter hell in this country. Hundreds of thousands of people are now spending four hours a day travelling to and from work. They are being charged higher taxes on their fuel and higher tolls for the pleasure of doing this. In Meath, 60,000 people have no option but to use their cars because of the lack of public transport. The Taoiseach's friend Noel Dempsey promised in 1994 that a rail line would be built. There is no construction date and no ring-fenced funding for the project. It has not been listed in the Government's national development plan for construction to start before 2030. The planning is on the go for sure but completion at the very earliest will be in 2036. That is 42 years from concept to completion. A person who started work when Noel Dempsey promised this project will have retired before the project is even finished, and that is if there are no judicial reviews or any change in the economy in the meantime. Will the Taoiseach commit to a construction date before 2030, or at the very least, will he commit that the Navan to Drogheda rail line, which is a fully functional rail line, will be retasked and repurposed for passenger use? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  I want to raise the ongoing review of the 2006 wind energy guidelines. Revised guidelines have been promised for many years at this stage, as the Taoiseach is aware. In my constituency, and particularly in the north Galway area, we are facing a huge number of developments in communities such as Clonberne, Killimordaly, Barnaderg, Shancloon and Laurclavagh, to name but a few. The 2006 guidelines were brought forward when turbines were a fraction of the size of modern turbines. They do not protect communities from these developments. The guidelines are totally out of date. I ask that the Taoiseach provide an update on the work that has been undertaken to review these guidelines and a timeline for when updated guidelines will be in place. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I want to bring up once again the issue of Carlinn Hall in Dundalk and its communal heating system. There are approximately 200 homes there. I have met the SEAI and third-party operators that are looking at a possible renewable solution involving heat pumps. I have spoken to the local authority. A huge piece of work needs to be done with the management committee and the residents. They are only putting the proposal together. The fact is that we would need to make sure there is flexibility from the SEAI and the Government from the point of view of funding, whether that is the support scheme for renewable heat or the heat pump grant that is available. I would think that is absolutely necessary.  We have dealt with flood protection multiple times in the last two weeks. I welcome the promises from Louth County Council. It is dealing with the Office of Public Works, OPW, and the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, was in the constituency lately. We need to make sure Uisce \u00c9ireann plays its part. There is an infrastructural deficit impacting even where I live myself, in the Bay Estate and Cluan Enda area in Dundalk. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  We all accept the transition needed in our energy system. We need renewables and investment and we need to tackle climate change seriously, but we cannot balance climate ambition on the backs of working families. Most countries that are transitioning their energy production to renewable sources are now seeing decreases in the price of electricity. Why are Irish families not seeing that? Why are they still paying the third-highest household electricity prices in Europe? Why are more than 300,000 households now behind on their electricity bills? That is 70,000 more in arrears than this time last year. The difference is that the Government has pulled the energy credits. People are working flat out and still falling behind. This data is from the start of winter and, undoubtedly, things have become much worse during January and the first two weeks of February. When gas is counted, almost 500,000 households are in arrears. While families are being hammered, the Government seems to shrug its shoulders and play denial, saying it is not going into energy credits. We need to see it happen because families are struggling in my constituency, in the Taoiseach's constituency and in many others across the State. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank all of the Deputies who asked questions. There were quite a number. Deputy Byrne raised the issue of the offshore wind clearinghouse and the private wires Bill. The offshore wind clearinghouse is where we bring in the industry to meet Departments and regulators to discuss generic issues. It is not specific to any company but is to cut through a lot of the to'ing and fro'ing and ask what the potential barriers are to getting offshore wind farms over the line. There have been different challenges. In more recent times, the inflationary costs in supply chains have increased somewhat. There have been negative challenges because of US policy towards wind energy and its impact on some of the companies. However, we are progressing. We are putting in a huge effort. I spoke to the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, this morning about all of this. He is very focused. He has the task force also. The industry has been reassured about the Government's commitment to really getting the first couple of offshore wind platforms going, certainly from 2030 onwards. That is key. The private wires Bill is progressing. It is important legislation and I look forward to it coming through.  Deputy Whitmore raised the issue of public transport and the Go-Ahead service. She should complain to the National Transport Authority, which awards the contracts. If there are issues with the contracts, they should be raised with the NTA.  Deputy Boyd Barrett raised an important issue. It is a serious public health issue as well as a health and safety issue. I will check with the national emergency co-ordination group to see whether there is an evaluation of what happened and whether we have a report outlining what transpired. I do think we have a challenge with co-ordination between agencies. We have challenges with the readiness and the capacity of local authorities in terms of emergencies, be it a flooding emergency or a gorse fire, as in this case. Last week, I convened a meeting in respect of the last storm, focusing on co-ordination and people working together to make sure that someone is in charge if something happens and that it gets done. I do not think we are at the optimal stage yet, if I am honest, but I am pursuing it. I am looking at this thing structurally as well to see what needs to be done to make sure there are clear lines. In fairness, a lot of people did a lot of good work during the last storm. A lot of local authority officials were out in the middle of the night helping families get through it. The local authority in Carlow, for example, saved the day for a big housing estate. There are positives and negatives. The issue is that it is not pulling together. The toxicity and the impact on public health is very serious and I will come back to Deputy Boyd Barrett on the evaluation of that.  I disagree fundamentally with Deputy Murphy in that I do not think there is a huge disparity or contrast with what we said in COP. It is very important that we went to Bel\u00e9m. Other countries did not go at all. Ireland felt that if there was any time we should attend COP, it was last year, to make sure that momentum and critical mass were maintained internationally and globally. The emergency reserve capacity for LNG is a security issue. It is wrong of Deputy Murphy to say that it flies in the face of the climate change agenda. We simply have to have security. If anything were to happen to the gas interconnectors, our economy would not sustain a week or two. I do not know whether Deputy Murphy believes that or not, or whether he believes they are in----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  I think the answer is interconnection. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We are not going to build interconnection just like that. We have interconnection but there is a problem with it. There are threats to it. Guess who is a threat to it? Russia. I know Deputy Murphy probably does not believe that. There is a naivety in his approach to Russia. He always sees the US as the aggressor. Anyway, we will not go into that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  You just did. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  There is an issue there. We have been warned about it. We have to act on that warning. We have an obligation to people, jobs, the economy and society to heed that and that is why that is going ahead.  We have made a lot of progress. The population has increased by 50%. We have grown our economy very substantially over the past two or three decades and our emissions are coming down. We have successfully proven that you can decouple economic growth from climate and population growth. Even though people are giving out that we may not reach our target, it is quite a remarkable achievement in many respects because we are one of the few countries that is growing exponentially in population relative to where we were.  On Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh's question, what is interesting is all the areas she is urging us to act on - environmental, farming, retrofitting and so on. We spend about \u20ac1.5 billion on the ACRES programme, which is good for environmental farming. Of that, 60% is from the Exchequer. Does the Deputy know what helps to fund that? It is the carbon tax, which every now and again Sinn F\u00e9in opposes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  The Taoiseach is missing the youth unemployment crisis. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  In fairness to Sinn F\u00e9in members, they have the capacity to speak out of five sides of their mouths at different times on policy issues. I do not mean that personally; I am talking generally. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  She should be in Fianna F\u00e1il. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It is extraordinary. The retrofitting programme could not be done without the funds that come from the carbon tax. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  Could it not be taken from anywhere else? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Some 240,000 houses have been retrofitted as a result of that programme over the past number of years. We have transformed retrofitting, we have transformed ACRES and environmental farming supports compared to what was there. Some 40% comes from the European Union and Sinn F\u00e9in has had an on-off relationship with Europe as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  There is 14% young unemployment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  You are against it all the bloody time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Please, address your remarks through the Chair. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I agree with Deputy Conway-Walsh on the Skillnet project. Bord na M\u00f3na is a transformative State agency. It is a great example of how to go from being a contributor to probably making one of the better contributions among State agencies to the climate change agenda and to addressing climate change. There will be further economic dividends arising out of the transformation Bord na M\u00f3na has undertaken and been part of. Bord na M\u00f3na is a good story. On public transport, the NDP allocation is 2:1 in favour of public transport. That is important.  Deputy Quaide asked about the urbanisation of floodplains. The Government supports the nature-based approach to flooding and to dealing with these issues. I accept the Deputy's point that it is not a silver bullet. It is not an either-or. The optimal position is the hard engineering projects but complemented and supplemented by nature-based measures. We need to rewet a lot more of our uplands. We need to engage with our agricultural community in that regard because what I saw in Aughrim the other day was quite frightening in terms of what came down from the mountains, taking roads with it and putting people in difficult positions in terms of life and limb. As a society, we have not fully grasped the importance of adaptation. We, in government, have more to do in that regard. I will be honest about that. I think we need to do more on the adaptation side.  Deputy Heneghan asked about the plug-in solar. I will talk to the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, in respect of that. Anything we can do that makes it more affordable and better for people we will do. Solar is really driving now. Solar generation is really progressing very fast and is now becoming quite a significant factor in terms of renewable energy in the country and what Deputy Heneghan is suggesting is even more of that.  On Deputy Lawless's point, I supported the nature-based solutions. On the 40,000 tonnes of seaweed, I believe we should protect, in so far as we can, our resources in that regard. I think the Deputy still supports the harvesting of seaweed but more for the local community as opposed to anybody else. It is a local economic approach as opposed to a climate approach. That is fair enough. That seems to be the view. I will check where the coastal management strategy is. I have asked the Department in terms of coastal protection, and I discussed this recently with local authorities, OPW and the various Government Departments, to make sure we have a lead in that and get working on it.  I appreciate Deputy Cleere's positive commentary in relation to the roads programme for Carlow and Kilkenny, including the N25, N24, the Callan bypass, the quay in Thomastown and the south Kilkenny upgrade as well. The Deputy raised the issue of the flooding and the impact of that. I have spoken to the Minister for Transport and the officials in that Department, saying that a lot of roads have been damaged by the floods and asking them to tell the local authorities to get on with it and start repairing them. There are estimates coming in but there are roads needing immediate repairs to make them traversable and so on. We will keep pursuing that. Obviously, those projects are ones the Deputy is going to see through to the end and I appreciate that.  I will say to Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn that it is not the norm to be derogatory about former Ministers and people who have served in the House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  I was not derogatory. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thought Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn's comments on former Minister, Noel Dempsey, were not really warranted because no matter what----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  I was not derogatory about the poor fella. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  No matter what Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn's perspective is, I think he was a very effective Minister nationally. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  I just said he promised it and it is not done. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Yes, and it is going to happen. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  It is 42 years, Taoiseach, from concept to completion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It is not 42 years. To nail it all on Noel Dempsey is a bit rich. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  Even for yourselves, that is so slow. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  In fairness, that project is progressing and will happen because of this Government and the previous one, in particular, and because we are in the position to allocate money to it and get it going. That is an important point as well in terms of the scale of the investment that will be required. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  There is no money being ringfenced. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I would think Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn would pay tribute what the former Deputy and Minister, Noel Dempsey, did for road safety. He was a singularly impactful Minister in that regard. He saved a lot of lives, even though many in the House at the time disagreed with him on the measures he took.  Deputy O'Hara spoke about wind energy guidelines. I will engage with the Minister. I am hoping he will have those by the end of the year. I will come back to him. There is a lot of pressure on that unit in the Department in respect of the exemptions from planning guidelines, rural housing guidelines and onshore wind guidelines.  I do not have the specifics for Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa. I know he has raised the communal heating system. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  It was biomass and gas-fired. We just need to replace them and to have flexibility and funding. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I get you. I hear you. Flexibility and funding is a great line. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  We are 18 minutes over time on this particular group of questions. The next group is Questions Nos. 20 to 39 and we must conclude that----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  Deputy McGuinness is waiting for an answer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  One second. We will finish that group at 4.20 p.m.  I am sorry but the Taoiseach did not give Deputy McGuinness a response. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Energy prices are not just an Irish issue but are European one as well. In fact, we discussed it at the informal competitiveness council last week and it will be discussed at the March European Council and the President of the Commission will be bringing some ideas around that. We tackled that a number of years ago. The problem is the connection to the price of gas. Renewables should decrease. Renewables are the cheapest form of energy - of that, there is no question - and fossil fuels are the most expensive. Nuclear is between the two. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Grace Boland)  We now move to Questions Nos. 20 to 39. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Climate Action Plan"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/dbsect_11","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"National Economic and Social Council","counts":{"speechCount":39,"speakerCount":9},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/dbsect_9","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","showAs":"Ceisteanna - Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_11","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ryan O'Meara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_11.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 to 39, inclusive, together.  The National Economic and Social Council, NESC, advises me on strategic policy issues relating to sustainable, economic, social and environmental development in Ireland. The last two significant NESC reports published and submitted to Government were council report No.170, Connecting People to the Energy Transition, and NESC report No.171, Building a Virtuous Demographic Cycle.  The NESC report No. 170 was submitted to the Government last August. It examines how households can share in the economic, environmental and well-being benefits of the energy transition, while protecting the most vulnerable from negative impacts. In the report, NESC outlines five areas of action: energy affordability; energy poverty; monitoring and targeting; scaling energy efficiency and clean heat; helping households reap electricity benefits; place-based energy resilience and local production; and strengthening energy connections. The council concludes that households and communities can potentially play a very significant and immediate role in making energy savings, generating renewable energy and building energy resilience if they are enabled to do so.  The Government is committed to building Ireland's energy resilience and ending energy poverty. We are working at speed to roll out more renewable energy infrastructure, onshore and offshore wind and solar panels. This is already helping to bring down the cost of electricity and is a long term solution to high energy bills.  We are making it easier for people to improve their energy efficiency and produce their own energy, with a range of grants to install solar PV panels on homes, businesses and farms, with budget 2026 providing a record capital allocation of \u20ac558 million for SEAI residential and community energy upgrade schemes. The Government has already acted on that commitment through measures introduced in budget 2026, including the extension of the 9% VAT rate currently applied to electricity and gas, to the end of 2030 and an increase in the fuel allowance payment by \u20ac5 to \u20ac38 per week, equating to a 15% increase from January 2026. This will provide an additional \u20ac140 to over 460,000 recipients during the annual fuel allowance season. The payment has also been expanded to include those in receipt of the working family payment.  In addition, the Government has extended the \u20ac400 income tax disregard for households involved in microgeneration for a further three years to the end of 2028. It is important to note that the Department of Social Protection can also provide support through the additional needs payment to help households meet expenses, including those who face difficulties with fuel bills. The Government is working at speed to roll out more renewable energy infrastructure, onshore and offshore wind and solar panels. This is already helping to bring down the cost of electricity and is the long term solution to high energy bills. The Government is also making it easier for people to improve their energy efficiency and produce their own energy with a range of grants to install solar PV panels on homes, businesses and farms.  In 2026, a record capital allocation of \u20ac640 million, including \u20ac550 million from carbon tax receipts, will support the SEAI's residential and community energy upgrade schemes, including the solar PV scheme. This means that more funding than ever will be available to make homes warmer, healthier, more comfortable and less expensive to heat. Analysis carried out by DCEE and the SEAI indicates that a household can save between \u20ac750 and \u20ac1,120 per year by installing a deep package of measures. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Among other things, the report deals with the issue of energy poverty. It might be of interest to the Taoiseach to know that disability groups, pensioner groups, trade unions and many others, as part of the recently established Affordable Ireland Campaign, will hold a major protest on 28 February. At the centre of that is a demand that this Government brings in an emergency winter payment, even at this late stage, and beyond that, cost-of-disability payments.  Energy poverty is at the centre of it and how vulnerable people, older people and people with disabilities get particularly hard hit and have been particularly hard hit during the winter months. The removal of the energy credits and the lack of action by the Government on the profiteering of energy companies is resulting in energy poverty. What will the Taoiseach say to people suffering from energy poverty? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  The energy transition is not happening, is it? A total of 80% of our energy comes from fossil fuels. It is not because ordinary people are not making efforts to make changes in their lives, put on solar panels and retrofit their houses and so on. The central reason is that data centre usage of electricity has ballooned by more than 400% in the past ten years and it is on a trajectory to rise even faster. Even though renewable capacity is being added to the grid, all of that is being swallowed up by big tech.  That is not just a problem for our climate. It is causing ordinary people's bills to go higher and higher. It is adding to the cost-of-living crisis. This year, people's electricity bills will 10% higher than they were last year. Almost 300,000 people are in arrears on their electricity bills. All of that is to satisfy the big tech corporations. It is time to stop and it is time listen to the likes of the Friends of the Earth and provide an energy guarantee scheme and it is time for people to be on the streets on 28 February with the Affordable Ireland Campaign. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Liam Quaide  A serious structural barrier has emerged in the transition to electric vehicles, EVs, that Government policy is yet to confront. Large numbers of people, particularly those in apartments, terraced houses and rented accommodation, have no driveway and, under current circumstances, they are precluded from installing a home charger. On-street charging schemes remain extremely limited and subject to inconsistent rules across local authorities. In many parts of the country, residents are simply told that no programme exists and installations are not permitted. That lack of flexibility is no longer sustainable if we are serious about EV uptake.  Public charging is not a viable substitute for EV owners. It is now significantly more expensive than home charging and would leave many households paying a permanent premium just to play their part in the transition. That creates a grossly unequal shift to EVs, based on housing circumstances. The recent report from the National Economic and Social Council, NESC, stresses the need for an inclusive transition. When will the Government publish a clear national plan for residential EV charging for households without driveways? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  I would like to focus on two key themes in the NESC report: energy resilience and energy sharing. In light of the particularly adverse weather, it is important that for events we have experienced and will increasingly experience, we guarantee generators to communities so communities can respond, which is clearly identified in the report.  On energy sharing, within the electricity markets directive, there is a clear emphasis on trying to support communities in self-generating and sharing their own electricity and for individuals and organisations who microgenerate electricity to be able to share that. This report highlights that we have not gone far enough in Ireland in this regard and I would like to know what measures the Government will take to address that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  We are losing millions every single week due to dispatch down and curtailment. At the energy committee, we are constantly pushing to future-proof our grid, long duration energy storage, LDES, and private wire legislation as something to stop this. Recently, I visited at a solar farm, which has to turn off at 12 noon due to curtailment. This needs to be brought in and fast-tracked.  Speaking of climate and energy, we have seen flooding across the country. Last week, I raised the north city arterial main, NCAM, project. After I raised the project with the Taoiseach, somehow I got a meeting with Uisce \u00c9ireann. In that meeting, I asked for meaningful consultation with residents with additional needs, a clear timeline for each phase of the works, traffic management that reflects the commuting patterns in north Dublin and access protection for residents, schools and businesses. This would not happen on the other side of the River Liffey.  The lack of consultation with people with disabilities is a fundamental failure. A constituent of mine, Mark, has additional needs and is effectively trapped because of the cancellation of the H3 service. I was just texting his mother there. This cannot happen. People in north Dublin understand these works are needed but there were no leaflet drops in areas where people will be affected. I asked Uisce \u00c9ireann for a key number of leaflets that were dropped for north Dublin residents. It is still to come back to me on what houses were dropped. These works affect the entirety of north Dublin and they need to be properly brought out to the residents so we know what is happening. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  Despite accounting for just 2% of the national landmass, County Offaly is on course to provide approximately 30% of the energy needed to power the country, including 1 GW each from wind and solar. At the moment, we supply 11% of the country's power. Last month, Offaly was the largest wind energy provider in the country. That is a very significant national contribution. Yet, Offaly remains 10% below the national average for disposable income and it is important that the communities driving this transition are supported to share in the prosperity it can bring. At a time when international investors and multinational employers are seeking locations that can provide carbon neutral and cost-effective energy, Offaly is uniquely positioned to attract major enterprise and long-term employment. Will the Taoiseach confirm the Government will match Offaly's national contribution with full support for local infrastructure and investment needed to ensure the county secures the economic benefits of helping to power Ireland's future? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ryan O'Meara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ryan O'Meara  The NESC report states that Ireland is facing an ageing population over the next number of decades, with declining birth rates and a growing older population. One of the recommendations of the report is that research be carried out into the motives that affect demography, such as the decision to have a baby or to emigrate. We do not a report to tell us that. Every day, I see the vast numbers of young people in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane and in Canada, the US, the UK and everywhere in between who have chosen to emigrate to make a life for themselves there rather than settling at home and having a family. This issue is particularly affecting rural Ireland because we cannot build rural, one-off homes to the extent we need.  We need to relax rural planning, allow us to build in rural areas and scrap the development contribution that is nothing more than a tax for the privilege of building on our own land. If we address those issues, we can build more houses in rural Ireland and get young people back home and back in to rural Ireland, raising our families for our schools, our clubs and so much more. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  In fairness this was brought up earlier as regards energy poverty. There is an acceptance by Government that there is a need for a payment relating to the cost of disability. It was provided for last year. A review process is ongoing.  It is unfortunate that it is necessary for the Affordable Ireland Campaign coalition to come together and for that protest to happen on 28 February but we need action now. It is not much good for people who cannot afford to pay for heating at this point in time. They cannot afford to get a wheelchair charged and have to make decisions like that.  We really need a short-term measure before we get the other one, and that is before we deal with the CRU and dealing with energy issues. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Deputy Boyd Barrett was first into the fray in terms of the winter payment and so forth. The Government took a lot of measures on energy in the budget, for example, reducing the VAT rate to 9% and keeping it there until 2030, including the working family payment in the fuel allowance and increasing the fuel allowance by \u20ac5 so that there are a very substantial number of people now benefiting. There are approximately 450,000 recipients of the fuel allowance now.  The Deputy seems to support the energy credit as well. He is supporting millionaires getting the energy credit. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  No. Get them on tax. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The left wing in this country never ceases to amaze me. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Get them on tax. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We do. We have the most progressive tax system. We have, by any yardstick----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  Income tax, but all the other stuff. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----which is quite substantial and effective.  The bottom line anyway is that we are targeting the resources at those who need it most. I accept there is pressure on energy. Of that, there is not doubt, but to keep doing \u20ac2 billion to \u20ac3 billion in one-off payments is not sustainable. One third of our revenue is corporate tax. That may not last forever. We need to embed measures into the permanent budget, which is what we did beginning in the budget. There is huge investment in infrastructure and investment in the retrofitting programme - the biggest budget ever. We are supporting fuel poverty and investing in other areas as well to try to reduce the pressure on people, and in terms of other income disregards for microgeneration, etc.  On Deputy Paul Murphy's questions, again, there were great sound bites that the Government is sort of swallowed up by big tech and we are doing this for big tech. Whether he likes it or not, the digital economy will require data centres into the future. I do not know how we are going to do it otherwise. Equally, when the Deputy casually talks about big tech, they employ. That is not why we are doing, by the way. Our fundamental agenda is always to support workers and to support good quality jobs in this country. The Deputy dismisses it all of the time. He really could not care less about how many thousands of people are working in technology companies in this country.  In my own city of Cork, Apple employs 6,000 people. Is the Deputy dismissing them as big tech? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  No. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Yes, the Deputy is. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  The Taoiseach knows I am not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I do not know it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  The Taoiseach knows I am not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy deliberately disingenuously goes on that we are doing it for big tech. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  \"Disingenuous\". "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Six thousand are employed in one company alone in the city of Cork. Thousands are employed all over the country in technology companies. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  How many in data centres? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I am not talking about them. Sorry, a lot of those companies----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  I was talking to the Taoiseach about data. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy cannot disassociate or segregate all of that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  That is the whole point of data. Data centres can be anywhere. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy cannot do that. Then AI is next on the agenda. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  Exactly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We cannot miss out. We have to manage it. We have to harness it. We have to develop it and we are. We are investing up to \u20ac18 billion in PR6 to increase grid capacity. We are investing in interconnectors as well and seeking further grid connections, with the Continent as well as with the United Kingdom, to try to support what we are doing.  Renewables are making a very sizeable contribution. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  It is 20%. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Some days it can be 50% of electricity generation in this country. The Deputy knows that too but that is a figure that he will never reference.  Deputy Quaide raised the transition to EVs. He has left the House. Members keep going around in circles because on another day, they support proposals where people do not even have cars outside houses at this stage. This is a challenge. There is no easy answer. In some new developments that I have seen in cities, the presumption is that people will not need a car at all. No car parking is provided for in the planning. It is a challenge we need to revisit in terms of people's lives and decisions that people make.  In response to Deputy Malcolm Byrne, we are providing generators to communities, and to community hubs in particular. The procurement started with the Departments of social and community affairs.  On the European system and the grid system----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  Microgeneration. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Yes. We are also progressing that. The Deputy also asked about communities generating and sharing themselves. That is something we have to progress better.  Deputy Heneghan raised the same. There are issues there. The private wires legislation is moving fast. I cannot get into leaflet dropping by a State agency, but it should do it properly and it should look after the public and make sure they are well sorted. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  Public representatives should know it is going in. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Deputy McCormack said Offaly is leading the way. It is a powerful set of statistics. Everybody in the House is probably not aware of the degree to which Offaly is becoming a powerhouse. Bord na M\u00f3na is a big factor here. We will have further developments on that front, and investments.  It is time that foreign direct investment and IDA Ireland looked at what Offaly has to offer. Contrary to what Deputy Paul Murphy is saying, there is real potential for energy parks and an alternative new economy with Bord na M\u00f3na as a catalyst and, as a significant State agency, to leverage its land assets and what it has to try to generate a new economy and new jobs for Offaly more generally. This is something that is potentially very positive and we should keep at it.  Deputy O'Meara raised the rural house guidelines. I have been pressing the Minister in that regard. I said earlier that unit in that Department has a lot on, but the rural house guidelines are very important. I will look at the development levies issue. The more important thing is to get the guidelines to enable people to build on their land. There is a lot better technology nowadays in terms of how to deal with wastewater, etc.  Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa also raised the cost of disability. The Minister, Deputy Calleary, is working on that and he will have proposals for the next budget in that respect. A lot of detailed work has to happen on this; it is not simple. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I accept that, but there is need for an emergency measure because people are under severe pressure. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"National Economic and Social Council"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/dbsect_12","debateType":"statement","bill":null,"showAs":"Bluetongue: Statements","counts":{"speechCount":19,"speakerCount":15},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_12","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"William Aird","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Fitzmaurice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Martin Heydon)  I thank the Ceann Comhairle for slating the really important issue of the situation regarding bluetongue in Ireland and giving me the ability to be able to address the House on it today.  Bluetongue is a viral disease caused by bluetongue virus, which can cause severe clinical signs in ruminant species such as cattle, sheep, goats and camelids - alpacas and llamas. There are many different serotypes of bluetongue virus. The most common serotypes found in Europe are 1, 3, 4 and 8.  Since the first detection of bluetongue virus in Ireland on 22 January, infection has since been detected in five cattle herds in County Wexford. A further infection was detected last week in a bovine which had been in a number of counties during the possible infection period, and investigations are now ongoing into that case.  While this is an unwelcome development, it is not unexpected as this virus has been spreading across Europe and Great Britain and was found in Northern Ireland in December 2025.  First and foremost, I assure the House and public that there are no public health risks associated with bluetongue. Bluetongue does not affect human health or food safety, and meat and milk are safe to eat and drink. I acknowledge the stress that the presence of bluetongue must be causing farmers generally, especially in the south east.  Bluetongue is spread by infected biting midges, many of which are found throughout the island of Ireland. The high-risk period for bluetongue spread is when temperatures are warmer between April and November. Thankfully, given the temperatures at this time of year, the disease cannot currently be spread by midges. My Department is undertaking surveillance across the country to detect the presence of further incursions. While animal movement controls may be required if the circumstances indicate it, based on the information currently available, the veterinary epidemiological risk assessment is that animal movement controls are not necessary. As such, there are no immediate plans to establish restriction zones here.  Officials from my Department have undertaken regular engagement with farm organisations and stakeholders across the industry, as well as with their counterparts in the Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, since Ireland\u2019s first case was confirmed. Ireland has now lost its disease-free status for bluetongue, which has ramifications for trade and predominantly for the movement of live animals and germinal products within the EU and to third countries. My officials are working to renegotiate veterinary health certificates to facilitate ongoing trade which has been impacted by the loss of freedom from bluetongue, including live animal exports. Much progress has been made in this area, but work is ongoing in respect of some markets.  The detection of bluetongue in Ireland has created challenges for intracommunity trade in cattle and sheep. I know this is of particular concern to farmers in relation to the movement of calves and movements for breeding and production to Northern Ireland. The conditions for the agreed animal health certificates under which cattle and sheep can move to other member states, including Northern Ireland, within the EU for breeding and production can no longer be met due to bluetongue. In addition, the conditions to meet certification requirements for movement to Great Britain cannot currently be met either. Some importing member states have chosen to apply derogations to these conditions, thereby allowing the inward movement of cattle and sheep from countries with BTV-3, such as Ireland, subject to certain additional requirements decided by those member states. As no such derogation is in place in respect of Northern Ireland, the movement of cattle and sheep for breeding and production from Ireland to Northern Ireland cannot take place. The decision on whether to apply a derogation and on the conditions which would apply if that were done is taken by the importing member state, not by Ireland. I welcome the resumption of exports of cattle hides and skins to China following a temporary pause in trade, which had been a cause of great concern to industry. I acknowledge the work of my officials both here and in the Department who work extensively on market access, but also the team of officials in our embassy in Beijing who have worked closely with officials over there on this important matter.  I announced last December that BTV-3 vaccination under licence would be permitted in Ireland from 2026. The high-risk period for infection will be during warmer months. Farmers, in consultation with their veterinary practitioners, should consider whether to use BTV-3 vaccines during the spring to protect their stock in advance of any midge-borne virus spread that is possible during the warmer months. In the broader European context, the Commission has recently recategorised bluetongue serotypes 1 to 24 in EU regulations under the EU Animal Health Law, thereby shifting it from a category C disease to a category D+E disease. This change is scheduled to take full effect on 15 July 2026 and will result in bluetongue being treated as a disease under surveillance, as opposed to a disease to be eradicated. This means that under EU legislation, no member state will be able to achieve official freedom from bluetongue. The implication for Ireland is the emphasis will be on movement controls and surveillance rather than disease eradication.  I acknowledge the continued co-operation of industry stakeholders with my Department and the work of my officials in the Department who have been very attentive in preparing for and dealing with the incursion of the bluetongue virus. It is important to say that a pretty remarkable job has been done in recent times to keep it off the island up to now, considering its prevalence and spread across Europe and the UK. We were ready. We step-changed our approach according to risk levels. We worked on that basis of high surveillance.  My colleagues in the House will recognise that how we responded to the outbreak and presence of this virus in January, when it was first detected here, was very different from how we would have responded in July. It is a dynamic virus. This is something we are responding to in real time. We are working in collaboration through our regional veterinary officers with our vets and with private veterinary practitioners in support of our farmers, who are very concerned about this. I am delighted to have the opportunity to hear Members\u2019 contributions in the D\u00e1il. I will come back to any points raised in my closing speech. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  We are all somewhat at a loss as to how we got into this situation. We now have bluetongue both north and south of the Border. We have a major difficulty with animals moving up and down across the Border. That is a very difficult problem, particularly in my part of the world where an awful lot of the marts are experiencing a huge loss in trade because of it. Bluetongue is obviously a virus that is mainly a summer problem in respect of its spread because the virus does not live in the little midges that spread it when the temperature is below 12\u00b0C. Of course, in the winter months that is not an issue. However, the cases that have been found in County Wexford likely became infected by midges that came across at the end of last summer or early autumn. It is probable that they were infected then, but it was not picked up or noticed until the animals went to slaughter. That is another issue with this, which makes it very difficult for farmers. We encourage them to be vigilant and to try to take all the precautions possible but if animals, particularly bovines, are not showing any symptoms, it is very difficult for anyone to be vigilant. That is one of the key problems we have here.  I mentioned to the Minister before that we need to do more random testing to try to see if any other areas are affected. Maybe this would concentrate mainly on the east coast. As we know, the nature of farming in Ireland is different from many other countries. Animals, particularly cattle, move up and down across the country an awful lot. Animals come from marts in one place to another. There is a lot of movement. That can be a problem, particularly if the disease was already in the country last autumn and was undetected. Has it moved or has it spread? That is something that will only be ascertained if we can get adequate testing in place. We need to do that as quickly as possible.  The issue of cross-Border trade is a real problem. Several mart managers and people in my part of the world are concerned about this. I got a parliamentary question only last week in respect of it. I understand that the certificate obviously cannot comply with the conditions that are there at present unless a derogation is put in place. The Minister might explain where we are at with that. Are there any active negotiations or discussions with the Minister's counterparts north of the Border or in Britain to try to work out a solution for that? It would be vital for the trade to try to have some solution put in place as early as possible. Many farmers out there are at their wits' end. I have been contacted by farmers who have large numbers of animals in stock and ready to go. They had customers in the North for them but they cannot sell them now. They are in real difficulty in that respect.  As we know, disease control and the difficulties with it have a long history for farmers. I am not going to go into the TB scenario, but people are afraid that we may be looking at a similar situation down the road. The Minister mentioned in his speech that a change in the categorisation will result in a move from bluetongue being a disease for eradication to a disease for monitoring across the EU. What is that going to mean? Where will it put farmers in respect of disease-free status, etc.? The Minister mentioned how the Chinese market for hides has opened up again. Of course, no sooner had the Taoiseach announced that we had reopened trade with China than this happened and now it is closed again. That is one of the issues we have. We seem to be in a particular position with China and the Chinese market, which is massive. They seem to be so temperamental about any little thing at all that they shut everything down. There is a certain irony in that, but we will not get into that today.  The reality is that we need to have as many markets open to us as possible. There needs to be a clear road map in order that farmers can understand how we are going to get through this. If we have a spread of this disease in May, what is going to happen then? Will we have widespread vaccination in place? If that is going to be required, are the vaccines in stock? How is that going to be managed? What implications will that have for trade? We need some clarity around all those issues.  I fully respect that the Minister's Department is doing its best. I fully respect that it is doing everything it can to stay on top of it and to get information out there. Many of the farmers talking to me - I am sure they are talking to the Minister too - are saying they are at a bit of loss to know where we are going from here. What is the clear road map forward in respect of bluetongue?  It comes at a time when farmers are already distressed and annoyed about lots of things, including the issue in Bord Bia and many other things, so these things do not help. We need to try to get to a stage where we can have a clear sense that everybody in the system is working together and everybody in the system is playing their part. That is why it is vitally important that we get a clear roadmap as to where it is going. First, we need full and proper testing to happen, so we can identify if there are any more problems. Second, if there are problems, how will they be dealt with and how quickly are we going to be able to get to a stage when animal movement can happen again and we can have some clarity around all of that?  I welcome the statements and the fact we have a sense that we are on top of it. From the point of view of the time of year, it has been some comfort in that we can relax a little bit that it is not going to spread right now. When we come into the month of March, however, there could be a week or ten days of quite warm weather and we could be in a serious situation if we see this disease spreading. While many of the midges that may have brought it across originally are probably either hibernating or gone to their reward hopefully, there are others that may spread the disease if it is already latent in animals. There needs to be clarity around that because the other issue is that it can also be spread by bulls if bulls are going off to be sold. If that bull bulls a cow, the next thing is the cow has bluetongue. There are issues around testing and with animal movement.  We need to get that clear pathway as to exactly what is going to happen and what this is going to cost not just to the industry as a whole, in the context of markets, but to the individual farmer from the point of view of vaccinations. Will there be any assistance for farmers around that? That would be useful for farmers to know and understand. There are so many things out there that are causing difficulties and this is just another one that farmers are really concerned about. They see the possibility of anything else, particularly for the beef sector, having a negative knock-on impact on them as very dangerous as we move forward.  I understand there are certain questions we need to get answers to and I think the Minister appreciates that. We need clarity around this. Farmers need clarity around it also. Until now there has been particular anxiety around the issue of the cross-Border trade, North and South. If it is possible, this is the first thing on which we need to get clarity. What negotiations will be held? What actions are going to be taken? How are we going to get this opened up again in a safe way, which is the important part of it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan  I welcome the time that has been set aside to discuss bluetongue. Our farming communities have been contending with challenge after challenge over the past few months, with the detection of bluetongue being one of the latest. We need to be frank. The full extent of bluetongue across Ireland is unknown. More than likely these animals were infected last summer. The first case was detected in County Down last November and the most recent was on a farm in County Wexford. This shows clearly that this is an all-island issue and it must be treated as such. The Department needs to take all the proactive steps possible. This is about protecting our agricultural sector and our international reputation.  There are a few questions around the tracking and the tracing of animals, for example, those that had left the Wexford farm. Some would have been sold off. We need to get answers on how that tracing and tracking is going because we need to know where those animals are. It is the same when it comes to the animals from the cases in the North. We need to know if those spread anywhere. As Deputy Kenny said, we need to know about breeding animals because we know bluetongue can be passed along this way.  With the help of the Minister and his Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael colleagues, Bord Bia has been dragged into controversy but we cannot allow any more harm to the sector from the lack of action. It will be during the summer months that the spread of this disease will be at its height. We need to see a national vaccination campaign rolled out. That cannot be a burden lumped onto farmers. The Government needs to rally behind them with supports and cover part of the price of the vaccinations. At \u20ac9 per head of cattle, it is a significant cost for most farmers. The Government cannot look at this as a cost, it must instead look at it as an investment in protecting our agricultural food sector.  Over the past few months, we have seen time and again where this Government has failed to put our farmers and the agricultural sector to the fore. We saw it in its passive opposition to Mercosur and we saw it as it rallied behind their man, Larry Murrin, despite the outcry from across Ireland.  Last night I attended a meeting of the Kilkenny Irish Farmers' Association, with around 100 members present. They are sick and tired of being taken for granted by Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael. Farmers are woven into the fabric of the communities that make up rural Ireland and they want to see Irish farming thrive. They want to see a strong environment and a vibrant farming sector that they can pass on to their children, knowing it will provide a good life for them and not be a burden. As a mother raising a family on our farm in south Kilkenny, I want that too. We need to see a step-change from Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael in how they treat our farming communities.  I commend the farmers who have travelled from across the island to protest at Bord Bia around the clock, and the men and women who have stood their ground inside the building. Their message is clear and simple: enough is enough. I ask the Minister to not drag his feet on this issue like he has on so many others. I ask the Minister to roll out an information campaign on spotting signs and symptoms of bluetongue and on the biosecurity measures farmers should be taking to prevent the spread of the disease; to ensure there is an adequate supply of vaccines available; and to support our farmers as they face yet another financial burden.  Reassurances are very sensible. Bluetongue poses no risk to humans and no food safety issue but history tells farmers that reassurances are often short lived and quickly overtaken by layers of regulation, movement controls and trade consequences that far exceed the biological reality on the ground. Farmers will rightly ask whether Ireland is once again holding itself to a standard that goes well beyond what science demands and far beyond what others are required to meet. When announcements are made, we need trust. That trust will be responsible, with the measures evidence-based and fair and not be just another blunt instrument that keeps Irish farmers permanently on the back foot. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Robert-O'Donoghue.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert O'Donoghue  Ireland's livestock sector is facing one of the most serious health threats it has come across in decades. The arrival of bluetongue in Ireland during the winter season, of all times, is not simply another disease event, it is a direct consequence of climate change, shifting disease patterns and growing biosecurity pressures on farms. Bluetongue was once confined to southern Europe in warmer countries but is now moving steadily northwards carried by midges whose range and season are expanding due to warmer and wetter conditions. What we are witnessing is not bad luck. It is the new reality for farmers working on the ground in agriculture in a changing climate. For farmers, this is unimaginable. Bluetongue means animal illness, production losses, breeding impacts, movement restrictions and immediate market consequences. A single case can affect an entire region as movement restrictions are imposed. Export markets react overnight but farm incomes can be damaged for years. In fairness to the Minister, Deputy Heydon, I know he has been working hard to get the exports to China reopened for hides and skins but beef exports are still suspended. I know that the Minister is aware of how important it is for farmers to get this market reopened and to minimise trade disruption but once again it is the farmers who are left exposed.  The State and many groups involved in both the agri-sector and climate change rightly tell us that biosecurity is critical to protecting Ireland\u2019s agrifood sector. Our cattle, sheep and other livestock underpin rural employment, family farms and Ireland\u2019s international reputation as a first class food-producing nation.  Biosecurity does not happen in a vacuum. It happens on farms, in sheds, in marts, during calving and lambing season, and through daily decisions made by farmers who are under immense pressure. In recent years, the threat from exotic animal diseases has increased dramatically. Avian flu now returns every winter. Foot and mouth disease has once again re-emerged in parts of Europe. African swine fever continues to devastate pig sectors internationally. Now bluetongue has reached Ireland in winter, which should be unheard of. This is the context in which farmers are being asked to operate. The Department has acknowledged this risk and has taken steps to strengthen preparedness. I welcome the national farmed animal biosecurity strategy 2025 to 2030, which sets out ambitions around surveillance, prevention and partnership with farmers. All-island co-operation with Northern Ireland is rightly recognised as essential. However, ambition alone will not protect herds or livelihoods.  If bluetongue is to be managed, as it must be, farmers cannot be expected to carry the cost of management alone. Vaccination, where appropriate, is central to disease control, yet vaccines cost money. Housing, handling facilities, veterinary visits, movement planning and compliance all add expense and complexity. These are not optional measures; they are being demanded in the name of national biosecurity. That means the State must step up. We cannot have a situation where farmers are told that biosecurity is a public good but the financial risk is treated as a private problem. If movement restrictions are imposed, compensation must be automatic and timely. If vaccination is required or strongly advised, it must be affordable and supported. If markets close due to disease risk, farmers must not be left waiting months for clarity or assistance.  Climate change is amplifying these pressures. Longer midge seasons increase the risk of bluetongue transmission. Wetter conditions complicate housing and animal health. Heat stress and nutritional challenges reduce resilience in livestock. These are not failures of farm management; they are systemic climate impacts. However, when we talk about a just transition, farmers are too often missing from the picture. There is nothing just about asking farmers to adapt to climate-driven disease threats without income protection. There is nothing fair about expecting compliance with ever-higher biosecurity standards while leaving farm families exposed to financial shock when outbreaks occur. A just transition in agriculture must mean shared risk, shared responsibility and shared investment.  We also need to acknowledge the human toll. Disease threats like bluetongue bring anxiety, isolation and exhaustion. Farmers dealing with sick animals, uncertain markets and regulatory pressure are under enormous strain. To go one further, I call for mental health supports to be recognised as part of the resilience we are asking farmers to have, not as an afterthought. Many of our farmers are dealing with this pressure alone and it can be a very lonely and overwhelming environment.  Ireland\u2019s livestock sector is willing to do its part. Farmers understand biosecurity. They understand animal health. They often understand climate risk better than anyone else, as they are working day in, day out in ever-changing weather. What they need now is certainty that if they invest in prevention, the State will back them; certainty that if disease strikes, they will not be left carrying the loss alone; and certainty that biosecurity strategies will be matched with real supports on the ground.  Bluetongue is a warning of what lies ahead for Irish agriculture in a warming world. How we respond now will determine whether farmers can continue to produce food, sustain rural communities and protect animal health into the future. If vaccination is a central point of our response to bluetongue, and the State accepts that, it must be properly supported. At present, farmers are being told that vaccination is essential for biosecurity, disease control and protecting Ireland\u2019s livestock sector. In practice, the full cost of that protection is being pushed onto individual farmers and that is not sustainable. Vaccines come at a cost, but for many farms, particularly cattle and sheep enterprises, the real burden is the veterinary cost: call-out fees, time on the farm, labour requirements, handling facilities and repeat visits. These are not discretionary expenses; they are direct consequences of national disease-control policy.  If the State wants bluetongue vaccination to succeed, the State must help to pay for it. We cannot say biosecurity is a public good while treating veterinary delivery as a private luxury. Farmers need targeted vaccine support funding including State support for bluetongue vaccines; direct funding or reimbursement of veterinary costs associated with vaccination; clear, simple payment mechanisms that do not add another layer of bureaucracy; and priority supports for smaller farms, suckler herds and vulnerable sectors.  Veterinary practitioners are a critical part of Ireland\u2019s biosecurity infrastructure. They are not just service providers; they are front-line disease prevention professionals. If we overload vets without supporting their role, we undermine the very system we depend on to contain outbreaks. The Department must recognise that properly funded veterinary involvement is not an optional extra but is essential to effective vaccine uptake, farmer confidence and disease control. Without funding support, uptake will be uneven. Without uptake, biosecurity fails. When biosecurity fails, farmers pay the price.  This is where the language of the \u201cjust\u201d transition must be matched with action. There is nothing just about asking farmers to absorb vaccine and veterinary costs created by climate-driven disease risk. There is nothing fair about transferring the cost of national biosecurity onto farm families. If climate change is increasing disease threats like bluetongue - all the evidence shows it is - vaccination and veterinary supports must be treated as climate adaptation measures and funded accordingly. We must support the vaccine, support the vets and support the farmers who are being asked to deliver biosecurity on behalf of the entire country, especially when they are doing everything possible regarding further outbreaks. They need to know that if this arrives at their door, the State will step in and compensate. Anything less is not preparedness; it is cost-shifting. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"William Aird","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"William-Aird.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy William Aird  I want to address the emergency of BTV-3 and outline its implications for farmers and the agrifood sector, as well as the obligations on the Government to respond effectively and responsibly. First, I acknowledge the farm family in County Wexford where the cases have been confirmed. I commend them on their immediate and ongoing co-operation with veterinary authorities, including compliance with movement restrictions and full engagement in tracing and surveillance. The responsible actions of this farm and neighbouring holdings are helping to protect the wider farming community and limit the spread.  Bluetongue is a serious notifiable animal disease affecting cattle, sheep and other ruminants. It does not pose a risk to human health or food safety, but it impacts on animal welfare, farm incomes and market confidence. The confirmation of cases in Ireland is a major cause of concern. For farmers the consequences include not only animal health issues but, potentially, significant losses. Movement restrictions also pose practical and financial challenges.  There are wider implications for the agrifood sector. Ireland's reputation for animal health standards is fundamental to accessing key export markets. Managing this outbreak decisively and in line with international best practice is essential to the long-term standing of our livestock industry. Marts and factories continue to operate normally and the confirmation of BTV-3 does not have implications for live animal exports, depending on the country of destination.  I note the Department is updating animal health certificates to reflect BTV-3 requirements. Within the EU, several member states currently have no additional requirements. However, some countries may impose additional measures, including vaccinations, insecticide treatment and PCR testing, to meet with trade rules.  I welcome the reopening of the Chinese market for hides and skins. I acknowledge the work of Department officials, who are liaising with Chinese counterparts to regain access for Irish beef. The Department's role is critical.  I acknowledge the work under way in the areas of surveillance, testing, movement controls and engagement with stakeholders. Clear communication and rapid response are essential. It is vital that farmers continue to receive accurate and practical information. The Government\u2019s obligations are clear in this regard. First, disease control measures must be science-led, proportionate and effective. Second, where farmers incur losses or face restrictions in the public interest, the State must be prepared to provide financial support. Certainty around compensation is absolutely essential. Third, the Government must continue to engage at European level on vaccination strategies, trade and disease management.  We must recognise the human impact of this outbreak. Disease outbreaks place a significant strain on farm families. The Government\u2019s response must be practical, compassionate and based on partnership with farmers, their representatives and the veterinary profession. By acting decisively, communicating clearly and standing firmly behind farmers through appropriate supports, the Government can ensure that this outbreak is managed effectively and that confidence in our livestock sector is maintained.  I take this opportunity to thank the Minister for the great work he has done on bluetongue so far. I give him all the encouragement I can in seeking to reopen the Chinese market for beef. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  The recent discovery of bluetongue cases across the island has been a major setback for the farming sector. While the number of confirmed cases to date has remained low, the consequences of this outbreak for the wider sector are significant. One of these consequences is the recent introduction of bans on the live export of animals between the North and South of this island, except in cases where the animal is intended for direct slaughter. This ban is having a huge effect on livestock farmers who depend on all-island trade, especially those who export animals for breeding or finishing purposes. Last year, the North represented one of the top five destinations for live exports from the Twenty-six Counties. In advance of this year\u2019s export season, progress needs to be made in lifting this export ban as the outbreak is now on both sides of our island. Clearly, there is a need for an all-island approach to this outbreak, in terms of both export procedures and vaccination. I call on the Minister to engage, on both a European and an all-island basis, to deliver this.  This outbreak of bluetongue is not the only threat the farming sector faces. Issues such as the reforms to CAP, the Government\u2019s failure to block the Mercosur trade deal and generational renewal are fundamental threats Irish farmers are facing. The European Commission\u2019s recent proposals on the future of CAP represent a radical shift in how CAP is to be funded, governed and delivered. Under this new model, CAP would sit alongside a wide range of other EU policy areas, including cohesion, migration, climate and fisheries. The reality is that this reform would be a watering-down of CAP. This watering-down is also seen in the proposed cuts the Commission intends for the CAP budget. For Ireland, the indicative CAP allocation would mean a reduction of over \u20ac2.5 billion, leading to cuts to vital payments. We also saw the Commission\u2019s proposal to end direct payments to farmers in receipt of pensions who have spent decades farming. All of this comes at a time when farmers are facing higher input costs, increased volatility, rising obligations and increased competition from low-standard imports, such as those from the Mercosur countries. This is a bad deal for Irish farmers and the Minister needs to fight tooth and nail against these proposals.  I was outside the office of Bord Bia today standing with Galway farmers who are continuing their protest against Larry Murrin\u2019s position as chair of Bord Bia. This saga has gone on for far too long. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  I agree. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  It is clear that farmers do not have confidence in the chair. The Minister finally needs to act in that regard. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Heydon  I addressed it last week and also this week. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  The outbreak of bluetongue in Wexford is a tragic occurrence. I express my sympathy to the farmers and families impacted by it. Since the first herd tested positive for bluetongue, it has been identified in an additional three herds in Wexford, according to the most recent reports. It must be very worrying for those farmers whose herds have tested positive for this disease.  Although bluetongue does not pose any risk to food safety and infected meats can still be consumed, it has a big knock-on effect on imports. The distinction between food safety and trade safety is an important one. Our domestic food supply remains safe but the international marketplace does not operate on the basis of food safety alone. Many of our export destinations, those outside the EU in particular, will only accept live animals or certain animal products from countries that hold a disease-free certification. Once that status is interrupted, even temporarily, markets react instantly. Some countries shut their doors automatically the moment a disease notification is issued. Obviously, that has huge consequences for farmers on the ground. Export-dependent farmers suddenly face delays, uncertainty and, in some cases, complete market closures. Orders that were being arranged are put on pause and animals that were due to travel cannot do so. This, in turn, leads to increased housing and feed costs, and all the while, revenue is on hold. I cannot imagine the anxiety this must cause farmers. Farmers plan their year and income around sales windows, mart days, shipping periods and production cycles that run with precision. Therefore, when an event like this pauses live exports, everything downstream becomes unstable. This causes daily worries in farm households impacted by the disease.  While this is the first case of a bluetongue infection in a home-bred Irish animal, it is likely not the last, unfortunately. We are facing a well-documented climate and ecological change. Scientists have told us for years that Ireland\u2019s risk profile for vector-borne diseases is changing. Bluetongue did not arrive here because a farmer did something wrong or through lax standards or poor biosecurity. Rather, it arrived because the climate systems around us are shifting. Weather patterns have changed and midges capable of carrying the virus can survive in conditions that were once inhospitable to them. Today, therefore, is not just about responding to the outbreak in Wexford. It is about acknowledging what this outbreak represents, a warning signal about our preparedness for a changing environment.  Climate change is reshaping disease risks, farm work and viability and rural resilience. The flooding of recent months devastated farmland across the country. Fields were submerged for weeks, and many still are. Silage stores were destroyed, walkways collapsed and livestock had to be rehoused unexpectedly. Slurry tanks were filled far earlier than intended and crops, particularly cereal and roots, suffered losses that will take years to fully quantify. When that happens, not just the current season is affected. Knock-on effects hit the following year\u2019s planting, the nutrient balance of the soil, fodder reserves and overall farm planning. Let us not forget that this is also on the back of storms Darragh and \u00c9owyn, the impacts of which many farmers are still feeling.  Bluetongue is a different kind of climate-linked crisis, but it belongs in the same category. Climate change does not manifest only in storms, rainfall and droughts; it also manifests in the migration and survival of disease vectors, midges, ticks and, increasingly, mosquitos. For years, Ireland\u2019s naturally cool climate acted as a barrier to diseases like bluetongue because the virus could not replicate inside midges below certain temperatures, but our winters are getting milder and our summers are stretching longer. Our springs and autumns are becoming warmer and wetter. Those are exactly the conditions these insects need to thrive. In short, vector-borne diseases that were once improbable in Ireland are now entirely plausible. Bluetongue is here and others may follow.  We need to shift towards a strategy of anticipation and prevention. One of the ways we can do that is through increased vector sampling. What happened in Wexford was detected through routine surveillance but the scale of the surveillance required in a climate-altered Ireland will be far greater. We need expanded vector sampling nationwide, not concentrated in traditional high-risk regions. Bluetongue cannot be treated as a once-off anomaly; it must be taken as a signal and warning. Ireland needs a national plan to address diseases transmitted by midges, ticks and mosquitos. A national vector-borne disease strategy should be published, costed and evaluated annually.  On top of all of that, we need to prioritise climate-resilient farming. If we do not do that, we may as well admit we are giving up. We cannot continue to operate on a system where a single flooding event wipes out winter fodder for an entire region. We need to plan ahead. Our agriculture sector needs to be climate resilient if it wants to stand any chance of thriving and, indeed, surviving in this new Ireland.  For years, we spoke about climate change as something that was coming. It is no longer coming; it is here. It is here in the floods in Cork, Wexford and the Shannon Basin. It is here in the wetter autumns and warmer winters. It is here in the fodder shortages, the failed second cuts, the drowning of crops and the destruction of farmyards. It is now here with the arrival of bluetongue in a home-bred Irish animal.  Climate change is not only an environmental issue. It is an agricultural issue, a food security issue, a rural economy issue and, indeed, a public health issue. Irish agriculture cannot be climate-proofed with debates and press releases. It must be climate-proofed with investment, foresight and policy reform. Bluetongue will not be the last climate-linked crisis to reach our shores, but it can be the moment when the Government chooses to respond not only with containment but with forward thinking. If proper supports are put in place and plans are made for what is coming, the agriculture sector can be climate-proofed. This outbreak is a warning but it also brings opportunity. I urge the Government to treat it with the full seriousness and urgency it deserves. Otherwise, our farmers will continue to pay the price. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Callaghan  I join other Members of this House in expressing empathy for the farmers in the south east who in recent weeks have been unfortunate enough to have had animals in their herds test positive for a form of bluetongue.  In Carlow and Kilkenny, and indeed throughout Ireland, farming is not just a job. It is a vocation and a way of life. When disaster strikes, whether through disease or adverse weather conditions, it hits not only the farmer but also his or her family, and is felt deeply throughout the community.  Coming from a farming background, I know how it feels to be at the mercy of the elements and the cruel manner in which everything can change in an instant. Many of us in this Chamber can remember the early months of 2001 when an outbreak of foot and mouth disease ground Irish agriculture to a halt virtually overnight. Any farmers who have had a reactor for TB or have faced into their lands being devastated by flooding know the dread, uncertainty and helplessness that can upend their lives without warning.  While bluetongue is not a disease that poses a risk to humans and, thankfully, it does not affect the quality of our food, this outbreak is of serious concern to farmers and the agri industry in Ireland. Symptoms of bluetongue can be particularly distressing for the infected animals. Fever, drooling, facial swelling, lameness and ulcers in the mouth are all known symptoms of the disease that farmers must be on the lookout for in the coming months. Devastatingly, among sheep, bluetongue has a mortality rate of up to 70%.  Regarding the trade of meat and dairy products, there are no implications for exports to the UK or to most of our international markets. However, movements of livestock to certain EU member states and third countries will be affected now that Ireland has lost its status as free of bovine TB. I know that the Minister for agriculture and his team are working hard to negotiate revisions to many trade certificates for third countries. Indeed, the sudden appearance of bluetongue is a reminder of the critical importance for global supply chains that contingency plans be made and put in place.  The Department is engaged in extensive surveillance in Wexford and across the south east to work against and prevent the further spread of the disease. These confirmed cases have led to the suspension of both breeding and store cattle being moved from the Republic of Ireland to Northern Ireland. Exports to Northern Ireland are only permitted if direct for slaughter. As we have all learned over recent years, disease does not respect international borders.  In my view, the best way of managing outbreaks of bluetongue in both jurisdictions is through a collaborative, all-of-Ireland approach. It is only through close co-operation with the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in the North that we can restore the important trade in feeding and breeding animals.  Farming organisations South and North should be applauded because they have met to highlight the need for close collaboration in this regard. I know that this Government will not be found wanting. This is exemplified by the decision taken last December by the Minister, Deputy Heydon, to allow for BTV-3 vaccination in Ireland this year. Vaccination remains the only evidence-based control option now available to farmers at risk of exposure. The Minister has led from the front on this issue and I encourage all farmers to consult their veterinary practitioners to see if vaccination is suitable for their livestock.  Given that bluetongue is, as we know, spread by midges that cannot survive in Irish winter temperatures, there are grounds for optimism at present. However, we must remain cautious. Midges typically begin to reappear in April and can remain active until November, meaning that as we start to come into summer, the likelihood of infection spreading will rise. Wind speed and direction can also affect how far midges can travel and this could potentially facilitate the spread of the disease. We must remain vigilant. That is why it is so vital that advice from the Department of agriculture be heeded. In cases of suspected bluetongue, farmers should isolate the suspect animal indoors immediately and report the case to the Department. Farmers should also contact their local regional veterinary office. Outside office hours, they should ring the national disease emergency hotline.  The detection of bluetongue in Ireland comes as a disappointment, but considering the spread of the disease in Europe, it is not a surprise. With up to 1 million calves due to be born over the coming weeks, farmers across the country are understandably worried. However, the detection of the disease and the robust response from the Government are testament to the resilience of Irish agriculture. Irish farmers work incredibly hard to ensure that their produce is world renowned for the highest possible quality standards. It is that same resilience and appetite for hard work that will catch, contain and control bluetongue over the coming months. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  Biosecurity incidents have the potential to devastate farm enterprises. Our farmers do their utmost, investing their own time and labour and complying with biosecurity restriction in order to best avoid outbreaks of TB, avian influenza or any other similar threats. Has the Minister examined if bluetongue can spread in deer? It is crucial to the State that he do so because wider outbreaks have the potential to devastate entire sectors. It is equally crucial that the State live up to its obligations and have in place a workable framework for farmers to allow them to succeed.  In all instances, we should be tackling biosecurity on an all-island basis. To do otherwise would go against common sense, and that is clearly the case for bluetongue. There are a number of things we need to see from the Government. We need the Government to raise the issue at EU level so that animal health certification can be amended to reflect the fact the virus is in both jurisdictions on this island. We need to see the scaling up of testing so that we have an idea of where the virus is ahead of the warmer months. There is an absolute need to ensure adequate availability of vaccines and for the Government to partner with farmers in respect of the financial costs.  The Government must put in place a workable framework and allow farmers to do what they need to do. That has not always been the case when it comes to biosecurity. When we look at the TB programme, for which farmers pay levies and contribute labour, the total value of their contribution is in the tens of millions per year, alongside more again in taxpayer funding. Yet, rather than having something to show for it, incidence rates continue to rise. The European Union has pulled funding from the eradication programme, having lost faith in the Government's ability to achieve reduced rates of TB. While the EU can lose faith in the Irish Government, take its money - or, more correctly, our money - and walk away, farmers facing TB breakdown cannot walk away. Those dealing with ash dieback cannot walk away. I ask the Minister to take on board these points and bring a renewed focus to his work on biosecurity more generally. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  At the end of January, the first home-bred case of bluetongue was found in a cow in County Wexford through routine checks in a slaughterhouse. That was the first time we saw it in an Irish-born animal, and it has, rightly, put farmers on edge. Now we are told, and it is important to repeat, that bluetongue does not affect people or the safety of our milk or meat and does not jump from animal to animal.  The problem is the midges spread it and, as many farmers will tell you, you cannot fence out midges. As a result of this one case, we have temporarily lost our bluetongue-free status. That means some countries will not take certain animals from us for now, even though movement within Ireland and to most markets can continue. Farmers did not create this situation but they are the ones who are dealing with the consequences yet again. We have also seen exports for further feeding in Northern Ireland suspended even though exports for slaughter can still go ahead. The Department says it is nearly impossible for a farmer to fully stop a midge-borne disease like this from reaching their herd and that is the reality on the ground. The Minister has confirmed the bluetongue vaccination will be allowed from next spring. This is welcome because every farmer knows the real danger time is when the weather warms up and midges are moving. The high-risk period will be summer 2026 and farmers need protection in place well before that.  The common-sense point is that farmers do not need more forms, more hoops or more delays. They need straight answers, quick access to vaccinations and clear guidelines that help them keep going. Time and again I have said in this House that rural Ireland is buried under needless bureaucracy. Farmers feel they are being treated as the problem instead of the people who feed the nation. I am asking the Government that we not drag our feet on this, that we get vaccinations out early, that we give farmers the information in plain language and that we support them instead of slowing them down. This is about protecting livelihoods, keeping cattle and sheep healthy and making sure rural Ireland does not get left behind once again.  While I am talking about farming, I want to use the time I have left to talk about the tillage farmers. Many of them are asking about the \u20ac30 million support for tillage announced in budget 2026. They have no date for payment of this but it is to be paid, they are being told, in the first six months of the year with an intention to pay it as soon as possible. From what we can gather an application needs to be filled in but farmers have no details on payment amounts and how that will be divided out. This is causing issues for farmers purchasing seed and fertiliser for the season ahead. The farming for water payments are also delayed and some farmers are due a good chunk of money from this scheme. The bottom line is farmers need to know when they are going to get this funding that has been announced because they are in dire circumstances at present.  While I have the floor, we must not forget the farmers who are inside Bord Bia\u2019s buildings again this evening weeks after this dispute started standing for their bare rights and the rights of every farmer in this country. The west Cork IFA was there last Thursday and will be there again this Thursday. I will go down to support them every time they are there because they are standing for the common good and for common sense but unfortunately nobody is listening to them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  It is good to be able to speak to the Minister about this issue. It is very concerning that bluetongue has arrived in Ireland. It is causing a huge amount of fear and concern to farmers. It is a good thing we have discovered the disease at this time of year as it provides us with an opportunity to try to get ahead of this issue. As the Minister knows, it is the midges that spread bluetongue and it is also subject to the temperature being higher than 12\u00b0C. This cold and wet winter has provided us with an opportunity and I urge the Minister to really get ahead of this issue. He should ensure the testing is happening not just in Wexford but right across Ireland, though particularly in the affected region. As the temperature rises, we should consider additional controls in the area to ensure it does not spread any further. I also ask the Minister to look at the fact bluetongue can be spread via the semen of bulls and there are no additional checks around that. Farmers across Ireland who will be attending marts this week, next week and over the spring will be buying bulls and the Minister\u2019s Department should be seriously looking at this. It should be putting in a scheme or checks for farmers selling bulls, so there would be some assistance to test those bulls. It should step up to the plate in this regard.  This issue has also raised another question, which is about hides and the fact the vast majority of Irish hides are exported to China. Some 42,000 tonnes of hides were exported there last year. That represents significant exposure. We are entirely exposed because we are selling all our hides to one market. This issue has presented to the Minister a problem that cannot be ignored. He must seek out other markets for these hides. As the Minister knows, the man who controls the offal and the man who controls the hide controls the kill. We cannot allow our farmers to be so exposed in relation to that. I urge the Minister to use this as an opportunity, along with his Department and officials, to develop further export markets for both hides and offal.  I thank the Minister for the recent briefing with his officials and I look forward to working with him on this issue over the weeks and months ahead. The spring is coming and the summer is coming and temperatures will rise. When they do, there will be a significant and greater risk of bluetongue. It is important we do not catastrophise about this issue but this could potentially be the calm before the storm. I want to ensure we protect our farmers, that we have all the checks in place and that we ramp up checks in that region, in Munster and across Ireland as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Fitzmaurice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice  I welcome this debate. The D\u00e1il has learned a lot about bluetongue. People need to know anything you eat is safe and that it does not spread, like some diseases, mouth to mouth. I think that is very important for the public. I ask the Minister one thing, which is that public representatives are informed about where we are with Tunisia, Northern Ireland and the likes of Greece and some other countries he would be familiar with that we are exporting to. We are getting a lot of feedback at the moment from Northern Ireland and we are hearing this blame game going on. The North is saying it is not responsible and that it is the Irish side. We are getting the same type of stuff from the shippers. The Department staff need to be clear with us, so we know what is going on. In fairness, the Department briefed us before and we appreciate that but we need up-to-date briefings because there is a fair bit of over and back, and Scotland is being brought into it now, about what is going on with exports to Northern Ireland and the UK. We are fairly okay with some of the European countries but in others, it seems to be 14 days. The Minister is well aware of videos that were going around from some shippers. All that is needed is for the Minister to be up front with us, so we can give the message to other people because this is about the live cattle industry. If you do not have a good live trade, the problem is the factories and the dead trade will try to take advantage, and we do not want that to happen. That is all I would ask the Minister for. All of us, including Deputies Martin Kenny and Paul Lawless, met the Minister before and we appreciate that but we need to know for those guys what is going on because there seems to be a vacuum for those people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  We are glad to have this debate because it is vital. Many Irish farmers do not really understand the implications of this or how it spreads.  We have been told it is caused by midges but I do not think any midges would survive coming from the North to Wexford. How did that happen? Simple questions like that need to be explained. If there is evidence of how it happened or may have spread, the Minister could provide a link to the country because we would like to know that.  Farmers around me have asked me questions. Are we importing straw? Can midges or insects be alive in straw and land here that way? If something like that is happening, we need to stop importing straw. We would have enough straw here if it was not being ploughed into the ground. We need straw for bedding calves, feeding cattle and mixing into diet feeders to help cattle improve and grow efficiently.  This could not be more serious. Given the trouble the Taoiseach and his officials went to in order to secure the Chinese market, it would be a shame to lose it. If other countries stopped us exporting or refused to take our exports, we would be in trouble. The price of cattle would come down despite what people have done over the winter.  There are other questions. When cattle are housed, are they safe? I do not see midges in housed cattle. We had midges at times, such as in the bog and other such places, so we do not want them. Can humans or birds spread bluetongue? Birds travel long distances. We need to be educated on how the disease spreads.  What are we doing in Wexford to curtail and stop the disease? We need to know what is involved and what is being done. Does the Minister have an answer as to why the disease is spreading from the North of Ireland to Wexford? We would like to hear that. Education is paramount to stopping the spread of the disease.  We were glad in the early 2000s when we stopped foot and mouth and kept it out of our country. That was vital. I ask the Minister and his officials to ensure they do their best to curtail the disease with all of the expertise they have available to them and ensure the disease does not become rampant in our country and in farms. As I have said many times, our farming community is vital for rural and urban Ireland because we depend on the sector for the food we eat every day. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Before I call Deputy Carthy, on behalf of Deputy Fitzmaurice, I welcome John Flynn, Mary Flynn, Jim Flynn and Eileen Flynn. You are all very welcome. I hope you enjoy the time in Leinster House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for his indulgence. I welcome our guests from Roscommon. I am half a Roscommon man and the way the GAA is going this year, I think I will be a Rossies supporter this season.  I want to support what has been said by my Sinn F\u00e9in colleagues in respect of ensuring that bluetongue is addressed on an all-Ireland basis. In my view, it is absolutely crazy that we have a situation in my county, which I am sure is the same across the Border region, if not further beyond, whereby trading North and South has essentially been curtailed. That should not be the case, considering the efforts that went into ensuring we have an all-Ireland system in the outworking of Brexit. It could be argued that during the entire Brexit process, when all of Europe and the entire British establishment was in absolute turmoil, this House remained steadfast in setting out very clearly that the only way we could operate in terms of the food market was on an all-Ireland basis. Yet, it appears to many farmers that with the click of a finger, that can be upended. It is completely crazy.  Farmers in Monaghan cannot trade with farmers in Armagh. Let us be very clear about how those communities operate. It would be the equivalent of telling a farmer in Kerry that they could not trade across the border with those in Cork. It is unbelievable that we are even at this point. Not only are we at this point, this has continued for a number of weeks. I want to make an incredibly strong case for an all-Ireland approach and that we ensure the cross-Border limitations are lifted.  I also want to seek the assurance of the Minister that the Government is raising this matter at an EU level in order to ensure that animal health certifications are amended, as the virus obviously affects both jurisdictions. This is necessary in order to ensure the live trade experts can resume.  We need to scale up testing to ensure there is absolute certainty in respect of where the virus is before the weather gets any warmer and it begins to spread. We have had a desperate number of weeks in terms of weather conditions and farmers are undoubtedly under pressure. As we move forward to the spring, many wonder whether we will see a spring at all. Bluetongue could not have happened at a worse time, especially when the broad climate was generally positive in terms of prices being received. We know there are threats coming down the road.  We do not yet know what the situation regarding Mercosur will be. We hope it will not be provisionally applied and that the Government will ensure there is no support for the provisional application of the deal. We know there are other global challenges coming our way. We need to make sure that any challenges that our farmers are presented with are not imposed on them because of the failures of the House and Department to provide support. The core point I want to make is that we deal with this on an all-Ireland basis and stop the lunacy whereby people are being prevented from trading with their counterparts a few short miles away. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Heydon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Martin-Heydon.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Martin Heydon)  I thank all colleagues in the House for taking the time to engage in what is an important debate and asking a number of questions I would be happy to answer. I acknowledge the presence of hill farmers from Galway and Roscommon, as well as the president of Macra na Feirme and other representatives with Senator Brady.  In wrapping up, I will come back to each of the points that has been raised directly. I thank the Deputies who acknowledged the meetings I and my officials held and the ongoing engagement with members of the committee on agriculture, which have been important. Everyone has mentioned the stress and strain farmers face. Deputy Carthy outlined the horrendous weather we have experienced in recent times and the stress that brings. We all have a role to play in terms of being able to communicate clear answers. It is important that I am able to answer some of the questions from Deputies.  A lot of points have been raised. Deputy Kenny was the first to ask about the situation with regard to the North. It was a very clear question. Deputy Carthy and others also highlighted that. It is important to bear in mind that the decisions a member state takes on what it allows into its jurisdiction is a decision for it to make. As outlined in my opening remarks, it is possible to secure derogations to general rules to allow member states to act differently from a disease prevalence perspective. However, different member states cannot be treated differently. If a derogation is given for bluetongue, it is not just for serotype 3, which we have and which is the most prominent one, but it is for serotypes 1 to 24, inclusive, and applies to every member state. Therefore, how we treat one member state is how we treat everybody.  Deputy Fitzmaurice outlined videos online and different elements there. We are very much in the hands of the countries we trade with. From a market access perspective, that is no different from the export certificates that my veterinary teams negotiate with third countries or anywhere else. It is probably more unusual that it would happen in the European context, but from a disease-prevalence perspective that is how we engage. We have closely engaged with Northern Ireland. I had an online meeting with my counterpart in Northern Ireland, Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Andrew Muir, around where it is at in terms of its restrictions. It is on a different trajectory having identified it earlier before Christmas. We also spoke about the inroads we are making here and how we can try to harmonise our approaches in time. There are decisions for Northern Ireland to make in terms of what it allows into its jurisdiction, the same as there are for us as well in that. We have to be cognisant of what we allow in terms of the broader macro picture across Europe because dealing with Northern Ireland is the same as dealing with a member state due to the agreements that are in place. I am meeting Minister in person later this week and we will take the opportunity to engage on this issue, but our officials, including my Chief Veterinary Officer and members of my veterinary teams, are in constant contact with Northern Ireland as well. We are aware of the pressure and stress that this brings in that space.  Deputy Kenny and other Members raised the area of trade, in particular China, and the importance of regaining access for skins and hides. As I did in my opening address, I pay tribute to my officials who deal with market access and our officials in the embassy in Beijing who have worked very closely with Chinese officials in the General Administration of Customs of China, GAC. That is an important avenue and market for us. There was concern here when that avenue was closed to us and while we have made progress on the skins and hides, I continue to work on the area of the broader protocol. The approach to atypical BSE cases, which are completely sporadic and which are recognised by other member states as being one-off, has not in any way impacted on our negligible health status for BSE at the World Organisation for Animal Health level. A change in that protocol, regaining market access, would allow Irish food companies to invest in personnel on the ground to build those relationships without the fear of that market continuously ebbing and flowing. As we know, atypical BSE cases will happen sporadically. That is something I continue to work on with my officials.  Deputy Newsome Drennan raised the follow-up and surveillance. That has been extensive. She also said that there are questions that need to be answered about tracking and tracing. Our surveillance has been significant and extensive not just in Wexford but nationwide. It was not surprising that I unfortunately had to announce an additional case in this House today. That will happen because the more testing and tracking and surveillance we do, the more chances there are of being able to find it.  Deputies O'Donoghue, Whitmore and others talked about climate change. Climate change is a reality and that is why the enhanced biosecurity measures we have in place are important. We are in a changing environment and our warming temperatures and the changes around climate change are leading to what once would have been called exotic diseases becoming prevalent and established here. Deputy Whitmore also talked about expanding the vector sampling needed for climate resilience. My Department has the national animal health surveillance strategy, which guides our surveillance and guides our measures in that regard.  Deputies Aird and Callaghan thanked the officials and also spoke about the Chinese protocol, which I have dealt with.  Deputy Bennett raised about all-island approach, which I have also addressed. She also spoke about biosecurity. Great credit is due for successfully keeping it off the island before now. Let us consider our successful efforts when avian influenza became established here. We got our disease-free status back within three months. When that arrived in November at the start of the high-risk period, there was a very strong sense that we were facing into a very tough winter. The partnership and collaboration between our poultry sector, private veterinary practitioners and our regional veterinary officers really has delivered. The adoption of the enhanced biosecurity measures that I put in place has been important.  I agree with Deputy Collins about the need for clear information. I answer every question that I can and my Department's door is always open. He also spoke about the continuing work we do on accessing markets.  I agree with Deputy Lawless to a certain extent. It is not positive to have it here, but if we are going to find it, it is positive to have the winter months and the time to prepare and to respond. We will continue to do that in real time. The Deputy also raised the point about bulls. It is a fact that it can be spread by bulls in semen, so it is prudent for farmers to consider blood testing when buying bulls and rams before they go breeding. These are elements that it is prudent for farmers to reflect upon. I agree that it is important not to catastrophise these issues because we will deal with them in real time.  Deputy Fitzmaurice mentioned specific countries. I prefer not to focus on specific countries but, in general, we work closely between third markets and European markets. We have changed some veterinary health certificates around disease status. We have been working on that for the past two years and we continue to do that around a range of different diseases.  Deputy Healy-Rae questioned how midges survived from Northern Ireland to Wexford. Our very strong sense is that this infection did not come from Northern Ireland. It is not connected to the outbreaks in Northern Ireland but is much more likely to have come over on the wind from England or Wales. During the warmer weather, we monitored the wind patterns with Met \u00c9ireann and UCD. Midges blowing over the Irish Sea was a much more likely cause of this spread. The first animal that tested positive was in a field beside the sea, one of the first places it could have landed. It is not likely at all that imported straw is a contributing factor. Are cattle safe if they are housed? It is related to the activity of midges. The temperature needs to be constantly north of 12oC for the disease to be able to travel in midges as vectors. Can humans spread it? No. Can birds spread it? No. What are we doing in Wexford? The height of surveillance being employed is across the board and not just in Wexford. It is across the country, as is the tracking and tracing.  An important point to make is that there will not be large-scale restrictions in the summertime because the disease is being recategorised in July across the EU. That will make life easier for us in some ways. It was not something we wanted when we were free of this disease. We wanted to be able to identify as quickly as possible. We did not want to lose our disease-free status, but now it is gone. We were the last of the European countries to be in that space, so there will be some relaxation of how we operate with that from July onwards. The roll out of vaccines will be a commercial decision for farmers. My role was to make it available and make sure we engaged with vaccine companies so that stock would be available. It is a commercial decision and we continue to work on that basis.  I thank my colleagues for engaging constructively on this matter. My door and the door of my officials continue to be open. We want to reassure farmers and consumers that there are no health or food safety concerns around bluetongue. This is a production disease that has significant concerns for farmers. I will continue to work with my officials across the Department and with other countries to minimise the worst impacts of this. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar fionra\u00ed ar 5.49 p.m. agus cuireadh t\u00fas leis ar\u00eds ar 5.53 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Sitting suspended at 5.49 p.m. and resumed at 5.53 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Bluetongue: Statements"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/dbsect_13","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Ban on Investment Funds Purchasing Family Homes: Motion [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":50,"speakerCount":30},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_13","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donna McGettigan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Denise Mitchell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ann Graves","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dessie Ellis","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I move that:  That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann:  notes that:  \u2014 the housing crisis continues to deepen for ordinary workers and families while corporate landlords, investors and developers make ever greater profits;  \u2014 residential property prices have increased by 47.7 per cent since 2020, pushing first-time buyers further into debt to secure a home, while locking many out of home ownership;  \u2014 high rents and residential property prices are making it increasingly difficult for workers and families to purchase and own their own home, leading to the collapse of homeownership;  \u2014 investment funds bulk purchasing homes takes homes away from ordinary workers and families, and drives up prices;  \u2014 despite the commitments by Government to end the practice, investment funds have continued to bulk purchase homes;  \u2014 the Government re-committed to prohibiting the bulk purchase of homes in the Programme for Government; and  \u2014 despite repeated promises to address the issue of homes being bulk purchased by vulture funds, the Government continues to allow the practice;  further notes that:  \u2014 Sinn F\u00e9in have repeatedly called for investment funds to not be allowed bulk purchase homes;  \u2014 the Government was warned by Sinn F\u00e9in that belated measures introduced in May 2021, and the adjustment in Budget 2025, would be insufficient to end this unacceptable practice;  \u2014 the Government are responsible for the continued bulk purchase by investment funds, with over 2,000 houses purchased by investment funds triggering the higher rate of stamp duty between May 2021 and the end of 2025, at the expense of individual home buyers; and  \u2014 this only captures a fraction of the homes being bought by vulture funds, who continue to be able to buy up to nine houses at a time without even having to pay the higher stamp duty rate, and face no restrictions on the purchase of apartments;  concludes that the Government, comprising Fine Gael, Fianna F\u00e1il and the Government Independents, are prioritising the interests of developers, landlords and investment funds, at the expense of struggling workers and families; and  calls on the Government to ban investment funds from buying family homes.  Vulture funds were invited into this country by Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael and they then dusted down the red carpet for them. They were invited in to snap up homes on the cheap that should have gone to workers and families. Fine Gael rolled out that red carpet and has been waiting on them hand and foot ever since. That is the reality. Sinn F\u00e9in's motion is a straightforward proposal. Indeed, it is asking the Government to keep its word. It simply puts the needs of workers and families ahead of the faceless vulture funds. We are calling for a ban on these funds snapping up family homes. That is it. It is as simple as that. End this practice. That this Government has failed to do this when we are this far into a housing crisis is absolutely shameful.  Ordinary workers and families right across the State have no chance competing with these funds. They hoover up homes and they drive up prices. People have watched as house prices have gone out of control under the Government's watch. They have gone up 50% in five years. People are desperate. They know they cannot keep up. No matter how hard they work or how much they save, the hope of ever owning their own home keeps being ripped away from them. When these vultures snapped up a housing estate in County Kildare back in 2021, people's blood was boiling. It was that anger that forced the Government's hand. I know this because for years before that, I was tabling amendments calling on the Government to act. I tabled amendment after amendment to finance Bills, and Minister after Minister, in Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael, rallied against them and voted against them time and time again.  Let us be honest: even when the Government's hands were finally forced, it did as little as it could get away with. It was just enough to look like it was doing something about it. All the while, it was letting vulture funds snap up homes left, right and centre. The proof is there for everybody to see. Over 2,000 homes have been bulk purchased since the Government said it would stop it. The programme for Government again committed to ending this scandal. It is one thing that the Government said it would do, the one small measure it said it would take in its programme for Government, and it did not even deliver on this basic issue. When Deputy Simon Harris was Taoiseach, he said vulture funds buying up homes \"cannot be tolerated\". Those are his words. He wrote to the then Minister for Finance calling on him to intervene. He called on him to stand up for first-time buyers but it was all for show. It was all so he could leak it to the media and make it look as if he was doing something about it. Deputy Harris, though, is now the Minister for Finance and vulture funds are still buying up family homes. The only difference is that he has no one to write his letters to anymore. There is no one else to blame because this is happening on his watch, and far from not tolerating it, he is supporting it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Let us have it straight. Let us talk about the facts here. I mentioned that 2,000 homes had been purchased by vulture funds over the past number of years. That is only the tip of the iceberg, however, because, as we know, vulture funds do not have to register up to ten homes that they purchase in any given year. Thousands and thousands of homes are being snatched up by vulture funds, big landlords and other companies. Most of them are second-hand homes. People are sick to the back teeth of this nonsense, and the Government will peddle it out again, that we need to attract more international capital. Nobody objects on this side of the House to international investment in the construction of houses and apartments. What we do have an objection to, what we do call out and what we say needs to stop is vulture funds swooping in at the last minute, buying up homes and driving up prices.  Will the Minister explain to me why we need investment funds buying second-hand homes. How does this deliver more housing supply? The answer is that it does not. It just drives up prices, plain and simple. Home ownership is collapsing under Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael. It is being sold off. I made this point many years ago when the Government introduced the fake measure that it said would ban vulture funds from buying up family homes. I said what it had done was to hang the white flag of surrender over the capital city of Dublin and other cities across this State. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  What the Government has done is that it has sold Ireland. Not only has it sold Ireland, it has sold out its people. I ask it to do the right thing today. I ask it to live up to the commitment it gave and to the words in the programme for Government, which state that it will make sure this is stopped. How can the Government tolerate this? Last year, there were 293 homes alone, and many more unregistered because of the other loopholes it has added in.  The motion is simple. We call on every Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael Deputy, and, indeed, the Independent Deputies who back them. Whose side are they on? Are they on the side of the vultures or they on the side of ordinary, decent Irish families trying to put a roof over their heads? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  I was contacted by a lady this week. Her relationship broke down and she lost her job. She said: \"I\u2019m left there working 2 jobs while taking care of my 4yo full time and will have to resort to homelessness if I don\u2019t get help.\" She does not get any tax breaks, yet the vulture funds, based abroad, come in here and buy up second-hand homes. They then go to rent a home back to this woman at huge rents she cannot even afford. She is working two jobs to try to keep a roof over her and her child's head. She pays tax on the income from both of those jobs, but the vulture funds the Government let in here go tax-free on the money that lady is giving them. How can that be right?  Another woman contacted me. Herself, her partner and her two kids are living in a room in her parents' house. They got a mortgage, but the mortgage is not enough to buy a house. She said they applied for a mortgage, got it and it would not even buy them a shed. They did everything right and look where it got them.  They worked hard. They have jobs. They tried to do everything right.  It was the same last week with the new rental Bill. The Government has a fascination with vulture funds, investment funds and cuckoo funds, but what about ordinary people? Does the Minister know what is happening? I looked at Daft.ie today. I challenge the Minister to go online and look at it. A house in my area, in Farranree, was on sale for \u20ac225,000. Does the Minister know what it sold for? A house in a working-class estate of old council houses that are 75 or 80 years old sold for \u20ac320,000, or \u20ac95,000 more than the original asking price. The Government is getting ordinary people who are trying to buy a house into bidding wars against vulture funds. It is not right; it is all wrong. We know people have a limited amount of money, but these vulture funds have no limits. They can do what they want. They can outbid anyone. I will finish off with this. In my constituency of Cork North Central, from the north side all the way down to Glanmire, one in every ten houses is bought by non-owner-occupiers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Donnelly  In 2021, the acquisition of 112 homes in Hollystown, Dublin 15, by an investment fund rightly caused anger across the State. These houses - the ones the Minister talks about all the time as being essential to help young families to get a family home - were bought up in bulk by an investor. They are now rented out for at least \u20ac2,600 per month. Simon Harris has publicly stated that the bulk purchasing of homes needed for first-time buyers cannot be tolerated. That is on the record. Department of Finance figures state that by the end of 2025, over 2,000 homes have been bulk purchased since the Government first brought in measures it said would end the practice. Simon Harris is not only the T\u00e1naiste; he is also the Minister for Finance. He can change this in the morning if he is really serious about this not being tolerated. The fact is that family homes are still being bought up in bulk despite the Minister's attempts to portray that the Government is doing something to end this practice. What chance have workers and first-time buyers got to buy a house for themselves and their families? It is as clear as day that the Government's policies have failed and the repeated promises to stop investment funds bulk purchasing family homes have failed. Properties are being snatched up from under the noses of ordinary workers and families who are struggling to put a roof over their heads. This Government's inaction is allowing these vulture funds to drive up house prices and profits further by renting out these houses to the same people they outbid at extortionate rates because they cannot find anywhere to live. The people want the right to buy their own home, which is a right that generations have had. That is being made more difficult by vulture funds. The motion is clear: we must end bulk buying of family homes by vulture funds. The Minister can do that in the morning if he wants to. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  If you tried to create a housing crisis, you could not do a better job than this Government is doing. It has allowed investor funds to come in and purchase family homes - ordinary homes - from under the feet of families who need them. Big corporations and big multinationals are coming in to make money while families are looking for a roof over their heads and for their own homes. The Government has created a situation where house prices have increased by 50% in the last five years. We have record homelessness. We have sky-high rents that are outside the availability and affordability of the vast majority of people. Evictions and notices to quit are on the up. While that is happening, the Government has ripped supports from families, such as the tenant in situ scheme, which it has gutted and turned down to a trickle. It has scrapped the eviction ban, and it has not reached its own social and affordable housing targets.  I met six families last week who have notices to quit. I am meeting one of them on Thursday. It was a couple who were a Waterford local radio station today, and I was asked to meet them. What am I to tell those families? When I meet them, they are absolutely in despair. There are no houses for them to rent and certainly not within their means. They are all corralled into the private rental sector, trying to get homes that do not exist. They have not a hope of getting a social house and they are facing homelessness. They are facing eviction. These are families with children. I have to say I do not believe that this Government really cares about them because the Minister must be meeting the same families. He has to be meeting the same families with the same experience and the same circumstances as the families I am meeting. They are under fierce pressure, and they have been watching on aghast as these investor funds come in, buy up homes and make huge profits. Now, to really add insult to injury, the Government is going to bring in a rip-off rent Bill that will force up rents even more. In Waterford, rents are going to go up by \u20ac4,000. The Minister needs to get a grip and start representing ordinary Irish people, workers and families and not the big investor funds and big landlords, which the Government is doing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  The message is very clear here. We need the Minister to ban investment funds from buying family homes. There are many things that investment funds can invest in and buy, but not family homes. The Minister has the power to change that. Young people and working families are being forced out of the market by vulture funds with unlimited reserves that are outbidding them not just of homes, but of their futures. My colleagues and I on these benches have been highlighting this scandal for years. I remember doing it when I was in the local authority. I thank Deputy Doherty for bringing this motion forward this evening and for all the work he has done in this area.  Since the higher stamp duty rate was first introduced in 2021, over 2,000 homes have been bulk purchased, hoovered up and taken off the market. Taking these homes from people who desperately need them is thievery in plain sight. In one of my offices alone, in the last week there have been 15 notices to quit. That is just in a few days. Investment funds should not be permitted to bulk buy family homes full stop. Homes are for living in, not for speculating, stockpiling and squeezing profit out of hard-working people. Across Mayo, I am hearing the real-life consequences of allowing vulture funds to outbid ordinary couples. They are bulk buying homes that should be available to young people who are hoping to start their lives and families together. Any home snapped up by a vulture fund is one less home for a nurse, teacher or young couple saving desperately for a deposit. It reduces supply, increases competition and, inevitably, drives prices up, which are up 47.7% since 2020. Young people are being priced out of their own communities. The result is soaring house prices and extortionate rents that are in no way a reflection of local incomes. I know families facing no-fault evictions. As I said, it is happening everywhere across Mayo. Rental properties are scarce and unaffordable. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  In less than five years, house prices have risen by 47.7%. That is a failure of the Government of Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael. It is a failure to respond, a failure to intervene and a failure to deliver. Over 2,000 family homes, which is a conservative estimate, have been bulk purchased by investment funds since the Minister's claim they had stopped it. In Waterford today, there is not a single housing assistance payment, HAP, property to rent. House prices are up 10.7% in Waterford across city and country. The average price for a three-bedroom semi-detached house is \u20ac345,000. Families are being squeezed out of their own communities, while funds expand their portfolios. M\u00e9ada\u00edodh praghsanna na dtithe beagnach 50% \u00f3 2020. T\u00e1 na m\u00edlte tithe ceannaithe ag coist\u00ed infheist\u00edochta. I bPort L\u00e1irge, n\u00edl aon teach HAP ar f\u00e1il agus is rogha polaiti\u00fail \u00e9 sin. T\u00e1 an Rialtas ag seasamh leis na coist\u00ed in ionad na dteaghlach. Caithfear cosc ioml\u00e1n a chur ar choist\u00ed infheist\u00edochta ag ceannach thithe teaghlaigh.  Homes are for living in. They are not asset portfolios. While a young couple in Waterford saves every cent for a deposit, vulture and investment funds can buy nine houses without even triggering the higher stamp duty rate. While families search in vain for a rental, entire estates are snapped up and rented back at inflated prices. This Government is choosing funds over families and people know it. The Government needs to wake up and take action. It needs to ban the bulk purchase of homes. Simon Harris once wrote that bulk purchasing of homes could not be tolerated. Now, as T\u00e1naiste and Minister for Finance, no less, it is happening on his watch. This is about power and priorities. Fine Gael, Fianna F\u00e1il and the Lowry and Healy-Rae Independents are protecting their vested interests and we on this side of the House are standing with workers and families. The Minister needs to take action now and ban the bulk purchase of homes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  I want to express my thanks to an Teachta Doherty for proposing this Private Members' motion and for all the work he has done in this space. While the Minister and his best buds in Fine Gael were rolling out the red carpet, at least there were people on the Opposition benches shouting \"Stop\". I feel so sorry for young people. I genuinely worry for them that they are starting to lose hope, and all the while, they are literally being gaslit by this Government.  The Government has made it very comfortable for these investment funds, vulture funds or whatever word we want to put on it. Fine Gael invited them in and Fianna F\u00e1il took out the hoover and cleaned the red carpet and made sure they felt every bit as welcome. A total of 2,000 homes have been snapped up by these vulture funds since the Government said it would stop the practice. The Government committed to this and yet still it happens. It is a little bit like the Minister's war on dereliction. It is really hard to see it as anything other than empty rhetoric.  Last weekend I spoke to a woman who lives in Rush in my constituency. She has three grown-up children, all of whom are teachers and all of whom work abroad. They are absolutely desperate to come home and she is absolutely sick of only seeing her grandchildren on Skype. Her adult children want to come home but they are competing with these vulture funds. They are working hard but the odds are stacked against them because of Government policy. Rents in my constituency are on average \u20ac2,300 per month. Her kids cannot come home to rent because they will never ever be able to save for a deposit, paying the sky-high rents that are now Government policy. They cannot come home to buy because they cannot compete with vulture funds. Investment funds are buying family homes. Our young people do not have a chance. When the Government says it wants to ban a practice, it sometimes forgets that it is the Government and could just ban it. It could stop it happening but it does not do so. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donna McGettigan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donna McGettigan  I thank my colleague, Deputy Doherty, for tabling the motion. The housing crisis continues to deepen for ordinary workers, families and children. We have children growing up in emergency accommodation and in overcrowded homes while their parents are being outbid for homes by vulture funds. Despite repeated promises to address this issue, the Government continues to allow this practice, meaning those struggling to buy a home have their hopes of owning a home taken away by vulture funds that can buy up to ten houses at a time without even having to pay the higher stamp duty rate and face no restrictions on the purchase of apartments. They can buy ten homes at once while a family cannot even secure one. I ask the Minister to tell me how he can face these families and tell them is doing all he can when they can see with their own eyes that house prices have risen and the number of houses for sale in their price bracket is decreasing. High rents are making it almost impossible for people even to save for a deposit. The Minister is asking people to run a race while he is tying weights to their ankles.  In Clare in late 2024 the residential property price register showed the average price paid by new homeowners in Shannon and Ennis jumped by more than \u20ac40,000 in a single year. This is not a market functioning for the people; it is market rigged in favour of big investors. Homes are for living in and not for hoarding or for vulture funds circling communities and snapping up family homes in bulk while young couples stand helpless at the gate. The Minister has the opportunity now to ban vulture funds from snapping up family homes. He has the opportunity to level the playing field and give those families hope. I hope he does it and, more importantly, those families hope he does it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy James Browne)  I move amendment No. 1:  To delete all words after \"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann\" and substitute the following:  acknowledges that:  \u2014 the new housing plan 'Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030: An Action Plan on Housing Supply and Targeting Homelessness', is focussed on putting in place the conditions to enable delivery of a minimum of 300,000 new homes between 2025 and 2030;  \u2014 the plan includes a commitment to deliver 72,000 social homes, and provide 90,000 affordable supports, to help people secure a home of their own;  \u2014 it seeks to significantly accelerate delivery of new homes by focusing on activating land and creating the optimal environment to encourage housing activity, including regulatory reform, tax incentives and the largest ever capital investment in the history of the State, with \u20ac275 billion invested in infrastructure over 10 years, through the National Development Plan;  \u2014 to accelerate future supply, Budget 2026 included a suite of taxation measures aimed at stimulating the supply of new apartments, including a reduced Value Added Tax (VAT) rate and an enhanced Corporation Tax deduction for apartment construction costs;  \u2014 the revised National Planning Framework, published in April 2025, is a major step forward in this regard, and will help increase capacity and accelerate home building across the country;  \u2014 over the last five years, almost 149,000 new homes have been delivered, which compares with 83,267 in the previous five-year period, and just 29,217 in the five years before that;  \u2014 a total of 36,284 new dwellings were completed in 2025, an increase of 20 per cent year-on-year;  \u2014 the unprecedented level of investment that Government has committed will bring about a very significant scale-up in the delivery of housing over the coming years, address the needs of the most vulnerable in our communities, make buying and renting homes more affordable, and support the development of villages, towns and cities across the country; and  \u2014 the delivery of 300,000 homes by 2030 will, however, require an estimated \u20ac20 billion in development finance each year, a significant portion of which will need to come from investment by the private sector, to support home ownership and a well-functioning private rental market;  recognises that:  \u2014 Government has implemented several measures in recent years, including an 'owner occupier guarantee' and stamp duty measures, to ensure a balanced housing market across all tenures, including home ownership, social housing and private rental;  \u2014 the issuing in 2021, of the Section 28 Guidelines for planning authorities on the Regulation of Commercial Institutional Investment in Housing, aims to restrict the practice of multiple housing and duplex units being sold to a single buyer, and these guidelines ensure that new 'own-door' houses and duplex units in lower-density housing developments can no longer be bulk-purchased by institutional investors in a manner that causes the displacement of individual purchasers or social and affordable housing, including cost-rental;  \u2014 these guidelines, setting out the 'owner-occupier' guarantee, also ensure that 'home ownership' is included as a specific tenure type within a local authority's housing strategy;  \u2014 in May 2021, as an additional measure to tackle the bulk acquisition of new houses, a Stamp Duty rate of 10 per cent was introduced, where 10 or more houses were acquired in any 12 month period, and in 2025, this rate was increased to 15 per cent;  \u2014 these measures have succeeded in preventing the inappropriate bulk purchase of a very significant number of homes, and securing those homes for purchase by homeowners;  \u2014 as of Q4 2025, since May 2021, a total estimate of 63,962 houses and duplex units received planning permission, with conditions restricting the bulk purchasing or multiple sales to a single purchaser;  \u2014 based on provisional data from the Revenue Commissioners, bulk purchased homes are reducing year-on-year since 2023, and in 2025, 293 homes were bulk purchased, down from 675 in 2023;  \u2014 the Programme for Government commits to maintaining the 'owner occupier guarantee', thereby continuing to prohibit the inappropriate bulk purchase of homes, and securing homes for homeownership;  \u2014 the measures outlined are having the desired effect regarding family homes, and the Government has rightly not applied those to apartments, as it recognises the positive role institutional investment needs to play in developing apartment supply as set out in the Delivering Homes, Building Communities housing plan; and  \u2014 Budget 2026 included a suite of taxation measures aimed at stimulating the supply of new apartments, including a reduced VAT rate on new apartments, and an enhanced Corporation Tax deduction for apartment construction costs; and  affirms Government efforts to:  \u2014 continue to bring forward measures that will increase the supply of new homes across all tenures, to make sure that everyone has a range of housing options available to them, whether they want to buy a house, rent one, or are in need of social housing;  \u2014 adequately resource the Land Development Agency (LDA), to deliver an increased quantum of new homes, noting Government already recently increased resourcing to the agency;  \u2014 diversify sources of investment, noting the level of investment required in the long term cannot be solely the responsibility of the State, and it will also require a very significant level of private investment, including appropriate institutional capital investment, essential for the delivery of critically needed private rented stock;  \u2014 prioritise infrastructure development as critical means for increasing housing supply, noting the establishment of the Housing Activation Office and the new Infrastructure Investment Fund, to coordinate homebuilding and investment in the servicing of zoned lands;  \u2014 expand the capacity of the construction sector as another key measure to scale-up delivery to the levels necessary by 2030, and thereafter building on ongoing measures to tackle barriers in construction careers, promote career opportunities, and make construction more attractive to women;  \u2014 build on the significant number of social and affordable homes provided in 2025, expanding State investment, supplemented by LDA investment and Housing Finance Agency lending;  \u2014 ensure that Home Building Finance Ireland has the capacity and flexibility to continue to respond to funding gaps, and support increased housing delivery nationwide;  \u2014 improve equity availability for homebuilding through the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund's new \u20ac600 million equity programme, in partnership with the national banks;  \u2014 boost homeownership, and help support younger people seeking autonomy in the housing market, through measures like the First Home Scheme, Help-to-Buy Scheme, and the Local Authority Home Loan Scheme; and  \u2014 tackle homelessness through a suite of cross-Government responses, acknowledging that homelessness is a complex issue, requiring multifaceted responses to deal with varying causal factors and family circumstances.  I thank the Sinn F\u00e9in Deputies for tabling the motion before the House, which relates to investment funds purchasing family homes. I welcome the opportunity to respond to the motion. While the Government cannot support the motion, I welcome the opportunity to set out the Government's clear and robust position on the issues the motion raises and to table a countermotion.  Housing, in both supply and affordability, is a defining social and economic challenge of this country, although certainly not of Ireland alone. Tackling the housing crisis is my absolute priority as Minister, and there should be no doubt about that in the House. Housing is the single greatest pressure facing families and working people who aspire to a secure home of their own. I spoke to advocacy organisation Threshold just yesterday evening about its latest rental survey covering the island of Ireland, which reflects these concerns and fears among people in the Republic and in the North.  It is in housing where the Government is mobilising the most significant resources in the history of the State. We recognise the frustration that exists with housing as it is now for people and for their families. We recognise the strain being caused by rising prices and rents. We recognise the anxiety of those who have not purchased a home yet as they save and save for a mortgage, and who fear that owning a home may be some way away. The dignity of having your own door, be it through social housing, affordable housing supports from the Government, cost rental or private purchase, is essential. As Minister, I want to ensure people have a safe and secure home to grow up in and to grow old in. In this vein it is simply not credible to suggest that the Government has stood idly by.  We are not indifferent to the impact of bulk purchasing. The facts demonstrate that sustained, practical and effective action has been taken. The Government's approach is to significantly restrict bulk purchasing. In effect, as we will outline today, we are disincentivising bulk purchasing in favour of individual private homeownership. In 2021, the section 28 planning guidelines were introduced to regulate commercial institutional investment in housing. These guidelines ensure that new own-door houses and what are called duplex units in lower-density developments cannot be bulk purchased in a way that displaces individual buyers or social and affordable housing. This is essential. Since May 2021, planning permissions covering 63,962 houses and duplex units have included conditions restricting bulk purchasing or multiple sales to a single purchaser. In addition, we introduced a higher rate of stamp duty where ten or more houses are acquired within a 12-month period. This rate was increased to 15% in budget 2025.  These measures have materially changed market behaviour and have secured thousands of homes for individual purchasers rather than institutional investors. It is important, in the context of this debate, to focus on the evidence. The combined effect of these policies is now clearly visible in the data. Revenue's provisional figures show that 675 properties were subject to the higher stamp duty rate in 2023, falling to 396 in 2024 and further to 293 in 2025, with the total value of such acquisitions declining sharply over the same period, from \u20ac266.1 million in 2023 to approximately \u20ac88.3 million in 2025. In other words, since these strengthened measures took effect, the number of homes being bulk acquired has fallen year on year, and this is welcome. Crucially, Central Statistics Office data shows that institutional investors have become net sellers of houses, selling more homes than they purchased in 2024. These trends, borne out by independent national statistics, demonstrate that the policy interventions introduced by the Government are having the intended effect.  We have also committed in our programme for Government to maintaining the owner-occupier guarantee. This commitment stands. We set out a clear policy view in our new national housing action plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities, when it was launched last November. We acknowledged that even with the largest housing budget in the history of the State providing unprecedented levels of investment in housing, the Government cannot fund all of the approximately \u20ac20 billion per annum of development finance needed. The majority of the additional finance needed will be sourced from private sources. It is imperative that private capital is attracted into home building across the country, and this includes from international sources.  The attraction of sustainable capital will support our aims to provide more homes and ensure a well-functioning private market, in tandem with driving forward on our social and affordable programmes. Our new housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities, is building on the strongest period of housing delivery in a generation. Over the past five years almost 149,000 new homes have been delivered. This represents a step change in output on previous years. The new plan is ambitious. It commits to delivering 300,000 new homes over its lifetime, including 72,000 new social homes and 90,000 affordable housing supports to help people to buy or rent at a cost they can sustain. Let me be very clear that these figures are not a ceiling. If we can exceed them, we will, because increasing supply is the single most important lever we have to moderate prices, improve affordability, reduce homelessness and increase homeownership for families and ordinary working people.  The plan rests on two core pillars: activating supply and supporting people. The first pillar, activating supply, is about removing the structural barriers that constrain housing output. It is about unlocking land, reforming and accelerating planning, investing in water, energy and transport infrastructure, and addressing viability challenges so that homes can be built where they are needed. At the same time, we are expanding construction capacity through apprenticeships and modern methods of construction, and bringing vacant and derelict homes back into use through grants and a new derelict property tax.  The second pillar, supporting people, recognises that supply alone is not enough. We must ensure that those most impacted by the housing crisis are supported directly and effectively. Homelessness remains the most urgent social challenge we face. It is at levels that I find unacceptable. Any level of homelessness is unacceptable. We are developing a focused child and family homelessness action plan to prevent families from entering homelessness in the first place.  That is why we are expanding Housing First to provide more than 2,000 wraparound tenancies. For older people, disabled people and those with access needs, we are implementing the national housing strategy for disabled people and increasing funding under the housing adaptation grant. For our Traveller community, we are continuing investment in high-quality Traveller-specific accommodation. An inclusive housing system must meet the needs of every member of society. I know this is fundamental to cohesiveness throughout Ireland.  Over the lifetime of the action plan, we will deliver an average of 12,000 new social homes each year. That is an unprecedented commitment. In parallel, we will provide an average of 15,000 affordable housing supports annually through the starter homes programme and related initiatives. The help to buy scheme and the first home scheme continue to bridge the gap for first-time buyers struggling with deposits and mortgage limits. These schemes are not abstract policy instruments; they are enabling thousands of households to purchase their first home.  The rental market must also function effectively. We are introducing national rent controls and reforming the rent pressure zone system to balance tenant protection with the need to maintain investment in new rental supply. We are strengthening tenant protections in legislation, enhancing the powers of the Residential Tenancies Board, publishing a rent price register and increasing regulation of the short-term letting sector. A stable and predictable rental framework is essential. Without it, supply will contract further and renters will suffer the consequences.  Progress is being made. Completions are rising. Social and affordable output is at record levels. Planning reforms are accelerating. Infrastructure investment is being aligned with housing growth. However, we are honest about the scale of the task. There is no single measure. There is no simple ban that will solve the challenges we face. The Government's approach is clear: increase supply at scale, protect and prioritise home ownership, deliver record levels of social and affordable housing, prevent the inappropriate bulk purchasing of family homes, strengthen tenant protections; and mobilise both public and private investment to build the homes our growing population requires.  Delivering Homes, Building Communities is a funded, actionable plan. It recognises that solving the housing crisis demands persistence, partnership and pragmatism. We will continue to act where measures need to be strengthened and we will continue to drive delivery, because the only sustainable answer to the challenges we face is more homes. That is what the new housing plan will deliver. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Denise Mitchell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Denise Mitchell  Back in January 2024, the vultures swooped in and bought up 46 of 54 family homes at Belcamp Manor in Dublin Bay North. The then Taoiseach, Simon Harris, wrote to the finance Minister saying that the bulk purchasing of family homes cannot be tolerated. However, it has continued, except now it is happening on the Minister for Finance, Simon Harris's, watch. The investment funds snapping up these homes are now renting them back at eye-watering prices. Some of these funds are not paying any tax on that rent because they are based outside the State. The higher stamp duty that Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael eventually brought in to curb the bulk purchasing has not worked.  How does the Minister expect ordinary workers and families to compete with these funds? His Government promised it would tackle this problem head-on. It promised to do all it could to make housing affordable for hard-working people. How much longer is the Government going to stand by and allow faceless companies to compete and rip off Irish families and workers? I plead with the Minister not to add this to his already long list of broken promises. It is time to ban investor funds from snapping up family homes once and for all. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Crowe  When big funds enter residential markets with deep pockets and all the tax advantages Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael magicians can conjure up, working families are effectively shut out of their own housing market. Workers, young couples, nurses, teachers, doctors, garda\u00ed, construction workers and so many more simply cannot compete financially with institutional buyers, which can outbid any offer and absorb homes that should be available first to Irish families.  For years, Sinn F\u00e9\u00edn has warned that allowing vulture funds and investment vehicles to swoop in and hoover up homes makes the housing crisis worse, not better. These funds see these properties not as homes but as profit-making assets, nothing more than entries in a spreadsheet, while children grow up in family hubs or a relative's box room. The vulture funds can outbid ordinary buyers and then extract obscene rental income, pushing up average rents because their focus is on profit, not community or stability. We have already seen historic numbers of homes snapped up. In some estates, 85% of them have been sold to investment funds, leaving those who have scrimped and saved for home ownership fighting against each other for whatever is left.  The Government's small stamp duty increase does nothing to stop this corrosive practice. It has tinkered at the edges while this practice continues. Why do we allow entities with effectively unlimited means to outbid families for homes? Who does this benefit? Not ordinary workers or families. Homes are not commodities; they are the foundation blocks of family life and community. Fine Gael, Fianna F\u00e1il and the Government Independents must stop prioritising the interests of developers, landlords and investment funds at the expense of struggling workers and families. The Government must ban investment funds from buying family homes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ann Graves","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ann Graves  Housing remains the single biggest emergency that families and communities face in Ireland. It affects every aspect of our society, from families languishing on council housing lists for 16 years and more, never sure if the dreaded eviction notice is going to land, to teachers, nurses, doctors, garda\u00ed and skilled workers having to move abroad where they can afford mortgages and rents. They cannot do it here. All this is happening while the vulture funds hover, waiting to buy up entire estates. There is nothing acceptable about vulture funds bulk-buying at the expense of workers, families and struggling home buyers. It happens because the Government allows it to happen. In less than five years, house prices have gone up by nearly 50%, with vulture funds competing with ordinary people and driving up prices.  While facilitating investment funds in buying up homes, the Government is doing nothing to support the tenant in situ scheme. This scheme was one way of preventing homelessness but the Government has cut the funding and virtually put an end to the scheme. This is having a hugely negative effect on the lives of people living in my constituency.  One man working in a haulage company in Swords was left homeless due to a no-fault eviction. He ended up living in the company truck during the week and sleeping on the streets every weekend. He then ended up in hospital quite ill. He has since been discharged back to homelessness and back onto the streets.  The home of a struggling young father from Donabate was sold by his landlord and his children had to go back to live in an abusive situation. The father sleeps in a local park and his son is constantly running away from home to be with his dad at the park.  These are only two examples of the growing number of cases I am dealing with every single day in my constituency office in Swords. This is the nightmare of Dublin today and the Government is the cause of this. However, it does not have to be like that. Tonight's motion calls on the Government to ban investment funds from buying up family homes. The choice is the Minister's: either he stands with the ordinary people of Ireland or he stands with developers, landlords and vulture funds. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Maurice Quinlivan  In Limerick, the average price of a semi-detached three-bedroom home has reached more than \u20ac345,000. That is a \u20ac25,000 increase compared with the end of 2024. Over 16,000 people across the State are availing of emergency accommodation. At the same time, the Minister has cut the tenant in situ funding. He has also failed to increase funding to tackle voids, leaving more than 200 council home properties always vacant in Limerick in the middle of a housing emergency. Last week, to top it off, the Minister pushed through a Bill that will increase yearly rents by \u20ac5,000 for up to 60,000 renters. It is a legacy of failure, missteps and an inability or unwillingness to address any aspect of the housing crisis or treat it as the emergency it is. Prior to last year's election, the Government misled voters about the number of housing completions that took place in 2024. It seems each choice it makes results in it being harder and harder for people to avail of much-needed housing.  In June 2024, the T\u00e1naiste stated that the bulk purchasing of homes cannot be tolerated, yet in 2025, 293 homes were bulk-purchased to the value of \u20ac88 million. Since 2020, property prices have risen by almost 50%. The housing crisis continues unabated, yet the corporate landlords, investors and developers are making even greater profits.  It seems the only actions the Government has taken to combat the bulk purchase of homes was the May 2021 decision to introduce a 10% stamp duty on more than ten homes bought in a 12-month period. We warned this step would not work and it has not worked. Today, we present the Government with a choice: ban the bulk purchasing of homes and help those struggling with a near 50% increase in the cost of living or do not ban bulk purchasing. That is the choice the Government can make. If history is anything to go by, I regret to say that once more, the Government will choose developers and corporate landlords over the needs of average citizens. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy R\u00e9ada Cronin  It is getting harder and harder to own a home every year this Fianna F\u00e1il-Fine Gael coalition is in power. Government is continuously missing housing targets. The prices of houses are soaring. Rents have also reached new highs nationally and are only set to get worse from 1 March, following the Government's disastrous legislation last week. Sinn F\u00e9in has continuously and repeatedly offered a solution to help with home ownership. Many will remember a particularly nasty, grim episode from my own constituency of Kildare North when an investment fund sought to purchase 135 homes in Mullen Park in Maynooth. That left a nasty taste in everybody's mouth, I can tell you.  The Government's policies have actively driven up prices even further on houses that young people were trying to purchase, locking ordinary families and workers out of new homes in the area. The Government's response to this was to apply a measly 10% levy to those vulture funds on the purchase of ten or more homes. This did not work, along with all of the Government's subsequent attempts to try to solve the housing crisis. None of them is working. House prices only continue to soar year on year in Maynooth and all across my constituency and the State. In Maynooth, the average price for a three-bed second-hand home is up 8% to almost \u20ac500,000 - half a million euro to put a roof over your head. It is absolutely crazy. The same can be said for Celbridge, Leixlip and Naas, where house prices have gone up 12% in the past year.  The social contract is well and truly broken for people. What chance do young people have? The Government is only short of packing their bags and driving them to the airport. Once more, Sinn F\u00e9in is offering a fix here but the Minister just will not take it. Sometimes I wonder whether the Minister actually attend his constituency clinics at all. Does he not hear this week in, week out? It is all that comes into my office every Monday and Friday and on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, my secretary is left to deal with it. The Government can ban vulture funds from snapping up family homes and give young people and families a chance to build a decent life here in Ireland. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  In Limerick, the average price of a three-bed, semi-detached house is now \u20ac345,000. It has gone up 13.8% in a year. It has gone up 40% in five years. This issue of bulk buying by investors is one of the reasons behind house price inflation in Limerick. Some experts say it can account for up to 20%, or one third, of house price inflation.  Why did the Government take some action in 2021? It is important to remember that action was taken on foot of what I can only describe as intense political pressure and a really loud and sustained outcry about what happened in Mullen Park in Maynooth, as my colleague, Deputy Cronin, referenced earlier.  Despite the restrictions that were introduced then, institutional investors - vulture funds and cuckoo funds - bought \u20ac580 million worth of property in the past year. Young people cannot compete with these investor funds. In particular, they cannot compete with cuckoo funds that are going in and buying up second-hand homes, which are generally slightly cheaper homes. I think of somebody who is an ordinary working person and somebody like my sister who is 27 years of age and is a nurse. She has actually emigrated now. I think of people in her peer group who just cannot compete as people who would be able to avail of mortgages with these cuckoo funds, in particular.  I support this motion. We need to be clear that when we see investment funds purchasing what should be family homes, we are making the housing crisis worse. We are locking ordinary families out of home ownership and we are driving house prices even higher. We are not helping spiralling prices faced by ordinary renters, which the Bill last week will make even worse. This motion is a reminder that this issue still exists, despite what the Government might claim.  In the five years since the previous Government took limited action on this, at least 2,000 homes have been bulk bought by institutional investors. That means hundreds of homes have been taken off the market and hundreds of ordinary, decent, hardworking people have been deprived of the chance to find their first home, start a family and achieve the milestones that would be otherwise considered normal and are often so delayed because of this Government's housing policy.  Week after week, we talk about housing. I hear the same thing from the Government constantly. We hear the Government is apparently declaring war on vacancy and dereliction. We hear the Government is introducing measures to incentivise supply while at the same time absolutely screwing renters. What we see are the statistics getting worse. The number of people who are homeless is climbing. House prices are going up. Rents are increasing. When it comes to this issue of institutional investors, maybe we, as a collective, have been too quiet because no ordinary working person can compete with a cuckoo fund.  The fact of the mater is the countermotion Government has tabled claims that we have solved this problem. We have not solved this problem because when we introduced the limited measures in 2021 to try to deal with this problem, the figures that were there around the bulk buying of homes were actually half of what they are at the moment. They went up in 2021, 2022 and 2023 and in 2025, they were at twice the level they were at in 2021. That only counts the purchases covered by the higher rate of stamp duty. Those numbers do not tell us about any purchases of up to nine houses at a time. They do not tell us about the apartment blocks where large numbers of homes have been bought by institutional investors, particularly in Dublin.  The Minister will come in here and say we need private investment, as he has done. I am not disputing that. The fact of the matter is that the sort of straw man arguments the Government comes in here with on housing will not cut it. We know there needs to be a role for private investment. I recognise that it has a role to play in boosting supply but supply alone will not solve this crisis. The Government will belatedly find that out in years to come. Ordinary families and ordinary working people should not be pitched against sprawling investment funds and German pension funds when trying to purchase their first home. It is wrong.  The State must take a radically more active role in the provision of housing. In our manifesto before the previous election, we set out how we wanted to scale up and transition the LDA into a State construction company. We set out the mechanisms by which we wanted to allow ordinary Irish people to invest the sums they have on deposit in social and affordable housing and to give people a return on their savings but also to allow people to invest in a sustainable and a controlled way and a way that has worked in other jurisdictions, such as Austria. What we have with this Government constantly is an approach to housing that puts private developers and institutional investors on a pedestal. They can do no wrong. The fact of the matter is we consistently have public housing targets that are missed year after year.  The Government has never met its targets for social and affordable housing. It will not do so this year. We have an approach that is constantly chasing these developers, these institutional investors, including I-RES. Whatever they want, they eventually end up getting. When an intervention fails, we move on.  What is quite ironic and quite funny about this countermotion is that, in a weird way, it nearly asks for credit for missing the housing targets. The Government has made much of a deal, or attempted to in the past couple of weeks, about the delivery of the 36,000 but we, on this side of the House, remember the 40,000 homes, the figure that was supposed to be delivered before the election. It is almost as if Government is looking for credit, looking for gratitude and looking for thanks for under-performance and for not delivering on its targets.  To be fair to this motion, and to the proposers, it effectively calls on the Government to do something that is already in the programme for Government because it calls on the Government keep the stamp duty surcharges under review to ensure they prohibit bulk purchases but it is clear that the current rate of stamp duty is not doing that. While the Government accepts theoretically, in terms of policy, that there should be no place in the housing market for these kind of bulk buys, surely it can recognise in what is being proposed here that what it is doing is not working and there are still hundreds of these purchases happening every year at twice the rate at which they were when the Government initially introduced the limited restrictions in 2021.  It is very disappointing to see the Government's response to this motion in terms of the Minister's countermotion because the response reads like the response to every Private Members' motion on housing in this House. We, on this side of the House, put forward policy proposals and we get stonewalled by Government. I cannot understand why the Government cannot bring itself to accept that the situation as it currently stands in relation to bulk buying is less than perfect when it has nearly said that in the programme for Government.  The Minister is playing politics with the countermotion and is trying to convince us that this problem has been solved but it has not been solved. It has not been solved by the Minister's own metrics and it certainly has not been solved for the many thousands of young ordinary working people in this country who have had their dream and their hard-earned ambition towards that realistic aspiration of purchasing a home quashed by one of these institutional investors in terms of a vulture fund or cuckoo fund.  If the Government is proud of its record on housing, and if the Minister thinks he is going in the right direction, why not tighten up what the Government did in 2021. If the owner-occupier guarantee is an achievement that the Minister wants to trumpet, why not go further and make it an actual guarantee? I constantly hear Fianna F\u00e1il trumpet that it is, apparently, the party of homeownership but what it is doing here does stack up? We need to see further action on this, we need to go further and we need to be explicit. Investment funds should not be competing with families for family homes and this is another way that Government is failing in terms of housing. While this is not a silver bullet, it is a step we can take to rebalance housing in this country back towards ordinary people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  It is very disappointing to again see the Minister's failure to support a measure which could help the housing crisis. I thank Sinn F\u00e9in and Deputy Doherty for bringing forward the motion. Unfortunately, it is one of many areas where we are seeing the Government claiming that its policies are being developed to promote affordable housing and to promote delivery of housing but, in fact, they are, what I think describes it very accurately, \"designed to fail\". The Minister had no interest in banning or stopping institutional investors from buying up properties, or buying up what they actually are, namely, homes, because when they were introduced, the measures to restrict the bulk purchase of homes did not apply to apartments, and it is in the countermotion. They were fundamentally flawed from the outset because a huge part of our housing system is being excluded from the measures the Minister is claiming are there to restrict the bulk purchase of homes. Indeed, the guidelines set it out very clearly. When the measures designed to prohibit the bulk buying of houses and duplexes were introduced in 2021, the Department of housing guidelines stated that apartments were not included in this measure.  The Minister talks about homes. He is not talking about homes but is only talking about one part of the housing market. Apartments, which are the main type of housing being built in my constituency, across Dublin, in Cork and increasingly in other parts of country, are completely excluded from this, so we have the ongoing bulk purchase of apartments by institutional investors. The reason is the Minister's housing policy has been completely based on institutional investors. I say the Minister's policy but I include Fine Gael in that because there is no real difference between Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael. Effectively, they are the same party who are completely in bed with the institutional investors.  The rental measures the Minister introduced last week were the epitome of turning his back on ordinary people in this country in favour of large corporate investors. The Minister said there is no real concern about this issue of institutional investors and asked what our concern is about this. Does the Minister know how many private rental homes are now owned by institutional landlords in Dublin? Over one in five of all rental properties in Dublin is now owned by big corporate landlords. Why is that a problem? The Minister might be familiar with the economic concept of oligopolies, which are, essentially, where markets can be controlled by a small number of players. In some parts of Dublin, we know this goes as high as 50%. The problem is not only the purchasing of homes; it is then what they are doing with that bulk purchase. It is controlling the market to set the very market rents. The Minister has changed the policy to allow them to do so. They can control the market and set the rent.  Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael have utterly transformed our housing system in a detrimental way by rolling out the red carpet for institutional investors and by allowing them to continue to buy up properties. They see no problem with it. They are blinded to the negative downsides of this and the problem.  These funds are not here to build affordable housing. As I have called them previously, they are vampire funds. They are not only vulture funds. Vultures come in, eat the carcasses and hang around for a bit, which the former Minister, Michael Noonan, spoke about. However, what vampire funds are here for is to keep sucking the blood from generation after generation, extracting the rent from them. The Minister is part of facilitating generations in this country who will have their lives destroyed struggling to pay rent to foreign institutional funds. He has turned the nature of our housing market on its head from when Fianna F\u00e1il was supposedly the party standing up for the homeowner, for the middle people and for people to be able to buy their property. Fianna F\u00e1il has turned it on its head and it does not realise how captured it has become. The Minister does not realise it because he is deluding himself about a policy that is about allowing rents rise for renters-tenants. These are the people who fought for and founded this State.  The Minister is allowing institutional investors to essentially charge whatever rent they want to people and force them to pay. It is absolutely incredible that he is doing this and I am convinced he is completely captured by them. He does not even accept basic economic arguments as to why it is completely ludicrous to allow rents rise for a supply of housing that will never bring down rents unless we have an economic crash.  Under Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael, home ownership among younger generations has collapsed. Some 40% of adults aged 25 to 34, or over half a million, are still living with their parents. In Finland and Denmark, it is just 4% and in Sweden, it is just 8% because these Nordic social democracies treat housing as a social good. The Government has a fundamental problem. It is building its housing policy around treating housing as an investment asset for global financial funds. There is a contradiction at the heart of its housing policy. It cannot be a public good, a social good, a human right on the one hand, and an asset that is essentially there to be sweated on the other. There is a problem, as the Minister has seen, at what point they get enough. They never get enough. This is why we have to treat housing as a human right. We will bring forward a Bill to treat housing as a human right, which the Government has failed to do and is at the core of the failure of its housing policies.  Regarding affordable housing, and I remember highlighting this for several years, the other thing that happens when policy is driven by ensuring housing is viable, which is essentially profitable to the market, the market being institutional investors in this case, the Government fails to prioritise other policies. Affordable housing is key and institutional investors made it very clear for several years that they do not want to see a significant delivery of affordable housing in this country. Why do they not want to see it? What was the biggest risk they identified? Institutional investors identified very clearly that the biggest risk to their model is an alternative such as affordable housing where people do not have to pay these rents. If people had a choice, would they pay the rents? They absolutely would not.  What do we see from Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael? Absolutely pathetic delivery of affordable housing. In 2024, for example, the total local authority affordable purchase houses delivered was 772. Dublin City Council, in my own constituency, delivered 12 local authority affordable purchase homes.; Donegal County Council, not one; Galway City Council, not one; Kerry County Council, not one; Kildare County Council, not one; Offaly, Roscommon and Sligo county councils, not one. I only have the figures for the first three quarters of 2025. Dublin City Council went from 12 to none. Donegal County Council still did not deliver one affordable home. Deputy Doherty is lacking in affordable housing there. Similarly, Galway City Council provided eight affordable purchase homes. Leitrim had none, Kilkenny had none, Louth had 26, Meath had six and Monaghan had none. We can go through it county after county. The Government has seriously said, \"We will deliver affordable purchase homes on a major scale through local authorities.\" No, it has not.  I was at a housing committee meeting earlier. I do not know whether the Minister or his advisers were turned into it but it was frustrating and strangely inspiring. We had presentations from representatives of the community land trust organisations and community housing organisations, such as \u00d3 Cualann and others, who discussed the potential for community and co-operative affordable housing. They pointed out that one fifth of the housing in countries such Norway, Sweden and Denmark is different forms of community-led, co-operative housing, which really works to counterbalance the market. For the past 20 years in Ireland, how many community-led, affordable, co-operative-type homes have we built? It has been 150, through \u00d3 Cualann. Indeed, I tabled a parliamentary question directly to the Minister on what Government's policy on co-operative and community-led housing was and he replied that there is no policy. That sums it all up really.  We have a potential model to deliver genuinely affordable, community-led housing and what has Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael done with it? Absolutely nothing. It is not even in the Minister's housing plan. He says the Opposition does not come forward with solutions. We have come forward with multiple solutions. We outlined the State savings scheme, for example, a year ago. Where is it? There has been literally nothing moved on it. There is \u20ac166 billion sitting there and the T\u00e1naiste is basically going to hand it over to financial markets for people to roll the dice in the casino of the stock market and see if they will make their money instead of using it to guarantee a return to them risk-free. The State would guarantee it and the Minister could build tens of thousands of affordable homes but his boss, the Taoiseach, says, \"Cannot do that, it takes too long.\" Of course it takes too long if you sit on your hands and do not do it. The Minister will be back next year saying, \"You have no solutions. It takes too long to set up a State construction company. It takes too long to set up funding\", but what does not take long is to jack up the rents for the institutional investors. No, he can do that overnight. What did not take long was guaranteeing the banks and bailing them out in 2008 and throwing this entire society under a bus. That could be done overnight but when it comes to emergency measures to ban families from being made homeless, the Government cannot do that. When it comes to a State construction company, it is a bit complicated, it takes a bit of time and is a bit of a risk. A savings scheme that could funnel billions of euro into affordable housing takes too long and the Government is not able to do that. Of course, it is only interested in certain solutions; the ones that keep the market going. That is where its housing plans are creating continual misery and will not work. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  I welcome this proposal and support it. The fact apartments are not included for higher tax and within the maximum of nine needs to change.  The Central Bank estimates 47,000 homes are owned in the State by investment institutions or vulture funds, with 500 of those in Laois. This distorts the housing market. It drives up house prices and means these investors are competing with first-time buyers. We need to make thousands of affordable houses to buy and cost-rentals that are not for profit available. There is a chronic shortage of those in Laois. The Minister was there last Friday and I welcome that. He saw some examples of what can be done, even within the strictures at present.  The first thing required is money. The Minister cannot pull money out of the sky and I will not come in here and say he can. However, there is \u20ac170 billion on deposit in banks and building societies. Several years ago, the Irish League of Credit Unions said to the Government publicly that it had \u20ac8 billion or \u20ac9 billion and that this could be used for home construction with a modest return on it. That did not happen. There is \u20ac170 billion there now so let us have a housing bond scheme for ordinary citizens. They can buy into that and get a modest interest rate tax-free or at a reduced tax rate. Let us use it to solve this issue.  Money is needed for housing infrastructure because we need infrastructure to have housing. We also need money for home construction. This needs to become a national mission, similar to the rural electrification scheme. That was only a generation or so ago. We were behind the rest of Europe when we started but by the time we finished in the late 1960s, we were ahead of much of Europe. We can do that again. That needs to be driven by the Housing Agency and the Land Development Agency, with the local councils. The Minister saw what a small council like Laois County Council is doing. It can be done by councils; there is the proof of it.  The cohort most under pressure is the squeezed middle. In my book, and it may be lower for Government - Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael - it is those people who are just above the social housing limit of \u20ac35,000 income limit and under \u20ac70,000 who need assistance. They are unable to get a mortgage and cannot get on a local authority waiting list, so we must have a solution for them. The solution is mixed developments with affordable to buy and cost-rental properties, the very same as what the Minister saw in Rath Rua last Friday, which he will agree is a good development.  There is a big demand for one- and two-bedroom accommodation and we must provide that. However, the core element has to be not-for-profit and we must involve ordinary citizens in this.  Let us set up a housing bond system. Let us move this away from the investors, as the motion proposes. This needs to be a national initiative. We need to get families and workers owning their own houses or having secure tenancies for life. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charles Ward  I thank Sinn F\u00e9in and Deputy Doherty for bringing forward this motion, which I fully support. The Government says that investing in funds helps to increase supply, but that is false. In Donegal, thousands of homes have already been removed from the market because of defective concrete. Families cannot sell. Young people cannot buy. Normal movement has collapsed. To allow these homes to be treated as financial assets is not just wrong; it is immoral. This is not just a local problem. When investors actively push prices up across the country, it makes homes harder to buy and it forces people into already stretched rental markets. The evidence is clear that buying homes for profit does not solve the crisis; it actually makes the crisis worse. The human cost is obvious. Parents are locked out of their own communities, children are forced to leave their communities and families are living in uncertainty. Housing is a right; it is not a commodity. Policy must protect people, and not investors. This is not about markets or profit margins: it is about mothers, fathers, sons and daughters whose homes and futures are being sold to the highest bidder. If we cannot protect them, we are failing, the Government is failing and society is failing. The Government is talking about regeneration. We need action, not regeneration. We need action now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  Homeownership is very dear to the hearts of Irish people. It should be a reasonable hope of any family but homeownership has nose-dived and is sadly now a dream rather than a reality. Property prices have increased by over 47% since 2020, locking large numbers out of homeownership, and driving those lucky enough to secure a house into debt. The housing emergency in the State is driving middle and low-income families into whatever private rented accommodation that is available at extortionate rents. Meanwhile, the corporate landlords, the institutional investors and the big developers make handsome profits. Unaffordable rip-off rents mean that couples cannot even save towards a deposit. Rents are now as high as \u20ac2,500 per month. Families cannot save. In fact, families are living week to week.  We can throw into this mix the fact that institutional investors continue to bulk purchase family homes. This drives up prices and deprives ordinary families of homes. Investment funds purchased 2,000 houses between May 2021 and the end of 2025, attracting the higher rate of stamp duty. This is the tip of the iceberg because these investment funds can buy up to nine houses at a time without attracting the higher rate of stamp duty. It is no wonder that teachers, garda\u00ed, nurses and many middle-range public servants cannot buy a house. Many are condemned to long-term renting at unaffordable rip-off rents, or must stay in the box room of the family home. Last weekend, a feature in the Sunday Independent showed that even when both people are working, couples cannot afford to buy a home and, of course, cannot access a local authority housing list. A teacher from County Wicklow spoke about the situation in a recent edition of InTouch , which is the monthly magazine of the Irish National Teachers Organisation:  I am a qualified Irish teacher in my early 30s. Despite holding an AP2 post, home ownership is still out of reach. On a post-2011 pay scale, my salary cannot meet today's housing reality. The average house in Wicklow now costs close to \u20ac400,000 - far beyond what one income can support. Even with a partner earning the same, buying is still not feasible.  It is no wonder that many of the brightest and the best are to be found in Sydney, Melbourne, Toronto, Boston, London and the Middle East. This housing emergency is undermining the very fabric of Irish society. The social contract between the State and the public has collapsed. Stopping the purchase of family homes by investment funds would be a small but significant start in repairing that damage. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  I welcome this Sinn F\u00e9in motion, particularly because it focuses on vulture funds, investment funds, cuckoo funds or whatever you want to call them. We are talking about large-scale property ownership where they buy a property and sell it on or rent it at a massive profit. Tomorrow yet another family in my constituency is facing the sheriff. They have gone through all of the court process to try to save the home they have rented for ten years. They are actually a Palestinian family, which is ironic. Many Palestinians are facing homelessness, in my experience, having escaped occupation or genocide. This family has lived and worked in the area for a long time. Their property is owned by the Vestry group. It is a complex web of companies all with their fingers in the Irish home market, or should we say the Irish homeless market. Vestry has numerous cases at the Residential Tenancies Board, RTB, where it is evicting families on a regular basis. Dublin City Council offered to buy a property from Vestry but Vestry declined the market rate. It has a vacant apartment next door to one particular family, whose case was highlighted in an article, but it has no interest in letting that family remain or rent in the neighbouring property. This is because they want to get a new tenant in at a higher rate, thanks to the Government's new laws that actually encourage this, and make so much more money. That is also the case with the Palestinian family in my constituency. This family is currently paying \u20ac1,600 but there is no doubt that Vestry will get another potential \u20ac1,000 on top of that.  The community action tenants union, CATU, has a Vestry hotline. This is how bad it is. I would love to hear what the attitude of the Minister, Deputy Browne, to this is. In 2023 The Ditch highlighted that Vestry controls 850 homes and is making \u20ac20 million in profits. Richard Moyles, one of the shareholders, has many other links. Silk Shadow Limited, one of the minority owners of this company, was bailed out by NAMA in 2011. Its \u20ac22 million loans were bailed out by NAMA and the taxpayer. It is now back in business and raking it in on the back of evictions yet again. Moyles is also a director of Be Lettings, which has a portfolio of homes and apartments and----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Sorca Clarke)  I need to caution the Deputy about naming private individuals in the Chamber. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  Yes. It is just factual and it is in the newspapers anyway. This is all from articles I have researched. Be Lettings and Vestry buy and sell from each other. It is unbelievable stuff. One effect of such house flipping in Dublin 15, in my own constituency, is that a three-bedroom, two-bathroom semi-detached house in Dublin 15 that was bought in November 2019 for \u20ac287,000 was sold in January 2025 for approximately \u20ac400,000. The transaction involved the same two companies that own each other. What is the Minister going to do about this? Seriously. As I said in a previous debate, I have to ring the sheriff to try to get these evictions put back. I cannot be the only TD in the House doing this. There must be other TDs doing the same. It is not my job to try to reorganise accommodation for people. If anything, it is the Minister's job.  I also want to make a point about the statutory declaration that these companies have to give. They can just get it from one of their other companies, and then they do not really sell on the property. I do not doubt that many of the new tenants who are going to be put into these evicted properties will be HAP tenants, which means the State will be paying the increase in the rent. There seems to be absolutely no interest from this Government in dealing with the vulture funds and investment funds that are eking out massive profits off the back of evictions and misery in suburbs, towns and counties throughout the State. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  The housing crisis that has been the responsibility of Fianna F\u00e1il, Fine Gael and now the Independents in government is a crisis that is ripping apart the fabric of Irish society. Communities are suffering significantly across the country during this housing crisis. Obviously, those most affected are the 17,000 people who are currently homeless in this State.  Thousands of other people are forced to stay in their families' box rooms just to survive. The GAA generation has been forced to emigrate, in large part. It is incredible that we have never had such a level of jobs but, at the same time, young people are being forced to emigrate. The birth rate is falling significantly as a result of many families putting off having children or not being able to have children at all. We see that in schools, with many not getting the necessary number of children into junior and senior infants.  The housing crisis debate in this Chamber has been extremely limited for the past five years. It has been between a Government allergic to the building of public houses and an Opposition which has pretty much ignored the building of private houses. That limited debate has contributed to the severity of the housing crisis. We in Aont\u00fa believe a society needs to have both functioning properly in order to deliver housing. The Minister of State is shaking his head.  A number of years ago, I rang Meath County Council to ask how many public houses were built in the State at that time. There were four in that year. For a decade, nearly a generation, Governments stopped building public houses in this State. We believe strongly a bird cannot fly on one wing. The solution needs to involve both delivering public housing and fixing the broken private housing system.  The truth of the matter is that there is a number of significant barriers to young couples buying homes. Most of those barriers are in the gift of the Government. It is not rocket science. These barriers can be overcome. There is incompetence in the Government in terms of overcoming them at the moment. That is why it is so frustrating to see the damaging fallout from the housing crisis throughout society.  The first issue is red tape and bureaucracy. For years, Governments have been layering red tape and bureaucracy onto the system. The Opposition, in the main, has been shouting for more. We are the slowest for planning, licensing, permitting, tendering and judicial review. Until a couple of months ago, nobody but Aont\u00fa was talking about this. The Government has started to talk about it recently. It is within the Government's ability to fix that issue and it has been refusing to fix it. We have the highest number of judicial reviews. The greater Dublin drainage project is an example. Some 100,000 homes depended on it and it was ten years caught up in the planning system. I know of planning applications 30,000 pages long, needing trucks or vans to bring them into a local authority, and of four separate formats for a planning application to deal with four separate agencies. That issue is the Government's fault. It has created it and allowed it to happen.  The second issue is the lack of infrastructure. For at least ten years, this country was second from bottom in European terms for infrastructural spend - only Romania was worse. Uisce \u00c9ireann was before us in the committee recently. I asked its representatives when the gaps blocking the building of homes would be filled so homes could be built. They said it would take until 2050. There is a shocking lack of serviced zoned land in this country. Again, that is down to Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael.  The third barrier is viability. If we cannot make building a house viable, houses simply will not be built. Incredibly, 30 of the top 50 construction companies in this country are working abroad and sending their workers abroad because it is not viable to build in the Irish market. The RTB Bill was designed to make homebuilding more viable, for sure, by pushing up rents, but it put the pressure on the tenants to pay for that viability. We believe it should put the pressure on the taxpayer to pay for that viability. It reduced VAT on the building of apartments. Why does it not reduce VAT on the building of houses? The same logic is there, except the viability question comes into play for families rather than for investment funds. In other jurisdictions, such as the North of Ireland, there is no VAT on family homes. The Government should be looking at that issue.  Those are three examples of the Government putting in place barriers to the building of homes. We have been stuck in this shocking, damaging, Groundhog Day conversation for the past ten years about Governments' inability to build the most important priority need that a family has, and that is a roof over their heads. My worry is we will be here in another five years having the same old staid conversation between the two ideologically opposed groups. Nobody can think creatively about removing the barriers facing young families in terms of housing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  You wanted to put them in government, Peadar. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  You were actually willing to go with Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael - both parties. We refused to go in. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  You are only angry that you are not in----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Sorca Clarke)  The Deputies are eating into other contributors' time. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"( Interruptions. )"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  We do not do anything like that in our group. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Sorca Clarke)  The Deputies are eating into their colleagues' time. I call Deputy Collins. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  We support this motion because behind every statistic is a family like the one I met last week. They were parents who missed repayments after illness and a job loss. They begged their bank for help and tried to restructure. Instead, they had their mortgage sold off in a bundle to a vulture fund. The house they built a life in is gone but the letters keep coming, telling them they still owe every cent. The fund, having bought the loan at a knock-down price, is now chasing them for the full balance with interest. That is not a market; it is an injustice.  We know how we got here. After the crash, vast loan books were offloaded at deep discounts. The clearest benchmark is NAMA's own numbers: \u20ac74 billion in par value loans ultimately sold for \u20ac38.1 billion - about 43% off face value. The discount went to the fund, but the bills stayed with the families and they were never offered the same deal. When these loans are transferred, families often face punishing interest rates and gaps in protection. Thousands of borrowers whose mortgages were sold to non-banks have been hit with rates in the 8% to 10% range while being effectively trapped and unable to switch. Even the Central Bank acknowledged legal loopholes in past years that left some of these borrowers outside normal Ombudsman protections. That is a systematic failure, not a personal one. The moral is wrong. It is that the distressed mortgage is worth more to the fund dead than alive. It can be more profitable to evict a family than to help a family to stay because the fund can extract the full balance, even though it bought the debt at a discount, and never have to offer the family the same terms.  If there is any decency left in policy, families must have the right to restructure or buy back their loans on the same basis at which the fund acquired it. This motion is not radical. It is retrospective. Ban investment funds from buying family homes. Close the loopholes. Stop the bulk-buying. Shut the revolving door of repossession and resale that treats homes as yields and families as entries on a spreadsheet. In 2023, 623 homes were bulk purchased by 16 investors - hundreds of keys that should have gone to first-time buyers. The so-called deterrent of stamp duty has plainly not worked.  If anyone here still thinks this is just about numbers on a balance sheet, they should look at the human cost today. As we enter 2026, we are at a historic high: 17,000 people are homeless, including over 4,000 children. A home is not a financial instrument; it is where a child does homework and a parent finds rest after a long day. Offer families the same deal the vulture funds get. Put homes back in the hands of the people. Pass this motion, for fairness, for decency and for the families we are elected to protect. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  I thank the Sinn F\u00e9in Party for bringing this motion to the House. This is not about stopping funds but about building enough homes for Irish families to be able to afford to live in their own communities. It is well worth noting that.  We know that 41% of people aged 18 to 34 are still living in their parents' box rooms. That is a fact. Since 2020, house prices are up by 40%. Rents increased by 84% from 2020 to 2022. Some places are recording increases of between 150% and 200% in rents.  Last week the Government brought to the House what it thought was a great idea with the residential tenancies Bill. What it has achieved is moving out the small landlords. The people who depended on a second house, which they may have inherited, are getting out of the business because the Government put in the six years criterion without thinking of people going into homes who may need to sell the estate to finance that, and without thinking of people renting out their homes to students from UCC, UG or UCD for nine months. It is not thinking about that at all. It has created a monster.  Everything the Government is doing is creating a monster. It is putting extra red tape around everything and destroying things. The Government seems to be working these days for the likes of Pepper Finance and these repossession companies that are using both the Commercial Court and the District Court as collection agencies, screwing people to the wall. The Galway tent may have closed but the alignment that Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael have with developers and these types of people is still very evident by the continuous bills and tax exemptions it seems to give to these people.  Huge apartment blocks can be seen in Cherrywood and people think they must be full, but a lot of them are empty. They are being rented out in stages \u2013 ten here and ten there \u2013 mainly to keep up the price of the rent, which is in excess of \u20ac2,000. The developer does not want to lose that \u20ac2,000-plus rent that he or she can command. We have a lot of empty apartment blocks around this city - I suspect it is similar around other cities \u2013 where the demand is falsified in order to ensure there is very tight and limited supply.  I heard Members in the House talk about a State construction company and how the State should take charge. I would not put this Government in charge of anything any more. We have seen what it has done with the bike shed outside the door and the children\u2019s hospital. In fact, if we put the Government in charge of the dog\u2019s home, I am pretty sure all the members of the Government would come home with fleas. That is how poor and bad this Government has been. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  I am glad to get the opportunity to speak. I did not think my slot was coming up so soon. It is very tough for young couples now who are trying to purchase, build or hold onto a home. When it comes to building homes in Kerry, there are a lot of people who would build their home if they could get planning permission, but they cannot because of the strict rules with urban-generated pressure. Locals are being denied planning permission without ever coming out of a town. The urban-generated pressure rule was brought in to stop people coming out from urban areas to rural areas, but it is not only doing that; it is stopping locals from getting planning permission on a site they might get from their father, mother or neighbour, which would allow them to be close to home. If they are not the son or daughter of a farmer, they will not be allowed. It is very sad.  For the past ten years or more, I have been very angry and upset about banks transferring loans to vulture funds. Whether it is a farm or a house, the receivers come and do their best. In many cases, they have succeeded in selling homes and property whose rightful owners ran into a bit of bother. If a couple got into trouble, I always thought it would be a great idea if the Department of housing or whoever could pay off their mortgage, or whatever it is, and let the young couple or people in trouble rent back the house for a while until they got on their feet again. That is not happening, however. The receivers just do not mind. In many cases, they did not even get court orders to allow them to sell the places. They just went on and sold them. That happened and it was never right.  On one of the nights before Christmas, a gang of youngsters came in. Although I call them \u201cyoungsters\u201d, they ranged in ages between 28 and 33. There were 17 of them. While they all had good, professional jobs, they felt they could not afford to purchase or build a house in Ireland. They were all leaving their jobs behind to go to Australia. All of them, alongside their boyfriends and girlfriends, were leaving after Christmas to different parts of Australia. The group totalled 17. It is terrible. We are losing very bright, energetic people.  It galls me when I hear so much talk about affordable homes. No homes will be affordable until we do something about VAT and the cost of them. We need to do something like that. In England, there is no VAT on building materials. I cannot understand why we cannot either reduce VAT or get rid of it altogether to make building materials affordable.  In Kerry, it would mean an awful lot to people if they could get planning permission. We are doing very good with social housing but people who want to build a house are coming up against all of that. They cannot get planning permission or afford a house, despite having good jobs. For example, a couple, one a garda and the other a teacher, cannot afford the houses. I can understand how they run into trouble. It would hurt me very much as well if I thought some of these foreign investors were buying up those types of homes. We must do our level best to ensure that does not happen.  We are here invariably every night and day talking about housing. The time for talking has to stop. We will have to do something constructive in this regard. I did not agree with the Bill last week to make people rent out their houses for six years. For those people who own, buy or are trying to pay back a house, it is their constitutional and democratic right to do whatever they like with it. That is how I feel about it and nothing will ever move me from that viewpoint. I have always felt that no one has a right to go through someone\u2019s place, be it a farm or whatever, without their say-so. The same applies to a second home or whatever it is that people are renting out. They should not be forced. There are other ways. We have so many vacant houses. Surely we could entice those houseowners to rent them in some way or other. We must also ensure that we do not lose any more of our people. The Department of housing should step in if a young couple are in trouble and cannot hold onto the house.  I am over time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  The thing I find most tiresome about debates on housing and the solutions is that every side presents its proposal as the silver bullet that is somehow going to solve the problem. There is no silver bullet. I do not pretend to know what the answer is. It is something that better minds than mine have grappled with. It is an incredibly complex problem with its roots going back well over a decade.  I have some sympathy for this motion. I understand where it is coming from. In 2024, 13,000-odd residential properties were purchased by non-individuals, to put it that way, of which 7,000 were houses and 5,000 were apartments, broadly speaking. It totalled approximately \u20ac5 billion in expenditure. No one in this House could endorse a situation where an investor comes in and swamps up all the houses in a particular development, all the apartments in a building or anything like that. That is highly undesirable, particularly when there are people in the local community who want to buy, live and raise families in those houses but are essentially being denied that opportunity. Does placing a blanket ban on investors buying residential homes solve that? I do not believe it does.  What is even more unhelpful is having speakers come into this House and, instead of discussing the merits of a motion or exploring whether something might work, decide to use the opportunity to sling political mud at people on the other side of the Chamber. What Deputy O\u2019Flynn, in particular, said was reprehensible. First, he talked about the Galway tent and lumped Fine Gael in with that. Fine Gael had nothing to do with the Galway tent. He then talked about people falsifying the demand for houses. There is no need to falsify the demand for housing in this country. We all know there is enormous demand for housing in this country. He also talked about the closeness between developers and my party. There is no closeness with developers. He seems to have based that on the basis that tax incentives were given to people to come into this country to spend their money here building homes for people.  The Deputy mentioned Cherrywood, which is in my constituency. There are not rafts of empty apartments in Cherrywood. There are apartments that are not yet finished, but Cherrywood is mostly made up of homes that are occupied by families. Those are my voters. I talk to those people at their doors and they are delighted to live where they do.  I am a renter. I live in an apartment block that is owned by a non-individual. It is owned by a fund. I can tell the House that it is difficult to be a renter. It is expensive. There are no two ways about that. However, you are much better off in this country renting from an institution than from an individual. If we have a problem, we report it and it is fixed that day. If one guy, an individual landlord, owns my apartment, I go to him and he then has to go and find a plumber or electrician or whoever is required to fix the problem. It takes time. I know that because friends of mine who are in that position have shared that experience with me.  I remember discussing this issue with a former Minister for finance. I was particularly aggrieved at the fact that if you were an institution or real estate investment trust, REIT, or something similar investing in large residential property schemes in this country, you got a tax incentive to do it. Compare that with a situation where an individual bought an apartment. I am speaking about people who became accidental landlords. Perhaps they bought an apartment just before the crash, got married and had children, and had to move out of the apartment but could not afford to sell it because they were in negative equity, and found themselves in a situation where they were landlords but through no choice of their own. Those people were at a tax disadvantage relative to a large company that came in and set up a REIT here. I felt, and still feel, that is fundamentally unfair. I raised the issue with the Minister for finance of the time. He explained to me why that is there. It was not that he was happy about the idea. The reality was that in the aftermath of the crash, and for a very long time afterwards, there was no building activity in this State. For all the criticism and mud that might be slung at it by the likes of Deputy O'Flynn, when Fine Gael was putting back the economy and trying to get building started again, what we needed, above everything else, was investment. We did not have the means in this country to do the building. We did not have people in this country who could bring large-scale investment to build apartment blocks.  By the way, there is nothing wrong with living in an apartment. They are wonderful places to raise families. They are wonderful places to live. I say that from my own experience. They are, however, expensive to build. It is far more expensive per square metre, for example, than a two- or three-storey house to build an apartment block with multiple storeys, lifts and all the other services that go with it. That takes investment. As much as I do not like it, the reality is that the mechanism that was used to get that investment into the country, five or ten years ago, was through those tax incentives. It is not about closeness with developers. Nobody here wants to be handing out money to people who do not deserve it. What we do want to do is to ensure that the people outside the State who have money to spend on construction spend it here, building homes for Irish people, people working here, people living here and people investing in our economy by working in our economy and paying taxes. Those are the people who deserve that development.  I do not know if I am right about this or not. I have some sympathy for the aspects of this motion that address the gazumping of local communities and taking away a whole housing estate that has been built and should be made available for sale to people in the local area. I have sympathy in that regard. However, the blanket idea that we would say no one who is not an individual can ever buy or invest in a domestic property in this State is problematic. What it would do is to shut the door on large-scale investors that can spend money here and deliver houses for people who want to live here. Doing that in blanket terms cannot be a good thing.  Rather than suggesting there is a silver bullet, let us look at the idea and see if there are parts of it we can take to implement. Let us also not pretend that the Government is not doing its level best to deliver the very thing that we need to do. Let us reflect on the fact that the Government has implemented other policies, such as the 10% tax on people buying large-scale developments. Such things have been done and reflect the desire of the Government to stop this happening and to deliver for individual families in this State wherever we can. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy John Cummins)  I reassert the Government's commitment and determination to tackle the challenges that exist in our housing sector. We understand the need to ensure that sufficient numbers of homes are delivered, be they social, affordable or private, and that is why we are working tirelessly to address the blockages that exist and to implement policies that make a positive difference to supply.  While there is still much to do, the motion initiated this evening by Sinn F\u00e9in Deputies does not fairly represent the efforts and progress made to date. The Government has, therefore, tabled a counter-motion to reflect its position and the positive actions that continue to be taken. It is important that I reiterate the real progress that has been made in recent years, as outlined by the Minister, Deputy James Browne, in his opening statement, including those relating to social and affordable housing delivery, and to set out the key changes introduced and our plans ahead to scale up the supply of housing across all tenure types.  Some 52,300 social homes were delivered between July 2020 and quarter 3 of 2025. The quarter 4 data will be published soon and will show continued strong performance. Over 14,100 homes have been brought back into use under the voids programme. More than 18,900 affordable housing supports had been provided by quarter 3 of 2025, increasing home ownership for families and ordinary workers. Over the past five years, almost 149,000 new homes have been delivered in this country.  This is significant progress, which the Opposition motion ignores. Of course, we know that we need to do more. The Government has implemented a range of measures to ensure a balanced housing market across all tenure types. In May 2021, conscious of the need to increase stock for home ownership, the Government introduced a series of measures designed to prevent bulk buying of houses and duplexes. A higher stamp duty of 10% was introduced where ten or more houses are acquired within a 12-month period. That rate was increased to 15% in budget 2025. The section 28 guidance for planning authorities on the regulation of commercial institutional investment in housing aimed to prevent multiple housing and duplex units being sold to a single buyer. These guidelines seek to provide an owner-occupier guarantee by ensuring that new own-door houses and duplex units in lower density housing developments should no longer be bulk-purchased by institutional investors in a manner that causes the displacement of individual purchasers or social and affordable housing, including cost rental. This measure does not apply to housing to be provided for social and affordable housing purposes or apartments. It should be recognised that through this measure, we have succeeded in preventing the inappropriate bulk purchase of a significant number of homes and securing those homes for purchase by homeowners.  From May 2021 to the end of last year, a total estimate of almost 64,000 houses and duplex units have received planning permission with a condition restricting bulk purchase or multiple sales to a single purchaser. The trend in the bulk acquisition of houses is down significantly since 2023 and this will continue in the time ahead because of the owner-occupier guarantee, which we, as a Government, introduced. It is the case that the bulk purchase of houses referenced in the motion before us relates to residual planning permissions that were received before May 2021, of which there are now a significantly reduced number. Indeed, it is a fact that institutional investors are now net sellers of properties in Ireland.  Housing delivery at scale and pace requires us to stimulate supply in the housing market. It is not something that any one sector, agency or profession can deliver in isolation. It depends on partnership between central and local government, between the public and private sectors, between planners, developers, infrastructure providers, financiers and communities themselves. The Government's new housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities, recognises this and expects that all people and organisations will play their part in delivering the homes we need and tackling the challenges we face in housing today.  The State will support the wider use of standardised designs across the public and private sectors to promote efficient delivery and will drive the adoption of efficient and innovative construction practices, as well as the use of modern methods of construction, at a greatly increased scale to build a more resilient, effective and efficient sector. To achieve the delivery of 300,000 new homes under the Delivering Homes, Building Communities action plan, we will require an estimated \u20ac20 billion of development finance per year as we all recognise that level of investment is sought in a highly competitive international environment.  One of the key challenges identified is apartment viability. As part of Delivering Homes, Building Communities, Government has introduced a suite of complementary measures, including the introduction of a 9% VAT rate on the sale of apartments, which the Opposition opposed, with the sole aim of increasing viability. A fourth call for expressions of interest under the cro\u00ed conaithe cities scheme was introduced in July of last year and it is helping activate thousands of planning permissions for apartments in our five cities.  The housing activation office was established in April of last year to accelerate homebuilding by unblocking infrastructure delays and co-ordinating investment in servicing zoned land. The office supports public infrastructure planning and investment for the delivery of new sustainable communities and transport-orientated development. The office, which will be headed up by a new deputy secretary general for housing activation, has undertaken both formal and informal engagement with various stakeholders to identify and address infrastructure barriers to housing delivery and to develop a co-ordinated programme of investment with key infrastructure agencies and the local government sector. Last month the Government announced a new multi-annual \u20ac1 billion housing infrastructure investment fund to support direct investment in housing-enabling infrastructure. The new fund will be managed by the housing activation office and will complement investment by infrastructure agencies such as Uisce \u00c9ireann and ESB Networks as part of a more co-ordinated approach. It will focus on projects that can move quickly at scale because we want strong, deliverable projects that can hit the ground running and start unblocking housing delivery immediately.  Before I reference the investment in housing in the context of the national development plan, there are a couple of planning matters some Deputies have referenced this evening. It is important to note all local authorities, with the exception of the Cork authorities, which are moving to it shortly, now have eplanning in place and over 80% of applications are being made online. References to truckloads of paper being required for planning applications are therefore no longer valid. Of course I want to see a reduced number of judicial reviews, as Deputies have referenced, but it is important to note in the context of the comment on the slowest planning process, that all LRD applications for housing of 100 units or more have all been disposed of by An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la in less than 16 weeks and the cases the commission has on hand have reduced from a high of 3,700 in May 2024 to 1,300 cases last month.  In the context of investment in housing, the national development plan indicates we will spend \u20ac102 billion over the next five years. Some \u20ac40 billion of this funding will be provided for housing and related water services to 2030. This demonstrates how seriously we as a Government are treating this matter. The funding will support vital water infrastructure projects and address historical bottlenecks in the system. In 2026 alone we will see overall capital funding of just over \u20ac9 billion for housing, so contrary to what the Opposition is saying here the State is the single biggest investor in housing in the country. We as a Government recognise we have to accelerate the delivery of homes. This will require unlocking additional land through zoning and through our local authorities and removing structural barriers to the building of homes whether those are due to the planning system, infrastructure or land availability. It also means providing a record level of investment, which we are doing as a Government. It also means appealing to those who are objecting to housing to take a look at the wider good, the common good and the need that is out there before they make an objection to housing. I say that to every Member of this Chamber, be they in government or opposition. Objecting to housing at a time of such need is simply madness. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I will tell the Minister of State what madness is. It is repeating the same speech Ministers and Ministers of State have been making for the past ten years at a time it is blatantly evident that Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael simply are not capable of dealing with the housing crisis. Many people chose to forget the two so-called opponents of Irish politics, Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael, were forced to drop the facade and coalesce in large part as a response to the public outcry in 2020 at the housing crisis and the failures of those parties to address it. Let us ask what has happened since. Let us compare December 2020 to where we are now. House prices have increased by almost 50%. Rents have increased year on year to levels that would have once been unimaginable and what did the two parties in government do, supported by rural Independents? They introduced legislation that will allow those rents to accelerate even faster. I do not need to remind the house that homelessness figures have increased time and time again.  We recall at different points the outrages and the things that spurred communities across Ireland to action. One of those occasions was in 2021 when it was disclosed that an investment fund attempted to buy 135 of 170 homes on an estate in Maynooth. There was of course outrage that this could be happening and the commitment we received from Ministers then was that this would never happen as they would put a stop to it. They did not put a stop to it, just as they have not lived up to any of their targets and have not delivered the homes people need at prices they can afford. The motion is as simple as anything; it seeks to prevent investment funds from buying homes that should be available to Irish families in desperate need of them. Any Member who refuses to support that has no authority whatsoever to claim they are in any way interested in resolving the housing crisis. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in  Vulture funds are robbing many of our young people of the opportunity to ever have a home of their own in their country. The Government is still allowing these vampires to snap up properties in bulk across the State and rent them back to people at inflated prices. How can families, young couples or first-time buyers outbid these massive investment fund? They simply cannot and it is wrong, disgusting and goes against everything represented by our founding fathers whose statues look down upon us in here. The Government is failing an entire generation who are despairing, resigned, and see no future for themselves in Ireland. Who could blame them? In counties Wexford and Wicklow, grown adults are living with their parents in box rooms, forced to move back into those homes because they have no other option save risking homelessness. I have spoken to many young people who are doing everything right. They are working hard, saving every month and scraping together a deposit. Prices are rising and the goalposts keep getting moved. Why is this?  One of the reasons is the Government has failed time and time again to keep its promise to stop investment funds bulk-purchasing family homes. Over 2,000 of these homes have been bulk-purchased since the Government introduced measures it claimed would put an end to this practice. These vulture funds can buy up to nine houses without triggering higher stamp duty and face absolutely no restrictions whatsoever on purchasing apartments in bulk. Consequently, we have the US private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management swooping in on distressed properties to a total of $19 billion. The name \"Cerberus\" is quite ironic. In Greek mythology it is a monstrous multi-headed dog guarding the entrance to the underworld. It is a very fitting name for a vulture fund devouring the dreams of our young people. I am asking all TDs, especially Fine Gael and Fianna F\u00e1il ones in Wicklow and Wexford to support Sinn F\u00e9in's motion to stop vulture funds buying up family homes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dessie Ellis","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dessie Ellis  The Government's answer to the housing crisis caused by Governments its members were also members of is to encourage mainly foreign investment funds to buy up land to build apartments and to bulk-buy housing stock and estates. We have had an influx of such investment funds over the years because Governments have in the past created advantageous market positions for them by giving them favourable tax exemptions and grants. Investment funds have also taken advantage of stamp duty loopholes and exploited regulatory gaps that allow them to act with fewer restrictions than apply to traditional financial institutions. All this has had a detrimental effect on the cost of housing and apartments and has made homeownership unaffordable for ordinary workers and families.  Young families and people who want to get on the property ladder cannot compete with such large institutions. Many can barely afford the exorbitant rents being sought.  In my constituency of Dublin North-West, a company that bought an entire housing estate in County Kildare bought entire apartment blocks in Santry to rent them out at exorbitant rates. It had been known for some time that investment funds have been bulk-buying houses in estates across the constituency. This has resulted not just a rise in the price of houses but also a significantly reduced supply of houses for first-time buyers. The Government has not put in place any real deterrents for this sort of bulk buying. Its 15% stamp duty rate on bulk acquisitions has not stopped investment funds from continuing to buy properties. In this housing crisis, it is a scandal that foreign investment funds can bulk-buy houses. It is scandal that the Government has created the conditions to allow them to do this. This has to stop and if it continues, it is clear that many people never be able to own their own home or even afford the rents being sought. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  As I said earlier, the motion is a simple proposition. At its core it asks the Government to do what it said it was going to do, namely fulfil its commitment given before the election in the form of the Minister, Deputy Harris, and what it put in the programme for Government in black and white for all of us to see. The Minister of State referred to many other aspects of housing we could get into debates about such as how the Government missed its targets over and over, how it is pushing house prices beyond the reach of ordinary people, how it has allowed institutional investors to buy of most of Dublin and rent it out at extortionate rates and how it continues to allow investors to pay no tax on rent. All of those issues can be discussed at a separate time.  The motion is simple. It is about whether we believe that vulture funds with unlimited capital should be allowed to come in here and buy up and bulk-purchase houses from under the noses of first-time buyers. Young couples who have scrimped and saved and done everything right and everything they can to be able to purchase their forever home find international capital is allowed to come in here by Fine Gael and Fianna F\u00e1il and outbid them over and over again for houses. Not only are they outbidding first-time buyers, they are pushing up prices for all of the other people in the same situation.  Let us see what was said on the record. The Minister, Deputy Harris, the man who says whatever needs to be said at any given time, wrote to the Minister for Finance and said this cannot be tolerated. Deputy Barry Ward spoke about how the Government introduced stamp duty and referred to the desire to stop this happening. The programme for Government was crystal clear in 2025 on keeping the stamp duty surcharge under review to ensure it prohibited bulk purchases. What is happening? Bulk purchases are still happening. Nearly 300 homes last year were accounted for, but we know there are many more because up to nine homes can be bulk-purchased without being registered.  Bulk-purchases in their hundreds are still happening. The amendment that Fianna F\u00e1il, Fine Gael and the Independents who back up this shoddy Government are about to vote for states that the Government believes the measures are having the desired effect. That is where the mask slips for the Government. I made the point that the vote is simple. We need to pick a side. We either pick the side of the vultures or the side of ordinary people. That is what it is about.  The Minister in his opening remarks said that the challenge is balance and preventing the inappropriate bulk-purchasing of family homes. What is appropriate bulk-purchasing of family homes? Were the 293 houses were snapped up from first-time buyers last year all appropriate? Who is determining this? What the Government is allowing to happen is outrageous.  It is more outrageous that the Minister, Deputy Simon Harris, promised to end it and that Deputy Barry Ward said stamp duty is about a desire to stop this happening, yet the programme for Government states it will prohibit bulk-purchasing. The Government has an option to ban it and vote to say that it will end this practice. There may be little else we can get right on housing, but we can do this. With the stroke of a pen, we can increase the stamp duty to 100%, 200% or whatever the Government wants. That would make sure it is impossible for vulture funds to swoop in here with the support of Fianna F\u00e1il, Fine Gael and the Independents who support the Government and buy those houses from under the noses of first-time buyers. Anybody who states that they are on the side of first-time buyers knows what they need to do. They need to pick a side, and it is not the side of the vultures they should be on. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Sorca Clarke)  In accordance with Standing Order 85(2), the division is postponed until the weekly division time on Wednesday, 18 February 2026 "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ban on Investment Funds Purchasing Family Homes: Motion [Private Members]"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/dbsect_14","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_14","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/dbsect_15","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Defence Forces","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/dbsect_14","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_14","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_15.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Crowe  I offer apologies from Deputy \u00d3 Laoghaire. He is out with some bugs and has asked me to take his questions. Regarding the revised defence plan deadlines and so-called detailed implementation plan, it is extremely disappointing that dozens of defence spending deadlines have been significantly extended without any apparent explanation. It is embarrassing to say the least, considering that the Government announced a \u20ac1.7 billion defence spending plan only last December to much fanfare. Can the Minister explain the root cause of all these delays and how many deadlines have been extended for as long as two to three years? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Defence (Deputy Helen McEntee)  I welcome the opportunity to outline and discuss the recently published detailed implementation plan of the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces and the new strategic framework I launched and brought to Cabinet last week. The plans set out the ambitious timelines I intend to set over the next year to make sure we can expand, enhance and grow our overall Defence Forces capabilities.  Of course, as is the case with any plan, it has to be matched by a capital budget. Deputies will be aware that just before Christmas I published our new capital plan, which sets out how we are going to spend \u20ac1.7 billion in capital funding on our Defence Forces. This is a 55% increase on the previous capital plan. With regard to current spending, the Defence Vote increased by \u20ac338 million, which is 40% higher than 2022, from \u20ac836 million to \u20ac1.174 billion. Such an increase means that it stands to reason that the implementation and actions we need to take will be amended, adjusted and changed over the time ahead.  This is the second detailed implementation plan. Regarding the first implementation plan, 54 of the 130 recommendations from the commission have been successfully completed. The commission recommended significant changes for the Defence Forces and defence provision in Ireland, which resulted in the approval by Government of a move to a level of ambition, LOA, 2 by 2028, as set out in the framework devised by the commission.  We all know that our security landscape and environment has changed. We can see there are more conflicts happening across the world than there have been since the Second World War. Of course, front and centre is the war in Ukraine and an invasion by Russia that has been ongoing for four years. It is not just impacting hundreds of thousands of citizens and civilians in Ukraine but us as well. The new plan, actions and expansion we are focused on will respond to these emerging and changing threats. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Crowe  The most serious issue in our Defence Forces over the past 20 years has been the decline in personnel numbers and the brain drain of highly trained specialist personnel.  The core of this issue are pay, conditions and career progression. Of the 43 delayed projects, 12 are in the area of human resources and career development, while another two are to do with pay and conditions. How can we ever expect to truly solve our recruitment and retention problem if we do not address the elephant in the room, that being, we have almost destroyed a life in the Defence Forces as a viable career? Poor pay, poor conditions, poor pensions, and overtime policies in breach of the European Social Charter. When will the Government commit to getting these deadlines back on track and repair some of the damage done to the Defence Forces? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  The new strategic infrastructure plan and the new strategic framework clearly set out how we can be more ambitious when it comes to increasing our overall Defence Forces numbers. Our numbers increased by 200 last year. I appreciate that this is a smaller number than we would like, but I am determined that we will continue on that trajectory right across our Defence Forces. To that effect, I am working closely with the Defence Forces to make sure we have a new workforce plan in place, but also that we have a new civilianisation plan, which I will have by the summer. It is important that we have both of these because if we want to increase our Defence Forces numbers to the level that we want to get to, it is not just about increasing the number of our Defence Forces personnel in the way we have before. We need to look at greater civilianisation and greater ways in which people can come into the Defence Forces having come from the private sector bringing different types of experience, particularly at a time when the types of threats that are changing require us to focus more on cybersecurity and cyber threats. We have to make sure we have that level of expertise where we have not perhaps seen it in the past. There are a lot of different strands of work under way to help us get to that overall target and to help us achieve those increased numbers. We have already started to see progress happen because a lot of work has been done, but I want to make sure that we can drive that progress and get to those levels as quickly as possible. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Crowe  Many would say that we are going backwards rather than forwards. The Government put a plan forward but many would say that it reneged on that, particularly around pay and the poor conditions.  The Defence Forces' lack of anti-drone capability has quickly become an embarrassment to Ireland on the European stage. We had to go cap in hand to our neighbours and ask them for a dig out. Anti-drone systems were meant to have been delivered last autumn. Now, we are being told that they may not arrive until after the EU Presidency is over and the most pressing need for them over the last 12 months has passed. It is not just another missed deadline. It is a laundry list of missed and failed deadlines that sums up the Government's defence policy. Is the Government just saving the systems from wear and tear? When will the Government deliver a counter-unmanned aerial system, C-UAS? We need to secure sensitive areas. Why has it taken so long?  I have asked a number of questions. My apologies. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I am the first to say that we need to be more ambitious, but that is not to suggest that nothing has been done. In terms of human resources, recruitment and retention, we have increased the maximum ages for recruitment and retirement. We have extended the private secondary healthcare to all personnel. We have applied the working time directive across the Defence Forces, subject to certain exemptions. We have increases in the patrol duty allowances that are payable to Naval Service personnel at sea. We have extended the Naval Service tax credit. We have seen increases in pay over the years. As part of the strategic framework, we also have a clear focus on how we can support people in the Defence Forces to increase in number and be promoted throughout their careers, and on how we can do more for women in particular. There is a lot that has been done and, to use the phrase we all know, there is a lot more to do.  I have been very clear when it comes to our radar capabilities. We will have counter-drone technology by the Presidency. It is essential that we have that, and we will have it in place. When I announced the new capital plan in November, I was also very clear that we needed to bring forward our radar capacity. This is radar from land, sea and on our naval bases so that we have a complete picture of what is going on in our skies. That will be done by 2028 and that is only because we have seen the 55% increase in our overall capital budget.  I appreciate that we have to get those points, but we have a clear plan. We have timelines and know exactly who is carrying out these ambitious timelines as well. I am determined that we will be able to put these new resources and technology in place as soon as possible. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Defence Forces"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/dbsect_16","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Defence Forces","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/dbsect_14","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_14","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_16","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_16.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I want to take this opportunity to thank the men and women of \u00d3glaigh na h\u00c9ireann for their commitment and professionalism in carrying out their essential duties in defending our State, serving in vital peacekeeping missions abroad and assisting our civil bodies. I had the opportunity to have my first meeting with the representative organisations, RACO and PDFORRA, in January where this issue was discussed, and I hope to have a constructive relationship with both organisations and many others during my term as Minister for Defence.  I received the report of the European Committee on Social Rights, ECSR, just last week. The report relates to Ireland's compliance, as the Deputy said, with the European Social Charter on two issues: remuneration for certain work carried out by Defence Forces personnel on public holidays; and arrangements for compensation or overtime. The ECSR rejected two other complaints that had been submitted on similar matters.  I understand that a formal resolution or recommendation on the complaints will be delivered from the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers by the end of the month. My Department and I will give careful consideration to the report, review it in the context of the decisions reached in conjunction with our EU and national obligations.  I was pleased to note that the European Committee on Social Rights also found that several positive developments had been progressed by Ireland in compliance with the charter since these particular complaints were taken, in particular the removal of the blanket exemption of members of the Defence Forces from the Organisation of Working Time Act last January. The Defence Forces has also introduced a manual system for recording hours of attendance to ensure compliance with the Act. An electronic time and attendance recording system has been procured and this will roll out later this year. For the Deputy's information, there are also provisions in place in terms of working on public holiday and compensation arrangements where personnel are required to work long or unsocial hours. When required to work on public holidays, members of the Defence Forces are compensated in accordance with the Organisation of Working Time Act. Additional or irregular hours worked by the Defence Forces are compensated through allowances and structured systems of compensatory rest. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  The Minister's response sounds positive enough in its outlook. However, when this decision was made, the statement released by the Department of Defence stated:  Ireland is a signatory to the European Social Charter and is committed to upholding its principles. The State respects the role of the ECSR and the Minister will examine its conclusions in conjunction with EU and national obligations, while noting that the reports of the ECSR are not binding on respondent states.  Those last five or six words seem like a get-out clause from making good on the recommendations of the ECSR. We have had modest increases in Defence Forces numbers, but they are nowhere near where they need to be. We know from speaking to Defence Force members and potential members that pay and overall conditions are still a barrier to recruitment and retention. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  That statement was merely stating the fact that the reports were not legally binding, but it is essential that we respond to the findings and work in accordance with the ECSR. That is something we are committed to.  We have responded to many of the issues raised since that complaint was made. Members of the Defence Forces are compensated for additional or irregular hours through allowances and structured systems of compensatory rest. In addition, a pensionable military service allowance, which is designed to compensate for the special disadvantages associated with military life, such as the long and unsociable hours that many of the members of our Defence Forces work, is paid to all ranks up to the level of colonel. Military service allowance is also a pensionable allowance, so instead of getting the overtime, they get the particular allowance that is in place.  I fully accept this ruling, and I am looking at what we have in place and how Defence Forces members are paid during these holiday periods. I will then examine the matter in the context of the findings of the European Committee on Social Rights to see if there is something more that we need to do. My statement was not to say that we were going to ignore the findings because we did not have a legal obligation. Of course we want to be able to respond to it. I just need to see if what we have now correlates with the committee's ruling overall. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  RACO and PDFORRA were reluctant to take this case, but they felt they had no alternative. Perhaps now is the time for a reset in terms of the Department's engagement with RACO and PDFORRA and how we treat these workers, both current and potential workers. There is an awful lot of work we are going to have to do in the next months and years ahead in terms of investing in our neutrality and ensuring we have a proactive and protected neutrality. It is good to see investment in radar. It is good to see investment in a number of other areas.  However, all that will be for naught if we do not invest in the personnel who are going to underpin, manage and deliver all the systems that we need to protect our neutrality. The members of the Defence Forces who perform their duties on public holidays deserve these premiums and general overtime pay. This is a basic standard in the context workers' rights, and I hope the Minister will make good on the ECSR recommendation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  We both fully agree that we can talk about expansion, growth and enhancing our capabilities. If we do not invest in the men and women of \u00d3glaigh na h\u00c9ireann in the context of supporting and retaining them and recruiting further members, however, we are not going to be able to deliver on the ambitious programme that we have and that we all want to work towards. It is extremely important to understand what the issues are. As I said, I had really good engagement with RACO and PDFORRA in the past two weeks. My ambition is to work with them where issues that specifically relate to the men and women they represent are identified.  A really important piece of work that has been done and that will be hugely helpful is the Value Our People survey. This is the largest survey ever undertaken in respect of Defence Forces personnel. This survey asked questions about what it is they feel supported by, what the challenges are, what the issues are and what are the main things they would like to see changed. It was not just focused on cultural change; it also focused on pay and conditions and other matters. This is the first in a series of surveys. It is very important that as we have this essential information, we take it and feed it into the work that we do and that I, as Minister, take on board some of the recommendations. We can learn from each survey. We can be more specific in our questioning and dig down into things in more detail. Again, a lot of work is happening there. It is about how we support the men and women of \u00d3glaigh na h\u00c9ireann in the best way possible. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Defence Forces"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/dbsect_17","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Naval Service","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/dbsect_14","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_14","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_17.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Crowe  Storm Chandra seems like a lifetime away now. It was quite a severe storm, however, as the many flooded homes in my constituency and across the State show. Storms like this are becoming increasingly common because of climate change. We must take on board the lessons that come from these events rather than just striking them off as bad luck. Even ships at berth were not safe. Can the Minister provide an update on the damage to the L\u00c9 Aoibhinn , the repairs needed and if she is still ready to sail? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Defence (Deputy Thomas Byrne)  I will take this question on behalf of the Minister. I reassure the Deputy that the regeneration of the Naval Service is one of the key priorities for the Minister and the Department. To that end, the Minister has had detailed discussions with the Chief of Staff on the need for a regeneration report on the Naval Service. The Defence Forces are working to have this report completed in the coming weeks.  In relation to recent events the Deputy mentioned, I can confirm that during Storm Chandra, the L\u00c9  Aoibhinn suffered some damage while berthed at D\u00fan Laoghaire harbour as a result of extreme winds. The damage is relatively minor in nature and, following an inspection, the ship was fit to return to duty. The L\u00c9 Aoibhinn is due to return to Haulbowline to enter the dry dock for scheduled maintenance next week, where the necessary repairs to the ship will be made. I am advised that no days were lost as a result of this weather-related incident.  The L\u00c9 Gobnait is scheduled to enter service in the third quarter of this year. I readily acknowledge that it would have been preferable to have this vessel in service much sooner. While we are all aware of the challenges the Naval Service has faced in recent years, the indications are that we are turning the dial in relation to the service as a result of increased recruitment and significant investment in capability and physical infrastructure. As a result of these initiatives, the number of patrol days completed by the Naval Service in 2025 reached 580, which is a 35% increase on 2024.  The naval authorities remain satisfied that the berth at Carlisle Pier is suitable for current needs. The Deputy might wish to note that the Department is at an advanced stage of concluding the licensing arrangements with the county council in relation to the use of Carlisle Pier for the purposes of berthing the two inshore patrol vessels whose primary function will be to patrol the east coast. In relation to the location of any future permanent forward operating base on the east coast, this has not yet been determined. Any consideration of the matter will be dependent on the recommendations emanating from the regeneration report. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Crowe  I have a couple of questions. If the Minister of State cannot answer them today, I would appreciate if he could come back to us. Why has it taken so long to get from the date of delivery of the L\u00c9 Gobnait to the point where she is ready for service? We all know that these ships were a considerable investment, but one has hardly seen any use at all. Is it possible for L\u00c9 Gobnait to put to sea for a patrol? What would it take for both Lake-class vessels to sail into the Irish Sea? Can we conduct simultaneous operations with a Samuel Beckett-class ship in the Atlantic and a Lake-class ship in the Irish Sea? This situation also raises questions about our overall state of readiness.  If we do not have the capacity to crew two ships, then we really only have one ship at a time at a time when we are being told that the Defence Forces are under-capacity in the context of dealing with evolving threats in Europe. The Government has been woefully negligent as regards our security. The waters between Ireland and Britain are of significant strategic importance, not least due to the data cables and energy connector that run between the two islands. Are these vessels fit for service? Is there a possibility that we will see these Samuel Beckett-class ships sailing in the Atlantic? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  The Deputy asked specifically about the L\u00c9 Gobnait . That ship is scheduled to enter service in the third quarter of this year. We acknowledge that it would have been preferable to have it in service much sooner. It is the case, however, that the readiness and capability of and the activities carried out by the Naval Service have increased substantially over the past year. Work in that regard is going to continue. The Government has acknowledged that we have come from a low base of capabilities and that some capabilities were allowed to fall into abeyance over a period. That is why the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces was very important in terms of setting forth a plan for how we get from not having sufficient protection for our State and not having sufficient resources for our Defence Forces, to having what we need. We are working through that, and the implementation phase is ongoing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Crowe  I am still at a loss regarding the damage to the L\u00c9 Gobnait . The Minister of State might come back to us again on that matter. The damage to the L\u00c9 Aoibhinn raises questions as to whether Carlisle Pier in D\u00fan Laoghaire is adequate or appropriate for naval use. As the saying goes, \"Any port in a storm\", but that did not prevent a ship from being damaged and potentially taken out of service. Maybe that could be looked at.  It may not be enough to simply take over a pier and stick up a sign saying, \"Irish Navy: No Access After This Point\". What precisely constitutes the forward operating base on the east coast? When will that be achieved? Why was D\u00fan Laoghaire chosen for this purpose? Would it be possible to conduct significant repairs on damaged vessels there? For instance, if the L\u00c9 Aoibhinn had lost some of its structural integrity, say if there was damage to the hull or something like that, could repairs be carried out without having to tow her to Cork? If we are to conduct operations on the east coast and the west coast, we need capacity to support these operations locally. Is D\u00fan Laoghaire suitable in this regard? Had more serious damage been done, could repairs have been carried out there? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  Thankfully, there was no more serious damage. The damage was minor in nature. The Naval Service remains satisfied that Carlisle Pier meets its needs. It has pointed out that the berth has recently been refitted with a modern fendering system, which should add to our ships' ability to withstand damaging impacts.  In relation to the potential use of Carlisle Pier as the new forward operating base, the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces calls for the development of an east coast base for the Naval Service. Officials are in discussions with D\u00fan Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council to secure berthing space in D\u00fan Laoghaire Harbour. This is viewed as an interim arrangement pending the selection and development of a permanent forward operating base. A detailed business case would be required from the Defence Forces regarding a longer term Naval Service presence on the east coast. I anticipate that the awaited regeneration report will help in working this up in the coming months. Any decision on the location of a forward operating base would ultimately be a matter for the Government to make. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Naval Service"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/dbsect_18","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Defence Forces","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/dbsect_14","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_14","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_18.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  I have not been quiet regarding my concerns around the Government's intention to remove the triple lock. What I find particularly frustrating is the repeated insistence that neutrality and the triple lock have nothing to do with each other and that they are completely separate, even in light of the solemn declaration made in the aftermath of the Nice and Lisbon treaties. They are clearly interlinked from that perspective. Can the Minister provide an update on her current plans when it comes to rowing back on the need for a UN mandate for the deployment of our troops. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  On timelines, the defence (amendment) Bill 2025, which relates to how deploy our Defence Forces overseas, is included in the Government's legislative programme for priority publication during the current parliamentary session.  The drafting of the Bill is continuing in conjunction with the Office of Parliamentary Counsel, and publication of the Bill is a key priority for me and for the Government in this term. Only in the last few weeks, I brought to Government amendments that had been proposed by the committee and amendments which I propose to take on board. I expect to bring the Bill to Cabinet for approval as soon as is possible following the conclusion of the drafting process and subsequently progress it through the Oireachtas. I can say as well that it also includes other amendments to the Defence Act to provide for the suspension, in certain circumstances, of members of the Defence Forces, as well as other smaller matters.  The Deputy referred to the Nice and Lisbon treaties. While it is absolutely essential that we follow through on what was committed to at that time, what we have here is legislation that was self-imposed at that time as well at a very different time. I have spoken already in the Chamber of the fact that we are living in a changed world. We have more conflicts than we have had since the Second World War. We have a conflict happening on European soil. We now have hybrid threats that we have never seen before. However, we also have a changing relationship with partners when we would have never seen these changes taking place before. Never would any of us here have thought that the US would have blocked and prevented the UNIFIL mission in Lebanon from continuing in the way that it has. While the mission is continuing this year, it will end at the end of this year because a compromise had to be reached. If it did not end at the end of this year, it would have concluded last year. The vote would have gone to the UN Security Council and our troops would not be there. We are now in a situation with a country like the US where we have never seen this before, around the time of the Lisbon or Nice treaties or any other time in recent history. The idea that the US or any one of the five permanent members is able to dictate where we send our troops is not a situation in which we should be finding ourselves. If the Deputy looks at the figures, once our mission concludes in UNIFIL, we will have 85 troops on the ground in other missions.  When we talk about our Defence Forces and how important they are and the work that they do, people think first and centre of a peacekeeping mission, troops on the ground and the proud tradition we have. At the end of this year, because we cannot partake in any other missions as there are no UN mandated missions, we will have 85 members partaking in various different smaller missions and in work happening on training and in other parts across Brussels. We need to change that. We have to respond. We have to take back our sovereign right to be able to deploy our troops where we want to. It will not impact neutrality because the law would be very clear. They must be for peacekeeping missions. However, there will also still be a check where it has to go through the Oireachtas but also where it has to go through our committees as well. It is really important that we have those checks and structures in place. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  The Minister mentioned the word \"sovereignty\" there. This is a word I have heard used many times when people talk about this UN veto and how it is a threat to our sovereignty. I find it really inappropriate, if I am honest, to talk about sovereignty in that light because there are people in Ukraine and Gaza and in conflicts across the globe whose actual sovereignty is under threat. The idea of comparing a UN veto to our troop deployment as a threat to sovereignty in the same breath as we talk about people whose actual sovereignty is under threat is just not appropriate.  What is sovereignty was the decision of the Irish people to instil in the Lisbon treaty and Nice treaty negotiations our triple lock. That was a sovereign act of this nation because it went to the people. We were offered the chance to become more entrenched in our European Union and when it went to the Irish people, they said, \"Wait a minute, what about our neutrality?\" Then, they said that, okay, if the Government can protect the neutrality with a triple lock then, yes, we will go for it. This time of increased global conflict is exactly what people had in mind. We knew that we were going to be pulled further into a European defence union. The Minister talked about that and compared it to the times of greater conflicts than we have seen since the Second World War. That is exactly the time that we need to double down on multilateralism and that is exactly what the Minister is walking away from by removing the triple lock and our mandate within that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I respectfully say that we are not moving away from anything. In fact, if the Deputy talks to anybody in the UN, they will tell her that Ireland is one of the staunchest defenders of multilateralism and of the UN, whether it is peacekeeping or humanitarian work and support. We will continue to defend that but at the moment, the structure that we subscribed to is not working. At the moment, we cannot send our troops to missions because there have been no new mandated missions since 2014. In fact, there is not even a threat of a vote because they know that they are going to be pushed back on. I mentioned the UNIFIL mission. We had the mission in Macedonia and the Yugoslav republic. Because it did not have a Security Council mandate, we were not able to participate in that particular mission back in 1999. There was Operation Sophia, which was replaced by Operation Irini, which did not have a mandate until 2016. We could not join. We had the Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre, which is an international maritime intelligence centre supported by the EU, something which we should absolutely be able to join given our geographical situation. Although we are a strong supporter of the centre, because it did not have a UN mandate, we could not join this operation. We are not able to join operations we should be a part of because of something we imposed on ourselves at a time when we were living in a very different world. I want to reassure people because of this suggestion that this will impact our neutrality. We cannot be clearer; I cannot be clearer. We are a militarily neutral country sending peacekeeping troops to places where they need us most. The Deputy is right, this is at a time when the world needs our support and where they need peacekeeping troops and that focus on humanitarian support and we cannot do it. We have no ability to do it. What I want to do is change that to allow our troops to continue what is a very proud and much needed tradition. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  What the Minister is not saying is the fact that the triple lock can be satisfied by the General Assembly. No Government representative I have asked to demonstrate to me how the Government has attempted to use the General Assembly has given me any kind of clarification on that. It is not happening. The Government is just looking at the UN. Nobody on the Opposition here disagrees with the fact that the UN Security Council has issues. We all see that. However, the Minister is painting a picture that is simply misleading. The Government can go to the General Assembly and it can satisfy the triple lock through that mechanism. The Government has just not bothered to try.  I just heard a few minutes ago this evening that the Trinity College Dublin, TCD, students' union has agreed a motion whereby it is putting to its entire student body a referendum to oppose the Government's plans to abolish the triple lock and actively promote anti-militarism. This is what we are asking the Minister to do because if she is so sure that the triple lock does not interfere with the deeply held tradition of neutrality in this country then please, just go to the people and ask them because that is where it came from. That is where it came from during the Nice and Lisbon negotiations, so the Minister by absolute virtue of that has to go back to the people and ask them once again if they are comfortable with what the Government is doing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I ask the Deputy to tell me how this is actually going to impact on our neutrality because I have yet to have someone explain to me how sending peacekeeping troops is going to impact on our neutrality. We already partake in missions. We already partake in cybersecurity. We already partake in training missions. We already partake in other missions. We are not talking about an EU army. We are not talking about joining forces. We are talking about sending our peacekeeping troops. The General Assembly is not binding, so when I say that our legislation will be very clear that we must adhere to the UN Charter and international law, it is the same as putting something to an assembly that is not binding. We will comply with it, and we will have to go through the similar process where Government will have to agree. It will have to go through the Houses and for anything over 50 personnel, there will have to be very clear report to our Oireachtas committees to show them exactly why they were sent, where they were sent and to make sure that they operated within the parameters of the legislation that would be agreed to here. Again, however, I would ask the question. How does sending peacekeeping troops where there is a very clear mandate that it can only be peacekeeping and for no reason other than peacekeeping impact our neutrality when we are already doing it? This is all we are changing here. It is not who is deployed and how they are deployed. We are changing the way in which they are being deployed because at the moment, we simply cannot. I think the vast majority of people who I have spoken to who want us to continue in our peacekeeping missions see the challenges we are facing now and see the changes that have impacted our ability to do what we have always done and actually think it is a positive thing that we are making these changes. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Defence Forces"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/dbsect_19","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Defence Forces","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/dbsect_14","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_14","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_19","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_19.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Sorca Clarke)  The question will be introduced by Deputy Se\u00e1n Crowe. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Crowe  Again, it is the issue of the triple lock. The triple lock neutrality protection is something that is valued by Irish people. It is extremely concerning that the Cabinet would so easily approve moves to dismantle the triple lock neutrality protection on the deployment of Irish troops abroad. Most evidence points to the fact that most Irish people believe that the triple lock neutrality protection is necessary and that it is an important protection to ensure our neutrality. If it is to be dismantled, the Irish people need to know exactly how that is going to happen. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  I will answer this one on behalf of the Minister. As the Minister has already set out, the defence (amendment) Bill is included in the Government legislative programme for priority publication. There are also some other amendments to the Defence Acts in the legislation. What the triple lock legislation or the defence (amendment) Bill will do is remove the requirement for the UN Security Council mandate because, quite frankly, it is almost impossible to get one and we do not know what the UN Security Council will say in terms of renewing peacekeeping mandates. Effectively, by keeping this in place, we allow members of the Security Council a veto. There are five permanent members, and each of them has a veto. That is Russia, China, France, the UK and the USA. They can veto or use the threat of a veto. In fact, as the Minister said, we have seen UNIFIL end because of, essentially, one member of the Security Council.  It is not possible either to go to the General Assembly. What is being suggested regarding the General Assembly cannot happen because it does not have responsibility for international peace and security. In any event, what Deputy Crowe is asking for is not just to give a veto to five members of the Security Council but to canvass every country on earth, including Israel and other countries, on whether Ireland can send peacekeeping troops into areas where they are required. This is something that really is untenable. We are a neutral country. We send peacekeepers. We will send them in accordance with UN law, human rights law and the honourable tradition that we have, but we will not continue in a situation where individual countries can veto our decisions of the D\u00e1il. I should say as well that there is no suggestion that this removes our neutrality in any way whatsoever. Nothing changes the protocol to the Lisbon treaty. There is nothing in the legislation that can or will affect the protocols of the Lisbon treaty on neutrality. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Crowe  I remember the Nice treaty and the Lisbon treaty and the assurances given to the Irish people at the time. I made the point that the Irish people do not trust the Government, they do not trust us and I do not think they trust the people in this Chamber. People have huge difficulties about this. The world needs more honest brokers like a neutral Ireland. We have never been a coloniser. We have never invaded another country. We are respected as peacekeepers and peacemakers. We have experienced conflict and division on our own island and we have practical experience of building peace. This is the approach and it has also allowed us to do vital work, including nuclear non-proliferation, disarmament and humanitarianism. By removing the triple lock we are signalling to the world that we are ready to cast off our neutrality and embrace the wave of militarism sweeping Europe and the rest of the world. It is not good enough that the Government would use the Irish Defence Forces as a political bargaining chip when it has singularly failed to address the serious problem with retention and recruitment that the Army, the Naval Service and the Air Corps have been experiencing for years. The problem is not with the Security Council or anyone else but that people in this House have run down the Defence Forces. This is the biggest challenge with our Defence Forces as we move forward. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  We want to make sure our Defence Forces can, first of all, engage in their primary function, which is the protection of the security of the State and, when called upon, to go abroad to serve as peacekeepers, as they have honourably done. Removing the triple lock will not change this in any way. There are many neutral countries and I do not think any of them have as restrictive a law as we do. I agree with Deputy Duncan Smith who said we must protect our neutrality. I was in Switzerland last week when the subject of neutrality was very strong on the agenda. They speak about an armed neutrality. Deputy Gibney spoke about non-militarism or antimilitarism with regard to Trinity College students. We have to protect our neutrality and build up our Defence Forces. We have to make the decisions here as to what we do in terms of peace and security and the work our people do. I am very confident that we can do this. It does not affect neutrality. What was agreed in the Nice and Lisbon treaties in terms of neutrality has not changed and is not changing. In fact, it cannot be changed without a referendum of the people. That does not affect this in any way whatsoever. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Crowe  Surely any decision that could lead to significant shifts in foreign and defence policy must only be considered following robust engagement with the Irish people, and we have not seen this. This is the big weakness in the Minister of State's argument. We have not seen that engagement with people. People have not had the opportunity. I have no doubt that if there were a plebiscite, the Government's proposal would be rejected. If the Government is so sure and confident of its position in relation to the Irish people, why does it not put forward a plebiscite on this? It is a simple question. Will the Minister of State give us a simple answer on it? People want to know why the Government is intent on going down this road. We remember previous elections. Fianna F\u00e1il ran in favour of Irish neutrality and said it would not do away with the triple lock and Fine Gael was the same. What has changed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  The reason we have a constitutional amendment is if we want to change the Constitution. We are not changing the Constitution, it is simply changing legislation. What was agreed at Lisbon is still in the Constitution by virtue of the protocol to the Lisbon treaty. This does not affect it in any way. I am quite sure that whatever referendum the Government would put forward on Europe or defence, Sinn F\u00e9in would oppose it as it has opposed every one of them over the years, but what was agreed by the people in the Lisbon treaty is still there. It is still in the Lisbon treaty and, therefore, it is still in our Constitution. This is a change in legislation and a change in procedures as to how we decide and make our own decisions to send troops abroad. It is not a change in our neutrality policy and it does not affect anything. There are many paragraphs in Article 3 of the protocol to the Lisbon treaty that discuss our neutrality policy and describe it, and this does not impact on it in any way. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Defence Forces"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/dbsect_20","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Defence Forces","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/dbsect_14","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_14","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_20","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Edward Timmins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_20.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Edward Timmins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Edward Timmins  Any state that is serious about protecting its citizens must have a fit for purpose defence force. This is even more relevant today when threats are more real and much more varied. We are a neutral country and we are geographically located in a relatively safe location but we must not become complacent. What steps are being taken to improve the defence of our country in view of the changing geopolitical landscape? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  As I referred to this evening, and Deputy Timmins has very clearly referred to it, the world we are living in is changing. The types of threats are changing and the intensity of the threats are changing. Even the relationships we have relied on to date are also changing. It is really important that we as a country respond, that we do so in a number of different ways, and that we are ambitious in our overall desire to defend ourselves and to work more closely with other European and international partners.  What I have done in recent weeks is set out two new documents. These are an implementation plan, which will continue to implement the changes that were recommended by the Commission on the Future of the Defence Forces, and a new strategic framework, which essentially sets out how we are going to increase our Defence Forces, how we are going to enhance our capabilities, how we are going work more closely with other European and international partners, and how we can protect and support the men and women of our Defence Forces and the vital work they do.  It is essential, first and foremost, that we increase the number of Defence Force personnel we have. To this effect, while we have seen significant changes in the past, we have only started to see them reflect gradually in the increase of numbers, with an increase of 200 last year. I want to make sure we continue with this trajectory, so we will have a new workforce plan, which is being worked on with the Defence Forces. We will have a new civilianisation plan, which really recognises the fact we need to make sure we have as much of a wealth of experience as possible and capacity in the overall numbers.  We also need to make sure that the people in our Defence Forces have a better ability to promote and progress their own careers. We need to ensure we have enhanced capabilities, and this is where the capital plan is essential. The plan that was announced just before Christmas is a \u20ac1.7 billion plan which, first and foremost, will specifically focus on how can enhance our radar capacity. How do we make sure we have full sight of absolutely everything that is happening in our skies, on our land and in our maritime space? This has been brought forward to the original timeline of having all of this in place by 2028, with a specific focus on the counter-drone technology we will have in place for the Presidency this year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Edward Timmins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Edward Timmins  Threats are not just physical. They come in a variety of modes. I want to mention an aspect that I believe is very important, and this is the area of non-military threats. Examples include cyber threats. These also represent a threat to our economic interests. As the Minister knows, we are hugely dependent on reliable computer systems which underpin our economy. The whole area of disinformation is also a real security threat. We need to recruit staff with expertise in these areas. I am also particularly conscious of energy and communication threats, especially relating to maritime security. These threats are real. As we witnessed a few years ago, they can come from anywhere, including from within our own country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I fully agree. When we talk about threats, we talk about them perhaps in a way as though they are in the future. We have already been subject to these types of changing hybrid threats. It was just five years ago when the HSE had a cyber-attack that impacted access to significant amounts of information and the functioning of the HSE and our social protection system. We have seen it already and we know it is there. This is why it is really important, whether in our Defence Forces or An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, that we have the enhanced capacity and personnel to be able to respond to them. We have mentioned maritime security and the fact we have thousands of cables coming across the Atlantic, through and around our maritime domain and across to Europe. We have a maritime domain seven times the size of our island. This is why in the coming weeks I will publish a new maritime security strategy. It is essential that we are able to identify what threats are happening in our seas.  It is essential that we can prioritise protecting the really important cables for all that they bring, not just data and information, but the gas pipes and everything else. It is also essential, in doing that, we work closely with more of our partners and that is where we need to focus. It does not impact our neutrality. It does not change what we are doing at home, but engaging more and having greater and enhanced co-operation with countries, whether on maritime security or on cybersecurity, is the space we need to be in. I am really ambitious that we do more in that space overall. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Edward Timmins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Edward-Timmins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Edward Timmins  Is this country prepared for the threats posed by Russia to our national security? These are real threats to this country and must be taken seriously. There was an increase in Russian shadow fleet activity recently in Irish controlled waters. Our geography no longer protects us as it once did. We are very dependent on other countries to support us regarding maritime and air defences. We need to take steps to move away from these dependencies. This will actually help our independence and support our neutrality, which we treasure so much. We live in a rapidly changing world and we must respond to these changes in order to protect our way of life and our democracy which we value so much. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  The maritime security strategy will ensure that we are taking ownership of what we need to do, but given the vast, expansive maritime domain we are looking at, it is important that we work closely with other colleagues and friends. It is important that we have a more permanent structure in place to be able to co-operate in that way. We are not immune to Russian threats, in the same way no other country is. We have already seen our friends, whether it is Lithuania, Denmark or Poland, have already been victims to Russian attacks in airspace through drones and through more sinister types of threats. We need to work together to be able to respond collectively. We need to identify the fact that there are new types of threats.  When it comes to the shadow fleet, this poses a threat in so many ways. Not only does the shadow fleet fund the brutal and illegal war that Russia is waging on Ukraine, but they are also a massive environmental challenge. If one of these tankers that are not seaworthy should have an accident, the implications more broadly for our seas is absolutely colossal. As I have said this week, we need to look at whatever we can to act as a deterrent and respond to the shadow fleet and many other types of threats. The vast majority of people see that we need to do more and want us to be ambitious in this regard. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Defence Forces"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/dbsect_21","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 146 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/dbsect_22","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Military Neutrality","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/dbsect_21","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_22.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I know there has been much discussion on this already. I ask the Minister to commit to a public plebiscite on the question of the removal of the triple lock. Many have spoken in here, including Deputy Crowe, to the Irish people's belief in relation to an independent foreign policy, our neutrality and how they are completely against any movements away from this. They feel and believe the triple lock is that. It was offered previously as a protection and now it is being taken away. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I thank the Deputy for the question. There have been a number of calls, including from Sinn F\u00e9in, for a public plebiscite in relation to the Government's proposed changes to the triple lock. It is important to highlight that there is a lot of conflation as to what is being proposed and what will be done and is actually being suggested.  This mechanism is not set out in our Constitution. What we are amending is not something that is set out in our Constitution, it is set down in national legislation, namely, the Defence (Amendment) Act 1960. Therefore, amending the legislation which governs how we deploy our Defence Forces overseas does not require a referendum. I need to be clear on that. Any suggestion that we are amending the treaties is simply not the case. That cannot be done without a referendum. We are amending legislation that was introduced in 1960.  The triple lock is a statutory mechanism, not a constitutional one. It is not enshrined in our Constitution and it was a political commitment during the Nice and Lisbon Treaty processes. It was a very different time, 1960. We are talking about a very different time given the threats and the changing landscape we are working in. Even when it comes to deploying our peacekeeping troops, that environment has changed. We now find ourselves in a situation where one of five countries can decide whether or not our Irish troops can travel to engage in peacekeeping missions, be it in Lebanon, the western Balkans or any other part of the world. I simply do not think it is acceptable that another country, be it the US, Russia, France, the UK or China, would decide where our troops are going.  I can commit and say very clearly that our legislation to change the triple lock will be very clear. Troops can only be deployed for peacekeeping reasons. It must be very clear where the missions are. They must comply with the UN Charter and international law and there will still be checks and balances. Instead of the UN mandate being a requirement, it will have to be approved by Government and the Oireachtas and where there are over 50 Defence Force members being deployed there will have to be a report sent to the Oireachtas committee. There is full transparency to what we are doing here.  The amendment of the triple lock does not amend the treaties or change our stance on neutrality; it simply changes the way by which we can deploy our troops. At the moment we cannot partake in any new mandated mission because they are simply not happening and they are simply not being approved by the council. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  We start from the point of view of the UNDOF mission to the Golan Heights and the fact that it was a governmental decision to step aside and remove us from that operation that we have been engaged in for a huge period of time. That is down to the fact that there was a run-down allowed of the Defence Forces. The one thing the Minister will get agreement on throughout the Chamber and throughout the campus is that there has been a long-term failure to invest in the Defence Forces and that when we even spoke of neutrality we did not have the capacity to actually operate as many other neutral countries or states did. That is a failing that needs to be addressed and I am not quite sure that is happening. We are hearing statements from the Minister about how she is going to deal with the Russian shadow fleet. How is that going to operate on a day-to-day basis? In relation to the triple lock and what the Minister has proposed as regards checks and balances, how would they actually work? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  Again, I keep hearing in the Chamber this evening that we are not investing in the Defence Forces and therefore this is somehow related to the triple lock. The triple lock is about how we send our Defence Force personnel. At the moment we have 436 troops, as of 31 January, on peacekeeping missions. That has nothing to do with how many members we have overall, which is over 7,000. I will be the first to say that we need to be more ambitious in increasing our numbers and investing in our capacity, increasing our spending and funding, doing more for the men and women of \u00d3glaigh na h\u00c9ireann, making sure we are investing in new technologies, amending our legislation so it is fit for purpose, and that is what we are doing here.  We have to look, review and revise our legislation and ask if it is fit for purpose. That is no different for the Defence Forces. Is this fit for purpose? No. What was the whole purpose of it? That we would be able to send our troops to missions within UN mandate. It is not required by the UN and it is not something it requires from other countries. We imposed it on ourselves at a time when we lived in a very different dynamic politically and otherwise. We now have a situation where one of five countries can essentially say no, they will not let us send our troops to a mission because they have decided they do not want it to happen. That cannot be the case.  I do not think Irish people want us in a situation that we now have no ability to send our Defence Forces, which are renowned worldwide for the decades they have provided service in peacekeeping missions, to new missions unless they have a UN mandate that is there. Even at that, if we look at some of the smaller missions in the western Balkans, there is a constant threat that those mandates will not be renewed. The 85 troops I mentioned that we will have at the end of the year will potentially be even fewer. We are talking about a structure. We are not changing the treaties. This is not about our neutrality. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I get there is not going to be agreement. That could be taken from the first question, never mind some of the latter questions that were asked on this. I get that there is no constitutional requirement for the Government to call a referendum. I am just stating that asking the Irish people is the right thing to do. What engagement has there been in relation to changes to the triple lock? I will again ask the Minister to explain these checks and balances on what a peacekeeping mission is.  The Minister spoke about how this is only updating legislation, how it is absolutely necessary and that we are in a much different place from the 1960s. I accept that, but it is not like in the 1960s there was not the possibility of nuclear war. As far as I know, the Cuban missile crisis happened on 28 October,1962. They were very difficult times and these are very difficult times. Nobody needs Ireland to be a military superpower. We do not have the capacity to be one. We do need to make sure we have an up-to-date, upgraded Defence Forces that are fit for purpose, but we also need to protect independent foreign policy and that is the reason why we have been respected as peacekeepers throughout the world. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  Respectfully, if we cannot send troops to engage in peacekeeping missions then we are going to lose that level of respect that we have had for many years. Countries will look at us and ask how do we not have the ability to send our own troops where we want to send them.  That is the situation we will find ourselves in. The world is changing. We need to update our laws. They are currently not fit for purpose when it comes to the deployment of troops.  In terms of the safeguards and checks, the legislation will be very clear. Troops can only be deployed for peacekeeping reasons, not for any reason or purpose other than peacekeeping. Of course, we will have to take on board recommendations and views from the Defence Forces, which will be part of this. There will then have to be a recommendation to Government which has to be agreed by Government. It will then have to be debated in the Houses, where everybody represents the people who elected them. That is where their voices are heard. There are then different stages within that.  If there is a mission with fewer than 50 troops, it will go through a particular process. If there are over 50 personnel being deployed, it will have to be sent to the committee afterwards to scrutinise whether the legislation was applied. The legislation itself, which we have not gone through and debated in the House, will have to comply with international law. We will be clear that any mission will have to be in line with the UN Charter. That will be debated and Members will be an opportunity to go through it when the legislation is going through the House. We all represent the people who have elected us. It is important that all of us, me included, engage with our constituents and those who want to discuss this. This is a really important issue and I am not minimising that, but I wish we would not conflate two things. This is not about neutrality; it is about how we deploy troops. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Military Neutrality"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/dbsect_23","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Defence Forces","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/dbsect_21","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_23","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brendan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","memberCode":"Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_23.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brendan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","memberCode":"Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brendan Smith  This is the first opportunity I have had in this House to wish the Minister, Deputy McEntee, and the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, well with their very important work in the Department of Defence. The implementation plan for the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces, published in November 2023, stated very clearly that the Reserve Defence Force, RDF, needs to be revitalised. For far too long, numbers have been much too low in the RDF. Will the Minister of State outline what particular measures he hopes to take to increase substantially the numbers participating in the important work the Reserve Defence Force carries out throughout the country? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  I thank the Deputy for the question. I will start by recognising the importance of the Reserve Defence Force to the State. In the past few years, we have witnessed a revitalisation of the Reserve. The strength of the Reserve Defence Force, as of the end of 2025, was 204 first-line Reserve personnel and 1,612 second-line Reserve personnel, which is comprised of 1,481 Army Reserve personnel and 131 Naval Service Reserve personnel.  The priority of Government is the modernisation of our Defence Forces and revitalising our Reserve Defence Force is a key part of this transformation. In that context, the Reserve Defence Force regeneration plan, published in July 2024, contains 27 actions across four objectives, namely, recruit and retain; resource; train and educate; and integrate and deploy. One of the four operational objectives of the plan is to improve the induction process, with the aim of achieving an effective strength of 80% by 2028. Recruitment increased substantially in 2024 and continues to gain momentum, with approximately 300 applicants in pre-induction training at the end of 2025. This growth will be reflected in the 2026 strength figures.  Implementation of the regeneration plan is being monitored to address any blockages arising and to ensure progress across the actions. Other areas of work under way in the Reserve Defence Force sphere include a new Reserve Defence Force recruitment system, which will result in a more streamlined and user-friendly process for applicants and a significant RDF advertising awareness campaign is in the final stages of development. This will be co-ordinated across all media, including TV and radio advertisements, to raise the public's awareness of the opportunities available in the Reserve Defence Force. Another area of work under way is the substantial expansion in the Reserve Defence Force budget, which continues to increase in pace with the enhanced role of the Reserve Defence Force. To illustrate this, the budget allocation in 2025 was \u20ac3.5 million and the Government has further increased it to \u20ac4.5 million for 2026. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brendan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","memberCode":"Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brendan Smith  I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I sincerely hope that the laudable objectives he outlined from the RDF regeneration development plan, which was published in July 2024, are implemented with as much impetus as possible. It is extremely important that we increase the numbers. The RDF should have a greater presence throughout the country and in each community. Deputy Crowe and I were on the foreign affairs and defence committee from 2016 to 2020. At that time, as Cathaoirleach of the committee, I invited the Reserve Defence Force Representative Association, RDFRA, to come before the committee. We gave its representatives an opportunity to outline the particular issues which, in the RDFRA's view, faced the RDF at that time. One of the issues, as the Minister of State noted, was the need for better advertising campaigns for recruitment and better support to ensure that retention levels are improved.  By and large, the Reserve Defence Force costs the State very little. The State could be much more generous in paying people for the time they are losing in their day jobs. In many instances, they have to undergo additional medical checks. The payments they get for those medical checks do not even pay the GP for the medical examination. Those types of things are small from the State's point of view but they are big to the individuals and addressing them could help to increase both retention and recruitment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  The regeneration plan was published in July 2024 and has four main priorities: recruitment and retention: resourcing; training; and integration and deployment. In relation to specific issues with Reserve Defence Force activities that attract payments, conditions under which reservists are paid for certain activities are set out in the Defence Force regulations. In 2023, a letter of instruction was issued that was not consistent with the regulations and items have been replaced with an updated guidance note.  The office of Reserve affairs has prepared a paper for the Defence Forces board about reserve activities that should attract a payment. The office has advised that the Defence Forces board is considering the content of the paper and the regulatory underpinnings of paid activities. It will be considered by Department officials once it is received. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brendan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","memberCode":"Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brendan Smith  As regards the Minister of State's final comments with regard to the review of particular services that can be remunerated, I hope that issue can be addressed. As the Minister of State knows, I grew up on the Border. I saw the importance of the Reserve Defence Force. In many instances, good members of the community got young people who may have been in certain difficulty into the Reserve Defence Force. The young people enjoyed the training and benefited a great deal from it. Many of them went on to serve in the Permanent Defence Force. Were it not for that conduit and avenue they had to enlist in the Reserve Defence Force, acquire training and skills and discipline in their life, God knows what would have happened to them.  Many people I know from the community along the Border where I grew up went on to serve this State, both at home and abroad, with great distinction and commitment. I remember referring to that one day at a committee meeting and many former members of the Army at all levels contacted me afterwards to say we should never forget the importance of the Reserve Defence Force in giving some young people who may have been vulnerable and came from what would be termed disadvantaged homes the opportunity to participate in the RDF and go on to very good and successful careers in the Permanent Defence Force and other trades and professions as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Thomas-Byrne.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Byrne  Recruitment has increased substantially, particularly in 2024. It slowed down in 2025 but the numbers were substantially higher than they were 2023. The numbers will be boosted by the number of applicants who were undertaking module 1 pre-induction training at the end of last year. Work has been done and numbers have gone up. That is very important.  There is a huge effort under way to attract more people into the Reserve Defence Forces, such as increasing the upper retirement age and mandatory retirement age. There is the implementation of a managed induction process, whereby a recruitment liaison officer maintains contact with applicants throughout the induction process to help facilitate an expeditious and efficient recruitment process. There is an on-boarding process which enables candidates to undergo pre-attestation recruit training. There is a significant RDF awareness campaign being developed, as I said, to raise public awareness. I would certainly love if Members of the Oireachtas were involved in spread the message. I suggest the Department make sure that Oireachtas Members are fully up to speed with the efforts being made by the Department and the military to enhance recruitment to the Reserve Defence Force. We can then encourage our constituents to take up these very important roles. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 149 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Defence Forces"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/dbsect_24","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Defence Forces","counts":{"speechCount":13,"speakerCount":4},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/dbsect_21","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brendan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","memberCode":"Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_24.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan)  Deputy Smith will ask the next question, Ceist Uimh. 150. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brendan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","memberCode":"Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brendan Smith  First, I apologise for the absence of Deputy McGreehan, who has another commitment that clashed with the timing of questions here.  Three of us here, the Minister, Deputy McEntee, the Minister of State, Deputy Thomas Byrne, and I, are from the north east and any investment in Louth is important for our respective counties as well. Of course, I am thinking of Aiken Barracks, Dundalk, where many people from my constituency serve as well. It is important for County Meath as well. I sincerely hope that where investment is needed in that key military installation it would be forthcoming. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  Last December, I was pleased to announce the record allocation of \u20ac1.7 billion in the NDP capital funding for defence from now until 2030. This represents an increase of \u20ac600 million or 55% on the previous baseline of \u20ac1.1 billion. For 2026, the defence capital allocation has increased by \u20ac66 million to \u20ac300 million. Obviously, we want every barracks and every area to be able to benefit from that spending. It is a clear demonstration of the Government's commitment to enhancing the capabilities, equipment and accommodation for our Defence Forces.  This capital investment in defence primarily supports the renewal, retention and acquisition of major defence equipment and the development of defence infrastructure and is a clear demonstration of the Government's commitment to delivering what we all spoke of here - modern Defence Forces capable of responding to what is an increasingly complex security environment that we live in.  The infrastructure development plan, IDP, sets out a programme of project delivery to 2027, reflecting the complex environment in which the Defence Forces operate and the corresponding need for appropriate infrastructure.  In order to progress the infrastructural projects more efficiently and deliver economies of scale, we are currently developing a series of infrastructural master plans. These plans will identify the infrastructure requirements for each installation along with an associated prioritisation schedule. These plans will dovetail with developments identified under the current plan and will also lay out requirements from 2027 onwards.  As the Deputy outlined, Louth has an extremely proud tradition in the Defence Forces. Aiken Barracks is an incredibly valued barracks for the people of Dundalk and for the surrounding areas. As a County Meath woman, obviously, it is close to me also.  Within existing IDP structures, a central heating upgrade and the installation of new electric vehicle charging points have recently been delivered to Aiken Barracks, with a dining hall upgrade currently ongoing. Work is also ongoing on the new dining facility and all of this will be completed in 2026 at a cost of \u20ac5.6 million. This will replace the catering infrastructure currently used by Defence Forces military and civilian staff and includes a kitchen, front-of-house dining facilities and co-located ration storage. It is essential, particularly when so much of our infrastructure and so many of our barracks are old. They need that kind of investment. It is important that we are investing in the day-to-day workings, where they are eating or sleeping, and where they are doing their training, because it is an investment directly in the men and women of the Defence Forces. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brendan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","memberCode":"Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brendan Smith  I thank the Minister for her response. Our colleague, Deputy McGreehan, will be glad to hear of the Minister's commitment to further investment in Aiken Barracks.  I am glad that the Minister emphasised that accommodation needs to be upgraded. As a member of the then Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence some years ago, I had the opportunity to visit some barracks and I have to say I was very disappointed with the quality of some of the living accommodation. In the meantime, I had a lot of engagement with the Taoiseach, as Minister for Defence, and with the T\u00e1naiste, as Minister for Defence. Both of them had directed substantial additional funding - much necessary investment - in living accommodation and in the general barracks.  As the Minister said, people are working in that environment. They are living in that environment. Most people nowadays come from homes that are of a good quality. I have heard young recruits go into some of the barracks and to be fair about it, their living accommodation was not acceptable.  I know the barracks. It takes huge investment. They are old buildings. It is not easy to upgrade them. It costs a lot of money but it is a very necessary investment in our Permanent Defence Force. It acts as an attractive measure if there is decent living accommodation while a person is being upskilled and being trained to be a member of our Defence Forces. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I fully agree. If we want to not only attract people to the Defence Forces but to retain them, we need to make sure the environment that they are working and training in is fit for purpose and insofar as possible, that it is as modern as it can be.  When you look at the next NDP and the capital plan for defence, we have \u20ac300 million being spent in 2026. In the next few years, it is rising to \u20ac360 million. When you break that down further and you look at how much we are investing in what we have just discussed, there will be \u20ac400 million of investment in infrastructure. This includes accommodation, offices and gyms. You then have aircraft hangers and naval berthage but I have seen in Gormanston, which is in my constituency, the investment that is taking place where members will be sleeping, eating, going to the gym, doing their day-to-day activities and their duties. There is a real commitment here to invest directly in the physical built environment and infrastructure.  Of course, I want to be able to do more because we know that there are many more barracks that need to see that overall investment. As I said, the intention is that every barracks and every area will benefit from the significant increase. If more money can be found, obviously, more money can be invested as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brendan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","memberCode":"Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brendan Smith  I thank the Minister for her response. Deputy Timmins quite rightly referred to investment in cybersecurity. We all agree with that and we know the urgency of it.  In the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces of 2022, the preferred enlistment is 11,500 by 2028. That is the target that was outlined in that report. To cater for that enlistment that I sincerely hope will be reached and exceeded, additional accommodation is needed. The most modern barracks in Europe was D\u00fan U\u00ed N\u00e9ill, Cavan, which, unfortunately, was closed in 2012. The buildings are still there intact. Quite a number of them are not being used for any particular purpose. I put forward to the T\u00e1naiste and the Taoiseach, both of them in the Department of Defence, that that particular military installation should be utilised again by the State for defence purposes.  I do not expect the Minister to answer on this specifically this evening. There was a huge corporate knowledge acquired by members of the Defence Forces when they were based in D\u00fan U\u00ed N\u00e9ill Barracks in Cavan right through the central Border area. As the Minister will be aware, the military barracks is Finner Camp in south Donegal and there is nothing in the central Border region until we go over to the east, to Aiken Barracks. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan)  Thanks, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brendan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","memberCode":"Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brendan Smith  What I have suggested, and some of the senior Army personnel at a committee said should be considered, and I would hope the Minister would ask her Department officials to consider, is that D\u00fan U\u00ed N\u00e9ill could be opened again as a forward operating base----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan)  Thanks, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brendan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","memberCode":"Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brendan Smith  -----where members of the Defence Forces could acquaint themselves with the topography and detailed knowledge of that Border region because we are in a difficult security situation and we never know what is ahead of us. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan)  Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa has a supplementary. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  We have already spoken about the issues in relation to retention and recruitment. It is necessary that resourcing, training, and particularly buildings, barracks and living accommodation would be up to scratch and we need to ensure that we see delivery in relation to Aiken Barracks.  Aiken Barracks has huge history. It has huge connection with Dundalk, and particularly that area in The Quay, where it is situated, and the 27th Infantry Battalion. There is a huge level of respect for those in the Defence Forces.  I have a question, obviously, for Dundalk and those involved with the military in Dundalk, and family particularly, on the sad loss of Private Se\u00e1n Rooney. I would be grateful if I could get an update in relation to the Minister's engagements with the Lebanese and in relation to the necessity of finding justice for the late Private Rooney. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I will try to touch on a number of issues raised.  At present, our strength is 7,756 personnel. It is an increase of almost 200 on the previous year. While it is modest, we need to continue with that particular trajectory and I want to build on that progress achieved. I have set a target of 850 inductions for this year.  It is important that when we are talking about investment, we are not only talking about investment in the capital side of things. There are other ways in which, through current spending, we are able to invest and support the work of the personnel who are there.  We have \u20ac10 million to facilitate new Defence Forces uniforms, which is really important to make sure that we are supporting what they get up and get dressed into every day. There is \u20ac10 million in support for Air Corps fleet maintenance, as well as airfield and training costs. That allows them to carry out their duties and work.  There is funding for a number of other strategic priorities. Digital transformation, which is absolutely key and will be essential, is something that the Defence Force members themselves are keen to see advance in their work.  There is maritime security, national societal preparedness and resilience campaign initiatives. All of this funding is supporting the work that they do. It is not only about investing in the physical infrastructure, which is really important, but ensuring that they are enabled to do the work that they need to do is essential as well.  When it comes to Private Rooney, this is a case that I myself have raised directly with Lebanese officials. I hope to meet with his mother very soon, but I am conscious of how difficult and distressing a situation it is. I have been clear in my raising this very recently that we need to find answers and that we need to find a resolution for his family.  Of course, there were others who were involved in the incident itself. I want to acknowledge that and acknowledge the difficulty for their families too. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Defence Forces"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/dbsect_25","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Defence Forces","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/dbsect_21","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_25","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brendan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","memberCode":"Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_25.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brendan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","memberCode":"Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brendan Smith  As the Minister is well aware, the Commission on the Defence Forces produced a very important strategy in 2022, and the subsequent implementation plan outlined a series of measures that needed to be taken to strengthen our Defence Forces. One of the key issues was the whole area of recruitment and retention of personnel. I welcome the progress that has been made, but I am sure the Minister will be the first to admit it is slower than any of us want. Are there any particular measures the Minister can introduce in 2026 to improve both recruitment and retention? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I thank the Deputy. Increasing recruitment and retention of personnel in the Defence Forces is a priority for me as Minister and for everybody here who has spoken this evening. As Government, we are committed to putting the resources in place to achieve level of ambition 2, and a crucial element of this is personnel expansion. A range of measures have already been undertaken to tackle recruitment and retention challenges in recent years. As a result, we have seen that stabilisation I mentioned and that modest increase last year of 200. I want to continue on that trajectory. I want to see the 7,756 personnel increase further, and I have set a target of 850 inductions for 2026. Obviously, that will mean making sure we also have the accommodation to be able to support those numbers.  It is very positive to see that interest in a career in the Defence Forces continues to grow, with a total of 16,510 applications received last year, which is quite a significant number. The challenge now for the Defence Forces is to convert those applications into inductions. The Defence Forces are currently formulating a strategic workforce plan to set out current personnel and skill sets, and to map out proposals to achieve that strength of 11,500 and to include a detailed civilian workforce plan, which is essential if we are going to reach those numbers proposed in the Commission on Defence Forces report by April 2026.  One of the key actions I specified in the recently published strategic framework was the need for the Defence Forces to submit a civilisation strategy for my approval not later than July this year. This will identify the different roles and approach to significantly increasing the scale and numbers of civilians working within our Defence Forces to support our Defence Forces personnel carrying out military tasks. It is very important, when we talk about increasing our numbers, that we focus on the fact we have quite a low percentage of female members in our Defence Forces. There will be specific targeted campaigns to not just highlight this is a career and opportunity for women but also to show that when it comes to many of the challenging issues that have arisen in the recent past and are still ongoing, whether it is cultural issues or sexual assault that has taken place, we are responding decisively and are acting on this. There is cultural change taking place and being driven by a body chaired by Patricia King and many others. I am committed to working with them in making sure people know when they come into the Defence Forces that these issues are being addressed, are being taken seriously and that every person knows they have a place and will be respected when they come to work every day. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brendan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","memberCode":"Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brendan Smith  I thank the Minister for her reply. Again, it is important we recognise there has been stabilisation in the whole defence numbers, with a welcome increase also.  Recent programmes for Government gave a welcome commitment to build on improvements in the recruitment process and, as the Minister rightly referred to, better representation of women at all levels of the Defence Forces. Are there any particular additional measures being proposed this year to implement those commitments?  Some years ago, there was a ludicrous position where people had to leave after 20 years and there was the age limit. Are there any considerations being given to changing the age limit with regard to retirement? When we had a very heavy Army presence in the Cavan-Monaghan area with two barracks, many relatively young people, unfortunately, had to leave the Army because they reached a certain age. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  There are several things happening that we need to see continue to encourage more and enhance greater uptake when it comes to those who wish to join the Defence Forces. I have said the numbers wishing to join are pretty substantial, but it is about then translating them. My focus this year is making sure we have the accommodation we need for training and that we have enough personnel for those in our Defence Forces carrying out the training. There were changes made recently to provide allowances in that regard. It is important that those changes were made, but where more needs to be done, that is my focus this year in supporting the Defence Forces.  I acknowledge there is an ambition there within the Defence Forces to reach these targets and to go beyond that, because we all want to be ambitious in this regard. As I said, for female participation, there will be targeted campaigns and a particular focus on how we can encourage more women into the Defence Forces, but also how we can make sure they are reflective of the entire community we now live in and the new communities who have come to Ireland. We need to see in our Defence Forces what we see in our own communities. Several actions have already been taken in terms of the increase in recruitment and with the retirement age. The anecdotal evidence is we are starting to see that having an impact and helping when it comes to recruitment and retention, but anything that has changed recently will take time to see the overall impact of those retirement age changes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brendan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","memberCode":"Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brendan Smith  I thank the Minister and very much welcome her emphasis on a greater increase in diversity within the Defence Forces.  In my constituency, my colleague Senator Diarmuid Wilson is a member of the defence and security committee and attended the event in Renmore Barracks last week. Several people referred to that particular event over the weekend at clinics and other gatherings I was at. This shows the general interest among the public in the well-being of our Defence Forces. It was good to see those people, the chaplain and his colleagues, being honoured in view of the very serious incident they faced. It is important that that good message, that the State looks after its members and cares for those who have faced particular challenges and have shown great bravery, is put out in the public domain. That was a good event and great credit is due to the Army and Department of Defence in organising it. People should be honoured when they go beyond the call of duty and take on specific challenges. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  The Deputy has given me an opportunity to again acknowledge Fr. Paul Murphy and his four colleagues who came to his aid so bravely and unarmed when responding to what was a vicious and violent attack. Last week, I had the honour, with the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces,of presenting them with the distinguished service medals. This is something that is not given out to everybody. This recognised their bravery, but more broadly, the way in which members of our Defence Forces go about their work and put themselves at risk and in danger in the protection of our State and in the protection of those they serve, which is each and every one of us. It is important to have these ceremonies to recognise when Defence Force members carry out these acts of bravery but also to recognise those who support them. As the Deputy said, it was a very positive day not just for those members but also for their family members and for the whole barracks, because this was something that was celebrated more widely. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 152 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Defence Forces"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/dbsect_26","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Defence Forces","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/dbsect_21","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_26","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tom Brabazon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_26.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tom Brabazon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tom Brabazon  As we all know in this House, members of the Irish Defence Forces serve the State at home and overseas in often high-risk and demanding roles. The level of commitment from Defence Forces must be matched by fair and sustainable working conditions. The Minister will be aware Ireland was recently found to be in non-compliance with the European Social Charter as regards the workplace conditions of Irish Defence Forces personnel. Will the Minister please advise the House how the new strategic framework for the transformation of the Defence Forces will improve Defence Forces working conditions? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  The strategic framework, which I published on 10 February, highlights my Department's plans over the next 12 months to further improve working conditions within the Defence Forces. This is a commitment I will continue to champion, as will the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, for defence and the Defence Forces. The key actions and outcomes to be delivered specifically include, first, career and talent processes and promotion systems. It is very important we see more of that and more opportunities for members. There will be policies to transform career and talent processes and promotion systems, developed by the Defence Forces, which will be submitted to me as Minister for approval, along with plans for implementation.  There will be a new process of culture surveys, of which we have already had the first with the Value Our People survey. This is the largest ever survey carried out with Defence Forces members and with the largest response ever. This looked at challenges members face, issues they feel impact on their ability to conduct their duties, reasons they would stay, what would encourage them to go and all these different types of questions. It is important we engage in these surveys to see what underlying issues there might be.  Annual climate and continuous attitude surveys like this look at morale, the command climate and underlying cultures, and they will be continued to be carried out. I think that every year we need to look at what more we need to ask and how we can respond to those kinds of question. The content and the proposed timeline for the surveys are to be submitted to the external oversight body. Flexible work practices are going to be looked at, in that the Defence Forces are tasked with making organisational changes to allow more flexible service and flexible work arrangements, with a pilot programme implemented in the coming months. Family-friendly policies are also being looked at, with extensions and enhancement of existing family-friendly policies to the greatest extent practicable. For example, we will consider the matter of overseas postings in recognition of the challenges faced by members where there may be caring responsibilities, including single parents or parents of children with disabilities, among others. There are gender perspective policies and actions. This involves the removal of gendered rules, regulations and standards that are unfavourable to women and others who do not fit the perceived norm. Finally, there are medical service reviews. These will see the development of an action plan to implement the recommendations arising from the review of medical services provided in the Defence Forces and commencing the implementation of that.  These are just a number of the actions specifically in the strategic plan that are focused on how we can support and make better changes to enhance the working environment for our Defence Forces members. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tom Brabazon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tom Brabazon  I thank the Minister for her reply. She will be aware that Defence Forces members frequently work irregular and extended hours. Compensation arrangements for overtime and public holiday duties have been a long-standing concern for members and must be addressed. Fair remuneration for additional hours worked is central to improving morale and retaining skilled personnel.  The bottom line is that a lot of work needs to be done to ensure our members have adequate working conditions. Members of the Defence Forces sacrifice so much to serve and protect our country and Irish citizens. Working conditions are essential to recruitment, retention and, without a doubt, the morale of members. The State must meet the standards that members show. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I answered a question on this earlier, specifically around the committee, its recommendations and the working times. Where members work additional or irregular hours, they are compensated through allowances and structured systems of compensatory rest. This is an element that addresses the time issue. In addition, the pensionable military service allowance, which is designed to compensate for the special disadvantages associated with military life, including the long and unsociable hours, is paid to all ranks up to the level of colonel. That military service allowance is also a pensionable allowance. While I fully accept the ECSR outcome, what I want to do now is look at the structures that are in place, the way in which members are paid for the additional or irregular hours, such as the bank holidays and the various different times, and how all of that aligns with the overall ruling of the committee in the last few weeks. I am committed to making sure that we are compliant. Obviously, we would work with the representative associations that are supporting their members and that brought forward that particular case. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tom Brabazon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tom Brabazon  I am happy with that reply. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 154 to 161, inclusive, taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Defence Forces"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/dbsect_27","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Defence Forces","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/dbsect_21","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_27","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_27.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  What progress has been made in relation to those investigations that fall under the Minister's remit? I refer to the huge loss of Private Se\u00e1n Rooney to his community, family, friends and comrades. I am talking about everybody in Newtowncunningham and across Dundalk. It is a matter of ensuring that we see the State playing its part in delivering truth and justice for the family of Private Se\u00e1n Rooney. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I want to acknowledge Private Se\u00e1n Rooney and the ultimate sacrifice he paid in his duty and service in the Lebanon and, of course, those who were with him on the day and who also suffered after what happened in the attack. I am absolutely committed to following on from the commitment of my predecessors, and everyone in this Chamber, in ensuring that we uncover the truth and get justice for Private Rooney, in particular for his family. I had an opportunity recently to meet the foreign affairs minister from Lebanon on a trip to Brussels. This is a case that I raised specifically with him and I asked for their continued support and engagement in trying to uncover the truth. In any engagement subsequent that I will have with my Lebanese counterparts, this will be raised.  More broadly, it raises the case of how we ensure that our Defence Forces personnel are supported and protected when they are on peacekeeping missions or otherwise out doing their duty. We need to make sure this is the case, whether they are serving on peacekeeping missions or whether they are at home carrying out their duties more broadly.  We will continue to engage with the Lebanese Government. We will continue to engage insofar as we possibly can on the ground to identify what has happened here to make sure that Private Rooney's family find the truth and get the justice they deserve. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I appreciate the sentiment and the promises the Minister has made. It is very important that we engage with the Lebanese. They made a number of promises, first of all to do everything they could with regard to apprehending Mohammad Ayyad, who was found guilty of the murder of Private Se\u00e1n Rooney, and to appeal those other cases. I do not think anybody within this entire building or anyone you were to talk to throughout Ireland would be happy with the results. Some of the sentences were particularly disgraceful. What is the update in that regard? If the Minister does not have it, perhaps I can get it in writing.  There is an engagement with the UN. Beyond that, we had the independent inquiry by Mr. Michael Delaney SC. Where is that at? It is vital that we have learnings from what happened to Private Se\u00e1n Rooney, Trooper Shane Kearney and all those involved. We need to ensure that we have best practice, that we have truth and justice for the family, especially for Se\u00e1n's mother, Natasha, and that we learn what we can from what was a dreadful incident. It would have been a lot worse had it not been for the bravery of Private Se\u00e1n Rooney. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  It is very difficult for family members when this has been going on for longer than any of us would like. I would like to be able to give the Deputy a fuller update on the floor this evening, but unfortunately there are a number of different processes under way at home as well as our engagement with the Lebanese forces and the Government there and with the UN, as the Deputy mentioned. Whenever an incident occurs, particularly one of this magnitude, it is essential that the UN engage with us so that we can work with it on making sure that there is a very clear and firm response and that where changes or adaptations need to be made to any mission to make sure that troops are kept safe, that is the case as well.  There are a number of different strands under way at the moment. I appreciate how difficult this is for Private Rooney's family and for the other families as we are going through these different stages. It is my intention, as it is the Deputy's and everybody else's here, to get the answers we need as soon as possible so that we hopefully find ourselves in a situation where this does not happen again to any of our troops. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I agree with the Minister. I certainly hope that we do not have to deal with many more cases like that of Private Se\u00e1n Rooney, who made the ultimate sacrifice. It is necessary that the State would follow through on that sacrifice.  I accept what the Minister has said about there being many strands in operation. Perhaps I could be updated on where that independent investigation is and be given whatever information can be provided on the engagement with and progress by, or lack thereof, the Lebanese. That can be provided in writing.  While I am here, and although I will be following up on this with the Minister later, are there any plans for updating the Army Pensions Act? I know there is a particular issue that is being dealt with and there is engagement with the Department at the minute. This is about ensuring that all families are treated right, particularly of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. That is the piece we need to do in both life and death. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  I am happy to keep the Deputy updated on matters, first and foremost to keep the family updated and working closely with the Defence Forces. I am happy to update the Deputy on this and on any other matters relating to pensions. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 163 to 185, inclusive, taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Defence Forces"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/dbsect_28","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Defence Forces","counts":{"speechCount":3,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/dbsect_21","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_28","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_28.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  Will the Minister indicate whether there are plans - because there should be plans - to revise the Army Pensions Act and ensure fair treatment for families? There is a very particular issue that I have dealt with before. I know there is interaction between the man's family and the Department. I will not get into the specifics of that but in the long term we need to update that legislation to ensure we do right by the families of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan)  The Minister may give a response. That is all we have time for. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Helen McEntee","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","memberCode":"Helen-McEntee.D.2013-03-27","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Helen McEntee  Like the Deputy, I will not get into specific details. I do not think it would be appropriate. I want to ensure we have legislation that ensures every member of the Defence Forces and their families are treated equally when it comes to pensions, particularly where a tragic incident has occurred. It is something I am engaging on and open to engaging on but I will not get into the specifics. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Is f\u00e9idir teacht ar Cheisteanna Scr\u00edofa ar www.oireachtas.ie. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Written Answers are published on the Oireachtas website. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Defence Forces"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/dbsect_29","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_29","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-O'Sullivan.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan)  I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case:  Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty - To discuss preservation of the GAA pitch at St. Mary's Boys' National School, Lucan.  Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher - To discuss an application for port listing of Killybegs in line with new regulations.  Deputy John Paul O'Shea - To discuss delays in waiting times for outpatient appointments with consultant orthopaedic surgeons in Cork.  Deputy Barry Ward - To discuss the use of HVO fuel in private cars.  Deputy Malcolm Byrne - To discuss the review of the Garda vetting process and planned measures for simplification.  Deputy Louise O'Reilly - To discuss funding for provision of community-based housing for adults with disabilities in Dublin Fingal West.  Deputy Tom Brabazon - To discuss the principle of pay parity in Irish law.  Deputy Barry Heneghan - To discuss the north city arterial water main works due to commence in north Dublin.  Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa - To discuss the provision of school accommodation at St. Mochta's National School, Louth village.  Deputy Joanna Byrne - To discuss funding for the breakfast club for St. Paul's SNS, Drogheda, County Louth.  Deputy Maurice Quinlivan - To discuss the lack of a sexual assault trauma unit in the mid-west region.  Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan - To discuss the reduction of SNA numbers at various schools in Cork.  Deputy Eoghan Kenny - To discuss the SNA review and SNA reallocations.  Deputy Paul Murphy - To discuss the upcoming fixture between Ireland and Israel in the Nations League.  Deputy Paula Butterly - To discuss ongoing inequities in pay for principals of special schools.  Deputy Jennifer Whitmore - To discuss Go Ahead services in Wicklow.  Deputy Alan Kelly - To discuss the need for extra resources for An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na in the mid-west.  Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan - To discuss funding to local councils to repair damage to roads surfaces.  Deputy Louis O'Hara - To discuss cuts to special needs assistant positions in schools.  Deputy Roderic O'Gorman - To discuss the omission of projects for primary schools in Dublin 7 from the Department of education sectoral plan for 2026 and 2027.  Deputy Ruth Coppinger - To discuss the calls on the FAI not to play Israel in upcoming Nations League fixtures.  Deputy Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in - To discuss funding to local councils to repair damage to roads surfaces.  Deputy Thomas Gould - To discuss the downgrading of need in Cork schools and the cuts to SNA provision.  Deputy Gary Gannon - To discuss the urgent critical expansion required at the Rotunda hospital.  Deputies David Cullinane, Conor D. McGuinness - To discuss the allocation of special needs assistants in County Waterford.  Deputy Danny Healy-Rae - To discuss the reduction in SNAs in national schools, in particular in Kerry.  Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett - To discuss the reduction of SNAs in schools in D\u00fan Laoghaire and nationwide.  The matters raised by Deputies Paul Nicholas Gogarty, Gary Gannon, Barry Ward, Tom Brabazon and Maurice Quinlivan have been selected for discussion. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/dbsect_30","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_30","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/dbsect_31","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"School Accommodation","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/dbsect_30","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_30","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_31","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Aire St\u00e1it. I am aware the Minister, Deputy Naughton, cannot be here tonight and has indicated the same. I hope the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, will pass on my sentiments. I know he will have a prepared statement from the Minister.  I will provide context for the Minister of State and to put it on the record. St. Mary's Boys' National School is a popular primary school in the old Lucan area with over 500 students. It was initially a small, traditional-type school and then in the 1970s they built a three-storey building. I attended that school, as did my son, so I am hugely familiar with it. It is down in a valley. It is antiquated in some ways, though they have had a couple of modular buildings added onto it. It is the envy of many other schools because of the playing pitch it has. This is a huge amenity. During Covid, anyone within 2 km was down on that pitch. Kids were running around, keeping their distance. One of the local GAA clubs uses the ball wall and the pitches regularly. Cumann na mBunscol matches are on. There are many amenities on the site when it is not raining.  The school community has been hugely welcoming in terms of trying to get the two modular buildings for children with autism spectrum disorder, ASD. The issue is the discussions with the Department have not gone the way the school anticipated. It is on a very sensitive site because it is beside the special amenity area for the Liffey Valley. It is a flood risk of close to one in 1,000 years but it is a walled school which has its own natural safety features. The design of any type of building could keep flood risks at bay.  The school's preferred option was at the back of the school in the tarmac part of the yard so it could keep the ball wall and the pitch. The Department came back and suggested an alternative site. It wants to eat into the grass pitch. The school suggested the two modular units be located close to an existing prefab in need of refurbishment. At a meeting with the school, the Department said the application to refurbish this other building is totally separate; however, there is a synergy involved because it is putting all the children in one area and providing access to the amenities in one location. There are many benefits to that. Crucially, it does not go onto the pitch. That is the nub of the issue.  We have had discussions. There was an online meeting with the Department on 6 February. It did not go the way the school had hoped. It had done a consultant's report last summer and put in proposals. At the meeting, the Department basically said the other application is not a priority and the only priority is the two modular buildings that have been sanctioned. The Department gave the board until last Friday to confirm whether it consents and stated that if the school disagrees with the proposal, it will have to talk to the patron and consider taking legal action. That is a very negative way to deal with a school that is only trying to look after the health, safety and well-being of all its more than 500 pupils. Surely, we need a solution that works for everyone, to keep at it until we find something and not to get rid of that pitch. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kieran O'Donnell)  I would like to thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. I am taking this matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Youth, Deputy Naughton. It gives the Department of Education and Youth the opportunity to discuss St. Mary\u2019s Boys' National School, Lucan. I can see the Deputy has a deep personal interest, apart from being a TD for the area. I will give him the answer I have been provided with. If there are particular matters he wishes me to take back, I will deal with those on the conclusion.  The Deputy will be aware St. Mary\u2019s Boys' National School, Lucan, is under the patronage of the archdiocese of Dublin. The school is in the Lucan school planning area. It had an enrolment in September 2025 of 495 pupils and a staffing of 21 mainstream teachers and three special class teachers.  In June 2022, the school was given approval under the additional school accommodation, ASA, scheme for a traditional build project to deliver four mainstream classrooms, three special education tuition rooms, two special education classrooms and one universal access WC, along with the repurposing of existing accommodation to create one special education classroom. This project was devolved to the school authorities for delivery and it is currently at stage 1 - preliminary design.  The purpose of the ASA scheme is to ensure essential mainstream classroom and special education needs, SEN, accommodation is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year where the need cannot be met by the school\u2019s existing accommodation.  In March 2025, the school was sanctioned additional special education classes by the National Council for Special Education. The Department\u2019s planning and building unit engaged with the school authorities with a view to encouraging the school to apply for the ASA scheme. On foot of this application the school was assessed to determine the best accommodation options available for special class provision and it was proposed that the Department\u2019s modular framework would be utilised due to the demand for classes in the area. The modular framework involves the use of project management supports, which are designed to enable the accommodation to be provided as quickly as possible and ease the administrative workload for school authorities in relation to the management and delivery of projects.  The Department-appointed project manager visited the school and engaged with the school authorities in relation to the location of the proposed modular accommodation. The school authorities were anxious to preserve as much of the green area available at the school, which the Deputy mentioned, as possible and the Department endeavoured to facilitate this.  The site in question is challenging for many reasons due to its close proximity to the Liffey Valley proposed natural heritage area. It is within a designated riparian corridor and a flood risk zone. Officials from the Department met with the school authorities on the issues on a number of occasions to try to progress the project. There are fire safety considerations which also have to be addressed when considering the location of the modular accommodation due to the requirement for a turning circle for emergency services and proximity to a fire hydrant.  More recently, the school asked for another modular unit to be provided, along with the project currently under consideration, for the replacement of a prefab on site. The school authorities were advised that consideration of this would not be possible at this time.  The Department of Education and Youth recently published the \u20ac7.55 billion NDP sectoral investment plan for the education and youth sectors for the period 2026 to 2030. The plan involves a very strong emphasis on maximising existing capacity and prioritisation of school building projects to meet the urgent need.  At a recent meeting with the school authorities, departmental officials outlined that there was only one viable option available for the progression of modular accommodation at the school when considering the funding available to the Department and the site in question. The school authorities were reminded of the high need for special class places in the area and, to try to provide the necessary classes, it was agreed that a deadline of February 13 was required, as the Deputy referenced.  The Deputy will appreciate that the Department has been working with the school authorities for just under a year to try to progress the project. There is a degree of urgency due to the need in the area. Furthermore, the modular project being proposed would still leave the school with a large amount of green space available for use. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  As I said, I know the area very well. The consultants for the school pointed out that the entire site is within the riparian corridor. What the Department of education is proposing and what the school proposed are both within that. That, therefore, cannot be used as a viable excuse for not looking at an alternate site. The school is worried that the three ASD classes will be disjointed if two are at the front of the school and one is at the rear. Basically, in the context of value for money, money is being thrown down the drain for works that will be required down the line, possibly at greater cost, if this is not looked at now.  There are two separate things to look at in this regard. First, it is common sense to have the three buildings conjoined and the works carried out in a cost-effective way. Notwithstanding that, it is equally important that green space should not be built on. The response that there will still be green space does not take away from the fact that the pitch will be gone for those junior kids. There is not enough green space left for a junior-size GAA, rugby or soccer match if that is eaten into.  A lot of schools in the Lucan area do not even have a pitch, but taking this space away to make it like every other school is not the way to treat a school community. That is a huge resource and, with a little bit of joined-up thinking, we could still get the modular buildings in. I ask the Minister of State to reconsider this from a cost-effectiveness point of view and build these three units together holistically. Separately, the Department should go back to the drawing board and have further discussions because some of the arguments being used do not wash when they are added up. Ultimately, we are looking out for the best interests of the children, both those going into the ASD classes and the 500-plus students who use the existing amenity. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kieran O'Donnell  I thank Deputy Gogarty for the opportunity to outline the position in relation St. Mary's Boys National School, Lucan. As I stated, I am talking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Education and Youth, Deputy Hildegarde Naughton. I assure the Deputy that the Department of education has worked closely with the school authorities in relation to the school application for additional school accommodation, and it will continue to do so. The Department is cognisant of the concerns of the school in respect of its green space. Officials have tried to preserve as much of the area as possible while working within a challenging site in terms of available options. The Deputy will appreciate that the Department is required to utilise the funding available to it to ensure that every child has access to a school place. Indeed, there is a large demand for special class provision in the Lucan school planning area. The Department encourages the school authorities to engage with it directly about its concerns.  I will take the matters the Deputy raised back to the Minister, Deputy Naughton. I have no doubt the Deputy will follow up in his own way, maybe via email, and correspond with the Minister in respect of the precise proposals he is putting forward. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"School Accommodation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/dbsect_32","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Hospital Facilities","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/dbsect_30","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_30","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_32","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  I thank the Minister of State for taking this Topical Issue. It is ironic that he holds the role as Minister of State with responsibility for older people when my Topical Issue relates to people on the other end of the life cycle. There is a desperate need for critical care expansion at the Rotunda Hospital.  All of us have childhood memories that will stay with us for life. Mine come from about 31 years ago. My two younger brothers, Alan and Paul, were born quite prematurely, each weighing about 1 lb or 1.5 lb, and spent months of their life in the critical care unit at the Rotunda Hospital. They grew up big and strong and they were looked after incredibly well. I have memories of the hospital and the critical care unit at that time as an older, antiquated building. In recent years, I have been going back to meet the masters of the hospital and management team as they started to develop their ideas around expansion, particularly in the last six or seven months when it became clear there were going to be objections to the expansion. What strikes me is that in my memory the hospital and critical care unit from 31 years ago looked almost exactly the same then as it appears today. While the machines have been modernised, as will happen with machines, the space in which critical care is afforded has not. Some 9,000 children are brought to life in the Rotunda Hospital every year. Not only does it care for the most vulnerable babies in this city, but babies in critical care from all over the country are sent to the Rotunda Hospital. The clinicians, midwives, master of the hospital and management teams are exceptional. They have a real sense of place and purpose. Every time I walk into that hospital, I am just blown away by the care they give.  On Friday, like everyone across the Chamber - I am not the exception \u2013 I was furious that the desperately needed expansion at the Rotunda Hospital was declined by An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la. I also heard Ministers, and the Taoiseach, convey their frustrations in that regard. It was declined after approval had been given by Dublin City Council and despite the fact that an coimisi\u00fan\u2019s own inspectorate report stated that this progression is desperately needed. It was declined on the basis of architectural preservation, given that the Rotunda Hospital is in the centre of what is Georgian Dublin. The Rotunda Hospital was there first, however. It features in a 1795 picture just behind us on the wall of the Chamber where it is described as the lying-in hospital. I find it unfathomable that anyone could walk into the critical care unit of the Rotunda Hospital, understand the need and then turn around and object to its development into a modern hospital appropriate both to the needs of babies and women\u2019s healthcare in this city.  The State and Government have some responsibility in this regard. That needs to be accepted and rectified. In the end, the decision by An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la states very clearly, despite the Minister, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, claiming otherwise earlier, the reason this was turned down. It stated:  Government Policy is to co-locate the Rotunda in the medium to longer term with Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown, by which time the adverse impact caused by the development as proposed to the character and setting of Protected Structures and the Georgian Conservation Area, could not be undone.  The only protected structures that should be prioritised are the babies in those incubators. The co-location plan with Connolly Hospital is never going to happen. There is already a co-location happening between the Rotunda Hospital and the Mater hospital. There are blue pathways that are needed. What are we doing to do? I am happy to work collaboratively in this regard, as is everyone in the Chamber. I understand the Minister of State will read a response. We will see what we can do from there. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kieran O'Donnell  I thank Deputy Gannon for the opportunity to address the need for a new critical care wing at the Rotunda Hospital. I am taking this matter on behalf of Minister for Health, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. The Government is committed to driving improvements and continued investment in the Rotunda Hospital. Providing the highest possible standard of care at the Rotunda campus is a priority for the Minister for Health. This includes ongoing capital developments at the site to manage the current and future needs of women and babies.  The Rotunda Hospital is one of the busiest maternity hospitals in Europe. More than 8,600 babies were delivered there in 2025, and more than 1,300 babies were cared for in the hospital\u2019s neonatal intensive care unit, NICU. The Rotunda Hospital provides 25% of the neonatal care capacity in the State. This includes the most critically ill babies, many of whom must be transferred from other hospitals to receive the specialist care they need.  The planned critical care wing at Parnell Square west is critical to provide essential upgrades to the existing Rotunda campus to meet high-priority clinical needs. The new wing would provide additional NICU capacity, single-room beds and a new theatre. This development would increase capacity at the hospital to provide safe and appropriate care for an increasing number of presentations, including the most critically ill babies. It would address the space shortages that restrict our capacity to deliver critical services to very sick babies and wrap-around supports to their mothers and fathers.  In this context, the decision of An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la to overturn the position of Dublin City Council and refuse planning permission for this urgent, critically needed expansion is deeply disappointing, particularly when we have had positive decisions accepting the public benefit of the development all the way through the process. Our priority now is to ensure the delivery of appropriate neonatal expansion at the Rotunda Hospital as quickly as possible. The Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, will meet with the master of the Rotunda, Professor Sean Daly, in the next two weeks once he has had an opportunity to consider all options available to him, as he is the applicant for planning.  The Minister will also continue to work with the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, Deputy Chambers, to ensure that health infrastructure is fully recognised as critical infrastructure within the forthcoming reforms arising from the Accelerating Infrastructure - Report and Action Plan. We are committed to providing support for the hospital in meeting the current and future needs of women and babies at the current Rotunda site.  The hospital budget has increased to \u20ac109 million in 2025. This is an increase of 47%, or \u20ac35 million, since 2020. The HSE purchased an additional building, Hampson House, to extend capacity, which officially opened in January 2025. Over 100,000 outpatient and ambulatory patients are expected to attend annually. A range of service improvements are also being driven by the hospital and through the national maternity strategy.  The Minister for Health visited the Rotunda in June 2025 to launch a new neonatal intensive care unit, NICU, resource for parents, and again in January this year to welcome a new foetal surgery service. Following Government investment, the Rotunda has also been working closely with hospitals across Dublin to establish a new community post-natal hub service for women and infants following birth, which is being launched next week. We will continue to support the Rotunda with these initiatives as it strives to meet the needs of the women, infants and families it serves. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  I thank the Minister of State for his response. I listened carefully to it and read the words. I heard the Taoiseach today and listened to the Minister for Health on the radio this morning. Everybody shares the frustration. I understand the Minister is going to meet the master of the Rotunda, Professor Sean Daly, in two weeks. I met him yesterday. It is vital that when the Minister for Health goes to meet the master of the Rotunda, she brings options to the table. What we need here is not just collective lamentation about how frustrated we are and how wrong this decision is. We need to know how we can now speed up the process.  The Taoiseach today talked about emergency critical infrastructure legislation. That is brilliant; it is fantastic. He asked for support from around the House. The Government will have full support if we can have some innovations in legislation to provide for critical healthcare capacity and move this along fast. I do not doubt for a second that the human care being provided in the Rotunda Hospital is second to none. What is lacking is infrastructural assets. What we need now is a collective agreement that if emergency legislation is needed, we will do it fast. We are talking about one of the busiest maternity hospitals in Europe. We are talking about a maternity hospital that provides care to an incredibly vulnerable cohort in its immediate vicinity and a vulnerable cohort nationwide of babies who require critical care.  If the Minister of State were to take a message back to the Minister from me, I would ask her to act with urgency, to be innovative in her approach and, when she meets with the master of the Rotunda in two weeks' time, to bring options to the table because the staff, clinicians and midwives in the Rotunda Hospital have done everything to this point. The preservation of architecture is never more important than the preservation of life. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kieran O'Donnell  Once again, I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. As I said, I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. The Government is clear that we need increased capacity at the Rotunda to ensure it can meet the needs of women, infants and families in the short term. My priority, and that of the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, is to work with the master, Professor Sean Daly, in making sure we take the correct steps to deliver appropriate neonatal care for the Rotunda as quickly as possible.  The Minister has spoken of her disappointment at the decision by An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la, which references the longer term plans to relocate the hospital. To be frank, the time needed to co-locate the Rotunda with another acute adult hospital would by far exceed the delivery time of this new critical care unit, which is needed now. The successful relocation of the Rotunda will require a strategic reassessment of prevailing conditions and factors that impact the project at the time of the planned relocation. This would also need to be viewed in the wider context of all hospitals in the region, including Connolly Hospital. The Rotunda is currently working closing with the Mater hospital, a model 4 hospital that the Deputy referenced. It has a protected blue light corridor to provide adult acute services when needed.  The priority now is to support the Rotunda to continue to provide essential maternity and neonatal services. Given the importance of infrastructure to Ireland's social and economic success, under an ambitious plan under the revised national development plan, all stakeholders need to engage willingly in open dialogue around planning concerns. The health needs of women and infants presenting to our service are increasingly complex and the National Maternity Strategy 2016-2026 is in its final year. It has been driving national reforms across our services to better meet these needs.  We have committed in the programme for Government to developing a successor to the national maternity strategy. It will consider a broad evidence base and will involve policy considerations that may have evolved since the first strategy was initiated ten years ago.  I will bring back the specific points raised by the Deputy to the Minister. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Hospital Facilities"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/dbsect_33","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Motor Fuels","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/dbsect_30","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_30","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_33","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  The issue I raise is hydrotreated vegetable oil, HVO, which is an alternative to diesel. It is an extraordinary product that comes from the treatment of plant matter with hydrogen. I am not going to pretend for a moment that I understand how it works, but I know that the product that results from it is interchangeable with diesel in cars, for example, and results in a 90% reduction in carbon emissions when it is used.  We have this fuel and 20% of the global output, which is over 30 million tonnes, originates within the European Union. It is sustainable from the point of view of carbon emissions, the sourcing of the fuel and energy security within the European Union. It is a fuel that is key to making our targets under the obligation to reduce our carbon emissions by 50% by 2030. It is committed to in the programme for Government, which specifically commits to increasing the use of HVO and carbon-reducing fuels. It also commits to better tracking to ensure HVO comes from sustainable sources, reviewing tax policy to encourage HVO use and engaging with the EU to allow incentives for low-emission fuels. All of that is great, but at the moment HVO is subject essentially to the same tax regime as its much more carbon-heavy cousin, the traditional diesel that is put into cars.  HVO does not result in a drop in performance or damage to the engine. It is endorsed by major car manufacturers. It is used by large companies, including the Dublin Airport Authority and Sisk contractors. It is already in use. It is available on forecourts in centres such as Maxol in Inver.  This is the real question: why are we charging the same rate of tax on HVO as we are on diesel when there are myriad benefits to using HVO instead of diesel and when we are reducing our carbon emissions by 90%? We are not losing anything and are using a sustainable fuel that can be sourced right here in the European Union. The fuel is subject to 23% VAT, which I do not really have a problem with. It is also subject to the biofuels levy, which, at 0.1 of a cent per litre, is not a big deal. However, it is also subject to the mineral oil tax. HVO biofuel substituted for auto diesel is subject to the same non-carbon component of excise. That makes no sense at all. We have committed in the programme for Government to going down the road of finding alternative fuels that are going to reduce our emissions. Let us be honest, transport is one of the major sources of emissions in this country. I should say that HVO is taxed less through VAT when it is used as home heating oil, but as a vehicle fuel it is taxed at the same rate as diesel. Why are we not saying that this is a way we can address one of the major sources of carbon emissions in Ireland, that is, transport? This fuel can be used in buses and cars. Whatever uses diesel can also use HVO.  Everybody in this House knows how important it is that we meet those 2030 targets. It is important not just because of the financial aspect of the potential fines, which will increase as the availability of carbon emissions trading reduces, but also because the value of making those targets to secure this country and this world against the effects of climate change is enormous. If we are serious about that, why are we saying to people who are using diesel cars or diesel fuel that it does not matter if they use HVO or diesel, when we know that, in fact, it does matter? Why are we telling them they will pay the same amount of tax and the same levies, and that it will cost them the same to use diesel, which is a massive pollutant, as HVO, which has 90% less carbon emissions?  Can we not get our act together enough to implement the promises we made in the programme for Government to make it easier for people to chose the sustainable fuel that HVO is? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kieran O'Donnell  I thank the Deputy for raising this matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Transport, Deputy O\u2019Brien. I will give the Deputy the response I have, but I will bring the particular point he raised back to the Minister. I suggest that the Deputy follow up himself and write to the Minister on the point in question.  Renewable fuel is a vital transitionary measure in transport decarbonisation, falling under the improve dimension of the avoid-shift-improve framework adopted under the Climate Action Plan 2024. As the shift to electrification and further increases in public transport and active travel are fully realised, sustainable renewable transport fuels provide immediate climate change mitigation utilising the existing vehicle fleet. The supply of renewable transport fuels such as HVO in the transport sector in Ireland is driven by the climate action plan biofuel blending targets for 10% ethanol in petrol and 20% biodiesel equivalent in diesel by 2030, as well as European targets for the total renewable energy share in transport consumption of 24% by 2030. These targets are implemented through the renewable transport fuel obligation, RTFO, which places a statutory obligation on suppliers of road transport fuels to ensure that a proportion of the fuels they place on the market in Ireland is produced from renewable sources. The National Oil Reserves Agency, NORA, is responsible for administration of the RTFO.  The Renewable Transport Fuel Policy 2025-2027 sets out a pathway to incentivise supply of renewable fuel in transport through annual increases in the RTFO rate to 2030, as well as ensuring that EU sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions reduction criteria are adhered to. The policy is supported by analysis and modelling by NORA and is revised every two years through extensive engagement with the agency and the industry, including fuel suppliers and biofuel producers. The RTFO is the most impactful way to achieve the policy goal of transport decarbonisation in the near term. In 2024, corresponding to an obligation rate of 21% by energy, the RTFO delivered a physical blend of approximately 10% biofuel in diesel supplied to road transport, of which approximately 7% was FAME biodiesel and 3% was HVO. It is expected that further increases in the RTFO rate projected to 2030 under the policy will see a physical blend in the region of 13% HVO in diesel supplied in the State. The 2026 RTFO rate is 32% by energy. This level of biofuel blending within diesel is well within the diesel specification EN590 for EU vehicle compatibility and air quality requirements. It is expected that achieving the CAP biofuel blending goal in 2030 will deliver emissions abatement of 1.08 MtCO2eq. In 2024, biofuel blending delivered an overall saving of approximately 7.1% in lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions from the road transport sector.  Of course, it is essential that biofuels imported into Ireland meet the strict sustainability criteria set out in the EU renewable energy directive for the purpose of environmental protection and emissions reduction. NORA is responsible for ensuring compliance by fuel suppliers with these sustainability criteria, which is assured through an EU sustainability certification framework involving certification of economic operations globally by certification bodies against standards established under EU-approved voluntary schemes. NORA provides ongoing assurance on the sustainability of the current supply of biofuel to Ireland under the RTFO.  Noting the projected future cross-sectoral demand for HVO, under the current renewable transport fuel policy, the Department of Transport has commissioned a study on the hierarchy of use of HVO across transport and other sectors. The study will inform the continued rationale for State intervention through blending targets and incentives to promote the most efficient use of HVO across transport modes and non-transport sectors relative to the alternative renewable energy options in each sector. The study is expected to be completed in quarter 2 of this year. I humbly suggest to the Deputy that this particular vehicle is currently being looked at by the Department. It is obviously an area that could include consideration of his proposal. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Barry-Ward.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Ward  Topical Issue Debates are a really important way that we can raise issues and get direct answers. I entirely respect that the Minister of State is taking a number of matters that do not come under his Department\u2019s remit. However, it is a source of some frustration that the line Minister from the Department is not here because that would be much more useful. I could just have tabled a written question on the matter. It would have been more helpful if a Minister from the Department to which this issue relates had been here.  I appreciate what the Minister of State said. I recognise the veracity of everything in his response and the progress being made. As stated, however, HVO is a perfectly adequate substitute for traditional diesel. It emits 90% less carbon without compromising the energy it provides as fuel for diesel engines. The transport sector is one of the larger emitters of carbon in our economy. In the climate action plan, we have committed to reducing our carbon emissions by 50% by 2030. This is a key way in which we could do that. I do not know whether the decision not to reduce the tax on HVO is based on the loss the Exchequer might suffer as a result. That is fine, but whatever loss the Exchequer suffers would pale in comparison with the fines we will face after 2030 if we do not meet our target of reducing emissions by 50%. Let us get serious about implementing real tax changes, and just not for the sake of it. We must say to consumers that doing this would be to their benefit, not just in terms of the environmental impact or reducing the emissions from their cars but also because they will feel the impact in their pockets. We must also informed that, as well as saving 90% on emissions, it would be cheaper to put HVO into their cars. Let us make this a real choice for consumers who drive diesel cars. Let us make it easy for them to chose a more sustainable and less carbon-emitting fuel. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kieran O'Donnell  I again thank Deputy Ward for raising this matter, which, as stated, I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Transport. The transport sector has a significant role to play in Ireland's transition to a low-carbon society and economy as part of the wider European goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2050. Reducing our historical reliance on imported fossil fuels in transport and switching to alternative fuel technologies will be essential in the context of decarbonising the sector. As outlined, the Department of Transport's Renewable Transport Fuel Policy 2025-2027 is one of the most effective and immediate policy levers available to the Government in this regard. That policy ensures an incremental transition to lower carbon-emitting fuels in transport, largely by using existing vehicle technology.  HVO is one of several renewable transport fuels contributing to transport decarbonisation in Ireland. Indigenous biofuels and biogas also play a key role in Ireland's decarbonisation. Implementation of the renewable transport fuel policy considers the need to support and develop Irish production of biofuels and biogas. Developing Ireland's domestic biofuel supply potential will have benefits for diversity in securing security of supply. It will also have economic and environmental benefits.  It should be noted, particularly in relation to the use of renewable fuels in private cars, that biofuels are also blended with petrol. Increasing the blend of bioethanol in petrol is one of several transport sector measure towards achieving the 50% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030, as set out in the climate action plan. A move to E10 petrol in 2023 is seeing the desired result, with a 9% volume blending of ethanol in petrol in 2024, up from 4.9% volume blending in 2022, as recorded by NORA. Ireland's policy on renewable fuels continues to provide future supply of sustainable advanced biofuels and renewable fuels of non-biological origin.  I will take Deputy Ward's specific point back to the Minister. The Deputy's argument was very effective, but I would have thought a direct communication with the Minister and his office on the matter would assist very much in terms of it being considered in a comprehensive way by the Department of Transport. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Motor Fuels"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/dbsect_34","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Employment Rights","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/dbsect_30","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_30","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_34","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tom Brabazon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tom Brabazon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tom Brabazon  I completely agree with Deputy Ward as regards his frustration. The last time I raised this issue, a different Minister was present. However, I believe the Minister of State has responsibility it, which is a happy coincidence.  The issue in question is section 39 workers. About 50 Northside Home Care Services workers engaged in industrial action during January. They are going to be outside Leinster House at 10 a.m. tomorrow. They have been involved in industrial action because they were reclassified as section 39 workers as a result of a WRC agreement between ICTU, employers and the relevant Departments. This agreement gave other section 39 workers who are healthcare workers and who do the same work as the Northside Home Care Services employees a pay rise. However, the Northside Home Care Services workers did not get a pay rise as a result of a difference that I will explain.  The difference is that because their employer is a private company and had to tender for the work as opposed to another company getting a grant, they are treated differently in employment law. We have always had a principle of equal pay for equal work. The healthcare workers who work for the HSE do exactly the same work as those who work for Northside Home Care Services. What has happened to these workers is completely unjust. They have been left out on a limb and forced to leave the vulnerable people they look after in order to take industrial action. It is really unfortunate. I ask the Minister of State to intervene and possibly meet the workers tomorrow morning when they are outside the gates of the House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kieran O'Donnell  I thank Deputy Brabazon for raising this matter. I am taking it on behalf of the Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill.  At the outset, I would like to recognise the vital contribution that healthcare assistants make to our health system. These staff play an essential role in delivering supports to people with disabilities and to older persons in our communities right across the country. It is important to note that the community and voluntary organisations providing many of the home support services in our communities are independently operated entities. Accordingly, the employment terms and conditions of their staff, provided they comply with general employment law, remain a matter strictly between the employer and employee.  As the Deputy will be aware, an agreement on pay and conditions was reached at the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, on 10 March 2025 between ICTU and the relevant Departments. This agreement provided funding to health and social care and the homeless sector employers to deliver a 9.25% pay increase, in line with the Public Service Agreement 2024-2026. This agreement applies to organisations funded under section 39 of the Health Act 2004, section 56 of the Child and Family Agency Act 2013, section 10 of the Housing Act 1988 and section 40 of the Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Agency Act 2023. These organisations operate in the community and voluntary sector and are not public bodies. Only bodies falling within these funding categories were included in the scope of the agreement.  I am aware, however, that many healthcare assistants work in home care services delivered and funded through a competitive tendering process. This is a different mechanism of funding to section 39 service and, as such, they are not covered by the WRC agreement. Services commissioned through tender processes are governed by separate contractual arrangements with providers and any matters relating to these can be addressed through existing procurement frameworks. These organisations are not public bodies and the terms and conditions of employment of these staff, once in line with employment legislation, are strictly between the employer and employee.  The HSE authorisation scheme for the provision of home support services is the formal tendering mechanism the HSE uses to approve and contract providers that are eligible to deliver State-funded home support. Only providers admitted to this scheme can receive HSE funding for hours allocated to clients. For clarity, the Minister for Health does not have an operational role in individual staffing matters. These responsibilities rest with employers, which are legally established separate entities. The Minister\u2019s functions concern national policy, legislation, budgetary allocations and oversight of the health system as a whole.  The matter the Deputy raised concerned a general point. Some funding for the service comes under section 39, as the Deputy is probably aware, and other funding comes via the HSE authorisation scheme. The HSE engaged with Northside Home Care Services on the issue at the time. Ultimately, however, the relationship is between the employer and employee under the HSE authorisation scheme. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tom Brabazon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tom Brabazon  Unfortunately, I do not think the reply will give much solace to the workers who will stand outside in the cold in the morning. The reality is that because of the way the cards have fallen and the agreement before the WRC, through sleight of hand we now have a State-sponsored discrimination between one set of workers who do exactly the same work as another. Even though they are employed by somebody else or are employed in a different way, both are funded by the taxpayer. That is the bottom line. Northside Home Care Services is a charitable organisation that gets all of its funding from the State. There is no reason on this earth why one healthcare worker helping the elderly in Dublin 5 should be paid or treated differently to another. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kieran O'Donnell  I again thank Deputy Brabazon for raising this matter. As I stated, I am taking the matter on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. I want to acknowledge the great work healthcare assistants do. I also acknowledge the work of the great staff in Northside Home Care Services and the huge contribution they make.  As I stated, there are different mechanisms by which organisations are funded by the State. The WRC agreement was reached with ICTU unions at the time. They are grant aided under section 39, section 56, section 10 and section 40 arrangements. Services commissioned through competitive tender process such as the HSE authorisation scheme operate under separate contractual agreements with individuals and providers. Any matters relating to these can be addressed through existing procurement frameworks.  As I said, these organisations are not public bodies. While they may receive funding from the State to deliver certain services, the terms and conditions of the employment of their staff, once in line with employment law, are strictly between the employer and employee. There was engagement between the HSE and the service. It is up to Northside Home Care Services to interact with staff as the employer. I understand funding came through the authorisation scheme and section 39. There is obviously detail involved. I want to acknowledge the great work done by staff. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa)  Before we continue, I would like to recognise Brendan and Maura Neal, and Maura's children, from Springfield, Massachusetts. They are here with Deputy James O'Connor. They are the son, daughter and grandchildren of Representative Richard Neal, who is known to many in the House. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Employment Rights"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/dbsect_35","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-17\/debate\/dbsect_30","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_30","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_35","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Maurice Quinlivan  In January this year, Ireland South MEP Kathleen Funchion and I met the midwest rape crisis centre in Limerick city. We all know the vital work these centres play in supporting those who have been subjected to gender, domestic and sexual violence. Their focus is on the survivor and what is best for them. Their supports range from therapy and counselling to support for court appearances. In some cases, the volunteers are simply a sounding board and confidant with whom survivors can share their stories. Meeting the executive director was a useful reminder for me of the important role these centres play.  One of the concerns raised with me was that the rape crisis centre midwest has 80 people on its waiting list for counselling support. I hope in a follow-up with the Minister for Health she can liaise with it to help it reduce its waiting list. It must be difficult for those who have suffered such terrible attacks to have that trauma compounded by an absence of counselling support.  What is of utmost concern to me is the absence of sexual assault trauma units in the midwest region. More concerning again is the response I received from the HSE to a parliamentary question last week when I queried this. It advised me that there are currently no plans to establish a sexual assault trauma unit, SATU, in Limerick. I appreciate that there is availability of forensic medical examination in University Hospital Limerick. However, this service is only available in the evening time when somebody presents at the hospital. There is no forensic medical examination available prior to 7 p.m. When a rape or sexual assault occurs in order to protect the integrity of the forensic evidence, the person against whom the crime was committed is advised not to change their clothes, shower, brush their teeth or go to the bathroom. To have suffered such an attack and have to remain as they are for hours afterwards, unable to shower or even brush their teeth seems to me to be a further layer of trauma that could be avoided if a sexual assault trauma unit was available nearby.  If such a heinous crime occurs in Limerick during the morning hours, the assaulted person has limited options. They can wait until the evening to visit the forensic medical examination service or seek transfer to the nearest sexual assault trauma unit in Galway. What happens if a person cannot drive or is still processing the attack and not ready to share their experience with loved ones or a friend? Should they get the bus to Galway or sit in the clothes they were wearing until 7 p.m.?  Unfortunately, for a lot of reasons sexual crime is under reported to An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. Due to the trauma of the attack people sometimes delay reporting such an incident to An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. The lack of a sexual assault trauma unit removes the opportunity for forensically collected evidence to be stored for up to a year, giving the survivor the ability to proceed with making a criminal complaint later, while simultaneously having access to medical assessment and medications. However, if you only to present to a forensic medical examiner you do not receive support services. You only get the use of a kit for evidence-gathering purposes. This is a fundamental difference in how survivors of sexual assaults are treated.  A sexual assault trauma unit is patient-centred and fundamentally focused on the well-being of the patient. It is a more care-based service that provides necessary medication, health assessments and a forensic examination. People can access care without involving An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na as sometimes they may not yet be ready to do. If you have access to a sexual assault trauma unit, you have a dedicated phoneline to call and it is open 24 hours, 365 days a year. If you are raped or sexually assaulted in Limerick, you can dial 999.  Appreciating Limerick's central location within the mid-west region, and that it is a university city with three major campuses and just under 13,000 third-level students, it strikes me as appalling that no sexual assault trauma unit is stationed there for use by the wider mid-west. There are currently six sexual assault trauma units in the State. They are in Cork, Donegal, Galway, Mullingar, Waterford and Dublin. There is an urgent need for more and one should be located in Limerick. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kieran O'Donnell  I thank Deputy Quinlivan for raising this important topic and for the opportunity to speak on an issue of profound importance: timely, compassionate and specialist care for survivors of sexual assault. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. Responding to sexual violence is a responsibility which is shared across Government and Ireland\u2019s sexual assault treatment units, SATUs, play an integral role in this.  Across Ireland, there are six dedicated SATUs, located in Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Mullingar and Waterford, which the Deputy has referenced. In 2025, these units provided care for 1,077 people. The year 2025 saw a reversal in the slight downward trend in overall attendances of previous years, with the largest increase in attendance in Dublin, at 12%. SATUs aim to provide 24-7 access to forensic examinations, medical treatments and trauma-informed support within three hours. SATUs operate within a nationally agreed model of care, underpinned by defined multi-agency guidelines and referral pathways. They provide responsive, patient-centred care for people of all genders and gender identities aged 14 years and over who have experienced rape or sexual assault. Services are delivered in close partnership with key agencies, including Rape Crisis Ireland, An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and Tusla. SATUs offer a range of services, including options for people to access care without the need to engage with An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and for people to store evidence for up to one year, giving them time to consider their reporting intentions in more detail.  The SATUs are geographically distributed to enable any patient nationally to access the service within a three-hour window, optimising both the health and criminal justice responses to sexual crimes. The Government has always been very clear that, regardless of the circumstances in which sexual violence has occurred, a victim of these crimes can and should report their experience to An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. Accessing a SATU within a three-hour timeframe is a HSE national key performance indicator for the service, with a target of 90%. This has been consistently achieved since 2018. The 24-7-365 nature of the SATU service necessitates ongoing monitoring of accessibility and a sustained focus on both infrastructure and workforce.  In addition to accessing the Cork and Galway SATU services within the three-hour timeframe, those in the mid-west can avail of immediate forensic and medical support in Limerick which operates independently of the national SATU network and SATU governance structures. This service provides a local out-of-hours forensic medical examination service for individuals aged 14 years and over but does not currently provide health checks or options for storage of evidence. All patients must be accompanied by a member of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, which initiates access to the service. Victims of sexual assault also have the option of calling the excellent frontline services provided by organisations such as Rape Crisis Ireland, which offers non-judgmental support, a listening ear and information. The work these organisations do in this difficult space must be commended.  SATUs are a key element of the support available in the health sector to victims of rape and sexual assault and, while the demand for this service is unpredictable, it is monitored closely by the HSE. At a national level, the HSE is currently preparing an overview of the SATU infrastructure. This work is expected to inform the strategic healthcare investment framework alignment process and inform future steps.  Did the Deputy say there were eight people on a waiting list for counselling? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Maurice Quinlivan  There are 80. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kieran O'Donnell  It is maybe a matter that the Deputy could bring up with the Minister and we can follow up on it. The HSE is currently preparing a review of the SATU infrastructure. We can feed into that in terms of considering the matter the Deputy has put forward for Limerick. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Maurice Quinlivan  I thank the Minister of State for his response. He knows the situation in UHL well. Those who arrive for the forensic medical examination that he mentioned are accompanied by a member of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. Before they are even treated, people will know they are with the garda\u00ed in the hospital. There is no privacy whatsoever and that has to change. The stark reality is that the service people in Limerick, Clare and Tipperary receive is less than that available to people living near other large cities.  We need to ensure that all those who perpetrate such disgusting, violent and debased crimes face the full force of the law. Giving people the option to make a report at a later date can be a crucial part of this objective. A new \u20ac16 million surgical hub is being developed at the former Scoil Carmel site on O'Connell Avenue in Limerick. A sexual assault trauma unit could and should be established there. It would offer more privacy and, as the Minister of State knows, is literally around the corner from Rape Crisis Ireland's mid-west premises.  After such trauma, people are not always yet ready to engage with the criminal justice system. Having access to a sexual assault trauma unit may allow more survivors to take the brave step of reporting their attacker to the Garda and allow those survivors the space to prepare for the often-arduous criminal justice journey. We need to support those navigating the criminal justice system after having been sexually assaulted. Forcing somebody who has survived a sexual assault to wait for an available room after the assault is no way that a survivor of domestic violence or any other sexual assault should be treated. It is time to put this right.  Before we conclude, I want to note two things. If anyone watching tonight has been a victim of sexual violence, I urge them to speak to somebody about their experience. Organisations such as Rape Crisis Ireland have your best interests at heart. When they are ready to report the crime, they should think of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na or other authorities. When I spoke to survivors, I heard about the incredible support and compassion that was shown to them by trained members of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. They are professionals, often in the divisional protective service unit, and will work closely to support victims. I commend those garda\u00ed for their work. It must be emotionally challenging for them, and I hope they receive all of the necessary supports as they deal with difficult and horrible situations. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kieran O'Donnell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Kieran-O'Donnell.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kieran O'Donnell)  Once again, I thank the Deputy for raising this important topic. I join him in referencing the work done by Rape Crisis Ireland and specially trained garda\u00ed. Will the Deputy come back to us on the 80 people waiting for counselling?  As I stated earlier, I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. The Government remains committed to providing sexual assault treatment units across Ireland to offer safe and confidential services for people who experienced rape or sexual assault. There are six dedicated SATUs located in Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Mullingar and Waterford. SATUs operate within a nationally agreed model of care, underpinned by defined multi-agency guidelines and referral pathways. They provide responsive, patient-centred care for people of all genders and gender identities aged 14 years and over who have experienced rape or sexual assault. Services are delivered in close partnership with key agencies, including Rape Crisis Ireland, An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and Tusla.  SATUs aim to provide 24-7 access to forensic examinations, medical treatments and trauma-informed support within three hours. Accessing a SATU within a three-hour timeframe is a HSE national key performance indicator for the service, with a target of 90%. This has been consistently achieved since 2018. The 24-7-365 nature of the SATU service necessitates ongoing monitoring of accessibility and a sustained focus on both infrastructure and workforce.  In addition to accessing the Cork and Galway SATU services within the three-hour timeframe, those in the mid-west can avail of immediate forensic and medical support in Limerick, which operates independently of the national SATU network and SATU governance structures.  At a national level, the HSE is currently preparing an overview of the SATU infrastructure. I will look to see that Deputy's proposal for an SATU in Limerick is fed into that review. This work is expected to inform the strategic healthcare investment framework alignment process and inform future steps. I expect the Deputy will follow this up with the HSE about this particular review in terms of including Limerick. The Government is committed to the provision of SATUs to ensure timely, compassionate specialist care for survivors of rape and sexual assault. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar athl\u00f3 ar 10.30 p.m. go dt\u00ed 9 a.m., D\u00e9 C\u00e9adaoin, an 18 Feabhra 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The D\u00e1il adjourned at 10.30 p.m. until 9 a.m. on Wednesday, 18 February 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence"}]}}]},"contextDate":"2026-02-17"},{"debateRecord":{"house":{"showAs":"34th D\u00e1il","committeeCode":"","houseCode":"dail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/house\/dail\/34","chamberType":"house","houseNo":"34"},"chamber":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/def\/house\/dail","showAs":"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann"},"lastUpdated":"2026-05-12T02:08:54+00:00","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/main","formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/mul@\/main.xml"},"pdf":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/mul@\/main.pdf"}},"date":"2026-02-12","counts":{"contributorCount":142,"divisionCount":0,"debateSectionCount":41,"questionCount":28,"billCount":3},"debateType":"debate","debateSections":[{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_2","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Revised Estimates for Public Services 2026 - Message from Select Committee","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy David Maxwell)  The Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade has completed its consideration of the following Revised Estimates for public services for the service of the year ending 31 December 2026: Votes 27 - International Co-operation and Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Revised Estimates for Public Services 2026 - Message from Select Committee"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_3","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 1 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_4","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Public Expenditure Policy","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_4","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_4.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  The accelerating infrastructure task force action plan was published towards the end of last year. Key to that plan is the accountability measures referenced in it and how they are implemented. The Minister, Deputy Chambers, might take the opportunity to put on the record of the House the details around accountability measures in that plan and how he intends to enforce and implement them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (Deputy Jack Chambers)  In drafting the accelerating infrastructure report, there was extensive engagement with ministerial and official level colleagues to ensure clear ownership of actions and the expectations for delivery of these actions.  On publication, Departments were required to set out how they will implement the series of actions under their remit and ensure individuals know what they are accountable for. My Department will be managing the monitoring and reporting on delivery of the actions in the report and action plan, which will be led by my infrastructure division. It details 30 headline actions for delivery by quarter and sets out target outputs and outcomes to be achieved. All lead Departments have been engaged with over January and this month to provide an update on the delivery of quarter 4 of 2025 and quarter 1 of 2026 actions and the relevant structural changes within their sectors to aid the delivery of the 30 actions. All actions required for delivery in 2025 have been completed as of January 2026. Some of the key deliverables include the publication of the national development plan review in 2025 and the subsequent publication of all national development plan sectoral plans.  As committed to in the programme for Government and the accelerating infrastructure task force, a step-change in investment for the energy, water and transport sectors has been approved. The sectoral plans detail over 200 specific projects that are being prioritised, with a particular focus on those projects going to tender or construction within 2026 and 2027. This is with the specific aim of providing certainty to the construction on the pipeline.  With regard to the Government\u2019s consultation on the scale of fees for environmental judicial reviews by the Department of climate, we will publish the consultation on fees for environmental legal costs, which will, in effect, limit the cost the State pays in environmental judicial reviews. We have had the first meeting of new joint utilities and transport clearing house, which will ensure shared understanding and collaboration between the utilities and transport sectors and greater co-operation in infrastructure delivery. I chaired the first meeting at which there was a wider discussion about its terms of reference and work plan over the coming weeks and months.  The Minister for justice, Deputy O\u2019Callaghan, also brought heads of Bill to Government to place the judicial review process on a statutory footing, which were published on 6 January 2026. These give a wider indication of some what is being implemented. At this point, there are no significant indicators for actions that are off track, and good progress is noted for actions required for delivery in quarters 1 and 2 of 2026. I will go into the wider piece in my second contribution. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  The Minister will be aware that we in the Labour Party gave the action plan a fair wind. We did so because of the absolute dire situation this country faces in terms of infrastructure development, most notably in housing. The kind of economic development we all want to see simply will not happen if we do not address the key concerns we all have around housing provision, renewable energy, transport links and improving connectivity around the country. Will the Minister put on the record, in terms of the accountability measures outlined in the plan, any legislative interventions that might be required this year? For example, I notice there is a heavy emphasis on accountability for regulatory bodies and different agencies that will be responsible for implementing the plan. Are there any key legislative interventions that will be made this year to make that happen and ensure accountability really is at the heart of this, rather than having mere words peppered throughout this report? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  The task force is continuing to ensure we have challenge meetings and continued oversight of delivery. We have a Cabinet committee on infrastructure and the critical infrastructure Bill, and we will bring the scheme to the Government in the coming weeks. That will place clear obligations around the prioritisation of infrastructure across regulatory bodies and agencies when it comes to trying to speed up infrastructure delivery across the State.  I have also said in my role in terms of sanctioning respective Departments and agencies that co-operation and delivery of infrastructure is something that will be central to wider requests that are received through the year and the budgetary process. The accountability structure is there in terms of Cabinet committees and the utilisation of the wider sanctioning position I have. The critical infrastructure Bill will prioritise infrastructure delivery and place obligations on those involved in the infrastructure lifecycle around what they are expected to do and in what time. All of that will yield improved delivery and better accountability as through the year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  We will be watching this very closely. The reason we gave the report a fair wind was because of the dire situation with infrastructure in the country. According to the IMF and others, our infrastructure is about one third behind comparable countries. Accountability is key because that has been one of the significant missing pieces. The problem is that if it is everyone's responsibility, it is nobody's responsibility.  Ultimately, the Minister will be chairing the task force. My understanding, from re-reading the report yesterday, is that where issues around delays occur, the infrastructure division of the Department will deal with them but they could potentially be escalated to the task force and subsequently to the Cabinet subcommittee.  Mention was made of sanctioning Departments and agencies that are not performing, for example. It would have been a perverse situation if this kind of process were in place in recent years, given that we have had the Department of housing overpromising and under-delivering for years. We could have a situation in the annual budget round and the Estimates process, where the Department of housing, in the context of what the Minister is seeking to do here, could essentially be sanctioned with a reduction in its budget for not performing. Are financial penalties for under-delivering Departments the kind of thing we are talking about in this regard? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  There are variety of mechanisms in that regard. It is about trying to drive compliance. There are obviously sanctions and requests received relating to staffing. For example, if a particular agency is not delivering in line with what we have set out in the infrastructure report, a request for additional staffing might be a consideration or how we restructure or reform a particular agency if it is not contributing to wider delivery. That is an example of it.  If things are escalated and we do not see delivery and change, then sanction plays a role in terms of driving progress and reforming. We cannot allow drift to occur. I acknowledge support of the Deputy and indeed that of many in the Opposition who wish to co-operate with this. It is fundamental for the wider future and long-term progress of the economy that we drive better delivery and reform. These are pragmatic steps that will make a difference. They have a good evidence base. Accountability is key and that is why the majority of the actions sit within my Department and the infrastructure division, so that we can drive that co-ordination piece over the next number of months. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Public Expenditure Policy"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_5","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Flood Relief Schemes","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_5","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kevin Boxer Moran","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_5.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Will the Minister of State, Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran, provide an honest update on flood relief schemes across the State? As we know, the catchment-based flood risk assessment and management, CFRAM, report, which carried out an evaluation of the entire State, identified 150 schemes. This was announced back in 2018 with huge fanfare. A total of 150 new schemes were going to be delivered. I note the Government keeps referring to schemes that have been delivered, including schemes that were delivered when I was a teenager. I do not want that information. I want to know how many of those 150 new schemes have been delivered to date. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kevin Boxer Moran","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform (Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran)  To identify communities that are at risk from significant flood events, the OPW completed the largest study of flood risk ever undertaken by the State in 2018. The OPW catchment-based flood risk assessment and management, CFRAM, programme was undertaken by engineers and consultants on behalf of the OPW, working in partnership with the local authorities. The CFRAM programme studied 80% of Ireland\u2019s primary flood risk and identified solutions that can protect over 95% of those at risk. A series of 29 flood risk management plans were launched in May 2018, providing the evidence base for required flood relief schemes. These plans are available on www.floodinfo.ie.  The Government has committed \u20ac715 million to the delivery of these flood relief schemes under the National Development Plan 2026-2030. Since 2018, as part of a phased approach to scheme delivery, the funding has allowed the OPW to treble the number of flood relief schemes at design, planning or construction stage to some 100 schemes. Today, work to protect 80% of all at-risk properties nationally is completed or under way. The first tranche of new schemes identified in the flood risk management plans includes some 60 schemes that were prioritised, along with schemes already under way. The prioritisation of the first tranche of schemes was based on three criteria, namely, scale of projects, capacity to deliver the national development programme and the maximisation of return for investment in respect of property numbers.  Flood relief schemes are complex, multi-annual civil engineering projects and take some 11 years to deliver, which include bringing a scheme through development, planning, design, procurement and construction. The current position with regard to flood relief schemes is as follows: the OPW has invested some \u20ac580 million in 56 completed schemes that are providing protection to some 13,580 properties.  The economic benefit to the State from loss avoided is estimated to be in the region of \u20ac2 billion. There are currently ten relief schemes that will protect over 2,800 properties on completion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  We have a serious problem here. I note that the Minister of State mentioned the 13,500 properties that are protected but the D\u00e1il was told the same number of properties were protected in 2023. The fact is that we have not protected a single additional property since. The numbers have not changed in the past couple of years. According to the Government's website, I think 143 or 144 schemes were identified eight years ago and still have not been completed. I know that nothing can be done overnight and the Government continues to reach to judicial reviews and all the rest but large numbers of those schemes have not even gone to design stage, let alone planning stage. There is a serious issue with the delivery of schemes within the State.  The other part of the question related to the allocation for the national flood forecasting and warning service between 2020 and 2024. We are ten years on and this still has not been delivered. I heard the Minister, Deputy Chambers, talk about allocations and all the rest. We are ten years on and still do not have a system in place. There are serious problems within the Department. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kevin Boxer Moran","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran  I will bring the Deputy back to 2018, when I took up this role in the OPW. The first task I had was to travel the country. Many local authorities would not sign up to catchment flood risk assessment and management, CFRAM. It was a master plan for delivering flood defence for the whole country. Having achieved that in the first couple of months in my role, I then had to go and get investment. With the Minister at the time, Paschal Donohoe, I fought tooth and nail to get \u20ac1 billion. That was the start of delivering schemes, in my eyes, for the people of the country.  The master plan set out the areas that are hugely affected by flooding in the Deputy's area, my area and every other area in the country. The Government then backed that with money. We now have ten schemes at various different stages. Some are very close to completion. More schemes are being developed every day.  Since I returned to this position, I have changed the criteria for the minor works scheme. The budget has increased from \u20ac750,000 to \u20ac2 million. I brought about changes to give the local authorities staff to try to drive on these schemes. I have changed how we deliver these schemes through the minor works system. The schemes are an important part of delivering. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I appreciate what the Minister of State is saying. I also appreciate that the Minister of State was not in office during the eight years I am talking about. However, his Cabinet colleagues were. We lost a lot of time when no schemes were delivered. That is the problem. In 2024, three schemes were supposed to be delivered but none were.  I want to go back to the national flood forecasting and warning service. Less than \u20ac6 million of the nearly \u20ac20 million allocated has been delivered. As I said, this is a project that has been going on for ten years now. The Government agreed to establish the national flood forecasting and warning service. In the meantime, only one stage of the plan has been delivered, meaning we are currently stuck with an out-of-date and inaccurate warning system that does not even take ground conditions into account. Communities have been failed by the Government's lethargic approach to delivering a comprehensive and modern flood forecasting and warning service.  I know the Minister of State was not in government during this period but his colleague, the Minister, was. He was on national radio talking about allocations and all the rest. The people who were flooded do not give a rat's about that. I will not say what I was going to say. They want the Government to deliver. They cannot understand. This was to be announced ten years ago. Money is not being provided. The delivery of this service is not there. It is not good enough. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kevin Boxer Moran","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran  The Deputy said that no schemes have been delivered. Ongoing work is being done on schemes. We are protecting communities. We are giving the resources to local authorities to drive on the schemes. The Deputy knows that. I have worked with local authorities to push on schemes.  With regard to the national forecasting and warning service, I understand that the unspent money the Deputy is referring to relates to the flood forecasting centre in Met \u00c9ireann and, as such, would be a matter for the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Separately, the OPW made a once-off contribution of \u20ac871,000 to Met \u00c9ireann to support the establishment of the flood forecasting centre in Met \u00c9ireann. This funding supported the set-up costs of staffing, ICT, accommodation and procurement of relevant studies, services and expertise to develop hydrological models and staff capacity. The final element of the contribution was paid to Met \u00c9ireann in November 2023. The money may have been sent back but work is still going on to provide and bring this service that the people of Ireland want. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  It has been ten years and we do not have it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kevin Boxer Moran","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran  We, in government, are fully committed to delivering that service. My job, as Minister of State, is to protect communities and that is what I set out to do. I continue to work to do that. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Flood Relief Schemes"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_6","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Departmental Funding","counts":{"speechCount":16,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_6","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kevin Boxer Moran","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_6.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  I want to ask about capital grant funding of \u20ac2.8 million that was given to Dublin Zoo by the OPW in 2025. That is part of a ten-year programme so there will be more funding in subsequent years. There is no scrutiny of Dublin Zoo. Who is going to monitor how this money is spent and what it is spent on? The zoo can also raise funds from the public through charity appeals and charging people at the gates. Wild Lights is an abomination that is very bad for animals. Who is going to monitor this money? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kevin Boxer Moran","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran  Dublin Zoo, along with Fota Wildlife Park, submitted proposals in 2021 seeking State support for ten-year capital development programmes. Following the Government's approval, the OPW provides capital grants to both organisations. These grants are funded through the OPW's annual Estimates. The funding is in recognition of the specific financial impact of Covid-19 and the need for continued investment in their infrastructure.  In 2025, the OPW provided a capital grant of \u20ac2.8 million to Dublin Zoo to support a range of priority capital projects, aligned with Dublin Zoo's master plan for 2021 to 2031. The projects which received funding in 2025 included: refurbishment of the 130-year-old South American house; conservation works to the old cottage; infrastructure and sustainability improvements; upgrades to selected play areas; and enhanced education and visitor experience.  All funding is paid in line with public governance standards, including the relevant circulars. The funding is reported in the annual accounts of the Zoological Society of Ireland. The OPW has no day-to-day involvement in the operation of Dublin Zoo. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  That is my problem. It has been consistently raised on the floor of the D\u00e1il that nobody is properly inspecting Dublin Zoo in an independent way. The Minister of State talked about the South American house and play areas. The director also had his house renovated during that Covid period while making appeals to the public for funds.  My issue is animal welfare. There is a dog-fighter working as an elephant consultant in Dublin Zoo. The chimps are obese and agoraphobic. They are afraid to go outside and are pushed out for the public. They have nothing to do. It is extremely bad for animals to be in confined spaces. One former zookeeper who I met - there have been whistle-blowers about the zoo - told me they were sent to Smyth's Toys Superstore to buy a few toys to keep the chimps occupied. Some \u20ac100 was spent to buy a doll and stuff like that. The chimps are heavily medicated.  An elephant report was sent to the Department of agriculture but there has been no response on the confinement of the elephants and the climate not being suitable. That is what the OPW is funding. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kevin Boxer Moran","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran  A memorandum of understanding was signed between the OPW and Dublin Zoo in 2025. Payments are made only after the zoo submits its vouched invoices and its works are approved. This ensures compliance with the public grant rules.  On the Deputy's last question, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS, is responsible for the licensed inspection of the zoo and the oversight of an annual inspection of Dublin Zoo. Inspections are carried out by an independent multidisciplinary team with specialist expertise.  Not a week goes by that the Deputy is not standing outside the zoo with a phone. Does she ever go in? Has she ever gone in to see the good work the zoo does and that the staff do? I visited the zoo on the basis of some of the things that have been said in this House. The workers in the zoo treat all the animals with the height of respect and dignity. The zoo is essential to the people of Dublin and Ireland. I work closely with my colleague beside me, the Minister, Deputy Chambers, and other Deputies in the House in relation to Phoenix Park. I have control over the work that goes on. Dublin Zoo is a place I visit on a regular basis and I cannot but praise the people in Dublin Zoo for the work they do. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  Is the Minister of State a zoologist? A report was done recently by independent zoologists on Dublin Zoo. Elephants have half----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kevin Boxer Moran","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran  It is probably the Deputy's report. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  -----the lifespan----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kevin Boxer Moran","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran  The Deputy is very good out there with her social media, shouting and roaring. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy David Maxwell)  Minister----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  May I have extra time? The Minister of State is barracking me as I am speaking. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy David Maxwell)  Keep going, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  It is unbelievable that he cannot sit and listen. I get little enough time to raise this topic. Elephants have half the lifespan in Dublin Zoo. Matriarchy and family are very important for elephants. These two sister elephants were split up. We should not be spending money sending children to zoos. Any money for conserving species and biodiversity would be better spent out in the wild where there are very good programmes under way, rather than diverting it to Victorian concepts like zoos. Many other issues with animals have been reported. The NPWS does not have zoology expertise. It is also very close in relations to the management of Dublin Zoo. The Minister of State should meet zoo keepers and give them more funding and more space and time to deal with the animals, but we really should be phasing out zoos. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy David Maxwell)  Thank you, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  Okay. It was very difficult when I was being barracked by the Minister of State. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy David Maxwell)  I allowed you another ten seconds for that. The Minister of State to reply. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kevin Boxer Moran","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran  I cannot believe the Deputy never mentioned the big cataract operation that was done in Dublin Zoo. It was all over the news all over the world. It was the first ever carried out. She did not mention the good work of the zoo. She continually comes in here and complains and says there is cruelty to the animals in Dublin Zoo. I asked her a question. Did she go into the zoo and meet the people or did she stand outside taking pictures and selfies and talking and complaining? She should go in and meet the staff and management to see the good work they do. The people love that zoo. It has hundreds of thousands of visitors every year and the Deputy is telling me that because one element she has centred on is wrong, everything is wrong in the zoo. The zoo is perfect in my eyes and I will continue to support it. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Departmental Funding"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_7","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Budget 2026","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_7.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  Each year the expenditure report seeks to improve on previous iterations to refine and improve the approach used to present budget day figures. The expenditure report for 2026 provides a more detailed description of the budget package components than in previous years, in the table set out on page 12. There have been many alternative approaches in the past and work on the best way to present each year's budget will be an iterative process. The approach taken to the budget 2026 differs from previous years and therefore cannot be compared on a like-for-like basis. The information is no longer available in the format used in recent years as the budget estimates for 2026 have been constructed in a different way to previous years' budgets. This was undertaken to better reflect the totality of expenditure, where this funding is being invested and what is being delivered for our growing population. This approach placed a greater emphasis on reform, efficiency and placing value for money at the centre of government decision-making. It allows for more focus on the total size of the overall expenditure ceiling.  The 2026 expenditure report provides a more detailed breakdown of the budget package than in previous years, as shown in the reconciliation table provided on page 12. The overall uplift for 2026 is allocated across the following categories: \u20ac900 million for increased recipients of public services in social protection, childcare, disability and housing; \u20ac2.2 billion for key policy adjustments and expansion of services, including welfare measures, education and youth reforms, increased apprenticeship places and supports for public transport; \u20ac1.1 billion to meet the 2026 cost of decisions taken in 2025, such as the roll-out of pay-related benefit, auto-enrolment and additional PSO transport supports; \u20ac1.2 billion for the cost of the public sector pay agreement; \u20ac1.4 billion reflecting ongoing scheme costs, additional staff recruitment and programme-specific funding across a number of areas; \u20ac2.1 billion; and \u20ac300 million unallocated, to be assigned later as required, consistent with previous years.  A range of sources of information relating to the budget are published throughout the year. The expenditure report on budget day summarises the programmes. The Revised Estimates Volume follows the budget and provides additional details and information on spending plans. The fiscal monitor each month provides year-to-date spending figures for each Vote group. This compares them against the profiles set out by Departments and against the previous year. The public service performance report details how Departments performed against targets set in the Revised Estimates process. I have more I can set out. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  The budgetary oversight committee is great and we have a diverse range of people on it. The one thing we want to see is accountability. We want to be able to see forecasting. The job of the committee is to go back year by year and see where moneys are being spent and where the delivery is. Looking at the Departments, if I ran my business the way the Government runs its business I would not be in business. We want to see the delivery of the funds the Minister has named and all the millions he has listed to see that we get delivery on budget and on time. What I have seen to date is that we have seen a lot of moneys spent but we are not getting the delivery. If you compare it with business models we are not getting the same results. Those businesses make profits out of their work but the Government cannot deliver in the same way businesses can. I need to try to address that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  To take the Deputy's business model analogy, businesses do not do ELS as he has sought in his question. Businesses look at the totality of expenditure and to drive better delivery, better outputs and better efficiency in terms of the totality of spend. That is exactly what we are seeking to do in how we framed and delivered budget 2026. That is where the weaknesses of existing levels of service are identified and we now focus on the totality of expenditure rather than only the incremental budget package, which has been the nature of it in previous years. That places reform, efficiency and value for money at the centre of decisions we make and shifts the emphasis from the expenditure level towards what policies are being advanced, what services are being delivered and how funding supports a growing population. That is where, in terms of the ELS, there is an inconsistency across Votes. Just sitting additional expenditure above a system that might be inefficient in a particular expenditure area does not address the need to better link output. What we are trying to do and how we have changed the expenditure approach is to extract better outputs around how we manage the totality of expenditure, aligned with the point the Deputy has made. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  I understand what the Minister is trying to do and I take in the context of what he is saying. There is better forecasting - that is probably the word I am looking for. However, look at the children's hospital where we have gone \u20ac1.2 billion over budget. Now I hear we are looking to take a legal challenge against the contractors for not finishing the job. The problem here is not the contractors but the contract and how it was set out on the first day, through the Departments. Every year that goes on, the regulation changes. It is an ongoing issue. From the point of view of the delivery of infrastructure such as that hospital - which is becoming a white elephant and I wonder whether it will ever be finished - how can the Minister budget for that within his Department of infrastructure? It is \u20ac1.2 billion over budget. Where would that go to deliver a lot of the services out there? I want accountability not only for the developer but also for the Departments and how they deliver for the Minister and the people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  That is obviously a separate issue to the existing levels of service in the Deputy's question. What we have set out is a new national development plan and a new way of delivering infrastructure in the economy. We have a series of reforms we are advancing through 2026 which are about accelerating wider delivery but also responding to the evidence, which is there, that too many of the systems are cumbersome, slow and duplicative in many instances. This has impacted delivery on water, energy, transport and the wider social and economic infrastructure of the State.  Of course we have had reports published on overspends and the children's hospital and there have been learnings from that for the Department of Health. Reforms have been made to mitigate the risk of such an example arising in future. Obviously that is a separate and distinct issue from the existing levels of service, but we are seeking to deliver more infrastructure and to speed that up because the time spent in a process-driven approach has a cost and we are trying to bring a broader rebalancing to get projects moving. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Budget 2026"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_8","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Flood Risk Management","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kevin Boxer Moran","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_8.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  I have a question for the Minister of State on the engagement his Department and the Office of Public Works have had with Dublin City Council in relation to flood risk in north Dublin, coastal overtopping and storm surge impacts.  We all saw the devastation that occurred last week. I thank the Minister of State for the work he did in Portrane to protect houses. Houses on the Hole in the Wall beach are at risk. I would love the same scheme to be rolled out there. How will flood defence works in north Dublin be funded and prioritised in the national flood relief programme? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kevin Boxer Moran","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran  I have witnessed first-hand the impact of flooding and the devastation it causes to homes, businesses and local communities. I am very familiar with the flood risk in Clontarf, having visited the area and met with local representatives, businesses and the community in May and October of last year. As the Deputy is aware, Dublin City Council received planning consent for a flood relief scheme for Clontarf. However, the scheme did not progress to construction. The OPW is engaging with Dublin City Council to progress the design of the flood relief scheme for Clontarf. The assessment of the recent flooding is informing the development of scope of service for the appointment of engineering and environmental consultants and will also inform the design of the flood relief scheme for Clontarf. The scheme will be designed to protect against a one-in-200-years coastal event and meet the requirements of Insurance Ireland.  Dublin City Council is leading the Clontarf flood relief scheme. The council and the OPW are engaging on the development of tender documents for the appointment of engineering and environmental consultants. Progressing a viable flood relief scheme for Clontarf is to be funded by the OPW, through funding for flood relief under the national development plan. Pending the design and completion of a permanent scheme, last year I prioritised the replacement of temporary sandbag structures along the promenade. In May, I met businesses and the local community to listen to their concerns regarding the appearance of the sandbags. My office worked with Dublin City Council on feasible alternatives, which I discussed with the local community, when I visited last October. This meeting facilitated the agreement for the replacement of the sandbags with interlocking barriers as a temporary measure. Dublin City Council has advised that over 300 m of the interlocking barriers have been successfully installed on the Alfie Byrne Road. Work will be completed in the coming weeks. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  I again thank the Minister of State. To have him in the constituency I represent three times in the first nine months of the Government's term was like Christmas coming early. I thank him for that. They call me Mr. Sandman now for getting rid of the sandbags. I want to sincerely thank the Minister of State for his engagement.  The two recent flooding incidents have exposed the scale and urgency of the work that is needed. The Minister of State indicated that planning was granted for flood defences. I have clarified in the House before, and will do so again now, that there was a proposal for a berm for the north city arterial main, NCAM, project running down the promenade that would have been covered in muck. It would have been joined. Anyone who is elderly, vulnerable or with additional needs would not have been seen on the promenade. The promenade is used by many people in north Dublin. A flood defence is very much needed there. The work proposed was going to be the same, and there would have been a secondary wall. In the context of the demonstrations the Minister of State has shown me, we know that if the second wall had been in put in place, it would not have acted as a catchment area. I look forward to engagement on increasing the height of the secondary wall adjacent to the cycle lane or for an additional mountable wall to be built. There is a wall there which is 100 years old and which has mountables in it. It is important that the work is done. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kevin Boxer Moran","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran  I love the drive of the Deputy when it comes to this matter. He might be a colleague of mine, but if I could get every colleague in the House to go to their local authorities, drive schemes and develop the interim solutions such as those the Deputy is working on in Clontarf, I would be very grateful. We come into the House and blame the OPW and everybody else, but public representatives have a huge part to play in delivering by pushing local authorities. I fund local authorities in the context of staff, and I need them to drive schemes forward.  Regarding Clontarf, I have changed the funding limit for the minor works scheme from \u20ac750,000 to \u20ac2 million. That will allow the local authority to develop more interim solutions. The Deputy and councillors have invited me to a meeting, which I look forward to attending in due course, to determine how we can deal with this, what we can do in the interim - we did the same thing last year - and whether we can do more. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  I appreciate that. The Minister of State has agreed to meet Councillor Kevin Breen and other local representatives. I have attended meetings with him and the OPW. It is amazing to see what happens. If every Minister of State was like him, we would get a lot more done. I thank the Minister of State for agreeing to meet all of the other Dublin Bay North Deputies in the coming weeks to discuss Northern Cross. That is something that needs to be progressed.  The work in Clontarf needs to be done immediately. We objected to the flood wall and the berm. It needs to be said that those would have removed everything. People always say we lowered the wall. The wall was lowered down at St. Anne's Park. It is a completely different wall. That needs to be said because it is constantly stated that people in north Dublin did not want flood defences. We need to build a wall, and we need to make the southside pay for it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kevin Boxer Moran","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran  I will work with the Deputy and with the local authorities. He referred to on Portrane, which is another prime example of interim measures. This is the first time we have ever obtained a MARA licence to allow us to do work on the coast. That should happen in respect of areas all around the coast of Ireland. Other local authorities that have issues with coastal flooding should look at what was done in Portrane and, in the context of the MARA licence, deliver more critical infrastructure to protect communities. I look forward to engaging with the Deputy, his colleagues and the local authority.  When a scheme that meets the criteria comes before me, I have never been found wanting. We have always engaged with local authorities to do the best thing for communities. While we all talk about the delivery of long-term projects, which is the overall large scheme, a lot can be done in the interim. That is something on which I have put a huge focus over the course of last year. That is why I made the changes to delivery. I want to continue that work, but I need help from everybody in the House to drive those projects forward. That is very important. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Flood Risk Management"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_9","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_10","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Public Transport","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_9","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_10","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_10.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  I ask the Minister for an update on infrastructure projects for the Dublin West constituency. The focus of my question is public transport, because of the litany of woes I hear about from constituents daily who, because of the other investment we have had, do not have access to the Luas or a metro. We have one of the largest populations in the city. People are suffering daily in their lives trying to get to work and get their children to school. What investment in public transport in particular will be provided? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  As part of the budgetary process each year, my Department sets overall expenditure ceilings for each ministerial Vote group. These are laid out in the budget day expenditure report, with further detail provided in the Revised Estimates published in December.  Following the allocation of each expenditure ceiling, each Minister designs the programmes and subhead level across Departments and the agencies under their remit, accounting for the demands for services in different areas and regions and having regard to demographics, population growth and other factors. Within this process, current and capital expenditure are allocated on a departmental basis.  More broadly, the Government wants to achieve balanced regional development as part of Project Ireland 2040, the national planning framework and the spatial strategy, as part of the national development plan. Since Project Ireland 2040 was launched in 2018, the Government has overseen the delivery of many impactful national development plan projects across the country, including in Dublin West, such as the recently completed teaching building in Technological University Dublin Blanchardstown and the provision of hundreds of social and affordable housing units in Church Fields, Mulhuddart, some of which have been completed while others are being built. There have been multiple school projects across the Dublin West constituency. Many projects have been completed and are planned for Connolly Hospital.  Regarding transport commitments, the Deputy is aware of the wider Bus Connects plan, which is being progressed by the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and Dart West has advanced through the planning process. Arising from the national development plan published in July last year, \u20ac19.1 million in Exchequer capital investment will be provided in 2026. This increases capital investment across the country that will generate substantial employment demand in the construction sector.  Departments have also published sectoral investment plans setting out the capital projects to prioritise for 2026-30. These plans provide visibility of the delivery pipeline, giving construction firms the certainty they need to invest as part of the multi-year approach designed to support industry planning and ensure that regional capacity can grow in line with demand. I will come back in on some of the other items. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  I have received many representations from people about the odyssey of the 39 bus route. Every time there is a new development, it is added to the same route without new or distinct routes being created. There needs to be change. I want to focus on the Tyrrelstown-Hollystown area because that is where much if the additional building has taken place. Public transport in the area is particularly atrocious.  For a female worker from Tyrrelstown trying to get to her job in Dublin Port every morning, there is no connection to the N4 route at Rosemount Business Park and buses do not arrive early enough to allow her to get to work. Many people report having to get taxis to work. One day in particular, it cost the woman in question \u20ac67 to get from Tyrrelstown to work. The 238 is a ghost bus. It is the only route to the town centre in Blanchardstown. Parking charges are being proposed for the centre, but people do not even have a reliable bus service to get there. In a moment, I will talk about Hollystown and changes to BusConnects. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  I acknowledge the particular issue that exists. I meet with many constituents from both Tyrrelstown and Hollystown, where the bus service does need to be much improved. There has been a significant increase in housing supply in Tyrrelstown and Hollystown, but there is a need to improve the service for the sake of many of the existing residents. Part of the BusConnects plan is to deliver that, which is obviously more on the infrastructure side, but there is also a need improve the frequency of buses and the respective bus routes that service Tyrrelstown and Hollystown. This is something I have engaged on frequently with the National Transport Authority in relation to the additional service roll-out in the period ahead. I have also interacted with BusConnects to ensure that those involved future-proof further developments in the context of areas, including Tyrrelstown and Hollystown, where there has been or will be significant population growth. People in both places need access better public transport, as the Deputy referenced. That is a matter on which I continue to engage with those involved. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  I accept the Minister's acknowledgement of the position. However, as a Minister who represents the area, he has to deliver for people. Who else is going to be able to do that?  The 40E is going to be replaced by the 262. I have already had two representations about that. The 262 route will terminate before Hollystown. As a result, people in Hollystown will not have a direct route into the city centre. That has to be addressed.  I have been contacted by a huge group of parents who have been told that when the 40E route is replaced, the new route will no longer cross the bridge into Cabra. It will turn onto the Ballyboggan Road instead. This means that people cannot get their children to school in St. Dominic's or in the Navan Road area. That has to be addressed. We have already had issues where people in Tyrrelstown could not get their children to school in Hansfield. They had to organise car pools. Will the Minister speak to TFI and Dublin Bus about that matter? We cannot lose the connectivity people in that area have - they need more - in order to get to work and to get their kids to school. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  There have been issues for people in Hollystown. Some even have quite a long walk to get to the existing bus stop. There is a need to improve the existing service but also to reflect the feedback people have given in respect of the various bus routes. Like the Deputy, I will engage with the National Transport Authority on some of the amendments that need to be made to the bus routes and in the context of reflecting the feedback we are getting from constituents. The authority needs to future-proof the transport system in the area in light of ongoing population growth. There is a need to improve in that context, and I will pursue that. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Public Transport"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_11","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"St\u00e1isi\u00fain Gharda","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_9","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_11","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kevin Boxer Moran","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_11.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  I did not find the answers earlier on estimated levels of service convincing ar chor ar bith. I have a briefing tomorrow and I look forward to that.  When the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, has responsibility for the OPW in 2019, a site was identified for a new Garda station at Northern Cross. It was announced that a new station would be provided. Seven years later, however, there is no sign of that Garda station. In replies to parliamentary questions last year, the Minister of State referred to needing to identify a site when one was identified seven years ago and was in the pipeline for years before that. Does he have an update on this matter? Ba mhaith liom freagra ceart. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kevin Boxer Moran","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran  The Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration published its sectoral investment plan on 4 December last. The second phase of the plan is to focus on bringing the projects for Dublin metropolitan region, DMR, north, to construction in 2028. Following the publication of these priorities, the OPW will engage with An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and the Department of justice. This engagement will support the identification and appraisal of the most suitable site for this project. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  I welcome the indication that the station will be constructed in 2028. What I am struggling with are the references to identifying a site, particularly when a site was announced in 2019 when he had responsibility for the OPW. How is that seven years after this project was announced \u2013 and there were senior Ministers from the Government out announcing it at Northern Cross \u2013 the Minister of State is still talking about identifying a site? The announcement was made by the Government before last at a time when he was Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kevin Boxer Moran","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran  The Deputy has raised this consistently at committee meetings and in the House, and I agree with him about the timeframe and the delays. As he is well aware, however, I am the contracting authority. I build the Garda station when a particular project is presented to me.  As already stated, money has been provided for the station. My Department will work closely with the Department of justice and An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. I cannot explain why work at the site to which the Deputy refers did not go ahead. However, I can tell the Deputy that the money for the project has been made available through the development plan. My job is to work with the Department of justice. When we find a site, we will get on with the job. We are delivering Garda stations around the country. The projects in this regard are very slow - I am not taking away from that - but an awful lot of work goes into identifying sites and building stations. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  The situation is that the money is there and the Department is committed to building the station in 2028. A site was identified and announced by the Government in 2019 when the Minister of State had responsibility for the OPW. He is still talking about identifying a site when he previously identified such a site seven years ago. I do not understand this. How is it the case that, seven years later, we appear to be going backwards? The Minister of State is still talking about identifying a site. A site was announced by the Government before last when he had responsibility for the OPW. Can he explain to the community in Northern Cross, which desperately needs this new Garda station, what is happening? There has been huge development in recent years in Clongriffin and Belmane and a corresponding increase in population. Why is he referring to identifying a site when one was identified seven years ago and an announcement that a new Garda station would be built there was made? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kevin Boxer Moran","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran  It was seven years ago, as the Deputy said. A site was identified, but I cannot tell the Deputy why the project did not go ahead. I have been out of government for five years. I am back. The Deputy raised this with me at committee level. I reached out to the Department of justice, on his behalf and on that of other Deputies who represent the area, to try to bring this scheme forward. I am asked every type of question in this House about the building of Garda stations. As stated, I am the contracting authority. Until a project comes before me, I cannot build. When a project does come before me, I will do it. I will speak to the Minister for justice in order to see how we can expedite this matter and bring it to a conclusion. I promise the Deputy that. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"St\u00e1isi\u00fain Gharda"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_12","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Flood Relief Schemes","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_9","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_12","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kevin Boxer Moran","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_12.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Ardagh  This question relates to the Camac flood alleviation programme. The Camac, as we know, is one of Dublin\u2019s main rivers. It rises in Saggart in the south west, flows eastwards towards Clondalkin, Bluebell, Inchicore and Kilmainham and joins the Liffey at Heuston Station. The River Camac flood alleviation scheme is a critically important piece of infrastructure that will help up to 413 homes along the river. Residents quite clearly remain concerned about flood risk, particularly in view of the increased rainfall we have seen. In January 2025, the bank of the River Camac at Inchicore collapsed. Will the Minister of State provide a timeline in respect of this matter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kevin Boxer Moran","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran  Dublin City Council and South Dublin County Council, with funding provided by the OPW, are leading the development and design of the River Camac flood alleviation scheme to manage the flooding risk within the catchment of the River Camac to protect some 413 properties. The River Camac is an unusually complex river system, and has presented significant challenges during the modelling of the flood risk and the design options for a flood relief scheme. Work on the modelling of the flood risk is continuing and it is programmed to be completed later this year. There are monthly meetings of the steering group between the council, the OPW and the consultants to complete this work.  The proposed Camac flood alleviation scheme may include the construction of new flood defence walls with floodgates and the possible strengthening and raising of existing flood defence walls. The construction of new flood defence embankments is in addition to the possible raising of existing embankments. The current estimated cost for the delivery of the scheme is \u20ac50 million.  It is open to Dublin City Council to apply to the OPW for funding for flood mitigation works under the OPW's minor flood mitigation works and coastal protection scheme in advance of the delivery of the main scheme. The purpose of the scheme is to provide funding to local authorities to undertake minor flood mitigation works or studies to address localised flooding and coastal protection problems within their administrative areas. The OPW welcomes applications for funding under the scheme and is available to engage with local authorities.  I know first hand the pain people out there are going through out there. As I said to the Deputy, while we are waiting for the long-term scheme, there is a strong possibility that the local authority could engage around the minor works programme. I have not spoken to the Deputy before in relation to this but I have visited a lot of the areas up and down the country. I tell people that I read the water and I understand when there is a flood. I watch where the water recedes and follow the water paths. I always look at them in the context of a minor works application or some solution being found. I believe one can be found here. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Ardagh  I thank the Minister of State. We were told at the Committee of Public Accounts that there were issues with the initial hydraulic modelling. It has gone back to the same consultants to remedy the situation, which raises its own questions. Residents understand that the modelling has to be correct and robust and no one is looking for a shortcut. We are also not looking for a patchwork quilt in relation to this. The Minister of State is telling us to go back to Dublin City Council for any remedial works. That is not good enough. I am asking the Minister of State to expedite the situation, bring in the relevant people, ask them what is going on, get a good feel for it and give the residents of Kilmainham and Inchicore a timeline for when this is going to be done. It has been delayed for far too long. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kevin Boxer Moran","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran  In the first instance, it is up to the local authority to come forward with the scheme and the Deputy can play a pivotal role in doing that. She can go into the local authority and ask what stage it is at and look to engage with me. The Deputy can be part of that. It is about us all working together. Communities are being affected up and down the country. My job is as Minister of State but I keep saying in the House that I need help from all the public representatives as well as TDs to drive on these schemes. There is a minor works scheme and funding has been increased from \u20ac750,000 to \u20ac2 million. It is open to all local authorities to come in and identify a solution in the short term while we are waiting. I agree with the Deputy that this has been going on quite a long time. To bring it to the next stage, if the Deputy can get the local authorities to agree, I will meet with it to see if we can push it on together. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Ardagh  With all due respect, I think I have raised this at every possible forum. I have raised it in Dublin City Council, with the Minister of State's predecessor, at the Committee of Public Accounts and in the D\u00e1il. We are all on the same page here. What we are not seeing is any urgency from the OPW to steer this scheme and programme. It is one of the flood alleviation programmes that is just left on the sidelines. I ask the Minister of State today to commit to me that he will take a personal interest in the Camac flood alleviation programme. That is all I am asking. I want the Minister of State to take a personal interest and have his own meeting. I have asked Dublin City Council, South Dublin County Council and senior representatives of the OPW at the Committee of Public Accounts,and all I am hearing is that there are significant delays with hydraulic modelling. I want the Minister of State to take a personal interest in the Camac flood alleviation scheme. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kevin Boxer Moran","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran  I cannot be more clear than to say it is driven by the local authorities. They work with my Department. There are significant delays in the modelling but I am giving the Deputy a way to alleviate that pressure through the minor works programme while we wait for the overall scheme. The local authorities have it within their remit to do that. While I fully appreciate the pressure the Deputy is under from the local community, delivering protection to the local community is very important. Local authorities are the people who drive on these schemes. We support them with the advice and the finance but we also help them to deliver schemes. The local authorities know only too well about the minor works scheme and I believe they can play a pivotal role in delivering an interim solution to the problem the Deputy is raising. I will go further and will talk to the local authorities for the Deputy.  As I said, everywhere is gone over the last 15 days, I have to intervene to try to drive on schemes, when the local authorities have the resources - sometimes we are funding them - and the means to get on with the scheme. People will say it is the OPW but it is not and we have to wake up to that. We all have to work together. I am sick of saying that in this House. We should not play politics with flooding. Sometimes we do have to say the scheme is there and the money is there, so get a scheme in place in the interim to deliver part of the long-term solution. As the Deputy has asked me, I will make phone calls to see how I can drive on the scheme further. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Ardagh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Catherine-Ardagh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Ardagh  I thank the Minister of State. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Flood Relief Schemes"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_13","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Coastal Erosion","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":4},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_9","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_13","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Cahill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kevin Boxer Moran","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_13.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Cahill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Cahill  I am raising the matter of funding for a host of locations across County Kerry, including Rossbeigh, Cromane Lower, Killorglin, Whitestrand, Cahersiveen, Waterville, Ballinskelligs and the major flood relief schemes there for Tralee and Kenmare. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kevin Boxer Moran","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran  I am very familiar with the coastal erosion and flooding issues in Kerry having visited the county twice, on 11 and 12 September and on 20 and 21 November 2025. Localised coastal erosion and flooding issues are a matter, in the first instance, for each local authority to investigate and address. The OPW is working closely with Kerry County Council to implement a number of initiatives to tackle coastal erosion and flooding in the county. We are currently funding three local authority staff in Kerry County Council to manage the delivery of flood relief schemes: a senior executive engineer, an executive engineer and a senior staff member.  The minor flood mitigation works and coastal protection scheme was introduced by the Office of Public Works in 2009. The purpose of this scheme is to provide 90% of funding to local authorities to undertake minor flood mitigation works and studies to address localised flooding or coastal erosion problems. The scheme generally applies where a solution can be readily identified and achieved in a short timeframe. The funding available for each scheme has recently been increased from \u20ac750,000 to \u20ac2 million. Further details related to this are due to be announced shortly. The minor works scheme is a demand-led scheme. Funding allocated is based on the cost submitted by the local authorities for consideration. Since 2009, the OPW has approved some 40 projects and \u20ac4.2 million for Kerry County Council under the minor works schemes. Some \u20ac2.9 million of this approved funding relates to coastal erosion works and studies. Funding has been made available to Kerry County Council, totalling \u20ac897,405, for works or studies at Rossbeigh, Waterville, Kenmare, Glenbeigh and Cromane Lower through the minor works scheme. I have a long list of other schemes that I can give to the Deputy afterwards. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Cahill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Cahill  We need coastal protection works, flood relief schemes and marram grass initiatives, among other initiatives. We need to expedite funding for these schemes. From my experience, and I have been shouting about coastal erosion and flooding for almost 40 years now, this situation is not given the urgency it deserves. We seem to wait until the damage is done after big storms where there has been major flooding and homes have been destroyed. I am dealing with families living in fear when the tides are high, especially when they coincide with storms. They cannot sleep in their beds at night.  I will mention another issue we spoke about recently, which is the whole area of insurance. I am coming across numerous families who cannot get home insurance. They can get insurance for fire, theft and all the other matters but they cannot get cover for flooding. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kevin Boxer Moran","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran  Looking at the figures, there was \u20ac24,000 for the seawall in north Kerry through the minor works scheme. For the North Kerry Way, there was \u20ac18,000 through the minor works scheme. There was \u20ac150,000 for Tralee Bay, and \u20ac44,000 for Tralee itself. For the Fenit Road, there was \u20ac405,000, and \u20ac360,000 for the Fenit Road Lower. Over \u20ac1 million has been given out in recent years. There was \u20ac216,000 for Cromane Lower, \u20ac35,000 for Waterville, \u20ac450,000 for Rossbeigh and \u20ac195,000 for Glenbeigh.  The OPW has not been found wanting in supporting Kerry and the local authority. The Deputy knows of my visit there in recent weeks, before Christmas, where we came with interim solutions for different parts of Kerry. We are now looking at coastal areas, but this is driven, in the first instance, by the local authority. I appeal to the Deputy to go out to Portrane to see what the local authority has done to get a licence from the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority, MARA, to deal with flooding. We need local authorities to step up and apply for these licences. In order to apply, they have to show where they are going to carry out works and provide protection to people along the coast. If they do that, they can apply for a MARA licence. I thank the staff in MARA because it is the first time ever we got a licence to do work along the coast. The Deputy can see in Portrane the work that was done to protect that area. I advise Deputy Cahill, as I advise every Deputy in the House, to follow suit and deliver for his community through the local authorities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Cahill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Cahill  I thank the Minister of State. I acknowledge that he visited Kerry and Rossbeigh, where I live, and saw for himself the situation there. There will be a public meeting at 6.30 p.m. this evening in the Towers Hotel. The Minister of State also visited Cromane where homes have been destroyed in the past. I have been in houses when there was 3 ft of saltwater in them.  In 2015, I was a member of a deputation that came here to discuss the cliff road in Rossbeigh, where 16 houses had been cut off. We were told by the then Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, Deputy Simon Harris, that pilot studies needed to be carried out and that he did not want deputations coming up to the D\u00e1il every couple of weeks. It took ten years for the pilot studies to be completed. They will indicate where funding should and should not go. As I mentioned, a host of areas need urgent attention, including Rossbeigh,  Incherea, Dooks in Glenbeigh, lower Bridge Street in Killorglin near the fishery, Cromane Lower, which is critical, Glosha, Whitestrand in Cahersiveen where the public toilets and car park are at risk, Waterville, Ballinskelligs, and the Kenmare and Tralee flood relief schemes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy David Maxwell)  Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa wants to ask a supplementary question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  Le do thoil. The Minister of State will not be shocked when I raise the issues we have had recently in County Louth, particularly in the Dundalk area. In fairness, the Minister of State visited Blackrock. The local authorities stated minor works schemes could be implemented in Dundalk, more so even than Blackrock. The Minister of State has spoken of the need for a personal property scheme to be implemented. He might give some detail on that.  Obviously, we need works done. We have seen coastal erosion recently on the Carlingford Lough greenway. Ballagan has had huge issues, and Ant\u00f3in Watters and Fiona Mhic Conchoille have been on to me multiple times about that. There was a bun fight with OPW around cleaning the Blackwater river but, according to the Louth local authority, it has found a way through that and it looks like it is willing to clean it, which should have happened previously. However, we also need a conversation with Uisce \u00c9ireann to keep the pressure on because we have an infrastructure deficit, with the joint system that is not going to be operated for years. Where I live, we get flooded on the basis that we cannot clear stormwaters and sewage at the same time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kevin Boxer Moran","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran  Deputy Cahill is right that I visited Cromane. I met with Michael Healy-Rae's colleague in relation to the same issue only yesterday. I asked him to ask the local authority to come in with minor works for Cromane, and it will be dealt with. Let us call a spade a spade. When I visited the place during Christmas week, I identified areas that could get protection. I looked at the street and we identified one shop, a chemist, that did not flood. Why did it not flood? It put in its own individual property protection, IPP. I reached out that day to the local authorities to look at an IPP system through the minor works programme. I await that because I cannot drive it. I ask the Deputy to drive that with the local authority.  We talked about the flooding of recent days. After the devastation that happened in Enniscorthy, when we were talking about more rain my biggest concern was County Louth. Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa's colleagues in the House rang me. I was fearful. My team in the OPW met with the local authorities last week and will continue to engage. I need the local authorities to push on. I am providing staff to the local authority to deliver on those schemes. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Coastal Erosion"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_14","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Departmental Strategies","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_9","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_14","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_14.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  I thank Deputy Neville. In December 2025, the Government published the Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan. It is a comprehensive programme of actions designed to speed up the delivery of critical infrastructure across the State. This action plan responds to well-documented challenges of lengthy development timelines, fragmented processes and rising costs. These have all been identified as major barriers to achieving Ireland\u2019s housing, energy and climate objectives.  The plan sets out 30 targeted actions grouped under four areas, namely, legal reform, regulatory reform and simplification, delivery reform, and public acceptance. My Department has already led on a number of reforms to date, including, but not limited to, the drafting process of the general scheme of the critical infrastructure Bill to be progressed during March, which has been published in the Government\u2019s published legislative agenda; the establishment of a regulatory simplification unit, whose work will include reviewing regulatory structures, governance, oversight and accountability and revising and simplifying different legislation and statutes; and preparing reforms to the infrastructure guidelines, which is being progressed this month.  I have also launched a new service to accelerate major Government capital investment through the expertise of the National Development Finance Agency. We have had the first meeting of the new joint utilities and transport clearing house to have shared collaboration across sectors and greater delivery and co-operation.  Under pillar 3, co-ordination and delivery reform, the aim is to introduce risk appetite statements to enable proportionate oversight and accelerate infrastructure delivery. This action is to provide a better strategic-level risk governance tool that sets a higher level of risk for Government Departments or agencies on what they are willing to tolerate, identifying boundaries on high-risk decisions and wider and clearer expectations for risk oversight. This action is intended to support the creation of a co-ordinated, legally empowered system that reduces delays, improves planning certainty, increases the risk appetite and deals with the wider issues of risk aversion, which have been well documented. Following Government approval, Departments will be asked to define and publish clear, proportionate risk appetite statements for critical infrastructure decisions that can support a higher risk appetite. This will progress better expected benefits of delivery, which would outweigh the potential costs in the context of greater assumed risk. Examples of taking on a higher level of risk could include----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy David Maxwell)  I thank the Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  I will go into that detail shortly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Neville  I thank the Minister very much for his response. I know he is very passionate about this issue, which the Joint Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery has seen. As Vice Chair of that committee, I am very focused on it. As a councillor, I saw a lot of houses being built in north Kildare, for example. I am sure the same applies in the rest of the country. In Celbridge, we need a second bridge. In Leixlip, we need development at the top of Confey and in Maynooth, a relief road is required. These are simple things but we see delays.  A change in culture is required across the Civil Service and local authorities. In fairness, we have significant funding available due to good governance. We have \u20ac102 billion available to be spent in the next four years and \u20ac275 billion to be spent on capital projects over the next nine years. That is extremely welcome. The reason we need to ensure the right culture and accountability are in place across the Civil Service and local authorities is to ensure we get to spend this money. It is really important that we make sure people make decisions. Sometimes, the most difficult thing in the Civil Service is to make a decision because the worst thing people can do is get something wrong. Sometimes, making no decision is actually better for those individuals. That is what we need to control. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  I agree with everything the Deputy said and I appreciate his inputs at the infrastructure committee as well. There are well-documented issues with the existing culture, which has been too risk averse, leading to delays and cost increases. It is too process driven. It is about putting a delivery culture and delivery focus first. That means increasing risk appetite, but also taking practical steps, for example, carrying out early site clearance works in advance of or in parallel with another part of the process or forward ordering of key components for critical infrastructure so we can start a project much quicker while waiting for something else to conclude.  Putting a lot of steps in parallel involves greater risk appetite if something does not happen as expected. It will come down to increasing risk appetite in multiple areas and decision points in the infrastructure lifecycle. The risk appetite statement is about us backing the public service to do this, which could have an adverse effect in a minority of projects but ultimately will yield better delivery and cut through the risk aversion which is well documented. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Neville  I really sympathise with the Minister's final point. Potentially mistakes will be made and we must ensure that people will be backed through the various projects. I am a member of the public accounts committee and we look retrospectively at decisions. We need to ensure that people are backed. The main thing is that they are supported and that proper guidelines are in place so they are not afraid to make decisions. This is at all levels, including at the highest level. The Minister has taken responsibility himself centrally. We need to ensure this responsibility is sent out to all areas, such as to the CEOs of local authorities or further down to the local engineers. We need to see delivery on the ground. We all know how the various people in these roles are judged. The question is whether they are judged and held accountable. We know that ultimately the people in this room will be held accountable in 2029 on the doorsteps. I want to ensure that we deliver these projects so that we will get the response we need from people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  It is about having a clear, greater and more proportionate risk appetite statement for many infrastructure decisions. Ultimately we are measured on delivery and it is a process-driven approach. We have circular analysis and delays that will not narrow the infrastructure gap, which is well documented. The risk appetite statement will set out the expected benefits for delivery for a Department or agency, and how the assumption of greater risk outweighs the potential cost. We know that some of the processes we are trying to cut through and cut out in many instances add a significant level of cost to our overall capital spend, which the infrastructure committee has discussed. We will define and publish these in quarter 2 of this year. This is a clear signal to the public service to get on with delivery and have a delivery focus first. It will allow for a broader rebalancing. In terms of the public accounts committee and others, the risk appetite statements will provide a context in the years to come when, hopefully, we will have a higher level of delivery for the infrastructure committee. This will have to be seen in the context of wider assessments when analysing spend. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Departmental Strategies"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_15","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Capital Expenditure Programme","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_9","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_15.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Connolly  Tugaim faoi deara ar maidin go bhfuil go leor de na ceisteanna ar an t\u00e9ama c\u00e9anna, ar n\u00f3s an chinn a bh\u00ed ag mo chomhghleaca\u00ed ar mo thaobh cl\u00e9 anseo maidir le c\u00farsa\u00ed infreastrucht\u00fair agus an luas ar bre\u00e1 linn a fheice\u00e1il le cur chun cinn i gc\u00farsa\u00ed infreastrucht\u00fair agus infreastrucht\u00far a th\u00f3g\u00e1il n\u00edos tap\u00fala. Roimh an Nollaig, d'fhoilsigh an tAire an tuairisc nua. Before Christmas the Minister printed the Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan. I saw it described as one of the most comprehensive and ambitious Irish Government reports of recent times. This ambition is due to the number of actions and the timeline laid out for the completion of these actions. I want to ask about one in particular, which is action 23. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  I thank Deputy Connolly and I appreciate his support on this. My Department is responsible for the infrastructure guidelines, which replaced the public spending code for capital appraisal since the end of 2023. These set the value for money requirements and guidance for evaluating, planning and managing Exchequer-funded capital projects. Management and delivery of investment projects and public services within allocation and the national frameworks is a key responsibility of every Department, Accounting Officer and Minister.  Action 23 in the accelerating infrastructure report, published in December 2025, commits my Department to streamline and speed up the project approvals process by amending the infrastructure guidelines. In line with this action, I brought a memorandum to Government this week on the following changes to the infrastructure guidelines. In relation to major projects, the threshold will increase from \u20ac200 million to \u20ac500 million for sectors with a well-established track record of delivery, particularly in the energy, transport and water sectors. The external assurance process will be replaced with a streamlined and time-bound internal review by the Department for all sectors to save significant time. Major projects at approval gate 2 will no longer need ministerial approval and may now be approved solely by the Accounting Officer of the Department that is funding the proposed project. Ministers will continue to be involved at approval gates 1 and 3, which are the critical decision points. Trying to remove duplicate and unnecessary steps to save time has been the central objective for us in government.  These changes will remove unnecessary time delays for critical infrastructure projects while retaining the necessary governance and oversight arrangements to ensure value for money for the taxpayer. In particular, the removal of the external assurance process, which was taking on average 20 weeks, will ensure projects move more rapidly through the delivery lifecycle while ensuring projects over a particular threshold will see the major project advisory group involved.  These and other recommendations in the action plan, including on the introduction of administrative guidance on timelines for preliminary business case assessment and maintaining a maximum length, will be included in the overall public financial management and control framework as part of the wider review of public financial procedures. Saving time and improving delivery is our wider focus. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Connolly  I welcome the Minister's confirmation that we are not removing political approval for these projects. There was some concern about the elimination of ministerial approval at stage 2 of the project timeline but the Minister has clarified that ministerial approval will still be required at stages 1 and 3. This is very welcome. There was a sense that we were moving on and leaving decisions to unelected officials rather than Ministers.  One of the reasons I have focused on this action plan is because of its reference to transport and water infrastructure. We are all familiar with delays in the progression of major transport infrastructure and major water infrastructure. One of the things outlined in the action is that the approval processes in transport are to be reviewed to identify opportunities to eliminate duplication. Uisce \u00c9ireann receives a lot of criticism for how it implements infrastructural plans but it is clear now that the guidelines we have set down for it are part of the reason for this. At present, Uisce \u00c9ireann business cases must be approved through the infrastructure guidelines and by the CRU. Will the Minister provide clarity on transport and water in particular, and on the elimination of dual processes? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  On Deputy Connolly's first point, this is removing an unnecessary middle step which was adding time. The critical points are approval of the preliminary business case, which sets the political direction for a project to be advanced with prospective capital spend, and final approval for a contract award, which involves the respective Minister. Again, it removes a middle step which did not provide value and just added time. This is what is being changed.  In terms of transport and water projects, we will have a regulatory simplification unit to look at the wider regulatory landscape where we have duplication of approvals, whether through the CRU or other respective bodies. The changes we are making relate to the thresholds and will significantly help the better delivery of water infrastructure in the State by moving the threshold from \u20ac200 million to \u20ac500 million. There are certain dual approvals required and, in some instances in transport, sometimes more than two approvals required and multiple agencies regulatory bodies are involved. This will be assessed by the regulatory simplification unit to simplify the approval process and avoid duplication, as Deputy Connolly has referenced, to speed up delivery. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Connolly  I thank the Minister. I would like clarity. The emphasis and focus in action 30 is on transport and water. Will the Minister confirm that it is not limited to these and that we are looking at using this action in other areas? The Minister mentioned energy at the outset. Further clarification on my next point would also be welcome. How do projects in the planning process stand in terms of this new action? Will they benefit from it? I hope we will get a positive planning decision, although it cannot be guaranteed, on the Galway city ring road. We would like to see this project move quickly should a positive planning decision come through. Another project on my mind is the quay in Rossaveel, which is in the planning process. I hope both of these, should they be granted planning approval, can move quite quickly to construction. Will the Minister clarify the status of those projects that have already been granted planning permission, such as the passing loop in Oranmore? Will there will be a difference in how projects in the planning process and projects that have completed the planning process are treated by this action plan? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  We have taken every step in the infrastructure life cycle and tried to cut time. The Deputy referenced transport and water. We have the joint utilities and transport clearing house. That reflects those key sectors which build the foundations of any community in terms of water, energy and transport infrastructure. Improving co-ordination in how that wider infrastructure is delivered is part of that objective. All the utilities are involved in that, including Eirgrid and the ESB in the context of infrastructure.  We will advance the critical infrastructure Bill, which will help set the prioritisation and political direction for the Government and the Oireachtas around particular projects. That could be in advance of projects going into the planning process. With some of the projects that are in the planning process, the wider risk when they leave it is that licensing and consents are sometimes required. We are reforming that area so we can deliver some of them in parallel. The risk of judicial review also hangs over a lot of projects. The reforms we will advance this year in the context of judicial reviews are to try to deal with that issue. One of the major issues when a project receives permission is whether it can actually start it if there is a threat of judicial review. My colleagues and I are also advancing that reform. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Capital Expenditure Programme"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_16","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Strategic Infrastructure","counts":{"speechCount":10,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_9","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_16","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_16.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  I propose to take Questions Nos. 13, 28, 61, 77 and 83 together.  My Department will be managing the monitoring and reporting on delivery of the actions in the Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan, which will be led within the infrastructure division. The action plan details 30 headline actions for delivery by quarter and sets target outputs and outcomes to be achieved. All lead Departments have continued to engage over recent weeks and days to provide an update on what is meant to be delivered for quarter 4, 2025 and quarter 1, 2026 and the important structural changes within their sectors to aid the delivery of the 30 actions.  All actions required for delivery in 2025 have been completed. Some of the key deliverables include the publication of the NDP review 2025 and the subsequent publication of all sectoral plans. We have also had a wider step-change in investment in the water, transport energy and sectors.  The sectoral plans detail over 200 specific projects that are being prioritised, with a particular focus on projects going to tender and construction in 2026 and 2027. This is with the specific aim of providing construction sector certainty on the pipeline.  Government consultation on the scale of fees for environmental judicial reviews is being led by the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment which will, in effect, limit the cost that the State pays in environmental judicial reviews.  The first meeting has been held of the new joint utilities and transport clearing house, which will ensure a shared understanding and better co-ordination between the utilities and transport sectors on infrastructure delivery.  We have the heads of Bill being brought to put the judicial review process on a statutory footing by my colleague, the Minister for justice, Deputy O'Callaghan, in January.  At this point, good progress is noted for actions required for delivery in quarter 1. Some of the progress areas include the following. The public consultation process on proposed scale of fees closed on 15 January 2026. Work on the critical infrastructure Bill is progressing in terms of drafting and input by the Attorney General, which is happening on a weekly basis. The publication of a general scheme in March has been confirmed in the Government's published priority legislative agenda. A high-level group on EU policy and the European co-ordinators network has been used to monitor legislation and regulations that may impact on infrastructure delivery. A meeting of this group took place on 21 January.  As committed under action 23, reforms to the infrastructure guidelines were brought by me to the Government for approval this week. These key reforms relate to higher thresholds for major projects, the discontinuation of the external assurance process and the reduced approval requirements prior to issue to try to simplify the approval steps.  The Government has also approved an enhanced role for the National Development Finance Agency to support infrastructure delivery and key Exchequer funded projects. A circular outlining how Departments may avail of this support will be published.  There has been a meeting of the joint utilities and transport clearing house which is continuing in quarter 1, 2026. My Department is also engaging with bodies to map structures and identify the key specific administrative constraints to effective co-ordination and delivery. There is also work ongoing on revised structures within the construction sector group to advise on actions detailed in the December report on how we can improve further productivity and innovation within the construction sector. The Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, and I will be advancing procurement reforms to further enhance the attractiveness of public sector construction.  My colleague, the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Deputy Lawless, and his Department have published and are working on a critical skills needs assessment for the construction sector. This sets out the wider delivery of increased labour force with the capital investment programme that we have. At this point, we have delivered what we said we would in quarter 4 of last year and we are working on continuing to build momentum in quarter 1 and beyond this year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paula Butterly  I thank the Minister for his comprehensive answer. I want to go back to what he said to Deputy John Connolly in relation to gate 2. I welcome the announcement that it will no longer need ministerial approval. The Minister said it did not add value, but added only time. How much time will this actually save? Is it four weeks, eight weeks or 20 weeks? This is an important point to highlight. Whether there is ministerial approval or not gets lost in translation for the person at home, whereas if we hear a solid number or estimate of the time that will be saved, it will send out a very positive message. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  We are essentially reducing the number of approval steps from three to two. The critical approval role of a Minister is after the preliminary business case. It is about putting discipline on how a preliminary business case is designed. In many instances, the administrative timelines taken for preliminary business cases are far too excessive. We are trying to put much greater discipline on that in terms of the wider project design and how a preliminary business case is built up.  Even though political direction may have been given after the preliminary business case, there was an interim approval step which varied across Departments. Again, this will just simplify what is required in terms of the approval stop process. The Minister sets the direction post the preliminary business case which justifies why a project is needed following economic appraisal and assessment. The final decision of a Minister is post the tendering process where the tenders received align with the objectives set out in a preliminary business case. The critical involvement of a Minister is in those two areas. This median step only added time. If a Minister gives a direction at the preliminary business case, the outworking of that is to see the outcome of a tender and whether it meets the value requirements and the delivery that is set out in terms of the respective project.  The biggest time saving from the changes I am making in the infrastructure guidelines is on the removal of the external assurance gate. The average time taken on that is about 20 weeks. Some take months longer than that, while others take a little less time. This was a duplicate step and the advice I received was that the value proposition involved is questionable in terms of the time that it took. That is being removed entirely, in part to try to simplify the wider delivery process. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paula Butterly  My understanding is that 17 of the task action points set out for quarter 1 sit with the Minister's Department and nine of those, if not progressed, cannot go any further. Has the Minister already identified any pinch points that could delay this progress and, if so, how are they going to be addressed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jack Chambers","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jack-Chambers.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jack Chambers  We engage daily with the infrastructure team in the Department and the infrastructure division. According to the latest update, everything has been delivered in quarter 4 and we are on track with respect to the actions set for quarter 1 of this year. We are working in parallel to ensure steps or actions that are required in quarters 2 and 3 are being worked on as well if they have timelines in the middle of the year or later on in this year. Right now, there is progress across the respective areas. Over the last number of weeks, we have brought different memorandums to the Government in respect of various reforms to infrastructure delivery, such as the National Development Finance Agency, the reforms to the infrastructure guidelines and the conclusion of the sectoral investment plans, all of which aim to build momentum in terms of infrastructure delivery in the economy.  We will work on the critical pieces, ensuring the continued work on the critical infrastructure Bill advances. The intention is to bring the scheme to Government in March, which is a really important piece on providing legislative backing for the acceleration of infrastructure in the State. That is on track as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy David Maxwell)  Deputy Butterly is next on the list with parliamentary question No. 70. Does she want to take it? This is the last question for the Department. If she does not want to take it, that is okay. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paula Butterly  May I ask a further follow-up question? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy David Maxwell)  For question No. 70 or this one? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paula Butterly  A follow-up on this one. It would probably follow on more fluently, if the Minister is so willing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy David Maxwell)  Deputy Butterly has already used her time and I cannot allow extra time. Does Deputy Butterly want to take parliamentary question No. 70? She does not want to take it. That brings an end to questions to the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar fionra\u00ed ar 10.21 a.m. agus cuireadh t\u00fas leis ar\u00eds ar 10.26 a.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Sitting suspended at 10.21 a.m. and resumed at 10.26 a.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Strategic Infrastructure"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_17","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_18","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Special Educational Needs","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":4},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_17","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_18.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Education and Youth (Deputy Michael Moynihan)  The Government is committed to continuing the acceleration of the provision of additional special class and special school places for 2026-27 by providing at least 3,000 new spaces in locations which are best meeting the existing and future demand. The provision of timely information is a key requirement to support the forward planning of new special education provision.  Budget 2026 provides funding for over 400 new special classes and at least 400 new special school places for the 2026-27 school year. The NCSE has sanctioned over 301 special classes so far this year to commence in September 2026, with more planned in the coming weeks. I commend the Department and the NCSE for the work they are doing in this regard. This is months ahead of last year and should provide greater clarity for parents.  To support the NCSE and forward planning, the Department of education published Circular 39\/2025. This circular informs school management and patrons of measures introduced to support forward planning and reiterates the need for parents to inform the NCSE through the parent notification process that they are seeking a special school placement for their child. This year, to facilitate earlier sanctioning of classes for the 2026-27 school year, an earlier date of 1 October was set for parents to complete the process. The NCSE undertook significant work at local and national level to ensure that families and schools were aware of the timeline and process.  Based on the volume of applications received by 1 October, it would appear there was a good awareness of the date and it is clear there is an increased demand for special education placements compared with previous years. The NCSE advises that a significant number of children and young people coming through the parent notification process and seeking a special class or special school place for the 2026-20 school year are already enrolled in schools and are being supported by existing special education teachers and special needs assistants.  I am please to confirm that this week, the NCSE has this week recommenced the issuing of letters of eligibility to children and young people who have made contact with them after the 1 October timeline. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Aire St\u00e1it. He did not give the numbers in response to the question I asked - the number of children who had applied pre- and post-October and the number of those children who have an offer of a school place or, more importantly at this stage, do not have an offer. It is that question of unmet need.  When I raised this with the Taoiseach last week, he said both the Minister and Minister of State had reported to Cabinet that there were huge numbers applying to the NCSE and that it was a significant increase on last year. What are those numbers? Will the system be able to respond to ensure every child has an appropriate school place for September?  There is real concern, and I would be grateful if the Minister of State could outline the process.  I very much welcome the fact that letters of eligibility are beginning to be reissued. I have a long list of people who will be eager to get those letters of eligibility and they are eligible for them. What do they do? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  The NCSE is currently working through to make sure that the letters of eligibility are being issued to those who contacted it after 1 October. The Taoiseach is right in reflecting what both the Minister, Deputy Naughton, and I have seen as the huge increase in the number of children who have contacted the NCSE, both prior to and post 1 October.  To reiterate, 1 October was hugely significant in order that we have clear vision of the demand that was within the system. Last year, it was 1 February. We have an awful lot of work done over the past four months. We are very committed. Last year, there was continuous talk right through the summer about numbers. We gave a commitment here and at committee that we would work to ensure that we had a place and a pathway for every child. That is what we are going do and we are not going to have an auction right through until September.  We gave a commitment last year. We worked extremely hard on it - both the Department and the NCSE. It is the same because we have sight of what the challenges are and we are working right through system to make sure we are meeting the needs of every child and every family. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Maxwell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"David-Maxwell.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy David Maxwell)  I welcome the students from Lucan Educate Together school and their teachers. I have been led to believe they wrote to the Minister about solar panels in their school. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  Another job for the Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Education and Youth (Deputy Hildegarde Naughton)  Coming from the Gallery. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  That is it.  There are significant issues. In fact, I would say the crisis in special education is worse this year than it has ever been. We are hearing that there is a huge increase. The October deadline was seen as an opportunity, and rightly so, for many children in the school system to get an appropriate school place. A number of the people I am dealing with are in mainstream, for example, looking for a place in a special class or in a special class looking for a place in a special school. The issue of letters of eligibility remains a major one.  There are a number of other things happening in special education that are of deep concern, for instance, the issue of the closure of early intervention classes and the redesignation in mild and general learning disability special schools. The slashing of SNAs is reported in schools across the State, including in the Minister of State's constituency, where there are proposals for a huge number of SNAs to be lost. What does the Minister of State say in relation to that? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  On the seriousness with which the NCSE and the Department are taking the numbers, we have worked throughout - right up to almost Christmas, to 23 December - to make sure we had sight of what figures were and how we are going to work on it. At the end of this discussion, there are children and there are families and it is hugely important we give certainty to them.  As the Deputy quite rightly acknowledged, we brought back the date to 1 October. There is huge investment in special education to ensure the needs of children with additional educational needs are being met. We are heading for almost 25,000 SNAs across the system. We are looking at where SNAs are deployed. It is the first time in a long time that we have had a full review because we want to ensure that the need is being met but we have a colossal amount of investment in SNAs. That has increased many times over the past three, four or five years. We understand the challenges that are within the special education system and we are meeting them head on. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Special Educational Needs"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_19","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Residential Institutions","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_17","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_19","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_19.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  I congratulate the Minister on her role. I have not seen Deputy Naughton in the Chamber in this capacity. I wish her the very best of luck.  I wanted to discuss those people who were on hunger strike for 51 days before Christmas. Lots of promises have been made and negotiations have happened but there has not been much action. I want to remind people why they were on hunger strike. It was because when they were children, they were boarded out. They were part of industrial schools or reformatory schools. They were physically abused, mentally abused and sexually abused. They were unloved, underfed, beaten, spat at, kicked and punished for years and years. I want to know what are the Minister's plans to make sure that everything they requested and that was negotiated will now come to fruition. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  I thank the Deputy for allowing me the opportunity respond to her question. I am deeply conscious of the enormous trauma that has been endured by all survivors of abuse. While nothing we do now can ever undo the hurt which has been caused, Government is committed to providing appropriate supports to survivors.  Last July, the Oireachtas passed the Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Act 2025. The Act has two main purposes: to enable the delivery of ongoing health and education supports to survivors of abuse in residential institutions; and to allow the formal dissolution of Caranua. The package of supports builds upon the already significant State response to this issue.  In September, following the passage of the Act, a group of industrial school survivors commenced a protest outside Leinster House, seeking additional support to be put in place. There was significant engagement with the group, including with officials from my Department and multiple meetings with both the Minister, Deputy McEntee, and the Taoiseach. Arising from this, the group agreed to engage in a mediation process and cease their protest. The mediation process recently concluded, and Government has approved the implementation of a number of commitments.  Under the Act, eligible survivors will be provided with a medical card which will entitle them to certain health supports and services through the HSE. This entitlement, which is similar to the health supports provided to survivors and former residents of the Magdalen laundries and mother and baby institutions, will be for life and will not be subject to a means-testing review. Government has agreed to strengthen this package of health supports through the appointment of specified liaison officers within the HSE and through improved access to counselling and physiotherapy services. This is not a Health (Amendment) Act, HAA, card but is instead a package of supports specifically for survivors.  The Deputy asked about the timelines around this. Work is ongoing within my Department with all the relevant Departments to finalise the arrangements on the delivery of those supports as soon as possible and further information will be published on the Department's website, and it will be communicated widely with the relevant groups and agencies. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  While that is welcome and the survivors, with whom I have spoken, are happy the things being outlined are going to happen, the problem is around when they will happen. When will there be the apology from the Government about the criminal records given to these children? The Taoiseach promised these things in the letter in November. When will the apology from the Government about the boarding out of the children happen? Has the circular to the local authorities gone out as promised?  With regard to the social protection that would give financial assistance, when will that happen? Some of the people who have been on hunger strike have been suffering financially because they are living in local authority situations that, I have to say, are not great. Before Christmas, I was quite worried about one in particular.  I know the package of supports is not the HAA card. I would caution that I am aware that for people who were in mother and baby homes and have a HAA card, it does not always work out like it is supposed to be. Where things are supposed to be free of charge, they are being charged but I can come to that at another time. The health liaison officers are still not in place. When will they be in place? It is really a matter of when. I am looking for more specific details than it will be in the near future. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  Issues were raised with regard to a pension as well. Government has instead approved the expansion of the education support payments scheme under the Act to provide support for informal learning and self-development, as well as formal learning. This revised arrangement has been accepted by the survivors. My Department is finalising arrangements for the delivery of these supports as soon as possible. The Deputy can be assured of that.  I would also note that my Department has engaged Sage Advocacy, an independent advocacy organisation with a strong track record in providing advocacy supports to vulnerable adults, older people and healthcare patients, to develop information, support and advocacy services for survivors to assist them in engaging with and accessing relevant services and supports. Sage has appointed advocates around the country who are providing this assistance to survivors.  The Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Act 2025, which was passed last July, provides for the delivery of a package of ongoing health and education supports. This marks a new phase in the State's response to this issue. To fundamentally answer the Deputy's original question, this will happen as soon as possible and work is ongoing within my Department. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  I appreciate that, and I know they do as well. Going back to the human level, however, that Act was enacted in July and they were on strike in the autumn. It is now springtime. They have had decades of recurring trauma based on how this country treated them as children. Some of them are of advanced age and some are not but, with the toll it has taken on them - not only the hunger strike but the entirety of their lives - they have said they do not know how much longer they have. I urge the Minister to be as fast as she can on this and that we never forget. I am hoping the Government will issue that apology sooner rather than later. I know there are technicalities it needs to do but an apology is an acknowledgement of things not being right in the past.  Before I finish, I welcome my transition year students who are up in the Public Gallery and have done great work this week. Well done lads, you have been brilliant. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  To reassure the Deputy, I know the importance given to this from the Taoiseach down in respect of providing these supports as quickly as possible. My Department is working to finalise the arrangements of the delivery of those supports the survivors agreed to as quickly as possible. That includes engaging with relevant Departments and agencies, particularly the Department of public expenditure and reform and digitalisation and the Departments of Health and Children, Disability and Equality and the HSE. Further information on the supports, including the application processes, will be published on the Department's website in due course.  The availability of those supports will be communicated as widely as possible, particularly through engagement with survivor groups, the special advocate for survivors and Sage advocacy, so that survivors are made aware of the availability of the supports and are provided with clear information on them and how they can be accessed. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Residential Institutions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_20","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Commissions of Investigation","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_17","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_20","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_20.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  Likewise, as this is my first exchange with the Minister in her new role, I wish her the best with it. There is a lot of work to be getting on with and we are dealing with many important issues this morning.  I wish to ask the Minister the position regarding the work of the interdepartmental group considering the recommendation for a redress scheme arising from the scoping inquiry into historical sex abuse in schools run by religious orders, and the way in which this will be incorporated into the work of the Commission of Investigation into the Handling of Historical Child Sexual Abuse in Schools. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  I thank the Deputy. The report of the scoping inquiry into historical sexual abuse in day and boarding schools run by religious orders was published in 2024. The Government takes revelations of historical sexual abuse in schools extremely seriously and has established an independent commission of investigation, chaired by Mr. Justice Michael MacGrath, to investigate the handling of complaints and allegations of historical sexual abuse in schools. The commission was the principal recommendation of the report of the scoping inquiry and the commission does not have a role in relation to redress.  The scoping inquiry\u2019s report also recognised the significance of redress for survivors, many of whom told the scoping inquiry\u2019s survivor engagement process they viewed it as a measure of accountability for those running schools where child sexual abuse occurred. The scoping inquiry recommended consideration be given by the Government to establishing a redress scheme and that it consult with the orders on contributions to any such scheme.  The interdepartmental group, IDG, established to advise Government on the scoping inquiry recommendations was cognisant of the views of survivors on redress as a measure of accountability. It recognised that consideration of a redress scheme may have far-reaching implications and advised further work is required to ensure Government is fully informed in any decision it may take.  The interdepartmental group has commenced this work to further examine the levers and mechanisms that may be brought to bear so that those responsible for schools where historical sexual abuse happened meet their obligations to survivors. The work of that group will not impede the progress of the commission of investigation, which has begun its work in parallel. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  Can the Minister confirm it is the case that the IDG aims to report to her and subsequently to Government within 18 months? There was a previous indication in relation to that, but is that still that case? What measures will the Minister take to hold religious bodies financially accountable and to make them pay redress? Sinn F\u00e9in submitted amendments to the Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2025 specifically on this issue. I know the Labour Party also has legislation on the books, with the Civil Liability (Child Sexual Abuse Proceedings Against Unincorporated Bodies of Persons) Bill 2023. There is a real eagerness among many of us in the Opposition to see this issue pursued. Many survivors say the legal obfuscation in redress payments is inherently criminal in its nature and that there may be opportunity there, for example, in terms of criminal assets to pursue these.  What options will the Minister consider, and can she give assurances there will be justice in this scheme? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  As regards how long it will take that interdepartmental group to report, the work of that group is very complex and involves several Departments, State agencies and relevant expertise. The work of that IDG is entirely separate from the work of the commission, which does not have a role in redress. That group aims to complete its work within 18 months. When that interdepartmental group has completed its work, it will provide a report to me and then subsequently to Government.  Many of the survivors who spoke to that scoping inquiry view financial redress as an important measure of accountability for those who ran schools where sexual abuse happened. The State has some experience in dealing with the religious orders in the context of redress, and it is important we learn from that experience, particularly given the potential scale of redress for historical sexual abuse in schools. Clarity on that scale is critical and all mechanisms that can be used by the State to secure the appropriate funding from those who were responsible for child sexual abuse in schools will be carefully examined.  It is important to ensure there is financial accountability for those who were responsible for child sexual abuse in schools, particularly as so many of those who are alleged to have abused children are now deceased and will not face criminal charges. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  I agree with the Minister entirely and I welcome those words. The proof of the pudding will be in the eating, in terms of the action of it. Any time we speak of the commission, I have to make the point that there are concerns it is going to be restricted to sexual abuse and not to physical abuse. There is more than a grey area there in terms of the motivational intent of the evil carried out on people.  I want to pick up on a point Deputy Cummins made earlier in respect of a related group of survivors. It is very important that the suite of measures is introduced at the earliest opportunity and that we have the apology. Deputy Cummins specifically mentioned the enhanced medical card as opposed to the HAA card. There are significant issues with the enhanced medical card as certain things that were expected to be covered are not being covered. It is why there is the argument around the HAA card. If Government is going to fall short of that, it is essential it reviews the enhanced medical card and ensures those additional supports it has committed to are delivered in a timely fashion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  I outlined the process for this to Deputy Cummins. Work is ongoing in my Department on that issue of the supports agreed by the survivors with an Taoiseach prior to Christmas.  The Deputy made reference to two different issues there. Regarding the commission of investigation, Mr. Justice Michael MacGrath was appointed effective from 1 October 2025 as chair of that commission. It is independent in its function and the chair has outlined an essential preparatory work phase which must be completed by the commission prior to engagement with survivors and others, and updates will be given online relating to that.  Mr. Justice Michael MacGrath is working on developing the necessary systems and processes to safely gather and store data and information. This is particularly important given the deeply sensitive and personal nature of the information that may be shared with the commission. It also includes work to ensure that the commission has the appropriate premises to ensure that it is as safe and welcoming an environment for survivors as possible and that the necessary supports are in place for those survivors. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Commissions of Investigation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_21","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Special Educational Needs","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_17","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_21.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  I wish the Minister the best of luck and I look forward to many robust debates on educational matters. I am sure the Minister is in very good hands there with the experience of the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Moynihan.  I just want to focus on the Government's decision-making processes for assistance in State examinations for children with specific learning difficulties. My question concerns the recent announcement of ten extra minutes for children with specific learning needs. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  The State Examinations Commission has responsibility for the operation of the State examinations including the scheme of reasonable accommodations at certificate examinations, RACE. The purpose of the RACE scheme is to remove barriers for students who have special educational needs to enable them to show what they know and can do in the examinations on an equal footing. Access to accommodations is based on the individual needs of the candidate and not on the provision of a diagnosis. Applications are made to the State Examinations Commission by the school based on the school's knowledge of the student's needs and his or her normal way of working. Some accommodations for those with learning difficulties have particular criteria such as a standard score test in reading, spelling or writing, which is administered by the school. In 2025 more than one in four candidates received an accommodation under the RACE scheme.  The State Examinations Commission is currently undertaking a comprehensive review of the scheme. This is structured so that rolling changes may be implemented as it progresses. The 2026 interim scheme of additional time that was recently announced by the State Examinations Commission is one of these rolling changes. Under this scheme more than 30,000 candidates across junior cycle and leaving certificate will be eligible for ten minutes of additional time per examination paper. This is an important step forward in addressing the programme for Government commitment to ensuring that candidates with specific needs are provided with additional time in exams in certain circumstances. The impact of this interim scheme will be evaluated alongside other accommodations that already exist to inform arrangements for 2027. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  In the decision-making process this was a 5% to 7% extra time allocation. Dyslexia Ireland has highlighted that other jurisdictions normally offer much more with a minimum of 25% extra time for students with dyslexia in second level exams, using the United Kingdom as an example. In relation to the decision-making processes here the State Examinations Commission would have made this decision. Would the commission have brought it back to the Minister's Department to sign off on? Will the Minister clarify if psychologists, special education teachers, or disability advocacy groups were involved in this decision? Was this a decision that was taken by the State Examinations Commission and brought back to the Minister's Department for sign off? It is important to clarify where we got this ten minutes from. Where did we get that decision from? We could not have taken it from other jurisdictions because, as I have outlined, they are completely different. Where did this decision on the ten minutes come from? It is almost like we just picked it out of the sky and we have no idea where it came from. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  The State Examinations Commission, SEC, has operational responsibility for State examinations, including the RACE scheme. The SEC has looked very carefully at how to operationalise that commitment to additional time and it has taken account of the need to balance on the one hand access for candidates with special educational needs and on the other hand equity and fairness for all candidates undertaking their examinations.  This is an interim scheme for 2026. It will be evaluated and that evaluation, together with ongoing research, will provide the evidence base for considering arrangements for 2027 and beyond. This evaluation recognises that there is a need to understand the combined effect of all supports of exam outcomes, including both additional time and the accommodations that already exist in lieu of additional time. For example, there is a spelling and grammar waiver in place. Pending that evaluation, this is a prudent approach to the quantum of additional time. I welcome the fact that this eligibility is broadly based and that more than 30,000 students are embraced within this scheme for the 2026 exams across junior certificate and leaving certificate. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  I want to make it clear that my intention here is not to criticise progress. I welcome progress but the evidence has been collated by advocacy organisations, by the students themselves, by parents and by other NGO's in relation to what we can possibly do to alleviate the pressure faced by students with dyslexia, dyscalculia or other specific learning difficulties. I have a fundamental question and it has to be asked. How did we come to this decision? I do not understand it. When comparing it to the United Kingdom or Northern Ireland, for example, they give a 25% increase on the allocation of time for state examinations to children with specific learning difficulties.  While this is an interim measure, does the Minister not accept the fact that students who are taking their State exams in 2026 will be far worse off if we change this for 2027 and took on the UK model? Thankfully, I am experienced in the area and perhaps ten minutes would not make much of a difference. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  There is an interim review under way. This is evidence based. This is the work of the State Examinations Commission, which is independent. There is a large amount of consultation, research and evidence as part of this decision. This is a rolling programme and it is considering international best practice in relation to this. The review of the RACE scheme is comprehensive and system-wide. It seeks to address the relevant issues that take account of best practice internationally. That is the work of the State Examinations Commission.  As part of its work, the SEC has commissioned research into national and international policies. Following a public procurement process, a contract for the provision of research and public consultation for this review has been awarded to Alpha Plus Consultancy Limited. This is a UK-based company, which has undertaken work for the Irish education system previously. Output is expected on that this year. Consultation with stakeholders is also extremely important. The SEC has already engaged with stakeholders, including with Dyslexia Ireland, Dyspraxia\/DCD Ireland, the Children's Rights Alliance, and the Office of the Ombudsman for Children. This engagement will continue as the review is under way. A roundtable stakeholder discussion is also planned for later this month. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Special Educational Needs"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_22","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Schools Building Projects","counts":{"speechCount":9,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_17","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_22.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  I want to ask about the school building and refurbishment projects in Dublin 24 that are included in the national development plan, NDP, sectoral investment plan. As far as I know, there are 105 projects listed for the tranche for 2026 and 2027. Only one of those is in Dublin 24 and there are zero in Tallaght despite plenty of schools having a very desperate need. I know Government backbenchers are giving out about the number of projects in Galway. Ten of the projects are in Galway, which is 10% of the projects, when Galway only has 5% of the population. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  The Deputy will be aware I recently published the \u20ac7.55 billion NDP sectoral investment plan for the education and youth sectors for 2026 out to 2030. Of the \u20ac7.55 billion investment it is envisaged that \u20ac5 billion of that will be used for project roll-out to support the delivery and modernisation of school buildings. An additional \u20ac2.25 billion of the NDP funding will focus on supporting the existing school estates, including maintenance, minor works, and the climate action summer work scheme. Project roll-out under the NDP will continue on a prioritised basis within the parameters of available funding to meet the most urgent needs for provision of additional capacity and modernisation of existing facilities. In this regard, I have published a list of 105 school building projects in the first tranche to proceed to tender and construction in 2026 and 2027. These projects were prioritised with a strong focus on maximising existing capacity and prioritising project roll-out to meet the most urgent needs.  This list includes two significant projects in Dublin 24 to provide a new 1,000 pupil building for Firhouse Educate Together Secondary School and a new 16-classroom primary school for Scoil Chr\u00f3n\u00e1in in Rathcoole.  These projects are in addition to \u20ac193 million in capital funding for Dublin 24 schools between 2020 and 2025. During that period, a total of 23 schools were upgraded, either through provision of new school buildings, a large-scale extension or the provision of modular accommodation. In addition, seven school projects in Dublin 24 are currently under construction.  To give a breakdown for Dublin, between 2020 and 2025, the Department of Education provided \u20ac1.7 billion in capital funding for schools. Over this period, 244 schools were upgraded, either through provision of a new school building, a large extension or the provision of modular buildings. There are currently 64 school projects in Dublin under construction and 20 school projects will go to tender or construction either this year and next year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  Could the Minister respond to the suggestion that has come from Government backbenchers that, effectively, there is some parish-pump parochialism going on in terms of the inclusion of certain schools in these tranches? There are ten projects in Galway, which has 5% of the population of the country, compared with 22 in Dublin - approximately 21% of the projects - where in the region of 27% of the population lives. The Minister might want to take the opportunity to respond to that suggestion, which, I again stress, is coming from Government backbenchers.  There is nothing in Tallaght, although there are plenty of schools there that are in desperate need. I want to highlight the case of one. I have spoken about this over a number of years in the D\u00e1il. St. Aidan's in Brookfield is an amazing school. It has amazing staff and amazing students but the building is in a horrendous state. A new building is needed. The school has spent millions on emergency works just to keep the existing building patched together, but it has not dealt with the leaks in the roof and the white stuff coming out of the windows. It is not possible to the windows because the grilles on the outside have become corroded and are stuck to the frames. I will come back on this. The school desperately needs a new building. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  I reiterate that \u20ac193 million in capital funding was provided between 2020 and 2025 in Dublin 24. There are seven school projects under construction in Dublin 24. Some 23 schools have been upgraded, either through the provision of new school buildings or large-scale extensions. That is not the end of the matter, however, because this is a rolling programme out to 2030. My Department will continue to engage with patrons and schools across the country, including in Deputy Murphy's constituency and in Dublin, to inform targeted and prioritised capital investment. That will include the identification of any urgent required works or capacity.  In relation to Galway, a full county-by-county breakdown has been published to clearly show the full scale of delivery and expenditure under the NDP. That breakdown covers delivery and expenditure over recent years. The criteria for identifying the 105 prioritised projects included the condition of the school, projects in areas where there were capacity pressures, growing demographics and projects in the pipeline.  Galway is a large county with a significant number of schools. It includes the city and town areas which are experiencing demographic growth, as are Kildare, Cork and Dublin. The Deputy will see from the list that five of the 45 stage 3 projects - that is, already tendered projects - in the county include a campus in Athenry for two Irish-medium schools, which is an area of demographic growth. Of the three stage 3 projects, two are in Galway West, my constituency. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy John Paul O'Shea)  I thank the Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  I will come back to the Deputy with further details. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  I want to stress the point about St. Aidan's in Brookfield. A previous Minister visited the school and agreed that the building is simply not suitable. It dates from the 1980s. There was an article in The Irish Times about it that contained a series of pictures that I took when I visited the school previously. If the Minister visits the school, she will see that the building is not acceptable. There is a kind of penny-wise-and-pound-foolish approach to these emergency works to patch up roofs that just cannot be patched up and that are continually affected by leaks. The facade of the building is broken down and crumbling. It is damp and paint will not adhere to it. There is just problem after problem. The building is no longer suitable.  I invite the Minister to come to the school to meet with the staff and the wonderful students there. If she does, she will see that there is space there to construct a second building and that there would be no need to decant students from one to the other. There is enough space for a new building. There is a growing population in the area, which is adjacent to City West and so on. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy John Paul O'Shea)  I thank the Deputy and call on the Minister to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  I acknowledge there are more schools that need investment and that is why this is a plan that goes out to 2030. What the Department of education will be doing now is engaging with schools across the country. For the first time, by the end of this year, the Department will have completed an energy and condition survey of all of our 4,000 schools across the country. That will really help with the prioritisation. It will also look at the demographics in an area, enrolments, the condition of the school and how we can prioritise over the next few years and out to 2030. That work will be led by the Department. Again, this is the first two years of a national development plan out to 2030. If there are schools that need remediation works, there is funding in place through the emergency works scheme and the summer works scheme. The engagement that is being carried out by the Department through the energy and conditions survey is evidence based. That will feed into prioritisation for the next tranche. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 97 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Schools Building Projects"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_23","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_23","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_24","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"School Admissions","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_23","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_23","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_24.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed  Mar a d\u00fairt Teachta\u00ed eile, d\u00e9anaim comhghairdeas leis an Aire as ucht a poist nua. Go n-eir\u00ed l\u00e9i. T\u00e1 muid ag s\u00fail go mbeidh muid ag oibri\u00fa le ch\u00e9ile chun dul chun cinn a dh\u00e9anamh. I want to get an update from the Minister on the pilot single application system for post-primary school admissions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  The roll-out of the pilot single online application for schools represents a significant step towards improving the school admissions system. This system has for the first time provided families with a single online application process and introduced synchronised and streamlined timelines for schools to manage admissions and issue offers.  In recent years, demographic shifts and increasing demand for special class provision for students with special educational needs have placed growing pressure on school admissions processes across the country. Complexities in the admissions process can cause unnecessary stress for families and place a significant administrative burden on schools. In response to these challenges and a commitment in the programme for Government to reforming the admissions process, my Department is working towards a nationwide common application system. As a first step, the apply to school pilot scheme was launched in October of last year for the 2026-27 admissions cycle. The pilot was introduced for 15 post-primary schools in five school planning areas, namely Athenry, Celbridge, Clonakilty, Greystones and Tullamore.  While the apply to school pilot scheme received positive feedback, obtaining an 80% customer effort score, a key objective of the pilot project was to accumulate learnings for future developments. Detailed post-project evaluations with participating schools are currently under way and this input will be carefully considered and integrated into future iterations of the scheme. Key deliverable improvements to the system aimed at further enhancing user experiences are targeted for the next phase of the project. More complex issues, such as the expression of school preference, will be considered for future implementation following appropriate consultation with key stakeholders, and with a focus on an equitable and transparent solution.  I expect to have a further update on the next phase of this project later in quarter 1 of this year, which will include clarity on greater system functionality and a larger cohort of participating schools. I assure the Deputy that my departmental officials will continue to work in consultation with all stakeholders to develop an evidentially informed, equitable and trusted solution for the nationwide common application system. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed  It is good to hear that the pilot across the 15 schools is progressing well. It is also a good idea that we trial a system like this with schools and learn across a few different areas before we do it nationally. Families, and parents in particular, know how difficult it is to secure a school place for their children, especially those seeking special education places. This is going to be particularly relevant and important in that area. The Minister of State, Deputy Michael Moynihan, mentioned earlier the amount of work being done with the NCSE on placements across the education system.  I have a constituent who has a child looking for a special place in second level, who has applied to 16 different schools across Dublin - from Rush to Kilnamanagh. They were individual applications, some posted and others in various different shapes and sizes. One can imagine the frustration of those parents who have to do that.  A system like this would help because the NCSE would be able to see what is coming and what the needs are. It would be able to assist greatly in that process. Does the Minister see an opportunity for this to be implemented in the future, particularly for special schools? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  The Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, is doing great work on the special education side of the Department. That 1 October deadline is now moving. With regard to the data coming to the NCSE, it is getting notifications of requests and the need for special classes and special school places earlier. We absolutely acknowledge that the demand is increasing, and we are responding to that. The education budget for special education is now \u20ac3 billion. We will continue to work, both the Minister of State and I, with the NCSE, parents and schools to ensure that children get the places they require in a timely manner.  With regard to the common application process, we are getting feedback, including positive feedback that I have received from schools. There are issues but that is always the way with a pilot scheme. We need to be able to recognise the issues and try to unravel them and help schools. The 80% customer effort feedback was very positive.  Department officials are currently conducting more detailed post-product evaluation lessons and they will be integrated into the new phase. We are in a learning phase with the common application process. We want to take the stress away from parents so they do not have to be applying to numerous schools. We have to take a transparent and fair approach in this regard, working with school management bodies. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed  Duplicate school applications are an area where this could help because parents are naturally applying for multiple schools and schools think every application is a bona fide application. While it is, not every child will show up for every application in every school. That is where a system like this would be helpful. I look forward to hearing about the feedback later this year and the pilot being rolled out.  I might follow up directly with the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, separately in relation to that particular case because the constituent is frustrated. They are doing their best for their child in terms of the incoming school year. I will follow up with him in that regard. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  I am open to feedback as well from parents and schools that are engaging with this common application process. The Department is engaging with them but feedback from Deputies is very much welcomed because we want to get this right in relation to any child seeking a place, be it for a mainstream class or special class. We want to work with them. I absolutely recognise the frustration of parents when trying to access a school place. The National Council for Special Education, NCSE, is working with me, the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, and the Department to make these spaces available as quickly as possible. We already have a number of tranches of special classes that were announced and we will continue to do that over the next few months. Having that earlier deadline of 1 October was helpful because we now have greater sight of the requests and demand for this upcoming school year. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"School Admissions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_25","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Schools Building Projects","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_23","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_23","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_25","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brendan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","memberCode":"Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_25.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brendan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","memberCode":"Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brendan Smith  This is the first opportunity I have had in this Chamber to wish the Minister every success in her role. It is always a demanding and challenging one in a Department that impacts so many people. As the Minister knows, I have been in regular contact with her through representations and parliamentary questions on the need to advance as quickly as possible a number of building projects throughout Cavan and Monaghan. This particular parliamentary question refers to the proposed building project at Milltown National School, Cavan, that needs to be advanced to the next stage as soon as possible, particularly to cater for the needs of children with additional needs. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  I am pleased to inform the Deputy that a project comprising two mainstream classrooms, two special education tuition rooms and one special education needs base has been devolved for delivery to the school authority. This project was approved in 2022 and my Department has been engaging with the school to support it through stage 1 of the architectural design process to advance a design solution that is consistent with the approved project brief and in line with the Department\u2019s technical standards. My Department has recently issued advice to the school and is currently awaiting submission of a revised stage 1 report.  My Department has a strong track record of delivering the Government\u2019s school building programme, with over \u20ac6 billion invested since 2020. In that period, my Department has provided \u20ac92.61 million in capital funding for Cavan schools. There are currently four school projects under construction across the county. A total of 24 schools have been upgraded either through provision of a new school building, a large-scale extension or provision of modular accommodation.  As the Deputy will be aware, I have recently published the national development plan\u2019s sectoral investment plan for education and youth, which is worth \u20ac7.55 billion out to 2030. This sets out my Department\u2019s approach to prioritise investment in school infrastructure. There is a strong focus in the plan on maximising existing capacity and prioritising project roll-out to meet the most urgent needs, particularly to support special education provision. The project at the school in question forms part of this overall pipeline of school building projects that will continue to be managed in line with the funding parameters within which I have to work through the national development plan. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brendan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","memberCode":"Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brendan Smith  I strongly welcome the major investment in school buildings since 2020, both in my constituency and nationally. In her response, the Minister stated that the Department is awaiting a submission of a revised stage 1 report from the school. I have been in contact with the Department in this regard, as has the school. This will mean that the school will be submitting plans to the Department for the third time. The Department has requested that the design team cuts down on the cost of the project. In order to reduce the cost of the revised project, the architect is proposing that the new extension be elevated by 1.2 m. This will reduce costs of the excavation, earth disposal, retaining walls and access ramps. The proposed new drawings have both steps and an enclosed lift on the main corridor.  In an effort to speed up the process, and before the school sends the drawings to be repriced by the quantity surveyor, the board of management of the school has asked both me and the Department for clarification as to whether the building unit in the Minister\u2019s Department will accept the building with split levels when pupils with special educational needs will be accessing those corridors. I appreciate that detail is not in the Minister\u2019s briefing notes but I ask her to quickly give me a note on this or for the Department to write directly to the board of management and principal stating whether the revised plans with split levels are acceptable to the Department\u2019s specifications. The school does not want to waste money in doing this if the plans will be rejected. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  As the Deputy will appreciate, I cannot comment on the technical details of any school across the country. I can advise and certainly assist. I am sure there is a line of communication, as there always is, for these building projects where the design team of the school engages directly with the Department of education. I will certainly follow up with the Department to get clarity around that and ensure it engages with the school directly around those particular concerns. As the Deputy can imagine, I cannot give any kind of confirmation or otherwise in relation to technical and design elements of particular schools. If a line of communication is needed between the Department and the school, I have no issue facilitating that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brendan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","memberCode":"Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brendan Smith  I fully appreciate that the Minister is not to get involved in technical details but the board of management, the principal and I have sought clarification from the Department and it has not been forthcoming. The board of management, the principal, Mr. Keith Conefrey, the parents\u2019 association and all the staff do not want to waste time getting a redesign, submitting it to the Department and then being turned down again. We are talking about ensuring the best value for money here. An answer via a note to myself or directly to the school from the Minister\u2019s Department would benefit everybody. It would benefit the Department from an expenditure point of view and it would also help speed up what is very much needed.  The Minister referred to this accommodation being particularly focused on the needs of pupils with additional needs and ensuring there is proper accommodation in that regard. This school\u2019s enrolment has grown from 51 pupils 15 years ago to 175 pupils today. There is a special emphasis in this school on providing for children with additional needs. This accommodation is needed. If this project could be progressed as soon as possible, it would be a good day\u2019s work for that community. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  I will certainly raise the matter with the Department and ensure it engages directly with the school. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Schools Building Projects"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_26","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Special Educational Needs","counts":{"speechCount":10,"speakerCount":4},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_23","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_23","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_26","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_26.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  On behalf of my colleague, Deputy O\u2019Hara, I wish to ask about the measures being taken to ensure that schools in County Galway have appropriate special education training, SET, and special needs assistant, SNA, allocations. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  I thank the Deputy for providing me with the opportunity to respond. As he knows, this Government is fully committed to supporting children with special educational needs to achieve their full potential. The primary responsibility for the education of all pupils, including those with special educational needs, is the class teacher or subject teacher.  The special education teaching allocation provides schools with additional teaching hours to support the learning needs of students in mainstream classes based on their profile of need. The number of special education teachers, SETs, in Galway has increased from 1,003 to 1,187 since the 2020-21 school year. Special needs assistants, SNAs, play a central role in the successful inclusion of students with additional and significant care needs in schools by helping to ensure that these students can access an education to enable them to achieve their best outcomes and reach their full potential.  The number of SNAs allocated to schools in Galway since the 2020-21 school year has increased from 887 to 1,224. By the end of this year, there will be close to 21,000 SETs and almost 25,000 SNAs in our mainstream classes, special classes and special schools.  In the case of both SETs and SNAs, it is accepted that any model which distributes resources requires to be flexible to allow for circumstances where additional need may arise. In these circumstances, schools, including those in Galway, can request the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, to undertake a review of their allocation. Where the NCSE identifies the need for additional resources, they will be provided so that they are available to the school ahead of the relevant school year.  It should be noted that schools in County Galway have seen an overall increase of 18% in the number of SETs in the past five years and, as I outlined, a 27% increase in SNA allocation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  We all welcome the increase in the numbers of SETs and SNAs, but I must say that the Minister of State's response does not reflect the reality. There is a massive unmet need. There is need for greater allocation. Worse than that, we have seen a pattern in recent years, and particularly in the last couple of years, of resources being taken from schools and different application of the same criteria as they apply to significant care. Children who had the necessary support of SNAs are now seeing it withdrawn, or there is at least the threat of that happening. That is the lived reality. It is worse to go to review and even worse to go to appeal. I ask the Minister of State to listen to any teacher or school community. It is a very serious concern. What is the Minister of State going to do about it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  We must accept that we have put a huge amount of resources into special education, particularly for SNAs and SETs. In this year's budget, it was one of the sectors that got the greatest increase. We are deeply committed. Whether in mainstream, special classes or special schools, the strength of our special educational system is based upon SNAs. They do amazing work in school communities. They enable children to flourish and benefit from the education system. On the backs of SNAs and SETs, we have built special education, together with all the school communities across the country.  We have close to 25,000 SNAs within the education system this year. There has been an increase in the budget figure and the number of SETs. We are continuing to invest in the education system and particularly on the special education side. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  Warm words will not cut it. The reality is that on a daily basis, children who need the support of an SNA do not have it. Also on a daily basis, schools are faced with the reality of a cut or the threat of a cut to their SNA allocation. The children absolutely need those SNAs. The Minister of State's words do not reflect what schools are dealing with and what we, as public representatives, are hearing.  When representatives of F\u00f3rsa and the Department were before the committee, an indication was given that there would be some reflection of the expanded role of SNAs in the new workforce development plan. I took that as a positive. Everything in the meantime has been completely negative. Will that be the case with the workforce development plan? When will we see it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  The issue in respect of SNAs is coming up in my constituency. When the review from the NCSE comes along, there is a downward turn in respect of the numbers of SNAs. That is despite the fact that when the new students arrive, schools must again increase the numbers of SNAs. Long-term staff are being let go and rehired by another school, or reappointed when the new students come. Everything is a little topsy-turvy.  One school in Kilkenny contacted me. It is very concerned because it is going to lose 1.5 SNAs. The way the school is operating will mean there will be one SNA to 140 students in the mainstream. It has a lot of need. The school is in the direction of Newtown and Dunleckney. The Bagenalstown principal was in contact with me. That situation needs to be reviewed. We cannot be taking away services when we know that need is on the increase. That review needs to be paused. We should not be cutting SNAs when the level of need is increasing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  Like other Deputies, I have seen the same situation in my constituency. Bweeng National School in County Cork is losing two SNAs. Those are vital posts.  The Minister of State made a statement about all the things the Government is doing. On the ground, these reviews are leading to cuts. A number of schools in Cork city and county are losing SNAs. The Minister of State referred to the progress that the Government is making. The reason we are getting extra SNAs and SETs is that for years there was a shortage. The Government is only playing catch-up. At the same time, the Minister of State telling us how great the Government is. The reason there has been an increase is that previous Governments did not hire enough SNAs. I am deeply concerned about the impact of the current situation.  One SNA who contacted me said she loves her school and the children. As a mother herself, she cannot understand why the decision is being made. One parent said to me that there is no inclusion without support. Parents feel let down. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  I take the point. If I may be a little flippant, I might contest that Bweeng is in the Cork North-West constituency, rather than Cork North-Central. That is only a flippant point. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  Students from Cork North-Central are attending there because the school has two special classes. I am just letting the Minister of State know that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  I appreciate that. I understand. I am fully aware of the work that is going on in Bweeng. I do not want to single out any specific school. I take the point.  If I am realistic, I am heartened each time there is a debate on special education by the commitment across the House and Deputies' fundamental understanding of the challenges that are there in respect of special educational needs and special classes. We are putting in resources. There are almost 25,000 SNAs across the system. We are putting in further supports for educational needs.  I take the point that there is a considerable amount of need within the school communities. We are working extremely closely with them. Neither the Minister, Deputy Naughton, nor I is blind to the challenge we have and the growing need that is there. We are going to continue to expand. We expanded the figures in the most recent budget and will continue to do so. With the resources in the classrooms, we will allow children to grow and develop and to lead as full a life as possible. That is fundamentally what I believe.  I take the Deputies' points. Each school should engage with the process for reviews and appeals. There is a process there. However, I take the point about the seriousness of the engagement. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Special Educational Needs"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_27","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Special Educational Needs","counts":{"speechCount":9,"speakerCount":5},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_23","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_23","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_27","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_27.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  The budget promised over 1,700 SNAs and 860 new SETs. I ask the Minister of State about recruitment and delivery so far, and the timelines involved for the roll-out of those SNAs and SETs. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  I thank the Deputy.  The Government is fully committed to supporting special education needs to achieve their full potential and the programme for Government makes a number of commitments to deliver on this objective. The NCSE has responsibility for co-ordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special education needs. I assure the Deputy the 860 special education teachers and 1,700 special needs assistants will be allocated well in advance of the commencement of the 2026-2027 school year to mainstream classes, special classes and special schools. As in previous years, the special education teaching allocations for mainstream classes is intended to be published as part of the general staffing allocation in February. The NCSE manages the allocation of SNAs to the school and it is the responsibility of the council to ensure these resources are allocated to children with the greatest level of need. The number of SNAs available for allocation has continued to increase annually and this has resulted in a significant increase in the number of SNA posts in schools. Budget 2026 provides for a further 1,700 SNA posts, which will bring the total number to close to 25,000 by the end of 2026.  As in previous years, the NCSE will advise all schools of their SNA allocations in this year and these allocations will be made known to schools at an earlier stage than in previous years. The provision of early allocation to schools will ensure they will be in a position to plan for the 2026-2027 school year, including recruitment where necessary. In addition, given the large number of additional resources for specialised provision, it is important to point out 300 special classes have already been sanctioned for 2026. That is months ahead of where we were last year. This time last year we just looking at the numbers in the first and second week of February. We are a number of months ahead, we have those sanctioned and there will be recruitment in relation to those as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  I thank the Minister of State. I asked this question because of the importance of schools and families being able to plan. However, in reality there are families who still do not know what school they can send their child to. They are right across Mayo. A special school in Mayo that does absolutely wonderful work is St. Anthony's School in Castlebar. The management team of Fiona Byrne, Anna Sweeney, Helena Brady as well as all the staff do amazing work but within the first hour of admissions opening for this calendar year the school was oversubscribed. Applicants exceeded the capacity of the school. That is leaving families and also the school in an incredibly difficult scenario. The Minister of State says this is going to happen in February and March but families are struggling and stressed today. St. Anthony's and many other schools across Mayo are trying to accommodate children but they do not know what resources they will have. This is a priority. There must be an expected timeframe for delivery. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  I thank the Deputy. Last year 1 February was the deadline. That was extended by a week due to Storm \u00c9owyn. We looked at trying to plan in February, March and April last year and saw the challenges families and people were meeting. A decision was made by the then Minister, Deputy McEntee, and me to bring the dates back to 1 October. One of the first discussions I had with the Minister, Deputy Naughton, upon her appointment was to look at the whole concept so we can bring better planning into the system and greater certainty for students and families. A number of years ago I was at a school gate meeting a family whose child was finishing sixth class on 26 June without knowing where the child was going to start post-primary education in September. Through the various challenges we have had on it, I constantly have that family in my mind, and we need to do far better. The Deputy makes the point that families and parents are stressed about this. We have moved this system back four or five months to bring certainty to them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Aire St\u00e1it. It is fundamental that families have certainty today. They need to know. We talk about forward planning and so on but in Mayo letters are coming from the Department and the NCSE and basically promising children a place in a special education school. Then the family goes to the school and is told it is oversubscribed. That is the type of planning I am talking about. The system is so disconnected. How do we have a scenario where the NCSE is delivering letters promising a special education place when there is no such place in Mayo for the child? That is the point I want to get across to the Minister of State. I must acknowledge the 2,500 teachers promised in the budget is very ambitious but I am asking the Minister of State for certainty and timelines for SNAs and special education teachers for St. Anthony's School and for many other schools across Mayo. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy John Paul O'Shea)  Deputy Cummins has a supplementary question, as does Deputy Gould. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  I thank the Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach for letting me come in. I agree with Deputy Lawless and the Minister of State that the planning is most welcome because there is then an opportunity to foresee what is going to come down the tracks. However, I have raised several times that the 1 October cut-off point has been very detrimental to parents and I am still hearing they are not being given letters of eligibility and are being told the portal has closed. What is the solution to that? I am still concerned. I had a meeting yesterday with a number of parents, teachers and principals about special education and there is still huge confusion. The Minister and Minister of State are doing their best on the forward planning and I appreciate that but a bit of clarity would help. Families feel there is a drip feed of information on the plan being put in place for next year, so the speedier that is the better. I am especially worried about those who are going into post-primary who still have not heard where they are going. The transition is very important, particularly the one from primary to secondary school. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  This goes back to the Minister of State's point about planning. We welcome extra resources, special classes and special schools. I spoke to a principal yesterday. St. Killian's School wants to build an additional school as it is full to capacity and there is a need for extra places. I know of a child in Cork and we are in February now but he has no school place. How can a child have no school place? I hear about all these announcements but what is happening on the ground is children being left behind. The Minister of State is talking about planning. The principals of the special schools must be included in decision-making, planning and engagement because they are the people who are on the ground and know what is happening. I have a final point in relation to Bweeng. You have children going to special schools and classes all over the county because there are not places where they are from. I take the point made earlier but I am a TD for Cork North-Central and I know of children going to Cork East, Cork North-West and Cork South-Central. They are travelling from Knocknaheeney to Carrigaline and to Macroom. That is what is happening on the ground. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  I accept the point they are travelling across the county. Transport and trying to ensure the provision of special education is as close as possible to families is one of the things we have discussed. A lot of children with additional needs are travelling long distances to get to their school places and it is something we need to be very mindful of. Regarding 1 October, for anyone after that date we are issuing the letters of eligibility. Those letters have started over the past day or so and they will continue. We have worked very closely on it. I want to be clear on this because there is some commentary that 1 October is an arbitrary deadline but 1 October was brought in to ensure we would be in a position to have forward planning. On that planning, it is important we have sight of the information from other Departments like the Departments of children and Social Protection. We need good information to plan properly. There are a raft of issues around it but we need sight of where the challenges are. We are looking at ways and means of ensuring we have information earlier, not just when the parent notifies the NCSE but also if a child is on domiciliary care or AIMS.  I have no issue if the Deputies have individual cases. We will work with them to try to find solutions for them. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Special Educational Needs"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_28","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Education Schemes","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_23","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_23","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_28","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_28.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed  My question relates to a topic I have raised on previous occasions, namely, DEIS plus and getting it on the blocks for those schools and communities that need it the most. I would appreciate an update. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. Tackling educational disadvantage is a key priority for me as Minister. The DEIS programme is my Department's policy to support schools with high concentrations of students at risk of educational disadvantage. Though DEIS, my Department provides over \u20ac180 million in additional resources to almost 1,200 primary and post-primary schools, reaching approximately 260,000 students.  I am also aware that there are students at risk of educational disadvantage in all schools. My Department provides a range of universal supports, including free schoolbooks and access to the National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS, to all schools that support students at risk of educational disadvantage.  The success of the DEIS programme is clear. Schools in the programme have significantly narrowed the outcome gaps with non-DEIS schools. However, for a cohort of schools with the highest concentrations of students experiencing educational disadvantage, a significant gap in educational outcomes remains. Budget 2026 added an additional \u20ac16.5 million in 2026, rising to \u20ac48 million in 2027, to support the implementation of the new DEIS strategy, and the achievement of the programme for Government commitment to introduce a DEIS plus scheme to support those schools.  I recently met the DEIS plus design advisory group, which has helped to inform the development of the DEIS plus scheme. The group includes principals, home school community liaison officers and school completion programme co-ordinators who work directly with students experiencing high levels of educational disadvantage. I heard first-hand from this group about daily challenges faced by students, such as reliance on school meals - the hot school meals programme is important across the country and is another universal approach from the Government - and the impact of intergenerational trauma. I also heard about what works and how we can build on that through DEIS plus. The new DEIS strategy, including the new DEIS plus scheme, is currently being finalised, which is probably the Deputy's question, and will be published in the coming weeks. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed  It is good to hear that the strategy is coming. The beauty of DEIS plus is that it can take educational resources and really target them at students who need them the most. I have regular contact with schools in my area, including Our Lady Immaculate Senior National School in Darndale, St. Francis Senior National School in Priorswood and St. Joseph's Coolock, which are located in areas of serious deprivation and disadvantage. DEIS plus will, I hope, help them greatly and cannot come soon enough.  Those schools need to know they will be in the programme. Principals need to start planning for 2026-27. What will they get when the rubber hits the road? When will they get it? What else do they need to do to plan? What else do the principals and management teams in those schools need to do? I welcome that the plan will be published very soon. I hope it will include the level of detail those schools will need. I appreciate the ongoing support from the Department for the programme. I look forward to a further commitment of resources in the years ahead to support it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  Under the DEIS programme, 306 primary schools with the highest concentration of children at risk of educational disadvantage are included in DEIS urban band 1. These schools receive the highest level of staffing and funding available under the DEIS programme. The Department recently introduced two additional measures to support children in schools at very high levels of disadvantage. Strand 1 of the counselling and primary schools pilot was extended to 61 urban DEIS primary schools in Tallaght, Clondalkin, Ballymun, Finglas and Darndale. This pilot provides one-to-one counselling support for children most in need. Funding was also provided for the appointment of 15 community link workers to support Traveller and Roma children and those at risk of educational disadvantage. These roles will work with families, schools and communities to improve attendance, participation and achievement in education.  Regarding the DEIS plus programme, it will be targeted towards schools at the highest level of educational disadvantage. They will not need to apply to become a DEIS plus school. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed  I appreciate that. I welcome the fact that the plan should be signed off on very soon. What are the expectations of the Minister in terms of the Department notifying schools? As she said, they will likely be automatically included in the programme. What are the views of the Minister on how schools will be notified so that they can start planning for 2026-27? That educational year will come upon us very soon and schools will be closed will summer. Management will work on these priorities through the summer. What does the Minister see happening once the plan is published and agreed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  The schools will be notified. A design advisory group was established to inform the Department of the DEIS plus schemes. That group includes principals, home school liaison officers, school completion programme co-ordinators and professionals who work directly with these children. The Department has engaged with other Departments, agencies, education partners and stakeholders across the education sector to develop the scheme and make sure it is reaching those children and students who need the supports the most.  In 2024 and 2025, my Department carried out consultation workshops, focus groups and other engagements with key education stakeholders, including children and young people. That work has been ongoing and it is extremely important in informing development in this area.  Analysis of the HP deprivation index indicates that areas with high intergenerational disadvantage are primarily located in urban areas where poverty related challenges such as hunger, substance abuse, domestic abuse, parental incarceration, eviction and homelessness are most acute. These challenges are also reflected in schools in those areas where the outcomes for urban schools in the DEIS programme are lower than for DEIS schools in rural areas. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Education Schemes"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_29","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Education Policy","counts":{"speechCount":11,"speakerCount":5},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_23","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_23","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_29","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_29.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  T\u00e1 an cheist seo d\u00edrithe ar na ceantair plean\u00e1la scoile sa St\u00e1it nach bhfuil me\u00e1nscoil l\u00e1nGhaeilge iontu agus iad sin a ainmni\u00fa, agus ar cad at\u00e1 ar si\u00fal chun an bearna sin a l\u00edonadh agus an t-\u00e9ileamh at\u00e1 ann do Ghaelscola\u00edocht ag an dara leibh\u00e9al a sh\u00e1samh. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  Mar a d\u2019fh\u00e9adfadh an Teachta D\u00e1la a bheith ar an eolas faoi, t\u00e1 314 ceantar plean\u00e1la scoile ar fud na t\u00edre agus t\u00e1 50 Gaelchol\u00e1iste ag feidhmi\u00fa faoi l\u00e1thair. Seolfar liosta de na ceantair plean\u00e1la scoile nach bhfuil iarbhunscoil l\u00e1nGhaeilge n\u00f3 Gaelchol\u00e1iste iontu go d\u00edreach chuig an Teachta D\u00e1la mar a iarradh.  There is varying demand for Irish-medium post-primary provision across the country, which is evidenced by the majority of Gaelchol\u00e1iste having underutilised capacity, even in areas of demographic pressures. Aonaid are an important element of Irish-medium post-primary provision where demand levels are not sufficient to support a sustainable Gaelchol\u00e1iste. Many school planning areas are meeting local needs in this way.  D'fhoilsigh mo Roinn plean infheist\u00edochta earn\u00e1la le d\u00e9ana\u00ed ina sol\u00e1thra\u00edtear faisn\u00e9is ar threo an tsol\u00e1thair tr\u00ed mhe\u00e1n na Gaeilge agus luaitear ann go ndearnadh infheist\u00edocht chaipitil \u20ac466 milli\u00fan \u00f3 bh\u00ed 2020 ann. T\u00e1 infheist\u00edocht bhreise beartaithe faoi choinne sol\u00e1thar tr\u00ed mhe\u00e1n na Gaeilge mar chuid d\u2019fheidhmi\u00fa c\u00e9imneach tionscadal faoin PFN in 2026 agus in 2027.  The programme for Government 2025, Securing Ireland's Future, includes a commitment to establish Gaelscoileanna and Gaelchol\u00e1iste where there is demand and support for parents choosing Irish-medium education for their children. In that context, last November my Department published a policy for Irish-medium education outside the Gaeltacht. The policy sets out the Department's vision that high-quality Irish-medium education will be available to all in inclusive and multicultural settings.  A task force on models of provision of Irish-medium education was established as a key action under the policy. The role of that task force is to provide a platform for collaboration between the Department and key stakeholders to develop a pathway to increase the provision of Irish-medium education.  That task force is expected to be completed within one year and will make recommendations to my Department on areas such as the criteria for Irish-medium education provision and how to support schools transitioning to Irish-medium education and mechanisms to facilitate expansion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  Tuigim cad at\u00e1 \u00e1 r\u00e1 ag an Aire agus f\u00e1ilt\u00edm roimh an tascfh\u00f3rsa, ach amh\u00e1in go bhfuil s\u00e9 blianta r\u00f3-dh\u00e9anach do a l\u00e1n d\u00f3ibh si\u00fad at\u00e1 tar \u00e9is teacht tr\u00edd an c\u00f3ras Gaeloideachais ag an mbunleibh\u00e9al, agus nach raibh aon shol\u00e1thar d\u00f3ibh dul chuig me\u00e1nscoil tr\u00ed mhe\u00e1n na Gaeilge. Is \u00e9 sin an St\u00e1t ag loic ar na cearta oideachais agus teanga at\u00e1 na dalta\u00ed sin ar fad. N\u00ed mise at\u00e1 \u00e1 r\u00e1 sin, ach an Coimisin\u00e9ir Teanga. D\u00fairt an coimisin\u00e9ir ag an gcoiste Gaeilge, Gaeltachta agus Pobal Labhartha na Gaeilge in 2024, \"N\u00ed l\u00e9ir go bhfuil freastal c\u00f3ir \u00e1 dh\u00e9anamh, \u00e1fach, ar an \u00e9ileamh ar shol\u00e1thar na iarbhunscola\u00edochta l\u00e1n-Ghaeilge.\" N\u00ed leor an m\u00e9id sin. Ar an liosta de na ceantair nach bhfuil an sol\u00e1thar sin ar f\u00e1il iontu, c\u00e9 go bhfuil an t-\u00e9ileamh ann, t\u00e1 leith\u00e9id\u00ed Caisle\u00e1n an Bharraigh, Cill Dh\u00e9agl\u00e1in, Coill na Sil\u00edn\u00ed, Droichead na Bandan, Fionnbhr\u00fa, Sord agus Mullach \u00cdde. Is iad sin na h\u00e1iteanna ina bhfuil breis is 500 dalta ag iarraidh freastal ar Ghaelchol\u00e1iste. Is g\u00e1 obair i bhfad \u00c9ireann n\u00edos tap\u00fala a dh\u00e9anamh n\u00e1 mar at\u00e1 i gceist \u00f3 thaobh an tascfh\u00f3rsa de. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  We have a commitment in the programme for Government to establish Gaelscoileanna and Gaelchol\u00e1ist\u00ed where there is demand to support parents to choose Irish-medium education for their children. My Department launched the new policy last November. A key action of that policy was the establishment of the task force. My Department has established three new Irish-medium post-primary schools since 2014 for demographic reasons - Col\u00e1iste Ghl\u00f3r na Mara in Balbriggan, Gaelchol\u00e1iste an Phiarsaigh in Rathfarnham, and Gaelchol\u00e1iste Charraig U\u00ed Leighin in Cork. The task force is going to make recommendations covering a number areas such as the models needed to provide Irish-medium education at primary and post-primary levels, the definitions of those various models, how inclusive the high quality of Irish-medium education that can be provided within each model along that continuum, what supports the schools may need to implement these models and how to effectively assess the demand for Irish-medium education. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  T\u00e1 l\u00e9arsc\u00e1il ansin agus tabharfaidh m\u00e9 don Aire n\u00edos d\u00e9ana\u00ed \u00e9. Taispe\u00e1nann na point\u00ed bu\u00ed ar an l\u00e9arsc\u00e1il na Gaelscoileanna. T\u00e1 \u00e9ileamh ann don oideachas tr\u00ed Ghaeilge. N\u00edl, nach m\u00f3r i l\u00e1r na t\u00edre ar fad, aon mhe\u00e1nscoil l\u00e1nGhaeilge. T\u00e1 \u00e9ileamh ann. B'fh\u00e9idir nach bhfuil s\u00e9 chomh m\u00f3r c\u00e9anna leis an \u00e9ileamh don Bh\u00e9arla, ach n\u00ed chialla\u00edonn s\u00e9 sin gur ch\u00f3ir don St\u00e1t loic ar na cearta at\u00e1 ag dalta\u00ed oideachas a bheith acu tr\u00ed Ghaeilge. T\u00e1 ag teipeadh ar an St\u00e1t. Glacaim leis go bhfuil c\u00e9imeanna chun tosaigh glactha ach, in ainneoin an m\u00e9id a d\u00fairt an tAire, n\u00edl go leor acu. Is g\u00e1 d\u00edri\u00fa isteach air sin. D\u00fairt an tAire ag an t\u00fas go bhfuil 314 ceantar plean\u00e1la scoile ann. T\u00e1 264 acu sin gan me\u00e1nscoil tr\u00ed Ghaeilge. Is l\u00e9iri\u00fa \u00e9 sin ar an fhadhb bhun\u00fasach at\u00e1 ann \u00f3 thaobh an St\u00e1t de. An bhfuil an Roinn chun d\u00edri\u00fa isteach ar na h\u00e1iteanna ar luaigh m\u00e9 ina bhfuil feachtais, tuismitheoir\u00ed agus \u00e9ileamh at\u00e1 cruthaithe cheana f\u00e9in? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  Aonta\u00edm go hioml\u00e1n leis an m\u00e9id at\u00e1 r\u00e1ite ag mo chomhghleaca\u00ed, an Teachta \u00d3 Snodaigh, i dtaobh na h\u00e1iteanna nach bhfuil me\u00e1nscoileanna l\u00e1nGhaeilge iontu. T\u00e1 an-chuid de na me\u00e1nscoileanna l\u00e1nGhaeilge at\u00e1 againn faoi bhr\u00fa i dtaobh foirgnimh agus sp\u00e1is. T\u00e1 \u00e9ileamh n\u00edos m\u00f3 ann n\u00e1 mar gur f\u00e9idir leo freastal air de dheasca an easpa infheist\u00edochta i bhfoirgnimh, su\u00edomhanna agus a leith\u00e9id. T\u00e1im ag smaoineamh ar Ghaelchol\u00e1iste Phort L\u00e1irge i gcathair Phort L\u00e1irge, a bhfuil ag feidhmi\u00fa as prefabs le blianta anuas agus nach bhfuil baile d\u00e1 chuid f\u00e9in aige. Freastala\u00edonn an Ghaelchol\u00e1iste seo ar \u00e9ileamh \u00f3 roinnt mhaith bunscoileanna l\u00e1nGhaeilge sa cheantar - i dTr\u00e1 Mh\u00f3r, i gcathair Phort L\u00e1irge agus sa cheantar m\u00e1ghuaird. Ta g\u00e9argh\u00e1 anois le hinfheist\u00edocht n\u00ed hamh\u00e1in sna cheantair nach bhfuil me\u00e1nscoil l\u00e1nGhaeilge iontu ach freisin sna me\u00e1nscoileanna l\u00e1nGhaeilge at\u00e1 ar an bhf\u00f3d cheana f\u00e9in. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  Ba mhaith liom d\u00e9ile\u00e1il le fadhb at\u00e1 ann maidir le Gaelchol\u00e1iste Dh\u00fan Dealgan. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 mar scoil satail\u00edte de chuid Chol\u00e1iste Ghl\u00f3r na Mara i mBaile Brig\u00edn. T\u00e1 fadhb sa scoil maidir leis an gc\u00f3ras iompair. N\u00edlimid s\u00e1sta leis an bhfreagra at\u00e1 faighte againn \u00f3n Roinn. N\u00edl c\u00f3ras iompair \u00e1 chur ar f\u00e1il f\u00e1 choinne na scoile. Ba cheart go mbeidh s\u00e9 sin d\u00e9anta. Chomh maith leis sin, t\u00e1 fadhb ann maidir le scr\u00faduithe. T\u00e1 uimhir scr\u00fadaithe de dh\u00edth \u00f3n scoil f\u00e1 choinne na scr\u00faduithe m\u00f3ra St\u00e1it. It is fairly straightforward. There is a particular issue with the Gaelchol\u00e1iste. It is trying to grow its numbers. It is a project to try to grow a Gaelchol\u00e1iste at secondary level in Dundalk through Irish and it really needs facilitation in relation to transport. The answer at the minute from the Department is not good enough. An exam number is needed so people do not have to travel to Balbriggan to do the State exams. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  There are currently 50 Gaelchol\u00e1ist\u00ed across the country and almost all of them are undersubscribed for enrolments. This Government is committed to establishing and supporting----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  On a point of order, the Minister cannot put wrong facts on the record. Col\u00e1ist\u00ed Eoin and Iosag\u00e1in are bursting at the seams. They are not undersubscribed in any sense. The Department has accepted that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy John Paul O'Shea)  The Minister to respond. Can the Deputy sit down, please? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Hildegarde Naughton","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","memberCode":"Hildegarde-Naughton.S.2013-07-19","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Hildegarde Naughton  My Department and the Government are absolutely committed to expanding the number of Gaelchol\u00e1ist\u00ed and Gaelscoileanna across the country. As the Deputy knows, there was a recent primary school survey which included questions to establish parental interest in Irish-medium provision and while it was a survey for primary schools, it provides very useful information and a guide to inform post-primary provision. There will be further clarity on the outcomes of that survey later this year. We have committed in the programme for Government to establishing Gaelscoileanna and Gaelchol\u00e1ist\u00ed where there is demand. The task force in undergoing work in relation to this. I will keep Members updated. I am absolutely in support of the need to expand this and where schools need to be upgraded as part of our NDP, the Department will engage directly with those schools, particularly with the energy and condition surveys that are happening throughout this year. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Education Policy"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_30","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Special Educational Needs","counts":{"speechCount":2,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_23","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_23","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_30","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_30.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  On behalf of Deputy Byrne, I ask about the way in which children with additional needs in Drogheda without a school place will be accommodated for the upcoming school year. On behalf of Deputy Byrne, I raise the specific case of Alfie, an eight-year-old boy from Drogheda. His mum, Lorraine, expressly asked that his case be raised. He is one of a number of children in mainstream school with a recommendation for a special school or class place but who do not have a letter of eligibility from the NCSE. What advice can the Minister give for young Alfie? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  My understanding is the issue is 1 October. That is my information on that specific case. We are aware of it and will follow up and report back to both the Deputy and his colleague.  In regard to Drogheda and County Louth, in particular, the Government is committed to continuing acceleration of provision of additional special classes and special school places across the country. The National Council for Special Education is the statutory body responsible for that and the Department and the NCSE are working very closely with both myself and the senior Minister in the Department, Deputy Naughton, to ensure we have certainty for families and students into the 2026-2027 school year.  To date, the Department and NCSE have sanctioned 301 special school classes. That is a number of months earlier than it was last year. Five of these new special classes are being provided in County Louth. This brings to 120 the total number of special classes available across County Louth.  Additionally, there are four special schools in County Louth supporting 421 children. The sanctioning of these new special classes is a number of months ahead of last year and should provide greater certainty for parents. It also provides schools with more time to establish new classes. I expect schools will open new classes to move forward now with admissions processes. The NCSE will keep us informed weekly of developments in relation to the special classes and the provision of education.  We will respond directly to the Deputy and his colleague on the issue raised. As we are talking about Gaelchol\u00e1ist\u00ed, I think visitors from Gaelchol\u00e1iste Chiarra\u00ed are about to join us in the Public Gallery. It would be remiss of me if I did not mention it. I have a vested interest. My good lady wife is working in the school. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Is f\u00e9idir teacht ar Cheisteanna Scr\u00edofa ar www.oireachtas.ie. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Written Answers are published on the Oireachtas website. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Special Educational Needs"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_31","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions","counts":{"speechCount":34,"speakerCount":10},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_31","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I m\u00ed an Mheithimh 2024, scr\u00edobh an T\u00e1naiste faoi mholadh c\u00e1nach do thithe at\u00e1 ag teast\u00e1il \u00f3 cheannaitheoir\u00ed c\u00e9aduaire. D\u00fairt s\u00e9 nach f\u00e9idir cur suas leis agus thug s\u00e9 gealltanas nach dtarl\u00f3idh seo ar\u00eds, ach ar aghaidh go dt\u00ed i mbliana 2026 agus ceisteanna curtha air, dheimhnigh s\u00e9 go raibh 293 teach bulc-cheannaithe d\u00edreach anuraidh ag creach-chist\u00ed agus tiarna\u00ed tal\u00fan corpar\u00e1ideacha. An nglacann an T\u00e1naiste leis go bhfuil teipthe ioml\u00e1n ar a pholasa\u00ed anois?  This week, the Government's damning failure in housing has been laid bare for all of us to see once again. Its choices are making it harder for working people to afford a home. Last night, the Government pushed through a Bill that will hike rents by up to \u20ac5,000 for 60,000 renters every year, a gift to big corporate landlords on behalf of Fine Gael and Fianna F\u00e1il. This morning, we woke up to the news that there are no housing assistance payment, HAP, properties to rent in 16 different areas. These are right across the country, and include areas in Cork, Galway, Dublin, Athlone, Limerick and Waterford. I could go on. This is piling even more pressure onto those desperately seeking to put a roof over their heads.  That is before we come to the abysmal failure to stop vulture funds snapping up family homes. In June 2024, the T\u00e1naiste wrote that the bulk purchasing of homes needed by first-time buyers cannot be tolerated. Those are his words, not mine. Two years on, those words ring hollow. Under questioning by me, the T\u00e1naiste confirmed that 293 homes were bulk purchased last year alone by vulture funds. These were 293 homes and 293 opportunities lost to working people. There were 293 young people who had done everything right, saved for years and cut back, with some even moving back into their family homes to build up a deposit, only to find themselves outbid. Couples queued for hours and hours outside developments, lining up before dawn to secure a chance to bid on a first home, only for the vultures to swoop in, not with a mortgage application or savings scraped up year after year, but with institutional capital that no ordinary worker can compete with.  This happened and was tolerated under the T\u00e1naiste's watch as Minister for Finance. He told the public the Government's policy would put a stop to this. We said it would not. The T\u00e1naiste stood over that policy and defended it. He said it would deter bulk purchasing. It has not deterred it and it has not stopped it. It is still happening. Of the 293 homes purchased last year by vulture funds, 154 were bought in the last three months alone. This is happening right now under the T\u00e1naiste's watch and the reason is simple: the Government's legislation is not working. It made a choice to leave the door open and vultures are swooping right through it. When the T\u00e1naiste says that bulk purchasing cannot be tolerated, what exactly do those words mean? What we are seeing is not intolerance but permission for large investors to compete directly with first-time buyers and permission for a model where ordinary working people are told to save harder, wait longer and try again next year. Does the T\u00e1naiste accept, in the face of the facts, that the Government's policy has failed? Does he accept that as long as these exemptions remain, first-time buyers will continue to be gazumped by vulture funds? Will he now act to keep the promise he made and ban vulture funds from snapping up family homes? He said the practice, in his words, could not be tolerated. Will he finally step up and deliver on that promise? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  First, in relation to the housing assistance payment and the Dublin Simon Community report that the Deputy referenced, I thank the Dublin Simon Community for the work it does. I thank it for the recognition in its commentary in relation to the tenancy protections we are putting in place in the legislation that passed in this House last night and now goes to the Seanad today. I thank it for the work it is doing, including in this capital city with the opening of its new facility this week to help people in relation to addiction and homelessness.  I also want to acknowledge that when it comes to housing assistance and the housing assistance payment, we do intend, in line with our housing plan, to review the HAP limits and to have that completed within the first half of this year. That is a commitment the Government has given because we believe HAP can make a difference to people and we believe it is making a difference to people. I am pleased to see that already, when we look at people who have been on HAP and at their journey to longer-term accommodation and a more permanent housing solution, there are encouraging signs, with 37% of exits from the HAP scheme now being to other forms of social housing. The point in relation to needing to review HAP and the HAP limits is something this Government concurs with. It is something we are acting on and we will have that work concluded in the first half of this year.  My second point in relation to HAP and supply more generally is that we have to keep on increasing supply. There are some encouraging signs, which I am not surprised the Deputy did not mention, when it comes to housing supply. Last year, we saw almost 100 homes built every single day, an increase in our housing figures by more than 20% on the previous year. We saw commencements of new homes in December double on what they were in November. We see 600 people buying their first-time home every single week. We will have social housing figures shortly, but I believe those will also show progress.  The Deputy referenced institutional investors. The Deputy and many people, on all sides of this House, often talk about the Housing Commission report. It is important we do not pick and choose which bits of the report we want to talk about. The Housing Commission report itself says we must see private investment in our housing market. It is really important; the State cannot do it all. In fact, the State is investing way more than most European countries in housing, but we do need to also attract in private investment. There may be a policy difference with us on that. I do not know, but there may be. However, the Housing Commission report, and not you or me, recognises the importance of it.  When it comes to bulk buying, and we did discuss this the other night, we have acted. We introduced a higher rate of stamp duty. When I was Taoiseach in the period of time the Deputy referenced, I acknowledged and said clearly that the extra rate we brought in, the 10% rate, was not high enough in my view. I worked closely with the then Minister for Finance, Michael McGrath, and the Government and we increased that rate of stamp duty by 50%. That saw the number of homes being bulk bought fall in 2023, 2024 and 2025 and we expect it to fall now.  Another fact the Deputy did not mention, but that he should mention because I did put these figures on the record of the House the other night, is that we now see institutional investors selling more homes than they are buying in Ireland. There is a need for all of the facts to be looked at. We need private investment. We took action in relation to bulk buying. We took further action in relation to bulk buying, and we are now seeing more homes being sold than bought up by that sector. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  The T\u00e1naiste gave a commitment in 2024. He said that the bulk purchasing of these homes by vulture funds should not be tolerated, cannot be tolerated. He is the Minister for Finance. He has not just been tolerating this once or twice. He tolerated it 293 times last year. These were 293 opportunities snapped away by vulture funds from young people who wanted to buy their first home. The T\u00e1naiste stands there and somehow defends this because he offers no solutions. It could not be tolerated in 2024 and it should not be tolerated now. Vulture funds should not be allowed to outbid and swoop in to buy homes from under the noses of ordinary first-time buyers. That is simple as. What is the T\u00e1naiste going to do about it? If he genuinely believes it should not be tolerated, as he said, then what is he going to do about it? The solution is simple: ban vulture funds from bulk purchasing family homes. It is as simple as that. End the practice. Step up and do the right thing on behalf of people who are being completely outpriced in the market and are losing faith as a result of the Government's policies. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I have told the House quite clearly what we are going to do. We brought in a higher rate of stamp duty. We increased it further. We are seeing the number fall. We brought in specific planning guidelines that are having a very significant effect. We are now seeing more homes actually being sold than bought up by institutional investors. That is a very significant change. We gave a commitment, we acted on the commitment, and we are seeing the benefit of that policy now. It is important, though, that we discuss these issues in relation to housing. It is important that we discuss the issues in relation to HAP. However, it is also important that we are not hypocritical. We are having a discussion today about the housing assistance payments. That was the starting point the Deputy made with the Simon Communities report. Sinn F\u00e9in's housing spokesperson described HAP as a chronic waste of money. That was Sinn F\u00e9in's position. We are trying to actually review it and make sure it works. When it comes to Sinn F\u00e9in, Mary Lou McDonald comes into the D\u00e1il and speaks of a housing emergency and then goes back to Cabra where it is a housing objection. That is hypocrisy. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  As we all know, it has been raining solidly since what feels like forever and communities across the country continue to deal with the fallout of flooding. In that time, my office has also been flooded - with pleas for help from terrified renters who are starting the new year with eviction notices. Things were already bad enough for tenants, but the Government's appalling new rent law has given landlords an effective amnesty on rent hikes; an incentive to evict. It passed the D\u00e1il last night by a small majority. People know they will now be forced to pay even higher rents for new tenancies. That is guaranteed. Perhaps that is the reason the debate was guillotined by the Government last night. It was forced through by Government after reaching only the ninth of 69 amendments. That is the signature move of the Minister, Deputy Browne. It is a nifty trick to avoid accountability and avoid light being shed on just how daft these housing plans are. Last year, debate on every single Bill from the Minister's Department was guillotined. Not one full Report Stage was taken in the D\u00e1il. This new year, the term has kicked off with the same thing again on highly controversial legislation. It is bad governance from a bad Government, and this is a bad week for housing policy.  It is one year since stroke politics delivered us this regressive tripartite coalition with the Lowry-Healy-Rae Independents. In truth, we are seeing the impact of this arrangement and their influence across housing policy. Let us take short-term lets. We all know they are cannibalising housing supply across the country. I know the T\u00e1naiste wants to deal with this but this week, the Government again watered down its own proposals. Instead of towns with a population exceeding 10,000, the Government's regulations, whenever they eventually come into effect, will only apply to populations of more than 20,000. This is clearly a concession to the Lowry-Healy-Rae Independents. How curious it is that the population of Killarney is 14,000. We know what the results are.  The Simon Communities\u2019 Locked Out of the Market report, published this week, which the T\u00e1naiste mentioned earlier, found zero properties available to rent within standard HAP limits across all 16 areas surveyed. Just 31 properties were available even at the higher discretionary rates, which is a pathetic 3% of all listings. Our Labour Party housing spokesperson, Deputy Sheehan, has acknowledged, as we all do, the flawed nature of HAP, but it is supposed to get people out of homelessness. I am glad that the Government is reviewing HAP limits, but what good is that when there is literally nowhere to rent? What are people who are contacting my office, and all our offices, with news of eviction notices supposed to do? What are they to do? I am working with one woman, a civil servant, who is being evicted from her home now. She tells me of her grave distress and constant worry and anxiety. She said the property has been her home for the last 14 years, but she now has nowhere to go. Some 5,000 children are homeless and 17,000 people are in emergency accommodation. Where are they to go? It has been a bad week for Government housing policy, but renters, families and children in homelessness are the ones living with the consequences. What is the T\u00e1naiste doing to address this? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Bacik very much. I take the point about having enough time in the Oireachtas to tease through things. I would also balance that point with the fact that there is a housing emergency and every day matters. Every day we do not take a decision is a day where progress is not being made at enough speed or enough pace in relation to housing supply. We have been very clear as a Government for quite a sustained period of time as to the changes we wanted to make in relation to the rental market. I do not think, and the Deputy would expect me to say this, that her analysis of the Bill we have put before this House, and which has passed this House, is balanced. If she looks at Dublin Simon Community's comments - and I am not suggesting that the Dublin Simon Community is supportive of all aspects of the Bill; it is certainly not - it did acknowledge a number of positive aspects of the Bill, on which I would hope we could see acknowledgement across this House, including the expansion of the rent pressure zones on a nationwide basis. That is something I am not sure the Deputy would have predicted this Government was going to do. It is probably something lots of people in opposition called for us to do, and we did. As a result, there are counties that did not have rental protections in place that now do, including County Donegal and other places as well.  We have really brought in a very strong tenant protection regime in Ireland, and that is acknowledged by people working in this sector and people working in homeless organisations too. We have to balance that alongside recognising that we can have all the rental protections in the world, but we also need places to rent. This Government is getting criticised in both directions and that is usually a sign that we are probably trying to get the balance right here. What we are also doing is trying to stimulate supply because otherwise, it is an academic conversation. We need more homes for people to rent. Yes, many of those homes will be built with money from this State and direct money to local authorities, but also with money through agencies of my own Department, such as the Land Development Agency, LDA. In fairness, the Deputy's party put forward ideas around how it would have liked to see that evolve. We have tried to expand its role as well.  We now have one of the strongest rates of home completions in the European Union, with 5.9 homes being completed per 1,000. The EU average is 3.3. The Deputy referenced that constituent or person who contacted her. I do not in any way dispute that there is a housing emergency in this country. I do not in any way dispute that the challenge is really acute for people. However, I also know that the remedy to that challenge is more supply. It is building more homes.  There are two specific recommendations the Deputy touched on regarding HAP and short-term lets. In our housing plan, we have committed to acting on both of them this year. In relation to HAP, the Deputy has acknowledged that we are reviewing the limits. That review will be completed in the first half of this year. I acknowledge and thank my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Burke, for his work on that. In relation to short-term lets, we have to have the register up and running by 20 May. We did want to get this right, though. This is a balance, and I am sure some of the Deputy's colleagues from places outside of Dublin, respectfully, or outside the greater Dublin area, would make this point too. We do not want to have an unintended consequence where there are areas that really rely on short-term lets for the tourism sector as well. It is about making sure that the juice is worth the squeeze in terms of getting extra homes back into rental. We thought 20,000 was a good balance in relation to that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  I think we can agree on one thing. There is a housing emergency. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Yes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  There is no doubt about that. I have certainly welcomed, as have my Labour colleagues, positive aspects of the legislation. However, the unfortunate truth is that these are undermined by the provisions that enable rent hikes, which incentivise rent hikes and incentivise evictions for the purpose of rent hikes. That is the problem, and it is a problem that renters across the country are experiencing. The real truth also, which nobody in Government is willing to admit, is that there is no evidence that this will work. The T\u00e1naiste says the Government is doing this in order to ramp up supply, but there is no evidence that will work. Indeed, I am hearing from landlords in my constituency who are telling me they are leaving rental properties. They are not going to rent out any more. Why? Because of the uncertainty and the enormous number of changes there have been. The reality, again, is that we need to have significant State intervention here. The T\u00e1naiste acknowledged that the Labour Party put forward very strong proposals in the last election campaign in order to see the State deliver at scale and ramp up the Land Development Agency to create a State construction company. Only that will enable delivery at the scale that is required to deliver the homes people need. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I did acknowledge it. I acknowledged during the election campaign and in the potential programme for Government talks after the election that the Labour Party had put forward constructive proposals. I do acknowledge that. We have a different landing zone, in that I think the Labour Party wanted a new State agency. I am not trying to misrepresent its position, but our view was to evolve the Land Development Agency. I think the Labour Party had a different proposal. I acknowledge that there was constructive engagement. I am not taking from that. We do have to take measures when it comes to supply, however. I say this respectfully. The Deputy made a point about landlords in her constituency. This is a point I am making. Sometimes, we come into the D\u00e1il and we are told by the Opposition that we are taking all these measures to help landlords. Then, people go back to their constituencies and hear landlords saying that, hang on a second, this is actually introducing it to be a protection for tenants that poses a challenge for them. In a housing emergency, there is no perfect set of policy measures, but we do have to use a whole range of levers to try to get housing supply going. That is what we are doing. There are encouraging signs that some of the decisions we took in the budget, some of which were vehemently opposed by the other side of this House, are having a positive effect. Forget about industry and forget about developers. We are hearing that now from the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland, which is talking about the viability of apartments. We keep working on this every day. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  Families and children have been let down appallingly by Children's Health Ireland, CHI. There has been scandal heaped on scandal, and report after report. Behind all of that are sick children and their families who have been failed by the healthcare system and the State. Children and families are still being failed because promises to act have been broken and long-promised reports remain unpublished.  The Nayagam report was commissioned in 2023, two and a half years ago. Families still have not seen it. This is a report into the medical treatment of their children. As campaigner and mother Claire Cahill said on \"Morning Ireland\", this report belongs to the families and their children, yet they remain in the dark. They only realised the Minister had the report after reading about it in a Sunday newspaper. Families feel like afterthoughts in the whole process. They are being strung along and fed excuses while the system closes ranks on them. Now they are told that the report cannot be published for legal reasons. There is no credible timeline for when those legal issues will be resolved or when a partial version of the report or, even, the recommendations it contains can be published. There have been 12 reports into CHI, just six of which have been published. Using legalities as a shield against transparency cannot continue, particularly when we are speaking about sick children and their healthcare. How can issues at CHI be resolved unless we are clear about everything that has gone on and about the reforms that urgently need to happen?  It is more than three months since the Government agreed to hold a statutory public inquiry into spinal care for children with scoliosis and spina bifida, but all we have is a headline. A mediator has not been appointed and work to draft the terms of reference has not even started. Families have again been left in the dark. The original commitment was that the terms of reference would be agreed within 16 weeks. With three weeks left, no mediator has been appointed and no meetings have taken place. There is now little hope that the deadline will be met. That is another broken promise.  Nine years ago the T\u00e1naiste promised that no child with scoliosis would wait longer than four months for treatment. He is aware of how much hurt this broken promise has caused. I cannot understand why the Government continues to make promises to families which are not worth the paper they are written on. Families want honesty and transparency. Can the T\u00e1naiste indicate when will phase 1 of the Nayagam report, or even part of it, be published? Does he accept that the Government will miss its own deadline to draft terms of reference for the statutory public inquiry? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy O'Callaghan for raising this very important issue. I will begin where he began by absolutely acknowledging that the priority in all of our discussions, and I know this is something we all share a view on, must be, is and must remain the children and their parents. Deputy O'Callaghan did not do so, but it is often easy to talk about reports and everything else in this House. We are talking about children and worried parents, and they should be our priority. I agree with Deputy O'Callaghan on that.  I heard the Deputy's party colleague Deputy Rice on the radio this morning. Deputy Rice does a very good job chairing the Oireachtas health committee. I assure him and Deputy O'Callaghan that the Government wants to see as much information as possible published, and certainly shared with parents. The Government wants as much information as is absolutely legally possible to be made available to a statutory inquiry. I genuinely and sincerely mean that. In fairness to my colleague the Minister for Health, I know this is her position. The Minister has been engaging with the Attorney General in respect of this matter.  I am very conscious and careful, even though we are in the D\u00e1il, of the fact that phase 1 of the report relates to the clinical practice of an individual consultant. I am also very aware of processes that may be under way legally. I am also very aware of processes that may or may not get under way in future. We need to be very careful in relation to this. Phase 1 of the report is specifically a risk assessment of the practice of an individual consultant. I do not want to say anything, and nor does anyone else, that cuts across this. However, I can inform the House that the Minister absolutely wants to be in a position to share this information. There is no reason in the wide earthly world why she would not want that. This is an important step to try to fix a very serious issue and, ultimately, to try to rebuild trust and confidence in children's healthcare and CHI.  I want to make a point regarding the children. The words of Dr. Colin Henry, the top doctor in the HSE, the chief clinical officer, yesterday are important. These are his words and not mine. He stated that while \"these are not clinically urgent, but nevertheless, in the interest of peace of mind and assuredness to families, this exercise needs to be carried out quickly in the coming weeks.\" The latter refers to follow-up appointments. We need to make sure that this happens in an expeditious manner and in a manner that puts children at the centre of the process.  Specifically in relation to the statutory inquiry, the Minister spoke to this matter at the Oireachtas committee yesterday. She wrote in December to communicate her intention to appoint someone. Although I do not have the letter, I believe she also identified the person she was hoping to appoint. There has been an exchange of correspondence and information in the interim. She certainly has identified the person. She wanted to find a person of substance and high calibre who will also be available to do the work. That person has been identified and I believe the appointment is imminent. The scoping exercise needs to take place as quickly as possible. I fully understand the urgency of it. I also understand from my engagement with parents that it is both urgent and a matter of getting it right. I really hope that in the coming very brief period we can see this move forward. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  I thank the T\u00e1naiste for his response. He is absolutely right that children who have suffered pain are at the heart of this matter. They have been badly let down, and that is what this is absolutely about. They and their families deserve as much information as possible. We have had 12 reports , but only six of these have been published to date. Does the T\u00e1naiste acknowledge that this is not acceptable? Does he acknowledge that for the statutory public inquiry to work, as much information as possible needs to be available to it, including when the terms of reference are agreed in order for the families to engage with the process and not be left in the dark? Does he accept that it is two and a half years since the Nayagam report was commissioned and yet all the families know is what they read about in the Sunday newspapers? They have not had sight of the report, even though it is about their children. They have a right to have sight of it and to as much information as can possibly be made available. The T\u00e1naiste knows that information can be published, even if some of it has to be redacted initially pending further legal advice. When is the Government going to make that information available? When will the terms of reference of the statutory public inquiry actually be agreed? Identifying a mediator is not enough. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I find myself in broad agreement, as, I think, does the House, with the Deputy. I do not think there is a huge difference of opinion here, but I take the point. The only reports that should not be published are those where there is a legal issue with publishing. I also take the Deputy's point about circumstances where there are legal issues and trying to identify if there are ways of overcoming them and putting some information in the public domain. I genuinely know that the Minister is working in good faith on that matter.  I want to make a point, and I wish to do so sensitively. I absolutely understand why people want to see the report. I am not dismissing that at all. Any parent has a right to all of the clinical information in relation to their own child. As part of the follow-up procedures with hospitals, all of the information relating to a child's medical history absolutely must be made available to their parents. It is normal for clinicians to engage with the parent of any child in this way.  In relation to the statutory public inquiry, the aim is to get into a process where a facilitator or mediator, and I have heard both titles used, would be appointed imminently to work with the families, the Government and everyone else to get the terms of reference correct. I expect the Minister to be in a position to make this appointment imminently. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Despite the opposition of People Before Profit and most of the rest of the Opposition and protests last night, the Government insisted on ramming through a Bill relating to the RTB that is going to mean further hikes in rents which are already unaffordable, worsening an already dire housing crisis. The Government rejected amendments which proposed that rents be kept at affordable levels and that no-fault evictions should not continue. In the context of the purpose of the Bill, the Minister stated, \"We do not want rents for long-term tenancies to fall behind market rents.\" The purpose of it therefore is to increase rents and make sure they do not fall behind a market that is completely unaffordable.  No doubt the property speculators, the corporate landlords and the vulture funds will be rubbing their hands with glee because they are set to be able to ratchet up rents and make even more profits off the back of the housing misery huge numbers of working people, young people and students in this country are experiencing. The human cost of all of this is going to be significant. I will provide an example, namely that of Michael and Shannon, a young couple in their 20s. Michael is working and Shannon was working but had to give it up because of their housing dilemma. They have two young children, a two-year-old who came in here with them last night and a nine-year-old daughter, both of whom have special needs. They are facing eviction in the next week by a small landlord, which will still be allowed under the legislation, through no fault of their own.  They are facing the prospect of emergency accommodation. They are nine years on a council list but with no prospect of a council house. They are on the three-bed list. They have been approved for HAP and told to go out and try to find a HAP tenancy but the limit is \u20ac1,912. That is the homeless HAP limit. They can pay a bit of a top-up on that which they cannot really afford. The cheapest rent today in south Dublin is \u20ac3,100 for the number of bedrooms they need. As the report confirms today, nothing is available in most areas of the country within the HAP limits. The same family has been hit by the council rent hikes that the councils are putting up.  How is the Bill going to help them? Is it not the case that after 1 March their prospect of finding an affordable rental property is now absolutely gone, as it is impossible at the moment, and that their vulnerable children with special needs are now facing the prospect of going into a hostel? Shannon was breaking down in tears in front of me with her partner saying her kids cannot go into that situation. What does the T\u00e1naiste have to say to Michael and Shannon? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Boyd Barrett. I say to Michael and Shannon and to all people across the country in need of housing that every action we take is to increase the number of homes that are available to rent or buy. That is not just one type of home. It is more social homes, more affordable homes and homes through the Land Development Agency, LDA. Quite an incredible the number of homes are now receiving some level of subvention from the State to be built. It is also private homes because private homes and private investment are good and there are lots of people who want to buy their own home and see either themselves or, indeed, their adult children be able to move into one of those homes.  I take the Deputy's point relating to the HAP limits. I know Deputy Boyd Barrett has been a strong advocate for this. There is a commitment in the housing plan that will be concluded in the first half of this year.  I would push back, as the Deputy would expect me to, around the point he made in relation to this kind of corporate landlord capture. I have heard a lot of this in the past number of days. I do think this is in the space of misinformation. Small landlords make up 88% of all landlords in this country. They are providing 45% of all private tenancies and these reforms are explicitly designed to also help retain landlords while improving tenant security. We have to do both. If a small landlord leaves the market, tenants lose the ability to rent a home. There is a cause and effect here. Small landlords and landlords are not the enemy of the public good as is often portrayed by the far left. It is a vital part. Who is going to rent the homes if there are no landlords?  Deputy Boyd Barrett does not agree with my political outlook on the world but Michael Byrne of the school of social policy, social work and social justice in UCD specifically said that what is being missed in the current discussion is that the new legislation that was passed last night in this House is designed, once established, to reduce the level of notice of terminations. That is what the professor in the school of social work and social justice said our Bill is trying to do, that is, when it is enacted, to reduce the number of notices of terminations. So, yes, as is always the case, there is teasing through the legislation and debating and discussing different elements of it and what people think is good, what people think is bad and what people think should be better. However, we should not misrepresent the purpose here. People are looking at this Bill, including the Dublin Simon Community which acknowledges and welcomes the tenant protection elements of this legislation while having different views from us on other elements of the Bill.  We have to increase supply. We have to keep landlords in the market, particularly the small landlords, and at the same time we have to make sure that, for the very first time in Ireland, we have a nationwide, permanent system of tenant protections.  I do not say this dismissively of the very serious situation Deputy Boyd Barrett's constituents are facing, and that he rightly raised, but I do not have the specific information relating to any individual case. However, we are increasing the number of social homes and we are increasing housing supply. We have been very clear on what we are going to do in relation to HAP. We are living in a country again where almost 100 homes are being built every single day. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Factually, the number of landlords has increased in the past two years. They are not leaving the market. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  That is a good thing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  There was 103,000 landlords two years ago and now there are 105,000. There are 2,000 more landlords than there were and more tenancies. So, the Government does not need to enrich them even more at the expense of tenants.  What are Michael, Shannon and their two kids supposed to do? Does the T\u00e1naiste think it is acceptable that their two vulnerable children with special needs go into a hostel, which will damage and traumatise them? Shannon was bursting into tears with fear and she is joining the parents of thousands of other children, many with special needs, and parents who are struggling. Their chances of getting out of emergency accommodation are now diminished because there will be no affordable rents. No rents are affordable under the HAP limits anyway but now there are definitely going to be none because all of the new tenancies after 1 March will go up to market levels, which are absolutely unaffordable. Has the T\u00e1naiste got anything to say other than at some point the supply is going to come on stream? Seriously, that is not a response to people who are terrified for their kids about what is going to happen next week. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  It is not at some point that supply will come on stream. Supply is increasing despite the Deputy's best efforts, whether it is objecting in his constituency to housing developments. That is a cause and an effect----- "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  There he goes blaming the Opposition again. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  -----if you object to a house, Deputy O'Reilly does too. I know Mary Lou does. If you object to houses, and I have never objected----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  It is everyone else's fault but the Government's. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Cummins  The Opposition does not like the truth. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I have never objected to a home and nobody in this House should. I do not care what party they are in. They should stop objecting to houses. Everybody should stop. There is a housing emergency, end-of. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  We do not object to houses; we object to profiteering. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Surely to God we can agree on that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  We object to profiteering, not homes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Would Deputy Boyd Barrett allow the T\u00e1naiste answer? He asked the question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  That is my political point which I am entitled to make. Nobody in this House should object to housing. I feel very strongly on that. I hope we can all agree on that.  I am not sure whether Deputy Boyd Barrett is upset that there are more landlords in the market or not by what he just said. If we were to see an increase, that is a good thing but his figures are not comparing like with like because, as he knows well, we now register approved housing bodies in relation to tenancies as well. So, he is not comparing like with like. If the Deputy thinks there is a flurry of people putting up their hand saying they want to be a small landlord, he is not engaging across his constituency as I know he does. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, T\u00e1naiste. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  In relation to Shannon and Michael, I hope Deputy Boyd Barrett's office and everyone in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council will engage very proactively to assist them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  We certainly are. They have been told to go to a hostel. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_32","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 na Comhalta\u00ed Eile - Other Members\u2019 Questions","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_32","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Before we move to Other Members' Questions, I have a message to welcome the guests from Gaelchol\u00e1iste Chiarra\u00ed in Tralee. They are guests of Deputy Pa Daly but I am reliably informed the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Moynihan's wife is a teacher there. They are very welcome. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul McAuliffe  I want to raise the issue of the national development plan and, in particular, health infrastructure and the delivery of it under the national development plan. For many of the Members in this House who support the Government each week, we want to know that our colleagues in Cabinet are making the national development plan a priority and that those projects within it are a priority. However, more importantly, we want to know that the mechanisms are put in place to ensure the timely delivery of critical infrastructure.  I welcome the Minister for Health's recent publication of the sectoral plan which allocated almost \u20ac10 billion to the area. That is the most amount ever recorded for the area of health. I appreciate that will amount to \u20ac1.5 billion alone in 2026. The way we will judge the performance of the people we support in here will be on the delivery of projects and the way we will be judged will be on the delivery of specific projects in each of our constituencies.  I want to raise some of those projects with the T\u00e1naiste because that is how the Government will be judged. Long-standing projects include Beaumont Hospital, the Finglas primary care centre, Teach An Saol in Ballymun, which I know the T\u00e1naiste has visited, and the redevelopment of the National Orthopaedic Hospital at Cappagh.  The \u20ac30 million allocated for Beaumont Hospital was very welcome and I know there are colleagues in the House, like Deputy \u00d3 Muir\u00ed, Deputy Heneghan and my party colleague, Deputy Brabazon, who are working with the hospital to ensure the 20-bed cystic fibrosis unit is delivered later this year and that the 95-bed inpatient unit and the new emergency department are delivered. We want to see clear timelines for those projects. As we have learned, being in the capital plan alone is not enough.  I also want to raise the issue of the primary care centre in Finglas which has been bogged down in a lot of planning over time. However, we are now getting to the point where enabling works, like the moving of pitches to facilitate new sports facilities as part of the primary care centre and so on, are all starting. Again, we want to make sure the HSE prioritises that project.  Teach An Saol, which the T\u00e1naiste has visited, is a centre for those with acquired brain injuries. We had a very welcome visit from Bernard Gloster and we have a commitment that the project is now at design and tender stage. We hope that will be concluded by the summer of this year and that we will move to have a new facility where the new national nuero team will also be in place. However, clear timelines are needed on that too.  Anyone who has visited Cappagh Hospital - I visited it with the T\u00e1naiste's predecessor, Leo Varadkar - will know that the old nightingale wards are awaiting replacement. There is a master plan that is crying out for investment. I would like to see more in the capital plan when it is published, which I believe may happen in the next number of weeks. We want to see clear timelines and we need delivery. That is in every constituency across the country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy McAuliffe for raising this issue. All of us on these benches agree with him because, thankfully, we are now in a position where we can provide a significant level of capital funding. Roughly speaking, we are planning on spending \u20ac275 billion out to 2035. That is badly needed for housing, for the enabling infrastructure for housing and a growing population and for the delivery of modern public services, including in the area of health.  I and my colleague the Minister, Deputy Chambers, agree with the Deputy. Alongside funding, the challenge now is going be making sure we cut through the red tape, bureaucracy, the bottlenecks, the gates, the stages, the external consultants and this, that and the other that have led us to a situation where big projects are taking far too long to deliver. That is not consequence free. It has a real impact in the Deputy's constituency, in my constituency and in constituencies across the country.  In addition to the work that the Minister, Deputy Chambers, did in the context of the accelerating infrastructure task force, I am pleased to say that we are now seeing real delivery. There was a proposal before Cabinet this week that we estimate will cut around 20 weeks off the delivery of the projects by not having to go back to external consultants. I say that by way of both form and credibility in terms of Deputy McAuliffe's constituency action in relation to that.  On health specifically, we are expecting the HSE capital plan to be published, as the Deputy rightly said, in the next number of weeks. The Minister for Health will keep in close contact with the Deputy in relation to that and with all of our Deputies across the Government benches too.  The Deputy referenced a number of projects in relation to Beaumont Hospital, such as the cystic fibrosis facility, which, I know, is important to Deputies \u00d3 Muir\u00ed and Heneghan too. This is a very important facility, and we all feel strongly about the extra bed capacity and the emergency department. Deputy McAuliffe also referenced Finglas primary care centre. My understanding is that the tenders for phase 1 have been received by the HSE, which expects a positive outcome on tender award over the coming weeks. Enabling works are now anticipated to commence on the site in the middle of this year, which will come as welcome relief after the long period for which the Deputy's community has been waiting for that facility.  I am really pleased the Deputy mentioned the SAOL project. I have given a commitment to coming out - and I would be delighted to do it with the Deputy - to see that project. I feel very passionately about it. I have gotten to know those involved personally. My colleague and friend Councillor Gayle Ralph raised this matter with me as recently as last Saturday, but I would be very pleased to go out with the Deputy to visit SAOL and make sure we get this over the line. This is a chance to transform lives. A huge amount of work has been invested in this by SAOL but by the HSE. Bernard Gloster has been very committed to the project, as has Deputy McAuliffe. I am committed to working with the Deputy to try get it over the line very shortly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul McAuliffe  The T\u00e1naiste identified a particular matter there. For a long time when we had no money in the country, we had multistage processes to show that projects were progressing but they were not actually getting anywhere. We are now in a situation where we have plenty of money and where the multistage processes are delaying projects. That does not happen often. It is important to have public scrutiny of public money, but we need to see delivery. I do not doubt commitment of the Minister for Health on this. However, people at every level within the HSE need to know these projects are desperately needed because of the increase in our population and on foot of new and emerging needs. They are also desperately needed because Beaumont Hospital is over 40 years old. It was a state-of-the-art hospital when it was built, but it now needs critical investment.  Equally, we have a desperate shortage of GPs in Finglas. GPs are an incredibly important in the context of people seeking to access healthcare. As a result of the demographics that obtain, Finglas is not as attractive as other areas where people might pay for private doctor visits. It is often entirely reliant on medical cards. That is all the more reason why the HSE should provide a primary care centre. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I do not disagree with anything Deputy McAuliffe said. It is now about delivery. The Minister for Health is very committed to it, as are the Minister for public expenditure, Deputy Chambers, and the Government. We all identified in advance of the previous election that our challenged is to put the resources our country has to work in terms of getting these projects moving.  There are encouraging signs in that regard. I have seen a level of focus and an appetite for this reform in the new infrastructure division of the Department of public expenditure and reform. The Deputy is right in that we have to translate this now to every level of the public service. I do not say that critically. We can have a policy but we need to make sure it is translated right down to the front line. We will be very eager to monitor that very closely with the Minister for Health and the HSE, and at the Cabinet committee on infrastructure delivery. This is a year in which we will see good progress for Finglas in terms of the primary care centre.  We are all very committed to Beaumont Hospital. We will see a number of projects coming forward, but, in fairness to the HSE, I want to await the capital plan. I am always conscious that these projects being delivered on live hospital sites presents extra complexity, which is something the HSE is factoring in. I will keep in touch with the Deputy on this matter in the coming weeks. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 na Comhalta\u00ed Eile - Other Members\u2019 Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_33","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Pholasa\u00ed n\u00f3 ar Reachta\u00edocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation","counts":{"speechCount":52,"speakerCount":21},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_33","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tom Brabazon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  I am sure the T\u00e1naiste watched the \"Prime Time Investigates\" programme on the mental health service and the catastrophe within it. The families of Natalie McGuinness and Jimmy Loughlin, both of whom lost their lives as a consequence of failures within the mental health service, appeared on the programme. Both families live in my constituency, and I have their issues here several times. Many other families who appeared on the programme expressed their frustration at being stonewalled by the system and at not getting any accountability.  I recently tabled a parliamentary question about the number of people who presented at Sligo University Hospital with mental health issues in 2025. The reply indicated that 1,242 people presented to the emergency department but that only 198 were admitted. This is not a historical problem; it is happening now. People are being failed by the mental health service. I saw the T\u00e1naiste on that programme. I can only say that his announcement was fraudulent. He stated that things would get better; they have got worse. People with mental health issues who approach the system get worse outcomes than they got 20 years ago because the Government closed everything down and replaced it with nothing. People are so frustrated and so annoyed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Leave the T\u00e1naiste time to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  I am dealing with constituents who are in a situation where they have loved ones who are afraid they will lose their lives because the system is failing them----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Kenny is using another Member's time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  -----and the T\u00e1naiste stands over that system. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  We stick to the 60 seconds. If you cannot make your point, then you have asked the question in the wrong forum. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Ideally, we stick to not making extraordinarily charged comments about people that are not backed by any evidence. The Deputy can debate me any time in relation to this matter. He should not interrupt me again. He should not do that again. I am not taking this bully-boy attitude. I am speaking; it is my go. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  The programme was very clear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Allow the answer, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  The programme points out very serious issues. This Government, through the leadership of the Minister of State, Deputy Mary Butler, is absolutely committed. None of us wants to see a scenario----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  The T\u00e1naiste is stonewalling the families. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Please, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Those families deserve answers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  Give them answers, then. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  The mental health service will continue both the investment it needs and be the subject of the reform that Deputy Mary Butler is working tirelessly on. She has my full support for that work. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  People are dying. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  Last week, on 5 February, the first annual report of the mother and baby institutions payment scheme was quietly released. It had been completed in June 2025 and relates to the year 2024. It had gathered dust on the desk of the Minister, Deputy Foley, for seven months. I had asked the Minister a number of times in parliamentary questions why the report had been delayed.  The special advocate, Patricia Carey, expressed strong criticism last week when the report was released. She said that the scheme is not achieving its goal of speedy, easy and trauma-informed access to redress for survivors and affected persons. She also pointed to the many failures of the redress scheme since its launch in March 2024. She further pointed to the fact that the redress scheme has spent less than 10% of its budget. Survivors have talked about arbitrary and narrow eligibility criteria and an unwieldy nine-step application process. Patricia Carey has called for the expansion of the scheme. Will the T\u00e1naiste indicate whether this matter will be addressed and whether they scheme will be amended? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Bacik for raising this issue. It deserves a more considered response from me because it is a very important issue. We need to get it right. On foot of Deputy Bacik raising this matter, I will discuss it with the Minister, Deputy Foley. I will also discuss with her the Government's response to Patricia Carey's analysis in relation to the current scheme and the processes relating to it. I will revert to the Deputy directly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  Maud Coffey was killed by her partner who was suffering from a severe and enduring mental health condition three years ago. They were a loving couple and life was looking very positive for them. Maud was a lovely, kind, creative person who loved her family. The family have only her best interests at heart in the context of what they would like to see happen. I grew up with Maud Coffey and her family, and I count them among my extended family. This family are coming from a place of care, for their sister they lost and for her partner, who was deeply unwell at the time he killed Maud.  The lived experience of this family is vitally important in the context of developing better practices and policies. They are not seeking compensation or to lay blame. They are seeking constructive engagement and change in order that similar tragedies can be prevented. The family are due to meet the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, in the coming weeks. I urge the T\u00e1naiste to please ensure that the ten learning points the family will bring forward are listened to and that action is taken. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Cummins for raising this issue. I am so sorry for Maud's family and Maud, and indeed the Deputy who described her relationship, which is obviously one of closeness, with the family. I am pleased to hear the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, will meet the family in relation to the ten points. I would be happy to talk to the Deputy in relation to it as well. I will certainly talk to the Minister of State in advance of the meeting. Let us hope that meeting can bring real progress. I am sure I speak for everybody in this House in saying that to see a family who are so generously willing to give, in the hope that no other family ever experiences the most horrific pain, tragedy and loss that they have experienced, is something we are all very grateful for. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charles Ward  Raphoe is facing an immediate escalating flood risk and a very serious danger to life. During heavy rainfall, floodwater runs from the hill down into Frank McBrearty's property, then onward towards Irish Street heading downhill and then finishes up at Andrew Hunter's property. There is a 10 ft. hole underneath and it floods into a field in Magherahaan. I understand that the flood prevention works for Raphoe have already been approved and funding is available, yet no works have been commenced and funding has not yet been drawn down. This is leaving Raphoe in a precarious position. It is unacceptable. Will the Government now intervene to ensure flood prevention works in Raphoe proceed as a matter of urgency? Will the T\u00e1naiste indicate a clear timeline for delivery? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Ward for raising this issue. I will speak with the Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW, Deputy Boxer Moran, today in relation to the situation. From memory, I know the Minister of State was in Donegal in recent days. I will get a brief from him, my Oireachtas colleagues and, indeed, the Deputy in relation to that visit.  We had a Cabinet committee meeting on flooding yesterday morning. The main message from that was for all of us to empower the OPW to provide as much assistance as possible to local authorities for what we are calling \"interim measures\", measures in the here and now that can make a real difference. I will certainly make sure Raphoe is part of that conversation. Either the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, or I will be back to the Deputy directly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  My concern is that I want local authorities to be a watchdog over Uisce \u00c9ireann. It has been reported under health and safety that Uisce \u00c9ireann employees have turned up to plants with no risk assessments or method statements and without confined space training. This is putting people who work for Uisce \u00c9ireann at risk. We want a watchdog, so the likes of county councillors and TDs have a watchdog over Uisce \u00c9ireann to make sure it is compliant and makes sure our water services are kept up to the highest standard. We need to keep that connection. I want the local authority to make sure we have a watchdog over Uisce \u00c9ireann. It could then directly report to the Government to make sure compliance is kept. Under health and safety, there are massive concerns there. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy O'Donoghue for raising the issue. I do not want to give a knee-jerk response, other than to say that I will certainly give consideration to what the Deputy said. I will also talk to the Minister, Deputy Browne, in relation to this.  There is a broader issue, if I can raise it, in relation to the Deputy's question around Uisce \u00c9ireann and its accountability to elected representatives. The Deputy's colleague and leader, Deputy Collins, raised this last week. I have discussed it with the Minister. I am not sure why Uisce \u00c9ireann, and this is not a criticism of the Ceann Comhairle or the Oireachtas, does not have a responsibility to answer parliamentary questions. That is not to my satisfaction. The company needs to be much better at communicating with Oireachtas Members because we are all going back to our constituencies trying to provide information. We are looking at engaging with Uisce \u00c9ireann in relation to how we improve at that level. I will be back to the Deputy on the specific issue he raised. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tom Brabazon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tom Brabazon  I have been contacted by deeply concerned parents who are waiting for a letter of eligibility from the National Council on Special Education post the 1 October parent notify deadline. As a result, these children are without access to a special class. Families are living in limbo. The stress and anxiety this is causing them are immense. These children need stability and access to education in an environment that meets their needs and their parents urgently need clarity and reassurance. I understand NCSE staff are awaiting further direction from NCSE senior management. Can the House be updated on when this directive will be issued and parents will be given peace of mind and certainty? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I am pleased Deputy Brabazon raised this matter. It is an issue that is coming up quite a lot. The Department and the NCSE tried to do something good here, which was to get ahead of things earlier this year through better planning and the like. As is often the case, however, other things happen and, through no fault of their own, not all parents were in a position to apply. Something that was about trying to facilitate earlier sanctioning of classes has obviously posed a challenge.  The NCSE has advised the Department of an increasing number of children and young people who have come to its attention since that timeline. The Department has now worked with the NCSE on proposals to address the needs of those children. The Department confirms that the NCSE is now in a position to issue letters of eligibility to children and young people who have made contact with it after 1 October and who meet the criteria for a special class or special school placement. The NCSE is commencing this process this week. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed  I raise the issue of delays in Tailte \u00c9ireann's registration processes. In 2023, Tailte \u00c9ireann received 240,803, with 4,630 applications in arrears. By 2025, the volume had increased to 296,039 applications, but 57,612 of those were in arrears. We talk about the housing crisis. This is just another factor. The administration is gumming up here. Anything we can do to speed up these processes and move these registrations on would help because there is somebody out there waiting for an application to be finished so that they can occupy their home. I am just raising that with the T\u00e1naiste. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy \u00d3 Muir\u00ed for raising this matter. He is entirely right. Every lever and every stage of the process needs to be expedited in relation to homes, housing and getting the housing market moving. Tailte \u00c9ireann tells us that it is working to address the registration backlog through both increased resources but also improved processes. It also makes the fair point that many applications are not in order when they are first submitted. That figure was about 38% last year. There is clearly either a communications issue or a process issue there in relation to making sure the lodging parties' applications are in order. That would certainly speed up times.  We also need to look at how digital services and the uptake of e-registration services can speed things up here. Where paperless application types are available to legal practitioners and financial institutions, that helps reduce processing times for all service users. I understand Tailte \u00c9ireann is currently running a tender process for an e-registration system, which would move the entire registration system to a paperless system. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Maurice Quinlivan  The T\u00e1naiste stated earlier that he comes in here every day to do work. The T\u00e1naiste has been in here 5,454 days, and for many of those he was Minister for Health. My local hospital, University Hospital Limerick, is in perpetual crisis. There were 131 people on trolleys in the hospital yesterday. If we had not opened the new bed unit in October last, we would probably have more than 200 people on trolleys. The figures for this year so far have been the exact same as last year's figures, so there has been no impact on the people presenting. February is probably going to be the worst February ever.  The T\u00e1naiste will be well aware that in September 2025, HIQA released a report which set out three options, A, B and C. The T\u00e1naiste will know what the options are. I want the T\u00e1naiste to confirm today whether the Government is going to implement option A, B or C, meaning delivering extra capacity at UHL, delivering additional capacity adjacent to UHL and delivering a second hospital with an emergency department in the mid-west region. That is what the people of the mid-west and Limerick need and deserve. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call the T\u00e1naiste to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Maurice Quinlivan  The staff have been under huge pressure for years and it is not fair on patients and their families. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank the Deputy for counting how many days I have been in the D\u00e1il. I am grateful to the people of Wicklow for returning me to this House each and every time I have asked them. I never take that for granted. I work very hard for them and for this country. I think the Deputy has been here since 2016 and I am sure he tries his best for his community too.  In relation to University Hospital Limerick, I acknowledge that the Minister for Health has been working on a cross-party basis on this issue. In fairness, I acknowledge that the Deputy has been a part of that too, as has Deputy O'Donoghue and many Deputies across the House. For the first time, we have near political consensus on what needs to happen. I do not want to speak for the Minister, and I do not have the note in front of me, but she brought proposals to Cabinet before Christmas in relation to not saying it is a choice between this, this or this, but saying we need to move forward in relation to all options. However, it is a question of doing it in a certain sequence that makes most sense for the Deputy's constituents in terms of increasing bed capacity. I will ask the Minister to continue to engage with the Deputy and all mid-west Oireachtas representatives in relation to this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Martin-Daly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Daly  Figures I received in reply to a recent parliamentary question show that HSE west-north west accounted for 1,263 delayed transfers of care from hospital into the community due to lack of access to residential care, care in the community and rehabilitation. That accounts for one third of the national average in spite of HSE west-north west looking after less than one fifth of population. Of those delays, 938 related to residential care, which is roughly half the national figure for that category. This is the region that has the highest number of medical cards and the highest number of people in receipt of disability. We are talking about Roscommon, Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim, Donegal and west Cavan. We have the longest waiting lists for primary care, the longest number of hours on trolleys and the longest delay between diagnosis of cancer and getting to cancer treatment.  It appears the region with the most need is receiving the least resources. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Daly for raising this issue. I genuinely appreciate his expert knowledge, as well as his knowledge as a TD, of health services in the west and north west.  One piece of work we have undertaken as a Government is we have created regional health organisations so that we can see the full spectrum of health, population, budget and staffing. This should allow us to be much more analytical in making sure that we are putting resources where they meet the needs and demands of an area and the demographic profile.  On foot of the Deputy raising this matter, I will ask both the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, and the Minister of State with responsibility for older people, Deputy O'Donnell, to look at the figures he has put on the record of the House and come back to him directly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Callaghan  I raise the matter of a Carlow sheep farmer who recently lost 15 sheep in the floods. That might sound like a small number to many but to this farmer, it will present a significant financial impact. One of the sheep was a pure-bred ram and the other 14 were replacements. I acknowledge the supports offered by the Government in the immediate aftermath of the flood, but none of them seem to be available to this Carlow farmer. In fact, the Irish Red Cross said we should go to the Department of Social Protection. That Department sent us to the Department of agriculture, which sent us to the Department of enterprise, and so far, everybody has said \"No\" Will the T\u00e1naiste provide some guidance and direction on where this Carlow farmer can seek some redress for his lost flock? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Callaghan for her question. As is often the case, she has highlighted an issue which we need to give some consideration to. I am very conscious that in her part of the country, in my part of the country in the south east and in much of the east of the country, we saw significant rainfall over an extended period, with flooding, including of farmland, particularly in the east and south. Thankfully, with most cattle housed this time of year, the impact was somewhat limited compared to what it could have been if it had been a different time of year. We have not been experiencing a shortage of fodder either. We have seen some challenges in relation to slurry tanks at capacity and limited opportunities to spread organic manure. A number of schemes have been put in place but I need to speak with the Minister for agriculture to try to get some specific direction in relation to the sheep farmer the Deputy referenced. I undertake to engage with Government colleagues to see if there is anything we can do to assist and to come back to the Deputy directly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  T\u00e1 a fhios ag gach duine at\u00e1 anseo \u00f3 Ghaelchol\u00e1iste Chiarra\u00ed an taca\u00edocht agus an chabhair a thugann SNAs do dhalta\u00ed agus don phobal ioml\u00e1n sna scoileanna.  I have been contacted by many schools, in particular, Fossa National School outside Killarney, which has lost four SNAs in that one school in the analysis provided to date. A review is coming up, but there seems to be an overly strict application of the meaning of \"significant needs\". I have also been contacted about this issue by schools in Glenflesk, Listowel and Portmagee, as well as schools in Donegal and Cork. I ask the T\u00e1naiste to consider this issue and pass on that clarity is needed by SNAs and school communities. In Fossa National School, for example, there will be two SNAs left for 236 pupils after the proposal to cut four SNAs. Will the T\u00e1naiste look at this and maybe relax the strict interpretation that is being made so that he can give some comfort to people? Pupils need to feel safe and parents need to know their children are safe in schools, and with help. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Daly for raising the matter of SNA provision in his own county and, indeed, Donegal. I will certainly speak to the Minister for education and the Minister of State with responsibility for special education on that point and the point he made about the interpretation or definition of significant need and how it is being applied in various schools. I will ask the Minister to come back to the Deputy directly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  In west Cork, we are extremely lucky to have not one but two outstanding outdoor sailing and training centres, namely, the Fastnet marine and outdoor education centre in Schull and the Kinsale outdoor education centre. These centres are a lifeline for our young people, schools and local economy. In recent weeks, we have learned that the future of both centres is at risk because of a lack of funding. I ask the T\u00e1naiste to work with the Department of education to ensure proper funding is channelled to Cork Education and Training Board so that both centres can run and be fully staffed separately, as was promised to the people. Cork ETB recognises the vital role these outdoor education services play. The impact they have had on young people's families and entire communities is enormous. We cannot afford to lose them. People travel to Schull - I know this because I live there - to bring their children specifically for sailing and kayaking. These centres are a massive draw for tourism, jobs and the social education and sporting life of our coastal communities. We need urgent action to protect them. Will the T\u00e1naiste intervene to help ensure their long-term future is fully secure? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I will. I am conscious that the Deputy's part of the country, as well as all the benefits he has outlined, has also produced a fair few Olympians and people who have represented our country with distinction as a result of the experience and training they have had in the water and on the sea on our south and south-west coast. From my time in the Department of further and higher education, I know the benefit of outdoor education. We have to look at education in the round. It comes in many different forms. It is not just a classroom or university lecture hall. Outdoor education centres are also important and, obviously, there is a benefit economically and to the tourism product of west Cork, as the Deputy said. I will speak with the Minister, Deputy Lawless, in the first instance and ask that he engage with the ETB and come back to the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  Last week, I wrote to the Taoiseach to seek international co-operation for an inquiry into the recent release of a witness statement as part of the Jeffrey Epstein files, in which a young girl was trafficked through Ireland for \"politicians and notable men\" for the purposes of sex. We heard from Garda Headquarters yesterday that no investigation or inquiry is under way regarding this claim. This witness statement is not the only concerning document released in those files relating to Ireland. Within them is an email from one David Wassong to Ghislaine Maxwell which asks if she will send him \"the names and numbers of people to play with in Ireland\". Our State has a dark history when it comes to the abuse of children. We have seen a history of those in power, be it politicians, the clergy or police, that investigations can be shelved and victims and injustices ignored. We need to be proactive here at the very least. We need to see some form of action from the Irish State to fully explore what is in those statements and emails alone, and indeed, if there is anything further. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I note and appreciate the Deputy's work on this and his engagement with the Taoiseach. Indeed, I read his comments on the issue. We are all absolutely appalled, sickened and disgusted at the depraved - and that word does not fully capture it - conduct we are seeing in some of the Epstein files. Like the Deputy, all of us are seeing that many files are being put out with different bits of information at different times.  Of course, all law authorities, enforcement agencies and police forces are going to have to play any role that is appropriate or important in relation to answers, truth and justice. My understanding is that there has not been specific information in relation to the Garda and the like. However, on foot of Deputy Smith raising the matter in the D\u00e1il, I will discuss it further with the Taoiseach and the Minister for justice.  I appeal to any person in this country who may have any information at all in relation to this to please go to the Garda and make that information available. It is safe enough to say this much. You clearly had here vulnerable young women in a powerful network of despicable powerful men who abused that and carried out depraved acts. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  T\u00e1 an gh\u00e9arch\u00e9im thith\u00edochta uaf\u00e1sach.  Today, it has been revealed by the Simon Communities Locked Out of the Market report that there are zero properties available within standard housing assistance payment, HAP, limits. This is the first time any Simon Communities report has shown there is not one property available. Where are people to go and how are they supposed to afford the extortionate market rents? It is an emergency, but the only emergency action the Government is taking is to allow landlords to hike up rents. In my constituency, I have people coming to me all the time who cannot afford the rent and are stuck in homelessness. We saw emergency action during Covid. We saw the eviction ban and short-term lets being used to house people. Will the T\u00e1naiste take emergency action? Will he raise the standard HAP rates on an emergency basis so that people can afford a home? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Hearne for raising this. I genuinely thank Dublin Simon Community for the work it does on behalf of our country and homeless people and its advocacy. I note and take seriously the report; I do not dismiss it. I was also looking at some figures which show that 272 new HAP tenancies were created in those 16 areas in December, but I do not take from the seriousness of the issue the report highlights. The Government's commitment is to review HAP limits and levels, to have that completed in the first half of this year and then to act on it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Erin McGreehan  I highlight and press an issue in County Louth, namely, the inadequate school accommodation across the entire county. In recent weeks, I have spoken to many principals and school communities in the county. Most recently, I met with St. Mochta's National School and Monksland National School. Their classes are being squeezed into spaces that were never intended for teaching children or learning. These include converted rooms, cupboards, shared areas and halls, as well as temporary solutions that are just not fit for purpose in Ireland in 2026.  The Department's responses reference an overall reduction to primary school enrolments. This is not helpful for County Louth. It is not what is happening in our county in areas such as Dundalk, Blackrock, Louth village, Cooley Peninsula, Ardee, Drogheda, Termonfeckin, Clogherhead and everywhere else. We are building in County Louth at unprecedented rates. Housing development is absolutely accelerating and we are not forward planning. Children are being squeezed into halls. I would really like some action taken on schools in County Louth. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy McGreehan for raising the point. In my own constituency, I see something similar. Yes, I think it is a statement of fact to say the demographic situation in relation to primary schools might be changing but it is not equal across all parts of the country because there are some parts of the country where the population is continuing to grow very quickly and a lot of that is on the east coast. The point raised by the Deputy in relation to County Louth is valid. We have to start to look at data on a much more granular basis in terms of counties but even parts of counties as well.  The Deputy will know the Minister has announced tranche one of the capital programme. What I would say to the Deputy's constituents and to those schools she has referenced is that it is not the final word, it is tranche one. We do intend to fund many more education projects and I am happy to liaise with the Deputy directly on that matter. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joe Neville","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joe-Neville.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joe Neville  Today I want to highlight the issue of school spaces, or the lack thereof, and the desperate need for joined-up thinking between Departments to ensure early indicators are there, so we know where we will have issues. More conversations are needed between the Department of Education and Youth and the Department of Social Protection, potentially, around the number of ECCE applicants we are seeing in local areas, which I do not believe is taking place. Otherwise we need to look at the census data from year to year to see who is coming on stream. Ultimately, these children are applying for schools but the schools do not know how many kids are coming in and we are left short of spaces. Currently in Leixlip the population is continuing to rise and there are over 40 children still without primary school places. In Naas all the schools have come together - the eight primary schools - and have said they do not have spaces. They are all making applications at this stage to the Department but, ultimately, this information should be known ahead of time in the local areas. If we have that data, we need to use it. This is the key point I want to make. We are not forward planning well enough. We are putting in the houses, as we said earlier, but at the same time in the likes of Leixlip, Maynooth and Celbridge, we are not seeing planning ahead. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Neville for raising this issue. He makes this point quite often and he is right about County Kildare and the population and the need for public services, including education, to keep up with it. The Department tells me that it basically divides up the country into what it calls school planning area levels. It looks at both enrolment and child benefit data. It updates it annually and it is geocoded to the 19,000 small areas across the country. From that, it analyses at a granular level the population of school-going children and the schools they attend. It is not currently using ECCE data. I think there is something interesting about that, considering the number of kids now involved in ECCE is so high. I will certainly engage with the Minister on that. I will also ask her to come back to the Deputy directly in relation to Leixlip and Naas.  The Department tells me it has consulted with St. Corban's National School in Naas and has sanctioned the opening of an additional junior infant class for September in an available classroom to meet a specific demand there. We have also seen the completion of a new 32-classroom co-educational primary school in Naas and the establishment of a new primary school in Leixlip. The Minister, Deputy Naughton, will continue to engage with the Deputy on the issues. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  The incessant rain is destroying our roads. They are in an awful state. This weekend we have a hard frost coming, which will only add to that. Very many roads are in a state of terrible disrepair, with potholes and craters. In my county, I could list them all off in north Meath, Cortown, Kells, Gravelstown and Baile Ghib. I would pay particular attention to Downstown Road in Duleek. The council has responded to requests and it repairs them but then those repairs are washed away. There is a need for a major increase in investment in roads maintenance and repair in light of the terrible weather we are having. Does the T\u00e1naiste recognise this and will he respond? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I do recognise this and I thank the Deputy for raising it. I know Deputy O'Rourke's part of the country is one that has been badly impacted. We had a meeting of the Cabinet committee on climate yesterday that was dedicated to the issue of the recent floods and the impact. The Department of Transport provided an update on that. It is fair to say the damage will run to tens of millions of euro. The message to the local authorities and the Department of Transport was to get on with it in terms of repairs. They have enough headroom within their capital allocations to make that work. We can obviously address other issues at a future Estimates time. The most important thing is that they get on with actually repairing these roads because quite a lot of damage has been done. I will ask the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, to specifically link with Deputy O'Rourke in relation to the roads in Meath. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Carol Nolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Carol-Nolan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Carol Nolan  I call on the Government to urgently enforce the existing ban on sulky racing on public roads in light of the horrific cruelty and the dangers it poses to both the animals and the public. Just this month in Ballyfermot, a pregnant horse named Anne collapsed during an illegal sulky race, suffering severe cuts, blood loss and suspected broken bones. Despite the heroic efforts of My Lovely Horse Rescue and the UCD veterinary hospital, Anne and her unborn foal were euthanised after being tormented to death. Sulky racing endangers road users with high-speed carts on busy roads and it inflicts barbaric suffering on horses kept in unfit urban conditions.  The Government has moved swiftly, and rightly so, to impose a ban on scrambler bikes in public places under Grace's Law following the tragic death of young Grace Lynch. Stricter regulations are there. I call on the Government to adopt the same zero-tolerance approach to sulky racing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Nolan for raising the issue of sulky races and making the point in relation to the current laws that exist regarding that. It is important they are enforced. I know the Minister for agriculture is working on animal welfare proposals too. The Deputy is quite right in relation to sulky races in terms of the animal welfare abuses, the abuses of horses, the lack of care for them, and the devastating impact this can have from an animal welfare point of view, as the Deputy has outlined. I pay tribute to organisations such as My Lovely Horse Rescue and others on the work they do. In light of the Deputy raising this I will ask the Minister with responsibility for road safety and the Minister for agriculture to come back to the Deputy. I will also ask the Minister for justice to raise with the Garda issues around enforcement. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Pholasa\u00ed n\u00f3 ar Reachta\u00edocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_34","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/16","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/16\/dail\/1","houseCode":"dail","stage":"1","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Social Housing Passport Bill 2026: First Stage (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Social Housing Passport Bill 2026: First Stage","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":5},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_34","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Frankie Feighan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  I move:  That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to allow the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to introduce a social housing passport in order to allow households on social housing waiting lists, or in receipt of social housing support, to transfer their social housing file, or their social housing support, to another local authority based on criteria set out in regulations laid down by the Minister.  The Government is not delivering a sufficient volume of good quality social homes. This is why people are waiting so long for the social housing allocations and why so many single people and families are homeless. The Government is also putting many other barriers in the way of people having their social housing need met. Probably one of the most significant barriers is the inability of people when their life circumstances change to be able to move from one local authority housing list to another and not be punished by losing their time on the list. The legislation we are introducing today gives the Minister for housing the power by way of regulations to introduce a social housing passport that will resolve this matter. It creates a set of circumstances whereby if somebody's life circumstances change and they need to move from one local authority to another they can move to that local authority housing list and keep their years intact.  The group of people who most urgently need this change are women fleeing domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, and that is a key part of the legislation. For people who get a job offer, who get an opportunity to study, who need to move to access permanent medical care or who for humanitarian or compassionate reasons need to move, a social housing passport is absolutely vital. It was in contained in the housing plans of former Ministers, Deputy Alan Kelly, Simon Coveney, and the Minister for Transport, Deputy Darragh O'Brien but it has been dropped from the current programme for Government, which is deeply regrettable.  The Bill attempts to address a very practical and straightforward problem. We hope the Government will support it. It also contains an important provision, subject to negotiations between the Minister for housing here and his counterpart in the Northern Ireland Executive to explore the opportunities to operate this on an all-Ireland basis, again on the same grounds. It is sensible and practical and we will seek to introduce this Bill on Second Stage as soon as possible. We look forward to the Government's support. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  I want to thank my colleague, Teachta Eoin \u00d3 Broin, for his work on this legislation. It is very much required simply because of the length of time that families are left on social housing waiting lists. In my area, it is 14 years. That is hard to believe, is it not? They are left for so long that they are forced to move to counties and places outside of their original area. What happens then is that their kids join clubs and they join schools. It is more acute when we are looking at families who have children with special needs because they access services and they become embedded in the community. When it is time for them to go back to their original area, they cannot afford to leave all of those supports. It is very cruel that they are forced to make a choice about losing those years because they are simply left waiting.  I want to briefly mention a woman in my area. I have mentioned this case many times. She moved from the city centre to north county Dublin.  She has been advised by the Garda to remain where she is for her own safety. Her ex nearly killed her. He is now out of prison and living in the area where she was originally on the housing list. Some 12 years later, she is faced with an impossible choice. She should not have to make that impossible choice. She should not have to choose between her own safety and losing those years. That is why she requires a social housing passport, and why a social housing passport is essential. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I thank my constituency colleague, Deputy \u00d3 Broin, for the work he has done on this legislation. The Social Housing Passport Bill is a really important piece of legislation. It provides a person with the ability to move from one local authority list to another without losing their time on the housing list. I first raised this issue back in 2019 when I got elected in a by-election. It was in the 2020 programme for Government, but it was not included in the 2025 programme for Government.  I am going to put my Dublin hat on because this measure is particularly needed in Dublin. Despite being the capital of our State, Dublin is a small county and people move across the four local authorities. For example, a HAP tenant on the Dublin City Council list cannot move to South Dublin County Council's list without losing their time on that list. One of the reasons the social housing passport is badly needed is a direct consequence of the housing list and the amount of time people are left languishing on it.  I previously raised the case of a constituent living in my area in Newcastle, which is in South Dublin County Council's area. She has been living in Newcastle for 12 years. She set down her roots in the Newcastle area and her children go to school there but, because she is on Dublin City Council's list, she cannot apply for any of the homes that become available in the Newcastle area. If she wants to secure long-term housing, she will have to uproot her family. I hope the Government will support this Bill as it progresses through the House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Is the Bill opposed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Frankie Feighan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (Deputy Frankie Feighan)  No. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Since this is a Private Members' Bill, Second Stage must, under Standing Orders, be taken in Private Members' time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  I move: \"That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time.\" "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar fionra\u00ed ar 1.22 p.m. agus cuireadh t\u00fas leis ar\u00eds ar 2.02 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Sitting suspended at 1.22 p.m. and resumed at 2.02 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Social Housing Passport Bill 2026: First Stage"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_35","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/6","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/6\/dail\/2","houseCode":"dail","stage":"2","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"International Protection Bill 2026: Second Stage (Resumed) (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"International Protection Bill 2026: Second Stage (Resumed)","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":6},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_35","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Brophy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question again proposed: \"That the Bill be now read a Second Time.\""},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paula Butterly  Before I speak about my approval of this Bill and give my thanks for the work done on it, I wish to make my position on immigration very clear. Having listened to various debates over the last number of days, sometimes it feels, as an outsider looking in, that the lines tend to get a little bit blurred when we talk about immigration and what immigration is. It is important to underline that our position is that immigration is welcome in Ireland. We welcome people of all shapes and sizes and from all corners of the Earth to come to Ireland to be part of our society because what they offer is invaluable. They offer a rich, cultural contribution and we would be very much the poorer were they not here.  The purpose of this Bill has always been to align and put together a process that is fair to everyone and, above all, to those people who come to the country seeking asylum protection. Without a defined, rules-based process, people are left hanging on the edge, stressed, worried and in doubt. That is not fair. This Bill aims to produce a system that is fair so that, from the outset, they know, even before they come to the shores of this island, what exactly our rules are and what will qualify them to stay here and become part of our society. The word \u201cfair\u201d cannot be repeated enough when we talk about immigrants and asylum seekers.  The set of rules that have been introduced are fair. The streamlining and the speeding-up of the process give everybody a sense of where they stand. They know that, when they come here, there will be a defined time to apply and receive a speedy response from the State with regard to their status. It will also allow them to prepare the next steps in their journey if they are not granted asylum. It is also fair to the children, parents and all of these people who are coming here because when they get here, if they are granted asylum, they will know what they can expect from the State. It is fair to people in the communities because they will know how this is being processed, rather than a wilderness in which they do not know who is coming, when and in what kind of numbers. This is a system that is firm, and that is to be accepted. We must have rules in order to have an efficient system. It is extremely reasonable and fair, both to the applicant and the people in the communities who are welcoming these applicants.  We should never blur the lines when we talk about immigration. We are an open society. We operate an economy that is multinational and international. We need people with skill sets that, very often, we cannot provide ourselves. We offer a great, rich society to people coming here, but they can offer us even more in return. Not only can they teach us different cultures and ways of thinking, but they also bring skill sets into international companies that have to be respected. We have to learn from them.  I broadly welcome this Bill. I thank the Minister, Deputy O\u2019Callaghan, and the Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, for the work they have done. I am not going to criticise it in any shape or form. However, I am mindful that maybe at some stage we could give some consideration to those people who have been refused asylum but have a serious illness. Consideration should be given to the progress and medical avenues available to them. We should also always be considerate of those children who come to this State on their own and ensure that their best interests are always placed at the very centre of the discussion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  Ireland needs an international protection system that is fair, efficient and enforced. That means being fair to those coming here fleeing war and persecution. We have to respect and protect their dignity and provide clarity and timely decisions. It must always be fair to communities as well by providing resources and supports to them when additional people come.  The system also has to be efficient. It has been accepted by the Government that the system has not been as efficient as it should be. We have not been managing migration or the efficiency of the system because we all know it still takes far too long for decisions to be made. That is not in anyone\u2019s interests. It is not in the interests of the people who come here or the State that, in some instances, it can take years for an application for asylum to be processed. Everything that can be done to speed up that process is in everyone\u2019s interests, most especially those of the State.  Of course, it must be enforced. When we say the system has to be enforced, we have to stand by that. If it is the case that someone applies for asylum and is refused, there is an obligation on the State and the Minister to enforce that. I support that because it is the only way to ensure we have a rules-based system that works. I say that because in a lot of the discussion and debate on migration over the last number of years, there has been, in my view, a quick reach to label anyone who talks about managed migration as racist, and that is simply not the case. There are racists in Ireland. Sometimes, we see them on the streets. We see them on the extremes of politics but the vast majority of Irish people are decent and fair-minded people who want a fair, efficient and enforced system. Talking about these issues and wanting to see the system enforced makes perfect sense. It is what any state should do.  Communities have also felt aggrieved because of poor decision-making and communication. We always hear about communities looking for a veto, but I have never experienced that. While I may have seen some instances where some individuals demand it, in most cases what communities want is better communication and fair treatment. For example, the Minister has acknowledged in recent times that using the only hotel in a community for international protection, when the community is saying alternative accommodation and options should be looked at, creates problems and tensions. If there is poor communication with communities about additional resources and supports, including for those people coming here who need to be supported, it raises tensions and creates problems.  We always have to learn from mistakes that were made and improve. We cannot ignore people's lived reality. We must accept where they are at. We must accept what they see. As I said, people are fair-minded. They want a managed migration system. They want to support people who are fleeing war and persecution and are coming here to make a life. They support that, but they want the system to be managed.  They also know the difference between people who come here seeking employment and people who come seeking international protection. There are instances in which people use the international protection system to come here as economic migrants. There are, of course, options available to people through work permits. That is what should be done. That is why we need a system that is enforced and that can make decisions quickly. What really upsets and challenges people is when they see situations where it takes three or four years, or longer, for a decision to be made. I know the Minister has looked to tighten up on that and to make the process much more efficient and quicker, and I accept that.  I also believe that balance is essential. Humanity in order together must be the foundation of any migration policy. The primary issue I have with this Bill relates to what it is designed to do. It is about giving Irish sovereignty on migration to the European Union. Deputy Carthy has already set out Sinn F\u00e9in's position on this issue very clearly. The Bill legislates for the EU migration and asylum pact and replaces the International Protection Act 2015. It introduces new processes for screening and biometrics; application procedures, including age assessments; first-instance decisions and returns; decisions made by ministerial officers; a new appeals structure via the tribunal for asylum and returns appeals, TARA, with tight appeal timelines; expanded return and entry ban provisions; and an independent monitoring mechanism via a chief inspector for asylum border procedures.  The problems in our current system are real. I spoke about some of them already and there are others. Fixing them does not require signing up wholesale to a pact that does not reflect Ireland's circumstances. Not every country is the same. Every country has different issues and problems. We must have flexibility and be nimble enough to respond to issues that happen in Ireland, which may be different from those in other countries and unique to us.  Sinn F\u00e9in's position is clear: the majority of this pact is not in Ireland's interests. It undermines Irish sovereignty by handing over more power to the EU and limiting our ability to make decisions in an area that must remain responsive to Irish realities. Ireland is in the EU but is not in the Schengen area. We operate a common travel area with Britain, which is a state outside the European Union. These are crucial detriments to how migration flow works in Ireland, as the Minister knows. We should retain the flexibility to respond, including retaining the ability to legislate in a bilateral way, where necessary. We should not tie the hands of future Irish Governments to EU policy.  The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice recommended that the Government should reconsider opting into the majority of the pact. I take the view that where it suits us and where it is in Ireland's interests, there must, of course, be co-operation and there can be mutual arrangements and obligations. However, where it does not suit us, if it is possible for us to opt out we should do so if it is in the interests of this State. Unfortunately, the Government has ignored that recommendation, which is a serious failure of judgment and accountability.  The same committee raised concerns that the State might not be able to meet the commitments it is making under the pact, which may result in failure-to-comply risks, infringement proceedings and heavy fines. We have seen that in other areas where targets are set. Everybody knows the targets are not going to be met and we end up having to pay fines because the targets that were set in the first place were unrealistic. I do not want to see us paying fines and chasing them in this situation, rather than putting in place proper rules, procedures and processes that have a real impact and better equip this State to operate the rules-based system that exists. The Government should not sign up to obligations that the State is not capable of delivering because it leads to more dysfunction and public mistrust. There are deep concerns about the impact on the civil legal aid scheme and Tusla, both of which are already stretched. If the Government expands legal and procedural obligations without resourcing these services the outcomes are predictable: more delay, more frustration and less fairness for applicants and wider communities.  Sinn F\u00e9in supported the parts of the pact that are clearly in Ireland's interests. That is obviously the right thing to do. We support the asylum and migration management regulation, which determines responsibility and allows applications to be processed in the correct member state, supporting a fairer sharing of responsibility. That makes sense. We support participation in Eurodac to improve consistent access to appropriate biometric data to support vetting and checks. That makes sense to help tackle trafficking, which needs to be tackled, and to support returns, where appropriate. However, Sinn F\u00e9in is opposed to opting wholesale into all of the measures that reduce Ireland's sovereignty, control and flexibility.  We also have serious concerns about whether deadlines for the pact can be met without undermining fairness and robust decision-making. The Minister has indicated proposed changes to restrict or delay family reunification. That is a distraction from the real problems, which are delay, backlog and a failure to enforce outcomes. That is where people see the problems and challenges in our migration system. They want the Minister to spend his energy to resolve those issues and resource the system to ensure quicker decision-making. We must deal with the delays and enforce outcomes much faster so we can avoid the unnecessary detentions that can develop if cases are not dealt with as quickly as they should be. Where protection is granted, integration must be real. Family reunification is part of integration, especially for parents and children. We have seen that play out in the United States and we certainly do not want anything like that in this State. Any policy must be sustainable, but must also be fair and humane.  Public confidence depends on rules being followed at every stage. At every stage of the process, we need fair processing and protection, where justified. We have all agreed, or most of us in the Chamber have agreed, what that means, what is justified and what the rules are. Once we agree on the rules and have a rules-based system, enforcement is the most important part because in any situation, if you develop and put in place rules but then ignore or do not enforce them, you do not have rules at all. That will be exploited. It makes no sense to the communities who watch on and see it. They support fairness and efficiency but also want to see this State and the Minister doing more to ensure that the rules which we have agreed to put in place are enforced. Otherwise, public confidence is low. It has been low because our system is operating in crisis mode. We can see that in communities. We can see that in relation to how applicants who come here are treated. It is because there has been systemic Government failure for too long. Decisions and appeals take too long. Enforcement is inconsistent. Accommodation policy has been driven by private interests and profiteering rather than public planning. The reality is that we have made a small number of people very wealthy on the back of international protection accommodation. When communities see that, and particularly when they see vital amenities being used when they could point to alternatives in the communities, it creates upset, anger and challenges we do not need and would not have if we had better public planning and resourcing of accommodation in these areas. Transparency and accountability around contracts are essential. The approach to locating accommodation must be based on community capacity and service availability and not on who can profit the most and the fastest.  We are calling on the Government to end planning exemptions for this type of accommodation, to access local services and to engage properly with communities. Ireland must support integration properly from the ground up through community-based supports. There must also be zero tolerance of racism. Everybody in this House should state that clearly because we have seen examples of it and it is wrong. As the health spokesperson for Sinn F\u00e9in, and as someone who has visited hospitals the length and breadth of this country, I am proud that people of so many different nationalities work in our health service. I ended up in the eye casualty department of a hospital a number of weeks ago. I was struck by the number of doctors from outside the country. They do wonderful and fantastic work, and without them, our health services would not work.  There are challenges whereby people who want to work in our health service and train here cannot get into hospitals because of employment barriers.  They are issues that need to be resolved. If we do not resolve those types of issue they will create tensions that are unnecessary. Some of the racism we have seen is obviously ugly and has to be faced down. The best way to do that is for us to agree what the rules are, put in place a system that is fair and efficient and then enforce it. If we do that, we will get the confidence of the vast majority in this State and that is what I want to do. I cannot support this Bill for the reasons I have outlined. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill. Several of my colleagues have spoken on it over the last week or so. It is not an understatement to say migration, emigration and the policy that supports the area are complex issues. There is no doubt about that, but the policy we develop in here that finds its way into the legislation on our Statute Book cannot be done by simply appeasing the views of bar stoolers who get their news from Facebook. There is far too much of that in the reactive response we see to this issue.  Having assessed the Bill I can only conclude much of what is provided for here is as driven by the politics of the day as it is by our requirements to legislate and comply with the EU pact and the framework we signed a short time ago. In his contribution on this Bill my colleague Deputy Ahern, a lawyer of long standing, said, \"A faster, more efficient asylum process is a worthy aim\". It absolutely is and would be something that could command the support of a large majority in this House but this Bill is not that. The legislation seems, as Deputy Ahern suggested, more concerned with limiting established and well-understood rights of asylum seekers in ways that are concerning and have been well ventilated by others in this Chamber. This Bill goes well beyond the obligations we have signed up to at EU level and this in itself is telling. What we would expect from the government of a proud liberal democracy \u2013 with a sophisticated economy in which our health, IT, financial services, pharma, tourism and care sectors depend on migrant workers \u2013 is an informed, evidence-based public campaign to challenge the myths and shibboleths that, when unchallenged, have contributed to members of the Indian community and other people who do not look like me, the Minister and most of us in this Chamber experiencing violence and hate. Instead of the responsible campaign and approach we in Labour have been advocating for some time, we get this Bill. We heard claims recently from the T\u00e1naiste and others that there is some kind of campaign going on to silence him and anyone who might disagree with my position on this matter, or the positions of those of us who might describe ourselves as being on the left. This does not stack up. Hearing comments like that from somebody who has the largest forum in the country from which to pronounce is quite extraordinary.  I do not intend to use up all the time available but I want to address a couple of issues that have been well ventilated but are worth reflecting on again. The measures in this Bill are, in the words of the Labour justice spokesperson, Deputy Kelly, \"cruel\". We all deal day in and day out with applications from family members of people who are here working in our health service, in our financial services system and across the economy who want and require their families here. If we are to seriously consider how we best integrate the new Irish then we unite them with their families and loved ones and we make this a welcoming and tolerant place for them. What is proposed in the legislation before us is far from that. I have received correspondence about the Bill, as lots of other Members have. I received some from a group in my area I work closely with. They are based in Dundalk and represent the interests of the LGBT+ community in the north east. They are concerned about the legislation and the requirements that will be placed on international protection applicants who are members of the LGBT+ community. Some LGBT+ applicants will find it difficult to make some of the declarations they will be required to make and may find it difficult to speak freely to people in authority because of their experiences in their home countries, which are not as tolerant as Ireland and do not have as progressive a legislative and social framework in terms of the LGBT+ community. These issues have been raised with me and we need to be very conscious of them. There are people fleeing persecution from countries around the world under threat of the death penalty and who have suffered all kinds of terrible experiences because of who they are. They come here because we are a welcoming and tolerant place for members of the LGBT+ community and we have shown that in our society.  The Minister and Minister of State will be aware that two years ago this week the previous Government signed a contract to use all of the D Hotel in Drogheda to provide accommodation to international protection applicants. I wrote to both of them recently and raised this by way of parliamentary question to get their assessment of whether this contract will be renewed on expiry. It is due to expire this week, this month. About the time that contract was signed I worked very hard under extreme pressure with other colleagues in my community to ensure this decision and the response to it was managed effectively. It was managed well in our community in the way I would expect and the response was precisely what I would expect from the people of the great small city I am from, which I am proud to represent. We are a town that is synonymous with solidarity and we have shown that time and again. At this time two years ago when other parts of the country were frankly disgracing themselves, our flag and the essence of Irishness, the people I represent did not. We chose not because that is not who we are. We are people who show solidarity and people who show leadership. The decision taken two years ago removed more than half of Drogheda\u2019s hotel bed stock at the stroke of a pen. It removed the largest full service hotel from the tourism landscape. An economic assessment done at the time suggested the cumulative loss to the local economy was about \u20ac22 million annually. This is not on those who need accommodation when they come here to have their applications assessed, who are coming here seeking safety and the shelter which is their entitlement. This is about the loss of a key piece of very critical local economic infrastructure. This or indeed any other hotel in the country is not an appropriate place for children or families and this place has been no exception. On countless occasions over the last two years, including working with Drogheda 4 All - a welcome group I helped support and establish some time ago to express solidarity and to work with new arrivals to our community - I have represented people and families who have been treated very badly in this place. I have made the reports and they are on record. I have engaged with officials. There is a lengthy list of issues with this place. As I said, the contract expires this month.  This hotel has a track record. It is inappropriate. From the point of view of the needs of the local economy, the contract must not be renewed. It is as simple as that. The Government's promise at the time that this would be a two-year contract must be honoured. The commitment made by the owners that this would be a two-year contract and that the funds generated by the company would be reinvested in the hotel must also be honoured. The hotel must be returned to productive economic use locally.  We need the State-run and State-supported expert services that we should have an entitlement to expect in this rich republic to support people who are seeking international protection who are, by definition, the most vulnerable in our society. We need that now. There is very little evidence of that happening at scale. When the Minister and Minister of State make their concluding addresses, it would be very much appreciated if they would place on the record their view in respect of the D Hotel. I corresponded with both on the matter. This is an issue of concern to the community I represent. I know the Minister and Minister of State are aware of that. Their guidance at this point, as the contract is about to expire, would be appreciated. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Justice (Deputy Jim O'Callaghan)  I thank all of the Deputies who contributed to the debate on the three days over which it has been held. I recognise that every Deputy who contributed made a point of emphasising that they want to acknowledge the important role played by migrants in our communities. It is commendable that every speaker did that.  It is apparent that there is a very good understanding in the Chamber of the different types of immigration into Ireland. We discussed issues relating to international protection and asylum, as it is referred to, but there are other types of immigration, whether through the free movement provisions relating to workers in the European Union or the granting of work permits and visas that facilitate people who want to come here to work.  It is unquestionably the case that asylum is more complicated from the point of view of the State than other types of immigration. Deputy Nash referred to issues in his constituency. There are issues in every other constituency. Referring to them indicates that asylum gives rise to challenges for the State and the public that do not arise if people come here, have accommodation available to them and do not need to be processed because that has been done in advance as a result of them receiving work permits.  I will not have an opportunity to respond to every Deputy. I will refer to some of the broader themes of the debate. Sinn F\u00e9in Deputies consistently referred to the fact that we should not have entered into the migration pact and that it is not respectful of Irish sovereignty. They said that if Sinn F\u00e9in had been in government and controlled the Oireachtas, we would not have entered into the pact. Nonetheless, they said that they are supportive of two aspects of the pact, namely asylum and migration management and Eurodac. I disagree with what they said, as does Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, but I wish to advise my colleagues in Sinn F\u00e9in that we have a huge amount of leeway and capacity to put in place the domestic laws that we want to see apply in respect of asylum in Ireland. I ask Sinn F\u00e9in to move away from the myopic discussion about the pact and tell me and the Oireachtas what rules it would like to see operate in Ireland for our asylum laws.  In effect, what we are seeking to do in the Bill is set out the rules that will apply in respect of individuals when they arrive in Ireland, how they will be processed, the legal requirement to ensure that their applications are determined in an expedited manner, how they will have the right to appeal and the rules that will apply in that regard. Rather than saying that it would not have entered into the pact, Sinn F\u00e9in needs to set out the rules it would like to see being applied, particularly as there is a huge amount of leeway available to Ireland when it comes to the application of our domestic laws.  Deputy Gannon and others in his party referred to children. There was an emotive reference to the detention of children. It has to be pointed out that when it comes to the very limited circumstances where a child can be detained under the provisions of the Bill, that can only happen where it is in the best interests of the minor and safeguards the unaccompanied minor. It is not the case that we are trying to introduce some sort of detention scheme for children. This only arises in the context of section 2$ in circumstances where it is in the best interests of the minor.  Another issue raised was that of family reunification. Obviously, our asylum laws and this Bill are very much moulded by the numbers of people applying. As stated previous, the numbers prior to Covid were small. I cannot ignore the fact that approximately 60,000 people have come to Ireland to apply for international protection since 2022. The Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, and I have examined family reunification. As the House knows, it was proposed that we would have a requirement for a three-year waiting period. Having listened to the opposition and to our colleagues in our parties, we will alter that to a two-year period. We are doing that on the basis of what has been said, but also on the basis of the European Court of Human Rights, which in the case of MA v. Denmark clearly recognised that a two-year waiting period is permissible.  I will deal with the issue of legal counsel on Report Stage. It is a complicated issue. We have done our best to reform the system as best we can in the interests of fairness for everyone. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Brophy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Colm Brophy)  I thank all Deputies for their contributions. I sit and listen and sometimes wonder if there is type of parallel world here. The purpose of the Bill brought forward by the Minister and me is to reform the IPAS system in order that we will have a firm, fair and effective system. I listened to Deputies one minute welcome that and the, particularly in the case of Sinn F\u00e9in, which is a bit ludicrous, stated for purely anti-EU ideological reasons that they could not agree to it.  I remind Sinn F\u00e9in that we are part of the European Union. We are an integral part of it. We have the ability, as a sovereign state, to do what we need to do and we have the ability, working in conjunction with the European partners, to be able to develop and implement far more effective systems. That is the important part.  If we pass the Bill, we will put in place something that most people in this House want, namely a system that will reduce the waiting time to 12 weeks. As a result, there will be a system that will be much fairer for applicants and for people already living in communities in Ireland because it will be less onerous due to the fact that people will be processed more quickly. It will answer the questions raised by the Deputy across the way about why and how we will get out of the situation which none of us want of having hotels around the country being used for IPAS.  The Minister and I are quite clear. We want to move to a much more effective State-owned system which we believe is the best way to go. We are in government and do not have the luxury of standing up to complain. We recognise that we had a crisis whereby the numbers went so exponentially high that the State had to respond fast. The purpose of the response by the State was for humanitarian reasons, namely that we wanted to be able to offer people accommodation and shelter when they arrived so that we could process their claims.  We now want to address the key issues around how we can do that in a much more effective way. We will not let ideology impact on us. I am going to respect what I believe are the genuinely held views of Irish people, regardless of whether they have the luxury of sitting in this seat or on a bar stool, when it comes to migration. The majority of Irish people want to see the type of system we are talking about, namely a firm, fair and effective rules-based system that enables people to come in and that grants them the right to remain in this country and contribute to it if they can make their case in that regard. If that does not happen, they will have to go. I do not think there is anything hard, wrong or in any way inappropriate about having that type of policy. That is what the Bill is about at heart.  I echo what my colleague the Minister said.  There are choices that have to be made and there are choices people will say are too harsh. I do not believe that. I believe it is a balance of fairness. What we are saying on family unification is really important. We are saying that if a person comes here and is granted the right to remain, not only does he or she have the right to look for family unification after a period of time, but must have the ability to sustain people coming into the country because we have to be reasonable in terms of what this country can actually do. We need to make sure there is a balance between people being able to reunify with their family and the costs involved in that to the State. It is not something we can ignore or pretend to wish away. It is a real choice and cost. We are determined to strike what we believe is the correct balance around fairness in that. We believe a two-year period in allowing for family reunification and someone being able to clearly show they can support and sustain people coming into the country to join them is not only fair to the person wishing to do so but to the Irish communities and the people who are living here.  I thank all of the Deputies for their contributions. It has been very informative to listen to so many views in relation to this. I look forward to continuing to work with the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, on it. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Mark Wall)  In accordance with Standing Order 85(2), the division is postponed until the weekly division time on Wednesday, 18 February 2026. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"International Protection Bill 2026: Second Stage (Resumed)"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_36","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_36","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Mark Wall)  I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case:  Deputy Barry Heneghan - To discuss the north city arterial main water main works due to commence in north Dublin.  Deputy Michael Cahill - To discuss the severe cuts in SNAs across multiple schools in Kerry.  Deputy Paula Butterly - To discuss implementation of the agreed 2% pension increase for An Post and Eircom pensioners.  Deputy John Connolly - To discuss the HSE's refined scope and budget for the planned elective hospitals.  Deputy Mark Wall - To discuss the Moone to Timolin cycle path.  Deputy Malcolm Byrne - To discuss the review of the Garda vetting process and planned measures for simplification.  Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa - To discuss the provision of school accommodation at St. Mochta's National School, Louth village.  Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty - To discuss preservation of the GAA pitch at St. Mary's Boys' National School, Lucan.  Deputy Louise O'Reilly - To discuss funding for provision of community-based housing for adults with disabilities in Dublin Fingal west.  Deputy Robert O'Donoghue - To discuss the disability action plan targets for additional residential places.  Deputies Pearse Doherty and P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn - To discuss the impact of the signing of the PSO contract for flights between Donegal and Dublin.  Deputy James Geoghegan - To discuss emergency works at CBS Westland Row in Dublin 2.  Deputy Tom Brabazon - To discuss the principle of pay parity in Irish law.  Deputy R\u00e9ada Cronin - Post-primary school waiting lists in North Kildare.  Deputy Colm Burke - To discuss the recruitment and employment of paediatric dermatology consultants in the south-west region.  Deputy Pearse Doherty - To discuss the impact of the signing of the PSO contract for flights between Donegal and Dublin.  The matters raised by Deputies R\u00e9ada Cronin, Michael Cahill, James Geoghegan, Mark Wall and Pearse Doherty have been selected for discussion. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_37","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_37","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_38","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Education Schemes","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_37","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_37","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_38","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Geoghegan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Geoghegan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Geoghegan  I thank the Minister of State for attending to reply on behalf of the Minister for Education and Youth. I raise this Topical Issue in relation to a local school in my constituency. It is a very famous secondary school that a lot of people might be familiar with, namely, CBS, Westland Row in Dublin 2. It is a DEIS school that has a very diverse student base. There are children who are living in emergency accommodation, in international protection accommodation, and in many of the neighbouring areas of the city.  I called into the school on Wednesday because the principal and the deputy principal had contacted me. They are essentially reaching the end of the road with the school's emergency works application in relation to a downpipe issue in the school. I was brought through the various classrooms with black mould on some of the ceilings and toilets that are completely out of use. I think there is one toilet available for all of the boys. It is a mixed secondary school. There is a possibility that some of the classrooms will have to be shut.  The challenge lies not in the Department being unwilling to provide the necessary funding to complete the downpipe but in bureaucracy. In December 2025, this school was granted emergency works to the value of \u20ac742,688 for a stand-alone electrical upgrade project. In fact, the moneys granted exceed the amount necessary to provide that stand-alone electrical work upgrade project. The actual project will cost the school \u20ac425,270.47, some \u20ac300,000 less than what the Department granted for it. I am not an engineer but it seems likely that this electrical upgrade project, which has been granted by the Department, will be almost impossible to proceed, or it does not make sense to proceed, while these downpipe issues continue. Yet when the school applies under the emergency works application for the downpipe works, it faces a ceiling of approximately \u20ac50,000, which its own architects have identified will be insufficient to meet the challenge.  The school has been advised by the Department that it can come back for the summer works programme for the downpipe issue but the challenge there is the deadline has already closed for the summer works programme for this term and it would have to wait until autumn. Meanwhile, it has received funding of \u20ac100,000 from the community integration fund for its hall. It has also received funding for a science laboratory. All of these funding mechanisms have been made available but the underlying mechanics of the school are so challenging that some of the classrooms would have to shut.  All I am looking for is for one side of the Department to talk to the other and that a pragmatic outcome is arrived at to support a DEIS secondary school in the heart of the south inner city. The principal and deputy principal are just trying to keep the school open, ensure the teachers are working in a safe environment, and maintain the classrooms it currently has. I ask that one side talk to the other and sufficient funding be made available to meet the downpipe challenge the school faces. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport (Deputy Charlie McConalogue)  I am responding on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Youth, Deputy Naughton. I thank the Deputy for raising this matter as it provides me with an opportunity to discuss the role of the Department of Education and Youth\u2019s emergency works scheme. The purpose of the emergency works scheme is to provide funding specifically for unforeseen emergencies or to providing funding to facilitate inclusion and access for pupils with special needs. It does so by ensuring the availability of funding for urgent works to those schools in need of resources as a result of an emergency situation. An emergency is deemed to be a situation which poses an immediate risk to health, life, property or the environment, which is sudden, unforeseen and requires immediate action, and in the case of a school, if not corrected, would prevent the school or part thereof from opening.  The emergency works scheme operates on the basis of a minimal scope of works required to address the emergency situation. The scheme is intended to remedy an emergency situation and usually provides an interim measure until a permanent solution can be delivered under a summer works scheme. The new climate action summer works scheme approved 297 applications in November 2025.  The school in question submitted an application for funding under the emergency works scheme for roof works on 1 October 2025, with a decision issuing by the Department on 8 October 2025. Unfortunately, the school's original application was refused as the application did not fit the remit of the emergency works scheme, that being the scope of works that was presented did not meet the criteria of sudden and unforeseen. However, the option remains open to the school to appeal this decision. Appeals will only be considered if additional relevant information that was not provided as part of the original application is provided to the Department.  The school in question had other emergency works applications approved in the past 12 months. In August of last year, the school was approved funding for electrical installation, emergency lighting and a fire alarm. This project is currently with the school to progress further. With all emergency works scheme applications, the emergency works team is aware of the urgent nature of the works required, and will keep the school informed throughout the process.  In November 2023, the school in question submitted an application for funding for roof works under the emergency works scheme. The Department sought further information from the school in a number of queries in November of that year but due to the passage of time and having received no response from the school to the queries, the application was closed off. I understand the school is also in contact with the Department of Education and Youth in regard to a current issue and I will ask the Minister, Deputy Naughton, to provide an update on this matter directly to Deputy Geoghegan.  Assessing the response from the Minister, I know the new application did not meet the criteria for emergency works. There is an opportunity for the school to appeal. The key point Deputy Geoghegan is making is that he is very much of the view, based, I am sure, on his visit to the school, that the two issues are related and that to do one is not feasible without doing the other. I am sure this would be the key point as the basis of any appeal open to the school.  I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I know he will be coming back with a further response. I will certainly be relaying the fact that he raised this issue and the points he made to the Minister. I have no doubt that the Minister will liaise with him to see if there is a way forward. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Geoghegan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"James-Geoghegan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Geoghegan  I thank the Minister of State for his response on behalf of the Minister and the Department. I also thank the Minister, Deputy Hildegarde Naughton. In the context of any appeal the school may bring, I take note of the link between the significant amount of funds provided for the electrical works scheme and the challenge that, for whatever reason under the Department's system, a downpipe does not meet the necessary threshold that, perhaps, electrical installations, emergency lighting or fire alarms meet. The school faced this issue previously. It is a protected building. Funding was received for windows that have been installed, but it was not possible to get additional funding to deal with the downpipe. I saw the windows. Over \u20ac280,000 was spent by the Department on them. They are now rotting away at the side because of the issue with the downpipe.  Some moneys have been allocated in excess of what the school sought. Common sense should prevail here. Acknowledging the number of schools the Department funds throughout the country and the number of applications that are made, I urge that particular priority be given to this school. As I said, it is a DEIS school, which, let us be frank, is different from another school that might be in my constituency and that might be able to take out the biscuit tin and raise some money from parents to ensure that the necessary work is done. CBS Westland Row is simply not in that position. I hope the school will submit an appeal. In light of what the Minister of State said, I think it will do so. I also think that the Department will see sense and will support the school with the additional moneys it has been granted to fix the issue with the downpipe in order to avoid the school being closed or the children not being able to gain access to it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  I will certainly relay the points the Deputy made back to the Minister. The response I have been given outlines the difference between the emergency works scheme in terms of the criteria to qualify for it and for the summer works scheme. The Department is making the case that the downpipe issue is a matter that would qualify for the summer work scheme as opposed to the emergency works scheme, even though, as should always be the case, it would appear that the school is achieving very good value here in relation to the electrical works contract, the cost of which is coming in under the amount allocated via the emergency works scheme.  If the two issues in terms of the downpipe and its impact on the capacity to effectively carry out the work in relation to the electrics are related, they should certainly be presented alongside each other. The way forward here is for the school to examine the opportunity of an appeal, no doubt working with the Deputy to see how that could best be put forward. It can also make the case to the Department concerning how that emergency works money should be considered as contributing to the downpipe work as well to see if that can somehow be made to meet the criteria to be approved.  I thank the Deputy again for raising the matter. I will faithfully report back to the Minister on the debate and on the Deputy's requests and representations. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Education Schemes"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_39","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"School Admissions","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_37","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_37","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_39","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy R\u00e9ada Cronin  I understand that the Minister of State is taking this matter on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Naughton. I appreciate him being here. I am disappointed that the Minister is not here.  This matter relates to waiting lists for post-primary school places in north Kildare. This has been a persistent and growing issue in my constituency of Kildare North, which is one of the fastest growing constituencies in the State. Housing estates have been built across Maynooth, Naas, Leixlip, Celbridge, Prosperous and Clane over the past few years. This is really to be welcomed, but it has not been matched by a corresponding level of investment in the infrastructure that is desperately needed to facilitate and support the resultant population growth. School waiting lists in the area are a key indicator of what is happening in this regard.. The housing crisis bleeds into everything. It has bled into the matter of school places. It used to be the case that where an estate was built, the schools in the area would be informed about it. My mother was a school teacher and principal, and she would have known that her school would be getting so many children from a certain estate when it was built four or five years down the line. That is not the case any more because people are very lucky to be getting their first homes and getting their families well and truly under way. This is putting immense pressure on primary and post-primary schools that are being obliged to cope using the same resources and facilities they have had for decades.  Over the past few weeks, I have been in touch with post-primary schools across my constituency about their waiting lists. Some of the lists are staggering. There are 190 students on the waiting list for one school alone, namely Maynooth Community College. Col\u00e1iste Chiar\u00e1in in Leixlip and Confey College between them have well over 200 children on their waiting lists. One school in Maynooth told me the Department had asked it to take on more students this year, even though it is already oversubscribed. That is really worrying. Parents in deep distress have been in touch with me over this issue. Can you imagine being told your child is as far down as 200 on a waiting list? That could mean that six or seven extra classes would be needed in a school. It is causing anxiety for the families and the children who are worried they might not be able to attend school with their friends and those with whom they were in primary school.  School facilities are another major issue. The Department will be well aware of St. Patrick's national school in Celbridge and the dire straits it is in regarding its premises. The school has been operating in temporary prefabs for the past 18 years. Unbelievably, it did not make the priority list. Other schools are also waiting for facilities and this is contributing to problems. I spoke to Celbridge Community College, which has also been waiting many years for a permanent building. I was told it would be happy to take on more students, but it is simply not feasible in light of its current set-up. This is having a serious impact on students and parents who are really anxious about what will happen in September. The same could be said of St. Mary's in Naas. Planning permission for a new building was given in 2022, but the work has yet to commence. The school was delighted to see it made the priority list. I understand, however, that this school has been added to the Department's list. The projects to which I refer long overdue and the schools involved have been impacted.  One principal told me that there are many issues with the single application system pilot project. The schools involved have had a meeting with the Department of education and expressed their concerns about the scheme's operation. I hope these concerns will be listened to and acted upon for next year in order that some of the issues that have been raised with me will not be repeated. I ask that the Department provide an update on its plans for improving school capacity and facilities in Kildare North in order to accommodate the growing population. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  I thank Deputy Cronin for raising this matter. It gives me an opportunity to set out for the House, on behalf of the Minister for Education and Youth, the position with regard to long waiting lists for post-primary school places across north Kildare.  I assure the Deputy that the provision of school places to meet the needs of children and young people at primary and post-primary level, including those with special educational needs, is an absolute priority of the Department. While the Department is aware of enrolment pressures and demand for additional school places in some areas, it is important to note that enrolment pressures can be driven by duplications of applications, applications from outside an area, and school of choice factors. Since 2020, the Department has invested over \u20ac397 million in school infrastructure across County Kildare. The Department is continually planning for and investing in existing and new schools in order to ensure that every child in the State has access to a school place.  In the context of post-primary enrolment pressures in north Kildare, the Department is aware of pressures for school places for the 2026-27 school year in certain areas. The data sharing arrangements that were in place for the 2025-26 admissions process have been put in place again for the 2026-27 admissions process in school planning areas that are experiencing enrolment pressures, including areas in north Kildare. The admissions data provided by schools allows the Department to analyse duplicate applications as there can be significant overlaps in areas.  On foot of this engagement, Maynooth Community College has increased its first-year intake by an additional class group relative to what was indicated on its admissions notice for 2026-27.  The Deputy will appreciate that the nature of the admissions processes is quite complex. As a result, there can be multiple iterations of offers. For 2025, based on data supplied by schools, it is estimated that there were over 4,200 first-year places available in County Kildare, with around 3,794 sixth-class pupils in the area. On this basis, the Department estimates a surplus capacity of approximately 400 places, or around 9%.  The Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in the area. In relation to school admissions, it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act 1998.  As the Deputy will be aware, the apply to school pilot was introduced to simplify and improve the admissions process for post-primary schools in five pilot areas, including Celbridge. The roll-out of the pilot represents a significant step towards improving the school admissions system and delivering on the programme for Government commitment to introduce a nationwide common application system. While the apply to school system facilitates the submission of a common applications system for parents, the individual schools retain responsibility for issuing offers based on these applications in accordance with their published admissions policy. The Department does not offer or hold a centralised record of offer outcomes for individual schools. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy R\u00e9ada Cronin  While I appreciate that the Minister is not here, I hope the Minister of State will come back to me on this because it is really frustrating. As a member of the infrastructure committee, it feels as if we criticise every week how upside down the system is. We have so many infrastructural deficits up and down the country. Next week, the committee will have officials from the Central Statistics Office, CSO, in to discuss the use of the census to forecast population and the need for infrastructure. Time and again, I get responses from the Department of Education and Youth mentioning the geographic information system, GIS. I do not believe the system is working because the principals of these secondary schools tell me that they are talking to each other, going through their lists and checking for duplicates. Parents have a right to send their children to their local school and the school their children's friends are going to attend. This would not be an issue for so many TDs in north Kildare if it was not a problem. I truly wonder if the GIS could be used to predict a bit better where people are coming from.  These schools have been crying out for facilities for years and they are now at breaking point. They need extra classrooms and spaces. The new school in Maynooth is being asked to take an extra 200 children. There are two schools beside each other on the same campus, with 1,000 pupils in each. They are already at capacity. My children - my girls - were meant to go to those secondary schools. They were promised when they were in primary school that the schools would be ready for them. They went through their entire secondary schooling in the old building. They never got inside those schools and the schools are already at bursting point. This applies to St. Patrick's school as well.  This is really important. I have spoken to parents whose children move down the list and when they get a place, they feel relief. However, those families should not have to go through this. We need a system that works so that parents and their kids do not have to go through this anxiety every year. It is the same thing every year. The Department says it has places, but it consistently does not have them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  I will relay to the Minister for education the Deputy's comments and the representations she has made on this issue on the floor of the D\u00e1il today.  To touch further on the assessment of need and demand for school places in a school area, the Department uses data from a range of sources, including child benefit data, enrolments and information on new residential developments, to plan for school place needs. As has been outlined, there has been significant investment made in school infrastructure across County Kildare, and the Department is continually planning for and investing in existing and new schools.  Furthermore, the Department\u2019s national development plan sectoral investment plan, which runs from 2026 to 2030, involves a very strong emphasis on maximising existing capacity and prioritisation of school building projects to meet the most urgent needs. Of the total \u20ac7.5 billion investment, it is envisaged that approximately \u20ac5 billion will be used for project roll-out to support the delivery and modernisation of school buildings across large-scale and additional accommodation, as well as the modular and annual September accommodation needs programmes. Over the course of 2026 and 2027, there will be construction work at approximately 10% of the school estate. These projects, when completed, will provide about 57,000 additional and modernised school places, with a strong special educational need focus in all of the projects.  As I mentioned, the Department will continue to work closely with the patrons and schools to ensure that all pupils in north Kildare receive an offer of a school place. I will update the Minister on the challenges and pressures and the Deputy's contribution for her to consider and for her officials to work on further. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"School Admissions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_40","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Cycling Facilities","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_37","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_37","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_40","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Wall  I thank the Minister of State for coming into the D\u00e1\u00edl to discuss this important topic for the residents of Moone and Timolin who have had to put up with what has been described locally and nationally as the road to nowhere. I refer to a cycle lane that was designed and commenced some time in 2024, but actually appeared, seemingly out of nowhere, in June and July 2025. It is 3 km long, and has no connections and no start or finish. Local people had a very good road which they cycled and walked. There were few, if any, accidents on it. Since the cycle lanes were put down, the road has altered. As of one o'clock today, there had been about 90 incidents since the road was laid. That is a huge issue for the people of Moone and Timolin and surrounding area in that part of south Kildare.  The local community group, the Moone Timolin Positive Action Group, made a submission on this but heard very little back. In fact, it heard nothing until people saw the cones arriving on the road. In all the debates we have had, and in all the questions I have asked and conversations I have had with Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, and Kildare County Council, I am told there were plenty of conversations with local people. That is not the case. It is as simple as that. In October 2025, when this road to nowhere appeared on national television, TII came back to say that the project was built to the required standards and had passed the required safety audits. That is all well and good. As we all know, that is what every road and cycle path should be. Cycle paths are welcomed in Moone and south Kildare but not in this location. As I said, this road starts and ends nowhere, and it had caused 90 incidents as of 1 p.m. today. Some of the incidents were minor but some were major, involving the write-off of several cars and people being hospitalised. It is, therefore, a huge issue for the Moone Timolin Positive Action Group.  That brings us to January of this year when I and my colleagues on Kildare County Council, Councillors Mark Leigh and Aoife Breslin, received the safety audit for this road. This is where the next problem arises because the safety audit of the road, which was built to the required standard, identified multiple problems with the cycle lane, from the width of the kerbs facilitating high speeds to signage on traffic islands being too small. There not enough lighting on the road signage along the route is relatively poor. The cycle route itself is misaligned on either side and does not direct a cyclist along the intended route. The route is badly lit. The current lighting is obstructed by trees in some locations. The list goes on.  Kildare officials in County Council, who have been active in replying to me and all the local representatives, say there is a concern that TII is responsible for this.  Perhaps in his reply the Minister of State might tease out exactly who has been responsible for it. The safety audit is so bad and raises so many concerns that the community want the cycle path taken out and gone. We have had 90 incidents, and now we have a detailed safety audit that states there are so many problems. This has to go. This project has cost \u20ac1.9 million to date. I hope the Minister of State will bring some solutions for the cycle path today. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  I thank Deputy Wall for raising this matter today. I welcome the opportunity to discuss this matter with Members of the House on behalf of the Minister for Transport and to provide an update on this pilot scheme in County Kildare. The Minister for Transport has responsibility for overall policy and Exchequer funding in relation to the national cycle network. The national cycle network was published in 2024 and identified core cycling corridors around the country which, when delivered, will help increase cycling rates among residents, leisure users and tourists alike. The ambition of the national cycle network is significant. It is composed of 85 corridors connecting over 200 settlements, with a combined population of over 2.8 million people. It will provide an excellent level of connectivity nationally and help to support our commitment to reduce transport emissions by 50% by the end of the decade.  For road safety reasons and cyclist comfort and confidence, the national cycle network plan emphasises the importance of physical segregation between cyclists and motorists on busier roads. The reallocation of road space on intercity and intertown roads for segregated cycle facilities is a relatively novel concept in an Irish context. For this reason, it is prudent to pilot and assess various segregation techniques in situ to inform potential use in future projects.  The Moone to Timolin scheme is such a pilot. It consists of approximately 3 km of declassified national road on the R448. The width of the road offered the opportunity to trial different road separation treatments along its length. The objective of this pilot is to evaluate the effectiveness of various segregation options for potential roll-out across the wider national cycle network. The impact on cyclists, pedestrians and motorists will be considered.  This pilot went through the relevant planning process in 2024, with public feedback sought following the publication of the proposed traffic calming measures by Kildare County Council. Construction works commenced in July 2025. Concerns from the local community were raised during construction. Representatives from Kildare County Council and TII met residents and the farming community in early September to hear their feedback. Arising from this meeting, certain amendments were made to the scheme where it was feasible to do so. Changes included adjusting road markings to provide better guidance and amending the transition points between separation treatments to increase visibility, as well as making greater provision for pedestrian use on a short section of the route. This engagement signalled a genuine commitment to working with the local community in delivering a safer environment for vulnerable road users.  Construction works on the pilot concluded in December. Following construction, as is good practice, an independent road safety audit was carried out on the Moone to Timolin scheme. The purpose of this audit was to identify any features of the scheme that could be removed or modified to improve safety. The audit highlighted 22 features that should be changed to improve the safety of the scheme and minimise accident occurrence. These include recommendations to calm traffic, reducing the carriage width in certain areas, increasing the visibility of kerbs, as well as ensuring that the shared walk and cycle lanes are kept clear of excessive leaves and are clearly marked. Nineteen of the recommendations have been accepted by Kildare County Council. Alternatives to the remaining three recommendations have been accepted by the independent auditors.  This evaluation has taken place in a timely manner and Kildare County Council has committed to addressing the recommendations. Continually improving road safety for all users is the cornerstone of infrastructure delivery. The information gleaned from the Moone to Timolin pilot will help inform the future roll-out of active travel infrastructure on the national cycle network, with the ultimate aim of connecting more people, businesses and communities in a sustainable and safe manner. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Wall  I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive reply on behalf of the Minister for Transport. I want to go back to a couple of issues. The Minister of State said, \"This engagement signalled a genuine commitment to working with the local community in delivering a safer environment for vulnerable road users.\" There is no doubt the Department and Kildare County Council in particular have engaged with the local community but what has come out of those engagements and the works carried out in the interim is that we now have an independent safety audit that states there are 22 features that are wrong with this. The question remains at this stage as to who will pay to fix these 22 features. The State has already spent \u20ac1.9 million on this cycle lane. How much will these 22 recommendations cost? Will the Minister for Transport, through the Department, come back to me and the people of Moone and Timolin on the additional cost of dealing with the 22 recommendations? There is also concern that three of the recommendations have not been accepted but addressed in a different way. This is simply not good enough and the Minister of State would accept this.  One thing the people of Moone and Timolin will tell us is that their road is being used as a pilot and it has been used in order for others to gain and benefit. They have no problem with the greatest consensus on this but the problem is that the lessons learned by TII, Kildare County Council and other local authority should be taken away to develop cycle lanes, which we will always support in the right area. This is the wrong area. It has led to 90 incidents as of today. We have a safety audit that recognises 22 issues. TII, Kildare County Council and every other local authority have gleaned what it means to create a safe cycle lane. I ask again that the Government, TII and Kildare County Council take out this cycle path now. They have learned their lessons. This will allow other areas to have a safe cycle path, and this is what the people of Moone are asking for. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  Deputy Wall will appreciate that it is critical that we do, and are able to, offer a real alternative to people in different parts of the country to ensure they can walk and travel in a safe environment. This is why there was and is a necessity for pilots such as the Moone to Timolin scheme. I acknowledge that the novel nature of the pilot has caused concerns and frustrations, as have been very clearly articulated and represented by Deputy Wall here today on the floor of the D\u00e1il. I assure him the pilot is important and that the lessons from the scheme will inform the approach taken to the design and delivery of future road space reallocation schemes.  In light of the findings from the road safety audit, Kildare County Council will look to implement the recommendations in a timely manner to ensure the scheme adheres to the best safety practices. I trust this clarifies the position on the project for Deputy Wall today. Certainly I will relay back to the Minister for Transport the very clear outline Deputy Wall has given on how this has developed, the frustrations locally and the challenges there have been from a safety point of view. Obviously, the bottom line is that it is a pilot and it is to be learned from. It is also very important that what is being built is safe and that all of the considerations and findings of the audit are taken fully into account. I will ask Minister for Transport to continue to liaise with Deputy Wall on behalf of the local community on how things evolve. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Cycling Facilities"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_41","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Air Services","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_37","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_37","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_41","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  In all my time in politics I probably only ever saw the anger of the Donegal people as acute as I have seen it in recent days and that was with regard to the handling of defective blocks in the county. There is probably a thread that runs through this. The Minister who refused to come to our county and meet homeowners with defective blocks was the Minister for housing at the time, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, who is now the Minister for Transport who signed the contract that ended the midday flights from Donegal to Dublin for the next four years, affecting cancer patients across the county. People travelled to Dublin yesterday and told their testimony. They explained that they would not be here today if it were not for those midday flights. They literally would not have been able to get to Dublin in time to have life-saving treatment.  The Government was told time and again in the lead up to this the importance of these flights. It has entered into a contract with the airline which will end these flights. I struggle to find words in parliamentary language to explain the frustration, anger and hurt of the people of Donegal in terms of what has happened.  It is best shown in terms of what has happened over the last number of days when we found out by accident that the Government had actually entered into this contract, which it has known about since October last year and which meant that the afternoon flights from Dublin and Donegal would end. When we heard this, people from across the county, from community groups, sporting organisations and State bodies to musicians and actors, pulled together and explained that this is unworkable. They are demanding that Donegal be no longer the forgotten country and that we hold on to what we have. The best example of that has been Majella O'Donnell, Daniel O'Donnell's partner, who spoke on \"The Late Late Show\" about the importance of these flights.  The Minister of State and his Government have done a dirty deed. The Government has seriously betrayed the people of Donegal. The contract was executed just 24 hours before the Government knew of a delegation representing 500 cancer patients who currently use the flight and 15,000 people who signed a petition in a matter of days. That is exactly how people feel. They feel hurt and betrayed. However, we also need to feel a bit of hope that this life-saving service can be restored. We need a Government that is working not against the people of Donegal but with them and with the group, the advocates and the cancer flights and services group that travelled up here. One of its members is back in Dublin today after being up here in a deputation yesterday. This person is accompanying a cancer patient in a hospital here in Dublin who is getting life-saving treatment. The consultant, a very senior person in that hospital, had a conversation with a patient today in which he said he saw this issue on the news yesterday and that if it goes ahead, it will be unworkable, and he had no problem being quoted on that. Everybody knows that what the Government has entered into is unworkable. It is not fair to the people of Donegal, tourism, businesses, commuters and it is a disaster for people who rely on this service. Between 10% and 15% of the 44,000 passengers are healthcare passengers. This has to be reversed. I ask the Minister to spell out clearly whether the Government will finally stand on the right side of this and stand with the community campaigning to get this decision overturned. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  I thank Deputy Doherty for raising this important matter for our county on the floor of the D\u00e1il. I am glad to be taking it on behalf of the Minister for Transport who has been in London since yesterday meeting Cabinet counterparts in the British Government. I have been authorised to take this Topical Issue on his behalf and a number of other Topical Issues on behalf of a number of other Ministers who are not in the country today.  Both Deputy Doherty and I attended the meeting yesterday with the Secretary General in the Department and representatives of the cancer committee from Donegal, who travelled down on a plane yesterday to make their case very strongly to the Government in relation to the importance of this flight and the importance of a schedule that meets the needs of the public in our county. The Government very much recognises the important social and economic role that this service plays and, more broadly, in providing people and businesses in the north west with daily connectivity to Dublin, as well as further international connectivity via Dublin Airport.  The Government is fully committed to maintaining connectivity to the north west by continuing to provide an Exchequer-funded public service obligation, PSO, air service on this route, which also supports inward tourism and regional economic development.  The current public service obligation air service contract on this route expires on 25 February. To ensure continuity of services beyond this date, the Department of Transport conducted a public procurement process in line with the requirements of the EU regulation. This process formally concluded on 10 February, with the award of a contract to Emerald Airlines.  While the new contract continues to provide for a daily return service from Donegal to Dublin, with an early morning departure from Donegal and an evening return from Dublin, two specific changes to the service have been proposed by the service provider under the new contract which have raised concerns for people in our county. The first concern is around the fact that the aircraft will no longer be based in Donegal Airport, as the Deputy knows, and the second is around the changes to the schedule, where the afternoon flight from Donegal has been replaced with an evening service departing from Donegal Airport.  As I mentioned, a public procurement process was undertaken and the market responded to that. Only one tender submission was received and this met the minimum requirements set out in the request for tender, which was published by the Department following consultation with Donegal Airport. In the absence of any competition to operate this service, and having taken legal advice, the Department's priority had been to execute the contract in order to safeguard services beyond 25 February. This was vital to ensure that the people, particularly critical care patients, could book flights for travel beyond 25 February as soon as possible. I am sure the House will appreciate that in the absence of any option to extend the current contract, any alternative from the Department's perspective would clearly have imposed a consequent risk to the continuation of this air service route.  As Deputy Doherty knows, the Minister has listened to the concerns conveyed to him by all of all Members from the county, including Deputies Pat the Cope Gallagher, Doherty, Mac Lochlainn and Ward and our Senators in the county, and particularly those raised by members of the Donegal Cancer Flights and Services Group who met with the Secretary General yesterday. The Minister is considering what more might be possible to meet the demands of the users of the air service and to facilitate them. The Minister for Transport has also committed to meet with the Donegal Cancer Flights and Services Group and will continue to engage. We know from our meeting yesterday that this was discussed in detail. The objective now has to be to find a way to make sure the flight times that are available meet the needs of the people from our county. We are fortunate to have an exceptionally good airport. It is important that we make sure, through the public service obligation, that it is utilised in a way that provides the best possible service to the people of our county. We all need to work together to find an appropriate way forward now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  The Minister of State talked about the airport. Staff at Donegal Airport are ripping about this. They are actually taking legal advice. They told the Department not to enter into the contract. We told the Department not to enter into the contract. I put it to the T\u00e1naiste and the Taoiseach. The Minister of State said the Minister for Transport is listening. The Minister just gave a slap in the face to the people of Donegal. He entered into a contract. It is there in black and white. I have a copy and it refers to \"the Minister for Transport and the airline\". He entered into that contract without even speaking to the representative group which organises and supports the cancer flights from Donegal to Dublin. That is how much respect the Minister of State's colleague gave to the people of Donegal, the Minister of State and anyone else who tried to be in his ear.  At the end of the day, this is a Government decision and the Government knew about this since October. The Minister of State talked about risk. There is no risk any more for us because the midday flights are gone. The risk has materialised. People who I know and, I am sure, the Minister of State knows are telling him today that the reason they are able to still put their children to bed is that those flights were not a convenience for them but a lifeline, and the Government signed them away. What has happened is appalling and I still have not heard the steps the Government needs to take to do that. There is a way to fix this. It should never have come to this.  Donegal Airport did not even know about it and found out about it by chance just a couple of weeks ago. The Government knew about this for months. When the airline said it was getting rid of the afternoon flights, the Department should have said, in October, it was going back out to tender and would stipulate that afternoon flights be provided. Nobody should be in this situation, but we now need to clean up the mess. I am raising this today, as I did with the Taoiseach and T\u00e1naiste last week, because we are not going to let this go until these flights are restored. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher and I, along with Deputy Doherty and all the other Oireachtas Members from the county, are at one on this in terms of trying to find a way forward and make sure there are flight times in place that suit and meet the needs of the people of our county. Deputy Doherty will see from the response how this evolved. We both heard at yesterday's meeting that the tender that was issued was the same as the previous tender.  There was no change but what came in as a result of that tender was different. As the response I outlined shows, there was only one applicant for the tender and it met the minimum specifications of the tender. As outlined, the reason the Department signed the contract was to ensure there would not be a discontinuation of flights from the county and a service would continue to be in place. The Department did that following legal advice.  From a Government point of view, there is very significant funding for the public service obligation, and rightly so. We fund and have a wonderful airport in Carrickfinn but we have to make sure the flights available best serve the public and connectivity from Donegal to Dublin, given all of the other challenges we have. The objective now, which we all discussed yesterday when we met with the Secretary General, is to find ways to have the afternoon flight restored and have the issue of the aeroplane overnighting in Carrickfinn considered and addressed.  The Department is working within a legal framework. There was no change in the tender that went out this time compared with the tender that went out the previous time. What changed was the response. There was only one response to the tender, it met the minimum requirements and there were legal obligations around that.  We now have to work collectively to make sure the investment we are making in terms of spending taxpayers' money on this service, and rightly so, best meets the needs of the people we represent. The Minister is committed to meeting with the cancer group next week and to meeting and continuing to engage with all of us to find a way forward here. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Air Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-12\/debate\/dbsect_42","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2021\/32","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2021\/32\/dail\/2","houseCode":"dail","stage":"2","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Quality in Public Procurement (Contract Preparation and Award Criteria) Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Second Stage [Private Members] (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Quality in Public Procurement (Contract Preparation and Award Criteria) Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Second Stage [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":21,"speakerCount":8},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_42","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Frankie Feighan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  I move: \"That the Bill be now read a Second Time.\"  I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, for being here as he has responsibility for the area of procurement. I thank Senator Alice-Mary Higgins for her work on this legislation. Senator Higgins has worked for the past eight years on this specific legislation. Her commitment to the area of procurement stretches back to before she was elected to the Seanad, however, to her time in civil society when she recognised, as so many others have done, that the issue of procurement has such a wide-reaching impact and effect on so many other areas of how we work in the public sector and that it needs improvement.  What is at the core of this Bill is that public procurement is decided essentially on the criterion of lowest cost only. It is the default mechanism by which public procurement is decided. This Bill seeks to introduce quality as a much stronger criterion. It does not abandon lowest cost but recognises fully that is a hugely important factor in the process. It introduces quality as a measure which should be included in the process. This is all doable within the directives and legislation in any case but, unfortunately, it is not the custom in the design of our procurement processes. That is what we are seeking to address. I thank Senator Alice-Mary Higgins for all her work in bringing the Bill to this Stage. It has been through all Stages in the Seanad and now comes to the D\u00e1il on Second Stage, ready to go to the finance committee if I can convince the Government to reverse its decision to oppose this Bill. I am really proud to build on the work that Senator Higgins has done and bring it to the D\u00e1il floor.  Before I talk about the details and provisions of the Bill and plead again to the Government to support us in bringing this legislation through to the next Stage, I will talk about procurement more broadly, what it means and why it is such an important part of all of our lives. Procurement is very far-reaching and covers everything we buy as a State. As a party, we were trying to figure out how to make procurement sexy, and I do not know if we can, but one way of trying to help people understand it a bit better is that it is basically how the State does shopping. It is how it goes out and buys and purchases things, be those services or goods.  We are all very familiar with the big projects and the scandals, essentially, that have hit this Government over the last number of terms. They include the national children's hospital, CervicalCheck, the hot school meals programme recently, and in so many different areas. Having listened to previous Topical Issue debate, which was raised by Deputy Doherty, it sounds as if procurement is at the heart of another issue that has been raised on the D\u00e1il floor.  Procurement also reaches into many of the smaller things. I have worked in the public sector and I have been an Accounting Officer in a State agency, so I am very familiar with the procurement process and how deep it is in the heart of every public sector body. It is an area of expertise within public sector bodies and it is important that we empower people who procure on behalf of this State to count not just price in the design of their criteria but also introduce quality.  Besides the big examples I gave, I will introduce some smaller ones that people might not be as familiar with or might not remember. One that I will mention is the contract for library books back in 2012. A contract drawn up at that stage essentially excluded smaller providers from bidding within the contract structure. Ultimately, the contract went to a UK company. This decision gutted bookshops across the nation. There were a huge number of lay-offs and closures. A bookshop in Sandyford in my constituency had to close down as a result. One of the bookshop owners said:  What galls me the most is the tender notice stated candidates should have access to, and experience of, dealing with small, local publishers and authors and have in-depth of the Irish publishing scene. I fail to see how a UK chain would have any knowledge of little known publishers in Ireland. This decision was made purely on price and it is really short-sighted.  This has been happening for many years. The example I cited was raised with me when I spoke with the Minister's colleague, Deputy Lahart. When I spoke about this process, he immediately came back to me with an example. That has been my experience because I have been talking about this to many colleagues over the past two weeks. They all have examples of how the current procurement process has failed us and how they see the value in this legislation.  Another example we have discussed was one that came from a carer who talked about the fact that the HSE provide for her, in the provision of her work, incontinence pads, which she then uses on her clients. She said because the HSE switched providers, she had to start changing incontinence pads for her patients four times a day instead of twice a day because the quality of the product dropped with the new provider. I genuinely cannot think of a more human example of how public procurement reaches into the depths and intimacy of our lives than that exact example. For that patient and client, it means that twice as many times a day and twice as many times across her life, she has to experience the discomfort of having that incontinence pad changed. That seems like such a small example but for somebody in that situation, it is a mammoth way in which her life has changed.  Let us have a look at the numbers when we talk about procurement because Ireland plans to spend \u20ac275.4 billion in the next five years under the national development plan. We know that is already in addition to the \u20ac19 billion a year we spend on public procurement. This is so wide-reaching. I will now talk about the provisions because, as I mentioned, this is about shifting the culture of how public procurement is done from one that values cost only to one that should value quality. The key provisions and sections in this Bill are sections 3 and 4, which outline exactly how quality should be considered within the procurement process and that when quality is not a consideration, how those exceptions should be applied.  We fully appreciate and acknowledge that there are times when lowest cost only is a metric which is applicable to a particular procurement process. This was very much a piece of work that Senator Higgins did in reshaping the legislation to say we want you to think about quality and if you are not thinking about quality, you need to explain why not. There is a mechanism by which you have to raise up the flag pole of any public sector body why you are not thinking about quality and you have deemed that this process should be based on lowest cost only.  That is exactly the kind of accommodation that we seek to see when we are developing this kind of legislation, and in response to Government concerns when it was going through the Seanad and in her interactions with the Office of Government Procurement, OGP. I should add, by the way, that this has been done in consultation with the OGP throughout these eight years of work and, indeed, with the co-operation of the Office of Parliamentary Legal Advisers, OPLA, in the development of the legislation itself.  Sections 5 and 6 then go on to deal with certain other elements. The public sector duty was introduced into the State in 2014. The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014 sets out that public bodies have to have regard for human rights and equality in the work that they do. Section 5 allows for this to be a part of the procurement reporting process. Section 6 also emphasises that social consideration should be another part of it.  It is a simple Bill. It is a straightforward Bill. It is a Bill that is essentially in response to the 2014 directives that determined how Ireland would go about its procurement and how every member state, indeed, would go about procurement. Unfortunately, in that instant, Ireland chose to interpret it in such a way that led us to this default situation of lowest cost only, and this legislation seeks to correct exactly that.  We are lucky because we have a Dutch experience where this type of legislation has been introduced and we have really strong data which captures what happened there. What we see in that Dutch example is that 73% of the contracts still go to lowest cost only. We are not trying to say that it should not be that big a feature. We know that it is, but we want to make sure it allows us to take account of the quality criteria as well. Within that Dutch model, the other important figure is that they found that there was a 3% increase in the procurement process costs - not in the projects themselves; let us be clear on that - which is a marginal one, and there was a 2.4 times equivalent benefit reported by those actors.  I will conclude and pass over to my colleagues to talk about specific examples in this area by pleading with the Minister of State to support this Bill and reverse the Government's decision to oppose it. Any concerns the Minister of State has about money - I am pre-empting what he might say in his contribution - can be dealt with on Committee Stage or the money message process. Any concerns the Minister of State has about those finance considerations can be dealt with there. What I want to see is the Minister of State putting his money where his mouth is in terms of saying that he wants us to offer solutions and that he wants to work with us because I could not find a clearer example of exactly that. I plead with the Minister of State to support it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call Deputy Feighan. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  No, there is five more minutes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I have to check formula-wise. Deputy Gannon is down for interaction but I am not sure the Deputies can share time. The Deputies are not sponsors of the Bill, or are they? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  We usually share time at the start of a motion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  Yes, I did ask. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  I think you can. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputies can finish out their time. They have five minutes. It is two and a half minutes each, if that is what they wish. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  It is fair to say I am about to speak on a Bill which, at first, I did not fully understand. It is not one that, when you sit down to read it initially, will get your blood boiling and make you excited, but that is exactly what good administration should be about because when public procurement becomes exciting, it usually means that something has gone wrong, and we have seen too many instances of that. This Bill probably shapes people's lives in a way that they will not fully understand just yet. This is about how the State spends billions of euro every year on schools, hospitals, roads, IT systems and services. It all flows through procurement rules.  Under EU law, contracts must be awarded on what is called the most economically advantageous tender and that can mean best price and quality combined or it can mean lowest price only. Ireland chose for a strict lowest price only when we transposed that law and this Bill clearly says that maybe we should rethink that.  The Bill says that in principle contracts should be awarded on the best price-quality ratio and that if a public body decides that price alone is enough, it should explain why. That is by no means revolutionary. It is not anti-market. It is not red tape gone mad. It is asking the State to pause for a second and ask whether we are buying the cheapest thing or the best outcome.  It also proposes that for major public works above \u20ac5.35 million----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Sorry, is the Deputy's colleague coming in? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  Yes, but I thought the Ceann Comhairle was going to give us back the time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  We cannot help it. We are all very excited about this Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  We are very excited. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  We did not think we would be this excited, to be honest, as Deputy Gannon said. I nearly had a heart attack when I thought I was going to be talking on public procurement because it is not something you think about every day but, as the Deputy says, it is vitally important.  As education spokesperson, I have to say we can see this in our schools every day. Where we see that is when, for example, \u20ac5 billion has been spent on prefabs over the last five years. Prefabs are a stopgap or are put in because things are not going right in schools - where buildings have not been built or are falling apart or whatever. What we see now is prefabs being used for special classes. This is not a good use of public money because it costs \u20ac5 billion and they are there for years. We need to see forward planning for school buildings.  As Deputy Gibney has already said, we see it in hot school meals - a vital universal programme that is rolled out in primary schools. We need to see it in secondary schools as well. The procurement there should not be on the basis of the lowest cost. The cost is the cost. We know what it costs for hot school meals. I would argue that we should increase that, but it has to be about quality.  The outcome of public services in this country is vital to the health and well-being of every person. We can see that from education and health. What is really important is that it is not a race to the bottom and it is not a race to make sure that we are undercutting or able to provide the best tender or whatever. It should be about quality because quality public services are what every citizen in this country deserves. It is vitally important that we are able to explain where taxpayers' money goes and that we are using it efficiently and effectively.  I thank Deputy Gibney and Senator Higgins for all their work on this. As their video on Instagram said, this is not the sexist Bill that will come to the floor of the House but it is hugely important and it impacts every part of our lives. When we do not see that every day, that is when it is working well, as Deputy Gannon said. We have so many examples from my constituency, such as the children's hospital, of it going desperately wrong and children ageing out of a service because it has not been effectively managed. I thank Deputy Gibney and Senator Higgins for all their work,. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Frankie Feighan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (Deputy Frankie Feighan)  I thank the Deputies for giving me the opportunity to discuss the Government's position on the Second Stage of this Private Members' Bill. The Bill, brought forward by Senator Higgins and Deputy Gibney, is well intentioned. However, the priority for this Government is delivering the critical infrastructure that Ireland needs while ensuring value for money for Irish taxpayers, which this Bill could hinder and not help in delivering.  The Government has concerns regarding the Bill's potential impact on the ability of the State to seek value for money in providing critical infrastructure and that it would increase the level of bureaucracy and complication in the public tendering process, ultimately creating additional regulatory burdens with little to no benefit in terms of outcomes. The Government is seeking to reduce those barriers and streamline procurement processes so projects can be delivered effectively in this country.  With the current set of rules in place, according to the European scorecard 2025, Ireland is in the top three for use of price-quality ratio, with only 12% awarded on price only. The remaining 88% of tenders are awarded based on quality criteria.  The Bill seeks to give further effect to Directive 2014\/24\/EU on public sector contracts to promote the use of social considerations and the best price-quality ratio, in relation to procurements to which the directive applies, prohibiting the award of contracts on price or cost as the sole award criterion unless the Minister makes a declaration that it is appropriate. This would require the Minister to issue guidelines on qualitative, environmental, social, human rights and equality considerations that may arise in public contracts and create a system of reporting to the Houses of the Oireachtas.  I will now set out the reasons behind the Government's concerns relating to what the Bill seeks to do. The Government is undertaking an ambitious programme of reform and accelerating infrastructure with a committed spend of \u20ac275 billion on the national development plan, NDP. The associated projects in the NDP already factor quality into their tenders as determined by detailed specifications and ongoing contract management. Therefore, the current approach seeks to ensure quality while keeping value for money as paramount in the delivery of the NDP and does not require additional regulation.  The Bill being proposed is similar to a scheme introduced previously in the Netherlands which reportedly increased costs by approximately 3%. Applying this to the delivery of the NDP could potentially increase costs to the taxpayer by up to \u20ac10 billion.  The Bill further complicates the procurement process. It introduces inflexibility in the selection of appropriate criteria for a given competition, which has the potential to compromise value for money, particularly for standardised goods and services where it might not be needed. The Bill is also expected to create delays, given the increased risk of litigation that results from the reliance on subjective social criteria. The European Commission is in the process of reviewing the public procurement directives underpinning this Bill and there are clear signals that Directive 2014\/24\/EU will be repealed and a less restrictive regime put in place. As such, the legal base for the Bill would no longer apply.  I will now expand further on the Government\u2019s immediate priority, namely, delivering the critical infrastructure that we need to resolve the housing crisis. Since the Bill was put on the Order Paper, Government approved the accelerating infrastructure report and action plan. Pillar 3 of the plan, co-ordination and delivery of reform, introduces a new central co-ordination role for the Department, as envisaged by the programme for Government, and features reforms to procurement and approvals that will more effectively convert funding into outcomes. It will also build the capacity of the construction sector and enable better sequencing of major projects, ensuring that infrastructure is delivered on time, within budget and with minimal disruption.  Procurement challenges are one of the key barriers the plan identifies, with lengthy timelines and complicated processes hindering our ability to deliver value for money and making procurement less competitive. Action 25 seeks to address these barriers through changes in the capital works management framework, CWMF, and improved procurement standardisation, professionalism, centralisation and training. Considerable amendments to the CWMF have been introduced to increase flexibility, including price variation, limitation of liability and indexation for inflation. Further amendments will be introduced later this year to support increases in construction sector capacity and innovation. This will be through the adoption of modern methods of construction, design contests and early collaboration.  The overly adversarial nature of procurement, driven by risk transfer objectives, poses challenges to delivery. Therefore, further changes will be made to support a more collaborative approach with tenderers, involving alternative dispute resolution mechanisms and changes to the inflation framework, with the longer-term objective of a greater sharing of risk. It is essential the public service operates in a co-ordinated and effective way and delivers value-for-money and sustainable savings for taxpayers. This Bill contains several provisions that will hinder delivery of the action plan. It introduces inflexibility in the selection of appropriate criteria for a given competition and potential disproportionality in legislating for the fixed weighting of cost in assessing tenders. Additionally, and following on foot of advice from the Office of the Attorney General, the Bill contains several provisions which would be likely to increase the risk of litigation. This would significantly lengthen the procurement process and delay the delivery of critical infrastructure. This goes against the Government\u2019s work to overcome barriers to infrastructure delivery by putting in place further barriers and strengthening the opportunities for legal challenges, which will likely increase costs to the taxpayer.  The Bill proposes contracting authorities award on the basis of the most economically advantageous tender rather than price only, unless sanctioned by a Minister or Accounting Officer. While I appreciate the concerns surrounding the use of price-only in procurement processes, such a provision would be disproportionate and add to the administrative burden of buying generic commonly acquired goods and services. The European procurement directives and their transposing national instruments already permit public sector bodies to prohibit the award of contracts on the basis of price or cost only and restrict the use of price-only to certain categories of contract. The Bill misrepresents the procurement landscape. Many price-only awards are the second part of a two-stage award process, where the first stage has been an assessment of quality. The Office of the Attorney General advises that the use of a limit on the price criterion would need careful consideration in order to demonstrate that it remains within the MEAT criteria.  As stated above, EU directive 2014\/24 expressly permits member states to restrict the use of price to certain categories of contracts or prohibit the use of price or cost only as the sole award criterion for public contracts. However, in contrast, the directives do not expressly permit member states to specify a target quality ratio for specified projects. Recital 89 of EU Directive 2014\/24 might also be seen as against permitting this proposal. These recitals emphasise the freedom of the contracting authority to select the economically best tender. Recital 89 of EU Directive 2014\/24 states:  This can be obtained by using the terminology \u2018most economically advantageous tender\u2019 as the overriding concept since all winning tenders should finally be chosen in accordance with what the individual contracting authority considers to be the economically best solution among those offered...  Regarding implications arising from imposing additional reporting obligations on contracting authorities related to their function as public bodies pursuant to section 42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014, contracting authorities will be required to record steps taken to comply with section 42 of the Act. In particular, information relating to the preparation, allocation and granting of contracts will need to be included in the Article 84 report. Reports to the Minister on the contracting authority's performance on these matters will also be required, with the Minister given the role of designating appropriate forms for such returns. There do not appear to be any restrictions in the procurement directives to prevent obligations of this nature being imposed on contracting authorities. Further, it is noted this would be a clear, unambiguous obligation imposed by primary legislation. Additionally, mandating how a contracting authority should conduct a procurement process should be avoided, especially via as blunt an instrument as primary legislation. Contracting authorities need to be free to decide the best process for them, and any legislation should facilitate that. This is also true for construction projects, where quality is largely achieved through good design and specification before the procurement process and in the subsequent contract management. The Government has used policy circulars and guidance on these matters to recognise the need for flexibility and the specific circumstances of each individual procurement.  While quality must be afforded due consideration in tendering processes, this must be done in the context of available budgets and in a proportionate manner. It has to be acknowledged that public procurement facilitates the State to be in a position to provide much-needed public services in a sustainable manner, and reducing the public buyers\u2019 choices for assessing tenders could impact on the sustainability of such service provision.  It should also be noted that Ireland scores highly among EU member states in the use of price-quality ratio. In the last round of reporting available, the European Commission\u2019s Single Market and competitiveness scorecard 2025 shows that in Ireland the proportion of price-only awards halved from 2020 to 2022, falling from 24% to 12%. Ireland had the third-lowest incidence of price-only awards. As noted, this figure of 12% includes those awards for which quality was assessed at an earlier stage. Therefore, the Bill would introduce complications and barriers to infrastructure delivery for a problem which does not really exist in Ireland, and in respect of which improvements are already happening.  Complementary to and supporting the work on accelerating infrastructure, a key priority for the Department is the programme for Government commitment to value for money in State spending and to review the public procurement process to make it more transparent and work to ensure greater participation from SMEs in Ireland.  The Department is in the final stage of drafting the national public procurement strategy to set out the strategic direction of public procurement for the next five years. A key focus of the strategy is advancing socially responsible public procurement, supporting sustainable public procurement and the UN sustainable development goals. A public consultation for the strategy was launched in March 2025 and ran until May 2025. This included three roadshows in Dublin, Cork and Athlone, which were attended by a variety of stakeholders, including public bodies, industry bodies, utility suppliers, social enterprises and a dedicated supplier and SME webinar. Senator Alice Mary Higgins, this Bill\u2019s author, was supportive of and engaged with the consultation for the strategy. The strategy is a more appropriate policy instrument to progress the well-intentioned objectives in the Bill. As mentioned, the programme for Government seeks to ensure greater participation from SMEs in public procurement through the SME advisory group, which I chair and which meets quarterly. My Department engages directly with SME representative bodies.  The Bill contradicts the Government\u2019s commitment to support Irish enterprises, in particular SMEs and small family businesses, because it has the potential to compromise value for money, particularly for standardised and commodified goods and services, adding undue weight to quality, adding undue burdens for SMEs, potentially reducing the numbers of bidders, and overlooking that quality may also be addressed in selection criteria and technical specifications.  The European Commission\u2019s focus regarding procurement is on the simplification of the current complex legal code and a reorientation of procurement to act as tool for steering investment and increasing competitiveness. In seeking to deliver this, it began an evaluation of the procurement directives in December 2024. Officials from my Department have engaged in this evaluation process at all levels and have facilitated the process through stakeholder workshops, targeted consultation and direct engagement at Commission level to best represent Ireland\u2019s interests. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  It is a bit regrettable that we did not have a copy of the Minister's speech when we started but I am sure that can be addressed for future debates.  I am pleased to see this legislation. I understand it was first proposed by Senator Higgins and the Civil Engagement Group in the Seanad. I thank them for their work on this very important issue. I also thank the Deputies who brought the Bill forward for debate in the D\u00e1il.  This legislation builds on work done by my colleague Deputy Mair\u00e9ad Farrell who, in 2021, introduced her policy report, Towards A New Strategy For Progressive Procurement, and followed that with her Transparency and Social Value in Public Procurement Bill 2024. For Sinn F\u00e9in, this is a very important issue. We believe that where the Government is spending taxpayers' hard-earned money, it should be aware that it is a significant player in the market and a driver of quality or, indeed, of low standards. That choice is the Government's. This legislation would ensure the Government makes those choices in favour of decency and quality, not just the lowest common denominator and the lowest possible price all of the time.  How their money is spent is important to people. Obviously, they want to see value for money and of course they are aghast, as I am, when they see the costs for the national children's hospital spiral out of control. Of course, they want to see that value-for-money element. They also want to know that their money is being spent in pursuit of decency. The Government is a major player here. How it spend money really matters. I know from my previous work in a trade union that we had disputes with the Government, and in some instances its agencies, in relation to trade union recognition, so riddle me this: how can one arm of the State say, through the Labour Court, that there should be a collective agreement, while the other arm of the State can say it will continue to do business with a company even though it does not respect workers' rights or the determinations of the Labour Court? Whenever these arguments were put to various Governments made up of Fine Gael, Fianna F\u00e1il, the Labour Party and, more recently, Independents and the Green Party, the answer that came back was the Government had to be careful because it is charged with spending taxpayers' money so it has to ensure we get value for money. Value for money does not always mean the lowest common denominator or the cheapest possible option. Value for money, in many instances, actually means spending money where workers' rights are protected and in a way that is decent and a driver of quality. The Government is indeed a big player in this market.  I should not be a bit surprised that this Government is opposing this legislation. As I and others have said, this Government is allergic to accountability. Transparency is a different world from where this Government exists. This legislation is very simple. The Minister of State sought to convolute the issue and make it sound like it was more complicated than it is. In truth, however, this legislation is very simple. It puts quality as well as price into public procurement decision-making.  The Minister of State extolled the virtues of his Government but he did not mention its greatest hits of procurement. He failed to mention the \u20ac330,000 bike shed, the \u20ac1.43 million security hut for Leinster House or the \u20ac7 million of taxpayers' hard-earned money spent on a failed IT system for the Arts Council. This is all before we even consider the massive cost overrun of the national children's hospital. The Minister of State expressed concern about the potential this legislation has to put up the costs. He said this had happened in Holland where costs went up by 3%. Jesus, there has been a 300% increase in the cost of the national children's hospital. The Minister of State seems unbothered by that, but 3% is going to keep the Government up at night with worry.  I cannot accept the arguments that were put forward. The legislation seeks to limit the practice of lowballing. I have seen that in action. I have seen companies, large global multinational corporations and SMEs go in with figures that are absolutely unattainable. They know that. They did it with home helps. They know the decision will be made on the basis of money. They go in with the lowest possible price and are then sure they will get the contract. Thereafter, whose business is it? It is the business of the poor unfortunates who have their time cut back. It was public procurement policy and the outsourcing of the home help services that led us to what is called the 15-minute call. Previous to that, a person got an hour with their home help. It was a minimum of an hour. Because of the Government's procurement policies, that time was whittled away and companies are now in pursuit of the big value-for-money lowest common denominator of 15 minutes for an elderly person. What can you do in 15 minutes with an elderly person? You cannot wash, shower or change them. You can barely have a conversation with them. There is not a cup of tea and no dinner. You could probably not light a fire in 15 minutes. That is where ignoring quality, standards and human rights gets us.  I am long enough in here to know not to plead with the Minister of State because I know well that once the decision is taken, there is very little that can be done. However, even at this stage, I urge the Minister of State to go back to the senior Minister and discuss this legislation with him. As has previously been indicated, there is nothing the Minister of State has cited as a concern that could not be teased out, addressed and dealt with on Committee Stage. I would go so far as to say that is exactly what Committee Stage is for. It is where we scrutinise legislation and make it as good as it can be. In truth, it is the principle of this legislation, not the outworkings of it, that would enshrine transparency, accountability, human rights, equality and quality. That is what the Government has a problem with. The problem is not with the mechanics of the legislation because the Minister of State and I both well know that this can be worked out.  The problem relates to transparency, accountability, quality and human rights. The Minister of State should have been honest about that. He is not a bit concerned about a potential 3% rise in costs. Would you go away out of that? Nobody is buying it. Nobody for a moment believes that it is a real or genuine concern because we know, in truth, that costs spiral out of control all of the time. What the Minister of State did not address was how he is going to build in quality, human rights, transparency and accountability, because they are not there at the moment. He read his script well, which is fine, but he did not demonstrate how these aspects are going to be built into public procurement.  As it stands, the State is a major player. It was stated previously that this is hard to understand. It is not. Anyone who spends money in a shop understands how it is done. Anybody who spends any money at all understands how this is done. We understand the purchasing power of our own wages. We understand that every year a campaign is run asking people to support local and to drive local jobs. We understand that when we spend money, we are supporting either ethical procurement or procurement that falls well short of that. The outworkings of Government policy result in a lack of transparency and accountability and the lowest possible standards for the people who depend on the Government for support. It is a very simple thing to say, but it is a very important thing to do. The Government should spend taxpayers' money where decency, workers rights, accountability, transparency and quality are the watchwords and not continue with its current practice, the result of which we do not just see all around us, we pay for. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  I thank Deputy Gibney for bringing forward this important Bill and Seanad\u00f3ir Higgins for originally instigating it. I am very happy to support the objectives behind the Bill.  As has been said, it is very straightforward that price should not be the only consideration when awarding State contracts. That is a no-brainer, not least because I am dealing with major problems, as I am sure others are. The national children's hospital is the obvious big example, but, at local level, I am dealing with an apartment complex that was delivered as social housing. The tenants in it tell me that it is going to have to be pulled down. They want out, although they have only been in it for a year. That is just dreadful. After waiting for a decade or more to get their social homes, the building is rotten with mould and damp. There is water ingress in the car park that is in the vicinity of the electrics. It is a mess. As stated, people have only been living there for a year. That shows why quality is important. Somebody can just bid on price, but if they are cowboys, they can cut corners. I have heard anecdotally and seen some evidence in social housing provision of specifications being lowered. In fact, in the instance I am talking about - what has happened needs to be investigated - the developer originally planned to build it for the private sector and when it was contracted by an AHB to deliver social housing, the specifications were lowered. I think that is what actually happened but I am just speculating.  The Bill proposes that there should be a 50:50 quality-price ratio for large projects. Often, people might bid low on price but you get a higher quality for a higher price. The one with the higher quality may often end up being lower in the end because we know that sometimes it is the cowboys who engage in the race to the bottom and the type of lowball bidding that gets them the contract, and then it ends up costing a lot more. They have the State over a barrel because they got the contract and the State feels it is in too deep to say anything and they can ratchet up the price.  I do not know if it was mentioned, but I was just reading an article about the watchdog - the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, CCPC - that refers to cartels that are rigging their bids for State projects. The article mentions areas like construction, but not just construction, where companies are working together to see how they can bid up the price or co-ordinate in order to get the best price from the State for contracts. In the context of what is proposed in the Bill, it is eminently sensible to have these considerations much higher up the agenda when we are contracting out or procuring projects.  Br\u00edd Smith, the former Deputy, introduced a Bill in the previous D\u00e1il to ensure that there should be no competition on wages and conditions of employment when it comes to tendering for State contracts. I will take the example of public transport and Go-Ahead. Wages and conditions are significantly less favourable for workers in Go-Ahead, which is providing public transport services. That is also why the company finds it more difficult to get drivers and why their buses are more unreliable. They do not have enough drivers because they pay them poorly. Dublin Bus is not much better, but it is a little better in terms of its treatment of bus workers, mechanics and so on. Ultimately, that impacts on the quality of the public bus service because it is determined by price competition. What they are competing in respect of is, essentially, a race to the bottom in terms of the treatment of employees. That is consequently very stressful for the workers, who are under pressure. There is a box system, and there are people on the radio who say that drivers either have to slow down or speed up because of traffic congestion, which is completely out of their control in any event. This is all to meet certain criteria. Essentially, privatisation is undermining the wages and conditions of workers.  I am happy to support the Bill. Whenever the State is considering outsourcing, it should also consider whether it would be better for it to do something directly. I will mention something that is topical. Kevin Reynolds from RT\u00c9 was on \"Morning Ireland\" earlier. He stated that workers are now voting no-confidence in the management of RT\u00c9, although they are really pointing through that to Government policy. Essentially, the ability of RT\u00c9 to produce public service broadcasting is being dismantled. They are absolutely right. It will all be outsourced to independent private companies to do the job of public service broadcasting. Kevin Reynolds rightly made the case that private companies will not want to make a lot of the public service broadcasting programmes that we need because they would not consider it profitable or important, or they would be wary of the legal risks involved. They might not have resources necessary to make them even if they wanted to, so the stuff that we need our public service broadcaster to do will just not happen.  Under the guise of reforming RT\u00c9, the public service broadcaster, we are actually dismantling it. The workers are very angry about that. They are absolutely right to be. I tried to highlight the consequences that can have in areas like the film industry where conditions are affected. We pump huge amounts of money into film production companies and the employment rights and conditions of workers are not fully vindicated, even though large amounts of public money are being invested. These are just some examples.  We must consider whether we should be doing this ourselves directly rather than going out to tender in the first place.  Would we have more control over the process? Could we guarantee quality and the right pay and conditions of employees? These are all considerations, rather than increasingly defaulting to outsourcing these things.  I will say \u2013 it may be an ideological point \u2013 that the privatisation of a lot of things that used to be done by the public sector is an ongoing agenda, one we have seen over the last 20 or 30 years. Things that used to be done by the public sector are increasingly outsourced to private companies, with very questionable benefits and, in many cases, serious adverse consequences at all levels for workers, including the pay and conditions of workers.  It also affects things like tax revenue. I remember when I was out supporting the pickets of bin workers of a privatised bin company, Greyhound Recycling. It is a service that used to be carried out by Dublin City Council. They pointed out at the time that Greyhound Recycling, the private company they worked for which treated them so poorly they felt the need to go on strike, was tax resident in a tax haven. Should that not be a criterion we look at? We are awarding contracts to companies that do not pay tax here or are actively trying to avoid paying tax. A huge amount of public money is going into their pockets.  A lot of the private sector, which goes on about entrepreneurial ability and all the rest of it, is entirely dependent on State money. It is kind of ironic. There is often this counter-positioning of the private sector versus the public sector. In truth, however, a huge amount of the private sector is completely dependent on money from the public sector. We should at least demand quality and proper treatment of workers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak on this important Bill. I commend Deputy Gibney on introducing it to the House. I thank Senator Higgins for introducing it and shepherding it through the Seanad. I know a huge amount of work was done in the background on this. Senator Higgins obviously had extensive engagement over the years with businesses, representative groups, trade unions and broader civil society. This Bill received cross-party support. I believe it received unanimous support in the Seanad, which is testament to the work Senator Higgins did. It is, therefore, deeply disappointing that the Government is opposing the Bill on this Stage. Like others, I encourage it to reflect on that position.  This Bill is definitely one for the policy nerds but it also seems to be stating the bleeding obvious. We all know in our personal lives the pitfalls and trade-offs that are involved when choosing the lowest cost option for anything, whether it is in a small and insignificant context like avoiding the cheapest bottle of wine on the menu or choosing to actively buy something Fairtrade in the supermarket. In doing so, we are making a choice about the provenance, quality and rights of workers behind these products. The choices we make are important. This applies even when we go on to bigger and more important choices in our personal lives, such as choosing the provider that will carry out work on our homes or the individual who will carry out a medical or dental procedure on us. It also applies when it comes to buying a cheap flight. If we choose the cheapest option, we are going to have to pay extra for an assigned seat, early boarding or flexible travel times. We all factor quality, safety and durability into our everyday spending decisions. Why are we not doing this with our public procurement?  I cannot see any reason any government would not support this Bill. We all profess to be obsessed with ensuring our public funds are spent wisely and appropriately. We have seen too many incidents where that has not happened, as others have alluded to today. While we all want to see public projects being delivered faster and more efficiently, focusing on quality rather than just cost at the tendering stage may force those who are preparing tenders to look around corners and identify potential pitfalls or additional costs at an earlier stage rather than, as happens so often, providing us with multiple surprise obstacles and bills at a later stage of the process.  This Bill has the potential to improve and speed up the delivery of public projects and critical infrastructure. It is fair to say that our public procurement system has not always served us particularly well. As has been noted by others, the lowest price model often results in longer term costs. Often, we see a contract being awarded to the lowest bidder and then supplementary claims start to build and build. The national children\u2019s hospital is the most obvious example of that. Not only does this represent a waste of public money, but the drip-feeding of delays and additional costs undermines the public\u2019s faith in the State\u2019s ability to get anything right. There can be serious consequences too in terms of the human cost, such as those we saw with the CervicalCheck scandal.  This Bill is trying to move towards a price-quality ratio model. It is essentially about ensuring that we are getting the best bang for our buck, which is exactly what the Minister of State is looking for. It should not always be about finding the cheapest way to get things done when it comes to public works. Scrimping on important infrastructure means further costs down the line. When we are talking about public funds, we should always strive to achieve quality, be it in service delivery or infrastructure. We must be mindful that public money is just that - it belongs to the public and we have to respect that. Showing respect for taxpayers does not always mean choosing the cheapest option. It means delivering value. If continually having to go with the cheapest tender means finding faults down the line, spending additional time and money on follow-ups, inspections and so on, we are not delivering value but, rather, wasting public funds.  This is a timely Bill given that we now have a national development plan worth \u20ac275 billion before us, not to mention the Government\u2019s accelerating infrastructure action plan. We know there are huge infrastructure deficits in the country, be it in public transport, education, housing, water or the energy grid, etc. We have a lot of things we need to spend money on and it is so important that we get these infrastructure projects right because we failed to do so too often in the past. Often, it seems to come down to the fact that we have been penny-pinching at important points.  It is important that it is recognised within public bodies that there is a need for stronger criteria that would place greater emphasis on quality in awarding public contracts. We need a greater focus on who can provide the best outcomes rather than a race to the bottom on who can provide the lowest cost.  The Minister spoke about value for money. Quality is value for money. Many Members referred to the Netherlands example today. While 3% was added to the overall additional cost of procurement, additional benefits of 240% were achieved in the outcomes of using these methods. There is no issue with looking for the best deal but it has to be weighed against the quality that will be delivered. This Bill brings us in that direction. I also hope that the move towards a more quality-focused approach with this Bill will lead to greater consideration of environmental and sustainability issues in our procurement processes.  Something that I have raised before on the matter of public procurement is the need to prioritise contractors who engage in collective bargaining, recognise trade unions, respect workers\u2019 rights and agree to engage with the Workplace Relations Commission and our dispute resolution bodies when required. A price-only approach to tenders only penalises the good companies that already invest in the environment, employment law, workers\u2019 rights and human rights standards. The Construction Industry Federation and the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland support this, as do all the unions. The Labour Party is proud to support this Bill today. I commend it to the House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Frankie Feighan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (Deputy Frankie Feighan)  I thank everyone for their contribution. Some issues were raised and I will certainly bring them back to my Department. The Bill pre-empts the European Commission\u2019s revision of the 2014 directive. Therefore, it seems the entire Bill is premature. The Commission is in the process of reviewing the public procurement directives. There are clear signals that EU Directive No. 2014\/24 will be repealed and a less restrictive regime will be put in place. As such, the legal basis for several of these provisions will no longer apply.  After careful consideration, the Government has decided to oppose the Bill because it could undermine the current ambition, which is delivering the critical infrastructure that Ireland needs and ensuring value for money for Irish taxpayers.  I again thank the speakers who contributed. We all agree that the State should act in the public interest. The intentions behind the Bill for the pursuit of quality as much as price are laudable. However, the Bill would likely have a negative impact on the ability of the State to seek value for money or deliver on the Minister's accelerating infrastructure report and action plan commitments. It introduces inflexibility in the selection of appropriate criteria for a given competition and potential disproportionality in legislating for the fixed weighting of cost in assessing tenders, notwithstanding its inconsistency with the directives.  As the Deputy rightly stated, an evaluation of the cost increase associated with civil procedures in the Netherlands was estimated at 3%. Applying the metric to the national development plan would result in an increase of over \u20ac10 billion. This would cancel out the \u20ac10 billion equity funding to which the Government has committed, with major energy, water and transport projects.  As mentioned, the proportion of price-only awards in Ireland halved from 2020 to 2022, falling from 24% to 12% in 2023. As of 2025, Ireland is third in the European Union for the lowest use of price-only award criteria.  The Bill cannot help but contradict the Government's commitment to supporting Irish enterprise, in particular SMEs and small family businesses, because it has the potential to compromise value for money, particularly for standardised and commodotised goods and services, adding undue weight to quality and adding undue burdens for SMEs, potentially reducing the number of bidders and overlooking the fact that quality may also be addressed in selection criteria and technical specifications.  Work that will impact reporting requirements, e-forms and the public procurement data project is already under way in the European Commission, as is the revision of public procurement directives. Therefore, the Bill may also introduce conflicts with the current EU legislative framework. There are clear signals that directive 2014\/24\/EU will be repealed and, as I said, a less restrictive regime will be put in place. As such, the legal basis for several of these provisions would no longer apply. For these reasons, the Government opposes the Bill.  I thank all the contributors for their helpful advice. I look forward to liaising and working with them in the coming weeks and months. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  I thank Deputies Ahearn, Boyd Barrett and O'Reilly for their contributions.  This whole experience of bringing forward the Bill, talking to countless colleagues across the Government and Opposition benches over recent weeks and then coming to the House to receive the news that the Government is not going to support it makes me, as a new TD, so sad. I hear every day from the leaders of the Minister of State's party and its coalition partner that we do not offer solutions and that the Government engages constructively. This Bill is the result of eight years of constructive engagement, inside this House and outside. It was brought to the Government as a solution and its answer is, \"No, thanks.\" I am genuinely sad that I am faced with that. I am a legislator. I was elected to be a legislator. This is legislation that addresses a very real problem that we all acknowledge and the Government is saying, \"No, thanks\".  I am going to go through some of the details. Some of details of the Minister of State's response are problematic and completely ill-informed. I will start with the children's hospital. It seems to me that the Minister of State is saying that the Government is happy for the model to continue that allowed the decision for the children's hospital project to go the way it did because the cost was considered at 75% within the procurement matrix. This Bill would bring quality to 50%. Is the Minister of State okay with that? Two days ago, the Minister of State's colleague the Minister for Health engaged with my colleague Deputy Rice. When asked if the contract was fundamentally flawed, the Minister said that we would not take that step again. She said that the contractual structure is not one we would approach or adopt again. This Bill does exactly what she is asking. Two days after she spoke, the Bill is available to the Government on the D\u00e1il of the floor. The Government says we do not offer solutions and do not want to work collaboratively. That is what I am doing today and this is the response I get. It takes the wind out of my sails, as a new TD, to get this kind of response. It is depressing.  I will go through some of the misinformation that I have identified within the Minister of State's contribution. The Dutch figure has been misconstrued. The increase of 3% is in the procurement process, not in the projects. The figure of \u20ac10 billion is just wrong. The actual increase, which was shown in other research from Utrecht, which is perhaps where the Minister of State is getting this from, was 1%. As other colleagues have pointed out, that 1% increase in cost must be compared with the trade-off involved in losing quality and life-cycle costs. The actual value for money overall is bolstered by bringing in quality. It is not diminished, which is what the Minister of State's whole contribution seemed to say.  The Government says it wants value for money. This Bill would bring value for money. It is achievable within the framework of the most economically advantageous tender. We chose, as a member state, to interpret it in a completely restrictive manner. All this Bill would do is address that. To say it is premature when it is in response to a 2014 directive, which was 12 years ago, is insane. It has taken us this long to get the legislation to the floor of the D\u00e1il. It took work to get it through the Seanad, where colleagues of the Minister of State who will vote against it next Wednesday spoke in favour of it. Deputy Malcolm Byrne, who was then a Senator, spoke in favour of it. I have the quote here. He will shortly to vote against it. What changed between 2022 and 2025? He spoke in favour of it. The Government spoke in favour of it. I ask the Minister of State to tell me why we should now decide that this is not the way to go.  I want to pick up on another factual piece. The Minister of State talked about the ministerial oversight that is sought when cost-only is required. That is an out-of-date response. It was in one of the earlier drafts of the legislation. That is exactly what I was talking about. Senator Higgins addressed that in this newer 2022 draft. The updated Bill stated a requirement for a senior figure in the organisation, which means it will not have to go to ministerial level. That is another point I wanted to address.  The Minister of State referenced the progress that has been made in this space. I fully acknowledge that progress has been made. Circulars have been issued. It is referenced in the national strategy for collective bargaining as a pilot. All of that is the result of the work of Senator Higgins. It is because she has been engaging with the OGP and officials in the Minister of State's Department. That is why this is happening. This legislation would put it on a statutory footing and give clarity to everyone. That would allow us, as a member state, to say that we are progressive in our procurement and that we are recognising the social and ethical considerations that should be a part of the procurement process.  Going back to the point about value for money, this Bill would allow for better decision-making that embraces value for money. The Minister of State said that it contradicts the Government's aim of supporting local and indigenous businesses, but he is wrong. That is exactly what it will do. As I said earlier, I have done this. I have designed and overseen procurement processes as part of the development and running of a State agency. I can say that because the culture is lowest cost only, the hands of the people in the procurement process are tied. They come to the decision-making process and see someone coming in who they know is problematic but they have to give them the contract because they have low-balled. That is what happens. The Minister of State talks about freedom. The freedom in the existing process is a fallacy. This Bill would empower people to introduce social and ethical considerations. That is a side aspect. The main thing it allows is the rewarding of good behaviour. It would reward good performers who will provide quality contracts to the State. That is what the Bill would allow for. It would not tie people's hands. It would untie them.  I also want to reference the example of CervicalCheck, which was touched on a couple of times. I do not think it has been shared that the Scally report, which was an independent review of the CervicalCheck scandal and the screening programme, identified an overemphasis on obtaining the lowest cost from suppliers without equivalent emphasis on other quality and service-level measures as a key concern. That is a human cost of a poor procurement process. The independent expert is telling us that it is because we could not consider quality in the process.  We have the big-money scandal of the children's hospital. We have the tragic human scandal of CervicalCheck. Numerous examples have been outlined today, and yet this Government continues to oppose the legislation.  I think I know where the heart of the Government's objection lies. At the beginning of his speech the Minister of State referenced there being an increase in the level of bureaucracy and competition. He also said it seemed the entire Bill was premature. What is actually going on is the Minister of State and the Government are buying in to the current European vision for simplification and harmonisation. They are the two words I hear again and again. I am hearing them in relation to AI and the digital omnibus package travelling through the EU at the moment. We hear it about the occupied territories Bill. We hear about simplification and harmonisation all the time. One of the Minister of State's colleagues mentioned relieving the regulatory burden to me last week, though I cannot remember what it was in relation to. This is a better way to do procurement but, according to the simplification agenda, the Minister of State suggests it is about increasing regulation. That is my issue. I suspect what the Government wants is deregulation. It wants to embrace this drive to the bottom and this abandonment of the European Union standards we all hold dear and cherish as citizens of the Union. That is the agenda that is being promoted and which this Government is buying into hook, line and sinker. It does not make me anti-European to say that.  We are one of 27 member states. I had a brief exchange on this with the Minister for public expenditure and reform last night and he told me this is not in line. The Minister of State has said the same and that, basically, these discussions are happening. I do not buy that for a second anyway because those discussions and negotiations will take years, meaning the Government could implement this legislation and then deal with anything else further down the line. As such, I do not buy it time-wise. When it comes to ethos and principles, however, if the Government knows simplification is coming and that it will ultimately drop the standards and quality of the procurement process in this State, it should not be rushing to conform to it. The Government, on behalf of the Irish people, should be pushing against it with all its might. That is what this Bill does. The Government should go back to the table and say Ireland has introduced quality into the process and it has been beneficial to the State, rather than waiting for the EU to tell it to drop it altogether. That is the saddest part of all this. In his response the Minister of State tried to pick things out and used examples that are ill-informed, poorly packaged and show me he does not understand what this Bill attempts to do. Underlying this is that the Government is hell-bent on the agenda of simplification, which in other words is deregulation. This Bill does not sit with that and that is why the Government is going to resist it. That is what has changed between 2022 and 2025.  Like Deputy O'Reilly, I urge the Minister of State to bring this back to the Minister, Deputy Chambers. I will continue to talk to the Minister of State's colleagues. I have talked to so many of them over the last two weeks who looked at the Bill and said it was a great idea and asked why we are not doing this already. I will continue to do that until the vote next Wednesday and I am going to look all of them in the eye when they vote against it. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The division is postponed until the weekly division time next week. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar athl\u00f3 ar 4.43 p.m. go dt\u00ed 2 p.m., D\u00e9 M\u00e1irt, an 17 Feabhra 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The D\u00e1il adjourned at 4.43 p.m. until 2 p.m. on Tuesday, 17 February 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Quality in Public Procurement (Contract Preparation and Award Criteria) Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Second Stage [Private Members]"}]}}]},"contextDate":"2026-02-12"},{"debateRecord":{"house":{"showAs":"34th D\u00e1il","committeeCode":"","houseCode":"dail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/house\/dail\/34","chamberType":"house","houseNo":"34"},"chamber":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/def\/house\/dail","showAs":"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann"},"lastUpdated":"2026-06-13T02:10:53+00:00","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-11\/debate\/main","formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-11\/debate\/mul@\/main.xml"},"pdf":null},"date":"2026-02-11","counts":{"contributorCount":169,"divisionCount":10,"debateSectionCount":20,"questionCount":0,"billCount":10},"debateType":"debate","debateSections":[{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-11\/debate\/dbsect_2","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case:  Deputy Michael Cahill - To discuss whether agreement has been reached with all south Kerry CAMHS victims and families.  Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail - To discuss the infrastructure in schools in Kildare North.  Deputy Robert O'Donoghue - To discuss the Action Plan for Disability Services 2024-2026.  Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern - To discuss issues on the F1 bus route for commuters in Dublin South-West.  Deputy Michael Murphy - To discuss contingency arrangements for children awaiting community ophthalmology services in Tipperary South.  Deputy Joe Cooney - To discuss the minor works scheme.  Deputy Erin McGreehan - To discuss the delivery of level 2 general palliative care services in the community, including clinical nursing services outside normal working hours in County Louth.  Deputy Pearse Doherty - To discuss the impact of the loss of Donegal to Dublin afternoon flights.  Deputy Mattie McGrath - To discuss plans by Tipperary County Council to demolish 52 partially-completed houses in Cashel, County Tipperary.  Deputy Brian Brennan - To discuss the proposed closure of the Merck factory in Arklow, County Wicklow.  Deputy Malcolm Byrne - To discuss the review of the Garda vetting process and planned measures for simplification.  Deputy Joanna Byrne - To discuss implementing the agreed pension payment increases to retired staff of Eir and An Post.  Deputy Albert Dolan - To discuss the allocation of SET and SNA hours for primary schools.  Deputy Eoghan Kenny - To discuss school building projects in County Cork.  Deputy Alan Kelly - To discuss the need for increased resources for An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na in the mid-west.  Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa - To discuss the provision of school accommodation at St. Mochta's National School, Louth village.  Deputy Pa Daly - To discuss special needs classes at Ballyduff national school.  Deputy Darren O'Rourke - To discuss the additional accommodation project at a Col\u00e1iste De Lacy, Ashbourne, County Meath.  Deputy Thomas Gould - To discuss the housing aid for older people grant and the provision of new boilers.  Deputy Emer Currie - To discuss core funding for 2026.  Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty - To discuss the need for the Department of Education and Youth to avoid building on a GAA pitch at a school by working with the school on an alternative location for all three modular ASD units, and delaying its deadline of 13 February, pending further discussions.  Deputy Rory Hearne - To discuss emergency funding needs for a Gaelscoil.  The matters raised by Deputies Cahill, Mattie McGrath, Joanna Byrne and Rory Hearne have been selected for discussion "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-11\/debate\/dbsect_3","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-11\/debate\/dbsect_4","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Vacant Properties","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-11\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_4","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Frankie Feighan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mattie McGrath  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an gCeann Comhairle. I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this Topical Issue on a very important matter. I mean no disrespect to the Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, but I am very disappointed there is no Minister or Minister of State from the Department of housing present. There is a housing crisis and we have a proposal to knock 52 almost-complete houses in Cashel, County Tipperary.  Tipperary County Council plans to demolish 52 partially-completed houses under Part 8 development. The decision defies logic in the middle of a national housing emergency. These units are not mere shells. They were all finished. Many of the windows and doors have been vandalised, through no fault of the developer. I compliment the developer on such fine, sturdy mass concrete houses. They have mass concrete foundations, mass concrete lintels down on piles on a very solid site overlooking Cashel. They have mass concrete floors, mass concrete walls, mass concrete first ceilings and mass concrete ceilings on top as well. These are the kinds of houses we are dealing with. All the roofs bar one are perfect. One roof is slightly damaged, either through vandalism or by the weather. The units are, as I said, not mere shells as many have windows, doors, plumbing and electrics. Independent assessments describe them as solid structures that are far from derelict. Importantly, a number of developers have expressed interest in redeveloping the site. However, instead of exploring refurbishment Tipperary County Council seeks to demolish them entirely. We have 3,600 families or persons on the approved housing list in the county and here there is 1,800 sq. m of housing - 52 fine and spacious three-bedroom houses which the council seeks to knock down. They could be luxury houses. When there is huge housing demand across the county it is indefensible that viable housing stock is to be destroyed rather than repurposed for private, social, affordable or indeed health accommodation.  Even more concerning is the lack of transparency about the costs. An independent quantity surveyor's report estimates a cost of \u20ac8 million for the demolition and remediation, yet the council has continually refused to release full costs to my office via freedom of information requests. The public and elected representatives are being asked to accept a multimillion euro demolition without access to the basic financial information needed to evaluate the site. Furthermore, they have been ordered not to visit the site. They were told they could be trespassing, which is not true according to the man who owns the site. The council states the buildings were originally intended as tourist accommodation and that the site is unzoned and outside the settlement boundary. However, that has all changed. We are 20 years on and we are in an emergency. National housing policy demands flexibility and reuse, not rigid adherence to outdated classifications. When thousands of people need homes we need to think outside the box. These houses were granted full planning permission in a decision that was upheld in the courts over a long number of years, but now the same council that granted permission seeks to demolish them.  Environmental policy is equally contradicted. Demolishing 52 concrete structures will create 13,582 tonnes of waste and this runs against Government commitments on sustainability and waste reduction. It flies in the face of the principles of low-carbon and climate-resilient development. The phrase, \"The greenest building is the one that is already built\", acknowledges that. This embraces the embedded carbon in these buildings and the enormous energy used to construct them. I have more to say but I will do so in my reply. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Frankie Feighan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (Deputy Frankie Feighan)  I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. I am glad to have the opportunity on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Browne, to clarify the position regarding the demolition of these partially completed houses at Ballypadeen, Cashel in Tipperary. The Minister sends his apologies. He will be in the House for five hours for the debate on the residential tenancies Bill and cannot attend this morning.  Working to end dereliction and vacancy is a key priority in the Government's new housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities. The programme for Government and the housing plan contain a range of measures to address dereliction. However, the reality is that some unfinished units cannot be saved and require demolition.  In respect of the property referenced above, neither the derelict units in question nor the site they were built on are owned by Tipperary County Council. The units were constructed over 20 years ago as tourism accommodation ancillary to a permitted hotel. They were not designed, permitted or ever intended for permanent residential use and they have remained incomplete for almost 20 years.  The land in question is unzoned, poorly serviced and located outside the settlement boundary of Cashel. Were it deemed suitable for long-term social housing development, the local authority may have considered a compulsory purchase order, CPO. However, there is no viable option to adapt the existing structures for residential use. The extent of work required to meet modern residential standards would be prohibitive and likely necessitate full demolition and reconstruction.  I understand the council is currently progressing a Part 8 planning application to remove the derelict structures as part of the agreed remediation approach. The future development of the land after that remediation is complete rests entirely with the owners. Any proposals will be subject to the county development plan and the statutory planning process.  Tipperary County Council\u2019s social housing delivery under Housing for All was ahead of target and it is expected to continue its strong record of delivery under the housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities. I firmly believe the commitment Government has made to address vacancy and dereliction and the actions under Delivering Homes, Building Communities will play a vital role in delivering homes across the country. Notwithstanding that, effective use of Exchequer funding is essential and only viable projects should proceed. It is unfortunate, as the Deputy has raised, that some incomplete developments need to be demolished but, in this case, demolition of these unfinished units is necessary given they are in private ownership and not suitable for long-term residential use.  I thank Deputy McGrath for raising this important issue and I hope this goes some way to explaining the rationale behind this decision. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mattie McGrath  There is no rationale. That is why the Minister for housing, Deputy Browne, is not here to take my Topical Issue. I handed a file to the Minister six to eight weeks ago in this regard.  First, I thank Liam Campion, his wife and family. They are builders and providers who are building apartments - six-storey blocks - in this city today, as well as in Cork city. They have been building for nearly 50 years. They built what is known as the Twin Towers estate in Cashel, which is a fine, noble housing estate. These houses are not semi-derelict. I wanted to ask the Minister \u2013 I thought I would meet him today but I will meet him later \u2013 or the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, to visit these houses. The site is located five minutes off the main N8.  These houses are suitable for any type of building. They are solid structures. They are the best I have seen in a long time, and I have some experience in the game. They have mass concrete walls, ducting for all the wires, plumbing and everything else. Some 50 submissions have gone in under the Part 8 but the Part 8 has been turned on its head because when I visited the site last Monday with the owner, we met people there who were from a demolition company. When asked why they were there, they explained they were there as a result of an etender that was out two weeks before the Part 8 process closed. The tender was put out by Tipperary County Council. There is an indecent haste to demolish these houses.  The council is ahead of its targets and while I support the council staff, I do not support senior management and what they are doing here. I attended a meeting with the CEO some time ago but I was told at the meeting she was unable to attend. I could not get answers from any of the directors. There are a lot of unanswered questions in this regard.  The Minister of State told me that these houses were built with planning. They were built with full planning, alongside planning for a 120-bed hotel. Many estates around the country were built likewise, with both hotels and accommodation. Many have been transformed and turned into accommodation. Anything could be done with them, from social housing, which we so badly need, to a health facility. We need a 60-bed health facility in Cashel. The Minister of State knows that. We cannot get a site for it, however. This is an ideal site. A site at Palmershill is being looked at but it is much more inaccessible. This site, however, has a roadway and all developed into it. The site and the houses are as solid as the Rock of Cashel. It is a crying shame and an insanity to demolish these houses and dispose of all this. It will cause that carbon footprint and leave the site scarred because the foundations and the base will not be removed.  It is said that this is being done for the Rock of Cashel. Is a view more important than houses for families in Ireland? It seems that with this Government, the views and anything are more important. This is insanity. The definition of insanity, according to Einstein, is to keep doing the same thing over and over again and expect different results. Please halt this. Pause this demolition and re-evaluate it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Frankie Feighan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","memberCode":"Frank-Feighan.S.2002-09-12","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Frankie Feighan  I thank Deputy McGrath for his useful information. I will bring it back to the Minister. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is focused on ensuring that existing houses are utilised to their full extent. The Government\u2019s new housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities, reinforces and expands the range of measures being implemented by the Government to work to end dereliction and long-term vacancy. One of these actions involves an expanded buy and renew scheme, which is due to launch imminently. The Minister, Deputy Browne, updated the Government on Tuesday about the scheme. It will allow for suitable vacant and derelict buildings to be remediated back to rental standards and designated as social homes. The scheme will be open to local authorities, approved housing bodies and small builders or contractors. Further information will be available in the coming weeks. It will be a matter for all local authorities, including Tipperary County Council, to identify viable proposals. The Government does not intend to override these important local functions.  As I said, it is unfortunate that some incomplete developments need to be demolished but in the case of this particular development in Tipperary, demolition of these unfinished units is deemed necessary by the local authority given they are in private ownership and not suitable for long-term residential use.  The Deputy outlined that a lot of houses and apartments were built as part of hotel developments around the country. A lot of them are not in use. Anything that we and the local authorities can do to bring them back into use is useful and helpful. However, on this occasion, there are issues for the local authority, obviously. It has not been able to address this issue. I thank Deputy McGrath again for bringing this to the attention of the D\u00e1il. I will raise it with the Minister when I see him later. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Vacant Properties"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-11\/debate\/dbsect_5","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Mental Health Services","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-11\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_5","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Cahill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Cahill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Cahill  At the outset, I acknowledge the tremendous work that the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, has carried out over many years now. Absolutely no one knows more about the CAMHS scandal, as it is now known, in Kerry than the Minister of State. I acknowledge that at all times when meetings were requested, etc., she agreed to attend. As a councillor many years ago now, I was invited up by the south Kerry CAMHS families. I was the first in Kerry to be asked to come up to try to help in what was a horrendous ordeal for many individuals and young children, many of whom are now young adults. In that context, I thank the Minister of State.  Are all the individuals concerned sorted out with regard to compensation and services? I know many of these families and individuals personally. I have dealt with them for a long time. Lives were ruined, to be honest. They were mis-medicated and misdiagnosed. In the early days, little did we know that there were hundreds involved. We all know about the north Kerry CAMHS situation that followed. It is hugely important that all these people involved, including their families, are receiving the right services today. I sincerely hope a similar type of situation will never again arise.  I am not sure what happened to the Topical Issue I submitted but it was two-pronged; it was about north Kerry as well.  I sincerely hope it is a similar case in north Kerry and that the individuals and their families are being dealt with.  A question that has been asked time and again relates to the north Kerry CAMHS lookback review, which is long overdue. I know it is not in the question but I do not know what happened there. I had included the whole lot in the one question but it must have been divided or whatever.  I have been in the houses of these young individuals who were affected and they were like zombies. Many of these people are the brightest you will ever come across, not only in this country but in the world. Their intelligence and everything else is beyond description. I know one young lady who is fluent in the Japanese language, for example.  I wish to mention Davin Godfrey, who has been a spokesperson for the CAMHS families in Kerry. He is from Listowel and is going to train to be a lawyer. His story fascinated me. I spent two and a half hours with him, his mum and his grandmother a number of years ago. I remember the day because it was the day the late Senator, Paul Coghlan, was being waked. I went from Killarney to their home in Listowel. He told me he used to go to court cases and sit at the back. In many ways, he more or less educated himself. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Mary Butler)  I thank Deputy Cahill and I acknowledge the work he has done regarding the situation with CAMHS services in Kerry when he was a councillor and when he met me as well as the advocacy work he did with the families and the parents. I am happy to be here this morning to take his question and I will answer as best I can.  As the Deputy will be aware, as Minister of State with responsibility for mental health, I was in this role when the Maskey report was published in 2022. The report examined deficits relating to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, CAMHS, in south Kerry. The Maskey report examined the files of everyone who received care from south Kerry CAMHS between 1 July 2016 and 19 April 2021. It identified that 240 young people did not receive the standard of care they should have had from CAMHS.  At the time, the HSE issued an apology, offered open disclosure meetings to the cohort identified as having suffered potential harm or injury or risk of harm or injury in south Kerry, and instigated a series of follow-up actions and changes. The Deputy will remember that at the time I, as Minister of State, commissioned a national audit from the HSE in relation to every single CAMHS team in Ireland. I also asked the Mental Health Commission to carry out a national review. These were all concluded and the CAMHS teams outside of Kerry, in the review and in the audit, did not see the same challenges regarding the overprescribing we saw in Kerry.  The Government acknowledged these deficits at the time and, as the Deputy said, I worked closely with my Government colleagues, including the Attorney General, to introduce a non-adversarial route for children and their families to seek compensation for the shortfall in care received. Following on from this, and the challenges we have seen in Kerry, I established the first ever national child and youth mental health office in the HSE to drive reform of CAMHS. I appointed a national clinical lead for child and youth mental health services for the first time and directed a national prescribing audit. I subsequently published the child and youth mental health action plan last year, which details 17 areas for service improvement. Implementation of the action plan is under way, and I monitor progress very closely.  This also resulted in the development and delivery of the Kerry CAMHS compensation scheme, which is managed and administered by the State Claims Agency on behalf of the HSE. As of 12 January 2026, four weeks ago, the State Claims Agency received 231 applications to the south Kerry CAMHS compensation scheme. As we know, there were 240 cases. Payments on account had been made to 227 applicants following an application verification process. Mediations were also ongoing, and 120 of these had taken place up to 12 January, resulting in 111 settlements, four cases for determination by the mediator and five adjourned for further investigations.  I understand there is one lead firm of solicitors representing most of the remaining applicants to the scheme. Subject to the solicitors' capacity to progress their caseload, the State Claims Agency aims to finalise the remaining cases in the next 18 months. The State Claims Agency continues to engage with the processes involved in the compensation scheme. As the Deputy will appreciate, I do not have access to a list of settlement amounts paid out by the State Claims Agency, and I will speak to north Kerry when I come back in. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Cahill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Cahill  I thank the Minister of State. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  I remind the Deputy it is best not to identify individuals by name. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Cahill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Cahill  I acknowledge the work that has been done here. I call for the outstanding cases to be expedited and dealt with as soon as possible. I recall the first and second time I was up here and one of the representatives of the recent hunger strikers. I acknowledge the fact that at the time, the HSE issued an apology but I reiterate a call I have made many times, which is that they deserve a public apology from the Taoiseach. I have spoken with the Taoiseach recently on this matter and the Minister of State might engage with him on that matter. It is the least these families and individuals deserve.  It is important all cases are dealt with as soon as possible both in north and south Kerry. It is also important the north Kerry CAMHS review is published. To be honest, I am raising it all the time. The CEO of the HSE, Mr. Gloster, mentioned something at the last meeting - this was only in the past two weeks - which was that we should not be looking back but looking forward. I hope that will be the case for all the families involved and that they can get on with their lives and flourish in every sense. I wish them the very best and good health and happiness going forward. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  Following a national audit of prescribing CAMHS, which we spoke about, where we did a random sample audit of 50 files in the case of every CAMHS team in the country, all 76 of them at the time, concerns were identified in 16 of 50 files reviewed in CAMHS in north Kerry. This prompted a lookback review of all cases open to CAMHS as of 21 November 2022.  My main priority, and this will always remain, is that the children and families will be communicated with throughout the lookback process, which has happened. All families where the potential for harm was identified were invited to open disclosure meetings with the HSE. I reiterate I am speaking about Kerry north now. Apologies were issued and families have been offered supports from a clinical liaison support team.  My Department received the final report over the weekend. I am now reading the report and considering next steps. I want to publish it as soon as possible, being mindful that families need to receive it without delay. Families will receive the report first, after I bring it to Cabinet.  They will not hear it from the media or when they go to their local shop. I am adamant about that. I will work with my Government colleagues, including the Attorney General, to decide the next steps. In response to the Deputy's invitation to me and to the Minister for children, Deputy Foley, I will be visiting Kerry shortly, as soon as I publish the report. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  Sula mbr\u00fann muid ar aghaidh chuig an gc\u00e9ad \u00e1bhar eile, nuair a bh\u00ed an phaidir \u00e1 r\u00e1 agam n\u00edos luaithe ag t\u00fas an tseisi\u00fain, chuir s\u00ed i gcuimhne dom gurb \u00e9 inniu L\u00e1 Fh\u00e9ile Gobnait, an 11 Feabhra. Is l\u00e1 m\u00f3r \u00e9 do mhuintir Mh\u00fascra\u00ed. Leanfaidh muid ar aghaidh leis an gc\u00e9ad \u00e1bhar eile in ainmneacha na dTeachta\u00ed Byrne agus Guirke, to the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Mental Health Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-11\/debate\/dbsect_6","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Public Sector Pensions","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-11\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_6","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Guirke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joanna Byrne  I hope that after this matter being raised with the Department by myself and members of all parties and none over recent weeks and months, through umpteen parliamentary questions, on Leader's Questions and in various Topical Issues debates, that the Minister of State has some better news today for the Eir and An Post pensioners. I hope that he listened to the retired workers from Eir and An Post who were outside the D\u00e1il yesterday demanding immediate action on pension increases already agreed and unjustifiably withheld. We stood with them yesterday and listened to their concerns. It is never seemly for the Government to have pensioners protesting outside this House. If the Government wants to do something about this, it is in its gift to do so. The increases have already been agreed by unions, trustees, actuaries and the companies' boards but the Government is sitting on its hands. We do not know why.  The An Post and Eir pensioners do not receive annual State pension increases. They rely on these agreed adjustments to meet basic living costs. The Government knows this and its inaction makes a mockery of its stated commitment to protecting vulnerable pensioners and addressing the cost-of-living pressures they face. The pension schemes are well regulated, they have plenty of money in them and there is no cost to the Exchequer. In response to my question on this matter three weeks ago, the Minister said that the Department and all relevant stakeholders \"are endeavouring to achieve the same at the earliest, keeping in line with the appropriate processes, compliance with all applicable requirements, and necessary approvals.\" Are we there yet? It is as simple as that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Guirke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Johnny Guirke  We condemn the continued delay in implementing the agreed pension increase for An Post and Eir pensioners, despite a deal brokered between unions, including the Communications Workers' Union, An Post, Eir and Government officials. The agreement provides for payments to more than 7,000 affected An Post pensioners who remain without the payments they were promised. This delay contradicts the Government's stated commitment to protecting vulnerable pensioners and addressing the cost-of-living pressures currently being faced by them.  The Communication Workers' Union secured what is widely recognised as a reasonable and overdue restoration of pension value but the pace of Government endorsement has undermined the very purpose of the agreement. The lack of timely ministerial correspondence and action has left An Post and Eir pensioners stuck waiting for money that is rightfully theirs, undermining trust in both State institutions and the administration of pension schemes. Pensioners must not bear the brunt of political delays or bureaucratic inertia. I call for guaranteed, timely relief for pensioners and for the restoration of parity between pensioner's pay and active pay wherever possible. The current impasse risks compounding financial hardship for pensioners who already face rising costs of living, including higher heating bills, and constrained budgets.  The Minister of State corresponded with the pensioners on Monday last. He signed off on the agreement but the Minister for Social Protection needs to do so as well. While that correspondence was a welcome step forward, there was no mention of the Eir pensioners or of when the increase is going to be paid. In what month this year does the Minister of State expect An Post and Eir pensioners to get their agreed pension entitlements? They have worked hard all of their lives and are now being poorly treated by the State regarding their entitlements. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport (Deputy Charlie McConalogue)  I thank Deputies Byrne and Guirke for raising this matter this morning. Under section 46 of the Postal and Telecommunications Services Act 1983, the Minister for Culture, Communication and Sport, with the concurrence of the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, approves any superannuation schemes submitted by An Post, including proposals to increase pensions and deferred pensions. The requirement to seek approval from both Ministers is also reiterated in the code of practice for the governance of State bodies in the remuneration and superannuation annex. The operation of the schemes is then a matter between the management of An Post, staff representatives and the trustees of the schemes.  On 23 October 2025, An Post wrote to the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport requesting consent for an increase to pensions in payment and deferred pensions. The proposal was to increase pensions in payment for members and deferred members of the An Post superannuation scheme by 6% per annum with effect from 1 January 2025 and 1% from 1 June 2025, arising from its agreements with employee representative groups. Correspondence from An Post indicates that this agreement was made with the An Post group of unions on 9 September 2025. On receipt of the proposal my Department carried out an initial review and subsequently, on 30 October 2025, the Department requested advice from NewERA to aid the Ministers' consideration of the approval request. This is in line with section 2.13 of the code of practice for the governance of State bodies superannuation and remuneration annex, which sets out that NewERA advice should be sought in respect of pension amendment proposals, as is appropriate in its role as commercial and financial advisor to the Ministers. On receipt of advice from NewERA, the Department prepared a submission recommending ministerial approval for the proposed increases. The proposal was approved by me on 4 February 2026 and by the Minister, Deputy O\u2019Donovan, on 5 February 2026. On foot of those approvals, also on 5 February, the Department, in line with the 1983 Act and the code of practice, submitted a business case to the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, seeking the concurrence of the Minister, Deputy Chambers, for the increases.  I will now turn to the matter of the pension increase request for Eir pensioners. Eircom Limited, trading as Eir, was formerly a commercial State body, Telecom \u00c9ireann, which was privatised in 1999. Telecom \u00c9ireann was established under the Postal and Telecommunications Services Act 1983. Section 46 of that Act enabled Telecom \u00c9ireann to prepare and submit a pension scheme to the Minister, along with other superannuation provisions. The former Telecom \u00c9ireann main superannuation scheme is now known as the Eircom superannuation scheme. Section 10 of that scheme stipulates that Eircom Limited may grant pension increases to members, as authorised by the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport with the concurrence of the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation.  On 8 August 2025, Eir wrote to the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport requesting consent for a pension increase of 2.1% for Eir pensioners, in respect of both pre- and post-vesting day service with effect from 1 July 2025. The pension increase followed board approval for a salary increase for serving staff with effect from 1 July 2025. The pension increase is determined by the pensions accord 2010 and by the average rate of the consumer price index, CPI, throughout the calendar year 2024. On receipt of the proposal, the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport carried out an initial review and engaged with Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment on the procedures involved. On 17 November 2025, the Department requested advice from NewERA to aid the Ministers' consideration of the approval request. A copy of the triennial valuation report and a report on the financial condition of the Eircom No. 2 superannuation fund were subsequently submitted to NewERA. NewERA provided a comprehensive report on the proposed increases on 6 February 2026. Department officials are now considering the report with a view to making a submission to the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport shortly.  While it is important that pensions approval processes are carried out with careful consideration by Departments and NewERA, the Department does understand that waiting for approval is frustrating for both workers and pensioners. The An Post pension increase request is currently under consideration by the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation. This is the final step in the approvals process. The Eir pension increase request is under consideration by officials in my Department.  It is important to note that the pension increases cannot be considered agreed or implemented until such time as ministerial approval from both Departments has been obtained. It should be recognised that the time taken for the pension approval process is necessary to ensure that robust governance procedures are in place, that the code of practice is complied with and the relevant legislation is adhered to. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joanna Byrne  I thank the Minister of State for his response. The requested 6% increase for An Post pensioners and 2.1% increase for Eir pensioners are minuscule in the greater scheme of things. We are in a cost-of-living crisis. The cost of absolutely everything has gone up and while it is pennies to the Government, it is massive to these people who served this State for decades. I note in the Minister of State's response that the Department has acknowledged that the waiting time for approval is frustrating for both workers and pensioners. We need to develop a better system going forward.  These vulnerable people, who have served the State for decades, cannot be left waiting like this. I urge the Minister of State to do anything he can to get this across the line for Eir and An Post pensioners. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Guirke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Johnny Guirke  The Minister of State said:  The An Post pension increase request is currently under consideration by the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation. This is the final step in the approvals process. The Eir pension increase request is under consideration by officials in my Department.  It is important to note that the pension increases cannot be considered agreed or implemented until such time as ministerial approval from both Departments has been obtained. It should be recognised that the time taken for the pension approval process is necessary to ensure that robust governance procedures are in place ...  Those involved want to know, and we call on the Government to immediately confirm, the timing and method of payment to all eligible An Post and Eir pensioners without further delay. It is time these workers' rights were acted on. It has gone on long enough. We need to know when these people will get paid. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  I thank Deputies Byrne and Guirke. I have outlined the timelines. While these pension increases were to apply with regard to An Post from 1 January 2025, the agreement relating to the increase was not agreed between the unions and An Post until September 2025. It was only at that point that it was agreed. The agreement went to the Department at the end of October, as has been outlined. Governance mechanisms and the need to make appropriate decisions require that the Department must engage with NewERA because there has to be an assessment in order to identify whether it is appropriate. We referred the agreement to NewERA at the end of October and we got it back in the past number of weeks. It then came to me with a recommendation for approval and I signed off within a day or two - on the day I received it or the day after certainly - as did the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan. Over a week or so ago, it went to the Minister for public expenditure. It has, therefore, only been with him for that length of time. I have no doubt he will deal with it expeditiously.  There has not been any dragging of feet on the Government's part in relation to the timelines. It was agreed with the unions at the end of September and it came to us at the end of October. We asked NewERA to do carry out an assessment and advise us, and we are now expediting the matter. I fully understand the importance for people of having their pensions and getting their increases. I am very conscious of that. We are acting as expeditiously as we possibly can. I have no doubt that the Minister, Deputy Chambers, will do the same and will be considering it now, particularly as it has been with him for the past week or so. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Guirke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Johnny Guirke  Does the Minister of State have any idea when it will be progressed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charlie McConalogue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Charlie-McConalogue.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charlie McConalogue  As people can see from the outline I provided that we have been acting very promptly. I do not believe it could have been done in a shorter timeframe. NewERA had to do its assessment, look at the fund and the request relating to it and make recommendations to the various Ministers. As soon as I got it, I signed off on it. It has gone to the Minister, Deputy Chambers, and I have no doubt he will act very promptly. Our objective is to get this applied as soon as possible. We understand that it is very important. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Public Sector Pensions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-11\/debate\/dbsect_7","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"School Funding","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-11\/debate\/dbsect_3","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  This matter relates to Gaelscoil U\u00ed Earc\u00e1in on Glasanaon Road in Finglas, Dublin 11. A number of parents contacted me to outline some very serious concerns regarding the condition of the school building. T\u00e1 an-fhearg agus an-fhrustrachas ar na tuismitheoir\u00ed. The building is simply not in an acceptable state. The parents highlighted the fact that the teachers in the school do an excellent job but that the school is located in an extremely old and visibly deteriorating building that is no longer fit for purpose. It was originally built as a boys' school, and there has been a long-standing promise from the Department of education that a new building would be provided. Unfortunately, no meaningful progress has been made, leaving the children and the staff to continue in unacceptable conditions.  We are all well aware of the weather we have seen in the past month and the floods that are happening across the country. Unfortunately, this weather is having a particular impact on the school in question. Due to the recent spell of bad weather, the school hall is leaking badly. As a result, children have been unable to use the yard at break times and they are missing PE classes and all indoor school sports activities. These children are stuck behind their desks from the moment they go into school in the morning until they leave in the afternoon. As we know, what we promote all the time is as much physical activity as possible for children during the school day and during the day in general. It is so important for their physical and mental health. Many children need various breaks and space to be able to move around. This is not a minor inconvenience; it represents a failure to meet basic standards.  As stated, the teachers and staff in Gaelscoil U\u00ed Earc\u00e1in do an amazing job, but they are being asked to do it in extremely challenging conditions. Children should be provided with a safe and healthy environment to learn in. The Department has a clear obligation to ensure that if a building is not safe that emergency measures are taken. The parents and staff are looking for a clear and realistic timeline for the long-promised new school building. They are also seeking to ensure that immediate remedial works are carried out in order that the children can safely return to normal play and PE without further delay. Will the Minister of State ensure that funding is prioritised for Gaelscoil U\u00ed Earc\u00e1in? The leak has to be fixed immediately, and the vital and overdue works needed to improve the school and the facilities there must be undertaken. I look forward to hearing the response of the Minister of State. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Education and Youth (Deputy Michael Moynihan)  I wish the Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach a happy St. Gobnait's day. This is a hugely important day in his home territory, and it is important to recognise that.  I thank Deputy Hearne for raising the matter of the Gaelscoil in Finglas. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Naughton. The purpose of the Department's emergency works scheme is to provide funding specifically for unforeseen emergencies or to facilitate inclusion and access for pupils with additional needs. It does so by ensuring the availability of funding for urgent works for those schools that are in need of it as a result of an emergency situation. An emergency is deemed to be a situation which poses an immediate risk to health, life, property or the environment, which is sudden, unforeseen and requires immediate action, and which, if not corrected, would prevent a school or a part thereof from opening.  The scheme operates on the basis of a minimal scope of works required to address an emergency situation. It is intended to remedy emergency situations and usually provides interim measures until permanent solutions can be delivered under the summer works scheme, which deals with upgrade works to schools. In the case of outdoor play areas, this usually includes repairs to existing play areas. Each application is assessed on its merits.  In the case of the school to which Deputy Hearne refers, there is no emergency works application outstanding with the Department. The emergency works scheme is open to primary and post-primary schools that have permanent recognition and that are in non-rented accommodation. In order to make applications, schools must complete the online emergency works application form that is available on the Department's system.  As Deputy Hearne will be aware, details in respect of the climate action summer works scheme for 2026 and onwards were also announced in 2025. The purpose of this scheme is to devolve funding to individual school authorities to undertake small-scale building works which, ideally, can be carried out during the summer months or at other times that avoid disruption. The scheme will operate on a multi-annual basis.  Deputy Hearne made a point about children participating in the entire curriculum. That is very important. I note the points he made regarding the old building and the fact that the Gaelscoil is operating in it. I have no doubt about the excellent work being done there by the school community. We thank them for the work they do.  Deputy Hearne also mentioned that the roof of the PE hall is leaking. We have experienced, particularly since October, a huge amount of rainfall. It was one of the wettest winters in quite some time.  I do not have the specifics regarding the roof and the damage that has been done to it but I urge the school to engage with the Department in relation to emergency works because it is important that all of the school building is accessible. The school is there to provide education across academia along with PE and so forth. It is important that an application is made in that regard. I note the points the Deputy has made on the ongoing issue of a new school building. I will take those points back but, in the first instance, if there are works that can be done immediately, I encourage the Deputy and the school authorities to engage with the Department to see if progress can be made. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Aire St\u00e1it. I will again emphasise that, as the Minister of State has outlined, we have had a serious weather situation. I am sure it is not the only school in the country facing situations like this. Indeed, I know it is not. In my constituency and across the country, there are issues in relation to school buildings being kept up to standard. We have an issue in that the capitation grant given to schools is not sufficient to cover the basic cost of running a school. That is why parents are being asked all of the time to cover these costs through what is called a voluntary contribution. Of course, in many cases, it does not feel very voluntary. There is a need to increase investment in schools and in education to ensure we do not see situations such as the situation in Gaelscoil U\u00ed Earc\u00e1in in Finglas. I will engage with the school. I look forward to the Department responding very positively to applications for emergency funding. I again ask for prioritisation because we really should not be in this position. A new school building should be in place. I ask the Department to look at this again and to come back to me on the development of that new school building.  I will again highlight what the parents have said. One said that, as a parent, it is completely infuriating to watch their children's physical health, emotional well-being and educational experience compromised while their tax contributions appear to be squandered on projects such as expensive bike sheds and walls rather than spent addressing issues at a school that is literally crumbling around the children inside it. That is the parents' experience and feeling. We need to acknowledge that and do much better. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  I thank the Deputy for the points he has made. Record investment is going into the Department of education's capital programme for developments right across the country. Over the past number of years, record investment has been made in the building stock across the system. We recently announced over \u20ac7.5 billion in school investment through the national development plan. Thousands of schools across the country have seen investment in upgrading their facilities. I will make the point that we are acutely aware that investment in education, whether on the capital side or current, pays dividends as regards the long-term well-being of society. The more we invest in education, the better the outcomes for children into adulthood. We have seen that in Irish society over 100 years. I ask that the Gaelscoil engage with the Department in relation to the immediate issues to see if there is a pathway forward to deal with them through the Department's emergency works programme. I pay tribute to all of those working on the capital programme within the Department of education to make sure we are targeting the schools that really need investment. A lot of that has been laid out over the past while and a lot more will be done. At the end of the day, in relation to the school the Deputy raised this morning and the issues regarding a leaking roof, it is important the school engage with the Department and make an application. That will be adjudicated on in accordance with the terms and conditions of the scheme. We will also come back to the Deputy on the other issue of the permanent school building for that Gaelscoil in Finglas. I again thank him for the opportunity to address this issue this morning. I will relay his comments to the Department and the Minister, Deputy Naughton. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar fionra\u00ed ar 9.55 a.m. agus cuireadh t\u00fas leis ar\u00eds ar 10 a.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Sitting suspended at 9.55 a.m. and resumed at 10 a.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"School Funding"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-11\/debate\/dbsect_8","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Flood Prevention: Motion [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":73,"speakerCount":40},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":" A Deputy","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kevin Boxer Moran","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Mythen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Mythen.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Mythen.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Cahill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Fitzmaurice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel Grealish","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  I move:  That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann:  notes that:  \u2014 increased flooding is destroying property, causing hundreds of millions of euros of damage, and putting lives at risk;  \u2014 communities are waiting, in some cases for decades, for flood defences, protection and amelioration projects to be built;  \u2014 the delivery of flood defences is dangerously slow or grinding to a complete halt, with planning, licensing, permitting, tendering and the delivery of judicial reviews being slower in Ireland than in most of the European Union;  \u2014 flood forecasting has been available in the State for the last 10 years, but has not been made available to the public; and  \u2014 flood campaigners who have sought flood forecasts have had to contact county councils in order to get key life-saving information; and  calls on the Government to:  \u2014 immediately make flood forecasts available to the public through Met \u00c9ireann;  \u2014 introduce push notifications for flood warnings in local areas that have a significant threat of flooding;  \u2014 set up weather stations in mountain areas where the level of rainfall has a significant impact on river catchments;  \u2014 adequately staff planning departments in city and county councils;  \u2014 adequately staff An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la;  \u2014 reform the planning process by ensuring that vexatious planning objections are no longer allowed, and objectors who do not have a geographic or a material interest in a project should not be allowed to object to a planning application for a flood defence or flood alleviation plan where life and livelihoods are under threat;  \u2014 take planning applications for flood defences and flood amelioration projects, where life and livelihoods are threatened, out of local authorities where blockages exist, and create a fast-tracked national planning process for these projects, and this will help flood defence schemes that affect numerous counties;  \u2014 simplify planning applications and ensure that only one standardised planning application is necessary for all planning, permitting, licensing and regulatory authorities;  \u2014 rebalance the planning process where habitat and Special Areas of Conservation planning conditions exist, in favour of protecting human life and livelihoods that are threatened by flooding;  \u2014 expedite public consultations where life and livelihoods are threatened by flooding;  \u2014 roll out nature-based solutions and compensate farmers upstream on river catchments to reduce flooding;  \u2014 end construction on flood plains;  \u2014 properly staff the court system, so that judicial reviews are dealt with in a speedy fashion;  \u2014 streamline the judicial review process by removing time-consuming procedures; and  \u2014 review the lack of financial supports for those who cannot get insurance for cars and other costly possessions with a view to supporting these families.  There is an anger building throughout many regions in the country at the lack of the ability of the Government to build flood defences. The dysfunction of this Government when it comes to the construction of infrastructure is putting life, limb and livelihood in severe danger across the Twenty-six Counties. It is not just about money. At the heart of this problem is gross Government incompetency to build infrastructure.  Much of the country was flooded last week. The Government cannot control the weather but it can control the forecasting that happens and the flood defences that are allowed to be put in place to protect communities. Two years ago, I asked the Minister for public expenditure for a timeframe for the delivery of flood schemes throughout the country. The Minister refused to give me a timeframe. Why? This Government is allergic to accountability and measurables. It does not want a situation whereby it can be held to account on this particular issue.  Let us consider some of the projects. Midleton was devastated by Storm Frank in 2015. Houses and businesses were trashed and lives were put at risk. That community was promised that flood defences would be built but nothing happened. Storm Babet hit in 2023. Some 600 homes and 300 businesses were damaged by the floods. The cost of those particular floods was \u20ac200 million. Storm Babet nearly took human life. So fast was the influx of water in some locations that people were caught in their houses and barely able to get out. Cars were floating down driveways and through estates.  It is now 2026. What happens in the likes of Midleton at the moment is that an elderly gentleman stays awake in the middle of the night to watch river levels to see if the banks are going to break so he can tell the families living next to the river that their lives are in danger. In 2026 in Midleton, a human water gauge is the difference between a person losing his or her life and not. That is an incredible situation. In 2026, a planning application has not even been put into Cork County Council for flood defences for Midleton. A planning application has not even been written.  Enniscorthy has been waiting for a project for 25 years. In 2014, \u20ac55 million was allocated to the flood defence scheme in Enniscorthy. The town was a lake last week. There have been 12 floods in those 25 years. A planning application has not even been written for that project. That is an absolute disgrace. There is a direct responsibility in the administration of this country for that problem.  In Clontarf, it has taken 30 years from concept to completion for flood defences. In Sandymount, it has taken 20 years from concept to completion for flood defences. Flood defences were promised in Galway in 2019 but there is no word of them happening before 2034. For all those projects, the timelines will only apply if everything works perfectly. We know there are plenty of slips between the cup and the lip in these particular projects.  In every single area of infrastructure, this Government is failing in delivery. We heard from Uisce \u00c9ireann at a committee recently. Its representatives said it is going to take until 2050 before the gaps in water infrastructure, which are holding back the building of houses, are filled. We know that right now, the M50 is a car park. People are paying \u20ac200 million per year in tolls on the M50 to sit in a car park. We know that the housing crisis is going into reverse due to the lack of an ability of the Government to build.  Planning, licensing, permitting, tendering and judicial reviews in this country are slower than anywhere else in the European Union. These are all areas for which the Government is responsible. These are all areas in the gift of the Government.  The area of flood forecasting is even more frustrating. I listened to the news last week about what happened in Rathfarnham. People said they simply did not know it was going to happen. The first they knew of it was when they were inundated with water coming through their front doors at 5 a.m. In 2016, the Government created a flood defence weather forecasting system. It sounded fantastic. It looked at river catchment areas and river height levels. It looked at saturation levels on the ground. That information has been available since 2016 to everybody but the taxpayers who are paying for it. Incredibly, the information is not given to the general public. It is given to the local authorities and if you are that poor, unfortunate fellow who is the water gauge in Midleton, you have to go onto the county council's website on a regular basis to get the updates. Other countries provide push notifications. People get a text to tell them that serious rainfall is likely in the local area, there is a good chance the river will overflow and they should protect life and property. That does not happen in this country. It is not that a big investment is needed to make this service available to the public. It is not even that there is a technical problem with making the information available to the public. All that is needed is a bloody decision to be taken by the Government. It is incredible that the service is not available. The fact that we do not have weather stations on top of mountains in river catchment areas means we are dependent on radar to tell us the level of rain that is likely to fall in a particular area.  Aont\u00fa has put forward this motion. One of the big problems in the political system is that everybody is focused on the media cycle. Flooding is going to drop off the media cycle as soon as the weather gets better and everybody here will forget about flooding for the next two or three years until there is another massive flooding crisis. Everybody will then be shocked, annoyed and stressed. Let us not do that to the people. Let us put in the work now to ensure that in two years' time this crisis does not happen again.  We are looking for simple things. We want to make sure that those weather forecasts are made directly available to the people and that push notifications are put in place. We want weather stations in mountainous areas for river catchments. With regard to the planning aspects of the issue, we must ensure that Departments, county councils and An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la are properly staffed. I know of builders whose applications for hundreds of houses have been in An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la for 18 or 20 months. Decisions are yet to be made on those applications. The organisations that are making the planning decisions do not currently have the necessary staff. We need to reform the planning system to exclude vexatious planning objections. If you are building a slatted shed in Cork, people in Donegal can put in objections, despite the fact that they have no material or geographical interest. They can submit vexatious objections that can total the whole process forever. That needs to come to an end.  We also need to ensure that we have a balance in this situation. Right now, we have special areas of conservation, SACs, and habitat directives. They are important and fulfil a particular role. The pearl mussel in Enniscorthy is an important part of biodiversity. However, human life is also important. Livelihoods are important. We need to completely rebalance the hierarchy of priorities when it comes to planning applications in favour of human beings in the context of projects where life is under threat. That needs to happen.  We also need to simplify planning applications. I know of planning applications that need a van to be brought to the location. There are 30,000 pages in some planning applications. Surely something will go wrong in those planning applications that will allow for a judicial review. A smart solicitor only needs to find one line on one page that is out of kilter to be able to hold a judicial review to slow the whole process. I also know that there are three or four different varieties of planning application. One variety is required for licensing or a particular permitting organisation. Another variety is required for the Department and another still may be required for the council.  We need one planning application to suit every single State body. An enormous layer of bureaucracy and red tape has been built up and we are drowning in it. Real people will drown in real floods as a result if it is not sorted out. It is so frustrating.  We need nature-based solutions and to help those suffering from the costs of this. A lot of the supports for floods and storms sound great when they are launched but after Storm \u00c9owyn, people waited months and only got a third of the income they were promised at the start. Many people who own cars in flood areas do not have insurance. We see cars floating down the road but the Government will not support the costs arising from that. We need the State to step in in terms of those insurance policies for people who live on flood plains where the State provided the planning permission for the housing to be built. I hope the Government will support and implement this motion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  I thank Aont\u00fa for tabling this motion. It is well put together, well thought out and well planned. I have mentioned these issues in the House on a number of occasions and brought them up when I was a member of Cork City Council regularly. Speaking of Cork City Council, 2009, the Minister of State may recall, is when Cork nearly drowned after the rivers burst their banks, waters in the dam had to be released and there was absolute destruction in the city. That was 17 years ago. We still have not seen flood defences built in the city. In Midleton, as my colleague just said, there has been no planning application made and we know the town floods regularly. Blackpool is in my constituency. Last month, I stood in a house on the Commons Road in Blackpool, which has been flooded on three separate occasions. The family, a son and his elderly mother, were just back in their property after a year, with the entire property done up and all restored, when the river burst its banks again due to heavy flooding. It was going to happen anyway and they are out of the house again for another two years. That is the reality people are living.  People tell me that when it rains, they check their gardens and cannot sleep at night because they are worried about what is going to happen. That is just in Blackpool. For businesses in Blackpool, an empty unit cannot be rented out at the moment because it is not possible to get insurance. No insurance company will cover that. Ballyvolane is higher up the hill. It flooded in 2009 and people there still cannot get insurance on their homes because there is no flood defence system there 17 years on. Imagine having the worry that either your house will go on fire, flood or something else will happen but you cannot get any insurance. That is the reality in my constituency in Cork and what people are going through day in, day out. There seems to be no let-up.  We have all spoken about planning and the need to change it but what has the Government done? Government Deputies talk the talk and wring their hands. They say lessons must be learned, we need to move faster, build houses and do this, that and the other but the Government is not doing it. It is talking about it but there is no legislation coming through this House. We are here day in, day out, hearing all these marvellous things we should be doing but they are not being done. For God's sake, would the rest of you all wake up and do your bloody job. I do not understand how it takes so long to get one thing done while people are suffering, lying awake at night wondering if they are going to be out of their home for another 12 months. That is what they are being put through.  Part of this motion is very fitting. Cork City Council passed a motion unanimously last Monday night, tabled by Councillor Noel O'Flynn of Independent Ireland, asking for a system similar to the one in the Kingdom of Spain which provides a strong model, the ES-Alert system, to be put in place. I have witnessed the system myself. It is a fantastic model that works well, alerting people of the risk in their vicinity. It is very well managed and protects personal data as well. It is not a text alert but an entire system that alerts people by telephone. That needs to be done as well.  The comments made by certain Ministers about flood plains have left a lot of questions unanswered. That needs to be addressed in the House today. Local authorities, builders and people building houses on flood plains need to get information and have a proper structure of what the Minister is actually saying about building on flood plains. We need a timeline. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  Common sense is not that common when it comes to Government policies. I will take the Minister of State on a small history lesson. Is he old enough to remember the Board of Works? I am. It went around and cleaned our waterways to allow for clear passage of water. Then, the OPW was set up. I mean no disrespect to the Minister of State as he is only in his position for the past 12 months, but coming from a rural background, he will have knowledge of and understand the need to keep rivers clear. We also have to protect wildlife but nobody is protecting the people. Both have to be protected.  When the OPW goes to a river now is not allowed touch the riverbed. It can touch the sides but people tell me the sides of the rivers are eroding and they are losing land. I visited a house a number of years ago in Abbeyfeale. The woman's husband has passed since. The back wall of their house was ready to fall into the river. They had to negotiate with Inland Fisheries Ireland and the OPW. All they wanted to do was divert the water a small bit so they could build up a retaining wall. The negotiations on protecting their home took two years.  The ports are dredged because silt builds up. Silt builds up everywhere, on every waterway. We want more houses to be built but the Government does not allow for any maintenance of gullies and waterways to take away the excess water. It could be synchronised by doing it on rotation, which would protect wildlife and households. The houses flooded at the moment have been flooded because of bad policy from the Government and bad maintenance because it will not maintain the rivers. The rivers have to be dredged to allow for the amount of water passing at the moment in order to protect houses. That is the reality. Until the Government gets the flood defences put in place to protect houses, it has to dredge in the interim. If a branch of a tree falls into a river, people have to go through a large amount of red tape to get removed. Newcastle West flooded, as did Abbeyfeale, Kilmallock and Dromcolliher, and that is only to mention a few. All of that was down to a lack of maintenance. The second they flooded, the machines were in and started cleaning the riverbeds straight away. Do it now. Put maintenance in place now to dredge the rivers to make sure water can run freely. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  I thank Aont\u00fa for tabling this motion which important for the whole country. This has been a hobby horse of mine since I came into the D\u00e1il in 2016 because I saw, in my short two years in the council, the damage in my constituency mainly caused by blocked rivers. I genuinely want to have this addressed. What is blocking people from going in, perhaps putting in an application for a river to be cleaned out and for it to be cleaned out? It is so simple but it is made so difficult. It has destroyed houses and homes the length and breadth of the country. Nobody seems to want to tackle that issue.  I am not going to be critical of the Minister of State, Deputy Moran. He has the feet worn off himself going around visiting communities that were destroyed by flooding. That is what a Minister should do - talk to his people and businesses. I respect that but they need answers. The most mortifying thing I have found is that almost every year since I was elected, I have gone with a Minister around Bantry, a town that has been struck with floods severely, and sometimes I think I am only annoying businesses telling them we are very sorry and how terrible it is. That is not a solution. In Bantry, 42 years ago people told me they had to go into their premises and sit up on high stools because the water was tearing through the businesses. In 2025, the same thing happened. Nothing changed. I know the Minister was down in Ballylickey in 2017.  We were told about the pearl mussel and we know the pearl mussel is important. I heard a gentleman on RT\u00c9 radio the other day talking about Enniscorthy.  He said the rivers are blocked. There is a pearl mussel on the side and it cannot be cleared. Where did the pearl mussel go when Enniscorthy flooded? It went across the field and was gone for ever. It is the same in Ballylicky. My brother, Councillor Danny Collins, dragged sandbags into houses there a few weeks ago to try to block the water. There is something wrong somewhere.  Where is the blockage, pardon the pun, in government that means legislation cannot be fast-tracked in here to make sure that rivers with problems can be cleaned out? One cannot fill a bath at home and keep running the water without expecting it to overflow and destroy the house. That is the most simple way to put it. We expect that in this country. We do not want to clean our rivers. Whether Enniscorthy, Innishannon, Ballylicky or Bantry, there is no policy to do that. That is the easiest thing to tackle.  Millions have been spent on flood relief, which we respect. Last week, I asked the T\u00e1naiste to change that and I asked whether a policy can be brought forward to make sure that rivers are clean. He said he is looking into it. The people of Midleton, Enniscorthy or Ballylicky cannot be flooded one more time without anything being done. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy John Cummins)  I thank all Deputies for the opportunity to speak on what is an important matter. At the outset, I acknowledge the upset that has been experienced by communities across the country, including mine, County Waterford, in recent weeks as a result of Storm Chandra.  The Government will not oppose the motion because we recognise the importance of the issue. We want to ensure that we can continue to protect against the risk of flooding through flood defence measures and reducing development in areas that are prone to flooding. We want to improve the response when it comes to communicating in and around severe weather events. We want to continue to provide sufficient relief and support to citizens and businesses which have been impacted by flood events.  As the House is no doubt aware, responsibility for floods, on behalf of Government, rests with the OPW. It is leading an ambitious national programme to protect against the risk of flooding and, to date, has invested some \u20ac580 million to complete 56 flood relief schemes which are protecting 13,580 properties nationwide, providing an economic benefit in damages avoided estimated to be in the region of \u20ac2 million. Most recently, in 2025 over \u20ac100 million was spent on delivering flood relief schemes. This is a record annual expenditure and is reflective of the progress that is being made in delivering schemes nationally. Obviously, we want to increase the level of investment in the years ahead.  Flood interventions include small scale interventions under the minor works schemes which are delivered by local authorities. The Minister, Deputy Moran, has increased the threshold for this from \u20ac750,000 to \u20ac2 million. There are also larger schemes that are generally carried out by the OPW, in conjunction with the relevant local authorities, generally in urban areas and designed and prioritised based on catchment flood risk assessment and management. An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la generally deals with such applications due to their scale or need for environmental assessment, which is a requirement of EU law. Action is also being taken to complement this approach, as the Minister responsible for the OPW is proposing to assign the consent function for flood relief schemes progressed under the Arterial Drainage Act to An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la.  Turning to action taken to manage development in areas that are at risk of flooding, which some Members have already cited, the planning system and flood risk management guidelines for planning authorities were developed in 2009 by the then Department of the Environment in conjunction with the OPW. Under these guidelines, planning authorities should apply a sequential approach in aiming to avoid development in areas at risk of flooding through the zoning and development management process. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is currently working with the OPW to develop further guidance on the consideration of the potential impacts of climate change on flooding and flood risk as part of the planning and development management process and the application of these.  The assessment of individual planning applications remains to be carried out on a case-by-case basis by each planning authority and-or An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la, in accordance with the requirements of the legislation, including the development plan for areas and the 2009 guidelines. The Office of the Planning Regulator has a statutory responsibility for the independent evaluation and assessment of local authority development plans and, where appropriate, may recommend to me, as Minister with responsibility for planning, to use my power to direct changes to a particular plan. My predecessors and I have issued 14 such directions regarding flood risk since 2021. There are, however, already significant urban areas in the country beside rivers and seas that are vulnerable to flooding for historic reasons, which is why a system for alerts to give early and adequate warnings is so important.  The OPW has responsibility for establishing flood risk management plans in Ireland and established and led the three-legged framework for flood monitoring, forecasting and warning, referred to as the national flood forecasting and warning service, NFFWS. As part of the first phase of the establishment of the NFFWS, a flood forecasting centre was established in Met \u00c9ireann and has provided flood forecasting information to emergency management stakeholders since early 2024. The flood warning leg was to be progressed during the later stages of the NFFWS.  In line with a strong record on the provision of open data, Met \u00c9ireann plans to increase the information it makes publicly available as the flood monitoring leg of the NFFWS develops. Met \u00c9ireann communicates expected flooding with the public through existing systems and the inclusion of flood information in public weather warnings and forecasts, including on its website, mobile apps and other media channels. In support of flood forecasting, Met \u00c9ireann has also significantly expanded its weather monitoring networks, upgrading weather radars and extensively expanding its weather prediction systems.  The flooding associated with Storm Chandra has demonstrated the limitations of a system in which weather warnings and emergency flood forecasting capability exist but are not underpinned by an official public warning function. Looking forward, the Office of Emergency Planning in the Department of Defence, as chair of the Government task force on emergency management subgroup, is developing a plan for the next stage of the NFFWS which will enable the implementation of comprehensive nationwide localised warning system.  It is important to point out for those who have been affected by flooding that there are a number of measures in place, including the emergency humanitarian flooding scheme, which has been operated by the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment since 2018. The scheme provides a contribution of up to \u20ac20,000 for small businesses with up to 20 employees as well as community, voluntary and sporting bodies. A prerequisite of the scheme is that businesses or community and sporting bodies must have been unable to secure flood insurance through no fault of their own and to evidence their efforts if necessary. The scheme is typically opened after a severe flooding event and is administered on behalf of the Department by the Irish Red Cross. In response to extreme weather conditions in the wake of Storm Chandra in January, the Department opened an enhanced version of the scheme under which the maximum funding amount has been increased to \u20ac100,000 from \u20ac20,000 and businesses employing up to 50 people are now included.  Separately, the emergency response payment, formerly the humanitarian assistance scheme, provides financial support for people whose homes are damaged by flooding and severe weather events and have been unable to meet emergency costs for essential needs, household items and structural repairs. This support from the Department of Social Protection is a three-stage process. Stage 1 of the scheme addresses hardship in the immediate aftermath of an emergency event and provides emergency support payments to cover immediate and essential costs, including the purchase of food, clothing, bedding and essential personal items for immediate use. Stage 1 is not income tested.  Stage 2 involves the replacement of white goods, basic furniture items and other essential household items and generally applies after the event. Stage 3 covers the cost of essential structural repairs to a person's primary residence, such as plastering, dry lining, the relaying of floors, electrical rewiring and painting. The income limits for stages 2 and 3 of the scheme are \u20ac50,000 for a single person and \u20ac90,000 for a couple or single parent and \u20ac15,000 per dependent child. Reduced or tapered levels of support apply where household income is above these limits. The scheme can cover replacement and repair costs under stages 2 and 3, in circumstances where the household can demonstrate that it was unable to secure adequate insurance cover.  The Government is absolutely committed to ensuring that we can protect more properties from flooding as a result of flood alleviation schemes, to improving our communications ahead and during severe weather events and to ensuring that adequate support is provided to householders and businesses that are impacted by floods. As a Government, we acknowledge, as I said at the outset, the upset and the devastation that have been experienced by households across this country as a result of the most recent events, and we will work as a Government to ensure that we will continue to progress those measures. I know the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, will refer to that in his closing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  Sorry, Chair. On a point of order----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  Go raibh maith agat. No. A Theachta----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  There was not one thing in that ten-minute speech about cleaning the rivers or maintenance----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  N\u00f3im\u00e9ad amh\u00e1in. Is \u00e9 an ch\u00e9ad ghr\u00fapa eile----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  -----and not one thing about protection of people's homes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  No. We are moving on. The next speaker is from the Independent Technical Group. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  You have to allow a point of order, Chair. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  You have to allow a point of order, Chair. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  Deputy Paul Lawless has the floor. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  On a point of order, from the point of view of people's homes, there was not one thing in the ten minutes----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" A Deputy","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" A Deputy  That is not a point of order. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  People's houses are flooding because of the Minister of State. There is no maintenance. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  Deputy O'Donoghue, sit down. Deputy Paul Lawless has the floor. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  Go raibh maith agat, Chair. I welcome the cross-party----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kevin Boxer Moran","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran  Sorry, a Chathaoirligh. A statement was made there----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  Oh, the Minister of State is----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kevin Boxer Moran","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran  No. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  Deputy Paul Lawless has the floor. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kevin Boxer Moran","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran  Grandstanding for social media when there is a scheme for cleaning rivers. How dare you. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  There is only one speaker, Deputies. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kevin Boxer Moran","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran  That is unfair. You know I announced the scheme. Making a statement just for social media is wrong. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  Deputy Paul Lawless has the floor. A Aire, do not draw Deputy O'Donoghue on. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kevin Boxer Moran","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran  It is sending out the wrong message to the public. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  If you will allow me to speak, Chair----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)  Stop. Deputy Paul Lawless has the floor. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  Go raibh maith agat, Chair. I welcome the cross-party support for this motion and the fact that the Government will not oppose it. However, I do want to say very clearly, it is one thing not to oppose this motion but it is another thing to implement fully the practical measures we have proposed that will have a significant impact in so many thousands of families and businesses right across this country. I urge the Minister of State to really get to grips with this and drive on with this legislation because it is clear there is cross-party support both in government, from Aont\u00fa and right across the Opposition.  In relation to Met \u00c9ireann, I have spoken to a number of families who are affected by the floods and they are so frustrated by the fact that there is information out there that is available to Met \u00c9ireann that is not getting to them. That information is really valuable. It is valuable in terms of preparing for a potential emergency evacuation. That is why it is in our motion, and it is unforgivable that this is currently the case. At the very least, we need to ensure that the families who are affected have all the information available to them.  My colleague Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn outlined the motion in clear detail earlier. I will address a point the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, made about the humanitarian assistance scheme, HAS. We had Storm \u00c9owyn last year in Mayo and right across the west. It affected thousands of families, and many of those families came to me with the application form. The application form clearly stated what it would cover, and the rejection letters then outlined the very things that it was set out to cover and the letters stated what is not covered. For example, food and clothing were two items specifically mentioned on the application form and specifically mentioned in the rejection letter as well. That is so frustrating for families who have been so badly affected. They apply for something the Government advertises only to receive a rejection letter on the basis of the criteria it has set out. That needs to be addressed. This is a serious issue in relation to the humanitarian assistance scheme.  When flooding happens in the spring and the autumn, farmers are desperately affected as well in terms of bringing in livestock. That needs to be looked at. We need to assist them in terms of compensation for additional fodder and housing, etc.  The flood defence system and the planning system for flood defences are incredibly bureaucratic, and that red tape needs to be removed. There are people who can no longer wait for a planning system that takes ten or 20 years in some cases. That is wrong. The entire House supports this motion, and Government members themselves have outlined this morning that they support it. I ask them to get on with passing the legislation to ensure that the bottlenecks are removed. We have been very clear on what needs to happen, and there is no reason for the Minister of State to preside over additional delays.  I welcome the work of the Minister of State, Deputy Boxer Moran, over recent weeks, and it is very clear that he is listening to the people in this time of crisis. I ask him to continue to listen to the people across this country. In Charlestown, in Mayo, there is a river that has almost burst its banks. These families are seeking for that river to be cleaned, etc., and it is so frustrating that still has not happened and we are almost a year after some homes and businesses being flooded. The people on the ground know best, and a clear prioritisation needs to be given to human beings, their families, their businesses and their homes in relation to this. Yes, we need to protect the environment and we need to protect the ecosystem in our rivers, but families and their homes must be protected as well, and in that hierarchy of prioritisation I believe human beings have fallen off the cliff. I ask the Minister of State to listen to families and the people most affected and ensure that human beings and families are prioritised as well.  In relation to the recent Labour Party proposal regarding situations where, for example, local authorities purchase equipment for flooding, etc., I ask that they be compensated. I am sorry to have gone over my time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  Looking at the bigger picture, in 30 years' time, in 2056, it is estimated that the sea level will have risen by up to half a metre, so we are talking about a lot of land along the coast that will be decimated no matter what we do, no matter how many Y-shaped concrete structures we put in. In terms of being strategic with that climate change risk, we have to look at certain areas that will have to be lost to the sea, like they have done on the east coast of Great Britain, and strategically retreat from certain areas. We have to say to people, \"We are going to pay for you to have a brand-new insulated house but a little further back.\" Then we have to focus on the areas we can actually protect rather than trying to fight the indefensible. When you look at the likes of Dublin, from a housing perspective, as I have said before, but equally from a flood perspective, we need to start to go up and we need to start building houses on stilts. We should look at what is happening in the Netherlands and plan for future inundations in areas of high population density.  At the same time, one-in-a-hundred-year floods are now one-in-20-year floods, and with the rainfall affecting a lot of the rivers around our country, we will have the same level of inundation. In my constituency we have had several unanticipated floods over the past two decades and it will only get worse. That is because of policy. I note there is a \u20ac1.3 billion plan to look at flooding around the country and at alleviation. One of the points is about rewilding and replanting, but I would like to see a little more on that. We have decimated our native forests. Where we have replanted trees we have put in conifers. We are talking about Irish beef being better than Brazilian beef and getting into this big argument. Personally, I believe that if we are polluting the rivers by getting a nitrates derogation to be exporting beef, we are still on the wrong side. We have got rid of a lot of land that used to be a natural floodplain to use it for grazing to produce inefficient beef when we do very little from the tillage end.  On the planning side of things, we are not looking seriously enough at green roofs on buildings in terms of soakage. As it stands, we have seen communities around the country - the Celtic tiger was the height of it, but it still happens, including in my constituency - such as the Clonburris SDZ, where, when I was a councillor, we tried to put 442 houses away from a floodplain and put in GAA pitches, which would have served for six to nine months of the year, then building higher at a train station. Unfortunately, certain councillors voted against us on that, so now we are adding to the amount of water going into the River Griffeen and we will see flood instances down the road again.  I might be digressing but, even though it is kind of counter-intuitive, we need to look at a strategy for all-weather pitches because more and more of the GAA, rugby and soccer pitches are being waterlogged. We need to have some sort of water storage and proper drainage for grass pitches and all-weather pitches in our communities. However, that is a separate debate.  I do not believe that, as a country, we are taking the issue of future flooding seriously enough. It is all about crisis management and putting into place plans that were supposed to be in place 20 years ago and we are looking at it on a community-by-community basis. We are saying Midleton and we are saying Fermoy. That is all welcome and they all need the flood alleviation but we are not looking at the long-term picture that we are going to be fighting crisis flooding for the next couple of centuries. We must look at retrenchment. We have to look at where we are building and where we should not build. We are not looking at that enough. We should be rewilding, planting more trees, which create the soakage, and allowing natural river plains to spread out. We will lose a lot of acreage but we may have a more sustainable way of life for the country going forward. Otherwise, we are going to be spending multiple billions of euro to deal with sticking plasters when we should be looking at the root cause and trying to tackle it as quickly and as early as possible. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Erin McGreehan)  Before we move on to the next speaker, I welcome on behalf of Senator Michael Kennelly students from the Presentation Secondary School in Listowel, County Kerry, and their teachers Norma Dowling and Louise McAuliffe. They are all very welcome today and I hope they have a wonderful day in Leinster House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  I, too, welcome the school community from the convent in Listowel. It is entirely appropriate that there is a school delegation here from the town of Listowel because anyone in this House will remember the flooding that took place two or three weeks before the election of November 2024. Unfortunately, while work has been done in Listowel, which the Minister visited recently, where banks have put in, we remember what happened in Killacrim and off the Bridge Road. However, the long-term plan, which we recently met with Kerry County Council about, has not been put in place to address the issue of flooding and forestry upriver. The forestry is not only causing a biodiversity crisis and cleaning out the rivers literally and metaphorically with the absence of brown trout in the rivers up around the Knocknagoshel area, the Lyracrumpane area, the River Awbeg and other tributaries of the River Feale. The water that is going in there has not been addressed and there is no long-term plan in place.  Over the past few weeks other communities around the country have been devastated and homes have been destroyed, but the fallout have not been unforeseeable or unavoidable. It exposes how unprepared this Government has been. Flooding is not simply a matter of heavy rain; it is years of underinvestment, inadequate infrastructure and lack of long-term planning. Has river restoration been taken into account? No. Nature-based solution like they have in the Netherlands and Germany or what they have done in Yorkshire have not been taken into account. Has there been much investment in wetlands, afforestation plans or peatland restoration? No. We await the long-term plan for the Listowel area. Kerry County Council has told us that it has not been dealt with yet. No consideration has been given to upland tributaries and rivers. We still do not have a national flood warning system in place. This is an outrageous oversight in the face of worsening storms because they are going to continue. Our policy seems to have been more payments and then blaming judicial reviews and the pearl mussels. That is not good enough. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  The ongoing and very real impact on the community in Passage East in County Waterford and the serious shortcomings in response to recent flooding events must be to the forefront of the Minister's mind having visited there last weekend. My colleagues, Councillor Pat Fitzgerald and Deputy David Cullinane, and many residents have raised the need for an effective early warning system with timely and accurate information. This must be addressed as a matter of urgency.  Probably the most frustrating issue that locals raise is the long-standing underinvestment in storm water and drainage infrastructure in Passage East. Without significant and sustained investment, flooding will remain a recurring threat. In west Waterford and particularly in Tallow, Councillor Donnchadh Mulcahy and I have consistently raised the need for funding and delivery of the Tallow flood relief system where existing systems have failed residents. We welcome the start of a detailed flood investigation of West Street and the River Bride in Tallow and the OPW approval of funding under the minor flood mitigation works scheme last year. However, it has taken far too long to get to that point.  I know the Minister will shortly receive advanced and updated flood relief plans for Passage East, Tallow and other parts of County Waterford. It is time to now translate those plans into action, with funding allocated and clear timelines put in place, because communities like Passage East and Tallow cannot continue to live with the fear of repeated flooding. We need those proper early warning systems, effective emergency responses and, crucially, that much-needed and long-awaited investment in flood relief measures that will protect homes and businesses.  Finally, I want to point out the consistent lack of funding for road services and local authorities. It is causing havoc for our regional and local road networks. That is put in sharp relief when we see the emergence of potholes after adverse weather conditions. Areas that are not experiencing the worst cases of flooding are seeing spot flooding and increased amounts of surface water. The roads right across the State and right across County Waterford are in rag order. It is something that needs to be addressed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  To put it lightly, it would be fair to say we had serious rains and serious flooding. There are issues that need to be dealt with in north Louth. In fairness to the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, he was in Blackrock recently. We need to make sure that catchment-based flood risk assessment and management, CFRAM, is driven ahead. For Dundalk and Blackrock south we are only talking about the application going in probably around June 2027. However, we need to make sure there are no hold-ups and that any short-term mitigations can be introduced.  The Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach, Deputy McGreehan, will well know the issues that have happened and constantly happen in north County Louth, particularly out by the Cooley Peninsula out to the Border. There is a considerable amount of works that should and can be done. Councillor Ant\u00f3in Watters is one of many who brought up these issues with me and others.  When I talk about Dundalk, I can talk about the Ardee Road and the fact we have issues that are caused by the River Blackwater. We have finally received promises to clean the River Blackwater and The Ramparts. We have seen the introduction of pumps. We need to ensure that Louth County Council has access to them always, uses tankers and that we do the best we can in the disaster scenario.  I am talking about Bay Estate, where I live, Cluan Enda, Greeenwood Drive, Blackwater Court, Ashbrook or basically anywhere around Red Barns Road and St. Alphonsus Road. We have those issues of high tides and huge rains. However, at this point in time the reason we have flooding there is that the Uisce \u00c9ireann infrastructure is not up to scratch. I refer to the issue with CFRAM and the issue with the Coes Road pumping station, where everything from WuXi Biologics comes right through. It is a joint sewage and storm water facility. The fact is it is not going to upgraded completely. Works will start in about 2027 but will not finish until 2029 or 2030, according to the council. Even worse, the wastewater treatment plant is not due to be upgraded until 2033. There is no capacity and we are lucky we did not have hundreds of houses flooded. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Erin McGreehan)  Thank you, Deputy. Your time is up, even though I agree with you. I call on Deputy Mythen. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Mythen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Mythen.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Mythen.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Johnny Mythen  My hometown of Enniscorthy is in a state of devastation. The people on Island Road on the quays of the River Slaney have experienced awful destruction and major damage to their homes and businesses. This is not the first time; it has happened 16 times since 2000. How can this be allowed to go on for decades? The town needs help and it needs it now. I know the Minister and the Taoiseach visited the town, and I thank the Minister for that, but people are sick to their stomach with statements, promises and platitudes. Granted, remedial works have been promised and plans are being prepared, but why does it take a major catastrophe for anything to happen in this country?  Under the Arterial Drainage Act 1945, the Minister has the legal authority to approve a flood relief scheme, even if planning permission was previously refused, provided environmental safeguards are met. An example of this only happened this week with the Government willing to legislate to override planning constraints at Dublin Airport. If the Government can intervene using the powers it already has, then it can intervene in the planning for the flood relief scheme in Enniscorthy, County Wexford. In fact, it is a legal obligation under the 1945 Act to protect communities once a workable environmental compliance scheme is ready. Surely, the freshwater pearl mussel that was the main issue with the scheme in the first place can be translocated, just like the Dublin Bay oyster.  I am pleading with the Minister to act now. Under section 7 of the Arterial Drainage Act, he can approve flood relief works independently of the planning system. It is time to deliver for the people of Wexford and my hometown of Enniscorthy. They have had enough. They have been left behind, but no more. In the past, the political will dissipated as soon as the water subsided. This time, the people will rise up and be counted. They will not accept another decade of fear and panic every time there is heavy rainfall. I again ask that the Minister use his power to expedite the flood relief system for the proud and beautiful town of Enniscorthy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sorca Clarke  Nobody can stop a storm but the Government can and must prevent the predictable damage. The repeated extreme flooding events we have witnessed were not all inevitable but they were worsened by delay, underinvestment and a lack of urgency. Communities have repeatedly shown extraordinary levels of resilience but that is not a substitute for investment. People deserve more than hand-wringing, sympathy and sandbags. They deserve infrastructure and ongoing maintenance that safeguards their homes, farms and businesses. They deserve the Government acting before disaster strikes and not after with emergency payments. Yes, they are necessary but they are not, in and of themselves, a flood policy. They are a response after devastation and not protection beforehand.  This is not just about those vital flood defences. There is a serious element to this around the restoration and maintenance of our riverways, public safety and fairness because what was once exceptional is now too often routine. The science has been very clear for a long number of years. Warnings were repeatedly put out there, and yet too many communities are enduring a relentless cycle of flooding, fear and neglect. Homes have been destroyed, farms battered and small businesses pushed to the brink, and with insurance withdrawn.  Families are still told to wait for studies, plans and processes that all move at glacial speed. This represents a profound disconnect from the reality of the urgency that exists on the ground. Yes, flood relief and prevention schemes are complex, yet oversight matters. The excessive timeline from planning to procurement to completion is simply unacceptable. Communities cannot remain trapped behind red tape while risks escalate year after year. Those communities need urgency. We need delivery. We need long-term investment in flood mitigation and climate adaptation. Above all, though, we need a Government that treats flooding not as an occasional emergency but with the same level of priority as communities feel when they watch in horror and fear, time and again, as the water levels rise, destroying everything they have worked for. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in  People in Bunclody, Enniscorthy, Aughrim and Arklow are still trying to pick up their lives after the recent floods. The cameras have gone, the spotlight has moved on, and the Minister and the Taoiseach have arrived to tell the people the money is there, these things take time and there is no magic wand.  I think people in Wicklow-Wexford know that. They have been waiting for decades while the Government did nothing. Little attention has been paid to Bunclody. Enniscorthy has flooded 16 times since 2001, and going back as far as 1924. Arklow has had six major floods since 2000. The Arklow flood relief scheme has been talked about for four decades, so when the Taoiseach says these things take time, it really infuriates people. The Arklow scheme was originally supposed to cost \u20ac28 million but it is now estimated to be \u20ac57 million after years of delays and redesigns. We heard from the chair of the Committee of Public Accounts, Wicklow TD, John Brady, that millions of euro allocated for the national flood forecasting warning service were handed back, with \u20ac13.5 million handed back out of \u20ac19 million. That is absolutely crazy. Yet the Minister, Deputy Browne, was quick to point the finger of blame last week regarding where this money could have been invested in proper forecasting and warning systems. Deputy Brady also brought in the Flood Insurance Bill 2021. This Bill needs to be pushed immediately.  Flood relief schemes are planned for Arklow, Aughrim and Enniscorthy but there is little or nothing for Bunclody. These schemes need to be moved on and progressed straightaway. People in Wicklow-Wexford are hoping and praying they will not have more storms while the Government dithers and has photo ops but takes little meaningful action. I ask the Government to please get on with these schemes now because people cannot wait any longer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rose Conway-Walsh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Rose-Conway-Walsh.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh  I am glad to have the opportunity to speak about flooding today. The Minister of State, Deputy Moran, will understand because he has been to County Mayo many times himself. I welcome that, after ten years, the Crossmolina scheme is going to be done. I ask that that project be expedited as quickly as possible as well as the project in Ballina. Many other smaller schemes, though, need to be done in the county, not least in Charlestown and other places.  I would ask that is a better join-up between the OPW and the county council. What has happened is that county council outdoor staff have been reduced dramatically over the years. This is taking its toll now and we are seeing the results of it in many places where drains are not cleared and things are not done that would previously have been done by the county council staff. We have situations where homes and businesses are in danger of being flooded or have already been flooded. The Minister of State knows how flooding threats delay growth and development in small towns.  I want to bring up with the Minister of State the River Carrownisky and the problems there. They are easily fixable in terms of the bridge that needs to be done. The situation has gone on for years. All the plans and everything for it have been done. I am asking that the bridge, which is serving the communities on each side of the river, be reinstated and fixed. We are talking about a very small amount of money. It can be done with agencies working together, with Mayo County Council and tourism bodies. What is required here is that the agencies work together and not in silos to get solutions to these projects so people can get on with their lives and we can get what needs to be done, done. An awful lot of money is wasted in this country. It would be very well spent in County Mayo in dealing with some of these projects. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan  In County Kilkenny, communities like Inistioge, Thomastown, Callan and Graiguenamanagh endured severe flooding during the recent extreme weather. It will take weeks to clear the damage and who knows how long to repair the destruction inflicted on local roads. This flooding has hit local families and businesses the hardest. It is very hard to tell how many of these businesses and restaurants will be able to recover from this devastation. What is certain is that a very challenging period lies ahead. In Inistioge, the pitch at the GAA club was submerged under 6 ft. of water. In Thomastown, heavy rainfall is causing part of the quay to collapse and over time it is slowly being pulled into the river. In Graiguenamanagh, it is expected that flood defence works will take nine years. How is that acceptable?  In Carlow, the banks of the River Barrow overflowed causing stress and unnecessary damage throughout the area. Plans for dredging have been held up by the national planning body. These delays are having a devastating impact on families along the River Barrow. These essential maintenance works must be made a priority before further heavy rain causes the river to overflow its banks again. This rain and the resulting flooding have devastated our local roads. The roads in south Kilkenny are particularly bad. At a local meeting the other evening, the community voiced its frustration at the lack of progress. It is now estimated that the cost to repair the roads will be around \u20ac7 million, a massive sum for Carlow County Council. All of these people pay their taxes and all of them pay road tax, yet they see very little coming back to resurface our rural roads. We need central government to step in and provide this much-needed support to the council. The Government has announced over \u20ac100 million for flood defence works. This cannot be like so many other Government announcements where the funding has been left sitting idle for years. The manpower is there. The local councils need the funding and they need it now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joanna Byrne  This Government treats flood prevention schemes like something that is topical or seasonal. Every year when there is flooding, as there always is, the Government parties make statements on how they are doing everything they can and make positive statements about how they are definitely tackling the flooding problem this time but, unfortunately, it does not accelerate works, it does not cut down on the bureaucracy and it does not cut down on the timelines for delivery. Its members will be making the same speeches they will make next year, or later on this year when there is more flooding around the State, and while they are doing this, the local representatives are left to warn their constituents to avoid certain areas due to more flooding. While those speeches are being made, the residents of towns and villages that have suffered flood damage multiple times will be wondering what they have to do to see some action and results. These are the residents who cannot get their homes, businesses or possessions insured anymore and they are the ones left to shoulder the costs year on year.  There are 94 flood relief schemes described as ongoing, 68 schemes have not even reached the planning stage and 54 are not even under active consideration. The five-stage process for a flood prevention scheme just takes far too long. In some areas, it is taking decades but in most places it is taking 12 to 15 years. An immediate change could be made to the stage two planning process or public exhibition confirmation, which can take up to two years. Local authority staff are well able to plan a flood defence in an area where they have been implementing emergency measures year on year. This is obviously not a matter of money as the Government has a budget surplus. The fact is that it has under-resourced local authorities, there are not adequate staff in An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la and it has allowed construction on floodplains. The Government has allowed the OPW to become unaccountable. It needs to maintain the local rivers and the OPW must put dredging plans in place where needed.  This is the story the length and breadth of the country as we have been hearing this morning.  The fact is, as is the lived reality for people in my home area, that Mornington, Baltray and Termonfeckin will flood again. Until flood schemes and mitigation works are completed, this is the sad reality they must live with. We need to act now. Let us not be obliged to have this conversation again this time next year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  I thank the Minister of State for visiting Passage East on Sunday last. He met with the local authority and with residents whose homes were affected by flood damage. He would have heard at first hand that what those who were affected by the floods in Passage East want is less talk and more action. There were concerns raised - rightly so - by residents in regard to the response from Waterford City and County Council. They were not pointing the finger of blame at individual staff members. They acknowledged that the staff do a very difficult job in difficult circumstances, but it was acknowledged, even by the CEO of the council, that there have to be learnings. There were failings, and we have to get better at supporting communities during floods.  Having visited Passage East before the Minister of State went there, it was obvious that multiple problems have been exposed. It is not just one problem; the whole system is antiquated. It is not just from the brook where, obviously, if you have very heavy rain and a high tide, a great deal of water is going to flow downhill. The water brings with it stones and other debris that block the system. The culvert there is fit for purpose. The drainage system comprises old clay pipes. The entire system is antiquated. What happens is that everything goes wrong when there is a high tide and heavy flooding. Homes are damaged as a result. There is a lot of work to be done in the village.  There are five schemes that are at an advanced stage in Waterford. All five need to be developed, including the one in Tallow. My colleague Councillor Donnchadh Mulcahy has raised this matter consistently at council level. The project relating to Tallow is important and needs to be delivered. All five projects are at an advanced stage and they need to be properly supported, funded and delivered, once and for all. I hope that will be the case in the aftermath of the Minister of State's visit. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy George Lawlor  I thank the Ministers of State for being here. I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, in particular for his visits to Wexford to view the devastation, particularly in Enniscorthy. I met him there last April when we sought to devise a new plan after the rejection, on environmental grounds, of the----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Erin McGreehan)  Apologies, but is the Deputy moving his amendment? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy George Lawlor  I am sorry. I move amendment No. 1:  To insert the following after \"with a view to supporting these families\":  \";  further notes that the increase in storm severity and recent floods are the result of accelerating climate change; and  further calls on the Government to:  \u2014 resource local authorities to hire more general operatives to ensure staff are in place to maintain and clear drains, culverts and ditches, and respond quickly to weather events;  \u2014 provide grants to local authorities to purchase emergency flood prevention equipment like Aqua Dams, and deploy strategic local reserves of sandbags to at-risk communities;  \u2014 introduce a national flood warning system and overhaul our emergency preparedness and response systems, implementing best practise from international comparators;  \u2014 place the Emergency Humanitarian Flooding Scheme for businesses and community organisations on a permanent statutory footing, as was committed to in 2023, after flooding in north Louth;  \u2014 introduce a national Flood Re scheme, modelled on the United Kingdom system, to provide re-insurance to the increasing number of homes and businesses denied coverage even when flood defences are in place; and  \u2014 reform the Office of Public Works, to give it a stronger statutory role in climate mitigation and flood prevention works.\".  The Minister of State, Deputy Moran, and I met in Enniscorthy last April to outline, in conjunction with the Office of Public Works, OPW, the plans for a new application for a flood relief scheme that is so badly needed by the people of Enniscorthy. For decades, this town has suffered. I will not say that it has been affected on an annual basis, but it has been affected regularly. I know Joe Berney of Berney Saddlery Limited, which is located on the quay in Enniscorthy and which has been flooded 16 times. That is devastating.  There is one matter I would like to raise. Perhaps the Minister of State could investigate it. Why are all the State-operated water level and tide gauges not on the same portal? WaterLevel.ie is operated by the OPW and the Marine Institute operates its real-time observations in respect of tidal issues. This type of siloed thinking, where the OPW looks after inland areas and the Marine Institute looks after the sea, is a perfect example of how we need to bring this together. Enniscorthy is tidal up as far as the bridge from Wexford Harbour, but then the River Slaney comes into it. Two different agencies appear to be operating the portals relating to tide levels and gauges. That is something we need to investigate, particularly in a place like Enniscorthy, which is essentially covered by both.  Enniscorthy was the focal point of the flooding in Wexford. We all saw the devastation there but we also, as the Minister of State knows, saw devastation in Bunclody, where many houses were flooded, Bridgetown, which flooded in the past and was flooded again, and Kilmore and Our Lady's Island, places that have seen flooding. It is 60 years since Bunclody was flooded. Bridgetown was flooded only a few years ago. It was badly flooded on Christmas Day, which brought devastation. We saw Our Lady's Island lake overflow this on this occasion. In Kilmore, some local businesses suffered badly as a result of the flooding.  Our amendment calls for extra resources to be given to local authorities to hire additional general operatives in order to ensure that staff are in place to maintain and clear drains, culverts and ditches and respond quickly to weather events. I have spoken to the Minister of State about this and about providing grants to local authorities to purchase the emergency flood protection equipment such as the aqua dams. Thankfully, following the Minister of State's intervention, Westmeath County Council supplied an aqua dam to Enniscorthy. These should be available in every town and village and operated by the fire service on behalf of local authorities. They could be stored in local authority depots and deployed very quickly when there is a threat of flooding. We have enough instrumentation and information at this point to ensure that we have foreknowledge of when flooding is likely to happen. We need these interim measures.  We absolutely need a permanent solution for Enniscorthy but, for the other areas, we need to have interim or mitigation measures to allow people to be protected from flood waters. In Wexford town, we are affected by coastal flooding. The aqua barriers or dams to which I refer are readily available. One tonne sandbags and other types of sandbags are made available long in advance of any flooding arriving. Wexford County Council did its best, and nothing could have prevented the devastation that happened in Enniscorthy, even if we had received word in advance. We need to look at our warning systems. In Enniscorthy, where the flow of water from the River Slaney was devastating, there are people who are seasoned when it comes to their properties being flooded and who could have tried to get some of their equipment, furnishings, etc., to higher ground. Instead, they were battling against the tide as they strove to save some of their property.  This has been going on for far too long, as we know, but now is not the time to be battling each other. We need to work together and offer a unified front at local authority and at Government level in order to ensure that whatever measures are necessary are taken to stop this type of devastation, which happens almost on an annual basis in places in my county, from happening once and for all. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  I thank Deputies T\u00f3ib\u00edn and Lawless for tabling this motion. The Labour Party has submitted an amendment which, we hope, will be an effort to strengthen the motion. As Deputy Lawlor said, however, this is something we all need to work together on. Like Deputy Lawlor's constituency, my constituency of Dublin South-West was hit really hard by the floods that happened in the wake of Storm Chandra, particularly Rathfarnham and parts of the Ballycullen area. I thank the Minister of State for coming to visit the parts of Rathfarnham near the River Dodder. There was significant damage in Woodside and places like that. Councillor Paddy Cosgrave and I have been working closely with local businesses and residents in the aftermath. I feel we were able to give people some practical help over the past few weeks in being a link between residents, businesses and the council and in giving a little advice about the supports that are available and that we have seen increase. Credit goes to the Minister, Deputy Burke, regarding the business support scheme.  Households in areas like Grange Park, Woodside and Nutgrove Avenue were badly affected by the flooding. Thousands of euro worth of damage has been done to people's homes and businesses. Cars have been written off. Water came up through the floorboards in houses. We are not sure about the structural damage that has been done as a result of this. There will be medium- to long-term effects, and I am glad to see the Government has some schemes in place in relation to those. Of course, they are only effective if you do not already have insurance. Obviously, there are lots of households which do not have insurance. I will get to that in a moment.  Part of the Labour Party's amendment involves putting the support schemes - the business one as well as those for affected community organisations - on a statutory footing in order that they do not require Government approval to kick in every time there is an incident of localised flooding. When pressed by my colleague Deputy Ged Nash on this matter in the aftermath of flooding in north Louth in 2023, the previous Government stated that this statutory scheme would be a priority but it still has not been delivered. If the Government wants to project a sense of urgency in dealing with issues around flooding, then this must be done immediately.  Our amendment also calls for the introduction of a flood insurance scheme modelled after the successful Flood Re scheme in the UK, which provides cover for households and businesses that are increasingly denied coverage, even when flood defences are in place near them. Grange Park in Rathfarnham previously experienced similar levels of flooding around 20 years ago. From speaking to residents in the area, I am aware that it has been a nightmare for them to get flood insurance ever since, even though there is a flood alleviation scheme being put in place right beside them.  One in 20 buildings in Ireland has limited access to flood insurance. That is a pretty incredible statistic.  I know the Minister of State has asked his officials to examine the Flood Re scheme. We very much welcome that and we would like to see some progress on it.  We do need to get our act together on flood defences. The Labour Party amendment notes the changing weather patterns we are seeing, with more rain, more frequent and severe storms and more flooding and all this is the result of climate change. We need to be clear about that. I am sure that acknowledgement was not purposely omitted from the original motion but it is really important for us that that acknowledgment that this is as a result of climate change is put front and centre here.  On the front page of today\u2019s Irish Examiner Maynooth University\u2019s Professor Peter Thorne is explicit that this is going to get worse as a result of climate change and we are miles behind in mitigation measures like flood defences. Progress has been too slow. The OPW in my area commenced construction on the Whitechurch Stream flood alleviation scheme in Rathfarnham three years ago. It has been beset with what look like numerous preventable delays, the consequences of which were realised in Grange Park just two weeks ago and the disruption from which has been suffered by residents on the road beside Whitechurch Stream in estates like St. Gatiens Court, Willbrook and Tara Hill for the last three years. It can be very convenient for the Government and local authorities to blame judicial reviews and scapegoat environmental concerns about these schemes as a sole reason for the delays to the flood schemes being constructed. I was dismayed to hear Ministers essentially make virtue last week of setting aside environmental concerns to expedite flood alleviation schemes. God knows our waterways are polluted enough already and are in such a bad state - Lady\u2019s Island lake, Lough Neagh and the River Blackwater - without the Government greenlighting further destruction of precious and quickly depleting biodiversity and wildlife habitat. We need to be looking upstream at nature-based solutions rather than just this concrete-first approach. How can we possibly still be building on flood plains? It defies logic.  The issue for me and for the Labour Party is that it lies in the proper resourcing of our planning authorities and the courts to deal quickly with the applications for these schemes, and appeals when they arise, and to properly resource our local authorities and the OPW when it comes to the actual construction of the schemes so that they do not take years to complete. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  This motion has some very positive aspects. It is important to highlight the issue of flooding and its impacts on people across this country. It has impacted people in so many different ways and our hearts go out to all those who are dealing with the fallout from it.  While we cannot predict whether it is going to rain tomorrow or the next day what we do know is that climate change is happening right now. We also know that we can prevent further changes in climate change. We also know we lack infrastructure investment in this country. In regard to infrastructure, this Government acts as if literally it was the weather to blame for the flooding and the failures. Let us be straight and honest. The Government\u2019s Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan highlights that Ireland\u2019s infrastructure gap has consistently for decades been about 25% below the European average. This is not a problem that emerged overnight. This comes from a failure of successive Governments led by Fianna F\u00e1il or Fine Gael and the Irish State to actually take a social democratic approach to investment in public services, public infrastructure and, in particular, in local government.  Local government has been treated like an afterthought. Its capacity has been gutted. For 40 years we have had broadly neoliberal policies which have essentially outsourced the key responsibilities of local government and not invested in our public capacity and we wonder why we have floods, major traffic problems, lack of investment in our healthcare and homelessness. It is because of policy that has not prioritised public services.  Climate change is happening. It is absolutely astounding to me that it is like the Government has turned around and done a Trump on it, saying, \"We are now ignoring the science. We actually do not even care about it.\" The all-party Oireachtas committee has identified 30 barriers to the Government meeting its targets. The Government has effectively accepted we will not meet our targets and it is almost celebrating it. I cannot get my head around this. It is jeopardising the lives of future generations and quality of life and for what? Is it to make concessions to independents? Is it to be seen as anti-green? It is so narrow, short term and populist in the worst form. We are heading towards climate catastrophe and this Government is ripping up the targets and has no intention whatever to getting near to meeting them so as to be seen as being politically populist and standing up for whoever it is saying is being left behind. All you are going to see is worsening flooding and worsening weather. We need proper investment in our infrastructure, to accept the science and to meet our climate targets. Unfortunately, the people in this country are going to lose because of the Government\u2019s shortsightedness, its political populism and its failure to take a social democratic approach which recognises the state has to invest in delivering infrastructure on a very significant level beyond what we are doing right now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Liam Quaide  It is increasingly baffling how utterly in limbo many east Cork residents are left over two years on from Storm Babet. I want to acknowledge the recent planning approval for a scheme that will protect Tir Cluain estate and some nearby properties in Midleton. I am conscious that the Midleton flood relief scheme is large-scale and very complex and is slowed down by the degree of engagement with landowners that it requires. As much as it should have been completed many years ago, we cannot turn the clock back on that political failure - we are where we are now \u2013 but what is really perplexing is the degree of detachment of the Minister of State\u2019s Department from the villages that were also flooded in October 2023, namely, Mogeely, Rathcormac, Castlemartyr, Killeagh, Ladysbridge and Whitegate. There was a recent announcement that \u20ac108,000 was allocated to Whitegate but this was not for any actual flood works. It was to appoint a specialist to survey the possibility of flood works. How did it take almost two-and-a-half years since Storm Babet to make that appointment? In reply to parliamentary questions, the Minister of State has said there is a shortage of expertise in the country to help direct so-called tranche II projects. What I would like to know is how much efforts has the Minister of State engaged in to hire experts from abroad? All these villages remain in limbo and it is not acceptable.  In August 2024 two experts were commissioned by Cork County Council to assess the potential for land use or nature-based solutions upstream from Midleton. We know these measures have been very successful in settlements such as Pickering in Yorkshire. Their survey did not extend to Mogeely but my understanding is that the experts viewed Mogeely as a potential area where natural flood defences could be deployed relatively quickly at low financial cost and without the need for planning permission. There was buy-in from the local landowner there and a substantial number of houses could have benefitted. The council has, for some unknown reason, kept the nature-based report under wraps since. I requested it last August and did not receive it. It was not even released to me following a freedom of information request in October last year. Nobody is suggesting nature-based solutions are a silver bullet but they are effective with more frequent low-intensity floods and they are an important part of the overall approach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Erin McGreehan)  Thank you Deputy. I call Deputy Farrelly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Liam Quaide  I want to ask the Minister of State why we are not maximising the potential for nature-based solutions along with engineering methods. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aidan Farrelly  The ways by which successive Fine Gael and Fianna F\u00e1il governments have handled flooding over the past ten years is an example of gross incompetence. In March 2025, I put a parliamentary question to the Minister for housing - it is a shame he has left the Chamber; he has abandoned ship on this issue - asking about the national flood forecasting and warning service. I asked, in particular, why this information was not being released publicly. The service was set up in 2016. Ten years later, we still have no public information about forecasting and warnings. I was told stage 1 was being managed by the OPW and that the data was not mature enough to provide warnings for locations to the public. We asked for an update just last week. The reply from the Department of housing was there was 48 hours left. It took numerous attempts from officials in this House and from our office just to get a response and what we learned was nothing new. We have been trying to establish this for ten years trying to establish this and we still do not have publicly available forecasting data.  In Kildare last week we were told to brace ourselves because areas of Newbridge and Clane could be flooded due to necessary alleviation procedures at the Pollaphuca dam. The ESB was able to brief public representatives and communities but there is a bigger problem here.  We need to see investment in the dam in terms of its capacity. Questions still arise as to where the liability would fall if semi-State agencies knowingly flooded communities in this State.  I commend the Minister of State on his dedication in respect of this issue. My concern is that his colleagues in government, namely those in Fine Gael and Fianna F\u00e1il, do not share his commitment when it comes to flooding and, ultimately, climate change. I agree with Emeritus Professor John Sweeney that it is time to do what this law demands in the context of climate change. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  I have spoken many times in this Chamber about flood prevention and future planning. Climate change means that Ireland will be more prone to flooding due to adverse weather conditions. In my constituency, there are a number of rivers that have either caused or threatened to cause flooding. The River Poddle flows through Kimmage, Crumlin and Harold's Cross. I am happy that a flood alleviation scheme is happening there at the moment. Work on that is ongoing. It cannot happen fast enough, particularly in view of the weather we are having. The River Camac in Kilmainham and Inchicore is in need of culvert repair, embankment reinforcement and other flood prevention measures. The River Liffey flows through Chapelizod, where residents were recently in fear of flooding due to the non-stop rain. Sandbags were issued, but they are only a temporary solution. A permanent solution is definitely needed.  Flooding of a business or home is devastating. The Minister of State may not know, but my husband's family experienced flooding in Germany a number of years ago. All of the homes in the villages around the area where they live were destroyed, as were all of the businesses. A total of 130 people died. Following that was the realisation that many people were not covered by insurance. The German Bundestag is now discussing how to ensure that every property has natural hazard cover, which can be opted out of but which has to be provided. It is time that this happened here as well. We cannot have people left in dire situations. Flooding destroys every part of a home. It also destroys people\u2019s lives.  The other thing we need to look at is where we build homes and businesses. Floodplains are not something that should be meddled with. They are called floodplains for a reason. On that basis, we need to be cognisant of what future flooding will do. The insurance issue is one that we really need to get a handle on. It is not just flood prevention; it is also what happens afterwards when we do not have the flood prevention methods that we should have already in place. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  What we have seen over the past few weeks shows how desperately unprepared the State was for the extreme weather we have experienced. This was not unpredicted. It was predicted 20 years ago that the impact of climate change was precisely going to be much wetter weather. The latter expresses itself in extreme events. Unfortunately, this is the music of the future. This is what climate change looks like in Ireland, and it is going to get worse and worse.  All over my constituency, people have told me about the damage done to their homes. They have told me that this is not the first time this has happened. There is an overwhelming sense that we were not prepared or assisted properly. A constituent from Rathfarnham told me:  There were ten children across six houses blocked in by the water for several hours on our cul-de-sac. Residents contacted emergency services. However, no emergency services attended the estate. We contacted South Dublin County Council, who stated they had no resources available and advised us to contact emergency services instead.  This was predictable, but the State was not prepared. What we have seen since is an attempt by politicians to scapegoat anybody or anything that could be found that could possibly be scapegoated. Met \u00c9ireann got blamed. The same people who gave out about too many yellow, orange and red warnings then, all of a sudden, decided that Met \u00c9ireann was to blame because it should have had more serious warnings. The habitats directive got the blame. Civil society groups that try to defend our biodiversity and nature and the kinds of measures that would cut across this flooding get the blame. The freshwater pearl mussel gets the blame. All of this is to avoid the question of who rezoned the floodplains, as John Sweeney has noted, who allowed housing closer to riverbanks than was wise and who has drastically underfunded climate adaptation measures for the past 20 years. We need real climate action and real flood adaptation measures. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  Clonmel is finally a good news story where flooding is concerned. We have our flood defences in place on the basis of a one-in-100-years flood that happened previously. They have stood the test of time over the past ten to 12 years, much to the relief of householders and businesses across the town. However, it took forever to get them. I hope that places like Midleton and Enniscorthy do not have to wait as long or endure more floods before defences are put in place.  Clonmel has a history of flooding that dates way. The River Suir consistently flooded both the town and hundreds of homes and businesses from the Old Bridge right along the quays and up to Irishtown. My grandfather Patsy Meaney worked for Clonmel Corporation in the gasworks on the old Waterford Road in Clonmel. He had to go to work by boat from the steps of the town hall during the highest recorded flood in 1925. Fast forward 70 years to 9 February 1995, and his grandson - me - as Mayor of Clonmel, emerged from a successful public meeting called to stop the closure of Kickham Barracks in the town, only to find that I could not get home to the Old Bridge area because of flooding. I had to be transported by the Army in a lorry. I thank the Army for that. It has done tremendous work over the years.  The campaign for flood defences started that night, but it took 17 long years - far too long - and involved too much hardship and too much damage to homes and businesses. Clonmel is a template of what can and what must be done. The Office of Public Works must take Clonmel as the template, and must significantly shorten the time it takes to put schemes in place. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Charles Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Charles-Ward.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Charles Ward  Communities in the Finn Valley have suffered catastrophic flooding. In Ballybofey and Stranorlar in particular, there has been repeated flooding over the decades, including major events in the 1960s, 1990s, 2015 and 2020. Each flood has caused significant damage to homes, businesses, infrastructure and livelihoods. Families have been traumatised and communities economically and socially scarred, with some failing to recover.  The Ballybofey-Stranorlar flood scheme remains at the planning and design stage, as the Minister of State knows. Work is meant to begin in 2027. The stark reality is that this demonstrates that meaningful flood protections are literally years away, particularly in the Finn Valley, leaving the residents exposed to flooding again into the future. I commend Councillor Gary Doherty of the Finn Valley for his tireless work on this. He has not stopped for years in trying to advocate for the communities in the valley.  Repeated floods and ongoing delays make it clear that funding alone is insufficient. Immediate interim flood prevention measures are urgently required. Flood protection cannot wait because the lives and livelihoods of these citizens, particularly in the Finn Valley area where this has happened before, are petrified it will happen again. We see the constant rising of the River Finn. It is only a matter of time before something happens again. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  Climate change is here, and we are seeing what it looks like. This is the beginning of it, unfortunately, with the changing weather patterns that we have been seeing in the past few years. Flood relief schemes are taking from 13 to 20 years, which is too long, to put in place. The Mountmellick and Portarlington schemes have been planned since 2017. People in the two towns are on high alert the whole time. Homes on Manor Road were flooded again in recent months. Botley Lane in Portarlington gets flooded, and there is extensive flooding in other parts of the town. Residents are on edge. The progress on both schemes, which are now nine years old, is way too slow. Planning and construction are taking too long. The completion date for those who are centrally involved in the Mountmellick scheme will at best be 2030 or 2032, and maybe even longer. For Portarlington, it is anywhere between 2030 and 2034, which is 17 or 18 years after the scheme was conceived.  We agree with what is proposed in the motion, except for the seventh point. I would say to Aont\u00fa, in the context of taking it away from local authorities, that it actually goes to An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la. It did not go to the local authorities in the context of any of the schemes I have seen. We need to give local authorities more power and a greater role. We need to devolve more powers to them. That is exactly the problem we have because local authorities do not have sufficient staff and powers to deal with these matters. The various studies and reports on ecology, hydrology, archaeology and habitats are taking far too long, as are the public consultations and EIAs. They need to happen in tandem, not consecutively. That is the message I would give to the Minister of State. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  I thank the Deputies for bringing forward this important motion.  I am very conscious as we speak here this morning that there are families all over the country still undertaking a clean-up of their homes and businesses and assessing the impact of the severe flooding on them. Climate change means these floods are going to become more regular and more severe. That is why the approach the State takes to flooding needs to change. In the week since towns like Enniscorthy and Aughrim were inundated, there has been a rightful focus on the engineering solutions and why these are taking so long to deliver. Alongside engineering solutions, there must be a renewed commitment to the delivery of nature-based solutions. Let us recall what we mean by this. Nature-based solutions are about ways to retain the water at the upper end of a river catchment for as long as possible, slow down the movement of that water and allow sufficient quantities of it to soak away, rather than going straight into a river, thereby raising the level and creating the flooding. This is the first piece of flood defence we should focus on. It is not the only piece but it is absolutely essential. It is about looking at upland areas, seeing if there are forested areas to absorb water or fields that can be allowed to flood. It is about paying the landowners and farmers when they allow us to use their lands for this vital flood defence. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  D\u00fan Laoghaire-Rathdown Council received hundreds of calls because of flooding in Newtownsmith, along the DART lines and so on. I thank the council workers, both the indoor council workers and the outdoor teams, who had to go out and respond to this. It highlights the chronic underfunding of our local authorities. Ireland is at the lowest level of funding in the European league table by a mile due to the underfunding of outdoor crews and local authorities generally. For decades, we have identified the problem of floodwater, rainwater and seawater mixing with sewerage in our area when the rains come in. The infrastructure has not been put in and the money has not been forthcoming. In Newtownsmith, where there was massive flooding, a gully was taken out about three decades ago. That is the reason all of Newtownsmith was flooded. Everybody knows it. The money has not been allocated to put in a gully which would allow the seawater to flow back out again.  I agree with a lot in this motion but I think Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn should reconsider the criticisms he made of forecasting by Met \u00c9ireann and orange weather warnings, given what he is now saying. I do not agree that submissions on flood protection schemes should be limited to people who have a material interest or are locally based. Should experts on flood defences and climatology, for example, not have the right to put in a submission? Of course they should. Part of the problem is that we are not listening to the experts or Met \u00c9ireann. We should start listening to them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  I thank the Minister of State for all his work and his engagement with Clontarf since I was elected to this House. This is a story that needs to be put on the record. I am speaking to people from across Ireland who think that Clontarf and north Dublin residents objected to a wall. We are seeing flooding across my constituency, including in Howth on one of the beaches. I welcome what has been done in Portrane and I would love it to be implemented for the houses that are now at risk at the Hole in the Wall beach.  Back in 2008, Irish Water wanted to put an artery across Clontarf seafront and cover it with a berm. This was rejected, rightly so, because anyone who was elderly or vulnerable would not be able to have surveillance by passing traffic. After that, the community came together and asked for Dublin City Council to make a plan for kerbside demountables. The community never received any such proposal, so how could people accept a proposal they were not given?  I thank the Minister of State for how he has been dealing with the OPW and Dublin City Council engineers and for getting rid of the sandbags in Clontarf, alongside me, after the meeting. It shows what political pressure was needed. The people of Clontarf and surrounding areas were being punished for objecting to a giant berm along the seafront. The Minister of State has seen recently how things have gone on and the dangers of flooding. On the original promenade, there was already a plan for a mountable wall that was built over 150 years ago. I thank the Minister of State for his engagement at a meeting yesterday at which he showed me other plans. I look forward to meeting with him and local residents.  The other thing I hear constantly is that residents in Clontarf and north Dublin asked for a wall to be lowered. That is a completely different wall, which is down at St. Anne's Park. These things get confused and stories are spread by the media to build up hate and mistrust in the system. It is important to get that on the record.  I thank the Minister of State again for his engagement. People are very happy. I look forward to working with him and his Department to get this finalised. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mattie McGrath  I thank the Minister of State for all his hard work in different parts of the country. I saw him manning the pumps a good many years ago in Athlone town. He has lived with flooding and he understands it. I also want to thank the late Teachta and iar-Aire Martin Mansergh, who did a lot in that Department. He passed away recently and we sent our sympathies to his wife Liz and family. He was a Minister who helped greatly in many areas but mainly in Clonmel. We had trouble and problems in Clonmel for decades but we have a great scheme there now. Obviously, there are little tweaking problems with pushing the water back. I want to shout out to the Clonmel borough district area staff and the engineering staff, Gillian Flynn and Paul Coffey, and thank them for their work putting up the flood defences each time there is a bad forecast. They are working, thank God. However they will not stay working. We have the folly here from our left-wing colleagues. T\u00e1 siad imithe now, like snow off a ditch. They come in and put out their fancies. Deputy O'Gorman was talking about keeping water up on the side of a hill. How would you keep water up on the side of a hill unless you had it in a bucket? He could not even hold a bucket at that.  The Waterford deep-sea port was cleaned biannually for decades, up to about 25 years ago. It is not cleaned any more. Every piece of dirt off a roof or dust off the streets and roads, fields, building sites or anywhere else eventually washes into the rivers. There is no place else to go. We must clean the rivers or the flood defences will be rendered useless.  I sympathise and empathise with the people all over Wicklow, Wexford, Waterford and many other areas who were flooded. It is not a nice situation because you do not just get water, you get lots of other stuff as well. As I said, we had solutions offered to us from Denmark and Holland, imaginative schemes about moving water on faster. We also had offers of land south of Clonmel where we would deepen the river, take the topsoil off the land, put in all the spoil and put it back again to grassland, but no, the ecologists said we have frogs, snails and everything else. People's lives and property and the people who cannot get insurance are much more important than all these ecologists and these green people who tell us we cannot do this because of snails and everything else. We need reform also in the OPW. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  I thank the Minister of State for being very hands-on and for coming to Kerry again recently. Back in 2018, he gave us funding to clear the Flesk river. For ten years before that, we were constantly being told that it would make no difference to clear the river, that it would only make 10 mm of a difference. The highest flood that has been there in the last eight years did not come within 8 ft of the road level and it used to be 3 ft on top of the road before that. They wanted to raise the road and do everything else but the fact is, as Deputy McGrath said, we need to clean the river. That was what always happened until 2002, until some genius decided that farmers could not touch the river any more, clean it out or do what they had been doing for centuries. If they did, they would lose their farm payments. That is why the thing is getting worse and worse. Many of our rivers are still in desperate need of being cleaned. Like Deputy McGrath says, everything comes down from the hills - silt, sand, gravel and every other kind of muck - and lands in the river. If the river is not cleaned out, where is it going to go only spill out over the banks onto roads and into houses? That is the trouble we are having.  The Minister of State saw the courthouse bridge and the pipe that was crossing the eye of the bridge. That is what has been flooding the town of Kenmare for many years. I am appealing to the Minister of State to see again if there is any quick way of removing that. Whatever other work needs to be done can wait. Removing that would alleviate the serious problem in Kenmare at the present time. There are other ideas in other towns and places about holding back the water and creating flood plains. The Minister of State must get himself stuck into them and tell them that the easy way of sorting it out is to clear the rivers. There are no two ways about it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Cahill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Cahill  I raise again the issue of flooding in Cromane, which the Minister of State visited, and coastal erosion in Rossbeigh. In Killorglin town, at Lower Bridge Street, properties are being affected by flooding on a regular basis. I was contacted recently about the area at the fishery which is subject to flooding as well.  We need help and I know the Minister of State has said time and again that there is plenty of money available. I hope Kerry County Council is engaging with the Minister of State regarding these areas. For the residents of Cromane Lower, the very strong tides over the past month will continue until the end of the month. Every year, on St. Patrick's Day, the high tide is a big problem. These individuals and families cannot sleep in their beds at night when there is any sort of a strong tide and it is exacerbated when it coincides with a storm.  I also want to raise an issue that I mentioned to the Minister of State recently. I know he is working on this with the Minister of State, Deputy Troy, regarding insurance for businesses. I would like to include homeowners in that category. They can get insurance for fire and theft and everything else but not for flooding. I was contacted recently by a family which, for the past 40 years, had no problem getting insurance. They are after spending tens of thousands of euro reinstating the embankment. The Department, with the work being carried out by Kerry County Council, provided a second line of defence. The family is absolutely confident that they will never again be flooded. That work was carried out about 15 years ago and they cannot get insurance. Insurance is a huge issue for homeowners as well as businesses. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Albert Dolan  The Minister of State will be aware of the south Galway flood relief scheme. It is set to protect 115 properties, family homes and businesses. What we are facing right now is a series of delays and a lack of action. I know the Minister of State is a person of action and he wants to see something happen. In November, in a response to a parliamentary question, the Minister of State said the scheme would go for planning consent by quarter 3 of 2026. I hope this timeline is adhered to because it is vital that both the OPW and Galway County Council have the responses from the National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS, have the environmental assessments carried out and, ultimately, can drive on with this project. While it a complicated scheme with turloughs, groundwater, rivers, swallow holes, etc., this project needs to be progressed as a manner of urgency. Right now, the east of the country is suffering but for a long time the west of the country suffered. We do not know when we are going to suffer again, and we need to take proactive and preventative measures to ensure this matter is dealt with. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kevin Boxer Moran","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran)  I am grateful for the opportunity to come before the House today. Members have already heard about the important work being undertaken across government to address the issues raised in this debate. I welcome the opportunity to engage further with Members, particularly on the role of the Office of Public Works in managing flood risk in Ireland.  First, I want to recognise the hardship and trauma caused by recent flooding. I have visited many of the affected areas and I understand the distress caused, not only by the flooding itself but also by the ongoing fear of further flooding. The Government is fully committed to taking measures to alleviate these difficulties and reduce the risk of flooding in the future. I thank all those involved in the preparation for, and response to, the flooding events. This includes volunteers, particularly organisations such as Civil Defence, who have done Trojan work and deserve the Government\u2019s sincere thanks.  As Deputies will be aware, the response to major emergencies is carried out by the principal response agencies, namely, local authorities, An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and the HSE. Local authorities act as the lead agency for flood events within their administrative areas. At national level, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, through the national directorate for fire and emergency management, is designated as the lead Government Department for co-ordinating the response to weather emergencies, including flooding. In the lead-up to, and during, the flooding events, the Department convened meetings of the national emergency co-ordination group to co-ordinate actions across Government Departments and agencies.  I have listened carefully to the valuable contributions made during today\u2019s debate, and I thank Members for their comments. I will now address some of the issues raised and outline the role of the Office of Public Works in managing flood risk. Managing flood risk is a shared responsibility across government. Flood policy is built on three key pillars, underpinned by research and evidence. Prevention involves avoiding or removing flood risk, for example, by avoiding construction on flood plains. Protection means reducing the likelihood or severity of flooding, typically through physical works such as flood relief schemes. Preparedness means reducing the consequences of flooding through public information, planning and emergency response. The OPW plays a key role in co-ordinating measures to meet the Government's national flood risk policy, particularly in relation to flooding from rivers and the sea.  The Government has committed \u20ac1.3 billion under the national development plan for flood relief schemes. This investment aims to protect approximately 23,000 properties in communities at significant risk. Since 2018, this funding has allowed the OPW, in partnership with local authorities, to treble its flood relief work. There are now approximately 100 schemes at design, planning or construction stage. There are currently ten flood relief schemes under construction nationwide. These are at Athlone, my hometown; Crossmolina; Glashaboy; King's Island; Morell River; Morrison's Island; Poddle River; River Wad; Templemore and Whitechurch. Once completed, these schemes will protect a further 2,880 properties and deliver an estimated \u20ac361 million in avoided damages and losses. Five of these schemes are at an advanced stage, with at least three expected to reach substantial completion in 2026. At the same time, other tranche 1 schemes are being actively progressed through design, planning and construction.  Recent flooding, including during and since Storm Chandra, arose from multiple sources, including rivers and the sea. For communities awaiting major flood relief schemes, I have asked local authorities to identify all possible interim measures to reduce flood risk. I expect to receive these plans in the coming weeks and will update my Government colleagues accordingly. Flood forecasting and warning are critical to preparedness. Stage 1 of the national flood forecasting and warning service was completed in December 2023. A flood forecasting centre is now established in Met \u00c9ireann, providing flood forecasts, hydrological data and daily flood guidance to local authorities and State agencies. Stage 2 is now under way and will focus on providing flood warnings directly to communities and improving the detail and accuracy of forecasts. Oversight of this work now sits with the Government task force on emergency planning, chaired by the Department of Defence.  Our climate is changing. We are seeing more frequent storms and extreme weather events. In response, my office has published the Climate Change Sectoral Adaptation Plan for Flood Risk Management 2025-2030. All flood relief schemes now require scheme adaptation plans to ensure they account for climate change impacts and can be adapted to future flood risk.  Nature-based solutions are also being assessed as part of scheme development and through other delivery mechanisms. The OPW is working with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to develop further guidance to ensure planning decisions properly consider flood risk and avoid exposing new developments to future flooding due to climate change.  I thank Deputies for their engagement. I also want to say that a great number of Deputies have great ideas and have said a lot in this debate. Local authorities deliver schemes. I support them financially, so Members should not stand up in this House and try to blame the Government. Local authorities lead and we support. We have never been found wanting with any local authority. The issues are complex. I ask Deputies if they have ever gone out and looked at the development of a scheme and how long it takes. What is involved is enormous. We have the money now to hand and are working with these local authorities. I have introduced interim measures over the past number of months.  Deputy Richard O'Donoghue said there was nothing for channel cleaning or blockages but I announced that funding last October. Local authorities can apply for it to make that work happen. I sincerely thank all the Deputies. People around Ireland have had an awful time over the last number of weeks. I have met some of them and I know what they are experiencing. It is my job, as Minister of State, to lead a whole-of-government approach and help those people in the future. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Fitzmaurice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice  I welcome the opportunity to speak in support of this motion. In fairness, money is not a problem but trying to get it done is a problem. The Minister of State, Deputy Moran, and I have been involved with Lough Funshinagh for a number of years. I have seen previous Ministers. What had to be done in Lough Funshinagh was a temporary measure to allow the water to be pumped away. Does the Minister of State know what the reason is? The pipes were three quarters down. Environmentalists brought a case to court. The pipes were to go for about half a mile, then onto a river and out into Lough Ree. At one time, the water from Lough Funshinagh used to go out to Lough Ree underground, but that basically blocked up. We are now faced with the situation where scientific studies lasting for a few years are needed to show that the same water that was going out will not damage some bit of a flower on the edge of Lough Ree because it is going out through the river. No matter who it is, even if I was Minister in the morning, they would pull their hair out. I would not have hair with what I am watching with the habitats directive.  We can talk here and give out about relief jobs not being done. However, at the end of the day, it is about the habitats directive and that legislation needs to be changed when Ireland has the Presidency of the EU. Go to Rossaveal in Connemara, which is the Minister of State, Deputy Grealish's area. There is machinery standing up because of environmental objections and a court case. Go down south to all the schemes. Go to Lough Funshinagh. There was a great story told in Galway where there was a flood on the road. The council went out to let the water go. It was rung and told that it could not let water in there because it was a special area of conservation. We would rather have a car crash than let water go.  We can talk about it here but, at the end of the day, the habitats directive was transposed into law by our now retired President, Michael D. Higgins. We must decide to put people and lives before some of the objections, like in Lough Talt. When Irish Water wanted an extraction licence for Lough Talt, an objection was made because of a snail, even thought the snail had disappeared for over 20 years. We need to amend that legislation. I am not saying the Government will be able to scrap every bit of it. I took part in an overview of it a few years after it. I would have been as well off if I had gone home and counted cattle, to be quite frank about it. I gave my view, and nothing happened. I ask the Government to change that. It is not for Ministers to do. It is going to take the likes of the Taoiseach and T\u00e1naiste when Ireland has the Presidency of the EU for six months. We need to do that. Go to Dublin Port or Dublin Airport and have a look at it. Go to any road job or any flooding job and have a look at it.  I will give an example which shocked me one day. In Clonberne in County Galway, a young couple were building a house. A drain down near the back of the house goes into the Sinking river, heads on through Slieve to Dunmore, goes into another river, heads for Galway and goes into the River Clare and then goes into Lough Corrib. It is 40 miles away from Lough Corrib. Does the Minister of State know what the couple had to do? They had to get a screening out. They spent \u20ac2,500 to be told, \"By the way, this won't do any harm.\" That is where we have gone as a country because of European regulation. To be honest about it, if I was the Minister or someone else was Minister, we would still be handcuffed and we would be in the courts down the road because of environmental legislation. Until we decide we are going to sort this out, even if it was God almighty, we will have to go through this process for seven, eight or nine years of torture. When all the reports and everything else have been done, we will still be below in the courts for another few years being held up because someone somewhere believes that the little flower is more important than Mary or Johnny's house getting flooded. Until that mentality changes, we are in trouble. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Erin McGreehan)  Before I move on to the next speaker, I welcome the students of St. Kieran's College in Kilkenny. They are very welcome to Leinster House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  I thank Deputies for their contributions to this Private Members' motion. I thank the Government for not opposing it. That is important. I thank the Labour Party for its amendment, which we are not opposing. It is a cynical, well-worn experience in this House that the Government does not oppose Private Members' motions but then simply does nothing about them. Accepting a Private Members' motion and not doing anything about it is a good way of saying \"Yes\" while saying \"No\" at the same time. That is a problem.  My major worry is that the media will move on from this issue, the political system will then move on from it and----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Kevin Boxer Moran","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Kevin-Boxer-Moran.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran  I will not move on from it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  -----in 18 months\u2019 time, we will back in the same place, with families being inundated and hammered in this situation. We have had many years of Ministers being dispatched to floods in their top boots, splashing around in the puddles on camera for the media, nodding----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel Grealish","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Noel Grealish  Not this man, Deputy Moran. He will do his work. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  -----empathically to families who have lost everything. That has added up to a hill of beans for those families over that period of time.  I accept that the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, wants to get things done. I accept his bona fides in relation this. He has been this position for a year at this point. We have to get to the root of the problem here. The construction of flood defences is drowning in bureaucracy and red tape. Many flood defence planning applications are taking 20 to 30 years, from concept to completion. Enniscorthy, Midleton, Clontarf, Galway, Sandymount and a rake of others have been waiting ten, 20, 30 years just for the planning applications to go in. The issue is that if there is not a fix for this as soon as possible, there will be enormous damage done to those areas.  The Minister of State mentioned 100 projects that are in planning currently. He also defended the role of the planning process. At the heart of the problem is that our planning system and licensing, permitting, tendering and judicial review systems are all demonstrably slower than in the vast majority of other European countries. They are all slower here. That means they are broken and not working in this situation. This is tearing at the fabric of society.  Enniscorthy, which was a lake last week, has been waiting 25 years for a planning application. The M50 is a carpark every single day now because of the planning process difficulties in getting roads and infrastructure built. The national children's hospital was promised by 2020 for \u20ac700 million, save an asteroid hitting a planet, according to Leo Varadkar. It is still not open and it is costing \u20ac2.25 billion. The Minister of State has to recognise that we have a critical crisis in terms of the building of infrastructure and our planning systems. It is an enormous cost financially and in terms of the services we are not receiving. It has to be fixed soon.  We have to set about dealing with the vexatious objections that come from one end of the country to the other. We have to realise that Ireland is now a judicial review hot spot in terms of higher levels of judicial reviews than practically any other country. They are taking longer. Our courts are not sufficiently staffed. If the Minister of State were to physically attack someone on this side of this House today, it would take longer for him to go through the courts in this country than in practically every other European country. The planning departments in the councils and in An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la do not have enough staff. They have far more planners than they had before, but they still have nowhere near the number of planning staff that they need.  I welcome the Minister of State's view that there is going to be zero tolerance of further development on flood plains in the future. The truth of the matter is that thousands of houses have been built in flood risk areas and flood plains, with the permission of the State and local authorities. As a result, the Government is responsible for the costs to the families when they see their homes flooded. We all saw cars floating in the past week in those floods. That is probably the second most expensive item of expenditure that those families will have in their lives, after the cost of their homes. When they ask the Government for help, it says \"No\u201d and that it is not helping with that. We need proper funds to be made available to families and businesses when their homes and businesses are flooded. That needs to happen right now. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment No. 1 agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Motion, as amended, agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Flood Prevention: Motion [Private Members]"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-11\/debate\/dbsect_9","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions","counts":{"speechCount":88,"speakerCount":16},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Before calling Deputy McDonald, I welcome to the Distinguished Visitors Gallery the Canadian ambassador, H.E. Dennis King, who is on a scheduled visit. Although I spoke to him earlier this morning, I take a moment to convey from us all our heartfelt sympathy following the tragic incident that occurred yesterday in British Columbia. The ambassador should know that the victims, the injured, their families and the whole community of Tumbler Ridge are in our thoughts and prayers. I thank him for being with us. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  I echo the Ceann Comhairle's sentiments entirely. I also welcome to the Public Gallery the delegation from Donegal who are here today to save the flights accommodating cancer patients from the county. I understand they have gathered some 15,000 signatures for their petition over recent days. It is a disgrace that they have to come here to fight that fight but I commend them on their efforts and wish them every success. It is a decision that needs to be reversed.  The Government is set to throw renters to the wolves. Today, Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael will push through their rent hikes Bill and it will be devastating. Previously, in rent pressure zones, any increase was set at the rate of inflation or 2%, whichever was lower, but the Government is tearing that up and opening up the floodgates. From 1 March, it will allow rent for new tenancies to be reset to the full market rate. This is a hammer blow for ripped-off renters and a gift for big landlords and vulture funds. It will mean huge rent hikes, increased pressure for renters, more young people forced to choose between emigrating and moving home with their parents and, shamefully, it will mean more families and children pushed into homelessness. Up to 60,000 renters will be hit by a huge rent hike every single year. That is the hard truth.  Of course, the Government's defence of the Bill is that six-year tenancies will protect renters, but they will not. A total of 25% of tenancies in any given year are new tenancies, with people moving in and moving on all the time. Most tenancies last three and a half years, not six. The majority of renters will be hit quickly, and hit again and again, and very few will escape these hikes. It will be a nightmare for people who feel they have to stay put for fear of having to pay a hugely increased rent on a new tenancy. It will be a nightmare for students, apprentices, trainees, nurses, teachers and anyone who moves frequently for work or education. A total of 7,000 Irish medical professionals were registered to work in Australia last year. If the Government's Bill goes through, we will lose many more because the rent hikes will be off the charts.  In Galway city, for example, renters will fork out \u20ac5,292 more per annum. Here in Dublin, an extra \u20ac3,516 a year will be due. In Cork city, in the Taoiseach's neck of the woods, renters will pay an extra \u20ac3,336 a year. These increases are on top of already staggering rents. Nobody will be able to afford these increases; there is not a chance of it. It is straight out of the Fianna F\u00e1il-Fine Gael playbook to give a big payday to landlords and vulture funds and screw over ordinary tenants. If they gave a damn about renters at all, they would end this rip-off, not fuel it. They would ban rent increases and make rents affordable. Caithfear stop a chur le Bille Fhianna F\u00e1il agus Fhine Gael chun an c\u00edos a ard\u00fa. N\u00edl ann ach bronntanas do na tiarna\u00ed tal\u00fan m\u00f3ra agus cuirfidh s\u00e9 n\u00edos m\u00f3 br\u00fa ar na tion\u00f3nta\u00ed.  Renters have known for a long time that Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael simply do not have their backs. For over a decade now, they have allowed renters to be ripped off relentlessly and mercilessly but they are crossing a big red line here. A Bill to allow rents to be increased by \u20ac3,000, \u20ac4,000 or \u20ac5,000 will do incredible damage to people's lives. It cannot go ahead. I urge the Taoiseach to scrap the rent hikes Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  First, I acknowledge the presence of our good friend, H.E. Dennis King from Canada, and articulate our deepest sympathies to the people of Tumbler Ridge and to Canada more generally on the appalling murder of nine innocent victims yesterday. Our hearts, prayers and thoughts are with the entire community.  I also appreciate and welcome the attendance in the Public Gallery of people from Donegal in respect of the only flight from the county, which is subsidised substantially by the State. Obviously, the Minister for Transport does not get involved in the contract itself in terms of engaging with the contractor. Deputy Gallagher has been extremely active in pressing this issue with the Minister and me from its very first iteration. We are endeavouring to do everything we possibly can legally to try to respond to the needs of the people of Donegal, particularly those who travel for cancer treatment. The Government wants to do everything it possibly can within the law. We will continue to work on behalf of people to enable us to do that.  Regarding the rental reforms, I disagree fundamentally with the Deputy's proposition. In the first instance, we should remember the origin of the Bill was the Housing Commission. I recall Sinn F\u00e9in and others saying we ignored the Housing Commission. The commission recommended a reform of the rent pressure zones, coming up with an idea around reference pricing, which it did not detail, and so on. The Housing Agency was then asked to review the rent pressure zones, which it did, and it recommended the nature of the changes the Minister has introduced in terms of the reform of the rent pressure zones, which will give stability, clarity and certainty to renters and landlords into the future.  According to the census, there could be up to 500,000 people renting, from social renting to private tenancies, and up to 240,000 more private tenancies. Those existing tenancies will not be impacted by the Bill. That is the first thing I have to say. There are very important protections, which the Deputy has deliberately ignored, in respect of these measures. The six-year provision gives a security we never had before in this country and aligns us more with European rental systems in terms of giving tenants greater security and greater protection. Dr. Michael Byrne from the school of social policy, social work and social justice at UCD has noted that what is being missed in the current discussion is that the new legislation is designed, once established, to reduce the level of notices of termination. We are now moving to the ending of no-fault evictions.  The ESRI also recommended reform of the rental system. Everybody did, but someone has to make a decision here. The Minister and the Government have taken a decision----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Oh you have made a decision. There is no question there. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The Taoiseach: -----to balance this in terms of greater security. It is unquestionably greater security for tenants, and the proof of the pudding is the number of property organisations and landlords wanting to end it or change our proposals. It is interesting that Sinn F\u00e9in is defending landlords and property owners who want to get rid of this, who do not want this to go through today. That is the bottom line. They do not want it-----"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Crowe  The bottom line is that more landlords----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----and Sinn F\u00e9in is trying to usher it in because it is interested in chaos, but supply is also important. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Taoiseach. Time is up. Deputy McDonald to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Scarcity of supply will be the most impactful thing on prices over the medium term and the Deputy knows that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  And who is responsible for----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Sinn F\u00e9in has no interest in supply and has demonstrated no interest for quite some time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  Neither have you. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Just to explain to the Taoiseach, who clearly cannot grasp this very simple concept, there is no security of tenure if you cannot afford the rent. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  That is it. When rents climb and climb and you just cannot make it month after month, that is not secure. That is a recipe for chaos in your life. That is a recipe for driving people to Dublin, Shannon or Cork airport to go thar s\u00e1ile, far, far away to live their lives or, in the case of families, for driving them into homelessness. The Government has made a decision and it has made it very clear whose side it is on. It is on the side of very large corporate landlords; not just any common or garden landlord but the large ones and the vulture funds. They want market rate and the Government is giving it to them on a silver platter. I have told the Taoiseach that most tenancies do not last six years. They average at three and a half years and 25% of tenancies every single year are brand new. Will the Taoiseach answer that? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy could not care less about whether we provide more houses for the young people of this country because every policy----- "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  That is ridiculous. How many years in government now? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  She is against everything. She is against every proposal. She is full of soundbite and shallow----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  Take responsibility for your own inaction. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  The truth. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It is not the truth. I am telling you now where you are. You have opposed every single thing for the last four years in relation to housing here. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  Look at the housing crisis that----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Healy-Rae  And they have objected to it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It opposed all the affordable schemes we came up----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  There are 16,000 people living in homelessness----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----with that were trying to help young people. The bottom line here, through the Chair, is that we need supply and we have to have a rental framework that facilitates investment and greater supply of housing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  We need Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael out on their ears. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  What the Deputy is ignoring is that half a million people currently renting in Ireland today will not be impacted by these measures because there are a lot of protections built in here. A national rent protection zone is there at 2%. The ESRI recommended 4%, actually. These are modest measures designed to get clarity and stability but, above all----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  You will see. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----to bring supply. If you do not have supply, prices will rise, without question, and Sinn F\u00e9in has never answered the question of supply. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  You have never addressed supply. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  You are just barren in terms of any ideas----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  We could tell you what was----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank the Taoiseach. Time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----or any substance around that issue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Time is up. Before I move to Deputy Cairns, we can have robust debate but I ask all Members that the debate be respectful with a mindfulness towards our Gallery being full. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  The Gallery is fine. The people in the Gallery recognise the truth. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  Today, the Government is using the guillotine to ram through legislation that will have one overriding result, that is, allowing record rents rip even further. Once this legislation goes through, it will mean monthly rents for new tenancies being reset to market rates. People watching at home might not know what that means because the phrase \"market rate\" does not capture what is really going on here. People will see monthly rents for new tenancies soaring to \u20ac2,500 to \u20ac3,000 all over the country. That is \u20ac30,000 or more every year in after-tax income that renters will be expected to pay. What nurse, teacher, garda or retail worker can afford that? What will happen to our critical public services when staff cannot afford their rents? What will happen to our cities and our towns when people are priced out of them? Why would young people stay here through their 20s and 30s just to hand over all of their income to a landlord? What kind of a life is that? How many more children are going to become homeless because of this legislation today?  I welcome some aspects of the legislation. The Social Democrats have fought for a long time for improved security for renters and for a rent price register. However, the impact of some positive reforms is going to be completely swallowed up by the impact of what the Government is doing on rent prices because people are already struggling to pay record rents. More and more of them are being forced to move back in with their parents or to sleep on friends' couches and record numbers are becoming homeless. This is not just a housing disaster; it is a social catastrophe.  The Social Democrats would do things differently. Just last week, we published detailed plans explaining how we would set up a State construction company and acquire four modular home factories to turbocharge the delivery of social and affordable homes. We have also published plans to set up a new State savings scheme to use just some of the nearly \u20ac170 billion sitting in Irish deposit accounts, and earning almost no interest, to build the homes we so desperately need. This could be a real national effort to finally address this crisis that hundreds and thousands of us could be a part of. There are solutions to this housing disaster. There is another way. The Government could finally admit that its approach is not working. It could change course and direction.  What the Government is doing is a betrayal because these plans did not feature in the Fianna F\u00e1il or Fine Gael general election manifestos or in the programme for Government. The coalition parties misled the public on housing figures to get back into power, and then quickly went back to making policies that mainly protect----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy will be back in. The Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  -----developers and investment funds. It is not too late to step back from the brink, abandon plans to jack up rents and finally protect renters. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  First of all, n\u00ed aonta\u00edm leis an Teachta. Is \u00e9ard at\u00e1 i gceist ag an Rialtas n\u00e1 i bhfad n\u00edos m\u00f3 taca\u00edochta agus cosanta a thabhairt do na daoine at\u00e1 ag \u00edoc c\u00edosa faoi l\u00e1thair. Sin bun agus barr an chinnidh at\u00e1 d\u00e9anta ag an Rialtas. I do not agree, fundamentally, with the Deputy. Again, this is being portrayed as the Government wanting to undermine renters. That is such a ridiculous assertion. The origins of this come from the Housing Commission. The Social Democrats' housing spokesperson spent about a year and half condemning the previous Government and this Government for not following through on the Housing Commission. The Housing Commission recommended that we permanently reform the RPZs. The Housing Agency came forward with recommendations to do that. The ESRI said we have to do it. Most economists agree we have to do it. Why? We have to get more supply into the rental market. If we do not, prices will continue to rise. The only effective way to moderate pricing in the rental market is to increase supply. The Government is biting the bullet and taking action here. Some would say it was too modest in terms of the supply side. The Opposition is dead set against any supply measures. It just wants the banning of rent increases. Just ban everything. Everything would then remain static. Prices would increase even more and we would have huge issues with supply. That is the fundamental difference between the Opposition and the Government. We want to sort out the housing issue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Oh my God. Oh my good God. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We want to deal with it and we want to take this issue on. I have read and looked at the Social Democrats' policy proposals----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  This is a disgrace. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----on a State construction company, which is about social housing, I think they would acknowledge, and would take a minimum of two years to establish. We already have the Land Development Agency, which is doing social housing and affordable housing and will also be doing private housing and doing that mix. The Social Democrats want to create a new agency on top of that just to do social housing, to have direct labour, which I think will be very problematic and challenging in the construction labour market we have in the modern era and I am not so sure it is a tenable proposition. It then says it will create four factories somewhere - just build them. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  There is a lot of absence of feasibility. There is a real feasibility issue with its proposals. On the SSIA, we did an SSIA in the past but that will be another number of years before the funding comes on stream. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  Start now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  There is huge public money going into housing. There is \u20ac9 billion this year and there is multibillion----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  If we could get more in, we would not have to----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----going into infrastructure. The issue is we do need private sector investment, which the Deputy's party has a huge problem with. It just hates the private sector. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  The saving scheme is private sector----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Social Democrats hate the private sector. They do not believe it has any role in housing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  Absolute rubbish. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That is another fundamental difference. The Department of Finance says we need about \u20ac20 billion a year to get to 50,000 to 60,000 houses per annum.  We have a clear pathway to doing that. We need private sector investment to create additional supply. Does the Deputy accept that or does she not? Her spokesperson does not seem to accept it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  When the Taoiseach considers the context of 17,000 homeless people, including 5,000 homeless children, when you consider the fact that rents have gone up 117% between 2010 and 2025 when the EU average is 28.8%, when you consider that house prices are up \u20ac200,000 since 2015, he comes in here week after week and says that his approach is working. Every day he stands up and defends his approach and somehow tries to blame the Social Democrats is another day he loses even more credibility on housing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  All I can say is, I hope in the lead-up to the next election, people judge the Taoiseach not on his empty promises in those few weeks, but on his actions now. In the depths of a housing crisis, he is introducing legislation that allows landlords to jack up rents to so-called market rate in between tenancies, which will result in more children being evicted into homelessness. It is a disgrace. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Again, the Deputy comes in with the usual soundbites and trot them out----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  Get the violin. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----and make assertions about the bona fides of people on this side of the House, which I think are unworthy. Everybody in this House wants to resolve the housing crisis. We have a clear view that it has to be a combination of public and private sector investment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  It is clear to everyone the Taoiseach's approach is not working. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy did not respond to my positioning. She is opposed to private sector investment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  That is not true. Why are you saying it? "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I think that is a real issue in terms of getting supply. I did not interrupt the Deputy. She and her party have a habit of continuing interrupting when we try to respond to their points. I have no issue with a debate in the House, but I am making valid points. I have read her party's housing construction policy. In my view, it is not going to add value in the next two to three years. It could not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  The Taoiseach has been saying that for ten years. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy has not explained how it would deal with the existing Land Development Agency, which we have now provided billions for in terms of doing the work that it has to do. It has a pipeline of about 11,000 to 12,000 houses. Her proposals are fairly weak, if I am honest, in terms of dealing with the thing "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  But the Taoiseach has no problem giving investment funds their----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Please, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  ----- thousands of euro extra. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I am not blaming her for anything. I am simply saying what she is coming up with is not that effective or does not really have the capacity to solve the housing problem. There needs to be more scrutiny of what her party is coming up with. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Pot kettle black. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  The Government has proposed to scrap the triple lock. In 2013, when the Taoiseach was on this side of House, he said \"triple lock ... is at the core of our neutrality\". I agree with what he said then. As a member of the defence committee, we have looked at this very carefully, and I am fully convinced that what he said is true. He will try to justify the abandonment of the triple lock because we live in a changed world. He has said things like this, but neutrality was adopted during World War Two.  The 1960 Defence (Amendment) Act set out clearly that the UN mandate is required for the deployment of a contingent of the Defence Forces overseas. That was in the middle of the Cold War and at a time of huge international conflict. The veto the UN Security Council can exercise is something that is raised. The Taoiseach will use this to try to justify the case for the abandonment of the triple lock. In 2013, he said the UN \"is not working as it should but we must not abandon it as an essential part of the international system.\" I agree with that also.  From 2020 to 2024, the UN Security Council passed 264 out of 284 resolutions without a veto being exercised, and the Taoiseach will tell us Russia will veto a peacekeeping mission. Will he tell me which one it vetoed? I have been looking for it. Yes, Russia's invasion of Ukraine is wrong, but the United States and Israel are two countries that have consistently undermined and trampled over UN resolutions and UN decisions. I remind the Taoiseach of the weekend poll which again showed 71% of people in favour of maintaining neutrality. This comes on the back of a flood of right-wing propaganda in dozens of newspaper articles over the past 12 months calling for the scrapping of the triple lock and neutrality and the full participation of our Defence Forces in combat overseas.  Proceeding to scrap the triple lock and shredding not one but two national declarations that the Taoiseach's party drew up is likely to be unconstitutional and will probably be met with a court challenge. In the Nice Treaty, the Taoiseach's party put in that: \"Ireland reiterates that the participation of contingents of the Irish Defence Forces in overseas operations, including those carried out under the European security and defence policy, requires (a) the authorisation of the ... [UN] Security Council or the General Assembly ... (b) the agreement of the ... Government and (c) the approval of D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann\". The very same words were used in the national declaration attached to the Lisbon Treaty. A solemn declaration was in the Nice Treaty to hold that. The Taoiseach and I know that the first two attempts to pass the Nice and Lisbon Treaties failed, and his party had to do that to get them through. That is fair enough, but is he now going to shred those two national declarations? Is he now going to repudiate the will of the Irish people and erode Irish neutrality? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Our military neutrality is defined as not being a member of a military alliance and we are not members of a military alliance. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  We might as well be. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We do not intend to be. We are not a member of NATO, fundamentally. The triple lock relates to our participation in peacekeeping missions. We want to continue the tradition of Irish participation in peacekeeping missions. It has been a very noble one. It is probably one of the defining qualities of Irish foreign policy. People accept our bona fides in the international field, whether it is military peacekeeping or in civilian peace monitoring, contributions to conflict resolution and participation in multilateral fora from the United Nations, to the African Union and European Union, but the world has changed dramatically. I know the Deputy said the Russian invasion of Ukraine was wrong. I would respectfully say it was far more than wrong. It was appalling, horrific and is having horrific consequences.  If the Deputy stands back, why should Russia have a veto on whether Irish peacekeepers participate in a peacekeeping mission or not? When I say a veto, it is very clear that Russia, geopolitically over the last two decades in particular, does not want UN peacekeeping forces in a lot of parts of the world. If the Deputy takes Niger, Mali and all those areas in the Sahel, what has the Wagner Group been doing there for quite some time and Russia? They have been facilitating coup d'\u00e9tats , trying to exploit the natural resources of those countries in return for protecting the elites who perpetrated a coup d'\u00e9tat . Is that the country that should determine whether Ireland participates in a peacekeeping mission or not?  The US has decided that the UN should not support the peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, UNIFIL. When I was out in UNIFIL before Christmas, a lot of members of our Army were asking straightforward questions as to where they get the experience in the future of peacekeeping and what the next theatre is for Irish troops to have experience in peacekeeping. Will the US determine that? Will China determine that? When we were on the Security Council, we wanted to connect climate security and make it a core principle. Russia vetoed it. We nearly got there, but Russia vetoed it.  In increasing times, we have been part of NATO peacekeeping missions. We have been part of European Union peacekeeping missions and we have been part of African Union-led peacekeeping missions. The key issue is the principle of peacekeeping. Why are we afraid in D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann, with Seanad \u00c9ireann, to give ourselves the unrestricted authority to do that? We are the democratically elected people of this country. What is the problem? Do we not believe in parliamentary democracy? Parliamentary democracy is the cornerstone of one of the longest living democracies around the world, which happens to be Ireland. Maybe a bit more faith in ourselves and self-respect and self-esteem would go a long way to allay the propagandistic fears that have been articulated about this initiative. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  I would remind the Taoiseach of two things. One is that I know the UN is not perfect and the veto may be exercised, but I also told him of the 264 resolutions that were passed in a four-year period without a veto being exercised by any of the five, including the US. None of what I am saying goes against strengthening our Defence Forces capacity and having a level of co-operation in terms of sharing information, etc., with other countries. That is not the argument I am making here. If national declarations are made - the Taoiseach's party in government solemnly made those national declarations regarding the triple lock and neutrality to the Irish people - is the Taoiseach going to tear them up? They are there in black and white on those pages. He knows why they were put there. It is a good thing they were put there. Now, what he is proposing to do is stand that on its head. I reminded him that neutrality was brought in by his party in times when the world was at peril, a lot worse than what it is now.  There are some people in the world who have gone mad; I agree with the Taoiseach on that. Netanyahu, Trump and Putin have gone crazy, but what we should not do is join military alliances and add to the madness that is going on. We have bona fides and some credibility to speak at international forums because we are neutral. We need to defend that neutrality. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It is because my party introduced the concept of neutrality during the Second World War that I have the self-confidence to deal with this and to be absolutely confident that this is not about ending military neutrality. I make that point more generally. We have evolved independent Irish foreign policy----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  You said the triple lock is the core of neutrality. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----ever since in a manner that has been respected around the world. The UN Security Council is a post-war creation and is ridiculously outdated. Five members of the Security Council do not represent the world any more. Africa should be on the Security Council. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  That is one----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Latin America should be on the Security Council. It should be expanded and reformed, but we cannot get reform. We support reform of the UN Security Council. That is a problem in itself.  There is no sense of Ireland being a warmongering nation in any shape or form, nor do we have the capacity to be one. What we have capacity for is being professional peacekeepers, where we have made a significant contribution around the world. There has not been a peacekeeping mission sanctioned since 2014. The one in Lebanon is coming to an end at the behest of the Security Council. We are really restricting our capacity for peacekeeping by the composition and behaviour of the Security Council. That is a big issue which we cannot ignore. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  I also acknowledge the presence of the Canadian ambassador, H. E. Mr. King. On a personal level, I thank the Prime Minister of his country for the leadership he has shown at Davos and elsewhere in standing up to buffoonery and a lack of common sense internationally. In particular, I offer my condolences to his country, especially the families of those killed and injured at Tumbler Ridge.  The specific matter I want to raise is hydrogen, but I want to talk about the broader picture first. From listening to a lot of the debates here, I can see the amount of hot air generated. If we put a little turbine at the top of the House, we would be able to light up all of Dublin sometimes. I am a firm believer in investment in renewable energy. We are way behind where we could be. We have the potential to create 37 GW of offshore wind by 2050 and possibly another 15 GW of onshore wind and solar. That is before we even look at areas such as tidal, which the east coast and the Shannon Estuary have an abundance of, and wave energy. We are sadly lacking in that regard. As a result of grid challenges and the fact we cannot store the energy produced by renewables at their peak, we are wasting a lot of energy. Many hard-pressed consumers in my constituency are struggling to pay their bills. It is a huge waste to see all that renewable energy being produced but not being used and dissipating.  The answer in this regard is the creation and storage of green hydrogen. In that context, we have a hydrogen strategy that was initiated in 2023 and a hydrogen plan containing 21 key recommendations that was brought forward in 2025. In the context of reaching our 2030 targets, we are already falling behind. I will digress by saying that we also need battery storage, but hydrogen is going to be key. Off the Dublin coast, on the Kish Bank, there are salt caverns and off the coast of the constituency the Taoiseach represents are depleted gas fields. There is huge potential to store green hydrogen created from renewables with the lowest possible loss from the initial energy generated. We could store green hydrogen for use by industry and aviation. We could be net exporters of hydrogen as well as other forms of energy, such as electricity, very quickly, if we put in the necessary infrastructure right now and ramp up.  I would like a commitment on how soon we can get a hydrogen network operator for Ireland appointed and on getting the pre-planning for the appointment of a safety and economic regulator for hydrogen here done. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. I am absolutely at one with him in terms of a commitment to investment in renewable energy. Ireland put a lot of eggs in that basket over the past decade and is continuing to do so. In 2023, Ireland was ranked second in the world in onshore wind energy generation. I am not too sure that is appreciated even in Ireland. We will continue to build on that. The programme for Government includes a commitment to 9 GW of onshore wind, 8 GW of solar energy and 5 GW of offshore wind by 2030. These are very challenging targets.  On the question of hydrogen, some progress has been made, although there is a degree of scepticism as to the timeline for the realisation of the proposals around that. I will return to that. I established a clearing house upon this Government entering office to bring the private sector in to talk to Departments and to hear the perspective of regulators in order that we could hear the perspective of those involved in the wind industry. The purpose of this was to try to accelerate matters and to look, generically, at what barriers there are and the issues holding us back in the generation of offshore wind in particular. I passionately believe we need to get offshore wind farms established - certainly, at least one or two - by 2030 or 2031. That is absolutely essential in order that we show people a clear and tangible pathway as to the journey we are on.  We have made great progress on onshore but increasingly in the House and in public debate, we have mixed views about this. When I use the word \"we\", I mean society. Already, people want guidelines to restrict solar. Solar is in its infancy, but it is moving very fast. Tremendous progress is being made with solar. There have been global issues with offshore, although I am confident that we can iron out the challenges the wind industry faces in developing offshore platforms.  The grid is vital, as the Deputy said. Potentially, up to \u20ac18 billion has been agreed, although it could be \u20ac14 billion. We have given equity of \u20ac3.5 billion to EirGrid to leverage that funding to substantially increase the capacity of the grid to deal with this.  More work needs to be done on the research side in respect of hydrogen. The Deputy is correct that caverns exist that have potential when it comes to storage. On the issue of tidal, I have been to Wales where I saw fairly experimental - or, certainly, embryonic - projects in place to harness tidal energy. There has been some research in Ringaskiddy in respect of that. If I am honest, however, it seems we are some years off that and off the use of hydrogen as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  It is about using this time to try to keep the country on track in relation to the 2025 national hydrogen implementation plan and its 21 key objectives. For example, we are trying to get the potential routes to market for up to 2 GW of hydrogen production from offshore wind by 2030. I acknowledge the challenges in ramping up our offshore wind, but we already have excess capacity at peak times that cannot be used. If this were used, it could push energy prices down and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels further in terms of both the wider climate change debate and our energy security in a very dangerous world. We need to ramp up whatever we can. We could start at least one hydrogen hub based on existing renewable energy production. That is why we need to get the hydrogen innovation fund in place by next year as planned. We need to get the hydrogen network operator appointed. Will the Taoiseach commit to these small steps in order that we can keep on track? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for his commitment and interest in this. Certainly, I will talk to the Minister and the Cabinet subcommittee dealing with this issue in terms of the hydrogen innovation fund, the network co-ordinator and the establishment of a hydrogen hub. There is a lot of potential here. We should be in earlier, and we should increase our research capacity in that field. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  On the topic of energy, I welcome, on behalf of Deputy Ken O'Flynn, the group of retired CI\u00c9 workers who are in the Gallery. They are most welcome. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-11\/debate\/dbsect_10","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 na Comhalta\u00ed Eile - Other Members\u2019 Questions","counts":{"speechCount":12,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_10","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mattie McGrath  The announcement by the Minister for Transport, Deputy O'Brien, regarding the Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, national roads allocation for 2026 is expected next week. I urge the Taoiseach to prioritise the N24 Waterford to Cahir project.  It is an essential piece of infrastructure for Tipperary, Waterford, Kilkenny and the whole south-east region.  We have just endured one of the worst years for fatalities nationwide. The N24 in Tipperary alone, which is just 65 km of roadway, or 1% of our county's road network, accounts for 25% of our road deaths. That is a shocking statistic - 1% of the network is causing a quarter of fatalities. That reality alone demands immediate intervention. One fatality is one too many. We sympathise with all the families.  This appeal comes not just from me; it has the backing of Oireachtas Members across the three counties. Over the past 20 years, \u20ac10.7 million of public money has been spent already on scoping, assessments and everything else. Without sufficient allocation for Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, that investment will be wasted and the project will stall yet again. While last year's national development sectoral plan included a welcome commitment to progressing this project, it is now time to turn commitment to delivery. Kilkenny County Council is the lead authority but the N24 is a lifeline for the entire region, connecting Waterford and Limerick to the ports at Foynes and Rosslare and supporting thousands of daily commuters, freight users and local communities.  I also acknowledge the ongoing work of Tipperary County Council roads section, including Liam Brett, John Nolan and their colleagues. Some \u20ac3 million is urgently required this month from the Department to prevent the project collapsing. We cannot allow the N24 to be shelved again, as it was in 2002 and 2012. If funding is withheld in 2026, it could take more than a decade to return to the current stage of readiness. Surveys, route options and a preferred transport solution have all been completed at taxpayers' expense. The preferred route proposes a 38% offline and 52% online upgrade. While I have concerns about elements of this near Clonmel, Kilsheelan and even Knockagh near Cahir, they can be reviewed when the scheme progresses to An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la. We simply cannot afford to lose this project again. We must remember the human impact. Several families and landowners face land being sterilised, with some being threatened with their houses being demolished. They are also stressed, so it needs to come to an end. A further \u20ac9 million in the next three to four years will bring the project through the statutory planning process. The existing contracts with consultants----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mattie McGrath  -----expire on 11 April so funding is time critical----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mattie McGrath  -----and delivering the first \u20ac3 million next week is vital. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I also welcome the CI\u00c9 workers - perhaps they are gone now - given my background. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  They are just leaving. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Deputy McGrath said the Minister announced----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mattie McGrath  It will be announced next week. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It will be next week.  I could not agree more with the Deputy about the importance of road infrastructure. I always argue that the primary objective is road safety. When we did the motorways and so on, that contributed to the reduction of road fatalities and injuries on our roads. We have no issue there. I will talk to the Minister and ask him what his plans are for the N24. The Deputy said that a lot of money has already been spent and that approximately \u20ac9 million would get it through the statutory process over the next number of years. I will engage with the Minister on that.  The human impact is key but, as the Deputy said, it is also economically important in terms of people, mobility, tourism, freight and the movement of goods and services. They are extremely important. I think the Deputy said Kilkenny County Council is the lead council and we will engage with it on this. I do not have the full programme in front of me and I am not in a position to outline the specific details of the programme of funding the Minister will announce. I also note the Deputy's praise of the officials in Tipperary County Council. He clearly has a positive and constructive relationship with them on roads and so on.  These roads have to be done. Therefore, anything we can do to get them through the statutory process, we should do. Otherwise it can go on forever. At least if we get to the planning permission stage, there is a clear map ahead. Often a lot of the delays are in the design and planning permitting stages of a project. I will talk to the Minister to see what we can do about this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mattie McGrath  I thank the Taoiseach for his reply. It is vital the project gets \u20ac3 million this year, otherwise the contracts will end on 11 April and the work will stop. I have been around long enough to have noticed that it was halted in 2002 and 2012, at huge inconvenience to and angst for the landowners and property owners, along with land being sterilised and wide corridors. That has been reduced, thank God, but there are still landowners on the line. There is a proposal to do the line with some off road and some on road. It is vital.  Kilkenny County Council made a presentation to all Oireachtas Members in the area to keep this alive. If it is shelved again, it will take another ten years. At least if it is shovel ready and goes to An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la and progresses there, it will be kept alive. It is too important to daily lives and safety, as the Taoiseach mentioned. I welcome that. Look at the carnage. Imagine that number of deaths on 1% of our roads in Tipperary. That tells its own story. I have been involved with some of the families who suffered fatalities there. It is a terrible road. It is hugely important artery between Foynes Port and Rosslare for the trucks and the bypass of Tipperary town is included in that. It is badly needed to keep this project alive. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I hear the Deputy loud and clear about keeping the project alive. As I said earlier, we should try to progress projects as far as we can. There are not endless sums of money for every road project at the one time but we can progress projects and I will talk to the Minister about this to see what the pressure on him is and what he is in a position to do. We certainly hear the Deputy loud and clear. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 na Comhalta\u00ed Eile - Other Members\u2019 Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-11\/debate\/dbsect_11","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Pholasa\u00ed n\u00f3 ar Reachta\u00edocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation","counts":{"speechCount":72,"speakerCount":20},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_11","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":" A Deputy","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pat the Cope Gallagher","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pat-the-Cope-Gallagher.D.1981-06-30","memberCode":"Pat-the-Cope-Gallagher.D.1981-06-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Guirke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Children with scoliosis and spina bifida and their parents have been failed once again. They found out from a Sunday newspaper that phase one of the Nayagam review, which looked at the spinal surgeries carried out on 91 children, had been sitting on the Minister's desk. This is a report the HSE has had since September. Yet, families heard nothing from the HSE, Children's Health Ireland or the Minister. They heard the news through the media. Only today will letters land through the doors of those families. The Government has learned absolutely nothing about how to treat these families and children with respect and dignity. The Minister now refuses to publish this report. I want the Taoiseach to guarantee the report will be published, not left on a shelf with families left in the dark. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It is a serious report. I regret the propagandistic politicking the Deputy has just engaged in on what is a serious issue for families and children. No report was sitting on the Minister's desk. The Deputy knows well there were legal injunctions on how this report would be handled. She knows well it was not sitting on the Minister's desk. Why did she say it was in that throwaway phrase, as though the Minister is callous and does not care? Why does she do that? Is there any sincerity in her position? I regard this report as serious. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Is it serious enough to publish? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It is very serious. I spoke to the Attorney General about this yesterday. Up to 62 cases have to be looked at. We were only briefed on Monday evening, again due to legal constraints in terms of how it can be shared. We will have to deal with that, yes, but the Deputy should please not trot out reprehensible comments about people's motivations. That is just wrong. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Listen to the families. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call Deputy Gannon. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It is too serious for that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Time is up, Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" A Deputy","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" A Deputy  Shocking. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  The Government's behaviour is shocking all right. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call Deputy Gannon. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  The opposite of restorative justice is the retraumatising of victims and yesterday survivors of the Stardust tragedy expressed feelings of shock and retraumatisation following the Government's announcement. Survivors were told clearly that this would not be a one-size-fits-all scheme. The Taoiseach confirmed in a memo to the Government that exceptionality would be recognised. The Minister stood up in the D\u00e1il and repeated that commitment. What was announced yesterday was a flat payment, finalised without the promised engagement and without a structure to address individual injury or trauma. People who suffered burns and lifelong physical damage and deep psychological harm are being treated identically. They feel dehumanised all over again. That \u20ac20,000 amounts to less than \u20ac400 for each year of the campaign. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  Will the Taoiseach's Department meet survivors and their legal representatives? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Stardust fire was a national tragedy that has left an enduring legacy of pain for the country, particularly the people of north Dublin and the families of the 48 young people who were tragically killed. They suffered a terrible loss, and there has been a lasting impact on the survivors who were injured in the fire. Following the State apology and engagement with the legal representatives of the families, the Government approved a two-phased approach to redress arrangements. Phase 1 involved the establishment of a \u20ac24 million ex gratia redress scheme for the families of the 48 victims of the fire. That was developed in consultation and agreement with the families' legal representatives and provided for a single, non-scaled ex gratia payment of \u20ac500,000 to be made to the families concerned in respect of each of the 48 victims. Phase 2 concerns survivors injured in the fire. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I call Deputy Seamus Healy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I will revert to Deputy Gannon. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  Retired An Post and Eir workers, some in wheelchairs, protested outside the D\u00e1il yesterday to have agreed increases in their pensions approved by the Government. Those increases have been agreed by the company board, the scheme's trustees, the Communications Workers' Union and actuaries. Some of them were due from 1 June 2025 but cannot be paid until they are approved by the Ministers for communications and public expenditure and reform, respectively. The increases in question will give pensioners little more than the State pension and are capped at about 2% for years despite high inflation rates. The delay in payment is causing real hardship. Pensioners have been waiting for months for these increases. Both the cost of living and bills are going up all the time. When will the Minister, Deputy Chambers, sign off on these increases? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Is this in relation to----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  The pensions of An Post and Eir retirees. People who retired from those companies----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I am familiar with the issue. I will engage with the Minister for public expenditure on this in order to see where we are. The issue of CI\u00c9 pensions needs to be sorted as well. My understanding is that we are close to getting that one resolved. I will see where we are in respect of the An Post and Eir pensions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  I ask the Taoiseach to intervene personally, because they have been waiting months. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy can correspond directly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  The Taoiseach is probably aware of the Mosquito - an ultrasonic, high-frequency device that is designed to deter loitering teenagers. It emits a kind of buzzing sound that can only be heard by people under the age of 25. Use of this device seems to be increasing again. My understanding is that noise can be considered an assault under section 2 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997, so businesses should be careful about using it, although I am not sure if there have ever been any prosecutions. I would have been instinctively against the use of the Mosquito in the past from a human rights perspective, but there may be specific instances of ongoing antisocial behaviour where they could possibly be used. In that context, will the Taoiseach explore the use of these devices in circumstances where a business could notify the garda\u00ed of antisocial behaviour and indicate that it is switching one on but stop them from being used to prevent innocent teenagers from hanging around and enjoying time with their friends? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I will engage more with the Deputy on this matter. I will certainly see what potentially can be done in respect of the utilisation of these devices, particularly to prevent antisocial behaviour. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Currie  The Taoiseach appreciates challenging and informed questions from this side of the House. I appreciate the recent rise in Garda numbers - 168 new garda\u00ed last week were attested last week - and the work of the current and former Ministers for justice on this issue. Blanchardstown got six new garda\u00ed last week, our largest allocation in this D\u00e1il term, but we need more. In the K district, which is my constituency plus Finglas, we have roughly garda per 529 people. This compares, despite our higher levels of recorded crime, with one per 394 people in a neighbouring district. Last year, Pearse Street recorded more than 11,000 crimes while Blanchardstown recorded more than 7,000. They are both really busy stations. In this D\u00e1il term, the entire K district has been allocated just 31 new garda\u00ed. The Dublin Bay South constituency has been allocated 103. I realise that the latter has higher levels of crime, but it does not have two thirds more. I ask that the Taoiseach continue his work with the Minister for justice to ensure that all constituencies, not just mine, have adequate resources. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  In the budget, about \u20ac2.74 billion was allocated to the Garda in the recent budget. Within that is enough money for about 1,000 new garda\u00ed, 200 more Garda staff and a doubling of the Garda Reserve to more than 600 this year. A total of 223 trainees entered Templemore in November. That is the largest intake to Templemore since 2014. That brought the total number of trainees to enter Templemore to 794 in 2025, which is the largest yearly total since 2018. In other words, we have to get more recruits through Templemore. That is happening. A total of 215 went in on 9 February. This is the third intake in a row where the numbers have exceeded 200. We are making real progress. The Commissioner has decided to allocate large numbers to certain locations. This has had a huge impact. We will get there, but people are going to have to be patient. How we deploy to the maximum optimum levels is important. Ultimately, this is an operational matter for the Commissioner but more coming garda\u00ed coming through will mean greater allocations. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Deputy McDonald raised the issue I am about to raise with the Taoiseach earlier. We have campaigners from Donegal with us who made the journey. The long and the short of it is that the Government entered a contract with Emerald Airlines yesterday. That contract will end afternoon flights to Donegal and Dublin. The Government did that despite that Donegal Airport asked it not to because it was seeking legal opinion. The cancer campaign group asked the Government not to do it. Some 15,000 people across Donegal asked the Government not to do it. I made pleas on the floor of the Chamber and privately to Ministers involved asking that it not be done. However, the Government signed a contract that will diminish the service to Donegal.  The people who are here today are not here for the good of their health. They represent not only the 500 cancer patients who, at any given time, see this service as a lifeline but also 15,000 people who signed this petition in the past couple of days alone and who knew that this is going to be a devastating blow. The Taoiseach said he would do everything within legal limits. Will he take the opportunity to set out what can be done? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Since Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher raised this with me, I met with the Minister. The challenge is that if the contract had not been signed yesterday, we would have no service at all. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  The Government knew about it in October. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Let us try to share the problem now. If it had not been signed yesterday, there would be no service. We have to try to work within that constraint. There was one tenderer to my knowledge. The Minister does not get involved in the tendering negotiations. He cannot. I presume the Deputy approves of that in the sense that we do not get involved with companies, tendering processes and all of that. The fact that there was one tenderer was a problem. We are not satisfied with the outcome . We would have preferred the retention of the afternoon flight and the plane remaining overnight in Donegal. Substantial money is being allocated to the public service obligation, PSO. My understanding is that it is the only PSO. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  What is the Government going to do about it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We are looking to review this within three months and to engage with the successful bidder for this contract. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pat the Cope Gallagher","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pat-the-Cope-Gallagher.D.1981-06-30","memberCode":"Pat-the-Cope-Gallagher.D.1981-06-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher  Is the Taoiseach aware of the requirement that will come into place from 25 February whereby Irish nationals arriving by boat, plane or otherwise into the UK will be obliged to present a valid Irish passport? Heretofore, all that was necessary was an ID card. This may not be a matter for the Government of the UK; I think it is Aer Lingus that is involved. It is sharp practice to introduce this on 25 February, which is only days away, when many of our people do not have passports but go to the UK frequently. Could the Taoiseach make some representation to Aer Lingus? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I certainly will. I will engage with the Deputy in the aftermath of this. Is he saying that any Irish citizen entering the UK? Does it include Northern Ireland? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pat the Cope Gallagher","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pat-the-Cope-Gallagher.D.1981-06-30","memberCode":"Pat-the-Cope-Gallagher.D.1981-06-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher  No. It relates to those travelling to mainland Britain with Aer Lingus. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach and Deputy might need to engage further "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We will pursue this with Aer Lingus and more generally. I will talk to Deputy Gallagher too. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tony McCormack","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tony-McCormack.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tony McCormack  I have concerns regarding the deployment of Garda resources in rural towns in County Offaly, including Banagher and many other smaller towns. It is not the remit of the Minister for justice to say where garda\u00ed are deployed. That is the responsibility of the Garda Commissioner. Following approximately ten recent break-ins in Banagher and the surrounding areas, we know that the slow response time is due to garda\u00ed having to be dispatched from Birr.  While operational police decisions, as I said, are down to the Garda Commissioner, does the Taoiseach acknowledge the concern locally that Offaly received no members of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na in the past two Templemore allocation tranches? Will the Taoiseach ask that resourcing and deployment arrangements for the area be examined to help ensure timely responses and maintain community confidence in policing across rural Offaly? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I accept the issues that have been raised by the Deputy. Ten recent break-ins seems to be a fairly high number. I will engage with the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration and the Garda Commissioner in respect of maybe specific actions to stem the tide there and to get to the bottom of what is going on in terms of that level of that particular type of crime. We will also make representations in terms of the allocation of garda\u00ed. As I said earlier, the Commissioner prioritised city centres in Dublin in particular, Cork, Limerick and Waterford and while it is no consolation to the Deputy, the impact has been quite significant in terms of public perception of safety and security. Clearly, we want to get around the entire country and I hear what the Deputy is saying. If Offaly has received nothing, its turn must come. I will talk to the Commissioner about that because, as I said earlier, record numbers are coming through Templemore - the highest number in a long time this year alone. Hopefully, we can continue that and get them out. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Brian-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Brennan  I want to address flood insurance or should I say the lack of flood insurance. It is estimated at over one in 20 homes and businesses is unable to access insurance. Over the past few weeks, I have met residents from Aughrim, Enniscorthy, Arklow and Bunclody and have seen at first hand the devastation caused by flooding. Moving forward, their biggest concern is simply that they are unable to access insurance. This problem has been replicated right across Ireland. Properties that are protected by multimillion euro flood defences still cannot get insurance. The Government must stand up here as these homes and businesses were approved by the authorities, so we simply cannot walk away. We need to implement a Government-backed scheme in conjunction with Insurance Ireland that is fit for purpose and will address the gap that currently exists and not leave thousands of homes and businesses without insurance. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising a very important issue. There was a meeting this morning of the Cabinet subcommittee on evaluating Storm Chandra. We will deal further with the issue of insurance but there needs to be a balanced, combined approach between the insurance industry and the State. It involves the investment the State is making in a quite significant number of flood relief programmes and the degree to which those flood relief programmes should also impact future insurance, which sometimes can be problematic in the aftermath of the completion of such flood review schemes. Work is under way. We are not walking away from the issue but, equally, it cannot all fall on Government either and the industry has obligations too, so we will engage with the industry and endeavour to see whether we can land this in a zone that both can live with. More importantly, it is about ensuring that the people who are suffering can have some security around their homes and businesses. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Guirke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Johnny Guirke  Did the Taoiseach watch the \"RT\u00c9 Investigates\" programmes last night and the night before on the psychiatric care scandal? At the moment, I am dealing with families who are at their wits' end trying to access mental health services for their adult children. In some of these cases, the person involved is a danger to themselves, their families and their neighbours. Instead of them being turned away from services when help is sought or sent to jail, help needs to be given to these people. Prison is not the answer. Prison is the opposite of rehabilitation for people with mental illness. They need access to community-based treatment. Next Thursday night, I am holding a public meeting in the Newgrange Hotel in Navan for parents who cannot access mental health services for their adult children. What message can I give these parents from the Taoiseach about accessing help for their children? These parents are at breaking point. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  In my view, institutionalisation was the great stain historically on Irish mental healthcare. Without question, we over-institutionalised in the past. Over the past 40 years, we have substantially deinstitutionalised mental healthcare from the old-type buildings and have put more emphasis on primary care and community-based mental healthcare. I accept we have a lot more progress to make and a lot more to do but a lot of progress has been made, particularly forensic medicine in terms of the new investment in Portrane. That is a very high-quality centre - of that there is no doubt. Further funding is going to that centre to increase its capacity in terms of its intensive care.  In addition to that, a lot of work has been done in CAMHS and community health in a whole range of strands. The Minister of State, Deputy Butler, can elaborate on this in more detail but, fundamentally, we are not where we want to be in terms of mental health. I accept that but we have made a lot of progress over the past couple of years. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mattie McGrath  I am back to the Garda numbers as well. The situation in Tipperary is appalling. The numbers are just so bad. We got four in the second last tranche but six experienced garda\u00ed left Clonmel Garda station. We got four in Clonmel. One of those new recruits has since sadly left the force. We got one in this allocation. The superintendents tell me that they struggle to put out a patrol car. People are not getting replies to phone calls and are being told by superintendents now to dial 999 but they are still not getting answered and people are left waiting for hours never to receive a call back. I support the garda\u00ed who are there and doing their best but it is just not fair to or safe for those garda\u00ed. A number of them have been injured when they were on their own with no back up. The situation in Clonmel. Carrick-on-Suir, Cahir, Tipperary town and all the rural areas is chronic. It is lovely to see them all going to Dublin and we support that but we want a fair share in the countryside. The people of rural Ireland are good people and deserve protection but the garda\u00ed they have cannot give it to them. It is a sad situation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  As I have outlined, we have given a huge funding allocation to An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and record numbers are going through Templemore. A total of 223 trainees entered in November, which was the largest intake since 2014. The total number of trainees to enter Templemore in 2025 was 794, which was the largest yearly total since 2018. A total of 215 trainees entered on Monday, 9 February. That is the third intake in a row where the numbers have exceeded 200. These candidates were all from the 2024 and 2025 recruitment campaigns, so we will diaidh ar ndiaidh, gradually, allocate more garda\u00ed around the country as they come through Templemore. A lot of progress has been made and we will continue to make progress. Offaly has been mentioned and the Deputy mentioned Tipperary. We will get around to the country in terms of the further allocations. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aidan Farrelly  On Monday, nurses began a work-to-rule in Naas General Hospital over what they say are unacceptable and unsafe staffing deficits. These include a failure to comply with the agreed safe staffing frameworks, a failure to increase staffing to meet a 25% increase in attendance at accident and emergency and maternity leave posts not being filled. Will the Taoiseach and the Minister for Health reach out to the HSE to get it to come to the table meaningfully to bring this to a resolution? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  There is established industrial relations machinery to deal with disputes, be they local disputes in particular hospitals or national disputes, and I encourage all involved to refer this to the industrial relations process so that these issues can be addressed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  At budget time, I welcomed the additional SNA posts. I was concerned as to whether these were new or existing roles but I did welcome them. All of us in this House have received numerous emails over the past day or so following SNA reviews and information that has filtered down to schools. I have been contacted by numerous teachers, principals, parents and SNAs, particularly from Bweeng National School. Many schools that have been notified that they will have their SNA resources reduced for the coming school year have informed me that this does not reflect the reality on the ground. When they tell me resources are not only needed but need to be increased, I take that very seriously. The NCSE has created a rigid system in the allocation of SNAs that does not take into account the majority of learning difficulties faced by children in our schools. SNAs have contacted me with very legitimate and genuine concerns for their work. They are concerned about whether they will have a role in their school next year and whether they will have to move for work. They now feel that they are in limbo. We should not treat any worker in such a manner. Will the Taoiseach ask the Department of Education and Youth and the Minister to intervene immediately to alleviate these concerns and provide some clarity to these SNAs? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We need to stand back a bit in terms of the situation regarding SNAs. There has been an incremental exponential increase in the number of SNAs. We now have about 25,000 SNAs - 24,925. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  I welcome that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I know. I am making the point about whether the view is that we keep on increasing, that we have no reviews or that we do not evaluate the system. We do need to stand back a bit.  I spoke to a principal recently who said we need other forms of provision as well. We are bringing in school therapy for special schools through the national therapy service. In some continental schools, they have behavioural therapists which can facilitate integration in mainstream schools. Obviously, I cannot get into every individual school, but I hear what the Deputy is saying and will relate it back to the Department of Education and Youth. However, the numbers have gone up substantially again this year as a result of the allocation. There are individual school allocations then pertaining to the criteria of the NCSE too. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Murphy  I speak on behalf of the small convenience store, often the only store now in every village in rural Ireland. I want to raise serious concerns about the new tobacco and vaping licence fee due this month. What was a once-off fee of \u20ac50 is now a combined annual fee of \u20ac1,800. That is a 3,500% increase and 36 times higher than what it previously was. I understand the public health issue at the heart of this, but the fact that the small convenience store must pay the same as the big players in the market - the Tesco and Dunnes Stores of this world - is very unfair. The average licence fee across the US, the southern hemisphere and the European Union is \u20ac250. I ask the Taoiseach to urgently review this fee as it applies to the small retailer and to apply the SME test. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy and I understand where he is coming from to a degree, but the requirement for a licence to sell tobacco and nicotine inhaling products was enacted in December 2023 and it came into effect earlier this month. It follows on from a recommendation for a national tobacco control policy from Tobacco Free Ireland and it is designed to give an enforcement authority to the HSE's national environmental health service.  We know tobacco kills one out of every two smokers and is responsible for about 4,500 deaths a year. We want to end tobacco consumption. Vapes, on other factors, are worse in terms of other impacts on public health. I know the Deputy is asking if there can be a differentiation between larger and smaller retailers. I will talk to the Minister about that, but I do not think we can resile from a fundamental issue facing us a society. The vapes, to me, are big tobacco's revenge after we substantively dealt with the tobacco issue. It came back around the corner with the vapes, which are doing real damage. I met Dr. Fauci a year ago and he outlined the damage to me in no uncertain terms. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  The Taoiseach is a Cork man like myself. He knows The Glen area well. He should remember that back in 2013 the people of The Glen objected and were against the building of a new prison in The Glen. They were given commitments at that time that the old prison would not be used as another prison and that it would be used for education, the community and historical purposes because Thomas Kent was executed there and buried there for years. The Government now plans to knock the old prison, reneging on promises that were given to the people of The Glen and surrounding areas of St. Luke's, Dillon's Cross and the Old Youghal Road. The Government will not give the northside a hospital, a ring road, an accident and emergency department for children, clean water or a regional park, but it will give the northside a second prison. We are sick and tired of being treated like second-class citizens. We do not want a second prison. Build it somewhere else. We have one prison in The Glen. How can the Government justify building a second prison in the middle of a residential area? It is wrong and a betrayal of the people of The Glen and the promises that were made. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  There has been huge investment in the northside of Cork by this Government and the previous Government. There has been huge investment and regeneration in the Deputy's area, which he has ignored. We are progressing the elective hospital in Glanmire. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  When? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It is progressing. We have now worked out the road issues with the city council that had----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  No, I was at a meeting last Friday with the chief executive. That is not true. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I spoke to the chief executive on the issue three weeks ago. I did not interrupt the Deputy. He has created a vision of doom and more doom. There has been huge investment and the northern distributor----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  The planning has not even gone in for the road for the new hospital. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy needs to go back and forth on the topic. He should not ask a question on policy and legislation if he is going to engage like that. Every Member understands the structure of the debate. The time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I just want to make a point about the northern distributor road. One of the most important companies in the country and in Europe, Apple, has 6,000 people employed in the northside. We are going to facilitate the people of the northside. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  What about the prison in The Glen? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy kept interrupting me. I could not get a word in. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  I asked a question and it was never answered. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  The Deputy kept talking. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  In 2024, 37 new bus shelters were built across Dublin city. In 2023, the figure was 30 and even in 2022, post Covid-19, 23 new bus shelters were built. In 2025, three new bus shelters were built across Dublin. We can understand why people are a bit sceptical about the housing targets with a construction record like that. Will the Taoiseach ask the Minister for Transport why the Government's ability to deliver new bus shelters has collapsed in the last year? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I will talk to the Minister for Transport, but I presume, as the Deputy knows, that the statutory agencies have a significant role in terms of bus shelters. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  They need money. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  There is no shortage of money in the bloody system. Come on. D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann should not have to discuss the provision of bus shelters. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  That concludes Leaders' Questions. Before I move to the next business, I welcome the former CEO of PepsiCo Ireland, Mr. Frank O'Mahony, who is in the Gallery. That is from Deputy O'Sullivan. Mr. O'Mahony is very welcome.  This is a very important time for a new Deputy, Deputy Eoghan Kenny, who will introduce his very first Private Members' Bill. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Pholasa\u00ed n\u00f3 ar Reachta\u00edocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-11\/debate\/dbsect_12","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/15","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/15\/dail\/1","houseCode":"dail","stage":"1","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Education (Medical Emergencies in Schools) Bill 2026: First Stage (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Education (Medical Emergencies in Schools) Bill 2026: First Stage","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_12","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  I move:  That leave be granted to introduce Bill entitled an Act to enable the Minister for Education and Youth, by regulations, to make provision for promoting participation by a greater number of school staff in approved courses of training in first aid for medical emergencies, for a greater number of schools to be listed as organisations whose staff are authorised to administer certain prescription-only medicinal products without a prescription, for the purpose of saving life or reducing severe distress in medical emergencies; and to provide for related matters.  I am very proud to introduce my first legislation in the House. This Bill is about ensuring we can strengthen our schools to be safe environments for our children and for our school staff.  This Bill is both personally and professionally significant to me. In 2021, at 21 years of age, I got my first epileptic seizure. As Deputies can imagine, it was very much a life-changing moment. Over the course of the next four years, I got regular seizures and, with that, an increase in anti-seizure medication each time. Not to get too personal, but I now take daily medication to prevent epileptic seizures, so my early 20s have been life changing.  I turn now to why this Bill is professionally significant to me. I am a former secondary school teacher and was very privileged to teach in two wonderful schools, Coachford College and Mayfield Community School. I am proud to say I taught fantastic students and worked with dedicated and caring colleagues in both schools. However, I have huge concerns as to how well prepared all school communities in this country are and how equipped and trained staff are to deal with medical emergencies.  This brings me to the main focus of the Bill. The Bill will ensure that the Minister for Education will have the power to introduce regulations to promote the participation of sufficient staff in approved training courses in first aid for medical emergencies. This will cover the giving of prescribed medication to children and their own colleagues if they were presented with a medical emergency. I certainly believe all school staff over the lifetime of their careers will be presented with a medical emergency.  I have consulted closely with Epilepsy Ireland on the wording of this Bill. It stated:  Ensuring our teachers and educators are equipped with the information they need from the outset is the whole purpose of our calls for Seizure Safe Schools. The bill obviously expands to other medical conditions and not just epilepsy, but we are delighted to see legislation being introduced that could make Seizure Safe Schools a reality.  I am\u00a0proud\u00a0to have close links to Epilepsy Ireland. It, like other organisations, is fantastic in providing and promoting how\u00a0we as a society\u00a0can inform ourselves on how to deal with medical emergencies. Other Deputies will be aware that on Monday, we marked International Epilepsy Day. Epilepsy Ireland has\u00a0a very clear\u00a0message: \"Time. Stay. Safe\". Time the seizure, stay with the person and make sure the person is safe. It is\u00a0very\u00a0clear,\u00a0and I encourage everyone to familiarise themselves with this message.  However, epilepsy is just one medical condition. There are many others that affect many students and staff in our schools. In drafting this Bill,\u00a0I\u00a0have also closely engaged with the three teaching unions. Naturally, as with all legislation, there will be teething problems.  However, I truly believe that, as a Parliament, we can work through the issues that may arise, particularly around workload and liability. For the benefit of our children and school communities, I am sure we can work together to enact this legislation.  This is positive legislation. It is about making sure our children and school staff who have medical conditions feel safe going into their school environment each day. It is about ensuring parents in this country know that if their child has a medical emergency, there are school staff who can manage the emergency quickly and in an appropriate manner.  Schools are wonderful environments. Our school staff work extremely hard, day in and day out. They are valued members of our communities. Our children are really fantastic. They have such talent across so many fields. I am proud to say I have worked with so many of them and, as the Taoiseach will agree, any person who stands inside in a classroom for a day will learn a lot more from these children than they thought they already knew. However, we must ensure that, as a House and as policymakers, all school environments are safe, secure and welcoming environments. I commend this Bill to the House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Is the Bill being opposed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Mary Butler)  It is not opposed. I compliment the Deputy on the timeliness of the Bill, after International Epilepsy Day on 9 February. Well done. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I ask the Deputy to move that Second Stage be taken in Private Members' time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoghan Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoghan-Kenny.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoghan Kenny  I move: \"That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time.\" "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Education (Medical Emergencies in Schools) Bill 2026: First Stage"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-11\/debate\/dbsect_13","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Report on Operation Kenova: Statements","counts":{"speechCount":40,"speakerCount":21},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_13","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Lahart","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Lahart.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Lahart.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I will be sharing time with the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, and the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond.  Ar an 19 Me\u00e1n F\u00f3mhair, d'fhoilsigh Rialtas na h\u00c9ireann agus Rialtas na Breataine creatch\u00e1ip\u00e9is maidir le hoidhreacht na dTriobl\u00f3id\u00ed. Bh\u00ed s\u00e9 sin i gcomhr\u00e9ir len\u00e1r ngealltanas sa chl\u00e1r Rialtais chun gn\u00edomh agus f\u00f3cas marthanach a chur ar an dtuiscint agus na naisc at\u00e1 r\u00edth\u00e1bhachtach chun s\u00edoch\u00e1in agus athmhuintearas buan a choth\u00fa idir gach cearn d\u00e1r n-oile\u00e1n. Creidim go bhfuil s\u00edoch\u00e1in agus athmhuintearas ar oile\u00e1n na h\u00c9ireann bunaithe ar phl\u00e9 oscailte agus mac\u00e1nta ar an am at\u00e1 thart. Is cuid r\u00edth\u00e1bhachtach den chomhr\u00e1 seo \u00e9 an foilseach\u00e1n a phl\u00e9ifidh muid inniu.  The Operation Kenova report is the fruit of nearly a decade's work and compiles findings across Operations Kenova, Denton, Turma and Mizzenmast. Many of the details are uncomfortable. They relate to a terrible period in the history of our island but my position, and that of my party and the Government as a whole, is that the past must not be hidden. It must not be allowed to be a forum where different groups present not just their own narrative on the past but also their own set of facts.  Unfortunately, we have been unsuccessful in the past three decades in getting certain elements and organisations to be open and honest about the behaviour of their members and supporters. Governments must operate to a clear standard of openness and accountability. Investigations such as this are required because of the terrible impact of these crimes on victims and their families. They deserve our support and our recognition of how long they have been waiting to know the truth. The Kenova report is an important step in delivering truth and transparency to these families. Despite this, as I have said repeatedly, it has not yet received the attention it deserves. For this reason, I very much welcome today's discussion.  To start, I express my appreciation to Jon Boutcher, Sir Iain Livingstone and the entire Kenova team for the work that led to this hugely significant report. Their investigation has followed over 12,000 lines of inquiry, taken thousands of statements and interviewed hundreds of people. They faced and had to overcome many hurdles to get at the facts outlined in the report. As commendable as the level of detail is the nature of their approach. The Government has consistently called for a victim-centred approach to legacy issues. We should note that Kenova investigators worked to comply with Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights and victim-led investigations. It is to the team's credit that its investigations earned the trust and support of many of those affected and have been recognised by families and victims groups as a paradigm for how independent, historical investigations can achieve real results.  The Kenova report details at length an investigation into potential criminal offences committed by the long-time senior Provisional IRA member and British agent known as Stakeknife, as well as potential offences by members of the security forces in respect of Stakeknife and others connected to him. The identity of Stakeknife is clear to everybody here and I have previously stated that the agent should be officially named by the United Kingdom Government. Particularly because of his close relationship with those who like to refer to themselves as the republican movement, it is widely known that Stakeknife was Freddie Scappaticci. He was recruited by the British Army, with which he worked between the late 1970s and 1990s. He was a prized informant and during this period, the British Army dedicated a 24-hour phone line within its intelligence section to his calls.  Throughout this time, Stakeknife was implicated in what were by any measure \"grotesque [and] serious\" crimes committed for and with the Provisional IRA. This included 14 murders and the abductions of 15 individuals. The details uncovered by the investigation are harrowing, pointing towards shocking acts by the Provisional IRA, including \"torture, inhumane and degrading treatment and murder\", to quote from the Kenova report. The investigators further note: \"These assaults and human rights violations were perpetrated to intimidate and subjugate the community.\" To intimidate and subjugate the nationalist and republican communities across the North was the Provisional IRA's intent and that of those who endorsed the Provisional IRA-Sinn F\u00e9in. That was the Provisional IRA's practice. No amount of aggressive revisionist history from its supporters will ever erase its crimes against its own community. It is widely accepted that the Provisional IRA was responsible for over 1,700 deaths in Northern Ireland. It was a scourge on all communities, including those communities it falsely claimed to protect.  More than 25 years after the Good Friday Agreement, it is staggering, as the investigators state, that the \"republican leadership have failed to acknowledge and apologise for PIRA's murderous activities and the intimidation of families\". In fact, things have reached the extreme position where public representatives and figures honour the Provisional IRA but launch legal cases against anyone who points to the vicious crimes that were committed.  As utterly abhorrent and shocking is the British Army\u2019s knowledge of Provisional IRA\u2019s activities. The Kenova investigation extensively documents the fact that MI5 had sight of Stakeknife\u2019s role within the Provisional IRA and its internal security unit and was involved from the outset in briefing Stakeknife through the force research unit of the British Army. The report details instances where murders \"were not prevented or investigated when they could and should have been\". What we see is a profound failure where, in the report's own words:  Time and again, it would appear that protecting the agent outweighed protecting the life of a victim or protecting the right of their families to seek justice for the crimes committed against their loved ones.  In some cases, had the Royal Ulster Constabulary, RUC, or An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na been alerted by the British Army to what it knew was happening, people could have been rescued from the Provisional IRA gangs that were torturing and murdering them.  While the activities of Stakeknife have dominated headlines, the full report also outlines the important findings of Operations Mizzenmast and Turma. Mizzenmast is an independent police investigation into the murder of Jean Smyth-Campbell who was tragically shot dead in a car in west Belfast in 1972. It uncovered significant information regarding the killing of Ms Smyth-Campbell that had been missed by previous investigations.  Operation Turma is an investigation into the murders of three RUC officers, Sergeant Sean Quinn and Constables Paul Hamilton and Allan McCloy, in an explosion at Kinnego embankment near Lurgan on 27 October 1982. Operation Turma commenced in 2019. Alongside a detailed review of all the relevant information, the investigators adopted modern-era forensic examination, including the recovery of DNA material from the original crime scene. It stands as testament to the rigour of the Kenova team that after more than 40 years, an individual has now been extradited from this jurisdiction to Northern Ireland and is currently awaiting trial. The skilled work of the investigators shows that prosecution for historical crimes is possible.  The full report also includes a summary of Operation Denton, a review into a series of sectarian attacks committed by a network of loyalists between 1972 and 1978, known as the Glenanne Gang cases. Operation Denton examined 98 incidents on both sides of the Border, including the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, the Dundalk bombing, the killing of Seamus Ludlow and the Silverbridge attack.  It also examined a range of official and non-official inquiries including the McEntee and Barron inquiries and the work of the Oireachtas joint committee. It is deeply regrettable that the full publication of the Denton report is not available and has been delayed. In particular, I want to acknowledge the continuing frustration felt by the survivors and families affected by these shocking and tragic events.  While we await the full publication of the Denton report, the summary remains important and offers official recognition that a network of loyalist paramilitaries and \u201ccorrupt members of the security forces\u201d, primarily members of the UVF, working with members of both the RUC and UDR, murdered up to 120 people, among them those killed in Dublin and Monaghan in May 1974.  It is also the case that suspected and known collusion by individuals, which is now confirmed in this report, had a corrosive effect on confidence in wider state forces, to the detriment of all. What we see in Kenova is British state forces' collusion with the Provisional IRA and, in the Denton summary, British state forces' collusion with loyalist paramilitaries. In both cases this led to extensive loss of lives and enabled intimidation across communities and across this island.  We want to see the publication of the full report of Operation Denton in the near future and will continue to report regularly on efforts to make this happen.  As I have said, the Kenova report confirms that legacy investigations can yield new and important information. This was achieved through a combination of the dedication of the investigators, the positive relations and trust established with families and victims, and productive North-South co-operation. The report emphasises the positive role played by the Government, including giving access to material held in this jurisdiction and close co-operation with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration.  At every stage the position of my Government and every Government I have served in is that we must have absolute openness and accountability. We must demonstrate the standards which we are calling on others to meet. The investigators also underline the essential role played by An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na which \u201cassisted with access to records and forensic exhibits and gave considerable help in making contact with witnesses and persons of interest\u201d.  Guided by the principles of the Stormont House Agreement, the framework agreed by the Governments aims to promote reconciliation and provide mechanisms for truth, accountability and justice for victims and survivors of the Troubles, and their families. Reciprocal co-operation is at the heart of the joint framework. This includes the establishment of a dedicated unit within An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na as a central point of contact for victims and families for Troubles-related investigations undertaken by An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and for cross-Border co-operation on Troubles-related cases. An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na has further committed, where possible, to answer questions that a family may have in relation to the investigation of a Troubles-related incident and to provide a report to the family.  The Kenova report makes for difficult reading. It is a catalogue of horrific crimes, failure and hurt that affected all communities. In setting out the activities of Stakeknife, it sheds essential light on the harrowing pain and loss caused to individuals, to their families, and through the systematic exercise of terror to communities at large by the Provisional IRA. We should have an apology from Sinn F\u00e9in in respect of the activities of the Provisional IRA as documented in this report. It is long past time for that apology and renunciation of what happened to occur. It also shows the complicity of British state forces in allowing this to happen. The material contained in this report has provoked very strong emotions, and rightly so.  One of the great tragedies of Irish history and of the most recent conflict is how little concern people have had for the victims of their own side. For too long, different interests have demanded accountability from others but done nothing for the victims of their own side\u2019s violence. If you are sincere in wanting to build a real peace, reconciliation and shared future for all who share this island, then you cannot with any honesty deny so many people truth and accountability for the terrible crimes committed against their communities and their loved ones. Though difficult, truth and transparency will remain pivotal to achieving lasting peace and reconciliation across this island. The Kenova Report demands a frank and robust debate. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Jim O'Callaghan)  As the Taoiseach said, the Kenova Report is a difficult read but it is an absolutely essential one for all of us in this House. Everyone must face up to the wrongs of the past honestly and squarely if we are to achieve lasting peace and reconciliation on this island. The survivors and the families of the victims of the atrocities detailed in this report, and society as a whole, deserve no less. We should not seek to excuse or minimise the harm and suffering caused, no matter by whom. We must continue to seek answers and engage with difficult truths such as those found by the Kenova team.  The Government is committed to playing its part in addressing the legacy of the Troubles across these islands and has taken, and will continue to take, concrete actions to make this a reality. I will return to those actions later.  This report is a hugely important contribution to the search for answers and accountability. It represents the culmination of ten years of painstaking, rigorous work and I echo the Taoiseach's words of appreciation for the leadership provided by Jon Boutcher and Sir lain Livingstone and the dedication of the entire team behind the report. The work undertaken by Kenova across its four workstreams - Kenova, Denton, Turma and Mizzenmast - was wide-ranging and each is of significant public importance. I take this opportunity to express my condolences to all those who were injured or lost family members in the litany of incidents examined in the report. It is the sad reality of the history of the conflict, however, that the question of collusion, which has been so damaging to the pursuit of consensus on the legacy of the Troubles, is at the heart of two of these: Kenova and Denton. As the Taoiseach has rightly said, it is the corrosive effect of all collusion, both known and suspected, that undermines the confidence of families in legacy processes and our collective ability to move on from the conflict.  In relation to Stakeknife, the allegations about this figure in the Provisional IRA and his links to British intelligence have been notorious for many years. Kenova has exposed the nature and extent of the collusion that took place in relation to Freddie Scappaticci. Kenova expressed caution about the careless use of the term \u201ccollusion\u201d, but there can be no doubt that collusion took place in relation to Stakeknife. It was a perverse form of collusion in which the interests of British intelligence and their efforts to protect their informant at the heart of the Provisional IRA coalesced with the Provisional IRA's own murderous and illegitimate actions to judge and savagely punish those it deemed a threat to its aims.  On the part of the British security and intelligence services, there were repeated failures to protect the victims of the Provisional IRA from harm and to bring those responsible to justice. Consequent on this were 27 cases in which Stakeknife was personally connected to the commission of serious criminal offences, including murder, attempted murder and unlawful imprisonment.  Informants are vital to policing and security the world over, to the prevention and detection of crime and to safeguarding democratic governments from those who would seek to undermine them by terrorist acts or other threats. What is catalogued in Kenova goes far beyond the rules with which informants and their handlers must abide. Being an informant is not a licence to commit unlawful acts of the most serious kind or to act with impunity. I want to put this on the record to reassure the House.  Stakeknife's personal role in the violence carried out by the Provisional IRA is shocking and grotesque but it should not obscure the wider reality that Kenova's casework covered a total of 101 murders and abductions by that organisation. Kenova has rightly framed the Provisional IRA's role in this savage violence against innocent people as grave violations of human rights intended to intimidate and subjugate the community. It is a fundamental principle of human rights that they are universal and transcend political affiliation. There was never any justification for these violations of human rights to occur, even in the course of a bitter sectarian conflict.  In relation to Operation Denton, the summary report has underlined what was already either suspected or known in relation to many of the cases under review: that collusion between the UVF and the British security forces was taking place. While Denton concluded that there was no single, easily defined group operating from the Glenanne farm, as has been extensively alleged, it is no less shocking that Denton found evidence that there was a wider, more diffuse network of loyalist paramilitaries and members of the security forces that acted together to carry out vicious sectarian attacks across this island.  Ten of those incidents occurred in this jurisdiction, including the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. While Denton found that the prospect of any successful prosecution in relation to the Dublin and Monaghan bombings was extremely unlikely from a UK perspective, I would emphasise, as I have done repeatedly, that the Garda investigations remain open and An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na is fully committed to actively pursuing any new evidence that comes to light. That remains the case for all unresolved Troubles-related cases.  I want to take this opportunity to refer to another incident, not so well known and publicly remembered, that was also examined as part of Denton. That is the Dublin Airport bombing on 29 November 1975, in which John Hayes, an Aer Lingus employee, a 38-year-old father of three young children, was killed. The 50th anniversary of his death has passed, and it is regrettable that no one has been held accountable. I met his son, Brendan Hayes, recently. Without commenting on our discussion, I would say that it brought to the fore the lack of awareness of the importance of engaging with family members in the aftermath of such traumatic events, and the need to keep them informed of developments in the investigations. In the 1970s, family liaison was not an established concept in policing but, thankfully, policing today is in a very different position, and family liaison is embedded in policing practice. In the joint framework on legacy agreed by the Irish and British Governments last year, both Governments have recognised that we need to have a victim-centred approach to investigations into Troubles-related incidents. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Neale Richmond)  I thank all of the Kenova team for their work. Over the past decade, they have shown that, almost 28 years since the Good Friday Agreement, legacy investigations and reviews can work. It is clear that the Kenova team has gone about this complex and sensitive work with care, placing victims and families at the heart of its endeavours. That is as it should be.  In both the interim and final reports, the Kenova team is unsparing in its criticism of both the Provisional IRA and the failings of the British state. In Jon Boutcher\u2019s own words, the actions of the Provisional IRA were the most \u201cshameful and evil\u201d he has ever encountered. Kenova found evidence that the Provisional IRA \u201ctook violent and punitive action against women and children in their family homes while detaining and torturing loved ones suspected of being agents\u201d. As recommended by Kenova, it is time those responsible acknowledge and accept, finally, that these crimes were wrong, and apologise to the victims and the families who have suffered at their hands.  Kenova also raises serious questions about the activities of British state forces in the running of agents, finding \u201cclear evidence of collusion with loyalist paramilitaries by state actors.\u201d For Jon Boutcher to conclude that it is probable that Stakeknife\u2019s continued operation as an agent \u201cresulted in more lives being lost than saved\u201d is a damning indictment of a state apparatus that was meant to protect people at a time of conflict.  Although Operation Denton does not provide evidence of collusion occurring at a political or strategic level, there is clear evidence that \u201cparamilitary groups were regularly supplied with intelligence by members of the security forces\u201d. This is deeply shocking and disturbing.  I am conscious of the debate currently taking place in Westminster on legacy. This debate must, first and foremost, be about victims. Some try to make it only about veterans. Whether paramilitary groups or individual members of the security forces, when you commit a crime, you should face the consequences of your actions.  Let us also recall that there are many among the community of victims, survivors and families who themselves are veterans, having served in the British Army or the RUC during the Troubles. However, the idea that members of the security forces have faced disproportionate investigation or prosecution is divorced from the facts on the ground. The vast majority of those prosecuted for Troubles-related offences to date - tens of thousands of loyalists and republicans - have been members of paramilitary groups. Between 250,000 and 300,000 British soldiers served in Northern Ireland during Operation Banner. Only 29, or 0.01%, were prosecuted for murder or manslaughter.  We must continue to discuss the past on the basis of objectivity and evidence, just as Operations Kenova and Denton have done. In relation to Operation Denton specifically, I am disappointed that publication of the full report has been delayed by legal challenges. It is my hope that we will see the publication of the full report as soon as possible. As laid out by the Minister, Deputy O\u2019Callaghan, the families of those killed in the Dublin and Monaghan bombings have waited more than 50 years for answers, and the Denton report can be an important contribution.  The joint framework on legacy announced by the two Governments last September was a significant moment - the first agreement of its kind in over a decade. With it, we now have an agreed way forward on legacy, with reciprocal co-operation on investigations, inquiries and inquests at its core. Implementation will be key in both jurisdictions. Legislation is currently making its way through the House of Commons, and we are working hard, at pace, on our own implementation. This Government will not be found wanting.  The findings from Operation Kenova bring to the fore the dark and violent events of our past. To leave the legacy of the Troubles unresolved is to hold back the essential work of reconciliation. It is to allow trauma to pass down the generations. The Kenova team has shown us that there is a way forward. It means placing victims, survivors and families, from all communities, at the centre of our work. This is what the joint framework aims to do. It gives us a chance to end this cycle. It lays the ground for a profound transformation, one that will facilitate greater truth, accountability and, where possible, justice for victims and their families. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Today, this House is asked to reflect on the findings of Operation Kenova, findings that go to the heart of how the conflict on this island has been understood, explained and justified for decades. For too long, the story of that conflict was presented as one in which the British state was a neutral arbiter, acting reluctantly, forced by circumstance into extraordinary measures. That story shaped public understanding, shaped political responses and, for decades, insulated grave wrongdoing from scrutiny.  Before addressing those findings, I wish to say this clearly and directly. To all those who have suffered such grievous loss, I am sorry for all the lives lost during the conflict, and for the hurt and loss endured, without exception. Those words reflect a genuine sense of sorrow and regret for everyone who was hurt and harmed during those years of violence. By that, I mean civilians, combatants and families whose lives were forever changed. N\u00ed f\u00e9idir le tuairisc ar bith, d\u00edosp\u00f3ireacht ar bith, n\u00f3 pr\u00f3iseas polaiti\u00fala ar bith a bheith mar r\u00e9iteach ioml\u00e1n ar an gcostas daonna. No report, no debate and no political process can ever fully address that human cost.  Operation Kenova exposes the lie at the centre of the long-standing narrative of the conflict, which I mentioned at the outset. Its findings are stark and deeply disturbing. A senior British agent was involved in killings. The British state knew, and it protected him. It allowed violence to continue in order to preserve operational advantage. Victims were not warned, families were left in the dark, lives were treated as expendable. This was not an error. It was not a failure in oversight. It was a deliberate political choice. Kenova confirms what many families have long known, but which was long denied: collusion was not an aberration, but a defining feature of British state policy during the conflict. Its findings sit alongside decades of documented evidence, from the Glenanne gang, involving members of the RUC, UDR and loyalist paramilitaries, to the Stevens inquiries and the de Silva review into the murder of Pat Finucane. Each reached the same conclusion: collusion was real, systemic and sanctioned. Kenova corroborates that truth.  As we discuss these findings, my thoughts are with the families who lost loved ones, families whose grief did not end with the passage of time, and whose dignity and persistence have been extraordinary. They engaged with Kenova in good faith, often at immense personal cost, reliving the most traumatic moments of their lives in the hope, not the certainty, of truth. All families are entitled to truth, justice and acknowledgement. That is not a political demand. It is a basic principle of the rule of law.  It is precisely where Kenova was constrained. The report makes clear that MI5 deliberately obstructed the Kenova investigation. Information was withheld, investigators were impeded and investigative material was interfered with. This behaviour was not isolated. It mirrors earlier interference with judicial processes, including during Judge Cory's work on the Finucane case. What emerges is not confusion or coincidence, but a clear pattern: intelligence agencies actively managing exposure, and placing operational advantage above legality, accountability and the rights of victims. These were not marginal practices. They flowed from a counterinsurgency doctrine authorised at the very heart of the British state. The purpose was simple and chilling: to prevent the truth from ever fully emerging.  Operation Denton reinforces this picture, confirming collusion between British state actors and loyalist paramilitaries in a campaign of systematic murder.  Taken together, the Kenova-related reports expose criminality, collusion and cover-up at the highest levels of the British state, including actions carried out within this jurisdiction. That should alarm everyone in this House.  Far from drawing a line under the past, these reports deepen the questions that confront us. Given these findings, the Irish Government must now actively consider a full public inquiry into British state activity in this jurisdiction, including the Dublin-Monaghan bombings and other killings of Irish citizens. This is not about history alone. It is about whether this State will assert its responsibility to its own people when another state has demonstrably acted unlawfully on this island. By withholding truth and blocking disclosure, British state actors have forfeited any claim to good faith in dealing with the past. The evidential gaps in Kenova echo what we saw in Bloody Sunday and countless other cases: gaps that were not accidental but that were engineered. Despite the scale of evidence, the message is unmistakable. British state actors will not be pursued, regardless of the dead. That is not the rule of law; that is impunity.  This brings me to the British Government's legacy agenda. The legacy Act, with its sweeping national security vetoes and additional protections for state forces, is designed to close down truth, not to deliver it. That is not reconciliation; it is foreclosure. It places a clear responsibility on the Irish Government. If Westminster's legislation fails to meet human rights standards or fails to command the confidence of victims, Ireland cannot and must not be party to it. There cannot be quiet acquiescence, no technical compliance, no diplomatic shrug. Ireland cannot lend its consent to another British-authored process designed to entrench impunity for acts that claimed the lives of hundreds of Irish citizens. That is why the inter-state case must remain firmly on the table. To withdraw it would be to signal a retreat, not reconciliation.  The publication of the Kenova report is not the end of the story. It is another chapter in a long struggle between families seeking truth and a state determined to avoid it. The question now, therefore, is not, \"What will Britain do?\" The question now is, \"What will Ireland accept?\" "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  What about yourselves? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  Kenova exposes a central truth about the conflict on this island. Collusion was not accidental. It was not exceptional. It was embedded in British state policy. Today I want to focus on an issue this House cannot avoid. Many of the crimes exposed by Kenova did not stop at the Border. They crossed into this jurisdiction. When they did, Irish citizens were entitled to the full protection of Irish law, but they did not receive it. The most searing example remains the Dublin-Monaghan bombings, the single deadliest attack of the conflict, with 34 people killed and hundreds more injured. While Operation Kenova did not investigate those bombings and made no findings on collusion in that case, it did expose the protection of agents, the withholding of intelligence and the prioritisation of operational advantage over human life, which is all directly relevant to the understanding of how such atrocities were allowed to occur. More than 50 years later, not one single person has been held to account in respect of the Dublin-Monaghan bombings. Reports have been published and limited investigations have been carried out but this State has never delivered a full public inquiry with statutory requirements to compel all relevant evidence, particularly material held by British authorities. Nor has there ever been a sustained diplomatic or legal pressure applied to force disclosure from the British Government. Families were not failed by a lack of sympathy, although in many years since they did not even get that, but they were particularly failed by the absence of urgency and resolve on the part of this State.  That failure did not end in 1974. In 1975, John Francis Green was murdered in Monaghan. To this day there has been no prosecution. Serious and unresolved concerns remain regarding the involvement of the British state forces. Again, despite credible information and repeated appeals from his family, there was no investigative urgency matching the gravity of the crime. Once again, the burden of seeking truth fell on grieving families rather than on the institutions that were there to protect them. Deadly attacks linked to the conflict continued here in the years that followed. Almost forgotten is the bombing at Dublin Airport which killed Aer Lingus worker John Hayes from Balbriggan and injured nine others. Decades later, there is still no clarity for the Hayes family as to whether a full investigation file was ever sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions. That uncertainty alone speaks volumes about the inadequacy of the investigation. As in other cases, questions arose about access to intelligence, forewarning and whether lines of inquiry involving British state actors were ever fully pursued. Once again, not a single person held to account. Even into the 1990s, the attacks continued. At The Widow Scallans pub in Dublin, Martin Doherty was murdered and a massacre was only narrowly averted by his actions. Again, no prosecution. Again, no closure. None of these were isolated incidents. From the 1970s through to the 1990s, attacks were carried out in this jurisdiction by loyalist paramilitaries operating with the knowledge, assistance or protection of British state forces. In too many cases, investigations stalled, lines of inquiry involving British state actors were never fully pursued and files went cold.  The truth is that the evidence says quite clearly that the authorities in this State often stepped back when they should have stepped forward. There was and is an abdication of responsibility, a dereliction of duty, a shameful record. Operation Kenova confirms that British intelligence agencies were prepared to obstruct investigations, withhold evidence and interfere with due process to protect agents. That raises an unavoidable question. How much more could have been done and how much more could have been uncovered if this State had insisted early, forcefully and consistently on full accountability for crimes committed within this jurisdiction? Sovereignty has to mean something. It carries responsibility. The first duty of any sovereign state is to vindicate the lives of its citizens. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Are you blaming the State for Scappaticci? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  That is why we must now confront the failures in how many cases have been handled here. Did you want the floor, Taoiseach? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I am wondering are you blaming the State for Scappaticci. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  I am not, but I will tell you this, Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Extraordinary. You have not mentioned it either. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  On the first occasion that I had to attend a commemorative event on Talbot Street to remember the Dublin-Monaghan bombings, the involvement by this State on that occasion was the presence of special branch men who were taking notes of the family members. That speaks to what I am talking about today. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Ah, come on. That is outrageous. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  The Irish Government supported the establishment of a historical investigations unit under the Stormont House Agreement in 2014 and legislated for co-operation in 2019. That unit was never delivered. Instead, the British Government introduced the shameful legacy Act, rejected by victims and widely criticised. If this State recognised the need for historical investigative units in the North, it cannot credibly argue against establishing an independent, time-bound unit here. Seeking truth about Dublin-Monaghan, John Francis Green, the Dublin Airport bombing, the bombings in Castleblayney, Belturbet and elsewhere, The Widow Scallans and other attacks - this is not about reopening wounds. Those wounds have never healed because the truth was withheld. Justice was not unavailable; it was deferred and denied. The Kenova report has stripped away many of the old excuses. No one can now claim that collusion is speculative. No one can pretend obstruction was accidental. After Kenova, ignorance is no longer plausible. The only question left is whether there is the will to act. Maybe the Taoiseach would like to take the remaining minute of my time to answer that question. Is the will to act there right now? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Are you serious? You have some brass neck, I can tell you that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aidan Farrelly)  Taoiseach, you know full well comments are through the Chair. We will move on to Deputy Bacik. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  I welcome the opportunity to speak on the recently published Kenova report. I pay tribute to Jon Boutcher, Iain Livingstone and the Operation Kenova team. Their work was victim-centred and groundbreaking. They have proven that an ECHR-compliant investigation into a Troubles-related incident is possible, despite decades of denial and obstruction by successive British Governments. I will speak to various issues raised by Kenova and will raise several questions for the Minister and the Taoiseach throughout my contribution. I will follow up in writing on those.  Any discussion of the Kenova report and its operation must begin, as the report itself does, with the interests of victims, survivors and their families.  I wish to offer the condolences of the Labour Party to all those injured, bereaved and affected by the atrocities committed during the Troubles.  This is the report of victims and survivors. Their decades of pain must remain at the heart of this debate. Nothing can undo the suffering they have endured as a result of the bloodshed. Fully implementing the Kenova report's recommendations can, of course, help and begin to address the suffering. In exposing the activities of Freddie Scappaticci, or Stakeknife, the Kenova report offers clear evidence of collusion and cover-up by the British state, resulting, as the report says, in more lives being lost than saved. Yet, we know that the British state has not fully accepted responsibility. Instead, we have heard vague regret, a blame game and an unspoken pact of silence that has left victims with half truths and justice denied. I welcome the fact that each of Government spokesperson has named Stakeknife as Freddie Scappaticci. We all know that he killed, abducted, tortured and maimed. He was, in effect, a serial killer who was protected and even paid by the British state to terrorise and murder within his own community. This was all done under the direction of the self-appointed, so-called army council of the Provisional IRA.  I welcome the fact that we are naming him in this House. I also welcome the fact we are speaking openly about his activities. It is extraordinary that he was allowed to kill with impunity. He was resettled, financially rewarded, shielded from justice and protected to the end and beyond, extraordinarily to the same level as the British royal family in some instances, with even the publication of his will blocked, as the report makes clear. The handling of Stakeknife is a glaring example of British security elites' treatment of the Troubles as a conflict without rules, one where innocent lives did not matter and where the rule of law was breached.  Operation Kenova did not just examine the collusion by the British state. The report also makes clear that the republican movement protected Freddie Scappaticci. His victims were silenced to protect the movement. The reality is that for them directing terrorism had nothing to do with political ideals, but everything to do with power, self-enrichment and the exercise of dominion over communities they claimed to defend. To this day, as the report makes clear, neither the IRA nor the republican leadership have issued an apology to the many victims of Freddie Scappaticci and the IRA's internal security unit.  Operation Kenova recommended that the republican leadership apologise for the provisional IRA's abduction, torture and murder of those accused or suspected of being agents and that it acknowledge the harm and intimidation suffered by victims and bereaved families. The Taoiseach earlier called for Sinn F\u00e9in to make an apology in this vein. I support that call. Will the Government make time in the D\u00e1il for such a statement to be made? It should be a clear and meaningful apology, specifically to the victims of the Provisional IRA's campaign and those killed as a result of Freddie Scappaticci's actions.  This is not about partial truths; it is about full truth and honesty. I listened to the Sinn F\u00e9in leader. We need to hear full truth and honesty in this House when we are having a debate on a report as important as the Kenova report. This has a bearing on other cases too, as I think we are all aware. I raise by way of example the case of Denis Donaldson, which I have raised before in this House. While Scappaticci was shepherded to safety, by both his British and republican handlers, Donaldson was exposed and, of course, was murdered in Donegal in 2006. While his killing took place after the Good Friday Agreement came into place, it was clearly a Troubles-related incident. I reiterate my call for a cross-Border public inquiry into his killing. The Minister should advocate for the investigation of Mr. Donaldson's case and other cases that were barred by the Legacy Commission, notwithstanding that some incidents occurred outside of the timeline chosen.  I want to move next to issues around MI5 and to its failure to disclose several files to Operation Kenova until after the investigative process had taken place. The absence of full disclosure has failed victims and their families, including those of Sean Brown and the disappeared. This clearly has a bearing, not just on the investigation that is reported, but on the legacy processes under construction today. On Tuesday next, I will be hosting Claire Hanna of the SDLP and a range of other speakers for a briefing on legacy issues and the legislation the Minister stated that we are going to be bringing through this House. I would welcome attendance by Members across the House.  If the national security veto is used to conceal evidence of collusion or double standards, the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill will fail. Does the Minister accept that the legacy commission should be liberated from the Northern Ireland Secretary of State's national security veto? Will the Government push for a public inquiry into the murder of Sean Brown and the restoration of all inquests? Can the Minister clarify the position regarding the managed late disclosure of files by MI5 to Operation Kenova? Operation Kenova did a lot to expose farcical, blanket application of the neither-confirm-nor-deny, NCND, policy adopted by the British Government in legacy-related cases. It is a tool that should be used to ensure confidence in intelligence policing, but it has been used to conceal collusion. We know it has be waived in the past. I commend the Chief Constable on his efforts in seeking a policy that is victim centred and transparent. Does the Irish Government believe that the British Government should review the policy of NCND in all legacy-related cases?  On accountability, 29 files were sent by Operation Kenova to the Public Prosecution Service in Northern Ireland but not a single prosecution has followed. I support the SDLP's call for independent counsel to review the files concerned. I would welcome the Minister's support in respect of that call.  What next? There are many learnings to be had from the Operation Kenova investigation. John Boutcher created new structures for how we can inquire into the past and investigate harms, injustices and murders committed in the past. Operation Kenova demonstrated an admirable rigour. We must ensure now that other tragedies such as the Omagh and the Dublin-Monaghan bombings are investigated with the same rigour. I agree that it is deeply regrettable that the Denton report has not been published in full. We need to ensure that independence is at the heart of all investigative work. I have submitted parliamentary questions on issues around the operation of the Garda legacy unit. Can the Minister outline what independent oversight will be put in place with its operation?  Operation Kenova made real testimony central to its work. The Minister recognises the importance of the family reports delivered by Operation Kenova. Will the Garda legacy unit adopt the same methods? Indeed, Operation Kenova saw real accountability. In that context, will the Minister make a statement on the Government's position regarding further protection of veterans, as signalled by Hilary Benn as part of the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill?  The Kenova report tells a story about the worst of a state that signally breached the rule of law and engaged in appalling collusion and cover-up. The British state was meant to protect individuals. However, we saw instead the loss of lives that the state was meant to guarantee. Ultimately, the Kenova report is about ensuring there is confidence in the rule of law, because the activities of the British state and the activities of paramilitary organisations undermined the rule of law and human rights protections. We need to look at the impact of that undermining. We see the consequences, which are evident in the absence of faith in institutions now. Three decades on from the ceasefire, 25 years since its establishment and nearly 30 years since the Good Friday Agreement, Catholic recruitment to the PSNI has not reached 30%. Recruitment levels in some Border countries are in the low single figures. In that vacuum, suspicion and division are entrenched. We can see the possible and real consequences that would result from a Farage premiership in Britain in the future for our island, for the peace process and for the Good Friday Agreement.  Failure to implement the Kenova report's recommendations will erode trust further. Failure to implement a truly honest and robust legacy framework will do the same. Dealing with our past is not limited to any one piece of legislation or to the outworkings of the joint framework. It must permeate the tone of our politics and how our communities interact across the island. As a Connollyite republican, I aspire to see a united Ireland, as the Labour Party does, but I enunciate that position from a place of understanding that there are those who do not agree. We must work to ensure that we can build a consensus across the island to deliver the shared island that most of us in this House aspire to. As stated, on Tuesday next I will host a briefing in the Oireachtas on the legacy legislation. I would be glad to welcome the Minister, other Ministers and colleagues from across the House to come and hear from the SDLP, the ICCL, the CAJ and Amnesty International as to what the legacy framework can and must mean. In seeking to secure a shared future on this island, we cannot miss the opportunity to deal properly and robustly with our past.  To victims and survivors of the Troubles, I say this: the Labour Party is committed to dealing fairly with the past, to truth - not selective truth or partial truth - to accountability and to justice and to legacy mechanisms which meet standards under the European Convention on Human Rights. No individual can be placed beyond the reach of the courts. This is about people who have been hurt, who have suffered and who have been bereaved. Their right to truth and justice is absolute, not partial or selective. The Kenova report tells us how we can honour the rights of victims to truth and justice. We in this House have a duty to abide by that and learn from the principles of and the recommendations contained in this report. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Callaghan  I welcome the opportunity to discuss the findings of the report relating to Operation Kenova. I would like to add my voice to those of previous speakers in expressing gratitude to all of the Operation Kenova team for their work over the past ten years. They have proven, beyond doubt, that legacy investigations and reviews do work.  Their stellar commitment has shone a light on a very dark part of this island's history and exposed the institutional failings that helped that darkness to prosper.  This investigation delved into what, to say the least, is a very challenging subject for many people. The report makes for very difficult reading. The Troubles were without doubt one of the most difficult and heartbreaking chapters in the history of this State, the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland. Across 30 years, the seemingly countless atrocities that occurred brought a raw and constant pain to the people of this island. The existence and presence of Stakeknife, acknowledged by the Kenova team to have caused the deaths of more people than he spared, is one such atrocity. This investigation needed to be handled with sensitivity and care for the victims, the survivors and their families, and with a search for truth placed right at the centre of its work.  We all agree, on the basis of the findings in the report, that the Kenova team prioritised seeking truth. It prioritised providing long overdue answers to families and demonstrated that meaningful engagement with victims is both possible and, crucially, essential. This victim-centred approach must be, without doubt, the model that future legacy investigations follow. Respect should rightly be given to the dignity and courage shown by victims, survivors and their families over the past ten years. In its final report, the Kenova team highlights serious wrongdoing by both paramilitary and state actors. It exposes collusion by and failures on the part of security forces, condemns the IRA\u2019s brutality and states very clearly that even if crimes predate the Good Friday Agreement, anyone involved, whether terrorists or members of the security forces, should face consequences.  I am mindful of the ongoing debate on legacy issues in the UK and the calls by some for a door to be closed on the Troubles once and for all. However, I am of the opinion that we do not learn from history by ignoring it. We learn from history by engaging with it and by listening to those who lived through it. As a former member of the Defence Forces, I understand that justice for veterans without victims is an empty justice. To properly reconcile ourselves with the past, we must take into consideration the views and lived experiences of victims. This is why I am heartened to see the Government taking the lead by engaging with the Government of the United Kingdom on the joint framework on legacy. This framework recognises the crucial importance of co-operation in legacy matters. At its heart lies the conviction that by working together on our shared history, we can pave the way for a collaborative and peaceful future.  Today, we are blessed to live on a peaceful island. Our young people have no recollection of what it meant to live through that terrible time. We must always remember, however, that peace is not inevitable. We should never take it for granted. I know that this Government has no intention of taking peace on this island for granted. I look forward to seeing the joint framework on legacy progress over the coming months. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Donnelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-Donnelly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Donnelly  Operation Kenova was deliberately undermined by the British state agency, MI5. The actions of the latter were designed to block the truth of Britain\u2019s dirty war in Ireland. It is clear that the legacy investigations and reviews published as part of final report relating to Operation Kenova provide further confirmation of collusion, criminality and cover-up by the British state. Operation Denton confirms collusion between British state actors and loyalists in a campaign of systematic murder. Collusion was absolutely no illusion. Pat Finucane, the Glenanne gang, Sean Graham's betting shop, Loughinisland, Stakeknife - the list goes on. I was in the Widow Scallan's pub on the night it was attacked by loyalists. Hundreds of people escaped due to the fact a bomb failed to go off, but also as a result of the bravery of volunteer Martin Doherty that evening.  Our thoughts are with the families who lost loved ones and those who campaign for truth and justice. I pay tribute to their courage in engaging with a process that often meant reliving the worst moments of their lives. I also pay tribute to groups like the Relatives for Justice that worked tirelessly for truth for the victims. I acknowledge there is no hierarchy in grief. All families are entitled to truth and justice.  The findings in the Kenova report shine a glaring light on the lengths to which the British establishment and its agents were prepared to go to evade their responsibilities and to establish and handle loyalist death squads and undercover armed groups such as the Military Reaction Force. The British Government, MI5 and other state actors, have broken the law to cover up their parts in collusion. They did so by giving the green light in respect of what happened and by averting their eyes while innocent people were murdered and maimed. The British establishment allowed its agents and loyalist murder gangs to act with impunity and then left grieving families without any closure or information on the deaths of their loved ones. This cover-up continues, particularly as the British Government intends to use the joint legacy framework and new legislation to provide sweeping national security vetoes to shut down access to truth and justice and additional protections for state forces whose members supplied bombs and ammunition to the UVF, the UFF and others to carry out large-scale atrocities across the North and in the Twenty-six Counties. The Government cannot stand by another British-authored whitewash designed to conceal Britain's dirty war in Ireland, which claimed the lives of many hundreds of Irish citizens both sides of the Border. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  I welcome the opportunity to make a statement on Operation Kenova. At the outset, I welcome the findings in the final Kenova report and to commend the work done by those involved. The pursuit of justice after many years is difficult. The Kenova report has demonstrated that it can be done, particularly when we follow a framework that prioritises victims and their families. We need to acknowledge that this has taken a long time, that people have died waiting for the truth and that justice delayed is justice denied. The report\u2019s consultation with the WAVE Trauma Centre, whose representatives recently spoke to the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, is a welcome approach., and one that aims to put victims and their families first in the search for justice and reconciliation. I hope that this will have positive implications for future peace building activities.  The report delivers long-awaited confirmation of responsibility, accepting that there was \u201cdeplorable collusion\u201d by members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary, the Ulster Defence Regiment and loyalist paramilitaries, which contributed to 127 deaths during loyalist attacks on Catholics in the early 1970s. This marks an important step towards greater transparency on the activities of state agents during the Troubles. Despite this progress, however, there is still a need for further clarity. The report illustrates that a lack of truth for victims of extrajudicial killings and their families persists. A review of the Kenova report published by the UK Northern Ireland Affairs Committee on 9 February 2026 reveals the extent to which the British Government\u2019s policy of neither confirming nor denying the identity of agents involved in paramilitary violence limited Operation Kenova's ability to complete a comprehensive and entirely honest investigation into state collusion and extrajudicial killings. A prime example of this limitation is the refusal to name the agent known to the British Government and to the families of the victims he killed as Stakeknife. The review ends with the following recommendation:  It is not normal practice to name agents of the state, in this one instance it is appropriate, proportionate and strongly in the public interest for the Government to name the agent known as Stakeknife. We have been reassured that naming Stakeknife would not put any active agents at risk, discourage existing agents from continuing their work, or deter the recruitment of new agents.  There is a frequent refrain when information on British state wrongdoing during the Troubles is withheld that the release of information would \"undermine public confidence\". It is not the truth being known or not which undermines public confidence; it is the fact that this level of collusion happened in the first place and that innocent people lie in their graves because of state agents like Stakeknife. If anything, information is desperately needed to provide not only justice to families but also confidence in the system for victims, families and communities affected by violence across the North. To withhold such information only invites a continuation of suffering, injury and grievance.  On 19 September 2025, when the joint framework between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of Ireland was announced, we promised to rebuild the trust of the diverse communities of Northern Ireland and assured them that legacy issues can be addressed in a manner that is both sensitive and productive. The Irish and British Governments committed fully to \u201crecognising that investigations into Troubles-related incidents should be victim-centred\u201d. It is vital that here in Ireland we follow through on these commitments and that we use every lever available to us to ensure that our British counterparts do the same.  It is clear from the report, however, that impediments to honest investigations are leaving the burden of seeking justice to traumatised and bereaved families and communities. Those families have bravely carried forward the campaign for truth. Today, the grandchildren of victims continue to fight for even the smallest measure of recognition for their lost relatives, whether through memorialisation, education or simply an official acknowledgement of the atrocities that occurred. In the absence of meaningful action from authorities, the burden of justice has been placed squarely on their shoulders, allowing victimhood and intergenerational trauma to persist. That is wrong. It is the responsibility of the authorities, which are guilty of historical collusion and which have failed past generations and which continue to fail them, to admit the fact of that collusion to the public and to themselves.  As we approach the 28th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, I am reminded of the fragility of its peacebuilding framework, which has served as a blueprint for countries affected by conflict across the world. That international recognition demonstrates that there are valuable lessons in our experience here with regard to power-sharing, acceptance and the rebuilding of community from the ground up. There are also a number of lessons we must learn in return, and, of course, our peace can never be taken for granted.  People continue to be failed by the British Government's persistent refusal to acknowledge its culpability for atrocities. That refusal threatens the legal framework of the Good Friday Agreement, which has already been shaken by Brexit, the legacy Act and now a potential UK withdrawal from the European Convention on Human Rights. The latter underpins the Good Friday Agreement and remains as essential to the peace process today as it was in 1998. Any talk of an attempt to withdraw from the convention by the British Government expresses a disregard for the binding role it plays in the legislative framework of the agreement. That is equally true here, where the convention is also coming under attack, particularly with regard to migration. In recent years, both Governments have adopted tougher rhetoric on migration, increasingly framing the ECHR through the lens of border control and deterrence rather than as a broad rights-protecting instrument. Legislation such as the UK's Illegal Migration Act signals a willingness to limit the practical effect of certain convention rights in asylum and deportation cases, raising questions about compatibility with international obligations.  Any narrowing of ECHR protections risks clashing with the explicit commitment in the Good Friday Agreement to incorporate and uphold convention rights in Northern Ireland. The agreement assumes broadly equivalent rights protections north and south of the Border. A more restrictive migration-focused approach could disrupt that balance. The Good Friday Agreement is built on mutual trust between the UK and Ireland, sustained by shared respect and standards for human rights. Moves perceived as weakening universal human rights protections, even in the migration context, may unsettle the delicate peace on this island.  People and their human rights, not political parties or newspaper headlines, must be at the centre of peace and reconciliation. Governments have lost sight of this, as attested to by the unilaterally agreed legacy Act. That legislation prioritised a political closure of the Troubles over individual and community rights to truth, justice and accountability, which are crucial elements for reconciliation in a post-conflict society. By stopping normal legal routes and offering conditional immunity to those who caused harm, we deny the dignity and humanity of victims. Dr. Sandra Peake, CEO of the WAVE Trauma Centre, stated at a recent meeting of the Good Friday Agreement committee that the decision by the British Conservative Government in 2020 to dismiss the Stormont House Agreement:  ... caused fundamental harm, particularly to those bereaved. The state was in effect saying those who had died no longer mattered and their cases were no longer of concern to the state.  In an 18-month period, her organisation received over 1,000 new referrals from those bereaved who had not accessed services previously.  While I welcome the findings of the Operation Kenova report, I remind the Government that while we are quick to celebrate and remember the progress of the Good Friday Agreement, we cannot forget the families blocked along the way from getting the justice they deserve. Their family members mattered and were loved. They deserve the truth. This is not history; it is a painful and present reality for many and it cannot be buried. It is vital to the peace process that the British Government name the state agents responsible and accept responsibility for the role of the British state in those deaths. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shane Moynihan  Is rud suntasach \u00e9 foilseach\u00e1n na tuairisce ar Oibr\u00edocht Kenova. Is l\u00e9iri\u00fa cuimsitheach \u00e9 ar sc\u00e9alta dorcha \u00e1r n-oile\u00e1in agus ar thr\u00e9imhse a d'fh\u00e1g fulaingt, pian agus cailli\u00faint in\u00e1r ndiaidh. Is meabhr\u00fa d\u00fainn \u00e9 freisin go bhfuil sc\u00e9alta na n-\u00edobartach le hinsint agus le cloiste\u00e1il f\u00f3s, agus gur g\u00e1 d\u00fainn freagra cuimsitheach a thabhairt d\u00f3ibh.  Like colleagues on all sides of the House, I acknowledge the immense dignity and perseverance shown by the victims and families whose stories lie behind this report. They have carried unanswered questions and deep hurt for decades. Their courage is the foundation of the investigation that led to the publication of the report relating to Operation Kenova. They should and must be central to everything that is done in the work of legacy.  I welcome the publication of the report as a critical piece of work in bringing together findings across the reports on operations Kenova, Denton, Turma and Mizzenmast. As has been outlined, the investigators followed more than 12,000 lines of inquiry, interviewed hundreds of people and overcame major obstacles to uncover the truth. It was a huge effort and recognition is due to Jon Boucher, lain Livingstone and the entire Operation Kenova team.  The report is unsparing in its assessment of the Provisional IRA's crimes, which include torture, inhumane and degrading treatment, murder and the intimidation of the very communities it claimed to represent. Accountability cannot differentiate, and nor can it be selective. Worryingly, the report also lays bare the deeply troubling failures of the British state, including MI5 and the Force Research Unit, whereby protecting its agent Stakeknife was repeatedly prioritised over preventing murder, intelligence was not shared with law enforcement on either side of the Border and the fact murders could and should have been prevented. Time and again, as the report states, the protection of Stakeknife outweighed the protection of innocent lives. This fact must be confronted honestly. It brings into focus one of the more horrific findings, which is that more lives were lost than saved because of the focus on protecting one agent whom, even now, the British Government declines to name.  We cannot ignore the important findings of Operation Mizzenmast and Operation Turma, including the forensic breakthroughs that have enabled justice to be done in a number of instances. Cases like these demonstrate clearly that truth can still be found and justice remains possible.  While the full report relating to Operation Denton has not been published, the summary provides some official recognition that a network of loyalist paramilitaries and corrupt members of the security forces were involved in activities during the Troubles. The corrosive impact of that collusion on confidence in policing and on victims' families cannot be overstated. It is deeply regrettable that the full Denton report has not yet been published. Survivors and families have waited far too long. This House has on three occasions sought access for an independent international judicial figure to all original British files relating to the 1974 Dublin-Monaghan bombings. I repeat the call in that regard today. Openness and accountability are not merely standards we demand of others; they are standards we must demonstrate ourselves.  The delay in the publication of the full Denton report is disappointing, and deeply so for the families affected. Its completion and release are necessary steps in advancing truth and honouring our obligations under the joint framework on the legacy of the Troubles agreed last year by the Irish and British Governments. Importantly, the framework recognises that cross-Border co-operation is essential. It commits both Governments to mechanisms that support reconciliation, justice and truth. An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na has played a role in assisting the Operation Kenova investigators, including with access to records and so on and in facilitating contact with witnesses and families. This is the model of co-operation that must continue.  This debate brings into focus the need for us to constantly think about how we can evolve the Good Friday Agreement. The discussions and setbacks we have seen in the area of legacy over the past few years have served as a reminder that the success of the agreement and its institutions is fragile, is ultimately predicated on the roles of the two Governments as co-guarantors and that they must both be aligned in their vision and their view of what the settlement should represent in terms of individual values.  That is why work on the joint framework on the legacy is an important step towards achieving that.  Ireland's commitment to peace has always rested on the principles of truth, justice, reconciliation and respect for the rule of law. Kenova adds to and mirrors those principles by shining a light where darkness was once allowed to spread, by confronting uncomfortable truths for all actors in the peace process, and by ensuring, most importantly, that victims and their families are not forgotten or silenced. Is cur chuige t\u00e1bhachtach \u00e9 seo a l\u00e9ir\u00edonn an t\u00e1bhachtach a bhaineann le h\u00e9isteacht agus le cuimhni\u00fa ar gach rud at\u00e1 tar \u00e9is tarl\u00fa d'\u00edobartaigh le linn na Triobl\u00f3id\u00ed. N\u00ed f\u00e9idir le haon duine at\u00e1 ainmnithe sa tuairisc seo \u00e9al\u00fa \u00f3n bhfreagra a gcaithfidh siad a thabhairt ar a bhfuil d\u00e9anta acu n\u00f3 ar a bhfuil d\u00e9anta ag a gcuid eagra\u00edochta\u00ed f\u00e9in. Operation Kenova demonstrates that even decades after crimes are committed, rigorous victim-focused investigations, while constituting immense effort and commitment from those involved, can deliver truth, acknowledgement and the possibility of closure. The work is painstaking and it can often be painful but it is work we must continue if we are sincere in our commitment to a lasting and just peace. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  The issue of the Operation Kenova report has gone on for ten years and at the core of it is the very concept that the British state broke the law and set out to break the law. I was just thinking earlier of Michael Davitt. He used to say the law was little more than another weapon in the government's arsenal to keep the lord in his mansion and the peasant in his place. It is very much the same thing here because the law clearly only applies to certain people and not to those who are the state operators in respect of all of this. The thousands of people who suffered as a consequence of the conflict are all too aware that the law was something that was there only for some - only for the select few. Certainly, for those who suffered so much at the hands of the people who were involved in all of this, not just our sympathies but our commitment has to be that truth can be restored. There has to be a pathway to do that.  The withdrawal of the British Government from the Stormont House Agreement and from many of the other agreements that were put in place after the Good Friday Agreement tells us there is a huge reluctance by the British state to actually engage meaningfully when it comes to truth and reconciliation. That is why we have to be very firm when it comes to understanding that both the Irish and British Governments are guarantors of that agreement and both have a role to play in it. When we examine these reports, they lay bare the reality of the collusion of the British state with agents it hired, paid, propagated and moved in and out through different parts of the conflict, always to its own benefit. They were always used to the benefit of the British state. That is why we are in this situation and it continues to cover up that reality. It went to the very core of the British establishment. It went right to Whitehall. It was not some loose arrangement as they tried to push people out there to consider that was the way it happened. It did not happen that way. It went straight to the centre of Whitehall. It was a determination of British Government policy in Ireland to employ people to be able to undermine the legitimate causes that many people had to seek their freedom and their aspirations and to have equality and justice, including social justice, in their country. It undermined that and it propagated conflict and division.  The British state has now tried to cover that up. Even when we have an agreement and even when we are in a post-conflict situation, it continues to cover it up. The layers of cover-up are, in themselves, a crime against the many people who have been victims of this conflict.  I acknowledge progress is slow. We know that but the problem we have here is that the Irish Government is a guarantor of the agreement and has a role to play in ensuring all the parts of the agreement, including the parts which are about delivering truth and reconciliation to people, are actually delivered. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  To my mind, there is a direct line between the complicity and collusion of the British state and the British Empire with the genocide we have witnessed in Gaza over the past two years and the atrocities that were carried out by its agents, like Freddie Scappaticci committing murder, abducting people and so on while he was a British agent, through to Bloody Sunday and the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, and, if we want to, we can go right back and draw parallels with the role of the Auxiliaries and the Black and Tans during the Irish Revolution and the very same people being sent to Palestine to back to the Zionist move to partition Palestine. What is the common link? The link is the British Empire being involved in atrocity.  The republican movement has questions to answer for sure but I find it interesting that the Irish Government's entire focus in this debate seems to be to score political points against Sinn F\u00e9in rather than to be concerned about the profound implications of the fact that the British state was running an agent like Scappaticci who was involved in killing and abducting people. He was protected. The Kenova report reveals the British state's protection of him led to far more deaths than any it might have claimed he was saving by running an agent within the IRA. It still refuses to really own up to the truth of its involvement in all of this, or even to name Scappaticci, in the same way as the victims of the atrocity in Derry on Bloody Sunday are still fighting for justice. They still have not got the truth and accountability they demanded from the British state because it wants to guarantee impunity and to protect the people guilty of atrocities that its agents carry out.  Critically, in all of this, and this is the point I really want to make, while Operation Denton, the sort of subdivision of Kenova, is mentioned, there is far less focus from the Government on the fact that the Denton report has not been published. The families of the 34 victims of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings are absolutely furious about this because it was leaked in October two months before it was due to published. Now, who leaked it? As a result of that, it has still not been published. We know the report indicates that the Dublin and Monaghan bombings - the single biggest atrocity - were carried out by loyalist paramilitaries with the collusion of the British state. The report dealing with that atrocity is still not published and now is in limbo because it is subject to legal action because of the leak. That is why it has not been published when it was supposed to be published.  After years of investment the families put into that process, co-operating with Denton, they are now denied the truth and justice they have been seeking for decades. They have no idea now and are left in limbo as to whether they will ever get the truth, justice and accountability. The signs are that they are not going to because is that not the pattern we see? The families of the Bloody Sunday victims got no real truth and accountability. Nobody is ever really held accountable. The British Government still will not even admit the true extent of its involvement with Scappaticci and other atrocities or similarly with the Dublin and Monaghan bombings.  There are some very alarming things about this which I am surprised the Government does not highlight. The lawyers of the representatives of the victims of many of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings indicated that MI5 broke into the Denton headquarters while its review was being conducted. That is incredible. Even after all of this, after all of the atrocities, the collusion and the complicity with this kind of dirty tricks stuff, the report was leaked.  Who leaked it? Then we have MI5 trying to break into the headquarters of Denton, the body set up to do this. That is just shocking. No expressions of outrage or determination on the part of the Irish Government that we are going to get to the bottom of this. Who received the draft report of Denton? It was the PSNI and the Garda. From what I understand, families think it is unlikely that anybody in Denton leaked the report, so the only other two groups that saw the draft report were the Garda and the PSNI. It was leaked to the Belfast Telegraph two months before it was due to be published and a podcast went out from the Belfast Telegraph about it as well. As a result, the actual report has not been published. The families, who are fighting for truth and justice, are at the centre of all this. The Taoiseach said: \"The Government has consistently called for a victim-centred approach to legacy issues.\" Where is the victim-centred approach to this? The families have no idea when they are going to actually see the report.  All the energy of the Government seems to be directed at scoring political points against Sinn F\u00e9in instead of at the British Government, the issue of the leaks and the lack of justice, truth and accountability for the victims of the single biggest atrocity, the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. I find it extraordinary. There is a pattern, however. With the crimes of the British State and British Empire, there is never accountability. There is always impunity, just like there is for Israel. We also see it here in the Irish State. Can the Irish State please explain to me, or is it even concerned about the fact, that the investigation into the Dublin and Monaghan bombings was shut down after 11 weeks? All of the forensic material relating to the Dublin bombing was sent North to be given to the PSNI when we now know the British were colluding with the loyalist paramilitaries that carried it out. We outsourced responsibility for investigating this to the jurisdiction that we now know was responsible for colluding with the people who carried out the atrocity.  The families seem to have a lot of faith in Denton. Whether that is justified or not, I do not know but even there, the investigation is essentially outsourced to another jurisdiction, rather than the Irish State itself taking responsibility for getting to the truth of these things. That leads to the Stardust issue today as well. What is at the heart of the anger that the Stardust families are expressing today is that a promise to engage with them on the process was reneged upon. There was a commitment to a second phase, to it not being a one-size-fits-all approach, to recognising the trauma and suffering and the State's responsibility in exacerbating that trauma and suffering the families are still going through, and the Government managed to do it again. After all the years of fighting for truth, justice and so on, the State insults the Stardust families again with an announcement that reneges on commitments that were made to the families. It is really shocking. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Erin McGreehan  It is positive to have these statements in the House. The publication of the final Operation Kenova report forces us all to confront some of the darkest and most painful chapters in our history. It is an extensive, detailed and deeply disturbing examination of violence, collusion, institutional failure and, above all, a prolonged denial of truth for victims and their families. This report lays bare the brutal reality of the Provisional IRA's campaign of terror. It documents in stark detail the abduction, torture and execution of individuals suspected of informing. These were barbaric crimes that devastate families and communities until this day. That reality has to be acknowledged honestly and without hesitation.  The report also exposes serious and deeply troubling failures by the British Government and its agencies. These are not minor administrative failings; they are failures that had life-and-death consequences. The findings surrounding the British Army agent known as Stakeknife are among the most shocking contained in this report. Kenova sets out how an individual strongly implicated in murder, torture and abduction was protected and facilitated by the British intelligence structures because he was considered a valuable asset. Intelligence was withheld. Opportunities to prevent killings were not taken. The report concludes that it is probable more lives were lost as a result of Stakeknife's continued operation than were saved. That is not just a simple historical controversy; it is fundamental moral and ethical failure by the British State. It lives on in communities like my own.  What is even more unacceptable is the continuing refusal of the British Government to formally confirm the identity of this agent. This refusal persists despite a clear public interest case and the overwhelming demands of victims' families. The continued reliance on the policy of \"Neither confirm nor deny\" in this context is not about national security; it is about protecting institutions and people from accountability. Victims and families are entitled to ask simple and legitimate questions. Who knew? What did they know? Why were they allowed to act with apparent impunity? Disclosures from State records have suggested that knowledge existed between policing and republican circles about the agent's alleged involvement in the murder of a neighbour of ours at home, Cooley farmer Tom Oliver, years before the information became public. For the Oliver family and others like them, such revelations are not just academic. They represent decades of withheld truth and deepened trauma.  The findings related to the Glenanne gang network are equally damning. The report confirms collusion between loyalist paramilitaries and members of the British security forces in what it describes as vicious and serious criminal activity, including bombings and murder. The collusion corroded confidence in policing and governance structures and inflicted profound and lasting harm. That network has been linked to atrocities including the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, attacks on Belturbet and Castleblayney and the bombing of Dundalk, the 50th anniversary of which was in December last. Communities in County Louth and across the Border region continue to live with the legacy of those attacks. The pain of the families has never been diminished. The absence of full truth has prolonged their suffering and will continue to prolong that suffering until answers are heard.  While the report states that it found no evidence of strategic state collusion in the Dublin-Monaghan bombings, the British Government still refuses to provide unrestricted access to all relevant documentation. That position is indefensible. Families have waited over 50 years. Any continued withholding of information cannot be justified by appeals to historical sensitivity or institutional protection. The Irish Government has consistently called for full disclosure through independent international judicial examination of all British-held records. That demand remains not only valid but absolutely urgent.  The Kenova report can also demonstrate that accountability is still possible. It shows clearly that justice can still be pursued. The principle is straightforward. It has to be absolute. There can be no immunity for those responsible for murder, regardless of the passage of time or the institutions involved. The joint framework on legacy agreed between the Irish and British Governments commits both states to reciprocal co-operation, transparency and meaningful information recovery. The credibility of that framework now depends heavily on the actions of the British and Irish Governments. Words and commitments are no longer enough. Victims and survivors require tangible evidence of openness and absolute accountability. This accountability is not easy for the Irish Government or the British Government, but if we are going to move on and have a peaceful reunified Ireland, we have to face up to the atrocities that happened across this island.  Addressing the legacy of the Troubles is not about opening the past. It remains open because truth has been denied for far too long and because communities like my own, on the Cooley Peninsula in north Louth, cannot move on with partial disclosure. We have to have full disclosure of information. This will be really difficult and hurtful but we have to face up to it. Operation Kenova has shown that independent investigation can uncover those uncomfortable truths.  It has exposed the cost of delay, secrecy and institutional self-protection. The British Government must now confront those findings honestly and demonstrate a genuine commitment to full transparency.  I ask the Minister to continue his work and stand firmly with those victims and the survivors, including families in Dundalk and north Louth, across County Louth and throughout this island. All they are asking for is truth, justice and for their loved ones to be remembered in the way they should be - for their life and not their death. They are not seeking vengeance; they are just seeking answers. After decades of waiting, those answers should not be withheld any longer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Mattie McGrath)  I issue a f\u00edor f\u00e1ilte do na daoine \u00f3 Limerick West and Croom Active Retirement Association. They are very welcome to the D\u00e1il. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Crowe  I express my sympathy and solidarity with all the families who lost loved ones and those who campaign to this day for truth and justice. My time is brief so it would be impossible to touch on all periods of the conflict in the North that cry out for answers. The British Government would have us believe that it was a neutral peacekeeping force in the North of Ireland, but we know the British Government's security services were involved in hundreds of targeted assassinations and murders of Irish citizens in a dirty war conducted by agents like Stakeknife. Kenova was hindered at every turn by MI5 and the security apparatus of the British state, but it could not hide the truth that collusion was very real and went to the highest levels of the British state. Like Operation Denton, it exposes the criminality, collusion and cover-up that was the pattern of the British war in Ireland. Iain Livingstone is on public record as saying, \"I can say categorically there was collusion. We know that to be true\".  The families of those killed in the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, the Miami Showband massacre in 1975 and other atrocities deserve the truth. The Irish Government must insist that all material evidence and other relevant information provided to and examined by Kenova, and other such operations, are now made available to the Irish authorities without further delay. I worked for years with Justice for the Forgotten, an organisation representing the families and survivors of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. We still do not have all the answers about what happened on 17 May 1974, when a car bomb went off in Monaghan and three others went off in Dublin city centre, one only a couple of hundred yards from where I now stand. The publication of the Kenova report does not draw a line under this period of our history. It only shows the need for greater transparency and accountability.  The absence of a truth commission at the heart of the peace process is the greatest obstacle to getting answers for those families. Republicans have never opposed this. Perhaps it is not too late for the British and Irish Governments to come together to form such a process. Who is blocking truth emerging? That is the big question we ask today. Who is blocking truth emerging? It is not republicans and the Irish Government says it is not it, so who is blocking truth about the conflict that happened in Ireland? We need a truth commission now. We called for it 20 years ago. Thirty years ago, people were talking about a truth commission emerging post conflict. That has not happened. It needs to happen if we are to move on. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  I welcome Croom Active Retirement Association. It was a mystery tour they were on today. My mother-in-law is on it, so I am in big trouble because I never let her know where she was going. It just goes to show I can keep a secret. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Mattie McGrath)  You might get a pass. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  I might get a pass for this one. Well done to Croom Active Retirement Association. Among all the women who are here today, and there are over 30 of them, there is only one man. He is outnumbered, so he is a brave man. I welcome them and hope they have a fantastic tour.  We are here to talk about Kenova. We are here to talk about atrocities through our history, where collusion and cover-ups have caused devastation to families. What we have to do now is make sure there is accountability. In addition to accountability, families want full disclosure. No matter how horrific it is they want full disclosure now. They also want accountability from the people for when the collusion went on. We have seen that through collusion there were assassinations of people. It has gone on long enough now. People and families want full closure for their own families. They want to see the hypocrisy of cover-ups stop. We have seen cover-ups here in Ireland that went on for years upon years and how soul-destroying it is for people. Eventually, after tribunal after tribunal, things come out and people put up their hands and say sorry.  This has gone on over 50 years now and this is still going around in circles. I ask that the Irish and British Governments please give full disclosure. Full accountability is needed to make sure the remaining families get full disclosure. It would mean they could get closure, knowing that people did not die in vain. That is what it comes down to now. I ask the Minister to do whatever he can within his own strengths and powers, as well as the Government. We want closure for these people but to get closure, we need full disclosure for all the families. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  This is a really serious issue. It is an issue the Irish Government has not done the right thing on for a number of years. I will give a couple of reasons. There are three elements to all this. There is what has happened in the Troubles in relation to Irish citizens; what the role of the British state was in those actions; and what exactly the Irish Government did to make sure justice and truth were achieved for families. For years, we have known that families have been fighting for truth and justice in the North of Ireland. In many families now, the original generation has passed on and it is the children who have taken up the campaigns for truth and justice in the North of Ireland. Kenova has exposed, incredibly, the fact that British governments were behind much of the difficulties experienced in the dirty war in the North. The British did not just watch what happened. They were involved in what happened, they participated and they protected their agents who were involved in these actions.  Recently, we saw the legacy Act pass through Westminster under the Conservative Party. That legacy Act was the son and heir of the cover-ups that originally happened 30, 40 and 50 years ago, but it was worse because at least 30, 40 or 50 years ago the British Government tried to put blue water between itself, the actions and the cover-up. Now, it is the British Government itself authoring the cover-up of what happened. One of the big problems that exists in that legislation is it allows the British Secretary of State to prevent investigations and inquests. My problem here, and this is important so the Minister might just listen to this one bit of my speech if he can, is that is still in the new legislation. In the new legislation, which is a lot better than the previous legislation, the British Secretary of State can still, for national security reasons, prevent an investigation happening. If the Minister were in court, and another politician had the right to determine whether he had an investigation into what happened, he would be frustrated, he would feel it was wrong and he would say it was not justice.  It cannot be allowed that the current legacy Bill going through Westminster will leave a British politician to make a decision over whether there is an investigation. It is not that we do not know what the likely outcome is going to be because the British Secretary of State, Hilary Benn, has already gone to court numerous times to stop an investigation or inquiry into the murder of Sean Brown. The Brown family have been in and out of court, dozens of times at this stage, trying to get an inquiry into what happened to Sean Brown outside Bellaghy football club in the nineties.  Yet, now the family has to traipse over to the supreme court in London to fight their case to see if they can get justice. To create legislation that gives a right to a British secretary of state to say \"No\" to an investigation, when we know this particular individual has already said \"No\" to investigations, is wrong. This legislation stems from the joint framework document, which is an agreement between the Irish and British Governments. If it proceeds in the manner in which it is going, it will be damaging. I was in Washington DC recently where I spoke to six congressmen and women from the Republican and Democratic Parties about this and they agreed that is a problem with this legislation.  There are also concerns about what protections will be given to British army veterans. If those protections are simply that an elderly individual gives evidence at a distance in an electronic format, I do not think people will have difficulty with them. However, we must remember a big section of the British media and political establishment wants to protect their veterans. I saw the Tories came out recently and said there should not be any case where their veterans are prosecuted. We are only looking for the guilty ones to be prosecuted. We do not want the innocent ones to be prosecuted. There is a problem, in that the Irish Government has let the British Government away with this on many occasions. I am thinking about the Glenanne gang especially. The Glenanne gang and British security forces were involved in the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, the biggest loss of life of the Troubles, which unfolded close to where we are at the moment. In the subsequent investigation in this State, forensics were sent North and disappeared, files went missing and the investigation was closed within ten weeks. Motions have been passed a number of times in this House demanding the British Government make the necessary files on this available and it has refused to do so. Denise Mullen is a former Aont\u00fa councillor from Dungannon. At the age of four, she stood at her house while her father was shot dead by the Glenanne gang and the east brigade of the Tyrone UVF. Her father bled out over hours while she was with him. The O'Dowd brothers live beside me in County Meath. Members of their family were murdered by the Glenanne gang.  There is an instinct, especially on the part of the Minister's party leader at times, to focus on IRA actions rather than British actions. At times, there is more political benefit in the coffins created by the IRA than those created by the British Government and that is wrong. There should be no difference between victims of the Troubles "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Mattie McGrath)  Go raibh maith agat. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  All Troubles victims should be fought for equally. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Lahart","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Lahart.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Lahart.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Lahart  I welcome the publication of the final report of Operation Kenova. It brings me back to a different time many years ago when I was a younger man and became aware of collusion suggestions, British spy networks in the North and the report by former inspector John Stalker, whom the younger generation may not remember. It is worth using search engines to see the work he did, how that work was impeded and the resulting measures that were taken. In summary, in 1986, just before John Stalker, who was chief constable of Manchester police - he was not an inspector - was to make his final report on the issues I just mentioned, he was removed from his position in charge of the inquiry he led. That was in June. Later in June, he was suspended from duty over allegations of associating with criminals. Shortly afterwards, in August, he was cleared of those allegations and returned to duty, but critically he was not reinstated as head of the inquiry he was removed from. That inquiry was taken over by Colin Sampson of West Yorkshire Police and its findings were never made public. One cannot help but think of the words of de Valera in response to Churchill at the end of the war when he said that, more than occasionally in our history, there has been a danger that Britain's necessity would become a moral code.  I will not get knee deep in or wade into issues that are sensitive, but I will make one point. In the contemporary climate where the country and the Government need to engage seriously on topics of defence and national security, there has to be a sensitivity that the words \"defence\" and \"security\" have a completely different resonance in the Republic of Ireland than they may have in the Six Counties. The Kenova report demonstrates exactly why that is the case. There are lingering suspicions and lingering mistrust, there are a number of unfinished chapters in the history of the relationship between the two islands and plenty of unfinished business needs to be undertaken. There is nothing particularly radical, dramatic or hyperbolic in that statement.  Returning to the report in hand, for those who might be watching and wondering, as some of my staff were this morning, what was Operation Kenova, we know it covered a number of operations. It was a group of independent investigations from about 2016 into Troubles-related murders, torture, kidnappings and alleged collusion involving paramilitaries and British state actors. It can be seen as an umbrella for four investigations, namely, Operation Kenova, Operation Denton, Operation Turma and Operation Mizzenmast. The essential summary points of these four investigations were as follows. Operation Kenova looked at the actions of Stakeknife - it is a name we all grew up with but younger people might not be familiar with it - a British agent in the internal security unit of the Provisional IRA. Its focus was on whether murders and torture were allowed in order to protect the agent. The report of Operation Kenova contains strong criticism of the IRA's use of intimidation and violence.  Operation Denton looked into the activities of the Glenanne Gang. It reviewed killings by a loyalist network involving UVF, RUC and UDR members. When reading these things, it strikes me that these acronyms are probably completely alien to a modern audience, yet we grew up listening to them every day on every news network. That is a tribute to all those who engaged in bringing and building peace and persuading others of the need for peace. These reports look at some of the unfinished business of that process. The Glenanne Gang was believed to have been responsible for up to 120 murders, including the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. This operation report confirms serious collusion and intelligence-sharing by security forces. No evidence of political level collusion was found. There was no evidence of British state involvement in the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, although it has not been definitively excluded, which is a critical point.  Operation Turma was an investigation into the 1982 murder of three RUC officers. It led to a prosecution and an extradition this year. The key point arising from that is that, in some cases, historic prosecutions remain possible. Operation Mizzenmast examined the 1972 killing of Jean Smyth-Campbell and alleged failures in the original investigation. It highlighted long-standing issues with how certain killings were handled by the security forces.  Operation Kenova allows us another layer of acknowledgement of harm and suffering that was visited on people on both sides, particularly the traumas faced by victims and families across all communities. That is recognised. Forgive me, a Chathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach. I did not realise there was a second Government speaker, so I will wrap up on that. The Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach might allow a bit more time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Mattie McGrath)  We will. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Currie  I commend the authors and investigators of Kenova. The report has been a long time coming. Many families have waited on this. Much was banking on it. This report once again shows the depth of the brutality and callousness to which innocent people and communities were subjected during the Troubles. The scars, some of which are obvious and some of which are not, will be carried for generations. These acts were neither justified nor justifiable, whether committed by paramilitaries or members of the security forces, whether they wore a uniform or not. The report finds collusion involved vicious and serious criminal activity, including bombings and murder, and that paramilitary groups were regularly supplied with intelligence by members of the security forces. It also confirms, as noted in the interim report, that the Provisional IRA engaged in the wanton use of torture and murder. We are talking about murder, torture, kidnapping and extreme violence.  The human cost of these crimes can never be overstated. The approach to legacy in recent years has damaged confidence in the rule of law in Northern Ireland. The rule of law was integral to the work of the Good Friday Agreement and after it to set up institutions. We always have to be on the side of the rule of law. Until truth and accountability are prioritised over protecting perpetrators, we cannot genuinely move forward as a society and build reconciliation.  Kenova has been the light amidst the dark in recent years. It is designed as a full criminal standard investigation that has won the trust of victims. Kenova has emphasised that the report should be a blueprint for future legacy work and I agree. It has shown clearly that no organisation responsible for killing should be able to block a victim's pathway to truth and justice. The UK Parliament's Northern Ireland Affairs Committee said strongly this week that it recommends that the British Government formally identify Stakeknife. I wholeheartedly agree. It is appropriate, proportionate and in the public interest, and it shows that no one can expect to be protected in their actions.  We are always coming back to a place of national vetoes on information and we need maximum disclosure and for all parties to be willing to stand for truth, to be brave enough to give truth to victims' families and to assist in reconciliation. We do not need a framework for paramilitaries to come forward and provide information to families; they could be doing that.  I always want to finish with my connection to the McVeigh family in Donaghmore and to Columba, who has been missing for 50 years. That family is not looking for revenge. They just want to bring Columba home and bury him in my village of Donaghmore. They had another dig this summer and it was unsuccessful. I urge once again that anyone who stands up in this Chamber or anywhere else who talks about truth, accountability, the rule of law and justice for families remembers families like the McVeighs. I sincerely hope that we can build a framework and system of justice and truth for families. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  I want to state clearly that we absolutely need truth and reconciliation for all of our people who came through the conflict, but one huge missing piece is the role of the British state. I want to take the Minister through the assassination of an elected representative in this State. Councillor Eddie Fullerton was assassinated in May 1991. His family pursued a justice campaign for many years, patiently and determinedly. That led to Operation Greenwich, which was published by the Police Ombudsman in the North in January 2022. It took so long because the investigators in the ombudsman's office had uncovered a much wider conspiracy than just the assassination of Councillor Eddie Fullerton. It is absolutely clear now that British military agents were directly involved in the assassination of Councillor Eddie Fullerton. At least two British military agents would have killed Eddie and I believe another was present in the operation. They did not just kill Eddie Fullerton. They killed Councillor Bernard O'Hagan. They killed Sinn F\u00e9in members and republican leaders across Donegal, in the case of Councillor Eddie Fullerton, County Derry, County Antrim and west Tyrone, in a period of just over four years.  I want the Minister to pay close attention to what I am about to say to him about one man in particular because we have not talked about this before one-to-one. I have raised it with all the Minister's predecessors. In the Operation Greenwich report, please note Person K. I am clear that I may name him in this place at some stage. Person K was a British military agent who was overseeing the operation where Councillor Eddie Fullerton was assassinated. He oversaw the murders of 17 people and the attempted murders of seven. Up until the Greysteel massacre, he was a useful agent for the British in that he killed Sinn F\u00e9in members, Sinn F\u00e9in elected representatives and republican leaders, but in Greysteel, he went solo. He totally oversaw the operation. We have a situation where the man who drove the car named Person K. The man who gave the weapons to the RUC afterwards named Person K. Person K's fingerprints were on the weapons used in the Greysteel massacre, yet Person K was never charged because Person K was a British military agent. Even after the Greysteel massacre, he was not dealt with.  If you look at the end of that report from January 2022, this was reported to the PSNI . At the end of that report, the Police Ombudsman's office confirms that it passed this file over to the PSNI in 2016. Ten years later, I want to know what the PSNI has done about the actions of Person K. Some day, I will name Person K in this Chamber. I challenge the Minister to get those answers. How did this man get away with all of that? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mattie McGrath  I too am glad to speak on the Kenova report. I compliment the people who researched and presented it. We have had a long history here as well as in the North of Ireland and the UK. We are not so squeaky clean here. I compliment the Minister. Since he came into the Department of justice, he seems to have been making stellar efforts to have a more hands-on, open, honest and transparent approach, which is badly needed.  The Sean Brown case was mentioned, which was so sad because Sean Brown, to everybody's knowledge, had nothing to do with any political party but was a GAA man through and through. He was out locking up his GAA club, as many volunteers across the Thirty-two Counties do. It is our national game. He was so cruelly executed. If we have legislation here as a result of this or in the future, we cannot possibly have a situation like that under the UK legislation, which gives the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a veto on what can be debated, discussed or raised. That cannot happen. We know there is a murky past since the time of the War of Independence and Civil War, and indeed long before that. One could go back to the Famine. There are all these cases. I think of The Miami Showband. Some of them were from Carrick-on-Suir in my own constituency. There was a vicious assassination attempt on a group that was giving entertainment to all people.  I have been in Donaghmore in Tyrone many times. Deputy Currie mentioned her own case there. That should be sorted. There are too many cases where too much trauma and anguish have been bestowed on families. I remember a case in Aughnacloy involving another young man who was just going to work in a town in Monaghan walking through a checkpoint. The name eludes me but the story told was that a British soldier's rifle slipped because it was a wet day and the bullet ricocheted off the ground. This was an absurd lie. A gentleman worked with my sister-in-law and brother-in-law in a meat factory in Monaghan at the time and was harassed every day going up and down through the Border point at Aughnacloy. I passed through that Border point hundreds of times myself. It has affected so many others as well. There is also the case of the Dublin-Monaghan bombs and the Glenanne gang. I happened to be in Dublin on that particular day on a school tour. That was a scary event. There has been no truth on that either. The Omagh bombing, on which the Minister and I differed in opinion a number of times, was an atrocity. I was on my way to Omagh that day and I got there the morning after when there such devastation. I worked closely with Michael Gallagher and others over the years and they are fighting for justice as well.  I know the Minister has moved the case affecting Lucia Farrell on. It has nothing to do with paramilitarism but what happened to her son Shane, who went out for a cycle, was a travesty of injustice. The driver of that car and his accomplices had numerous custodial sentences hanging over them, were stopped at a Garda checkpoint and should not have been allowed to go on. We saw the battle that Lucia Farrell has had on her hands to try and get justice for her lovely son, who was swept away unceremoniously.  I welcome a group from Col\u00e1iste D\u00fan Iascaigh in Cahir to the Public Gallery. I hope they enjoy their trip to the D\u00e1il and Dublin. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Jim O'Callaghan)  I thank all the Deputies who contributed. It is important at the outset to ask what the purpose of legacy is and what the purpose of Denton and Kenova, which we are discussing today, was. The purpose is to provide answers for families that never got justice and whose family members were killed in brutal circumstances in what everyone can agree was a dirty war on the part of everyone who participated in it. That is the purpose of legacy. There is a further purpose, which is to try to improve and enhance reconciliation so that there can be greater understanding between communities who, to be blunt, were involved in a bloody sectarian campaign and conflict that took place in Northern Ireland for 30 years. That is the purpose of legacy. There is a legitimate objective and political purpose why politicians and governments are seeking to pursue investigations into the past so we can get answers for loved ones who have not been provided with answers today  What is the danger of legacy? The danger of legacy is that we just use legacy for our own narrow political purposes. We cannot do that. If we are going to allow the past to be the territory on which the modern conflict is contested, there is no point in having any involvement in the legacy process. Regrettably, it is the case that we do allow the past to be used for our own political purposes. I always listen to Deputy Mac Lochlainn. I mean that. I always listen to him because I think he has very strong contributions to make. Maybe it was just because that he was the last speaker prior to the Acting Chairman but as an example of legacy, Deputy Mac Lochlainn referred to the outrageous murder of Eddie Fullerton, who was an elected politician. We need to remember as well that other politicians such as Robert Bradford and Billy Fox were also murdered. If we are going to have legacy and if it is going to work effectively, we cannot just decide individually that it suits my political agenda to refer to some legacy crimes from the past and not mention others. We need to have a much broader perspective of what is involved in legacy. What will be really difficult is people politically getting behind legacy inquiries into areas that make them feel uncomfortable.  I am here as the representative of the Irish Government and I have to answer for the Irish Government. When I have had meetings with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, I refer to his responsibility and the fact that he has answers that would be of benefit to people who were victims in Dublin and Monaghan. We have to be able to recognise that the political representatives of the Provisional IRA are Sinn F\u00e9in. That is not a party political point; that is a fact. In terms of trying to get answers for the actions of the Provisional IRA and for the crimes that were committed by the Provisional IRA, Sinn F\u00e9in has to answer that in the same way as I answer on behalf of the Irish Government or indeed Hilary Benn has to answer on behalf of the British Government. I listened very carefully to the leader of Sinn F\u00e9in. She said she was sorry. She said she was sorry for all the lives lost. I presume, interpret and hope it means that she is apologising for the murders perpetrated by the Provisional IRA. If that is so, it is a positive development. We need to move on from our comfort zones in respect of our legacy.  I have been in discussions with the British Government in terms of trying to get agreement on the legacy framework. It is extremely difficult. I heard Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn say earlier that we should not allow the British Government to introduce legislation that enables X, Y or Z. Obviously, neither I nor anyone else in this House can control the legislation that is enacted in the British Parliament, just as the British cannot control the legislation that is enacted here. However, I can tell the House that the opportunity that exists at present for a real and thorough legacy inquiry is much better now than it was with the previous British Government and we need to avail of this opportunity.  We also need to recognise that when it comes to investigating the past, the passage of time affects it. This is what is so painful for the families involved in this who have experienced the lack of justice for 30 or more years. When I meet the families of victims, I try to be honest and straight with them and say that, on many occasions, people do not get the justice that they deserve or the justice they want. In most cases relating to the atrocities and murders perpetrated in the past in Northern Ireland, the ones that have not been solved to date, where people have not been brought to the courts, the likelihood is that they will not be brought to justice. That does not diminish the benefit that can come from inquiries and investigations. We saw that with regard to Kenova in respect of Freddie Scappaticci. I read Kenova and I also read Richard O'Rawe's book. It is an horrific example of how lives were viewed as being so dispensable and so unimportant that people were able to allow Freddie Scappaticci to kill in such a relaxed way that it was not an issue. I criticised the British Government for allowing that and I criticised the Provisional IRA for being the parties that were colluding in the murders that were perpetrated by Freddie Scappaticci.  When we are dealing with legacy, we have to be able to speak truthfully about issues. I know everyone comes to every debate with their own political objective but there will be no resolution of the legacy issue unless people are prepared to take on board uncomfortable truths and people are prepared to look to see that the entity they represent has answers to give in respect of this matter.  In my engagement with victims and families in Troubles-related cases, they have told me that they feel time is running out for them and they are looking for truth and accountability.  The reality is that, in many instances, the information that is available will not be retained in a document, on a written piece of paper or in files that will be handed over. It is available to people who are still alive and who are still involved in it. That is why we all have to try to play our role in urging people who have information to give that information and bring it forward. There are people in the North who have information and could provide assistance in terms of truth and reconciliation. We may not have yet provided that forum where that can happen. There are many people trying to think of mechanisms for it to be provided, but I would have thought that the last show in town is the legacy framework that at present is being worked on by the British Government and in respect of which I also will be bringing forward legislation again. I intend to bring forward legislation in this House to give effect to the responsibilities that will lie upon this State.  I accept my responsibility. Others have to accept theirs and encourage others who have information to come forward with it. An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na has established a unit as is required for the investigations of Troubles-related incidents. The Commissioner has been centrally involved in putting that in place. We need to ensure that where we can have investigations, those investigations take place.  If we are going to allow legacy to be simply another battleground on which the green and orange politics of Northern Ireland are fought, we might as well give up. It is of no benefit to anyone because it will all be about whataboutery. We have to acknowledge our responsibility. Everyone in this House has a responsibility. Some have greater responsibilities than others in terms of what happened in the past and we cannot run away from the responsibility for the terrible things that were done on this island for a period of 30 years.  When you look back on it, you wonder what it was all about. To get to the Good Friday Agreement? We did not need thousands of people to be killed to get to the Good Friday Agreement. It is depressing. I know it is hard for people who were involved in the violence to ask that question: what was it all about? It is a question that maybe does not need to be answered, but, ultimately, if we want to move on and try to achieve some form of reconciliation and unity, we are going to have to look at this in a more selfless way and stop trying to just advance our own interests. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mattie McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Mattie-McGrath.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Mattie McGrath)  That was a very interesting contribution. It is a good day to welcome the transition year students from Col\u00e1iste D\u00fan Iascaigh in Cahir and their teachers Rachel Burke and Anne Hickey. They are very welcome and I hope they enjoy their visit. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar fionra\u00ed ar 3.33 p.m. agus cuireadh t\u00fas leis ar\u00eds ar 4.34 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Sitting suspended at 3.33 p.m. and resumed at 4.34 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Report on Operation Kenova: Statements"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-11\/debate\/dbsect_14","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2024\/67","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2024\/67\/dail\/seanad_amd","houseCode":"dail","stage":"seanad_amd","isBillStage":false,"showAs":"Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: From the Seanad (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: From the Seanad","counts":{"speechCount":29,"speakerCount":5},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_14","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The D\u00e1il went into Committee to consider amendments from the Seanad."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Seanad amendments Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, are related and will be discussed together. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 1:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 11: In page 10, line 4, to delete \u201c Publication \u201d and substitute \u201c Fair publication \u201d."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Jim O'Callaghan)  I will say a few brief words. I am back, a Cheann Comhairle, from a lengthy sojourn in the Seanad, which I have to say was interesting and productive. I think I was in the Seanad for over 28 hours on Committee and Report Stages but it was a worthwhile engagement. As a result of the contributions from Senators in the House, I am coming here with five amendments to the legislation.  Amendments Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, are changes to section 11 of the Bill, which, as colleagues will know, were substantive changes to section 26 of the original Act. It was introduced on Report Stage in this House to amend section 26 of the 2009 Act by providing for a simpler and more concise defence of publication on a matter of public interest. Concerns were raised in Seanad \u00c9ireann that section 11 removed the important element of \u201cfairness\u201d from the defence of fair and reasonable publication. Amendments Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, respond to those concerns.  Amendment No. 3 places the concept of fairness front and centre of the defence and clarifies that in order to avail of the defence, the publication must be fair in all the circumstances of the case. It goes on to set out that this will only occur where the publication can objectively be considered in the public interest and where the publisher, acting in good faith, reasonably believed this to be the case having conducted appropriate checks and inquiries. Amendments Nos. 1 and 2 alter the title of the amended defence to make it clear that fairness is a key element of the defence.  The amendments seek to balance the concerns expressed in the Seanad with concerns raised during the review of the 2009 Act that the application of an entirely separate test of fairness and reasonableness in the existing section 26 defence was overly complex.  I recommend that the House accepts these three amendments. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Are there any Members wishing to contribute? I call Deputy Mark Ward. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  Sinn F\u00e9in will be supporting the Minister's amendments from the Seanad, which are largely technical, as well as the amendment that explicitly clarifies the defence of live broadcasts. We will, however, be opposing the Bill itself.  While the Bill contains important provisions with regard to strategic lawsuits against public participation, SLAPPs, for example, and Sinn F\u00e9in remains willing to engage constructively with the Minister in relation to defamation reform or any other matter, we oppose the removal of juries from defamation trials. It is unnecessary, given the outworkings of the Higgins case.  That said, I express significant disappointment in regard to how the Minister has progressed this Bill. Government Ministers commonly talk about being willing to work with the Opposition, asking what the Opposition's ideas are and asking us to bring forward solutions. Sinn F\u00e9in has brought forward multiple proposals that would have tempered the wholesale removal of juries. So, too, did other Opposition parties and Independents in both the D\u00e1il and the Seanad. In particular, one amendment in the Seanad would have effectively aligned the law on mode of trial with that of the North, unifying the law on this issue for the whole island. That would have added benefit that should have been given greater consideration.  Distinct from this, we also brought forward amendments touching on other parts of the Bill following significant deliberations in both Houses. It is, therefore, incredibly disappointing that what we see returning from the Seanad is the Minister's acceptance of just one amendment, bringing explicit clarity to an existing provision. That, to my mind, does not reflect a Minister who is genuinely interested in hearing from the Opposition and good legislative practice, or give due respect to the function of these Houses in their totality. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  We will not be opposing any of the Minister's amendments as they are broadly technical but I have to say, it is a huge pity he does not practice what he preaches in relation to this Bill. He was on the total opposite of this debate when he was sitting in a different part of this Chamber - with Government but against it. Once the Minister got the seal of office, he changed tack totally and that is a fact. We can read the record.  A paper that is read a lot more in the Minister's constituency than in mine is The Irish Times . The former head of the civil juries division of the High Court, the former judge, Mr. Justice Bernard Barton, has written in the paper today. I am sure the Minister has read it or it has been brought to his attention. Getting rid of the process by which these trials are done by jury has no basis really from what the concern was. We are stripping the litigant of the right to choose the mode of trial by which the facts of the action are to be decided and also striking down the fundamental principle at the heart of our legal system by removing the jury. This requirement for fairness in law and the use of juries is as old as justice itself but for some reason, despite the Minister's own personal views not that long ago, his current views are completely contradictory. The Minister calls it compromise.  I would prefer it if the Minister had conviction and stood by what he actually believes in. There is a deeper concern as to his conviction and why he does not stand by what he believes in, particularly as he is the Minister for justice. A Minister without conviction holding that portfolio is deeply worrying and troubling. The Minister has stated on the record of this House that he is of a completely different view.  The explanation for continuing with and justifying this is even more bizarre, particularly when we consider that the justice committee unanimously went against it and that the premise set out in the Department of justice's report on which the abolition is founded was swept away by Supreme Court's decision in the Higgins case in 2022. I do not know why the Minister is under so much pressure in his Department or within Government to continue going down this road. This is the last opportunity for him to change what is involved here. This is a step in the wrong direction. The Minister is not doing or is not pushing for the right thing. Unfortunately, that says an awful lot about him as a Minister. He was vehemently opposed to this previously, but now, despite the Supreme Court's decision in 2022, he is bringing it in. That is an issue for me when it comes to his conviction as Minister. If that is going to be the mark of his Ministry, then it gives rise to concerns in respect of a number of matters beyond this Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  One of the disadvantages of being a small party is that it is not possible to follow every piece of legislation. However, I did speak against this Bill earlier. I am taking time to speak against it again because it strikes at the heart of a basic principle of justice, which is the right of people to have serious matters that impinge on them judged by a jury of their peers. That is a fundamental basic principle of law. To undermine it, without any real explanation or justification, is extremely worrying. That is what is happening here. People do not follow these things, which is understandable. They may seem quite technical to them.  Deputy Kelly referred to Judge Bernard Barton. I thank the Deputy for briefing me to some degree on this and for highlighting why it is such a problem. The fact that anyone who is seriously concerned with the administration of justice, including the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, those who represent the legal profession and even the Minister, when he was in opposition - which I did not know \u2013 have opposed this kind of says it all. Now, however, it is going to be pushed through.  I would be curious to know if the Minister has any justification for this. Think about it. For those who might be watching these proceedings, what we are discussing here relates to someone who is defamed and who takes a case because their good name and reputation is being taken from them. In such circumstances, a person's right to have a case on whether their good name and reputation has been taken heard by a jury of their will be decided by one individual, namely a judge. If we are talking about somebody\u2019s good name and reputation, then who better to judge that than a group of their peers \u2013 12 of their peers rather than just one individual \u2013 because they are surely in a far better position to assess whether someone's reputation and good name have been damaged and whether what has been done in that regard was fair or not? Surely a jury of one's peers is the ideal group to assess whether that is the case rather than a judge who, even if they are the best judge in the world, is just one individual who inevitably only represents a particular section of society. I do not think Bernard Barton would disagree with me when I say that even the best judges cannot be said to represent the broad spectrum of society. The chances that a jury might do that are far greater. That is the whole point of juries. They are supposed to represent a broad spectrum of society. Judges, even the best of them, cannot do that. So why is the Government doing what is proposed here?  A claim was put forward to the effect that this has to do with disproportionate awards that were being given out. That has already been dealt with, because the changes made since the Supreme Court's decision in 2022----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  Yes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  -----mean that some guidance has being given in that area. In any event, I just do not see how replacing juries in the context of making these decisions, even when it comes to the awards people might get if their good name and reputation have been taken, with a single individual, namely a judge, can be a good thing. The only plausible explanation - it would be interesting to know if this is the case - is that those who own the big media outlets want what is being proposed.  Let us be honest, sensational comments about people that may veer into the area of being defamatory or slanderous sell newspapers. They can go further when it comes to the algorithms used by certain social media outlets for that matter. It is not that I want to infringe on free speech \u2013 I genuinely do not \u2013 but somebody does have to judge whether a line has been crossed and whether something is completely wrong, unfair, baseless, slanderous, defamatory and has taken away someone\u2019s good name and character. Given the choice between an individual judge and a representative body of one's peers, I know which I think is fairer. This is elementary in the justice system. That is true about other things as well, including serious criminal matters. Is it just that the Government is dancing to the tune of the owners of the media outlets and flying in the face of what should really be an elementary legal principle of the justice system? It seems that is what the Minister is doing. I want to flag that I believe this is fundamentally wrong and that we will be voting against it. I am curious to hear why the Minister\u2019s volte face happened and how the Government is going to justify it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I thank my three colleagues for their contributions. I also thank them for their support regarding the amendments that have been brought here from the Seanad. All three spoke about juries. I will deal with that matter presently. Before I do, I would not like people to think that the primary functions of this Bill are all to do with the abolition of High Court juries. There is much more to the Bill than that, as I am sure colleagues are aware.  There are two areas that deserve recognition and attention. I will mention them briefly. They are the amendment to section 26 and the provision of a new defence for retailers. Third is the provision to enable someone to go to the Circuit Court to get an identification order against a social media company that has published information about them that is defamatory but where the identity of the person is hidden. These are significant developments that will assist individuals who have been defamed and who want to get access to the identity of those who have defamed them.  Most defamation that takes place in Ireland, as I am sure my friends would agree, happens online by unidentified persons who defame people by means of social media platforms. At present, in order to establish the identity of the defamer, you have to go to the High Court to get a Norwich Pharmacal order to get the social media company to identify the person behind it. As a result of the provision being introduced here, there will now be a straightforward statutory procedure that will enable people to go before the Circuit Court.  I think all colleagues will welcome that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  Agreed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  Section 26 has not operated in the way we wanted it to when it was enacted by the previous Oireachtas back in 2009. I think this will benefit it. What I am putting in will make sure it is fair, as well as reasonable. Regarding the retailers, there is a specific section that puts in place what was previously a form of qualified privilege where they had to stop somebody and ask them whether or not they had paid for goods in circumstances where they had not.  What everyone wants to hear about is the abolition of juries in the High Court. I would point out that if you take a Circuit Court action for defamation, you do not get a jury. The principle in respect of juries is that, since 1988, they are increasingly being removed from civil actions. It used to be the case, in the early 1980s, that when someone had a personal injury action in Ireland, they had an entitlement to a jury. We got rid of that on the grounds of efficiency and to speed up the process. Unquestionably, it is the case that one of the advantages or consequences of not having a jury in a case is that the trial will be expedited, and we get a solution much faster.  Deputy Kelly wants to know why it is that I did----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  Why did the Minister change his mind? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I am going to tell him exactly that. I answered it here before. First, when you go into government, or if you are a member of a political party, as the Deputy knows, you sometimes have to go along with things you probably do not agree with. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  So the Minister is bringing in legislation he does not agree with. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  The Deputy has to let me speak. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Order, please. Deputy Kelly has made his contribution. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  The Labour Party put forward a candidate in the last Presidential election. Deputy Kelly did not agree with it. He did not run off and resign from the Labour Party. He expressed his opinion and made it known but he got on with it and rowed in. That is one of the consequences of being a member of a political party, and more so, being a member of a government. It was a Government decision that was made in the programme for Government that the Defamation (Amendment) Bill, which was commenced before I became a Minister, would be progressed and enacted. That is why. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  You do not agree with it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I am sorry. The Deputy asked about my conviction. It is not a point upon which I am prepared to die in a ditch. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  That is fair enough. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  It is not the most significant change that I am going to be introducing as a Minister, to be frank with the Deputy. When we look at it, it is removing juries from the High Court in defamation actions. There is no right. I was listening to Deputy Boyd Barrett, who very carefully used his language. I was waiting for him to say it is a right, and in fairness, he did not - he said it is a principle. It is not a right to have a jury in a civil action. It is a principle that had developed but which has gradually been removed on the grounds of efficiency. There is a basis upon which the Government wants to remove juries from defamation actions. There is an understandable basis as to why that is happening.  What it will mean in practice is that people will have a greater awareness as to the likely award in a defamation action. If somebody defames Deputy Kelly, Deputy Boyd Barrett or Deputy Ward, and it is a bad defamation, and they go to a lawyer and ask what a court will award them, it is very difficult to advise them what will be awarded if they go before a High Court jury. It depends on what a jury will assess as being the appropriate value. I know that in the Higgins case, the Supreme Court set out what the values should be but from a jury's perspective, it is very hard to advise someone as to the potential liability. If somebody is being sued, it is hard to assess or tell them the potential pitfalls of the case.  There are now to be judge-only determinations. I am aware there are negative consequences to that. There will be positive consequences but, of course, there will be negative consequences as well. However, if there is judge-made law in respect of this area, we will see greater consistency and a greater ability to determine what is the likelihood of an award.  It is the case, by the way, that in the Circuit Court people can get damages of up to \u20ac65,000 or \u20ac75,000 in a defamation case. A lot of people go for defamation cases in the Circuit Court, mainly because it is more predictable. There is uncertainty if someone goes before a jury of 12 because they do not really know what the outcome is going to be. A point that has been made is that there is certainly a very strong authority to a jury award, and they are very hard to overturn. What we are going to find now is that there will be a lot of recorded and reserved judgments in defamation actions. If we look through the law reports at present, we will not find High Court decisions on defamation actions in general. They are all, like criminal cases, determinations by a jury, so we just see the award of the jury report in a newspaper. Sometimes, we will see an assessment of a defamation case if it goes to appeal.  From now on, however, we will see a body of law being developed, and written judgments by judges setting out why the plaintiff was entitled to \u20ac100,000, or whatever the sum is, for being defamed. It will develop a body of law which, in itself, I would have thought is a positive development, as opposed to the unpredictability.  To come back to the Deputy\u2019s point, the reason I have changed my mind----- "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  The reason I am here advocating this is that politics, as Deputy Kelly well knows, is about compromise. Deputy Boyd Barrett said at the outset that there are disadvantages to being in a smaller party. That is true because you cannot cover everything. However, there are some great advantages to being in a small party, and there are some real advantages to being an Independent - you never have to compromise.  They are the answers. I know the Deputies will not accept them but I thank them for supporting the amendments. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Kelly now has the opportunity to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  No, we have said our bit. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  As no Deputies are offering, I thank the Minister. We will put the amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I ask the Members for their attention. This debate will conclude in 30 minutes. We may, however, conclude prior to that, in which case we will have one deferred division on the Residential Tenancies Bill 2026 before we move to the substantive debate. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 2:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 11: In page 10, after \"of\" to insert \"fair\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 3:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 11: In page 10, line 7, to delete \u201cthat, in all the circumstances of the case\u201d and substitute \u201cthat the publication was fair in all the circumstances of the case, in that\u201d."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Seanad amendments Nos. 4 and 5 are related and will be discussed together by agreement. Is that agreed? Agreed. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 4:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 13: In page 11, after line 42, to insert the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u201c(3) For the avoidance of doubt, the live broadcast defence shall not fail by reason only of the live programme concerned having been broadcast with a minimal delay.\u201d."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  Amendments Nos. 4 and 5 amend section 13 of the Bill, which introduces a defence for broadcasters where a defamatory statement is made during a live broadcast, where the broadcaster can demonstrate that it took reasonable and prudent steps to prevent the publication of such a statement.  Amendment No. 4 addresses a concern raised in the Seanad as to whether the defence would apply in circumstances where there is a brief delay in transmission of the broadcast. It is not the intention that a short delay in transmission in itself would mean that a broadcaster could not rely on the defence. Amendment No. 4 therefore, provides that for the avoidance of doubt the defence shall not fail by reason only of the live programme concerned having been broadcast with a minimal delay.  Amendment No. 5 is a consequential amendment which renumbers the existing subsection (3) of the proposed live broadcast defence. I recommend these amendments to the House. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment No. 5:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Section 13: In page 12, to delete line 1 and substitute the following: \u201c(4) In this section\u2014\u201d"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendment agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Seanad amendments reported."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  A message will be sent to Seanad \u00c9ireann acquainting it that D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann has agreed to amendments Nos. 1 to 5, inclusive, made by Seanad \u00c9ireann to the Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: From the Seanad"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-11\/debate\/dbsect_19","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Message from Select Committee","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_19","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Select Committee on Health has completed its consideration of the following Revised Estimate for Public Services for the service of the year ending on 31 December 2026: Vote 38 - Health. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Message from Select Committee"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-11\/debate\/dbsect_20","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/11","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/11\/dail\/2","houseCode":"dail","stage":"2","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026: Second Stage (Resumed) (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026: Second Stage (Resumed)","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_20","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I must now deal with a deferred division relating to Second Stage of the Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026, taken on Thursday, 5 February 2026. On the question, \"That the Bill be now read a Second Time\", a division was claimed and in accordance with Standing Order 85(2), that division must be taken now. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026: Second Stage (Resumed)"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-11\/debate\/dbsect_25","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/11","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/11\/dail\/3_sub","houseCode":"dail","stage":"3_sub","isBillStage":false,"showAs":"Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026: Committee and Remaining Stages (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026: Committee and Remaining Stages","counts":{"speechCount":143,"speakerCount":18},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_25","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":" A Deputy","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donna McGettigan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"SECTION 1"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Amendment No. 1 has been ruled out of order. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment No. 1 not moved."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Amendments Nos. 2, 7 and 8 are related and may be discussed together. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  I move amendment No. 2:  In page 5, between lines 29 and 30, to insert the following:  \"(2) Within three months of the coming into operation of this act the Minister shall produce a report into the affordability of current rents and establish a board to reset rents to affordable levels, where the guideline for establishing affordability will be rents that are, in general, no more than 20 per cent of a tenant\u2019s income.  (3) Within three months of the coming into operation of this act the Minister shall produce a report into the establishing of a principle that the rights of a tenant shall not be affected by the size or type of the landlord and\/or the date of the tenancy commencement.  (4) Within three months of the coming into operation of this act the Minister shall produce a report aimed at establishing the principle of preventing \"no fault\" evictions.\".  The best place to be to respond to the Government's Bill probably is with the protestors assembling outside Leinster House. The Bill will make an already dire housing crisis even worse by allowing landlords charging extortionate rents that are unaffordable for huge numbers of people to reset those rents to even higher levels. It beggars belief that the Government is doing this unless one remembers that it is not really representing the interests of the people affected by the crisis but, rather, is representing the interests of those profiteering on the backs of the housing misery of others. There can be no other explanation for what the Government is doing with this Bill.  My amendment No. 1 sought, in essence, to stop the Bill until the Government had looked at what its impact would be on the affordability of rents, had addressed the issue of no-fault evictions and had a plan to make rents affordable. In the absence of that amendment, which was ruled out of order, amendment No. 2 seeks to force the Government to do those things in the aftermath of passing the Bill. Of course, I do not believe the Government is in any way serious about addressing those issues, whether before, during or after the Bill is passed, because if it were, it would not have introduced the Bill in the first place.  However, for the sake of form, let us rehearse the Government's argument. It is like the argument made by the US military during the Vietnam War that it needed to bomb villages to save them. The Government is saying that to reduce rents, it must increase them. It is perverse Orwellian logic. Rents must be allowed to be reset to even more unaffordable levels because somehow, by magic, that will make them go down at some point in the future. There is no evidence, ever or anywhere, of that happening. This is market dogma of the absolutely worst kind. The reason the Government is not bothered that it makes no sense whatsoever is that, in fact, the Bill will do what the Government really wants it to do, which is to further enrich property speculators, investors and corporate landlords.  My view is that Members of the D\u00e1il who are landlords should recuse themselves from this debate and should not vote on the Bill. It is absolutely unconscionable that we have a proposal that will jack up already unaffordable rents to even more unaffordable levels and that people in here who vote for it might benefit financially from it. That is outrageous. There is a disproportionate number of landlords among the Members from the Government parties of Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael and among some of the Independent Members backing up the Government. The number is disproportionate in the context of the political parties in the D\u00e1il and in terms of broader representation in society.  Beyond the question of people financially benefiting, we have a Government that believes the nonsense that somehow property investors will solve the housing crisis. I kind of cannot believe it. The reason we have a housing crisis is because the entire housing sector was handed over by the State to property investors after the crisis of 2008 to 2009. Cherrywood, in my area, as the biggest residential development in the entire country and one of the biggest in Europe, offers a pretty good test case of housing policy. At the point when that development was taken over by the National Asset Management Agency, NAMA, and thereby nationalised and brought into public ownership, it could have been developed by the State to deliver social and affordable housing. Instead, Governments led by Fine Gael and subsequently Fianna F\u00e1il decided to hand it to property investors.  The consequence of this was that for quite a few years, those investors sat on the development because it was more profitable to do that than to build houses. We were actively seeking at the time for those houses to be built. We were not objecting; we were asking that they be built. However, the investors sat and waited for the value of those properties to go up and the housing crisis to get worse. Then they started to flip them to other property developers. Mel Reynolds said to me at the time that Hines probably made a profit on Cherrywood before a single brick was laid. It made profit from speculating on zoned land.  What prices are being charged for the houses and apartments Hines eventually started to build there? The houses are going for \u20ac600,000 and \u20ac700,000, which is unaffordable for the vast majority of people. The rents being charged are \u20ac2,000, \u20ac2,500, \u20ac3,000 and \u20ac3,500 a month, which are likewise unaffordable for the vast majority of people. These homes will end up being owned by big property investment funds, large international pension funds and so on, which will charge these extortionate rents. Now the Government wants a reset in order that even higher rents can be charged. By the way, the developer does not want to build the town centre that is needed by the community because it cannot make as much profit out of doing so. That is where this stuff leads. The Government thinks these people will reduce rents as a consequence of allowing them to reset those rents upwards. It is absolute nonsense. This Government measure will increase investor profits, make rents even more unaffordable and lead to increased speculation. It will do nothing to reduce rents. In fact, it will do worse than nothing in that it will exacerbate the housing crisis.  All of this extraordinary action is supposedly justified on the basis there will be some greater protection and security for tenants by way of the six-year rule. The problem with that is if rents are unaffordable and if people can still be evicted for not being able to pay the rent, which will be allowed to happen, then the likelihood of not being able to pay an unaffordable rent and therefore getting evicted is a lot higher. Some 60,000 to 70,000 tenancies end on a voluntary basis or just end.  That means almost all tenancies - 60,000 to 70,000 a year - will end over a period of about a decade. That means all rents very quickly will be unaffordable. In Dublin, the average rent is \u20ac2,100 and they will all go up to the level of what is advertised on daft.ie . If we go on daft.ie and look for something now, they are \u20ac2,500, \u20ac3,000 and \u20ac3,500. All rents will be up to that level. There will be dramatic increases and that will happen all over the country, exacerbating the housing crisis and driving more people into homelessness because there is literally nowhere for them to go that is affordable. That is what is going to happen.  I will mention a couple of other consequences of all of this. People who are on HAP will potentially get a double hit on all of this. Many of the people who are on HAP are paying top-up payments to the private landlord, and the HAP levels, inadequate as they are, are not adjusted for rent increases. Therefore, if your landlord increases the rent and you are on HAP, the top-up you have to pay is even more. Huge numbers of people are in serious trouble due to the top-ups they are having to pay because they are also paying a council-based rent and council rents are now going up as well. There is a change in Dublin city. They are moving now to increase rents in D\u00fan Laoghaire-Rathdown. It is being done in different ways in different places, but across the country local authority rents are going up as well. Some of the most vulnerable people will get a double hit because of what the Government is doing, driving even more people into homelessness and crisis situations.  On the protection of tenancy thing, there is a loophole I guarantee will be exploited by the landlords now for those tenants where there is a little bit of nominally greater protection because of the six-year thing, though it is also possible now. That loophole comes into play if the house, the residence, is not suitable to the person's need. Do you know that means? It means a tenant can get evicted for their rental property being overcrowded. If a person with no kids then has a child, or a person has another child, the residence is now not suitable to their needs because they need a bigger place. A landlord can say, \"Sorry, I am evicting you because there are more people in the house than there was when I signed the lease to put you in.\" That will be allowed for under the legislation. They will find ways to do that.  Do these corporate landlords do that kind of thing? Oh they absolutely do. I have the living proof in a multi-unit development called St. Helen's Court which is across the road from my constituency office in D\u00fan Laoghaire. I do not know how many times I have raised it. Eight or nine years later, the majority of the units, all of them perfect units, are sitting there empty since it was taken over by a vulture fund and then another vulture fund which tried to mass-evict the tenants. It eventually drove them out. We successfully resisted some of the attempts to evict people but eventually, with the grind of being threatened constantly with eviction and having to go to the RTB, people just left. Some of the people did get housed by the council. The majority of those properties continue to sit there empty because it suits the vulture fund for them to be empty in order that it can get beyond the existing legislation's restrictions on rent increases, eventually jack up the rents again and get around the existing RPZs. That is what they do. The landlords play the long game. They inflict misery on the tenants. They try to evict people, eventually drive them out and sit on the properties, in this case for nearly a decade. It is perfectly empty when there are people homeless on the street outside. They do this because it is profitable to do it and the Government allows that. It is absolutely shocking and now the Government is going to facilitate even further that sort of profiteering.  There is a lot more to be said and I am sure my colleagues here will be saying many of those things but this is a disgrace. The best place for people who are worried about the housing crisis to be is out protesting. I hope we see more protests against this because the Government has really revealed its true colours on this one and we need to fight back. People who want something done about this housing crisis and who want to get affordable rents, secure and affordable housing and to protect tenants' rights need to begin to get organised on the streets. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  I will speak in support of this group of amendments, amendments Nos. 2, 7 and 8. I will explain the detailed reasons for that in a moment.  I will start, however, with two small pieces of housekeeping. First, I acknowledge the very helpful role of the departmental officials. They have obviously been working on this Bill in a relatively short period of time and at any stage when either we or our committee sought additional information they have been very obliging in making sure we were facilitated in trying to understand the legislation. I wish to make clear that the criticisms I am going to make of this legislation are political criticisms directed at the Minister and the Government and not at the hard-working officials who are often put in very difficult positions producing complex legislation in short periods of time.  This is a truly appalling way to make legislation. One can always tell when a government is embarrassed by its own proposals. One can always tell when a government is anxious that the public who are affected by its legislation get as little opportunity as possible to hear about those changes until it is too late by government rushing through legislation in impossibly short periods of time. The Bill before us is not simple. It is not straightforward, as we will discuss throughout the evening, and it is going to profoundly impact the lives of tens of thousands of people. Yet, we are being given an entirely inadequate Committee Stage opportunity. In effect, there will be no Report and Final Stages. The Government is going to make the most substantial change to the regulation of the private rental sector in over a decade in the space of ten hours when includes the time spent on the Bill last week and this week and whatever time it will get in the Seanad next week. Of course, the problem with that is not only is there a lack of scrutiny and a lack of media and public attention, it also means that whatever the Government's intentions, the negative consequences of the legislation are probably going to be even worse. Again, there are some specific instances in which I will raise that. I put on record my strong objection to how the Minister has proceeded with this. If this becomes the way in which he does his business, it will make the job of those of us on the Oireachtas housing committee who take our jobs as legislators seriously much more difficult.  Specifically, with respect to the amendments requiring the Minister to bring forward a number of reports, there is a continuity between the three amendments because they all call for reports related to affordability of rents now but also affordability as a consequence of the changes the Government is making. I have tabled a number of amendments that are similar to amendment No. 1 in particular, to which Deputy Boyd Barrett referred earlier, to try to delay the passage of the Bill until such reports were produced. They have been ruled out of order and I fully accept the decision of the Ceann Comhairle but they are similar in intention to these amendments.  For me, one of the really shocking things when we dealt with the legislation at pre-legislative scrutiny is that when we inquired as to whether there had been any attempt by the Department to make an assessment of the impact of the provisions of this Bill on the rents that renters pay, the answer was \"No\". That is an astounding omission on behalf of Government and here is the reason for that. At the very centre of this Bill, the most significant and controversial aspect is the market reset provision that will, from 1 March this year, allow a landlord to reset the market rent when a new tenant moves in. If the previous tenant left voluntarily or as a result of breach of contract, that market reset will start at the beginning of that tenancy and for all categories of tenant it will be repeated every six years. One would have thought, given the significance of that change, the Department might want to know the answer to two questions. First, how many people is that likely to impact in the first month, six months, 12 months, etc. The second question one would have thought a Minister who is interested in the impact of his legislation on renters would ask is how much extra they are going to pay. They are pretty reasonable questions which these amendments are putting to the Minister, albeit in retrospect because that is all we can do. Thankfully, even though the Minister did not think this was important information to have before bringing such radical proposals to Cabinet, the Residential Tenancies Board publishes the data that anybody with a little bit of time and a spreadsheet can understand.  I would like to put on the record of the House the answers to those questions which these amendments are seeking the Minister to provide, which the Minister should have assessed and provided for himself, his Government colleagues and our committee prior to the passage of the legislation, but it is important that we hear it today. Question one is how many tenants, people or households is the market reset likely to impact month on month from March? Thankfully, the Residential Tenancies Board, over the last two and a half years, produced quarterly data looking at renewed tenancies and new tenancies. We start to get a picture of quarter on quarter, how many new first-time tenancies are created. The dataset is over two and a half years, so it gives us a good picture of what the trends are. The straight answer is, on average, every quarter, 25% or more of registered tenancies are new first-time tenancies. That equates in the last four quarters to over 60,000 new tenancies. Some are single people, some are couples and some are families with children. That means, if those trends continue, the potential number of new first-time tenants impacted by the market reset is somewhere in the region of 60,000 if trends continue. That proposition is supported by the Residential Tenancies Board's other important piece of information that the average length of a tenancy is about three and a half years.  The first thing to say is that we are looking at, from March through to the end of this year and into next year, tens of thousands renters whom the Minister and his Minister of State, and my colleague, Deputy McGrath from the housing committee, are going to expose to the market reset. That is an indisputable fact. Sure, the changes may result in some changes in patterns and levels of churn, but it is likely they will be minimal. That means huge numbers of people will be impacted by this month on month from March.  It leads us to the next question directly related to the three amendments before us. What is that likely to cost? How much extra rent are Fianna F\u00e1il, Fine Gael and the Lowry and Healy-Rae Independents allowing landlords to charge from that market reset? I appreciate this is going to be uncomfortable listening for some folks on the other side of the Chamber but it is important that we have it on the record. In order to determine or try to work out what the likely cost is, we also have really helpful data from the Residential Tenancies Board every single quarter. Over the last two and a half years, it tells us, Statewide, regionally and in every county, including the Ceann Comhairle's, the Minister's and mine, what rents are being charged on average for existing renters and what the new rents are. That means, on a spreadsheet, you can set out rents for existing renters, rents for new renters, look at the difference and that will give you a pretty reasonable estimation of the potential increased rent from the market reset. In fact, that data is from quarter 2 of 2025, which means the scale of the uplift is likely to be much greater.  What is the answer to the question? Based on the RTB's overall data, anybody hit with the market reset from March is likely to be paying at a minimum 17% more rent than they would have otherwise. That is a significant amount of money. That averages to about \u20ac3,000 of additional rent in a year. What the Minister is asking us to vote for is for those people who start new tenancies from March of this year to be paying at a minimum \u20ac3,000 more a year. When you start to look at the county breakdowns, this is where it starts to get really interesting. The county-by-county and city breakdowns are utterly staggering. Limerick City, the Minister of State's constituency, will have one of the potentially highest market reset rates in the State at roughly \u20ac4,000. What the Minister of State is going to vote for tonight is that renters in his constituency, if they start a new tenancy from the beginning of March, could, over the next 12 months, on the basis of the RTB figures, face \u20ac4,000 a year more than under the current regime.  I appreciate that might come as a surprise or shock to the Minister of State, but is it not utterly bizarre that an Opposition Member using RTB figures has to stand on this side of the Chamber five or six months after this was proposed and it may be the first time he is being told the actual impact on the people he claims to represent? Waterford City is in a similar region as well. Let us look at Wexford, a Cheann Comhairle, because it is important we all know the impact of this. I know she is neutral and not involved in this, but the uplift is 21% higher rent than they would otherwise be paying as a consequence of this Bill. That is an extra \u20ac2,532 a year. I am sure when she is out in her constituency she will be told it is huge sum of money for a young couple trying to rent to save for a home or for a modest income working person to pay. What about Wicklow? Wicklow will be \u20ac4,000. Leitrim will be \u20ac3,000. The single biggest uplift, the city that is going to expose renters to the greatest level of additional rent over 12 months, is Galway city at \u20ac5,000.  Before we have a conversation, and we will have that conversation today, about supply or tenure - because in both of those, the Minister's arguments are very questionable - the facts, as evidenced by the Residential Tenancies Board in its registration and rent data, is that if this Bill goes through tonight, into the Seanad tomorrow and passed next week, new renters in new tenancies will be facing potential rent increases in the order of 20%, 25% or 30% more - \u20ac2,000, \u20ac3,000, \u20ac4,000 or, in the case of Galway, \u20ac5,000. The Minister has to ask himself what he has against renters. Does he really think renters have that kind of money to pay that extra? We know with data from the ESRI that renters, typically speaking - not exclusively, but typically speaking - have lower incomes. These are the people least able to pay the additional charges. We also know that students, the overwhelming majority of whom do not live in the student-specific accommodation sector but rather live in the private rental sector, typically speaking on nine-month leases not 12 months, come September, are going to get hit substantially again and again. That means, for example, families from the western seaboard, from Donegal, the north west, etc., who do not have significant university places close to them, are going to be hit by phenomenally greater rent increases. We will talk about the mess the Government is making of the student-specific sector later.  The summary is as follows. I have been saying this all week, and it is really interesting because nobody in the Government has responded to this. The summary consequence of this proposal, which these amendments are trying to get to the bottom of, is that somewhere in the region of 60,000 households - singles, couples, families - over the next 12 months, will be asked by Fianna F\u00e1il, Fine Gael and the Lowry and Healy-Rae Independents to pay rent increases in the order of \u20ac3,000, \u20ac4,000 or \u20ac5,000. When you strip it all away, that is what is in front of us. That is why I think these amendments are enormously important. They are asking the Minister to do something he should have done and should have published previously.  You might ask why are you so intent on imposing so much hardship on these renters. The Minister has given us the answer. I am sure he will repeat it again today. He will say the only way we can tackle the housing crisis is if we increase supply. The primary approach to increasing supply from this Government is to incentivise large institutional investors from the global markets to come to Ireland and build high-density apartment schemes because, as supply goes up, then, over time, rents will moderate. What utter rubbish. The reason we know it is rubbish is because there is no analysis anywhere, either produced by the Department or anyone else, that tells us that if you increase institutional investment to the high end of the market, high density and high price, it will have any impact on price other than perpetually increasing rent. It is economic absurdity, yet the Minister repeats it as if it is some kind of empirical fact. If he really believes it, he should publish the evidence. Get a bunch of housing and economic experts to produce a report and put it on the table.  In fact, the way the Government is designing this means that not only will new tenants in existing rental stock be hit with a market reset, in most cases, at the start and near the end, but for new apartment stock, that will not even be constrained by the rent pressure zones in between. It will be the CPI. It will be the most aggressive form of inflation possible.  If I were an institutional investor - thankfully, I am not - the Government is guaranteeing me perpetually increasing rents irrespective of what happens for new and sitting tenants, which is something it is also permitting for new student-specific accommodation. Locked into its formula here is an incentive for those investors to continue to increase rents. As we know, because there continues to be an exit of small, semi-professional accidental landlords from the market, for a range of reasons, some of which is dissatisfaction with Government policy, the lower end and lower priced private rental stock will continue to deplete. The only new stock, if we get any significant increase at all, will be high end, high density and high cost. Investors will not be building anything in the Minister's constituency or anything in Limerick. They might build something in the docklands of Cork, in the constituency of the Minister of State, Deputy McGrath, but I do not think the hard-working constituents he well-represents at our committee when we talk about affordable homes think that \u20ac3,000 a month is affordable for a standard 70 sq. m one-bedroom in the centre of Cork. I do not think anybody elected him or me to advocate for that, but that is what he is voting for here tonight. This will not increase supply in the places it is needed. Where it does increase supply, it will be exceptionally expensive. Meanwhile, the lower cost rental, along with the under-provision of social and affordable and private for-purchase homes, will dissipate.  I will make a final point on these amendments. Every time I am in a debate on these matters with somebody from the Government, the last thing they want to talk about are rents because God forbid we talk about the centrepiece of the legislation. Instead, what the Government keeps talking about is that it is giving people real security of tenure and new shiny six-year tenancies where they cannot be evicted. First, under Part 4 of the Residential Tenancies Act, we already have six-year tenancies. They used to be for four years and are now for six; they already exist. Second, existing tenants who remain in their current properties, and Deputy Hearne made this point on Second Stage, get no benefit. New tenants of small landlords can still be evicted during that six-year period. There is a bit of a restriction, but there are still three significant grounds upon which notice of termination can be provided. For large landlords, the Government is finally putting on the Statute Book what already exists in practice, which is institutional investors only evicting for breach of contract.  The problem is, and this relates directly back to these amendments, what value is security of tenure if people cannot afford the rent? It is almost as if the Minister has forgotten why rent pressure zones were introduced in the first place. I was never a supporter of rent pressure zones. I sat up there and argued tooth and nail that Simon Coveney was getting it wrong and tabled amendments that the Government would not accept. Much of our criticisms of the rent pressure zones - many of us voted against them in the end - came to pass. They provided modest protection for some but you could not have made a bigger hames of rent regulation than Fine Gael and Fianna F\u00e1il at the time. The reason rent pressure zones were introduced was that from 2014 to 2016 a new phenomenon had entered our housing system: child and family homelessness. That is something that in 2011 was virtually unheard of but because of double-digit rising rents the number of families and children entering emergency accommodation rose for one reason and one reason only; an inability to pay a legally sanctioned rent increase from the Government, which forced them into homelessness. It was double-digit rental inflation. Rent pressure zones put some level of pause on that, but what the Government is proposing here is to go back to double-digit rental inflation.  Deputy Boyd Barrett made a point that has to be emphasised over and over again. Last year, about 20,000 eviction notices or notices of termination were issued. Many of the people who got those notices were waiting incredibly long periods for social housing. Their rent was subsidised by the housing assistance payment, HAP. Today, the gap between HAP and new rents is already too great for the vast majority of those people. If another \u20ac3,000, \u20ac4,000 or \u20ac5,000 is added on to those new rents, it is game over. Why would the Minister, a year into his job, when child and family homelessness is rising, introduce a policy that every single policy expert, front-line homeless service provider and anybody who can count is telling him will increase and accelerate the rate at which families with children will be in homelessness? We will all stand here, month after month, and remind the Government that it took this decision. It took a decision to allow market rents to increase to double digits. As a consequence of that, people who desperately need private rental cannot get it and are pushed into homelessness.  The Minister will accuse me of personalising it when I do this at some later stage, but that means he is directly responsible, by the actions and legislation he is promoting, securing Cabinet approval for and getting the approval of backbenchers, for all of that. It will push up rents and will not increase supply to any significant level. Where it does result in increased supply, it will be expensive and inappropriate and will lead to increased levels of homelessness. The Government is introducing a security of tenure regime that is so complex it will be very difficult to explain, even harder to understand and virtually impossible to enforce. I have been here for a decade and I have seen some pretty politically shabby pieces of rent reform in terms of what the Government asked officials to do. This is by far the worst in a decade. This is what the Minister will be remembered for. The legacy he is going to leave is higher and ever-increasing rents, far greater financial pressure on renters, rising levels of homelessness and a security of tenure regime, which I will put money on today we will be back here about in two, three or four years' time. Whoever replaces the Minister for the mess he will have left will be trying to undo and unpick this, just as we stood here with Simon Coveney in 2016 and pleaded with him to do it properly, do it right, listen to the experts and to those people who know better. He ignored us, Eoghan Murphy ignored us, Darragh O'Brien ignored us and now the Minister is ignoring us. The consequence will be more housing failure.  There are eminently sensible amendments. I am happy to support them. I am very interested in hearing the Minister's response to what I have said and I will continue the debate. Without doubt, this will be remembered as one of the worst interventions in the private rental market in recent history and it will be the name of the Minister, Deputy James Browne, that will be associated with it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  This Bill is a mirage because of what the Minister is talking about regarding security of tenure. There are things in the Bill about security of tenure that I would welcome were they in isolation, but we have a situation where the Government has a policy outcome whereby it has drafted a Bill that is so complicated and convoluted. It has made a policy decision that is essentially pulling in two separate directions. It claims it is trying to offer renters improved security of tenure but it is allowing landlords to reset the rent in between tenancies, which all but wipes that out.  I will speak to amendments Nos. 7 and 8 in my name. I will also speak in support of amendment No. 2. My colleagues and I have all asked the Minister what modelling or analysis the Government has done in relation to this Bill. He comes back constantly and talks about the Housing Agency review into rent pressure zones. That review does not provide a predictable analysis as to what the effects of this Bill will be, which have been set out very well by the Deputies who spoke. I look at my city of Limerick, which the Minister of State and I both represent. We have had the highest level of rent increases in the entire country. I look at the supply issues we have and at what the Minister says about this Bill apparently incentivising supply, but the supply this Bill will incentivise, if it incentivises any, will be expensive, high-end, build-to-rent apartments.  Such apartments do not get built in Limerick. With the market reset mechanism, the average length of a tenancy being three to three and half years, and the deficit we have in student specific accommodation in Limerick, I am concerned in respect of the city I represent that renters in Limerick will be on the hook for rent increases of at least 20%.  I look back to the residential tenancies amendment Act the then Minister, Simon Coveney, introduced in 2016, which introduced the RPZ regime and the 4%. Flawed and all as that mechanism is and was, at the very least, when then Deputy Coveney introduced that legislation, modelling was done. Modelling was done that was targeted at areas with the highest and fastest rising rents. With this Bill, the Minister has not done anything to look at rent predictability. Not one witness who came before the Oireachtas joint committee on housing said this Bill would result in rents not rising any more or rents falling, and rents need to fall. They cannot rise any more. Renters cannot pay any more and every witness who came in told us clearly that this Bill will open tenants - tens of thousands of them - to absolutely extortionate rent increases.  As my colleague Deputy Boyd Barrett pointed out earlier, there is a huge issue with HAP. The HAP limits, plus the homeless HAP and the discretionary HAP top-ups, do not go anywhere near what rents actually cost at the moment. With this Bill there will be a real return to economic evictions. People will be evicted because they cannot pay the rent. The truth behind this legislation is that it is for large institutional investors and big property developers. It is not for smaller SME builders. It is certainly not for renters. The Government constantly talks about balance. I find that term offensive in relation to this Bill because the balance is being struck against renters who cannot afford to pay what they are paying. As true as night follows day, the original Residential Tenancies Act that was introduced in 2004 has been amended 14 times. That means every 18 months on average the Residential Tenancies Act gets amended. I guarantee that the Minister or another Minister will be back because rents will rise to a level that the Minister and the Government will not be able to sustain.  I have tabled amendment No. 7, the purpose of which is to require the Minister and the Government to conduct a review of the operation and effectiveness of all amendments made by this Bill to the Residential Tenancies Act to include findings and conclusions and that the review be laid before the Oireachtas. The Minister constantly talks about the need to incentivise supply, but we have not had any clarity about what this Bill will do, bar our analysis of what it will do to rent levels. There is no certainty that it will deliver anything like the level of supply needed to arrest the upward trend in rents. Rents have gone up by the bones of 100% in Dublin, for example, in over a decade and they will go up and up again. I simply do not believe this Bill will work. The Minister has not laid the evidence before us to show how this Bill will work. There needs to be a statutory duty on the Minister to examine what he has done, what the effects are and to come back to the House.  Amendment No. 8 is similar. It is to insert a new section 3, with the heading \"Impact forecast\". It requires the Minister, within not more than six months after the Bill is passed, to publish a statement of the forecast of the impact of the Bill on market rents for the following years. The reason the Government has not done any modelling like this is that it knows that fundamentally what we are saying about rent levels, what we have calculated from looking at the RTB data, is what will transpire, if it is not worse, certainly in the short term. In this amendment, I am looking for the forecast to relate to a representative sample of tenancies. The general public, and most important the tens of thousands of renters who are terrified of the effects of this Bill, are entitled to know what the impact of these proposals will be, how much extra rent they will be forced to pay. It is beyond irresponsible to push a Bill like this through in less than 12 hours if the Minister cannot make such a forecast and if he does not and cannot model what the Bill will do, how it will affect rent levels in the coming decade, how much renters will pay and what the outcome of the Bill will be in terms of this so-called supply.  We have asked questions like this nearly half a dozen times since the general scheme was published and I constantly get the same answer. What will we see with this Bill? For example, there will be new categories of landlord. Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael backbenchers will come here tonight and they will not have the foggiest notion of what they are voting on because this Bill is so confusing and convoluted. For example, the restrictions for larger landlords should be applied universally because the tenants of larger landlords are usually tenants in build to rent properties, properties owned by institutional investors. Their rent is already unbelievably expensive and these properties are rarely, if ever, sold. For the tenants of the new so-called smaller landlords, not much effectively changes and the fact is that people should not be condemned to rent increases of 20% and possibly 30%. We will have a situation of the average length of a tenancy being between three and three and a half years, when it is ordinary working people, people on low incomes, who will have to, in some cases, pay 40%, 50% or 60% of their hard earned income on rent. This will absolutely crush them and the Minister has not set out at all empirically what this Bill will do to rents in the private rental sector. As I said earlier, more of this was done when Simon Coveney introduced the Bill at the end of 2016 which introduced RPZs. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  As I have stated previously, this Bill will be deeply damaging for renters. When we talk about renters, who are we talking about? We are talking about families, individuals and young people who are trying to work, go to school, go to college and live their lives. This Bill increases rents in a way that will absolutely hammer people. Fianna F\u00e1il, Fine Gael and the Minister are completely disconnected from the reality of what is involved in trying to rent a home right now. If they had any sense of what it is like to rent or to try to find somewhere to rent, they would not be doing this. Earlier, the Taoiseach stated that this is what we have to do in order to get supply. The Minister also stated that this is what is needed to get supply and that at some point supply will increase and rents will come down.  I have asked the Minister and the Taoiseach the following question on a number of occasions. Neither has answered it. At what point will this policy incentivise a level of supply that will bring rents down? Will it be in five, ten or 15 years' time? It is never. Rents are never going to come down unless they crash, and then we will have an economic crash. That is the only point at which rents are going to come back down to any sort of sustainable level. In the context of this policy, the Minister is saying clearly that Fianna F\u00e1il, Fine Gael and the Independents are willing to sacrifice these renters, who will have to pay higher rents in the coming months and years to incentivise a supply of housing that at some point will lead to rents coming down.  My colleague Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin referred earlier to officials. I asked the officials who appeared before the housing committee the point at which this policy will bring down rents. They said they hope that it will bring down rents. This Bill is based on a flawed market theory of housing that completely fails to understand how housing markets and systems work. They do not work like normal market commodities, with supply and demand and prices going up and down. I was asked about this earlier. Some might ask whether it is the case that if the market price is not what a renter is willing to pay and if a landlord can get that market price, is that not reasonable? However, housing is not a banana or a car. It is a fundamental human need. When people are faced with either having or not having a home, they will pay absolutely everything they can to get one.  If the rent is determined by the market, landlords will squeeze as much as they can get out of it and people are forced to pay more and more. It is not like buying a car or a banana; they do not have a choice. They need a home, and so they spend everything they have to get it. That is why housing markets are regulated and why there are rent controls. It is the reason the Government brought in rent controls in the first instance, but now it is undoing that and has been captured and has once more bought into thinking that housing markets work like the normal supply-and-demand models highlighted in junior certificate economics. This is not junior certificate economics. This is people's lives. It is the lives of hundreds of thousands of current and future renters. The Taoiseach has told the Opposition that it has no monopoly on compassion, that those in government are also compassionate and that Fianna F\u00e1il was and is the party of a social conscience.  There is no social conscience in this decision. It is a cruel, crude, cold decision that the Minister knows and has agreed will lead to higher rents. Who is going to pay those rents? Has he thought about that? It is going to be families who are struggling to try to cover rents now. They are going to be evicted. This is the other flaw with the Bill. The Minister and the Taoiseach have both stated, very misleadingly, that this Bill is about increased security of tenure for renters. That is absolutely untrue. This is not about increased security of tenure for renters. All existing renters will get no new security of tenure. Again, the Taoiseach stated earlier that this will have no impact on existing renters. That is the point. It provides no additional protections from no-fault evictions for existing renters, so we are going to continue to see a tsunami of evictions.  I am not sure how the Minister feels about the fact that we have reached the highest level of evictions in this country since Famine times. That is what we are seeing. I do not know how the Minister stands over that or how he stands over a Bill that will make the situation worse. Not only are we going to continue to have the pressure of evictions like those that are happening for various reasons, mainly because landlords are selling up, now, we are also going to have a situation where some landlords will be licking their lips at the thought that they can get market rents if they get particular tenants out of their properties and that they will no longer be subject to the inter-tenancy rent cap.  The really disappointing part of this Bill is that it came about on foot of a decision that was made directly as a result of lobbying by institutional investors. The lobbying record, as I have stated previously, makes this very clear. Irish Institutional Property represents all the big institutional funds, including IRES REIT, Kennedy Wilson and Ardstone. I have a copy of the lobbying register here. It shows the number of times Pat Farrell from Irish Institutional Property has met with the Government in respect of these policies - there is a list of meeting after meeting - and to push for these changes. Killian Woods wrote an article about IRES REIT in the Business Post last August. It talks about how IRES REIT, which is one of Ireland's biggest private landlords, with more than 3,500 properties, is so happy. It states:  From Ires Reit\u2019s perspective, the most eye-catching change was the new measure that now allows landlords to reset rents to market rates between tenancies. Under the current measures, landlords are required to maintain rents at the same level between tenancies.  The article describes how a representative of IRES REIT showed investors a chart which indicated that its average current rents are estimated to be 19% below market rent. The article then states:  Under the new rent control rules, there is a windfall sitting there for the company. It has the opportunity to unlock an additional \u20ac19.9 million of rent a year by raising rents to market rate.  IRES REIT is going to get \u20ac20 million a year from the measures contained in the Bill. Kennedy Wilson will be similar. The Government is going to give these investors \u20ac20 million a year as each churn happens, and renters will be required to pay the market rent.  This Bill has nothing to do with security of tenure, renters or balancing the rights of renters and landlords. It is about giving a windfall to institutional investors in this country, namely large corporate landlords. That is what it is about. The Government has bought in - hook, line and sinker - into their idea that if we allow rents to rise higher, supply will increase, the unit numbers will rise and that will deal with the housing crisis. The complete opposite is the case. This Bill will make the housing crisis substantially worse. It is a disastrous measure for renters and young people who are stuck at home.  It will put it more out of reach. It will put home ownership more out of reach. It is incredible really when we think how far Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael have come from being the parties supposedly of home ownership to now being the parties of the big institutional investors. They are willingly making policy and laws to screw renters and the younger generation so that the institutional investors can make more profit. The Government is happy to stand over that.  I mentioned earlier the disconnect from the human misery this Bill is going to bring about. What has really disturbed me about all the discussion about this has been that disconnection. It terrifies me because what it says to me is that the Government is not actually concerned about this mass of human misery and the social catastrophe that is happening because it is willing to inflict more. It tells me that what it wants to do and what it is doing is putting in place policies that do not solve the housing crisis or make housing more affordable but simply keep the market going. This is, ultimately, another subsidisation of the private market to add to the very significant subsidies the Government gives out. I put the figures together there, and between the VAT cuts introduced in the budget, the HAP that goes to private landlords and Cro\u00ed C\u00f3naithe subsidies, we are talking about over \u20ac1 billion a year going to the private market every year. The figure over the lifetime of the Government will be \u20ac5 billion. This is \u20ac5 billion it will give to the private market with no permanent housing in return and no public housing delivered. We are talking about \u20ac5 billion. The Government says it will not create a State construction company because it will take too long and the Government is not sure. A fraction of that amount would set up a public construction company to build genuinely affordable homes.  The Government is not interested in solving the housing crisis. It just wants to keep the market going. It wants to keep the investors, the property developers, the banks and the system going as is because if it were interested in solving the housing crisis, it would realise that what it is doing with this is actually embedding an unsustainable market. That is what the Government is doing because these rents are completely unsustainable. I looked at the rents being charged on daft.ie and I look around the country. People are expected to pay thousands of euro every month. For example, in Cork, people have been charged \u20ac4,800 for a four-bedroom property. In Santry in my own constituency, the rent for a two-bed is \u20ac2,500 per month, the rent for a two-bed in Beaumont is \u20ac2,700 and the rent for a three-bedroom home in Galway is \u20ac3,000. This is a picture of the new units being built in Northwood in Santry. What are they charging? They are charging \u20ac1,900 for a studio, \u20ac2,600 for a two-bed apartment and \u20ac3,300 for a three-bed. This is before the Government's changes come in. When we look at the income of a teacher on \u20ac44,000, after taxes, we are talking about in the region of 117% of his or her entire take-home pay to pay rent of \u20ac3,300. If we take a nurse on \u20ac37,000, we are talking about 127% of his or her entire take-home pay. The percentage for a person on the minimum wage with take-home pay of \u20ac1,900 a month is 168% of their take-home pay. It is impossible to pay these rents. This is how the Government expects an economy and society to function. Where are we going to get our nurses, teachers, bus drivers or doctors from? That is in our cities. They cannot function in many ways at the moment because of these policies.  It is deeply frustrating for many people around the country who are going to see their rents increased to market rent. It will not build one home for them. While it might incentivise a certain amount of really expensive apartments being built in Dublin, it will not build one new home in Carrick-on-Suir, Kerry, Louth, Donegal or Mayo. All the renters in those counties will face higher market rents, because all landlords will be able to bring the rent up to market rent when a tenant moves out or every six years in the new tenancies in those parts of the country, and they will not see one new unit from these measures. Not one new unit will be built by an institutional investor, which the Government is making these decisions for.  It is a disastrous policy and it just shows how disconnected Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael are from the reality of this housing crisis. Unfortunately, it is not going to work and the housing crisis will continue. What will the Government bring about? It will bring about higher rents for renters. It is deeply disappointing and frustrating and we will continue to talk about this in terms of the disaster that the Government is going to make worse. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  This Bill should be called the raise the rent Bill. The purpose of the Bill is to raise people's rents. That is literally it. The Government likes to pretend that there is some greater, deeper meaning going on. It likes to talk about security of tenure but the purpose of this Bill is to raise people's rents. People's rents have already almost doubled in the past ten years but the Government thinks that for the people it represents - the big landlords, the so-called institutional investors - the rents are not rising fast enough so it is going to introduce this Bill to raise the rents even faster to cost the average renter more than \u20ac3,000 extra a year. That is the purpose of this Bill and it will be the consequence of this Bill. The Government is going to ram this Bill through. It will guillotine it and shut down the debate in this House tonight and the consequences are that people's rents are going to rise.  What does that look like? It is a massive further transfer of wealth from some of the poorest people in the country to some of the richest people and richest corporations in the country, which are already making plenty of money from their very many rental properties. That is one impact. Another impact is that evictions are going to soar and not from a low point but from a high point. Evictions are already at the same level proportionately as they were in the 1850s in Ireland. Do we know what came after that number of evictions in Ireland in the 1850s? What came after that was the Land War because people simply had enough and I think that is going to come now for the Government as well.  People may say that this does not make any sense. The Government has not presented any evidence to show what is going to happen and how this is magically going to translate into supply. All the experts are saying this is not working. The Government talks day in, day out about listening to hard-working people and trying to look out for renters, so why on earth is it bringing in a Bill that is going to rapidly increase people's rents? The answer is very simple. If it walks like a duck, swims like a duck and quacks like a duck, it is probably a duck. It is a landlords' Government. That is the bottom-line truth of it. We have a Government that is interested in representing the views and the material interests of big landlords. About one third of Government Deputies are landlords but the rest of them represent them very effectively in any case because ideologically they are committed to this idea that the market has to solve things and trickle-down economics. The Government for the past ten years has been implementing all the policies that are supposedly great and will resolve the housing crisis but that have resulted in the housing crisis getting worse, but by a happy coincidence, there is a big transfer of wealth from the public, through the State and taxpayers' money, to landlords and from renters to landlords. That is the essence of it. We have a landlords' Government that represents the interests of the tiny minority that are landlords and the even smaller minority that are big landlords in this country as opposed to all of those who are affected by the housing crisis.  The fundamental point is that the Government does not represent those who suffer from the housing crisis but those who profit from the housing crisis. Why does the Government keep introducing policies that make the housing crisis worse? It is time to draw the conclusion that it does not care about ending the housing crisis. If the housing crisis ended, the Government's friends - the developers and the big landlords - would not be able to make the sort of money they are currently able to make.  That is the fundamental point and it is why we need to get rid of this Government as soon as we can and build a movement on the streets and in communities to resist these rent increases and the evictions that are going to flow from it and to massively apply pressure on the Government on these issues.  I want to raise a point about landlords in this D\u00e1il. It is shocking that about 20% of TDs in the D\u00e1il are going to vote tonight on legislation that is personally going to benefit them. If you are a landlord and you vote in the D\u00e1il tonight to pass this legislation, you are going to personally benefit, on average, to the tune of about \u20ac3,000. It is shocking that it is allowed in the first place, and, whether they agree with it or not, that the TDs affected would not put their hands up and say that they are personally affected by this and recuse themselves from the vote. Even at this late stage, I appeal to landlord TDs not to participate in this vote tonight. It is utterly wrong that landlords, who will personally benefit from the increasing of rents, are going to get to vote on this legislation. They will personally benefit from it while it will have such a devastating effect on so many people.  In general, we have a landlords' Government with plenty of landlord TDs, but it is a bit much that literally the landlords' lobbying organisation wrote amendments for TDs and the TDs literally copy and pasted them and submitted them. This is the democratic process. Independent Ireland's Gillian O'Toole literally got the same email that the rest of us got from the Irish Property Owners Association, IPOA, the landlords' lobby organisation, that asked us to put in these amendments on behalf of landlords. Independent Ireland said: \"Yes, sir. We represent the landlords. We will submit the amendments.\" It is very blatant. Do not let anyone fall for the idea that Independent Ireland represents the common man or woman; it does no such thing. It explicitly represents the landlords. The landlord lobby group says that it wants these amendments and Independent Ireland says, \"Yes, sure. We will put them in immediately.\" People should be aware of that.  I want to raise a particular point about the impact of this in terms of HAP. The point has been made about the HAP levels. The other point in relation to that is many HAP tenants across the country will effectively have a double rent increase. Councils across the country are hiking council rents. Dublin City Council, for example, has voted to do so and is due to implement the hike from April. Galway City Council has done it and other councils across the country have done it too. It looks like South Dublin County is trying to go for significant increases. It is to be voted on towards the end of this year to come into effect next year. This is a nationwide process. It is being driven by council management, but it is also being driven by the Government. Reading the Government's latest housing plan, it explicitly talks about merging council rents and cost rental over time, in other words, doing away with the differential rent system and the basic and fair idea that the amount people pay for housing should be based on their income. It is bad enough that it is going to result in massive increases for council tenants, but HAP tenants are going to be doubly hit. HAP tenants are going to be faced with significant increases - let us say, 30% increases in what they are paying to the council - and then they are going to be hit by this increase which, if the HAP limits do not increase, all of which will be gobbled up in the top-ups that they are paying. They are the worst affected and they are some of the most vulnerable people in the housing market as a whole.  The Opposition is mostly united in this House - the left Opposition, certainly - in opposing what the Government is doing here, but I call on all the left parties to take a stand on the councils against these council rent increases. Even if they have voted in some cases to allow these to go ahead, they should reconsider it, particularly in light of what is happening here and the extra pressure that it is going to apply in terms of HAP tenants.  What our amendment seeks to do is show an image of how you could do things fundamentally differently. If you start from the point of view of not representing landlords but, instead, of representing the majority of people who are affected by the housing crisis, you would go about this in a very different way by establishing a board to reset rents to affordable levels and where the guideline for establishing affordability would be rents that are, in general, no more than 20% of a tenant's income.  That is the alternative way to tackle the housing crisis. It says let us stop pouring public money into the pockets of private landlords and developers. Let us stop pouring and enabling more and more private renters' money to be funnelled into the hands of landlords. Instead, let us protect tenants. Let us ban economic evictions. Let us control rents and use public money to have a State construction company to build social and affordable homes. That is the sensible thing to do, if you were not governed by the class interest of representing landlords and the free market ideology that goes alongside that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  As I listened to some of the other speakers, I thought about some of the comments the Minister made at the housing committee and in this Chamber. I just do not get it. The Minister and the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, are intelligent people. We have seen the housing crisis go from a crisis to an emergency. We know that homelessness is off the charts and homelessness is only recorded as people living in emergency accommodation. It does not include the people who are living with three or four generations in the same home. It does not include the hidden homeless, the true figure that is there.  When the Minister and Minister of State look at the homelessness figures and the housing crisis and see house prices, rents and evictions going up, do they really, in their heart of hearts, believe that this Bill is going to solve that? I do not believe they could, if they are the intelligent men I believe them to be.  The Minister and Minister of State inherited an unbelievable housing emergency and are they are desperate to find solutions. The big investment companies, the big speculators and the vulture funds came in and produced a document for the Government that they claimed would deliver housing. It will not.  The only way to solve the crisis is through supply. It is by building social and affordable housing. Think of all the people who are living in HAP and RAS properties in the private rental market. If the Government delivers social and affordable housing and takes those people out of the private market, that frees up all the rental accommodation then for the renters who badly need it.  I talked to a couple of people over the weekend. They said to me that this is so cruel. They might not feel the consequences on 1 March, but they will in the future. They are terrified because their rents are too high already. Their rents are through the roof. They are struggling to hang on. I talked to a girl who is college educated. She has a child. She can just about afford the rent. What happens when she cannot afford it? Will the Minister answer that question? What happens when her rent resets to the market value and she cannot afford it? This is a person with a good job and a good education who does everything right. What happens to her? Where is the support? This lady will not qualify for HAP or RAS. Do you know what she told me? She said that nearly all her friends are in the same position. They are renting. They cannot get mortgages because the price of housing is so high. The price of housing is so high because the Government did not build houses for years. It left it to the market. The Government has a fascination with the idea that the market will solve the problem.  Fine Gael came up with this solution after the financial crash. Fianna F\u00e1il should have learned from the financial crash that the one thing we cannot rely on to sort out problems in housing and health is the market. The major problems must be sorted out by government. Rents are not just unaffordable. They are crippling families. Some people will not be able to move for six years as a consequence of this legislation because, if they move, they know they will pay the new market rent wherever they go.  I talked to people who live together even though their relationships have broken up because they have nowhere to go. I have been contacted by women who are in abusive relationships, either physical or mental.  Where do they go with their kids? I have helped families in Cork to access emergency accommodation and then, within a couple of weeks, they are asked to leave because there is no capacity for them. There are consequences. When I became a TD I was told, \"Thomas, you must always be aware of the unintended consequences\". There are so many negative consequences to this legislation that the Minister is either not considering or he does not get.  It is not only me who is saying this. We were all in at the housing committee, including the Minister and Minister of State, and all the experts told us that rents, evictions and homelessness will increase. What will also increase is profit for the big investment funds, vulture funds and speculators. They look at Ireland and see a place where they can make a profit. It goes back to \"greed is good\". The Government's job is to protect people and ensure they have a safe place to live and raise their families.  The amendments call for a review and a report. The one thing I have learned since I came up here is to follow the science and the data. Figures do not lie, and what the figures have said here is that this Bill will have a catastrophic effect on rents and drive them through the roof. They are already too high.  I spoke with a lady who is on a disability payment and receiving the housing assistance payment, HAP. The only way she can keep the roof over her head is that every month, her retired father gives her money. Her rent is so high that HAP is not enough. She is on a disability payment and only for her dad, she would be homeless. I know another family in the same position. I was talking to a man who explained to me that his brothers are helping him out with the rent. He had lost his home because the property where he was living was being sold. The family had no choice but to take whatever accommodation there was. The cost of that accommodation is so high that they cannot afford it and he is being supported by his family. What will happen when, as a consequence of this Bill, rents are driven higher?  There is so much more I could say but my colleagues have touched on a lot of it. We all make mistakes in life. There but for the grace of God go all of us. The Government has made a mistake. Security of tenure for six years would be a positive step if it did not allow market rents to drive so many people out. People watching this debate realise what will happen as a consequence of this Bill finally being passed. The worry I have is the people out there tonight who do not know what the Government is doing and who will only realise the consequences of this legislation in the weeks, months or years to come. People will be left terrified and without hope.  The Government cannot sort out all the problems but what the Minister and Minister of State can do is give people hope. This Bill will not give people hope. It will give profits to the rich and super-rich and will drive ordinary working people into the hands of moneylenders. What happens when people go to moneylenders and they cannot pay the money back? Where do they go? What happens when they borrow from family and friends and that money runs out? Where do they go?  The Bill is a mistake. The Government is following the lobbyists and it is time to step back. We will work with the Government. I will leave the Minister and Minister of State with this. We will work with the Government to bring forward a Bill that will deliver housing and rents that are affordable and that will make a change for people. We can all commit to that but not to this Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  I wanted to get onto the housing committee. I am not a member of the committee but I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill again and support the amendments that were tabled, which relate to reviews, reports and caps. I have already said that I support the Bill in principle and the concept behind it but what is being proposed raises so many questions and concerns that, as others have mentioned, it is hugely unlikely to do what it is intended to, unless the intention is purely to increase supply and increase the profits of large developers and real estate investment trusts that are largely from outside the country.  To give an example, I see the logic of providing exemptions for new builds linked solely to the consumer price index to try to get more construction going. I get the concept that the State needs to get other people building and more supply into the market. Eventually, that supply will, hopefully, stabilise prices or bring them down but there is a huge question over the market reset, as proposed here. There could have been a happy medium in which some form of an increase was provided but it was capped, rather than being entirely a so-called market increase, because, as others have said, housing should never be just left to the markets. It is about people's daily lives.  I have a constituent who has fallen into arrears because it took them a long time to get a housing assistance payment. They are now asking if the local authority can give them homeless HAP because the landlord has indicated that they will take the homeless HAP if the council pays and the tenant they cannot pay the rent. The council is saying, however, that it is an existing tenancy, so the person, once they are evicted, will get the homeless HAP but they are now going to have to pay a much higher rent and the State is going to have to pay a much higher rent. The cost of HAP this year will be, I think, over \u20ac570 million. If that \u20ac570 million was used to build houses, we would get between 4,000 and 6,000 houses, which is not the number of houses needed. If you were trying to develop a system, you would not have brought in HAP in the first place, but we are kind of stuck with it now. That is the problem.  As rents rise and people cannot afford to pay them, the taxpayer will essentially foot the bill. We have had various suggestions about housing, including that the State should become the single biggest developer. Successive governments have argued against that idea, saying it is not feasible, might breach the Stability and Growth Pact, etc. However, we need to look at the actual cost of housing delivery. We have not had a serious discussion about having a State real estate investment trust whereby people, through the credit union or some other means, would contribute towards the purchase or construction of housing. They would be stakeholders but it would be a social enterprise. There may be a return on the investment but it would be a lot less than the super-profits these companies are going to make. This approach would lead to affordable rents going forward because if it is left to the private market, the market will take its toll.  I will digress slightly but the same principle applies. In Lucan, South Dublin County Council, in its wisdom, did not have its social enterprise company tender for the operation of the swimming pool. Instead, it was let out to a company called Aura Leisure, which is very successful and competent in its own field. However, there was no underlying subsidy. Now we have a public pool where people are paying commercial prices because it was left up to a commercial operator to manage it. In every situation where you bring in a cut, the developer or investor will take a much bigger cut than the Government or local authority would take in terms of the common good.  I also refer to what others have said about the incentive to end tenancies sooner than would otherwise be the case. I think Deputy Boyd Barrett spoke about the situation in relation to an extra family member. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Yes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  There is no absolute clarity on whether a house would be deemed unsuitable because there might be, say, an extra child or a boy and girl and then all of a sudden there is overcrowding. The landlord can tick a box and they have an excuse to get them out and then look at ways they can increase their income. Those types of unknowns are very worrying. The one I mentioned on Second Stage was the mindset of landlords trying to find a way. They might think, \u201cSure I have a family member. We\u2019ll try to get them into the house for a couple of months and that will cover the family need.\u201d I also raised the issue, which was not answered, around enforcement. How do we know the properties are meeting the family need criteria? How many extra people will be employed to investigate it, for example? I have already mentioned that the Residential Tenancies Board is massively underfunded. It is 18 months since I submitted a case about a very dodgy landlord who has multiple properties, is in breach of multiple planning regulations and is not registered with the RTB, and there has been no comeback. I am sure that situation is multiplied throughout my constituency and everyone else's as well. We do not have those checks and balances.  We have what in a sense is an attempt by the Government to do something visionary and be seen to tackle the crisis. It sets a new market rate and there is the 2% cap going forward. It looks very good in principle. However, let us take the smaller landlords, for example. I am thinking of a person who owns one property. There may be a number of TDs with one property although I know there are TDs with multiple properties where it is a business. I have been dealing with a lot of these types of landlords. From talking to people, the smaller landlord is the one who wants someone to mind the property for them. They often treat the second property as their own because they have inherited it or it is an investment so that when they are in retirement age they have a steady income. They might let a company manage it and they get a percentage of it. They would prefer to have a lower rent but with very steady tenants because, as well as the nightmare, greedy, obnoxious, unrelenting landlords, you also have a minority of tenants who are nightmare tenants. The small landlord wants an easy life and they are the type of people we should be encouraging to stay in the market and not the massive investors who are treating it as an income stream. The latter might be more efficient in terms of managing multiple property units but they will keep pushing up the prices. It is about affordability. As these smaller landlords are selling up, a lot of the homeless hubs are full and overcrowded, so when the tenant eventually finds a new place the rents have gone up massively and they may not be able to afford to pay those rents. If they are able to pay, it will be with the assistance of the local authority which in years to come will need increased HAP thresholds and payments, and that will come from taxpayers' money and State money, to keep the system going. All that money is coming from one source but it is going to the developers and the big investor funds - the institutional landlords. They are the ones siphoning our collective money away. That is why we need to look at housing as a social enterprise rather than for-profit.  This Bill does make an attempt to do a noble thing. I will not get into attacks on the Government where people say it has no compassion or that everyone is in the pockets of investors. Although historically Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael have received a lot of largesse from developers, I believe that has died down as a result of legislation that has been brought in. We do still have cosy relations between politicians and developers at an individual level, however, and we have to think about having a cosier relationship with our constituents \u2013 the people who are suffering through increased prices and rents \u2013 and think about their common good and everyone\u2019s well-being. That is why I support the amendments. I support the concept of this Bill but we need to look at it more from the perspective of the individual or family living in the house rather than the people making the profit out of it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  I support amendments Nos. 2, 7 and 8 in relation to reviews and reports. The Minister and the Minister of State know what is going to happen here because we can see it already. We could see it from the moment they announced this in autumn last year. We can see what is happening \u2013 notices to quit are increasing, rents are increasing and pressure on tenants to move out is increasing. This is because many landlords \u2013 I am not putting all of them in the one box \u2013 and especially the bigger ones know that come 1 March the sky is the limit. This evening the Government is planning on ramming through this legislation. We are TDs but we are human beings as well. I ask the Minister and the Minister of State here to think about the people who are in private rented accommodation - I know some of them, and the two Ministers here know them - who are spending 50% or 55% of their total income on rent. That means there is not enough money for food, clothes, to heat the place, for their kids or a whole range of other things, and that is just the basics to get through life. I ask them to think about those people for a minute.  Three Laois TDs will have a vote on this \u2013 one Fianna F\u00e1il TD, one Fine Gael TD and an Independent, yours truly - and I dearly wish all three of us were voting together on it. I get that the six-year certainty around tenancy is a good thing but the problem is what the Government is bringing in on the back of it. It is a Trojan Horse. It will have huge implications. My amendment, and I hope we will get to it, is around trying to limit it to 2% or the rate of inflation, the CPI. Who is the rate of inflation not good enough for? Who is 2% not good enough for? Who is lobbying for this? Is the Irish Property Owners Association getting everything it wants? Are the developers getting everything? They have got everything they want \u2013 the VAT cuts, the tax breaks and everything else they wanted.  I want to see more housing but what the Government is doing is a charter for misery and further misery. The Minister knows it and I know it because I meet these people \u2013 ordinary working people. These are couples, lone parents and all sorts of ordinary workers trying to get by. It is pensioners too. This is one coming down the line. People sitting here in ten years' time will have to deal with a tsunami of pensioners who are in private rented accommodation. The State will end up supplementing that if we do not do better about cost rental and if we do not do something to slow down rent increases. The RPZs were not perfect. They had some cooling effects but, despite them, daft.ie and other surveys show that rents for new tenancies in County Laois over the last two years have increased 15% to 16% over existing tenancies. If that is happening at a time when we have RPZs, what in the name of the Lord God almighty is going to happen when you remove all of this and you can say the market rent? The market rent is the highest in an area or district. The Minister knows how it is going to work. There is talk of how there will not be no-fault evictions. There will be evictions. There will be notices to quit for the simple reason, as I have pointed out numerous times, that the rents will be so high that people will not be able to afford them. The landlords who are inclined to have a rack-renting attitude face 1 March with this gift in their hands. Make no mistake - it will be used. I am not saying every landlord will use it but the rack-renting ones and the bigger ones will.  Tenants going into new apartments and housing will face extortionate increases. The tenancies do not last six years, and we know there can be a quick turnover. There is a three-year provision for students. I have a granddaughter who is going to college, and she commutes five hours a day. She would not have a hope of being able to stay near the college, and it is the same for her pals. The simple reason is that rents are already too high. What is going to happen when this comes through in the private sector?  The renters in Laois will be very hard hit. I am already seeing increases in the rent pressure zones. Despite some cooling effects, the fact is that new tenancies are already 15%, 16% or 17% higher in the last two years. A one-bedroom apartment across the road from my office was on the market for \u20ac1,750 per month. A very small house in Kilminchy was \u20ac2,100 a month. In Foxburrow, a four-bedroomed house, which was not huge, was \u20ac2,500 a month. People cannot afford that. Look at the average wage and take-home pay. Some of these people are paying for cr\u00e8ches and commuting, they have to make payments on two cars, and they are trying to save for deposits and do a whole range of things. They are literally strapped in trying to carry out all of this.  For those landlords who are unscrupulous, the race will be to get to the top. I support the idea of reviews and reports, but that in itself will not be enough. That is why the amendment tries to limit this to 2%. I recognise there is inflation, and I am trying to be somewhat reasonable about this. However, this will mean that all impediments to skyrocketing rents are removed. Existing tenants in homes and apartments are being put under huge pressure and will be put under more pressure due to higher rents. This measure will provide a climate for that to happen. There will be strategic notices to quit, as I said, because people will not be able to afford this.  I appeal to Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael TDs not to vote this through. This will hurt tens of thousands of tenants who are already struggling to keep their heads above water and who already have to deal with difficulties. I have never come into this House and said there is a magic wand. I know this is a complex thing to sort out. However, I also know that a number of things need to happen. Within the gift of the State is one of those things, which is to increase the supply of cost-rental housing for those who are middle aged and who will never be able to get a loan again, or perhaps those who have come out of a broken marriage. They need to be able to get into cost rental. We need to help those people and provide a not-for-profit option that will pay for itself over time. The Minister knows how it works. I remember talking about the need for cost rental here 12 or 13 years ago, when people did not know what we were talking about. I welcome the fact that the Government is moving in that direction, but we need to move more quickly. We need more of this.  The mass production of houses is a drum that I have banged loudly in this Chamber. As I said yesterday to the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, for the first time, the point has arrived with the council engineers and architects that we need to be able to mass-produce. Mass production means speeding up and reducing costs. While there has been a lot of talk from the officials in the Department about standardised design and so on, this has now gone a step further. There are real standardised plans so that houses can be the very same internally, although the outside texture can be changed if the county council wants to do that. That will enable matters to be speeded up and will remove a lot of the blockages. I say sincerely to the Minister and the Minister of State that they should do anything else they can to accelerate that. We do not want to drop standards, and I am not arguing for that. However, we need to do whatever we can to accelerate delivery and reduce costs. The money is there. We know it is taxpayers' money and we have used it well. I will certainly support anything we can do to reduce costs and increase supply.  I recognise that not all of it will be provided by the State, and I am not arguing for that. However, the State is a big player. It is because the Progressive Democrats and Fianna F\u00e1il in the late nineties decided that we would just opt out of social housing that we have the mess we have. We had the crash because the regulations were taken off construction and the banks, and we wound up in the situation we are in now. It is a difficult situation.  I have argued over the last 15 years to increase the number of apprentices. We must do that because we cannot build houses unless we have the people. Let us try to attract back from abroad more of the workers who went during that period and might wish to come back now. We need to increase the labour supply and ensure we have sufficient workers to build houses.  People want to save for a deposit, but they cannot do so while paying these rents. They are not affordable for young people or the cohort of middle-aged and elderly people I have referred to. I recently came across a couple who are almost 80. The local authority, Laois County Council, currently houses them. I do not mean to pl\u00e1m\u00e1s the council, but it has really stretched itself to try to do its best. I know the Minister is there on Friday, which I welcome. It is always good to see Ministers in the constituency. The one message I would give to the Minister is to come and see what is being done. We want more of it, and we want it replicated in other parts of the country.  I ask the Minister not to force this through. The Irish Property Owners Association is getting what it wants. The developers are getting what they want. However, tenants are suffering hardship, stress and misery, as well as workers, students, lone parents and ordinary people. Let us think about those people. Let us not force through this Bill tonight. This needs to be rowed back on. We cannot heap more pressure and stress on those people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  Deputy Stanley said we should not force through this Bill tonight, and I echo that sentiment, for many reasons. I agree with the amendments that are before us. Let us be honest. I hear a lot of comments about landlords. Landlords, unfortunately, include people who just have one extra house, yet they are still classified as landlords. I think it is very unfair for such people to be called a landlord.  At the same time, I deal with landlords quite a lot. I have to deal with them. If a person is coming to you looking for a house, you are not carrying out your duty correctly if you do not speak to everybody concerned, including the council, the landlord and everybody else. Most of the landlords I speak to are decent, honest to God people. We have a real habit in this House of attacking them, as if they were all bad people. Where are we going to get the houses from? I scratch the back of my head when I hear too much criticism of landlords. Where do people think the houses are going to come from? They do not come up through the field like a mushroom in mild weather. They actually have to be built. They cost a lot of money, and people put a lot of time, effort and resources into that. Those people then need to make a genuine profit.  These are difficult circumstances. I heard the phrases \"unintended consequences\" and \"one size does not fit all\". Unfortunately, this Bill needs a lot of fine-tuning. There are elements of it that we could agree with, but there are other elements that are going to cause problems, and I can see that too. The Bill is locking thousands of tenancies permanently below the market rent. That might sound good on paper, but in the real world, it drives landlords out. The 4% reset over four years is modest, predictable and fair. It gives tenants certainty and landlords a reason to stay. If people can never move, properties leave the market and tenants lose homes. This amendment is about maintaining supply, not enriching anybody.  The Bill draws a hard line at three tenancies, with no explanation. That is completely out of step with the existing law. The Tyrrelstown amendment referred to ten units, not three. Many ordinary landlords in towns and villages exceed three units unintentionally. Raising the threshold restores consistency and fairness. Small landlords are not the enemy. They are the backbone of the rental sector, and people must keep that in mind.  I am not a landlord. I just have one house, thank God, and that is enough for me. I have been accused online of being on Airbnb. I do not know where people get this cracked-up information, but it keeps them happy, tapping away with their fingers. I have only my own home, and I live there.  Property rights do not disappear because someone rents out a home. If a landlord needs a home for a close family member, that should be respected. Grandchildren, siblings, nieces and nephews matter too. The Bill also fails families dealing with bereavement. If a landlord dies, the family should be allowed to sell the property. These amendments are about basic fairness and compassion. The Bill introduces a new criminal offence, including jail time, not for exploitation but for getting complex rent rules wrong. That is completely disproportionate and will scare decent landlords out of the market. Regulation should be firm but it also must be fair. Heavily criminalising people is not a way forward. There are unintentional consequences.  I have been very vocal on the short-term lets in recent weeks. This is going to have devastating consequences for short-term lets, Airbnbs in small rural communities. The 20,000 cap came in yesterday, which is very much to be welcomed, but the bottom line is that people still require planning. I would say 98% or 99% of them are running for the last 20 or 30 years. They did not have or need planning. They were quite happy running their business and everything was above board. They had fire safety and all that checked, insurance and everything. Planning is a different game. I was at the committee meeting today, and the planning authority and the tourism board are all over the place. They do not know what they are doing here. The Minister needs to intervene on this matter. I have no problem with regulation. I had a public meeting last Friday and I have another one tomorrow night in Clonakilty on this issue. The rooms are packed. People are concerned they are going to lose their honest incomes. This Bill has unintended consequences.  The Minister could look at our amendment, which is a waiver for people who were in business. Any new Airbnbs will have to be fully compliant. That is quite acceptable. Registration is not an issue with them. Communities do not have hotels so they dip in on the Airbnbs to bring tourists into the community. This Bill has positive points. I think it is being rushed through here, not just tonight but in general. It needs to be looked at again. Short-term letting is a very serious area. We welcome the change yesterday of the 20,000 cap but I still think there needs to be more changes here, because people require full planning, and they will. To be compliant, there are two boxes, have you planning or not. I know some people who are 30 years in operation or 40. My mother was doing Airbnb in Schull in the 1970s, believe it or not, although now she has passed on. Everybody loves to visit rural areas. The point is that many people, most of them females - farmers and people who need a little bit of a side income and try to work at home and do this business - are doing it for survival and now they are faced with the dreadful consequences of having to apply for planning permission, which will devastate their business. I would like the Minister to look at that area again. I would plead with every Fine Gael, Fianna F\u00e1il and Independent TD not to vote for this until this confusion has been resolved. I do not think they are going to listen to me but I have to push from my angle to the best of my ability. The clock is ticking on this new legislation and we desperately need changes. Airbnb is hugely important and short-term lets are hugely important to people out there. They are contacting each of us in their thousands throughout the country. There are unintended consequences and it needs changing. My worry is if we push through this legislation tonight, the planning legislation is there, it is in place and it has to be acted on and it will be for the Minister, Deputy Peter Burke, to work on it. That is going to be landing on his desk next week, I am told. If this goes the way it seems to be going, we could see Airbnb as we know it ending in rural communities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy James Browne)  As we know, we live in a housing crisis. That is a supply crisis. We have a rental crisis which is a supply crisis, and we have a homelessness crisis which is a supply crisis. What we are endeavouring to do here is strengthen tenants' rights, which we are doing through security of tenure, which means tenants will know how long they can stay in a property, while driving investment. I say to Deputy Hearne that investment is not a dirty word. We need private investment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  I never said it was. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  You stand up here and you are constantly attacking anything to do with investment. You seem to believe that bandying around the words \"landlord\" or \"investment\" is enough mud to keep throwing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  It is not mud; it is the reality. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  Nobody in this House has a monopoly on empathy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  This Bill lacks it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  We are trying to solve what is a housing crisis driven by a supply crisis. What have we heard from the Opposition? Have we heard a single solution? The Deputies' only proposal - Deputy Boyd Barrett referred to misery - is to freeze the housing crisis into a permanent misery. That is what they are looking to do. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  We want evidence for this legislation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  What they want to do is keep the current situation in perpetuity. What I need to do to solve the housing crisis is not simply about protecting existing renters. It is about all those people at home who need somewhere to live. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  They will not be able to afford to be in it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  That means driving the supply of homes in this country. We have delivered more social homes in 2024 than in any year since the 1970s. We have delivered record affordable homes and last year we delivered over 36,000 new homes, the highest since 2011. We have to drive the supply and that needs investment. The Government is investing the largest amount of money in the history of the State into housing delivery. One in every three euro of the new national development plan capital funding is going into delivering housing. That is record funding. The State cannot deliver every housing solution. We need a significant amount of private investment. While we are doing this, we also have to protect renters. For the first time in the history of the State, we are introducing security of tenure. That is what the Deputies are going to vote against. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  Not for existing renters. You give no protection to existing renters. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  It is not true. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  For those who are currently in a rental situation, their position does not change - for 240,000 renters it does not change. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  They are still as vulnerable to no-fault evictions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  On the one hand, you want it to stay the same, on the other hand you want change. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  No, I said very clearly and we say clearly, a ban on no-fault evictions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  In a single sentence earlier, Deputy Hearne said that the landlords are licking their lips, and that they are also getting out. At least when Deputy \u00d3 Broin makes a hypocritical statement he sandwiches it to try to hide it a little bit. You just actually said it in a single sentence. It makes no sense. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  It does absolutely. It is not a hypocritical statement; it is reality. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  It is just word spaghetti in the hope that something lands or when you leave the Chamber you have got 20 seconds for your social media. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  That is disgraceful. What the Minister does not care about is people is who are going to suffer these rents. We are not doing this as 20 seconds for social media. That is disgraceful. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  I would love if my amendment was addressed. I would love that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  What we have to do is provide housing solutions. We have to drive the supply of homes if we are going to solve the housing crisis in this country. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  That is a disgrace. Withdraw that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  That is what we are doing, while also providing, as I say, for the first time in the history of the State, security of tenure. That is the crucial part we are doing here. Deputies do not have to like everything in the legislation but they are going to vote against security of tenure. That is what they are going to do. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  We are voting against rent increases. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  For the first time people will have the confidence of knowing, in the case of large landlords, effectively they can stay there forever. They know they will be able to do it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  They will not be able to afford to rent. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  There are certain exceptions for smaller landlords but they still know they will have at least six years. We know the greatest driver of homelessness is notices to quit. We are going to give security of tenure----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  But not to existing renters. At least have the honesty to accept that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  -----so people can put down roots, so people can feel safe and know what their personal situation is. I think it is quite cynical actually, the Opposition here. The Deputies are united in cynicism against this legislation. We cannot do nothing. If we do what the Opposition wants to do, which is freeze rents and have an eviction ban, it does not even retain the status quo, it is actually going to get worse because our population is increasing by about 70,000 to 90,000 people a year. If we do not increase supply at all----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  Build affordable housing. You are the one who is doing the false choice. Hypocrisy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  -----if we freeze the situation as the Opposition wants to do, that is the situation. We are delivering record affordable housing. In 2024 we delivered the largest amount of social housing since the 1970s and we will have the 2025 social housing numbers quite soon as well. That is what we are doing here. We want to solve the housing crisis. That is what we are working towards. I get what the Opposition is doing. It is playing on the fears and emotions of those people who are in a rental situation. We do not have that luxury. It is actually quite cynical to do it. What we are doing is making the tough, difficult decisions----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  To increase rents. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  The Minister still has not addressed my amendment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  -----to drive the supply of the homes that we need. We have heard nothing from the Opposition about how it would actually drive the supply of homes in this country.  A number of comments were made. Deputy Stanley asked why are rents going up in Laois. Again, it is because of the lack of supply. The only way that people in Laois will get homes to live in is by the supply of homes being increased. That is absolutely crucial right across the country. Record numbers of social houses have been delivered since the 1970s. The status quo only makes things worse. Why are we doing this? It is actually not being done in a hurry. We announced what we would be doing here today last summer. The Bill underwent pre-legislative scrutiny. There has been loads of time to analyse it. We are having a five-hour debate on it here tonight. There was ample time for people to assess the Bill and make----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  The Minister has not answered the question about whether rents are going to come down. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  -----a consideration as to when we do it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  When will rents come down? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aidan Farrelly)  Deputy Hearne will have an opportunity to come back in. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  The one thing that is guaranteed is that the rents are not going to come down if the Deputy's party continues with its policies.. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  I do not have policies. The Minister is the one who is in government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  We know that. That is exactly the point. You have no policies. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  I do not have the means to implement policies. When are the rents going to come down? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  All you have are slogans. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aidan Farrelly)  We will not have a back-and-forth, Minister. If the Deputies let the Minister finish, they will have the opportunity to come back in. The Minister should direct his comments through the Chair. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  A Freudian slip from the Deputy there.  We are driving on and addressing the housing crisis. We want to solve it in order that we can get people into the homes they need. That is why we are driving on with building social homes, affordable homes and private homes. It is also why we are bringing in stronger protections for tenants.  In relation to the amendments, Standing Order 204 states the following:  Twelve months following the enactment of a Bill, save in the case of the Finance Bill and the Appropriation Bill, the member of the Government or Minister of State who is officially responsible for implementation of the Act shall provide a report which shall review the functioning of the Act and which shall be laid in the Parliamentary Library.  This means that automatic reviews of legislation always happen.  We have increased the resources of the RTB by 70% this year alone. The board will support tenants and ensure that their rights are protected. CSO figures show that there was a 38% increase in apartments in 2025 compared with 2024. Our policies are working; we are going to drive supply and that is how we will solve the housing crisis, the rental crisis and the homelessness crisis. Simply putting the crisis that exists into a permanent freeze will not solve it. Peddling misery will not solve it either. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  Sometimes, what the Minister does not say is more revealing than what he does say. I stated earlier that on the basis of data from the Residential Tenancies Board, within 12 months of the enactment of this Bill, anywhere in the region of 60,000 households will be impacted by the market reset. The Minister has not challenged that. In any of the radio or TV debates I have taken part in, nobody has challenged it. This means that the Minister is accepting the RTB's data that over the next 12 months at least 60,000 households - single people, families and children - will be impacted by his decision. The other interesting thing that the Minister did not respond to is the analysis of the Residential Tenancies Board's data actually detailing the increase in rent for those households in the coming months. It will mean an average of an extra \u20ac3,000 a month. In the Minister's constituency, it will be a little lower, at \u20ac2,500 a year. The Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan has joined us. In his country of Cork, what he will be voting in favour of this evening, based on the data from the Residential Tenancies Board----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan  Extending RPZs. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  I know it might be difficult to hear the real-world financial consequences of what he will be voting for, but in Cork, the extra rent that will be imposed on new tenancies from 1 March in a year will be \u20ac3,100 across the city and county. In the city specifically, it will be almost \u20ac4,000. I will ask the Minister a very simple question. How is increasing rents in every county in the State going to contribute to increasing the kind of supply needed in every county? Is the Minister of State seriously suggesting that incentivising private institutional investors with record rents will lead to the delivery of apartments to meet the needs of his constituents in County Cork? Of course it will not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan  We have extended the RPZs in the county to cover areas that never had protection. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  The Minister of State knows that the only investors who are interested in these kinds of rents are those - the Minister of State was not here earlier so I will repeat it for his benefit - who might invest in the docklands area of Cork and in very high-end, high-cost parts of Dublin. The Minister and the Minister of State are going to ask their constituents to pay somewhere in the region of an extra \u20ac3,000 per year for new tenancies. The Minister had an opportunity to dispute the RTB data and he chose not to. If he wants to dispute it, I will be more than interested in hearing his analysis. The Minister and the Minister of State are going to ask new renters in their constituencies to be pay additional rent of in the region of \u20ac3,000 per year in the absence of extra supply in those constituencies. The very particular category of institutional investors that the Minister is talking about are not coming to County Cork or County Wexford anytime soon.  I want to rebut the Minister's assertion. We are here dealing with his legislation. If he wants to have a debate about our solutions, that is fine. We will do it any day he likes, but I will deal with some of them now. This is the Committee Stage debate on the Government's legislation and impact it is going to have on real people in real time in the months ahead. The Minister keeps saying that this rent hike Bill, coupled with the reduction in apartment design standards and the massive tax break for apartment builders is going to lead to a dramatic increase in supply. I have not heard anybody in the industry say that. It will increase some level of supply in certain parts of Dublin and Cork but nowhere else. The cost of that supply is going to be so expensive that the working people many of us represent will not be able to afford it. We need to increase supply and we need to increase social supply. The Government keeps trotting out the line about building more social homes than at any time since the 1970s. In the 1970s, the population of the country was half what it is now. Our social housing waiting lists were a fraction of what they are today. If we make an honest assessment between the position now and that which obtained in the 1970s, we can see that we are delivering less than half of what was delivered then per capita and even less in proportion to need. This is despite the fact that this State has more money than ever before and a capacity to deliver.  The Minister also accused us of protecting existing renters. Some 20,000 existing renters get notices of termination every year. These people are now going to have to find other rental accommodation. As a consequence, they will have to pay additional rent. What is happening simply makes no sense. A claim has been made to the effect that security of tenure is being introduced for the first time. Darragh O'Brien came in here in 2023 and said he was introducing tenancies of indefinite duration. He misled this House, because they were not indefinite. Likewise, the Minister is not for the first time introducing security of tenure. The Residential Tenancies Act 2004 involved an element of security of tenure, but there were so many loopholes that many tenants were left behind. Darragh O'Brien's tenancies of indefinite duration had so many loopholes that the same thing happened.  Let us look at the Minister's proposals here. New tenants in properties owned by small landlords can still be evicted if the landlord or a spouse needs the property. They can still be evicted on the grounds of financial hardship, ill-defined as it is, or in the context of the need to discharge a debt. Here is the really important one that the Minister did not mention. They can be evicted if they cannot afford the rent. That ground remains in place. If somebody enters into a tenancy at the new market rent and is then hit with 2% or CPI each year, whichever the lowest, and if at any point in the following five years or six years they fall into rent arrears, they will be evicted. The Minister of State is smirking at that remark. Maybe he was not here in this House, when in 2014, 2015 and 2016 huge numbers of families were evicted from their homes because they could not afford double-digit rent increases. That was the reality. That is what drove family homelessness right across this State in those years.  If the Minister of State thinks that is funny or something to smirk about, that is okay----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan  Where is the Deputy getting that from? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  -----but what the Government is proposing and what it is going to------ "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan  The Deputy is concocting scenarios now that do not even exist. What is he talking about? He is trying to say that I am smirking or laughing. That is absolutely ridiculous. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  The Minister of State was smirking. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aidan Farrelly)  It is not a back-and-forth. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  I am quite happy to engage. If this was a proper Committee Stage debate, we would be able to have these types of engagements. That is one of the things we have been denied.  Let us be very clear. Double-digit rental inflation leaves renters unable to pay their rent. They get into rent arrears, they get a notice of termination for non-payment of rent and they get evicted. That is what happens. What is the Government proposing for new renters in County Carlow? Potential rent increases in the first year of 29%. For County Cavan, it is 29%. For County Clare, it is 26.9%. For Cork, including the county, it is 25%. The figure for the city is 20%. It goes on and on. In the context of the market reset, not a single county or city will have a rent increase in the first year of less than 17% or 18%. For some, it will be as high as 35%. That is what the Government is proposing. If the Minister is right and this leads to an increase in supply at some point - let us imagine that thesis is correct - who made him to think that it is acceptable for renters to have to pay the extortionate rents necessary to bring about that increase? It beggars belief that the Minister cannot be at least honest and say in order to attract the very specific kind of institutional investment that the Government believes is necessary, it is going to have to have ever greater rip-off rents which, like existing rents, people simply cannot afford. I will come to the alternative and to private sector investment in a moment  The Minister also likes to say that people on this side of this House have nothing to say about private sector investment. In fact, I have probably spent more time talking about alternative and better forms of private sector investment than the Minister. The missing piece of our private sector housing crisis is not high-end, high-density, high-cost private rental. That is not our problem. The missing part is a failure on the part of the Government to support and activate the small and medium-sized builder-developer sector to build significantly more good-quality private homes at more moderated prices in every county in the State. The Government could deal with that by fixing the problems facing the sector. Action in that regard is entirely absent. The Minister repeated a line used by the Taoiseach to the effect that the 240,000 tenancies currently in place will not be impacted. What the Government completely ignores in this regard is the RTB data I quoted at the outset to the effect that for every quarter for the past two and half years, 25% of all registered tenancies have been new first-time tenancies. The private rental sector is in a state of constant churn for a variety of reasons. If those trends continue, within four years, almost all tenants in the private rental sector will be captured by the market reset. Ultimately, some will not be captured until year six, but that is what the Government is proposing.  It has been stated that the greatest driver of homeless is the crisis in the private rental sector. In fact, that is not strictly true. The greatest driver of homelessness is the failure of the State over the past number of decades, including under this Government, to deliver a volume of social homes to meet the needs of people who need social housing. The lack of such homes forces people into the private rental sector for extended periods. When they eventually become homeless, they remain in emergency accommodation for far too long. Again, this is because of the Government's failure to provide adequate social housing.  There are plenty of solutions on this side of this House. However, what the Minister has ignored and has tacitly accepted is that tens of thousands of renters in new tenancies from the start of March are going to be hit with rent increases of the order of \u20ac3,000 to \u20ac5,000 annually. That is what the data from the Residential Tenancies Board indicates. I would happily give the Minister an hour of my speaking time because I would love him to outline the analysis of this that allows him to shake his head. His officials told us that they were not asked to produce any analysis to underpin this Bill. The Housing Agency was not asked to produce any analysis to underpin this Bill either. None of the academic experts in our universities who specialise in the private rental sector were asked to carry out an analysis. Unless the Minister has an analysis that he has been hiding from us all, then either the RTB data is correct and he must accept it and live by it or he has to produce something else.  We are going to go through other aspects of the Bill as we proceed. I would have thought that the Minister would at least have been honest enough to say that the primary purpose of the Bill is to allow rents to rise. That the Government has made a calculated assessment in order to attract a certain category of institutional investment, that those involved want rental yields even greater than what the new private sector stock is getting now and that the Government has said \"That is no problem. Off you go.\"  The Minister is right that there was an increase in the number of apartment completions last year. Almost all of those apartments were bought by the State. Virtually no new private sector investment acquired any of them. Therefore, the idea that somehow the completion figures, including those relating to apartments, for the end of last year are in any way is a justification for what is happening is simply unbelievable.  I am going to make a wager. In six months, let us come back and have a debate on the impact of this Bill. In 12 months, if the Minister is still in office, he should come back in here and we will have a debate. Schedule such a debate and allocate Government time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan  Look at the review. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  I invite the Minister to come back in here and prove that we were wrong and that he was right. If the Minister has the courage of his convictions and if he had a credible analysis of the Bill, which he does not, he would agree to that without doubt. We cannot even get the Minister into a television studio to debate with us on any of these matters, so I doubt that he would be willing to give the time for a debate here. As the month-on-month and quarter-on-quarter figures come in, we are going to see the consequences of the Government's policy. How do we know that? We know because we have been here before. Deputy Boyd Barrett is the longest serving TD dealing with housing on the Opposition benches. I am not far behind him. Simon Coveney made all the same promises. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  I could name a few Ministers before him. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  Eoghan Murphy made all the same promises. It is almost like Groundhog Day. What happened? Homelessness, rents and house prices rose, and the right kind of supply never materialised. The Minister's party colleague Darragh O'Brien probably made more promises than anybody else. It was a case of \"Darragh gets it done\", as Oliver Callan used to say in his sketches. What happened? The Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan, might tell us what happened while Darragh O'Brien was Minister. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan  I was not listening. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  I will tell him what happened. Homelessness rose. I know it is funny. I know the Minister of State thinks it is hilarious. As a consequence of the policies of the Minister of State's party, real people ended up in emergency accommodation who should never have ended up there. That is the consequences of what you guys do, and you are doing it again. You are doing it in a far more serious manner than you have done in a decade. That is why none of us on this side of the House will make any apologies for highlighting the real-world impacts on real people of the Government's legislation.  The Government can try to distract all it wants when it comes to social media clips in a way that makes it seem as if nobody on the Government benches uses social media. The Minister seems to be getting a little better at it. Social media clips do not hide rising homelessness numbers. They do not hide rising rents. They do not hide a Government that continues to miss almost all of its targets. I look forward to debating the social and affordable housing output figures for 2025 when they are eventually released. I suspect the targets in that regard will have been missed as well.  This is terrible legislation. It is going to have profoundly negative impacts on tens of thousands of people. The fact that the Minister cannot even acknowledge that or respond to the factual information we have put to him shows that despite my very generous colleague's assertion to the contrary, the Minister has not made any mistake at all. He is doing this deliberately. He is doing it knowingly. While he might be hiding from the evidence, he is doing this because he has chosen to do it in full knowledge of the consequences and the cost. Shame on both the Minister and Minister of State for doing this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  The Minister did not meaningfully address my amendments in his response to them. He spoke about Standing Order 197. The types of reports referenced under that Standing Order came in as part of political reform in 2011. They are often delayed, sometimes for two, three or four years in respect of certain legislation. God knows where we will be four years from now. There is no proper, thorough and standardised approach to how these reports are done. In 2017, the Oireachtas Library and Research Service did a very good analysis of the reports. It found they had been done in a very ad hoc way and that no committee has undertaken a review of any enacted legislation on foot of a post-enactment report.  The reason I brought forward these amendments is that we know the Bill will cause rents to increase. The fact the Minister has not challenged that assertion in any of his responses is telling. It will become too politically difficult for the Government to sustain a situation where rents are allowed to be reset to market rate and to increase by anything up to 15%. If we are not back here discussing this next year, we certainly will be back here before the local elections. Where will we be then? Will people be paying \u20ac3,000 a month in rent? In fact, on daft.ie right now, there is a two-bedroom apartment just around the corner from this building that is for rent for more than \u20ac3,000.  What will happen as a result of this Bill is that if we get any new supply at all, it will largely comprise build-to-rent units that most ordinary working people cannot afford. There certainly will not be any supply in Limerick city, which I represent. Large institutional investors will not get enough of a yield from building expensive build-to-rent apartments there because there is no demand for them. The Minister talked about record investment but the outcomes of that investment are, by and large, incredibly poor. I am always astonished when I hear members of the Government talking about affordable housing provision, given that approximately 35% of what is counted as affordable housing actually comes from vacant property refurbishment grants.  The Minister has not addressed my simple question as to what the forecasted impact of this Bill will be on rents in the private rental market for the rest of 2026, for 2027 and for 2028. The fact he is pushing this legislation through without being able to answer that question is frightening. I agree with him about the need for increased supply and for private sector investment, but this Bill will not deliver anywhere near the level of private sector investment needed to meet housing need, particularly in areas outside Dublin and very niche parts of Cork. The reality is that for every year since 2021, the Government has been 2,000 units or more below its completion targets. It will fail again this year to meet the target.  The Minister referred to the crisis in the rental market and the homelessness crisis. I always think of the key recommendation of the Housing Commission that social and affordable housing should make up 20% of all housing stock. At present, that proportion is around 10%. The fact the Government has not met the targets it has set itself since Housing for All was introduced in 2021 really highlights that it is looking in the wrong place for a solution to the problem. This Bill will not improve the situation. It certainly will not arrest rising rents or rising homelessness. The Minister should lay before the House a report setting out exactly the modelling for the Bill. We have all gone through the RTB figures and done the calculations. The evidence, as it has been laid out by me and by other speakers, is absolutely frightening. These measures will devastate renters, who are the most vulnerable people in the housing system at the moment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  I really am furious at the Minister's comments that this debate is about social media clips. It diminishes the seriousness of what is at stake here. I have been a Member of this House since 2011. I was here two or three months when a circular was produced by the then Department of the environment, within which responsibility for housing was a matter for a Minister of State rather than having a Ministry in its own right. That was because we did not then have the homelessness and housing crisis we have now. The need for housing to come under a senior Ministry arose from the housing crisis that commenced a few years later.  There was no fanfare and no press releases from the then Fine Gael-Labour Party in respect of the circular of 2011. It basically said the Government was stopping direct capital investment in public housing and would instead outsource its provision. The word \"HAP\" did not appear at that point but it was the beginning of the idea. RAS was in place at the time but HAP had not yet arrived. I remember putting out a press release and holding a press briefing, which only one journalist attended. I tried to explain that the Government was proposing, in effect, to do away with the direct provision of social housing and that this would be a disaster. I remember when HAP was introduced during the term of the then Minister of State, Jan O'Sullivan. The debate in this House went on for hours as we tried to explain why the scheme was going to be a disaster because it would replace social housing provision by the State with outsourcing of provision to the private sector. Of course, that turned out to be the case.  The other big feature of that policy was the then Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan, meeting with representatives of the vulture funds that were invited in to buy up all the distressed property. It was a deliberate policy. He met with people from 65 or so vulture funds in 2013 and basically asked them to take over all the distressed property in the hands of NAMA. We said it would be a disaster. For a brief while, the then Government had the housing sector in its hands. If it had started building public and affordable housing then instead of doing the exact opposite, we would not be in this mess at all. It had the assets and so on.  A point worth making regarding foreign private investment is that the houses that are built are built by labour in this country. When talking about capital from abroad, all the money is digits on a computer screen but the homes are built on land here, by people here and with materials sourced here. Those people are either building stuff that is affordable, like social and affordable housing, or they are building to make a profit, which is what is happening at the moment. What they are building is unaffordable. Of course, they are building hotels and things like that as well because it is profitable to do so. Forgetting about all the digital figures floating around, there is a finite amount of labour, land and materials, regardless of whether it is being used to build affordable and social housing or to build something else. It was often not doing anything at all because, for periods of time, the people who controlled the land, the labour and the capital decided they would not build anything until it was profitable enough to do so, and that is what they did.  A lot of the people who got the distressed assets from NAMA at a discount price sat on them or leaked the stuff very slowly. This is a very important point that the Minister needs to understand. Never, ever, are the investors he is looking to court, lure and incentivise here going to build to the point that their profits go down. Why would they? At the point at which they think their profits are going to go down, they are going to stop. That is what they will do. The idea that we will get to a magical point somewhere where rents and house prices go down somehow is just total fantasy. The only instance of that is a massive crash. That is what we actually got the last time we had this mad policy of dancing to the investors' tune. It never really stopped but the dire crash of 2008 resulted from this madness of doing what they tell the Government. Then the housing crisis ensued. At that time, for example, it was unknown, for me in D\u00fan Laoghaire and for most people in the country, to have families with kids in emergency accommodation. It just never happened. There was a particular profile to people who were in emergency accommodation. They were often very vulnerable. You did not have families with kids in homeless accommodation when I first came into the D\u00e1il. Now, it is absolutely normalised and it will increase because of this. Then, the Minister comes forward with a Bill and says, to use his own words, \"We do not want rents for long-term tenancies to fall behind market rents\". That is the purpose of this Bill. Under no circumstances must we have low rents. That is what the Minister is saying. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  That is not what that says. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  The Minister said, \"We do not want rents for long-term tenancies to fall behind market rents\". "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  Market rents can go down----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  That means low rents are intolerable; we have to have them higher. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  The Deputy should not be misleading. Markets can go up as well as down. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  Ah, stop. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  That is in plain English. Just in case there was any doubt about the motive, at the beginning of this year, the Minister, Deputy Lawless, when discussing the Government's thinking, said:  ... housing is about international markets. It is actually a spreadsheet in Zurich, New York or Antwerp, more so than a builder looking at a site in Longford or Roscommon, that is actually deciding what happens here.  The point is, it should be the builder in Roscommon or Dublin or wherever it is, looking at the land we have that is zoned, available, serviced and so on. They should be looking at the labour we have available and saying we need houses for the people in this community, so let us build them. If we could do it in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s on a pretty big scale, when the country was virtually a third-world country, we can certainly do it now with enormous budget surpluses and record economic growth. If we look at the Central Bank figures on wealth, I think household wealth in this country is \u20ac1.3 trillion now, with about half of it sitting in the banks. The credit unions were banging down the Government's door for years saying they had \u20ac4 billion or \u20ac5 billion they were willing to put into housing, no problem.  On the idea that we do not have suggestions, People Before Profit produced a policy document a few years ago titled, A State Construction Company. Two other parties have similar views on a State construction company. Let us build on the land we have and employ people directly. Rather than them building unaffordable stuff, let us have them build affordable stuff.  It is unbelievable what the Government is doing with this Bill in terms of the position of tenants. I would defy any tenant at the end of this to know what sort of tenant they are. Are they a tenant of a big landlord or of a small landlord? Are they a student tenant? There are different rules for them. Are they a tenant post-March 2026 or pre-2026? Even for pre-2026 tenants, there is a different demarcation depending on whether the tenancy is from before or after 2022. We are going to have great fun trying to figure out even what sort of tenants we are talking about and what position they are in. The landlords, however, will know there is an incentive to get these tenants out so they can reset the rents up to the highest possible level. That will mean going on daft.ie and seeing if they can find three rents at \u20ac2,500, \u20ac3,000, or whatever price. That will be the result of all this.  What are we saying? We are saying rents should be based on the ability of people to pay. We are saying people should not be evicted when they have done nothing wrong or, for that matter, as is the case now for lots of people, because they cannot afford unaffordable rents. People should not be evicted for not being able to afford unaffordable rents when more than \u20ac24,000 in after-tax income is required to pay the average rent in Dublin now. This is after-tax income, so \u20ac33,000 or \u20ac34,000 gross of a renter's income has to go to pay an average rent in Dublin. What are we talking about there? It is more than 50% of average earnings. If people cannot pay that, and in many cases it is much higher than that, is it their fault if they get evicted? It is not really, is it? It is the Government's fault that it has let rents go up to that level.  Is what we are saying when we say keep rents down to particular levels really so off the charts that nobody else is doing it? Just to be clear, we want to reset rents downward, not just freeze them. I will mention four cities where rent control works. Vienna has a system of rent ceilings so rents cannot be put above a certain level. Some 43% of all the housing in Vienna is social housing and it has hard limits on rent increases. They have rents per square metre which are a fraction of ours - about a third of what people are paying here on average. In Stockholm, a renters' union negotiates the rents on a regular basis with the landlords, rent controls are used to set price ceilings and rents are set based on the utility value of the property. Without those rent controls, it is estimated that rents would be 68% higher in Stockholm than they currently are. Where else has rent controls? Barcelona has them. Rent increases are limited and they have ceilings and so on. Rent controls work there, and Berlin also has rent controls.  The things we are proposing, and propose time and again, can be and are done elsewhere. The Government just does not want to do it because it and the landlords find it difficult that they cannot put rents up to the highest possible level. It, therefore, wants to pass legislation that will ensure landlords can do so, despite the housing misery that is causing for people. I think about the families who come in to me - I am sure they must come in to the Minister - saying it is their second year in emergency accommodation and they have been told they are 200th on the housing list. There is no chance of them getting a council house for at least seven or eight years. They are told to go out and find a HAP property. That means finding a property within the homeless HAP rate. They might be allowed to look for something for, say, \u20ac2,000 a month. No such thing exists. Imagine how hopeless people feel. They are told to go out and find something within that limit but it does not actually exist out there. Now, the Government is going to make that even more hopeless because people will be looking for rents of \u20ac2,500 or \u20ac3,000 a month, putting them in an even more hopeless position. For those few people who got a HAP tenancy but are paying a top-up - if they are on a social housing list, they would have to pay a top-up to get a HAP tenancy these days - this has already put them in a difficult position and it is threatening to drive them into arrears at any time.  If there are any difficulties in their situation, any extra costs come in for kids or anything like that, they could easily find themselves in difficulty, but now those rents are going to go up. Almost certainly, the HAP rates will not go up to match that. Even if they do, it just means the State is now paying for it. Anyway, they will not go up to the level, so they will be in even more difficulty paying these unaffordable rents. That means they are going to get into trouble, people are going to get into arrears and they are going to get evicted as a result. That is what is actually going on.  I do not know how the Minister can possibly justify this. The reason we are here, angry and talking about it is not because we want a social media clip. It is because, next week and in the months after, we are going to have to deal with the human misery that comes through the door of our offices as a result of what he is doing. That is the reason we are speaking about this and proposing that he abandon this Bill and actually listen to what others are saying. The Government has had its chance and has failed on housing. Maybe it might consider looking at some of the alternative proposals being put forward from this side. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  I am here to speak on behalf of tenants and renters in towns in Laois like Portlaoise, Mountmellick, Portarlington, Mountrath, Rathdowney, Graiguecullen, Stradbally and so on. I am meeting people regularly, daily sometimes, who are struggling because of the situation with housing and the high rents they are paying. The Government is bringing in a measure. We have heard the RTB projections in the debate. The Minister can contradict them if he likes. It knows, and the people who look for this know, that this is going to lead to a further increase. The market keeps getting talked about, the altar of the market. The high priests at the altar are the landlords, developers and vulture funds. They are there as the high priests.  During previous terms of the Government being in power, sometimes with the Progressive Democrats, that brought us to the Celtic tiger, we saw what the deregulation of the building industry did when we allowed people to self-certify. The taxpayer is cleaning up that bill in the form of the mica Bill and the financial bill for it and in the form of fire remedies in apartments. If I heard right, I think it is 20,000 apartments, a lot of them in Dublin, because of what the Government did at that time. The taxpayer picks up the bill - Joe and Mary Public. I want to represent those people who are paying that.  I have been a Member of this House for 15 years, like Deputy Boyd Barrett. This week or last week we were here 15 years. This is one of the worst pieces of legislation and one of the most dangerous I have seen. That is why I am speaking passionately about this. I feel strongly about this and I am really concerned. I am not going to personalise anything and I am not looking to have a go at anybody, but I am concerned about what the Government is doing here. I told the Government to look back at when it adored the altar of the market in the early 2000s as we went through the Celtic tiger. Look at the mess it left behind. We are still cleaning up that mess. The taxpayer is cleaning it up. We are still paying the interest on the bank bailout from that time. We are still paying the bill for the mica scandal. We are still going to pay the bill for the fire remedies in all those apartments that people have mortgages on and they are renting in unsafe apartments around Dublin. I looked at one. One was on television. I think it was last night. The outside of it was covered in timber. You would think about Grenfell Tower. I am saying this honestly to the Minister and Minister of State. Who in the name of God allowed that to happen? Talk about a tinder-box. That is the conclusion we came to when looking at a repeat of the programme last night. I think it was a \"Prime Time\" programme in relation to the timber cladding on the outside of it. Dry timber was on the outside of it and no fire breaks were inside. That is what the Government allowed.  The Government allowed the banks to give out money. I have met people who got loans from banks who never should have got them. There were loan consultants in banks. These jack-the-lads were smart lads. They were supposed to be smarter than the rest of us. They gave money to people who did not have the capacity to repay it. Why? The high altar of the market was adored and the high priests at it told the Government this was what was needed to do it, Se\u00e1nie Fitz and the boys. That is what happened. I am thinking of one couple. They have been dealing with it for 12 years in Laois trying to keep them in the house they are in, and if not, trying to get them into social housing. They have had a notice to quit from Pepper hanging over them for 12 years. It has employed Mars Capital, Eversheds and all sorts of arm-twisters and debt collectors to try to turn the screws on these two people to get them out of where they are, who should never have received a loan. If you were a member of the loan committee on the credit union, you would not give them one tenth of what they got as a loan. I am saying that honestly. It is the high altar of the market.  The Minister says, and stated repeatedly, that if we increase supply, we will have loads of houses and be able to reduce rent. I ask him to go back and look at the data from the last time his party was in government for a sufficiently long term. I am saying this to him honestly, just to be factual about it. Did rents go down in 2005 or 2006, the year we built 94,000 houses? Did rents go down in 2007? No, they did not. Supply shot up. We had loads of houses. In fact, we did not have people to fill some of them. Rents did not go down. I can think of all the estates around where I live. I live in the middle of a whole lot of new estates. I can think of those estates where the rents shot up. Some houses were empty. Landlords, developers and speculators who bought them were willing to wait for people to come along and rent them. They kept the rents high. That is what they did. They eventually got it.  At the moment, unless the Minister is in a parallel universe to me, the people who I meet who are renting are already in serious hardship. They are paying a lot more, in most cases, than what people are paying on mortgages. That is a fact. Laois has around 13,000 people commuting out of it every morning. Along with paying for the car to get to work, mainly in Dublin or Naas or somewhere, along with that, they are paying for childminding and a whole range of things. They are already living a very difficult life. I can tell the Minister it is no fun. I am here to try to represent and put this to the Minister. If I do not do this tonight, I am neglecting my duties as a Teachta D\u00e1la. I am appealing to the Minister on this.  If the Minister takes off whatever cooling effect the RPZs and the current status has, despite which, as I told the Minister earlier, rents on new lets in Laois have nonetheless gone up by over 16% in one survey and 15% in another compared with existing tenancies - the figures are there; they are not my figures - what is going to happen after 1 March? We need to stabilise rents. That requires rent limits. I have put in a reasonable proposal in my amendment that they would not go beyond 2% per year or inflation through the consumer price index, whichever is the lower. That is reasonable. We need to have some limits on it. We need to increase the amount of cost rentals. It is tiny at the moment. I welcome what is happening. I welcome the fact that the Government is moving on that and on affordable housing, but it is not enough and it is not quick enough.  That needs to be accelerated. We cannot create a situation where people will suffer more hardship, misery and stress. There will be more evictions.  One other effect of what the Government is going to do that has not been talked about is the wealth transfer to landlords and big developers. What will happen is when rents go up, it means HAP will have to go up and have to chase that increase in rent. This is a point the Government needs to take on board. The Minister and Minister of State will see the figures for last year on how much is spent on leasing, HAP and homeless accommodation. It is a huge part of the housing budget. I want to see the housing budget used well and to see us getting value out of it. The Minister is correct that it is taxpayers' money but the amount of that going on HAP and supplements will have to increase. Due to the measure the Government is bringing in, it will be chasing that. That is what happened with every other change it made, which made this worse. It had the same impact. The amount of HAP and that transfer of wealth from the public purse to these big landlords increased.  We have to give people the space to be able to move towards buying. As was mentioned, there is a huge amount of money on deposit in this country. We have a very high level of personal debt but we also have a huge amount of money on deposit. I remember that in 2013 or 2014, the credit unions stated they had around \u20ac10 billion or \u20ac11 billion. I am open to correction but the figure was something like that. We are willing to use some of this to be invested in a type of housing bond where there would be a modest return on it for the people who invest in the credit union. The banks have that. There is a huge amount of money on deposit, which could be used, and used well, in investment bonds and housing bonds to build the type of cost-rental and affordable housing we need. I do not know why the Government has not considered that. I can only draw the conclusion that it is listening too much to the wrong people.  I learned something very quickly nearly three decades ago as a councillor. If we listened to everybody who came in the door to lobby for this, that and the other, and did it and went along with it, we would have made a right mess of things. When we listened to them too much, we did make a mess of things. You have to learn from your mistakes. Sometimes, you have to do the right thing and do what is right by people. Money is there on deposit. We need to set up housing bonds and have them in place. We need to use that money and taxpayers' money well. The Government is using it to increase skyrocketing rents, which will happen. Everything that is there, all the evidence and all the projections tell us that. To chase and have that transfer of wealth to pay rent supplements to big landlords will make matters a hundred times worse. That is what is going to happen.  As I said, three of us who are voting on this tonight, hopefully, are from Laois; a Fine Gael TD, a Fianna F\u00e1il TD and myself. As the Government is framing the Bill without the amendments, I have to vote against it. This is not because I want to be obstructionist or do down any good suggestion. Tenancy certainty would be a good thing, as would fixity of tenure. Michael Davitt talked about it 150 years ago, when some of our great-grandparents might have been around, yet here we are now. The problem is what the Government is cloaking the six-year thing in is a Trojan horse for the other measures that will nullify and kill that for the reasons outlined because people will not be able to afford those rents. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  Rather than answer the question of when rents will go up, how much they will go up by, when they are going to fall and giving any sort of sense of what will happen, the Minister just comes back with \"supply, supply, supply\". Supply is the answer to the housing crisis, but it is not the only answer. Housing systems across the world also have things such as rent controls, protection from evictions and measures for security of tenure, which the Minister himself claims this Bill is about. It is not all just about supply, supply, supply. Even if we take it that it is all about supply, it is about the type of supply. What type of supply are we building? The type of supply the Government is incentivising is one that is really expensive and unaffordable to the overwhelming majority of people. It is the supply of housing that I have problems with and, to be very straight, the institutional investors who are here. These funds and this model of housing are hugely problematic.  Unlike the Minister, I have researched and worked in housing for over two decades. Academics, researchers and campaigners have analysed what the financialisation of housing is. Does the Minister know what the financialisation of housing is? It is a process whereby housing has been turned into an investment commodity and an asset. International real estate funds and wealth funds have been driving that agenda for over two decades. The Minister puts the real estate investment trusts across as if they are some sort of people who are here to help us out, but the Government is giving them our rents and tax breaks worth hundreds of millions. They are not here to help us out. They are here to maximise the rent and profits they can get. They are not here to provide affordable housing. They are here to lock as many people as possible into as high a rent as possible for as long as possible. That is their model. The Minister knows, because he is talking to them, that their financial model is based on an ongoing increasing rate of return. How do they get that? From ongoing, increasing rents. That is their model.  We are building in a fundamentally problematic form of housing that is based on ever-increasing rents. These are the rents of institutional investment funds and corporate landlords, such as Kennedy Wilson, IRES REIT and Greystar. The Minister says there is no issue with this, but one in five of all rental properties in Dublin is now owned by institutional landlords and it is heading towards one in four. He claims that our policies will lead to housing misery in perpetuity, but the Government is embedding a permanent form of unaffordable housing supply that is not about delivering housing or homes but is about delivering investment commodities.  I will come back to the Minister on the petty taunts that he threw claiming that I was only doing this for social media clips. He used terms such as \"word spaghetti\" and said that we are peddling in misery. What I am doing is not peddling in misery. It is highlighting the human cost of what the Government's policies are. I am talking about how its rent hikes will devastate people, cause rising homelessness and how it is inflicting massive misery. The misery here is what the Government is doing is normalising the misery of the highest number of evictions since the Famine. If the Minister throws petty taunts around, I will come back to say to him that what we are doing is, number one, highlighting the human cost, which he is unwilling to accept, and the solutions he is unwilling to accept. He said we have no solutions but we have put them out there. They are a rent freeze, a ban on no-fault evictions, a public construction company and investment from the \u20ac166 billion that is in private money. Solutions are there.  It is really pathetic of the Minister to try to claim that we are somehow doing this for social media. For the last ten years, I have been highlighting the scandal of homelessness in this country. Ten years ago, I walked as part of a small march that was one of the first groups of families who are homeless. A child was walking that in her school uniform, with a little sticker on her back stating, \"Help me. I am homeless\".  I am unlike the Minister.  He has supported Governments for the past decade and stood over year after year of rising homelessness and not once did he speak out and say this is a scandal and that we should not accept one child being homeless. He voted, in the confidence and supply agreement, with Fine Gael and, since 2020, he has been in the Government and not once did he stand up and say what we are doing is wrong and that we should not accept one child as homeless. What did he do? He voted for the lifting of the eviction bans, which led to more people going into homelessness. One of the other decisions, which I described at the time as one of the cruelest decisions any Irish Government has ever made, was making a policy and lifting a ban on evictions when it knew it would lead to rising homelessness. What has it resulted in? Thousands of children being made homeless.  For the Minister to claim I am doing this for social media clips is a disgraceful comment to make. It is absolutely disgraceful. I come here every day to represent the families and children across the country and in my constituency who suffer and whose lives are being damaged by the Government's policy failures. That is the truth. That is the reality the Minister does not want to face. The Minister's rental Bill will lead to more human misery and he is prepared to accept that as a price because he thinks it will lead to some supply with an increase of large institutional investor-funded apartments and he accepts the people who will not be able to afford the rents and will be made homeless as the collateral damage. It is a disgrace and I will keep calling it out in the passionate way I do and in a way that highlights that this is a social catastrophe that is causing massive human misery. I will not let one day go by when I will not call that out. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  I thank all the Deputies who submitted amendments to this Bill. I have to agree it is a terrible Bill.  The Minister said he is solving the housing crisis. I do not think anyone buys that. I do not think anyone out there buys that. I do not think the electorate buys that at all. The Minister and the Government are failing, like every Government before it.  I find it scurrilous that he would accuse Opposition TDs, when they are giving scrutiny to a Bill he has introduced, by saying it is spaghetti words or that they are looking for social media clips. That is disgraceful and the Minister should withdraw that comment.  I rise today to speak for renters, who, although they make up 30% of the population, are seldom heard in this House or in our public conversation. I am a renter. I have rented my entire adult life. I want to be clear that I have only ever had good landlords, people who were kind, efficient, kept good homes and were fair. However, my story is not representative. There are too many stories to count in my constituency and among my generation of unscrupulous actors in the rental sector who have exploited those without homes for their own greed.  I will quote some of those who are renting in my constituency. On the question of security for tenants, one constituent said to me:  There is very little security for renters and the laws meant to protect tenants do not seem to be enforced in reality, [which is a real question for this Bill]. There is no long-term certainty for tenants even though generations of families rent long term. If tenants can simply be asked to leave after five or six years, people are left worse off every single time.  Another constituent who works in the public sector is in her middle years and has recently been evicted. She noted the reasons:  The reason behind my eviction is obvious. Our current rent is too low, \u20ac1,100. I think what makes the whole scenario even more ironic is that the result of my work in the public sector is in fact extremely beneficial for the Government and the country. While I am finding companies that are non-compliant regarding their tax matters and getting them to pay what they must to the Exchequer, I am being let down by the State and I do not think there is any exaggeration in saying that.  A third constituent said the following about being evicted from a tenancy only to find the place relet at nearly three times the rent.  I lived in an apartment in Sandymount for six years. I moved in in August 2019. Last January, we received notice that the owner was selling the building and we would be issued with termination letters, which arrived a few months later. These also stated the building was being sold and that the tenancy termination date was 10 December 2025. Yesterday, my former housemates and I received notice that our old apartment was being rented again and the rent was going from \u20ac1,480 to \u20ac4,400 per month.  I have also received a considerable number of emails from constituent tenants concerned about the cost of renting in Dublin and in my constituency. One simply said there is nowhere to live, no matter how much you earn. Another, not far from here, described the townhouse he lives in as having \"five rooms, nine so-called licensees living in it, including me and my roommate who are sharing a twin bedroom paying more than \u20ac650 per person per month with no bills included\". Most critically, a refrain I hear from constituents - and this is important because these are people who would consider voting for Fianna F\u00e1il, but will not - including homeowners, tenants and even some small landlords, is that they ask the Government to please stop letting vulture funds and investment companies buy houses and apartments. I listened yesterday in this Chamber as the T\u00e1naiste and leader of Fine Gael defended that practice still occurring despite the overwhelming public opposition.  The Bill was only introduced to the House last week and is being rushed through this week at the last minute and I kind of wonder why. About 18 years ago, I was in college. I was renting a room for approximately \u20ac100 per week, which at the time was expensive. It was a nice place and I had a very nice landlord. It was September 2008. I distinctly remember hearing about another rush by the Government of the day to pass laws that would change the face of this country. I am, of course, talking about the bank guarantee, which plunged the country's finances into total ruin in an effort to appease international markets and international investors and bondholders.  Here I stand now, many years later, a Member of this House, and I cannot help but think back to that act of the Government, an act of Fianna F\u00e1il like this one, and notice the similarities. History, unfortunately, seems to be repeating itself. Instead of assuaging the thirst of international financial capital by putting the Government's fiscal position on the line, Fianna F\u00e1il is now proposing to offer them the entire renting population of Ireland, including every young person starting out, every divorcee who had to move out, every foreign multinational worker who came here for a good job and finds a disproportionate amount of their income going to landlords, and every older person who for one reason or another does not own their home. The rush of this legislation, with the guillotine in mere hours from now, reminds me of that bank guarantee.  Why is it that the great urgency of Fianna F\u00e1il is always to pass legislation, enact law or make guarantees for international capital, but not for others? Where is the urgency for the emergency winter payment for people with disabilities? Where is the urgency to build offshore wind farms to bring down electricity prices? Where is the urgency for the needs of people and their children who are in poverty, while that poverty increases? Where is the urgency to actually build the homes? Why is that urgency only ever applied for international capital?  There was a great opportunity in the renewed vigour of the Government to pass legislation this year, after one of the worst ever years for the passing of legislation. I welcome it, but it is not this. It is not a Bill to accelerate some of the highest rents in Europe in one of the countries with the highest concentration of institutional international capital landlords anywhere in the world. We saw what happened to the country the last time Fianna F\u00e1il gave rushed gifts to foreign financial investors. In case the Minister has forgotten, it did not end well, for the country or his party. I fear the same will happen again as a result of this Bill and the Government will have sacrificed another generation on its altar of greed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  I will briefly respond to some of what the Minister said, though first I will note that we can see the impact of the guillotine. We are still on the first amendment and we are going to run out of debating time relatively soon. When the Minister made the point that the Government is not ramming it through, his excuse for how it is not ramming it through is because it announced the legislation last year, in August, but that is precisely the point. He announced the policy proposal last year, which is fine, and absolutely his right, but we are debating it, having voted on Second Stage just a few hours ago, and will do Committee and Remaining Stages in five hours. It will be guillotined three weeks out from this being implemented. That is ramming it through. There would be no ramming it through if the Minister had brought in the legislation in September or October, if we had debated it and so on. The Minister is absolutely ramming it through. That the Minister announced it a long time ago and did not bring forward the legislation so it could be scrutinised and amended precisely proves the point about him ramming it through rather than disproving it.  It is interesting that the Minister admits that we currently have a situation of misery. He admits that but says that his Bill is a way to avoid making that misery permanent. I will take the first part of that first of all. We currently have a situation of misery for renters, for people who are trying to buy their homes, for homeless people, and for half a million young people trapped at home. A system of misery has been widely created in the housing system, affecting many people. How did we get here? Shall we have a look at how we got here? If the Government accepts that we have a situation of misery and the Opposition says we have a situation of misery, how did we get here? We got here with Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael, but the key point in a way is not that those parties that are responsible for it, but that the policies pursued by Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael got us to this point. I have been listening to the debate and the policies that were pursued have been set out in great detail. They involved a move away from the delivery of social housing at any scale. There has been an increase in recent years but there has almost been a complete collapse. The policy has been that the market will provide. It has involved incentivising landlords and developers to come into the market and making sure they can make as much profit as they need to make. That is the essence of the approach of the Government and what has got us to the point of housing misery.  I always make the point that I remember in the 2016 general election campaign that homelessness and the housing crisis were emerging as a significant issue. By that stage, we had fewer than 5,000 people homeless. Later on, it was said that when we reached 10,000, that would be a breaking point and that people would not stand going over 10,000. In the 2020 general election, we were over 10,000. By the 2024 general election, we were well over 15,000, and now we are on a trajectory to 20,000, which will be met rapidly if the Government gets its way and manages to implement this approach. That is the consequence of those housing policies. One follows the other. Some people have got very rich in the meantime from that. It is a massive transfer of wealth from the many to the few. What is different about this Government, this housing policy and what is in the Bill? This is just supercharging the policies we have had up until now. It is going in the same direction that has got us to this point but just going faster.  It is all this trickle-down idea that if we invite in these people and make it clear to them that they can make loads of money, and that if we give a windfall of \u20ac20 million to IRES REIT, it will invest more money because it thinks it will be able to make more profits, and then, in the long run, rents will come down. That is effectively what the Government says its position is: that there will be pain in the short term and rents will rise for people, but the investment will come in and in the long run we will have a better housing market. It is effectively what the Government has been doing for the last ten years, though not at the scale or speed of increases that the Government is now introducing. The result is the misery that the Minister admits has been created.  The Minister's point about social media clips was ironic. The Government says things all the time for social media clips and it is pushed out, just to say it so many times that people think there must be something to it. The Minister said that the Opposition has not put forward any proposals or alternatives. I do not know how he can say it. He has been listening to us. He might not agree with what is being put forward but it is clear that the amendments, like our amendments, contain alternative proposals. He might not think the proposals will work but they are clearly alternatives. Alternative positions have been raised repeatedly in the course of the debate, calling for a ban on economic evictions, which we know works. We know it does not stop homelessness or people entering homelessness, but we know that it significantly slows it down. We know that because we have done it, and when we get rid of it, the speed of people entering homelessness goes up faster. We have said we want real rent controls which reduce rents to affordable levels and we have pointed to the need for State investment and a State construction company to build social and affordable homes.  It is just not very serious for the Minister to say he has not heard any alternative proposals when we are literally debating amendments which have alternative proposals. The Government's approach on this issue is horrendously cynical. One part of it is to try to normalise the housing crisis and make it like the health crisis, which every opinion poll turns up as a significant issue. When asked what a big issue is for them, people say the health crisis. The Government has normalised the idea that it is such a big crisis and it is a black hole which money can be thrown at, but it can never really be resolved, to try to neuter it as a political issue. Successive Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael Governments have done that reasonably effectively on the issue of the health crisis. Effectively the Government's approach to the housing crisis is to do the same. It is to get people to accept as normal that we will hit 20,000 people in emergency accommodation and that we will go beyond that, and to accept that rents will increase even faster, to \u20ac3,000 or more, as a consequence of this Bill - that is just the way it is.  Some elements of the Government, backed up by some toxic parts of politics, are playing a dirty game of blaming not those at the top but the most vulnerable people in our society, suggesting that asylum seekers are adding to people in emergency accommodation or whatever. Not only is this stuff factually inaccurate, but it is a dirty trick designed to distract attention away from Fianna F\u00e1il, from Fine Gael and from those who benefit from the housing crisis. The other part of the Government strategy is to suggest that there is no alternative and that nobody has any policies. We can do whatever we want about policies, such as writing books, but we will still hear the Government say that these people have no ideas. The Government says it day in, day out on social media clips just to create the idea that there is no alternative. \"There is no alternative\" is the mantra that is pushed on people. It is incumbent on us to get the message across that there is an alternative and it starts from the opposite point of view. The Government starts from the point of view of what will make landlords and developers happy. When it is speaking to the public, it adds onto that the idea that it will close the viability gap, which is this new term that has entered politics just in the last year or so and has become the thing to dress up how the Government wants to make developers and institutional investors have even more profits than they currently have.  Our starting point is instead what will resolve the housing crisis. What will mean the basic thing of people being able to access affordable, quality, decent housing? It should not be too much to ask in one of the richest countries in the world in 2026, but if one starts from that standpoint, one comes up with a Bill that points in the opposite direction to what the Government is doing in the main with this Bill and comes up with things like the amendments that we are debating today. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  I thank the Deputies. We have been here for nearly three and a half hours debating the first amendment, but that is because there has hardly been a single discussion from the Opposition on the amendment. It has been referred to but most of the debate has not been on the amendment itself. Let us be honest: if the debate was simply on the amendment, we would have moved on a long time ago.  I want to address a number of issues. Deputy \u00d3 Broin is using the RTB data for scaremongering.  Those were his projections from that data. I completely reject his conclusion. I do not know what his conclusions or projections are based on but they are certainly based on no change. We are going to drive supply. Everything I have done since becoming Minister for housing has been to address the housing crisis in this country, and I have always acknowledged there is a housing crisis in this country. Everything I have done is to try to address the housing crisis to get people into the homes they need, whether they are social, affordable or private, for rent or ownership, or for people in towns, villages, rural Ireland or inner cities. We have to solve that housing crisis, which is what everything I am doing is doing. How do we do that? One key to it is actually driving supply - yes, the right supply - but we have to drive the supply of homes. Another rent freeze and eviction ban are not going to drive any supply whatsoever. What they do is crystallise the lack of hope for everybody trying to get somewhere to live because they are never going to get a home to live in. We have to drive supply.  The situation at the moment is very temporary. We are now moving to permanent rent regulation in this country. We are giving certainty to tenants, landlords, investors and the State by bringing in a resolution to the rental situation in this country into the future. That is really important.  The security of tenure element has been ignored. These reforms will ensure that, for the first time, tenants will have security of tenure. They will have a minimum of six years. With a large landlord, they will have a tenancy for as long as they need it, which is crucial. That is not the case right now. They can be confident about not receiving that notice of termination. It allows people to put down roots and have that sense of security. The number one driver of homelessness is a notice to quit. Deputy \u00d3 Broin is right, in that there is a churn of about every three and a half years, but this security of tenure will change that. The Deputy's pronouncements are made on a no-change basis but this will lengthen tenancies that by giving security of tenure to people. The major obstacle to security of tenure under existing regimes is that people can issue no-fault evictions. That will now come to an end for the majority of tenants and, for a minority of tenants, we are substantially restricting those opportunities and giving people at least six years. That is what is in here for tenants. Opposition Deputies have all referred to landlords. Most of the criticism of this Bill has come from landlords across right across the board. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" A Deputy","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" A Deputy  That is because the Government has not given them as much as they would like. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  The Housing Commission recognised we could not continue with what we were doing. The Housing Agency investigated and recognised that we had some of the most restrictive rent controls in the world, which was killing supply of the homes that we need right across the country. The Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI, said we had to move. We have to give people hope and we have to drive housing supply across the country. The Land Development Agency, LDA, has built 2,300 social, affordable and cost rental homes----- "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  -----with 1,900 this year and a pipeline of 12,000. It is driving the supply and the building of homes.  Does Deputy Hearne want to know why I accuse the Social Democrats in particular with regard to social media clips? He stood up and started using hyperbole about the Famine. Deputy Hayes, sitting beside him, stood up and started talking about the altar of greed. What did he do the minute he sat down? He looked over at Deputy Hearne, gave him a wink and Deputy Hearne gave a big smile. That is why I accuse the Social Democrats with regard to social media. It is performative effort in here every single day. At least there is an attempt at policy on the other side. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  This is about addressing the housing crisis in this country. We are bringing forward and implementing solutions. We are giving tenants security and we are giving certainty to tenants, landlords and investors so that we can drive supply. This is about giving hope and delivering homes for people. I want people in their homes right across this country, and that is what we are doing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  With regard to my amendment in particular and my request for an impact forecast on amendment No. 8, if the Minister is so certain that this is a permanent solution, which I do not believe it is, where is the modelling to forecast what it is going to do to rents in the private rental market over the next number of years? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  We have had Housing Agency assessments. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  Into RPZs. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  We have to drive the delivery and supply of homes. We know that if we do not do this, we will not get the supply that we need. We have had endless modelling over the years. It is always based on a no-change basis. This is going to bring the change that we need to deliver the supply of homes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Most of the points have been made about these amendments. I want the Minister to try to explain at what point he seriously believes the supply he is talking about is going to lead to a reduction in rents. Will he give us some indication? I think it is total fantasy. In the explanatory memorandum to the Bill and in his speech introducing the Bill, the Minister said that rents for long-standing tenancies should not fall behind the market. That is what the investors want. They are saying that if they have to deal with rents that are lower than the market, they are not going to build because the Government's rent controls are too restrictive as far as they are concerned and limit their ability to charge \u20ac2,500 or \u20ac3,000 per month. Therefore, they want the Government to get rid of them in order to incentivise them to come in and build.  Is the Minister honestly saying to me that he thinks that if he does this, rents will fall at some point? I am interested to hear when he thinks that point is going to arrive because it has never happened before except during the crash and even then it did not happen for very long. Rents went down after the crash but only briefly. Can he tell me when he thinks rents are going to come down? Probably if he even thinks about that question, the likelihood that rents are ever going to come down is a total mirage and fantasy. Does he honestly believe that an average rent of, say, \u20ac30,000 per year or \u20ac2,500 per month, which is about \u20ac30,000 of after-tax income, is a reasonable level of rent to have in the capital city? How does he think people are supposed to pay that? I know very few people who think that is a sustainable rent.  We have had a long debate on this amendment, so the last point I will make concerns why the Government keeps recycling the mythology that there has been a big exodus of landlords. There has not been a big exodus of landlords. There has been an increase in landlords. In 2023, there were 101,000 landlords in the country. I am sorry, that is not right. I do not have the right figures in front of me. In any event, the number of landlords has increased since 2023 and the number of tenancies has increased, so the private rental sector has increased and the number of landlords has increased over the past two years. If the Minister's argument is that unless we do tis, there will be a continued exodus, I suggest that there is a problem with his logic. Some might be leaving but there is a net increase in the number of people. The reason for this is because huge profits are being made by people who are landlords.  How could huge profits not be made when they are charging the sort of extortionate rents that currently exist out in the market? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donna McGettigan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donna McGettigan  As soon as I read the Bill, I knew straight away, going by the data, that students would be badly affected by this. The Bill will have profound and deeply damaging consequences for students and we must call this for what it is: another failure of this Government's broken housing policy. Students are at the very heart of this housing crisis. Young people trying to make their lives better are having their dreams of education dashed because they either cannot find accommodation or simply cannot afford it. Some students are left with long commutes, couch surfing or sleeping in their cars and that is absolutely shameful. Our students are not met with opportunity but with sky-high rents and a market rigged in favour of big landlords and big investors.  While we know that purpose-built student accommodation will be reset every three years, we also know that because of the Government's failures to meet its student accommodation targets, most students are going to have to go into the private rental market. They will have no protections and may see year-on-year rent hikes and unsecured tenancies in digs. Where is the protection for those students? Students deserve certainty, they deserve fairness and they deserve a government that stands on their sides, not one that continues to protect the profits of landlords over the future of our young people. This Bill must be amended, and students and other people put first. Otherwise, it will simply be another chapter in this Government's housing failure. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  The reason this is more like a Second Stage debate is because the Government forced us to have the Committee and Remaining Stages on the floor on the D\u00e1il instead of us having Committee Stage as normal in a committee room where we would have had a completely different type of engagement as we always do. That was an imposition by the Government. We all wanted and argued at the Business Committee that the Committee Stage should be taken in the normal manner. For the Minister, after the Government deliberately decided that this would be the format for Committee Stage, then to criticise that format is very not credible.  I am going to respond specifically to the Minister's issues because, in fact, almost everything I have said during the debate is about the amendments. He accused me of using RTB data to scaremonger. In fact, my assessment of the RTB data is a very modest one. It asks a very simple question. The Government is introducing a change of policy. That change of policy will allow a landlord to reset the rent to market rent between tenancies. It is eminently reasonable to ask: how much will that reset be? The data that allow us to answer that question is from the RTB, which tells us what the current rent is and what the new market rent is in a certain location for a certain type of property. They are the facts. For the Minister to describe the facts as scaremongering when at no stage in the past six months has he put any alternative assessment into place just shows that we are correct.  He also said that the assessment that the RTB's trends on registrations continue into the future is based on a no-change basis. That is not strictly correct. I said that if these trends continue, but what is it that leads to new tenancies being created? It is not rent pressure zones, that is for sure. It is that some people in the private rental sector move out because they get social housing; it is nowhere near enough, but some. Some people move out of the private rental sector because they manage to buy a house. Other people move out of the private rental sector because they cannot afford the rent and, because of the Government's policies, they are forced to move back in with family and friends. Some people also emigrate. That frees up rental stock that other people then rent and that is going to continue.  Is the Minister asking me: do I think the trends are going to continue exactly as they are? No, I do not, but all of those elements are going to create a situation where new rental stock will become available that will be covered by the market reset rule and tenants will be affected in their tens of thousands.  I spoke with a large institutional landlord last year. This is a landlord that does not evict on sale. This is a landlord that does not evict on family member grounds. This is a landlord that will only move to evict if the tenant breaches contract. It is one of the largest institutional landlords in the State. What does the Minister think its rental turnover is every year? What does he think its rental turnover is in terms of the churn within their tenancies? Has he ever stopped to ask any of the large institutional investors that effectively currently operate a policy of no-fault evictions what their churn is? In the case of this significant player in the market, its turnover is about 25% of tenancies annually. It is remarkably similar to the RTB's data. This is a landlord currently operating a no-fault eviction policy and it still has a 25% turnover every year. That is one of the reasons what company through its lobbyist, Irish Institutional Property, lobbied for this. They know that once this is through, all of their rents will reset to market rent every four years. I suspect that the Minister knows that. I suspect from the conversations he has had that he is fully aware of it.  The information that we put into the public domain this week and put on the D\u00e1il record in more detail about new tenancy registration trends and the cost of the market reset is factual. Of course, whether those things transpire for every individual renter in the time ahead is a separate question but we will have plenty of data to deal with that.  The Minister said that we are moving from a temporary situation to a permanent one. That temporary situation lasted a decade, and it is because the Government made such a mess of the rent pressure zone legislation. Just as RPZs were permanent for a decade, there is going to be further changes to this legislation because of the mess the Government is making of it.  With respect to security of tenure, under section 8, there are still significant grounds for eviction for new tenants of small landlords. Are they the same as under section 34 of the current Residential Tenancies Act? They are not. They are slightly more restricted, but the landlord will still be able to evict where the dwelling is needed by him or her or a more narrowly defined family member group than before to avoid undue hardship, but also in cases where the landlord has a debt discharge.  There is an interesting question that I want the Minister to answer. What is status of an eviction at the end of an existing Part 4 tenancy for a tenant who has an existing Part 4 tenancy prior to June or July 2022? As he knows, those tenancies will come to the end of their first cycle in 2027 or 2028 when the landlord can issue a notice of termination on no grounds and strictly speaking under law that would not be seen as a no-fault eviction. Are those tenants protected under the Government's new rules? In terms of the landlord resetting the rent for the next tenant to market rent at the beginning, will the landlord be able to avail of that?  The interesting thing about the eviction levels at the end of existing Part 4 tenancies is that when the no grounds rule was available, it was hardly ever used. Will we see a glut of landlords availing of that come 2028? Again, the legislation does not speak to it, but I am interested in the Minister's view.  It also ignores the fact that someone can be evicted if they cannot afford the rent because of the rate at which it is rising and fall into arrears. That is an experience that far too many families who ended up in homelessness lived with in 2014, 2015 and 2016.  No-fault evictions are not being ended for all new tenancies. The Minister is correct that they are for the tenants of larger landlords, although for many of those tenants that is currently the default position anyway, but for tenants in new tenancies of small landlords, which is currently about 44% of the market, there will still be grounds for no-fault evictions, albeit they will be slightly more restricted than before.  I am not going to continue this discussion, but I would be interested to hear the Minister's view on whether a landlord who avails of that termination at the end of an existing Part 4 tenancy, pre-2022 will be able to avail of the market reset at the start of a new tenancy on foot of that eviction. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  The Minister has still not answered a fundamental question that we asked. Based on the introduction of the Bill, when will rents stabilise? When will rents start reducing as a result of the Bill?  The Minister has not answered the question and it runs against all policy, which is supposed to be evidence-based policy, that he understands the consequences and impacts of a Bill but has not set out the core purpose, which is going to have significant social impact by resulting in rising rents. He accepts this but he will not set out when rents will fall as a result of this.  Again, the Minister has not set out or accepted how renters who are forced to or have to leave tenancies are going to pay higher market rents. How are they going to afford it? Where is the income going to come from? In the Minister's view, what is a sustainable or average rent? In the Minister's view, what should we be aiming for in terms of average rents? Maybe he could set that out. What does he think is a sustainable and appropriate national average rent?  The Minister needs to accept and make clear a point. While he stated that for the first time, he is introducing no-fault evictions, protection and security of tenure for renters, he is not introducing it for all existing renters. Can he at least have the honesty to state that he is introducing a form of security of tenure for new tenancies but that all existing tenants are still covered under the same situation whereby they can be evicted on a no-fault basis? That is a fundamental mistake with this Bill. Why will the Minister not accept our proposed amendment to extend no-fault evictions to all existing tenancies? In regard to the proposals and amendments we are putting forward, that is one of the core ones. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  I will address a couple of the issues that have been raised. If a tenant involuntarily leaves, the rent cannot be reset under these rules. That is very important. You will always have tenants who will voluntarily leave. The number of HAPs in this country has reduced by about 9,000, give or take. That is as a result of the significant increase in social and affordable housing we have been delivering. People will always leave tenancies voluntarily. If they do that, a rent can be reset if the landlord was going back out to the market but if a tenant is in any shape or form involuntarily put out of the property, there cannot be a reset. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  Except for breach of contract. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  That is an additional protection. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  Except for breach of contract. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  It is just a clarification, I am not heckling. Except for breach of contract. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  We have to drive up----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin \u00d3 Broin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Eoin-\u00d3-Broin.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin \u00d3 Broin  Surely breach of contract is also----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  If the tenant breaches a contract, yes.  In relation to the 240,000 tenancies and there being no change, I have said that multiple times, just as I have said multiple times that one child homeless is one child too many. Everything I am doing is about driving up the delivery of homes. The entire rental and housing market is always going to be dynamic, so I am not going to indulge the fantasy, as the Deputy refers to, of giving a date and a time for when rents are going to change. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Roughly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  We know if we do not bring in changes, rents are only going in one direction and that is up. As important is the fact that if we do not bring in change, we are not going to get the supply for those people who are living at home and need somewhere to rent, or as the population increases. Our population has increased by about 810,000 people since 2014. That requires an average of about 250,000 new homes, which is about what has been delivered. We need to deliver more to solve the housing, rental and homelessness crises and that is at least what we are doing, so people have somewhere to be safe and secure in their own homes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Do any further Deputies wish to contribute? No. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Amendments Nos. 3 to 6, inclusive, are out of order. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendments Nos. 3 to 6, inclusive, not moved."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question, \u201cThat section 1 stand part of the Bill\u201d, put and declared carried."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question, \u201cThat section 2 stand part of the Bill\u201d, put and declared carried."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"NEW SECTIONS"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  I move amendment No. 7:  In page 6, between lines 13 and 14, to insert the following:  \u201c Review of Act  3. The Minister shall, not later than 2 years after the passing of this Act, conduct a review of the operation and effectiveness of amendments effected by this Act and shall, not later than 3 months after the end of that period of 2 years, or on the completion of the review, whichever is the earlier, make a report, in writing, to each House of the Oireachtas of the findings of the review and of the conclusions drawn from those findings.\u201d. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared lost."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  I move amendment No. 8:  In page 6, between lines 13 and 14, to insert the following:  \u201c Impact forecast  3 . The Minister shall, as soon as may be after the passing of this Act, but not later than 6 months thereafter, prepare and publish, including publication by electronic means, a statement of forecasts for the following period of 10 years following its publication in respect of the impact of the amendments effected by this Act on market rents for a representative sample of tenancies, together with such other information as the Minister may deem appropriate for the purposes of this section.\u201d. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put and declared lost."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Amendments Nos. 9, 31 and 38 are related and may be discussed together, by agreement. Is that agreed? Agreed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  I move amendment No. 9:  In page 6, between lines 13 and 14, to insert the following:  \u201c Notices of termination: temporary ban  3 . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act or any other enactment or rule of law, the period of 3 years commencing on the passing of this Act is deemed to be an emergency period within the meaning and for the purposes of section 5 of the Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Act 2020 and that section, with the exception of subsection (6)(b), applies accordingly.\u201d.  This amendment introduces a new section to the Bill concerning a temporary ban on notices of termination. The section would, in effect, reintroduce the emergency period, which we remember from Covid-19. The emergency period was provided for by the Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Act 2020. During that period, there was a statutory pause on all termination notices. We are in an emergency period now, as has been discussed at length. The D\u00e1il has long since declared and recognised the housing crisis to be a national emergency. Under this section, there would be a similar ban, this time for three years from the passing of the Bill, on all termination notices and evictions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  I support the amendments, particularly the introduction of a no-fault eviction ban for all tenancies, and that no eviction could take place where there is an identified risk of homelessness to the tenant. This exists in countries like Belgium, for example, where people cannot be evicted when they have nowhere else to go. It is still shocking to me that we have the highest level of eviction since the Famine, yet the Government acts as if it is normal and acceptable. It is absolutely unacceptable to us that we are heading towards what is likely to be at least 20,000 households being served notices of eviction this year, if it remains in line with last year.  Such people are coming to my constituency clinic, and every TD has been contacted by people who are in desperate situations. Someone contacted me just today to set out their case. They are a cancer patient and their husband is ill. They talk about being stuck in a renting cycle for 25 years. They also put off having children until they would be in secure housing, but now, of course, they are at the point where it does not look like it is going to happen for them. They describe it as follows:  Yet again, we are being faced with eviction for no reason except the landlord is deciding to sell up. We are so tired of having to jump at somebody's whim.  Being ill, they are exhausted. They describe the emotional and mental impact of this. They continue:  We just want somewhere we can call our own, where we can be safe from homelessness, and not fear every knock at the door, letter or phone call. We have never been late with a rent payment or been in arrears. We have always kept up a good relationship with landlords.  There are thousands of tenants like this up and down this country. The Bill, as currently put forward, without this amendment, does nothing for the existing hundreds of thousands of renters, who will still be exposed to no-fault evictions. The Bill does nothing to address their situation. That is why we feel it is vital that we have a ban on no-fault evictions, in particular where people are at risk of homelessness. It is also an opportunity for the Government if it is concerned about security of tenure, which this Bill is supposed to be about. If it was actually about that, the Government would accept this amendment and apply it to all tenancies. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  It is worthwhile at times, when we are discussing these things, which can seem quite dry and technical, to just remind ourselves of the human reality. Literally every week, I have somebody coming in to me who is facing a date for eviction. This week, given the particular week that is in it, I had a lovely young couple come in to me. Both of them have been working. They are probably about their mid-20s. They are a lovely couple. Throughout the whole engagement with this couple, they had with them their young son, who has special needs. He is about two or three - a lovely little fellow. He has the same name as my son, coincidentally. He was sitting there smiling at me the whole time during the meeting. His mother was just bawling crying the whole time. Her partner had to keep reaching over to hold her because, as much as she was trying to keep it together to explain the situation they were in, she just kept getting overwhelmed with fear because their date for eviction is this week.  They have done absolutely nothing wrong, nothing at all. They are terrified about the prospect of what is going to happen to them and their child with special needs. Both of them told me that they themselves, later in life, have been diagnosed with special needs and are on the spectrum. They are finding it really difficult to cope with all the forms they have to fill out, and trying to understand HAP, homeless HAP and the thresholds. If they get the working family payment, what might that mean? Would it drive them over the social housing income threshold and make their situation even worse? They asked if there was anything I could do, and so on. When you look at their position on the list, you would think not, unless these people get prioritised, and to get prioritised is extremely difficult.  The bar is getting higher and higher to get medical priority because a feature of these things is people who often are not doctors second-guessing people who are writing letters on behalf of people, where doctors say this person should be prioritised, that this kid should not go into homelessness because it would be really bad for them, or that this person because of their disability should not be in a hostel. The council, because it has nowhere to put them anyway, says it cannot prioritise them because it is not a severe enough disability. My question to the Minister is whether anything can justify this. Can anything justify the tears of that mother? Can anything justify that little child who is about two or three with special needs being driven into a hostel in town? They are absolutely terrified. I do not think they will go to a hostel in town, to tell the truth. I would say they would probably do almost anything bar go there. It is a long way out from any sort of family support networks they have in D\u00fan Laoghaire, but that is what people get offered most of the time in D\u00fan Laoghaire because we do not even have enough emergency accommodation there. People get sent into town to a hostel. They might be in there, and then after a year or two they might get into emergency accommodation in D\u00fan Laoghaire. Then they do not know how long they might be there. They could be just languishing there for God knows how long.  Can anything justify that being done to those people, in the Minister of State's mind? Can anything justify them being evicted in that circumstance to satisfy the investors, to incentivise? What we are being told is that has to be done, to incentivise the investors. It is a small landlord, by the way, doing that. They were not saying awful things about the small landlord. It is you guys who manage the sector. It is you guys who create and sustain a sector that allows that to happen. To my mind, if the consequence of the sort of rental sector we set up is that this happens to this family and this child, there is something wrong. There is something wrong with that. It is just not right for that to happen to that child or that mother. It is just not right; I do not care what justification the Minister of State wants to try to put on it. We know, as a Deputy said earlier, that it is people with spreadsheets in Antwerp and New York looking at Dublin and saying they cannot put the rent up to \u20ac2,500 in certain circumstances so they might not build there, because it is not profitable enough. The human consequence is that lovely couple, the tears and the child going in. To my mind that is State neglect. We passed that referendum on children and passed the Children First guidelines, which say the State is culpable of an abuse if a child is neglected. To my mind, the State is guilty of an abuse of that child and of the wilful neglect of the well-being of that child if the child is allowed to go into homelessness.  I hear the Government say it is working on prevention of people going into homelessness. No, it is not. It is allowing that to happen. It thinks that in order to incentivise investors, this is legitimate. It is not legitimate. It is illegitimate. It is absolutely outrageous that it can be allowed to happen. Can the Minister of State honestly stand over that situation? That is just this week's example for me in my office. I am sure others can talk about their experiences in the last week or two of the same desperate situations. It really struck me just how confused and desperate and helpless people were, pleading for help, and I am just thinking there is nothing I can do because that is allowed. It is allowed that they can be thrown out and allowed that they have nowhere to be sent but a hostel. Very often in my area people say they would rather sleep in their car or pitch a tent somewhere than go into town into those hostels. That is the human reality of it all.  The Government has a choice not to do that and say it is not acceptable. It is done in other countries. The Government says it is not evicting people into homelessness, that that is not going to happen because it is wrong, and it can do something else to make sure that does not happen. It can provide secure, affordable housing for people like that couple and their child. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  I support this amendment. I had a gentleman come to me a few weeks ago. He is a paramedic working in the ambulance service and he was homeless. He went through a relationship break-up. He could find nowhere to rent. He has a good job and is working. The only service he could be offered in Cork was Simon Community Night Light. You go in at 11 o'clock at night and leave at 8 o'clock in the morning. He was going to work at 4 o'clock. He was in the ambulance service. He was not sure what time he would be home at. He could not go to work for a few days because the only place he could lie down was in the Night Light. How is it possible?  I had another guy in a similar situation. Where he was renting, the landlord, a small landlord, was selling the property. He was a security worker. He did door staff and worked in bars, nightclubs and fast food restaurants late at night. The doors close at half past 11, so he is sleeping in his car. Then if you are not engaging with the emergency accommodation, you are not classified as homeless. It is a catch-22. Because you cannot get in somewhere to put down your head, you are not homeless. How is that right? I spoke to a girl a while ago who is in accommodation and she and the other people in there believe the accommodation is not fit for inhabitants. It is homelessness services. She believes HIQA, or someone like HIQA, should be brought in to audit these properties. Where is their dignity? She is there with a young child. She has been in there for over a year. I know people who have done three years, three Christmases in emergency accommodation, people with children - Santa Claus. Some people might not get this but in Cork, and I am sure nationally now, we see a drop in homelessness by a small bit in December. I know some of the people. If they have kids, they try to go home or get into a friend's house so that their children can have Santa Claus. In January, they have to go back into the emergency accommodation.  I am dealing with a man whose partner died tragically by suicide last summer. She was on the verge of a home being bought by the tenant in situ scheme and tragically she died. He now is trying to raise their three-year-old son. He contacted me over Christmas. I had to go up to him because he was so upset. I was seriously worried for him. Cork City Council knew his ex-partner. She was a lovely lady, a vibrant young woman. The weight of homelessness, the weight of not being able to provide a roof for your child, the weight of always being short of money and I suppose a thousand other things, because when you are in such a desperate situation - everything then combines on you. I was talking to that man. He works in the building line, he is in sport, hurling, mixed martial arts. He is a man's man, you would say. He cried to me on Christmas week because he had nowhere for his three-year-old child, his young son, and himself to go to. Jesus, this is what we are dealing with.  The Ministers say this Bill will improve things. I do not believe it will. When will it improve things? We have seen an increase in evictions since the Government announced it was bringing in this Bill on 1 March. I am not sure the Government gets it. People now have notices to quit and that is an eviction notice. \"Notice to quit\" is the nice way of putting it. It is an eviction notice. They are not all going to hit on 1 March. They are going to hit in April, May, June, July - right up the whole summer.  We will see a steady increase in the number of people becoming homeless. These will be more and more families. Even if you have a job, there is no security that you will be able to find somewhere to rent. I hold clinics on Mondays and I am now so busy that I am booking people two weeks in advance to see me. A couple came in to me last Monday. They told me that last year, their property was to be bought through the tenant in situ scheme. Happy days. Then the Government pulled it last April. I have the document that says that on 4 April last year, the Government pulled the scheme. Their landlord sold their property. They got \u20ac10,000 from the credit union to buy a mobile home to put in the back garden of a friend who lives just outside the city. They have two daughters, 11 and 13 years old. They told me about the shame the father has. He is a man and he is working. His wife is working and they have two kids and they are living in a mobile home. This is because the Government pulled the tenant in situ scheme. Granted, the Government reinstated it afterwards with new rules and regulations, which they would have still qualified for, but the landlord was so sick of waiting around for this Government that he sold the property and they were evicted. I will ask the Minister a straight question, which I asked Cork City Council, namely, who is going to give them a house? They are willing to pay, but as for the tenant in situ scheme, earlier the Minister, Deputy Browne, said he was looking to provide hope. Where is the hope for them? The Government also talks about preventing people going into emergency accommodation and preventing homelessness. The one thing that was working was the tenant in situ scheme and the Government broke it by modifying it. The representatives of the Government come in here and make promises to people. The only promises that this Bill will deliver will be increased rent, increased evictions and increased homelessness. I will finish with this. I swear to God I could talk about this all night because of the people I deal with every week. I do not know what I would do if I was in that position as a father knowing that there was nowhere for my children to go. Jesus Christ, God forgive me for cursing. How could any man or woman cope with that? How many children must become homeless before the Minister and the Government accept their policies are wrong? It is not just that they are wrong and not delivering, the policies are the problem because vested interests, vulture funds, speculators and profit are being put before ordinary, hard-working people who just want to have a safe home. How many children must become homeless? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy John Cummins)  I cannot accept amendments Nos. 9, 31 and 38. The Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Act 2020 provided for an emergency period during which a landlord is prohibited, under section 5 of the Act, from serving a notice of termination.  Section 4 of the Act provided that the emergency period could only be extended from its initial three months, under very specific circumstances in the interest of public health during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Government could, on the request of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage make - after consultation with the Minister for Health, and with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service, Reform and Digitalisation, - from time to time, by order extend the emergency period for such period as they considered appropriate if they were satisfied that, having regard to the threat to public health presented by Covid-19, the highly contagious nature of that disease, and the need to restrict the movement of persons in order to prevent the spread of the disease among the population, the making of such order was in the public interest.  As the emergency period under the Act expired on 1 August 2020, its provisions relating to residential tenancies are effectively spent. It would not be appropriate or legally sound to now use legislation intended to prevent the movement of persons in the interest of public health during a pandemic and to ease consequential rent affordability pressures, to introduce a three-year moratorium on tenancy terminations and rent increases at a time when thankfully, we have no pandemic to deal with.  Irrespective of how the Opposition wishes to give effect to an eviction ban or a rent freeze, the Government rejects such policy interventions. We wish to grow the supply of rental accommodation. We want to help renters into the future. We know that some renters are facing significant challenges, which Deputies have articulated in their contributions. The State provides support and assistance, where needed. The Government\u2019s new plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities, will provide 90,000 affordable supports to help people secure a home of their own. Since 2022, 4,500 homes have been delivered by AHBs, local authorities and the LDA. There is a strong pipeline of future developments, with over 5,150 additional affordable purchase homes approved for support from the affordable housing fund across 22 local authority areas.  From budget 2026, cost-rental homes will be exempt from corporation tax, making projects more viable and ensuring the 25% discount is maintained. The rent tax credit, introduced in budget 2023, has been of significant help for renters, with almost 400,000 people benefiting in 2023. In budget 2026, the credit was extended for three more years, until the end of 2028. As promised in the programme for Government, the amount of the credit will increase gradually over the lifetime of this plan. A lengthy eviction ban or rent freeze would hamper supply and ultimately, help nobody. We do not have to look too far away from here. In Berlin, the Government introduced a rent freeze that resulted in a 50% reduction in rental supply within 12 months and was struck down by the Supreme Court there.  The Residential Tenancies Acts provide tenancy protections for both tenants and landlords. The constitutionally protected property rights of landlords have to be respected by the balanced provisions in both this Bill and the Residential Tenancies Acts. A landlord has the right to terminate a tenancy on one or more of the limited grounds for termination under the Acts. This Bill strengthens protections for tenants by restricting the rights of landlords to terminate a tenancy, including on the ground of family occupation. I encourage anyone at risk of homelessness to make contact with their local authority for help.  For new tenancies, that is, first-time tenancies between parties created on or after 1 March 2026, a smaller landlord can only terminate a tenancy of minimum duration during its six-year term on the ground of occupation by the landlord or an immediate family member, which is restricted to a spouse, civil partner, child or parent, or both. A smaller landlord can terminate, as usual, on one or more of the limited grounds for termination at the end of this six-year tenancy of minimum duration. Landlords with four or more properties can only terminate a new tenancy where there is a breach of tenant obligations or the dwelling no longer suits the needs of the tenant household. As a result, I reiterate I cannot accept amendments Nos. 9, 31 and 38. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  It is deeply disappointing that the Minister of State is rejecting these amendments. I also cannot wrap my head around the fact that the Minister, Deputy Browne, said he does not tolerate or accept one child being homeless. Right now, the Minister of State could prevent thousands of children becoming homeless in the coming months by agreeing to this amendment but he is not doing it. He shakes his head, but of course he could. The Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, referred to the emergency situation during Covid. This is an emergency situation. Of course he could if he wanted to. The constitutional right to private property is mitigated by the principles of social justice, as he knows, and the common good.  In this case, I challenge the Minister to introduce it as we have put forward here. I challenge him to implement that and see what landlord is going to come forward, bring it to court and see if it does not stand up. The Minister will not do that just like the Government will not have a referendum to hold a right to housing to make housing a human right because it does not believe that it is a human right. As I said earlier, it is willingly accepting homelessness and levels of homelessness that are absolutely intolerable and has done for years. I do not see it as normal or acceptable for a child being homeless, but the Minister does despite his claims to contrary. If he did not, he would implement a no-fault eviction ban that would prevent thousands of families and their children becoming homeless. The homeless figures that we get each month are only the tip of the iceberg. Thousands more are being made homeless but going into situations of hidden homelessness.  Deputy Boyd Barrett was right to outline the human cost of this and what the human reality is, which I also spoke about earlier. What is really sad right now is that we do not talk about the children anymore. We do not talk about the situations in Temple Street that I spoke about years ago where the doctors explained that they were seeing and are continuing to see, but no one talks about it, children presenting with their families with burns because they were in cramped emergency accommodation pulling kettles down on themselves. Babies were not learning to crawl because literally the space is not there. It is still going on. There are children right now in hotels, hostels and family hubs whose lives are being irreparably damaged by growing up in emergency accommodation. That is an emergency. That is the experience of thousands of children. I cannot get my head around how the Government will not implement a measure that it knows would prevent that for more children.  The homeless services say that the eviction ban did prevent people going into homelessness and opened up a space where they could then work on getting those in emergency accommodation out. They were not dealing with a constant flow in of homelessness. That is one of the really frustrating aspects of the Bill. The Minister said the security of tenure this is going to introduce is historic and huge. As I have said over and over, it does nothing for the hundreds of thousands of existing renters. Yet the Minister could do it. He could accept this amendment. It is so frustrating to be here knowing that he could do something that would prevent homelessness, but he will not do it. It is a disgrace. It makes hollow all these claims he has made that he cares about homelessness, and he is treating it as an emergency. No, he is not. To treat it as an emergency would be to implement a no-fault eviction ban across the board. He said that landlords will flee and more landlords will sell up. If there was a no-fault eviction ban and a landlord did sell up, the family or individual would still be there. They could sell their property as they do in other countries, such as Belgium. Why will the Minister not do that? It is because he will not step up and state, \"We believe housing is a human right. This is an emergency. We will take these measures.\" The Government is introducing a Bill that still very much does not addressing fundamental causes of our housing and homelessness crisis. We will continue to see it. Instead, the Government is going to make it much worse with higher rents. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  If the Minister is not going to accept amendment No. 9, I plead with him to accept amendment No. 38. This amendment proposes to amend the table in section 34 of the 2004 Act, which sets out the ground for the termination of a tenancy. The ground specified in paragraph four of the table is that \"the landlord requires the dwelling or the property containing the dwelling for his or her own occupation or for occupation by a member of his or her family\". In my view and in the opinion of many people, this provision is much abused. This amendment proposes a balancing exercise that use for a family member should not be a ground for evicting a tenant if the tenant would be placed at risk of homelessness. Politics is about choices. The choice the Minister is making is going to increase homelessness. That is a fact. It is going to put rents up.  In relation to my other amendment, there was 35% surge in evictions after the moratorium was lifted. I am not arguing for a permanent eviction moratorium. I am arguing for a moratorium to give us some breathing space. We will not get to it, but this is in a similar vein to why I tabled an amendment in relation to a rent break if rents exceeded 15% within a three-year period. When the eviction moratorium was in place, family homelessness fell by 39%.  Like every Deputy and I am sure the Minister included, my constituency clinics are inundated with notices to quit. At this stage, I have over 100 notices to quit on the books in my office. I do not know what to tell people because in many cases they are being forced to leave their homes and if they are lucky, they will get emergency accommodation. Emergency accommodation in Limerick is often at capacity. On Monday, a man attended my clinic wondering how he would explain to his autistic child that the family were going to be made imminently homeless. Things have gotten so bad at this stage that all I am looking for with the first amendment is a breathing space and with the second amendment, to tighten up that provision to ensure that people are not being evicted on spurious grounds. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  It was interesting to hear what the Minister of State said in response to the instance that I set out of the couple and their child. I was just looking through the details of the case. They brought their youngest child with them. As I was reading over the details of the case, I realised that they have a daughter as well. Their son is two-years-old with special needs and autism. He was just diagnosed. They also have a nine-year-old daughter who has complex special needs. I was looking at the email they sent me describing their extreme anxiety and concern about what homelessness would mean and all of that for them in terms of the services that they are trying to access. They are waiting for those services as well to get an occupational therapist for their kid and what they will do if they have to move to another area even if they tried to move to another area. It is interesting that the homeless HAP limit that they were given to allow them to look for somewhere is high as \u20ac2,525. They are looking all the time and cannot find anywhere. The Minister wants those rents to go even higher. They will in my area. They will go up to \u20ac3,000 and \u20ac3,500.  In the hopeless situation that they are in, all the Minister of State said is that they should engage with the local authority about emergency accommodation. I said to him that they are being told, and families like them are being told week in and week out, is to go to a hostel in Dublin city centre with their kids. They would be absolutely terrified to do. That is why the mother of these children kept bursting into tears. I could see it. She was envisaging in her head the prospect of bringing her kids into a hostel. She immediately burst into tears. Her partner was desperately trying to comfort her. Has the Minister of State got any other advice?  We are asking for the prevention of evictions of vulnerable children like these and of two lovely parents in their 20s, who are both working hard to try to make their way in life and contribute to society. If the Minister will not do what is asked for in these amendments, which is to prevent people like them from being evicted into homelessness, can he offer anything more than saying, when I have explained the reality of the situation, that they should engage with the local authority regarding emergency accommodation? Given where they are on the list, they will be languishing in emergency housing for years. Let us be under absolutely no illusion that already vulnerable children with special needs will be damaged by that experience, possibly forever. There is not a shadow of a doubt about it. The best we can offer them and the many people like them is to say they should engage with the local authority.  This point is relevant to the provisions in the Bill. In the case of the parents I mentioned, because their daughter will soon turn ten, their need is for a three-bedroom home. When there are children of opposite sexes, they are not supposed to share a room after one of them reaches ten years of age. The parents now must look for three-bedroom accommodation, which is completely impossible to find. People can forget about getting such a property from the council. We are talking about being on the list for a decade. In their desperation, the parents asked whether there was any chance they could look for a two-bedroom property. It would still be very difficult to find one under HAP but there might be some chance of it. However, that is not allowed because it would mean they were moving into overcrowding.  This is the dilemma. We go to the council and suggest that people in this desperate situation, to avoid homelessness, be allowed to move into an overcrowded place. Of course, if these parents are made homeless in the next week, which is the deadline by which they must leave, they will definitely be overcrowded if they have to go into a hostel in the city. Indeed, it will be worse overcrowding because they will probably all be in one room together, as are many of the homeless families with whom I deal. We can put such families into one bedroom in emergency accommodation but the councils cannot give them a two-bedroom home because that is deemed to be overcrowding and not to meet their housing need.  There is a dilemma here for local authorities and it will be even more so the case if this Bill is enacted, because one of the grounds on which evictions are still allowed is that landlords, big and small, can evict if their property is not suitable to a family's needs, which includes where there is overcrowding. That is a justification for evicting families. We really are on the horns of a dilemma in that families might have a chance of getting a property that is very far from perfect and in which they will be overcrowded but if they do so, they are then vulnerable to eviction by a landlord. The latter might say the property is not suitable to their needs if at any point that landlord decides he or she could get more rent by getting in people for whom the property is deemed appropriate to their needs.  That is the mess we are in. or more to the point, that is the mess in which families in this situation find themselves. They are absolutely terrified for the well-being of their children and for themselves. The Minister could stop this, even on a temporary basis. He said we should thank God we are not in a pandemic. The dictionary definition of \"pandemic\" does not just refer to a global epidemic but is also applicable to something affecting a whole country. There is, in fact, a pandemic in Ireland. There is a pandemic of homelessness and a pandemic of housing crisis. If ever a housing and homelessness crisis could be described as a pandemic, it is the one we are living through. It is a pandemic in the literal meaning of the word and it justifies taking emergency measures to prevent damage being done to the children who will be homeless if we do not come up with a better answer than sending their parents to engage with the local authority about emergency accommodation in Dublin city centre. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Cummins  Nobody in this Chamber has a monopoly on understanding and compassion for families and individuals----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  We are looking for answers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Cummins  With all due respect, I did not interrupt the Deputy. Nobody here has a monopoly on compassion when it comes to the difficulties and challenges being faced by individuals and families regarding the shortage of housing supply, whether social, affordable or rental. At my constituency offices in Waterford city and Dungarvan, I deal with constituents in the exact same way as do other Deputies. The Minister and I are not blind to the challenges facing the public. We have a difference of view on how to address those challenges.  The Government is investing record sums in increasing provision of social and affordable housing to try to assist the very people of whom we have been speaking. Our housing plan commits to deliver 72,000 social homes and 90,000 starter home supports. Contrary to what was said by Deputies on the opposite side of the Chamber, everything in this Bill is about trying to enhance protections to ensure there is a reduction in notices of termination. That is what is contained in the Bill. Deputies can dress it up and try to present and package it in a different way but the fact is there will be restrictions on notices of termination as a result of the measures we are putting in place.  In his amendment No. 38, Deputy Sheehan seeks to restrict the grounds for evictions where a family member has to return. I ask him to consider that we want rental properties to be put on the rental market where, for example, a family member is going off to work abroad. Is it better for such a property to sit vacant because that person will need it on his or her return or for it to be put on the rental market? I would argue it is better that it be put on the rental market and put to good use while the person is abroad. The Deputy's amendment would prevent that person from being able to return to the property.  Balances must always be found when it comes to putting legislation in place. That is why we are not accepting the amendments that have been put before us. It is all about balance and, contrary to the contributions we have heard from Opposition Deputies, the Government is trying to strike that balance. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  The Minister of State said no one has a monopoly on compassion. I have a couple of questions for him and the Minister. How many children must become homeless before they admit their policies are wrong and are contributing to making homelessness worse? It is a straightforward question. Will they give a commitment that this Bill will not drive up rents? Everyone on this side of the Chamber and every expert who presented to the housing committee said it will but the Government is saying we are all wrong. Will they give a commitment that the Bill will not drive up notices to quit and evictions over the coming months? Will they give a commitment that the Bill will reduce homelessness? None of us believes any of those claims.  I have asked direct, straight and hard questions. The Minister and the Ministers of State are telling us the Bill will help to solve the housing crisis and homelessness emergency and provide additional homes. We do not believe it will do so. We believe the result will be the opposite. We were told we were wrong by the previous Ministers, Deputy O'Brien, Simon Coveney and Eoghan Murphy.  They brought in policies and told us we were all wrong and these would fix them. The Government is coming back here again now telling us we are wrong again when there are over 5,000 children homeless tonight, and that is not even counting the hidden homeless. Can we have straight answers to straight questions? The Minister, Deputy Browne, said there will be a review in 12 months after this legislation comes in to see how it operates. In 12 months' time, after this has come in, if rents, evictions and child homelessness increase, will the Government fall on its sword and admit it was wrong? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  I want to come back in on that. Numerous cases were upheld by the RTB where it was found that this provision was abused with people being evicted from their property. What I am trying to do in this amendment is simply to tighten it up where there is a specific risk to the tenant being made homeless. That is all. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  The Minister and I disagree. He is absolutely right that no one has a monopoly on compassion, but I honestly believe the Government has an obligation, as do I as a representative, to say something to the family I am talking about. The Minister has a responsibility for all the families who come into him. It is just not good enough to tell people to engage with their local authorities about emergency accommodation. Does the Minister think it is? I certainly do not. I have described the situation of the couple and I could describe an endless number of other cases that are on my books at the moment and people who are coming in week in, week out. They are absolutely terrified in their situations for their children. Would the Minister allow his children to be put in a situation that would damage them? I think the Minister would do anything \u2013 in fact I do not want to personalise this, because that is wrong too. However, any parent would do absolutely anything to prevent their child being put in that sort of situation. We should not be in a situation where we have to turn around and tell people that there is nothing we can do, and that their daughter and son with special needs who are vulnerable will just have to suck it up, as they will, and will have to go into that hostel even though it will be very bad for them. I seriously worry about the mental health of the mother in particular, after the engagement I had with her, about how she will be able to cope so it is just not good enough to say that.  I hear from the Minister, as I have heard from successive Ministers, that the Government is developing policies to prevent people going into homelessness. If the Minister will not do what is in this amendment, will he please tell me what he is doing to prevent this and other families going into homelessness? Tell me. Is there another answer I am missing? Is there something I have not heard? Is there some policy the Minister is developing that will prevent this situation where the family has to end up in emergency accommodation next week? If the Minister cannot give that alternative suggestion, the best one going is the one being proposed in these amendments, which is, even on an emergency basis, to say \u201csorry, you will not be allowed to evict these people into homelessness\". We need to freeze that possibility until we sort out this mess, which is certainly not the fault of this family or these kids. Whatever differences we have on policy and all the rest, we should say we will not put them into a worse position, an unacceptable position, until we have managed to sort out the bigger problem. That is what we are asking. Can the Minister tell me he has a better answer for them or is he just saying that he, I and Deputies \u00d3 Broin, Sheehan and Hearne have to tell our constituents that there is nothing we can do and that at some point it might improve - we cannot say when exactly - when the investors in New York decide to reduce rents? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Minister does not wish to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  No answer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Do any further Deputies wish to contribute? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  I have asked the Minister straight questions. At least, we should get answers to those questions. The Minister said a while ago that there will be a review in 12 months. If that review does not show an improvement in matters, will the Government fall on its sword, admit it is wrong and at least let the Opposition bring forward solutions? I asked three other questions about the rise in rents, the rise in evictions and the rise in homelessness. These are questions I am looking for an answer to. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Does the Minister wish to respond? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"James Browne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"James-Browne.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy James Browne  I answered on the amendments. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  As the time permitted for this debate having expired, I am required to put the following question in accordance with an order of the D\u00e1il of 10 February 2026: \"That in respect of each of the sections undisposed of the section is hereby agreed to in committee; the Title is hereby agreed to in committee; the Bill is accordingly reported to the House without amendment; Fourth Stage is hereby completed; and the Bill is hereby passed.\" "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The D\u00e1il divided by electronic means."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  As the gap is less than ten votes, and because of the outrageous legislation this is for so many families across this State, we are calling for a vote by other than electronic means. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Other than electronic means a roll call vote. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  Under Standing Order 88(3)( b ), I propose that the vote be taken by other than electronic means. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026: Committee and Remaining Stages"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-11\/debate\/dbsect_38","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Revised Estimates for Public Services 2026 - Message from Select Committee","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_38","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach has completed its consideration of the following Revised Estimate for Public Services for the service of the year ending on 31 December 2026: Vote 13 - Office of Public Works. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Revised Estimates for Public Services 2026 - Message from Select Committee"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-11\/debate\/dbsect_39","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2025\/61","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2025\/61\/dail\/2","houseCode":"dail","stage":"2","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Regulation of Drones Bill 2025: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members] (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Regulation of Drones Bill 2025: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_39","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The following motion was moved by Deputy Roderic O'Gorman on Thursday, 29 January 2026: \"That the Bill be now read a Second Time.\""},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Debate resumed on amendment No. 1:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"To delete all words after \"That\" and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann resolves that the Regulation of Drones Bill 2025 be read a second time on this day 12 months, to allow for the actions set out in the National Policy Framework for Unmanned Aircraft Systems and agreed by Government to be progressed and to allow for a full examination of the legal and policy implications of the Bill's provisions to be undertaken."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"- (Minister for Transport)"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy An Ceann Comhairle  I must now deal with a postponed division relating to Second Stage of the Regulation of Drones Bill 2025, which was taken on Thursday, 29 January 2026. On the question, \"That the amendment to the motion be made\", a division was claimed, and in accordance with Standing Order 85(2), that division must be taken now. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Motion, as amended, agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Regulation of Drones Bill 2025: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members]"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-11\/debate\/dbsect_44","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Bord Bia: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_44","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The following motion was moved by Deputy Martin Kenny on Wednesday, 4 February 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"notes:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 that Bord Bia's mission statement is to bring Ireland's outstanding food, drink and horticulture to the world, thus enabling growth and sustainability of producers;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the importance of Irish food and drink exports to the Irish economy;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the importance of Ireland's reputation around the world as a food producer;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 that the Irish food and drinks industry is dependent on Irish farmers as the primary producer; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the animal health and welfare standards that Irish farmers must adhere to, and in particular the standards and conditions that are part of Bord Bia's Sustainable Quality Assurance Scheme;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"further notes that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Irish farmers and their representative organisations have lost confidence in the Chairperson of Bord Bia, as a result of his company's role in importing Brazilian beef into Ireland; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 continuing as Chairperson undermines public confidence in Bord Bia, and damages Ireland's reputation as a world leader producing food that adheres to the highest standards; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"calls on the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to use his powers under section 18 (1) of the An Bord Bia Act, 1994 to remove from office a member of the Board, with immediate effect."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Debate resumed on amendment No. 1:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"To delete all words after \"further notes that\" and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\"\u2014 the Board of Bord Bia, including the Chair, is made up of 15 members from across all areas of the agri-food sector, and its function is to promote, assist and develop, in any manner which the Board considers necessary or desirable, the marketing of Irish food and livestock;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine estimates that total Irish agri-food exports in 2025 will be a record \u20ac21 billion;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the growth in the value of agri-food exports has been remarkable, increasing from an exports value of \u20ac10 billion in 2011;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 beef exports to some 70 countries have increased over the last five years by 40 per cent, from \u20ac2.2 billion in 2019 to \u20ac3.1 billion in 2024, an increase of \u20ac890 million;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Bord Bia is carrying out its mission to a high standard, making its contribution along with farmers and the wider agri-food industry to the export success of a vital sector;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Origin Green programme, supported by the work of farmers' and their participation in Quality Assurance Schemes at farm level, has been integral in providing proof points to international customers of the quality and sustainability of Irish food and drink products, and creating market opportunities for that produce;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Board of Bord Bia has discussed the issues raised, and the majority agreed outcome was to support the Chairperson to continue in office, with all of the Board members strongly endorsing the personal integrity and experience of the Chair, and acknowledged that there was no legal or governance issue at play;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Chairperson has accepted an invitation to appear at the Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food on Thursday 5th February to discuss the issues raised; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government retains confidence in the Chairperson.\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"- (Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine)"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"An Ceann Comhairle: I must now deal with a postponed division relating to the motion regarding Bord Bia. On Wednesday, 4 February 2026, on the question, \"That the amendment to the motion be agreed to\", a division was claimed and in accordance with Standing Order 85(2), that division must be taken now."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Bord Bia: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members]"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-11\/debate\/dbsect_53","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Cost-of-Living Crisis: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_53","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The following motion was moved by Deputy Seamus Healy on Thursday, 5 February 2026:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"notes that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 a cost-of-living crisis exists in this State;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Budget 2026 was predicated on an inflation rate of 2 per cent, but it is now at 3.2 per cent;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 prices have increased by 23.5 per cent in the last five years;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 food prices have increased by 5 per cent in the last year;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Irish electricity prices are among the highest in the European Union (EU), 24 per cent higher than the EU average;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 electricity companies have announced an average increase of 10 per cent;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 gas prices have almost doubled in the last five years;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 private house rents have continued to skyrocket, up 4.7 per cent year-on-year and reaching \u20ac2,100 per month in Dublin;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 house prices have increased 8.1 per cent year-on-year;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 council house rents have increased, including charging extra rent for person's carer's allowance;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 motor insurance premiums have increased by 17 per cent;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 toll charges have increased;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Local Property Tax has increased;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 student fees have increased; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 childcare fees continue to be at mortgage repayment levels;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"further notes that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 11.7 per cent of the population, 629,425 people, are living in poverty, including:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 190,108 or 15.3 per cent of children;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 106,385 or 13 per cent of over 65s;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 69,244 or 1 in 3 of persons with a long-term illness or a disability; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 140,377 workers;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 298,000 households are in arrears on electricity bills;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 185,000 households are in arrears on gas bills;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 according to the Parliamentary Budget Office, the withdrawal of the once-off cost of living payments will increase general poverty to 12.6 per cent, child poverty to 15.6 per cent, older persons to 17.6 per cent, and decrease the annual income of the poorest 20 per cent of households by 4.15 per cent;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (SVP) received 260,000 requests for help in 2025, up 6 per cent on 2024; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the SVP received 33,214 energy requests in November 2025 which was the highest ever; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"calls on the Government to:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 stop the price gouging of food and energy companies;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 appoint an agri-food regulator to tackle rip-off food costs;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 introduce price control of food, electricity, gas and fuel costs;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 implement a rent freeze;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 implement a living wage;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 benchmark social welfare increases to the minimum essential standard of living index;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 introduce a weekly cost of disability payment;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 introduce the promised maximum \u20ac200 per month child-care cost and commence immediately with the creation of a public child-care service;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 commence the introduction of a free public transport system;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 introduce a second targeted tier of child benefit;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 reinstate energy credits with the immediate payment of a \u20ac500 winter payment; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 introduce a millionaires wealth tax."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Debate resumed on amendment No. 1:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"To delete all words after \"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann\" and substitute the following:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\"notes that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government is acutely aware of, and concerned about, the impact of rising prices on Irish households, and it is also aware of the high cost of energy prices and the wider impact of the cost of doing business for firms, particularly small firms;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 in relation to Irish households, the Government has already taken the following measures;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 \u20ac28.9 billion will be spent on social protection in 2026, including over \u20ac1.15 billion of new measures targeted to assist the most vulnerable in our society with the cost of living;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the supports provided in the budget package helps vulnerable households with the cost of energy bills, such as an increase in the Fuel Allowance scheme and extended eligibility to recipients of the Working Family Payment (WFP);"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the increase of \u20ac10 in weekly social welfare primary payments is equivalent to approximately 4.1 per cent, and for pensions the increase is about 3.5 per cent, both above the rate of inflation; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 these increases follow on from the increase in payment rates in Budget 2025 that were also above the rate of inflation;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"recognises, with regard to disability:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 that a Strategic Focus Network Summit on the Cost of Disability is being organised by the Department of Social Protection, and will involve disabled people and their advocates, as well as other Government Departments'; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 a public consultation process on how a cost of disability can best be delivered will be launched shortly;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"further notes, a second targeted tier of child benefit is being examined as a possible approach to reduce child poverty, but existing schemes like the Child Support Payment and the WFP are also available to achieve this end;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"further notes, in relation to energy prices, that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Ireland has the twelfth highest electricity prices among the European Union (EU)-27, when adjusted for purchasing power parity according to Eurostat (H1 2025), and in nominal terms, Ireland ranks fifth for household electricity prices and eighth for gas prices among EU states;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 electricity and gas markets in Ireland are commercial, liberalised, and competitive, the position of successive Governments is that competitive energy markets result in greater choice for consumers and businesses, in terms of suppliers, products and prices, and price setting by electricity suppliers is a commercial and operational matter for the companies concerned;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 retail prices are influenced by several factors, including wholesale energy prices and supplier hedging, in Ireland, our long-standing reliance on fossil fuels, specifically gas, for electricity generation, has been a driver of higher energy costs, and furthermore, our geographical isolation, dispersed population, fossil fuel dependency and small market scale also influence prices and drive costs;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government has introduced a suite of measures over recent years to help households and businesses deal with the rising cost of energy, including \u20ac1,500 in electricity credits to all households through four Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Schemes, at a cost of \u20ac3.3 billion, this is in addition to one-off payments to support certain social protection payment recipients; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government provides support for households through schemes, including, the Fuel Allowance, the Household Benefits Package and the Additional Needs Payment;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"affirms that:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 as part of Budget 2026, the Government took action and provided significant supports to enhance energy affordability, including:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 an increase to the Fuel Allowance as well as broadened eligibility for the payment;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 an extension of the reduced Value Added Tax rate of 9 per cent, which is applied to gas and electricity to 2030;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 a continuation of the \u20ac400 income tax disregard for certain profits arising from the micro-generation of electricity for a further three years to end 2028; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 an extension of the Accelerated Capital Allowances scheme for energy efficient equipment for businesses to 2030;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government is committed to taking decisive action to provide warmer, more comfortable homes, as part of our drive to support energy affordability, security, and sustainability, with over 60 per cent of total Government expenditure on residential retrofit over the period 2022-2025 was on homes at risk of energy poverty;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 following approval at Cabinet last week, the Government has published a National Residential Retrofit Plan and an enhanced set of measures to increase the delivery and affordability of home energy upgrades, these measures will continue to make home energy upgrades more accessible and affordable and support more homes to be more sustainable and energy-efficient, reducing reliance on fossil fuels, and lowering energy costs for households;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 a record capital allocation of \u20ac640 million has been provided for Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland residential and community energy upgrade schemes this year, and a further \u20ac140 million has been provided for the Local Authority Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) continues to have a range of customer protection measures in place including, a moratorium on disconnections for vulnerable customers, protections for those on financial hardship meters, minimum debt repayment periods and promotion of the vulnerable customer register;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Government has also established the National Energy Affordability Taskforce (NEAT) to identify, assess and implement measures that will enhance energy affordability for households and businesses while delivering key renewable commitments and protecting security of supply and economic stability, and the NEAT Interim Report 2025 was published last November with an Energy Affordability Action Plan to be published in Q3 this year;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 under the auspices of the NEAT, the CRU will lead on the Programme for Government commitment to 'commission an independent review into the speed and level of passthrough from wholesale prices to retail prices, with an additional assessment of the overall price dynamics and an overall focus on the competitiveness of the Irish economy';"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 while electricity credits previously played an important role, it should be noted that, despite costing in excess of \u20ac3.3 billion, this measure did not permanently reduce the cost of electricity nor are they fiscally sustainable, therefore, the Government has prioritised measures which reduce energy costs in the long-run such as the \u20ac3.5 billion investment in Ireland's electricity grid infrastructure as part of the National Development Plan; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the range of supports that were included in Budget 2026 are in line with the movement away from one-off measures, towards permanent supports with funding also provided to address structural issues such as retrofit and infrastructure; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"in relation to the cost of doing business, notes that arising from the wider inflationary trends, Government has taken action to address fiscal and regulatory issues, including:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 through the establishment of the Cost of Business Advisory Forum (the Forum), June 2025, and the publication of the Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity, September 2025;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 both of these actions deliver on the Programme for Government commitments to support small business, enterprise and industries and to develop Government policy which focuses on the economic areas that fall within our domestic sphere of influence;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Forum's purpose is to critically examine issues that can lead to higher costs for business in Ireland and review associated regulatory and infrastructural issues that merit a changed approach, at present, there are 24 member organisations who represent a broad section of Ireland's enterprise sector, including, Small and Medium Enterprises and Multinational Corporations, who regularly contribute to the work of the Forum, alongside active engagement and dialogue with a variety of State Agencies, Regulators, and Government Departments;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Forum members adopted a comprehensive thematic workplan in June, 2025 and since then have met to consider a series of themes:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Energy Costs and Security of Supply;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Insurance Costs;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Planning and Infrastructural Delivery; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 Water Services and Wastewater;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 there are a number of remaining meetings scheduled for Q1 2026, and these will focus on legal costs and regulation, reporting and compliance;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the Forum is in the process of drafting the final report, with an indicative date to present the report to Government in Q1 2026;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 also in August 2025, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) published an update to its 2023 high-level analysis of the grocery sector in Ireland, this analysis confirms that, while food prices have increased significantly in recent years in Ireland, competition is working effectively in the Irish grocery retail sector, notably, food price increases have generally remained below the EU average, which coincides with increasing competition in Ireland; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 the grocery retail sector remains a key market for the CCPC and it will continue to monitor and review the sector on a regular basis; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"finally, in relation to the National Minimum Wage:"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 since 2020, an increase by 40 per cent, from \u20ac10.10 to today's rate of \u20ac14.15 an hour, following a \u20ac0.65 increase in Budget 2026, which amounts to an increase of 4.8 per cent;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 in 2025, the minimum wage increased by over 6 per cent, following a significant uplift of 12 per cent, or \u20ac1.40 in the previous year;"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 these increases were and are well ahead of inflation and projected wage growth and have brought about substantial real wage growth for the lowest paid workers in our economy; and"},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"\u2014 our current rate of \u20ac14.15 an hour means that Ireland has the second highest minimum wage in the EU, second only to Luxembourg, and among the highest in the world, when adjusted for purchasing power standards, we have the fifth highest minimum wage in the EU.\"."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"- (Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Deputy Alan Dillon)"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy An Ceann Comhairle  I must now deal with a postponed division relating to the motion regarding the cost-of-living crisis. On Thursday, 5 February 2026, on the question, \"That the amendment to the motion be agreed to\", a division was claimed and in accordance with Standing Order 85(2), that division must be taken now. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar athl\u00f3 ar 11.48 p.m. go dt\u00ed 8.47 a.m., D\u00e9ardaoin, an 12 Feabhra 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The D\u00e1il adjourned at 11.48 p.m. until 8.47 a.m. on Thursday, 12 February 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Cost-of-Living Crisis: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members]"}]}}]},"contextDate":"2026-02-11"},{"debateRecord":{"house":{"showAs":"34th D\u00e1il","committeeCode":"","houseCode":"dail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/house\/dail\/34","chamberType":"house","houseNo":"34"},"chamber":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/def\/house\/dail","showAs":"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann"},"lastUpdated":"2026-06-04T02:09:01+00:00","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-10\/debate\/main","formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-10\/debate\/mul@\/main.xml"},"pdf":null},"date":"2026-02-10","counts":{"contributorCount":171,"divisionCount":1,"debateSectionCount":30,"questionCount":55,"billCount":3},"debateType":"debate","debateSections":[{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-10\/debate\/dbsect_2","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions","counts":{"speechCount":48,"speakerCount":9},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":" A Deputy","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Seventy thousand more households are behind on their electricity bills now than at this time last year. The overall number in electricity arrears now stands at a staggering and record 303,465 households. We have not seen the worst of it yet because the figures for December and January are still to be reported. This is a shocking situation and yet there is not a word from the Taoiseach, only silence. One would never think that households were under such enormous pressure, given the deafening silence from the Taoiseach's Government. People are working every hour they can and still cannot keep up. It is one big, never-ending and exhausting rip-off.  Working households find themselves in this desperate situation because of the Taoiseach's terrible decisions. He was told that withdrawing the energy credits would cause big problems. The regulator told him that even more households would struggle to pay their bills due to rising prices and that arrears would hit record levels, but, incredibly, the Government went ahead and withdrew those credits anyway. I have lost count of the times that I have raised this with the Taoiseach, the pressure that households are under, and the stress that they face to pay rip-off energy bills. What was the Government's big idea, by response? A talking shop, a so-called task force to tackle big energy bills, cobbled together by the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, last June. How many times has this crack team met since then? Three. Yes, that is it - three times in eight months. That really takes the biscuit. There is no urgency, no determination and no real care for what people are going through. Families are hammered by incredible, unbearable daily pressure, and the Government's so-called task force, its big solution, is as l\u00e1thair, sleeping on the job.  While the Government and its task force twiddle their thumbs, households have been hit with price hike after price hike. The big energy companies hiked up their prices one after the other and the Government allowed this to happen. It refused to take on the price-gouging energy companies. It repeatedly ignored calls to give the regulator more power to get energy costs under control.  The Government then took away energy credits - the one lifeline households had in the face of these rip-off bills. As people struggle to get by, we have a do-nothing, say-nothing Government - doing nothing to tackle the problem and saying nothing about the impact on people's lives. T\u00e1 l\u00edon n\u00edos m\u00f3 teaghlaigh n\u00e1 riamh ag streachailt chun bill\u00ed r\u00f3dhaora leictreachais a \u00edoc. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 in am don Rialtas seo a jab a dh\u00e9anamh agus gn\u00edomh a ghlacadh chun deireadh a chur leis an saill fuinnimh. This silence and inaction simply cannot continue.  Only yesterday, we heard how the sky-high prices of groceries have gone up again - the fastest increase in two years. The Government has done nothing to tackle that problem either. People cannot take any more. They are especially sick of working every hour but still not being able to pay their electricity bills. They want the Government to do its job to protect them from price gouging, to tackle relentless price hikes and to end this rip off. Will the Government do its job? Will it reinstate energy credits, which households so desperately need? Will it haul in the energy companies and tell them to stop ripping people off? Will it finally act to give the energy regulator the powers it needs to get energy costs down and to bring this rip off to a stop? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  N\u00ed aonta\u00edm leis an Teachta in aon chor. T\u00e1 an-chuid d\u00e9anta ag an Rialtas \u00f3 thaobh na gcostas maireacht\u00e1la de. Bh\u00ed an-chuid laistigh den bhuis\u00e9ad a bh\u00ed againn i m\u00ed Dheireadh F\u00f3mhair, go h\u00e1irithe d\u00f3ibh si\u00fad ar ioncam \u00edseal agus an-chuid cabhair tugtha againn tr\u00edd leas s\u00f3isialach chun daoine a chosaint agus c\u00f3ir agus taca\u00edocht a thabhairt do dhaoine.  I do not accept the Deputy's overall presentation of the Government's response to what are significant pressures on the people in respect of the cost of living. Of course, that began a number of years ago, particularly coming out of Covid and the war in Ukraine in terms of energy prices. We have now moved from a situation where inflation was 10% to a point where it is significantly below that at 2.6%. After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, we were looking at 10%. That came down to 5% in 2023, 2.7% in December 2025 and 2.6% in January. That is the overall inflation rate.  In terms of energy, I still disagree with the Deputy that we should retain universal energy credits. I find it difficult to comprehend that a party that comes from where it claims it comes from would argue that millionaires and people on very sizeable incomes should get energy credits and particularly when, in terms of the totality of the cost-of-living payments we had been making in the worst of times during and post-Covid and in the aftermath of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Deputy is saying we keep that \u20ac2 billion or \u20ac3 billion going on top of the expenditure we have already increased by about 8%. If we took the Deputy's budget proposals, they would add 2.5% to the cost of living at a time when she is complaining about the cost of living. She has form on this. Her last episode in terms of energy policy was a Liz Truss moment and I can recall that. Now she is saying we should keep energy credits.  Employment is very strong. The best protection people have in terms of meeting inflation and cost-of-living pressures are high-quality and good-quality jobs, and making the fuel allowance available to those on lower incomes or those on the working family payment which is what we did in the budget. We increased social protection payments by about \u20ac10 per week and made a very big increase in child support payments. Children aged 12 years and over get an extra \u20ac16, bringing it to about \u20ac78 per week for families in that situation while those with children aged under 12 get an extra \u20ac8, bringing it to \u20ac58 per week. These were substantial targeted measures for those on the lowest incomes. I would have thought the Deputy would have favoured that approach yet she wants millionaires and the very well-off to get the benefits from the budget allocation.  The fuel allowance now covers 26% of households - up from 23%. This is a targeted and intelligent way of allocating resources to those who need them most.  We have extended the reduced 9% VAT rate on gas and electricity until the end of 2030. That is a five-to-six-year measure. Home energy upgrades have been hugely invested in, with approximately \u20ac558 million allocated. Microgeneration income tax exemption is well provided for. These are embedded measures which will have a medium to longer term impact. It is better to put money into measures that are there for the long haul, as opposed to the Deputy\u2019s never-ending short-term knee-jerk reactions to every issue that arises. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  The Taoiseach\u2019s view is simply wrong. It is neither intelligent nor targeted. As a matter of fact, it strikes me as most unintelligent because 70,000 more households than last year are now in difficulties. They cannot pay their bills. I told the Taoiseach we have hit a record of 303,465 such households. They are not millionaires. They are working households who now cannot pay their bills. I want a long-term solution. The long-term solution is to end the price gouging, end the rip-off by the big energy companies and to give the regulator the powers it needs, but the Taoiseach knows that because I have told him that repeatedly. I will tell him this much: in the here and now I want those households to be able to make their bills. The only way in the short term, in the immediacy of now, that they can do that is by the Taoiseach reinstating the energy credit. That is the reality. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  That is the intelligent, targeted reality that people are living. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Let me ask again: will the Taoiseach do the right thing, reinstate these credits and then, of course, take the longer-term measures that so far he has ignored? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Actually, the energy credit would help the vast, vast majority of those who are not in arrears. The Deputy should think about it for a moment. She identified how many people are in arrears. The vast majority of people are not in arrears. People are under pressure; do not get me wrong. The energy credit applies to everybody; it is universal. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  I understand the meaning of universal, thank you. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That is what she is arguing should be extended to everybody. Surely it would be far better to help those who are in genuine difficulty. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  The Government is not doing that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  You are not leader yet, Pearse, for God's sake. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Are you talking to yourself? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  You have been making attempts lately but just let me respond to the leader. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":" A Deputy","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" A Deputy  The Taoiseach must be feeling the pressure. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I just want to make the point that we have targeted our measures----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  The Taoiseach has a half-eye on Deputy Jim O'Callaghan. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----to meet those who are in difficulty, and that is the key. Once-off cost-of-living measures are not fiscally sustainable for the next number of years. The \u20ac3 billion and \u20ac4 billion we allocated for two years, we just cannot keep doing that. We have a strong economy. We have probably one of the best employment positions of any European Union state. We want to preserve that and we also want to support those who need support, and we will, in terms of energy affordability and security. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  I raise the case of Seamus Culleton, the Irish citizen and Kilkenny man who has now spent five months imprisoned in an ICE detention camp in Texas. Yesterday, the country was silenced, listening in as Seamus phoned \"Liveline\" to speak about his ordeal. Last night, I spoke directly to Seamus's sister Caroline and heard more details about the appalling conditions in which he is detained. There are 72 men packed into a single tent, with filth everywhere and a lack of sanitation, violent guards, alleged strangling, three men dead already, and conditions so brutal that detainees are gambling on who will be the next person to take their own life. They are deprived of fresh air. Seamus has seen the sun only a handful of times in his five months there. He calls it a hell and a concentration camp and he fears for his life.  Seamus is a man who has lived in the US for 17 years. He runs a successful business in Boston and married his American wife, Tiffany Smyth, last April. However, he has now spent more than half of his married life behind barbed wire in this camp. Why? Because he was lifted off the streets by ICE on his way to the shops after he had been kept waiting for his green card following long delays. As Caroline said, it is deeply ironic that one arm of the US Government is processing him for permanent residency while the other has locked him in a cage. To describe his testimony as shocking would be an understatement. It appears beyond doubt to breach American commitments under the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.  What is the Irish Government doing about this? On his way to Cabinet today, the Taoiseach told the media his officials had contacted Washington.  The Minister, Deputy McEntee, has said that consular assistance is being offered, yet I understand that no Government Minister has contacted the family directly. This is an Irish citizen about whose plight the Government has known for some time. Reports of his treatment hit the press days ago with Karlin Lillington's piece in The Irish Times . The Taoiseach must commit now, on the floor of the D\u00e1il, to pulling out every stop and using every diplomatic lever at his disposal to secure Mr. Culleton's release. There can be no delays and no waiting for St. Patrick's Day.  Unfortunately, Mr. Culleton's is not an isolated case. Parliamentary questions from my Labour Party colleague Deputy Duncan Smith reveal that the number of deportations of Irish citizens from the US has quadrupled in a year. We have all read articles about the detention of innocent people like Donna Hughes-Brown, a grandmother who has lived in the US legally since she was 11 years old. Immigration lawyers in America tell us Irish citizens are watching the news and fearing for their own futures. We do not know if any more Irish citizens have been detained in the same manner as Mr. Culleton. The Minister, Deputy McEntee, says it is fewer than 12. Is it ten? Is it 11? In five, weeks, the Taoiseach plans to hand a bowl of shamrock to the man responsible for all this. He plans to offer a symbol of friendship to the man who humiliated Ireland on St. Patrick's Day last year when he snubbed the Taoiseach in favour of a photo op with Conor McGregor. The Taoiseach knows the expression, \"With friends like these\". What will he do today to ensure the release of Seamus Culleton and to ensure the safety of other Irish citizens being detained by ICE or in fear of being detained by it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I first became aware it yesterday via the media. That is fine. The Department of foreign affairs became aware of the case in October and had been providing consular assistance to Seamus Culleton and his family via the teams at the consulate general in Austin, the embassy in Washington DC and our consular unit in Dublin.  We have migration law in this country. We have laws. There is legal status in Ireland and there is undocumented status in Ireland. All countries, bar none, have migration laws. We have sought, over the years, to try and regularise the undocumented in America via legislation in Congress on the Hill. Long before President Trump entered the White House, this has been a challenge. Deputy Bacik and everybody else in the House knows that. We came very close a number of years ago with the E-3 visa. At that time, we lost out by one vote on having a number of thousand visas from the Australian visa allocation allocated to Ireland. One vote stymied what would have been a significant breakthrough on that occasion. It has been extraordinarily difficult to get consensus on the Hill in respect of migration for any one specific country because Hispanics and Latinos will all want similar deals. It is either a deal for all or none, and that has been the consistent position in the US for the past decade or so. That makes it particularly difficult in terms of endeavouring to the get the Irish who are undocumented in the United States regularised. It is a very traumatic and difficult position for people to be in when it comes to their families and the many who have established homes there and so on. Families in the US are always watching over their shoulders and worried about a knock on the door or their being in a position where they would be deported.  Deportations have been going on for quite a number of years. There is a particularly intensity in the current ICE campaign. Of that, there is no doubt. The Government's position is that we will do everything we can to help Seamus Culleton, but we have to do it in a way that can really help and be effective for him. We cannot promise anything, because we do not control American migration law or practice. However, we can engage. We have engaged and we will continue to engage. We are concerned about the conditions that exist in the place where Seamus Culleton is being held, but we are also anxious for the matter to be resolved in the context of the status issue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  If I may say, that is a most unsatisfactory response. The Taoiseach has conflated, wrongly in my view, quite a number of issues. Of course countries have migration laws. Of course, the successive Irish Governments have for many years been trying to regularise undocumented Irish citizens in the US.  However, we are talking about an Irish citizen who has been detained in inhumane conditions for five months in the US in breach of international law. That is the issue here. What I have not heard from the Taoiseach is any sense of urgency about securing his release or ensuring that no other Irish citizens are being held in the same conditions. Some may be, but we do not know. There could be as many as 12 apparently.  What I have not heard from the Taoiseach are any words that will offer comfort to families here of Irish citizens in the US, to Seamus\u2019s family or, indeed, to others. The Taoiseach is saying that the Government is going to continue using fairly limited diplomatic levers. He is still going to go to the US. Would it not be more appropriate to go to the US on St. Patrick\u2019s Day to offer condolences to the mayor of Minneapolis? Because we are seeing ICE killing US citizens on the streets and detaining Irish citizens in breach of due process and in inhumane conditions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  There are a number of cases. It could be five to six cases, but they vary in status. The Deputy is implying, wrongly, my approach to this. I would have thought that the prime objective is to secure status. People want to get out of the detention facility. The Deputy knows best. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  The objective is to get him out. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" A Deputy","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" A Deputy  It is helping him out of the cage. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I would argue that it is status. Let us not do anything that could make that more difficult. That is all I am saying. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  Let us not do anything. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  This cannot be resolved in the public domain. The Deputy should know that. Either we want to genuinely try to help, and I know the Deputy does----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  Of course. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The issue is status, it seems to me. That is the number one issue that I would like to see dealt with. I cannot promise anything in respect of securing that, but I would have thought it would be the objective for Seamus Culleton. He is married, he has been there for 20 years and he has a business. That is the ultimate objective that we want to achieve. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  I am going to read one woman\u2019s account of her postnatal care:  At my 6 week post natal check, the consultant who had delivered my baby asked me only about contraception. There were no questions about my mental health, my emotional state, or how I was coping. I left that appointment feeling invisible and unheard. Like I was just a vessel that had to \u2018get on with things\u2019.  After giving birth, mothers are faced with a countdown. Six weeks of postnatal care. Six-weeks of check-ups. Six weeks, and then you are on your own. Life with a newborn does not become easier after those six weeks. For so many women, it becomes even harder. postnatal depression, anxiety and overwhelm can build up over months. When sleep deprivation accumulates, when your partner goes back to work, when supports fall away and when you start to feel invisible and unheard, everyone expects you to just get on with it. Of course, all of these are immeasurably harder for single parents.  This is the reality that is being highlighted by Aolish Gormley and the Year of Care campaign. Those involved are asking for something very simple, namely for the Government to finally prioritise mothers. There is no strategy for supporting mothers' physical and mental health in their first year after giving birth. With postnatal appointments largely ending after six weeks, mental health supports are inconsistent, inaccessible or entirely absent. Paid leave ends months before many women have physically or psychologically recovered.  The maternity and infant scheme which outlines postnatal care in Ireland has not been updated since 1997. That is 29 years ago. The long-promised review has been endlessly delayed. An entire generation of women have been born, are having children and are going through the same old creaking system as their mothers did. The standard of postnatal care in Ireland is far below what is available in other countries such as France, Germany and the Netherlands. Despite the incredible work of midwives and other staff in our maternity services, our system does not represent best practice. It does not embody the reality faced by mothers in 2026 and it does not reflect everything we know about the importance of the first year for mother and child.  What makes this more frustrating is that the Government has already acknowledged so many of the flaws in the system. Many of the solutions are contained in the national maternity strategy, which is gathering dust on a shelf somewhere.  I ask the Taoiseach to follow through and to recognise that birth has a profound impact on women's health and well-being far beyond six weeks, and for the State to finally step up and help mothers through that first difficult year. I am asking him to deliver a mother and baby unit so that getting mental health support does not mean being separated from one's baby. Will the Government produce a strategy to expand physical and mental health supports to mothers for an entire year after birth? We have been waiting on a review of the maternity and infant scheme for ten years. It is supposed to be ready in quarter 1 of this year. When will the report be published? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Without question care for mothers particularly postnatal is absolutely important. Despite what the Deputy said, the Government has made a lot of progress in this area over quite a number of years, in particular the establishment of nine postnatal hubs, giving women access to postnatal care in community settings. Additional funding of \u20ac2 million in 2025 will initiate four further hubs which will bring the total network to \u20ac13 million. Some \u20ac28 million in new development funding has been invested in the national maternity strategy, transforming maternity services for mothers and babies. Over 550 additional full-time staff have been funded across maternity services, including 44 consultants, and 381 nurses and midwives.  In terms of the mental health dimension, the expansion of specialist perinatal mental health services has been prioritised and again funding has been provided for additional posts this year to meet the demand, particularly in the busiest of hospitals. The HSE is reviewing the model of care this year with a view to further expanding services as per the programme for Government. The perinatal mental health service is available in all 19 maternity hospitals nationwide, supporting pregnant women and women with a baby up to one year old with an existing or new mental health challenge. Work is under way to deliver Ireland's first mother-and-baby unit with a site currently being confirmed at St. Vincent's hospital.  There have been a lot of service improvements. Without question we have more to do and we will continue to invest in this area as we have in maternity more generally. There will be a successor to the current national maternity strategy. The current one runs from 2016 to 2026. That is imminent and work is under way on that. The programme for Government commits to the mother-and-baby mental health unit, doubling the number of multidisciplinary teams for pregnant women, increasing the number of perinatal mental health midwife posts, and proactively providing mental health supports through maternity hospitals following trauma events connected to pregnancy and childbirth. The Minister of State, Deputy Butler, is strongly committed to this.  There are a range of other programmes in the gynaecological and obstetric area where there have been very substantial investments and improvements. That has to also be acknowledged. Significant developments have taken place with postnatal depression and care after pregnancy. We acknowledge clearly the need to do more and are prepared to do more. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Holly Cairns","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Holly-Cairns.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Holly Cairns  I thank the Taoiseach. I acknowledge that the postnatal hubs delivered through Sl\u00e1intecare do excellent work. The point that the care campaign is highlighting is that those services need to be expanded massively to address the mental health gaps in postnatal care. It is clear that it has not been prioritised to the extent that the Taoiseach just laid out. There is evidence of that in fact that is it has not been reviewed in 29 years. I specifically asked about the review of the maternity and infant scheme. It was supposed to be ready in quarter 1 of this year. When will it be ready?  The Taoiseach mentioned the mother and baby unit in his reply. When will that be delivered? Is it planned to have more than one in Ireland? We are far behind other countries like the UK on this. The care campaign is not calling for anything radical. We need our maternal health care to be evidence based. We need to recognise the immense physical and mental toll giving birth takes on people. We need to expand supports in that regard. We need to expand paid leave to cover the first year of a child's life. We need to modernise the maternity and infant scheme, and to implement the national maternity strategy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, and the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, are absolutely committed to expanding this. I am not clear about that 29-year reference but I repeat that in terms of mental health, the perinatal mental health service is now available in all 19 maternity hospitals, supporting pregnant women and women with a baby up to one year old. That is the current position. As we discussed this morning, both the Minister and the Minister of State are quite committed to prioritising this even further and also in terms of the mother and baby unit in St. Vincent's Hospital. Again, I see no difficulty in the Government working with the Opposition in this area and working with the campaign in terms of ensuring that we do the best and the optimal for the women and children of Ireland. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  The Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, in spite of its intentions, raises concerns as it could have unintended consequences for many people in this country. The part that raises most concerns for the tourism sector is the short-term letting planning part. It is being proposed as part of this new legislation that Airbnb, bed and breakfast and short-term lets will require registration and planning permission. The people who let for the short term, mainly for tourism purposes, have no issue with being registered as all of their work is above board anyhow. However, if they have to get planning permission for short-term letting, that will close down most of the short-term lets in Ireland. I could understand it if this Bill sought these changes for short-term lets in areas with a population of over 20,000 but those in rural communities who let granny flats or let rooms on a short-term basis in houses or sheds should not come under the residential tenancies planning provisions.  I was dealing with two ladies in west Cork last year who were doing Airbnb for decades, letting out approximately ten rooms in two houses. They heard of this new legislation and knew that if they had to get planning permission, assuming they could get it in the first place, it would cost tens of thousands of euro which would make their little tourism businesses non-viable. Last week, I contacted the ladies to tell them that I was raising this issue in the D\u00e1il only to be told they had pulled out of the business as they could not carry on with the indecision and the stress of not knowing if they would be forced down the planning permission route or not. Ten beds have been lost to the surrounds of Courtmacsharry. Tourism beds mean people calling, staying for a few days, eating in local restaurants in Courtmacsharry, Timoleague, Clonakilty and Bandon, having a few pints in the local pubs and using local transport services, all adding to the economy of the local community. This story is not just confined to Courtmacsharry. This also applies to Connemara in Galway, Westport in Mayo, Bundoran in Donegal, Dungarvan in Waterford, New Ross in Wexford, and Kenmare in Kerry. It is the same story the length and breadth of Ireland. This is tourism and it is a decades-old success.  Tourism was down by 8% last year. Has the Government calculated what this will cost the tourism sector? People from all over the world came to rural parts of Ireland to enjoy what we have to offer, which is far more than anywhere in the world. Those in short-term lets are horrified by what is happening. At a packed public meeting that I held in O'Donovan's Hotel in Clonakilty last Friday night, I heard story after story of great short-term let businesses from Beara to Kinsale and how they sold all that is great about Ireland. All of this looks to be in tatters to them if the Government railroads through this legislation in its current form. Will owners of Airbnb and short-term lets in areas with populations of under 20,000 have to apply for planning permission? The same question applies to bed and breakfast accommodation, short-term holiday lets and the householders providing once-off accommodation at weekends for events like Com\u00f3rtas Peile na Gaeltachta or local festivals the length and breadth of Ireland. Will they all come under this planning legislation? If so, it will damage our tourism industry in rural coastal communities throughout Ireland, which are still reeling from the complete collapse of the fishing industry and the struggles of our beef industry at this time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. It is an extremely important issue. The ultimate priority, of course, is housing. All of us in this House agreed a long time ago that housing is a priority. Short-term lets, particularly in cities and large towns, have replaced a lot of rental properties for housing. That is the ultimate priority. Cities and large towns provide the best opportunity for short-term letting properties to be returned to the long-term rental market. We had a meeting last evening of party leaders and the Ministers responsible, Deputy James Brown and Deputy Peter Burke, who is initiating the legislation. First, it will be for towns above 20,000. Many people thought it would be 10,000. I thought that Deputy Collins was getting up to welcome that development but anyway----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  I will. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It is above 20,000 and we are trying to get the balance right between tourism and housing.  It is important to note, there will be an obligation to register. The Bill is the short-term letting and tourism legislation. We published that, as the Deputy knows. We got Cabinet approval. I think it has gone through pre-legislative scrutiny. It will introduce a national register of all short-term let properties to improve oversight and compliance. It also aligns domestic law with the European Union short-term rental regulation, which will be effective from 20 May 2026. There are various criteria. The Minister, Deputy Browne, will then develop a planning statement on short-term letting.  In terms of the planning status I thought the Deputy would have been aware that any variation from residential to commercial and Airbnb - we sought the Attorney General's advice on this - requires planning. That is just the law as it is. We are examining the process of registering so that we would facilitate opportunities for those registering to regularise planning over a particular timeframe. That has to be tied down with a degree of precision. That will happen before the Bill comes to the D\u00e1il. That is all fairly imminent. Those are the factual legal positions. I think we can achieve it. I would not be coming forward with the potential doomsday scenarios the Deputy came forward with. We need to keep calm here and facilitate regularisation, if people have not done that already. A year or two ago, if, bar in the case of home sharing, someone wanted to change the status of a particular house to an Airbnb scenario, by law, as it currently stands, the person would need planning permission to do that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  The Taoiseach may say that I am putting forward a doomsday scenario. It is doomsday for these people who have been doing Airbnb for the past five, ten, 20, 30, 40 or 50 years if planning regulations have to come into place. I welcome the statement from the Minister, Deputy Burke, but the planning requirement is still going ahead. That is the very serious concern we all have. That is the part that will ruin existing short-term holiday lets. Independent Ireland has an amendment tomorrow night that would safeguard existing businesses and provide them with certainty if the Government will agree to it. The only opportunity to put this right is through the Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 tomorrow night. I am getting emails from Airbnb short-term providers all over Ireland who are up in arms over this. Nowhere else in Europe are existing Airbnb and short-term lets being destroyed. It has been tried by the Scottish Government but it had to row back on the decision. The loss of income in a female dominated industry will be felt the length and breadth of the country if this is to go ahead. At this moment, F\u00e1ilte Ireland has registration forms ready on which it quite clearly asks if the person has planning. If this is not removed, it is breathtaking to see that F\u00e1ilte Ireland, the very body put in place to build tourism, will be the body at the forefront, with this Government, of destroying tourism, as we know it, forever. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy is confusing his Bills. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  I am not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  You are. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  We have done research on this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 has nothing to do with short-term letting. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  It has. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  No, it does not. I want to make it clear that the short-term letting Bill will be brought to the House by the Minister, Deputy Burke. We had a meeting of the housing committee yesterday. We dealt with it. The issue in terms of variation is a matter of law as we stand, and that is anywhere, not just in the context of short-term lets. For any premises, permission has to be obtained for a variation of use to commercial. The Deputy knows that because he is a TD and he knows his way around the place in terms of these kinds of issues. Let us not pretend innocence. I would say the Deputy has helped a good few people down through the years to navigate all those kinds of things.  Deputies on our side of the House are very anxious that we go to the 20,000 figure. We got the balance right and we have to bring forward the legislation. What we will endeavour to do is to enable people, as they register, to regularise their planning over a period of time, to give people time. By the way, I know the Deputy is concerned about Courtmacsherry and all of that. Brad Pitt is on his way to Timoleague, apparently. The Airbnbs will be full now for the next couple of days. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  There will be no room for poor Brad Pitt or anybody else if the Government does not wake up. We have to have a debate in the Chamber on short-term lets. The Taoiseach can ignore me all he likes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Before I move to the Order of Business, Deputy Collins has a number of guests in the Gallery. They are students from University College Cork's government and politics society. You are very welcome indeed. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-10\/debate\/dbsect_3","debateType":"orderofBusiness","bill":null,"showAs":"An tOrd Gn\u00f3 - Order of Business","counts":{"speechCount":131,"speakerCount":21},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Clendennen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Roche","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  In accordance with Standing Order 35, I call on the Chief Whip, Deputy Butler, to move the arrangements for this week's business. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Mary Butler)  I move:  Tuesday's business shall be:  - International Protection Bill 2026 (Second Stage, resumed) (to adjourn on conclusion of the second speaking round, not to exceed 3 hours and 24 minutes)  Tuesday's private members' business shall be the Second Stage of the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences (Amendment) Bill 2026, selected by Sinn F\u00e9in.  Wednesday's business shall be:-  - Statements on the Report of Operation Kenova (not to exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes)  - Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024 (Amendments from the Seanad) (to conclude within 1 hour)  - Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 (Committee and remaining Stages) (to conclude within 5 hours)  Wednesday's private members' business shall be the Motion re Flood Prevention, selected by Independent Technical Group.  Thursday's business shall be:  -International Protection Bill 2026 (Second Stage, resumed) (to conclude after the third speaking round, with any division claimed to be taken immediately prior to Committee Stage on Wednesday, 18th February, 2026)  Thursday evening business shall be the Second Stage of the Quality in Public Procurement (Contract Preparation and Award Criteria) Bill 2021, sponsored by Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney.  Proposed Arrangements for this week\u2019s business:  In relation to Tuesday\u2019s business, it is proposed that:  1. notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders:  (a) the time allocated to Government business shall be extended in accordance with the arrangements for that business and the D\u00e1il may sit later than 10.48 p.m.; and  (b) private members\u2019 business shall be taken following the proceedings on Second Stage of the International Protection Bill 2026, with consequential effect on the commencement times for the items following in the ordinary routine of business;  2. the resumed proceedings on the Second Stage of the International Protection Bill 2026 shall be interrupted, and stand adjourned on conclusion of the second speaking round and the following arrangements shall apply:  (a) the second-round speeches shall be in accordance with the table below (to be read across); and  (b) members may share time; and          Gov      SF      Lab      Gov      SF       Mins    20    20    20    12    4           SD      Gov      SF      IPTG      Gov       Mins    20    12    4    20    12           SF      ITG      Gov      SF      OM       Mins    4    20    12    4    20                       Total      204 mins      3. notwithstanding anything in Standing Order 177(2), the proceedings on Second Stage of the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences (Amendment) Bill 2026 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 2 hours.  In relation to Wednesday's business, it is proposed that:  1. notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders:  (a) the time allotted for Government Business shall be extended in accordance with the arrangements for that business and the D\u00e1il may sit later than 9.30 p.m.;  (b) the Statements on the Report of Operation Kenova, shall be taken at the time when the SOS pursuant to Standing Order 25(1) would normally be taken, and on the conclusion of the Statements, the sitting shall stand suspended either for one hour or until 4.30 p.m., whichever is the later; and  (c) the weekly division time shall be taken on the conclusion of proceedings on the Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026;  2. the Statements on the Report of Operation Kenova shall not exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply:  (a) the statements, not including the Ministerial response, shall be in accordance with the sequence contained in the table immediately below (to be read across);  (b) following the statements, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes; and  (c) members may share time;          Gov      SF      Lab      Gov      SF       Mins    25    15    10    10    3           SD      Gov      SF      IPTG      Gov       Mins    10    10    3    9    10           SF      ITG      Gov      SF      OM       Mins    3    9    10    3    5                       Total      135 mins      3. the proceedings on the amendments from the Seanad to the Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 1 hour, and any amendments from the Seanad not disposed of shall be decided by one question which shall be put from the Chair, and which shall, in relation to amendments to the Seanad amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration; and  4. the proceedings on Committee and remaining Stages of the Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 5 hours by one question which shall be put from the Chair, and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.  In relation to Thursday's business, it is proposed that:  1. notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, topical issues may be taken earlier than 7.24 p.m. with consequential effect on the commencement time for Second Stage of the Quality in Public Procurement (Contract Preparation and Award Criteria) Bill 2021, and on the time for the adjournment of the D\u00e1il; and  2. the resumed proceedings on the Second Stage of the International Protection Bill 2026 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at the end of the third speaking round and the following arrangements shall apply:  (a) the third-round speeches, not including the Ministerial response, shall be in accordance with the table below (to be read across);  (b) on conclusion of the third-round speeches, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a speech in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes;  (c) any division claimed on the Second Stage proceedings shall be taken immediately prior to Committee Stage on Wednesday, 18th February, 2026; and  (d) members may share time.          Gov      SF      Lab      Gov      SF       Mins    20    20    20    12    4           SD      Gov      SF      IPTG      Gov           20    12    4    20    12           SF      ITG      Gov      SF      OM           4    20    12    4    20                       Total      204 mins      "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"An Ceann Comhairle: Are the proposed arrangements for this week's business agreed to?"},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Not agreed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  We will start with Deputy McDonald. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  Working households are struggling with price hikes and rip-off bills and no help coming from the Government. People with disabilities in particular have suffered as a result of the Government's budget leaving them \u20ac1,400 worse off. The Government refuses to provide a cost-of-disability winter payment. Now, those people are forced to protest outside the D\u00e1il. It is not lost on anyone, by the way, that the Government makes these cruel decisions while hiking up the pay of CEOs. We need a debate and discussion on the Government's very unfair approach to the cost-of-living crisis. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  Earlier I spoke with Jacinta Graham, who is the mother of Stephen Loughnane who is the subject of the RT\u00c9 \"Prime Time Investigates\" programme tonight. He had a brain injury following a car accident and has been in continuous seclusion in Limerick Prison since 2021, then in the Central Mental Hospital and then in Portrane because there is no residential place for him. He is in uninterrupted 24-hour seclusion all of the time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  I raised his case here with the Taoiseach on 15 September 2021. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy had 30 seconds and he has raised it. I call Deputy Aidan Farrelly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  Can we have time in this House to find out what the Taoiseach and his Government has done for him and people like him in the past five years? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Kelly, you are overstepping. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aidan Farrelly  Under Standing Order 35(3), I wish to amend to Thursday's business to include statements on the failed Government election promise regarding \u20ac200 per month for childcare. We were told by Deputy Simon Harris that we would see a roadmap within 100 days. The action plan produced before Christmas was really useful in some ways but completely ignored this \u20ac200 per month plan. We have announcements with no details about State-led services and communities around this country continue to go without. I ask that there is time allocated on Thursday for this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  It is short notice but a protest has been called tomorrow for 5.30 p.m. outside of the D\u00e1il. I urge people who are angry at this Government's failure to address affordability in rents and the housing crisis to get out and demonstrate against the decision of this Government to ram through the Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 and impose a guillotine. There will not be proper scrutiny of it. Most of the public do not understand how far-reaching and detrimental this Bill will be in jacking up rents and a Government that is facilitating landlords driving up rents even further. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  I have been looking for statements in relation to the fishing industry for quite some time. I know the Government will say we have had them but the bottom line is that a task force was set up nearly two months ago. We have not heard whether it has met? What are the terms of reference? What is it doing? I was at a funeral the other day and I met a fisherman. He said that one day fishing and the quota is filled. They are facing ruination, and we are not doing much about it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy. The Chief Whip to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Butler  I thank the Deputies for their suggestions. We will have the debate on the International Protection Bill 2026 this afternoon for several hours. Tomorrow, we will have statements on Operation Kenova. We will have the residential tenancies Bill before the House tomorrow for five hours. On Thursday, we will again have the International Protection Bill. We can discuss different statements at the Business Committee meeting on Thursday, which we do every week. The Order of Business stands. I am not accepting the suggestion under Standing Order 35(3). "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Are the proposed arrangements for this week's business agreed to? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  Not agreed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I welcome, on behalf of Deputy Thomas Gould, a further contingent of students from UCC and Trinity College. Everybody in the Gallery is very welcome.  I call Deputy Mary Lou McDonald. If you cannot make your point in one minute, you have asked the question in the wrong forum. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  I am sure the Taoiseach will take that on advisement.  I return again to the growing concern about the safety of Seamus Culleton, who, as we know, has been held in an ICE detention centre in Texas for the past five months. People were very shocked yesterday to hear him describe the conditions that he is being held in and say that he now fears for his life. I understand his family have only gone public because they felt they were left with no other avenue. Can the Taoiseach tell us specifically what representation has been made on his behalf? Has the Taoiseach raised his case with the US Administration? Can he be precise and tell us how many Irish citizens are caught up in this same nightmare situation? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  As I said earlier, I heard of the case yesterday. The Department of foreign affairs has been aware of the case since October and has been engaging with homeland security through the consulate general in Austin and the embassy in Washington. There are further meetings being held today. When I finish Taoiseach's Questions and so on, I will be updated in respect of the matter. I will proceed as I see best in helping Seamus Culleton. We are very concerned about the conditions he is being held in and in terms of his seeking permanent status in the US. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  Just two days from now, 14-year-old Joseph Oyekanmi, his two brothers and his mother face deportation from their Dublin home. There is enormous concern in my constituency and in the area of Sandyford, Dundrum and Kilternan, where they have been living, where they have been integrating with the local community and where there has been a huge groundswell of support. Councillor Lettie McCarthy and I have been engaging on this matter. I have already made representations on behalf of the family to the justice Minister. Joseph is a pupil in Gonzaga, which is a school in my constituency. His brother Samuel also attends school there. They are involved with local sports clubs and are both talented athletes. Samuel is doing the leaving certificate. This is a family that are so well integrated. It is absolutely shameful to see them facing deportation. Former professional athlete David Gillick has sought help on their behalf. Five thousand people have signed a petition noting the immense positive contribution this family has already made to their community in Dublin. I appeal to the Taoiseach to enable them to stay here in Ireland, which is the country they have made their home and which they have already made such an important and positive contribution to. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I will ask the Minister for justice to review this case. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  Thank you. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Again, however, it speaks to the issue the Deputy raised earlier in the context of America and migration law. The Deputy has raised two deportation cases today----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  I have. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----I mean this sincerely - one in terms of the US implementing its law and the other in terms of Ireland----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  You are doing the same as Trump. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----implementing its law. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  This is not a back-and-forth. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  What is interesting is that the debate moves along the continuum, depending on given situations. I take the Deputy's presentation in very good faith and I will talk to the Minister for justice in respect of it. There were quite a number of cases like this seven or eight years ago. That reversed and the mood changed in Irish society and more generally. There have to be rules for migration. The key issue is that we accelerate the applications for asylum as quickly as we possibly can in order that people are not here for any undue length of time, and that we also accelerate the appeals dimension. However, there has to be a framework governing migration to give everybody----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  There has to be humanity----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  It is not a back-and-forth. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  Last night's \"RT\u00c9 Investigates\" made for harrowing viewing. We saw people with severe and enduring mental health difficulties being subjected to degrading treatment and even dying in custody. Such was the tragic case of Ivan Rosney. These vulnerable people require care and compassion, not cold prison cells. Last October, I visited Cork Prison. As a result of what I saw, I started asking questions. At the end of January, figures provided to me showed that 38 people are being held in prison waiting to be transferred to the Central Mental Hospital. That is a 23% increase since November. The average waiting time for a transfer from the prison to hospital is now seven months. For somebody in the midst of a mental health crisis, that is an eternity. At the same time, 50 beds in the Central Mental Hospital are lying idle. Three years after the hospital opened, that is an utter disgrace. The HSE promised to open 18 of those beds last year but just two opened - another broken promise. On top of that, unforgivably, there are 28 vacancies in the hospital. Will the Government immediately fill these vacancies and open the overdue mental health beds? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  First, welcome all the students from UCC, both those who were here earlier and those who are here now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  They would be gone. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The study of politics in UCC has always been a very positive and productive endeavour, as I know myself to good effect.  The issue the Deputy raised is very serious. The Central Mental Hospital relocated to the new state-of-the-art purpose-built health facility at Portrane in November 2022. The new facility cost of \u20ac240 million, which was a demonstration of moving to a new era in respect of forensic psychiatry. It is now one of the better facilities of its kind in Europe. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  Fifty beds. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Sorry, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  What is the answer? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Please wait, and I will give the answer. We either want a genuine debate or Deputies just want to score points. They should make up their minds.  Some 93 patients had been transferred at that stage, and 114 beds are now open in the Central Mental Hospital. In 2025, we funded the recruitment of 41 additional staff to open a further 18 beds, two of which opened in December. The other 16 will be opened next month. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Taoiseach. Time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That is progress. We want to do more. We want to get to 140 beds. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Taoiseach. I call Deputy Coppinger. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  There were 60 complaints of sexual abuse or misconduct against members of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na in the past three years. There are 18 active investigations. We saw what happened with Margaret Loftus. I raised with the Taoiseach the case of a Scott medal being awarded to former detective Noel McMahon, who was named at the Morris tribunal in connection with all sorts of corruption, who assaulted his wife, Sheenagh, with a firearm and who got her children taken from her by lying and using his position. The Taoiseach said that I had a point, that the man in question should not have got the medal and that he would have had issues with it as well. In a letter I have seen since, however, the Garda Commissioner said in reply to Senator Paul Daly that matters such as those to which I refer cannot be taken into account in the award of the medal and nor can general misconduct where a member's courage and heroism are such that they clearly entitle him or her to the award. In other words, it does not matter what bad deeds people do, how much gender violence they commit, they can still get a medal for bravery. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  Does the Taoiseach think that is acceptable? Will he take it up with the Commissioner----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Taoiseach is to respond now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  -----and ask for historic cases like Sheenagh O'Doherty's to be investigated. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Taoiseach to respond "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I will discuss this with the Minister for justice. If a garda or any other person is guilty of domestic abuse and violence, that takes away from acts of heroism or courage. There is no doubt. I do not know the specific case or the act of bravery that merited the award of the Scott medal, but it must have been a significant act of bravery and perhaps An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na took the view articulated by the Commissioner. However, I think there needs to be a broader look at that. If a person engages in domestic violence or sexual abuse , it takes away from courageous acts the same person may have undertaken. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  The Bord Bia Act and governance and professional standards state that there should be no legal impediments or conflicts of interest. It is also stated that compliance is essential in ensuring adherence to the code of practice for the governance of State bodies. Larry Murrin is allowed to be chairperson of Bord Bia, when there is a complete conflict of interest. On the basis of what the Act states, he is involved in is insider trading. It is actually cartelling. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  No, it is not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  It is. Would the Taoiseach allow the general secretary of Fine Gael to sit in on a Fianna F\u00e1il Parliamentary Party meeting and listen to all the points being made? The Government is allowing Larry Murrin to sit as chairperson where he has access to full access to Bord Bia and to information on suppliers to Bord Bia. That is insider trading under Irish law. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That is a serious assertion----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  It is. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----which should be taken off the record "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  No. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That is in breach of Standing Orders. It has to be. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I apologise. I did not hear it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Insider trading is a criminal act. The Deputy will have to withdraw that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I ask the Deputy, if he----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  I will not withdraw it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Then there is a problem. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  It is too serious for people here and for all the farming organisations. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  It will have to be dealt with----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  The Taoiseach is not willing to deal with it. I asked a question the Taoiseach will not answer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, sorry. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I will deal with the question, but the point I am trying to make is----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  We will deal with that----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  On a point of order----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  It is in the Act. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----I do not like having to do this but it seems that Standing Orders----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Taoiseach, we will have to deal with it outside Standing Orders. We will have to have----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It is either a clear breach of Standing Orders or it is not. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I have asked the Deputy to withdraw it. I cannot make him do so. The same goes for all Members. The Deputy will have to deal with the consequences of it being on the record. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We have had a history in this House, where people----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  This is----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Sorry now a second, if I may, through the Chair. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  There is no point, because he will not withdraw it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I am not talking about this case, but when will the House get serious about people's names being undermined and their reputations----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Standing Orders as part of D\u00e1il reform. The Chief Whip is behind the Taoiseach. If he wishes to put something into Standing----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Who? It is in Standing Orders. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  It is dealt with in a way there, but the Deputy has refused to withdraw it. I asked him to withdraw it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I know that, but I want to make a general point before I go on. It is a point worth making. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  The Ceann Comhairle said that she did not hear it "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Excuse me. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It is worth making this point. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I did not hear it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I heard it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach heard it, and he is asking the Deputy to withdraw it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  The Ceann Comhairle should have heard it as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I was having a conversation with the usher, which should not be the case. The thing is, we are now in a position----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Of course, the Ceann Comhairle is going to refer it to the committee. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  It will be referred if a complaint is made. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  All I want to observe is that this has been going on for quite a long time. I am making------ "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I reiterate that all Members have a responsibility----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  There is a casualness and nonchalance that is making a joke of Standing Orders. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  It is not a joke by any means. All Members have a responsibility to follow Standing Orders. That is it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shane Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shane-Moynihan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shane Moynihan  Clonburris strategic development zone, SDZ, in my constituency will provide 11,000 homes when it is completed. The development is well under way. Hundreds of homes have been completed. Thousands are either under construction or planning permission has been granted in respect of them. As part of the SDZ framework, infrastructure, including transport provision, was heralded as a key feature. The community in Clonburris is expanding rapidly. Dublin Mid-West one of the constituencies in the country where the population is growing rapidly. Traffic volumes on the R136, the N4 and the N7 are already characterised by high levels of congestion. We have already discussed the need for and importance of the DART+ South West project to help to alleviate that congestion. In the interim, however, people living in Clonburris need access to bus stops and specific bus routes.  I have engaged with the National Transport Authority, NTA, on this matter. It is important that we ensure access to new routes for people in Clonburris in order that they will not just be obliged to use routes in Lucan and Clondalkin that are already under pressure. I ask for the Taoiseach's support in the context of engaging with the NTA in respect of this issue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I know he has been particularly strong on the DART+ South West project and the need to have it greenlighted. He has, more or less, been successful in achieving the latter. I will support the Deputy's dialogue with the NTA. I have made the point that, generally speaking, there has been a great deal of negotiation, dialogue and engagement with residential groups across the country, particularly in Dublin and Cork, in respect of BusConnects. This has created a lot of challenges. Given the fact that the NTA is a State agency, there needs to be a constant, robust mechanism for engagement with communities, because some of these proposals are not landing well. Different age cohorts have different responses to how BusConnects manifests itself in the context of, for example, safety and so on. I have made that point to the NTA. It has improved in many areas regarding its consultations with communities. As the services are being rolled out, some communities do not feel they are getting what was envisaged. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Clendennen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Clendennen  The tragic deaths of Mary Holt and Tadhg Farrell in an arson attack caused profound shock and concern across the community of Edenderry and beyond before Christmas. As the investigation continues, I have met with many members of the local community who want the opening hours of the Garda station to be extended and increased visibility of garda\u00ed on the ground in the town. Last week, 168 new garda\u00ed were attested. However, just two of these new officers were appointed to the Laois-Offaly division. Both were assigned to Portlaoise Garda station.  I have constructively engaged with the Minister for justice and with the local garda\u00ed. If we are going to apply adequate resources to Edenderry, it cannot result in an adverse impact on other parts of the county or across the division. Will the Taoiseach engage with the Commission in order to ensure that in the context of the next attestation later in the year, Edenderry will be specifically prioritised, particularly in view of the concerns that exist in the town. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I agree with the Deputy's condemnation of the horrific murder of Mary Holt and Tadhg Farrell. The savagery involved absolutely numbed people.  We are increasing throughput in Templemore. The Commissioner is taking a position of allocating substantial numbers to given locations. The first tranche was given to Dublin in order to increase visibility in a meaningful way, which happened. Cork and Limerick have now benefited. Instead of putting dribs and drabs of two or three here and there, the bulk have been allocated to the centres. That will happen gradually. There will be three more attestations this year. We have healthy numbers coming through, so we will be in a position to get to Edenderry and Laois-Offaly more generally. The policy in this regard is having an impact where it is being rolled out. However, I fully accept the frustrations of those locations which have not yet received the benefit of the increased number of garda\u00ed being recruited. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  To continue with that theme, as the Taoiseach knows, the report of the Policing and Community Safety Authority report at the end of last year the continuing failure of the Government to address Garda recruitment and retention and rural policing in particular. It identified serious risks to policing performance from staffing shortages due to missed recruitment targets and increasing pressures on garda\u00ed. People I have talked to in rural areas of County Waterford are experiencing the sharpest impact. Too few garda\u00ed are covering large areas. There is limited visibility on the ground. Garda\u00ed have indicated that they the supports or resources to do their jobs. People across County Waterford refer to understaffed stations, empty stations and slow response times. We have had a number of violent incidents, particularly in towns and villages in west Waterford in recent months where response times were just too slow. People do not feel safe in their communities. We need to get to grips with this. People in places like Cappoquin, Clashmore, Tooraneena, Ballymacarbry, Kilmacthomas, Dungarvan and Ardmore tell me that they do not see a garda from one end of the week to the next. When are we going to get real about this and ensure that rural areas have the policing response that they need? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Seventeen extra garda\u00ed have been recruited to Waterford since last August. The Minister visited Waterford and Dungarvan Garda stations recently and had good conversations with the chief superintendent, superintendents and garda\u00ed more generally. People are seeing many more garda\u00ed much more often now. The good news is that 215 trainees entered Templemore last Monday. That is the third intake in a row where the numbers have exceeded 200. Those candidates were all recruited from the 2024 and 2025 recruitment campaigns. We are on target. The Government is making progress on significantly increasing the number of garda\u00ed in the force. That will continue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John McGuinness  I want to return to the case of Seamus Culleton, whose family hail from Glenmore in County Kilkenny. He has spent 20 years in Boston in the United States. I spoke to his wife, Tiffany, and his sister Caroline yesterday. They are deeply concerned about the length of time for which he has been detained and about the substandard conditions in the detention centre in El Paso. Why was he moved from New York to there? There are emerging financial difficulties because he is not working. Will the Taoiseach and the Minister for foreign affairs intervene immediately at the highest political level in order to get this man released? In November 2025, he was coming up on the last of his green card interviews. Obviously, he could not attend because he was being detained. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I thank the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John McGuinness  What consular assistance has been provided from September to date? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy's time is up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John McGuinness  I spoke to John Deasy, who would, maybe, have offered greater assistance. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We are concerned about the situation pertaining to Seamus Culleton. We fully accept people's concerns. I heard about the case yesterday. As I said earlier, our officials are engaging. The local consulate general in the US is engaging with ICE officials. We do not have the authority to interfere in the application of law but we do have the capacity to advocate strongly on behalf of our citizens to ensure that they are properly and humanely treated. We are conscious that this happened is in the middle of an application for status. We do not want to do anything that would undermine the securing of that status for Seamus Culleton. The Minister and the officials are engaging. They were meeting before I came in. I will have a further update when I leave here and I will see where we take it from there. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter Roche","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-Roche.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter Roche  Tomorrow will being a dignified and respectful protest to University College Hospital in Galway, where people will be campaigning for a dual-pathway system in our emergency department. People who present in emergency departments with acute mental health issues need a different environment in which they can be triaged separately and given a moment to become calm and to have their concerns heard by the appropriate personnel. They are there because they are seeking help and support. They want to meet the people who will support them. I support this concept fully. Where are we at with regard to that plan going forward and a dual-pathway system for those who are acutely challenged by mental health issues? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Mary Butler)  I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue and for his constant advocacy on in respect of those who have mental health challenges, disorders and illnesses. As he knows, budget 2026 focused on the provision of a crisis resolution response, especially for those who attend acute hospitals out of hours.  I was able to secure the funding, and I want to thank the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, for her work with me on this, for our nine model 4 hospitals and one model 3 hospital, so there are ten hospitals in total where each emergency department out of hours will be provided with four clinical nurse specialists or advanced nurse practitioners who will be able to support the non-consultant hospital doctor on call to deal with that crisis. We are working very hard. There are six hospitals that do not have that additional room capacity with regard to emergency departments to make sure that there is a quiet space there, so I can speak to the Deputy about it offline. The crisis resolution response and the crisis caf\u00e9s are where we are going. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  The Government has utterly failed to tackle the energy rip-off through inaction, with the national energy affordability task force meeting only three times since Government formation and no action on cutting energy costs while this crisis continues unabated. A total of 360,000 households are at risk of being cut off due to stealth disconnections relating to pay-as-you-go meters while 300,000 people are in arrears and older people are afraid to turn on their lights to cook. Companies are hiking unit costs at contract breaks with seemingly no notifications to customers and the CRU is asleep at the wheel lacking direction from the Government. What is the Government going to do? Is it going to make the CRU deal with this crisis? Unit costs are going up and people are not being told about it in advance. What is the Government going to do about it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I dealt with this issue during Leaders' Questions. In the budget, we brought in specific measures to target those most in need and most under pressure as a result of the cost of living and the elevated level of the cost of living over the past four years, which is easing. Nonetheless prices are still high for people generally. In the budget, we brought in significant measures to deal with that.  In terms of affordability, the CRU and the task force have published their work in respect of this. We will work with the European Union in respect on energy pricing given that the system and model that operates within the EU has impacts here and in terms of our own regulatory framework but that will take time to develop. Regarding the budgetary measures we have taken, we do not agree with universal supports, particularly providing support for those who do not need it, which seems to be Sinn F\u00e9in's position. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  I am glad there are rumours that the Government is going to dilute the short-term letting in the Bill and to increase the population of towns so that it will apply to towns with populations of over 20,000. However, I believe anybody who has been doing Airbnb for more than seven years is entitled to planning permission because they already have it. There are people who have been doing this for 20 years and more. Whatever the Government is bringing forward should allow the people who have been doing Airbnb to continue doing it as they were. If the Government wants to bring in laws for new people going into Airbnb such that they have to go for planning permission, that is all right but the people that have been at it for years, especially for over seven years, should not have to go for planning permission. They have it by default. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  The other thing I want to say to the Taoiseach is that this is very urgent. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  No, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  It has to be dealt with urgently----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach to respond. You have one question, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Danny Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Danny Healy-Rae  -----in order to let the people continue what they are doing for this season otherwise they will lose this season. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  You are destroying Questions on Policy or Legislation for everyone. The Taoiseach to respond. Members have one question on Questions on Policy or Legislation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Deputy Cahill has made equally strong representations to me on this issue. He has been in my ear about this now for the past month or two months and has not stopped talking to me about it. The point is the Government decided that towns with a population below 20,000 will not be affected by the short-term letting legislation.  Planning laws were there prior to this legislation. Any variation to commercial use requires planning permission. The Deputy referenced seven years plus. He is on the ball to a certain extent; that is the existing position, which is not changed by anything. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Wall  Budget 2026 announced an additional 1,717 SNA places, which is a very welcome intervention by Government. However, the reality in my own area of Kildare South is that late last week, Scoil Mhichil Naofa in Athy received notice that it will lose five SNA posts while Patrician Secondary School in Newbridge will lose three. As the Taoiseach can appreciate, this has a devastating impact on the entire school community. We all know the great work SNAs do day in, day out assisting teachers, assisting students and creating a school environment for parents and students alike. Will the Government intervene in these losses? We need SNAs in our schools. SNAs with posts will not know until next September whether or not they will still have a post and are getting calls to go into principals' offices. It is devastating for them all. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I do not have specifics in terms of the individual school but the numbers of SNAs have increased exponentially. The budget for special education has increased significantly and somewhat dramatically over the past three years and continues to increase so we need to work this out now as well. I will refer the case to the Minister for Education and Youth but it is not a context of cutbacks or anything like that. We are expanding the budget and we do have to allocate SNAs to children in line with best advice on our side. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  Last week, a pregnant horse was literally driven into the ground on the N4. The horse was taking part, or was being made take part, in sulky races on Dollymount Strand. She was with foal. She collapsed on the road and was forced up to continue on that road. She collapsed again and this time, she could not get up. Her abusers kicked her and tried to drag her up but she was unable to get up. My Lovely Horse Rescue went out and rescued this horse and brought her to UCD but, unfortunately, she had to be put to sleep. This is pure animal cruelty plain and simple, so can the Taoiseach tell me what the Government is going to do to stop these horrific things from happening to animals in broad daylight? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  That was absolutely horrific and I condemn very strongly what happened. Obviously, An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na will have to follow up and the relevant authorities will have to pursue those guilty of this horrific crime. I appeal to people who witnessed this to give their evidence to the authorities, so that prosecution can follow. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  At lunchtime, hundreds of retired An Post workers and Eir workers protested outside this House about the fact that even though An Post asked that a 7% increase in their very meagre pension entitlements be approved and signed off on by the Government as far back as October, it still has not happened. For inexplicable reasons, Ministers and the Government are sitting on this when these pensioners, who worked hard all their lives and have been hit with the cost-of-living crisis, have not got the pension increase they were expecting. Can the Taoiseach confirm that the Government is going to sign off on this and that they will get their pension increases? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I will talk to the Ministers concerned about this. It is never as simple as one issue but nonetheless I will talk to the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation and the relevant Ministers, so that whatever issues pertain here can be progressed. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"An tOrd Gn\u00f3 - Order of Business"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-10\/debate\/dbsect_8","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/14","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/14\/dail\/1","houseCode":"dail","stage":"1","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Waste Management (Single Household Waste Collection Service) Bill 2026: First Stage (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Waste Management (Single Household Waste Collection Service) Bill 2026: First Stage","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marie Sherlock  I move  That leave be granted to introduce Bill entitled an Act to improve the efficiency, competitiveness and sustainability of household waste collection services throughout the functional areas of local authorities; to provide for a scheme for the waiver of household waste collection charges on grounds of personal hardship; to enable local authorities to make provision by bye-laws relating to the duty of landlords in respect of the presentation of household waste by their tenants; for these purposes to amend the Waste Management Act 1996; and to provide for related matters.  I am very proud to introduce this Bill today. The Waste Management (Single Household Waste Collection Service) Bill is the culmination of many years of work across constituencies and communities, including my own constituency, that are dealing with scourge of illegal dumping, hazard and a sometimes unreliable waste collection and work with the trade union movement, in particular, the SIPTU-F\u00f3rsa campaign \"More Power to You\", which involves the fight for greater public services. This Bill seeks to do three things. It aims to overhaul the system of waste collection in this country.  The Labour Party wants to move waste collection from a system of competition in the market to competition for the market. We want to recognise that in a cost-of-living crisis the cost of waste disposal is a significant cost for some households, such as those with a member with a disability, caring or on low income. We need to introduce a waiver across every local authority in the country for certain households.  The third aspect of the Bill s crucial and it is the simplest part of the legislation I am proposing. We need to provide for landlord responsibility. The reality is that there are far too many tenanted accommodations across this country where there is no proper waste collection contract in place. The landlord does not take responsibility. The tenants, for a variety of reasons, whether culture, cost or overcrowding, do not take responsibility and we are left with the results on the street. However, it is really important to recognise that it is not just tenants. There are also homeowners in this country who are responsible for illegal dumping. As a starting point, we need to make sure that there is landlord responsibility.  We in the Labour Party believe that we have a dysfunctional system of waste collection, both here in Dublin and across many communities in Ireland. Bin companies are getting to drive by illegally dumped bags or burst bags strewn all over the ground. The onus is on residents to report it and the city council has to come and clean up the mess. Ultimately, we have underinvestment in composting and recycling facilities. We believe waste management is a vital public service. It should be about keeping our streets clean and not making a profit. Ultimately, if we are to see greater investment in shared collection points, more recycling, more composting and greater control on resources into waste, we need to change how this work is done and who does it.  The context for this Bill is that yet again household this year are facing even greater bin collection costs. Panda, one of the largest providers in the State, has now raised its cost per bin to \u20ac14.75, an increase of 43% in just a two-year period. City Bin provides service to approximately 50,000 households across Dublin and Galway. We saw a 26% increase in just two years in its costs. Greyhound last saw an increase in costs, as we understand it, back in 2024, and no doubt we are going to be seeing changes to those costs over the coming weeks.  Two years ago, waste collection companies threatened this Government with price hikes because of the return scheme. They said that because the State was, in effect, taking away a very profitable aspect of their business, which is the collection of recyclable plastics, their bottom line was going to suffer and, ultimately, the householder was going to suffer because of an increased cost imposed by these companies. This is coming home to roost. We are now seeing that happen with householders.  I acknowledge there are additional challenges, such as there no longer being opportunity to export beyond the EU borders. There are increased costs for waste collection companies, but that is why it is absolutely critical that we have a conversation about how and who delivers waste collection and overall waste management within cities, towns, villages and across this country. We also have the added context of very poor performance with regard to recycling rates in certain areas. For many years, we have slapped ourselves on the back and said we are great as our recycling rates in some parts were above the EU average, but when we look at plastics recycling, Ireland is at 28% relative to a target of 50% in 2025. In municipal recycling and bring centres, Ireland is at only 41% relative to a target of 55%. We have to do better.  The introduction of competition across the waste collection system in the early 2000s promised lower prices and a better service. The reality has played out very differently. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Is the Bill opposed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Butler","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Mary-Butler.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Mary Butler)  It is not opposed. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Since this is a Private Members' Bill, Second Stage must, under Standing Orders, be taken in Private Members' time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Marie Sherlock","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Marie-Sherlock.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Marie Sherlock  I move: \"That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time.\" "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put and agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Waste Management (Single Household Waste Collection Service) Bill 2026: First Stage"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-10\/debate\/dbsect_9","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna - Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna - Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-10\/debate\/dbsect_10","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Cabinet Committees","counts":{"speechCount":92,"speakerCount":17},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-10\/debate\/dbsect_9","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","showAs":"Ceisteanna - Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_10","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Cahill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brendan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","memberCode":"Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ryan O'Meara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-10\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_10.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 16, inclusive, together.  The Government has placed agriculture and rural development at the heart of its work and the programme for Government sets out our ambitions to do more to grow our agrifood sector and see our rural economy and rural communities thrive. Government has mainstreamed agriculture across the Cabinet committee system to ensure that agriculture and rural policy are always factored into wider considerations and Government action. With this in mind, we established the Cabinet committee on water quality, which has been instrumental in our efforts to secure a derogation on the nitrates directive. Likewise, the Cabinet committee on European Union and international affairs has been a forum for closely monitoring CAP developments, other issues to do with agriculture and Europe, and shaping our positions from a negotiating perspective. The Cabinet committee on economy, trade and competitiveness and the Cabinet committee on climate action, environment and energy have also regularly discussed agricultural issues, particularly with regards to fully unlocking the economic potential within rural Ireland. As with all policy areas, agriculture issues are regularly discussed at Cabinet and there is regular cross-departmental engagement on issues that affect agriculture and our farming communities.  Budget 2026 saw \u20ac2.3 billion allocated to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. This was an increase of \u20ac170 million over the 2025 budget. This Government commitment is showing very strong results. In 2024, agrifood exports were a record \u20ac19 billion and estimates for 2025 show even further growth, to \u20ac21 billion. This highlights the global orientation and exceptional quality of Irish produce and, when viewed in the context of international trade uncertainty, is all the more impressive.  This success directly benefits Irish farm families. In 2024, the national farm survey showed that average family farm income rose by 89%. The figures for 2025 are not yet finalised, but indications show that it could see a further 30% growth. This is real progress and is the outcome of years of investments by the Government and, above all, by farmers themselves. By way of example, one can look at the success and implementation of the ACRES programme, which is part of Ireland's Common Agricultural Policy strategic plan. This work is relevant to multiple Cabinet committees and will see \u20ac1.5 billion allocated, with 60% funding from the Exchequer and 40% from the European Union budget. That will have a huge impact on our rural environment and will deliver an income support for up to 50,000 farm families. The Government will build on this success and the hard work of our farming families to ensure a thriving, resilient and sustainable agrifood sector.  When it comes Ireland\u2019s priorities for the next CAP, our position is very clear and remains unchanged. We want a CAP that gives sufficient certainty and stability for farmers, fishers, and rural communities, allows for policy tools tailored to the Irish agrifood system and provides sufficient funding for farmers and rural communities. As the Deputies will be aware, the proposed CAP structure post 2027 seeks to consolidate existing measures into a single policy framework. The Government will be going through the proposals line by line to work towards our CAP priorities and assess the practicality of the Commission\u2019s proposed approach, given the associated governance and conditionality requirements. I also note that the European Parliament has expressed dissatisfaction with the proposed merging of CAP elements with other funding structures and streams.  Ireland will advocate for maximum flexibility, retention of the full toolbox of measures, ring-fenced funding and a CAP framework that supports competitiveness, sustainability and food security. Ireland will play an influential role during our upcoming Presidency, acting as an honest broker in progressing CAP discussions. The Minister, Deputy Heydon, and all of Government will continue to engage actively at European Union level. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere  A huge number of rural roads in Carlow-Kilkenny have been absolutely destroyed in the past couple of weeks due to the torrential rainfall and serious flooding in the area. This has resulted in serious potholes and, in many cases, complete disintegration of road surfaces, making them impassable. In some cases, there are potholes so big you could lose a small child in them. I am asking the Taoiseach and the Government to provide additional once-off emergency funding to those counties which have been so desperately affected by the storm.  There are lots of roads that are in brutal condition, some still impassible, and they need complete reconstruction. At the weekend, when driving in places like Drummin, St. Mullins, Spahill, Glynn, Tomduff, Ballyglisheen and Knocksquire, I saw that all of the roads had been seriously damaged. Many of these are local roads with high agricultural volumes but these routes serve as the only route for many rural residents. They are vital for vulnerable residents. They are school bus routes and there are also access requirements for milk lorries and other essential services. Could additional emergency funding be made available separate from the additional funding for roadworks? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aindrias Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Aindrias-Moynihan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aindrias Moynihan  A huge range of significant issues are putting pressure on farmers. They include bluetongue, the new Common Agricultural Policy, CAP, the Mercosur deal and Bord Bia. Last week, the agriculture committee questioned the Bord Bia chair on Brazilian beef imports. There are very strong views on the issue and farmers are really upset about what they saw happen in the weeks leading up to the committee meeting. Time and again at the meeting, the question came up about discussions and getting people around the table, face to face and talking. Is there some way of getting the various interest groups - the farmer organisations and Bord Bia - around the table to get progress on the current impasse? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Cahill","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Cahill.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Cahill  I raise the matter of compensation ceilings currently in place for tuberculosis, TB, reactors. I am acutely aware of the emotional and financial impacts of bovine TB on farmers and their families. An outbreak of TB can be soul-destroying. The on-farm market valuation scheme is the principal compensation measure available to farmers who experience a TB outbreak in their herd. The scheme aims to compensate farmers up to the open market value of the animal. The compensation under the on-farm market valuation scheme is payable subject to ceilings. If the actual value of the animal exceeds the ceiling, the farmer is at a loss. I know of families who were left out of pocket, in some cases involving thousands of euro. We must do everything possible to help these farmers and ensure they are adequately compensated. Due to the increased cost of the bovine TB programme in recent years, the Government's focus should now be on reducing the levels of the disease and, if at all possible, eradicating it. This will reduce the impact on Irish farm families and reduce the cost of the programme, which has risen year on year and stood at over \u20ac121 million in 2025. The Government must do everything possible to eradicate this disease. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brendan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","memberCode":"Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brendan Smith  The Taoiseach rightly referred in his response to the massive scale of our food exports. Those food export markets have been hard-earned. There has been massive investment by the State over the decades, and by farmers, in building up a top-class, world-standard food industry. We have animal husbandry and food production to the highest standard. That is why we have been successful in so many markets throughout the world.  As Deputy Moynihan said, there is a very urgent issue to be resolved, that is, the ongoing dispute between farmers and Bord Bia. It must be resolved immediately because we do not want the good standing of our industry worldwide to be damaged in any way.  As the Taoiseach knows, one of the most important things during Ireland's Presidency of the European Union is finalisation of the multi-annual financial framework, MFF. As we all know, the Common Agricultural Policy is essential to ensuring a secure supply of safe food for the citizens of Europe and it is also an essential income support for farmers. That CAP, post 2027, must be properly resourced. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ryan O'Meara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ryan O'Meara  Agfood.ie , a revamped agrifood portal, was launched by the Minister for agriculture at the National Ploughing Championships last September. Dual-factor authentication, which has become a part of that, is proving quite difficult for a number of farmers who have contacted me, namely, farmers with poor phone coverage or those who have given their phone number to a son or a daughter to help them log in to the system. It is a very good system. It helps with compliance announcements, information from the Department, payment information and projected nitrates information. However, it is making the portal more inaccessible for a lot of farmers who have someone else logging into the portal safely. For them to do so, we need to look at other login methods that would make this technology more accessible for those helping farmers.  In regard to the community involvement scheme, CIS, and the local improvement scheme, LIS, funding for those in rural areas is absolutely essential, as the first speaker said. I have lanes in north Tipperary and they are so big, I could lose Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere in the potholes at the moment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Shocking. That is an awful slur on Deputy Cleere. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  The issue of generational renewal is critical in the context of the forthcoming CAP negotiations. I know it has been raised in the discussions with Commissioner Hansen. The Taoiseach will be aware that almost 40% of farmers are now aged 65 and over, whereas fewer than 5% are under the age of 35. He will know that Macra na Feirme has been seeking, as an essential part of the next CAP, fully funded succession schemes. I know in my own case that both Wicklow Macra and Wexford Macra are very active on these issues. It is critical, if we are to safeguard rural communities and the future of the traditional family farm, that we have fully funded succession schemes in place under a fully funded CAP. I would like the Taoiseach to give a commitment that this will be a priority in the discussions on the next CAP. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  The script the Taoiseach read out has no relation at all to the reality for farmers. If the backbenchers ever manage to overthrow him, I think there is a Booker Prize for fiction in him when he retires. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Thanks, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  Some 1,400 farmers are leaving agriculture on an annual basis, with 8,400 farmers having left since Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael got together back in 2020. Another 5,600 will have disappeared from the land by the time this Government is finished. That is the stark reality facing farmers at the moment. The Mercosur deal is simply going to accelerate that process. Farm incomes will be lower, there will be rural depopulation and the food security of this country will also be threatened. The idea that we have Mr. Murrin importing beef that would likely fail the standards Bord Bia is using to audit farmers across the country is incredible. This week, we in Aont\u00fa found out that the Department of education is paying for food under the schools food programme that is coming from Brazil. Is it any wonder there is a collapse in farm incomes and numbers in this country when the Government is acting against the best interests of farmers? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  The Government's credibility and its relationship with farmers have been damaged significantly. In regard to its efforts on the Mercosur agreement, it only really opposed it when it was clear the deal would be passed. The Government failed to lobby any MEPs or member states----- "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Sorry, Deputies. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  These are the facts. I appreciate that, as a backbencher, Deputy Cleere must be frustrated----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Lawless should ask a question because his time will be up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  -----with the direction of Government but the facts are the facts.  In relation to Bord Bia, the Taoiseach's attitude can only be described as smug, lacking understanding and showing an unwillingness to engage with farmers. There is a significant impasse at the moment and the Government's attitude is one of \"Hands off, there is nothing to see here\" when the reality is that farmers are hurting because Bord Bia pushed them for standards and, meanwhile, its chair is importing beef. How many tonnes of Brazilian beef are coming into this country on an annual basis? How many tonnes of poultry are coming into this country? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  Commissioners Hansen and Serafin were here last week. We all had an opportunity to engage with them. We had them in at the EU affairs committee. The fear I have is that they did not rule out the ability, the capacity and, maybe, the willingness to introduce provisional application of the Mercosur agreement before the European Court of Justice carries out its due diligence of the legality of the deal. Our big fear relates to imports of 100,000 tonnes of Brazilian beef and 180,000 tonnes of poultry that will not be up to the standard of European and, in particular, Irish farming. I want to know what the Government is going to do to make sure there is not provisional application. This is happening in the context of the issue with Larry Murrin. I do not think any of the backbenchers could have been particularly happy with his answers at the agriculture committee. Mr. Murrin has to go. There is an unacceptable conflict of interest and it is doing damage to Irish farming. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  I do not know as much about the Mercosur deal as my colleagues in the regional group but the facts are that Fianna F\u00e1il, Fine Gael and the regional independents gave a commitment in the programme for Government to reject the deal in its current form and to work with like-minded governments.  To get back to Dublin, I want to speak about the Clontarf area and the north city arterial main, a major semi-State project. We all saw in The Irish Times last week that there is huge confusion because the Baldoyle Road is to be closed for nearly a year. In regard to major projects, what level of information should be guaranteed to public representatives? I went to the open night. I asked if I could take photos of the traffic plans and I was told \"No\". We held a general election in north Dublin to represent the people and when a TD asks for photos of traffic management, they should be allowed get those drawings. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  The Marine Institute recently released a report on the devastating impacts of the use of tangle nets on many endangered species in our waters.  This report looked at what was happening in our national park. Incredibly we see tangle nets are killing angel shark which is on the brink of extinction. A consultation was done by the Department of agriculture on a sustainable crayfish management plan in 2021 but I can find no other information about that. There was no follow up and no report seemed to result from that consultation. It is important that we move away from tangle nets but we need to do it and support fishers as we do so. It is important that we start protecting these endangered species. Can the Taoiseach tell me if he knows where that consultation is or will he look into it for me? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett. Excuse me. Deputy Paul Murphy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Indistinguishable. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  Last week at the public accounts committee we heard that the Department of agriculture last year killed 7,735 badgers. It killed over 60,000 badgers in the course of the past decade even though they are supposedly a protected species. They are first trapped in snares causing internal organ damage, ruptured bladders and disembowelment. Pregnant and lactating badgers are killed leaving their cubs to starve to death. Snaring badgers is banned in Scotland and Wales. Two-thirds of people want it banned here. We are the only country in Europe which funds the large-scale slaughter of badgers. The truth is they are scapegoats for the spread of bovine TB. We have a programme that is killing more and more badgers yet the incidence rate goes up and up. It is over 66% at this stage. The EU refuses to fund this programme any more. It means the public is funding \u20ac100 million a year. Will the Taoiseach commit to end the mass slaughter of badgers? We need to move to 100% vaccination and have implementation of biosecurity measures to actually deal with the problem. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  Farmers feel undermined, ignored and taken for granted. They are angry \u2013 in fact, they are livid \u2013 because the importation of Brazilian beef represents not only an existential threat to their livelihoods but the way Brazilian beef is produced runs completely contrary to the standards to which they are held. The Government\u2019s late-in-the-day opposition and lukewarm approach to Mercosur exposed its real attitude to it. The regulations that Irish farmers must adhere to ensure our beef and dairy products are the best in the world, and the fact that Bord Bia benefits directly from this and promotes this message around the world, while at the same time the chair, Larry Murrin, imports Brazilian beef through his private company has destroyed the confidence farmers have in Bord Bia. It has done serious damage to the confidence they have in this Government or whatever is left of it. His evasiveness in his answers at the committee last week might have seemed like a masterclass to people who observe this particular bubble but I think that farmers who are used to speaking plainly and listening saw it for what it was. Will the Taoiseach apply the Whip to his Fianna F\u00e1il councillors who are being lobbied at the moment by the IFA and the ICSA, like in Waterford and Kilmacthomas this evening where the IFA calls councillors in to meet them? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I thank all the Deputies for raising the broad spectrum of issues that they have. In response to Deputy 'Chap' Cleere, I have spoken to the Minister for Transport, Darragh O\u2019Brien. Without question, very significant damage has been done to quite a lot of local roads in areas of severe flooding over the past month. I was in Aughrim recently with Deputy Byrne and saw at first hand the damage done to the roads there. In fact, some of the roads came with the flood. The situation is very serious. The officials who were with the Minister said they are awaiting returns from the councils in respect of an assessment and an estimate of the damage that has been done. I will talk to the Minister again to allocate funding to those roads in the context of the weather damage that has been done. They are waiting on the rough estimates from the councils for the cost of restoring the roads that have been without question damaged as a result of the flooding. I will keep in touch with the Deputy on that and with other Deputies who are concerned.  Deputy Moynihan raised the range of issues that face farmers at the moment. He is correct. I welcome the offer of dialogue from the Minister for agriculture to the farm organisations, the IFA, the ICSA and others, in respect of the Bord Bia issue as well as the full gambit of issues that face farming at the moment. I have been in touch with some of the farming organisations. In my view there is a need for dialogue to chart a way forward for Irish agriculture and farming out of the current controversy that focuses on the core issues. The single biggest issue this year is the CAP. Be under no illusions that when the dust settles on the current row, it will be the CAP. There are other issues but the CAP is the one I am most concerned about now. There is protecting the derogation, blue tongue and the various assurance schemes and the imposition and the burden they represent for farmers. I know Deputy Smith has raised this as well. He was involved in the first ever major food plan. Was it Harvest 2020? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brendan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","memberCode":"Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brendan Smith  Food Harvest 2020. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Food Harvest 2020 was the first major strategic document which set the roadmap for the development of the food industry. I think CAP and the budget are key but also the need to get into a dialogue pathway with the organisations. I would encourage the organisations to respond positively to the correspondence that the Minister issued to them today in respect of those issues. In my view, that cannot happen quickly enough. I will come back to that issue.  Deputy Cahill raised the issue of TB. It is a very significant issue. The Government believes its efforts to tackle the ongoing challenge of bovine TB is having a positive effect. The herd incidence has started to reduce in recent months. In June the Government agreed to introduce additional measures to the bovine TB programme following extensive stakeholder agreement. The bovine TB action plan was launched in September underpinned by scientific research and veterinary expertise. The aim of the action plan is to reset the programme in the context of putting in place measures necessary to tackle the current disease situation. Those measures are targeting both transmission between wildlife and cattle, which does happen, and transmission between cattle. There is a heavy emphasis on vaccination in the action plan. The budget has also been substantially increased to \u20ac157 million this year, 2026, to focus on driving down it through the implementation of the measures laid out in the action plan itself. I will talk to the Minister in the context of what Deputy Cahill asked for in terms of whether something can be done about the compensation levels that farmers are getting at the moment and the degree to which a substantial number are out of pocket. Nothing is more devastating than to be told a herd has TB.  I think I dealt with Deputy Smith's issue. Without question, we have a top-class food industry and we have got to protect it. The issue more generally is that the global supply chain is key here. We are not an island on our own. It is complex. If we want to supply markets in Europe, and people are buying our food in Europe, or Middle Eastern or Asian companies or whatever, they too will set terms that will govern the basis on which we sell them food and very often contingency of supply is one of those conditions, so this is not simple and we need to be careful of the message we are sending. So far, we have penetrated markets all over the world - in Asia, America and Europe - because of the quality of our food, including our dairy produce, beef, poultry and fish. We want to maintain that level of high-quality exports.  In response to Deputy O'Meara, I will talk to the Minister about accessibility to new technology. He said the log in method in that authentication process is too difficult and it is causing enormous problems. I will talk to the Minister in respect of this and revert to the Deputy. We will see what we can do on the funding. The funding may be stretched to cover a pothole that would cover Deputy Cleere but we will certainly do our level best to stretch it.  Deputy Byrne raised a key point. We want generational succession to be part of the Common Agricultural Policy. Our concern at the moment is that, as drafted, the seven-year budget is about 20% below what the previous seven-year allocation was.  That is the issue at the moment and we should be focusing on that collectively with the farming community and Government because people will be quite annoyed if we do not try to improve that somewhat. I am concerned about it from my discussions, last week in particular. We have a lot of work to do on it and we also have to work with other member states to try and get a higher budget for CAP. That would include within it proposals on farm succession, which is a big issue. It is about certainty and clarity, which is why the derogation was important. Young farmers want certainty. It also the adoption of new technology. I suspect it is a lifestyle issue in that people want a life as well. Farming is a 24-7 occupation with a lot of responsibilities. There is a lot of bureaucracy, obligations and pressure. Therefore, we need to create that roadmap for young people showing that there is a future and viability above all else for young farmers. That will be key.  Deputy T\u00f3ib\u00edn suggested I would be in line for the Booker Prize. I wish I could ever be as good a writer as to get the Booker Prize. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  You are very good at fiction. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The facts are that exports of food products have increased exponentially. They have done very well in high-quality markets across the world. Incomes have increased over the last two years. One of issues with farming is that it is cyclical. There have been proposals on taxation. Deputies T\u00f3ib\u00edn and Paul Lawless are the doomsday couple. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The language switched dramatically from incredible to terrible, to the world is going to collapse at any moment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  Just listen to farmers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  Listen to your backbenchers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Please, it is not a back-and-forth. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The point I would make is that it is difficult; it is a challenging world. I think Deputy Lawless said farmers feel ignored. Let us consider ACRES, comprising \u20ac1.5 billion, with 60% of that from the Irish Exchequer and 40% from the European Union. Admittedly, some of it is funded by the carbon tax but it provides incomes to 50,000 farmers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  However, they want to make a living from farming; they do not want social welfare. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy asked the question; he should now wait for the answer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The Deputy never mentioned the derogation. We are the only country in European Union that has a derogation from the nitrates directive. We voted against the Mercosur deal but we negotiated for safeguards, just as we will negotiate for an increase in CAP. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  There is not an increase in CAP. CAP is reducing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Calm down. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  The next CAP has a 20% reduction. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I ask the Deputy to stop talking. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Did the Deputy not hear me saying that? We have to negotiate it up. The only way we can do it is by negotiation, just as we negotiated on Mercosur to get safeguards in place. Our MEPs got safeguards in place, better than they were a year ago, because the likelihood was that if one of the bigger states went for Mercosur, the blocking minority would go. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  The Taoiseach's objective----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, stop. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  The safeguards were very important to get done. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  The Taoiseach's objective is to improve the Mercosur----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy asked his question and this is the answer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  No one is smug at all about anything. To be frank with the Deputies, the Members of Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael know an awful lot more about agriculture than the two of them together. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  The Taoiseach is not listening to them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Please, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Lawless","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paul-Lawless.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Lawless  They said it here a few weeks ago. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Please, Deputy Lawless----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I want to reply to Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  If possible. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  -----who is one of the more consistent Members in the House. He is here consistently every Tuesday, to give him his due. He said that he met the two Commissioners and so did I. One of the issues I had was the issue with the CAP and the need to impress on those Commissioners that the CAP is not where we want it to be in terms of income levels for Irish farmers. My sense of that conversation is that we have some distance to go to get the Common Agricultural Policy limits up. The Commissioners were reticent on other issues, including the issue the Deputy referenced. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  The provisional application. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  They did not say that to me. That is probably a matter higher up the scale.  Deputy Heneghan somehow got the adaptation measures in Clontarf into the agriculture debate. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  Flood defences. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Flood defences are a serious issue in its own right. I do not know why the Deputy is not allowed to take photos. Of course, he should be allowed to take photos. I presume he took them anyway. I would say he did, given form. I do not know; I will check it. There should be full transparency. Is the Deputy saying the flood scheme is not being allowed? I do not know, but there should be full transparency in these matters. There are significant issues there with flood relief, and there have been for quite some time.  I agree with Deputy Whitmore. I read that report in the media about the tangled nets in our waters. That is not good enough and cannot happen. It will do irreparable damage from a biodiversity point of view. I will talk to the Ministers. I know the Minister of State, Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan, is concerned about it. I will talk to the Minister of State, Deputy Dooley, as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  Badgers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  We are not there yet, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I am coming to him. The bulk of the plan is on vaccination. The scientific advice is different. The advice is----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  The bulk of it is not vaccination. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy has asked his question. Will he please----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  Most of it is not vaccination. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  It is not a back-and-forth. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  There were more killed than vaccinated last year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  There will be a hell of a lot of vaccination this year. The budget has gone up significantly to \u20ac157 million. There will be vaccination and there will also be the wildlife measures because there is transmission. It is not as simple as the Deputy has articulated.  In response to Deputy McGuinness, farmers are not ignored. I just spoke about ACRES, the derogation and the various funding mechanisms we have taken in to support different farmers at different levels. We have been supportive of farmers, from sheep to tillage to sucklers, right across the board. We are not ignoring anything. I mentioned the nitrates directive and so on. The bigger issue for us is we want to continue to export. Sinn F\u00e9in opposed the Canada trade deal. We are exporting food to Canada. I do not get the logic of opposing a trade deal that helps Irish farmers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":" Deputies","uri":null,"memberCode":null,"role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputies  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  Mercosur, Taoiseach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Sorry----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I am talking about CETA at the moment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  I was talking about----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We opposed Mercosur. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, wait for the answer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  While I cannot verify it, one of the Commissioners told me last week that a few food producers went out on an EU mission to Mercosur countries, showing that some people will see if they can get opportunities there. On CETA, we did well and the embassy in Ottawa in Canada did a fantastic study on the economic benefits of CETA for Ireland and for the Canada-Ireland trade relationship. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  A couple of thousand----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, it is not a back-and-forth. He should listen to the answer, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  It is Brazilian beef. I referenced it several times in my question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Sorry, I am just going to say it once to be clear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  No, but the Deputy says we are ignoring----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  If the Taoiseach does not give the Deputy the answer he wants, that is not my problem. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Why is he talking about Brazil? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  It is because I mentioned it in my question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I already told him that we voted against Mercosur. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  This is not the way this forum, Taoiseach's Questions, is meant----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  We got safeguards in. We are not ignoring farmers. About a month ago, I went to the AGM of the IFA, just before this latest round. There is no sense of ignoring. In fact, it was quite an agreeable, good conversation. I listened, as did the Minister, Deputy Heydon, and the Ministers of State, Deputies Dooley and Healy-Rae. The was no reference to the Bord Bia issue, which may not have surfaced at the time. There was no sense of people being ignored, whatever else the Deputy may say. That kind of language is rubbish. It is just exaggeration. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mary Lou McDonald","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mary Lou McDonald  The Taoiseach is now in the realms of waffle. Seventeen minutes----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Sorry, Deputy McDonald; you did not have a question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  It is just throwing out words that mean nothing. There was never any sense that farmers were being ignored by this Government, nor could there have been. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Cabinet Committees"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-10\/debate\/dbsect_11","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Cabinet Committees","counts":{"speechCount":81,"speakerCount":12},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-10\/debate\/dbsect_9","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","showAs":"Ceisteanna - Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_11","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ryan O'Meara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aisling Dempsey","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aisling-Dempsey.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aisling-Dempsey.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-10\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_11.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  As there are over 14 Deputies, we will take a minute at a time and see where we end up. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I propose to take Questions Nos. 17 to 41, inclusive, together.  The Cabinet committee on children and education oversees the implementation of programme for Government commitments in the area of children and education. It receives detailed reports on identified policy areas such as child poverty and well-being, and education. The membership of the Cabinet committee on children and education comprises the Taoiseach, the T\u00e1naiste, the Minister for Health and others. I will not go through the full list; there are quite a number of Ministers on it.  The programme for Government contains many important commitments intended to improve the lives of all children and especially those children who need our help most. These commitments include setting an ambitious child poverty target; progressively increasing the child-support payment; expanding eligibility for the fuel allowance to families in receipt of the working family payment; and exploring a targeted child benefit payment. The Cabinet committee meets quarterly and met for the third time in December. It will next meet in the first part of 2026.  The Government\u2019s vision for education is to deliver a world-class education system which breaks down barriers and ensures every child can achieve their full potential. That is why we remain committed to building on the work of the DEIS programme, which, since 2006, has been operating to tackle educational disadvantage.  Budget 2026 moved towards permanent targeted payments to support the most vulnerable. A \u20ac320 million social welfare package for children includes the largest increase ever in the child support payment, increased income thresholds for the working family payment and the extension of fuel allowance to those on the working family payment.  Increases in prices and wages have widened the gap between people reliant on social welfare and the average income in society. In recent years, as a result, the Government has invested to protect low-income families with children. Since 2020, the weekly child support payment has increased by 95% for children aged 12 and over and by 61% for children under 12. This exceeds the growth in average wages of 28% and exceeds the rate of increase of many other permanent social welfare payments.  Other new or enhanced allocations in budget 2026 to address child poverty through the provision of services include an additional \u20ac5.14 million for Equal Start, which is a 30% increase on last year; an additional \u20ac16.5 million - a \u20ac48 million full-year cost - to the Department of education to implement a new DEIS strategy and the new DEIS plus scheme; a 22% increase of \u20ac7.3 million for youth justice supports; \u20ac3.2 million of funding to expand and strengthen the national network of family resource centres, with the addition of ten new centres bringing the national total to 136; and an expansion of the income thresholds for the national childcare scheme.  Given the growing demand for many children's services, \"Breaking the Cycle: New Measures in Budget 2026 to Address Child Poverty and Promote Well-being\", our third report on child poverty spending in the annual budget, highlights new and additional spending in that area. Analysis from the ESRI shows that the permanent measures taken in budget 2026 are progressive and prioritise protecting the incomes of the poorest families.  On disabilities and children, we have established a dedicated Cabinet committee on disability. The work of this committee is progressing important initiatives to respond to the needs and well-being of children. There was a record allocation of \u20ac3 billion for special education provision in 2026, including funding for 1,700 additional SNAs and 860 additional teachers for special education. We are also establishing the new education therapy service as an additional support for children with special educational needs. It is intended to commence in special schools, with roll-out over time to special classes and mainstream schools. Recruitment is advancing and it is anticipated that the service will commence in 45 special schools at a later stage in the 2025-26 school year. Significant investments in disability services are also being delivered, particularly in the children's disability network teams, CDNTs. I will leave it at that because I am conscious that a number of Deputies want to get back in. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Actually, we only have eight minutes left. We will begin with Deputy O'Meara. I suggest 30 seconds but it is rather pointless. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ryan O'Meara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ryan O'Meara  Is m\u00f3r an trua \u00e9 nach bhfuil n\u00edos m\u00f3 daoine l\u00edofa as Gaeilge sa t\u00edr seo, go h\u00e1irithe i dTiobraid \u00c1rann. It is well recognised that immersion in the language is the best way to attain fluency. That is why last summer I asked the Minister for education to look at introducing a mandatory Gaeltacht course for all students studying Gaeilge at leaving certificate level. Another important version of immersion in a language is Irish-medium education but that is not possible at second level in Tipperary because we do not have a Gaelchol\u00e1iste. In 2024 and 2025 statistics showed that 23% of parents would send their children to a Gaelchol\u00e1iste if one was available locally. At primary level in Tipperary, 4.6% of students are in a Gaelscoil. This rises to 5.2% in south Tipperary but the national average is 6.8%, so Tipperary is well below that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ryan O'Meara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ryan O'Meara  At second level, it is 0% in all of Tipperary as we do not have a Gaelchol\u00e1iste. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy John Connolly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ryan O'Meara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ryan O'Meara  We are dead last in the national rankings. I ask that we would look at introducing a Gaelchol\u00e1iste in Tipperary. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Connolly  I very much welcome the formal announcing of the national therapy service in education involving the placement of occupational therapists and speech therapists in special schools. I particularly welcome its introduction in two schools in Galway, \u00c1balta Special School and St. Joseph's Special School in Newcastle. I also welcome the announcement of 301 new classes for children with additional needs in the mainstream setting. However, the lists that we get do not define the category of class and I am concerned that we are not opening up enough classes for children with developmental language disorder, DLD. These are classes that children attend for two years and then they return to their own mainstream class or school. We need more of these classes. Early intervention is important in this area. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aisling Dempsey","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aisling-Dempsey.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aisling-Dempsey.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aisling Dempsey  I recognise that progress has been made in the last 12 months in relation to the cost of childcare, with the expansion of the national childcare scheme subsidies, improvements to core funding and a lowering of the maximum cap on fees. This has brought weekly costs for childcare to around \u20ac200 for families who are paying the highest rates. Many of my constituents in Meath West have told me that there has been good progress in the downward trajectory of their childcare bills. About 15% more families availed of subsidies in Meath last year, so the changes are working but we still have a significant way to go to turn \u20ac200 per week into \u20ac200 per month. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Erin McGreehan  Will the committee specifically address the high number of child protection and welfare cases awaiting the allocation of a social worker in the Louth and Meath areas? Tusla's multi-service performance data continuously outlines that these are some of the worst areas of the country in terms of children not being allocated a social worker. I ask the Government to take action to reduce the numbers of unallocated cases, improve timely intervention and support the most vulnerable children in County Louth. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathal Crowe  I want to speak about Gaelscoil Mh\u00edch\u00edl C\u00edos\u00f3g in Ennis, County Clare. It is a fabulous school with 451 pupils. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  I am sorry, which Gaelscoil? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathal Crowe  Gaelscoil Mh\u00edch\u00edl C\u00edos\u00f3g. Michael Cusack primary school. It is a scoil l\u00e1nGhaelach. There were 452 pupils enrolled last September and 480 are projected for next year. This school was designed for eight teachers. It has prefabs. It is a fabulous school with lovely education going on. I was there yesterday and got a tour of the school. Curtains have to be pulled so that one class can be taught alongside learning support. School meals are being prepared in an area where an autism class being taught. It is quite chaotic. The school has planning permission for a new build project and has gone through all of the statutory phases. It kills the school to think that it will not get that new build of seven new mainstream classrooms, autism classes, SET support rooms----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathal Crowe  ----for the next few years. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathal Crowe  I ask that this be put back on the agenda because the current status quo cannot continue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa will be the last participant before the Taoiseach responds. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  We have had the really tragic cases of Kyran Durnin----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  That is really unfair, a Cheann Comhairle. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  That is not fair. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  -----O\u00eds\u00edn Reddin, Daniel Aruebose, Vadym Davydenko----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Do you understand the format, Deputy Coppinger? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  You can extend. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  No. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  We also have the issues raised by the child law project and the terrible case of a serious assault of a ten-year-old girl in Citywest. While we have heard from Tusla that it is reorientating and we know that there are legislative changes on the way, a big issue remains. Mr. Gerry Hone, the national director of services and integration for Tusla, appeared before an Oireachtas committee recently and said that we are missing or we need 300 more social workers and 100 more social care workers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The point is made, thank you. The Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  He told me afterwards that at least 500 foster carers are needed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  Ceann Comhairle, can I raise a point of order? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  This is not fair. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  We do not have sufficient capacity. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  Can I raise a point of order? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  On a point of order----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Just before you raise a point of order, I do not have the remit in this case to extend Taoiseach's Questions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  We get all of the Government backbenchers but not the Opposition  at large, a Cheann Comhairle----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  On a point of order, a Cheann Comhairle----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  How are----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  Can I raise my point of order? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  ----which is the strategy. That is the strategy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  Point of order----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Sorry, Deputy. The Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathal Crowe  You speak about 30 times a week; would you go away out of that. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Take it to D\u00e1il reform, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  I have a point of order, Ceann Comhairle. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  Sorry, but you said you would take my point of order. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, there is no point of order. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  Can all of you stop shouting over me? I was making a point of order. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  There is no point of order, Deputy. The Taoiseach is going to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  This is completely unfair. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peter 'Chap' Cleere","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Peter-'Chap'-Cleere.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere  I want to talk about Tullow, Callan and Borris. I want to talk about all of those schools. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Taoiseach to respond. Deputy, please resume your seat. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  Can you take my point of order? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  No, there is no point of order. The clock is the clock. The Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  You said you would take a point of order. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  It is completely unfair. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, please resume your seat. I understand. I said to take it to D\u00e1il reform. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  You could extend it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  No. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  It has been extended before. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Once. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Well, it is incorrect----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  The Taoiseach went way over in his answers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathal Crowe  Respect the Ceann Comhairle. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  Only the backbenchers have been heard and no Opposition. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, I am not going to get to you one way or the other, unless you want me to extend by 20 minutes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathal Crowe  You have five times more speaking time than we do. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  You cut Taoiseach's Questions and now it is being cut for the second slot. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  You are only running down the clock on everybody, Deputy. The Taoiseach to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathal Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cathal-Crowe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathal Crowe  Show respect for the Ceann Comhairle. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  The Ceann Comhairle should allow me make a point of order and then I will sit down. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Ba mhaith liom----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Deputy, you are being disruptive. Please resume your seat. Please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Ba mhaith liom----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  Why will you not let me make a point of order? It is not right to just ignore what we are saying. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  It is not a point of order. Please resume your seat. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  It is a point of order. You could have just let me make it and then answered it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  Ba mhaith liom a r\u00e1 leis an Teachta O\u2019Meara go bhfuil ionadh orm----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  The Taoiseach can talk for 15 minutes over his time----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Please, Deputy, do not be so disruptive. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Martin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Martin.D.1989-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The Taoiseach  ----- nach bhfuil Gaelchol\u00e1iste dara leibh\u00e9al i dTiobraid \u00c1rann. B\u2019fh\u00e9idir go mbeidh seans againn teagmh\u00e1il a dh\u00e9anamh leis an ETB chun cl\u00e1r de shaghas \u00e9igin a chur i bhfeidhm ionas go mbeidh, diaidh ar ndiaidh, Gaelchol\u00e1iste againn. De ghn\u00e1th, t\u00e1 Gaelchol\u00e1iste i mbeagnach gach aon chontae anois. There are Gaelchol\u00e1ist\u00ed in most areas now. There is at least one in many counties across the country, so I am surprised. Perhaps the ETB might be in a position to work with the Department or with local interests and schools, particularly the Gaelscoileanna, to see if consensus can be arrived at in respect of a Gaelchol\u00e1iste that would be centrally located and could be availed of by those who want to pursue second level through the medium of Irish.  Beidh mise s\u00e1sta tac\u00fa a thabairt le tioscnamh den chine\u00e1l sin.  On Deputy John Connolly's issue, the national therapy service is commencing. We want to roll it out to the remainder of the special schools. That is important. It is a significant development. We made this a red-line issue in the most recent general election. I agree 100% on the developmental language disorders. I brought in the first of those classes back in the late 1990s. They are game-changers in how they can facilitate children to deal with language challenges at an early age in order that they can transition back into mainstream education. It is one of the better outcomes I have seen with children down through the years. I will talk to the Minister of State with responsibility for special education in relation to that.  Deputy Dempsey referred to cost of childcare. We can do more and we have to do more to meet the commitment in the programme for Government. In the forthcoming budget, we will examine that issue to see what more we can do. We hope to have earlier discussions with Deputies on the next budget. We are conscious that the European Presidency is coming our way, so we need to talk about these things a bit earlier than usual.  I will pursue the issue Deputy McGreehan raised in respect of unallocated social workers for children in the Louth-Meath area with Tusla. The Deputy stated that the situation there is out of kilter with the rest of the country in the context of the numbers that remain unallocated. That is a concern. At some stage, we need to look at how people are deployed as well. Numbers generally seem to be increasing and caseloads are increasing. That is across a range of professional service engagement.  Maidir leis an Teachta Crowe agus Gaelscoil Mh\u00edch\u00edl Cios\u00f3g, beidh me ag caint leis an Aire faoi thionscadail t\u00f3g\u00e1la sa Roinn. I will talk to the Minister about school buildings. We have a lot of challenges.  Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa also referred to social workers. We have had a lot of cases. I fully take on board what the Deputy is saying. We need to look at allocating more social workers and at the best way to deploy them. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Cabinet Committees"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-10\/debate\/dbsect_12","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/6","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/6\/dail\/2","houseCode":"dail","stage":"2","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"International Protection Bill 2026: Second Stage (Resumed) (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"International Protection Bill 2026: Second Stage (Resumed)","counts":{"speechCount":23,"speakerCount":20},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_12","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Guirke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Denise Mitchell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question again proposed: \"That the Bill be now read a Second Time.\""},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed  I welcome the opportunity to speak on this legislation. I support the overall objectives and the thrust of the Bill, namely providing a fair, sustainable and more efficient system that is consistent with how these laws are operating and will operate across the European Union. I support efforts to provide clearer and shorter timelines in respect of asylum decisions. The Bill will put in place a new framework to manage migration and asylum for the long term and ensure that Ireland's policy aligns with other EU countries.  While reform in this area is much needed and overdue and while a more efficient decision-making system is a positive goal, there are some aspects of the legislation which require further scrutiny. In particular, I am concerned about the clause that prevents adults who are beneficiaries of protection from seeking family reunification for a period of three years following the granting of such protection. While I recognise that the current system is under significant strain and requires reform, it is essential that we find a balance between improving efficiency and upholding the rights of applicants and, in line with our own history, that we take a humane approach to this issue. It is an incredibly sensitive issue for many people. Many aspects of this Bill are positive, but we have to look at that three-year limit. There must be a balance between bringing our own laws into line with those of our EU counterparts and recognising that some of the most vulnerable people who would be beneficiaries of protection deserve our support. I see one year as a fair limit for spousal reunification, recognising that having a family member here gives a person the ability to integrate and find work and provides a vital social connection when they are here.  Last year, 153 spouses were granted permission to come to Ireland under family reunification arrangements for holders of international protection. To place this in context, more than 123,000 people entered Ireland in the same period, so that is just 0.12% of that total. However, their presence plays a crucial part in helping those who get protection restore a sense of normality and security in their lives when they are here.  The Minister stated that he has an open mind in the context of amending the family reunification provisions on Committee Stage. I will be writing to him in that regard. I look forward to further engaging with him as the Bill progresses. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill. The International Protection Bill 2026 is the legislative vehicle for Ireland's wholesale opt-in to the EU migration and asylum pact, and that is its fundamental flaw. Sinn F\u00e9in has been clear that the major part of this pact is not in Ireland's interests. It undermines Irish sovereignty, hands critical powers relating to migration and asylum to the European Union and directly impedes our ability to make decisions based on our own unique circumstances. We are an island nation. We are not in the Schengen Area, but we are part of a common travel area, CTA, with a state outside the EU. Our challenges, from managing the CTA to our housing crisis and stretched public services, are specific to us. Yet, this Government has signed up to a one-size-fits-all EU system, ignoring the unanimous cross-party recommendation of the Oireachtas committee on justice to reconsider opting out of the major part of the pact. This is a profound failure of political judgment.  Let us be clear about what this Bill does. It ties us into rigid EU timelines and procedures that our system, by the Government's own admission, is not ready to meet yet. We have a protection system already in crisis, with massive backlogs, appeals, delays and unenforced deportation orders. The Government's staffing projections reveal a gaping hole between what is needed and what is in place. Failure to meet these new EU deadlines will not just mean continued dysfunction, it will expose the Irish State to daily infringement fines from Europe. We are signing a blank cheque with taxpayers' money.  This Bill risks outsourcing elements of our independent foreign policy. It should be for the Irish Government to decide, based on our principles of neutrality and human rights, from which conflicts we offer sanctuary. We cannot allow those decisions to be indirectly shaped by the foreign policy priorities of larger EU states. The Bill and this Government are blind to the fact that the civil legal aid system and Tusla are a breaking point. This Bill will place unbearable new demands on them. We have seen the tragic vulnerability of unaccompanied minors disappearing from safe care. To proceed without fixing these foundations in the first instance is irresponsible and dangerous.  Let us address what this Bill distracts from, namely the real Government-made crises in our system. These include the profiteering from State accommodation contracts where a small number of private operators make millions while communities are left without support, the scandalous planning of exemptions that ignore local capacity and the lack of a coherent, funded integration strategy that builds social cohesion from the ground up. That is where the focus of attention should be, but of course it is not.  Sinn F\u00e9in supported two aspects of the EU pact, the asylum and immigration management regulation and Eurodac. We did so because they are practical and help to determine the responsible member state for an application and provide a vital fingerprint database to combat trafficking and manage returns, for want of a more humane term. Our engagement should have ended with picking measures that serve Ireland's needs. Instead, the Government has voluntarily surrendered our flexibility and ignored the safeguard of Protocol 21, which is precisely designed to protect our sovereignty in areas like this. It has tied the hands of future Irish Governments in dealing bilaterally with Britain on CTA matters.  We need an international protection system that is fair, efficient and enforced. It should be one that commands public confidence. This Bill does not deliver that. It legislates for a rushed adoption of an EU framework that does not fit Ireland, overseen by a Government that has not prepared for the consequences. We do not fix a broken system by layering on more unattainable obligations from Brussels.  We fix it by addressing the profiteering, enforcing the rules, investing in integration and making sovereign decisions in the best interests of the Irish people. I urge Deputies to reject this Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  N\u00ed r\u00e9iteach at\u00e1 sa Bhille seo, ach g\u00e9illeadh ar \u00e1r bhflaitheas. Tr\u00ed glacadh go hioml\u00e1n le comhaont\u00fa imirce agus tearmainn an Aontais Eorpaigh, t\u00e1 neamhaird d\u00e9anta ag an Rialtas ar fh\u00edrinne an tsaoil sa St\u00e1t seo, is \u00ed sin n\u00e1 nach bhfuil muid mar chuid den limist\u00e9ar Schengen; t\u00e1 Teorann againn leis an dTuaisceart; agus t\u00e1 comhlimist\u00e9ar taistil againn leis an mBreatain.  T\u00e1 Sinn F\u00e9in soil\u00e9ir gur ch\u00f3ir go nd\u00e9anfa\u00ed na cinnt\u00ed faoin inimirce i mBaile \u00c1tha Cliath, seachas sa Bhruis\u00e9al. N\u00ed f\u00e9idir linn tac\u00fa le creatlach a chuirfidh srianta ar rialtais eile amach anseo agus a dh\u00e9anann neamhaird ar bhuairt a l\u00e9irigh an coiste um dhl\u00ed agus ceart san Oireachtais d\u2019aon ghuth. T\u00e1 spriocdh\u00e1ta\u00ed daingne socraithe ag an Aontas Eorpach agus, gan a dh\u00f3thain foirne n\u00f3 taca\u00edochta\u00ed dl\u00ed againn lena gcur i bhfeidhm, t\u00e1imid ag tarraingt f\u00edne\u00e1lacha gan stad orainn f\u00e9in as na s\u00e1ruithe a bheidh le teacht.  Taca\u00edonn muid le comhoibri\u00fa praitici\u00fail, ar n\u00f3s Eurodac don ghrinnfhiosr\u00fa, ach di\u00falta\u00edonn muid roimh smacht a chaitheamh am\u00fa. Teasta\u00edonn c\u00f3ras \u00f3 \u00c9irinn at\u00e1 cothrom agus \u00e9ifeachtach, c\u00f3ras at\u00e1 m\u00fanlaithe ag muintir na h\u00c9ireann go h\u00e1irithe.  This Bill is not about fixing a broken system. It is not about fixing what is broken in Ireland's international protection system. It is about locking the State into a framework that will shape migration and asylum policy for years to come with serious interventions and implications for sovereignty, capacity, fairness and public confidence. At its core, this legislation gives effect to the Government\u2019s decision to opt into the EU migration and asylum pact. Sinn F\u00e9in has been clear and consistent. The vast majority of that pact is not in Ireland\u2019s interests. Our position is straightforward. Decisions on migration and international protection should be made in Ireland by an Irish Government accountable to the Irish people and shaped by our own circumstances and responsibilities. What is most disappointing - and frankly most telling - is that this Government ignored a unanimous, cross-party recommendation of the Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration. After detailed pre-legislative scrutiny, that committee explicitly recommended that the Government reconsider opting into the majority of the EU migration and asylum pact. It was unanimous, cross-party and clear but the Government brushed it aside. Why bother with scrutiny if Ministers have already decided the outcome? It is also disgraceful that the Minister is not allowing the proper scrutiny of this Bill where the justice committee was also very clear that it wanted to do scrutiny of this Bill on Committee Stage in the committee. The Government is now scheduling this Bill before the D\u00e1il next week. Second Stage of this Bill is to conclude on Thursday afternoon but the amendments for Committee Stage have to put in by Thursday morning. It shows the Government for what it is.  Ireland has a legal right under Protocol 21 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union to opt-in or opt-out of measures in the area of freedom, security and justice on a case-by-case basis. That flexibility was central to securing public consent for the Treaty of Lisbon. People voted on the understanding that Ireland would retain control over sensitive areas like migration, asylum and justice. This Government chose not to use that flexibility. Instead, it signed Ireland up wholesale to a pact that transfers decision-making power away from this State and into EU-level mechanisms even where those mechanisms are ill-suited to Ireland\u2019s position. That is a political choice; it is the wrong choice.  Ireland is not a typical EU member state. We are not part of Schengen. We share a common travel area with a state outside the European Union. We have a land border with a non-EU jurisdiction. Yet officials acknowledged at the committee that there was no meaningful consideration of the common travel area when opting into this pact, despite repeated Government claims that most applicants arrive via that route. That is extraordinary. By tying Ireland fully into the EU system, the Government reduces the flexibility of future Irish Governments to respond pragmatically, including bilaterally with Britain, to changing migration patterns. It ties the hands of the Irish State and it does so unnecessarily.  Even setting sovereignty concerns aside, which we do not, there is a more immediate problem. The State is not ready for this. The justice committee heard directly that failure to meet pact obligations could expose Ireland to infringement proceedings and significant daily fines. Yet officials could not say how much the State may be liable for. For 15,000 applications, staffing projections rise to over 1,500 people. For 18,000 applications, it is nearly 1,800 people. In mid-2025, there were fewer than 1,000 staff across the relevant bodies with vacancy rates already above 10%. We already have excessive delays. Decisions are already taking far too long and appeals even longer still. Now the Government proposes rigid EU-mandated deadlines without the staffing, infrastructure, or legal supports required to ensure fairness. That is how a system collapses. That is how states end up with fines for failures that were entirely predictable.  We do not need the EU pact to fix the issues in the Irish international protection system. There are glaring problems that the Minister has failed to address. He has been in the job now for over a year and despite the headlines, he has very little to show for it. Decisions are taking too long. The median processing time was 15 months in quarter 3 of last year. Appeals are taking longer still. The latest figure we have showed that processing times are over 16 months. That is the longest they have been in four years. We are going backwards not forwards. This means that it is now taking two and half years from beginning to end to process an application. Let me spell it out because it is an important point. We did not need to sign up to the EU pact to sort out the delays in processing applications. We do not need and did not need the pact to fix the delays in the appeals system. We definitely do not need the pact to stop the wild profiteering. Those failures fall at the Minister's feet and the feet of this Government.  The committee also raised serious concerns about the impact of this legislation on Tusla and the civil legal aid system. Both are already stretched and at breaking point. Tusla is responsible for some of the most vulnerable children in the State, including unaccompanied minors. Children have gone missing from care. There are known risks of trafficking and exploitation. Yet this Bill piles new obligations onto Tusla without addressing those failures. The same applies to legal aid. Accelerated procedures mean nothing if people cannot access timely, effective legal advice. Speed without fairness is not efficiency. It is injustice.  Let me be clear. Sinn F\u00e9in did not oppose everything in the EU pact. We supported the asylum and migration management regulation because it allows Ireland to return applicants to the member state where they should be properly processed. We supported Eurodac because we believe that access to fingerprint data assists with vetting, child protection, tackling trafficking and enforcing decisions. Those measures serve Ireland\u2019s interests. What we opposed - and continue to oppose - are measures that undermine Irish sovereignty, impose rigid procedures and fail to account for Ireland's realities. Protocol 21 exists precisely so Ireland can make those distinctions. This Government chose not to.  One of the clearest symptoms of failure in the current system is the way IPAS accommodation has been imposed on communities without planning, assessment or engagement. New centres should only be located in areas properly resourced to accommodate them, not in communities that are already struggling. Site selection needs to be based on a pre-assessment of community capacity, including access to GPs, school places, transport and existing levels of disadvantage. At the same time, we cannot ignore the scale of profiteering that has been allowed to exist under this Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael Government. It is eye watering. An estimated \u20ac1.2 billion of taxpayers' money was spent on IPAS accommodation in 2025 alone. Bed-per-night rates are skyrocketing. They are up 68% in two years. A small number of private operators under this Government are making millions while communities are left in the dark and services are being overwhelmed. The Comptroller and Auditor General has been scathing in relation to this. The profiteering in this sector needs to come to an end and come to an end very quickly.  Ireland needs a migration and international protection system. We need one that is fair, efficient, humane and, crucially, enforced. However, this Bill does not deliver that. Instead, it locks Ireland into a pact that undermines sovereignty, ignores our unique circumstances, overestimates State capacity and risks repeating the very failures that brought the system into crisis.  Sinn F\u00e9in believes Ireland can do better by making decisions in this House, planning properly, supporting integration and enforcing rules fairly. For those reasons, we cannot support the Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  Every state requires a functioning internal protection system. Being fit for purpose requires such systems to fit a number of criteria. It is regrettable that the Minister is not only failing on every front in this regard but his approach in this Bill is, in effect, an abdication of his responsibility. Nothing is more indicative of this than his response to my party colleague Deputy Carthy in the earlier part of this debate two weeks ago. When speaking on the asylum and migration pact, the Minister said: \"[I]t would not be legally possible to seek to opt out even if this was the democratic wish of the Houses of the Oireachtas.\"  There are parts of the pact it makes sense for Ireland to opt in to, such as Eurodac and screening, for example, which are perfectly sensible. However, the vast majority of the pact will not solve the issues we face. If a legal requirement solved Government failures, we would not have the scandalous backlog it is overseeing in terms of assessment of needs. If a legal requirement would address the incompetence of Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael, I would propose there be such a requirement regarding the number of members of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and the Defence Forces. The fact is the Government wantonly breaks the law and engages in what I call \"lawfare\" against families, including, in one scandalous instance, compiling dossiers on those simply seeking to vindicate the rights of their children.  Aside from the measures Sinn F\u00e9in has outlined we would support, the pact offers nothing the Government could not simply choose to do while retaining flexibility. Instead, it is choosing to tie the hands of future governments and expose Ireland to fines when it inevitably fails to meet the pact requirements. The Minister will say, as he said to Deputy Carthy, that there is nothing he can do. In fact, he has chosen to have no choice. All the while, his party leader, the Taoiseach, has a new-found passion for sovereignty while discussing gutting the neutrality protection provided by the triple lock. There is no talk of sovereignty from Fianna F\u00e1il while ceding sovereignty to Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, CETA, investor courts. There is no talk of sovereignty from the benches opposite when the Government uses the European Union as an excuse as to why it refuses to economically sanction Israel for genocide. Yet, we hear talk of sovereignty from the Government today when it is choosing, needlessly and basely, to abdicate that sovereignty to Europe in respect of international protection. The only explanation I can see is that the Minister thinks it will hereafter be a politically convenient excuse to blame Europe for the farce of his own making.  The adoption of the pact by way of this Bill will not in itself address issues in terms of capacity or quality of accommodation, the standard of which has failed for decades to meet the threshold of human dignity. It will not address the delays in decision-making or the lack of enforcement should a person be deemed not to be entitled to international protection. It will not address concerns as to the impact the measures will have on the civil legal aid scheme or on Tusla, which is already stretched to breaking point. It will do none of that. These are all measures the Government could have taken but did not. They are things it could do now without legislating for the pact but it is not doing so.  This Bill is not the solution to the problems faced by our international protection system. It is the Minister throwing in the towel and saying he is not up to the job. It will, however, do one job. It will give Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael a handy scapegoat for ongoing failures. It will do so at the expense of the Irish taxpayer and Irish sovereignty, and that is utterly shameful. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  I speak on this Bill on behalf of my colleague Deputy Kelly. There are a number of points that really need to be emphasised in this debate. One is that the Government is not doing enough to present the case for inward migration. It is a fact that this country is dependent on migration and many sectors of our economy are held together by migrant workers, including the care, hospitality and tourism sectors. I am not just talking about people on work visas or student visa; I refer also to asylum seekers. Contrary to what some people in certain quarters would have us believe, asylum seekers come to this country to seek sanctuary but also to work and contribute. The State makes it quite difficult for them to do so but they make a valid contribution and that contribution needs to be acknowledged more than it is. People who come here seeking asylum want a better life. They are fleeing war, famine and persecution. They come here for safety but they also want to be able to give their family a better life and to contribute to the communities in which we all live.  I have no issue in principle with reforming our immigration framework. In fact, the Labour Party was the first party to put forward, in 2023, a comprehensive policy paper on immigration reform. Leaving aside the issues we have with what the Government is proposing in the Bill, which I will come to presently, I have a huge problem with the performative politics we have seen from the Minister, including tweeting about deportation flights. I have a huge problem with the performative politics from the T\u00e1naiste in making inaccurate statements in relation to housing and immigration. I have a massive problem with the performative politics we have seen from Fianna F\u00e1il, Fine Gael and Independent Members in government. There has been no attempt by the Government to present the positive case for migration and very little attempt to combat the misinformation and, in some cases, the outright lies from people who have sought to cause division within communities in recent years. There are real consequences to their actions. We are seeing migrant care workers having racist abuse roared at them on the street. Last year, in Tallaght, if my memory serves, an Indian who was barely in the country a week was beaten to a pulp and had his clothes ripped off him.  We all want to see a more efficient immigration system in which decisions are made quickly and clearly. The changes the Government is proposing in this Bill are not palatable to the Labour Party from a human rights perspective. I actually would have more confidence in these provisions if they were being proposed in a sincere way to improve the system and if the Government were simultaneously driving home hard the point that immigration is fundamentally a good thing, is a sign of a well-functioning economy and country, that we need immigrants and that they are welcome here. The Government has not done that. Instead, we have a situation where arguments being made that are fundamentally racist are being legitimised. The Government is trying out a performative tough-on-immigration stance and is undermining human rights in the process. We have seen how successive UK governments, whether Tory or now, shamefully, Labour, have gone down this road. It does not work because no matter how far to the right a government goes in this regard, it will never be enough for some people.  My concern is that the Bill goes further than the EU migration pact, with which we had issues in the first instance, because the Government wants to further constrain the rights of migrants. I do not dispute that our immigration system should be rules based. It should be efficient and clear but it also must uphold fundamental human rights. Rather than vindicating those rights, the Bill seems more intent on constraining them. My colleague Deputy Ahern spoke the previous day about the issues with the term \"legal counselling\".  We have not had any clarity from the Minister in the interim on what that term means. It remains undefined and we do not know who will provide it. On the face of it, it seems it will be little more than a one-way information-providing session given to asylum applicants who will then be left to go through the application process by themselves with little or no guidance. The migration pact makes effective legal assistance a requirement. The Government could and should have used the term \"legal advice\" but it has actively and deliberately chosen not to do so. It is very easy to imagine a scenario where the absence of proper legal advice leads to errors in applications and sees genuine asylum seekers fleeing war and persecution fail in their applications or be denied specialist care. Perhaps that is the aim - I do not know - but it represents an absolute failure in the obligations we have towards migrants. I know how important legal advice is for people seeking asylum here, both in trying to navigate the system and in vindicating their rights. I know the Minister also understands, in his professional capacity, how important that is. For that reason, I cannot conclude anything other than that this is an attempt to reduce the number of successful applicants. It is not about ensuring the human rights of migrants are upheld. It is not about creating a faster, more efficient and fairer system. We would welcome a Bill that did that. However, this Bill seems to be more of an effort from us to sidestep our obligations, an attempt at performative politics by a Government that is trying to appear as if it is tough on immigration.  There are a load of other issues I could raise with this Bill. I touched on how it will increase the criminalisation of international protection applicants and the issues in that regard, but I could also raise issues around unaccompanied children, the powers vested in the Minister, safeguarding, the chief inspectorate, the appeals process, detention and vulnerability assessments. There is so much more I could raise.  I know the Minister has indicated that a raft of amendments will be tabled. They have not been tabled yet, however, so it is difficult for us to properly scrutinise these issues. This is very much an incomplete Bill. It is half-baked, notwithstanding that we are only on Second Stage. I hope the Minister's amendments will provide a greater degree of clarity and compassion. Ultimately, I hope the version of the Bill that passes is very different from the one before us. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Sorca Clarke)  We move to a Government slot. I call Deputy Dolan. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Albert Dolan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Albert-Dolan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Albert Dolan  I welcome the opportunity to speak in support of the International Protection Bill 2026. Fianna F\u00e1il welcomes this debate because we believe it is vital and important. We fundamentally believe in the right to claim asylum. That principle is not optional. It is a cornerstone of international law and a test of our values as a country. Equally, we are committed to a fair but firm system, one that respects the dignity of those who genuinely need protection while also safeguarding the integrity of our borders and the credibility of our immigration and asylum system. If public confidence in the fairness and effectiveness of the system is lost, we risk undermining the very protections that exist for those who need them most.  This Bill matters because it is a reset. It is the most comprehensive reform of international protection law in the history of the State. It will replace the International Protection Act 2015. It is vital. At the crux of this, a system that is too slow is unfair to everyone. It does not serve applicants who are granted protection because they can spend years stuck in limbo, unable to properly integrate, plan and build a stable future. It does not serve the State because long delays place huge pressure on accommodation capacity, health services, educational services and community infrastructure. It does not serve local communities because the longer a system drags on, the more it fuels frustration, misinformation and fear, and it creates an environment in which bad actors can exploit legitimate public concerns. This is not good for Ireland and it is not good for genuine refugees either. The Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Deputy O'Callaghan, has been clear that our current system can be more efficient, faster and less costly. That is what this Bill is designed to achieve.  The Bill also ensures Ireland has a sustainable and credible system in line with the EU migration and asylum pact. The pact is designed to upgrade the common European asylum system so that there is a consistent, fair, sustainable and efficient asylum procedure across the EU, not just in ordinary times but also in periods of migratory pressure and crisis. Ireland has opted in to key elements of the pact. That was the right decision because a common system across the EU ensures applicants are treated the same in every member state. That matters. It reduces the incentive for people to move from one EU state to another, reduces secondary movement and ensures responsibility is shared more fairly. Crucially, it ensures Ireland is not isolated in how we manage migration and asylum because this is not a challenge any one country can solve alone.  It is important to highlight what this Bill does. It ensures speed, structure and fairness. This Bill is not about closing the door to asylum; it is about creating a system that works. It introduces major reforms in four key areas. It introduces, first, a streamlined decision-making process; second, a streamlined returns process; third, a new border procedure with strict time limits; and, fourth, new institutional structures, including a new appeals body and an independent inspectorate. This is a rules-based reform. That is the central point. It is about moving from a system that is slow and inconsistent to one that is rules-based, predictable and efficient.  One of the most important reforms in the Bill is the strengthening of screening procedures. Part 2 provides for the taking of biometric data and the screening of applicants, including the designation of screening centres, the screening process, and preliminary health and vulnerability checks. This is not about suspicion; it is about the basics of a functioning system. The State has a right and an obligation to know who is in the country, to verify identity and nationality and to ensure there are checks against relevant databases, where necessary. Screening is envisaged as a one-stop shop, a practical system to carry out checks, register and lodge applications and determine the appropriate procedure. It also includes preliminary health and vulnerability checks. That is vital because a humane system must identify those who need healthcare, those who are vulnerable, those who may be children and those who need special supports. This is not only good administration; it is a human rights issues as well.  The Bill also provides for applicants to receive an international protection applicant card. That is a sensible and necessary reform. It allows applicants to identify themselves to national authorities and to access their rights for the duration of the procedure. It brings order, clarity and structure, and it reduces the confusion that can arise in communities and services when people have no consistent documentation.  Another key reform in this Bill is the restructuring of decision-making at first instance and on appeal. Under the Bill, officers of the Minister will directly make decisions on international protection applications. However, most significantly, a negative decision will be issued as one decision, including a decision that an applicant does not qualify for refugee status, a decision that the applicant is not eligible for subsidiary protection and a return decision under Part 9. For the first time in Irish legislation, a return decision will be issued together with the decision rejecting an international protection application. This is a major change. It is essential because one of the greatest weaknesses in our current system is that refusal does not automatically translate into an effective and timely return process, and that creates a gap between law and reality. When there is a gap between law and reality the public loses confidence and the system becomes vulnerable to abuse. This Bill closes that gap.  This Bill introduces a new asylum border procedure. This is one of the most discussed and necessary reforms. The asylum border procedure sets a 12-week time limit for first-instance and appeal decisions in appropriate cases. It applies to applicants from countries with an EU recognition rate of 20% or less, applicants who intentionally mislead authorities, applicants who destroy documents to prevent identity verification or applicants deemed a national security risk.  The aim is clear: to issue decisions to the quickest possible time to those less likely to have an entitlement to international protection. That is not unfair; that is common sense. It is aligned with how many EU member states already operate - ending the endless delays. Similarly, the Bill provides for an accelerated examination procedure, with a three-month time limit. This is essential to end the long backlogs that have built up over time. I want to emphasise that speed is not the enemy of fairness. In fact, in many cases, speed is a requirement of fairness because long delays damage applicants, damage communities and damage the credibility of the State.  The Bill also establishes a new second instance body, the tribunal for asylum and returns appeals, TARA. This body will replace the existing IPAT for new applications from June 2026 onwards. The Bill also provides for fewer oral hearings in appeals, unless an oral hearing is necessary for a full and fair examination. This is another important reform because oral hearings are resource intensive. They are time-consuming and can contribute to delay but the Bill ensures that fair procedures are maintained. Appeals will still be available, and the appeals officer will still have the power to decide that an oral hearing is necessary. Again, the balance is correct - efficiency without undermining due process.  A major strength of this Bill is that it does not simply create faster procedures, it also creates stronger oversight. Part 12 establishes a new, independent monitoring mechanism, through the Office of Chief Inspector of Asylum Border Procedures. This office will monitor compliance with EU and international law, including the EU charter of fundamental rights, during screening and during the border procedure. It will investigate allegations of breaches. That is crucial. If we are going to have faster procedures, we must also have strong, independent safeguards. That is what separates a rules-based, fair system from one that can drift into injustice.  I also welcome the provisions relating to age assessments and the involvement of Tusla. The Bill provides for multidisciplinary age assessments where there is doubt as to whether an applicant is a minor. This is a difficult area but it must be dealt with in a structured and lawful way because the stakes are enormous. Children must be protected, and the system must be protected from misuse. The Bill's approach, developed trough engagement between the Department of children and Tusla, is the correct approach. Part 13 provides for the appointment of representatives for unaccompanied minors, with further amendments planned on Committee Stage to clarify which arm of the State will be responsible. I believe this is essential. Vulnerable children cannot be expected to navigate these procedures alone.  The Bill also strengthens voluntary return. That matters because voluntary return is often the most practical, cost-effective and humane way to implement return decisions. It provides an incentive. If a person opts for voluntary return and complies fully, the return decision and entry ban can be revoked. That is sensible. It helps achieve the objective of returns without creating unnecessary enforcement costs or confrontation. Restoring credibility and integrity has to be at the core of this Bill. We have to speak honestly about returns. A system without returns is not a functioning asylum system. If a person has exhausted his or her claim and does not quality for protection, the State must be able to implement the decision. Otherwise, the entire system becomes meaningless. The Bill mandates that return decisions be issued alongside negative decisions. It also includes a carve-out to ensure that returns cannot happen where they would be unlawful, including where refoulement risks arise. That is an important safeguard. This is not about breaching international obligations; it is about enforcing them properly.  I also welcome the fact that the Minister intends to bring forward on Committee Stage amendments on key areas, including legal counselling, legal advice and legal aid, reception conditions, including accommodation allocation, restrictions of movement, detention and labour market access, representatives for unaccompanied minors, security appeals, data sharing and consultation with the Data Protection Commissioner. This is how legislation should be done. It is not a closed process; it is a serious reform, improved through scrutiny and debate.  I want to say this clearly. This Bill does not undermine Ireland's commitment to asylum; it strengthens it. The only way we protect the right to asylum is by ensuring the system is fair, efficient, credible and sustainable. A slow system has no compassion for anybody. A chaotic system is not humane. A system without returns is not a system at all. This Bill is a reset. It streamlines decisions, strengthens screening, creates faster timelines, reforms appeals, improves returns and introduces independent oversight. It protects applicants, communities and the integrity of the State. For those reasons, I support the International Protection Bill 2026 and wish the Minister all the best with the amendments. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  Over the past number of years, Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael have failed to effectively manage the international protection system. We have seen decisions and appeals taking too long, profiteering from IPAS accommodation providers and a wider loss of confidence from the public that the Government can manage the system. Through this International Protection Bill today, we see that the Government's new strategy on migration is to hand powers over to the EU in the hope that it can avoid blame for its own failures. For an international protection system to work, the public must have confidence that the rules of the system are followed and enforced. This includes all stages in how applications are processed, in granting leave to remain where the case for asylum has been proven, and in enforcing deportations where that is the outcome of the process.  Sinn F\u00e9in has been clear that migration must be managed in the best interests of the people of Ireland, taking into account our needs in terms of workers for key sectors such as health, capacity of public services and a humanitarian response to those fleeing war and persecution. The Government's decision to sign up to all aspects of the EU asylum and migration pact is not the way to fix the international protection system, nor is it in Ireland's best interest. This sentiment was also reflected in the report from the justice committee's pre-legislative scrutiny of the International Protection Bill. This report recommended that the Government reconsider opting out of the majority of the EU migration and asylum pact. Officials from the Minister's Department acknowledged that they were unsure how much the State will be liable to pay in infringement proceedings for our inability to meet the requirements of the pact. Even the Minister has indicated that a number of amendments will need to be brought forward by him on Committee Stage on many critical aspects of this Bill.  It is the case that the Government has decided to plough on with a deeply flawed Bill that will need wholesale changes. This approach is reflective of the wider mismanagement of the international protection system. For example, last year we saw the Comptroller and Auditor General's review into IPAS providers set out the staggering profiteering and cost over-runs that are taking place within the IPAS system. The report outlined evidence of private operators overcharging for the provision of accommodation, including companies charging for beds that were not provided and charging VAT in circumstances where accommodation is exempt from VAT. The focus of the Government should be on ending this abuse of taxpayers' money and getting our own house in order rather than binding ourselves to EU regulations in this area that will make us liable to EU infringement proceedings.  There are clear flaws within the International Protection Bill. Many Members across this Chamber have outlined these flaws, yet the Minister continues to push this Bill through. The Government had the option to only enter the aspects of the EU migration pact which made sense for Ireland. However, it has instead decided to sign up to the full pact, against the recommendations of the justice committee. Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael have failed for many years to bring order to our international protection system. I fear that this will continue to be the case for the years ahead. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aidan Farrelly  I am thankful for the opportunity to speak on the Bill before us today. As I start, I acknowledge that we all speak on important issues like this from a place of bias. Personal experience, our values and our world views all incorporate much of what we say on these issues. I spent a great deal of time as a youth worker working in direct provision settings with children and young people. While I speak about this issue, I am speaking about it with those children and young people in mind, people whom I came to know and care so much about.  The first question I will put to the Minister is: why does the principle of the best interest of the child not underpin this Bill? In fact, all the provisions for the best interests of the child in the EU pact have not been transposed into this Bill. Why not? I am happy to give way if the Minister would like to answer that now. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Sorca Clarke)  The Minister will have his opportunity to respond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aidan Farrelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Aidan-Farrelly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aidan Farrelly  The Bill has not put any children's rights safeguarding measures in place whatsoever. It does not speak about children first or rights. It speaks of detention in the same breath as talking about the best interests of the child. The Bill legislates for the detention of children.  Section 24 specifically relates to the detention of children in the screening procedure. Section 24(10) states that if a parent of a child is not co-operating, the parent will be detained and Tusla will be notified. For what purpose will Tusla be notified? This is not clearly established in the Bill and, from a child protection perspective, merits immediate attention and amendment. Section 24(12) allows for the detention of an unaccompanied minor \"in exceptional circumstances and as a measure of last resort\". What are these exceptional circumstances? Who decides whether the threshold has reached last resort territory? There is no clarity here and, despite the risk of imposing lifelong harm on children by detaining them, the Bill leaves a breadth of scope that is concerning. Where will children be detained? The Bill might tell us where children will not be detained - in locations such as prisons, detention schools or Garda stations - but it does not tell us where they will be detained. Why not? The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child has said that detaining a child is never in their best interests. This Bill allows so much scope for this to occur without knowing who the decision maker is, the destination for such detention, the level of care provided and by whom, and for how long. Who else would be subjected to this?  Legal counselling is not defined in this Bill. This is one of the many concerns held by the Children's Rights Alliance. What legal advice and representation will be provided to children and young people seeking international protection? The EU pact sets out the minimum standards for states to have in place but stops short of precluding states from going beyond that, including legal aid. The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission has said this Bill goes further than what is required in the pact in restricting the rights of applicants but not as far as the pact allows in protecting their rights.  I began by highlighting that our words, values, emotions and bias all influence what we say here today. It is all back to our moral compass and mine reminds me very steadfastly that legislating for the detention of children and young people who have done nothing wrong is just downright wrong. To do so in this Bill with so much ambiguity is reprehensible. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Liam Quaide","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Liam-Quaide.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Liam Quaide  The International Protection Bill in its current form represents a profound shift in how the State treats people seeking refuge and asylum in this country. It does so in a way that weakens safeguards, compresses procedures and expands coercive powers without building the healthcare and protection capacity that even the existing system lacks. Human rights' organisations have warned that the Bill risks prioritising speed over fairness, deterrents over protection and administrative convenience over medical and psychological concerns of real significance. What is presented as reform is in fact a model that accelerates decision-making while stripping out the very protections that could make those decisions safe, lawful and humane. This is not about marginal technical defects. It is about whether Ireland is preparing to legislate for a faster system without first ensuring that people who have fled war, torture, trafficking or other forms of persecution can access basic healthcare, trauma-informed assessment and continuity of treatment. On that test, this Bill falls badly short.  The Bill significantly expands mandatory medical, vulnerability and fitness assessments but does so in a system that already cannot meet existing need. During pre-legislative scrutiny, the joint committee on justice unanimously adopted a series of recommendations on healthcare provision for international protection applicants. Not one of those recommendations appears in this Bill. They were not debated and rejected; they were simply left out. Safetynet Primary Care, a medical charity providing care to marginalised communities, was the only front-line healthcare provider to give evidence to the committee. In 2024 alone, Safetynet screened more than 1,300 international protection applicants and delivered almost 4,000 GP consultations, so its evidence is grounded in daily clinical reality, not theory.  On healthcare after deportation orders, once a deportation order issues, people immediately lose access to their medical card and their right to work. The period before removal can last months or even years and, during that time, people lose access to essential medication, such as insulin, psychiatric medication, epilepsy medication and HIV treatment. Safetynet gave a concrete example of a man diagnosed with schizophrenia who lost access to medication. His psychological state deteriorated severely and he spent four months in inpatient mental health care at a cost of over \u20ac100,000. Four months of medication would have cost around \u20ac400. Abrupt discontinuation of psychiatric medication is dangerous and can be profoundly destabilising for the person affected, yet this Bill does nothing to prevent scenarios like this.  Short-notice transfers routinely interrupt chemotherapy, maternity care, disability supports and specialist treatment. People are moved with little or no notice and there is no certainty that care will continue at the destination. Along with many other omissions, ambiguities and cruelties, the Bill contains no protections for healthcare continuity during transfers - none. The Bill shortens key decision-making timelines to three and six months but provides no additional capacity for the specialist medico-legal reports required for survivors of torture under the Istanbul Protocol. At present, people are already waiting many months and, in some cases, more than a year for these assessments. Under the new accelerated system, it will be virtually impossible for survivors to secure a compliant report before their first-instance decision is made. That creates a real risk of people being wrongly refused protection.  On detention, the Bill expands detention powers but includes no enforceable healthcare standards. There is no guarantee of access to mental health professionals, no requirement for trauma-informed care, no assurance of medication continuity and no medical exemption from detention. Ireland still has no national preventive mechanism under the optional protocol to the convention against torture. Detention without healthcare standards is not just bad policy and immoral. There are clear legal pitfalls to this.  On vulnerability assessments, the Bill relies heavily on preliminary checks at screening but does not require ongoing or repeat assessments. We know that vulnerability is not static. Trauma, pregnancy, disability and mental health needs often emerge later. Psychological states can change over time. Expert bodies have warned repeatedly that preliminary checks cannot replace proper continuing assessments but the Bill ignores that reality.  On fitness to interview, trauma survivors can be prone to dissociation, can avoid disclosure because of fear or shame and can present inconsistently due to their psychological state, yet the Bill does not require that fitness-to-interview decisions be made by clinicians with specialist trauma expertise. That means people can be pushed through interviews they are not psychologically able to participate in, thereby undermining the reliability of the entire process.  The Bill creates duties the State is not resourced to meet. It accelerates timelines while hollowing out care. That does not save money; it creates crises, litigation and long-term harm. This is not about adding luxury services to our international protection system. It is about ensuring basic medical and psychological care in a system that already costs over \u20ac1 billion a year and still fails people egregiously. If the Government is serious about reform, it should start by reinstating the healthcare provisions the justice committee unanimously agreed on. Leaving them out is not efficiency. It is negligence. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  In the late 19th century, a young man left his native east Clare and climbed aboard a ship bound for the United States. When he arrived, he was unvetted and of military age but met no restrictions to his entry. He went on to become a butcher at Macy's in New York city and was naturalised as a citizen in Manhattan in 1899 at the age of 34. A copy of that certificate hangs in my office. That man was my great-grandfather. He returned in the early 1900s and bought and built the farm in Limerick where my father was born and grew up. In this context, I cannot stand here in good conscience and tell the Minister that the restrictive turn he and the Government have taken on immigration is to the benefit of the State, the people who live here or the people who want to come here.  This Bill has many shortcomings, many of which we do not even know about. Many of the core tenets and policies of this Bill have not yet been published, which is an extraordinary situation for a Minister for justice to introduce. Such a practice reduces legislative scrutiny and proper accountability by the Oireachtas and is highly concerning. Core policy choices that have been deliberately left out of the Bill as published include family reunification, reception conditions, key detention safeguards and age assessment standards. All were raised in the pre-legislative scrutiny phase and many were in the general scheme. They are now being parked for later amendment. The term \"legal counselling\" is mentioned in the Bill and is never defined. There is no clarity about who will provide it, what qualifications will be required or what standards will apply. Importantly, if this legal counselling is incorrect, it will be far more difficult to reach the correct decision later.  Second Stage of the legislative process in this House is about the principles of the legislation. Committee Stage is not designed to introduce entirely new substantive measures that affect liberty, family life and core access to justice. That means the entire legislative process is being sidelined today in an effort to force backbench Government TDs to approve the principles of a system that affect fundamental rights and liberties and issues of natural justice without seeing the protections that make it lawful. I do not see how any qualified barrister or solicitor in this House could possibly countenance such a vote, without also saying that legal principles, jurisprudence and their constitutional obligations do not matter. That this House, the primary legislative body in the country, which is full of lawyers, would pass a Bill it does not know the principles of, knowing it is likely stripping people coming to this country of their constitutional and natural rights - you could not make it up.  This House is being given days to inspect a Bill with few basic definitions, which the Department has had years to create. A Bill that affects fundamental rights without adequate consideration is a level of Executive overreach I thought I would not see in this House and I am gravely concerned by it.  Let me clear, if you are an immigrant or not, you will find me and my party in your corner. If you are languishing in emergency accommodation, your childhood bedroom, an extortionate and precarious rental situation or on a hospital trolley or if you are in need of disability care or have been plunged into poverty by this Government and every one preceding it, whether you are an immigrant, your parent is or you have lost count of how many generations were born in this land, you will find an ally in me and my party. Human rights are for all of us. They are a commitment to our shared humanity. They recognise we all get hungry, we all need a warm bed, we all seek to breathe free in a country where we can be our best selves and part of a society that supports and celebrates us. Human rights are sacrosanct.  Finally, I raise the case of the family of Ms Oyekanmi who travelled to Ireland from South Africa three years ago with her three children in a well founded belief that she would meet the test for asylum but has now been served with a deportation order. Judging by the numerous emails I have received from our constituents - their neighbours in Dublin Bay South - this family has had a positive impact and their departure will be a significant loss to their community. If indeed the Government believes the asylum process has been operating too slowly, it is only right to acknowledge it by giving that family permission to remain. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  The starting point has to be numbers because the political debate has become completely detached from reality. Last year, Ireland granted family reunification to just 669 relatives of people with international protection status. That is the full scale of what we are talking about. These are not people who arrived yesterday or who have bypassed the system. These are people who have already met one of the highest legal bars in the State. They have been formally recognised as refugees after a rigorous process that often takes years. Yet, instead of supporting integration at that point, the Minister is signalling a policy that would deliberately delay family reunification for up to three years, potentially with a layer of additional financial requirements on top.  That delay is not neutral. It is not administrative. It is a choice to prolong family separations long after the State has accepted a person cannot safely return home. It is also important to say clearly that this policy does not address any of the real pressures in the system. Preventing a few hundred people from reuniting with close family members does nothing to solve accommodation shortages, reduce processing blockages or improve reception conditions. What it does is target a marginal group of people, precisely because it is small and its members dispersed and it is politically convenient to do so. That is why this feels like performative cruelty rather than a serious migration policy.  Family reunification is one of the strongest predictors of successful integration. People who are reunited with their families are more likely to work, settle and participate in their communities and more likely to rebuild their lives after trauma. Prolonged family separation has the opposite effect. It deepens isolation, worsens mental health, delays language acquisition and employment and keeps people in a state of permanent uncertainty. Being separated from one's family has to be utterly hard. From a human perspective, being separated from those you love because the computer says \"No\" must be absolutely devastating to every element. I am speaking as a mother. Being separated from children because I am in a different country seeking safety, whatever cruelty I would have experienced to get here, is ongoing cruelty after I have arrived. It is also worth stating clearly that many families seeking reunification are children or young people and when siblings or parents are prevented from joining family members here, it is the child who bears the emotional cost.  None of this is required by the EU asylum and migration pact. The pact sets minimum standards. It does not oblige Ireland to impose waiting periods, financial thresholds or additional barriers on recognised refugees. This is not about compliance. It is about political signalling and the signal being sent is that, even after the State accepts people as refugees, even after they have proven their case, their right to family life remains conditional and fragile. That approach undermines integration. It undermines trust in the system and undermines Ireland's long-standing commitment to human rights. The Minister should be honest this. If the numbers are small and the impact on the system is negligible, the only remaining explanation is that this policy exists to look tough, rather than to work well. In that case, the right thing to do would be simply to drop it.  There is an additional serious consequence, which has received far too little attention, for unaccompanied minors. A three year waiting period effectively operates as a denial of family reunification altogether. Children who arrive in Ireland at 15 or 16 years of age and are recognised as refugees will then be told they must wait for three years before applying to be reunited with their families and will likely age out of the system before the waiting period expires. Once that happens, they will lose access to child specific protections that apply to unaccompanied minors. What was a right attached to childhood becomes a discretionary adult immigration process. In practical terms, it means a child could do everything right by engaging with the system and complying with every requirement and still be permanently prevented from being reunited with parents or siblings because of an arbitrary waiting period. That is not an unintended side effect. It is a foreseeable outcome of the proposed policy. A policy that operates in this way will not only delay family life for children; it will deny it altogether. If we are serious about protecting children, we cannot design a system where the clock will be used to quietly strip them of their rights. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-MacLochlainn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Mac Lochlainn  The Minister will know the views of Sinn F\u00e9in about this legislation, as articulated by our spokesperson, Deputy Carthy. We are particularly concerned that Tusla and the various Departments under the Government's direction do not have the resources to meet the requirements laid out. That is the fundamental concern. However, I will talk practically about my experience in Donegal in recent years and the mistakes made by those who came before the Minister.  There was always a challenge with asylum seekers and the direct provision system, with people languishing for years. I previously chaired the petitions committee and we were asked by the children's ombudsman and the Ombudsman to look at the need for their oversight of the direct provision system. We visited direct provision centres across the State. We met asylum seekers. The length of time they were waiting for a decision and languishing in these centres was unacceptable.  I am glad to say that the Ombudsman for Children had oversight after that, as did the Ombudsman. I am sorry that the Ombudsman for Children does not have oversight, as I understand it, of the temporary emergency centres dotted across the State, including in my county.  I will talk directly about our experience. What we have seen is that there is the challenge of supporting Ukrainian refugees, which people all across County Donegal did. What then emerged was the challenge of a large upsurge in asylum seekers coming to Ireland. It appears that the approach of the previous Government to that was that wherever there was a hotel that was not doing too well commercially or wherever there were opportunistic developers who could locate empty buildings or who maybe had buildings of their own, it was in these places that asylum seekers were located. There was no thought about where the most fitting communities, best health facilities, best primary care and best education facilities were. None of that was taken into consideration. It was utterly unfair to the asylum seekers involved and to the communities that were expected to host them. Indeed, public representatives were learning about it after the fact. The bus would come in, the asylum seekers would be located and then we would be informed that a contract had been signed. It was absolutely appalling, and it happened again and again.  In Donegal, we are dealing with our own humanitarian crisis relating to defective concrete blocks, which has affected thousands of private and public houses, commercial buildings, public buildings, schools and cr\u00e8ches. All of these places are falling apart and we have reached the point where we cannot provide housing for the families in the country who have to be relocated. No consideration whatsoever was given to that. Wherever a hotel or a building was available, that was where asylum seekers were located. That was completely unfair and unjust. They would be stuck in the middle of nowhere sometimes, with no resources, no supports, nothing whatsoever. That had been the Government's strategy for the past number of years. When people reacted angrily to that in communities, it was totally unfair to say that they are racist and unreasonable. That was not what was happening. We were watching people becoming millionaires. In some instances, these were individuals whose businesses had failed and who were bankrupt. They suddenly became millionaires overnight. People can see it. That is the injustice and context. I want the Minister to hear that from Donegal. The previous Government got it badly wrong. Do not repeat the mistakes it made. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  This Bill has been introduced n line with the trend that we are seeing internationally where there has been an attack on the rights of migrants, immigrants of all kinds and, in particular, asylum seekers and refugees. Last year, 4,700 deportation orders were issued by this State, which was an increase of 96% on the previous year. The number almost doubled. TDs from many different parties in here jumping up and down about deportations last year. Fifty of those deportation orders were for people from Palestine and Sudan, which we all know are areas where massive genocides are taking place.  Since entering office, the Minister has employed this tough man image whereby he will virtue signal to people on the far right or people who have racist views that he is getting tough on immigration, including with his chartered flights and now with this Bill. That is part of a wider fear-mongering campaign that is being undertaken by the Government and that has a significant effect on the consciousness of people. The ESRI has found that people overestimate the foreign-born population and severely overestimate the number of asylum seekers here. They also underestimate the number of immigrants coming here for work by a shocking 30%. This means that when people see someone of colour or from a migrant background, they assume they are not legal or are either an asylum seeker or refugee. That is borne out by research the ESRI has done.  This is the State's attempt to blame a small minority of refugees for things like the housing crisis. Recently, the T\u00e1naiste, Deputy Simon Harris, stated it much more vocally and publicly than would have been the case heretofore when he made a comment to the effect that a significant number of people in emergency accommodation have no right to housing in this country. I would not call it a dog whistle, because it was fairly blatant. Asylum seekers generally are abhorrently treated. Four hundred refugees were told in December that there was no accommodation for them, and they were basically forced to live on the streets in a climate where racism and hostility are rife and in circumstances where the far right in this country is growing.  Immigrants in general, people who have migrated into this country who are working here, are also badly treated in the sense that they show up disproportionately in the homeless figures or are at risk of poverty compared with Irish people. I see that in my constituency, where many of those being evicted are migrants, people who have been working and living here for a long time but who do not have the same support systems and are stuck in the private rented sector. This Bill is meant to clamp down on asylum seeking. It has been introduced when the number of asylum seekers decreased hugely from 2024 to 2025. There were only 669 successful requests for family reunification in 2025. That is less than 1% of all immigration.  The key things to highlight in this Bill that are really dangerous, at a time when the case of an Irish person being held in an ICE detention centre has been highlighted, which is obviously horrific, is that our Government is moving in a similar direction. We have not set up ICE detention centres and we have not got ICE on the street, but there are some trends emerging. For example, under this Bill, people making applications for asylum will need to show up to so-called screening centres where their applications will be screened. They will fill out the forms there and so on. Failure to do so under this Bill will allow garda\u00ed to arrest and detain them. Refugees could be imprisoned and detained for not showing up. They might not know that they were supposed to show up. There could be all sorts of reasons for them not showing up. This is similar to what is happening in the US. They can also be detained if there is a fear that they will abscond after a decision against them staying in the country being made, and they can be detained without a warrant too.  Sections of this Bill allow garda\u00ed to search a person without a warrant and to detain them. This power also applies to children, which is the most horrific part of it, where the garda\u00ed believe they need to determine their identity. As a result, we could see children being detained. We have also seen children who may have been born in Ireland being deported. Third parties will not be allowed to interfere in the duties of the officers undertaking these acts. If, therefore, people are taken away - and as we have seen in the US - nobody can inquire about them or go to assist them.  The Bill limits the power of applicants to appeal decisions. There is a limit of a week to put in an appeal and there are no more guaranteed oral hearings. It will be up to the tribunal. It has been noted that age assessment under the Bill is not defined or explicitly laid out. This leads to much ambiguity about how assessments should be undertaken.  The Minister is being given a wide range of powers. In the International Protection Act 2015, the chief international protection officer is independent in the performance of his or her functions. In the Bill, the equivalent of the international protection officer is simply the determining authority, which is defined as the Minister. The Minister can decide if an NGO can give information to an applicant, can direct the appeals body to prioritise an appeal and can remove the chief inspector if this is deemed to be in the interests of the Government or national security. The Bill will also include provisions to prevent those given refugee status from applying for family reunification for three years.  This Bill has been heavily criticised by multiple NGOs. They have noted that it gives huge powers to garda\u00ed to detain people, including the ability to arrest those who have been given deportation orders by the State, without a warrant.  This Bill is meant, in no uncertain terms, to give the Garda and the State extra powers around immigration similar to those being used in the US. It treats all people, including children, exercising their right to seek asylum with suspicion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  This Bill involves an erosion of migrants' rights and a shift towards deterrence. It is rushed legislation that is deeply flawed. We are being told by the Government that there is going to be a raft of amendments. As a result, we cannot scrutinise the Bill properly. The Bill leans towards the far right and racist lobby that is opposed to all migration, be it legal or illegal or whether it relates to IPAS centres, students with education visas or workers with employment permits. Those in question are on record on this issue.  Key equality safeguards are either unclear or are absent from the Bill. It does not define what is meant by legal counselling or clarify who will provide that counselling. Neither is it clear if international protection applicants are going to be entitled to legal advice and representation at all stages of the process. For instance, can legal counselling be provided by non-legal professionals? Surely not. The suggestion about group counselling is neither practical nor legal. The key question is whether there will be legal advice for individuals. Who will conduct the assessments and what qualifications will they have? What does the phrase \"suitable medical means of assessing age\" mean and how effective and independent will the independent monitoring mechanism be? It appears that the Government may remove the chief inspector \"in the best interests of the State \". That is very broad and, I would suggest, open to abuse.  I refer in particular to the question of family reunification. We all need our families around us. Everyone who comes to live and work in Ireland deserves to have their family with them. However, thousands of people are being forced to live apart from their families for years on end. The new Government policy in this regard makes the situation even worse. People who come to Ireland to work are doing essential jobs such as: looking after older people; picking, packing and cooking food; working in hospitality services; driving buses; building houses; working as nurses and doctors; and staffing our hospitals. They have been recruited to work here because we cannot fill those positions ourselves. These people are being denied their basic right to have their family with them because they do not earn enough money or because of the types of jobs they have. Relationships are being torn apart, families are missing milestones, people are missing out on being parents and children are missing out on having their parents for support and guidance.  Research shows that long-term delays in family reunion impact negatively on a series of issues like wages, education and language acquisition and can lead to long-term household poverty. The OECD's International Migration Outlook 2019 had a focus on the impact of family reunion on integration. It reported that spouses who arrive with some delay earn significantly lower wages after ten or more years in the host country. This report also outlines the negative effect of the absence of a spouse or partner on health and well-being. The integration of migrant children also depends on how quickly they can join their family. Outcomes are strongly affected by long delays. The same OECD report highlights that children of preschool age have better outcomes as adults than children who arrive at school age. It is, therefore, imperative that we move away from short-term thinking and ensure that family reunification takes place. Family reunification should be available immediately, particularly in cases where the individual is resident in Ireland on full-time basis, is in employment and is paying their taxes. This is a very important issue that goes to the core of the whole situation where we have significant numbers of non-Irish workers working in our services. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Donald Trump is scapegoating people such as asylum seekers and migrants to deflect anger away from the failure of people like him and the billionaires he represents to address the cost-of-living crisis. He is scapegoating vulnerable immigrants, people seeking asylum or those who are undocumented, including Irish people, in the most horrendous way. We have seen the consequences of that now with Seamus Culleton being treated in what he described as a modern-day concentration camp. That is what Trump is about. This Government is leaning into that stuff. What it is doing is not as absolutely blatant and obscene as what he is doing, but it is leaning into it and the human consequences are appalling, just as they are for Seamus Culleton. The latter is working in the United States. He was not documented, so he probably did not have everything that was necessary for him to be deemed fully legal. However, he is contributing and wants to continue to contribute to American society. We are all rightly appalled that he should be treated in this way because we understand that he is going to contribute in the same way that as millions of other Irish people who have to the countries all over the world to which they have migrated.  People then say that too many of these people are coming to Ireland. The hypocrisy and double standards are appalling, and the human consequences are terrible. I raised the case of Bilal Butt here earlier this year. Bilal has been living and working here. He has two children who were born here and who have lived here all their lives. He was locked up for 50 days pending deportation. This is a man who is contributing to our society. There is no value for him or his children in deporting him. I warned at the time his case arose that his health was in danger. I have written to the Minister, who sitting there looking at his phone, three times about Bilal. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  I am taking a note of what the Deputy is saying. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  I have still not received a response to the communications I sent to him about Bilal. His family were worried that he was going to have a heart attack. He did have a heart attack and was in ICU. Thankfully, he is out of prison.  This is a man who is working. His employer wants him to continue to work. He is contributing. There is nothing good about deporting him or deporting another family I have also been asked to mention. Deputy Bacik mentioned them earlier. This is the family of Titilayo Oluwakemi Oyekanmi and her three sons Samuel, Joseph and Genesis. She was training as a healthcare worker, had a QQI level 5 in healthcare and hoped to work as a care assistant. One of her sons was just about to do his leaving certificate. They have been packed up to be deported and thrown out of the country. This is just brutal stuff; it echoes what Trump is doing. It leans into all that stuff. We heard statements from the former Minister of Finance. who left to join the World Bank, to the effect that there are too many immigrants in Ireland and so on. That is just leaning into both the stuff to which I refer and the toxic agenda of the far right.  The truth about immigrants coming to this country is that the number of asylum applicants is tiny. It was down to 13,000 last year and 18,000 the year before. It is a tiny proportion of the number of people coming into the country in the first place, which was 149,000 in 2024. It is a very small number. Michael Taffe, in a very good article I would encourage people to read on the perverse logic of the Government\u2019s immigration policy, details how every serious study that has been done anywhere in the world shows that the benefits of inward immigration far outweigh the negatives in any country, as was the case with the Irish going abroad. This is true here and it is true everywhere. The economic benefit of people coming into a country is multiples of any of the costs involved. This should be obvious when we look at the contribution immigrants to this country are making to our health services, construction, hospitality and to retail. This country would not be able to function without immigrants.  We are facing labour and skills shortages in every single area of Irish society and these are people who want to contribute to our society. We have Government bodies saying how the ageing population in this country and lack of young people is becoming a massive problem because the working population is declining as a proportion of the overall population, and I am on the Committee on Budgetary Oversight which is studying this. We are getting older so we need immigrants in order to sustain the working population to be able to pay for pensions and all of the other things we need. It makes no sense to be leaning into this stuff and suggesting that immigrants or asylum seekers are somehow causing a problem. This is a Government essentially trying to deflect attention away from its failure to address the housing crisis or indeed its culpability for that crisis in the first place.  When we look at the numbers, we have 149,000 in inward immigration. As I said, there were 13,000 applications for asylum. Do Members know how many tourists came here in 2024? There were 6 million. Is anybody running around saying we have to stop the tourists coming in because they are such a problem? No, because we all recognise they bring economic benefits even if they also rely on the infrastructure and so on. That exact argument applies to a far smaller number of people seeking asylum or to immigrants coming into this country. We should stop the scapegoating and leaning into the far right and the toxic politics of Trump. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Guirke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Guirke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Johnny Guirke  This Bill is designed to legislate for Ireland\u2019s decision to sign up to the EU migration and asylum pact. We all know every country requires a functioning international protection system that is rules-based, fair, efficient and enforced. We are all very aware of the problems in the international protection system in Ireland, and the EU migration pact does nothing to support or take into account Ireland\u2019s unique position as an EU member state that is part of the common travel area with a state outside of the EU.  Communities are up in arms when it comes to the lack of information on where an IPAS centre is going to be located. The Government\u2019s community engagement team allows misinformation, disinformation and concerns to grow within good communities. The Government gave a welcome commitment not to use the only hotel in a town. When these hotels are used for accommodation, it takes away local employment. These hotels are the only available accommodation in areas, which makes them important for local tourism in communities, as they support local restaurants, factories which have investors visiting, small shops and businesses. I welcome the previous commitment given to not use the only hotel in Oldcastle, a commitment I got on a number of occasions from the Minister and his Department. I thank him for his engagement on that.  I understand that implementing the comprehensive accommodation strategy for international protection applicants is ongoing. However, loopholes that the Government and IPAS accommodation providers may use need to be looked at to protect the only hotel in towns and villages across Ireland. When loopholes are used, it creates uncertainty in communities. IPAS accommodation providers are making millions off the State by using these loopholes. Section 5 has been used to seek planning exemption for IPAS accommodation. These planning exemptions should be scrapped. Instead, there should be maximum engagement with communities to stop misinformation and fear being spread in good communities with good people.  Sinn F\u00e9in has been clear from the outset that signing up to the EU asylum and migration pact is not in Ireland\u2019s interest. This move undermines Ireland\u2019s sovereignty and hands over more power to the EU to make unsustainable decisions for Ireland. Offers of accommodation should not be decided without consultation with communities and elected representatives and in areas with no services, GPs, school places, etc.  Very often we see the concerns of communities disregarded and that should not be the case. Massive profiteering continues and the decision by Government to sign up to the EU migration and asylum pact in its entirety is a mistake. Our position in Sinn F\u00e9in is clear. We recognise the contributions of many who come here but also recognise the challenges that communities face with public services and housing. Very good points were raised by our Sinn F\u00e9in Deputies during the pre-legislative scrutiny of this Bill. Profiteering in the provision of accommodation must be ended. Accommodation providers have abused the system in place. They have proceeded with works on sites without relevant permissions and contracts, leading to local authorities having to put huge resources into enforcement proceedings, which is often hindered as they are getting conflicting information from the potential accommodation provider and Government Departments.  I cannot understand why the Government is so determined to sign up to the pact and then face fines for not meeting targets that we all know it is going to miss, as the target set out by the EU in the pact are unsustainable. If the Government plans to move towards State-led accommodation, this Bill in its current format will put a strain on Ireland\u2019s capabilities to do that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  Aont\u00fa believes that we, as a people, should do our best to try to provide help to those who are fleeing war and violence. We believe there are many people in Ireland who are migrants who are making a valuable contribution to our country and our society. They are essential in many sectors and this country would not function properly only for those individuals. We also believe that when a person is here legally, they should be treated with respect, and that the colour of a person's skin is of no more significance than the colour of their eyes.  Six years ago we in Aont\u00fa called for a respectful conversation about the issue of immigration in this country. We were slammed by every single other political party in the D\u00e1il at the time. Every party accused us of damaging the cohesion of the country. We stated that if we do not have a respectful conversation in this country, the conversation is not going to disappear. It will simply get pushed underground to the ne'er-do-wells who will use people's concerns for their own negative benefit. That is exactly what has happened over the past six years. The inability of the political establishment to reflect the concerns of Irish citizens across the country has pushed hundreds of thousands of individuals into the ecosystem of some of the most extreme people in Irish society. This was a major mistake by this Government.  As it happens, we have seen that Fianna F\u00e1il, Fine Gael and Sinn F\u00e9in have flipped on this issue in the past couple of years. I welcome that. Sinn F\u00e9in flipped in large part because it was run from the doors in its working class heartlands across this country on this particular issue. However, there are still four other political parties in this Chamber who do not think we even have the right to have a debate. With People Before Profit, any individual action taken by the Minister to ameliorate some of the difficulties here led to name calling, association with Trump, and looking to show this individual as an extreme individual. Do not shut down democratic debate. It was incredible that for four years the vast majority of people in all polling companies' polls were saying they wanted a stricter immigration system, and one political party, the smallest in Leinster House, Aont\u00fa, was the only one actually articulating that view. That is quite an incredible situation to happen. There is a political bubble where people are not able to listen to the people they are meant to represent and who are caught up in a peer pressure in which they do not have the backbone to be able to speak with their own intellect and moral compasses.  Look at what happened over that period of time. I put in a parliamentary question to the previous Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, approximately four years ago, asking where most people were registering for asylum in this country. That parliamentary question showed 85% registered at the International Protection Office in Mount Street. I scratched my head wondering why people were registering for asylum in Mount Street when they were coming through ports and airports.  When I went back to the Minister, Deputy McEntee, at the time and asked where the people applying for asylum in Mount Street were coming from, she said she did not know. It is incredible that an individual who was being well paid - \u20ac180,000 a year - to do a job did not even have the curiosity to find out where people applying for asylum in Ireland were coming from. Six months later, I asked again where people were coming from and whether the Minister was asking the question as to where they are coming from. She said they were not asking them where they were coming from. That is an incredible situation.  Six months later, I put in another question. The Minister admitted then that she was asking the question but at that stage, she said the information was not being collated in a fashion that would enable her to give us that information. It took three years of questioning for the Minister, Deputy McEntee, to admit that 85% of the population coming into the country were coming from Britain through the North of Ireland. It is an incredible situation.  The EU migration pact, which we are discussing today, does not fix that problem. A person can fly from Liverpool into Belfast currently without a passport and without seeking asylum. There is obviously never going to be a border between North and South. It is impossible, it is not wanted and it would not be able to function. The logical conclusion is to put in an Irish Sea border for the movement of people. People said the unionists would not accept it. Unionists have accepted an Irish Sea border for the movement of goods. They were forced to do so under the Windsor Framework. Our engagement with British politicians has highlighted to them that there is a flow of migrants from the South into the North and Britain. It is in London's and Ireland's best interests, as good neighbours, to have a good fence to be able to understand where people are moving. If people want to come from Britain to Ireland, North or South, they should apply for asylum at the airport or port they land at on the island of Ireland. It is the only way to manage the movement of people in Ireland.  I submitted parliamentary questions asking how many people were coming to Ireland without passports or travel documents. The Government stated that in 2023, 5,000 people landed in Dublin Airport without a passport or travel document. That is an incredible situation. People who had to get on a flight in another European country simply did not have their document available when they landed. I asked how many people were being deported and was informed that only about 5% of the individuals subject to deportation orders had their deportations enforced. I asked how many were deported in another fashion and the Minister said that some of those people were being deported voluntarily. When I asked how many the Minister was sure had left, she said she did not know and that there were no exit checks. We do not check if people leave the country or not. I asked the Minister why there are no exit checks and she said it is because we have a Border with the North of Ireland. We cannot have exit checks in Ireland if we have an open Border between North and South.  We asked how many people were failing in the application process. At that time, about 30% of people were failing their first application. We realised there was something wrong and the Government was not being strict enough with regard to its tests for those applications. We were proved right because 80% of people who apply are now failing their first application. There has been a massive jump from about 30% to 80% in two or three years. What happened? Was it the case that we had a different cohort of people coming to this country or was it that the Government was simply not testing properly in relation to the people coming into the country three or four years ago? Is it the case that the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, is testing properly, and the Minister, Deputy McEntee, was not?  We had a situation where tens of thousands of people were coming into the country and spending years having their applications processed. We had to pay for their accommodation. Some 80% of those applications were going to fail, but we can take that figure down to 60% because some of those who appeal have the initial failure overturned. Some 60% of the people who spent years in accommodation in Ireland were not asylum seekers but we were paying \u20ac1.2 billion for their accommodation. That is an incredible situation for any Government to allow over that period of time. The Government sent out a message that if you come to Ireland, you can apply and it will take years for your application to be processed. If your application fails, you can apply for appeal and it will take years for your appeal to be processed. If you fail the appeal, you can get a judicial review, and it will take years for your judicial review to be processed. If you fail at the judicial review, you get a deportation order, which will never be implemented. This incredible and dysfunctional situation created by the Government costs billions of euro, creates turmoil across the country and nobody is ever held to account for it.  We have had a significant increase in the number of people coming into the country claiming asylum. The figure has been in or around 18,000 per year for many years. In terms of work permits, the figure is about 40,000 per year and in terms of student visas, there are about 60,000 people coming in every year. There is also a significant number of people coming in from Ukraine. If you increase the population of the country by the population of Galway city on an annual basis and you do not build the infrastructure of Galway city on an annual basis, you are going to create problems. Galway has a university, a university hospital, dozens of schools and tens of thousands of houses. If you do not keep up with that population increase in terms of infrastructure, you are going to create stresses and strains, albeit not among middle-class and wealthy people who will be able to provide for themselves. The people who will compete for the scarce resources will typically be the working-class people across the country. That is why the stresses and strains of the Government's policies have mostly been seen in working-class places over the past while.  It is important that I say this. The Government is responsible for the housing crisis, without a shadow of a doubt. There is nobody else responsible for it. However, if you restrict and have a static supply of houses and raise the demand at the same time, you will increase the price of houses and rents and make houses less available to people. It is maths, economics and physics. You cannot hold supply static, raise demand and expect there to be houses for everybody and house prices or rents to remain low.  In regard to IPAS, that situation is an incredible one. The Government set fires in many towns and villages in the country. It would not even talk to local communities. There were communities with hotels in one part of the town and another hotel in another part of the town. The Government took one without talking to the community, which would have been happy if the Government had gone for the other. That created stresses and strains and significantly reduced the tourist market. In some counties, 10% of all hotel beds were taken up by IPAS. This approach made millionaires of people, cost \u20ac1.2 billion on an annual basis and got rid of planning. If I want to build a little house for my granny at the back of my house so she can live safely beside me, I have to go through planning. Why is planning good? It makes sure the local authority applies the law and it gives local people an influence over the development of society. The Government deleted planning. Aont\u00fa will bring a planning Bill to the D\u00e1il next week, which will seek to reintroduce planning for IPAS in the future.  Another issue is that the Government does not know the identity of everybody coming into the country. It is important to say that. The Government gives the impression that it does know but it does not. I know of numerous examples of the Government putting adults into Tusla accommodation for children. Whereas Garda vetting is needed to place an adult near a child, the Government has put adults into Tusla accommodation for children. We have also seen in recent court cases that some asylum seekers have presented with multiple and often contradictory identities. Some have different names, dates of birth and countries of origin.  Where laws have existed, the Government has not implemented them. The Minister has the right to reduce migrants, even European migrants, if they break the law and are criminals. Answers to parliamentary questions I submitted show there has been a static low number of criminals removed from this country over the past number of years. There has been a little change from the Minister recently, which I welcome, but for most of those five years, that figure was static. The Minister also has the right to remove people who are not earning a living here. If people who come here have never had a job, he can remove them and send them back to another European country. That has not been done, in the main. There are hundreds of examples of European citizens living in Ireland who are dependent on social welfare and not earning a living, and Jozef Pu\u0161ka was a prime example of that. He did not work in this country from 2017 until the year he murdered Ashling Murphy.  There has been a big change in Ireland. According to the 2022 census, 20% of the population, or 1 million people, were born outside of this country.  That is a significant number. We are moving now to having 25% - we are at just under 25% - of the population of the State born outside of the country. Nobody ever speaks about that fact. It is a very high figure and it will make it difficult to have a sustainable society into the future. The European average is 13.9%, in the US it is 15% and in Britain it is 16%. We are at around 23% at the moment. This is a radical change.  A Labour Party representative spoke positively in the Chamber about the contribution migrants make in Ireland. Nobody is arguing that fact. There is not one person in the country who does not say there are hundreds of thousands of migrants who are contributing with value to our society. That is an effort to frame this discussion in a way that nobody else is framing it. It is an effort to frame it as people being either pro-migration or anti-migration. That is not the discussion that is happening in households across the country. People are talking about the volume, the rate and the numbers in respect of this issue. It is important that people understand that. We have many migrants in our party, Aont\u00fa. We put many of them up for election and many of them have said they disagree with the Government's policies over the last while. They want restrictions on the numbers of people who come into the country. They want that figure to be lowered and I think they are right. We have to lower those figures if we are going to have a sustainable situation in this country into the future.  It was mentioned that we need these workers, and we do, but we also need to look at what is happening with the birth rate. In 2009, there were 75,000 births here. Last year, there were 55,000 births. If this trend continues, we are all going to be working until we are 85 and pensions are going to be reduced. There will be no balance in the demographics to be able to fund society in the future. We will have to work on that issue at some stage.  The European migration pact outsources key decisions to Brussels. It reduces the ability to take sovereign democratic decisions in Ireland. It locks us into policies and decisions that will be made by other countries in their interests. It is a massive transfer of sovereignty. We do not know what the future holds but if we can self-determine, at least we can control the costs and the numbers in future. If we hand away sovereignty, decisions will be made in Brussels and we will not be able to determine our future contributions in relation to this matter.  A question came up during an earlier debate on the Bill, which the Minister may be able to answer. Will the Council of Europe be able to change the parameters of the EU migration pact in future? Will decisions on the numbers that countries should take and contributions they will have to make in future be taken by the Council of Europe on the basis of a qualified majority vote? If so, we are stuffed because that is a blank cheque. We know exactly what it means if we hand over to the European Union the power to fine Ireland. Look at the situation with greenhouse gases. We are hurtling towards binding 2030 targets for emissions, with hundreds of millions of euro of fines. We handed over qualified majority voting on the Mercosur deal and a decision on our beef industry was taken on the basis of German, French and Italian interests. This is another example showing that when you hand over power from this House to Brussels, decisions are not always made in our best interests. The Taoiseach, Deputy Miche\u00e1l Martin, has said that he does not believe in the old-fashioned idea of sovereignty. The current Fianna F\u00e1il leadership is millions of miles away from the revolutionary generation of Fianna F\u00e1ilers who fought for independence in this country.  There are major costs wrapped up in what we are looking at. None of the positive elements of the EU migration pact could have been entered into voluntarily by us without signing up for the pact as a whole. There is nothing about the timelines, the numbers or the reforms the Minister is making that could not have been achieved based on the democratic will of this country and without having to hand away sovereignty. Let us remember that, nine times out of ten, the decision you will make for yourself will be better than the decision your neighbour will make for you. The same applies to countries. We still have a generation that is suffering from the massive cost of the banking bailout, when 1% of the European population was made to pay 44% of the cost of the banking bailout because Europe worked in its best interest and against our interests.  Aont\u00fa will oppose the Bill and push back against it. We will look for a migration system in this country that is compassionate and fair but is far stricter than what we have seen so far. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Denise Mitchell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Denise Mitchell  Signing up to the EU asylum and migration pact is not in Ireland's interest. What the Government is essentially doing is handing over control of decisions on migration to the European Union. Sinn F\u00e9in has always been of the opinion that Ireland, not Europe, should be the one that makes decisions on these important issues. That is why we oppose the majority of measures in this pact. The reality is that our asylum and international protection system has been a complete and utter mess for decades. We have seen families left waiting in limbo for years for their applications to be processed. This is totally unfair, especially on children. We need a fair system in which rules are applied equally and those applying for asylum and local communities are treated with respect.  To address our IPAS system, I represent Dublin Bay North where the former Crown Paints site in Coolock was to be used for IPAS accommodation. Coolock is an area that has been ignored by Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael governments for decades. An abandoned paint factory in a community abandoned by Government is not a suitable place for an IPAS centre. The only reason it was considered was that private interests saw an opportunity to make a quick profit out of it. The planning exemption for IPAS centres needs to be ended and we need to see proper engagement with our communities.  As a TD for the area, I can tell the Minister that trying to get answers from the Department on what was happening with Crown Paints was like trying to get blood out of a stone. There was one meeting of elected representatives at which many concerns were raised. There were promises of more meetings but those meetings never happened. If we, as local representatives, were frustrated trying to get answers, just imagine how that wider community felt. My party president, Deputy Mary Lou McDonald, met residents' groups, community groups and local clubs on the situation. She addressed the then Taoiseach and called for respectful dialogue and engagement with our community. That did not happen.  The community of Coolock is getting on with it now but this Government needs to learn lessons from how the situation in Coolock was handled. We need a proper strategy for the location of these centres and for the integration of those who seek refuge here. We need to end the ability of private companies to make millions in profits off the back of Ireland\u2019s shambles of an asylum system. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Debate adjourned."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"International Protection Bill 2026: Second Stage (Resumed)"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-10\/debate\/dbsect_13","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/8","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/8\/dail\/2","houseCode":"dail","stage":"2","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences (Amendment) Bill 2026: Second Stage [Private Members] (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences (Amendment) Bill 2026: Second Stage [Private Members]","counts":{"speechCount":33,"speakerCount":28},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_13","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donna McGettigan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ann Graves","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Denise Mitchell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Brophy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Mythen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Mythen.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Mythen.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy M\u00e1ire Devine  I move: \"That the Bill be now read a Second Time.\"  Hello to all the activists and supporters in the Gallery this evening as well as those who cannot be here. I thank them for all their support in helping us prepare for this important proposed legislation. C\u00e9ad m\u00edle f\u00e1ilte.  My heart goes out to all those who have been victimised by sexualised AI deepfakes. I know this Bill cannot repair the tremendous harm done to them but I hope it can help prevent future harm. Most of all, gabhaim bu\u00edochas le Jackie Fox for supporting this amendment to the law named after her treasured daughter Coco. Today, aptly, is international Safer Internet Day and this year its theme explores the impact of artificial intelligence, a fitting way to honour Coco's memory. Tomorrow's vote on Sinn F\u00e9in's Bill will demonstrate whether the Government truly aspires to the zero-tolerance in Ireland of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.  Most of us have posted pictures of our children or grandchildren on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram or the dreaded X. Imagine someone gets their hands on a photo of a kid and via an AI tool digitally strips away their clothes creating a sexual image, all to feed their own revolting fantasies or to sell to the dark web. This is happening now and it is called nudification. No matter how innocuous the image is, it can be turned into child sexual abuse material without the person ever knowing it. When a child image is used in this way, the child is not only victimised but can be traumatised for life. Nearly 40% of children aged eight to 12 use these platforms. The most common age to start using social media is 13.  Grok is a generative AI tool from the company owned by the bizarre millionaire, soon to be trillionaire, Elon Musk. Grok's image generation tool was used widely by people to generate explicit sexual content. A simple prompt \"undress her\" generates these. It generates millions of sexualised images over a very short period. We know over 11 days there were roughly 3 million, 99% of them of women and children. Women experience the Internet differently from men. From cyberbullying and harassment to co-ordinated attacks meant to silence women, the digital world can be especially hard for women. Here on our island women standing for recent elections were bullied and sexualised with AI deepfakes designed to damage reputations and self-esteem. Deepfakes, though untrue, still communicate something of a person's body, behaviour or character. They shape how others see them. Part of the dark motivation is exertion of power over a woman to shame her, to subjugate her and to silence her. Many perpetrators of this intensely misogynistic cyberbullying only find images sexy when they are non-consensual. I want people to think about that; it is so dark and twisted.  Our Bill seeks to: explicitly criminalise the creation of sexualised AI deepfakes; increase the statute of limitations for the summary offences to allow victims plenty of time to come forward to An Garda to thoroughly investigate it; and increase the maximum penalties upon conviction to better reflect the heinous nature of these digital crimes.  In the week since Grok's nudification functionality was switched on, numerous Government TDs and Ministers have rightly expressed outrage and demanded this issue be taken seriously. Now is the chance to prove ourselves. Let us work together and let us do it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Matt Carthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Matt-Carthy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Matt Carthy  Molaim mo chomr\u00e1da\u00ed, an Teachta M\u00e1ire Devine, as a cuid oibre ar an mBille seo. Despite lots of rhetoric and good intentions, the fact is the Government has been far too slow to address what is now apparent as a clear gap in the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020. I welcome that the Government has indicated that it will not be opposing this Bill. I look forward to working on a cross-party basis to ensure that we deliver this legislation in a timely manner.  As has been outlined Coco's Law was designed to protect people from the recording, distribution and publication of intimate images without consent. However, there is an ambiguity over whether the Act covers the creation of non-consensual intimate images generated through artificial intelligence. The current Act references images that purport to be intimate images but it does not explicitly state that generating intimate images of an adult is illegal. The Grok nudification scandal exposed this loophole that should never have been allowed to remain open. Grok, X's nudification tool as it is now being described, allowed users to upload photos or videos of real people and have their clothing digitally removed. The vast majority of the sexualised AI images produced were of women and children. This should have prompted immediate action. The Government could have brought for brought forward an immediate short and targeted amendment to close this loophole. I know there is a suggestion as to whether or not the law actually covers this. I make the point that if this was clear in law, then we would not need a minister to sit down with the companies involved. If the Minister or I were suspected of breaking the law, a Minister does not come to our house to discuss it; the appropriate powers hold us to account.  We now need to ensure that we make a move. Sinn F\u00e9in is prepared to work constructively and quickly to fix this problem but we need to see a sense of urgency from Government. Sinn F\u00e9in seeks to amend Coco's Law to explicitly criminalise the generation of non-consensual intimate images and videos and to increase the maximum penalties for those convicted. It is a straightforward but, in my view, absolutely necessary step. We are asking for all TDs to support this at every stage. If technical amendments are needed and if Government points out what it believes they are, we will be quite happy to work with it on Committee Stage. What matters now is that we work with together to fix this law without delay.  The legislation, of course, is only one part of the response. The other is accountability for the social media companies and platforms that enable or ignore this behaviour, and indeed profit from it. There is a sense that these platforms believe they are above the law. We saw the refusal of representatives of X to appear before the Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport. These companies have to be held accountable by Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n and if Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n does not have the powers to hold these companies to account, then we have to give it the powers because the full weight of the law must be brought to bear on platforms that flout their obligations.  We also need to ensure that the Garda, particularly the divisional protective service units, has the personnel and the resources required to investigate and prosecute offences involving the recording, creation, distribution or the publication of non-consensual, intimate images. We have heard and we all should listen to the voices of victims and survivors about the important role that the divisional protective laws have played. We need to ensure that they are properly resourced and staffed.  A review of Coco's Law in 2024 showed that between 2021 and 2023, some 100 cases were prosecuted by the DPP but in the same period, almost 1,500 victim reports were made. That shows us that there is a significant gap between reports and prosecutions. It shows that while the law has acted as a deterrent, as I believe it has, it is still not delivering adequate justice for many victims. We also know that for far too many victims and survivors, the judicial process is too slow and in many cases is actually retraumatising them. The Justice Indicators Report published by the Law Society last week makes it clear that chronic delays in our court system are denying people timely access to justice.  The Minister and I know that there are many priorities across his Department and many areas of work that we need to address. However, I would contend very strongly that this is one of the areas where we can work together and actually deliver a solution fairly quickly. That is why I commend this Bill to the House. I welcome that Government is not opposing it. I assume that means we will have unanimous support here. Let us take this to Committee Stage, iron out whatever creases may be there and actually get this Bill into law as quickly as possible. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donna McGettigan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Donna-McGettigan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donna McGettigan  I thank Deputies Devine and Carthy for this very important and timely Bill. Speedy action on this is required now; not next year, not after another review, but now. During the period from 29 December 2025 through to 9 January 2026, Grok is estimated to have generated approximately 3 million sexualised images, including 23,000 that appear to depict children. Let us be absolutely clear on this, these are children. The question that must be asked is very simple: why did the Government not act immediately on this? According to Children's Health Ireland, CHI, these tools pose significant risks to children and young people, including psychological distress, loss of dignity, coercion and long-term trauma. This is real, live harm being inflicted right now. This erosion of basic societal norms cannot be tolerated. It strikes at the dignity, safety and fundamental rights of women, men and children and it needs to be sorted now.  Violence against women remains pervasive in Ireland and the digital space now plays a central role in enabling and amplifying that violence. AI has become a new weapon of abuse, humiliation and control. Perpetrators of digital domestic abuse, sexual violence and gender-based violence must not be allowed to evade accountability or to hide behind a veil of anonymity because of weak or inadequate rules imposed on platforms and digital service providers. Every day that the Government delays, these images remain available. Every hour of inaction compounds that harm and every failure to legislate sends a dangerous message that protection does not matter. The generation of non-consensual intimate images and videos through AI must be criminalised. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sorca Clarke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Sorca-Clarke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sorca Clarke  The very fact that we are here tonight having this debate sickens me to my stomach. It really does. The fact that somebody in a tech company somewhere sat down and thought it would be a great idea to create a tool that will strip clothes off women and children, and to have that tool circulated online for profit makes me want to physically vomit. I do not understand that mentality. I do not know anybody who understands it because that mentality has no place in our society - none whatsoever. The companies that facilitate the circulation of these images need to be held to account. Those whose images are abused in such a way need to know that the justice system is on their side. We need to ensure that our legislation is robust enough, that justice will be served and the circulators of these images will be held to account.  This Bill is very straightforward. The use of AI nudification tools and deepfake technologies to strip women and girls of their clothes needs to stop. There can be no ambiguity in this regard. This is wrong. We need to put an end to it. The fact that this loophole exists and that the Government knew it was there but has not acted to date is shameful. However, the Minister now has the opportunity to ensure that the State protects those who find themselves in this position and holds those responsible to account. I ask the Minister to fix this law, ensure that nobody else ends up in this situation and make it clear that in Ireland digital abuse is abuse and will be treated as such. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ann Graves","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ann-Graves.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ann Graves  Violence against women in Ireland is a massive problem and the digital and social media spaces have a central role in amplifying this violence. The sharing of non-consensual photos or the recording of images is absolutely wrong on all levels and is rightfully criminalised under the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020, or Coco's Law. Unfortunately, however, the use of AI to generate deepfakes or non-consensual intimate images is not criminalised. This Government has been too slow to bring forward legislation to address what is clearly a loophole in the Act. The Government's failure to introduce relevant legislation has become clear in recent months, particularly following the Grok nudification scandal.  This Sinn F\u00e9in Bill will amend Coco's Law by making three straightforward changes. It will explicitly criminalise the non-consensual creation or generation of intimate images and videos through the use of AI. It will extend the statute of limitations from two to five years for summary offences and it will increase the maximum penalties upon conviction. These legislative changes are supported by Women's Aid, Rape Crisis Ireland, the Sexual Exploitation Research and Policy Institute and \u00c9ist, as well as by Jackie Fox, the mother Nicole Fox Fenlon, for whom Coco's Law is named. If this Government had acted promptly to introduce legislation, it would have received co-operation from the Opposition. Instead, it chose to sit on its hands and do nothing. Meanwhile, non-consensual images were generated and lives have been destroyed. In the absence of Government legislation, I ask the Minister, on behalf of the women of Ireland, to ensure that his party supports the Bill brought forward tonight. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  The actions taken in recent weeks by some individuals regarding Grok AI were deplorable and a response from this House is absolutely necessary. This Bill will address the lacuna that exists within current legislation to cover the generation of intimate images through the use of AI.  Zero tolerance should mean that where new issues or threats arise or are identified, action is taken in a timely manner. This is straightforward legislation and I commend my party colleagues, Deputies Carthy and Devine, for bringing it forward. I also commend the Government for not opposing it. These events also highlight a broader issue in terms of our response. Our approach to the regulation of AI cannot simply be responsive or reactionary. We should not be waiting until harm is done before we see intervention or regulation. This legislation shows that when we are united, we can take appropriate action and do so at a pace that is comparable with the threat.  There are many issues of domestic and gender-based violence on which we are largely agreed action needs to be taken. Sinn F\u00e9in remains committed to working with the Government and Opposition parties on matters such as the establishment of a register of domestic abusers and the provision of refuge spaces in every county. These are just two of the issues that we can work on together. Let us all try to bring an enhanced pace of action to those pressing matters on which we are agreed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sh\u00f3nagh-N\u00ed-Raghallaigh.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sh\u00f3nagh N\u00ed Raghallaigh  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas le mo chomr\u00e1daithe, na Teachta\u00ed Devine agus Carthy, as ucht an Bille seo a chur os \u00e1r gcomhair. Cuirim f\u00e1ilte roimh na cuairteoir\u00ed at\u00e1 sa Ghaileara\u00ed. The Grok scandal has been the stuff of nightmares, showing us what a dystopian, misogynistic hellscape the Internet can be, its owners conniving villains willing to sit back and even relish the most degrading acts against women and children. Our do-nothing Government sat on its hands and watched it all unfold while continuing to pander to the tech overlords. Intimate image abuse is widespread. It disproportionately affects women and needs to be removed, root and branch. Part of that means that our Government needs to finally grow up and stand up to the platforms that are facilitating these egregious harms once and for all.  Another part of the response has to be banning the creation of deepfake intimate images. As it stands, there is an ambiguity in Coco's Law regarding the generation of sexualised AI imagery. The amending Bill before us tonight addresses this gap and would ensure that victims have recourse to the criminal justice system. To date, they have been left to suffer the consequences in silence. The consequences of this despicable offence should not be underestimated. We are talking here about people's lives being destroyed. We must not downplay cyber violence because it takes place in a digital environment and behind a supposed veil of anonymity. Our approach must be unequivocal and agile, reflecting the changing technological situation and our understanding of the harm caused. In keeping with the gravity of this offence, our amending legislation provides for increased maximum penalties upon conviction. Sinn F\u00e9in is bringing forward this legislation because the Government has failed to act in a timely manner. We have to act now to protect the women and children of Ireland. We need a step change from Government when it comes to online safety and supporting this legislation would be a strong first step in that direction. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Jim O'Callaghan)  I want to start by thanking Deputies Devine and Carthy for introducing this important Bill. As has been indicated, the Bill seeks to seeks to amend Coco's Law by criminalising the generation of non-consensual intimate images and videos, and also by increasing the maximum penalties on conviction. At present, it is a criminal offence to generate images provided they are then distributed and-or published. I know that the Bill has been introduced in the context of recent public concerns and considerable political debate arising from the launching by X, on Christmas Day 2025, of a feature powered by Grok to allow editing of images. This feature was used at scale to create harmful and illegal content, in particular the nudification of people, including children. I want the House to know that the Government and I share the widespread revulsion at the fact that platforms have allowed the non-consensual nudification of images, primarily of women and children. We also need to recognise that aiding and abetting an indictable serious offence is a criminal offence itself. There is a very strong view that X itself has committed a criminal offence by aiding and abetting the commission of an offence under Coco's Law.  Earlier today I brought a memorandum to Government seeking approval not to oppose this Bill and I can confirm that this was endorsed by Cabinet. As the evidence available indicates the generation of non-consensual intimate images disproportionally targets women and children, the policy intention underpinning the Bill aligns with the Government\u2019s commitment to a zero-tolerance approach to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, which is a priority for me and the Government. Consequently, I will not be opposing the Bill on Second Stage. While there is a comprehensive range of legislation already in place in Ireland to combat these types of harmful digital practices, which I will speak about shortly, I have been examining the extent of the current established legal framework with the Attorney General to ensure it is sufficiently robust to protect people from digital harms like these. Therefore, on the basis of this ongoing review I will not be opposing the Bill on this Stage.  I also believe it is fitting that we will be discussing the generation of intimate images using Al tools this evening as today is Safer Internet Day. We know that the use of AI to generate offensive material or to abuse or harass any individual is unacceptable. It represents a very serious violation of privacy and dignity. It promotes a culture of objectification, particularly of women, and disrespect. It is an issue the Government is taking very seriously and is taking concrete steps to address. I welcome the debate today as I am keen to ensure that there are no gaps in the legislation and that the current established legal framework is sufficiently robust to protect people from digital harms.  In this context, I would like to give a brief overview of the legislation that already exists in our legal system which is of relevance to today's debate. As has been mentioned, Coco's Law, the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act, was enacted in 2020. It creates a serious offence of distribution or publication of an intimate image without consent with intent to cause harm to the victim, attracting a maximum penalty of up to seven years' imprisonment. It is also an offence to threaten to distribute or publish such an image. The Act also provides for a strict liability offence, with a lower penalty, for engaging in the recording, distribution or publication of an intimate image without consent, with no requirement to prove an intention to cause harm.  I would like to add at this point that the definition of an intimate image under the 2020 Act is intentionally broad to include any visual representation of a person. Therefore, it will include an AI-generated image of a person. This will also intimate images which have been altered or doctored prior to their distribution or publication, more commonly referred to as deepfakes. I want to highlight that the Attorney General has confirmed this is indeed the case.  The second piece of legislation relevant to the debate this evening is the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998. It is framed so that no distinction can be made between AI-generated material and other child sexual abuse material. The production and distribution of child sexual abuse material attracts a sentence of up to 14 years' imprisonment. The creation of an image, whether or not Al tools are used to do so, that shows a child, whether an actual child or one created by Al, engaging in sexually explicit activity or that shows, for a sexual purpose, their genitals or anal region is a serious offence under the Act. It is a criminal offence at present to generate an image of a child. That is relevant in the context of the legislation being proposed this evening by Deputy Devine.  Under the Digital Services Act, the European Commission is responsible for the oversight of very large online platforms. These platforms are required to assess and mitigate risks that their services may create in relation to the proliferation of illegal content online and the protection of fundamental rights, including protection for minors. The Artificial Intelligence Act introduces legal requirements that aim to ensure a high level of protection of health, safety and fundamental rights against the harmful effects of Al systems in the European Union. Under the Al Act, certain Al practices are prohibited, and certain Al systems and uses of Al by providers and deployers are subject to legal requirements in terms of governance, transparency and responses to risks and incidents. The specific use of Al by deployers is subject to the EU AI Act. A key objective of the regulation is to protect against harmful effects of Al systems in the European Union in terms of health, safety and fundamental rights. While initial phases of the Act, including setting out rules for prohibited Al practices, are now in effect, the provisions to enable surveillance, penalties and enforcement will come into effect in August 2026 and there will be formal regulatory mechanisms available to the relevant surveillance authorities to engage with individual companies  There is also the EU violence against women directive. To a large extent, this has already been transposed into Irish law but any further transpositions will be done.  It is also important to look at the other consequences in respect of this legislation. I believe that this Bill is well intentioned and I support the general objective but it is my duty to point out some concerns I have in relation to the proposed increased penalties. Without question, it is very important to criminalise harmful behaviours in society to protect citizens and deter wrongdoing. However, it is equally important that criminal laws are fair, proportionate and justly enforced. It would be highly unusual if a five-year prison sentence were to be imposed on a person for creating an intimate image that is never spoken about and is never shared with anyone, including the victim, as could be the case under this Bill. An issue of concern that I would ask Deputies Devine and Carthy to address is that under the Bill as drafted at present, if an individual in the confines of their home decided that they wanted to use an artificial mechanism to create a nude image of me on their computer and then they deleted it - they probably laughed at it - and never sent it anywhere else, under this legislation that person would find themselves having committed an offence which could expose them to a sentence of up to five years imprisonment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joanna Byrne  It would; that is the point. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jim O'Callaghan  It would. The Attorney General has advised that the proposed increase in the penalty would be a disproportionate penalty for an offence where there is no requirement to prove any criminal intent. The reason we introduced Coco's Law was because images were being created and recorded and then being published and distributed. This was clearly very damaging and upsetting for the individuals concerned. We need to look at the fact that all that is being done by this Act is that the generation of the image would be a criminal offence and there would be no requirement for it to have been distributed it onwards. Such a significant penalty for an offence where there is no requirement to prove any intention to commit a criminal offence could be problematic in the context of Article 38 of the Constitution. As I have said, the Government is taking the issue of online safety very seriously and I have listened with interest to what colleagues have said.  I will turn now to the concrete steps that the Government has taken to address the use of Grok. As I indicated earlier, under the Digital Services Act, the European Commission is responsible for oversight. On 26 January 2026 the Commission decided to launch a formal investigation under the Digital Services Act into X and its Grok Al tool. The Government welcomes this decision, and I want to highlight that Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n is formally involved with the European Commission in this investigation and was instrumental in the work leading up to its launch. In addition, and as suggested by the Al advisory council, the Government is exploring amendments to the Artificial Intelligence Act to expand the list of prohibited Al practices. A lot of work is being done in this area. As I said, I welcome the Bill being introduced by Deputy Devine. I will give it serious consideration and I will work with the Opposition on it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Maurice Quinlivan  Those who are opposed to regulatory restrictions on the creation and generation of sexualised AI images argue that this an affront to free speech and freedom of expression. It is not. It is not a freedom to use without consent someone's image to generate sexualised images. It is not freedom to ask an AI tool to show a picture of somebody and to have the picture modified to remove the clothing from the image of their body. That is sexual. That is harassment. Often those who cry about free speech were not so loud or mostly were extremely quiet when it came to section 31 of the Broadcasting Act banning members of my party from the airwaves. One party member was not allowed to talk about mushrooms on a farming programme. Larry O'Toole could not speak on behalf of striking workers. I was 27 years old before I heard a member of my party being allowed to speak on national TV or radio. When we in Sinn F\u00e9in talk about these issues, we know the impact of restricting free speech and we oppose it. However, we will not allow the exploitation, bullying and the crass sexual objectification of people who provided no permission for either users or big tech companies to use their images in such a brutal way.  Five years ago this month, Coco's Law entered into force. It was and is a good and necessary piece of legislation in the ongoing battle against the distribution and publication of intimate images without consent. Within its first two years, there were 100 prosecutions under the law. While a significant gap remains between the number of reports to hotline.ie and the number of prosecutions, criminalisation of non-consensual recording or distribution of intimate images was and remains necessary. However, there is a lack of clarity as to whether the legislation covers the generation or creation of intimate images through AI. Our Bill seeks to provide clarity on that.  We have an obligation to prevent another generation of women and girls from experiencing misogyny and gender-based violence. While this amendment to Coco's Law will not solve all these ills, it will go some way towards protecting people from the frankly disgusting abuse of AI tools and their use in creating unwanted and unauthorised sexual images. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Joanna Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Joanna-Byrne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Joanna Byrne  I welcome this Bill. I commend my colleagues on bringing it forward. Until the latest social media controversy arose, I and many others would have thought that we had sufficient legislation to tackle social media companies propagating nudification AI. The Government has been too slow to act. That is why this Bill is necessary and welcome. Last week, TikTok, Meta and Google were before the media committee to discuss the regulation of online platforms and supports to improve online safety and participation. X was invited but refused to attend. All three companies' attendees' opening statements made assertions that their priorities were online safety, data protection and child and user welfare. They also stated that they could remove reported posts within hours during the hearing. In recent hearings on online safety, experts gave detailed testimonies on how the social media platforms were failing in their responsibilities. There was a stark disparity in what the social media companies' representatives were saying happens when complaints are made to the lived reality of people and the testimonies given by guests at the previous hearings. They are not facing up to the problems on their platforms. If they do not make actionable changes to their approaches to online safety, then the full extent of the law should be brought to bear on online platforms and service providers who try to flout the rules. This amendment to Coco's Law will help with that.  Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n also needs to step up and use all the tools given to it to tackle social media companies. It is not doing that. The Online Safety and Media Regulation Act gives it the power under Irish law to issue a penalty or fine of \u20ac20 million or 10% of turnover if social media companies fail to protect children and the public from harmful, illegal content. Instead, it has stepped aside for the European Commission to conclude its formal investigation into X under the EU Digital Services Act, saying that it is associated with this investigation, and it is ready to play its part. Legislation is only useful if it in force. Behind every damning statistic that has prompted this Bill are the lived realities of victims of abuse. Some of them are here in the Gallery this evening. For them, not only does this Bill need to be passed but it needs to be enforced. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Denise Mitchell","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Denise-Mitchell.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Denise Mitchell  I welcome this very straightforward amendment to Coco's Law. It makes it very clear that the crime of recording or distributing non-consensual intimate images of a person also extends to images and videos created by AI. Over recent months, we have seen an explosion in the use of AI technology distributing sexual abuse material, particularly of women and children. The use of AI bots to abuse people online is completely unacceptable. This has to be stopped. The way we do this is by bringing this Bill forward and putting it in place. We also need to ensure that garda\u00ed have the resources to make sure that those who are breaking the law are held to account. We heard last month from the garda\u00ed that they are investigating around 200 cases of sexual abuse material from the Grok AI tool alone. That is an enormous amount of work, especially when one considers that the overwhelming majority of these accounts posting this material online are anonymous. On top of investigating those who are directly creating the images, we need to see these companies that are flouting the law held to account. If we do not begin to tackle this behaviour and if guardrails are not put in place to prevent this sort of abuse, then they have to face serious crimes and the possibility of a criminal investigation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  I commend Deputies Carthy and Devine on this important amendment. It is welcome that the Government is not opposing this. The Minister and I both know that sometimes that does not mean the Government is supporting it either. I would like to see it supported. I welcome the visitors in the Gallery. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 m\u00edcheart rogha duine \u00e9igin a th\u00f3g\u00e1il agus \u00e9 a athr\u00fa gan cead an duine. N\u00edl s\u00e9 ceart n\u00f3 c\u00f3ir \u00e9 sin a dh\u00e9anamh do dhuine. It is regrettable that intimate image abuse is increasing. The harm is increasing. The scope is increasing. The way that images are being manipulated is becoming even more pervasive. The charge that has been levelled against the Government is that it is too beholden to big tech to take any real action. The only way that charge can be answered effectively is by the Government taking real action.  In his opening remarks the Minister said \"that platforms have allowed the non-consensual nudification of images\". Platforms have been allowed and that has to stop. Platforms have been facilitated because that is how it has happened. This has to stop. The generation of these images dehumanises not only women but mostly women. It is dehumanising, degrading and disgusting. This amendment to Coco's Law is designed to stamp it out once and for all. We need to get serious about this. We need to ensure not just that the Government does not oppose the legislation but it supports it, implements it and enforces it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy R\u00e9ada Cronin  Mo bhu\u00edochas leis na Teachta\u00ed Devine agus Carthy as ucht an Bhille seo a thabhairt os comhair na D\u00e1la. Cuirim f\u00e1ilte roimh na daoine at\u00e1 sa Ghaileara\u00ed. There is an urgent need to update Coco's Law. Coco's Law was and still is an important piece of legislation that rightly prosecutes those who share intimate images online or otherwise. Technology moves very quickly. The recent explosion of deep fake sexual images being created on social media platforms, such as X, has shocked many. Elsewhere in Europe, they have been quick to move. Just last week, French prosecutors raided the offices of X as part of their investigation into allegations of spreading child sexual abuse images. In England, the data privacy regulator has opened formal investigations into X's chatbot. We must keep pace.  I am quite flabbergasted after the Minister's speech. I am glad there are so many women in my party. Despite his protestations, I have not heard about the garda\u00ed knocking anybody's door down for producing these images. The nonchalant way he was going on there was absolutely disgraceful.  Our Bill must amend Coco's Law to criminalise non-consensual intimate images and videos made through the use of AI. It must also increase the maximum penalties of those convicted. It will address the grey area of current legislation. However, this is only one part of the response. Holding the social media companies to account is the other part. This is something that this Government should have done long ago. It should certainly have done this since Christmas. The full extent of the law must be brought to bear on online platforms and service providers that try to flout the rules. The fines must be imposed and, crucially, recovered in full.  As noted by the Teachta who was sitting beside me earlier, the Government has done nothing to ensure that these fines are paid. It has stood idly by in respect of this matter. We should be following the example of the French and ensuring that social media companies are fully held to account. The Government has been sitting on its hands for long enough. We need swift and decisive action to criminalise the distribution of AI images, increase maximum penalties upon conviction and ensure social media companies are held accountable for their complicity in this vile crime against women and children. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Kelly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Alan-Kelly.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Kelly  I propose to share time with Deputy Lawlor. This Bill is very similar to, if not a mirror copy of, the Bill I published. It even has the same name, but we will not worry about that. The most important thing is that legislation is brought in one way or the other. I could not care less whether it is brought forward by my party, Sinn F\u00e9in or the Government.  The most important element of the Bill is its timing. We do not have time to wait. The Labour Party has the longest track record on this issue. My colleague and former Deputy Brendan Howlin was the instigator of Coco's Law, which, I acknowledge, was taken on and brought in by the Government. We identified a loophole in the legislation some time ago in that AI-generated images are not covered. As well as addressing that, we must invert responsibility for what is happening. Big-tech e-commerce companies could not care less about fines. They build them into their business planning. The only thing that will work is making them criminally liable where what we are discussing happens. It is the only thing that will work. I would love to see the EU dealing with this issue quickly but I do not believe it possible that it will do so. We cannot wait for it act. The European Commission has confirmed that there is no reason whatsoever that Ireland cannot act to deal with this issue. I did not think that needed to be confirmed but it has been.  The legislation, in whatever form it takes, must deal with AI- and computer-generated images and ensure that the law is inverted such that these companies have to adhere to Irish law rather than us having to chase them. At the media committee, of which I am Cathaoirleach, we heard Gr\u00e1inne Seoige's story. It was horrendous. In that situation, people have to go to An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and identify the person distributing these vile images. Then garda\u00ed have to go to the person and try to get his or her phone. If people have to go to court for a court order, the judge, having weighed up the question in terms of proportionality, may decide the phone cannot be given over in view of everything else that is on it. All of this happens, and the process goes on endlessly.  I have seen the correspondence to and from the big-tech company in the case I mentioned. I know what happened with An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and that it was not the fault of its members. We need to change the law in order that these companies are criminally liable where they allow their e-commerce platform to be used to create and-or distribute AI- or computer-generated images. We also need to deal with platforms like WhatsApp in respect of the sharing of these images. We must ensure we protect our children and all our citizens. It is absolutely incumbent on us to do so.  When we challenged representatives of TikTok who appeared before the committee about what was going on, the response is one that will live with me forever. The representative said the company's goal is \"minimising harm\". The goal is not to prevent harm but to minimise it. As the father of a 15-year-old girl and a 14-year-old boy, that scared me. These companies should not be minimising harm but 100% preventing or stopping it.  I have used the example of the process whereby pharmaceutical drugs are brought into the State to help people when they are ill. The drugs are analysed and go through a regulatory process overseen by the Health Products Regulatory Authority. We would not allow a drug into this country that would deliberately harm people or minimise the harm to them. We would not allow that scenario. Why are we allowing it in this instance? Is it because the whole virus of social media has gone so far and is so controlling? Is it because the companies are based here and we are dependent on their taxes? What is more important? Our duty as TDs in this House is to do two things: first, uphold the Constitution; and, second, legislate for what is right to protect our people. We are not doing the latter when it comes to this issue unless we bring in legislation to address it.  As other committee members in attendance here know, Meta and TikTok refused point-blank to tell us the number of accounts registered to people aged under 16. However, this goes beyond the whole debate on whether we should ban social media for under-16s. How can we trust these companies when they will not even give us basic information like that? How can we ensure they are held accountable rather than our having to chase them? We cannot wait until the European Union catches up, which I do not believe it will do. Ireland will assume the European Presidency later this year. I accept the bona fides of the Minister and the Government on this matter. This is not an Opposition versus Government issue. It is about what is right and what can be done in a timely fashion.  We must bring in legislation to deal with this matter. I am absolutely convinced of that, having dealt with the issue intimately for months. We cannot allow what is going on to keep infecting the citizens, children and adults, who are badly affected by it. We need to legislate to ensure the companies are accountable to us and we do not have to continue to chase them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"George Lawlor","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"George-Lawlor.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy George Lawlor  The core purpose of this amending legislation is twofold. It seeks, first, to explicitly prohibit the creation of non-consensual intimate or otherwise harmful imagery and, second, to extend the period during which proceedings may be initiated, thereby ensuring victims are not denied justice due to the often slow discovery of online offences. Coco's Law, the 2020 Act brought through the House by my predecessor in Wexford, Brendan Howlin, working with the inspirational Jackie Fox, already criminalises the distribution of intimate images without consent and addresses a large range of harmful online communications.  Unfortunately, however, gaps remain. One of the most significant is the absence of a clear stand-alone offence of the creation of non-consensual intimate imagery. As technology advances, individual facilitators such as Elon Musk and others, and, indeed, the deviants in our towns, villages, neighbourhoods and households, can fabricate intimate images using very accessible editing tools or AI-based systems, even where no original image exists. This form of abuse can be as damaging as the sharing of real images, yet the current legislation does not fully capture the act of creation itself. This amending legislation would close that loophole by making it an offence to produce, alter or manipulate imagery depicting a person in an intimate or compromising context without his or her consent regardless of whether the image is subsequently shared. We often hear of these images being used to mentally torture or coercively control.  The second major reform, extending the timeframe for initiating proceedings, responds to the reality that victims often only discover these harmful images and content long after they are created or circulated. Online material can be hidden, shared anonymously or stored on private platforms, making timely detection often difficult.  The existing six-month window for summary offences can therefore be unreasonably restrictive. By lengthening this period, this amendment would give An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and prosecutors greater flexibility to act, and it would acknowledge the unique challenges posed by digital evidence, delayed reporting and the emotional trauma many victims face before coming forward. Together, these changes would modernise the 2020 Act, reinforce the State's commitment to protecting individuals from digital exploitation and ensure the law keeps pace with emerging forms of online harm. They would also send a clear societal message that the creation of non-consensual intimate imagery is a serious violation of personal autonomy and that victims deserve adequate time and legal support to pursue justice. The perpetrators of these heinous, devious and cowardly crimes should have, and will have, no place to hide.  To the victims I say that what they have endured is not a small thing. Having their image or even a fabricated version of them used without their consent is a profound violation of dignity and trust. None of that is their fault. The harm lies entirely with those who chose to misuse technology and exploit their privacy. They deserve to hear that clearly. The victims are not alone in this experience even though it may have felt that way. Many people suffer in silence because shame and fear convince them they have no voice. However, their voices matter. Their stories matter. The emotional weight of discovering that an intimate or harmful image has been created without their consent can and has been overwhelming, and it is completely valid to feel anger, frustration and, sometimes, even grief. This is not a journey they should have to walk without support.  As legislators, we have a responsibility to ensure the law keeps pace with the reality of digital harm. As we all know, technology moves and evolves quickly and so must the protections that safeguard the rights of the people affected. We in this House must be committed to strengthening the law so that the creation of these images is treated with the seriousness it deserves. We simply have to work to ensure that victims are not denied justice simply because these offences often come to light after they occur. Victims must know they will not be left behind. Their experiences must shape stronger protections, clearer accountability and a legal system that recognises the depth of the harm they have faced. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  I thank Sinn F\u00e9in for bringing forward this Bill and Deputies Carthy and Devine for the work they have put into it. I also welcome to the Gallery those people who are visiting to listen to this debate. I thank the Government for not opposing this Bill. I welcome that but it is, of course, the very least we can ask. This is a Bill that makes sense. We know Coco's Law has worked over the last number of years. This simple amendment will allow it to keep pace and add some other fixes around access to justice, which are also very important. Essentially, it builds on good law by keeping it up to pace. The Social Democrats will also be introducing legislation that looks at the copyright angle of this area and will allow people to copyright their own personal identity. At the moment, that copyright only extends to commercial activities like singing. What we want to put forward is a copyright law that will protect people's likeness, features, voices and bodies. It is legislation that is being pursued in Denmark and we believe it is another way we can respond to the crisis in which we now find ourselves.  Let us recap on that crisis and what has happened with Grok over the last number of months. An unsafe product, a nudification app, was unleashed on the market. That is the marketing terminology but the legal terminology is image-based sexual abuse, IBSA, and child sexual abuse material, CSAM. That is what this product has done. What we have seen in response from governments and regulators across the globe, including our own, is absolutely shocking. We have seen outcry and hand-wringing. I read a headline today that Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n is horrified. Investigations are under way by An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. The European Commission is investigating the risk element. What is not happening is any meaningful results for those people who have been harmed by this product. We have had geoblocking from Grok itself, which is, first of all, too little and far too late, but is also something that anybody with VPN can get around in a minute so it is not actually doing anything. The nudification app still works. People can still abuse through image-based sexual abuse and child sexual abuse material.  Other jurisdictions have gone further. We have seen the X offices in Paris raided by the French Government, which I welcome. As Deputy Cairns said in the House a couple of weeks ago, if we had a warehouse on Pearse Street alongside the X offices here which was producing CSAM and IBSA at the same level as it is being produced online, it would have been shut down and prosecutions would have been brought forward. However, because it is on the Internet, we do not see that same response. We do not see anything that actually deals with the crimes that are being committed and with the regulatory transgressions being committed by these companies.  What is the harm that people are experiencing? It is devastating to the people who are experiencing this child sexual abuse material and image-based sexual abuse. It is a violation of their rights, dignity, privacy and autonomy. It has an immediate effect on people but it is not instantaneous because it will stay with them, follow them around, affect their mental health and their life in ways we cannot even imagine unless we are victims of this crime.  I also wish to speak to something that is under-reported, namely, the societal impact of this. Not only is this a product of the misogynistic society we are in but it is something which also fuels it. We are seeing, for example, reports that younger female teachers in schools across Ireland are increasingly experiencing misogyny from their young students. This is exactly the kind of tool and behaviour which fuels younger members of our society into thinking that it is okay to objectify and demean women, and to dehumanise them in this way. It is exactly this behaviour that fuels the epidemic of sexual and gender-based violence which we know is such a problem in this world. Yet, what do we do? We see our governments wringing their hands and, again, talking about how bad it is. Not even that; we had one Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, blame the user. He does not even go as far as blaming the tech platforms.  Deepfakes are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to online harms. This is the other thing I want to speak to. This is one area which is hugely problematic, has rightly caused huge consternation in society and has provoked reactions from across this House, the media and society. This legislation is to be commended as it seeks to address a specific piece of it but even if we fix this, it will not deal with the core issue, which is big tech. We need to deal with online platforms, e-commerce, or whatever we want to call them, and the way in which the online harms that are proliferating on these companies' websites are reaching into the lives of every single individual in society and that governments and regulators across the globe have no control and no ability to hold them to account. We get messages that either the regulatory and legal framework does not exist for them to do that, that when the framework does exist it is too hard to enforce, or that when they want to enforce it, it is not working and the companies do not pay heed to fines or whatever else. None of this is good enough. I do not care if it is about jobs, tax, or whatever it is; the Government needs to step up because these companies are running rings around it. Every day people are paying the price. Everybody is paying the price. The worst part of all this is that these are technologies, particularly AI, which could bring so much amazing benefit to society. Unfortunately, the more we see products like this unleashed on society, and we will see more and more of them, that trust will be eroded and AI as a tool will be completely undermined. We will start to see the inequality divide online increase further, as people pay to access tools that they can trust and will work for them, while everybody else just gets to dive around in the cesspit that is the Internet.  Today is Safer Internet Day, the theme of which is \"AI Aware: Safe, Smart, and in Control\". There was an event in the Department of justice to mark the day, at which members of a youth panel spoke to the issue. While that sort of activity is to be welcomed, I do not know how the Government can stand over celebrating Safer Internet Day when it cannot even deal with a safe Internet.  It cannot hold big tech to account and actually provide a safe Internet. I am crystal-clear on exactly what this Government needs to do to deal with big tech. Our Government needs to grow a pair. It needs to regulate, enforce, prosecute and make the Internet safer. I welcome this Bill and commend it but we need so much more from the Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Gary Gannon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Gary-Gannon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Gary Gannon  I acknowledge Sinn F\u00e9in for bringing forward this welcome Bill. I will support it because it responds to a harm that is no longer hypothetical and no longer something we can say the law has time to catch up with. Only today, Ireland's Online Safety Commissioner said she was \"horrified\" by what she saw when testing the AI system Grok. She was horrified that it could generate sexualised, degrading images of people who never consented and never could consent. That is not a campaign group talking. This is the State's own regulator warning us that the technology is already ahead of the law that is supposed to protect us from it.  Coco's Law was landmark legislation. It mattered. It helped victims, but it was written for a world where abuse followed an image that already existed. What we are dealing with now is different. We are dealing with abuse that begins with a fabrication. A person does not need to take to take a photo, access your phone or deceive you into trust. They simply need your face. That changes everything. The harm is the same. The shame they seek to impose upon a victim is the same. The fear is the same. The consequences remain the same - jobs potentially lost and relationships potentially damaged. People are still silenced but the scale, speed and accessibility of the abuse has exploded. This Bill matters because it names that reality very clearly. It says that an intimate image is not just something captured by a camera. It can be digitally generated, it can be artificial, and it can and will destroy someone's life. It also does something important and overdue. It treats the act of generating this material without consent as part of the wrongdoing, not just from the moment it is shared. This is essential if we want prevention, rather than permanent clean-up after the damage is done.  The Bill extends the time limits for bringing cases forward. That matters too. Victims do not report in a neat legal timeframe; they report when they are safe enough, strong enough or when the threat finally becomes unbearable. The law should reflect that reality, not punish people for surviving it. I want to say this clearly. Online abuse is not just an unfortunate side-effect of public life; it is a deliberate tactic. It is gendered, sexualised and designed to intimidate people out of participation. If we keep telling people, especially women and minorities, that this is just the cost of being visible, we are complicit in the narrowing of who gets to speak and lead. Ireland hosts many of these platforms that profit from this content travelling fast and far. We cannot keep outsourcing responsibility while victims are left chasing take-downs that come too late and often not at all.  The Social Democrats will support this Bill but I legislation alone is not enough. We need Garda capacity, fast, enforceable take-down systems and real consequences for those facilitating this abuse at scale. France has recently shown us the way in that regard. When our Online Safety Commissioner tells us she is horrified by what these tools can already do, the response of D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann cannot be just caution or delay. The Bill is a necessary step. I acknowledge those who brought it forward. I hope the State will enact it at great speed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  I will share time with Deputy Healy.  I agree that AI is opening up a new frontier for misogyny and abuse. I also raise tonight that the image-based sexual abuse laws we have are not being implemented. I am very concerned about the institutions that we have and how they deal with non-consensual imagery being shared, particularly institutions that deal with young people. I will highlight this by starting with the case of a medical student in UCD who, in mid-2025, had a nude, bruised and unconscious image of herself shared and circulated to a significant number of UCD staff email addresses. This image was procured after she was raped by a student, a rape that she chose not to report - most women and victims do not report. The picture showed her bruised and undressed. I will not be too graphic, but I want to bring home the levels of misogyny that we have in our society. A finger was pointing toward her vagina. She was clearly unconscious or asleep.  The image was first shared in that email but subsequently, due to the inaction of UCD school of medicine and the leadership of UCD in general, it was shared on a WhatsApp group of students. I could not even repeat in the D\u00e1il the comments that accompanied it. I felt nauseated after reading them. I will say, however, that there were further rape threats and further threats to use objects to violently rape this person. This person was told she should take her own life. She was called all sorts of names and comments were made about her appearance and so on.  My issue is this. It was horrific that this happened. I cannot blame UCD for the circulation of that image in the first instance, but I can blame it when it was subsequently shared on two further occasions. The first time was to the email addresses. The university contacted An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na but did not make any contact with this young woman for about a week or a week and a half. That is absolutely outrageous. It also never had a proper meeting with the victim of this image-based sexual abuse. Students who received this image subsequently were not warned. There was no huge meeting to explain the dire consequences of sharing image-based sexual abuse. No information was provided to students about safeguarding or risk assessment.  In November 2025, the image was circulated to student group chats, accompanied by violent and misogynistic threats. In January 2026, it was circulated to a group of medical students at St. Vincent's. This has to be registered because UCD is the biggest university in this State. It has tens of thousands of students in its charge. It does not seem to have due regard for safeguarding in respect of image-based sexual abuse or how to react. There was no compassion or real sympathy shown to the victim in this case by the school of medicine either. It is unbelievable that trainee doctors are circulating images like this, but that is unfortunately where we are.  The student who was raped in this incident and did not report the rape experienced further repercussions in her own life arising from that rape, which I will go into at another time. Again, those were never dealt with with any sense of compassion by UCD. I have written to UCD school of medicine and management about this and the lack of culture. Apart from the meeting with some class representatives, the way the victim put it to me was that they have had more warnings about littering the library than about the consequences of resharing images like this. On one occasion, the university newspaper was threatened if it took up the story. I am particularly concerned about what the safeguarding policies are. Safeguarding policies seem to be just about harassment. If someone is being harassed, they can contact the university but in this case the person does not know who is harassing them. The Garda has not been able to find the original source of this image due to the clever use of technology. Our institutions are way behind. Never mind AI, they are way behind with laws that have been in place for a number of years.  The head of UCD should meet this victim, as I think the Minister of State would agree, to discuss the consequences. She does not want anything like this to happen to any student again. Clearly, UCD is not learning any lessons if it is not willing to do that. I should also add that this student has suffered incredibly from the original rape, which she did not want to report because she knew she would probably not be believed. This sort of reaction by the UCD authorities does not bode well for anybody who wants to come forward in these situations.  I felt it was important to raise that on the floor of the D\u00e1il. If our universities do not have proper safeguards in place to deal with the sharing of images of students in these situations, what hope is there for us? Will the Minister of State take this up with the head of UCD and ask her to meet with this woman - I would be happy to meet with UCD - who is certainly the victim in this case? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill. I thank the Sinn F\u00e9in Deputies for bringing it forward. I welcome the Bill. It is important legislation, although it is short, that is vital for the protection of the public, both adults and children, to stop the creation and distribution of intimate images without consent. Unfortunately, there are gaps in the principal Act of 2020. This legislation deals with that by creating a stand-alone offence of the creation of non-consensual intimate images.  This is an area where there must be no room for confusion, loopholes or grey areas. It is an area that must be dealt with and legislated for urgently. What we are dealing with here is, of course, a crime and a violation of individuals on the basis of image-based sexual abuse and child sexual abuse material. As I said, this is important legislation. It clarifies the original Act, creates the stand-alone offence and increases the time limit within which a case can be taken. That is very important because on very many occasions there can be long delays in information coming forward, so the extension of that time is vitally important. The increase in penalties is also very significant and welcome. This is very important legislation that I urge the Government to accept. I know it is not opposing the Bill but what we need is urgent action to implement the proposals in it.  I will also refer to the whole question of access by minors aged under 16 to social media. As we know, Australia was the world's first country to ban social media access for under-16s. That ban came into force in December 2025. Other countries, such as Spain, France, Denmark, Greece and Portugal, either have or are introducing similar bans of their own. In fact, the Spanish Prime Minister said, and I agree with him, that children must be protected from what he calls \"the digital Wild West\". Minors in Ireland have unsupervised access to a space they were never meant to navigate and are exposed to violence, manipulation, abuse, addiction, pornography and much more. Early access to social media is linked to risks, including cyberbullying, mental health issues, depression, anxiety and exposure to harmful content.  The Government must introduce legislation in this area to include State-enforced regulation to prevent access by under-16s to social media and require platforms to introduce technology-verified identity systems to prevent that access. Self-reported age is simply not good enough any more. Most platforms formally require people to be over the age of 13 but there is effectively no enforcement of that. The platforms will strenuously object to these proposals but they are of vital importance.  The owners of these tech companies are part of an elite group of billionaires. Nine of the ten top social media companies in the world are owned by six billionaires and eight of the top ten AI companies are billionaire-run. These billionaires use their extreme concentration of wealth to shape laws to influence the media, technology, taxation and public policy in their favour. These companies must be faced down for the protection of children. We must not be laggards in this area, waiting and waiting for the EU to act. As I said, other countries in the EU, such as Spain, France, Denmark, Greece and Portugal, have gone on their own. We must do the same and we must do it quickly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  Cuirim f\u00e1ilte roimh an Bille seo inniu. It addresses one of the most insidious frontiers of crime in modern Ireland. For years, we watched technology outpace our laws but today it is outpacing our own sense of human dignity. We are living in an era where nudification has become a service and predators do not even need a camera to destroy a life. All they need is an algorithm.  We stood in this Chamber and spoke about Coco's Law as landmark legislation, and it was, but technology is moving fast and the Government's system is moving too slow for it. Today, we are witnessing the rise of a new industry of misery - AI-generated deepfakes. Right now, a predator can take the face of a young girl from social media, run it through a nudification app, generate pornographic material of her and, because this image is technically a computer-generated image, the Government's current laws are not able to keep up. Rather, they ask whether it is an intimate image or a real person. While the Government's law debates the definitions, real persons get destroyed.  This Bill asserts a vital truth; any of these materials are real harm. We must criminalise the actual creation of these images from the outset. We know that hotline.ie received 1,500 reports of intimate image abuse last year and only a fraction of these ever resulted in a conviction. Garda\u00ed are fighting a digital war with their hands tied behind their back. Under the current two-year statute limits, the clock often expires before a tech company in California, or even Dublin, responds to a data request. Agencies such as the Data Protection Commission and Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n need more than laws. They need the power and resources to enforce those laws, including the ability to fine companies into compliance. It is estimated that 6,700 sexually abusive images are produced by AI every single hour, 99% of which target women and children. Hotline.ie reported a 166% increase last year in computer-generated or computer-altered child abuse materials.  Last week, the Oireachtas committee was treated very shoddily by major tech companies. X refused to appear. Others refused to give information about how many children are using their services and have admitted to refusing to building in the necessary safety to the design. Grok is not alone in the production of this material. Merlio AI, Soulgen, nudify-online, undress AI, DreamGF, deepnude.cc, Promptchan AI and Candy.ai all facilitate nudification tools. One video generation tool, owned by the Chinese giant Alibaba, allows for this material to be created. It allows anybody to upload an image and do anything they like with that image. ByteDance, which is a parent company of TikTok, offers an unmoderated video generation tool as well.  Six years ago, Aont\u00fa introduced a Bill looking for the banning of the provision of hardcore pornography to children. When we raised it, the Government turned its face against it, even though there is massive evidence that children are being distorted by this material and are being led to assaults in relation to it. We need to make sure that we look at the whole swathe of Internet content that is having significant negative effects on the minds of our young children. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  Did we ever think we would see the day where we would see imagery like this? When we grew up in our day, and a lot of people here grew up at the same time, if we had a row at school or outside, it did not follow us home.  The problem we have with the social media is that it follows you everywhere. Whether you are dead or not, it follows you. Whether it is AI-generated this or AI-generated that, it is all down to algorithms. People want to know how many likes they got here and there.  People always ask me about social media. I am on social media but I never answer anyone on social media. If people do not have the common sense or the know-how to pick up the phone and contact me, I will not talk to a phone that has algorithms and all the rest of it. I use it for good to help people but a lot of companies are using it for their own benefit. We do not know who is talking any more. People might see something coming from the States but no one knows if it is real any more. They do not know who is talking. It can have the Minister of State where he is now and have him doing something he is not physically able to do. The younger generation does not know any different. They see something on social media and they think it is true. No matter how false it is, they think it is true.  Why not have legislation that provides that if something is generated by AI or anything else, it must be clearly marked across the top that it has been AI-generated and if it is not marked, the liability is on the platforms. Producers of food or anything else in this country have to label their products as theirs, so why not label stuff as generated by AI, regardless of whether someone else is using their stuff. Accountability has to go right back to the people who allow it, the platforms. It should be marked. There should be accountability. How many lives have been ruined and taken because of false images being posted and mistruths being told? People look at it and then it is yesterday's news, with no accountability.  The Government has to get off its backside on this and get out in front of it. It has to make sure this is stopped for our children's lives, our friends' lives, our neighbours' lives and for everyone's life. They have to be protected. AI can be brilliant for certain things when it is used within the parameters for which it is meant to be used but when it is taken outside those parameters and used for harm or to hurt somebody, we cannot stand idly by. We need to have a branding system so people, including the next generation, can see that something is only AI-generated. We need a branding system that shows stuff like this and brings the portfolio back to the person and company that put it out in the first place. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  How long do I have? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Conor Sheehan)  You have three and a half minutes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ken O'Flynn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ken-O'Flynn.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ken O'Flynn  I thank Sinn F\u00e9in for bringing this Bill to the House. It is an important, detailed and well put together Bill. The senior Minister referred quite heavily in his speech to Coco's Law. More than 12 months ago, I wrote to the Minister about expanding Coco's Law on behalf of a young gentleman who lost his life in the River Lee in Cork - he was 33 years old - Luke Hyde. I asked him to bring in an addition, known as Luke's Law. This young man drowned in the River Lee while hundreds of people videoed him in difficulty. They videoed the final moments of his life. On three occasions, I have written to the Minister of State's Department and to the senior Minister, requesting he meet the Hyde family. I have received an acknowledgement that my letter was received. I have never received an appointment or a possible opening for him to meet and talk to this family. This heartbroken mother still sees images of her child occasionally arrive on TikTok. She opens her phone, Facebook or whatever and sees images of Luke in his final moments of distress. No one is willing to talk about that. I have asked the Minister of State and the Minister to bring in a Luke's Law to address that situation. It ties in a lot with the things being discussed tonight, nudification and the atrocities that are happening in what is the digital wild west, without a doubt, to women and particularly to children.  Paedophile rings have become incredibly sophisticated. That is the reality. They have embraced technology far more than most of us ever have. They are now scanning the globe, generating these types of images and sharing them on various platforms on the dark web, on Telegram and on various other communication networks and they have become very sophisticated. The problem is that we are not able to catch up. For some reason, criminal activity and those who are generating money from this and those involved in gratification from looking at young children are far more sophisticated and are running rings around the Irish Government, European governments and the rest.  I do not know whether this legislation will make much difference. I say that because we are dealing with people in Singapore, China and Taiwan and groups in Silicon Valley. How far does it span? The entire world has to be working on this. The entire networks have to be working on it.  Deputy O'Donoghue made a valid point about branding AI images. The other thing we have to address - penalising people is mentioned in the legislation and bringing them----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Conor Sheehan)  Thank you, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  I welcome this legislation that updates Coco's Law, which made it an offence to share or threaten to share intimate images without consent. Much has changed in recent years. At the time, the legislation did not explicitly criminalise the generation of a sexualised image of someone without consent, the creation of deep fake images, the manipulation of existing images to make them sexual, or - and this is a fundamental part of the Bill - the production of harmful images, even if they are never shared. I have to ask why anyone would produce an image if not to share it. It is then there possibly as a coercive threat, which goes back to the fundamental reason for Coco's Law, which criminalises threatening as well as doing it.  The creation should be banned, if it is possible to enforce, because AI has made these types of abuse dramatically easier. Deep fakes can be created from a single photograph. Child abuse imagery can be created without a real child being present and there are nudified versions of ordinary photographs. The second part of the Bill, which I welcome, changes the time for bringing a case from two to five years. Victims often discover the abuse long after it happens, so that is crucial.  We need to be able to get at the individuals who are creating and disseminating the images and, as others have said, go after the companies. They are getting away too easily in Ireland and relatively easily in the European Union. We have to do it collectively as a federation of states. We have to stand up to these companies, whether they are in China, the US or anywhere else in the world. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Brophy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Colm-Brophy.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Colm Brophy)  I thank Deputies Devine and Carthy for raising this issue. I also extend my appreciation to all the other speakers who contributed to the debate this evening. It was interesting to listen to so many points on which there was broad agreement in this House. It is not that usual to hear that.  As mentioned, online safety is a priority for the Government and the Minister, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan, and I have it at the heart of what we believe is important in what we are doing. It will also be a priority during our EU Presidency. The European Commission has a key role to play in this area. It is important to ensure we work together with other member states. As the Minister, and indeed the previous Deputy, indicated, a momentum is being developed to prohibit at European level the types of AI systems that enable the generation of child sexual abuse material and non-consensual intimate content of people. It is important that we drive this at EU level because we need to drive it at that scale.  A significant body of existing legislation provides the foundation of Ireland's online safety framework, including the regulation of social media. Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n, as Ireland's online safety media regulator, is at the heart of that framework. Under the framework, it is for the regulated platforms to demonstrate they have the correct safety measures in place to prevent illegal or harmful content being shown. The EU AI Act complements the protections provided for in the Digital Services Act, by introducing stronger governance for AI that is developed or deployed within the European Union.  These provisions will introduce transparency requirements such that AI-generated images must be clearly labelled, as has been mentioned, as being made by AI.  The Government is in the process of implementing domestic legislation to give full effect to the EU AI Act in Ireland. The main supervision and enforcement provisions will come into effect in August, as the Minister mentioned. These provide a formal regulatory mechanism for relevant surveillance authorities to engage with individual companies specifically on the development, provision and deployment of AI systems.  I reiterate that the harmful digital practices being debated disproportionately target women and children. So many of the contributors tonight made that point and it should be made by everybody who speaks on this matter.  In such circumstances, the zero-tolerance strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence is extremely relevant. Cuan is engaging with partners and stakeholders on research relating to the harmful effects of violent pornography and its links to violence against women and children in order to develop an evidence-based pornography literacy strategy spanning public awareness and education. This includes co-ordination with the Department of Education and Youth, ongoing work to provide prevention, consent and healthy relationships education through our schools and other youth settings and the implementation of the framework for ending sexual violence and harassment in higher education.  I reiterate that I am committed to keeping all legislation under review, as is the Minister. Technology is evolving rapidly, and criminal law must keep up. I have made it clear in the many contributions that I have made on this topic that one of the problems that we face in democracies is trying to keep pace with the speed at which things change. The ability of companies to instigate and commercialise products is effectively faster than most democracies can respond to them through legislation. What we are doing here this evening is important. I will consider whatever legislative amendments are required arising out of this debate. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in  We have seen a flood of deepfake sexual images generated by AI, often depicting children. As we know, Coco's Law criminalised the non-consensual recording or distribution of intimate images. However, it remains unclear whether the 2020 Act covers the creation of such images. It is important that the law keeps up with technology. In that context, the Government has been moving at snail's pace in many ways. We in Sinn F\u00e9in have three straightforward amendments to Coco's Law. One is to explicitly criminalise the non-consensual creation and generation of intimate images and videos using AI. The second is to extend the Statute of Limitations from two years to five for summary offences. The third is to increase the maximum penalties upon conviction.  Government inaction has left a clear gap in the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020. The recent Grok nudification scandal shows the consequences. A total of 85% of generated images were sexualised and during the Christmas period, an estimated 3 million sexualised images were produced, including 23,000 that appear to depict children. AI and big tech are really destroying the minds of a generation of children. That is quite shocking. We must do everything we can to stop it.  In my constituency of Wicklow-Wexford, domestic, sexual and gender-based violence continues to rise. Sexual assaults rose by 44% in Wicklow and 120% in Wexford over the past two decades, so we need zero tolerance for violence against men, women and children, which is often related to such imagery. We must also ensure that An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na has the personnel and resources to hold offenders to account and to ensure that social media companies face the full force of the law.  This Bill will criminalise the non-consensual creation of intimate images through AI and strengthen penalties. We call on all TDs to support it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Martin Kenny","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Martin-Kenny.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Martin Kenny  As the Minister of State knows, the purpose of the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences (Amendment) Bill is to try to ensure that we can avoid situations where individuals are taking advantage of technology. He mentioned that technology is moving so fast it is hard to keep up with it. That is certainly the point. He also made a valid point to the effect that the victims are primarily women and children, which means that the perpetrators are primarily men. That is something else that has to be considered in respect of this. For many years, social media, which is really antisocial media, has allowed the development of pornography and the spread and normalisation of hateful and harmful abuse. An element of that has been happening for some time and no checks have been put in place. So many people online are anonymous. We do not know who they are and there is no way of finding out who is behind all of this. The tech companies will not tell us who they are either. These companies have a responsibility. If they can say they are only facilitating what is happening, then the minimum they can do is identify those they are facilitating. At present, they do not do that to any great extent.  The purpose of the legislation is to deal with this relatively new phenomenon whereby the technology that is used has the capacity to visually undress and sexualise children and women, and use that as a weapon. This is about a power imbalance. All of these things are about power. It is about people who think that they have the power to humiliate and degrade others and that this enrich and lift them up. It is about time that we stepped in firmly, not just here in Ireland but globally, to ensure that we prevent any more of this from happening. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Johnny Mythen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Johnny-Mythen.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Johnny-Mythen.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Johnny Mythen  The Bill before the House is plain and simple. It amends what is known as Coco's Law. The purpose of the Bill is to clear up a grey area of whether the 2020 Act explicitly covers the creation of intimate images. However, it fails to state that the generation or creation of deepfake sexual images of adults is illegal. This must be remedied immediately. We witnessed the Grok controversy in December and January. Researchers estimated that 6,700 sexually suggestive nudified images were created hourly. These mainly depicted women, children and young girls and represent a violation of sacrosanct human rights. As if that was not bad enough, after a huge backlash, instead of removing such a base tool, X hid Grok behind a paywall rather removing it.  The French have taken action, along with the UK's Ofcom, and have launched an investigation and raided X offices, citing violations of the digital safety Act. X and similar platforms must be constrained from allowing the creation of nudified images of women, children and young girls. Many countries are now calling for the removal of tools that can facilitate the latter. The Government must act. I would like to see action similar to that in France and the UK being taken here. That is why Deputies M\u00e1ire Devine and Matt Carthy and Sinn F\u00e9in put this Bill forward.  Coco's Law is a deterrent but needs strengthening. A review of the Act in 2024 stated that 100 cases were prosecuted by the Director of Public Prosecutions between 2021 and 2023. However, more than 1,500 victim reports were made in the same period. This is why we are asking that the Bill be accepted and that Coco's Law be strengthened in order to criminalise non-consensual intimate images and increase the maximum penalties on conviction. I welcome the fact that the Minister is not opposing the Bill. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"M\u00e1ire Devine","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"M\u00e1ire-Devine.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy M\u00e1ire Devine  I thank all those who contributed. I also thank the stakeholders involved. We have come a long way from Bebo. That is a flashback. The Minister mentioned that the Attorney General thinks the existing definition is okay. The stakeholders and victims feel it is not, but that is for us to work out at the committee. We can discuss the matter, listen to people's opinions and come to a conclusion on the matter in a fairly urgent manner. This is urgent; we cannot allow what is happening to continue because it will just multiply. I describe it as being like a virus that gallops through people. In the past few weeks and months, it has galloped through all our little minds in the context of what we are watching or are being subjected to. As has been stated, 99% of the images involved relate to women and children.  The core issue here is the violation of the privacy and dignity of women and children by creating sexualised depictions of those who cannot and do not consent. There are Irish people involved in what is happening, but it could take two years for the Garda to even get to look at images that supposedly exist. By the time that happens, victims will have had to put up with, live with and dodge the existence of such images for years.  Technology is enabling non-consensual harm. In that context, the burden should not fall on the victims to fight back alone. That is why we are here. Stronger safeguards, clearer laws and responsible and accountable AI design are not optional; they are urgent needs to preserve social cohesion. The rise of misogyny and sexual assault is deeply concerning. We all need to be very concerned about that. Apparently, there has been a 43% increase in sexual offences, according to statistics issued by the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre at the weekend. This virus is infecting minds and warping them, especially the minds of our youth because they do not know any different. It is abhorrent and we as leaders must be diligent. We need to stand firm, be proactive, be parents and educate our young people.  We are not going to rely on the technology giants, which appear to have a preference for, allegiance to and maybe a love for robots as opposed to humanity. They make them a priority. Their only concern is profit and their moral compasses are largely lost. Ultimately, these mega-corporations must be held to account. We must pass robust legislation that can be used to deal with the task at hand. We need to stand together. It is imperative that we do so because we all agree that it needs fixing and fixing fast. We must stand up to these tech giants that are undermining democracies and humanity worldwide. They are also undermining how we are with each other worldwide. There is a lot of hate out there and a lot of toxic nastiness that, as one of my colleagues said, would make you want to vomit at times. I voice my solidarity again with all those people in the Public Gallery who have worked really hard and who are not going to stop. They are going to gallop through this virus and we are going to stop it whatever way we can. I look forward to engaging with the committee on this. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question agreed to."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar fionra\u00ed ar 8.02 p.m. agus cuireadh t\u00fas leis ar\u00eds ar 8.08 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Sitting suspended at 8.02 p.m. and resumed at 8.08 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences (Amendment) Bill 2026: Second Stage [Private Members]"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-10\/debate\/dbsect_14","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna - Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_14","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna - Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-10\/debate\/dbsect_15","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-10\/debate\/dbsect_16","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Insurance Coverage","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-10\/debate\/dbsect_15","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_16","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-10\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_16.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  This question relates to flood insurance. We have seen floods destroy homes, communities and businesses alike. The Central Bank's figures show that 290,000 buildings in the State are at risk of flooding and that the owners struggle to access flood insurance. Almost 100% of those have either limited cover or no cover at all. This does not even include properties at risk from coastal flooding. What actions is the Government taking to make sure that flood insurance will be available to everyone who needs it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Deputy Robert Troy)  I acknowledge the serious damage caused by recent flooding events and their impact on families, communities and businesses across Ireland. The Government remains committed to protecting Ireland\u2019s current and future generations by investing in climate adaptation measures to manage the impacts of extreme weather. Accordingly, \u20ac1.3 billion has been committed to the delivery of flood relief schemes over the lifetime of the national development plan, NDP, to 2030. This will protect approximately 23,000 properties across various communities from river and coastal flood risk.  In terms of flood insurance, the Central Bank of Ireland has undertaken extensive research into the nature and scale of the flood protection gap in Ireland. It found that one in 20 buildings - approximately 5% - has limited access to flood insurance and that 54% of this gap is concentrated in Dublin, Cork, Louth, Clare and Kildare.  It found that one in 20 buildings, approximately 5%, have limited access to flood insurance and that 54% of this gap is concentrated in Dublin, Cork, Louth, Clare and Kildare. However, our recent experiences demonstrate that the impacts of flooding are not solely limited to those counties. The report notes that no single solution exists to address the flood protection gap.  Building on the work carried out by the Central Bank, the Action Plan for Insurance Reform 2025 to 2029 includes four specific actions on flood and climate protection. With respect to action 17 of the action plan, the Department of Finance is currently engaging with multiple stakeholders on the development of a long-term strategic approach to the provision of flood insurance to consider potential solutions specific to Ireland to increase the availability and affordability of flood insurance. An update will shortly be provided to the Cabinet sub-committee on insurance reform. My officials will also continue to monitor developments at EU and international level and assess flood insurance matters, including through participation in the OPW and the Insurance Ireland working group. These matters remain a priority for the Government and efforts continue to be made to encourage a responsive approach from the industry. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Lack of access to insurance can affect communities and businesses in a very real way. The Minister of State mentioned the Central Bank report. In 2024, it reported as follows: \"The occurrence of a severe flood could leave households and businesses with high levels of uninsured losses, impairing economic recovery from a flood event\"., It concluded that there is \"a serious risk of complacency\". Everything the Minister has said is more of the same complacency. Indeed, when the T\u00e1naiste, who is seated beside him, was Minister ten years ago he talked about flood insurance. Ten years on, nothing has happened. We have the same situation over and over again.  The Minister of State is talking about more high-level reports, meetings and so on. Right now, we have a situation where private insurance companies pick and choose who they will extend flood insurance to. We do not allow that to happen with health insurance companies. We do not say they are allowed to only pick people who are healthy, young and all of that, but we let flood insurers get away with this. What is the Government going to do? We can roll back the tapes ten years. In fairness to the T\u00e1naiste, when he was the Minister responsible for the OPW, he said we needed to deal with this issue. However, ten years on we are still not dealing with it and there are still no solutions. When is the complacency going to end? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  EU legislation, the Solvency II directive, states that neither the Central Bank nor the Minister for Finance can compel insurance companies to provide insurance cover. The last action plan on insurance reform delivered but gaps remain, and we acknowledge that. That is why we published a new action plan on insurance last summer. We acknowledge that State intervention is needed. That is why there are four actions in the action plan targeting this area. One of those actions, a priority action, is to develop a long-term strategic approach to the provision of flood insurance. That will bring together the Central Bank, the insurance industry, the Department of Finance and the OPW. The insurance industry has already established a flooding task force and we expect proposals in the next month, which will feed into our Department\u2019s stakeholder forum, which will also take place next month. The forum will bring together the Central Bank, insurance industry, Department of Finance and OPW to bring about a proposal to address this gap in the market. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  The problem is that we have been hearing the same thing for the past ten years regarding task forces, multi-agency groups and the rest. That is all fine. We have to do some of that work to get the results and ideas. However, the Minister of State talks about his plans delivering but ten years on, they have not delivered for these households. Thousands of houses and businesses across the State have no insurance and are at risk of flooding. That is the problem here. The Government does not have a concrete plan.  Last year, when we raised this issue, Fine Gael went away and met with the CEOs of insurance companies and told them they should improve the level of cover for areas with demountable flood defences. Let us park demountable flood defences, however, because only 4,500 people use them in the first instance. The vast majority, 250,000 people, do not use them. The reality is the insurance companies have not done anything on this issue. If private insurance companies are unwilling to provide insurance cover, the State needs to address that. Across the European Union, there is a recognition and acceptance that the State needs to step in where the sector fails. Is the Government going to deal with this issue and does it have a potential State-supported scheme on the table? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  The Government is dealing with this issue. That is why it is a number one priority in the action plan that was launched last year. The flood protection gap in this country is one of the lowest in the European Union. Under 5% of people cannot get access to flood insurance. I acknowledge that is of cold comfort to that 5%, but in terms of coverage from a European Union perspective, we have one of the lowest gaps in the EU. We are meeting with the industry and it has established a flood task force. The proposals are imminent, which will feed into the group that has been established by the Government, consisting of the OPW, the Department of Finance and the Central Bank. While I acknowledge there are people who cannot get access to flood insurance, this Government has not left them uncompensated. They have received funding through the humanitarian fund which is supported by the Government. I acknowledge there is a gap in the flood insurance market but that gap has been supported through Irish Red Cross funding put in place following every flooding incident. The most recent Red Cross funding put in place resulted in an increase in the funding paid to businesses that suffered flood damage. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Insurance Coverage"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-10\/debate\/dbsect_17","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Regional Aid","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-10\/debate\/dbsect_15","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-10\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_17.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  I raise with the T\u00e1naiste the extension of the living cities initiative to five regional towns, including two in my constituency, Drogheda and Dundalk. When he has the opportunity he might state exactly when the initiative will go live for the new areas provided for under the Finance Act. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Finance (Deputy Simon Harris)  I thank Deputy Nash for raising this issue, which he has raised on a number of occasions. As the Deputy and the House are aware, the living city initiative is a targeted measure aimed at specific areas in need of regeneration. It offers either income or corporation tax relief for qualifying expenditure incurred in the refurbishment and conversion of qualifying residential and commercial buildings located in what we call special regeneration areas, currently in Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kilkenny, Limerick and Waterford. Budget 2026 announced a number of enhancements to the living city initiative to strengthen the scheme, including extending it to the end of 2030 and that it will be available to residential properties built before 1975 instead of 1915. Also, if work is carried out by an enterprise, the maximum relief available will be increased from \u20ac200,000 to \u20ac300,000.  It was also announced, to get to the nub of the Deputy\u2019s question, that the scheme would be extended to five regional centres, as set out in the national planning framework, namely, Athlone, Drogheda, Dundalk, Letterkenny and Sligo. The cities and towns in which the special regeneration areas may be located are not specified in primary legislation. Instead, the existing areas were designated following consultation with the relevant city councils and an independent review by a third-party adviser. We are repeating that process for the new areas.  I am pleased to say my Department has very recently received the draft special regeneration area maps for each of the five towns from the relevant local authorities. I acknowledge the speed at which the local authorities moved, which is really important. An independent review of the draft maps will now be undertaken to ensure the maps' consistency with the criteria for the special regeneration area. My officials are currently working on appointing an expert for that review. Upon the satisfactory conclusion of that review, it will fall to me to designate the special regeneration areas by an order. I anticipate that the areas will be designated by the end of March. It will then be a matter for the local authorities to implement the scheme. My expectation, based on engagement, is that all of the new special regeneration areas will be open by June at the latest. I look forward to keeping the Deputy up to date on that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  I thank the T\u00e1naiste. We can all agree that vacancy and dereliction are a scourge in communities up and down the country. There is a particularly pronounced problem in my hometown of Drogheda. The T\u00e1naiste will be aware of the extent of the problem in the historic core town centre of what is a very historic town, with some very significant buildings from an architectural and heritage point of view. Louth County Council did an analysis last year of the inner town centre area and identified approximately 58 vacant and derelict buildings. In fact, 46 of those are now in the area the council proposes the special regeneration area should service in the context of this scheme.  Close to 600 applications have been made since the inception of the scheme a number of years ago. There is a real job of work to be done by the Department of Finance and Revenue Commissioners to ensure the newly expanded and enhanced scheme is accessible and people understand how they might use the scheme and how it might benefit them individually and the towns we represent. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I agree and I want to pick up on that point around the local authorities. Although I am quick enough to criticise various local authorities on various occasions, I want to acknowledge the speed at which Louth County Council and the councils for the other three areas moved. That shows, as Deputy Nash said, the scourge that dereliction and vacancy are, and in a housing emergency. We are all aligned on the need for this and I am pleased that we should be in a position to designate the special regeneration areas by the end of March and get these schemes open for applications, I hope, by June.  That point about the low uptake of the existing scheme is fair. Some of it is related to publicising the scheme and getting the word out there. I will certainly reflect on how we can do more of that with the local authorities. In regard to some of the changes we have made around the over-the-shop criteria, 1915 was probably too restrictive and we are moving it to 1975. We are also providing the certainty that it will be in place until 2030 and, coupled with the five additional towns, I hope it will make a real difference. We will obviously all need to monitor this. I know the Deputy's county is the only one that has two towns in the scheme, Drogheda and Dundalk. I have been in Drogheda and I know the challenge of dereliction. I think this will make a big difference. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  It is one weapon in our armoury. There is no doubt about that but we need to take a varied approach to this. Another initiative, which was announced in the budget last year, was the transitioning of the derelict sites levy to a derelict sites tax. By definition, the responsibility for the collection of that tax will be given to the Revenue Commissioners. I have been campaigning for that for years; it makes sense. I always made the point that business owners who can afford to allow a building to become vacant and derelict must be quite wealthy because owners need to sweat every single asset they have to make sure their business is successful. Sometimes the only language that people understand is the brown envelope with the harp on it containing a tax demand. It is important we introduce that as quickly as possible.  I am a bit confounded as to why it will take so long to introduce the tax, or transition from the levy to the tax. We have a very sophisticated system in Revenue. We could set up a very complex wage subsidy scheme practically overnight thanks to the expertise of officials in Revenue, the Department of Finance and elsewhere, with the support of IBEC, ICTU and so on. I am confounded as to why the derelict sites tax will take so long to introduce. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  The Deputy is right that the living cities initiative is just one tool. That is fair. The derelict sites tax will be another. It is my intention to update the Government in March on the policy direction in relation to that. We are working closely on it. There are meetings, at least weekly, between my Department, the Department of housing at official level. It is, as the Deputy knows, my intention to legislate for that tax in the next budget. We have not decided on the rate yet but it will be no lower than the current rate. There is an argument to be had around whether it should be higher but we will return to that.  I accept this is a big body of work so I am not apportioning any kind of blame or responsibility. I think Revenue will be able to do this quite quickly. The challenge will be when it is ready to be done in terms of what is dereliction and the consistent application of dereliction. When you move, as the Deputy knows, from a levy to a tax, it has to be applied formally. I am very open to having a conversation about how quickly it can be done but it will involve a lot of work on the part of the local authorities as well as Revenue. Revenue is good at collecting tax but we have to have absolute clarity on the maps, dereliction, what is a tax and how that is applied in Louth and Wicklow on a consistent basis. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Regional Aid"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-10\/debate\/dbsect_18","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Housing Provision","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-10\/debate\/dbsect_15","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-10\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_18.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  This Government, Fine Gael in particular, has a long history of welcoming in the vulture funds to snap up Irish homes. Only because of rightful public anger at vulture funds bulk-purchasing homes a number of years ago under the nose of ordinary workers and families have we seen any pressure put on, and action by, the Government. The Minister committed that this practice would end. Has it ended or is it still going on? If it is still going on, how many family homes were bulk-purchased by vulture funds last year and in previous years? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I thank the Deputy for the question. As he will be aware, the standard rates of stamp duty currently applying on the acquisition of residential property are 1% on values up to \u20ac1 million, 2% on values exceeding \u20ac1 million and 6% on any balance above \u20ac1.5 million. However, in May 2021, a higher stamp duty rate was introduced with the aim of disincentivising investment funds from buying up large numbers of completed houses, usually with the intention of placing them on the rental market. The rate that initially applied was 10% but this was subsequently increased to 15% in budget 2025. The higher stamp duty rate is charged on the acquisition of individual houses, where a person acquires at least ten such properties during any 12-month period.  Complementing the higher stamp duty since 2021 are section 28 guidelines for planning authorities, which aim to prevent multiple units being sold to single buyers. Revenue has provided me with the following provisional data regarding the number of residential properties subject to the higher rate and the total approximate value of those homes. In 2021, 189 properties were subject to the higher rate, with a value of \u20ac47.9 million. In 2022, 454 properties were subject to the higher rate, with a total of \u20ac177.5 million. In 2023, 675 properties were subject to the higher rate, with a total value of \u20ac266.1 million. In 2024, that fell to 396 properties, with a value of \u20ac156 million. In 2025, that reduced to 293 properties, with a total value of around \u20ac88.3 million.  The provisional data, therefore, indicate that the combination of the two measures is now having the desired effect, with the number of house acquisitions subject to the higher stamp duty rate falling each between 2022 and 2025, inclusive. It is also important to state something that is not stated, namely, that the Central Statistics Office, CSO, data now show that institutional buyers are also net sellers of homes. In 2024, they sold more houses than they bought.  We will continue to monitor these trends to continue to ensure the trend is downward, as it has been for the past three years, and to ensure these measures are having the desired impact. I will keep this under review on an annual basis. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Under review. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  That is what we do in the budget. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  The Minister promised us he was going to end this practice. He has just told the House that nearly 300 family homes were bought up by vulture funds last year, and he is going to keep it \"under review\". Under his watch, the Government is sitting by and allowing vulture funds to buy up family homes, a practice he promised over and over again that he would end. A total of 293 homes that should have been bought by ordinary workers and families last year were snapped up by corporate landlords and vulture funds. What happened to the Minister claiming he was going to stop all of this? When he was Taoiseach, he wrote to the finance Minister saying not enough was being done to stop the bulk-purchasing of homes. He argued that bulk-purchasing of homes needed for first-time buyers could not be tolerated. It appears now that he has tolerated 293 of them being bulk-purchased last year.  The measures are not enough. The measures were in place all of last year. What is the Minister going to do, or is this, again, just something Simon says? I would ban vulture funds bulk-purchasing homes. It should be stopped. It is immoral. There is a crisis that the Government parties have created and the Minister is now facilitating vulture funds to snap up hundreds of homes every single year, and we are supposed to have cold comfort that the trends are going down. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  Here is what we actually did. The Governments I have been part of, first, introduced a higher rate of stamp duty. Second, the Government I led when I was Taoiseach and wrote that letter increased that rate of stamp duty from 10% to 15%. Each year, as a result of taking those measures, the number of homes being acquired has fallen. It fell in 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025, and it is expected to fall in 2026. What I am now telling the House, based on CSO data, not my view of the world, is that we are now seeing these institutional buyers becoming net sellers of homes. They are now selling more homes in Ireland than they are buying. The policy effects, coupled with the planning guidelines, are having an impact. Of course, a Minister for Finance will say they will keep these issues under review because, as the Deputy knows, we review all of these measures each year in the annual budget. We moved from 10% to 15%. I think Deputy Doherty would have advocated for moving to a higher rate than the 10%. That was required and since we made that move, we have seen the positive impact, and we will continue to monitor this very closely. The broader issue in relation to housing, housing supply and this Government's commitment is something I will have to debate when I have more time on the clock. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  The stamp duty measure was introduced back in 2021. Does the Minister know that vulture funds purchased more homes last year than they did in 2021? He said the trend is going down every year. That is not true; the figure actually increased in 2022. The 293 homes purchased are homes that people are queuing for and want to have as their family home, their forever home, and vulture funds are buying them up because they have unlimited means. The Minister can splice and dice this any way he likes. He promised he was going to end this practice, which can be ended. Stop tinkering about the edges, and ban it. Stop imposing taxation on vulture funds because they have unlimited means. Does the Minister know why? It is because he provided them with a sweetheart deal. They do not pay any tax on rental income, the \u20ac3,000 they rent out the properties for. This is why they can pay the Government's tax. We cannot get away from the fact that hundreds of properties that should be available to families to start off their own homes are being snapped up by vulture funds.  Ban the practice. Stop tinkering around the edges. I hear the T\u00e1naiste is not even considering any other policy bar reviews. The facts speak for themselves. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  The policy every Minister for Finance undertakes is to review all taxation measures in the context of a budget. That is what we will do this year, as we do each year. We have already shown that we have a willingness to act and to take further policy measures to make sure the intervention was having more of the required effect.  The Deputy calls them \"vulture funds\" because that is a loaded term. We need private investment in the housing market. That is not just my view; it is the view of the Housing Commission. We need people to come into this country and invest because we also need rental properties in this country. Houses are required for the rental market. As of the last census, there were 330,000 units in the private rental sector, of which 62% were outside Dublin. We need to make sure we also have a rental supply. I have talked and the Governments I have been in \u2013 this Government and the last Government \u2013 have talked about using the taxation system to disincentivise the practice and to collect more revenue for the State where the practice was carried out. We have never suggested that there is not a role for private investment in relation to housing supply. That might be a point on which we differ but it is a point which the Housing Commission also recognises. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Housing Provision"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-10\/debate\/dbsect_19","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Financial Services","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-10\/debate\/dbsect_15","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_19","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-10\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_19.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  I want to ask about families who have had their mortgages sold to vulture funds. This has caused an incredible amount of stress and anxiety to people all over the country. These people are supposed to have the same rights as anyone else under the code of conduct on mortgage arrears, but this has not been the real lived experience of many people. What is the Government doing to ensure these mortgage holders\u2019 rights are protected? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I thank the Deputy for this important question. There is a wide range of measures in place to protect mortgage holders through the consumer protection framework, but it is an issue on which we must always remain vigilant. I am pleased to see that arrears over 90 days are now at their lowest levels since 2009, at 3.4% of all private dwelling house accounts. We all welcome that after the horrific period people went through after the financial crash in this country. We need to remain vigilant. We have a framework that requires all regulated entities to be transparent and fair in their dealings with borrowers. It ensures that borrowers are protected from the beginning to the end of the mortgage life cycle. The same protections apply to mortgage holders regardless of the regulated entity with which they are dealing, whether it is a bank, retail credit firm or credit servicing firm. If there is any deviation from that, I would welcome examples and would point out that there may be recourse to the likes of the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman.  All credit servicing firms are required to be authorised and supervised by the Central Bank of Ireland. They are subject to all relevant regulatory requirements and financial services legislation. These include the Central Bank of Ireland's consumer protection code and the code of conduct on mortgage arrears. The consumer protection code is the cornerstone of the Irish financial consumer protection framework. It requires regulated firms to meet minimum standards of care towards their customers and to ensure regulated firms operate to protect their customers' best interests. A revised and enhanced version of this code will come into effect next month, which will include enhanced provisions in relation to mortgage providers. For example, mortgage providers are currently required to issue a notification to customers either annually to variable-rate mortgage holders or at the maturity of fixed rates. The notification sets out a summary of alternative mortgage products available from that provider. Under the revised code, recognising the role that switching can play in an effectively functioning mortgage market, mortgage lenders will be required to include within these notifications a personalised euro savings estimate alongside each alternative mortgage refinancing option presented. Lenders will also be required to provide a specific reminder to customers concerning mortgage refinancing options. The code of conduct on mortgage arrears requires regulated firms to have a transparent process in place for dealing with borrowers in, or at risk of, mortgage arrears. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  I am not sure that the T\u00e1naiste understands the extent of the problem. I thank him for the answer he has given. The code of conduct on mortgage arrears is not being enforced. People go through absolute hell when their mortgage is sold on. The T\u00e1naiste asked for an example and I will give him one. I spoke recently to a person who had their mortgage sold through the State-engineered Project Glas, despite the fact that according to Central Bank rules her mortgage was actually sustainable \u2013 it was in positive equity. It has since been sold again even though repayments were being made. She has faced serious data breaches, wrongful receivership and long regulatory delays. She has not even been able to find out if the latest vulture fund has lawful title to her home. She is now facing a repossession order and potential homelessness. I am asking the T\u00e1naiste what he is actually doing about this. It is fine to have all these procedures in place but they are not being enforced and people are going to hell as they try to have the protections that should be applying to them applied. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  As I said at the outset, we must always remain vigilant in this area. I am putting the facts and the law on the record of the House in terms of the obligation on all regulated entities that should be consistent regardless of the entity. Of course if there are any examples - the Deputy has given me one - they should be pursued fully. While I am not getting involved in individual mortgages, I am very happy to discuss the broader issue and, indeed, any examples the Deputy wishes to give me with the Central Bank as well. The Deputy has asked what actions have been taken. We are seeing further enhancements in relation to the code coming into place next month. I am very sorry to hear about the very difficult case the Deputy has rightly highlighted this evening. We have very clear standards that are expected to be followed in relation to all mortgage holders, regardless of which bank or entity holds their mortgage. Any breaches of those standards should be pursued rigorously with the authorities. I am very happy to discuss that further with the Central Bank and pursue that example. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  The person who contacted me recently told me of how the cumulative impact has been devastating. She has lived for over a decade under constant stress and uncertainty with profound effects on her mental health and physical health, her family life and her ability to live with dignity in later life. She is now facing the risk of imminent homelessness. She has tried to go through the regulatory process. She has been on to the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman and so on. Having worked in an area related to this one, she has an ability to try to advocate for herself that a lot of people would not have, and she has still found it impossible. The reality for people is that they have experienced multiple breaches of regulations but every time they try to fight that, it is extremely difficult for them. They are faced with punitive interest rates that often mean they have effectively paid off the capital on their home and the normal interest rate but they are still stuck in a perpetual mortgage. I am asking the T\u00e1naiste what he is going to do to address this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I genuinely do not wish to be argumentative about this because the case the Deputy highlighted is clearly one that is causing his constituent or the person who contacted him extreme pain and anguish. However, my genuine belief from my engagement with officials and with the Central Bank - this is a broader point around the enforceability of the protections that are already there - is that the protections that are there are robust and are meant to apply without fear or favour to all regulated entities. I take very seriously any entity that does not follow those standards because they are the laws of our land. They are the structures we have in place. I do not have the benefit of the information the Deputy has. While I will not get involved on an individual mortgage, I am very happy to take that as an example and discuss it directly with the Central Bank and revert to the Deputy if he wishes to send it on to me. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Financial Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-10\/debate\/dbsect_20","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Cost of Living Issues","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-10\/debate\/dbsect_15","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_20","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-10\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_20.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Inflation is 50% higher than what the Government had forecast. It claimed prices were stabilising and that was the basis for the Government pulling the cost-of-living supports in the budget. The ESRI said that the budget resulted in income losses for the average Irish household. Will the T\u00e1naiste accept he got this badly wrong? Will he bring forward a cost-of-living package that so many families desperately require giving the prices that are being charged to them in different guises, whether shopping, insurance or many other examples? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  As the Deputy and people across the country will be aware, the Government has provided significant support to households and businesses to try to help to absorb the worst impact of rising prices on households and businesses over the last four years. Analysis from my Department confirms that lower income households gained the most from measures introduced in budget 2026. The analysis also shows that people with the lowest incomes fare the best, with gains in the bottom two cohorts of 4.9% and 3.8% respectively.  The targeted nature of the package is also evident in supports provided to households with children. Over previous budgets, governments provided supports to give relief to the most vulnerable in the face of extraordinary shocks. At the same time, we avoided a scenario whereby fiscal policy would have served to add inflationary pressures in our economy. I know this is a hard thing to say when people are under pressure, but the Government can have an inflationary effect which can inadvertently make things more challenging in relation to the cost of living.  That is always a balance one has to try to strike. Full employment can never be taken for granted, as it sometimes is in political debate. The budget measures were calibrated to protect jobs, maintain our competitiveness and keep our public finances safe while allowing for increased capital investment.  The budget moved away from the one-off packages of previous budgets, as we said we would do, in favour of more targeted and permanent measures that will provide greater certainty to people. However, recognising that energy prices remain elevated, we extended the reduced VAT rate on gas and electricity bills until 2030. We also extended the rent tax credit and mortgage interest relief to further support households.  Headline inflation averaged just over 2% in 2025. I am, of course, conscious that the rate reached around 3% in the autumn of 2025, as the Deputy alluded to. The Department is clear this increase reflected a base effect, meaning that very low figures were recorded in the same period a year earlier. Inflation is now moderating. We see this in the figures for both December and January. This reflects, in part, the unwinding of the base effects. This is in line with my Department's expectations and we expect further moderation as the year progresses. The ESRI and Central Bank published revised forecasts for inflation in December of between 2% and 2.25% for 2026. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  The latest increases in food prices expose the Government's bogus justification for ripping away the cost-of-living supports. The ESRI was very clear: lower-income households felt worse off as a result of the budget. We can argue over and back all the time but the lived experience is very clear. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald stood here earlier today and outlined that 70,000 more households cannot pay their electricity bills than the same time a year ago. This is not us saying it, but the CRU. These are families. They could not fit into Croke Park and the Aviva together. That is just the additional number of people in the past year who cannot pay for their electricity. Whatever the Minister might say, suggesting the Government is doing this, that and all the rest, 70,000 more people are worse off. Those are the bare facts of it.  Market researchers tell us that food inflation is 6.8% and the CSO tells us it is 4%. Five large supermarkets control 90% of the market. The Government refuses to stand up to these vested interests over prices that are out of control. The Government is not ending the rip-off or getting prices under control and all it has done is withdraw the supports. Does the Minister accept the reality of all of these figures and recognise that the State has to intervene and support those individuals in a cost-of-living package that the Government wrongly decided to withdraw at the wrong time? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  We did take interventions in the budget to support people. In this D\u00e1il we did not provide energy credits to anybody, but we did take a decision to bring in a range of targeted measures for those most in need. There is a legitimate debate on how best to do that and we have that debate back and forth across the floor. However, we introduced a social protection package of over \u20ac1 billion. We increased weekly payments to 1.5 million people, including our pensioners, carers and people with disabilities. These payments have been increased by more than \u20ac50 over the past number of years. We increased the domiciliary care allowance. We have the largest ever increase in the child support payment. To help working families, which we rightly talk a lot about in this House, we saw a large increase the threshold for the working family payment. We saw large increases in eligibility for fuel allowance. The minimum wage also increased. Next month, we will expand the fuel allowance for families receiving working family payment. Later this year we will introduce the largest ever increase in income disregards for carer's allowance. We will pay the carer's support grant. We are expanding the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance for preschool children. I accept the cost-of-living challenge is real; I do not doubt that. However, I disagree and push back on the idea that we did not take actions to try to assist. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I accept the Government did all those things; that is a statement of fact. However, if the Minister thinks that people are not worse off this year than they were last year, he is living in a bubble and that is the problem here. The facts are clear. As I said, energy is just one example where 303,000 people cannot pay their bills and that is only electricity. Another 170,000-plus cannot pay their gas bills. Prices are going through the roof. The Minister talked about how the Government had put up rates. It is also putting up rents with the rent-hike Bill. Electricity bills have gone up. The Government put up college fees. It has put up taxes on petrol and diesel. It put up the tax on the family home. It is planning to increase taxes on home heating oil. Insurance premiums are up. Car insurance is up. Home insurance is up. Health insurance is up. Public liability insurance is up. The Government has completely failed to be true to the promise it gave in the election campaign to reduce childcare costs. It abandoned workers when it promised them it would provide them tax cut, but instead it was developers who got the multimillion euro tax cut. The Government based all this on inflation rates that are now 50% higher than it had projected in the budget. It has got this wrong. People are struggling and people are suffering. A cost-of-living package is desperately needed. The Minister and his colleagues need to get out of the bubble they are in and recognise where ordinary people are at. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  We are not in any sort of bubble. The Deputy may have his political differences with me, but the economists in the Department of Finance stand over the projections. The ESRI and the Central Bank projections, published in December are there for him to see. I have outlined, as was outlined to me, the base effect. We expect inflation to further moderate as the year goes on. The Deputy has a list of things he thinks we should have done and we also have a list of things we did. Budgets are about trying to get the balance right. Wages are also up. The State pension is also up. Carer's allowance is up. Employment is up. Inflation is falling. The number of people buying their first home is up. The number of homes being built is also up. We intend to build on that in the time ahead because this was the first budget of five. While different people will have different views, we took decisions to lower the cost base for the hospitality sector. We took the decision to try to stimulate apartment building. Let us see and we will debate that in time. I believe that is a good thing to have done; the Deputy has a different view. We also took the decision to invest significantly in public services, including an extra \u20ac618 million in disability services. The Deputy knows my views on the progress I believe we can make on personal income tax to help working families in the time ahead. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Cost of Living Issues"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-10\/debate\/dbsect_21","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Insurance Industry","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-10\/debate\/dbsect_15","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel McCarthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-10\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_21.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. I would like to acknowledge the severe impact the recent storm has had on families, communities and businesses across Ireland. In doing so, I also acknowledge the work of our emergency services, our local authorities, the Civil Defence and the very many organisations and individuals who worked tirelessly for their communities over the past few weeks. It is also important to state that the Minister for enterprise, Deputy Burke, and the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Calleary, moved quickly to open the enhanced emergency humanitarian flooding support for impacted businesses, and emergency response payment scheme, to help businesses and homes to get back on their feet.  As I outlined in my earlier reply, insurance reform, including increasing the affordability of and accessibility to insurance, including flood insurance, remains a key priority for the Government. The Action Plan for Insurance Reform 2025-2029 includes specific actions on flood and climate protection.  My Department is currently engaging with multiple stakeholders on the development of a long-term strategic approach to the provision of flood insurance, to consider potential solutions specific to Ireland to increase the availability and affordability of flood insurance. An update on this work and the other specific actions in the plan will be provided at the upcoming Cabinet sub-group on insurance reform.  This work will build on the extensive research undertaken by the Central Bank of Ireland into the nature and scale of the flood protection gap in Ireland, which identified that approximately 5% of buildings in Ireland that have limited access to flood insurance.  We know that flood insurance alone cannot address the totality of the flood protection gap, which is why the Government remains focused on the development of a sustainable, planned and risk-based approach to managing flooding. We are investing in climate adaptation measures to manage the impacts of extreme weather, to protect Ireland\u2019s present and future generations.  A total of \u20ac1.3 billion has been committed to the delivery of flood relief schemes over the lifetime of the national development plan to 2030. This will protect approximately 23,000 properties across various communities from river and coastal flood risk. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel McCarthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Noel McCarthy  I thank the Minister of State for his response. I know he is acutely aware of the impact of damage caused by flooding and the lack of insurance cover thereafter. My constituency of Cork East, particularly Castlemartyr, Killeagh, Mogeely, Midleton, Rathcormac and Whitegate, suffered extensive flood damage caused by Storm Babet in October 2023. Flood relief schemes and protection measures are progressing but they remain years away from completion. An individual property protection scheme to provide flood protection barriers has also been established but again the roll-out has been slow.  Insurance payouts appear to be minimal in the aftermath of storms. I know of one man whose entire fleet of cars was destroyed but he was only paid roughly 10% of the value of his policy, leaving him with only the legal route to pursue his losses. Others will not be insured again having received a payout. These are real people with real stories. In the absence of flood schemes insurance protection gaps in flood prone areas have developed. I ask the Minister of State to do all he can to ensure constant engagement with the insurance industry and relevant stakeholders.  I would also like to be associated with the Minister of State's words of praise for all of the emergency services. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  I thank Deputy McCarthy for making those very clear and valid points this evening. The T\u00e1naiste has just reminded me that the Cabinet committee on climate is meeting in the morning and one of the items on the agenda is consideration of what interim measures can be introduced in advance of permanent flood defences going in to particular areas. We need to speed up mitigation measures in areas such as those mentioned by the Deputy.  I reiterate in relation to the action plan on insurance reform that there are ten priority actions, one of which is in the area of delivering flood insurance to fill the gap that is there. Taking a long-term, strategic approach to the provision of flood insurance will involve building on the work that has already been undertaken by the Central Bank, as well as working with the insurance industry, the Department of Finance and the OPW to design a scheme that will be fit for purpose for Ireland.  The insurance industry has already established a flooding task force. I met a member of that task force earlier today who informed me that it will have proposals for consideration by Government in the next number of weeks. Work is well under way in terms of addressing the flood insurance gap that currently exists. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel McCarthy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Noel-McCarthy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Noel McCarthy  I thank the Minister of State for his positive response. As a result of a lack of flood insurance, residents are fearful of further damage to their homes or businesses whenever bad weather is forecast. Has the possibility of a flood insurance cover scheme to underwrite flood risk been explored? Similar reassurance schemes exist in other jurisdictions such as Flood Re in the UK. Is the Minister of State of the opinion that such a scheme could be implemented here?  My home town of Fermoy has had flood protection, thank God, since 2012, which is working very successfully. However there are some commercial businesses that still cannot get insurance, even though the town is flood protected.  Again, I thank the Minister of State for his response. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  The Deputy mentioned particular areas where flood defences have been put in place but flood insurance cover remains problematic. That is a big concern because the Government has invested tens of millions of euro in permanent flood defence mechanisms but the insurance companies have not responded adequately. I met the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, earlier today and am due to meet with the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, next week to discuss ensuring that outstanding service level agreements that are in place are adhered to in order to give insurance companies confidence to come in and provide insurance where the State has made the necessary investment.  The Deputy also mentioned Flood Re, a scheme that is in operation in the UK. The Department of Finance explored that scheme back in 2016 but at that time it was felt that it was not a good fit for Ireland. However, in the context of the new action plan on insurance reform, the Department is re-evaluating that scheme, as well as looking at other international models to see how they can feed into the work that is ongoing here from an Irish perspective. The Central Bank, the Department of Finance, the OPW and the insurance companies, through Insurance Ireland, are coming together in March to examine what options we can look at implementing from an Irish perspective that will fit our model here. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Insurance Industry"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-10\/debate\/dbsect_22","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-10\/debate\/dbsect_23","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Fiscal Policy","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-10\/debate\/dbsect_22","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_23","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-10\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_23.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  The Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, ISIF, still has investments in companies operating in the illegally occupied Palestinian territories. Over \u20ac6 million of our money remained invested in six companies identified on the UN database at the end of 2024. This is an arm of our State actively profiting from companies working on illegally occupied land. Will the T\u00e1naiste ensure that the ISIF fully divests from companies operating in illegally occupied Palestinian territories? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I thank Deputy O'Callaghan for the question. In replying I want to restate the Government's clear opposition, which is also the clear opposition of this House, to illegal Israeli settlements, which are contrary to international law and damaging to the pursuit of peace in the Middle East. Ireland has not been found wanting in its support of the Palestinian people and has taken practical steps at national, EU and international levels. We have been a clear and leading voice on this. Ireland\u2019s financial support to the people in Palestine since January 2023 will amount to \u20ac144 million by the end of this year, following a recent announcement of additional funding made by the Minister for foreign affairs, Deputy McEntee.  The Deputy refers to the ISIF and to the UN Human Rights Council database, which identifies businesses involved in specific activities in the occupied Palestinian territories. This UN database was first issued in 2020, updated in June 2023 and most recently updated in September 2025.  It is important to say from the outset that ISIF has complete independence in implementing its investment strategy under the law of the land, namely, the National Treasury Management Agency Acts, through an investment committee that reports to the NTMA's board. However, in 2024 ISIF took an investment decision to divest from six companies, all of which remain on the updated UN database, with a total value at the time of the divestment decision of approximately \u20ac2.95 million. The six companies are known and I am happy to provide them to the Deputy but in the interests of time, I will not name them now. The NTMA also divested from directly held sovereign bond holdings within the global portfolio across Egypt, Israel, and Jordan in July 2025. It is important to state the companies in question operate all over the world and ISIF's investment in them represents a very small proportion of its overall investments. This is, truthfully, some of the challenge. These are companies that are global and that operate right throughout the world. Unfortunately it is also true to say that divestment from these companies does not mean that they would stop maintaining their presence in the occupied Palestinian territories.  As I have outlined already, ISIF has, to date, completed several divestment programmes and has also excluded investments from the fund. Exclusion is used on a limited basis, reflecting exclusions mandated by legislation including the Fossil Fuel Divestment Act 2018 and the Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Mines Act 2008, among others. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  The issue here is that there should not be a single cent of Irish public money invested in companies operating illegally in the occupied territories of Palestine. I do not believe there is any public support for our money being used in that way. What is clearly needed is an absolutely full divestment by the ISIF - which invests public money - from companies operating in the occupied territories. I am calling for full divestment. Will the T\u00e1naiste also call for that? Will he call for a full divestment by the ISIF from any companies operating illegally in the occupied territories in breach of international law? Will he join me in calling for that? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I have a specific legal role and responsibility. The NTMA, and the ISIF in particular, has complete independence in implementing its investment strategy under the NTMA Act and I am respectful of that. However, I did recently meet with officials from the NTMA and I was assured that ISIF will continue to monitor its holdings. It does not comment on individual investments but I have outlined the views that I know are shared in this House.  I will make two points to the Deputy on this. The first is that it is my understanding that ISIF exposure to companies involved in specified activities in the occupied Palestinian territories, as listed on the UN database, account for about 0.16% of its global portfolio. The fund has taken a number of decisions already to divest. The second point, and this is just a statement of the obvious, is that we are operating in a world where these are such large, global companies that have vast presences across the world. They may have a very small presence in a territory that we believe is absolutely illegally occupied but they are massive, global companies and that is a complicating factor.  The independence of the NTMA and the ISIF has to be respected. I met with them recently and conveyed my views in relation to this. It represents only 0.16% of its global portfolio. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  I am not clear whether the T\u00e1naiste is actually justifying the current situation. Is he justifying it or making excuses for it?  Not a single cent of our money should be invested in companies operating in illegally occupied territories in Palestine. The T\u00e1naiste knows this and I know this. The public do not want their money invested there. I am making an easy ask to the T\u00e1naiste. I am not asking him to direct the strategic investment fund. I understand that, because of its independence, he cannot do so. However, he can publicly give his view and call on it to divest fully. There is nothing in law to stop him doing that. The T\u00e1naiste is able to give his opinion on that and call for it. I ask him to make a stand now and call on the fund to divest in full from any companies in breach of international law in the Palestinian territories. Will the T\u00e1naiste join me in making that call? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I do not in any way doubt the Deputy's bona fides and I fully respect his sincerity. I do not believe that I can go further than I have. I have made it clear that the ISIF has already taken a number of decisions to divest from companies and directly from sovereign bond holdings. It continues to monitor this. The fund's level of exposure in this area is 0.16% and has been declining. The fund continues to keep this under review. I want to see a situation where we do not have occupied Palestinian territories but where we have a two-state solution. That is the position of the Irish Government. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Fiscal Policy"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-10\/debate\/dbsect_24","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Tax Reliefs","counts":{"speechCount":9,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-10\/debate\/dbsect_22","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-10\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_24.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  Given the rate of osteoporosis in Ireland and the problem with regard to fragility fractures, I would be grateful for an update on the commitments in the programme for Government to consider tax measures to encourage gym membership to allow for strength and resistance training. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I thank Deputy Byrne for raising this issue. I acknowledge that it is not the first time he has raised it with me, despite my short time in this current role. I acknowledge the presence of this issue in the programme for Government. This question provides me with an opportunity to outline the significant investment that the Government has made in this area. The Government has now invested well over \u20ac1 billion in sports infrastructure and development in Ireland since 2018. It is worth putting that figure on the record. The return on that investment in community participation, inclusion, integration, and physical and mental well-being is enormous and it is probably not even possible to fully quantify all of those benefits. The allocation for the sports programme in the budget of 2026 is over \u20ac290 million, meaning an increase of just under \u20ac60 million, or 26%. This clearly exceeds the national sports policy commitment to double Government funding in sport by 2027 compared to 2018 levels. Our sincerity, bona fides and credibility in terms of investment in sport and physical and mental exercise and well-being are there for all to see. The programme for Government says that we will consider measures in conjunction with my Department to encourage gym membership and active participation in sport and exercise.  The tax code already provides for a number of fitness-based measures, including the cycle to work scheme and the accelerated capital allowance scheme for child care facilities, but also for fitness centres, which encourages employers to develop fitness centres on site for their employees. Furthermore, the private gym sector already receives tax-based public support through the reduced rate of 9% VAT on its membership fees. It is estimated that this reduced rate saves private gym operators and gym members around \u20ac32 million per year. An exemption from income tax and corporation tax also applies for the income of certain bodies established for the purposes of the promotion of athletic or amateur games or sports where it can be shown to the satisfaction of Revenue that such income is applied solely for these for these purposes. Any income received and availing of the relief by the sports body must be used for the purpose of promoting the game or the sport. The Finance Act 2024 provided new measures in relation to sports bodies and their donors in terms of being able to elect for tax relief.  Officials in my Department considered potential tax measures to support gym membership as part of the annual tax strategy group process last year in chapter 10 of the paper, \"Income Tax: Tax Strategy Group - 25\/01\", which is available on the Department's website. This will be kept under review in the context of future budgets. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  I acknowledge and am very enthusiastic about the enormous investment that we have made in sport, but this is really about measures to increase strength, resistance training and flexibility. We know that about 250,000 people have osteoporosis in Ireland - approximately 20% of women and 6.2% of men aged over 50. Annually, we see in the order of 32,000 fragility fractures, basically because of lack of strength. The estimated cost of that to our health service is \u20ac464 million annually, not to mention the pain to the individuals concerned. Given our ageing population and the challenges here, this could rise to a \u20ac1 billion within the next decade.  We need to have sufficient resistance and strength training among all of our population. There is a very clear commitment in the programme for Government to develop that. We need to look at examples in other countries like Canada and Singapore that have done this. We need to be able to build up that strength and resistance training because in the long term it is a saving on our health budget. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I instinctively agree. I do not mean to be pedantic but the programme for Government says we will consider measures. I take very seriously the programme for Government and we should continue to consider these measures as well. We had it looked at last year in the tax strategy group paper, which is published. The paper said it was not possible to estimate the exact cost of an income tax relief. It said that, conservatively, the measure would have an additional Exchequer cost of the order of \u20ac65 million, or if applied to all sports club memberships, about \u20ac147 million. There were some concerns about the dead weight in tax, which is there for all to read. I will not waste the time of the House with it now. However, we will keep this under review, and I take the Deputy's point about osteoporosis and the specific health benefits of resistance training.  We have some income tax supports already. I have outlined the VAT and benefit-in-kind measures. There are also a number of other tax and direct expenditure measures. To make long story short, though, I will give consideration to this when the tax strategy papers are compiled again this year. I am happy to engage with the Deputy in advance of the next budget. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  I thank the T\u00e1naiste and I look forward to engaging further on it. I know he is serious about this. However, I always wonder when \"dead weight\" is mentioned by the dead hand of the Department of Finance. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  That hurt. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  If I have a fragility fracture, I can get a tax relief on my healthcare expenses, I can get tax relief on my nursing home expenses, and I can get tax relief if I go to a physiotherapist, an osteopath or a chiropractor, but if I decide to join to join the gym in order to be able to build my resistance, I will not get tax relief. There is a long-term financial saving on the health side.  I have made this case often before. We need to think about the Department of Health not as a Department of sickness and illness. We have to look at ways of ensuring that as we live longer - one of the big successes of this country is the fact that we are now living to an average age of 83 - we can ensure that we live healthily in old age. Part of that is through strength and resistance training, which gym membership offers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Callaghan  Just to follow on from that question about tax measures to encourage gym membership, I ask that when the review is being done at the end of the year, tax measures for families be looked at. We see young families stuck on their phones. I have two teenagers and a young adult and this year we have got a family gym membership. It is great to be able to go to the gym together. In fairness, our local gym is a testament to the money that was invested in our local sports club, in that it has allowed that facility to be there. Perhaps for parents with very young children, that tax incentive could be given for gyms. It could also be given to leisure centres so that our young children could start learning how to swim, which is a vital life skill. I ask for a tax incentive to be there for families in that regard to set in train that really good habit from a very young age and to keep families being active together and away from their phones. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I had to be very disciplined in this role in relation to tax and tax commitments in the advance of the last budget and in advance of the next budget, given that it is the month of February. We will consider all of these matters and the compelling cases that are made. The tax strategy group paper is worth reading in relation to this. After reading and considering it, I wonder whether there could be a further tweaking, development or evolution of the policy points that Deputy Byrne is trying to advance.  Regarding Deputy Callaghan's point, we have to get young people off their phones, off social media and back out exercising, socialising, engaging and making eye contact with one another again. I hope that the House can unite around measures to get people off their phones and back moving again.  I take that point about the extra cost faced by families. I would point out as regards gym membership that we already have the reduced VAT rate of 9%, which is worth around \u20ac32 million per annum, be that to the gym operators or being passed on in membership fees. Of course, how we support families with the costs of trying to live healthily is the point that is uniting both Deputies and certainly something that we will keep under review. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Tax Reliefs"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-10\/debate\/dbsect_25","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Insurance Industry","counts":{"speechCount":11,"speakerCount":5},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-10\/debate\/dbsect_22","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_25","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-10\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_25.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  In June of last year, I asked the Taoiseach for a Government policy on a flood reinsurance scheme. He said that insurance companies have to do more. The Minister of State, Deputy Troy, corresponded with me on the issue. I thank him very much for that. Essentially, he said a State-backed scheme was impossible in a market like Ireland. Imagine my surprise to read his announcement for businesses and not residential properties last week in the Business Post saying: \"It's fair to say that it will require State backing\". Will the Minister of State establish the Department's position on flood reinsurance schemes? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  I thank the Deputy for raising this matter again. I acknowledge that he has engaged with me on this on a number of occasions. I reiterate my earlier acknowledgement regarding the serious damage caused by the recent flood events and the impact they have had on families, communities and businesses across Ireland. As previously stated, insurance reform, including increasing the affordability and accessibility of insurance, including for flood insurance, remains a key priority for the Government. Building on the work carried out by the Central Bank, the Action Plan for Insurance Reform 2025-2029 includes four specific actions on flood and climate protection. With respect to action 17 of the action plan, the Department of Finance is currently engaging with multiple stakeholders on the development of a long-term strategic approach to the provision of flood insurance to consider potential solutions specific to Ireland to increase the availability and affordability of flood insurance. An update on this work will be provided at the next Cabinet subgroup on insurance reform.  This work builds on the extensive research undertaken by the Central Bank of Ireland into the nature and scale of the flood protection gap in Ireland, which I mentioned earlier identified a flood insurance protection gap of approximately 5% of buildings in Ireland that have limited access to flood insurance. Flood insurance alone cannot address the totality of the flood protection gap and current Government policy remains focused on the development of a sustainable, planned and risk-based approach to managing flooding. As such, the Government remains committed to protecting Ireland's present and future generations by investing in climate adaption measures to manage the impacts of extreme weather. Accordingly, \u20ac1.3 billion has been committed to the delivery of flood relief schemes over the lifetime of the national development plan to 2030. This will protect approximately 23,000 properties across various communities from river and coastal flood risk. My officials will continue to monitor developments at EU and international level and assess flood insurance matters, including through participation in the OPW and Insurance Ireland working group. These matters remain a priority for this Government and efforts continue to be made to encourage a responsive approach from the insurance industry. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Aire St\u00e1it. With respect, I am not asking about flood defences. I am asking about the reinsurance scheme and a State-backed reinsurance scheme. The article I referenced stated: \"Businesses and homeowners within certain pockets of Dublin, such as along the River Dodder, where several flood defence schemes have been developed in recent years, remain unable to obtain insurance.\" This is a real issue.  In the letter the Minister of State sent to me last year, he said:  In terms of the provision of flood insurance, please be aware that this is a commercial matter for insurance companies based on an assessment of the risks they are willing to accept. Government cannot interfere with the provision or pricing of insurance or direct as to what cover is provided is reinforced by the EU framework for insurance solvency II directive.  Apparently, the State can after all get involved in reinsurance schemes. From the outset, I had issues with the Government's position because the solvency II directive allows for general price controls. Many other countries have done it. Consorcio de Compensaci\u00f3n de Seguros in Spain, Caisse Centrale de R\u00e9assurance, CCR, state insurance providers in France and even VHI here in Ireland are exempt from the directive. Is it Government evasion and a lack of ambition at play here and not regulatory constraints? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  With due respect, flood defence measures are an important part----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  They are not working in my constituency. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  -----of providing protection for households and businesses. Speaking to any of the unfortunate householder or businesses in areas where the schemes have been held up for a myriad of reasons over the past number of years, they eagerly await the roll-out of the flood defence mechanisms. It is fair to say that in many constituencies, such as in Athlone in my own constituency, where permanent flood defence measures have been introduced, they have brought a real sense of confidence and reassurance to people who have previously been affected by flooding.  It is unfortunate that heretofore the insurance companies have not recognised in a meaningful way State investment in permanent flood defence mechanisms. That is why I met with my colleague, Minister of State, Deputy Moran and I am due to meet with my colleague, Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, next week in relation to outstanding issues with a service level agreement to ensure insurance companies step up to the plate in relation to areas where flood defences have been erected. I will come back in the next reply regarding areas where there are no flood prevention mechanisms in place. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  The residents of Sandymount, Ringsend, Merrion and coastal communities across Dublin cannot afford another disaster and delayed action from the Government. A Financial Times article from last year and University of Galway's studies have noted that Ireland's coastal cities face huge risks during future storms. Sandymount would have been submerged in approximately 5 m in Storm \u00c9owyn if a high tide occurred at the time. It is time for reinsurance models that include not just businesses but also people's homes to protect people's lives as well as their livelihoods. It is time the Government stopped using the excuses of EU regulation or the insurance companies not doing enough or flood defences having to take care of the risk and get on with the responsibility of protection for the coastal communities that need it in terms of reinsurance schemes. People know what climate change means. It was mostly riverside communities affected in recent weeks, but coastal communities know that they will face some of the most extreme challenges in the future. Will the Minister of State illuminate whether his comments to the Business Post were accurate, whether the Government is considering a State-backed scheme and whether that is something that it will be delivering over the coming weeks and months? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Callaghan  In terms of the reinsurance schemes, it is important when we are considering about flood insurance that we also consider thatch insurance. I have a constituent in Carlow who was flooded but does not have insurance for flooding. As he lives in a thatched house, he also does not have insurance for fire. I ask that when we are considering reinsurance that we might consider that too. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Naoise-\u00d3-Muir\u00ed.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Muir\u00ed  To reinforce what Deputy Hayes said, we have had this issue in Clontarf. The River Wad flooded in 2023. The city council got on with a scheme - the protection of the Wad phase 2 funded by the OPW. Work is more and less complete. It successively went into operation just before Storm Chandra, but there is a big question mark as to whether the insurers will come to the table and start insuring those areas again with the works done. I endorse what Deputy Hayes said. I encourage the Minister of State to proceed with this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Malcolm Byrne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Malcolm-Byrne.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Malcolm Byrne  The Minister of State is entirely correct in that the best insurance is where we have the necessary flood protection and indeed coastal protection schemes. In some of the communities near where I live, such as Arklow, Aughrim and Enniscorthy, recently we have witnessed the dramatic impacts of floods. I wish to focus on Bunclody where they had floods for the first time in 60 years where people did have insurance, particularly along Ryland Road, on some of the properties. Now those businesses and homes do not expect to be able to get it into the future. I am certainly open in terms of the suggestion that has been made to exploring until we can guarantee that those flood protection schemes are put in place that we can guarantee those homeowners and business owners some degree of security until the necessary protections are in place. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  I thank the Deputies for raising their points.  I do not know whether Deputy Byrne was present earlier when I mentioned that the Cabinet committee on climate action, environment and energy is meeting tomorrow to examine what immediate measures can be taken to protect areas where there is a longer lead-in for permanent flood defence measures to be introduced.  In relation to Deputy Callaghan's points on the thatched issue, that is something I am acutely aware of. It is a very niche part of the market. I have been in London meeting insurance companies to explore the possibility of seeing what level of appetite they might have in this regard. I have also met the representative body in relation to the thatched industry. I am happy to engage with the Deputy further in that regard.  In relation to the main question, there is an acknowledgement that an intervention is needed. That is why it is one of the priority actions in the action plan for insurance reform. There are ten priority actions. This is one of the priority actions to develop a long-term strategic approach for the provision of flood insurance. That will require working with the Central Bank, insurance industry, Department of Finance and OPW. Today, I met with a representative of the insurance industry who sits on its flooding task force.  I expect a proposal to come from the task force within a number of weeks. It might be in a month or so. The Government will explore that proposal and look at what support we can put in place to ensure flood insurance is something people can expect in the not too distant future. To clarify my remarks in the Business Post , such support will not be exclusively for businesses. Any scheme we look to introduce would be inclusive in supporting both residents and businesses. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Insurance Industry"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-10\/debate\/dbsect_26","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Insurance Industry","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-10\/debate\/dbsect_22","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_26","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shay Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-10\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_26.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shay Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shay Brennan  I seek an update on the Government's action plan on insurance reform. This issue continues to be raised with many of us by households, community groups and business still facing very high premiums and, in some cases, finding it difficult to get cover at all. I would like to know where the action plan currently stands, what progress has been made to date and, in particular, whether the priority actions identified within the plan are being implemented. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. The Government is progressing the commitments in the programme for Government to further reform the insurance sector in Ireland and ensure transparency, affordability and availability of insurance for all consumers. Significant progress was achieved through the 2020 action plan for insurance reform. Key measures delivered included the introduction of the personal injuries guidelines, legal reforms to rebalance the duty of care and the establishment of the office to promote competition in the insurance market. Those actions helped to create a more competitive market and have supported new entrants into the Irish insurance sector.  The Action Plan for Insurance Reform 2025-2029, published in July 2025, is comprised of 26 actions being led across a number of Departments, ten of which are priority actions. Of those priority actions, transparency in the insurance sector is a key priority, with a transparency code for the insurance industry well advanced and to be published in the coming weeks. The code will require insurers to provide simple, understandable explanations of how premiums are formed, what mitigating actions may be available to customers and what broader factors influence pricing. It will also ensure consumers can directly receive additional information, upon request, to better understand the factors impacting their premium.  Work is ongoing in the office to promote competition in the insurance market to enhance competition. Meetings have taken place with insurers to address capacity issues. The office has established a speciality forum to explore the speciality insurance sector and examine how Ireland can be effectively positioned and promoted as a leading jurisdiction for speciality insurance business.  My Department is also working closely with the Office of Parliamentary Counsel to the Government to progress the right-to-be-forgotten legislation to ensure fair access for cancer survivors to financial services, specifically mortgage protection insurance, and to allow the Bill to progress in the coming weeks.  The Government is firmly committed to addressing the cost and availability of insurance through implementing the reforms set out in the programme for Government and the Action Plan for Insurance Reform 2025-2029. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shay Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shay Brennan  The action plan was pledged as the answer to years of rising premiums and uncertainty for households and businesses. However, as I am sure he acknowledges, my colleagues and I continue to hear from people who have not yet seen any meaningful reduction in their insurance costs despite the reforms that have been announced. Will he set out how the Department is tracking the implementation of the reforms and measuring the impact they are having in practice on insurance customers? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  We have seen an increase in car insurance in the past 12 months but that came on the back of reductions over the previous number of years. The previous action plan delivered savings in the motor insurance industry in particular. I acknowledge that some of those gains have started to be eroded. That is why there was a need to introduce a further action plan to continue to build on the progress of its predecessor.  The Central Bank collates insurance data on an annual basis, which it makes available. That is how we can track what progress is being made in terms of how insurance premiums were decreasing for a number of years but, sadly, have increased in the past 12 to 18 months. Were it not for some of the actions introduced by the previous action plan, we would have seen significant increases in recent years as a result of market conditions. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shay Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shay Brennan  While not directly included in the action plan, I have a question about the Central Bank (Amendment) Bill 2025, particularly the right-to-be-forgotten provision for cancer survivors seeking mortgage protection insurance, as alluded to by the Minister of State. Will he confirm that mortgage providers will embrace that provision? Has there been any dialogue, input or feedback from them in this regard? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  To be fair to the insurance industry, and we quite frequently stand to criticise it, providers introduced a voluntary code of practice in this area back in December 2023. It was on the back of that voluntary code that we were able to see the difference the right to be forgotten makes to cancer survivors. We have brought forward provisions in the Central Bank (Amendment) Bill 2025 to put that voluntary code on a statutory basis. It is my intention to bring the Bill to Committee Stage within the next couple of months at the very outside. It will make a very real and meaningful difference to people who have survived cancer diagnoses and come out the other side by ensuring they are able to get on with their life and avail of a mortgage. I do not have the figures to hand but in the 12- to 18-month period after the introduction of the voluntary code, something in the region of 1,200 people benefited. It is a really significant improvement and I hope to be in a position to bring the Bill to Committee Stage within the next two months. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Insurance Industry"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-10\/debate\/dbsect_27","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Tax Code","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":4},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-10\/debate\/dbsect_22","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_27","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shay Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-10\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_27.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Callaghan  Will the T\u00e1naiste consider amending the inheritance tax thresholds for individuals who have no children and would like to leave an inheritance to a niece or nephew? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I am aware of the group that is doing very good advocacy work on this issue. I look forward to meeting and engaging with it shortly.  Capital acquisitions tax, CAT, applies to both gifts and inheritances and is charged at a rate of 33%. For CAT purposes, the relationship between the person giving a gift or inheritance and the person who receives it determines the maximum amount, known as the group threshold, below which CAT does not arise. The group thresholds were most recently increased in budget 2025. The group A threshold, which in general applies where the beneficiary is a child of the disponer, increased to \u20ac400,000 from \u20ac335,000. The group B threshold increased to \u20ac40,000 from \u20ac32,500. This threshold applies where the beneficiary is a brother, sister, niece, nephew or lineal ancestor or lineal descendant of the disponer. The group C threshold increased to \u20ac20,000 from \u20ac16,250, with this threshold applying in all other cases. These increases amounted to an increase of 19.4% for group A, while the groups B and C thresholds increased by 23%.  My officials examined CAT as part of last year's annual tax strategy group exercise. The resultant papers outlined the tax policy considerations for the Government and the options available to it in forming last year's budget. Published in advance of the budget, they are the best means of considering issues such as inheritance tax in an analytical and transparent way. The tax strategy group is not a decision-making body - that is a matter for the Government and this House - and the papers produced by my Department are simply a list of options and issues to be considered in the budgetary process. What the group did very well was examine a number of cost modelling exercises, including proposals to amend the group B threshold parameters, as the Deputy and many others have raised in the House. There is a significant cost associated with further changes to the group thresholds. That is not necessarily a reason to make or not make them but it is something we must factor into our considerations. I recognise the burden of capital taxation and will continue to review these matters alongside my officials. We will consider any further changes in the context of the next budget. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Callaghan  I thank the T\u00e1naiste for his answer.  We know - and the T\u00e1naiste knows better than anyone - that over the last number of years Fine Gael has been at the forefront of a changing Ireland where alternative family structures are welcomed and where people do not feel the pressure to confirm to what was once the traditional idea of a family. Fine Gael values personal liberty and it is clearly reflected in the broad liberalisation of Irish attitudes. However, while societal attitudes can naturally evolve over time, laws do not evolve of their own accord. They need political will to bring them up to date. I believe the current inheritance tax is reflective of a different Ireland from the Ireland we live in today. The most recent census data show there are almost 400,000 families without children in Ireland. Therefore, if an individual wishes to leave an inheritance to someone outside their immediate family, as has been mentioned, they are only tax exempt to the first \u20ac40,000 of that inheritance while couples in group A benefit from an exemption of ten times that much. With that in mind, how does the T\u00e1naiste intend to work towards bringing our tax system in line with social attitudes and support new family structures by increasing the inheritance tax thresholds for childless individuals? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I am, as Deputy Callaghan will know, very aware of the burden that capital taxation places on people, and it is our party's position as well. Whether it is families or farmers, the burden of capital taxation is real. That is why in budget 2025 we as a Government took a decision to increase the thresholds. We increased threshold A, B and C. I certainly do not rule out over the lifetime of this Government further moves in this area. In fact, I commit to keeping these issues under review. That is the first point I would make. Second, I take the Deputy's point very much about the changing face of Ireland, diversity and composition of families. That is all absolutely true. I will be truthful that any significant changes in what we call threshold B does come at a significant cost. It is again not a reason why we do or do not do these things; it is just something we all need to consider in the context of the budget. Third, we should continue to look at what other countries are doing in this area and international comparisons because I am sure other countries are grappling with this issue. Finally, I take the point that there can sometimes be relatives who also have a caring role, perhaps a nephew or a niece who has been caring. That is something I hear a lot. I do not mean that they are just a nephew or a niece because that is a very important familial relationship but in addition to that they may have been in a long-term caring role too. There are a number of issues to unpack here. That is why I want to meet the advocacy groups and ask the tax strategy group to continue to consider all of these issues in advance of the budget. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Callaghan  I thank the T\u00e1naiste. I like that response and that well-thought-out way of looking at it from the carer's point of view. I am heartened to hear that tax measures as a whole will be reviewed in the course of this Government. I point out, perhaps again, that for many people across Ireland, factors other than choice determine whether or not they have children. If these people own properties and should they wish to pass them on to their close relatives, the low exemption thresholds mean they will be burdening those relatives with large tax bills. Oftentimes, what happens then, as we all know, a family home that people would like to keep in the family needs to be sold. That is against the wishes of the person who has left it and those of the person who is inheriting it. Furthermore, as the T\u00e1naiste is aware, these thresholds last throughout a person's lifetime. This means that if an uncle gives a gift of over \u20ac3,000 to their niece or nephew during their lifetime, it is deducted once again from the recipient's inheritance tax threshold at the end of life. With this in mind, would it be possible to amend the rules so that there is a greater exemption for gifts that are given during a person's life? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paula Butterly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Paula-Butterly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paula Butterly  I absolutely concur with everything Deputy Callaghan has said. She rightly mentioned that families come in many shapes and forms and different sizes. I am very conscious that we link everything to our blood relatives. The time has come that when we are reviewing all the categories we have to consider those members of our families - because essentially, they can be very much considered as family - and perhaps consider a nominated heir rather than a straightforward A, B, C category and trying to slot them into a particular blood tie or familial relationship. While we are considering those, we consider those who care for us, family friends or whoever it is, and allow the person who has worked so hard to accumulate their house and assets during their lifetime to decide who should be the correct person to inherit those assets and properties. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shay Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shay Brennan  I have pressed the T\u00e1naiste on this before, as I have done his predecessor. I reiterate the fact that asset values are rising and have been steadily rising over many years. This applies particularly to the family home. At the same time, families are smaller and, as my colleagues are saying, it is not always a direct inheritance from a parent to child. Sometimes, it goes elsewhere in the family or even outside the family. In light of the fact that prices and incomes are rising, I stress that there is absolutely no inflationary-based response in the thresholds. I seek the T\u00e1naiste's commitment that he will address this and look to reform the inheritance tax categories in budget 2027. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas le Deputies Butterly, Brennan and Callaghan. It is really good that we tease through and discuss this issue. We have various views on this and different parties have different commitments in their manifestos in relation to this. We have a programme for Government now. We need to work our way through all of this. I have to be honest with the House. Every year over the next four budgets there will be a pot and resource, subject to the economy continuing to be run well, that will be available for tax decisions, and there will be competing demands and views as to what best to do. There is personal income tax, capital tax and a whole variety of different issues. We will tease our way through that. However, over the course of those four budgets, we can achieve quite a lot together too. That is why I am committing to keeping capital taxation and the burden of capital taxation under review. To help the conversation perhaps, I will put some figures on the record. If we were to increase, for example, the group A thresholds to \u20ac500,000 from the existing \u20ac400,000, the cost of that is \u20ac86.6 million. If we were to bring everyone on threshold B into threshold A, in other words, up to \u20ac400,000, the cost of that is around \u20ac305 million. These are all budget ready reckoners as opposed to my views. Of course, there are costs associated with all of these but I take that point about families changing, care changing and the empowerment of individuals, and I will give further consideration to this in the time ahead. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Tax Code"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-10\/debate\/dbsect_28","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Insurance Coverage","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-10\/debate\/dbsect_22","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_28","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shay Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-10\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_28.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shay Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shay Brennan  Has any engagement by the Department occurred with the insurance sector following recent severe weather events, including both Storm Bram and Storm Chandra? These storms have caused real damage and anxiety for many households that are now trying to cope with the aftermath. Could the Minister of State outline what specific engagement has taken place to date and how the insurance sector is responding to these interactions? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  First, I would like to acknowledge the serious damage caused by recent storm events, and the impact they have had on families, communities and businesses. In the aftermath of Storm Bram and Storm Chandra, I engaged with Insurance Ireland, the representative body for the Irish insurance industry, regarding the insurance sector\u2019s response to claims and reiterated the Government\u2019s expectations that insurance companies should treat policyholders fairly and expediently in the context of claims relating to Storm Bram. Insurance companies actively track storm events to ensure adequate readiness and resource allocation. For both storm events, Insurance Ireland advised that in advance of each storm, the insurance companies took preparatory measures such as informing the public on their websites and social media platforms and activating surge plans in anticipation of the increased call volumes. The insurance companies were well prepared and were actively assisting their policyholders. For the most recent storm, Storm Chandra, Insurance Ireland has advised my officials that it is too early to quantify the overall cost of damage arising from the storm. Clean-up and assessment work is ongoing, and a clearer picture will emerge over the coming weeks. Insurers have resources in place and are on hand to support any homeowners or business owners who have unfortunately experienced flood or storm-related damage. Claims teams and emergency assistance services are fully operational and insurers are actively monitoring claims as they come in. Insurance Ireland\u2019s insurance information service has also been available to assist members of the public who may need additional support or help navigating the claims process. My Department will continue to engage with Insurance Ireland concerning the recent storms to ensure insurers remain focused on processing claims fairly and efficiently and on working closely with service providers to expedite assessments and repairs. These matters remain a priority for this Government and efforts continue to be made to progress a responsive approach from the insurance industry. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shay Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shay Brennan  I thank the Minister of State. As more claims are processed, households now fear that making a valid flood claim could lead to exclusion from further insurance cover or sharp premium hikes, which compound their vulnerability to future weather events.  I met many of these households and families over the last few days and weeks in Dublin Rathdown, which was particularly hit by the recent Storm Chandra. These families understand the sector's challenges, but they need protection against being priced out or dropped entirely. Will the Minister of State confirm specifically whether his engagement with insurers includes commitments to prevent households from being excluded from future policies due to a single flood claim? Will any measures or guidelines be introduced to safeguard their ongoing insurability? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  I thank the Deputy. I will need to ask the insurance industry about that specific question he raised regarding how a previous flood claim may exclude people from future cover. I cannot quantify if that has happened in the past, and, if so, in how many instances. I will undertake to get that information and relay it to the Deputy. It is a problem. We mentioned in previous replies that approximately 5% of buildings are excluded from flood insurance because of previous floods or because they have been identified in a flood risk map as potentially flooding in future. That is why one of the priority actions in the action plan for insurance reform is a commitment to develop a long-term strategic approach to the provision of flood insurance. My Department is working with the OPW, the insurance industry and the Central Bank to bring forward a proposal. I met with a representative of the insurance industry flood task force, and they have given a commitment that they will bring forward a proposal from the insurance industry within the next number of weeks, at which stage we will review it within the Department, working with the Central Bank and the OPW. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Shay Brennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Shay-Brennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Shay Brennan  I appreciate the Minister of State's and the Department's proactive interaction with the insurance industry. Will he confirm whether his Department's engagements with the insurance industry have included discussions about the role insurers could play in preventing future flooding? In particular, has he explored the possibility of insurance companies contributing in some way to resilience measures such as funding local flood prevention works, supporting community level defences, or even co-operating on schemes that reduce the risks for households and businesses to prevent reoccurrence? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Robert Troy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Robert-Troy.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Robert Troy  I would love to think that the insurance companies would help with flood prevention mechanisms, but I do not think that is realistic. The challenge and the frustration of Government, and I made this point in reply to a previous question, is that insurance companies have not responded positively where the Government has expended large sums of money installing permanent flood defence mechanisms and where policyholders in those areas are still finding it difficult to obtain insurance. I met the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, on this issue today. I am meeting the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, on this issue next week to see how we can bring about the relevant changes that are needed to ensure insurance companies come to the table and respect and acknowledge the fact that this State has expended tens of millions of euro putting in permanent flood defence barriers and, at the same time, they are not willing to take on the risk in those areas. That is something we need to look at, but that stakeholder group will be convening next month to explore the proposals from the insurance industry in relation to flood insurance into the future. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Insurance Coverage"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-10\/debate\/dbsect_29","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Tax Code","counts":{"speechCount":2,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-10\/debate\/dbsect_22","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_29","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-10\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_29.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh)  T\u00e1 Ceist Uimh. 168 \u00e1 t\u00f3g\u00e1il le Ceist Uimh. 175. N\u00edl go leor ama againn ach chun an cheist a chur agus an freagra a fh\u00e1il \u00f3n Aire. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Simon Harris  I propose to take Questions Nos. 168 and 175 together.  I thank Deputies \u00d3 Muir\u00ed and Neville for their questions. The starting point for this conversation has to be that we live in a country where we have a high level of savings on deposits and we need to support people who are seeking greater returns on their hard-earned savings. Work is continuing on the development of a roadmap for the taxation of retail investment. We announced in budget 2026 that this work was under way. I expect to receive proposals shortly and I hope to be in a position then to bring this roadmap to Government. It will set out an approach to simplify and adapt the tax framework to further support retail investment while obtaining the necessary and important anti-avoidance protections in a proportionate manner.  The Government and I are very clear: retail investment needs to be encouraged. It is set out in the programme for Government. It is consistent with our work at an EU level on the savings and investment union, in which I expect us to take a leadership role during our Presidency of the EU Council as well. There is a complexity to all of this in how we tax ETFs, the rate of exit tax and the application of deemed disposal, and we need to work our way through this. An ETF is an investment fund that is traded in a regulated stock exchange. There is no separate taxation regime specifically for ETFs. ETFs, being collective investment funds, generally come within the regimes set out in the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 for such funds.  I look forward to and want to engage with Deputies \u00d3 Muir\u00ed and Neville on this. While it is complex from a taxation point of view, we need to get it right. Detailed consideration will be given to ensure any changes in this area achieve an appropriate balance between supporting retail investment and maintaining appropriate anti-avoidance protections. If we get it right, it can be a democratisation of wealth in many ways, where the squeezed middle can start participating in a savings and investment account structure that gives them a much greater return than what they are saving in a deposit account. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Is f\u00e9idir teacht ar Cheisteanna Scr\u00edofa ar www.oireachtas.ie. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Written Answers are published on the Oireachtas website. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Tax Code"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-10\/debate\/dbsect_30","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_30","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh)  I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case:  Deputy Pat Buckley - To discuss the need for Gaelscoil Chor\u00e1in, Youghal, County Cork to be included in the DEIS urban band 1 programme.  Deputy Pearse Doherty - To discuss the impact of the new PSO contract for flights between Donegal and Dublin.  Deputy Malcolm Byrne - To discuss the review of the Garda vetting process and planned measures for simplification.  Deputy Joanna Byrne - To discuss implementing the agreed pension payment increases to retired staff of Eir and An Post.  Deputy John Paul O'Shea - To discuss the importance of the N20-M20 motorway project for the Munster region.  Deputy Albert Dolan - To discuss the allocation of SET and SNA hours for primary schools.  Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher - To discuss the new requirement to provide passport ID for travel between Ireland and the UK.  Deputy Conor Sheehan - To discuss professional language interpretation in judicial settings.  Deputy Eoghan Kenny - To discuss school building projects in County Cork.  Deputy Alan Kelly - To discuss the need for increased resources for An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na in the mid-west.  Deputy Louis O'Hara - To discuss the provision of special education classes across Galway East.  Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa - To discuss the provision of school accommodation at St. Mochta's National School, Louth village.  Deputy Pa Daly - To discuss special needs classes at Ballyduff National School.  Deputy Darren O'Rourke - To discuss the additional accommodation project at a Col\u00e1iste De Lacy, Ashbourne, County Meath.  Deputy Thomas Gould - To discuss the housing aid for older people grant and the provision of new boilers.  Deputy Paul McAuliffe - To discuss sanctioned ASD classes in Dublin North-West.  The matters raised by Deputies Louis O'Hara, Pat Buckley, Conor Sheehan, John Paul O'Shea and Pat the Cope Gallagher have been selected for discussion "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-10\/debate\/dbsect_31","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_31","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-10\/debate\/dbsect_32","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Special Educational Needs","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-10\/debate\/dbsect_31","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_31","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_32","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  Every child is entitled to an education and an appropriate school place. Sadly, many children are being denied this right across County Galway and the State. Children are being left in unsuitable places, not having their needs met and being denied equal opportunities and the chance to realise their full potential. I have been contacted by many parents and schools in relation to the urgent need for increased provision of special school places and special classes locally. I welcome the recent announcements of special classes in places like Clarin College in Athenry, Cummer National School, Corrandrum National School and Killeeneen National School, but there is clear demand for additional classes across Galway East.  There are a huge number of areas and schools. Every corner of the county needs increased provision. I will give a couple of examples. In Esker National School, a number of children there have applied for a special class place. Having a class in that school would enable them to remain in their locality. The Minister of State visited that school not too long ago. He knows the needs that are there, the pressure they are under and the difference this and any other additional supports that can be forthcoming to that school would make, as was discussed during that visit. In St. Vincent's in Coolarne, there is demand in the local area. The school has the appropriate space and facilities to provide inclusive education. It has been engaging on this for a number of years.  I also met with Ability West recently. One of the key issues for it and the families it works with is the provision of special class places and places in special schools. For example, St. Oliver's Special School in Tuam is totally oversubscribed. Many children are not getting the places they need. Again, the Minister of State has been at that school and is aware of the pressure they are under.  I also raise the 1 October deadline for letters of eligibility. This has left in limbo hundreds of children who missed that deadline. They cannot be considered for a special class or special school place because they do not have this letter of eligibility from the National Council for Special Education, NCSE. I have come across a situation locally where the child's professionals and his existing school have all stated that his current school place does not meet his complex needs, yet he cannot be considered for an alternative place. I have raised this situation with the Minister of State's office. These kinds of situations are desperately unfair on these children and their families because they are being left in limbo. It needs to be sorted urgently. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Education and Youth (Deputy Michael Moynihan)  I understand fully the need for specialised provision of education across Galway. The Deputy is quite right. I did visit St. Oliver's and Esker National School recently.  I know the points he made in relation to St. Vincent's and the work being done by Ability West. The Deputy also raised an issue here, even though I did not directly respond to it, in relation to equine therapy and the equine centre. I understand that and welcome his interest in it.  I will give a small bit of context and then deal with a number of the issues. In County Galway, there are 180 special classes that are now operating providing capacity for over 1,080 students. This includes 12 new special classes for the 2025-26 school year. In addition, 16 new special schools have been established around the country over the last while. Seven of these schools are in County Galway and are educating 352 students with more complex educational needs. These schools are supported by the Department and the NCSE, National Council for Special Education. The NCSE has a clear picture of local demand for special class places for 2026-27 and is reviewing the information. As the Deputy quite rightly outlined, we have a number of announcements in relation to County Galway. I thank the school authorities, the patrons and the management of the schools for their engagement with the NCSE and our Department in relation to this.  The NCSE and ourselves will be working very closely with families either before or after 1 October. To be very clear, 1 October was the deadline we brought forward this year. In 2025, the notification date was 1 February. We very much felt this time last year that we were too late within the school year to have identified the children that would have special educational needs at both special classes and special schools. After my appointment this time last year, one of the first decisions we made was to bring in the new 1 October deadline, so that we would have sight of the challenges we have earlier in the school year. That has brought huge benefit to us in terms of the numbers and forward planning. Like previous governments, we have been berated in relation to forward planning but we are doing a huge amount of forward planning. There has been engagement by both the Department and the NCSE with the patron bodies and school authorities right through the summer and beyond. A number of families have come to the NCSE post 1 October. I assure the Deputy we will be working very closely with all families to make sure we can provide the best possible place for them in the 2026-27 school year.  The responsibility for that role is something that I take extremely seriously. In my engagement right across the country over the last 12 months, we have visited many schools, as the Deputy outlined. Many of them are looking for additional classes but many have additional classes and are doing amazing work in relation to this. The Minister, Deputy Hildegarde Naughton, and her predecessor, Deputy Helen McEntee, and I have worked extremely closely to ensure we are doing the right thing for children and their families. We have engaged with all Deputies right across the House in making sure the concerns they have, quite rightly, in representing families are brought to our attention. We will try to find a resolution between the NCSE, the Department and ourselves. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  There are a number of areas across east Galway, including the ones I mentioned, where there is significant demand and the schools are ready to accommodate those classes. As much as possible, we need to see delivery on the ground. Parents want certainty around what will be available in their local area. As I said, there is huge demand. It is absolutely critical that adequate places are provided. Far too many children are not being provided with the appropriate place for their needs. Again, I urge the Government to resolve the issue of eligibility letters. Our spokesperson, Deputy Darren O'Rourke, has been working on this and raising it tirelessly because parents need certainty for next September. Children should not be locked out of an appropriate school place because of an arbitrary deadline of 1 October. The Minister of State mentioned that further information will be provided on this, but when is the question parents have and are coming to me with. They need certainty on this urgently.  For children who are in mainstream schools, it is absolutely vital that appropriate SNA and special education teaching, SET, support is in place. I will give two examples. I recently visited Cahergal National School. In recent years, the number of students has increased from 86 to 124, yet the school's support teaching hours have actually decreased from 38 to 37. All the school staff there work exceptionally hard but they need appropriate teaching hours to be able to properly support their pupils, especially those who need a little extra support. Similarly, Castlehackett National School's recent review of SNA hours was unsuccessful. Again, this is a fantastic school but it is a constant struggle for the teachers and SNAs to support children in the school and meet their needs when they do not receive adequate resources. I ask that these specific cases are looked into also, as well as ensuring we have adequate provision of special class places across the county. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  I reassure the Deputy that the NCSE, the Department and ourselves meet on a weekly basis. We have 300 extra classes - 301 to be specific - sanctioned this year for the 2026-27 school year. That is four months earlier than it was previously because, as I outlined, we want to ensure that we have certainty and give information earlier to families. That is very welcome but we also have to work through a number of tranches of special classes to be announced over the next number of weeks. I assure the Deputy we are looking at notifications prior to 1 October. I explained why we brought 1 October forward in the summer and I thank the Deputy's party for welcoming it because it gave a sense we were going to have better planning. I reassure him that we will be working with those notifications both prior to and after 1 October to make sure we have the best possible supports in place.  There is a huge demand for special education teachers, support teachers and SNAs within the system. We have almost 25,000 SNAs working within educational services at the moment. We need to make sure that students who need specialised education are getting the best possible supports. I genuinely believe that the State will now put in the proper supports while they are of schoolgoing age. Last week, we announced education therapy services for 45 special schools. The intention and decision taken by the Government was that that would be rolled out to special classes and on to mainstream schools to ensure that children who have additional educational needs get the best possible supports at school time. This is because it will serve not just the students and their families but society well into the future. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Special Educational Needs"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-10\/debate\/dbsect_33","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Educational Disadvantage","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-10\/debate\/dbsect_31","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_31","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_33","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pat Buckley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pat-Buckley.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Pat-Buckley.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pat Buckley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pat-Buckley.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Pat-Buckley.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pat Buckley  I thank the Minister of State for taking this question. As a Sinn F\u00e9in TD representing Cork East, and in line with my party's strong focus on tackling inequality and investing in disadvantaged communities, I ask for his active support in progressing fair DEIS provisions for students in Youghal who are experiencing persistent socioeconomic disadvantage. The Youghal urban area is home to 7,075 people: 5,276 adults and 1,799 children. The sociodemographic profile of the town shows that significant populations within the town experience varying degrees of disadvantage.  In January 2023, the board of management of Gaelscoil Chor\u00e1in submitted a comprehensive, evidence-based submission to the Department of education seeking consideration under DEIS urban band 1. The submission was grounded in objective data, including the Pobal HP Deprivation Index, the Youghal community profile and Barnardos documentation, all of which demonstrated entrenched and persistent disadvantage in the school community. That same month, An Taoiseach, Miche\u00e1l Martin, visited Gaelscoil Chor\u00e1in and other schools in Youghal and witnessed at first hand the scale of complexity of disadvantage affecting students and families and acknowledged the significant challenges facing schools across the town. In June 2023, the Department of education refused DEIS urban band 1 status to the school. However, critically, the correspondence acknowledged the challenges faced by Gaelscoil Chor\u00e1in and stated the submission would contribute to future work examining the allocation of resources to tackle educational disadvantage, including through a review process informed by updated deprivation data and the OECD analysis.  Since 2023, the socio-economic circumstances affecting this community have not improved. On the contrary, the concentration of need in the school has intensified. Gaelscoil Chor\u00e1in serves a school community located in a designated revitalising areas by planning, investment and development, RAPID, town where disadvantage is persistent, cumulative and well documented. Independent and objective data sources, including the Pobal HP deprivation index, the Youghal community profile and the Barnardos document, clearly demonstrate a concentration of socio-economic disadvantage that significantly impacts students' educational, social and emotional well-being. Without the DEIS urban band 1 supports, this school is structurally constrained in its ability to deliver equitable educational outcomes for students experiencing sustained socio-economic disadvantage. Schools serving communities with comparable profiles benefit from reduced class sizes, targeted staffing supports and integrated DEIS interventions. These students do not, despite the clear evidence of need.  I am speaking on behalf of the principal of the school. The Minister of State heard about these situations from the previous speaker and other TDs as well. There is more than one school in my area of east Cork that is struggling without assistance. Principals in many schools in my area are reaching out. I met the Minister for Education and Youth, Deputy McEntee, and we were promised at private meetings additional classes for people with autism and special needs and additional SNAs, and told that if the school principals asked for them, they got them. At the time, I told the Minister I knew of six principals where those supports were not forthcoming.  I will stick to this school under Topical Issue Matters. I appeal to the Minister of State in his position - I again thank him for his presence tonight - to try to push for this, take it on board and progress it because we are all here to help people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  I thank the Deputy for raising the issue of the Gaelscoil in Youghal. This falls under the remit of my senior Minister, Deputy Naughton, so I am taking it on her behalf. Educational disadvantage is a key priority for the Minister, the rest of the Government and me. The DEIS programme is a key policy initiative for addressing concentrated disadvantage at school level. Supplementing universal supports, the DEIS programme provides a fair and targeted way to address concentrated educational disadvantage that promotes equity and meets the needs of children and young people. Currently, the DEIS programme supports almost 1,200 primary and post-primary schools, reaching almost 260,000 students, with an annual investment of over \u20ac180 million. Budget 2026 allocates an additional \u20ac16.5 million, rising to \u20ac48 million in 2027, to support the implementation of a new DEIS strategy and to introduce the DEIS plus scheme, which will commence this year.  Schools that were included in the expansion of the programme in 2022 were those with the highest concentration of children and young people at risk of educational disadvantage, as identified through the refined DEIS identification model. Schools were not required to apply for inclusion in the DEIS programme. The model was applied equitably to all schools - I will come back to that in a few moments - including those already in the DEIS programme to ensure that they were in the band that best addressed their level of disadvantage. Urban primary schools with the highest levels of disadvantage were assigned to urban band 1. DEIS urban band 2 schools also face significant need and receive a broad range of supports, including reduced pupil-teacher ratios, additional school grants, access to the home school community liaison scheme, the school completion programme, literacy and numeracy initiatives and targeted attendance and retention measures.  The Minister, Deputy Naughton, is committed to tackling educational disadvantage in all schools to ensure all children can reach their full potential. To this end, a new ten-year DEIS strategy to 2035 will be published in the coming weeks. The new strategy will introduce innovative solutions to address educational disadvantage and to continue to address the gap between DEIS and non-DEIS schools. Any future changes to the identification model and overall allocation of resources will be considered within the context of the new DEIS strategy. The new strategy will focus on improving the opportunities and achievement levels of children at risk of educational disadvantage, developing more innovative approaches to tackling educational disadvantage, and working towards a more flexible system of supports to ensure that schools receive the right level of support at the right time.  The Deputy mentioned Youghal. There were strict criteria for getting DEIS status. We understand the importance of DEIS status. The Deputy made the case for the Gaelscoil in Youghal. I will take it on board and take it back. A huge amount of work by the Minister and the Department has gone into the new strategy to make sure it comes forward and I welcome it. It will be announced in the coming weeks. The Deputy can rest assured that I will take on board the points he made about the Gaelscoil and feed them back to the Department. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pat Buckley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pat-Buckley.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Pat-Buckley.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pat Buckley  I thank the Minister of State for the reply. Sometimes, it is hard to comment on individual cases. Going back to this school, it is three years on. The Minister of State spoke about the urban bands 1 and 2. I understand that the Department has to be fair and tick all the boxes. It is similar to what we have been dealing with in terms flooding with tranches 1 and 2.  The Minister of State mentioned the right level of support and, in fairness to this school in Youghal, it has made a strong case. It has been three years and nothing has changed. Thankfully, the population is growing despite being in a rural area, the lack of public transport and so on, which is a different issue. From dealing with the individual representing the school, I know these people are passionate. It is not about them getting a pat on the back; it is about doing the right things for those who need it.  As the Minister of State said, the right level of support is needed. I thank him for the response. It would be remiss of me if I did not say I will probably follow this up with a formal letter to the Minister, Deputy Naughton, because I know she is passionate about it and when people are new to their roles, it can be difficult at times. We have all often said that we do not come here to get a pat on the back. We come to do the right thing. That is what it is all about.  I understand there is the ten-year strategy, but everyone has an emergency. It is urgent, and after three years of full engagement and the Taoiseach coming to see it first hand, surely that first-hand experience would give it a better advantage. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Moynihan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"Michael-Moynihan.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Moynihan  I will certainly pass on the comments to the Minister. She brings a wealth of experience because she served in the role I am in now quite recently so has a good understanding and has hit the ground running on these issues.  It is not right. We are putting forward a programme and there is huge commitment by the Government. A total of \u20ac180 million is being put into this matter currently and more money will be pumped into it again this year and again in 2027. That shows that the Government, including the Minister, and the Department of education understand the positive benefits of DEIS for school communities and, more importantly, how it has helped students and given them the best possible chance in life. I constantly say it. We have done this continuously in Ireland. One thing we can be exceptionally proud of is the education system we have developed over 100 years. It has served us extremely well. The more investment we can put into education - the Deputy mentioned this in relation to special classes, but into all education, whether it is in disadvantaged areas or whatever - the better. It is a great leveller in terms of giving people the best possible chance.  The DEIS programme looks at making sure pupils stay in school and get the best possible outcomes from school. That may be difficult in some circumstances but we will work with the Deputy. If the Deputy puts in the full details, we will respond accordingly. There is just one thing. The Deputy mentioned Youghal being rural. Where I come from at the other side of the county, in a particularly rural part of the world, I would nearly call Youghal a city. That being said, I will continue to work with the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pat Buckley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pat-Buckley.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Pat-Buckley.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pat Buckley  They would be very glad to hear that. I thank the Minister of State. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Educational Disadvantage"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-10\/debate\/dbsect_34","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Regulatory Bodies","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-10\/debate\/dbsect_31","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_31","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_34","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an gCeann Comhairle as an gceist seo a roghn\u00fa and I thank the Minister of State for being here. The lack of a regulatory framework and national standards for professional interpretation in judicial but also medical settings is an issue of huge concern in this country following the judgement by the Court of Appeal in the case of Director of Public Prosecutions v. HM and BO, which quashed the conviction of a married couple who were convicted of female genital mutilation, as the court found evidence of inaccuracies and distortions in the interpretation of the appellant's testimony, including the mistranslation of key legal and medical terms, omission of critical information, confusion of pronouns, and distortion of questions and answers which affected the jury's ability to accurately assess the appellant's credibility and reliability.  Government needs to take action to deal with the lack of training and testing of legal interpreters in this country. Interpreters should have a high level of proficiency in English and in another language. However, the ability to speak two languages is not enough. They also need to master legal terminology in both languages and to be familiar with regional variations of vocabulary and idioms. In addition, they require excellent short-term memory along with consecutive and whispered simultaneous interpreting skills. Further, interpreters must also be able to preserve the register used by the speaker. Interpreters also need to understand ethical principles applicable to legal and to medical interpretation. This is a specialised role that requires significant training and competence, but there is no accredited training for legal interpreters in Ireland. They are not tested to establish their competence and there is no national standards framework or professional code of ethics. That means in practice that anyone who can speak two languages can work as an interpreter in the courts, healthcare settings and other public institutions.  Without reliable interpreting services, language barriers can hinder everything from healthcare and education to legal processes and community integration. We need a strong legislative framework that underpins and regulates this crucial provision. It is not only necessary but fundamental to promoting equity and inclusion. We can look at the differential to Irish Sign Language because that got official recognition through the Irish Sign Language Act 2017, unlike spoken language interpreting, so there is a differential because this mandates public bodies to provide accredited ISL interpreters. The lack of a professional framework for spoken interpretation creates significant clinical and patient safety risks in medical settings when medical consultations rely on untrained staff or family members. There are also risks in education as schools often lack a formal policy or budget for this and frequently rely on children and friends to translate for parents.  This issue has been raised for decades. In 2008, the then Minister of State with responsibility for integration, Conor Lenihan, published a report, Developing Quality, Cost Effective Interpreting and Translation Services in Ireland. The report addressed the lack of regulation in Ireland's translation and interpreting sectors and there were a number of recommendations, including a whole-of-government approach, setting national standards, requiring specific qualifications, and establishing a central register of accredited interpreters. To date, no such centralised regulatory body or mandatory national register has been fully established across all public services. Nearly two decades after that, many of the original problems, such as the use of unqualified interpreters, persist in the legal, asylum and healthcare systems. There are examples in other jurisdictions where this has been done effectively, such as Italy and Sweden. All of the evidence and research tells us that this needs to be regulated. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Michael Healy-Rae)  On behalf of the Minister for justice, I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. It is important to state that the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration has no role in individual court proceedings, nor can he intervene in operational matters that fall under the remit of courts, including the processes by which translation and interpretation services are provided.  Management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in exercising its functions under the Courts Service Act 1998 and the Constitution. In relation to introducing State-accredited training, the Minister is advised that the Courts Service, like many other public service bodies, has a contract for interpretation services under the interpretation service procurement framework set up by the Office of Government Procurement. The Minister is further advised that this contract requires the contracted company to ensure that interpreters possess the qualifications and competence appropriate to the tasks for which they are employed. The contract agreed under the central procurement framework sets the standards for interpreters supplied to the Courts Service.  Ireland has opted into EU Directive 2010\/64\/EU. Article 5 states that Member States are required to take concrete measures to ensure the quality of the interpretation and translation services. However, the article does not mandate member states to establish a register. The Minister has been advised that there are no plans at present to create such a register. Where the court of its own motion, or on application by any of the parties to the hearing, considers that the interpretation being provided is not of such a quality as to ensure that the person before it can effectively exercise his or her right to a fair trial, it may direct that the interpreter be replaced.  The Minister has been advised by the Courts Service that on the rare occasion where an issue arises, defendants, with their legal representatives, can and do have the entitlement to inform the court that a defendant cannot follow proceedings because of the quality of interpretation. Where this arises, proceedings are adjourned until another interpreter is found. The right to fair procedures is a central tenet of our criminal justice system. Ireland opted into the EU directive on the right to interpretation and translation in criminal proceedings and it was subsequently transposed into Irish law. This was done via two statutory instruments, one relating to interpretation and translation in criminal proceedings, which relates to the arrangements to be put in place by the Courts Service in respect of the conduct of court proceedings and the second which relates to interpretation and translation for persons in custody in Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na stations. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor Sheehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-Sheehan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor Sheehan  I am disappointed by that response. The Minister of State referred to a directive of the European Parliament that compels member states to take concrete measures to ensure interpretation and translation provided meets the necessary quality standards. I have presented an example of where that did not happen. There is a line in the directive that member states must endeavour to establish registers of interpreters and translators. This is something that is best practice, which professional linguists and people such as Professor Mary Phelan in DCU have been calling for for decades. We need to move away from the concept that any bilingual person can be a competent interpreter. We need to move away from outsourcing because there is an issue with quality control. We need to have accredited, university-level courses for legal interpreters. We need a regulatory body and a register. We need for longer trials to have two competent interpreters. The UK has a new qualifications framework and a contract for spoken language services that was tendered in autumn 2024. We need to follow suit.  It is not just me who is saying this. People who are experts in in this field are saying it because we need to develop a framework for formal accreditation and a national register for spoken language interpreters in healthcare and judicial settings. There have been examples where people have gone into hospital and people have used Google Translate. It primarily concerns migrant healthcare. There is a report with recommendations. They just need to be implemented. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Healy-Rae","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Michael-Healy-Rae.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Healy-Rae  The Deputy makes his point very well in a very sound, fair and reasonable fashion but I remind him that the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration has no role in individual court proceedings. As I have previously noted, Article 5 of EU Directive 2010\/64\/EU requires member states to take concrete measures to ensure the quality of interpretation and translation services. A 2018 European Commission report on the implementation of the directive did not flag any issues of concern regarding Ireland\u2019s approach to same and no open infringement proceedings are under way in this regard.  All procurement by the Courts Service is governed by EU directives on procurement that set out rules and procedures designed to ensure equal treatment, mutual recognition, proportionality and transparency in the awarding of public contracts. Procurement decisions must in all respects be fair and equitable and ensure value for money. The Courts Service must be able to justify decisions made and actions taken. In all cases, the Office of Government Procurement public procurement guidelines for goods and services, which set out the rules and best practice on the various stages of the procurement process, must be followed by all staff.  I reiterate that the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration has no role in individual court proceedings, including the processes by which translation and interpretation services are provided. On my behalf and that of the Minister, I thank the Deputy for raising this very important matter. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Regulatory Bodies"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-10\/debate\/dbsect_35","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Road Projects","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-10\/debate\/dbsect_31","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_31","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_35","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Paul O'Shea  I welcome the opportunity to speak this evening on the importance of the N20-M20 motorway project for the Munster region and the urgent need to accelerate progress on its business case, the final design and planning during 2026. For far too long, the N20 corridor between Cork and Limerick has been recognised as one of the most congested, dangerous and inadequate national routes in the country. It is a road that no longer meets the needs of modern Ireland and certainly does not meet the needs of a growing and ambitious Munster region. Every day, thousands of commuters, families, students and businesses depend on this route. They experience long delays, unpredictable journey times and unacceptable safety risks. Communities along the route continue to bear the burden of heavy traffic passing through their towns and villages. This is not sustainable or fair.  The delivery of the N20-M20 motorway represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform connectivity between the two largest cities outside of Dublin. It will strengthen the economic links between Cork and Limerick, support balanced regional development and help to unlock the full potential of the Atlantic economic corridor. This project is not just about building a road. It is about building opportunities, creating jobs during construction, attracting inward investment, supporting indigenous enterprise and ensuring that our region can compete nationally and internationally. For rural villages like Ballyhea and New Twopothouse and towns across north Cork such as Charleville, Buttevant and Mallow, improved connectivity will mean better access to education, healthcare, employment and public services. It will mean safer roads, reduced emissions from congestion and improved quality of life.  We have seen progress in recent years, and that progress must continue, but now we must move from project design to planning and delivery. This year must be the decisive year for this project. I am calling for a clear and accelerated timeline for the completion of the business case, the final design and the statutory planning process. These stages are essential but they must not become obstacles that bring about unnecessary delays. Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, in partnership with the Department of Transport and local authorities, must be resourced and empowered to progress this project at pace. We need certainty, transparency and accountability regarding these timelines.  Equally, meaningful engagement with landowners, communities and stakeholders must remain at the heart of this process. Progress must be made in a way that is fair, respectful and environmentally responsible. The people of Munster, businesses, farmers, landowners, commuters and families have waited long enough. We cannot afford another five years of reports, reviews and revisions while congestion worsens and opportunities are lost. This Government has rightly committed itself to balanced regional development. The N20-M20 motorway is essential to delivering on that commitment. If we are serious about strengthening regional cities, supporting rural Ireland and easing pressure on the greater Dublin area, we must be serious about delivering this project. I urge the Minister and the Department to make the N20-M20 a top strategic priority in 2026, to set out a clear road map to construction and to provide the funding and the leadership necessary to bring this to fruition. Munster deserves modern, safe and reliable infrastructure. Our people deserve better connectivity, our businesses deserve certainty and our region deserves the opportunity to thrive. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Transport (Deputy Jerry Buttimer)  The Deputy is dead right. I thank him for his ongoing support and advocacy concerning the importance of the N20-M20 as a county councillor, as leader of the council and as a new Teachta D\u00e1la. He illustrated very clearly here the strategic importance of the road. He is 100% correct. I speak as a Cork person when I say that people have waited far too long. It is the piece that we are missing in our region for a variety of reasons, including safety and economic sustainability. I thank the Deputy for his very thought-provoking address tonight here to the House about this strategically important route, which is a priority for the Government.  The proposed project aims to enhance regional accessibility by improving the network connecting the cities of Cork and Limerick but also by improving connections to west Cork and Kerry along with that piece the Deputy spoke about, namely, balanced regional growth, especially in north Cork. The N20-M20 Cork to Limerick project will provide not just better connectivity between the second and third largest cities in the State. The Deputy outlined that towns such as Buttevant, Croom, Charleville, Mallow, Blarney, New Twopothouse and Ballyhea will benefit but it will also address safety and the deficiency on the existing road and will deliver active travel infrastructure along the corridor along with the better opportunities we all want.  The N20-M20 road corridor options were progressed by TII with public transport alternatives and rail as comparators. Following this appraisal, TII announced the preferred solution on 20 March 2022. The preferred solution involves building a dual carriageway or motorway along the existing N20 corridor between Cork and Limerick and would use 30% to 40% of the current N20. In the course of arriving at the preferred solution, the project team looked at rail options and highlighted the provision of improved services on the existing rail network as a means of enhancing public transport between Cork and Limerick. The design team is currently engaged in the design and environmental evaluation phase of the project. This will include selecting the type of road in addition to the preparation of the scheme's business case, which is required under the infrastructure guidelines.  In June 2024, a briefing took place for public representatives as part of the project team's ongoing engagement process. In considering various options in relation to the delivery of this project, the project team is currently recommending that the scheme should be tolled. However, no final decision has been taken in this regard. The introduction of tolling would be subject to compliance with the requirements of the infrastructure guidelines and further statutory approvals. A further project update on 16 June 2025 provided further details, particularly regarding the refined requirements relating to land take. The scheme's preliminary business case is expected to be submitted to the Department of Transport in the second half of this year. Subject to Government approval as is required under the infrastructure guidelines, the submission of the statutory documents for the project to An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la would follow thereafter. TII allocated \u20ac4.5 million to Limerick City and County Council to progress the scheme during 2025. Allocations for 2026 will be announced in the near future.  I assure the Deputy that I am, as he is, very supportive of this particular project and recognise its importance as we have said, for a variety of reasons, but most importantly from a safety, economic and sustainability point of view. This road needs to be connected. It is that piece that is missing in the connectivity of our country and as two Cork Members and representatives, we understand fully what could happen when this new road is built in terms of the new life it will breathe. The people of that area deserve for this road to be delivered expeditiously. I thank the Deputy for his ongoing work and support and for being a long-time champion of the road. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Paul O'Shea  I thank the Minister of State for his kind words relating to this project. It is a very detailed project and there is a lot of money involved, but I welcome the fact that in his response, he said the scheme preliminary business case is expected to be submitted to the Department of Transport in the second half of this year. This is very welcome news. We need to keep this momentum going, and subject to Government approval, which I am sure will come as is required under the infrastructure guidelines, the submission of the statutory documents for the project will be forwarded to An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la. I thank the Minister of State very sincerely for his response.  As two Cork TDs in this area, we met the representatives of Cork Development Forum recently in Leinster House, and the Cork Chamber of Commerce. There is huge backing to finally proceed to get that infrastructure project between Cork and Limerick together. It is very important and poignant that today further infrastructure announcements were made by Government to move the delivery of infrastructure more quickly. That is very much where the N20-M20 project is at. I hope this project will fit into this Bill. Like the lengthy duplicative processes, the project will undergo a streamlined, time-bound internal review by the Department of public expenditure. The kind of practical reform the Government wants to see is when infrastructure is ready to go, the system should help it to move and not hold it back if at all possible. I thank the Minister of State for his comments on the project. It is important that we collectively, as Corkonians but also as Government representatives, move forward and match the words with actions to ensure that this N20-M20 project motorway moves decisively from aspiration to reality. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  The Deputy is right that it is time to move from aspiration to delivery. That is why the T\u00e1naiste was very clear about the need for the development of expeditious projects to be progressed, with the whole issue around infrastructure development and the need for a specific department of infrastructure. The Deputy and I really listened to the Cork Development Forum and the chamber of commerce and other business interests and a variety of interests relating to the N20-M20 project. It is included in the NDP and received, as he knows, significant funding in 2024. This year\u2019s funding allocation is due shortly and it will receive money.  The proposed project is critically important in terms of connectivity, not just from a Cork-Limerick perspective but also from the perspective of other regional towns as we have articulated and outlined. It is important to outline to the House that approximately \u20ac502 million of Exchequer capital funding was provided last year to TII in line with the NDP and Government policy, and TII sought to allocate national roads funding to local authorities in a manner that seeks to deliver in protecting existing rural projects and major projects that are to be progressed or are in or near construction, such as that we were talking about in terms of pre-construction, but also in the context of new roads.  The N20-M20 is one we need to see delivered. We have seen the benefit in our own county in the Baile Bhuirne-Macroom bypass, in the importance of the Dunkettle interchange upgrade, and we need to see more happening in terms of the N40 where we have gridlock every day. We need the Atlantic economic corridor to be developed so that we can improve the offerings of jobs in west Cork, north Cork and dare I say it, Kerry as well. This is about ensuring the N20-M20 is built. People have waited long enough. The potential to reduce road fatalities and accidents is there for all to see from a safety point of view. I look forward to working with all Members, but in particular Deputy O'Shea, to deliver the project on behalf of the Government. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar athl\u00f3 ar 10.35 p.m. go dt\u00ed 9 a.m., D\u00e9 C\u00e9adaoin, an 11 Feabhra 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The D\u00e1il adjourned at 10.35 p.m. until 9 a.m. on Wednesday, 11 February 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Road Projects"}]}}]},"contextDate":"2026-02-10"},{"debateRecord":{"house":{"showAs":"34th D\u00e1il","committeeCode":"","houseCode":"dail","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/house\/dail\/34","chamberType":"house","houseNo":"34"},"chamber":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/def\/house\/dail","showAs":"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann"},"lastUpdated":"2026-05-12T02:08:50+00:00","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/main","formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/mul@\/main.xml"},"pdf":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/mul@\/main.pdf"}},"date":"2026-02-05","counts":{"contributorCount":137,"divisionCount":0,"debateSectionCount":39,"questionCount":28,"billCount":1},"debateType":"debate","debateSections":[{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/dbsect_2","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/dbsect_3","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Community Development Projects","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/dbsect_2","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_3","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_3.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  This is a fairly straightforward question with which he will be familiar. I am seeking to understand and to get some information from the Minister of State in relation to those non-capital grants. We understand the capital grants and the schemes but I ask about the actual level of funding that is available to cover those costs, such as energy, insurance, staffing, etc. This relates to the stream of funding that will go beyond the capital grants. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (Deputy Jerry Buttimer)  I thank the Deputy for her very important question. The Minister, Deputy Calleary, and I are aware of the challenges that many large community groups that operate community centres face in relation to the operation and staffing costs. In our consultation processes for the new strategy for the community and voluntary sector, it has emerged as an issue of concern. As the Deputy knows, the community and voluntary sector is quite diverse and receives financial support through a variety and wide range of funding programmes and schemes from several Government Departments and agencies, including our Department.  Our Department's community service programme, CSP, for the four year period from 2023 to 2027 currently supports the delivery of 445 local services, which is 426 organisations. It is a total allocation of \u20ac59.4 million for this year alone. Some 78 community centres and other community facilities are funded under the CSP, supporting a total of 380 staff posts, 53 managers and 327 full-time equivalent staff. This amount of total funding allocated is \u20ac36.2 million over the current five-year timeframe of this programme. In line with the programme for Government commitment and together with the Minister, our Department last year announced our intention to hold an open call early this year on the new CSP programme. The design of this open call is under way. Details, including eligible community services and organisations, will be announced in the coming weeks.  In the Gaeltacht region, there is a comprehensive development approach to managing the increased demand for funding from Gaeltacht community development organisations, with a 59% direct increase in funding to these organisations. Both the Minister and I are very much aware of the issues and challenges our community centres, which are operated in the main by voluntary boards, are facing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  I thank the Minister of State for his response. The purpose of the question was to try to isolate those specific funding streams separate from grants that will contribute towards the physical running. The Minister of State is right that they are in the main run by volunteer boards. However, they are employers as well. It makes things very tricky. There have been welcome increases in the minimum wage. That has a knock-on consequence for other people who are working. Costs like energy in particular are rising. What we saw in the aftermath of Storm \u00c9owyn and Storm Chandra was how badly exposed some, although not all, community centres were. They are a bit of a beacon in the community. People think when everything is gone they will head to the community centre and it is like a hub. In some instances, they were not sufficiently staffed to be able to respond. They are now having to cope with the energy bills. There is a huge increase in energy. The money available is not matching that level of increase. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  The points the Deputy made are fair comments. Both the Minister and I are very much aware from our own involvement and engagement. We have travelled the country and met with the community and voluntary sector. As a former director of my own community association, I know they are very resilient in sourcing funding from a variety streams. In the budget announced last November, there is a 6% increase in funding from our Department, which is a demonstration of the ambition the Minister and I have in terms of supporting and developing community organisations in our rural towns, urban suburbs and communities across the country.  This is a very genuine point. As part of the consultative process for Our Rural Future and in new the community and voluntary sector strategy, there has been a strong articulation of the points the Deputy has raised. Both the Minister and I will reflect on that as we look at the new Our Rural Future design and the community and voluntary sector strategy when we publish it later this year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  Can I be a bit a cheeky and hijack my own time for a moment to remind the Minister of State that he promised me he would visit For\u00f3ige in Balbriggan? I will follow up with him again after this.  I understand the Minister of State is listening and hears what is being said. What I am trying to find out is how that is going to manifest itself in terms of money so that the community centres can be sure they are going to be in a position to be able to pay their energy bills. The fear many of them have is that they are not going to be in a position to fund because energy costs have risen. They are not coming down. Even if the pace of increase has slowed a small bit, they have not come down. For very many, they are unaffordable. When times were very hard people, particularly in the aftermath of Storm \u00c9owyn and Storm Chandra, they went to their community centre as a beacon. We do not want the lights not being able to be turned on there. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  I look forward to going to Balbriggan. The Deputy was to come back to me with the invitation to arrange it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  I thought I had done that but I will do it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  I would love to do that because it is very important to support that organisation. The Deputy raised that already.  The reality is that we have seen - for example, in the community services programme - an increase of \u20ac4 million to \u20ac59.4 million this year. We have seen a 6% increase in the budget. We will reflect on the articulation by the community and voluntary sector in terms of the preparation of the strategy and in the consultative process for the new Our Rural Future. I assure the Deputy the Minister and I are very much rooted in this sector. We want to ensure the challenges that are being encountered will be considered in the development of any new policies. When we had Covid and the cost-of-living crisis, and energy was at its core, the Government was not found wanting. Again, our community and voluntary sector is very resilient in the sourcing of funds. We will look at what we can do to support what is a very important pillar of our society. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Community Development Projects"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/dbsect_4","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Community Development Projects","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/dbsect_2","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_4","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_4.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Wall  Staying with the topic of community centres, will the Minister inform the House when the Government might announce a new programme for community centre investment given the serious issues many community centres are having at the moment in increasing what they have to offer for the public and if he could make a statement? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (Deputy Dara Calleary)  I thank the Deputy for his question. Both the Minister of State and I agree and recognise that community centres can be at the heart of every community and that they are a vital resource for any city, neighbourhood, town or village. Since joining the Department, we prioritised investment in community infrastructure. As part of budget 2026, we secured increased funding for the programmes delivering on this priority, including an increase in the annual budget for the community centre investment fund, CCFI, of \u20ac3 million to \u20ac20 million. The CCIF was introduced to provide high quality, accessible, community spaces that are available to groups in all communities in both rural and urban areas. Through the CCIF, \u20ac110 million has been allocated since 2022 for the enhancement and refurbishment of existing community centres and the construction of a number of new centres where such a need has been identified. I am committed to delivering further iterations of the CCIF in the coming years.  Following meetings with the Minister of State and myself, our officials are currently finalising the details of the next call for applications. This call will focus on refurbishment to existing community centres. I expect to open this new round of funding to applicants in the coming months with a view to announcing successful projects before the end of the year. We also support community facilities with enhancement works through a range of other funding streams, including capitally through the CL\u00c1R programme, LEADER and the town and village renewal scheme. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Wall  I thank the Minister very much for his reply. We are all aware of the importance of community centres throughout the country and no more so in my own area. Tonight, I will have a meeting of my own local community centre where we will discuss all things relevant, including funding and how we can expand what we can offer to the local community. It is very welcome that there is to be additional funding allocated. How quickly can that happen? The Minister said the announcement will be this year and then there will be funding announced before the end of the year. A lot of the community centres I am dealing with are having issues around heating, lack of heating, heating that is obsolete, etc. It is making a difference, particularly over the past number of weeks, in that they cannot open their doors. That is the issue I wanted to raise with the Minister today. I am glad the Government will concentrate on refurbishment more than anything else. The heating systems in many of these local halls and community centres are so old that they are not fit for purpose. I would welcome it if the Minister could confirm that is the type of infrastructure the Department is looking at. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I confirm that will be part of the iteration. We are trying to make it as broad as possible. As the Deputy and Deputy O'Reilly said previously, these centres provide very important services. Many of them were built at different times when energy costs were not quite causing the pressure they are now. Regarding the impact of the CCIF today, 93% of centres that have been funded under the CCIF have reported an increase in user numbers following the upgrades, with new improved accessibility, inclusivity and comfort. There has been further engagement from older adults, people with disabilities, families and marginalised groups reflecting to the new centre and new investment. Energy upgrades have been a major feature of the CCIF refurbishment process. They will continue to be. We will work closely with colleagues in the CCIF to give the best possible advice to community centres through local authorities. The vast majority of them have voluntary boards of directors. I want to make sure the new iteration of the CCIF is as easy as possible for those volunteers to access in an efficient manner. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Wall","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Mark-Wall.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Wall  The Minister mentioned a very important point. Tonight, at our meeting, there will probably be six of the locals who have been there for the past 20 to 30 years. They are the volunteers who keep that particular community going. As the Minister just did and the Minister of State previously acknowledged, it is always important to acknowledge those volunteers. In relation to the disability and marginal groups, there is a growing demand in urban areas for centres for marginalised groups. In relation to new centres, an area I have raised with the Minister before is the conversion of derelict buildings into community centres. Is that something the Minister will look at? I have mentioned previously rural schools that have become obsolete in some cases and unfortunately have closed in other cases.  Again, is that something the Minister will look at? Obviously, those with a disability and those from marginalised groups need to meet, and need to have a location where they can meet. There are a number of obsolete and derelict buildings that could be used for these purposes. Is that something this fund would encourage? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  It is. It is my intention in 2027 to have a specific round of the CCIF for new-build centres. The then Minister, Heather Humphreys, announced a range of those in 2024. We are getting all of those into construction at the moment. There are about 12 nationally. Under the town and village renewal scheme, through the buildings acquisitions measure, local authorities can identify properties that are derelict within communities for a number of uses. We have funded the acquisition of properties for use as community facilities for exactly the kind of groups the Deputy has looked at. We have done similar through LEADER. I encourage any group to look at the town and village renewal scheme if they want to invest in a new centre, particularly within an existing community. I gceantair Ghaeltachta freisin, t\u00e1 airgead breise le haghaidh halla\u00ed agus halla\u00ed pobail a bhfuil daoine ag iarraidh infheist\u00edocht a chur isteach iontu. We have a range of supports across every section of the Department, predominately in capital. As the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, has outlined, both he and I are working with the CCIF to try to assist that programme too. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Community Development Projects"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/dbsect_5","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Sc\u00e9imeanna Teanga","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/dbsect_2","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_5","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_5.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  T\u00e1 an cheist seo d\u00edrithe ar an Aire toisc an breithi\u00fanas a rinne an Bhreithimh Humphreys san Ard-Ch\u00fairt maidir leis na sc\u00e9imeanna teanga. D\u00fairt s\u00e9 go bhfuil s\u00e9 \"seaf\u00f3ideach\" agus \"\u00e1if\u00e9iseach\" le r\u00e1 go bhfuil feidhm dhl\u00edthi\u00fail f\u00f3s acu. Cathain a bhfoilseofar na caighde\u00e1in teanga at\u00e1 le teacht i gcomharbas orthu si\u00fad? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Teachta as an gceist. T\u00e1 an Roinn ar an eolas faoi ch\u00e1s c\u00fairte a t\u00f3gadh i rith na bliana anuraidh, inar tarraing\u00edodh ar ghn\u00e9ithe bainteach le hAchtanna na dTeangacha Oifigi\u00fala mar chuid de. Mar a luadh roimhe seo, bh\u00ed mo Roinn ag feidhmi\u00fa i gc\u00f3na\u00ed de r\u00e9ir comhairle dl\u00ed a bh\u00ed faighte ar an \u00e1bhar roimhe seo, ach mar bheart taca sa bhreis agus chun aon amhras a sheachaint sa tr\u00e9imhse idir aisghairm na sc\u00e9imeanna teanga agus teacht i bhfeidhm na gcaighde\u00e1n teanga, t\u00e1 leas\u00fa molta \u00e1bhartha ar an Acht sin \u00e1irithe sa Bhille um \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta (Leas\u00fa), 2024. \u00d3 tharla nach bhfuil an Bille sin achtaithe go f\u00f3ill, scr\u00edobh an Roinn chuig gach comhlacht poibl\u00ed i m\u00ed na Nollag 2024 le meabhr\u00fa d\u00f3ibh n\u00e1r ch\u00f3ir aon laghd\u00fa a theacht ar leibh\u00e9il na seirbh\u00eds\u00ed Gaeilge at\u00e1 \u00e1 sol\u00e1thar acu le linn na hidirthr\u00e9imhse seo.  Leagann an tAcht leasaithe amach nach f\u00e9idir le caighde\u00e1in teanga leibh\u00e9al n\u00edos l\u00fa seirbh\u00edse tr\u00ed Ghaeilge a fhorord\u00fa n\u00e1 mar a bh\u00ed geallta roimhe seo faoi sc\u00e9im teanga n\u00f3 eile. Chuige sin, t\u00e1 athbhreithni\u00fa cuimsitheach d\u00e9anta ar na sc\u00e9imeanna teanga reatha go l\u00e9ir mar chuid den obair dhr\u00e9achtaithe ar na caighde\u00e1in teanga, at\u00e1 ag teacht chun cr\u00edche anois. \u00c1ir\u00edtear roinnt gn\u00edomhartha bainteach le nithe a fhorord\u00fa tr\u00ed na caighde\u00e1in teanga sa phlean gn\u00edomha\u00edochta um sheirbh\u00eds\u00ed poibl\u00ed Gaeilge a sheol m\u00e9 le d\u00e9ana\u00ed, chomh maith leis na bearta at\u00e1 le tac\u00fa le comhlachta\u00ed poibl\u00ed agus iad \u00e1 gcur i bhfeidhm. Agus an plean sin foilsithe anois, t\u00e1 s\u00e9 i gceist t\u00fas a chur leis an gcomhairli\u00fach\u00e1n ar na dr\u00e9acht-chaighde\u00e1in go luath tr\u00ed na meicn\u00edochta\u00ed aitheanta faoin Acht. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Aire. Is l\u00e9ir \u00f3n bhfreagra go raibh comhairle dl\u00ed i gceist agus gur aithin an Roinn go raibh fadhb bhun\u00fasach ann. Gealladh d\u00fainn nuair a bh\u00ed muid ag d\u00e9anamh pl\u00e9 ar Acht na dTeangacha Oifigi\u00fala go mbeadh na caighde\u00e1in ann sar i bhfad. \u00d3 thaobh an dl\u00ed de, ba ch\u00f3ir go mbeadh siad ann roimh dheireadh 2024. T\u00e1 na sc\u00e9imeanna teanga as ord. N\u00ed ann d\u00f3ibh. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 seaf\u00f3ideach agus \u00e1if\u00e9iseach a bheith ag brath orthu. T\u00e1thar ag brath ar dhea-thoil n\u00f3 treoir \u00f3n Aire do na comhlachta\u00ed poibl\u00ed gur ch\u00f3ir d\u00f3ibh rud \u00e9igin a dh\u00e9anamh nach bhfuil go hioml\u00e1n dleathach m\u00e1 th\u00e9itear de r\u00e9ir an m\u00e9id at\u00e1 r\u00e1ite ag breitheamh na hArd-Ch\u00fairte. An pr\u00edomhcheist n\u00e1 c\u00e9n uair a mbeidh feidhm dhl\u00edthi\u00fail ag na caighde\u00e1in. T\u00e1 an tAire d\u00edreach tar \u00e9is a r\u00e1 go dtos\u00f3idh comhairli\u00fach\u00e1n. N\u00ed hamh\u00e1in nach bhfuil siad foilsithe, in ainneoin gur gealladh d\u00fainn go mbeadh siad foilsithe laistigh de thr\u00ed mh\u00ed, ach t\u00e1 an tAire anois ag caint faoi chomhairli\u00fach\u00e1n. Mar sin, n\u00ed bheidh siad i bhfeidhm, de r\u00e9ir cos\u00falachta\u00ed, roimh dheireadh na bliana seo. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  T\u00e1 an-obair idir l\u00e1mha ag mo Roinn \u00f3 achta\u00edodh an tAcht ar dhr\u00e9acht\u00fa na gcaighde\u00e1in teanga. Sa mh\u00e9id seo, t\u00e1imid ag tabhairt aird ar ch\u00farsa\u00ed n\u00edos luaithe go sonrach san Acht at\u00e1 le h\u00e1ireamh, nithe at\u00e1 le foghlaim \u00f3 thaith\u00ed na Breataine Bige, \u00e1it ina bhfuil c\u00f3ras ag feidhmi\u00fa go h\u00e9ifeachtach anois agus ar th\u00f3g s\u00e9 roinnt ama an ch\u00e9ad dr\u00e9acht a aont\u00fa. T\u00e1 an plean gn\u00edomha\u00edochta foilsithe anois. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 i gceist t\u00fas a chur leis an gcomhairli\u00fach\u00e1n ar an dr\u00e9acht ach t\u00e1 an t-uaf\u00e1s oibre tar \u00e9is dul isteach sa dr\u00e9acht sin agus beidh a l\u00e1n sonra\u00ed ann. Bh\u00ed cruinni\u00fa leis na hoifigigh sa Roinn at\u00e1 ag d\u00e9ile\u00e1il leis na dr\u00e9achta\u00ed an tseachtain seo caite. T\u00e1 muin\u00edn agam go bhfuilimid r\u00e9idh le dul ar aghaidh go dt\u00ed an comhairli\u00fach\u00e1n sin chomh luath agus is f\u00e9idir. Beidh m\u00e9 ag cur br\u00fa go mbeidh s\u00e9 d\u00e9anta go tapa. C\u00e9 go bhfuil an dr\u00e9acht agus na caighde\u00e1in chomh t\u00e1bhachtach, t\u00e1 s\u00e9 t\u00e1bhachtach freisin go mbeidh am ag daoine iad a phl\u00e9. Tuigim an g\u00e1 at\u00e1 ann d\u00f3ibh. Is rud an-t\u00e1bhachtach dom \u00e9 go mbeidh siad foilsithe. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 t\u00e1bhachtach freisin go mbeidh muid in ann caint le daoine f\u00fathu agus aon bhuairt a bh\u00edonn ar dhaoine faoin ndr\u00e9acht a thuiscint. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  San idirlinn, an bhfuil s\u00e9 i gceist lean\u00faint leis an leas\u00fa a bh\u00ed an tAire ag cur chun cinn maidir leis an mBille a bhaineann le toghch\u00e1in \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta? Is f\u00e9idir \u00e9 sin a chur chun cinn mar Bhille ann f\u00e9in agus an reachta\u00edocht maidir leis na toghch\u00e1in a chur ar athl\u00f3, mar at\u00e1 d\u00e9anta ar aon chaoi, mar t\u00e1 \u00e9igeand\u00e1il ann anois nach bhfuil aon fheidhm dhl\u00edthi\u00fail ag na sc\u00e9imeanna. D'fh\u00e9adfa\u00ed r\u00fan n\u00f3 Bille \u00e9igeand\u00e1la a th\u00f3g\u00e1il os comhair na D\u00e1la. Is \u00e9 sin an rud a tharla\u00edonn de ghn\u00e1th nuair a deir an Ard-Ch\u00fairt n\u00f3 aon \u00e1it eile nach bhfuil feidhm dhl\u00edthi\u00fail le reachta\u00edocht. Is \u00e9 sin at\u00e1 an breitheamh tar \u00e9is a r\u00e1. Mar a d\u00fairt s\u00e9:  Go deimhin f\u00e9in, seaf\u00f3id agus rud nach bhf\u00e9adfa\u00ed a r\u00e1 is ea an arg\u00f3int ar fad go bhfuil an sc\u00e9im f\u00f3s ag faoile\u00e1il os cionn tal\u00fan agus ag feidhmi\u00fa c\u00e9 gur baineadh uaithi na cosa taca dl\u00ed a bh\u00ed mar bhonn l\u00e9i.  [...]  Chomh seaf\u00f3ideach c\u00e9anna at\u00e1 an tuairim seo gur f\u00e9idir leis an sc\u00e9im feidhm dl\u00ed a thabhairt di f\u00e9in tr\u00ed leas a bhaint as a focla\u00edocht f\u00e9in d\u2019ainneoin cinneadh an Oireachtais an reachta\u00edocht \u00fadaraithe a aisghairm.  An fhadhb bhun\u00fasach, mar sin, n\u00e1 nach bhfuil aon st\u00e1das ag na sc\u00e9imeanna a thuilleadh gan reachta\u00edocht \u00e9igeand\u00e1la. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  T\u00e1imid beagnach r\u00e9idh lena l\u00e1n leasaithe a thabhairt chun tosaigh le haghaidh Bhille an \u00fadar\u00e1is. T\u00e1 leas\u00fa air seo mar cheann de na leasaithe sin. T\u00e1 m\u00e9 ag pl\u00e9 an Bhille leis an bPr\u00edomh-Aoire chun \u00e9 a thabhairt chun deiridh agus os comhair na D\u00e1la chomh luath agus is f\u00e9idir. Beidh leas\u00fa ann faoin nd\u00fashl\u00e1n seo. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 t\u00e1bhachtach freisin go leanfaimid ar aghaidh leis an obair ar na caighde\u00e1in agus go bhfuil muid in ann na dr\u00e9acht-chaighde\u00e1in a phl\u00e9. T\u00e1imid d\u00edrithe ar an obair sin - n\u00ed hamh\u00e1in na leasaithe - freisin. Beidh na leasaithe ag teacht os comhair na D\u00e1la agus an tSeanaid chomh luath agus is f\u00e9idir nuair at\u00e1 deis agam iad a phl\u00e9 leis an bPr\u00edomh-Aoire. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Sc\u00e9imeanna Teanga"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/dbsect_6","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"An Ghaeltacht","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/dbsect_2","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_6","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_6.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  The housing crisis in the Gaeltacht is having a specific damaging effect on these communities and our language. T\u00e1 an gh\u00e9arch\u00e9im tith\u00edochta na ceantair Ghaeltachta ag cur todhcha\u00ed na Gaeilge mar theanga bheo i mbaol. It is putting our language in danger. Young people are being forced to leave. Will the Minister set out how he is using his powers as the Minister responsible for the Gaeltacht under section 9 to help \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta to deliver homes and ensure the future of our language and our Gaeltachta\u00ed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Teachta Hearne as an gceist. It should be noted that housing issues pertain to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The primary objective of \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta is to ensure the Irish language endures as the main community language in Gaeltacht areas and is preserved for future generations. To that end, an t-\u00fadar\u00e1s provides funding for a wide range of enterprise and employment development initiatives. The organisation also supports strategic actions relating to linguistic, cultural and community development. It is worth noting that \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta will have a role, albeit a secondary one, in working with relevant stakeholders to support housing supply in the Gaeltacht. An t-\u00fadar\u00e1s maintains a significant property portfolio across the Gaeltacht and wastewater infrastructure at various sites is part of that. As laid out in the Government housing plan, there are opportunities for an t-\u00fadar\u00e1s to co-operate with relevant authorities to avail of that existing infrastructure through a strategic, plan-based approach, in order to fulfil the housing needs in Gaeltacht communities.  I have had meetings with the pr\u00edomhfheidhmeannach of \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta and it is my understanding that the organisation is having discussions with local authorities. I have also asked it to engage with Uisce \u00c9ireann to avail of current infrastructure and identify where that very necessary infrastructure is missing. I will continue to have further engagement with an t-\u00fadar\u00e1s in this regard.  Although there is a challenge in terms of the scarcity of living accommodation in Gaeltacht areas, they also have one of the highest vacancy rates in the country. To that end, a dedicated vacant Gaeltacht homes co-ordinator was recently appointed in partnership with local authorities with Gaeltachta\u00ed in their area, funded by an t-\u00fadar\u00e1s, to aid communities in addressing issues of vacancy, facilitate access to various State grants and provide us with information on vacancy.  Since my Department's schemes under the Housing (Gaeltacht) Acts were changed some years ago, the Government has established a number of new schemes under which far more generous grants are available than those available under the previous schemes. On that basis, the return of the grant schemes that were available under the Housing (Gaeltacht) Acts is not currently under consideration. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  I thank the Minister for his response. I welcome the engagement on housing. While housing comes under a different Department, we cannot separate the future of the Irish language from the housing crisis in Gaeltacht areas. As the Minister knows, there is a particular emergency there. This morning, there were ten properties to rent in Connemara on daft.ie , while Airbnb had 573. Young people are being forced out of Gaeltacht communities. It was reported by the One Million Homes project this morning that 12,000 homes are needed in Gaeltacht areas. We have had presentations by the GAA about how it cannot field teams. Housing is the core issue for Gaeltacht communities. I have met with B\u00c1N\u00da and Conradh na Gaeilge, as has the Minister. More needs to be done. \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta could be playing a much bigger role in ensuring housing is available for young people, thereby ensuring the future of our language. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I do not disagree with the Deputy's analysis in terms of rental properties and vacancies. We must work on this in a strategic way. I have met with the pr\u00edomhfheidhmeannaigh of the local authorities in Gaeltacht areas on two occasions and will meet them again before the end of this month to discuss how we can work together. The appointment by an t-\u00fadar\u00e1s of a vacant homes officer with a specific focus on Gaeltacht area is an important development. Following my meeting with the pr\u00edomhfheidhmeannach of an t-\u00fadar\u00e1s, we are beginning to identify where the sites are and whether an t-\u00fadar\u00e1s has plans for those sites. In particular, I want to gain an understanding of the deficiencies in those sites in terms of infrastructure, especially wastewater infrastructure. That will allow us to start working with an t-\u00fadar\u00e1s and Irish Water on a collaborative basis to address those deficiencies and then work with an t-\u00fadar\u00e1s to develop the sites for housing purposes. I have also had meetings with the Minister, Deputy Browne, to ensure we get early publication of a housing statement for Gaeltacht areas focusing specifically on the challenges we all agree are there. We are very focused on that and I would love to get a quick result. We now have a pathway to some progress in this area. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  I appreciate the Minister's focus on this issue. It is wonderful to see. I am one of the people coming back to the language agus ag foghlaim an teanga ar\u00eds. Within that, people need to understand that while there is this great revival, the places where the language is alive, where we think of it as having its origins and being capable of being sustained, are, in fact, in serious danger. I have spoken to young people who are being forced to leave those areas. This is a particular emergency in Gaeltachta\u00ed. I urge the Minister to do all he can to fast-track support and funding for an t-\u00fadar\u00e1s and the local authorities in order that the young people who are cainteoir\u00ed na Gaeilge can stay in their communities and, from there, we can regrow the language of our country. The Gaeltachta\u00ed are the heart and core of the solution. It is the contention of Conradh na Gaeilge and B\u00c1N\u00da that the future of the language is in danger if the specific housing crisis in Gaeltacht areas is not addressed. The market will not solve those housing issues because it is not profitable for the private sector. The State must lead on this and support these communities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  We are working with an t-\u00fadar\u00e1s and, in particular, with the local authorities in the Gaeltacht areas, which are the planning authorities, to identify every possible opportunity and solution. The information will come through from the Gaeltacht vacant homes officer, the work of the local authority chief executives and the work of an \u00fadar\u00e1s at both pr\u00edomhfheidhmeannach level and board level. I want to ensure we bring all that work together, working with the Minister, Deputy Browne, to deliver on this major challenge. We want people not just speaking the language but using and celebrating it and getting involved in community organisations. The next question, from Deputy Conor D. McGuinness, concerning support for early childhood care centres, is central to that. The infrastructure is being put in place and we will make announcements in that regard in the coming days. However, unless there are people living in Gaeltacht areas, putting down roots and taking part in the community, that infrastructure will be for naught. I assure the House that this issue is a priority. It is not all in my control. I am working with the Minister, Deputy Browne, and with an t-\u00fadar\u00e1s. We will work with the local authorities. Collectively, we can arrive at a solution. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"An Ghaeltacht"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/dbsect_7","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Oideachas tr\u00ed Ghaeilge","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/dbsect_2","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_7","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_7.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  T\u00e1 s\u00e9 iontach n\u00edos m\u00f3 daoine a chloiste\u00e1il ag caint mar gheall ar gh\u00e9arch\u00e9im thith\u00edochta na Gaeltachta. Is maith an rud \u00e9 sin. Baineann an cheist at\u00e1 agam le na\u00edonra\u00ed. T\u00e1 an-chuid daoine ag \u00e9ileamh anois ar shaol tr\u00ed Ghaeilge, mar shampla ar oideachas tr\u00ed Ghaeilge d\u00e1 bp\u00e1ist\u00ed, laistigh den Ghaeltacht ach lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht chomh maith. An srian at\u00e1 i gceist anseo n\u00e1 srian caipitil chun foirgnimh a th\u00f3gaint agus sp\u00e1s a chruth\u00fa do ph\u00e1ist\u00ed at\u00e1 ag freastal ar na\u00edonra\u00ed fud fad na t\u00edre. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Teachta as ucht na ceiste t\u00e1bhachta\u00ed seo. T\u00e1 maoini\u00fa ar f\u00e1il faoin gcl\u00e1r taca\u00edochta\u00ed pobail agus teanga agus faoin gcl\u00e1r sc\u00e9imeanna taca\u00edochta Gaeilge de chuid na Roinne chun tac\u00fa le togra\u00ed caipitil laistigh agus lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht. Is \u00e9 cusp\u00f3ir an ch\u00fanaimh chaipitil a chuirtear ar f\u00e1il faoi na sc\u00e9imeanna seo an Ghaeilge a neart\u00fa mar theanga pobail agus teaghlaigh i gcomhr\u00e9ir le cusp\u00f3ir\u00ed an strait\u00e9is 20 bliain don Ghaeilge.  Faoin gcl\u00e1r taca\u00edochta pobail agus teanga, cuirtear c\u00fanamh caipitil ar f\u00e1il do choist\u00ed agus eagra\u00edochta\u00ed Gaeltachta chun \u00e1iseanna pobail agus teanga a th\u00f3g\u00e1il n\u00f3 a uasgr\u00e1d\u00fa. Faoi na sc\u00e9imeanna taca\u00edochta Gaeilge, cuirtear maoini\u00fa ar f\u00e1il do choist\u00ed pobalbhunaithe a fheidhm\u00edonn tr\u00ed Ghaeilge lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht chun cabhr\u00fa leis na costais a bhaineann le hionaid Ghaeilge a th\u00f3g\u00e1il n\u00f3 a athch\u00f3iri\u00fa. \u00c1ir\u00edtear na\u00edonra\u00ed agus seirbh\u00eds\u00ed luathblianta mar \u00e1bhar iarratais inghlactha faoi na sc\u00e9imeanna seo. Cuirtear taca\u00edochta\u00ed sa bhreis ar f\u00e1il do thogra\u00ed luathblianta sa mh\u00e9id is gur f\u00e9idir maoini\u00fa suas le 95% de chostais inghlactha a fh\u00e1il do sheirbh\u00eds\u00ed luathblianta pobalbhunaithe at\u00e1 ag feidhmi\u00fa tr\u00ed mhe\u00e1n na Gaeilge. Is f\u00e9idir costais chaipitil chomh maith le costais ghairmi\u00fala a bhaineann le comhairleoir\u00ed a fhost\u00fa a \u00e1ireamh sna deontais seo.  Moltar d\u00f3ibh si\u00fad at\u00e1 ag smaoineamh ar iarratas a dh\u00e9anamh teagmh\u00e1il a dh\u00e9anamh leis an rann\u00f3g cu\u00ed i mo Roinn chun maoini\u00fa f\u00e9ideartha a phl\u00e9 sula gcuirtear aon iarratas foirmi\u00fail isteach. Is f\u00e9idir teacht ar bhileog eolais don d\u00e1 sc\u00e9im agus ar shonra\u00ed maidir leis an bpr\u00f3iseas iarratais ar shu\u00edomh Idirl\u00edne mo Roinne. M\u00e1 t\u00e1 an Teachta ag iarraidh an t-eolas sin, seolfaidh m\u00e9 chuige go d\u00edreach \u00e9. Maidir leis an Roinn leana\u00ed, t\u00e1 an cl\u00e1r Building Blocks ann \u00f3 thaobh c\u00farsa\u00ed chaipitil freisin. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Aire as an bhfreagra sin. Mar is eol d\u00f3, t\u00e1 t\u00e1bhacht ar leith ag baint leis an tumoideachas agus an deis do dhaoine \u00f3ga freastal ar oideachas d'ardchaighde\u00e1n tr\u00ed mhe\u00e1n na Gaeilge \u00f3 aois an-\u00f3g, \u00f3 dh\u00e1 bhliain agus naoi m\u00ed n\u00f3 tr\u00ed bliana suas go dt\u00ed an col\u00e1iste n\u00f3 ollscoil, m\u00e1s maith leo. Is rud an-t\u00e1bhachtach \u00e9 sin agus tosa\u00edonn s\u00e9 i gc\u00f3na\u00ed leis an na\u00edonra. Is d\u00f3cha go bhfuil na\u00edonra\u00ed mar bhunchloch an oideachais sin. Nuair a th\u00e9ann p\u00e1ist\u00ed isteach sa na\u00edonra, b'fh\u00e9idir go gcloiseann siad an Ghaeilge \u00f3 ph\u00e1ist\u00ed eile don ch\u00e9ad uair agus foghlaim\u00edonn siad scileanna s\u00f3isialta agus p\u00edosa neamhsple\u00e1chais. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 an-t\u00e1bhachtach go dtarla\u00edonn s\u00e9 sin tr\u00ed mhe\u00e1n na Gaeilge. Mar sin, t\u00e1 s\u00e9 t\u00e1bhachtach go bhfuil na\u00edonra\u00ed ar f\u00e1il. T\u00e1im ag smaoineamh ar dh\u00e1 bhaile i mo thoghcheantar f\u00e9in: Tr\u00e1 Mh\u00f3r in oirthear Phort L\u00e1irge agus D\u00fan Garbh\u00e1n in iarthar Phort L\u00e1irge.  I dTr\u00e1 Mh\u00f3r, t\u00e1 Na\u00edonra Philib Bar\u00fan taobh le scoil n\u00e1isi\u00fanta Gaeilge. N\u00edl sp\u00e1s ceart acu. T\u00e1 siad istigh in dh\u00e1 prefab. T\u00e1 su\u00edomh ceannaithe ag an na\u00edonra agus t\u00e1thar ag iarraidh \u00e1it a th\u00f3g\u00e1il. T\u00e1im ag smaoineamh ar Na\u00edonra Gharbh\u00e1in chomh maith, at\u00e1 sa riocht c\u00e9anna. T\u00e1 an-\u00e9ileamh ag teacht ar an na\u00edonra \u00e1irithe sin. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  Aonta\u00edm go m\u00f3r leis an Teachta. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 t\u00e1bhachtach. Nuair a thosa\u00edonn an turas Gaeilge ag aois \u00f3g cos\u00fail leis sin, b\u00edonn turas iontach ag an bp\u00e1iste on r\u00e9amhscoil go dt\u00ed an bhunscoil, an mhe\u00e1nscoil agus an col\u00e1iste. Is iontach an rud \u00e9 sin. Mar a d\u00fairt m\u00e9, t\u00e1 an t-airgead agus na sc\u00e9imeanna ann. B'fh\u00e9idir go mbeidh pl\u00e9 againn maidir leis an d\u00e1 scoil sin. Beimid in ann taca\u00edocht a thabhairt d\u00f3ibh, go h\u00e1irithe agus iad d\u00edreach in aice leis an mbunscoil. Is \u00e9 an rud is fearr do thuismitheoir\u00ed go mbeadh an na\u00edonra agus an bunscoil san \u00e1it c\u00e9anna agus an Ghaeilge in \u00fas\u00e1id sa d\u00e1 h\u00e1it. T\u00e1im s\u00e1sta an d\u00e1 scoil sin a phl\u00e9 leis an Teachta agus obair a dh\u00e9anamh ionas go mbeimid in ann dul ar aghaidh. B'fh\u00e9idir go mbeimid in ann obair a dh\u00e9anamh leis an Aire, an Teachta Foley, freisin, faoin sc\u00e9im Building Blocks. B'fh\u00e9idir go mbeidh measc\u00e1n airgid agus infheist\u00edochta ann. Aonta\u00edm go m\u00f3r leis an Teachta faoin turas Gaeilge. M\u00e1 thosa\u00edonn s\u00e9 ag aois \u00f3g, mairfidh s\u00e9 don saol. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  Bheadh s\u00e9 iontach dul chun cinn a dh\u00e9anamh maidir le Na\u00edonra Philib Bar\u00fan agus Na\u00edonra Gharbh\u00e1in. Ba bhre\u00e1 liom cruinni\u00fa a dh\u00e9anamh leo, leis an Aire agus lena oifigigh chun \u00e9 sin a phl\u00e9. M\u00e1s f\u00e9idir linn, ba mhaith an rud \u00e9 obair a dh\u00e9anamh leis an Aire, an Teachta Foley, chomh maith chun an maoini\u00fa caipitil sin a chur ar f\u00e1il d\u00f3ibh. T\u00e1 na su\u00edmh acu, ach is \u00e9ard at\u00e1 ag teast\u00e1il uathu anois n\u00e1 p\u00edosa airgid chun dul ar aghaidh agus foirgnimh a th\u00f3g\u00e1il ar na su\u00edmh sin ionas go mbeidh sp\u00e1s mar ba cheart ag na p\u00e1ist\u00ed at\u00e1 f\u00f3s ag feitheamh ar sp\u00e1sanna sna na\u00edonra\u00ed sin. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  Beidh m\u00e9 l\u00e1ns\u00e1sta na togra\u00ed t\u00e1bhachtacha sin sna na\u00edonra\u00ed a phl\u00e9 faoi na sc\u00e9imeanna taca\u00edochta Gaeilge. M\u00e1 chuireann an Teachta r\u00edomhphost chugam, beimid in ann \u00e9 sin a dh\u00e9anamh. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 thar a bheith t\u00e1bhachtach go bhfuil an infheist\u00edocht seo ag dul go dt\u00ed na na\u00edonra\u00ed. T\u00e1 infheist\u00edocht bhreise le dul isteach i mbliana go dt\u00ed na na\u00edonra\u00ed agus go dt\u00ed an obair at\u00e1 \u00e1 dh\u00e9anamh ag tuismitheoir\u00ed na Gaeilge. Mar gheall go bhfuil an t-airgead is m\u00f3 sa Roinn againn le blianta, beimid in ann infheist\u00edocht a dh\u00e9anamh sna na\u00edonra\u00ed, sna scoileanna agus i gc\u00farsa\u00ed \u00f3ige freisin. Beidh m\u00e9 ag d\u00e9anamh togra m\u00f3r am\u00e1rach faoi ionad \u00f3ige m\u00f3r faoi phlean caipitil na Roinne. Mar a d\u00fairt m\u00e9 leis an Teachta Hearne, t\u00e1 an infheist\u00edocht seo thar a bheith t\u00e1bhachtach chun rud bun\u00fasach a chur ar f\u00e1il do mhuintir na Gaeltachta ionas go bhfuil an deis acu n\u00ed hamh\u00e1in tithe a fh\u00e1il ach scoileanna, oideachas, c\u00farsa\u00ed cult\u00fair agus eala\u00edon a fh\u00e1il sa Ghaeltacht agus ceili\u00faradh a dh\u00e9anamh air sin sa Ghaeltacht agus lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Oideachas tr\u00ed Ghaeilge"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/dbsect_8","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Sports Organisations","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/dbsect_2","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_2","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_8","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brendan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","memberCode":"Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_8.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brendan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","memberCode":"Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brendan Smith  The Minister and the Minister of State will be very familiar with the findings of the report of the GAA's national demographic committee. As we all know, the GAA, along with the Ladies Gaelic Football Association and the Camogie Association, comprise over 2,300 clubs and they have 760,000 members. We are not just talking about sporting organisations. We all know that these clubs are a key and integral part of every community. In so many instances, they shape local community life. It is essential that the Government and the Oireachtas listen to and act on the concerns outlined in that report. Recently, the GAA made an excellent presentation to the Oireachtas housing committee. I hope the Minister and Minister of State encourage all the officials in their Department and in the agencies that come under its remit to study the transcript of that particular committee meeting. There were fabulous contributions by both members and the witnesses. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I thank the Deputy for his question. I am aware of the recent report of the GAA national demographics committee, and the presentation it made. The Deputy drew my attention to it some weeks back. The Minister of State and I engaged directly with the GAA on this issue. We met the national demographics committee last September in relation to its work and the report.  We acknowledge the challenges for the GAA, but also for the communities that they serve that the report outlines, and the importance of their clubs as focal points for communities all across the country. We are aware the GAA is committed to working within rural and rural communities and at national level. I thank not just the national demographics committee, but in particular the county demographics officers around the country.  Our Rural Future adopts a whole-of-government approach, which will contain a wide range of measures aimed at ensuring that all rural areas are attractive for people to live, learn, work and raise families. Actions delivered under the current policy have delivered improvements in broadband provision, increased rural transport services, support for rural enterprise and ongoing support for the agrifood sector. My own Department has seen significant funding increases in recent years across a range of capital investment schemes such as the rural regeneration and development fund, the town and village renewal scheme and the outdoor recreation infrastructure scheme. This investment is delivering real impacts in rural communities all across the country.  As the Deputy will be aware, we are currently revising Our Rural Future, and the process of developing this is well advanced. My Department undertook an extensive range of consultation to help shape the new policy. Many of the issues relating to attracting and retaining young people and their families in rural areas featured strong. The GAA has engaged proactively in the most recent call for written submissions. All such submissions received will feed into the development of the new policy. We will continue to engage with our Departments and other key stakeholders, including the GAA, ahead of the publication of the next iteration of Our Rural Future, which will address many of the challenges outlined by the GAA demographics committee. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brendan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","memberCode":"Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brendan Smith  I welcome the Minister's response. I fully appreciate the understanding that the Minister and the Minister of State have of the concerns outlined by the GAA. In my own county of Cavan, we have had a welcome increase in population, but there is a population imbalance and demographic imbalance. The east of County Cavan is in the commuter belt of Dublin. The clubs there face pressures because of increasing numbers of participation, which is great. The belt from Castlerahan, Ballyjamesduff, Virginia, Mullagh to Bailieborough and Kingscourt has experienced huge population growth. The Minister is familiar with the geography of west Cavan. Blacklion's Shannon Gaels, Swanlinbar's club or Corlough all face particular challenges due to population decline, particularly within a certain age profile. My own club of Templeport St. Aidan's, and our neighbouring club, Corlough, have an arrangement where the players from Corlough have a deviation that they can play in competitive competitions with my own club of Templeport. They still retain their own identity, which is a very good thing. When the Minister has the opportunity to visit those clubs, he will see the excellent facilities they have. We need to put on the record that we value the work of those volunteers in ensuring sports are available for all age groups in every community. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  All of us will agree that without volunteers we would not have any society, particularly the GAA, but any organisation. I always take the opportunity to ask those who give out about volunteers what they would do on a Saturday if they had no GAA, no drama, no rugby, soccer, swimming or anything to go to and if their kids did not have those outlets. They are run by volunteers. The Minister of State and I are focused on the challenge outlined by the demographics committee that we met in terms of the disparities within counties. I also raise the pressures within urban communities in our cities to get playing facilities within the city of Dublin, where the population is there but the facilities are not keeping up. In terms of Our Rural Future, we will seek to try to address that. Some of our discussion earlier was on housing. The Deputy and I have had discussions on the rural housing guidelines, the updating of which is necessary to encourage young families back into rural communities. I noted his comment about the pressure on clubs on the Meath border in Cavan. It did not seem to affect Meath at the weekend, but we will look at that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brendan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","memberCode":"Brendan-Smith.D.1992-12-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brendan Smith  I thank the Minister. As the Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach knows, thankfully, in practically every parish in Cavan-Monaghan, we have excellent community facilities. I know that many communities in Dublin and the highly populated areas would love to have those facilities. As the Minister knows well, we have the social infrastructure in rural communities. We have community centres, schools, GAA and other sporting organisations. What we need is population. Perhaps the Minister and the Minister of State could try to continue the influence on other Departments on the need for investment in rural Ireland.  We need more jobs and, as the Minister said, more young families. We have to improve in some way the availability of housing for young couples. Planning is essential, as are changes to the rural planning guidelines. Only last night, I engaged with the Minister for housing, Deputy James Browne, who fully understands the difficulties. Where we have the infrastructure, the community facilities, education, health and other social facilities, we need people. The Government must try to ensure, through every means available to it, that more and more young people are in a position to live in rural communities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I assure the Deputy that the Department, including the Minister of State and I, and our officials, are currently engaging with our colleagues across government on what their responsibilities are in relation to the next stage of Our Rural Future. Rural affairs are not just for the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht. It is an all-of-government approach, which is very much what Our Rural Future is about.  I reiterate my thanks to the GAA. Its demographics committee and demographics officers are an example. After the Minister of State and I met with the GAA, we certainly engaged with other sporting organisations with a challenge to them to give us similar reports and data. Many of them responded to that challenge. It is my intention that we will publish the next iteration of Our Rural Future ahead of the summer. We are in the final stages of negotiation; there is a question later on the level of engagement with that process, which has been significant. The challenges identified by Deputy Smith, and known to the Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach, are real, not just in Cavan and Monaghan, but right across rural counties. We will seek to address those. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Sports Organisations"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/dbsect_9","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/dbsect_10","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Departmental Policies","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/dbsect_9","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_10","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_10.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  My question relates to the old chestnut of Our Rural Future, which we have discussed many times in the Chamber and outside it. When does the Minister intend to publish the successor document? I understand there was a period of consultation late last year. I participated in that consultation, as did many others around the country. Will that new strategy include clear, measurable targets for rural services, rural employment, ensuring population sustainability, addressing the demographic crisis and, crucially, the issue of rural housing? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  Since its launch in 2021, Our Rural Future has delivered vital investment and supports to rural areas that have strengthened local economies and improved the quality of life for people across rural Ireland. Measures already completed support many of the high-level issues the Deputy referred to, not just today but in his submission, including high-speed broadband, support for rural enterprise, increased rural transport services and ongoing support for many sectors, including agrifood.  The programme for Government commitment to publish and implement a new Our Rural Future strategy is currently being finalised. The new policy will build not just on the progress already achieved but will set out a renewed vision for the whole-of-government approach to rural development for the years ahead. It will contain commitments that reflect our continued ambition for rural areas that will make them an attractive prospect for people to work in and especially to live in.  Informed by the extensive public and stakeholder engagement already undertaken, a consultation paper setting out the key proposed themes and priorities was published for a public consultation, which closed on 12 December last. Engagement with all relevant Departments is ongoing to secure ambitious commitments for delivery under the new plan that will build not just on the success of Our Rural Future but on other plans. That engagement is consistent with ensuring that Government priorities in key areas, such as housing, will help to secure a more sustainable and resilient future for our rural communities.  To give the Deputy an idea of the level of engagement, an online survey in March 2025 attracted almost 1,300 responses, over 500 people attended eight in-person events led by the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, and at the end of that consultation period referred to, we had over 250 responses we are currently going through and analysing. As I said, we are engaging with Departments. I also attended and participated in a rural youth assembly in September 2025. As I said to Deputy Smith, we have engaged with a range of sporting and other organisations in one-on-one meetings to discuss their concerns. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  I do not doubt the level of engagement that took place, which I welcome. It is the right way to do consultation and engagement. When a plan such as this that is of such importance to the future of rural Ireland is being put together, it is vitally important to go out and take the views of people. It is then more important, and the Minister knows this, to ensure that those views are captured in the final document and the recommendations therein are concrete, actionable and, crucially, have timelines and responsible parties attached to them, by which I mean Departments and State agencies.  Does the Minister have a timeline? Notwithstanding the volume of work and analysis required following that process of engagement, does he have a timeline for the publication of the document this year? My contention is slightly different from his in that I do not accept that the previous iteration included very concrete and defined goals that could be used as a yardstick to any great extent. There was a lot of aspiration but it lacked substance, vision and, crucially, as I have discussed with the Minister in the Chamber, an emphasis on housing. I imagine that came through very clearly to him in his engagement with young people, as did the demographic collapse, as mentioned in the previous question, that is affecting so many rural communities precisely because of housing. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  The process of developing a new Our Rural Future is going on in tandem with the other process, which is the OECD review of rural development policy in Ireland. We will publish that review shortly. I am intent on having the new Our Rural Future published ahead of the summer.  Housing has been one of the major inputs in terms of submissions. As I said in reply to Deputy Smith, we are engaging with an Roinn tith\u00edochta, the Department of housing, on rural planning guidelines. It is essential we give opportunities for younger people and younger families to relocate and move back, in line with the opportunities that have happened in terms of infrastructure, such as broadband, and community facilities. As I said earlier as Gaeilge, I absolutely agree with him on the need for childcare and preschool facilities for those who are collocated, in particular. It is not just for Gaeilgeoir\u00ed, although especially for them, but for young families to have those facilities. We have also invested significantly in hubs to give people the opportunity to work from rural areas and in high-tech secure areas. That will allow them to do that. There are a range of issues, but my current timeline is that we will have Our Rural Future published ahead of the summer. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  One of the concerns and worries I have on this, and I am not entirely sure if the Minister shares this but it is realistic, is the level of engagement he will get from his colleagues in government around the Cabinet table and from State agencies in the local government sector. That is why I am so keen to see clear, responsible persons or agencies attached to every single action and timeline within the plan. The biggest one is the Department of housing, as it covers housing and local government, but there is also the Department of enterprise, when looking at employment and tourism as well. I am quite keen that there be ongoing engagement and liaison at the highest level, Minister to Minister, to ensure that the final objectives and goals laid down in that plan, which we all eagerly await, will be measurable and there will be a level of accountability. That is something the Minister needs to bring back to Cabinet and to Government to make sure that not only is the plan read, at the very least, but its actions are understood at the highest level in each of the Departments and agencies responsible and at local government level. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I absolutely assure the Deputy this will be led from the highest level. There is a commitment in the programme for Government that this be a whole-of-government approach. The Taoiseach, T\u00e1naiste and the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, have directed all our ministerial colleagues to engage in this. If studs have to go on, they will go on but I do not think they will have to because there is genuine interest in ensuring the success of this programme. F\u00e1ilt\u00edmid roimh an bplean gn\u00edomha\u00edochta do sheirbh\u00eds\u00ed poibl\u00ed. Bh\u00ed moladh ann do gach Roinn agus bh\u00ed an Roinn in aice le gach moladh.  When we published the service plan last week, it included an action and a Department that owned the action. I have set up within Roinn na Gaeltachta a unit to drive that within Our Rural Future. It is my intention to publish actions and publish the lead Department, and to have a system of driving that from within our Department. I assure the Deputy we have the support of the Taoiseach, T\u00e1naiste and the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, in terms of leaders in government to drive this on to ensure it is ambitious. We will engage with all Government agencies. Local authorities also have a responsibility here. We will drive them but they also have to be driven by their own internal members as well. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Departmental Policies"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/dbsect_11","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"\u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/dbsect_9","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_11","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_11.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Connolly  T\u00e1 a fhios agam gur chuir an tAire freagra chugam maidir leis seo p\u00edosa \u00f3 sh\u00edn, ach t\u00e1 s\u00e9 an-t\u00e1bhachtach na hiarrachta\u00ed a chur chun cinn agus labhairt f\u00fathu chomh minic agus is f\u00e9idir mar gheall ar an ng\u00e9arch\u00e9im tith\u00edochta at\u00e1 sa Ghaeltacht. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  Aonta\u00edm go m\u00f3r leis an Teachta agus gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis as ucht na ceiste faoin t\u00e1bhacht a bhaineann le tith\u00edocht sa Ghaeltacht. N\u00edor mhiste a n\u00f3t\u00e1il go mbaineann saincheisteanna tith\u00edochta leis an Roinn Tith\u00edochta, Rialtais \u00c1iti\u00fail agus Oidhreachta. \u00c9 sin r\u00e1ite, is \u00e9 pr\u00edomhchusp\u00f3ir \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta n\u00e1 a chinnti\u00fa go mairfidh an Ghaeilge mar phr\u00edomhtheanga an phobail i gceantair Ghaeltachta agus go gcaomhn\u00f3far \u00ed do na gl\u00fanta at\u00e1 le teacht. Chuige sin, cuireann an t-\u00fadar\u00e1s maoini\u00fa ar f\u00e1il do raon leathan tionscnamh forbartha, fiontra\u00edochta agus fosta\u00edochta. Taca\u00edonn an eagra\u00edocht chomh maith le gn\u00edomha\u00edochta\u00ed strait\u00e9iseacha a bhaineann le forbairt teanga, cult\u00fair agus pobail. Is fi\u00fa a thabhairt faoi deara, mar sin, gur r\u00f3l t\u00e1naisteach a bheidh ag \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta ag oibri\u00fa leis na geallsealbh\u00f3ir\u00ed cu\u00ed maidir le tac\u00fa le sol\u00e1thar tith\u00edochta sa Ghaeltacht.  T\u00e1 punann suntasach r\u00e9admhaoine ar fud na Gaeltachta \u00e1 bhainisti\u00fa ag \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta agus t\u00e1 bonneagar fu\u00edolluisce ar l\u00e1ithreacha \u00e9ags\u00fala mar chuid de sin. Mar a leagtar amach i bplean tith\u00edochta an Rialtais, t\u00e1 deiseanna ann don \u00fadar\u00e1s comhoibri\u00fa le h\u00fadar\u00e1is \u00e1iti\u00fala \u00e1bhartha chun leas a bhaint as an mbonneagar at\u00e1 ann cheana f\u00e9in tr\u00ed chur chuige strait\u00e9iseach plean-bhunaithe ar mhaithe le freastal ar riachtanais tith\u00edochta i bpobail na Gaeltachta. Bh\u00ed cruinni\u00fa agam le pr\u00edomhfheidhmeannach an \u00fadar\u00e1is chun \u00e9 seo a phl\u00e9 agus tuigim \u00f3n chruinni\u00fa sin go bhfuil pl\u00e9 ar bun leis na h\u00fadar\u00e1is \u00e1iti\u00fala agus an deis ann oibri\u00fa le hUisce \u00c9ireann chun tairbhe a bhaint as an mbonneagar reatha sin. T\u00e1 m\u00e9 ag cur cruinnithe le ch\u00e9ile idir an \u00fadar\u00e1s agus Uisce \u00c9ireann chun na deiseanna seo a phl\u00e9.  C\u00e9 go bhfuil ganntanas c\u00f3ir\u00edochta c\u00f3naithe sa Ghaeltacht, t\u00e1 ceann de na r\u00e1ta\u00ed fol\u00fantais is airde sa t\u00edr le feice\u00e1il inti freisin. Chun dul i ngleic leis seo, t\u00e1 comhordaitheoir tiomnaithe tithe folmha Gaeltachta ceaptha le d\u00e9ana\u00ed, i gcomhph\u00e1irt\u00edocht le h\u00fadar\u00e1is \u00e1iti\u00fala agus maoinithe ag an \u00fadar\u00e1s, chun cabhr\u00fa le pobail aghaidh a thabhairt ar shaincheisteanna fol\u00fantais agus rochtain ar dheontais \u00e9ags\u00fala de chuid an St\u00e1it a \u00e9asc\u00fa. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Connolly  Glacaim gur r\u00f3l t\u00e1naisteach at\u00e1 ag an \u00fadar\u00e1s ach mar a d\u00fairt an tAire, t\u00e1 r\u00f3l suntasach aige i saol na Gaeltachta. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 ag d\u00e9anamh oibre maithe le blianta fada. Glacaim leis chomh maith nach bhfuil s\u00e9 \u00e9asca d\u2019eagra\u00edocht nach bhfuil aon chleachtadh n\u00e1 taith\u00ed aici ar ch\u00farsa\u00ed tith\u00edochta t\u00fas a chur leis an dualgas sin, go h\u00e1irithe gan an fhoireann. Glacaim leis go bhfuil s\u00e9 r\u00e1ite ag an Aire anois go bhfuil duine fostaithe ag an \u00fadar\u00e1s chun oibri\u00fa sa r\u00e9imse seo, agus gabhaim bu\u00edochas as sin. Ceapaim go bhfuil an duine sin lonnaithe i gContae Mhaigh Eo. Is t\u00fas maith \u00e9 sin.  Chomh maith leis seo, cuirim f\u00e1ilte go raibh cruinni\u00fa ag an Aire leis an bpr\u00edomhfheidhmeannach agus go bhfuil an tAire ag eagr\u00fa cruinnithe eile idir an t-\u00fadar\u00e1s agus Uisce \u00c9ireann. Molaim don Aire gur cheart do dhuine \u00f3n Roinn tith\u00edochta, n\u00f3 duine \u00f3 na comhairl\u00ed contae \u00e1iti\u00fala a bhfuil ceantar Gaeltachta acu ina limist\u00e9ir, a bheith ag an gcruinni\u00fa sin chomh maith, cos\u00fail le hoifigeach \u00f3 Chomhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe, Comhairle Contae Mhaigh Eo, Comhairle Contae Chiarra\u00ed n\u00f3 Comhairle Cathrach agus Contae Phort L\u00e1irge, mar shampla. T\u00e1 r\u00f3l acu, mar a d\u00fairt an tAire. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  Bh\u00ed cruinni\u00fa iontach agam le pr\u00edomhfheidhmeannach an \u00fadar\u00e1is agus phl\u00e9igh muid na sites go l\u00e9ir at\u00e1 aige. B\u2019fh\u00e9idir go mbeidh muid in ann iad a r\u00e9iteach le haghaidh tith\u00edochta agus gach duine a fh\u00e1il ar na togra\u00ed sin sa Ghaeltacht. Pl\u00e9ifidh muid \u00e9 sin. Is maith an tuairim \u00ed go mbeidh duine \u00f3 na h\u00fadar\u00e1is \u00e1iti\u00fala i l\u00e1thair freisin.  T\u00e1 m\u00e9 ag obair leis an Aire tith\u00edochta, an Teachta Browne, chun go mbeidh muid in ann an r\u00e1iteas tith\u00edochta Gaeltachta a fhoilsi\u00fa chomh luath agus is f\u00e9idir. T\u00e1 m\u00e9 f\u00f3s ag oibri\u00fa air sin. Bh\u00ed cruinni\u00fa agam le pr\u00edomhfheidhmeannaigh na n-\u00fadar\u00e1s \u00e1iti\u00fala a bhfuil ceantar Gaeltachta acu ina limist\u00e9ir agus beidh cruinni\u00fa eile agam leo. T\u00e1 m\u00e9 ag d\u00edri\u00fa isteach ar an nd\u00fashl\u00e1n seo. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 t\u00e1bhachtach dom. Caithfidh m\u00e9 oibri\u00fa leis an Aire tith\u00edochta, an Teachta Browne, freisin. N\u00ed bhaineann an d\u00fashl\u00e1n seo le Roinn na Gaeltachta amh\u00e1in; is d\u00fashl\u00e1n \u00e9 do Roinn na tith\u00edochta freisin. T\u00e1 muin\u00edn agam go bhfuil s\u00ed ag leagan amach na ndeiseanna chun an d\u00fashl\u00e1n m\u00f3r seo a r\u00e9iteach. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Connolly  Tugann s\u00e9 muin\u00edn do mhuintir na Gaeltachta a chloiste\u00e1il go bhfuil an m\u00e9id sin d\u00e9anta againn go dt\u00ed seo. Glacaim leis gur t\u00fas \u00e9 ach is maith an rud \u00e9 go bhfuil an tAire ag labhairt leis na daoine t\u00e1bhachtacha sin, lena n-\u00e1ir\u00edtear \u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta, an Roinn tith\u00edochta agus na h\u00fadar\u00e1is \u00e1iti\u00fala, chun b\u00e9im a chur ar an t\u00e1bhacht a bhaineann le c\u00farsa\u00ed tith\u00edochta sa Ghaeltacht. T\u00e1 m\u00e9 d\u00f3chasach anois, tar \u00e9is an mh\u00e9id at\u00e1 r\u00e1ite ag an Aire, go mbeidh dul chun cinn againn air seo i mbliana, chomh maith le foilsi\u00fa na dtreoirl\u00ednte, rud at\u00e1 thar a bheith t\u00e1bhachtach. T\u00e1 a fhios agam go bhfuil an Roinn ag oibri\u00fa ar na treoirl\u00ednte tuaithe chomh maith agus, b\u2019fh\u00e9idir, ba cheart an d\u00e1 ceann acu a chur le ch\u00e9ile agus an d\u00e1 ch\u00f3ip treoirl\u00ednte sin a fhoilsi\u00fa le ch\u00e9ile, mar t\u00e9ann siad le l\u00e1mh a ch\u00e9ile.  Is fadhb \u00ed an tith\u00edocht ar fud na t\u00edre ach is \u00ed an Ghaeltacht an t-aon \u00e1it sa t\u00edr ina bhfuil tionchar d\u00edreach aici ar \u00e1r dteanga f\u00e9in, ar thodhcha\u00ed na teanga agus ar thodhcha\u00ed na Gaeilge mar theanga pobail. M\u00e1s rud \u00e9 nach bhfuil tithe ar f\u00e1il sa Ghaeltacht, n\u00ed f\u00e9idir le daoine cur f\u00fathu inti agus b\u00edonn an baol ann go mbogfaidh siad go ceantair ina bhfuil an B\u00e9arla mar ghn\u00e1ththeanga. Is m\u00f3r an g\u00e1 agus fainic at\u00e1 air seo. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  T\u00e1 an t-uaf\u00e1s oibre le d\u00e9anamh air seo. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 in am t\u00f3g\u00e1il, ach t\u00e1 muid ag d\u00e9anamh na hoibre. Ba bhre\u00e1 liom go nd\u00e9anfa\u00ed athr\u00fa n\u00edos tap\u00fala, ach t\u00e1 muid ag d\u00e9anamh na hoibre agus t\u00e1 muid ag tabhairt na gc\u00e9imeanna go gcaithfidh muid a thabhairt ag an bpointe seo. T\u00e1 m\u00e9 f\u00f3s ag coinne\u00e1il br\u00fa agus ag d\u00e9anamh na hoibre. Beidh m\u00e9 i gcruinni\u00fa le pr\u00edomhfheidhmeannach an \u00fadar\u00e1is am\u00e1rach agus oibreoidh m\u00e9 leis. T\u00e1 muid chun labhairt le hUisce \u00c9ireann agus na h\u00fadar\u00e1is \u00e1iti\u00fala freisin. Mar a luaigh an Teachta, t\u00e1 s\u00e9 thar a bheith t\u00e1bhachtach go dtuigeann daoine go bhfuil r\u00f3l le haghaidh na Roinne tith\u00edochta anseo. T\u00e1 m\u00e9 ag oibri\u00fa go dl\u00fath leis an Aire tith\u00edochta faoi seo i gcomhth\u00e9acs na nd\u00fashl\u00e1n tith\u00edochta le haghaidh na t\u00edre ar fad ach t\u00e1 s\u00e9 thar a bheith t\u00e1bhachtach an d\u00fashl\u00e1n at\u00e1 roimh mhuintir na Gaeltachta agus clann na Gaeltachta maidir le tith\u00edocht a thuiscint chomh maith. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"\u00dadar\u00e1s na Gaeltachta"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/dbsect_12","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Departmental Funding","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/dbsect_9","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_12","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_12.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  What funding is available through the Minister\u2019s Department for community festivals such as Dunshaughlin Harvest Festival, the Hinterland Festival Kells in my area of Meath, Kells Type Trail, Moynalty Steam Threshing Festival and the Samhain Festival of Food and Culture? There are a range of excellent community festivals all over the State. I wish to know the types of funding supports available through his Department. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Teachta as ucht an eolais faoi gach uile f\u00e9ile i gContae na M\u00ed. I do not think he forgot any of them. The positive impact of festivals is very much recognised by my Department, both in building local pride and boosting local economies. While we do not have a scheme specifically for community festivals, there may be avenues to support available under LEADER or the local enhancement programme, which is currently open for applications.  LEADER has been operating successfully in Ireland for 35 years. In line with the programme for Government, LEADER has a strong focus on rural tourism and funding has been made available under LEADER for festivals and local tourism initiatives. For example, the Deputy will be aware that the Samhain Festival of Food and Culture in Kells was supported by LEADER funding in 2024. In order for a project to be eligible for LEADER, funding of the proposed activity must be compatible with the actions outlined in the approved LEADER local development strategy and it must comply with the EU regulations and operating rules. As the Deputy knows, the programme is administered by local action groups. Prospective applicants or applicants organising festivals should, in the first instance, contact the local action group which, in this case, is the Meath local action group.  The local enhancement programme supports small capital grants to community and voluntary groups to improve facilities or purchase equipment. In some cases, this will help to support groups that run local festivals. The 2026 programme is now open until the end of February. It will provide \u20ac7 million in capital supports nationally.  This \u20ac7 million is broken down on a local authority by local authority basis into small capital grants. Some festivals require generators and other items. Finally, as the Deputy will be aware, we fund agricultural shows through a \u20ac1 million investment into 130 shows that we deliver through the Irish Shows Association across the country. For many communities, the agricultural show is a fantastic statement of their pride, not just in their area but in the agriculture industry that underpins their area. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  Absolutely. We are grateful for that funding at the Nobber Show, Dunderry Fair and Royal Meath Show. They are well supported by the community and that is welcome. The contribution of community festivals is to strengthen social cohesion, support local economies, promote volunteerism, enhance local community identity, pride and well-being, and provide low-cost, accessible cultural experiences for people. They are fantastic. The Minister and Minister of State will appreciate that local communities look forward to them every year. They are built into the calendar. Funding is always a challenge. I ask the Minister to consider a dedicated funding stream and, more than that, for it to be multi-annual. A challenge for these groups is that there is competitive tendering and a competitive process every year. LEADER is very welcome but it has a cumbersome application for those seeking it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I agree with the Deputy about the importance of festivals. I put on the record my thanks and that of the Minister of State to the volunteers who put them together. I am always struck that the volunteers who pull this festival together are the ones who make the least out of it. They are not involved in any of the hospitality businesses that do well. They do it together because there is massive community spirit. I assure the Deputy it is something we have looked at. Other supports are available through LEADER. The LEADER process is cumbersome because it involves EU funding, but both the Minister of State and I constantly ask our officials to ensure that the application process for any of our schemes is the least cumbersome possible, bearing in mind that volunteers are doing this. The local enhancement programme, LEP, process, which in the Deputy's case is open via Meath County Council, is a good example of a relatively less cumbersome process. We constantly keep it under review. Supports are available for festivals through F\u00e1ilte Ireland, the Department of tourism and local authorities. The model that we have with the Irish Shows Association, which had its annual general meeting in November in Trim, coincidentally, is a good model, in which we fund a national organisation, which, in turn, funds 130 local organisations. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  I do not know if the Minister is hearing of the issue of insurance but I am sure he is. It is tangentially his responsibility in supporting projects such as this. As I said in my previous contribution, these festivals are important for local communities for reasons we all agree on. Insurance can be a challenge and put some of them at risk. That is potentially increasingly the case. Is the Minister aware of that, discussing it with colleagues, and considering possible supports for groups in that regard? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I agree. Insurance costs in this country continue to be a massive challenge, particularly for festivals, but also for businesses, including small businesses. I was a Minister of State in the previous Government in the Department of enterprise, which led on this work. It is a matter of enormous frustration and anger to me that all of the work that we have done has not resulted in insurance deductions for small businesses, festivals, homeowners or car owners. Insurance continues to be a challenge for festivals and for local voluntary groups. We work with the Department of agriculture, for instance, which provides funding for insurance for shows. Insurance is a major challenge. We will definitely zero in on it. Following today's session, we will ask our officials to work with officials in the Department of tourism in this space and work with the various festivals to identify if support is available. It will not be available in 2026 as festivals get to that planning phase. Insurance is a major challenge. The insurance industry has not delivered on the reforms that this Government and previous Governments have brought in. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 10 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Departmental Funding"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/dbsect_13","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Departmental Budgets","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/dbsect_9","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_13","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_13.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  I am taking this question for Deputy Clarke. It relates to rural development funding, which is an issue close to my heart. We see all around us in our communities the impact it has on creating and sustaining employment and sustaining community initiatives. Last year, we saw a \u20ac5 million cut to the rural development spend in the budget. That seems to be on trend for this Government, and for successive Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael Administrations when it comes to rural Ireland. Is it something we are likely to see replicated in budget 2027? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  My Department manages its funding allocations across three programme areas: rural development, community development, agus an Gaeltacht agus na n-oile\u00e1in. For 2026, my Department's overall budget allocation is \u20ac613 million, with around \u20ac273 million in capital funding and \u20ac340 million in current funding. This represents a 7% increase on the 2025 allocation and builds on strong investment in the past number of years. The funding provision for the rural development programme has increased significantly in recent years. When the Department was established in 2017, the programme allocation for rural development was \u20ac80 million. For 2026, it is almost \u20ac193 million. That investment is having a huge impact right across the country.  Within the Revised Estimate for 2026, the rural development programme allocation of \u20ac193 million compares to a 2025 allocation of just under \u20ac197 million. This specifically reflects the fact that the provision for the LEADER programme is reduced from \u20ac42 million in 2025 to \u20ac32 million in 2026. This is an estimate based on the stage the programme is at, and the resultant level of claims that local action groups expect to make this year. I ask the Deputy to note that the full \u20ac250 million allocation for the LEADER 2021 to 2027 programme will be provided over the programme period, with funding to be ramped up as demand increases.  Finally, as I noted at the outset, I emphasise that the Department's allocation has increased by 7% for 2026. This is ensuring additional funding for programmes such as the community centre investment fund, the social inclusion and community activation programme and the community services programme. These schemes, particularly with the increase in these schemes, will benefit both rural and urban communities. The increased funding will be spread across not just urban areas but many rural areas too. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Aire for confirming that. I understand that the LEADER programme is a five-year programme and that there may be peaks and troughs, but a \u20ac10 million reduction in the budget this year compared with last year is still \u20ac10 million of a reduction. I welcome the fact that that money is not lost. It is not out of the budget and the Minister will bring it back. However, there is a growing sense of disillusionment in rural communities, that it is on the back foot and its days are numbers, and that there seems to be indifference from Government to the plight of rural Ireland. There is a growing need for diversification. I do not need to tell the Minister about the debate in this House last night and over the past number of weeks, and the crisis in confidence that exists in Irish agriculture. I do not need to tell him about the crisis in the Irish fishing industry. As part of the wider rural development issue, what LEADER crucially does is support economic diversification, creating opportunities in rural communities. It is concerning that \u20ac10 million has been taken out of it this year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I am going to disagree with the Deputy. We have been agreeing all morning. I see a great and growing sense of confidence as I travel across rural Ireland. I am visiting projects across rural Ireland that are volunteer-led and community-led. They are funded by my Department in partnership with local action groups, LEADER companies and local authorities. They are projects that reflect ambition and a plan. We are in a position to fund that. My Department's funding has increased by 7% for this year.  We are ensuring that rural communities will see increased investment and funding increases in other areas. I assure the Deputy the LEADER programme will deliver its full allocated funding and I can see already the level of claims is increasing as LEADER groups are implementing the programme. The provision for the Gaeltacht and the islands is up 30% year on year from \u20ac123 million to \u20ac160 million. We discussed community centre investment earlier. That is communities with confidence in their community centres. That is going to \u20ac20 million and this year we will see the opening of new centres across the country. Funding for the community services programme, CSP, programme has gone to nearly \u20ac60 million delivering services, including community services. I see confidence and we are investing in and supporting that confidence. We are investing in ensuring that confidence makes a difference on the ground. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Conor D McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Conor-D-McGuinness.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Conor D. McGuinness  I will start by agreeing with the Minister that there is definitely ambition in rural communities. There is no shortage of ambition and self-awareness within these communities but on my travels and in my engagements, I do not see the confidence the Minister speaks of because rural communities are reeling. They are reeling from the demographic crisis that has already been spoken about this morning. Indeed, Deputies from the Minister's side of the House mentioned that the GAA is very quick to point to, and has the statistics and evidence to back it up, instances where teams cannot pull sufficient players together to compete, where young people are being forced to go abroad or to larger urban areas or the cities to find housing solutions, where schools are struggling to keep children enrolled, where public services are bare on the ground and where people cannot access dentists or GP services. There is huge disillusionment in rural Ireland and if we in this Chamber are unable to acknowledge that, if we do not see and if our ears are open but we are not picking up on that, we have a difficulty. I am not filled with a huge amount of confidence a corner will be, or has been, turned. Going back to the rural development piece, we really do need to see that \u20ac10 million in additional funding being made available. I look forward to that and will be keeping a close watch on it because it is crucially important to the communities I represent. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I reiterate that we are backing that confidence. We are backing the confidence in rural communities and the confidence that is led by volunteers and are working with organisations, local authorities, development agencies and local development companies in terms of doing that. I can assure the Deputy the LEADER programme is fully funded and will deliver. We do have a challenge and I think I have been very straight in discussing it. We are working on the challenge regarding the next round of LEADER funding. As CAP negotiations are finalised this year, we are working hard. The Minister of State and I are working with colleagues to ensure CAP will be funded in the next EU funding programme. That presents a major challenge but it is one we are up for and are seeking to deliver on right across the country. All morning, we have discussed the community centres investment fund, CCIF, in Gaeltacht areas, in the community services programme and in the town and village renewal scheme. They are being driven by and in the interests of the rural communities and they are changing the future of rural communities. The forthcoming dedication of Our Rural Future will show our ambition as a Government working in partnership. The various independent analyses of our Our Rural Future that are to come will give a good sense of our ambition in that space. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Departmental Budgets"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/dbsect_14","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Voluntary Sector","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/dbsect_9","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_14","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_14.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  Could the Minister provide an update on the development of the new strategy to support the community and voluntary sector 2026 to 2030? When we talk about the community and voluntary sector, that takes in a whole range of things. I am talking about everything from Muirhevnamor Community Centre through to the family resource centre, FRC, that was set up in Dundalk Counselling Centre. I hope another one will be set up in the Redeemer Centre. We know the work that is done and the support that is necessary. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis Teachta \u00d3 Murch\u00fa. As the Deputy knows, the process of the development of a new strategy to support community and voluntary sector as a successor to Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities is well under way. It is being informed by an extensive public and stakeholder consultation process. This process has included an in-person consultation event, which took place in Tullamore last July and which I attended. I can tell the House it was a very well-attended event. There was strong, robust and positive engagement. This was followed by a very in-depth online public consultation together with bilateral consultation with stakeholder groups and written submissions from across Government Departments. The Minister and I are very anxious that this partnership in collaboration with the voluntary and community sector is continued. There has been a lot of engagement in the consultation process. Almost 250 submissions were received in the online consultation, which took place over a six-week period in August.  The new strategy will be a whole-of-government strategy led by our Department and will reflect the ambition of the Minister and I to work in partnership with the sector. It will be implemented collaboratively with the community and voluntary sector and will be overseen by a cross-sectoral group on local and community development. It is our intention and our ambition that the new strategy will be a four-year one for 2026 to 2030. It will build on the existing structures, strategic objectives and achievements of the previous strategy while also taking account of new context challenges and priorities for the community and voluntary sector.  Our aim is to strengthen further the relationship and the partnership between the whole-of-government and the community and voluntary sector, which has developed significantly over the past couple of years. A further round of consultations with key stakeholders has recently concluded. It is my expectation that the finalised document will be submitted for our Department's approval in the coming weeks with a tentative publication date of quarter 2 of this year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I appreciate the timeline with the caveats the Minister of State provided. The element of engagement with the stakeholders is all very well and good but it is a matter of actually putting a plan in place and then operating it. Like any plan, it will be up for and will need review. We were talking about sustainability. We have all dealt with individual projects from time to time when the pressure is on. I had a meeting with Social Enterprise Republic of Ireland, SERI, which represents social enterprises. It would talk about the fact that sometimes social enterprises can fall by the wayside. We know we need to make sure that those operating, particularly in what would have been called RAPID or DEIS areas, are given support. We know about for family resource centres. I would have heard about the issues when we talk of whole-of-government. The idea would be that certain grant aid could be provided by enterprise, which is not necessarily available to social enterprises. I think they would speak about a number of milestones in relation to them that are needed but have not happened yet. Will the Minister of State comment on that? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  The new strategy will take into account the new challenges facing the community and voluntary sector. It is evolving and changing and we are not oblivious to that. Richard Bruton, in the social enterprise space, will certainly drive and hold us to account. The previous strategy delivered significant progress in terms of a variety of metrics. Our future direction, policy and decision-making will be a reflection of our engagement but also of lived experience. The Minister and I live in communities involved in the sector and we know the sector. It is about those values and principles of partnership and collaboration but also about recognising that we must build an inclusive society. For the Minister and I, it is about ensuring the five pillars are there and that we look at them and see how we can deliver for people in an evolving and changing situation, recognising that we have made significant progress. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  We all engage with the community and voluntary sector on a daily basis. Generally that is on the basis that these people can deal with some of the issues that sometimes one cannot get deal with the State agencies, particularly when we are dealing with more complex issues in communities - everything from addiction to mental health services and the supports that are required. I mention the likes of The House, the Redeemer Centre, Muirhevnamor Community Centre and Cuidigh Linn but I would also mention Creative Spark, Kilcurry Resource Centre and Haggardstown and Blackrock Community Centre. Some of these centres face incredible difficulties surviving.  They fit into different brackets.  When we talk about this policy and implementation, it is good to see there is a timeline but when we talk about the social enterprise policy, as I stated, there have been a number of milestones that have been missed and that needs to be looked at.  With regard to the national procurement strategy that is being looked at, there might be the possibility there of something that can be somewhat more sustainable. There is that idea of seed funding that makes social enterprises sustainable. I know that is only one small part but it is just on the basis that I spoke to Social Enterprise Republic of Ireland, SERI, lately. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  The important point where we have shared commonality is that the Government is committed to supporting the implementation of a new strategy. The community and voluntary sector is an important pillar and we look forward to working continually to ensure that relationship is not just strengthened but that it is a partnership between the Government and the sector. I could list the Deputy a whole raft of projects, which I will not do, in his county that we have funded. I do not agree we have missed milestones. If we speak about social enterprise, it has been a success story and it has shown empowerment, innovation and employment and the opportunity presented to people. That is something we can come back to.  What the Department, the Minister, Deputy Calleary, and I are anxious to do is to provide significant seed capital and significant investment to further support and enhance----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  That is what we need. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jerry Buttimer","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Jerry-Buttimer.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jerry Buttimer  Yes. We will continue to do that but we must also recognise that we have seen a 6% increase in the budget. We have seen an increase in terms of the community service programme, which reflects that we are in an evolving and changing world and as needs change challenges must be met. This is not something we are oblivious to. We have an open-door policy. There is engagement. We are not living in an ivory tower. If the Deputy wants to come back to me one-to-one, I am happy to sit down and chat to him about some of the issues we need to address. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Voluntary Sector"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/dbsect_15","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Rural Schemes","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/dbsect_9","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_15","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_15.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  I want to ask the Minister, Deputy Calleary, to consider rural communities when making policies. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I thank the Deputy for the question. Rural proofing refers to the processes adopted by policymakers to ensure that new programmes and initiatives understand, and take account of, the specific needs and capacities of rural communities. Our Rural Future, the national rural development policy, commits to strengthening our approach to rural proofing across all Government policies.  In addressing this issue, my Department commissioned a research report on rural proofing and undertook a rural proofing pilot on a number of policy initiatives across a number of Departments. This work also took cognisance of the fact that a level of rural proofing is already taking place within the current system, although it may not be labelled with a formal \"rural proofing\" tag.  In recognising this, my Department developed a guide to rural proofing for policymakers to build on and strengthen existing approaches, and to serve as a practical tool to assist policymakers in the rural proofing process.  Including a simplified rural proofing assessment template and key resources, the guide provides a clear outline of what rural proofing is and seeks to make rural proofing easier to understand and, most importantly, to implement. The principal purpose is to aid and support policymakers to \"think rural\" when developing policies. The guide, which is available online, has been circulated to all Departments and will be added to the suite of tools used by policymakers.  My officials are also continuing to bring awareness to the importance of rural proofing through the many interdepartmental groups they participate in and in the ongoing engagements we have referred to with other Departments regarding the development of our new Our Rural Future policy.  I remain clear that by taking a clear account of rural perspectives in the policymaking process at the earliest possible stage, we will develop better and, most importantly, more effective policies for rural communities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  I must say that is an incredibly disappointing response. Let me tell the Minister what I heard. The last Government committed to developing a rural proofing model. The Minister took a look at it and said, \"Hey, presto. It turns out we were doing it perfectly all along.\" The Minister then decided to make this a guide for rural proofing for policymakers. The Minister can do more. Where is rural proofing when it comes to free travel cards for kids effectively excluded in many rural communities? The Government did the same thing with the young adult travel card many years before this. Where was rural proofing when the Government jacked up the carbon tax earlier this year, disproportionately hitting rural dwellers without access to public transport? Will the Minister outline the great successes of his rural proofing model? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  Rural proofing is delivering a record budget for the Department of Rural and Community Development agus an Gaeltacht - an investment that is going to make a difference in rural communities right across the country. Rural proofing is ensuring that Government is delivering on policies in many areas. I was in Achill last Tuesday and saw TFI Anseo, a pilot rural transport scheme that brings rural transport on demand. I am delighted to assure the Deputy that it is operating very successfully. We will work with the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, as the Minister of State in charge in that space, to develop services in rural communities right across the country.  We are delivering record capital investment. The Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, is delivering current investment. We spoke earlier about the community centre investment programme, and we may get to Deputy Gould's question on this. It is transforming community facilities in rural communities. We have spoken throughout the morning about rural ambition being delivered from within communities that is being matched by Government support and by Government ambition, which we clearly outlined in the new Our Rural Future policy, a policy that will be a whole-of-government one and which will drive rural proofing across all Departments and agencies. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  A budget for rural transport does not cut it. I accept that the Minister inherited this poor, lacklustre approach to rural proofing from his predecessor. It comes across as a box-ticking exercise; a sop to those who care about it while the Minister ditches an idea his Government decided not to follow through on.  I appeal to the Minister to review the Rural Needs Act 2016 that was introduced to the Assembly by the Sinn F\u00e9in deputy leader, Michelle O'Neill, in 2016. As the Minister will see, it is a much bigger body of work, and it went in to many more policies than the Government is including. I ask the Minister to consider this policy, read it and see what other substantive work he could do to underpin rural proofing. If we look at the two guides, it is apparent that one is serious about giving consideration to rural needs. I again ask the Minister to consider this policy Michelle O'Neill brought forward and everything within it that could be adapted. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I will happily compare everything we are doing here to what is happening under other governments and under First Minister O'Neill. The Deputy referred to my predecessor. My predecessor delivered \u20ac440 million to over 160 projects through RRDF since 2020, over \u20ac235 million through the town and village renewal scheme and over \u20ac110 million through the rural social scheme. This money is changing and transforming rural communities across the country.  As Minister, Heather Humphreys, ensured a revolution in terms of the schemes initiated by the Department. I am building on that and on extra investment, working with Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, to do that. We are also driving it. It is not just our Department, a point I made to Deputy Smith earlier. We are in charge of rural policy but every Department has a role in it. As we discussed with Deputy McGuinness, the Deputy will see that in the new Our Rural Future policy, actions will be assigned to Departments, and we will drive the delivery of those actions.  I am very happy to compare what we are doing here and to compare the ambition with what we are doing here. I would like to do more of it and I assure the Deputy that I will. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Rural Schemes"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/dbsect_16","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Rural Schemes","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/dbsect_9","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_9","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_16","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_16.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  Will the Minister update the House on his plans to reopen the shovel-ready community centre scheme? This is a really important scheme for communities and it must be reopened. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  We had a very good discussion earlier and I agree with the Deputy about the importance of the community centre investment fund, CCIF, which was introduced to provide high-quality, accessible community spaces available to all groups in communities. Some \u20ac110 million has been allocated since 2022 for the enhancement and refurbishment of existing community centres and the construction of 12 new centres in areas around the country where a need was identified.  The 2023 community centre investment fund was opened specifically for those groups striving to build their own community centre. That scheme provided funding of up to \u20ac6 million for new community centres on greenfield or brownfield sites.  Over \u20ac30 million was approved for the construction of 12 new community centres under the scheme. These projects involve considerable levels of investment but will have a transformational impact in the communities in which they are located. I have visited and made it a priority to engage with these projects and I am delighted to say that seven of the 12 projects have received final approval. They have appointed contractors, with the remaining five progressing through tender and design stage.  My priority in relation to this element of the scheme is to ensure those projects progress to completion and that communities will begin to see the real benefits of the investment. My focus for 2026 is to deliver a CCIF round to support the refurbishment work on existing community centres. There are hundreds of community groups out there that want enhancement works for their facilities. I understand that at the same time, there are areas that require a new centre. While my immediate focus is on delivering refurbishment this year, it is my intention to direct further iterations of funding towards support for new-build projects.  I also note that there are substantial levels of investment under way in community facilities through LEADER and the town and village renewal scheme. I would particularly direct the Deputy there if he has projects in mind in regard to the building acquisitions measure and also the rural regeneration and development fund, RRDF. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  I welcome the investment in existing community centres in order to refurbish them. A lot of them are just old and need investment. I support that but I am very disappointed by the Minister's lack of commitment to reopening the shovel-ready projects scheme that was there. I have a few examples. The Fairfield community association is operating out of a house it owns in Fairfield. It deals with hundreds of children and different groups. It is an area that has been promised a community centre for 30 years. The volunteers are doing Trojan work. They have done a site survey and put plans together but their real fear, and my fear, is that when they are ready to go, the funding will not be available for this project. These are volunteers. Where is the support? There is one other thing I will ask the Minister to really take on board. Should we have supports to help communities because these are volunteers putting these plans together? I refer to, maybe, a one-stop shop where communities can come together when planning for their centres, whether it is meeting new specifications or delivering new centres. Communities need support. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  There are supports available but the Deputy has given me an idea to think about in terms of centralising some of the supports there. In regard to the new-builds in particular, I am anxious to ensure the ones that were announced are up and running. We will take the lessons of those and put them into somewhere for communities to assist in bringing new builds on. The new builds programme is a priority because I understand there are many communities that need a new-build facility. I assure the Deputy it is a priority for me and the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, during our term in the Department, that we will have another round of new builds.  The work the Deputy just described is the kind of work that needs to be under way now to prepare for an application process in terms of getting all those pieces together. Many of the new builds we are working on have been done in association with either local authorities or local development companies, which also have the expertise to assist community groups in doing that. I can give the Deputy some information as to what local groups can support in terms of providing that skill and expertise. The Deputy has given me an idea there and we will work on that in regard to a resource for communities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  The Minister is expecting volunteers who work with kids in the community to be planners, engineers, administrators or negotiators. If they are trying to get a project over the line, it all falls on the volunteers.  We have another situation in St. Joseph's Community Centre in Mayfield. That has now passed planning so this will bring a state-of-the-art library and community centre to Mayfield but there is no funding there for it. It lost out on the library capital programme, so there is no funding and now the shovel-ready projects scheme is closed. Where does St. Joseph's Community Centre in Mayfield and its library go? It is at risk of its planning running out before the money becomes available. I am not trying to be political here but the facts are that places like Fairfield and Mayfield have been underinvested in. They feel forgotten about. Will the Minister give a commitment to both Fairfield and St. Joseph's that the funding will be available when they are ready? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dara Calleary","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","memberCode":"Dara-Calleary.D.2007-06-14","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dara Calleary  I cannot give commitments on the floor of the House to specific groups without seeing the detail. I know the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, is engaging and working hard with the Mayfield community in particular. We have substantially transformed the funding opportunities available for libraries in recent years. That funding is available through local authorities and working in partnership with local authorities. I can assure the Deputy in relation to investment in community centres. The investment in the refurbishment is very important. As we discussed earlier, this has resulted in a 90% increase in usage in existing facilities. In regard to new builds, I am very focused on delivering the current plans but also on opening up a new funding round for new builds. We will work to assist communities in terms of the knowledge and work necessary to prepare for that application process. That is work that will be worthwhile when we get to opening that particular scheme. I assure the Deputy the Government and the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer and I are very focused on backing and supporting community ambition. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Rural Schemes"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/dbsect_17","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/dbsect_18","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Foreign Conflicts","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/dbsect_17","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_18","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_18.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  The Minister of State and I have spoken on a number of occasions in relation to the terrible situation in Sudan, which has seen tens if not hundreds of thousands of people killed, or certainly hundreds of thousands of people killed, in the past number of years. There has been the slaughter in El-Fasher. The conflict carries on unabated and there has been inadequate attention from the international community and inadequate pressure. There are steps Ireland as well as the international community can take. First, could the Minister give me an outline of the current position and actions? Actions must be taken by the Government on raising this issue and in continuing pressure in regard to this appalling conflict. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Neale Richmond)  I thank Deputy \u00d3 Laoghaire for consistently raising this issue. He is dead right; there is a distinct lack of attention on this around the world. I would like to think it is an exception here in Ireland. The Deputy is a part of that and I am very grateful for it.  Last month, the conflict in Sudan reached its 1,000th day. It is continuing to have a devastating impact on the Sudanese people, particularly women and children. The escalating violence in the Kordofan states is deeply worrying and underlines the need to ensure Sudan remains firmly on the international agenda. Ireland has been a consistent advocate since the beginning of the conflict, including in the EU and UN, and as a principled and active donor. We remain resolute in our commitment to the Sudanese people.  It is vital to address the urgent humanitarian crisis, ensure the protection of civilians and humanitarian workers and explore all avenues towards a credible and inclusive Sudanese-led political transition. The critical issue of humanitarian access and the need to remove bureaucratic impediments to aid are at the heart of our diplomatic engagement. Ireland's response also recognises the impact of the crisis on neighbouring countries, particularly in welcoming refugees. As the Deputy is aware, last year, we provided \u20ac14.3 million in humanitarian assistance to support the people most in need in Sudan and those displaced in neighbouring countries. We are committed to further increasing our funding and our focus on Sudan this year.  Last week, officials from my Department visited Adr\u00e9 on the Chadian-Sudanese border to visit refugee camps there and to gain a better understanding of the complexity of the situation; indeed, I hope to do a similar trip this calendar year. This will help to shape our ongoing humanitarian response. The Government will also continue to advocate for increased engagement on Sudan when Ireland assumes the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of this year.  It is essential that external engagement in the conflict ends. Specific allegations of violations of the UN embargo and EU sanctions are pursued, as the Deputy is aware, through UN and EU channels.  All parties must comply fully with their obligations and refrain from any actions that prolong the conflict and fuel further violence. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  I welcome the Minister of State's intention to visit. I am glad the Department officials have visited those refugees. The humanitarian situation on the ground could potentially escalate even further. Even if the UN reaches its appeal for \u20ac2.9 billion, that will only reach 20 million of the 33 million people needing humanitarian assistance. That is the scale of the humanitarian crisis, of hunger and of need, that is there. This is all escalating alongside a very significant conflict and slaughter, in many instances that is being encouraged by external actors, unfortunately. I have two points on that and I have raised this with the Minister of State before. The major actor external actor, although not the only one, on the RSF side is the United Arab Emirates and I asked the Minister of State to raise his concerns directly on behalf of the Irish Government. Has he done that? The other element is the UN arms embargo. I understand it only applies to Darfur and not to the Kordofan and neighbouring regions where the conflict has very much spilled into. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  On the humanitarian aspect, in terms of our partners, it is really important to stress the role of UNOCHA and the UN population fund. Ireland will continue to provide a commitment to all UN appeals because the humanitarian situation is grave. There is famine in Sudan, one of two man-made famines in the world at the moment, and it can be reversed through a co-ordinated humanitarian response and action.  On raising this matter, we do so on a UN and an EU basis. I have met four Ministers from the UAE in the past six months and have raised it on two occasions with the relevant Minister. With the other two, it was not specifically relevant to their brief. I am due to meet the UAE ambassador in my constituency next Thursday and this will be a subject matter. We maintain regular discussion and contact to make sure our opinion, views and concern get across.  On the embargo, I am more than happy to take that on to the next level and investigate that with the Deputy as appropriate. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  That would certainly be one of the asks. There are two layers to it. Obviously, the arms embargo is not fully effective by any means as things stand. We must always have hope but it is difficult not to be pessimistic when both actors in the conflict feel they can win and, therefore, the prospects for peace in that context are constrained. Dialogue needs to be at the centre of what the Government and the international community are calling for. There will be opportunities.  We had a very interesting and harrowing hearing in the foreign affairs committee recently with experts and some aid organisations. The point was made that until this becomes a priority for either Europe or the United States this is unlikely to see the pressure that is required. In engagements at whatever level in the next couple of weeks with the US Administration, whether with the State Department or whatever, this should be on the agenda. On that technical point, as a principle, it is important that if the conflict is across the whole country, then particularly in places like Kordofan, the arms embargo needs to apply there too. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  I see no issue with that technical point. There are avenues to pursue that. The embargo in place is far from perfect on I think we can both agree but Ireland does believe in it.  On keeping it on the agenda, at every Foreign Affairs Council and at every UN meeting I have attended, I have raised this. It is one of the key pillars of Irish interest - Ukraine, Gaza and Sudan \u2013 that is raised consistently in all international arenas and is met with real funding and belief among the people in regard to humanitarian support. The Presidency of the Council of the European Union does give us a clear opportunity in chairing those meetings, co-chairing Foreign Affairs Council meetings with the High Representative and in chairing development formations of the Foreign Affairs Council to ensure this is on the agenda. We will consistently put this at the top of the agenda, namely the need for a real humanitarian surge into the region and a real plan to abolish famine in Sudan and make sure the embargo sticks. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Foreign Conflicts"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/dbsect_19","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Consular Services","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/dbsect_17","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_19","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_19.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  The entire world is aghast at the actions of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service, ICE, in the United States. I am asking a question about Irish citizens, not documented or undocumented. It is not to make an exceptional case because all immigrant groups are being targeted. However, given that we are in the Irish Parliament, I am asking about Irish citizens. How many are being detained by ICE? Are their locations known in all cases? Will the Minister of State make a statement on the matter? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  I wish to thank the Deputy for raising this matter. The provision of consular assistance to Irish citizens who get into difficulty abroad is a cornerstone of the work of the Department of foreign affairs. The provision of consular assistance is at the request of the citizen or, where the citizen cannot request such assistance, by a family member or friend. As such, there are many instances where a citizen gets into difficulty abroad and does not request consular assistance. In these cases, my Department may not necessarily be aware of their detention or impending deportation.  For data relating to the activities of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, the US Department of Homeland Security maintains a publicly available website. I can confirm that the number of citizens who have requested assistance in relation to deportation from the United States of America in 2025 was 65. To date in 2026, the number of people who have requested assistance is one. The number of 65 may seem small but it is a 330% increase on the previous year. This includes both those who have already been deported and those who are still going through the deportation process, which may include being held in detention by ICE. It is important to note that this figure only relates to cases where a citizen or their family has requested assistance and does not necessarily reflect all deportations to Ireland or where a citizen is currently being detained by ICE.  I assure the Deputy that my officials stand ready to provide all possible consular assistance to Irish citizens who get into difficulty abroad wherever that may be. We have nine diplomatic missions in the United States. However, as the Deputy will be aware, the Department does not comment on individual cases in order to protect the identity of the citizen receiving consular assistance. As such, the Department cannot provide detail on locations, in case doing so could compromise the citizen's right to privacy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  Our figure is 65 plus one so that is 66. ICE's figures for January to September last year are 99. That means 33 people, based on those figures, have not sought consular assistance. I believe that is a low figure. We should be doing more to seek out where those Irish citizens are being held, what there status is and how they can be assisted. I do not think it is good enough in this circumstance to sit back and wait to give consular assistance.  Look at the case of Donna Hughes-Brown who had been living legally in the United States since the age of 11 and is now 59 years of age. As she had two cheques for low amounts of money bounce, because she was away in Ireland on a break, and which she then cleared, she was detained, taken out of state from Chicago to Kentucky and held in conditions that were absolutely deplorable. This is what is happening to Irish citizens, both documented and undocumented. For us to just wait for an Irish citizen to contact for consular assistance is not good enough. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  I have great empathy and I do not necessarily disagree with the Deputy on that point but there are very real challenges. People may have dual or triple citizenship and there are a lot of things at play. They may not want Irish Government assistance. One thing the Irish Government does in all jurisdictions is work through our network, not just of diplomatic missions but also through our coalition and alliances with Irish pastoral centres, community centres and the Irish Penal Trust which visits people who are incarcerated for whatever reason, to make sure that even where people are not seeking our assistance, they are aware we have a full obligation to Irish citizens wherever they may find themselves in the world and whatever difficulty they may find themselves in. We provide that consular assistance, or more importantly, our diplomats provide that level of assistance to the highest degree. It is not only a professional response but a humanitarian one in many difficult cases.  I have travelled to the United States five times since I was appointed to this brief and on each occasion met the Irish groups, whether in New York, Boston and Chicago, who are working with individuals who are frankly very worried. We are making sure our funding to those bodies has been increased. Indeed, our responsiveness has increased as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  Given the size of the Irish diaspora and our cultural and historic links with the United States and the very real human rights concerns we have for anyone being held by ICE in detention facilities, should we not request formally - I believe we should - from the US Secretary of Homeland Security details of all Irish citizens, documented and undocumented, in detention and where they are being held?  We should request that from the United States on the grounds that we have real humanitarian concerns over how our citizens are being held along with other immigrant groups from around the world. This is a manifestation of the creeping fascism in the United States, pulling people off the streets and sending them out of state and holding them for terms of indefinite duration in absolutely deplorable conditions. We need to hold the United States to account on this. At the very least, our Minister should be asking their opposite number where our Irish citizens are. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  The Irish Government maintains a very open and frank level of engagement with the US Administration at all levels, not only at federal level but also at local level, particularly at state and city level. As the Deputy knows, the Minister, Deputy McEntee, is in the United States at the moment. Where appropriate, we always raise those concerns. I have to stress this point. On the rights of the individual, it is also their right not to notify the Irish Government and not to seek consular assistance. We have to respect that right of an Irish citizen in difficulty abroad. When they or their family or friends seek consular assistance, either directly through one of our diplomatic missions or through one of the very many agencies, organisations or partners we work with in any jurisdiction, our diplomats work day and night. Those diplomats deliver a level of compassion, care and service that all Irish citizens deserve regardless of the situation they find themselves in. We will continue to do that throughout our global network. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Consular Services"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/dbsect_20","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Proposed Legislation","counts":{"speechCount":12,"speakerCount":4},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/dbsect_17","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_17","showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Sonra\u00edodh Uain D\u00f3ibh - Priority Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_20","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_20.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  On that last question, I might just say that individual cases do not necessarily preclude the Irish Government from representing a category generally speaking and that should always be the case.  I cannot make up my mind as to what the Government intends to do with the occupied territories Bill. Does it intend to drop it entirely? Does it intend to water it down? Does it intend to put it on the long finger and maybe think about doing something later? I am not totally sure. However, I know it is vital. It represents the most obvious, practical and tangible way in which the Government can exert influence and can speak in the context of international law.  I have more time that I expected in this first intervention. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Duncan Smith","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Duncan-Smith.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Duncan Smith  Keep going. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  The key principle that underlines the occupied territories Bill is that the International Court of Justice case clearly states that trade with those occupied territories is illegal. The position of the Department of foreign affairs and the Government has always been that we should not trade with these territories. I see no reason that there should not be a criminal sanction for those who choose to do that. It is very much in that realm. This is not necessarily about catching every transaction; it is about ensuring that where people do that, they can potentially face prosecution. Not being able to capture every incident can be true of any criminal act. This is why it is so important to have this legislation on the Statute Book. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  I propose to take Questions Nos. 58 and 59 together.  In June 2025, the Government approved the general scheme of the Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory (prohibition of importation of goods) Bill. The main purpose of the Bill is to prohibit the importation of goods into the State from Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, in line with the programme for Government commitment. Legally, the regulation of external trade in services is considerably more complex than is the case with goods at EU level. There would also be greater complexity when it comes to implementation than is the case with regard to trade in goods.  The Government has received the Attorney General\u2019s advice on the question of whether the inclusion of services in the Bill is permissible under EU law. The advice, which is detailed and extensive, identifies a number of significant legal and practical issues with the regulation by a member state of trade in services with a country or territory outside the European Union. Following detailed consideration by officials in the Department, clarification has been sought from the Attorney General on a number of legal issues. Any legislation must be legally robust, able to withstand challenge and progress the Government's broader policy agenda.  Work is advancing across a number of strands at official level as well as engagement at EU level. It remains the Government\u2019s preference that collective action would be taken at EU level and we continue to pursue this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  That raises a few questions. On the implementation, I have never received a satisfactory answer to this. The practical effect of the implementation is very similar to the preparation that would have been required for the implementation of the similar ban on trade with the territories of Ukraine that are currently occupied by Russia. It is absolutely right that those sanctions were put in place, but the implementation would have been the same. Whether the vehicle is different is immaterial as to what preparations a company or the Government would have to make. That is completely immaterial and the same preparations for implementation would apply.  The Government has been talking about this for about eight years. The Spanish Government announced it would ban trade with the settlements in September 2025 and two weeks later that passed fully into law. By the end of the year, it was being implemented, including in relation to services. If the Spanish Government can do it, and given that it is similarly subject to EU law, why can the Irish Government not put in place a similar ban? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  Why has the Attorney General's advice changed? What legally has changed? The ICJ decision that all states must abstain from entering into economic and trade dealings and prevent trade or investment relations with Israel stands. That was the basis on which the previous advice of the Attorney General was made. In the previous advice of the Attorney General, he made no distinction between goods and services because legally in international law there is no distinction between trade in goods and services. Instead, he made the point that it would be a political choice to exclude services. The Government is making a political choice to exclude services to bow down before what Trump is asking for. Miche\u00e1l Martin is quite open about it when he says it in the D\u00e1il. Simon Harris tries to hide it a little bit but Miche\u00e1l Martin is completely open; I can quote it.  The Government is watering this down and reneging on an election promise made by both Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael. It is trying to find some legal advice to hide behind. It does not work because Spain, an EU country, is implementing a ban on services traded with the occupied territories. How can Spain do it under European law and yet the Irish Government is not able to do it? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  There are a few things there and I will try to answer them in order. Regarding the situation in Ukraine, obviously it is much easier to implement and find a vehicle for sanctions that have been adopted by the Union as a whole when it comes to an area of trade competence.  It is important to be clear as to what is happening around Europe because people have made assertions about what is happening in other European jurisdictions. Four other EU states have expressed an interest, desire or commitment or have started the process following the Irish Government's commitment to do this in the programme for Government. I have discussed it with ministers at European Council level. Slovenia has a different legal system which does not require primary legislation in order to effect a ban on goods and goods alone. Let us be clear that Spain, using a different legal situation that did not need primary legislation as we do, was able to implement the ban on goods and also on the advertisement of services. That important distinction has not yet been made in this Chamber. There were commitments by the Belgians and the Dutch but they have not moved as far as the Irish Government has.  The ICJ judgment made it quite clear. The then Taoiseach, Simon Harris, asked the Attorney General on foot of that ICJ judgment whether there was a pathway to pass a version of the original occupied territories Bill brought into the Seanad by Senator Frances Black - indeed I was in the Seanad with her at the time. Since then, we have consistently looked for a way to do it for goods and then, following pre-legislative scrutiny at the foreign affairs committee, there was a request that we could guarantee services, bearing in mind that the Government commitment was only on goods initially. That is related to additional legal advice being provided. The legal advice has been digested by officials at the Department of foreign affairs and they have gone back to the Attorney General with additional questions. We await the clarifications on those. Some of them are technical and some are otherwise. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  It is very clear that the Spanish legislation goes into the area of services, the extent of which we can perhaps consider further. For example, due to the Spanish legislation, some rental companies been forced to remove the advertisement of the letting of properties in these occupied territories. Therefore, it is clearly having an effect. If EU law prevented member states from intervening in the area of services, that would be struck down. Obviously, any potential legislation can be challenged; anyone can choose to challenge any legislation.  It is about whether it is currently robust enough. We need to get a sense of the advice of the Attorney General by whatever means the Minister of State can communicate this. It seems that the Minister of State is saying he is not necessarily prevented from doing so. He spoke about raising a number of questions. Perhaps he can clarify that. Questions can be raised, including about practical implementation. I am sure it is not going to be simple to do but it is doable, that is for sure. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  Let us remind ourselves that last year saw not only the continuation of the genocide in Gaza, but a record number of home demolitions, settler attacks and orders for new illegal settlement construction in the West Bank. That is all continuing this year. The urgency of this Bill has never been greater. Since the so-called ceasefire, well over 500 Palestinians have been killed. Yesterday 18 Palestinians were killed. It is the position of the foreign affairs committee that the Government should include the question of services. It is the position of this D\u00e1il, which the Minister of State did not vote against. The whole D\u00e1il voted for a motion two months ago to say that it should include services and should be enacted before the end of the year. We are two months on and the Government is just kicking the can down the road trying to avoid taking action.  The Minister of State made the point about all these other countries having different legal frameworks. That is fine, in terms of their domestic legislation. However, the Government's argument has also been that the problem here is European law. European law applies equally to all European countries. If we cannot do services in Ireland because of European law, it cannot be done in Spain either. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  The clear point I was making is not necessarily in relation to EU law but the ability of different jurisdictions to progress legislation in a different manner as per their domestic parliamentary structures for creating legislation. We have to recognise that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  Eight years is plenty of time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  Of course, the Deputy is right that any legislation can be challenged. We have made it quite clear that we will not produce legislation that we feel will actually fail the test of EU or international law. That is a very real commitment because we are talking about the rule of law and the importance of it. We have to act as such.  I must stress that this is not the only thing the Irish Government is doing in relation to the absolute horrors of the genocide that is going on at the moment in Gaza. On our response at EU level, twice we have called for a suspension of the association agreement. We have asked for investigations under article 2. We have led the way. I am not looking for a clap on the back; I am just providing the context. We have no material opposition. I absolutely respect and support the declaration of the foreign affairs committee last summer and of course I did not vote against the motion in the D\u00e1il. I have no political obstacle to this. We have said consistently as a Government that we need to work in something that is fit for purpose in terms of international law. We have prepared legislation, as we committed to in the programme for Government, in relation to goods. There was the clear response, request and instruction from the foreign affairs committee on services. We sought advice from the Attorney General to provide that legal guarantee. That has been received and now we are looking for the technical details and responses. In fairness to the previous Minister, and I am sure it will be no different with the Minister, Deputy McEntee, briefings will be provided to the Opposition and there will be full engagement not only in this House but also in the Seanad, noting that the genesis of this was Senator Black's Bill back in 2018. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Proposed Legislation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/dbsect_21","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/dbsect_22","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Education Policy","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/dbsect_21","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_22","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_22.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl  It is appropriate to be able to pose this question in the aftermath of International Holocaust Memorial Day on 27 January. I want to ask what the Government and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is doing to support the work of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation Holocaust education programme. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  I thank the Deputy for this very timely and important question. Ireland is deeply committed to the cause of Holocaust remembrance and to ensuring that the suffering and horror of the Holocaust is never forgotten. At a time we are witnessing a deeply concerning rise in global antisemitism, including Holocaust denial and distortion, it is more important than ever that the victims of the Holocaust are honoured and that the lessons from that terrible time are learned.  Ireland has a long-standing relationship with the Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation, a non-profit, independent organisation created to secure the long-term preservation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. I am sure I am not alone in having visited the site over the years. Through the Department, Ireland has provided grant funding for a number of years to the foundation\u2019s perpetual fund for the essential work of maintaining the Auschwitz museum and preserving its artefacts for future generations. In 2025, a grant of \u20ac50,000 was made available for this purpose, marking the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the camp\u2019s liberation. The funding of \u20ac100,000, announced by the Minister, Deputy McEntee on the occasion of Holocaust Memorial Day, 27 January, represents a significant increase on previous funding. This funding has been provided and is a response to the realisation that Holocaust denial and antisemitism generally has grown in recent times.  We have also seen the results of the recent survey by the Claims Conference which demonstrate that, despite an existing strong programme of Holocaust education in Irish schools, 12% of those surveyed had never heard of, or were unsure if they had heard of, the Holocaust. Almost 10% of young adults in Ireland believe the Holocaust did not happen and many more again were unaware of the numbers of Jewish victims. These figures are outstanding and alarming.  The programme for Government contains commitments to give effect to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of antisemitism and to the implementation of the EU Council declaration on fostering Jewish life and combating antisemitism. The funding of \u20ac100,000 to Holocaust education is a strong illustration of the Government\u2019s firm commitment to counter the scourge of antisemitism, of which Holocaust denial forms an important element. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl  If we needed proof that an education programme is important, that was given to us in a recent survey undertaken by the Conference of Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, with the involvement of an Irishman, Professor Gideon Taylor, son of a former distinguished Minister and Member of these Houses. As the Minister of State has pointed out, it was established that 10% of people believed that the Holocaust was a myth and 19% believed that the slaughter was exaggerated. We can never lose sight of the fact that two thirds of European Jews were slaughtered mercilessly, deliberately and in an industrial fashion during that Holocaust. The antisemitism we see today is linked to and caused by the atrocities experienced by the Jewish people then and in the many pogroms that happened beforehand. What else is being done by the Department to combat antisemitism and to ensure that we build the best possible understanding of what happened during the Holocaust, so that it will never, ever happen again? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  I want to elaborate a little on the work of the funding. The funding will build upon the existing programme of Holocaust education provided by the Department of Education and Youth in Irish schools. It will enable the foundation to make available to schools in Ireland virtual guided tours of the Auschwitz Museum and Memorial, further enhancing opportunities for Irish young people to deepen their understanding of the Holocaust. I do not need to repeat the worrying statistics that myself and the Deputy are both appalled by. Ireland places great value on the importance of education to counter Holocaust denial or distortion with inclusion of the Holocaust in the school curriculum. My Department works closely with the Department of Education and Youth. There have been ongoing commitments in recent weeks where senior members of the Government have met regularly with representatives of Ireland's Jewish community, including the Taoiseach, T\u00e1naiste, Minister for Justice and Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs. Most recently, the Minister, Deputy McEntee met with the Jewish Representative Council. Just last week, the T\u00e1naiste visited Stratford College, the only Jewish denomination school in the country, with Deputy James Geoghegan and a number of other local representatives. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl  I commend the Minister and the Government on what they are doing. It is really important work. When does the Minister of State imagine that this work will commence in the 600 schools around the country where it is going to be delivered? Does he think there is a possibility, given that children and young people are not just influenced by what happens and what they experience in school, but particularly by what they experience in their homes, that there is a need to educate some members of the public who are inculcating false thoughts, ideas and motivations in their children? Would it be possible to have some sort of public media campaign via the Department around the period of International Holocaust Memorial Day, which would drive home to people the extent of the slaughter and the extent of man's inhumanity to man that happened at that stage? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  I welcome the comments by the Minister of State and the question. It is important that support is provided for organisations such as the Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation. The statistics from the survey are concerning. Unfortunately, they reflect similarly concerning findings, perhaps worse findings, in other jurisdictions.  Clearly, it is important that the message goes out from all sides of these Houses that Holocaust denial or minimisation is appalling. We need to be very clear that the Holocaust happened at the scale at that it did and that it was an atrocity of a very particular and repugnant character. Human history should always record it and we in Ireland should acknowledge it. It is important that all sides of the House speak out against antisemitism, particularly in the context of incidents such as what happened on Bondi Beach. Nobody should be targeted for their religion, whether they are Jewish, Muslim, Christian or any other, but it is important the we speak out against antisemitism. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  I am very grateful to both the Deputies for their timely interventions. To directly answer Deputy \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl's question, it is expected that these tours will be made available to Irish schools in the next academic year, so that is not too far away at this stage. There is a great opportunity for all of us as local representatives to engage with schools in our constituencies to encourage them to be part of this programme. Just making it available and providing funding are not enough alone. We need to encourage people to partake and we need to encourage people to speak out and be quite clear that Holocaust denial and Holocaust distortion are forms of antisemitism. There is zero place for antisemitism in Ireland or anywhere else around the world, but sadly we are seeing increasing levels of high-profile incidents, not necessarily in this State. It is therefore incumbent on us as elected representatives to lead, to engage with our local media and local communities and to make sure that we have this education foundation going to school-age children, which can then make its way into homes but also we need to reach out to those who are not in formal education any more as well. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Education Policy"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/dbsect_23","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Foreign Policy","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/dbsect_21","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_23","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_23.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl  Deputy Ardagh and I are trying to establish what the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is doing regarding the repression of civil society and democratic opposition and the undermining of democracy and the rule of law in Russia. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  Ireland remains deeply concerned at the ongoing erosion of human rights and democracy in Russia, which has been exacerbated by Russia\u2019s illegal, full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine. Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, we have seen a heightened number of arbitrary arrests and detentions, as well as harassment and persecution, of peaceful anti-war activists, human rights defenders, journalists, cultural figures, members of the LGBTQI+ community and ethnic minorities. Domestic opposition leaders have been arrested and prosecuted. Legislation has been introduced to limit civil society activity in Russia. The Russian authorities are rapidly expanding the numbers of individuals designated as foreign agents, terrorists or extremists to inhibit further any remaining scope for open political discussion.  Mariana Katzarova, the UN special rapporteur on the human rights situation in Russia has reported that there are over 2,000 political prisoners in Russia, many of whom face life-threatening conditions. Some, including Alexei Navalny, have died in detention. In her September 2025 report, the special rapporteur highlighted the prosecution of at least 912 people on politically motivated grounds between 2024 and mid-2025. At the Human Rights Council in September 2025, Ireland participated in an interactive dialogue with the special rapporteur, where we condemned the widespread use of torture, enforced disappearances, and cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment and punishment as tools for systematic oppression by Russia.  As an EU member, Ireland has supported the EU\u2019s response to the accelerating and systematic repression in Russia, including the adoption of a specific sanctions regime relating to the human rights situation in Russia in 2024. This regime allows for restrictive measures to be imposed on those responsible for serious human rights violations or abuses, repression of civil society and democratic opposition, and undermining democracy and the rule of law in Russia.  I commend the bravery of those Russian citizens who, despite great personal risks and under extremely difficult conditions, continue to work towards a free and democratic future for Russia, which respects human rights and the rule of law. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl  For the past four years, the world has been focused on Russian aggression and the appalling war in Ukraine perpetrated on a foreign, sovereign people by the megalomaniac that is Putin. We have lost sight of what may be happening within Russia itself, and that is understandable. When we think of opposition in Russia, we think of the late, brave Alexei Navalny, whose second anniversary will be marked next week. We are aware of the commitments and the strength of his wife Yulia in the aftermath of his death and her commitment to carry on the campaign. Prosecutors in Russia have banned 78 organisations as undesirable, including prominent human rights groups. Human Rights Watch itself was designated undesirable. What we can do on our own is very limited. Will the Minister of State tell us the degree to which there is active engagement between ourselves and our European partners to support opposition and to support civil society organisations in Russia? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  There are a couple of measures there. First and foremost, Ireland has fully supported all 19 sanctions packages promoted by the European Union against Russia, the latest of which was agreed in October 2025. A 20th package of sanctions is currently being worked on and Ireland will be to the fore in supporting it. We absolutely condemn Russia's withdrawal from the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. Ireland is a consistent funder of a range of human rights-dependent organisations around the world, and we acknowledge the very real atrocities that are being carried out in Russia by the Russian regime.  I might just raise one concern. We talk about the very real, brave opposition people who have been repressed, but we have not mentioned the very worrying number of, quite frankly, foreign stooges propagating from Russia - some of whom have Irish citizenship - talking about the regime and spreading misinformation and disinformation. We also need to be in a position to call them out and challenge them for their craven propaganda towards this regime. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl  It is interesting that the Minister of State talks about stooges. There are 450 members of the Russian Duma. One wonders how many of them are actual puppets or stooges because we have not heard very much in the West about any opposition from the ranks of the Duma to the activities of Putin and his foul regime. One would wonder how, on the law of averages, among 450 people, there are not, if even by chance, some people who have some moral integrity and who might have some of the courage that Navalny displayed when he literally put himself in a situation where he was inevitably going to be murdered, as he eventually was by the Putin regime. I reiterate it is vitally important, through whatever measures possible, that Europe supports those who are trying to build a normal, decent, civilised society in Russia and to save the people of Russia from the monsters that control them at present. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  It should be really important to say the Irish Government condemns the Russian Government. The Irish Government and our European partners condemn the regime of Putin and those who support it and fund it, particularly the oligarchs. We have great sympathy for the people of Russia who live in a state of fear and repression and it has been made quite clear what happens to those who speak out against the regime. Alexei Navalny, whose death we mourn, is the most obvious one. We also have to remember that the efforts made to counter this have to be made primarily at a European level, be that through the European Union or the Council of Europe. One thing that always strikes me is that not only do we have Irish-accented stooges broadcasting on social media from Russia, but we have countless numbers of MEPs, including Irish MEPs, who fail to actually vote with the European consensus in criticising Russia, backing sanctions or indeed stating support for those who speak out in favour of human rights within the Russian Federation. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 62 and 63 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Foreign Policy"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/dbsect_24","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"International Relations","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/dbsect_21","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_24","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_24.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Erin McGreehan  I ask for an update on how the Department is developing links with Canada and I request that it provide support for the Thomas D'Arcy McGee summer school in Louth as a way to support this important link "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  I am grateful to the Deputy not only for raising this issue but also for her consistent advocacy for stronger Irish-Canadian relations in her role as convener of the Canada-Ireland Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group.  As the Deputy knows, Ireland and Canada have cultivated strong political, economic and cultural connections, grounded in our shared history, values and commitment to a rules-based international order.  Under the Global Ireland programme, Ireland significantly expanded its diplomatic presence in Canada opening new consulates generals in Vancouver in 2018 and in Toronto in 2022 complementing Ireland's trade promotion agencies in Canada. Plans for a new Ireland House in Toronto are under way while a new embassy chancery in Ottawa was opened by the Taoiseach during his visit in September 2025 where he met the new Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. The Taoiseach has invited the Prime Minister to Ireland noting that three of his grandparents are Irish. The Government intends to fully ratify the EU-Canada Comprehensive and Trade and Agreement, CETA, in the coming months to build on our strong trading relationship with Canada. Since the provisional application of CETA in 2017, trade in Irish good and services with Canada has increased from about \u20ac3.2 billion in 2016 to more than \u20ac10 billion in 2023.  Last November, the Minister for enterprise Deputy Burke, led a trade mission to Canada with representatives from 31 Irish companies. Just last week, the Minister for the arts, Deputy O'Donovan, led a creative industries trade mission to Canada to meet with cultural, sporting and educational leaders. In addition, last week, the Minister for further and higher education, Deputy Lawless, launched the de Chastelian scholarships. This is a new programme that is jointly funded by the Irish and Canadian Governments. I visited Toronto in September. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy McEntee, is aware of the good work done by the Thomas D'Arcy McGee summer school. As I mentioned at the outset, I addressed this two years ago. I understand that a number of public bodies provide funding and a number of former civil servants from my Department have spoken at the school in recent years. We could not be more supportive of the work of the summer school. It is a wonderful initiative. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Erin McGreehan  The Minister of State was very welcome to Carlingford on that fateful day in late August a couple of years ago. I wish to highlight the extraordinary cultural and historical bridge that is between Ireland and Canada through the legacy of Thomas D'Arcy McGee. He was born in Carlingford, County Louth in 1825. He was later the father of the Canadian Confederation. His life embodies those shared democratic values, and the people-to-people links between our nations. The annual Thomas D'Arcy McGee event is very well supported by the Department. The Minister of State, many other officials and former officials of the Department have attended. It brings together academics and policymakers from Ireland, Northern Ireland and Canada to examine modern challenges through a lens of McGee's legacy and evolution into a pluralist democracy. The Minister of State said that we can support this, but he can do one more little thing with financial support. Public bodies support it but every year that funding is decreasing for numerous different reasons. There are a lot of pulls on the money of other organisations. Considering the huge efforts that the Government and the Canadian Government are putting in together to support those links, a cash funding would be a great way of supporting the summer school. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  From a Department point of view, most of our spending in relation to strengthening ties with Canada happens within Canada. This is not just from the direct diplomatic missions, including in Vancouver, Toronto and Ottawa, but also with a range of groups that promote Irish culture and heritage and work with the Irish communities across the broad expanse of Canada. In relation to funding in country and the opportunity for the Thomas D'Arcy McGee summer school, there is a range of possibilities through general funding, particularly shared island funding, given the significance of this as a North-South project. I am more than happy to work with the Deputy to identify those. It might not necessarily come under the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, but that does not mean that we cannot lean on agencies or partners, be they public or private. It must be remembered how complex a character Thomas D'Arcy McGee was. Looking at that complexity, it is noteworthy in itself for a range of people from across this island to see how that diversity and complexity transfers from Ireland to a country like Canada. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Erin McGreehan  We should have a debate about Thomas D'Arcy McGee in this House. As the Minister of State said, there are a lot of learnings to be taken from the complexities of his life from leaving Ireland as a Fenian to being shot on the steps of the Canadian House of Commons by the Fenians. There is a huge circle there. His legacy is hugely celebrated in Canada. As a son of Carlingford, it is important that we celebrate him too. He created the modern Canada. His spirit and legacy can also help create the future united Ireland that we all want. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  One of the key strands to the Government's approach to Canada is promoting those cultural and historically links. That will not only be reflected in the new Global Ireland diaspora strategy that I look forward to launching at the end of April, but also in our commitment to working with our Canadian counterparts and using CETA not just for economic enhancement but looking where the real cultural and shared values are on a global scale. I find myself regularly at meetings of the United Nations' bodies, the G20 or otherwise. It is the Canadian Minister I always seek out to see what their interaction and intervention are going to be like. Enshrining that by support of the very famous Thomas D'Arcy McGee summer school in a no more appropriate and no more beautiful location as Carlingford would be absolutely appropriate. Whatever we can do to work with the Deputy in her role as convener of the friendship group to make sure that adequate support is provided, I undertake to do that with her fully and enthusiastically. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Erin McGreehan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Erin-McGreehan.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Erin McGreehan  I appreciate that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Before I go to the next question, I welcome those in the Public Gallery, particularly the guests of Deputy Newsome Drennan. I do not know if the Deputies have noticed but over the past few minutes they have been jumping up and down frantically waving to try to attract their attention. They are all very welcome and I hope they enjoy their day with the Deputy. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"International Relations"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/dbsect_25","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"European Union","counts":{"speechCount":10,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/dbsect_21","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_25","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_25.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  There is a lot of talk right now about online safety and regulation. The overwhelming sentiment from the public is that we need to tackle it head on and not be cowed into inaction by big tech. Yet the digital simplification packages as currently drafted stand to erode people's rights, not support them. Is the Department concerned about the package? What steps is the Minister of State taking to raise these concerns at EU level? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  I propose to take Questions Nos. 65 and 70 together.  I am grateful to both Deputies Gibney and O'Rourke for tabling this timely intervention. The Government strongly supports the EU\u2019s competitiveness agenda. Simplification is a key enabler of this. The European Commission put forward ten separate simplification omnibus packages in 2025. Each package usually contains several legislative proposals relevant to multiple Departments. My Department has been co-ordinating Ireland\u2019s approach across government to these packages. The digital simplification omnibus package was published by the European Commission on 19 November last year. In the lead-up to its publication, Ireland strongly encouraged an ambitious digital simplification package that can support the EU\u2019s strategic positioning as the location of choice for trustworthy digital innovation, while maintaining a central focus on protecting data privacy and fundamental rights of citizens. The proposals are a first step, and an important element of the overall approach to improving competitiveness at an EU level in line with the Draghi report and related work.  The package contains two legislative proposals, which are the digital omnibus on AI and the digital omnibus. The first legislative proposal, the digital omnibus on AI, aims to simplify and streamline the EU\u2019s AI Act. The proposed changes to the AI Act respond to practical implementation challenges highlighted by stakeholders and are aimed at increasing certainty for regulators, businesses and citizens, reducing compliance costs and administrative burdens, and supporting innovation while maintaining protections. The Government has welcomed the EU\u2019s focus on simplification, having consistently advocated for targeted and proportionate regulation, ensuring the right balance between stimulating innovation, boosting competitiveness and enforcing regulation when necessary. The second proposal, the digital omnibus, aims to simplify and streamline the EU\u2019s data rulebook and cybersecurity incident reporting. The Government welcomes the proposed amalgamation of the open data directive, the free flow of non-personal data regulation, the Data Governance Act and the Data Act into a single consolidated data Act as it will streamline the data framework and provide greater clarity and alignment of the data rulebook.  The Government supports amendments to the general data protection regulation, GDPR, that can reduce compliance burdens but maintain the strong safeguards on the use of personal data in keeping with the core principles and objectives of the GDPR. Essential principles of public trust, transparency, data protection and improved public outcomes and public good are central to any simplification package. The Government further welcomes the efforts to simplify the reporting of cybersecurity incidents as the complexity of incident reporting has been repeatedly highlighted by stakeholders as a major issue, particularly for SMEs. However, we have concerns on the proposal to develop a single entry point for incident reporting across a number of legislative files, including non-cybersecurity ones such as GDPR. Discussions on these proposals remain at an early stage. We will continue to consult with stakeholders and engage constructively in these discussions. It is important to note also that the proposals under the digital simplification omnibus package must proceed through the EU\u2019s ordinary legislative procedure, requiring review and approval by both the European Parliament and the Council of the EU, which we will have the Presidency of for the second half of this year.  As we move forward, it will also be important to future-proof the EU digital regulatory framework, with the overall aim of increasing the coherence and effectiveness of the EU's digital rulebook. This means ensuring forthcoming digital regulations are developed with the same objectives around simplification, harmonisation and coherence strongly to the fore. In this context, the Government supports the broader review of the digital rulebook through the fitness check of the digital acquis announced by the Commission as part of this package. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  I am really frustrated by the Minister of State's reply, as I was by a similar answer given by his colleague the Minister of State, Deputy Smyth, at the AI committee last week. The dogs in the street know big tech cannot be trusted. We have all endured the Grok scandal over the past number of weeks. A recent \"Prime Time Investigates\" programme reported on how our location data is being sold. Despite all of that, the Government remains stubbornly committed to backing omnibus proposals that give the very tech companies that are harming us more of our data and subject them to less regulation and oversight.  There seems to be a disconnect between the rights and protections of citizens and the push for deregulation. We are not seeing any critical engagement on how this will impact ordinary people. I am really concerned that at a time when we should be shoring up protections and rights, they are being totally ignored. The conversation is completely about how to remove rules. We are told that this is about simplification and harmonisation and that they will be achieved while balancing rights. Those rights are always the secondary thought. Unfortunately, I do not see any balance. Digital regulation and our digital rights cannot be construed as two separate issues. That does not work because the regulations exist in the first place to protect those exact rights. There are not adequate safeguards in the proposal from the Commission. What will the Minister of State do to ensure that is addressed in any digital omnibus package? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  I share the concerns that have been raised, which were not addressed in the Minister of State's response. The identified concerns include the impact on the ability of citizens to exercise their GDPR rights, that a redefinition of personal data may narrow GDPR protections, a risk to enforceability of rights, expanded derogations and reduced obligations, and the weakening of safeguards on sensitive data, including AI. Similarly, in regard to the EU AI Act, there are concerns regarding delayed or diluted high-risk AI obligations, potential for underclassification of high-risk systems and relaxed rules on processing sensitive data for AI training. In his response, the Minister of State repeatedly made the point that he wants to support the implementation of this proposal and reduce compliance burdens while maintaining safeguards and protections. In fact, those protections and safeguards are being diluted and whittled away. We need the Government to stand up against that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  It is important that I be crystal clear on this matter. The Government's position is that simplification must be about better regulation, not deregulation. We need to reduce the regulatory burden, particularly for SMEs, while maintaining high ambition in terms of protections, including environmental, human health, privacy and a range of other standards. The omnibus proposal is not actually an omnibus; it comprises ten pieces of legislation and we are referring to just one element here.  The role of the Department of foreign affairs is to co-ordinate all Government responses to the proposal. Some of them will come from the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, and Deputy Gibney has referenced the role of the Minister of State, Deputy Smyth. Others will come from the Department of Health, the Department of the environment and so on. It is really important that our legislative approach be in line with core better regulation principles and the inter-institutional agreement on better law-making while prioritising smarter, simpler and more streamlined regulations. The Government recognises the importance of regulation, crucially to ensure markets operate efficiently and fairly. That in no way waters down our recognition that we also need to protect consumers in a range of areas.  In that context, it is important that regulations are targeted and proportionate to the policy objective, whether it is to protect consumers and citizens or to promote competitiveness and innovation. That is why the Government had advocated for a dynamic, ambitious and risk-based approach focused on removing regulatory overlaps and administrative burdens, for example, while also supporting compliance. This package was introduced in November. We are in the position of working through it in each of the different frameworks and policy areas. I hear the Deputies' concerns. They are valid and they need to be worked through. However, I do not necessarily conflate seeking to make things more simplified and more competitive with a rush to deregulate and some form of race to the bottom. I reject that assertion. It is worth working through this process in its entirety. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  The Minister of State telling us simplification is not deregulation is as hollow to me as saying the removal of the triple lock will not affect our neutrality. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  Where is the relevance? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  It is just misleading. He said in the same breath that it is about relieving the regulatory burden. He must admit that what he is doing is removing regulations and, therefore, removing rights and protections. He referred to stakeholders in his first contribution. Who are those stakeholders? I am fairly sure they are businesses and industry. My problem with the governance we are pursuing in this area is that it is completely driven by the Department of enterprise. It is not considering the broader societal impacts of online and digital harm while we are all experiencing those impacts.  We are potentially allowing companies to self-certify their AI in lower-risk categories. We are potentially allowing companies to collect personal data that previously was protected. I mentioned the \"Prime Time Investigates\" report that, not too long ago, exposed how we are allowing third-party companies to track us using our data. Now we face a situation where that data is not even illegal to collect and sell. I do not disagree with the Government that we have huge issues with the enforcement of these regulations. What I disagree with is walking away from those regulations and seeking to get rid of them instead of properly enforcing them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Darren O'Rourke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Darren-O'Rourke.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Darren O'Rourke  This move cannot be stripped away from the wider context around AI and the conversations happening internationally about how the European Union is a difficult place to do business, how America needs to be the home of it and where Britain stands post Brexit. The real risk is that protections are hollowed out because Elon Musk and the huge tech companies will have their way. They have very willing allies in the White House. That is something against which we must caution.  As a measure of the Government's assessment of this proposal, has the Minister of State's Department conducted an internal assessment of the potential impact on citizens' ability to exercise their GDPR rights arising from the proposed redefinition of personal data? That would be one indicator. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  I will not be baited by the needless false comparison from Deputy Gibney in somehow bringing the triple lock and neutrality into this really serious debate. She asked who the stakeholders are before, without any evidence, telling me they are just businesses. In fact, stakeholders include civil society, work organisations, the trade union movement and citizens as a whole. There is a clearly enshrined EU consultative process. This is a really serious issue and I accept the bona fides of both Deputies in raising concerns. I do not dismiss their concerns for an instant. I may disagree with some of their points, which is allowed in this House, but I do not need to start making false assertions.  Deputy O'Rourke makes a very fair point in terms of what assessments are being carried out on an internal basis. Each assessment is done, depending on the policy area, by the relevant line Department. Regarding the initial assessment in relation to GDPR and citizens' rights, overall assessments, although not necessarily as specific as the Deputy outlined, are carried out by each Department, including the Department of justice, which is the relevant one. It is our responsibility in the Department of foreign affairs to co-ordinate those assessments and provide unified responses when we come to discuss this at a Council meeting or between officials at COREPER level. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"European Union"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/dbsect_26","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Foreign Conflicts","counts":{"speechCount":7,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/dbsect_21","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_26","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_26.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Question No. 66 in the name of Deputy S\u00e9amus McGrath will be asked by Deputy \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl  What is the Minister of State's assessment of the situation in Belarus, where the dictator Lukashenko is an ally and, indeed, puppet of the Putin regime? How does the Minister of State feel about the situation there at present? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  I propose to take Questions Nos. 66, 87 and 90 together.  It might not be wise for me to tell Deputy \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl how I feel about the situation in Belarus. Personal emotions might be slightly stronger than the Government position. Belarus continues to live under the shadow of repression. The Government remains extremely concerned at the ongoing erosion of human rights and democracy there and Belarus's ongoing support for and complicity in Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine. The Lukashenko regime's repression of human rights and restrictions on political participation and access to independent media are intended to stifle opposition voices and shore up its own authority. Former political prisoners, including Siarhei Tsikhanouski and Ales Bialiatski, have given harrowing accounts of prolonged isolation, psychological pressure and other inhumane treatment suffered in Belarusian prisons.  I share their grave concerns about the treatment of the more than 1,150 political prisoners. Shockingly, since May 2021, at least eight political prisoners have died in the regime\u2019s captivity. Deputy \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl can correct me if I am wrong. I am one of a number of Members from the last D\u00e1il who adopted Belarusian prisoners as godchildren, be they godsons or daughters, based on a campaign. I am delighted that my Belarusian political goddaughter was released from prison. She simply had the crime of having a cigarette in the wrong place at the wrong time and being a young student. I welcome, therefore, efforts by the United States to achieve the release of all political prisoners of the regime in Belarus, which most recently secured the release of 123 political prisoners in December last. While the regime has released political prisoners in recent months, it has exiled many of them, separating them from their families and their homeland. It has also placed many more people in prison for their political views. I reiterate Ireland's long-standing position that all political prisoners must be released and the regime must end its repression against the Belarusian people.  Ireland\u2019s response to the situation in Belarus has focused on working bilaterally, and at EU and multilateral levels, to support civil society and the democratic movement in exile and to highlight concerns regarding the Lukashenko regime's violations of human rights. At the same time, we seek to assure the people of Belarus of our continued commitment to their well-being, human rights and legitimate aspiration to a prosperous future in a democratic Belarus. In 2025, my Department provided funding to the Viasna human rights centre founded by Nobel Peace Prize winner Ales Bialiatski, and to the international humanitarian fund for the victims of repressions in Belarus to offer support to current and former political prisoners. In recent years, my Department has also provided funding to several other Belarusian civil society projects, including in support of independent media, through grants provided by the European Endowment for Democracy. Our connection with Belarus and its people is reinforced by the compassion and empathy of Irish families who welcomed Belarusian children and young people into their homes and lives, creating permanent bonds in the aftermath of the Chernobyl disaster almost 40 years ago. Belarusian democratic leader, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, was one of those young people. I am aware of the close ties of friendship that she holds for Ireland from her childhood stays in our country. I know I am one of a number of people in this House who has met her, as have other Ministers and the T\u00e1naiste, who have also met her husband who was released just last summer from detention in Belarus after spending five years as a political prisoner. There is also ongoing contact between officials in my Department and representatives of the Belarus democratic movement.  Ireland continues to support strong co-ordinated EU sanctions and other measures, including action at the OSCE and at the UN, to hold Belarus accountable for its violations of human rights and the rule of law, and its complicity in Russia\u2019s ongoing war of aggression in Ukraine. Ireland has very limited engagement with the Belarusian Government. A Belarusian diplomat is accredited to Ireland to perform consular functions on a non-resident basis and an Irish diplomat is accredited to Belarus on a similar basis. My Department\u2019s current travel advisory for Belarus is simply not to go there. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl  I compliment the Minister of State on the positive and comprehensive response. I note that on 13 December Belarusian authorities released 123 prisoners following negotiations by the US Administration, which had agreed to lift a sanction on Belarusian potash. The majority of prisoners were sent to Ukraine, and a group of nine sent to Lithuania. Most of those released had been prosecuted and imprisoned for the peaceful exercise of their human rights. One of those released, Maria Kalesnikava, has since given an interview with the Financial Times in which she called for EU engagement with Belarus on the basis that the lack of it only serves to drive Belarus closer to Russia. Another of the released prisoners, Ales Bialiatski, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022, has also called on the EU to enter talks with President Lukashenko. I know the Government and Europe would be walking a tightrope on this particular matter but this suggestion has been made by two influential people who are intimately involved in the situation in Belarus and are advocating greater EU engagement. How does the Minister of State respond to that and what are his thoughts on how Ireland and the EU together might proceed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  It is a very serious proposition by the Deputy that needs to be dealt with quite delicately. In December of last year, the EU widened the scope of sanctions against Belarus in response to hybrid activities affecting EU member states. That decision was not taken lightly. While, of course, we welcome the release of political prisoners by Belarus and we are very grateful to the role of the US Administration, we have yet to see evidence of a change of policy in Belarus. In addition to its violations of human rights and the rule of law, and its absolute complicity in Russia's ongoing illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the regime's hybrid activity directed towards the EU continues to increase in scale. We have strongly condemned the large-scale incursions into Lithuanian airspace from Belarus. We will continue to work closely with EU partners to examine options for further actions to respond to Belarus's persistent and provocative hybrid activities. That means engaging directly with the regime is extremely difficult. I say that quite frankly. I take with great sincerity the interventions by the released political prisoners. We engage with those former prisoners as an Irish Government at a political and an official level as well as, crucially, at a European level. Some of our own European political affiliations and networks do so as well. We will take their views and their opinions into account but we also have to respond to the actuality and the hybrid incursions were actualities. It is a fact that Belarus is tied at the hip with Russia when it comes to the Russian atrocities in Ukraine. We have to bear all that into account and perhaps tread carefully when it comes to the suggestion or the request to engage directly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl  I agree with the Minister of State because it is a tightrope situation. I think most of us in this country would look to what was said by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who is a charismatic leader many of us in this House have met. She displayed tremendous courage in taking up the baton after her husband was arrested and has effectively been running a Belarusian Government in exile. She has said the European Union sanctions have a much stronger impact and must remain in place until long-term changes are achieved, including an end to the regime\u2019s involvement in the Ukraine war, the restoration of Belarus's sovereignty and its transformation into a democratic economy, which would appear to be a long way away. She said:  Without sanctions and international isolation, the Lukashenka regime would not have begun releasing political prisoners. It is not acting out of humanity \u2013 sanctions hurt, isolation hurts, and he understands that he has reached a dead end. That is why he is willing to hand over even his most dangerous opponents in exchange for relief. But lifting or substantially easing sanctions against the regime is dangerous, as it directly strengthens Russia: Belarus\u2019 economy works for Russia\u2019s war machine, Belarus is used as a route to circumvent sanctions, and its enterprises are involved in weapon production.  We know where the weapons are going. Does the Minister anticipate that the current level of EU sanctions will be maintained, or, indeed, possibly strengthened? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  In direct response to the Deputy's question, I do not envisage a lessening of sanctions any time soon. They were only just increased in December due to the hybrid incursions into Lithuanian airspace. I go back to his original point on how we get guided by the application of sanctions. Sanctions do work. Sanctions forced the Belarusians to release so many prisoners and the sheer prospect of them being weakened by the Americans provided that support. When we talk about Belarus, bearing in mind that we are, most likely, the EU member state located the furthest away geographically, the diplomat who services Belarus for us is accredited to our embassy in Vilnius. I think of the mindset and the interventions of my counterparts, particularly in the Baltic states and in Poland, who, on a daily basis not only face the very real undermining of their civil and political infrastructure by hybrid activities by Belarus but also the sheer impact of the complicity of Belarus in Russia's horrendous full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In many cases, I therefore defer to my Lithuanian colleague, a country which will assume the Presidency of the Council of the EU after Ireland as part of the trio system. We continue to engage with all our contacts both on a civic society basis within and outside Belarus as well as those from the political movement in exile. There is a clear demand to maintain the level of sanctions and be responsive to any more antagonism or protagonism from Belarus.  Let us be quite frank: Lukashenko is a dictator who has repressed his people since the collapse of the Soviet Union. He has done so willingly, aided and abetted by another dictator in the form of Vladimir Putin. They work in concert to repress their own people and undermine the very stability of the global world order that has kept Europe, until recently, in a level of peace that had not been seen before in history. Any sort of softening when it comes to the regime in Belarus is, by proxy, a softening when it comes to the regime in Russia. I am extremely heartened to see more political prisoners released. I am extremely heartened when they give us the honour to visit Ireland and to engage with us as a member of the EU, bearing in mind the human ties going back to the Chernobyl disaster. We all have to be very wary when it comes to Belarus and make sure that the sanctions are maintained at a level deemed necessary by us within the European Union as an entirety. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Foreign Conflicts"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/dbsect_27","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"Trade Agreements","counts":{"speechCount":13,"speakerCount":5},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/dbsect_21","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_27","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_27.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  The previous EU-Morocco trade deal was struck down by the European courts because it was found to violate the rights of the Sahrawi people. This new trade deal has entered provisional application, despite persistent concerns around the involvement of the Sahrawi people, and the lack of engagement with or tangible benefit for them. What is the Department's stance on the deal and its compliance with the ruling of the Courts of Justice of the European Union? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  I thank Deputy Gibney for raising this. If the Deputy does not mind, I acknowledge the work of Senator Alice-Mary Higgins in this regard. I have taken a Commencement matter for her in the Seanad and have had many engagements on what is a complex issue. It is good that we are discussing it.  On 4 October 2024, the Court of Justice of the European Union upheld an earlier ruling of the General Court annulling the Council decision on the conclusion of a 2018 agreement in the form of an exchange of letters between the European Union and the Kingdom of Morocco. The 2018 agreement sought to extend tariff preferences laid down in an EU-Morocco association agreement to products originating in Western Sahara. The court set a deadline of 4 October 2025, in that it maintained the effects of the Council decision until that date. The Commission thus worked to negotiate a new agreement between the EU and Morocco by that date. The EU and Morocco signed a new agreement on 3 October 2025, and its provisional application began. On 2 October 2025, Ireland voted in favour of the Council decision via written procedure, indicating that Ireland would not stand in the way of EU consensus and in order to ensure that the EU complied with its legal obligations. However, Ireland also registered procedural and substantive concerns about the Commission\u2019s handling of this process. Ireland made clear that we expect to receive regular updates from the Commission on key issues as the agreement is implemented.  The process towards adoption of a Council decision on the conclusion on behalf of the EU of the new agreement with Morocco has not yet reached its conclusion. The next step requires the consent of the European Parliament. Ireland has continued to follow up with the EU institutions with regard to an expected date for this next step. We have not yet received an update in that regard. Throughout the process, Ireland has made clear our view that the compatibility of the agreement with the fundamental principle in international law of the right of peoples to self-determination should be paramount in the implementation of this agreement. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  I thank the Minister of State. It is comforting to hear that there is activity on the part of the Government on this. The Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that the consent of the Sahrawi people had to be sought or that there had to be a tangible benefit for them. Instead of seeking their consent, the EU committed to provide tangible benefit to them and to a regular control mechanism to evaluate the benefit required for implicit consent. Can the Minister of State provide clarity on that control mechanism in the deal? What is Ireland doing? The Minister of State stated that we are seeking updates and so on, but I ask him to seek that clarity and ensure it is robust enough to uphold the rights of the Sahrawi people or guarantee them that tangible benefit in line with the ruling. It is incredible to me that we have a trade deal that has been in provisional application since October, yet there is no clarity on how it is better than the previous version of the deal, which the courts ruled against. I welcome Ireland registering those concerns. Morocco enjoys preferential tariffs while the Sahrawi people in Western Sahara continue to be dispossessed of their land and occupied. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  It must be made clear that Ireland maintains bilateral relations with the Kingdom of Morocco. We have an embassy there and a resident ambassador here, but we also maintain engagement with the opposition within Western Sahara. We do have that full engagement with all peoples, recognising that about 20% of Western Sahara is under the control of the self-determination movement. We tread a delicate line here, to be quite frank. I am not trying to be evasive or dismissive in any regard. The irony of having to uphold obligations under EU law and implementing something while there is still a full ratification process under way is not lost on me. The concerns that the Irish Government raised were multifaceted, but the pace with which this agreement was concluded was of major concern to us, and we raised that. There is a little bit of extra detail that I might supply the Deputy with in written form. I do not have it to hand at this moment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  I thank the Minister of State. I would like the Irish Government to champion a pathway for a referendum on self-determination, something which was promised after independence from France decades ago and never actioned. Instead, it seems like the world is keen to move on and ignore it if it means cheaper Moroccan imports and co-operation on migration policy. The Commission's proposals for delivering on tangible benefit as part of this deal include investment in Moroccan companies in Western Sahara, essentially financially incentivising continued occupation which features well-documented human rights abuses and surveillance of Sahrawis. Another aspect of their proposal is to deliver tangible benefit, as I mentioned, via humanitarian aid to Sahrawi refugee camps. I know the Minister of State agrees with me that humanitarian aid should not be used as a bargaining chip to trade away the rights of a struggling people. I am asking that this conviction be expressed by the Department on this specific trade deal. It is clear that this trade deal has serious flaws and has not complied with the ruling of the Courts of Justice. What are the Department and the Government going to do about it? I appreciate the Minister of State's stance on the delicacy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  I had another question on this, which probably will not be reached. I have to say a couple of things. First, the Irish Government has historically had a strong position in relation to this. I ask the Minister of State to maintain that and to maintain support for Sahrawi self-determination. On a minor note - it may not be minor in some respects - I do not agree with the framing of the SADR as \"the opposition\". That implies that it is the opposition within Morocco. It is recognised by some countries as the legitimate government of Western Sahara. I do not believe that it is recognised at this point by the Irish Government, but it is recognised as a government. It is the legitimate representative of the Sahrawi people. The current situation is not sustainable. There is nearly no other country in the world that I can think of where the majority of the population is in exile in refugee camps. That is the case currently. The majority of the Sahrawi people are in refugee camps in southern Algeria. It is important that there is a referendum. It was promised decades ago back in the early nineties. That needs to progress. Ireland should insist on that. We must ensure that the rights of the Sahrawi people are not discarded through this process of the trade deal. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl  I want to make a brief comment as co-ordinator of the Ireland-Morocco Parliamentary Friendship Group. In recent times, I have become increasingly aware that an ever-increasing number of countries have moved to a position where they see the solution to this intractable problem, which must be resolved, having regard to sovereignty and human rights. More and more countries, including many of our European colleagues, see the resolution to the problem resting in establishing Western Sahara's autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty. That seems to the be the proposal that is winning ever-increasing support. It is something that I raised with the Minister for foreign affairs here some weeks ago. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  I would encourage the Deputy not to. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  I appreciate the intervention - I am looking up to make sure I am not missing anyone - from all three Deputies. What I want to get through is real clarity. Ireland's position on Western Sahara has been, and continues to be, guided by the aim of achieving a just and lasting political solution that will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara, as to Deputy \u00d3 Laoghaire's point, and we make that point at every opportunity that we are given. Ireland's engagement on this issue will also continue to take account of the role of and the insights provided by the personal envoy of the UN Secretary General for Western Sahara, Staffan de Mistura. Officials in the Department continuously keep any relevant developments under review, including in the context of the EU and UN discussions. On 31 October, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution No. 2797, extending the mandate of the UN mission for the referendum in Western Sahara for one year. Ireland is considering the implications of the MINURSO mandate renewal following its adoption.  We maintain a full awareness of what is going on and the complexity it provides in EU negotiations and the changing shifts of other member state governments. Ireland has not changed its opinion. It has maintained it. That underlines all aspects of negotiations and discussions as laid out here today. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 68 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Question No. 69 is grouped with Questions Nos. 108, 121 and 125. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-\u00d3-Feargha\u00edl.S.2000-06-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n \u00d3 Feargha\u00edl  I am not on that one. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 69 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 70 taken with Question No. 65. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 71 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  We now move to Deputy \u00d3 Laoghaire and Question No. 72. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Donnchadh-\u00d3-Laoghaire.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Donnchadh \u00d3 Laoghaire  I probably just addressed it. I had not anticipated this question would come up. It is on the same matter so I have probably addressed the point. I am satisfied to pass on it. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Questions Nos. 72 to 76, inclusive, taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Question No. 78 taken with Written Answers. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Trade Agreements"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/dbsect_28","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"EU Presidency","counts":{"speechCount":6,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/dbsect_21","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_28","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_28.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  I had not prepared for this as such but I am keen to get the Minister of State's thoughts on it. It is about whether the Department will prioritise overseas aid and development as a key topic during the EU Presidency. I am sure this is a topic he will happily speak to for two minutes, particularly in the context of decreasing overseas development aid budgets across Europe and the impact those cuts are having on communities across the world. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  The Deputy and I occasionally disagree. We actually agree more times than we disagree but let us not let the people of Dublin Rathdown know that. I like to think one area we passionately agree on is Ireland's role when it comes to official development assistance and development. I am relishing Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the European Union putting development back at the centre of European discussions.  We are faced, quite frankly, with possibly the most destabilising and worrying approach to overseas development assistance since Irish Aid was created in 1974. It is not just the withdrawal of USAID's funding, which is massive, but the commitment by the British Government to withdraw from 0.5% to 0.3% is really destabilising. Last year, Ireland and Spain were the only two EU member states to increase their development budget. Credibly, Denmark maintained theirs and Norway, which is not an EU member state, also increased theirs. However, what I was confronted with at my first development Ministers' Foreign Affairs Council meeting was a real mix. Some member states said that for budgetary reasons, and a focus on defence and pension reform, they were cutting. Others, from a range of member states but traditionally member states who had been strong on this, gleefully relished that they were going to cut their development budgets in some sort of Trumpian act.  We have to make sure that all the development Ministers come to Ireland in early October and that we engage with Barry Andrews MEP, who is chair of the development committee in the European Parliament, to make sure, crucially, that the multi-annual financial framework, within its global Europe provision, does not cut development. We can increase spending in other areas. I have no problem with that and we will debate it in another forum but we have to make sure that Ireland is unified. There are voices in this Chamber, who are not here, who will tell us this is a waste of money. I visited eight of the 13 Irish Aid countries in the last year. I will go my ninth and tenth next week, and my eleventh for St. Patrick's Day, to show that we believe in development. It is an investment that works, not just for the people who receive that investment but, crucially, for people here in Ireland. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  I agree. It is great to hear that it will be a point of focus for the Minister of State in the second half of this year, when we have the opportunity during the Presidency of the European Union. As he referenced, which I also did in my question, this is obviously within the context of USAID being cut, for example. That is really just storing up problems. It is the definition of storing up problems to cut aid in the way we are seeing this happen across the globe.  I question the unconditional aid piece. One of the other issues we are having across Europe is the fact that it is not being given unconditionally. That is problematic. Does the Minister of State see a connection between this drop in aid and the increase in defence spending? There is a connection in potential member states. It is so important we continue to maintain an emphasis on peacekeeping and not shift to peacebuilding and peace enforcement, which is a threat and is linked to development aid. I would love to hear the Minister of State's thoughts on that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  Crucially, every challenge we face in Europe at the moment goes back to global instability. When the pillar of development is removed, the foundation stone of that global stability is removed. You are creating more problems for yourself on direct bilateral relations and allowing more malevolent actors fill the space of more benevolent actors.  The Deputy is quite right that certain member states are cutting development aid and saying they need to put it towards security and defence. I do not buy that argument for an instant. If you are serious about security, including energy, food, political and domestic security, and managing migration in supporting those who need to migrate as well as making sure countries can handle and meet the requirements they have, you have to invest in development. It is a complete misnomer and false argument to say we are taking money from development to put into security. By taking money from development, you are forcing yourself to put more money into security. It is why the Government has not only not cut our development budget but is committed to increasing our security budget. The two are absolutely interlinked. You cannot do one by cutting off the other. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  On defence without peacebuilding, you can end conflicts and ensure peace and human rights are championed, which builds the off-ramp for war-torn regions. This is concerning for me because earlier this week at the European affairs committee, I pressed Commissioner Serafin on this. It is clear to me that Europe is investing in war and military spending. All of the mechanisms that are available to member states and all the ways we are offering opportunities for development, employment and growth are around the military. There is a conflict there. I appreciate and am heartened by the Minister of State's comments, the connection he made between the two and how he will champion this during the Presidency. I look forward to seeing that work and co-operating with him on it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  Absolutely. As I said, I have no issue with European member states or the Union investing in security and defence. It is sensible, but I do not think you can make the argument that money can be taken from development and not expect to end up spending more on security and defence as a result. The Deputy mentioned early intervention and the source of the conditionality of aid. Something I am concerned about is the notion of tied aid. We do not believe in tied aid. We believe in development being the right thing to do and being an investment. It is an investment in people that will be paid off, not in our terms but perhaps on their terms. That is the empowerment of people, including making sure that women and girls have the same opportunities for human rights, dignity and education that we take for granted, but there is a regression on that.  I will make a particular reference to peacebuilding and the work of Irish Aid in Columbia and in the very fragile peace process in Liberia. That was a peace process that started with Irish peacekeepers and is going from strength to strength. The fact that people are willing to remove resources from that is just creating a recipe for potential disaster. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"EU Presidency"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/dbsect_29","debateType":"question","bill":null,"showAs":"EU Meetings","counts":{"speechCount":5,"speakerCount":3},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/dbsect_21","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_21","showAs":"Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_29","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/mul@\/dbsect_29.xml"},"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I will now go back to Question No. 77. Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa is here so we will take the question while we are waiting for other Deputies. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  The question relates to governmental engagements with the European Union and the European Commission. I was at the committee during the week when we met with Commissioners Hansen and Serafin. I will ask specifically about Mercosur. We can have an argument about how strong the Government was in its opposition to it but what the Commissioners said was that it is within the EU's gambit, if it wants, to allow for provisional application of Mercosur. We know the huge issues there are, particularly from the farming sector and beyond, about Brazilian beef and other issues. What will the Government do from the point of view of ensuring there is not provisional application? We await the outworkings of the Court of Justice. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  I will address the generality of the Deputy's point and then get to the specifics.  Ireland's engagement with the European Union is comprehensive and deep, reflecting our commitment to the European project. Since the Minister, Deputy McEntee, assumed office in November, she has participated actively in all three formal Foreign Affairs Council meetings that have taken place, including most recently in Brussels. These meetings are vital for co-ordinating our response to international challenges. The Minister also participated in the Foreign Affairs Council in trade format last November. The totality of Ireland's relationship is further evidenced by our consistent representation across all Council formations and our engagement at all levels with Commissioners here and abroad. Officials engaged in meetings with the relevant Directorates-General of the Commission to advance Ireland's interests in a wide range of areas, including development co-operation, trade and competitiveness.  Trade is the key part of the Deputy's question and his secondary point. Ireland's extensive engagement is not just tied to the fact we assume the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from 1 July. Ireland has very real concerns, however. We made our concerns clear not just over the last year but over the last five or seven years, since there was a Sinn F\u00e9in motion in this House in relation to Mercosur and its impact on the beef and poultry sectors and its very real environmental impacts.  We lobbied and negotiated with the Commission, which is the trade negotiating entity of the European Union throughout that process. Unfortunately, the deal it secured was not acceptable to Ireland, France, Austria or Poland. Belgium abstained and the Hungarians also opposed it.  We will continue to provide that level of engagement throughout the process, bearing in mind the European Parliament had an impactful vote two weeks ago, referring the deal. We made quite clear that we have very serious concerns about the trade deal in its current format and we are not in favour of its implementation or application. Hence we voted against it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  We do not have time to get into arguments about what the Irish Government could have done to oppose the Mercosur trade deal, which is a lot more. The fact is - we heard it from the commissioners recently - that the Commission can allow for the provisional application of the Mercosur deal, which would undermine democracy and the vote that already happened in the European Parliament. We need to ensure this does not happen. There are huge worries about Brazilian beef and poultry, that is not up to the same standard as European, and particularly Irish, farm produce. There is a particular issue in Bord Bia around this at the moment. What will the Government do to ensure there is no provisional application of the Mercosur trade agreement at this time? It would be utterly unacceptable to Irish farmers and the Irish people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Neale Richmond","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","memberCode":"Neale-Richmond.S.2016-04-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Neale Richmond  The Deputy's point is well made. He knows as well as I do the complexities of EU law and the right of the European Commission to negotiate a trade deal and of the European Council to give it the power to implement something in reflection of a vote passed by absolute majority or qualified majority voting, QMV, as was decided.  The Irish Government is clear that it does not back the Mercosur deal. We are against it. We voted against it. We lobbied against it for an intense period, building an alliance with many member states. We recognise the vote of the European Parliament and think there is absolute cause to pause everything relating to the Mercosur deal until that judgment is made. We will continue to work at a bilateral level with other EU member states, particularly those like-minded ones. Our Ministers have been in discussions. The Minister of State, Deputy Dillon, was at a European Council meeting in Larnaca this week alone. Other Ministers will continue to raise it at every opportunity, at Council level and bilateral level and, crucially, directly with commissioners and directors general in the European Commission. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Is f\u00e9idir teacht ar Cheisteanna Scr\u00edofa ar www.oireachtas.ie. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Written Answers are published on the Oireachtas website. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"EU Meetings"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/dbsect_30","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions","counts":{"speechCount":46,"speakerCount":8},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_30","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Is ioma\u00ed pobail at\u00e1 ag ullmh\u00fa do thuilte anois agus ar\u00eds uile ina dtithe agus ina gcomhlachta\u00ed. T\u00e1 imn\u00ed orthu ar fud an St\u00e1it agus t\u00e1 siad ag moth\u00fa tr\u00e9igthe. T\u00e1 s\u00e9 seo ag tarl\u00fa roimh s\u00faile an T\u00e1naiste agus n\u00ed rud nua \u00e9. Bh\u00ed s\u00e9 agus t\u00e1 s\u00e9 i gcro\u00edl\u00e1r an Rialtais le breis agus deich mbliana agus bh\u00ed s\u00e9 ina Aire \u00e9 f\u00e9in le linn eachtra\u00ed tuilte ar\u00eds agus ar\u00eds eile. Le linn na blianta sin, thug Rialtais ina raibh s\u00e9 ina bhall sinsireach d\u00f3ibh dearbhaithe ar\u00eds is ar\u00eds eile go mbeadh cosaint bhuan ar deireadh i gcoinne tuilte, ach n\u00edl s\u00e9 sin feicthe againn. Today, many communities are bracing themselves for repeat flooding of their homes and businesses. Homes have been destroyed and businesses have been wrecked. Families are once again clearing out the water and debris knowing this destruction was predictable and preventable. This is happening on the T\u00e1naiste's watch and it is not new. He has been at the heart of Governments for more than a decade now. He has been a Minister during repeated flooding events and, during those years, Governments of which he was a senior member repeatedly assured communities that permanent flood defences would finally be delivered.  After the floods of 2015 and 2016 when communities were devastated, he was the Minister of State with responsibility for flood defences. Yet years later, many of the same flood relief schemes identified, prioritised or advanced during that period remain incomplete, with a significant number still stuck at planning stage, or worse, at design stage, rather than being built. This is the reality behind his record of broken promises. This is not a failure of information; it is a failure of political follow through.  In 2018, the Government completed a nationwide flood risk assessment. It knows where the danger points are. Nearly every county has flood relief issues and communities have been lobbying for action ever since. Yet, the figures are stark. There are 94 flood relief schemes that are described as ongoing, 68 of which have not even reached planning stage and 54 of which are not in active consideration at all. Many of these schemes were identified or progressed during the very years when communities were being assured by the T\u00e1naiste that the Government was acting. Instead of accepting responsibility, the Government has blamed everyone but itself, the weather, local authorities, even Met \u00c9ireann has been thrown in for good measure. Met \u00c9ireann does not build flood defences. Local authorities do not decide on national capital priorities. The responsibility rests with the Government and the consequences of this are being felt by communities across the State in Aughrim, Arklow, Enniscorthy and Bunclody, where repeated flooding has damaged homes, businesses and vital infrastructure.  Years of cuts to local authority road budgets since 2008 by successive Governments of which the T\u00e1naiste was a member have left roads in a dreadful state. Flooding and heavy rain are now finishing them off, creating a serious road safety issue in counties like Wexford and Wicklow. Last week in Bunclody, a school bus was forced to abandon its route when the road beneath it collapsed and 53 families were affected. This damage was foreseeable. It was warned about and it was avoidable.  Given the T\u00e1naiste's record and the broken promises made during his years in government, what concrete action will he take now to ensure permanent flood relief is finally delivered? Will he set out clear decisions, timelines and funding commitments today for flood defences and emergency road repairs? Will these communities be asked to accept this and wait another ten years - another decade - and for another series of broken promises, clearing out their homes and businesses after every storm, while the Government recycles the same old promises, broken again and again? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  Hear, hear "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  First, as we are not talking about this weather situation, we are not looking back; we are talking about here and now. I am conscious as we discuss this in the House today that a status orange weather warning is currently in place for counties Dublin, Wicklow, Waterford and now also County Louth. Yellow warnings are in place for nine other counties as well. On top of that, the Road Safety Authority has issued advice in the last little while asking people, particularly in the orange warning areas, but more generally as well, to try to avoid driving in impacted areas if possible today and if they do have to drive to allow significantly more time. We continue to work on this on a constant basis and have done so for what has been a prolonged period. I know well some of the communities that have been flooded, including communities in my county. The Government will do all we can to assist.  We have already taken practical action in the here and now. The Minister, Deputy Peter Burke, opened a scheme for businesses to be able to get assistance and we took a decision this week to significantly increase the amount of financial assistance people can avail of, up to \u20ac100,000. There were 14 applications for that scheme when I last checked this morning. We opened the emergency assistance scheme for homeowners who have been affected and more than 100 claims have now been processed through it. Community welfare officers are on the ground helping people to avail of it and get assistance as quickly as they can.  I have had a number of engagements in government this week. I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, who is present in the House, for the huge amount of hard work he is putting in on the ground. He made the point to us which is worth amplifying that while a number of communities need large scale flood relief schemes - I will get to that in a moment - we cannot have a situation where there is a kind of impasse until those large scale schemes are delivered. We have to look at what can be done in the here and now. The Minister of State, Deputy Moran, made the point to me, that in such areas as Portrane, Clontarf and Listowel relatively minor works have made a real and meaningful difference. The Government's focus in the days ahead will be to work intensively with local authorities to identify what more can be done in the here and how, like AquaDams, pumps, embankments and minor works, alongside advancing the major flood relief schemes.  It is not a question of blaming anyone. Met \u00c9ireann does an absolutely excellent job. There is no doubt about that, but there is a legitimate question to be asked about how we can modernise our warning systems even further. I hope the Deputy agrees with that. It should not be a partisan issue. A yellow rain warning can mean one thing if the river levels are low. It can mean a very different thing if the river levels are high. The county by county warning system can sometimes be misleading. The rain and wind do not neatly abide by county boundaries.  There is a legitimate conversation to have about what more information we can put into the public domain, listening to the experts, scientists and local authorities. That is what we intend to do. More broadly, a lot of progress has been made on flood relief. There is \u20ac1.3 billion in funding in the national development plan to deliver major flood relief schemes. The OPW has already completed 56 flood relief schemes, protecting 13,000 properties and avoiding estimated damage of around \u20ac2 billion. We have seen 900 projects already funded and approved through the OPW's so-called minor works schemes. Ten schemes are under construction nationwide, including in Athlone, Crossmolina, Glashaboy, King's Island, the Morell River, Morrison's Island, the Poddle River, the River Wad, Templemore and Whitechurch.  We will need, and I hope we will, have cross-party support on this. As well as doing the interim works I have mentioned, we will need to look at how we can assess this as critical infrastructure alongside a number of other areas. The Government intends to bring forward a critical infrastructure Bill. It is working around the clock on this with State agencies. I thank the people on the front line for the work they are doing in this extraordinarily challenging situation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Let us park the weather forecast to one side because that is not our responsibility. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  That is a disgraceful comment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  RT\u00c9 does a fine job with that. Let us deal with what we are responsible for. The T\u00e1naiste has been a Minister through flood after flood. What did the T\u00e1naiste say, sorry? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  That is a disgraceful comment. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Let us look at what the T\u00e1naiste is responsible for. He has been a Minister in Cabinet, indeed even Taoiseach, during flood after flood. Each time, communities were told that action would follow. He talks about the new buzzword \"the here and now\". I am talking about what has happened in the last ten years, because people were promised that there would be action from the Government. Does the T\u00e1naiste know how many schemes have been delivered since he made the promise in 2016? It is not 56; that number goes back to 1997. Did he know that? That is 30 years ago. Since the T\u00e1naiste became a Minister, promising people that his Government would take action, only 17 major schemes have been completed. One hundred and forty-eight schemes have been identified. These are areas that are prone to flooding, identified by a specialised report, and none of those 148 have been completed. Some are not even in design stage yet. That is not the here and now. That is ten years on. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I thank the Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  What is going to be different this time? Please do not recite the weather again. What is the Government going to do differently this time to fulfil the promises that it made to communities ten years ago that have seen repeated flooding and families having to clean out debris, their houses and their businesses, with no action from Government on the horizon? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I hope I will get the same latitude. Deputy Doherty just cannot help himself. Flood warnings are in place in Northern Ireland. If, God forbid, anywhere floods in Northern Ireland, I am not going to blame Michelle O'Neill, because this is not about party politics or partisan politics. This is about acting. If the Deputy wants to say that me doing my job, coming into this House and amplifying, as we have been asked----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I want you to build the flood reliefs. Build the flood reliefs. That is your job. Do you want to tell the families to get the sandbags ready? Protect the communities. You have had ten years to do it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Leave the bully boy antics out of the Chamber today and just for once take off the party jersey. If you are suggesting that amplifying, as we have been asked to do by the RSA, the fact that people should be careful on the roads today and avoid driving----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  Stop, stop "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  If you are suggesting that the glib weather forecast----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Answer the question. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  People are watching this today and it is extremely important to get the facts out. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Please answer your broken promises. Diversion tactics. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I do not care about engaging with Deputy Doherty but the people who are----- "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  The T\u00e1naiste, please. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Please, Deputy. Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Leas-Cheann Comhairle. A bit of decorum would be great. People are looking at this today and want to know what is going to happen, and I want to tell them. There will be an increased focus on allowing local authorities to fast-track more works that can be done in the here and now. There are already examples, with 900 that have been delivered. Flood relief schemes have been classified as critical infrastructure. There is an overhaul of the flood warning schemes and help for people, including business assistance and humanitarian assistance. I also hope----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Is the T\u00e1naiste embarrassed? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  -----the party that are climate deniers will come back and have a discussion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Seventeen schemes in ten years. Is he embarrassed? He should be. He has abandoned those communities over and over again. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Cummins  They are not listening. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Today is not a day for party politics but, unfortunately for Deputy Doherty, he just cannot reach deeper, even on a day like today. Shame on you, Pearse. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  Shame on you. You have left your own communities abandoned. Seventeen schemes in ten years, or do you want to go back 30 years? You should be embarrassed. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"(Interruptions)."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputies, please. Every Thursday morning----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  Twenty years----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  Deputy Gould. Every Thursday morning is turning into a bad exchange between the T\u00e1naiste and Deputy Doherty. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  It is what----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  No, it is between both of you "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Thomas Gould","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Thomas-Gould.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Thomas Gould  He who is without sin "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John McGuinness","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","memberCode":"John-McGuinness.D.1997-06-26","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Leas-Cheann Comhairle  I appeal to Members around the House to please observe a bit of decorum and respect. Make your point, by all means, and be as robust as you wish, but recognise the time that has been given and that people are listening and suffering because of the floods, so they need to get information as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  \"Who will care for our daughter when we are no longer able to do so? Nobody is able to answer that question.\" These are the words of Tony Murray, a 71-year-old man from Dublin who is at his wits' end looking for answers. Tony and his wife Susan are full-time carers for their 42-year-old daughter, Aoife, who has an intellectual disability. They are just one of the thousands of families where elderly parents are working as full-time carers well into their 70s, 80s and even 90s. Adults with intellectual disabilities deserve to live with dignity, security and independence but, as Tony said on Newstalk yesterday, there is no plan to even have a plan for housing adults with intellectual disabilities. There is no thought-out system in place in the devastating circumstance of parents passing away. Instead, what takes place is a haphazard series of events that can be incredibly traumatic for the person who is taken into care.  Tony described how he feels the State is waiting for him to die. Only then might there be an emergency placement for his daughter. Aoife will be taken from her home and brought to a not-for-profit care home that could be anywhere in the country. Over a period of a few weeks, Aoife will have lost her parent, her primary carer, her home, her friends and any semblance of the life she once knew. This is why Tony has started the campaign Before We Die to fight for appropriate housing for adults with intellectual disabilities. It is shocking that such a group needs to exist in a country with the resources at the Government's disposal. These families have already spent their life battling at every corner for therapies, school places and respite services. Nothing is straightforward and everything must be fought for. Now, the very act of planning for a future when they will not be around is met with a brick wall put up by the State. There is no plan and no system. Their cherished son or daughter will have their life upended.  Why are parents in their 70s, 80s and even 90s being left to worry about what happens to their loved ones when they die? Why is there no plan? Why is there no transition to appropriate accommodation for adults with intellectual disabilities? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy O'Callaghan for raising this important issue. I thank Tony for his advocacy in relation to his daughter, Aoife, and for speaking up for all the other mums and dads. This is an issue I have come across in my own constituency when I knock on a hall door and meet somebody behind it who, not to age people, is perhaps in his or her 70s or 80s. Deputy Whitmore meets these people in Wicklow too. They have been doing their best. In some cases, the family are working well, but are of course worried about what will happen to their loved one if and indeed when they pass on. It is a real issue. I am familiar with the work of the group Before We Die. I have been following some of its advocacy, particularly in recent weeks. I happened to have a conversation with the Minister of State, Deputy Higgins, on this earlier this week. She will meet this group next week, I think on Wednesday, about its specific campaign. When we raise these issues, Government members generally read through statistics and talk about progress we see, and Opposition members talk about areas in which they do not believe we have seen enough progress. I want to be clear that we have not made enough progress in this area. The issue is legitimate and real. It is one reason why we have increased the budget for disability services by 20% this year, so there is an extra \u20ac618 million.  Of that, \u20ac40 million is going to provide new residential places. I think there is a commitment to at least 152 new residential places. It will require a conversation that is deeper than just the number of residential places because not all people are the same, not all people with a disability are the same and not all needs are the same. The Minister of State, Deputy Higgins, is very committed to working with this group but also more broadly, under the national disability strategy, in terms of how we get this plan in place. The Deputy used the word \"transition\" in the context of transition plans when a person with a disability wants to move from primary school to secondary school. At the other end of the life spectrum, there is the need for that level of transition planning and much earlier conversation. At a high level, we are increasing the disability budget significantly. We now see 8,911 residential places provided for people with disabilities between the HSE and 90 service providers. We have provided significant additional funding this year for more places. That is important and welcome. Between 2020 and 2025, we created 955 new priority one residential places. Is it enough? The answer is \"No\". Is there complexity beyond the number of places in terms of having a person-centred approach? There is and we look forward as a Government to engaging with this group through the Minister of State next week. I will also ask that she might engage with the relevant Oireachtas committee about how we develop a way forward on this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cian O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cian-O'Callaghan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cian O'Callaghan  I thank the T\u00e1naiste for his response. The disability capacity review in 2021 identified a very urgent need to substantially increase the amount of appropriate housing for adults with intellectual disabilities. What precisely has been done on foot of that review in 2021? The State is literally waiting for the advocates for people with intellectual disabilities to die before anything happens so not only do they lose their parent, carer and person who is looking after them, they also lose the person who has been advocating for them. This is completely and utterly wrong. When will transition planning be put in place? It is welcome that the Minister of State will meet with the group but the T\u00e1naiste cannot stand over, and to be fair, he has not stood over, the current situation. When will the Government act decisively so the State no longer just waits for parents, carers and advocates for people with intellectual disabilities to die before any arrangements are put in place? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  It is a fair question. I understand why the Deputy says what he says and why parents can feel like that. Certainly the State is not waiting for that to happen but we need to avoid that emergency and cliff-edge moment where the conversation the State has with the person with a disability only happens at a moment of crisis, personal trauma and loss. That is what we need to get much better at. The Deputy asked about what we have done regarding the disability capacity review. We have genuinely tried to ramp up significantly the investment in disability services, both capital and current. I can point to additional places.  I do think, and I say this humbly because I do not profess to speak for parents or people with disabilities about this, that there are probably mixed needs in terms of services. Some people are living in a family home and may have other family relatives. Other people manage to live reasonably independently in that home and they may need a level of in-reach support. Some people may require a residential place. It involves pulling all that together. Between the Minister and Minister of State using the structure of the national disability strategy, it is our intention to bring that forward. The Minister of State has a meeting next week. In fairness to the seriousness of the issue, I will then come back to the Deputy in writing in terms of the next steps. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  After the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, the Minister for Transport announced an important measure to ban scrambler bikes in the wake of the tragic death of Grace Lynch. That measure is vitally needed and must come with greater enforcement. From media reports, I understand a second proposal was withdrawn at or before the meeting that would have made helmets and high-vis jackets mandatory for people using e-scooters, e-bikes and ordinary pushbikes. An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na would be empowered to fine those without a helmet making this a criminal matter.  No EU country makes helmets mandatory for cyclists on a push bike because they know that to criminalise the users of ordinary bikes in this way makes no sense. It would overnight row back the significant progress made over the past ten years in the uptake of cycling. How would Dublinbikes or Bleeper work if a helmet is mandatory? The ability of a bike to facilitate a simple daily activity is suddenly constrained if merely cycling your bike is criminalised. Of course, helmets are an important part of how cyclists can protect themselves but criminalising the absence of a helmet is basically saying that we are going to reduce cycling deaths and injuries by reducing cycling itself. Yesterday at a meeting of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport, we heard from cycling organisations about the measures they want to see implemented to make them safer so we do not see 14 cyclists die on our roads this year like we did last year. We heard their' frustration at the Government's U-turn on a decision that was made by the previous Government to split the Road Safety Authority to allow it to focus on its safety mandate and they voiced real anger at the Government's decision to delay the introduction of life-saving 30 km\/h zones in built-up areas. Here are actual policy proposals, evidence-based, that will make journeys safer for all vulnerable road users, including cyclists, yet the proposal the Government seems to be prioritising is one that puts all the responsibility back on the cyclist, and not on the dangerous road environment we have to negotiate and the big cars that knock us down.  IrishCycle.com reports that the T\u00e1naiste is one of the main people pushing mandatory helmets for cyclists on a push bike. I do not know if that is true. Is it true? Is he aware that mandatory helmets for cyclists is seen as the primary barrier to new people taking up cycling in jurisdictions like Australia where it is in place? Why has the Government chosen to push this unevidenced measure when there are so many other steps it could take to make our roads safer for those of us on a bike and for everyone else? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I get blamed for everything sometimes but I am certainly not behind that proposal nor is there one. I thank the Deputy for raising the issue because road safety is an extraordinarily important issue. Our road safety statistics in this country are going in the wrong direction. We all think of Grace Lynch. We are pleased and proud in this House that the new regulation on scramblers will be named in her name, in her honour and in her memory. I think of her family this morning. The action we have taken regarding scramblers is important, proportionate and clear. Scramblers do not belong on public roads or in public spaces and there needs to be no ambiguity about that.  Most people agree that we need to do more regarding e-scooters, most particularly in relation to our children. Somebody under the age of 16 is already not permitted to be on an e-scooter. However, talking to doctors, as we all do, they say that e-scooter accidents are the number one cause of induced brain trauma in children in Ireland. It is horrifying. Yes, it is illegal but when I talk to garda\u00ed, the current structure is a bit cumbersome. We need to make it easier for An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na to enforce the regulations and give garda\u00ed the power of seizure. I think they have to issue summonses at the moment, which is too complex. The Minister for Transport and the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, are coming back to Government on that.  As the Deputy very clearly said, we need a conversation about how different users share the road. We need to do a hell of a lot more about that and education on road safety more generally. Of course, wearing a helmet is an important and safe thing to do - we all agree about that - but there are no plans to change the law to make that mandatory. That would be a really bad use of Garda time and the immediate answer to everything does not have to be a new law.  I saw some reporting of the comments yesterday and found myself largely in agreement with many of the points being made by Cycling Ireland, which is why I was rather bemused by some of the reportage this morning but such is life. We can and should differentiate. The letter \"e\" is a bit of a giveaway. If something is motorised and electric and can do great speeds, that is one thing that needs to be looked at but with regard to traditional pushbikes, we should use education, engagement, enforcement of existing laws and continuing to make sure we invest in safe infrastructure. That is the Government position. The concerns articulated by Cycling Ireland reflect a broader evidence base on existing enforcement gaps. It makes the point about the risk of counterproductive regulation. At a time we are about simplification, I do not see the need for new legislation in this space. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  I welcome the T\u00e1naiste's confirmation that there are no proposals for mandatory helmets for cyclists using pushbikes.  This would have been hugely damaging to the transition we are seeing and the supports we are seeing for people taking up cycle. We agree on the point of the need to differentiate between pushbikes and the electronically powered vehicles. Some of those vehicles, particularly scooters, are a major driver of brain injuries and many of those are already illegal. Under 16s using them is already a crime. The souped-up scooters are already illegal. The enforcement of those laws is key.  Continuing in this spirit of agreement, I ask that the T\u00e1naiste looks closely at what was said at the transport committee meeting yesterday by his former colleague, Ciar\u00e1n Cannon. There is real anger about steps that the Government has taken in the past 12 months that are seen as directly damaging to road safety for all vulnerable users but particularly for cyclists. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I certainly will. I know Ciar\u00e1n Cannon well from his past posting in the House. I know him to be a very good and reasonable person and a good, evidence-based advocate. He was in this House and he is in his new role. If there was ever an issue that we should not be partisan on, and it is not in our discussion, it is road safety. We all want to see a reduction in deaths and injuries. I think we are all alarmed - I am certainly alarmed - at the dangers we see on our roads. There are more distractions than ever before in cars. Some distractions are illegal and should not be happening while others just seem to happen. The environment, in general, is more distracting. There are more road users and a greater volume of vehicles. There has also been an increasing in cycling, which is a good thing that we want to continue to support, but driver and cyclist education is also important.  I take the Deputy's point on e-scooters that there are laws and regulations there. I remain to be convinced that there is not more to be done on e-scooters. I just think there is. I am deeply concerned about this. The Deputy's comment on enforcement is definitely right. We also need to listen to An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na to make sure that what we put in place is enforceable and practical. This is an important point, but I am happy to have further engagement with Cycling Ireland on this, and the Government will continue to engage closely. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  Independent Ireland tabled a motion on Uisce \u00c9ireann two weeks ago. All we asked for was accountability and timelines. Nothing more and nothing unreasonable, yet the Government opposed it. It was shameful to oppose a motion that simply asked a semi-State body to answer to the people they are supposed to serve.  Uisce \u00c9ireann will receive \u20ac2.2 billion from the Exchequer in 2026 and a staggering \u20ac13.6 billion between 2025 and 2029. With that level of public funding, this Government cannot wash its hands of responsibility. It is accountable for how this organisation behaves, but for some reason, the Government seems afraid to hold Uisce \u00c9ireann to account at all.  Accountability is a small ask. Some communities have been waiting 28 years for a simple timeline on when their wastewater treatment plants will stop leaking into local drinking water and community playgrounds that were once meant for children. That is not politics. That is public health, public safety and basic respect for citizens.  Instead of demanding answers, this Government signed off on a \u20ac108,000 salary increase for the CEO of Uisce \u00c9ireann taking his earnings from \u20ac225,000 to \u20ac333,000. This was approved by the board last Friday and sanctioned by the Government before Christmas. Uisce \u00c9ireann claims it reflects the scale of complexity of the role and the leadership needed to manage a \u20ac12.2 billion budget. How can anyone talk about accountability when the organisation's track record tells a different story? Niall Gleeson has been in leadership since 2019 and the CEO since 2022. During this period, delivery has gone from boom to bust.  Before Irish Water took over, local authorities, even under massive pressure, always gave public representatives a timeline. Do you know what? That kept communities calm. What we get now is a copy and paste generic response that mocks the people who are already stretched beyond words. It is absolutely scandalous that a semi-State company's CEO is rewarded with \u20ac333,000 a year and the company cannot give a straight answer to the communities in crisis. Instead, we have wastewater plants leaking across this island, polluting local rivers and oceans and water mains that are constantly leaking. Uisce \u00c9ireann was hit with \u20ac20 million in fines last year for failing to meet leakage reduction targets, fines the taxpayer ultimately covers.  While this is happening, this Government's priority seems to be signing off on a pay rise and bonuses, not accountability. In this year's budget, many workers got no relief whatsoever. Households are stretched to breaking point during a cost-of-living crisis, yet somehow the Government approved a \u20ac108,000 wage increase for the CEO while hard-working people got nothing.  I am asking the T\u00e1naiste the same question the nation is asking. How in God's name did the Government think it was appropriate to approve this massive salary increase at a time Uisce \u00c9ireann is failing communities and ordinary workers are getting absolutely nothing? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I acknowledge that this is an issue that the Deputy has raised a lot in this House. It relates to Uisce \u00c9ireann, how it functions and, perhaps almost as importantly, how it answers to and engages with the Government, the Oireachtas and communities as well.  To be honest, I expect a bit better in relation to this too. I can assure the Deputy that it is not just an issue on his side of the House. On this side of the House, many of my colleagues point out the need for better community engagement and better engagement with public representatives. I spoke to the Minister for housing, Deputy Browne about this in recent days and to the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, who is due to meet Uisce \u00c9ireann shortly.  We need to have a conversation. I saw a debate in the D\u00e1il, I think it was last week, about how Uisce \u00c9ireann even answers to Oireachtas Members and that it is not included in parliamentary questions and the like. We need to look at getting a better information flow because, at the end of the day, we have to answer to our bosses, who are the people of Ireland and the people in our constituencies. We need that information and that regular and respectful engagement. The Government has an open mind on how to improve that flow of information in terms of accountability and the likes. We will engage on that with Irish Water as well.  I want to make a broader point. It is, of course, answerable to quite a number of bodies. There is extensive oversight and regulatory control of Uisce \u00c9ireann as well. It is commercially audited in accordance with the Companies Act. It is subject to an audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General. It is subject to the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies. It is accountable to Oireachtas committees, including the public accounts committee, which is always a body that focuses the mind. The Commission for the Regulation of Utilities is responsible for the independent economic regulation of Uisce \u00c9ireann and that ensures that it operates efficiently as well.  The Minister, Deputy Browne, has emphasised the importance of better and improved communication with elected representatives and with communities. He made that point when he met Uisce \u00c9ireann. He received assurances that it will be back to them with proposals on that. We want to see them urgently because this is an important issue in many communities right across our country.  To be balanced in our comments, I want to point to some significant successes we have seen since the establishment of Uisce \u00c9ireann. For the first time we have a single public water utility organisation. We have seen the investment in infrastructure grow from just \u20ac300 million in 2014 to \u20ac1.4 billion as part of the budget that we agreed in this House last year. We have also seen significant improvement in the provision of water services in many areas. Hundreds of water and wastewater treatment plants have been upgraded. Thousands of kilometres of new or rehabilitated water mains have been installed. The national leakage rate is still too high but has been reduced, and, overall, the quality of drinking water does remain very high as well.  One of the things I am most eager about is the developer-led infrastructure delivery. We had a frank conversation with Irish Water and I do not mind sharing it here. We have significantly increased the amount of taxpayer funding to that organisation. In return, we want to see developer-led infrastructure where relatively small-scale developers can deliver the infrastructure to an Irish Water standard, but they can deliver it. We also want to see an improvement in connection rates and a direct correlation between the extra investment we are giving to Uisce \u00c9ireann and the delivery of housing supply.  I take the Deputy's point about engagement and accountability and I will be back to him on it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  As the T\u00e1naiste said, answers and engagement from Uisce \u00c9ireann to Oireachtas Members is a non-goer. Any improvements there would be greatly welcomed because we are pulling the hair out of our heads to get responses for our communities. I do agree with the developer-led scheme he referred to because that is the only way we are going to deliver.  I do, however, believe that people deserve pay increases too. I am not standing on this side of the House saying absolutely not, but how can I explain how this Government sought to reward the CEO of Uisce \u00c9ireann with a rise of 47% when others on the breadline got nothing? How can I tell the people of Adrigole, who were forced to close their cr\u00e8che as they are two days without mains water and experienced 16 breaks since last June, that Uisce \u00c9ireann is looking after them or the people of Ballinascarthy and Shannonvale who went without water at Christmas or the people of Goleen, Ballydehob, Rosscarbery, Dunmanway and Shannonvale who are waiting decades for upgrades to their wastewater tanks? They never get any updates as to what is happening and when it is going to happen. How can I tell Councillor Noel Thomas in Galway that the new wastewater treatment plant in Connemara will deliver across to Carraroe, Costello, Tully and Ros an Mh\u00edl? I cannot as Uisce \u00c9ireann has become untouchable and non-contactable on its road to non-delivery, but shamefully this Government saw fit to give the CEO a 47% pay rise without a shred of accountability. It is little wonder that the Government refused Independent Ireland's motion on timelines and accountability.  Simply put, it stinks. It stinks to the high heavens. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  The only reason I am smiling is I thought it was a very good way of sticking in the name of the Deputy's by-election candidate. We will select our by-election candidate on 22 February for Galway West.  The point the Deputy made is a very serious one. I take his support for the developer-led infrastructure. It is important. It is particularly important in rural communities where even forgetting developers, local authorities and public representatives say to us they could deliver 15 homes here or 20 or 30 homes there. If that is added up across the country, it is quite a lot of homes but we need to have the ability to put in the water infrastructure. Yes, this was done badly in the past but that is not a reason to not go back and do it properly this time. We did not have an Irish Water in the past to oversee it but we do now. I expect progress on that by the end of this month and we are engaging closely on that.  In relation to Adrigole, which the Deputy referenced, I am told that a case for mains rehabilitation works is currently under consideration by Uisce \u00c9ireann. I ask that it would assess that quickly because I know this is causing a significant challenge for the Deputy's constituents as well. Ultimately, CEOs of all semi-State agencies need to be judged on the basis of their performance. We have resourced Uisce \u00c9ireann. It has a good leadership team, we have resourced it well and now it needs to get on with the job. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 Cheannair\u00ed - Leaders' Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/dbsect_31","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 na Comhalta\u00ed Eile - Other Members\u2019 Questions","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_31","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Grace Boland  Ireland's greatest asset is us. It is our people - our hard-working, skilled and educated women and men. For this country to continue to prosper, we must invest in us for the future, which means investing in our educational system. Fingal, as the T\u00e1naiste knows, is rapidly growing. It is the youngest area in the State. We are delivering homes in Rush, Lusk, Skerries and Balbriggan but this housing delivery has to be matched by delivery of appropriate school places in safe, warm and modern buildings. Schools are at the heart of our communities. They are where our children learn, families connect local life is built. When school infrastructure falls behind, entire communities are also left behind.  I want to raise two capital projects that are very close to my heart for the communities of Skerries and Rush. I am determined to see both of those projects delivered. The first is in Skerries, my home town. Skerries is its own town planning area with six feeder primary schools. At primary level, there are currently four special classes, with two more under construction. However, there are no special classes at post-primary level in the only second secondary school in the town, my old school, Skerries Community College. Families are being forced to travel long distances outside their communities to access appropriate places but too many others are facing the prospect of having no suitable school places for September 2026. That is simply not acceptable. That undermines inclusion, places a huge strain on families and weakens community life. Urgently delivering dedicated special education provision at post-primary level in Skerries is a necessity.  Second, the population of Rush has grown by over 60% in the past 20 years. It continues to rapidly expand. The building project for a combined campus for two excellent schools, St. Joseph's Secondary School and Gaelscoil Ros Eo, is now approaching submission to the Department for approval to tender. Once that application is lodged, the community needs a very swift and positive response from the Department. This urgent action is not only needed for the students and parents but for the principals, the school faculties and the support staff who are working in appalling conditions. Both schools regularly flood, leading to damp rooms and teachers mopping them out for hours before children arrive at the campus. Gaelscoil Ros Eo is in prefabs in the car park of a Gaelic club for nearly two decades so this campus project is critical, not least for the community but also to deliver more homes in Rush. There is a planning application for 48 homes on the site of the secondary school, which cannot progress until the school is built.  Could the T\u00e1naiste please give me an update as to the status of both these projects, and a commitment to work with me and the Ministers for education and public expenditure to make sure these projects are urgently delivered? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue with me in relation to Skerries and Rush. It is not the first time she has raised it with me and I acknowledge that she represents and is from a community that is in the fastest growing area of the country with one of the youngest populations. She makes this point as we make progress on housing, and I am pleased to see we are making progress on housing. There has been a 20% increase in the number of homes built last year compared to the previous year. We have to make sure the infrastructure goes with it and we will never regret investing in education. That is why the Minister for education, Deputy Hildegarde Naughton, last week published her Department's \u20ac7.55 billion national development plan, NDP, sectoral investment plan. I want people to know that this is just the first tranche. There is lots of capital to spend in this country, thankfully, and we will deploy that capital as projects occur and get ready. Over the course of 2026 and 2027, there will actually be construction work at approximately 10% of the overall school estate. I say that to give people some context.  On the specific projects the Deputy mentioned, the first related to Skerries Community College. I understand the building project for this school has been devolved for delivery to the Dublin and D\u00fan Laoghaire Education and Training Board, ETB, under a service level agreement. There were significant technical challenges in the delivery of the project on the current site and given the complexity of the challenges on the site, the Department is engaging with the ETB as patron of Skerries Community College to advance the provision of the required accommodation at the school, including, very importantly, the issue the Deputy mentioned regarding the facilitation of special educational classes. I am advised that the ETB has received agreement to progress a project for Skerries Community College under the Department's modular accommodation framework. This will address the immediate - it is only the immediate, I know - accommodation requirements for the school community. It will facilitate the delivery of additional accommodation in respect of four special classes, four general classrooms, a multimedia room and ancillary accommodation.  St. Joseph's Secondary School and Gaelscoil Ros Eo is a shared education campus project in Rush. I understand that the project has been devolved to Catholic Education, an Irish Schools Trust, CEIST, the patron body. The brief for the secondary school includes the provision of a 1,000-pupil post-primary school building, four special classes and other ancillary accommodation. The brief for Gaelscoil Ros Eo will be the delivery of a 16-classroom primary school with one special education base and other ancillary accommodation. This project is currently at stage 2B post the planning and architectural design processes. This allows for detailed design and planning, obtaining necessary statutory permissions and preparation of tender documents. The Department is currently awaiting the submission of the stage 2B report, which the Deputy tells me is imminent and which CEIST has advised it is currently finalising.  I will work with the Deputy, as will the Minister for education, on both of these projects. She mentioned a third one to me the other day, Rush National School, which a revised planning application is now required for. The Minister will sit down with the Deputy on these shortly but I want people to know - people in her constituency and more broadly - that the educational capital plan is tranche 1. We have plenty more to come in the time ahead and we will work to progress St. Joseph's Secondary School, Gaelscoil Ros Eo and Skerries Community College. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Grace Boland  I thank the T\u00e1naiste. I appreciate his really constructive engagement. I know delivering schools is as important to him as it is to me. I thank him for also mentioning Rush National School, which is something I have raised with the Minister for Education and Youth. I will continue to raise it with her and the T\u00e1naiste.  I look forward to welcoming the T\u00e1naiste in the coming years to the opening of both of these school projects. As he will be aware, I will continue to raise these repeatedly with him until I see the shovels in the ground. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  Of that I have absolutely no doubt, knowing the Deputy well. Please do because this is what we need to do. We have to invest in housing but also in communities like hers. My own is not that dissimilar, where there is an increased volume of development and a growing young population. We need to make sure that we put that social and educational infrastructure in place as well. I get the acuity of this and the pressure that schools and parents are under too. Tranche 1 of the capital plan last week was a really important step. We have got to start somewhere. It gets a lot of school projects moving but I also know other schools are saying, \"Hang on, we want to move too\". My message to them is that we will keep working with them and constructively engaging, and there will be more projects moved in the time ahead. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna \u00f3 na Comhalta\u00ed Eile - Other Members\u2019 Questions"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/dbsect_32","debateType":"questions","bill":null,"showAs":"Ceisteanna ar Pholasa\u00ed n\u00f3 ar Reachta\u00edocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation","counts":{"speechCount":33,"speakerCount":17},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_32","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tom Brabazon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Clendennen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  The new contract about to be signed by the Government for public service obligation, PSO, flights from Donegal to Dublin will mean a loss of afternoon flights. This is a public service obligation; it is supposed to serve the public but it is not. We know the people of Donegal are rightly outraged at the new proposed contract. Flights from Donegal to Dublin in at 8.30 p.m. and coming back from Dublin at 6.30 a.m is ludicrous. Nobody is demanding that. It will not work and there will be ghost flights. This is a \u20ac17 million contract. The midday service has worked for decades. It is why nearly 10,000 people have signed a petition in 48 hours. This is being led by a charity that provides support for over 500 people who depend on this flight to get their treatment in Dublin because we live a nine-hour return journey away by road. I have spoken to many of the patients myself. If it was not for this flight, they would not be able to avail of their cancer treatment.  They cannot even book flights after the 26th of this month because there is no contract in place. This route is not a luxury; it is a lifeline. This is a Government contract. It is a public service obligation. It has to serve the public and not the airline. I am asking the T\u00e1naiste to commit that the Government will not enter into this contract until the midday service is secure. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Simon Harris  I thank Deputy Doherty for raising this issue. I am acutely aware of the deep concern felt by people who live in Donegal and particularly, as the Deputy rightly pointed out, patients and their families who depend on this air service to access specialist medical care, including cancer treatment. He has given us a sense of the depth of feeling with so many people having signed a petition in such a short time. I am clear that the route is not about convenience. It is about trying to manage illness with dignity and reducing the physical and emotional strain of the long journeys. I have briefly engaged with the Minister for Transport on this issue. I know it is currently operated on a PSO contract funded by the Exchequer which provides two daily return services. The Minister is continuing to monitor the operation and performance of the service in line with the terms of the existing PSO contract. However, on foot of the Deputy mentioning this I will ask the Minister, Deputy O\u2019Brien, to come back to him directly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ivana Bacik","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Ivana-Bacik.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ivana Bacik  Some years ago, working with Deputy Ged Nash, we steered the Competition (Amendment) Act 2017 into law to protect freelance actors, musicians and writers in bogus self-employment. These were people who should have been designated as employees. A recent Supreme Court decision clarified the test for determining employment status under the Taxes Consolidation Act. The Supreme Court ruled that Domino's Pizza delivery drivers were employees and not independent contractors. Responding to that recent decision, Revenue is updating its code of practice in determining employment status. The decision is welcome, particularly for workers exploited through the gig economy, but recently it has been brought to my attention that unforeseen consequences may follow for a small number of low-earning sole traders, such as journalists who need to contribute to multiple media outlets. There are concerns that a one-size-fits-all approach may not take into account the legitimate practices of genuine freelance contributors who are tax-compliant as sole traders. I am raising this with the T\u00e1naiste to see if it has been brought to his attention. I am happy to correspond with him further on it. I have engaged with the NUJ on it. There are concerns that a blanket ruling from Revenue might inadvertently have the impact of restricting a diversity of voices in our media. I stress that it is very welcome that we see the Supreme Court decision in the Karshan, or Domino\u2019s Pizza, case. For most people in a scenario where it is not clear, particularly in the gig economy, it is very welcome to see their employment status designated as that of an employee. However, there is concern about this unforeseen consequence, specifically in the media. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Simon Harris  I thank Deputy Bacik for raising this. Of course I am aware of it. I would appreciate further engagement with her on it. It will probably require longer engagement than we have here today. As she said, it arises from the Supreme Court judgment of October 2023 in the case of Revenue Commissioners v. Karshan (Midlands) t\/a Domino\u2019s Pizza Limited. There has been a period of time since then. It goes without saying that Revenue is independent of me, as it should be, in relation to how it applies tax law in Ireland. Obviously, it cannot ignore the Supreme Court judgment and I cannot interfere with its application of the judgment. However, I have heard directly from some of the sectors that have expressed concern about this. To be truthful, the immediate solution does not seem apparent but I am happy to have engagement on this. Revenue would make the point that it has engaged extensively, set out criteria and so on but I would welcome further engagement. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  This weekend the Social Democrats will hold our party conference in Cork, which is a city starved of Government investment. The people of Cork have been long promised light rail but not a single penny has been provided under the new transport plan. However, that is not the only broken promise. We have no BusConnects; no new dental school; no business school; no safe injection facility; no new homeless hub; and no new library. The most notorious example is the failure to build the Cork events centre. Ten years ago, in the dying days of a general election campaign, the T\u00e1naiste\u2019s former party leader and then Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, flanked by other Fine Gael and Labour Party Ministers, turned the sod on the project. It was a nice photo op but nothing more. The press release from the developer, BAM, said that a 6,000-capacity multi-purpose venue would be built within two years. A decade on, the only thing the people of Cork have been left with is a large derelict site in the city centre. It is nothing more than an eyesore with a new bridge to nowhere. Next week marks a decade since the sod was turned. To mark the tenth anniversary, I will host an event where the events centre should be. I would love to see the T\u00e1naiste there and I would love to hear what he has to say to the people of Cork about the Government\u2019s failure to deliver on these key infrastructure projects for our city. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Simon Harris  The Deputy mentioned the \"bridge to nowhere\". I remember Sarah Palin using that phrase. When Barack Obama rang Sarah Palin when she was chosen as a vice presidential candidate, he wished her luck but not too much. I wish the Deputy good luck with his party's conference this weekend in Cork. I would push back on the idea that we have not invested in Cork. There has been \u20ac400 million in URDF funding for Cork alone. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"P\u00e1draig Rice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"P\u00e1draig-Rice.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy P\u00e1draig Rice  It was not used. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Simon Harris  I have long made the point that we need to see a Cork city task force. When I was Taoiseach we set one up for Dublin and we are seeing the benefits of that. I think Cork should follow that lead. It is also a commitment in the programme for Government. I have raised it with the Lord Mayor of Cork and the Cork city chief executive. I am due to visit shortly. I will get the Deputy a specific update on the events centre in advance of his gathering, I hope. In fairness to the Taoiseach, I know he takes this issue very seriously. There was a requirement on the basis of legal advice to undertake certain actions but the Government remains committed to the Cork events centre. The Government remains very committed to Cork. I assure the Deputy that the Taoiseach remains very committed to Cork too. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  Saoirse and Darren are a couple in their 50s, both of whom are working. They have been renting for 15 years. They pay \u20ac2,000 a month in rent in a big residential development in Cherrywood. Incidentally, their rent may get hiked because of the Government\u2019s Bill. They have enough for a deposit and want to buy a home \u2013 a one- or two-bedroom home \u2013 but the banks will not look at them because they are in their 50s. What they need is genuinely affordable housing. The last bit of affordable housing in our area was 30 affordable homes in Shanganagh but there were 640 applicants and there are no more in the pipeline. Cherrywood\u2019s developers were given \u20ac13 million of LIHAF funding to build it. At the time, we were initially supposed to get 40% of the development in affordable housing in exchange for that funding. That did not happen. Then we were supposed to get 300 affordable homes. Now we are told that is not happening. In the place where this couple live - they are currently renting at \u20ac2,000 a month and cannot buy - we were supposed to get affordable housing which would actually give them an option. There is no sign of it despite the fact that the public put in \u20ac13 million precisely on the condition that there would be affordable housing, something that is now not happening. I want somebody to look into what I think is a scandal that leaves people like Saoirse and Darren high and dry. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Simon Harris  I thank Deputy Boyd Barrett for raising the need for more affordable homes and the concerns of Saoirse and Darren so that it is an option for them to purchase their own home which is something they want to do. We have included in the new housing plan that local authorities not only must have commitments to social housing and social housing action plans for their own county but must also now have affordable housing plans as well. I do not have the specifics in respect of Cherrywood with me but I will ask the Minister, Deputy Browne, to consider the issues the Deputy raised and revert to him directly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  This country has been washed out by flooding the length and breadth of Ireland. It was Wexford last week, Bantry a couple of months ago and Midleton over a year ago. It is scandalous that it can take a couple of decades to get flood defences to the point of being ready. It must be explained because it seems that no one has control. There is one thing we can do, however, and that is the cleaning of our rivers. I have advocated for this here for over a decade. In Wexford last week they were saying that the rivers are full of silt and the same thing was said in Midleton not so long ago. I have always said that if the bath is full of silt or sand, the water has only one way to make its way out, and that is over and down, and to wash out the house. Will any river cleaning programme be put in place? This is something I have requested for a long time. If it is going to happen, when will it happen? This is very serious. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Simon Harris  I thank the Deputy for raising this. He is right. In areas like his constituency in west Cork - Clonakilty, Skibbereen and Bandon - we have seen a number of flood relief schemes that have really helped. I know the people of Bantry are waiting and we are very eager to work with them on that. The point I am trying to make, and to be fair to the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, the point he is loudly making in Government and we agree with him, is that there is a need to look at what can be done in the interim and in the here and now. He has also identified the issue of river cleaning, as well as the issue of small trees in rivers and under bridges over rivers impeding the flow. The Deputy can expect the Minister of State to want to engage with Cork County Council in relation to this issue. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul McAuliffe  The national development plan is an important investment in the future in terms of infrastructure. Last week\u2019s sectoral announcement on education was welcomed in parts of my constituency. A new nine-classroom school extension has been approved for St. Canice\u2019s Girls National School. However, I must say there is a lot of confusion on the ground regarding the announcement.  Schools that would have been regarded as being at very advanced stages are wondering if they are still on the list. Are they still being funded? Where are they? I want to raise some specific schools and the T\u00e1naiste might want to come back to me in writing on them. There is a general point about us providing more clarity to school principals and boards of management. St. Aidan's CBS in Whitehall and Gaelscoil U\u00ed Earc\u00e1in are both at advanced stages. If they need funding to be drawn down, they are wondering whether it will be available. The Department of education site on the Swords Road will include four schools, the largest development the Department of education will ever undertake. It will be Gaelscoil \u00c1ine, Ellenfield Community College, An Cos\u00e1n Community Special School and Clonturk Community College. It is part of the ADAPT 4 programme. It is not on the list but surely given amount of work that has gone into it, it will be funded. I would like more clarity on those. General communication to other schools is also needed. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  The Deputy's broad point is right. Without being flippant, when it comes to capital planning we have to start somewhere. It was important to get the first tranche out there and moving because a lot of other schools are wondering what it means for them. The Minister for education is conscious of that, as am I along with the Taoiseach and the Minister, Deputy Chambers. In the period ahead, we will be looking at what other schools not on the list have an ability to move forward. The Deputy has been in this House long enough to know that when it comes to capital, there is often a churn and opportunities to add more schools. I will speak to the Minister, Deputy Naughton, on the specific projects - St. Aidan's, the Gaelscoil and the four-school development on the Swords Road - and ask her to come back directly to the Deputy on them. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Miche\u00e1l Carrigy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"Miche\u00e1l-Carrigy.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Miche\u00e1l Carrigy  I wish to raise ophthalmology services in Longford-Westmeath or the lack thereof. In 2024 we lost our service in Longford and since then we have had periods of no service with people having to travel to Dublin or Athlone or a temporary service back in Longford. The most recent correspondence I got from the HSE stated that for patients in Longford-Westmeath requiring a consultant ophthalmologist the pathway for access to the service is currently the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital in Dublin as there is no consultant based in the Regional Hospital Mullingar, which covers Longford and Westmeath. When will we get our service back in Longford-Westmeath? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Carrigy for raising this important issue. He is right that people in Longford are currently being told that the pathway to access a consultant ophthalmologist is the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital in Dublin. I think that is the primary referral centre. It is a long way from Longford to that hospital in Dublin, particularly for someone with an ophthalmology condition. Currently there is no consultant ophthalmologist based at the Regional Hospital Mullingar. The Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, is engaging with the HSE to see whether recruitment of a consultant ophthalmologist based in the Regional Hospital Mullingar is viable. It is something that she and I are eager to progress. Once the Minister hears back from the HSE, she will engage with the Deputy. I will also keep in touch with him on it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  After three and a half years, next week or the week after we will reach the cliff edge for the pilot basic income for artists scheme without any sign of the promised successor scheme, nor any clarity as to when the new replacement scheme will open for applications or even what it will look like. I ask the T\u00e1naiste to enlighten us as to the shape, size, cost and timing of the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan's, newfangled basic income scheme for artists. When will it be open for applications? That is the main demand from the artist community. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I know that Deputy \u00d3 Snodaigh has been a supporter of this initiative for quite some time. There will be a new development in relation to this. I am reluctant to say it will be at Cabinet next week. That is what my memory tells me, but it is certainly imminent. The Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, will be bring proposals on it to Cabinet this month. It could be as soon as next week but certainly this month. I will ask the Minister to update the Deputy directly on the details. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tom Brabazon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tom Brabazon  I wish to raise the issue of the Aer Lingus, Dublin Airport Authority and Shannon Airport Authority pensioners who retired before 2014. They report an erosion of between 55% and 60% in the value of their pensions since 2007 due to cost-of living freezes, the pension levy and retroactive pension cuts introduced in 2015. They were defined benefit pensions built up over as much as 45 years yet the rules were changed after a time without compensation or mitigation. Pensioners had no representation in these decisions. They have no income protection or security in retirement. Will the Minister review the cumulative impacts and engage directly with the affected pensioners? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Brabazon for raising the need for clarity for these pensioners, which I know he has raised previously in this House. I will speak with the Ministers, Deputies Chambers and O'Brien, and get the latest update. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Clendennen","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Clendennen.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Clendennen  In December 2020, the west Offaly power station in Shannonbridge closed due to the failure to secure planning for transition to biomass. This left a financial void of \u20ac1.7 million per year from a commercial rates perspective. Thankfully the Government stepped in and has supported Offaly County Council ever since. However, that support is due to conclude at the end of 2026. Measures have been taken by Offaly County Council to try to fill the void but right now we need to be able to give certainty to the people of Offaly that there will be no impact on services as a result of this. I ask the Government to engage with officials from Offaly County Council and, rather than having a cliff-edge effect at the end of 2026, to consider a tapered reduction so that we can phase this out and mitigate the impact. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","memberCode":"John-Cummins.S.2020-03-30","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy John Cummins)  Deputy Clendennen has engaged with me on this matter. He has made the point fairly and forcefully that we should not have a cliff edge with Shannonbridge. We have provided \u20ac1.7 million to Offaly County Council over the last number of years and that will be the case this year. I have asked my officials to engage with Offaly County Council and with Longford County Council. Deputy Carrigy has also been in touch on having that tapering. That will occur. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"David Cullinane","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"David-Cullinane.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy David Cullinane  I acknowledge that Irish cancer services are among the best in the world. I want to pay tribute to all the staff who work in cancer services. However, we are beginning to see slippage in some areas which is disappointing. The response to a parliamentary question from me on key targets set by the HSE for diagnostics and treatment shows that we are beginning to see serious slippage. One in seven chemotherapy appointments did not happen on time. In my constituency of Waterford, it is one in three. Only half of breast cancer surgeries happened on time. It is worse for lung cancer surgery where 39% did not happen on time. For prostate cancer surgery 62% did not happen on time. I have engaged with the Irish Cancer Society, which has advised that there is equipment which is either not available or only working partially because the staff are not there. A lot of it is outdated. We do not have enough radiation therapists. I do not want to see slippage. I do not want to see us go backwards. I want us to always have the very best, world-class, gold-standard cancer services. I ask the T\u00e1naiste to engage with the Minister for Health to look at the data and ensure that the investments which are needed in the national cancer strategy and in cancer services right across the State are in place so that we do not have a geographical postcode lottery in accessing care. No matter where people come from, they should have access to timely care. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy Cullinane for raising this issue. Yesterday was World Cancer Day and it is really important topic. I fully accept his bona fides in this. We all want to see real progress on this. We have made significant progress as a country but there is certainly no room for complacency. The Deputy and the Irish Cancer Society are right to highlight the areas in which we have to challenge ourselves to do better. I know the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, is fully committed to this. I will certainly take the Deputy's challenge in engaging with the HSE, the Minister and the whole of Government to see what more we can do. I am also due to meet with the Irish Cancer Society shortly for further engagement on this. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  I recently had a very engaging chat with students from the politics and society class in St. Joseph's College. It is a school the T\u00e1naiste is very familiar with. They asked some very interesting questions, including one on Seanad reform and specifically about having more diverse voices and minority voices included, going beyond the Taoiseach's nominees to assist. I was thinking about that in the context of the Manning report which proposes having more of a democratic input from the public. We have seen the expansion of the universities on the university panel, which is welcome, but we need to make the Seanad more democratic. For example, we could have different sections like labour and arts where a member of the electorate could choose the section they wish to vote in. We should engage and open that process again to have real Seanad reform, as was the wish of the people in the referendum over ten years ago. The Government might revisit the issue and look at real Seanad reform this time around. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank the Deputy. I know St. Joseph's well. It is a school I have frequently visited. I was out there relatively recently with the school principal, Bernadette, and others for the opening of their extension. Any time I have been there, including during the general election, I always find the students give me a good grilling and are very engaging. I thank the Deputy for raising with me the output of some of his engagement with them.  On the issue of Seanad reform, the Seanad referendum was one of those ones that we clearly got wrong. The people of Ireland said they wanted to keep a second Chamber and they wanted a bicameral system. They were right, as the people of Ireland always are. They are sovereign in these decisions. What everyone did say during the referendum, though, was that we want to keep the Seanad but we want to reform it. The question was always whether the reform would ever happen. Years later, truthfully, it still has not. I need to engage with colleagues to see where that is at. Any reform of the Seanad would require a cross-party view as to how to take it forward. The Manning report did do some interesting work but I will speak to the Minister for housing and local government in the first instance. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Rory Hearne","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Rory-Hearne.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Rory Hearne  Finglas is a strong, proud community. However, it faces challenges and some very high levels of disadvantage from a long-standing lack of public investment in communities. It is a community devastated by recent tragedy, so it is deeply disappointing that a vital counselling service for young people in Finglas, the Hear Me Out youth mental health service run by the Finglas Youth Resource Centre, is facing a lack of funding. The service has provided support for hundreds of young people in relation to various issues such as anxiety, drug use, school refusal, self-harm and trauma. Now the service has had to take the initiative to organise a fundraiser in Erin's Isle GAA club on 21 February. I know the community will support that.  Is it not unacceptable that a youth counselling service providing vital support in Finglas has to organise a fundraiser because of the lack of certainty of funding? Hear Me Out has submitted a detailed business proposal to the HSE inclusion office and to the Minister of State, Deputy Butler. The service has been given limited funding by Dublin City Council but is likely to face funding uncertainty in less than six months. Will the T\u00e1naiste raise this issue with the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, and the HSE and ensure that this service can continue? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I certainly will. I acknowledge the huge sense of loss and tragedy the Deputy's community is experiencing now. I thank him for telling me about the Hear Me Out youth mental health and counselling service. It sounds like it has made a really positive impact in his community. On foot of the Deputy raising it here today, I will raise it with the chief executive of the HSE and with the Minister of State, Deputy Mary Butler, in relation to where the service's application for funding certainty is at. I will ask that the Minister of State comes back to the Deputy directly. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Paul O'Shea","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Paul-O'Shea.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Paul O'Shea  I want to raise the importance of proceeding with the N\/M20 Cork to Limerick motorway project. It is not just a road project; it is a vital piece of national infrastructure that will shape the economic and social future of our region for generations to come. For far too long, communities and landowners along this corridor have endured congestion, delays and safety concerns. Families, commuters, businesses and emergency services all feel the impact of an outdated and overburdened route on a daily basis. Proceeding with this project in 2026 is essential. I am calling on the T\u00e1naiste to maintain the momentum this year to provide certainty of funding and to ensure that this project proceeds without any further delay. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I thank Deputy O'Shea for raising this important matter but also for his continued focus on infrastructure development in Cork. I agree that the N\/M20 Cork-Limerick project does represent one of the most strategically important infrastructure investments we can make for the southern region. When completed, this project will really transform connectivity between Ireland's second and third largest cities, Cork and Limerick, and will deliver better links not just for these cities but for all the communities including many the Deputy represents across the corridor, including Buttevant, Croom, Charleville, Mallow and Blarney. This investment will also improve connections to west Cork and Kerry and will help support balanced regional growth and ensure communities outside the major urban centres can fully participate in our economic success. There are critical safety deficiencies on the existing N20 route, so this is also about saving lives and preventing serious accidents on a road that currently poses significant risks. I am absolutely committed to working with the Deputy to deliver this project through the proper planning processes. I look forward to continuing to work with him and all public representatives to see it progress. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  The people in my constituency of Dublin Fingal West wait for up to 14 years in most cases on the Fingal County Council housing list. Some of them are left waiting in overcrowded accommodation, some of them in emergency accommodation, some of them paying eye-wateringly high rents. When a person has a medical condition or a disability, this is often made worse by their housing situation, as I am sure the T\u00e1naiste can appreciate, so they can apply for assessment for medical priority. It takes an awful lot to fill out the HMD 1 form and, in fact, I am told on a very regular basis now that GPs are refusing to fill it out for medical card patients. That is something that should definitely be looked at. When they fill out that form, and it is hard to fill it out, they have to wait. The T\u00e1naiste will be well aware of the waiting lists to see doctors and every other medical professional. When they do fill out and submit the form, it is now taking 16 months, nearly a year and a half, to get that assessment done. By any measure, that is too long. I am inundated in my offices in Balbriggan and Rush with people and all they are looking for is an update. They want to know if anyone has looked at their medical priority and if it is going to be considered at all. It is not the case that the waiting times are this long in every other local authority. I ask the T\u00e1naiste to investigate this and find out if the source of the issue is resources or what the blockage is. It is unacceptable and I am sure the T\u00e1naiste will agree with me that people should not have to wait between 14 and 18 months. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Simon Harris","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Simon-Harris.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" The T\u00e1naiste  I do agree and I thank the Deputy for raising it. I will certainly undertake to engage with the Minister for housing, primarily, and the Minister for Health on this and revert to the Deputy directly. While I am on my feet, I also want to say the Deputy raised an issue with me before in the House in relation to victims and survivors of domestic abuse, when they are moving from one local authority list to another, and the time they were on the previous list not being recognised. It is an important issue. I acknowledge and thank the Deputy for raising it. On foot of that, the Minister for housing has said he will issue a direction to all local authorities to make sure that issue is rectified. I want to acknowledge that while it came to my mind. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  I thank the T\u00e1naiste. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar fionra\u00ed ar 1.17 p.m. agus cuireadh t\u00fas leis ar\u00eds ar 1.57 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":" Sitting suspended at 1.17 p.m. and resumed at 1.57 p.m. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Ceisteanna ar Pholasa\u00ed n\u00f3 ar Reachta\u00edocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/dbsect_33","debateType":"statement","bill":null,"showAs":"Road Safety: Statements","counts":{"speechCount":59,"speakerCount":40},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_33","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Canney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tom Brabazon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"S\u00e9amus McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cormac Devlin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ryan O'Meara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dessie Ellis","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Fitzmaurice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Keira Keogh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Lahart","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Lahart.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Lahart.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel Grealish","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jim O'Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Jim-O'Callaghan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Jim O'Callaghan)  I welcome the opportunity to address the House this afternoon to update it on road safety matters. I will be sharing my time with the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and the Minister of State, Deputy Grealish, will be delivering the closing statement.  I would like to take the opportunity to offer my sincere condolences to the family of Grace Lynch. Neither the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, nor I can imagine the pain the family are going through and the sense of loss they are experiencing. To lose someone so obviously cherished by her family is a traumatic event. The direct reason for this debate on road safety matters is the tragic accident that happened to Grace Lynch. There will obviously be significant Government and enforcement responses to that.  I also want to update Deputies about the unfolding accident on North Earl Street involving a bus and a pedestrian. I regret to say there has been a fatality and three others have been taken to hospital. Our thoughts are with the family of the person who has been fatally injured and the people who are in hospital. We wish them well.  As a society, we find ourselves all too often expressing these condolences arising from serious road traffic accidents. Already in 2026, too many people have been lost on the roads in Ireland and we are just over one month into the new year. We need to grasp the simple reality in front of us. Reckless behaviour, selfish choices, excess speed, drink and drug driving, distracted driving and not wearing a seatbelt are all choices and behaviours on our roads that, as we know, lead inevitably to death, destruction and despair. For my part, I want to be clear that the Government is committed to reducing road deaths and creating safer roads for everyone in Ireland. However, this will not be possible without behavioural change. We have done it before, and we now need to do it again.  In 1997, almost three decades ago, there were 472 fatalities on Irish roads. That was an extraordinarily number of lives lost and, thankfully, today we do not have such high figures. That year marked a turning point for road safety in Ireland. In 1998 implementation began on the first national road safety strategy. Over the course of that strategy and its successors, we witnessed a remarkable improvement in safety on our roads, as deaths began to fall. From 472 deaths in 1997, we reduced the figure to 162 by 2012, with a further reduction to 133 by 2021, which was the lowest level since records had begun in 1959. Road safety strategies and measures taken by successive Governments have played a very important role in reducing deaths on our roads.  However, these improvements have also only been possible as a result of a great many of us changing and improving our behaviours on the road. Unfortunately, more recent trends are less positive and the gains we have made are beginning to slip. Last year saw an increase in road deaths, with 188 fatalities on our roads. That is a very significant number. That is 188 families and communities experiencing tragedy and loss and attending funerals of loved ones. Not only that, but for every fatality there are eight serious and possibly life-changing injuries. We obviously need to do better. For my part as Minister for justice, I am determined to see a return to the progress we have seen previously and know we can achieve.  Enforcement is a key aspect of ensuring greater safety on our roads and the Garda continues to play a key role in prioritising road safety. This includes the implementation of 30 minutes of high-visibility road safety policing per garda shift. That was introduced in April 2024. In addition, since May 2024, the powers and provisions introduced by the Road Traffic Act 2024 mean that An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na can now conduct mandatory drug testing at the scene of serious collisions. This is facilitated by the provision of tens of thousands of drug rapid testing kits by the Medical Bureau of Road Safety each year. I welcome the significant awareness campaign the Road Safety Authority ran last year highlighting these drug-driving enforcement powers and capabilities.  Since November 2023, the Motor Insurers\u2019 Bureau of Ireland has been providing insurance details to An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. Details for 3 million vehicles and 5 million drivers are provided daily to identify vehicles being driven without insurance. The Garda continues to carry out enhanced road safety and traffic enforcement campaigns, with the latest over the recent St Brigid's bank holiday weekend. Over the weekend, An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and mobile and fixed GoSafe cameras detected nearly 3,500 motorists speeding. The highest volume of detections was on bank holiday Monday, with over 800 speeding detections. A total of 193 drivers were arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of an intoxicant. Nearly 400 drivers were detected for driving while using a mobile phone. Over 660 vehicles were detained by members of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, with 50% for no insurance. This serves to highlight that some people continue to behave badly on our roads and make poor choices, the consequence of which is endangerment of fellow road users and in particular vulnerable road users. Despite this concerted effort by the Garda, unfortunately, over the course of the weekend there were two fatalities and 14 serious injury incidents due to collisions.  We must redouble our efforts on all fronts to further ensure road safety for all. We need to ensure that enforcement is effective, but it is also about behavioural change on the part of drivers on the roads. We need to slow down and be more careful. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Canney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Transport (Deputy Se\u00e1n Canney)  I too extend my deepest sympathies to the family of Grace Lynch. Her death leaves an unfillable void in their lives and the lives of her friends and the wider community. Regarding the accident that happened in Dublin city centre this afternoon, our thoughts are with the families who are affected by that accident and everybody involved.  Yesterday, we announced that we will introduce regulations as a matter of urgency to further prohibit the use of scramblers and strengthen the existing enforcement powers that An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na has in relation to the dangerous use of scramblers and powers of seizure. These regulations will be introduced within a matter of weeks. Currently, under the Road Traffic Act 1961, a mechanically propelled vehicle, such as a scrambler, can only be legally used in public places if it is registered, taxed, insured, roadworthy and has a registration plate. The driver must hold the relevant driving licence. Most scramblers are designed for off-road use only and do not meet these requirements. Their use on the road is illegal. To further strengthen the legal position and help tackle the antisocial use of scramblers and other off-road vehicles, the Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023 introduced three new provisions. It is now an offence to drive dangerously in any location, not just in public places. Garda\u00ed have the power to seize vehicles being driven dangerously. The Minister for Transport can make regulations to restrict certain vehicles or classes of vehicles in particular locations. These three provisions are designed to work as a package and should be read together. They were all commenced in July 2023, one month after the enactment of the Act. Since commencement, off-road scramblers are no longer just illegal for use in public areas. It is illegal to drive them dangerously anywhere, even on private land. More importantly, garda\u00ed have the full power to seize a scrambler being driven dangerously in any location. They can enter the curtilage of a dwelling to retrieve a scrambler after the fact.  These powers are being used. Since 2023, over 1,000 scramblers, e-scooters and quad bikes have been seized. The measures I outlined represent a comprehensive legislative response to the dangerous use of off-road scramblers. It must be emphasised that using them on our roads is already illegal. The new regulations will help bring additional legal clarity to the existing position that scramblers are banned for use on the road in almost all circumstances. The regulations being prepared will explicitly prohibit the use of vehicles such as scramblers in a public place while continuing to allow for legitimate off-road recreational and agricultural uses. They will make the use of a vehicle, such as a scrambler, in these prescribed locations an offence, building on the current position where a member of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na has to form a reasonable belief about dangerous use before it can be seized. They will also increase the charges that accrue each day after a scrambler has been seized to reduce the number of seized vehicles that are released and end up back on our roads. While the focus has rightly been on scramblers in recent weeks, as we approach the two-year mark since e-scooter regulations were introduced in May 2024, it is now appropriate that we look at the evidence and consider if additional regulation is warranted to promote road safety in relation to e-scooters. Proposals on this front will be presented to the Government shortly.  The current national framework for road safety is set out in the Government\u2019s fifth Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030, which was launched in December 2021. The strategy aligns with EU and UN targets and is based on the safe systems approach. It aims to reduce road deaths and serious injuries by 50% this decade and to achieve Vision Zero, or as close as possible to no deaths or serious injuries on our roads, by 2050. In July 2025, I published phase 2 of the action plan under the road safety strategy, which will run from 2025 to 2027. In total, the plan contains 12 primary and 77 support actions, with the potential to deliver transformative changes. Actions will be delivered through partnership and collaborative working by road safety stakeholders. Some of the key actions include: investing significantly into new and improved active travel and public transport; expanding network safety analysis of the road network to identify high-risk locations, guide investment decisions and prioritise safety interventions including for the local road network; implementing in full all actions of the phase 2 action plan based on the 2023 speed limit review; and reviewing and overhauling our learning to drive curriculum.  Implementation of the speed limit review published in 2023 is a key action under the road safety strategy. The review made three principal recommendations: a reduction in the default speed limit on rural local roads from 80 km\/h to 60 km\/h, the introduction of a 30 km\/h default speed limit in built-up and urban areas, and a reduction in the default speed limit on national secondary roads from 100 km\/h to 80 km\/h. The first of the recommendations came into effect on 7 February 2025, when the default speed limit on rural roads decreased from 80 km\/h to 60 km\/h. This represented a reduction in speed on 80% of the road network in Ireland. This impacts approximately 83,000 km of Ireland's 102,000 km network. It involved the installation of approximately 27,000 new poles and over 50,000 new signs. With respect to the second of the recommendations, namely, the introduction of the 30 km\/h default speed limit in built-up and urban areas, following direction from the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, my Department issued a circular to local authorities on 16 October 2025 requesting that they implement built-up and urban areas speed limits no later than 31 March 2027.  The proposed speed limit changes in urban areas will be implemented by way of special speed limit by-laws. Accordingly, in respect of those roads in urban areas for which local authorities propose to change existing speed limits, local authorities will undertake a statutory public consultation process and consider all representations, in accordance with the requirements of the Road Traffic Act 2004, as amended. The approach that is now being followed recognises and respects the positive and important role local authorities and their elected members fulfil in setting speed limits in urban areas. The period of statutory public consultation will provide an opportunity for members of the public and stakeholders to engage with the process and to make representations to local authorities and their elected members on the proposed speed limit changes.  The third recommendation under the proposed speed limit changes concerns the reduction of the default speed limit on national secondary roads from 100 km\/h to 80 km\/h. While the Road Traffic Act 2024 made legislative provision for this change, it has not yet been commenced as a further legislative change is required to ensure local authorities will be permitted to set a special speed limit of 100 km\/h on certain national secondary roads, where appropriate. That amendment will be progressed in the national vehicle and driver file Bill.  The increased deployment of safety cameras in the coming years is a key action to be delivered under the phase 2 action plan of the road safety strategy. This action, which is being delivered collaboratively by road safety partners, aligns with commitments in the programme for Government. Work on the first national safety camera strategy is now at an advanced stage. My Department is working closely with road safety stakeholders, including the National Transport Authority, NTA, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, the Road Safety Authority, RSA, and An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, on how best to implement it. The strategy focuses on speeding, red light running and bus lane infringements, with flexibility for the enforcement of other types of offences in future.  It is expected that the strategy will be approved in the coming weeks. Once in place, it will provide the framework for increased deployment of cameras across the network, in both urban and rural locations, to assist with the enforcement of a wide range of road traffic offences. While work continues on finalising the strategy, camera enforcement has been increasing. There are 9,000 hours of GoSafe monitoring carried out on our roads each month. Since late 2024, An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na has worked with TII and local authorities to install three additional average speed camera zones and nine static camera locations.  Long-standing issues are also being addressed. Currently, learners can renew their permits multiple times if they have booked or scheduled a driving test. This will no longer be the case. In November, I signed regulations to ensure learner drivers can no longer repeatedly renew their permits without taking a driving test. These regulations will come into effect on 1 November 2026. Learners who have held a permit for seven years or more will not be able to renew and will have to restart the learning to drive process. For learners in category B, this means taking a theory test, obtaining a learner permit, taking 12 essential driver training lessons and sitting a practical test.  Seven years is more than enough time for learners to complete the learning process and become qualified drivers. From a road safety perspective, it is vital that learners are encouraged to complete the learning to drive process and become fully qualified drivers and that people are not encouraged to hold learner permits without ever taking a driving test. Road safety is promoted by ensuring all learners meet a high standard of ability, attain sufficient driving experience and training and prove their ability to drive safely by passing a driving test.  We are also progressing a significant legislative programme. The national vehicle and driver file Bill is a priority for the current legislative term. I aim to see it enacted before the summer recess. The Bill contains a range of provisions to modernise road safety enforcement, improve the use of data and address identified gaps in road traffic legislation. Among other measures, the Bill will: provide a clear legislative basis for local authorities to directly receive and process road collision data; abolish the requirement to display a motor tax disc as part of the wider paperless windscreen project; allow a jury to consider a charge of careless driving where a defendant is acquitted of dangerous driving, thereby addressing a gap identified in Judge Haughton's report into the death of Shane O'Farrell; and provide legislative clarity on the application of penalty points in multiple-offence incidents, ensuring drivers committing more than one offence in a single incident receive multiple sets of penalty points.  My officials are also progressing the next road traffic Bill to take forward key programme for Government commitments. A general scheme will be presented to the Government in the coming months. Among other things, the Bill will provide for a graduated penalty points system designed to strengthen deterrence and address repeat offending. It will also make provision for camera enforcement of seat belt and mobile phone offences, building on existing non-intercept Garda powers in relation to speed.  The safety of all road users continues to be supported through improvements in infrastructure and services. To that end, in 2025, approximately \u20ac600 million in Exchequer capital funding was allocated through TII to local authorities for national roads. This included funding for measures to maintain and improve the existing national road network, in addition to funding for new national road projects such as the M28 Cork to Ringaskiddy, the N5 Ballaghaderreen to Scramoge and the Adare bypass. In addition, \u20ac33 million in current funding was provided to local authorities to carry out regular maintenance activities on the network.  A further \u20ac713 million was allocated to regional and local road grants in 2025, with approximately 90% of the funding directed towards maintenance and renewal works. This funding has supported local authorities in carrying out an extensive programme of maintenance and restoration works. It also supported various safety improvement works, bridge rehabilitation schemes, drainage works, climate adaptation measures, community involvement projects and the maintenance of former national roads. In addition to maintenance, targeted improvements are a priority. This action has been identified for progress under the national development plan. The 2026 allocations for national, regional and local roads will be finalised and announced shortly.  Education and public awareness campaigns are also key to promoting safer behaviours on our roads. Primary action 9C of the road safety phase 2 action plan specifically addresses the expansion of road safety education programmes to deliver sustained interventions for young people from primary school through to third level. The new Road Safety Matters transition year programme was piloted during the 2024-25 academic year and exceeded expectations, with the RSA successfully delivering training to teachers from almost 140 schools and more than 12,700 students nationwide. In 2026, the RSA aims to complete a national roll-out to all 730 post-primary schools offering transition year. In addition, the RSA aims to scale its junior cycle road safety education for children aged 13 to 16 years, with a view to launching a national roll-out next year.  In 2025, the RSA launched its new third level education initiative, engaging students at 62 campus events and reaching approximately 8,955 young people nationwide. The programme's mission is to empower 17- to 24-year-olds to make safer road choices by embedding road safety into everyday student life. In 2026, the RSA will proactively re-engage every third level campus in Ireland and roll out a new phase of student-led road safety communications.  As part of budget 2025, \u20ac18 million of RSA funding was ring-fenced for road safety public interest activities, including awareness, education and promotion campaigns. This was part of a wider shift to bring a renewed focus on campaigns that make our roads safer for all users. Significant new national campaigns were delivered in 2025, including a drug-driving campaign and a major new drink-driving campaign. This approach will continue in 2026, with \u20ac18 million once again set aside for similar campaigns and initiatives.  Road safety is an all-of-society concern and it is beholden on all of us to make better choices for safer roads. Recent tragedies bring into sharp focus the human cost of every fatality on Irish roads. Any death is one too many. Work continues to progress on delivering our road safety targets but much is yet to be done to protect lives on our roads. I look forward to the contributions of Deputies on this very important topic. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Now we will move to Sinn F\u00e9in. Deputy Pa Daly who is sharing with four others. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pa Daly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Pa-Daly.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pa Daly  At the outset, I wish to sympathise with the family of Grace Lynch and also with anyone who was affected by the collision on North Earl Street this morning. In the light of all of this, and the increase in the roads deaths in 2025 - 190 people died on our roads last year, that is, 190 families shattered, 190 chairs empty at kitchen tables and 190 sets of hopes and dreams suddenly cut short - I want to pick the Minister of State up on what he said about whether the powers An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na has are being used. Is he seriously saying the Garda is using those powers enough? We have seen certain pockets around the country, such as in Limerick, where garda\u00ed know who are using these scramblers illegally and have the powers to go in and seize them. The Minister of State mentioned that they can enter the curtilage of homes and take the scramblers. I understand that in all the circumstances where such scramblers were seized by the Garda in the Limerick area, not one protest or court case was brought by families trying to get them back.  It is simply not correct, or else it is disingenuous, to say the powers are being used because they are clearly not being used enough around the State. Of course we need trained Garda scrambler units, and drones and other technology that already exists but has not been used, but we need the Garda to use the powers it has, go into homes and take those scramblers off our streets because that clearly has not been happening. We also need accountability for the adults who are providing these scramblers to the mostly young men who are using them. We need stricter regulation of e-scooters also, not just keeping up with what is there. Helmets and hi-vis gear must be mandated and proper enforcement needs to be used by An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na against those who are using e-scooters at over 20 km\/h. The serious injuries, including the massive increase percentage-wise of horrific brain injuries to mostly young men, demand that stricter action be taken by using the powers that are already there, and that is clearly not being done.  In 2020, as the Minister of State mentioned, Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael committed to Vision Zero to drastically reduce fatalities by 2050. Not only have they failed to reduce road deaths, however, but deaths have increased, whereby we had 190 deaths last year, the highest level in more than a decade. The Minister of State's colleague in government mentioned earlier that statistics had been brought down in 2021 to a low point but did not say that this was in the middle of the Covid pandemic when there were fewer people on the road. Using that as a statistic is not painting the full picture, to put it mildly.  This is a failure of responsibility, a failure of investment and a failure of leadership, not only by this Government but by the last Government. While Fianna F\u00e1il, Fine Gael and their supporters Deputies Healy-Rae and the regional Independents will point to the fact that there are flashy announcements, reports and new legislation, it does not really amount to anything meaningful. The Minister of State has already rowed back on a commitment to disband the RSA, as had been recommended by an independent review commissioned by the Government. It was announced at the time when the review was published with much fanfare but it has resulted in no meaningful change - change that is much needed. Did it really have to take another tragedy on our roads to bring about legislation that Sinn F\u00e9in has been calling for for over a decade and a half? Unless the legislation is actually enforced, of course, it means very little to the people it is supposed to protect.  Let us be clear: road policing is at crisis point. It has been for some time. In September 2025, there were only 640 garda\u00ed in roads policing units across the entire State. Despite repeated promises to get this in order, there are barely any more than there were in 2024 and 406 fewer garda\u00ed than there were in 2009. These are more empty promises at a time when road deaths have been increasing. There has been a decrease in road policing numbers. The deaths are increasing. The Minister of State needs to step up and give us the reason for this and the excuse. There was also another independent review of a system that was defined by a culture of poor performance in An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. What steps has the Minister of State taken to address garda\u00ed parking up for shifts, turning off automatic number plate recognition, ANPR, systems and operating without supervision? The number of deaths demands an answer to that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louis O'Hara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Louis-O'Hara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louis O'Hara  My thoughts are with all those impacted by the crash in Dublin today and the family of Grace Lynch. The year 2025 was the worst year for road fatalities in over ten years and represented a growing trend of Irish roads becoming less safe. Last year, An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na recorded 190 people dying on our roads and over 1,000 people being injured as a result of collisions. Each statistic represents a life lost, a wider family devastated, and demonstrates the constant work needed to make our roads safe for all who use them. In 2024, a report commissioned by the then Minister for Transport recommended the splitting of the RSA into two separate bodies; one with responsibility for road safety and another to oversee processes such as driver testing. Despite the tone of the Department of Transport's initial reaction stating that the report's recommendations would radically transform road safety in Ireland, we recently saw the Minister of State backtrack on these plans. Sadly, this backtracking reflects a wider failure by the Government to implement road safety actions and infrastructure across the State. We see this also in the Government's failure to ensure legislation and regulation is fit for purpose and enforced in relation to scrambler bikes, which are terrorising many communities across the State. This is something that has been raised by my colleagues in the House for many years.  In my constituency, Galway East, many towns and villages have seen road safety projects delayed. This is having a significant impact on safety in those areas. In Dunmore, I recently attended a protest, as did the Minister of State, where hundreds of residents expressed their frustration at the failure to progress the Bridge Street regeneration and road widening project. Bridge Street is a bottleneck for users of the N83. The junction there is also a major safety risk. It is a scandal that a street anywhere would be left in such a dangerous and derelict condition, never mind one on a national road. Residents have waited years for these promised improvement works. That must be prioritised for delivery.  In Headford, local residents have been voicing concerns for years about the area surrounding the Cloughanover junction on the N84, a national road. This is an extremely busy road in an area with shops, a community centre and a school nearby, yet cars can fly by at 100 km\/h. I met local residents there recently. It is absolutely lethal. That also appears to have been put on the long finger.  The town of Kinvarra has also seen little progress in seeing much-needed pedestrian crossings and traffic calming measures installed on the N67 through the village. This is a very busy road. A lot of students use this road to walk to and from school. There have been a number of accidents in the village recently, yet the local community cannot get as much as a pedestrian crossing, which they have been demanding for years. There are countless other examples but the likes of these projects need to prioritised. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in  This debate is on road safety. I will tell the Minister of State all about road safety in County Wexford and the area of south Wicklow where I live. We have been forced to drive on deadly, dangerous roads for three decades now. I am sure the Ceann Comhairle will verify this. Roads are disintegrating in front of our very eyes; I kid you not. Even today, on the East Coast FM news, an engineer said he had to close many roads in south Wicklow for safety reasons because they had been washed away, and they were like this before the flood. County Wexford was at the bottom of the intercounty roads comparison study back in 1995. Three decades later, we are still at the bottom. When I meet oncoming traffic at night, say if I am coming from Leinster House or wherever, I am on narrow, winding, uneven back roads so I have to make a split-second decision as to whether to swerve across the road to avoid a massive pothole that will burst my car's tyres, wreck its rims and knock off the tracking of the steering. We do not bother doing tracking any more because it is a pointless exercise. There are deep, sharp craters with jagged edges on them and most of them are hidden beneath pools of water because there is a huge amount of surface water.  It is absolutely infuriating that the Government does not view this as a primary road safety concern. It is all down to Government funding because there has been a deficit of \u20ac66 million since 2008 in County Wexford. We have 2,000 km of tertiary and secondary roads. They are so neglected now that the head of engineering in Wexford sent a document to the Oireachtas last year saying we would need \u20ac190 million to bring these roads up to what would be classed as a passable state. Just under 30% are in need of complete reconstruction. This is the elephant in the room that nobody is talking about in terms of road safety.  We are anxiously awaiting the funding announcement to local authorities. I was raising this for ten and a half years on the council. I have been writing every week as a TD to the Minister's office. It will be like the lad in \"The Shawshank Redemption\" - I will write twice a week if I do not get a reply soon. I may have to hold people back. People are so angry over this because nobody is listening. The Minister's own quote is \"the objective is to allocate funding to eligible local authorities on [an] equitable a basis ... taking the length of the road network into account.\" It is the complete wrong metric to approach----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy. I call Deputy Maurice Quinlivan. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in  I have only spoken for two minutes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Deputy was scheduled to speak for two and a half minutes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Fionnt\u00e1n-\u00d3-S\u00failleabh\u00e1in.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Fionnt\u00e1n \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in  I was told I had three minutes, but anyway. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  I am sorry about that, Deputy. I call Deputy Maurice Quinlivan. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Maurice Quinlivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Maurice-Quinlivan.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Maurice Quinlivan  As we talk about road safety, we do so with the backdrop of the tragic, avoidable death of teenager Grace Lynch in Finglas on Sunday, 25 January. She was a teenager who left her house and was struck by a scrambler on her home estate - a young life snatched away in its prime. I extend my deepest sympathies to her family and friends during this most difficult time for them. I welcome news that new laws are being introduced to implement the total ban on scramblers in public spaces and to strengthen existing laws for garda\u00ed. However, more could and should have been done, and done sooner. I firmly believe that if scramblers were being used in more affluent areas across the State, a swift and robust response would have followed, but working class communities, as usual, were abandoned. I recently asked the Minister a parliamentary question. He said he was satisfied with the existing legislation dealing with the misuse of scramblers. In an answer provided to me on 15 January 2026, the Minister of State stated, \"Both I and my Department are satisfied with the current regulations in place.\" I would like to know what has changed since then.  This is not a new issue. The scourge of scrambler bikes have plagued residents of working class estates for years. My party has been consistently looking for the Government to act. I have spoken here many times over the past decade on the danger of these vehicles. Tragically, the focus on this matter has come too late for Grace and her family. My colleague sitting next to me, Deputy Dessie Ellis, had previously introduced a Bill in 2012. Sinn F\u00e9in brought forward Bills in 2015, 2017 and 2021 that aimed to give An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na more powers to stop individuals from using scramblers, but these Bills were blocked by the Government.  In 2019, while debating legislation on scramblers, I said that I did not believe the legislation would address the issue, that it was a significant issue in Limerick and other places, and that these bikes were a \"danger to children and result in intimidation for many residents [who] cannot live safely in their own homes.\" However, in Limerick, as Deputy Pa Daly pointed out in October 2023, when An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na seized 44 scramblers and other off-road vehicles and five people were arrested over two days, the superintendent said, \"We are acutely aware of the problem ourselves and can correlate the use of scramblers and e-scooters to criminal activities with [several] detections in the sale and supply of drugs in recent months.\" My time is short. While the Minister of State looks at dealing with scramblers, this tragic death must compel the Government to ensure that these scramblers are taken off public roads and spaces for good, and that it also seizes this opportunity to address the safety issues concerning horses in urban areas and that e-scooters being driven illegally and not complying with road regulations are seized as well. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Crowe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Crowe.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Crowe  I want to be associated with the words of sympathy in relation to the crash on Dublin's North Earl Street. I only have a couple of minutes. I wanted to focus on the dangerous and antisocial use of scramblers on our streets and green spaces. It is nothing new, as my colleagues have said. In a lot of cases, it is young men and boys speeding around dressed in black, some of them in balaclavas, creating an extreme risk to adults, children and particularly our older neighbours in our communities. For years, colleagues have been trying to force the Government to tackle this issue. As has been said, it goes back as far as 2012. Deputy Dessie Ellis has raised it. I think the Deputy had sponsored four Bills at one stage. It is with tragic irony that Grace Lynch lost her life in Finglas, the very area that he represents. Back in 2014, we were told by the then junior Fine Gael agriculture Minister that \"clear and adequate systems and structures [are] in place\". Three serving Fine Gael Ministers voted against us on that occasion and said adequate legislation was there. Again, we are in that situation.  The Minister of State said he is going to act. That is good, but people want to see that action. In a lot of cases, what we are seeing is a situation that is getting worse. I raised this issue two years ago, when an elderly woman in my own constituency was knocked down by a scrambler motorbike. I was talking to her husband today. She is still recovering. It has an impact on her physically, but there is also the mental impact. Eileen survived that crash in Killinarden, but two years later Grace Lynch did not. It is time for action. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ciar\u00e1n Ahern","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ciar\u00e1n-Ahern.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ciar\u00e1n Ahern  I express my sympathies and that of the Labour Party to the pedestrian who died and the three other people who have been injured in Dublin city centre this afternoon in a terrible crash.  Where do we start on road safety? A total of 190 lives were lost on our roads last year, the highest since 2014. We need to get a grip on this. I am not sure that the Minister of State has the political will or the courage to do so. We do not need new laws that we have heard trumpeted in the past few days. We have loads of existing laws on speeding, penalty points and driver behaviour. We just need enforcement - relentless enforcement. We have not seen any urgency from this Government in providing the resources to facilitate this enforcement, whether it is additional garda\u00ed or traffic cameras. We were told there would be 150 new recruits into the Garda traffic corps over the past two years. We got about half that. Pre-recession, the Garda traffic force was around 1,300 strong. Now it is somewhere between 600 and 750. It has been decimated. The number of traffic garda\u00ed has been cut in half, and, at the same time, about a million new cars have been added to our roads. Is it any wonder that it is like the wild west on our roads now?  I do not think this Government gets road safety. First, the Government has completely undermined the commitment in the Road Traffic Act to introduce a default urban speed limit of 30 km\/h across the country. Lower speed limits work. Let us look at Wales. Road casualties dropped by 25% in the 18 months after they introduced a similar measure. The Minister's approach now is to make this an individual county councils to decide themselves. It undermines the national nature of this measure. We know that many county councils are going to struggle to pass these laws. They have to do it. They have to pass individual by-laws for every road that they want to make a 30 km\/h zone, rather than a blanket urban area of 30 km\/h. It is just not the way to do it.  The Government's change in policy regarding the RSA is also hugely concerning. There is an inherent conflict at the heart of the RSA; it is both poacher and gamekeeper when it comes to vehicles on our roads. On the one hand, the RSA is funded by driving tests and the NCT, and on the other, it is tasked with making our roads safer via restrictions on car use. While it is doing well in reducing driving test wait times, it is failing miserably when it comes to road safety. All it does is act as some kind of PR firm, doing photo-ops with Ministers and trying to wrap our children and vulnerable road users generally in high-vis clothing, as though that will keep them safe. The Government must split up the RSA as recommended by an external independent review and endorsed previously by the Government. The Minister of State has basically said that the RSA has got driving test wait times down, so let us leave it alone. We also heard that cost was an issue in this decision. That the Department would penny-pinch on this is pretty appalling. What does it say about our attitude to road safety? What does it say about the value we are placing on those people's lives?  Another issue I want to touch on is this proposal or gimmick coming out of Cabinet over the past few days around mandatory high-vis gear and helmets for cyclists. The fact that this is even being proposed betrays a lack of seriousness and a lack of understanding of exactly what is making our roads unsafe. Road safety is not a personal protective equipment issue. Treating it as such shifts responsibility onto the potential victims, rather than addressing the actual causes of road danger such as road user behaviour, speed, vehicle design, safe infrastructure and so on. There is no credible evidence to suggest that helmets or high-vis mandates reduce collisions, serious injuries or deaths on our roads. Standard bike helmets are not designed to cushion the blow from a two-tonne SUV smashing into you at 50 km\/h or 60 km\/h, or a HGV rolling over you at a dangerous junction. The helmets are designed for low-speed falls, not collisions involving cars or HGVs, whose size and speed far exceed the conditions that helmets are tested for.  Most cyclists wear helmets anyway. If the Government wants to encourage more of that, just make helmets free, rather than making it an offence not to wear one. International evidence shows that helmet mandates result in a reduction in cycling, which, in turn, leads to higher emissions, worse public health outcomes and essentially criminalises cycling. I met with the Climate and Health Alliance this morning, who, like me, are appalled by this proposal. The NTA wants to increase the number of cyclists by 14% by 20, which is not a hugely ambitious target. How will criminalising certain forms of cycling lead to an increase in cycling?  It will undermine the Dublinbikes scheme and other city bike schemes around the country that we are currently trying to expand.  The beauty of cycling is the freedom it gives, the ability to pick up a bike on a whim, enjoy the wind in your hair and to just go where you want to go, but cycling is terrifying, particularly in Dublin. I cycle all the time and I also drive. I wear a helmet and high-vis on my bike but I do not feel safe. I have to presume that everything else on the road is trying to kill me every minute I am on it. I get a chill of fear any time on my bike when I stick my hand out to change lane with my son on the back seat of the bike. Is the driver behind me watching? Will they let me into the lane? Are they paying attention or are they on their phone? Are they staring at the iPad-type screen displays that are in cars now? Are they slowing down sufficiently? Can I make contact with the driver to ensure they know I am there? All these checks, fears and chills you get, you never get when you are driving a car - never.  We know what we need to do to make our roads safer: lower speeds; well-designed junctions; segregated walking and cycling infrastructure; proper road maintenance, as mentioned; and relentless enforcement of the rules of the road via garda\u00ed and cameras. This is not just on bank holiday weekends and for Christmas but all the time. Attempts at mandating helmets and high-vis gear are a distraction and a gimmick to make it look like the Government is doing something. It is an exercise in victim-blaming that does nothing to address the actual dangers to cyclists and other vulnerable road users. Any proposal to extend mandates from e-scooters and high-powered e-bikes to ordinary bikes would represent a major policy regression contradicting both international best practice and the Government's own ambitions with regard to active travel and public health.  I will briefly touch on the scrambler issue. I extend my deepest condolences to the family of Grace Lynch. Every parent will have been touched by the incredible bravery shown by Grace's mother Siobh\u00e1n in the wake of such an unimaginable tragedy. The Government will have the Labour Party's support in any efforts to take scramblers off our roads and public spaces. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  I thank my colleague Deputy Ahern for providing me with some time to address a matter the Minister of State knows is very close to my heart and the hearts of the people of Drogheda. I have a very straightforward question for him. Where is Drogheda's new permanent driving test centre? He and I have engaged on this on a number of occasions in recent weeks. I appreciated the helpful updates he provided. For the benefit of the House, it is worth recording that in July of last year, the RSA said that the new driving test centre in Drogheda would be open and up and running in August. What then followed were a series of \"nearly there\" statements from the RSA that are in effect continuing without any public statements, at least, clarifying exactly where we are at the moment.  There is a huge amount of frustration in my community. Drogheda is the largest town in the country that has yet to become a city. The fact is we do not have even a temporary centre at this point. The temporary centre was closed a short number of years ago and not replaced. It should have been, in the interim, to allow for the permanent centre to be developed. The fact we do not have it is a disgrace. The profile of the population in the area is very young. People who are actively seeking to get into the workforce, or maybe to change job where they are required to have a driving licence, are required to go to already stretched centres in Navan and Dundalk. Admittedly, the numbers have come down in Navan and Dundalk, thanks to the work of the Minister of State and the RSA. We know that the testers who were taken on with the intention of working at the Drogheda centre in late August or early September have been deployed to other regional centres to address issues with the list. It is not unrealistic to expect that young people who are living in one of the largest urban areas in the country would be able to have their driving test done in their home community on the roads with which they are familiar and drive on with their instructors. This is something that needs to be addressed.  I would appreciate it very much if at the end of this debate, the Minister of State could put on the record the very clear position of the RSA. I believe this will happen. I know technical issues have arisen. The RSA is committed to this. I absolutely accept that but it would be useful if a public statement were made recommitting to the permanent driving test centre in Drogheda and clarifying and confirming precisely when it will be in operation. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Canney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Canney  A Cheann Comhairle---- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  No, not at this stage. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Se\u00e1n Canney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Se\u00e1n-Canney.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Se\u00e1n Canney  I will not be here for the end of the debate but I will give the Deputy----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  The Minister of State can correspond. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Michael-Murphy.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Murphy  I have a copy of the RSA's provisional review of fatalities for last year. I encourage all Members, as policymakers and legislators, to read this review because it reflects the crisis we have in this country when it comes to road safety. Last year, 190 precious lives were lost. They were 76 drivers, 21 passengers, 41 pedestrians, 14 pedal cyclists, 30 motorcyclists and three e-scooter-related deaths. Forty-five were under the age of 25 and 43 were over the age of 66. In my county of Tipperary, ten lives were lost compared to two the previous year. It is interesting to see the counties with the highest numbers were Dublin at 22 and Cork at 21, yet, in counties such as Longford, there were zero fatalities. There was one fatality in Leitrim, one in Sligo and two in Cavan.  Of course, behind all of these statistics are families who are absolutely devastated having lost a loved one. It is those families that guide me in my role as Chair of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport. As the Minister of State knows, yesterday marked the first of a series of committee hearings focused on road safety. The committee is keen to move beyond just broad commentary to concentrate on enforcement, operational capacity, legislative gaps, licensing and regulatory gaps, the role of the RSA and other key stakeholders, shortcomings in data capture and data access. The goal is to frame clear, evidence-based proposals that can be implemented in the short to the medium term, with the ultimate goal being to save lives. I look forward to working with the Minister of State and I thank him for his close co-operation to date.  I will focus on the matter of enforcement. Why is enforcement so crucial? It is because it shapes driver behaviour. The biggest cause of accidents on Irish roads is as a result of driver behaviour. We have got an urgent issue to address - the strength of our roads policing unit. What shocked me was the extent of non-compliance with existing legislation during the December period with the Garda operation of 10,000 checkpoints. During that period, there were: 26,500 speeding fines; 1,700 fixed penalty notices were issued with regard to mobile phone usage; 450 individuals were not wearing a seatbelt; 765 were arrested for either drunk or drug-driving; and, amazingly, 3,000 vehicles were seized at the side of the road for various offences, 60% of which did not have insurance. The reality is we have less than 650 garda\u00ed currently in our roads policing unit. In 2009, that stood at 400 more, when we had perhaps 1 million less cars on Irish roads.  In May 2024, former Commissioner Drew Harris appeared before the Oireachtas committee. He gave a commitment that by the end of 2025, 150 additional Garda members would be appointed to the roads policing unit. Unfortunately, assistant commissioner Gunne, in a recent appearance before the committee, confirmed that only 50% of those posts had been filled. Notwithstanding any outcomes of our Oireachtas hearings on road safety, my appeal to the Minister of State is that the number one priority be enforcement. Enforcement shapes driver behaviour. It is about enforcement of existing road traffic legislation. Driver behaviour matters. It is not good enough that we simply say that numbers in our roads policing unit are a matter for the Garda Commissioner. We have to strengthen our roads policing unit.  We have to get back to where we were in 2009, with 1,000 members. That is the number we need in our roads policing unit. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tom Brabazon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tom Brabazon  I will use my time to discuss the scourge of scramblers on our streets and in our communities. I offer my deepest and most sincere condolences to the family of Grace Lynch in Finglas. Her death has devastated a family, shaken a community and forced a national reckoning with the criminally dangerous use of scramblers and other vehicles. Grace had her whole life ahead of her and there are no words that can lessen the pain her loved ones and the wider community are suffering.  I welcome the legislation that is being brought forward to ban these vehicles from our streets but we have to be honest and admit this could have been done a long time ago. It should not have taken the death of young Grace to spur action. In my community, we are all too familiar with the reckless use of scramblers. We see youths with no helmets who are ballied up speeding up and down roads and footpaths, doing wheelies against the flow of traffic, beckoning and jeering at garda\u00ed and having no regard for their safety or that of others. This is sheer thuggery and part of a systematic wider criminality where vehicles are used to intimidate and terrorise local communities and as mules for the transport and dealing of illegal drugs at ease.  There is now a section of society that has become untouchable because it is not being pursued and facing the full rigours of the law. Middle management in An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na is hesitant to order chases of suspects because it cannot afford to have personnel tied up or suspended because of a Fiosr\u00fa investigation. However, as a country we cannot surrender to lawlessness. We have to empower our garda\u00ed to ensure they can pursue those using scramblers in public areas. To do this, we must consider a statutory indemnity for members of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na who act reasonably and within strict protocols, like that of the London Metropolitan Police, to ensure they are not unfairly penalised for doing their jobs.  We need a system of electronic tagging for e-scooters, e-bikes and scramblers so they can be traced from retailers to consumers. Ultimately, there must be a fear of consequences. The law must be applied with full rigour to ensure recklessness, thuggery and criminality are met with appropriate punishment. We cannot compromise on this. We owe it to the Lynch family and every family in Ireland to ensure our public spaces are no longer playgrounds for criminals or those with scramblers.  I will also touch on the use of sulkies. We have seen recent incidents around Dublin and in Limerick----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Tom Brabazon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Tom-Brabazon.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Tom Brabazon  -----where they have been used recklessly and put lives in danger. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"S\u00e9amus McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy S\u00e9amus McGrath  I thank the Ministers of State for being here to facilitate this important discussion on road safety.  Looking at road safely overall in the past few decades, significant progress has been made and that has to be acknowledged. We went from 472 lives lost in 1997 to 137 lives lost in 2021. However, unfortunately, the progress has halted and we have seen an increase in fatalities on our roads in recent years. Last year, as the Ministers of State will be aware, 190 lives were lost on our roads. It is frustrating to see the trajectory going backwards, given the progress that had been made. The road safety strategy the programme for Government committed to is important in this respect to try to arrest the decline in progress.  I share the concerns raised about scramblers. Many speakers spoke about that today. The progress in improved regulations and enforcement is important, as it is in relation to e-scooters. However, I want to focus on pedestrian safety today, in particular because it is also an important aspect of road safety. Last year 41 pedestrians lost their lives in road traffic incidents. That is a significant number. On the infrastructure to improve road safety for pedestrians and pedestrian crossings, there is a total lack of consistency in how crossings are designed and constructed. There are uncontrolled crossings, controlled crossings and zebra crossings. There is a lack of consistency in the road markings, signage and so on. Any road safety strategy will have to address that issue so we have consistency in the infrastructure to serve pedestrians. For example, the high incidence of the breaking of red lights at pedestrian crossings must be dealt with. There needs to be zero tolerance of this. We need to install cameras at busy pedestrian crossings to try to deal with this offence because it is very dangerous. It can have serious consequences and is prevalent, regrettably. We also need to look at our crossings. All pedestrian crossings should be raised platforms to make them safer. Again, there is a lack of consistency with that. Many new crossings have a raised platform but existing crossings do not. I ask that be taken on board.  I share the concerns Deputy Michael Murphy raised earlier about the roads policing unit and replenishing the numbers in the traffic corps of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Thank you, Deputy "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"S\u00e9amus McGrath","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"S\u00e9amus-McGrath.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy S\u00e9amus McGrath  This is critical because enforcement has to be a key part of road safety. I ask the Ministers of State to take that back. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cathy Bennett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Cathy-Bennett.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cathy Bennett  Irish roads are growing increasingly dangerous with 190 people losing their lives in 2025. There have been some truly horrific accidents on our roads in the north east in recent years. I have no doubt the Ministers of State have the same reaction as the rest of us when they see reports of collisions and loss of life and that they absolutely wish to meet the objective of achieving vision zero, that there would be no deaths on Irish roads. I will highlight a few areas where the Government has got it wrong and ask the Ministers of State to reflect on and give consideration to these matters.  The N2 Clontibret to the Border and Ardee to Castleblayney roads schemes are crucial to the north-east region for various reasons. Where the project scored the highest in an appraisal by Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, was on safety, being appraised as highly positive for safety, which is the highest possible score. TII has described these works as suspended due to funding constraints. Therefore, my first request as we debate road safety today, is whether we can do a reappraisal of projects which are currently underfunded and give an additional level of priority on the basis of safety.  Second, I welcome that recently during oral questions - and it was actually quite refreshing - the Minister conceded to my party and constituency colleague, Deputy Carthy, that Cavan and Monaghan County Councils have been constrained by resources in terms of road safety and maintenance and repair and that they have not received the funding they need. There was a ridiculous situation last year where almost half of the increased funding provided to councils was for speed limit signage rather than maintenance and repair.  I understand the Minister had hoped to publish the local and regional road funding allocations by the end of last month so I would appreciate if the Minister of State could indicate in his closing remarks when it is intended to publish them. Given the Minister has acknowledged that Cavan and Monaghan have been underfunded, will the Minister of State provide reassurance that he intends to redress this and provide a substantial increase to both local authorities so we can address this matter? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  Road safety is an issue in every part of the country. In recent weeks and today, we heard of yet more tragedies. I welcome any measures that can be taken to make road safety better but I will not hold my breath.  These are some examples from my constituency, Dublin South Central. Calm Crumlin Road was set up a few years ago because of the absolute danger zone that road is. Two years ago, a woman was tragically killed on her bicycle and two years later - recently in November - another accident almost identical to that one happened, so nothing is happening in that area to make it safe for people to use it. The absolute tragedy of the intertwined lives that were impacted by that woman's death was recently spoken about on \"Liveline\". This is echoed throughout the country.  Dublin South Central has scramblers. I would love to say it is scrambler city but I am sitting beside Deputy McAuliffe and scramblers are in his area and many other areas. I was coming home from work the other day and going towards Christchurch Cathedral and there was a scrambler doing a wheelie all the way up the road. This was a few days after that poor young woman in Finglas was tragically killed by a scrambler. Scramblers are a mode of transport for many young and older people. I am glad we are putting measures in place now but it has taken the death of a young person for that to happen. My heart goes out to that young woman's family and friends and all who loved her.  I am a cyclist and the mother of cyclists and my heart is in my mouth half of the time because of the absolute state of the cycling infrastructure in this city. Kilmainham Lane is one example. It is a two-way road but it is only wide enough for one car and cyclists often bear the brunt of that.  St. Cillian's National School in Bluebell has been begging for road safety measures outside the school. They have still not been implemented. That is an accident waiting to happen. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jennifer Whitmore","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Jennifer-Whitmore.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jennifer Whitmore  We are facing a road safety crisis in Ireland. It is worsening year on year. After a stint of progress earlier this decade, recent years have seen a deeply worrying trend of increasing deaths. There were 190 in 2025, 175 in 2024, 184 in 2023, and 155 in 2022. They are hundreds upon hundreds of people whose lives were tragically taken from them and families who have been destroyed by this. This is not for lack of policy, because we have the Vision Zero policy running from 2021 to 2030 which seeks to halve road deaths by 2030 and eliminate all road deaths by 2050. We are halfway through that time period now and the Government is not meeting the targets in that policy. We continue to see life after life being lost on our roads.  Phase 1 of that policy, which ran from 2021 to 2024, saw investment of \u20ac3.8 billion. It had a target of 122 or fewer deaths. It was not met. Phase 2 runs until 2027 and we are halfway through that phase now. There is no target for that period. That speaks volumes and it seems to me that the Government has, unfortunately, given up on this. The overarching national target remains a 50% reduction by 2030, meaning annual deaths should at this point be down to 72 or fewer, which is still 72 too many. So far this year, we have seen 11 people lost on our roads. Policies mean nothing if implementation fails.  What we are witnessing is a steady, consistent rise, year after year, at a time when our national strategy had promised to do the exact opposite. The Road Safety Authority, garda\u00ed and indeed the Minister of State's Government colleagues have acknowledged the worsening trends and the need for a reset of approach, but the pace of change is simply too slow. Enforcement remains inconsistent and vulnerable road users are bearing an increasing share of this danger. Without a major acceleration in the delivery of road safety measures, we will see more people lose their lives on our dangerous roads. It is down to driving behaviour, speeding, congestion, lack of enforcement and deficits in infrastructure. There is no single solution to this, because a series of measures need to be taken on board and implemented. We are just not seeing movement on that quickly enough.  I will talk about a road. Ideally, our roads would not be a priority for building. We have climate obligations. However, some of our roads are just so dangerous at the moment that there is a need to put resources into them to make them safer. I will specifically talk about the N81, which runs from Tallaght through west Wicklow and Kildare. It stands out for all the wrong reasons. It is the only road outside Dublin that has never been upgraded and is one of the major national roads still operating as a single-lane route for most of its length. Each morning, the N81 is a long line of red tail lights. A single collision, big or small, can bring the entire route to a standstill for hours. It is one of the most dangerous roads in the country. I and others have been calling for it to be addressed for years. Despite all these repeated calls, it was not included in the national development plan for 2027, and Government signals about it have been vague at best. While recent interactions have indicated that it may be advanced before 2030, no firm commitments, timelines or funding allocations have been given to me. I would appreciate if the Minister of State could look into this. A road as dangerous as the N81 cannot be left in limbo like this any longer. It needs to be brought to the same standard as other national routes in Ireland.  As I said, there is not a single solution to road safety. What we are seeing is that many roads are at capacity now. We see increased congestion, which leads to more risk of accidents and poorer driver behaviour. A key element of the solution to this is improving our public transport. I know a stated aim of the Government is to improve public transport, but I and my constituency in Wicklow have not seen that happen. I will give an example. This morning, on East Coast Radio, a young woman, Mischa Cleary, was talking about how she had to drop out of her college course in Grangegorman, where she was doing politics. She had to drop out this year because she could not get public transport to college and she cannot afford to live there, the same as many other students. Her town was promised a bus, the 199 service. The NTA told me that funding was available for it last May and that it was a priority. It was meant to start in September. It still has not started. I have repeatedly raised this. Indeed, I have raised it with other Ministers too. I ask the Minister of State to look into this. It is not acceptable for a young student like Mischa to have to drop out of college because a simple Local Link has not been delivered nearly a year after it was meant to be. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Sin\u00e9ad Gibney","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Sin\u00e9ad-Gibney.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Sin\u00e9ad Gibney  I share my sympathies and condolences with everybody involved in the terrible accident this morning on North Earl Street.  I am contacted regularly by my constituents in Dublin Rathdown about road safety issues. I will focus my comments today on cycling. There are so many topics I want to talk about but this is to get the best use out of my time. People contact me about things like the need for pedestrian crossings, new developments in Carrickmines, the need for traffic calming measures near schools in Churchtown, and concerns about the speed of traffic in particular residential areas in Ballinteer and Stillorgan, but the reality is that people overwhelmingly want to opt for active travel like walking and cycling. As we seek to encourage active travel as a viable alternative to driving, it is imperative that we address persistent safety issues. The safety of pedestrians and cyclists must be factored into our shared use of the roads. Funding for active travel has not been increased with inflation and we are seeing the cracks and shortcomings as a result of this.  As a mode of transport, we have seen huge uptake of cycling over the last number of years. D\u00fan Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council has overseen transformative cycle infrastructure implementation. I commend it on its leadership in this space. On weekends in my local areas, I see families with cargo bikes travelling to places like Marlay Park, to sports training, and to visit friends and families by bike, which is all great, but this usage is curtailed by hazards and sometimes by real risk. A lack of segregated cycling infrastructure in areas with sections that are not connected creates unstable, unusable routes. A lack of education on the rights of cyclists for other road users and sometimes the rights of pedestrians is particularly prevalent. As has been raised by the Dublin Cycling Campaign and the Love 30 campaign, speed restrictions due to council-by-council assessment create inconsistency that also proves dangerous for cyclists on our roads. If we are serious about road safety and active travel, then co-ordinated planning and connected infrastructure funding and education on the rights of different categories of road users are all imperative. There is a lot to be positive about with the current road safety strategy, but to see further progress in this area, we must listen to pedestrians and cyclists. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Cormac Devlin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Cormac-Devlin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Cormac Devlin  I welcome the statements on road safety this afternoon. I am conscious of the dreadful accident in the city centre today that many Deputies have mentioned. I know everyone's thoughts and prayers in the House are with those affected, their families and indeed the emergency services that have responded.  I welcome the series of decisive actions taken by the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, in response to the death of Grace Lynch. I put on the record my own condolences to the Lynch family. The danger posed by scramblers is an issue that I and my Dublin colleagues, Deputies McAuliffe and Lahart, have raised on numerous occasions in this House. We welcome Grace's law and we want to see it implemented as soon as possible. The Minister recently visited D\u00fan Laoghaire, where we met senior garda\u00ed to get an update on a range of issues, including the use of scrambler bikes, antisocial and criminal activity and the need for high-visibility products. Forty new garda\u00ed have been deployed to D\u00fan Laoghaire-Rathdown. These are welcome and are having a meaningful and visible effect.  As raised by other Members of the House, enforcement is key to road safety. Risky behaviour like using a phone while driving, speeding, breaking red lights, or cycling without lights at night is unacceptable and we need to see continued enforcement. There must also be a focus on continuing to improve individual behaviour. The RSA, which has been into the House this week, has been proactive in this regard and should continue its work. This is about saving lives and preventing life-changing injuries. Locally, I welcome the recent allocation for schools such as St. Kevin's National School in Sallynoggin, which has long awaited road safety improvements on Pearse Street. I thank the Minister and his colleagues for decisively dealing with the issue of scramblers and I look forward to working with them to continue to make progress on road safety. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul McAuliffe","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Paul-McAuliffe.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul McAuliffe  I thank my colleagues for giving me a little extra time on this issue. Last Friday, Father S\u00e9amus Aherne reminded the people of Finglas that 25 January was Burns night, celebrating the famous poet Robbie Burns, who spoke about old acquaintance not being forgot. I suppose for our community, as Father Aherne said, 25 January will be remembered as the day when our community was shaken by the tragic death of Grace Lynch, a 16-year-old girl with her whole life ahead of her who was killed crossing a pedestrian crossing. There will be many victims of road traffic accidents but I just want to remember Grace's life for a moment. Grace's parents Siobh\u00e1n and Martin have spoken about their daughter as a beautiful young girl. She was laid-back, she had a messy bedroom like many teenagers and she had an eye for borrowing a nice top that her mam might never get back. She spent her time with her friends and her boyfriend Harry. She would often take two buses rather than take a short walk.  She lost her life due to a vehicle that should never have been in a public place. That is the reality of road safety. This is an issue on which many people have campaigned for a long time. We have campaigned on it because we see it at first hand in our communities. Last week, we were getting calls to our office from people who were angry, people who wished they had shouted louder and people who wanted to know what they could do, what powers An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na had and what more the Government and An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na could do. That is totally understandable so a lot of us welcomed the new regulations and laws this week, which will be known as Grace's law. There will be a ban on the use of scramblers in any public place. They will further strengthen the powers around safety, seizure and destruction.  Of course, the 2023 Act put many measures in place that give An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na powers like the ability to hold the bike for up to eight weeks and not to return it unless it is returned at the permission of the court, the ability to seize the bike from the court, the ability to fine an adult who supplies the bike to a child and the ability to prosecute an offence on the belief that dangerous driving has been taking place. Many laws were already being broken with regard to scramblers. Yes we have now added a fourth, fifth or sixth law but the question is how those six laws will be enforced. There is no point in us passing laws if they are not enforced. I understand An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na has a very difficult job and that pursuit is a very high-risk pursuit for garda\u00ed where the Garda is exposed, the person is exposed and the public is exposed - it is not easy - but there is now a range of powers. I believe that in operational terms, An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na can put together measures that will tackle the very small number of people in our communities who hold these scramblers. As Father Aherne said, these young bucks will kill and be killed. Last week I spoke perhaps in anger but we will give the Garda Commissioner time now to operationalise these powers. However, it must be very quick. We need to make sure that An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na has the resources, and the Minister is expected to provide them, and that garda\u00ed at every level know their role, know what they can do, feel empowered and do not feel restricted. It is incredibly important that every Garda knows what he or she can do in terms of tackling scrambler bikes and that senior garda\u00ed, including the Commissioner, put in place operations that use section 109A and sections 1 to 4, inclusive. They are all there to be used. We now want them to be enforced because another incident of this nature is just unthinkable.  I welcome the measures announced this week. Having studied it for some time, it is more complicated than simply introducing a ban. There are other elements to it but it is incredibly welcome. As Siobh\u00e1n said, she wants her daughter to be remembered. These laws will be known as Grace's law to remember her but the important thing now is that we put in place the measures to enforce them. Grace's mam was really clear; this was not an accident. She does not want to call it an accident. We need to ensure this can never happen again. I also acknowledge the loss of life in the city centre today and the families that were there. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Grace Boland","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Grace-Boland.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Grace Boland  I echo Deputy McAuliffe's calls regarding making sure that An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na understands the powers it has and has all of the supports and equipment necessary to enforce these powers. My constituency borders that of Deputy McAuliffe. I express my condolences to Grace Lynch's family. What happened was horrific. There is a similar issue with scramblers in Santry in my constituency. We have to do everything we can to ensure that An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na has the resources, manpower and technology to ensure this never happens again.  At a meeting of the Joint Committee on Transport this week, we heard about the stark and distressing rise in road fatalities. Again today, we have seen a major crash in Dublin city centre in which a number of pedestrians have been injured and, unfortunately and tragically, another person has lost their life leaving a family devastated. I am sure the thoughts and condolences of all of us in this House are with those affected today and the emergency service personnel who have had to deal with it.  We know that reducing speed saves lives. At the transport committee this week, we heard overwhelming testimony from the witnesses that we have to reduce the speed on our roads. We have to achieve a default of 30 km\/h in all urban areas. The Government has directed local authorities to reduce speed limits in built-up areas by March 2027 with investment, signage and implementation. We heard very concerningly from the witnesses this week that the procedures the local authorities have to undertake to implement these reduced speed limits are overly bureaucratic. They have to go out to public consultation and they have to pass it through votes. We need to see the Department of Transport really leading and supporting local authorities to deliver on this. Lives are being lost. We have to deliver reduced speed. All of the research tells us this. We have seen it in Spain and Wales and we need to see it here in Ireland before March 2027 but no later than March 2027. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Natasha Newsome Drennan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Natasha-Newsome-Drennan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan  Since my election, I have constantly raised the dangerous conditions and layout of roads across my constituency. Nowhere is this crisis more severe than in south Kilkenny along the N25. The stretch past the Rhu Glenn can be described as a deadly accident black spot. The statistics are not just numbers. They are families and communities left devastated. Over the past 40 years, more than 80 people have lost their lives on this road alone. In recent years, we have endured several fatal collisions. A road traffic report confirms what the local community already knows. Life will never be the same for these people and their families. They have to shout loudly. There have been delays and delays. This is not about manpower; this is about money. This road has been pushed beyond its limit with a 360% increase in users. It is not fit for purpose. While progress on an upgrade is under way, its pace is mind-bogglingly slow. Every month of delays is a gamble with lives.  This is not an isolated issue. Across Ireland, our roads are becoming more deadly. We have seen this all too often. In Kilkenny, the N24 runs on from the N25 and is just as deadly. Extreme weather from flooding to relentless rainfall is ripping apart rural roads that are already in a poor state. On the quays in Thomastown, roads and walls are collapsing. Again, this is down to money, not manpower.  We need a substantial increase in central funding to local authorities, not for patching potholes, but for proper repair, resilient materials and modern engineering that can withstand these new climate realities.  Too often, the Government's sole answer to road safety is to lower speed limits. This is a pointless action if we lack the garda\u00ed to enforce it. The facts are stark. Over the past 15 years, the number of garda\u00ed in road policing has collapsed by a staggering 41%. As the roads have grown busier, the number of garda\u00ed tasked with policing them has been nearly halved. This is an utter failure of policy by Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael. The Minister speaks of recruiting new garda\u00ed but he is silent on the high volume of experienced members leaving every month for police forces in the likes of Australia. We are losing our wealth of knowledge and experience.  Addressing road safety demands accountability. We need a serious commitment to restore road policing units, and we need clear accountability from the leadership of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na for its performance around road safety. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  First, I want to express my condolences to the family of the person who has died and those who were injured in what sounds like an awful crash in the north inner city. I hope there are no more deaths as a result.  We are obviously here because of the tragic and awful death of 16-year-old Grace Lynch. I want to express my condolences to her family and friends. I also want to pay tribute to her mother, in particular, for the way that she spoke out so bravely and strongly and as a consequence we are now going to have Grace's law. Of course, it did not have to be Grace's law as this is legislation that was passed in 2023. A regulation could have been signed at any point since then but was not. It should not have taken this tragedy to force action by the Government because this is not a new issue. It is an issue that particularly affects working class communities. It has certainly been an issue for the entire time that I have been a TD in Dublin South-West. It has been a scourge in working-class communities. People try to go for walks in parks or wherever and they face the threat of being run down by someone on a scrambler.  I got an email just last week from a woman saying that on several occasions she was forced of the path while pushing her four-month-old baby in her pram as riders deliberately sped towards them and performed wheelies directly in front of them. Her eight-year-old daughter now refuses to go for local walks out of fear of these bikes. That is not new and not the first contact like this I have received. I have received many over many years.  The safety of working-class communities should not be ignored until tragedy strikes. That means far wider reaching preventative measures to protect our communities. It means banning the sale of scrambler bikes except to those who are in licensed clubs. It means investing in safety initiatives that target groups using scramblers. It means investing in diversion programmes, community outreach, sports and roads safety, which will go a lot further than having garda\u00ed chase after teenagers on bikes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  Traffic volumes are up, speeds are up, and mobile phone use is up. I want to highlight the N80 that goes through Laois. Safety measures are needed in the village of Arles, which local councillors and local people have been years looking for. I handed in petitions to Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, and Laois County Council demanding that traffic calming measure be put at each end of the village and that it be made safer for pedestrians with a pedestrian crossing, proper footpaths and improved signage. Laois County Council made a submission to TII long ago but it is not being funded. I want the Minister of State to take note of this. This needs to be funded by the Department and by TII. Drinagh, which is in the Mountmellick area, is on the N80 and also needs some traffic calming measures where traffic is coming from the west and into Mountmellick town.  I want to raise the issue of local roads. We reduced the speed limit on local roads to 60 km\/h, and this is a bone of contention for me. In my naivety, I thought we would see 80 km\/h signs being removed and being replaced with 60 km\/h signs all over the country. However, we got a white sign with lines across it. The only person in this room who can probably tell me what that means is the Ceann Comhairle because she is a former truck driver. I asked a number of TDs if they knew what the sign means and none of them did. We are the people who made the laws. Those signs are ineffective and need to be changed. We need a 60 km\/h sign. We are asking for a bit of common sense here. Stripped lines across a white background do not tell people anything. The figure 60 tells them that this is the maximum speed. This is a common-sense measure. The speeds on local roads in Laois are crazy. There is a cohort of drivers driving like lunatics on them and that needs to stop.  I want to raise the issue of e-bikes as well. I am in favour of e-bikes but now some of them are higher powered than motorbikes. If anyone here ever had a Honda 50 or a Honda 100, they had to have tax, insurance and a driver's licence for it. People can now have an e-bike that can do 70 km\/h and 80 km\/h. One passed me the other day and I was doing 65 km\/h. He flew passed me on an e-bike that had tires the width of a good motorbike. That cannot be allowed to continue. We have to regulate them. People who drive them need to be licensed, taxed and insured. We should also make sure they know the rules of the road. We cannot continue like this. I also support the legislation on scrambler bikes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  It would be utter hypocrisy to begin a debate on road safety without mentioning that it does not just apply to 16 and 18-year-olds and that it also applies to TDs and that we have a TD in this House who was driving at 190 km\/h. They could have killed anybody on that road that day only the garda\u00ed arrived. It was the second time this person had an offence. They paid compensation to a family in 1990 when they were councillor. To be frank, it is utterly disgraceful that someone like that has not been mentioned by the Minister for justice. There was no political penalty except coming off a committee. They are still on other committees and they spoke here yesterday. It is not setting a very good example because, as I said, it is not just young people.  I want to send my sympathy to the family of Grace Lynch. It is heartbreaking and her mother's call-to-action was inspirational. Scramblers should not be permitted on public roads or in public spaces. Forget about having tax and insurance, which is in the current law. They should not be on public roads. They are not suitable. They are far too dangerous. A person should need a licence to buy one or to sell one and should be part of a motor club which is where scrambling is actually meant to take place.  In this context, I want to mention that when I was on the council, it took the initiative and set up a scrambler bike club in Mulhuddart where I live. It is now closed because the club is expected to pay the insurance, and it cannot get insurance. We have this scenario where clubs are using public facilities set up by councils. The clubs are then expected to find the insurance, so the public facilities are no longer in use. This has to stop. We should give young people that outlet so that they do not have the excuse to be on public roads and all local authorities should be involved in providing such facilities. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  I had the opportunity to raise road safety with the T\u00e1naiste earlier this afternoon. I was glad he was able to confirm that the ridiculous notion of a proposed mandatory requirement for helmets for people using a push bike is not going ahead. I welcome his confirmation of that.  During that discussion, I also raised some of issues raised at the Joint Committee on Transport's meeting on road safety yesterday. Three key issues were raised by people who represent cyclists but other vulnerable road users as well. First, there is their concern about the U-turn with respect to the Road Safety Authority, RSA. There had been a clear agreement reached in the last Government to separate out that public information element and to let the RSA focus on that. That has been reversed and it will have to continue to try to do that while at the same time bring in its own income. That is not the right focus there.  Second, there is the issue of 30 km\/h zones in built-up areas. When I was on Fingal County Council, estates were fighting to be part of that pilot because they knew it would bring a greater degree of safety for communities, particularly for children. Somebody hit by a car travelling at 30 km\/h has a 90% chance of surviving that crash. When the speed goes up to 60 km\/h, there is almost a 100% likelihood that the crash will kill them. That is the difference. We have the power in law that makes it easy to bring in those 30 km\/h zones across large parts of built-up areas but the decision has been made to make it harder with each local authority undertaking long, arduous processes to deliver what could be a life-saving decision for an area.  People raised the Crowe report early last year and issues to do with policing, particularly the focus of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na in regard to roads policing. That really undermined confidence in people, whether they are in the car, on the bike or on foot. It is important that the Minister for justice give us an update on the response to that report. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ryan O'Meara","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Ryan-O'Meara.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ryan O'Meara  I wish to talk about road safety in the context of the quality of our roads. I represent, as the Minister of State knows, a rural constituency with a huge number of regional roads where the county council is expected to maintain and improve road surfaces, but it cannot do that to the level we need without a major funding increase.  I will give the Minister of State some examples of roads I am talking about: the old N7, now the R445, particularly in Toomevara village; the old N8, now the R639; the Cloughjordan to Borrisokane road; the Cloughjordan to Nenagh road; and the Templemore to Johnstown road. The Portumna to Birr road, between the bridge at Portumna and the bridge in Riverstown, is entirely in my constituency and needs major enhancement works, particularly from the pike back as far as the ferry near Portumna. Other examples are the Cloughjordan to Roscrea road; the Nenagh to Ballina road through Portroe and Newtown; the Nenagh to Carrigahorig road going between Puckaun, Coolbaun and Terryglass; the Nenagh to Dolla road to Tipperary town, particularly going through Curreeney; and the Thurles to Limerick road, in particular going through Ballycahill, Milestone, Rear Cross and Kilcommon. That is a lot of regional roads and I did not even cover all of them in one rural constituency.  Tipperary County Council has a huge amount of work to do. It is doing its best but with inflation it can only do so much. I am getting a lot of complaints at the moment about the Thurles to Limerick road, particularly from Rear Cross towards Newport. We need further investment in our roads in Tipperary if we are going to bring the road surfaces and structures up to the standard that is needed. After the rainfall we have seen in recent weeks and months, they are now even more damaged. Sending a team out to fix potholes only does so much. We need to deal with the structure of the roads if we are going to have safer and better ones in north Tipperary. That is what our taxpayers deserve. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Connolly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"John-Connolly.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Connolly  I will confine my comments today to the issue of road safety around schools and enabling children to access schools in a safer manner. I welcome, as part of that, the implementation of phase 2 of the national speed limit review, which proposes to reduce the speed limit in urban areas to a default of 30 km\/h. It is not so clear, however, what is expected of local authorities in relation to schools on national routes, and we should give them greater clarity.  The Minister of State will be very familiar with some of the routes I am going to discuss, such as the R336 and the N59. In the case of the N59, Scoil Baile Nua, Rosscahill national school, Leam national school and Derryglinna are all on a national route. We should provide direct guidance to Galway County Council and other local authorities that we expect the speed limit, at least periodically around the time of school operations, to be reduced to 30 km\/h at those spots. Similarly, on the R336, at Scoil N\u00e1isi\u00fanta na bhForbacha, Scoil N\u00e1isi\u00fanta Sailearna and scoil An Tulach, we should also ensure that at those locations the county council will reduce the speed limit to 30 km\/h.  On a general point, across the country, while we welcome the work local authorities are doing specifically on urban areas, we should ask them to reduce the speed limit on those national regional routes to 30 km\/h during school times at least.  I also want to talk about the safe routes to school scheme. We all welcome the ambition and objective of that scheme to make it easier for children to walk, cycle or scoot to school. A level of frustration has developed around the completion of those projects. I was the principal of a school that was involved in the first tranche of the safe routes to school scheme and, as yet, the work has not been completed. One of the challenges is that money is being provided to the active travel team within the local authorities but they also have lots of other tasks to do such as maintaining bus shelters, cycle schemes and road-narrowing schemes. We should provide the local authorities with staff specific to the safe routes to school scheme. The investment deserves that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Emer Currie","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","memberCode":"Emer-Currie.S.2020-06-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Emer Currie  I do not think we have a legislation problem in road safety. I believe we primarily have an implementation and enforcement problem. Our Vision Zero strategy is heading in the wrong direction. Road deaths in Ireland rose by 22% from 2019 to 2025, while the EU average fell by 12%. That is not progress. Behaviour on our roads is worsening, while the system meant to protect people has failed to keep pace with the reality - more people, more cars, new vehicle types and more pressure on infrastructure. There has been a loss of confidence in our road safety strategy and the Government must act now to restore it. We have to remember the families affected and listen to road safety groups like PARC and people like Susan Gray who are dedicated to road safety. Fourteen people have lost their lives already this year, including somebody today. I am thinking of that family.  What are the concrete plans to prioritise road safety, reform the RSA and properly tackle enforcement? Awareness and education matter but they are not enough. From the past six months, I will give the Minister of State three examples of where I have seen a worrying lack of co-ordination between agencies and Departments. Take illegal licence plates. Despite assurances from the Department of Transport, the Garda already had enforcement powers. It took two years and repeated parliamentary questions before fixed charge notices were implemented for illegal licence plates. Then there is Garda access to the national vehicle and driver file, NVDF, which records licence status, disqualifications and penalty points. It is the backbone of enforcement on the roadside. For months, I was told by the Department of Transport that garda\u00ed had full roadside access via their mobility app, and had so for at least three years. The Garda then said access was partial, that a memorandum of understanding had only been signed and that a pilot was under way. Since December, all Garda members now have full NVDF access and I welcome that, but what was happening over the past three years?  Even now, I do not have full confidence that garda\u00ed and insurance companies have all the information they need from the NVDF. The courts system is not capturing driver numbers of people who are disqualified or assigned penalty points, so a process then has to be undertaken to match drivers to offences on the NVDF. I have a simple question that has not been answered yet. Fifteen hundred court-issued penalty points have not been matched to drivers but a report from the Department of Transport says they could have been. Has there been any follow-up to see if any of them were for drivers who could have breached the 12- or seven-penalty-point threshold for disqualification? These are fixable issues: co-ordination, implementation and enforcement. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Catherine Callaghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Catherine-Callaghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Catherine Callaghan  I wish to join with every Member of the House in remembering and paying tribute to the 183 lives that were lost on Irish roads in 2025, the largest number of fatalities on our roads since 2014. Of course, my heart also goes out to those impacted by this afternoon's horrendous bus crash in Dublin city centre and to the family of the deceased and those injured. Every life lost on our roads is a family devastated, an empty chair at the dinner table and a heart broken beyond repair.  Of immense concern to me and no doubt my colleagues in this Chamber is the fact that since the end of Covid-19, road deaths have been on the rise in Ireland. Last year, there was an average of 15 deaths per month on the roads in Ireland, an increase on the average of 14 deaths per month in 2024. Clearly we must do more in this Chamber to ensure the message gets through: slow down because speed kills. For families grieving the sudden loss of a loved one in a road traffic accident, it can only feel like a meaninglessly cruel and random event.  Last year, over half of the fatalities occurred on high-speed roads, those with a speed limit of 80 km\/h and above. Carlow County Council has led from the front in applying a reduced speed limit to the section of the N80 that runs through the county, in direct response to an uptick in recent incidents on that stretch of road. Likewise, Kilkenny County Council's road safety plan has set out a strategic vision for the remainder of the decade aimed at engaging with the relevant stakeholders to bring about a safe environment on our roads. Outside Glenmore in south Kilkenny, a 6 km stretch of the N25 is among the most lethal pieces of road in the country. You are five times more likely to be killed or seriously injured on this section of road than on any other road in Ireland.  Similarly, the Waterford to Cahir scheme on the N24 is stalled between stages 2 and 3, awaiting the necessary backing before it can proceed. People in Kilkenny are crying out for this work to be progressed urgently and to curb the senseless and utterly preventable tragedies. The time for talk is over; now is the time to act.  I urge the relevant Ministers to do everything in their power to ensure these life-saving projects across the N24 and N25 are progressed as quickly as possible. Road tragedies remind us that everything can change in an instant and we should adopt that attitude when it comes to safety on the road. Everything can change for the worse, but it can also change for the better. I commend the RSA on its dedication to Vision Zero and on the outreach and education work it does on an ongoing basis to increase awareness of our own responsibilties on the road. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Dessie Ellis","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Dessie-Ellis.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Dessie Ellis  Communities have suffered the scourge of scramblers for too long. The death of Grace Lynch, a 16-year-old girl from Finglas, demands urgent action. People are frustrated by what they see as the lack of a proper response by the Garda to this menace. Garda\u00ed are frustrated too, and while they have had some successes in seizing scramblers, the recent tragedy in Finglas shows that much more needs to be done. The current legislation is failing to tackle the scourge of scramblers and is not enforced.  I have raised these concerns both in the D\u00e1il and at local policing forums. I have also tried to bring legislation before the D\u00e1il as far back as 2012. I introduced a Private Members' Bill that addressed the nuisance and dangers caused by scramblers in public areas, housing estates, parks and greens. My Bill would have given the Garda powers to seize, remove and dispose of such vehicles. This Bill was voted down by the then Government. In 2017, the then Deputy Imelda Munster and I introduced another Bill that again would have given the Garda the power to seize and detain quad bikes and scramblers when they were being used unlawfully. Once again this was voted down by the Government. In 2020, Sinn F\u00e9in introduced another Bill on scramblers and addressed concerns raised by the Government with regard to such legislation. Again, this Bill would have given the Garda powers of seizure, but also included a call for the Garda to be given the necessary resources and training to chase and apprehend people using scramblers unlawfully. Unfortunately, the Government voted down that Bill as well. It has taken the death of a young girl in Finglas for the Government to finally act.  In framing the proposed legislation, the Government should take note of best practice for dealing with this problem in other countries. Communities want to see scramblers being seized and they also want to see people prosecuted. In Britain, police forces have been using a DNA spray that tags riders and bikes. This spray is an invisible, uniquely coded dye that aids in the identification of an offender, allowing for future prosecution. Drones are used to track offenders and scramblers, thereby avoiding the dangers of high-speed chase. In Britain, police forces have also used specialised scramblers to pursue and apprehend riders. It is unacceptable that people on scramblers are able to cover their faces.  Along with such measures, the Garda needs to work with schools and local authorities to educate young people and parents about the dangers and legal consequences of the illegal use of scramblers. The Government must take this opportunity to tackle this menace once and for all. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  Hear, hear. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Collins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Michael-Collins.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Collins  There is no doubt the roads in my constituency are in an atrocious condition. I would dearly welcome the Minister of State coming down to see some of them. I spend most of my time travelling, but during the weekend when I am in my constituency, I spend most of my time trying to go around potholes. It is not good enough. It is the height of danger. We have verges that are not cut and there are trees hanging over onto roadways. The other day, The  Southern Star , our newspaper down there, ran a piece by Kieran O'Mahony on the front page about how people cannot pass their driving test because they cannot see the lines on the road. There are no lines on the road and all the signs are blocked because everything is overgrown. There is a complete lack of funding and a complete lack of understanding that Cork County Council has been underfunded not for a couple of years but for decades, and it cannot deliver when it does not have money. It is a very serious issue.  I am on the transport committee and I raised this next issue the other day. Has the Minister of State met the car manufacturers? The biggest problem we have today is that there are computer screens inside cars. There is a bloody portable television up on the dashboard. People can no longer just put down the hand and turn on the radio or put on the heating. You did not have to look; now you have to work a computer. A lot of people give out to us if we use mobile phones, which we should not do, of course, but when you are driving, there is a computer screen at the front of every new car you can buy today. That is an appalling situation. There are many issues. Take passing bays. On the N71, the R586 and the R585, there is not one passing bay. I could be held behind a tractor for 25 or 30 minutes on the road by someone pulling stuff. I would appreciate a little bit more money. Maybe the Minister of State could take a visit down there some time and we can have a look at all these issues. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Nicholas Gogarty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Paul-Nicholas-Gogarty.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty  It has been a year now since we last had statements on road safety, and in the interim, we have multiple vehicle-related deaths. In 2025, there were 185 fatalities recorded by the RSA - that is up 8% - comprising 76 drivers, 41 pedestrians, 30 motorcyclists, 21 passengers, 14 cyclists and three e-scooter users. There have been too many tragic deaths in the first five weeks of this year as well. My thoughts go out to the families and individuals involved in the bus incident today. More details will come out in due course.  The Government has to bear responsibility for all these deaths over the last number of years because the system is not functioning. Enforcement has weakened as Garda roads policing numbers have fallen and it will get worse. There is dangerous behaviour in cars \u2013 speeding, phone use, breaking lights, selfish behaviour, dangerous scramblers, e-scooters and illegal driving, unchecked far too often \u2013 and while safety measures have been announced, they have not been implemented yet or delivered quickly enough. These include the lower speed limits, stronger penalties and rules for the long-term learner drivers. Meanwhile, more families grieve. We need a zero-tolerance approach to breaking red lights, yellow-box misbehaviour, scooters with no visibility, scramblers and sulky racing on public roads. We probably also need a dedicated Garda traffic corps that goes beyond the internal Garda roads policing unit. We need higher fines, more seizures and zero tolerance at this stage. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  I agree with speed limits but not all of them. Speed limits on our roads were brought down to 60 km\/h on a blanket basis. I do not agree with that. Some roads are 6 m or 7 m wide on areas that are down to 60 km\/h. Then there are roads ou could not park a car on, and they are also at 60 km\/h. I would have loved them to leave speed limits with local authorities. They know where accidents happen or where there can be free-flowing traffic. Creating this blanket 60 km\/h speed limit causes congestion where people could be driving at safer distances over a longer period.  Another thing I do not agree with is people coming into this country being able to hold their licence for six months before they change it for an Irish licence. We have 1 million extra people in this country. The number of accidents is getting higher. I am not blaming all the people coming into this country but when people come from another country, their driving pattern is very different. I was in Rome recently. My God. I did not find one person on their phone but their driving behaviour was very different from the behaviour here. It was in and out, in and out. Not one person walked out in front of a car or truck saying, \u201cOh look at me, I am on my phone\u201d because they have personal responsibility. Here, it has gone the other way around. There is no personal responsibility for a person walking or doing anything. You should be seen on the road. Everyone should have responsibility, whether they are driving a car, walking on the road or cycling. Everyone has personal responsibility but they should take into account the different widths of the road so that we have a reasonable speed limit on them rather than having a blanket limit and then not even paying local authorities for the repair of the roads. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Michael Fitzmaurice","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice  The councils are underfunded. The Minister of State is from the same county as me and he knows this. Galway is probably one of the worst funded counties in general, but in roads especially.  Another issue is roadside hedges. Anyone who drives a lorry will know that the first thing that will happen is the mirrors will be clipped. Two rows of hedges will have been cut and the third one will not have been. They have to keep hedges out of the road. That is causing more problems.  We have to sympathise with anyone who has lost their life, but then we decided we would solve it all and reduce the speed limit. If you are going from Ahascragh to Ballinasloe, you would cycle faster on a road that is dead straight and then on a by-road you could go faster. It is absolutely nuts what we have done. Then there are the GoSafe vans, which of course are put in places where they are sure to catch you - if you are doing a lot of mileage generally, they are sure to get you \u2013 instead of being in places that are real black spots.  The Government brought down the speed limits. What has happened? Unfortunately, more people have lost their lives.  Another thing we have done is around older people and the computer system. People talk about learner permits and all that. Bring them with you; do not bring them away from you. We are now going to say you have to go back to square one.  For older people who have had it for X number of years, we need to get them to do their test or sort out something. Some of these people are afraid at the moment to even go in to do the test to get a provisional licence when they have to go in and answer the 40 questions. We need to be considerate and work with people. Above all is safety on roads. The problem is those roads are in a bad state around the country and it is causing a lot of accidents. However, we blame everything else to make sure that we do not have to put more money into it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Peadar-T\u00f3ib\u00edn.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn  Road safety is not being taken seriously by this Government; that is a fact. We have all the legislation but no enforcement. Legislation does not mean tuppenny damn if we do not enforce it. Let us consider the new legislation the Government's bought in yesterday for scramblers. I have spoken to representatives of the Garda. They say garda\u00ed do not have the ability or the right to pursue an individual on a scrambler. The press statement put out yesterday said that there will be pursuit of individual scramblers. Garda\u00ed are not trained to do it. One of the most dangerous things they can do is pursue somebody in a particular situation like this. There has been no discussion with the Garda representative organisations on this at all. The day after the Government announced the legislation on scramblers, we are in limbo as to whether or not anybody can be pursued for it. That is a really significant problem in. If a garda does pursue and someone dies, they could be brought before Fiosr\u00fa. They could be stood down. They could find themselves in a civil court defending the fact they pursued without any training. Those garda\u00ed have the same licences the Minister of State has in terms of pursuit.  The Minister of State will be embarrassed by the figures I am going to read out now. Figures show that between 2021 and 2024, 32,700 drivers were disqualified. Of those, a third did not even have a bloody licence, an incredible situation. Of the 21,000 who did have a licence, only 5,000 bothered to surrender them afterwards to the people they were meant to surrender them to. There were people disqualified in those years who had already been disqualified twice. They were driving and they were disqualified, they were driving again and were disqualified again, and they were driving yet again and were disqualified yet again. What difference does the bloody legislation mean at all if the Government will not put in place the number of garda\u00ed that is necessary? Garda numbers have fallen significantly in the last number of years. There has been a 40% fall in the number of traffic garda\u00ed and behaviours are changing as a result. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Keira Keogh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Keira Keogh  Can I confirm that Deputy Lahart and I are sharing ten minutes? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Yes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Keira Keogh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Keira-Keogh.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Keira Keogh  I start by extending my sympathies to the family of Grace Lynch and also to the family of the deceased from today's bus accident and those recovering in hospital, as well as the 183 families from last year, nine of them in Mayo. It is important to remember those people because that is why we are here. Even though in my county there were 19 deaths in 2024, which reduced to nine last year, every single life lost is one too many. The RSA is to be commended on the good work that it is doing. Representatives from the RSA were in the audiovisual room yesterday and gave us a good presentation. We can all agree that lots more work needs to be done. One of the first things that could be done very easily is to update the traffic watch online. Right now, it is still a form that people can fill in, but with so many cars having live dashcams, it is a no-brainer that we should be able to upload that footage and be able to prosecute from that. That is something that should be done very quickly.  I am looking at tackling car enthusiasts in an area in my home county called Derrinumera, where the local recycling centre is. Car enthusiasts gather there most Saturday nights with up to 100 cars at a time. Families are struggling to get their young children to sleep. More than that, doughnuts are being done and there is lots of dangerous driving. An holistic approach is needed to meet young people where they are at. There are a lot of car enthusiasts in Westport, Mayo in general, Donegal and Galway. We have to meet them where they are at in an holistic way by bringing them to the table and offering them organised ways to show off the cars they are so proud of in a safe manner.  We also need to tackle distracted and dangerous driving in general. I would love to see more of the work that the RSA is doing with young people in transition year, at the AXA roadshow and going around to things like the ploughing championships where they are using virtual reality. We know from the Defence Forces and from nursing and medical courses that virtual reality is having a very positive effect on real-life behaviour. We should look at expanding virtual reality scenarios of driving on ice, driving when tired and falling asleep, having an accident while holding a phone, driving under the influence and perhaps make that as a mandatory one-hour finisher to the 11 hours already required by a learner driver. It is one thing to do it in schools, but it would be great to do it right before people take their test.  Many Deputies have spoken today about the frustration with driving slowly and speed limits coming down to 30 km\/h in some areas. We have to remind ourselves of the statistics. If hit by a vehicle at 60 km\/h, 40% of people will survive. If hit at 50 km\/h, 70% of people will survive. If hit at 30 km\/h, more than 90% of people will survive. A driver who hits somebody at 60 km\/h will wish for every second afterwards that they had only been driving at 30 km\/h. People might be frustrated today getting to work doing 60 km\/h on a 50 km\/h road, but I guarantee that if a child happens to run out in front of them and they are within the speed limit, they will not regret this for the rest of their life.  I also want to thank Hayley Coleman and Myles O'Brien, who came to speak at a road safety event I held in Mayo last year. It demonstrated to everybody there the benefit of hearing real-life stories. If this can be incorporated into the learner driver courses and people hear real life-changing stories, it will have real impact. Myles O'Brien is a talented chef. He has talked about the fact that he was a novice motorcyclist and had an accident that left him paralysed. He is graciously giving up his time to talk to people about his experiences and what he wished he knew then. Hayley Coleman is a talented make-up artist who was involved in an accident where her friend passed away and she was left with life-changing injuries. Whether it is at the AXA roadshow or wherever, if anybody gets to hear at first hand a life-changing experience, it will impact their driver behaviour; we know that. If that can be rolled out when people are doing their learner driver courses, it would be really beneficial.  We definitely need more streamlined funding for lollipop people. In my home town of Westport, a school has been without a lollipop person for a long time. We know that is because it is a short-term role for a couple of hours a day but it is a vital role. We should definitely consider streamlining funding across local authorities for lollipop people. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Verona Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Verona-Murphy.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Ceann Comhairle  Before I call on Deputy Lahart, I believe we have some members of the Order of Malta with us. I am not sure where they are from but what they do is very valued in society and I thank them very much. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Lahart","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Lahart.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Lahart.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Lahart  As you have used 20 seconds of my time, a Cheann Comhairle, you might be nice to me at the back end of it. I echo your welcome. The Order of Malta would absolutely take priority if I was in the Chair too.  I echo the comments made by all previous speakers and by the Taoiseach and the Minister in recent days. I offer my sympathy to the family of Grace Lynch on their unbearable loss. Unfortunately, sometimes it seems to the public that events like this coax Government and politicians into action. When I first came in here in 2016, we had the scourge of scramblers in my constituency of Dublin South-West not only on streets but particularly in public parks. They destroyed public parks and public pitches and caused accidents to young children, near accidents and near misses. There had been a death on the northside of Dublin as well, which motivated me as spokesperson on Dublin at the time to move to introduce legislation. We were not in government but when we came into government, Deputy Paul McAuliffe and I doubled down on that. It is worth reiterating what that legislation involved. It was passed in 2023 by the Government at the time. It made dangerous driving an offence not only in public spaces but everywhere, including in public parks. It also gave An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na new powers to seize scramblers being driven dangerously in any location. One month after the Bill was enacted, off-road scramblers were no longer just illegal for use in public places.  It was illegal to drive them dangerously anywhere, even on private land. More importantly, garda\u00ed had full powers under that legislation to seize a scrambler being driven dangerously in any location where they had reasonable belief that the vehicle might be driven dangerously. It also gave the Garda the powers to enter the curtilage of a dwelling to receive a scrambler after the fact. Why was it given those powers? It was that senior garda\u00ed had issued an instruction to rank-and-file members not to engage in pursuit of scramblers being driven in a dangerous fashion, as that would cause danger to the public, the garda and the person driving the scrambler. It was just dangerous all around. All of these powers we have spoken about were actually granted to the Garda. We have to ask ourselves why the regulations to ban scramblers in public spaces were not being made. That comes down to an elongated consultation process that was going on between officials at Garda level and in the Department of Transport.  I am not going to say politicians did their bit on this but we certainly did our utmost in passing that law to give the powers to those who requested them to ensure that the scourge and antisocial menace of scramblers could be stopped once and for all.  I welcome the complete ban. I am disappointed about certain initiatives. I tried to bring one to south Dublin. I refer to the Moyross initiative where garda\u00ed have engaged with scrambler users, the Road Safety Authority, community workers and social partnership. Essentially, it is a pretty sophisticated Garda youth diversion scheme where scrambler riders are taught to respect the rules of the road, how to maintain a scrambler bike, the correct reflective clothing to wear, how to ride and drive safely and how to respect other users on the road. There has been a lot of success to that. I tried to replicate it in my own local authority and brought the Moyross people to meet and engage with South Dublin County Council. It never went farther than that and I am hugely disappointed that it did not happen.  I welcome the ban because the destruction caused by scramblers to parks in my community, and the menace caused to people, particularly children and older people, continues. I want to say to the Minister of State that we still have to find a way to catch them. A scrambler that appears on the street when these laws and regulations come in still has to be pursued and the rider still has to be caught safely. This has been raised by previous speakers. I support the use of drone technology in this and the expertise that other police forces have garnered. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Jen Cummins)  Thank you, Deputy. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Lahart","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Lahart.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Lahart.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Lahart  The Ceann Comhairle took some moments of my time welcoming people. I can say that because she is gone.  That power to destroy scramblers existed under previous laws because of a lack of insurance or a lack of tax. If we do succeed, and I hope we do, they will be replaced by something else. We have to prepare for that. This is not the end of the story. We need to remain really vigilant. I welcome the work the Minister of State and the Ministers for justice and Transport have done. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Mark Ward","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","memberCode":"Mark-Ward.D.2019-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Mark Ward  I want to start by saying that everybody who was involved in that tragic incident on North Earl Street this lunchtime is in my thoughts and prayers. I thank the first responders. They do not get enough thanks from us in this House for being there and assisting people at this tragic time. I also want to ask people to refrain from sharing images and videos on social media. I know somebody it happened to before and it is an absolutely horrible way to find out that a loved one was involved in a tragic incident. I ask people to refrain from doing that.  As a father, I watched the heartbreaking reaction to the tragic death of 16-year-old Grace Lynch by a scrambler. Those of us who have represented communities that have been plagued by scramblers are not surprised. We have given the Government ample warning. In 2012, Teachta Dessie Ellis brought forward legislation to deal with scramblers in our communities. In recent times, Teachta\u00ed Donnelly and Ellis and I again brought forward more legislation. Despite the efforts of some Government backbenchers, the Government did not put anything concrete in place.  My area of Dublin Mid-West is just one of the neighbourhoods that has been terrorised by people on scramblers. They feel they can do what they want, when they want and how they want. It is not just scramblers that are causing problems in our communities. E-scooters are being driven recklessly and with impunity, often transporting drugs and cash for organised criminals. People coming off e-scooters are the leading cause of traumatic brain injuries presenting at the Mater hospital.  The Government has said it will commit to looking at regulations for e-scooters and scramblers but they need to be comprehensive. We need to see what powers are going to be put in place for the Garda to be able to seize them. These are absolute weapons in the hands of wrong people. They are lethal weapons. We need to put everything in place that will take them off our streets.  I want to talk about potholes. It is the first time I have brought them up in the D\u00e1il. It is a big issue in Dublin Mid-West. I have lived in the area all my life and I have never seen the roads so bad. Driving through parts of Clondalkin and Lucan is like driving through an obstacle course trying to avoid potholes. The roads literally are in bits. Some people actually name the potholes in my community they are there that long. They get a temporary fix and then they reappear a couple of days later. You could drive down a road one day and if you drive down the same road the next day, a pothole could have magically appeared. I would invite the Minister of State for a drive around Dublin Mid-West but it would be a bumpy ride with the number of potholes we have. We drive on the left in Ireland but in Dublin Mid-West we drive on what is left. That is what someone said to me as that is how bad the roads are. It is getting even worse. Residents in my area pay their road tax like everybody else and the least they should have are safe roads. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Barry Heneghan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Barry-Heneghan.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Barry Heneghan  I join Deputy Ward in offering condolences following the recent incident in Dublin. I would also like to stress to the public not to be sharing incidents like this online and to allow everyone to investigate it. I thank first responders, An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, the ambulance service and the Order of Malta from Fairview and Marino, who I have in with me today. I thank them for all they do, for how they help the communities and how they serve the communities in these situations.  Regarding road safety, every conversation has to begin with the people who are no longer with us, and those who have been injured. We have heard Deputies across the House describing how people's lives can be changed within seconds. Parents and children and the recent tragic deaths are not just numbers, they are lives. My father was a traffic policeman for over 35 years. He was one of the hardest men to ever learn how to drive with but he made sure I was doing everything correctly.  I would love the current driving test to be reviewed and made more accurate to current driving conditions with the three-point turn. I do not know if the Minister of State ever reversed around a corner but I had to do it for the test and I have not done it since. We still have delays in our driving test and people failing it.  I will go back to the issue of safety. The issue is personal to everyone. As other Deputies have said, garda\u00ed are often the first on the scene as are our emergency supporters. They see the worst of road incidents and accidents, the reality of how road danger looks and why enforcement matters. I welcome the clampdown on scramblers and congratulate Deputies on the work that has been done across this House on the issue. It is sad that it took this tragic death to happen. We needed to get it done and it is being done. We have to go through it and make sure it is implemented correctly.  On implementation, I have heard other Members speaking about how the Garda must have tools, the legal backing and the confidence to act. Garda\u00ed should not be second-guessing whether doing their job will result in criticism or penalty. I know the Department of Transport is examining that. They are not the problem; they are the solution. They work tirelessly for us to make the roads safer. We need safer streets.  We speak about open drug dealing on e-scooters. It needs to be targeted. Giving garda\u00ed the authority to act decisively will also recognise that these men and women are not just public servants, they are guardians and heroes. I look up to my dad to this day. For the first responders who are at these scenes, the things they go through stick with them and it is something for which they need to be recognised.  They should not be punished for doing their jobs correctly. If we are serious about road safety, we also must look into issues such as potholes. In my constituency I could provide a list of about 200 of them. We need look at the speed with which other countries deal with potholes and everything that results in safer roads.  Seapark Drive needs a speed test. There are over 80 children on the road, but the speed test has still not been done. At the heart of the issue is roads. I was speaking to residents on the way down here, currently the Clontarf Road is flooded, but there has not been a direct response. Sadly, there was still traffic going straight through it, and flooding damaging houses. Thankfully we got through to Dublin Bus and the buses have stopped. However, joined-up thinking is needed when it comes to these public services and road safety. We all read the recent article about the Clontarf Road and the traffic management plan that is going to be put in place. This is going to bring more cars together and put children at risk. Public representatives were not consulted. What is the point of holding a local election and a general election if there are State bodies that are going to do what they want on our roads without consulting someone who knows where there should be more security or more traffic management? This needs to be looked into. I spoke recently about this to the Minister for Transport and how the Clontarf Road, Oscar Traynor Road and north Dublin as a whole, one of the busiest routes in Dublin, the artery of Dublin, was locked up for 18 months or longer and now people are fearful that they are going to do it again. Of course they are fearful. It is the conjunction of the entire north Dublin. The communication needs to be there.  To go back to road safety, there is built-up traffic. Recently, one of the lollipop men in one of the areas was saying that traffic on the road when it is built up, leaves a spot for children that drivers cannot see and the child comes out. Traffic needs to be managed in that sense, especially around schools. I do welcome the engagement the Minister of State has had with me on this and I appreciate what he has been doing in helping me raise that, especially in north Dublin. We need to act on this quickly. These are not just statistics; they are lives. I join with all the Deputies who back the Garda and back the people who are making this country better. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel Grealish","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Noel Grealish)  I would like to thank Deputies for their contributions to the debate. I would also like to join with all Deputies and offer my sincere condolences to the family and friends of Grace Lynch on their tragic loss. I am also aware of the incident in Dublin city centre earlier where there was a loss of life and a number of people injured. Our thoughts are with them. As other Deputies have said, I also want to acknowledge the tremendous work of the first responders. I concur with Deputies Mark Ward and Heneghan and I ask people not to share images of the incident online. I hope that people would pay heed to that request.  I also want to acknowledge the members of the Order of Malta who are in the Gallery. We all know the tremendous work they do all around the country. I am delighted that they got the opportunity to visit Leinster House. We, in this Chamber, acknowledge the tremendous work they do and I thank them for coming in.  I am sure that every Member has, in some way, been impacted by a fatality of our roads. Setting aside party politics, road safety is an area where we all want to see improvements, and most importantly, a reduction in the number of deaths on our roads. While we may not always agree on the exact policies for doing so, I thank Deputies again for their contributions. The Government and the Garda Commissioner take road safety very seriously. Successful road safety strategies requires us to consider several matters that taken together can allow us to save lives. These include technology, road design, driver behaviour and education, severity of penalties, speed limits and enforcement. Ongoing enforcement is a very important aspect of road safety strategy, be that by garda\u00ed, mobile, static and average speed cameras or other technology being deployed. Investing in better, safer roads, continued enforcement of the law and increasing the allocation of garda\u00ed to front-line duties will assist in significantly improving road safety. That is why all uniformed garda\u00ed are directed to undertake 30 minutes of high-visibility roads policing on each tour of duty. This, along with increased Garda numbers, improved technology, additional speed cameras and enhanced data sharing is helping to ensure a multifaceted approach to road safety enforcement in Ireland.  I assure the public that we are committed to supporting the implementation of Ireland's Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030. I want to increase public awareness and crack down on dangerous driving. As outlined by the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, earlier, the phase 2 action plan under the road safety strategy will run from 2025 to 2027. The actions in this plan have the potential to be transformative. Work is continuing on implementing this plan. I welcome the progress to date on implementation of the recommendations under the speed limit review, the tackling of multiple learner permits and the work under way to deliver on significant legislative priorities, such as a national vehicle driver file Bill and the next road traffic Bill. To be clear, across provisions and powers set out in the Road Traffic Act 1961, the Road Traffic Act 1994 and the Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023, it is illegal to use an unregistered scrambler in a public place. It is illegal to use a scrambler dangerously in any location and An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na has powers of seizure for a vehicle being driven dangerously or which lacks registration, insurance or motor tax or where the driver does not hold the relevant driving licence. In short, outside of appropriate use in appropriate off-road settings, scrambler use is already illegal and enforcement powers exist. As outlined by the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, the Government is now moving swiftly to introduce new regulations that will help to bring additional legal clarity to the existing position that scramblers are banned for use on the road in almost all cases. I fully support the introduction of these new measures. The regulations will explicitly prohibit the use of vehicles such as scramblers in any place where the public might be present, such as private car parks. The regulations will make the mere use of vehicles such as a scrambler in these proscribed locations an offence and significantly increase the charges that accrue each day after a scrambler has been seized, to reduce the number of seized vehicles that are released and end up back on our roads.  An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na has at its disposal significant enforcement powers and these powers are being used. Between 1 January and 30 January 2025, a total of 449 scramblers, quads, e-bikes and e-scooters were seized in the Dublin metropolitan area. This marks a steady rise in effective performance in this particular area of policing when compared with figures from the same period in previous years. There were 128 seizures in 2024; 67 in 2023; 63 in 2022; and 65 in 2021. These figures are indicative of the Dublin metropolitan region's robust and operationally active policing response to this issue.  A new Garda spontaneous pursuits policy was introduced in 2024. This policy aims to provide direction to garda\u00ed, who in the course of their duties, use pursuit tactics and pursuit management to reduce the risk associated with pursuits and stopping of subject vehicles. This applies to any vehicles, not just cars, motorcycles or scramblers. Garda\u00ed must operate within the law and have to be mindful of the dangers to members of the public, themselves and the rider and the issues involved with a pursuit of this type, which could have fatal consequences. Interception poses significant risks, not only to the drivers and passengers of these vehicles but also to the members of the public and local garda\u00ed in affected communities. These difficulties would remain irrespective of any legislative enhancements. In this regard, it should be noted that garda\u00ed have other enforcement options open to them, including investigative expertise to locate and question suspected persons after the fact, which would pose less of a risk to public safety.  In recent years, An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na has been given significant new powers and tools to enable it to fully enforce road safety laws. Since November 2023, the Motor Insurance Bureau of Ireland, MIBI, has been providing insurance details to An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. Details for 3 million vehicles and 5 million drivers are provided daily to identify vehicles being driven without insurance. In addition, since May 2024, An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na now conducts mandatory drug testing at scenes of serious collisions. The publication of the Crowe report highlighted that while most roads policing personnel are committed to their roles, further improvements will enhance enforcement activity on our roads.  I welcome the ongoing commitment of the Garda Commissioner to deliver on the recommendations contained in the Crowe report. To that end, I welcome the fact that road safety and collision reduction is included in a strategic commitment up to 2028 under An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na Strategic Plan 2026-2028. The plan includes a commitment by An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na to strive to reduce the numbers of fatal and serious injury collisions on our roads through robust national education, local enforcement and proactive detection of lifesaver offences, which will increase by 10%.  This will be supported by local performance monitoring and strategic collaboration with key partners to improve road safety. Progress towards achieving this service goal will be reported to and assessed by the Policing and Community Safety Authority. At the end of December 2025 in the latest data for the which figures are available, 647 garda\u00ed were assigned to the roads policing units across the country. As garda\u00ed recruitment continues and accelerates, more garda\u00ed will become available to be deployed to priority areas. While significant numbers of garda\u00ed are assigned to roads policing units, all front-line garda\u00ed contribute to policing our roads. Around 65% of drug driving and drink driving checks are carried out by regular garda\u00ed. Of course, it is not just about personnel numbers. Technology will continue to play an increasingly important role in enforcement. Increased numbers of garda\u00ed and enhanced garda\u00ed visibility will form an important pillar to help deliver the Department of justice's action in supporting the National Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030. Managing deployment of resources in a large organisation, such as An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na with competing priorities that include roads policing, economic crime, drugs and organised crime, cybercrime and managing front-line policing, is a complex process. Roads policing is one of many competing priority areas. Numbers applied on roads policing remain consistently higher as a percentage with over double of the entire organisation compared with other priority areas.  This has been a very useful exchange of ideas and thoughts today on this important issue. The road safety strategy combined with a robust enforcement strategy provides us with the basis to deliver better outcomes on our roads. Behind every statistic, there is a life, family, friends and a community. It is beholden on all of us to make better choices for safer roads and to protect ourselves, our loved ones and all others who use our roads, particularly vulnerable road users. I thank all Deputies for their contributions on this important issue. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Road Safety: Statements"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/dbsect_34","debateType":"debate","bill":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/11","event":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/bill\/2026\/11\/dail\/2","houseCode":"dail","stage":"2","isBillStage":true,"showAs":"Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026: Second Stage (Resumed) (D\u00e1il)"}},"showAs":"Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026: Second Stage (Resumed)","counts":{"speechCount":17,"speakerCount":10},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_34","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Lahart","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Lahart.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Lahart.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question again proposed: \"That the Bill be now read a Second Time.\""},{"speaker":{"showAs":"John Lahart","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/John-Lahart.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"John-Lahart.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy John Lahart  I echo the sentiments expressed regarding the loss of life in the city today at lunchtime in the public transport accident. I echo what the Minister of State said about people not posting images of it on social media. Our thoughts are with them. There has been one fatality and a number of injuries. Our best thoughts go from this House to the people involved.  I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Bill. I support the legislation because it addresses two realities that we cannot afford to ignore. First, renters need stronger protections and real security. Second, our rental sector needs a stable, reliable, predictable framework that helps to grow and retain landlords within it. This Bill attempts to do both in a way that replaces a degree of confusion and complexity at times with clarity through a new approach that looks at the entire issue from a national perspective as opposed to a piecemeal geographical perspective.  I wish to put a human face on the debate that all of us here as TDs can do by reflecting the reality in our own constituencies. During my time as a TD representing Dublin South-West, I have met far too many people living with deep insecurity in their tenancies. These are people who pay their rent, and exceptionally high rent in some cases. They contribute to their communities and they are trying to raise children and hold down jobs. In some cases, they are carers. They still live with the constant fear of a termination notice. I have spoken to individuals and parents have come to my clinics who are terrified of having to pull their children out of school mid-term or face another long commute across the city because they have been priced out of their area. The Minister for housing is aware of this as well and is sympathetic to it.  As colleagues have, I have listened to renters who simply cannot make a plan for the future because they do not know if they will be in the same home in six months. As we all know, housing insecurity affects every facet of life, including work, family stability, health, mental health and well-being. That is why the most important promise in this Bill is greater security of tenure. The Bill significantly restricts so-called no-fault evictions for new tenancies. The Minister has strengthened protections in a way that renters will feel in their day-to-day lives. It certainly brings a measure of medium- to long-term stability that simply does not exist unless one has the securest of tenancies. A major step forward is the restriction on no-fault evictions, particularly in relation to larger landlords. From 1 March 2026, tenants entering new tenancies with landlords and companies who hold four or more tenancies will no longer face no-fault evictions. That is a profound shift in the balance of security for renters. Importantly, tenants of smaller landlords, which is those of three or fewer tenancies, will also benefit from substantially improved protections. This matters in a constituency like Dublin South-West where many renters are renting from smaller landlords and need clearer, fairer rules.  The Minister is also building on the principle of long-term renting by strengthening tenure duration in the Bill. That goes back to the original point made in the Bill of people being able to plan their lives. A six-year period gives a degree of security. I hope some day that we get to that Vienna model where people can take out a tenancy for life that reflects their living situation and the changing life situation, they are in whether it is illness, out of work or retirement and reflects the manner in which people live. This gives people a degree of security moving forward through rolling tenancies of a minimum duration of six years for new tenancies. That is another tangible improvement in stability for individuals and their families. That ability to plan matters affects children, schooling, employment, carer and whether people can truly build a life in a new community and set down strong roots.  The Bill introduces a simpler and fairer rent control framework nationally. I never quite got my head around some of the rules that have applied for the past decade or so. We are moving from rent pressure zones to a national system of rent control providing clarity and consistency across the country. Annual rent increases for covered tenancies will be capped in line with inflation using the consumer price index with a 2% cap in higher inflation periods. That is a real comfort for renters. It is a clear straightforward protection for tenants and removes the unevenness and confusion that developed under the rent pressure zones.  I welcome the increased emphasis on transparency in rent setting, including measures aimed at improving the information available in the system around rent levels. Better transparency supports fairness for tenants and better compliance overall. As the Minister has been in his contributions to the debate and about housing generally since his appointment, I wish to be direct about supply. Supply of new builds is the only durable way to bring down pressures on the rental sector. Protecting tenants is essential. I have outlined that in the first part of my contribution. We must also ensure that the rental sector is capable of growing. The current system has not been serving people properly. The Housing Agency review informed the legal framing and direction of these reforms. We need a functioning market that supports the construction of more rental homes, especially apartments and that retains landlords who might otherwise exit the sector. This is why the Minister has provided measures in this Bill designed to retain and attract investment and new supply while pairing those measures with stronger security for tenants. The ability to set rent to market at the start of a new tenancy in defined circumstances and to reset between tenancies is part of that balancing act. However, in return, tenants get stronger security of tenure, including a six-year rolling minimum duration and significant restrictions on termination grounds.  I think the Minister has tried to make that balance central to his package of general reforms of the market.  On the development of new apartments, and new developments generally, the Minister's approach links rent changes to inflation. This is intended to deliver certainty and encourage investment and building at scale. Having listened to the Minister, I know he has done his homework on this. The country urgently needs more rental accommodation and apartments in particular. Investors like to have certainty, a predictable playing pitch and clear visibility of the horizon ahead. The Minister's objective is to make delivery more predictable in order that the pipeline of new rental homes can grow.  Regarding the timing and fairness of the legislation, I support the provision that these measures are designed to apply to new tenancies from 1 March this year. That gives clarity as to who is affected and when. It ensures the new framework will be introduced in an orderly way as the rent pressure zone provisions expire.  The Bill offers necessary and balanced reform. It is one of many such reforms the Minister has introduced. Since his appointment, his approach has been to take his time while being very thorough and to come up with a good policy at the end of that thoroughness. The Bill supports the conditions needed to grow rental supply. For renters in my constituency and elsewhere, who include families, workers, students, carers, retired people, older people, single people and married people, security and predictability are not luxuries; they are the foundation of a stable life. I believe and hope this legislation will move us in that direction. I join the Minister in commending it to the House. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"R\u00e9ada Cronin","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"R\u00e9ada-Cronin.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy R\u00e9ada Cronin  This truly is one of the most bizarre Bills I have seen come before the House. In the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, at a time when families are pinned to their collar by the highest electricity and energy bills and the highest rents in Europe, the Government thinks it a good time to bring forward a Bill that seeks to increase rents even further. Is the Minister aware we are not in a competition here? This is not a race to the bottom. How can anyone see the Bill for anything other than what it is, which is a love letter to the big institutional investors with which Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael have been in bed for many a year? It is Irish renters, families and young people on whom the Government is cheating. This rent hike Bill will allow vulture funds and big landlords to hike up the rents of 60,000 people a year. The Minister is calling it a market reset. In fact, it will mean thousands are paying more in rent from 1 March. Whom exactly will this benefit?  My constituency of Kildare North has some of the highest rents in the country. The demand for housing, including rental properties, has increased so much because when rents spiral out of control in Dublin, people exchange cheaper rents for longer commuting times. Tenants in County Kildare are paying an average of \u20ac1,500 a month. A person would be lucky to get a four-bedroom property in north Kildare for less than \u20ac3,000. Rents will increase by 20% on 1 March, which is \u20ac300 a month on the average rent price in Kildare. This is the Government's solution to the biggest rental crisis we have faced as a State. Renters are being made to pay to line the pockets of big landlords.  Any legislation that seeks seriously to address the regulation of the private rental sector would focus on cutting and freezing rents, not allowing them to rise even further. This Bill will not protect renters; it will push them further to the brink. The average length of a private rental tenancy is three and a half years, according to the RTB. Of all tenancies registered in 2025, 25% were first-time tenancies. If this trend continues, within four to six years the vast majority of private renters will be caught by the market reset rule and big landlords and private investors will be laughing all the way to the bank.  Again, the question I have to ask the Minister  is \" Cui bono ?\". What is the logic behind such daft legislation? How can he justify these measures at a time when so many people across the board are experiencing hardship? We need rent freezes, not rent increases. What is the Minister at? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Aengus-\u00d3-Snodaigh.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh  T\u00e1 an tAire agus an Rialtas ag dul sa treo m\u00edcheart leis an reachta\u00edocht seo. N\u00edl siad ach chun tuilleadh praiseach a dh\u00e9anamh den ch\u00f3ras c\u00edosanna tith\u00edochta agus cur leis an bhfadhb bhun\u00fasach tith\u00edochta at\u00e1 sa t\u00edr seo. An t-aon leithsc\u00e9al a bheadh ann as dul sa treo seo n\u00e1 go bhfuil an tAire dall go hioml\u00e1n ar c\u00e9 chomh dona is at\u00e1 fadhb na tith\u00edochta faoi l\u00e1thair agus le blianta anois, agus nach bhfeiceann s\u00e9 nach bhfuil an Rialtas ach ag cur leis an gcruach\u00e1s tith\u00edochta. N\u00ed chreidim go bhfuil an tAire dall. Caithfidh go mb\u00edonn s\u00e9 ag labhairt le gn\u00e1thlean\u00fain nach bhfuil d\u2019acmhainn acu c\u00edosanna an lae inniu sa chathair seo, n\u00f3 lasmuigh den chathair seo, a \u00edoc agus at\u00e1 ag smaoineamh ar dul ar imirce. B\u2019fh\u00e9idir go mb\u00edonn s\u00e9 ag labhairt leis na hoibrithe at\u00e1 ag dul in aois a bhfuil c\u00edos bre\u00e1 orthu faoi l\u00e1thair at\u00e1 siad in ann a \u00edoc ach nach mbeidh d\u2019acmhainn acu \u00e9 a \u00edoc a thuilleadh nuair a th\u00e9ann siad ar phinsean. Beidh orthu brath ar an gc\u00f3ras tith\u00edocht sh\u00f3isialta at\u00e1 cheana f\u00e9in ag cur thar maoil agus gan aon \u00e1it d\u00f3ibh ann.  Muna bhfuil an tAire dall, t\u00e1 s\u00e9 f\u00e9in agus an Rialtas ag glacadh an cinneadh seo lena gcuid s\u00faile oscailte go hioml\u00e1n. Caithfidh go dtuigeann siad an loitim\u00e9ireacht a bheas mar thoradh ar an mBille seo: c\u00edosanna agus d\u00edshealbhuithe ag ard\u00fa; liosta d\u00f3ibh si\u00fad at\u00e1 gan d\u00eddean, p\u00e1ist\u00ed ina measc, ag ard\u00fa; imirce ag ard\u00fa athuair i measc d\u00e9ag\u00f3ir\u00ed; agus iad si\u00fad at\u00e1 sna 20id\u00ed agus iad si\u00fad at\u00e1 c\u00e1ilithe ag b\u00e1n\u00fa na tuaithe agus na bailte tuaithe athuair. C\u00e9n f\u00e1th? Is \u00ed sin an cheist. An t-aon loighic a d'fh\u00e9adfadh a bheith taobh thiar de seo n\u00e1 go bhfuil s\u00e9 \u00e1 moladh chun cuidi\u00fa leis na tiarna\u00ed tal\u00fan mh\u00f3ra - na boic mh\u00f3ra sna cist\u00ed baidhbhe, n\u00f3 b\u2019fh\u00e9idir le bheith n\u00edos cruinne, na coist\u00ed alpair\u00ed. Is iad si\u00fad at\u00e1 ag s\u00fa an t-airgead go smior astu si\u00fad at\u00e1 ag \u00edoc c\u00edosa. Muna bhfuil na rachmas\u00f3ir\u00ed ag t\u00f3g\u00e1il go leor \u00e1ras\u00e1in n\u00f3 tithe, is \u00ed sin an \u00e1it ar ch\u00f3ir go mbeadh an St\u00e1t ag cur a ladar isteach. Ba cheart don St\u00e1t tithe s\u00f3isialta a th\u00f3g\u00e1il \u00e9 f\u00e9in agus tithe inacmhainne ar c\u00edos n\u00f3 le c\u00e9annacht ar phraghas c\u00f3ir ar chur ar f\u00e1il. M\u00e1 t\u00e1 na tiarna\u00ed tal\u00fan ag d\u00edol \u00e1itribh toisc an brab\u00fas a bheith d\u00e9anta acu n\u00f3 toisc an price is right agus iad ag dul ar pinsean, ba ch\u00f3ir don Rialtas f\u00e9achaint ar iad sin a cheannach. Ba ch\u00f3ir don Rialtas an t-airgead ceart a chur ar f\u00e1il do na comhairl\u00ed contae agus na comhairl\u00ed cathracha ionas go mbeidh siad in ann an sc\u00e9im tenant in situ a \u00fas\u00e1id i gceart sna c\u00e1sanna at\u00e1 d\u00edshealbh\u00fa ar t\u00ed tarl\u00fa do na c\u00edos\u00f3ir\u00ed gan locht. Caithfimid a bheith praitici\u00fail sa chur chuige at\u00e1 againn. Caithfimid a bheith radacach chomh maith agus muid ag tabhairt faoin ng\u00e9arch\u00e9im ina bhfuil an t\u00edr seo. N\u00ed seo an leigheas ar an fhadhb at\u00e1 againn. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  The people I represent in Dublin Fingal West are already paying huge rents, with an average cost of close to \u20ac2,500 per month. A person on an ordinary wage is at nothing and has no hope of being able to rent. I am genuinely struggling to understand the logic of this Bill. The Minister has said openly that it will cause the cost of renting to increase. Any reasonable person would agree that rents in this State are too high. Perhaps the Minister disagrees but I would contend they are far too high as it is. This legislation will put them up even more. The impact of the Bill will just be to crease people who simply do not have the money to pay more, all for the crime of wanting and needing somewhere to live.  I have been contacted about this by a large number of constituents.  They call into my offices, they ring the office and they contact us by email. The Government rep in my area is clever enough now. She has no office and nobody can find her. We are thankfully Fianna F\u00e1il-free, as it goes. When people contact me - and they do - they are really nervous. They hear what the Minister says about the impact of his legislation and they see that it does not bother him. It should but it appears not to. When they come to the office they want an answer in terms of how they are going to be able to afford somewhere to live into the future and I cannot give them one. They are waiting 14 years on the social housing list as it stands. People's entire lives are going to be on hold and the Government's big idea appears to be to put rents up. I genuinely cannot fathom it.  I spoke to a family recently who have just been taken off the housing list because they are slightly over the income limit. The reason they are slightly over the income limit is because they have been waiting for social housing for so long that their children have grown up to the point where two of them now have part-time work that has pushed the family income over the limit. They pay for the rent themselves; they do not get HAP or any other assistance. They are private renters. They now have a notice to quit and they see the impact of this. Renting is already tough. They cannot find anywhere to rent as it is. They are going to have to leave their property and now they are facing having to pay even higher rents. When this legislation goes through, it will push the rent up even more. I spoke to the mam. She was in tears. She asked me what this law was for and who it will benefit. I gave her an honest answer, as the Minister would expect me to, which was to say it will certainly not benefit renters; it will benefit large-scale landlords and vulture funds. She asked me why. I genuinely could not answer. I hope the Minister makes that clear because she watches the proceedings in here and, given her own situation, she is worried and anxious. As this legislation goes through, there is no comfort I can give her unless the Minister has some words of comfort to offer her, which I doubt. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  This Bill is deeply flawed. It says it is going to protect security of tenure, but it is like I am living in a parallel universe. I am hearing two sides. The Minister's story is one thing and the reality for our constituents is different. The suggestion is that the Bill will protect existing renters from rising rents. Apparently, it is going to protect renters and set rents at market rates. It promises the sun, moon and stars but the reality is that it will not deliver what it purportedly sets out to deliver. New tenants will face immediate market rent increases. There are no guarantees that people will not be evicted. The rents are set at market levels that are so high that I am really concerned. Each time they are reset, I will be particularly concerned about those who are already vulnerable in paying the rent at the rate it is currently at. When that rent increases to a higher level, they will not be able to pay it. I am also very concerned for students. Students move regularly because they rent for ten months of the year and then they move somewhere else. They are subject to this change as well. It means it is not safe for them. Of course this Government does not build affordable student accommodation, which means students have to rent on the private market.  Before I came into the Chamber, I looked at daft.ie for rental properties in my own constituency. A one-bed apartment in Crumlin is advertised at \u20ac2,266 per month. A three-bedroom, two-bathroom house, which is advertised as a family home, is \u20ac3,200 per month in Chapelizod. I do not know who can afford this. I do not think this Bill will do anything to protect anyone who is in this situation. The Minister has openly stated that the goal is to stop long-term rents from falling behind market rents, but this means that all renters will eventually pay an unaffordable rent. The Bill fails to protect against evictions of current renters. When they are evicted, how will they then afford the rents in newer places where rents are really high? People will be locked out. They will be left in renting for the rest of their lives, if they can get somewhere to rent. It will make home ownership impossible for young people. It will create unaffordable rents for key workers, which I am very concerned about as my party's education spokesperson. We hear time and time again about teachers, particularly newly qualified teachers, who are unable to afford to live in Dublin and pay their rents.  Every single week, my clinics in my constituency are inundated with people in absolutely dire housing situations who are being evicted through no fault of their own and literally have nowhere else to go. People who are approved for HAP, for homeless HAP and for everything cannot get somewhere to live because they just cannot afford it. As I have already outlined, given the average going rent today in Dublin South-Central, it is no wonder they have nowhere to live. Then they turn up in homeless situations.  I live in the Tenters in an area called Fairbrother\u2019s Fields. It was the first tenant purchase scheme that this State ever built. It was built by the fledgling State, between 1922 and 1924, at a time when we were not rich. We had our centenary recently. We were a fledgling State trying to get up on our feet. We were able to produce these homes, which are of a really high standard. If we could do that then, why now when we are so wealthy can we not build homes? Yesterday, my colleague, Deputy Hearne, launched the State construction company proposal that the Social Democrats are offering as a solution to the Government as to how we can do this. We cannot just rely on private investors and private developers for the housing situation because that is the problem. That is the place we are in now.  The last thing I will say, before my colleague comes in, is that I am concerned about how young people will ever get on the property ladder. I may have skipped a step because how will they get out of their childhood bedrooms to get to rent somewhere or to buy somewhere? A colleague of mine, who is 26 years of age and an administrative assistant in this House, can no longer afford the rents in the place where they live and has moved back to their family home because the rents are so unaffordable. That is a colleague of ours in this House. I am really concerned about students travelling up and down to apprenticeships, universities and technical colleges around the country who cannot afford the rents there. They are spending a long time travelling because they cannot afford to live there. This Bill is deeply flawed. I am very concerned not only for the current people who are renting but also for the people in the future. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  I cannot tell the Minister how many times I have marched in the streets protesting about housing. I have done it against what feels like every single one of the Minister's predecessors. A huge reason I have been so frustrated with Government parties and why I joined the Social Democrats was the utter failure in housing for my generation over multiple governments. Today, years after I first started political activism in protesting on housing, I find myself in this Chamber as a private sector rental tenant with the unique opportunity to tell the Minister exactly what is wrong with housing in Ireland and how his proposed legislation runs the severe risk of making it worse.  First, some facts and figures. About 30% of the population in this country rent. In my own constituency, where we are standing right now, about 50% of people rent. I am one of the very few renters who has ever entered this House and spoken in it. The number of people renting in the private rental sector in Ireland has approximately doubled since the 1990s. After the property crash, private equity institutions that were welcomed by this Government and previous governments flooded the Irish market. Today in Dublin, 25% of all tenancies are with large institutional landlords, among the highest concentration anywhere in Europe. Dublin's rents and property prices are among the highest in the developed world. Why is it that Irish exceptionalism always revolves around property?  The core proposal in this Bill is the reimagining of tenure based on six-year rolling tenancies for all new entrants. This will provide landlords with the opportunity to reset rents, perhaps even drastically, at the expense of the tenant. This will inevitably lead to higher rents, which are already among the highest in the developed world. Does greed have no limit this Government is willing to set? Is it so wedded to the interests of international private equity that it would sacrifice entire generations in perpetuity to satisfy its lust for wealth? This Bill is the latest incarnation of a Government that is more interested in turning Dublin into a city for the rich at the expense of everyone else. What garda - perhaps the one in the Gallery - or nurse or teacher will be able to afford the highest rents in Europe six years from now?  What student or trainee in a graduate programme will be able to live their 20s without flirting with poverty? Through this Bill, the Government is accelerating the breaking of the social contract, pushing people into the high-cost private rental sector, creating precarity rather than security, and incentivising exploitation rather than ensuring there is no floor through which anyone can fall. There is also the critical question of the enforcement of current rules and regulations as well as the new ones. I have numerous reports in my constituency of landlords subverting rules to double or triple rental rates, and with small landlords retaining most of their rights to evict in this Bill, the security of tenure measures may not be sufficient.  I have a word of warning for the Minister. The good people of this country will not stand for the Government's continued failures in housing. Importantly, the Minister's voters in Fianna F\u00e1il will not stand for it either. In door after door in my constituency, I consistently meet parents who are worried for their children and grandchildren, who often have them in their home. Even young parents are worried that the cycle of housing improvement is so long that their little ones will grow into an Ireland that seeks to prey on them rather than nurture them and export them rather than strengthen them. Those parents and grandparents recognise that the Minister is sacrificing their loved ones on an altar of avarice. The thing about those who preside over the betrayal of a generation is that they often meet a similar end themselves. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  I want to get into some detailed points about this Bill, some points that I do not think have been raised yet, including the double blow that is presented here for homeless HAP tenants who are already being hit in many areas with council rent increases. Before that, the basic point which cannot be driven home hard enough is that this is a Bill for rip-off rents. That is the purpose of it. It is not an accidental outcome of it; that is its purpose. The Government strategy, explicitly, is to get rents to rise higher in order to attract more investment. It is a landlord's charter written by a landlord's Government. It is designed to drive up rents even higher than the unbelievably high levels that they are already at. It means that within the next few years, virtually all renters will be paying at least an extra \u20ac3,000 a year or an extra \u20ac250 a month.  You would think the Government has no idea that we are in the middle of a dire cost-of-living emergency. People cannot afford to pay their rent, heat their homes, put food on the table or buy things for their kids. They already cannot afford to live. That is why People Before Profit, Sinn F\u00e9in, the Social Democrats, the left Independents in the D\u00e1il and a broad coalition of disabled person's organisations, trade unions, students' unions and civil society groups are launching the affordable Ireland campaign next month. The key planks of that campaign are to freeze and cap rents and to build public housing. The Government will only take action on the cost-of-living crisis if it is forced, so we need people power to force it.  It seems to me that section 8(e)(ii) of the Bill potentially allows for rent hikes to market rates for existing pre-June 2022 tenants, whose Part 4 tenancy expires and who then enter into a further Part 4 tenancy for another six years. The Minister of State said in his opening speech yesterday that \"Section 8 provides for a new national rent control in respect of new tenancies, that is, first-time tenancies between parties, created on or after 1 March 2026.\" That is supposed to reassure existing tenants that their rents will not shoot up yet, unless they move voluntarily or involuntarily. Of course, that happens in any case - on average, every three and a half years for most tenants, and every year for students in private rented accommodation. They are even more shafted by this Bill than everyone else.  Another group getting doubly shafted are the HAP tenants and the homeless HAP tenants. Dublin City Council has already hiked rents. Councils across the country have already hiked the rents that they are paying to the council. On top of that, now they are going to be increasing the top-up they have to pay to their landlords. It is a shameful attack on the poorest households in the country. As I understand it, the Minister is saying this does not affect pre-June 2022 Part 4 tenancies. Section 8(e)(ii) provides that it does not apply to \"a tenancy ... to which section 5(4)of the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2021 applies\", which means it does not apply to further Part 4 tenancies of unlimited duration. I cannot see that it states specifically anywhere in the Bill - I look forward to the Minister's reply - that it does not apply to further Part 4 tenancies that are not of unlimited duration; in other words, the situations where the tenants moved in prior to June 2022. If you moved into your home in April 2020 and you are coming to the end of a six-year Part 4 tenancy, which will expire in April 2026, assuming you are not evicted first it will automatically become a further Part 4 six-year tenancy at that point. Where does it say in the Bill that this further Part 4 tenancy is not a new tenancy? Citizens Information states, \"After these 6 years, the tenancy ends and a new tenancy can begin.\" If a further Part 4 tenancy is legally a new tenancy, then section 8(e)(ii) appears to say that a dwelling that was previously rent-controlled for the previous six years - all those rents - will be reset to market rates. Can the Minister specifically answer that question?  The final issue I want to raise is about section 14. It allows for so-called small landlords to carry out a no-fault eviction on grounds of sale if they would use at least 15% of the proceeds to pay off some or all of a debt that they owe which is falling due within nine months of the eviction date. That appears to me to be a massive loophole that will allow buy-to-let landlords to evict tenants on grounds of sale when they are coming to the end of their mortgage term. There is no need for it. They can simply sell in any case, with the tenants in situ , without forcing their eviction. The only reason to allow it is to maximise their sale price. There is also nothing to stop a landlord taking on a short-term loan in order to say it is falling due and therefore use this loophole to sell. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  The Minister and his colleagues across the Government have invested a lot of their political capital in the success of this Bill. We are here to ask whether it will work. At this point, it is extremely hard to express confidence that it will. When taken as a whole, I see a Bill that is looking to satisfy conflicting policy aims simultaneously, and it is hard to see such an endeavour having a successful end. Worse, the Bill is performing a kind of bait and switch when it comes to the private rental sector. The end result of this will certainly be a serious rollback in terms of rent affordability for thousands of people, for singles, for people sharing and for their families. This will have an impact on disposable income for a huge cohort into the longer term, and will drive more families into homelessness. The security of tenure measures would, in isolation, be welcomed. Such measures should have been introduced here ten or 15 years ago to bring Ireland in line with most other European countries. However, in no way can we say that this is an evolution in thinking from the Government parties toward valuing, safeguarding and making viable private renting for people's life cycles in the manner found in countries like Austria, Germany or Denmark.  Leaving aside that such a policy would be incredible coming from either of the Government parties, the arrival of secure tenancy rules in the same instrument that, at a stroke, rolls back the key affordability safeguards shows us that the Government thinks of this as more of an experiment or a gamble. The success of that gamble is fully riding on the ability of large-scale developers and investors to deliver apartments at scale, and those who can afford to live in those apartments be damned, either through purchase or through rental arrangements. There are going to be victims here. There are going to be people and families who experience the hard end of the Government's gamble. They are people who will have to agree to far steeper rents that hit their incomes harder than anything we saw during the inflation crisis. They are people who already have no way out of renting and now will see that only lifeline extinguished. It may be a cohort that the Government parties have judged you can dump on without losing support, but that would be a critical mistake.  I assume the Department has attempted to model the impact of these changes. Maybe in the Minister's sum-up speech he could tell us exactly how long it will take for supply to increase to a level that would result in what would be considered a normal or sustainable rate of rent inflation. That analysis or projection would be really valuable, because that is the fulcrum upon which this entire experiment turns. That honesty to people in terms of what we are expecting, and how long it is going to take for this gamble to work, is important because housing is at the core of how people plan their entire lives.  It is the literal foundation upon which people are able to plan where they go to work or whether they stay at home to care for children, buy two cars or one, go to college, or even whether they think it is worthwhile to stay in Ireland at all.  Will the Minister of State reassure us safeguards will be put in place to mitigate some of the worst increases that may come about as a result of the market rate reset? Has the Government's model determined the proportion of tenants who will see the steeper ends of the increases? Will additional funding be provided to the local authority cost-rental tenant in situ scheme, which is a measure that has a direct effect in providing an alternative for people? Have measures been put in place to do something to mitigate the short-term pain it is absolutely clear will be endured by many renters as a result of these proposals? "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan)  I noted a lot of interest in many of the comments made. Both the Minister, Deputy Browne, and I were listening in. I noted Deputy O'Reilly's comments when she said with glee that her constituency is Fianna F\u00e1il free. I come from a constituency, Cork South-West, where we do not have a single Sinn F\u00e9in councillor, Senator or TD. That is because, thankfully----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  Yet. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  Yet. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan  -----the people of Cork South-West can see through its empty politics. That is just an answer back on that one. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  Okay. The Minister of State should probably stick to the subject, if he can. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan  Thanks as well----- "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  You have nothing to say in your legislation, so ramble on there. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Christopher O'Sullivan","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Christopher-O'Sullivan.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan  -----for the other comments. I listened with interest because what the Deputies have done is highlight the issues. Rents are too high, we do not have enough supply and we have far too much homelessness. This is something we all know. It is something that this Bill is trying to address. We often hear references to the Housing Agency and its recommendations. What the Housing Agency has asked the Government to do is to ensure more protection for renters, which is what this Bill does through designating the entire country an RPZ, and the necessity to attract more investment in the provision of accommodation. That is what we are looking to do. The Minister has been set an incredibly difficult task but this legislation creates that balance.  I can speak on behalf of my constituents in Cork South-West. Clonakilty, the town I come from, was not in an RPZ. There was a function to be able to reset rents at any rate and there was no restriction on that. Now, there is that restriction. I can tell the Deputies a lot of constituents in Clonakilty, and in those other towns outside RPZs, have greeted this with a sense of relief. That is a fact; I am talking to my constituents as well. We have also seen a positive reaction from investment. I am very confident that what we see in this legislation will lead to an increase in supply and see a levelling off of the rapid rate of rent increases we have seen in this country over the last number of years.  The Private Rental Sector Review, published in 2024, highlighted the need to improve certain aspects of rent regulation. Following the completion of the review, the Housing Agency was requested to undertake a review of RPZs and the Review of Rent Pressure Zones and Consideration of Potential Policy Options for Rent Controls in the Private Rented Sector was published by the agency in June 2025. A key focus of the review was to examine the impact of RPZs on the rental market and to make recommendations on whether rent controls should be removed, modified or amended. The Housing Agency report recommended that the existing system of rent controls be modified with the introduction of a national system of rent controls allowing rental prices to adjust with inflation within a tenancy, and for rent resetting between tenancies to reflect market rents, with enhanced tenancy security measures to protect against economic evictions. The review involved engagement with a wide variety of stakeholders, including investors, representatives of landlord and tenant advocacy groups, academics and the Residential Tenancies Board. It also involved an extensive analysis of domestic and international research on rent regulation. From the review, it is clear there has been meaningful moderation of rents due to the existence of RPZs.  However, tenants outside RPZs did face higher rent increases. Today\u2019s Bill, providing for a national rent control, will help all tenants. The review suggested that there is a negative supply impact linked to the 2021 tightening of the RPZ rent controls, including the imposing of a real price cut when inflation exceeds 2%, which correlated with an increase in the supply of homes for sale and a decline of rental registrations. The review also noted international research on rent control, which suggested that controlled rents deliver a considerable price reduction to sitting tenants. However, they might not significantly improve affordability. Tenants might have faced higher rents upon tenancy commencement in new rental accommodation, with the rent increase restriction priced into the initial rent set. Over time, reduced supply is likely to see higher rents impact on tenant mobility. There is also the risk that landlords will not make the necessary investment in maintenance and refurbishment.  The review also identified that lreland\u2019s current RPZ system appears to be severe for two reasons. First, it sets its rent cap at 2% or the inflation rate, whichever is lower, meaning that rent increases may not keep pace with inflation and, second, it does not allow for a resetting of rents to market rates after a tenancy ends. The linking of rent regulation to a property rather than a tenancy, as is the case with RPZs, is viewed as a more stringent system of rent control. The review highlighted that RPZ reform could incentivise investment and would likely have a positive effect on supply. It also noted other factors, such as interest rates and measures to support viability, which the Government was actively considering during the period of the review. This is why, at its meeting on 10 June 2025, the Government approved new policy measures to provide for enhancement to rent controls and tenancy protections from 1 March 2026.  The stronger tenancy protections will provide further improvements to security of tenure. The rental sector provides a home for a significant proportion of the population and we need to give people more certainty that their tenancy will not be ended. We want to provide more stability and confidence to renters. All landlords will continue to have the option to sell with the tenants in situ at any time. In order to stimulate investment and keep existing landlords in the market, the resetting of rents to market value for new tenancies created on or after 1 March 2026 will be allowed as part of the reform of rent controls. The linking of rent control to a property rather than a tenancy under the current RPZ system of rent control makes investment in rental accommodation less attractive in Ireland. A proportion of tenancies in the State are charging below market rent and, under the current regulatory regime, can never increase rent to market rent. By allowing rent resetting for new tenancies from 1 March 2026, existing and new landlords, who are vital for the sector, will be able to ensure that their investment is viable. Rent resetting cannot apply where the most recent tenancy ended through a no-fault eviction. Also, rent resetting allows landlords to lower rents in the knowledge that the rents could be reset at the start of the next tenancy. Rent resetting will also be allowed after each six-year period of a long-standing tenancy that commences on or after 1 March 2026.  Given the critical need to attract investment in new apartment development for the rental market, rent increases for apartments, subject to both a commencement notice and a certificate of compliance on completion under building control regulations on or after 10 June 2025, will be linked to the inflation rate without the application of a 2% cap. These reforms aim to encourage investment in, and development of, new housing supply, including new rental apartments, to help slow down rent increases and moderate rent levels over time. We already see some evidence of increased confidence in investment in the sector since the announcement of these measures last June.  In line with the commitment in the programme for Government and a recommendation of the Housing Commission, the Bill provides for a rent price register. The RTB\u2019s published register will now include the rent amount and other relevant tenancy information, such as floor area, number of bedrooms and bed spaces, and the BER of the dwelling. The aim is for rent information available through the published register to support landlords to set lawful rents and help prospective tenants to assess the prevailing rents in their area.  The Government has committed to providing a stable and predictable rental sector to attract and retain the private investment needed to meet our housing demand. The impact of the current rent control system on the supply of new homes for rent has informed the development of this Bill. The provisions of the Bill aim to attract more private investment into the Irish rental sector as soon as is possible. Increasing the supply of private rental accommodation is crucial to meet housing demand and improve rent affordability. Rent controls are a key protection while housing demand is greater than housing supply. Investment market reports indicate that very little private investment of scale has gone into the development of new-build homes for the private rental sector since mid-2022. Numerous market and expert reports have all identified the current rent control system as an impediment to the supply of new private rental accommodation.  The Housing Agency\u2019s review, the Private Rental Sector Review of 2024, the Department of Finance\u2019s report on the flow of finance for residential development of 2024, the Housing Commission, the ESRI, the OECD and the IMF have all identified the current rent control system as an impediment to the supply of new private rental accommodation.  The Government is aware of the difficulties faced by many renters in accessing affordable and suitable rental accommodation in today\u2019s constrained market. I believe we all share a common goal of providing quality, affordable accommodation for renters. Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030 commits to improving the supply and affordability of rental accommodation and security of tenure. The Government is committed to growing investment in the rental sector. This Bill will help to attract investment and increase the supply and choice of accommodation available for rent.  I again thank Deputies for their contributions and commend the Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 to the House. I look forward to progressing through the Remaining Stages of the Bill over the coming weeks. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Question put."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Jen Cummins)  In accordance with Standing Order 85(2), the division is postponed until the weekly division time on Wednesday, 11 February 2026. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026: Second Stage (Resumed)"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/dbsect_35","debateType":"motion","bill":null,"showAs":"Cost-of-Living Crisis: Motion","counts":{"speechCount":17,"speakerCount":15},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_35","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel Grealish","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  I move:  That D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann:  notes that:  \u2014 a cost-of-living crisis exists in this State;  \u2014 Budget 2026 was predicated on an inflation rate of 2 per cent, but it is now at 3.2 per cent;  \u2014 prices have increased by 23.5 per cent in the last five years;  \u2014 food prices have increased by 5 per cent in the last year;  \u2014 Irish electricity prices are among the highest in the European Union (EU), 24 per cent higher than the EU average;  \u2014 electricity companies have announced an average increase of 10 per cent;  \u2014 gas prices have almost doubled in the last five years;  \u2014 private house rents have continued to skyrocket, up 4.7 per cent year-on-year and reaching \u20ac2,100 per month in Dublin;  \u2014 house prices have increased 8.1 per cent year-on-year;  \u2014 council house rents have increased, including charging extra rent for person's carer's allowance;  \u2014 motor insurance premiums have increased by 17 per cent;  \u2014 toll charges have increased;  \u2014 Local Property Tax has increased;  \u2014 student fees have increased; and  \u2014 childcare fees continue to be at mortgage repayment levels;  further notes that:  \u2014 11.7 per cent of the population, 629,425 people, are living in poverty, including:  \u2014 190,108 or 15.3 per cent of children;  \u2014 106,385 or 13 per cent of over 65s;  \u2014 69,244 or 1 in 3 of persons with a long-term illness or a disability; and  \u2014 140,377 workers;  \u2014 298,000 households are in arrears on electricity bills;  \u2014 185,000 households are in arrears on gas bills;  \u2014 according to the Parliamentary Budget Office, the withdrawal of the once-off cost of living payments will increase general poverty to 12.6 per cent, child poverty to 15.6 per cent, older persons to 17.6 per cent, and decrease the annual income of the poorest 20 per cent of households by 4.15 per cent;  \u2014 the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (SVP) received 260,000 requests for help in 2025, up 6 per cent on 2024; and  \u2014 the SVP received 33,214 energy requests in November 2025 which was the highest ever; and  calls on the Government to:  \u2014 stop the price gouging of food and energy companies;  \u2014 appoint an agri-food regulator to tackle rip-off food costs;  \u2014 introduce price control of food, electricity, gas and fuel costs;  \u2014 implement a rent freeze;  \u2014 implement a living wage;  \u2014 benchmark social welfare increases to the minimum essential standard of living index;  \u2014 introduce a weekly cost of disability payment;  \u2014 introduce the promised maximum \u20ac200 per month child-care cost and commence immediately with the creation of a public child-care service;  \u2014 commence the introduction of a free public transport system;  \u2014 introduce a second targeted tier of child benefit;  \u2014 reinstate energy credits with the immediate payment of a \u20ac500 winter payment; and  \u2014 introduce a millionaires wealth tax.  There is a cost of living crisis in this State and it did not happen overnight. One's first instinct is to say the Government has lost touch with the daily living and working conditions of Irish people but that is not the case. The cost-of-living crisis that exists today is the result of deliberate Government policy. Governments make choices and this and previous Governments have made choices favouring the rich and powerful in our society to the detriment of low and middle income families. Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael together have made these choices for the past ten years at least and they are responsible for the poverty, homelessness, exorbitant rents and crushing financial pressures on families trying to make ends meet on a daily basis.  Prices have increased by 23.5% in the past five years. Food prices have gone through the roof, rising by approximately 5% last year. There is huge price gouging by food companies and the family shop is now costing an additional \u20ac3,000 per year over the past few years. We need price controls and a price freeze and we need an agri-food regulator to tackle the rip-off in food costs.  Energy is another area of huge concern. Electricity prices in Ireland are some of the highest in Europe at 24% above the EU average. Gas prices have doubled in the past five years and we are also seeing further electricity price rises. All the main companies have announced price increases in the region of 10%. Some of them are SSE Airtricity, up 9.5% or an additional \u20ac150 per year; Bord G\u00e1is Energy up 13.5% or an additional \u20ac218 per year; Pinergy is up 9.8% or an additional \u20ac199; Energia is up 12.1% or \u20ac200; and Flogas electricity is up 7% or \u20ac126 extra per year. These prices are hugely impinging on the financial position of ordinary families.  Rents are unaffordable, up by 4.7% last year and house prices have risen by 8.1%. A teacher, garda, nurse or public servant cannot afford to purchase a house now. It is worth quoting the current edition of the Irish National Teachers Organisation, INTO, monthly newsletter, InTouch . A Sligo teacher said:  I moved home in 2021, secured a permanent job and began looking to buy a house. I've been careful with savings for several years and have a decent deposit built up, but the price of homes in Sligo has skyrocketed with some one-bed new builds starting at \u20ac295k and second-hand homes regularly going for up to \u20ac100,000 over the asking price. Every year prices go higher so it becomes more impossible to buy. It seems like buying is now a dream rather than a reality.  Rents have also increased significantly and the residential tenancies Bill we have just been dealing with will increase rents even further from the existing unaffordable rents to absolutely extortionate rents by way of an additional \u20ac3,000 to \u20ac3,500 per year. Council rents have also increased significantly. The fact carer's allowance is now being included for the purpose of rent determination is an absolute scandal. Carers save the State billions of euro every year - I think the figure is \u20ac20 billion - and they save the HSE huge amounts of money, yet a carer who receives a full carer's allowance of \u20ac270 per week now pays \u20ac54 of that in council rent. That is absolutely unacceptable. The Government should give instructions to local authorities to exclude carer's allowance from determinations of rent.  The next issue that impinges hugely on families is motoring costs, which are a huge burden on families, particularly those living outside the major urban centres where there are, as the Minister of State will be aware, poor public transport facilities. Motoring premiums have increased by 17%. The volume of claims is down by 40%, awards are down by one third and profits are at 13%, which is double the international average. These insurance companies need to be tackled. The list goes on.  What does all this mean for families and society? It means families are being driven into poverty. There are 629,425 adults living in poverty, or 11.7% of the population and that will increase to 12.6% in 2026. There are 190,108 children or 15.3% living in poverty and that will increase to 15.6% in 2026. There are 106,385 people over 65 years of age or 13% living in poverty and that will increase to 17.6% in 2026. These figures were provided by the Parliamentary Budget Office.  Families and households are also under huge pressure from energy with 298,000 families in arrears on their electricity bills and 185,000 in arrears on gas bills. After budget 2026, the annual income of the poorest 20% of households will fall by 4.15%. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul, SVP, sees the results of the Government's policy first hand, with 260,000 requests in 2025, up 6% and 33,204 energy requests in 2025, which was the highest number ever.  I move this motion in advance of the launch of the affordable Ireland campaign. This is a campaign of civil society organisations, Opposition political parties, student groups, trade unions and many others.  That group has come together to demand that the Government take real action on the cost-of-living crisis that is impacting households. The start of that campaign is on Saturday, 28 February, here in Dublin with a national protest. That protest will focus on the demand for an emergency winter payment and a cost-of-disability payment. I fully support the campaign and I call on all organisations, political parties, and the trade union movement to come out in support of it. The fact of the matter is that low- and middle-income families across this country are put to the pin of their collar to survive on a daily basis as a result of this cost-of-living crisis. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  I acknowledge the awful tragedy that we saw in Dublin city centre this afternoon. I join other Deputies in expressing my horror and shock. From what we have seen, we know there has been one fatality and up to three people seriously injured in this event. Our thoughts are with them, their families, the first responders and those in our city's hospitals who are doing everything they can for them.  I thank Deputy Healy for tabling this motion and for the opportunity to speak on it. With so many competing issues of real national importance, it is critical that we take every chance we have to focus on an issue that cuts across so much and affects almost everyone, but of course impacts on people with the least means the most. The rising cost of living has been one of the most challenging hallmarks of this decade. So many people and families have been left in a deeply precarious situation following the inflation crisis of recent years. I want to use my limited time to focus on two significant areas of real cost pressure for people, which are food and energy, while of course acknowledging that there are many more.  On energy, we have to ask why Irish energy wholesale costs are so much higher than in other European countries. When we look at it, we see that the costs are largely a factor of the kind of fossil fuel that is used. In our case, that is gas. It was the main driver of Irish wholesale electricity costs shooting up in the aftermath of the invasion of Ukraine and still today accounts for a sizeable proportion of the ultimate household costs. It is clear that, had we not had substantial growth in renewables, even with the grid management costs that come with them, Irish household energy costs would today be far higher. I know that is little comfort to people who are already struggling, but this demonstrates the value in driving further forward to bring renewables online to enhance our ability to withstand global energy shocks that we know will be experienced again in the future.  As the Minister of State knows, 1 March is the date on which a new regime will come in affecting residential tenancies, which we have spent much of the last two hours discussing. Part of that law will increase security of tenure, with six-year tenancies encouraging longer terms in what the law says will be more stable living situations. Is it not now the right time to come forward with additional supports on the energy side, with retrofits for renters? If rent costs are going to be reset and increased to market rates, why not take some measure to make the overall cost of renting cheaper while enhancing our building stock and reducing emissions from the housing sector?  Deputy Healy's motion rightly focuses on the severe impact on households of grocery inflation, which at the end of last year hit its highest level in two years, lasting well beyond the immediate shock of the inflation crisis and persistently driving up costs for families. Last month's consumer price index shows that food prices were up 3.9%, with unprocessed foods up a staggering 5.8%, but, again, prices in Ireland, for a combination of reasons, are higher than they are on the Continent, at almost 110% of the EU average according to Eurostat, the third highest in the European Union. People see this in their shopping baskets, especially with meat, dairy and coffee, but we do not see tailored solutions that recognise the unique combination of factors that hit Irish consumers. Targeted cost-of-living supports focused on essentials like groceries would go a long way in helping some of the hardest hit families here.  The climate crisis is a giant cost-of-living crisis. The most vulnerable will always be impacted the most. If we do not put in place the help to support people to make choices that break that cycle of dependence on consumer goods and services that are always open to volatile pricing, people will forever be stuck in this doom loop of ever-rising costs. Those are hard choices to make in the present but they make for a far cheaper and healthier future for all.  Speaking of retrofit supports, solar panel grants, electric vehicle grants, sustainable farming supports, childcare supports, and targeted cost-of-living measures, it is all connected, and one smart intervention begets another. These were the guiding principles of our party while in government and it is something we have seen precious little of since. I urge the Minister of State and the Government to look at this approach and to reconsider the consumer pays all approach we have seen adopted in the last year. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  I thank Deputy Seamus Healy for tabling this excellent motion. People Before Profit obviously fully supports it. Next week, though it was supposed to be today but was cancelled because of the orange weather warning, Seamus, People Before Profit, Sinn F\u00e9in, other left Independents, the Social Democrats and the Labour Party will be launching the affordable Ireland campaign. That is a campaign that will be launched together with, supported by and involved with a broad coalition of disabled people's organisations, trade unions, students unions like Aontas na Mac L\u00e9inn, civil society groups, the Irish Wheelchair Association, the Disability Federation of Ireland, Unite the Union, Postgraduate Workers' Organisation, the Irish Traveller Movement, the National Women's Council, the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed, and the Irish Senior Citizens Parliament. What unites us is a determination to make Ireland affordable. We all deserve a country we can afford, not this rip-off republic, and not a society that caters for the wealthy but leaves everyone else struggling to put food on the table and keep the heat and lighting on.  The affordable Ireland campaign has six very simple demands. They are to cut energy costs by introducing energy credits and abolishing standing charges; to cut and control grocery prices; for above-inflation pay, social welfare benefits and pension rises, including finally introducing a living wage; for an emergency payment for disabled people and carers and a permanent cost-of-disability payment; to abolish fees for public services, including college, childcare, health, and general practitioner care; and, finally, to freeze and cap rents and build public housing. We will be on the streets for the first time, as Seamus mentioned, with a focus on the call for an emergency payment for disabled people and carers on Saturday, 28 February, at 1 o'clock in Parnell Square.  The last couple of weeks, or any week that one pays attention to, to be honest, tell us a lesson. This week, we have the rip-off rents Bill. Last week, we had the Social Democrats' motion for an emergency winter payment for disabled people shamefully voted down by the Government. The lesson is that Fianna F\u00e1il, Fine Gael and the Lowry lackey Independents who prop them up will not do any of this unless we force them to act. The launch of the affordable Ireland campaign recognises the fact that this right-wing Government will only take action on the cost-of-living crisis if it is forced to do so. Left to their own devices, Fianna F\u00e1il, Fine Gael and the right-wing Independents will do nothing to make Ireland affordable. In fact, they will do the exact opposite. That is what the rip-off rents Bill is about. It is about deliberately increasing rents even faster than the already unaffordable rents that we have. That is what the attacks on the poorest in society and disabled people in the budget were about. They are making it harder for ordinary working class people to have a decent life. They will hike up rents for council, approved housing body and housing assistance payment tenants, and now for every private tenant too. They will roll out the red carpet for data centres, which means driving up electricity costs for everybody else.  The only way ordinary people's bills are going is up. Further increases to regressive standing charges are planned to fund the expansion of the grid for data centres. The Commission for Regulation of Utilities' price review 6, published before Christmas, allows for charges for householders to go up by 28% and costs for data centres to go down by 20%.  It proves the inextricable connection between the Government abandoning even a verbal commitment to climate action and the legal targets it has signed up to and making ordinary people pay the price for the cost-of-living crisis. Real climate action and cost-of-living action go hand in hand.  It is the same with rents. Ordinary people pay more so that landlords and big business can make more profits. Our loss is their gain. The Government acts like Robin Hood in reverse - stealing from the poor to give to the rich. It is not because it does not have the money. The Government had more than enough money in the budget to give hundreds of millions of euro in tax breaks to landlords, developers, fast food chains and Google, which walked in the front door of the Department of Finance, had a meeting with the Minister for Finance and said it wanted an increase in the research and development tax credit. It was a case of \"a benefit of \u20ac300 million for us, yes no problem\" in the same budget where the Government cut incomes for ordinary people. The Government never has enough. It is always hard choices for ordinary people with never enough to ensure they can afford to live unless, of course, an election is coming and the Government wants to buy people's votes with a few one-off cost-of-living payments. There is an unprecedented budget surplus for the Government but at the same time, the Oxfam wealth report shows the rich in this country are getting richer while the rest are getting poorer. Eleven Irish billionaires have the same wealth as 3.5 million Irish adults. That is obscene and yet the Government refuses to even consider a wealth tax. All of it is enraging, all of it is unfair and all of it is unjust but all of it will continue unless we stop them. That is why we have to mobilise with the affordable Ireland campaign. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (Deputy Alan Dillon)  I move amendment No. 1:  To delete all words after \"D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann\" and substitute the following:  \"notes that:  \u2014 the Government is acutely aware of, and concerned about, the impact of rising prices on Irish households, and it is also aware of the high cost of energy prices and the wider impact of the cost of doing business for firms, particularly small firms;  \u2014 in relation to Irish households, the Government has already taken the following measures;  \u2014 \u20ac28.9 billion will be spent on social protection in 2026, including over \u20ac1.15 billion of new measures targeted to assist the most vulnerable in our society with the cost of living;  \u2014 the supports provided in the budget package helps vulnerable households with the cost of energy bills, such as an increase in the Fuel Allowance scheme and extended eligibility to recipients of the Working Family Payment (WFP);  \u2014 the increase of \u20ac10 in weekly social welfare primary payments is equivalent to approximately 4.1 per cent, and for pensions the increase is about 3.5 per cent, both above the rate of inflation; and  \u2014 these increases follow on from the increase in payment rates in Budget 2025 that were also above the rate of inflation;  recognises, with regard to disability:  \u2014 that a Strategic Focus Network Summit on the Cost of Disability is being organised by the Department of Social Protection, and will involve disabled people and their advocates, as well as other Government Departments'; and  \u2014 a public consultation process on how a cost of disability can best be delivered will be launched shortly;  further notes, a second targeted tier of child benefit is being examined as a possible approach to reduce child poverty, but existing schemes like the Child Support Payment and the WFP are also available to achieve this end;  further notes, in relation to energy prices, that:  \u2014 Ireland has the twelfth highest electricity prices among the European Union (EU)-27, when adjusted for purchasing power parity according to Eurostat (H1 2025), and in nominal terms, Ireland ranks fifth for household electricity prices and eighth for gas prices among EU states;  \u2014 electricity and gas markets in Ireland are commercial, liberalised, and competitive, the position of successive Governments is that competitive energy markets result in greater choice for consumers and businesses, in terms of suppliers, products and prices, and price setting by electricity suppliers is a commercial and operational matter for the companies concerned;  \u2014 retail prices are influenced by several factors, including wholesale energy prices and supplier hedging, in Ireland, our long-standing reliance on fossil fuels, specifically gas, for electricity generation, has been a driver of higher energy costs, and furthermore, our geographical isolation, dispersed population, fossil fuel dependency and small market scale also influence prices and drive costs;  \u2014 the Government has introduced a suite of measures over recent years to help households and businesses deal with the rising cost of energy, including \u20ac1,500 in electricity credits to all households through four Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Schemes, at a cost of \u20ac3.3 billion, this is in addition to one-off payments to support certain social protection payment recipients; and  \u2014 the Government provides support for households through schemes, including, the Fuel Allowance, the Household Benefits Package and the Additional Needs Payment;  affirms that:  \u2014 as part of Budget 2026, the Government took action and provided significant supports to enhance energy affordability, including:  \u2014 an increase to the Fuel Allowance as well as broadened eligibility for the payment;  \u2014 an extension of the reduced Value Added Tax rate of 9 per cent, which is applied to gas and electricity to 2030;  \u2014 a continuation of the \u20ac400 income tax disregard for certain profits arising from the micro-generation of electricity for a further three years to end 2028; and  \u2014 an extension of the Accelerated Capital Allowances scheme for energy efficient equipment for businesses to 2030;  \u2014 the Government is committed to taking decisive action to provide warmer, more comfortable homes, as part of our drive to support energy affordability, security, and sustainability, with over 60 per cent of total Government expenditure on residential retrofit over the period 2022-2025 was on homes at risk of energy poverty;  \u2014 following approval at Cabinet last week, the Government has published a National Residential Retrofit Plan and an enhanced set of measures to increase the delivery and affordability of home energy upgrades, these measures will continue to make home energy upgrades more accessible and affordable and support more homes to be more sustainable and energy-efficient, reducing reliance on fossil fuels, and lowering energy costs for households;  \u2014 a record capital allocation of \u20ac640 million has been provided for Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland residential and community energy upgrade schemes this year, and a further \u20ac140 million has been provided for the Local Authority Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme;  \u2014 the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) continues to have a range of customer protection measures in place including, a moratorium on disconnections for vulnerable customers, protections for those on financial hardship meters, minimum debt repayment periods and promotion of the vulnerable customer register;  \u2014 the Government has also established the National Energy Affordability Taskforce (NEAT) to identify, assess and implement measures that will enhance energy affordability for households and businesses while delivering key renewable commitments and protecting security of supply and economic stability, and the NEAT Interim Report 2025 was published last November with an Energy Affordability Action Plan to be published in Q3 this year;  \u2014 under the auspices of the NEAT, the CRU will lead on the Programme for Government commitment to 'commission an independent review into the speed and level of passthrough from wholesale prices to retail prices, with an additional assessment of the overall price dynamics and an overall focus on the competitiveness of the Irish economy';  \u2014 while electricity credits previously played an important role, it should be noted that, despite costing in excess of \u20ac3.3 billion, this measure did not permanently reduce the cost of electricity nor are they fiscally sustainable, therefore, the Government has prioritised measures which reduce energy costs in the long-run such as the \u20ac3.5 billion investment in Ireland's electricity grid infrastructure as part of the National Development Plan; and  \u2014 the range of supports that were included in Budget 2026 are in line with the movement away from one-off measures, towards permanent supports with funding also provided to address structural issues such as retrofit and infrastructure; and  in relation to the cost of doing business, notes that arising from the wider inflationary trends, Government has taken action to address fiscal and regulatory issues, including:  \u2014 through the establishment of the Cost of Business Advisory Forum (the Forum), June 2025, and the publication of the Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity, September 2025;  \u2014 both of these actions deliver on the Programme for Government commitments to support small business, enterprise and industries and to develop Government policy which focuses on the economic areas that fall within our domestic sphere of influence;  \u2014 the Forum's purpose is to critically examine issues that can lead to higher costs for business in Ireland and review associated regulatory and infrastructural issues that merit a changed approach, at present, there are 24 member organisations who represent a broad section of Ireland's enterprise sector, including, Small and Medium Enterprises and Multinational Corporations, who regularly contribute to the work of the Forum, alongside active engagement and dialogue with a variety of State Agencies, Regulators, and Government Departments;  \u2014 the Forum members adopted a comprehensive thematic workplan in June, 2025 and since then have met to consider a series of themes:  \u2014 Energy Costs and Security of Supply;  \u2014 Insurance Costs;  \u2014 Planning and Infrastructural Delivery; and  \u2014 Water Services and Wastewater;  \u2014 there are a number of remaining meetings scheduled for Q1 2026, and these will focus on legal costs and regulation, reporting and compliance;  \u2014 the Forum is in the process of drafting the final report, with an indicative date to present the report to Government in Q1 2026;  \u2014 also in August 2025, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) published an update to its 2023 high-level analysis of the grocery sector in Ireland, this analysis confirms that, while food prices have increased significantly in recent years in Ireland, competition is working effectively in the Irish grocery retail sector, notably, food price increases have generally remained below the EU average, which coincides with increasing competition in Ireland; and  \u2014 the grocery retail sector remains a key market for the CCPC and it will continue to monitor and review the sector on a regular basis; and  finally, in relation to the National Minimum Wage:  \u2014 since 2020, an increase by 40 per cent, from \u20ac10.10 to today's rate of \u20ac14.15 an hour, following a \u20ac0.65 increase in Budget 2026, which amounts to an increase of 4.8 per cent;  \u2014 in 2025, the minimum wage increased by over 6 per cent, following a significant uplift of 12 per cent, or \u20ac1.40 in the previous year;  \u2014 these increases were and are well ahead of inflation and projected wage growth and have brought about substantial real wage growth for the lowest paid workers in our economy; and  \u2014 our current rate of \u20ac14.15 an hour means that Ireland has the second highest minimum wage in the EU, second only to Luxembourg, and among the highest in the world, when adjusted for purchasing power standards, we have the fifth highest minimum wage in the EU.\".  I express my deepest sympathies to those affected today in such a tragic event. My heart goes out to the families affected and those who were seriously injured. I also acknowledge all the first responders who worked at the scene  I am pleased to be here to discuss a Private Members' motion that attempts to address a number of issues to do with the cost of living in Ireland. The Government opposes this motion. I assure the House that the Government is acutely aware of the impact of rising prices and costs on Irish households and businesses. Our proposed amendment to the motion will confirm this.  The areas raised in the motion are complex. We have to make sure that we do not do anything that might harm employment opportunities or have any unintended consequences for investment. I will set out tonight the progress the Government is making in tackling prices and the areas raised in the motion. The proposals in the motion are wide-ranging and extremely diverse cutting across several Departments. It addresses so many areas and issues that I cannot hope to cover them all in any depth this evening but I will do my utmost to address several of them.  At the outset, it is important for me to highlight the performance of the Irish economy over the past few years. The economy has proven to be remarkably resilient in the face of a series of unprecedented shocks from Brexit to the pandemic to the war in Europe. Furthermore, the geopolitical environment has perhaps never been as uncertain and turbulent as it is today. Despite all of this, our economy has continued to grow and thrive with record numbers of people in work - over 2.8 million people went to work this morning - and record rates of labour market activity. Today's labour market numbers confirmed this. The unemployment rate in January of this year stood at 4.7%. Incomes have risen and continue to rise while inflation has fallen and is expected to remain at close to 2% this year.  Nonetheless, several of the issues raised in the motion centre on prices and costs. We fully acknowledge the challenges posed by high inflation and high costs for our consumers and the enterprise sector. I also accept that inflation hits the least well-off the hardest. That is why the Government has been so proactive in introducing cost-of-living packages and attempting to ease burdens on households and businesses. While the annual rate of inflation last year averaged 2.1%, which is down from a peak rate of 8.1% in 2021, we have seen food prices as a source of inflationary pressure. This is reflecting market conditions, an integrated supply chain and prices for agricultural inputs such as fuel, feed and fertiliser. It is important to note that food price inflation averaged 3 9% in 2025, which is down from 9.8% in 2023.  On the issue of energy costs and prices, it is the case that a suite of measures was introduced in recent years to help households and businesses deal with the rising cost of energy. This included \u20ac1,500 in electricity credits to all households through the emergency costs benefit scheme at a cost of \u20ac3.3 billion. This universal measure provided valuable on-bill support to nearly 2.3 million households. While previously, electricity credits played an important role, this measure at a cost in excess of \u20ac3.3 billion is neither fiscally sustainable nor did it provide long-term benefit. As part of budget 2026, the Government took action and provided significant supports to enhance energy affordability, including an increase to the fuel allowance, as well as broadened eligibility for the payment; an extension of the reduced VAT rate of 9%, which is applied to gas and electricity to 2030; a continuation of the \u20ac400 income tax disregard for certain profits arising from the microgeneration of electricity for a further three years to the end of 2028; and an extension of the accelerated capital allowances scheme for energy-efficient equipment for businesses to 2030. The CRU continues to have a range of customer protection measures in place, including a moratorium on disconnections for vulnerable customers, protections for those on financial hardship meters, minimum debt repayment periods and promotion of the vulnerable customer register. The Government also prioritised measures that reduce energy costs in the long run such as the landmark \u20ac3.5 billion investment in Ireland's electricity grid infrastructure approved by the Government in July 2025. This represents the largest single investment in the country's electricity network in the history of the State. A record capital allocation of \u20ac640 million has been provided for SEAI\u2019s residential and community energy upgrade schemes this year. A further record allocation of \u20ac340 million has been committed to the warmer homes scheme, which provides fully-funded energy upgrades for low-income homes at risk of energy poverty.  While I have just outlined specific supports that were introduced as part of budget 2026 in response to concerns about energy costs and prices, I welcome the opportunity to discuss the wider social protection elements of this important aspect. This year, the Department of Social Protection will spend \u20ac25.9 billion in social welfare expenditure supporting pensioners, carers, people with disabilities, jobseekers and families in every parish across our country. This expenditure will make a real difference to communities across the country. Over \u20ac1.15 billion of this sum is for new measures. At the heart of these new measures are across-the-board social welfare increases effective from last month to our pensioners and people of working age with core rates increasing by \u20ac10 - a level that more than matches inflation. The increase of \u20ac10 in the standard rate is equivalent this year to about 4.1% compared with the CSO\u2019s latest annual inflation rate of 2.8% to December. For pensioners, the increase is about 3.5%, which, again, is ahead of inflation. These increases follow on from the increase in payment rates last year that were also above the rate of inflation.  The measures contained in budget 2026 were designed to support the most vulnerable in our society. The budget package included the largest child support payment increase in the history of the State for primary social welfare recipients bringing the total annual value of the child support payment to \u20ac3,016 for each child under 12 and \u20ac4,056 for each child aged 12 and over. A second targeted tier of child benefit is being examined by the Department of Social Protection as a possible approach to reduce child poverty but existing schemes like the child support payment and the working family payment are also available to achieve this end. The Department of Social Protection is currently developing a successor strategy to the roadmap for social inclusion, which is the national poverty reduction strategy, for the period from 2026 to 2030.  With regard to the disability sector, I assure the House that improving outcomes for disabled people is a top priority for this Government. Our determination to achieve this is reflected in the key programme for Government commitment to introduce a permanent annual cost-of-disability support payment. That will be provided through a dedicated disability unit that has been established through the Department of An Taoiseach.  Progress will also be monitored and driven by the Cabinet committee on children, disability and education. We know that addressing the cost of disability is not a question of income support alone. The delivery of, and access to, services are important and key to this.  It is also important to highlight the Government's continuing commitment to fair wages for the lowest paid workers in our economy, and we have seen real progress made by raising the national minimum  wage in recent years by way of substantial increases. Since 2020, the national minimum wage has increased by 40% from \u20ac10.10 to today\u2019s rate of \u20ac14.15 an hour, the second highest in the EU. Over the past number of years, these increases in the minimum wage were well ahead of inflation and have brought about substantial real wage growth for the lowest paid workers in our economy.  With regard to some of the other motions around wealth tax, we do have a number of cases where wealth in Ireland is taxed. There is capital gains tax, capital acquisitions tax, local property tax and certain forms of stamp duty for property and shares for those who are in impacted.  In conclusion, in the short time I had, I tried to highlight some of the areas raised by the Deputies. The Government is making very real progress in addressing the cost of living challenges. We are acutely aware of issues around rising prices on Irish households and our policies are very much focused on the data we have, notwithstanding the series of very challenging external developments. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard Boyd Barrett","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Richard-Boyd-Barrett.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett  The Minister of State listing off the crumbs that were given out by the Government to those who are being crushed by the cost-of-living crisis is utterly meaningless. I thank Deputy Healy for bringing forward this motion, which People Before Profit strongly supports, as it details the absolutely crushing assault on the cost of living for working people, the least well-off, people with disabilities and pensioners.  Prices are up 23% in the past five years. Food prices are up 5% in the past year. Electricity prices are 24% higher in this country than the EU average. Electricity companies announced 10% increases just in the past year. Gas prices have doubled in the past five years. The average rent in Dublin is now \u20ac2,100 per month and rising. It is set to rise even further with the Government's residential tenancies rent hike Bill. House prices are up 8.1%. Rents have gone up 40% in the past six years. Motor insurance premiums are up 17%. Toll charges are up. Local property tax is up. Student fees are up, and childcare fees still continue to be a second mortgage for those who have to pay them. I could go on.  People are being crushed and it is not just us saying it. The Parliamentary Budget Office confirmed that the Government's budget made things worse and that general poverty will increase as a result of the budget. Child poverty will increase to 15%, poverty among the elderly will increase to 17% and the poorest 20% of the population will see their incomes fall. We have record numbers of people contacting the Society of St. Vincent de Paul looking for assistance with the energy bills they cannot pay. Child poverty is at shocking levels with 190,000 children suffering child poverty. Some 298,000 people are in arrears with their electricity bills. I could go on with the horrible list.  That is a litany of what is being done to working people and people with disabilities, who lost, according to their own assessment, \u20ac1,400 as a result of the cuts in one-off payments, emergency payments and so on. This is the reason they are going to be on a very angry demonstration on 28 February. Due to the Government's failure to deliver a cost-of-disability payment, they are going to be on the streets demanding the winter payment and demanding a cost-of-disability payment. Incredibly, the Government took \u20ac1,400 of them in the budget, which is absolutely shocking.  What is the other side of the coin to these attacks on the vulnerable, the least well-off and working people? It is a profits bonanza. Between 2013 and 2023, corporate profits in this country went up 300%. Tesco profits last year were \u20ac185 million, up 54%. SuperValu profits were \u20ac134 million last year, which was up on previous years and big dividends were paid out the shareholders. ESB profits in the first half of 2025 were \u20ac424 million, which was up on the previous year that was also a record level of profits. Cairn Homes recorded \u20ac150 million in profits, up 32% on the previous year. Glenveagh Homes had \u20ac132 million in profits, up 86% on the previous year.  The cost-of-living misery suffered by working people, by pensioners, by those with disabilities and by students is being caused by a Government that is prioritising the profits of people who are actually benefitting from all this. For example, in the budget the Government gave out \u20ac300 million extra in just one tax giveaway for research and development, most of which will go to massively profitable multinationals. These are the priorities of this Government. It is to look after the rich, big business and those who make profits and whose incomes are made from dividends, while screwing working people, the least well off, people with disabilities, students and the vulnerable in our society.  That is why we say that we need to mobilise and why the demonstration on 28 February is so important. It is also only the beginning of Affordable Ireland's campaign to mobilise against this Government and to demand that the benefits of the economic growth in this country in terms of housing, food and energy prices, as well as incomes that actually sustain a decent standard of living for people become the priority. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Brian Stanley","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Brian-Stanley.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Brian Stanley  I welcome this motion and thank Deputy Healy for bringing it forward. It is timely. Personal debt is up. Nearly 300,000 households are in arrears with their electricity bills. Profits are up massively, as has been outlined. Private health insurance has gone out through the roof. The motion outlines a number of serious measures that need to be taken.  I want to add the issue of private health insurance. Unfortunately, people, particularly the elderly and those who have health issues, have to take it out. Costs have escalated in recent years. They are not going up once a year, not twice, but three times a year. In the past 12 months, VHI have increased premiums on three occasions. Laya has ramped up prices. All of them have ramped up prices.  One Laois couple, who are 81- and 82-years-old, have seen their policy go up to \u20ac4,506.66 per annum. They live on one pension. She is an adult dependant, and it is their only form of income. They have the most basic cover. All they have is the minimum. They are terrified to let it lapse because both have health issues. A sum of \u20ac4,500 per annum is not affordable for pensioners who are just on a single State pension. They couple in question are in a very difficult situation. They have to pay rent, heating, electricity, shopping and home repairs. It will really cause financial hardship. There is a copy of their demand, which they shared with me. We are supposed to moving to universal healthcare, under Sl\u00e1intecare. We have a year or so left to go in this, but we have made snail's pace progress. I accept that Covid-19 held it up for a year or so, but we are still nowhere near where we should be.  We need to get Sl\u00e1intecare, which is a universal public health system, in place. We are way behind the rest of Europe. Health costs are putting a huge burden, on top of the things outlined here in the past half an hour, on top of households and particularly vulnerable people. We need equal access to treatment regardless of ability to pay. It has to be based on medical needs alone. We are completely out of step and in the Dark Ages compared with the rest of Europe, including countries that are much poorer than us. We need to get that in place and move forward as quickly as possible to it.  I want to mention something in support of one big measure in the motion. I refer to the extra costs of disability. The basic payment is at \u20ac232 a week. It is much lower than the poverty threshold, which is deemed to be at \u20ac291. There are significant extra costs for people with disabilities. Last year - when I say last year, I refer to the budget of October 2024, when we were on the cusp of an election - there was \u20ac400 extra in a cost-of-living payment for disability. There was \u20ac300 extra in fuel allowance in one payment alone. The living alone allowance was up \u20ac300. Electricity credits were up \u20ac200 each time. There was \u20ac230 extra on the basic Christmas bonus. Last October, there was no election but there were no increases like this. Zero. They all came and went but the expenses that people have are still the same. In fact, they have actually gone up because of the rate of inflation, particularly for essentials - and this is the key point - like food, heating, electricity, health insurance and health costs, which people should not have to pay.  There are very basic measures called for here, including to implement a rent freeze - the Government is going to the do the opposite on 1 March, which is terrible - or implement a living wage. Introducing a cost-of-disability payment is key. Also, we need to speed up the implementation of Sl\u00e1intecare and get a public health system. Energy credits should be reinstated, particularly for low-income households. The Government should not shy away from taxing the billionaires. The billionaires have the cash. Other countries do it. We need to take a bit of it off them and give it to those people who are at the bottom end. All the statistics show that the gap between those at the bottom and those at the top has widened. We cannot continue going like this. We cannot have a situation like America. We have to have a fairer society like the rest of Europe. That is what we need here and I ask the Minister of State to withdraw the amendment and support this motion. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Pearse Doherty","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","memberCode":"Pearse-Doherty.S.2007-07-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Pearse Doherty  I will begin, as others have, by expressing my condolences in regard to the person who lost their life in the awful tragedy, the accident on Talbot Street today. Our thoughts are with the friends and family of the deceased. We wish those who are recovering a speedy recovery in hospital. It was a terrible tragedy this afternoon.  I also thank the Deputies involved in bringing forward this motion because Government has failed to end the rip-off and get prices under control. To make matters worse, it brought forward a budget that left people worse off. It claimed prices were stabilising and things were getting better. That is how it justified abandoning ordinary workers in this year's budget to look after those at the top. That is how it justified pulling cost-of-living supports like energy credits and disability payments. It is how it justified handing out all the tax breaks to investors and developers, giving nothing to workers.  Prices have not levelled off. Inflation is 50% higher than the Government forecast on budget day. Its projections that it built its budget on now look like wishful thinking. We are now seeing prices going up and up, totally out of line with targets and what we see in other European countries. Despite all of this, the Government has dug in its heels and refused to act. It is still turning a blind eye to the fact that people are working every hour God sends them and still cannot keep up. People have been left struggling through the winter months by a Government that refuses to help. Inflation figures do not come close to showing the real pressures people are under. Food price hikes are still racing ahead of general inflation in a way that cannot continue and ordinary workers and families are getting crucified. They are hit hardest because they spend a large share of their wages just trying to put food on the table. Parents trying to keep and feed their families on modest wages are drowning and this Government looks the other way.  Energy prices are completely out of control. Ireland has gone from being one of the cheapest for electricity to being one of the most expensive. Hundreds of thousands of people right now are behind on their energy bills and it seems the Government does not care. More than that are able to barely just keep up and are trying not to fall into arrears. This was all because there was no election. The Government pulled energy credits even though bills were higher this year than they were the year before and more people than ever are struggling but the Government did not care.  Insurance costs are through the roof. Car, home and health insurance - you name it, it has gone up. What else has gone up? Bank profits, developer profits, insurance profits and large supermarket profits. They are all raking it in. Both the International Monetary Fund, IMF, and the European Commission have told us that corporate profits drive inflation but this Government does not want to know. The Government looks at corporations making record profits and gives them bigger tax breaks, all while ordinary people pick up the tab.  The reality is that things are getting worse and people are under more pressure than ever. They are still being crucified by energy bills, food prices, insurance and childcare. The list goes on and on and people at home know it. The Government needs to show some humility and admit that it got this badly wrong. More importantly, it needs to wake up to reality and bring forward a cost-of-living package. Right now, the Government is just refusing to help. It is not just refusing to help; it is actively making things worse and harder on people. Instead of supporting people, it has made things worse. It is jacking up rents, increasing college fees, hiking taxes on family homes and increasing the cost of home heating oil, petrol and diesel. The list goes on.  Any Government with a serious intent of protecting people from inflation has to do three things. The first is do no harm. It should not make things worse through Government action. Second, Government needs to do its job and tackle price gouging; reform electricity pricing; mandate large supermarkets that operate in Ireland to report their profits; take on the banks and insurance companies; support my legislation that would ensure transparency; cap rents; and stop vulture funds snapping up properties ahead of families. These are just some of the proposals we have put forward and we can give the Government many more. Third, the Government needs to put in place supports. That means bringing forward a cost-of-living package because people should be able to expect that in the face of a cost-of-living crisis, when the Government has the resources in the form of billions of their euro, the Government will step in and help.  I will say it again: the Government should admit that it got it badly wrong and what it needs to urgently do is end the price gouging, get costs under control and, crucially, bring forward a cost-of-living package without delay. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  As others have, I want to express my sincere condolences to those impacted by the serious tragedy on Talbot Street. I also want to say a word to commend the emergency services. They never know what they are going to see when they come into work in the morning but they still turn up, so they deserve all of our thanks.  I want to address some of the remarks made by the Minister of State, Deputy Dillon, in his opening statement. Some of this stuff would be funny if it was not so serious. He referenced \"sustainable\" increases in the minimum wage. Sustainable for who exactly? Sustainable for employers, perhaps, or sustainable for business because it sure as Jesus is not sustainable for workers living on the minimum wage. Their wages are not going up anywhere near as fast as food or energy inflation. In fact, they are running behind just trying frantically to catch up.  The Minister of State also confirmed that this Government has completely abandoned the living wage. It talked a lot about it but then when I thought about it, I asked myself when it was that the Government talked about it. Yes - it was just before the election. The same as all of its pre-election promises, like snow on a ditch, it is gone. There is no living wage for workers. It has been pushed right out, way beyond the term of this Government. In fact, there is arrogance in this Government's claim that it will somehow be re-elected and that at some point, we will get the sunny uplands of the living wage. Nobody is fooled by that, by the way.  It is very clear in the Minister of State's script, which he diligently read out and every word of which he stuck to, that there will be no living wage. What is the living wage? It is the minimum amount that a person needs to live on. That is the living wage and that is gone. The Government just sanctioned a fairly hefty pay increase for the head of Uisce \u00c9ireann. He is nowhere near the living wage and he is still getting an increase. He could not spend in ten lifetimes all the money that he has. He will get a pay increase but people who are on the minimum wage have to be content with those sustainable increases, as the Government referred to them.  The Minister of State also did not address the unaffordable cost of childcare because, again, that is one of those things those in government say when they are running for election. The Minister of State, Deputy Dillon will remember that his party leader could not pass a microphone back in October-November 2024 without reminding people of their commitment to introduce within 100 days of government a plan for \u20ac200 per week childcare. What happened to that? Again, all the pre-election promises are gone like snow off a ditch because they are in now and they do not care. We totally understand that. The Government has taken \u20ac1,400 off disabled people. Those are not my words; they are the words of disabled people. What was the response of the Government? The Minister, Deputy Calleary, said it was misleading and dangerous - he was very concerned - to suggest that people are choosing between heating and eating. Disabled people came to the audiovisual room - I did not see too many Government representatives there \u2013 and told us that there are days when they have to make a very real choice between the groceries and energy they need and the bills they must pay. I hope that when the Minister of State comes to read out his script, he might scribble a bit at the end and express a little bit of shame about that. That is \u20ac1,400 the Government took from people who are struggling just to exist. The Government is trying to do the same kind of thing that it did with the students when it jacked up the fees by \u20ac500 and then told everyone that somehow that was cut. People are not stupid. They have to manage their own finances. They have to balance their own books. They have to get themselves to the end of the week. They see what the Government is doing. They see you for who you are. They have memories that go back to November 2024 and all of those promises and they see them now gone - absolutely gone.  One in five workers in this State today is classified as being in poverty. That is nothing to be proud of in a State where there are surpluses that run to billions and pay increases available to very well-off CEOs because obviously they have to be shielded from any cost-of-living crisis, but for the people on the front line of the Government\u2019s policies, the people who will have to pay those higher rents when it rams its rent hike Bill through, there will be no pay increases for them, no big bonuses, no bonanzas, nothing like that. They will be told to make do and mend. They are gaslit by the Minister for Social Protection telling them their own lived reality is not true. They spoke very clearly. The people with disabilities said it. They are making a choice between heating and eating as a direct result of Government policy. It was hurtful and wrong of the Minister to try to gaslight them because people with disabilities face enough challenges in this State. They have to give 24-hours' notice to use some forms of public transport. It is very hard for them to access employment. It is very tough for them to get out of the house some days. It is near impossible if they do not have the money to power up their mobility devices. They were told it was dangerous for us to repeat what people with disabilities told us. The Government should be ashamed but it will not be.  We see food inflation running at 4%. Again, 4% is just a figure but in real life that is a man standing at the checkout saying to a child, \"Put that back, we cannot afford that this week.\" There is shame in that. These people come into my advice clinics and they tell me they are ashamed because they have to tell their kids that they cannot have something - sometimes it is something fairly basic - and I never, ever fail to remind them that the shame belongs to this Government. The shame is not theirs. They want to be able to provide for their kids. They work hard, but if they are on the minimum wage, they will not get any closer to the living wage under this Government. It has made it very clear.  Any Government with a serious interest in protecting people from inflation has to do at least these three things. First, it must put supports in place and it must have targeted payments for energy and the basics for people to be able to live. Second, it must tackle price gouging. I heard it from Neale Richmond a couple of years ago. He was bringing in the heads of the supermarkets and he was going to talk tough. Jesus, we are paying an awful lot more than we were. I am probably glad he did not bring them in again because the prices went up almost immediately. The third thing that a Government should do is just not make things worse. Do not jack up the cost of going to college and do not jack up the cost of renting. This Government does not listen, however, and it does not understand that. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa  I also add my voice in relation to those who have been injured and offer condolences to the family of the man who has died. I have spoken too many times over the last short period about absolute tragedies. It is obviously disappointing to see this on the streets of Dublin. Too many times have I had to commend those who work in the emergency services. As Deputy O\u2019Reilly said, we do not always think through what they do on a day-by-day basis but, as she says, they always show up and we are very glad they do.  I thank Deputy Healy for doing this but the fact we are putting down Private Members\u2019 motions on the cost-of-living crisis in one of the richest states in the world says something. We talk to constituents and constituents come in to us. We hear the conversations in shops or the odd time when people are in bars or anywhere else. It is about the cost of everything and how it has gone through the roof. I do not think the Minister of State will be shocked to hear they are not generally impressed with the actions, or lack of action, of the Government.  I think of those who work in EuroGiant and the particular issues they are facing at the moment. That is 77 stores and 640 workers. We do not know how liquidation and the whole thing will go but they are people who might be facing far worse circumstances than they anticipated. I am thinking of those in my home town of Dundalk who work for EuroGiant. We need to ensure that whatever supports are necessary are done.  Unfortunately, we do not have all the safety nets for all those who fall into worse times. Many others have said how there are a number out there who are in very good circumstances who are constantly looked after, whether that is developers with their tax breaks, those in the highest echelons of semi-State organisations and all those others. There is no cost-of-living crisis for them and there are no worries about increases for those people. That is the problem.  Yesterday, this House went through the disaster the Government is going to impose on an absolutely dysfunctional housing market and housing crisis. In my constituency the average cost of a three-bedroom house rental in County Louth is around \u20ac1,966.  People would probably struggle to get that price if they go onto daft.ie at the minute. I did it yesterday and I do not intend to go through it again. In Dundalk there were only about 20 properties that were available. What does the Government propose? On 1 March we will have a complete reset for all new tenancies and market rate is what people will be charged. We can just imagine what market rate is in a broken market.  Many speakers for very obvious reasons have brought up a cohort of people who have been abused for many years. I refer to those with disabilities. I again commend Disability Federation Ireland, the Irish Wheelchair Association and Access for All for driving home the idea that there is a need for an emergency cost-of-disability payment. I am going to repeat what I said previously. In providing one-off payments, the Government accepted there was a need for a cost-of-disability payment because it made it. The other reason I know the Government believes there is a need for a cost-of-disability payment is because there is a review process ongoing at the minute to provide one for next year. The only problem with that is that it is no good for those who have to decide whether to eat or heat.  We all heard from those in the audiovisual room who spoke about the issues over deciding whether to charge their wheelchair and that is before we get into the logistics in relation to travel and the added costs. Even at times when they have free travel, they still have to pay a booking cost because they have to use the Internet when booking within Iarnr\u00f3d \u00c9ireann. None of this is good enough and I do not see any solutions.  Deputy O'Reilly stated it explicitly. We have had huge promises from the Government and we have had a huge amount of energy in relation to what was going to be done about the absolutely spiralling cost of groceries, not that anybody outside needs to be told about that. They literally can tell us on a day-to-day basis how the price of milk, rashers or anything has gone through the roof. Beef is a particular issue this week. Let us be clear: there is no solution for the absolutely drastic energy costs.  As said by many, whatever about not improving the circumstances, at least the Government should do no harm; it should not increase the pain. What do we get? We get carbon taxes thrown on those who can least afford them. We have huge energy costs, huge rental costs and huge mortgage costs. We have no cost-of-disability payments. We have no solutions and no cost-of-living package from the Government. There was no difficulty with cost-of-disability payments and cost-of-living payments before an election, but there is a problem with them now. There is a problem for people out there at the minute. We need to see action and we have seen nothing but bluster. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ged Nash","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","memberCode":"Gerald-Nash.D.2011-03-09","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ged Nash  I am pleased to have the opportunity to support Deputy Healy's motion. The contents of the motion will not be unfamiliar to those in opposition who have tabled broadly similar motions week in and week out over the last few years. What will not be lost on us either is the nature of the rather routine response that we receive from the Government, as we saw in the Minister of State, Deputy Dillon's, response to the motion earlier on. With respect, I have no doubt that in his response in closing the debate, the Minister of State, Deputy Grealish, may respond in the same vein, telling us how successful the economy is, how well employment is growing and how resilient the Irish economy is. However, the economy exists for the principal reason of servicing the needs of our society. We have a very successful economy objectively. Many of us have played our own role in ensuring that is the case. However, we cannot say with any great certainty that we have a successful society because with a successful economy must come a more equal society. That is the measurement we must use to measure success. The experiences of far too many individuals and families across this country are undeserving of the kind of approach taken by the Government and the credit the Government gives itself for its great, successful economic model and how well the country is doing because the lived experience for far too many people is very remote from that sort of assessment and that sort of analysis.  One of the measures in the motion refers very clearly to the problem that we have with food prices and the increased cost of groceries, something that has put Irish families to the pin of their collective collars over the last few years, in particular since 2020 and 2021. A number of factors feed into that. As a practical legislator, I have sought time and time again to propose practical solutions to try to get a better understanding of why food costs in Ireland are so high and why the prices charged at the checkouts for everyday products are so high compared with some analogous countries in the European Union. One of the measures I proposed was my own unfair prices Bill, which was published in 2023. The response by the then Minister for enterprise, Simon Coveney, was to head that off at the pass in the middle of a real crisis with grocery price inflation. He said not only that he thought the principles laid out in my legislation were worthy of consideration, but that he would introduce his own legislation in 2023 to compel supermarkets to be clearer on their margins and to publish certain information so we as consumers could make our own minds up as to whether they were gouging. What did we get? We got two reports from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, one in 2023 and, under pressure, another one in the summer telling us effectively that there is nothing to see here and that there is no issue with competition in the Irish supermarket sector. We have had the CCPC rather extraordinarily saying on the one hand that there is no issue with price gouging but on the other hand that it does not really have sufficient information to completely determine that. It said it anyway. How can anybody possibly say that there is no issue with price gouging, with all that entails, if they do not have the complete information?  My proposed legislation was finally debated on Second Stage last summer. Why has it not been brought to committee to be interrogated further? The Minister in 2023 thought this was a good idea. Since then, I believe from the data I have read that the annual cost of grocery shopping has gone up by about \u20ac2,000 but wages have not. Why can we not properly interrogate this? I do not like to conclude this, but it is quite clear that the Government is simply afraid to take on big business and corporate interests as its actions have shown.  We are still waiting for all the powers of the Agri-Food Regulator to be properly commenced. That will actually give the State a very significant weapon to use to ensure greater transparency for primary producers - the farmers, producers, processors and so on that we rely on to purchase food. It will be another important piece of the jigsaw for consumers to figure out who is gouging whom and what the problem is. If we cannot measure the problem, we cannot propose solutions.  Time and again we in the Labour Party have published comprehensive and coherent joined-up proposals to address all of the issues that make this country such an expensive place in which to work, in which to do business for a small business, and in which to live and exist. We need a coherent cost-of-living action plan from this Government but we simply do not get it. Decisions were made in the last budget that really make it very clear what the ideological direction of this Government is.  On the one hand, the poorest and most marginalised in our society, those who depend on the State for their income and people with disabilities require additional cost-of-living payments to ensure they can make ends meet. We have acknowledged over many years that there is an additional cost to having a disability. As Deputy \u00d3 Murch\u00fa said earlier, the Government has more or less admitted there is a problem for people with disabilities who merely exist and do not participate fully in society because of their economic circumstances. The Government has admitted that given that it introduced cost-of-living payments in recent years ahead of the last general election, of course. There is no sign of them now. The Government decided not to do that and instead to provide enormous, unjustified, unwarranted tax breaks for burger barons and big builders, at the expense of those who require cost-of-disability payments and of workers. At the end of January, if you are paid every month and you got a pay increase, which people will receive this year at on average 3% to 4%, you will see that swallowed up because the personal taxation system was not indexed last year. Much if not all of that pay increase will not make it into people's pay packets or bank accounts every week, every second week or every month. Instead it will go to the Exchequer. They are the decisions the Government has made.  The motion refers to the need to introduce a living wage. I established the Low Pay Commission back in 2015 with the sole intention of ensuring that Irish workers would ultimately enjoy a living wage. We have a real problem with in-work poverty, and that problem remains. While we are closer now to achieving a living wage than we were, we are very tardy about it. The Government has not met its own targets for the introduction of a living wage. The longer we wait to introduce a living wage, perversely, the more costs will arise for the Exchequer. We spend an enormous amount of money essentially subsidising low pay and subsidising big corporations that are paying hard-working people poverty wages. That is an outrageous commentary on our priorities as a country. Working people should by definition enjoy a living wage, sufficient income to have a reasonable, modest lifestyle, something that people in a rich economy should be entitled to expect.  Something else we did not do in the budget for this year was index social welfare rates. Most modern, sophisticated economies analogous to Ireland have some form of indexation of social welfare rates and personal taxation rates. I have been a proponent of this for many years. It could fundamentally address some very real problems we have with in-work poverty and standards of living more generally. We in Labour support the motion. We thank Deputy Healy and his colleagues for introducing it and we look forward to voting in favour of it next week. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Jen Cummins","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Jen-Cummins.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Jen Cummins  I thank Deputy Healy for bringing forward this motion. It is timely that we are discussing a cost-of-living Private Member' motion. The Social Democrats have brought forward a number of measures to try to support people with the ever-increasing rise in the cost of just existing, due to the cost of so many things. I want to focus on a number of areas and the first is poverty. We have been hearing for a very long time about the number of children who are living below the poverty line. It is one in five, or 225,000 children in this country who are living below the poverty line. The effects of poverty are lifelong. Poverty affects not only the generation experiencing it but the generation that comes after it. There is absolutely no reason anyone in this country should be identified as living below the poverty line. We are a rich country. There is no need for it and there are solutions, but unfortunately they are not being implemented.  Poverty really does affect children's learning. As my party's education spokesperson, I have spoken so many times about the young people I worked with over the almost 30 years when I was involved in youth work and a school completion programme. It affects their daily life in terms of their learning but also their thriving in society. It is the same for adults. There is a lot of conversation at the moment about the hot school meals. They were brought in because there are children who are hungry in our schools. They were there before and they are still there. When you are hungry, you cannot learn. The fundamental difficulty with then stigmatising a child who is poor in giving them a meal has always been a difficulty, but the hot school meals have been fantastic in making sure that no one feels stigmatised and every single child gets a hot school meal. The shame of poverty is something else. Only those who experience it can truly describe what it is. The hot school meals programme will make sure that every single child in this country gets a hot school meal, but especially children who are hungry. Not a single child in this country should be hungry at school, whether that is primary or secondary school. I look forward to the scheme being rolled out in secondary schools because there is also a huge need there. Children do not stop being hungry after sixth class. They go on to first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth year and they are still hungry then. I really want to see that programme rolled out to secondary schools. We need to make sure the food that is provided there is nutritious and is something they want to eat. Getting that balance, as anyone who is a parent will know, is also a challenge. We need to work hard on that.  There is the cost of education itself. Voluntary contributions should have their name changed to \"not voluntary at all, depending on the school and how much pressure they put on the parent\" contributions. Some schools will respect the fact that it is voluntary and will not chase parents for it because what they are looking for are the nice things in the school that maybe the school cannot provide. Unfortunately, however, schools are not able to be funded to the level they want to be. I know there was an increase but there needs to be more. A woman contacted my office recently. It is just before the mock leaving certificate exams; I have a child doing them at the moment. It is a tense time in households. The school her child goes to was badgering her for the fee for the mocks. She did not have the money at all and she said she would have to borrow the money from a family member. The school told her that if she did not get the money in, the child could not sit the mocks. What the heck? I do not want to curse but I am getting close to it. That is a disgrace. Other mechanisms in the school can be used for that; whatever it is, use it. She was not only being badgered about the mock exams, but she was also being badgered about the not-so-voluntary voluntary contribution. This woman was being put under so much pressure. It is not acceptable.  Last week, the Social Democrats had a Private Members' motion about an emergency winter payment for disabled people. As has already been said, the Minister claimed we were gaslighting him and that there was no such thing as choosing between heating and eating. We are not making that up. We are hearing from people in the three agencies involved in getting that motion recognised. This is not made up. People in this country are struggling. I am very thankful to Deputy Healy for bringing this forward. I ask Government Deputies to really look at their constituencies and other constituencies, like mine in Dublin South-Central, where things are not great for everybody, and to identify the things that are really important to people. That is living properly, sustainably, living a good life and not struggling with poverty all of the time. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Eoin Hayes","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","memberCode":"Eoin-Hayes.D.2024-11-29","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Eoin Hayes  I echo the other Deputies' thanks to Deputy Healy for bringing forward this motion. It is very well written and comprehensive. It articulates a lot of what is wrong in the country right now and the cost-of-living crisis. I attended a conference late last year, hosted by the European Council on Social Rights, on the cost-of-living crisis. At that conference, I and many others heard that the bottom 20% of households are the most vulnerable to cost increases. Cost inflation for that cohort in Ireland is at about 5%, nearly twice the rate of annual inflation, far beyond the social protection increases in budget 2026 and one of the highest in Europe.  Core to this question of the cost of living is what the components are. They are energy, food, childcare and housing - the list seems endless. What is not often reported are the extreme levels of costs in Ireland relative to our European peers. We have the highest electricity costs in the EU, the second most expensive food prices in the EU, some of the highest rents and mortgage interest rates in Europe and no public model of childcare. Our exceptionalism in how we rip people off in this country is unparalleled.  What was the Government's response? It was a budget for this year that increases poverty, according to the Parliamentary Budget Office, and leaves disabled people \u20ac1,400 worse off than they were last year, according to the Irish Wheelchair Association, driving an exceptional level of need among households. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul reported the highest ever demand for its supports among the impoverished. This is a damning indictment of how this Government has left too many behind.  As my colleague, Deputy Cummins, said last week, the Social Democrats put forward a measure for a modest emergency winter payment for disabled people to help the most vulnerable population in the State with this cost-of-living crisis. We were met not just with resistance from the Government but outright disdain. What this Government is crafting is a society with a tale of two cities - one for those who are doing well, who have benefited from this Government and which caters to developers and special interests and one for everyone else. Everyone else, those who have a different life experiences or do not agree with the Government measures, are tarnished by words from this Government of being \"alarmist\" or accused of being \"dangerous and misleading\", as they were last week.  In an age of misinformation and disinformation, this Government has proven itself to be the most adept king of spin. Disabled people are not choosing between heating and the food according to the Government, even when they tell us that they are. Instead, they are, as one disabled person put it, perceived as liars. The Government touts progress in housing while new records in homeless numbers are set every quarter. The Government says it is pumping billions of euro into capital in energy development and yet all offshore wind farms in this country lie idle.  The people of this country are not fools. They know someone is misleading them. They know it is not disabled people, renters, those punished with vulture fund mortgage interest rates, climate activists or us in the Opposition. They know who is doing misleading and they know it is the Government. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Richard O'Donoghue","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Richard-O'Donoghue.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Richard O'Donoghue  Is it happening? I am on the record of the D\u00e1il as saying that I believe the cost of living in this country is going to have an adverse reaction. Today, for the people of Abbeyfeale who have worked in KOSTAL Ireland GmbH, there is the loss of 140 jobs, 95 operators and 45 non-operators. Where has the business gone? It has gone to China. EuroGiant is going into liquidation. It is happening because Ireland is now becoming a place where people are taxed out of existence. Over the past two years, I have been feeling that something is coming, and it is coming. This Government has to do something to help the working people in this country to have an existence in which they can survive, see a future for their children and in which they want to stay here and not leave these shores. That is what we have to achieve.  KOSTAL Ireland GmbH has been in Abbeyfeale for many years. The people of Abbeyfeale have now lost 140 jobs to China. Last year the company asked for 60 voluntary redundancies, which it got. There were up to 400 people working in KOSTAL Ireland GmbH at one time. If they have lost 140 jobs today and 60 last year, is the writing not on the wall? What is that going to do for the people in Abbeyfeale and the businesses they support in Abbeyfeale and in the surrounding communities in Kerry and Limerick? Even people from my constituency work there. What are we going to say to them this evening?  The price of food in this country has gone up. The price of rent has gone up. The price of fuel at the pumps has gone up. The price of the clothes on our backs has gone up. The cost of heating for houses has gone up. The cost of electricity has gone up. The cost of maintenance of vehicles has gone up. The cost of maintenance of the roads has gone down. There is no maintenance of the roads, so people are damaging their cars even going to work.  Disabled people, including wheelchair users, have seen a reduction of \u20ac1,400. Yet, a Department can have an overspend of \u20ac1.2 billion on a hospital with no accountability. Some \u20ac360,000 was spent on a bike shed and there was no accountability. Another \u20ac1.2 million was spent on another security hut. We had the chairperson of Bord Bia in. He brought in beef from Brazil. This affects the farmers of this country who produce the highest quality food, setting the standards for across Europe. What does Europe want to do for a Mercosur deal? Europe wants to bring beef into this country, which contains carcinogens, and where there is no traceability or tagging systems and where there is accessibility to drugs for the animals. None of this is allowed here but they are allowed this. I was at the meeting and it feeds in to this. That person saw nothing wrong with him having his own meat company and being the chair of Bord Bia.  I have been a self-employed contractor all my life. If I was working for the Department building social houses or any other project for the Government, would I be allowed to be the chair of the housing committee? Under legislation, the answer is \"No\". Yet, he can have a company and sit as the chair of Bord Bia, which is making every food producer in this country meet the highest standards, while he, the watchdog, brings in inferior foods into this country. That is not only a problem for Ireland; it is a problem for Europe.  The cost of living here is off the wall if a person wants to build a house here. We had the pyrite scandal, redress for which the Government has not fully funded yet. The people who caused the pyrite problem here saw a 40% increase in concrete products in this country over five years. In January all concrete products increased in price by another 8%. What did the Government do? It put a 5% levy on all concrete products on top of that to pay for all their mistakes. None of them is held accountable.  In terms of the squeezed middle in this country, if two people in a household are working, they are worse off. They qualify for nothing. Every cent they have goes to keeping their families fed and sometimes they have to do without food themselves and try to put a roof over their heads. Sometimes they are not able to make rent. How are we going to fix this?  Are companies now looking at this country and deciding that it is no longer a viable place to have a business? That is a concern. The Government will always be remembered for turning its back on its own.  These are families who have voted for Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael for decades and celebrated 100 years. These are the people who walk the roads with them, helped them get to where they are and asked them to deliver for them. Only for social media, they would never have been found out about everything that the Fianna F\u00e1\u00edl and Fine Gael said to them that they were coming up to do for them, but their Members would vote the opposite way when they come up here. Televisions showed one side of it, but never showed the side of their voting record. That is why the whole system in this country has changed. The people were traditionally Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael. One was known as the workers' party and the other was known as the farmers' party. Why does the Government think there were loads of farmers here today? Why does it think the Irish Farmers' Association, IFA, was outside Bord Bia's offices overnight? Why does it think 27,000 people turned up in Athlone? There is a shift. The traditional people who voted for Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael no longer believe that they are representing them. All they believe is that the Government is representing their children leaving these shores and representing the people in this country who want everything, but the Government is not looking after the towns and villages that supported it. It is only looking at the balance. It does not look at the community supports that it can deliver for the people who have to work in another town or village. The Government looks at the bottom line which is \"They only give so much money to society. They are costing us so much money.\"  It closed down the banks in every town that they were in because the turnover was not there. That was about the convenience of having them in their area. It was bringing in the footfall to area that supported other businesses. Infrastructure in this country, such as water and sewerage schemes, has been promised in places in Limerick for 46 years. It is infrastructure where we could be building houses for the past 20, 30 or 40 years. Now, we are going to areas and the planning laws say, \"Sorry, there is no capacity.\" What did the Government do? It looked at how much capacity it had. The biggest amount of capacity it had was in the cities. It started to build houses in the cities. What happened then? Supply and demand drove the prices through the roof. Five years ago, a house could be built between \u20ac100 and \u20ac110 per sq. ft. The same house today is \u20ac190 to \u20ac200 per sq. foot. The Government had a 13.5% tax five years ago on it. It has doubled its tax take. At the moment, anyone who going for a mortgage they pay tax to qualify for their mortgage. They pay tax where they are working. They pay tax on building their own house. It works out about 40% of their mortgage now is tax based. They are borrowing their mortgages for 20 and 30 years now to pay 40% more in tax and they might have to leave this country after it. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel Grealish","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Noel Grealish)  I thank the Deputies for their important contributions to this debate. I acknowledge that they are genuine in bringing concerns about the cost of living to the floor of the House. These are really important issues - emotive but with very real impacts on our people. I am committed, as are all my colleagues across government, to improving living conditions for all. That is what we are doing and what we will continue to do. Fundamentally, our economy is sound and robust. The data shows we are performing very strongly, particularly when it comes to jobs and income. This is further evidenced by today\u2019s unemployment numbers. I see unemployment and incomes as being intrinsically interlinked. The best way out of poverty is through employment. The best way to raise living standards is through employment. I recall the dark days of the 1980s when Ireland was scourged by joblessness, long-term unemployment and emigration. That is not the case today. The latest CSO data points to a record number of persons in work at over 2.8 million people with rising participation and sustained jobs growth. The labour market remains close to full employment with record rates of activity and very strong net inward migration. While the labour market has cooled down, we still expect to see further employment growth this year and in 2027. Forecasts from the Central Bank and the Department of Finance point to solid slowing employment growth in 2026 and 2027, with close to 50,000 jobs added per annum. Ireland's unemployment rate also remains far below the European average as we continue to create jobs at rates that are multiples of our European peers.  The annual rate of inflation was 2.2% in 2025, relative to 2.1% in 2024 and 6.3% in 2023. We are aware of the challenges posed by inflation here and we are monitoring price developments very closely. I note that the Central Bank recently revised up its outlook for inflation in 2026 reflecting pressures on the services and energy sides. My colleague the Minister of State, Deputy Dillon, earlier outlined how many of the issues raised here this evening are being addressed through the likes of budget 2026, the Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity and other fora. With any decisions, whether that be tax changes or wages, there are trade-offs. We have to make sure we strike the right balance between decisions and actions that are fair and sustainable for our workers and our economy, and ones that will not have significant negative consequences for employers and competitiveness.  I understand the arguments Deputies have put forward on costs and wages. The Minister of State, Deputy Dillon, earlier outlined the sizeable increases in the national minimum wage over the past few years. Just last month, the minimum wage increased again by 65 cent. This is an increase of 4.8% and is projected to be well ahead of inflation. Our current rate of \u20ac14.15 an hour means that Ireland has the second highest minimum wage in the EU, second only to Luxembourg and is among the highest in the world. When adjusted for purchasing power standards, we have the fifth highest minimum wage in the EU. The Low Pay Commission when making its recommendations for a national minimum wage has a statutory obligation to have regard to and report on several factors, such as changes in earnings, income distribution and the likely economic effects of any recommendation. The Government carefully considers the recommendations of the commission, and of course closely monitors labour market developments and cost-of-living concerns. There has to be a balance between a fair and sustainable rate for low paid workers and one that will not have significant negative consequences for employers and competitiveness. I fully expect the national minimum wage to continue to increase over the coming years.  I also listened to contributions on the effects of high energy costs on households. The Government is deeply aware and concerned about the pressures placed on both households and businesses by high energy costs. Providing supports to alleviate this pressure has been a priority for this Government and extensive work has and will continue to be undertaken across government to address these challenges. As outlined earlier, the Government has clearly demonstrated its commitment to supporting households to meet energy costs. It has delivered significant investment in energy infrastructure and energy efficiency measures. The increased targeted supports provided through budget 2026 confirm our ongoing commitment to support households and businesses to meet energy costs. The budget package provided significant supports to help householders with the cost of heating and other energy bills. The fuel allowance increased by \u20ac5 to \u20ac38 per week, which is a 15% increase well ahead of inflation. For the first time, families receiving the working family payment qualify for the fuel allowance. This change will benefit an additional 43,000 households across the State. The formation of the energy affordability task force will ensure that a whole-of-government approach is taken to continue to tackle this issue. While the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, has carried out extensive monitoring of the Irish retail energy market before, during and in the aftermath of the energy crisis, it found no evidence of market failure. Recent analysis by the International Energy Agency, IEA, and Nevin Economic Research Institute, NERI, has outlined the importance of progressing the programme for Government's commitment to \"commission an independent review into the speed and level of passthrough for wholesale prices to retail prices, with an additional assessment of the overall price dynamics and an overall focus on the competitiveness of the Irish economy.\" At the request of the Government, the CRU will lead this independent review of the relationship between wholesale and retail energy prices.  That work will be completed in 2026.  If we want to tackle high prices, we need to examine costs to business. The Minister of State, Deputy Dillon, mentioned a few initiatives the Government is undertaking to address business costs and the measures we brought forward to improve working conditions. In 2024, the then Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Department of Social Protection published a report examining the impact of such measures as auto-enrolment retirement savings, parent's leave and benefit, statutory sick pay, an additional public holiday, a living wage and remote working. The report highlighted that there will be cost impacts on firms from these measures but with significant differences by sector. In particular, the impacts on the likes of the accommodation, food and retail sectors were highlighted, especially arising from the transition to the living wage.  Reflecting on the findings of that review, a range of measures were brought forward to assist businesses in adjusting to the increased costs as well as more generally to improve the cost competitiveness of firms. The implementation of those measures will improve the cost competitiveness of SMEs. For example, the Low Pay Commission is considering a lower employer PRSI threshold as part of any future minimum wage recommendations. In addition, the application of an enhanced SME test will ensure there is increased consideration of the business cost implications of future Government decisions.  The Government also responded with last year's Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity. In response to international economic developments and in line with another commitment in the programme for Government, the Government expedited the action plan, which was published on 10 September 2025. It reflects a whole-of-government approach to domestic drivers of competitiveness, focusing on areas firmly within our domestic control. The development of the action plan has been informed by extensive consultation across Departments and with external stakeholders. It contains 85 actions for enhancing Ireland's competitiveness and productivity performance, with 26 of them identified as priority actions. The actions are grouped into six thematic areas, including productivity, sustainability and a focus on SMEs. There has been considerable progress in the relatively short time since the action plan was published last September. Just under half of the actions are due for delivery in 2026. The remaining actions were delivered in 2025 or are scheduled for delivery from 2027 to 2030.  This debate has been very useful. It is also useful - in fact, it is essential at times - to take a step back and look at our economic performance in context. Our economy does not operate in a bubble. We are heavily impacted by international sentiment and developments. Today\u2019s unemployment numbers from the CSO are further evidence that we are getting a lot of things right. The fact the unemployment rate remained below 5%, at just 4.7% in January, despite the turbulent external environment, speaks volumes. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  Could the Government be any less caring on this issue? It has not put forward a solitary meaningful measure. Let us start with the Minister of State's claim that the best way out of poverty is through employment. That absolutely is no longer the case. There are tens of thousands of workers living in poverty because of the cost of living, including the cost of childcare, housing, electricity and insurance for cars and so on. He cites statistics to show the economy is doing well but we all know we have a problem in Ireland with the leprechaun economics of GNP and GDP. The economy doing well is not a barometer that shows we do not have a high cost of living. That is the reality. The statistics are distorted very much by high earners and those at the top with wealth.  The actions called for in the motion are incredibly reasonable. Stopping price gouging by food and energy companies is something the Government could actively do. Another suggestion is introducing price controls on food, electricity, gas and fuel. When we were all growing up, the State used to own ESB. What was wrong with that? The idea that competition would bring down prices has been proven to be a fallacy. It would be a hugely popular move if the State, rather than letting people be ripped off, took control of electricity, an essential of life, and reduced its price to the lowest possible level. The motion proposes implementing a rent freeze, introducing a living wage, benchmarking social welfare increases to the minimum standard of living index and introducing a weekly cost-of-disability payment. A reduction in childcare costs to \u20ac200 per month, as promised in the election but since studiously forgotten, would make such a change in so many workers' lives. Introducing free public transport is something the Government could do that would be hugely beneficial for commuters and for the environment as well. Other proposals in the motion are for a second, targeted tier of child benefit payments and the reinstatement of energy credits.  What we need in this country is a complete shifting of wealth. Ireland has the worst figures in Europe for the share of wealth that goes to capital versus labour. The Government's amendment refers to Ireland being in the middle when we adjust for purchasing power parity. This uses figures that are completely different from the reality. We have the second highest prices in Europe, at 38% above the EU average. Restaurant prices are 29% above average, we are the most expensive for electricity, gas and fuel, housing is 50% more expensive and childcare is 58% dearer than the EU average. We have the most expensive transport and public transport costs. Irish people also have medical costs that do not arise in other European countries, such as when people have to go to the GP because they are sick or their child is ill.  Another aspect to consider is the gendered nature of the cost of living. A total of 22% of female workers, or nearly one in four, are in the lowest-paid employment sectors in our economy. Women are paying much more and suffering much more because of the cost of living. They would be so in any case because it tends to be women heading up the one-parent families that are the most impoverished in this country. The same arises with disabled people. I am shocked by just how little focus the Government has given to them.  We need the trade union movement in this country to act on this issue. The unions' leadership has been completely silent as the massive cost-of-living crisis has engulfed workers. It is as though that crisis is finished. It is not finished. Just because the Government is no longer giving targeted supports does not mean people are okay. They are not okay. I would like to see the trade union membership fighting for bigger pay increases and taking on and challenging the status quo that deems that workers should pay higher costs again and again. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Seamus Healy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","memberCode":"Seamus-Healy.D.2000-06-22","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Seamus Healy  I am shocked by the Government's amendment. In effect, it is saying that everything in the garden is rosy. However, low- and middle-income families know very well that everything in the garden is not rosy. The Government's amendment does not even acknowledge the cost-of-living crisis that exists. It does not acknowledge the huge financial pressures on families. There is no acknowledgement that budget 2026 created higher levels of poverty and took up to \u20ac1,400 out of the pockets of the less well off and the disabled. There is no acknowledgement that the Government increased the income tax take from PAYE workers.  I should not have been shocked by the amendment because the Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael Governments of the past ten years have pursued policies that support the rich and powerful in our society to the detriment of low- and middle-income families.  The political choices they have made support corporate landlords, the burger barons and the big developers. That is exactly what has happened. It is noticeable that we do not see, and have not seen, a single Fianna F\u00e1il Deputy in the Chamber. This is a party that claimed at one stage to represent working-class people. Of course, that is long since gone. Fianna F\u00e1il has now become more Fine Gael than Fine Gael itself. There is no more confirmation of that than the Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 of the Fianna F\u00e1il Minister, James Browne, which he introduced in the House yesterday. That Bill is written by, for and on behalf of corporate landlords and institutional investors. That Bill will line the pockets of these organisations and will introduce extortionate rents, lock people out of the rental markets and increase homelessness. The Government's policy is very clear. The Minister has said that employment is the way out poverty. There are 140,000 workers living in poverty. They are not my figures; they are Government figures and from the CSO. Contrast that to the huge increases of higher executives announced last week and the huge bonuses to Irish Water executives announced the week before. There is an alternative but, of course, it is one the Government refuses to take. This is a very wealthy country. Budget 2026 projects a surplus of \u20ac5.1 billion and over the past three years there has been a surplus of \u20ac42.2 billion. The Future Ireland Fund and the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund have \u20ac20 billion. This Government can well afford to reinstate energy credits and to introduce an emergency winter payment. If that is not enough, there are huge financial moneys available. Twelve Irish billionaires own \u20ac46 billion. That exceeds the combined wealth of 66% of the population of this country, some 3.4 million people. Oxfam recommends a wealth tax, and rightly so. That is something the Government should introduce immediately. A wealth tax, even at a very nominal rate, would raise billions of euro to support low and middle-income families. The Minister's amendment is absolutely shameful and should be withdrawn. At least, the Government should introduce immediately a \u20ac500 winter payment for people who are seriously under pressure from energy bills right across the board. I ask the D\u00e1il to support this reasonable and common-sense motion and I ask the Minister of State to withdraw his amendment. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Amendment put."},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa)  De r\u00e9ir Bhuan-Ordaithe 85(2), cuirfear an v\u00f3t\u00e1il siar go dt\u00ed an am v\u00f3t\u00e1la seachtaini\u00fail D\u00e9 C\u00e9adaoin, 11 Feabhra 2026. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Cost-of-Living Crisis: Motion"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/dbsect_36","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters","counts":{"speechCount":1,"speakerCount":1},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_36","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Ruair\u00ed-\u00d3-Murch\u00fa.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" An Cathaoirleach Gn\u00edomhach (Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa)  I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case:  Deputy Naoise \u00d3 Cear\u00fail - To discuss schools infrastructure in Kildare North.  Deputy Michael Cahill - To discuss an update on settlements with south Kerry CAMHS victims.  Deputy Jen Cummins - To discuss insurance protections for people impacted by flooding.  Deputy Darren O'Rourke - To discuss provision of special classes for children in County Meath.  Deputy Barry Heneghan - To discuss community engagement and traffic management in relation to the north city arterial watermain works commencing in north Dublin.  Deputy P\u00e1draig O'Sullivan - To discuss the provision of childcare facilities in Cork North-Central.  Deputy Albert Dolan - To discuss the allocation of SET and SNA hours for primary schools.  Deputy Colm Burke - To discuss the Blackpool, River Bride, flood relief scheme.  Deputy Malcolm Byrne - To discuss the review of the Garda vetting process and planned measures for simplification.  Deputy Louise O'Reilly - To discuss the need for additional school infrastructure in Fingal West.  Deputy Maurice Quinlivan - To discuss the misuse of e-scooter vehicles in urban areas.  Deputy Louis O'Hara - To discuss the provision of special education classes across Galway East.  Deputy Ruair\u00ed \u00d3 Murch\u00fa - To discussion provision of additional accommodation at St. Mochta's National School, Louth.  Deputies Ruth Coppinger, Paul Murphy, Roderic O'Gorman and Marie Sherlock - To discuss the need for legislative change to protect workers during extreme weather events.  Deputy Gillian Toole - The steps being taken by the Department of Health, the Health Service Executive and the national immunisation advisory council to investigate vaccine hesitancy.  The matters raised by Deputies Louise O'Reilly, Colm Burke, Ruth Coppinger, Paul Murphy, Roderic O'Gorman and Marie Sherlock, and Louis O'Hara have been selected for discussion. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"\u00c1bhair Shaincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Matters"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/dbsect_37","debateType":"topical","bill":null,"showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate","counts":{"speechCount":0,"speakerCount":0},"parentDebateSection":null,"containsDebate":false,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_37","speakers":[],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/dbsect_38","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Schools Building Projects","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/dbsect_37","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_37","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_38","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel Grealish","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  I thank the Minister of State for being here this evening. I do not mean this disrespectfully when I say it but I would have appreciated if the Minister for education could have made herself available for this because it is a very serious issue in my constituency. I do not say that in any disrespectful way to the Minister of State. I am grateful he at least is here to hear it.  The Government published its priority list this day last week. That sets out who is on the list and who is not. I represent one of the youngest constituencies, which is also the fastest growing in terms of population, in this State. The need not just for infrastructure now, namely, classrooms to get rid of the prefabs, is very clear but also we need to plan for the future because we have a growing population. That is a good thing and we are very proud of that. Unfortunately, when the Government published its priority list there was not one single school from my constituency on that list. Not one. It has been remarked on by a few of the old backbenchers of destiny, as well as by other TDs, that there does seems to be quite a number of them going to Galway, which I am sure is just a coincidence because that is in the Minister's constituency but we have not had an explanation as to how some schools get on the list and some do not and that is really frustrating. My phone has been hopping. I have met parents in person. I have also received a huge number of emails. As the Minister of State can imagine, when the list comes out and it is on the RT\u00c9 website, the first thing people do is click and go to see where their kid's school is on the list. There was not one on the list. We are scratching our heads. There are plenty of schools in my area that require additional infrastructure. I know we are very short of autism places in Skerries at the moment. I was compiling this list and it is a case of 2b or not 2b. A lot of schools in my area are stuck at stage 2b. They had hoped they would find themselves on this list for priorities and that that would give them the green light. What they fear is that because they are not on the 2026 and 2027 list, that means their school and building that is so desperately needed is now going to be pushed out and will not happen until at least 2028. The Minister of State may be able to address that.  I am specifically raising a number of schools today. St. Teresa's Primary School, Balbriggan, is a fantastic school celebrating 50 years and some of the buildings are that old. There are a lot of prefabs there and they are falling apart. This school is stuck at stage 2b. Gaelscoil Ros Eo and St. Joseph's Secondary School, Rush, have planning permission, a site and the tender documents are going to be delivered to the Department in a matter of weeks. They are at a very advanced stage. They want to know when they are getting the green light and when there will be a new school. I am sure they are as sick now at all the Government representatives and wannabee representatives who turned up for their photographs and now it appears this is going to be delayed. St. Mary's National School, Oldtown, has 18-year-old Portakabins. It is stuck at stage 2a. Balbriggan Community College is at stage 2b but is also not on the priority list. Likewise, Rush National School is stuck at stage 2b. These schools are all in towns where the population is growing and the schools are already pushed to capacity. The teachers are doing their very best. The principals are tearing their hair out. Then, when the priority list comes out, it can be imagined how people felt when they saw their school was not on it. I am hopeful, given the advanced stage of some of these projects, that they will be able to progress but I would be interested to hear from the Minister of State what the response of the Department is. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel Grealish","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Noel Grealish)  Gabhaim bu\u00edochas leis an Teachta. She is right; I am taking this on behalf of the Minister for education.  I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. It gives me an opportunity to set out for the House the position with regard to school infrastructure in Dublin Fingal West on behalf of the Department and the Minister for Education and Youth. I can assure the Deputy that the provision of school places to meet the needs of children and young people at primary and post-primary level, including children and youth people with special educational needs, is an absolute priority for the Minister. When demographic data indicates that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may be provided through utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools; extending the capacity of a school or schools; or provision of a new school or schools. If additional accommodation is required, the aim is to try to facilitate this as much as possible by way of expansion of existing schools rather than establishing new schools.  The expansion of existing schools is consistent with wider Government objectives under Project Ireland 2040 for an increased emphasis and compact growth.  It should be noted that the underlying demographic profile of preschools and school-aged children residing in the Dublin Fingal West area indicates a declining demand for school places. The number of junior and senior infant pupils is approximately 20% lower than the number of children in fifth and sixth classes, with an additional average reduction of 15% a month in preschool-aged children. The demographic data will continue to be monitored by the Department's forward planning section and is subject to change in line with population trends, particularly those influenced by new housing completions.  Between 2020 and 2025, the Department of Education and Youth has provided \u20ac1.79 billion in capital funding for Dublin schools. Over this period, a total of 244 schools have been upgraded either through provisions of new school buildings, large-scale extensions or modular accommodation. There are currently 64 school projects under construction in Dublin. Another 20 school projects will go to tender or construction in 2026 and 2027, which form part of the first tranche of the \u20ac7.55 billion national development plan sectoral implementation plan recently announced by the Minister.  This summer, 53 schools are approved to undergo works as part of the summer works scheme climate action plan. Since 2020, a total of 459 special classes have been opened in Dublin, 58 of which were sanctioned for September 2026. The Department is continually planning for and investing in existing and new schools to ensure that every child in the State has access to a school place. With regard to the Dublin Fingal West area, there are a number of active projects are primary level. These projects include St. Molaga's in Balbriggan, St. Michael's Special School in Skerries, Skerries Educate Together National School, Ballyboughal National School and Gaelscoil Bhaile Brig\u00edn, which will provide for both mainstream and special education needs.  A number of large-scale school projects have been completed in the past six years, including Lusk Community College. Smaller scale additional school accommodation, ASA, projects were also completed across a number of primary and post-primary schools. There are also another 19 projects are primary and post-primary levels at different stages of architectural planning process for schools across the Dublin Fingal West area. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Louise O'Reilly","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","memberCode":"Louise-O'Reilly.D.2016-10-03","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Louise O'Reilly  I will read out the names again because none of the schools I named are on the list. To be brutally frank with the Minister of State, referencing schools that were built previously is not going to help the people in schools that are falling down around them and bursting at the seams. We have a problem in Dublin Fingal West in terms of school capacity. We also have a problem because the teaching staff, pupils and parents are absolutely sick, sore and tired of make-do and mend.  I am going to read out the specific names. I would be most grateful if the Minister of State could get me a direct response as soon as possible on each of these so that I might go back to the parents and the school communities, which are all coming to me because they are understandably distressed. St. Teresa's national school in Balbriggan is stuck at stage 2b. Gaelscoil Ros Eo and St. Joseph's in Rush are at a very advanced stage, have planning permission and a site, and the tender documents are going to go to the Department in a matter of weeks. St. Mary's National School in Oldtown is in 18-year-old prefabs. It is at stage 2a. Balbriggan Community College is at stage 2b, but not on the priority list. Rush National School is also at stage 2b.  These are all in towns where I would be very confident, because I have looked at the data, that they fulfil the demographic requirements. If the demographic requirements are the only requirements that this priority list was based on, I am happy to tell the Minister of State that we more than fulfil that. The Minister of State can ask the master in the Rotunda Hospital and they will tell him that there is population growth in my area. Houses are also being built in my area. The Government is not building anywhere near enough, but they are certainly building in the area. This is needed to future-proof, at some point, but it is also needed now. The schools are in very substandard conditions. There are 18-year-old prefabs in one of those schools. They are mouldy. It is not appropriate for kids to be taught in those conditions. I was going to say \"in modern times\", but it is not appropriate any time for kids to be in classrooms where there is mould. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel Grealish","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Noel Grealish  The Department uses data from a range of sources, including child benefit data, enrolments and information on new residential developments to plan for school place needs. As has been outlined, there has been a significant investment put into schools infrastructure across the Fingal county area, including in the constituency of Dublin Fingal West. The Department is continuing to plan for an investment in existing and new schools. I can assure the Deputy that the Department will continue to liaise with Fingal County Council in respect of its county development plan and any associated local area plans with a view to identifying any potential long-term school accommodation requirements across the county. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Schools Building Projects"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/dbsect_39","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Flood Relief Schemes","counts":{"speechCount":4,"speakerCount":2},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/dbsect_37","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_37","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_39","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel Grealish","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Burke  I raise the issue of the Blackpool flood relief scheme. Blackpool has had 15 major floods since 1974. Three of them were in 2010, 2012 and 2013. It was decided in 2013 that a flood relief programme would be developed, and the submission was made in 2018 for the Minister for public expenditure to sign the statutory confirmation. The Minister gave the statutory confirmation. We are now into 2021, and then we had a judicial review. I know full well that the Minister had to deal with that judicial review. Unfortunately, it then went back to the drawing board again where further environmental impact studies were done. They were submitted to the Department of public expenditure. Unfortunately, as I understand it, by the time action was taken, the reports were out of date.  In 2021, the Minister signed off on this flood relief programme. We are now five years later and still have not approved the programme, even though judicial reviews have been submitted. This cannot go on. Blackpool is an old part of Cork city. Yes, there has been development there by Cork City Council and it has put in a lot of apartments and residential development, but the older houses there are at risk at all times. One man was trying to sell his business premises. The sale collapsed on three separate occasions because the people buying it could not get flood protection insurance. Therefore, the banks were not prepared to lend for it. A lot of houses need major refurbishment. It is an old part of the city. A lot of families live there, but there are also businesses that are extremely restricted as regards spending more money because they know they are at risk. If there is further flooding, they will be further damaged, which they will have to carry themselves. This is one case that needs to be prioritised.  We have an additional problem in Blackpool, in that a lot of housing is being built there now on the northern side of the city. As a result of that, there is increased water flow. In fairness to developers, they are doing everything possible to deal with that issue, but overall, you will have a greater water flow into the streams and rivers that flow into Blackpool and the River Bride that comes in and then continues on through an underground tunnel that carries it eventually into the River Lee. We are at risk there. Unless a decision is made about going forward, then the regeneration of Blackpool, which is urgently required, will not occur.  I am asking that priority be given to this project. We have had a lot of discussion about floods over the last two weeks. It is the number one item in the news at the moment because of the fact that heavy rainfall is expected in parts of the country.  Cork was lucky on this occasion in that we did not get heavy rainfall compared to other parts of the country, but our turn will come when that will happen. We will then have a major problem in Blackpool again. I ask that this issue be given priority. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel Grealish","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Noel Grealish  I am taking this on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Jack Chambers.  The Deputy will be aware that ministerial consent for this scheme was provided in early 2021 but was subsequently overturned by a judicial review challenge taken by a local community group. The Department of public expenditure has sought legal advice and taken measures to ensure the consent process complies with national and EU environmental law in order to account for the issues raised during the judicial review process. On foot of legal advice received by the Department and the recommendations of its retained environmental consultants, the Minister sought supplementary information from the Office of Public Works on the environmental impacts of the scheme. This request was made in February 2022 with the OPW supplying this information to the Minister in October of that year.  Following an examination of the environmental reports and supplementary information provided, and acting on the advice of independent environmental experts, the Minister sought further supplementary information from the OPW in November 2023. The OPW submitted the supplementary information on 17 April 2025 and 25 August 2025. Due to the nature of the information supplied, a further round of public consultation was required in order to inform the confirmation process under the provisions of the Act. A period of consultation was opened on 5 September 2025 and concluded on 10 October 2025. In total, over 1,000 individual submissions were received during this consultation and each submission can be viewed on the Department of public expenditure's website.  The environmental impacts of the scheme are currently being examined by an independent team of consultants. This work is advancing and I expect to receive reports which detail the outcome of these examinations. These reports will form the basis of any decision I may take in accordance with the provisions of the Act. Any updates in this regard will be published on the Department\u2019s website. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Colm Burke","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","memberCode":"Colm-Burke.S.2011-05-25","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Colm Burke  I fully understand that there were over 1,000 submissions. At least 900 of those were in support of the flood relief programme proceeding. It is extremely important because these are residents who are living in Blackpool. They are third and fourth generation people who are living there and now find they are restricted in what they can do with their property. I ask that this issue now be prioritised. In one particular area in the eastern part of the country, the issue has been going on for 25 years. We have already seen about 15 floods in Blackpool since 1974. I do not want this issue to still be going on in five or ten years' time, with the same discussions happening after major flooding of the area, where property is damaged and people suffer further loss.  I fully accept that the Department has to go through procedures. There is the risk at all times of judicial review. I fully understand that but once all the t's are crossed and i's dotted, we should not delay in making a decision on this matter. Even if we go out to a tender process in the morning, it will still take time for work to commence. The best example is the Glanmire flood relief scheme in my constituency, where there were no objections. Substantial flooding occurred there in 2010 and 2012 but the work is almost completed there now, and a huge amount of additional work was done as well to make the place safe for both businesses and residents. That work has been done by the OPW, which has done a very good job there. The reason was there was no objection to the scheme and it was able to progress. Twelve years from a major flooding event, that scheme is now almost completed. It is important now we give priority to this Blackpool project. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Noel Grealish","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","memberCode":"Noel-Grealish.D.2002-06-06","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Noel Grealish  While the delays in the delivery of this scheme will be a source of frustration for those in Blackpool, it is imperative that the consent process progresses in a manner that is compliant with the relevant regulations. In the period since the original consent decision was overturned following the judicial review challenge, the Department has implemented measures to ensure that the process is in compliance with the regulatory framework. This has necessitated the requesting of supplementary information from the OPW in order to ensure that a reasoned conclusion can be reached regarding the anticipated environmental impacts of the proposed scheme. This process has been informed at all stages by expert legal and environmental advice, as appropriate, with a view to ensuring the process is sufficiently robust in the event of any future challenges that may be brought.  I concur with the Deputy on the issue of insurance. There are young couples who are trying to buy a house where there might have been a flood. It is a major issue that has to be addressed. I will bring that issue he raised to the Minister. I came across it in my own constituency as well. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Flood Relief Schemes"}]}},{"debateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/dbsect_40","debateType":"debate","bill":null,"showAs":"Employment Rights","counts":{"speechCount":8,"speakerCount":4},"parentDebateSection":{"uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/akn\/ie\/debateRecord\/dail\/2026-02-05\/debate\/dbsect_37","formats":{"pdf":null,"xml":null},"debateSectionId":"dbsect_37","showAs":"Saincheisteanna Tr\u00e1th\u00fala - Topical Issue Debate"},"containsDebate":true,"debateSectionId":"dbsect_40","speakers":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null}},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null}}],"formats":{"xml":null,"pdf":null},"text":[{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  We are living in an extreme weather event right now in that there has been flooding all over the country. These events are becoming much more normal and routine. What is not normalised are what protections there are for workers. It was very moving to be at a press event organised by Unite last week to hear the parents of Matthew Campbell, an electrician who died in a storm in the North of Ireland. We are seeing the impact on homes but there is also a massive impact on workers. In summary, workers have no rights in law to say no, if their employer presses them to go to work because there is no such thing as climate leave. Workers reported being docked pay, having to take unpaid leave and having to use annual leave. In some cases, according to a Unite survey, a third of people were not able to work from home during the most recent major storm.  This is about a demand. The Government needs to give workers rights - not to ask their employers but rights - to be able to protect themselves in extreme weather events. They should have actual leave that exists and not use their own leave or whatever. It is extremely important that this is built upon. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  This is very simple. We need extreme weather legislation to protect workers. We do not have it now and the result is workers' lives and health are put at risk. One worker responded to the Unite survey about how their employer acted during Storm \u00c9owyn stating:  The company were more interested in production than employees' safety. Because there is no clear legislation around extreme weather events, it is left to employers' discretion to do what they want. Unfortunately, employers only concern is profit so they will choose to ignore weather warnings if it suits their agenda.  This is going to be an issue more and more. It is an issue now and will be an issue tomorrow. Tragically, it was an issue for Matthew Campbell, an electrician who was killed in 2018 while working in a forest during Storm Ali. His dad Mark told us at a press event last week that his son would be alive today if legislation like Unite is seeking had been in place then in the North. I hope no more workers have to die on this island before we have workers' rights legislation to protect people from extreme weather events to ensure their employers cannot put their lives at risk in order to maximise their own profits. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  I thank Unite the Union for putting the spotlight on the issue of the need for policy and legislation addressing protections for workers in extreme weather events. The one point I will add to that of colleagues is the impact of extreme heat. It is hard to make the case about that tonight of all nights, but we know we will have more incidences of extreme heat in our summers. We know this will impact vulnerable people, the young, the elderly and people with underlying conditions. Some of these will be workers. Some will be workers operating in difficult conditions outdoors and people working in agriculture, maybe in overheated warehouses.  Right now the Department of Health and HSE do not record data on excess deaths from extreme events or prolonged heat events. That is not the Minister of State's Department, but it has to change. If we are not recording these excess deaths, we cannot put in place the measures to protect vulnerable people and workers in times of extreme heat. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (Deputy Alan Dillon)  I thank the Deputies for raising this important matter. I acknowledge Unite\u2019s concerns and those of the family of the late Matthew Campbell regarding the protection of workers from extreme weather events. These concerns are understandable and the well-being of workers in all conditions must remain a priority. I am satisfied, however, that strong protections already exist in current Irish legislation.  Ensuring that Irish workplaces are healthy and safe is a key priority for me and for our Department. A robust occupational safety and health regulatory framework is in place, which is essential in supporting that priority and the Health and Safety Authority, HSA, plays a vital role in delivering it. Irish law already regulates work carried out in high or low temperatures. Employers are legally required to assess the health and safety risks present in their workplace, including risks from excessive heat, storms or driving for work. Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, employers must conduct a risk assessment, identify hazards, evaluate the risks they pose and put appropriate measures in place to protect employees. Extremes of temperature are defined as a hazard and must be addressed accordingly.  Although there are no plans at present to introduce paid climate leave for extreme weather events, the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, provides guidelines on employer and employee rights and responsibilities during severe weather. The guidance is available to the public on the WRC website. Any arrangement with regard to the provision of paid leave during extreme weather events is a matter for agreement between the employer and the employee. Some employers provide for such leave as part of their policies and it may be provided for in a contract of employment between the employer and employee.  My Department met officials of Unite to discuss their proposals and offered to facilitate engagement between Unite and the HSA on this matter. I encourage Unite to accept this offer to explore ways to further enhance and amplify messaging regarding extreme weather risks in the workplace. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Ruth Coppinger","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","memberCode":"Ruth-Coppinger.D.2014-05-23","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Ruth Coppinger  The Minister of State summed it up. It is a matter for agreement between employers and employees so it is up to individual employers. He also mentioned guidelines. Guidelines are not legislative protection. We also have a large number of migrant workers. We have unorganised workers or non-unionised workers who do not have the power to say \"No\" to their employers.  I will finish by highlighting what has been done in Spain to show the Minister of State how climate leave might work. Climate leave legislation was passed in Valencia. It provides for four days paid leave if extreme weather makes it impossible to travel to work, with the possibility of this being extended. Four days paid leave are also available if workers need to address needs at their homes as a result of their children not being able to go to school or damage to their home and property. After four days, businesses can declare force majeure and get Government assistance. There is an example of it being done. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Paul Murphy","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","memberCode":"Paul-Murphy.D.2014-10-10","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Paul Murphy  The Minister of State is satisfied that strong protections already exist. He should look at the evidence. Unite carried out a survey. Is the Minister of State satisfied about the 48% of workers who went to work during Storm \u00c9owyn who said they did not feel safe? Is he satisfied that 53% of those who worked outdoors during the storm felt their employer had not taken all reasonable precautions to make their work safe? These are unionised workers. That means it will be a lot worse for non-unionised workers. If the Government does not give people legal protections, it is leaving them prey for their employers to put pressure on them to make them work in unsafe conditions. We need a legal obligation on employers to have graduated alert-based responses. We need a legal requirement that, where work is required to cease, workers are paid as usual. We need paid climate leave, maximum temperatures at work and recognition of temperature-related illness as occupational disease. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Roderic O'Gorman","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Roderic-O'Gorman.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Roderic O'Gorman  We can do better than this. Tonight, thousands of people, including me, will get home safely due to the hard work of workers in our public transport companies on an absolutely grim night. We have to recognise that our climate is changing and the employee protections in place at the moment will also have to change.  On the point about the graduated warning system, our approach to closing schools and childcare facilities changed when we introduced that system. We have to look at its impacts on workers, particularly those in the most vulnerable areas. "},{"speaker":{"showAs":"Alan Dillon","uri":"https:\/\/data.oireachtas.ie\/ie\/oireachtas\/member\/id\/Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","memberCode":"Alan-Dillon.D.2020-02-08","role":null},"textType":"speech","text":" Deputy Alan Dillon  I reaffirm that worker safety remains a core priority of our Department's ethos.  The existing legislative framework I outlined is strong, comprehensive and designed to ensure employers assess risk and take all necessary steps to protect staff from extreme temperatures and other hazards. While there are currently no plans to introduce paid leave for extreme weather events, guidance is available with regard to employers' and employees' rights and responsibilities during severe weather events. The HSA has a key role to play in this regard and it provides guidance, oversight and timely communication during these events, ensuring that workplaces are fully informed about their obligations and fully prepared.  I reiterate my Department\u2019s offer for further engagement with Unite to facilitate engagement with the HSA. That is where this conversation needs to start, discussing how we can further enhance and amplify messaging and continue to ensure our workplaces are safe during these events. "},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"Cuireadh an D\u00e1il ar athl\u00f3 ar 7.37 p.m. go dt\u00ed 2 p.m., D\u00e9 M\u00e1irt, an 10 Feabhra 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"summary","text":"The D\u00e1il adjourned at 7.37 p.m. until 2 p.m. on Tuesday, 10 February 2026."},{"speaker":null,"textType":"heading","text":"Employment Rights"}]}}]},"contextDate":"2026-02-05"}]}